Alchemical
texts- Donum Dei (The Gift of God)
Unknown, 15th
century
Alternative
Religion/ Library
Pretiosissimum
Donum Dei
I have had the
science of this Art only from the Inspiration of God, who to this servant has
vouchsafed to declare the true reasons to judge and discern, giving strength
hath less occasion to no man, nor any excusation from him. Forsooth if I feared
not the day of Judgment I would never open anything of this science or publish
it to any man. But I am willed to render my duty to faithful men as their Anchor
of faith hath given it unto me. He that knoweth not the principles in himself
is very far from the art of philosophy for he hath not the true book whereupon
he should ground his intent. But if he do chiefly and principally know the natural
causes of himself and know not the other, yet hath he the way to the way of
the principles of the Art. And although a man know the Matter, yet there remaineth
many things to the completement of the same. And it is necessary that our stone
be drawn out of the natures of two bodies before the Elixir may be made complete,
therefore it is worthily said: O water in form Pontic, or bitter which dissolves
the Elements, O most greatest Nature, the creature of Nature which containeth
Nature, and overcometh the nature of the meanys what cometh with light and with
light it is engendered and she that is mother of all, how black a cloud hath
she brought out.
The Chapter of the Green
Lion and of what colour it is.
First in our green Lion is
had the true matter and of what colour it is, and is called Adrop or Azocke, [clopum],
Duenech. If thou will well understand this work, read it from part to part and
thou shall see miracles wrought in our days, and unless I had seen them and touched
them I could not so particularly have written them and painted them. I have not
shown all the appearances and things necessary in this work, for there be some
that be not lawful to be spoken of man, that I have set it out in pictures to
the end or completement. And there was never no sure work so described and with
authorities to the purpose. For it is impossible to be known without it be known
of God or of a master which may fear him. Understand that it is a very long way,
therefore patience and tarrying be very necessary. For in our Magistery there
be some foolish and blind which saith they can make Aurum potable of common Gold
or else they believe that it is most best to heal all infirmities. Also there
are some Physicians which causeth ducats to be boiled in water saying this thing
is most best for the health, but it is rather evil and not to be drunk. For it
is clean contrary, saving their reverence, that that was Aurum Potabile or if
that it was good for the health. For neither common gold or other metals be good
to heal with, but they [are] rather evil as I have said and not able to be drunk.
But I will grant they be good and most best to buy confections with and to pay
the physician. Also they be good to be had basins full of ducats or fine gold
and so show them to the sick man for it is a great comfort to see the gold, but
the true aurum potabile of the philosophers is the Elixir complete. And this is
Aurum potabile not visible but in power, which is the great medicine, which removeth
all superfluities as well of many bodies and of metals, for it converteth all
metals imperfect from Leprosy and from Infirmity, and likewise the bodies of man.
And this is most certain. Note this is the intent of all philosophers, but these
which doth understand it to be of common gold be blind and more than blind and
deceivers. For if common gold should give of this perfection to another, then
should he himself remain imperfect. Wherefore would you have this science reading
only one book or finding the first regiment? Now following, the philosophers have
said that the truth is not discerned without error, and nothing converteth more
sorrow to the heart than error in this art. Therefore when I spared not my life
in so great age to practice, lest peradventure because of the chiding's of this
wisdom I might be dampened. First I shall praise God who is the beholder of all
things nor any thing that is hid from him, to whom be honour and glory by all
the world of worlds. Amen.
Of whom the father
is a virgin saith, Come my well beloved that we may embrace together, and we
shall engender a new form which shall not be like to his parents. The king therefore
whose head is red, the eyes black and the feet white is the Magistery. The Mother
hath not conceived, behold I come to thee, and am most ready to conceive a form,
to whom is none like in the world. And he is borne between two mountains, you
know the truth. This book is followed according to Hermes Trismegistus, he varieth
not from him in any text for that you may know. Although he will not declare
his name that all his ground and foundation is Hermes as aforesaid. No chapter
of him that is left untouched in this book, wherefore be sure to follow it for
there is no surer author nor none like, it varieth not from any that anciently
hath written of this Art and he hath spoken more plainly than ever was written
of any other, if God give grace that he that readeth it may perceive and understand,
to whom be all honour and glory. Amen.
The Second Chapter.
How the bodies be dissolved into Argent Vive of Philosophers
that is into water.
The Matter of
the Stone is a gross water agent, or that is a cold, congealing the water. And
believe those stones to be more precious, which proceedeth from the animals
than the other, Thou canst not prepare any kind of stone without Duenech, the
green and liquid which is born in our mines. Some behold the last Mountains
which be on the right hand and the left, and ascend thither where our stone
is found, and in the mountain which beareth all manner of kinds of Spirits and
Aromatic or secret things, likewise in the mine of the stone which is necessary
in this work, is of an augmate or a levinge thing. You shall find it every where,
in the plains, on the mountains, and in the waters, as well the poor as the
rich hath it. It is most vile and it is most dear. It groweth of flesh and blood.
