The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I

A royal figure in the work’s imagery. The heading of the third operation explicitly identifies the resurrected King with sulfur, then gives that resurrection an allegorical relation to the resurrection of Christ. Royal language preserves the figure through which the operation is presented.

Passages: H001-S098; H001-S249

Laton

French: laton; laiton

The manuscript’s name for a sulfurous material before perfect maturation and fixation. One passage says chemists call it copper or laton because of its blackness, volatility, and foul odor. The retained term preserves this expressly qualified use, which is broader than an assured identification as ordinary brass.

Passages: H001-S072; H001-S074; H001-S075

Light

French: lumière

The essence of spirit according to the theological section. The author treats the purification and liberation of light in nature as visible evidence for the glorification of bodies and souls.

Passages: H001-S159

Manes

French: manes

The affections and operations of fantasy persisting as strong impressions. The author calls them representations of inclinations and distinguishes them from the rational soul, spirit, shadow, and corpse in the analysis following the poetic quotations.

Passages: H001-S261; H001-S262; H001-S264

Maranatha

French: Maranatha

An expression included among the opening maledictions. The source assigns it a Greek and Arabic meaning and expands it into a curse. The notes distinguish that explanation from the expression’s Aramaic background and its appearance in 1 Corinthians 16:22.

Passages: H001-S015

Marcasite

French: marcassite; marcasite

A historical mineral-name used here for substances associated with metals and their spirits. The source distinguishes copper-bearing and vitriolic kinds and also speaks of the marcasites of niter. Its range is wider than a single modern mineral species.

Passages: H001-S110; H001-S149; H001-S154; H001-S311

Matter

French: matière

The subject that receives forms and undergoes operations. The work repeatedly explains how different conditions and appearances can belong to one subject. Its closing assertion gathers plant, stone, metal, mineral, body, soul, element, and celestial names into the account of one matter.

Passages: H001-S174; H001-S177; H001-S316

Medea

French: Médée

In the fable commentary, sulfur of nature as medicine. Her mixed juice is interpreted through the mercurial water left below after sublimation, in which the solar serpent’s substance has been dissolved and cooked. The source also calls this a fattened vapor.

Passages: H001-S068; H001-S076

Mercury

French: mercure

Mercure may name the mythological god, metallic mercury, or a qualified subject of the work. Mercury’s winged equipment expresses subtlety and dissolving power; his thefts become explanations of material actions. The source’s own qualifications distinguish its several uses.

Passages: H001-S038; H001-S049; H001-S102

Mirror of Minerva

French: miroir de Minerve

The fable’s mirror is interpreted through a coagulating water or sulfur-spirit. Its brilliance and power of congelation support the account of fixing quicksilver as sulfur.

Passages: H001-S066

Moon

French: Lune

The celestial Moon and a term in the work’s metallic comparisons. Its brilliance is related to the mercurial spirit, while the Sun and Moon appear together in the vessel receiving the children’s blood. Celestial, pictured, and operative senses meet within these explanations.

Passages: H001-S041; H001-S156

Mortification

French: mortification

Nature’s separation of soul and body while a life-bearing spirit remains in the corpse. The source distinguishes it from complete dissolution or death, for which renewed life requires divine reanimation.

Passages: H001-S269

Multiplication

French: multiplication

The concluding operation through which the perfected work is further increased or propagated. The manuscript develops it through comparison with the Eucharist and through the claim that one matter can receive many forms. Its meaning belongs to the operative sequence as well as to the religious argument.

Passages: H001-S033; H001-S288; H001-S292; H001-S296; H001-S305

Mystery

French: mystère

Guarded sacred knowledge in the opening and a truth of Christian faith in the later theological argument. The book connects these uses by presenting the art as a means of approaching divine wonders through visible nature.

Passages: H001-S189b; H001-S219

Niter

French: nitre

A historical salt-name. The manuscript associates niter and its marcasites with adverse spirits that disturb air and cause disease. Historical French usage of nitre need not coincide precisely with every modern use of niter or saltpeter.

Passages: H001-S090; H001-S105; H001-S110; H001-S153; H001-S158

Nutrition

French: nutrition

Generation extended and amplified, according to the manuscript’s explicit definition. The same power that causes germination also sustains nourishment and increase. Transplanted trees illustrate generative power remaining in bodily parts beyond a separate seed.

Passages: H001-S256

Oak cross

French: croix de chêne

The cross of the serpent emblem is explained as a wooden vessel half full of ashes and containing the philosophical egg. The oak signifies provision for light, even, continuous heat; the serpent’s head or initial stage requires a greater fire.