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Nicolas Flamel
The following account was first printed in French in 1612, and the English
version which is here transcribed is a translation made in 1624 by someone
who took the pseudonym of Eirenaeus Orandus. The spelling and punctuation
are somewhat modernized.
Although that I Nicholas Flammel, Notary, and abiding in Paris, in this
year one thousand three hundred fourscore and nineteen, and dwelling in
my house in the street of Notaries, when skepticism concerning near unto
the chapel of St James of the Boucherie; although, I say, that I learned
but a little Latine, because of the small means of my parents, which nevertheless
were by them that envy me most, accounted honest people; yet by the grace
of God, and the intercession of the blessed Saints in Paradise of both
sexes, and principally of Saint James of Gallicia, I have not wanted the
understanding of the Books of the Philosophers, and in them learned their
so hidden secrets. And for this cause there shall never be any moment
of my life, when I remember this high good, wherein upon my knees (if
the place will give me leave) or otherwise, in my heart with all my affection,
I shall not render thanks to this most benign God, which never suffereth
the child of the just to beg from door to door, and deceiveth not them
which wholly trust in his blessing.
Whilst therefore, I Nicholas Flammmel, Notary, after the decease of my,
parents, got my living in our art of writing, by making inventories, dressing
accounts, and summing up the expenses of tutors and pupils, there fell
into my hands, for the sum of two florins, a gilded book, very old and
large. It was not of paper or parchment, as other books be, but was only
made of delicate rinds (as it seemed unto me) of tender young trees. <Probably
a papyrus?> The cover of it was of brass, well bound, all engraven
with letters or strange figures; and for my part, I think they might well
be Greek characters, or some such like ancient language. Sure I am that
I could not read them, and I know well they 'were not notes nor letters
of the Latin, nor of the Gaul, for of them we understand a little. As
for that which was within it, the leaves of bark or rind were engraven,
and with admirable diligence written, with a point of iron, in fair and
neat Latin letters colored.
It contained thrice seven leaves, for so they were counted in the top
of the leaves, and always every seventh leaf was without any writing,
but instead thereof, upon the first seventh leaf, there was painted a
Virgin and serpents swallowing her up; in the second seventh, a Cross
whereon a serpent was crucified; and in the last seventh, there were painted
deserts or wildernesses in the midst whereof ran many fair fountains,
from whence there issued out a number of serpents, which ran up and down
here and there. upon the first of the leaves, was written in great capital
letters of gold ABRAHAM THE JEW, PRINCE, PRIEST, LEVITE, ASTROLOGER, AND
PHILOSOPHER, TO THE NATION OF THE JEWS, BY THE WRATH OF GOD DISPERSED
AMONG THE GAULS, SENDETH HEALTH. After this it was filled with great execrations
and curses (with this word MARANATHA, which was often repeated there)
against every person that should cast his eyes upon it, if he were not
Sacrificer or Scribe.
He that sold me this book, knew not what it was worth, no more than I
when I bought it; I believe it had been stolen or taken from the miserable
Jews; or found hid in some part of the ancient place of their abode. Within
the book, in the second leaf, he comforted his Nation counselling them
to fly vices, and above all idolatry, attending with sweet patience the
corning of the Messias, which should vanquish all the Kings of the Earth,
and should reign with his people in glory eternally. Without doubt this
had been some very wise and understanding man. In the third leaf, and
in all the other writings that followed, help his captive nation to pay
their tributes unto the Roman emperors, and to do other things, which
I will not speak of, he taught them in common words the transmutation
of metals.
He painted the vessels by the sides and he advertised them of the colors,
and of all the rest, saving of the first agent, of the which he spake
not a word but only (as he said) in the fourth and fifth leaves entire
he painted it, and figured it with ve ry great cunning and workmanship,
for although it was well and intelligibly figured and painted, yet no
man could ever have beene able to understand it, without being well skilled
in their Cabala, which goeth by tradition, and without having well studied
their books. The fourth and fifth leaf therefore, was without any writing,
all full of fair figures illuminated, or as it were illuminated, for the
work was very exquisite.
First he painted a young man, with wings at his ankles, having in his
hand a Caducean rod, writhen about with two Serpents, wherewith he struck
upon a helmet which covered his head. He seemed to my small judgement
to be the God Mercury of the Pagans. Against him there came running and
flying with open wings a great old man, who upon his head had an hourglass
fastened, and in his hands a hook (or scythe) like Death, with the which
in terrible and furious manner, he would have cut off the feet of Mercury.
