HERE BEGINS
THE COMPENDIUM OF THE TRANSMUTATION OF THE SOUL, OF THE ART OF METALS,
Sent by Raymundus to Rupert, King of the English.

Table of the same:

A. To God, who is the first cause of this work.
B. The four elements mixed in metals.
C. Rectified Lunar Water, in which metals are dissolved for the making of a new generation.
D. The quintessence of wine, rectified in the highest perfection.
E. The soul of metals, which is called the sulfur of nature.
F. The metals themselves.
G. The slime of the elemental metals.
H. The heat of the first degree.
I. The heat of the second degree.
K. The heat of the third degree.
L. The soul of bodies, that is, the lime immediately generated through the dissolution of the menstruum.
M. The spirit of perfected bodies.
N. The water of metals.
O. The air.
P. The fire.
Q. The glass instruments.
R. The Stone itself.

Here begins the same compendium.

Having spoken often and repeatedly, we recall that there are many and diverse ways of practicing the magistery of the precious Stone of the Philosophers. But now, that you may grasp the truth in the light, know that there are three things especially to be noted:

First, know the material from which the Philosopher’s Stone, and all other precious stones, are composed.
Second, know the instruments with which one must work.
Third, know how the said material must be worked and practiced with the instrument.

Concerning these three, understand that our magistery is based upon them.

First, then, most illustrious King, know that the material of our Stone, and of all the Stones of the Philosophers and the virtuous, which are generated or composed by artifice, is the metallic soul and our menstruum, rectified and sharpened, or the celestial lunar water, which among the Philosophers is called the Vegetable Mercury, arising from red or white wine—as is clearly evident and has been clearly demonstrated, divinely revealed in the figure of individuals in the third book of the Fifth Essence, kept by the abbot of Saint Benedict at Paris. And also in our little codex sent to you through King Edward.

The instruments are two glass cucurbits, having seven or eight receivers, as shown in our Testament sent to you with the codex, in the chapter which begins, "My son, you shall not," etc. The method of practice is treated fully in the following sections.

The first book is divided into two main parts. The first part is theoretical, and remains undivided, and begins where it immediately follows: "But nevertheless, O prince," etc. The second part is practical, and is divided into two main parts. The first concerns the composition of the Philosopher’s Stone, and begins there: "You in the virtue of A." (A. To God, who is the first cause of this work.), etc.

The second part of this second section is about the composition of precious stones, and begins: "For the work of pearls you shall thus prepare," etc. But I diligently omitted writing that final part, because it seemed to me vain and erroneous.

First Part

But nevertheless, most serene prince, it is necessary first that our menstruum be extracted through the magistery from the mother—that is, from the impurities of the wine and the phlegm—by the operation of the alembic, and it must be sharpened in distillation with the appropriate vegetables, which are:

Wild celery, squill, nightshade, thistle, nutmeg, oleander, black pepper, euphorbium, vetch or flame-flower (flamula), and pyrethrum, equal parts of all, and pulverized. On the other side, the same menstruum must be rotated in a circulation vessel continuously for the space of 10 days in warm dung, wine sediment, or a balneum mariae (Mary’s bath).

Side notes: Sulfur of nature and mineral mercury are the same.

Also, dearest son, it is necessary to have the prime matter of the elements and the sulfur of nature. And because quicksilver (mercury) is a genus of metals existing in nature, which we extract by artifice and through the art of the magistery from metals—by the division of elements, purification, and fixation of the same, with agents acting through rarefaction and circulation—from one side.

On the other side, through the rectification of the elements of the metals. Indeed, this is the kind about which we understand to philosophize in our little codex, in the chapter that begins: "By this division the second reason is explained," etc. And this, indeed, is what we understand by the first Mercury of this chapter, through the slimes, etc.

Son, take of air and of earth equal weight—slightly less or more—and this too is of the nature of which we understand it to be made. And we say that the unctuous moisture is the closer or more proper matter of our Stone, in chapter 36, which begins: "We told you that the more the radical moisture," etc., through which moisture the common folk understand sulfur to be.

Side notes: Matter of the Stone.

Remember, O King, what we said in our little codex, which begins: "Son, I intend to tell you the nature of ferments," for when we say, “by a single decoction,” we mean one rectification of the menstruum. It has simple potency: we mean the first rectification of the menstruum. And when we say, “transferring it gradually through another decoction,” we mean another rectification of the menstruum—up to the third or fourth.

Also, understand in the chapter the other decoctions of the Stone, as will be revealed in the following practice.

Afterwards, son, we call this water rectified four times vegetable quicksilver or Mercurial water; and so, whatever we say in this chapter, we understand it of that.

Side notes: Note what Vegetable Mercury is.

This also is the matter we mean in that codex, in the chapter which begins: “Of this matter.” And this is the same moisture, called water, enduring, which we understand in our codex, in the chapter that begins: “Our moisture is water throughout.”

Side notes: Celestial menstruum.

And this is what we say concerning the celestial menstruum. This, however, O King, is made clearer in the second book of the Fifth Essence, which I do not believe remains unknown to you.

Consider then, O King, the nature of our menstruum—how virtuous it is—and understand what has been said about it in the chapters previously cited.

Side notes: The nobility of our water.

Indeed, by it alone the magistery of the Stone is so ennobled that its abundance cannot at all be expressed. This current reason is evident from those who corrupt metals with waters contrary to nature, because they are ignorant of our menstruum; for it happens thus, that their dissolution somewhat resists nature. Yet, if the dissolved metal were strengthened with our menstruum through inhumations of twelve or sixteen days and were washed from its blackness, they would strengthen the contrary-natured water. But they do not know how to strengthen it with the natural thing; therefore, their practice ultimately fails to yield results, and they assign the failure to the art—which is in fact their own fault.

