Royal Society Miscellaneous Manuscript 6/5: Alchemical notes in the

hand of Isaac Newton

Transcribed by John T. Young, July-August 2005

Note on the transcription

This is intended as a diplomatic transcription, i.e. as faithful a representation as possible

of the original text. Spelling, punctuation and capitalisation are given as they appear in
the manuscript and not modernised, standardised or corrected. Obvious errors are let
stand but commented on in the notes. Like almost all writers of his period, Newton does
not distinguish capital U from V or capital J from I so neither does this transcription.

The following conventions are used in the transcription:

Any editorial intervention or conjecture, apart from endnotes, is enclosed in curly

brackets {}. All square brackets [] are Newton's own. This is a very important
distinction, as Newton often appears to include his own explanatory or editorial notes in
square brackets in the middle of passages cited from other sources.

Illegible material is presented thus: {?} = one illegible character; {??} = two illegible
characters; {???} = three or more illegible characters. If (as is usually the case) the
reason for the text's being illegible is that it is deleted, the question marks are shown in
strikethrough: {???}.

Editorial expansions of conventional abbreviations such as macrons are given in curly

brackets: unguentu{m}. So is conjecturally supplied text where text is missing or
invisible due to manuscript damage or over-zealous binding, with an explanatory
endnote.
Dubious readings are given in curly brackets with an italicised question mark:
{inpræparatus?}.

Catchwords are presented thus: {catchword: nostra}.

Folio numbers are given in curly brackets in bold: {1r}. There are no folio or page
numbers in the manuscript itself.

Interlinear and marginal insertions are placed in angle brackets < >.

Deleted text is presented in strikethrough.

Normally, one line is left blank between paragraphs. Where Newton has left an
unusually large gap between paragraphs, two lines are left blank.

Indentation of paragraphs (or the lack of it) is given as it appears in the manuscript.

Any other editorial commentary is given in the endnotes.

Newton uses the following more or less conventional symbols in the text:

☼ Sol/sun, i.e. gold

 Luna/moon, i.e. silver
 Mercurius/mercury (either the planet or the metal)
♀ Venus, i.e. copper
♂ Mars, i.e. iron
 Jove/Jupiter, i.e. tin
 Saturn, i.e. lead
sulphur

antimony/antimonium
X usually either 'star' or 'sal ammoniac', but according to B.J.T. Dobbs, The Foundations
of Newton's Alchemy, or 'The Hunting of the Greene Lyon' (Cambridge: CUP, 1975), xii,
Newton also used it idiosyncratically to mean 'star regulus of antimony'.

Two symbols I have been unable to replicate:

1) A cross surmounted by an oblong, meaning 'tartar[us]' and here expanded as
{tartarum} since its one occurrence is in a Latin passage and in the accusative.
2) A circle enclosing a cross minus the left-pointing arm. According to Fred Gettings,
Dictionary of Occult, Hermetic and Alchemical Sigils (London: Routlege and Kegan
Paul, 1981), 342, this was variously used to mean 'crystallised verdigris', 'genuine
sulphur', 'verdigris', 'vitriol' or 'vitriolic acid'. I have very conjecturally expanded it as
{vitriol?}.

Text of MM/6/5

{1r}
Quemadmodum <sæpius> imbibisti et sublimasti elementum terræ cum spiritu albo &
sublimasti <tande{m}> in in1 sulphur album naturæ salem <album> crystallinum qui est
sulphur album naturæ sic imbibere debes elementum ignis cum spiritu rubro & sublimare
in salem rubrum pellucidu{m} qui est sulphur rubrum naturæ. Et hi duo sales sunt
columbæ sulphur album & sulphur rubrum <Arse> naturæ, columbæ geminæ Diana et
Apollo, Arsenicum et auripigmentum, fumus albus & rubrus, <columbæ geminæ,
serpentes circa caduceum, <mas et femina> Diana et Apollo> Beia et Gabricus, <Rex et
Regina,> ffrater et soror poculo amoris inebriandi, <Rex et Regina <Aurum nostrum>
argentum> Sol et Luna <in> <in> balneo2 lavandi <Pater & mater lapidis>, montes
<sophorum seu montes> mercurij et Veneris. Faber Panchym. p 579, 655, 662, 663, 674,
675, 677, 679, 688, 689, 690, 691, 693, 698, 699, 703, 712. Alchym, Propugnac. p. <52,>
53. Herc. Piochym. p. 4. Triomph3 Hermetiq{ue} p. 141, 142, 143. Arnaldi Rosar p 280,
281, 282 lin 11, 12, 13, 14. Aristot p 238 lin 27 & p 239, lin 1, 4, 6, 11, 13, 17, 21.
Minschict4 Testam. p. 484.

Revelabo vobis secretum quod in libris philosophorum non invenietis. Ex liquore

nostro facimus duos mercurios album et rubrum. Flammel docet mercurium rubrum
servare ut cum eo faciat imbibitiones ad rubrum. Mercurius albus est balneum lunæ &
rubrus est balneum solis. Lunaria est mercurius albus & acetum acerrimum est mercurius
rubrus. Sed ut hi duo mercurij melius determinentur nutrias utrumq{ue} cum carne sprei
ei propriæ [id est album cum sale albo <qui Luna est> et rubrum cum rubro <qui sol est>]
Sanguis innocentium effusus hoc est spiritus corporum [albus & rubrus] sunt balneum
solis et Lunæ. Cosmopolita hoc secretum tetigit valde subtiliter loquendo de purificatione
et animatione mercurij. Hoc fiet, ait ille, si seni nostro <[i.e. mercurio> aurum et
argentum [i.e. sales duos] deglutire dabis, ut ipse consumat illa & tandem ille etiam
moriturus comburatur. Et rursus: Si undecies coit aurum cum eo emittit suum semen &
debilitatur fere ad mortem usq{ue}. concipit chalybs et generat filium patre clariorem.
Ecce mysterium grande quod vobis revelavi sine omni ænigmate, hoc est secretum
duorum mercuriorum qui continent duas tincturas. Conserva eos seorsim <&> non
confundas earum species ne procreent progeniem monstrosam. Triomph. Hermet. p 141,
142, 143.

5
Terra nostra chymica quæ vere Latona est postquam spiritu suo hoc est Iove nostro
impregnata est multa patitur cog coctionibus & digestionibus varijs tandem pervenit ad
Delum insulam hoc est ad quanda{m} terram aquis circundatam. Hæc insula viridis est &
pulchra admodum & visu grata. In hac Insula terra nostra seu Laton a fœtum suum
<geminum uno partu> in lucem ubi primò apparent adamantes pellucidi quos Dianam
nostram vocitant Chymici; ultimò tandem carbunculi apparent quos Apollinem dicunt.
Non intelligo adamantes illos et carbunculos qui in ultima nostra digestione & coctione
apparent qui omnino fixi sunt & permanent sed intelligo adamantes crystallos &
carbunculos qui in sublimatione nostra apparent volatiles & infixi qui spirituosæ sunt
substantiæ neivei et rubicundi coloris quarum substantia una dicitur Diana nostra seu
terra foliata et sulphur album naturæ altera vero dicitur Apollo noster & rubicundus
maritus & sulphur naturæ rubeum quorum duorum spirituum impetu currus fortunæ
nostræ ut ait Basilius Valentinus impelletur rotatur ac gyrat. Hi ambo spiritus Diana et
Apollo dicti uno partu progignuntur a Latona {catchword: nostra} {1v} nostra seu terra
Chymica quiq{ue} nihil aliud sunt quàm tenuissima ipsius terræ pars cum tenuissima
ipsius terræ pars cum tenuissima ipsius aquæ parte quæ terram dissolvit nostram seu
Latonam. Itaq{ue} Diana nostra & Apollo noster etsi sint terræ nostræ progenies, nihil
sunt aliud quam terra ipsa & spiritus mercurij et anima sulphuris una cum spirituali sale
quod animam sulphuris & spiritum mercurij simul <con> convertit: Et dum spiritus
mercurij prælabet cum spirituali sale id Diana dicitur & sulphur album naturæ & Luna
chymica: dum verò anima sulphuris prævalet in eodem subjecto & colorat illud in
rubeum colorem, tunc dicitur Apollo noster aurum nostrum, Rex noster, rubicundus
maritus & sulphur naturæ rubrum: de quo clamatur apud Philosophos rubicundus maritus
candidam duxit uxorem, quod sulphur illud debeat conjungi cum albo sulphure et simul
incarcerari cum aqua sua ut in eo carcere putrefiant moriantur et tandem resurgant in
vitam incorruptibilem ut reliquis imperfectis corporibus vitam suam immortalem hoc est
perfectionem integram & absolutam communicare queant. Mori autem debent Apollo et
Diana putrefieri et corrumpi{?} ut in eorum morte putrefactione & corruptione substantia
eorum penitissime mundetur & radicitus ab excrementis suis omnibus vindicetur quod
alioquin fieri non potest. Mors siquidem rerum et putrefactio est earum purificatio. Partes
enim compositi in morte et putrefactione ejus separantur ab invicem & in separatione sua
partes impuras primæ compositionis deponunt. Et deinde quod inde exurgit multò purius
est et perfectius quam antea. Faber Panchym. cap. 31. p. 691, 692.

