A description of new philosophical furnaces, or A new art of distilling, divided into five parts. Whereunto is added a description of the tincture of gold, or the true aurum potabile; also, the first part of the mineral work. Set forth and published for the sakes of them that are studious of the truth. / By John Rudolph Glauber. Set forth in English, by J.F. D.M. — Furni novi philosophici. English.

A description of new philosophical furnaces, or A new art of distilling, divided into five parts. Whereunto is added a description of the tincture of gold, or the true aurum potabile; also, the first part of the mineral work. Set forth and published for the sakes of them that are studious of the truth. / By John Rudolph Glauber. Set forth in English, by J.F. D.M. — Furni novi philosophici. English.

Table of contents

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Title page

To his Honored Friend, JOHN JENISON in the BISHOPRICK of DƲRHAM ESQVIRE.

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A Preface to the Courteous Reader.

Title page

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THE FIRST PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

Of the structure of the first Furnace.

Of the Receivers.

Of Subliming vessels.

The manner of distilling.

How the Spirit of Salt is to be distilled.

Of the use of the spirit of Salt.

A distillation of vegetable oyles, whereby a greater quantity is acquired, then by that common way, by a gourd still.

The cleer oyle of Mastick, and frankincense.

The Quintessence of all vegetables.

The Quintessence of all Metals, and Minerals.

A sweet, and red oyle of metals and minerals.

The oyle, or liquor of Gold.

Oyle of Mars.

Oyle of Venus.

Oyle of Jupiter and Saturne.

Oyle of Mercury.

Oyle of Antimony.

The flowers of Antimony white and vomitive.

The flowers of Antimony, diaphoretical.

Of the external use of the Corrosive oyle of Antimony.

The Oyle of Arsenic and Auripigmentum.

Oyle of Lapis Calaminaris.

The use of the oyle of Lapis Calaminaris.

Of the extrinsecal use of the spirit of salt in the kitchen.

How an acid spirit, or vinegar may be distilled out of all vegetables, as hearbs, woods, roots, seeds, &c.

The spirit of paper and linen cloth.

The spirit of Silk.

The spirit of mans haire, and of other animals, as also of horns.

The spirit of vinegar, honey, and sugar.

How spirits may be made out of the salt of tartar, vitriolated tartar, the spirit of salt tartarizated, and of other such like fixed salts.

And so is Lac Virginis, and the Philosophical Sanguis Draconis made.

The spirits, flowers, and salts of Minerals and stones.

How minerals, and metals may be reduced into flowers, and of their vertues.

Of Gold and Silver.

Flowers of Iron and Copper.

Flowers of Lead and Tin.

Of Mercury.

The flowers of Zinck.

The use.

Flowers of Antimony.

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Title page

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THE SECOND PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

The structure of the second Furnace.

The way or the manner to perform the destillation.

How to make the Acid oyle and the volatile spirit of Vitriol.

Of Vitrioll.

The use and Dose of the Narcotick sulphur of Vitrioll.

Of the use and vertue of the Volatile spirit of Vitrioll.

Of the vertue and use of the corrosive oyle of Vitrioll.

How to make the Vitrioll of Mars and Venus.

The way to make a faire blew Vitrioll out of Luna (that is, silver.)

Of the sweet oyle of Vitriol.

The preparation of the sweet oyle of Vitriol.

The use and Dose of the sweet oyle of Vitriol.

Of the sulphureous volatile and Acide spirit of common Salt, and of Allome.

The manner of preparing.

Of the sulphureous volatile spirit of Minerals and Metals, and of their preparation.

The preparation of the volatile spirits of Metals.

The preparation of the volatile spirit of Minerals.

Another way.

The spirit of Zinck.

The volatile spirit of the Drosse of the Regulus Iron.

How to make a white acid, and a red volatile spirit out of salt nitre.

Of the use of the red volatile spirit.

The use of the white acid spirit of salt nitre.

Aqua Regis.

The preparation of Aurum fulminans or Aurum Tonitruans.

The use of Aurum fulminans.

The use of the Tincture of Gold.

Of the flores of silver and of its medicine.

Of the use of the crystals of silver.

How to subline the Crystals of silver into flores, and then to make a good Medicine of the flores.

How to make a green oyle out of silver.

The use of the green liquor in Alchymy, and for Mechanical operations.

Besides Physick or physical use.

A medicine out of copper externally to be used.

A medicine out of iron or steel.

Of Tin and Lead.

The use of the crystals of Lead and Tin.

Of Mercury.

Of Aqua fortis.

Of the sulphurized spirit of salt nitre.

Of the Clissus.

Of the Tartarifed spirit of nitre.

Of the Tartarised spirit of Antimony.

Of Stone-coles.

Of the Sulphreous spirit of salt nitre or Aqua fortis.

Of the Nitrous spirit of Arsenick.

To make aspirit of Sulphur, crude Tartar and Salt nitre.

To make a spirit out of Salt of Tartar, Sulphur, and Saltnitre.

How to make a spirit of saw dust, sulphur and salt nitre.

To make metallical spirits and flores by the help of salt-nitre and linnen cloth.

Of Gun-powder.

How to make a spirit of Gunpowder.

Of the use of the medicine or Tincture made of the Gunpowder.

To make spirits and flores of Nitre and Coales.

To make flores and spirits of flints, crystals or sand, by adding of coales and salt nitre to them.

To make a spirit and oyle out of Talck with salt nitre.

To make a spirit, flores, and an oyle out of Tin.

To make a spirit, flores and a liquor out of Zinck or speauter.

To make a spirit, flores and oyle of Lapis Calaminaris.

To make a spirit of salt nitre, sulphur and common salt.

To make a spirit, flores and oyle out of salt nitre and Regulus Martis.

To distil Butyrum out of Antimony, Salt and vitriol, like unto that, which is made out of Antimony and Mercury sublimate.

To distil Butyrum of Arsenick and Orpiment.

To make a rare spirit of vitriol.

To make a subtle spirit and pleasant oyle of Zinck.

To distil a spirit and oyle out of lead.

To distill a subtile spirit and oyle out of crude Tartar.

The preparation and the use of the spirit of Tartar.

How to make pretious spirits and oyles out of Tartar joyned with some minerals and metals.

The use of the metallized spirit and oyle of Tartar.

The other way to make a metallised spirit of Tartar.

To distil the spirit and oyle of Lead and Tin.

How to make a Tartarised spirit and oyle out of Iron or Steel and Copper.

How to make a Tartarised spirit of Mercu•y.

How to make a Tartarised spirit of Gold and Silver.

To make a Tartarized spirit of Antimony.

How to make good spirits and oyles out of Pearles, Corals, Crabs-eyes, and other light soluble stones of beasts and fishes.

To distil a spirit out of salt of Tartar and crude Tartar.

How to get a powerful spirit out of the salt of Tartar, by the help of pure sand or peble-stones.

How to extract a blood-red Tincture with spirit of wine out of the liquor of peble-stones.

The use of the Tincture of pebles or flints in Physick.

How by the help of this liquor out of Gold its red colour may be extracted so that it remains white.

Another way to extract a good Tincture out of gold by the help of the liquor of sand or pebles.

What further may be done with the liquor of pebles.

How by the help of this liquor to make trees to grow out of metals; with their colours.

Of the spirit of urine and of the volatile spirit of salt Armoniack.

The process or the manner of making it is this.

Of the use and vertue of the spirit of salt Armoniack.

To distil a blood red oyle of vitriol by the help of the spirit of urine.

The tincture of Vegetables.

Vitriol of copper.

The Tincture of crude Tartar.

To make the oyles or liquors of salts.

To precipitate all metals with it.

The oyle and vitriol of silver.

To extrast a red Tincture out of Antimony or common sulphur.

How to ripen Antimony and common sulphur, so that several sorts of such smels, as vegetables have, arise from thence.

Of the spirit and oyle of Hartshorn.

To make the spirit of mans haire an excellent medicine.

Of the oyle of Ambar.

Of the oyle of soot.

How to make a good oyle out of soot without distilling.

Of the spirit and oyle of haney.

Of the oyle and spirit of sugar.

To distil an excellent spirit and a blood red tincture of corals and sugar.

Of the spirit of Muste or new wine.

Of oyle Olive.

The use of the blessed oyle.

Of the oyle of Wax.

A Spirit good for the Stone.

Of the spirit or acid oyle of Sulphur.

To the courteous Reader.

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Title page

A Preface of the Copper Instrument and Furnace.

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THE THIRD PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

Of Wooden Instruments of that are to be used instead of Stills, Baths, and Cauldrons.

There follows now the preparation of the vessel.

The making of a wooden vessell for a Balneum, which is to be used in stead of copper and leaden Cauldrons for digestion, and distillation by glasse vessels.

A wooden vessell serving for boiling of beere, metheglin, vinegar, &c. as well as copper Iron and tin vessels.

A wooden vessel for a bath for sweet, or minerall water, which may be according as you please, kept warm, for the preserving of health.

Of the use of wooden vessels in distilling, boyling, bathing, &c. And first of the distilling vessel.

And first of the preparation of the lees of wine, beer, hydromel, and other drinkes.

Of the preparation of all kind of corn, as wheat, Oats, Barly, &c. which must goe before the distilling of the spirit.

Of the difference of malting.

Of the fermentution of Malt.

Of the fermentation of Honey.

Of the preparation of fruits, seeds, flowers, hearbs, roots, &c.

An Annotation.

The manner of distilling in generall followeth.

The manner of distilling spices, seeds, flowers, hearbs, roots, Woods, &c.

How Oyles are to be coagulated into Balsames.

The manner of preparing follows.

There followes now the use of the second wooden vessel, which is to be used in stead of those of copper or lead, serving for distillations, digestions, extractions, and fixatious.

And first of a vomitive Extract.

A purging Extract.

A Diaphoretical Extract.

A Diuretical Extract.

A Somniferous Extract.

A Cordial Extract.

Of an odoriferous Extract.

Of Baths.

Of a Bath of sweet or common water.

Of the nature, and property of natural Baths.

And first of sulphureous Bathes that have a subtil acidity.

Now follows the mixture of those subtile mineral, sulphureous, and salt spirits with water.

Of Sulphur Bathes.

The use of the Copper Globe in dry Baths, which are more excellent then the moist in many cases.

Now follows a wooden vessel which is to be used in stead of a Caldron in boyling of Beer, Metheglin, Vinegar, &c.

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Title page

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THE FOVRTH PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

Of making the Furnace.

How minerals are to be tryed.

Of the melting of mines and metals.

Of the separation of metals.

Of separating courser metals.

What is to be held concerning the perfection of Metals.

Another Demonstration by a dry way.

Of the Philosophers Stone.

Whether minerals, As Antimony, Arsenic, Orpin, Cobolt, Zinck▪ Sulphur, &c. may be transmuted into metals, and into what?

Another away of separating the superfluous Antimonial sulphur.

Of the tincture of Sol and Antimony.

Another tincture and medicine of gold.

Of looking glasse.

Metallick mixture for the matter of the glass.

Of the smoothing and polishing looking glasses.

Of metallick glasses.

The colouring of the aforesaid mass follows, in which it is made most like to Gemmes.

Of the preparation of the colours for colouring the mass of flints and Crystals.

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Title page

THE FIFT PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

Of the preparation of the Furnace.

Of the Building of the Furnaces.

A Lute for the erecting of Furnaces.

Of the closing of the joints, hindring the evaporation of subtile spirits.

Another lute for broken glasses.

How those subtile spirits when they are made may be kept that they evaporate not.

How glasse stopples are to be smoothed with grinding for the retaining of spirits in their glass vessels.

Of the making of the best crucibles.

Of the vitrification of earthen vessels belonging to the first and second furnace.

Of the use of the aforesaid cups.

AN APPENDIX.

A Preface to the Reader.

Annotations upon the Appendix of the FIFTH BOOK.

PARAGRAPH I.

PARAG. II.

PARAG. III.

PARAG. IV.

PARAG. V.

PARAG. VI.

PARAG. VII.

PARAG. VIII.

PARAG. IX.

PARAG. X.

PARAG. XI.

PARAG. XII.

PARAG. XIII.

PARAG. XIV.

PARAG. XV.

PARAG. XVI.

PARAG. XVII.

PARAG. XVIII.

PARAG. XIX.

PARAG. X. X.

PARAG. XXI.

PARAG. XXII.

PARAG. XXIII.

PARAG. XXIIII.

PARAG. XXV.

PARAG. XXVI.

PARAG. XXVII.

PARAG. XXVIII.

PARAG. XXIX.

PARAG. XXX.

PARAG. XXXI.

PARAG. XXXII.

PARAG. XXXIII.

PARAG. XXXIV.

PARAG. XXXV.

PARAG. XXXVI.

PARAG. XXXVII.

PARAG. XXXVIII.

The conclusion.

To the Malitious.

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Title page

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OF AƲRƲM POTABILE.

Of the medicinall use of this golden Medicine.

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Title page

A Preface to the Reader.

The first Part of the Minerall Work.

A most profitable process of the separation of gold, out of flints, sand, clay, red and black Talck and other Fossiles, containing very subtile Gold, thin and spongeous, which otherwise cannot be separated either for its scarcity or the obstinacy of the Minerall by reason of the great cost to be bestowed; viz. very easily with the spirit of salt.

Now follows the preparation of flints, and the extraction of the gold contained in them, by the spirit of salt.

Here follows the work to be performed by Funnels.

How impure Gold may be separated and purged by Antimony.

Now follows the way of separating gold silver from Antimony.

Here follows the use of Antimoniall Flowers.

The preparation followeth.

An Admonition.

Of the vertues of this Medicine.

Of the use and dose of this Medicine.

Now follow the vertues which it manifesteth in metallicks.

How the aforesaid Regulus, of the flowerss and dross of Antimony, is to be used in the bettering of course metals, shall be shewen, that art may not be abused.

Now follows its use.

The flux requisite to this worke.

The Contents of the first Part.

The Contents of the second Part.

The Contents of the third Part.

The Contents of the fourth Part.

The Contents of the fifth Part.

Annotations upon the Appendix of the fifth Book.

The Contents of the first part of the Mineral Work.

§

Books Printed, and are to be sold by Thomas Williams at his shop in Little-Brittaine.

§

§

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A DESCRIPTION OF NEW Philosophical Furnaces, OR A new ART of Distilling, divided into five parts. Whereunto is added a Description of the Tincture of GOLD, Or the true AƲRƲM POTABILE; ALSO, The First part of the MINERAL WORK.

Set forth and published for the sakes of them that are studious of the TRUTH.

By JOHN RUDOLPH GLAUBER.

Set forth in English, By J. F. D. M.

LONDON, Printed by Richard Coats, for Tho: Williams, at the Signe of the Bible in Little-Britain. 1651.

[Page]

[Page]

To his Honored Friend, JOHN JENISON in the BISHOPRICK of DƲRHAM ESQVIRE.

SIR,

PErceiving in you a singular ingenuity in penetrating into the Arcana's of nature, and a cheerful forwardness in a charitable improvement of the utmost of your experience in doing good to mankind, especially to the despised poor, [Page] who cannot come with price in their hands, I esteemed it as a service well pleasing to God, and most acceptable to man, to be instrumental in adding somewhat to that experience of yours, and of those of like publick spirit with your self, thereby enabling you to be yet more serviceable to this your generation: I therefore here present you with a rich Cabinet of natures unvaluable Jewels; But know, that it hath many doors, the one whereof as being shut to many, but not to all, I have opened with an English key; the other must be entred by a penetrating judgement quickened with Celestial lightening. Now where there are publick spirits, profound Mediations and a constant industry, Divine illumination is at the door. The [Page] large and boundless secrets of Nature will not attend private interests, nor the deep mysteries of Nature be fathomed by shallow apprehensions, no nor her fair daughters be courted by inconstant servants. But you are otherwise qualified then to despaire of seeing her self in her own colours: She unvailes her self to those only that will admire her beauty, and not to those that will cast dirt in her face, being altogether unable to judge of her features.

This Philosophical Treatise being frequently & profoundly read may be understood, and being understood by you wil qualifie you with such capacities, that you may be able to make not only all the poor in your country rich, but al the sick healthy, and thereby bring to your [Page] self as much honor as mortality need care for. Accept of these my endeavours as proceeding from a sensibleness of your unfeigned love, and respects to him who is

Sir,

Yours affectionatly to love and serve you J. F.

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English Reader,

FInding the second being the greatest part of this treatise in private hands already translated into▪ English by a learned German, I was willing, it being in such a forwardness, to set a aside for thy good, some few hours to teach the other parts thereof speak the same language. It is pitty that such useful and so learned writings should be obscured from the English Nation. Many indeed would not have any that understand no other language but that of England to read any thing of learning but what is originally writ in English: and what is the reason? Is it because they would have England kept in ignorance, or because they think they are not able to understand any thing besides what is writ in their mother tongue. This is my judgem [...]nt that they that be intelligent may understand intelligible things although they do not understand Latin or German words, as well as great linguist themselves: for I do not believe that tongues do enlarge the capacity any otherwise then they enable any one for the reading of learned Anthors. I am so far from having men confined to the knowing of things writ only in their own language, that I wish that all things truely worth knowing were writ in every language of the world, that intelligent men of all Nations may the better understand intelligible things. I abhor to think that any should make a Monopolie of learning which consists more in the undrestanding of [Page] things, then of tongues. Why should any be unwilling that learning and Philosophy both theoretical and practical should be propagated? Are not Philosophers the best moralized men, of the purest lives, and most serviceable in their generation? It shall be my practise as long as I live to be instrumental in promoting true knowledge, wheaher by way of Translation, or any other way of making what is occult manifest. Now as for this treatise in stead of a commendatory Epistle, it is sufficient to say that Glauber is the Author of it. He is carryed upon the wings of Fame throughout the whole world. His Fame all know is great, and flyes high, but his worth surmounts his Fame. He is a Philosopher and Chymist indeed, as appears by this ensuing Treatise, in which are discovered sueh secrets that by the help thereof being understood (as possible they may) the poorest man may in a short time become very rich, the most sickly very healthy, and the basest truely honorable. In this translation look not so much at words as things, as I my self did: and as for Errata's which perhaps may prove many besides what I have observed in my cursory reading, be thou so courteous as to impute them neither to the Printer nor my self, but my absence from the town all the time the book was in the Press. This together with thine acceptance shall oblige

Thy Friend J. F.

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A Preface to the Courteous Reader.

I Have hitherto reserved to my self as secrets, some peculiar furnaces and compendious wayes of distilling, which with diligent study and speculation I found out some few yeers since, by which many excellent works, impossible to be done by the vulgar art, may be performed; but now at last I have, considering with my self how advantagious it may be to the world, determined to conceale this art no longer, but for the good of my neighbour to publish it, by giving to Chymists a perfect and fundamental information of this new invented art, that they may no longer for the future spend their time, and expend their costs in long tedious operations, but may after a more easie way by the help of my furnaces be able to effect many excellent things. Now this book shall be divided into five parts, the first whereof shall teach how to build a furnace, in which incombustible things are distilled and sublimed, and indeed such things which [Page] cannot be done by retort or any other vessels, and how the Spirits, Flowers, and Oyles of Minerals, and Metals may by the help thereof be prepared, as also what their use, and vertues are.

In the second part shall be shewed another furnace, in which combustible things, as Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals are distilled and most perfectly subtilized: by help whereof many most excellent medicaments for the cure of most grievous and otherwise incurable diseases and effects may be prepated.

In the third shall be taught a certain new invention hitherto unknown, of distilling burning spirits, as of Wine, Corne, Fruits, Flowers, Hearbs and Roots; as also the waters of Vegetables and Animals, and that in a great quantity, in a short time, and without much costs; as also of boyling Beer, Hydromel, Wine, and other things, which otherwise are made in Copper or Iron vessels; and all this by the help of wooden vessels, and benefit of a certain smal Copper, or Iron instrument of two or three pound weight, and that after a certain easie maner without furnaces. This newly invented Art doth also teach divers Chymical operations, as putrefactions, digestions, circulations, extractions, abstractions, cohobations, fixations, &c. And this invention is very necessary and profitable for young beginners in this Art, for they need not in the making of burning spirits, waters of Vegetables, Extracts, and other Medicaments so many Furnaces, and so many Copper, Iron, Tin, Earthen and Glass vessels, for it is here taught how all the aforesaid operations may be done only by the help of a certain smal Copper or Iron vessel in wooden vessels as well as by Al [...]mbicks and other great Copper vessels, [Page] by which meanes a great deal of costs is saved,

In the fourth part shall be taught another certaine, and hitherto unknown furnace, in which all Chymical operations may most easily be done: being most profitable for the trying of the natures of Minerals and Metals; as also for the proving, examining, melting, cupelling, and separating of Metals, that nothing may be lost of them, and that after a compendious and easie way, and that also to great advantage.

In the fifth shall be taught how to make and prepare Iron, Earthen, Glass, and other kind of Instruments necessary for the aforesaid four furnaces, as also other necessary, and most profitable Manuals.

And indeed in the first part, the Fabrick of the first furnace being delineated, I shall also shew how by the help thereof may be made Spirits, Oyles, Flowers, and other most profitable Medicaments, also their vertues and use, and that as faithfully as I may, and without fraud. And truly I do not doubt but those of understanding will approve of this work, but ignorant Zoiles will contemne it: For it is said according to the Proverb, He that builds by the high way will hear many things from them that finde fault, and especially from the vulgar, &c. But it would be well if those Thrasoees would put forth something more excellent, before they finde fault with and carp at other mens paines and labours.

Wherefore let no one rashly judge of this work, untill he be throughly informed concerning the same, and then I do not doubt but the Authour shall be by him commended.

And if haply all things shall not presently succeed well, to his minde, with him that shall build this furnace, and [Page] operate therewith, let him think with himself that prehaps he hath erred in some part (for it is a new and unknown work, in which any one may easily erre) and not presently therefore murmur against the Author, blameing him, because he hath not wrote cleer enough, but let him ascribe it to his own ignorance, and let him study to understand the Authours meaning, and still be practising upon it, and then I do not doubt, but he will have better success, which I pray every one may have,

AMEN.

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THE FIRST PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES: CONTAINING A NEW ART OF Making Spirits, Oyles, Flowers, and other Medicaments by the help of the first of those Furnaces, after a most easie, and peculiar manner out of Vegetables, Animals, and that with great profit: ALSO The CHYMICAL and MEDICINAL use thereof.

By JOHN RUDOLPH GLAUBER.

LONDON, Printed by Richard Cotes, for Tho: Williams at the signe of the Bible in Little-Britain. 1652.

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E. The first subliming pot, which is set into the upper hole of the furnace. D. The upper hole of the furnace. F. The second pot. G. The third. H. The fourth.

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A. The ash hole with the wideness of the furnace. B. the middle hole by which the coals and matter to be distilled are cast in. C. A stopple of stone which is to stop the said hole after injection. D. The upper hole with a certain false bottome which is to be filled with sand. E. The cover of the upper hole, which is laid on after the injection of the coales and materials. F. A pipe going out of the receiver, and joyned to the first pot. C. The first receiver, H. The second. I. The third. K. A stoole on which the first receiver stands, having a hole in the middle, through which the neck of the first pot to which a dish is annexed, passeth. L. The dish, through the pipe whereof the refrigerated spirits distill. M. A receiver into which the spirits collected in the dish do flow. N. A screw to be raised higher at pleasure for the better joyning the receiver to the pipe, and it goeth through a stoole. O. The place of the pipe for the distilling of spirit of Vitriol and Allome. P. A grate consisting of two strong cross iron bars, fastened in the furnace, and foure or five more less that are moveable, for the better cleansing of the furnace.

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G. The first crooked pipe fitted to the pipe of the furnace. F. The pipe of the furnace. H. A receiver fitted to that pipe, and set in a tub of water for the accelerating the operations which recipient hath a cover with two holes through the first whereof goeth a single crooked pipe, and through the other two crooked pipes, whereof one goeth into the receiver as did the single, and the other out of the receiver H. into H. H. I. The tub of water. M. A third pipe.

By this way flowers are sublimed, and spirits distilled speedily and in great quantity.

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THE FIRST PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

Of the structure of the first Furnace.

