SEVEN GOLDEN CHAPTERS

OF
HERMES TRISMEGISTUS
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SEVEN GOLDEN CHAPTERS

+2-
OF
HERMES TRISMEGISTUS

The Alchemical Press

 ISBN # 0-916411-82-6

*** 1988 ***

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. BY
THE ALCHEMICAL PRESS
P.O. BOX 623
EDMONDS, WA 98020
 8eu1l Golde" Chapters.

L HERMES saitb, I havc not in a very longllgr cl"~ell to try

experiments, nor have I sl?ared any lanoul' of mind: hut r
obtained the knowledge of thIs art. by the inspiration of thc I~'il\'"
God only, who esteeming rue his servaJit wo(,thy, did reveal anJ
open the secrets to me. He has bestowed upon rational creatures,
the power and faculty of jud8ing and determining truly, not
tol'saking any, so as to give them an occ.asion to cease searching
after the truth. For my part, I had never discovered any thing
of this matter, nor revealed it to BUY one, had not tIle fear of {l~c
judgments of God, or the hazard of the damnation or my sonl
for such a concealment prevailed with me. It is a debt 1 am
willing to pay to the just; as the father of the jus~ hus liberally
Pcstowed it upon me.
Now understand, 0 ye children of wisdom~ tnat tlH'
knowledge of the four elements of the ancient philosophcrs, was
not corporeally, nor inconsiderately sought into: tlley are through
patience to be attained, according to their kind, but in thcir
own operation arc hiJJea or obscured. You can do nothing,
except the matter be compounde<4 because it. cannot be per-
fected, unless first the various colouri are tllOrougblyaccom-
plished. Know then, that tIle division which was maae of trw
"I\"ater by the ancient philO!Ophers, is ,bat whkb separatcs it
mt') fC'1n i" ('Jt!1cr ~llJm,nC('!!, OItP. TnteJ two, and three tn one:
the'tnirrl puTt of whIch is colool", or has tincture, vIz. the C()l/.-
gniMmg hlltnonr ('IT moi1rto!'e, but me second :md third waters
!ll',~ thl' \V'cigltts of tM wi~e. Tab of the humidity ot moisture.
som
~Il f'Hllr~t' :mtf ball; of tilt southern n:dncs.~ vlz. the of sol,
ldl':111 Ollll(,C, that is, a fourth part ofbotb; of the orange
:.rr,m in like mMneT', half ttn ounce ~ of anripigmcnt half an
umwp", \thich hh' clght; HInt i~ three O'tmc.cs.
Now nna~and tlJltt the vine of the wise men, ot tree
of the plrilollophH's is cxtrnctNi or drawn fl1rth in tln~, bnt
the willI.' tht>rcof is not pet'kcted till at length tbirty be com-
pfeted. Undcrstnntl the operation. DeCOCtion diminishes the
trtllttcr, bn t the tinrture angmen~!l in! stn!ll~. Boc~ lunn in
1i1h!en dnJ~ is dhnintshed, and in the tblrd is augmented.
Tfris is then the bcginnmg nnll the d\d.
Beho1d, I have t'Xp?sed to ,'.JU tllnt wbiclt Wll! bidden,
nnd the Work i!; both Mtb you nnci ibryou : that whfdl is within,
i!l qoicklv t~n out, and ill permin'teTIt or fix,.r..J; ana you may
hilye it either in t'be earth, or in tfTc sea. Keep therefure ,our
ars-eot vive, which is prepl'n'e(i in tho innermost ~harnber 0 th~
brIdegroom, in whichn is co:tgnfuted; ibt th1l.t ~ the ll1'~nt
'f'ive itst'lf, which is said to be of the remaining earth. lit!
therefore that 'llOW helll's my words, let hilll search into. nnd in-
qttiTe, from them! it is not for the jUstiflcation of th~ work uf
nny evil doer, but to glY'C ttl cv-ery good mml a rewllrd, that I
have laid open or discoveroo all things which 1rere bid, relating
to thi~ science; and disclosed and mude ptaia Rm! open to you
dIe- gr.eatcst of secrets, even the Intcllecrmrl knowledge. Know
therefore VI!! children of wisdom, I1lld ye ~keA after the fame
thereof, th:rt tltt vulture ,tau ding upon the mountain, cries out
>vith a great ",dice; saying, I nm the "white oi' the blade, and
the yellow of the white, and the citTine of the yellow, and behold
1 ~peak the very truth. Now the cllief principle of the 4rt is th~
~row, which in the blacknea of the nl~llt, fmd clearness of the
dny fliel! without wings. From the bitterness existihg in the
tIn-oat, the tincture or tinging matter is taken ~ but the red goes
forth of it!, body, and a pure water is tl&kcn from it!; ba~k. Un-
der!4and aUlI accept of this gift of God, which Is hidden from
ignorant and foolisnmen. This hiddt-n secret ",·hieb is the venc-
rnbic !!tOne, splendid in color, Rnd subfime In spirit, an open sea,
is hid ill the caVCTDs of the metals: behold 1 have exposed it to
you: and give thnnb to the Rtmi!7hty Ood, who teaches ,Y01l
this knowledge: if you be grateful, i.e will rctQm you me tri6ute
of your lo,"C. Yon must put this rnattermto a mQist 6rt:, and
make it to boil, "'I\·hich augments the heM of the humour or
matte!', Rnd destroys the dryness of tbe incomhustible sulphur;
continue baiting till the ra.dix may appear then extract the
redTll'Ss nnd the ligh. parts, till only ubOltt a third remains.
1'01' thi!' c:msc s:tke, the philosophers nre said tv be Jllvious or

