EARLY MASTERS OF OUR BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROSIE CROSS, PART II
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ALCHEMY AFTER THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION
JOHN HEYDON, ELIAS ASHMOLE, AND SIR ISAAC NEWTON
http://www.arcaneadvisors.com/archives/
http://www.salvationscience.com

Robert Boyle (1627-1691)

"It is my intent to beget a good understanding between the chymists and the
mechanical philosophers who have hitherto been too little acquainted with one
another's learning."
-Originator: Robert Boyle (1627-1691) in 'The Skeptical Chymist'
------------------

John Heydon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heydon

John Heydon (September 10, 1629 – 1667) was a Neoplatonist occult philosopher
and Rosicrucian.

Life

Rosicrucian sources, including Heydon's own English Physician's Guide and
Frederick Talbot's The Wise Man's Crown, give a florid biography for Heydon, in
which he is descended from a King of Hungary. More immediately, he was born in
London.

Works

John Heydon published a remarkable volume of abstruse work in the last twelve
years of his life. A partial list could include:

Eugenius Theodidactus, the Prophetical Trumpeter... (1655)
A New Method of Rosie Crucian Physick... (1658)
The Rosie Crucian Infallible Axiomata; or, generall rules to know all things
past, present, and to come (1660)
The Harmony of the World... (1662)
The English Physitians Guide: or a Holy Guide (1662)
Theomagia, or the temple of wisdom in three parts, spiritual, celestial, and
elemental: containing the occult powers of the angels of astromancy in the
telesmatical sculpture of the Persians and Ægyptians: the mysterious vertues of
the characters of the stars...the knowledge of the Rosie Crucian physick, and
the miraculous secrets of nature... (three parts, 1662/4)
Psonthonpanchia... (1664)
El Havarevna; or, the English Physitian's Tutor in the Astrobolismes of Metals
Rosie Crucian (1665).
He married in 1656, and is thought to have fathered a daughter. Elias Ashmole
called him "an ignoramus and a cheat." Frances Yates termed him a "strange
character...an astrologer, geomancer, alchemist, of a most extreme type." He was
accused of plagiarizing Sir Thomas Browne, Thomas Vaughan, and other writers;
his Physician's Guide of 1662 largely derives from Sir Francis Bacon's The New
Atlantis (Atalanta Fugiens). He was in trouble again in 1667, and was imprisoned
in the Tower of London for dealing in the treasonous plots of his patron, the
Duke of Buckingham. The precise date of his death is unknown.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Heydon
-----------------------

p. 331
http://www.sacred-texts.com/sro/rhr/rhr23.htm

The list of Heydon's published works is as follows:--

Eugenius Theodidactus, The Prophetical Trumpeter . . . illustrating the Fate of
Great Britain. (A celestial vision in heroic verse) . . . By the Muses' most
unworthy John Heydon. London, 1655.

A New Method of Rosie Crucian Physick; wherein is shewed the cause and . . .
cure of all diseases. London, 1658. 4to.

Advice to a Daughter in opposition to advice to a Son, or directions for your
better conduct through the various and most important events of this life.
London, 1658. 12mo.

The Idea of the Law charactered from Moses to King Charles. London, 1660. 8vo.

The Rosie Crucian Infallible Axiomata; or, generall rules to know all things
past, present, and to come. London, 1660. 12mo.

The Holy Guide, Leading the Way to the Wonder of the World: A Compleat
Phisitian, teaching the knowledge of all things, past, present, and to come.
London, 1662. 8vo.

Theomagia; or, The Temple of Wisdome. In three parts spirituall, celestiall, and
elementall. London, 1662-3-4. 8vo.

The Harmony of the World, being a discourse of God, Heaven, Angels, Stars,
Planets, Earth, &c., whereunto is added the State of the New Jerusalem. . . .
London, 1662. 8vo.

Psonthonpanchia; Being a Word in Season to the Enemies of Christians, and an
appeal to the natural faculties of the mind of man, whether there be not a God.
London, 1664. 8vo.