Desponsatæ materiæ nostræ hoc est rectè et perquam optime præparatæ, ad coitum et
matrimonium disponuntur, & {?} aqua nostra quæ dicitur fæmina nostra recipit semen sui
viri hoc est recipit purum sulphuris vel rubei vel albi. Quod quidem sulphur album vel
rubeum permiscetur in ventre aquæ cum puro aquæ & illud purum aquæ censetur semen
femellæ quod quidem permiscetur cum puro sulphuris albi vel rubei & ex hac
permixtione modò femella nostra concipiat hoc est retineat illud purum sulphuris albi vel
rubei & calore suo foveat exurgit fœtus ille Chymicorum qui censetur Lapis ille tantopere
decantatus. Concipit autem fæmella nostra & retinet facili via semen viri sui hoc est
sulphuris albi vel rubei, modo pura sit & ab omni sorditie vindicata. Si enim adsint sordes
& maculæ ita ut his coinquinetur fæmellæ uterus concipere non potest. V -- -- Vt ergo
perquam optime concipiat fæmella nostra quæ est aqua nostra mercurialis, hæc septies est
destillanda donec candorem omninò cœlestem acquisiverit6, sulphur etiam nostrum
sæpius est destillandum septies est sublimandum per se et sine fæcibus ullis donec etiam
nitorem habeat summum. Tunc temporis conjungendæ sunt hæ materiæ, aqua pura nostra
et sulphur nostru{m} una pars sulphuris summopere puri cum quatuor partibus aquæ
{catchword: nostræ} {2r} itidem purissimæ & vasi vitreo immittendæ & firmiter sigillo
chymico concludendæ & Vulcano levi & debili per menses novem committendæ. Per hoc
tempus coeunt et conjunguntur hæ materiæ & aqua nostra concipit virtututem sulphuris
nostri & signum primum conceptionis est nigredo hujusce materiæ & coagulatio quædam
aquæ nostræ per virtutem sulphuris nostri. Post conceptionem sequitur prægnatio quæ
nihil aliud est quam manifesta incrassatio & coagulatio aquæ nostræ. Dum enim aqua
nostra perfectè conjuncta est cum suo sulphure, sulphur vi ignis sui coagulat aquam &
aqua incrassescit & congelatur in substantiam crassam & pinguem picis liquatæ similem,
& hæc est prægnatio Morieni. Igitur in prægnatione nostra, aqua mercurialis nostra (quæ
est subtilior & aquosior pars terræ nostræ in forma aquæ limpidæ & candidæ ponderosæ
pinguis et glutinosæ & acetosæ qualitatis, unde acetum dicitur acerrimum) coagulatur &
condensatur in substantiam crassam pinguem glutinosam nigri coloris quæ magis et
magis agente calore tum interno tum externo crassescit & condensatur variantibus
coloribus nunc flavo nunc viridi nunc nigro subnigro & nigerrimo. quæ omnia variam
illam quam interius patitur materia nostra alterationem satis superq{ue} indicat atq{ue}
commonstrat. Sulphur nostrum agens in aquam sui similem vult eam sibi ipsi omnino
similem reddere et in suam ipsius substantia{m} convertere: quod tamen fieri non potest
subitò cum adsint qualitates quæ illud nolunt. Vnde vincendæ sunt et pedetentim perinde
alterandæ pedetentim levi externo calore adhibito, ut tandem qualitates illæ aquæ nostræ
quæ sulphuri contrariantur occultentur & petant centru{m} aquæ, & aliæ similes quæ
omninò occultæ erant fiant manifestæ et jungantur sulphuri nostro. Et tunc aqua notra
facta est verissimu{m} sulphur & verissimè imprægnata est ut ita loquar a sulphure
nostro. Et hoc fit dum materia nostra vasi nostro reclusa Leucophæo exornata est colore
et subaldido vestita indusio. Tunc verè imprægnata est mulier nostra et vivit fœtus si
allegorice ita loqui valeam Philosophorum, qui quidem lente et suavi cum igne est
fovendus ne nimio igne pereat et occidatur. Satis habet alimenti intrinseci. nihil adhuc
opus habet quam solo igne levi et dulci extrinsecus adhibito. Quæ enim intrinsecus
administrari debent & pater et mater quæ illi præsto adsunt, abunde ministrant. Hæc est
ergo prægnatio nostra chemica quam Morienus nobis brevissimis descripsit verbis.
Differt a conceptione quod in conceptione aqua nostra incipiat coagulari & condensari in
substantiam crassam & pinguem subnigram: hic verò in prægnatione nostra aqua nostra
condensetur in subcandidam & Leucophæam substantiam, et hoc fit in uno et eodem vase
& in eode{m} furno et igne. Et hæc operatio coctio vocatur simplex et elixatio quod res
quæ coquuntur adhuc madidæ sint et humidæ. Et hæc de Prægnatione chemica dicta
Morieni dicta sufficiant. Quamprimum adoleverit {catchword: fœtus} {2v} fœtus
Chymicorum in ventre matris suæ, parturiat mater necesse est & exoriatur fœtus qui adeo
ferus est & crudelis ut quamprimum exortus est & a ventre matris exclusus matrem
devoret et patrem & ipsos assumat in alimentum & moriatur pater & mater propter filium
enatum quem enutrire suo sanguine et carne coguntur parentes. -- Cum autem ignis
naturalis et acer sit rerum omnium pater, eam ipsam substantiam patris nomine donarunt.
Cum autem in eadem substantia aquosum quid & terrestre percipiatur & separetur arte
Chymica (ratione aquosæ illius substantiæ et terrestris etiam et pari ratione et pondere in
ea cum igne naturali in ea substantia simul prædominantis.) Matris nomen eidem
substantiæ tribuerunt, cum aquosa illa substantia & terrestris sit mater rerum omnium.
Ignea ergo et ærea, aquosa et terrestris substantia, quæ in tali mixtura vigent et florent,
patris et matris nomen a Philosophis sortitæ sunt. Cum autem ex his substantijs per
putrefactionem et mortem exurgat nova quædam substantia purissima a prioribus
substantijs distincta, hæc substantia de novo exorta dicitur filius exortus ex præcedentibus
substantijs, quæ cum alterentur et corrumpantur in exortu et partu hujus novæ substantiæ
ideo dicuntur emori in partu hujusce filij, & cum hæc substantia de novo producta ex
putrefactione illa vivat et accrescat indies donec total præcedens substantia conversa sit in
hanc novam substantiam ideo finxerunt philosophi emori patre{m} & matrem ex
nativitate filij quem sanguine et carne <ipsorum> enutrire coguntur parentes ne intereat. -
- Post Vbi vero totum comederit et bibirit aperiendum est vas & novo sanguine patris &
matris enutriendus est et epotandus ut roboretur magis ac magis & sic ad supremam
energia suæ virtutis energiam deveniat, crescit enim tunc temporis illo potu et cibo, et
mole corporis et virtute et energia agendi, et quo magis sanguine patris et matris proluitur
tanto magis crescit et mole corporis et virtute agendi ita ut ad infinitam virtutem & agendi
potentiam devenire possit. -- Et hæc cibatio et enutritio inter philosophos Chymicos
multiplicatio nuncupantur. In alimento illo et potu administrando cauti et prudentes
admodum debent esse artis Chymicæ Alumni et Operatores ne plus alimenti et potus
administrent quam coquere et digere potest Natus noster alioquin supervenit cruditas
quam quidem corrigere possumus cum tempore et coquendi diuturnitate & hoc opus
retardat et hæc retardatio fallit incautos cum materiam suam fixam & permanentem
credentes eam ipsam volatilem et aeream reperiunt & adhuc crudam & indigestam, quod
quidem ex copia potus et sanguinis paternis & materni evenit & contingit qui cum crudus
sit et indigestus, copia sua totam materiam nostram etsi coctam et perfecte digestam
reincrudat et incoctam reddit Sanguis autem paternus & maternus quo uti debemus ad
enutriendum fœtum nostrum & alumnum est aqua mercurialis, quæ est pars volatilis
summopere depurata materiæ nostræ, sulphure volatili albo vel rubeo ejusdem materiæ
imprægnata. Hæc substantia ita præparata dicitur sanguis materiæ nostræ, et cum materia
nostra sit pater et mater fœtus nostri, ideo hanc substantiam aquosam sanguinem
paternum & maternum {catchword: asserere} {3r} asserere possumus quo enutrire &
cibare debemus fœtum nostrum. Hæc Cibatio & enutritio inter Philosophos Chymicos
multiplicationem nuncupantur, cum accrescat fœtus noster & multiplicetur tali potu et
cibo, qui quidem potus et cibus summopere purus esse debet & ab omnibus excrementis
suis vindicatus. Faber Panchym. cap. 56, 57, 58, 59.

Mons Chymicorum non unicus est etsi ex una et eadem exurgat essentia. Duplex est
et duplici nomine insigniri habet apud Chymicos, Vnus dicitur mons Mercurij alius
Mercurij, ex mons Veneris, ex quibus duobus simul conjunctis nascitur humidum
nostrum radicale metallicu{m} & minerale. Ex his solis profluit et non ex alijs. In his
solis etiam coquitur & digeritur, et coctione illa sola ab omnibus suis excrementis
vindicatur putrefactione sua quam inter coquendum patitur & tande{m} coagulatur &
induratur in terram puram claram penetrantem fixissima{m} cuncta metallica et mineralia
perficientem. Dicuntur autem hæ substantiæ ejusdem generis et speciei, una rubei coloris
est & crystallini clari alia verò albissimi & nitentis ac etiam crystallini, mas una est
fæmella alia. Hæ ambæ conjunctæ substantiæ spiritum igneum producunt quo inebriatæ
tantum patiuntur ull supra ignem externum conveniente{m} illis adhibitum ut tandem
moriantur et nigrescant & continuato semper eodem igne externo ex morte et
putrefactione resurgant &c Faber Panchym. p 655.

In montibus chymicorum est frater & soror et poculum amoris Qui fratrem hunc et
sororem cognoscit is verè totam artem et materia{m} ejusq{ue} præparationem intelligit.
Dicuntur enim hi sales duo in eodem utero geniti nati, quorum unus igneas & æthereas
habet virtutes & proprietates masculinas & verè viriles, alius verò aqueas & frigidas habet
qualitates languidis & frigidis fæminarum qualitatibus correspondentes. Hi sales ut homo
et fæmina unus et idem sunt in specie et radice sua. -- Non possunt autem frater et soror
Chymicorum conjungi simul & matrimonio uniri nisi poculo amoris jungantur. Philtrum
autem istud seu poculum ex intimis eorum substantijs educitur, unde clamat Chymicorum
Turba, Natura Naturam sequitur, natura naturam vincit, natura natura{m} vincit7 natura
naturâm lætatur & gaudet ut indicent matrimonium fieri debere ex intimis eorum
substantijs. Poculu{m} ergo istud aqua est quæ in intimis eorum substantijs latitat. Hæc
sola aqua fratrem nostrum et sororem nostram copulat et jungit ut ambo juncti progignant
fœtum nostrum Adonidem & Ganimedem qui enutriendus est ut ad perfectam ætatem
deveniat. Faber Panchym p 674, 675

Par pondus utriusq{ue} materiæ in nostro primo matrimonio celebrando est

adhibendum. In secundo autem matrimonio dum pars volatilis parti fixæ & permanenti
conjungitur pondus etiam est perpendendum Nam pars fixa necesse est ut dissolvatur ac
diluatur et aqua fiat a parte volatili. Ideo major esse debet in quantitate pars volatilis
quam ipsa pars fixa. Aliqui chemicorum ponunt decem partes aquæ super unam corporis
fixi alij septem alij quatuor. Modo pars fixa dissol- {catchword: vatur} {3v} vatur a parte
volatili hoc ego existimo vere sufficere. Nam deinde per coctionem perrennem &
continuam coagulatur pars volatilis a parte fixa. Si sit maxima quantitas partis volatilis
retardatur coagulatio, unde his qui causam nesciunt contingit desperatio. Ego tamen non
observavi pondus sed materias conjunxi et amxima quantitate partis volatilis partem
fixam dissolvi & deinde in balneo Mariæ aut levissimo cinerum calore superfluam
volatilis materiæ partem extraxi donec tenacem vidi materiam viscosam & valde nigram.
Tunc vas repagulo satis firmo obsignavi & tempori ad coquendum tradidi,
benedixitq{ue} Deus & incrementum dedit. Est etiam pondus observandum in
multiplicatione. Nam opus album & rubrum perpotandum est et irrigandum suo spiritu
seu fonte nostra crudo sed puro & septies destillato. Ibi pondus est observandum ne elixir
submergatur. Parce admodum irrigandum ut materia cooperiatur tantum gladij
spissitudine quod multoties est operandum donec lapis satis biberit & perfectissimæ sit
albedinis & rubedinis completæ & facillimæ fusionis quæ illi contingit ex copia humidi
sui perfecte cocti & fixi facti. -- Naturæ pondus est ut corpus bibat quantum potest
retinere & spiritum reliquum in alios usus rejiciat. Faber Hydrogr. pag. 203, 204.

Pondera Solis Lunæ et Mercurij Sendivogius & Philaletha ponunt ut 1, 2, 11 Hermes

dicit unum duobus & tria uni, Maierus vult solem esse ad Lunam ut 1 ad 2, fit enim hoc8
versu, Dimidia quod agentis et illius adjice duplo. Turba et alij fere omnes volunt sulphur
esse ad aquam ut 1 ad 3 vel 2 ad 7, Sendivogius e Faber ut 1 ad 4 Sendivogius (uti jam
dictum est) ut 3 ad 11), et tres partes sulphuris (vizt unam ☼is & duas Lunæ) imbibit cum
una parte aquæ undecies.