4
 obscure, DOt for that tl}('y gruclged l~dring to till'" MlWltc)f JilM
mlln, to the religious or w~c; or to t.he )~itima.e lIOns of IIrt?
but to the ignorant, the vidol).'lt tIM! dillhoa~st: bt evil pertClII'
should be mAde powerful to perpctr.uc lIinful things: tor ~lol('h 1l
£'udt the philosophers must tender an acc()unt 10 Ood. Evil
men are not worthy of thb wi.'4l1om.
Now this matter 1 call by the name of the stone; fhe femi-
nine of the mAgnesia, the hen, the white SpittWf or froth, the
volatile milk, the incomhustii.>le lUIhcs ; so that it ~illht be hidden
from the 5impJe nnd unwi3t', who want undentnndrng, honcsty,
and goodness: \\"hj~h notwitht\tllnding is signified to the
wise and prudent by one only name, wbich hi the donI" of tlte
wise, or the philosophers stene. Conllerve thcre~c ill thil, the
sea, the fire, Rnd the henvenl)' hird, eYCn to the last mornent of
its exit. But I depreC3te, or wiliA a curse from our bt-lIcfactor,
the great and Hving God, nen to nil the sons of the philoso-
phers, to whom it ~h:lll pJensc God to giTe of the bountlfulne,,.
"f his goodness, if they shall undervalue, or ui\'ulge ,he name
and power thereof, to anl foolish or ignorant person, or allY
man nnfit for the knowledge of this secret. Whatever any man
has given to me, I have returned it again; nor h:n'c I bem be·
hind hand with aDY, or de!;istcd to return an equal kindness;
eyen in this friendship and unity conllists the chief matter of this
ClpCration. This is the concealed stoue of mallY colours, which
i. born and brought forth in one colour only: understand this
:and conceal it. By means of it, (through the pCl'Xnission of the
omnipotent) the grf'atcst di~cnsc ill tured; and every SOI'ro"',
di~tress, evil, and hurtful thing ron)' be e\'adell: nnd through
the help thereof, you may come from darkness to light; from a
desert or wilderness to a habitation or home; nnd from straight-
ness and necessities, to a large and ample fortune.
II. Now my son, before all things, 1 ndmonir.h th!'e to fear
{'-.o<.1, in whom is tbe blessing of your undertakings; and the
tlluting alld disposing of every tiling which you ~gregatc, put
t~thl>r, or design for this purpow. Whatever I speak or
lrntc, consider it, and reason about it in your mind: I ad"i,c
not them who are depraved in their reason and urnlcl·stamJing,
nor the ignorant, or insipid of j~llgment. Lay hold of my iu-
!~l'tletionc;, aud mcd.it~te upon- them; and so 6" your mind and
undcr.;tnnding to conceive what I $3~, as if you yourself were
the author or-these things I writ('. Jior to what nature is bot,
if it shall bf! made cold, it shall do hLU"t or injUl'Y to it; so in
J:klJ m:lOucr, he to whom 1"e'aSOn is become a gnide, does shut
a~ainst bi:n:;eh; the door of ignorance, lest he should be securely
dcceiv~. Tai,e (lt1y son) the flying bird, and drown it flying;
then divide, separate, or cleanse it from its 61th, which keeps
it in dcatll; c~pc1 it, MKJ put it away from it, that it may be
m:ule living, and nn~wer thee, not by !lying in the regions nbove,
but truly hy frJrbC'ru'jng to n~·. If tl,u<:fvre you shall deliver i.l

5
out of its imprisonment, alld then afterwards you shall order
And govern it, according to the number of days I shall note to
YOIl, Ilccordin~ to reason; and then it shall be a companion to
thee, and by It, thou shalt he made great and powerful. Ex-
tract from the sun beAms the shadow, and the sordid matter,
by that which makes the clouds hang over it, and corrupts it,
and keeps it from the light, because by its torture and red fierI
heat, or rednesl! it is burned.
Take this redness corrupted with the water (which resembles
the mntt£',·, holding the fire as in a live coal) from it: as often
as you take this redness corrupted in water, away from it, 1;0
often you have the redne!ls purified, then will it associate itself,
yiz. become fixed, and tinged, in which stlltion it will rest for
pver. Return the coal, being extinct in its life, to the water,
in the thirty days I note to thee, so will you have a crowned
king, resting upon the fountain or well, but drawing it from the
nuripigmellt, and wanting the humour or moisture: now have I
made the hearts of the Rttentive, who hope in tllCe, glad,and
their eyes beholding thee, in the hope of that which tbou pos-
sessest? Now the water was first in the air, then in the earth;
restore thou it then, to the superior places, through its own
meanders or passages, and (not fooli~hly or indiscreetly) change
or alter it: and then to the former spirit gathered in its redness,
you must cllrefully and leisurely join it. Know thou my son,
that the filt of onr earth is sulphur; that sulphur is auripigment,
siretz, or colcothnr, of which al1ripigment, sulphurs, and such
like, some are mme vile or mean than others, in which there is
Q difference or diversity. Of this kind also is the fat of glewy
substances; to wit, of hair, nail!\, hoofs, and sulphur it!lelt';
(lil of Peter, and the brain or marrow, which is auripigment.
Of the same kind also is the cat~ or lions claw, wllich is siretz:
the fat of the white bodies, Rnd the fat of the two oriental ar-
gent vives, which sulphurs Rre caught hold of, nnd retained by
the bodies. I !tay more, that this sulphur does tinge and fiX;
and is contained and held by the conjunctions of the tinctures.
Fats also tinge, but withal they flyaway, in the body which ill
contained, which is n conjunction of fugitives only with sulphurs
nnd aluminous bodies, which also contain and hold the fugitive
Jnntter.
The order, method, management and disposition or the mlttter
rought after hy the philosophers, is but one, in our egg. Now
this, in the hens egg, is in no wise to be found. But lest 80
much of the divine wisdom, as is seen in 11 hens egg, should not
be distinguished; we make in imitation thereof, a composition
from the four clements, jointly fitted and compacted together.
Now in a hens egg, there is the greatest h~lp that mlly be, for
herein is a nearness of the matters in their natures: a spiritu-
Ality, and gathering, and joining together of the clements, and
the ('firth wh ich is gold in its nature. The son saith w him, the

6
winhurs ""hich are convenient or fit for our work, are they
crelestial or terrestrial, heavenly or earthly? To whom Hermes
.lUlSWerS; ioll'le of them :Ire hcavcnh', and some are li'om the
earth. The son saitl.). filth e)', I think the heart in the snperion;
to prenotE" heaven; jlJ thE: inferiors, the earth. To ,dlOm Hcrrneto;
saith: it is not so, the masculine truly i!l tile hem'en of the fc-
..minine: and the feminine the earth of the masculine. 'TIlf son
saith, fUther, which of these is mOl~ worth}, one than anothcl',
whether is the heaven or the earth? The father answers ~ both
want the' help of one another; but a medium is proposL·d by prt'-
cepts. Bllt if thou snlllt say, that wisdom or the wise man docs
l'u\e or command amon~ all mankind; to this Hermes: the ill-
lIifferent or ordinary tbIngs are better with them, becanse eycry
nature delight!', or desires to be joined in socrety with its OW1I
kind. V.-e find even in wisdom itscl~ th.t equal things are
joined wgether. The son snith; hut what is the main nmong
them? To whom Hermes. and answers: to en'!ry thing in nature,
thp.l'f' nre tbree things ft'om two. 1. The beginning. 2. The
middle. g. 'The end, vi7.. Fi1'5t, tl,e profitable and necessary
'Water. Secondly, the filt or oil. Thirdly, tht flrcetl, or earth,
whirh remains below. But the drng011 d\H~lIs in, or inhabits in
all thc~e thiR~s. And Lis houses are the darkness and blackness
in them; and by them he ascends into the air, which is their
heaven: but while the fume or vapour rcmains ill them, they
lire not perpetual, permruumt, rcmaining or fixed. Take but
away the fume or vapor from the watcr; and the bbckne~s from
the fat or ~ul}lhur, and death frolll thc tieces: and by dissolu-
tion, you shall possess a triumphant gilt, even that in and by
~ It ieh the possessors live.
Now the temperate fat or sulphur which is the fire, is tht'
Jll('dium or middle nature, between the freces and the water, and
1he through 6carcher of the water: the fats are callcd sulphu~
for betwecn fire, oit, and sulphur, there is so littlp. dificl'cnce,
that there is a propinquity, or ncarness; because> as the tire docs
bum, so also docs the sulphur. All the wisdom of tIle world is
c:omprchendcd within this, learning the art ill placed in thC9ie
wonderful hidden elements, which it does obtain, finish or com-
pleat. It behoves him therefore, who would he introduced into
this our hidden wisdom, to quit himself from the usurpation of
vice, to be just flnd good. of a profound reaso~ and ready at
hand to help mankind: of a serene and pleasing countenance,
courteous in Iii!! conversation to ()thers; and to himself a faithful
keeper of the arcnnumSj being once revealed to him. And this
know, that except you know how t() mortify aDd induce genera-
tion, to vivify the ~pirit, to cleanse, and introduce light, how
things fight and contend one with anothet, are made colourless
and freed from their uefedations, or spots and foulnesses. like ~
from blackness and darkness, you know nothing, nor ctin you
perform any thing. But this you may know, that thit; great

