Of the tincture of the philosophers

Ph. Theophrastus, Bombast of Hohenheim, a Philosopher, a Monarch, a Spagyrical Prince, a most great Astronomer, a wonderful Phisician, and Trismegest of Mechanick Arcana's. His Book of the Tincture of the Philosophers, against the Sophisters that are born since the Flood, in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, […]

THE PREFACE.

WHereas thou O Sophistic […] me wich such […] words, viz. That I am a rude Helvetian, or illeterate fellow, and neither understand or know any thing, and that being more by one Letter then a Phisician […]f viz. […], or a Beggar: I wander and rove like a Vagabond, from one Countrey to another: I have therefore pr[…]po[…]ed to make known to the world in this shore Treatise, Those ignorant and unexperienced men, and also, What good Arts were in being, in the first Age; and What My Art is able to do in comparison of Thine, and what Thine is in comparison of Mine, and how Each are to be accompted of; and withall, How I shall be imitated by such as come after in the Age of Grace: Look upon Hermes, Archelaus, and other […] in the first Age what […]a[…]y[…]ists, and how great Philosophers they were Their […] Adversaries and which, O[…] Sophisters, are your Patr[…]) do testifie thus much, That themselves are even to this very day rather Images, then otherwise. But, although […] and […] Authentick and […] accompted of […] Fathers, yet that Antient Smaragdine […]able doth […] and un[…] A[…]d Experience both in Philosophy & A[…]himy, in Mag[…], (or Natural Wisdom) and such […] Arts, […]e taught by Thee, or all the whole Tr[…]p of […] yet understand from what's af[…]re sp[…]e[…], viz. What, and how great th[…]se Treasures be, then […] whence it c[…]me to pass that no King or Pri[…]? And why Di[…]esian the […] such Spagy[…]ical Bo[…]kes as […]ver came with[…] his […]wer, to be burnt? For had not their Bookes contain[…] something, they had long since b[…]en […]on[…]rained to […] undergone that intol[…]erable yoke of Seraitu[…] such as w[…]ll, in time to come, light upon the[…]e[…] Sophister, and thy Colleagues.

In this middle Age the Monarchy of all A[…] is […]. Theoph[…]astus Pa[…]el[…]. Ga[…]en, Avi[…]n, Me[…]e, or any ther of then followers […] Theory proceeding out of the Light of Nature, […], or decay, nor be […]h[…]nged, because […]f its Con[…]iancy, or Basis; but will at length begin to flourish in 1[…]58. Then the succeeding Practick will be proved by Signs both […]onderful and incredible, so as to become apparent even to […] and common people, and even they shall through […] the Para[…]el[…]i[…]n. […], against the […] yet of the Sophisters […] that other Sophistick […]hea[…]ing Art hath […]eed of Papal & Imperial Priviledges to support and bear up their sill, […]pperies.

But whereas I am accounted of by […]ee, O […] Sophister as a Beggar and Vagrant, I will be […], and […] Danuby and […]lieiue to answer for me. […]y […] studied Slander […]ast upon me, have often a[…]sp[…]as[…]d […], Princes and Nobles, likewise. Imperial […]iti[…], and […] a Knightly Dignity and Nob[…] in a certain Ci[…] of […], called […], in the Hospital, the which neither thou […] the Roman, nor th[…] Charls the German, are able to pay for with […] Estates. Although there be a signed Star entered up[…], an[…] s[…]d into the A[…]num of your Names, it […] any but the S[…]n of the Di[…]ine S[…]a[…]rri[…]al Art. A[…]d therefore whereas thou Verminous and Low[…] i[…]aginest the Monarch of Ar[…]an[…]'s […] and prodigal decocter & b[…]yle[…], I will therefore in this […]. Age […]ke open in this Booke an honourable prose[…]uti[…] of th[…]se […]ings, together with the v[…]rtues and preparation of that Tincture of the Natura[…] is, for the ben[…]fit and hon[…]ur […] Lovers of […]ruth, and whereby the […] Arts may be redu[…]d […]. The La[…] Age […]hall be […], as […]g a Gift of […] tru[…] spirit so that the […] and […]isdom, was never […] beginning […] However, in the mean time […] shall not be […] press the good and honest men; […] shall the Pow[…] and […] of those many Opposers, be any damage to the upright.

