THE MARROW OF ALCHEMY

In the foregoing Books, I have largely described the Art of Alchemy in general; which as it is divided into Six distinct Parts, viz. Calcination, Dissolution, Separation, Conjunction, Putrefaction and Congelation, I shall now in this last Book severally explain: Therefore, with serious thoughts and diligence endeavour herein to find the Truth.

Calcination.

First we Calcine the Body, and thereby it becometh porous, or else, we can in no wise obtain the quickening Life, which enlivens every Thing, which being sever'd, the Carkese appeareth vile to the eyes, but being by Art removed, we then find that which we so much desire hid in the Dish of Hermes. Thus when the Earth is made spongious, it is termed the slaying of the Spirit, for then cur Water is turned into Earth in the Dragon's Den, and the Earth returns unto its primeeve Matter: In which Calcination we always preserve moisture and unctuosity, which they do otherwise greatly err.

Some by Art make divers corroding Waters, wherein they Calcine Metalline Species, but then their Liquor forsaketh the Earth, nor can any Mans skill combine them: this way we leave to Fools, as being fit for, nothing, but to waste ones Substance and Time upon to no purpose, whereof beware.

But our Calcination is performed only in its own Kind, by mixing the Crude with that which is Perfect, the first dissolving the fixt, and the other fixing that which is fugitive; therefore they work much amiss who take such Waters as wet the Hand, for such to cur Art are quite useless.

So soon then as Sol feels his Compeer, he relenteth like Ice in warm Water, for she is to him both Mother, Spouse, and Sister, and with her he agreeth in quality; nor is there any other Agent that may therewith be compered. This is the Salt of Nature, we so much hide, which had not the Almighty Created, this Art would have been in vain; besides that as by its great power the Gold is reanimated, it doth also add Pondus thereto, and containeth a secret Fire which rolleth the Gold: this is the sealed Fountain, which is not discerned by Fools, for want of proper Eyes, who have not been trained up in Vulcan's School, where Nature is advancecd by the Wise. This is Pontanus monstrous secret Fire, which many admire but few find.

If this thou canst get, thou art freed from the trouble and care which Sophisters undergo, for this is a certain means whereby with success to attain our rare Jewel; which doth no sooner feel a gentle Fire, but straightway the Man hath a great desire to be conjoyn'd to his Wife. When the Bodies are dissolved, they will float like to Cream, and appear as white as Milk, also a fume shall arise and fall, so often until the Argent Coat decreasing into a pale colour, it become stained of a Citrine, after which all will appear Azure and Green, and at last other Colours failing it will turn as black as a Coal. The Mass shall then swell like unto lcecyened Dough, and thus shall daily change from State to State, until the whole be reduced to Water, which shall then gently ascend day by day, and growing thicker and thicker, until at last you see no Sublimation, but all remains below of a black colour and ill savour, smelling like unto liquid Pitch, which at last becometh White.

About the Fiftieth day shall various colours again appear, day by day, as Azure, Green, Citrine, Violet, and a Pale colour, and at last a dismal black shall wholly be seen; the Compound also shall often seem to flow, and as oft coagulate like to little Islands. If dryness seem to increase, attended with a Citrine Colour, and without either Azure or Green appearing therein, you then have reason to fear your progress is erroneous; but if the Sweat do kindly circulate, you need not doubt of the good State of your work.

See therefore, that thou observe thy Work carefully, and if thou seest the Compound change Colour, note that with diligence, for if thou hast proceeded erroneously thou shall perceive strange Symptoms, as the Poppy Red, and want of due blackness, which are both fatal Signs that thou workest not true: But if thou attain to a true Black, then in Ten weeks time thy Compound shall roll and dye, and all shall resolve into a subtle Powder, soft like to the Sun-beams, yet not very dry, but will shine like unto a Coal newly broken, wherein is contained a living Soul.

Wherefore thy latter shall dissolve in a short space: for our workings are so concatenate, that the one containeth the other; nor doth the one cease, out straightway the other is inchoate: And it is true also that Dissolution beginneth the former Work, and perfecteth both. For when we see the Body relent into its first Matter, we say it is dissolved into a Mineral Water, at which we chiefly aim, because we are assured that if the Spirits are freed from bondage, they will straightway begin a new Operation. For in this procedure the active nature doth suffer by the passive, in such manner, that as the Earth doth day by day relent, so likewise doth the Spirits thicken; for such is the Law of Mature, that by how much ought is dissolved in moisture, by so much is the moisture thickened. And whatever some may conceive, yet all our Work is only to dissolve and recongeal; and thus the Body leaveth its fixity and becometh spiritual; which are all born aloft in the Air, until they arrive at the top of the Mount, from whence the Body, Soul and Spirit, descending, do cease their fugitive nature and become fixed. Then is attained what we so long have sought, for now our King being return'd from Death triumphantly is empowered to conquer all opposite force, and to command the crude Metals into purity.

