Of the matter and form of Furnaces.

THe matter of Furnaces is various, for they may be made either of brick and clay, or clay alone with whites of Egges, hair, and filings of Iron, (and of these if the clay be fat are made the best, and most durable Furnaces) or of Iron, or Copper, cast or forged. The forms also of Furnaces are various.

The fittest form for Distillation is round; for so the heat of the fire being carryed up equally diffuseth it self every way▪ which happens not in a Furnace of another figure, as four square or triangular, for the corners disperse and separate the force of the fire. Their magnitude must be such as shal be fit for the recei­ving of the vessel; their thicknesse so great as necessity shall seem to require; only thus much observe, that if they be made of for­ged iron or copper, they must be coated within side, especially if you intend to use them for a strong fire. They must be madewith [Page 3] two bottomes, distinguisht as it were, into two forges▪ the one below which may receive the ashes, the other above to contain the fire. The bottom of this upper must either be an iron grate, or else an Iron plate perforated with many holes, that so the ashes may the more easily fall down into the bottome, which other­wise would put [...]out the fire. Yet some Furnaces have three par­titions, as the Furnace for Reverberation, and the Register Fur­nace. In the first and lowest the ashes are received, in the second the fire is put, and in the third of the Furnace for Reverberati­on, the matter which is to be reverberated. This third ought to have a semi-circular cover, that so the heat may be reflected up­on the contained matter. The bottome of the third and upper­most partition of the Register Furnace must be either a plate of iron, or a smooth stone perforated with holes, having stopples of stone fitted thereunto, which you may take out or put in, as you would have the heat increased or decreased. In the top or upper part of all these Furnaces where it shal seem most fit, there must be two or three holes made, that by them the smoak may more freely pass out, and the air let in to make the fire burn the stronger if need require, or else which are to be shut with stop­ples made fit to them. The mouths of the fore-mentioned par­titions must have shutters, just like an Ovens mouth, with which you may shut them close, or leave them open if you would have the fire burn stronger. But in defect of a Furnace, or fit matter to make one, we may use a Kettle or a Pot set upon a Trevet, as we shall shew when we come to give you a description of the Furnace and Vessels. The truth is, a good Artist will make any shift, yea and in half a dayes time make a Furnace or something equivalent to it for any operations.

Of Vessels fit for distillation.

VEssels for Distillation are of various matter and forme. For they may be either of Lead, which I altogether disap­prove of, for that they turn the liquors into a white and milky substance, beside the malignity they give to them; or they may be of Copper, Iron, or Tin, which are better then the for­mer; [Page 4] or of Jug-metall, or Potters-metall glazed, or Glasse, which are the best of all, where they may be used without fear of breaking or melting. Some make them of silver, but they are very chargeable. They that are able and willing may have the benefit of them.

Of Lutes for coating of glasses and for Closures, as also severall wayes of stopping glasses.

THe best Lute is made thus, viz. Take of Loam and sand tem­pered with salt water (which keeps it from cleaving) to these adde the Caput Mortuum, of Vitrioll, or Aqua fortis, and scaling of Iron, and temper them well together, and this serveth to coat Retorts or any glasse vessells that must endure a most strong fire, and will never fail if well made. Some adde Flax, beaten Glasse, and Pots, and flint, &c.

Take unslaked Lime, and Linseed oil, mix them wel together and make thereof a Lute which will be so hard that no spirit will pierce it, and this serves for the closure of Glasses.

Or,
Take Loam and the white of an egge, mix them into a paste, and spread it on a cloth. This also is a good closure.

Or,
Moisten an Ox bladder in the white of an egge beaten to water, or in defect of a bladder use paper, and bind them round where the vessells are joined together, one over another two or three times.

Or,
If the spirits in the glasse be exceeding corrosive, then use the Caput mortuum of Aqua fortis, Linseed oil, and chalk mixed to­gether.

If a Glasse be cracked, then wet a linnen cloth in the white of an egge beaten to water, and lay upon it, and upon that pre­sently whilest it is wet, sift some unslaked Lime, and presse it close with your hand, when that is dry lay on another cloth thus wet as before, and on it sift more Lime.

A vessell may be stopt so close with Quicksilver that no spi­rit [Page 5] can breath forth, by which means the glasse will be preser­ved from breaking by the inclosed spirits, (for the head will first yeild before the glasse breaks) the Vessell must be made as the figure here-under sheweth. This also is a good way to pre­serve spirits already distilled from the air.

A, Signifies the head or cover.

B, The body or vessell it self.

C, The little glasse to take out the Liquor that is in the vessell because it can­not well be poured out, as by reason of the Quick-sil­ver which will be apt to be lost, so by reason of the form of the Vessell it self.

D, A false bottom where the Quick-silver must lye, in­to which the head must be set upon the Quick-silver that so the Quick-silver may come above the bot­tome of the Head.

[Page 6] Also you may make stopples of Glasses ground so smooth that no vapour can get forth by them, as you may see by this pattern.

A, Signifies the [...]topple of glasse ground very smooth and fit to the mouth of the Vessell.

B, The glasse body.

But the best way is to have a crooked pipe, which may have quick-silver in it, and be well luted to the body that no spirit can get forth: and by this means the glasse will never break, for the quick-silver will first yeeld.

[Page 7]

A, The crooked pipe.

B, The glasse body.

Or upon the top of a glasse stopple there may be fastned some lead, that if the spirit be too strong it wil only heave up the stopple and let it fall down again.

C, The glasse stopple with lead on the top.

D, The mouth of the vessell it self.

Now the way to nip up [...] glasse, or seal it up Hermetically is after this manner.

PUt what matter you please into a bolt head with a long neck or pipe, put this pipe through a pan that hath a little hole made in the bottom thereof, that the top of it may be three or four inches above the pan, close up the hole round about the pipe with clay, then put coals in the pan and kindle first those that are furthest off from the pipe that the heat may come by de­grees to the pipe (for otherwise a sudden heat will break it) when the pipe is hot, blow the coals about it till it melt, then with a pair of shears cut it off where it is melted, and then with a pair of tongs close it together.

Note that after you have closed it you must put the burning coals upon the top thereof, and let it thus stand till all be cold [Page 8] which must be done by degrees, for otherwise the glasse will certainly crack in the place where it is nipped.

Note that the pan must stand upon some frame, or some hollow place that there may be a passage for the pipe to come through it

Also the bolt [...]head must stand upon a treefoot or some other firme place according to this figure.

An Explanation of such hard words, and terms of Art, which are used in this ensuing Treatise.

A Malgamation, is a calcining or corroding metals with quick­silver, and it is done thus. Take any metall except iron, beaten into thin leafs, or very small powder, mix it with about 8. parts of quick-silver (which may the better be done if both be heated first) that they may become one uniform masse, evaporate the quick-silver over the fire, and the metall will be left in the bottom as a thin calx.

[Page 9] Calcination it a reducing any thing into a Calx, and making it fryable, and it may be done two wayes,

• By firing
  • By reducing into ashes.
  • By reverberating.
• By Corosion
  • By Amalgamation,
  • Precipitation,
  • Fumigation or vaporation,
  • Cementation or stratification.

Circulation, is when any liquor is so placed in digestion, that it shall rise up and fall down, rise up and fall down, and so do continually, and thereby become more digested and mature, for which use for the most part we use a Pelican.

Clarification, is the separating of the grosse feces from any de­coction or juice, and it is done three wayes,

• By the white of an Egge,
• By digestion,
• By filtration.

Coagulation, is the reducing of any liquid thing to a thicker substance by evaporating the humidity.

Cohgbation, is the frequent abstraction of any Ilquor, po [...]ed oft-times on the feces from whence it was distilled, by distil­lation.

Congelation, is when any liquor being decocted to the height, is afterward by setling into any cold place turned into a trans­parent substance like unto ice.

Corosion, is the Calcining of bodyes by corrosive things.

Common distilled simple waters, are made thus.

TAke what herbs or flowers you please, put them into a common cold Still, and let them distill gently.

This is the form of a common cold Still.

But note that this kinde of water is but the flegm of the vege­table which you distil, and hath very little vertue or odour in it; only roses and mints and two or three more have an odour, but all besides, have as little vertue as common distilled water.

I do not deny but that it may be so ordered, that these kinds of waters may partake both of the smell and strength of their vegetables in a good measure, and it is thus.

To make waters in a cold Still that shall have the full smell and vertue of the vegetable.

TAke what herbs, flowers, or roots you please (so that they be green) bruise them and mix with them some leaven, and let them stand close covered for four or five days: then distil them after the manner aforesaid.

Another way to make Water taste and smell strong of its vegetable.

WHen you have distilled any vegetable in a cold Still after the usuall manner (so that you take heed you dry not the hearb too much, which you may prevent by putting a brown paper in the bottom of the Still, giving it a gentle fire, and turning the cake before it be quite dryed) take the cakes that remain in the bottome of the Still, and the water that is distilled from thence (having a good quantity thereof) and put them into a hot Still, and let them stand warm for the space of 24 hours, then distil them. Then if you would have the water strong, put the said water into more fresh cakes, casting away the other, and doe as before. This is the truest and best way to have the water of any vegetables. Also thou shalt by this way purchase some oil which is to be separated and to be kept by it self.

To make water at any time of the year in a cold Still without green herbs, so that the water shall smell strong of the hearb.

PUt fair water into the body of the cold Still, then hang a bag full of that hearb that thou wouldst have the water of, being first dryed, or seed or root thereof first bruised, then make a strong fire under the Still.

Note that those vegetables of which the water is made after this and the former manner, must be of a fragrant smell, for such as have but little or no smell cannot yeeld a water of any con­siderable odour.

Another way to make a water taste and smell strong of its vegetables.

TAke of the dry hearb, or seed, or root bruised, to a pound of each, put 12, pints of spring water, distill them in a hot Still or Alembick, and the water that is distilled off put upon [Page 19] more of the fresh hearbs, seeds, or roots; do this three or four times, and thou shalt have a water full of the vertue of the vege­table, being almost as strong as a spirit.

To make the water of the flowers of Jasmin, Honey-suckles, or Woodbine, Violets, Lillies, &c. retain the smell of their flowers.

The reason why these flowers in the common way of distil­lation yeeld a water of no fragrancie at all, although they themselves are very odoriforous, are either because if a stronger fire be made in the distilling of them, the grosser and more ear­thy spirit cometh out with the finer, and troubleth it, as it is in case the flowers be crushed or bruised (where the odour up­ [...] the same account is lost) or because the odoriferous spirit thereof being thin and very subtle, riseth with a gentle heat, but for lack of body vapours away. The a [...] [...]therefore that is here required, is to prevent the mixtion of the grosser spirit with the finer, and to give such a body to the finer that shall not embase it: and it is thus.

Take of either of the aforesaid flowers gathered fresh, and at noon in a fair day, let them not at all be bruised. Infuse a hand­full of them in two quarts of White-wine (which must be very good, or else you labour in vain) for the space of half an hour, then take them forth, and infuse in the same wine the same quan­tity of fresh flowers, this do eight or ten times, but still remem­ber that they be not infused above half an hour, (for according to the rule of infusion, a short stay of the body that hath a fine spirit in the liquor receiveth the spirit; but a longer stay con­foundeth it, because it draweth forth the earthy part withall, which destroyeth the finer:) then distill this liquor (all the flowers being first taken out) in a glass gourd in a very gentle Balneo, or over a vapour of hot water, the joints of the glass being very well closed, and thou shalt have a water of a most fragrant odour. By this means the spirit of the wine which serves to body the fine odoriferous spirit of the flowers ariseth as soon as the fine spirit it self, without any earthiness mixed with it.

[Page 20] Note that in defect of Wine, Aqua vitae will serve; also strong beer, but not altogether so well, because there is more gross earthiness in it then in wine.

The water of either of these flowers is a most fragrant per­fume, and may be used as a very delicate sweet water, and is no small secret.

A water out of Berries, is made thus.

TAke of what Berries you please being full ripe, put them into a gourd glass, strewing upon them a good quantity of powdered sugar, cover them close, let them stand three weeks or a month, then distill them in Balneo.

After this manner Strawberries, Raspberries, Elderberries, and black Cherries may be distilled: But note that such as have stones, must first be bruised together with their stones.

A sweating water made of Elderberries.

TAke of Elder berries as many as you please, press out the juice thereof, to every gallon thereof put a pint of White­wine vinegar, of the lees of Whitewine a pint, let them stand in a [Page 22] wooden vessell, which thou must then set in some warm place near the fire side for the space of a week, then distill them in a hot Still, or Alembick.

Water out of rotten apples is made thus.

TAke as many rotten apples as you please, bruise them, and distill them either in a common cold Still, or gourd glasses in Balneo.

This water is of greater use in feavers, and hot distempers then the common distilled waters of any cold vegetables.

It is very good in any hot distemper of the reines, and sharp­ness of Urine.

It is very good in the inflammations of the eyes.

How to make Aqua vitae, and spirit of Wine out of Wine.

