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 FIVE TF-Mjoohl^.

» TREATISES
OP THE
Philofophers Stone^
Two of dAlphonfoKmgo^ Tortugall^ as
it was wrirrcn with his own hand, and taken

cut of his CIojGTct: Tranflatcd out of the Por-

tugucz into Englifh.

One of John Samre a ^onkcy tranflatcd into Englirti.

Another written by Florianui Rauelorff, a German Phi-

Jofopher, and tranflatcd out of the fame Language,
into Engrifli.

Alfo aTreatife of the names of the Philofophers Stone,

by mlliam Gratacol/e^ tranflatcd into Englifh.

To which is added the Smaragdine Table.

By the Paines and Care of H. T.

L O ND Q "K^
Printed by Thomas Harper , and arc to be fold by John
CoUins^m Little BrittamynQat'thQ Church door, 1652.
 To the %ight Honaurable^ the Earle of
Pembroke and Montgomery,

Right Honourable :-

Hough in thefc laft ages Vice hath

bccne efteem>sd above Ver-
tue, and men have made it their
bufinefle to advance their for-
tunes by wicked means 3 yet if
we looke backe to former ages,
and the timto^ Hermes Trifme-
gijlu4 3 who is faid to be MofeSy
and fo called from his being hid amongft the Reeds
in the waters^ and as he was called Hermes TrifmegifiuSy
he himfelfe the thrice great Interpreter , as ha-
ftiles
ving three parts of the Philofophy of the whole
world ( as may appeare in his Smaragdinc Table fol-
lowing out of vvhich all modernc Philofophers
•

grounded their difcourfes , andbookes:) thushee

might ftile himfelfcj being allowed familiarity with
his Creator. From him likewife we had our firft Re-
cord for the Creation of the world > and all things-
A2 there- '
 '^-^^^^
The S liC^'iBYj.

therein we jfhall findc, and oe fatisfied in judgemcnr,

:

that truehonour proceeded , and was at firil derived

frona Vertuc ^ and what man yet evlr livcd^ who was
accounted or eftcemed fo Virtuous, Wife, Good, and
Rich, as thofc who had the true knowledge of Natu-
rall Philofophy , and her fecrct operations , which
from age to age, for many ages, was by wordoi mouth
delivered by one toanochc:r,wherby many Shcpheards,
Heardfmen, Husbandmen , and others of like quality
(by Gods efpeciall favour) became great Princes, Go-
vernours, and Rulers over the people upon Earth, be-
ing thereby enabled to advance themfdvcs to what
Riches and treaiiire they pleafed, Cas will appears by
the enfuing Treaiifc'S J witliout robbing or taxing the
people of their Countries under their Government
m any lort^ who alfo by their Phyficall Medicine con-
tinued length of dayes, yourh, and ftrcngth ; by which
means thole old men mentioned in the Old Tefta-
ment, with manyoth^r Philofophers , were not only
fo'long preferved from the Grave, but alfo thereby
wrought many miracles, to the wonder of the world :
as well they might , having the power and difpofe of
the greateft Treafure, andhigheft Secret that ever
Almighty God revealed to mortall man. And being
fully fatisfied of your Honours moft Noble and Inge-
nous inclination and love to the ftudy of this moft
Divine and Myftc rious Art, which can proceed from
HO other then a right Noble and Vertuous difpofttion,
and by a Divine inftinft : Nor is a man of any other
temper fit for the ftudy or knowledge thereof. And
conhdering of a pcrfon of Honour , fit for the prefen-
tation of thcfc Treatifes, well weighing your Honours
inclination^
 The Eptfile Dedicatory.

inclination, vcrtuous Difpv^fuion, and mature Judge-

ment 5 holding my felfe obliged to be fervic^able to
my power, to all faithful! ftudents in this moft facred

Arc, have upon your Honour, as moft

fixed worthy of
enaea-
the prtfentation not only of thefemy prefcnt
voursjbuca fooffuchothers as I (hall crc long pro-
not
duce concerning either thi^ or any other fubjeft ^
ufuall, confidering the Pcr-
defiring Pacronage, as is (
but
fons by whom tbefii Trcatifes were firft written )
f)nly Your Honours Noble
acceptance effomeanea
prefent , from the hand of him that heartily wiflieth
Your Honour all felicity, both corporall and fpirituall,
tcmporall and perpetuall 5 and in that wifh, I reft,

(My Lord)

Tour Honours

mofifaithfullfer^ant^

H, R

A3 To
 To the Reader.
'^^ Ermcs, the Father ofPhflofophers/mefi plain*
ji| hrf' ^^y ^^^^ ^'^^^ vprit ) dijcoruered thf
^'^ matter ofthe Pbilofophers Stone^ tut not the
manner of compleatment thereof-^ and as
hefauhy he came to the knowledge thereof iy
the mercy an^favour of the great Creator of
Heaven and Earthy mthout the dire^ion^ inftruBion^ or in-
formation of any mortaU man ^ andwrit thereof t o poflerity^
fearing damnation if he fhould not have done the fame 3 [mce
which time many hundred Philofophers have written of the
fame Science^ ( irhichis the higheft andgreatejl fecret that e-
ver Mwighty God revealed ta mortaUman ^ ) but jo ohfcurely^
that it is imp60le for any man to attain to this high dnd
myfteriou6 Art^ except he be Pioujly and Religiou/ly inclined^
and'refolvedto Itve aferiom and private Itfe^ free from all o-
ther employment or hufinejfe in the world: and fuch a man
nithout ciduht^ hy the mercy andfavour of jilmighty God^and
mth the help of thefe following Authours^with lome others of
the teft ofthefe latter times ^and theHieroglyphicks now cut-
ting and comming forth in Print by the Printer hereof^ living
/» Little- Brittaine, London, never heretofore publifJied ^
which make a full and clear demonflration to thejons of wife-
dome of the whole worke of the Philofophers Stone^fvom the be-
ginning to the endings and giveth a clearer light to theun-
derfianding of the Reader^ than all tke books in the world ; fo
that by the help ofthefe^' and fuch like Books^ with the Hiero-
glyphicks , Art doubtlefjemay be attained unto with
thts
ten times more eafe^ and leffe difficulty than other wife. Thefe
only
 To the Rcaden
only I have give/ithe a Ufieof^ untill the others comefmh^
nphich mllfpeedily ke ejjeBei/. And note this^ that fcarce one
ofthe ancient Philofophers ever vprit fully of this mile Science^
hut matfoever one leaves out^ may he found in another (ifyou
read many of the left Authours.) I have been a Student jn
thisArt many y ear s^ and heingfatisfiedofthe truth thereof^
(having ft udied many of the Left Aut hours) ^ thought ft for
the good and benefit of the faithfuU Students of this Art ^ to
caufe thefe to be publifhed , being by fome of7ny beft friends
thereunto very much urged ; and becaufe the Students ofthis
Art fhould not be deceived by falfe Phikfophers^ andvcorkeas
they do uponfalfe matters ; its Salts^ Alomes^ ritriels^ Met-
tals ^ Minerals^ and the like: let them confider the vpords

of Geo: Ripleyj an Englifh Monke^ n^bo faith : yet the mat-

ter of this worke^ 4ccordingto all the ancient Philvfophers^ is
one only thing , containing in it felfe all necefjartes to the
accompUfhtng of its own perfeBion.
And Henricus Cornelius Agrippa in thefecond Bcok
ofhts Occult Philofophy^in the 4, Chap.faith^there u one things
by God created^ thefubjeB of all mnderfulnefje^ Mch is in
earthy and in heaven ; it is aBually^ amwall^ vegetal le^ and
minerall^ jonnd every ^here^ known byjewy ly none expreffed
in 'hts proper name^ but covered in numbers^ ftg^Yes^ and rid-
dles ^ without which neither Alchymy^ nor naiurali Maf/iek
can attaine their perfeB end.
And in the Kofa^y oj^he PhilofopherSy it is written : but I
advife that no man intrude hirrfelfimo this Science to fearch^
except he know ihe beginning of true nature^andher ooverrir
meut^ nhich being knoii/i^ he needeth not many thinqs^ but
One thing; nor ddth it requtre .^e at charge s^ bccaufe.tbe

Sione mey the Medtci''^.e one^ thep^efjeli.one^ the Govern*

is

meat oney and the d/fpcfttion one^ &c. And let tits
fufficey
fromyour faubjull unknowjfefnendy H. P.
 The Smaragdine Table o{ Hermes Trifmegitkw^
ofAlchyray.

The mrdyoftbe Secrets 0/ Hermes, vphich mre written in a

SmAYiigdine Tahle^ and found hetweene hu hands tn an
otfcure Vault ^wherein hu tody lay buried,

is true without leafing , ccrtaine and moft true,

ITthat which is beneath is like that which is above,
and that which is above is like that which is be-
neath •
to worke the Miracles of one thing, and as all
things have proceededfrom one, by the mediation of
one ; fo all things have fprung from this one thing by
adaptation. His Father is the Sun ," hisJMother is the
Moone, the Winde boie it in her belly, the Earth is
his Nurfe, the Father of all theTelefmc Qf this world
is heere- his force and power is perfe(Si:, if it be turned
into Earth. Thou Earth from the
(halt feperate the
Fire , the thia from the thick, and that gently with
great difcretion It afcendethfrom Earth into Heaven,
:

and againe it defcendeth into the Earth,and receiveth

the power of the Superiours and Inferiours: So fhalt
thou have the Glory of the whole World , all obfcu-
rity therefore Ihall fly away from thee. This is the
mighty power of all power, for it fball overcome eve-
ry fubtle thing, and pierce through every foUid thing,
fo was the VVorld created. Hcere fhall be marvellous
adaptations, whereof this is the mcane. therefore am •

I called Hermes Trifme^i^uiyOr the thrice great Inter-

preter having three parts of the Pnilofophy of the
'y

whole World: that which I have fpokcn of the opera-

tion of the Sun is finiihed.
Here endeth the lahle o/Hermcs.
A Treatife written hy Alphonfo King of PortugaSy
concerning the Philofophers Stone.

Ame brought to tuy know-

ledge 3 that in the Land
of Agypt , there lived a

Learned man that fore-

told things tocome; hee
judged by the Stars, and
the motions of the Hea-
vens^ thofe things which
Time was to bring forth
which were by him before underftood.
A defire of knowledge carried my affeftion,
my pen, my tongue ; with greathumility Lpro-
ftrated the height of my Majeilyj'fuch power
hath paffion upon man With intreaty and my
;

fpeciail Letters unto him, I fent for him by my

MefTengers^promifinghim with a found affefti-
on^ great reward both in goods and money/
The wife man anfwered mee with much
curtcfie I know you are a great King, and
:
that
neither prefcnts, nor the Law of filver nor gold,
nor any thing of great value, but mecrly out of
afteaion I will fcrve you for,! doe not feek that
:

which is too much for mee, and thtrforc I feekc

not after yours, but you.
I fent the beft of my Ships,
which being, ar-
B rived
z A Treatife of Alphonfo K. of Fortugal^
rived at the port of Alexandria ^ the Doftor A-
ftrologer came aboard, and was brought to mee,
curteous with love, for having knownc his great
worth by underftanding the motions of the
Sphears, I alwayes held him in that cftceme and
love which is due to a Learned man.
The Scone which is called the Philofophers
he could make, he taught it mee, and wee made
it together And afterwards I made it alone, by
:

which meanes my Riches increafed much ^ and

feeing that I was ablero doe fuch a thing, and-
tliat divers wayes , which alwayes produced the
fame thing, I will propound unto you the moft
eafic, and therefore the moft excellent and prin-
cipal!.
I had a Library of Books of the Workes of
Men of many Nations, but I in this bufineffe did
cftecme neither the Caldeans, neither the Ara-
bians,(though a diligent people) nor the iEgypti-
ans, Affyrians, but thofc of the Eaft, which mha-
bitc the Indies , and the Saracens did my worke,
and fo well ; that they have honoured our We-
fterne parts.
TJie prcfent time makes mee to know a
found and true judgement bccaufc thou fhouWft
:

give credit or belicfc to it, doe not conceive that

1 have lied in any point. That which 1 look after,
is not to bury in oblivion the great worth that
was in him my Mafter r but I will not give fuch
an Empire to 'any man but to him that is Lcar-
n?d.
Now to unriddle this myftery and to propole
truths
 eonctfning ih PbiUfojhm StdMil
truthes in ciphers though they are obfcure yet by
5
*

them you may karne, ^nd (hall find they are no vaine
things 5 and if thou commeft to underftand this great
Myftery, have it not in thy ordinary converfation, but
leave it in the fame cipher of this impreffion , if tkou
undcrftandeft how to explaine it.
This Matter by wife men is called by divers names
and this matter which to the unwife feemesr to bee
fomething, to them is nothing, and its nature being e-
qually moift and dry that it will aot give one without
another; which is a fingular thing to have two fuch
different naturesmeet together in one^ The drie is
there in a fjprcame degree , the moift likcwife calls
for a fupream Authority the hot and cold fight there
:

together , and are conrayned there likcwife in a fu-

.prcame degree ; and from thai equality, comes the
name of each of thefc feveraUy according to the qua-
lity «nd though the moift be joyned with the dry^yec
:

each of them retaincs its owae name.