{5r}9
Via duplex est humida et sicca et humida. In via sicca (quæ prior occurrere solet)
præparatur sal naturæ seu metallorum per putrefactionem imbibitiones et sublimationem
in multo onere solvenda & Hæ viæ in principio differunt ut in operatione conjunctionis
propemodum consentiunt quia in ambabus conjungenda cum auro sophi philosophico
conjunguntur, quamvis in principio differunt ab invicem. Nam in via humida non
præparatur sal metallorum sed chaos philosophicum sive materia nostra absq{ue} ulla
alia re adjuncta per se in aquam mercurialem convertitur idq{ue} per contrarias
operationes <{&c?}: non accipiendo vitam a io vulgi sed ut um vivificet.]>. Hæc aqua
illibata Divina est et hyperphysica, tria principia in se continens:. Est mercurius vitæ,
aqua illa cœlestis, vera auri et o{mn}ium metallorum et mineralium origo, respendens
ponderosa et dulcissima, de qua Hermes exclamat: O aquina forma permanens, regalium
creatrix elementorum, quæ cum lumine venis et cum lumine genita es: mirabilis et simul
et laudabilis) siquidem omnes Ph{ilosoph}i: Deo ter optimo maximo in 2da operatione
merito palmam offerunt. Clavem hanc jucundam qui habet omnia metalla suaviter ac
radicaliter dissolvere eademq{ue} in materia{m} primam reducere potest.: ex10 quo
particularia duo ad solem et Lunam si recte proceditur veraciter producuntur. Vna pars ad
centum transit per putref. et colores Multiplicari etiam potest. Grass. Epist p 540 541. 511
In hac via <{hacce?} humida> ab unitate per binarium in terrarium descenditur non prius
tamen quam <a Quaternario> per ordinem graduum in simplicitatem consurgat Et
ternarius reducendus est ad unitatem. Primum enim ex quatuor elementis <in metallis
imperfectis]> a natura composita massa per sublimationem physicam in unum corpus in
prima operatione deducitur. Tum separato agente levi sed mirabili modo fit binarius in
compositione [corpus sc. et anima] medio tertij, scilicet spiritus qui amborum manet
copulator manet perpetuus. Ib. p. 538, 539, vide et <collat cum> p 540 lin 22.

2 Materia <Lapidis> ex qua hanc aquam elicimus, (quæq{ue} alias dicitur electrum
Magnesia Lunaria plumbum Philosophorum &c) est minera plumbi nondum fusa quam
natura in formam et splendorum metallicum deduxit, sed imperfectam reliquit, quæq{ue}
grana aliquot auri vel argenti in se continet to (ceu poma in arbore) continet <Hæc
materia est Fons Comitis {??} Trevensis a qua {???} {???} omni obscuritate {???} aqua
n{ost}ra per generationem separand{a}12 est> ib p 540 <collat. cum> Arca a p arcan. a p:
310 p 322.

3 Compositionem ingreditur etiam Regulus ♂tis cum ♀e. In hoc regulo ♂ &

inseparabiliter uniuntur donec ♂ fixetur in aurum verissimum tunc enim <Mars>

relinquit. Sed hæc per hæc separatio <non> fit <nisi> per mediationem ♀ris {???} <Nam>
Per <solam> hujus mediationem {???} <conjunctionem> Diana eosde{m} separat ab
invicem. Et hæc operatio fit absq{ue} præparatis Dianæ columbis estq{ue} secretissima
et laudatissima. Nec Nam <cum> columbas præparare <(ut fit in via sicca> opus sit13
tædiosissimum14 in quo artifex vel peritissimus f sæpius <facile> per infortuniu{m}
aliquod errabit. quam Philal. in marrow of Alkim. part 2 pag15
 216 B Componitur tamen hæc materia cum alijs rebus Hoc subjectum est metallicum
sed non est metallum nec minera sed metalla et mineræ quia illorum omnium natura est
in una re quæ vocatur electrum minerale immaturum, magnesia seu Lunaria <& Chaos
impurum. Nam  noster est omnia metalla.> Ideoq{ue} philosophi semper in plurali
loquuntur, vizt metalla, metallorum, metallis. Hæc radix mineralis seu astrifleuns septem
radijs constans flos a suis inquinamentis paulatim separari et ex illo succus albus
mercurialis liliorum aut scaturigo universalis metallorum exprimi debet qui valde tener &
volatilis est. Occultæ naturæ mysterium p 530 et Arca p 297, 305, 315.

4 Tres lapides compositionem potissimum ingrediuntur, lapis solis seu Leo ruber aut
sulphur rubrum, Lapis Lunæ in quo est sulphur album17 et lapis ij qui medium est inter
priores duos et amborum naturam in se inclusam tenet quiq{ue} terra est quæ quicquid in
illam seminatur producit. Hoc mysterium ignorantibus occlusum manebit donec solem et
lunam in unum {ortem?}18 redigere queant: quod citra {???} <Dei> voluntatem fieri
nequit. Hæc enim est ars summa et in Dei manu servatur. Arca p 302 303.

{5v}
In Via sicca <cujus Basilius in {clavi?} 5ta mentionem facit> præparatur sal
metallorum multo onere et assiduo labore difficulter solvendo et coagulando. Et hoc opus
est fere præcipuum et difficillimum in arte: siquidem hic multa tarditas jacet ut omnes
philosophi scribunt & est clavis artis et in ignis administratione error facile committi
potest ut materia destinatur & flores seu virtus vegetabilis comburatur. Quare cavendum
est ne ab et ejus impuritatibus damnum capiatur. Postquam venenosi vapores lapidem
relinquunt, duo flores albus seu , & ruber seu paulatim & successive apparent. Hac
via Grassæus lapidem primò paravit Est enim magis obvia, sed per viam humidam non
sed hic defectus circa materiam solutionem primam et veram compositionem versatur,
adeo ut per viam humidam multo citius ad finem perveniatur. Quidam enim in 378 vel
etiam in 30 diebus lapidem præparaverunt & ad finem feliciter perduxerunt. Vnde De qua
Geber: Vnica est via perfecta qua relevamur a tantis laboribus et oneribus solutionum.
Grass. Epis. p 541 et Arca p 335, 338, 339.
 Solutiones19 duæ apud Philosophos invenientur: Prima quand <sicca et humida. In>
Siccam <qui de redigitur materia> per materiam primam in materiam primam <(i.e. {???}
<{???}> sic tria principia tanquam in siccam quandam aquam quæ non solum  sed et
dicitur>.20 Hæc per magica fit elementa igne aperto: Humida vero astrale per semen quod
siccus est liquor qui cæræ <instar> fluit instar et liquescit. In hac solutione fit
plerumq{ue} separatio quia menstruum sumit sibi solummodo nobilissima{m} animam e
sulphure metallico jam {???} adepto. Snyders Pharm. p 7 Ignis <ardens duplex>
sympathi{cus}21 sulphur metallicum accendit <qui est siccus liquorculus> ex sulphure et
nitro compositus <nempe sal metalloru{m} <{inpræparatus?}> in quo metalla facile
liquescunt & sine quo centru{m} minime læditur>, sulphur metallicum in {???} solutione
sicca22