TAke of what wine you please, put it into a copper Still, two parts of three being empty, distill it with a worm untill [Page 25] no more spirit come off, then this spirit will serve for the ma­king of any spirits out of vegetables: but if thou wouldst have it stronger distill it again, and half will remain behind as an in­sipid flegm: and if thou wouldst have it yet stronger, distill it again, for every distillation wil leave behind one moity of flegm or thereabouts; So shalt thou have a most pure and strong spirit of wine.

How to make Aqua vitae out of beer.

TAke of stale strong-beer or rather the grounds thereof, pu it into a Copper Still with a worm, distill it gently (or otherwise it will make the head of the Still fly up) and there wil [Page 26] come forth a weak spirit, which is called low wine: of which when thou hast a good quantity thou mayest distill it again of it self, and there will come forth a good Aqua vitae. And if thou distillest it two or three times more, thou shalt have as strong a spirit as out of wine, and indeed betwixt which and the spirit of wine, thou shalt perceive none or very little difference.

How to rectifie spirit of Wine or Aqua vitae.

DIstill it in Balneo untill the last drop that comes off be hot, and full of spirit.

Note that every time there will remain in the bottome a quantity as weak as water.

Note also that every time thou distillest it, when thou per­ceivest that a very weak water comes over, thou shalt then end that distillation.

To make the Magistery of Wine, which will be one of the greatest Cordials, and most odoriferous Liquor in the world.

TAke good old rich Canary Wine, put it into a glass vessell that it may fill the third part thereof, nip it up and set it in a continuall heat of horse dung for the space of four months: then in frosty weather set it forth into the coldest place of the air you can, for the space of a month, that it may be congealed: And so the cold will drive in the true spirit of the wine into the Center thereof, and separate it perfectly from its flegm. That which is congealed cast away; but that which is not congealed esteem as the true spirit of Wine. Circulate this in a Pelican with a moderate heat for the space of a month, and thou shalt have the true magistery or spirit of Wine, which as it is most cordial, so also most balsamicall, exceeding all balsames for the cure of Wounds.

The form of a Pelican.

The mattter must be put in at the top which afterwards must be closed up.

To make another Magistery of Wine that a few drops thereof shall turn Water into perfect Wine.

TAke of the best Canary Wine, as much as you please, let it stand in putrefaction forty dayes, then distill it in B [...]lneo, and there will come forth a spirit, and at last an oil, separate the one from the other, and rectifie the spirit. Set the oil again in putrefaction forty dayes, and then distill it. The feces that are left after the first Distillation will yeeld a volatile salt, which must be extracted without Calcination, with the flegm of the spirit, purifie it well, then impregnate the salt with its spirit, and digest them, then adde the oil, and digest them together till they become a red powder, which you may use as it is, or else set it in a cellar till it be dissolved into a liquor, and a few drops thereof will doe as above said.

To make an oil of Wine.

TAke weak spirit of Wine, distil it in a Vessel of a long neck, then pour on this spirit again upon the flegm, distill it again, do this severall times, and you shall see the oil of the Wine swim on the flegm, which flegm you must separate from the oil by a tunnell.

[Page 28] If this oil be afterward circulated for a month, it will thereby become most odoriferous, and of singular vertue, and good, be­ing both very cordiall and balsamicall.

To extract the spirit out of Wine by the spirit of Wine.

PUt spirit of Wine well rectified upon Canary on Rhenish Wine, so cautiously that it may not mix with, but swim upon the Wine, let them stand without stirring the space of 48 hours. Then will the spirit that is in the Wine rise up and join it self to the spirit that swims on the top, which you shall per­ceive by the weakness of the flegm, which you must let run out at a tap, which must be made in the bottome of the vessell for that purpose, and so be separated from the spirit.

To make a very subtill spirit of Wine at the first distilling.

TAke white, or wheaten bread as soon as it comes forth of the Oven, break it in the middle, i. e. the upper side from the lower side, and hang it in a Glass vessell over Canary Wine, but so that it touch not the wine; then cover the vessel and let it so stand untill the bread swell and be sufficiently impregnated with the Spirit of Wine, which it will attract from the Wine: then take out that bread and put in more, till you have a consi­derable quantity of bread thus moistned. Then put this bread into a glass body, and distill it in Balneo, and you shall have a a very subtile spirit, which you may yet rectifie by Circulation.

By Furnaces and Vessels made after this ensuing figure, there may be made four Rectifications of any spirit at once.

These Vessels may either stand in ashes, or in Balneo.

The manner of Distilling in wooden Vessels.

A, Signifieth the ves­sel wherein the cop­per vessell lyeth.

B, The copper vessel, part of which is in the Furnace, and part in the vessel of wood.

C, The vessel of wood wherein the matter must be that is di­stilled.

D, The cooling vessel with the worm.

E, The Receiver.

F, The Trefoot whereon the vessell standeth.

Note that the greater the Copper vessell is, and the lesse the woodden is, the sooner will the liquor boil.

This Furnace shews how to draw forth spirits and waters out of vegetables and animals with little cost and in short time.

A Balneum and a boiling Vessel made of Wood.

Note that on the right hand, these vessels have a cop­per vessel hang­ing forth which must be set into a Furnace as is above shewed; and on the left hand is a cock or Tap to let out the water.

The vessell on the left hand is for a Balneum, the holes in the cover thereof are either to set in vessels over the fume of the wa­ter, or for the necks of the glasses set in the Balneo to pass through

The vessell on your right hand is to boil water in for any use, also to brew in.

The Spirit of any Vegetable is made thus.

TAke of what vegetable you please, two pound, macerate it in six Gallons of Aqua vitae or low Wines, or Sack, for the space of 24. hours, then let them be distilled by an Alembick, or hot Still, putting to every pound of the spirit two ounces of most pure sugar.

Note that the two first pints may be called the stronger spirit, and the rest the weaker spirit, or indeed the water, but if they be both mixed together, they will make an excellent midling spirit, for the former hath more of the spirit of wine, and the latter more of the vertue and odour of the vegetable.

After this manner may be made the spirit of

• Herbs,
• Flowers,
• the Roots of Vegetables
• the Seeds of Vegetables
• Berries,
• Barks,
• Rinds,
• and Spices.

Note that the Hearbs and Flowers must be cut small, the rest bruised.

If you would make it stronger, then take all the foresaid spi­rit, and as much more Sack or low Wines, and put them upon the same quantity of fresh vegetables and distil them; repeat this three or four times if thou pleasest.

Note also that the Vegetable must be dryed; because else the spirit will not be so good, as if otherwise.

The form of an Alembick.

A, Signifies the vessel which must be of Copper, in which the m [...] [...] is contained, and which o [...] [...] be set over a naked fire.

B, Signifies the belly that is fast­ned to the Neck, that the Neck may the more commodiously be applyed to the large mouth of the vessel. But it may be so ordered that the mouth of the upper ves­sell and lower vessel may be so fitted that they shall not need this Belly.

C, The long Neck of the upper ves­sel whereby the spirit or water passing is somewhat cooled.

D, The head.

E, The vessel that compasseth the head, into which cold water is centinually poured after the heating.

F, The long receiver.

G, The top or Cock letting out the water when it is hot.

The Spirit of any vegetable may suddenly, at any time of the year be made thus.

Take of what Hearb, Flower, Seeds, or Roots you please. Fil the head of the Stil therewith, then cover the mouth thereof with a course Canvas, and set it on the Stil, having first put into it sack, or low Wines. Then give it fire.

If at any time thou wouldst have the spirt be of the colour of its vegetable, then put of the flowers thereof dryed a good quantity in the nose of the Still.

To make any vegetable yeeld its spirit quickly.

Take of what vegetables you please, whether it be the seed flower, root, fruit, or leaves thereof, cut or bruise them small, [Page 32] then put them into warm water, put yest or balm to them, and cover them warm, and let them work three days as doth Beer, then distill them and they will yeeld their spirit easily.

To reduce the whole [...] into a liquor which may wel be called the Essence thereof.

Take the whole Hearb with flowers, and roots, make it very clean: then bruise it in a stone Morter, put it into a large glass vessel, so that two parts of three may be empty: then cover it exceeding close, and let it stand in putrefaction in a mode­rate heat the space of half a year, and it will be all turned into a water.

To make an Essence of any Hearb, which being put into a glass, and held over a gentle fire, the lively form and Idea of the Hearb wil appear in the Glass.

Take the foregoing water and distill it in a gourd glass (the joints being well closed) in ashes, and there will come forth a Water and an Oil, and in the upper part of the vessel wil hang a volatile salt. The oil separate from the water, and keep by it self; with the water purifie the volatile salt by dissolving, fil­tring, and coagulating. The salt being thus purified imbibe with the said oil, untill it will imbibe no more, digest them wel together for a month in a vessell hermetically sealed. And by this means you shall have a most subtill essence, which being held over a gentle heat will fly up into the glass, and repre­sent the perfect Idea of that vegetable whereof it is the essence.

The true Essence or rather Quintessence of any Hearb is made thus.

When thou hast made the water and oil of any vegetable, first calcine, i. e. burn to ashes the remainder of the Hearb, with the ashes make a Lye by pouring its own water thereon; when thou hast drawn out all the strength of the ashes, then take [...] the Lye, being first filtred; and vapour it away, and at the bot­tome thou shalt find a black salt: which thou must take and [Page 33] put into a Crucible and melt it in a strong fire (covering the Crucible all the time it is melting) after it is melted let it boil half an hour or more, then take it out: and beat it small, and set it in a cellar on a Marble stone or in a broad glass, and it wil all be resolved into a Liquor; this Liquor filter, and vapour away the humidity till it be very dry, and as white as snow. Then let this salt imbibe as much of the oil of the same vegeta­ble as it can, but no more lest thou labour in vain. Then digest them together till the oil will not rise from the Salt, but both become a fixed powder, melting with an easie heat.

To extract the Quintessence of all Vegetables.

Take of what spices flowers, seeds, hearbs, woods you please, put them into rectified spirit of Wine; let the spirit extract in digestion till no more feces fal to the bottome, but all their es­sence is gone into the spirit of Wine, upon which being thus impregnated pour a strong spirit of salt and digest it in Balneo, till an oil swim above, which separate with a Tunnell, or draw off the spirit of Wine in Balneo and the oil will remain clear at the bottom, but before the spirit of Wine is abstracted, the oil is bloud red, and a true Quintessence.

An excellent Essence of any Vegetable may be made thus.

Take of the distilled oil of any vegetable, with it imbibe the best Manna being very well depurated, untill it will imbibe no more, then digest them a month, and thou shalt have the true balsome and excellent Essence of any vegetable.

This hath the vertues of the vegetable whereof it was made, but in a more eminent manner.

The depuration of Manna for this use is a great secret.

Water or Spirit of Manna, is made thus.

Take of the best Manna one part, of Nitre two parts, put them into an Ox bladder, and tying it close, put it into warm water to be dissolved. Distill this water in an Alembick, and [Page 34] there will come forth an insipid water, sudorificall and laxative.

The Chimicall Oil of the Hearb or Flower of any Vegetable is made thus.

Take of the Hearb or Flower dryed one pound, of Spring water twenty four pints, distill them in a great Alembick, with its cooler or Gopper Stil, with a worm passing through a vessel of cold water. Let the oil that is drawn with the water be sepa­rated with a Tunnell or separating glass, and let the water that is separated be kept for a new Distillation.

Note that if this water be used two or three times in the draw­ing of the oil, it will be an excellent water of that vegetable from which it is distilled, and as good as most that shal be drawn any other way.

After the same manner are made oil of the dry rinds of

• Orenges,
• Citrons,
• Lemons,

But note that these Rinds must be fresh, and (the inward white­ness being separated) be bruised.

The Oil commonly called the spirit of Roses.

Take of Damask or Red Roses, being fresh, as many as you please, infuse them in as much warm water as is sufficient for the space of twenty four hours. Then strain and press them, and repeat the infusion severall times with pressing, untill the liquor become fully impregnated, which then must be distilled in an Alembick with a refrigeratory or Copper Still with a worm; let the spirit which swims on the water be separated, and the water kept for a new inf [...]sion.

This kind of spirit may be made by bruising the Roses with Salt, or laying a lane of Roses and another of Salt, and so keep­ing them half a year or more, which then must be distilled in as much common water, or Rose water as is sufficient.

Oils are made out of seeds thus.

Take of what seeds you please, bruised, two pound, of spring water twenty pints, let them be macerated for the space of 24. hours, and then be distilled in a copper Still with a worm, or Alembick with its refrigerating. The oil extracted with the water, being separated with a tunnell, keep the water for a new Distillation.

This Water after three or four distillations is a very excellent water, and better then is drawn any way out of that vegeta­ble whereof these are seeds; I mean for vertue, though not al­ways for smell.

After the same manner are made oils out of spices, and aro­maticall woods.

Oils are made out of Berries thus.

Take of what Berries you please, being fresh 25. pound, bruise them and put them into a wooden vessell with 12 pints of spring water, and a pound of the strongest leaven; let them be put in a cellar (the vessel being close stopped) for the space of three months, then let them be distilled in an Alembick, or cop­per Still with their refrigeratory, with as much spring water as is sufficient. After the separation of the oil, let the water be kept for a new distillation. Note that the water being used in two or three Distillations is a very excellent water, and full of the vertue of the Berries.

