Chapter XIX: Front Matter (19)

The like is it with Metals, which being deprived of their soul, whereby they obtained a metallick form, they can no more be malleable Metals. Therefore ’tis good to consider whether or no in the separation of ☉ out of the Imperfect metals, it will be answerable (in value) to the metal, and other Expences necessary about extracting it; but now, if you know how to apply the residue of the Metal to other uses, you may with the more confidence attempt the separation. But to return to the words of _Paracelsus_, I will shew how ♂ may, through ♄’s help, arrive to a Kingly dignity. I have before said, that there is no familiarity between the most fusile and most hard metal, but the one will be gone away in fume before the other will melt, and that we cannot want ♄ in the separation of ♂; but how it is to be handled, I will briefly explain.

Saturn of himself is liquable and volatile, but yet can be made illiquable and fixt without detriment of the Radical Moisture or Metallick Nature; so as to undergo the same Fire with ♂, and being brought to this pass, it is then fit for the separation of ♂. ’Tis many waies made illiquable (=Hartflussig=) but the best way is by fixed Salts, of a contrary nature to the superfluous Sulphur in ♂, and excellently well separated from the _Reguli_ made of ♂; for Nitre and Salt of Tartar do not only harden ♄, but unite other metals with him, making them spiritual, and most like to transparent, soluble Glass, the which having sustained the Fire their proper time, the Agent being taken away, and the Patient sufficiently purged, the purest part of the Metals, thus spiritually mixt together, doth by the force of ♄ separate from the other unprofitable part. The _Regulus_ is purged easily, so that there’s no need of separating the whole Mass by precipitation and reducing it into _Reguli_; but ♄, by his innate force, doth in its due time finish the separation or precipitation of the pure from the impure, of metals thus spiritually commixt and united. This is enough spoken concerning the way of separating gold out of ♂, by ♄, _viz._ ♄ being first fixed by salts, and made hard to melt, so as to endure the same force of Fire with ♂, or otherwise ’twill be impossible to have any thing from ♂ by the usual way of the Refiners, by the help of scorifying with ♄ (=mit ansieden=) and separation (=abtreiben=) which even as ♃ also doth not stay with common Lead in a strong fire, but separate themselves and go into _Scoria_; the which we have also hinted in the First Part of this little Book, whereto we referr the Reader. This separation of ☉ out of ♂, may be done with _Regulus_ of ♁ and Nitre, and in some manner better than with common Lead, but that I do not deliver the whole Process from top to bottom, let no body wonder thereat, for then the Book would grow to too great a bulk, and I should not receive any reward the more from the Unthankful: Let it suffice, that I have declared the manner and the Species wherewith ’tis to be done; for ’tis for the sake of such Chymists as are most expert in the Fire and Metalline Works that I write, and not for the common Destillers of Waters. And as touching what may tend to illustrate what is said, it shall be supplyed with some Processes at the end of the seven Rules.

Whereas I have attributed to ♂ in the First Part of this Treatise and elsewhere, that he doth not only unwillingly deliver his own gold, but also if any be either accidentally, or of set purpose, added thereto, he swallows it up and hides it, and will not restore it without detriment and loss. Some body may admire how it’s possible for to be done so easily by ♄ and Salts; let him know that this Extraction of ☉ out of ♂ is not any the common Examen or Trial, (=abtreiben=,) but a true and Philosophical separation (=Seigerungh=) wherewith ♂ being well dissolved, is most throughly separated from his thick and hard body, concerning which, I never met with any full pregnant Processes any where. And albeit that I am not ignorant that many, yea most that read, will not have any higher thought or consideration, yet I say that there is something else hereunder; and do believe, that it is to be esteemed far more excellent than Sol it self; which that thou maist not over-much trouble thy head about, I will not be shy in communicating it also unto thee. _viz._ Out of Iron is prepared a Salt without any corrosive, which is able to extract the soul from Gold, that it will remain half dead. But ♂ will be impregnated as it were divinely, so as to be able to give forth a golden Child: the debilitated Gold will recover its lost Colour and Virtue by ♀ and ♁. Other Philosophers have likewise made mention hereof, _viz._ that ♂ will not spare even the King, out of whose bowels he will steal Treasures, and will not blush to adorn himself with the same. Concerning which Secret the most famous _Sandivow_ wrote on this wise. “The Chymists know how to change Iron into Copper or ♀, without the Sun: They likewise know how to make ☿ out of ♃: Others there are that can make ☽ out of ♄; but if they knew how to administer the Solar Nature to these mutations, questionless they would find a thing more precious than any Treasure. On which account I say, that we must not be ignorant of what metals are to be conjoined one with the other, and whose nature of them corresponds to Nature. There is therefore given one metal, which hath a power to consume the other metals, for it is as it were almost their water and their mother; one thing there is that only resists it, and is bettered thereby, _viz._ the _humidum Radicale_ of the Sun and Moon; but that I may discover it, ’tis called _Chalybs_.”

Thus you see, that from ♂ also some good is to be gotten, although all speak ill of him; and indeed he is wicked if he gets possession: Nor will he spare the highest Powers, from whom he will forcibly wrest their hidden Treasures, but yet by Commerce with ♀ he will again repay it in time to be distributed amongst the subjects; although the king being robb’d of his goods, looks pale upon it, yet he lays not down his Life, and he remaining alive, there is no cause of complaining, for as long as the Riches are not exported, but remain in the Kingdom, distributed amongst the subjects, he is able to receive his former majesty and splendor from his Revenues, and to gather new Riches, and preserve his kingly dignity whole and sound.