And what we have said about the knowledge of the menstruum—which is one of the things without which nothing can be done in the magistery of this art—let this be sufficient for you regarding that.

Side notes: Without menstruum, nothing.

Now it must be said concerning the sperm of the metals, which is the matter of our Stone.

On the Sperm of Metals, the Matter of the Stone

Now know, most serene prince, that the spirit of the metals is the second part and matter of our Stone, which you must extract from the bodies of all metals. And this extraction is done in two ways, as the practice below will show. For in the two perfect bodies it is separated through putrefaction, the division of the elements, and their fixation. But in the imperfect metals, it is separated through purification and the sublimation of the simple unity.

In this step the ignorant err, believing that the bodies of metals can be brought back to their first matter with strong common waters, as I said above—using waters contrary to nature.

Side notes: Against strong waters.

And if they had read our books, they would have known that such liquors are contrary to the intention of the philosophers. And what we have said is clearly demonstrated in our little codex, which begins: “Therefore gold and silver are dissolved in radical substances of their own kind.” For this is the water with which incurable diseases are healed, while preserving its own nature—as is shown in the codex that begins: “Son, the sublimation,” etc., and also in the chapter that begins: “N.D.E.,” etc.

N. The water of metals.
D. The quintessence of wine, rectified in the highest perfection.
E. The soul of metals, which is called the sulfur of nature.

Side notes: Again against strong waters.

Likewise, most serene prince, it is clearly established that these strong liquors are not in accordance with the intention of the philosophers, as is evident clearly and without metaphor in the said codicil, in the chapter that begins: “By this distinction the second reason is explained,” and in the chapter that begins: “Just as the womb acts through the operation of the watery form,” toward the end of the chapter.

For there is nothing that joins the dissolutions of metals except our menstruum, because it is the water by which the dissolution of the bodies of metals is accomplished with the preservation of their specific forms, as is evident in our codicil testament, in the chapter that begins: “But to work with strong waters is corruption,” and in the chapter: “For this water has the power of burning all foreign things.”

Also, it is of this menstruum that we speak in the chapter that begins: “Concerning that menstruum in which there is a dry fire against nature.” Likewise, this is the menstrual water with which quicksilver (mercury) is dissolved for the work of pearls, which is done by the reduction of those into the first matter, as will be shown below in the matter of precious stones.

Side notes: Here note carefully the method of making precious stones.

Therefore, most serene prince, metals can in no other way be dissolved unless they are animated with the vegetable menstruum, by whose power indeed the resolution occurs in dissoluble substances.

We have spoken, most serene prince, of the matter from which the Philosopher’s Stone is composed. Now we shall speak of the instruments with which the Stone is composed. These are vessels—such as a furnace, dung or grape lees—with the diligence of the artisan. But before you proceed to anything, you must know that the magistery is divided into three principal parts: namely, dissolution, separation, and union.

From this it is shown to you that first you must dissolve the bodies in our menstruum; then you must separate the elements from the luminaries, and purify and fix them; and from the perfect bodies, extract the sulphur of nature.

Third, you must unite elements with elements, or slime with slime, or elements with the sulphur of nature. And this union is divided into as many parts as there are mixtures and combinations of the said things.

The first method is to unite air with fire.

The second method is to unite air with the sulphur of nature—and these methods belong to the elements of the two luminous bodies.

The third method is to unite the slime arising from air in fire with the slime arising from air and the sulphur of nature, on their own.

The fourth method is that fire by itself and air by itself be united with the sulphur of nature alone.

The fifth method is to mix the sulphur of nature with two elements at once—namely with fire and air.

And these modes of mixing the elements with the sulphur of nature occur in two ways: with their own earth or with foreign earth. With foreign earth, this happens in as many ways as there are modes of mixing the sulphur of nature, as the artist pleases.

Now, most serene prince, you may be able to practice many particular operations with true understanding, which the human intellect could scarcely explain—except for those which are expressed in the third part of this book, and in the Magica, and in our Testament, and in the Codicil, and in the Vade Mecum of the number of the philosophers, and in the third book of the Quintessence, and in my other books.

Who then, most illustrious prince, could narrate the particulars that lie within the breadth of the magistery after the fixation and purification of the elements? Therefore, know how to purify the elements, and how to separate them first from the metals, because the whole magistery is hidden in this. Once the elements and the sulphur of nature have been separated from the metals, there is almost nothing else remaining with respect to the work. For the whole labor and toil lie in this: namely, the division of the elements and sulphur. This, in fact, is the stage at which the artisans abandon the magistery, because that division is quite tedious, and because the unskilled, in the first distillation, suppose they can distill the second-grade element—air—and from the first distillation of the third grade, likewise distill all fire from earth. But this is impossible and contrary to the course of nature.

Indeed, most serene prince, we now propose to reveal to you the truth in this matter: for air cannot be separated from the metals except in the 20th or 22nd or 30th distillation. As many are the distillations, so many are the putrefactions and reiterations of water and air together—namely, the menstrual water. And in each putrefaction eight days are needed, or six continuous days, such that the division of the elements lasts almost a year. But we completed the separation of the elements in seven months.

And fire cannot be separated from earth except in the fourth distillation. For who could bear such labor for a year—or even for seven months? Almost no one. And so the ignorant, not knowing the natural principles, suppose they can perform the true practice with metals without the division of the elements. In this, they are deceived.

Then there are some who, not dividing their elements and the sulphur of nature properly and immediately according to their whim, do not care to observe the natures of the minerals, and make a confused mixture without any purification, sublimation, or subtiliation—and they do not reach the desired goal. Yet they assign no blame to their own ignorance but instead accuse the art, which they do not understand, and assert the art to be false—of whose number we believe you, O king, to be one.

