VIII. CLAVIS, the eighth key, 1678

Viii. Clavis, the eighth key, engraved by matthaeus merian (1593–1650). From tripus aureus, hoc est, tres tractatus chymici selectissimi, nempe i. Basilii valentini, benedictini ordinis monachi, germani, practica una cum 12. Clavibus et appendice, ex germanico; ii. Thomae nortoni, angli philosophi crede mihi seu ordinale, ante annos 140. Ab authore seriptum, nunc ex anglicano manuscripto in latinum translatum, phrasi eujusque authoris ut et sententia retenta; iii. Cremeri cuiusdam abbatis westmonasteriensis angli testamentum, hactenus nondum publicatum, nunc in diversarum nationum gratiam editi, et figuris cupro affabre incisis ornati operâ et studio. Michaelis maieri, phil. Et med. D. Com. P. &c. Francofurti, apud hermannum à sande. Mdclxxvii. As published in the collection musaeum hermeticum, reformatum et amplificatum. Francofurti: apud hermannum à sande, 1678. In latin. The part in question 'i. Basilii valentini, benedictini ordinis monachi, germani, practica una cum 12. Clavibus et appendice, ex germanico;' or 'basil valentine, a german monk of the benedictine order, one study with the twelve keys and the appendix, [translated] from the german. ' in a walled enclosure, two seated men with crossbows aim at a square target with a circular bulls-eye, and a key atop it. Seven arrows have hit the target. Between these two men are four small roofed crosses and an open grave in which a man or resurrected corpse is standing with his hands uplifted. On the left of the grave, corn is sprouting. In the foreground a corpse lies in a ploughed field. On the left, a man is scattering grain. Behind the man four birds are eating the grain. Below the corpse is a cross. To the right stands a winged angel holding a scepter in its left hand, and blowing a trumpet held in its right hand. In the eighth key, neither human nor animal bodies can be multiplied or propagated without decomposition; the grain and all vegetable seed, when cast into the ground, must decay before it can spring up again; moreover, putrefaction imparts life to many worms and other animalculae. Date: 1678. Medium: engraving. Collection: Science History Institute.