Here I foresee that our common Know-littles, in the light of Nature, will traduce me, as if I enterpret _Sandivow’s Chalybs_ to be common ♂, and say that ’tis not to be understood according to the Letter, but the Author would hint somewhat else thereby; but ’tis no matter, what I have written, I have written, and that not without cause. I am not ignorant, that he means not common Iron no more than I, but his inmost Magnetick force and power, or essence, prepared without corrosive, and known to few, which doth most greedily extract and transmute the soul of Gold above all other things. And herewith we will rest and cease.

The Fourth Rule.

_Of the Nature of ♀._

_The other Six Metals have in ♀ framed all their colours, and the =medium= of their Flux (with inconstancy) into an External body. It would be therefore profitable to hint to the understanding by some examples, by what means the visible may by the benefit of Fire be made invisible, and this again made visible and material. All combustible things may naturally be changed in the Fire, out of one form into another, as into a Coal, Soot, Ashes, Glass, Colours, Stones, Earth, but the Earth is reduced into sundry metallick bodies; and if a metal combust or corrupted with old age, is thereby become unmalleable, sharp, and brittle, let it well flow, and ’twill again become malleable._

=Glaub.=] Although that ♀ being malleable more than all the metals, in and out of the Fire, is fit for all Operations, yet even this is not void of a combustible sulphur, but is radically polluted therewith, so that it will most easily, of it self, without addition of any other sulphur, be reduced into _Scoria_, and be corrupted, which corruption is occasioned by the muchness of its combustible sulphur; Gold and Silver being void of that Sulphur, are not subject to destruction. So that, although they undergo the Fire a most long season, yet go they not into _Scoria_ like the other imperfect bodies; and for the reducing of them into ashes, combustible sulphur must be added; whereas the imperfect metals too much abounding with the same, are changed by a most light heat into Ashes, Powder, or _Scoria_, which _Scoria’s_ are melted into either transparent or darkish tincted Glass, according to the nature of the metal; which Glasses may be melted into malleable Metal, and again into Ashes and Glass, as you please, but alwaies with some loss, by reason of some combust parts irreducible into metal, the metal also remaining, as it was at first, without being any thing bettered.

He who knows how to melt Metals into pellucid Glass, by the addition not of metallick things, but of such things as have affinity with the metals, as Salts, Sand, or Stones, shall in reducing them, alwaies find his metal better than it was in the beginning: And that the Reader, for whose sake I have written these things, may the more throughly understand my mind, I will explain it somewhat more clearly. _Paracelsus_ hath above affirmed, That every visible metal is an hider of the other metals lying hid invisibly therein, and that the hider is to be removed, if you would that those visible metals become visible and corporeal, which being most truly spoken, I know not what light it may be illustrated withal. The words also are succinct and easie to be understood, yet no body believes them; There’s scarce one amongst an hundred that conceives what they tend unto. _Metals cannot be changed without putting off their metalline form_; for if you keep them a long time in Flux, by themselves, or joined with others, if they remain in their Corporality, they cannot help each the other, but being destroyed either by themselves, or joined with other Metals, and nourished in the fire their due time, it cannot otherwise be, but that they should be bettered, for so long as it retains its metalline form, it cannot be holpen. ’Tis necessary that a hard body be broken and annihilated, before there can be made a separation of the pure from the impure.

But this is to be done by a genuine Chymical manner, and they are to be dissolved and throughly opened, with things of affinity with them, whereby the purer parts may be united, and the more gross may be separated. If a metal be forced with a most vehement Fire, its parts do firmly hold together; for if it be fixt, then the parts abide in the Fire; but if volatile, then the parts thereof fly away together, their natural bond holds them together, defending them against the Fires power, but dissolve their bond, and then they are compelled to submit to _Vulcan_’s Force and Empire, and will let you make of them what you please. It may well shame the Chymists to work so disagreeably with Nature, and may well learn by the Husbandman’s labours to send for Nature’s help. The Husbandman therefore, when he sows his seed, to have a good Crop therefrom, he casts not his grain upon any sort of earth, without consideration, but chuseth such earth for each proper seed, as being well dung’d, may suit best therewith, and in a convenient season sows his grain, that it, being putrefied and annihilated, may be multiplied, he leaves it to the warmth of the Sun, and to the vivifying Rain to concoct and maturate it; well knowing, that without precedent putrefaction and loss of its form, it cannot be multiplied. He likewise knows, that when it hath arrived to its maturity it must not be left in the Field, but must be reaped, and then the better and more heavy part is to be fanned and separated from the lighter and worser part, _viz._ the Chaff; the which operation is, by Experience and long Use, known to be good and needful. This Process must a Chymist observe, for one Metal may be made the field of another, wherein putrefying, it may get it self a new body, which being done, he must likewise know how to separate the new body from the _fæces_, from which ’tis gathered and made; and how to fan _Vulcan_ like the best and most ponderous, from the lightest, for both of them will be made better by the foregoing preparation, and the annihilation of the bodies. When a Country-woman intends to separate the better part of the Milk from the more gross and cheesy part, she puts it in a quiet warm place, that the best part may rise up, and the worst part go down; the which being as yet not sufficiently purified, she adds her art, and puts it into a Churn, and doth so long stir or agitate it until another separation be made of the pure from the impure, which we call _Butter_; which notwithstanding, had it lain never so long by it self, had never come to have been Butter, without the Hand and Art of the Country-woman. Who would believe that in Milk there lies Butter, if he did not daily see it? This separation of the Butter from the waterishness, proceeds from the quick shaking and agitation, whereby the Milk heats; and if it doth not fadge, then do they put thereto some warm moisture, which uniting it self with the moisture of the Milk promotes a separation, for heat alone is the meer cause of hastening the separation. This now may seem a gross Example to the Ignorant, but let none imagine that this separation of the Butter from the Milk is alledged in vain, but rather to show the way how out of imperfect Minerals the golden and silver milk or part, is to be separated by the access or addition of a warm Mineral water, and by the Fires agitation: Even as warm Water helps the moisture of the Milk, that so it doth the easier separate its own heterogeneous Butter (and yet the way of separating the Butter from the Milk, without agitation, by the affusion of a warm thing and coction, is not unknown;) so also the Metals are separated, if they are along time boiled with their own Water.

