TRANSMUTATION.DOC

The Transmutation of Base Metals

Into Gold and Silver

David Beuther

Guardian of the Mint at Dresden and Expert in the Practice of Alchemy for the Elector of Saxony

Universal and Detailed Account, in which: The transmutation of base metals into gold and silver will be explained clearly and precisely, along with an Appendix containing unique alchemical copper-plate prints which reveal the Art from beginning to end and a Preface which documents Beuther’s training and publications, along with those of Dr Johannes Christopher Spregels of the Academy of Hygienic Treatment and Medicine of Hamberg

Printed by Samuel Heyl of St Johns Church, Hamburg, 1718

Produced by RAMS

(Restoration of Alchemical Manuscripts Society)

1987

Preface

by Dr Sprogel

Highly Esteemed Reader:

Doubtless, it has been a cause of wonderment in many places why persons expert in chemistry allow these highly regarded writings to have been permitted to be printed freely and openly, since the same ideas are found to be highly regarded by the possessors of a few manuscripts and here and there have been sold for 1000 thalers or more, although copies of the same are frequently available for sale.

However, this is precisely the reason why a candid patriot has given the same to be printed. Moreover, since it is seen that such a shameful practice has been involved in the case of such manuscripts, whereby many of them had no understanding at all of the writing but nevertheless supposed that they must have purchased something really valuable for such a small amount of money, jeopardized all their earthly possessions therefore and chased after pipe dreams, so that, through love of the second best, in the open publication of such manuscripts, they thought to eliminate a small part of that which they could not understand, by which means at least an attempt was made to save as much of the cost of such manuscripts, of which they understood how to be able to obtain, from the wide sea of the earth, graciously at every opportunity.

You might then see how to recognize our good intentions and admonitions, which will not be omitted where knowledge is found therein to return the same to God and our neighbors, not forgetting ourselves in the process.

What, accordingly, the author himself arrived at (since he was born a German and had lived in the 16th century up to the year 1580 at the Court of the Elector and Guardian of the Mint) indeed in the chemical laboratory of Lowenstein, wherein he found a complete history, which he considered to be noteworthy and which he subsequently expanded considerably.

I will point out that it is noted on page 565 in the Records of the Court of the Elector of Saxony (under the guidance of the Holy Church through Prince August and Prince John Christian I, reported from the year 1580 to the year 1591). Prince Augustus authorized David Beuther as one adept in experimental skill to subsequently act as an assayer at the Mint of St Anneberg. In the Cloister, attached t the same at present, where he intended to have his quarters and laboratory, he roped off an area near the wall, from which a little plaster had fallen, and depended therein. Afterward he occupied the place, although the plaster continued to fall off, so that rectangular patches had to be removed. All this has been described subsequently in Dec. 3, the particulars of which are termed Pyrotechnics. The first of these explains how two firings of types of ‘black sulfur’ gave from a pound of iron in ordinary water, finely pulverized copper after 28 hours of firing. Such copper was subsequently dissolved in distilled water and in 4 weeks the result was a precipitate of fine gold. Another particular involved the transmutation of tin and mercury into silver by using the same precipitation process. The third particular comes by the Rule of Martial Antimony, which he made by means of a Crocus of Mars and Venus, prepared by casting gold and silver in the molten state. What he might have obtained by this process, nobody has ever been able to get out of him.

However, as he had prescribed in his work, he considered everything in order and set out in unhurried endeavor, limiting himself to a few (12) projects in one place or another, so familiar to him that he could oversee all of them. Accordingly, under the circumstance, all of these were added together in the end and he had completed many of them, and indeed with so little fanfare that the Elector himself had heard nothing about them. However, Beuther no longer deemed his services to include the tests and counter tests, so long as his work in the case of the metals was completely unhurried, making use of the Elector’s instruments, laboratory, and materials, at will. This was quite a heavy investment, particularly since nothing could be made subsequently of all that he showed them and, for this reason, his work was almost totally worthless, but nevertheless, when finally completed, the work was presented as such to the Elector. Beuther was asked, when he appeared to answer the apparent complaints against him as a result of his 12 failures, about them; Beuther could no longer lie about such and had to admit plainly that the Elector had laid before him the stipulation and decision that Beuther should, in conformity with the contracts made with him, be held at fault, in accordance with his promise to disclose such information to him completely, so long as they should remain in Dresden and agree to give the Elector 10% of the gold and silver, as well as also to hand over the above for a certain amount of the metal, while the Elector would require half of the entire amount as a reward for his part. In the meantime, Beuther was held as a virtual hostage. This vexed Beuther so sorely that he decided to practice his profession no longer. When he revealed this decision to the others, things began to get much better, although he could conclude nothing. Because of this, the Elector was very displeased, although he had formerly been very kind to him; he was, however, allowed to leave prison and return to England.