AS for the first Furnace it may be built greater or lesser as you please, a regard being had of the quantity of the water to be distilled, and also either round or square; either of Bricks or by a Potter with Potters clay. Now when the Diameter is of one span, viz. withinside, the height must be of four, viz. one from the bottom to the grate, another from the grate to the hole made for putting in of Coales, and two from thence to the top of the Pipe, which must at least go forth out of the Furnace one span, lest the receivers should by the worms of the Furnace be heated. The Pipe also must have on the fore part a Diameter, answering the third part of the intrinsecal Diameter of the Furnace; also a little larger on the hinder part then the forepart. Let the grate be such a one, as may be taken out at your [Page] pleasure and made clean, being stopt by the water that is cast in and distilled: for it is easily stopt in distilling of Salts melted with the coales, whereby the aire is kept from coming to the fire, and the distillation by consequence hindred; Or let there be put into the vessel cross-wise two strong Iron bars, upon which lay four or five lesser, distant the one from the other the breadth of a finger, going a little out of the Furnace, in which when they are stopt, you may take them with a paire of Tongs, stir them, and cleanse them from the burnt water, and then again put them into their own places: wherefore also the Furnace must on the fore part be open under the grate, that you may the better order the grate.

Also the grate must have above, a covering of Iron or Stone, with a hole in the midle thereof with a certain distinction, which is to be filled with sand, that the cover may the better and more fitly shut the hole, and prevent the exhaling of the spirits which by this means will being forced, go forth thorow the Pipe into the receivers, after you have cast in the water which is to be distilled.

Of the Receivers.

Let the receivers be made of glass, or of strong earth, which may retain the spirits, and such is Waldburgick, Hassiack, Frechheimensian, Siburgic earth, &c. They are better that are made of glass, if they are to be had, and those especially which are made of strong and firme glass, which may be smoothed about the joynts with a Smiris stone, and so fitted that they may the better be joyned together, and then they need not laving (but how they shall be smoothed with the Smiris stone, and be fitted, shall be taught in the fifth part, which treates of Manuals) because by this means they are joyned so close, that no spirits can go through the joynts: otherwise you must close the joynts with the best lute, such as will not let the spirits exhale, which shall be taught in the book treating of Manuals. The form of the recipient you may see in the delineation thereof. As for the quantity thereof, know that by how much the greater they are, [Page] so much the better they are, for then you need the fewer, but the more, by how much the lesser they are. Let the superior orifice be larger then the inferior, so that alwayes another receiver may with its inferior orifice be joyned to it, and let the inferior orifice have a Diameter of three fingers breadth or thereabouts, I mean in case the Diameter of the Furnace be of one span. For a greater Furnace requires greater holes, as also orifices of the receivers, by which means a sufficient, and due proportion of aire may be given to the fire: or if the Diameter of the furnace be more then a span, it must also have two or three pipes (which being considered together should have a wideness answering the wideness of the third part of the Furnace, for so great a wideness, and so much aire is required, if the fire burn freely and do its office) to which vessels of the aforesaid proportion must be applyed, that the fire be not choaked.

Now the figure that is annexed will teach the conjunction of the receivers, as also their application to the furnace. And in the first place the receiver stands in a threefoot stoole bored thorow in the middle, that the neck of the first receiver may pass thorow, to which is applyed a dish with a pipe receiving the dropping spirits: To the first there is joyned a second, and to that a third, and so consequently (viz. neer unto a wall or ladder) so many as you please. Let the upper receiver, and indeed, all the rest be left open; To the lower, as hath been said is joyned a dish with a pipe, by which the distilled spirits run down into another certain glass vessel added thereunto, which being filled is taken away, and another is set in the place of it, because that is set under it without luting, and therefore may easily be changed. And if you please to distil any thing else, you must take away that dish with a pipe, and make it clean, and then joyn it close again (that no spirit may breath forth) to the work of the lower receiver. And if that dish cannot be so closely joyned, that nothing exhale, pour in a spoonful of water, for that doth astringe, neither doth it hurt the spirits, because in the rectifying it is separated.

[Page]

Of Subliming vessels.

These you need not make of glass, or of such earth as may retain the spirits, as hath been above mentioned; it is sufficient if so be they be made of good common potters earth and be well glazed within, viz. of such a form, and figure, as appears by the annexed delineation.

Yet you must choose good earth that will endure the fire, for the lower pots are so heated by the fire, that they would be broken if they should not be made of good earth.

Now I will shew you in general the manner it self of distiling; as also the manual necessaries in every distillation.

The manner of distilling.

In the first place let there be some burning coales put in, which afterwards must be covered with more until the Furnace be full almost to the pipe, which being done let not the uppermost cover be laid over its hole (that the heat and smoke, may pass that way, and not thorow the pipe, and receivers which will thereby be red hot; and this will be a hind [...]ance to the distillation) untill the fire be sufficiently kindled and the furnace be throughly hot; then cast in with an Iron ladle of the water prepared for distillation as much as will cover the coales, which being done, stop the furnace very close, by pressing down strongly the upper cover upon its hole, or sand, which is put in the lower part of the hole being a place made for that purpose. Now let him that casts in any thing thorow the middle hole, presently stop it with a stopple of stone, and that very close, for by this means all those things which were cast in, will be forced after the manner of a thick cloud to break forth through the pipe into the receivers, and there to condense themselves into an acid spirit, or oyle, and thence to distil into the dish set under, through the pipe whereof they do yet distil down further into an other glass receiver. The Coales being burnt out, and all the spirits being come forth, you must cast in more Coales, and more materials, [Page] untill you have got a sufficient quantity of Spirits. In this way of distilling, you may at your pleasure cease, and begin again without any danger.

When you will make clean the Furnace, you need do nothing else, then draw out the Iron bars that ly on the cross bar, that the Caput Mortuum may fall down, which afterwards may be taken away with a fire shovel, which being done you must put in the bars again and [...]ay them on the cross bars as before, upon which you must cast burning coals, and upon them others until there be enough, then on them all being well kindled cast your materials.

When you go to make clean the receivers, and to begin to distil an other thing, you need not remove them, but only pour pure water into them, viz. by their upper receiver, by the descending whereof the other are purified.

And by this way not only out of vegetables, volatiles, and minerals (incombustible) but also out of metals fixed, and stones, spirits, oyles and flowers are drawn forth wonderfully, easily, and in good quantity, which otherwise could never have been done by the vulgar art of distilling.

Now in this furnace are distilled only such materials, which being distilled yeeld an incombustible quantity, as common salt, vitrial, allom, and other minerals, & vessels, each of which doth yet require their peculiar manuals, if operated upon.

Now because this furnace doth not serve for every water, because the materials to be distilled are cast upon burning coals, which are things combustible, I have determined in the second part to give another, viz. a lesser unlike to this, yet convenient to distil all combustible things that are endued with volatile spirits, as Tartar, Hartshorn, Amb [...]r, Salt armoniac, of urine, &c There are by the help hereof made most subtile, volatil, sulphureous spirits of salts, and minerals, as of common salt, vitrial, allom, nitre, antim [...]ny, and of all other minerals, and metals, which otherwise without this furnace could not have been made, with which spirits wonderful things are performed in Medicine, and Alchymie, as in the second part shall be demonstrated more largely.

[Page] Now I will shew you a way to make other receivers belonging to the first furnace, and indeed such as are more fit for some operations, as the former were more fit then others: wherefore let him that will operate choose these, or the other, as he pleaseth.

As therefore the former being erected upwards by a wall, or ladder, by which means the spirit might ascend from one into an other so long, untill being refrigerated, and condensed might again drop downward into the dish that is annexed thereto: so these are a contrary way set and placed collaterall in a vessel filled with cold water to condense the spirits, by which means you need not so many receivers; Also they must not be fashioned like the former, as to be open above, and below, but only above like pots that serve for boyling: but this you must observe that by how much the deeper and larger they are, by so much the better they are.

Also you must joyn them together by the help of earthen pipes, being so distinct, that the spirits may be kept back, being yet hot (and not refrigerated) from passing out of one into the other, but being forced through the middle of the separation of the pipes may go to the bottom of every receiver, and thence arise by another pipe into another receiver that hath a double cover like the former, where again descending to the cold bottom, remain refrigerated, and condensed. Now three or four of these are enough (whereas of other thirteen or fifteen are required) a regard being had of their greatness.

You may see the figure of these receivers, as also their joyning together by the annexed delineation. Now for the most part one is sufficient for him that distils a few things, especially if the water be not pretious, and then let one crooked earthen pipe at least be joyned, one arme with the pipe that goeth forth of the furnace, the other with the receiver, but so that it go into the receiver downwards, even to the middle thereof, and then you need not shut the orifice of the receivers, for it is no great matter if somewhat evaporate, viz. if the water to be distilled be not pretious▪ And by this way may [Page] new spirits, and new flowers be made every houre, with the help of one furnace, and one recipient but with this caution, that for every new distillation, the recipient be washed with water before it be put to the pipe; which being put to, you may then cast your species into the furnace, and this do till you have a sufficient quantity of spirits.

And this way of distillation serves especially for the trying of the natures and properties of many and divers minerals, such as yeild in the fire spirits, and flowers. For it would be too tedious in every new distillation to apply a new and distinct receiver: as also many studious of the Chymical art would quit their study, being able to make by retort but one tryal in a day. And no wonder if expences, and loss of time should deter many.

Now here there is no need of many Retorts, nor of laving them, without receivers, and such like superfluous things; neither is there here required the constant presence of the operator, the observation of the regiment of fire, the neglect whreof would otherwise endanger the loss of the retorts and receivers, and by consequence the loss of labor. These and such like tedious things are not here to be cared for, because it is sufficient only to cast the water upon the coals, and cover the furnace, and then presently go forth the spirits, and flowers of the same kinde with their mineral: of which when thou hast got a sufficient quantity, thou must draw out the Iron bars, upon which the coals lye, that they may fall down, and be taken away; and whilst the furnace is yet hot, to put in the Iron bars again, and upon them to lay fresh coals, which then will of their own accord be kindled with the heat of the furnace. In the mean time you must take away the receiver, and make it clean and set it to again, or if you had rather put another clean one, viz. for the new distillation of another water.

And by this way divers things may be in the space of 1. hour distilled, and sublimed, viz. in a small quantity. But he that will distil, or sublime in a greater quantity, let him take three or four pots that the spirits may pass from one into another, [Page] that nothing thereof be lost. Here need not (as I said before) the continual presence of the operator, for he may be gone, cease, or repeal as he please, because the work is without danger of breaking the retorts, and receivers.

He that knows the use of this furnace may do many things in a short time without spending much time or cost. For any one may do more by the help thereof in one hour, then in the common way in 24. by which way also there is a great saving of coals, because ten pound of coals will do more this way then a hundred the other. As for example, he that will try shall make a pound of spirit of salt in one hour with 3. 4. or five pounds of coals; whereas after the other way are required fifty or sixty pounds, and at least twenty or thirty hours time, viz. in the common way by the help of retorts: which is indeed very tedious.

Also by this way may be made the flowers of minerals, and metals, in a great quantity, very easily, and in a short time without great cost, so as that in one hours space with three or four pound of coals may a pound of the flowers of Antimony be made. And this is no small help to the Physitian, and Chymist.

Moreover this furnace being once built endures for many yeers, and being broken is easily repaired.

And by this way you shall need only materials to be distilled, no retorts, and receivers are not in danger, by which means much cost is saved.

Besides the aforesaid wayes I have yet another, and that more compendious, viz. of distilling, and subliming, and more easie, by which means in a very little time, an incredible quantity of spirits of salts, and flowers of Minerals, and metals may be made: which I shall refer till another time because for the present I have said enough.

Now I do not doubt but diligent Chymists will follow my steps, and finde out those things which were unknown to me. For it is easier to adde to things founde out, then to finde out things unknown.

The construction therefore of the furnaces being in mine [Page] opinion cleerly shewed, there now follows the manner of distilling, and subliming with it.

Although haply, and contrary to my hope any obscurity should be met withall, yet one process will explain another: and the diligent operator, and searcher of nature shall without doubt by his practise attain the effect after the same manner as I have prescribed. And this is that, which together with the blessing of God may overtake all pious Chymists, Amen.

How the Spirit of Salt is to be distilled.

THE reason why I enter upon the spirit of salt, before I say any thing of the spirits of vegetables, is this, viz. because it is even the chiefest, which can be made in this furnace: for few exceed this in strength and vertues; wherefore I also have given it the preeminency. Neither is there any of the acid spirits, about which the Chymists hitherto have been more busied, then this, wherefore also it was of all, of greatest price, &c. For some have mixed salt with potters clay; and have made this mixture into little bals, which they have for to get the spirit, forced by retort into a very strong fire: some have mixed salt with bole, some with the powder of tyles, others with burnt Allume, &c.

Others using a more compendious way have made salt to flow in a retort, which hath a pipe both in the upper, and hinder part; by the upper pipe of which they have dropped in cold water, to elevate the ponderous spirits of the salt, but by the hinder they have blown with bellows, to force the spirits into the retort: and this way is not altogether to be slighted, yet it hath this inconveniency, that in process of time the retorts are broken, that they can no longer retain the salt, and so the distillation is intercepted. Some have attempted it with Iron retorts, but by this means the spirits have been deaded, because they easily set upon the Iron, whence in stead of spirit they have had flegme. And such, and other [Page] tedious wayes of distilling they have invented; and by the best of them indeed they could scarce distill one pound in 24. or 30. houres space with 50. 60. or 100 pound of coals; this being the reason, because the salt is very little wrought upon, and therefore it is that few ever had the spirit right, and good, whence also the vertues thereof have been unknown.

And this therefore I was willing to make known, that it might appeare, what price this spirit hath hitherto been of, and how easie, and abundantly, and with what little cost, it may after my new invented way be made.

It is said above, that the materials may in this way of distilling be immediately cast into the fire; yet this must be wisely understood. For although some of the species may without any preparation be immediately cast into the fire, yet it doth not follow that all and every one of them must: for in some of them we must use our discretion, as in the distilling of salt. For if the salt be immediately cast into the fire, it will not only yeeld no spirits, but will leap so long upon the coals, untill it finde a descent to the lowest part of the furnace: Now this may be prevented divers wayes; and first indeed after this manner: Dissolve salt in common water, then quench burning coales in this water, that they may be impregnated with the salt, which afterwards set on fire in the furnace: but you must first cast in other burning coals, upon which you must cast those that are impregnated with salt untill the furnace be full, as is above said: and whiles the coales burn the the salt is resolved by the force of the fire into spirit.

Now you must observe that he that distils spirit of salt after this manner must make choice of glass receivers, because the spirit whilest it is hot, penetrates by reason of its wonderful subtilty, those that are earthen. And this spirit is of a most grateful tast. But in defect of glass receivers, I shall shew you another way, wherein you may use those that be of earth.

Mix salt, and vitrial or allome together, grinding them very wel in a morter (for by how much the better they are ground the more spirit they yeeld.) Then cast this mixture into the fire with an Iron ladle, viz. so much of it as will be sufficient [Page] to cover the coals, and then with a great fire the spirits come forth into the receivers, where being coagulated, they distill down into a dish, and thence into another receiver. And if thou knowest how to work aright, the spirits will like water continually run out through the pipe the thickness of a straw; and thou mayest easily every hour make a pound of the spirit. Now the reason why thou shalt by this way have more spirits then by the other, is this, viz. because the vitriol, and allome which is mixed with the salt, makes it flow quickly, by which means it is prevented from falling down through the coals to the lower part of the furnace, but sticking to the coals is almost all of it turned into spirits. The Caput Mortuum, which is reddish, easily fals with the ashes through the grate, and can no more be distilled, but yeelds by excoction a white fixed salt, which serves for the flowing of metals; and being dissolved in warm water serves also for a glyster against the worms, which it kils, and purgeth also the bowels.

Thou wilt object, that the spirit made after this maner is not the true spirit of salt by reason of the mixture of vitriall and allome, but mixed, and compounded. I answer; There can by this way distill no spirit of vitrioll, and allome, being that which I often tryed, casting vitriol, or allome into the furnace, where I received no spirit at all; the reason of this is, because these spirits are far more heavy then the spirit of salt, neither can they ascend so great a height, viz. of three spans, but are burnt, whence unless the flegme, nothing distils. Wherefore the spirit of salt that is made after this manner is not mixed, but pure and meer spirit of salt, of the same tast, and vertue as that is of, that is made by it self; because in this furnace the spirit of allome, and vitriol cannot be made unless a pipe go out of the furnace neer the grate, as you may see by the delineation of the furnace, for otherwise it cannot be made; besides, these spirits are better, and more truly taught in the second part. And if it be granted that somewhat together with the spirit of salt come forth (which is yet impossible) what hurt I pray you comes from thence [Page] either in the solution of metals, or medicine? wherefore the spirit made after this way is not to be suspected. Yet I will satisfie the incredulous, and will shew him another way without the addition of allom, or vitrial, for the distilling of that spirit, but that will be in the second part of this book, where I will teach you the furnace by which is made spirit of nitre, Aqua foris, and amongst combustibles; the oyles of vegetables, and fats of animals and other things which cannot be made by this: and by this way I will satisfie those, who are not pleased with the former.

Now for want of glass receivers we are forced to use earthen, but these cannot retain the spirit of salt made after the aforesaid wayes: in which case I could indeed discover a certain little manual, by vertue of which the aforesaid spirit may be received even in a great quantity in earthen recipients: but for certain causes I shall here be silent, and shal refer it till the edition of the second part. Let it suffice therefore that I mentioned such a thing, wherefore omitting that, I shall proceed to shew you the vertues, and use of this spirit, as well in Alchymie, as in medicine, & other Mechanical arts.

Of the use of the spirit of Salt.

IT is worth while to speak of the power, and vertues of this excellent spirit; what other authors have cleerly described, I shall here pass over, and refer the reader to the writings of those Authors; touching only on some few of which they said nothing.

The Spirit of salt is by most accounted a most excellent medicine, and safely to be used as well inwardly, as outwardly: It extinguisheth a preternatural thirst in hot diseases, abstergeth, and consumeth flegmatique humors in the stomack, exciteth the appetite, is good for them that are hydropical, have the stone, and gout, &c. It is a menstruum dissolving metals, excelling all other therein: For it dissolveth all metals and minerals (excepting silver) and almost all stones (being rightly prepared) and reduceth them into excellent medicaments. [Page] It doth also many excellent things in mechanicall arts.

Neither is it to slighted in the kitchen, for with the help thereof are prepared divers pleasant meats for the sick as well as for those that are in health, yea and better then with vinegar, and other acid things: and it doth more in a small quantity, then vinegar in a great. But especially it serves for those countreys that have no vinegar. It is used also instead of verjuice and the juce of Lymons. For being prepared after this way, it is bought at a cheaper rate then vinegar or juice of Lymons. Neither is it corruptible as expressed juices are, but is bettered by age. Being mixed with Sugar it is an excellent sauce for rost meat. It preserves aso divers kinds of fruits for many yeers. It makes also-raisins, and dryed grapes to swell, so as to acquire their former magnitude again, which are good to refresh a weak stomach in many diseases, and serves for the preparing of divers kinds of meats of flesh and fish; but you must mix some water with the spirit, or else the raisins will contract too much acidity. This spirit doth especially serve for making meats delightfully acid; for whatsoever things are prepared with it, as Chickens, Pigeons, Veale, &c. are of a more pleasant tast then those which are prepared wirh vinegar. Beefe being macerated with it becomes in a few dayes so tender, as if it had been a long time macerated with vinegar. Such, and many more things can the spirit of salt do.

A distillation of vegetable oyles, whereby a greater quantity is acquired, then by that common way, by a gourd still.

AS many distillers as hitherto have been, have bin ignorant of a better way to distill oyles of spices, woods, and seeds, then by a gourd still, or alembick, with a great quantity of water. And although they may also be made by retort, yet there is a great deal of care required, or else they contract an Empyreuma; wherefore that way by a still is alwayes accounted the better, which way indeed is not to be slighted if you distill vegetables of a low price, and such as be oleaginous; [Page] but not so in the distillation of spices, and of other things that are of a greater value, as are Cinnamon, Mace, Saffron, &c. which cannot be distilled in a gourd still without loss, because then there is required a great quantity of water, and by consequence great, and large vessels, to which something adheres, wherefore we lose almost half, which is not to be so much valued in vegetables that are oleaginous, as in annisseed, fennel, and caryoway seed, &c. But the loss made in the distilling of dryer and dearer vegetables, as of Cinnamon, Lignum Rhodii, Cassia, is evident enough, and by consequence not to be slighted. Neither can it be, that all things can be distilled that way, for a good quantity by coction acquireth a gummy tenaciousness, which cannot ascend with the water. But that this way for the future be prevented, I will shew another way to distill the oyles of spices, and other pretious things, which is done with spirit of salt, whereby all the oyle is drawn forth without any loss, the process whereof is this, viz. Fill a gourd with cinnamon or any other wood, or seed, upon which pour so much of the spirit of salt, as will be sufficient to cover the wood, then place it with its Alembick in sand, and give it fire by degrees that the spirit of salt may boyle, and all the oyle will destill off with a little flegme, for the spirit of salt doth with its acrimony penetrate the wood, and freeth the oyle that it may distil off the better and easier. And by this way the oyle is not lost by the addition of that great quantity of water in those great, and large vessels, but is drawn in lesser glass vessels with the addition of a little moysture. Distillation being finished the spirit is poured off by inclination from the wood, being again useful for the same work. And if it hath contracted any impurity from the wood, it may be rectified: but the residue of the spirit which remains in the wood ye may recover, if that wood be cast into the aforesaid furnace upon burning coals, by which means it may come forth again pure, and clear: and by this means we lose none of the spirit of salt. And after this way by help of the spirit of salt are drawn forth oyles of dearer vegetables together with their fruit which cannot be done by a still.

[Page] There are made also by means thereof oyles of gummes and rosins, cleer, and prospicuous.

The cleer oyle of Mastick, and frankincense.

TAke of frankincense, or mastick powdered small as much as will serve to fill the third part of a cornute (which must be coated) upon which pour a sufficient quantity of the spirit of salt, taking heed that the retort be not filled too full, or else the spirit when it boyles, flows over it, then place it in sand, and give fire by degrees, and there will first come out some phlegme, after which a clear transparent oyle together with the spirit of salt, which must be kept by it self, after this a certain yellow oyle which must be received by it self: and last of all there follows a red oyle, which although it is not to be cast away, yet it is very unlike to the first, serving for outward uses, and to be mixed with oyntments and Emplasters, for it doth wonderfully consolidate, and therefore good in new and old wounds. The first being well rectified is in its subtilty, and penetrating faculty not unlike to spirit of wine, and may profitably be used inwardly, and outwardly, viz. in cold affects, but especially in the stiffness of the Nerves caused by cold humors, upon which follows a contraction; but then you must first rub the member contracted with a linnen cloth, that it may be well warmed, into which then the oyle must be chafed with a warm hand. For it doth do wonders in such like affects of the Nerves.

After the same maner may oyles be made out of all gums. The red, tenacious, and stinking oyles of Tartar, Hartshorn, Amber, &c. distilled after the common way by retort are also rectified with spirit of salt so as to become transparent and to lose the Empyreuma contracted by distillation.

Now the cause of the blackness, and fetidness of these kind of oyles is a certain volatile salt which is to be found as well in vegetables, as certain Animals, which is easily mixed with [Page] the oyle, and then makes it of a brown colour. For every volatile salt whether it be of Urine, Tartar, Amber, Hartshorn, and of other vegetables, and Animals, is of this condition, and nature as to exalt, and alter the colours of sulphureous things, and that either for the worse, or for the better: but for the most part it makes oyles thick, black and stinking, as you may see in Amber, Hartshorn, and Tartar. The cause therefore of the blackness, and fetidness of these oyles being known we may the more easily take heed thereof in distilling, and being contracted, correct them again by the help of spirit of salt. For all volatile salt hath contrariety to any acid spirit, and on the other side, every acid spirit hath a contrariety with all volatile salts, that have the nature of salt of Tartar. For metals that are dissolved with acid spirits are as well precipitated with spirit of urine or any volatile salt as with the liquor of salt of Tartar; which shall be more at large declared in the second part.