Now, because of themselves they are compact bodies, if you keep them in Flux a long season, they remain compact, and are not able by their own power to shew forth their Good or Evil, nor make it appear, whether or no they contain Gold or Silver: They are to be a long time boil’d with Water, that being dispersed, they may be translated out of their metalline nature, and the pure (by the agitation of the Fire) may be separated from the impure; which purer part of the metal doth not swim at the top, like Butter, but settles to the bottom like a _Regulus_, after the metallick manner, and all being cool, it must be separated from the _Scoria_, and in a Cupel be washed to the utmost purity (=abgetrieben=).

But now ’tis worth the while to know what Water this is which is fit for this Work, and makes a separation of metals; for seeing that it must have power to dissolve metals, it’s expedient that it be a friend unto them, and of the same kin, or (that I may speak clearer) ’tis fit that it be their dissolver and examinator; and this old _Saturn_ hath power to do, out of which it may with small costs and labour be prepared; but the common _Saturn_, although it be called the Water of Metals by all the Philosophers (but in the usual washing in the Cupels ’tis not found so to be) yet as long as it remains in a compact metalline form, ’tis unfit for this thing; let him first be made Water himself before he reduceth the metals into water; which work is easie, of small cost, and of a few hours labour, and it goes into Water, and the Metals are thereby washt. Of which more shall be said in the following Chapter of ♄, and elsewhere. This also is to be noted, That if Copper being dissolved with the Water of Lead, be digested its proper time, the moisture dries, and the metal is hardened, and returns into a metallick body; therefore the Solution is to be kept alwaies liquid by the affusion or pouring on of new water, lest the mutual action be hindered, which the Philosophers call _Incineration_: Which being neglected, all the Work doth not presently perish, but there remains most elegant _Amausa_, and tinged Glass, which shines among the Copper, giving out from it self a Blood-red Colour, wherewith not only wooden Vessels may be adorned, but also Glass-Painters may use it; of which red Glass there hath been some found in old Churches; but ’twas believed that the Art was throughly lost; but this came not by chance without doubt, but was purposely concealed by those whose practising hereabouts did perceive a better thing to lie under it; for the red _Amausum_ or Glass, being burnt its proper time with a strong fire, gives a _Regulus_ yielding in the Leaden washing (=im abtreiben=) good Silver. But if you seek for ☽ out of ♀, it’s better not to make the red _Amausum_ or Glass at all, but to keep on with Inceration, that it may not come to be red, but may remain a pellucid and green Glass, even until ♀ be well washt.

Moreover this is to be noted, That ♀ and the other metals are not only reducible into soluble and insoluble Glass, by this _Saturnine_ Water, but the same is to be done by the addition of clean Flints and Salts, by which they are made much fairer than those done with ♄; but in the separation (=Seigerungh=) they are vilder, because the Dissolvent is not so metalline, and after purgation, they do not so easily give their _Regulus_ as those that are done with the Water of ♄. There’s also another way, by which the superfluous burning sulphur of ♀ may be washed, and she cleansed without the water of ♄ or of the Flints, _viz._ with _Salt-Petre_. If ♀ or any other imperfect metal be often mixt therewith and burnt, the purer parts come together, and the combustible parts come together, and the combustible sulphur separates in the form of _Scoria_. To conclude, This separation and washing may be done by the help of other fixed Salts, but none so good as the Water of ♄. Now let the Reader know, that those things spoken in a rude stile, concerning ♀, want not their weight, even as the following Chapters will openly declare.

The Fifth Rule.

