JOHANNIS ISAPCI HOLLAND!

CHYMIC~L TP.PCTATE
CALLED BY HIM
THE

HAND

OF

THE

~HI LOSOPHERS

I ~I

With its Secret Signs

PREFACE OF THE TRANSLATOR
After I had recently published the valuable third part of Opera Mineralis
Hollandi, whose finding pleased me greatly and even more so as it is now
in print and can no longer be withdrawn from the lovers (of the Art), and
because, in my opinion, the present tractate deserves no less consideration, I could not because I received those writings all together
rest till I had translated them from Dutch into our High German language,
so as to get them also into the hands of my colovers, the usefulness of
which will become apparent of itself after diligent reading. Do not
doubt, therefore. We shall now have most of the writings of this very
dear man in print in Latin and in German, that is, those which are the
most important. Yet it would be good if the first two parts of Opera
Minera lie were likewise accurately translated into High German from a
true Dutch copy and not from the Latin text (because I have no time to do
it). For it is possible that the Latin version cannot be wholly trusted,
seeing that the same translator of the Opu8 Vini has not done his job too
well. Even if the Latin text were correct, we have so many High German
compatriots who do not know Latin but who also deserve to know it (The
Hand of the Philosophers).
If someone were to object that, although it requires a great deal of
effort and knowledge, there is not so much to the writings of Hollandus,
a man who would judge in that way would reveal his crude lack of
intelligence, since one can learn more from Hollandus than many a man can
imagine. I am of the opinion that if all other chemical books were done
away with, except Basilius Valentinus and Paracelsus, there would remain
enough to learn from them alone. Yes, many a man who had botched and
bungled on wrong ways for many years, when he finally comes across the
books of Hollandus, finds the mistakes he made in the past vividly
depicted, yes, perhaps even his future mistakes which he would have
continued to make if he had not found better instruction in Hoilandus.
Reading his printed books has so far not been as fruitful as it will
henceforth hopefully be, because at that time alchemists did not
understand his furnaces and instruments to which he refers everywhere.
However, these have now been sufficiently described and illustrated in
the third part of Opera Mineralis, so that I hope that now, due to my
diligence and promotion, more progress can be made in Hollandue than
before.
Yet, I am aware of one obstacle in this authors writings which may deter
many a reader. It consists in the fact that the author has the fault of
repeating himself so often that many have found it more of a nuisance
reading those repetitions than the author did in writing them. If such
tautologies were cut out from the authors writings, many would have more
pleasure reading them, as I myself must admit that I found it a great
nuisance translating that type of thing. But the reader must know that
there are all kinds of people; consequently, also those to whom one
cannot tell a thing often enough. What is said too much to lovers of
brevity, therefore, is still too little for them.
For their sake we have to let the said tautology pass. Even without that,
however, it is not up to us to change anything in the writings of famous
people. The praise that I rightly accord to the writings of our author
and whose reading I recommend should not be interpreted to mean that I am
seeking to persuade every coarse reveller to plump with unwashed hands

into these very important writings and to copy the Art without
discernment. This is not my intention at all. I rather predict a totally
fruitless effort to those who would do that, since in many things
Hollandus wants to be understood quite literally. To do this, therefore,
a trained reasoning mind is required if one is to benefit, in view of the
fact that for teaching handy masters and simultaneously unhandy ones,
just this Hollandus is as accomplished a master as can be found in the
whole Turba Philasophorum.
Consequently, it is a pity that all his Opera as he wrote them one after
another, are not put together into one Corpus, as Arnaldus Dc Villanova
and other Opera are available. For, it may be assumed that what he wrote
was not only all Chymica but also much Medicina, because he had been an
excellent Medicue. God only knows where all his writings have been
dispersed, because even at this time no one can be found who could give
the slightest information on the place where he resided and at what time
he actually lived. (Editors Note: See Appendix A)
Yes, we cannot even distinguish the works in print as to which were
written by Hollandus Pater and which by Hallandus Filius, although that
both wrote them may be seen in different places; also that Hollandue
Pater, yes, also his grandparents, excelled in Arte Chemica, just as it
is mentioned in Opere Saturni that Hollandue grandfather was the
inventor of Olei Plumbi Philosophorum (Note: Olei is the Genetive case of
the oil; nominative is: oleum), which had not been known to the old
people. This leads us to believe that his grandfather lived at the time
of Rairnundus Luilius, who wrote at least a hundred years before
Hollandus Filius; because Lullius, in his letter to King Rupertus, also
mentions that Oleurn Plurnbi Philosophorum was a new discovery and such a
highly important secret that it seemed unbelievable to all old
alchemists, because with it the Lapis Philosophorum could be wholly
perfected within thirty days after its first fixation.
From this we conclude that Hollandus Filius had not become such a great
master without reason, for he had as it were, inherited Arcana from his
whole Familia. None of those who quote from his writings take note of
this, but each writes Johannee Isaacue Hollandus, which, however, is mere
confusion in my opinion. It should be written Johannes Iaaaci Hollandus,
because the Dutch give only one name to their children. Neither do their
children have a second name, but the fathers first or Christian name
with the addition of the word sen or son. Consequently, according to
Netherlands custom, the Younger Hollandus was called Jan Ieaacaen, that
is, Johannes son of Isaac. To mention this here does not seem to me to be
inappropriate. -Some other tractates are ascribed to our author which are supposed to be
still extant, such as, Dc Oleo Stibbi. It is no doubt the tractate which
is in Basils Triumphant Chariot under the name of Baconis (Note:
authored by Bacon). Yet by the style one may well infer that it is by
Hoilandus:
Item Secretissima Reveiatio Manua lie Operationis Lapidis Philosophorum.,
Item Dc Sulphuribus &. These, however, I have not yet seen. If I obtain
any of them, I will not withhold it from the lovers of Alchemy.
On the other hand, I also beg and exhort others, if they obtain a good
writing, to apply the same measure to me as I apply to them; that is, to
allow it also to be printed, so that we lovers get an opportunity to read