However, a decision was reached to send him to Leipzig and he was taken to Gravamina. The decision was reached to first question him in detail about the process, threatening him with flogging for his misinformation and with cutting of 2 fingers for making false claims, and detaining him indefinitely so that he could not give this information to another monarch. This was read to him on a Saturday, the Elector having written these words to him by his own hand. Beuther had again given to me what came to me by God and Justice, even though I must undertake something with you on Monday which I would willingly reconsider. In the margin may be found these words: I beg you to prevent it from coming to this, and furthermore it be written I know very well that I can do it if you are present and I will also be able to do it even though you are not present.

All this information about Beuther, which this publication includes briefly, was supplied by the person who was at that time the private secretary to the Elector of Saxony and approximates what was the content of his report: My approach simply might be for the Elector of Saxony not to allow Beuther to vex himself, since he, as a headstrong man, might --- out of desperation --- cause a lot of trouble and considerable bother. In addition, Beuther might be persuaded to write a letter to the Elector of Saxony, in which he might bring his complaint and request the Elector to accept a solution in which he would no longer henceforth be required to remain silent. He would accept such a solution and again return to the House of Gold, as the Laboratory of the Elector of Saxony was sometimes called, based on its earlier reputation, although by then a protective cover, the Library, which was still in use at the time of Kunkel (the Year 1677) --- was associated with it. Since Kunkel sought to practice this art extensively, Beuther published the process in its entirety, even though it was quite different and affirmed the same conclusion.

Based on this process, Kunkel wrote a 4 page summary which Beuther had suggested in The Arsenic in place of a highly dubious work which the esteemed Elector had penned with his own hand. I must explain that I had no part in this nonsense.

Thereupon Kunkel continued the narration in the following manner:

Afterwards Beuther was reinstated in his former post and had been given the above mentioned guarantee of protection, and he wrote a letter containing particular data to the Elector, begging him to help him by sending him 100 guilders and pay within 8 weeks in fine silver or gold all of his past due wages. Such gold as he had obtained from the Elector had been repaid. In this way Beuther had also been seen largely as the protector of the Art, even though he was not completely responsible for instructing the Elector until Beuther had finally obtained a reasonable sum of several marks, which are as good as gold, although he said (so the word goes) that they were no better than horse manure. "Now, I could help you with 9 pennies, which are perfectly good", he said. Consequently, Beuther sent away to his protector in order to get something more, since afterwards he had to start a fire using the bellows. His protection was perceived as having come to an end, that Beuther had terminated his employment and had, so to speak, jumped into the fire. As he now returned according to his orders, then Beuther lay on his back without understanding. And whether, indeed, in all deliberate speed, medical practitioners and priests were called in, nevertheless nothing would have had any beneficial effect on him and he would have died before their very eyes. The arrangement had been concluded hitherto and he had come to believe that he had made a bad bargain. How Beuther had afterwards disposed of his substance or how he concealed it, Herr Kunkel could in no manner learn. Then the highly esteemed Elector, Johann George, had said to him, and to the others, that he had this tormenting matter, in which the actions of a worthless fellow had also been shown, which according to the Elector Augustus had caused him to be burned in the venture. He had also given orders to his secretary --- at that time, one Lincker --- and after that to Kunkel. To burn in the same way wheat was still left of Beuther’s work, so that his successors might not try to make use of what they might find within. Which command, however, had not been carried out, since from the counsel of the principal director a part of the remembrances would be hidden and, hopefully, the original could again be found.

