ALEX. Van SUCHTEN OF THE SECRETS OF ANTIMONY: IN TWO TREATISES.
Translated out of High-Dutch by Dr. C. a Person of great Skill in Chymistry.
To which is added B. Valentine's Salt of Antimony, with its Use.
LONDON, Printed, and are to be sold by Moses Pitt at the White Hart in Little Britain, 1670.
CHAP. V. What besides a Physician ought to know before he useth the Gold of the Physician or 🜍 Philosophor.
I Acknowledge that in the former Chapters I have said too little of the 🜔, but the form of ☽ stood in the way, that I durst not make farther mention thereof; for if I should speak what were to be spoken of it, I must also plainly describe the form, which ought not to be done. Now have I handled nothing in this Treatise by Similitudes; but as the thing is in it self, so have I described it: But the Form belongs [Page 51] not to the Physician, but to the Mineralist, who may find enough written thereof in Peter Bonus Ferariensis. Therefore is (antimony) sufficiently declared, and as ye see after the simplest manner, that none can exclaim against me, and say that I write so obscurely, that I cannot be understood. To conclude, I warn every man that understands me not, that he go not about to make what I teach; for (antimony) is not for him; but a Secret of God above his understanding: But he that understandeth me, will without doubt put his hope in God, and accomplish what I write. The same shall even know that he hath not therefore found the Medicine wholly, but only begun to learn it; for what is it to have a good Sword in ones hand, if one know not how to draw it forth against our enemy; [Page 52] we must therefore first know how to use it; so the Physician also though he hath 🜍 Philos. in his hand, and knoweth not the use, what profiteth it? The knowledg of administring it requireth a very expert Physician; not from the reading of Galen; but from the knowledge of the Microcosme; therefore it is necessary to write diligently of the use of this Secret, which I shall (if God give life and opportunity) speedily do, and not keep it from you; yet thus much will I here manifest to you, that that 🜍 cannot be digested in, our stomach; but if it be not digested, it's not the Physick it should be; for after digestion virtue goeth out of him, and not before. Mankind hath a gift that is from God, Paracelsus calleth it Archeus; the office of this Archeus is to make mans flesh out of [Page 53] Bread, and bloud out of Wine; and what man wanteth, that it maketh out of the Aliment: Now we find that man is not the Medicine, therefore cannot the Archeus out of 🜍 or ☉ make the Medicine; so it followeth from hence that there must be used another Archeus, that this digestion may be accomplished, Paracelsus in his Book De 🜿, mentioneth this Digestion, how our Stomach is comforted, and saith this Arcanum is [...], which is true, but it is a Speech too subtile and short for your young Physicians: Let no Man be so senseless, as to perswade himself, that this Medicine is to be obtained by the bare letters of Paracelsus. This say I, that he hath a great secret who knows to perfect this digestion in Man; no ordinary Physician shall know [Page 54] it, for very much belongeth to it; therefore let every one, who by diligent Labour and Operations hath obtained this 🜍, not abuse this gift of God, lest he get more shame and scorn than honour amongst the sick. I could, if it were convenient, in few words declare this digestion, and annex it to this Treatise; but it is not convenient, by reason of many secrets which depend thereon; wherefore this Treatise shall be only of the Preparation of (antimony) concerning the Use, I will write another Treatise; by the which, ye shall understand what Paracelsus hath written De Arcanis & Elixiribus, in his Archidoxes. That I write no Receipts in this Book, is, because I will not seduce you, for Receipts are Deceipts to the young Physicians. Further, there is no Receipt in Paracelsus concerning [Page 55] Secrets in Physick, which hath not an occult sense, and hath either too much or too little; and this is done, not without great reason.
So hath this Treatise of (antimony) an end; in which we have spoken, What (antimony) is, in the first Chapter; in the second, How Mercury is made out of it; in the third, How it must be regenerated by Heaven; in the fourth, How out of Luna Physical Sol must be made; in the fifth, What is further necessary for a Physician to know e're he use this Gold? So much have I undertaken to write of (antimony) for the young Physicians sake, who know not what (antimony) is, that they may not be seduced by the Galenisis, who are not ashamed to write of this Mineral that which they never experimented; what I write, I know that it is true, and this [Page 56] Work hath not once only gone through my hands, and I know it much better than the Shoomaker his Last: Wherefore then may I not write what is true?
Although the Devil be never so black and base, yet in this he cannot bite me: Physick concerneth the Body and the Life, he that writeth any thing thereof, which he cannot prove by his practice, is a Murtherer: For then shall the Galenists escape, whether will they go? Therefore, Reader, if you will take pains, apply thy self to this way as to a firm Rock which is unmovable; yet I pray thee that thou attempt not this Work Illotis manibus, that is, if you understand it not, it belongeth not to you: Ye young Paracelseans, I will also admonish you, Do not as the contrary part doth, dispute [Page 57] not much of Physick in your Prefaces, and defend your Masters not only with words, but also by your practice; by your words, you will as soon win the Galenists, as the Apostles did the Heathen by Preaching. Works do all; ye must therefore work; so much as ye perform by Works, so much ye are to be called Paracelsians: Be diligent and careful, for not every one that glorieth that he is of Paracelsus, can do Paracelsus Works; keep your selves from undigested Writings; the Rose hath time for its growth; when your time is come, help the Truth by Words and Works; so shall you tryumph over your Enemies, as Theophrastus did in his life time. Thus I conclude this Treatise. Expect a better.
This have I written in Dutch, that Artificers, Mechanicks, Yeomen, who buy (antimony) and work on it, may know, that they do ill to meddle with that which they understand not.
ALFX. Van SUCHTEN OF ANTIMONY VULGAR.
The SECOND TREATISE.
LONDON, Printed, and are to be sold by Moses Pitt at the White Hart in Little Britain, 1670.
To the Honourable John Baptista Van Seebach.