The Wise Man's Crown; or, The Glory of the Rosie-Cross . . . with the full
discovery of the true Cœlum Terræ, or first matter of the Philosophers. . . .
With the Regio Lucis, and Holy Household of Rosie Crucian Philosophers. London,
1664. 8vo.

El Havarevna; or, the English Physitian's Tutor in the Astrobolismes of Mettals
Rosie Crucian. London, 1665. 8vo.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/sro/rhr/rhr23.htm
------------------------

SIR ISAAC NEWTON (1642-1727)
http://www.alchemylab.com/isaac_newton.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/newton/

Newton the Alchemist

Sir Isaac Newton, the famous seventeenth-century mathematician and scientist,
though not generally known as an alchemist, practiced the art with a passion.
Though he wrote over a million words on the subject, after his death in 1727,
the Royal Society deemed that they were "not fit to be printed." The papers were
rediscovered in the middle of the twentieth century and most scholars now
concede that Newton was first an foremost an alchemist. It is also becoming
obvious that the inspiration for Newton's laws of light and theory of gravity
came from his alchemical work.

If one looks carefully, in the light of alchemical knowledge, at the definitive
biography, Sir Isaac Newton by J. W. V. Sullivan, it is quite easy to realize
the alchemical theories from which he was working. Sir Arthur Eddington, in
reviewing this book, says: "The science in which Newton seems to have been
chiefly interested, and on which he spent most of his time was alchemy. He read
widely and made innumerable experiments, entirely without fruit so far as we
know." One of his servants records: "He very rarely went to bed until two or
three of the clock, sometimes not till five or six, lying about four or five
hours, especially at springtime or autumn, at which time he used to employ about
six weeks in his laboratory, the fire scarce going out night or day. What his
aim might be I was unable to penetrate into." The answer is that Newton's
experiments were concerned with nothing more or less than alchemy. (from Alchemy
Rediscovered and Restored by A. Cockren)

As a practicing alchemist, Newton spent days locked up in his laboratory, and
not a few have suggested that he finally succeeded in transmuting lead into
gold. Perhaps that explains one of the oddest things about his life. At the
height of his career, instead of accepting a professorship at Cambridge, he was
appointed Director of the Mint with the responsibility of securing and
accounting for England's repository of gold.

In fact, Newton -- the revered founder of modern science and the mechanistic
universe -- also ranks as one of the greatest spiritual alchemists of all time.
In his The Religion of Isaac Newton (Oxford 1974), F.E. Manuel concluded: "The
more Newton's theological and alchemical, chronological and mythological work is
examined as a whole corpus, set by the side of his science, the more apparent it
becomes that in his moments of grandeur he saw himself as the last of the
interpreters of God's will in actions, living on the fulfillment of times."

The Hermetic Tradition

This view has become more accepted in recent years, as more of Newton's private
papers and alchemical treatises are being reexamined. "Like all European
alchemists from the Dark Ages to the beginning of the scientific era and
beyond," states Michael White in Isaac Newton:The Last Sorcerer (Addison Wesley
1997), "Newton was motivated by a deep-rooted commitment to the notion that
alchemical wisdom extended back to ancient times. The Hermetic tradition -- the
body of alchemical knowledge -- was believed to have originated in the mists of
time and to have been given to humanity through supernatural agents."