The volatile salt therefore is by the mortifying acid spirits, as of salt, vitrial, allom, vinegar, &c. deprived of its volatility, and is fixed, by which means being debilitated it forsakes its associate which was infected with blackness by it: it is necessary that we should proceed after the same maner with these fetid oyles, viz. as follows.

Take any fetid oyle of Tartar, Amber, &c. with which fill the fourth part only of a glass cornute, and upon it poure by drops the spirit of salt; and it will begin to be hot, as it is used to be, when Aqua fortis is poured on salt of Tartar; wherefore the spirit is to be poured on it by little and little, and by drops for fear of breaking the glasse: Now the signe of the moriification of the volatile salt is when it ceaseth to make a noise, and then no more is to be poured on, but set your retort in sand, and give fire to it by degrees, as is used to be done in the rectifying of things of easie elevation: and first of all will go forth a certain stinking water, after which comes a transparent clear, and odoriferous oyle, and after that a certain yellow, clear, and also well smelling oyle, but not so as the first, wherefore each must be taken a part by changing [Page] the receivers. Now these oyles become more grateful then those fetid of the shops. For these oyles retaine their cleerness, and fairness, the cause of their fetidness, and redness being taken away by the spirit of salt. In the bottom of the retort remains the black volatile salt with the spirit of salt, from whence it may be sublimed into an odoriferous salt, resembling salt armoniack in tast. The spirit of salt is also deprived of its acidity, and coagulated by the volatile salt, and is like tartarum vitriolatum, appointed also for its uses, as shall be spoken in the second part of the spirit of urine.

After the same manner also are rectified other oyles, which by length of time have contracted a clamminess, as are oyle of Cinnamon, Mace, cloves, &c. with the spirit of salt, if they be rectified by retort, for then they acquire again both the same clearness, and goodness, as they had when they were newly distilled.

Here I must make mention of a certain error of Physitians, not only of ignorant Galenists, but Spagyricks, committed in the preparations of some Chymical medicaments. For many have perswaded themselves that oyle of Tartar, Hartshorn, &c. having lost its stink, is a medicine radically taking away all obstructions; but this must be taken with a graine of salt. For some have rectified these kinds of oyles by calcined vitriol, and by that means have somewhat made them lose their Empyreuma, but withall their vertues: which others observing have conceived that the fetidness thereof is not to be taken away, because the vertue of them is thereby lost, as if the vertue consisted in the fetidness thereof; but that is a very great error, because fetidness is an enemy to the heart and brain, and in it is no good. But this is granted, that they that take away the fetidness of those oyles mortifie the vertues of them. But thou saist, How then must we proceed in taking away their fetidness without the loss of the vertues? Must they be rectified by the spirit of salt? as even now thou taughtest. R. No, for although I said that oyles might be clarified with spirit of salt, yet it doth not follow that my [Page] meaning was that that clarification was the mending of them: this is only a way of clarification, whereby they become more gratefull; and it is not to be slighted, a better being unknown. But how they are to be rectified from their fetidness, and blackness without the loss of their vertues, and to be made more noble, doth not belong to this place, because it cannot be done by this furnace: I shall refer the reader therefore to the second part, where it shall be shewed, how such spirits are to be rectified without the loss of their vertues, which being so prepared may well be accounted for the fourth pillar of Physick. And these things I was willing at least for information sake to shew you, not to offend you, and that because I was moved with pity, and compassion towards my neighbor.

The Quintessence of all vegetables.

POur upon spices, seeds, woods, roots, fruits, flowers, &c. the spirit of wine well rectified, place them in digestion to be extracted, untill all the essence be extracted, with the spirit of wine; then upon this spirit of wine being impregnated pour the best spirit of salt, and being thus mixed together place them in Balneo to digest, untill the oyle be separated and swim above from the spirit of wine, then separate it with a separating glass: or distill off the spirit of wine in Balneo, and a cleer oyle will ascend: for if the spirit of wine be not abstracted, then that oyle will be as red as blood; and it is the true quintessence of that vegetable, from whence by the spirit of wine it was extracted.

The Quintessence of all Metals, and Minerals.

DIssolve any metal (excepting silver, which must be dissolved in Aqua fortis) in the strongest spirit of salt, and draw off the flegme in Balneo: to that which remaines pour the best rectified spirit of wine, put it to digesting, untill the oyle be elevated to the top as red as blood, which is the tincture, [Page] and quintessence of that metal, being a most pretious treasure in medicine.

A sweet, and red oyle of metals and minerals.

DIssolve a metal, or Mineral in spirit of salt, dissolve also an equall weight of salt of wine essentificated; mix these dissolutions, and distill them by retort in a gradual heat, and there will come out an oyle sweet, and as red as blood together with the spirit of salt: and sometimes the neck of the retort, and receiver will be coloured like a Peacocks taile with divers colours, and sometimes with a golden colour.

And because I would without any difference comprehend all metals and minerals under one certain general process; let him that would make the essence of silver take the spirit of nitre, and proceed in all things as was spoken of the other metals. Concerning the use of these essences, I need not speak much thereof; for to him that knows the preparation shall be discovered the use thereof. Concerning the corrosive oyles of metals and minerals, seeing they cannot be described by any one process, it will be worth while to set down what is peculiar to each of them, as followeth.

The oyle, or liquor of Gold.

DIssolve the calx of gold in the spirit of wine (which must be very strong, or else it cannot dissolve it) but in defect of the strongest spirit thereof mix a little of the purest salt-peter; but that oyle is the best which is made with the spirit of salt alone. From the gold dissolved abstract half the solution, and there will remaine a corrosive oyle, upon which pour the expressed juice of limons, and the dissolution will become green, and a few feces fall to the bottom, which may be reduceed in melting. This being done put this green liquor in Balneo and draw off the flegme: that which remains take out, and put upon a marble in a cold moist place, and it will be resolved into a red oyle, which may safely, and without [Page] danger be taken inwardly, curing those that are hurt with Mercury. But especially it is commended in old ulcers of the mouth, tongue, and throat, arising from the French pox, leprousie, scorbute, &c. where the oyle of other things cannot be so safely used. There is not a better medicine in the exulceration, and humors of the glandules, in the ulcers of tongue and jaws, which doth sooner mundifie, and consolidate. Neither yet must we neglect necessary purgings, and sudorifickes for fear of a relapse, the cause not being taken away.

Neither will there any danger follow, whether it be given inwardly, or used outwardly, as in the accustomed use of other medicaments, and gargarismes; for it may dayly, and truly without all danger be used at least three times with a wonderful admiration of a quicke operation.

Oyle of Mars.

DIssolve thin plates of Iron in rectified spirit of salt, take the solution, which is green, of a sweet tast, and smelling like fetid sulphur; & filter it from that filthy and seculent residence: then in a glass gourd in sand abstract all the humidity (viz. with a gentle fire) which will be as insipid as rainwater, because the iron by reason of its dryness hath attracted all the acidity to it self: but in the bottom will remain a masse as red as blood, burning the tongue like fire: It takes away all proud flesh of wounds, and that without all danger. It is to be kept in a glasse close stopt from the aire, lest it be resolved into an oyle, which will be of a yellow colour. But he that desires to have the oyle may set it on a marble in a moist Cellar, and within a day it will be resolved into an oyle which will be in colour betwixt yellow and red: It is a most excellent secret in all corroding ulcers, fustula's, cancer, &c. being an incomparable consolidator, and mundifier. And it is not without profit mixed also with common water to wash the moist, fetid ulcers of the leggs; which cause humors, by [Page] being applyed warm like a bath, for it dryes, and heales suddenly, if withal Purges be administred. It cures also any scab. That red masse (being yet unresolved) being put on the oyle of sand, or flints (of which in the second part) makes a tree to grow in the space of one or two hours, having root, trunk, and boughs: which being taken out, and dryed in the test yeelds good gold, which that tree extracts from the earth, i. e. from the flints, or sand. Thou maist if thou pleasest, more accurately examine this matter.

Oyle of Venus.

SPirit of Salt doth not easily work upon Copper, unless it be first reduced into a calx, and that after this manner. Take plates of Copper made red hot in an open crucible, quench them in cold water, & they will cleave into red scales: then the remainders of the plates make red hot, & quench as before: do this so often till thou hast got a sufficient quantity of the calx; which being dryed, and poudered extract with the rectified spirit of salt, in sand, untill the spirit of salt be sufficiently coloured with a green timcture, which you must decant, and filter, and then abstract from it the superfluous moisture, that there may remain a green thick oyle, which is an excellent remedy for ulcers, especially such are venereal, being applyed outwardly.

Oyle of Jupiter and Saturne.

NEither are these two metals easily dissolved in the spirit of salt, yet being filed are dissolved in the best rectified spirit of salt. But the operation is performed better with the flowers of these metals (the preparation whereof shall be hereafter taught) Take therefore the flowers, upon which in a gourd glass pour the spirit of salt, and presently the spirit will work upon them, especially being set in a warm place; filter the yellow solution, and abstract the humidity [Page] untill there remain a yellow heavy oyle, which is proper against pitrid ulcers.

Oyle of Mercury.

NEither is this easily dissolved with the spirit of salt: but being sublimed with vitriol, and salt is easily dissolved. Being dissolved it yeelds an oyle very corrosive which must be used with discretion, wherefore it is not to be administred unless it be where none of the other are to be had. For I saw a woman suddenly killed with this oyle, being applyed by a certain Chirurgeon. But this oyle is not to be slighted in eating ulcers, tetter, &c. which are mortified by it.

Oyle of Antimony.

CRude Antimony that hath never undergone the fire, is hardly dissolved in spirit of salt: as also the Regulus thereof; but the Regulus being subtilly poudered is more easily wrought upon in case the spirit be sufficiently rectified.

The Vitrum is more easily, but most easily of all the flowers are dissolved, being such as are made after our prescription a little after set down. Neither is Butyrum Antimonii (being made out of sublimed Mercury, and Antimony) any thing else but the Regulus of Antimony dissolved with spirit of salt: for sublimed Mercury being mixed with Antimony, feeling the heat of the fire, is forsaken by the corrosive spirits associating themselves with antimony, whence comes the thick oyle: whilest which is done the sulphur of Antimony is joyned to the quick-silver, and yeelds a Cinnabar, sticking to the neck of the retort; but the residue of the Mercury remains in the bottom with the Caput Mortuum, because a little part thereof doth distill off: And if thou hast skill thou maist recover the whole weight of the Mercury again.

And these things I was willing the rather to shew thee because [Page] many think this is the oyle of Mercury, and therefore that white pouder made thence by the pouring on of abundance of water they call Mercurius vitae, with which there is no mixture at all of Mercury, for it is meer Regulus of Antimony dissolved with spirit of salt, which is again separated, when the water is poured on the antimoniall butter; as is seen by experience: For that white pouder being dryed, and melted in a crucible yeelds partly a yellow glass, and partly also a Regulus, but no Mercury at all.

Whence it doth necessarily follow that that thick oyle is nothing else but Antimony dissolved in spirit of salt. For the flowers of Antimony being mixed with spirit of salt make an oyle in all respects like to that butter which is made of Antimony, and sublimated Mercury; which also is after the same manner by the affusion of a good quantity of water precipitated into a white pouder, which is commonly called Mercurius vitae: It is also by the same way turned into Bezoardicum minerall, viz. by abstracting the spirit of nitre, and it is nothing else but Diaphoretick Antimony.

For it is all one whether that Diaphoretick be made with spirit of nitre, or with nitre it self, viz. corporeal, for these have the same vertues, although some are of opinion that that is to be preferred before the other: but the truth is, there is no difference. But let every one be free in his own judgement, for those things which I have wrote, I have not writ out of ambition, but to finde out the truth.

Now again to our purpose, which is to shew an oyle of antimony made with the spirit of salt.

Take a pound of the flowers of Antimony (of which a little after) upon which pour two pound of the best rectified spirit, mix them well together in a glass, and set them in sand a day, and night to dissolve, then pour out that solution together with the flowers into a retort that is coated, which set in sand, and first give a gentle fire, untill the flegme be come off, then follows a weak spirit with a little stronger fire, for the stronger spirits remaine in the bottom with the Antimony: then give a stronger fire, and there will come forth an oyle like [Page] to the butter of Antimony made with sublimed Mercury, and is appropriated to the same uses, as follows.

The flowers of Antimony white and vomitive.

TAke of this butter as much as you please, upon which in a glass gourd, or any other large glass pour a great quantity of water until the white flowers will precipitate no more; then decant off the water from the flowers, which edulcorate with warm water, and dry with a gentle heat, and thou shalt have a white pouder.

The Dose is, that 1. 2. 3. 8. 10. grains be macerated for the space of a night in wine, which is to be drank in the morning, and it worketh upward, and downward. But it is not to be given to children, those that be old, and weak, but to those that be strong, and accustomed to vomiting. When at any time this infusion is taken and doth not work, as sometimes it fals out, but makes the patient very sick, he must provoke vomiting with his finger, or else it will not work but make those that have taken it to be sick, and debilitated even to death. We must also in the over much working of these flowers drink a draught of warm beer or rather of warm water, decocted with chervil, or parsly, and they will work more mildly. But let not him that is able to bear the operation thereof any way hinder it, for there is the greater hope of recovering his health thereby, for they do excellently purge choler, and evacuate flegme in the stomack, being humors that will not yeeld to other Catharticks; they open obstructions, resist the putrefaction of the blood, the causes of many diseases, such as are feavers, headaches, &c. they are good for them that are leprous, scorbutical, Melancholical, hypochondriacal, infected with the French pox, and in the beginning of the plague. In brief, they do work gallantly, and do many things.

After the taking of them the patient must stay in his bed or at least not go forth of his house for to avoid the aire, or otherwise they may be mistrusted.

[Page] And because of their violence they are feared, and hated, I shall in the fourth part of this book for the sake of the sick set down such as are milder, and safer, such as shall work rather downward then upward, causing easie vomits, which also thou mayest give to children, and those that are old without danger, yet some respect being had of the disease, and age.

The flowers of Antimony, diaphoretical.

THE foresaid flowers if they be cast into melted nitre, and be left a while in melting, are made fixt, so as to become Diaphoretical, and lose their Cathartical vertue. The acid water being separated from the flowers, if it be evaporated, leaves behinde the best spirit of salt, serving for the same, or such like uses again.

Of the external use of the Corrosive oyle of Antimony.

THis oyle hath been long used by Chirurgions, for they have with a feather applyed it to wounds almost uncurable, to separate impurities, for the acceleration of the cure that after other medicaments being applyed may the better operate. But it is better if it be mixed with spirit of salt, for they are easily mixed, and it is made more mild thereby, and the too great corrosive faculty thereof is mitigated. Neither is there any other beside the spirit of salt, with which this oyle can be mixed, unless it be the strongest spirit of nitre, for the weak spirit of Antimony precipitates the butter of Antimony, as you may see in the preparation of Bezoardicum Minerale. But the strongest spirit of nitre dissolving this butter, makes a red solution of wonderful vertue in Chymistry, of which we are not to treat in this place; and if this be drawn off again by distillation, it leaves behinde the first time a fixed Antimony, and Diaphoreticall, which otherwise must be drawn off twice, or thrice, viz. if it be weak, and not able to dissolve the butter without precipitation.

[Page] Now this Bezoardicum, is the best, and safest Diaphoretick in all diseases that require sweat, as in the plague, french pox, feavers, scorbute, leprosie, &c. if it be given from 6. 8. 10. to twenty grains in proper vehicles; it penetrates the whole body, and evacuates all evil humors by sweat and urine.

The Oyle of Arsenic and Auripigmentum.

AS the spirit of salt doth not easily work upon Antimony by reason of the abundance of crude sulphur, unless it be reduced into flowers, in the preparation whereof some part of its sulphur is burnt; so also Arsenic and Auripigmentum are hardly dissolved with spirit of salt, unless they be reduced into flowers, and the spirit of salt be very strong, which may be able to work upon it. These may be distilled by retort like Antimony into a thick heavy oyle; which being used in cancrous eating ulcers exceeds that of Antimony in mortifying, mundifying and purging those evils. After the same manner may corrosive oyles be made out of all the realgars being ordained for outward uses.

Oyle of Lapis Calaminaris.

TAke of the best yellow or red Lapis Calaminaris very subtilly poudered, as much as you please, and pour upon it five or six times as much of rectified spirit of salt, mix and stir them well together, and do not leave them long unstirred, but ever and anon shake the glass with the materials; and this do oftentimes, or else the Lapis calaminaris will grow together into a very hard stone, which can be dissolved no more, which is prevented by the aforesaid often shaking: and when the spirit of salt will dissolve no more thereof in frigido, set the glass in warm sand so long untill the spirit be tinged with a most yellow colour, which then decant, and pour on fresh and again set it in digestion to extract, and do not forget to shake the glass often. The solution being finished filter it, [Page] and cast away the residue of the terra mortua. Afterwards set the solution in sand, and give fire, and almost three parts of the spirit of salt will go over insipid, which is nothing but the flegme, although the spirit was never so well rectified; the reason whereof is the most dry nature of lapis calaminaris▪ to which the spirit of salt is very friendly, and therefore very hard to be separated from it. For I never knew any mineral or metal (beside Zinck) which exceeds lapis calaminaris in dryness. At last when no more flegm will go over, let all things coole; which being done, take out the glass, and thou shalt finde a thick red oyle, as fat as oyle olive, and not very corrosive; for that spirit of salt being almost mortified with lapis calaminaris is deprived of its acidity. This oyle is to be kept from the aire; or else within a few dayes it attracts much aire which it converts into water, and thereby becomes weakened.

This oyle is of wonderful vertue, being used as well inwardly as outwardly. And I wonder that in so long a time there hath been no body, who hath operated in lapis calaminaris & described the nature thereof, seeing it hath in it a golden sulphur (of which thing in the fourth part) for if the terrestreity thereof were separated from it artificially, pure gold would be manifested therein; now the greatest part thereof is volatile, and immature, and cannot easily be reduced into a body in melting, wherefore hitherto that stone hath not [...] esteemed of by Chymists, but to the wise was [...] &c.

The use of the oyle of Lapis Calaminaris.

[...] given from 1. 2. 3. drops to ten and fifteen with sutable vehicles, it purgeth the dropsie, leprosie, gout, and other noxious fixed humors not yeelding to vegetable Catharticks, of which more at large in the second part of the spirit of urine and salt of tartar. It serves outwardly for an excellent vulnerary balsome, the like to which can scarce be shewed, not only in reducing old corrupt wounds, but also [Page] in those that are green, for it doth powerfully dry, mundifie, and consolidate.

It is also used in houshold affaires, for birdlime being dissolved in it yeelds a certain tenacious matter serving to catch birds, mice, &c. about the house or in the field. For it is as permanent in the heat of the Sun, as in the cold of winter, wherefore it may be used at any time of the yeere; all small animals stick to it if they do but touch the matter.

A ligature or string smeered therewith, and bound about any tree prevents the spiders from climbing up thereon, and other kindes of insects that are noxious to the fruit; a thing worth taking notice of.

This oyle is not by the pouring on of water corrupted, neither is it precipitated, as that of Antimony: wherefore it is useful for many things. Common yellow sulphur boyled in it, viz. in a strong fire, so as to be dissolved in it, swims upon it like fat, is thereby purified and made as transparent as yellow pellucid glass, and a better medicine then those common flowers of sulphur: it serves also for other uses, all which to relate here it would be too tedious.

This oyle being mixed with clean sand, and distilled by retort in a fire that is very strong (otherwise the spirit of salt will leave the lapis calaminaris) yeelds a most fiery spirit, the lapis calaminaris remaining in the bottome of the retort.

This spirit is so strong, that it can scarce be kept; it dissolves all metals, and all minerals (excepting silver & sulphur) wherefore by the help thereof many excellent medicaments are made, which cannot be made with the common spirit though never so well rectified, which although it be often rectified, yet is not without flegme, which cannot be separated from it by the power of rectification, so well as with lapis calaminaris.

This spirit doth perform many things in medicine, as in Alchymie, as also in other arts, as you may easily conjecture, but here is not opportunity to speak more of these things, yet [Page] for the sake of the sick I shall add one thing, to which few things are to be compared, the plaine and short process whereof I would not have thee be offended at. And it is this, viz. Mix this spirit with the best rectified spirit of wine, digest this mixture somewhile, and the spirit of salt will separate the spirit of wine, and will make the oyle of wine swim on the top, the volatile salt being mortified: and this oyle is a most incomparable cordial, especially if with the said spirit of wine spices have first been extracted, and with the said spirit of salt, gold hath been dissolved. For then in the digestion of this mixture, the oyle of wine being separated attracts the essence of the cordial species, and of other vegetables, being extracted before with the spirit of wine, as also the tincture of gold, and so by consequence a most efficacious imcomparable and universal medicine for all diseases, fortifying the Humidum radicale, that it way be able to overcome its enemies; for which let praise and glory be given to the immortall God for ever who hath revealed to us so great secrets.

Of the extrinsecal use of the spirit of salt in the kitchen.

I Said before that in stead of vinegar, and verjuice it may be used, as also in stead of the juice of Limons, now it remains that I shew you how it is to be used, and that indeed as wil for the sake of the healthy as the sick▪

Let him therefore that will dress a pullet, pigeons, veale, &c. in the first place put a sufficient quantity of spices, of water, and butter, and then as he pleaseth a greater, or lesser quantity of spirit of salt: and by this means fleshes are sooner made ready being boyled, then that common way; an old hen though the flesh thereof be old is made as tender as a chicken by the addition of this spirit: but he that will use it in stead of the juice of Limons with rost meat, must put into it the pill of limons for preservation sake, because it preserves it. It is used in stead of verjuice by it self alone, or mixed with a little sugar, if it be too acid.

[Page] He that will stew beef, and make it as tender as kid, must first dissolve it in tartar and a little salt before he wets the flesh therewith, and the flesh will not only be preserved but made tender thereby: but to keep flesh a long time you must mix some water therewith, and with weights press down the flesh, that it may be covered with the pickle: for by this means flesh may be preserved a great while.

After the same manner may all kinds of garden fruits be preserved, as cucumbers, purslaine, fennel, broom, German capers, &c. and indeed better then in vinegar. Also flowers, and hearbs may a long while be preserved by the help thereof, so that you may have a rose all the winter.

It preserves also wine, if a little be mixed therewith. A little thereof being mixed with milk precipitates the cheese, which if it be rightly made is never corrupted, being like to such cheese as they call Parmesan. The whey of that milke dissolves Iron, and cures any scab being washed therewith.

With the help of spirit of salt is made with honey, and sugar a most pleasant drink, not unlike to wine. There is made also of certain fruits with the spirit of salt a very good vinegar like to the Rhenish vinegar. Such and many more things, which I wil not now divulge, may be done with spirit of salt▪

And thus have I in some measure taught the use of the spirit of salt, which I would not have you take as if I had revealed all things; for, for brevities sake, as also for some other reasons I have silently passed over many things. Neither do I know all things my self: but those things, which I do know, I have so far declared that others may from thence have hints of seeking further. He that would describe all, & every power & vertue thereof, had need to write a whole volume, that which is not my purpose at this time to do, but may prehaps be done another time. There shall also be shewed in the second part of this book, some secrets which may be prepared by the help of this spirit: as how it may be dulcified to extract the tincture of gold, and of other metals, leaving a white body, which tincture is a medicine not to be slighted. Wherefore now [Page] seeing it is manifest how great things this spirit can do, every one will desire a good quantity for his houshold uses, especially seeing most excellent spirits may be made after an easie and short way.

How an acid spirit, or vinegar may be distilled out of all vegetables, as hearbs, woods, roots, seeds, &c.

FIrst put a few living coals into the furnace, then put upon them the wood that is to be distilled, that it may be burnt: out of which whilest it is burning goes forth the acid spirit thereof into the receiver, where being condensed it fals down into another receiver, resembling almost common vinegar in its smell, wherefore also it is called the vinegar of woods.