Oil is made out of any solid Wood thus.

Take of what Wood you please, made into gross powder, as much as you will, let it be put into a Retort, and distilled in sand. The oil which first distils, as being the thinner and swee­ter, must be kept apart; which with rectifying with much water may yet be made more pleasant; the acid water or spirit, which in distilling comes first forth, being separated; which also (be­ing rectified from the flegm with the heat of a Balneum) may be kept for use, being full of the vertue of the wood.

[Page 36] After the same manner are made the oil and spirit of Tartar; but thus much note, that both are more pure and pleasant be­ing made out of the Crystals, then out of the crude Tartar.

To make a most excellent oil out of any Wood or Gummes in a short time, without much cost.

Take of what Wood you please, or Gumme bruised small, put it into a vessel fit for it, then pour on so much of spirit of salt as will cover your matter, then set it in sand with an Alem­bick, make the spirit boil, so all the oil flyeth over with a little flegm, for the spirit of salt by its sharpnesse freeth the oil, so that it flyeth over very easily.

The spirit of salt being rectified may serve again.

To make vegetables yeeld their oil easily.

Distill them being first bruised, in salt water, for salt freeth the oil from its body: Let them first be macerated three or four days in the said water.

Oil or Spirit of Turpentine is made thus.

Take of Venice Turpentine, as much as you please, of spring water four times as much, let them be put into an Alembick, or copper Still with its refrigeratory, then put fire under it: so there will distil a thin white oil like water, and in the bottom of the vessel wil remain a hard gum called Colophonia, which is called boiled Turpentine: That white oil may be better and freer from the smell of the fire if it be drawn in Balneo, with a gourd, and glass head.

Common oil Olive may be distilled after this manner, and be made very pleasant and sweet, also most unctious things, as Sperma ceti.

Oil of Gums, Refines, fat and oily things, may be drawn thus.

Take of either of these which you please, being melted, a pound, mix it with three pound of the powder of tiles, or un­slaked lime; put them into a Retort, and extract an oil, which with plenty of water may be rectified.

Note that the water from whence the oil is separated, is of ex­cellent vertue; according to the nature of the matter from whence it is drawn.

Oil of Camphire is made thus.

Take of Camphire sliced thin, as much as you please, put it into a double quantity of Aqua fortis or spirit of Wine, let the glasse having a narrow neck, be set by the fire, or on sand or ashes the space of five or six hours, shaking the glasse every half hour, and the Camphire will all be dissolved and swim on the Aqua fortis, or spirit of Wine like an oil.

Note that if you separate it, it will all be hard ag [...]in presently, but not otherwise.

Another way to make Oile of Camphire, that it shall not be reduced again.

Take of Camphire powdered, as much as you please, put it into a glass like a Urinal, put upon it another Urinal-glass in­verted, the joints being close shut sublime it in ashes, inverting those Urinals so often till the Camphire be turned into an oil, then circulate it for the space of a month, and it wil be so subtle that it will all presently vapour away in the air, if the glass be open.

Another way to make oil of Camphire.

Take two ounces of Camphire, dissolve it in four ounces or pure oil olive, then put them into four pints of fair water, disti [...] [Page 38] them all together in a glass gourd, either in ashes or Balneo, and there will distil both water and oil, which separate and keep by it self.

All these kinds of oil of Camphire are very good against pu­trefaction, fits of the Mother, passions of the heart, &c. A few drops thereof may be taken in any liquor, or the brest be anoin­ted therewith: Also the fume thereof may be taken in at the mouth.

A true Oil of Sugar.

Take of the best white Sugar-candie, imbibe it with the best spirit of Wine ten times, after every time drying it again, then hang it in a white silken bag in a moist cellar over a glass vessell that it may dissolve, and drop into it. Evaporate the water in Balneo, and in the bottome will the oil remain.

This is very excellent in all distempers of the Lungs.

Oil of Amber is made thus.

Take of yellow Amber one part, of the powder of flints cal­cined, or the powder of tiles two parts; mingle them, and put them into a Retort, and distill them in sand; The oil which is white, and clear, which first distilled off, keep by it self, conti­nuing the Distillation as long as any oyl distils off, then let both oyls be rectified apart in a good quantity of water.

The salt of Amber, which adheres to the neck of the Retort within side, being gathered let be purified by solution, filtration, and coagulation according to art, and be kept for use.

After this manner may be made Oyls out of any gums which may be powdered.

Oyl of Myrrhe is made thus.

Take of Myrrhe bruised, of Bay-salt, of each six pound, let them be dissolved in sixty pints of spring water and be distilled in an Alembick, or Copper Still according to Art.

Oyl of Myrrhe per deliquium, or by dissolution, is made thus.

Take Hen-egs boiled hard, and cut in the middle length-ways, take out the yelks, then fill up the hollow half way with powder of Myrrhe, and join the parts together again binding them with a thread, and so set them upon a grate betwixt two platters in a cold moist place, so the liquor of the Myrrhe dissol­ved will distill into the lower platter.

Oil of Tartar per deliquium, i. e. by dissolution.

Take of the best Tartar calcined white according to Art, put it into a cotten bag, hang it in the cellar or some moist place, putting under a Receiver.

Oyls by Expression are made thus.

Take of what things you please, such as will afford an oyl by expression, bruise them, then put them into a bag, and press them strongly, putting a vessel under to receive the oyl.

Note that they must stand in the Press some hours, because the oyl drops by little and little.

Note also that if you warm them before you put them into the Press they will yeeld more oyl, but then it will not keep good so long as otherwise.

After this manner are made oyls of

• Nutmegs,
• Mace,
• Almonds,
• Linseed,
• and such like.

A vomiting and purging Oil made by expression.

Take of the Berries of Ebulus or Dwarfe Elder, as many as you please, let them be dryed but not over-much, then bruise them, and in bruising them moisten them with the best [Page 40] spirit of Wine, untill they begin to be oily; then warm them by the fire, and press forth the oil, and set it in the sun to be purified.

Ten drops of this oil taken inwardly worketh upward and downward, and is very good against the dropsie, and all waterish diseases.

The belly being therewith anointed, is made thereby soluble.

Any part that is much pained with the gout or any such grief, is presently eased by being anointed with this oil.

Oil of Jasmine is made thus.

Take of flowers of Jasmine, as many as you please, put them into as much sweet mature oil as you please, put them into a glass close stopt, and set them into the Sun to be infused for the space of twenty dayes, then take them out and strain the oil from the flowers: and if thou wouldst have the oil yet stronger, put in new flowers and do as before.

This is a pleasant perfume, and being mixt with oils and ointments, gives them a gratefull smell: It is also used in the perfuming of Leather.

After this manner may be made oil of any flowers, but because I shall keep my self to the Art of Distillation only, I shal not so far digress as to speak of these kinds of oils: only I thought good to set down the oil of Jasmine because by reason of its fragrancy it hath some analogie with Chymicall oils that are made by Distillation.

To make any Oil or Water per descensum.

Take an earthen gourd, fill it full with wood or hearbs, or what you please, being cut small, then invert it, i e. turn it up­side down, and set it in the furnace, lute it well thereunto, then set another gourd of earth under it with a wider mouth that the uppermost may goe into it, before you put the one into the other, you must have a little vessell or instrument of Tin with brims round about on the top, by which it must hang into the lower gourd, the body thereof being 2 or 3 inches deep, [Page 41] and full of holes, that the oyl or water may drop through, and not the vegetable it self. Into this Instrument being first set into the lower gourd, put the mouth of the upper gourd, then make thy fire on the top, and keep it burning as long as any li­quor will drop.

Ths Figure of this furnace is thus.

A, Signifies the gourd containing the matter to be distilled.

B, The Furnace containing the Coals, so that they surround the upper gourd.

C, The lower gourd or recipient set upon straw-rings.

D, The vessell of Tin with holes and brims, which must be set in the Re­cipient.

How to make an Oyl and Water out of Soot.

This may be distilled per descensum, or by retort, as thus, viz. Take of the best Soot (which shines like Jet) fill with it a glass Retort coated, or earthen Retort to the neck, distil it with a strong fire by degrees into a large Receiver, and there will come forth a yellowish spirit with a black oyl, which thou mayest separate and digest.

How to rectifie Spirits.

You must set them in the Sun in glasses well stopped, and half filled, being set in sand to the third part of their eight that the water waxing hot by the heat of the Sun may separate it self from the flegm mixed therewith, which will be performed in in twelve or fifteen days. There is another better way to doe this, which is to distill them again in Balneo with a gentle fire, or if you wil put them into a retort furnished with its receiver, and set them upon crystal or iron bowls, or in an iron mortar directly opposite to the beams of the Sun, as you may learn by these ensuing signs.

Retort with its Receiver standing upon Crystal bowls just opposite to the Sun beams.

Another Retort with its Receiver standing in a Marble or Iron mortar, directly opposite to the Sun.

A, Shews the Retort.

B, The Receiver.

C, The Crystal-Bowls.

A, Shews the Retort.

B, The Marble or Iron Mortar.

C, The Receiver.

How to rectifie all stinking, thick black Oils that are made by a Retort, and to take away their stink.

Take oyl of Amber, or any such stinking oil, put it into a glass Retort, the fourth part only being full, pour on it drop by drop the spirit of Salt, (or any other acid spirit) and they will boil together; and when so much of the spirit is poured on that it boileth no more, then cease and distill it. First cometh over a stinking water, then a clear white well smelling oyl, and after that a yellow oyl which is indifferent good: but the spirit of Salt hath lost its sharpness: the volatile salt of the oyl remai­neth coagulated with the spirit of Salt, and is black, and tasteth like salt Armoniack, and hath no smell being sublimed from it. Now the reason of all this is, because the volatile salt of the oyl which is the ca [...]se of the stink thereof, is fixed by the acid spirit of the Salt: for acid Spirits, and volatile Salts, are contrary the one to the other; and spirit of Urine or any volatile Salt, will precipitate any metall as well as salt of Tartar.

These oyls will remain clear, and have far more vertue, then the ordinary sort of oyls have.

As for common ordinary distilled oyls, they need not, if they be well separated from the water with which they were distil­led, any rectifying at all: and if you goe about to rectifie them, you will lose good part of them, and make that which remains not at all the better. But if there be any better then another for rectifying of them it is by digestion, by which means there will be a separation of what is flegmatick which you may separate afterwards, and by this means you shall lose none of the oyls.

Spirit of Salt is made thus.

TAke of the best Bay-salt as much as you please, let it be dissolved in spring water, and filtred, mix with this brine in a Copper vessell, of the powder of Bricks or Tiles twice or thrice as much as the Salt before its dissolution was in weight; let the water vapour away over the fire (continually stirring of it) untill it be dry; Then put this powder into a glass Retort well luted, or an earthen Retort, and put it into a Furnace (a large Recei­ver joined to it according to art) then give fire to it by degrees untill it will bear an open fire, for the space of 12 hours. Thou shalt have a very acid oil or spirit in the Receiver. That Liquor being put into a little Retort in sand may be rectified by the vapouring away of the flegm; then keep it for use in a glass very well stopt that no air goe in.

Spirit of Salt is very good in Feavers putrid, also in Hy­dropicall.

A Retort and its Receiver before they be set on work.

A Retort with its Receiver, set on work.

Oil or Spirit of Salt may also be made after this manner.

Take one part of Salt, and three parts of powder of Bricks or Tiles, and mix them together, and put them into a Retort ei­ther of glass or earth, to which put fire as before.

After this manner you may make oil or spirit of

• Nitre
• Salt Gem
• Alum.

Note that these Salts must first be calcined, which is done by exhaling their flegm.

To turn Salt-peter into a water by a meer digestion.

Take of Salt-peter powdered very small, with it fill the fourth part of a Bolt-head, close it well, and let it stand in the heat of ashes or sand the space of six weeks, and you shall see good part of it turned into water, continue it in the said heat til it be all dissolved.

This is of incomparable use in Feavers and against Worms or any putrefaction in the body, and indeed a most rare secret.

Spirit of Salt-Armoniack.

Dissolve Salt-Armoniack in distilled spirit of Urine over a moderate heat, in this spirit let Bricks beaten into small pieces and made red hot be quenched, till they have imbibed all the water, then make Distillation in a Retort in sand, or in a naked fire.

This spirit is of greater strength then that is of other Salts.

Oil or Spirit of Vitriall is made thus.

Take of Hungarian, or the best English Vitrial, as much as you please, let it be melted in an earthen vessell glazed, with a soft fire, that all the moisture may exhale, continually stirring of it, untill it be brought into a yellow powder, which must be put into a glasse Retort well luted, or an earthen Retort that will endure the fire: Fit a large Receiver to the Retort and close the joints wel together; then give it fire by degrees till the second day, then make the strongest heat you can til the Receiver which before was dark with fumes be clear again; let the Liquor that is distilled off be put into a little Retort, and the flegm be drawn off in sand, so will the oil be rectified, which is most strong and ponderous, and must be kept by it self.