7
 arcanum is a matter of so grellt wortl}, that even kings thein.
selvf:}s shall ,'enerute it; the which secrets, it behoves us to keep
close. and to hide them from every profane and worthless person.
t;'nderstand also that our stone is conjoined wjth, and coIDpo~cc.l
of many things, of various colours; Ilud of four clements, which
it behoves us to divide ami cut in pieces, nnd to di~loiut them;
and partly to morti(y the nature in the same, which is in i.t.
And also to keep saf~ the water IUld the fire dwelling therein.
which ooes contain its own water, drawn from the four elemen.tJt
and their waters; this is not water in its form, but fire, contain",
in~ in a strong and pure vesllcl, the ascending waters; lest tbe
spirit!! should flyaway from the bodies, for by this means ;U'Q
they mnde tingin.g .tnt! permanant, or fixed, 0 bleS6cd water
in tIle form of sea, which dement thou dj;jSo1vest! Now it be.
llOVCS us, with tllis wHtrry soul, to possess a. sulphurous farm,
IInu to mix or joil) the same WIth our vio~ar. For when by the
power uf the wutrr. the cOlllpositUllI :lIso 1S tlisslllvcd, YO.Ii. hllJ'e
the I.<cy of the restor.atiou; then death and blackness By away,
aml wisdom proceClls on to the finishing of the work.
III. 'Now know m" son. 11)nt the philosophers elwin up (the
mntter) with a strollg chain. or band, when they make it tv con-
tend with the fire: because the sl,lirits ill the washed bodies,
desire to dwell tllCrern Rnd.to rejoIce there. In these bubita-
tions. they vivify themselves, aud dwell therein, nnd the bodies
hold. or contain them, nor from them can they ever he lleparated.
Then the dead elements are revived, and the composltllrn, or
comJ><mnded bodies are tinged and altere<l, and by wonderful
operations, tllCY are made permanent, or fixed, as the philoso-
pher saith. U beautiful and permanent, 01' fixed "'atel', the
formator of the rOYall elements, who havinlJ' obtaiIM!d {with tby
bretllren ioined with a moderate goveJ:nmenn the tincturt:, hrult
found a place of rest. OJ.lr stone is a most pretious tIling. yet
C8!;t forth upon the uun~lli1l. It is most dear ~nd ,'aluable, yet
vile ant! the most vile: j (i. e. found among tJle most vile thinSIi).
Because it 11ebove5 liS t.o kill two arl1cnt vive's togctller, lind yet
to value, prize, and esteem them, VIZ. die argent vive of Ilud-
pigment, Ilnd the oriental argent vive magnesia 0 nature,
the greatest, the creator of nntures, which makest, containest.
and separatest natw'cs in a middle principle! Our stone €omes
with lizht. and with tight it is generated, :tod then it generales
or brings forth the black clouds or dal'kness which is the motllcL'
of all things.
Bu~ when we conjoin the crowned king to onr red daugluer,
an~ in a gentle fire, nut yet too great or hurtiill, she does COIl-
cp.ivel and will bring forth a faitbfiil and excellent SOil j which
she does feed with a little heai and nourishes the permanant or
fixeo matter, making it to ablue even the greatest fire. But
when you send forth the fire upon the leaves or enfoldings of tlle
wTpbur, the boundary of hearts aoes enter in above it, is waslled

8
 in the snme, and his putrefied and stinking mattcr is extracted;
then he is altered or changed, and his tincture by the help of
the fire remains red ItS flesh. But our son the begotten king,
doth take his tincture from the fire; [lnd death, and the sea, and
darkne~s flyaway from him. The drngon flies from the beRm~
of the sun, who observes the holc5 01' passages, where they
enter in; and our dead son lives. The kina comes from the
fire, and rejoices with his wife, laying open SIC hidden things;
and obscured virgins milk. Now the son vivified, or made to
live, is made 8 warrior of the fire, and supcrexcc!lent in his
tinctures; for the son has got the blessing, having also the root
of the mnttel' in him. Come ye sons of wisdom, and rejoice;
be ye glad alld exceeding joyful together; for death has received
jts consnmmation, and the son does reign, he is invested with
his red gannent, lind the scarlet colour is put on.
IV. Now understand that this stone cries out, nourish and
perfect me, and I will reward you; give to me mine, that
which is my OWI1, and I will bountifully recompence you. My
1101, and my benms are most inward, and secretly in me: my
OWD luna also, is my light, exceeding every light: and my good
ulingF art better thlln all other good things. I give largely amI
plentifully: I reward the ullderstanding with joy and gladness,
with dt?light, with riches and honouralld glory: and they that
seek after me, I give them opportunities, to know and undC'r-
stand, and to possess divine things. Now know that which the
~hilosophers have hidden and obscured is written with seven
letters. A Iph[l and Yda, follow the two: and sol in like manner
follows the book (of nature) notwithstanding, if you are willing,
or desire that he should have the dominion vou must watch the
motions of art, to join the son to the daughter of the water,
which is Jupiter: this is a hidden secret. Auditor understand,
]et us then U8e our reason: consider what I have written with
the most accnrate investigation, and in the contemplative port
have demonstrated to you. The whole matter I know to be but
only one thing. But who is it thilt understands the sincere in.
vesligation, and inquires into the reason of this matler? It is
not made from mon, nor from any thing like, or a kin to him,
nor from the ox or bullock. If any living creature conjoins with
one of another species, the thing is neutral indC'Cd which i:oJ
brought forth. Now Venus Raith, I beget the light, nor ill the
darkness of my nature; and unless my metal be dryed, all bo-
dies would cleave unto me; because I should make them liquids;
also I blot out, or wipe awny their rust and filthiness, anll I ex-
tract their substance: nothing therelore is better than me and
my brother, being conjoined.
But the kin", and lord, or dominator, to the witnesfill"8 Ilis
brethren sahh, I am crowned, and adorned with a royal diadem,
1 am c10ltthed with the royal garment, and J bring joy and glad-
ness of ht:art. And being overcome by force, 1 mnde my sub-

