THE THIRD PART OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS His last TESTAMENT,

Treating of the Universal work in the whole World, with a perfect

Declaration of the XII. Keyes: wherein is significantly expressed the name
of the great matter.

There is an Elucidation also of all his former writings: published for the
good of the posteritie, and such, that are lovers of wisdom.

LONDON, Printed Anno Domini, MDCLVI.

THE THIRD PART IS A Declaration of the XII. Keyes.

Here follows the third part of my intended writings, wherein is truly showed
the original and prime matter of our Philosophick stone, which is a perfect
instruction to the practick part, which sheweth the direct way to the
inexhaustible fountain of health, and of the abundance of riches to provide
mans necessaries: and this is a Declaration of my former writings, which is
left for a love-token to all those that lovers of Philosophy.

My friend you must note, that by this intended work touching the Minerals, I
had reason to prefix the two parts Minerals, and Metals, and their Ores,
holding it a necessity to hold forth a light unto the ignorant, how that one
spirit from above frames all such Ores, Metals, and Minerals, taking their
original underground for to generate thereby. For earth is alwayes ready and
covetous to atact and to retain that spirit, which proceedeth from Heavens
powers, which it presenteth in processe of time in a •mality and perfection.
The manner of it hath been spoken of sufficiently in my former writings,
which is the reason why I give onely hints of them in this place.

Note, that all things proceed from a heavenly influence elementall operation,
earthly substance, from this mixture arise the 4. Elements, water, aire, earth,
which engender by the help of fire, hid therein, in a warm digestion,
producing a Soul, Spirit, and Body. These are the three prime principles,
which in a coagulation come to a Mercury, Sulphur and Salt, these three
being in conjunction, according to the nature of the seed produce a perfect
bodie; be it in the Kingdom, either of Minerals, Animals, or Vegetables. All
things in the world, that are visible and palpable, are divided into these three
Kingdoms: the Animal which contains such that have a lively breath,
composed of flesh and bloud, as men, beasts, worms, fishes, fowls. The
Vegetables which contains trees, herbs, seeds, roots, fruits, and all such
things that are of a growing quality, the Minerals contains all manner of
Ores, Metals, Minerals, Marcasits Calxes, Zincks, Lobol's, all sorts of flints,
peebles, wismuths stones, precious ones and others.

Animals have their special seed, a spermatick substance which after a

copulation generate flesh and blood, which iced is their prima materia, from
a heavenly influence, created of God of the 4. Elements, wrought by nature,
which formerly were quoted in my writings.

Vegetables also have their proper seed which God bestowed on them,
according to their several qualities and forms by a heavenly and sideral
influence, and receive then elemental fruitfull growing from the earth, with
an order, thereby to generate and augment.

Minerals and Metals also have their original seed from God, by the heavens
influence in a liquid aereall substance, by a Mineral spirit, sulphureous Soul
and earthly Salt in one body joined: of these I have spoken in my former
writings.

Note further, if any of these Metallic and Mineral kind• shall be brought to a
farther propagation and augmentatation, it must first be reduced to its first
seed and prima materia.

If you will transmute Metals, augment them, bring •em into a tincture, or
Philosophick stone, you must first understand, how you may destroy by a
spagyrick Art, the metalline and Mineral form and separate it into a
Mercury, sulphur and Salt, these three must be purely separated, and ought
to their first principles.

This separation is done in, and by a Mercurial spirit, sulfureous Soul and a
white Salt. These three in a due ordering of a true manual must be joined
again, that they may be brought to the highest and most perfect purity.

In which conjunction must exactly be observed the quantity: after this

conjunction the whole substance is meerly a liquid substance and
philosophick water, in which all the Elements, first the heavenly then the
elemental, and lastly the earthly qualities are shut up and lie hid therein.

For the Mercurial spirit is cold and moist, the sulphureous soul is warm and
dry, and this liquor is the true prima materia, and first seed of Metals and
Minerals, which by Vulcans Art is brought to a plusquam perfection, into a
transcendent fixed Medicine, out of which is generated the true philosophick
stone, and must be produced in that way.
Therefore observe and take notice, that all Metals and Minerals have onely
one root, from which generally their descent is, he that knows that rightly,
needs not to destroy Metals, to extract the spirit from one, the Sulphur from
a second, and the Salt from a third. For there is a nearer place yet, in which
these three, Spirit, Soul, and Body lye hid in one thing; well known; and
may with great praise be gotten, it shall be nominated afterward in several
terms.

He that learneth to know exactly this golden seed, or this Magnet, and
searches throughly into its properties, he has then the true root of life, and
may attain unto that, his heart longeth for. In my former writings, as also in
the XII. Keyes from the first to the last I ordered thus my style, in writing,
wherein I held forth unto posterity the practick, how the great stone of
Philosophers, or the best purified gold may be made out of Sulphur and Salt,
with the help of the spirit of Mercury, which must be drawn from crude
unmelted Minera, according to the Tenor of my first Key set down in a
parabolical manner.

Why I laid the work of the Philosophick stone upon the Gold Metal, this is
the reason, that the simple Laboratory to whom is unknown the other body,
or subjectum, which contains all the three principles: though it be a thing
well known, yet is it stranger to their brains, may learn hereby more wit and
knowledge. Many of the ancient Philosophers, which lived long before me,
have in the same manner with me obtained the true universal stone of a
mysteries and health, as their books, which are extant, give evidence thereof.
The first time I took great pains and made great expences, and consumed
much time about th• purified Gold, alledged in the first Key, this heavenly
stone I prepared in the Cloister I lived in, and happily obtained it. The
highest in heaven bestowed his further grace and blessing upon me, that I
took into further consideration the tinging 2 animated 1 spirits placed and
planted into their several bodies. Let no man be ashamed to learn, to add
more to his learning, and to dive further into that, which was hi• from him,
notwithstanding his knowing wayes. Nature reserves many things in her
secrecie, which mens dull understanding and shortnesse of life cannot reach
unto.

Whereas God in his great goodnesse hath bestowed this great gift upon me,
for an improvement of that talent, I have imparted the same to my fellow
Christians in the said XII Keyes.

Those that are endued with deeper wits and knowledge, and in their hearty
and carefull endeavours strive further to dive in the Art, will meet in the
same place with a more easie and more known matter, which was almost
named and set down, of an effectual quality, out of which in like manner, as
the ancients before me, in their exact speculation and practick have in the
end better known the onely scope and drift, which hath been practised
several times by me also, in a shorter time, and lesse pains taking, both they
and I have obtained health and riches: in this known and despicable matter
and Mineral substance is found a sulphur and tincture more effectual, and
more worthy than the best Gold can afford, which is fluid and open, and its
Mercurial spirit also, and its mystical Salt is free and open, whose virtues
may with lesse pains in a visible manner be drawn from it.

He that hath considered exactly my XII. Keyes, frequently perusing the

same, must needs conceive, and that therein is held forth the whole
preparation of our stone, from the beginning to the end, without any defect,
yet so that it only should be prepared of Gold fitted for it. But we, according
to Gods ordinance in nature, have pointed at gold, which is much better, and
requires to be taken into deep consideration, which being unknown and
strange Novices, for some reasons I forbear to give them any directiontion
thereunto, with a resolution to write and to point at such matters, as
themselves are inclined to seek for their seed in them.

At the beginning of my XII. Keyes, according to the manner of

Philosophers, in a parabolical way I made relation of the property and work
of our stone and balsam, how was made by Artists, which as by an
inheritance it came to me also, wherein I spoke as much as was meet of the
government of the fire, chargeable appearance, and of the chiefest planetical
colours, and the final end thereof. After the accomplishment of these peruse
well the XII. Keyes, for each containeth a particular work.

The first Key informeth you, that if you seek for the seed in a Metalline
body, as in the Gold, then before all things it must most exactly be purged
from all its impure leprosie, and that nothing must be mix'd with our
Fountain, but such, which is of a pure spermatick quality. This purifying is
perform'd with Antimony, which stands in a near relation, and affinity unto
Gold, which is the reason why antimonial sulphur purgeth the Soul of Gold,
graduating the same to a very high degree. On the other-side, the Gold can
meliorate in a short time the Soul of Antimony and can bring it to a firm
fixation, exalting Antimony and Gold to an equal dignity and virtue, and can
be brought not onely unto a white Metal of Lune, but also to a transcendent
Medicine for mans health, of which you shall have a further direction
hereafter, when I shall treat in particular of Antimony. Although Antimony
hath promise unto Saturn a sociable brother-hood, because Antimony
qualification doth rest in some sort on the quality of Saturn in an equal
concordance, yet after the fixation of the exalted Sulphur of Antimony, his
next friend Saturn cannot get any prey from him, because the King received
him into his golden Palace, and make him partaker of his triumphing
Kingdom. This is the reason, why he can endure now heat and frost, and
overcomes it, and standeth with the King a Conquerour in great and
transcendent glory.

The purifying of the Gold is perform'd thus: Laminated the Gold-thinly,

after a due manner, cast it thrice through Antimony, afterward the Regulus
which is set at the through casting must be melted before the blast in a
strong fire, and driven off with Saturn, then you will finde the purest, fairest,
most lustrous Gold, pleasant to behold, as much as the lustre of Sol is. This
Gold is now fitted to surrender its innermost, being first brought from its
fixednesse into a destructive form, and passe through the Salt-Sea of its
corruptiblenesse, is drowned therein, escaped again, and appeared visibly.

The second Key.

My Friend, note, and take that into a serious consideration, because the
chiefest point lyes herein; cause a Balneum be made, let nothing come into
it, which should nor be there, that the noble seed of the Gold fall not into
destructive and irrecoverable opposition after its destruction, and take an
exact and carefull view of such things, which my second Key informeth thee
of, namely what matter you ought to take to the Kings Balneum, whereby the
•ng is destroyed, and its external form broken, and its undefiled Soul may
come forth, to this purpose will serve the Dragon and the Eagle, which is
Niter and Sal armonick, both which after their union are made into a
Aquafort, as you shall be further informed of in my Manuals, where I shall
treat in particular of Gold, of other Metals and Minerals, into which
Balneum the King is thrown, being first, as in the quoted place you shall
hear, brought into an Amalgame of Mercury and of Sulphur, which presently
seizeth on him, corrodeth all his members, and is dissolved, and is presently
mortified of this Salt water into a most splendent transparent Oil. You must
note, that this dissolution is not sufficient, and the King is not minded as yet
to let go his Soul out of his fixed body, which you can see when you
separate the water from the dissolved body of the King, where you shall
finde fixed powder of Gold, out of which you will hardly get his Soul that is
therein. Therefore follow my counsel and bear the yoake, which I bore
before you, and learn to know exactly in pains taking, further thus, as I shall
inform you. Having dissolved your Gold wholly in the said water, and
brought it into a pleasant yellow Oyl, then let it stand well luted for a day
and night in a very gentle Balneum Mariae, the feces which are setled, must
be separated from it, then take this pure dissolution, put it into a well coated
body, or Retort, apply a Helmet to it, with a receiver, in the best manner
luted to it, set it into a sand Capel, drive the Gold with the water over the
Helmet, iterate this a third time, then abstract the water in Balneum Mariae,
you will finde a fair Gold-powder, keep this in a glasse for an hour in fire,
let the remaining humidity be drawn from it.
The third Key.

Then take of good spirit of Sal-niter one part, and of dephlegmed spirit of
ordinary Salt, three parts, pour these spirits together warmed a little, into a
body on the fore-written Gold-powder, lute a Helmet and Receiver to it
drive the Gold over as formerly in sand several times with an iterated
distillation, the oftner the better, let the Gold come to be volatile more and
more, and at last let all come over. By this repeated driving over, its fixed
body is divided, all its Members are torn asunder and opened, and leaveth
willingly its Soul to a special Judge, of which my third Key will give
sufficient information.

Note further, that after this work those salt spirits must be abstracted from
the Gold, which was driven over, very gently in Balneo Mariae, let nothing
of the tincture of the Gold come over, that the body suffer not any
diminution: then take that Gold, or rather these Chrystals of Gold, from
which you have separated the water, put it in a reverberating pan, set it under
a Muffle, let its first fire be gentle for an hour, let all its corrosivenesse be
taken away, then your powder will be of a fair scarlet colour, as subtile as
ever was seen, put it in a clean viol, pour on it fresh spirit of ordinary Salt,
first brought to a sweetnesse, let it stand in a gentle digestion, let that spirit
be deeply ting'd and transparent, red like a Ruby, cant if off, pour on fresh,
extract again, iterate the work of canting off and pouring on, till no more
tincture of it appeareth, put all these extractions together, separate them in
Balneo gently from the Sulphur of Sol, then that powder is subtile and
tender; of great worth; this matter is such, which in a short processe
transmuteth Lune in its tincture to the highest perfection, according to the
direction of my XII. Keyes.