MY Honourable Patron, and good Friend, my humble Service in the first place presented to you: At your earnest Request I cannot but accomplish your desires, seeing you have a great love and and affection, by experience to find out the Secrets of Nature, which at this time are known to few, and even wholly hid in darkness. Although many of the Ancients have written thereof, and their Books dispersed, yet are they written in a Magick [Page 62] stile, and profitable to none but those who from their youth have been trained up in the Magick, or instructed by God in such Secrets. Therefore the Secrets for which you humble your self are in a deep pit, strongly locked up, so that no man can open them unless he have received the Key from the Spirit of Truth. Of the Magical (antimony), or of that (antimony) of the Ancients will I speak nothing in this Treatise, seeing that men will know nothing of it; but what they read of it they apply only to common (antimony); of the which you only desire a Treatise, which I will freely communicate to you, and will write, 1. What it is. 2. Of what parts it is compounded. 3. Into what it may be resolved again.
And you shall in this Treatise understand me no otherwise than [Page 63] according to the Letter; for I will use here no Metaphors, Allegories, or Similitudes; only I will describe (antimony) with a plain stile, that you may not be deceived, though you prepare it according to the Letter, and ye shall obtain that of which I write; by these you may also judge whether in common (antimony) that secret, or Chymical & Physical Mystery be or not, of the which Paracelsus and the Magicians have written.
Now (antimony) as it cometh out of the Mountains, is not pure as it should be; for it is mingled with Stones of the Mine. I never saw any that came forth pure from the Mountains; therefore ere one use it, it must be purified, which purification is done by digestion; but this digestion is a sulphureous Fire. The best 🜍 [Page 64] is a 🜍 Metalline, and although Artists do purifie it with the vegetable fire, that is with Tartar, yet is this digestion not natural, But that the Tartar divideth the Regulus from its Faeces, this is the cause that the 🜍 of (antimony) is more Vegetable than Metalline; but you shall purifie it with 🜍 that is sprung from Mercury, and not from Salts; for this Metalline 🜍 will be reduced in the Arg. vive of (antimony) into Arg. vive, and lastly, out of this Arg. vive will pure Gold be made. Now this Metalline 🜍 that purifieth (antimony) is only in ♂, & no where else, & this purification is done thus; R. ♂ or Iron ℥ 4 (I am wont to take pieces of Nails which are neither gross nor thick) put them into a strong Crucible, and set them in a wind Furnace, let it stand so long till [Page 65] you see the Nails or Iron are soft, then put into the Crucible ℥ 8. of (antimony), make a strong fire that the ♂ may flow well in the (antimony), then cast into the Crucible with an Iron Ladle a good handful of Salt-petre; let them boil up together in the Crucible (let the Crucible therefore be considerably great, that it boil not out) and let it stand till all be quiet and flowing, then cast it forth into a casting-pot, so the Regulus setleth it self. So soon as the matter is coagulated in the Puckle-pot, put it out, and let it cool, and strike the Faeces from the Regulus, which appeareth & shineth like a Marchasite: The Faeces you may lay up till you know what to do with it; for in it is a Mystery, of which I will not speak at this time. Put the Regulus into a Crucible again, and let it flow; when it [Page 66] floweth, then cast therein one ℥ and ½ of (antimony), & let them flow well to gether, then put in it as much Nitre as you did before, let it flow as ye did at the first time, cast it into the Puckle, strike the Regulus off from the Faeces, this Regulus is purer & finer than the first, cast away the Faeces, for they are nothing worth, let this Regulus melt the third time in a Crucible, and when it floweth, poure thereon a Ladle full of Nitre, and when you see that the Nitre floweth on the Metal as an Oyl (which must be done with a strong fire, otherwise the Nitre coagulateth it self, and will be hard) then cast it into a Puckle, strike the Regulus from the Faeces; this Regulus is yet finer, purer and more Metalline than the former; the Faeces are nothing worth. Fourthly, let this [Page 67] Regulus melt in a clean Crucible, and when it is melted as pure ☽, cast some Nitre thereon, let it penetrate through each other, & then cast it into a Puckle, beat the Faeces off from the Regulus, which Faeces will be of a golden colour, and then it is prepared. The Regulus will be white as ☽, and have above a fine Star; this Regulus if it be rightly wrought, will weigh four Ounces, and the work may well be finished in two hours (some Copies say twelve hours) and in this manner is common (antimony) prepared, wherein you shall mark this piece, viz. what it is that thus divideth the Faeces from the (antimony), you shall not think that Nitre doth it; but (antimony) draweth forth the soul of ♂, and reduceth the same into ☿, and this ☿ is nothing else but fire. know that Antimony draweth forth the soul from ♂, that is, his best 🜍, and reduceth the same into ☿; this ☿ is nothing else but fire, and hath [Page 68] the operation of fire, which digesteth the crude ☿ into (antimony), and divideth the Mine from the Metal; you shall also know that this ☿ of ♂ is hid in this purged (antimony), under the whiteness of Antimonial Mercury; for this Lunary whiteness which you see in this Regulus is not from his 🜍, but from Arg. vive, under which lurkethThis ☿ Martis is ☉, and a Spirit, or Air, and remaineth in ☿ till it be made a body, that is ☉. Mercury of Mars, which is nothing else than Sol: this ☿ of Mars is also nothing else in the aforesaid ☿ of (antimony) than as a Spirit or an Air, and remaineth so long living in the Arg. vive of (antimony), till out of it be made a body again, that is 🜔, and then divideth it self from the ☿ of (antimony).
So now you understand what that fire is which thus purifieth common Antimony; you must also understand what that fire is which purifieth and digesteth [Page 69] Magical Antimony, that is, what that Sol Philosophor. is which we call ☉ potabile, which even so well divideth it self in the end from ☿ Philosophor. as the ☉ divideth it self from the Arg. vive of Antimony. Therefore it is very necessary that you seriously consider Nature how it worketh, so shall you find what Nature is; not only in common Metals, but even in all things, and in the Metals of Philosophers, which are known to the Wise men. The Alchymists do assay Antimony by Iron; when they have done this, they know not what they have made, nor the working of Nature; [...]or do they know what Nature is here: therefore teach they nothing, but remain Fools and Asses. Seeing that they now have divided Antimony from his Mineral Faeces, they should also [Page 70] know that in this Antimony there is as yet a Faeces, which is nothing else than a burning 🜍; when this 🜍 is divided, so cometh Antimony again into his first matter or being, which is nothing else but fire; and this fire is nothing else but Arg. vive, and this Arg. vive is created out of the greatest Mystery of Nature; but Plato commandeth me to rest here. Vide Nicholas the Allobrogian.