9
 strmce- to lay hold ot~ amI to rest within the arms and breast,
(1. e. the body or womh) of my mother, and to lay hold and
t:,sten Ilpon her substance: making that which is visible to be
invisible, anti the hidden matter to appear: for every thing
which the philosophcl"H have "ailed or obscured, is generated by
us. Understand these words, keep them, mooitSlte upon them,
and enquire after Ilothing else: milo in the beginning is gene·
rated of nature, wh()~e bowel'! or inwards arc fleshy; and 1l0t
frOlll any thing else. Upon these words meditate; and reject
what is Sllpe~~1I0us (to the work ). From th~n~e saith ~he .philo-
sopher Botn IS made; from ~he yellow or cltrme, whIch III ex-
trlleted out of the red root, and from notbing else; which if it
shall be citrinc, thou hast sought it at the mouth of wisdom, it
was not obtained by thy care or industry: IOU need not study to
exalt or change it from the redtless: see have not limited you,
or circumscribed you under darkness; I have made almost all
thingG plain to you. Burn the body of laton or brass with a.
very great fire, and it will give yon gratis what you desire; it
will SWill, dye, and tinge, as much as you can wish it, and that
,.., i th glory and excellency. And flee that you make that which
is fugitive and volatile, or flying away, that it may not fly, by
the means of that which fiiC9 not. And that which rllsts or re-
mains upon a strong fire (is fixed,) and is also a strong fire :tsclf;
and that which in the heat of a strong or boiling fire is corruptro,
or destroyed, or made to fly, is cambar. And knnw ye that
our res, hrass or luton, is gold, which is the art of the perma-
nant or fixed water; and tbe coloration of its tincture and black-
ness, is then turned or changed into redness. I confess that
through the help of God, I have spoken nothing but the truth:
that which is destroyed must be restored and renewed, and from
thence corruption is seen in the matter to be renovated, and froin
thence the renovation appears: and on both or either side, it is
the sign of art.
V,. My Ilon, that which ill horn of the crow ,is the beginning
of tIns nrt. St!e here, how I have obscured the matter spoken
of to rou, by l\ kind of circumlocution; and I have deprived
YOll of seeing the light (by giving yon too much light:) and
1. This dissolved, 2. This joined, 3. This nearest nnd longest,
J. have named to YOLL Roast them therefore, then Loil tlwlll in
that which proceeds from the horse belly, for 7, 14, or 21
days; that it may eat its own wings, and kill or destroy itself:
This uone, let it be put in petta panni, and in the fire of a fur-
nace, which diligently lute anu take care of, that none of the
spirit may go forth: :md observe, Chat the times of the earth aru
in the water; which let be as long as you put the same up upon
it. The matter then being melted or dissolved nnd burnf, take
the brain thereof, and grind it in most sharp vinegar, or childtens
urine, till it be obscured or hid: this done; it does live in pliO
t.refaction. The dark clouds will be in it, before it is killed; let

10
them be converted into its own body; and this to be reiterated
as 1 have described: again let it be killed as aforesaid, and then
it docs'live. III tIle life and death thereof the spirits work: for
as it iskiUeu by l.ukinAr aw'ly of the spirit; so that bejng I'estorcd~
it is agaill made alive, llmll'ejoices tlwreill. But coming to this,
that which ye seek hy .lflirmation, ye shall see; I dec131'e also to
YOU the Si{r1l6 (If joy and rejoicing. e\'ell that thing which JOl'S
fix its body. , Now thesl' tllings Ollr ancestors gave us only in
figures aruI types, how they att;.lined W the knowledge or this
seCJ:ct; hut beboJJ, they are <.lead; I have nnw opened the
.ridd le, 1 bn.ve demonstrated the proposition so much desire<.l, sO
much aimeu nt: r have opened the book (of secrets) to the
skilful and learned. yet I have also a little concealed the llidden
mystery. I have kept the th.ings (which ougllt to be put a part)
within thei!' OlVn bounds; I conjoined the various and divers
figures and forms (of its appeamn~e in the operation) and I have
confederated or joined together (with them ) the spirit. Receive
you this as the gift of God.
VI. It behoves YOU therefore to O'ivc thaRks to God, who ha~
largely given (of hii bounty) to aJlthc Wise; who delivers us out
()f tbe snru-esaoo clutches of misery and poverty. I am proved
nnd tried with t1le talness of his riches and goodness; with his
})mbable miracles; and I humbly pray to Goo, that whilst I live,
1 lUI\)' pass the whole course of my l!fe, so as I may attain him .
-rake rhen from theoce the £'lts or sulphurous matter7 which we
take from suets, grease, hair, verdigrease, tr~acallth, nnd
lJOlIes, which things are written in the books ot the u.I!cient!l.
liut the fats which contain the tinctures, which congulate the
fugitive, and set forth, or adorn the sulphurs. it behoves llS to
explicate their disposition (more fuUy hereatter). And to unveil
the figure or jiJrm, fi-om alt other f.1ts or sulphur, (which is the
hidden and buried fat or sulphur) which is seen in no disposition,
but dwells in its own hody, as fire or heat in trees and stones,
.,,-hich by the most subtle Ilrt and inO'enuity it behoves us to ex-
tract without burning. And know iliat the'heaven is to bcjoined
in a mean with the earth: but the figure is to be in 11 mitl<.lIc
nature. between the hoaven ant! the earth, which thing is our
water. Now ill the first place of all, is the water, \\'lliCh gocs
forth Irom tbili our stone: the second is gold: but the third is
gold in a mean, which is ll1or~ nohle than the wuter anu tue
leccrs. And ill these three are the mpors.. the blackness, and
the denth. It bdlOves us therefoI'1' to chase or drive away, and
expel the snper-cxistcut fume or vapor, from the water ; the
blackness from the fnt; and the death from the ftrces and this
hy dissolutiun; by which menlls we atta~n to the knowledge of
th~JVeatest philosophy, and the sublime secrets of all secrets.
, V 11. Now there are seven bodies, of which. the first is gaM.
the most ~rlcct, the king Ilnd the head of them: which the
water cannot alter, nbr the earth corrupt, nor fire devastate;