Solutiones duæ apud philosopos23 inveniuntur, sicca et humida. In <via> sicca

redigitur materia [metallica] per materiam primam [sc. <per> ignem <duplicem>
sympathicum, et ignem frigidum metallicum, <per> putrefactionem præparatos] in
materiam primam {??} id est in tria principia tanquam in siccam quandam aquam quæ
non solum  sed etiam dicitur. Snyders. Pharm. p 7, 10. Ignis ille duplex componitur
ex <igne et aere {???} <mercuriali> seu> et nitro sic dictos ob actionem in se mutuò.
Hi ambo sunt ignes efficaces verum infestissimi inimici. Si scis hos reconciliare et unire
ac tum metallicum per illorum igneum spiritum incendere, aditum habes ad sanitatem
et <divitias, ac gloriam mundi expugnasti.> divitias24. <Id autem mihi reservari> Ib. p.
<13,> 65, 71. Hic ignis est siccus liquorculus <ex quo mercurius confit philosophicus &>
in quo metalla facile liquescunt & sine quo centrum minime læditur ib p. 11. <Accendit
metallicum et elementum ignis in metallico corpore augmentat &c.25 accendit et
elementum ignis multiplicat in metallico corpore augmentat & sic {???} anima metalli sic
succensa in aere qu <sic> ligatura{m} principiorum debilitat. Hæc est separatio, anima
dilatata est, seq{ue} a vinculis suis exoneravit et jam acrius in proprium corpus sævit: et
nisi nunc quantocujus corpori succurras et per aliud elementum animam nempe{?} per
terram seu <merc.> Saturni{?} animam efficias corporalem et corpus suum desert et in
aerem abibit. <Ib. p. 1, 9, 10, 11.> Augmenta igitur solarem terram id est solare corpus
<ib p 9, 10, 10>. In hoc abscondit se ignis ab ardente illo sympathico quod ex certo signo
potes cognoscere quod <{Siguum?}> dum conspicis tunc maxima sedulitate debes
incensam animam cum suo corpore ex igne liberare alias retines mortuum duntaxat
corpus, spectabile ad visum ut electrum. Promptitudo et dexteritas quæ hic requiritur
impossibilis est descriptio. Tali et non alio modo salvanda est anima quasi per metallico
magneticum corpus salvanda. {?} ib p 12 Scias igitur quod dum ium metallorum per sui
simile (i.e. per  vel vulgarem vel Saturni) fortificas, inde separatio in metallico sulphure
et sale debeat sequi. Et iterum dum metallare sulphur (i.e. per ignem sympathicum)
augmentas acuis et incendis, quòd tum similiter dissipatio ac dissolutio in tribus principijs
fiat. Quod <Et> idem de fortificatione salis <per salem tartareum metallicum>
intelligendum est. Separationum verò optima est hæc, quando ad summum sulphur
extrahitur per incensionem sympathici ignis. Hæc separatio parvo potest fieri tempore,
igne aperto. Cavendum est autem ne metallorum præ incensione sua comburatur.
Debet idcirco custos adesse qui hoc impediat, nempe <qui custos est> spiritus Terræ seu
<id est aqua> Saturni. ib p 19. Nam frigidus metallicus ignis nihil aliud est quam us ni
qui se cum metallis amalgamat et ope jam prædicti ignis duplicis sympathici in igne se
patitur calcinari ib p 66. Hic ignis mercurio fere similis est et metallum tanquam spiritus
pervadit, procurat sympathicum ignem in toto penetrare, animamq{ue} omnibus locis
incendere potis est, metallum efficit porosum, recludit occluditq{ue}, principium est et
finis, prima {catchword: et} {6r} et {cla?}rissima26 clavis. In summa fundamentum est
operis totius: nam est quoq{ue} vehiculum ignis sympathici et ab hoc destruitur atq{ue}
corrumpitur. ib. p 10, 11. Ignis sympathicus sulphur metall Quisquis animam Veneris per
magica in igne elementa nutrire et conoservare posteaq{ue} a corpore calcinato extrahere
novit, is verum libelli hujus sensum obtinuit. ib p 38. <Sub vitriolo sulphur ardens
intelligitur> Sulphur27 enim omnia corpora peredet <comburens &> calcinans ipsa in
pulverem et cinerem. <Sub vitriolo sulphur ardens intelligitur> ib p 49, 56. Per hanc
destructionem primo <(ex corpore calcinato) per menstruum quoddam> elicimus
<extrahimus> sulphur, dein salem elixiviamus mercurius qui amborum vinculum fuit est
etiam ad manus. Metallica proprietas est in omnibus: nam sulphur aurificat, sal atq{ue} 
ambo colorant ib. p 11, 27, 38. Nam aurum æquæ ac reliqua metalla hac methodo in
<materiam primam id est in> tria sua principia reducitur idq{ue} trium aurorarum
curriculo & hoc præcipuu{m} est <In cujus rei testimonium sulphura omnium
metallorum nec non aurum & Lunam potabilem adaptabo. Estq{ue} hæc reductio
præcipuum> ad universale generalissimum punctum <ib. p 37>. ffieri enim non potest ut
aurum Vniversale generalissimum extra tria illa exordia auri affabrè construamus Propter
hanc rationem Sapientes tres illas igneas claves seu quas elementa magica baptizo, quibus
solidum auri corpus reseramus, illiusq{ue} animam et clarificatum corpus educimus,
summe velarunt. ib. p 34 Nam universale generalissimu{m} fit ex duplici mercurio (i.e.
lunari et solari sive vener saturni et veneris) producitur & cum solari sulphure28 animatur
atq{ue} fermentatur et eum perdurante auri sale figitur dein per alia duo sulphura & jam
dictum  multiplicatur in infinitum {???} ib p 72. Auri vero sal e principia sic obtinentur.
Cum igne duplici sympathico incipe in fine naturæ id est oppugna et calcina illas alias
inexpugnabiles auri portas. Sic incendit et augmentat unus ignis alium id est unum
aliud. Vnde sequitur animæ et corporis dissolutio. Debet vero ad hoc alter ille frigidus
metallicus ignis quoq{ue} usurpari qui de minerali quodam necdum fuso staurno seu
immalleabili plumbo extrahitur & mercurius Saturni nuncupatur, quiq{ue} non ardet ut
communis  sed habet terrestrem siccam qualitatem. Vnde potest ☼is defendere ne
comburatur & suo cum io avolet. Quando aurum cum io saturni sic amalgamatum est
potest infernalis ignis solidum illud corpus multo ciitius et melius calcinare et solarem
ignem ab omnibus partibus accendere inq{ue} cineres redigere. Ex his deducimus cælico
<claro> cum <cælico> rore, sulphur; et ex remanente corpore elixiviamus post debitam
reverberationem superpretiosissimum illum medicinalem salem, de quo sapientes
dixerunt Sal metallorum est lapis ph{ilosoph}orum. Hic sal cum spiritu vini clarificari
debet, deinde cum e suo unitur et cum spiritu mundi, id est cum illo spiritu qui ex io
Saturni destillatus est, imbibitur, in uno unico vitro ac fornace purificatur et figitur. Sic fit
Opus Vniversale per solum <lunarem> mercurium saturni. At <in universali
generalissimo> Mercurius etiam solaris qui ex minera Veneris confit, ad <hanc> auri
destructionem in Vniversali generalissimo usurpatio <debet.> ib p 69, 70, 71, 72. Nam
auri et hujus ij amalgama <per elementa magica> {???} calcinatur <in cineres> et in
principia sua resolvitur per elementa magica. Snyders <Nam sulphur ☼is notabiliter
sulphure ♀is melioratur29 et fortificatur. ib p 39 & in> Metamorph. Plan. cap. pag .30
ffit autem is ♀is redigendo ♀31 {vitriolem?} et semel atq{ue} iterum sublimando et
præcipitando {vitriolem?} per X et {tartarum}. Ib <Ib> Dein  frigidi ni et is in oleum
rubicundum redigitur quod est menstruum universale quo o{mn}ia {?} u in
potabilitatem adiguntur, quodq{ue} verus est spiritus hermaphroditicus, duplex , lac
virginis {?} aqua permanens unicum illud medium solvendi et animam cum corpore
32
conjungendi ib p 40, 68 & Metamorph. Ch. pag. Quando Venus in crystallum
abit tunc ea unice facit ad magnum sapientum opus, præcipue ejus anima {catchword:
quæ} {6v} exhibebit se specie rubicundu{m} ponderosi olei ib p 40. Qui frigidum meum
draconem {p<r>obe?} intelligit, idem nihilo ulterius eget quam igneum rubrum quendam
igneum volantem draconem huic suo fratri adjungere, tunc duas naturas in unam redigit
spiritualem mercurialem naturam redegit &c. Absq{ue} hoc nequit universale
generalissimum confici. Continet hac materia Vim naturæ totius esq{ue} o{mn}ia in
o{mn}ibus. ib. p. 57.

Basilius in clave quinta de solutione sicca dicit: Spiritus duo contrarij cohabitare
possunt in uno subjecto. -- Vt ferrum h{ab}et mgnetem33 sic aurum h{ab}et magnetem
suum qui est Lapidis materia prima. Si hoc intelligis felix es{?}. -- Materia nostra summè
purificata destrui debet et reduci in pulverem et cinerem: deinde ex eo faciendus est
spiritus volatilis albus sicut nix [vizt sptus ij] et spiritus alius ruber sicut sanguis: qui duo
tertium continent. et tamen spiritus unicus sunt. Hos tres conjunge {???} ijsq{ue} præbe
cibum et potum necessarium & tepidos serva usq{ue} ad nativitatem lapidis.

De eadem solutione <via humida> agit Philaletha ubi dicit quod <mercurius>
Regulum ♂tis {???} formidat, Sed Dianæ columbæ feras domare novit, esto hic tibi
Diana propitia quæ feras domare novit, cujus binæ columbæ <(si (per Veneris artem
applicentur)> pennis suis sic aeris <[i.e. Reguli sublimati]> malignitatem temperabunt ut
per poros facile ingrediatur adolscens qui concutit statim peroledos, nubemq{ue} tetricam
suscitat. Tu undas superinduces ad Lunæ usq{ue} candorem atq{ue} ita tenebræ, quæ
super abyssi faciem erant, per spiritum se in aquis moventur discutientur. Sic jubente Deo
lux apparebit. Lucem a tenebris separa septima vice eritq{ue} creatio hæc sophica
Mercurij completa & septimus tibi dies erit sabbatum quietis, a quo tempore ad anni
usq{ue} revolutionem possis expectare generatio rem supernaturalis solis filij. Introit.
apert {?} cap. 6. Et rursus: Regulus ♂ perpetua hydro-phobia34 stultescit insanitq{ue}.
Sunt tamen in sylva Dianæ binæ columbæ quæ rabiem ejus mulcent si per veneris artem
applicentur. Tum ne hydrophobiæ35 <recidivam> patiatur aquis submergas in ijsq{ue}
pereat: quarum impatiens nigricans canis rabidus ad aquarum superficiem fere suffocatus
ascendet. Tu imbre ac verberibus illum fuga ac procul arce. Sic tenebræ disparebunt.
Fulgente Luna in suo plenilunio pennas suppedita et avolabit aquila relicitis pone se
mortuis Dianæ columbis, quæ in prima acceptione fuerint mortuæ [i.e. in sal metallorum
per putrefactionem præparatus fuerit] prodesse nequeunt. Itera hoc septies, tum tandem
requiem adeptus es, nisi quod decoctio tibi nuda (post extractionem ☼is uri ex hoc io)
incumbat, quæ est quies placidissima, ludus puerorum opusq{ue} mulierum. Philal cap 7.
10. Nam us sic præparatus interno per nostrum artificium gravidus est et solo calore
conveniente adhibito semetipsum coagulat per modum floris lactis supranatante quasi
terra subtili super aquas. Nam in  latens est <revera> sol volatilis nondum satis
digestus at satis purus. Quare nuda digestione in aurum transit. Verum si  iste jungatur
cum auro vulgi, tum non coagulatur, sed aurum vulgi dissolvit (mediante venere seu
spiritu) dissolvit et putrefacit & {???} {???} <tandem> in aurum n{ost}rum convertit. ib.
c. 10. Sed hoc opus tædiosissimum est et menses octodecim requirit ad tincturam
<faciendam> quæ per per aurum n{ost}rum mensibus septem raperitur <acquiritur>. ib.
c. 19. Igitur Philaletha in via sicca salem metallorum id est sale{m} veneris et
corniculatæ Dianæ seu Veneris et Columbarum qua præparat qui36 {?} sal plumbum æris
liquor saturniæ vegetabilis, dicitur Diana candida <columba alba, sal armoniacus, aqua
sicca, Sal naturæ, sal metallorum &, ignis sympathicus, & sal sapientu{m} & <Venus
{&?}>  n{ost}er> dicitur. Deinde in hoc sale dissolvunt tanquam femella dissolvit
Regulu{m} ♂ & ne sulphur comburatur & avolet <statim> injicit , <tanquam vinculum
utriusq{ue}. Tum> sulphur fæces nigrum emergens & mercurium fugiens abstergit &
<donec> materia {???} {???} {???} sublimat albescat, quam deinde sublimat, & hoc facit
septies. {???} {???} sic <enim> lucratur mercurium Ph{ilosoph}oru{m} <seu> plumbum
album sapientum ex igne et liquore saturniæ vegetabilis et vinculo ij compositum, qui
plumbum album sapientum dicitur. Dein pergendo ad opus s{e}c{un}dum vel dissolvit
<decoquit> aurum vulgi in hoc o <et Venere prædicto> vel ex hoc o <in hora
nativitatis> extrahit aurum nostrum in hora nativitatis tempo diebus septem per
digestione{m} x37 Sed Snyders aliter operatur <neutrum facit>. Is enim ex  <et ♂> per
Venerem frigidam <in solutione sicca> fermentatis et o per um calefacto, extrahit 
lunarem, eiq{ue} deinde <per solutionem humidam> adjungit  solarem ex ♀, et in eo
decoquit auro calcinato extrahit et salem ex auro <et ♀> calcinatis extractum.

{7r}
{Po}nitur38 igitur Arsenicum, Auripigmentum, Zandarich pro
et <♂,  et >
nostro junctis & simul {su}blimatis39 id est pro sale albo naturæ <seu materia lapidis>.
[Arsenicum.] Raymundi40 practica p. 152. Arnald in Th. Ch. v 4 p <Clangor p 333 l. 13.
Rosar p. 158> Rosar Arnald. p 280. Flammel annot. p. 788. <l. 123. Ars. et Orp.>
Laurent. Ventura in Th. Ch. v. 2. p 223, 224, 243, 244. Speculum Alch <Arsen> Arnold.
in Th. Ch. v 4 p <{534?}> 528. Ferrar <Arsen> p 34 & in Th. Ch. v 3 p 143.

Auripgmentum propter colorem magis denotat & marem <et rubeu{m}> et

Arsenicum  et Femina{m} <et album>. Ventura in Th. Ch. v. 2 p 224, 243, {???}

Auripigmentu{m} Zernich Arnol forte album rubicatum Arnold v 4 Th. Ch. p 524.

Arsenich Lapis perfectus primi ordinis Ripl. Epist p. 116.

Arsenicum pro Azoth quo laton lavatur Rosin ped Sar p 15 179.