O how precious it is to him that knoweth it. O blessed greenness which engendereth
all things. O blessed Nature, blessed is thine operation, for of an imperfect
thou makest a perfect. Therefore take not this Nature but pure and clean, crude,
clear, earthly, pure and right. If thou do otherwise it shall not profit thee
nothing.
Let we go seek
the nature of the 4 Elements, which the [Amptys - .imperctys - .amxtys] bring
forth from the belly of the earth.
Here is
made the Solution of philosophers and it is made our Argent vive.
The Third Chapter.
How the bodies be dissolved
into water and is made a new body.
Our Stone is a body without
sound mortifying and quickening, so that nothing contrary enter with our stone,
but put himself only conjoin the servant to his odoriferous sister and between
them the art shall be engendered. For if the white woman be married to the red
man anon they do embrace and so [hawsinge] be coupled together, by themselves
they be dissolved, and by themselves they be made, that they that were two is
made as it were one body. And know that there be three perfect colours from the
which all the others take there beginning. The first is black, the second white,
and the third red, there be many other colours, but they be not to be cared for,
for they vanish away oftentimes before the whiteness, Then is made the commixtion
of two bodies, and it is necessary in our Magistery, and if there were but one
only body of the two, in our Stone, it should now go be tincture by any manner
of means, and therefore it is necessary the conjunction of these two bodies, which
two when they be conjoined, and received in the commixtion of the Stone, the Stone
is engendered in the belly of the wind, and that is that which the philosopher
saith. The wind hath born him in his belly, it is plain that the wind is Air,
and Air is life, and the life is the Soul, that is oil, and water. I that am exalted
above all the circles of the world have four faces having one father, whereof
one is in the mountains, an other in the Air, another in the Stones, and another
in the caverns or hollow places.
Of the four Elements
this Stone is compounded or made.
Here be the bodies wholly dissolved into our Argent vive, and is made
water permanent fixed white as the tears of the eye.
The Fourth Chapter.
Here is made the putrefaction
of Philosophers which was never seen and is called sulphur.
Convert the natures of the
Elements and thou shalt find what thou seekest. To convert the natures is to make
a body a spirit in our Magistery, first we make of gross thin, and of a body water,
and by consequent we make that which is beneath as that which is above, and the
contrary, for the bodies dissolved are reduced to the nature of spirits, and they
be never separated asunder, like as water is mixed with water, and truly all the
regiment and work is none other, but water permanent having in himself all things
which we need. Therefore hold fast that water which is good operations, for he
maketh white to white, and red to red, it is on and the same thing which hath
in him flesh or soul; the agent, or calx, and the 4 Elements, to whom it hath
dominion, it is not made of other Elements which agreeth not in his nature.
The putrefaction
of the Philosophers is the head of the Crow a blackness transparent and shining.
Here be the bodies put in putrefaction and be made black earth, and when you
seest thy matter to be made black rejoice for that is the beginning of the
operation. And it is necessary to be putrefied.
The Fifth Chapter.
The most part of this
water is made black earth and feculent.
Therefore burn our Brass with
easy fire as the hen doth nourish the egg until the body thereof be constituted
or made and the tincture be drawn out, for thou shalt not draw it out all at once,
but that a little, and a little may come out every day until it may be made complete
in a long time. I am black of white, and red of white, and citrine of red, and
certainly I am a true sayer and not liar. And know ye that this red of the art
is the Crow which in the blackness of the night and in the clearness of the day
flyeth without wings. Of the bitterness in his throat the colour is taken, from
his body the redness, and from his back pure water. Understand the gift of God,
receive it and hide it from all unwise philosophers, for it is not hidden from
the caverns of the metals, which stone is mineral, and animal, shining colours,
or high hill, and an open sea. Behold I have expound it to you, truly when it
is first black, we call it the cave of the science which is not without blackness,
for it is the tincture which we seek, for in every body we give or put colour,
which thing was hidden in his brass, as the Soul in man's body. Therefore dear
Son, when thou art in thy work, see first thou have the black colour, and then
art thou sure thou dost putrefy and proceedest the right way, patience and tarrying
be necessary in our work. O Blessed Nature and blessed is thine operation, for
of imperfect thou makest perfect with true putrefaction, which is black and obscure.
Then after thou shalt make to spring new, and divers things, which thy viridity
or green lion makest divers colours appear.
The Head of the
Crow is transparent blackness. This is upon the matter the black clouds, spirits
or forms, This earth which is upon the matter descendeth in an other vessel
to the bottom and thence worms be brought forth.
