,,the ,,golden ,,calf1 ,which the ,,world ,,adores1 and ,,desires3 ,in which is handled ,the most rare and ,incomparable ,wonder of ,nature1 ,in ,transmuting ,,metals2 ,,viz4 ,how the intire ,substance of ,lead1 was in one ,moment ,transmuted in ,gold-,obrizon1 with an exceeding small particle of the true ,philosophick ,stone4 ,at the ,hague4 ,in the ,year #afff4 ,written in ,latin by ,john ,frederick ,helvetius1 ,doctor and ,practitioner of ,medicine at the ,hague1 and faithfully ,englished4 ,london1 ,printed for ,john ,starkey at the ,mitre in ,fleetstreet near ,temple-,barr1 #afgj4 ,to the most ,excellent ,d4 ,,theodorus ,,ketjes1 by his many ,peregrinations1 a most famous ,phisician1 and an happy ,practitioner of ,medicine at ,amsterdam1 ,one of my ,intimate ,friends4 ,,also1 ,to the most ,noble1 most ,excellent1 and most ,experienc'd1 and ,accurate ,searchers into the ,vulcanian ,anatomy1 ,d4 ,,john ,,casparus ,,fausius1 ,counsellor1 and ,chief ,physician of the most ,serene ,elector ,palatine of ,,heidelberg4 ,,and ,d4 ,,christian ,,mentzelius1 ,principal ,physician in the ,court of the most ,serene ,elector of ,,brandenburg3 ,my ,reverend ,patrons1 and intire ,friends4 ,the ,epistle ,,dedicatory3 ,most ,noble1 most ,excellent1 most ,expert1 and most ,accurate ,inspectors of the ,vulcanian ,anatomy1 and my most real ,,friends4 ,although ,i neither was willing1 nor able to be wanting to my honoured ,friends1 yet would not divulge and bring to light the ,verity of the ,spagirick ,art1 but by this most precious1 and ,miraculous ,arcanum1 which ,i not only saw with these ,eyes1 but taking a little of the transmutatory powder1 ,i myself also transmuted an ,impure ,mass of ,lead volatile in the ,fire1 into fixed ,gold1 constantly sustaining every ,examen of ,fire3 in such wise1 as henceforth it can no more be suspected by any ,man1 no not by those1 who unto this day have perswaded themselves and others1 that this ,arcanum is given to no man3 but contrarily we were fully and indubitately perswaded1 that1 in things of ,nature1 ,the ,mercury of ,philosophers is ,primo-material1 and is like a ,fountain overflowing with wonderfull ,effects1 and those escaping every acuteness1 and ,light of ,human reprehensible ,reason1 as shall be evidenced in this my little work3 which ,i was willing to dedicate and consecrate to you1 my ,primary ,patrons1 as to most prudent ,masters1 and ,defenders4 ,yet in the mean while1 ,i pray consider1 that ,i have not writ to the end ,i would teach any one1 that ,art1 which ,i my self know not1 but only that ,i might recite the true ,process of this ,arcanum4 ,for1 what can more confirm1 and ,patronize ,verity1 than the true ,light of ,truth it self8 ,it is the property of ,brute ,animals to pass their life in ,silence1 and especially not to heed those things in them1 which do most of all look to1 and are required for the propagation of the ,glory of the most ,wise1 and most powerful ,,god our creator4 ,wherefore1 since it is a thing unworthy1 and to the ,divine ,majesty ungrateful1 for ,man1 who should be a ,consort of the ,divine ,nature1 to wax brutish with ,brutes1 ,i present to you1 my most faithful ,friends1 and ,patrons of this ,science1 this most rare ,history3 having as time1 and my ,ability would permit1 recollected all things1 and have faithfully commemorated them4 ,therefore1 omitting all paints1 and flourishes of ,rhetorical ,expressions1 ,i will forthwith betake my self to the discovery of all1 whatsoever ,i both saw1 and heard from ,elias the ,artist touching this4 ,for truly1 ,i was not so intimately familiar with him1 as that he should instruct me in the way of preparing the ,universal ,medicine1 after the ,method of ,physico-artificial ,chimistry3 yet he supplyed me with such ,reasons in the ,method of ,healing1 as ,i shall never be able to commend his worth with condigne ,praises4 ,therefore1 most curious ,favourers1 and true ,lovers of the ,chimical ,art1 accept of this little work1 as a mean ,gift1 or if you had rather1 peruse if only for recreation of the mind2 for in it ,i shall relate all things whatsoever1 that were discoursed of between him and me1 at several times3 humbly requesting1 that with the same benevolence you have received other of my small ,treatises1 you would also accept of this ,novel1 which ,i freely dedicate1 and officiously give to you1 for a motion1 and increase of ,admiration4 ,farewel1 avete1 favete4 ,your most humble ,john ,fredrick ,helvetius4 ,,chap4,i4 ,most ,excellent1 and ,prudent ,sirs4 ,before ,i enter upon the ,description of the ,philosophick ,,pigmy1 7in this little ,theatre of ,secrets7 overcoming and subduing ,,giants1 ,i pray permit me here to use the words of ,vanhelmont1 taken out of his ,book ,de ,arbore ,vit1 fol4 #fcj4 and here ,transcribed4 ,i compelled to believe1 that there is an ,aurifick1 and ,argentick ,stone4 ,but 7,friend of the ,spagyrick ,art7 ,i am not ignorant1 that many have been found among the most wise1 yea among the exquisite ,chimists1 who have not only consumed their own ,goods1 but the ,goods of others also1 in this ,great ,vulanick ,secret1 as ,experience even at this very day sufficiently proves4 ,for we have seen1 the more is the pity6 how unwary ,chimists1 yea such as are more worthy1 than those who are called ,alchimists2 how1 ,i say1 they1 labouring simply1 are daily deluded with ,guile of this kind1 by ,diabolick1 ,aurifick1 and ,argentick ,suckgoods4 ,also ,i know1 that many ,stupid ,men will rise up1 and contradict the truth of my true ,experience1 touching the ,philosophick ,stone4 ,one will have it to be a work of the ,devil2 another affirms there is no such thing2 a third faith it is the ,soul of ,gold only1 and that with an ,ounce of that ,gold1 an ,ounce of ,lead1 and no more may be again tinged3 but this is repugnant to the ,attestation of ,kifflerus1 as ,i shall briefly commemorate2 a fourth believes the ,verity and ,possibility thereof1 but faith it is so chargeable1 as it will never quit ,cost2 with many other like ,allegations4 ,yet ,i wonder not at this1 for according to this ,saying1 ,quorum rationem non intelligimus1 miramur1 ,que vero pernoscere volupe est1 rimamur4 ,what we cannot attain to1 we admire1 ,but what to know is pleasing1 do desire4 ,how can a ,man1 fallen from the ,fountain of ,light1 into the ,abyss of ,darkness1 effect any thing to purpose1 in ,natural things1 especially when his ,wisdome in this natural ,philosophick ,study is barren and sophisticate8 ,it is1 for the most part1 proper to these ,fools and unapt men1 presently to contemn a thing1 not knowing1 that more are yet to be sought by them1 than they have the possession of4 ,therefore1 rightly saith ,seneca1 in lib4 de ,moribus3 ,thou art not yet happy1 if the ,rout deride thee not4 ,but ,i matter not1 whether they believe1 or contradict what ,i write1 touching the ,transmutation of ,metals4 ,i rest satisfied in this one thing1 which with my eyes ,i have seen1 and what with my hands ,i have done4 ,for what ,philosophers say of themselves1 ,i also have with my hands handled this ,spark of the ,eternal ,wisdome1 or this ,saturnine ,catholick ,magnesia of ,philosophers1 a ,fire of potency sufficient to penetrate ,stones1 yea1 a ,treasure of so great value1 as #bj ,tun of ,gold cannot exceed the price thereof4 ,what seek you8 ,i believe what ,i have seen with the eyes of ,thomas1 and handled as he1 7but in the nature of things only7 as well as the ,adept ,philosophers2 although in this our decrepit age of the world1 ,that be accounted a most ,secret ,hyperphysico-magical ,saturn1 and not known1 unless to some ,cabalistick ,christian only4 ,we judge him the most happy of all ,physicians1 who hath the knowledge of this pleasant ,medicinal potion of our ,mercury1 or of the ,medicine of the ,son of our ,esculapius resisting the force of death1 against which there is no ,panacea otherwise produced in ,gardens4 ,moreover1 the most wise ,,god doth not reveal his ,gifts of ,solomon promiscuously to all ,mortals4 ,they indeed seem strange to them1 when they behold a ,creature1 from the occult ,magnetick potency incited in it self1 deduced into art by its own like2 as for ,example3 ,in ,iron is a ,magnetick1 ingenited1 potential virtue from the ,magnet3 a ,magnetick virtue in ,gold from ,mercury3 a ,magnetick virtue in ,silver from ,venus1 or ,copper3 and so consequently in all ,metals1 ,minerals1 and ,stones1 ,herbs1 and ,plants1 c4 ,moreover1 ,i may properly qury1 which of the wisest ,philosophers is so ,sage1 as to be able to comprehend with the acuteness of his own most dextrous ingeny1 with what ,obumbracle the ,imaginative ,tinging1 ,venemons1 or ,monstrous ,faculty of any pregnant ,woman1 compleats its work in one ,moment1 if it be deduced into art by some ,external ,object8 ,i do assuredly believe1 that very many will foolishly say1 that this is a ,mortomagical ,work of the ,devil2 but the ,doltish and ,ignorant are affraid to be out-shined by the true resplendent ,light of ,verity1 with which their ,owl-like ,sight is troubled1 and afflicted4 ,also the ,stars are a cause of what we treat of1 and this cause is not to be contemned1 although ,i1 nor you1 know not how to comprehend the ,celestial ,influences of them in our mind4 ,nor are the ,plants1 which the ,earth supplies us with1 to be rejected1 although ,i2 or you1 from the ,external ,signature of them1 know not how to judge aright of the ,effect of ,virtues ingenited in them1 which they notoriously exercise1 according to their power1 in healing and conserving ,humane bodies4 ,therefore1 since all others are also offended at the ,internal ,light1 being ignorant of all abstruse things1 of which you1 or ,i1 want the ,science1 how can the same ,virtues be deduced into art1 according to the end for which they were created8 ,a thousand other like things might be instanced4 ,although you know not the ,splendour in ,angels1 the ,candour in the ,heavens1 the ,perspicuity in the ,air1 ,limpitude in ,waters1 the variety of ,colours in ,flowers1 hardness of ,metals and ,stones1 ,proportion in ,animals1 the ,image of ,,god in regenerate ,men1 ,faith in ,believers1 and ,reason in the ,soul2 yet in them there is such a beauty1 as hath been throughly beheld1 and fully known by very few ,mortals4 ,although in the ,stone of ,philosophers there be so potent a virtue1 and the same hath been seen by me1 yet ,i would not therefore have any man to think1 that my primary ,scope1 and intention1 is to perswade the worthy1 or unworthy ,sons of this ,age1 to labour in this work1 no1 not at all3 but ,i shall rather dehort all1 and every of the curious ,indagators of this ,art1 that they seriously abstain from this most perilous ,arcanum1 as from a certain ,sanctum ,sanctorum2 yea1 and ,i would admonish the ,studious of this ,arcanum1 accurately to take heed to himself1 and beware of the ,lectures1 and ,association of false ,philosophers4 ,but ,i hope ,i shall satisfie the curious ,naturalists1 or investigators of ,physical ,arcanums1 by communicating and publishing in this present ,discourse1 all which passed between ,elias the ,artist1 and ,me1 touching the ,nature of the ,stone of ,philosophers4 ,for that is an ,ens more ,effulgent than the ,morning1 or a ,carbuncle3 more splendid1 than the ,sun1 or ,gold3 more fair1 than the ,moon1 or ,silver3 so very ,recreable1 and ,amiable1 was the sight of this ,light1 and most pleasing ,object to me1 as out of my inward ,mind1 it cannot be obliterated1 or extinguished by any ,oblivion2 although the same be credited by none of the fatuate ,learned1 or illiterate ignorant ,asses1 and such as glory only in the praise of ambitious ,eloquence4 ,for in this malignant