Our Hermes tells us that it is Heaven and Earth,
but others call it Man and Wife, and out of their ma-
nage they make other Riddles, which fervc for a light
to the infirme Globe, and from thence are called by
feme. Water or Earthpthers the cold which is inclo-
fcd in heat, fo much the wife may underftand.
The ancient Chaos, according to my judgement,
was knit together by the fovvre Elements : This com-
pofition is the like , when the divifion comes to bee
made, the Heaven and the Eartii comes to bee a ftft
Eflfence of all, for this matter is of that kinde, that it
compofeth all things.. In this matter arc found united
the four Elements inequall parts,fo that if one walk
B 2 or
4
'

A Alphonfo K. ofPortuojd^
Tre/itife of
or movCj the others dpe the like, for by one the others
aFC conduiled^ (o much arc they eqaall in their duties
one to another, and where can you hope to find a bet-
ter thing amongft all Animals, then that which is fo.
much approved by all wife men ?
Take the Learned Philofophers Mercury, and kt
it bee purged from it^ malignancy^and foule quality,
for it cannot be too cleane 3 and fee that the weight
be equall with twelve ounces of the fayd compofition,
and then put it into a glaffc bottle, for no mettall c!fe
is fit for it. And the fonlip of the glafle muft be of the

forme of the Sphere, with a long neck, and no thick-

crthen can bee grafped with a large hand , and the
length of the necke not above a fpan , and no wider,
then the ^Egyptian fealc may cover its mouth. This
you muft put into an earthen pot, furrounded about
with hot aflies , and bee fure with a carefull hand to*
flop up the bottle. And then you muft have an ^rtifi-
ciall Furnace made of Clay, fo broad and round as
that you aiay fadome at the tliickeft place. You muft'
not put the pot in the bottome of the Furnace, but
hang it or fet it in the middle, upon two irons, which
muft lie Diameter wife, or acroile , and the earthen
pot muft {land upon the very centre and crofTe of the
two irons , that the fire may come alike to it in all
parts, and then with coalcs make a foft fire , but let
not your patience bee troubled to keepe it alwayes a-
like. The fire muft not come within a foot of the pot,
and the furnace luted up clofe about the pot, that fo
the foft fire may keepe it alwayes working , and bee
not troubled to keepe the fire ftill alike , for if it bee
the fame at laft as at firft, thou haft done the worke
of an able man, Two
 concerningthe Phil.ofophers Stone, 5

Two changes the Mooncmuft by thofc Ani-

pafle
mals, which maketh amonthj or the Sun that degree
which is called Sextile, without raiae, for the workc
requires drought and then you fhall fee a patcrne of-
:

the worke 3^ of which you muft bee very carefullfor

unmarrying of it from his firft matter which is all one.
That which time works helped by the Sun and other
influences, when taking leave of the Earth, and ha-
ving drawne out the moiftnes that runnes in its veins,
it is fo pleafcd with it, that it converts into fulphur

that part which was moyft before 5 fo that all is feene

as mother Nature placed it.
This is the part of the Earth , Sulphur , Woman,
hot and dry 5 for when it makes its firft change or
trucke, that part is wanting which encompaffed the
humidity ^ as Penelope made warrein the abfenceof
Uhjjes in Italy, fo this Widow fo pale and wan, hopes
for the rcturne of her banillicd Husband. Byequall
weights , as firft with Art mixt with Mercury, very
pure, with this mixture you may worke fecurety in a
^

glaffe made by the hands of a good Workman,fbr the

firft and the laft muft be one or like ; but if poffibly

thou canft, the firft venter is the trueft,

. Doc the following Worke in fuch maner, that you
keepe the fame fire that you did beibre, which- will be
futficient, and be fijre your fire gives no flame, an j be
fare alfo to watch it nights and dayes and ifyou take
;

that paine, you fhall bee fure to finde an excellent re-

ward. TJiou i'halt fee the worke in its blackneffe, and
that being changed, as it was firft borne, whkh is not
yet the thing that mother Namrc gave in her firft de-
gree, but (hall turneto bee fo. liquid and pure that it
B ^ • ihair
6 A Treatlfe 0/ Alphonfo J^. of poriugd^
iliall be like to Inke, fodiftinft fhall bee the forme of
this creature from its firft being.
Halt thou not feen the Prifon which the Silkworm
makes for it felfe, where it dies ? and out of that car-
cafe dead in the Net ic felfe made, in which no corr-ii-
ption can come, but rifeth againein a forme diftirkJt
from its firft being, then i$ brought fonh and paints it
felfe, with wingB in a more ugly (hape So our work :

begins to live with a new fpirit, and new fubftance,

from whence muft bee continued the pcrfcverance of
the body, that fo bloud may bee gotten in it. Doe not
you then think of making a greater fire, for by that
meanes the bloud and body will bee dcftroycd. Then
fhall you fee the moft excellent point of this Divine
worke open the bottle and it will feeme to bee rui-
;

neda for there will come from it a very ftinking fmell.

In this degree is certainly the greateft labour oi this
work : for if it bee continued with the fame heat, it
wil certainly come to the higheft degree of perfedion.
After this colour is you fhall lee many more dif-
paft,
ferent in their likenelTe and appearance the Argos,
:

and the Iris in their fplendor, that the following of

the liquid humour will
caufe to bee of divers colours,
untill it comes at laft to t certaine whitericfle , then
augment a little the heat.
Friend, bee not weary of your wotke, and let it not
trouble your patience, tor this is the firft point of get-
ting your inheritance. When the Stone is come to the
whitencffe, it is then fixt, and can never bedifunitcd,
though it burnc 100. yeares, (ot the union is
jfhould
perfect. Keepc, as I have told you, the fire in one de-
gree, that it may come to fuch a whiteneffe, as to bee
like
 concerning the Philofophff s Sto/i\
7
like the pureft fnow, which iscalled the filver Elixir.
But in regard that Gold is more pietious in clteemc^
let it alone in tbc bottle with the fame firCj untill the
Stone is come from its white into a Citron colour:
then increafethc fire another degree , and thou fhalt
attaine to a pure red. All being rayfed up will (hew
your worke tobe fecure the body of this being taken
:

up, will be hard andlighfj and in it you may take no-

tice of the body oi Dia^ham^ and the colour of a Ru-
bie, as in my owne hands my fdfe bath feene it ; for
which the great God is by me prayfed. Then put this
into an earthen veffell ^. covered with a cover of the
fame^ likeadifli, and this fo well joined or luted to-
gether, of the bigneffe to hold thr^tbegada^^ accord-
ing to the bigneffe of the Stone ^ and put it on a hot
fire of flaming wood there to boile. Hcerc the Stone
will calcine in 10. dayesof theSun, or Sundayes, &:c.
and being taken- out of that pot, it will be an impal-
pable and Divine powder. The firfi fubftance which
doth good to all, from whence it hath no quality in
his Quinteffence, but is applied to all, and hath power
to do all,and vcrybeing ot the thing that is applied to.
l^nte^ from the beginning crfNaturall caufes it is nei-
:

ther Gold, nor Silver, nor other Mincrall, nor fubjeft

to the forme of any Vegetable, but hath a difpofition
to doe good to all. If it be applied to Gold, from it,
it takes firmneirc,as to convert other things into that

Mettall. Forif toman, by famous workes, it gites

him health, what can bee efleemed more pretious?
Under this impalpable Gold, it happens that there is
found a bright Earth, but very blacke and gliftcring,
which is not the befl however, for that which is very
red,
-8 A Treatifc of Alphonfo JC.of Portugal^
rcJ, and ftablc, though it be mixc with all cotn-
is tiKC

potitionsj and fo nriakes no iitgreflion ^ but his vertucs

arc very admirable. But with cquall weight thou muft
unite it with its firftprincipallmatter, very pure, and
joyne or mixc them together very carefully ^ if you
would have it be brought to live and then, as I told
:

you before, let it come to the moderate heat as at the

hrft, and in the like glaffe as I prcfcribed before, very
clofe (Tiut and as t^ou didft with the fire at the firft,
:

lb muft xhou doe it nowj and in very (hort time thou

fhalt fee it become blacke^ and of the other colours
fpbken of before, untill it comes to bee red, and will
prelently turne into a ftone. Tiiis have I feenc done
m a fhort time and hce that knowes it not , let him
;

kr ow that he walks blindfold.

1 have told you the work in plaine words, and how
I did it, and faw it wrought, fo I did it, and had the
reward and it is no fallacy , feeing that I am a wit-
:

neffe to it, for which I prayfe and blcfle God , which

gave me iiitficient of knowledge, fcience, riches, ho-
nour, and ftate, which let me never forget.
If thou wouldft have a divifion of this into' loo.
parts , and fo .ad infimtum^ it muft bee done before it
hath firmentacion or hardneire,and then your workc
.will be ccrtaine. Take an earthen veffell covered,and
in It put your quickfilver, and when it begins to runne
over, drop in your Elixir, othcrwife you cannot keep
it for running over. Of Gold one part being purged

by Aquafortis with foure of quicklilver wafht , and

foure of what is fpoken of before, joyned with great
Art, with one of your Elixir , and put it apart in a
crooked gkflb or retort, and let it feele a fire of coals
ten
 concerning the philofophrrs Stcne. p
ten dayes together^ until! they be all mixed together.
And it you will make a further progreflion^ put into
an earthen pot loo. graines of quick hlver, and put it
over a flaming and when the quickfilvcr begins
fire ^

to fmoake and flie away

in fume ^ caft in one part of
your Elixir, and then cover ir. Then let it coole , and
it (liallprove a very foveraignc medicine loc.parts of :

quickfilvcr, according to the fineneffe of it, this lliall

convert into Gold. But if youdefireto make experi-
ence and fee the operation upon lead, you faajl there
find it as well neither doth it ftay there, for its^ingref-
:

fion retains thatfaculty to turne all mettais into Gold:

to every thing ic is and it converts eve-
to be applied,
ry thing into a Well compicdioned nature , lialfc a
graine of this taken into the mouth makes the party
ftrong the weak and feeble, it makes fo lufty, that
•

no man was ever more healthy, and time which is

pretious to all, brings thofe that take it, found to their
Graves.

The ieji ofBejis invites from hi^fupreame dn^ellinapUce^

the mofl unfortunate ofall^ joynin^^ together tivo extreameSy
after which mjloall fee him in hfSgreateft dignity and M.-t-
jefly^ ivhichnow is mofl diflant from it : fay nothing till iJjou
feefl the wat^r produce th/tt which if afterward twined into
fire 'j but if thou feefl that play , then hide not what elfe thou
knowefl^ for it is worth full eight hundred yeeres ; for hein'f
come to that paffe^ then thoufljaU know the worth of it. then

fhall he accomplifht the fata/ltimetofee my ire^ifure and my

and my [elfe rnclofed or containe
felfe^ my fife :I fjali not Ic
ohfcured^ and thou fJjaU remaine with my gifl thatjnthi.S'
darknes thou fhalt fee fuch a light nkere a jvorld fhalliee re-
prefented, c The
to rhet. freitife of Alphcmfo K. of Portugaly

The fecond Treatise of Alphonfo King ©/ Portugal^

cQHcermng the mkfefhers Stone.

He paft worke of the moft pure

{lone 5 is fo infinice in multiply-
ing 5 that it is never weary to
give J and to give more , fuch a
hath it to its workman-
likencfle
But if you would know a-
fhip.
nother way to feperate the foure
ElementSjknow that this follow-
ing Treatifc underftood, will teach you to do it with
more brevity and fecurity.
Two ounces of gold well refined with one ©f filver,
very fine and pure , melted in clay^ and this mixture
being filed very fmall , and with purged Mercury
ground untill it be well incorporated one into another.
Then put fuch a quantity of common fait fo well mix-
ed, as that the body may be well conglutinatcd.
Take a glaffe bottle, fubtill^ to mix thefe, fo that
no unclean thing may come to it (though never fo lit-

tle) and then upn a fmall fire fo workc it, as that tho
Mercury may confume or vanifti in its own fume.
Then you may prefumc the Gold will remaine being it
body that will endure the fervency of the fire,
Wafh the matter of this mixture in pufc fountainc
water , fo that after many wafhings the wat^^WM,

remainemany times clean, and rctaine itsfwectncile

o
 1

concerning the philofofhers Stone,* 1

oftaftc: then weigh the matter that remain?^ and if

vou find it heavier than it was at firft, grind it againc
with Salt enough ^ and put it to the fire againe as be-
fore.
Thus I tell youj you muft doe your workc, and in a
very foft fire : and when it conies to bee of its firft
weighty that which then remaincs ^ will bee a matter
fpungeous and fubtle, and fo well difpofed and prepa-
red^ that you may ufc it in any Phyficke.
And now you muft make a preparation with fub-
limed Mercury, Copperas, and Salt well wafht for :

our Phyfick and reall conjun£tion gives it afterwards

his life, grinding it with Salt very fmall. Then in a
glaffe Bottle which hath his receiver, put it to make
his diftillation.
But know that within the receiving glafle you muft
pHt water, and place the bottle in a ftrong furnace,and
make a fire of coales under it , and letting it feeth or
boyle Ibftly, and it will turn quick, or living, and be
muchfubjed to corruption, and with this, workefe-
curely and be nat weary.
Nine of thefe with three of the firft compofition^
joyned and well mixed, and ground together and all:

thefe and the other put into a round glaffe, that hath
a neck ol a fpan or palme long, and then ftop the
mouth very clofc, for which purpofe the mouth muft
not be made wide but narrow.
Thus I tell you the glaffe muft be, and of a bigneffc
to hold the quantity of three hegadcU^ and according to
the roundnelfe of it, (o have a place fitted to put it in
the fire, that thejce the matter may be well joyned ot
maflht together^ then will the tinfture be made.
C 2- Forty
1 1 The 5 .Tfyatife of Alphonfo K.of Portugal:,
Forty hegadaS:, then fbalt thou fee the Eaft adorned
with the beamcs of the funnc, when this worke fhall
be accomplillied according to defire , to change the
prcfcnt glade into another, which ferves for the recei-
ver of a Stillj which being clofc luted with lutum fapi-
entU^ en hot water, which it muft not touch.
. The Fire muft no*t bee of any great heat but mode-
rate, that it may worke its effcd, diftilling its water
in a pcrfea manner, and then doe the fame worke o-
veratraine ^
joinc the matter with great wifcdome,
with'this his diftilled Water, joine Mercury, of an e-
quall weight with the firft matter.
Note my words which I will tell thee , that now
thou {halt come to and after forty dayes put
putrifie it,

itinto the Still, keeping the fame order as before, for

the glaffe and the fire , take this diftilled water, and.
in the place where it falls , put in an equall weight of
the firft matter as aforcfayd.
Doe this worke as at the muft be thrice
firft, for it

reiterated from time to time, receiving the water that

the fire will give to the very laft. Think not the time
light, and though you paffe the forty dayes and more,
yetftill keep: the water in a glaflfe bottle.
Change It from the receiving iglaffe into another,
and put it upon hot afhes , and theti thou fhalt have,
or draw out a lighter element in weight, called Ayre,
which you muft fubtily put into a bottle, and ftop the
mouth of it very clofe with Hermes his feale , and its
necke alfo ^ be carefull that you let not forth the aire.
Put in or to the glaflfe another receiver after , ( ha-
ving ftrongly luted it) and make fuch a fire as that by
hisgre^t heat the pot may diftill j this Element keep
with
 ;

concerning the Fhilofophers Stone, ij

with carcfulncffe , for it is the Element of Firc^ and
then, thankes be to God, in this worke thou haftfepa-
rated the foure Elements.
After the divifion of this Chaos , thou muft now
thinkeof joyning them together againe for if thou
:

meaneft to joyne and make that .world which was

difunited, the only matter which is in the bottome of
the glaffe muft bee retayned or kept and foftned by
grinciing, and then thecompofition putintoa glaffe.
Let this glaffe bee round bodied, and long neckt
"which glaffe or bottle you muft fortifie by luting, and
fet it upon thecoales, that it may have the force of the
fire, in fuch a mancr that it may rife ten degrees Ti-
tans Wife of the beloved Bed ; and in this maner it
wilbe converted into a hard fubftance.
In another like glaffe put this with a quarter of its
weiglit of the referved water, and then flop the mouth
of it well, and put it in a braffe furnace or veffell, and
put it upon hot aflics, and keepe fuch a frre to itjas the
matter may become dry as it was before.
This being done, and the congealing and drying
being paft, aslhavefaid, do the like again, with its
fourth 0r quarter part of that Royall water. The in-
fufion muft be reitterated, and the fourth rime ended
of doing the fame work, know that thou haft fatisfied
the drougth, or drouth, or thirft that this fubftance
had after that water.
Haft thou not feen the earth when it wants raine,
how barren it fhews > no fruit to be feen, but all looks
like a fallow ground , and every thing like to perifh.
But if the rain falls to refrelTi it , it makes it fruitfull
for generation, or increafe, and every feed that is fown
C 3, in
14 Thf 2.7y'eatife of Alphonfo R\ ofFortugal^

in proper time brings forth its trLU^

its

And continuing difpcrlech its watery power

into all plants and trees, and makes the iruit appeare
on every bough even fo goes this matter preparing
:
•

the Ayre which you kept in the bottle , you muft give
drink to five feverall times, the tenth part of its quan-
tity at a time, fo that in all it muft. have halfe its own
weight, and al wayes at every time be dryed up.
Then on a Copper plate in a flaming fire try this
matter, ifit will confumein fmoake for you muft
•

preiume it to be of the nature of the Ganimedes to fiie

up to Heaven, but if it flies not upwards, then it is not
yet well done , but you muft give it more water , and
trye again whether or no it hath his true fpirit.^
Caufe it to drink a quarter part of its weight that
firftit wasof,which will be the tenth part of the Aire,
and as you did it before, fo do it again : then prove it
upon the Copper Plate , to trye if *it will evaporate
and fmoake then turne againe to what you did be-
:

fore.
Then put the matter in fublimation, and when you
fhall fee it all rife up : that which rifeth not, but rc-
maineth in the bottome, give drink again according
it

as is afotcfayd prove it again upon the plate, and fo

;

continually trye it till it rifeth ^ and then you fhall be

fure that in the bottome will remain a black earth like
a dead body in the glaffe.
As the Ganimedes went up to Heaven, fo thou
fhalt fee this matter exalted. It (hall be demanded
from the God of the earth, by JoX/f, from whom it
was ftolen, it having been left with Demogorfjoa , and
(hall be rcftored, and if thou fublimate it , oitentimes
grinding
 ccnceming th^ "Phi/ofophers Stone. 15
grinding it untill it come at laft to be firme,
it will all
remain m the boccome of the glafle.
To this matter there wants ingreffion, becaufc there
wants the fourth Element , therefore make this ope-
ration in a fire neither great nor little, but when thou
putteft it inflammation take the pot, and be furc
in its
that not one drop or tittle of any foule thing comes to
it before thou fccft infufion.

