It is sufficiently manifest, that the Eagle is called the King of all Birds, and the Lion the King of all four-footed Beasts. Not, as if the Eagle were the greatest amongst the Birds, and the Lion the strongest and greatest Animal amongst the Beasts: No, no, There are bigger Birds and Beasts than the Eagle or the Lion; Geese, Swans, and our Country Storks are bigger than an Eagle, (I omit to speak of the other huge Birds in Asia, Africa, &c. Amongst which the Ostrich is reckoned for one, which is as big almost as a Horse, and runs swifter than a Horse.) Then, for Beasts, there are some of the (like proportionable stature) as the Rhinoceros and Elephant, which fear the Lion no more than the Ostrich and other (great) Birds do the Eagle; yet nevertheless do they acknowledge the Lion and Eagle for King, and that deservedly too, because of the Velocity, strength, valour, and other virtues that those Creatures have.
But yet Historians rank the Griffin and Dragon amongst the Birds and the greatest Animals. They paint (or describe) the Griffin, a winged Animal, one half part resembling a Lion, the other half part an Eagle; the Claws, Wings and Head like an Eagles, the other part of the body like a Lions. But this is a Philosophical and Poetical Fable, by which they would disclose and lay open other Mysteries and Arcana’s. For there is never to be found in all this whole compass (of the World) such a Dragon as flies in the Air or spits out Fire; but all these sayings, point at Salt-petre. They likewise feign the Griffin to be of such power as to be able to carry away through the air an armed Souldier on Horse-back; these and greater things than these can Salt-petre do; for ’tis able to blow up whole Castles and Fortresses with many myriades of Men into the air; and would to God this were not so well known. The Philosophers have only shadowed out their Dragon amongst other Birds. Our Dragon never dies but by the help of his Brother and Sister, that is of the fixt Lion, and corrosive fluid Eagle, the which thing may be likewise said of the Griffins. For of the fixt burning Lion, and fluxil or fluid corrosive Eagle, there is created no other thing but a Griffin, part Eagle and part Lion, which lifts (or blows) up Mountains of most vast weight; when they fight each with the other they kill one another and are raised up again out of the dead Carkass. And thus there are regenerated (or again born) other Lions and other Eagles out of the Griffin, and (if you are so minded) both the Lion and also the Eagle may be fed and fatted with the common Flesh of other Wild Beasts, so as thence forward they may generate innumerable Griffins, which you may use not only in time of War against the Enemies, but also in the Mountains, to dig out Treasures thence, and being digged to carry them into the Nest.
NB. It is reported of the Griffin that he gathers much Gold which he carries with him into his Nest; But all these things are to be understood of the strength and virtues of Salt-petre; concerning which I could be much more prolix and more clear were I not even constrained to over-pass it and let it alone because of the ungodly crew of wicked men.
And now let us enter with the Philosopher Virgil, into the dark Cave or Den of the Sybill, and let us see whether or no we can find the Book there (that is Salt-petre) wherein are found all the secrets of nature: Or rather, let us enter into the Stable with the three wise Men or Kings that came from the East, and let us there seek the Son that was born of a Virgin, who is the King of the World & the King of all Kings, and let us apparel or adorn him with due gifts or presents, that his age & strength may grow up and be augmented, & he may at length drive away the Diseases of his three brethren, viz. of the Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral. This Infant needs not Gold, Myrrh, and Franckincense for his sustentation, but we will bestow upon him instead of Gold, Myrrh, and Franckincense, three other things for multiplications sake; common Sulphur shall supply the room of Gold; common Salt, of Myrrh; the external green boughs of Firr or Elder, of Franckincense; thereof will we make his Bed, and these shall be his coverings.
The Salt which is animated by the Sulphur and converted into Milk shall be his food, so long until he becomes great and strong enough, yea a Potent Monarch, and then will he gainfully reward his Tutor (or Guardian) Joseph, for his laborious Wardship.
The Magi and Philosophers observed the Star of our Infant, which shineth so brightly as that it dazles the sight of the beholder; nor can any one look long upon it without hurting his sight, and thereupon it is worthily called the Son of the ☉: For there is not any clear or bright light without the Sun, the Country fellows therefore do not perceive such a light, but the Chymists can (whensoever pleaseth them) make and see such a light.
The things which I here declare concerning the nativity of Salt-petre, are most easie to be understood. It is generated or born in the Stables, The ☉ is its Father, the ☽ is its Mother, the Wind conveys the Paternal seed in a spiritual manner, into the moist Earth of the Stable, by which, the Virgin Earth being impregnated doth after due time produce its young to light.
NB. That Earth which produceth and conserves Herbs, Grass, and Metals is called the Mother; and that Earth which doth not produce (as in Stables, &c.) is as yet to be accompted as a Virgin, which doth afterwards yield so noble an offspring. No Earth out of which, Herbs, Trees, and Minerals are born doth ever conceive again, or ever intermits the production of such things, and for that reason is it called the Mother of all things. But now that Earth that is found in Stables, which conceives neither the Solar nor Lunar beams, nor is moistned with either Rain or Dew, cannot produce any thing, unless the beams are conveyed thereinto from the Sun by the Air, then the impregnated Virgin in the Stables, brings forth an offspring, which is by the Philosophers presented for its sustentation, with a threefold kind of gifts; to wit, Sulphur instead of Gold, and that being in like manner fixt and most pure; with Salt instead of Myrrh, which is pure and preservative, and with the Juice or Resin of the Firr-tree, or Elder, instead of sweet smelling Franckincense. These three things are the Aliment or food of the new Infant; The Green Boughs of the Firr or Elder, do furnish him with a Bed for his Cradle; The Sulphur and Salt yield him sweet milk to nourish him; so that there needs not any thing else but a good overseer, Joseph, that may keep off the Rain and the cold Air from this Infants Bed.
By such a means as this may we nourish our most tender Infant and advance him to his Kingly Monarchy; when he shall arrive thither he can make all his Brethren sound and rich: For the Vegetables do only desire profitable and convenient food, or some fat earth, whereby they (being well and sound) may attain to their perfection and encrease themselves; which thing Salt-petre does better than any other.
Nor do the Minerals desire ought else but that the impurity and superfluous Sulphur be taken away from them, that so they may (after a perfect Purification) cast forth their seed, that is Gold; and this, Salt-petre does most perfectly. Then Lastly, the Animals seek not after other food than what the Earth supplies them withal, which to effect, Salt-petre must of necessity be at hand.