Therefore, do not grow weary nor cease from the work, and you will find what you seek. Know, O king, how to combine natural principles, and that which you seek shall be accomplished.

But since these principles are not naturally produced in any individual thing, as many erringly think, saying that there was one thing in the world which has the power to transmute all metals upon the earth, which is false.

Also, you must seek the extremes of that through natural principles, through the medium of the passing art into its mineral, which are D.E.F.

D. The quintessence of wine, rectified to the highest perfection.
E. The soul of metals, which is called the sulphur of nature.
F. The metals themselves in themselves.

But since these are opposites, according to their extremity, by their nature E. must be understood, which is the middle disposition of the extremity of that nature, which is collected from L.

E. The soul of metals, which is called the sulphur of nature.
L. The soul of the body, that is the lime immediately generated through the dissolution of the menstruum.

And thus D. converts L. into E., from which indeed D. draws E. into the likeness of living water in our art. And thus D. has the power to convert F. while preserving its nature and form.

D. The quintessence of wine, rectified to the highest perfection.
L. The soul of the body, that is the lime immediately generated through the dissolution of the menstruum.
E. The soul of metals, which is called the sulphur of nature.
F. The metals themselves in themselves.

Then you will actually receive all that was potentially in the work of nature, and of its better means according to the extremes, because in D. and E. are actually F.N.O.P. cooked, placed, and arranged by the ingenuity of nature.

D. The quintessence of wine, rectified to the highest perfection.
E. The soul of metals, which is called sulphur.

F. The metals themselves in themselves.
N. The water of metals.
O. The air.
P. The fire.

Therefore, son, E., N., O., and P. come together with F., and when F. has been converted into E., N., and P., then you will have F. similar to its nature.

E. The soul of metals, which is called the sulphur of nature.
N. The water of metals.
O. The air.
P. The fire.

F. The metals themselves in themselves.

And this is done better with C. than with D. because of great experience, and it is done in F. from which arise E., N., O., and P., which otherwise do not convert into G. in our work.

C. The rectified lunary, in which metals are dissolved to make a new generation.
D. The quintessence of wine, rectified to the highest perfection.

F. The metals themselves in themselves.

E. The soul of metals, which is called the sulphur of nature.
N. The water of metals.
O. The air.
P. The fire.

G. The muds of the elements of metals.

And thus G. is the nearest and first matter, from which we create all the stones of the Philosophers, and by some it is called the aqueous elixir. And therefore, most serene prince, we say that all stones are created only from one single thing, namely G., the living silver both vegetable and mineral.

Side notes: The double living silver

G. The muds of the elements of metals.

Therefore, son, you shall go to the digestion of H. and draw C. from the common power of the principals to the act, and in it place F., and it will always convert into L., and thus F. will be calcined under the preservation of its nature.

Afterward, you shall draw C.L. from the digestion of H. and place it into the digestion of I., then L. will be such as is fitting and suitable.

H. The heat of the first degree.
C. The rectified lunary, in which metals are dissolved to make a new generation.

F. The metals themselves in themselves.
L. The soul of the bodies, that is, the lime immediately generated through the dissolution of the menstruum.
I. The heat of the second degree.

Afterward, from L. and C., you will draw E., N., O., and P. in perfected metals through the mastery of operation by K. and abundance.

L. The soul of the bodies, that is, the lime immediately generated through the dissolution of the menstruum.
C. The rectified lunary, in which metals are dissolved to make a new generation.

E. The soul of the metals, which is called the sulphur of nature.
N. The water of the metals.
O. The air.
P. The fire.

And when you have E. N. O. P., you have the matter of our stone, and E. N. O. P. by H. I. K. until E. becomes a white crystalline substance, which is more of the nature of F. to generate the Philosopher’s Stone than L.

Therefore, G. N. O. P. are closer to F. than L., because they are almost the ends of the mastery, but closer still is G., that is, E. N. O. N. O. P. turned into G., which is the perfection of the mastery.

All that we have said is nothing other than to dissolve, putrefy the elements, separate, purify, and fix them, and to unite or condense the limus, and to rectify our menstruum.

E. The soul of metals, called the sulphur of nature.
N. The water of metals.
O. The air.
P. The fire.
F. The metals themselves.
L. The soul of bodies, that is, the lime immediately generated by the dissolution of the menstruum.

H. The heat of the first degree.
I. The heat of the second degree.
K. The heat of the third degree.

G. The limus of the elemental metals.
Q. Glass instruments.

See if you understand: take F. and place it in C., and place that in H. The first figure is formed by F. C. H. In its middle place N., and again, if you take N. and place it in the digestion of I., there will be L. Then one triangle is born and formed.

F. The metals themselves.
C. The rectified lunar, in which metals are dissolved to make a new generation.
H. Heat of the first degree.
N. The water of metals.
I. Heat of the second degree.
L. The soul of the body, that is, the lime immediately born through the dissolution of the menstruum.

Also, if you take L. and place it in C., and put it in the digestion of H., afterwards through several distillations from L. C. H., N. O. P. arise and another triangular figure is formed.

L. The soul of the body, that is, the lime immediately born through the dissolution of the menstruum.
C. The rectified lunar, in which metals are dissolved to make a new generation.
H. Heat of the first degree.

N. The water of metals.
O. The air.
P. The fire.

Also, from N.O.P. arises at the bottom of the vessel earth, which must be evacuated, and this earth we call L. If therefore you take L and place it in C and into the digestion of H, then into the digestion of I, from L.C.H.I. arises E, and another quadrangular figure is made from O.C.L.H.I., in the middle of which is E, that is, the soul of metals, which is generated from the said letters.

N. The water of metals.
O. The air.
P. The fire.

L. The soul of the body, that is, the lime immediately born through the dissolution of the menstruum.
C. The rectified lunar, in which metals are dissolved to make a new generation.
H. Heat of the first degree.
I. Heat of the second degree.

