Manuscript Transmitted to the Serene Duke of Holstein Explaining the Obscure Matters of Alchemists

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solve; rather, they are more and more hardened, and grow. For Water is the mother and origin of all stones, with the Venereal Spirit referring to the animating principle or "seed" of our stone persisting in the Water, which hardens the stony matter and cooks it in the very midst of the waters. Our stone, therefore, or our metallic seed, and the quintessence of the heavens and of the elements, cannot be clothed in any other body and garment than that of Salt. For immense heat is found in such matter, and it creates the body of Salt, and this because nature itself demands it. Because, since nature itself must form and procreate everything from the body and Spirit itself, it cannot effect this from any other body than that of Salt, because Salt is inclined and apt for generating and procreating all things. For other bodies cannot effect this without reduction into that matter, which is the first of all. That first matter, however, cannot be reduced into another substance, or there would be an infinite progression: But after all things have been reduced into that first matter, then various and infinite generations occur from that matter according to that disposition of the matter by various agents, which dispose that matter in various ways, and from it produce all produceable mixtures. It must be concluded, therefore, that the Philosophers' Stone cannot be clothed in any other body and garment than that of Salt; which is found and has its seat in all places where nothing can be generated. For where anything is generated, that matter is expended in generating it.

CHAPTER IV.

By what Names the Philosophers' Stone is designated.

All the names by which the Philosophers' Stone is designated cannot be recounted, or a very large volume would arise from it. Indeed, it is designated and named by the names of all things that exist in the nature of things: But I shall declare the principal ones, and those that are useful for our art, and the reasons by which the chemical Philosophers were moved to designate the stone by these names