11
oocause its complexion is tempernte, or -in a mean; and 'its na-
tme direct, in respect of he~lt, cold, moisttll'e, or dryness; nor
is any thing that is in it 6Upeffluous. Therefore the phi losophent
prllr up, HllIl magnit;y themsclrl'S in it, snying, tllat such gold
in l}(1ui<-'S is like tilt· SUIl among ~he ~tars, most light lind splendid.
And 8S by the powel' of O()(I, every "egetable, Ilnd all dlC fruits
()f the earth lire perfected; so by the same power, the gold, and
(the seed t.hereof) which contains nil the~ seven bodies, makes
them to spring to be ripened, and brollght to perfet:tion, and
without which this work can ill no wise be performed. Ano like
liS paste or dough is impos&ible to be fermented, or levened with-
out leven; so is it in this case, without the proper ferment, you
~an do nothing: when you sublime the bodies, and purify them
!leparating the filthiness and uncleanness from them, or from the
freccs, you must conjoin ont! mix them together, and put in the
i<-rment, making up the eArth with the water. And you must
decoct ami digest till ixir, the ferment, makt'S the alteration or
change, like as leven does in puste. Meditate upon this, Rnd
see whether the ferment to this compositum, docs make or change
it from its former nnture to another thing. Consider Also that
there is no leven or ferment hut from the paste itself. It is also
to be noted, that the thment docs whiten the confection or com-
positum; and forbids or hinders the burning: It contains, holds,
or fixes the tincture, so that it cannot flyaway, and I't'joices the
bodics, and nlllkes them mutllally to join, and to enter one into
another. And this is the key of the philosophers, and the end
of nIl their wor"s: aoo by this science the bodies are meliorated,
and restored: and the wOl'k of them (Deo annuente) is performed
and perfected.
But by nl'gligence an(l on ill opinion of the matter, the ope-
rations may be spoiled and destroyed; as in a mass of levened
paste: or milk turned with runnet for cheese; and musk among
aromatics. The certain colour of the golden matter fi.)r the red,
and the nature thereof is not sweetness, therefore of them we
make sericum, which is ixir, (the ferment:) :and of them we
make enamel, of which we have writteu. And with the kiog's
tieal we have tinged the clay, and in that we have put or placed.
the colour of heaven, which augmefJts the sight of them, ",·ho
can already ill some measure see. Gold,therclOre i8 the most pre-
cious sCOne without spots, also t!'mperate, whi~h neither fire, nor
air, )lor water. nor earth, is able to corrupt or dcstr.oy, the nni-
"crsal f~r,m cnt, r~cti~yin~ all things, in a ~~dle or tesoperatc
compOSItIon, wInch IS of a yellow, or true cltrlOe colour. The
gold of the wise mcn, boiled and well -<ligested, with a fiery
wntf'r makes ixir. For the gold of the W;ISC men ill more weighty
or heavy than lead, which in a temperat( oomposition. is the
ferment of ixil': and contrar,iwise, in a distf'mperate composition;
is the distemperatl.lrc, or hurt of the wholc;work 01' matt!'r. For
the work is fiht mllde from the vegetable: secondly hum ~4('

12
 animnl, in n hens egg; in which is the greatest nSs1stllnrc, lind
the constancy of the elements. And gold is our C'Ulth; of all
.... llich, we make sericum, which is our fcrment, or ixir.
The wise say, jf you conserve a third part of your camel., (,·ix.
of the swirt or volatile matter, ()T that which must hCltr the in1r-
then,) and comume the remaining two thirds, you have attained
to the thing dosired ; YOll hoyc perit'ctcd the work. In like mnn-
ner you must be careful of Jour argent vive; for the bJat:k
matter docs whiten the flesh, and the work is perfected hy tI le
lire of the wise. And the work is to be performed by a spiritual
~'ater, in which the blackness is washed awny; and hy that in-
strument, in which the foundation of the work is laid, and ill
that time and moment, in which the cloud" appear. Now thnt
water, in or by which the hlackne!'ls is washed awny, i,; tllC sweat
or moisture of the SlIU, and chilclrens' urine, (i. e. the virgins
water. ) The thing which I tell you is sufficient fi)ryou to know. In
like manner, take the water of the water, (mercury of mercury,)
and with it cleanse Rnd purify the wind, fillne, or vapour, and
aboli8h the hlaclmcss. Understand whitt this signifies, and re-
joice thorein. Also in tlle same manncr~ take the blackness and
conjoin it; then have respect to the white, and conjoin the red;
110 will you go through the thing desired, nnd come to the end
of the work. It is also to be noted, that it is the fire· stone which
govern. the matter or work, by the good plen~u re of God:
boil it therefore with 8 gentle fire, night and day, lest the water
6houtd be 8eparnttld from it; even till it becomes of a golden
colour: understand well what I say. That also which congeals,
docs dissolve; nnd that which does whiten, docs in like manner
make red. I have made plain to you the nearest way, that you
may be easy and satisfied: understand therefore these things,
and meditate upon them; and you shall certainly attain to the
perfection of the work. It is also to be noted, that as sol j~
among the stars; so is gold among the other metalline bodies:
for as the light of the sun, is joined to the lights, and contains
the fruit of this operation; ~o ill like manner gold: meditate
upon these words, and by the permis~ion of God you may find
it out.
Hennell moreover snith, he that outwardly takes in this medi-
cine, it kill» him: but he that inwardly drink~ it in, it mftkes him
to live and r('joice. Understand wha.t this means. And a'l for
thiscauso saKe, this water is s.1id to be divine, so it is said to be
the greatost poison: nnd it is prciclTed before all other things,
by liO milch 88 that without it nothing of the work C3n be dQne.
l~ is I\l~o called divine, for thnt it cnnnot be mixed or joined
with any filth or tIl·flled thing: and thi~ wllter of our stone pu-
rifies nnd cieans('s the natures of the metals, nnd waRhes 8wlly
their dcfredntions or defilemcHts. And as sol acts upon bodies,
so 1111.0 does this water upon the philosophic Iltone: yes, it pene-

13
trlltes lE)(1 sinks throu~h it, and is constant, fixed, and perfect.
Thi~ indeed is seen in- sol; but it ig to be understood that the!
work may be made throu~h all the scv.en planers: as first from
tatum, then from jupiter, mars, venns, mercury, and lastly from
luna. The first is the government of saturn; to wit, to callse
~ol to putrefy, or bring the body ~o putre!actiort, whic.h is dona
m the spnce of forty clays and mghts. fhe second IS the go.-
vernment of jupiter, which is to grind or break the l'natter, and
in twelve daj"s and nights to imhue or moisten it, which is called
the l'egiment of tin. TIle third is the government of mars,
which is to induce death or blackness, or to ·separate· the spirit
from the body, by which i.t is said to be changerl; The tourth
is the government of sol, which is to work away the blackness
and poison; and is indeed to make it white. The fifth is the go-
vernment of venus, which is t6 join the moist to the dry, ' and
the hot to the cold, alld to unite them together in one. th is is the
dominion of brass or copper, (or the making of the matt-er of
a chall:geable yellow). The sixth is the government of mercury;
which is to burn, and is called the dominion of argent vive.
The seventh is the government of Iun!l, which is to decoct or
boil, and make hot, and so to perfect the matter, (with be fixed
citrine tincture) in twenty-five days: and this is the dominion of
silver. See here, I have gone with you through the whole work;
take heed therefore lest you err.
And know that the white body is made with the whiteness;
and its ferment is that which you already know: whiten there-
fore the body, and understand what I say. Also in like man-
ncr you are to note; that the stone sought after, has not its like
or equal in the whole earth. It is both outwardly and inwardly
of a citrine golden colour; but when it is altered or changed,
it is made a body dark and black, like burnt coals. Nowthe
colour of the spirit taken from it is white, and the substance
thereof is liquid as water; but the colour of the soul thereof is
red. But the soul and the spirit thereof is returned to it again,
and it doth live and rejoice, and jts light and glory returni
again; and you shall see it overcome and triumph: and that
which was even now dead, shall have conquered death, and then
it shall live, :md arise from the dead, and live as it were for ever.
Happy and blessed therefore is he in whose power the dispClsition
of this matter is, who kills and makes alive, and is omnipotent
over all for ever. I therefore advise you, not to do any thing
in this work, till you get an understanding thereof: for if you
be ignorant and void of true knowledge, you will err in what-
soever you do, you will wholly labour in vain, and your work
will perish. So that thus mistaking in your operation, you
blame presently your instructors (the philosophers) and think that
they have ~rred, or taught you wrong, when it is only your ig-
norance, and not . understanding their words. This then
know and understand, that the day, is the nativity or bringioi