E. The soul of metals, which is called the sulphur of nature.

Also, if you take E and place it in Q, and mix it with C, D, O, and afterwards if you take P and O according to their weight, and place them in another Q through digestion H, then from O and P arises G, and from E and O arises G. Then if you take G and G and place them together in wax molds as is fitting, or if you place G with E continuously, then arises one figure from two squares, in the middle of which is X.Y., through which we wish to signify the philosopher's stone.

E. The soul of metals, which is called the sulphur of nature.
Q. Glass instruments.
C. The rectified lunar, in which metals are dissolved to make a new generation.
D. The fifth essence of wine, rectified to the highest perfection.
P. The fire.
O. The air.
G. The slime of metal elements.

The whole or this mastery differs through the division of the elements. This indeed happens, my son, according to the course of this art, yet so that you know how to reduce any figure into others, so that if you corrupt one, you may generate another up to the final figure, in which all other figures rest. And this theoretical part is enough for you for the sake of brevity.

The greater operation follows, and the second part of this book, which is about practice. And first, about the first part, which is the composition of the philosopher’s stone.

You, in the virtue of A., most serene prince, take gold and cast it into the vegetable water, about which we have spoken in our little book, in the chapter which begins: “The spirit of the recipient and formal and general is, so that you take from the lunar juice.” And in the chapter which begins: “And we want to reveal to you the nature of the menstruum, in which there is fire against nature,” and in the same chapter that begins: “Son, with that menstruum without which nothing can be done,” etc.

A. God, who is the primary cause of this work.

Throughout, where we have sufficiently declared the nature of this and its operation. Let the gold be in the weight of the vegetable water, and place the whole in the digestion H for six natural days, and the gold dissolves into the water, in the color of saffron. Afterwards, distill the menstruum in distillation H in a bath. Then place another fresh lunar (substance) on top, and place it again in digestion H for another six natural days.

H. Heat of the first degree.

Then extract, and send what is dissolved into another vial, and on what remains, after the solutions and distillations, again of the menstruum.

Place it upon the quantity of earth, and put it in digestion H for four natural days, and that which is dissolved from the metal, together with the menstruum, place it in a cucurbit as before, and do so up to six immersions and distillations.

H. Heat of the first degree.

And that which remains, after six distillations from the dregs, do not concern yourself with it; and put the distillations or liquefactions or even dissolutions into digestion H, and distill all the water through the alembic, and upon the dregs place some other fresh mercury water, and put it into digestion for one and a half months.

H. Heat of the first degree.

Then take Q, in which the putrefied gold was contained, and distill water from it in distillation H, and upon the dregs put an equal amount of fresh menstruum, and again place the vessel in digestion H for six natural days, or ten; when these are finished, put the vessel into digestion I, and distill the air together with the menstruum.

Q. Glass instruments.
H. Heat of the first degree.

When it no longer wishes to distill further, keep the distillation in its vessel, and upon the dregs add another menstruum, and place it in digestion H for six natural days, then distill again as before in distillation I; upon the dregs add some fresh lunary, and place it in digestion I. Thus you will repeat burials and distillations in H and I up to the 20th or 25th distillation and burial. But when you reach the 22nd distillation, the water in which some part of the air remains together with the menstruum, place it to distill in digestion H, and the whole menstruum will come forth through that distillation or another.

H. Heat of the first degree.
I. Heat of the second degree.

And if there is any air there, it will remain at the bottom, like clear or citrine water.

And if its quantity is only two drops, or three or four, do not repeat burials and distillations.

But if it is more, then repeat burials and distillations in digestion H and I, etc.

H. Heat of the first degree.
I. Heat of the second degree.

THE END.

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LATIN VERSION

INCIPIT
COMPENDIVM ANIMAE TRANSMUTATIONIS, ARTIS METALLORUM,
Ruperto Anglorum
Regi per Raymundum
transmissum.

Tabula in idem.

A Deum qui est causa prima huius operis.
B Quatuor elementa in metallis consusa.
C Lunariam rectificatam, in qua resoluuntur metalla ad faciendam nouam generationem.
D Quintam essentiam uini, in summa perfectione rectificatam.
E Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur naturæ.
F Ipsa metalla in se.
G Limos metallorum elementorum.
H Calorem primi gradus.
I Calorem secundi gradus.
K Calorem tertij gradus.
L Animam corporu, id est calcem immediate genitam, per menstrui dissolutionem.
M Spiritum corporum perfectorum.
N Aquam metallorum.
O Aerem.
P Ignem.
Q Instrumenta vitrea.
R Ipsum lapidem.

Incipit idem compendium.

Iam soepe & soepius eloquuti, recolimus in multis & diuersimodis vijs practicandi, super magisterium preciosi lapidis philosophorum. Nunc vero vt veritatem lumine perpendas, scias quod tria principaliter notanda.

Primo scias materiam, vnde lapis philosophorum & omnes alij lapides preciosi componuntur. Secundo scias instrumenta cum quibus operari quis debeat.

Tertio scias quomodo dicta materia cum instrumento operari & practicari habeat, Circa ista tria noueris, quod nostrum magisterium versatur.

Primo ergo Rex illustrissime, scias quod materia nostri lapidis seu omnium lapidū Philosopharum atqƺ virtuosoru, qui per artificium generantur vel componuntur, est anima metallica, & menstrum nostrum, rectificatum & acuatum, seu lunaria cœlica, quæ apud Philosophos vocatur Mercurius vegetabilis, ortus a vino rubeo vel albo, vt clare patet, et clare demonstratum extitit diuinitus reuelatum, in figura indiuiduorum tertij libri quintæ essentiæ, conditi abbati sancti Benedicti apud Parysios. Et etiam in nostro codicillo tibi misso per regem Eduardum.