OF THE TINCTURE OF THE PHILOSOPHERS. BY PHH[…]S […] PARACE[…]SUS

CHAP. I.

I […] Therphrasius B[…]mbast doth say, that […], and according to the man[…]ed […] n[…] D[…]n[…] Grace there are va[…]ous wayes found […]ut […] the att[…]inin[…] to the T[…]nclure of the Philos[…] pheis, all wh[…]nd finally belong and lead to the same […] and end, for Homes Tris[…]gi[…]i, the E[…]p[…]an, […] ab[…]ut this Work according to his own pe[…]uh[…] way […]u[…] the […] obte[…]ed the same Pro[…]es[…]. […] the Arab[…] continued in his pe[…]ar Method, But […], followed a very […]dict[…]ess I very […]ne of them proceeded according to the[…] proper […] and manner; but yet never the less they all ar[…]ived to One and the same […]nd, viz. to a L[…]ng Li[…]e, so much desired by the Philosophers, and to an n[…]ne[…] Su[…]ntati[…]n and Conservation thereof in this Valley of M[…]eri[…]s. Therefore I Th[…]ph Paracelsus Bomba[…]t, he Mon[…]ch of Arcanum's, am (in this season) gifted by God wi[…]h pe[…]ulia[…] Endowments and that for this end, […]iz That every Sea[…]cher after this high natural work, may have occasion and en[…]uragement of imitating and following me, be he wha[…] he will, either Italian, Pal[…]ni[…]. French-man, German, […] Come nither after me all ye Phi[…]phers. A[…]ron[…]ners, and Spa[…]ri[…], what high N[…]me soever ye […]e of, I will […] and open unto […], ye […] Doct[…]r[…], ex[…]ted by me with […]ine […] that C[…]orr[…]al Regeneration, I […] you the T[…]ciure, the Ar[…]anum, o[…] Quintess[…], in […] very Fundamentals of all […]ysteries and […] p[…]a[…]ons de lye hid; for verily a m[…]n m[…]y, and Ought […] belie[…]e another, Onely in such things as h[…] hath […] o[…] by the fire […] any one shall introduce an[…] tr[…]ng besides this kind of Experience into the […] Art, the[…]e's no cause of giving any […] there unto; […] Experien[…], that by t[…]e […] made a se[…] of the true from the false, […], the […]i[…]ht of Nature is […] this […]ise created, th[…] by it may be m[…]de evident the […], or tryal of ev[…]y t[…]ing; but yet to such Only as wa[…]k in that […]ight N[…]. from that […]ight we w[…]ll t[…]a[…]h by most excellent […], and […]. […] all […]h […]s h[…]ve eve[…], bef[…] time. entred upon this […] their pe[…]uli[…] F[…]ncies, and a[…]ute Spe[…]ular[…], […], […] this found […]tion of mine, therefore, many […] have been made N[…]b[…]es, and […], […]ny […] hav[…] been by their […]utatitio[…]s and […], turned […], R[…]ti[…]k, su[…]h as h[…]ve […]ied Gold […] untains in t[…]eir Heads, bef[…]re they h[…]ve set the[…]ands to the C[…]les In the first place therefore, is […] be learned, Di[…]stions, Di[…]tillations, Subhmati[…]s, Re[…]berations, […]xtractions, Soluti[…]ns, […]agul[…]tions, […]ermentations, […]ixations; and every […]strument requi[…] to this work, is to be known by use; su[…]h as are Glasses, […]u[…]bites, Ci[…]culato[…]ies, Vessels […]f […]mes, […]uthen Vessels, Balneas, Wind-Fornaces, Reverbera[…]es, and other such like: Also a Marble, Coales and […]ongs. Thus at length mayest thou profit in Alchimy and Medicine: But as long as thy Fancy and Opinion adhers to thy Fiction Books, thou art not fit, or predestinated to any of these things.

CHAP. II. Of the Definition of the Subject and Matter of the Tincture of the Philosophers.