Many call that flegm which is drawn off in rectifying the spirit of Vitriall.

This oil or spirit is very excellent in putrid Feavers, resisting [Page 66] putrefaction, also it opens all obstructions, and is very diure­ticall.

A red and heavie oil of Vitrial.

Take of calcined Vitriall one part, flints grossely powdered two parts, of these with spirit of wine make a Paste, distill it in a Retort, and there will come forth a red heavy oil.

This is to be used rather about metals then in the body, only if the scurfe on the head be annointed therewith two or three times in a week it will fall off, and the head be cured.

To dulcifie the Spirit of Vitriall, and of Salt.

Take the spirit of Vitriall, or of Salt, the best spirit of wine, of each half a pound, distill them in a Retort together three or four times, and they will be united inseparably, and become sweet.

Some put 8 ounces of the best Sugar-candie to these Spirits before they be thus distilled.

Ten or twenty drops of this compound spirit being taken in any appropriated Liquor is very good in any putrid or Epide­micall disease.

Gilla Theophrasti, or a most-delicate vomiting Liquor made of Vitriall.

Take of Crystals made out of Copper, or Iron, dissolve them in the acid flegm that first comes forth in the distilling of com­mon Vitriall; circulate them eight days.

This Liquor must be taken in wine, and it causes vomiting instantly, and is most excellent to cleanse and strengthen the stomach and to cure all such distempers that arise from thence, as salt defluxions, Feavers, Worms, Head-ach, and Vertigoes, the Hystericall passion, and such like.

The Dose is from a scruple to two scruples.

Oil of Sulphur per Campanam.

Take a large iron vessel like a platter, over it hang a glass bell that hath a nose like the head of a cold stil, fil the lower vessel be­ing narrower then the compass of the bell, or head, with brim-stone, or sulphur, inflame it, so will the fume which ariseth from thence be condensed in the bell into a Liquor which will drop down through the nose into the Receiver.

Note that the bell must hang at such a distance from the other vessell that the flame of the sulphur touch it not, according to this following example.

If in stead of this broad vessell, you take a large crucible and m [...]t in it Salt-peter, and cast Sulphur upon it thus meked, you shall make a great deal quicker dispatch.

This spirit is of the same nature, and hath the same operati­ons as oil of Vitriall.

The Oil of Sulphur is made after a more Philosophicall manner thus.

Take of crude Sulphur as much as you please, put it into a melting vessell to be dissolved over the fire: being dissolved, pour it forth into seething hot water (this done ten or more times, remembring that the water must be always seething hot) and thou shalt see that the Sulphur will be like butter, then put it into a Retort, pouring on it the best spirit of Wine, then di­stilling it with a soft fire, and there will come forth an oil of a golden colour, of a good taste and smell, which is the true Bal­some of Sulphur. The oil that swims on the spirit must be se­parated.

This oil for the cure of all distempers of the Lungs, for all Feavers whether putrid or pestilentiall, and the cure of wounds and Ulcers, is scarce to be equalled.

The Essence of Sulphur.

Take of Sulphur vivum, as much as you please, dissolve it as well as you can in Aqua fortis (made of Vitriall and Salt-peter;) then evaporate the Aqua fortis, and then reverberate the mat­ter till it become very red; Extract the tincture with spirit of Wine, then digest them till the essence be separated from the spi­rit like an oil, and sink to the bottome.

This Essence also is of wonderfull vertue against all putrefa­ction both inward and outward, a great preservative against the plague, and is wonderfull balsamicall, and cureth all sores both old and new, even to admiration.

The oil of Arsenick is made thus.

Take of Crystalline Arsenick (being first sublimed with Colco­thar alone as much as you please, mix it with an equal weight of the salt of Tartar and Salt-peter, and let them be betwixt two little pots or crucibles (whereof the upper hath a hole) calci­ned, [Page 69] untill no fume ascend. The matter being thus calcined dis­solve in warm water that you may draw a salt from thence; the powder which fals to the bottome imbibe with the liquor of Tartar, and dry it by the fire, and this thou must doe three times, then dissolve the matter in warm water that thou mayest draw out the Salt thereof, and there will remain a most white powder, and fixed, which in a moist place will be dissolved into a liquid matter like oil or butter.

Aqua fortis or a strong Spirit (that will dissolve silver and baser metals) is made thus.

Take of Vitriall calcined two parts, of Nitre one part, grind and mix them well together, and put them into a glasse Retort coated, or earthen Retort that will endure the fire, and set them into the Furnace in an open fire, and then having fitted a large Receiver distill it by degrees the space of 24 hours, then rectifie the water or spirit in sand.

Aqua Regia, or Stygia, or a strong Spirit that will dissolve Gold, is made thus.

Take of Nitre two parts, Salt Armoniack one part, the pow­der of flints three parts, put them into a glass Retort coated, or earthen Retort that will endure the fire, distill them by degrees over a naked fire for the space of 12 hours, take it out and re­ctifie it.

This water will dissolve gold.

Another Aqua regia is made thus.

Take of spirit of Nitre, as much as you please, put a dram of crude Nitre to every ounce of it, and it will be as strong as any Aqua regia.

This water will dissolve gold.

To make a most strong, and vehement Aqua fortis.

Take of the strongest Aqua fortis that you can get, and well rectified, a pound, of Mercury sublimed four ounces, salt Ar­moniack twenty ounces, mix all these together.

Oil or Butter of Antimony, is made thus.

Take of crude Antimony as much as you please, of sublimed Mercury a like quality, make them both into a very fine pow­der and mix them, and put them into a glass Retort, the neck whereof must be large. Give fire by degrees in a close reverbera­tory, or let the Distillation be made in sand. There will distill into the Receiver a fatnesse; part whereof sticking to the neck of the Retort will melt by a light fire being put to it. That fatness may be rectified in a Retort: and either be kept by it self as it is, or set in a cellar or moist place and be resolved into a Liquor.

This oil might be washed in good store of water, and then there will settle to the bottome a white powder, which being oft washed in fair water till all the sharpness is gone, is then cal­led Mercurius vitae, six or seven grains whereof is an excellent vomiting medicine.

A Furnace for a close Reverberation furnished with its Retort and Receiver.

A, Shews the Furnace.

B, The Retort.

C, The Recei­ver.

D, The Vessell filled with cold water.

How to make a water out of Antimony whereof a few drops shall purge, or sweat, and which hath neither smell or scarce any taste.

Take flowers of Antimony, sublime them with salt Armo­niack six or seven times, then wash away the Salt with warm water, and dry the powder, which then lay thin on a Marble in a cellar till it be dissolved (which will be in six weeks time.) This water if it be taken to the quantity of twenty drops will purge, if in a lesser quantity it will sweat.

To make an oil or quintessence of Metals.

Dissolve what Metall, or Minerall you please, in a strong spirit of Salt (except silver which must be dissolved in Aqua fortis) draw off the flegm in Balneo, pour on rectified spirit of Wine, digest them so long till a red oil swim above, which is the quintessence of metals, and minerals, and is a very great secret.

The true Spirit of Antimony is made thus.

Take of the subtile powder of the Regulus of Antimony as much as you please, sublime it of it self til it wil sublime no more (stil putting what is sublimed to that which remains at the bottom) or with salt Armoniack six or seven times (remembring that then you must dulcifie it with warm water by dissolving therewith the salt, and dry the Precipitate afterwards.) Set this fixed pow­der in a cellar, laying it very thin upon a marble stone and in about six weeks or two months it will all be dissolved into wa­ter, which must be filtred. Then evaporate part of this water and let it stand two or three dayes in the cellar to crystallize. These Crystals purifie, and dry. Mix them with three times the quantity of the gross powder of Tiles, and distill them in a Retort, and there will come forth first a white spirit, and then a red, which you may rectifie in Balneo.

The true Oil or Essence of Antimony is made thus.

Take of the foresaid Crystals, dissolve them in good rectified spirit of wine, digest them two months in Balneo, or horse dung: then evaporate the spirit of wine, and there will remain in the bottom the true oil or essence of Antimony.

Then take new Crystals of Antimony, and let them imbibe either this oil, or the foresaid spirit, till they will imbibe no more, then digest them two months in sand, and they will be­come a flowing fixt salt, and of excellent vertue.

The aforesaid spirit, this oil, and essence of Antimony may be equalized to Aurum potabile to all intents and purposes, accor­ding to a Medicinall use, especially the sixt Essence. The dose is five or six grains.

A burning Spirit made out of Lead, most fragrant and Balsamicall.

Take the Calx of Saturn, or else Minium, pour upon it so much spirit of Vinegar that may cover it four fingers breadth, [Page 73] digest them in a warm place the space of twenty four hours, of­ten stirring them that the matter settle not too thick in the bot­tome: then decant the Menstruum, and pour on more, digest it as before, and this do so often untill all the saltness be extracted. Filter and clarifie all the Menstruum being put together, then evaporate it half away, and set the other part in a cold place till it crystallize. These Crystals dissolve again in fresh spirit of Vinegar, filter and coagulate the Liquor again into Crystals, and this doe so often untill they be sufficiently impregnated with the salt Armoniack of the Vinegar as with their proper ferment. Digest them in a temperate Balneo, that they may be re­solved into a Liquor like oil. Then distil this Liquor in sand in a Retort, with a large Receiver annexed to it, and well clo­sed that no spirits evaporate, together with the observation of the degrees of the fire: then there wil distil forth a spirit of such a fragrant smel that the fragrancie of all flowers, and com­pounded perfumes are not to be compared to it. After Distil­lation when all things are cold, take out, and cast away the black feces which is of no use. Then separate the yellow oil, which swims on the top of the spirit, and the bloud red oil which sinks to the bottome of it: Separate the flegm from the spirit in Balneo. Thou shalt by this means have a most fra­grant spirit that even ravisheth the senses; and so balsami­cal, that it cures all old and new sores inward and outward, and so cordiall that the dying are with admiration revived with it.

They that have this medicine need scarce use any other either for inward or outward griefs.

How to turn Quick-silver into a water without mixing any thing with it, and to make thereof a good Purgative and Diaphoretick medicine.

Take an ounce of Quick-silver not purified, put it into a bolt head of glass, which you must nip up, set it over a strong fire in sand for the space of two months, and the Quick-silver wil be turned into a red sparkling Precipitate. Take this powder, and lay it thin on a Marble in a Cellar for the space of two months, and it wil be turned into a water, which may be safely [Page 74] taken inwardly, it wil work a little upward and downward, but chiefly by sweat.

Note that you may set divers glasses with the same matter in the same Furnace, that so you may make the greater quantity at a time.

I suppose it is the Sulphur which is in the Quick-silver, and makes it so black, that being stirred up by the heat of the fire, fixeth the Mercury.

A fragrant oil of Mercury.

Take of Mercury seven times sublimed, and as often revived with unslaked Lime, as much as you please, dissolve it in spirit of Nitre in a moderate heat, then abstract the spirit of salt, and edulcorate it very well by boiling it in spirit of Vinegar: then abstract the spirit of Vinegar, and wash it again with distilled rain water: then dry it, and digest it two months in a like quantity of the best rectified spirit of Wine you can get. Distil them by Retort, making your fire moderate at the beginning, af­terwards increasing it; then evaporate the spirit of Wine in Balneo, and there will remain in the bottome a most fragrant oil of Mercury.

This oil so purifies the bloud by sweat and urine, that it cures all distempers that arise from the impurity thereof, as the venereal disease, &c.

The truth is, they that have this medicine well made need but few other medicines: the dose is four or five drops.

To turn Mercury into a water by it self.

Set this following vessell being made of iron into a Furnace, so that the three bowls thereof be within the Furnace, and the Pipe and Receiver be without. Make your Furnace so as that there be a great hole left open at the top: where you must put in your coals, shutting it afterward with a cover of stone made fit thereunto; on the top also must be holes to let in air.

The Vessell for this Operation.

First make your Iron vessel as red hot as possibly it can be made (or else you do nothing) having first annexed an earthen well-glazed Receiver to the bottom of it. Then put half an ounce of Quick-silver at a time in at the top (which presently stop with clay) and presently the Mercury will come over, part in a sharp Liquor, and part as crude a Mercury as it was before, which you may put in again till it be all turned to water.

Note that unless the Quick-silver give a great crack present­ly after it is put in, it is a sign that the vessell was not hot enough.

This operation being well prosecuted may produce a me­dicine with which none under the Philosophers Elixir may compare.

How to distill Spirits, and Oils out of Minerals, Vegetables, Bones, Horns, and faster, and in a greater quantity in one hour then in the common way in twenty four. This must be done in such a Furnace as this.

A, Signifies the Furnace with its iron, or earthen distilling vessell walled in, to which a very large Recipient is joined. B, the Distiller, who with his left hand taketh off the cover, and with his right casteth in his prepared matter with an iron lad [...]e. C, the form of the distilling vessell. D, the same, as it appeareth inward, E, the form of the vessell not walled in but standing on the coals for other uses.

[Page 77] This Furnace must be twice so high as wide, and the pipe must be a foot long out of the Furnace.

The vessell walled in must be of earth for the distilling of Antimony, Sulphur, and such things as will corode iron: but for other things iron is most convenient.