_Of the Nature and Virtue of =Saturn=._

_Thus speaks =Saturn= of himself: The other Six Planets have excluded and thrust me out, who am their Examinator, from the spiritual City, assigning me an habitation with a corruptible body; for what they neither are, nor will be, I am constrained to be: My six Brethren are Spiritual, wherefore as often as I am in the fire, they pass through my body, and both I and they perish together in the Fire, the two best excepted, ☉ and ☽, who are most neatly and purely washt in my waters, and wax proud. My Spirit is Water, softning the hard bodies of my Brethren; but my body is addicted to the Earth, whatsoever I lay hold on, is also made like the Earth; and is converted into one body. It would not be good that the World should know what is in me, or what I could do; it would be better did they but know how to get that thing which is mine, and is in my faculty, they would lay aside all other Arts of =Alchymy=, and handle this thing only, which I am able to perfect. The Stone of Coldness is in me; this is the Water by which I cause the Spirits of the six other Metals to congeal into the Corporeity of the Seventh, that is to promote ☉ with ☽. =Antimony= is twofold, the one sort is the common black ♁, wherewith ☉ being mixt and melted, is purged; this is of nearest kin to Lead; the other is white =Magnesia=, =Bismuth=, and nearest to Tin; being mixt with the other ♁, it encreaseth ☽._

=Glaub.=] Here we have mention made of _Saturn_, from whence the Bath (spoken of afore) for ♀ and the other metals is prepared, and that twofold, the common and ♁, both which I have mentioned in my former Tracts, as profitable for this washing; but one is fitter for some metals than the other. _Venus_ willingly enters into ♄, and may most rightly be washed and separated (=geseigert=) with the common Saturnine water, ♂ and ♃ will not; but ♁ receives them most greedily, holds and washeth them, which is impossible for the common ♄ to do. Yet notwithstanding _Paracelsus_ seems to hint at some other thing here, speaking of the transmutation of ♄ with other metals, aiming (as I conjecture) as well at an universal as a particular transmutation of Metals by Saturn. Now Saturn also, as he is the water and washing of other metals, so may he himself be washed with Salts, which, as I shall anon declare, are his water.

But let no body wonder that I speak no larger of the nature and virtue of Saturn, whom I set so high an esteem upon; for it hath been most frequently mentioned, and after this will be; so ’tis not fit so often to repeat the same thing, one Chapter illustrates another. See such other small Tracts as I have written of Saturn, and compare them well together, and without doubt you will perceive my meaning. That which _Paracelsus_ adds concerning the difference of ♁ is plain enough, and wants no illustration; for common Lead and ♁ (although much differing in the diversity of Sulphurs) was by the Philosophers called Black Lead. Bismuth, ashy Lead, and Tin, among the ancient Metallurgists, is white Lead; which appellations we shall leave to the ancients, and say no more thereof.

The Sixth Rule.

_Of the =Moon=, and her Nature and Property._

_If anyone goes about to reduce ☽ into ♄ or ♂, it will be as difficult as to make ☽ (with great profit) out of ☿, ♃, ♂, ♀, or ♄. But ’tis not expedient to make vile things out of good, but to make precious things out of base and abject things._

_’Tis also fit to know of what matter the Moon is, and whence ’tis risen; he that is ignorant of this, will find it impossible to make =Luna=._

Quest. _What therefore is_ Luna?

Answ. _It is the seventh external, corporeal, material, of the Six metals therein hidden; for alwaies (as it hath been very often said) the Seventh hath the other Six spiritually hidden within it self; neither also can these six be without an external, material metal; nor can any corporeal Metal be without the six spiritual ones and their Essence. If you melt the seven Corporeal Metals, it doth nothing as to making ☉: after mixtion, each as its nature is, remains fixt in the fire, or volatile. For example, mix as well as you can ☿, ♃, ♄, ♂, ♀, ☉ and ☽, it will not therefore follow, that the ☉ and ☽ will transmute the other five, that they become ☉ and ☽: Although they are blown together into one mass, yet each remains in its own state, =viz.= if you take of the corporeal mixtion; for transmutation consists in the spiritual mixtion and union of Metals, because Spirits admit of no separation and mortification._

_Although you kill the Body an hundred times, yet will they alwaies have another Body more noble than the former. And this is the promotion of Metals from one mortification into another; that is, from a more ignoble degree to a higher, that is =Luna=, and from a better to the best, that is =Sol=; a most illustrious and royal Metal; ’tis also true, and alwaies will be, which hath been often spoken of before, that alwaies the six metals generate the seventh, and deliver it from themselves into a palpable and visible substance._

Quest. _Now, then if it be so, that the =Luna=, or any other metal, is alwaies caused and produced from the other six, What therefore is its Property and Nature? =I answer=, Out of ☿, ♃, ♂, ♀, ♄, and ☉, no other metal can be made, but ☽; the reason is, because as to the other six metals, each are indued with two good virtues, which in all make Twelve: these virtues are the Silverish or Lunar Spirit, which in brief understand thus; Silver is compounded into a corporeal Metal, out of the six Spiritual Metals, and their Properties, in number twelve, and is likened to the seven Planets, and the twelve Cœlestial Signs; for the ☽ hath from ☿ the Planet, and ♒, and ♓, a bright white flux and splendor, ☿, ♒, ♓; also ☽ hath from ♃, ♂, and ♉ a white colour, a great constancy against the fire and fixation, ♃, ♂, ♉; from ♂, ♋, and ♈, it hath hardness, a good clangour or sound, ♂, ♋, ♈; from ♀, ♊, ♎, it hath the means of Coagulation and Malleability, ♀, ♊, ♎; from ♄, ♑, ♏, it hath a fixt body with heaviness and gravity, ♄, ♑, ♏; from ☉, ♌, ♍, it hath a sincere purity, and a great constancy, against the violency of the fire, ☉, ♌, ♍._

_Thus is briefly explained what is the exaltation and cause of the spirit and body of Silver, with its own compound Nature and Essence._