And after this manner you may draw forth an acid spirit out of any wood, or vegetable, and that in a great quantity without costs, because the wood to be distilled is put but upon a very few living coals, and upon that another, for one kindles the other; and this spirit requires no more charges then of the wood to be distilled; which is a great difference betwixt this, and the common way of distilling, where besides retorts, is required another fire; and out of a great retort scarce a pound of spirit is drawn in the space of five or six hours; whereas in ours in the space of one day, and that without any cost or labor may be extracted twenty or thirty pound, because the wood is immediately to be cast into the fire to be distilled, and that not in pieces, but whole. Now this spirit (being rectified) may commodiously be used in divers Chymical operations, for it doth easily dissolve animal stones, as the eyes of Crabs, the stones of Perches, and Carps, Corals also and Pearle, &c. as doth vinegar of wine. By means thereof also are dissolved the glasses of metals, as of tin, lead, Antimony, and are extracted, and reduced into sweet oyles.

This vinegar being taken inwardly of it self doth cause sweat wonderfully, wherefore it is good in many diseases, especially that which is made of Oake, Box, Guaiacum, Juniper, [Page] and other heavy woods; for by how much the heavier the woods are, by so much the more acid spirit do they yeeld.

Being used outwardly it mundifies ulcers, wounds, consolidates, extinguisheth, and mitigates inflammations caused by fire, cures the scab, but especially the decoction being made of its own wood in the same. Being mixed with warm water for a bath for the lower part of the body, it cures occult diseases of women; as also malignant ulcers of the leggs.

This spirit therefore deserves some place in the shops, i. e. it is unjustly rejected in the shops, seeing it is easie to be made. In distilling of wormwood and other vegetables, there remaines in the bottome of the furnace ashes, which being extracted with warme water yeelds a salt by decoction, which being again dissolved in its own spirit or vinegar, and filtred, doth by the evaporating of flegme, being placed in a cold place pass into a Crystalline salt, which is of a pleasant tast, not like unto a lixivium, nor unto other salts that are dissolved in aire. This salt is also more efficacious (being reduced into Crystals by its proper Spirit) then that which is made by the help of sulphur, or Aqua fortis, and oyle of Vitrioll, and otherwayes which Chymists, and Apothecaries use.

The spirit of paper and linen cloth.

PEices of linen cloth gathered, and got from Sempsters being cast into the furnace upon living coales yeeld a most acid spirit, which tingeth the nailes, skin, and hair with a yellow colour, restores members destroyed with cold, is good in a gangrene, and erysipelas if linen clothes wet in the same be applyed thereto, &c. The same doth spirit made of paper, viz. of the peices thereof.

[Page]

The spirit of Silk.

AFter the same manner is there a spirit made of pieces of silke, which is not so sharpe as that which is made of linnen and paper, neither doth it tinge the skin, but is most excellent in wounds as wel old as green, and it makes the skin beautiful.

The spirit of mans haire, and of other animals, as also of horns.

OUt of horns also, and hair is made a spirit, but most fetid, wherefore it is not so useful, although otherwise it may serve for divers arts: being rectified it becomes clear and to be of the odour of the spirit of urine. It dissolves common sulphur, and yeelds a water, that cures the scab in a very short time.

Now for this business shreds of woollen cloth undyed may serve, being cast in a good quantity into the furnace. Pieces of cloth dipt in this spirit and hanged in vinyards▪ and fields, keep out Deer and Swine from coming in, because they are afraid of the smell of that spirit as of a huntsman that waits to catch them.

The spirit of vinegar, honey, and sugar.

HE that will distill liquid things, must cast red-hot coals into them, as for example into vinegar in the furnace, or if it be honey, or sugar, let them first be dissolved in water, by which means they will be drunk up by the coales, which being therewith impregnated, must afterwards at several times be cast into the furnace, and be burnt; and whilest the coals are burning that which is incombustible comes forth. And by this means you may distill liquid things in a great [...]uantity.

[Page] Vinegar which is distilled this way, is of the same nature, as that which is distilled in close vessels.

But honey and sugar that are distilled after this manner are a little altered, and acquire other vertues: but how they shall be distilled without the loss of their volatile spirit shall be taught in the second part. Also after this manner may all liquid things being drunk up by living coales be distilled.

Of the use of distilled vinegar many things might be said, but because the books of all the Chymists treat abundantly thereof, I account it needless to repeat what they have writ. Yet this is worth taking notice of, that the sharpest vinegar hath a great affinity with some metals, which may be extractby the help thereof; also dissolved, and reduced into medicaments; yea many things may be made with the help thereof, as the books of all the Chymists testifie.

But there is yet another vinegar, of which there is often mention made in the books of the Philosophers, by the help whereof many wonderful things are performed in the solutions of metals, the name whereof the ancients have been silent in; of which I do not here treat, because it cannot be made by this furnace; but I shall treat of it in another part; yet so that I incur not the curse of the Philosophers.

How spirits may be made out of the salt of tartar, vitriolated tartar, the spirit of salt tartarizated, and of other such like fixed salts.

AS many Chymists as there hath been, almost all have been of the opinion that a spirit cannot be drawn out of salt of tartar, and other fixed salts. For experience hath taught that by retort little or no spirit can be drawn from thence, as I had often experience of before the invention of this furnace: the reason of which thing was the admixtion of sand, earth, bole, pouder of tiles, &c. for to prevent the flowing of salt of tartar being by this means dispersed. But this is done through the ignorance of Authors, who have been ignorant of the properties [Page] of salt of tartar. For a stony matter, as sand, flint, bole, &c. being mixed with salt of tartar, feeling the heat of the fire, and being made red with the same, is joyned to it most closely, so as no spirit can be drawn from thence, but become a most hard stone. For sand, and such things that are like to it, have so great an affinity with the salt of tartar that being once united can scarce ever be separated. Yet it may be made by Art by the addition of pure sand, or flint, because the whole substance of the salt of tartar may be turned into a spirit in the space of one or two hours, as shall be taught in the second part, and it excels all other medicaments in vertue, in curing the stone, and gout. And if by the regiment of art there be left any Caput Mortuum in that distillation, it hath being dissolved in the aire a power to putrefie metals being prepared, and mixed with it, in the space of few hours, so as to make them become black, and to grow up like trees with their roots, trunks, & boughs, which by how much the longer they are so left, become the better. Of calx of lead being subtilized, and of salt of tartar may be made a spiritus gradatorius of wonderful vertues as well in medicine as Alchymie. There is made of the Caput Mortuum, per deliquium a green liquor which doth wonderful things; whence it is proved, That Saturne is not the lowest of the planets; Enough to the wise.

And so is Lac Virginis, and the Philosophical Sanguis Draconis made.

SOmetimes there is found a certain earth, or bole, which hath no affinity with tartar, which being mixed with salt of tartar yeelds a spirit, but very little. But in this furnace may all fixed things be elevated, because the Species not being included in it, but dispersed, being cast upon the fire, are from the fire elevated through the aire, and are being refrigerated in the recipients again condensed, which cannot be so well done by a close retort.

He therefore that will make the spirit of the salt of tartar, need do nothing else then to cast the calcined tartar into [Page] the fire, and it will wholly come over in a spirit: but then there are required glass recipients, because those that are earthen cannot retain it.

And this is the way whereby most fixed salts are distilled into a spirit by the first furnace. In the second furnace (viz. in the furnace of the second part) it may be done better, and easier, where together with the preparation shall be taught the use thereof.

The spirits, flowers, and salts of Minerals and stones.

BY this way spirits may be raised from any minerall or stone, and that without the addition of any other thing: yet so as that the minerals, and stones, as flints, Crystal, talke, lapis calaminaris, Marcasite, Antimony, being ground be with an Iron ladle cast upon the coales, and there will arise together with a certain acid spirit, some salt and flowers, which are to be washed off from the recipients, and filtred, and the flowers will remain in Charta bibula, for the water together with the spirit, and the salt passeth through the filter, all which may be separated, rectified and be kept by themselves for their proper uses. Now this you must know, that you must choose such minerals which have not been touched by the fire, if you desire to have their spirit.

How minerals, and metals may be reduced into flowers, and of their vertues.

HItherto the flowers of metals, and minerals have not been in use, excepting the flowers of Antimony, and sulphur, which are easily sublimed: for Chymists have not dared to attempt the sublimation of other metals, and fixed minerals, being content with the solution of them with Aqua fortis, and corrosive waters, precipitating them with the liquor of salt of tartar, and afterward edulcorating, and drying them; and being so prepared they have called them their flowers: but by which flowers I understand the same water, [Page] which is by the help of fire without the addition of any other thing sublimed, and turned into a most subtile pouder, not to be perceived by the teeth or eyes, which indeed is (in my judgement) to be accounted for the true flowers; when as the flowers which others make are more corporeal, and cannot be so well edulcorated, but retaine some saltness in them, as may be perceived by the increase of their weight, and therefore hurtful to the eyes, and other parts.

But our flowers being by the force of the fire sublimed by themselves, are not only without saltness, but are also so subtile that being taken inwardly presently operate, and put forth their powers, viz. according to the pleasure of the Physitian. Neither is their preparation so costly as the others.

Metals also, and minerals are maturated, and amended in their sublimation, that they may be the more safely taken; but in other preparations they are rather destroyed, and corrupted, as experience witnesseth: Now how these kind of flowers are to be made I shall now teach, and indeed of each metal by it self, whereby the artist in the preparation cannot erre, and first thus.

Of Gold and Silver.

GOld and silver can hardly be brought into flowers, because many are of opinion, that nothing comes from them in the fire, especially from Gold, although it should be left there for ever: which although it be true, viz. that nothing comes from gold in the fire, although it should remaine there a long time, and from silver but a little, except it have copper or any other metal mixed, which yet vapours away but by little and little.

Which I say although it be so▪ yet they being broken and subtilized and scattered upon coales, and so dispersed, may by the force of the fire and help of the aire be sublimed, and reduced into flowers.

Now seeing the aforesaid metals are dear, and of a great [Page] price, and the furnace with its recipients large, I would not that any one should cast them in, especially gold, because he cannot recover them all; but I shall to those that desire to make these flowers shew another way in the second part, whereby they may make them without the loss of the metal; to which I referr the reader. For this furnace serves for the subliming of metals, and minerals, which are not so pretious, the loosing of part whereof is not so much regarded▪ And thus much is said to shew that gold, and silver, although fixed, may be sublimed. Now other metals may more easily be sublimed, yet one more easily then another, neither need they any other preparation but beating small, before they be cast into the fire.

Flowers of Iron and Copper.

TAke of the filings of Iron or Copper, as much as you please, cast them with an Iron laddle upon burning coals, viz. scatteringly, and there wil arise from Iron a red vapour, but from Copper a green, and will be sublimed into the sublimatorie vessels. As the fire abates it must be renewed with fresh coales, and the casting in of these filings be continued, untill you have got a sufficient quantity of flowers, and then you may let all coole. This being done take off the sublimatorie vessels, take out the flowers, and keep them, for they are very good if they be mixed with unguents, and emplasters: and being used inwardly cause vomiting; therefore they are better in Chirurgery, where scarce any thing is to be compared to them. Copper being dissolved in spirit of salt, and precipitated with oyle of vitriol, edulcorated, dryed, and sublimed, yeelds flowers, which being in the aire resolved into a green balsom, is most useful in wounds and old putrid ulcers, and is a most pretious treasure.

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Flowers of Lead and Tin.

YOU need not reduce these metals into small crums, it is sufficient if they be cast in piece by piece, but then you must under the grate put an earthen platter glazed, and filled with water, to gather that which flows down melted, which is to be taken out, and cast again into the fire, and this so often until all the metall be turned into flowers, which afterwards are again, the vessels being cold, to be taken out, as hath been said of the flowers of Mars and Venus. And these flowers are most excellent being mixed with plaisters and oyntments in old and geeen wounds, for they have a greater power to dry, then metals calcined, as experience can testifie.

Of Mercury.

THis is easily reduced into flowers, because it is very volatile, but not for the aforesaid reason, because it leapes in the fire, and seeks to descend. And if you desire to have the flowers thereof, mix it first with sulphur that you may pulverize it, and cast it in mortified. And if you cast into a red hot crucible set in the furnace, a little quick Mercury, viz. by times with a laddle, presently it will fly out, and some part thereof will be resolved into an acid water, which is to be preferred before the flowers in my judgement; but the rest of the Mercury drops into a receiver. But here are required glass vessels, because the aforesaid water is lost in earthen. And this water without doubt doth something in Alchymie: It is also good being applyed outwardly, in the scab, and venereal ulcers.

The flowers of Zinck.

IT is a wonderful metal, and is found in the spagyrical anatomie to be meer sulphur, golden, and immature. Being put upon burning coales doth suddenly fly away wholly; [Page] it is inflamed also, and partly burns like common sulphur, with a flame of another colour, viz. golden purple: and yeelds most gallant white, and light flowers.

The use.

BEing given from 4. 5. 6. grains to 12. they provoke sweat wonderfully, and sometimes vomit, and stooles according to the offending matter. The vertues thereof being exteranlly used are also wonderful, for there are not found better flowers; for they do not only speedily consolidate fresh wounds, but also old, such as alwayes drop water, in which cases they excell all other medicaments. For they are of such dryness, which hath joyned with it a consolidating vertue, as that they do even things incredible. They may be used divers wayes, as to be strewed by themselves putting over them a stiptick plaister, or being brought into a unguent with honey to be put into wounds; which unguents in deep wounds may be boyled to a hardness for the making of small suppositories, which are to be put into the wounds, which must afterwards be covered with some plaister, and preserved from the aire. Being applyed after this manner they cure fundamentally, being mixed with plaisters also they do wonderfull things.

If they be mixed with rose, or raine water, so as to be united together, and afterwards some of this mixture be sometimes every day dropt into red eyes that water, yeelding not to other ophthalmicks, do restore, and heal them.

These flowers being taken up in lint and strewed upon those places of Children that are galled with their urine (those places being first washed with water) heale them quickly. They heale also quickly any excoriation which is contracted by lying long in any sickness, and is very paineful, if they be strewed thereon.

These flowers also are more easily dissolved in corrosive waters, then other metals, and minerals, neither doth the spirit leave them in the fire, but an insipid phlegme only [Page] distils off leaving a fat, and thick oyl, as is above said concerning the lapis calaminaris, being ordained for the same uses, but more efficaciously then that. Which spirit if it be by the violence of fire driven forth, is of so great strength, that it can scarce be kept. And not only spirit of salt, but also Aqua fortis, and Regia may after this manner be exalted, so as to be able to do wonderful things in the separation of metals; but here is not place for these things they shall be spoken of in the fourth part.

But you need not make flowers for this work, because crude Zinck doth the same, although the flowers do it something better: whence it appears that a metal contracts a higher degree of dryness in sublimation.

Flowers of Antimony.

THere is no difficulty to make the flowers of Antimony, for Chymists have a long time made use of them, and because their preparation was tedious, they were not sold at a low rate.

Wherefore there was no body willing to attempt any thing else in them, because they were used only for vomiting; the dose whereof was from 1. 2. 3. 4. grains to 8. and 10. in affects of the stomack and of the head, as also in feavers, plague, morbus gallicus, &c. Neither is it a wonder if Chymists tryed no farther in them, for we see that there are found men in these dayes who perswade themselves that there is nothing which was not found out by the learned ancients, can be found out in these dayes, and if there were any thing to be yet found out it was found out already by them. But this opinion truly is very foolish, as if God gave all things to the ancients, and reserved nothing for them that should come after. Neither indeed do they understand nature in their operations, which works incessantly, and is not wearyed in her labours, &c. But how ever it is manifest that God hath revealed things in these times which were hid from them of [Page] old, and he will not cease to do the same even to the end of the world.

But to return to our purpose againe, which is to shew an easier way of making the flowers of Antimony, whereby a greater quantity may be had, as also that they may serve for other uses.

Take of crude Antimony poudered as much as you please, & first make your furnace red hot, then cast in at once a pound of Antimony, or thereabouts▪ viz. scatteringly upon the coals; and presently it will flow, and mixed with the coals by the force of the fire will be sublimed through the aire into receivers like a cloud, which will there be coagulated into white flowers. Note that when the first coales are burnt up, more must be put in to continue the sublimation, and those must be first kindled before they are put in, lest the flowers be by the dust of the coales arising together with the flowers discoloured, and contract thence a gray colour: but it matters not if you will not use them by themselves to provoke vomiting, because there is no danger thereby, for that colour comes only from the smoake of the coales, wherefore you need not be afraid of them. But let him that dislikes this colour, first kindle the coales before he put them into the furnace, and then he shall have white flowers. Also you must not shut the middle hole▪ through which the coales, and Antimony are cast in, that thereby the fire may burn the more freely: for else the flowers of the superior pots will be yellow and red, by reason of the sulphur of the Antimony, which is sublimed higher then the regulus. Now you may by this way make a pound of the flowers with 3. 4. 5. pound of coals. It is a little that goes away from the Antimony, viz. the combustible sulphur, which is burnt, all the rest going into flowers. You must have a care to provide a sufficient quantity of subliming pots by reason that a large space is required for the sublimation of the flowers.

The flowers that are prepared after this way are sold at a lower rate, so that one pound thereof is cheaper, then half an ounce of those that are made after the other manner. Also [Page] they are safer, as being made with an open and free flame of the fire, for they do not provoke vomit so vehemently; morever the flowers of the lower pots are not vomiting, but diaphoretical, as if they had been prepared with nitre, for thus they are corrected by the fire; And by this way at one and the same operation divers flowers of divers operations may be made, for the flowers of the lower pots are diaphoretical, of the middle a little vomitive, but of the uppermost vehemently vomitive. For by how much the more they have endured the fire, by so much the better are they corrected; from whence the diversity of their power proceeds. Wherefore each of them are to be kept by themselves, and the uppermost for plaisters or butter, or oyle, and those to be made sweet or corrosive thereby; The midle for purging, and vomiting, but the lowermost for sweat, being more excellent then Bezoardicum▪Minerale, or Antinomium Diaphoreticum made with nitre. Truly I do not believe that there is an easier way of making vomiting, and diaphoretical flowers then ours. Now for the use of them, you must know that those that are vomitive are to be administred to those that are strong, and accustomed to vomit: but to children, and old men with discretion, as hath been said above of the butter of Antimony: but those that are diaphoretical may be given without danger to old and young, to those that are in health, and to the sick; in any affection that requires sweat, as in the plague, Morbus Gallicus, scorbute, leprosie, feavers, &c. The Dose of them is from 3. 6. 9. 12. graines to 24. with proper vehicles to sweat in the bed: for they do expel as well by sweat, as by urine all evil humors. And because they that are vomitive are in a greater quantity then those, that are diaphoretical, and not so necessary as these, and there may be many more doses out of them, it is necessary to shew you how those that are vomitive may be turned into diaphoreticall: and that may be done three wayes, the two former whereof I have before shewed concerning the butter of Antimony made of flowers with spirit of salt, the third is this, viz. put flowers in a crucible covered (without luting) lest any thing fall into it, so set them by [Page] themselves in a gentle fire, that they melt not, but be made only darkly glow for the space of some hours, then let them coole, for they are become fixed, and diaphoreticall. Although they had before contracted some yellowness or ash colour, yet by this means they are made white and gallant, fixed, and diaphoretical. Also these flowers are used in stiptick plaisters by reason of their dry nature, with which they are endued.

Also they are melted into a yellow transparent glass, neither is there taught an easier way of reducing Antimony by it self into a yellow transparent glass, where crude Antimony is first sublimed, and being sublimed is melted into glass.

This sublimation serves in stead of calcination, by the help whereof 20. pound are more easily sublimed, then by the help of the other one pound is brought into calx.

Neither is there here any danger of the ascending fumes, because when the Antimony is cast into the fire you may be gone, which is a safe, and easie calcination, whereas the common way requires the continual presence of the artist stirring the matter, who also takes out the matter when it is once grown together, and grinds it again; by which means he hath much to do, before the matter come to a whiteness; but by our way, the matter is at the first time made sufficiently white, and more then by that common way of calcination and agitation. I suppose therefore that I have shewed to him that will make glass of Antimony, the best, and hitherto unknown way; which being taught I hope there is no man will hereafter like a fool go that tedious way of the ancients, but rather follow my steps. For by this way may any Physitian, most easily be able to prepare for himself vomitive and diaphoretical flowers, and also glass of Antimony per [...]se.

Of those flowers may bemade oyles both sweet and corrosive, and other medicaments, as hath been above said of the spirit of salt, and shal afterwards be spoken in the second part.

Let him that will make flowers of the regulus, fairer then those which are made of crude Antimony, east it being poudered into the fire, and in all things proceed as hath been said, and he shall have them, &c. for they are easily sublimed. Now, [Page] how the regulus is to be made after a compendious manner you shall finde in the fourth part. The scory also are sublimed, so as nothing is lost. But he that will make flowers that shall be dissolved in the aire into a liquor must adde some calcined tartar, or some other fixt vegetable salt, and he shall have flowers that will be dissolved in any liquor: but he that will make red flowers as well those that are diaphoretical as those that are purging, must mix Iron, and he shall have flowers like to cinnabar: Let him that desires green, mix copper, if purple, lapis calaminaris.

And thus out of any mineral may be made flowers whether it be fixed, or volatile; for it is forced to fly on high being cast into the fire. And these may be used diversly in Chirurgery, in plaisters and unguents; for they dry, and astringe potently, especially those that are made of lapis calaminaris. Neither are they to be slighted that are made of the golden, and silver marcasite. Those that are made of Arsenic and auripigmentum are poysonous, but are useful for painters. Arsenic, & auripigmentum being calcined with nitre, and then sublimed, yeeld flowers that are safely to be taken inwardly, expelling all poysons by sweat and stoole. For they are corrected two wayes, viz. first by by the nitre, secondly by the fire in the subliming: they are not therefore to be feared, because that Antimony was poysonous before the preparation thereof. For by how much the greater poyson it was before preparation, so much the greater medicine afterwards.

The flowers of sulphur are taught in the second part, although they may also be made by this furnace, viz. the nature, and properties thereof being known by an expert artist or otherwise it is burnt.

So also stones being prepared are brought into flowers, and many other things, of which we need not say any thing, only let him that pleaseth make tryal thereof.

And now I suppose I have made plain, and shewed you cleerly how distillation is to be made in this our first furnace, wherefore I will now end. He therefore that nnderstands and knows the fabrick of the furnace (which he may understand [Page] by the delineation thereof) and the use thereof, will not deny but that I have done a good work, and will not disapprove of my labor.

And this is the best way of distilling, and subliming incombustible things. In the second part you shall finde another furnace in which are distilled, combustible things, as also most subtile spirits, &c. The first furnace serves also for other uses, as the separation of metals; of the pure from the impure; for the making of the central salt, and of the humidum radicale of them all. But because it cannot be done after the aforesaid way, by which things are cast into the fire to get their flowers, and spirits, but after a certain secret Philosophical maner, by the power of a certain secret fire, hitherto concealed by the Philosophers (neither shall I prostrate that secret before all) It is sufficient that I have given a hint of it for further enquirie, and have shewed the way to other things.

FINIS.

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THE SECOND PART OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES: WHEREIN Is described the Nature of the SECOND FVRNACE; By the help whereof all volatile, subtle and combustible things can be distilled. Whether they be Vegetables, Animals, or Minerals, and that after an unknown and very compendious way; whereby nothing is lost, but even the most subtile spirits may be caught and preserved, which else without the means of this Furnace is impossible to be done by Retorts or other distilling Instruments.

By JOHN RUDOLPH Glauber.

LONDON, Printed by Richard Cotes, for Tho: Williams at the signe of the Bible in Little-Britain. 1652.

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A. The furnace together with the iron distilling-vessel fastened into it, whereunto a receiver is applyed. B. The distiller with his left hand taking off the lid, and with his right casting in his prepared matter. C. The externall form of the distilling vessel. D. The internal form of the vessel. E. Another distilling vessel, which is not fastened to a furnace, but only standeth upon coals.

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THE SECOND PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

The structure of the second Furnace.