Newton's Translation of the Emerald Tablet

It is true without lying, certain and most true. That which is Below is like
that which is Above and that which is Above is like that which is Below to do
the miracles of the Only Thing. And as all things have been and arose from One
by the mediation of One, so all things have their birth from this One Thing by
adaptation. The Sun is its father; the Moon its mother; the Wind hath carried it
in its belly; the Earth is its nurse. The father of all perfection in the whole
world is here. Its force or power is entire if it be converted into Earth.
Separate the Earth from the Fire, the subtle from the gross, sweetly with great
industry. It ascends from the Earth to the Heavens and again it descends to the
Earth and receives the force of things superior and inferior. By this means you
shall have the glory of the whole world and thereby all obscurity shall fly from
you. Its force is above all force, for it vanquishes every subtle thing and
penetrates every solid thing. So was the world created. From this are and do
come admirable adaptations, whereof the process is here in this. Hence am I
called Hermes Trismegistus, having the three parts of the philosophy of the
whole world. That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished
and ended.

http://www.alchemylab.com/isaac_newton.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/newton
-------------------------

SIR ISAAC NEWTON (1642-1727)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton's_occult_studies

Newton's alchemical research and writings

Much of what are known as Isaac Newton's occult studies can largely be
attributed to his study of alchemy.

Newton was deeply interested in all forms of natural sciences and material
theory, an interest that ultimately would lead to some of his better-known
contributions to science. During Newton's lifetime the study of chemistry was
still in its infancy, thereby leading many of his experimental studies to
consist of the use of esoteric language and vague terminology more accurately
associated with alchemy and occultism. It would be several decades after
Newton's death that experiments of stoichiometry under the pioneering works of
Antoine Lavoisier were conducted and analytical chemistry, with its associated
nomenclature, would come to resemble modern chemistry as we know it today.

Much of Newton's writing on alchemy may have been lost in a fire in his
laboratory, so the true extent of his work in this area may have been larger
than is currently known. Newton also suffered a nervous breakdown during his
period of alchemical work, which is thought by some due to the psychological
transformation that alchemy was originally designed to induce, though there is
also speculation it may have been some form of chemical poisoning (possibly from
mercury, lead, or some other substance).

An 1874 engraving showing a probable apocryphal account of Newton's lab fire. In
the story, Newton's dog started the fire, burning 20 years of research. Newton
is thought to have said:
"O Diamond, Diamond, thou little knowest the mischief thou hast
done."[1]Newton's writings suggest that one of the main goals of his alchemy may
have been the discovery of The Philosopher's Stone (a material believed to turn
base metals into gold), and perhaps to a lesser extent, the discovery of the
highly coveted Elixir of Life.

Some practices of alchemy were banned in England during Newton's lifetime, due
in part to unscrupulous practitioners who would often promise wealthy
benefactors unrealistic results in an attempt to swindle money. The English
Crown, also fearing the potential devaluation of gold, should The Philosopher's
Stone actually be discovered, made penalties for alchemy very severe. In some
cases the punishment for unsanctioned alchemy would include the public hanging
of an offender on a gilded scaffold while adorned with tinsel and other items.
It was for this reason, and the potential scrutiny that he feared from his peers
within the scientific community, that Newton may have deliberately left his work
on alchemical subjects unpublished. Newton was well known as being highly
sensitive to criticism, such as the numerous instances when he was criticized by
Robert Hooke, and his admitted reluctance to publish any substantial information
regarding Calculus before 1693. A perfectionist by nature, Newton also refrained
from publication of material that he felt was incomplete, as evident from a
thirty-eight year gap in time from Newton's alleged conception of Calculus in
1666 and its final full publication in 1704, which would ultimately lead to the
infamous Newton vs. Leibniz Calculus Controversy.

In 1936, a collection of Isaac Newton's unpublished works were auctioned by
Sotheby's on behalf of Gerard Wallop, 9th Earl of Portsmouth, who had inherited
them from Newton's great-niece. Known as the "Portsmouth Papers", this material
consisted of three hundred twenty-nine lots of Newton's manuscripts, over a
third of which were filled with content that appeared to be alchemical in
nature. At the time of Newton's death this material was considered "unfit to
publish" by Newton's estate, and consequently fell into obscurity until their
somewhat sensational reemergence in 1936.[3]

At the auction many of these documents were purchased by economist John Maynard
Keynes, who throughout his life, collected many of Newton's alchemical writings.
Much of the Keynes collection later passed to eccentric document collector
Abraham Yahuda, who was himself a vigorous collector of Isaac Newton's original
manuscripts.