This is the black and feculent earth whereof all the Philosophers speaketh
and standeth upon the water.
The Sixth Chapter.
How this earth black
shall stand upon the water in the beginning, and by little and little is drowned
in their profundity.
Yet seeing more the matter
to wax thick and to sink to earth, and this thickness stood first upon the water,
and so leaving by little and little the thickness they saw the earth drowned himself
in the water and stand in the bottom of the vessel under the water, which earth
was yellowish black and feculent, they said that this was perfect corruption.
Kindle the fire in the furnace after the Philosophers manner, and cause that all
the matter be dissolved into water. Afterwards govern it with easy fire till the
most part be turned into black earth, which in 21 days will be done. Know that
this science is none other thing than the perfect inspiration of God. For all
the Magistery or art is but of one thing and we shall prove it by the saying of
the philosophers. And as we have seen and touched with great labours and business,
we have known this only thing perfect to the white and to the red, and we could
never find other things where the perfection consisteth to the true transmutation
of bodies and perfect preparation, but to be destroyed so made black for ever.
Therefore be thou busy to thine operation in all his degrees patiently continuing
decoction until such time the tincture be come out in black colour upon the water,
and when thou seest the blackness appear in the said water, know thou all the
body to be liquefieth, and then it behoveth to continue an easy fire upon it,
until such time it hath conceived the dark cloud which it hath brought forth.
The intent of the philosophers is that now the body dissolveth into black powder,
may enter into this water and all may be made one. For then the water taketh the
whiter as his own nature. Therefore without all be turned into water, thou shalt
never come by any means to perfect perfection.
Caput Corvi.
The Head of the Crow is black earth and feculent in the which be engendered
worms, whereof the one devoureth the other, for the corruption of the one
is the generation of the other.
The Seventh Chapter.
How this earth is dissolved
into water and again into the colour of oil and is called the oil of Philosophers.
Here is required by how long
time the stone is to be turned into blackness and what is the figure of true solution
of the stone when blackness appeareth the first time it is figure of putrefaction
and solution of the stone, but when it is vanished away and clearly gone it is
a sign of the whole putrefaction of the stone and of the dissolution thereof,
or else it is demanded if the black clouds endure in the foresaid stone by the
space of 40 days, I answer sometimes it doth more, and sometimes less, this variation
chanceth of the variety and quantity of the medicine, and according to the wisdom
of the worker, wherefore the more quantity requireth more time, and the less the
less. The wisdom of the worker helpeth the art of separation from the blackness.
Item it is demanded by some long time this putrefaction shall endure and the cleansing
of the earth, I make answer 4[0?] days and sometime more, and sometime less, according
to the quantity of the earth and of the water.
The Head of the
Crow
Oil of Philosophers.
Here is our new black Son born, and the name of him shall be called Elixir.
The black earth and feculent is turned into Argent vive as it was afore and
dissolved in the colour of oil, and then it shall be called oil of Philosophers.
The Eighth Chapter.
How the Dragon is born
in blackness and is fed with his Mercury and killeth himself and is drowned
in the same and the water is somewhat made white.
Gold is dissolved that he may
be reduced unto his first matter, that is that it may be made truly sulphur and
Argent vive. For then we may make most best silver and Gold when it is converted
into the matter of them. Therefore it must be so well washed until it be true
Sulphur, and Argent Vive, for according to the Philosopher they be the very true
matters of metals. Therefore he that can wed a wife, and get her with child and
mortify and quicken again the kinds of generations, and can cleanse and bring
in light, and to separate the shine thereof from blackness and darkness, shall
be of most great dignity. Therefore we conjoining our king crowned to our red
children and in an easy fire knitting them together, there shall be conceived
and between them engendered a son, For his clouds which were upon him turneth
again into his body as they came out. Therefore continue a temperate Balneo or
bathe until such time all be dissolved into water impalpable, and that all the
tincture come out in the colour of Blackness, which is the sign and token of Dissolution.
The dark house
is
Sulphur of philosophers.
Here beginneth the Dragon to wax white and to eat his own wings.
The Ninth Chapter.
Here is the water cleansed
wholly from blackness and remaineth in the colour of milk, and many colours
doth appear in the blackness.
The dragon here eateth his
own wings and showeth forth divers colours by many manner of ways and many times
shall be moved from colour unto colour until such time it come unto whiteness,
A fierce or a most cruel beast ought not to be fed but when it hath thirst and
hunger, and know ye that after three days it hath not, then is the Dragon born,
the house of him is darkness and blackness dwelling in all these; Truly death,
and Darkness, flyeth this Sea, and the dragon flyeth from the bright beams of
the Son which stops the holes, and our dead form shall leave, and the king shall
come from the fire, and shall rejoice of his marriage. And hidden things shall
appear, and the milk of the virgin shall be made white, and our child now quickened
is made a tamer or overcomer of ye fire, and overcoming tincture.