Instrumenta sunt duæ cucurbitæ vitreæ, septem vel octo habentes receptacula, vt demonstratur in nostro testamento tibi cum codicillo misso, in capitulo quod incipit. Fili tu non &c. Modus vero practicæ in sequentibus ad plenum tractatur.

Liber primus diuiditur in duas partes principales, Prima quidē pars est de theorica huius artis, & manet indiuisa, & incipit ibi, vt immediate sequitur: Sed tamen oportet princeps &c. Secunda vero pars est de practica, & diuiditur in duas partes principales. Prima est de compositione lapidis philosophorum, & ibi incipit: Tu in virtute A. (A Deum qui est causa prima huius operis.) &c.

Secunda vero pars huius secundæ partis est de compositione lapidum preciosorum, & incipit: Opus namqƺ margaritarum sic condies &c. & illa ultimam partem studiose omisi scribere, quia mihi vana & mendosa videbatur.

Prima pars.

Sed tamen oportet prius princeps serenissime nostrum menstruū per magisterium a matre, id est sordibus vini & flegmate extrahere per officium alembici, & acuatur in distillatione, cum vegetabilibus pertinentibus, quæ sunt:

Apium Siluestre, Squilla, Solatrum, Carduus, Muscatelli, Oliandrum, Piper nigrum, Euforbium, Vicitella seu flamula, & piretrum omnium ana, et puluerisata, Ex altera parte ipsum mestruum in vase circulationis rotetur continue, spatio 10. dierum in fimo calido, vinatico, aut balneo mariæ.

Side notes : Sulphur naturæ &. Mercurius mineralis idem

Item oportet fili charissime primam materiam elementorum & sulphur naturæ habere. Et quia argentum viuum est existens genus metallorum, quod per artificium trahimus, & per artem magisterij a metallis, per elementorum diuisionem, & purificationem, & fixatione illorum, cum agentibus illud per rarefactionem & circulationem, ex vna parte.

Ex altera vero parte per rectificationem elementorum metallorum. Hoc quippe genus de quo intelligimus philosophari in nostro codicillo, in capitulo quod incipit: per istam diuisionem elucidatur secunda ratio &c. Et hoc quippe est, quod circa huius capituli primum Mercurium per limos intelligimus &c. Fili recipe de aere & de terra æquale pondus, pauco minus vel plus, & hoc etia est de natura de qua intelligimus fieri, & dicimus quod vnctuosum humidum est materia nostri lapidis propinquior seu proprior, in capitulo 36. quod incipit: Nos tibi diximus, quod quanto humiditas radicalis &c. per quam humiditatem vulgus intelligit sulphur fore vulgi.

Side notes : Materia lapidis.

Recordare o Rex quod diximus in nostro codicillo, quod incipit fili intendo tibi dicere naturam fermentorum, quoniam quando dicimus, quod per vnam decoctionem: intelligimus aliam menstui rectificationem. Habet simplicem potestatem: intelligimus rectificationem primam menstui. Et quando dicimus ipsum gradualiter transferendo per aliam coctionem: Intelligimus aliam mēstrui rectificationem, vsqƺ ad tertiam vel quartam.

Item etiam intelligas in capitulo alias decoctiones lapidis, vt patebit in sequenti practica.

Postea fili istam aquam quater rectificatam, dicimus argentum viuum vegetabile, vel aquam Mercuri: Et ita quidquid per istud capitulum dicimus, de illo intelligimus.

Side notes : Nota quid sit Mercurius vegetabilis.

Hæc etiam est materia de qua intelligimus in eo codicillo in capitulo quod incipit. De ista materia, & hæc est ista humiditas, dicta aqua, permanens, quam intelligimus in nostro codicillo, in capitulo quod incipit: Nostra humiditas est aqua, per totum.

Side notes : Menstruum cœlicum.

Et hoc est quod dicimus de menstruo cœlico. Hoc autem rex clarius patet in secundo libro quintæ essentiæ quem te latere non credo.

Respicias ergo o rex naturam menstui nostri quantum est virtuosa, & quæ dicta sunt de illo intellige in capitulis præallegatis.

Side notes : Nobilitas aquæ nostræ.

In tantum enim per ipsum nobilitatur magisterium lapidis, quod nullatenus potest exprimi illius abundantia. Præsens ratio patet per illos, qui metalla corrumpunt cum aquis extra natura, quia nostru menstrum ignorat, quia sic fit, quod cius dissolutio aliquantulum repugnat naturæ, tamen si metallum dissolutum cum nostro menstruo confortarent cum inhumationibus duodecim aut sedecim dierum, & abluerent illud a nigredine, aquam contra naturam confortarent. Sed nesciunt illam confortare cum re naturali, ideo eorum practica priuatur effectu finaliter, & defectum arti imponunt, qui illorum est. Et quæ diximus de cognitione menstui, quæ est vna de rebus, sine qua nil fieri potest in magisterio huius artis, Hæc tibi de illo sufficiant.

Side notes : Sine menstruo nihil.

Nunc est dicendum de spermate metallorum, quod est materia nostri lapidis.

De spermate metallorum materia lapidis.

Iam noueris princeps serenissime, quod metallorum spiritus est altera pars & materia nostri lapidis, quam oportet te a corporibus omnium metallorum euacuare. Et ista euacuatio fit dupliciter, vt inferius practica monstrabit. Quia in duobus corporibus perfectis diuiditur, per putrefactionem, & elementorum diuisionem, & eorum fixationem, Sed in metallis imperfectis diuiditur per purificatione, & sublimationem simplicis vnitatis, In isto passu errant ignorantes, arbitrantes corpora metallorum cum fortibus aquis communibus, vt supra dixi, cum aquis contra naturam reduci ipsam in materiam primam sui.