To divide the 🜍 from the purged Antimony is the clear Operation, but therein is a great knowledge hidden: So much thereof as is necessary for the knowledge of this Work will I manifest; but the other for divers Reasons will I pass by.
A thing if it be destroyed and mortified shall be raised again, and made living; and the same thing which is the cause of death [Page 71] by separating the life, must have two powers in it, of separating and vivifying; and these two must be one in power, but two in numbers; for all Mysteries do spring from this Fountain, and are one Essence, wonderfully distributed according to the Will of God; this Will of God is the specifick of every Creature, and a being incomprehensible by sense not less than God. Now is Arg. vive dead in (antimony). Shall it be made living, so must it be raised up by that which it hath been ere it was dead; for that Life is in it very abundant, and incorruptible; there is nothing which is dead can be made living but by his own and proper life, and not by the life of other things; who writeth and teacheth otherwise is no Philosopher; and the destroyed life when it is again made [Page 72] living, is the Ferment of the living things by which it was made living; and that thing is his Augmentation and Multiplication Magical. Hence it followeth that in living things there must be a disposition which is transmutable into the disposition of other things, if it would be raised again; for the will of God that all things must die, is that Specifick of all Creatures which after death augmented it self infinitely.
Now it followeth farther that those living things which are serviceable to our work and manual operation, by which the Metals are also transmuted into Sol, must also have such a Specifick, in that they can be brought thus by no art without Regeneration, as the senseless Alchymists give forth; for were there no Specifick therein, how could they be [Page 73] transmuted, because Species is not transmuted into Species; for if transmutation be not done, so can also no seed grow and augment it self; for that is against Nature; therefore must that living have the nature of water, as you see that a grain of Corn cast into the Earth is made living by water; that is, in the Grain is a dead water, which is by water made living again, and the Ferment of water is that which giveth the water his specifick Nature, so do infinite grains grow from one: So understand in this Operation that the Arg. vive of Antimony ♄ ♃ is dead, and can never more be made living but by Arg. vive. In this manner is Corruption regenerated, and Multiplication of the Form of Metals made.
You may here demand, Seeing [Page 74] the water multiplieth the grains in the earth, and is transmuted into very grains, if also the Arg. vive of Metals multiplied with common ☿, may be made again into a Metal? To this I answer, that this is not possible in common Metals, but in Philosophical Metals it may be done very easily; for our Mercury layeth his Specifick from him, and taketh it again by Art; that is, from him may be made Sol and Luna, which it was before; but why this cannot be done in common Metals there are many Reasons, which I will pass by at this time. Now the Mercury of Antimony shall be living; that is Arg. vive shall be made per Arg. vive; but this cannot be done without mixture; and farther we see that Regulus will not mingle it self with common Arg. vive, because of the 🜍 [Page 75] which is in the Regulus; for seeing the same is not Metalline, it hath no communion with the Arg. vive that is common, and it hindereth the mixture; therefore must there be a medium betwixt common Arg. vive and the Mercury of Antimony; and in this medium must be a separative power, which is not in common arg. vive; for in it is no specifick; and the separative power is a specifick, which coagulateth Mercury. God hath made this arg. vive in the will of man, which notwithstanding is nothing else than common Mercury, and that of the Philosophers. These two remain two in the will of man, that he can bring a specifick into them, which is necessary; for there is none there: according to these things, viz. the separative is a specifick Mercurial; [Page 76] but one must know in what Mercury it is to be found, and by experience it is found, that it is in no other Mercury than in the Mercury of Luna. ☽
Therefore take of Luna purissimae one ounce, reguli praedict. half an ounce, let the ☽ glow well in a Crucible, afterwards cast the regulus on it, so will they melt presently, and stand in the Crucible as fine Arg. vive, cast them into an Ingot, and you shall find a Mass metalline of the colour of Lead; beat this metalline mass to powder, which will easily be done. Afterward take of fine Arg. vive four or five ounces, pour it in a small Phyal-Glass, and then pour the powder on it, let it stand a night and day in B. M. so goeth the powder into Arg. vive; stir it well together, and when the powder is well mingled [Page 77] with the common Arg. vive, then pour it out and amalgam it well on a stone, so will the Amalgam thereof be red, put this Amalgam into a wooden Dish, pour water thereon, and rub it well with a Pestel, so will the water be black; cast this water off in part, put more water on, and rub it till this water be black also; do this so long till the Amalgam be made white; the blackness which is washed from the Amalgam setleth it self in the bottom of the water, which keep, and cast the water away; put this Amalgam again into a Phial, let it stand in B. a night, pour it out and wash it again, so giveth it a blackness again, which pour to the other; wash it so long till it give no more blackness; you may also grind this Amalgam with pure clean Salt, so cometh [Page 78] the blackness the sooner from it: Now when the Amalgam is made clean again, set it again in a Phial in B. a night, and wash it again; reiterate this work so long till no more blackness goeth from the Amalgam, then will it be pure, clean, bright, and white; and mark the more blackness the Amalgam giveth, the more Mercury is resolved from Antimony: So soon as no more blackness shewethAbstract & cohobat it 7 or 9 times, then 'tis Philosoph. ☿ it self in washing, presently then distil in a Glass retort the Arg. vive from Luna; if the washing be rightly done, so shall you find your Luna bright, clear, and white in the Retort; but if your Luna be of a Leaden colour, it is a sign that it hath as yet some Antimony amongst it; therefore must this washing be done so long and oft till no more blacknes; come forth; the Recipient must [Page 79] be full of cold water e're you distill the Mercury into it, then shall you find a bright Arg. vive, which now is three-fold, viz. Arg. vive Common: Arg. vive of Antimony, and Mercury of Mars: This you must know, that the Mercury of Mars transmuteth not the other two into his Nature, as other Metals do, because Mercurius Martis is not universally and radically mixed with the other two, but divideth it self from them, as you shall hear: Therefore this Arg. vivo is not called Arg. vive of Mars, but Mercury of Antimony; for Antimony is fuller of Mercury. That Arg. vive of Mars which is hid in this Mercury of Antimony, is Sol volatile; and this you may not only believe, but also see it with your Eyes, if you take a little of the Amalgam [Page 80] washed clean, and gently evaporate the Arg. vive from Luna, so remaineth the Aurum volatil, that is the Mercury of Mars, with the Luna, and tingeth the Luna into the highest colour of Sol; but seeing that this Sol is not fixt, the Fire driveth this Tincture from Luna. Here also is a point to be marked, that this Sol volatile, which tingeth Luna only into Gold, but not fixt; who understandeth the cause of this, is not ignorant of the Sophistications of the Alchymists, who would tinge Luna into Sol; for they understand that Mercury alone is the Tincture; but when it is changed into Metals, then it loseth the power of Tinging, and if it were fixt, so is it a fine Metal, for Metals are nothing else than Mercury coagulated or fixed: But in this Work, how [Page 81] Mercury of Antimony tingeth ☽, is a more subtil manual operation, he that will make it, must well know the fire; therefore look well thereto; I my self have oftentimes made it, and I have also oft failed.