it, in consideration of the fact that those works were written by their
authors with the intention of promoting much good thereby. If then the
good is to be promoted, it must get among the people. In a box or locked
bookcase it lies immobilized, and nothing comes of it unless it gets into
human hands and is read, so that some improvement in teaching, life, or
manual operation may be achieved through it. It is difficult enough for
it to bear fruit, and no hiding of good books is necessary; for as it is,
they are hardly useful, even if the alchemists do all within their power
and must first themselves surmount various difficulties. Thus, for
instance, to write a good book is difficult to begin with, unless there
is someone who has received the gift from God to write thoroughly; and
when it has been written with a great deal of talent, it is difficult
again. Because of envy, dogs in the manger like you and your like may get
a hold of it, lock it away and keep it imprisoned for the rest of their
lives, so that it neither benefits themselves nor
others.
When it has also escaped from this danger, it again has difficulties in
reaching such men as are able to understand it. And when there are some
who do understand it, it is again difficult to come across the book. If
they do come across it, there is danger that the devil might prevent
their getting the book. Finally, when these obstacles have been overcome,
it is questionable whether it will help some people because of their
unworthiness.
How should we powerless men not fare thus in our work for the good, since
the Almighty Lord Jesus has fared the same way: All his labors are
benefiting only the least number of people. Accordingly, as I mentioned,
alsO good books
that are not suppressed cannot accomplish much good, let alone that they
are at first hidden and are rather granted to cockroaches and worms,
which are curious enougt without that.
On the other hand, there is an excess of useless books bred every year
like harmful vermin (under changed titles, but always with the old
tune). Thus wrote Hippocrates, Calenus, Lutherus, Augustinus, the Corpus
Juris, etc. as if one could not see it oneself and first required a
thousand foolish coaches and had, in addition, to render homaae to them
before areat Doctores and Licentiatos, on account of their lousy citing
and hundred-fold copying of other peoples books. The majority of their
authors stand in need of first becomina good disciples and of learning
some honest trade. But most of them reverse this and soon rise from their
childish youth to the Doctor or highest teacher degree. Because they
cannot earn it by the right kind of talents, they graduate through t~-7
money, just as if one let common water pass for wonderful wine through a
written false certificate.
This is exceedingly strange to hear, and yet it is quite the fashion, not
only in the world but even in Christendom, to graduate through money such
young fellows who were still in grade school hardly a few years before.
Yes, sometimes not so much time has lapsed since their neighbors saw them
ride on sticks with other boys, or play other childish games. From where
then should they get the great art of acting as Doctores and of writing
extensive volumes, for which by right, a special gift of God and many
years of experience are required. Nevertheless, such books without pith
and power are written in heaps. Would God, that they were withheld and
instead those of the dear men, of whom one is hardly seen in fifty or a

hundred years, were strongly promoted. How long has it been since
Paraceleus lived, and we still have not got his Herbarium! Likewise, we
are still missing most of the dear Carrichter. Those who deliberately
withhold those are public world-thieves, be they who they may. But enough
of this, and I hereby recommend the reader to Gods protection and the
inspiration of the Holy Ghost.
Written in February 1667.

Hand of the Philosophers

This is the Hand of the Philosophers with their dear secret signs, with
which the old sages united with each other and took oaths. Nobody can
understand this Hand with its secret signs, unless he becomes first a
juror of the philosophers, (one who swore loyalty to a philosopher), and
has loyally served them in the Art Aichemia Consequently, those who have
not this Hand and do not understand its secret signs, nor have taken the
oath of loyalty, are bastards in this Art. They do not possess the
philosophers treasure That is why I advise all those who do not possess
the secrets of the Hand not to start workinq in the aichemical Art, nor
to believe books or writings, since they will all only be cheated in the
secrets of the Hand. Therefore, everybody had better be careful.
In this Hand is locked the secret of the philosophers, that is, of the
seed and the earth, as will be told later.
Now then, I will teach my child and describe the secret, hidden matter of
the wise philosophers and masters of the true Art Aichemia. Nobody can
use it unless he take the oath and swear not to divulge the Art and
secrets and hidden signs of the sages, except he finds that it would be a
good placement. In that case, he should also request the oath that that
man should not use the Art except for the salvation of his soul. Only
then can he be given the secret signs of the philosophers or sages, with
their hidden signs and meanings.
L THE THUMB
First look at the thumb on which stands the crown next to the moon, one
quarter old. By this is meant saltpetre.
For just as the thumb vigorously finishes off the hand, saltpetre does in
the Art Alchemia, for he is the King and Lord of all salts. He is themill
through which everything must be ground. His nature is elsewhere
sufficientlydescribed.
2.

THE INDEX

The second sign and secret of the philosophers is the STPP with six
points, standing above the foremost finger next to the thumb. It is
compared to Roman Vitriolo, because no work that is to be perfect can be
completed without vitriol; for it is the greatest and strongest salt
after saltpetre.Its nature is described.
3.

THE MIDDLE FINGER

The third sign of the philosophers Hand is the SUNS standing above the
third finger. By it, Sal Ammoniacum is designated, for apart from
saltpetre and vitriol, no thing more powerful is found than ~$f . That
is why it is the third secret.
L~,

THE PING FINGER

The fourth sign of the philosophers is the LMTERN~ standing above the
fourth finger of the Hand, whereby A lumen Roche in indicated; for
without alum, no perfect work can be accomplished, because it is required
for the Red and the White. It has an astonishing nature and the most
subtle Spiritus.Its described elsewhere.

5.

THE LITTLE FINGER

The fifth secret and sign is the KEY of the philosophers, standing above
the little finger. Simultaneously, it is the lock of the Hand. That is
why the key is standing on it. By it, common salt is designated, for salt
is the Key in this Art.
6.
THE MIDDLE OF THE HAND
The sixth secret sign is the FISH. It stands in the middle of the Hand
and signifies Mercury~ for without or the fish~ nothing can be done. He
is the beginning, the middle and the end, and he is the priest who must
marry everything% And he is the male and the seed; he is the water out of
which all metals have originated; and he is the principal (factor) of all
Arts, and the greatest of all secrets.
7, THE PALM
The seventh sign of the philosophers is FIRE . By this Sulphur is
indicated. It is the earth and beginning of all metals. It is the female
who brings forth the fruit. For no seed can grow unless it be first
thrown into fertile soil. Then beautiful fruit will come from it. Thus it
also happens that when a pure is joined to a pure, it brings forth pure
fruit. Thus, they are man and woman, father and mother, fire and water,
seed and earth. This is sufficient about the seven secret signs of the
philosophers. He who understands well this Hand and its signs, and can
work with it, will derive joy from it. Now follows the Praeparation.
THE PREPARATION OF SALTPETRE
Take living chalk (quicklime), according to the quantity of the
substance. Pour on it a good amount of urine. Let the lime slake in it;
after it is slaked, let it settle, and our it off above (decant).If there
are 6 lbs. of salt-petre, take 12 lbs or pints of pure urine, even a
little more, but not less. Put it all together into a clean kettle. Boil
it and skim it with an iron fish spoon. Put the latter occasionally into
the Liquor and squirt into the fire. If it burns, or the coal becomes
ignited by it, it is enough:
Take it off and let it cool somewhat. Now pour it into a large linen
sack, like a claret sack. This sack has to hang above a barrel, 5 foot
above. Soon there sprout cones in the water, one above the other, as if
it were crystal. Take these out - it is the purified saltpetre. Now take
the other saltpetre which did not sprout into cones. Pish it out and put
it into the urine. Let it boil again as before and pour it also through
the sack. It will immediately crystallize into long streaks, like the
first. What stays behind is good for nothing; it is only salt which can
be coagulated, and then it is common saltpetre.
THIS IS THE MANUAL WoRJ DONE WITH THE CROWN OR SALTPETRE