Before you make any dist [...]llation, let the vessell which is wal­led in be red hot, then by little and little cast in your matter, which must be cut or powdered small, and clap down the cover into the false bottome above, which is full of molten lead, and therefore suffereth no fume to goe forth.

When you see the fumes in the Receiver (which must be of glass) to cease; and condensed into a Liquor, then put in more matter.

By this way you may make a far greater dispatch and distill a greater quantity out of the same proportion of matter, then by the common way.

By this way there is no danger of breaking your Receiver, and you may end and begin when you please, and try divers ex­periments in one hour, and cannot make the fire too strong, and may make the spirits of such things as can hardly or not so well be made by a Retort, as the spirits of Salt, of Tartar, Harts-horn, Antimony, &c.

Salt and such things as will flow must have a bole, or powder of brick mixed with them before they be cast into the vessell, or if you please you may first dissolve what salt you please, and with red hot gross powder of Brick, imbibe the water, then cast in this powder by little and little into the distilling vessell, and the Salt by this means will yeeld its spirit quickly and in aboundance. By either of these two wayes you may make a pound of the spirit of Nitre in an hour, and of salt in two hours.

Now whereas some things yeeld a spirit, and a thick and heavy oil, they may be rectified thus, viz. by putting them in­to a Retort, and distilling them in sand or ashes with a graduall heat: there wil come forth the flegme of some Liquors first, and then the spirit; and of other some the spirit, and then the flegm, but of all these the heavy thick oil at last; which by distilling off becomes far clearer then before, which may again be rectified [Page 78] by spirit of salt as I have shewed before, and therefore need not here repeat it.

To make an oil of Lapis Calaminaris.

Take of Lapis Calaminaris powdered, as much as you please, pour on it five or six times as much of rectified spirit of Salt, shake them together continually or else it will be congealed into a hard mass, which can hardly be mollified again: when no more will dissolve in frigido, put it in warm sand so long till the spirit of salt be of a high yellow colour; then pour it off and put on more til all be dissolved that wil, cast away the feces, put the solution into a glass body, and distill it in sand: about the third part of the spirit of Salt cometh over as insipid as common water, though the spirit were well rectified be­fore, for the driness of the Lapis Calaminaris (which is the driest of all Minerals and Metals except Zink) retaineth the spirit after the flegm is come over; let the glass cool, and thou shalt find at the bottome a thick red oil very fat, even as Olive olive, and not very corosive; keep it from the air, or else it turneth into water.

It is of wonderfull vertue for inward and outward griefs, for it hath in it a pure golden Sulphur.

Common Sulphur mixed with this oil, and melted in a strong fire swimmeth like water above, and is transparent.

This oil distilled in a Retort with pure sand in a strong fire, yeeldeth a spirit like fire scarce to be contained in any vessel, and dissolveth all metals except silver, and reduceth pure spirit of Wine into an oyl within a few days.

To make oyl of Talk.

Take of the best Talk reduced into very thin flakes, make them red hot, and then quench them in the strongest Lixivium that Sope-boylers use; doe this fifteen times and it will be­come as white as snow: then powder it very small and calcine it by fumigation i. e. by the fume of some very sharp spirit as of Aqua fortis, or the like: when it hath been thus calcined for [Page 79] the space of a fortnight, it wil become somewhat mucilaginous, then set it in any heat of putrefaction as it is (for it hath im­bibed enough of the sharp spirit to moisten and ferment it) for the space of two months in a bolt head nipt up: then evapo­rate the acid spirit and dulcifie it with distilled rain water. Af­ter this extract what thou canst out of it with the best rectified spirit of Wine, pour off the solution and evaporate the spirit of Wine, and at the bottome will be a most beautiful oyl.

The oyl is the most glorious fucus or paint in the World.

To make oyl of Talk another way.

Take of the foresaid powder of Talk after it hath been pu­trefied, and again dulcified as much as you please, put four times as much of the best circulated oyl of Camphire to it, digest them in Horse dung till all the powder be dissolved, and the oyl be­come mucilaginous, which will be within two months.

This is for the same use as the former.

There is required a great deal of pains and care and no small cost in the preparation of these oyls.

Oyl is made of Bole Armoniack, terra sigillata, and such kind of clay earths, thus.

Take of either of those earths, as much as you please, break it into small pieces, and put it into a Retort over a naked fire for the space of 12 hours, and there will distill into the Recei­ver (which must be large) the flegm, then white Spirits in a little quantity, yet of a grateful taste and smel.

Oyl out of these kinds of earth is made better thus.

Take of either of these earths, which you please, as much as you will; pour upon it distilled rain water, set it in some warm place for a month or more, and the oyliness will separate from its body, of its own accord, and swim upon the water. Separate the water by a tunnel, and distil the oyl with five parts of the spirit of Wine well rectified, and there will come forth an oyl [Page 80] oyl of a golden colour, swimming on the spirit which is a most excellent Balsame.

Spirit of unslaked Lime is made thus.

Take of unslaked Lime as much as thou pleasest; reduce it into a subtle powder, imbibe it with Spirit of Wine most high­ly rectified (which must be pure from all its flegm, or else you labour in vain) as much as it can imbibe; draw off the spirit of Wine with a gentle heat, cohobate it 8 or 10 times, so will the fiery vertue of the Lime be fortified.—Take of this levi­gated Lime 10 ounces, pure salt of Tartar one ounce, the feces of Tartar after the salt is extracted 11 ounces; mix these well together, put them into a glass Retort coated, see that 2 parts of 3 be empty, distill them into two Receivers, the flegm into one, the spirit into the other, which must have a little of recti­fied spirit of Wine in it to receive the spirit.

If thou wilt separate the spirit of Wine, then put fire to it, and the spirit of Wine will burn away, and the spirit of the Lime stay behinde, which is a kind of a fixed spirit.

This is a very secret for the consuming the Stone in the blad­der, and the curing of the Gout.

Oyl made out of Tile-stones, called the Oyl of Philosophers.

Take of Bricks or Tiles, as many as you please, break them into small pieces, make them red fire hot, then quench them in pure old Oyl Olive (in which let them lye till they be cold) then take them out and grind them very small, let the powder be put in a glass Retort, coated, a fit Receiver being put there­to and distil off the oyl in a naked fire by degrees, which being distilled off keep in a viall close stopt.

This oyl is wonderfull penetrating, and is good against all cold distempers whatsoever.

The Liquor or Water of Corall, is made thus.

Take Salt-Armoniack well purified by sublimation, of red Coral finely powdered, of each a like quantity; sublime them so often till the Corall will no more rise up, then take the Calx of Corall that remains in the bottome of the sublimatory and put it on a marble or glass in the cellar to be dissolved; that which will not be dissolved sublime again, and do as before till all be dissolved: and so thou hast the Liquor of Corall.

Note that if thou wilt have the true tincture of Coral, eva­porate the humidity of the foresaid Liquor, then extract the tincture out of the powder with spirit of Wine, which spirit evaporate to the consistency of honey: and thou hast a most rare medicine.

This medicine strengtheneth all the parts in the body, and cures all distempers that arise from the weakness thereof.

To make a Water out of Lapis Armenus that shall have neither taste nor smell, a few drops whereof shal purge.

Take of Lapis Armenus powdered small, and calcined, as much as you please, sublime it with salt Armoniack until it will sub­lime no more but remain in the bottome of the sublimatory, then take it out, and lay it very thin upon a marble in a cellar, and there let it lye two months, and it will be almost all dissol­ved into a Liquor.

Or thus:
Take of Lapis Armenus powdered small and calcined, as much as you please, pour upon it of distilled Vinegar, as much as wil cover it four fingers breadth, then set it over a gentle heat stir­ring of it two or three times in an hour, for the space of six hours or thereabouts; then the spirit being tinged very blew with the powder, filtre off from the feces, then pour more spi­rit of vinegar on the feces and doe as before, till the spirit be tinged no more, then take all the blew spirit and vapour it [Page 82] away, and at the bottome you shall have a salt, which you must put into a calcining pot, and calcine so long in the fire till no more vapour will arise, and it become a dark red powder, then put it upon a marble in the cellar for the space of two months, and it well be dissolved into a Liquor, a few drops whereof put into a glass of beer will purge delicately.

How to make a Furnace that shall of it self without any vessels which should contain the matter, being put into it, sublime Minerals, and distil all manner of Oils and Spirits out of Minerals, Vegetables, and Ani­mals, and that in a very great quantity, in a very short time, and with small cost.

THe Furnace is made as followeth: It may be made of one piece by a Potter, or of brick, round, or four-square, greater or lesser as you please: if the inside be one span broad in the middle, it must be four high: one for the Ash-hole, another above the grate to the middle Coal-hole, and two above the Pipe; this pipe being made of earth or iron must be a span long betwixt the Furnace and the Receiver, and a third part as wide as the Furnace within.

The Recipients must be made of glass, or very good earth well luted together; the greater the better.

[Page 83]

The first Figure.

The second Figure.

A, Signifies the Ash-hole, which must be as wide as the Furnace, and alwayes open that the fire may burn the stronger.

[Page 84] B, The middle hole of the Furnace for the putting in of coals.

C, The stopple made of stone.

D, The upper hole of the Furnace with a false bottome wherein sand lyeth, which is there laid that the cover may lye the closer and keep in the fumes the better.

E, The Cover, which must presently be clapt on assoon as the matter to be distilled is put in.

F, The Pipe, which goeth out of the Furnace, and to which the Recei­ver is fitted.

G, The first Recipient for flowers.

H, The second.

I, The third.

K, A Stool whereon the first Recipient resteth, in the midst whereof is a hole, through which goeth the neck of the Recipient, to which ano­ther glass is fitted.

L, The Glass fitted to the Recipient for the uniting the spirits that drop down.

M, Another Recipient united to the former glass, and into which the united spirits do run.

N, A Stoole through the middle whereof goeth a screw for the raising of that Glass which is set under the first Recipient, higher, or lower.

O,

P, The Grate with two thick iron bars, which lye fast, upon which four or five thinner are layed, which may be stirred when the Fur­nace is made clean.

Thus far the first of the figures is explained, by which you may see how sublimation and distillation is made at one time, viz. of those things which will yeeld both flowers, and spirits, (the flowers sticking in the three upper Recipients, and the spirits dropping down into the lower.)

Now follows the explanation of the second figure, which is the same with the former in respect of the Furnace it self, but differing in respect of the Recipients, which serve for the recei­ving of the spirits and oyls of such things as yeeld no flowers. Therefore I shall begin with the explanation of the Receivers.

[Page 85] G, The first crooked pipe as it is fitted to the pipe that comes out of the Furnace.

H, The-Recipient with its cover, in which is one hole for one crooked pipe to goe through, as you may see in the first H, and two holes for two pipes to goe through, as you may see in the second H, and in H H.

Note that these pipes may either be fastned to the cover be­ing all of one piece, or they must be wel luted, that no vapours may pass through. Now you must conceive that in the lower Receivers the vapour that goeth out of the first pipe goeth first into the Receiver, then out of that into the next pipe, and so forward till it cometh into the last Receiver, by which means it is much cooled (for indeed such vapours that come out of the Furnace, especially when some materials are distilled, if there were not some such art to cool them, would break all Recipients.)

I, A tub of water, wherein the Recipient stands, to cool the vapours and condense them.

K, The first crooked pipe as it goeth into the Recipient.

L, The second crooked pipe, whereof one end goeth into one Receiver, and another end into another.

M, The last crooked pipe to which you must annex a Receiver.

Now the manner of distilling is thus; Let the Furnace be full of coals wel kindled, then cast on your matter, and stop your Furnace close: This Furnace needs no Retort, or other vessels to set into it, neither can you doe any hurt by too much or too little fire, and you may finish your operation when you please, and in one hour try divers experiments. It saveth very much time and cost, and in one hour will doe as much as can be done in another Furnace in 24. In one hour you may make a pound of spirit of Salt with four or five pound of coals, and as much flower of Antimony in a like space of time, and with as few coals.

If your materials be vegetables, or horn, or bones, cut them small; If hard Minerals, let them be powdered very small; if [Page 86] salts, let them first be dissolved in water, which water must be imbibed with red hot coals until all the liquor be imbibed: then cast in those coals into the Furnace.

If you would by this means procure the spirit of hard Mine­rals, as of Antimony, &c. you must take them as they come from the Mine before they have passed the fire.

By this Furnace you may make the spirits of such things which will not yeeld them in any other way.

Note that such oyls and spirits as are drawne by this Furnace must be rectified in spirit of Salt, as I have above shewed.

Ros Vitrioli is made thus.

Take of the best Dansick Vitriall, as much as you please, un­calcined, put it into a glass gourd and distill it in the sand, and there will come over a water somewhat sharpish.

This Water or Ros is of greater use then the spirit or oyl thereof.

It helpeth all inward inflammations, as of the Liver, Kidneys, Stomach, helps the ebullition of bloud, and all distempers that come from thence.

This is that flegm, which most vapour away, but it is because they know not the vertues thereof.

A sweet green oyl of Vitriall is made thus.

