The compovnd of alchymy Or The ancient hidden Art of Archemie: Conteining the right & perfectest meanes to make the Philosophers Stone, Aurum potabile, with other excellent Experiments. Diuided into twelue Gates. First written by ... George Ripley ... & Dedicated to K. Edward the 4. Whereunto is adioyned his Epistle to the King, his Vision, his Wheele & other his Workes, neuer before published: with certaine briefe Additions of other notable Writers concerning the same. Set foorth by Raph Rabbards Gentleman, studious and expert in Archemicall Artes |
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 | The compovnd of alchymy |  |
The Preface.
O high incomprehensible and glorious Maiestie,
Whose luminous beames obtundeth our speculation,
O trinehood in persons ô onehood in deity,
Of Iherarchiall Iubilists gratulant glorification,
O piteous purifier of soules and pure perpetuation,
O deuiant from danger, ô drawer most debonayre,
From this troublesome vale of vanitie, ô our Exalter.
Whose luminous beames obtundeth our speculation,
O trinehood in persons ô onehood in deity,
Of Iherarchiall Iubilists gratulant glorification,
O piteous purifier of soules and pure perpetuation,
O deuiant from danger, ô drawer most debonayre,
From this troublesome vale of vanitie, ô our Exalter.
O power, ô wisdome, ô goodnes inexplicable,
Supporte me, teach me, and be my gouernor,
That neuer my liuing to thee be displicable,
But that I acquite me to thee as true professor,
At this beginning good Lord heare my prayer,
Be nigh with grace for to inforce my will,
Graunt witt that I may mine intent fulfill.
Supporte me, teach me, and be my gouernor,
That neuer my liuing to thee be displicable,
But that I acquite me to thee as true professor,
At this beginning good Lord heare my prayer,
Be nigh with grace for to inforce my will,
Graunt witt that I may mine intent fulfill.
Most curious Cofer and copious of all treasure,
Thou art he from whome all goodnes doth discend,
To man and also to euery creature,
Thine handy-work therefore vouchsafe to defend,
That we no time in liuing here mispend,
With troth here graunt vs our liuing so to winne,
That into no danger of sinfulnes we rinne.
Thou art he from whome all goodnes doth discend,
To man and also to euery creature,
Thine handy-work therefore vouchsafe to defend,
That we no time in liuing here mispend,
With troth here graunt vs our liuing so to winne,
That into no danger of sinfulnes we rinne.
And forasmuch as we haue for thy sake
Renounced our wills, the world and fleshly lust,
As thine owne professors vs to thee take,
Sith in thee onely dependeth all our trust;
We can no further; to thee incline we must:
Thy secret treasure vouchsafe vnto vs,
Shew vs thy secrets and to vs be bounteous.
Renounced our wills, the world and fleshly lust,
As thine owne professors vs to thee take,
Sith in thee onely dependeth all our trust;
We can no further; to thee incline we must:
Thy secret treasure vouchsafe vnto vs,
Shew vs thy secrets and to vs be bounteous.
And amongst others which be profest to thee,
I me present as one with humble submission,
Thy seruant beseeching that I may bee,
And true in liuing according to my profession,
In order Chanon Reguler of Bridlington,
Beseeching thee Lord thou wilt me spare,
To thy true seruants thy secrets to declare.
I me present as one with humble submission,
Thy seruant beseeching that I may bee,
And true in liuing according to my profession,
In order Chanon Reguler of Bridlington,
Beseeching thee Lord thou wilt me spare,
To thy true seruants thy secrets to declare.
In the beginning when thou mad'st all of nought,
A globous matter and darke vnder confusion,
By him the beginning marueilously was wrought,
Conteyning naturally all things without diuision:
Of which in six dayes he made cleere distinction:
As Genesis apertly doth record.
Then heauen and earth were perfected by his word.