He that hath some knowledge herein, may make this quere: whither this
extracted dry Soul and Sulphur of the King be just that Soul, of which
Philosophers have this saying: the Philosophic work for the preparation of
the most precious stone requireth three things, viz. a wet volatile Mercury, or
a Mercurial spirit, a wet volatile sulphurous soul, and a dry astral Salt, which
after its dissolution together with the two first must be apparent and known
in a waterish form; which way comes that about, because in this process
nothing is spoken of any Mercurial spirit and volatile Soul, but the Soul of
the King appeared in a subtile form of powder? The answer hereunto I delay
so long till the Querist learns better to understand the distinction in this
book, and I will perform my promise, and set his anxious and intangled
minde at liberty, which is so much troubled about this doubt, and will deal
with him as a good father may deal with his son; in and with this scope,
wherein our Mastery lyes; have been fooled most of the wits, leading them
captive in their erroneous wayes, being led about in a desart of mislead
ways, because in those supposed deep wits, they had not conceived so much
of the manner, how all things of the world are generated, and that every
spirit must have a Soul, and every Soul a fit spirit, and that both spirit and
Soul are spirits and spiritual, which must have a body, in which they may
have a dwelling.

Gold and Silver, but chiefly Gold is brought to the highest fixednesse, by
such degrees as nature did afford, insomuch its nature is found very hot and
fiery, freed from all phlegmatick humidity, of which Lune is not so wholly
freed, though she hath obtained a sulphur-fixed degree, and stayeth for the
King, to warm her cold body with his hot seed, which concerns the
particulars, and belongs unto them, which in that place shall be plainly
demonstrated. In Gold there is no waterish humidity at all, unlesse it were
reduced again into Vitriol, which would be but an uselesse and unprofitable
work, and would require huge expences, in case the Philosophers stone
should be of Vitriol of Gold, of which there must be had great store; indeed
in that Vitriol there would be found a convenient spirit, which nature would
desire, of a white quality, as also a Soul and Salt of glorious essence.

But what Countreys, Goods, Lands, have been dilapi•ted this way, I wave to
discourse of onely, this warning I give to my Disciples, nature having left a
nearer way to keep and to imitate that, that they also might take heed to fall
into such extream and inextricable poverties.

The solar Mercury Sol, being never brought so far undestruction, neither did
the ancient Philosophers ever make use of that way, as being a thing clean
contrary unto nature, containeth indeed an humidity, but it is a meer
Elemental waterish humidity after its dissolution, and good for nothing,
water and other principles do not stand in the Elements, but the Elements
rest in the principles and seeds of Metals, of the which I have spoken
formerly. Therefore let none be so over witty, as to make our stone onely of
dry and fully digested Gold: because its phlegmatick humidity is entred into
a dry fixednesse and fixed coagulation, which is not found so in other
Metals, though they also are subject to a hard coagulation and passed
through the fire, yet are not wholly digested, nor brought to a full maturity
from the natural original root: which ought to be taken notice of; and be not
offended at my former writings if they seem to run contrary against this.

Though I have shewed, that the spirit, Soul, and body come all from one
Metalline essence, and must be prepared thus, among which I held the Gold
to be the best, however I dealt herein as it seemed fit for a Philosopher, the
like the ancient Philosophers have done before me, but I hope you took
notice of my protestation, that I gave special cause thereby to your
speculation, to take the better notice of nature and her principle, and to
consider the original, because it was not meet for me to inform all men, how
the doors are bolted within, and especially at that time, when I never
intended to write thus plainly of these things, which are hid even from the
best of men, but when my heavenly Prince commanded, at the changing of
my minde, not to bury the imparted talent, but to do the like to those, whom
God think worthy, to leave it to them. One rule more must I put to thy
remembrance, of such points, which formerly I have set down, of which I
spoke now, that you may the less blame me, as if I did refuse these things
now, which I formerly wrote of.

Peruse all such which since the beginning of the world have written of
Metals, you will finde, that they were all of one mind, and that I make use of
their sayings: that the first and the last Metal is a Metal, because the first
Metal has already obtained, and gotten the forth-going seed of Metals in a
Metalline quality, which doth nothing else, but that it goeth on uncessantly
in the Metalline generation, as I spoke of in the first and second part of
Minerals and Metals, and in this part also I have spoken of it in several
places.

Many have called Gold Lead, and Lead they called Gold, because it was
found not onely of the same ponderousnesse, but because three deep
glittering stones have solely gotten from this Planet their transcendent
perfection, and many other causes besides, which to relate here, would fall
to long and needlesse. And this is it which asketh wisdom to distinguish in
this and in other things, and exactly to search into Gods mysteries, and
natures laid before us. But man through Adams fall being brought to a deep
blindnesse, therefore mens understanding are so eclipsed, that they can
hardly conceive of this, and of other mystical matters in nature.

The obduration being so great among the covetous, that for the most part
they search and dive into such mysteries out of meer covetousnesse, pride,
and ambition, made the ancient Philosophers upon command and inspiration
of the highest aim at that, as to put a certain stay to their hands, and to write
of such mysteries in such a manner, that unworthy men should not
understand it, and but worthy men onely in their illumination might perceive
it: and writing often one thing, have mingled other among, understanding
still the one and the same. In several places they showed, that the
Philosophers stone is, and comes from an animal, others from a vegetable
seed, and a third sort says, it comes from a Mineral seed: others write that
stone made of an animal, vegetable, and Mineral seed together. All this is
onely understood of the Mineral and Metalline seed, and consisteth not in
any plurality of seeds. Hence this Art grew eclipsed, insomuch that scarce
one among many thousands hardly attaineth unto the knowledge thereof and
for that reason is it held for an Art, because not every Dung should bring it
into his Beetle-head, and why should it? For if this Art were as common as
brewing of Beer, and baking of Bread, then any one may judge what good
could be looked for, would not all manner of vices be practised publickly
without any controlling.

Therefore such men, which in their lofty minde are meerly for Pomp and
Pride, must be clipp'd in their wings and these things ought not to be put into
their mouths things are clear enough for these, on whom God intends the
bestowing of them.

I return now to the thing I intented, which is to teach a desirous Scholler,

how to proceed further with the extracted Soul of Gold: Truly it is much to
discover such mysteries: I warn every one to make good use of them; and
note, that if you have the purple Cloak of the King (mantle of Sol), as the
sulphur of Sol, then be thankfull unto God for it, bear no evil minde against
thy neighbour, unlock your golden seed according to the Tenor of the Key,
turn it to water; for in our Art there must be body, Soul, and Spirit, which
run together in the innermost root, the one layeth hold on the other,
meliorateth the same throughout in its whole quality, insomuch that there is
a new created world and earth, which afterward is illuminated by the Soul,
and is exalted into a transcendent efficacie.

Therefore it is requisite that you know, how to infuse your golden seed into
the new body, and to bring it to a fluid substance: look about thee, and see
where you may find it: if you find none, despair not, but be of good comfort,
think upon means, and ask counsel of god Saturn,he will not let thee go
without a resolve, he will put into hand a deep glittering Minera for an
offering, which in Mine is grown of the first matter of all Metals, if this
Minera after its preparation, which he will shew unto you, is set into a
strong sublimation, mixed with three parts of bole, or tyle meal, then riseth
to the righest mount a noble sublimate, like little feathers, or alumen
plumosum, which due time dissolveth into strong and effectual water, which
bringeth thy seed in a little putrefaction very suddenly into the first
volatility, if so be there be added to it a due quantity of water, that it may be
dissolved therein, there the twig with the bulk doth unite, that they are able
to ascend above the highest mountain, and stay inseparably toether a Soul
and Spirit, or a Spirit and Soul.

It is requisite, that you be stored with water for the body or Salt to dissolve
the same also, and coagulate the same into a new clarified body, which will
never part asunder, neither in love nor woe, because they are of one nature,
nativity, and original, and have been so from the beginning. For they all
have their beginning and birth from the power of this volatile bird. But
remember well that these Mineral spirits are in other Metals also, and are
found effectual in one Mineral, from whence with more ease and lesse
charges it may be had: the businesse is only herein, that you learn to know,
what this Mercurial spirit, Mercurial Soul, & astral Salt is, that the one may
not be taken in stead of the other, which would cause a huge errour. You
will finde, that the nature of the golden sulphur consisteth onely in all
Metals, which are comprehended among the red, and have a fellow
dominion with other Minerals, by reason of the fiery tinging spirits, but the
magnetick power and its quality resteth in is white Mercurial spirit, which
bindeth the Soul, and dissolveth the body, therefore the Astrum of Sol is
found not only in Gold, that with the addition of the spirit of Mercurie and
the Solar Salt onely the Philosophers stone could be made, but may in like
manner be prepared artificially out of Copper and Steel, two immature
Metals, both which as male and female have red tinging qualities, as well
Gold it self, whither the same be taken out of one allone or out of both,
being first entred into an Union. Besides this Mineral in our Mothers tongue
is a Mineral, called Copper water, and of broken, or digged Verdigreece, or
Copper there can be made a Vitriol, in all which is found gloriously a Soul
of the best Gold, and come well to passe very profitably many wayes, no
Countrey clown can believe it.

Therefore note here, what you ought to observe, intend thy thoughts, and
give not over, unlesse you be come so far, that you know natures mystical
conjunction and her dissolution, then you will finde, what is requisite for
you to know, and return thanks unto thy Creator, make use of it for his
glory, and be beneficial to the needy.

This white spirit is the true Mercury of Philosophers which hath been before
me, and will be after me, without which the Philosophers stone, and the
great mystery cannot be made, neither universally nor particularly, much
lesse a particular transmutation. And this spirit is the Key to the opening of
all Metals, and their locking in again. This spirit is the sociable unto all
Metals, because they have their descent from his sanguinity, as you heard
often. For he is that true primum mobile, sought of many thousands, and
found by few none, and yet all the World is greedy of it, is sought afar off,
and found near at hand, he is and moves before the eyes of all men, for if
this spirit be fed with a Metalline sulphur and Salt, of these three there will
be one matter made, not much unlike to the Philosophers great stone
however duely must be proceeded in, and a true process from the beginning
to the end must be observed: for the corporal Salt must be dissolved into this
spirit, dissolved, turned, and brought into its prima materia, as the spirit his
self is: then both these of one equal descent and birth b• means of fire with
coagulating of the spirit may be generated a third time to a firm fixation, and
to a pure transparent white clarified body, thē after this accomplished albedo
the Soul, which is dissolved, must seek for her rest again, penetrate such a
pure body, unite with the same, and rise her dwelling therein, that these three
be permanent and abiding constantly in one body eternally clarified.
And that you may be informed, how in this manner both your dissolved
seeds, as the spirit of Mercury, and the Soul the Gold be made again fix and
corporeal, note that it is done onely by the proper Salt of Sol, which in this
Art is called a body. Now observe here, that you take no heterogeneal thing
in stead of it. What manner of processe is here •ed, read my fourth Key,
where the truth of it is held forth with singular examples, and proves; but
you are ••cially to observe, (in case you do not understand that •y) this plain
and true information, look upon the body 〈◊〉 Gold, not as if no other
benefit could be reaped of it, •t onely his Soul; not so: impute no such
weaknesse unto ••t body, but after you have drawn forth its Sulphur, there
yet in it the Salt of glory, and of the triumphant victrix, •thout which your
spermatick seed cannot be brought un• any coagulation. And even this Salt
now, of which I •ade so long a discourse, how you ought to bring it our of
〈◊〉 corporeal form through means of the spirit of Mercury •to its prima
materia, is afterward turn'd again into a deeply ••rified and exalted body.

Therefore take your Solar earth, out of which you drew •ur seedr, or the true
Lions bloud, and reduce it by rever••rating to a fix'd powder, and subtile
impalpable ashes, ••tract from thence a very subtile Salt, as bright as Ivory
〈◊〉 hereafter I will teach you in the Manuals, how the body 〈◊〉Sol is
anatomized by the particulars, and to bring it into Sulphur, Salt, and
Mercury. Then proceed unto the pra••ck and conjunction, and have a care,
that you be pro•dent therein, that at their conjunction you do not too ••ch to
the one, and too little to the other, take notice 〈◊〉 the quantity, and
observe exactly the division of the seeds, hereunto minister a certain
measure, and mark 〈◊〉 sixth Key, then proceed in the begun processe,
accordin• to the order of the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth K•• as formerly
I had informed you about it, go on with it 〈◊〉 the appearance of the Kings
honour and glory, to 〈◊〉 highest purple garment, and pure golden piece,
who is c••led the Triumphing Lord and Conquerour over all his su•jects,
from the East to the West; which if you have attain• unto them, return thanks
to God, be fervent in praying, 〈◊〉 mindfull of the poor, be a student unto
sobriery, temp•rance, abstinence, and above all unto taciturnity: for it the
greatest and most hainous sin, to let unworthy m•• know of it.

The augmentation of this heavenly stone, as also the f••mentation is

needlesse to be spoken of in that place, as b•ing described in my two last
Keyes, and held forth to the fu• not doubting if God grants so much blessing,
and imparte• this stone, the sense of these two Keyes will be more co•ceived
of: for no heterogeneal things must be broug•• to our Metalline substance,
neither at the beginning, mi•dle, or end, but the Mercurial spirit and the
digested Me••cine, spoken of in my eleventh Key.