Take as many Copperas stones as you please, beat them small, and lay them in a cool cellar, and in twenty or thirty days they will attract the air, and look black, and after fourteen days be­come whitish and sweetish, then dissolve them in distilled rain water, then filter and evaporate the water, and they will shoot into green Crystals, which you may dissolve in a Cellar per deliquium, being first beaten small, and layed on a mar­ble stone.

This liquor is that famous medicine of Paracelsus for the fal­ling sickness, a few drops thereof being taken in any appropri­ated liquor.

[Page 87] Take heed that it come at no strong fire, for then saith Para­celsus it loseth its greenness, and as much as it loseth of that, so much also of its vertue.

A spirit may be drawn from hence by an ingenious Artist, that will smell like Musk, or Amber.

The Sulphur of Vitriall may with spirit of wine be extracted thus.

Take of the best Dansick Vitriall half a pound, dry it by a gentle fire till it be whitish, then pour on it of the best recti­fied spirit of Wine thirty ounces: (Note that there must come to it no other moisture then the spirit of Wine, the glass also must be very dry, else you labour in vain) then digest it in horse dung the space of a month, then decant from the feces the spirit of Wine without any troubling of it, then in Balneo eva­porate the spirit, and at the bottome you will have a yellow liquor of a most wonderfull stipticity.

This liquor is a famous Anodynum, suppressing all noxious vapours whatsoever and causing rest.

A few drops there may be taken in any specifical Liquor.

A Sudorificall Water to be used outwardly.

Take of sublimed Mercury very finely powdered an ounce and half, of Euphorbium powdered a scruple, spirit of Wine well rectified, and Rosewater, of each a pound, digest them two or three hours in a gentle Balneo, the neck of the vessell which must be very long being wel stopt, then let them boll a quarter of an hour: when the liquor is cold pour it from the feces, and keep it in a glass.

If the back bone be bathed with this Water, or the wrist of those that be weak, it causeth sweat presently, if it be done in the bed. By which means diseases that require sweat may be cured. Also any pained place by being bathed with this Wa­ter is in a little time eased.

Note that you must not bathe any place above three or four times with it, for by being too often used it contracts the skin.

How to rectifie Oyls and Spirits of Minerals.

Put the Liquor that is distilled from Minerals into the Re­tort, to which give fire by degrees, and the spirit wil rise up into the upper Receiver, and the heavy oyl wil go into the mid­dle Receiver which is the biggest of all; and into the little Re­ceiver annexed to the end of the middle, wil pass some of the spirit, which though it passeth into the middle Receiver, wil not stay there, but goeth beyond it because it finds vent.

The Spagyricall Anatomie of Water.

WAter seems to be a body so very Homogeneall, as if neither Nature or Art could discover any Heterogeneity in the parts thereof: thus indeed it seems to the eye of the vulgar, but to that of a Philosopher far otherwise, as I shall endeavor to make credible by presenting to your consideration a two­fold process of the discovering the dissimilary parts thereof; whereof the one is naturall only, and the other artificiall; But before I speak of either, it must be premised, that in the element of Water there is great plenty of the spirit of the World, which is more predominant in it then in any other element, for the use and benefit of universall nature; and that this spirit hath three distinct substances, viz. Salt, Sulphur, and [Page 106] Mercury. Now by salt we must understand a substance very dry, vitall, and radicall, having in it the beginning of corpori­sication, as I may so call it: by Sulphur, a substance ful of light and vital heat, or vivifying fire, containing in it self the begin­ning of motion: by Mercury, a substance abounding with radical moisture, with which the Sulphur of life, or vital fire, is cherished and preserved. Now these substances which are in the Spirit of the World make all Fountaines, and Waters, but with some difference, according to the pre­dominancy of either. This several predominancy therefore is the ground of the variety of productions; I say, of produ­ctions, because all things are produced out of Water: for Wa­ter is both the Sperme, and the Menstruum of the World; the former, because it includes the seed of every thing; the latter, because the Sperme of Nature is put refied in it, that the seed included in it should be actuated, and take upon it the divers Formes of things; and because by it the seed it self, and all things produced of seed grow, and are encreased: Now this being premised, I shall shew you what the naturall pro­cesse is, which I shal make plain by instancing in three seve­ral productions, viz. of the spawn of Frogs, of Stones, and of Vegetables.

The Spawne of Frogs is produced after this manner, viz. The Sulphur which is in the Water, being by the heat of the Sun resolved, and dissolved, is greedily, and with delight con­ceived by the Element of Water, even as the Sperme of a Male is by the Matrix of the Female, and that upon this account. The Water wants siccity, which the Sulphur hath, and there­fore exceedingly desiring it, doth greedily attract it to it self: Sulphur also wants humidity, and therefore attracts the humidity of the Water: Moreover the humidity of the Water hath the humidity of the Salt laid up occultly in it: also the Sulphur cherisheth the humidity of the fire, and de­sires nothing more then the humidity of the Salt, that is in the Water. Sulphur also contains the siccity of the Salt, whence it is that Salt requires a siccity from the Sulphur. And thus do these attractive vertues mutually act upon each others sub­ject. [Page 107] Now by this means there is a conception made in the wa­ter which now begins to be turgid, puffed up, and troubled, as also to be grosser, and more slimie, until out of the spermatick vessels the spermes be cast upward, in which spermes after a while appeare black specks, which are the seed of the Frogs, and by the heat of the Sun, are in a short time turned into the same; by which it appears there are dissimilary parts in Water.

2 Stones are produced out of Water that hath a Mucilagi­nous Mercury, which the Salt, with which it also abounds, fixeth into Stones. This you may see cleared by putting stones into the water, for they wil after a time contract a mucilaginous slimy matter, which being taken out of the water and set in the Sun, becomes to be of a stony nature. And whence come those stones, gravel, and sand which we see in Springs? they are not washed down out of the Mountains and Hils (as some think) from whence the waters spring, neither were they in the earth before the Springs brake forth, (as some imagine) and now ap­pear by washing away of the earth from them; for if you dig round about the springs, even beyond the heads of them, you shal find no stones at all in the earth, only in the veins there­of through which the water runs; Now the reason of the smal­nesse of these stones, is the continual motion of the water, which hinders them from being united into a continued big­nesse. I shall make a further confirmation of this in the artifi­cial processe of manifesting the Heterogeneity of Water. I shal here only adde the assertion of He [...]ont, saying that with his Altahest all stones, and indeed all things may be turned into Water? If so, then you know what the Maxime is, viz. All things may be resolved into that from whence they had their beginning.

3 Vegetables are produced out of Water, as you may clearly see by the Waters sending forth Plants that have no roots fixed in the bottome; of which sort is the Heart called Duck-weed, which putteth forth a little string into the Wa­ter, which is as it were the root thereof. For the confirma­tion of this, that this Heart may be produced out of meer [Page 108] Water, there is a Gentleman at this time in the City, of no small worth, that saith he had fair water standing in a glass divers yeares, and at last a Plant sprang out of it. Also if you put some Plants, as Water-mint, &c. into a glass of fair water, it wil germinate, and shoot out into a great length, and also take root in the Water, which root will in a short time be so encreased, and extended, as to fill up the glass: but you must remember that you put fresh water into the glasse once in two or three dayes. Hereunto also may be added the experiment of Helmont, concerning the growth of a tree; For (saith he) I took two hundred pound weight of earth dryed in an oven, and put it into a vessel, in which I set a Willow tree which weighed five pound, which by the addition of water to the earth, did in five yeares time grow to such a bignesse, as that it weighed one hundred sixty nine pound; at which time I also dryed and weighed the earth, and within two ounces it retained its former weight. Besides, the ancients have observed that some Hearbs have grown out of snow being putrefied: and do not we see that all Vegetables are nourished, and increased with an insipid water, for what else is their juice? If you cut a Vine in the month of March, it wil drop divers gallons of insipid water, which water if it had re­mained in the trunk of the Vine, would in a little time have been digested into leaves, stalks, and grapes, which grapes also by a further maturation would have yeelded a Wine, out of which you might have extracted a burning spirit; Now I say although this insipid water be by the specificall Sulphur and Salt of the Vine fixed into the stalks, leaves, and grapes of the vine, yet these give it not a corporificative matter, for that it had before, and an aptitude and potentiality to become what afterwards it proves to be: for indeed stalks, leaves, and grapes were potentially in it before, all which now it becomes to be actually, by vertue of the Sun, and of the aforesaid Sulphur and Salt, whereof the two latter were originally in the smal seed, and therefore as I said could not adde any bulk to them.

Moreover doe not we see that when things are burnt and [Page 109] putrefied, they ascend up into the air by way of vapour, and fume, and then descend by way of insipid dew, or rain? Now what do all these signifie but that from water are all things pro­duced, and in it are dissimilary parts?

2 The artificiall processe is this: take of what water you please, whether Well water, Fountaine, River, or Raine wa­ter, as much as you please, let it settle three or four houres, untill the slime thereof separates it selfe: then digest it the space of a month; after which time evaporate the fourth part, by a very gentle heat, and cast it away being but the flegm, then distil off the remainder of the water till the feces only be left, which feces will be a slimy saltish substance: this mid­dle substance distill again as before, casting away every time the fourth part, as flegme, and keeping the feces by themselves for a further use; and this doe seven times. Note that after the fourth or fifth distillation the water will distil over like milke, colouring the head of your Still so that it can hardly be washed or scoured off. This pure water after the seventh distillation will leave no feces behind: and if you digest it three months it will be coagulated into Stones and Crystals, which some magnifie very much for the cure of inward, and outward putrefactions, out of which also may be made a dissolving spirit. Note that as this water stands in dige­stion you may see divers curious colours. Now as for the feces which I spake of (which indeed all waters even the sweetest leave at the bottome) being as I said a saltish slime, and in taste as it were a Medium betwixt Salt, and Nitre; take them and distill them in a Retort in sand, and there will first come forth a white fume, which being condensed descendeth in a straight line to the bottome, next will come over a red Oyl of great efficacy, exceeding the vertues of the spirit of Salt or Nitre. For confirmation of part of this processe, take May dew gathered in a morning (when it hath not rained the night before) and put it into a glass vessel, covered with a parchment pricked full of holes, and set it in the heat of the Sun for the space of four months, and there will store of green feces fall to the bottome, the residue of [Page 110] the water being white and clear. Now by all this you may conclude what manner of dissimilarity there is in the parts of water. I shall adde but one observation more, and so conclude this subject.

Take a slint out of River water, and put it into a gourd glasse, poure upon it as much River Water as will fill the glasse, evaporate this water till the flint be drye, then poure on more fresh water, doe this so long till the flint will fill up the glass, (for in a little time it will fill it up, and become to be of the forme or figure of the glasse) for it at­tracts to it selfe the mucilaginousnesse of the water, which indeed is a slimy saltish matter, and the true matter of Stones. And thus thou shalt have that done by Art in few dayes, which Nature would have been perfecting many yeares, and indeed just such a flint as is produced in the Rivers. Any one that should see this flint in the glasse would wonder how it should come in there. You may break your glasse and take out the flint.

There are divers such processes which may be used, but in effect they demonstrate but little more concerning the poten­tiall Heterogeneity of water, and therefore to avoid tedi­ousnesse, I shall here end with the Anatomy of Water, con­cerning which if any one can make a further illustration, let him be candid and impart it, and I shall be glad to learn of him, and in the meane time let him accept of these my en­deavours.

The Spagyricall Anatomy of Wine.

I Shall not speak here of the juice of grapes as being natural­ly divided into Wine, Tartar, and Lees, but of Wine as arti­ficially divided into pure Spirit, Flegm, and Feces.

1 The spirit is that hot, subtle, pure, clear, cordiall, and balsamicall substance, which ariseth with a small heat after four or five distillations, being indeed but the twentieth part of the Wine. This spirit is not that inebriating substance of the Wine as most think, for a man may drink the spirit that is extra­cted out of ten pints of Wine without distempering of his br [...]in at all, when as perhaps he would be distempered with drink­ing a pint or two of the Wine.

Now this spirit contains in it a subtle Armoniack, and es­sentiall Sulphur inseparably conjoined, which indeed are the life of the spirit, and may be separated from the Mercuriall or watery part thereof, which after separation of them remains in­spid, but yet of wonderfull subtility. They may be separa­ted thus: First rectifie the spirit as high as you can the ordi­nary way: then rectifie it once or twice in th [...]se following vessels.

[Page 112]

Note that if there be any flegm remaining in the spirit, it wil go no further then the middle Receiver, especially the second time. By this means thou shalt have so subtle a spirit, that un­less it be kept in a vessell close stopt, it will flye away in the air. Then take of this spirit two ounces, and poure it upon six ounces of calcined Tartar before the salt be extracted, and min­gle them well together; then distill it in Balneo, and there will [...]me over an insipid water, which as I said before is very sub­tle, [Page 113] then put on a like quantity of the said spirit, as before, and distil it off, and thus do so long til the water that comes over is not insipid, but the spirit comes over again hot as it was poured on: for by this time the fixed matter is glutted with the salt Armoniack, and Sulphur of the spirit. Then put this dryed matter into a glasse sublimatory, and put fire to it, and there will sublime a Salt from thence even as Camphire is sublimed. This salt is the true essence of Wine indeed, and its vertues are wonderful, for there is no disease whether inward or outward that can withstand it. This is that essence of Wine of the Phi­losophers, which is so penetrating, so wonderful cordial and balsamical, which if thou doest once obtain, thou shalt need but few other medicines.