On the other side of the fourth leaf, he painted a fair flower on the
top of a very high mountain, which was sore shaken with the north wind:
it had the foot blue, the flowers white and red, the leaves shining like
fine gold, and round about it the dragons and griffons of the North made
their nests and abode. On the fifth leaf there was a fair Rose tree flowered
in the midst of a sweet garden climbing up against a hollow oak, at the
foot whereof boiled a fountain of most white water, which ran headlong
down into the depths, notwithstanding it first passed among the hands
of infinite people which digged in the earth seeking for it, but because
they were blind, none of them knew it, except here and there one which
considered the weight.
On the last side of the fifth leaf, there was a King with a great falchion,
who made to be killed in his presence by some soldiers a great multitude
of little infants, whose mothers wept at the feet of the unpitiful soldiers;
the blood of which infants was afterwards by other soldiers gathered up,
and put in a great vessel, wherein the Sun and Moone came to bathe themselves.
And because that this history did represent the more part of that of the
Innocents slain by Herod, and that in this book I learned the greatest
part of the Art, this was one of the Causes, why I placed in their Churchyard
these Hieroglyphic symbols of this secret science. And thus you see that
which was in the first five leaves.
I will not represent unto you that which was written in good and intelligible
Latin in all the other written leaves, for God would punish me, because
I should commit a greater wickedness than he who (as it is said) wished
that all the men of the world had but one head that he might cut it off
at one blow. Having with me therefore this fair book, I did nothing else
day nor night, but study upon it, understanding very well all the operations
that it shewed, but not knowing with what matter I should begin, which
made me very heavy and solitary, and caused me to fetch many a sigh. My
wife, Perrenelle, whom I loved as myself and had lately married, was much
astonished at this, comforting me and earnestly demanding, if she could
by any means deliver me from this trouble. I could not possibly hold my
tongue but told her all, and showed her this fair book, whereof at the
same instant that she saw it, she became, as much enamoured as myself,
taking extreme pleasure to behold the fair cover, gravings, images and
portraits, whereof, notwithstanding she understood as little as I, yet
it was a great comfort to me to talk with her, and to entertain myself,
what we should do to have the interpretation of them.
In the end I caused to be painted within my lodging, as naturally as I
could, all the figures and portraits of the fourth and fifth leaf, which
I showed to the greatest clerks in Paris, who understood thereof no more
than myself. I told them they were found in a book that taught the philosopher's
stone, but the greatest part of them made a mock both of me, and of that
blessed stone, excepting one called Master Anselm, which was a Licentiate
in Physic, and studied hard in this science. He had a great desire to
have seen my book, and there was nothing in the world which he would not
have done for a sight of it, but I always told him that I had it not:
only I made him a large description of the method.
He told me that the first portrait represented Time, which devoured all;
and that according to the number of the six written leaves, there was
required the space of six years, to perfect the stone; and then, he said,
we must turn the glass and seethe it no more. And when I told him this
was not painted, but only to show and teach the first agent (as was said
in the book) he answered me, that this decoction for six years' space
was, as it were, a second agent, and that certainly the first agent, which
was there painted, was that white and heavy water, which without doubt
was argent vive (quicksilver), which they could not fix, nor cut off his
feet, that is to say, take away his volatility, save by long decoction
in the purest blood of young infants, for in that, this quicksilver being
joined with gold and silver, was first turned into a herb like that which
was there painted, and afterwards by corruption, into serpents; which
serpents being then wholly dried, and decocted by fire, were reduced into
a powder of gold, which should be the stone.
This was the cause that during the space of one and twenty years, I tried
a thousand broileries, yet never with blood, for that was wicked and villainous;
for I found in my book that the philosophers called blood, the mineral
spirit, which is in the metals, principally in the Sun, Moon, and Mercury,
to the assembling whereof, I always tended; yet these interpretations
for the most part were more subtle than true. Not seeing therefore in
my works the signs, at the time written in my book, I was always to begin
again.
