blackneſſe whitteneſſe is hidden, and thou muſt extract the ſame from his moſt ſubtile blacknes. But after putrefaction it waxeth red, not with a true redneſſe, of which one ſaith: It is often red, and often of a citrine colour, it often melteth, and is often coagulated, before true whiteneſſe. And it diſſolueth it ſelfe, it coagulateth it ſelfe, it putrifieth it ſelfe, it coloureth it ſelf, it mortifieth it ſelfe, it quickneth it ſelfe, it maketh it ſelfe black, it maketh it ſelfe white. it maketh it ſelfe red. It is alſo greene: whereon another ſayth, Concoct, it till it appeare greene vnto thee, and that is the ſoule. And another, Know, that in that greene his ſoule beareth dominion. There appeares alſo before whiteneſſe the peacocks colour, whereon ſaith thus. Know thou that al the colours in the world, or ye may be imagined, appeare before whiteneſſe, and afterward true whiteneſſe followeth. Whereof one ſayth: When it hath bin decocted pure and clean, that it ſhineth like the eyes of fiſhes, then are wee to expect his vtilitie, and by that time the ſtome is congealed rounde. And another ſayth: When thou ſhalt finde whiteneſſe a top in the glaſſe, be ſſured that in that whiteneſſe, redneſſe is hidden: and this thou muſt extract: but concoct it while it become all red: for betweene true whiteneſſe and true redneſſe, there is a certaine aſh-colour: of which it is ſayde. After whiteneſſe, thou canſt not erre, for increaſing the fire, thou ſhalt come to an aſh-colour: of which another ſaith: Doo not ſet light by the aſhes, for God ſhal giue it thee molten: and then