THE Distilling vessel must be made of Iron, or good earth, such as can abide in the fire (whereof in the first part of this Book it shall be taught) and you may make it as big or as little as you please, according as your occasion shall require. That of Iron is most fit to be used for such spirits, as are not very sharpe or corroding, else they would corrode the vessel: but that of earth may be used for such things, as shew their activity upon the Iron, and do make it to melt, as sulphur, Antimony and the like; and therefore you ought to have two such vessels, viz. one of iron, and one of earth, to the end that for both sorts of materials (corrosive or not corrosive) you may have proper vessels, and fit furnaces for their distilling, and that they may not be spoiled by things [Page] contrary and hurtful to them. The shape of the vessel is shewed by the figure here annexed, viz. the lower part of it somewhat wider then the upper part, and twice as high as wide; at the top having a hollow space between the two edges or brims, whereinto the edge of the lid may close and enter into an inch deep. The lid must have a ring or handle, by which it may be taken off and put on again with a paire of tongs. The lid must have a deepe edge answering to the hollow space aforesaid. The lower part must have three knobbs or shoulders thereby to rest upon the wall of the furnace; the form whereof is no other, then that of a common distilling furnace with sand Capel, as the figure of it doth shew: but if you will not have the furnace, then it needeth no knobbs or shoulders, if so be the distilling vessel be flat at the bottom, or else have leggs, for to stand upon them: Beneath the edge of the vessel there comes forth a spout or pipe of a span in length, and one or two inches wide, and somewhat narrower before then behinde, through which the spirits are conveighed into the Receiver.

The way or the manner to perform the destillation.

VVHen you intend to distill, then first make a fire in he furnace, that the distilling vessel come to be very hot. But if it be not fastned to the furnace, then set it upon a grate, and lay stones about it, and coales between, and so let it grow hot, and lay melted lead into the space between the two edges or brims, to the end, that the lid, when it is put on, may close exactly, so that no spirit can get through. This done take a little of the matter you intend to distil and cast it in and presently put on the lid, and there will be no other passage left but through the pipe, to which there must be applyed and luted a very big receiver. As soon as the species cast in come to be warm, they let go their spirit, which doth come forth into the receiver: and because there was but little of the matter cast in it hath no power to force through the [Page] lute or to break the receiver, but must settle it self. This done, cast in a little more of your matter, cover it and let it go till the spirit be settled: continue this proceeding so long, untill you have spirits enough: but take heed, that you carry in no more at once, then the receiver is able to bear, else it will break. And when your vessel is full the distillation not being ended, then take off the lidd, and with an iron ladle take out the Caput Mortuum; and so begin again to cast in, and still but a little at a time, and continue this as long as you please.

Thus in one day you may distil more in a smal vessel, then otherwayes you could do in a great retort; and you need not fear the least loss of the subtile spirit, nor the breaking of the receiver by the abundance of the spirits: and you may cease or leave off your distilling and begin it again when you list: also the fire cannot be made too strong so that it might cause any hurt or damage; but by this way you can make the most subtle spirits, which is impossible to be done by any Retort. But if you will distil a subtle spirit through a Retort, as of Tartar, Hartshorn, Salarmoniac, or the like, you cannot do it without prejudice (though there were but half a pound of the matter in it) the subtlest spirits coming forth with force seek to penetrate through the lute if that be not good, but if that be good so that the spirits cannot pass through it, then they break the receiver, because it cannot possibly hold such a quantity of subtle spirits at once. For when they are coming, they come so plentifully and with such a force, that the receiver cannot containe them, and so of necessity must flye asunder, or must pass through the lutum; All which is not to be feared here, because there is but a little cast in at once, which cannot yeeld such a quantity of spirits, as to force the receiver to break: And when there come forth no more spirits, and the former is settled, then more of the matter is to be cast in, and this is to be continued so long untill you have spirits enough. Afterward take off the receiver, and put the spirit into such a glass (as in the fifth part of this book amongst the Manuals [Page] shall be discovered) wherein it may be kept safely without wasting or evaporating.

In this manner all things, Vegetable, Animal, or Mineral, can be distilled in this furnace, and much better then by means of a Retort: especially such subtile spirits (as by the other way of distilling cannot be saved, but pass through the lutum) are got by this our way; and they are much better, then those heavy oyles, which commonly are taken for spirits, but are none, being only corrosive waters. For the nature and condition of a spirit is to be volatile, penetrating and subtle, and such are not those spirits of salt, Vitriol, Allome and Nitre, which are used in Apothecary shops, they being but heavy oyles, which even in a warm place do not evaporate or exhale.

But a true spirit fit for Medicinal use, must rise or ascend before the phlegme, and not after; for whatsoever is heavier then phlegme, is no volatile spirit, but a heavy spirit or (rather called) a sowre heavy oyle. And it is seen by the experience that the Apothecaries spirit of vitriol will cure no falling sickness, which vertue is ascribed to that spirit, and indeed justly: for the true spirit of vitriol performeth that cure out of hand. Likewise their spirit of Tartar (as they call it) is no spirit, but only a stinking phlegme or Vinegar.

The way to make such true spirits, I will now shew because much good may be done by them in all manner of diseases. And this way of distilling serveth only for those which seek after good medicines: but others which care not whether their medicines be well prepared or no, need not take so much pains as to build such a furnace, and to make their spirits themselves, for at any they can buy for a small matter a good quantity of dead and fruitless spirits at the common sellers and Apothecaries.

Hence it is no marvel, that now a dayes so little good is done by Chymicall medicaments, which of right should far outstrip all the Galenical in goodness and vertue. But alas! it is come to that passe now, that a true Chymist and honest son of Hermes▪ is forced almost to blush, when he [Page] heareth men talk of Chymical medicines, because they do no such miracles, as are ascribed unto them. Which infamy is occasioned by none more then by careless Physitians, which though they make use of Chymicall medicines (because they would faine be esteemed to know more then others) yet they do take greater care for their kitchin, then for the welfare of their patients; and so buying ill prepared medicines of unskilful stillers, and withall using them undiscreetly (whereby they many times do more hurt then good to the sick) they do lay such foule aspersions up on the noble Art of Chymistry.

But an Industrious and accurate Physitian is not ashamed to make his medicines himself, if it be possible, or at least to have them made by good and well exercised Artists: whereupon he may better relye and get more credit, then one that knoweth not whereof, nor how his medicine which he doth administer to his patients is prepared. But such wicked and ignorant men will one day fal short of their answer before the Judgement of the righteous Samaritane.

How to make the Acid oyle and the volatile spirit of Vitriol.

HItherto I have taught, how to distill in general, and to get the subtle spirits. There remaineth now to describe what manuals or preparations are fitting for every matter in particular; and first,

Of Vitrioll.

TO distill Vitrioll, there needs no other preparation, but only that it be well viewed, and if there be any filth amongst it, that the same be carefully pickt out, lest being put together with the Vitriol into the distilling vessel, the spirit be corrupted thereby. But he that will go yet more exactly to work, may dissolve it in faire water, then filtrate it, and [Page] then evaporate the water from it till a skin appear at the top, and then set it in a cold place, and let it shoote again into Vitrioll; and then you are sure that no impurity is left in it.

Now your vessel being made red hot, with an Iron ladle cast in one or two ounces of your vitriol at once, put on the lid, and presently the spirits together with the phlegme will come over into the receiver, like unto a white cloud or mist; which being vanished, and the spirits partly settled, carry in more Vitriol, and continue this so long, until your vessel be full: Then uncover your vessel, and with a pair of tongs or an iron ladle take out the Caput Mortuum, and cast more in; and continue this proceeding as long as you please, still emptying the vessel when it is filled, and then casting in more matter, and so proceeding untill you conceive that you have got spirits enough. Then let the fire go out, and let the furnace coole; take off the receiver, and powre that which is come over into a retort, and lay the retort in sand, and by a gentle fire distill the volatile spirit from the heavy oil; having first joyned to the retort the receiver, which is to receive the volatile spirit, with a good lutum, such as is able to hold such subtle spirits, the making whereof shall be taught in the fifth part of this book amongst the Manuals.

All the volatile spirit being come over, which you may know by the falling of bigger dropps, then take off the receiver, and close it very well with wax, that the spirit may not make an escape; then apply another (without luting it) and so receive the phlegme by it self, and there will remaine in the retort a black and heavy corrosive oyle, which if you please, you may rectifie, forcing it over by a strong fire, and then it will be clear; if not, let all coole, then take out your Retort together with the black oyle, and pour upon it the Volatile spirit, which in the rectifying went over first, put the retort into the sand, and apply a receiver, and give it a very gentle fire, and the volatile spirit will come over alone leaving its phlegme behinde with the oyle, which by reason of its dryness doth easily keep it. Thus the spirit being [Page] freed from all phlegme, is become as strong as a meer fire, and yet not corrosive. And if this spirit be not rectified from its own oyle, it will not remaine good, but there doth precipitate a red pouder after it hath stood for some space of time, and the spirit looseth all its vertue, in so much that it is not to be discerned from ordinary water, which doth not happen when it is rectified. The reason of this precipitation is no other then the weakness of the spirit, which is accompanied with too much water, and therefore not strong enough for to keep its sulphur, but must let it fall: but after it is rectified by its own oyle, it can keep its sulphur well enough, because then it is freed from its superfluous moisture. However the red powder is not to be thrown away, but ought to be kept carefully; because it is of no less vertue then the spirit it self. And it is nothing else but a Volatile sulphur of Vitrioll, It hath wonderfull vertues, some of which shall be related.

The use and Dose of the Narcotick sulphur of Vitrioll.

OF this sulphur 1. 2. 3. 4. or more grains (according to the condition of the patient) given at once mitigates all pains, causeth quiet sleep; not after the manner of Opium, Henbane, and other the like medicines, which by stupefying and benumming cause sleep, but it performeth its operation very gently and safely without any danger at all, and great diseases may be cured by the help thereof. Paracelsus held it in high esteeme, as you may see, where he doth w [...]ite of Sulphur embryonatum▪

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Of the use and vertue of the Volatile spirit of Vitrioll.

THis sulphureous volatile spirit of Vitrioll, is of a very subtle and penetrating quality, and of a wonderful operation; for some drops thereof being taken and sweated upon it, doth penetrate▪ the whole body, openeth all obstructions, consumeth those things that are amiss in the body, even as fire. It is an excellent medicine in the falling sickness, in that kinde of madness or rage which is called Mania, in the convulsion of the mother, called Suffocatio matricis, in the scurvy; in that other kinde of madness which is called Melancholia Hypochondriaca; and other diseases proceeding from obstructions and corruption of the blood: It is also good in the plague, and all other feavers: mingled with spirit of wine, and daily used, it doth wonders in all external accidents: Also in the Apoplexy, shrinking and other diseases of the Nerves, the distressed limbe rubbed therewith, it doth penetrate to the very marrow in the bones; it doth warm and refresh the cold sinews, grown stiffe: In the Colick, besides the internal use, a little thereof in a clyster applyed, is a present help: Externally used in the Goute, by anoynting the places therewith asswageth the pains, and taketh away all tumors and inflammations: it doth heale the scabs, tetters and ringworms, above all other medicines; it cureth new wounds and old sores, as Fistulaes, Cancers, Woolves, and what name so ever else they may have: It extinguisheth all inflammations, scaldings, the Gangrene, dissipateth and consumeth the knobs and excrescencies of the skin. In a word, this spirit, which the wise men of old called Sulphur Philosophorum, doth act universally in all diseases, and its vertue cannot sufficiently be praised and expressed: And it is much to be admired, that so excellent a Medicine is no where to be found.

If it be mingled with spring water, it doth make it pleasantly sowrish▪ and in tast and vertue like unto the natural sowre water of wels.

[Page] Also by this spirit many diseases may be cured at home; so that you need not go to bathes afar off, for to be rid of them.

Here I could set down a way, how such a spirit may be got in great abundance for the use of bathing, without distillation, whereby miraculous things may be done; but by reason of the ungratefulness of men, it shall be reserved for another time.

Of the vertue and use of the corrosive oyle of Vitrioll.

THis oyle is not much used in Physick, although it be found almost in every Apothecaries shop, which they use for to give a sowrish tast to their syrups and conserves. Mingled with spring water and given in hot diseases, it will extinguish the unnatural thirst, and coole the internal parts of the body. Externally it cleanseth all unclean sores, applyed with a feather; it separateth the bad from the good, and layeth a good foundation for the cure.

Also if it be rectified first, some metals may be dissolved with it and reduced into their Vitriols, especially Mars and Venus; but this is to be done by adding common water thereunto, else it will hardly lay hold on them. The way of doing it is thus:

How to make the Vitrioll of Mars and Venus.

TAke of your heavy oyle, just as it came over, viz. together with its phlegme (but that the Volatile spirit be drawn off from it first) as much as you please, put it into a glass body together with plate of copper or iron, set it in warme sand, and let it boyle untill that the oyle will dissolve no more of the metal, then power off the liquor, filtre it through brown paper, and put it into a low gourd glass, and set it in sand, and let the phlegme evaporate untill there appear a skin at the top, then let the fire go out, and the glass grow coole; then set it in a cold place, and within some dayes there [Page] will▪ shoote faire green Crystals; if of iron, greenish; if of Copper, then something blewish; take them out and dry them uppon filtering paper, the remaining liquor, which did not shoote into Vitriol, evaporate again in sand, and then let it shoote as before; continue this proceeding, untill all the solution (or filtred liquor) be turned to Vitriol. This Vitrioll is better and purer then the common; for it yeeldeth a better Volatile spirit, and for that reason I did set down the way how to make it. There can also be made a good Vitrioll of both these metals by the means of ordinary yellow brimstone; but because the making of it is more tedious, then of this here set down, I think it needless to describe its preparation in this place.

The way to make a faire blew Vitrioll out of Luna (that is, silver.)

DIssolve the shavings or filings of silver with rectified oyle of Vitrioll, adding water thereunto, but not so much as to Iron and Copper: Or else, which is better, dissolve calcined silver, which hath been precipitated out of Aqua fortis either with Copper or salt water; the solution being ended powre it off and filtre it, and drop into it of spirit of urine or of Sal armoniac, as long as it doth hiss, and almost all the silver will precipitate again out of the oyle, and so there will fall a white powder to the bottome; This precipitated silver together with the liquor poure into a phiall-glass, set it to boyle in sand for twenty four hours, and the liquor will dissolve again almost all the precipitated silver-calx and become blew thereby. Then poure off the solution (or liquor) and filtre it through brown paper, and abstract the moisture till a skin arise at the top; then in a cold place let it shoote to Vitriol. With the remaining liquor proceed further, as above in the preparation of the Vitriol of Iron and Copper hath been taught.

By this way you will get an excellent Vitrioll out of silver, [Page] which from 4. 5. 6. to 10. grains used onely of it self, will be a good purge, especially in diseases of the braine.

If you have a good quantity of it, that you may distill a spirit thereof, you will get not only an acide (or sowre) but also a volatile spirit, which in the infirmities of the braine is most excellent; that which in the distilling remains behinde, may be reduced againe into a body, so that you lose nothing of the silver, save onely that which is turned into spirit.

Moreover, the acide (or sowre) oyle of common Vitriol, doth precipitate all metals and stones of beasts or fishes; also pearles and corals, they being first dissolved in spirit of salt or of Nitre, and maketh faire light powders of them (which by the Apothecaries are called Magisteries) much fairer then by precipitation with salt of Tartar is done, especially of corals and pearles, such a faire glistering and delicate powder is made; and likewise also of mother of pearle, and other shels of snailes, that it giveth as fair a gloss to them, as the fairest oriental pearles have; which way hath not been made common hitherto, but being known only to few, hath been kept very secret by them, as a singular Art. Such magisteries commonly were precipitated out of vinegar onely by salt of Tartar, which for lightness, whiteness and fair gloss are not comparable at all to ours: But if in stead of the oyle of Vitriol you take oyle of sulphur, then these powders will be fairer then when they are done by the oyle of Vitriol, in so much, that they may be used for painting for a black skin.

Having made mention of Magisteries, I cannot forbear to discover the great abuse and error, which is committed in the preparing of them.

Paracelsus in his Archidoxes teacheth to make Magisteries, which he calleth extracted Magisteries: but some of his disciples teach to make precipitated Magisteries, which are quite different from the former. Paracelsus is clean of another opinion in the preparing of his Magisteries, then others in the making of theirs: doubtless Paracelsus his Magisteries were [Page] good cordiall living medicines, whereas the other were but dead carkases, and although they be never so faire, white and glistering, yet in effect they prove but a gross earthy substance, destitute of vertue.

I do not deny, but that good medicines may be extracted out of pearles and corals, for I my self also do describe the preparations of some of them; but not at all after such a way as theirs is. For what good or exalting can be expected by such a preparation, where a stony matter is dissolved in corrosive waters, and then precipitated into stone again? Can its vertue be increased thereby? surely no, but rather it is diminished, and made much the worse thereby. For it is well known, that the corrosive spirits (no less then fire) do burn some certain things; for not all things are made better by fire or corrosives, but most of them are absolutely spoyled by them. Some perchance will say, that such preparations of Magisteries are onely for to be reduced into a finer powder, that so much the sooner they may perform their operation. To which I answer, that pearles, corals, and other of the like nature, if they be once dissolved by corrosive waters, and then precipitated and edulcorated, never or hardly can be dissolved againe by acid spirits. Whence it is evident that by such preparations they are not opened or made better, but rather closed or made worse. And we see also by daily experience that those Magisteries do not those effects; which are ascribed unto them. By which it appeareth cleerly, that to the Archeus of the stomach they are much less grateful then the crude unprepared corals and pearles; whose tender essence being not burnt up by corrosives, do oftentimes produce good effects. For our Ancestors have ascribed unto corals and pearles, that they purifie the impure and corrupt blood in the whole body, that they expel Melancholy and sadness, comforting the heart of man, and making it merry, which also they effectually perform: whereas the Magisteries do not. And this is the reason, why unprepared corals, pearles and stones of fishes have more effect, then the burnt Magisteries. For it is manifest and well known, that the abovesaid diseases [Page] for the most part do proceed from obstructions of the spleen, which obstructions are nothing else, but a tartarous juice or a sowre flegme which hath possessed and filled up the entrals, and coagulated it self within them. By which obstruction not only head-ach, giddiness, panting of the heart, trembling of the limbs, a spontaneous lassitude, vomits, unnatural hunger; also, loathing of victuals; then cold, then hot flushing fits, and many more strange symptomes are caused; but also a most hurtful rottenness and corruption is introduced into the whole mass of blood, from whence the leprosie, scurvy, and other loathsome or abominable scabs do spring.

Of which evil the onely cause (as hath been said) is a crude acide Tartar, from which so many great diseases do rise.

This to be so may easily be proved; for it is notorious, that melancholik folks, hypocondriaques, and others do often cast up a great quantity of acid humor, which is so sharpe that no vinegar is comparable to it, and doth set their teeth on such an edge, as if they had eaten unripe fruit.

What remedy now? take away the cause and the disease is taken away. If you could take away the peccant matter by purgings, it would be well, but it remaineth obstinate and will not yeeld to them. By vomit it may be diminished in some measure. But because that not every one can abide vomiting, it is therefore no wisdome to turn evil into worse. Shall then this tartar be killed and destroyed by contraries, which indeed in some sort may be effected; as when you use vegetables or animals, whose vertue consisteth in a volatile salt: such are all species or sorts of cresses, Mustard-seed, horse-radish, scurvy grass, also the spirit of Tartar, of Hartshorn, and of urine and the like, which by reason of their penetrating faculty pass through all the body, finding out the Tartar thereof, destroying the same, as being contrary unto it; and in this combat two contrary natures is kindled, a great burning heat, whereby the whole body is throughly heated and brought to sweating; and whensoever by these contraries a [Page] sweating is caused, there is alwayes mortified some of this hurtful Tartar. But because that of that acid humor but a little at a time can be mortified and edulcorated by contrary volatile spirits, and that therefore it would be required to use them often, for to kill and expell all the Tartar; and because also (as hath been mentioned before) a strong sweat alwayes is caused by every such operation, whereby the natural spirits are much weakened, so that the patient would not be able to hold out long thereby, but by taking away of one evil, another and greater one would be occasioned.

And therefore such things must be offered to that hungry acid humor, by which the corrosive nature thereof, may be mortified and grow sweet, with that proviso nevertheless, that those things be such as are not contrary or hurtful to the nature of man, but grateful and friendly, as are corals, pearles and crabs eyes, &c.

For amongst all stones none are more▪ easily to be dissolved then Pearles, Corals, Crabbs-eyes, and other stones of fishes.

But the truth of this, viz. that every corrosive is killed by feeding upon pearles and corals, and thereby can be made sweet; and besides, how a sowre coagulated Tartar, by the help of corals or pearles may be reduced to a sweet liquor (a pleasant and acceptacle medicine to the nature of man) which never can be coagulated again by any means, shall be afterwards proved and taught when I shall come to treate of Tartar.

Now in tartareous coagulations and obstructions of the internals proceeding from the predominancy of an acid humor there is no better remedy, then to give the patient every morning fasting from ℈ss. to ʒ i. (more or less, according to the condition of the patient) of red corals and pearles made into powder, and to let him fast two or three hours upon it, and so to continue daily untill you see amendment: By this means the hurtful acid humor is mortified, and dulcified by the corals and pearles so that afterwards it may be overcome by nature, whereby the obstructions are removed, and the body freed from the disease.

[Page] This my opinion of the abuse of Magisteries and the good use of Corals I could not conceale although I do know for certain, that it will take but with few, in regard that it will seem very strange to most. However, happily there may be some yet, that will not be unwilling to search into the truth and to consider further of it, and at last will finde this not to be so strange, as it seemed to them at the first: but he that cannot believe or comprehend it, may keep to his Magisteries.

And if it seem so strange unto any, that corals or pearles made into powder shall be concocted in the stomach, and so put forth their vertue, what will you say then, if I do prove, that even whole pearles, crabs-eyes, and corals being swallowed, are totally consumed by the Melancholy humor, so that nothing cometh forth again among the excrements? and which is more, even the like may be said of hard and corrupted metals, as Iron, and speaucer or Zinck: But this must be understood only of those that are of a Malancholick constitution but uot so in others, viz, those that are of a sanguine, and those that are of a phlegmatick constitution, to whom such like things are seldome prescribed. For I have seen many times, that against obstructions to strong bodies there hath been given at once from ℈ss. to ʒ i. of the shavings or filings of iron, and they found much good by it, yea more help then by other costly medicines of the Apothecaries, whereof they had used many before, but to no purpose, by reason whereof their excrements came from them black, just as it useth to fall out with those that make use of medicinal sowre waters, which run through iron mines, and thereby borrow a spiritual mineral vertue.

Now if those filings of iron had not been consumed in the stomach, how come it that the excrements are turned black? so then it is sufficiently proved, that even a hard unprepared metal can be consumed in the stomach: and i [...] so, why not as well soft pearles and corals?

Which is also to be seen by children, that are troubled with worms, if there be given unto them 4. 6▪ 8. to 12. or 16. grains of the finest filings of steel or iron, that all the worms in the [Page] body are killed thereby, their stomach and guts scowred very clean, and their stools also turned black. But this must be observed by children, when the worms are killed, and yet remaine in the guts (because that the iron in a small quantity is not strong enough for to expell them, but only make the body soluble) that a purge must be used after, for to carry them out; for else if they do remaine there, others will grow out of their substance. But to those that are more in yeers, you may give the Dose so much the stronger, as from ℈ i. to ʒ i. that the worms also may be carryed out, they beeing better able to endure it then little children, and although sometimes a vomit doth come, yet it doth no hurt, but they will be but so much the healthier afterward.

And thus Iron may be used, not only against worms, but also against all stomach-agues, head-ach, and obstructions of the whole body, without any danger and very successefully, as a grateful or very acceptable medicine to Nature; for after a powerful magnetical way it doth attract all the ill humors in the body, and carrieth them forth along with it. Of whose wonderful vertue and nature, there is spoken more at large in my treatise of the Sympathy and Antipathy of things. Which some Physitians perceiving and supposing by Art to make it better, they spoiled it, and made it voyd of all vertue: for they taking a peece of steel, made it red-hot, and held it against a peece of common Sulphur, whereby the steel grew subtle, so they did let it drop into a vessel filled with water; then they took it out, and dryed it, and made it into powder, and used it against obstructions, but to no effect almost; for the Iron was so altered by the sulphur and reduced to an insoluble substance (which ought not to have been so) that it could perform no considerable operation: But if they had made the steel more soluble (whereas they made it more insoluble) then it was of it self before, then they had done a good work: for he that knoweth sulphur, doth know well enough, that by no Aquafortis or Aqua Regis it can be dissolved; and how could it then be consumed by an animal humor?