BEfore I come to the Process of the Tincture, 'tis expedient that I lay open unto thee the Subject thereof; for this hath alwayes been peculiarly hidden hitherto by the lovers of Truth. The Matter therefore, of the Tincture, [see that you understand me according to a Spagyrical sense] is a certain thing which doth by the Art of Vulcan, pass out of three, into One Essence, or may remain. But, that I may mention it by its proper Name, according to the use of the Ancients, 'tis by many called, the Red Lyon, but is known but by a few; this Lyon may by the help of Nature, and the Art of an Artist, be transmuted into a White Eagle; so that of One are made Two, and so Lustrous, that the splendor of Gold shines not so bright to a Spagyriss, as this doth; those two have a brighter shine if kept in One. If n[…] do[…] not understand and the use of the Cabalists, and of the Ancient Astronomers, or their […], thou art not […]Spaan[…] ordained by God for the Spagyrick Art, not […] chosen by Nature for the work of […], nor created to open thy mouth concerning the Chymical Art: The matter therefore of the Tincture, is a most excellent Pearl, and a most precious Treasure, and the most noble thing [next the Manifestation of the Most High, and the Consideration of Mankind] that can be in the Earth; this is the […] of Alchimy and of Medicine, which the Philosophers have so accurately sought after; but because or the defect of the m[…]ne knowledge thereof, and i[…] perfect Preparation, they arrived not to its perfect end; there is given us an […] onely of the Tincture, by their Searchings and Experiences; but as for the true foundation, which my […] to imitate, is les[…] t[…] me, so that no body may commi[…] then […] without Intentions. Deservedly therefore do […] my long Experience […] co[…]ect and regulate the Spagyris[…]s, and seperate the false and […]Wprd[…] from the true; son I have by my long Inquiries and […]gent Search, found out such ways, by which I may justly reprove and change many things: But yet notwithstanding, had I found the Experiments of the Ancient, to have been more excellent then mine, I would not at all have taken such great Labours as I have willingly undergone for the […], benefit and honour of all Honest Archimists, &c. Having therefore sufficiently declared the subject of the Tincture in such wise as can […] be done more faithfully between two Brethren, o[…] indeed is lawful to be done more, I will proceed to its preparation; and having first set down the Experiences of the First Age, I will also add my Inventions, to which the Age of Grace and Mercy […] at last adhere, whatsoever […] thou, O Sophister, makest and producest in the me […], as […] of thy Philosophy.

CHAP. III. Of the […] of the Ancients in order to the Philosophick […], and of a briefer […] PARA C[…]LSVS.

THE Ancient 'Spaygrists putrefied L[…]y for a Philosphical Mo[…]th, and did afterwards […] thence from the mo[…]st spirits, […] at length the day spirits were ele[…]ated; the Caput Mortum they again imbued, and moistened with the moist spirits, and […]structed them often thence from by distillation, and that so long until the dry spirits were wholly elevated; then afterwards they united the abstracted Humidities, and the dry spirits together by a Pellicane, three or four times, until all the Lily remained dry in the bottom.

Although that the first Experience gave this proceeding before fixation, yet nevertheless our Ancestors have thereby of entimes perfectly obtained their desire; but yet they would have lighted on a shorter way of attaining to the treasure of the Red Lyon, had they but learned the Harmony of Astronomy, with Alchimy, as I have demonstrated it in the Apocalyp[…] of Hermes. But where as every day, as Christ speaks for the comfort of the faithful, hath a ca[…]e proper to it self; the Labour of the Spagyrisis before my time, was grievous and very great, but now in this last Age, by the help of the inflowing of the Holy Spirit, 'twill be cased by my Theory and Practick, and will be declared to all those that shall constantly persevere in their workings with patience: E[…], I have tryed the properties of Nature, its Essences and Conditions, and have known its conjunction, aswell as its Resolution; and this is the highest and great […] in a Philosopher, never as yet made known to Sophisters.

When therefore the first Age gave forth the first Experience of the […], the Spagyrisis out of one simple Thing made two; but when that Invention did pe[…] afterwards in the middle Age, their Successors did afterwards by a diligent and thorough search light upon the two Names of that simple Thing, and stiled it by One word, viz. Lily, as being the subject of the tincture.