If then thou feeft it become like wax that it will

rope, then thou haft a vaft great Treafure, that
thyeftate fhall be advanced to more than the riches
oi Midas. 1 00. parts of Mercury put on the fire, and
when it begins to fumeaway, then temper it with one
of this matter , and prcfumc thou haft brought it to
thcperfed medicine.
And if another time thou doft the fame worke,one
part of this applycd to 100 will turn likcwife to the
fccond medicine, and ont part of this is a great reward,
being applied to loo parts of Mercury hot , or any o-
thcr mcttal being mclted,making it becom Gold moft
high and fublime For which the Lord be praifcd.
:

FINIS.
 :

17

TheBookeof John Sawtre a Monke^c^neermngthc

Philofophers Scone^

XL things confifting of Naturall

bodies , afwell perfea as unper-
fcd, in the beginning of Creati-
on were compounded and made
of foure natures, andthofefoure
natures bee the foure Elements,
viz. Fire, Aire, Water^and Eartl^
the which God omnipotent did
congelate, mingle, and married together in his mafic
of Poyfe for in thefe foure Elements is the Privity
:

hid of Philofophcrs ; and when their namresbecom-

mingand reduced together into one, then they bee
made another thing whereupon it appeareth that all
:

things univerfall and variable bee of the foure Ele-

ments , ingendred naturally and changed together
whereupon Rafis fayth , Simple generation and natu-
rall permutation is the operation of the Elcments,but
neceffary that Elements be of one kindc and not
it is

divers for othcrwife they have not adionand paffion

:

together : for as ^r/^or/^ fayth, There is no true ge-

neration, but of fuch as be convenient and agreeing a-
mongft themfelves. Therefore doe not fearch that
thing of nature, that is not. of nature, or things not ac-
cording to their lature y for the Elder tree doeth not
bring forth Peares, nor the Thorne tree Pomegranats,
^
D for
i8 The Bo6ke of John Savvtre ^ Monh^
for wc doe never gather grapes of Thorncs, or figgcs
of Thiftles; for they offer'no things but fuchas are like
thcmfelves ^ nor doe they bring forth other fruit then
their owne. Therefore it is neceffary that our medi-
dne bee taken chiefly of fuch things as it confilVeth
in ^ but there bee .many men bulyiiig themfclvcs and
medling greatly and diverfly therein, that ndw a daies-
goe about to get the fame medicine of dry ftoncsjaiid
divers kinds of falts , as of S4 alkalij sM.gem. vn.iolj
SAl-arntoniack^SindizWomt^ cicory, tutty, attramentum,
faffron, burnt brade, vitriol! Romane, verdegris, ful-
phur, auripigmentum^arfnick, and fuch other untruit-
full matters, whereas neither falts nor alloms^doe goc
into, or be compounded in our worke • but the Piiilo-
fophers named it falts and allomes in fteadof the Ele-
ments as rheophrafifisisLith. Butifthoudcfire to make
the Elixir wilely and perfeftly , then learne to know
the Minerall Roots, and make of them thy worke :
for as Geter fayth , thou fhalt not findc the terme or
end of the thing in the vcines of the earth ^ for fulphur
and mercury which be the roots minerall , andnatu-
rall principles, that Nature doth make the foundati-
on of her operations once , as in the mineralls and
chambers of the Earth, be water, vifcous, and a ftin-
king fpirit running by the Tcines and bowells of the
Earth, and of them doth fpring a fume, which is the
mother of allmettalls, joyned by a moid temperate
heat,aicending and verbera ting againc upon his upper
Earth, untill that by tem.pcrate d'ecodlion in the term
of looo. years is made a ccrcainc naturall fixation, as
more plainly it doth #ppeare , andfo is made mettall^
as appeareth in the bookes o^Geber : Evenfo of Sol,
(which
 (tncerning th< Thilofophfri Stone. 19
Mcr-
Sulphiir reduced into Nlercury,by
f which is
our
made abater, thicke, an^l mixed^AVuh
Ins
Siv IS
or?fir Ea&,by' temperate dccoaton, and from it ri-
FeXfnSSeveinsof this proper Earth,^«. of
afterward is changed into a water,
himfelfc, which
Jinima, S'^muit, &Tm-
moftfubtle, which is called
andTindure: Spirit, and
3^,chat5,Se Soule,the
fame water isreduccd upon the
Earth from
when the
his owjie vanes,
wSce it came, and fprinkled upon
and ismadcthe

S
kcommcthintoa certaine fixation,
FuScompleat and fo Art doth
the whof man, more
inTooo. yeares. But
but Nature doth make
:
worke inaihort
then Nature doth work
yet wee doe not make metta 1,
it we doe not change
:
mettals,
themvbut we be Natures hel-
but Nature doth change
pe s or Miniftcrs. wWupon Me^mTuriaPh^
our ^tone being perfc-
UarumM^K That although
doth naturally contayne m
ftWeatcd in the Earth,
hSc tinaure,yet by himfelfe, he hath
be Elixir, unkflb thereto hee
no motion
bee moved
o movKo namrall and next
hv Art Therefore let us choofc the
SineralMccording to the words of
^nM..for Na-
Te hath procreatelaUmeulique bodies of a fume
s.,1nhur and Mercury : wherein thou {halt findcno
5 therfore
it behoveth thee
IhSofopSr LgreVing
of'this Art. and the princ.pall
To know tSc principles
for hee that doth not know
the ri^h
RoSereof s
Tor

SS
bSnnUl-haU neverfinde the right end thereof :
in the beginning of
knowcth nor our besinningfn
bis Booke
himfelte,
Hce^that
is t arrc from

Science : for

£c S
SttaynTng or ulderftanding of
this

n!t the true Root

orgrgind wherc^n^e
to The Booke tf John Sawtrc d Monk,
fhould rayfe this Art, or Sci^cc, or W
orke : alfo in
another place he fayth 5 It behoveth that our Art be
found out by a naturall wit, and a fubtile foule, fear-
ching forth the naturall principles and true foundati-
on?. But although that a man may know his princi-
ples, yet neverthelclfe he cannot in this follow Nature
in al things, as Gel?er teRifieth. Sonne, of this Art of
Alchymy, we doe open to thee a great fecrct ^ Many
Artincert in this Art doe greatly errc, which do think
to toUow Nature in all properties and differences.
. Therefore thefe things thus (hortlypaffed over, as
is aforcfayd, let us come to that part of the worke ar-
tificial! J many men doc write of the Stone, named the
Philofophcrs Stone, but how, or of what it is made,
no Philofopher did plainly and openly name , for in
thefe points divers men taught divers things whereas:

the truth doth confift in one thing onely ; but without

doubt and without all errour, we fay that this Stone
(which is the root of our Art and privity , or hidden
fecret of God and whereof many wife men did treat,
:

who did of it make, and did knit many knots, and fo

deceived many men in making them thereby fooles)
is none other thine but man and woman^ Sol hum, &
hot and cold. Sulphur and Mercury and :heere fticke
dowr e your fbke , flaying only and leaving: to fcarch
further for any other ftone, or foolifhly to confumc
thy money, and to bring to thy foule heavy though ts^
©r fadneffe for what thdu foweft thou fhalt reape.
:

And forafmuch as this Stone is divided into two parts,

we will fpeake a little of thefirft part Sol 5 and note,
that without k, our worke cannot be done, as I well
.proveby authority of learned Philofophcrs. For Ari-
'

fiotle
 ;

concerning the Thilofopheri St$ne. 2 1

^otle fayth ^of all things in this world, 5^/ is moft and
•

It is thefirment of white and red^ without which it is'

not done. Alfo 7ifyw^5 fayth. There is no true tinfture'

but of our Braffe, that fs to fay sd : for all Sol is brafs,
but all braflcis not 5o/;foall Sol is Sulphur, but con-
trary, for in it is nothing of the corruption of Sulphur,
but when it is made wfiite in the worke, then it wor-
keth the operation of white Sulphur, congealing and
converting Mercury into Sol, of the colour named O
^//©^inLatine, therefore u(e alwayes the nobler
member, thatisto jfay Sol 5 for it is the kinde of
kipdes 5 and forme 6f formes ; fcjr'' it is thefirft and
laft inmettals, and it isamongft them in their natures,
as the Sun isamongft the Stars-, but it dothconcerne
thee to underftand well how to choofe in what noble
member waterUm vel rem homgeniarn amhorum rhiindi
iMmintim : that is a thing df that kiridte which isaWn-
dred to both the lights in the world, that is to fay Sol:
for Sol is hom'ogeneam ^ and the (pirit hid and covered
in that iioble member, without which the work is not
dpne. Vy^ercfore Rafis fayth. Doe not colourit iintill
his hid fpirit be drawne out, and made all fpirituall
and therefore worke thou nothing but that which is
very light, and of the moft pure 50/5 which doth illu-
minate and lighten all lights, and cafteth away all
darkneflfe of the night by his^povvcr, viz. the fuperflu-
ity of Mercury and other imperfeft bodies, when that
it caftupon them; wherefore G^^^r faith in the
is

Chapter of the Quintcffence and Projedion of the

Stoiie thisSulpher, lightning and eafting forth his
;

beames, and (hinrng abfbad of his moft cleare fub-

ftance, doth irradiate and giveth light not only intfee
D 3 day
•2 2 The Piooke ^/ J ohn S tv/ttca Mo?ike^
day, butalfo Ib the darkneffe whcrnpon Pandulfhmin
turhii philofoi^wrf^iyi^h^n-iy Brethren know yc that there
is no body more precious or purer thsin Sol : for as the

Rubie hath m
it felfe tlie effed of all precious ftones,

fo Sol hath in it felfe the vcrtue of all uoncs and Met-

tals du^tibl^ y for it containeth in it fclfc all mettals,
and cgjoure^h and quickeneth them , when he is
moil noble of them and of allbodies, and the head and
the beft of them and confider this one poynt more,
;

that Sol is equall in the qualities and parts of it , and

it is of a complcac nature ot the fourc Elements, with-

out, any exccffe ordcfc^ftj.for by nature it hath part of

hcac, and part of coldneflb; part of dryneUe, and
p^rt of humidity i for it is not corrupted ^ nor corrupt
tible, by the Ayre, nor by ^he Water, nor by the infc-
i^ion of the Earth , or by the force or violence of the
Fire.j yet it moyikcnetH, redifieth, and adorncth it,
beqaufc his coniplexion is, temperate, and his nature
dirG(ft)and equall therefore that Stone is befl of all
:

ftoncs, that is moft concpftand neareft , or moft akin

to the fire.

The fccond part of our Stone is called Mercury, the

which is himfelfe, and of the Philofophers is called a
Stone 5 and yet is no Stone Whereupon a certainc
:

wife man, whereas he fpeaketh of it^ faith , this is a

Stone, and yet no Stone, without which, nature doth
never worke any thing, which both doth, and drink-
cch up the worke, and'^of it doth appeare every colour,
whole name is Mercury or Argent vive. Whereupon
Rac« faith of it, a worke may be created fo , that the
fame worke may overcome all Natures j it is friend-
ly to all Mcttlcsjand thcmeanc to joync tin6hires,for
in
 €omrHmg the "Thilof&phers Stene^ ^5
in it felfe it which is of its nature, and
teccivcth that
doth vomit forth agalne that which is ftrangc, or enc-
my to its natiirc, f o^ it is-an antfortne fubftance in all
his part. Th^-M^e-tlii^ Stone is naiHed of the Philo-

fophers Mim^raUi%gto1>kYaHd Animallj andalfoar-

tinciaHjit iscalkJ-Mineral),btcaufcit is mgendredin
the Mine, and is nfiother ot ail Mettks, or elfe it is cal-
led mineral! 5 becaofe that vvht-n there is projcdion
made upon it, it is t-irncd intoMettfo^^and it is called
Vegitablc, for of the Juice of thre-e Hearbs mixed toge-
ther in equall proportions , that they ftand in a moift
fire forty dayes, there will be growne forth thereof a
Stone of the fame colour and vejtue of th^ mineral!,
for the Hearbs be Mercury, PUr>eelane, called Portuldca
^armay which yecldeth Milke, and Celendine, it is
alfo called animall or vitall, becaufe of himfelfe, with-
out any other thing put into it, his Elements beingfe-
peratednd'nitoiogetheit4n equall' weight, and thcji
fct in a'ftrdngglalfeHVithahttleholetotakeayreat
intheaforefayd hre, wifhin three moncths there will
engender horrible Wormes , whereof every one will
flay one another, untill that one onely will rcmaine,
which if the Maftei: feed 'Wifely, it will grow and waoc
to the bi|neffe of a Toad, whofe forme is terrible, and
this Bcaft isbyhihi felfe Elixir upon Saturne and Ju-
piter^ or it is called animall, becaufe it is made of a
thing that hath life, that is to fay man: For in old
Hedges' it is-found of the putrifaftion of mans dunr3
and ordinately heated wift a fubtife Vcffcll of Glaffe,
and therefore the Philofophers fayd our Stor^ is
found in every man, and that of the vi'left thing, and of
a moft vile price Wherefore p^V^^^or.^^ faith ^ this
:'