The dark House.
Sulphur of Philosophers.
Here wholly the dragon is cleansed from blackness and is made white as
milk.
The Tenth Chapter.
How the black clouds
which were above the water in the vessel dissolveth into the body from whence
they came.
Take black: blacker than black,
for divers and many colours shall appear in it, and the virgins milk shall be
made white, and our Son now revived shall be made an overcomer of the fire and
excelling tinctures or colours, the cloud ascendeth from the Sea, and the rain
upon the earth, for every heavy and dense or thick body falleth or slippeth to
his centre. Argent vive sublimed from brass of the which all things be, is a clear
water and a true tincture, which putteth away the shadow of ye brass, for it is
white sulphur which only maketh brass white which the spirit is held that he can
not fly, know that the neck of the vessel is the head of the Crow which you shalt
kill, and thereof shall be brought forth a dove, and after that a phoenix. Be
you fortunate or happy the whole science both to the white and to the red with
these few words.
Ashes of Ashes.
The black clouds descendeth unto the body from whence they came out and
there is made connection between the earth and water and is made ashes. The
crow is black, the Dove is white, the Phoenix burneth herself that she may
procreate or bring forth an other of the ashes.
The Eleventh Chapter.
This ashes is made white
as marble Shining and it is the Elixir to the white and is made ashes.
Because Nature hath no moving
but by the occasion of heat, Therefore if thou measure well the heat - water and
fire be sufficient to thee. For they wash the body, they cleanse and nourish it
and taketh away the darkness thereof. This water dwelling in the air doth draw
to the earth as Iron the adamant stone. Therefore all these orders of preparation
reiterate upon it four times. And at the last calcine it by his manner of calcining
and flying, for so have you sufficiently governed the Earth of the Stone in administration.
To calcine is no other thing then to dry and to turn in to ashes. Therefore burn
it without fear, until it be ashes, which when it is so thou hast mixed it well.
Despise not these ashes but give it them the sweat that they have cast out, and
when the water is all drank up and turned into earth within certain days will
be done. In this vessel shall appear all ye the colours of the world, when the
humidity is dried up. Therefore let it stand certain days upon easy fire until
it be done as aforesaid. That which goeth from him put again upon him until all
be fixed and will no more go from him for ye fire, that is the blackness which
is separate from the body let it be reduced upon the body from whence it came
out and be made on body.
The White Rose.
I am the Elixir to the white transforming all imperfect bodies into most
pure silver better than the mine, whereof one part changeth a thousand of
Argent vive into most pure Silver.
The Twelfth Chapter.
How this whiteness is
converted into transparent redness as the Ruby, and this is the elixir to
the red.
Take white laton and break
your books to pieces lest your hearts be broken. For our Art is easy and a little
help will serve. He that maketh me white shall make me red, for white and red
proceedeth from one Root, that which is in the white is in the red, therefore
work philosophically, and if thou make white and pass the limits, or end thereof,
thou art blessed, this thing if thou shalt see it suddenly, admiration or marvel,
fear and dread, shall come upon thee. Decant therefore grind, and reiterate, though
the work be tedious and long, for it is done with long decoction, know ye that
the flower of the stone is the stone of the Stone, roast it therefore by certain
days until it be shining as Marble, and know when it is so, that it is the most
greatest secret. For the stone is mixed to the stone. Now most dear friend thou
hast learned to make the white.
Now it is to speak of the red, but if thou first make not white, never can
there be made true red, for no man may come from the first to the third but
by the second, So canst thou not come from black to the citrine but by the white,
because that the citrine is made one compound of much white and a little black.
Therefore make white the black, and make red the white and you have the art.
For the year is divided into four parts, and so is our blessed work. The first
is winter cold and moist, the second is ver, hot and moist, and flourishing.
The third is the summer time, hot and dry, and red. The fourth is the harvest
cold and dry, which is the time of gathering of fruit. This disposition colouring
nature govern until such time it bring forth ripe fruit at pleasure. But now
the winter is past, the showers be gone away. For the flowers hath appeared
in our earth in the time of ver. But we go about the white rose for they made
every imperfect or sick body to be turned into true silver.
Therefore when thou seest the whiteness appearing above in all parts be sure,
that in that whiteness is there hidden redness. Therefore then you must draw
out all the whiteness and decoct it until such time it be made red thoroughly.
The Red Rose.
I am the Elixir to the red transforming all imperfect bodies into most
pure gold better then the mine, for one part being cast upon a thousand of
Argent Vive, we perceived that it congealed it and made it red, and converted
it into most pure gold.