Herr Kunkel would have reported in detail, certain reasons, namely, to protect the highmindedness of the august Elector of Saxony who, in ordinary language, would have done him an injustice and caused Beuther to face an extended imprisonment, and moreover, would have made no contributions to the truth. The Elector of Saxony had shown Beuther so much kindness and, even more, might be so indebted to him (as noted in the above-mentioned arrangement that he had made with him and 12 other persons to observe those gentlemen who should not be blamed). In the first place, Beuther was a subject; on the other hand, the Elector had brought him up; in the third place, Beuther had begun the practice of this Art in the service of the Elector and had shown his loyalty to the Elector and had given that most esteemed gentleman his loyalty, above all others and had done so openly.

This far had Herr Kunkel gone in his description of Beuther’s life and accomplishments. He prepared at this time certain extracts which he had drawn up from the work in his laboratory, recorded by the private secretary at that time, which can be found on display in the Laboratory Records on page 579 and following. And, finally, the account of Beuther’s work is given on page 585, where he prepared the gold, and from all these accounts it is to be seen as also true that he has accomplished all these things. Whether, however, from the so-called black sulfur, as he termed it, he obtained a special tincture, cannot be ascertained with certainty. It must be considered how favorably inclined was the Elector toward Beuther, and how inconsiderate Beuther had been in return, and how he had placed himself in considerable mortal danger, although he was evidently right in this matter.

Herr Tuschky, the former grounds overseer for the Elector of Saxony, has also written in his outline of Gebaldis’ Black Magic, printed in manuscript form, on page 89, about this Beuther: "He, David Beuther is actually a professor and has published a work called Particulars and another work called Lapidis (Precious Stones) and is a learned man, who has also produced for the Elector of Saxony much gold and silver, an Art, however, which obviously has not been completely revealed until recently, despite the fact that he knew very well that the Elector already had access to such a great artificer as he was. Moreover, the Elector himself has always offered him all kinds of good things, even specie (currency of the realm) since David Beuther was already pregnant with the idea, so that the Elector begged to sponsor him and after that, as was usual at that time, although only the sponsor should name the terms, although, however, the good words did not help at all, since Beuther excused his actions in the conviction, that, the same had been given credence much less employed, since many cabalistically questionable things had been allowed to creep in because of this. In the Year 1580 he was thereupon cast into prison because of practicing such Art, as already mentioned, where he had written in his own hand: "Imprisoned cats do not catch mice", by which it was meant to be understood that he, since he had to remain in prison, could accomplish no useful work for the House of Saxony. Since he was now finally offered the opportunity to transmute so much gold and silver as requested of him from material available to him, he was also allowed, without further restraint, to be able not to take notice therewith that he had finally resolved t take the desperate measure of drinking a beaker full of wine containing strong poison, against which no physician would advise, thereby also terminating his life, so that the House of Saxony would a the same time be deprived of both his person and of his knowledge of an important Art".

Moreover, one finds in the refining fire of the chemist a categorical judgment of him, which reads as follows: Beuther is known as an adept of this Art and is unable to lie to anyone. He has been to Dresden and is the author of very much original work, even though the Elector of Saxony frequently threatens him with the hangman’s noose, since he intended to retain him as an examiner, while directing him. He then took a large amount of the tincture and gave it to him as a poison. Even in his daily journal, which nobody referred to at all, but the conclusion of which we hold valid, although the author, as well as his Art (as explained from all his judgments) fared well and prospered.

From all of these curious investigations, differing to some extent on the circumstances of the author, and on certain minerals, animals, and vegetables, especially those which the sophists made use of in preparing precious stones, which the author also cited in the Foreword of Beuther’s Testing and Art, which he had also described on page 9 of the same: "David Beuther, whose tincture was dyed a strikingly bright cardinal color, even if revealing a considerable knowledge of this Art, would drive him straight to the hangman, though he might have given himself poison, which might have been more sensible".