Stone
24 The Bdoke of John Sawcre a Mpnlt-Cy

Stone is animalljbecaiife it is ap* to bring forth Child-

ren ; alfo he faith it is caft in Dunghils, and therefore
it is vile and nejededin the eyes ot the ignorant man.
Alfo in the BOok^ whiich is called Speculum AlchymUy
it is fayd, this Stone is caft away in the ftreet , and i^

found in dunghill^ thq which cQptaineth in it feife^U

thefoure Elements , and ruleth them and this Stone
:

is artificiallj for by mans wit^ it is knit together ^ for

ccrtaine men make {ylerciaryoif Lead in this maner :

they melt Saturncfixojf feven times ^ and every time

they draw it with. Sal armoniacke diffolved-^ after-
wards they take ot that Saturne three pounds, and of
,Vitriol one pound, aodl^f Borax halfe a pound , and
then they do.minglealtpge.ther, and put it underneath
the Philofophers fire , by forty naturali dayes> and
then it is made Mercury, ^nd there is no difference be-
twceneit and naturali Mercury , but that it doth not
goe into our wprjiC, as naturali Mercury doth.
Know thou the clean froqi the;unclcan,for nothing
givcth that which it hath not j br the clean is of one
dfcnce voyd ot alterations the unclean thing is divers,
:

and of contrary parts, and of a light or eafie corrupti-

on, therefore put in thy workc no ftrange thing, nor
let any thing goe into our Stone ( cyic^pt fuch as is
fprung from it ) neyther in part nor yet in the whole 5
for if any ftrange thing be put into it, it will by and by
corrupt, nor will that be made thereof which is expc-
Aed. Therefore purge the yellow body by theadufti-
onof the fire, and then thou fhalt findc it purged ^ and
after that thou haft it well purged,beat it moft ftrong-
iy, and utterly, and make it into thin plates, and after
beat thcrainto leaves, the thiimeft that cao bee poffi-
^^
ble,
 ;

concerning thi philofo^hers Stone^ 25

ble, asGold-beaters doc, and then fo keep them but t

the white liquor hath more fupcrfluities, which muft

of neceflity be removed^ for they bee faiculenxifZ ofthe
Earth, which is the impediment of melting , and hu-
midity fugitive 5 which is the impediment of fixa-
tion.
The earthineile feculentinc is taken away thus; put
ic wood, and adde to it as
into a nuortar of marble or
much common cleane dry fait, and a little vineger,
and ftirre them ftrongly about, and rub it very ftrong-
ly with a peftle of wood wifely, that there doe appear
nothing of the liquor, and that all the fait be all black,
then wafhall the matter with cleane hot vvater,untill
the fait bee refolved into water , and then powre the
fame foule water away, and then put it to the liquor
of fait and vineger, as thou didft before j and doe this
oftentimes \ untiil the liquor bee made as cleane and
fhining as glafle, or of the colour of Heaven. And laft.
of all put ic into a thickelinnen cloth, twice or thrice
doubled, and then ftrainc it forth twice or thrice into
a thi.kc veflell of glafle, untiil it bee dry; the propor-
tion of the parts is fuch , for there bee twenty foure
houres in a naturall day, to which adde one, and then
there be twenty five, this is wifedome for 6^f ^er faith
:

in his fourth Booke, and fixth Chapter, Study in thy

worke to overcome. the quickfilvrr in thy commixti-
on. Alfo >Rj.75 fayth, Bodies be of a great perRftion
wherefore more quickfilver is neceflary and he faith, :

that vvife men hide nothing but the weight and quan-
tities, and this we may know becaufe none doe agree
with other in weight, Ihercfore there is a great er-
ror ; for although'the medicine be well prcparare and
E well
 6 ;

a ^he BoBke of John Sawtre a Monke^

well mingled together, unleffe that there bceqilianti-
ties^ thou haft dellroyed all, as to the verity and finall
complement, and that (lialt thou fee in the triall , for
when that the body tranfmuted, bee put into cincrari-
on, there it will be conlumed late or ibone, according
as little or much it is changed into cquahty of the
proportions by right, according to rcafon it will ne-
ver be corrupted therefore no man canpaffe through
:

it , unleffe that hee bee a wife man , th^t doeth all

things according toreafon,and trucfubtilety, and na-
tural wit.
Euclides being a wife man , counfclled us that we
ftiould worke but in Sol and Mercury, which joy»ed
rogecher doth make the Philofophers Stone 5 where-
upon Rafis faith , white and red do proceed of one
Roote, no body of any other kinde comming between
or meddling of the kind of Sol yet it being matter
•

and forme abfcnt , all the effect is deprived, quoniam

ex TKAterta df forma fit gtneratio vera.:^ that is to fay,
very true generation is made of forme and matter,
therefore it behooveth thee to know , that no Stone,
or precious ftonc , nor any other thing befides this
Stone is convenient, nor yet doth agree to this worke
but thou hadft need to labor about thefolution of the
yellow body , reducing it to his firft matter where-
:

fore Rafn faith,we truly do diffolvc Gold, that it may

be reduced into his firjft natur-e, that is to fay, Mercu-
ry :and when that they be brufed afunder, then they
ha^e in themfelves tin(Surc abiding wherefore Kaf^s
:

in the flowers of SocYAUs^dX\h ^ make the marriage,

between the Red husband and the White wife , and
thou (halt have the maftery. Alfo ^fr/^v^ faith ia his
Booke: C^n-
 cbncefning the ^hilbfophers Stene, % 7-

Candida fi rabe9 mulierjic mixta mart to

Mi)X ampleBuntur comfkBaj^ concipiuntur
*TeY [e jolvu/iturj per [e quoj^ conficiumur^
Etduo quif'ueranty unum (^uafixorporefiunt.
And truly our difiblution is no other thing ^ bur
that the body be turned againe into nioiftnciTc
and ,
his quickfilver into his osvne nature be removed a-
gaine. Therefore unleflo our braflc be broken and
crufhed afunder 3 and ruled by himfclfe untill it be
drawn from his thicknes^ and that it be turned into a
thinTpirit , this labour is in vaine; whereupon it is
fayd in the Booke called Speculum Alchymi<e , that the
firft workeof this workeis the body reduced into wa-

ter 5 !hat is to Mercury , and that is that the Philofo-

phers call folution, which is the foundation of all the
w^rke, and it makcth the body of more liqucfaclion,
and of a more hid and privy fubtiliation , which laid
folution by little and little is done by contritions , and
light roftingrwhcrforc Rafu faithjthe difpoiition oi our
Stone is, that it be put into his vcllellj and be fod dili-
gcndyjUntill all doalccnd and rife up and be diflblvcd.
And it is fpokeii in Specula Thilofophorumy that the Phi-
lofophcrs Stone doth arife from a vile thing unto a
more precious treafure that is to be underftood,
:

that the fpcrme of Sol is to be caft into the matrix of

Mercury , by bodily copulation or coiijun.^n , and
joyning of them together. Alfo Tithagents faith^ that
when it is put together with his like , and be mercuri-
fied, it is a young tree, bringing forth fruit for the
foule ; the fpirit and the tin^lure may from thence-
forth be drawn out of him by temperate heat where- :

upon hefaithj you Artificers of Alchymie, know you

E 2 '
that
28 The-Booke of John Sawtre a Mohke^
that their kindcs cannot be truly tranfmutcd unlcflTe
that it be reduced into his firft matter Alfo Geter
;

faith, all the whole thing may be made only of Mer-

cury 5 or Lune 5 for when that Sol is brought into his
firft beginning by Mercury , then naturc^cmbraceth
liis owne proper nature, and then there is in it an eafi-
neffe of drawing forth his fubtillfubftancc; where-
fore^//&^i faith 5 take things of their owne mindes,
and exalt them to their Roots and beginnings Alfo :

the Booke called Lumen Luminum faith , that except

that a man do caft the red with the fairneffe away, he
can by no means come to the Sulphur, Lightning and
Ruddinefs. Alfo Rafh faith in the feventh Chapter^
he that knoweth how to turne Sol into Luna, hee
knoweth alfo how to turne Sol into Sol wherefore :

Tandulfhui in Turiyoi> Philofophorum faith , he that hath

wifely brought forth the venome out of Sol and his
fhaddow, without which no colouring venome is
ingcndred,and he that gocth about by any manner of
\vayes to make colouring venome without this , he
lofeth his labour ^ and enjoyeth nothing but for-
row for all his hopes.
The VeffcU ot our Stone is one wherein all the
xnaftery is and it is a Cucurbit or Gourd
fulfilled,
with a Limbeck round above and beneath , plaine,
without any fcapolis, not too high, whofc bottomc be
round after thcfailiion ofanEgge , or of an urinal),
with plaine fides , that it being made thin it may af-
cend and defcend moft freely and eafilyj and let the
Veffeil be of fuch quantity, that the fourth part there-
of may containe all the matter and note that
: it is not
of any other mettle but Glaife, ckane, which is a bo-
dy
 concerning the ThiUfophers Stone, zp
dy full of light and fhining every thing through it^and
lacking poorcs, iTiewing alfo the colours in tlie worke
appearing, whereby the ff)iritspafling may fuccclTive-
ly yanifh away; it muft alibbe made right convenitnt
and meet, wifely , that nothing may enter in by it ;
whereupon L»c^ faith, let the Veflell be fliut ftro'ngly
with Lutum fapienti^ , that nothing may pafTe forth,
nor enter into it , for if his dew fhould palfe forth, or
fome other ftrange humour fhould enter in , all the
worke fhould thereby lofe his effcft and although it
:

isfayd by the Philofophcrs very often , put it into his

Veffell and iTiut it ftrongly , yet fufficeth but once to
put it in and {hut it, and in that thou haft fulfilled all
the maftery for that, that is morejis doncofcvill:
Whereupon Rafis faith kcepe it continually, wifely,
,

fhut and fet about with dew, ever taking heed that
it

this dew doe not paffe forth into a Fume alfo in Spe-
:

culum Alchy mi ce^\ii% fayd,the Philofophers Stone muft

remaineclofeiliut inhisVcflelluntill it hath drunke
up his humidity ^ and that it be nourished perfedly
with the heate of the fire, till it be made white Alfo:

it is fayd in the Booke called Beneloquiuwy even as there

be in a oaturall Eg|e three things {viz.) the Shell, the

White , the Yolke ; even fo there be in the Philofo-
phers Stone three things; f'u/^i.J the Veflell,theGla(fe,
for the Egge fhell , the white liquor for the White of
the Egge, and the yellow body for the Yolke of the
Egge J aad there becomes a Bird of the yellow and
white of the Egge, by a little heate of the Mother, the
Egge-fhell ftiU remaining whole untill the Chicken
doc come forth ^ even fo by every manner of wife in
the Philofophers Stone , is made of the yellow body,
'

E 3 and
 :

JO 7he Booke of John isLWttQ a Modr^

and white Liquor by mediation of a temperate heat of
the mother the earthly fubftance Hrrmes bird , the
tcffell ft ill remaining whole, and never opened untill
his full perfedion 5 keep therefore the veflell diligent-
ly ^nd wifely clofed with LutumfapieKtiee Thitofopho-
rurr?^ that the ipirit do not pafle forth. Alfo RajiS faith,

keep the veffels with his tiolh and clofures, that thou
mayeft be able and ftrong in the keeping of his fpint
alfo in another place, fhut thy vcflUl diligently I and
doe not in any fort make haft , nor ceafc from thy
worke ^ alfo take heed that the humiditic do not pal's
out of the vcffell, and thy worke thereby perifii ; for
Socrates faith, bruife them in moft ftrong vinegerj and
feeth it vntill that it be thick and take heed that thy
,

vineger do not turne into a fume and perifli or vanifh.

of the Fires.

THe
two
Philofophers in their Books have chiefly put
a dry, and amoyft^ for the dry
fires fire,
,

they call it the common of any manner of thing

fire,

combnftible that will burnc but the moift fire they

:

call the hot, venter Equinm-, which may beEngliflied,

the Horfe belly ^ but rather it isHorle dung, wherein
remainir^moyftnefsjthcre doth remainc hcat,and the
moyftnefle once confumed, it ceafeth to be hot , and
this heat doth remain but in a little quantity , or but
five or fix dayes , but this heat may be kept a longer
cime^by fprinkling him with urine and fait oftentimes^
, the fire of the belly of
for of this fire ?ithagor^%s faith
a Horfe hath property not to deftroy Oyle , but to
augment it, by ceafoa of his humidity, whereas other
fires
 fomerning the Phihfophers Stcne, ?i

fires doc deftroy it for their heat, Alfo Seniw faith,

dig up a grave and lay the Wife with her husband in
the paunch or belly of a Horfe , or rather inHorfe
dungj ufitill they be freely with their good wills mar-
ried and conjoyned together. AKo ^Iphidanus fsiith:,
hide thy medicine in a moyfthorfe dung, which is the
wife mans fire, for the fire of this dung is hot and
moyft, and obfcure, having within it hum Sity , and a
holy light, and therefore there is none like to this in
all the world, but only the natiu-all fire of a hot mans
body 5 that is in health, and this is the fecret caufe of
thettrifeofthe Sea, and not fully combuft bloudof
man , and the bloud of the red wine is curfire^ the
Kegimcnt of our fires isfuch, that the medicine to
white muft beput into the moyft fire , untill the full
compliment of whitcneffe, and that the heat muft
be lent and continuall from the beginning , untill the
colour of whitcneffe appearing in the veffcll , for the
lent fire is the confervation of humidity ^ whereupon
Pandolphw faith. Brethren, know that the body is dif-
folved with the fpirit whereunto it is mixed,by a moft
lent decoaion,andfo the body is thereby made fpiri-
tu^l with the fpirit Alfo Aftdvu)(akh,' the lent fire
:

doth fend forth the fpints of life, the exceffive fire

doth not make equall the Elements , but rather it
waftcch tbc humidity and deflroyech all things:
therefore Rafis faith in his high worke, take heed in
thy fublimation and liquefaaion , left chat when you
fet your fire on fire , tbc water alfo do afcend to the
top ofthe veflfell, for if it be fo , then it being cold it
Will ftick there,and fo thou canft not make thy Sul-
phur, nor open thy Elements , becaufe it is ncceffary
tha:
 ;

32 The Booke tf John Sawtrc a Monk^

that every one of them in their fphericall, or fpirituail
motion be very often thruft dovvnc and up/or on-
lift

ly the temperate fire is infpicive and perfeflive of mic-

tion: Therefore ^o/-^//;/:;;/? faith J a lent fire which is
called a clearc fire, is the greattft caufe of true opera-
tion in the Elements. Alio Rafis faith , it is our light
firCjas m an Egge that is nourifhcd, imtill the body be
derived, and the tindure drawne forth, for by light
dccOvilion the fire congealcth the water , and draweth
forth the humidity of the corruptive part, and the corn-
buftion ofdrineflcis prevented, Alfo all the benefit
.