_It must also be known what matter the metallick spirits do take in their first Nativity, when they are carried down into the Earth from the Cœlestial Influences, =viz.= a vile Dirt or Stone, which the Mine-digger by breaking the body of the metal, destroys and burns in the fire, in which mortification the metalline spirit assumes another body, not fryable, but pure and malleable. Then the Alchymist coming, destroys this metalline body, kills and prepares it by Art, but that metallick corporeal Spirit makes apparently conspicuous, another more noble and much more perfect body, whether it be the Sun or Moon; then both the metallick Spirit and Body being perfectly united, are free and safe from Corruption by the Element of Fire._

=Glaub.=] _Paracelsus_ in this Sixth Chapter repeats the words which have been oftentimes afore mentioned, _viz._ That every visible metal is an hider of the other metals which lie spiritually hid within it; withal teaching, that it is impossible for corporeal metals, although melted together never so long, to be meliorated, unless they are first made spiritual; which I have oftentimes demonstrated and shewed to be the very Truth, and the right way to Transmutation.

But he doth not in express words teach the way by which they may be made and rendered Spiritual; nor is it convenient to chew a Morsel, and thrust it into the mouths of the Ignorant.

Now I say, that as touching the spiritualizing of Metals, _Paracelsus_ doth not advise that Metals be dissolved in corrosive Spirits, & digested & destilled over the Helm with it, by often Cohobations. The Spiritualization which he mentions here, is not to be done with Corrosives, for they are rather corrupted by them than perfected, neither in Glasses, but in Crucibles, and that in a few hours, without Corrosives, whereby they are so depurated, and as it were poudered, that they are transparent in and out of the fire, and dissolvable in any water. This is a true spiritualization of metals, and gainful if it hath the said Properties: ’Tis otherwise called by the Philosophers, the first matter of Metals, and at this time known but to few.

Our Laborators now adays know not any metallick spirits, but such, as by the help of peregrine and noxious things, they drive over by an Alembick or Retort; but Experience testifies, that these are wholly useless and unprofitable for Melioration. And although the ancient Philosophers write, Make the fixt volatile, and the volatile fixt, yet they mean not that the metals should be destilled. Which sublimation or destillation they did not meddle with, but all their metallick labours, as _Solution_, _Putrefaction_, _Destillation_ _Sublimation_, _Calcination_, _Inceration_, _Cohobation_, and _Fixation_, were done in one earthen vessel, without Corrosives; nor did they weary themselves with those ridiculous labours that are done by the means of Glasses. But of this more in another place.

Now read diligently over and over again what _Paracelsus_ writes at the end of the Chapter, and it will appear, that he speaks of fusion, and not destillation in Glasses; where he shews, that a metallick spirit at its first descending from the stars into the earth, hath a most vile form, like a stone, or dirt, which the digger of it melts with a strong fire, whereby it gets a better form, and becomes a malleable metal. And here he is at a stand, and cannot proceed any farther. Now, saith _Paracelsus_, the Alchymist comes and takes this metal, and by his Art destroies the metallick body, killing and preparing it; and by his labour it assumes a more noble and fixt body, called (because of its maturity) Gold or Silver. The ☽, although it be more pure and excellent than ♀, ♂, ♃, and ♄ yet having not arrived to maturity, it is (in comparison of the ☉) like a flower, which is more excellent than the herb, but inferiour to the seed, which is the most perfect part of the same. And, as in Vegetables the flowers are indued with a more elegant colour than either the seed or fruit: So also is the ☽ more abounding with Tincture than the ☉; which I have very often tried, and could demonstrate by many Examples; contrariwise, altho’ the flower be, as to the form, colour and odour, above the seed, yet in goodness and durability it is much inferiour; for the flower at an approaching cold falls away;, but the seed endures, and if it be helped, it produceth a new herb, flowers, and seed, by which its species are conserved and propagated. And as in Vegetables the herb is the greatest part, the flowers less, and the seeds least, so in Minerals is the like order most fitly observed: for should Nature produce only Flowers and Seeds with the Herb, whence would there be Grass for Beasts, whereby they might fill their Bellies, and so yield dung for the Country-man to dung his ground withal, that it might produce a new Crop of Herbs. Without doubt there’s more Tincture hidden in ☽ than in ☉, the inmost part of which is a meer redness; but the centre of ☉ is a most fixt and splendid Sky-colour, which is to be well observed. As for the other Properties of ☽, which are most frequently known, ’tis needless to mention them; as to purity and fixation, ’tis nearest to ☉, and therefore in metallick things ’tis to be likened to a Flower: ’Tis plainly void of combustible and preying Sulphur; but being not as yet arrived and concocted to perfection, it is a most suitable Vehicle to extract ☉ out of volatile and unripe Marcasites, and other auriferous Minerals, and to make it corporeal. Concerning which I have formerly written, and will write more hereafter.

The Seventh Rule.