His written reports, which might even now be allowed to be published, as noted in Particulars, might well then be the true natural philosophy and form of the Art and know how to maintain at a reasonable fair price. Then, so that the author might thereby prove himself to b a genuine authority and likewise show by introduction of the same how the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Saturn are extracted not by methods from the metals, but from their inactive state; and just as these materials are from the tree and the root, from which ordinary gold is obtained, many thousand times better than the gold and silver in nature and substances.

To be sure, he teaches almost the entire Art, since these excellent materials are also prepared by calcinations, solution, sublimation, purification, and coagulation,, so that the Art acquires a special; degree of perfection and gives color to the impure unrefined metals, so that they will all again be in a basic solid form. Moreover, it is stated on page 13 even more clearly, that thought shows that the entire Art depends on the availability of the proper material (not just one, nor even two, but all from a single root) and their solutions, so that nothing more will be necessary, except a fire and nitrogen, and that the same (even the materials) will be the gold of the philosophers, for which he states the truth from all the philosophers of the entire world.

In what is to follow in this report, as indeed in all reports on natural philosophy, it is the lack of knowledge about this process, which in fact does not pertain to a universal idea, but in particular might find a major use in the knowledge of the universal nature of this material, despite some abuse and misleading statements. When, however, attention is paid only where the philosophers’ gold the philosophers’ mercury, mercuric ores, the electro-minerals of Paracelsus, red cinnabar ore, and white arsenic (which of all of them alone, only the true material, and sulfur and mercury is that material, is separable as a salt) are concerned, it is implied from what was said that he indicated what he ascribed to the Art and to method of operation and how he showed the preparation and testing of the same, so that he would be able, when finally chosen for that purpose by God, to know immediately the proper and most practical material to use and to readily show that all of his processes were different, even though quite similar to one another.

However, if one desired to demonstrate certain of his processes and also to include questionable and misleading historical processes, he should not then be considered an adept but should be considered even more of an imposter, since, in particular, the energetic Kunkel in his chemical laboratory had not even reported praiseworthy work of his own and the well-known Dr Petraeus had not desired to report innovation in his newly published Preface to the Works of Basil Valentine, or that he had sold for gold some questionable processes now and then or that he himself had seen some of the same works in manuscript form, the author who had communicated them to him having originated them. For the two processes involving Mercury and Jupiter, I have given this David Beuther 800 German dollars of pure gold, so that I can now demonstrate, using his hand-written notes, that he assured me are faithfully transcribed, that I have found it as he also said and not otherwise, in the year 1605. Thus, it is primarily from the questionable and misleading historical processes tat particular processes are not to be considered the same, although he, too, like that great King of the Arabs, Geber, in his report recorded before the forming of the Art, although nothing, however, before the others. Moreover, the principal preparation of one or another of the ingredients from the universal material had already been carried out, as had become clearly evident from the above-mentioned work of Kunkel, page 580, which reads: "The white arsenic powder is no longer prepared for the Elector of Saxony and unfortunately, the whole Art rests upon it", as noted by Beuther himself on page 7.

Where will particulars be found, when the universal is questionable? Thereupon he said that without the knowledge of the true universal material (I don’t say the properties of lapidis, for I am of the opinion that somebody will still be able to learn to recognize the universal material and from it produce the particulars and still, nevertheless, not be able to make the largest gems in this manner) no effective particular type of gem can be made. He who knows how to make this same white material can make his process successful, while others cannot. For that reason, therefore, his process made him no imposter, since he indeed allowed no one to copy it or print it who did not verbally disclose the Key and who entrusted no one to elaborate on it, even those who understood the spirit of the idea, as conceived above. Furthermore, the report of the energetic Kunkel can be shown to be correct in all its parts, since it clarified, from many passages found therein, that probably do not adequately reflect properly on various aspects, or even on enemies which he would perhaps have liked to have discussed --- men such as Oerthlin, Schirmen, Jacob Beuther, Hans Weinhold, and Heidler, to whom Kunkel referred on pages 654, 572, and 585, and might well have proven, or perhaps only suggested, that patently false material provided no strong evidence at all. Besides, Kunkel’s report clearly states in many places that he was guilty of no deceptions, but had been a true adept, who had made much gold and silver, although the method if such Art would not be disclosed at this time, even though unreliable processes continued to be reported. Finally, the report of Dr Perraeri had been obtained and found to disclose the time, whether he had not verbally given at the same time both the Key to his process and the purchaser and whether he had not found all this information to be correct, or whether this in itself had been capable, even when he, too, had the Key, of disclosing the process according to the proper state of the Art.