[Page] Hitherto it hath been proved sufficiently, that in some men, especially in those that are of a Melancholick constitution there is an acid humor, which can sufficiently dissolve all easily soluble metals and stones: and that therefore it is needless to torture, and dissolve pearles, corals and the like with corrosive waters before they be administred to patients: but that the Archeus of the stomach is strong enough by the help of the said humors to consume those easily soluble things, and to accept of that which serveth his turn, and to reject the rest.

But it is not my intent here, that this should be understood of all metals and stones; for I know well, that other metals and stones (some excepted) before they are duly prepared, are not fit for physick, but must be fitted first, before they be administred or given unto patients.

For this relation I made only for to shew, how sometimes good things (though with intent to make them better) are made worse and supplyed by those that do not make an exact search into nature and her power.

I hope this my admonition will not be taken ill, because my aime was not vaine-glory, but only the good of my neighbor.

Now let us return again to Vitriol.

Of the sweet oyle of Vitriol.

THE Ancients make mention of a sweet and green oyle of Vitriol, which doth cure the falling sickness, killeth worms, and hath other good qualities & vertues besides: and that the Oyle is to be distilled per descensum. To attain unto this oyle the later Physitians took great paines, but all in vaine: because they did not understand at all the Ancients about the preparing of this oyle, but thought to get it by the force of fire, and so using violent distillation, they got no sweet oyle, but such as was very sowre and corrosive, which in taste, efficacy and vertue was not comparable at all to the former.

[Page] However they ascribed unto it (though falsely) the same vertues, which the ancients (according to truth) did unto theirs. But daily experience sheweth, that the oyle of vitriol as it is found ordinarily, cureth no falling sickness, nor killeth worms, whereas this Philosophical doth it very quickly. Whence it appeareth, that the other is nothing like unto the true medicinal oyle of vitriol, neither is it to be compared to it.

I must confess indeed, that per descensum out of common vitriol, by the force of the fire, there may be got a greenish oyle, which yet is not better then the other because it proveth as sharpe in taste, and of as corroding a quality, as if it had been distilled through a Retort.

Those that found out this oyle, as Paracelsus, Basilius, and some few others, did alwayes highly esteem it, and counted it one of the foure maine pillars of Physick. And Paracelsus saith expresly in his writings, that its viridity or greenness must not be taken away or marred (which indeed a very little heat can do) by the fire; for (saith he) if it be deprived of its greenness, it is deprived also of its efficacy and pleasant essence. Whence it may be perceived sufficiently, that this sweet green oyle is not to be made by the force of the fire as hitherto by many hath been attempted, but in vaine.

And it is very probable, that the ancients, which did so highly praise the oyle of vitriol, happily knew nothing of this way of distilling, which is used by us now a dayes: for they only simply followed Nature, and had not so many subtle and curious inventions and wayes of distilling.

But however it is certain, that such a sweet and green▪oyle cannot be made of vitrioll by the force of the fire, but rather must be done by purification, after a singular way; for the Ancients many times understood purification for distillation: as it is evident, when they say, Distill through a filtre, or through filtring paper: which by us is not accounted for distillation, but by them it was.

[Page] However, this is true and very sure, that a great Treasure of health (or for the health of man) lyeth hidden in Vitriol: yet not in the common, as it is sold every where, and which hath endured the heat of the fire already; but in the Oare as it is found in the earth, or its mine. For as soon as it cometh to the day light, it may be deprived by the heat of the Sun of its subtle and penetrating spirit, and so made voyde of vertue; which spirit, if by Art it be got from thence, smelleth sweeter then musk and amber, which is much to be admired, that in such a despicable mineral and gross substance (as it is deemed to be by the ignorant) such a royal medicine is to be found.

Now this preparation doth not belong to this place, because we treat here only of spirits, which by the force of fire are driven over Likewise also, there doth not belong hither the preparation of the green oyle, because it is made without the helpe of fire. But in regard, that mention hath been made of it here, I will (though I kept it alwayes very secret) publish it for the benefit of the poor patients, hoping that it will do much good to many a sick man.

For if it be well prepared, it doth not only cure perfectly every Epilepsie or Convulsion in young and old; and likewise readily and without faile killeth all worms within and without the body, as the Ancients with truth ascribed unto it; but also many Chronical diseases and such as are held incurable, may be happily overcome and expelled thereby, as the plague, pleuresie, all sorts of feavers and agues, what ever they be called, head-ach, colick, rising of the mother; also all obstructions in the body, especially of the spleen and liver, from whence Melancholia Hypochondriaca, the scurvy, and many, other intolerable diseases do arise: Also the blood in the whole body is by the means thereof amended and renewed, so that the Pox, Leprosie and other like diseases proceeding from the infection of the blood are easily cured thereby: Also it healeth safely and admirably all open sores and stinking ulcers turned to fistula's in the whole body, and from what cause so ever they did proceed, if they be anoynted [Page] therewith, and the same also be inwardly used besides.

Such and other diseases more (which it is needless here to relate) may be cured successefully with this sweet oyle; especially, if without the loss of its sweetness it be brought to a red colour; for then it will do more then a man dare write of it, and it may stand very well for a Panacea in all diseases.

The preparation of the sweet oyle of Vitriol.

COmmonly in all sat soyles or clayie grounds, especially in the white, there is found a kinde of stones, round or oval in form, and in bigness like unto a pigeons or hens-egg, and smaller also, viz. as the joynt of ones finger, on the outside black, and therefore not esteemed when it is found, but cast away as a contemptible stone. Which if it be cleansed from the earth, and beaten to peeces, lookes within of a fair yellow and in streaks, like a gold Marcasite, or a rich gold Oare; but there is no other taste to be perceived in it, then in another ordinary stone; and although it be made into powder, and boyled a long time in water, yet it doth not alter at all, nor is there in the water any other taste or colour, then that which is had first (when it was powred upon the stone) to be perceived. Now this stone is nothing else, but the best and purest Minera (or Oare) of Vitrioll, or a seed of Metals; for Nature hath framed it round, like unto a vegetable seed, and sowed it into the earth, out of which there can be made an excellent medicine, as followeth.

Take this Oare or Minera beaten into peeces, and for some space of time, lay or expose it to the coole aire, and within twenty or thirty dayes it will magnetically attract a certain saltish moysture out of the aire, and grow heavy by it, and at last it falleth asunder to a black powder, which must remaine further lying there still, untill it grow whitish, and that it do taste sweet upon the tongue like vitriol. Afterward put it in a glass-vessel, and poure on so much faire [...]aine water, [Page] as that it cover it one or two inches; stirr it about several times in a day, and after a few dayes the water will be coloured green, which you must powre off, and powre on more faire water, and proceed as before, stirring it often untill that also come to be green: this must be repeated so often, until no water more will be coloured by standing upon. Then let all the green waters which you poured off, run through filtring paper, for to purifie them; and then in a glass-body cut off short let them evaporate till a skin appear at the top: then set it in a cold place, and there will shoote little green stones, which are nothing else but a pure vitriol: the remaining green water evaporate again, and let it shoote as before: and this evaporating and Crystallising must be continued untill no vitriol more will shoote, but in warm aud cold places there remaine still a deep green pleasant sweet liquor or juyce: which is the true sweet and green oyle of Vitriol and hath all the vertues above related.

But now this green oyle further without fire may at last (after the preparing of many fair colours between) be reduced to a blood red, sweet and pleasant oyle, which goeth far beyond the green both in pleasantness and vertue, and is in comparison to it like a ripe grape to an unripe: Hereof happily shall be spoken at another time, because occasion and time will not permit me now to proceed further in it. And therefore the Philo-Chymical Reader is desired for the present to be contented with the green oyle, to prepare it carefully, and to use it with discretion; and doubtless he will get more credit by it, and do more wonderfull things then hitherto hath been done by the heavy corrosive oyle.

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The use and Dose of the sweet oyle of Vitriol.

OF this green oyle, there may be taken from 1. 2. 4. 8. to 10. or 12. drops at once, according to the condition of the patient and the disease, in fit Vehicles, in Wine or Beer, in the morning fasting, as other medicines are usually taken: Also the Dose may be increased or lessened, and as often reiterated as the disease shall require it.

This Oyle expelleth all ill humors, not only by stoole and vomits, but also by urine and sweating, according as it doth meet with superfluities; and this very safely, and without any danger at all; whereby many diseases radically or perfectly can be cured.

Let no man wonder that I ascribe such great vertues unto this oyle, it coming from such a despicable stone, and its prepara [...]ion requiring no great Art or paynes, as those intricate deceitful processes do, that are every where extant in books quite filled up with them. And it is no marvel, that men are in love with such false and costly processes; for the most of them do not believe, that any good is to be found in things that are not in esteeme; but onely make great account of deer things, far fetcht, and requiring much time and paines for to be prepared.

Such men do not beleeve the word of God, testifying, That God is no respecter of persons, but that all men that fear and love him, are accepted of him. If this be true (which no good Christian will doubt) then we must beleeve also, that God created Physick or the matter of Physick as well for the poor as for the rich. Now if it be also for the poor, then certainly such will be the condition thereof, that it may be obtained by them, and easily prepared for use. So we see that Almighty God causeth not one [...]y in great mens grounds to come forth good vegetables, Animals and Minerals, for the curing of the infirmities of mankinde, but that the same also are found every where else. Whereby we perceive, that it is also the will of God, that they shall be known by all men, [Page] and that he alone, as the Maker of all good, may be praised and magnified by all men for the same.

I doubt not but that there will be found self-conceited scoffers, that will despise this so little regarded subject, as if no good thing could be made of it, because they could finde nothing in it themselves. But be it known to them, that neither to me nor them all things have been discovered, but that yet many wonderful works of Nature are hidden to us: and besides that I am not the first that writ of Vitriol and its medicine. For the Ancients our dear Ancestors had alwayes Vitriol in very great esteem, as the following Verse doth prove:

Visitabis Interiora Terrae Rectificando

Invenies Occultum Lapidem Veram Medicinam.

Whereby they would give us to understand, that a true medicine is to be found in it. And the same also was known to the latter Philosophers: for Basilius and Paracelsus have alwayes highly commended it, as in their writings is to be found.

It is to be admired, that this Oare or Metallical seed, which may justly be called the gold of the Physitians (in regard that so good a medicine can be made of it) is not changed or altered in the earth, like other things that grow in it, but keepeth alwayes the same form and shape, untill it cometh to the aire, which is its earth or ground, wherein it putrefieth & groweth. For first it swelleth and groweth like as a vegetable seed doth in the earth: and so taketh its increase & grows out of theaire, just as a seed of an hearb in the earth; and the earth is no [...] only its Matrix, wherein it groweth and doth increase like a vegetable, but it is also its Sun which maketh it ripe. For within four weeks at the furthest it putrefieth and groweth black: and about a fourtnight after it groweth white, and then green; and thus far it hath been described here: But if you proceed further Philosopher-like therewith, there will come forth to light at the last the fairest red, and most pleasant [Page] Medicine, for which God be praised for ever and ever, Amen.

Of the sulphureous volatile and Acide spirit of common Salt, and of Allome.

THE same way, which above hath been taught for the making of the volatile spirit of vitriol, must be likewise used in the making of the volatile spirits of common salt and allome.

The manner of preparing.

ALlome is to be cast in as it is of it self, without mixing of it, but the salt must be mixed with bolus or some other earth, to keep it from melting: with the spirit volatile, there goeth also along an acid spirit, whose vertue is described in the 1. part. The Oyle of allome hath almost the like operation with the oyle of vitriol. Also the spirit volatile of both these, is of the same nature and condition with that which is made of vitriol: and the common salt, and allome do not yeeld as much, as the vitriol; unless both, viz. salt and allome be mixed together, and so a spirit distilled of them.

Of the sulphureous volatile spirit of Minerals and Metals, and of their preparation.

SUch a penetrative sulphureous spirit can be made also of Minerals and Metals, which in vertue goeth beyond the spirit of vitriol, that of common salt, and that of allome, viz. after the following manner.

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The preparation of the volatile spirits of Metals.

DIssolve either Iron or Copper, or Lead or Tin with the acid spirit of vitriol or of common salt: abstract or draw off the phlegme; then dri [...]e the acid spirit againe from the Metal, and he will carry along a volatile spirit, which by rectifying must be separated from the corrofive spirit. And such Metallical spirits are more effectual then those that are made of the salts.

The preparation of the volatile spirit of Minerals.

TAke of Antimony made into fine powder, or of gold-Marcasite, or of some other sulphureous Mineral, which you please, two parts, Mixe therewith 1. part of good purified Salt nitre, and cast in of that mixture one little quantity, and then an other, and so forth after the manner above described; and there will come over a spirit which is not inferior to the former in efficacy and vertue; but it must also be well rectified.

Another way.

CEment what laminated or granulated Metal you please (except gold) with half as much in weight of common Sulphur, closed up in a strong melting pot or crucible, such as doth not let the Sulphurgo through, for the space of half an houre, untill that the Sulphur hath penetrated and broken the plates of Metals: Then beat them into powder, mixe them with the like quantity in weight of common salt, and so distill it after the way above mentioned, and you will get a volatile spirit of great vertue: and every such spirit is to be used for such special part or member of the body, as the Metal is proper for it, out of which the spirit is made. So Silver for the braine; Tinne for the lungs, Lead for the spleen, and so forth.

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The spirit of Zinck.

OF Zinck there is distilled both a volatile and also an acid spirit, good for the heart; whether it be made by the help of the spirit of Vitrioll, or of salt, or of Allome: or else by the means of Sulphur; for Zinck is of the nature of gold.

The volatile spirit of the Drosse of the Regulus Iron.

THe black scoria of the Regulus Martis, being first faln asunder in the aire, yeilds likewise a very strong sulphureous volatile spirit, not much unlike in vertue unto the former.

The like Sulphureous volatile spirits can be made also of other minerals, which for brevities sake we do omit, as also in regard, that they are almost the same in vertue.

How to make a white acid, and a red volatile spirit out of salt nitre.

TAke two parts of Allome, and one part of salt nitre, make them both into powder, mix them well together, and cast into the still a little and a little thereof, as above in the making of other spirits hath been taught, and there cometh ove [...] an acid spirit together with the volatile spirit; and so many pounds as there is of the materials, which are to be cast in, so many pounds of water must be put into the receiver, to the end that the volatile spirits may so much the better be caught and saved. And when the distillation is performed, the two spirits may be separated by the means of a gentle rectification made in Balneo; and you must take good heed, that you get the volatile spirit pure by changing the receiver in a good time, so that no flegme be mixed with the red spirit, whereby it will be weakened and turn white. The marke whereby you▪ may perceive, whither the spirit or the flegme doth go forth is this: when the volatile spirit goeth, then [Page] the receiver looketh of a deep red: and afterward when the flegme doth come, the receiver looks white again: and lastly, when the heavy acide spirit goeth, then the receiver to be red again, but not so as it is was, when the first volatile spirit came over.

This spirit can also be made and distilled after another way, viz. mixing the salt nitre with twice as much bole or brick dust, and so framed into little bals to prevent melting: but no way is so good as the first; especially when you will have the red volatile spirit.

Of the use of the red volatile spirit.

THis volatile spirit, which (being quite freed from flegm) remaineth alwayes red, and doth looke like blood, in all occasions may be accounted like in vertue unto the former fulphureous spirits, especially in extinguishing of inflammations & gangrenes it is a great treasure, the clothes being dipt in it, & laid upon the grieved place; Also it goeth almost beyond all other medicines in the Erysipelas and colick: and if there be any congealed blood in the body (which came by a fall or blow) this spirit outwardly applyed with such waters as are proper for the grief, & also taken inwardly, doth dissolve and expell it: and being mingled with the volatile spirit of urine it doth yeild a wonderful kinde of salt, as hereafter shall be taught.

The use of the white acid spirit of salt nitre.

THe heavy and corrosive spirits of salt nitre is not much used in Physick, though it be found almost in all Apothecaries shops, and there is kept for such use, as above hath been mentioned of the spirit of vitriol, viz. to make their conserves and cooling-drinks tast sowrish. Also it is used by some in the colick, but it is too great a corrosive, and too gross to be used for that purpose; and although its corrosiveness may be mitigated in some measure, by adding of water thereto, yet in goodness and vertue it is not comparable at a [...] to the volatile spirit, but is as far different from it, as black [Page] from white, and therefore the other is fittest to be used in Physick; but this in dealing with metals and minerals, for to reduce them into vitriols, calxes, flores, and crocus.

Aqua Regis.

IF you dissolve common salt (which hath been decrepitated first) in this acid spirit of salt nitre, and rectifie it through a glass retort (lying in sand) by a good strong fire, it will be so strong, that it is able to dissolve gold, and all other metals and minetals, except silver and sulphur; and several metals may by the means thereof be separated much better then by that Aqua regia which hath been made by adding of Salt Armoniack. But if you rectifie it with lapis calaminaris or Zinck, it will be stronger yet, so as able to dissolve all metals and Minerals (silver and sulphur excepted) whereby in the handling of Metals, much more may be effected, then with common spirit of salt nitre or sulphur, as now hereafter shall be taught and first in the preparing of gold.

The preparation of Aurum fulminans or Aurum Tonitruans.

TAke of fine granulated or laminated gold (whither it he refined by Antimony or Aqua fortis) as much as you please: put it in a little glass body, and powre four or five times as much of Aqua regis upon it, set it stopt with a paper in a gourd in warme sand; and the Aqua regis within the space of one or two hours will dissolve the gold quite into a yellow water: but if it have not done so; it is a signe, that either the water was not strong enough, or that there was too little of it for to dissolve it. Then powre the solution from the gold, which is not dissolved yet into another glass; and poure more of fresh Aqua Regia upon the gold: set it again to dissolve in warme sand or ashes, and the remaining gold will likewise be dissolved by it, and then there will remaine no more, but a little white calx, which is nothing else but silver, which could [Page] not be dissolved by the Aqua Regia (for the Aqua Regia whither it be made after the common way with salt Armoniack, or else with common salt, doth not dissolve silver) so in like manner common Aqua fortis, or spirit of salt nitre dissolveth no gold; but all other metals are dissolved as well by strong Aqua fortis as by Aqua Regia. And therefore you must be careful to take such gold as is not mixed with Copper, else your work would be spoiled: for if there were any Copper mixed with it, then that likewise would be dissolved and precipitated together with the gold; and it would be a hindrance to the kindling or fulminating thereof: but if you can get no gold; that is without Copper, then take Ducats or Rosenobles, which ought to have no addition of Copper, but onely of a little silver, which doth not hurt, because that it cannot be dissolved by the Aqua Regia, but remaineth in the bottome in a white powder. Make those Ducats or Rose nobles red hot, and afterward bend them, and make them up in roles, and throw them into the Aqua Regia for to dissolve. All the gold being turned into yellow water, and poured off, poure into it by drops a pure oyle made of the Salt of Tartar per deliquium, and the gold will be precipitatcd by the contrary liquor of the Salt of Tartar into a brown yellow powder, and the solution will be clear. But you must take heed, to pour no more oyle of Tartar into it then is needful for the precipitation of the gold; else part of the precipitated gold would be dissolved again, and so cause your loss. The gold being well precipitated, poure off the cleer water from the gold calx by inclination and poure upon it warm raine or other sweet water, stir it together with a clean stick of wood, and set it in a warm place, until the gold is settled, so that the water standeth cleer upon it again; then poure it off, and poure on other fresh water, and let it extract the saltness out of the gold calx: and this pouring off, and then pouring on of fresh water againe, must be reiterated so often, untill no sharpness or saltness more be perceived in the water that hath been poured off: Then set the edulcorated gold into the Sun or another [Page] warm place for to dry. But you must take heed that it have no greater heat then the heat of the Sun is in May or Iune, else it would kindle or take fire, and (especially if there be much of it) give such a thunder clap, that the hearing of those that stand by, would be much endangered thereby, and therefore I advise you to beware and cautious in the handling of it, lest you run the hazard both of your gold and of your health by your oversight.

There is also another way for to edulcorate your precipitated gold, viz. thus, take it together with the salted liquor, and poure it into a funnel lined with brown paper laid double, and so let the water run through into a glass vessel, whereupon the funnel doth rest, and poure on other warm water, and let it run through likewise; do this again, & again untill that the water come from it as sweet as it was poured on. Then take the paper with the edulcorated gold calx, out of the funnel, lay it together with the paperupon other brown paper lying severally double together, and the dry paper will attract all the moystness out of the gold calx, so that the gold can be dryed the sooner. Which being dry, take it out of the filtring paper, and put it into another that is clean, and so lay it aside, and keep it for use. The salted water that came through by filtring, may be evaporated in a little glass body (standing in sand) until to the dryness of salt (ad siccitatem salis) which is to be kept from the aire: for it is likewise useful in physick; because some vertue of the nature of gold is yet hidden in it: though one should not think it, in regard that it is so faire, bright and cleer; which for all that may be observed by this, that when you melt it in a clean covered crucible or pot, and poure it afterward in a clean Copper morter or bason (being first made warm) you get a purple coloured salt, whereos▪ 6. 9. 12. to 24. grains given in, doth cleanse and purge the stomach and bowels, and especially it is useful in feavers and other diseases of the stomach. But in the crucible, out of which the salt hath been poured, you will finde an earthy substance, which hath separated it self from the salt, and looketh yellowish; this being taken out and melted in a little crucible [Page] by a strong fire, turneth to a yellow glass, which is impregnated with the Tincture of Gold, and doth yeeld a corn (or grain) of silver in every regard like unto common cupellated silver, wherein no gold is found, which is to be admired: because that all Chymists are of opinion, that no Aqua regia can dissolve silver, which is true▪ The question therefore is from whence or how this silver came into the salt since no Aqua Regia doth dissolve silver? whereupon some perchance may answer, that it must have been in the oyle of Tartar, in regard that many do believe, that the salts likewise may be turned into metals, which I do not gainsay▪ but only deny that it could have been done here; for if that silver had been existent in the Aqua Regia or salt of Tartar (whereas Aqua Regia cannot bear any) it would have been precipitated together with the gold. But that it was no common silver, but gold which turned to silver after it was deprived ofits Tincture, I shall briefly endeavor to prove. For that salt-waters (of Aqua Regia and salt of Tartar) out of which the gold hath been precipitated, is of that nature, before it be coagulated to salt, though it be quite clear and white, that if you put a feather in it, it will be dyed purple within few dayes, which purple colour comes from the gold, and not from silver; in regard that silver doth dye red or black: and hence it appeareth, that the salt water hath retained something of gold.

Now some body peradventure may ask: if that the said salt water hath retained some gold, how is it then, that in the melting no gold comes forth, but only silver? To which I answer that some salts are of that nature, that in the melting they take from the gold its colour and soule; whereof if the gold be truly deprived, it is then no more gold nor can be such; neither is it silver, but remaineth onely a volatile black body, good for nothing, which also proveth much more unfixt then common lead, not able to endure any force of fire, much less the cupel: But like Mercury or Ar [...]enicum vanisheth (or flyeth away) by a small heat. Hence it may be gathered, that the fixedness (or fixity) of gold doth consist [Page] in its soul or Tincture, and not in its body, and therefore it is credible, that gold may be anatomized, its best or purer part separated from the grosser (or courser) and so that a Tingent medicine (or Tincture) may be made of it. But whether this be the right way, whereby the universal medicine of the ancient Philosophers (by whose means all metals can be changed or transmuted into gold) is to beattained unto, I will not dispute; yet I believe that peradventure there may be another subject, endued with a far higher Tincture then gold is, which obtained no more from nature, then it doth need it self for its own fixedness. However, we may safely beleeve, that a true Anima or Tincture of gold, if it be well separated from its impure black body, may be exalted and improved in colour; so that afterwards of an imperfect body a greater quantity, then that was from which it was abstracted, may be improved and brought to the perfection of gold. But waving all this, it is true and certain, that if the gold be deprived of its Tincture, the remaining body can no more be gold; as is demonstrated more at large in my treatise (de Auro potabili vero) of the true potable Gold: And this I mentioned here onely therefore, that in case the lover of this Art, in his work should meet perchance with such a white corne, he may know, from whence it doth proceed.