of this worke is in the tcmperacenefTe of the fire

therefore alvvayes take heed of a greater fire, that
thou come not before thy time to (blution , for that
bringeth to defperation wherforc Rafis faith , take
:

heed of the intention of the fire , for if it be fet on fire

before the time, then it is made Red before the due
time, which doth not profit , and that he may fhew
thee the time of decOiSbion, He. faith, the folution of
the body, and the congelation of the fpirit muft needs
be made with light decoSion of the fire ^ and with
moyft putrifaftion in forty daies. Alfo heare Hortula/ins
fayingjknow ye that in mingling them together, it bc-
hooveth you to mingle the crude, quick, finccre, and
right Elements together upon a loft fire , and to take
heed of the intention of the fire , untill the Elements
be joyncd together. Bonellui iaith alfo, by a temperate
heat the body is made fweet and convenient.
Be of a coni\ant minde in thy work, and do not la-
bour in or upon divers matters or things, proving
fometimes this matter , and fometimcs another ^ tor
ixi the multitudeor divcrfity of things thy Art confiils

nor,.
 concermng the philofophers Stone,
33
not, nor is finiihcd^ for there is but one fubjed.or me-
dicine, one veflcll, one regiment , and one difpofition
thereof, for the mattery doth begin in one man-
all
ner of faihion, and endcth in one manner of mantion;
yet the Philofophers did put many works and crafts
thereof for the honour and hiding, and prolonging of
this Art : as to fceth, to mingle together, toroft,
tofublime, to grind, to break, orbeat affunder, to
congeale, to adiquate, or make even in quality, to pu-
trific, to make white, to make red ; of which things
yet there is but one Regiment, which is but to decodt
onely. Therefore cruili it a{lundcr,and feeth ilill that
thou be not weary : alfo R.ifis faith, feeth without in-
termiffion. Do not haft or ceafe at any time from thy-
worke, nor go about to pra£i:ife or ufe the fophifticall
bounds of thy works , but onely intend to the com-
pliment of this workc alfo Rafis faith, it is moft furc
:

for ihee to apply thy workc diligently , nor do thou

leave off thy worke, being as it were a tree cut downe
from the bowes , be thou therefore ftedfaft , and of a
longcontinuallminde and will in the Regiment. Shut
moil clofe thy veffell, and ceafe at no tmie, for there
is no generation of things but by a continuall motion,

excluiion of ayre , and heat temperate. Study and

marke alfo, when that you are in your worke, all the
fignes that fhall appeare in every decoftion , and re-
member them, for they be neceffary for the workman,
to the compliment and fulfilling oi this workc,for it is
necejTary to continue the worke, and moderate the
fire J therefore all thefe things dlfpofed asaforefaid,
put the veffell with the medicine in the moyft fire fo,
that halfe the velleil be in the fire and the other halfe
F without.
j4 Sf^fc^ Bo&ke of John S awt re a Monhy
withour, to this went, tb^t every xia^y it may be loo-
ked upon 5 and within forty daycs the ovcrparc ^ of
outfidc ot the mcdianCjfhalla} pcarb"a:k like Tarr,
and that is a figne, that the yellow body is truly turhcd
into Mercury : therefore ^d/^fftf< faith, where thatyoii
do fee blacknefs appeare to that water, know ye that
now the body is liquefied aod that truly is the fame
:

that Rafis faith , the difpofition of our Stone is one,

that it be put in his veffell , and that it be throughly
fodden , umill all do rile and af^end dilTolved. Alfo
in another place, continue upon him a temperate lear,
untill that it be diffolved into water impalpable , and
that all the tindure do go forth into blacknefs, which
is a figne of folution.
Alfo Lucjs fayth , When thou feeft blackncs inure
to that water in all things, then know that the body is
liquefied ^ for the Philolbphers doe call this blacknes
the firft mariage , for that the man is joyned to the
wojnan, and it is a figneof a pcrfe£t medicine and
mixtion, but all the tin^ure is not drawnc forth all at
once, but it gocth forth by little ai d little every day
untill that in a long time it be compleat and finillied ;
and that, that is dilfolved doth ever goe up to the top-
ward,aJthough that which is remayning beneath bee
the more: whereupon Avicen fayth, that which is
fpirituall doth afcend up into the Veffell, and that
which is thicke and grofle , rcmayneth in the Veffell
beneath : but this blacknes is named by the Philofo-
phers with many and fundry names as the fire, the
-,

foule, the clouds, the erowes head, oy]e,tinaurc,red-

neffe,or ihadow, Sol, braffe, blacklead, black water,
iiilphur , and by many other names : and that the
blacknes
 concerning the ^hikfofhers Stone.
jj
blacknes doth conjoyne together the fpirit to the bo-^
dy: wherefore ^oJm«j faycH, by the continuance of
the fire in the Regiment to the number of forty dayes,
both fhallbe made a water pcrmaiicnt, the blacknefle
being covered ^ which fayd blacknefll^, it ic beegover-
ned as it ought to be^ it doth not ftay away above for-
ty dayes of the colour of blackncrti\ Alio Py hugorai
faythjas lon^ as the ocfcurc blacknefle doth appcarc,
the woman doth rule, which is the fir 11 ftrcngth of our
ftonc ^ for unlefTe that it be blacky it cannot be white
nor red. Ah'b A'S'cen in the Chapter of Humors faith,
heat ic moiftneffe doth firft make bla.knelfe, and his
moiftnefic enduretii untill the fuperHuity thereof bee
removedjard then it becommcth white. Alfo in pur
works, firft they be made black e, fecondly vvhite, and
thirdly by a greater intention andcompofitionof fire,
it behovcth to be made yellow: whereupon iris writ-
ten in the Booke called Mulufarj , in the fixth Chap-
ter in the firft detedion, which is called putrifadion
ivhen our Stone is made black , that is^to fay black
earthy by the drawing forth of his moifthefle, wherein
the whitcnefle is hid , and when the fame whiteneflc
is revcrfed upon his blacknefle , andis fixed with his

canh by eafie tofting , then is made the white ^ in

which whif enefle the rednefle is hid } ^nd when it i$
well fodden , by augrAerttation of the fire the fame
earth is thenturned into rednefle, as after it fhali be
taught.
Nowagainelet usreturnetoourblack Ston0, be-
ing ftrongly clo(pd in his Veflell, let- it ftand therefore
"continually in the raoiftfire untill that the whitc^ co-
lour doe appearelike unto the manner of moft white
F ^ Salt,
3
6 The Booke of John S a wtre a Monke^
Saltj and this colour according to the Philofophers, is
called Sal Armoniack^ >vithouc which nothing can be
made^oris profitable in our work: And lb the intcnfivc
whitencsappcaringjthcpcrfcd): mariage & copulation
indiffoluble of the Stone is madcrchen is that oi Hermes
fully fulfilled, faying. That which is above, is as that
which is beneath is. That which is above is to obtainc
Miracles of one thing But VithagorM faith^ when that
:

you do fee whitencs comming above, then be you furc

that redncffe is hid in that whitenefle ;but before that
the white doe appeare^ many colours fhall appeare.
Therefore Diademes faith,fe€th the man and vapour
together, untill that both of them be congelate into
dryneffc^ for unleffe that itbemadc dry, divers co-
lours will not appeare , for it is ever black, as leng as
moyftncffe doth rule, and then it fendeth forth divers
colours for in divers manners 5 and at divers times,
•

it will be moved from colour to colour , untill it come

to a firme whitene0e Alfo Zenon faith, all kinde of

:

colours will flppearein it untill the black humidity

be dryed up; but of fuch colours take you no great
care for they be no true colours^ for it fhall very often
times be citrine, and very often times redneffe will ap-
pease, and often times it will be dry , and alfo liquid
.. before whitenefle , but the Spirit will never be fixed
with the body, but with white colour, ^fiavui fayth,
betwecne the blackneffc and the white , there fhall
appeare all colours, even as many as can be named or
tnought of from diverfity of which colours, divers
:

men gave it divers names, and almoft innumerable

names forfomedid it on purpofc to* onceale and ob-
:

jure the Art, and iome did it of envie but in the :

Cliaptcr
 ;

conurning the Thilofophers Stone. •

37
Chapter of the appearing of divers coloiws in the me-
of his blacknes for wher-
dicine^ there is a defioition :

as the blacknes and the wliitc be extreme colours, and

all other colours be meanc colour^^ therefore as often
foevcr as any thing of the blacknes doth defccnd 5 fo
often another colour and another doth appeare, untill
it be an cxtreame whiteneffe But for delcending,and
:

afcending Hermes faith, it afcends from the Earth up

CO Heaven , and defcends againe from the Heaven to
the Earth and receiveth the Uiperiour ftrtngth^and the
inferiour ftrength. And note, that if there appeare
between the black and the white any yellow colour,
care not for them^ for they do not continue , nor are
permanent , but they are flippery and paffing away
lor there can be no permanent nor perfed Red, except
that go before it. Rofarm faith, no man can come from
the firlt to the third, but by the fecond ; for it appea-
reth that the white is to be looked for in the fecond,
when thai it is the compliment of all the worke , for
afterwards it will never be varied into any other true
permanent colour but Red.
Now we have the white, therefore now it behoo-
veth thee to make Red , for the white medicine and
the red do not differ between themfelves in any effence,
butonely inthispoynt, that the red medicine hath
need of a greater fubtiliation, a longer digeftion , and
a hotter hrc in his Regiment: And thcref ore foraf-
muchastheendof the operation of the white is the
beginning of the operation of the Red andforafmuch
:

as that which is the compliment of the one, is the

beginning of the other therefore unlefs that thou do
:

firft make vvhitc the medicine, thou canft never make

F 3 true
^^8 The Bookeof]ohn Sslv/ztq a Monke^
true red. But now how it fhall be made Red , we
will tell thee fhorcly. Firft the medicine to the Red
muft be put into our moyftfire, untill the white co-
lour appearc^asis aforcfaid afterwards, kc the veflell
:

be drawn out of the fire and put it in a pot of fifred

afhes,and warme water haUe full y and let ycnr vcf-
with the medicine in the afhes unto the
fell ofglaflTe
midft 3 and under the earthen pot makr a dry tem-
perate fire and continual!, but the heat of this dry fire
muft be greater by double at the leaft^ than was the
heat of the moyft fire , and by thebc.icfit of this fire
the white medicine fhall receive Rc\i tindturej ttuly
thou canft not errc if thou wilt continue the drye fire :

whereupon Ro{arm faith , with a dry fire, and a dry

calcination roft the dry untill that icbe made like Cy-
naber. VVhereto from thenceforth put nothing, nei-
ther Oykj or vineger, or ary thing whatfoever it be,
a conipUment of Rcdncs ; and of
untill it be rofted to
a truth 5 the mere Redder that the medicine is made,
the more ftronger it is, and of more power , and that
ismore rofted will be more Redder , and that which
ismoft rofted is moft precious, therefore with a dry
fire,burne it without fcare, untill that it be ck fed moft
redly :whereupon a Philofopher faith , in continu-
ing the Red, feeth the whiteuntill that it be cloathed
in purple, and beauty ; but fome have it ; continue
the Red and the white untill it be cloathed in purple
clcathing do not ceafe, although the Red do a little
:

flack to appeare, for the fire being augmented , as I

fayd before, after white of the firft colours appeareth
a n>ean Red when among thcfe colours fhall appeare
a yellow, but his colour is not continuing, for after
that
 concerntngtbf Fkilojophers Ston\
^q
that it bcpcrfo<n:5 Red will nor much
tarry to appcarc
whichappearif.g, be chouccrtaire that thy workc is
perfcd : tor Heymes faith , in Turha PhiL[Qi>horum be-
,
tween white colour ar J Red, there appeareth only
but one colour, ^7^. Citrine, which is vellow , but it
variethmoreorleire: alio Maria (siith.^ when thou
haft true white, thou then afterwards flialt have a
falfe yellow, and afterwards a perfcd Red And then :

thou iliait have the glory of the clearenejle of all the

World.

The firft manner of Multiplication of otrr

Medicine,

ELixir is multiplyed by two manner of wayes -that

IS to fay, by lolution of heat , and by folution
of
drying: by lolution of heat is thus. Take the medi-
cine and put it into the veffell of glaffe , and bury it in
our moyft fire fevcn dayes or more , untill that the
Medicine be diffolved into water without any trou-
bloufncfle appearing in it. But the folution of dryino-
is that that lliall take the vcflell ofglafTe with the me^

didne, and iiang it inabrafspot ( having a ftraight

moucik) m
boyling, and let the mouth be clofe, that by
the vapour of the Doyling vapour afcending, the medi-
cine may be diffolved. And note , that the fame boy^
ling water muft ri€t touch the veffcU of glafle with
the medicine,. by the Ipace of three fingers : and this
folution is made flrongly in one day, or two, or thrce^ '

After that tiit^ mediv^ine is made and diflfolved , t^ke

it from the fire to coole, to fix, to congeale, to harden

or dry, and fo let it bee very often diffolved, for the

oTtner
 ;

40 The Booh of John Sawtrc a Monk^

ofcner it be rcfolvcd y fo much the more pcrfcd it is
y
whereupon B^neHm faith ^ when that our brafle is tur-
ned, aud very of centimes reitterate 3 it is made better
then it was before, and fuch a folution is a fubtiliation
of the medicine^and his vcrcuous fublimation ; where-
upon the oftner it is fublimate or fubtiliatcd, fo much
ohner it getteth a greater Virtue, and a greater tin-
dture, and coloureth more abundantly , and the more
it fhail make perfe6t and convert, and tume the more;

whereupon in the fourth folution it fhall get fo much

virtue and tindure , that one part fliall be able upon
1000. of Mercury cleanfed, that it fhall convert it in-
to Gold or Silver, better then that which is taken out
of the Mines of the Earth : Whereupon Rajh fairh,
the multiplication of thisgoodneffedependeth whole-
ly on the often reitteration of the fublimations.
and fixation of the perfeft medicine , for the oftner
that the order of this compliment be reitterated, fo
much more doth incrcafe the nourifhment thereof,
and the vcrtue andftrength thereot is augmented for :

the oftner then was wont that thou fhaltfublmiate

anddiflolve the perfed medicine, fo much the more
oftner thou flialt win and gaine at every time to caft
one upon looo, asifat firft itfallupon looo. chcfe-
cond time it will convert loooo.the third time it will
be caft upon,and convert loocoo.and the fourth time
upon loooooo. the fift time upon an infinite For :

Merodtu faith, know ye for certainty, that how much

the more and oftner our Stone is diffolved , fo much
the more is the fpirit and body conjoyncd together,
and of this for every time the tindure is multiplyed.
The fecond way of multiplication is aoother way
the
 ;

. eoHcerning the ^Ththfopheri Stbnel ^|

the medicine is multiplyed by fermentation , for the
ferment to white is pure Silver, and the firment to red
is pure Gold; therefore caft one -part of the medi-
cine upon ten parts, or twenty of the firment, and all
fuch (hall be medicine ^ and put it upon the fire in a
Veffell of GlaflTe, and fhut it well, fo that no ayre may
enter nor paffe forth , and let itbediffolvedor fubli-
mated fo often as thou wilt; and as thou doeft the
firft medicine , and one part of the fecond medicine

fhall receive as much as one part of the firft medi-

cine. Whereupon Rajis faith , now have we fully
made our medicine, hot and cold, dry and moift , e-
cjually temperate, whereof whatfocver we doe put to
it (hall be of the fame complexion that it is put to
theretore conjoyne or marry him that he may brincr,
forth fruit like unto himfelfe But yet doenotcon-
:

joyne or marry it w^thany other thing to convert it,

but with it that it was in the beginning; whereupon
it iswritten in Speci^luw, this fpirituall earth which is
the Elixir,muft be firfVin hisowne body, from whence
it was taken at the beginning of his folution, that is to

marry his earth, and it being fo redified and purified

by hisfoule to conjoyne it by conjunction of his body,
from whence it had its beginning; alfo it is fayd in
the Bookc called Gemma fdutaru J the white Worke
hath need of a white firmentation ; whereby when
he is white with his white firmentation,and when he
is made red in his red firment , for then that white
eahh is firment of firment, for when it is joyned to
Luna , all is firment to calt upon Mercury,. and upon
every body being unperfed mettleto make it Luna :
And with the red thereof muft be joyned Sol ; and
G that
4? The Bcde of John Sawtre a Monke^
that medicine upon Mercury v^ and Luna to make it
is