Now this spirit or Aqua vitae, is in all Vegetables, as you may see in Malt, and Vegetables that are put refied before they be di­stilled, which then yeeld a burning spirit; yet it is in Wine more then in any other Liquors: I say Liquors, for if you take eight gallons of Sack, and as much Wheat, which is a solid body, the Wheat being malted, will yeeld more Aqua vitae then the Sack.

2 The flegm is that which remains after the spirit is distil­led off, and is a putrid, insipid, cold, narcotick, and inebriating Liquor, debilitating the stomach and offending the head. A few spoonfuls of this will presently make a man drunk, nay the flegm of half a pint of Wine will make a man drunk, when as two pints of Wine it selfe would hardly doe it: whence you may collect what a great corrector of Malignant spirits, and va­pours the spirit of Wine is; which, whilest it is mixed with the flegm before distillation, doth temper and correct this inebria­ting quality thereof, and as it doth thus, so also being given (I mean the pure deflegmated spirit) to them that are already in­ebriated, doth much allay their distemper. This flegm therefore being of so narcotick a quality is the cause of Palsies, and such like distempers.

Moreover it is to be observed that when this flegm is to be distilled off, there remains at the bottom a viscous corrosive matter, which by reason of its viscosity is the cause of obstru­ctions, and by reason of its corrosivenesse the cause of the gout, colick, stone, &c.

[Page 114] 3 This feces being distilled yeelds a sharp spirit, and fetid oyl, which leave behind them a saltish substance, out of which when the salt is extracted, there remains an insipid earth.

Now if any shall object against what I have asserted, and say that Aqua vitae, or spirit of Wine are inebriating, the causes of Palfie, stone, gout, colick, weak stomachs, and such like: as we see by dayly experience in those that are given to the drinking of these Liquors: to which I answer it is true: but then I must distinguish of Aqua vitae, and spirit of Wine, for there is a com­mon Aqua vitae, and spirit of Wine, of which also they make Aniseed water by putting a few Aniseeds thereunto, and other such like waters, as Clove, Angelica, Lemmon, &c. With which this Nation is most abominably cheated, and their health im­paired. But these are not rectified throughly, but three parts of four of them are an insipid Narcotick flegm, containing in it the feces I spake of, all which I can in a day separate from the true pure spirit, which spirit rather prevents then causes such distempers: And the truth is, all the goodnesse of the Wine is from this pure spirit.

The famous Arcanum, or restorative Medicament of Paracelsus, cal­led his Homunculus.

FIrst we must understand that there are three acceptions of the word Homunculus in Paracelsus, which are these.

1 Homunculus is a superstitious image made in the place or name of any one, that it may contain an Astrall and invisible man; wherefore it was made for a superstitious use.

2 Homunculus is taken for an artificiall man, made of Sperm̄a humamum Masculinum, digested into the shape of a man, and then nourished and encreased with the essence of mans bloud; and this is not repugnant to the possibility of Nature and Art. But is one of the greatest wonders of God which he ever did suffer mortall man to know. I shall not here set down the full pro­cesse because I think it unfit to be done, at least to be divulged: besides, neither this nor the former is for my present purpose.

3 Homuncu [...]us is taken for a most excellent Arcanum or Medi­cament extracted by the spagyricall Art, from the chiefest staffe [Page 115] of the naturall life in man, and according to this acception I shall here speak of it: But before I shew you the processe I shall give you an account why this Medicament is called Homunculus; and it is this.

No wise man will deny that the staffe of life is the nutriment thereof, and that the chiefest nutriment is Bread and Wine, be­ing ordained by God and Nature above all other things for the sustentation thereof. Besides Paracelsus preferred this nutriment for the generation of the bloud and spirits, and the forming thence the Sperm of this Homunculus. Now by a sutable allusi­on the nutriment is taken for the life of man, and especially be­cause it is transmuted into life: and again the life is taken for the man, for unlesse a man be alive he is not a man, but the carcasse only of a man, and the basest part thereof, which cannot perfect­ly be taken for the whole man, as the noblest part may. In as much therefore as the nutriment, or aliment of life may be called the life of man, and the life of man be called man; this nutriment extracted out of Bread and Wine, and being by dige­stion exalted into the highest purity of a nutritive substance, and consequently becoming the life of man, being so potenti­ally, may Metaphorically be called Homunculus.

The processe, which in part shall be set down allegorically is thus: Take the best Wheat and the best Wine, of each a like quantity, put them into a glasse, which you must hermetically close: then let them putrefie in horse dung three days, or until the Wheat begin to germinate, or to sprout forth, which then must be taken forth and bruised in a Mortar, and be pressed through a linnen cloth, and there will come forth a white juice like milk; you must cast away the feces: Let this juice be put into a glasse, which must not be above half full; stop it close and set it in horse dung as before, for the space of fifty days. If the heat be temperate, and not exceeding the naturall heat of a man, the matter will be turned into a spagyricall bloud, and flesh, like an Embryo. This is the principal, and next matter, out of which is generated a twofold sperm, viz. of the father and mo­ther, generating the Homunculus, without which there can be made no generation, whether humane, or animall.

From the bloud, and flesh of this Embryo let the water be [Page 116] separated in Balneo, and the air in ashes, and both be kept by themselves. Then to the feces of the latter distillation let the water of the former distillation be added, both which must (the glasse being close stopt) putrefie in Balneo the space of ten days, after this distill the water the second time, (which is then the vehiculum of the first) together with the fire, in ashes, then di­still off this water in a gentle Balneo, and in the bottom remains the fire which must be distilled in ashes. Keep both these a part. And thus you have the four Elements separated from the Chaos of the Embryo.

The feculent earth is to be reverberated in a close vessel for the space of four dayes: In the interim distil off the fourth part of the first distillation in Balneo, and cast it away; the other three parts distill in ashes, and pour it upon the reverberated earth, and distill it in a strong fire; cohobate it four times, and so you shall have a very clear water, which you must keep by it self: Then pour the air on the same earth, and distil it in a strong fire, and there will come over a clear, splendid, odorife­rous water, which must be kept apart: After this pour the fire upon the first water, and putrefie them together in Balneo the space of three days, then put them into a Retort and distil them in sand, and there will come over a water tasting of the fire: let this water be distilled in Balneo, and what distils off keep by it self, as also what remains in the bottome, which is the fire, keep by it self. This last distilled water pour again upon its earth, and let them be macerated together in Balneo for the space of three dayes, and then let all the water be distilled in sand, and let what will arise be separated in Balneo, and the residence re­maining in the bottome be reserved with the former residence. Let the water be again poured upon the earth, be abstracted, and separated as before, untill nothing remain in the bottom, which is not separated in Balneo. This being done, let the water which was last separated be mixed with the residue of its fire, and be macerated in Balneo three or four dayes, and all be distilled in Balneo, that can ascend with that heat, and let what remains be distilled in ashes from the fire, and what shall be elevated is aeri­all; and what remains in the bottome is fiery. These two last Liquors are ascribed to the two first principles, the former to [Page 117] Mercury, and the latter to Sulphur, and are accounted by Para­celsus, not as Elements, but their vitall parts, being as it were the natural spirits and soul, which are in them by nature. Now both are to be rectified, and reflected into their center with a circular motion, that this Mercury may be prepared with its water being kept clear, and odoriferous in the upper place, but the Sulphur by it self. Now it remains that we look into the third principle: let the reverberated earth being ground upon a marble imbibe its owne water, which did above remain after the last separation of the Liquors made in Balneo, so that this be the fourth part of the weight of its earth, and be congealed by the heat of ashes into its earth, and let this be done so oft, the proportion being observed, untill the earth hath drunk up all its water. And lastly let this earth be sublimed into a white powder, as white as snow, the feces being cast away. This earth being sublimed and freed from its obscurity is the true Chaos of the Elements, for it contains those things occult, seeing it is the salt of nature, in which they lye hid, being as it were re­flected in their center. This is the third principle of Paracelsus, and the salt, which is the matrix, in which the two former sperms, viz. of the man and woman, the parents of the Homun­culus, viz. of Mercury and Sulphur, are to be put, and to be closed up together in a glazen womb sealed with Hermes seals for the true generation of the Homunculus produced from the spagyricall Embryo: and this is the Homunculus or great Arca­num, otherwise called the nutritive Medicament of Paracelsus.

This Homunculus or nutritive Medicament, is of such vertue that presently after it is taken into the body, it is turned into bloud, and spirits. If then diseases prove mortall because they destroy the spirits, what mortal disease can withstand such a medicine, that doth so soon repair, and so strongly fortifie the spirits as this Homunculus being as the oyl to the flame, into which it is immediately turned, thereby renewing the same? By this Medicament therefore, as diseases are overcome, and expel­led, so also youth is renewed, and gray hairs prevented.

A Lamp Furnace is made thus.

A, Signifies the Candlestick, which must be hollow, and full of water.

B, The top of the candlestick which must he wide to containe good store of water for to fill up the Candlestick as the candle riseth up.

C, The candle, which must be as long as the Candlestick.

D, The vessell that contains either wat [...]r, sand, or ashes for any vessell to [Page 147] be set into; also to containe any matter it selfe that is to be distilled, or digested.

E, A glasse vessell standing in digestion.

F, A narrow mouthed stopple to be put into the candlestick to keep the can­dle upright, and that must be made of tin, with holes in it.

G, The cover for the vessell D, which is to be put upon it when any thing is decocted, or kept warme in it.

H, A Still head to put upon the vessell D, when you would distill any thing in it.

Note that if you make all these vessells large you may do ma­ny considerable things without much labour, or trouble.

In the vessell D, if it be large, you may stew meat, which if you put in at night and cover it close, you may have it ready for your breakfast in the morning, and so according to the time you put it in you may have it for dinner or supper. Also you may keep any thing warme in the night, and at all times, and divers such uses as these it may be used for.

Note that the candle will still rise up till it be quite burned out, and an ordinary candle will last twice as long this way as it will out of the water.

If you would have one candle last a long time as twelve or twenty hours, you must either make your candlestick very long that it may containe a long candle, or make your candle big and the wiek small, or make your candle of such matter as will not presently be consumed.

Note also that if you would have a great heat, your candle must be great, and also the wiek thereof great; but if gentle, let your candle be small.

Another Lamp furnace.

There is another sort of Lamp furnaces with three candles af­ter this manner.

The use of this is when you would have a constant fire that should give a stronger heat then one candle in the former fur­nace. And the truth is, that if your candles be big (as you may make them as big as you will) you may have as strong a heat this way as by ashes in an ordinary furnace.

The Spagyricall Anatomy of Gold, and Silver, together with the Curiosi­ties therein, and chiefest prepara­tions thereof.

I Shall first endeavour to shew whence Gold had its originall, and what the matter thereof is. As Nature (saith Sandivogius) is in the will of God, and God created her: so nature made for her selfe a seed, (i.) her will in the elements. Now she indeed is one, yet she brings forth divers things; but she operates nothing without a Sperme: whatsoever the Sperme will, nature operates, for she is as it were the instrument of any artificers. The Sperme therefore of every thing is better, and more profitable then nature her self: for thou shalt from nature without a Sperme, doe as much as a gold­smith without fire, or a husband without grain or seed. Now the Sperme of any thing is the Elixir, the balsame of sulphur, and the same as Humidum Radicale is in metalls: but to [Page 168] proceed to what concernes our purpose. Four elements gene­rate a Sperme, by the will of God, and imagination of na­ture: For as the Sperme of a man hath its center, or the vessell of its seed in the kidneys: so the foure elements by their indesinent motion (every one according to its quality) cast forth a Sperme into the center of the earth, where it is dige­sted, and by motion is sent abroad. Now the center of the earth is a certaine empty place, where nothing can rest: and the four elements send forth their qualities into the circum­ference of the center. As a male sends forth his seed into the womb of the female, which after it hath received a due porti­on casts out the rest, so it happens in the center of the earth, that the magnetick powder of a part of any place attracts some­thing convenient to it selfe for the bringing forth of some­thing, and the rest is cast forth into stones and other excre­ments. For every thing hath its originall from this fountain, and there is nothing in the world produced but by this foun­taine: as for example, set upon an even table a vessell of water, which may be placed in the middle thereof, and round a­bout it set divers things, and divers colours, also salt, &c. eve­ry thing by it selfe: then poure the water into the middle; and you shall see the water to run every way, and when any streame toucheth the red colour, it will be made red by it, if the salt, it will contract the tast of salt from it, and so of the rest; Now the water doth not change the places, but the diver­sity of places changeth the water. In like manner the seed or sperme being cast forth by the foure elements from the center of the earth unto the superficies thereof passeth through various places, and according to the nature of the place is any thing produced: if it come to a pure place of earth, and water, a pure thing is made.