Take 4 lbs of the Crown, prepared egg chalk, Sal Alcali made of
quicklime, weedashes, potash of Sal Vitri of after-wine (residue of wine)
or shoots of vine, calcined Tartarum, in equal amounts. These things must
be prepared with the hand, as you well know. When they are prepared,
dissolve them in distilled vinegar. Hang them in the Balneum to dissolve
there for 21 days and nights. Then coagulate them in the Ajembicum, and
keep the matter clean, so that no dust or impurity can get at it. After

this, put them into a round, earthenware vessel, as illustrated here. Put
it In Tripode or in the Athanor till the King is fixed.
Regulate the fire so that you can barely keep your hand in it for the
first 8 days. After this, let the vessel glow for another 8 days; but
before you do this, divide it as if you wished to burn separating water;
drive everything over that will come over, for it ~s of no use to the
work, since the volatile spirits spoil all works, so that they cannot
reach the state of fixation. Therefore, before putting it In Tripode to
calcine, get rid of the volatile spirits, otherwise your work would not
get fixed.
When it has been standing In Tripode for 14 days, take it out. Take 2 lbs
of the Long Finger, which must have been sublimated.3 times through salt.
Pulverize it with the powder you took out of the Tripode, and sublimate
them together till the Long Finger becomes fixed.
Now dissolve this fixed powder 7 times in good, distilled vinegar. Let it
settle each time, and each time separate the Feces, and congeal it again
in the Alembic. Then glow the King in the fire, but take care that he
does not melt. Do this 7 times, by dissolving, congealing, and glowing as
before. Then the saltpetre is well prepared for the work. Keep it in a
closed box of CYPRIAN earth, glazed with glass, and you have an infinite
treasure, greater than you might believe , with which you can accomplish
wonderful things. I will describe to you only one part of its effect,
should you need the Art: By it you can turn all seven metals into their
first nature, that is, into
To this end you must take a good amount of distilled vinegar anci* ,
and)~ of raw ~ ; add to it whatever metal you wish, provided it is
calcined, then quickly seal the jar and put it in the Balneum or in horse
manure for 21 days. After that, put it on fire with the Alembic, and
distill. First there will be vinegar and -~ , afterwards the essence of
the metal, that is, . With that you can do astonishing things. But there
is a great deal of cheating in this; that is why we do not wish to
describe it. When you have used the King and he has done his work, let
the feces drop, pour off the pure, and coagulate as before. Then he will
be better than before, because his power has grown tenfold by having been
dissolved and purified with
4. and, as also next to the * , and by having been water and then
congealed. One performs miracles with this King; that is why he carries
the crown.
Also, he makes all red metals white, and all soft metals hard, and all
hard metals soft, and I write more than I have been commanded to.
Also, make an Aqua fort of Cj~ Q ~ and ~ am; and to a quarter lb of this
Ar., add ~ * ; dissolve in it ij lb ; draw off the Aqua fort Per Balneum,
and you will thus kill . Then take 4 lbs of common salt to every 2 lbs of
this Mere. Mix and pound it well together in a mortar; then sublimate it;
then take it out and pound it again with 9 as before, and sublimate it.
Repeat this 7 times.
After this, take 1 lb ~ , lb ~ , mix them well with the sublimated
Mercury, and sublimate again. When it is sublimated, take it out, and mix
it again with fresh salt alone; sublimate again, and do this 3 or 4
times. Now pound it fine and put it into a glass vessel and set it to

calcinate into
remove it, and
everything has
everything has
imbibe it with

the philosophers stove for 30 days and niglfts. Then

dissolve it in Balneo or on a stone in the cellar. When
been dissolved, put it to distill 7 times in Balneo, till
become hard. Then take it out, pulverize it small, and
water of made thus:

Take fine cupel silver; cement it till it comes out white from the e ;
dissolve it in Ar.; then draw it off Per Baineum; take it out, add to it
as much * as there is 1~ , pulverize them together, and dry it. Then calcinate it for 30 days in the philosophers furnace. After this, dissolve
it in Balneo or on a stone. Imbibe this water into your powder, and put
it into a glass to distill Per Alembicum, so as to draw off the humidity.
When it is dry, take it out and imbibe it again with water. Do this till
all the water of has been imbibed into it. Finally, let it stand on the
fire till all your matter is fixed. Then make your matter fusible till it
melts like butter.
Also, when you have drawn out the Red from the fore most finger, or from
the fire, or from several other things, take 1 lb of the dry powder and 1
lb of the sun. But the sun must first have been 3 times sublimated
through the key till it is transparent. Then take 1 part of the Red, a
part of the sun, powder them together and sublimate them. Then the sun
will sublimate up, and the Red will stayat the bottom of the vessel. Take
the sun out above and mix it again with the Red that stayed at the bottom
of the vessel. Sublimate it again as before, at least 10 or 12 times. Now
take
the same sun and the same Red, powder them impalpably, and put them into
the philosophers furnace to quickly calcine for 30 days. Then take it
out and dissolve it in Balneo. When everything is dissolved, you have a
brilliant water with which gold would not want to be compared.Imbibe your
elixir with this red water as you know.
PREPARATION OF VITRIOL
Take 3 or 4 lbs. Vitriolurn Romanum, dissolve it in Balneo, clarify it of
its own impurity, and calcine it till it begins getting grey. Then
dissolve it again, and let everything become pure again. Then calcine it
until it becomes yellow. Now take the Tincture of Auripigment and
gradually imbibe it into it. Dry it carefully, imbibe it and dry it again
until everything has been imbibed into it. Then it is ready to sublimate
Mercury through it, so long that he no longer desires anything. Then his
stomach is full, and add each time fresh Species. Then it turns into a
precious and a salt more splendid than gold.
AN ART OF ARTS
How to extract QUINTAM ESSENTIAM from ~or the PHILOSOPHERS STONE from
the Hand.
Take 6 lbs. of glorified vitriol, as you well know how to make. Dry out
all its humidity. Then take 3 or 4 lbs. of the Fish and 1 lb. of the
prepared Key. Mix them together and put them to sublime. The Tincture
will rise with the Fish in a secret and invisible way. If then you wish
to sublimate the Fish once again with fresh and fresh Key, you may do so.
Then you have the fish full of Tincture, but if you wished to separate
the latter, make a water of the Hand, or a bad water with salt, or made
with some of the long (Middle) finger. Put the sublimated Fish, which is