14
 forth of the ligllt; hut the night, tllC nlltivity or bril1~illg forth
of the darknC1;S. Sol, 8.1~ is the light of the tiu,'; and hma the
light of the night; wh)ch God ~r(,Plted to govern the world.
But luna does rt~cch'e her light of the sun by comhustion, and
j~ dilated or enlarged therewith: ant! hy so much lIS- she r\'(~eh('~
of the }ight oi' the 8un, or docs contain in ht'r, of his l;ght; hy
.0 much does the nature of sol bear rnle over tire n.-ttupe or hmo.
If thercfm-e you contemplate what I !'In,-, and medi1nte npol'l my
wornll, you will find thllt I have spoken the truth; and you ,..ill
understand the s;gnificatioll, of all dlat I have said, and the de·
morntrntiOJI of the ,,,hole motter. Know then, that the spirft,
is enfolded or cirL"Umscribecl, within its marble 110IISC or walls:
vpcn therefore the passuges that the dead spirit may go Oll't. 1I11d
be cast forth from our bodies: then it will become healJl(i'ki~.
which is only u work or undertaking of wisdom. Sow therefore
o God, thy wiidom in our hellrts-1 and root out the corrupt
priocip1.es which lodge therein, and lead us in tile WAy cf thy
!laint~, by which our spi-rits and souls may he ·purified. ThOll
3rt omnipotent, 0 lord God Almigllty, aDd canst do whatever
thou ple8sest.
There is one tlling whidJ is tf) be wondered m, .,iz. after what
marmer carmine, to wit, grana nostril, doth tinge or dye silk,
whidl is of a contrary nature, and tinges not a dend thing: and
after what manner uzifur, to wit, our vermilion doth tinge vcstem
which is of a contrary nature, and tinges not Jive or growing
thing;;;. For it is not natuml for any thing to tinge other sub-
stances, not ?~?eeable to their natures: if t.herefor~ you put into
your compolntlOn, red gold, you shall find In the tmcture a pure
and prrfect red: and if you put into it white gold; the most passiTc
red will vanish or go fOrth. There is. n()thing indeed docs tiltge
any thin8, but what is similate to, or like itself. And I testi(y
to YON by the living God, maker of heaven and earth, that the
stonefwhich I hal'e described, you have permeJIant or fixed,
nor are you kept from .it by the earth or the sea, or any other
maUer. Keep then your congealed quick.si\ver, many parts of
which lITe lost bet:ause of its subtilty. AlliO the DlOU11tain in
which i'3 the tabemade Which cries out. I am the bl~ek of the
white, and the white of the black; I speak the trttth indeed,
and I lye not. N(lw know, thaI the root of the matter i" the
head of the crow flying witbout wings, in the dark and black of
the night, and in tbe appearance of the day: from the throat the
fixing spirit: from it!! gnll the 4:010uring or tinging matter is
taken, from its tail, the desication, or drying of the matter;
fFOrn its wings the liquid water; and from its body the redness.
Understand the me&llmg of the words, for hereby h understood
our venerable stone, nnd the fume or vapour thereof whiclt is
exalted (lifted up or sublimed) and the sea irradiated l and a light
shining. You are also to note, what alums and salts are,. which
flow from bodies; if you put the medic;ines (or matters of thl.

15
 medicine) in njust or true proportion, you shall not err; but jf
yuu mi:otake the proportion, you must add or diminish, accord·
ing as you see ittends to the emen<IRtion or performing of the
wo.rk, lest a deluge l>lwuld <:ome and ovc,71ow all, drowning the
regiolls, and ove.rtw"nil1lr the trtj{'S by the roots. And though
the mnttcr be uDkao"m,o vet oonsidet= thC5e things, how, or after
what manner these two ei,loul's are distiull'uished, or diven;med;
by tbeir .:vapours: look into the j;weetnessoof Imgar, which til one
!o:ind of sweet juice; .lwcl into the sweetness of honey, which i.
yet more in.tense or inwRrd. fxcept you make the bodies spi-
ritll..'ll :Iolld impalpable, YOIl kRQW not how ta }m1.t'ety ixir, or
f" oceed on in the ,vork; 1101' how the three volatite matterll or
principles, fight one Ilgaiust another; and how they f/lil not,
each in thei,· turns, to devour one another, till of two being left,
one, Dilly remains. Be ca.refu( also., how you ifl:Cl."case your fire
(thoug" .it is not t'O be very sm",IJ when you dry up the water)
alld tuke .ucoci t14at you bUrR not the matter, because if the
vc£scl bn'aks, it wjJl hc with a mighty impetus or force. Altd
\1n'lest; the matters of die stone, prove inimical one to 1Ulother~
o,r contend and fight wi~ and strive to destroy ORe Mottle.r, you
shall never attain to the thing you seck afler. If yfitl Ill~X your
c:llx with lIuripigment, and not in a mean or due propo.rtion,
the splendour and glooryof the operation will not sucCt.'ed; but
if YOI,l. intcrpose a medium, the effect will .immediately follow.
Now know, that it is our w.a.ter, which extractil the hidden tinc-
ture. Behold the eXlUIlJille and understand it; if you 11uve ORce
hrought the body into asbes, you have operated rightly. And
the blood (~hlch is in the philollophic water) of the animated
hody, is the earth of the wise, to wit, the permennnt or eodurinJ;
perfectioa;t.
Now it is that which is dead, which you ought to vivify or
make alive; and th!l.t which is sid., which ought to be ou\'ed:
it is the white wbich is to be rubified; tlle black which is to be
nurified; Md the cold which is to be made hot. It is God him-
self who does creme, and inspire or give life, Ilnd replenishei
nature with his powe,', that it might follow and imitllte his wilj-
dom, and 9,ct as 811 instl"Umellt subservient to him. Iron is onr
gold; and brass or copper is our tincture; urgent vive i~ our
giory; tin is our silver; blackness is our whiteness; and the
wJlitelless is our redness. From hencc it appears necessRry, thnt
w.e should have a body purifying bodies; anU a wnter sl\bliming
WBteJ.·. Our stone which is a vessel of fire, is made of fire:
uUQ, is ~nverted into the jOame again. And if you would walk
in the true way, you must pursue it in the evident or visible
blackness: for (S/1.ilh our stone) it is that which is hidden within,
which does make me white; and the same thing which makes
me white, makC$ me also red. ConceRl this thing from men,
like as a word which is yet in thy mouth, which no man under-
stands; and as the fire, light, or sight, which is in thine eye:

