Nevertheless, metallic essence is the proper matter which must be exalted by natural coction from the lowest degree to the highest. In this the ancients spoke correctly for the informed, who understand it rightly. For the ignorant it is misleading, because they suppose and infer from the old books that it must be taken from metals, and then toil and torment themselves with it until it becomes perfect. This is sophistry and a departure onto false paths. Metallic essence cannot be extracted from perfect metals without damage: if one tries to separate it by fire, the liquor escapes and the essence is burned with the earth. Likewise, if one tries to separate the essence of imperfect metals with strong waters, arsenical water, aqua vitae or lyes, the essence together with its liquor is corrupted by an alien moisture which it cannot tolerate. The metallic kind desires nothing foreign and cannot endure it. If anything foreign mixes with metallic liquor, it has already departed from its degree, been removed from metallic being and placed in the sophistical order. You must guard against this.

Even if you wished to separate metallic essence from perfect metals by any means, it would still be impossible. The liquor has been completely cooked with its elemental fire and through coction has become so united with the earth that neither fire nor water can separate it. If you attempted separation with strong waters, the essence would dissolve together with the earth and afterwards coagulate again in the same form as before. No moisture can mix or unite with the moisture or liquor of perfect metals so as to corrupt or damage it as happens to the liquor of imperfect metals. There is therefore no need to trouble or labour much over this, although essence together with its liquor is closer to coction in metals than in anything else.

The ancients therefore said that living sulphur is found in nothing but metals. They likewise called metallic liquor living silver. Do not be distracted by whatever names they give it: it is nothing but the eagle with wings outspread, or elemental fire with its elemental liquor, as I have said. This liquor must and should be united with its fire through natural coction until the two are inseparable. The liquor protects the fire from burning, so that both remain stable and endure in ordinary fire. The ancients called this an elixir, meaning a cooked fire. In this they spoke rightly and gave it its proper name, for coction completes and thoroughly cooks what was previously raw and uncooked. This thoroughly cooked thing breaks open and lays bare the imperfect metals, because they cannot remain steadfast against fire.

Do not grow weary of applying yourself diligently to coction, for all the work over which alchemists bungle so much is accomplished by this plain coction alone. Through coction it purifies itself, exalts and sublimes itself, and dissolves itself; everything happens through coction. My advice, by which you can be helped, is therefore to abandon all other putrefaction, solution, coagulation, calcination and sublimation. They bring harm rather than advantage and lead many people to ruin. You will know how to guard against them in future, since I have written this instruction and opinion for you from a plain and faithful heart. I hope you will understand my meaning, and what you should take to accomplish the work and follow Nature fittingly in coction. For I have clearly and openly explained and described to you the proper, plain and genuine truth, without any fables or parables. I mean well by you, as surely as God helps me.

Nevertheless, as you read you must reflect diligently and weigh carefully what I have written here. Do not be surprised that I turn you entirely away from the common, harmful path, for you must direct yourself onto a wholly different path if you wish to reach natural truth. Therefore earnestly entreat and ask Almighty God to grant you a true philosophical spirit, which will teach you to recognise the light of Nature correctly, so that you may reach the end you so ardently desire. END.