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Carl Lavoie
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Posted: Thu Jun 28th, 2012 08:45 am |
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There is a concise but dense section about the Dutch ‘Master of the mines’, Goossen van Vreeswyk (1626 – 1689?), here, on pages 17 through 19 :
http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/snel016gesc01_01/snel016gesc01_01_0004.php
His works of the 1670’s are relatively known, ranging from Paracelsist treatises, to chrysopœia, and even bordering on the ‘books of secrets’ province, like in his famous De Goode Leeuw* (‘The Golden Lion’; 1675, although the engraved title bears the date 1676. Duveen, p.606, catalogue the first edition of 1671).
http://books.google.ca/books?id=ReZQAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
But I had never read a mention of (one of) his last work, printed around 1685, so written more than a full decade later, and which is not listed in the bibliographies Ferguson nor Duveen : a continuation of 'The Golden Lion'.
Vervolg van de Goude Leeuw, waer in is ontdekt, de Medecijne der Philosophen; De toebereiding van den Steen Ignis, in welken de Schat der Schatten verborgen sit : met een verhandeling van de Schepping der eerste Menschen, &c.
Continuation of the Golden Lion, wherein are uncovered, the Philosophers’ Medicine; and the preparation of the Fiery Stone, in which is hidden the treasure of treasures: as well as a treatise on the Creation of Mankind, etc.
http://books.google.ca/books?id=S-ZQAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
You will notice that Glauber and Hermes are now replaced by Drebbel, Paracelsus’ Archidoxum and most of all Basile Valentine’s Triumph Wagen. Therapeutic aims. And the tone, henceforth, turns somewhat bitter toward the chrysopœians : “Wat willen de dolle Alchimisten dan doen; die de menschen soekken te leeren Goud maken, uit een Materie daer dat niet in te vinden is.”
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* : By the way, is anyone feels inspired enough to offer a poetic rendering of the verses below this plate, on p. 180 [178] ?
http://books.google.ca/books?id=ReZQAAAAcAAJ&hl=fr&hl=fr&pg=PA178&img=1&zoom=3&sig=ACfU3U2QMwno4EbH9xHUlT2keezwqqvFTg&ci=5%2C7%2C990%2C1581&edge=0
I remember coming upon a very, let’s say, questionable commentary of this plate, regarding a mongoose attacking the crocodile (“Between its gaping jaws creeps its foe the Ichneumon, a rat-like creature that devours its entrails”), while all I could see, personally, was a plover...
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Last edited on Thu Jun 28th, 2012 02:05 pm by Carl Lavoie
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Paul Ferguson
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Posted: Thu Jun 28th, 2012 04:59 pm |
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Carl Lavoie wrote:
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* : By the way, is anyone feels inspired enough to offer a poetic rendering of the verses below this plate, on p. 180 [178] ?
http://books.google.ca/books?id=ReZQAAAAcAAJ&hl=fr&hl=fr&pg=PA178&img=1&zoom=3&sig=ACfU3U2QMwno4EbH9xHUlT2keezwqqvFTg&ci=5%2C7%2C990%2C1581&edge=0
Well my effort is hardly inspired or poetic, but here goes:
The Golden Lion.
From wine through human blood I am born with strength,
And am too often lost again through stupidity.
For a time I certainly am a fearful beast,
But after a while I again become an eagle.
Those who have a poor opinion of me therefore do wrong,
As they are wholly unaware of my great strengths,
Since I can make you see the stars shine bright,
Which by every man are constantly sought and held in high esteem.Last edited on Thu Jun 28th, 2012 05:00 pm by Paul Ferguson
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Carl Lavoie
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Posted: Thu Jun 28th, 2012 06:22 pm |
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Thanks Paul.
One think of the "urine des jeunes cholériques" and of Hennig Brand's experiment that took place a couple of years before.
The first link mention (p.17) that Vreeswyk has been under contract for some time by a French company for the assessment of profitability of the mineral deposits in Canada (in New France, obviously).
"Goossen van Vreeswyk genoot grote bekendheid als bergmeester en had als zodanig gewerkt voor de Oost- en West-Indische Compagnie en voor een Franse maatschappij die in Canada werkzaam was, om adviezen uit te brengen over de exploitatie van ertsmijnen."
Since all that we know of G. van Vreeswyk is from what he did scatter in his five or six books, I'm curious to know in which one of his works he would have mention this episode ?
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Paul Ferguson
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Posted: Thu Jun 28th, 2012 06:37 pm |
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Carl Lavoie wrote:
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Thanks Paul.
One think of the "urine des jeunes cholériques" and of Hennig Brand's experiment that took place a couple of years before.
The first link mention (p.17) that Vreeswyk has been under contract for some time by a French company for the assessment of profitability of the mineral deposits in Canada (in New France, obviously).
"Goossen van Vreeswyk genoot grote bekendheid als bergmeester en had als zodanig gewerkt voor de Oost- en West-Indische Compagnie en voor een Franse maatschappij die in Canada werkzaam was, om adviezen uit te brengen over de exploitatie van ertsmijnen."
Since all that we know of G. van Vreeswyk is from what he did scatter in his five or six books, I'm curious to know in which one of his works he would have mention this episode ?
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I would think in "Cabinet der Mineralen" (1675). The illustrations from that work (but not unfortunately the text) are here:
http://www.bnam.fr/IMG/pdf/Cabinet_der_Mineralen.pdf
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Carl Lavoie
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Posted: Thu Jun 28th, 2012 06:57 pm |
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Yes, you are right :
http://books.google.ca/books?id=3UFQAAAAcAAJ&hl=fr&hl=fr&pg=PA9&img=1&zoom=3&sig=ACfU3U0kRTIeARkJOVW6WMoH_ptivYinTg&ci=108%2C603%2C733%2C131&edge=0
I just skim his Silvere Rivier, ofte Konings Fontein : no mention of the New World.
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Last edited on Thu Jun 28th, 2012 07:11 pm by Carl Lavoie
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Paul Ferguson
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Posted: Thu Jun 28th, 2012 09:07 pm |
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Carl Lavoie wrote:
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Yes, you are right :
http://books.google.ca/books?id=3UFQAAAAcAAJ&hl=fr&hl=fr&pg=PA9&img=1&zoom=3&sig=ACfU3U0kRTIeARkJOVW6WMoH_ptivYinTg&ci=108%2C603%2C733%2C131&edge=0
I just skim his Silvere Rivier, ofte Konings Fontein : no mention of the New World.
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...and this reference also seems to confirm that 'Cabinet' is the place to look:
http://books.google.com/books?id=a1kdAQAAMAAJ&q=vreeswyk+canadian+mines&dq=vreeswyk+canadian+mines&hl=fr&sa=X&ei=IbnsT5W-HKLb0QWl2ID6DA&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBA
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