Then the Imitators of Nature putrefied this Matter for its time, even as the seed in the Earth is: For nothing can be born thereof, nor can any Arcanum break forth, or be revealed before this corruption or putrefaction. Then afterwards they abstracted the moist spirits from the Matters until at length by the violence of the fire, the dry were likewise sublimed, that so by this way they might attain unto maturity, (like as the Countrey man expects in the season of the yeere where one thing is wont to ascend after another, and so to sail away.) La[…] of all, Even as after the Spring, the Summer comes, so they […] those fruits and d[…]y spirits, & brought the Magistery of the Tincture to that pass that it became […]pe for the Harvest, and disposed it selfe to Maturation.

CHAP. IV. Of the process concerning the Tincture of the Philosophers, abreviated by Paracelsus.

THe ancient Sp. gyrisis would not have needed such a prolix labour and tedious […], had they learned then Work out of my School, and so attempted it; they would fully as well have obtained them desired End, with far less costs and labours: But now in this Season in which […] Paracel[…] is becomthe Monarch of Areanum's, the time is now at hand of the invenuon of that which was hidden to all the Spagyrisis that were before me. And therefore I say, take Only the bloud of a Ros[…]e colour of the Lyon, and the Glew of the Eagle, the which after then hast conjoined them together coagulate them according to the old process, and thou shalt have the I incture of the Philosophers, which an infinite number have sought after, and but a very, very few have found.

Thou Sophister, Will thou, or […]ll thou, this is a Magistery in Nature it self, and a Magna[…] on wonderful thing of God above Nature, and a most pre[…]ious treasure in this valley of miseries. If thou beholded a ext[…]i[…]secally, it seems to be somewhat a […]le thing […] transmute another thing into a much more noble Body then i[…] was before, But thou must even brook it, and confess that this is a Miracle produced by a Spagyrist, who by the Art of his Preparation corrupts a visible externally […] body, out of which be excites another m[…] noble and most precious Essence. If now thou hast likewise learn'd any thing from the Aristotelian Light, or of us, or any thing of Scrapi[…] 's Rules, come hither, and bring it forth by experience) unto light, and preserve the Right of the Schools, as becomes a Lover of Honour, and a Doctor: b[…]t if thou knowest nothing, and canst do nothing, why dost thou despise me as if I were an irrational Helvetian-Calfe, and called me; Wandering-Vagaband? Art is a second Nature, and; peculiar World, as Experience witnesseth, and demonstrates against thee and thy Idols: And therefore sometimes the Alchimist compoundeth some simples, the which he afterwards corrupts according as his necessity requires, and thence prepares another thing; For so oftentimes, of many things is made One thing, the which is more efficacious, and doth more then Nature by herself is able to do, as is evidently apparent in Gasia[…] n[…]m, where ♀︎ is made of ♄︎; also in […], where ☽︎ is made of ♀︎, and in Hu[…]gary […] is made of ☽︎: I[…] shall forbear to speak of other transmutati[…]ns of Natural things, they are well known to the Magi, and brought to light, and are more wonderful then those things that Ovid declares in his Metamorphosis. But that you may rightly understand me, you must seeke your Dyon in the East, and your Eagle in the South, for this our assumed or chosen Work: Thou wilt not find better Instruments then what Hungaria and Hi[…]ria do produce: But if thou desirest to bring it from Vnity, by Duality, into Trinity; with an equal permutation and change of each, then you must direct your journey to the South, for so in Cyprus shall you obtain your whole desire; concerning which we must forbear the making of any larger Discourse then what we have here at present declared. There are many more of those Arcanum's exhibit transmutations, although but a few know them, the which though m[…]nif[…]sted by the Lord God to any one, yet the reporting of this Art doth not therefore presently break out, but the Omnipotent God doth together with it also give understanding of concealing these and other such Arts until the coming of Helias the A[…]t, in which time there shall be nothing so occul[…] but it shall be revealed. Ye also visibly perceive th[…]ugh indeed I have no reason to speak a word of these things, because some may decide it) that in the fire of Sulphur i[…] a great […]incture for Gems, the which doth ex[…]lt them to a more noble degree then Nature of her self could do. But as for that Gradation of Metals and Gems: I shall omit the Discourse of them in this place, for I have abundantly enough written thereof in the Secret[…] of […] and in the Book of the Vexations of the Alchimish and in other places. And now, as I have begun the process of our Ancestors concerning the Tincture of the Natu[…]llists, […]e'l perfectly conclude and […] hit.