full of the Tincture of the Star, into the Balneum, and it will dissolve
into water.
Now take 6, 8, or 10 lbs of the Key, which has been prepared to sublimate
through it. Put the Key into a Syburg jar and pour into it, upon the Key,
what has been dissolved, so that it turns into a dry Materia. Otherwise
the water would not putrify or go up in smoke (steam). Put the jar In
Balneum, add a helm, and distill the Ar. over in a boiling Balneum, till
nothing comes over. Following this, set the jar into sand, and more
spirits of the Ar. will go over which did not rise out of the Balneurn.
When all the Spiritus have gone over, increase your fire and you will see
the Quinta Essentia, or Tincture of the Fish and the said Star, sublimate
as if it were a crystal stone. Remove it carefully from the Alembico and
dissolve it again in fresh Ar. Repeat this 4 times, and the tinctures of
Qu. Ess. of the Fish will become so subtle that it is unbelievable to
write about it. The reason for it is that it was first dissolved and
afterwards sublimated, and that it is killed and rises into a spiritual
Corpus. In my estimation, it should be distilled and afterwards
sublimated so often that it will obtain such great power that it would be
worth a kingdom. Now you have the Qu. Ess. Vitrioli and ii together.
If you wish to make an Elixir of it, you must calcine it In Tripode; then
dissolve it In Baineo with the water of the Hand; distill and sublimate
it, and add the soul to it,
and congeal it, as I have taught of other stones. But if you wish to
separate the tincture of the Star from the Fish, take good -* and
distilled vinegar. Pulverize the Quintessentia and put it into the
vinegar. Set it into the Baineurn. The will sink to the bottom, and the
Qu. Ess. of the ~%will go into the vinegar. Pour of f the tinged
vinegar, and pour fresh upon it. Put it back into the Balneum, and repeat
this till the vinegar no longer tinges. Now put all the tingedvinegar
together and take other (fresh) vinegar. In it, slake iron or steel 10 or
12 times. Now pour that to the tinged ,put it into a large glass and
distill all the vinegar Per Alembicum in the Balneum. What remains, will
be the most beautiful redness of the world, because the tinture of the
Fish stayed with the tincture of the Star. That us why the Fish is no
longer of any use when the tincture of the Star is drawn off, because
they both have the same nature.
With this tincture, you can work miracles, because it is indestructible
just as heaven is incombustible; it changes everything into its nature
and color, and thus it does to all stones & pearls.
THE PREPARATION OF THE SUN OR, SALIS AMMONIACI
M~moniac is of different kinds, that is, natural and artificial. Natural
ammoniac is found in the earth, and it is again twofold, white and red.
Both are extracted from hard. clean ores. It is sweet of taste; its
nature is hot and dry; and it is good for washing and purifying. Further,
there is also an artificial * , and that is better for this work than the
natural; it is also nobler than salt, and changes Mercury into water.
When it has been prepared with it, grind it and put it in a humid spot to
dissolve. With it, one accomplishes the solution of and into living
silver; and it is
Q which the dryness of the fire has congealed. It is hot and humid and is
a subtle spirit for the Elixir, for without it, it could not be done. How

to sublimate it, I will yet teach you, although through it the Corpora
are not transmuted white or red into another substance, except by means
of other spirits, it nevertheless gives to the spirits their entrance and
exit; it purges and cleans the Corpora of their blackness, leaving the
spirits mingled with the bodies, while itself going away.
SAL AMMONICUM, OR THE PHILOSOPHERS SUN
Ammoniac is the sun of the philosophers, which shines through all things
and is the noblest Secret of the Hand, for by it I will teach you how to
make the whole secret of the Tinctures, and in this way you can, if you
wish, extract all other tinctures and use them for the great
philosophers stone. For the Lap~e Minor you extract the things from the
minerals, for the Lapis Majori from the herbs and Species that are not
human; for like makes its like, a horse begets a horse, etc. Therefore,
prepare like to its like; otherwise you follow wrong ways in this Art.
First I will teach you how to extract the tincture from gold, and how to
make spirit and oil. Change the 0 to a subtle calx through calcination.
Then take a broad glass slab or a glass vessel. Put the calx into it and
pour on it good distilled wine vinegar. Into a Nossel (Note: obscure,
old word. May refer to~a small vessel of some kind), put 3j of the middle
fingers Sun, and pour it on the gold caix in the vessel, reaching two
fingers breadth above, it. Set it into the Balneurn or in a hot
reflection of the sun. Then there will arise a small yellow skin on top,
as if it were oil. Remove this with a silver gilt spoon, or with a
feather. Do this several times a day, till nothing else arises to the
top. Put what you have skiimned off into the Balneum and let the humidity
evaporate. Then an oil will remain, or the Qu. Ess., which is so
wonderful, it is beyond your belief.
One can do just as well with pure, old urine, as with vinegar. Then there
still remains earth in that which stays in the vessel and out of which
you have drawn the Qu. Ese.PUt that also into the Balneum. Let the
vinegar, or old urine, evaporate, and the earth of the Sun will stay
behind. And when the earth has been prepared, bring it back to its Qu.
EBB. as it should be. Now you have an elixir and a glorified body
(Corpus) and an earthly treasure far greater than can be believed. For
that, thank God Almighty. (NOTE: Gold Caix or Gold Chalk is
renderedhere as Gold Oxide)
PREPARATION OF ALUM, OR, WATER OF THE LANTERN
Take a new earthenware pot with a fitting cover. In it, pulverize as much
Alum de Roche to half f jilt the pot. Lute it well so that no air can
escape. Put it over a small fire and listen to the pot. When it is no
longer boiling, decrease your fire, and finally, let the pot sit in the
glow for about one hour, or thereabouts, after this, remove the pot and
you can allow it to
then cool of f. The alum has been calcined enough to make water from
it. . Dissolve this caix in distilled vinegar that has been well
rectified. Then remove it from the ashes and congeal it in a glass. Now
put it over a blue stone so as to dissolve it, and keep the water, for by
it one can dissolve into clear water. This is the right alum water with
which to imbibe all Corpora that one wishes to make Alba or white.
Likewise, put some of this water into an iron spoon or pan, pour into it,
let it boil till it gets clear. Then pour it into a small vessel and set

it in the sun. It will congeal and become so hard that it cannot be

broken with the fingers.
ADDITIONAL MANUAL WORK WITH ALUM, OR THE LANTERN OF THE PHILOSOPHERS
Take 10 lbs of alum,
white vitriol, 3 lbs
purified; also 2 lbs
apothecary; further,
to be purified.

and purify it by
of 9 , and 3 lbs
of Sal Vitri, 12
4 lbs of the KEY

dissolving it. Then take 2 lbs of

of Sal Alcali, and these must be
lbs of Sal Gemmae, taken from the
and egg calx 4 lbs. All these have