A globous matter and darke vnder confusion,
By him the beginning marueilously was wrought,
Conteyning naturally all things without diuision:
Of which in six dayes he made cleere distinction:
As Genesis apertly doth record.
Then heauen and earth were perfected by his word.
So through his will and power, out of one mas
Confused; was made each thing that being is,
But afore in glory as maker he was,
Now is and shall be without end I wis,
And purified soules vp to his blis
Shall come a principle this may be one,
For the declaring of our precious stone.
Confused; was made each thing that being is,
But afore in glory as maker he was,
Now is and shall be without end I wis,
And purified soules vp to his blis
Shall come a principle this may be one,
For the declaring of our precious stone.
For as of one masse was made all thing,
Right so in our practize must it be,
All our secreats of one Image must spring,
As in Philosophers bookes whoso list to see,
Our stone is called the lesseworld, one and three,
Magnesa also of sulphure and Mercurie,
Proportionate by nature most perfectlie.
Right so in our practize must it be,
All our secreats of one Image must spring,
As in Philosophers bookes whoso list to see,
Our stone is called the lesseworld, one and three,
Magnesa also of sulphure and Mercurie,
Proportionate by nature most perfectlie.
But many one marueileth and maruaile may,
And museth on such a marueilous thing,
What is our stone; sith Philosophers say
To such as euer be it in seeking.
For foules and fisshes to vs doth it bring,
Euery man it hath, and it is in euery place,
In thee in me, and in each thing, time and space?
And museth on such a marueilous thing,
What is our stone; sith Philosophers say
To such as euer be it in seeking.
For foules and fisshes to vs doth it bring,
Euery man it hath, and it is in euery place,
In thee in me, and in each thing, time and space?
To this I answere that Mercurie it is I wis,
But not the common called quicksiluer by name,
But Mercurie without which nothing being is,
All Philosophers record and truely saine the same,
But simple searchers putteth them in blame,
Saying they hid it but they be blame worthy,
Which be no Clearkes and meddle with Philosophy.
But not the common called quicksiluer by name,
But Mercurie without which nothing being is,
All Philosophers record and truely saine the same,
But simple searchers putteth them in blame,
Saying they hid it but they be blame worthy,
Which be no Clearkes and meddle with Philosophy.
But though it Mercurie be, yet wisely vnderstand,
Wherein it is, and where thou shalt it seech,
Else I counsell thee take not this work in hand,
For Philosophers flatter fooles with fayre speech:
But listen to me, for truly I will thee teach,
Which is this Mercurie most profitable,
Being to thee nothing deceiueable.
Wherein it is, and where thou shalt it seech,
Else I counsell thee take not this work in hand,
For Philosophers flatter fooles with fayre speech:
But listen to me, for truly I will thee teach,
Which is this Mercurie most profitable,
Being to thee nothing deceiueable.
It is more neere in some things than in some;
Therefore take heede what I to thee write
For if knowledge to thee neuer come,
Therefore yet shalt thou me not twite,
For I will truely now thee excite
To vnderstand well Mercuries three,
The keyes which of this science bee.
Therefore take heede what I to thee write
For if knowledge to thee neuer come,
Therefore yet shalt thou me not twite,
For I will truely now thee excite
To vnderstand well Mercuries three,
The keyes which of this science bee.
Raymond his menstrues doth them call,
Without which truly no trueth is done;
But two of them be superficiall,
The third essentiall of Sunne and Moone,
Their properties I will declare right soone,
And Mercurie of mettalls essentiall,
Is the principle of our stone materiall.
Without which truly no trueth is done;
But two of them be superficiall,
The third essentiall of Sunne and Moone,
Their properties I will declare right soone,
And Mercurie of mettalls essentiall,
Is the principle of our stone materiall.
In Sunne and Moone our Menstrue is not seene,
It appeareth not but by effect to sight,
That is the stone of which we meene,
Who so our writings conceiueth aright,
It is a soule, a substance bright.