Auripigmentum perfectum Turba p 41. Ar<n>old. Th. Ch. v. 4. p. 524 Desiderabili

v. 4 Th. Ch. p 721. Ripl v 4 Th. Ch. p 719.

Arsenicum masculus <ratione coloris et siccitatis> (idem cum plumbo <scil albo>) &
auripigmentum fæmina ratione caloris & humiditatis sc. spiritus rub. vel alb. Auror.
Consurg. p 138. Rosin {?} ad Eut. p 168
 Zandarich, Auripigmentum, <æs> fæmina cum plumbo [albo] masculo miscenda.
Rosin ad Eut. p. 168 Turba p. 7 l 1, 14

Auripigmentum sptus rubeus, Scala. p 87 l 36, 39 Morien p 35. Allegor in Turb p. 79 l

34, 35, 38, 40.

Zandarich {?} plumbum album <ex Auro> Rosin ad Sarant. l 2 p 187. Artef. p. 7 Turb
{?} in v 5 Th. Ch p 37 <39>

Auripigmentum plumbum album <ex corporò41 perfecto solis> Rosin ad Sar. p 187.
Allegor in Turb. p 62, <v. 5 Th. Ch. Turba ib p.> 37, 39

42
Basiliscus, {???} magnetica sulphur <aliq{ue} vermes venenosi> ratione nutrimenti
et infectionis pro sulphure ponitur Nam si aut Basiliscus nutriri dicitur per diversum
cibum et potum donec adolescat magnus fiat et maturus dein moritur et ex ejus pulvere
fiunt miracula sic <sal fixum> nutritur per aqua{m} permanentem donec magnus
{???} & fluxibilis sit, dein moritur & {??} in pulverem mirificum convertitur. Et sicut
Basiliscus suo flatu et odore inficit animalia sic <odor> corporis magnesiæ {??} cito
perficit  et de natura sua in naturam alienam subito mutat. Vnde Morienus: scito quod
terra fœtida cito recipit scintilulas albas. Aurora consurg. p 134. Ferrar p. 55.

Ideoq{ue} Reg ♂ quia hoc Chaos in Gr. dicitur Chaos. <et tota materia ante putrefacti
43 44
æs & Venus & id est sulphura quatuor> et 4 metalla dicuntur fratres et 4
45
Elementa ( ) et magnesia di dicuntur etiam æs et Venus id est (
46 47
) et magnesia dicitur quadricorporea ( et  (ne hunc omittas dicitur
Deorum maximus <& Deus aeris et Cœli> & Saturnus Iove devorato putrescit Corpus
magnesiæ ex quatuor compositum elementis corporalibus. Magnesia <id est Italicum
{stannum?} > corpora circumplectitur Flammel annot p 778 Venus sunt quatuor corpora,
et Veneris quadricorporea natura per Magnesiam ostenditur & gubernatur et hæc Venus
id est corpus non tingit nisi tingitur ib p. 783. Quatuor corpora tinguntur et non tingunt.
Magnesia dealbata (id e. tota compositio per sublimationem <foliata>) non sinit corpora
frangi. ib. p 784. Serpens devorat Cadmum cum socijs Æris corpus Magnesiâ regitur, &
argentum vivum habet quatuor in se & aqua sulphuris dicitur et sulphura continet. Sunt
autem sulphura animæ occultæ in quatuor elementis, quæ per artem extractæ seinvicem
continent naturaliter & conjungunt.

{8r}
Kuhul, Alcool {???} pulvis <niger seu putridus vel spiritus ex putredine exctractus>
subtilis & spiritualis, lapis plumbum tam nigrum quam album, est {???} Materia <&
maxime nigrum> Latona tam {?} nigra dealbanda quam dealbata. Est enim <plumbum
nigru{m}> nigredo saturnia Turba p. 31 & Turba in V 5 Th. Ch. p. 18, 42. Allegor.
sapient p 6448, 74. Cax49 <nigra> imbibenda Th C corpus <calx assata corpus magn. in
quo arg. vivi figi debet> Turba in V 5 Th. Ch p 9, 36. Lapis ex quo fit plumbum nostrum
[sc album] in aceto coquendum Turba p 8 & Turba in V 5 p 14. Materia <tota> in statu
dealbandi seu tr seu {nigrend?} <seu transeundi ab nigredine ad albendinem> Flammel
cap. 5 <Aqua sulphuris auripigmentum &c> Sulphur album Turba p 27, 28, & <77> Turb
in Th. Ch v 5 p 37.

{8v}
-- & aqua reguntur et mundantur et sibi invicem occurentes <obviantes> lætantur. Sed
hæc quatuor non tingunt sed quiintum [i.e. fermentum] ipsa] tingit. Qua Propterea dicunt
Philosophi: quatuor numeri vulgi non tingunt nisi æs, quod æs tinctum postea tingit (i.e.
fermenta) nummos vulgi Turba p. 27. Omnis tinctura debet habere ingredientem lapidem
ex eoq{ue} constare quem vult tingere Exercit. 4 in Turb. p. 104. Ex Metallis est introitus
et secretum artis est metalla permiscere Trevisan. Serpens devorat Cadmum cum socijs
50
Introit apert p. 6, {?} Marrow of Alk. <pat51 1> p 69 <pag 52
comment in Rip
Port. p. 53.> dein et pugna finita fæcibus <ad candorem lunarem> ablutus, stella apparet
ex terra, sed hæc terra non amalgamatur cum  nisi mediatione columbarum Dianæ Mar
of Alk. part 2 p. 5, 6. & part 1 pag 69. Vide etiam Si ex septem metallis   ♂ ♀ ♂  ☼
 vel unum desit, non aperitur sigillum sapientum Minschict53 in Testamento p. 477,
478. <Mercurius noster est omnia metalla> Ideoq{ue} Philosophi loquuntur in plurali
numera metalla metallorum metallis. Arca p. 305. Et compositio etiam ante
putrefactionem Chaos dicitur Arcan Grassæus in Epistola p. 541. Et ius vocat <noster
est> flos{??} ex septem radijs {sectans?} Seu Arca p 324. Occultæ naturæ mysterium p
532. Metalla secretum naturæ clausum {???} & in seipsis incarceratum tenent suntq{ue}
chaos nigrum & menstruum <metallicum est quod> ex hoc chao destillatur. Metalla
{???} hæc sunt <metallicum est>  quo <utiq{ue}> huc arti maxime favet,  <item>
junctus cum Lunaria sui generis, <&> Venus etiam cum filio cupidine &c. Bloomfield p.
312, 313, 314. Lapis n{ost}er ex 7 lapidibus extrahitur quoru{m} duo præcipui sunt ♂ et

. Arcan Hermet p 40. Regulus ♂is est Chaos nostru{m}. Introit apert p Philaletha
pas{sim?}54 id est Chaos ingreditur. Venus <in reti> est unicum medium conjungendi
55
hunc {?} Reg cum  Mar of Alk part 1 pag Venus cum hoc regulo conjungitur ut
56
unicum medium inter ipsum et . Marrow of Alk. part 1. pag & part 2 pag
Iupiter <ne hunc omittas deus maximus dicitur. Hic enim & Deus aeris et plumbum
57
album> {?} a  devorandus est ut materia putrescat Ib. part pag & Snyders
& Basilius Ideoq{ue} {??} de plumbum album est  imperium adeptus <ideoq{ue} hic
est columbarum una.> Grassæus primu{m} operatus est in mineris <solis> tanq{uam}
præst mollisimis & spiritu plenissimis <& ex ipsis salem naturæ præparavit> (pag. 298)
{???} postea didic sed erravit in <materia et> prima compositione dicitq{ue} quod
tinctura ex spiritibus faciolior <parata et proximior> ex corporibus difficilior (p 298) at
postea defectum deprehendit circa materiam solutionem primam & veram compositionem
p 338 quo nam in via humida (i.e. quæ cum sale (i.e. salissima) sal naturæ non præparatur
sed Chaos Philosophicum sive materia nostra statim absq{ue} ulla re addita per se in
aquam alem a his convertitur idq{ue} per contrarias operationes. p 541. Marrow of Alk
part 2 pag.

58
Hermes cap. Snyders. Basil valentin Novum lumen. c 10. Abrahamus per
crucem in qua serpens occiditur, perq{ue} {?} <4 tres> infantes cæsos <& regis
gladium> intelliget 4 metalla ideq{ue} Flamellus ponit tres infantes pater gladi Hermes
dicit lapidem esse de cavernis metallorum & Venerem Iovemq{ue} nomineat.
{Corsufle?}59 <est album naturæ est enim> quod in  coquitur {???} & imbibendo
dealbatur Turba p. 18. Caput operis nota initium sed post complexum, totum compositum
quod oportet septies assari et tunc omne corpus tingit & vocatur flos æris, flos auri flos
ferri et mille nominibus i.e. album Turba p 19 media substantia sublimata, ex corpore
et aqua constans, corporale et spirituale compositum, Zanderic, Camber, Ethelia,
Duenech bonus, aqua permanens <qua ☼ et  tinguntur> Artef. p. 7. Æs tingens, colla
auri marmoris splendor Ethelia auripigmentum randerich, argentum vivum ex omnibus
extractum, dealbatum quod assimilatur marmoris splendori. Turba p 29 Materia quæ
post <composita quæ quæ in transitu a in alteratione imbibendi ac dealbandi post
nigridinem> nigredinem {???} albedinem quæ dealbatur dicta Bonitis Cambar Duenech,
Kukul, Taabritis, Ebiseneth, Alber æris, Randerich, Flammel quam dealbare oported60
Flammel c. 5

61
Inseratio in decoctione vel fit in principio decoctionis per imbibitionem cum parva
quantîtate spiritus ut supra (Philal in Ripl. port. p 180) vel est materiæ liquefaction <&
ablutio> post nigredinem (Flammel annot p. 770 {?}) ({???}) vel liquefactio ejus
inspissatio in {???} {???}bationis Latona horum nativitatis & <principio> congelationis
lunaris. (Theat Ch. v. 2 p 274, 276) {?} vel ejus liquefactio in transitu ab albedine ad
rubedinem Artef. p 5 l. 12. Philal in Ripl port p 61, 62, 180, 365.

Th Kuhul, {pl?} lapis ex quo fit plumbum nostrum in aceto coquendum Turba p 8. v 5 p
14. Sulphur, calx, alumen ex ponus, sputum Lunæ, sputum incombustibile <{in?} > Turb
62
p 27 aqua sulphuris aqua ardens. Tur. p. 27. {consul be?} sulphur cum
sublimatum, arg. vivum Cambar arg. vi. auripigmentum, Zendrio Ebineseth (i.e.
63
plumbum album T. p 28. 77. v 5 p. 37 Nigredo de Kuhul ib p 31. Kukel colore
64
Tyriò Turb. p 84 Kuhul, Corpus magnesiæ & quod non comburitur in quo
arg. vivum coagulatur Turb in v 5 Th Ch. p. 9. Kuhul nigredine coopertum deibus 40 p.
18. Nigredo Kuhul p. 42. Kenkel Tyrio colore p 46. Terra nigra <denigrata> ut Kuhul p
74. Corpus magnesiæ in quo arg. viv. constringitur. Corpus Kuhul, sputum Lunæ, sulphur
incombustibile calx axata, alumen ex pomis ib p 36 {???} Korpus mortuum & nigrum ut
Kuhul, magnesia, Kuhul, plumbum magnetis Saturnius. p 64.