Thus Dissolution is the very Key of all our Secrets, without which no Man can perform ought in Alchemy, nor can he Tinge any Metal firmly, until he resolve the perfect Metals, into a Water of their own kind, which is their primaeve Matter. For in and by Humidity alone, is the Spirit of each Thing conserved; this is the Mother of our hidden Stone, and the Key of temporary Bliss. Nature being astonished to see our Art able to perform such wonderful Operations.

But in our Art we teach two Dissolutions, which are doth performed buy the Fire alone and not by the hands, but the first reacheth not to the Center, nor is it adorn'd with so great change of a variety of gay colours as appeareth in the second. The first is when the Red Man is joined with his Wife, which properly is termed Liquefaction; both these being espoused with the Spirit of Life, and set upon a true Fire, they straightway fall to action, nor will the spirit cease until it have dissolved the Body. And know, that as the Body is reduced to rarity by the Water, so it dwelleth with the dissolvent, whereby the Water is induced to thicken proportionally, until both become throughly united into a black Powder somewhat fixed.

Put this is net a total dissolution of the whole Body, for it still retaineth some portion of its corporality, nevertheless, these Two which before were contraries, having contested with each other until they are reduced into one, do produce a Third of a Neutral nature. Yet as this Dissolution is but in part, so likewise, is the Congelation into a black Dust also in the like proportion; nature still observing this Rule, hence you may expect a far nobler Conjunction remaining in our Art.

But these Atoms shall in due time resolve, and out of them shall Azoth be expressed by Fire, this see you sublime so long untill all the Earth be raised from its Nest, and all become like unto common Argent-Vive, and of a spiritual Nature This is the noble Dissolution we so much commend, and here is made a Tetraptive Conjunction, where all the Elements agree in a never fading perfection; And now no doubt thou knowest what we intend by Dissolution, which therefore I shall now conclude.

Separation.

Of Separation I come now to treat, which hath so great affinity with the former Operation, that both do meet and proceed in one and the self-same Path, only they are in notion distinct, which otherwise are wholly linkt together. For from the first hour that we put cur Matters to the Fire, we apply such a heat that the moisture may be made to fly, and circulate incessantly; out first of all the Waters like a flame ariseth like unto a smoak or steam, yet not so much but that it condenseth into pearled drops; which runneth down in veins, and so reduceth the Body where it goeth, which in time the Fire staineth with new Colours, and these at last ascend with the Water into the Air, and again descend.

This is the Separation which we mean, and is nothing else but a constant Circulation; this loosenetn the compact Body, which leaneth to the nature of the Water, to which it is of kin, and therefore by a continued circulation the Water makes an incessant Separation. And as the Bodies are twofold, of which the one is imperfect, and is easily brought into its first Matter; out yet cannot be done without Sublimation, to which all other heats availeth nothing, therefore we cause the spirits for to fly, and again to return to the Earth incessantly. For is this Sublimation made in vein, for thereby the Water is accuated, which by its often rising doth at length retain part of the Body, whereby it is animated, and becometh like to the Fire of Hell, making the Earth to swell like unto leavened Paste.

And as at first the Phlegm alone did arise, which by often rising end falling down again became more Spiritual, which the Eyes might well perceive, when it became stained with colours, as Pale, Blewish, Yellow, Green and Black, which at first was only white, which soon disappeared. The Artist beholding this doth conclude that two elements are now separated, and that which at first was raw and crude, is become fiery, and what was clear is tincted daily with resplendent Colours, shining most bleriously for many days.

Now know here, that as the Body doth dissolve, so also the Spirits by the work are congealed, no time interceding, out all doth revolve from State to State, until the seal'd Spirits are set at liberty, which we call by many Names, although one Work serveth all. This Sublimation by vapour we do not cease, no not a moment, until the Matter be brought to Dust, nor then do we increase the Fire, not with one continued heat do melt this dust to Water; and this Water we then so long sublime, until by frequent Sublimation it be slain.

So long therefore, as the Water doth arise like unto a Phlegm, we ere said to separate the Spirit both from the Soul and Body, but when the Steam by often circulation sheweth fine Colours, then is the Spirit united with the Soul, and both are severed from the Body. Then shall the Earth be benighted, when the Tincture doth arise, and the dead Body appering without its Soul, shall rott to dust; the Soul at length binds the Spirit to the Body, until it bears equal proportion therewith, and is made equally Spiritual: and thus is obtained the Art of our Calcination, Solution, Separation, Conjunction, and Putrefaction, which doth all but make a Resolution of the Letter into Unity of a purified nature; which is effected by the power of the Spirit, which meeting with resistance, it sheweth the fore-named Operations in our Work; whereof he saith true who shall affirm them all to be but one, and that this same one is performed with only one Fire, neither increased nor yet decreased, seeing our Stone needeth only incessant heating, and all is only to sublime the Water, until it shall make the fixed Body to fly aloft: then shall the Body in due time congeal the Water into a pure fixt essence: which is a Medicine that will heal all the imperfections in Metals, wherewith it may be mixed: and which Medicine if it be exalted to the Red, and then resolved into an Oil, will also powerfully cure all Diseases in Animals, restoring Nature to such a State of health, and increasing the strength of Man, besides abundantly supplying him with all the needs of Life, that thereby he may always live free from Diseases, Care and Want.