_Of the =Sun=, its Nature and Property._

_Corporeal ☉ is the seventh Metal of the six spiritual ones; in it self it is a meer Fire; but the Reason of its being outwardly of an elegant, yellow, visible, sensible, ponderous, cold and malleable body, is, because it hath in it the coagulation of the other six metals, whereby ’tis compell’d into a visible body. And as to its being melted with Elemental fire, ’tis from hence, because it hath a fluidity of Mercury, ♓, and ♒, spiritually hidden in it self; the which is also outwardly evident, because it is most easily mixt with the ☉, and detained by him._

_And whereas after melting, it grows hard by the Cold, =viz.= is coagulated, and grows stiff, that comes from the other five metals, ♃, ♄, ♂, ♀, and ☽; in these five metals the Cold dwells and bears sway, and therefore ☉ cannot be fluid out of the fire, because of Cold. Nor can ☿ with his heat, nature, and fluidity help him against the five cold metals, for its heat sufficeth not to keep the ☉ in perpetual flux, so that it is enforced to obey the other metals rather than one only, ☿, who (as to coagulation of metals) hath nothing to do, its Property being to make liquid, and not hard: It is the work of heat and life to make liquid, but cold is the cause of hardness, stiffness, and unmovable, being therefore likened to Death._

For Example. _If you would reduce the six cold metals to fluidity, whether it be ♃, ♀, ♄, ♂, ☽, ☉, it is to be done by the heat of the fire, for metals are not melted with cold Snow or Ice, but are hardened thereby. Now, as soon as they are melted by the fire, and that the heat ceaseth, the cold rusheth in, whereby the metal stands still, grows stiff, dies, and remains immovable. And because that ☿ is alwaies fluid and living, tell me, I pray, whether or no such a thing proceeds from heat or cold? Some or other may say, it is because of its cold and moist nature, and that it is living because of Cold; but whoever saith thus, and believes thus, is ignorant of Nature, and deceived and seduced with the vulgar, whose belief of any thing is out of the right way, & amiss, & are therefore to be avoided and shun’d by him that would truly know; for ☿ is not living, by reason of cold, but because of its heat and fiery nature, as all things else live because of heat, for heat is the cause of life, and cold the cause of death._

_But that ☉ is in it self a meer Fire, not alive indeed, but hard, shewing its fiery heat only outwardly, as yellow mixt with red, and the other five metals, are cold, =viz.= ♃, ♂, ♄, ♀, and ☽, giving their virtues to the ☉, =viz.= according to their frigidity a body, by their fire colours, by their siccity hardness, by their moisture weight or heaviness, by their resplendancy sound; and that it is not combustible, and to be destroyed by the Element of Terrestrial Fire, that is by reason of its fixedness. Fire doth not burn Fire, nor destroy it, but Fire joined to Fire becomes the greater and more powerful in strength. The Cœlestial fire descending from the ☉ upon Terrestrials, is not such a fire as is in Heaven, nor such as our fire is on Earth; but with us the Cœlestial fire is cold, a rigid and congealed fire; and this is the body of Gold, and therefore we cannot tame or master ☉ with our fire, we can only divide it and melt it, as the sun dissolves and melts snow, congealed ice and water. Wherefore it is not permitted for one fire to destroy another, because ☉ it self is fire, and in Heaven it is resolved, but with us it is coagulated._

Gold is in a threefold state with its Essence.

1. _The Cœlestial_ } { _Resolved_.
2. _The Elemental_ } _is_ { _Liquid_.
3. _The Metallick_ } { _Corporeal_.

The End of the Seven Rules.

=Glaub.= We are now come to ☉, a kingly and most excellent Metal, the which _Paracelsus_ compares to a meer absolute Fire, and so ’tis found to be, if it be separated into parts; ’tis likewise endued with a seed-like nature, more hot than the Herb it self or the Flower. But to what end should we write of bettering it, when as it needs it not, being already constituted in the highest degree of perfection, and Nature not being able to promote it to an higher degree: Now then if it be to be made better, ’tis behoveful to make it Medicine, for never was a more excellent metal than it seen. An Herb planted in a fruitful soil, and brought to its perfection by the heat of the Sun, the seed being ripe, it remains not in the same form, but withers, and the seed falls away; but if it be seasonably gathered, it lasts a long while, and may, at your pleasure, be put into the Earth, for the production of new Herbs of its kind; or else it may be used for the health of Mankind, having no other notable Use besides. In like manner, Gold having arrived to its perfection, if it be to be farther advanced, it must be made Medicine, or be put upon the Metallick Earth, as Seed is on the Common Earth; where putrefying or augmenting, or growing, it may exhibit and produce a metalline Off-spring. Every body knows that a good Medicine may be thence made, and that various waies, but few know the manner how; but that ’tis able (like the Vegetable seed) to make Encrease out of the imperfect metals (being its own Earth) _Paracelsus_ teacheth in this place, and many Philosophers witness the same, which is not only true in a particular melioration, where by attracting its like out of the imperfect metals, it is encreased; but ’tis also to be believed as true, that from it may be separated, by the industry of a skilful metallick Philosopher, its inmost Vegetative power and purest portion (all its husks, or outside, wherewith ’tis cloathed, being laid aside) and may thereby be exalted to a more than perfect estate, although ’tis incredible to many, yet ’tis not in the least to be doubted of, except we would make all the Philosophers to be Lyers.

As for my self, although I never set my hand to so hard a Task, yet I believe and affirm it to be in the nature of things, as having evidently observed by my other metallick Labours, that this Medicine is in the possibility of Art; the which I will also in due time set upon, if God give Life and Leisure. What the other properties of ☉ are, and by what means good Medicines may be prepared therefrom, I have spoken thereof in many places of my writings, and in its proper place more also shall be spoken. And here we rest and conclude this little Book of the Rules of the Seven Metals.

GOD and Nature make nothing in vain.