Many of the documents collected by Keynes and Yahuda are now in the Jewish
National and University Library in Jerusalem. In recent years, several projects
have begun to gather, catalogue, and transcribe the fragmented collection of
Newton's work on alchemical subjects and make them freely available for online
access. Two of these are The Chymistry of Isaac Newton Project supported by the
U.S. National Science Foundation, and The Newton Project supported by the U.K.
Arts and Humanities Research Board. In addition, The Jewish National and
University Library has published a number of high-quality scanned images of
various Newton documents.

The Philosopher's Stone

Of the material sold during the 1936 Sotheby's auction, several documents
indicate an interest by Newton in the procurement or development of The
Philosopher's Stone. Most notably are documents entitled, "Artephius his secret
Book", followed by "The Epistle of Iohn Pontanus, wherein he beareth witness of
ye book of Artephius", these are themselves a collection of excerpts from
another work entitled, "Nicholas Flammel, His Exposition of the Hieroglyphicall
Figures which he caused to be painted upon an Arch in St Innocents Church-yard
in Paris. Together with The secret Booke of Artephius, And the Epistle of Iohn
Pontanus: Containing both the Theoricke and the Practicke of the Philosophers
Stone". This work may also have been referenced by Newton in its Latin version
found within Lazarus Zetzner's, "Theatrum Chemicum", a volume often associated
with the Turba Philosophorum and other early European alchemical manuscripts.
Nicolas Flamel, (one subject of the aforementioned work) was a notable, though
mysterious figure, often associated with the discovery of The Philosopher's
Stone, Hieroglyphical Figures, early forms of tarot, and occultism. Artephius,
and his "secret book", were also subjects of interest to 17th Century
alchemists.

Also in the 1936 auction of Newton's collection was, "The Epitome of the
treasure of health written by Edwardus Generosus Anglicus innominatus who lived
Anno Domini 1562". This is a twenty-eight page treatise on the Philosopher's
Stone, the Animal or Angelicall Stone, the Prospective stone or magical stone of
Moses, and the vegetable or the growing stone. The treatise concludes with an
alchemical poem.

Newton & The Rosicrucians

Perhaps the secret society which most influenced Isaac Newton were the
Rosicrucians. Though the Rosicrucian movement had caused a great deal of
excitement within Europe's scholarly community during the early seventeenth
century, by the time Newton had reached maturity the movement had become less
sensationalized. However, the Rosicrucian movement still would have a profound
influence upon Newton, particularly in regard to his alchemical work and
philosophical thought.

The Rosicrucian belief in being specially chosen for the ability to communicate
with angels or spirits is echoed in Newton's prophetic beliefs. Additionally,
the Rosicrucians proclaimed to have the ability to live forever through the use
of the elixir vitae and the ability to produce limitless amounts of gold from
the use of The Philosopher's Stone, which they claimed to have in their
possession. Like Newton, the Rosicrusians were deeply religious, avowedly
Christian, anti-Catholic, and highly politicised. Isaac Newton would have a deep
interest in not just their alchemical pursuits, but also their belief in
esoteric truths of the ancient past and the belief in enlightened individuals
with the ability to gain insight into nature, the physical universe, and the
spiritual realm.

At the time of his death, Isaac Newton had 169 books on the topic of alchemy in
his personal library, and was believed to have considerably more books on this
topic during his Cambridge years, though he may have sold them before moving to
London in 1696. For its time, his was considered one of the finest alchemical
libraries in the world. In his library, Newton left behind a heavily annotated
personal copy of "The Fame and Confession of the Fraternity R.C.", by Thomas
Vaughan which represents an English translation of The Rosicrucian Manifestos.
Newton also possessed copies of "Themis Aurea" and "Symbola Aurea Mensae
Duodecium" by the learned alchemist Michael Maier, both of which are significant
early books about the Rosicrucian movement. These books were also extensively
annotated by Newton.