To be further as good as I promised, concerning oth• things, quoted in my

Keyes, know ye, that no Philosopher tied wholly unto the Metal of Gold, of
which I spo•• largely hitherto, and disclosed the true fundamentals the•of,
and as you heard afore, the whole mystery lieth here••viz. in the tinging of
red fiery spirits of Metalline Sou• and all what is tinged red, and is known to
have a fierc• sulphur, all such are kinde to the Solar Astrum, and wh•• the
Mercurial spirit is joyned with, then the proceed: 〈◊〉 may go on
universaliter and Particulariter, that a tincture obtained from them, whereby
Metals and vulgar Merc•• can be exalted, and be ordered according to the
tenor the processe.

Such Souls and goldish Sulphurs are found most effect• in Mars and Venus,
as also in Vitriol, and both Venus and Mars can be reduced into a most
effectual Vitriol, in which Metalline Vitriol afterward all the three
principles, as Mercury Sulphur and Salt are found under one heaven, and
with ••tle pains and short time each can be taken out of it apart, •s you shall
hear, when I shall make further relation of the Mineral Vitriol which is
digged in Hungary, of a high gra•ation. Now if you have wit and
understanding, art in•lined and heartily desireth to conceive of the true
mean•ng of my Keyes, and of my other writings, thereby to un•o•k the locks
of Metals for our store, then you should have •aken notice and observed, that
in all these I have written •ot onely of the Metal of Sol, of its Sulphur and
Salt, but I •ave interlined and mingled also, and made uniformal other •ed
Metals, from whence may be had the mystical Masterie:•herefore men ought
to iterate often the reading of Philosophick books, then a true sense and
meaning may be drawn •rom them, which without divine illumination
cannot be •either, &c.

But hoping that those, who are fully and really resolved •o incline their
hearts unto wisdom, will give more atten•ion thereunto, than the other madd
worldlings, for whom •hese my writings were not intended: for I spoke as
plainly •s ever possibly I could, and this kindled light shall further •e
purified, so that true and sincere Novices may have a •ull light without an
eclipse from their beginning to their •nding. To which end I took these pains
to disclose that, which all the World was silent in, and concealed it to their
•ast end, and buried it in silence to their very graves.

The scope I aimed at in so doing, was not to hunt after any •ain glory, but
rather, that Gods gracious provident goodnesse might be held forth unto
posterity, that the future ••ges might become seeing, and some of the
posterities eyes might be kept open, and be helpfull unto their needy fellow
Artist, and make them partakers of Gods graces and gifts. Though my minde
be mightily perplexed, when I think ••on what I have done, because I write
so plainly, not know•ng into whose hands after my departure these my
writings Page 132 may come: However, I hope, let them be what they will
that they will remember, and lay to heart my faithfull warnings inserted in
my former and these present writings, tha• they deal with this book, and use
it so, that they may giv• good accompt for it to Almighty God.

Touching further the Vitriol, I should make mention o• it in my Manuals,

where I treat and write generally of Minerals: But it being such a singular
Mineral, whose felio• whole nature doth not produce, besides, Vitriol before
a•• others is of great affinity unto Metals, and is next ki• unto them, for out
of all Metals there can be made a Vitriol, or Chrystal (Chrystal and Vitriol is
taken for one) therefore I would not bereave it of its own praise, and put it•
commendation too far off, but rather preferre it, as ther• is just cause, before
other Minerals, and the first place, nex• to Metals should be given unto it;
for (setting aside all Metals and Minerals) this is sufficient to make the
Philosopher• stone of it, which no other in the World can do the like though
some particulariter are a help to further that work and Antimony alone is a
sufficient Master hereunto, as i• its due place more shall be spoken of.
However, none i• thus much dignified in its worthinesse, that the said
Philosophick stone could be made of it as this Vitriol is. Therefore ancient
Philosophers have concealed this Mineral a• much as ever they could, and
would not reveal the same t• their own Children, that they should not
divulge it in the World, but be kept secret, though they published, tha• such
preparation is made out of one thing, and out of on• body, which hath the
nature of Sol and Lune, and containeth also the Mercury, wherein they said
true enough, because it is so. But here I must admonish you, that you ma•
turn this argument, and settle your thoughts wholly upo• Metalline Vitriols,
because I intrusted you, that out of Venus and Mars there can be made an
excellent Vitriol, where in are found the three principles for the generation
of o•• stone, but you must further note also, that nevertheless• these three
Metals, as Spiritus, anima, corpus are buried an•Page 133 ••d in a Mineral
Vitriol, as in a Mineral it self. Understand •is according to the distinct
natures of Vitriol. For the •est, which according to my experience shewed it
self most •ffectual, herein is that, which is broken, and digged in •ungarie,
of a very deep degree of tincture, not very unlike ••to a fair blue Saphir,
having very little of humidities, and •ther additionals, or strange Oars: the
oftner it is dissolved ••d coagulated, the more is it exalted in its deep tinging
•olour, and is beheld with great admiration.

This high graduated Vitriol is found crude in those places, •here Gold,
Copper, Iron, is broken and digg'd, and is •bundantly transported from
thence into forraign parts, in• much that sometimes there is great scantnesse
of it in those ••rts, and elsewhere.

Though the vulgar people can afford no better name to 〈◊〉 calling it
onely a Copper-water, however, ancient Philo••ers by reason of its
unspeakable vertue and dignity ex•ll'd it, and call'd it Vitriolum, for that
reason, because its •iritual Oyl containeth all the three principles of all the
•iumphing qualities.

If you get such deep graduated and well prepared Mine••, called Vitriol, then
pray to God for understanding and ••sdom for your intention, and after you
have calcined it, •t it into a well coated Retort, drive it gently at first, then
••rease the fire, there comes in the form of a white spirit of ••riol in the
manner of a horrid fume, or winde, & cometh •o the Receiver as long as it
hath any such material in it. •d note, that in this winde are invisibly hid all
the three ••ciples, and come together out of that dwelling, therefore •s not
necessary, to seek and search alwayes in precious ••ngs, because by this
means there is a nearer way open ••o nature's mysteries, and is held forth to
all such, which 〈◊〉 able to conceive of Art and wisdom.

Now if you separate and free this expell'd spirit well and •ely, per modum
distillation is, from its earthly humidity, •n in the bottom of the glasse you
will finde the treasure, 〈◊〉 fundamentals of all the Philosophers, and yet
known to Page 134 none, which is a red Oyl, as ponderous in weight, as
eve• any Lead, or, Gold may be, as thick as bloud, of a burning fiery quality,
which is that true fluid Gold of Philosophers which nature drove together
from the three principles wherein is found a spirit, soul, and body, and is that
philosophick Gold, saving one, which is its dissolution, during th• fire, and
not subject to any corruptiblenesse, else it flie•• away with body and Soul,
for neither water nor earth ca•• do it any hurt, because it received its first
birth and beginning from a heavenly water, which in due time is pou•• down
upon the earth.

In these together driven goldish waters lieth hid that tr•• bird and Eagle, the
King with his heavenly Splendor together with its clarified Salt, which three
you finde shut up i• this one thing and golden property, and from thence yo•
will get all that, which you have need of for your inte••tion.

Therefore set that golden body you have obtained, whic• in dignity and
vertue is exalted beyond all other Gold, in•• its due and lawfull dissolution,
its due time, then the A•gel of the highest will appear unto thee, and tell thee
th•• it is the Resolver of all the mysteries in the World, receiv•• it with joy
and keep it safe, for its quality is more heavenly than earthly, therefore doth
it heartily incline to striv• after that, which is above, from whence it had its
Original.

If you have separated this Prophet from his matter whic• remained, then you
need not to undertake any further processe, you were taught parabolically in
my XII. Keyes. Fo• even in his remaining formal substance you may finde,
an• expect from thence a pure immortal Soul, together vi•• the glory of the
Salt, both which are obtained by means 〈◊〉 the spirit, and must be had
from thence, and no impure, o• contrary thing must be added thereunto. And
it is do• in the same manner as I told you in my Keyes, with the S•• and Salt
of the Gold by the saturnal water, in whose pla•• this spiritual Mercurial
spirit might be used with better a•vantage.

Page 135

Observe onely this difference, that the Salt must be drawn forth from the
Mercurial body, as it hapned unto the Soul, with the spirit of Mercury;
whereas on the other side the Salt of Gold must not be drawn forth with the
saturnal water, because it is too weak for the body of Gold, but with a water,
which hath been expressed in the description of particulars.

This distinction must be exactly observ'd, being of great concernment,

because the Salt of Vitriol is not so strongly guarded, and is not in so fix'd a
body, as the Gold is, but is still an open body, which saw no coagulation as
yet, nor passed it through any melting fire, therefore that body never came as
yet to any compactnesse, there is room left for its own spirit to enter into,
can embrace, and unite with its like, and a snow white extraction of Salt may
be had, whereas on the other side a sharper matter must penetrate Gold, as
you shall hear, when I shall speak more of it in its due place.

Behold now, my friend, whatsoever thou art, what minde I bare towards
thee, and how I am affected unto thee in my heart, the like I never durst look
for from thee. Consider it well, how sincerely and faithfully I disclose unto
thee all the locks and bonds, whereby the whole Philosophick wisdom is
shut up, which hitherto never entred any more •houghts, much lesse that
ever it was practised, or discovered; and nothing caused me to do it, but
onely Gods infinite mercy, my good will and love toward my Neighbour,
which my Predecessors have not done so compleatly, and was put off unto
me to do it.

Having thus separated your three Mineral bodies, and ordered them into
certain divisions, and put away the dregs, wherein they lye hid, then look to
it, that you neglect none of it, by the diminishing of the quantity, which
would prove a great fault to your work, and keep each in its own and due
quantity, otherwise in your work you cannot come to a happy end.

This is the thrift which so many have missed, and have Page 136 written
great volumes about it: for all what cometh from our Philosophick Gold, and
hath divided it self into three parts, the same must be brought into one,
without any losse and diminution, which is to enter into a new form again,
and become a meliorated substance, & nothing of it must be done away, but
onely the feces terrae in which the glorious Salt had its dwelling. Therefore
do that I told you of, & joyn the spirit with the body, bring the body also into
a spirit, dissolve & exalt it into the highest spiritual power, i• that dissolutiō
the body turns to a spirit, & the spirit with the body uniteth and joyneth into
one substance, that after the exchanging of all manner of colours, there
cometh a white body like snow, transcending all whitenesses. This is the
greatest mystery of this world, about which among the learned and supposed
wits, such disputings in the world have been, that a palpable thing, and a
visible one could be reduced into its prima materia, and out of that may be
made again a new clarified and better substance, by the bountifull nature
leading the way thereunto.

Thus you have made and brought into the world the Queen of Honour, and
the first born daughter of Philosophers, which after her due perfection is
called the white Elixir, of which great volumes are extant. Having brought
your work thus far, then you have deserved to be received into the Turba of
Philosophers, and you get more Art, wisdom, and understanding than all
Sophisters, which prate much of these mystical things, and yet know not the
least thing of it. Therefore it is just that you should be preferred before them,
and let them sit below thee in shame and disgrace, and in their darknesse of
mis-understanding, so long till nature doth enlighten them also.

That you may bring and lead that new Philosophi•• Creature by the means
nature afforded, unto the highest perfection, after which your heart with all
her endeavours doth strive, then remember that neither man nor beas•
without a living Soul can neither stir nor move: and as ma• here in this life,
through temporal death loseth his Soul, Page 137 offering the same again
unto the Almighty God, from whom 〈◊〉 had it first, into his mercy and
merits of Jesus Christ,•here after the departure of the Soul the dwelling, as
the ••dy of it, is left quite dead, which is buried in the ground, •here it
rotteth, and must return unto dust and ashes, being 〈◊〉 duly stipend,
which the fall of our first parents in Paradise •we deserved, and from them,
as by an inheritance is fall'n •pon us: after which putrefaction there are
raised again on ••e great day new and clarified bodies, and the departed ••ul
taketh her dwelling up again in that new body; after •at, there is no more
parting of body nor spirit, nor soul: ••t because the Soul finding a clarified
body, then with the ••me she maketh an everlasting Union, which neither
De••l nor death can destroy and disjoyn any more, nor bring it •to any
corruption, but from henceforth into all eternity •e are and shall: be like unto
the best Creatures of God, •hich before our mortality and departure of the
spirit, of ••e soul and the body could never be, God help and grant •nto us all
a blessed resurrection. Amen.

This high and mighty example having its foundation, •ot in humane
thoughts, wit, or pride, or in an ungrounded •ating, but in the great
Creatour's true word, which he •ath revealed unto us through his servant and
holy Prophet Moses, doth inform you, what you ought to do further with our
new begotten Creature, that you may get a perfect ••rth without any defect,
to the praise of the Highest, the •ather of lights and mercy, from whom we
receive all per•ect gifts which he graciously bestoweth on his Children, •or
which we are not able to return sufficient thanks unto •im.

Now if you will proceed well in your work, then joyn •he new body with his
Soul, which you formerly drew ••om, that the compound in its vertue be
compleat, and •here be apparent in the end a plusquam perfection of it: •hen
is begotten the Red King of all glorie in a fiery sub•tance, and highly
clarified body, exalted above all powers •pon earth, from thence ariseth the
golden fountain, he Page 138 that thinketh of it is renewed in all his
Members, and there is rised wholly a new life: for the which God be praised
for ever more.