Side notes : Contra aquas fortes.

Et si libros nostros legissent, scirent vticƺ tales liquores intentioni philosophorum repugnare, Et hoc quod diximus clare demonstratum est in codicillo nostro, quod incipit: Ideo dissoluitur aurum & argentum in rebus radicalibus sui generis. Hæc est enim aqua, cum qua curantur infirmitates incurabiles, sub conseruatione suæ naturæ, vt patet in codicillo quod incipit. Fili sublimatio &c. Et etiam in capitulo, quod incipit. N.D.E. &c.

Side notes : Iterum contra aquas fortes.

Etiam princeps serenissime, clare constat, ipsos fortes liquores non esse de intentione philosophorum, vt patet clare & absque metaphora in dicto codicillo, in capitulo quod incipit: per istam distinctionem. Elucidatur secunda ratio, in capitulo qd incipit, Sicut matrix ingeniat per operationem aquaria forma, circa finē capituli, nulla enim res est, quæ coniungit metallorum dissolutiones, nisi nostrum menstrum, quia ipsum est aqua cum qua fit corporum metallorum dissolutio cum earum specierum conseruatione, vt patet in nostro testamento codicilli, in capitulo quod incipit Sed operari cum aquis fortibus est corruptio, & in capitulo: quia ista aqua habet potētiam creman di omnia extranea. Etiam de isto menstruo intelligimus in capitulo quod incipit: Circa illud menstrum, in quo est ignis siccus contra naturam. Et similiter ista aqua menstrualis est, cum qua dissoluitur argentum viuum ad opus margaritaru, quod fit per reductionem istarum in primam materiam, vt inferius in materia precioforum lapidum demonstratur.

Side notes : hic nota subtiliter Modum faciēdi preciosos lapides.

Quare princeps serenissime aliter non possunt metalla dissolui, nisi animarentur cum menstruo vegetabili, Cuius quidem potentia fit resolutio in rebus dissolubilibus.

Diximus serenissime princeps rem de qua lapis philosophorum componitur: Nunc vero dicemus instrumenta, cum quibus componitur lapis. Sunt enim vasa, vt clibanus, fimus aut vindemia, cum diligentia artificis. Sed antequam venias ad aliquod, scire debes quod magisterium in tres partes principales diuiditur: Scilicet dissolutionem, separationem & vnionem. Per hoc demonstratur tibi quod prius habes corpora dissoluere in nostro menstruo, quod debes elementa diuidere a luminaribus, et illa purificare & fixare, & a corporibus perfectis sulphur naturæ extrahere.

Tertio debes vnire elemtea cum elementis, vel limum, cum limo, aut elementa cum sulphure naturæ. Et ista vnio diuiditur in tot partes, quot sunt mixtiones dictorum, & vniones.

Primus modus est vnire aerem cum igne.

Secundus modus est vnire aerem cum sulphure naturæ, & isti modi sunt in elementis duorum luminarium corporum.

Tertius modus est vnire limum exortum ex aere in igne, cum limo exorto ex aere & sulphure naturæ, tantum per se. Quartus modus est quod vniatur ignis per se, & aer per se, cũ sulphure naturæ tantu. Quintus modus est miscere sulphur naturæ cu elementis duobus, semel, scilicet cũ igne & aere. Et isti modi mixtionis elementoru cũ sulphure naturæ accidunt dupliciter: cũ terra sua aut aliena, cu terra vero aliena fit tato multipliciter quanti sunt modi mixtiōis sulphuris naturæ, cum ad placitum artistæ veniunt. Na princeps serenissime plura opera particularia practicare poteris intellectu veraciter obiectante, quæ intellectus humanus grauiter enarrare poterit, exceptis illis, quæ expressa sunt in tertia parte huius libri, & in magica, & in testamento nostro, & in codicillo, & in vade mecum, de numero philosophorum, et in tertio libro quintæ essentiæ, alijsque libris meis. Quis ergo princeps illustrissime narrare poterit particularia, quæ sunt in latitudine magisterij post fixationem et purificationem elementorum, Scias ergo purificare elementa, & illa diuidere prius a metallis, quia in hoc totum latet magisterium Diuisis itaque elemētis, & sulphure naturæ a metallis, aliud quasi nihil est respectiui ad operandum. Nam totus labor & fatigatio est in hoc, scilicet elementorum & sulphuris diuisione, hic quippe est passus vbi artistæ dimittut magisterium, ex eo, quod illorum diuisio est satis tediosa, & quia imperiti in prima distillatione arbitrantur se et secundi gradus elementum aerem posse distillare, & ex prima distillatione tertij gradus totum ignem a terra similiter distillare. Hoc autem est impossibile, et contra cursum naturæ: Quippe princeps serenissime, verum in presenti proponimus tibi verbu reuelare. Nam aer a metallis diuidi non potest, nisi in 20. vel 22. distillatione, vel 30. Nam quot sunt distillationes, tot sunt putrefactiones & reiterationes aquæ & aeris simul, scilicet aquæ menstrualis, & in qualibet putrefactione 8. indiget diebus, aut sex continuis, ita quod quasi per annum durat diuisio elementorum. Sed nos compleuimus elementorum in septem mensibus. Et ignis a terra diuidi non potest, nisi in quarta distillatione. Quis est enim, qui per annum tantum laborem vel per septem menses possit sufferre, quasi sunt pauci. Et ideo ignorantes principia naturalia arbitrantur cum metallis absque elementoru diuisione vera practicam facere. Qui in hoc sunt decepti. Postea sunt aliqui, qui cum repente ad eorum libitum non diuidunt eorum elementa & sulphur naturæ, nolunt attendere naturas minerarum, faciunt eorum mixtionem confusam sine purificatione aliqua, aut sublimatione & subtiliatione, & non perueniunt ad finem quæsitum, quæ ruditati nullam imponentes causam, sed culpam arti imponunt, quam ignorant, & asserunt artem esse falsam, de quorum numero te regem vnum esse credimus. Non ergo fatigeris, nec ab opere cesses, & inuenies quod optas. Scias enim o rex. combinare principia naturalia, & fiet quod quæris.