{9r}
 Lullius65 in prædictis destill præ destillationibus quibus anima extrahitur et corpus
calcinatur, utitur tribus ignis gradibus. Primus destillat aquam in B.M.66 donec venæ
cessent, dein mutat Recipiens et destillat aerem in cineribus et ultimo intendit ignem ad
destillandum <Olem Oleum &> elementum ignis <Terram verò in ultimis suis
calcinationibus majori igne indigere dicit67> Et in separatione elementorum auri utitur
destillationibus 15 <vel 20> vel pluribus {?} ad extractionionem68 aeris, et adhuc pluribus
<puta 30 vel 40> ad extractionem ignis et <in singulis destillationibus> ubi aerem
destillavit mutat Recipiens69 & apposito parvo Recipiente destillat oleum <incerativum>
cum igne, mixtum quod oleum pretiosissimum habetur & pro inceratione medicinæ
servatur. {?} In Experimentis autem uti Ad extractionem animarum utitur digestionibus
<quandoq{ue}> horarum tantum 24. Alij utuntur digestionibus dierum <quandoq{ue}
dierum duoru{m} vel trium> duorum vel trium.70

Præcedentia omnia fieri debent a71 cum igne valde lento et naturæ hujus materiæ
accepto et grato ne virtus spiritus et anima vel mercurij comburatur. Alioqui de toto hoc
Magisterio actum esset. Nam b72 spiritus si combustus fuerit corpus suum postea non
intrabit nec vivificabit. Si elementa comburuntur effectu et commodo privantur

Præstat73 verò Oleum incerativum in idem Recipiens cum aqua et aere destillare &
postea separare per destillationem ut supradictum est. Nam spiritus qui ultimo <& cum
forti calcinatione> exhalant, siccitate sua et ignea substantia a Recipiente exirent in auras
nisi aqua humida in Recipiente contenta ipsos cohiberet & retineret & in aquam
converteret. quod est in arte nostra secretissimum etsi leve et triviale videatur.

Dicunt74 aliqui quod in fine destillationis post abstractionem ignis ascendet sal quidam
volatilis in forma fumi albi & ad latera vasis adhærebit. Siquis ascenderit ablui debet
cum spiritu & cum igne conjungi
 In calcinatione materiæ <nostræ>, porositas <ejus> conservari debet. nam si non esset
porosa75 lac ejus virgineum nullum in illam haberet ingressum. Conservabitur autem
porositas si physicè aquosam humiditatem & corrumpentem sulphureitatem separes per
calcinationem nostram. Vulgaris calcinatio chymica fit cum magno labore per ignes
magnos seu aquas fortes quæ porositatem destruunt: nostra verò sine magna vi flammæ &
valde facilè cum igne leni qui tam naturalis est ut physicè calcinet materiam nostram &
illam non immutet, nec virtutem seminum generantium evertat sed porositatem conservet.
Si materia nostra in vulgarium chymicorum igne esset, nostri flores qui facillimè mutari
& alterari possunt totaliter vastarentur imò corpus materiæ nostræ Vim ignis illorum non
sustineret sed in brevissimo tempore consumeretur et in natura sua intrinseca adeo
corrumperetur ut post destructionem virginei sui seminis materiæ planè infructuosa
mansura esset.

{9v}
Si separatio elementorum non bene succedit, commiscenda sunt omn{ia}76 et iterum
putrefacienda <& separanda>. Lull. Codicill. p. 127

{10r}
Water is yt genus generalissimum, or all-inclusive upon wch the spirit of God moved in
production of matter for creation of the several species. And if we consider a right of the
operation of nature we shal find fermentation to be the instrument of life evidenced in all
production & more intelligibly demonstrable to us in the circulation of our blood by the
fermentation of the acid & the alkali, being the water or humidum radicale wch when
vivified by its acid or viz the cœlestial influence is become the humidum or  of nature
as not only the subject matter of all beings but the very nutriment it self ffor all beings are
preserved by that of wch they were at first made. Now upon farther observation we find
this Alkalie & acid in their operation together to produce a salt as ye third principle, the
domicil of nature & that wherein is included the three principles & the four elements. ffor
in the anatomie of this salt, we find a water, a spirit a77 tincture & an earth. The water is
the subject upon wch by the operation of the celestial influence by putrefactive union this
water, this spirit, this influence by putrefactive union makes salt; & this is an every days
demonstration & made appear in the fermentation of water or other juces from wch by art
are produced spirits tinctures & salts, & this nature likewise teacheth when we see in the
putrefaction of water agitated by the power of celestial influence or of nature a
sulphureous odour to ensue & that a sediment then falls down being the limus of
production, wherein lieth hid, as a snake in the grass this great & hidden mystery. It is
therefore no wonder that Ph{ilosoph}ers in their advice lay before us the rule of nature in
obteining the great secret both for medicine & transmutation. And if I may have the
liberty of expression give me leave to assert as my opinion that it is effectual in all the
three kingdoms & from every species may be produced when the modus is rightly
understood: only mineralls produce mineralls & sic de cæteris

But the hidden & secret modus is Clissus Paracelsi wch is nothing else but the
separation of the principles, their purification & reunion in a fusible & penetrating fixity

{11r}
In ye first copy of Turba <printed> in Ars Aurifera <pag 36> the first two first works
are thus described Iungite <primò> novem partes aquæ <de auto> cum calefacit vas &
iterum novem partes cum calefactum est vas apponite. p 36. Socrates in Turba p 8
speaking of ye Imbibitions of the second work in a closed vessel <for obteining the Terra
alba foliata> saith Tente ipsum aceto acerrimo centum quinquaginta diebus caventes ne in
fumum vertatur acetum & pereat. Hoc cognito quod demonstravi, nihil aliud est quam
Opus mulierum & Ludus puerorum. And Belus in Turba p 9, 10 speaking of ye same
imbibitions concludes thus. Hoc regimine spiritus in corpora et corpora in spiritus
vertuntur. Moneo tamen caveatis ne compositum fumiget et fugiat. Propterea vas bene
operite & invenietis arcanum quod philosophi in suis libris occultarunt.

Pandulphus in Turba p 11 thus describes the composition {?} <of the second work
with the> imbibitions of ye 2d & 3d work. <Scitete quod> Aqua permanens est aqua vitæ
munda & quod nullum venenum tingens generatur absq{ue} sole et ejus umbra. Qui enim
sapientum venenum sole et ejus umbro [i.e. Sole et Luna] tinxit ad maximum pervenit
arcanum. Si id intellexistis, o Turba, bene quidem: sin autem, operis vobis perfectionem
reitero. Accipite <[spiritum]> album mundum quod maximu{m} est arcanum

{12r}
There are 3 humidities in all compositions <[called the 3 principles, salt & ]>, the 1st
is Elementary united in every body united wth earth, This earth & water united (i.e. fixt
salt) are ye vessel of <in wch> ye other elements in wch are enclosed vizt ye fire in ye earth
& ye air in ye water. They are permanent in all things & even in their ashes & in ye fixt
salt drawn from thence & in glass made thereof & they are named the body by
Ph{ilosoph}ers because they give corporeity to all their natures. The 2d humidity is
called radical. Tis aereal volatil & inflammable Some small part of it remains in ye ashes
but it is wholy dissipated in vitrification Before its congelation it was ye vapour of ye
elements of an etheral nature. In every composition it takes ye form of oyle having in
animals ye form of grease in vegetables the form of oyle in minerals ye form of sulphur.
In this humidity consists ye form true subject of all alterations, & the foundation of all
generations, & the vertue of the compound wch is vigorous or languid according to ye
abundance or defect of this humidity In it is nature shut up & conserved. It is ye true
sperm of things in wch resides the seminal point The 3d liquor is alimentary, the Mercury
vegetable. Tis volatile & the first that abandons the body, & being a vapour very subtile
& spiritual it penetrates ye body & <as water> preserves it from burning, the dissolvent of
nature causing corruption & blackness by its humidity & <the> acidity wch it has
contracted in a mineral body. Tis very acid & sharp & ye <true> author of all motion Tis
compared to a menstruall. Its vertue is great beyond expression tho it be <of its self> very
imperfect crude & vile. p 115, 116, 117, 118, 119. 120, 121.

445) 5760 (130 - 35/44½ = 130 - 50/89 = 12939/89 =1294/9 = 1297/16.

1335 131
- 15

Of ye 4 mercuries p. 122 &c

 Impurities78 hinder ye <perfect> union of ye 3 principles, whence iron is less perfect
<& united> tho more coct then silver, & ☼  &  vulgar <being freest from impurities>
are of ye strongest & most united composition & iron tho more coct then Silver is yet less
perfect & united <or more79> being more feculent & {there?} <the other metals being
feculent & less coct are still more open p 156, 157> & therefore our matter in wch ye 3
principles are least united ought to be the most feculent of minerals

And ffor <by> impurities <the> hinder ye union of ye80 3 principles <are kept open &
ununified> so yt <they> are found more open in iron yn in silver tho iron be more coct &
most open in ye 1st matter. & most shut & united in Gold &  {???} <& when they are
more open they are more> easily separated by putrefaction. p 156, 157, 158.

Every body according to its species conteins its own seed wch <seed> is not found in
divers things & our body the true gold of ye wise conteins all things necessary to ye art p.
148, 14<9>

The feminine sperm is sharp & pontic p 161, 223

Vulgar ☼ &  are not at all fit for our work because they want a thing wch is absolutely
necessary in our art that is a proper Agent. I speak not of ye internal agent or solary
sulphur but of ye external wch excites ye internal & leads it from potentia to act. This
agent leaves gold in ye end of its coction, (as is described in Margarita pretiosa). And so
Zachary disputes <says> well that vulgar argent vive wants this agent & Bernard
exclude81 metalls alone that is metals deprived of this agent as is explained in Arca
arcanorum aperta p 162, 163, 164 Therefore vulgar ☼ &  ought not to enter ye
Ph{ilosoph}ic work neither in whole nor in part. ib. All the metals have this spirit or
agent in ye mines except ☼ wch it forsook in its final decoction &  to wch it was never
joyned {catchword: but} {12v} but in fusion they lose it p 166, 167.