ulcerated age of the world1 nothing is so safe and secure from ,calumnies1 but it is taken in a wrong ,sense1 and perverted unworthily by the ,idiotick ,ignorance of mad-brain'd ,caco,zelots4 ,so very farr do all these dark-sighted men deviate from the true rule of ,verity1 as in success of time1 they1 intangled with their own ,errors1 will miserably wast away and expire2 but our ,assertion1 built on the ,eternal ,foundation of ,triumphing ,verity1 shall continue and remain1 unto the ,consummation of all ages1 without diminution1 although this art be not yet known to all ,mortals4 ,for the ,adept ,philosophers1 according to the antient ,faith of their experience1 have affirmed1 that this ,natural ,mystery 7which many anxious men have sinistrously sought1 and required7 is only to be found with ,jehovah1 ,saturninely placed in the ,centre of the ,world4 ,in the mean while1 we proclaim those happy1 who take care1 by the help of art1 how they may wash this ,philosophick ,queen1 or how they ought to circulate the ,virgin-,catholick-,earth1 in ,physico-,magical ,crystalline ,artifice1 as ,khunradus4 did2 they only1 and none others besides them1 shall see the ,crowned1 and internally fiery ,king of ,philosophers1 coming forth from his ,glassy ,sepulchre1 in an external fiery ,body glorified1 more then perfect with all the ,colours in the world1 as a shining ,carbuncle1 or perspicuous1 compact and ponderous ,crystal1 a ,salamander ,spewing out ,waters1 and by the benefit thereof in the ,fire washing ,leprous ,metals1 as ,i my self have seen4 ,what8 ,how shall they see the ,abyss of the ,spagyrick ,art8 when as this ,royal ,art hath so long lain hid1 and been absconded in the ,mineral ,kingdom1 as in the ,safest of all ,secret places1 for so very many years8 ,assuredly the ,genuine ,sons of this ,laudable ,art1 shall not only behold a like ,flood of ,numicius1 in which neas heretofore1 by the command of ,venus1 washed and absolved from his ,immortality1 was immediately transformed into an immortal ,god2 but also the ,lydian ,river of ,pactolus all transmuted into ,gold1 and how ,midas ,mygdonius washed himself in the same4 ,likewise those candid ,rivals of this ,art1 shall in a serious order behold the ,bathing-place of naked ,diana1 the ,fountain of ,narcissus and ,scylla walking in the ,sea1 without garments1 by reason of the most fervent ,rayes of ,sol3 partly also the ,blood of ,pyramus and ,thisbe1 of it self collected1 by the help of which1 white ,mulberries are tinged into ,red2 partly also the ,blood of ,adonis1 by the descending ,goddess ,venus transformed into a ,rose of ,anemona2 partly likewise the ,blood of ,ajax1 from which arose that most beautiful flower the ,violet2 partly also the ,blood of the ,giants slain by ,jupiters thunder-bolt2 partly also the ,shed ,tears of ,althea1 when she put off her ,golden ,vestments2 and partly the ,drops1 which fell from the decocted ,water of ,medea1 by which green things immediatly sprang out of the ,earth2 partly also the cocted ,potion of ,medea1 made of various ,herbs1 gathered always three dayes before full ,moon1 for the cure of ,jasons aged ,father2 partly also those ,leaves1 by the tast of which1 the nature of ,gaucus was changed into ,neptune2 partly also the ,exprest ,juice of ,jason1 by the benefit of which1 he1 in the ,land of ,cholcons1 received the ,golden ,fleece1 afterward by reason of that1 compleatly armed1 he fought in the ,feild of ,mars1 not without the hazard of ,life2 partly also the ,garden of the ,hesperides1 where ,golden ,apples may be gathered from the ,trees2 partly also ,hippomenes running for the ,mastery with ,atalanta1 and staying her ,course1 and so overcoming her with three ,golden ,apples1 the ,gifts of ,venus2 partly also the ,aurora of ,cephalus1 partly also ,romulus transformed by ,jupiter into a ,god2 partly also the ,soul of ,julius ,csar1 by the ,goddess ,venus1 transfigured into a ,comet1 and placed among the ,stars2 partly also ,python1 ,juno's ,serpent1 arising out of the putrid ,earth 7after ,deucalions ,flood7 made hot by the ,rayes of the ,sun2 partly also the ,fire1 with which ,medea kindled seven ,lights2 partly also the ,moon1 inflamed by the burning of ,phton2 partly also the ,withered ,olive ,branch1 a new2 flourishing and bearing ,fruit2 yea1 becoming a new and tender ,olive ,tree2 partly also ,arcadia1 where ,jupiter was wont to walk2 partly also the ,habitation of ,pluto1 at the ,gate whereof lay the ,three-headed ,cerberus2 also partly that ,mountain1 where ,hercules burned all his ,members1 received from the ,mother1 upon ,wood1 but the ,parts of the ,father remained ,fixed1 and incombustible in ,fire1 and nothing of his ,life was destroyed1 but he1 at length1 was transmuted into a ,god4 ,likewise we will not forget those ,germans1 the ,sons of true ,philosophers1 who entred into a ,country-house1 at length transformed into a ,temple1 whose ,covering was made of pure ,gold4 ,certainly1 ,i cannot choose1 but must yet once more with acclamation1 say with the ,adept3 ,o happy1 and thrice happy is that ,artificer1 who by the most merciful benediction of the highest1 ,jehovah pursues the ,art of ,confecting1 and preparing that 7as it were1 ,divine7 ,salt1 by the ,efficacious ,operation of which1 a ,metallick1 or ,mineral body1 is corrupted1 destroyed1 and dyes2 yet the ,soul thereof is in the mean while revived1 to a glorious ,resurrection of a ,philosophick ,body4 ,yea1 ,i say1 most happy is the ,son of that man1 who1 by his ,prayers1 obtains this ,art of ,arts1 unto the glory of ,,god4 ,for it is most certain1 that this ,mystery can be known no other way1 unless it be drawn and imbibed from ,,god1 the ,fountain of ,fountains4 ,therefore1 let every serious ,lover of this inestimable ,art judge1 that the whole work of him required1 is1 that he constantly1 with the prayer of true faith1 in all his labour1 implore and solicite the ,divine ,grace of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,for the solemn manner of ,,god alone is1 candidly and liberally1 either mediately or immediately1 to communicate his gifts and benefits1 to none1 unless to candid and liberal ,ingenies only4 ,in this holy way of practical ,piety1 all ,inquisitors of profound ,arts1 find what they seek1 when they1 in their work1 exercise themselves ,theosophically by solitary ,colloquies with ,jehovah1 with a pure ,heart and ,mouth1 religiously4 ,for the ,heavenly ,sophia1 indeed1 willingly embraces our friendship1 presenting1 and offering to us1 her inexhaustible ,rivolets1 most full of gracious goodness and benevolence4 ,but1 happy is he1 to whom the ,royal way1 in which he is to walk1 shall be shown by some ,one expert in this ,arcanum4 ,i seem to presage to my self1 that ,i have not equally satisfied all ,readers in this ,preface2 but it is1 as if ,i did presume to teach them an ,art1 unknown to my self2 yet ,i hope better of the greatest part of them4 ,for my intention was1 only to relate to you a certain ,history4 ,therefore1 ,drink1 my ,friends1 of the following ,dialogue1 or ,springing ,colloquy1 presented by me1 wishing you well1 that thence you may satisfie1 and allay all the ,thirst of your ,thirsting ,minds3 for ,i doubt not in the least1 but that this ,study of ,divine ,wisdome1 will be more sweet to you1 than ,nectar and ,ambrosia4 ,no other will ,i communicate1 no other have ,i common1 then that of ,jul4 ,cs4 ,scaliger3 ,the ,end1 of ,wisemen1 is the ,communication of ,wisdome3 according to that of ,gregory ,nyen3 ,he who is ,good1 in ,nature1 the same very willingly communicates his ,goods to others4 ,for it is the part of good ,men1 to be profitable to others4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,divers ,ilustrious men have written touching the ,verity of this ,arcanum1 among these1 take the ,sayings of some of them1 as follows4 ,,paracelsus ,in his ,book ,of the ,signature of ,natural things4 ,the ,tincture of ,naturalists1 is a1 true sign1 that by the transmutative virtue thereof1 all imperfect ,metals are changed1 viz4 the ,white into ,silver1 and the ,red into the best ,gold1 if an exceeding small part of this ,medicine well prepared1 be injected upon the ,metal1 while in flux in a ,crucible1 c4 ,the same4 ,for the invincible ,astrum of ,metals overcomes all things1 and changeth into a ,nature like it self1 c4 ,this ,gold and ,silver is more noble1 and better1 than those1 which are dug out of ,metallick ,mines2 for ,medicinal ,arcanums to be prepared therefrom4 ,the same4 ,therefore1 ,i say every ,alchimist1 which hath the ,astrum of ,gold1 is able to tinge all ,red ,metals into ,gold1 c4 ,the same4 ,our ,tincture of ,gold hath ,astrums in it self1 is a ,substance most fixed1 and in multiplication immutable4 ,it is a ,powder1 haveing a colour most red1 almost like ,saffron1 yet its whole ,corporal ,substance1 is liquid as ,rosin1 perspicuous as ,crystal1 brittle as ,glass1 of the colour of a ,rubie1 and exceeding poaderous1 c4 ,also read ,paracelsus his ,heaven of ,philosophers4 ,likewise1 ,paracelsus his ,seventh ,book1 ,of the ,transmutation of ,natural things4 ,transmutation is a great natural ,mystery1 ,metallick1 and not contrary to the ,course of ,nature1 nor repugnant to the ,order of ,,god1 as many men of it do falsly judge4 ,for imperfect ,metals1 are changed neither into ,gold1 nor into ,silver1 without this ,stone of ,philosophers4 ,paracelsus1 in his ,manual of the ,medicinal ,stone of philosophers4 ,our ,stone is a ,celestial1 and more than perfect ,medicine1 because it cleanseth all the impurities of ,metals1 c4 ,,henry ,,khunradus ,in his ,amphitheatre of ,eternal ,sapience4 ,i travelled long1 invited others1 who knew somewhat by experience1 and could with very firm judgement conjecture2 and this not alwayes in vain4 ,among which1 ,i call ,god to witness1 by his wonderful ordination1 ,i1 from one1 received the ,green ,catholick ,lyon1 and the ,blood of the ,lyon1 viz4 ,gold1 not the ,vulgar1 but of ,philosophers1 with my ,eyes ,i saw the same1 with my hands1 ,i handled it1 and with my ,nostrils1 smelt the odour thereof4 ,o how wonderful is ,god in his ,works6 ,they1 ,i say1 gave those ,gifts prepared1 which ,i in most desperate ,cases1 used with admirable success to the benefit of my needy ,neighbour4 ,and 7by ,instinct of ,jehovah's mercy7 they sincerely revealed to me1 the wayes of preparing1 c4 ,the same4 ,this wonderful ,method1 the wonderful ,god gave me4 ,in this way1 in which ,i walked1 ,god alone1 ,i say1 immediately1 and mediately2 yet subdelegately1 ,nature1 ,fire1 and ,art1 of my ,master1 as well living as mute1 corporally1 and spiritually good1 sleeping and waking1 gave the same to me1 c1 ,the same4 ,i write not ,fables2 with your hands you shall handle1 and with1 your eyes you shall see ,azoth1 viz4 the ,catholick or ,universal ,mercury of ,philosophers2 which alone1 with the ,internal and ,external ,fire1 yet with ,sympathetick ,harmony1 with ,olympick ,fire 7by reason of inevitable necessity7 ,physico-magically united1 will suffice thee for obtaining our ,stone1 c4 ,the same4 ,you shall see1 the ,stone of ,philosophers2 our ,king1 and ,lord of those that bare rule1 coming from his ,bridal ,throne of the ,glassy ,sepulchre1 into this ,mundane ,scene1 in his glorified body1 viz1 regenerate1 and more then perfect3 namely1 a shining ,carbuncle1 a most temperate ,splendour2 and of which1 tire most ,subtile1 and ,depurated parts1 are by the concordant peace of ,mixtion1 inseparably united into ,one1 and perfectly equallized1 clear as ,crystal1 compact1 and most ponderous1 as fluid in fire1 as ,rosin1 and before the flight of ,mercury1 as ,wax flowing1 yet without fume1 entring and