Sed cum hæc principia non sunt naturaliter in vhare indiuiduali producta, vt plures errando putant, dicentes, quod vna res erat in orbe, quæ virtutem habeat ad transmutandum omnia metalla super terram quod falsum est.

Item est vt quæras extrema illius per principia naturalia, per medium artis transcurrentis in suam mineram, quæ est D.E.F.

D. Quintam essentiam uini, in summa perfectione rectificatam.
E. Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur naturæ.
F. Ipsa metalla in se.

Sed cum ista sunt contraria, ratione suæ extremitatis, suæ naturæ debet accipi E. quæ est media dispositio extremitatis naturæ illius, quæ collecta est de L.

E. Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur naturæ.
L. Animam corporu, id est calcem immediate genitam, per menstrui dissolutionem.

Et sic D. conuertit L. in E. a quo quippe. D. trahit E. in similitudine aquæ viuæ in nostro magisterio. Et sic D. habet potentiam conuertedi F. in conseruatione suæ nature & formaru suarum.

D. Quintam essentiam uini, in summa perfectione rectificatam.
L. Animam corporu, id est calcem immediate genitam, per menstrui dissolutionem.
E. Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur naturæ.
F. Ipsa metalla in se.

Tunc accipies omne illud actualiter, quod erat in potentia in opere naturæ, & meliorum mediorum illius ratione extremorum, quia in D. & E. sunt actualiter F.N.O.P. decocta, posita & digesta per ingenium naturæ.

D. Quintam essentiam uini, in summa perfectione rectificatam.
E. Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur

F. Ipsa metalla in se.
N. Aquam metallorum.
O. Aerem.
P. Ignem.

Quare fili conueniunt E. N.O.P. cum F. & dum F. conuersum fuerit in E. N.O.P. tunc habebis F. simile naturæ.

E. Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur naturæ.

N. Aquam metallorum.
O. Aerem.
P. Ignem.

F. Ipsa metalla in se.

Et hoc fit melius, cum C. quam cum D. propter magnam experientiam, & fiat in F. de quo oriatur E.N.O.P. quæ aliter vero non conuertuntur in G. in nostro opere.

C. Lunariam rectificatam, in qua resoluuntur metalla ad faciendam nouam generationem.
D. Quintam essentiam uini, in summa perfectione rectificatam.

F. Ipsa metalla in se.

E. Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur naturæ.
N. Aquam metallorum.
O. Aerem.
P. Ignem.

G. Limos metallorum elementorum.

Et sic G. est proxima & prima materia, de qua creamus omncs lapides Philosopharum, & per aliquos elixir aqueum vocatur. Et ideo princeps serenissime dicimus quod omnes lapides non creantur nisi ex vna re solare, de G. scilicet, argento viuo vegetabili & minerali.

Side notes : Duplex argenti viui

G. Limos metallorum elementorum.

Ideoque fili, tu ibis ad digestionem de H. & trahe C. de communi potu principum ad actum, & in illo pones F. & semper conuertetur in L. & sic calcinabitur F. sub conseruatione suæ naturæ.

Postea trahes C.L. de digestione H. & pones in digestionem I. tunc erit L. tale sicut competit & conuenit.

H. Calorem primi gradus.
C. Lunariam rectificatam, in qua resoluuntur metalla ad faciendam nouam generationem.

F. Ipsa metalla in se.
L. Animam corporu, id est calcem immediate genitam, per menstrui dissolutionem.
I. Calorem secundi gradus.

Postea de L. C. trahes E. N. O.P. hoc in metallis perfectis, per magisterium operationis Per K. & exuberationis.

L. Animam corporu, id est calcem immediate genitam, per menstrui dissolutionem.
C. Lunariam rectificatam, in qua resoluuntur metalla ad faciendam nouam generationem.

E. Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur naturæ.
N. Aquam metallorum.
O. Aerem.
P. Ignem.

Et cum habueris E.N.O.P. habes materiam nostri lapidis, & E.N.O. P per H.I.K. donec E. sit album cristallinum, quod est magis naturæ de F. ad generandum lapidem philosophorum, quam erat L. Sunt ergo G.N.O.P. magis propinqua F. quam L. quia sunt quasi fines magisterij, sed magis propinquum est G.q E.N.O.N.O.P. vertatur in G. quod est Perfectio magisterij. Totū enim quod diximus nō est nisi soluere, putrefacere elementa, separare, purificare, atqƺ fixare, limosqƺ concordare seu condensar, atqƺ nostrum menstrum rectificare.

E. Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur naturæ.
N. Aquam metallorum.
O. Aerem.
P. Ignem.
F. Ipsa metalla in se.
L. Animam corporu, id est calcem immediate genitam, per menstrui dissolutionem.

H Calorem primi gradus.
I Calorem secundi gradus.
K Calorem tertij gradus.

G. Limos metallorum elementorum.
Q. Instrumenta vitrea.

Vide si capis F. & ponas in C. & illud ponis in H. prima figura formatur per F. C. H. In cuius medio ponis N. & iterum, si recipis N. & ponis in digestionem I. erit L. tunc originatur & formatur vnus triangulus.

F. Ipsa metalla in se.
C. Lunariam rectificatam, in qua resoluuntur metalla ad faciendam nouam generationem.
H. Calorem primi gradus.
N. Aquam metallorum.
I. Calorem secundi gradus.
L. Animam corporu, id est calcem immediate genitam, per menstrui dissolutionem.