Now take the white of one hundred hardboiled and pulverized eggs, put
into distilled vinegar in addition to 1 lb of * , also ~ , Alcali, of
each 1 lb; conmion salt, 4 lbs. Put everything into a jar, luted, and set
into the Baineum, or in horse manure, for 6 weeks. Let it dissolve
into water; then remove it and distill. First, the 3~-will come, then the
; and the blessed white water that stays in the retort, preserve it till
you need more of it, because it is also good for other works.
Now take the vinegar, the * , and the egg water, and imbibe with that
your powder. Dry it in the Alembicum, so that it may stay pure. Do this
till all the water has been imbibed into the powder. Set the water to
calcine In Tripode for 14 days or longer, and regulate your fire in such
a way that you can just keep your hand in it through the hole.
After this, take it out. Take 2 lbs of 4~ , and sublimate it through this
powder, till it is fixed. Then dissolve the powder 7 times in distilled
vinegar, and again congeal it in the Aiembic, so that it may stay pure.
After it has been dissolved as often and has finally been congealed, put
it in the Balneum to dissolve, or in a cellar, or in horse manure. Then
the Lantern is prepared, and you have an earthly treasure, the whitest
water one can see with ones eyes, and it transforms all things into the
White, no matter what one cooks in it, be it metal or rock. With it one
can make fixed in many different ways, and you, nevertheless, keep almost
all of your Lantern, and almost your previous weight. Anything you wish
to get pure and white, such as pearls, put them into this water and you
will see wonders. It transforms all metals into Mercury, if they are
cooked in it in Bainco. I must not write more.
Now take the water of the HAND and 1 lb of the impalpable powder of the
KEY. Sublimate them, well mixed together beforehand, 7, 8, or 10 times,
each time with fresh KEY. After this,.pulverize it impalpably on a glass
slab with 1 lb of the Middle Finger, 2 lbs of the Fire, 2 lbs of 0 . Sublimate 7 times, each time with fresh 9 ; finally pound it and set it in
Tripode to calcine for 30 days, heating gently the first 8 days, then
gradually stronger. The last 8 days, let it become so hot that you would
hardly hold your hand in Tripode for one Ave Maria. Then take it out,
powder it on a stone, then dissolve it into water in Balneo.
Occasionally, it does not easily dissolve. That is due to the fact that
it has not been sufficiently cooked during calcination, since one has to
stir it once every day, what is at the bottom has to be turned uppermost;
and if something had been sublimated up, put it down again and continue
calcining. When it is dissolved, preserve it at once in a glass, well
stoppered with something.
Now take gold. Purify it by dissolving and cementing, as you know how to
do. Then dissolve the water of the Hand and keep it well stoppered in a

glass. When you have all three of these waters, you have an earthly
treasure. If you wish to conjoin them, take a glass Recipient, big
according to the quantity of your waters, narrow above and wide below.
Into this, put your three waters, seal as you know how to do; set it into
the Baineum, and let it rise and descend till you see that no more
spirits rise except a watery dew. Now take it out, powder it inpalpably,
put it into a round glass with a long neck, put it sideways on ash, in a
stove. Then you will see an evident miracle, that is, all the colors God
has created in the world, before the perfect White comes; and then the
redness from an increase in the fire. At first, one has to heat mildly,
and gradually stronger. But when the white color appears, you must
increase your fire somewhat till the glass becomes glowing. Should
something rise, turn the glass over, and continue with the fire till you
see the perfect redness which surpasses all the redness in the world.
Thank God!
I have done it, but I never reached the end of the Perfection. But with
it, you can well make Projection into all metals, because you have the
Qu. Ess. of the of the philosophers, and you have subtilized, dissolved,
and spiritualized the . Then its color is increased a thousnad times.
Also, Mercury, has in himself the red color or Tincture in such an
abundance, that it cannot be described. Therefore you must yourself,
experiment as to what wonderful Projection it makes. I am telling you in
true charity that I and my journeymen never reached the goal of
projection.
That is why you must throw it on )4.. and no other metal. You may also
dissolve your Medicine into a Ma8Ba, and carry it about with you, so that
you can take the powder out of the glass, stir it into wax; and you can
throw it upon whatever you wish, and close your mouth, by damnation of
your soul. Amen.
PREPARATION OF COMMON SALT, OR THE KEY
Take sea-salt, pulverize it in a mortar, dissolve it in distilled vinegar
made from white wine, filter and congeal it untjl a small skin forms on
top. Remove this and keep it, because it is the Spiritus of the Key.
Dissolve and congeal it again until the skins forms on top. Remove this
again and the Spiritus is thus separated. from the Corpus.
To 10 lbs. of this Spiritus add 1 lb. of ~ ; dissolve in distilled rain
water, and coagulate it again, Per Ajembicum, with a recipient, until it
is coagulated. Then take it out and pound it on a stone. Put your powder
into a glass; dissolve and coagulate it again till it is fixed and no
longer rises. With this Spiritus one does wonders and miraculous things
in metals, especially with Mercury~).f~ and 4 . But this Spiritus must
first be prepared, as I will yet teach.
ADDITIONAL MANUAL WORK WITH THE SALT OR KEY OF THE HAND
Here I wish to disclose to you all the secrets of the salt. It is the
greatest secret of all Arts of AZchymie, in which occur most of the
errors made by people who are engaged in the Art, since most of the
Secreta concern salts. Therefore, understand well what I am going to
teach, for as you separate the Spiritus from the body of the common salt,
thus is also separated the Spiritus from the Corpora of all other things.
Yet they are not all prepared in the same way but each according to its
work, and according to how they are needed and how one wishes to work