CHAP. V Of the Conclusion of the p[…] of the Ancients, made by Paracel[…]s.

LAstly, the ancient Spag[…]rists did by a cert[…]n […]derly augmentation of the […], so lon[…]ix the Pell[…]anated and dryed Lily, until it c[…]me […] bl[…]kness, with a permutation of passing through all the […]) to be a[…]ed as blood, and did therewith assume the property of the Salamander. Indeed they rightly proceeded in such a labour; and 'tis very sitting and exped[…]ent that Every one as aims at the getting of this Pearl, should proceed after the same manner. 'Twill be too hard a task for mee to declare this more clearly unto thee, unless thou hast learned in the School of the Al[…]him[…]ls, to observe the degrees of the fire, and also to change, or alter thy vessels: for then at length […]alt thou see, […] presently upon the he […]ng of thy Lily in the Physical […]gg. it will with vonderful apparitions be made blad[…] then the Crow: then afterwa[…]ds in su[…]cess of time, […] be w[…]iter then the […] & th[…]n la[…]ly 'tw[…]l pass through a yellow colour, and become more […]ed then any blood Seek, seek, saith the chiefe[…]t Spag[…]ust, and you […]all find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: It will be i[…] pious and unseemly to […] m[…]at into the m[…]uth of a per[…]idious […]d, let her rather fly hereto; even as my self, together with such as were before me, h[…]ve been constrained to do: Follow the tru[…] Art therefore, for this will guide thee unto the perfect kn[…]wledg thereof 'Tis not sit to m[…]ke a la[…]ger or […]lea[…]er addition of any thing, then what I have afore spoken. Let thy Pna[…] sai[…]l Schools teach thee what they will from their unstable and slippery foundation, it […]eacheth not its end or scope.

Now […] length when thou h[…]st been as a[…]urately taught as possibly can b[…]d me by th[…] Al[…]anical industry, then at length, will the[…]e be nothing in the nature of things so diffi[…]ult, wh[…] may not be made manifest unto thee by the help of […] A[…]: But verily nature, barely of her sel[…], never brings unto light any thing that is e[…]alted to the height of its perfection, as we may here see in this place, from and concerning the unity, or union […] duility. But a man must by Spagy[…]ical preparations) bring it to that pass, to which it was destinated by nature, Thus much therefore let suffice concerning the process of the Ancients, and my correcting of the […]ncture of the Philosophers, as to what pertains unto its operation.

Furthermore, when we have that Egyptian, or Herme[…]l treasure in our hands, 'tis expedient that we convert it to our bene[…]it: and this may be done after a twosold manner, by the Spa[…]yrical magistery. The […]ull way is the application of it to the […]enewing of the body; the latter is the using it for the […]ansinutation of metals. And whereas I Theophrastus Paraecelsies have diver[…]y experienced them both, I am willing to deseribe and […] the same down according to the signs of the wo[…]k, and according as they have be[…]t[…]r and more perfectly appeared in, and by the testimo[…]y of Experience.

CHAP. VI. the Transmutation of Metris by the projection of the Medicine.

IF you would make use of the Tincture of the Philosophers for transmutation, then first of all, there must be one pound thereof projected upon a thousand […]ound of mo[…]ten Sol. then at […]ength will thy medicine be prepared for the transmutation of the leprous humic[…]y. or juice of the metals. This is a wonderful work in the Light of Nature viz. that by the Magistery, or Operation of the Spagy[…]ist, a metal should perish from what it was afore, and become another. And this hath even rendered that same Aristotle, together with his ill-founded Philosophy, a foolish man: for ve[…]ily the Ru[…]tical fellows in Hungaria, when they have thrown some […]on into a certain Fountain, called, […]pserb[…]o[…]nen and there les[…] it, its time, 'tis consumed into a Rust, which being melted with a blast at the fire, […] presently becomes pure Venus, and never more re[…]urns into […]on. Likewise in the mountain […] commonly so called, they st[…]ein a Lixi[…]i[…]m, or a […]y, […]ut of Marchasites, in the which I[…]on is presently turned into most excellent, highly graduated Venus, and more malleable then the other natural Venut is.