penetrating1 solid and close bodies1 as ,oyl1 ,paper2 resolvable in every ,liquor1 melting1 and commiscible therewith2 brittle as ,glass1 in ,powder1 of the colour of ,saffron1 but in the intire ,mass1 like a blushing ,rubie2 7which ,redness is a sign of perfect ,fixation1 and fixed ,perfection7 permanently ,colouring1 or ,tinging2 in all ,examens whatsoever1 even of ,sulphur adurtive1 and in ,tryals of corroding ,waters1 and in the most vehement persecution of ,fire1 fixed1 alwayes during1 and unburnable2 permanent as the ,salamander1 c4 ,the same4 ,the ,stone of ,philosophers in the greater ,world1 is in the parts thereof1 fermented2 by reason of the ,ferment1 it transforms it self into whatsoever it will c4 ,hence you may learn the reason1 why ,philosophers on their ,azoth imposed the name of ,mercury which adheres to bodies1 c4 ,the same4 ,it is fermented with ,metals1 viz1 the ,white existant in the highest ,whiteness1 with pure ,silver for the ,white2 but the ,sanguineous ,stone1 with ,gold ,obrizon for the ,red4 ,and this is the ,work of three dayes1 c4 ,,helmont1 ,of ,eternal ,life ,for ,i have oftentimes seen it1 and with1 my hands handled the same1 c4 ,see in the same place further4 ,then ,i projected this quarter of one ,grane1 wrapt up in ,paper1 upon eight ,ounces of ,argentvive1 hot in a ,crucible1 and immediately the whole ,hydrargyry1 with some little noise ceased to flow1 and remained congealed like yellow ,wax3 after fusion thereof1 by blowing the bellows1 there were found eight ,ounces of ,gold1 wanting eleven ,grane4 ,therefore1 one ,grane of this ,powder1 transmutes #aiahf equal parts of ,argentvive1 into the best ,gold4 ,within the ,earth1 the aforesaid ,powder is found1 or what is in a sort like thereunto1 which transmutes almost an infinite ,mass of impure ,metal into perfect ,gold1 by uniting the same to it self1 it defends from ,rust1 and rugo1 from ,cankring1 and ,death1 and maketh the same1 as it were1 immortal1 against all torture of ,fire1 and ,art1 and transfers it into the ,virgin-purity of ,gold2 it requires only heat4 ,the same ,helmont1 ,of the ,tree of ,life4 ,i am compelled to believe the ,aurifick1 and ,argentifick ,stone2 because at several distinct3 times1 with my own hand1 made projection of one ,grane of this ,powder1 upon some thousands of ,granes of ,argentvive hot in a ,crucible2 and in the presence of our principal friends1 the business1 with a pleasing admiration1 succeeded well in the ,fire3 as our books promise ,thee1 c4 ,the same4 ,he1 who first gave me the ,powder1 had at least1 so much thereof1 as would be sufficient for transmuting two hundred thousand pound weight of ,metal1 into ,gold1 c44 ,the same4 ,for he gave to me not so much as half a grane of that ,powder1 and with that were transmuted nine ounces1 and three quarters of an ounce of ,argetitvive4 ,that was given me one ,evening by a strange ,friend1 c ,the same ,so also it is written1 that sixty years since1 ,alexander ,scotus1 made projection of that kinde1 in the trust3 famous ,city of ,colonia and ,hanovia1 c44 ,i cannot in this place over-pass1 some ,examples worthy of note1 touching the possibility of ,transmutation4 ,read the following true ,extract out of an ,epistle written by ,doctor ,kufflerus4 ,kufflerus3 ,artist1 ,i found-in my own ,laboratory1 an ,aqua-fortis4 ,secondly1 ,i again found another in the ,laboratory1 ,caroli de ,roy2 this ,aqua-,fortis ,i poured upon the ,calx of ,sol1 prepared of ,gold1 in the ,vulgar manner1 and after the third ,cohobation1 it sublimed the ,tincture of ,gold with it self in the ,neck of the ,retort2 this ,tincture ,i mixed with ,silver1 precipited in the vulgar manner1 and ,i saw that one ounce of the sublimed ,tincture of ,gold1 with ordinary ,flux in a ,crucible1 had transmuted one ounce1 and halfe of the two ounces of precipitate ,silver1 into the best ,gold3 but a third part of the ,silver yet remaining1 was a white and fixed ,gold3 the other two parts thereof were perfect ,silver1 fixed in every examen of ,fire4 ,this is my experience1 after this time1 we could never find the like ,aqua-fortis4 ,i ,helvetius saw this ,gold white1 and without ,tincture4 ,the same4 ,there is yet one other ,example very rare2 of what was done at the ,hague by a ,silver-,smith1 whose name was ,grill3 how he in the year #affd4 by ,spirit of ,salt1 not prepared in the ,vulgar manner1 transmuted ,lead so1 as from one pound1 he received three parts of the best ,silver1 and two ounces of most fixed ,gold4 ,at the ,hague1 a certain ,silver-,smith1 and a much exercised ,disciple of ,alchimy1 but according to the nature of ,alchimy1 a very poor man2 did sometime since require ,spirit of ,salt1 not vulgarly prepared1 of a loving ,friend of ,mine1 a ,cloath-,dyer1 by name1 ,john ,casparus ,knottnerus4 ,my ,friend giving the same to him2 demanded1 whether he would use that ,spirit of ,salt1 he now had1 for ,metals1 or not8 ,grill made answer2 for ,metalls4 ,and accordingly he afterward powred this ,spirit of ,salt upon ,lead1 which he had put into a ,glass ,dish1 usual for ,conditures and ,confections4 ,the space of two ,weeks being elapsed1 supernatant on the ,spirit of ,salt1 appeared a most splendid ,silver-,starre1 so exceeding curious1 as if it had been made ,with an ,instrument by a most ingenious ,artist4 ,at the sight of which1 the said ,grill1 filled with ,exceeding ,joy1 signified to us1 that he had seen the ,signate ,star of ,philosophers1 touching which he had read in ,basilius1 as he thought4 ,i1 and many other honest ,men1 did behold this ,star supernatant on the ,spirit of ,salt1 the lead in the mean while remaining in the bottom of an ash colour1 and swollen like a ,sponge4 ,but in the space of seven or nine dayes1 that humidity of the ,spirit of ,salt1 being absumed by the exceeding heat of the ,aire1 in ,july1 did vanish2 but the ,star settled down1 and still stood above that ,earthly ,spongeous ,lead4 ,that was a thing worthy of admiration1 and beheld by not a few ,spectators4 ,at length ,grill himself having taken part of ,cinereous1 or ,ash-like ,lead1 with the ,star adhering1 cupellated in a ,test1 and found from one ounce of this ,lead1 twelve ounces of ,cupellate ,silver1 and from these twelve ounces1 he also had two ounces of the best ,gold4 ,and ,i ,helvetius am able to shew some of this ,spongeous ,lead with part of the ,star yet adhering1 besides the pieces of the ,star the ,silver and ,gold made thereof4 ,which when this ,subtile 7and ,likewise ,foolish7 ,grill understood1 he would not be known to ,knottterus1 whether he had used the ,spirit of ,salt1 or not2 but thenceforth attempted to learn of him the ,art how to make it2 yet some time being ,elapsed1 the worthy ,knottnerus had for got what ,spirit of salt 7for he was expert in various kinds thereof7 he had given him2 not being able to call the same to mind so suddenly3 in the mean while1 he and his ,family were visited with the ,pestilence and dyed3 the other falling into the ,water was drowned4 ,after the death of these two1 none could find out the way of either of their ,operations4 ,certainly here is cause of ,admiration1 that the ,internal ,nature of ,lead1 by the simple maturation of ,spirit of ,salt1 should appear in an external form so noble4 ,no less admirable and wonderful to the mind is this1 viz4 that the mirifick ,stone of ,philosophers can so exceeding swiftly transmute ,metals2 having virtue potentially insited in it self1 so as it is deduced into ,art1 as in ,iron by contact of the ,magnet4 ,but touching ,these enough for the ,sons of ,art4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,since promises are so much the better esteemed1 by how much the sooner they are fulfilled1 ,i1 without any dilation1 immediately come to my promised ,declaration of the following ,history1 which thus take4 ,at the ,hague1 on the sixth ,calend of ,january or the #bgth4 of ,december1 in the year #afff1 a certain man came to my ,house in the ,afternoon1 to me indeed planely unknown1 but endued with an honest gravity1 and serious authority of ,countenance1 cloathed in a ,plebick ,habit1 like to some ,memnonite of a middle ,stature1 his ,visage somewhat long1 with some ,pock-holes here and there dispersed3 his ,hairs were indeed very black1 yet not curled1 little or no no hair on his ,chin1 and about three or four and fourty years of ,age3 his ,countrey 7as far as ,i am able to conjecture7 is the ,septentrional ,batavia1 vulgarly called ,nord ,hollund4 ,after salutations ended1 his new ,guest1 with great ,reverence1 asked1 whether he might have freedom to come to me2 because for the ,pyrotechnick ,art sake1 he could not1 nor was he willing to pass by the ,door of my house2 adding1 that he had not only thought to have made use of some ,friend to come to me1 but had also read some of my little ,treaties1 especially that1 which ,i published against ,d4 ,digbies ,sympathetick ,powder1 in which ,i discovered my doubt of the true ,philosophick ,mystery4 ,therefore1 this occasion being taken1 he asked me1 whether ,i could believe1 that place was given to such a ,mystery in the things of ,nature1 by the benefit of which a ,physician might be able to cure all ,diseases universally1 unless the ,sick already had a defect either of the ,lungs1 or ,liver1 or of any like noble ,member8 ,to which ,i answered4 ,such a ,remedy is exceeding necessary for a ,physician1 but no man knows1 what and how great are the ,secrets yet hidden in ,nature1 nor did ,i ever1 in all my ,life see such an ,adept ,man1 although ,i have read and perused many things1 touching the verity of this thing1 or ,art1 in the ,writings of ,philosophers4 ,i also enquired of him1 whether he 7speaking of the ,universal ,medicine7 were not a ,physician8 ,but he answering by denyal1 professed1 that he was no other than a ,melter of ,orichalcum1 and that in the ,flower of his years1 he had known many things1 from his ,friend1 rare to the ,sight1 and especially the way of ,extracting ,medicinal ,arcanums by the force of ,fire1 and that for this very cause1 he was a ,lover of this so noble ,science of ,medicine4 ,moreover1 long after other discourses1 touching ,experiments in ,metals1 made by the violence of ,fire1 ,elias the ,artist spake to me thus2 ,do not you know the ,highest ,secret1 when it is offered to your sight1 viz4 the ,stone of ,phylosophers1 you having read in the ,writings of many ,chymists most excellent1 touching the ,substance1 ,colour1 and strange effect of the same8 ,i answered1 not at all2 except what ,i have read in ,paracelsus1 ,helmont1 ,basilius1 ,sandivogius1 and like ,books of ,adept ,phylosophers extant4 ,nevertheless1 ,i think1 ,i am not able to know the ,phylosophick ,matter1 whether it be true1 or not1 although ,i should see it present before me4 ,whilst ,i was speaking thus1 he pulled out of his ,pocket an ,ivory ,box1 in which he had three ponderous ,fragments1 in magnitude scarcely equalizing a small ,walnut2 these were ,glass-like1 of the colour of pale ,sulphur1 to which the ,interior ,scales of that ,crucible did adhere1 in which this most noble ,substance was liquified1 for ,i suppose the ,value of it might equalize twenty ,tun of ,gold4 ,but after ,i had plighted my ,faith1 ,i held that ,greek3 cheimhlion1 or pretious ,treasure of this ,stone1 within these my hands for almost a quarter of an hour1 and from the ,philosophick ,mouth of the ,owner1 ,i heard many things worthy of note1 touching the ,wonderful ,effect of the same1 for humane and ,metallick bodies4 ,indeed1 ,i1 with a sad and afflictedly afflicted ,mind1 restored this ,treasure of ,treasures to him1 the ,lord and ,possessor1 who gave the same into my hand for a