with them. There are many kinds of preparation of the Salts, for in the
power of the salts and their Praeparatio lies the whole Art of Aichymie.
One cannot work with any salt unless the Spiritus has first been separated from the Corpus. After this, the Spiritus must be prepared
according to the work in which it is needed. In addition, the Corpus must
also be prepared in other works, because the Spiritus and the Corpus each
have its particular power and cause contrary effects, as they are in fact
Contrair, and, when they are separated, effect contrary Operationes, each
in its own area. But those who try to operate with nonItI~separated salts
will work in vain, in spite of all their labors. They cheat themselves
and all those who believe them. Neither will they achieve any kind of
Perfection, for the whole Art consists in the separation of the salt and
the preparation of Sulphur. There are many kinds of preparation, the same
with Sulphur, according to what works are being done. The simpletons, who
read in our books about Sulphur, believe that we are speaking of the
which is dug up out of the earth; but we all have another Sulphur in
mind.
There do not exist so many kinds of salts that there should not be as
many kinds of Suiphura and their preparation. The Sulphur must be made
artificially, just as the ~ is made artificially. Now we will again
return to our matter. First I taught you how to separate the Spi~ri~tus
from the Corpus. Now I shall instruct you how to prepare the Spiritue,
and to make it fixed, and also what you should do with it.
After you have removed the little skin, which is the Spiritus of the
salt, and you have gathered as many of them as possible, dissolve them
again in distilled rain water, the same in which you had dissolved your
salt. Then congeal it again in a glass, or a glass vessel, over a gentle
fire. Pulverize it in a stone mortar; add powdered ~ , mix them well. Put
it into a glass with a long neck, lute well, put it to dissolve in horse
manure or in the Balneum. The glass must be well closed above, or put a
helm on with a recipient, everything well luted. Should any moisture come
over, it will coagulate more easily if there is also an Alembicum
attached to it than if it were only badly stoppered. This solution and
coagulation In Balneo must be repeated 10 or 12 times, or more, till it
is fixed. Each time it has to be coagulated over gentle heat. When it is
fixed, the salt is clear and transparent, like crystal and hard. If it is
put on fire or on a glowing Lamel, it does not smoke or melt away, and
penetrate like lard through leather; and that is its proof that it is
fixed. Now the Spiritus Salis is prepared, and it has also made the
~( fixed together with itself; and they married and will never again be
separated, but stay together and effect wonderful things together.
Put 1 lb of this salt into a Crucible and 4 lbs of purified with vinegar.
Add also the salt below, but most of it above; set in for 6 hours in the
fire, and it will coagulate into true ; your salt will neither be
decreased nor worsened. It does not burn, neither does it fly away. Now
put your upon the Cupel, as above.
If now you wish to bring if to Perfection, purify it first of its
blackness. Use Arnaig. or calcination, and purify each time with vinegar
and salt, till there is no more blackness in it. After that, drive the
from it, Per Descendum, into another vessel. Now take the powder Jovis
and Sal Fixum, put them into a crucible, as before, and let them drive
for 6 hours; or pour the salt into it beforehand and let it drive.
Afterwards add the powder Jovis, or bOth together. It is the same; I
tried both. When it cools down, you find Jovern amid the salt. He is

noble and a King. Sweeten the salt thereof and preserve it, because it is
just as good.
Now finish your on the test furnace (or: cupel) with 4 and drive it
off, and you will find good ~ in all tests. Aside from this, know that
the Corpus of the common salt of which the Spiritus has been separated,
is fixed in itself. It is prepared in the following way with Sal Alcali,
Oieo Tartan, Aiumen de Roche and Marcasita, that is:
Of this salt, take 4 lbs; of Sal Alcali, A lumen de Roche ana, 1 lb;
Marcasita, 1 lb. Pulverize them fine, then pound them together on a stone
with Oleurn Tartan, and make of them a thick paste. Put it into a glass
vessel or a Syburg jar; lute it tightly and put it under the cookstove,
where you keep a fire going every day. Let it dry; when it is dry, remove
it and pound it once more on a stone with Oleum Tartan. Put it back into
the jar, close it tightly, and put it again in the fireplace to dry, as
before. Repeat this till the powder has imbibed the Oleum Tar tan and you
have a dry Masea. Powder this Maeaa to a fine dust in a mortar, put it
into a Syburg jar, lute it tightly all around, 3 or 4 thumbs breadth.
Put it3 or 4 times into a potters stove; break the jar open, and you
will find it white.
Take it out and turn it into fine powder in a mortar; let it dissolve in
the cellar on a marble slate with a glass beneath it into which it can
drip. With this water, one can do many wonderful things in the Art. With
it one can dissolve into a beautiful transparent water; when is dissolved
with it or in it, one can dissolve all 7 metals into pure water with it
or in it. And this is the right preparation of the common salt, and it is
the Key on the little finger, because the little finger is the KEY TO THE
HAND.
How io TURN ALL METALS INTO ~
Now we will teach you to turn all metals into water, since all of them
must previously have been water before they can be brought to Perfection.
Purify the of its blackness, and purify it well without vinegar.
Afterwards, dissolve it again in the aforementioned water, and you can
dissolve in it any metal you wish. When it is dissolved, take sweet,
fresh cheese curds. Boil them and skim the thick Materi off; let it
settle. Separate from it what stays pure. Pour some of it into that which
you have dissolved, and it will Precipitate into a Maesa. Separate the
water from the Masea. After this you must cleanse it of its blackness
with salt and vinegar, and continue to work according to what purpose you
wish to have the metals, to the Red or to the White, as different works
indicate. But all metals must be water and purified of their blackness if
one is to bring them to Perfection, or the great Elixir must do it: It
has the power and nothing else.
Now I will teach you how to add the Spiritus to the Corpus that you have
prepared, that is, in what way you must Conjoin them. When now the
Spiritus and the Corpus come totogether and are united after their
preparation, one can do wonderful things with them, since they have then
a hundred times more power than they had previously; for after the
Coniunctio of the souls and the body there exists a Gloni(~ofied Corpus
and a great Elixir. With it one performs great miracles.
First one cleanses of its blackness. After this, one must also dissolve
in this water, , which comes dry from the test furnace. Now take

Marcasita Lunae; turn it into an impalpable powder and pound it well with
salt and vinegar, washing it till no more blackness comes off. Now dry
the powder at the sun, and afterwards grind it with good Aqua Vitae. Take
9~ water. Then draw the water off Per Alemb~cum, and immediately
dissolve the powder again in the same water. Now take the water in which
these three dissolved, and as much fixed Sptri.tus as the weight of the
water in which the metals have been dissolved. Imbibe these spirits into
this water, pound them, dry them, and imbibe them again; coagulate them
again at the air, for it is the cold air that must coagulate them and the
hot air must dissolve them.
Listen well to these discourses, how they are meant, it would take too
long to elaborate further. Neither is it necessary for this work. When
all this water has been imbibed, you have a precious Stone with great
power to act upon and . It can also be prepared for the Red, but that is
not necessary; for when they prepare the aforementioned finger, they are
making a great elixir. Should one work it to the Red, it would increase
in power a thousandfold through the preparation. And this is one of the
secret signs, and it is the little finger of the Hand, which is the Key
of the Hand.
THE NATURE AND POWER OF MERCURY, THE FISH OF THE HANDJ AND 4