The augmentation of this huge treasure together with the fermentation

thereof, for the transmutation of Metalls doubtlesse you have taken notice of
exactly afore, where I wrote of Gold how it must be handled, and what
direction I have given you, thereunto, the same you must observe; for here is
all one processe, from the middle to the end, the beginning onely asketh
alteration, by reason of the two distinct matters: for the which God be
praised whom we beseech, to give us his grace and blessing, that we may
make good use of this treasure, and after this life we may enter into the
heavenly Kingdom.

The love to my Neighbour hath moved me to write of these things, which in

my long experience I found to be true, following the steps of bountifull
nature, which made me a Sooth-sayer in natural things, and I am assured,
that if these my writings are made publick after my death, and my other
books sharing in the same fortune, that they must undergo many censures.
For some will extreamly condem• me, delivering me unto Satan, because I
have written so plainly: Others there will be, which will quite overthrow my
writings, crying out to be Lies, Superstition, and Diabolical works, the like
censure other illuminated men before me have undergone, which they feel to
this day; for men are so incredulous in these points, that so mighty an
operation should be found against all manner of infirmities, besides the
transmutation of Metals in so despicable a mat•er, (over which the Iron Man
with his espoused Wife Venus•ogether with the deep glittering Sol, is, and
must have the •redominancie) and with incredible profit it should by •rt •e
brought to such perfection. The Art being great, and •he matter so
contemptible, it procureth the more doubt •nd unbelief: these unbelieving
men I let understand one•y this notable example, whereby the eyes of those,
that •re going unto Emaus, shall be opened, and thereby shall Page
139••owledge that I have written no untruth, but disclosed 〈◊〉 a truth
very plainly. And note, that the ancient Phi••phers endeavoured to describe
the preparation of the ••e under a notion of distilling of wine and the spirit
••eof, which in their work are almost like one to an•er. For I they taught out
of the best wine to make a •it, without any strange phlegme, which to this
day ••ng vulgar Artists must be, and is called the right and •e mystical spirit
of wine, whereas it may soon be proved, •r this supposed spirit of wine
containeth much invisible •midity, or phlegme, in an insensible manner,
which is •hing else, but its vegetable Mercury: for the fiery spirit wine is the
true fire and soul of the wine. Every Sulphur ••taineth secretly its original
and principal Mercury: Ve•ables in their kinde, the Animals in their kinde,
and 〈◊〉 Minerals also after their kinde. 2. They taught how •s spirit of
wine must be separated in two distinct parts, •mely this spirit of wine be
poured upon white calcined ••ar, and be drawn over in a gentle distillation.
In this ••illation is separated the secret and true spirit of wine •m his
Vegetable Mercury, as I faithfully informed you 〈◊〉 my Manuals. From
the remainng earth they taught a •t be drawn, to be added to the rectified
spirit, whereby 〈◊〉 is fortified and strengthned in his substance, and at
last •e Philosopher stone should be generated! It is mightily •ainst Gods
ordinance, that a Vegetable should produce 〈◊〉 Animal, or an Animal
produce a Mineral. By way of •parable, the practice part is held forth under
the notion 〈◊〉 this preparation. Now as they taught of the wine, so in ••e
manner also through a short way our Gold can be pre•red, (not the usual and
common Gold) and may be dis•lved, divided, separated, and brought into its
first prin•ple.

But you must note, that this dissolution and separation •as never described
plainly by any of the ancient Philoso•hers which lived before me, and knew
the Magisterium,•hy I do it, the love to my Neighbour hath moved me Page
140thereunto, which I bear from the Center of my heart to those, which
overcome this mystery without falshood, 〈◊〉 mingling vices with a
faithfull heart, in a sincere kn••ledge and real piety. In the first place be
inform'd, 〈◊〉 our Gold (so much spoken of hitherto) must never be ••ken
for such Gold by any of our Disciples, which hath b• melted, and fully
digested by nature, for herein such •rour is committed, that men dilapidate
all what they h•• and loose both the beginning and end of all their wo•••
Although not onely from Gold, but from other Metals 〈◊〉 this
Clenodium, and Jewel may be had, in the prepara•••• of it, particulariter
much profit and advantage may be ••ten in that, which concerneth mans
health, as hath be formerly told; however, without the spirit of Mercury
〈◊〉Universal of the World to be gotten meerly from the b•• of Sol, is
impossible, and will be impossible, unlesse▪ Creatour of all things produce
another ordinance, to cha•• and alter his Creature after his own will. But as
that impossible, so it is impossible also, to deal against G•• Creature in that
kinde, as to finde out that wholesom p••fit, which to your longing desire you
expect. You m•• believe it for a truth, as Christ himself is, that the
Philo••pher's stone would not be so strange, rare, and unkno•• a thing, it
would be common to Kings and Potentates, 〈◊〉 God would permit to be
made of Gold alone, and the th•• Jewels of infinite fixed vertues hid therein,
could be 〈◊〉 out of it!

My intent is not in this present Treatise to use any p••lixity in writing; those
that are not quite blinde, and ha•• their eyes open, have enough already to
attain unto 〈◊〉 knowledge, and command both his minde and hands, •o to
passe by the weightiest, and esteem high things that i• unworthy, and to fall
with the blinde into the pit, ma•• for them. Those that are real in their desire
for to atta••• unto art and wisdom, and intend to propagate the sa•• without
sophistication, and desire in reality to glorie i• that honourable truth, you
may shew a real proof of it i• this manner.

Page 141

〈◊〉 tell thee really for the highest truth, that you may dis•e our Gold,
naturally driven together, in a short way, to •ng it to its prima materia, and is
done thus: take the •wn Mineral Spirit, in which our Mercury, Sulphur, and
〈◊〉 is shut up, containing that Philosophick mystical Gold, ••r that
guttatim upon white calcined tartar, these two ••trary qualified matters will
be tissing, let them stay toge•r till their contention and strife be ended, and
our Gold •e it self invisible in the vegetable Salt acre, or in the bel• of tartar:
lute a Helmet to it, distil it at first gently in •neo, then increase your fire,
then Hermes his volatile 〈◊〉 will fly away from our Gold in that
sublimation, and sit 〈◊〉 the highest pinnacles of the Temple, looking
about •ich way to betake himself, but soon is catch'd in the •ceiver, which
must be pure and very dry: when you see •t his flight is but slow, then take
the glasse out of the ••ny, set it in ashes, increase your fire, then will she fly
•re nimbly, keep that fire so long till all is come over; •d her brother the Red
Dragon, hiding his rednesse under a 〈◊〉 colour in a whitish fume, will
begin to follow after his •ing brother. Then cease with the fire, the drops
being fall'n from the Helmet, take it off, that which you •de in the Receiver,
you are to keep as a treasure of my•ries. In this manner you have gotten
wisdom, under••nding, and skill, the fundamentals also, and desires of
Phi••ophers: by this short witty proof you learn and get that •owledge, how
this water may be sought after, found, and ••ted on, and is not to be
esteemed a common water, but is •at real infallible heavenly water, of which
at the begin••g I have written, and repeated the same the oftner; •hich in a
spiritual manner from the heavens power is •ured down upon earth,
beginneth and accomplisheth •e generation of all Metals, for that reason the
ancient Phi••ophers call'd this water Mercury, but I call it the Spirit of
•ercury.

Now if you proceed right in this work, and you know •hat food and what
drink •o give to this bird, viz. Sulphur Page 142 and Salt of Metal, then you
may attain unto the end of 〈◊〉 great work, which is almost like unto the
Philosoph•• great work, and you may get profit infinitely partitu•a•• many
wayes; you must note, that this is not the true Phi••sophick dissolution, but
onely one, which particula•• performeth strange matters, a•d is a speculum,
in which 〈◊〉 Mercury, our Sol, and our Lune is seen bleaking, which i•
present confuting of unbelieving Thomasses, discover•• the blindnesse of
ignorantment. The dissolution of t• three principles I have described unto
you formerly, whi•• is of a slower pace, requiring time and patience, and
〈◊〉 exact attention to make, or bring three into one, which w• is done in it
self per se, without mixing of any heterogene• matter, onely that which lyeth
hid in it, must do it. F• the Fountain of salvation is the illumination of the
So•• and the Salt of the clarified body, are all in that one thin• existent from
one, two, or three, which must be brought a•• reduced to one, which is the
golden vertue of all Metals, •alted above all powers, together with the Eagle
and whi• body, which are no where together, but onely in this one found,
and in that which is next kin unto it, which kno•ing Philosophers alwayes
held in great esteem, but ignora•• and blinde men despised and disgraced the
same. But tho•• whose eyes are once opened, love to stick unto truth, co•• to
hide the matter from wicked men, and study day a•• night how the ignorant
might be kept from it. Thus I clo• this third part.

And before I begin the fourth part, concerning Partic•laria, I must needs
speak something of the Philosophers V•triol, Sulphur, and Magnet.

My friend, you must note, that this description I ma•• now of the essence of
Vitriol resteth onely upon try•• made, the victorious triumph of the highest
wisdom c•• by inheritance from the most ancient Philosophers un• me, and
comes now unto thee, wherein experimenta• it's found, that there is a
subterranean Mineral Salt, call•Vitriol, which for dying of Cloaths, and
many other us•Page 143 〈◊〉 cannot well possibly be without it, for it
carrieth •nd eateth through, by reason of its sharpnesse, ••h is distinct from
other Salts, in respect of their qua••: for the Mineral of this Salt is strange, of
a very •nd fiery quality, as apparent in its spirit, and con••th a twofold spirit,
which is miraculum naturae,•is not found the like in other Salts; and this
Salt is a ••aph•odit among other Salts, it is white and red, even ••u will have
it, it hath an extraordinary medicinal qua•• performing things in an
incredible manner. This Salt ••ineth a combustible Sulphur, which is not in
other 〈◊〉. Therefore in Metalline affairs touching their trans••tion, it
performeth more than others, because it help-•ot onely to open some, but
helpeth the generation of ••rs, by reason of its innate heat. When Vitriol is
sepa•• by means of fire, then its spirit at first comes in a ••e form, after that
there comes from its earth a spirit of 〈◊〉 condition, staying in the earth,
the Salt being united 〈◊〉 its expell'd Mercury and Sulphur, can sharpen
them: •emainder that stayeth behinde, is a dead earth, of no ••acie. Let this
suffice for your learning, and consider 〈◊〉 what the Creator holds forth
unto thee, in nature by •ow kindled ternarie: for as you finde in Vitriols
body 〈◊〉 distinct things, as Sp•rit, Oyl, and Salt, even so you expect from
its own spirit again (which without the ••ling of its Oyl, is driven from its
matter) three distinct ••gs, even as you did formerly from the body of
Vitriol, ••h deserveth very well the name of Speculum sapientiae ••ae, held
forth purposely to man to view himself. For 〈◊〉 can separate this spirit of
Vitriol as it ought, then that •ds again unto you three principles, out of which
onely, out any other addition, since the beginning of the •d the Philosophers
stone hath been made: from that have to expect again a spirit of a white
form, an Oyl of •uality, after these two a Christalline Salt, these three ••g
duely joyned in their perfection, generate no lesse 〈◊〉 the Philosophers
great stone: for that white spirit is Page 144 meerly the Philosophers
Mercury, the red Oyl is the S•• and the Salt is that true Magnetick body, as I
told you 〈◊〉 merly. As from the spirit of Vitriol is brought to light •red
and white tincture, so from its Oyl there is made V•• her tincture, and in the
Center they are much distinct a••der, though they dwell in one body,
possessing one lo•• it matters not, for the will of the Creator was so, to h••
that mystery from unworthy men: observe and conside• well, if so be you
intend to be a true follower of Ph••sophers: In this knowledge lyeth hid an
irrecov•able errour, worldly wits cannot conceive of it, 〈◊〉 the spirit of
Vitriol, and the remaining Oyl should be of great distinction in the vertue.
Touching their proper•• the spirit being well dissolved, and brought into its
th••principles, Gold and Silver onely can be made by it, and 〈◊〉 of its Oyl
onely Copper, which will be apparent in a pr•made. The condition of the
spirit of Vitriol, and its maining Oyl is this, that where there is Copper and
Iron, 〈◊〉 Solar seed commonly is not far from it, and again wh•• there is
seed of Gold at hand, Copper and Iron is not 〈◊〉 from it, by reason of its
attractive Magnetick quality 〈◊〉 love, which they, as tinging spirits in a
visible manner c••tinually bear one to another. Therefore Venus and M•• are
penetrated & ringed with the superabounding tinct• of Gold, and in them
there is found much more the 〈◊〉 of the red tincture, than in Gold it self,
as I made further •lation of it in my other backs, unto which there belong
〈◊〉 also the Mineral of Vitriol, which goeth beyond these▪ many degrees,
because its spirit is meer Gold and rubed• crude indigested tincture, and in
very truth (as God h••self is) is indeed not found otherwise.