The seed, and sperme of all things is but one, and yet it generates divers things, as it appears by the former exam­ple. The sperme whilest it is in the center is indifferent to all forms, but when it is come into any determinate place, it changeth no more its forme. The sperme whilest it is in the center can as easily produce a tree, as a metall, and an hearb as a stone, and one more precious then another according to the [Page 166] purity of the place. Now this sperme is produced of elements thus. These foure elements are never quiet but by reason of their contrariety mutually act one upon another; and every one of its selfe sends forth its own subtilty, and they agree in the center. Now in this center is the Archaeus, the servant of nature, which mixing those spermes together sends them a­broad, and by distillation sublimes them by the heat of a con­tinuall motion unto the superficies of the earth: For the earth is porous, and this vapour (or wind, as the philosophers call it) is by distilling through the pores of the earth resolved into water, of which all things are produced. Let therefore as I said before, all sons of Art know that the sperme of metals is not different from the sperme of all things being, viz. a humid va­pour. Therefore in vain do Artists endeavour the reduction of metals into their first matter, which is only a vapour. Now saith Bernard Trevisan when philosophers speak of a first matter they did not meane this vapour, but the second matter which is an unctuous water, which to us is the first, because we never find the former. Now the specification of this vapour into distinct metals is thus. This vapour passeth in its distillation through the earth, through places either cold, or hot; if through hot, and pure where the fatnesse of sulphur sticks to the sides thereof, then that vapour (which philosophers call the Mercury of phi­losophers) mixeth, and joyneth it self unto that fatnesse, which afterward it sublimes with it selfe, and then it becomes, leaving the name of a vapour, and unctuosity, which afterwards com­ing by sublimation into other places, which the antecedent va­pour did purge, where the earth is subtle, pure, and humid, fils the pores thereof, and is joyned to it; and so it becomes gold: and where it is hot, and something impure, silver. But if that fatnesse come to impure places, which are cold, it is made lead: and if that place be pure and mixed with sulphur, it be­comes copper: for by how much the more pure and warm the place is, so much the more excellent doth it make the me­talls.

Now this first matter of metals is a humid, viscous, incom­bustible, subtle substance, incorporated with an earthy subtilty, being equally, and strongly mixed per minima in the caverns of [Page 170] the earth. But as in many things there is a twofold unctuosity (whereof one is as it were internall, retained in the center of the thing lest it should be destroyed by fire, which cannot be without the destruction of the substance it selfe wherein it is: the other as it were externall, feculent and combustible) so in all metalls except gold, there is a twofold unctuosity: the one which is externall, sulphurous, and inflamable, which is joy­ned to it by accident, and doth not belong to the totall uni­on with the terrestrial parts of the thing: the other is internall, and very subtle, incombustible, because it is of the substantiall composition of Argent vive, and therefore cannot be destroyed by fire, unlesse with the destruction of the whole substance, whence it appeares what the cause is that metalls are more or lesse durable in the fire: For those which abound with that internall unctuosity are lesse consumed, as it appears in silver, and especially in gold. Hence Rosarius saith, the philoso­phers could never by any meanes find out any thing that could endure the fire; but that unctuous humidity only which is per­fect, and incombustible. Geber also asserts the same, when he saith that imperfect bodies have superfluous humidities, and sulphureity generating a combustible blacknesse in them, and corrupting them; they have also an impure, feculent and com­bustible terestriety so grosse, as that it hinders ingression, and fusion: but a perfect metall, as gold, hath neither this sulphu­rous or terrestriall impurity; I mean when it is fully matu­rated and melted, for whilest it is in concoction it hath both joyned to it, as you may see in the golden Ore, but when they doe not adhere to it so, but that it may be purified from them, which other metalls cannot, but are both destroyed together if you attempt to separate the one from the other: Besides gold hath so little of these corruptible principles mixed with it, that the inward sulphur or metalline spirit doth sometimes and in some places overcome them of it selfe, as we may see in the gold which is found very pure sometimes in the superficies of the earth, and in the sea sands, and is many times as pure as any refined gold.

Now this gold which is found in sands and rivers, is not ge­nerated there, as saith Gregorius Agricola in his third book de [Page 171] Re Metallica, but is washed down from the mountains with fountaines that run from thence. There is also a flaming gold found (as Paracelsus saith) in the tops of mountaines, which is indeed separated of it selfe from all impurities, and is as pure as any refined gold whatsoever. So that you see, that gold al­though it had an extrinsecall sulphur and earth mixed with it, yet it is sometimes separated from it of it selfe, viz. by that fie­ry spirit that is in it. Now this pure gold (as saith Sandivogius) nature would have perfected into an elixir but was hindred by the crude air, which crude air is indeed nothing else but that extrinsecall sulphur which it meets with and is joyned to in the earth, and which fills with its violence the pores thereof, and hinders the activity of the Spirit thereof; and this is that prison which the sulphur (as saith the a­foresaid author) is locked up in, so that it cannot act upon its body, viz. Mercury, and concoct it into the seed of gold; as otherwise it would doe: and this is that darke body (as faith Penotus) that is interposed betwixt the philosophicall Sunne and Moone, and keeps off the influences of the one from the other. Now if any skilfull philosopher could wittily sepa­rate this adventitious impurity from gold whilest it is yet li­ving, he would set sulphur at liberty, and for this his ser­vice he would be gratified with three kingdomes, viz. Ve­getable, Animall, and Minerall, I mean he could remove that great obstruction which hinders gold from being digested into the Elixir. For, as saith Sandivogius, the Elixir, or Tincture of philosophers, is nothing else but gold digested into the highest degree: for the gold of the vulgar is as an hearb without seed, but when gold (i.) living gold (for common gold never can by reason that the Spirits are bound up, and indeed as good as dead and not possibly to be reduced to that activity which is required for the producing of the sperme of gold) is ripened it gives a seed, which multiplies even ad infinitum. Now the rea­son of this barrennesse of gold that it produceth not a seed is the aforesaid crude aire, viz. impurities: You may see this il­lustrated by this example.

We see that Orenge-trees in Polonia doe grow like other trees, also in Italy, and elsewhere, where their native soyle [Page 172] is, and yeeld fruit, because they have sufficient heat, but in these colder colder countreys they are barren and never yeeld any fruit, because they are oppressed with cold: but if at any time nature be wittily and sweetly helped, then Art can perfect what nature could not. After the same manner it is in me­talls; for gold would yeeld fruit, and seed in which it might multiply it selfe, if it were helped by the industry of the skilfull artist, who knew how to promote nature, (i.) to se­parate these sulphurous and earthly impurities from gold. For there is a sufficient heat in living gold, which if it were stirred up by extrinsecall heat, to digest it into a seed. By ex­trinsecall heat I doe not mean the heat of the celestiall Sun, but that heat which is in the earth and stirres up the seed, (i.) the living spirit that is in all subteraneall sperms to mul­tiply, and indeed makes gold become gold. Now this is a heat of putrefaction occasioned by acid spirits fermenting in the earth, as you may see by this example related by Albertus Mag­nus, but to which the reason was given by Sandivogius. There was saith the former author, certaine graines of gold found betwixt the teeth of a dead man in the grave: wherefore he conceived there was a power in the body of man to make and [...]ixe gold: but the reason is farre otherwise, as saith the latter authour: for saith he, Argent vive was by some phy­sitian conveyed into the body of this man when he was alive, ei­ther by unction, or by turbith, or some such way, as the custome was; and it is the nature of Mercury to ascend to the mouth of the patient, and through the excoriation of the mouth to be avoided with the flegme. Now then if in such a cure the sickman dyed, that Mercury not having passage out remained betwixt the teeth in the mouth, and that carcasse became the naturall vessell of Mercury, and so for a long time being shut up was congealed by its proper sulphur into gold by the natu­rall heat of putrefaction, being purified by the corrosive flegme of the carkasse, but if the minerall Mercury had not been brought in thither, gold had never been produced there: And this is a most true example that as mercury is by the proper sul­phur that is in it selfe, being stirred up and helped by an ex­trinsecall heat, coagulated into gold, unlesse it be hindred by [Page 173] any accident, or have not a requisite extrinsecall heat, or convenient place, so also that nature doth in the bowels of the earth produce of Mercury only gold and silver, and other metalls according to the disposition of the place, and matrix; which assertion is further cleared by the rule of reduction, for if it be true that all things consist of that which they may be reduced into, then gold consists of Mercury, because (as most grant, Paracelsus affirmes, and many at this day professe they can doe) it may be reduced into it. There is a way by which the tincture of gold which is the soule thereof, and fixeth it, may be so fully extracted that the remaining substance will be sublimed like Arsenick, and may be as easily reduced into Mercury as Sublimate. If so, and if all Mercury may be re­duced into a transparent water, as it may (according to the processe set down page 75. and as I know how another better and easier way to turn a pound of Mercury of it self into a clear water in halfe an houre, which is one of the greatest secrets I know, or care to know, together with what may be produced thence, and shall crave leave to be silent in) why may not that water in some sense, if it be well rectified, be called a kinde of living gold out of which you may perhaps make a medi­cine, and a menstruum unfit for the vulgar to know. It ap­pears now from what is premised that the immediate matter of gold is probably Mercury, and not certaine salts and I know not what as many dream of, and that the extrinsecall heat is from within the earth, and not the heat of the sun, as some imagine (because in the hottest countreys there is all, or almost all gold generated) who if they considered that in cold coun­treys also are, and as in Scotland were gold mines in King James his time, would be of another mind then to think that the celestiall sun could penetrate, so as to heat the earth so deep as most gold lies.

I now having in some measure discovered what the intrins [...] ­call, and extrinsecall heat, and the matter of gold is, I shall next endeavour to explaine what those three principles are, viz. Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, of which Argent vive, and gold con­sist: Know therefore that after Nature had received from the most High God the priviledge of all things upon the Monarchy [Page 174] of this wourld, she began to distribute places, and provinces to every thing, according to its dignity; and in the first place did constitute the foure elements to be the princes of the world, and that the will of the most High (in whose will Nature is placed) might be fulfilled, ordained that they should act upon one another incessantly. The fire therefore began to act upon the aire, and produced sulphur: The air also began to act upon the water, and produced Mercury: the water also began to act upon the earth, and produced salt. Now the earth not having whereō to act produced nothing, but became the subject of what was produced. So then there were produced three princi­ples, but our ancient philosophers not so strictly considering the matter described only two acts of the elements, and so named but two principles, viz. Sulphur and Mercury: or else they were willing to be silent in the other, speaking only to the son of Art.

The Sulphur therefore of philosophers, (which indeed is the sulphur of metalls, and of all things) is not, as many think, that common combustible sulphur which is sold in shops, but is another thing farre differing from that, and is incombustible, not burning, nor heating, but preserving, and restoring all things which it is in, and it is the Calidum In­natum of every thing, the fire of nature, the created light, and of the nature of the fun, and is called the Sun; so that whatso­ever in any thing is fiery, and airy, is sulphur, not that any thing is wholly sulphureous, but what in it is most thin, and subtle, having the essence of the naturall fire, and the nature of the created light, which indeed is that sulphur which wise philosophers have in all ages with great diligence endeavour­ed to extract, and with its proper Mercury to fix, and so to perfect the great Magistery of nature. Now of all things in the world there is nothing hath more of this sulphur in it then gold and silver, but especially gold, insomuch that oftentimes it is called sulphur, (i.) because sulphur is the most predomi­nant, and excellent principle in it, and being in it more then in all things besides.

Mercury is not here taken for common Argent vive; but it is the Humidum Radicale of every thing, that pure aqueous, [Page 175] unctuous, and viscous humidity of the matter, and it is of the nature of the Moon, and it is called the Moone, and that for this reason, viz. because it is humid, as also because it is ca­pable of receiving the influence and light of the Sun, viz. sulphur.

Salt is that fixt permanent earth which is in the center of every thing that is incorruptible, and inalterable, and it is the supporter and nourse of the Humidum Radicale, with which it is strongly mixt. Now this salt hath in it a seed, viz. its Calidum Innatum, which is Sulphur, and its Humidum Radicale which is Mercury; and yet these three are not distinct or to be separated, but are one homogeneall thing, having upon a different account divers names: for in respect of its heat, and fiery substance it is called Sulphur, in respect of its humidity, it is called Mercury, and in respect of its terrestriall siccity it is called salt, all which are in gold perfectly united, depura­ted, and fixed.

Gold therefore is most noble, and solid of all metalls, of a yellow colour, compacted of principles digested to the utmost hight, and therefore fixed.

Silver is in the next place of dignity to Gold, and differs from it in digestion chiefly, I said chiefly, because there is some small impurity besides, adhering to silver.

Now having given some small account of the originall mat­ter, first, and second, and manner of the growth of gold, I shall in the next place set downe some curiosities therein, and prepa­ration thereof. The preparations are chiefly three, viz. Aurum potabile, which is the mixtion thereof with other Liquors: Oil of gold, which is gold liquid by it selfe without the mixture of any other Liquor: and the tincture, which is the extraction of the colour thereof.