In the end having lost all hope of ever understanding those figures,
for my last refuge, I made a vow to God, and St. James of Gallicia, to
demand the interpretation of them at some Jewish priest, in some synagogue
of Spain: whereupon, with the consent of Perrenelle, carrying with me
the extract of the pictures, having taken the pilgrim's habit and staffe,
in the same fashion as you may see me, without this same arch in the churchyard,
in the which I put the hieroglyphical figures, where I have also set against
the wall, on the one and the other side a procession, in which are represented
by order all the colors of the stone, so as they come and go, with this
writing in French:
Moult plaist a Dieu procession
S'elle est faicte en devotion:
that is,
Much pleaseth God procession
If't be done in devotion.
which is as it were the beginning of King Hercules his Book, which entreateth
of the colors of the stone, entitled Iris or the Rainbow, in these terms,
Operis processio multum naturae placet, that is The procession of the
work is very pleasant unto Nature: the which I have put there expressly
for the great Clerks who shall understand the allusion.
In this same fashion, I say, I put myselfe upon my way and so much I
did, that I arrived at Montjoy, and afterwards at Saint James, where with
great devotion I accomplished my vow. This done, in Leon at my return
I met with a merchant of Boulogne, which made me known to a physician,
a Jew by nation, and as then a Christian, dwelling in Leon aforesaid,
who was very skilful in sublime sciences, called Master Canches.
As soon as I had shown him the figures of my extract, he being ravished
with great astonishment and joy demanded of me incontinently if I could
tell him any news of the book, from whence they were drawne? I answered
him in Latin (wherein he asked me the question) that I hoped to have some
good news of the book, if anybody could decipher unto me the enigmas.
All at that instant transported with great ardor and joy, he began to
decipher unto me the beginning. But to be short he [being] well content
to learn news where this book should be, and I to hear him speak,-and
certainly he had heard much discourse of the book, but (as he said) as
of a thing which was believed to be utterly lost we resolved of our voyage,
and from Leon we passed to Oviedo, and from thence to Sanson, where we
put ourselves to Sea to come into France.
Our voyage had been fortunate enough, and already, since we were entered
into this kingdom, he had most truly interpreted unto me the greatest
parts of my figures, where, even unto the very points and pricks, he found
great mysteries, which seemed unto me wonderful. When arriving at Orleans
this learned man fell extremely sick, being afflicted with excessive vomitings,
which remained still with him of those he had suffered at sea, and he
was in such a continuall fear of my forsaking him, that he could imagine
nothing like unto it. And although I was always by his side, yet would
he incessantly call for me, but in sum he died, at the end of the seventh
day of his sickness, by reason whereof I was much grieved, yet as well
as I could, I caused him to be buried in the Church of the Holy Cross
at Orleans, where he yet resteth; God have his soul, for he died a good
Christian. And surely if I be not hindered by death I will give unto that
Church some revenue, to cause some Masses to be said for his soul every
day.
He that would see the manner of my arrival, and the joy of Perrenelle,
let him look upon us two in this city of Paris, upon the door of the Chapel
of St. James of the Boucherie, close by the one side of my house, where
we arc both painted, myself giving thanks at the feet of St. John, whom
she had so often called upon. So it was, that by the grace of God and
the intercession of the happy and holy Virgin and the blessed Saints James
and John, I knew all that I desired, that is to say, the first principles,
yet not their first preparation, which is a thing most difficult, above
all the things in the world. But in the end I had that also after long
errors of three years, or thereabouts, during which time, I did nothing
but study and labor, so as you may see me without this Arch, where I have
placed my processions against the two pillars of it, under the feet of
St. James and St. John, praying always to God, with my beads in my hand,
reading attentively within a book, and weighing the words of the philosophers,
and afterwards trying and proving the diverse operations which I imagined
to myself, by their only words.
Finally I found that which I desired, which I also soon knew by the strong
scent and odor thereof. Having this, I easily accomplished the mastery,
for knowing the preparation of the first agents, and after following my
book according to the letter I could not have missed it, though I would.
Then the first time that I made projection was upon mercury whereof I
turned half a pound, or thereabouts, unto pure silver, better than that
of the mine, as I myself assayed, and made others assay manv times. This
was upon a Monday, the 17th of January, about noon, in my house, Perrenelle
only being present, in the year of the restoring of mankind, 1382.