But this spirit, as you heard, must be divided into ••tain distinct parts, as into
a spirit, soul, and body, the sp•• is the Philosophick water, which though
visibly parted sunder, yet can never be separated radically, (because their
unavoidable affinity they bear, and have one to 〈◊〉 other) as it appeareth
plainly, when afterward they 〈◊〉Page 145 ioyned, the one in their
mixture embraceth the other, even 〈◊〉 Magnet draweth Iron, but in a
meliorated essence, bet•• than they had before their dissolution. This is the
•ift, beginning, middle, and end of the total Philosophick ••sdom, affording
riches and health, and a long life; it may •her be said, and really proved, that
this spirit is the es•ce of Vitriol, because this Spirit and Oyl do differ so ••ch,
and were never united radically, because the Oyl ••meth after the spirit, each
can be received apart; This ••y spirit may rather and more fitly be called an
essence, ••phur, and substance of Gold, and it is so, though he lyeth •king in
Vitriol as a spirit.

This golden water, or spirit drawn from Vitriol, contains •in a sulphur and
Magnet, its sulphur is the anima, an in••bustible fire, the Magnet is its own
Salt, which in the ••junction attracteth its Sulphur and Mercury, uniteth ••h
the same, and are inseparable Companions. First in •entle heat is dissolved
the undigested Mercurial spirit, 〈◊〉 this is further extracted, after a
Magnetick quality, the ••phurous anima, in that earth sticketh the Salt,
which is tracted also in a Magnetick way by the Mercurial spirit, still the one
is a Magnet unto the other, bearing a Mag••ick love one to another, as such
things, where the last ••ether with the medium is drawn forth by the first, and
〈◊〉 thereby generated, and thus take their beginning. In •s separation and
dissolution the spirit, or Mercury is the •st Magnet, shewing its Magnetick
vertue toward the sul•• and Soul, which he quasi Magnes attracteth, this
spirit ••modum distillationis being absolved and freed, sheweth a•• its
Magnetick power toward the salt, which he attract•• from the dead earth;
after the spirit is separated from it, 〈◊〉 the Salt appeareth in its purity: if
that processe be ther followed, an• after a true order and measure the
••unction be undertaken, and the Spirit and Salt be set ••ther into the
Philosophick furnace, then it appears 〈◊〉, how the heavenly spirit striveth
in a Magnetick way ••tract its own Salt, it dissolveth the same within XL.
Page 146 dayes, bringeth it to an uniform water with it s•lf, even the Salt
hath been before its coagulation. In that dest••ction and dissolution
appeareth the hugest blacknesse a••Eclipse, and darknesse of the earth, that
ever w•• seen. But in the exchange thereof a bright glitteri•• whi•enesse
appearing, then the case is altered, and 〈◊〉 dissolved fluid waterish Salt
turns into a Magnet; for that dissolution it layeth hold on its own spirit,
which is t•• spirit of Mercury, attracteth the same powerfully like Magnet,
hiding it under a form of a dry clear body, brin•ing the same by way of
uniting into a deep coagulation a• firm fixednesse by means of a continued
fire, and the cert•• degrees thereof.

The King with the white Crown being thus generate• and by exiceation of all
humidities being brought to a fix• state, then is it nothing else, but earth and
water, thou• the other Elements be hid therein insensibly; howev•• both
these keep the predominance, though the spirit 〈◊〉 to earth, and can never
be seen in a watery form, and t•• double new born body abideth still in its
Magnetick qua•ty; for as soon as his departed Soul is restored after white
fixation, then like a Magnet he attracteth the s••• again, uniteth with it, then
are they exalted to their high•• tincture and rubedo, with a bright
transparentnesse a•• clarity. Thus in brief you have a short relation of Vitrio•
Sulphur, and Magnet. Pray to God for grace, that you m•• conceive aright of
it, put it then to good use, and be min•full of the poor and needy.

At the closing I annect this briefly, to hold forth u• to you a natural proof,
that you presently fling and thro• down the Sophister, and take his Scepter
from him. No• that from all Metals, especially from Mars and Venus, whi••
are very hard and almost fixed Metals, of each apart can made a V•triol; this
is the reduction of a Metal into a Mi••ral: for Minerals grow to Metals, and
Metals were at fi• Minerals, and so Minerals are proxima materia of Metals,
b• not prima: from these vitriol may be made, other reduc•Page 147 〈◊〉,
namely a spirit is drawn from them by the vertue of 〈◊〉

This spirit being driven over, then there is again a re•ion of a Mineral into its
spiritual essence, and each •it in its reduction keepeth a Metalline property:
but spirit is not the prima materia. Who is now so grosse absurd, that should
not be able to conceive further believe, that by these reductions from one to
the other ••re be a way to prima materia, and at last to the seed it 〈◊〉,
both of Metals and Minerals: though there be no ne••ry to destroy Metals,
because their seed in the Minerals ••und openly fixed.

O good God, what do these ignorant men think! is not 〈◊〉 a very easie,
and Childrens like labour? the one begets other, and the one cometh from the
other, is there not •ad bak'd of Corn, upon distinct works? But the World
•linde and will be so to the end of it: Thus much at this •e, and commit thee
to the protection of the Highest.

End of the third Part.

THE FOURTH PART OF BASILIUS VALENTINUS His last

TESTAMENT, The Manuals wherein he treateth, how Metals and fitting
Minerals may Particulariter be brought to their highest preparation.

LONDON, Printed Anno Domini, MDCLVI.

The third Key.

THen take of good spirit of Sal-niter one part, and of d••phlegmed spirit of
ordinary Salt, three parts, pour the• spirits together warm'd a little, into a
body on the for• written Gold-powder, lute a Helmet and Receiver to i• drive
the Gold over as formerly in sand several times wi•• an iterated distillation,
the oftner the better, let the Go•• come to be volatile more and more, and at
last let all co•• over. By this repeated driving over, its fixed body is divided,
all its Members are torn asunder and opened, an• leaveth willingly its Soul
to a special Judge, of which m• third Key will give sufficient information.

Note further, that after this work those salt spirits mu•• be abstracted from
the Gold, which was driven over, very gently in Balneo Mariae, let nothing
of the tincture of the Gold come over, that the body suffer not any
diminution: then take that Gold, or rather these Chrystals of Gold, from
which you have separated the water, put it in a reverberating pan, set it under
a Muffle, let its first fire be gentle for an hour, let all its corrosivenesse be
taken away, then your powder will be of a fair scarlet colour, as subtile as
ever was seen, put it in a clean viol, pour on it fresh spirit of ordinary Salt,
first brought to a sweetnesse, let it stand in a gentle digestion, let that spirit
be deeply ting'd and transparent, red like a Ruby, cant if off, pour on fresh,
extract again, iterate the work of canting off and pouring on, till no more
tincture of it appeareth, put all these extractions together, separate them in
Balneo gently from the Sulphur of Sol, then that powder is subtile and
tender; of great worth; this matter is such, which in a short processe
transmuteth Lune in its tincture to the highest perfection, according to the
direction of my XII. Keyes.

He that hath some knowledge herein, may make this Page 123quere:
whither this extracted dry Soul and Sulphur of the ••g be just that Soul, of
which Philosophers have this •ng: the Philosophick work for the preparation
of the ••t precious stone requireth three things, viz. a wet vola• Mercury, or a
Mercurial spirit, a wet volatile sulphurous ••l, and a dry astral Salt, which
after its dissolution toge•• with the two first must be apparent and known in
a •erish form; which way comes that about, because in 〈◊〉 processe
nothing is spoken of any Mercurial spirit and •atile Soul, but the Soul of the
King appeared in a sub•• form of powder? The answer hereunto I delay so
long 〈◊〉 the Querist learns better to understand the distinction in •s book,
and I will perform my promise, and set his •xious and intangled minde at
liberty, which is so much •ubled about this doubt, and will deal with him as
a •od father may deal with his son; in and with this scope, •herein our
Mastery lieth; have been fooled most of the •its, leading them captive in
their erroneous wayes, being ••d about in a desart of mislead wayes, because
in their ••pposed deep wits, they had not conceived so much of the •anner,
how all things of the world are generated, and that •very spirit must have a
Soul, and every Soul a fit spirit, and •hat both spirit and Soul are spirits and
spiritual, which must •ave a body, in which they may have a dwelling.

Gold and Silver, but chiefly Gold is brought to the highest fixednesse, by
such degrees as nature did afford, insomuch •ts nature is found very hot and
fiery, freed from all phlegmatick humidity, of which Lune is not so wholly
freed, though she hath obtained a sulphur-fixed degree, and stayeth for the
King, to warm her cold body with his hot seed, which concerns the
particulars, and belongs unto them, which in that place shall be plainly
demonstrated. In Gold there is no waterish humidity at all, unlesse it were
reduced again into Vitriol, which would be but an uselesse and unprofitable
work, and would require huge expences, in case the Philosophers stone
should be of Vitriol of Gold, of which there must be had great store; indeed
in that Vitriol Page 124there would be found a convenient spirit, which
natu•• would desire, of a white quality, as also a Soul and Salt of glorious
essence.

But what Countreys, Goods, Lands, have been dilapi•ted this way, I wave to
discourse of onely, this warning 〈◊〉 give to my Disciples, nature having
left a nearer way 〈◊〉 keep and to imitate that, that they also might take
heed 〈◊〉 fall into such extream and inex•ricable poverties.

The solar Mercury Sol, being never brought so far undestruction, neither did
the ancient Philosophers ever mak• use of that way, as being a thing clean
contrary unto nature, containeth indeed an humidity, but it is a meer
Elemental waterish humidity after its dissolution, and good fo• nothing,
water and other principles do not stand in the Elements, but the Elements
rest in the principles and seeds o• Metals, of the which I have spoken
formerly. Therefore let none be so over witty, as to make our stone onely of
dry and fully digested Gold: because its phlegmatick humidity is entred into
a dry fixednesse and fixed coagulation, which is not found so in other
Metals, though they also are subject to a hard coagulation and passed
through the fire, yet are not wholly digested, nor brought to a full maturity
from the natural original root: which ought to be taken notice of; and be not
offended at my former writings if they seem to run contrary against this.

Though I have shewed, that the spirit, Soul, and body come all from one
Metalline essence, and must be prepared thus, among which I held the Gold
to be the best, however I dealt herein as it seemed fit for a Philosopher, the
like the ancient Philosophers have done before me, but I hope you took
notice of my protestation, that I gave special cause thereby to your
speculation, to take the better notice of nature and her principle, and to
consider the original, because it was not meet for me to inform all men, how
the doors are bolted within, and especially at that time, when I never
intended to write thus plainly of these things, which are hid even from the
best of men, but when my heavenly Prince Page 125commanded, at the
changing of my minde, not to bury the ••rted talent, but to do the like to
those, whom God •ks worthy, to leave it to them. One rule more I must
〈◊〉 to thy remembrance, of such points, which formerly I •e set down, of
which I spoke now, that you may the •e blame me, as if I did refuse these
things now, which I •merly wrote of.
Peruse all such which since the beginning of the world ••e written of Metals,
you will finde, that they were all 〈◊〉 one minde, and that I make use of
their sayings: that the ••t and the last Metal is a Metal, because the first
Metal ••h already obtained, and gotten the forth-going seed of •etals in a
Metalline quality, which doth nothing else, but ••t it goeth on uncessantly in
the Metalline generation, as •poke of in the first and second part of Minerals
and Me••s, and in this part also I have spoken of it in several •aces.

Many have called Gold Lead, and Lead they called Gold, •ecause it was
found not onely of the same ponderousnesse, •ut because three deep
glittering stones have solely gotten ••om this Planet their transcendent
perfection, and many •ther causes besides, which to relate here, would fall
too •ong and needlesse. And this is it which asketh wisdom •o distinguish in
this and in other things, and exactly to •earch into Gods mysteries, and
natures laid before us. But man through Adams fall being brought to a deep
blindnesse, therefore mens understanding are so eclipsed, that they can
hardly conceive of this, and of other mystical matters in nature.

The obduration being so great among the covetous, that for the most part
they search and dive into such mysteries out of meer covetousnesse, pride,
and ambition, made the ancient Philosophers upon command and inspiration
of the highest aim at that, as to put a certain stay to their hands, and to write
of such mysteries in such a manner, that unworthy men should not
understand it, and but worthy men onely in their illumination might perceive
it: and writing Page 126often one thing, have mingled other among,
understa•ing still the one and the same. In several places t•• shewed, that the
Philosophers stone is, and comes from 〈◊〉 animal, others from a
vegetable seed, and a third sort sai• it comes from a Mineral seed: others
write that stone made of an animal, vegetable, and Mineral seed togeth•• All
this is onely understood of the Mineral and Metalli• seed, and consisteth not
in any plurality of seeds. Hence t•• Art grew eclipsed, insomuch that scarce
one among ma• thousands hardly attaineth unto the knowledge thereo• and
for that reason is it held for an Art, because not eve• Booby should bring it
into his Beetle-head, and why shou•• it? For if this Art were as common as
brewing of Beer, a•• baking of Bread, then any one may judge what good
cou•• be look'd for, would not all manner of vices be practise• publickly
without any controlling.