THE FIRE

This is man and woman, this is sister and brother, this is earth and
seed, this is origin and beqinning of all metals; and without these two
no work can be accomplished, for without seed no fruit can be born, and
without soil no seed can grow. Accordingly, there has to be man and
woman, water and earth, fire and seed, if any fruit is to be obtained.
Thus these two are the origin of all metals, and without them no work can
be Brought to Completion.
Now I will further instruct my child and describe the nature of and his
infirmities, and in what way he is to be made healthy. Therefore,
understand well what I say, for by means of this work I will teach you
all other Opera, for all metals.
Mercury is a Spirit and also a Corpus, but the spirit is evident and the
Corpus hidden and intanaible. This is due to the Spiritus with which the
body is covered, for the spirit is more powerful than the body. That is
why the Spiritus takes the Corpus along when it gets into the fire.
Mercury is cold and humid, cold in the manifested and cold in his
humidity; but in his innermost and in his hidden (nature) he is red,
which is hot and dry. That is why the old masters called him an egg,
because an egg is white, cold and humid outside, and within it is hot and
dry; and when an egg is put in the fire, it will evaporate and burst.
That is due to its humidity and cold. This is the reason why they call
him the philosophers egg, which people do not understand. Because of the
coldness that he has in himself, he avoids fire; for two unlike things of
a contrary nature cannot stand each other; one or the other must go.
Because his Spiritus is stronger than his Corpus, the Spiritus leads the
Corpus away from the fire. Now I immediately also show the virtues of
Mercury.
Mercury is a slimy water in the earth, a subtle substance, an earth
spirit. He is the same subtlety which the earth has in itself. That is
why it is called Arsenicum of the earth. Therefore it has the power to
produce fruit without the help of the earth; that is, he can perform
works without any other thing, because the spirit of the earth and the

spirit of a thing have the power to do a great deal without the help of
the Corpus. But the Corpus has no power to do anything without the help
of the spirit. By this understand well what I have in mind concerning
Mercury, though Mercury may well be changed into 0 or without the help of
the metals. That is why the old folks called him the Serpent that begets
itself and gives birth without the help of some metals. Yet people do not
understand this saying about the snake, because they do not know Mercury.
I have said that Mercury is a slimy water, of a white color, soft,
natural, joined from within hot dryness and from without with cold
humidity, more than with inner hot dryness; that is why he does not like
fire!
Mercury is the Ferment, the yeast, or the sourdough, for yeast causes the
bread or beverage to rise and to go over, and it gives them their taste.
Therefore Mercury must be in all works like yeast (leaven), for without
Mercury no work can be accomplished. Mercury is the beginning, the
middle, and the end. He is the Copulator, the priest who brings all
things together and marries them; because no fruit can come from like
things; but unlike things, of two unlike natures, must be united. It is,
however, not easy to unite unlike things. Thus, Mercury must gather all
unlike things and marry them, if they are to bring forth fruit; for
Mercury is in them as the universal Spirit, for he is the humidity of all
things, also of the earth; just as blood is the Spiritus, humidity and
life of men, Mercury is the life of the earth.
Therefore, all things that have got their nature from the earth are
subject to him; also all that which the earth brings forth or has brought
forth. That~ is why it is said that Mercury is the Spiritus of all
things. Because of this the old philosophers say that in Mercury there
are four kinds of saline juices, for all salts are made of four things,
each contrary to the other. That is why all salts are poisonous, but one
more so than another.
The old masters called Mercury VIRGINS MILK, because Mercury is
nourishment, food, and the dwelling-place of all metals, since he enters
and, passes through all metals, just as mothers milk passes through all
members of the child and nourishes them. Mercury is the Nutriment and
mother of all metals; Mercury makes alihot Corpora cold, and all dry bodies moist; he also makes all cold bodies hot, and all humid Corpora dry.
However, Mercury has to be transmuted into another degree, according to
what the work is, that one wishes to accomplish with him. For Mercury has
a wonderful nature. Wherever he is added or used, he is the best or the
worst, depending on how the company is.
Thus one may use Mercury for whatever work one wishes to perform. If he
is congealed, he continues to congeal; if he is dissolved, he dissolves
further; if he is fixed, he fixes further; if he is multiplied, he
likewise continues to multiply; if he is made poisonous, he poisons
everything.
Thus have I taught and shown you what derives from Mercury and what he
is. I have informed you of part of his infirmities as well as of part of
his wonderful nature. Now I will also teach you part of his virtue and
power and of the works he can do, from degree to degree, to his utmost,
according to the understanding which Almighty God has granted to me
through his bottomless charity. Although one could not write all his
degrees and powers in a book as big as the Bible, I will now here teach

my knowledge obtained through the charity of God Almighty, and what I

know, have learned and experienced in this matter.
First, what he can do when he comes raw from the mines. Subsequently,
what he can accomplish when he is a great Sublimat; and then, what his
capability is when he is congealed and dissolved, and, in addition, how
to understand this. Finally, I shall make you acquainted with his sister
and brother; and also how to make the , by which must be brought into a
state of health.
First I will say what Mercury can do inside and outside the earth, when
he is still raw. I said that Mercury is the Spiritus of the earth;
likewise he is the Sperma of the earth, and the seed of all metals. Of
this seed, when planted in the earth, that is the 4 - be it pure or
impure, red or white - one of the seven metals is generated.
Consequently, Mercury is the beginning and the foundation of all seven
metals. His intention is always to generate (3 or, but he is impeded by
the lazy and impure earth or 4, so that he cannot achieve his purpose,
while it is also true that the stench of the earth hinders him often to
do so. For as a child in the womb is made impure by the Mateni which it
attracts as the child may get a disease on account of the uncleanliness
and Corruption of the place where it lies, which causes it to get such a
disease; irrespective of the fact that the Sperma and seed were pure and
clean, the child is nevertheless afflicted with and uncleanliness; it is
due to the lazy mother and the Corruption befalling it - so it is with
the metals which are likewise corrupted by the impure Sulphur.
After this, I will say and teach whether God has created all things of
one or of two natures, and how, and what. God has put together and united
all things of four contrary elements. He has put them together with their
opposites; but these natures are perfectly united in all things,
regardless if they are perfect or imperfect. Thus we find that either the
manifest part in a thing is perfect, or the concealed part. But while
they are cold it is the contrary. That is why it is easy to change the
Corpora into their prime root in a short time, so that the concealed part
can be made manifest, and the manifest part in nature can be hidden in
the metals. For what iron lacks in its manifest form, is replaced by
something in its hidden form during its transformation into (3 or . Its
hidden part is , which replaces iron during its transformation.
If, therefore, (j~ is changed into, its hidden part will become hot and
dry, and its visible part, cold and moist. Bring its hidden part into
manifestation, therefore, and make its visible part hidden. Then its
hidden part will be cold and dry, and its manifest part, hot and moist;
now it is perfect and will last in all eternity.
There were some who said that it was the hidden and ; others said ; and
in this they spoke the truth. I am saying all this to show how all
Corpora must be transformed; for in all bodies two manifest natures must
be hidden, and two hidden natures must be made manifest. What is
manifest, is imperfect and full of sickness; and what is hidden in the
metals is fixed, good, and perfect by nature. That is why you must make
its hidden part manifest, and its manifest hidden. Then you have a pure,
perfect, and fixed Corpus, lasting in all eternity. It is a great secret
to have the understanding of this, and to know the Secreta as also the
infirmities of the metals, and in what way the metals came by them; apart
from this, (it is also a great secret) to well know their natures, within