Now how the ☿ of ♂ shall be fixed into true ☉, and the ☿ of (antimony) shall be transmuted from other Metals into this Nature, will I not hold from you; for in this operation every one seeth what the Metals are, who hath not his five senses bewitched (I speak of true coagulation, not sophistical) and can mark that it is not possible to make ☉ from ♀, or out of ♄ and ♃ Silver; so sees he also very well that common ☿ will not be coagulated artificially; but the Arg. vive of Metals easily, which before hath been coagulated; yet not every ☿ coagulated, [Page 82] but the ☿ alone of ♂; for in this ☿ of ♂ is found the nature of the last fixation; but in ♄ ♃ ♀ not: therefore cannot any man give them that which they have not from God and Nature: It troubleth me not that many Chymical Books are written against the Truth, what the searcher of Alchymy imagineth and understandeth in his Transmutations, is altogether another thing; therefore can I write of this Sophistry, and speak with Paracelsus, They which und [...]rstand Alchymy according to the l [...]tter, reap nothing but bare straw: Now concerning the ☿ before mentioned, which is distilled from ☉, you shall know that it penetrateth the Metals, and divideth the Elements of the Metals, that is, ☿ and 🜍 from one another; common ☿ doth it not; it must then be acuated by [Page 83] the ☿ of Antimony, and be changed in his nature and essence, as now is declared to you in this operation; you shall also know that every Metal hath his peculiar operation, and is not resolved as another, I will in an hour bring ☿ out of ♄, out of ♀ can I hardly do it in two Moneths; therefore much lieth in the manual operation. The practice how it is performed with the ☿ of Venus must I here shew, for this cause that you may find the Gold which coming from ♂, lieth hid in the ☿ of Venus; that is it of which I have made mention; this ☉ is nothing else than the mercurial spirit which is in ♂, as the Soul in man; but seeing this Sol is no more corporeal, as it was before in ♂, but through the mercurial spirit of Antimony is made a spirit; it can no more be more [Page 84] corporal but only by the Spirit of Salt of Venus. This Spirit is not the ☿ of Venus, also not his 🜍, but a middle betwixt both; when this middle cometh forth of Venus, then do his parts fall in pieces, that is, his ☿ and 🜍; the ☿ of Venus abideth in the ☿ of Antimony; the 🜍 must be washed from it, and is a Sulphureous gray Earth like Ashes.
Take l. 2. of the best Hungarian Vitriol, dissolve it in common 🜄, set it it in a strong Pot over the fire, and cast half a handful of small pieces of Iron therein, let them seeth therein half a quarter of an hour; then put away the water, and put to the Iron the ☿ which you have distilled from ☽, so the Venus which the Iron had reduced from Vitr. amalgamateth it self with the Arg. vive: wash the Amalgam clean, that all the [Page 85] pieces of Iron come from it; now when this Amalgam is wholly pure and clean, let it dry, and then put it into a Glass-Phial, set it in B. M. and let it stand therein eight dayes, so will this Amalgam be of a dark gray; then pour it out, and wash it clean, as men are wont to do to wash an Amalgam in a Dish. The powder which is wash'd from the Amalgam, put a part; put this Amalgam again eight dayes in B. and then wash it as before; this work must be reiterated thrice: But if you would resolve all the ♀ into ☿ and 🜍, then must you do this so oft till that the Amalgam be made into pure Arg. vive; for it will not be done so quickly. When you have had this Amalgam thrice in B. and thrice washed, then distill the Arg. vive from the ♀, as you drew it before from [Page 86] ☽: This is called ☿ of ♀ for it it is no more ☿ vulgar, nor yet ☿ of (antimony), but through the ☿ of ♀ it is fermented and transmuted into the ☿ of ♀. This ☿ of ♀ is a wonderful ☿, as every one can try who shall use it in Chymical Operations. The Precipitate also made of this ☿ is exceeding bright and wonderful in the eyes of Alchymists; but as bright as it is, it is a gross poyson in Physick; keep your self from it, and let not his fine appearance deceive you. In this ☿ of ♀ is 🜔 out of ♂, which I have oft mentioned, yet hidden; it wanteth the frigidity of the Moon, by the which it shall be coagulated in the perpetual and first coagulation of Sol; and the process of coagulation is thus:
Take of the fine ☽ part 1. wherein is no Gold, of this Mercury [Page 87] of Venus parts 4, make an Amalgam thereof, and that the Amalgam may the easier be accomplished, dissolve the Luna in common aq. sortis, and precipitate it with ♀, as it is commonly done, so falleth the ☽ to the bottom, and is a fine bright powder, which may easily by grinding be amalgamated with the Mercury of Venus; wash this Amalgam till it be clean and bright, put it into a Phial, and let it stand 24 hours in B.M. boiling, then will it be as black as a Coal; take it out, grind it on a stone, and wash it clean; this blackness is the Soul of ♂, which is drawn from the Spirit of Antimony, and in this last work is coagulated into Sol; with this Sol there are as yet Faces of 🜍, which separate themselves from the Mercury of Venus through this coagulation; for the [Page 88] Mercury of Venus is alway [...] green in the Superficies, th [...] Green shall be coagulated wi [...] Sol (other Copies say Luna) an [...] being separated from Arg. viv [...] shall be reduced into a body, an [...] so is the Spirit of ♂ found; an [...] so you see what it was, and agai [...], what is from him. Now who hath a desire to take pains, he may try how much ☿ is in one pound of ♂, so much Sol shall he find therein, and not more, and he shall also see that more cost go [...]th to this work than the Sol is worth. The Arg. vive which is in other M [...]tals cannot be so coagulated into Sol; but it continually remaineth living; the Reasons have been shewn before. Thus is the Arg. vive vulgar acuated with the Mercury of Antimony, that it draweth all the Mercury from imperfect Metals, [Page 89] and is transmuted by them into their Nature; as it cometh to pass in ♀, have I here declared by the way of Sol out of ♂, which must be in this work for the purifying of (antimony); so have you also heard how this Sol is again extracted out, and appeareth before the eyes, otherwise you would not believe that the purification of Antimony is done by the Sol in ♂.