Item si capis L. & ponis in C. & ponis in digestionem H. postea per plures distillationes de L. C. H. oritur N O.P. & formatur alia figura triāgularis.

L. Animam corporu, id est calcem immediate genitam, per menstrui dissolutionem.
C. Lunariam rectificatam, in qua resoluuntur metalla ad faciendam nouam generationem.
H. Calorem primi gradus.

N. Aquam metallorum.
O. Aerem.
P. Ignem.

Item ex N.O.P. oritur in fundo vasis terra, quam oportet euacuare, & istam terram dicimus L. Si ergo capis L. & ponis in C. & in digestionem H. postea in digestionem I. ex L.C.H.I. oritur E. & fit alia figura quadrangularis ex O.C.L.H.I. in cuius medio est E. id est anima metallorum, quæ generatur ex dictis literis.

N. Aquam metallorum.
O. Aerem.
P. Ignem.

L. Animam corporu, id est calcem immediate genitam, per menstrui dissolutionem.
C. Lunariam rectificatam, in qua resoluuntur metalla ad faciendam nouam generationem.
H. Calorem primi gradus.
I. Calorem secundi gradus.

E. Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur naturæ.

Item si capis E. & ponas in Q. & misceas cum C.D.O. & postea si capis P.O. secundum suum pondus, & ponas in alio Q. per digestione H. tunc ex O. & P. oritur G. & ex E.O. oritur G. Tunc si capis G. & G. & ponis simul in modulis ceræ vt conuenit, aut si G. ponis cum E. in continenti oritur vna figura ex duobus quadrangulis, in cuius medio est X. Y. per quam volumus significare lapidem philosophorum.

E. Animam metallorum, quæ dicitur sulphur naturæ.
Q. Instrumenta vitrea.
C. Lunariam rectificatam, in qua resoluuntur metalla ad faciendam nouam generationem.
D. Quintam essentiam uini, in summa perfectione rectificatam.
P. Ignem.
O. Aerem.
G. Limos metallorum elementorum.

Totum aut hoc magisterium differt per elementorum diuisionem. Hoc quidem fit fili mi secundum cursum huius artis, ita tamen, quod scias qualibet figuras in alias reducere, vt si vnam corrumpas, scias aliam generare vsque ad vltimam figuram, in qua omnes aliæ figuræ quiescunt. Et hæc de theorica tibi sufficiunt causa breuitatis.

Sequitur operatio maior, & secunda pars huius libri, quæ est de practica. Et primo de prima parte quæ est de compositione lapidis philosophorum.

Tu in virtute A. princeps serenissime, Accipe aurum, & proijce ipsum in aquam vegetabilem, de qua locuti sumus in nostro codicillo, in capitulo quod incipit. Spiritus recipientis et formalis alias generalis est, vt capias de succo lunariæ. Et in capitulo quod incipit: Et tibi volumus reuelare de natura menstui, in quo est ignis contra naturam, & in eodem capitulo quod incipit. Fili cum illud menstrum sine quo non potest &c.

A. Deum qui est causa prima huius operis.

Per totum, vbi satis declarauimus naturam istius & operationem. Et sit aurum ad pondus aquaae Vegetabilis, & pone illud totum in digestionem H. per sex dies naturales, & aurum dissoluitur in aquam, in colore croci. Postea vero distilla menstrum in distillatione H. in balneo. Postea super pone aliam lunariam recentem, & pone iterum in digestionem H. per alios sex dies naturales.

H Calorem primi gradus.

Et tunc extrahe, & mitte illud quod solutum est in aliam ampullam, & super illud quod remansit finitis solutionibus & distillationibus, iterum de menstruo

Side notes : A. menstrum quod est 5

superpone ad quantitatem terræ, & pone in digestionem H. per quatuor dies naturales, & illud quod solutum est de metallo, simul cum men struo pone in cucurbitam vt prius, & sic fac vsque ad sex inhumatiōes & distillationes.

H. Calorem primi gradus.

Et illud quod remansit, finitis sex distillationibus de fecibus, non cures, & distillationes seu liquefactiones vel etiam dissolutiones pone in digestionem H. & distilla totam aquam per alembicum, & super feces ponas de alia aqua Mercurij recentis, & pone in digestionem per vnum mensem cum dimidio.

H. Calorem primi gradus.

Postea tu Recipe Q. in quo erat aurum putrefactum, & distilla inde aquam in distillatione H. & super feces mitte tantundem de menstuo recenti, & iterum colloca vas in digestionem H. per sex dies naturales, aut decem, quibus finitis, pone vas in digestionem I. & distilla aerem simul cum menstruo.

Q Instrumenta vitrea.
H. Calorem primi gradus.

Postquam noluerit plus distillare, serua distillationem in vase suo, & super feces mittas aliud menstruum, & pone in digestionem H. per sex dies naturales, & iterum distilla vt prius in distillatione I. & super feces mitte de alia lunaria recenti, & pone in digestionem I. & sic reiterabis inhumationes & distillationes in H. & I. vsque ad 20 aut 25 distillationem & inhumationem. Sed dum fueris in 22 distillatione, illam aquam in qua est aliqua pars aeris simul cum menstruo ponas ad distillandum in digestione H. & exibit menstrum totum per illam distillationem aut aliam.

H Calorem primi gradus.
I Calorem secundi gradus.

Et si ibi fuerit, aliquid aeris, manebit in fundo, ad modum aquæ splendidæ aut citrinæ.

Et si non fuerit eius quantitas nisi duæ guttæ, aut tres vel quatuor, non reiteres inhumationes & distillationes.

Si vero plus fuerit, reiteres inhumationes & distillationes in digestione H. & I. &c.

H Calorem primi gradus.
I Calorem secundi gradus.

FINIS.