And afterwards, following always my book, from word to word, I made projection
of the red stotie upon the like quantity of mercury, in the presence likewise
of Perrenelle only, in the same house the five and twentieth day of April
following, the same year, about five o'clock in the evening, which I transmuted
truely into almost as much pure gold, better assuredly than common gold,
more soft and pliable. I may speak it with truth, I have made it three
times, with the help of Perrenelle, who understood it as well as I because
she helped me with my operations, and without doubt, if she would have
enterprised to have done it alone, she had attained the end and perfection
thereof. I had indeed enough when I had once done it, but I found exceeding
great pleasure and delight in seeing and contemplating the admirable works
of nature with the vessels.
To signify unto thee then, how I have done it three times, thou shalt
see in this Arch, if thou have any skill to know them, three furnaces,
like unto them wh ich serve for our operations. I was afraid for a long
time, that Perrenelle could not hide the extreme joy of her felicity,
which I measured by my own, and lest she should let fall some word amongst
her kindred, of the great treasures which we possessed, for extreme joy
takes away the understanding as well as great heaviness, but the goodness
of the most great God had not only filled me with this blessing, to give
me a wife chaste and sage (for she was moreover not only capable of reason,
but also to do all that was reasonable), and more discreet and secret
than ordinarily other women are. Above all, she was exceedingly devout,
and therefore seeing her self without hope of children, and now well stricken
in years she began, as I did, to think of God and to give ourselves to
the works of mercy.
At that time when I wrote this Commentary in the year one thousand four
hundred and thirteen, in the end of the year, after the decease of my
faithful companion which I shall lament all the days of my life, she and
I had already founded, and endowed with revenues 14 hospitals in this
City of Paris, we had new built from the ground three chapels, we had
enriched with great gifts and good rents, seven churches, with many reparations
in their churchyards, besides that which we have done at Boulogne, which
is not much less than we have done here. I will not speak of the good
which both of us have done to particular poor folks, principally to widows
and poor orphans whose names if I should tell and how I did it, besides
that my reward should be given me in this world, I should likewise do
displeasure to those good persons, whom I pray God blesse, which I would
not do for anything in the world.
Building therefore these churches, churchyards, and hospitals in this
City, I resolved myself to cause to be painted in the fourth Arch of the
Churchyard of the Innocents, as you enter in by the great gate in St.
Dennis Street and taking the way on the right hand, the most true and
essential marks of the Art, yet under veils and hieroglyphical covertures,
in imitation of those which are in the gilded book of Abraham the Jew,
which may represent two things, according to the understanding and capacity
of them that behold them.
First, the mysteries of our future and undoubted Resurrection, at the
day of Judgement and coming of good Jesus (whom may it please to have
mercy upon us) a history which is well agreeing to a churchyard. And secondly
they may signify to them which are skilled in Natural Philosophy, all
the principal and necessary operations of the mastery. These hieroglyphic
figures shall serve as two ways to lead into the heavenly life; the first
and most open sense teaching the sacred mysteries of our salvation; (as
I will show hereafter) the other teaching every man that hath any small
understanding in the stone, the linear way of the work, which being perfected
by any one, the change of evil into good, takes away from him the root
of all sin (which is covetousness) making him likeable, gentle, pious,
religious, and fearing God, how evil soever he was before. For from thenceforward
he is continually ravished with the great grace and mercy which he hath
obtained from God, and with the profoundness of his Divine and admirable
works.
These are the reasons that have moved me to set these forms in this fashion,
and in this place, which is a churchyard, to the end that if any man obtains
this inestimable good to conquer this rich golden fleece, he may think
with himself (as I did) not to keep the talent of God digged in the earth,
buying lands and possessions which are the vanities of this world, but
rather to work charitably towards his brethren, remembering himself that
he learned this secret among the bones of the dead, in whose number he
shall shortly be found and that after this life he must render an account,
before a just and redoubtable Judge, which will censure even to an idle
and vain word.
Let him therefore, which having well weighed my words, and well known
and understood my figures, hath first gotten elsewhere the knowledge of
the first beginnings and agents (for certainly in these figures and commentaries,
he shall not find information thereof) perfect to the glory of God any
step or the mastery of Hermes, remembering himself of the Church Catholic
Apostolic and Roman; and of all other churches, churchyards and hospitals,
and above all the Church of the Innocents in this City (in the churchyard
whereof he shall have contemplated these true demonstrations), opening
bounteoust his purse to them that are secretly poor honest people, desolate
weak women, widows and forlorn orphans. So be it. |