Metals are thus generated of & . The vapour of ye Elements wch is very pure &
almost insensible & conteins in it ye spirit of fire or light wch is ye form of ye Vnivers, &
being so impregnated wth ye spirit of ye Vnivers represents ye first Chaos conteining all
things necessary to ye creation that is ye matter universal & form universal. And in
descending & becoming sensible it first puts on ye body of ye air wch we breath &
becomes enclosed in it to nourish & vivify all nature, & that it may act more easily upon
{?} the grosser bodies of vegetables & minerals it <becomes still denser &> next
insinuates its self into <the> water. This water is dispersed through all nature & becomes
something saline & upon new occasions becomes <commotions <of ye Elemts> or
fermentations caused by yt of the air> rarefies by ye action of ye included vapour of ye
Elements & this aquous & mercurial vapor meeting with sulphureous vapours they mix &
curculate82 together in ye matrix of ye saline water, & being unable to get out of it they
joyn wth the salt of this water & put on ye form of a lucid earth wch is properly the Vitriol
of nature. ffor vitriol is nothing else then a salt in wch are shut up the spirits mercurial &
sulphureous & there is nothing in nature wch conteins those the sulphur so plentifully &
visibly as vitriol & whatever is of ye nature of Vitriol. p. 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172,
173. ffrom these vitrioliq{ue} waters by a new commotion <of ye Elements> (or
fermentation) caused by yt of ye air, ascends a new vapor neither mercurial nor
sulphureous but of ye nature of both. & in ascending carries up with it some part of ye salt
but the most pure <&> lu{???}83 & accordinly84 as it settles in places more or less pure &
dry or most85 & joyns with various substances it engenders divers sorts of minerals. If
this double vapour comes to a place where ye fat of sulphur adheres they unite & make a
glutinous substance from whence by the action of the upon ye humid vapor a metal is
formed. If <both> ye pla<c>es & vapors are pure this metal will be gold from wch ye
proper agent will separate in ye end of ye decoction. But if ye decoction is not perfected
nor ye sulphur <wholy> separated there will be engendred divers imperfect metals
according to ye various impurity of ye vapour & of ye place. Vulgar Quicksilver is also
engendred of this vapour when in its ascent the proper agent or spirit is evaporated by too
suddein a motion as happens to ye spirit of ye other metals in fusion. p 173 174 175.
Whence it appears how far off is {vitriol?} in ye generation of metals & how they are
illuded who work upon it as the true matter of ye stone in wch ye metalliq{ue} essence
ought to reside p 176. One sees also that metals whilst in their mines have their proper
agent, but by fusion lose it & then are not to be wrought upon. And if you take the oars of
Metals they have many impurities in separating of wch you will lose their spirit or agent.
You must therefore take another subject prepared by nature, concerning <of> wch we will
treat in an express chapter as clearly as is possible. p <176> 177 178.

The mines are cold as to sense. Yet minerals continue in their motion of grow86
vegetatin growing. ffor nature uses another sort of heat, a warmth of ye nature of spirits
wch are always in motion & by motion have {always?} a <an innate> faculty of warming.
You must not use corrosive liqu waters for your dissolving <metals & other matters> but
ye same fire wch nature uses wch must be well acuated to render it more active & more
agreable to ye nature of ye compound. Its construction is very ingenious & therein
consists almost the whole philosophical secret, philosophers having said nothing or but
very little thereof.

{13r}
Arsenicum Philosophorum est sulphur <sublimatum> album eorum & Auripigmentu{m}
est sulphur rubeum eorundem, pars figenda sola coctione. Dum enim sal metallicum
solutione sua et purificatione in altum sublimatur ut in siccitate sua melius vindicetur ab
excrementis, albedine præcellit & tinctura volatili ita ut Arsenicum commune & vulgare
imitetur, ideò nuncupatur Arsenicu{m}. Idem de auripigmento Philosophorum dicendum
est censemus cùm pars ad {?} rubeam tincturam destinata & ex auro communi extracta,
dum aqua nostra volatili volatilis fit & auripigmenti colorem acquirit auripigmentum
dicitur cum aliquæ ratione auripigmenti sequatur naturam. Humido enim pingui aeris et
aquæ constat & venenatam habet qualitatem. Hæc enim materia cruditate sua et
imperfecta coctione venenum summum est & perinde a Philosophis omnibus venenum
nuncupatur. Quod iden de Arsenico nostro dicendum est. Faber Panchym. p 579.

Non tædeat te multoties imbibere quia corpus nisi cum mercurio sit incorporatum non
ascendit sursum. Hanc sublimationem autem facimus ut corpora redigantur in suam
materiam primam scilicet in mercurium et sulphur. Fecimus ergo hanc sublimationem
tribus de causis Vna est quia corpus fit spiritus de subtili materia et natura: secunda est
quod Mercurius se bene incorporet cum calce: tertia est quod totum sumat colorem album
vel <&> rubeum. Idcirco quando calx sublimatur ad album Lunam debet esse alba &
mercurius [quo imbibitur] similiter albus: et calx quando sublimatur ad Solem debet esse
rubea et mercurius similiter rubeus igne calefactus & debet esse pulvis inceratus quia non
bene operatur aliquis ad solem nec ad Lunam nisi tali modo. Et cum mercurio quem
sublimas ad Lunam non commisceas ullam rem quia solis calor non intrat ad Lunam nec
Luna ad Solem. Non mittas ergo mercurium rubeum ad album nec album ad rubeum sed
pone unamquamq{ue} speciem cum sua specie & pone ad ignem accensum & sublima
totum. Et non misceas illud quod remanet deorsum cum illo quod ascendit sursum sed
pone unumquodq{ue} ad partem: quoniam quod in fundo remanet reiterabis ad
sublimandum per Mercuriale incorporamentum donec ascenderit totum: alioquin non
ponas ipsu{m} in magisterium. Alembicum in quo sublimas mercurium sit vitreum et
cucurbita terrea vitreata cujus os fundi sit amplu{m} quòd possit mercurius ascendere
liberius. Alembicum vero cum cucurbita debet jungi ita quod Mercurius non possit exire
quia non sublimatur mercurius nisi per fumositatem aeris. Ideo si locum invenerit
apertum, evolaret in fumum & deperiret Magisterium Vide ergo quod diximus quoniam
omnia verba necessaria sunt et laude digna. Hæc ergo sufficiant ad complementum
sulphuris albi et rubei. Arnold. Th Rosar Lib. 2. cap. 18. pag. 282. Et Rosar. p. 222.

Hæc scientia eligit aurum pro patre et argentum pro matre. Quia de istis duobus
corporibus in eorum sulphure et arsenico præparatio nostra medicina elicita est et
elucidata. De auro tanqua{m} omnium pretiosissimo metallorum ergo tinctura est
rubedinis tingens {catchword: et transformans}{13v} et transformans omne corpus ad
perfectam claritatem: argentum verò est albedinis tinctura imperfecta claritate omne
corpus tingens Cum istis corporibus misce mercuriam non tamen talem sicut est
communis, Nam argentum vivum in sua natura non est miscibile cum corporibus.
Raymund Theor. cap 17 p 29, 30.

Aqua foliata est aurum Philosophorum quod Hermes vocavit ovum habens multa
nomina. Mundus inferior est corpus et cinis combustus ad quem reducunt animam
honoratam. Et cinis combustus et anima sunt aurum sapientum quod seminant in terra sua
alba foliata benedicta sitiente quam nominavit terram foliorum & terram argenti et terram
auri. Per omnia illa intendunt corpus suum calcinatum & dealbatum. Ista aqua triplex est
sol cum duobus radijs et sol cum uno radio, qui est unum in quo sunt tria videlicet aqua
aer et ignis. Et terra nigra existens inferius est mundus inferior ex duobus permixtis et
temperatis corporibus. Senior p. 22, 23.

Elementorum duo sunt lapidea ignis et terra et duo aquatica aer et aqua. Aquam autem
extrahes ex substantia humida aerem verò et ignem ex substantia sicca. De terra autem
non cures ex qua sit substantia dummodo sit fina. Nam terra et ignis aerem bibunt et
desiccant & figunt, aqua vero et aer terram et ignem abluunt tingunt et perficiunt. Idcirca
oportet ut sit aqua multa et oleum multum quoniam multitudo tincturæ tanta erit quanta
multitudo olei fuerit. Igitur paulatim solvitur lapis in mercurium & in quatuor divibitur
elementa ut habeatur materia prima. Deinde abluitur cacinatur & lavatur & tandem
sublimatur ut materia attenuata magis depuretur & totum hoc attenuatum ut sulphur et
argentum vivum munda habeantur super terra{m} de illa materia de qua aurum et
argentum efficiebantur subtus terram. Rosar. abbr. Tract 2. pag 654 655.

Imbibe terram <paulatim> cum aqua de octo diebus in octo dies. {???} Item coque
terram in aere ut bibat de illo conformiter sicut fecit de aqua sua prædicta. Fiat hoc sæpe
quousq{ue} biberet de aere quantitatem aquæ humatæ & semper per octo dies coque et
calcina suaviter. Si verò volueris operari ad rubedinem &c Rosar. abbr Tract 3. p. 657.

Tractatus quartus. Rosarij abbreviati pag 660, 661 docere videtur terram albam
foliatam in duas partes dividere et unam partem servare pro opere albo & aliam quæ pro
opere rubro est imbere cum {???} <aqua> rubra & coagulare dein apponere ipsi ignem
lapidis rubeum & iterare imbibitionem & assationem multoties quousq{ue} siccum sit87
et rubeum & sublimare quousq{ue} totum (secunda vel tertia si non prima vice)
ascenderit rubeum in colore {et?} usifur.

Elementa duo sicca dura et lapidea ignis nempe et terra quia in siccitate concordant
insimul præparari possunt quoniam unam habent præparationem. Conjunge ergo
grossitiem ignis cum terra post aeris abstractionem & præpara insimul propter temporis
abbreviationem & etiam ut bona sit eorum commixtio & non confundatur præparatio &
unus alium bene tingat & ne urantur super ignis pugnam. Vnde præparare eos insimul est
magis salvum et magis tutum propinquum. Rosar Arnaldi p. 278. Aristot p. 236 & Rasis
88
apud Aristot ib. Raymund Cold. p. 145. Bacon p. 278. Accipe ergo elementa terræ &
ignis, conjunge et tere & calcina bene accenso igne. Recipe caute aerem in illis manentem
quia ut dicit Rasis aer qui a terra tardius separatur, pretiosior habetur. Cum verò bene
fuerit calcinata et ab omni aere vacua erit coloris pallidi et habilis ad prægnationem. Si
vero spiritus in ea remanserit subnigra manebit et minus bene operationi convenit. Et ideo
dicit Plato, Oportet te pro {14r} posse tuo separationem elementorum exercere donec non
remaneat aliquid de spiritu in corpore nisi quod non sentiatur. & signum hujus erit cum
nihil a corpore evaporaverit. Tertius gradus notri operis est Divide ergo lapidem in
quatuor elementa, rectifica ea & conjunge in unum et totum habebis magisteriu{m}.
Tertius ergo gradus nostri operis est reductio. Nam corpus siccum et mundum est
congruum ad potandum quoniam omne siccum appetit suum humidum. Liga ergo mulieri
ablactanti manus post tergum ut non possit affligere filium, appone super manus ejus
bufonem ut ablactet eum donec moriatur & fuerit mulier mortua in igne, erit bufo grossus
de lacte. Pone ergo in vase suo terram superius calcinatam, superfunde aquam
rectificatam coque lento igne per hebdomade{m} & postea suaviter calcina decocta{m}
materiam. Sic jugiter facit donec terra exhauserit decuplum sui de aqua. Nam omnes res
aquam appetunt quoniam ipsa tam igni quam alijs rebus præstat alimentum et dignum
admiratione complectitur arcanum.

{15r}
Chap VII. p. 127. The Oracles answered by men speaking through long pipes &
ceased because the Romans did not frequent them wth gifts for maintaining the Priests.

ib p. 9 Ζευς a Ζεω ferveo. Mars a Ma-fors. Iupiter <Iovis>, Ιαω πατηρ <{???} Ιαωες>
Αρης Η'ρως.

Q? In the long way how much superior waters in every eagle.

 Q 2? In ye formation of ye body is ye lunar sublimate used wthout resublimation to take
away its corrosiveness.

Q. 3? after ye eagles are over, is the corrosive red heterogeneous spirit separated from
ye green Lyon or from ye black body. And at that time is any thing distilled from ye black
body after the Gr. Lyon is poured off.