Therefore such men, which in their lofty minde a•• meerly for Pomp and
Pride, must be clipp'd in their wing• and these things ought not to be put into
their mouth• things are clear enough for these, on whom God intend• the
bestowing of them.

I return now to the thing I intented, which is to teac• a desirous Scholler,

how to proceed further with the extracted Soul of Gold: Truly it is much to
discover such mysteries: I warn every one to make good use of them; and
note, that if you have the purple Cloak of the King, a• the sulphur of Sol,
then be thankfull unto God for it, bea• no evil minde against thy neighbour,
unlock your golde• seed according to the Tenor of the Key, turn it to water;
for in our Art there must be body, Soul, and Spirit, which run together in the
innermost root, the one layeth hold on the other, meliorateth the same
throughout in its whole quality, insomuch that there is a new created world
and earth, which afterward is illuminated by the Soul, and is exalted into a
transcendent efficacie.

Therefore it is requisite that you know, how to infuse your golden seed into
the new body, and to bring it to a Page 127fluid substance: look about thee,
and see where you may •e it: if you finde none, despair not, but be of good
•fort, think upon means, and ask counsel of god Saturn,•ill not let thee go
without a resolve, he will put into hand a deep glittering Minera for an
offering, which in Myne is grown of the first matter of all Metals, if this
•era after its preparation, which he will shew unto thee, 〈◊〉 into a strong
sublimation, mixed with three parts of •e, or tyle meal, then riseth to the
righest mount a noble •imate, like little feathers, or alumen plumosum,
which due time dissolveth into strong and effectual water, ••ch bringeth thy
seed in a little putrefaction very sudden••nto the first volatility, if so be there
be added to it a 〈◊〉 quantity of water, that it may be dissolved therein,
there 〈◊〉 twig with the bulk doth unite, that they are able to •end above
the highest mountain, and stay inseparably ••ether a Soul and Spirit, or a
Spirit and Soul.

It is requisite, that you be stored with water for the body 〈◊〉 Salt to
dissolve the same also, and coagulate the same in• a new clarified body,
which will never part asunder, nei••r in love nor woe, because they are of
one nature, nati•y, and original, and have been so from the beginning. ••r
they all have their beginning and birth from the power 〈◊〉 this volatile
bird. But remember well that these Mineral •irits are in other Metals also,
and are found effectual in ••e Mineral, from whence with more ease and
lesse charges 〈◊〉 may be had: the businesse is onely herein, that you learn
to •ow, what this Mercurial spirit, Mercurial Soul, & astral Salt 〈◊〉 that
the one may not be taken in stead of the other, which •ould cause a huge
errour. You will finde, that the nature •f the golden sulphur consisteth onely
in all Metals, which ••e comprehended among the red, and have a fellow
domi•ion with other Minerals, by reason of the fiery tinging •pirits, but the
magnetick power and its quality resteth in •s white Mercurial spirit, which
bindeth the Soul, and dis•olveth the body, therefore the Astrum of Sol is
found not •nely in Gold, that with the addition of the spirit of MercuriePage
128and the Solar Salt onely the Philosophers stone c•• be made, but may in
like manner be prepared artifici•• out of Copper and Steel, two immature
Metals, both w•• as male and female have red tinging qualities, as wel• Gold
it self, whither the same be taken out of one al•• or out of both, being first
entred into an Union. Besi•• this Mineral in our Mothers tongue is a Mineral,
called ••per water, and of broken, or digged Verdigreece, or Cop•• there can
be made a Vitriol, in all which is found glori••ly a Soul of the best Gold, and
come well to passe very p•fitably many wayes, no Countrey clown can
believe• Therefore note here, what you ought to observe, int• thy thoughts,
and give not over, unlesse you be come• far, that you know natures mystical
conjunction and her 〈◊〉 solution, then you will finde, what is requisite for
you 〈◊〉 know, and return thanks unto thy Creator, make use of• for his
glorie, and be beneficial to the needy.

This white spirit is the true Mercury of Philosophe• which hath been before
me, and will be after me, with•• which the Philosophers stone, and the great
mystery can 〈◊〉 made, neither universally nor particularly, much lesse a
pa••cular transmutation. And this spirit is the Key to the ope•ing of all
Metals, and their locking in again. This spirit is 〈◊〉 sociable unto all
Metals, because they have their desce• from his sanguinity, as you heard
often. For he is that tr•primum mobile, sought of many thousands, and found
〈◊〉 none, and yet all the World is greedy of it, is sought 〈◊〉 far off,
and found near at hand, he is and moveth befo• the eyes of all men, for if
this spirit be fed with a Metalli•• sulphur and Salt, of these three there will
be one matt• made, not much unlike to the Philosophers great ston• however
duely must be proceeded in, and a true proces• from the beginning to the end
must be observed: for th•• corporal Salt must be dissolved into this spirit,
dissolve• turn'd, and brought into its prima materia, as the spirit hi• self is:
then both these of one equal descent and birth b• means of fire with
coagulating of the spirit may be gen•rated Page 129a third time to a firm
fixation, and to a pure trans•rent white clarified body, thē after this
accomplished al•o the Soul, which is dissolved, must seek for her rest again,
•netrate such a pure body, unite with the same, and rise 〈◊〉 dwelling
therein, that these three be permanent and •iding constantly in one body
eternally clarified.

And that you may be informed, how in this manner both •ur dissolved seeds,
as the spirit of Mercury, and the Soul the Gold be made again fix and
corporeal, note that it is •ne onely by the proper Salt of Sol, which in this Art
is ••led a body. Now observe here, that you take no hetero•neal thing in
stead of it. What manner of processe is here •ed, read my fourth Key, where
the truth of it is held ••th with singular examples, and proves; but you are
••cially to observe, (in case you do not understand that •y) this plain and true
information, look upon the body 〈◊〉 Gold, not as if no other benefit could
be reaped of it, •t onely his Soul; not so: impute no such weaknesse unto ••t
body, but after you have drawn forth its Sulphur, there yet in it the Salt of
glory, and of the triumphant victrix, •thout which your spermatick seed
cannot be brought un• any coagulation. And even this Salt now, of which I
•ade so long a discourse, how you ought to bring it our of 〈◊〉 corporeal
form through means of the spirit of Mercury •to its prima materia, is
afterward turn'd again into a deeply ••rified and exalted body.

Therefore take your Solar earth, out of which you drew •ur seedr, or the true
Lions bloud, and reduce it by rever••rating to a fix'd powder, and subtile
impalpable ashes, ••tract from thence a very subtile Salt, as bright as Ivory
〈◊〉 hereafter I will teach you in the Manuals, how the body 〈◊〉Sol is
anatomized by the particulars, and to bring it into Sulphur, Salt, and
Mercury. Then proceed unto the pra••ck and conjunction, and have a care,
that you be pro•dent therein, that at their conjunction you do not too ••ch to
the one, and too little to the other, take notice 〈◊〉 the quantity, and
observe exactly the division of the Page 130〈1 page duplicate〉Page
133〈1 page duplicate〉Page 130seeds, hereunto minister a certain
measure, and mark 〈◊〉 sixth Key, then proceed in the begun processe,
accordin• to the order of the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth K•• as formerly
I had informed you about it, go on with it 〈◊〉 the appearance of the Kings
honour and glory, to 〈◊〉 highest purple garment, and pure golden piece,
who is c••led the Triumphing Lord and Conquerour over all his su•jects,
from the East to the West; which if you have attain• unto them, return thanks
to God, be fervent in praying, 〈◊〉 mindfull of the poor, be a student unto
sobriery, temp•rance, abstinence, and above all unto taciturnity: for it the
greatest and most hainous sin, to let unworthy m•• know of it.

The augmentation of this heavenly stone, as also the f••mentation is

needlesse to be spoken of in that place, as b•ing described in my two last
Keyes, and held forth to the fu• not doubting if God grants so much blessing,
and imparte• this stone, the sense of these two Keyes will be more co•ceived
of: for no heterogeneal things must be broug•• to our Metalline substance,
neither at the beginning, mi•dle, or end, but the Mercurial spirit and the
digested Me••cine, spoken of in my eleventh Key.

To be further as good as I promised, concerning oth• things, quoted in my

Keyes, know ye, that no Philosopher tied wholly unto the Metal of Gold, of
which I spo•• largely hitherto, and disclosed the true fundamentals the•of,
and as you heard afore, the whole mystery lieth here••viz. in the tinging of
red fiery spirits of Metalline Sou• and all what is tinged red, and is known to
have a fierc• sulphur, all such are kinde to the Solar Astrum, and wh•• the
Mercurial spirit is joyned with, then the proceed: 〈◊〉 may go on
universaliter and Particulariter, that a tincture obtained from them, whereby
Metals and vulgar Merc•• can be exalted, and be ordered according to the
tenor the processe.
Such Souls and goldish Sulphurs are found most effect• in Mars and Venus,
as also in Vitriol, and both Venus a••Page 131••ars can be reduced into a
most effectual Vitriol, in which Metalline Vitriol afterward all the three
principles, as Mer•ury Sulphur and Salt are found under one heaven, and
with ••tle pains and short time each can be taken out of it apart, •s you shall
hear, when I shall make further relation of the Mineral Vitriol which is
digged in Hungary, of a high gra•ation. Now if you have wit and
understanding, art in•lined and heartily desireth to conceive of the true
mean•ng of my Keyes, and of my other writings, thereby to un•o•k the locks
of Metals for our store, then you should have •aken notice and observed, that
in all these I have written •ot onely of the Metal of Sol, of its Sulphur and
Salt, but I •ave interlined and mingled also, and made uniformal other •ed
Metals, from whence may be had the mystical Masterie:•herefore men ought
to iterate often the reading of Philosophick books, then a true sense and
meaning may be drawn •rom them, which without divine illumination
cannot be •either, &c.

But hoping that those, who are fully and really resolved •o incline their
hearts unto wisdom, will give more atten•ion thereunto, than the other madd
worldlings, for whom •hese my writings were not intended: for I spoke as
plainly •s ever possibly I could, and this kindled light shall further •e
purified, so that true and sincere Novices may have a •ull light without an
eclipse from their beginning to their •nding. To which end I took these pains
to disclose that, which all the World was silent in, and concealed it to their
•ast end, and buried it in silence to their very graves.

The scope I aimed at in so doing, was not to hunt after any •ain glory, but
rather, that Gods gracious provident goodnesse might be held forth unto
posterity, that the future ••ges might become seeing, and some of the
posterities eyes might be kept open, and be helpfull unto their needy fellow
Artist, and make them partakers of Gods graces and gifts. Though my minde
be mightily perplexed, when I think ••on what I have done, because I write
so plainly, not know•ng into whose hands after my departure these my
writings Page 132may come: However, I hope, let them be what they will
that they will remember, and lay to heart my faithfull warnings inserted in
my former and these present writings, tha• they deal with this book, and use
it so, that they may giv• good accompt for it to Almighty God.

Touching further the Vitriol, I should make mention o• it in my Manuals,

where I treat and write generally of Minerals: But it being such a singular
Mineral, whose felio• whole nature doth not produce, besides, Vitriol before
a•• others is of great affinity unto Metals, and is next ki• unto them, for out
of all Metals there can be made a Vitriol, or Chrystal (Chrystal and Vitriol is
taken for one) therefore I would not bereave it of its own praise, and put it•
commendation too far off, but rather preferre it, as ther• is just cause, before
other Minerals, and the first place, nex• to Metals should be given unto it;
for (setting aside all Metals and Minerals) this is sufficient to make the
Philosopher• stone of it, which no other in the World can do the like though
some particulariter are a help to further that work and Antimony alone is a
sufficient Master hereunto, as i• its due place more shall be spoken of.
However, none i• thus much dignified in its worthinesse, that the said
Philosophick stone could be made of it as this Vitriol is. Therefore ancient
Philosophers have concealed this Mineral a• much as ever they could, and
would not reveal the same t• their own Children, that they should not
divulge it in the World, but be kept secret, though they published, tha• such
preparation is made out of one thing, and out of on• body, which hath the
nature of Sol and Lune, and containeth also the Mercury, wherein they said
true enough, because it is so. But here I must admonish you, that you ma•
turn this argument, and settle your thoughts wholly upo• Metalline Vitriols,
because I intrusted you, that out of Venus and Mars there can be made an
excellent Vitriol, where in are found the three principles for the generation
of o•• stone, but you must further note also, that nevertheless• these three
Metals, as Spiritus, anima, corpus are buried an•Page 133••d in a Mineral
Vitriol, as in a Mineral it self. Understand •is according to the distinct
natures of Vitriol. For the •est, which according to my experience shewed it
self most •ffectual, herein is that, which is broken, and digged in •ungarie,
of a very deep degree of tincture, not very unlike ••to a fair blue Saphir,
having very little of humidities, and •ther additionals, or strange Oars: the
oftner it is dissolved ••d coagulated, the more is it exalted in its deep tinging
•olour, and is beheld with great admiration.

This high graduated Vitriol is found crude in those places, •here Gold,
Copper, Iron, is broken and digg'd, and is •bundantly transported from
thence into forraign parts, in• much that sometimes there is great scantnesse
of it in those ••rts, and elsewhere.