As, however, the various circumstances became known, and a few would become known, that he had found in a well in Dresden of this Art, he came forward with the Tincture --- though others had described it. He had obtained the tincture as a strikingly bright cardinal color and found it to be a poison. On account of defects in the otherwise satisfactory report, it is difficult to separate. However, I do not believe that a philosopher is particularly likely to think this discussion appropriate.

Also it would not be necessary for us to judge his performance and why he kept his Art so secret and risked death himself rather than clarify the matter or disclose it intelligently. For who has seen inside God’s judgments --- or who has ever been His advisor.

As a postscript, this written report is offered as proof of the strange alchemical behavior of copper, which was discovered by the same Beuther and also warrants authorization of his manuscripts, although in his writings he does not refer to it directly.

These are the same, I say out of singular curiosity, which demonstrate completely and in great detail the entire philosophical work and actual material, which can only be understood and depicted clearly and taught as an entire process. I should also offer at this time a clear explanation of the same, but I am afraid that the whole matter has become more muddled than clarified. And I cannot in any way understand how, even only briefly, an even greater man has done it, by being able to work with incomparable chemical copper and such sophisticated additions, sublimations, and imbibitions, which are actually blamed on a natural philosophy that has never been considered. While it must be a general rule in this work, as stated by Arnold de Villa Nova, and again on page 66, that only a few minerals, a few medicines, an arrangement, a work, and some equipment, along with white arsenic and burning sulfur, which were to be made at the same time, as Geber had said: "There is only one mineral, one medicine, one digestion; and in this our entire work consists, to which we add nothing unfamiliar, or take nothing away, without removing excess impurities therefrom in the process".

Furthermore, nothing remains for us to do but to mention once more, to the reader to do his best to follow the processes of the author so that they may be coordinated with true philosophical matters. So long as, and until the same are confirmed for the first time, and afterwards at all times, to be correct, from which Dr Helvetius, in his Vitulo Arco, in Mutatis Mutandis, says: "I beg you, my friends, that you recognize the actual real materials, and do not forget them and their rule in the investigation of this Art, and give attention to their irreversible change while in contact with fire, for you will never find them without this information, live well". Reported from my study room this St John’s Day in these old lands, as Steiner has written, thus the true solution will be found. The Year is 1718.

Dr. Sprogel.

Special Arrangement Pertaining to Alchemical Copper

Plate No. 1, has no special relevance.

Plate No. 2, (a) Here is the final word on white minerals and the initial word on red minerals. The earth remains. The water washes. The fire purifies. The spirits go in;

(b) Be on guard against the mouth of the hot-tempered. Avoid the presence of rascals and hot-heads;

(c) From the sun and the light, and the red gum, which is so brilliant; also in like manner from the moon, with white gum added to it, and the manner of natural brimstone, and I mention all of this sincerely, and I also name Scybric [Kybric] and Ryben and many others, and it is from these that I prepare my tincture;

(d) At the bottom is a heated place, as well as a snake in a fountain. Its tail is long and it has broad wings. It is ready to fly in all directions. Beware of such a fountain all the way round it. For your snake might get out of there. In case it does get out you will have lost the art of working with minerals, which is your motive. You must know that. Also what is in your furnace is so perfectly clear. And what is your serpent, with such a long tail? Although such work is of little use, your fountain must be able to burn in clear water. See well to this costly Fire, for your fire shall be able to burn in water. And the Water shall be washed with fire. Your soil shall be poured over the fire and water shall be accompanied by air;

(e) Now all this shall end in decay and bring a snake for deliverance. In the first place, black as a crow, he shall lie down in the bottom pit of Hell. I swell up like a toad, which lied in the mud and bursts open when blown up too much, which dies as though bitten by a snake and passes through many shades of color changes and finally becomes white as a bone. From the water contained therein, make him pure and free from his sins, and let him drink less and less, for that makes him beautiful and white, a whiteness that is a consuming fire. For here one sees the whole sequence from start to finish, from white gems to red gems, for here I have established for you the proper basis for this.