Now will I farther write to you what Medicine there is in common (antimony) afterward for a conclusion will I impart to you as to a Brother [...] what farther out of this Reg [...]lus of (antimony) can be made; for I dare not in truth boast, and say, that it is not unknown to me, and I will write to you for a warning (if God give you his Grace that you can understand) what it is that seduceth [Page 90] so many people, yea even the Learned; and captivated them, and brought them even to their Grave.
De Sulphure Antimonii.
Now concerning the other part of (antimony), that is his 🜍, you shall know that it is a fatness, and assimulateth it self to the Fire which is in a black Coal. Therefore take the blackness which you have washen from the Am [...]lgam of ☽ and (antimony), dry it in the Sun, or otherwise in some gentle warmth; so shall you have a powder of a leaden colour, to the which, as yet, some Arg. vive vulgar doth cleave, abiding with it in the washing: So now if you can stifle this powder in a close warmth, as Colliers make wood Coals, then will it [Page 91] be black, and altogether like beaten or powdered Coals: but if you cannot so stifle it, it's no great matter.
Take this powder of a lead colour, put it into a Crucible, put it on the Fire, but make it not to glow, either inwardly or outwardly; so will the Mercury fume away: This powder is inflamed by the warmth, and burneth not as 🜍 with a flame, but as a glimmering dry coal, which giveth no flame: When it is so burnt out, there remaineth in the Crucible a powder, which may be reduced into Regulus: Weigh this powder, so shall you see how much of the Antimony is resolved into his parts, and if you could dry up this powder that it be black, and the Common Mercury cometh from it, so may you reckon how [Page 92] much of the Common Mercury is come into this Mercury of (antimony); and how much of combustible 🜍 was in this Arg. vive: So then you have the knowledge of (antimony) fully; that is, his Element of Arg. vive and 🜍. This is enough to shew what (antimony) is, and how the Common Arg. vive is fermented and acuated through and with it; that it thereby can resolve the other Metals, every one according to his nature and disposition: How it is done in ♀, the process is sufficiently declared for example sake: But how it is to be done in other Metals, viz. how by the ☿ of (antimony), a ☿ may be brought forth, that commit I to the experienc'd and skill'd in the Fire: For it was not my purpose to manifest all things.
The Medicinal sweet (antimony).
It's known to you before to prepare many ways Antimony for Physick, but I have not as yet seen any who have observed the Arcanum in it: The good people imagine that whatsoever is written of Antimony is written of Common Antimony, which notwithstanding they find not by the proof; therefore we may justly think, that the Medicinal Antimony is much another thing, as indeed it is; for the Antimony of the Philosophers is their Mercury, and in it are all Medicines in potentia, therefore it is called Quintessence. In the Vulgar Antimony is not the Quintessence of Physick, but only the Essence of the Element of water, which Essence is a Medicine against [Page 94] the Sicknesses which spring out of the microcosmical Fire: Now the Physick of this Antimony is not in his Mercury, but in his Fire, of the which I have spoken briefly, which you shall in this manner understand; In wood there is a Fire which we must have in our Kitchens to prepare our Meats; so is Antimony a fire by which we digest our Medicines, which thereby receiveth the essence of his Elements, and through this Essence the elemental heat in our sicknesses; for though the Galenists think to drive forth the heat through Purslane, Endive, Night-shade, and other cold Simples, but cannot do it, for the heat looseth it self naturally; so is this Medicinal nature in Antimony vulgar, and not only in it, but in all other things of the which the Element [Page 95] of water is the Mother. Therefore is a Physician even so little bound to this Antimony as a Cook to Beech-wood; for when he hath it not, then he useth Birch or Willow, by the which he cannot so well dress his Meat. Besides this Essential Medicine as well in other things as in Antimony, and it is called in Magick Aurum; but of that Medicine which is prepared by the fire of Antimony, I have nothing to say; it is known of to God, and to those he hath manifested it: The wise men called it Mercurius Philosophor. and it is an Essence which may be changed in all the Elements of Nature and Art; for we know that this Antimony purgeth strongly upward and downward, which is done not by the Essence, but by the body to the which the Essence changeth. Now who [Page 96] can divide the Essence from the Body, he hath found a Medicine that worketh neither upward nor downward, but without purgation finisheth the work, and though through a strong Calcination with Salt Spirit, which is the cause of a Metalline Fusion, it be driven from it, that it causeth neither Vomit nor Stool, but forcèth sweat; yet it is not the Medicine, but (antimony) calcined, which is a poyson as the other Metals are which are strongly calcined, which taken in the Body, manifests it as calcined ♀ ♄ ♂. It may also be well digested by 🜍 Metalline, that it may be red and fixed in the fire, yet is there not in it what the Artist seeketh; therefore all is lost which is begun with this Medicine: there is then a thing which divideth his Essence from his Body, and is to
Of the Secrets in Regulus.