Though the vulgar people can afford no better name to 〈◊〉 calling it
onely a Copper-water, however, ancient Philo••ers by reason of its
unspeakable vertue and dignity ex•ll'd it, and call'd it Vitriolum, for that
reason, because its •iritual Oyl containeth all the three principles of all the
•iumphing qualities.

If you get such deep graduated and well prepared Mine••, called Vitriol, then
pray to God for understanding and ••sdom for your intention, and after you
have calcined it, •t it into a well coated Retort, drive it gently at first, then
••rease the fire, there comes in the form of a white spirit of ••riol in the
manner of a horrid fume, or winde, & cometh •o the Receiver as long as it
hath any such material in it. •d note, that in this winde are invisibly hid all
the three ••ciples, and come together out of that dwelling, therefore •s not
necessary, to seek and search alwayes in precious ••ngs, because by this
means there is a nearer way open ••o nature's mysteries, and is held forth to
all such, which 〈◊〉 able to conceive of Art and wisdom.

Now if you separate and free this expell'd spirit well and •ely, per modum
distillation is, from its earthly humidity, •n in the bottom of the glasse you
will finde the treasure, 〈◊〉 fundamentals of all the Philosophers, and yet
known to Page 134none, which is a red Oyl, as ponderous in weight, as
eve• any Lead, or, Gold may be, as thick as bloud, of a burning fiery quality,
which is that true fluid Gold of Philosophers which nature drove together
from the three principles wherein is found a spirit, soul, and body, and is that
philosophick Gold, saving one, which is its dissolution, during th• fire, and
not subject to any corruptiblenesse, else it flie•• away with body and Soul,
for neither water nor earth ca•• do it any hurt, because it received its first
birth and beginning from a heavenly water, which in due time is pou•• down
upon the earth.

In these together driven goldish waters lieth hid that tr•• bird and Eagle, the
King with his heavenly Splendor together with its clarified Salt, which three
you finde shut up i• this one thing and golden property, and from thence yo•
will get all that, which you have need of for your inte••tion.

Therefore set that golden body you have obtained, whic• in dignity and
vertue is exalted beyond all other Gold, in•• its due and lawfull dissolution,
its due time, then the A•gel of the highest will appear unto thee, and tell thee
th•• it is the Resolver of all the mysteries in the World, receiv•• it with joy
and keep it safe, for its quality is more heavenly than earthly, therefore doth
it heartily incline to striv• after that, which is above, from whence it had its
Original.

If you have separated this Prophet from his matter whic• remained, then you
need not to undertake any further processe, you were taught parabolically in
my XII. Keyes. Fo• even in his remaining formal substance you may finde,
an• expect from thence a pure immortal Soul, together vi•• the glory of the
Salt, both which are obtained by means 〈◊〉 the spirit, and must be had
from thence, and no impure, o• contrary thing must be added thereunto. And
it is do• in the same manner as I told you in my Keyes, with the S•• and Salt
of the Gold by the saturnal water, in whose pla•• this spiritual Mercurial
spirit might be used with better a•vantage.

Page 135

Observe onely this difference, that the Salt must be drawn forth from the
Mercurial body, as it hapned unto the Soul, with the spirit of Mercury;
whereas on the other side the Salt of Gold must not be drawn forth with the
saturnal water, because it is too weak for the body of Gold, but with a water,
which hath been expressed in the description of particulars.

This distinction must be exactly observ'd, being of great concernment,

because the Salt of Vitriol is not so strongly guarded, and is not in so fix'd a
body, as the Gold is, but is still an open body, which saw no coagulation as
yet, nor passed it through any melting fire, therefore that body never came as
yet to any compactnesse, there is room left for its own spirit to enter into,
can embrace, and unite with its like, and a snow white extraction of Salt may
be had, whereas on the other side a sharper matter must penetrate Gold, as
you shall hear, when I shall speak more of it in its due place.

Behold now, my friend, whatsoever thou art, what minde I bare towards
thee, and how I am affected unto thee in my heart, the like I never durst look
for from thee. Consider it well, how sincerely and faithfully I disclose unto
thee all the locks and bonds, whereby the whole Philosophick wisdom is
shut up, which hitherto never entred any more •houghts, much lesse that
ever it was practised, or discovered; and nothing caused me to do it, but
onely Gods infinite mercy, my good will and love toward my Neighbour,
which my Predecessors have not done so compleatly, and was put off unto
me to do it.

Having thus separated your three Mineral bodies, and ordered them into
certain divisions, and put away the dregs, wherein they lye hid, then look to
it, that you neglect none of it, by the diminishing of the quantity, which
would prove a great fault to your work, and keep each in its own and due
quantity, otherwise in your work you cannot come to a happy end.

This is the thrift which so many have missed, and have Page 136written
great volumes about it: for all what cometh from our Philosophick Gold, and
hath divided it self into three parts, the same must be brought into one,
without any losse and diminution, which is to enter into a new form again,
and become a meliorated substance, & nothing of it must be done away, but
onely the feces terrae in which the glorious Salt had its dwelling. Therefore
do that I told you of, & joyn the spirit with the body, bring the body also into
a spirit, dissolve & exalt it into the highest spiritual power, i• that dissolutiō
the body turns to a spirit, & the spirit with the body uniteth and joyneth into
one substance, that after the exchanging of all manner of colours, there
cometh a white body like snow, transcending all whitenesses. This is the
greatest mystery of this world, about which among the learned and supposed
wits, such disputings in the world have been, that a palpable thing, and a
visible one could be reduced into its prima materia, and out of that may be
made again a new clarified and better substance, by the bountifull nature
leading the way thereunto.
Thus you have made and brought into the world the Queen of Honour, and
the first born daughter of Philosophers, which after her due perfection is
called the white Elixir, of which great volumes are extant. Having brought
your work thus far, then you have deserved to be received into the Turba of
Philosophers, and you get more Art, wisdom, and understanding than all
Sophisters, which prate much of these mystical things, and yet know not the
least thing of it. Therefore it is just that you should be preferred before them,
and let them sit below thee in shame and disgrace, and in their darknesse of
mis-understanding, so long till nature doth enlighten them also.

That you may bring and lead that new Philosophi•• Creature by the means
nature afforded, unto the highest perfection, after which your heart with all
her endeavours doth strive, then remember that neither man nor beas•
without a living Soul can neither stir nor move: and as ma• here in this life,
through temporal death loseth his Soul, Page 137offering the same again
unto the Almighty God, from whom 〈◊〉 had it first, into his mercy and
merits of Jesus Christ,•here after the departure of the Soul the dwelling, as
the ••dy of it, is left quite dead, which is buried in the ground, •here it
rotteth, and must return unto dust and ashes, being 〈◊〉 duly stipend,
which the fall of our first parents in Paradise •we deserved, and from them,
as by an inheritance is fall'n •pon us: after which putrefaction there are
raised again on ••e great day new and clarified bodies, and the departed ••ul
taketh her dwelling up again in that new body; after •at, there is no more
parting of body nor spirit, nor soul: ••t because the Soul finding a clarified
body, then with the ••me she maketh an everlasting Union, which neither
De••l nor death can destroy and disjoyn any more, nor bring it •to any
corruption, but from henceforth into all eternity •e are and shall: be like unto
the best Creatures of God, •hich before our mortality and departure of the
spirit, of ••e soul and the body could never be, God help and grant •nto us all
a blessed resurrection. Amen.

This high and mighty example having its foundation, •ot in humane
thoughts, wit, or pride, or in an ungrounded •ating, but in the great
Creatour's true word, which he •ath revealed unto us through his servant and
holy Prophet Moses, doth inform you, what you ought to do further with our
new begotten Creature, that you may get a perfect ••rth without any defect,
to the praise of the Highest, the •ather of lights and mercy, from whom we
receive all per•ect gifts which he graciously bestoweth on his Children, •or
which we are not able to return sufficient thanks unto •im.

Now if you will proceed well in your work, then joyn •he new body with his
Soul, which you formerly drew ••om, that the compound in its vertue be
compleat, and •here be apparent in the end a plusquam perfection of it: •hen
is begotten the Red King of all glorie in a fiery sub•tance, and highly
clarified body, exalted above all powers •pon earth, from thence ariseth the
golden fountain, he Page 138that thinketh of it is renewed in all his
Members, and there is rised wholly a new life: for the which God be praised
for ever more.

The augmentation of this huge treasure together with the fermentation

thereof, for the transmutation of Metalls doubtlesse you have taken notice of
exactly afore, where I wrote of Gold how it must be handled, and what
direction I have given you, thereunto, the same you must observe; for here is
all one processe, from the middle to the end, the beginning onely asketh
alteration, by reason of the two distinct matters: for the which God be
praised whom we beseech, to give us his grace and blessing, that we may
make good use of this treasure, and after this life we may enter into the
heavenly Kingdom.

The love to my Neighbour hath moved me to write of these things, which in

my long experience I found to be true, following the steps of bountifull
nature, which made me a Sooth-sayer in natural things, and I am assured,
that if these my writings are made publick after my death, and my other
books sharing in the same fortune, that they must undergo many censures.
For some will extreamly condem• me, delivering me unto Satan, because I
have written so plainly: Others there will be, which will quite overthrow my
writings, crying out to be Lies, Superstition, and Diabolical works, the like
censure other illuminated men before me have undergone, which they feel to
this day; for men are so incredulous in these points, that so mighty an
operation should be found against all manner of infirmities, besides the
transmutation of Metals in so despicable a mat•er, (over which the Iron Man
with his espoused Wife Venus•ogether with the deep glittering Sol, is, and
must have the •redominancie) and with incredible profit it should by •rt •e
brought to such perfection. The Art being great, and •he matter so
contemptible, it procureth the more doubt •nd unbelief: these unbelieving
men I let understand one•y this notable example, whereby the eyes of those,
that •re going unto Emaus, shall be opened, and thereby shall Page
139••owledge that I have written no untruth, but disclosed 〈◊〉 a truth
very plainly. And note, that the ancient Phi••phers endeavoured to describe
the preparation of the ••e under a notion of distilling of wine and the spirit
••eof, which in their work are almost like one to an•er. For I they taught out
of the best wine to make a •it, without any strange phlegme, which to this
day ••ng vulgar Artists must be, and is called the right and •e mystical spirit
of wine, whereas it may soon be proved, •r this supposed spirit of wine
containeth much invisible •midity, or phlegme, in an insensible manner,
which is •hing else, but its vegetable Mercury: for the fiery spirit wine is the
true fire and soul of the wine. Every Sulphur ••taineth secretly its original
and principal Mercury: Ve•ables in their kinde, the Animals in their kinde,
and 〈◊〉 Minerals also after their kinde. 2. They taught how •s spirit of
wine must be separated in two distinct parts, •mely this spirit of wine be
poured upon white calcined ••ar, and be drawn over in a gentle distillation.
In this ••illation is separated the secret and true spirit of wine •m his
Vegetable Mercury, as I faithfully informed you 〈◊〉 my Manuals. From
the remainng earth they taught a •t be drawn, to be added to the rectified
spirit, whereby 〈◊〉 is fortified and strengthned in his substance, and at
last •e Philosopher stone should be generated! It is mightily •ainst Gods
ordinance, that a Vegetable should produce 〈◊〉 Animal, or an Animal
produce a Mineral. By way of •parable, the practice part is held forth under
the notion 〈◊〉 this preparation. Now as they taught of the wine, so in ••e
manner also through a short way our Gold can be pre•red, (not the usual and
common Gold) and may be dis•lved, divided, separated, and brought into its
first prin•ple.

But you must note, that this dissolution and separation •as never described
plainly by any of the ancient Philoso•hers which lived before me, and knew
the Magisterium,•hy I do it, the love to my Neighbour hath moved me Page
140thereunto, which I bear from the Center of my heart to those, which
overcome this mystery without falshood, 〈◊〉 mingling vices with a
faithfull heart, in a sincere kn••ledge and real piety. In the first place be
inform'd, 〈◊〉 our Gold (so much spoken of hitherto) must never be ••ken
for such Gold by any of our Disciples, which hath b• melted, and fully
digested by nature, for herein such •rour is committed, that men dilapidate
all what they h•• and loose both the beginning and end of all their wo•••
Although not onely from Gold, but from other Metals 〈◊〉 this
Clenodium, and Jewel may be had, in the prepara•••• of it, particulariter
much profit and advantage may be ••ten in that, which concerneth mans
health, as hath be formerly told; however, without the spirit of Mercury
〈◊〉Universal of the World to be gotten meerly from the b•• of Sol, is
impossible, and will be impossible, unlesse▪ Creatour of all things produce
another ordinance, to cha•• and alter his Creature after his own will. But as
that impossible, so it is impossible also, to deal against G•• Creature in that
kinde, as to finde out that wholesom p••fit, which to your longing desire you
expect. You m•• believe it for a truth, as Christ himself is, that the
Philo••pher's stone would not be so strange, rare, and unkno•• a thing, it
would be common to Kings and Potentates, 〈◊〉 God would permit to be
made of Gold alone, and the th•• Jewels of infinite fixed vertues hid therein,
could be 〈◊〉 out of it!