very short space of time2 and yet ,i did that 7after the manner of ,men overcoming themselves7 not without the greatest action of thanks1 as was fit in such a ,case4 ,afterward ,i asked him1 how it came to pass1 7since ,i had otherwise read1 that the ,stones of ,philosophers1 were endowed with a ,rubinate1 or ,purple ,colour7 that this his ,philosophick ,stone was tinged with a ,sulphureous ,colour8 ,he answered me thus3 ,o ,sir2 this is nothing to the purpose3 for the ,matter is ,sufficiently mature4 ,moreover1 when ,i entreated him1 that he would give to me1 for a perpetual remembrance1 one small part of the ,medicine included in his ,box1 although no more in bulk than a ,coriander-,seed2 he denied1 answering3 ,o no6 ,for this is not lawful for me to do1 although you would give me this whole ,roome full of ,gold in ,duckets2 and that not by reason of the price of the ,matter1 but by reason of another certain ,consequence2 ,yea1 surely1 if it were possible1 that ,fire could be burned with ,fire1 ,i would sooner cast this whole ,substance into the devouring ,flames of ,vulcan1 before your ,eyes4 ,a little after this1 he also asked me1 whether ,i had not another ,room1 the ,windows of which were not to the ,street-side2 ,i presently brought this ,phnix1 or ,bird most rare to be seen in this ,land1 into my best furnished ,chamber2 yet he1 at his ,entrance 7as the manner of ,hollanders is1 in their ,countryes7 did not shake off his ,shooes1 which were dropping wet with ,snow4 ,i indeed1 at that very time1 thus thought3 perhaps he will provide1 or hath in readiness some ,treasure for me2 but he dash'd my hope all to pieces4 ,for he immediatey asked of me a piece of the best ,gold-mony2 and in the mean while layed off his ,cloak1 and ,country ,coat2 also he opened his ,bosom1 and under his ,shirt he wore in green ,silk1 five great ,golden ,pendants1 round1 filling up the magnitude of the ,interior ,space of an ,orb of ,tin4 ,where1 in comparing these1 in respect of ,colour and ,flexibility1 the difference between his ,gold1 and mine1 was exceeding great4 ,on these ,pendants he had inscribed with an ,iron ,instrument1 the following ,words1 which1 at my request1 he gave leave ,i should coppy out4 ,the form of the ,pendants1 and words engraven thereon1 are as follows4 ,i4 ,,amen ,holy1 ,holy1 ,holy is the ,lord our ,,god1 for all things are full of his ,power4 ,leo3 ,libra4 ,,ii4 ,the wonderfull wonder-working wisdome of ,,jehovah in the ,catholick ,book of ,nature4 ,made the #bf4 day ,aug4 #afff4 ,alchemical symbols3 ,gold1 ,mercury1 ,silver ,the wonderfull ,,god1 ,nature and he ,spagyrick ,art1 make nothing in vain4 ,sacred1 ,holy ,spirit ,hallelujha ,hallelujha ,away ,devil1 ,speak not of ,,god without ,light1 ,amen4 ,the ,eternal ,invisible1 only wise1 ,best of all and omnipotent ,,god of ,gods2 ,holy1 ,holy1 ,holy1 ,governour ,conserver deservedly ought to be praysed4 ,moreover1 when ,i1 affected with admiration said to him2 ,my ,master1 ,i pray tell me1 where had you this greatest ,science of the whole ,world8 ,he answered1 ,i received such ,magnalia from the ,communication of a certain ,extraneous ,friend1 who for certain dayes lodged in my ,house1 professing1 that1 he was a ,lover of ,art1 and came to teach me various ,arts2 viz4 how1 besides the aforesaid1 of ,stones and ,crystal1 most beautiful precious ,stones are made much more fair than ,rubies1 ,chrysolites1 ,saphires1 and others of that kind4 ,also how to prepare a ,crocus ,martis in a quarter of an hour of which one only ,dose infallibly heals a ,pestilential ,dysentery ,likewise a ,metallic ,liquor1 by the help of which1 every species of the ,dropsy may be cured certainly in four dayes space ,also a certain ,limpid ,water1 more sweet1 than ,hony1 by the help of which1 ,i can extract the ,tincture of ,granates1 ,corals1 and of all ,glasses blown by ,artificers1 in the space of two hours in hot sand only4 ,many other things like to these he told me1 which ,i neither well observed1 nor committed to memory2 because my intention was3 carryed further1 viz4 to learn the ,art of pressing that so noble juice out of ,metals for ,metals2 but the ,shadow in ,waters deceived the ,dog of his piece of ,flesh1 which was substantial4 ,moreover1 this ,artist told me that his ,master1 who taught him this ,art1 bad him bring ,glass full of ,rain water1 with which he mixed a very small3 quantity of a most white pouder2 commanding me1 7here the ,disciple of that ,master proceeds in his ,discourse7 to go to the ,silver-,smith1 for one ounce of ,cupellate ,silver1 laminate1 or beat very thin1 which ,silver was dissolved in a quarter of an hour1 as ,ice in hot water4 ,then he presently gave to me one half of this potion1 by himself so speedily made1 to drink2 which in my mouth tasted as sweet ,milk1 and ,i thence became very cheerful4 ,he having related these things1 ,i ceased not to enquire of him1 to what end he had instanced this8 ,whether the ,potion was ,philosophick8 ,to this1 he answered1 ,you must not be so curious4 ,afterward1 he told me1 how he1 by the command of that ,laudable ,artist his ,master1 took a piece of the ,leaden gutter of his house1 and when the ,lead was melted in a now ,crucible1 the said ,artist drew out off his pocket a ,gasket full of ,sulphureous ,powder1 of which1 he took a very small part upon the point of a knife1 once1 and again1 and injected the same2 upon the ,lead in ,flux2 presently4 giving order1 that the fire should be blown with two pair of ,bellows strongly1 for exciting the heat more vehemently2 a little after he powred out of the crucible1 most pure ,gold1 upon the ,red stones1 which were in the ,kitchen4 ,i 7said this most pleasing discourser to me7 did commodiously behold this verity of the ,transmutation of ,metals1 but was so astonished with fear and admiration1 that ,i was ,scarcely able to speak one word2 ,but my ,master heartning me1 said2 ,cheer1 up and be contented3 take for your self a sixteenth part of this ,mass1 which keep ,for a ,memorandum2 but the other fifteen parts distribute to the poor3 and ,i did as he said4 ,for1 7if my memory deceive me not7 he bestowed this exceeding great ,alms1 on the ,sparrendamen ,church2 but whether1 he gave it at distinct times ,or not1 or whether he told it down in the ,substance of ,gold1 or of ,silver1 ,i asked him not4 ,and at length 7saith he speaking of his ,master7 he directly taught me this great divine ,art4 ,therefore1 the2 ,narration of all these things being ended1 ,i most humbly entreated him1 that he would shew me the effect of ,transmutation upon impure ,metals1 that ,i thence might have the better assurance of those things by him related to me1 and my ,faith being confirmed1 securely give credit to the real ,truth of the matter4 ,but he very discreetly gave me the repulse2 yet taking his leave of me1 he promised to return again after three ,weeks1 and then shew to me certain curious ,arts1 by ,fire1 as also the way of projecting2 making this ,provisoe1 if it should then be lawful for him4 ,the three ,weeks being elapsed1 according to his word1 he ,came to my ,house1 and invited me to walk abroad with him for one hour1 or two1 as we both did1 having in that ,time ,certain1 ,discourses of the ,secrets of ,nature in the fire1 but in the mean while1 this well spoken ,companion in the way1 was not lavish1 but rather too sparing of his words1 touching the great ,secret2 affirming1 that this singular ,mystery tended not1 but to the alone magnifying of the most illustrious ,fame of the most glorious ,god2 and that very few men considered1 how they might2 condignly ,sacrifice2 themselves by their ,works to so great a ,god uttering these ,expressions no otherwise1 then as if he had been a ,pastor of the ,church4 ,but ,i1 in the mean time1 fayled not to solicit him1 to demonstrate to me the ,transmutation of ,metals4 ,moreover1 ,i beseeched and intreated him1 to vouchsafe to eat with me1 and to lodge in my house1 urging him with such ,earnestness1 as no ,rival1 or ,lover1 could ever use more perswasive ,words1 for winning his beloved to a willingness of gratifying him above all others3 but he1 agitated by a ,spirit of so great constancy1 made void of all ,i endeavoured4 ,nevertheless1 ,i could not choose but speak to him thus3 ,sir1 ,you see ,i have a very convenient ,laboratory1 in which you may shew me the ,metallick ,transmutation4 ,for whosoever assents to him1 that asketh1 obligeth himself to him4 ,it is true 7answered he7 bit ,i made a promise to you of imparting some things with this ,exception1 if at my1 ,return1 ,i be not interdicted1 but have leave to do the same4 ,all1 and every of these1 my requests being in vain1 ,i instantly1 and earnestly besought him1 that 7if he would not1 or by reason of the ,heavenly ,interdiction could not demonstrate what ,i asked7 he would only give me so much of his ,treasure1 as would be sufficient for transmuting four grains of ,lead into ,gold4 ,at this my request1 he1 after a little while1 pouring forth a ,flood of ,philosophick ,mercy1 gave a small particle1 as big as a ,rape-,seed1 saying3 ,take of the greatest ,treasure of the ,world1 which very few great ,kings1 or ,princes could ever see4 ,but ,i1 saying my ,master1 this is so small particle perhaps will not be sufficient for tinging four granes of ,lead4 ,he answered2 ,give it me4 ,i1 accordingly gave it him1 conceiving1 good hope of receiving somewhat a greater particle instead thereof2 but he breaking off the one half almost of it with his thumb-nayl1 threw it into the fire1 and wrapping the other up in blew paper1 he gave to me1 faying1 ,it is yet sufficient for thee4 ,to which1 ,i with1 a sad ,countenance and perplexed ,mind1 answered3 ,ah ,sir6 ,what mean you by this8 ,before ,i doubted1 and now ,i cannot believe1 that so small a quantity of this ,medicine will suffice for transmuting four grains of ,lead2 ,o1 said he1 if you cannot rightly handle your ,lead in the ,crucible1 by reason of the so very small quantity thereof then take two drams1 or half an ounce1 or a little more of the lead1 for more must not be tinged1 then well may4 ,to him ,i again said3 ,i cannot1 easily believe this1 viz4 that so little of the ,tincture will transmute so great a quantity of ,lead into ,gold4 ,but he1 answered2 what ,i say is true4 ,in1 mean1 while1 ,i1 giving him great2 thanks1 inclosed my diminished and in the ,superlative degree concentrated ,treasure1 in my own ,casket1 saying3 ,to morrow ,i will make this ,tryal2 and give no notice to any ,man thereof1 as long as ,i live4 ,not so1 not so1 answered2 he1 but all things1 which tend to the ,glory of ,god ,omnipotent1 ought by us1 singularly to be declared to the ,sons of ,art that we may live ,theosophically1 and not at all dye ,sophistically4 ,then1 ,i confessed to him2 that when held the ,mass of his ,medicine1 in that short space of time1 ,i attempted to raze something there-from with my ,finger ,nayl1 ,but ,i got no more1 than a certain invisible ,atome2 and1 when ,i had cleansed my nayl1 and had injected the collected matter1 wrapt in paper1 upon ,lead in ,flux1 ,i could see no ,transmutation of it into ,gold2 but almost the whole ,mass of ,lead vanished into ,aire1 and the remaining ,substance was transmuted into a ,glassy ,earth4 ,at the hearing of this1 he smiling1 say'd ,you could more dexterously play the ,thief1 than apply the ,tincture4 ,i wonder1 that you1 so expert in the ,fire1 do no better understand the fuming ,nature of ,lead4 ,for if you had wrapped your ,theft in yellow ,wax1 that it might have been conserved from the ,fume of ,lead1 then it would so have penetrated into the ,lead1 as to have transmuted the same into ,gold4 ,but