As therefore we do in Vapour subtilize the grosser elements of our Compound, so by turning round of our wheel, we male all the Vapour which ariseth soon to return again, and this continued ascending and descending, we name the Work of Separation: this is the whole beginning and ending of what we seek; which thus we continue so long to dissever the Principles, until they at last become so conjoined as never to be parted again.

Conjunction.

This Work is called Conjunction, and that truly, for Natures are hereby so well conjoyned and closely combined, they will never be severed more, but will appear as one individual; that as in Man, the Soul, Body, and Spirit are one, so this also to sight appeareth and is only one; although at first there were a Fourfold Root, which yet is but Three, which are only Two, and which at last is but only one; the which I could here demonstrate, by many Reasons.

This Operation is the true Key of Coagulation, even as Separation was the proper Mean of Dissolution; for by a constant Vapour we resolve the Body of Sol into Water, this when clean we join with its own Soul, and both these we resolve so long upon the Fire, until they will no more be made to fly, as before. And here I must warn thee, that our Conjunction, which is of all the most solemn, and most sure, cannot be made, until a thorough disjunction be made of what is foul, from that which is pure: Then must the Body rott, and putrefie, which a new Life shall revivifie.

For at first the Soul, Body, end the Spirit, are all divisible from each other; the one is red, and the other two are white, two are congeal'd, and one is bother to both; which flews and moves like unto a Mineral Water, one Body we call Sol, and the other Lune, the one is able to abide all Fire, and is most malleable under the Hammer, the other is fugitive, and if it be hammer'd will divide into dust, yet by his force is able to cause Gold to liquefie like to Wax, from which in a due heat it will not fly.

These Two, in our Art, are like to two Dragons, each being in qualities contrary to the other; the one within his Heart or Center includes the Fire of Nature, which is hidden from the sight, and is only apprehended by a mental Man, the other containeth the Fire against mature; the one is ripe, the other is raw; the one is digested, the other wants digestion; the one is fixt, the other is fugitive; the Law of the one is such as doth attend perfection, and is the perfect Seed, which we call our Sun, which by the tender Moon is soon tamed. The Spirit differs from them both, in degree, in form, and also in its qualities, and flieth like Water from the Fire, and with it makes the Soul for to rise; this Circulation is so long to be repeated until all like unto dust be seated at the bottom.

The first Conjunction is of the Sun and Moon. the Second. by a long circulation, joyneth the Water to them both, when this is done, the water is slain, and the Earth is returned to its first Matter, but yet lastly, all the Elements must be united, and this shall be performed, when as the Earth by many rotations shall be turned into Water, when thou shalt see nothing out Water; But first the grosser parts being burnt with Fire must pass the darkness of the Night, and shall then again be renewed; then shall a Vapour arise from the secret Den, like unto orient Pearl, which shall with gentle Showers wash the dark Earth from all its filth and ill scent, which dark colour being removed it shall appear in a shining Dress and all the Elements shall be united together, and for ever fixed; so that the one shall not ascend or descend without the ether; Thus are both Brother and Sister made one, in a firm union, whereby both are amended by each other; And thus you have all our Conjunctions declar'd, which ere effected by Circulation. And thus must our great elixir be prepar'd, first dividing the Spiritual Vertues from the Earth.

Putrefaction.

The first subliming with Air, and the other subsiding to the bottom, out of which shall be brought forth a rotten Carkese, called our Toad, and our Crow, because it sheweth most black in the Fire. Yet certain it is, what this Work doth not differ at all from the other aforenamed, but only nationally; and although we ere pleased to call one Work by many names, yet we really mean that he who performs one Work well, may with ease perfect the rest at his pleasure.

For our whole Art is but to open and shutt, to loose, and after that to recongeal, to volatilize, and then to fix, to put to death, and after to revive and heal; to putrefie, and afterward to cleanse, all which are but one Working, expressed in a different sense. For certain it is, that unless the Compound do rott, the Spiritual parts could, not be exactly severed, neither could the Water's impurities be cleansed, nor the terestreity of Bodies be brought to a true Tincture, which might be enabled to renew imperfect Bodies.