Farther, of divers Arcana's which are in the above-mentioned Regulus, I have wonders to tell you; he which hath not throughly searched it will not believe me; for God lets not such things be common, and come forth publickly, especially in these base times, in the which Honour and Shame, Virtue and Vice, Lying and Truth are equally prized: Now we seek not the Truth, but Vain-glory; and therefore doth God infatutuate our Senses, and we hate and envy one another, and destroy our wealth, and we our selves are the cause thereof: Farther, I warn you, that I have discovered much, and from my writing you may understand more than [Page 98] I say, but all things shall not be written by reason of Praters and Sophisters, which flatter themselves that they have been of the Council of Jove. I will also by this shew forth my mind to you, and I wish you well from my heart, that you may try in these things as much as my self, and I hope that time will give that which now I cannot, and in time know what I mean. Now that I may keep my promise, you shall know that this Regulus hath deceived the best Philosophers and Chymists of greatest account and reading amongst us; for it is such a rare Mineral that there is scarce the like in the world, and can make even the most Learned and understanding men Fools. What is given me from it, what I have seen from my good Companions mark. In my little Book [Page 99] concerning the Mysteries of Antimony which no man understandeth even to this hour, have I said that Metal might be made out of it. So much belongeth to this point, I did not then much cumber or trouble my self with it, but only explained my self, and manifested the Medicines which are in it, and go under its name; but now know that out of this Regulus all Metals may be made, as Lead, Tin, Copper, Iron, Silver and Sol, and so made, that to the appearance and in hammering, melting, casting proof of the Test, and in the driving by Antimony, they are as good as the natural Metals. Lead which is made thereof is in all proofs good Lead, only it is a little harder than the Natural; but the Lead which is made of Antimony crude, not washed, hath [Page 100] not that hardness; the Tin is exceeding fine, and before coagulation, on the Touchstone so certain as the finest ☽ the Nature of Tin easily taketh it to its self, and is easily made Tin.
With the Copper it is thus also; for so soon as the Odour of Venus is vegetant, it penetrateth the Regulus, and giveth it the Nature of Copper; this operation is done very quickly: I can make an ounce of Regulus into Copper in the time you can eat a soft Egg.
Iron and Antimony are easily changed one into another, therefore is Antimony presently ♂, and out of ♂ is Antimony easily made, and also ♄ ♃ & ♀ may easily be reduced into (antimony), yet ♂ easiest of all. These four Metals I my self have out of Regulus; the other two viz. ☉ & ☽ have I seen my Friend [Page 101] make. The ☽ is bright, and may be cast, hammered and beaten, as other natural ☽, and may be driven off in ♄, and goeth not away from the Test; I thought a long time that it was nothing else but the best ☽; but my Companion said that in weight it was heavier than other ☽, I therefore being jealous what it was, did endeavour to dissolv it in aq. fort. made of Vitriol and Nitre, but it would not touch it; then I was much troubled in my thoughts, and laid it in an aq. Regis, and it dissolved totally, then I thought that in the reduction it would be Sol; but I found a white Powder very like to Tin, which is calcined in aq. fortis; when I reduced this powder, there was thereout a Glass of a Milkie colour, so found I what I had for good ☽; nevertheless I was not content [Page 102] with these proofs, hoping better things, and therefore I took four Ounces of this ☽, and amalgamated it with common ☿, and did set it in a gentle heat four weeks, and it was in the Superficies black and indifferent hard; I took it out, and did beat it to pieces with a hammer, and then did grind it to powder, and afterward by oft rubbing I made it into an Amalgam again as it was before, then drew I the ☿ away in a Retort, and found my ☽ again; this ☽ I amalgamated again, not with common ☿, but with ☿ of (antimony), of the which I have spoken before.
This Amalgam did I set as before three days and nights, and found that the Amalgam the longer it stood the moister it was; in eight dayes it was as melted ♄, and so it stood in the fire a [Page 103] moneth, afterwards I took it out, and distilled it by Retort, and the Mercury of Antimony, and the ☽ came all from the Retort, and were a Mercury; so know I that the ☽ made of Regulus was nothing else than Mercury coagulated, and not constant in a Metalline form, but goeth away again, and will be Mercury, which thing might well make a Chymist a Fool. Now come I to ☉, and to tell you what happened to me is a wonder; when I had shewed to my good Companion, who thought nothing else than that he had got a great prize, he would not believe it, but took it into his own hands, and at length found the truth, and began to question his ☉, and he spake, although I have oftentimes tried it, yet will not I trust my self, but take this half ounce of Gold and [Page 104] try it as you please. Mr. Hans the Goldsmith saith it is true Gold. So took I the ☉ and brought it to the Goldsmith, and asked him if it were Gold, he said it was, and he could work it for ☉; for to the Sight, Touchstone and Hammer it was very good ☉. Nevertheless I took the ☉ and did put to it 2 ℥ of ☽ to granulate and divide it in aq. fort. the ☽ dissolved it self, the ☉ fell to the bottom; this proof was true; this Sol powder I mixed with (antimony) crude, and cast it through Regulus; let it flow in a Crucible and cast Nitre upon it, and drew the (antimony) from the Sol, and drew it off with ♄, this trial I found it also true. This Sol driven off did I cast again through, with (antimony) and 🜍; then took I the Regulus and let them go away before the Goldsmiths Bellows, for I had none; this trial [Page 105] the Sol stood also, on which every Chymist may justly rejoice.
Nevertheless seeing the Luna had deceived me, therefore could I not trust the Sol, but causeth it to be beaten thin, and amalgamated it with my ☿ of (antimony), and did set it four Weeks in a gentle warmth, and took notice that the Amalgam was not hard, but soft, which was grievous to me; nevertheless I did let it stand four weeks, and found my Amalgam much moister than when I put it in; then did I put it into a Crucible over a small fire, that the Crucible did not fully glow, and my ☿ flew away incredible swiftly from the ☉ that I did not mark it, but thought that my ☿ was coagulated into ☉, but when I weighed my ☉, I found no more than half an Ounce &2 drams. 2 Quintileins, and thought certainly [Page 106] that the two Quintileins were pure Gold.