Of Sunne and Moone a subtill influence,
Whereby the earth receiueth resplendence.
It appeareth not but by effect to sight,
That is the stone of which we meene,
Who so our writings conceiueth aright,
It is a soule, a substance bright.
Of Sunne and Moone a subtill influence,
Whereby the earth receiueth resplendence.
For what is Sunne and Moone sayth Auicen,
But earth which is pure white and red:
Take from it the said cleerenes, and then
That earth will stand but in little stead;
The whole compound is called our lead:
The qualitie of clearenes from Sun and Moone dooth come,
These are our menstrues both all and some.
But earth which is pure white and red:
Take from it the said cleerenes, and then
That earth will stand but in little stead;
The whole compound is called our lead:
The qualitie of clearenes from Sun and Moone dooth come,
These are our menstrues both all and some.
Bodies with the first we calcine naturally
Perfect, but none which been vncleene,
Except one which is vsually
Named by Philosophers the Lyon greene:
He is the meane the Sunne and Moone betweene
Of winning tincture with perfectnes,
As Geber thereunto beareth witnes.
Perfect, but none which been vncleene,
Except one which is vsually
Named by Philosophers the Lyon greene:
He is the meane the Sunne and Moone betweene
Of winning tincture with perfectnes,
As Geber thereunto beareth witnes.
With the second which is an humiditie
Vegitable, reuiuing that earst was dead,
Both principles materials must loosed be
And formalls, els stand they little in stead:
These menstrews therefore know I thee reed.
Without the which neither true calcination
Done may be, nor true dissolution.
Vegitable, reuiuing that earst was dead,
Both principles materials must loosed be
And formalls, els stand they little in stead:
These menstrews therefore know I thee reed.
Without the which neither true calcination
Done may be, nor true dissolution.
With the third humiditie most permanent,
Incombustible and vnctuous in his nature,
Hermes tree vnto ashes is brent,
It is our naturall fire most sure,
Our Mercurie, our Sulphur, our tincture pure,
Our soule, our stone borne vp with winde
In the earth ingendred, beare this in minde.
Incombustible and vnctuous in his nature,
Hermes tree vnto ashes is brent,
It is our naturall fire most sure,
Our Mercurie, our Sulphur, our tincture pure,
Our soule, our stone borne vp with winde
In the earth ingendred, beare this in minde.
This stone also tell thee I dare,
Is the vapour of mettalls potentiall,
How thou shalt get it, thou must beware,
For inuisible truely is this menstruall,
Howbeit with the second water philosophicall,
By separation of Elements it may appeare
To sight, in forme of water cleare.
Is the vapour of mettalls potentiall,
How thou shalt get it, thou must beware,
For inuisible truely is this menstruall,
Howbeit with the second water philosophicall,
By separation of Elements it may appeare
To sight, in forme of water cleare.
If this menstrue by labour exuberate
With it may be made Sulphur of nature,
If it be well and kindly acuate
And circulate into a spirit pure,
Then to dissolue thou must be sure,
Thy base with it in diuers wise,
As thou shalt know by thy practise.
With it may be made Sulphur of nature,
If it be well and kindly acuate
And circulate into a spirit pure,
Then to dissolue thou must be sure,
Thy base with it in diuers wise,
As thou shalt know by thy practise.
That poynt therefore in his due place,
I will declare with other moe,
If God will graunt me grace and space,
And me preserue in life from woe,
As I thee teach looke thou doe so:
And for the first ground principall,
Vnderstand thy waters menstruall.
I will declare with other moe,
If God will graunt me grace and space,
And me preserue in life from woe,
As I thee teach looke thou doe so:
And for the first ground principall,
Vnderstand thy waters menstruall.
And when thou hast made Calcination,
Encreasing not wasting moysture radicall,
Vntill thy base by oft subtilation,
Will lightly flowe as wax vpon mettall,
Then loose it with thy vegetable menstruall,
Till thou haue oyle thereof in colour bright,
Then is that menstrue visible to sight.
