Page 42 - Book of Composition

Here begins the exposition of kinds

Morienus said: O good and prudent King, this is the exposition of kinds,
which appertain to this Magistery, which our predecessors named by
diverse and sundry names, that they which should seek for this Magistery
unworthily, might all together err, contrary to the truth of it.

Know therefore, that the unclean body is Lead, which by another name is
interpreted Assrop, but the clean body is tin, which by another name is
also called sand. The green lion is glass, also Almagra is Laton, although
before it is said to be red Earth. Also blood is Auripigmentum, and the
stinking Earth is stinking sulphur. But Eudica is the secret of all these,
which also by an other name is called Moszhacumia [glaze], which in
Latin may be called fex vitri, and in English the faeces of glass, or the
uncleaness of glass. But red fume is red Auripigmentum, also white fume
is Argent Vive, and citrine fume is citrine sulphur .

Behold now I have expressed to you the names of kinds, of which three
will suffice you for the whole Magistery : that is, white fume, the green
lion, and stinking water. Therefore reveal unto no man these three kinds,
nor their confection, but suffer the foolish and ignorant to seek all other
things in this Magistery, and in seeking to err, because they shall not
come to the effect of it, till Q and R be brought into one body, which
thing cannot happen without the express will and commandment of God.
For some men imagine that the secret of this Magistery is Earth, or a
stone, or wine, or blood, or also vinegar, and they grind all these things
by themselves, and decoct them, and they extract them from their
decoction, and they bury that which is extracted: because they persevere
according to their one opinions, that their error may be the better
strengthened, and that they may despair of this, which they endeavour to
find.

And know that Earth, and a stone, and all these things are unprofitable
for this Magistery, and have an evil end. It is also convenient for you to
know this, that the greatest efficacy of this work consists in its fire, for

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