16
I will not ten it plainly to tllee thyself, lest by tlly 'Word s thou
eonveyeet my breath t6 another, to thine own damage: this if!
the cauti(Jll I give thee. Now know that this our work, is made
ef two figures the one of which wallts the white rust, and the
other the reddish rust. Uur matters also are searsed through our
,Ieves or sears eSt made of pllre or clean rinds, and a most blNlsed
wood. You are also to tuke notice, that the fire-stone of the
philosophers sou~ht after, wan ts extcntion, but it hits quantity.
It cehoves you therefore, to Sllpport and nourish it on every
side, and to ~ontinue it as in the m iJdlc, You must also conjoin
the hody with the loul, beating alld grinding it in the sun, nnti
imbuin~ it with the stone; then putting it into the fire, so long
till all its stains and defilements are taken away; let it he II
gentle fire for I\hout seven hours splice; thUR will you get thl\t
',hich will make you to live, I also tell you, that its habitation
lIr dwelling place! is positf'd in the bowels of tlle earth, for
without mrth it Cll.nnot be perfected; also, its hllbit.lltion is po-
.iled in the ho\velll of the fir£', nor without. fire ('an it be per-
&ct~, which is the perfection of our art. Again, except ~·ou
mix with the white the red, !lnd presently bring or reduce the
same into 8 perleet water, it will tinge nothing; for it never
tin~es flny thing lcd, but that which is wilitl., : and whilc the
w?rk is now perfe<:ting" ft~ltl the~ to the light of the sun, Rnd it
WIll be compleated T£'gtmme marmo, all we have already dec1llred :
and by this conjunction above; your stone will attain to itl Genuty
and glory. ThHS ha\"e you a dry fire which does tin~: lin ail'
or vapon r, which fix('S Bnd chains t.he volatile matteT, binding
the fugith'e in fetters; and alliO whitens, expelling the blackness
from bodies; a nd a fixed earth, also receiving the tineturc.
\VlI.6h your mercury with the watet' of the f;eR, till YOII haw:
taken away from it all its blackness, so will you accGmpli~h yout'
work to perfection, in which rejoice. If you unrlerstand how a
resurrection is accomplished, i. e. how the linhg (principle or
epirit) comes forth from the dt'Rd (mntter or substance) how th nt
is mRde Rppal"el.lt which ,,'as hi<i(len, :tnt! how st~ngth is d"llwn
forth through weakness j you cmmot be ignorant how to Mmple-Rt
and perif'<It thii work, How manifc!'.t and clear Are the words
of die wise, yet so a~ the internal life And principal is still hid-
den I you undt'f'M8nd them not perfectly by their eXllretlSiom.
"l'wo hodie!1 equally taken from the E'Ilrth. grind, in the oil of
the ckeoctoo matter, nnd in the milk of the white 'l'oillti le:
}lOW mighty ROll l\'onc:h>l'ful are the pOl\"er5 and fOrce of tlwse
bodie'S, whkh are freely bestowEd upon you, through this whole
!'ci('~, which y(}\l shall PO~. wd Ulerewith a long and cn-
dltning lik. Take hy klrce the most ilJten~c wMidom, Irom
wlwrtC(' you mu,;t draw i(ll1:h the etemal (perpetU61 ot' fix-ed) life
of the Ilt.~, till ,roo!" stone is (.-ongcnk<l, 3tui its cl\lJne~ iSYR-
l,j ,.ht"(~ ; ,s o "ill you .ccompli~h the li/P thereof sought liner,
Give titerefore of t~~i61ifc sufficiently to roW' matt",l', and it will

17
mortify it (or bring it to putrefaction) but replete your earth, and
it shall make it to live (spring, bud, grow, germinate,) Plant
this tree upon your stone, that it may not be in danger of the
",iolence of winds, that the volatile influences or bird of heaven,
may filiI upon it, and by virtue thereof, its branches mlly bring
'orth much fruit; from thence wisdom does arise. . Take thia
volatile bird, cut off its head with afiery sword, then strip it
of its feathers or wings, undo its joints, and boil it upon COllI!;,
till it is made, or becomes of one only colour. Then put the
venom, or poison to it, so much as is enough to bury or cover
it; govern it nc;w with II gentle fire, till your matter is mortified
or putrefied; which done, grind it with white water, and ma-
nage it riglltly. For we bought two - - (crows) and we put
them into a paropsidem, or crucible (or cupel) which we had by
llS, and eggs or silver gobbets came out, white as salt, these
we tinged with our saffron: of them we sold publicly two hun-
dred tImes, with which we have been made rich, ami our trea-
:mres are multiplied. And whosoevcr you shall imbue or fill
with the powers thereot~ ~TlOUld they be hUl't with the poisOn of
vipers, or the malignity of brass or venligrease, they shall be in
no danger; for that it C]uickens and revives the dead, and kills
the living: it destroys and restores ngain; it casts uown thnt
which is elevated and lift up, and elevates that which is abjected
and cast down, alld gives you a dominion over the heavens of
the earth. Now you must note, that there are two stones of the
wise, found in the shores of the rivers, in the arms of the moun-
tains, in the bowels of the floods, and in the back parts of the
Icing's house, which by instruction amI prudent management
may be brought forth, male and female. By these being con-
joined and maue complex (or perfectly united into one c~msi­
milar substance) you will he macle wiser (you will iee the reason
of the operation, and the end of tile work.) Blessed God, how
great :tnt! how wondcrtill a thing is this.
A certain philosopher dreamed, that the king's mes~engcr
('arne to a ce:'!nin gouty mnn, and the man desired that he might
go with him; to whom the messenger answered, since thou hast
the gOllt, how canst thou go with me, for thou canst not walk.
'1'0 whom the gouty man answered, thou knowest that in the
}'oot of this monntain, 1here is a certain tabernacle, beal' me
then thither, leave there the burtheu, so shall I be presently
freed or delivered from my gout. Then said he to me, thou lIrt
]lot able to touch the foot thereof: but going. back, he took him
up and placed 11im in the tabernacle, the foot of which, the
messenger said, he was not able to touch: .ano waking from
llis dream, he saw nothing. Behold the similituue. Another
also saw in a dream, wherein it was saiu, if anyone truly iihoul,l
lit down by the way, and shoulu ul;k you, whether you would
think fit to do this thing, would you tlo it? He answered, I
know not; the other said, that he lihouW lie or gcnerutc with his