Q 4? About ye separation of ye volatile sulphurs from ye red water. If the red water
was dryed upon ye Lunar sublimate would not the volatile sulphurs rise before ye subl. 2
would they remain in the bottom by a gentle evaporation?

Pref. p. 13, 14. Colchos not in the Archipellago nor an Island nor possest by ye ancient
Greeks

Answ 1 In ye long way the long way the superior waters of about 9 10 or 12
destillations about ½ the 20 distillations.) vizt so much as suffices to moisten ye earth.

A. 2. The lunar sublimate is used without resublimation in forming the body

A. 3. After ye Eggles89 in the short work is little or no red corrosive spt separable from
the Gr. Lyon: In the long work there is a great deal wch must be separated & not enter the
work any more but being diluted dropt into bear90 or wine is much more medicinal then
oyle of {vitriol?} <being an aurum potabile>. Nothing is distilled from ye black body
after ye gr. Lyon is poured off, but A. 491 in the end of the sublimation of ye bird of
Hermes something acid will arise wch may be put to the vinegar of ye 2d Chapter.

A 4. The volatile <coagulating> sulphurs are of ye same kind wth spirit of

salarmoniack & readily unite wth ye {vitriol?} & fix themselves upon it. They ascend &
go off in the destillation before the genuine spirit <of the inferior waters> begins to rise.
This spirit is of a vinous nature & destills in veins, so that it is easy to see when ye other
spirit is gone of & this begins to rise, vizt when about 1/3 of ye whole or a little above is
destilled off. If the salarmoniac spt be rectified nothing will remain behind but flegm. If
ye Inferior waters be destilled wthout taking the fire out of ye furnace both spirits will
come over together & leave insipid flegm behind them. Both spirits must The fire must
be taken out. The Lunar subl of Ch. 1 is cold & earthy. By resublimation from the red
earth it becomes hot & active & fiery so as to fume & fret & burn the flowers <of the
matter> unless cooled by a due proportion of ye inferior waters. In ye putrefaction it melts
into an oyle, & increases ye white oyle.

NB. 1. In the long work the red corrosive spirit wch distills at ye end of all the eagles
from ye green Lyon, is of a rough styptick {???} austere <binding> corrosiveness, &
being once separated from ye work must enter no more; the golden oyle wch destills
afterwards from ye putrefied body is more corrosive & fiery on ye tongue wth a very but
sweet wthout any roughness or austerity.

2 The matter grows more & more saline every eagle {???} & at length turns entirely to
a <clear> salt separable from the feces.

3. In the long work the matter at the end of every eagle is {??} three or four <or five>
days in destilling. It is destilled in <the> same earthen egg in wch it was digested. The
vinegar comes over first & then <rises> a vinous spirit & volatile salt wch sticks to ye
sides of ye {???} Receiver & is washed down by the vinous spirit.

4 When the inferior waters are poured upon the vitriolick salt they ferment together &
a froth rises upon the liquor to a great thickness like east.92 or Barm. In a vessel close shut
up they will not ferment. When this salt is dried & sublimed. It rises like mercury
sublimate & a great quantity of fex93 remains below, even more then in any other
operation. And this fæx burns like soot & yeilds a good quantity of fiery aluminous salt.

5. The black matter in the egg in the middle of ye 5t digestion tasted pungent not {???}
<corrosive> nor sweet but fiery & something sharp.
{15v}
The inferior waters after the coagulating salts & sulphurs are destilled from it are
<more> of an urinous nature then like any other salt & in some cases (as when poured on
94
) emit a spirit smelling like spirit of Vrin. But they are much more ponderous then urin.

In every eagle the matter & its spirits grow more & more ponderous to ye end of the
eagles & the red spirit grows more & more red.

In the end of every digestion, in destilling the {???} spirits from the e{blot}95 egg after
3 or 4 or perhaps 5 days destillation, when the white fumes begin to rise or fumes of the
green Lyon begin to rise, they will be apt to penetrate the lute & fill the room wth a
stinking scent. When you see this signe you must put an end to the destillation. And when
all is cold & ye destill green Lyon is poured off the matter black matter remaining in the
96
vessel should fill about part of ye Vessel.

In the first second & third eagles the fermentations are slower & last longer in the
following {four?} eagles they grow quicker & shorter. In the short work they are at ye
hight in ye first & second eagles in about 5 or 6 days, in ye 6t & 7th eagles in about 2 or 3
days. In the long work they last half as long again as in the short one. The digestions are
about 1½ or 2 times as long as the fermentations & last <last not only till the
fermentation is over but even> till the lunar sublimate {?} relents & resolves into an
oyle. ffor the lunar sublimate must oylify in every digestion, <& this oylification is the
rule to know how long the digestion must last.>

The white spirit is of a milky colour but more transparent. In the first Eagle tis almost
white like thin milk. In the following Eagles it grows yellower & yellower {??} & the
third & permanent menstruum is till97 yellower. But afterward when the matter by
putrefaction the white spirit is as white as snow leaving its yellowness behind wth the
body.98
 This last white spirit when congeales in cold & relents & melts in a gentle hea warmth
& so does the third & permanent menstruum. They are both universal dissolvents &
dissolve by penetrating without ebullition as mercury penetrates metals in amalgamation.

After <about> 7 or 8 Eagles when the matter begins to be ripe, if you drop a drop <of
the white spirit> into a silver spoon & heat the spoon, the spirit will soak into the spoon
& being evaporated leaves the silver black within & without in manner of a black spot
upon <in> ye spoon, & the like will happen to gold by the red spirit after you have the
three principles. This black spot in the silver spoon is the signe by wch you {???} may
know when your matter is sufficiently ripened by the eagles. ffor till it be so penetrant as
to dissolve silver it is not sufficiently ripe.

If when you have the three principles you dissolve one part of the lunar sublimate in
two parts of ye white spirit & digest them 40 days, the whole will become white spirit of
ten times more vertue then before except a very few <light> fæces. But this will not
happen till the matter is sufficiently ripened and acuated by the eagles.

If you dissolve one part of the red ea<r>th or ashes of the first work in two parts of the
red spirit & digest 40 days & destill: the whole, except a few feces, will ascend & be red
spirit of ten times more vertue then before. Thus may the white & red spirits be
multiplied in infinitum. ffor ye Philosophers tell you that Mercury being once dissolved
dissolves its self ever after in infinitum.
 Notes

1 Sic.
2 Altered (original illegible).
3 Sic, for 'Triomphe'.
4 Sic, for '[Hadrianus a] Mynsicht'.
5 Note in right margin: 'Faber Panchym. p. 691'.
6 Altered (original illegible).
7 Sic.
8 Altered from 'hic'.
9 f. 4 is blank.
10 Altered from 'Ex'.
11 Altered from '4'.
12 The manuscript is damaged at this point; the 'a' is missing.
13 Altered from 'est'.
14 Roughly two characters missing here due to manuscript damage.
15 The page number is not given.
16 Altered, probably from '4'.
17 Altered (original illegible).
18 The manuscript is damaged here; this reading is highly conjectural.
19 The whole of this paragraph has been struck through with a cross.
20 Note in left margin: '9, 10, 11, 12 19, 25, 27 38, {66?}, 69.
21 There is no obvious reason why this word has been left incomplete.
22 The remainder of this paragraph is marked for insertion further on in the text, and has
been transcribed there (from 'accendit et elementum' to 'ib p 12').
23 Sic, for 'philosophos'.
24 Sic.
25 The following passage, up to 'ib p 12', is an insertion from further up the page.
26 The letters 'cla' are supplied conjecturally; the original is lost through manuscript
damage.
27 A word missing here through manuscript damage.
28 Altered from 'sup'.
29 Altered (original illegible).
30 Spaces left blank in the manuscript.
31 A word missing here through manuscript damage.
32 Spaces left blank in the manuscript.
33 Sic, for 'magnetem'.
34 There is a hole in the manuscript separating 'hydro' from 'phobia', which explains the
hyphen.
35 Altered from 'hydrophobiam'.
36 Altered from 'quæ'.
37 This small cross is presumably intended as a form of 'NB' marker.
38 First two letters hidden by the binding.
39 First two letters hidden by the binding.
40 I.e. Ramón Lull or Raimundus Lullius.
41 Sic, though this should surely read 'corpore'; altered from 'corporibus'.
42 The remainder of this page is written upside down from the bottom of the page.
43 Space of about 16 characters left blank.
44 Space of about 5 characters left blank.
45 Space of about 16 characters left blank.
46 Space of about 30 characters left blank.
47 Space of about 24 characters left blank.
48 Altered from '74'.
49 Sic, presumably for 'Calx'.
50 Space left blank in the manuscript.
51 Sic, for 'par' or 'part'.
52 Space left blank in the manuscript.
53 Sic, for 'Mynsicht'.
54 Text supplied very conjecturally: the original is hidden by the binding.
55 Space left blank in the manuscript.
56 Spaces left blank in the manuscript.
57 Spaces left blank in the manuscript.
58 Spaces left blank in the manuscript.
59 An extremely conjectural reading: 'Corsufle' is certainly not a Latin word, but Newton
here begins using a wide variety of extremely arcane, non-Latinate alchemical code-
words.
60 Sic, for 'oportet'.
61 The remainder of this page is written upside down from the bottom of the page.
62 Space of about 12 characters left blank in the manuscript.
63 Space of about 14 characters left blank in the manuscript.
64 Space of about 14 characters left blank in the manuscript.
65 Note in left margin: 'Lul. exper 18, 21, 25, 34'.
66 I.e. 'Balneo Mariæ'.
67 Note in left margin: 'Codicil p. 118, 119.'.
68 Sic, for 'extractionem'.
69 Note in left margin: 'Codicil. p. 117, 123.'.
70 Sic: presumably the original 'duorum vel trium' should have been deleted. Note in left
margin: 'Exper p 199, 214 229, 249. 252 260, 262, 274, 286 301 Ars Intellect & Pract p
311'.
71 Note in left margin: 'a Elucid p. 236. Raymund. Codicill. p. 179 Aristot p. 234.'.
72 Note in left margin: 'b Raymund. Apertor. p. 186, 187,'.
73 Note in left margin: 'Faber. Panchim. p. 718, 717, 670'.
74 The whole of this paragraph is struck through with a cross. Deleted note in left
margin: 'Instructio de arbore solari'.
75 Note in left margin: 'Instructio de arbore solari p 184, 185, 186.
76 Two letters concealed by the binding.
77 Altered, probably from '&'.
78 This and the following paragraph are struck through with a cross.
79 Sic: it appears the insertion has been left incomplete.
80 Sic.
81 Sic, presumably for 'excludes'.
82 Sic, presumably for 'circulate'.
83 Something has been spilled on the manuscript rendering the rest of this word wholly
illegible: 'lucid' seems a plausible conjecture.
84 Sic.
85 Sic, presumably for 'moist'.
86 Sic.
87 Altered from 'est'.
88 Short space left blank in the manuscript.
89 Sic.
90 Sic.
91 This is at the beginning of the line: it appears Newton had been going to start a new
'Answer' and then decided to add the sentence beginning 'Nothing is distilled' to Answer
3.
92 Sic, pesumably for 'yeast'.
93 I.e. fæx ('dregs'), as Newton spells it a little further on.
94 Space of about 25 characters left blank in the manuscript.
95 This probably read 'egg' originally.
96 Space of about 8 characters left blank in the manuscript.
97 Sic, obviously for 'still'.
98 It seems that one or more words have been omitted from this sentence.