Alchemy -- Early works to 1800; Occultism -- Early works to 1900
But nowe I will propose many strange things of another kind, which
although they haue no great profite, yet are they a most apparent
demonstration of wisedome, and may be vsed for the prouing of any
secret things, which the rude multitude gainsay, being like to the
attraction of Iron by the Adamant. For who would beleeue such an
attraction, vnlesse he behelde it? and there be many wonders of nature
in this drawing of the Iron, that are vnknowne to the common people,
as experience teacheth the studious. But these things are greater and
more in number: for there is the like attraction of all mettals by
the Stone of golde and siluer: and the Stone runneth to Vineger. Yea
plants, and the parts of liuing creaturs beeing locally diuided the one
from the other, will notwithstanding by a naturall motion concurre and
come together again. Now when I had beheld these and such like things,
and considered them well, I thought nothing incredible, neyther in
diuine nor humane things. Yet there are greater behinde then these.
For the whole power of the Mathematickes (according to the practise of
_Ptolemy_, in the .8. _de Almagesto_) setteth but an instrument vppon
the superficies, wherein all things that are in the heauen shall be
truely described with theyr lengths and breadths: but that they should
naturally mooue with a daily motion, is not in the Mathematicians
power. Yet doth the faithfull and industrious practisioner, earnestly
desire to make it of such a matter and after such a manner. That
the heauens should be naturally moued with a daily motion, seemeth
impossible vnto him, because many things are carryed with the motion
of the heauenly bodyes, as Comets, and the sea when it floweth, and
other things: eyther wholy or in parte: for then should all instruments
of Astrology be in vaine, as well those which haue beene inuented by
the learned, as those that haue beene deuised by the common sort,
neyther shoulde a Kings treasure bee skant comparable. Moreouer, there
may yet greater things bee performed, though not in respect of their
straungenesse, yet if wee regarde a publike or priuate commoditie,
namely, to gette as great plenty of golde and siluer as we list, not
by a possibilitie of Nature, but by the perfection of Art, forasmuch
as there are seuenteene manners of golde, whereof eight in number haue
a commixtion of Argent-uiue with gold. Now the first kinde of golde is
made of certaine parts of golde, and some partes of siluer, vntill wee
reach vnto the two and twentieth degree of Gold, alwayes augmenting one
degree of gold with one of siluer: and there are as many more of the
admixtion of Brasse with Golde. So that the last manner consisteth of
foure and twentie degrees of pure golde, without the admixtion of any
other mettall: and nature cannot proceede any further, as experience
teacheth. But Art may augment gold very much in the parts of purity,
and likewise accomplish it without fraude or couine. But this is a
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