Paracelsus: The Treasure of Treasures for Alchemists

Paracelsus states that Nature begets a mineral in the earth, of two kinds found in Europe; the best lies in the eastern part of the sphere of the Sun, the other in the Southern Star. It is found red, cold and moist, agreeing with water. He asserts that earlier philosophers, including Galen and Avicenna, missed the mark by naming only Mercury and Sulphur as the mother of metals, ignoring a third, the Mineral Water. He gives the tree-and-pear analogy and promises to describe the Water, Sulphur, and Balm. Under "Concerning the Sulphur of Cinnabar," he gives preparation instructions with rain water, Aqua Regis, distillation, putrefaction, and separation of elements. Under "Concerning the Red Lion," he directs taking the lion in the pelican to obtain aurum potabile and the Tincture of the Sun. Under "Concerning the Green Lion," he directs using vitriol of Venus to obtain the Green Lion, the true Balsam of the Heavenly Stars. He then addresses Charles the German, denouncing physicians, declaring Galen stuck in hell (sending him letters) and Avicenna in the infernal vestibule, with whom he disputed. He denounces hypocrites and impostors, foretells his disciples exposing them, and claims the monarchy and glory, saying Nature praises him. He gives a recipe combining the mineral liquid, Earth of red Sol, and Sulphur of Sol to make the Tincture of the Alchemists, and describes tinging bodies with the Astra of Sol, Mercury, Venus, and other planets, producing in forty days the Alchemical Phoenix and Flying Eagle. Appended notes gloss sign, Astrum, aurum potabile, vitriol, Balsam, Transmutations, and Phoenix.