Sol. Alfo Raps faith, it bchooverh that he be mingled

with wite and red quick filvcr of his kindc, and tliat it
be contained and krpt that it fly not away where-•

fore we bid that quukfilver be mingled with quick-

filver 5 untili that one cleare water be made of two
quicklilvtrs, a-^d not to make three mixtures untili e*
very one of them be diffolved into water j but in their
conjun>flion put a little of the Vv orke upon much of
the body, as upon foure, and in a certainc time it will
be made in the nature of powder , which is of red or
whue cUi^ur^and this powder is Elixir compltate.
And truely the Elixir mult be ot a limple powder;
zXo Egidim (iiih 1025 Stones of folurion, put lolution,
ji d LO folution deficcationjand put all to the fire, and
kccpe the fume, and take heed that nothing flye from
it 5 tarry and dwell nigh the Veffell , and behold atid
obferve^the marvellous working, how it (hall be re-
moved from colour to colour in lefle then an houre of
a day, uncill that it commeth to the markc or prick,
or butt of whitcncjOTcor redncflfcjtor it will fooncmelc
in the fire, and come all into the Ayrc • for when the
fume doth fill the fire, it will enter into the body, and
the fpirit will then be pulled together , and the body
will then be fixed, cleare white or red : Then divide
the fire, fuffering it tocoole, and be cold For and if
:

oncof'thefe doc tall upon 1000, or Mercury, or any o-

ther body, it turaeth itintothebcft Gold or Silver,
according as his firment is prepared ; wherefore it
doth appcare, that he whodothnotcongealequick-
filver that will fuffer the fire , and joyne it to pure Sil-
ver, hedtfircth no right way to the vvhite worke ^and
 <tncerning the "Pkilofophers Stone. 43
he who doth not make a red quickfilver that can fu-
ftaine all fire, and joyn it to mecr gold, he taketh not
the right way to the Red worke , for by Iblution and
fermentation the worke or medicine may be multi-
plycd into an infinite and note that the Elixir givcth
:

a very light fufion or melting even like wax ; where-

upon i^f/kr/i« faith, our medicine acceffarily ought to
be of a moft fubtile fubltance and pure adherenc^
cleaving to Mercury of his nature, and of a moft thin,
and eafii5 liqucfaftion as water 5 alfo in the bookc
which is named Omne datum iptimum^whtn theElixir is
well prepared, it ought to be melted upoaar burning
plate , or upon a barning cole , even as wax melteth,
for that thou doft in the white , doe it in the red , for
the fame is the operation of both , as well in the mul-
tiplication,as in the projedion. Gel^er the Philofopher
doth beare wicneffe in his fift Booke, and tenth Chap-
ter, that there be three Orders of Medicines; of the
firft Order is that which is caft upon impcrfe^: bodies,
and .doth not take away the corruption, butimper-
fedioHjior it doth give tinaure,,but that tincfture doth
go away in examination.
The medicine of the fecond Order, is that which is
caft uppn imperfeft bodies, and doth give tin(3:ure to
m
them examination ; for after the examination the
tin(aure doth remaine , but all the corruption of the
bodies is not cleare taken away for ever by that
medicine.
In the third Order , the medicine is that which is
caft upon imperfcd bodies, and taketh away all their
imperfe^ion and corruption , and from corrupt Mi-
neralls it bringeth them into incorruptible. But the
G .2 two
44 ^he Booke cf John Sawtrc a Monk^
twofirftofthcfc medicines. being left off 5 wc will
fpcake fomething of'the projedion of this medicine of
chc third degree.
The pertea medicine truly is caft loocorupon
more 5 according as the medicine is prepared or ad-
vanced by diffolution, fubiimation, aud fubtilliation ^
butbecaufe fo little ^ that is, fo little is caft upon fo
little, by rcafon of the littlenes thereof, it fhould not
be lift up before his virtue be fulfilled. Therefore the
Philofophers made their projcdlion diverfly , vv-herc-
fore this the bcft way.
is :;?:pi/'

Let one part be caft upon a hundred of Mercury,

and all is medicine , end it is called the fccond medi-
cine ; and let every one part of this fecond medicine
be caft Hpon a hundred of Mercury , and all is medi-
cine 5 and is called the third medicine, and is mad«
looo. yet againCj let every part of this third medicine
be caft upon looo, of mercury , and itfhall be medi-
cine , and all ftiall be the beft Luna or Sol. And
liotc that, the third and the fecond tnay be fo much
diflblved, andfubtilliatc , that it Aiall receive a grea-
ter vertue, and that it may be multiplyed in an infinite:
after receive and make projeftion J firft multiply lo.
into 10. and it will make loo. and lOo, by lo. multi-
plyed will be 1000. &c.
But how the projcftion ought to be made, {hall be
now taught. Put the body upon the fire in a Crucible^
alfo if it be a fpirit tepcfcat, let it do like luke-warme
water, and caft the Elixir into it, as is aforefaid, mo-
ving it well, and very foonc when the Elixir is lique-
fied, and hath mingled it felfe with the body, or with
the fpirit, remove it from the fire, and thou fhalt have
by
 concerning the Philofophers Stone.
^^
by the grace of Godj goldj and filvcr^ accordiug as the
Elixir is prepared.
Infhorc therefore, it appcareth by the premifles,
that our workc doth confut in the body of Magnefia
finifhed ^ that is, of Sulphur, the which is called Sul-
phur of Sulphur, and Mercury, which is called Mer-
cury of Mercury Therefore as it is atorefayd , with
:

one thing, that is our Stone, with one part, that is to

fayfeethmg, andone difpofition, that is to fay, firfl-,
making ot it biacke fecondiy, with making of ic
•

white 5 thirdly, with making of it red ^ and fourthly,

with making of projeftion, all the whole maftery is
finifhed.
Of the other part of the falfe Alchymifts, and they
who doe beleeve them by th^ir^diftillationsafublima-
tions, calcinations, conjundions, feperations, congela^
tions, preparations, diflblutions, manuall contritions^
and other deceptions, faying, that it is by a fimilitude
onely called an Egge, and teaching another fulphur
from ours, and another Mercury from ours, and that
it may be dra wne from fomc other thing, or effcded

by fome other then our light fire.

Thefe he all either deceivers^ or mightil) ahufed.

For by what and how many foever names it bee

called. It is but one and the fame thing. Alfo Lucas

fayth. Doe not thou pafle or regard for plurality of

compofitions in nature , which the Philofophers di-
ver fly fct do wne in the.r Bcokes ; for certainly there
is but one thing in all the World , wherein the ipirit

G 3 we
4^ r(i0 B$0k0 9fjohn Sawnre 4 Mo^h^ ice,
we fecke for is to be found of any profitable and com-
fortable ufe, with which every body is coloured : for
in the Philofophers diverfity of names , and compofi-
tions, they but cover and hide their Science.

PJ KI S.
 .

47

ji Trcatife of Flor/anus Raudorff, 0/ tbeStone^

or Mercury of the fbilofopbers.

In the name of the Faiher^ Son^ and Holy Ghofi.

A fhort Declaration of the Great Matter.

CHAP. I.

KNowyec, that our Medicine is hiadc of ?, things,

Vfz. of a body, foulcj and fpiric. There are 2.bo-
dics, ziz.Luna and 5 J. Svlisa cindurc, wlierewith
imperfcd bodies are tinged into sJ^ and Lur^a tir.gcth
Luna : for Naure produceth or ^ringcth for en only its
like : as aa man, a horfe begets a hone, S<:c,
n:iari

T,oved by Exam^^les. .

We told and named it with names , namely the

bodies that ferve to our workc, which of Ibme are cal-
led Fcraient lor as a little leaven leaveneth the
:

whok mafle, lb Luna and Sol turne Mercury as their

meak, into their na:ure and venue.
C HA P. 2..
'VO U may fay, Luna and Solhz\Q a prefixed tin-
if
^ dure, wFiyaoe. they not tinge impcrfcd mctca ?
Anfwcr : A babe though borne a man, doth not mans
anions : muft firft bee nourilht and bred to an age :
it

fo it is with mctialls alfo ; they cannot ftiew their o-

pcration.
4? ^A Treatffe ef Florianus Raudorff,

Pcration, unkffc they be firft reduced from their grof-

r»cs to a fpirituahy, nourifht and fed in their tinftures,

through heat and moirtnefle. For the fpint is of the

fame matter and nature with our medicine 5 for wee
fay, our medicine is of fire. Nature, and much fubti-
Icr, but of themfelvcs they cannot bcc fubtiie nor Am-
ple, for they muft bee helped with fubtiie penetrating
things.
Note, earthofitfelfemay notbe fubtiie, but muft
be made fubtiie, through moyft water, which is dif-
folving, and maketh anlngreffe for Sol^ that (hee may
penetrate the earth, and with her heat ihe maketh the
earth fubtiie, and in that way the earth muft be made
fubtiie, fo long till it bee as fubtill as a fpirit , which
then is the Mercury , more diflolving tben common
water, to dilTolve the fayd mettalls, and that through
the heat of fire , to penetrate and fubtiliate the met-
talls.
C H A P. I.
you aske, why is Mercury called a bettef fpirit
IFthen others, as there are fulphur, orpiment, arfcni-
cijfalarmenic, all thele are called fpirits alfo : for
being fct into the fire, they are carried away, and wee
know not what is become of them j but this Mercury
is much fubtiler and clearer or penetrative, then the o-
ther J and mettalls are turned in it, but the others burn
them; and deftroy them, make mettalls more grofser
then they were.
C HA F ^.
Mercury is offiivh a fubtiie nature, that he
BU T
turnes mettalls into fimples , as himfelfc is, and
draweth them unto him*
* ^
Noto
 :

toncermng ihe'Phllofofhers^mie. 4P
Note, no mettall may be turned by any of the other
foure fpiritSj for if you put any of them to our m^ tcJe,
it turncth to aflies or earth y but if you doe it to Mer-
cury, it will bee impalpable 5 therefore is it tailed
argent vive.
C H ^ P. S.
VJ \y E take nothing elfe to fubtilize mettles 5 or
^ ^ make them penctrarivcjnor to tinge other met-
tles 5 fome cail it ardent vive, or a water, an acecun*,
a poyfon, becaufe it ddtroyeth imperk6t bodies, and
divideth into leveral I members and formes, as you
fhall hearc, and is called by fe\ crall names.
CHAP. 6.

^7 11 may fay
, we doc
not fpeake true , that our
•* medicine is made of two things , of body and of

fpirit ; it is right fayd 5 that all mcctals have one root

and originall.
C B ji P. 7.

\/K/ ^^
^^ ^^" ^^ "^^ ^^ tn^de of two compounded
together? Anfwer, i. They may be made of
all thefe together. 2. They muft be reduced into a
Mercury,wbich would fall difficult by realon of mans
life 5 therefore wt take the next matter, which are
the tWo above fayd things viz, the body and fpirit
,

Some Philofophers fay in their Bookes , our medicine

is made out ot foure things, and it is fo, for in mettles

and .'ire the fourc Elements ^ and others

theit fpirits
fay true alfo, faying, mcttalls muft be turned into ar-
gent Vive: Heercin many learned and wife men doc
erre, and lofe themfelves in this path,

H Ch^p.^.
JO ^ Tr^atiff (?/Florianus Raudorffj
C H A P. 8.
HAyiag fpoken of the matter^ of which our medi-
cine is made 5 or gcrnc rated ^ now wc
or joyned
will fpeakc of the forme of the Veffclls , in which ic
is made.
C H A P, 9.

'PoYwe of the Fejjell, *

that the VcffcU be likened to the

IT is requifae fir-

mament,
wliichenclofcth and encompaffcth all. Fv^.-r

our medicine is nothing elfe but a change of Elcmeiits

one into another , which is done by the motion of the
firmament 3 and To it rnuft needs be round and circu-
kr.
CHAP. 10.

WE muft fpeake alfo of the other or fecond Vef-

fell 5 and that alfo muft be round 5 and miift

be IcflTe then the outward, VeifcU ^ two hand-breadth

high, called Cucurbite containing ^ on the Cucurbite
you fet an Alimbeck /through which the vapours
alccnd to the nofe of the Alimbeck , which muft be
well luted The Lute is made with m.cale, fiftcd
:

afhesj wbiite of an E^ge, &c. or one part ot mpale^ one

pare of calx vive , tampered with the white of Eggcs,
which you muft lute withall quickly ; lute it well,
that TO fpirlis may get avyay ^ which if you lofc any
oftb.em^wul prejudice your Worken:iaiViel'y y there-
fore bq (.autiou^.

Chap.ii.
 ancermng the ^hikfofhers Stone^ 5*

e HA F. 11.

Forme of the Ove^.

THis Oven muft be round foure hands highjand two

broad, and one in chicknclTc, to keepe in the heate
the better. HaVirig fpoken of the forme of the Vcffell
and Oven : now we will declare how our medicine
is generated and nourifhed.

CHAP;Hi.
How the matter i^ extraEtedy and cherifhed.

XT T 7 E E fay that our matter generated through

is
V V the heat of fire, and through the vapour of
the water and alfo ot Mercury, andis'nourilhed in
5
this manner and to bring this matter into a juft
;

comparifon, it is reqnifite to prick up your eares, and

to open your rcafon and underitanding, that Vc may
the betterunderftand the foHoWing Chapters,
CHAP. 13.
FIrft we will fhcw the order of the worke inthe
following Chapters.
• The firit is called Diffolutiom 2. Separation. 3,
I.

Sublimation, 4. Fixation, or CongelatioiT. 5. Calci-

nation. 6, IngreiTion.

H 2 CHAP.
-j z A Tieaijje t>j Florianus Raudorfr,

CHAP. i^.

fvhat is Bijjolution I

IS the turning of a dry thing into a wet oite; and yott

-*
muft know, that dilloiudon bclongcth oncly unto bo-
dies, as to 4^6/ and Luna^ which fcrvc for our Art for :

a needs not to^be dilfolvcd, being a liquid thing

fpirit
of it felfe , but mettails are groffe and dry , and of a
grofTe nature therefore they mufl be made more fub-
•

tile 5 the reafons why they muft be fubtillized,

CHAT. 15.

THc our medicine muft needs be fubtile, and

firft isj
mettails cannot bee made lubtilc unlefle through
diffolution, being reduced into a water , and afccnd
through the Alimbeck , to be turned to water and
fpirit, as you (hall heare. When
it is come to that,

that all is afcended, and nothing ftayd behind and :

the feces are referved for a further ufe,as you fhal hear
hereafter,
C H A P. 16.
T' He fecond reafon the body and fpirit muft be
:

^ made indivitible, and be one for no grofle thing•

mingleth with the fpirit, unlcfll^ the groffe matter bee

reduced to a fubtilicy , as into Argent vive ; then the
one cmbraceth the other infeparaoly. Vor if Argent
vive pcrceivcth a thing like to ic fclfe,rhen it rejoyceth,
and tlie diffolved body mbraceth the fpirir, and fuffoors
«^

him not to fly away , and makcth it durable for the

fire, and the fpirit rejoyceth, bc.aufe he hath found
his fellow : therefore the cme muft be like the other,
and are of one nature^ € A P. U
 ;:

con^rmng the fhihfophers Stanel

jj

CHAP. 17.

OfD/Jjolutionj hojp t$ inaL :t,

•^ 7"ir TE E take leave of ^JanJ/.^;?/?, thinly

%/ \/ beaten, very pure, which vvc put into a
good deale ot Mercury, which is made
pure alfo: then wc put one ai'tcr the other into Mer-
cury, in a pot, ia a heat not too hot, that the Mercury
fume not 5 when wee fee that no groffe tjiing is in ir,
and is tuelted or ftreameth together,thenyou wrought
well but if there dc any feces, or fettlement, then you
:

muft adv^e more Mercury to it, and doe as you did for-
merly and this is the firft figne of diflblution, that
:

all bee ftieamy.