_The Eternal City of all things (there’s an Eternal place in all things) without time, without beginning, and without end, is every where essentially. It operates in that wherein is no hopes, and that which is accounted impossible, unexpected, incredible, and plainly deplorable, will be true even to admiration._

=Glaub.=] _Paracelsus_ having finished his Seven Rules of the Properties of Metals, begins after a sort, to repeat and illustrate his sentiment or opinion, comforting the Operator, lest happily he should be discouraged, if his affairs do not presently meet with good success; but let him ingeniously proceed, because _Nature makes nothing in vain_; that which is least of all believed, comes most of all to pass; his words are clear enough of themselves.

Item. _Note now some things on_ Argent Vive.

_Whatsoever whitens is of the Nature of Life, and of the Property and Virtue of Light, which causeth and makes Life. The Fire with its heat gives birth to this motion. And whatsoever blackens, is of the Nature of Death, of the Property and Virtue of Darkness, (having the efficacy and force thereof) which causeth Death; to the which hardening or induration the Earth with its Cold is the coagulation and fixation. The House is alwaies dead, but the Inhabitant is a living Fire: If thou hast found out the true Use of Examples, thou hast overcome._

=Glaub.=] Paracelsus speaking here of Mercury, mentions Fire, which by its heat is the cause of Light and Life, but that which blackens, is the cause of Death; where making as it were a pause or stand, he adds these pregnant words.

_Sacrifice the fat Vervein (=or Sulphur=). ℞ eight lots of Salt Nitre, four lots of Sulphur, two lots of Tartar, mix them, and let them flow._

=Glaub.=] Here begin the Complaints of the Alchymists, because _Paracelsus_ writing of so good a matter, doth so suddenly break off, adding such a Receipt, as in their judgment hath no affinity with Mercury, but is to him as a thorn in a man’s eye. This powder indeed is a good fusile powder, for the reduction of such metals as are otherwise hard to melt; but in this place ’tis meerly vain and needless, because ☿ by his innate fiery power and heat, doth alwaies flow; wherefore we want not this Flux for him. Had he written in this place, how he (_viz._ ☿) is to be coagulated and fixed, we would most willingly have heard him, and as willingly have been content that he had kept his fluxing powder to himself.

Such as these ought to blame themselves and not _Paracelsus_, that wish’d well unto them. The words which went just before, may excuse him; for he said, that _GOD and Nature made nothing in vain_; whereby he intimates, that this powder is not so strangely to be look’d on, as if it did not pertain to ☿, who is more than enough fusile already, and wants it not. Nor was this mentioned to vex the Alchymist; no, _Paracelsus_ knew this nimble fusile powder, and its operations upon the metals, better than he that complains thereof, (’tis of incredible benefit in the metals, did any one know how to use it) and he placed it here, that we might perfectly learn its highest force and efficacy upon the metals; the which thing his foregoing words do also admonish us of: It operates beyond hope, that which is judged impossible is unexpected, incredible, and desperate, will prove true to admiration. Wherefore, think you, would he have added this fire had it not been needful in this place? doubtless he knew how to burn the wings of ☿, and thereby to stay his flight. And although I know not how to fix ☿ herewith, yet have I experienced wonderous things as well in the metals as ☿, for if the metals, especially ☿, be Philosophically joined herewith, sublimed and destilled, they afford wonderful _Menstruums_.

It’s also here said, _Sacrifice the fat Vervein_ (or Sulphur). ’Tis full well known, that the superfluous Sulphur in metals that are imperfect, is the cause of their baseness, and this fire is able to burn it up, but ’tis impossible that all should know it; there’s need of use and diligence, if you desire _Icarus_, flying with his Father _Dædalus_, and approaching too nigh the Sun (whereby his wings being burnt, he tumbled down into the Sea) should be drowned in the waters. The which let suffice, for there’s enough spoken unto a wise man; let us therefore proceed.

_What is to be determined concerning the Coagulation of ☿._

_’Tis not at all expedient to kill ☿, to coagulate him, and then reduce him into ☽, and to weary him with many sublimations and other things, for this is but the destruction of the Sun and Moon that is in him. There’s another more compendious way, whereby ☿ is made ☽, of small cost and charge, without any labour of coagulation: Every man reads in the Writings of the Alchymists, such Arts as are mean and vile, and easily preparable, whereby in a short time he might make abundance of ☉ and ☽, and are tired and vexed with the Writings of such as do not teach them clearly and plainly, and would willingly hear this, =viz.= Do so and so, and thou shalt have good ☽ and ☉ to inrich thee._

But good Sir stay a while, and wait till the Secret be plainly opened to thee in positive words without any labour; so as to enable thee (in as ’twere a moment of time) to take ♄, ☿, and ♃, and make _Sol_ and _Luna_ thereof. The Art will never be so easily known, how short and facile soever it be in it self.