now a ,sympathetick ,operation was performed in ,fume1 and so the ,medicine permixed with the ,fume1 flew away3 ,for all ,gold1 ,silver1 ,tin1 ,mercury1 and like ,metals1 are corrupted by ,lead ,vapours1 and likewise converted to a brittle ,glass4 ,while he was thus speaking1 ,i shewed him my ,crucible1 who1 viewing the remaining ,substance1 perceived a most beautiful ,saffron-coloured ,tincture1 adhering to the sides of the ,crucible1 and say'd1 ,to-morrow at nine of the ,clock1 ,i will return1 and shew you2 how your ,medicine must be used to transmute ,lead into ,gold4 ,in which promise of him1 ,i rested secure4 ,yet1 in the mean while1 ,i again and again requested information of him1 whether this ,philosophick ,work1 required great ,charges in the preparing1 and a very long ,time4 ,o my ,friend1 answered he1 you very accurately affect to know all things1 yet ,i will open this to you2 ,the ,charge is not great1 nor is the ,time long4 ,but1 as touching the matter of which our ,arcanum is made1 ,i would have you to know2 there are only two ,metals and ,minerals1 of which it is prepared4 ,and because the ,sulphur of ,philosophers is more abundant in these ,minerals1 therefore it is made of them4 ,then ,i again asked him3 ,what the ,menstruum was1 and whether the ,operations were made in ,glasses1 or in ,crucibles4 ,he answered2 ,the ,menstruum is a ,celestial ,salt1 or a ,salt of ,celestial ,virtue1 by the benefit of which1 ,philosophers only dissolve the ,terrene ,metallick ,body1 and in dissolving1 the noble ,elixir of ,philosophers is produced4 ,but the ,operation is1 performed in a ,crucible1 from the beginning to the end1 in an open ,fire4 ,and the ,whole ,work may be begun1 and plainly ended in no longer time1 then four dayes3 ,also in this whole ,work1 no greater ,cost is required1 then the value of three ,florens4 ,lastly he added2 ,neither the ,mineral1 from ,which1 nor the ,salt by ,which1 is of any great ,price4 ,i again said to him3 ,my ,master2 ,this is strange1 for it is repugnant to the sayings of various ,philosophers1 ,who have writ1 that at least seven1 or nine ,moneths are imployed in this ,work4 ,he answered3 ,the true writings of ,philosophers are only2 understood by the truly ,adept4 ,therefore1 touching the ,time1 they would write nothing certain2 yea2 ,i say1 no ,lover of this ,art1 can find the ,art of preparing this ,mystery in his whole ,life without the ,communication of some true ,adept ,man4 ,in this respect and for this ,cause1 ,i advise you1 my ,friend1 because you have seen the true ,matter of the true ,work1 not to forget your self1 and thirsting after the perfection of this ,art1 to cast away your own ,goods2 for you can never find it out4 ,then ,i say'd3 ,my ,master1 although ,i am so unknown to you1 as you are unknown to me2 nevertheless1 since he was unknown to you who shewed you the way of finding out the ,operation of this ,arcanum1 perhaps you may also1 if you be willing1 notifie to me somewhat1 touching this ,secret1 that the most difficult ,rudiments being overcome1 ,i may 7as the saying is7 happily add somewhat to things already found out2 for by the occasion of one thing found1 another is not difficultly invented4 ,but the ,artist answered3 ,in this ,work the matter is not so1 ,for unless you know the thing1 from the beginning of the ,work to the end1 you know nothing thereof4 ,indeed ,i have told you enough1 yet you are ignorant how the ,stone of ,philosophers is made1 and again1 how the ,glassy ,seal of ,hermes is broaken1 in which ,sol gives forth ,splendor from his ,metallick ,rayes1 wonderfully coloured1 and in which ,speculum1 the ,eyes of ,narcius behold ,metals transmutable1 and from which ,rayes the ,adept gather their fire1 by the help of which1 ,volatile ,metals are fixed into most fixed ,gold1 or ,silver4 ,but enough for this time1 because 7,god willing7 on the ,morrow1 we shall have occasion of meeting yet once more1 that we may talk together touching this ,philosophick matter2 and according as ,i said1 at nine a ,clock1 ,i will come to your ,house1 and shew you the way of ,projecting4 ,but with that happy ,valediction for one night1 that ,elias the ,artist hath left me most sad in expectation unto this very day4 ,yea1 the ,mercury of ,philosophers did with him vanish into ,aire2 because from him ,i did no more again hear so much as one word4 ,yet he1 7because he promised that he would come again to me betimes the next morning7 half an hour before ten1 sent to me another unknown man1 signifying1 that1 that friend1 who yesternight promised to revisit me this morning1 by reason of other urgent business1 could not come1 nevertheless1 at three of the ,clock in the afternoon1 he would again see me4 ,but after ,i had1 with a most vehement desire expected him1 till almost eight a ,clock1 ,i began to doubt in the truth of the matter4 ,besides1 my ,wife also1 a very curious ,searcher in the ,art of that ,laudable man1 came to me1 troubling me1 by reason of the ,philosophick ,art1 cited in that aforesaid ,severe1 and ,honest man2 saying1 ,go to1 let us try1 ,i pray thee1 the ,verity of the work1 ac cording to what that man said4 ,for otherwise1 ,i certainly shall not sleep all this night4 ,but ,i answered2 ,i pray let us deferr it till to morrow2 perhaps the man will come then4 ,nevertheless1 when ,i had ordered my ,son to kindle the fire2 these thoughts arose in me2 ,that man indeed1 otherwise in his discourses so ,divine1 is now found the first time guilty of a ,lye4 ,a second time1 when ,i would make ,experiment of my ,stollen ,matter hid under my ,nayl1 but to no purpose1 because the ,lead was not transmuted into ,gold4 ,lastly a third time1 he gave me so very little of the ,matter1 for tinging so great a ,mass of ,lead2 that he almost drove me to ,desperation4 ,notwithstanding these thoughts1 ,i commanded yellow ,wax to be brought1 wherein to wrap the ,matter1 and finding ,lead1 ,i cut off half an ,ounce1 or six ,drachmes4 ,my ,wife wrapped the ,matter of the ,stone in the ,wax1 and when the ,lead was in ,flux1 she cast in that little ,mass1 which1 with ,hissing and ,flatuosity1 so performed its ,operation in the ,crucible well closed2 as in one quarter of an hour1 the whole ,mass of ,lead was transmuted into the best ,gold4 ,certainly1 had ,i lived in the ,age of ,ovid1 ,i could not have believed1 any ,metamorphosis more rare1 than this of the ,chimical ,art2 but if ,i could behold things with the hundred ,eyes of ,argus1 ,i should scarcely see any work of ,nature more admirable1 for this ,lead1 mixt with the ,stone of the ,wise1 and in the ,fire melted1 demonstrated to us a most beautiful colour1 yea1 ,i say1 it was most green2 but when ,i poured it out into a ,cone1 or fusory ,cup1 it received a colour like ,blood1 and when it waxed cold1 shined with the colour of the best ,gold3 ,i1 and all who were present with me1 being amazed1 made what haste we1 could with the ,aurificate ,lead 7even before it was through cold7 to a ,gold-,smith1 who after a precious ,examen1 judged it to be ,gold most excellent1 and that in the whole world1 better could not be found2 withall1 adding1 that for every ,ounce of such ,gold1 he would give #ej ,florens4 ,the next day1 the rumour of this wonderful ,metallick ,transmutation was spread all over our ,hague2 whence many illustrious men1 and lovers of ,art1 made hast to me1 among which1 by name1 the ,general ,examiner of the ,moneys of this ,province of ,holland1 ,dn ,porelius1 came to me1 with certain other most illustrious men1 earnestly desiring1 that ,i would communicate to them some small particle of my ,artificial ,gold1 to prove it by legitimate ,examens3 these1 for their curiosity sake1 ,i willingly gratified2 and we went together to the house of a certain very curious ,silver-,smith1 by name ,brechtelius1 in whose ,workhouse1 the ,excellency of my ,gold was evidenced1 by that form of ,probation1 which ,skilful ,artists call4 ,quarta1 viz4 when they in a ,crucible melt three or four parts or ,silver1 with one part of ,gold1 and then by hammering1 reduce that mixture into thin ,plates1 on which they pour a sufficient quantity of ,aquafortis1 by which the ,silver is dissolved1 but the ,gold settles to the bottome1 like a black powder4 ,afterward1 the ,aquafortis is poured off1 and the golden powder1 is again put into a ,crucible1 and by strong fire reduced to ,gold4 ,but when this work was ended1 we supposed1 that one half of the ,gold was vanished1 yet in very deed it was not so3 for we found that the ,gold1 besides its own weight1 had transmuted some part of the ,silver into ,gold1 viz4 two drams of the ,gold1 transmuted two scruples of the ,silver 7through the abundance of its ,tincture7 into like ,gold ,homogeneal to it self4 ,after this1 we1 suspecting that the ,silver was not well separated from the ,gold did presently make a mixture3 with seven times as much ,antimony4 ,and after this ,examen1 we lost eight grains of ,gold2 but when ,i had again evaporated the ,antimony1 ,i found nine grains of ,gold1 yet in colour somewhat pale4 ,thus1 in the best ,tryal of fire1 we lost nothing of this ,gold1 ,and this infallible kind of ,probation1 ,i thrice performed in presence of those most noble and illustricsus ,men1 and found1 that every ,dram of ,gold acquired from the ,silver for an augmentation to it self1 one ,scruple1 of ,gold3 and the ,silver1 is pure good1 and very flexible4 ,so according to this1 the five drams of ,gold1 attracted to it self from the ,silver1 five ,scruples2 and 7that ,i may together1 and at once1 comprise all that remains to be said7 the whole weight that that ,laudable ,powder1 in quantity so exceeding small1 did transmute1 was six drams1 and two ,scruples1 of a more vile ,metal1 into ,gold1 in such wise fixed1 as it was able perseveringly to sustain the most intense ,torture of ,fire4 ,behold6 thus have ,i exactly1 from first to last1 commemorated this ,history4 ,the ,gold ,i indeed have1 but where1 or in what ,land or ,countrey4 ,elias the ,artist is at this day hospited1 ,i am wholly ignorant for he told me1 his purpose was to abide in his own ,country no longer then this ,summer2 that after he would travil into ,asia1 and visit the ,holy ,land4 ,let the most wise ,king of ,heaven 7under the ,shadow of whose divine ,wings he hath hitherto layn hid7 by his ,administratory ,angels accompany him in his intended ,journey1 and prosper it so as he living to a great ,age1 may with his inestimable ,talent greatly succour the whole ,republick of ,christians1 and after this ,life gloriously behold1 and take of the prepared ,inheritance of ,life ,eternal4 ,amen4 ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,therefore1 now to compleat my promise1 ,i will forthwith betake my self to the ,dialogue or1 ,colloque between ,elias the ,artist1 and me the ,physician4 ,elias the ,artist4 ,god save you1 ,master ,helvetius6 ,if ,i may not be too troublesome1 ,i desire to have the freedom of ,discoursing with you for a little time1 because ,i have heard1 that you are a curious ,indagator of natural things4 ,for ,i have perused your ,books1 and among them1 especially that whole ,treatise1 which you write against the effect of ,sir ,kenelm ,digbies ,sympathetick ,powder1 where it is gloried1 that the same1 can at distance cure all ,wounds4 ,assuredly ,i am incredibly delighted in those things1 which are beheld in this ,speculum1 whether ,sympathetick1 or ,antipathetick1 naturally implanted in ,creatures4 ,for the inexhausted ,treasures of the ,divine ,light and ,deity1 no less abundantly1 than liberally granted to us1 may best of all be known from all the ,creatures1 which are produced either under the therial ,heaven1 