My intent is not in this present Treatise to use any p••lixity in writing; those
that are not quite blinde, and ha•• their eyes open, have enough already to
attain unto 〈◊〉 knowledge, and command both his minde and hands, •o to
passe by the weightiest, and esteem high things that i• unworthy, and to fall
with the blinde into the pit, ma•• for them. Those that are real in their desire
for to atta••• unto art and wisdom, and intend to propagate the sa•• without
sophistication, and desire in reality to glorie i• that honourable truth, you
may shew a real proof of it i• this manner.

Page 141

〈◊〉 tell thee really for the highest truth, that you may dis•e our Gold,
naturally driven together, in a short way, to •ng it to its prima materia, and is
done thus: take the •wn Mineral Spirit, in which our Mercury, Sulphur, and
〈◊〉 is shut up, containing that Philosophick mystical Gold, ••r that
guttatim upon white calcined tartar, these two ••trary qualified matters will
be tissing, let them stay toge•r till their contention and strife be ended, and
our Gold •e it self invisible in the vegetable Salt acre, or in the bel• of tartar:
lute a Helmet to it, distil it at first gently in •neo, then increase your fire,
then Hermes his volatile 〈◊〉 will fly away from our Gold in that
sublimation, and sit 〈◊〉 the highest pinnacles of the Temple, looking
about •ich way to betake himself, but soon is catch'd in the •ceiver, which
must be pure and very dry: when you see •t his flight is but slow, then take
the glasse out of the ••ny, set it in ashes, increase your fire, then will she fly
•re nimbly, keep that fire so long till all is come over; •d her brother the Red
Dragon, hiding his rednesse under a 〈◊〉 colour in a whitish fume, will
begin to follow after his •ing brother. Then cease with the fire, the drops
being fall'n from the Helmet, take it off, that which you •de in the Receiver,
you are to keep as a treasure of my•ries. In this manner you have gotten
wisdom, under••nding, and skill, the fundamentals also, and desires of
Phi••ophers: by this short witty proof you learn and get that •owledge, how
this water may be sought after, found, and ••ted on, and is not to be
esteemed a common water, but is •at real infallible heavenly water, of which
at the begin••g I have written, and repeated the same the oftner; •hich in a
spiritual manner from the heavens power is •ured down upon earth,
beginneth and accomplisheth •e generation of all Metals, for that reason the
ancient Phi••ophers call'd this water Mercury, but I call it the Spirit of
•ercury.

Now if you proceed right in this work, and you know •hat food and what
drink •o give to this bird, viz. Sulphur Page 142and Salt of Metal, then you
may attain unto the end of 〈◊〉 great work, which is almost like unto the
Philosoph•• great work, and you may get profit infinitely partitu•a•• many
wayes; you must note, that this is not the true Phi••sophick dissolution, but
onely one, which particula•• performeth strange matters, a•d is a speculum,
in which 〈◊〉 Mercury, our Sol, and our Lune is seen bleaking, which i•
present confuting of unbelieving Thomasses, discover•• the blindnesse of
ignorantment. The dissolution of t• three principles I have described unto
you formerly, whi•• is of a slower pace, requiring time and patience, and
〈◊〉 exact attention to make, or bring three into one, which w• is done in it
self per se, without mixing of any heterogene• matter, onely that which lyeth
hid in it, must do it. F• the Fountain of salvation is the illumination of the
So•• and the Salt of the clarified body, are all in that one thin• existent from
one, two, or three, which must be brought a•• reduced to one, which is the
golden vertue of all Metals, •alted above all powers, together with the Eagle
and whi• body, which are no where together, but onely in this one found,
and in that which is next kin unto it, which kno•ing Philosophers alwayes
held in great esteem, but ignora•• and blinde men despised and disgraced the
same. But tho•• whose eyes are once opened, love to stick unto truth, co•• to
hide the matter from wicked men, and study day a•• night how the ignorant
might be kept from it. Thus I clo• this third part.

And before I begin the fourth part, concerning Partic•laria, I must needs
speak something of the Philosophers V•triol, Sulphur, and Magnet.

My friend, you must note, that this description I ma•• now of the essence of
Vitriol resteth onely upon try•• made, the victorious triumph of the highest
wisdom c•• by inheritance from the most ancient Philosophers un• me, and
comes now unto thee, wherein experimenta• it's found, that there is a
subterranean Mineral Salt, call•Vitriol, which for dying of Cloaths, and
many other us•Page 143〈◊〉 cannot well possibly be without it, for it
carrieth •nd eateth through, by reason of its sharpnesse, ••h is distinct from
other Salts, in respect of their qua••: for the Mineral of this Salt is strange, of
a very •nd fiery quality, as apparent in its spirit, and con••th a twofold spirit,
which is miraculum naturae,•is not found the like in other Salts; and this
Salt is a ••aph•odit among other Salts, it is white and red, even ••u will have
it, it hath an extraordinary medicinal qua•• performing things in an
incredible manner. This Salt ••ineth a combustible Sulphur, which is not in
other 〈◊〉. Therefore in Metalline affairs touching their trans••tion, it
performeth more than others, because it help-•ot onely to open some, but
helpeth the generation of ••rs, by reason of its innate heat. When Vitriol is
sepa•• by means of fire, then its spirit at first comes in a ••e form, after that
there comes from its earth a spirit of 〈◊〉 condition, staying in the earth,
the Salt being united 〈◊〉 its expell'd Mercury and Sulphur, can sharpen
them: •emainder that stayeth behinde, is a dead earth, of no ••acie. Let this
suffice for your learning, and consider 〈◊〉 what the Creator holds forth
unto thee, in nature by •ow kindled ternarie: for as you finde in Vitriols
body 〈◊〉 distinct things, as Sp•rit, Oyl, and Salt, even so you expect from
its own spirit again (which without the ••ling of its Oyl, is driven from its
matter) three distinct ••gs, even as you did formerly from the body of
Vitriol, ••h deserveth very well the name of Speculum sapientiae ••ae, held
forth purposely to man to view himself. For 〈◊〉 can separate this spirit of
Vitriol as it ought, then that •ds again unto you three principles, out of which
onely, out any other addition, since the beginning of the •d the Philosophers
stone hath been made: from that have to expect again a spirit of a white
form, an Oyl of •uality, after these two a Christalline Salt, these three ••g
duely joyned in their perfection, generate no lesse 〈◊〉 the Philosophers
great stone: for that white spirit is Page 144meerly the Philosophers
Mercury, the red Oyl is the S•• and the Salt is that true Magnetick body, as I
told you 〈◊〉 merly. As from the spirit of Vitriol is brought to light •red
and white tincture, so from its Oyl there is made V•• her tincture, and in the
Center they are much distinct a••der, though they dwell in one body,
possessing one lo•• it matters not, for the will of the Creator was so, to h••
that mystery from unworthy men: observe and conside• well, if so be you
intend to be a true follower of Ph••sophers: In this knowledge lyeth hid an
irrecov•able errour, worldly wits cannot conceive of it, 〈◊〉 the spirit of
Vitriol, and the remaining Oyl should be of great distinction in the vertue.
Touching their proper•• the spirit being well dissolved, and brought into its
th••principles, Gold and Silver onely can be made by it, and 〈◊〉 of its Oyl
onely Copper, which will be apparent in a pr•made. The condition of the
spirit of Vitriol, and its maining Oyl is this, that where there is Copper and
Iron, 〈◊〉 Solar seed commonly is not far from it, and again wh•• there is
seed of Gold at hand, Copper and Iron is not 〈◊〉 from it, by reason of its
attractive Magnetick quality 〈◊〉 love, which they, as tinging spirits in a
visible manner c••tinually bear one to another. Therefore Venus and M•• are
penetrated & ringed with the superabounding tinct• of Gold, and in them
there is found much more the 〈◊〉 of the red tincture, than in Gold it self,
as I made further •lation of it in my other backs, unto which there belong
〈◊〉 also the Mineral of Vitriol, which goeth beyond these▪ many degrees,
because its spirit is meer Gold and rubed• crude indigested tincture, and in
very truth (as God h••self is) is indeed not found otherwise.

But this spirit, as you heard, must be divided into ••tain distinct parts, as into
a spirit, soul, and body, the sp•• is the Philosophick water, which though
visibly parted sunder, yet can never be separated radically, (because their
unavoidable affinity they bear, and have one to 〈◊〉 other) as it appeareth
plainly, when afterward they 〈◊〉Page 145ioyned, the one in their
mixture embraceth the other, even 〈◊〉 Magnet draweth Iron, but in a
meliorated essence, bet•• than they had before their dissolution. This is the
•ift, beginning, middle, and end of the total Philosophick ••sdom, affording
riches and health, and a long life; it may •her be said, and really proved, that
this spirit is the es•ce of Vitriol, because this Spirit and Oyl do differ so ••ch,
and were never united radically, because the Oyl ••meth after the spirit, each
can be received apart; This ••y spirit may rather and more fitly be called an
essence, ••phur, and substance of Gold, and it is so, though he lyeth •king in
Vitriol as a spirit.

This golden water, or spirit drawn from Vitriol, contains •in a sulphur and
Magnet, its sulphur is the anima, an in••bustible fire, the Magnet is its own
Salt, which in the ••junction attracteth its Sulphur and Mercury, uniteth ••h
the same, and are inseparable Companions. First in •entle heat is dissolved
the undigested Mercurial spirit, 〈◊〉 this is further extracted, after a
Magnetick quality, the ••phurous anima, in that earth sticketh the Salt,
which is tracted also in a Magnetick way by the Mercurial spirit, still the one
is a Magnet unto the other, bearing a Mag••ick love one to another, as such
things, where the last ••ether with the medium is drawn forth by the first, and
〈◊〉 thereby generated, and thus take their beginning. In •s separation and
dissolution the spirit, or Mercury is the •st Magnet, shewing its Magnetick
vertue toward the sul•• and Soul, which he quasi Magnes attracteth, this
spirit ••modum distillationis being absolved and freed, sheweth a•• its
Magnetick power toward the salt, which he attract•• from the dead earth;
after the spirit is separated from it, 〈◊〉 the Salt appeareth in its purity: if
that processe be ther followed, an• after a true order and measure the
••unction be undertaken, and the Spirit and Salt be set ••ther into the
Philosophick furnace, then it appears 〈◊〉, how the heavenly spirit striveth
in a Magnetick way ••tract its own Salt, it dissolveth the same within XL.
Page 146dayes, bringeth it to an uniform water with it s•lf, even the Salt
hath been before its coagulation. In that dest••ction and dissolution
appeareth the hugest blacknesse a••Eclipse, and darknesse of the earth, that
ever w•• seen. But in the exchange thereof a bright glitteri•• whi•enesse
appearing, then the case is altered, and 〈◊〉 dissolved fluid waterish Salt
turns into a Magnet; for that dissolution it layeth hold on its own spirit,
which is t•• spirit of Mercury, attracteth the same powerfully like Magnet,
hiding it under a form of a dry clear body, brin•ing the same by way of
uniting into a deep coagulation a• firm fixednesse by means of a continued
fire, and the cert•• degrees thereof.

The King with the white Crown being thus generate• and by exiceation of all
humidities being brought to a fix• state, then is it nothing else, but earth and
water, thou• the other Elements be hid therein insensibly; howev•• both
these keep the predominance, though the spirit 〈◊〉 to earth, and can never
be seen in a watery form, and t•• double new born body abideth still in its
Magnetick qua•ty; for as soon as his departed Soul is restored after white
fixation, then like a Magnet he attracteth the s••• again, uniteth with it, then
are they exalted to their high•• tincture and rubedo, with a bright
transparentnesse a•• clarity. Thus in brief you have a short relation of Vitrio•
Sulphur, and Magnet. Pray to God for grace, that you m•• conceive aright of
it, put it then to good use, and be min•full of the poor and needy.

At the closing I annect this briefly, to hold forth u• to you a natural proof,
that you presently fling and thro• down the Sophister, and take his Scepter
from him. No• that from all Metals, especially from Mars and Venus, whi••
are very hard and almost fixed Metals, of each apart can made a V•triol; this
is the reduction of a Metal into a Mi••ral: for Minerals grow to Metals, and
Metals were at fi• Minerals, and so Minerals are proxima materia of Metals,
b• not prima: from these vitriol may be made, other reduc•Page 147〈◊〉,
namely a spirit is drawn from them by the vertue of 〈◊〉

This spirit being driven over, then there is again a re•ion of a Mineral into its
spiritual essence, and each •it in its reduction keepeth a Metalline property:
but spirit is not the prima materia. Who is now so grosse absurd, that should
not be able to conceive further believe, that by these reductions from one to
the other ••re be a way to prima materia, and at last to the seed it 〈◊〉,
both of Metals and Minerals: though there be no ne••ry to destroy Metals,
because their seed in the Minerals ••und openly fixed.

O good God, what do these ignorant men think! is not 〈◊〉 a very easie,
and Childrens like labour? the one begets other, and the one cometh from the
other, is there not •ad bak'd of Corn, upon distinct works? But the World
•linde and will be so to the end of it: Thus much at this •e, and commit thee
to the protection of the Highest.