⚠The manuscript page has faded ink in several areas, particularly in the lower marginal notes and parts of the top text columns. Some text is obscured by historical staining and the translucency of the parchment.

fame original: "fame" peace original: "pax" peace original: "pax" fame original: "fame"

the fire of nature is called the mouth to the pollroke? The "pollroke" likely refers to a specific alchemical vessel or a "pole-rock" used in the furnace setup.


On the ground there goes a hell	This you shall do in many a legion A "legion" here implies many repetitions or a great quantity.
Also a Serpent without a wing	And bring it to perfect redemption
And gold is long his reward	the stone he shall be of more price
all gold to be his reward	than all the gold of this world so good
his breast he uses fast about	than in the water so pure and fine
that the fire out of him goes out	there shall be known by the South
for truth he has a soul	so shall it be good and fine
then let the water of the stone	as you shall well understand
the which the world knows none	the water shall be thy life
for the which the dragon must be dead	between the man and the wife An allegory for the chemical union of opposites, often sulfur and mercury.
else in vain shall be thy advice	the fire shall be made in such a wise
in his body he has within	as you shall well devise
take good heed for all his sin	a water and there it shall be so
his soul and his breath shall go	then with our fire thou shalt him bring
a water and there it shall be so	the stone so high and clear
then with our fire thou shalt him bring	the which without any burning
and what is dead shall be king	loves in a very full sunshining
	and of his front and his red
	here you the stone has reward?

The Red Lion

The Green Lion

The Green Lion often represents raw mineral matter or acidic solvents, while the Red Lion represents the perfected, "fixed" matter.

The mouth of the collerk Likely a variant of "choler" or "cholerick," referring to the heat of the furnace. he wears

Here is the last of the Red : and the beginning to put away the dead with these birds

The "birds" represent the volatile gases rising and falling (sublimation and condensation) within the vessel.

Sol The Sun, representing gold or the masculine principle. is father and king to nature
that for so long high message
with the brightness that shines bright
for all places were clear and light

for he is father to all things
maintainer of life to creep and fly
And causes water for to spring
with the rise bring forth

for he is salve healing ointment to every sore
to bring about this precious work
the soul hidden in this loss original: "loce," likely meaning a closed place or vessel.
I have one to lend and to close

And Jesus is his name
which God keep in his hand
And ungussh Possibly "unctuous" or "ointment." is his name
now shall you this understand

Now I shall highly be gone
for high reach in the sun
and thy flight shall you ween think/imagine
Take good heed what I mean

the dode likely "deed" or "doing" is feeling to mankind
with the beams that he does bring
And this is nature him conserve original: "consere"
the which the maker of all lore

the birds have full many a name
which you shall find for to know
And thus you take the water's name
the Philosopher's Stone you shall not know A warning that without spiritual understanding, the physical stone remains hidden.

This for I counsel before you go
know you well what he be
And if you think more in things
for then you shall full well see

Now understand what I say
And take good heed thereto
or waste thy soul he be seen
And turn it to much woe

As I have said in his lore
many a man I ween think he has
home by lives for he gone
the Philosopher's Stone he has lost

Lower marginal notes in a smaller, later hand take thy father that is so bright The Sun/Gold and your mother that is so light The Moon/Silver and put them in a vessel that is made of glass? or of metal? and let them boil? until they? be reduced into the first degree and then you shall see a marvel that shall be for your own avail