=Glaub.=] _Paracelsus_ goes on, and saith, That ’tis not needful to coagulate ☿, that ☉ and ☽ may be thence made, and that it is to be done with a most easie labour, and therefore few words are best. And here _Paracelsus_ is to be compared to that Rich man, who having heard that many perished with famine, ’tis said that he should answer, That before he would be tormented with hunger, he would rather feed on rusty Bacon and Pease, believing that all abounded with this fare; the which they despising by reason of their daintiness, deservedly perished. In like manner the good _Paracelsus_ believed, that all Chymists were his equals, as to the knowledge of Metals, not dreaming of the many poor Colliers that torment ☿ by their solutions, precipitations, sublimations, resuscitations, fixations, and other labours; when as they are ignorant of what it is, what abounds or is wanting therein, and so for want of knowledge, toil and labour to no purpose: ☿ is a subject of wonder, and is frequently wont to deceive the Alchymists, whom (_viz._ ☿) if you would on the other side deceive, when you pursue him, give him a little breathing (because by force he’s not to be compell’d) that he may a little wander about, but trust him not too much, lest flying away, he leaves behind him an empty Nest. For which Work the first Furnace, with its many Glasses, very well fitted and united, will serve excellently well. But in few words, ’Tis a subject of an inexhaustible wonder, the which I alwaies found the most stubborn of all the metals, that I have bestowed grievous pains about; but yet do believe, that he that knows rightly to deal with him, will reap a benefit from him not to be contemned. But who is there that discovers the Way? Wonders must alwaies remain unknown unto us, and albeit we know not all things, yet let us acknowledge the great Mercy of GOD, and give Thanks to Him for that which we do know.

_The Receipts of =Alchymy=._

_What shall we say of the many Receipts and the various Vessels, such as are the Furnaces, Glasses, Tests, Waters, Oils, Salts, Sulphurs, Antimonia, Magnesia, Salt Nitre, Alume, Vitriol, Tartar, Borax, Atramentum or Copperas, Orpiment, Spume of Glass, Arsenick, =Calaminaris=, =Bole-Armoniack=, Vermilion, Calx, Pitch, Wax, Lute of Wisdom, Powder’d Glass, Verdigrease, =Salt Armoniack=, Soot, Rosin of the Pitch-tree, Chalk, Mans-fat, Hairs, Egg-shells, =Lac Virginis=, =Ceruse=, =Minium=, =Cinnabar=, =Vinegar=, =Aqua-fortis=, =Crocus Martis=, =Elixir=, =Lazure=, =(ultro-Marine)= Soap, Tutia, =Havergold=, Crystals. What likewise shall we say to their preparations, putrefactions, digestions, probations, sublimations, calcinations, solutions, cementations, fixations, reverberations, coagulations, graduations, rectifications, amalgamations, and purgations. Most Books are fully stufft with these Alchymical things, as also what things are to be done by the benefit of Herbs, Roots, Seeds, Woods, Stones, Animals, Worms, Bone-Ashes, Cockle-shells, Muscles, =&c.=_

_All these things are the Labyrinths of =Alchymy=, and are great and but vain Labours. Moreover, although ☉ and ☽ might be made by the means of these things, yet by reason of the multitudes of them, the Work is rather hindred than advanced; and therefore it cannot be truly learned from the aforesaid things, how to make ☉ and ☽. But all such things are to be omitted, as operate not with the five imperfect Metals, for the production of ☉ and ☽._

_What therefore is the true Way, and the short Path void of all difficulties, that leads to the speedy making of good =Sol= and =Luna=? How long will it be ere thou revealest it? I believe that thou understandest nothing of this matter, may somebody say, but dost only mock us with these Riddles. =For answer=: It hath been already spoken of, and is evidently enough discovered in the Seven Rules; He that understands not, let him blame himself. Besides, let no body be so mad, as to perswade himself, that the Art is most easie to be understood, and to be perfectly known by the vulgar; that is neither so, nor must it so be; but it will be better understood in an occult and hidden Sence._

_This is the Art, =viz.= If you make the Heaven or Sphere of ♄ to flow with life in the Earth, put in all the Planets, or which you please of them, but let there be of =Luna= least of all; let it flow so long, until the Heaven of ♄ doth wholly disappear, and the Planets remain alone dead with their own corruptible Bodies, and have assumed a new, perfect, uncorruptible body, that body is the Spirit of Heaven, by which the Planets become again corporeal and alive; as afore, Take out that new Body from the Life, and out of the Earth, and keep it, for it is =Sol= and =Luna=. And thus hast thou the Art plainly uncovered and intire; if thou dost not yet understand and apprehend it, ’tis well, for so it must be; nor must it be publickly divulged._

=Glaub.=] In this Chapter _Paracelsus_ teacheth, That there’s no need of so many ridiculous species, for the transmutation of Metals, but that there’s virtue enough in the metals to operate upon, and to better one another, if they are rightly conjoined amongst themselves; yet in some Labours we cannot be without Salts and Minerals, because they are useful to mollifie hard Metals, and to dispose them to assume a melioration. But ’tis to be observed, that Corrosives are to be omitted, and such Salts only to be used as are friendly to Metals. Likewise other Minerals and Fossiles may be fruitfully used in fusion, (=Seigerungh=) separation, and other metalline Operations, as additaments (=als Susans=). The which thing _Paracelsus_ denies not, but only rejects, and that deservedly, those ridiculous Compositions of the unskilful Alchymists, which they making in their use Sol. He dehorts the studious Artist, and endeavours to bring him into the right way.

Furthermore, he teacheth but in an occult sence, how good _Sol_ and _Luna_, such as will endure all trials, is to be extracted out of imperfect Metals; but ’tis so obscurely done, that no body can thereby understand the thing; and such only as aforehand know somewhat, and have had the like Labours under their hands, are able to understand his meaning.

Doubtless this Process hath found many an one work enough, who have at last attained to nothing; but yet some have by chance lighted thereon, and so perceived the Truth of his Words, most of which Inventions do casually happen; and whilst that one thing is sought after, and by accident lost, something is oftentimes found more excellent than that which was intended.