These and many more such like things are better known to plain simple men, then to the Sophisters, viz. the transmutation of one Species, and kind of metal into another. But yet these Arts, partly by reason of the very much contempt of the Ignorant, and partly because of the just envie and displeasure of Artificers, are almost quite hidden. Verily I have in Istria, oftentimes brought Venus beyond 24 degrees (alias 38) so that the colour of Sol could not ascend higher, 'twas constant in the trial by Antimony and the Quartation, the which Venus I have made use of, in all respects as the other.

But now although the Artists of old were very desirous of this Arcanum, and sought after it with the highest diligence, yet nevertheless 'twas but a very few that could bring it by a perfect preparation to its end. For the transmutation of a meaner metal into a better, bring[…] with it many difficulties and hindrances, as that of Jupiter into Luna, or of Venus into Sol. Haply 'tis the pleasure of God, that the Magnalia of Nature be hidden from many men, because of their sins; for when th[…]s Tincture hath been sometimes prepared by Artists, and that they could not bring their projection to take effect[…] it happen'd that by reason of their negligence and ill[…] keeping it, it was devoured by Hens, whose feathe[…] thereupon fell off, and grew up again, this, I my se[…] saw. By this way, through the abuse perpetrated by th[…] negligence of the Artists, came Transmutation into Medicine and Alchimy; for, when they could not in th[…] least make use of that Tincture according to their desire[…] they coverted it to the Renovation of men, as you sha[…] hear more at large in the following Chapter.

CHAP. VII. Of the Renovation of Men.

SOme of the chief and antient Philosophers in Egypt lived by this Tincture an hundred and fifty years: likewise the lives of many men have been producted and prolonged for some Ages, as is most evidently mentioned in many histories; this will hardly seem credible to any body, for the virtue thereof is so admirable, th[…]t it continues, and lengthens out the bodie more then is possible for its […]-born nature to do; and it conserves it in that degree so firmly, that it live[…] safe and free from all infirmities. And though it may have old age; yet nevertheless doth it appear as if constituted in its former juvenility.

The Tincture, therefore, of the Philosophers, is an universal medicine, and consumes all diseases, whatsoever nam[…] they are called by, like an invisible fire: its Dose it very little, but its operation is most powerful; I have thereby cured the Leapry, Lue[…] Venerea, D[…]opsie, Falling Sickness, Collick, Gu[…]ta, and such like diseases: also the Wo[…]f, Cancer, Noli-me-[…]anger[…], Fisiula, and such kind of internal diseases, and that more certainly then is credible: concerning which, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Bohemia, &c. will yeeld sufficient testimonie. And now Sophister look back upon Theophrastus Paracelsus; How can thy Apollo, Machaon, and Hypocra[…] be able to stand against me? This is the Catholicon of the Philosophers, by which all the Philosophers pursued long life, and resisted diseases; and did by this universal Tincture most excellently, and most effectually obt[…]in it, and stiled it (accord[…]ng as seemed them good) The Tincture of the Philosophers: for what can there be greater in all medicine, then the mundifying of such a body, by which mundification al supe[…]fluity is even radically and totally taken away therefrom, and transmuted; for heal but the seed, and all things are becom perfect. What profit is there in the most untowardly-sounded purgations of the Sophisters, when as they take away nothing of that which they ought to remove. And therefore this is the most excellent foundation of a true Physician; viz. A Regenerating of nature, and a Restoring of youth; then afterwards the new essence it self, expels all that which is contrary to it self. In order to this Regeneration, the powers and virtues of the Tincture of the Philosophers, are sound to be wonderfully excellent, and are used with much secresi[…], and absconded by the true Spagyrists even to this time.

FINIS,