Encreasing not wasting moysture radicall,
Vntill thy base by oft subtilation,
Will lightly flowe as wax vpon mettall,
Then loose it with thy vegetable menstruall,
Till thou haue oyle thereof in colour bright,
Then is that menstrue visible to sight.
And oyle is drawne out in colour of golde,
Or like thereto out of fine red lead,
Which Raymond sayd when he was olde,
Much more than golde would stand in stead:
For when he was for age nigh dead,
He made thereof Aurum potabile,
Which him reuiued as men might see.
Or like thereto out of fine red lead,
Which Raymond sayd when he was olde,
Much more than golde would stand in stead:
For when he was for age nigh dead,
He made thereof Aurum potabile,
Which him reuiued as men might see.
For so together may they be circulate,
That is the base oyle and the vegetable menstruall,
So that it be by labour exuberate,
And made by craft a stone celestiall,
Of nature so firie that we it call,
Our Bazeliske or our Cockatrice,
Our great Elixer most of price.
That is the base oyle and the vegetable menstruall,
So that it be by labour exuberate,
And made by craft a stone celestiall,
Of nature so firie that we it call,
Our Bazeliske or our Cockatrice,
Our great Elixer most of price.
Which as the sight of Bazeliske his obiect
Killeth, so sleyeth it crude Mercurie,
When thereupon he is proiect,
In twinckle of an eye most sodainly,
That Mercurie then teineth permanently,
All bodies to Sunne and Moone perfect,
Thus guide thy base both red and white.
Killeth, so sleyeth it crude Mercurie,
When thereupon he is proiect,
In twinckle of an eye most sodainly,
That Mercurie then teineth permanently,
All bodies to Sunne and Moone perfect,
Thus guide thy base both red and white.
Aurum potabile thus is made,
Of golde not commonly calcinate,
But of our tincture that will not fade,
Out of our base drawn with the menstrue circulate
But naturall calcination must algate
Be made, ere thy golde dissolued may bee,
That principle first therefore I will teach thee.
Of golde not commonly calcinate,
But of our tincture that will not fade,
Out of our base drawn with the menstrue circulate
But naturall calcination must algate
Be made, ere thy golde dissolued may bee,
That principle first therefore I will teach thee.
But into chapters this Treatise I will diuide,
In number twelue with due recapitulation;
Superfluous rehearsalls Ile lay aside,
Intending onely to giue true information,
Both of theorick and practick operation:
That by my writing whoso guided will bee,
Of his intent perfectly speede shall hee.
In number twelue with due recapitulation;
Superfluous rehearsalls Ile lay aside,
Intending onely to giue true information,
Both of theorick and practick operation:
That by my writing whoso guided will bee,
Of his intent perfectly speede shall hee.
The first chapter shall be of naturall Calcination,
The second of Dissolution secreat and Philosophicall,
The third of our elementall Separation,
The fourth of Coniunction matrimoniall,
The fist of Putrifaction follow shall,
Of Congelation albificate shalbe the sixt,
Then of Cibation the seauenth shall follow next.
The second of Dissolution secreat and Philosophicall,
The third of our elementall Separation,
The fourth of Coniunction matrimoniall,
The fist of Putrifaction follow shall,
Of Congelation albificate shalbe the sixt,
Then of Cibation the seauenth shall follow next.
The secret of Sublimation the eight shall show;
The ninth shall be of firmentation;
The tenth of our exaltation I trow;
The eleuenth of our meruailous multiplication;
The twelfth of proiection, then recapitulation:
And so this treatize shall take an end,
By the helpe of God as I intend.
The ninth shall be of firmentation;
The tenth of our exaltation I trow;
The eleuenth of our meruailous multiplication;
The twelfth of proiection, then recapitulation:
And so this treatize shall take an end,
By the helpe of God as I intend.
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