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

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perishes. For naturally in it are joined ☉ Gold/Sun, ☽ Silver/Moon & ☿ Mercury; indeed, they are inseparable in it: whence all things necessary for perfection are within that subject. Whence the chemists assert and cry out: In Mercury is whatever the Sages seek. Because in our subject, which is true Mercury, there are all things necessary for perfection; there is also in it Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, body, soul and spirit, whence it is three and one, because those three constitute one homogeneous subject. For what is cold and dry in it is called Salt or body; but what is hot and fiery in it is called Sulphur or soul; but what is cold and moist in it is called Mercury. But by continuous and perennial cooking those three are converted into one in this way, the cold and moist is converted into hot and moist, and finally into hot and dry. And thus the elements, which are found in our matter, confused and distinct, are converted and become one fiery and dry element. And thus Salt, because it is in our matter, is converted into Mercury, and Mercury is converted into fixed and permanent Sulphur, which perfects all things, and is the true balsam of life: whence it restores and renews life in all mixtures of nature, not only in metals; but also in all animals and vegetables: Thus our stone has within itself all things necessary for it to obtain absolute perfection. And nothing else is to be sought, and added to it, whether it be a perfect metal, or an imperfect one; as will be seen more clearly in the following chapter.

CHAPTER VI.

It is most true and most certain that the metals that are intimate to our matter, and are materially joined and implanted in it, are sufficient for its perfection; as was declared in the preceding chapter. Nevertheless, however, since metals with the Sun, although