or in the belly of the ,earth1 or in the ,womb of the ,sea1 to the end1 that by their potentially insited virtues1 they should restore health to the ,mortal ,body of ,men4 ,helvetius the ,physician ,o ,sir6 ,the presence of such a new ,guest shall never be troublesome to me1 but rather ,i receive you as one of my best ,friends4 ,for ,philosophick ,discourse1 touching the ,secrets cf ,nature1 is the only recreation of my ,mind1 also it is such convenient ,salutiferous ,nutriment1 as no man can be worthy to taste of1 before he shall be rightly disposed for that ,banquet4 ,enter1 ,i pray1 ,friend1 into the ,house4 ,artist ,indeed ,sir6 ,here1 as it seems to to me1 you have a compleat ,vulcanian ,shop1 and perhaps all these things ,spagyrically and exactly drawn from1 the ,mineral ,kingdom2 but ,i pray1 to what end so many ,medicaments8 ,i believe1 that ,god in the things of ,nature1 naturally gives such ,medicines1 with a very few of which1 we may much sooner1 and more safely re-integrate the decayed1 and languishing ,health of ,man1 unless the ,disease be ,mortal1 from a deficiency of ,nature1 or from the putrefaction of some noble internal part hurt1 or by reason of a total absumption of the radical humidity in which desperate ,cases1 no ,galenick ,cure1 or ,paracelsick ,tincture can yeild releif4 ,but in ordinary ,diseases it is not so2 and yet here1 very many ,men1 before the fatal term of ,life be expired 7abfit ,nemesis dicto7 are enforced to pass out of this fair ,kingdom of pleasing ,light1 into the ,shadowed ,land of the ,dead1 whilst1 either they neglect the health of their own ,body1 or commit the same to the ,faith of ,physicians1 unskilful of the ,remedy they have in their hand4 ,physician4 ,as far as ,i can gather from your discourse1 if my ,judgement deceive me not1 you are either a ,physician1 or a man expert in ,chimistry4 ,certainly1 according as you say1 so ,i believe1 that in the things of ,nature are given other more excellent ,medicaments1 as also very many other ,philosophers affirm1 that there is a certain 7although to few known7 ,universal ,medicament1 by the benefit which1 we may prolong ,life unto the appointed ,end1 cure all ,diseases otherwise uncurable1 and many other such things4 ,but1 where is any among all the ,wisest men of this world1 that can shew us the way1 how to find out so noble a ,fountain1 whence such a wonderful ,medicamentous juice1 nobilitating the ,physician1 is drawn8 ,perhaps no one man4 ,artist4 ,indeed1 ,i am not a ,physician1 but only a ,melter of ,orichalcum1 and almost from my ,child-hood1 have exercised my ,ingeny in ,pyrotechny1 and so have sought out the internal ,nature of ,metals ,and although ,i now cease from my usual diligence in elaborating some accurate work1 by the ,art of ,vulcan1 yet my mind still takes delight in labours of that kind1 and in the lovers of this most curious ,spagyrick ,art2 and ,i do verily4 believe and judge1 that the most ,wise ,god1 will in this our age communicate gratis1 or for nothing1 the ,metallick ,mysteries of ,nature to his ,spagyrick ,sons1 ,praying1 and ,physico-chimically ,labouring4 ,physician4 ,my ,friend1 ,i must needs grant this1 that ,god1 for nothing1 communicates to his ,sons1 this laudable ,good1 as well as all other gifts2 yet you shall very rarely hear1 that he for nothing gives or vends this ,medicamentous ,wine or ,nectar to his ,sons4 ,for we certainly know1 how great a number of ,chymists lived in former ages who1 7according to the ,proverb 7 strove to draw water in a ,sieve1 whilest they presumed to prepare this ,universal ,stone of ,philosophers4 ,besides1 out of the books of them1 who triumph in the glory of ,adept1 no one man can learn the way of preparing1 nor know their ,first ,matter1 so as any one1 searching to the lowest roots of ,mountains1 can never ascend to those their ,heights1 where ,ambrosia1 and ,nectar of ,macrosophists1 is drank4 ,in the mean time1 it is the part of a good ,physician1 since he wants such an ,universal ,elixir1 7not without the daily study of conserving his ,conscience pure and sound7 to adhibit to the ,diseases of the ,sick1 commended to his ,cure1 such ,curations2 or ,remedies as for restoring ,sanity as in which he 7from the effect7 certainly knows1 that a virtue of healing is incited4 ,wherefore1 in all desperate ,diseases1 ,i1 with many other ,practitioners1 do alwayes use such most simple ,medicaments1 that thence the ,diseased may soon be restored to their ,pristine state of ,health1 or to a better than the ,pristine4 ,for indeed1 various and diverse kinds of ,salts1 are generated in the ,glandules and ,lymphatick ,vessels1 after the putrefaction of this1 or that nutriment taken1 which afterward wax florid in various ,humours1 for diverse ,diseases1 either ,internal1 or ,external4 ,experience teacheth1 that as many as are the ,constitutions1 or ,complexions of humane bodies1 to so many diversities of ,diseases the same are obnoxious2 although in one manner1 and the same ,disease1 as our daily conversation evidenceth to us in those who drink ,wine1 whence divers ,operations manifestly discover themselves4 ,because ,peter drinks ,wine1 he labours with an angry1 ,i will not say1 furious mind4 ,on the contrary1 ,paul drinking ,wine1 seems to imbibe his mind with an ,agnine ,timorousness4 ,but ,matthias sings1 and ,luke weeps4 ,also1 ,touching the ,scorbutick ,contagious ,venome1 viz4 of ,peter1 his radical juice in the ,lymphatick ,vessels1 and ,glandules1 is converted into an ,acidity1 stopping the passages1 and all ,organs of the whole body1 whence1 under the ,skin1 arise ,spots on the ,arms and ,legs of a blewish colour1 but in times of ,pestilence1 they swell like ,pepper ,corns4 ,also ,the juice of ,pauls parts is changed into an ,aperitive ,bitterness2 whence1 under the ,skin of the ,arms and ,legs1 arise red ,spots1 pricking like the bitings of ,fleas2 but in a ,pestilential time1 they are ,blanes4 ,also ,the juice of ,matthias his parts1 is converted into a sweetness easily putrifying2 whence1 under the ,skin of ,arms and leg1 arise watery ,tumours1 almost such as are conspicuous in ,dropsical ,persons2 but in time of the ,pest1 they are ,pestilential ,tumours4 ,also1 ,the juice of the parts of ,luke1 is changed into a ,saline1 and drying sharpness2 whence1 under the ,skin of the ,arms and ,legs1 arise ,precipitations of the ordinary ,ferment of the ,flesh1 and ,exficcations1 as usually happens in this ,atrophia1 yea most frequently in the true ,atrophia4 ,but in the ,pest1 they become most ardent ,buboes1 with madness1 even until death4 ,behold1 my ,friend1 no ,physician1 by one only ,universal ,medicament1 can heal the ,evil of this ,scorbutick1 or ,pestilential1 or ,febrile ,venome1 but indeed1 by the ,mediation of some particular ,vegetable1 or ,mineral ,remedy1 given to us from ,god in ,nature1 he may exterminate the same4 ,for1 as ,i cannot heal1 or help all ,scorbutick ,persons1 with one only ,scorbutick ,herb1 as ,scurvy-grass1 or ,sorrel1 or ,fumitory1 or ,brooklime2 so1 much less of a certain remedy made of these diverse ,species congested into one2 because1 between the ,herbs ,scurvy-grass and ,sorrel1 there is an ,antipathy1 as between ,fire and ,water2 and so there is the same ,antipathy between the ,herbs ,fumitory and ,brook-lime4 ,therefore1 the ,correctory of ,peters ,scorbutick ,saline acid tinging ,venome1 is made with the ,volatile bitter ,salt of ,scurvy-grass4 ,but the ,correctory of ,pauls ,scorbutick ,saline bitter tinging ,venome1 is made with the acid fixed ,salt of the ,herb ,sorrel4 ,the ,correctory of ,matthias his ,scorbutick sweetish1 and moistning tinging ,venome is made by the help of the fixed bitter drying ,sulphur of the ,herb ,fumitory4 ,and the ,correctory of ,lukes ,scorbutick tinging ,saline and drying ,venome1 is made with the help of the sweet moistning ,mercury of the ,herb ,brook-lime1 or red ,colewort1 as from the ,external ,signature of these ,herbs1 it is easie to judge of the ,internal ,specifick ,remedy against there diverse ,scorbutick ,disease4 ,certainly1 my ,friend1 if this be observed by a prudent ,physician1 he must needs doubt of the ,universal ,medicine1 ,artist4 ,all you have discoursed of1 ,i can easily grant2 yet very few ,physicians use this ,method of healing4 ,yet1 in the meanwhile1 it is not impossible1 that an ,universal ,medicine should be given in the highest ,mineral ,kingdome1 by the benefit of which we may perform and administer all things1 which are by you related to me1 touching the lowest ,kingdom of ,vegitables2 but the most wise ,god1 for several weighty reasons1 hath not on all ,philosophers promiscuously conferred this most magnificent ,charisma of ,supereminent ,science1 but hath revealed it only2 to a very few4 ,according as all the ,adept1 with one mouth1 confess1 and say3 ,the ,science is true1 ,and1 the verity thereof not to be doubted4 ,physician ,sir1 besides the above commemorated1 there are also other ,observations2 strenuously refuting the ,operation on an ,universal ,medicine1 partly in respect of the ,age and strength of ,man1 partly by reason of the ,sex1 and other ,circumstances1 whilst a difference is to be made between the tender1 and the ,robust1 whether from ,nature1 or from ,education2 or between the ,male and ,female1 or between a ,young ,man and a ,virgin1 or between the ,beginning1 ,middle1 or ,end of ,diseases2 or it is to be understood whether a ,disease1 be inveterate1 or the ,sick be lately invaded2 or lastly1 whether the ,ferment be promoted in this ,disease1 or be precipited in in another4 ,effervescency is made either in the ,stomach or in the ,intestines4 ,assuredly there are many contradictions of the ,wonderful effect1 of the ,universal ,medicine4 ,for the greatest part of rational ,physicians want the ,perspicil of ,thomas ,didymus in their ,fingers4 ,artist ,indeed1 ,sir2 you have philosophised rightly1 and well1 yea1 ,arthodoxly1 against the universal ,medicament1 according to that notorious1 and far spred proverb4 ,as many ,heads1 so many ,senses4 ,for as ,sweet sounding ,musick delights not the ,ears of every ,midas2 nor doth the ,same ,history related please all ,historians2 nor of ,bread and ,wine1 of the same ,taste1 is there a like relish in all ,palats4 ,so also the judgements of ,skilful ,men do strangely differ1 touching the wonderful ,effect of this ,universal ,medicine1 on ,humane and ,metallick ,bodies4 ,for this ,universal ,medicine1 in its way of ,operating1 vastly differs1 from a particular ,medicine1 which may in some sense be called ,universal1 as the ,herb ,scurvy-grass1 curing every ,scorbutick marked with blew ,spots2 or ,sorrel1 healing every ,scurvy1 noted with red ,spots2 or ,brook-lime1 healing an ,atrophia of that ,kind1 or ,fumitory remedying ,tumors of that ,kind3 and that especially with such ,physicians1 with whom the ,observation you before recited1 is of any esteem4 ,moreover1 there is an exceeding great difference between the ,universal ,medicine of ,philosophers1 refreshing the vital ,spirits1 and between a ,particular ,medicament of ,proletary-,curation1 with which is corrected the venom of ,humors2 viz4 such as boyles up against ,nature1 in this ,man1 ,acid2 in that ,man1 the ,bitter is predominant2 in one1 what is ,saline1 in another1 what is sharp1 grow potent4 ,but1 if these ,corrupt humors be not without all delay presently expelled out of the ,body1 by the ordinary ,emunctories of ,nature either by the ,belly1 or by ,urine of the ,bladder1 or by the ,sweat through the ,pores1 or by the ,spittle of the ,mouth1 or by the ,nostrils1 assuredly the corruption of one1 becomes the ,generation of another1 viz4 of a ,disease4 ,for1 from every spark1 if we do not timely extinguish it1 an exceding great burning will arise4 ,also1 if there be a defect1 of the ,vital ,spirits1 it is impossible to effect this4 ,therefore the only care of a ,conscientious ,physician should be1 how to deduce the motion of the ,vital ,spirits to a digestible natural ,heat1 and that is best of all1 and most securely performed by the ,operation of our ,universal ,medicament1 by which they are found to be notably recreated4 ,for as soon as this more than perfect ,medicine hath driven the ,morbifick ,evil from the ,seat it occupies1 then immediately it infuseth the lost ,sanity1 and that only from the ,harmony1 or ,sympathy it self1 which the ,vital ,spirits1 and this ,medicine1 have mutually in themselves4 ,wherefore1 it1 by the ,adept1 is called the ,mystery of ,nature1 and the ,defensive of old ,age1 against all ,diseases4 ,which1 ,i fay1 even in a most pestilent ,season1 most full of contagious ,diseases every where raging1 makes of man a ,salamander1 bearing such ,epidemical ,plagues of ,heaven displeased1 until the utmost term of his ,life be expired4 ,physician ,as far as ,i1 beloved ,friend1 can understand1 this ,medicine makes not for the ,emendation of depraved ,humours1 but is chiefly conducent for the recreation of the ,vital ,spirits4 ,besides1 among practical ,chimists1 this ,secret is taught1 viz4 that by the ,spayrick ,art1 it may be commonstrated1 how the pure should be separated from the impure1 and by the same1 how the ,immature are rendred mature1 and how the ,bitter are corrected into sourish1 and the sourish into ,sweet1 and the ,sharp into ,gentle1 and the ,gentle into ,sharp2 and the ,acid into ,sweet1 and the ,sweet into ,acid4 ,also this ,laudable ,medicine of ,philosophers1 according to my understanding1 cannot prolong ,life1 beyond the term prefixed from above1 but only preserve from the ,effect of all ,venimous1 or otherwise mortiferous ,diseases3 and so it is certainly true1 as is commonly believed1 that the prolongation of ,humane ,life depends1 on the ,will of the ,omnipotent ,god only4 ,but1 omitting these1 ,i would here ask this one ,question4 ,whether by the use of this ,universal ,medicine1 the pristine ,nature of ,man may be converted into ,new1 so as a ,slothful ,man may degenerate into a ,diligent1 or stirring ,man1 and a ,man1 who before was by ,nature ,melancholy and ,sad1 afterward became ,jovial1 ,chearful1 and full of ,joy1 or like alterations1 reformations1 permutations1 or vicissitudes happen in the ,nature of ,man8 ,artist4 ,not at all ,sir4 ,for so great power was never conferred on any ,medicament1 that it could change the ,nature of ,man4 ,wine inebriating1 taken by diverse individual ,men1 in him1 who is drunk1 changeth not his ,nature but only provokes1 and deduceth into act1 what is naturally1 and potentially in him1 but before was as it were1 dead4 ,even so is the ,operation of the ,universal ,medicine1 which by recreation of the ,vital ,spirits1 excites ,sanity1 for a time only suppressed1 because it was naturally in him before2 even as the heat of the ,sun changeth not ,herbs1 or ,flowers1 but only provokes the same1 and from the proper potential nature of them1 deduceth them into act only4 ,for a ,man of a ,melancholy temper1 is again raised up to exercise his own ,melancholy matters2 and the jovial ,man1 who was pleasant1 is recreated in all his chearful actions1 and so consequently1 in all desperate ,diseases it is a present1 or most excellent ,preservative4 ,hence a ,man1 presaging that some evil will befal him1 will rather prevent than be prevented4 ,but if any prolongation of ,life1 by some ,philosophick ,medicament1 could have been induced1 against the predestination of the ,omnipotent ,god1 undoubtedly neither ,hermes ,trismegistus1 nor ,paracelsus1 nor ,raymundlully1 nor the ,count ,bernhard1 and many more like illustrious ,possessors of this great ,mystery1 would not have yeilded to the common death of all ,mortals1 but perhaps have protracted their ,life until this very ,day1 ,therefore1 it would be the part of a fanatick1 and foolish ,man to affirm this1 yea of a most foolish ,man1 to believe1 and assent to the same1 touching any one ,medicament in the things of ,nature4 ,physician4 ,my ,friend1 whatsoever you have spoken no less regularly1 than fundamentally1 touching the ,operation of the ,universal ,medicine1 ,i indeed cherefully1 and willingly grant1 but as long as ,i am ignorant of preparing the same rightly1 ,i do no other than attempt to carry my ,boat from a very small ,lake1 into the ,vast ,ocean1 because it will certainly be driven back to the ,shore1 without any ,fruit4 ,for although many of those illustrious ,men have written somewhat touching that laudable preparation1 yet they involved that in such a ,wrapper of shadowed ,caution1 as the ,footsteps of them latently demonstrated1 can be known by few or none of the most diligent ,readers1 who should follow them so far1 as until they come where they would be4 ,also1 who is so wealthy1 and well informed1 as to be able1 and to know where to buy all those ,books1 in which1 here1 and there an ,hypothesis of this kind is handled3 betides1 you may consume the greatest part of your life1 before you can gather thence any sufficient knowledge1 or the direct manual ,operation4 ,therefore it is best for us to abide patiently in our ,laboratory1 praying to the blessed ,god1 according to that ,saying3 ,ora1 ac ,labora2 ,deus dat omni hora4 ,labour1 and ,pray2 ,god gives alway4 ,artist ,you argue rightly enough ,sir4 ,for1 from the writings of ,philosophers1 this ,art of ,arts is most rarely learned2 but the ,sense them is very well1 and clearely understood by the ,manuduction of some ,adept ,philosopher4 ,but let us hence pass to the ,transmutative ,effect of this most noble ,tincture1 touching which1 the possessors1 or many of the ,adept1 have written many ,books1 and the most of their ,genuine ,disciples1 labouring much in the ,fire1 did at length compleatly attain to the wished ,end of their ,arcanum1 ,physician ,i perceive your ,mastership takes pleasure in passing from the use of the ,medicine1 to the infinite ,transmutation of ,metals4 ,although ,i could easily believe the possibility of ,art1 viz4 that a ,chymical ,experiment of that kind was in the ,adept1 as ,i have also made mention above1 touching that ,experiment of ,dr4 ,kifflerus who1 with the ,tincture of one ounce of ,gold transmuted #a ounce half of ,silver into the best ,gold1 not to mention the ,experiment of ,helmont2 nor of ,scotus1 which he made in the most famous ,cities of ,colonia1 and ,hanovia2 nor much to insist on that illustrious1 and well known ,example1 manifested at ,prague1 before ,csar ,ferdinando the third1 himself2 where with one only grain of the ,tincture1 three pounds ,mercury were transmuted into most noble ,gold2 insomuch that ,i am brought no less into a neccessity1 than into a ,will of believing1 that the ,art may be true2 yet ,i cannot to this hour sufficiently receive it without some doubt1 because with these my ,eyes1 ,i never in all my ,life saw the ,man1 who was the true possessor thereof4 ,artist4 ,sir1 you say true8 yet ,art will be ,art1 whether you can believe it or no4 ,even as is seen in the ,magnet4 ,how it by its own insited ,sulphureous ,virtue1 of ,iron1 by ,contact presently makes a ,magnet4 ,although you will not believe1 that such wonderful ,operations are latent in it1 yet they are1 and will remain true4 ,so also you should ,judge of the ,stone of ,philosophers1 in which is all that the ,wise seek4 ,and because the clouded ,writings of them1 can be understood1 and explained but by very few1 it is to be desired earnestly by all1 and with the hands it must be endavoured1 that some one ,general ,epitomen of the whole ,art1 may so be made1 as in a very short space of time1 and without much labour1 all things necessary may be gathered1 by the help of which1 a most easy ,transition to real ,authors1 might be effected4 ,now since you have presented some few ,examples1 by which you endeavour to assert the confirmed possibility of the ,matter2 ,i my self will here shew to you the ,true ,matter of ,secret ,philosophers4 ,behold it6 ,look well1 upon it4 ,physician4 ,so my ,master1 ,is this ,sulphureous1 and ,yellow ,glassy ,substance the very ,philosophick ,matter8 ,and are you your self the ,possessor of this ,science8 ,i am ready to believe you do but jest with me4 ,i pray ,sir1 tell me the ,truth1 whether it be really so1 or not8 ,artist4 ,yes1 ,matter ,doctor1 ,you now have within your hand1 the most pretious ,treasure in the ,world4 ,for this is the true ,stone of ,philosophers1 than which1 no ,man ever had a better1 nor shall have any other4 ,and ,i my self did elaborate the ,composition1 from beginning to end4 ,if you have another convenient ,chamber1 ,i will ,shew you ,metal transmuted into ,gold1 by such a ,stone as this 7,when ,i had brought him into another ,chamber47 ,behold 7said he7 these five ,pendants1 were1 by the benefit of this ,philosophick ,tincture1 prepared of ,saturn1 or ,lead2 which ,i wear for a perpetual ,remembrance of my ,master4 ,but ,i suppose1 you1 having perused many ,writings of the ,adept1 seeing the ,substance1 and ,nature of this ,stone1 will very sufficiently know the true ,matter1 or rightly understand the same4 ,physician4 ,i understand by your self1 that you had a ,master1 from whom you rather learned your ,art1 than acquired the same1 by your proper ,labour and ,invention4 ,and although ,i now have seen that ,substance1 which you affirm to be the true ,tincture of ,philosophers1 as also those five ,pendants1 nevertheless ,i am still left ignorant1 and in doubt1 whether it be true or no4 ,therefore1 ,i earnestly again and again request of you1 to confer on me only so small a part of that matter1 as will suffice to transmute only four grains of ,lead into ,gold1 that you may this way remove from me all ,scruple or ,doubt1 and render me so much the more certain of the verity of the ,matter4 ,give me but the magnitude of one grain only1 or of a ,coriander-seed1 that thence a ,specimen1 or ,probation1 may be exhibited1 either in some desperate ,disease1 or in a ,metallick ,transmutation4 ,artist4 ,i do confess1 that a certain ,man of good ,condition1 to me wholly unknown1 by demonstrating taught me2 ,first1 the possibility of transmutation2 secondly the way of preparing also4 ,and this is that ,infallible ,art1 touching which you have no reason to doubt4 ,but whereas1 you request that ,i should give you one small part of my ,treasure2 that is no wise lawful for me to do1 although1 you would give as a ,recompense1 so many ,ducats1 as this whole ,room1 from the bottom to the top1 would contein2 and that not by reason of the estimation of the ,matter1 because it is of small ,price1 but for another weighty ,reason1 in respect of which1 if it were possible1 that ,fire could be consumed by ,fire1 ,i would at this time1 rather cast this whole ,mass into the devouring ,flames1 before your ,eyes4 ,wherefore1 in the meanwhile1 ,i admonish you1 not to be so eager in coveting this so great ,science4 ,for you have this day seen more in my possession1 than many ,kings1 and ,princes could ever behold1 although they eagerly desired to see the same4 ,besides1 ,i think of comming to you again1 after #c ,weeks1 then ,i will shew to you certain excellent ,arts1 and ,manuductions in the ,chymical ,science4 ,also1 if it shall then be lawful for me1 to shew you the way of ,transmutation1 ,i will truely satisfie your ,curiosity therein4 ,in the mean while1 ,i bid you farewel1 withal1 admonishing1 that you take heed to your self1 