18
 mother in the middle of the earth; then :lwakin~, he ~aw no-
thing. Con~ider well this similitude. .
But l{'ading you to the knowled,gc of philosophy, and ex-
posing thc demonstrations thereot; in n philosophic tlliIlln(~r..
wc should make it thc derision alld mocker\" of WOlllell. and the
play of children. Takc abo the trC!;h barl; or rind, jll the sallie
momel,t; in which you ~hSlJl, alter ,mother manucr, extract the
matter or tiling itself, in the place wherc it is g,_'lJl.'rnted; IllJd
pllt it mto 1\ cunn'bir, and sublime it. And that which is or
bhdl be sublimed, sqmrate it, for it is thc vinc3ar of the' philo-
!\ophcrs, and their sapi'-~l1ce (i. c. their saIL) 11)en take this
Tillegar, and melt or pOllr it forth upon another cortex, bnrk,
crsliperfict's of the sea, m)(l put it il1to a glass v('sica, ill which
r.Ht so much of your vin('g:tr, as Illay over top it the height of
t{lUr inches; this hury iri warm horse dung, for thirty-olle or
furty days. This timc heing past, take the vessel fi>rth, and you
will find it now dissolved, and turned into a black llnd stinkin~ wa-
tcr;moreblack andstinl<ingthanuny thinginthewholeworiJ. rake
then this\:"ery thing itself, and \'cry gently elevate it in itstahrrnacle,
till all the moisture is consumed, 50 as no more will ascend, thi ..
sublimed mutter keep carefully for your usc. Then take the fceccs,
which remain inthcbottom of the cucurhit, and keep them,fi)l' they
are the crown (and rejoicing) of tile heart. Dye then the same
anu grind them, and add thereto fresh or new cortex of the
sea, that is say, mercury, and grind them together, drying them
in a warm 1;l1n. And the W:lters from the same nrst s~blil1lcd,
sink down to the bott()~ which diligenlly grind and dry, anu
put them in the crucible 01' test of Ethel, Rntl sublime: Ilnd the
mlltter being subfimed purely white, as fine snit, keep it sately,
t;'r it is the anripigmcnt, and sulphur and magnesia ot' the phi1
l()sophtrs.
Understand now, and see tllat you govern your work witq
wisdom and prud~nce, and muke not too much haste. The~
t8!W the cHcUl'hit, put half wa'y into lute, aud put into the same,
your dissolved black water, which you have sublimed; that is to
~ay, nine pmts, and of this wl,itcncd auripigmentum, which you
IHlblimed fi'om the ethel two parti. I say, that this opened or
<lecClctro auripigment, is imll1~liatcly dissolved in :hc w3ter,
ntul made like to water; that nothing call be seen by mankind,
pf a more intcnsc, fi:ott, and perfect whiteness, nor RI')Y ~hing
JIlore be:mti/i,1 to the cyc, which the philosophers call their sal
,-j'"<;ini!>, or virgin salt. Put this into n little vessel, callcu a
cutlli'bit, close well the joynts, which put l'Pon It gentle fin',
making it, as it were, but with two coals at first, and then add-
ing two others: nnd look into it, to see how the water ascends
~"d d("~cends. When you see the vapour is consumed, and
l1uthing more will ascend, of that which is elevated, nor de-
seeml, J:now that the mntter itself is now coagulated: mnkc
t1Wl'ct(}\'~, :l more intense amI vehement fire, lor the space of

19
 mother in the middle of the earth; then ::Lwakin~, he ~aw no-
thing. Con~ider well this similitude. .
But l<,ading you to the knowledge of philosophy, and ex-
posing the demonstrations thercot~ in n philosophic tlliIlln(~r..
we should make it the derision alld mocker\" of women. and the
play of children. Take abo the trC!;h bark" or rind, jll the sallie
momel,t; in which you ~hSlJl, alter ,mother manucr, extract the
matter or tiling itself, in the pJat:e where it is g'_'IIf.'rated; Illld
pllt it mto 1\ cunn'bit, and sublime it. And that which is or
bhdl be sublimed, sqmrate it, for it is the vinc3ar of the' philo-
!\ophcrs, and their sapi'-~l1ce (i. c. their saIL) 11)en take this
,illegar, and melt or ponr it forth upon another cortex, bnrk,
c rsliperfict's of the sea, amI put it into a glass v('sica, ill which
r.ttt so much of your vin('gnr, as Il!ay over top it the height of
t{lUr inches; this hury in warm horse dung, for thirty-ollc or
fOrty days. This time heing past, take the vessel forth, and you
will find it now dissolved, and turned into a black and stinkin~ wa-
ter; more black andstinl<ingthannny thing-in thewholeworld. rake
t hen this very thing itself, and ,'cry gently elevate it in itstahrrnacle,
t ill all the moisture is consumed, 50 as no more will ascend, thi ..
sublimed muttcr keep carefully fo1' your usc. Then take the fceccs,
which remain inthebottom of the cucurhit, and keep them, for they
ar e the crown (and rejoicing) of tile heart. Dye then the same
anu grind them, and add thereto fresh or new cortex of the
sea, that is say, mercury, and grind them together, drying them
in a warm 1;lIn. And the w~lters from the same nrst s)lblimed,
sink down to the bott()~ which diligently grind and clry, and
put them in the crllcible 01' test of Ethel, Rntl sublime: and the
mlltter being subfimed purely white, as fine snit, keep it saiely,
tnr it is the anripigment, and sulphur and magnesia ot' the phi~
l()sophtrs.
Understand now, and sec tIlat you govern your work witq
wisdom and prud~nce, and muke not too much haste. The~
t8!W the cncllI'hit, put half wa'y into lut<', and put into the snll1t',
your dissolved black water, which you have sublimed; that is to
~ay, ninc ratts, and of this wlritcncd auripigmentum, which you
lillblimccl fi'om the ethel two parti. I say, that this opened or
<lecClctro auripigment, is itnm~liatcly dissolved in :hc w!lter,
ntul made like to water; that notlring call be seen hy mankind,
('f a morc intcnse, fi:'tt, and perfect whiteness, nor R1')Y ~bing
))lore be:mti/i,\ to the eye, which the philosophers call their sal
"ic<;ini~, or virgin salt. Put this into n little vessel, called a
cutlli'bit, close well the joynts, which put \Ipon It gentle fin',
making it, as it were, but with two coals at first, and then add-
ing two others: and look into it, to see how the water ascends
~Ild de~cends. When you see the vapour is consumed, and
l1uthing more will ascend, of that which is elevated, nor de-
sCf.'IJ{I, J:now that the matter itself is now coagulated: make
thcl'ct{}\"~· a more intense amI vehement fire, lor the space of

19
three h011r!i of the day. Then lnstJy, take Bway tIle .fire. or let
it f:!o out, and the next (lay (Ill! things being coJd) o~n the
moutll of your cucurhit, and take lorth the nIatter. whIch is of
II ~lIbstl\'nce, white, sincere, und mclted or dissolved. This is
YOIlI" substance sought nfier: and now you have come throuiZ h
to the end of ~·our work; Illllllagc it according to your reason
11m] pru(iencl', fur (Goll assj~ting) you may maLe of it what you
please.

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