and without, hot and dry, cold and humid, over and again back. It is the
fire that I have in mind.
You can make them healthy again with natural medicine and with 4 , which
I will teach you later how to make from green herbs, oils, gums, and
water. Concerning this, you must well understand my view, since in this
chapter you are being acquainted with all the infirmities of the metals,
and you will be taught to recognize all herbs, to prepare all Suiphura,
and to know all medicines. You will learn what they require in their
bodies, so that you will learn Icy how to make manifest one of the hidden
elements, and how to make its contrary hidden. Understand well that I
indicate all this, so that you should know nature. For lead is cold and
dry, its manifest part is quite soft, and its hidden part is hot and
humid.
In all things that God the Lord has created, the hidden part is always
contrary to the manifest part, in softness as well as in hardness; for
the soft is the Contrariurn of the hard, that is, when its nature is
reversed, its hidden part becomes manifest, and its manifest becomes
concealed; that is, the soft has to become hard, and the hard, soft. This
is meant for the Corpora lead, ).~ and . They are also composed of four
natures, since the manifest of lead is cold, humid, and soft, while its
hidden part is hot, dry, and hard. Likewise with (3~ . When they made him
like lead, they called him lead; but its hidden part is ~ and the former
is manifest. And when you reverse the hidden Saturn and make it manifest,
it is Q~V . Such is easy to do with 4 , and then it is ~ , lasting in all
eternity. The body of iron is composed of four natures whose exterior is
hot, dry, and hard, while the hidden part in its nature is cold, humid,
and soft, like lead in its root. In no Corpus is there as great a
hardness as in the manifest Mars, and in its hidden part there is an
equally great sof tness. One becomes easily aware of its softness when it
is prepared and reversed. After this operation it is
The hidden part of Mercury is ~ ; its manifest part is a cold and dry
water called Mercury. That is why his manifest part must be hidden and
his hidden part made manifest. Thus he can be converted into fine (3 ;
or, if you wish, increase his color, and his coldness will appear and
become ; or increase his heat and humidity, and it will become (3 .
Understand well what I say, what I intend to convey. Reflect on what I
have taught you and how I have compared Mercury to an egg, which is white
outside and red inside. Thus is Mercury in the center of his nature.
Therefore, understand these teachings veil. Enough of this.
Sal is hot and humid in its manifest part; dry, melancholy and like lead
in its hidden part. Therefore, reverse all Corpora into this nature, for
this nature is temperate. If you wish to cook Mercury till he becomes ~ ,
and till he becomes (3 , prepare your yellowcolored Suiphura that can
tinct, and decrease his humidity till he becomes hot and dry. Then his
humidity will be saturated and decreased, which means, to reverse his
hidden part and root, which is (3 and his color, which is solar, into
Sol. Take my discourses to heart, listen and pay careful attention to
them.
Venus is hot and dry, and is a brother of Mars, for his root is hot and
humid like gold, and he is different from him in dryness of his Minera,
which has become impure. Take of him his dryness, and prepare it with
contrary Sulphura that are good and healthy for him. Then he will again
get back into his nature and will turn into (3 . Understand my discourses

well, and pay careful attention to what I intend to teach you. It is of

great importance and secrecy what I am telling you; it is also a great
secret and deep wisdom. Therefore do take my discourses carefully to
heart.
Mercury is cold and humid in his manifest part, driving and soft as
water; and in his hidden part he is hot, dry, and hard without any doubt;
for his manifest part is and his hidden part ~ and the contrary. Now
then, if we wish to reverse into his first water, the way to do it is
first to turn him into ~ through 4 which helps him, that is, his brother
and his sister. Understand my discourses:
You must hide his hwnidity and reveal his dryness through Then it will
become good ~ . Such is the first way.
Understand my teachings well, and if you wish to perfect the work,
reverse so slowly till its manifest part becomes hidden and its hidden
part, on the contrary, manifest. Understand well, these are two ways,
active and passive. Then its hidden part will be hot and humid, that is 0
; and its manifest part, cold and dry, that is Saturnua. Do take care to
understand my teachings well. I am addressing you in bad German, without
veiled words. Know that is the root of 0 Therefore, if you wish to
change it into 0 ~ conceal its coldness. Then its heat will manifest.
After this, cover up its dryness, and its humidity will manifest; and it
will be good gold, everlasting.
Thus I have informed you of and made known to you the nature of metals
and their infirmities; and how one is to reverse those and prepare them
with each metals 4; that is, according to what is the infirmity of a
metal, prepare your Suiphur, as I will teach you.
Item, when comes out of the mines, it is living water, with which we must
wash all our Suiphura, metals, and Corpora; and make all our Corpora
humid. This means that all their Corpora must be amalgamated and
dissolved with Mercury, and Mercury must turn all hard Corpora into water
or softness. Then one can pound and wash all metals with sea salt or
distilled vinegar. This is to be done in a marble or stone mortar, and it
has to be made so clean that no muddiness is left. When the Corpora are
quite clean, drive the Mercury off Per Distillationem. Now you can prepare the powder with the 4 , which will hereafter teach you how to
prepare.
Now I will further teach you how it is that becomes so poisonous during
sublimation. The reason is that it is his nature to attract to himself
all the poison he can get at. If he meets good metals, he wants to be the
best; if he meets bad metals, the worst, etc. This is the reason why
attracts to himself all poison when he is sublimated through hot natures;
for all hot herbs, salts, and all other things created by God that are
hot to the 4th degree, are poisonous. I would like to inform you of the
reasons, but this work does not require my doing so. Therefore, if he
were to be sublimated through hot salts and hot Species, he would become
poisonous; for all salts are poisonous, one more than another; therefore,
the more he is sublimated through them, the more poisonous he becomes.
One could sublimate so often through Vitrioium Romanum, or Album, or
alum, Sal Gemmae, Saitpetre, etc., that he would become so poisonous
that, should he be put on a saddle upon which a man were riding, that man

would immediately die as soon as his bottom got warm on it. But the salts
must previously be dissolved nine times in distilled wine vinegar,
and again congealed. And if Mercury were then sublimated it would die. It
is possible therefore, to give to a man or an animal, poison the size of
a bean, so that the whole body would become poisonous all those who
would eat of it would die. What should you now think of gold or ? And
even if gold or were not medicinated but only arnaigamated praecipitation
in their raw state with , and they were kept together in moderate fire,
do you not think that the gold or would change into its nature? Yes,
certainly, and that in a short time, within four weeks.
If then the Q and ~ (even in their raw state) can bring about the change
of into their own nature, what will they do when they are medicinated
with the noblest medicine of the world and are applied so abundantly?
Such medicinated gold or is also dissolved in the water of the Hand, kept
in baineo for seven days and nights in order to digest. Afterwards it is
again congealed and then calcined in tripode, and this is done three
times. What do you think of that? And even if they had not been
medicinated but had by themselves been calcined and congealed, would it
not have made a medicine all of itself? Indeed, yes. If you have
intelligence, understand my words. If you do not understand, you are an
oaf. I have here taught you how to make the most precious of the most
unprecious. Thank God Almighty that you have got this instruction.
END OF THE WORK