| Title: | Copy Letter On Alchemy, [Worsley?] To [Hartlib?]: |
|---|---|
| Dating: | Undated |
| Ref: | 42/1/38A-39B: 39B BLANK |
[42/1/38A]
I thanke for your Sonnes letter to Monsieur Iungivi, which I have diligently read. But though I verie well remember the Quellem of Helmondt, & that it is his opinion that water is the primum principium of all things, though allso I thinke it doth much become a Philosopher to consider things per analysin simplicissimam, & though we must according to this analysis at length determine our thoughts into deCartes principles of not onely of water, but of atomes. yet as these thinges have theire commendation, so the knowledge of other bodyes which may (:if I have leave so to speake:) be principia sub alterna; though [Atomes?] or water maye said to be principia generalissima, are often times very vsefull. For example if I would advance the art of Brewing, it may suffice if I take notice onely of the [matter?] of the fundation of what I at present aime at in my Instruction, though I say not any thing of the manner of making malt of graine or of producing that graine, by sowing or though I doe not proceed further analytically. So if I would promote vegetation, it may suffice, if I consider the immediate principles by the utmost Analysis not that the vnderstanding but the sight is Iudge of leaving a farther resolution of things rather to science then to Art. And here about Earth we may lawfully consider what species there are of it, or whether there be any divers species or not, according to the best or most accurate distinction of Sense (it mattering not for the present purpose whether it be Elementum or Elementatum, as some barbarously speake.) For if there be no Earth but pure sand & that sand be of a pure homogeneous nature, it is not easily corruptible, alterable or soluble (and this Helmondt confesseth) & therefore can be no principle or ingredient into vegetation. Therefore beside this pure virgin Earth or sand, there must be another Species of earth, or there must only be this virgin sand & water, but that water & virgin sand will alone bring forth all sorts of bodyes common experience, which is the Mistresse of Phylosophers as well as others will manifestly appose in regard that sand is never wanting nor water the Mother of all things yet the Countrieman will tell you, his land growes barren for all that, & must be refreshed by dung. And if you tell him a story never so long that water is the Mother of all things, & this onely is the matter of generation; yet if he sees his land which hath no manure will yeeld him no increase though it hath as much water fallen vpon it as another land, And that land which is richly manured doth yeild a full crop, though it have no more water then the barren land, It will not be the Subtle experiments of Helmonds Alkahest resolving things that can convince him, nor any other rationall man.
Beside a subtle thoughtfull man that is wearie & speculative will tell that there was no such decept that Helmondt could put vpon himselfe as that Kinde of Analysis, For [this?] will tell you that that was nothing but a more subtle trituration or Alcoolization of a body then by ordinary by the subtle atomes of the Alkahest (and will further deliver it as a principle) That you cannot [catchword: imagine]
[42/1/38B]
imagine a body to consist of every minute & exiguous parts, but it must consequently exist sub forma liquida, And that there is no other reason why mettals dissolved by corrosive waters, or Salts forced in distilling vessells, should be in a liquid forme but this. They will further say that both fire & aire are preying vpon all sapors & odors of things, & doe easily destroy them, & that this must needs happen when any body passeth through many forcible mutations. And therefore now suppose a body to be subtiliased in its parts, & to be robbed of all its genuine sapor, & it must to the sense exist as an insipid water, whether ever it were so originally or no. And thus transiently & occasionally & to shew you the diversity of the thoughts & discourses of Vaine Man. Though indeed I must needs say that when the Philosophers writte ex aqua omnia facta fuisse, I do not vnderstand them, that they meane at all that every thing here is made of the water wee see as of both the immediats & onely principle of every thing: (for this I beleeve to be very forreigne to theire[altered] sense) But that every thing doth consist remotely of very small & subtle particles, like as is the water we see, thus like wise it doth consist of a virgin like matter as to sapor, color or odor, all even as the water which last come from the [insit?] ferments or proper seeds of things rather then the matter. But this is to be too tedious & perhaps as erroneous, & it is onely as I said before to shew you the freedome of Phylosophors
I must not conceale how much I am satisfied at that which may prove a speciall providence; I meane the discourse & communication you had with Mr Fredr. Schlezer, in which the maine ingredient affecting my Spirit is the discription & character you tell me, that both you & your friends have of the man.
For my dealing positively with you, about that menstruum, I have according to the measure of my knowledge & the weight of the thing, dealt positively plainely & faithfully, & not only negatively. And do againe say.
1. That the Sulphur or Mercury of mineralls or mettals which the Philosophers seeke cannot possibely be had without not only a perfect but an irreduceable solution of that body.
2. That without such a Solution purum ab impuro non potest separari.
3. That such a solution being made, the vertue & life of those things which were before shutt, are now not only made manifest, but have a great addition & increase of their energy. Omnis enim occulta qualitas corporum compagine digestionibus prævijs, (quas putrefactiones vocamus:) jam [dissolu..? altered]; ad manam venit libera, expedita & in actum manifesta. Sicut & corruptione grani, virtus seminalis alias torpens & sterilis in actum erumpit
4. That this rich Sulphur wherein is the life of mettals, is one & the same body with the true Mercury & Salt of Mettals, (I doe not meane the common chymicall Salt of a caput mortuum) and is called by severall names. [catchword: 5. That]
[42/1/39A]
5. That the way of getting this is but one & the menstruum but one, & that this is a [word illeg. MS edge] & vnalterable a law as any is seemed to be putt in nature.
6. That the Mercury of the Philosophers as it is secretly knowne to them & applyed by them, hath not any more proper name, & that if the Eye did see it, you would neither know it nor the vse of it.
7. That this great ----- & Philosophicall work is not chargeable nor requires any thing, but what is competible to persons of ordinary condition.
8 That if the said work were plainly told it would forthwith be a thing very contemptible, & the goodnesse & riches of God in it despied by the generality of people.
That so farre as I know, all these things are plaine positive reall & true & that I neither can nor may speake more in this matter at present.
If you please to send my first letter the extract of my last, & these notes to Monsieur Schelzer I beleeve he if he be an Adeptus[altered] indeed will hardly tell you, I speake mystically, but will lett you know, I speake honestly & as to friends of a choyce & particular Secret[altered], this I am confident of If I know any thing in this matter, it is an easy thing for any to vnderstand me, whom God will have to discerne.
For I never had the tenth part of so much light, or faithfullnesse from any. And you must know the meaning of Sal Centri terræ. I say you are to study to gett Sal centri terræ. for in salt is all energy & not immediately in water as water which is but a vanity.
This I must acquaint you further that however I talke to you thus wildly, not a Creature in all this Countrie knoweth an [Apox?] or[altered] little tittle in this matter, or that I doe not at all think or minde such a thing, & therefore pray blaze not my name for a foolosopher.