Page 11 - Book of quintessence

by craft of men. For which reason, as quinta essentia superior, that is,
heaven of our Lord God, in reward all of the four elements, is
incorruptible, and unchangeable, right so quinta essentia superior
inferior, that is to say, man’s heaven, is incorruptible, in reward of the
four qualities of man’s body. And so it is proved naturally that our quinta
essentia, that is, man’s heaven, in itself is incorruptible. And so it is not
hot and dry with fire, nor cold and moist with water, nor hot and moist
with air, nor cold and dry it with earth. But our quinta essentia avails to
the contrary as heaven incorruptible.

But understand that our quinta essentia is not so incorruptible as is
heaven of our Lord God. But it is incorruptible in reward of composition
made of the four elements, and it has three names by the philosophers,
that is to say burning water, the soul in the spirit of wine, and water of
life. But when they will conceal it, then shall they call it our quinta
essentia. For this name, and the nature of thereof, right few philosophers
would show, but surely they buried the truth with them, and know well
that it is called burning water and it is no burning water. For which
reason it is not moist nor cold as common water, for it burns, and so does
not common water. No, it is not hot and moist as air, for air corrupting a
thing anon, as it shows well by the generation of flies, and spiders, and
such other things. But surely this is always incorruptible if it be kept
closed from flight. Also it is not cold and dry as earth, for sovereignly it
works and changes. And it is not hot and dry as fire, as it shows by
experience. For hot things it kills, and hot sicknesses it does away. And
that it gives incorruptibility, and keeps a thing from corruptibility and
rotting, it is proved thus. For which reason, what piece of flesh, fish or
dead bird, be put therein, it shall not corrupt nor rot while it is therein,
much more than it will keep quick [living] flesh of man’s body from all
manner corruptibility and rotting. This is our quinta essentia, that is to
say, man’s heaven, that God made to the conservation of the four
qualities of man’s body, right as he made his heaven to the conservation
of all the world, And know you for certain that many philosophers and
Doctors that be now, know not this quinta essentia, nor the truth thereof.
For which reason, God will not that they know it, for their great burning
covetousness and vicious living.

Forsooth, quinta essentia superior, that is to say, heaven of our lord
God by himself alone, gives not conservation in the world, and
wonderful influence, but by the virtue of the sun, planets and other stars.

6