THE SCROLL OF GEORGE RIPLEY This celebrated alchemical "Scrowle" was originally compiled by the English Hermetist, or one of his immediate followers, for the instruction of those seeking the formula for the Philosophers' Stone. Ripley died circa 1490, and the scroll is first mentioned about this time. The work is of considerable size, 18 inches wide and 20 feet long. It consists of a series of symbols and figures representing alchemical processes accompanied by verses in English. In nearly all examples of this scroll, the title, enclosed within a floriated border, is missing. This is probably due to the fact that it was more exposed to wear, as this section formed the outer covering of the roll. The complete title of the scroll is Rotulum Hieroglyphicum Pantarvae Philosophorum. The symbols begin with a large drawing of an alchemist who supports a chemical bottle containing a book sealed with seven seals. From these seals extend chains which terminate in seven circular drawings of the chemical processes. The book and its seals appear in the upper part of the section of the scroll reproduced here. The symbolism unfolds with elaborate designs and concludes with a vigorous drawing of an Adept of the Mysteries. It is believed that the celebrated mathematician Dr. John Dee, Astrologer to Queen Elizabeth, derived much of his esoteric knowledge as the result of his meditations upon the secret symbolism of Ripley's Scroll."
— Manly P. Hall, Horizon Journal 1946-Spring
The Red Lune. The Spirit of Water. Red Sol. The Red Sea. On the ground there is a hill Also a serpent within a well His tail is long with wings wide All ready to flee by every side Repair the well fast about That thy serpent pass not out For if that he be there a gone Thou lose the virtue of the stone Where is the ground you must know here And the well that is so clear And what is the dragon with the tail Or else the work shall little avail The well must run in water clear Take good heed for this your fire The fire with water bright shall be burnt And water with fire washed shall be The earth on fire shall be put And water with air shall be knit Thus ye shall go to purification And bring the serpent to redemption First he shall be black as a crow And down in his den shall lie full low Swelling as a toad that lieth on the ground Burst with bladders sitting so round They shall to burst and lie full plain And this with craft the serpent is slain He shall shine colors here many a one And turn as white as whale's bone With the water that he was in Wash him clear from his sin And let him drink a little and a light And that shall make him fair and white The which whiteness be abiding Lo here is a very full finishing Of the white stone and the red Lo here is the very true deed."
— The Ripley Scroll
Bodleian Library MS. Ash. Rolls 52, George Ripley's alchemical roll, 16th century or 17th century
"The Red Sea, the Red Moon, the Red Sun" "Now let the body and soul be bound together in the Elixir" "On the ground, there lies a body, Which is base and black to behold. It is the foul Toad, heavy with poison, Which dwells in the hellish lake. Yet from that poison, a medicine is made, One that is perfect and of great fame. For it is a fire and burning venom With which the Dragon is forced to be tamed. He who can make the Raven white And free the foul Toad from poison May command the world at will, And alchemy shall be his art. Then he shall see perfection, A true transformation of the Red Sea, And he shall gain the knowledge To uncover all secret things. For he must both purge and burn, Burning both the black and the white, Until the Dragon is tamed and slain, And all is turned into red light. Thus, he who perfects all things And makes them of one nature Shall find the Red Lion And bring it into the Elixir."