I could have forborne to set down the preparation of the sulminating gold, and so save paper and time, in regard that it is described by others: but because I promised in the first part to teach how to make the flores of gold, and that those are to be made out of fulminating (or thundring) gold, I thought, it not amiss to describe its preparation, that the lover of this Art need not first have his recourse to another book for to finde out the preparation, but by this my book may be furnished with a perfect instruction for the making of the flores of gold, and this is the common way for to make Aurum fulminans, known unto most Chymists; but in regard that easily an error may be committed in it, either by pouring on too much of the liquor of Tartar (especially when it is not pure enough, so that not all the gold doth precipitate, [Page] but part of it remaineth in the solution, whereby you would have loss; or else, the gold falling or precipitating into a heavy calx, which doth not fulminate well, and is unfit for to be sublimed into flores.

Therefore I will here set down another and much better way, whereby the gold can be precipitated quite and clean out of the Aqua Regia without the least loss, and so that it cometh to be very light and yellow, and doth fulminate twice as strong as the former, and there is no other difference between this and the former preparation, but only that in steed of the oyle of Tartar, you take the spirit of urine or of Salt Armoniack for to precipitate the dissolved gold thereby; and the gold (as before said) will be precipitated much purer, then it is done by the liquor of the salt of Tartar, and being precipitated, it is to be edulcorated and dryed, as above in the first preparation hath been taught.

The use of Aurum fulminans.

THere is little to write of the use of Aurum fulminans in physick; for because it is not unlockt, but is onely a gross calx and not acceptable to the nature of man, it can do no miracle. And although it be used to be given per se from 6. 8▪ 12. grains to ℈ i. for to provoke sweating in the plague, and other malignant feavers, yet it would never succeed so well as was expected. Some have mixed it with the like weight of common sulphur, and made it red hot (or calcined it) whereby they deprived it of its fulminating vertue, supposing thus to get a better medicine, but all in vaine, for the gold calx would not be amended by such a gross preparation. But how to prepare a good medicine out of Aurum fulminans, so that it may be evidently seen, that the gold is no dead body nor unfit for physick, but that it may be made quick and fit for to put forth or shew forth those vertues which it pleased God to treasure up in it, I shall briefly discover it here.

[Page] First get such an instrument (as above hath been taught) made for you out of Copper, but not too big, nor with a lid at the top, but only with a pipe, unto which a receiver may be applyed, which must not be luted to it, but it sufficeth, that the pipe enter far into the belly of the receiver; and at the lower part it must have a flat bottome, that it may be able to stand: over the bottome there must be a little hole with a little door, that closeth very exactly: and there must be also two little plates or scales of silver or copper, as big as the naile of ones finger, whereupon the Aurum fulminans is to be set into the the Instrument; which is to stand upon a Trevet, under which you are to lay some burning coals for to warm or heat the bottom withal. The Instrument together with the glass receiver being so ordered, that it stands fast, and also the bottom thereof being warmed or heated, then with little pinsers one of the little scales, containing 2. 3. or 4. grains of Aurum fulminans must be conveighed into the Instrument & set upon the warm bottom, and then shut the little door, and when the gold doth feel the heat, it kindleth and giveth a clap, and there is caused a separation and especial unlocking of the gold; for as soon as the clap is done, the gold doth go through the pipe like a purple coloured smoak into the receiver, and sticks on every where like a purple coloured powder. When the smoak is vanished, which is soon done, then take the empty scale out of the Instrument or Oven, and set in the other with the gold which will likewise fulminate and yeild its flores, Then the first being cooled in the mean time, is to be filled again and put in, in stead of that which is empty, and so forth▪ putting in one scale after another by turns, continue it so long till you have got flores enough: After the sublimation is performed, let the Copper vessel grow coole, and then sweep or brush the gold▪powder which is not sublimed with a haires foot or a goose feather out of the vessel, which powder serveth for nothing, but to be melted with a little borras, and it wil be good gold again, but onely somwhat paler then it was before it was made into fulminating gold. But the flores in the receiver cannot be brushed out thus, especially when they are cast [Page] in with an addition of salt Nitre, as by the flores of silver hereafter shall be taught, because they are something moist, and therefore poure in as much of dephlegmed Tartarised spirit of wine unto it, as you think it to be enough, for to wash off the flores with. This done, pour out the spirit of wine, together with the burnt Phoenix into a clean glass, with a long neck, set it (being well luted first) into a gentle Balneum, or into warm ashes for some dayes, and the spirit of wine in the mean time will be coloured with a faire red, which you must poure off and then poure on other fresh spirit & set it in a warm place for to be dissolved, this being likewise coloured, put both the extracts together in a little glass body, and abstract the spirit of wine (in Balneo) from the Tincture, which will be little in quantity, but of a high red colour and pleasant in taste. The remaining flores from which the Tincture is extracted, may be with water washed out of the glass, and then dryed if they are to be melted; and they will yeild a little pale gold, and the most part turneth into a brown glass, out of which perchance something else that is good may be made, but unknown to mee as yet.

N. B. If you mixe the Aurum fulminans with some salt nitre▪ before fulmination, then the flores will be the more soluble, so that they yeeld their Tincture sooner and more freely, then alone of themselves; and if you please, you may adde thereto thrice as much salt nitre, and so sublime them in flores, in the same manner, as shall be taught for the making of the flores of silver.

The use of the Tincture of Gold.

THe extracted Tincture is one of the chiefest of those medicines, which comfort and cheer up the heart of man, renew and restore to youthfulness, and cleanse the impure blood in the whole body, whereby many horrible diseases, as the leprosie, the pox, and the like may be rooted out.

[Page] But whether this Tincture by the help of fire may be further advanced into a fixed substance I do not know: for I have not proceeded further in i [...], then here is mentioned.

Of the flores of silver and of its medicine.

HAving promised in the first part of this book (when I was describing the preparation of flores out of Metals) to teach in the second part to make the flores of gold and silver, those of gold being dispatcht; there followeth now in order after the gold, to speak also of silver and of its preparation, which is to be thus performed.

Take of thin laminated or smal granulated fine silver as much as you please, put it into a little separating glass body, and poure upon it twice as much in weight of rectified spirit of salt nitre, and the spirit of salt nitre will presently begin to work upon the silver and to dissolve it. But when it will not dissolve any more in the cold, then you must put the glass body into warm sand or ashes, and the water wil presently begin to work again; let the glass stand in the warm ashes, untill all the silver be dissolved. Then put the solution out of the little glass body, into another such as is cut off at the top, and put on a little head or Limbeck, and in sand abstract the moity of the spirit of salt nitre from the dissolved silver; then let the glass body remaine in the sand till it be coole; after take it out, and let it rest for a day and a night, and the silver will turn into white foliated crystals, from which you must poure off the remaining solution which is not turned; and from thence abstract again the moity of the spirit, and let it shoote or turn in a cold place; and this abstracting and crystallising you are to reiterate, until almost all the silver is turned to Crystals; which you must take out and lay them upon filtring paper for to dry, and so keep it for such further use, as hereafter shall be taught. The remaining solution, which is not crystallised, you may in a copper vessel by adding of sweet water thereto, precipitate over [Page] the fire into a calx, and then edulcorate and dry it, and keep it for other use, or else melt it again into a body. Or else you may precipitate the same with salt water, and so edulcorate and dry it; and you will have a calx, which doth melt by a gentle fire, and is of a special nature, in the spirit of urine, of salt Armoniack, of Hartshorn, of Amber, of soot, and of haire it doth easily dissolve; and it may be prepared or turned into good medicines, as shortly in our treating of the spirit of urine shall be taught. Or else, you may choose not to precipitate the remaining solution of silver, but with the spirit of urine to extract an excellent Tincture, as hereafter shall be taught.

Of the use of the crystals of silver.

THese crystals may safely be used in Physick alone by themselves 3. 6. 9. 12. grains thereof being mixed with a little sugar, or else made up into pils; they do purge very gently and without danger; but by reason of their bitterness they are somewhat untoothsome to take; also, if they be not made up into pils, they colour the lips, tongue and mouth quite black (but the reason of that blackness belongeth not to this place to treat of, but shall by and by follow hereafter) Also if they touch metals, as Silver, Copper and Tin, they make them black and ugly, and therefore they are not much used. But if you put into the solution of silver (before it be reduced into Crystals) halfe as much quicksilver as there was of the silver, and so dissolve them together and afterwards let them shoote together, there will come forth very faire little square stones like unto Allome, which do not melt in the aire, as the former foliated ones use to do; neither are so bitter, and they purge also quicker and better, then those tbat are made onely of silver.

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How to subline the Crystals of silver into flores, and then to make a good Medicine of the flores.

TAke of the foliated Crystals of Silver as many as you please, and upon a grinding stone made warm first, grinde as much purified and wel dryed salt nitre amongst it, and lay it into your Iron distilling vessel (to the pipe whereof there is to be applyed and luted a great receiver) coles made into powder two inches high, and make a fire under it, that the vessel every where together with the coles that are in it, become red hot. Then take off the lid, and with a ladle throw in at once of your Crystals of silver ʒ i. yea more or less, according as you think that your receiver in regard of its bigness is able to bear. This done, presently put on the lid, and the salt nitre together with the crystals of silver will be kindled by the coles that lye on the bottome of the vessel, and there will come forth a white silver fume through the pipe into the receiver, and after a while when the cloud is vanished in the receiver, cast in more, and continue this so long, until all your prepared silver is cast in; then let it coole, amd take off the receiver, and poure into it good Alcolized spirit of wine, and wash the flores with it out of the receiver, and proceed further with them, as above you have been taught to proceed with the gold, and you will get a greenish liquor, which is very good for the braine.

Take the coles out of the distilling vessel, and make them into fine powder, and wash them out with water, to the end that the light cole-dust may be got from it, and you will finde much silver dust (or a great many little silver graines) which the salt nitre could not force over, which you may reduce, for it will be good silver.

There can also be made a very good medicine out of the crystals of silver, which will be little inferior to the former, whereby the diseases and infirmities of the braine may be very well remedied, which is done thus:

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How to make a green oyle out of silver.

POure upon Crystals of silver twice or thrice as much (in weight) of the strongest spirit of salt Armoniack, put it in a glass with a long neck well closed, into a very gentle warmth for the space of 8. or 14, dayes in digestion, and the spirit of salt Armoniack will be tinged with a very faire blew colour from the silver, then pour it off, and filtre it through brown paper, and then put it in a little glass retort or glass body, and abstract in Balneo by a gentle fire, almost all the spirit of salt Armoniack (which is still good for use) and there will remaine in the bottom a grass green liquor, which is to be kept for a medicine.

But in case, that you should miss, and abstract too much of the spirit from the Tincture of silver, so that the Tincture be quite dry, and turned to a green salt, then you must poure upon it again as much of the spirit of salt Armoniack, as will dissolve the green salt again to a green liquor, but if you desire to have the Tincture purer yet, then abstract all moystness from it, to a stony dryness: upon which you must poure good spirit of wine, which will quickly dissolve the stone, and then filtre it, and there will remaine faeces, and the Tincture will be fairer: from which you must abstract most of the spirit of wine, and the Tincture will be so much the higher in vertue. But if you please, you may distill that green salt or stone (before it be extracted once again with spirit of wine) in a little glass-retort, and you will get a subtile spirit and a sharp oyle, and in the bottome of the retort there remaineth a very fusile silver which could not come over.

It is to be admired, that when you pour spirit of salt Armoniack or spirit of wine upon that stone for to dissolve it, that the glass comes to be so cold by it, that you harldyare able to endure it in your hand, which coldness in my opinion cometh from the silver (being so well unlockt) which naturally is cold.

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The use of the green liquor in Alchymy, and for Mechanical operations.

THis green liquor serveth not only for a medicine, but also for other Chymical operations (for both Copper and glass may be easily and very fairly silvered over therewith) very useful for those that are curious and love to make a shew with fair houshold-stuff; for if you get dishes, trencher plates, salters, cups and other vessels made of glass, after the same fashion as those of silver use to be made, you may very easily and without any considerable charge silver them over therewith within and without, so that by the eye they cannot be discerned from true silver plate.

Besides the above related good medicines, there may be made an other and especial good one out of the crystals of silver, viz. dissolving and digesting them (for a space of time) with the universal water, which hath been distilled by nature it self; and is known to every body: and after its digesting for a short time, and change into several colours, there will be found a pleasant essence, which is not so bitter as the above described green liquor, which is not brought yet by heat to ripenesse and maturation.

N. B. In this sweet universal Menstruum, there can also all other metals by a small heat and the digestion of a long time be ripened and fitted for medicines (having first been reduced into their vitriols and salts) and then they are no more dead bodies, but by this preparation have recovered a new life, and are no more the metals of the covetous, but may be called, the metals of the Philosophers and of the Physitians.

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Besides Physick or physical use.

LAstly there may be many pretty things more effected (besides the medicinal use) by means of the Crystals of silver, viz. when you dissolve them in ordinary sweet raine water, you can dye beards, haire, skin, and nailes of men or beasts into carnation or pinck red, brown & black according as you have put more or less thereof in the water; or else, according as the haire was more or less times wetted therewith, whereby the aspect of man and beast (which sometimes in several occasions may not be contemned) is changed, so that they cannot be known.

This colouring or dye may be also performed with Lead or Mercury no less then with silver, but otherwise prepared, whereof in the fourth part.

Now I have taught how to make flores and tinctures of gold and silver by the help of the acid spirit of Nitre. There may be many other medicines taught to be made out of them, but in regard that they belong not to this place, they shall be reserved for other places of this second, and also for the other following parts.

As by the help of the spirit of Nitre good medicines can be made out of gold and silver; so the like may be done out of other inferiour metals. But in regard that their description is fitter for other places of this book, I do omit them here. Yet nevertheless I thought good, to describe one preparation of every metal, and after the silver there followeth now the copper.

A medicine out of copper externally to be used.

DIssolve burnt plates of copper in spirit of salt, and abstract the spirit again from thence to a dryness, but not too hard, and there will a green mass remaine behinde, which you may cast in by little and little, and so distil it, as of silver hath been taught. It doth yeild a strong and powerful [Page] spirit and flores also for outward use in putrid wounds to lay a good ground thereby for the healing.

A medicine out of iron or steel.

IN the same manner you may proceed with iron and steel▪ and there will remaine behinde a good crocus of a great stipticity or astringency, especially out of iron or steele, and may with good success be mixed with oyntments and plasters.

Of Tin and Lead.

IF Tin or Lead be dissolved therein, after the abstracting of part of the spirit, they will shoote into cleer and sweet crystals. But Tin is not so easily dissolved as lead; both may safely be used for medicines. Also there may be spirits and flores got out of them by distilling. The rehearsing of the preparation is needless, for what for the preparing of silver hath been taught, is to be understood also of other metals.

The use of the crystals of Lead and Tin.

THe crystals of lead are admirably good to be used in the plague for to provoke sweating and expel the venome out of the body; they may also with credit be used in the bloody flux. Externally dissolved in water, and clothes dipt therein and applyed they excellently coole and quench all inflamations, in what part of the body so ever they do befall. Likewise the spirit thereof used per se (and the flores mixed among oyntments) do their part sufficiently.

But the crystals of Tin do not prove altogether so quick in operation, though they do act their part also, & they are more pleasant then those that are made of Lead; for in Tin there is [Page] found a pure sulphur of gold; but in Lead a white sulphur of silver, as is proved in my Treatise of the Generation and nature of metals.

Of Mercury.

VVHen you dissolve common Mercury in rectified spirit of Nitre, and abstract the spirit from it again, then there will remaine behinde a faire red glistering precipitate; but when the spirit is not rectified, it will not be so faire, because that the impurity of the spirit remains with the Mercury and pollutes it. This calcinated Mercury is called by some Mercurius praecipitatus, and by others Turbith minerale, wherewith the Surgeons and somtimes one or other unskilful Physitians do cure the pox; they do give at once 6. 8. 10. graines (more or less) according to its preparation and force in operation to the patient; for if the spirit be not too much abstracted from it, it worketh much stronger, then when by a strong fire it is quite separated from it; for the spirits that remaine with the Mercury make it quick and active which else without the spirits would not be such.

The other metals also, if they be not first made soluble by salts or spirits, can perform either none or but very smal operation, unless it be Zinck or Iron, which being easily soluble are able to work without any foregoing dissolution, as hath been shewn above, when we treated of the oyle of vitriol. But that the sharp spirits are the cause of that operation, may hence be perceived and made manifest; that although you take ℥ss. of quick-silver and pour it down into the stomach, yet it would run out again beneath, as above it was poured in. But if it be prepared with the spirits or salts, then but few graines of it will work strongly, and the more it is made soluble, the stronger it worketh, as you may see when it is sublimed from salt and vitriol, that it groweth so strong thereby that one graine doth work more then eight or ten grains of Turbith Mineral, and three or four grains thereof would kill a man by reason of its mighty strength. Also it [Page] worketh extreamly and much more then the sublimate, when it is dissolved in spirit of Nitre and crystallised, so that you cannot well take it upon your tongue without danger. Which some perceiving, evaporate the Aqua fortis by a gentle heat from it, so that the Mercurius remained yellow, which in a smaler dose wrought more then the red, from which the spirits were quite evaporated. And they used it not only externally strewing it into impure sores, for to corrode or fret away the proud flesh, not without great paine to the patient: but also without distinction of young or old gave it inwardly for to purge; which is one of the most hurtful purges that can be used. For this evil guest, however he be prepared, cannot leave his tricks, unless it be reduced into such a substance, as that it never can be brought back to a running Mercury, for then much good can be done therewith in physick without any hurt or prejudice to the health of man, whereof perchance something more shall be said in another place.

I cannot omit for the benefit of young innocent children, to discover a great abuse. For it is grown very common almost among all that deale in physick, that as soon as a little childe is not well before they know whether it will be troubled with wormes or with any thing else, they presently fall upon Mercury, supposing that in regard it hath no taste, it be so much the better for to get the children to take it for to kill the wormes.

But those men do not know the hurtful nature of it, which it doth shew against the sinews and nerves: For some are of opinion, that if they know to prepare Mercury so, that it can be given in a greater dose (as is to be seen in sublimed Mercurius dulcis) that then it is excellently prepared: but they are in a great error, and it were much better, it were not so well prepared, that the less hurt might be done to man, in regard that then they durst not give it in so great a dose. For if that which is prepared with Aqua fortis or spirit of salt nitre be used in the pox to men that are advanced in years, it cannot do so much hurt, because it is given in a small dose, and doth work with them, whereby nature gets help for to overcome [Page] and expel that hurtful venome, and its malignity is abated by the strong salivation, which the provident nature hath planted in it, so that not so much mischief can come by it, as by Mercurius dulcis, whereof is given to little weak children from ten to thirty graines at once, which commonly (unless they be of a strong nature, and do grow it out) doth cause a weakness and lameness in their limbs, so that (if they do not come to be quite lame at last) they have a long time to struggle withal, till they overcome it.

In like manner those also do err, which do shake Mercury in water or beer so long until the water come to be gray-coloured, and so give that water or beer to little children to drink for the wormes, pretending that they do not give the substance or body of Mercury, but onely its vertue. But this gross preparation is no better then if they had ministred the running Mercury it self. Neither have I ever seen, that the use of Mercurius dulcis or of the gray coloured water was seconded with good success in killing of the worms. But it is credible, that it may be done by yellow or red precipitate, in regard of its strong operation. But who would be such an enemy to his childe, as to plague and torture it with such a hurtfull and murthering medicine; especially there being other medicines to be had, which do no harme to the children, as is to be found by iron or steel, and the sweet oyle of vitriol.

And so much of the abuse of Mercury: I hope it will be a good warning unto many, so that they will not so easily billet such a tyrannical guest in any ones house, whereby the ruine thereof of necessity must follow. And that cure deserveth no praise at all, whereby one member is cured with the hurt of two or three other members. As we see by the pox, when one infected member is cured by Mercury, and that but half and not firme at all, that all the rest of the body is endangered thereby for the future. And therefore it would be much better that such crude horse-physick might be severed from good medicaments, & such used instead of them, as may firmely, safely, and without prejudice to other parts perform the [Page] cure of which kinde several are taught in this book. But in case that you have patients, which have been spoyled by such an ill-prepared Mercury, then there is no better remedy to restore them, then by medicines made of metals, wherewith Mercury hath great affinity, as of gold and silver: for when they are often used, they attract the Mercury out of all the members, and carry it along with them out of the body, and so do rid the body thereof. But externally the precipitated Mercury may more safely be used, then internally, in case there be nothing else to be had, viz. to corrode or eat away the proud flesh out of the wound. But if in stead of it there should be used the corrosive oyle of Antimony, Vitriol, Allom or common salt it would be better, and the cure much the speedier, and it would be better yet, that in the beginning good medicaments were used to fresh wounds, and not by carlesness to reduce them to that ill condition, that afterwards by paineful corrosives they must be taken away. But such a Mercury would serve best of all for souldiers, beggers and children that go to schoole, for if it be strewed upon the head of children, or into their clothes, no louse will abide there any longer. In which case Mercury must by his preparation not be made red, but onely yellow, and it must be used warily, and not be strewed on too thick, lest the flesh be corroded, which would be the occasion of great mischief.

Of Aqua fortis.

OUt of Salt nitre and vitriol, taking of each a like quantity, or (if the water is to be not altogether so strong) two parts of vitriol to one part of salt nitre, a water distilled is good to dissolve metals therewith, and to separate them from one another; as gold from silver and silver from gold, which in the fourth part punctually shall be taught.

[Page] The Aqua fortis serveth also for many other Chymical operations to dissolve and fit metals thereby, that they may be reduced the easier into medicaments: but because the spirit of salt nitre and the Aqua fortis are almost all one and have like operations: for if the Aqua fortis be dephlegmed and rectified, you may perform the same operations with it, which possibly may be performed with the spirit of salt nitre; and on the other side the spirit of salt nitre will do all that can be done with the Aqua fortis; whereof in the fourth part shall be spoken more at large.

Now I know well that ignorant laborators (which do all their work according to custome, without diving any further into the nature of things, will count me an Heretick (because I teach, that the Aqua fortis made of vitriol and salt nitre is of the same nature and condition with the spirit of salt nitre, which is made without vitriol) saying that the Aqua fortis doth partake likewise of the spirit of vitriol, betause vitriol also is used in the preparation of it. To which I answer, that although vitriol be used in the preparation of it, yet for all that in the distilling, nothing or but very little of its spirit comes over with the spirit of salt nitre, and that by so small a heat it cannot rise so high, as the spirit of salt nitre doth: and the vitriol is added onely therefore unto the salt nitre, that he may hinde, its melting together, and so the more facilitate its going into a spirit. And for the more to be convinced of this truth, the unbelieving may adde to such spirit of salt nitre, as is made by it self, a little of oyle of vitriol likewise made by it self, and try to dissolve silver gilded with it, and he will finde that his spirit of salt nitre by the spirit of vitriol is made unfit to make a separation; for it preyeth notably upon the gold, which is not done by Aqua fortis.

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Of the sulphurized spirit of salt nitre.

THere can also be made a spirit of salt nitre with sulphur, which is still in use with many, viz. that they take a strong earthen retort, which hath a pipe at the top, and fasten it into a furnace, and having put salt nitre in i [...], they let it melt, and then through the pipe they throw peeces of sulphur of the bigness of a pea one after another, which being kindled, together with the nitre doth yield a spirit called by some spirit of salt nitre, and by others oyle of sulphur, but falsely; for it is neither of both, in regard that metals cannot be dissolved therewith as they are done with other spirit of salt nitre or sulphur; neither is there any great use for it in physick, and if it were good for any Chymical operations, by the help of my distilling instrument might easily be made and in great quantity.

N B. But if salt nitre be mixed with sulphur in due proportion, and in the first furnace be cast upon quick coles, then all will be burnt, and a strong spirit cometh over, whose vertue is needless here to describe; but more shall be mentioned of it in another place.

Of the Clissus.

AMong the Physitians of this latter age, there is mention made of another spirit, which they make of Antimony, Sulphur, and salt nitre, a like quantity taken of each, which they call Clissus, and which they have in high esteem, and not without cause, because it can do much good, if it be well prepared.

The inventor for the making thereof used a retort with a pipe, as was mentioned by the sulphurized spirit of salt nitre, through which pipe he threw in his mixture. And it is a good way if no better be known: but if the Author had known [Page] my invention and way of distilling, I doubt not but he would have set aside his, that hath a nose or pipe retort, and made use of mine.