and meddle not with such a great1 and profound ,labour1 least3 you miserably loose both your ,fame1 and substance in the ,ashes like some other covetous inquisitors1 of the same most noble ,art4 ,physician4 ,now1 what shall ,i do1 my ,master8 ,if it happen1 that1 by reason of your ,philosophick ,oath1 confirmed by that small draught of ,silver1 dissolved in ,rain-water1 it shall not be lawful for you to give me that requested exceeding small part of the ,tincture so wonderful4 ,you cannot be ignorant1 that ,i 7according to your suspicion7 am in mind anxious1 and earnestlie desirous of tasting of this so noble ,science4 ,yea1 ,i do verilie think1 if ,adam himself1 the first ,patriark of the ,world 7who was once driven out of ,paradice1 for eating the ,apple of either ,wisedom7 were yet living in this our ,age1 he would not forbear again the ,taste of this ,golden ,apple1 from the ,garden of ,atlantis4 ,your ,mastership said3 ,manie ,princes could not see this which ,i have seen4 ,i1 indeed have seen the ,matter1 of which you give so rare a ,testimony2 but in the mean while ,i have not beheld the transmutative ,effect2 only ,i give credit to your ,words4 ,and1 since you have told me1 that you will go hence1 and after three ,weeks return to me again1 to teach me some excellent ,chymical ,arts1 as also the way of projection1 if it shall then be lawful for you4 ,in the fruition of this good hope1 ,i at this time rest satisfied2 in the mean time1 giving you hearty thanks1 for your exceeding great ,friendship shewed to me alreadie1 and1 for your singular ,care1 and faithful admonition1 that ,i should not in ,chymical ,labours1 consume both my ,goods and ,reputation4 ,i assuredly have never yet made tryal of so great1 and high things1 nor ever will ,i attempt the me1 unless your self will first gratis1 and from the pure benevolence of ,friendship1 demonstrate to me1 the way and manner of preparing4 ,yet ,i shall admire the ,verity of ,art1 and please my self with the ,remembrance of the ,friendship you have shewed me2 because you1 who have revealed this to me1 are an ,adept ,philosopher4 ,but if any ,king1 or ,prince1 or any ,great ,man1 or ,men1 should know1 that you are the ,possessor of this ,art1 and therefore 7which ,god forbid7 should lay hold of you1 and attempt by ,tortures to bring you to a discovery1 would you reveal this ,art to them8 ,artist4 ,i have not shewed the ,stone of ,philosophers to any man1 except to one aged man1 and to your self2 to both of you1 ,i have revealed that ,i am the ,possessor2 but1 henceforth1 no man must ever see or hear such a thing4 ,and although any ,king1 or ,prince1 should 7which ,god ,i hope will not permit7 cast1 me into ,prison1 ,i would not1 after the manner of ,circumforanean ,physicians or ,mountebanks or ,vagabond ,impostors or of poor ,alchimists1 directly1 or indirectly1 discover the ,art to them1 but would rather suffer my self to be most cruelly wracked1 tortured1 or tormented with burning ,fire1 untill my life expire4 ,physician ,good ,friend1 are there not ,authors1 which1 touching the verity of this ,art1 write more plainly1 then all the number of them1 which1 concerning it1 utter words so obscure1 as perhaps they themselves did not understand1 unless they adhibited the4 ,commentaries1 and ,annotations of evident ,paraphrasists4 ,i suppose you have in times past read them1 and therefore are best able to inform me1 who were ,adept4 ,artist4 ,master ,doctor1 ,i indeed read not1 nor have ,i read many ,books1 yet among those ,i have read1 ,i find no ,authors more curious1 than ,sandivogius1 especially in that ,book1 which is ,entituled ,cosmopolita1 in ,dutch1 ,borger ,der ,werelt4 ,also ,brother ,basilius in in his twelve ,keys4 ,as to ,sandivogius1 this ,author you may peruse1 untill ,i return1 as ,i said3 for in his obscure words the truth is latent1 even as our ,tincture of ,philosophers is both included1 and retruded1 in ,external ,minerals1 and ,metallick ,bodies4 ,physician ,sir1 ,i give you thanks1 for this so great friendship4 ,i shall do according to your advice1 and as to what you say1 touching the ,objects of the ,tincture1 ,i easily assent to1 and grant2 for ,i believe that the wonderful1 and efficacious ,essences of ,metals1 are hid under the external ,rinds and ,shells of ,bodies1 although ,i find very few so well exercised1 and experienced in the ,fire1 who know how to uncase the ,kernel1 according to the ,rule of ,art4 ,every ,external1 and ,robust ,substance1 of any ,animal1 ,vegetable1 or ,mineral1 is the ,body1 like unto that ,terrestrial ,province1 into which 7as ,isaac ,holland hath prescribed7 excellent ,essences spiritually enter4 ,wherefore1 it is needful1 that the ,sons of ,art should know1 how by some ,saline suitable ,ferment1 grateful to the ,metallick ,nature1 they may subdue1 dissolve1 separate and concentrate1 not only the ,magnetick ,metallick virtue of ,tinging1 but also1 how they may multiply the same in its own ,philosophick ,homogeneal ,golden1 or ,silvery-manner4 ,for we see1 that the bodies of all ,creatures1 are not only easily destroyed1 but thenceforth also the ,internals cease to live1 and hasten to the dark ,shadowings1 in which they were1 before they1 by the ,creation of ,god the ,creator1 were brought to ,light4 ,but what ,man will discover to us this ,art in the ,metallick ,kingdom8 ,artist ,you say well1 and have rightly judged of the ,natural ,destruction of things1 and if it shall be pleasing to the most merciful ,god1 to deal graciously with you as ,he hath done with me2 ,he1 according to your good hope1 will direct some one of the ,adept to demonstrate1 to you the way of destroying ,metals1 and of collecting the ,internal ,souls of them4 ,but1 in the mean while1 do you invoke the most ,wise ,god1 to whose ,vigilant ,eyes ,i commend you1 which are always open upon his ,sons1 regenerated to him by ,christ4 ,again ,farewel1 and rest assured1 ,i will be your ,friend4 ,i must at this time go hence1 but ,i hope to see you again in good health1 ere it be long4 ,thus my new ,friend took his ,leave1 and went away2 it leaving me1 his ,friend1 most sad for the space of three ,weeks1 which being expired1 according to his ,word1 he returned1 and gave me the ,tincture1 as you may learn by the above-recited ,history4 ,after this1 that ,philosophick ,man of ,god went from me1 and ,i never more saw him1 from that time1 unto to this very day1 nor could ,i hear of him by any of the ,carriers1 or ,posts1 or by any of my ,intimate ,acquaintance4 ,nevertheless1 he left with me 7as a ,spurre7 the acute ,memory of1 him1 reposted in my minde1 as also the ,opinion of ,paracelsus affirming1 that by ,metals1 of ,metals1 and with ,metals1 cleansed1 ,spiritual1 and first depurated from their feculency1 are made ,metals1 and the ,living ,gold and ,silver of ,philosophers1 as well for ,humane1 as for ,metallick ,bodies4 ,wherefore if that ,guest1 my ,friend of but little acquaintance1 had exactly shewed to me1 the way of preparing preparing this ,celestial ,spiritual ,salt1 by which1 and with which1 from ,corporeal1 and ,earthly ,substances1 ,i might1 as it were1 in the ,matrix of them1 collect the ,spiritual ,rayes of ,sol or ,luna3 assuredly1 ,he from his own ,light1 would have enkindled in me so great a ,light1 as ,i should have seen1 and understood how ,i ought in other ,corporeal ,metals1 by ,sympathy to transmute the ,eternal ,soul of them so1 as by the help thereof they had clarified1 or transformed their own like body1 either into ,gold1 or into ,silver1 according to the disposition of the ,red seed1 into a ,red ,body1 or according to the ,nature of the ,white ,seed1 into a ,white ,body4 ,for ,elias the ,artist affirmed to me1 that the ,chalybs ,of ,sandivogius is that true ,mercurial ,metallick ,humidity1 by the help of which1 without any ,corrosive1 the ,artist might1 in an open ,fire1 and ,crucible1 separate the fixed ,rayes of ,sol or ,luna from their own ,body1 and thenceforth make them ,volatile and ,mercurial1 for the ,dry ,philosophick ,tincture1 as he demonstrated to me2 and communicated somewhat relating to the transmutation of ,metals4 ,indeed all men well skilled in the ,chymical ,science1 have a necessity of assenting to me in this1 viz4 that ,pyrotechny is the ,mother1 and ,nurse of various noble ,sciences and ,arts4 ,for they can easily judge from the ,colours of the ,chaos of ,metals in the ,fire1 what ,metallic body is therein4 ,even so dayly in the bowels of the ,earth are procreated ,metals1 and ,perspicuous ,stones1 from a proper noble vaporous ,seed1 from a ,spiritual tinging ,sulphureous ,seed1 in their diverse ,saline ,matrixes4 ,for the common ,sulphur1 whether of an impure1 or pure ,metal whilst conjoyned with its own body1 mixt with ,salt ,peter only in the burning heat of ,fire is easily changed into a most hard and most fixed ,earth1 but this ,earth is thenceforth by the ,aire easily changed into a most limpid ,water3 and this ,water afterward1 by a more strong ,fire1 according to the ,nature of the ,metallick pure or impure ,sulphur mixt is converted into ,glass1 admirably ,well tinged with various ,colours4 ,almost in the very same manner1 from the ,white of an ,egge is generated a ,chick by natural heat4 ,so also from the ,seminal bond of ,life of any one ,metal1 is made a new1 and more noble ,metal1 by an heat of ,fire convenient to the ,saline ,nature2 although very few ,chimists rightly and perfectly know1 how the ,internal1 and alwayes moving ,magnetick virtues1 are distinguished according to the ,harmony1 or ,disconsonancy of them4 ,whence we see1 this ,metal hath a ,sympathy or ,antipathy with another1 so very singular1 as is found in the ,magnet with ,iron1 in ,mercury with ,gold1 in ,silver with ,copper1 a very remarkable ,sympathy1 but on the contrary1 there is a notable ,antipathy in ,lead against ,tin1 in ,iron against ,gold1 in ,antimony against ,silver1 in ,lead against ,mercury4 ,infinite other like ,sympathetic1 and ,antipathetick ,annotations occurr in the ,animal ,vegetable ,kingdom2 as you may read and find in various ,authors1 who have written of such ,curiosities1 from the accurate1 and absolute ,knowledge of which1 the true ,philosophers1 and ,masters of ,nature had their beginning1 and ,esteem4 ,thus have ,i described1 what ,i my self have seen and done2 and have caused the same to be printed for you1 ,candid ,readers1 out of mere ,liberality1 gratis communicating it1 according to that of ,seneca3 ,i desire in this to know somewhat1 that ,i may teach others4 ,si cum hac ,exceptione detur ,sapientia1 ut illlam inclusam tencam1 abjiciam1 c4 ,but if any man doubt of the real truth of this matter1 let him only with a lively faith believe in his ,crucified ,jesus1 that in ,him1 he 7by the strict way of ,regeneration7 may become a ,new ,creature2 in the same let him fix the whole ,anchor1 of his ,faith1 and likewise shew his ,greek3 philanthropia1 or ,love of ,mankind1 unto all his ,neighbours1 and especially exercise the works of ,mercy1 and ,brotherly ,love towards the needy ,members of the ,christian ,religion1 that at length1 when the whole ,course of his ,life is justly1 and holily finished1 in that ,fatal and ,mortal hour1 he may hence1 through the ,watery ,ocean of this ,tempestuous and ,rocky ,world1 arrive in safety at the most blessed ,port of ,eternal ,rest1 and sing the ,new ,song with the ,triumphing ,philosophers of the ,heavenly ,jerusalem1 of which he hopes to take1 who is1 ,your most faithful and assured ,friend ,john ,frederick ,helvetius1 ,doctor and ,practitioner of ,medicine at the ,hague4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's note3 ,repeated word perused deleted4