C H ji P. 18.

The Prefecution of this Matter,

IT^yr T'E E take all the matter thus difTolved,

\/ \/ andfet in Bal/ieoMma j continue the
fire for a fennight , then let it coole
take the matter, prcflc it through a cloth, or skin ; if
all goeth through, then it is well 5 if not, begin againe
in the veflcil with mere Mercury , fo long till ic bee
diffolved : the dilf iiucion in Summer is better then in
Winter , yet it niartcrs not much,
C H A P. 1^.
CEparation, is a diviuing of a thing into its mem-
**^bers, and a fcparacionof the pure from the impure
we take our dilloivcd ida ttcr, and put it into the fmal-
H3 Icr
5^4 tA Treat/fe o/FIorianus Raudorff,
ler veffcll^ which ftands in the cucurbite, fcttheA-
limbccke upon, well luted , a^nd fet it in a(hes ^ wee
make a continued fire for a fennight, one part of the
fpirit fublimeth , which wee
call the fpirit or water,
and is the fubtilert part
5 the other part which is not
yet fiibcile, fticketh about the cucurbite, andfome of
it is fallen to the bottome, which we call the ayre^and

this part we take warme and moyft, and the third

part rcmayning in the inner vellcU 5 is yet a grofler
matter, which ilayeth in the bottome ^ each ot thefe
parts we put .into a , but the third matter
vcfTcll apart
wee put more Mercury and proceed as formerly,
to ,

and alwayeseach re fervcd apart, and thus you muft

proceed in the inner vcffell nothing rcmayneth but
:

a black powder, which we call the black earth^which

is the dregs of the mettalls, which arc anobftrudlion,

why mettalls cannot bee united with the fpirit ^ this

powder is of no ufe.

S H^ P. 20.

Allegation ^ or proofe.

Y^ O U may, whereas you have feparated the fowrc

Elements, from the mettalls, or divided them,and
what is the fire then , which is one of the fowre Ele-
ments alio ?
C j4 P.H 21.
A Nfwcr: Vv'efay, that fire and ayre is of one na-
^^ture, which are come open together, and mixed
together J and the one is turned to the other but it :

were hard to beundcrftood^ if you fhould not bee in-

flru(fted.
 Sione. 21
coKctrningthe Philofopkrs
dividing of the Elements is brought
ftruaed that the
their naturall operation, as in
fo"hat7that they have
the p^rts.^^
,he whole, fo in
...
which reniayned in the
ayrc
^ )i 7E E call that
,
then moift,
VVbigger veffell,becaufe it is more hot alfo of the
u or dS the fame you muft underftand particular,
'1 '
Flcmms if they be not fought in
b'ee underftood , but are U-it
^li^^^^nTor^operly
'^
p/.fo faith,we turned the raoyft into a ficcjty,
Hence
anSdrythingwemademoyft, and turned thebo-
dyintowaterandairc.^^_^^_
is arifing from be-
T V 7E fay, that fublimation
E
V
ir
Vl3wupward,as wee fee the vapors
on the g ound^and
which fall
water , are exhaled againe
in the
the groffe matter liethftiU
Z the ieat of the fun, and
of the Ele-
he ow have fayd at the changing
as wee which iv
ven I- tSe matter which
muft be fubtiliated,
muft bee doae through
Sbtle enough , all
chrough fire and water.
reatantmScs,'namcly

C U AV. 24-

pnfecuuofi of the m^iW'

the thing, which remai-

that we muft take.
KNOW ?Tn -he greater veffcU, and put the
fame to

other ftemSr^^^^^^^^^
Sm
^formeri
ttnwc fe t ir^Bdneum M.rU for three dais,
-Lwemeationnotth. quantity of 1^^^^^
fS A Treatffe of Floriaiius Raudorff,
citry, only vvc leave it to your difcretion , as much as
you have need, that you may make it iuntU ^ and it
be cleare like a fpirir and note, that you take not too
:

ni^ch ot the Mercury, that it be not a lea then we fee :

itagaine mtofubliming, as you did formerly , dot it

fo often, till you have brought it all through the A-
limbccke, then it is very fubriie, and one thing, cleare,
pure, and fufible then we put it againe into the inner
:

veflTcll, and let it goeoncc more through the Alim-

beck, and fee whether any ihing be left behind, to the
fame more Mercury mulf be added, till it become all
one thing, and yeelds no more fedimcnt, and be fepa-
rated from all its impurity and luperfluity^.

CHAP. 25.

Declaration.

Tell yoU; that we have tnade out of two, viz, of bo-

I dy and fpirit, oneonely thing, as a fpirit , which is
light, and the body is heavy, the fpirit quickly and
eafily flyeth upwards but our worke is, that the bo-
-y

dy, which was fixed is now become volatile, and rifeth

upward, the which is againft his nature: Thus wee
have made a fpirit out of the body , and a body out of
the fpirit, one onely thing.

C HA r. 'i'6.

Offixationy a»dCengedation.

HAving made a fpirit out of the body , which is a

tkune voiadle : now is it rcquifite to be made fix,
holding
 :

comeYning the Philofophers Stonf.

5.^
*
holding in the fire : for wc turned the fpirie into a
body5^7;^;. we turned the dry into a moyftnefs, and the
moyftnefs. into a drynefs now we muft make it a
:

thing fix'd and againe to turne the fpirit into a body,

:

and that which formerly rofe up, to ftay below and :

thus have we done according to the fayings of Philofo^

phers, reducing each Element into its contrary , then
you will finde what you feek after namely,make the
:

liquid thing dry, and the dry thing to be liquid, out of

a hx a volatile", and the volatile to bee fix and this :

can be done only through Congelation therefore we •

will turne the fpirit into a body. i

CHAP. 27.

Coagulation^ and Fixation.

HOw
which
is it

is
done? we take a
madeof our mcdicince, be
little of the ferment,
it either Luna
'or ^0/; and take but you have ibo ib, of the
alittlc: as if
medicine, take but 10 It. of the ferment, which muft
be foliated 5 and this ferment weamaigamizc with
the matter which you had before prepared, the fame
we put intoa glaflc VioU with a long neck , and fct it
in a pot of afhes all which being^ fee in the fit place
:

then to the above faid ferment 2 or 3 fi«gcrSj of the

fpirit, which is gone through the Alimbeck, then wee
put a goodfire to it for three dayes, then the diffolved
body'findeth its like, then they embrace one another,
each keepcth to its like then the groffr ferment hol-
:

dechwith the fubtile ferment 5 actradtcth the fame,

will not let it ^oe , and the diffolved bodv ^ which is
i now
5* A Tr^tfff (?/Florianus R audorff,
now lubtile, kecpcth tlie.fpirit 5. fqr.tbey ate of an e-
quall lubtilty 5^ like qnc to anot;her ^ are become one
•thing^and the fire never may fep^iratc them- thcrfore is
it requiiite through
this nicans to make the one like
the other, and thus the firmenc , a biding place of the
lubtilebody, and the iubtile body a ftaying place for
the fpirit, chat it naay not flye away then^we make
:

fire for a lennight, more or lef), yet fo long till we fct:

that our matter is congealed. iHe time of this conge-
lation is eiiher prolonged orihortened , according to
the ve [felis or Ovens condition, and of the fires cither
continuance, or difcontinuing.

CHAP. 28.

A further freceeding in this matter.

^MT
%/ \/
TT V" y Hen you
Jated
fee that this matter is coagu-
then put of the abovefayd mat-
, .

T ter fo much to it^tiiat it be two or three

fingers high over ir, as you know how it muft bcdone,
and put the fire to it as ycu did formerly, till it bee
congealed alfo , and proceed fo long in'it till all the
matter be congealed. And know that Philofophers
for the generallity have concealed the Congelation in
their bookstand none of them (as far as we can findcj
have difcloledit,onlyLtfr/W/x, who hath compofed it
into many Chapters, and produced it in the German
tongue, without any alteration , which he revealed,
uato me without any rcfcrvation or deceit,

Chaf..
 cmceming the Thihfoj^hers Skne^, 5^

CHA?. 19.

Calcination.

rjl Aving treated of Congealationjand Fixation, now

*^ vvc come to the Calcination. We rake the known
matter, ana puc it and fet a head upon
inco an Urinall,
it, luting it well the Ovenof afhcs, make a
, fet it in
continued great fire for a fennighr, then that which is
not fix rift th into che Alimbcck , which wee call
Humes his bird , and that which remaincs in the hot-
tome of che glalTe^is like afhes,or fifted earth, called

the Philofophers Earth , out of which they make

their foundation , and out of it they make their
increafe or augmentation , through heat and moyft-
nefs: this earth is compofcd of foure Elements , but
arc not contrary one to another, for their contrariety
is changed or reduced to an agreement unto an uni-

forme nature then we take the moyft part , rcfervc

:

it apart to a further ufc, which afterward muft

be put to k^ as you {hall heare. We
take this earth
or afhes, which is a very fixed thing, and put it into a
ftrong earthen pot,unto which wc lute its lidjand fet it
in a calcining Oven, that the fire may beat on it above
and below, and that fire wc continue for three daycs,
(9 that the pot is al waves red hot, we make of a iVonc
a white calx, and the things which are of water and
carth-nature,are of fire's nature^ for every calx is of
a fires nature, which is hot and dry.

I^ Chap.
 S^ A Treatifc ef Florianus RaudorflF,

CHAP. Q^o.

Suhtiliation of the four e Element Shinto the fifth efjence.

^\/"^"^\/"T^EE have fpoken of Calcination ^ in,

which we have brought things to the
T highcftfubtility, namely, to hre's na-
ture now we muft further fubtiliate the foure Ele-
:

ments we take a little quantity of this Calx^X//^. if

:

we have loo pounds, we keep no more than the fourrh

part, the other we fet into diflblution , with a good
deale of frefh mercury, even as we had done formerly,
and fo follow from Chapter to Chapter- from time
to time, as formerly hath been proceeded in,

C HA F II.

changing Fire i/ft$ water.

I^Ow my deareft, that you may change the fix into

Water know
•**^a volatile thing, that is Fire into •

is now become
that that which was of fire's nature ,
the nature of water, and that which was fix is now
become volatile, and being made very fubtile ^ then
we take i. p. of this water and put it to the referved
,

Calx, and we addeasmuch of the water unto, that it

go over It two or three fingers breadth over the Calx,
then we put fire under for three daycs long , thus it
congealech fooner than at firft for Calx is hot and
•

dry, and fucks in the humidity greedily ; this Conge-

lation muft be continued till it be quite congealed :

afterward
 concerning the Thilofophers Stone. 6^
afterward wc calcine it as being quite cal-
formerly j

cined 3 it is called the quinteCTence ^ bccaufe it is of a

more fubtile nature than Fire^and becaufe of the tranf-
muration formerly made.-

CHAT. 12.

The "Thilofophers ExAmfles,

Ah L and
this being done^ then our medicine is finifh'd,
nothifig but the ingreffion is wanting , that
the matter may have an ingreffe into imperfed met-
talis.
Tlate^ and many other Philofophers , begun this
workeagaine with dilfolving^fubliming , orTubtilia-
tingj congealing5calcining5as at firft, and that medicine
which wc call a ferment, tranfmutes Mercury into its
nature, in which it is diffplvcd and fublimed ; Philo-
phers fay , our medicine tranfmutes infinitely imper-
kSt raettals ^ and fay that he which attainetn once to
theperfeftionofit, hath no more need of it , to make
any more; but they fpeakeit myftically in their ex-
preflions,

a HAT. 33.

How our medicine tranfmuteth ntettatis into.

5ol and Luna.

TZ" Nowing that our medicine converteth imperfeft^

^•^mettalls into Sol and Luna^ according to the nature
and forme of the matter , out of which it is made 5
I 3 therefore
6a RMdortf,
e/^ Treatffe o/Florianus
therefore know, that wee now ac fecondtime fay^
that this oijr medicine is of chat nature , tliat it tranf-
mutcth, converts, dividethai'u'idci like ^re, and is of a
more fubtilc nature than fire, for it is of a na urc of the
quinteflences, as we(ayd before , therefore it converts
Mercury into its nature ,, feeing our mcuicinc is of a
converting nature, as our body converts M'. rcury into
its nature, whicli is an impcrfcd body or m^ itail, and

the groffenelle of mettall it turneth into afhes or pow-

der; therefore our medicine is of a dividing 5 fep^a-
ting nature, as you fee firc^ doth not turn aU the world
into its nature, but only that which is ot its nature,and
the reft it turneth to afhes.

C H ui P, 34.

Reafon vphy a Spine is made $fa Sody^

T )\ 7E E fliewed by reall reafon how a body , is

^ ^ turned ince a fpirit and againe a fpirit tur-
, is

ned into a body, liz. out ofa fixed this is made a vo-
latile, and of a volatile a fixed thing ^ the earth is tur-
ned to water and aire, and the aire into fire , and the
fire to an earth, the earth into a fire, and the fire is tur-
ned to aire, and the aire is turned into water , and the
water is become an earth. Now the earth which was
of fire's nature, is brought to the nature of quinteflfence.
Thus we have fpokcn of all the waycs of tranfmuting,
performed through heat and moyftneffe, and have
made out ot dry, a moyft thing , and out of the moyft
a dry one ; otherwifc natures , which are ot fevcrall
motionsjand of feverall manfions,could not be brought
to
 concerning the fliilofophers Stone, i^
X.0 one unifcrmc thing, if one ihouldbee turned in th#
others narure.
CHAT. 35.

Accomplishment of Thllofofhers fayings^

WE E having brought the matter to the above-

fayd points, then have we done, and wrought
according to the Philofophers layings, when they lay
in their Books Riling fro n the Earth into Heaven,
:

and comming downe from Heaven into the Earth ;

to that fenfe, to make the body which is of earth, into
a fpirit, which is a ikbcile thing in his nature,and then
to reduce the fpirit into a boJy , which is a groflfe
low thing , changing one Element into another, as
earth into water, wacer into ay re, ayrcmto fire; cncn
fire is turned into water, and water into fire, and thag
into a more fubtile nature and quintcffcnce. Having
thus done, then are you come to the glory of the
world be dutifuU to God, remember the poorc.
;

CHAP. 16, lugreffien.

TAkequicke Sulphur, melcitin an earthen veflTdl,

well glazed,being melted, powr it forth into a Lie
made of CaU
vive, and willow afhes let all ttiefe
:

boyle in a kettle genciy, an oylefwimmeth on the top,

which take and keepe, having enough of it, we min-
gle it with land y ditlili it through ttie Alimjeck, fo
long till it become incombuilible with this oylc wee
:

imbioe our meuiciiie, which will bee like foap , then

wec^ diilill by the Aumjeck , and receive the fumes
which
46 A Treatffe of Florianus Raudorff,
which come over, and put it on againe three or four^
times , if it hath not enough , then put more of this
Oylc to it being thus imbibed , then put fire under,
5

that the humors maycomeaway, and the medicine

be firme and fufible on the body of the glaile. Then
vvc take Avis Hermetis , which we rcferv'd formerly,
and put it to it by degrees, till all be made fix.

CHAP. 37.