Newton's ownership of these materials by no means denotes membership within any
early Rosicrucian order. Furthermore, considering that his personal alchemical
investigations were focused upon discovering materials which the Rosicrucians
professed to already be in possession of long before he was born, would seem to
exclude Newton from their membership. During his own life, Newton was openly
accused of being a Rosicrucian, as were many members of The Royal Society.[22]
Though it is not known for sure if Isaac Newton was in fact a Rosicrucian, and
he never publicly identified himself as one, from his writings it does appear
that he may have shared many of their sentiments and beliefs.

Newton & Freemasonry

There is no verifiable record of Newton being a Freemason. Despite this lack of
evidence, Isaac Newton is still frequently identified as being a member of
several early Masonic Lodges including the Grand Lodge of England. There is
currently a Freemason Lodge operating at Cambridge University named The Isaac
Newton University Lodge, however this does not emphatically mean that Isaac
Newton was a founder or even a member, as there are many social and scholastic
clubs which bear his name.

Considering the secretive nature of early Freemasonry and the belief that the
modern structure of the organization was partly established during Newton's
lifetime in and around London, there is continued speculation as to the role
that Newton may have had in the formation of Masonic Orders in their modern
context. Newton's membership of The Royal Society and the fact that many Royal
Society members have been identified as early Freemasons has lead many to
believe Newton was a Mason himself. It is clear that Newton was deeply
interested in architecture, sacred geometry, and the structure of the Temple of
Solomon, a subject that plays an important role in early Masonic mythology.
However, ultimately there is no evidence to directly connect Newton to
Freemasonry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton's_occult_studies
http://www.arcaneadvisors.com/archives/
--------------------

THEATRUM CHEMICUM BRTANNICUM OF ELIAS ASHMOLE
http://www.alchemywebsite.com/theatrum.html
http://www.alchemywebsite.com/alch_mss.html
http://www.alchemywebsite.com/almss5.html

English alchemical verse from Elias Ashmole's Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum.
Transcribed by Justin von Bujdoss.

The following are active links to the very much abridged texts from the much
longer original publication by Elias Ashmole. He distributed a free copy of his
work to each and every member of the English Parliament. He also donated a large
collection to the Bodleian Library of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, listed in
the bibliograpy section at the Alchemy Website:
http://www.alchemywebsite.com/alch_mss.html

AEnigma Philosophicum
John Dastin's Dream
Discription of the Stone
The Hunting of the Greene Lyon
Hermes Bird
The Hermet's Tale
The Magistry
The Mistery of Alchymists by George Ripley
Peace the Black Monke on the Elixir
Thomas Robinson on the Philosopher's Stone
Testament of John Dee John Gwynn
A short work of George Ripley
The Worke of Richard Carpenter
John Gower concerning the Philosophers' Stone
Thomas Charnock - The Breviary of Alchemy
Dialogue Between a Father and his Son
Anonymous Alchemical Poems
Alchemical Aenigmas by Thomas Charnock
Experience and Philosophy
Liber Patris Sapientiae
-----------

