The Golden Fleece or Golden Treasure and Art Chamber

and form in its own substance, as it was created and established in the beginning of creation by God the Creator. Accordingly, all metals also take their beginning from the Earth, in a specific and unique matter flowed together from the four properties of the four elements The classical elements: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire., with the implantation of metallic powers and their gatherings through the influence of the planets In traditional alchemy, the seven planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn) were believed to govern the development of specific metals within the earth's crust. which serve this purpose. This is well described by the Master of Nature, Aristotle original: "Arles"; the medieval and early modern corruption of "Aristoteles.", in the fourth book of Meteorology original: "Metheorum"; Aristotle’s treatise on natural science, which was a primary source for the theory that metals are formed from "moist" and "dry" exhalations., where he says that quicksilver Mercury. is a common matter of all metals. However, it should be known that in Nature, the first step is the gathering together of matters from the four elements; solely through the knowledge and properties of Nature, the Philosophers The "Adepts" or ancient masters of alchemy. call this same matter Mercurium original: "Mercurium"; often referring to "Philosophical Mercury," the pure, essential base of all metals rather than the common liquid metal. or quicksilver. It is not necessary to explain here how it is not a common mercury, but one that through the working of Nature attains the perfect form of gold, silver, or both metals; the teachers of Nature describe this quite clearly and sufficiently in their books. Upon this foundation is the Art of the Philosopher’s Stone original: "Stein der weisen" set and grounded; for it has its beginning in Nature, from which also follows a natural end, in rightful