Plate No. 3, (a) Take your Father Pheobus, so shining and bright, who sits so high in Majesty, with his rays shining down on you so brightly, in all places where he is able to reach, for he is in truth the father of all things, the preserver of all life --- of plants and roots --- and makes all nature flourish with activity, and he is also the balm for all wounds. To obtain this precious gift, one has to be very careful, for I say to the learned and the wise, that a genuine soul is his nature, which God Himself has shaped by His own Hand, and Magnesia is his Bride, this you will come to know for certain. Now I will here begin to teach you a way which will not long remain, the which you will seldom desire to take, yet mark it well, all this I am saying to you;

(b) Tender Phoebus, in many places with his rays, so clear and bright, uniting all this by his very nature, which is the source and mirror of all kinds of light. This Phoebus has many attributes of his nature which are very difficult to understand and where you cannot receive any understanding of what is right, do not attempt to find the Philosophers’ Stone because you formerly craved it so much, I advise you. So mark well all that I might say to you and make thin that which is thick, and then it will be very well with you. You must understand what I mean and have very good self-esteem in this matter, for if you let your work count for very little, this will make you very sad. As I have said in this manual, he has very many natures of which I am aware, some recently discovered, others long since known. Heed his advice, as the philosophers do.

(c) In the sea, in all seriousness, dwells a little bird called Hermetis (Hermes Trismegistus), which can spread its wings in 4 colors, and can be found there, steadfast and durable, even though all its feathers are gone, for its stays as still as a stone;

(d) Here there is nothing but white and red, and the stone becomes alive which was dead, all of them and every one, in truth, bending only with difficulty, yet soft and malleable, and is now well understood, and his countenance is reflected upon.

Plate No. 4, has no special significance.

Plate No. 5: I will tell you, without telling you anything that is not true, about my behavior, since genuineness is my father and magnesia is my mother, nitrogen is actually my sister and copper, in truth, is my brother. The serpent of Arabia is my example, which is indeed the leader of all this, which I formerly held to be stubborn and wild, but now know to be tame and mild; the Sun and the Moon with all their might chastise me, who though myself so brilliant. Flights of fancy so led me hither and yon, until I thought that, with all their mightiness, they brought me down to the place where they wanted me to be. The blood on my hands is white, causing now both pleasure and happiness, and loosening me from the weight of stone which held me down, even before I was ready to begin. Now make hard that which had been made soft, for fire had surrounded it. From my blood and water, as I well know, comes all the fullness (abundance) of the entire world, which then flows to all sorts of places where it finds it has the greatest favor. It flows everywhere in the entire world and spins around like a ball; but you must understand this most of all, so that you will be aware that your efforts will not fail. Because of that you must learn before you begin, what it is --- and for all of your generation it has a great many interpretations, but is, however, of a single nature, which you must regard as three separate entities combined in a Trinity and bring them all into one single entity by the use of the Philosophers’ Stone, which you see here and now.

David Beuther’s Philosophical and Chemical Writings

To God Alone the Glory. In the first place, from the start I will bear down on each of you so that you will consider that all wisdom comes from God and this prize towers above all earthly endeavors. Moreover, from God will be available such things, and nothing will be too great and nothing will be charged against him as error, so that then from the first it lies within God’s Omnipotence, for it is stated, as in the case of a farmer, who plants the seeds and knows the Tincture Process, for sure, so that the Lord is not lacking in power to prevent bad weather on render floods ineffective, especially by such high favor, which the greatest treasure of the world will also have, in particular, loyal people, earnest prayer and perception of Nature. I will now herewith write in this work about my attempt to bring the fundamentals to you, and also thereby to teach you how true are the presumed particulars of the processes of the alchemists, which are the same that one sees daily in keeping his promises. It is the knowledge of their power and the fabricated falseness which I will first of all attack --- that most sacred Fundamental of the Sophists will I attack by resorting to the true basis of natu...