Description of the Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum:-

Ashmole, Elias. Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum. Containing Severall Poetical
Pieces of our Famous English Philosophers, who have written the Hermetique
Mysteries in their owne Ancient Language. Faithfully Collected into one Volume,
with Annotations thereon, by Elias Ashmole, Esq. Qui est Mercuriophilus
Anglicus. The first part, London, Printed by J. Grismond for Nath: Brooke, at
the Angel in Cornhill. MDCLII. 1652.
xvi + 486 + viii pages.
p i [Title.]
p iii-xvi [Prolegomena] To All Ingeniously Elaborate Students, In the most
Divine Mysteries of Hermetique Learning.
p1-106 The Ordinall of Alchimy. Written by Thomas Norton of Bristoll.
p107-193 The Compound of Alchymie. A most excellent, learned, and worthy worke,
written by Sir George Ripley, Chanon of Bridlington in Yorkeshire, Conteining
twelve Gates.
p194-209 Liber patris sapientiae.
p211 [Verse beginning] "In the name of the holy Triniti".
p212 [Verse beginning] "Iyfe thow wilt thys warke begyn."
p213-226 Hermes Bird.
p227-256 The Tale of the Chanans Yeoman. Written by our Ancient and famous
English Poet, Geoffry Chaucer.
p257-268 The Worke of John Dastin.
p269-274 Pearce the Black Monke upon the Elixir.
p275-277 The Worke of Rich: Carpenter.
p278-290 The Hunting of the Greene Lyon.
p291-303 The Breviary of naturall Philosophy. Compiled by the unlettered Scholar
Thomas Charnock.
p303 Aenigma ad Alchimiam... 1572. T. Charnocke.
p304 Aenigma de Alchimiae... 1572. T. Charnocke.
p305-323 Bloomfields Blossoms: or, The Campe of Philosophy.
p324-331 Sir Edward Kelle's Worke.
p332-333 Sir Ed: Kelly concerning the Philosophers Stone written to his
especiall good Freind, G.S. Gent.
p334 Testamentum Johannis Dee Philosophi summi ad Johannem Gwynn, transmissum
1568.
p335 Thomas Robinsonus de lapide philosophorum.
p336-341 Experience and Philosophy.
p342-343 The Magistery... Hoc opus exigium nobis fert ire per altum. December,
1633. W.B.
p344-367 Anonymi: or, severall workes of unknowne Authors.
p368-373 John Gower concerning the Philosophers Stone.
p374 The Vision of Sr: George Ripley: Channon of Bridlington.
p375-379 Verses belonging to an emblematicall Scrowle: Supposed to be invented
by Geo: Ripley.
p380-388 The Mistery of alchymists, Composed by Sir Geo: Ripley Chanon of
Bridlington.
p389-392 The Preface prefixt to Sir Geo: Ripley's Medulla; Which he wrote Ann.
Dom. 1476. and Dedicated to Geo: Nevell then Arch-Bishop of Yorke.
p393-396 A shorte worke That beareth the Name of the aforesaid Author, Sir G.
Ripley.
p397-p403 John Lydgate monke of St. Edmundsbury, In his Translation of the
second Epistle that King Alexander sent to his Master Aristotle.
p404-414 Anonymi.
p415-419 The Hermet's Tale.
p420 A Discription of the Stone.
p421-422 The standing of the Glasse for the tyme of the Putrefaction, and
Congelation of the Medicine.
p423 Aenigma Philosphicum... D.D.W. Bedman.
p424-426 Fragments coppied From Thomas Charnock's owne hand writing.
p427-428 In some Coppies I have found these Verses placed before Pearce the
Black Monk, upon the Elixir.
p428-430 I have seene an old Coppy of the said work of Pearce the Black Monk, to
the end of which these following Verses were joyned.
p431-432 This following Fragment in some copies I have found placed at the end
of the aforegoing Exposition of Pearce the Black Monke.
p433 An other Conclusion.
p434-436 The whole Scyence.
[Inserted engraving.]
p437-486 Annotations and Discourses, upon Some part of the preceding Worke.
p i-ii A table of the several Treatises, with their Authors Names, contained in
this Worke.
p iii-vii A Table explaining the Obscure, Obsolete, and mis-spell'd words used
throughout this Worke.
p viii [Errata.]

Postscript: One might have noticed that the most eminent of all British
Alchemists, Friar Roger Bacon, was omitted from this ancient Alchemical
anthology. This is not a problem, because his works can be found elsewhere in
The Tantrayudha of Salvation Science.
Jai Om. - Sw. Tantrasangha

http://www.alchemywebsite.com/theatrum.html
http://www.alchemywebsite.com/alch_mss.html
http://www.alchemywebsite.com/almss5.html
http://www.salvationscience.com/
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