LamDfo.

A Ccording to Avicen^ it is impolTible to convert

-^ mettals, unlefTe they be reduced to their firft mat-
ter. But by Arts help they are converted into other
mettall : we know, that Artifts do like Phyfitians,
purging firft the corrupted matter, which is obftruftivc
to mans health, then Cordials are miniftred , which
reftore health fo good Artifts muft proceed in like
:

manner by converting of mettals firft Mercury and

:

Sulphur in metals are purged,whereby they ftrengthen

the heavenly elem^'ntall parts in them , according to
their dcfircd preparation of metals then nature vvor-
:

keth further and not Art, but inftruraentally helpeth,

and then is feen that ilie really maketh Sol and Lu/ia.
For as the heavenly elementall vermes workein nam-
rall veirels,evcn fo do the Artificial), being made uni-
forme, and as nature worketh through the heat of
fire and ftars, the fame Art effedeth by fire, if tempe-
rateand not exccflive , for themoving yertue in the
matter ; for the heavenly vertue in it, mingled at firft,
inchnable to this or that, is furthered by' Art j hea-
venly
 .

emetrning the Fhilefophers StmK >

6s
vcnly vermes ar^'ieommunkativet©- their fubjeAs 3 as
is feen in naturall created things, chiefly in things ge-
nerated by putrcfaftion, where the allrall influences
are apparent, according to the matters capacity, Ar- ,

tifts do imitate herein , dcft^ying one forme to beget

another 5 and his proceedings are bcft^'when they arc
according unto nature : as by purging the Sulphur by
digefting, fubliming, and purging Mercury vive, by an
cxaft mixture with-the aiettals ftiatter, ^nd thus out
of their vettues every mettak forme is t)roduced^
ThevertueoFthe converting Element muiVfce pre-
dominant, and the parts of it muft appeare in the EIc-
nient converted and being thus mingled with the Eh
:

lemcntated thing , then that Element will:have thif

Hi^tte'r; which £^e hanElenicm:, andhath^thciv^r-
nt^^olF'th^ otiiet vert Elcmcftt.^ Thi^ is ihat gr^j^t
myftery in this Art. 7. L.
• :...>:>> ^ virj..':>

-^r --n cv- I

iAn,'^:ii6\il:i;'l :;

,
ril^e^names ofthe^philofofhers Stone CeUeBediy n ^
^

Old, Sol, Sun,Braffe of PhrIofophers,the

body of MaghejSa, a pure body, clean,
ferment^of EHxir, MafcAiline, Argcaat
vive 'fixt. Sulphur i^omb^ffible, iul-
JP*^"^ red, fixed, ;th€ riibine ftone, ky-
^^'^^ ^'man,^rt'cn€ vitriol], burnt
iT ir V''^^
braifle, red'cirth: the water
that is diftilledfrom
K thefc
 ;

thtfc^>ingS3! is Mmcd <2^ th^ Ph^le^^^r^fjfie x^xk. of

the Dcagon, a wiii4 ^^yf% )U^j %h^^^^^
|>uj;e the
houiis, the afternoone ligh^ virgins mil kc , fal armo-
nukk, fal nitct?3,fh^ wind ot.ilie^ftliya whitef^mejred
water of fulfthuf^ t^tm> fft^p}^j,,Yva;rcr^ jiic whitq
compoundyftttikingrwflkry^ith^JilfW t^c dead
bloud, Argcnc vive, a -Gucurbitc with his Alimbeck,
tl'iev£(iyi<)fi;cbt PhiloCopMecs J a high man with a
'

S^Ucr^ thcbdl^iofAman inihc^midft ^ hvs ii;,^if ,c:nd

it is caUcd.ti^ fobt^rQrtte^ 0f >Qi} tl>^ yvd^IdiTecr,
or earth is calcined^ Toftedj. conge^lcd^ diftillcd> or
made ftill and quiet the {haddow of the Sun, a dead
:

tody, a:ctowniG Qvierconming a .doud, t;he bark jof

the SeayMiagnefia, ;Hiick aPragon .which eatpth
:,'

iiisrayit,;ithc dregsio&the belly ^^^jjjrth fo^iidon the

diinghiH putirified , or in hotfejujig, or info^'firc^
Sulphur, Mercury, fcc©ndly injiujrnber, and one in
elfencc, name,in name, a ftonc, body,fpiTit,and foule
it is called earth , fire , aire, all things , becaufe he
containes in him foui;p.Rlcm^nt5 5 it is called a manor
beaft, that hath foule, life, body, and fpirit , and yet
fome Philofophers do not thinke the matter to have a
foule^ : .

But as it is,a fton^^, of Sulphur,

iris dOalledtbe ^yarer
thcwaterof the world, thcfpittleofLunc, thcfhad-
dow of the Sun^adcune^ Sol,Ekph3^> white Jayrc^
eyes of filhes^ Beyi^, Sulphur^ vine (harpe , water,
.milkt5yinegjcrjQ£'Jiff>:,|eacr$,JpymngAvatc
light of lights,aimnrfrelous Father, Father of Minc-
r2s,a fruitfuUitrecv^livingipirit , a fugitive fervanr,

certore of the earth J venopic >. roofl ftrong vinegrr,

wfaicegumme^cjv^tlafting water, a woman, a fcmi-
nuieT'
 conrerTnngtheThilofophers Stom. 4j
iinr, a thing of vile price, Azot, menftruous, firazilj,
in nature Azor, wa ter, the firft tnatter, the beginning
of the world ; and mark this 5: that Argent vive^ Mer-
cury, Azor, the full moone^ Hypoftafis, white lead, or
red^ do all of them fignifie but one thing , our ftone,
our our water. Iron, Silver^ Lime, whiteneffc^
braflfe,

Jupiter, Vermilion white, after divert times and de-

grees of opera tion.
And note , that the Philoibpbers waftiing is to
bring againe the whole foule into his body, wherefore
you ihay not'undefftand thereby , the common white
waftiing is convenient to be done with fineger ^ and
'
fait, and fuch like* . , . VI' :'

. Alfo note;^ that when blacknefs doth appeare, tfieri

called difpenfation of the n^in and; woman be-
it rj
tween them , ind that the body hath gotten a fpirir^
which i^ the tears of the vcrtMCs of the foulc upon'the
body, and the body doth revive the adion of thcfoulc
and fpirit, and is made an Eagie and the meane ofna-
itures.
'"'
t'^^^^^ --Xirhirr ,v^/^rr^ ^
..
'
-
And nbte, that white earth, white Sulphur , white
fiime, Auripigmentum Magnefia, acdEthell^ do fig-
nifie ail one thing.
^
Alfo the ftone is called Chaos, a Dragon,a Serpent,
a Toad^ the green Lion, the jquinteffence ^^ -our fton^
Lunarc, Camelion , molt vild black >Jblacker tba-a
black , Virgins milke, radicall humidity j undiuons
moyfturc, liquor, feminall,Salarmoniack , our Sul-
phur, Naptha,afoule,aBarrfisk, Adder, SecunJine,
Bloud, Spearne, Mctteline, haire, urine, poyfon, wa-
ter of wifettien, ntincrall Watcr,^^ Anthnpny^ (linking
menftrues, Leadof Philofophcrs, Sal, Mercury , our

K % Gold,
 it A Treatife 'cf Florianus Raudprff,
Gold, Lune; a fcird, our ghoft y dm ^alt Alome, of ^

Spaine, attramc^ntjdew.ot hcfivcnlyig^race, the,fHn)^ing

fpirit, Boraix, Mercury corpordll, wine, dry watcr,^ wa-
ter mctelline, an Egge,old water, perminent. Hemes
bird, the leffc world, Campher, wateroflife, Auri-
pigment, abodytynaper, andalmoft with other infi-
*

nite names^^f pleafure*:

The Secret of Secrets^ And Stone of Philofophen.

F thou d^efireft to bee lb lucky , 4^ that^hou maycfl

'

I obtaine the bleflSng offPhilolc^hers, as God doth

^

live for ever, fo let this verity live >yith thee.

The Philofophersdo very properly fay, ittarrieth
in the (hell,and containeth in himfclf e both white and
red, the one k called maiculiney the pther feminine,
Animall, Vegetable, and Minerall; there is no fucti o-
ther thing found in this world , that hath both power
aftive, and paflivc in it , and alfo hath within him a
fubftance, dead, and quick, fpirit and foule, which tp
the ignorant^ the Philofophers do call it the moft vile
thing, it holdcth in him the foure Elements y contai-
ned m
his skirts where he is found, and commonly of
all men, it may be bought for a fmall price, it doth aP
trend by it felfe, he waxeth black , he dcfcendeth'an4
yaxeth white^ increafeth and dccreafeth by hiipfelfe^
It isa matter* which the earth bringeth forth ^ and
defcends from heaven, waxeth pale and red, is born, is
dead,rifeth againe, and after liy^th for ever by ma-
:

ny wayes tomes
it to his end, but his proper d(pcoftion
is npori a fire, foft, meane, ftrong, it is augmented un-
ull they be fure it rcfteth quietly with y cd in the fire j
this
 ioncerning the ^hitof@pher$ Stone^ e^
this according to the vow of all gpod Philofophcrs^.
is

(called the Philofophcrs Stone) read and read agaioe^

and every thing more cleaire thou fhalt never find, and.*
if hereby thou underftandelt not the roattcr, tnoa
(halt never othcrwifc know it, ©r learnc this Art,
Hermes faith, the Dragon is not dead , but with his
Brother, and his fifler, not by one, but by both toge-
ther : note thefe things, three heads and one body, one
nature, and one Minerall • and this is fufficient for
them which have any aptneffe of underflanding in this
Science : the Dragon is not mortified nor'made flxcd^
but with 5^(?/and Luna^ and by none ether, as faith Hor-
tuUrm by mountaines in bodies, in the plaine of Mer-
cury, and in thefe looke for it^ and this water is crea-
and by concourfe of thefe two^ is c^c^d water per-
ted,
manent of Philofophcrs. ./ V. / '•
.. .
' •

Our fublimationis to fecth the bodies with golden

water, todiffolvc, to liquefie, and to fublime them j,
Our calcination is toputrifie and digcftby foure days,,
and to do no other wayes, wherefore many be decei-
ved in fublimation.
Thou mayeflknow that braflc which is the Philo-
fophcrs Gold, is their Gold, and that is true, but thou
haft fearched forgreenneffe , thinking that braffe is
a Leprous body , which he hath for his greenncffe,,
wherefore I fay unto thee, that all that Is perfeftin
bralfe, is that greenneffe only that is in him, becaufe
that thatgreennelGfe (by ourmaftry) is turned Shortly
into gold, and ofthis thing we have experience, andif
thou wilt prove it we will.givc thee a rule.
Take therefore burnt braffe, and perfew^ly rubifiedj^
And breaks and imboyle him with drinke feavea
K 3 times,
^o tA Treiitife /Florianus Raudorff,
times, as much as he is able to drinkc in all the waye$,
©f rubifying and roafting him againe,aftcTward make
him to' diicend , and his grecne colour will be made
red, as clcare graynes ^ and thou mayft know thatfo
much fednefs vvil dcfcend with himythac it wil cinckt,i
Argent Vive in (bnie p^rc with tha vcty colour of gold,
and all this we approvcd,fojr it doth workc very grea^
operations ; yet thou canft not prepare the Stone by
any meancs with any drinkc grecne and moift, which
isfeenc to be borne Ih ottr Miiicrals^ O blcffcd grcat^
ncflb which
! doth irtgender all things^ whereby thou
mayft be informed that no vegetable or fruit in bud-
ding will appeare ^ except there be a greene colour ^
wherefore Philofophe'ts call it their bud, and likcwifc^
they call it the water of purifying or putrifaftlOn^ ahd,
they fay the truth heerin 5 for with hi^ water he is pu-
rified &waihed from his blackncfs, and made white,
and afterwards he is lo made red, whereby thou mayft
learne to know that no true tindure is made, but ot
our braffe ; feeth him therefore with his foule j till the
fpirit be joyncd with his body, and be made one, and
thou fhalt have thy defire. Wife men have fpoken of
this in many names, but know thou right well, that it
is DUt one matter which doth fticke unto Argent vivc,

and to bodies,and thou (halt have the true fignes yet

•,

left thou ftiouldeft be deceived hcerebv thou mayft

know what Argent vive is to ftick unto Argent vive
:

doth which is falfc 5 for they think

ftick to the bodies,
chat they do underftand that Chapter of (>£^4r, of Ar-
gent vive, wherein he faith^ when in fearching in o-
tner things, he doth not find by our invention any mat-
ter to be more agreeable unto nature then Argent vive
of
 :

€Q»cemingthc Philofophers Sto^^\

71
of the bbdks 5 for th.i$ place i$
CObje uri4crftood of
Hr^nt vive Pi^ilofophicallj for that Argci^t vivc only
ftickech and tarriech in , and with the bodies : and the
old Philofophers could find no other matter , nor can
thofc which be Philofophers now invent any other
matter which will abide with the bodies, but Argent
vivc of the Philofophers • for common Argent vive
doth not ftick to the bodies, but the bodies do ftick to
that Argent vive, and this is ccrtainc by experience;
For if the Argent vive common bejoyned with any bo-
dies, th« Argent vive abides in his proper nature , or
flies away , and doth not turhc the body into his pro-
per nature, and therefore he doth not cleave unto the
bodiesjand for this caufe many be deceived in working
in common Argeot vive, fof our Stone, that is to fay.
Argent vivc accidemaU which doth advance hi«U"elfe
far above Gold, and ^oth overcome it , a ijd he ihtk
kiil,andhe doth quicken 5 for thou muft know that
Argent vivc, father of all marvellous things of this our
mallcry is congealed, and is both fpirit and body ; and
this is that Argent vive which Gfhrdid fpcake of^ the
confideration of a very matter which doch make per-
fed^ is the confideration of a chofen pure fubftance of
Argent vive, but chiefly out of whom the fubftance of
Argent vive may be drawne out is to be inquired of
and we making anfwcr do fay, that in them in whom
itib,out of c hem it miy be drawne^ therctorc Sonne,
confidcr w:l!, and f^e tforp -Ajhejicc that fubftance is,
and take that and i^onc other if thou defire to come
:

to know!c Jge I fay unto thee , for love of Chrifl that-

by no other means wc canitfindc ; now the Philofo-
phers never might findeany othermattcr that would
continue:
7i A Treattfe 0/ Floriatius Raudotffi
continue in the fire, but that only whiqh is unftuous^
perfed, and ineotnbuftible, and that naatter , when, it
is orcpaf ed as it Gught , will turiie all bodes Miner all

wnich it touchcth tightly unco mc^ pcrfcd Sol com-

pleat and above all bodies Lune.
Seeth firft with wind, and afterwards without
Winde , until! thou haft drawne out of thy fubjeft pr
matter the venomc (which is called the foulc j ) that
16 it which thou fcekcft , called the everlafting aquor
vita for alldifeafes , the whole maftery ijs in the ya-,
ipou jdvicev.
Let the body be put in a fire kindled
for forty dayes
by elenaentall neat
j then in that decoftion of forty
dayes, the body will rejoycc with the foulc , and the
foulc will rejoyce with tne body and fpirit, and the
(pirit will rejoyce with the body and foule , and thfey
arc made immortall and pcrpctuaU ^without fepara-
tion.

F I N I S.
^^/'^7^