These two Quintileins I proved farther with ☿ of (antimony) in the same manner as at the first time; then at length I evaporated the Mercury from it, and found my two Quintileins again; then was I merry, and hoped that my Companion would communicate his Preparation to me, and I had Golden Mountains in my head, and I brought a good Message to my Companion; but he himself was not merry, but spake evil of it. Well, said he, I have had great labour and pains with this ☉, and more than I do say: What cannot be that cannot I desire: But let it be a fine sophistication that which hath been made, for the Gold-seeking Alchymists which run hither and thither, to day devouring one to morrow another. The [Page 107] Gold which remaineth over and above to thee is not come from the Regulus, but is a Composition of the Natural ☉; for I could not coagulate the Regulus into ☉ if there be not good Gold with it; this Sol hath remained in the Test, but the other not, I know not how to bring it farther; and now understand the cause well, that that cannot be that I hoped. This fell into the mind of my Companion, and I feared the manual operation and thought of my Metals. He spake that the 🜍 of (antimony) which coagulateth the Mercury is not united to it in radice, and therefore remaineth not with it, and if thou searchest throughly, thy Regulus will not be again ♄ ♃ ♀ ♂ and remain so, but will be Mercury again, which neither you nor any other can coagulate to a good Metal, as some imagine, when [Page 108] they have the ☿ of ☉ ☽ ♄, that the Art will not fail then; but it is a Lunatick Melancholick Phantasie, from the which they that are not experienced in Alchymy, but only Book-learned, and have gone on hear-say, can make Arguments, and conclude by themselves, but when they come to the fire they see their Folly. Tell me when a dead thing is made living. When is his bound of Nature, in Death or in Life? What hath it been before death or life? Shall any come to this immutable sixt principle? what seekest thou then in Metals vivified? But these things speak I not to thee, nor of thee, but of the Alchymists, for whom pray God that he deliver them from such unreasonable men.
Of this sort discoursed we much together, and seeing I then [Page 109] was not so intangled, as to hold the printed Books of Alchymy for Gospels; but being led with I know not what Spirit, I doubted more than believed, therefore I alwayes did think of the cause wherefore Alchymy was written by the first Philosophers, and did very often treat with this my good Friend and Companion, well skilled in the Fire, concerning our (antimony) ♄ ♃ ♀ ♂ ☉ & ☽, in all which I found that true which the Chymists put together for the Alchymical Art, and am in good hope that he will put from him this phantasie, and think after the Philosophical Metals. Now so much as belongeth to you, Noble Patron and Friend, there is as yet one thing to be handled pertaining to this operation, which I neither can nor will hold from you the Chymists, as Rhafis, Peter [Page 110] Bonus, Ferrar. Trevisan, and the other of the Dialogue, and many other who have well examined these imperfect Metals, and had good experience, they at length remain in this opinion that it is impossible to make Sol by Art, but out of Arg. vive. Seeing they see that Sol is nothing else than Arg. vive coagulated with its proper 🜍 and fixed, now have they also well understood by their operations, that Mercury cannot be fixed into perfect Sol, unless Sol be dissolved and brought into Mercury; this opinion have they taken from this ground, that they see that Nature could not fix that Arg. vive of ♄ ♃ ♀ with the external 🜍 which cleaveth unto them; much less shall Art do it; whereupon they thought to take an Arg. vive which hath been perfectly fixed before, and [Page 111] to mix this Arg. vive with common Mercury, or other Metals, that both may be one Individuum; but seeing this mixture cannot be done with common Sol, they have taken the Sol in Mars, and have thought to mix it so with the common Mercury that they should never be separated, but that the Sol should alwayes remain with the Mercury, and the Mercury with Sol, that is, where the Sol is coagulated again, and also the Mercury is coagulated and fixed: in this practise every one hath had his way of working, according to his understanding, and have spent long time herein; but thus much is certain to me, that they alwayes died ere they obtained the end of their speculation. Therefore saith the worthy Trithemius, That Alchymy is a perpetual Virgin, [Page 112] and writeth of it thus, Chymia is beloved by many, and yet she is chast; she hath many domestick servants, which keep their Mistress with watchful Eyes, and oft take upon themselves her name, that they may preserve her from the embracements of so many importunate Lovers, and always unpolluted: Vanity, fraud, deceipt, sophistication, covetousness, falseness, boldness, lying, foolishness, poverty, desparation, proscription, cheating, are the Lacqueys of Chymistry; who feigning themselves to be the Mistress, that they may keep her unravished, do freely prostitute themselves to rich, covetous, worldly and proud Lovers: Thus much. He that will not believe this true Man, may search and try according to his fantasie, as I and others have sufficiently done: What I have told you here, [Page 113] cometh from experience that it is so; who hath a desire to spend his Money and Time thereon, he shall also find it so.
Thus have I finished what I promised to write of the ☿ of (antimony), and also what the Ancients have sought and found in this ☿ of (antimony), all which I have truly declared; on which you may conclude whether this Mineral is known to me or not: They which boast that they can make the ☿ of Metals without Arg. vive, they give us to understand that they are not Philosophers, and that they know not what Corruption, Regeneration and the Multiplication of things is, and if they did rightly behold their work, they would see that they are deceived: Let Boasters be Boasters; believe in these things nothing but what your eyes see, and consider alwayes [Page 114] the possibility of Nature, so shall you easily come out of this Laby [...]inth.
Lastly, I desire you that you would not be offended that I have held you so long with this Treatise; the condition which at present I suffer, permits little rest to write of this Operation; therefore have I cast it on the Paper so miserably; when I have more leisure, I will finish other Writings, which as yet for want of opportunity I cannot. The Alchymists everlasting God illuminate the Lovers of Truth with his Spirit, and bring them out of the Bonds of thick darkness and unprofitable Talk of supposed Learned men, Amen.