This is the true reason of Putrefaction, which is caused by a frequent reiteration of the Water upon the Body, and extraction of it again, by a constant Circulation; this doth open the body in such wise, as maketh it to yeild its Seed, after that it dieth. For first a life is infused into it, by the mediation of the Mon, which doth enter it unto its very center, and being thus mixed and confounded together its parts are made brittle, because that both do so embrace each other, that in the Fire they flow like Wax, and appear of one Colour.

By means of this Moon an entrance is obtained for the Water into the hidden veins of Sol, wherein lieth closely contained its Seed, which thus is brought out free the Center, and the Water becometh so thickened by this Seed, that at last they all return to a Limus. And thus Three Natures are blended together, which differ very much in temperament, but by oft subtillizing they are amended by each other, until by dryness the moisture be spent, and seem wholly drunk up by the Earth, which proves to it a deadly Cup. For the Body soon begins to swell, and changeth its Colour, and all the fume retiring, it at last dies and rotts, until e Spirit reneweth again the dead Carkese, causing Vapours to arise, which shall wash the grass Earth, and having past the fatal doom, all shall become most Resplendent.

Now if this Circulation were not made, the Body would for ever remain in its own proper fixity, nor could there then be had from it a fixt Essence, which might advance the Base Metals to the dignity of Sol and Luna, more pure than those digged from any Mine. For by the elevation of the Water, the Body becometh drier, and so yeilds more to the Fire, than if the Matter were Waterish; nor doth the Body become Eclipsed in the Shade of Night, until the moisture be in great part spent, and the Body appear rent to Atoms, then the Vapours ceasing, and all the Spirit failing, Death doth straightway begin to dispose the Body to putriness, increasing each Day, until all both within and without appear as black as a Crow, which dark Colour at last abating, a green Colour will succeed, and then the Life returns, and by and by gay Colours banisheth the darkness; this continued longer burning in the Fire, gay Colours by degrees will come, and again vanish, this being continued all at last will shew like unto common Argent-vive, but much brighter, which the Fire doth drive above.

Congelation.

And the Air condenseth the drops, and these returning do again fly away, until the volatility ceaseth, and all abide the heat, which every Day by little and little geteth fixation, until at last no heat can banish it from its Station.

And here you may observe our procedure, how by an alternate Process we sometimes go backward, and then again come forward, thus by Dissolution so long continued, we extract Sol's most secret Seed, until the Body becomes dead; which is quickened again, until all become Spirit, and the Body disappeareth, when this is done, then is Laton by Azoth washed clean, which must be performed by many Circulations, after which the Body is seen to fly in the Air, which by reiterated Sublimations, the Substance being made perfectly clean, at last causeth its Ferment to appear. This done, it being unable to fly like a Vapour, shall twinkle on the heat like to sparkling Stars, or little Fishes Eyes, and turn, roll and move, whose Lusture is so great as to prevent thee beholding this dazling Sight with a fixed Eye, as the Ancient Magi have said.

But ere the perfect white appear, thou shalt admire a thousand wonders, that shall hourly appear in its actions on the Fire, which before it shall attain to a clear sparkling brightness, fixt, and turned to powder like to Atoms in the Sun, it shall undergo innumerable changes; sometimes appearing fluid and dry, and after flowing again, and in less space than an hour it shall assume strange shapes, but will net continue long in and, until it become fixt in its Cell, and then all the Substance will appear like Atoms in the Sun, which is our new resplendent Moon.

And when the Light shall have so long shone on the Earth, that all darkness and obscurity is quite vanished, and all appearth like to a sparkling throne with a dry Fire, then decoct it so long, until it can penetrate and tinge all bodies white, with a due fixation to endure all assays.

Then is thy heel once truly turn'd about, and a Medicine of the first Order is made, this although but a Child, yet may it easily be brought to attain the strength of a stout Champion; by which the Artists charge, pains, and care, shall be well repaid, and in lieu thereof obtain a most inestimable, Jewel. This then imbibe first with Milk, and then with Meat, which by Art ferment until thou hast advanced it to a great Virtue, which thou mayest multiply at thy own pleasure; taking care to preserve thy Fire, and keeping a proper Store, least thy Fire going out thy Work be ruined.

Now how to make Projection is taught in the First Part, and also how to Ferment end Multiply is showed in the Second Book, here for a Proof of the Art I have brought an example of what myself did try, and therefore shall not here make any needless repetition thereof, but now with Congelation close this Treatise. For if thou prove so happy as to arrive hitherto, then mayest thou proceed by the Rules before laid down; But if otherwise thou failest herein, thou surely betrayest a gross Ignorance, or else the frowns of Fortune; And if either prevent thee, proceed no furth'er, until better Fates shall help thee to speed.

Sic explicit Medulla Alchemiae.