ADDITION OUT OF THE HALIGRAPHIA OF BASIL VALENTINE. How to make the Salt of Antimony.
POwder good Hungarian Antimony small as Meal, and calcine it over a gentle Cole-fire, as men usually do, alwaies stirring it with an Iron till all be whitish, and it smoke no more, but at length endureth an indifferent strong Fire; then put it into a Crucible, and melt it into a transparent Yellow Glass; beat this Glass small, put it into a [Page 116] retort Glass, and pour on it strong distilled Wine vin. let it stand in a gentle warmth, and the Vinegar will extract the tincture of (antimony), and will be coloured very high, which Tincture or extract of (antimony) may be farther prepared, and may be used for an excellent Medicine. [...] Bas. Val. Trium mag.
Now when the Tincture is all extracted, and coloureth no more the Vinegar, then dry the Powder at the bottom wholly, which will be black, grind it with so much yellow 🜍, put it into a melting-pot well luted, and put it into an indifferent Fire till the 🜍 be wholly burnt away, then grind the matter remaining very small, and pour on it new distilled Vinegar and draw the Salt thereby, and afterward through reiterated distillations draw off the eagerness of the Vinegar [Page 117] from it, and clarifie the Salt with the Spirit of Wine till it be bright, clear and white, if thou hast wrought rightly, thou hast the Salt of (antimony) wholly fixt & active, although there is another way to make the Salt of (antimony), which is writte elsewhere, Dos. 4 gr. it is equal to the Salt of ☉, and cureth all Diseases, it may easily be made Sol.
THE USE OF THE Salt of ANTIMONY.
THis Salt of Antimony is of a wonderful operation; for it performs almost all that the Salt of Gold doth, given in like quantity; it cleanseth the whole body of man, purifieth the Bloud, expels all Evils, consumes all obnoxious Humours, whence all open Sores have their beginning and recourse to; it cures the [Page 119] French Pox, taken four gr. at the most with a dram of the distilled water of Lignum Vitae, sweating upon it, and this used daily till amendment.
The water of Lignum Vitae is thus made; First, Grind it small, then moisten it with good Spirit of Wine in a Vessel close stopt; let it stand certain days in a gentle heat; this done, pour a good quantity of Fumitory water, or Scabious water upon it; digest them 14 days in a Bath, then distill it; reserve the Liquor apart, and the Oyl apart in Glasses close stopt; use the Water with the Salt of Antimony. It is likewise used with good success in other Diseases, whereof we treated in another place; but an understanding Physician knows very well what Virtues are in Guiacum, and what benefit it doth in [Page 120] the cure of diseases. There are other ways to distil a Water and Oyl of the said Wood, which is needless here to be mentioned.
The Salt of Antimony checks the Leprosie, and other deep rooted Diseases; it is good against the Gout, and weakness of the Joints, purifies and makes good bloud, corroborates the Heart, and the Balsam of mans Body, drunk with a spoonful of Aqua vitae; it restoreth lost strength, opens all internal Imposthumes, clenses all external corroding old Sores, being strewed into them, or duly applied with good and convenient Plaisters or Ointments, Being dissolved in good distilled Wine Vinegar, it doth in a short time bring great ease to evil and incurable Sores to all Admiration. Being drunk with waters of Wormwood or Carduus [Page 121] Benedictus, it cures all Agues of long standing, which are deeply rooted, and admit no Cure, especially the quartane; being drunk with Mint or Wormwood-water, it causeth good Digestion; drunk with waters of Speedwel, Red Corn-Rose-water causeth a good Memory.
This Salt is used in Alchymy or Transmutation of Metals into GoId, if you add to it the fatness which drops out of the Wheels of the Chariot of the Sun whenas the Alchymists Phaeton undertook to drive it, as the Poets describe it in their Alchymistical Fiction. For the excellent Fictions of the Poets which they produce and write concerning the Celestial Gods, are nothing else but Covers to conceal the secret Arts and Mysteries of Alchymy; as of Apollo, when he slew [Page 122] the Serpent Python; as also the Adultery of Mars and Venus; and it shall be proved, as I am of the opinion, that Chymical Operations are revealed in Poetical Fictions when they wrote of the Loves and Venereal Actions of the Gods and Goddesses; as also when they introduce various and wonderful Metamorphoses and Transmutations; for if we should understand their Fables literally, we should prejudice wise Antiquity, to think that such understanding and wise persons should believe, teach and write such and so many wicked things of their Gods.
These BOOKS are to be sold by Moses Pitt at the White Hart in Little Britain.
Folio.
- CAssandra, the fam'd Romance, 1667.
- Brigg's Logarithms.
- Francisci Suarez Metaphysica. 4o.
- Dr. John Pell's Introduction to Algebra, 1668.
- Nich. Mercatoris Logrithmo-Technia, sive Methodus construend; Logarithmos, 1668.
- Jacobi Gregorii Exercitationes Geometricae, 1668.
- Dr. Joh. Wallis, Opera Mechanica, pars 1, & 2, 1670.
- Banister's works.
- Hugh Broughton's Consent of Scripture.
- Snellii
- Typhis Batavus, Lugd. Bat. 1624.
- Observat. Hassiacae.
- Petrus Paaw, de ossibus Amst reod. 1633.
- Bthlia Hebraea, Josephi Athia 1661.
- Gualieri Needh [...]m, Disquisitio Anatomica De Formato Foet [...] 1667.
- Buxtorfius's Epitome of his H [...] brew Grammar, translated int [...] English by John Davis, 1658.
- [...]rom, Scriptores in Scripturam Now in th [...] Press.
- The Fortunate Fool, 1670.
- A letter from a Gentleman [...] the Lord Howards Retinue [...] his Friend in London, Dated [...] Fox, Nov. 1669.
- A Discourse in vindication [...] D [...]s C [...]wles Systeme, and Opin [...] on concerning Brutes. Now i [...] the Press.
- The Adventures of Mr. T. S. a [...] English Merchant, taken Pris [...] ner by the Turks of Argiers.
- Pharmacopoeia Lond. 24. 1668.