The materials indeed are good, but not the weight or proportion; for to what purpose so great a quantity of sulphur, it being not able to burn away all with so smal a quantity of salt nitre. And if it doth not burn away, but only sublime and stop the neck of the retort, whereby the distillation is hindred, how can it then yeeld any vertue? Therefore you ought to take not so much sulphur, but only such a quantity as will serve to kindle the salt nitre, viz. to lb i. of salt nitre four drams of sulphur: but because Antimony also is one of the ingredients, which hath likewise much sulphur (for there is no Antimony so pure, but it containeth much combustible sulphur, as in the fourth part of this book shal be proved:) therefore it is needless to add so much sulphur unto Antimonie, to make it burn, because it hath enough of it self. And therefore I will set down my composition, which I found to be better then the first.

Take Antimony lb i. salt nitre lb ij. sulphur ℥ iij. the materials must be made into smal powder and well mixed, and at once cast in ℥ ij. thereof, and there will come over a sulphureous acid spirit of Antimony, which will mix it self with the water, which hath been put before in the receiver; which after the distillation is finished must be taken out and kept close for its use. It is a very good diaphoretick (or sweatprovoking) medicine especially in feavers, the plague, epilepsie, and all other diseases, whose cure must be performed by sweating. The Caput Mortuum may be sublimed into flores in that furnace, which is described in the first part.

Of the Tartarifed spirit of nitre.

IN the very same manner there may also be distilled a good sweat-provoking spirit out of salt nitre and Tartar, a like quantity taken of each, which is very good to be used in the plague and malignant feavers.

[Page] The Caput Mortuum is a good melting powder for to reduce the calxes of metals therewith; or else you may let it dissolve in a moyst place to oyle of Tartar.

Of the Tartarised spirit of Antimony.

A Much better spirit yet may be made of Tartar, salt nitre; and Antimony, a like quantity being taken of each and made into fine powder, and mixed well together, which though it be not so pleasant to take, is therefore not to be despised. For not only in the plague and feavers, but also in all obstructions and corruptions of blood it may be used with admiration of its speedy help.

The Caput Mortuum may be taken out, and melted in a crucible, and it will yeeld a Regulus, the use whereof is described in the fourth part. Out of the scoria or dross a red Ticture may be extracted with spirit of wine, which is very useful in many diseases. But before you extract with spirit of wine; you may get a red lixivium out of it with sweet water, which lixivium may be used externally for to mend the faults of the skin and to free it from scabbiness.

Upon this lixivium if you poure Vinegar or any other acid spirit, there will precipitate a red pouder, which if it be edulcorated and dryed, can be used in physick. It is called by some Tartar auratum diaphoreticum: but it is no Diaphoretick, but maketh strong vomits, and so in case of necessity, when you have no better medicine at hand, it may be used for a vomitory from 6. 7. 9. to 15. grains.

Also out of the scoria there can be extracted a faire Sulphur with the spirit of urine and distilled over the Limbeck, which is very good for all diseases of the lungs.

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Of Stone-coles.

IF you mixe stone-coles with a like quantity of salt nitre, and distill them, you will get an admirable spirit and good to be used for external sores; for it cleanseth and draweth the wounds together exceedingly, and there will also come over a metallical vertue in the form of a red powder, which must be separated from the spirit, and kept for its use. But if you cast in stone-coles alone by themselves, and distill them, there will come over not only a sharp spirit, but also a hot and blood red oyle, which doth powerfully dry and heal all running ulcers; especially it will heal a scald-head better then any other medicine, and it doth consume also all moyst and spongious excrescencies in the skin, where ever they be: but if you sublime stone-coles in the furnace described in the first part, there comes over an acid metallical spirit, and a great deale of black light flores, which suddenly stanch bleeding, and used in plasters, are as good as other metallical flores.

Of the Sulphreous spirit of salt nitre or Aqua fortis.

IF you take one part of sulphur, two parts of salt nitre, and three parts of vitriol, and distill them, you will get a graduating Aqua fortis, which smelleth strongly of sulphur; for the sulphur is made volatil by the salt nitre and vitriol. It is better for separating of metals, then the▪ common Aqua fortis.

If silver be put in, it groweth black, but not fixed; some of it poured into a solution of silver a great deal of black calx will precipitate, but doth not abide the tryal. You may also abstract a strong sulphureous volatile spirit from it, which hath like vertue as well internally as externally for bathes, and may be used like unto a volatile spirit of Vitriol or Allome.

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Of the Nitrous spirit of Arsenick.

IF you take white Arsenick and pure salt nitre of eacha a like quantity ground into fine powder, and distill them, you will get a blew spirit, which is very strong, but no water must be put into the receiver, else it would turn white, for Arsenick, from which the blew cometh, is precipitated by the water. This spirit dissolveth aud graduateth the copper as white as silver, and maketh it malleable but not fix. The remaining Caput Mortuum maketh the copper white, if it be cemented therewith, but very brittle and unmalleable, but how to get good silver out of Arsenick and with profit, you shall finde in the fourth part. In physick the blew spirit serveth for all corroding cancrous sores, which if they be anoynted therewith, will be killed thereby, and made fit for healing.

To make aspirit of Sulphur, crude Tartar and Salt nitre.

IF you grinde together one part of Sulphur, two parts of Crude Tartar, and four parts of salt nitre, and distill it Philosopher-like, you will get a most admirable spirit, which can play his part both in Physick and Alchymie. I will not advise any body to distill it in a retort; for this mixture, if it groweth warm from beneath, it fulminateth like gunpowder; but if it be kindled from above, it doth not fulminate, but onely burneth away like a quick fire: metals may be melted and reduced thereby.

To make a spirit out of Salt of Tartar, Sulphur, and Saltnitre.

IF you take one part of salt of Tartar, and one part and half of Sulphur, with three parts of salt nitre, and grinde them together, you will have a composition, which fulminateh [Page] like Aurum fulminans, and the same also (after the same manner as above hath been taught with the gold) can be distilled into flores and spirits, which are not without speciall vertue and operation. For the corruption of one thing is the generation of another.

How to make a spirit of saw dust, sulphur and salt nitre.

IF you make a mixture of one part of Saw-dust made of Tilia or Linden-wood, and two parts of good sulphur, and nine parts of purified and well dryed salt nitre, and cast it in by little and little, there will come over an acid spirit, which may be used outwardly, for to cleanse wounds that are unclean. But if you mix with this composition minerals or metals made into fine powder, and then cast it in and distill it, there will come not only a powerful metallical spirit, but also a good quantity of flores, according to the nature of the mineral, which are of no small vertue: for the minerals and metals are by this quick fire destroyed and reduced to a better condition▪ whereof many things could be written: but it is not good to reveal all things. Consider this sentence of the Philosophers. It is impossible to destroy without a flame. The combustible Sulphur of the Calx, which the digged Mine doth doe.

Also fusible minerals and metals may not only be melted, therewith, but also cupellated in a moment upon a Table in the hand or in a nut shel; whereby singular proofs of oares and metals may be made and much better, then upon a Cupel, whereof further in the fourth part of this book. Here is opened unto us a gate to high things; if entrance be granted unto us, we shall need no more books to look for the Art in them.

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To make metallical spirits and flores by the help of salt-nitre and linnen cloth.

IF metals be dissolved in their appropriated Menstruums, and in the solution (wherein a due proportion of salt nitre must be dissolved) fine linnen rags be dipt and dryed, you have a prepared metal, which may be kindled, and (as it was mentioned above concerning the saw dust) through the burning away and consuming of their superfluous sulphur, the mercurial substance of the metal is manifested. And after the distillation is ended, you will finde a singular purified calx, which by rubbing coloureth other metals, as that of gold doth guild silver, that of silver over-silvereth copper, and copper calx maketh iron look like copper, &c. which colouring though it cannot bring any great profit, yet at least for to shew the possibility, I thought it not amiss to describe it: and perchance something more may be hid in it, which is not given to every one to know.

Of Gun-powder.

OF this mischievous composition and diabolical abuse of Gunpowder much could be written: but because this present world taketh onely delight in shedding innocent blood, and cannot endure that unrighteous things should be reproved, and good things praised, therefore it is best to be silent, and to let every one answer for himself, when the time cometh that we shall give an account of our stewardship, which perhaps is not far off; & then there will be made a separation of good and bad, by him that tryeth the heart, even as gold is refined in the fire from its dross. And then it will be seen what Christians we have been. We do all bear the name, but do not approve our selves to be such by our works: every one thinketh himself better then others, and for a words sake which one understandeth otherwise, or takes in another sense then the other (and though it be no point, wherein salvation [Page] doth depend) one curseth and condemneth another and persecuteth one another unto death which Christ never taught us to do, but rather did earnestly command us that we should love one another, reward evil with good, and not good with evil, as now a dayes every where they use to do, every one standeth upon his reputation, but the honor of God and his command are in no repute, but are trampled under foot, and Lucifers pride, vaine ambition, and Pharisaicall hypocrisie or shew of holiness, hath so far got the upper-hand with the learned, that none will leave his contumacy or stubbornness, or recede a little from his opinion although the whole world should be turned upside down thereby. Are not these fine Christians? By their fruit you shall know them, and not by their words. Woolves are now clothed with sheeps skins, so that none of them almost are to be found, and yet the deeds and works of Woolves are every where extant.

All good manners are turned into bad, women turn men, and men women in their fashion and behaviour, contrary to the institution and ordinance of God and Nature. In brief, tke world goeth on crutches. If Heraclitus and Democritus should now behold this present world, they would finde exceeding great cause for their lamenting and laughing at it. And therefore it is no marvel, that God sent such a terrible scourge as the gun-powder is upon us; and it is credible, that if this do not cause our amendment, that a worse will follow, viz. thunder and lightning falling down from heaven, whereby the world shalbe turned upside down for to make an end of all pride, self-love, ambition, deceit and vanity. For which the whole creature doth waite, fervently desiring to be delivered from the bondage thereof.

Now this preparation, which is the most hurtfull poyson, a terror unto all the living, is nothing else but a sulmen terrestre denouncing unto us the wrath and coming of the Lord. For Christ for to judge the world is to come with thundering and lightning: and this earthly thunder perchance is given us for to put us in minde and fear of that which is to come; but this [Page] is not so much as thought on by men, who prepare it only for to plague and destroy mankinde therewith in a most cruel and abominable manner, as every one knoweth.

For none can deny but that there is no nimbler poyson, then this gunpowder. It is written of the Basiliske, that he killeth man only by his look, which a man may avoyd, and there are but few (if any at all) of them found: but this poyson is now prepared and found every where.

How often doth it fall out, that a place wherein this powder is kept is stricken with thunder as with its like, in so much that all things above it are in a moment destroyed, and carryed up into the aire? Also in sieges, when an Ordnance is discharged, or mines blown up, all whom it lays hold on, are suddenly killed, and most miserably destroyed. What nimbler poyson then could there be invented? I beleeve there is none, who will not acknowledge it to be such.

And seeing that the ancient Philosophers and Chymists were alwayes of opinion, that the greater the poyson is, the better medicine may be made of it, after it is freed from the poyson, which with us their posterity proved true by many experiences; as we see by Antimony, Arsenick, Mercury, and the like minerals, which without preparation are meer poyson, but by due prepartion may be turned into the best and most effectual medicaments, which though not every one can comprehend or believe, yet your Chymists know it to be true, and the doing of it is no new thing to them. And because I treat in this second part of medicinal spirits, and other good medicaments, and finding that this which can be made out of the gunpowder, is none of the least, I would not omit in some measure, and as far as lawfully may be done, to set down its preparation: which is thus performed.

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How to make a spirit of Gunpowder.

YOur distilling vessel being made warm, and a great receiver with sweet water in it, being applyed to it without luting, put a dish with gunpowder, containing about 12. or 15. grains a peece, one after another into it; in the same manner as above was taught to do with gold. For if you should put in too much of it at once, it would cause too much winde and break the receiver.

As soon as you have conveighed it into the vessel, shut the doore, and the gunpowder will kindle, and give a blast that it maketh the receiver stir, and a white mist or steam will come over into the receiver. As soon as the powder is burnt, you may cast in more before the mist is settled, because else the distilling of it would cost too much time, and so you may continue to do untill you have spirit enough. Then let the fire go out, and the furnace grow coole, and then take off the receiver, poure the spirit with the water that was poured in before (the flores being first every where washed off with it) out of the receiver into a glass body, and rectifie it in a B. through a limbeck, and there will come over a muddy water, tasting and smelling of sulphur: which you must keep. In the glass body you will finde a white salt, which you are to keep likewise in the glass-body. Take out the Caput Mortuum, which remained in the distilling vessel, and looks like gray salt, calcine it in a covered crucible, that it turn white, but not that it melt; and upon this burnt or calcined salt, pour your stinking water, which came over through the limbeck, and dissolve the calcined white salt with it, and the feces which will not dissolve cast away. Filtre the solution, and poure it upon the white salt, which remained in the glass body, from which the sulphureous spirit was abstracted before, and put the glass body (with a limbeck luted upon it) into sand, and abstract the sulphureous water from it, which will be yellowish, and smell more of sulphur then it did before. [Page] This water if it be abstracted from the salt several times, will turn white, almost like unto milk, and tast no more of sulphur, but be pleasant and sweet. It is is very good for the diseases of the lungs. Also it doth guild silver, being anoynted therewith, although not▪firmely, and by digestion it may be ripened and reduced into a better medicine.

The salt which remained in the glass body, urge with a strong fire, such as will make the sand, wherein the glass standeth red hot, and there will sublime a white salt into the limbeck, in taste almost like unto salt Armoniack, but in the the midst of the glass body, you will finde another, which is yellowish, of a mineral taste and very hot upon the tongue.

These sublimed salts, as well the white which did ascend into the limbeck, as the yellow, which remained in the glass body are good to be used in the plague, malignant feavers and other diseases, where sweating is required; for they doe mightily provoke sweating, they comfort and do cleanse the stomach, and cause sometimes gentle stools.

But what further may be done in Physick with it, I do not know yet.

In Alchymie it is also of use, which doth not belong to this place upon the remaining salt which did not sublime you may pour rain water, and dissolve it there in the glass body, (if it be whole still) else if it be broken, you may take out the salt dry, and dissolve and filtre and coagulate it againe, and there will be separated a great deal of saeces. This purified salt, which will look yellowish, melt in a covered crucible, and it will turn quite blood red, and as hot as fire upon the tongue, which with fresh water you must dissolve again, and then filtre and coagulate; by which operation it will be made pure and clear, and the solution is quite green before it be coagulated, and as fiery as the red salt was before its dissolution.

This grass green solution being coagulated again into a red fiery salt, it may be melted again in a clean and strong crucible, and it will be much more red and fiery.

[Page] N. B. And it is to be admired, that in the melting of it many fiery sparks do flye from it, which do not kindle or take fire, as other sparks of coales or wood use to do. This well purified red salt being laid in a cold and moist place, will dissolve into a blood red oyle, which in digestion dissolveth gold and leaveth the silver: this solution may be coagulated, and kept for use in Alchymie.

There may also a pretious Tincture be extracted out of it with alcolized spirit of wine, which Tincture guildeth silver, but not firmely.

And as for use in Physick, it ought to be kept as a great Treasure. But if the red fiery salt be extracted with spirit of wine before gold be dissolved therewith, it will yeild likewise a faire red Tincture, but not so effectual in Physick as that unto which gold is joyned. And this Tincture can also further be used in Alchymie, which belongeth not hither, because we onely speak of medicaments.

Of the use of the medicine or Tincture made of the Gunpowder.

THis Tincture whether with or without gold, made out of the red salt, is one of the chiefest that I know to make, if you go but rightly to work, and prepare it well: for it purifieth and cleanseth the blood mightily, and provoketh also powerfully sweat and urine; so that it may safely and with great benefit be used in the plague, feavers, epilepsie, scurvy, in Melancholia Hypochondriaca, in the gout, stone, and the several kinds of them; as also in all obstructions of the spleen and liver: and in all diseases of the lungs, and it is to be admired that of such a hurtful thing such a good medicine can be prepared. Therefore it would be much better to prepare good medicaments of it, to restore the poor diseased to health there with, then to destroy with it those that are whole and sound.

[Page] I know a Chymist, that spent much time and cost to search this poysonous dragon, thinking to make the universal medicine or stone of the ancient Philosophers out of it. Especially because he saw, that so many strange changes of colours appeared, whereof mention is made by the Philosophers when they describe their medicine and the preparation thereof.

The dragons blood, Virgins milke, green and red lion, black blacker then black, white whiter then white, and the like more needless here to relate, which easily may perswade a credulous man as it hapned also unto him. But afterward he found, that this subject in which he put so much confidence, was leprous and not pure enough, and that it be impossible to to make that tingent stone of it, for to exalt men and metals, and so was glad to be contented with a good particular medicine and to commit the rest unto God.

And so much of that poysonous dragon the gunpowder▪ but that there is another and more purer dragon, whereof the Philosophers so often made mention, I do not deny: for nature is mighty rich, & could reveal us many Arcana by Gods permission: But because we look only for great honor and riches, and neglect the poor, there is good reason why such things remaine hidden from the wicked and ungodly men.

To make spirits and flores of Nitre and Coales.

IF you distill Nitre (well purified from its superfluous salt) mixed with good coals, the Egyptian Sun bird doth burn away, and out of it doth sweat a singular water, useful for men and metals. Its burnt ashes are like unto calcined Tartar, and for the purging of metals not to be despised.

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To make flores and spirits of flints, crystals or sand, by adding of coales and salt nitre to them.

TAke one part of flints or sand, and three parts of Linden coales, with six parts of good salt nitre mixed well together, and cast of it in, and the combustible sulphur of the flints will be kindled by the piercing and vehement fire of the salt nitre, and maketh a separation, carrying over with it part thereof, which it turneth into spirits and flores, which must be separated by filtring. The spirit tasteth as if it had been made of salt Tartar and flints, and is of the same nature and condition; and the remaining Caput Mortuum also yeildeth such an oyle or liquor in all like unto that, and therefore its condition is not described here, but you may finde it where I shall treat of the spirit made of salt tartar by adding of flints.

To make a spirit and oyle out of Talck with salt nitre.

TAke one part of Talck made into fine powder, and three parts of Linden-coales, mixe them with five or six parts of good salt nitre, cast in of that mixture one spoonful after another, and there will come over a spirit and a few flores, which must be separated as hath been taught above concerning flints.

The spirit is not unlike unto the spirit of sand: the Caput Mortuum, which looks grayish, must be made red hot or burnt well in a crucible, so that it melt, and then powre it out, and it will yeild a white transparent Massa, like as the flints and crystals do, which in a cold moist cellar will turn to thick liquor, fatter in the handling then the oyle of sand. It is something sharpe like unto oyle of Tartar; it cleanseth the skin, haire and nailes, and makes them white; the spirit may be used inwardly for to provoke sweat and urine: externally usedit cleanseth wounds, and healeth all manner of scabs in [Page] the body out of hand. What further may be done with it, I do not know yet: But how to bring Talck, pebles and the like stony things to that pass, that they may be dissolved with spirit of wine and reduced into good medicaments shall be taught in the fourth part.

To make a spirit, flores, and an oyle out of Tin.

IF you mixe two parts of the filings of Tin, with one part of good salt nitre, and cast it in, as you were taught to do with other things, then the sulphur of Tin will kindle the salt nitre, and make a flame, as if it were done with common sulphur, whereby a separation is made, so that one part of the Tin cometh over in flores and spirit, and the rest stayeth behinde, which if it be taken out, some of it in a moyst place will turn into a liquor or oyle, which externally may be used with good success in all ulcers for to cleanse them. It hath also the vertue, if it be pertinently applyed to graduate and exalt wonderfully all the colours of vegetables and animals, which would be useful for dyers. The spirit of it mightily provoketh sweating: the flores being edulcorated and used in plasters, do dry and heal very speedily.

To make a spirit, flores and a liquor out of Zinck or speauter.

IN like manner as hath been taught with the Tin, you may also proceed with the Zinck, and it will yeild a good deal of flores, and also a spirit and oyle, almost of the same vertues with those made of Tin: and these flores corrected with sale nitre, are better then those which were taught to be made by themselves in the first part of the book.

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To make a spirit, flores and oyle of Lapis Calaminaris.

MIxe two parts of salt nitre with one part of lapis calamiaris and cast it in, and it will yield a sharp spirit very useful for separating of metals, and there will come over also a few yellow flores. The rest remaining behinde is a dark green Mass very fiery upon the tongue, like salt of Tartar, and if it be dissolved with raine water, yeildeth a grass green solution, which being not presently coagulated into salt, the green separateth it self from the fixed salt nitre, and there falleth to the bottom a fine red powder, and if it be edulcorated and dryed, and given in from one grain to ten or twelve it causeth gentle stools and vomits, better then prepared Antimony; for lapis calaminaris and Zinck are of the nature of gold, as in the fourth part shall be proved: the white lixivium or lye, from which the green is precipitated, may be coagulated into white salt, like unto salt of Tartar; but if you coagulate the green solution, before the green be separated from the salt nitre, then you will get a very faire green salt, high in colour and much more fiery then salt of Tartar, whereby special things can be done in Alchymy, which doth not belong hither. And if you desire to make such a green salt for to use it in Alchymie, you need not to take so much pains, as first to distil a spirit out of the mixture, but take three or four parts of good salt nitre, and mixe it with one part of lapis calaminaris, and let this mixture boyle together in a winde furnace, till the salt nitre be coloured green by the lapis calaminaris, then powre it out and separate the green goldish salt from it, and make such good use of it as you thinke fit.

But if you will extract a good Tincture and Medicine, make it into powder, and extract it with spirit of wine, and it will yeild a blood red Tincture, both in Physick und Alchymie of good use.

Further you are to take notice, that among all metals and minerals, which I know (except gold and silver) there is [Page] none found, out of which can be extracted a greenness which is of fire proofe, but only out of lapis calaminaris, which deserveth to be well considered and further thought upon.

To make a spirit of salt nitre, sulphur and common salt.

TAke one part of fast, two parts of sulphur, and four parts of salt nitre, grinde all together, and cast in one spooneful after another to distill, and it will yeild a sharp yellow spirit, which if it be put among common water, so that the water be not made too sharp of it, it is a good bath, good for many diseases; especially it healeth all scabs very suddenly. The Caput Mortuum may also be dissolved in water and used among bathes, and it is good likewise, but the spirit is penetrating, and doth operate suddenly in shrinkings and other defects of the nerves, of such kinde of bathes there shall be spoken more in the third part. Also the remaining fixed yellow salt is good to be used in Alchymie: for it graduateth somewhat the silver by cementing.

To make a spirit, flores and oyle out of salt nitre and Regulus Martis.

TAke one part of Regulus Martis setellatus (made of one part of Iron or steele, and three parts of Antimony whose preparation is described in the fourth part) and three parts of pure salt nitre, mix and grinde all together, and cast it in by little and little to distill, and there will come over a spirit together with a white sublimate, which must be separated with water, as hath been taught above with other flores and both the spirit and and the flores are good to provoke sweat. The remaining Caput Mortuum (as they usually call it) is not dead, but full of life and vertue, whereby much good may be done both in Physick and Alchymie, as followeth. The remaining Mass, which looks white, and is very sharpe and fiery (if the Regulus have been pure, if not, then it will look yellowish) may be edulcorated [Page] with fresh water, and it will yeild a lixivium or lye in all like unto calcined Tartar, but sharper and purer, and may be used almost in all operations in stead of salt of Tartar (but first the Regulus Antimonii must be precipitated from it by the help of water) and afterward it may be coagulated into salt and kept for its use; the edulcorated, as also that which was precipitated with water is a white and fine powder, useful in the plague, feavers, and other diseases to provoke sweating thereby, and may very safely be used, and although if it be given in a greater quantity then usual, it do cause some vomits also, yet for all that it doth no hurt. It is easily taken because it hath no taste. It is given to children from 3. 4. to 12. grains: to elder folkes from ℈ ss. to ʒ ss. they worke successefully in all diseases, where sweating is needfull. This Antimonium diaphoreticum, may also be melted into glass, and so extracted and dissolved with spirit of salt, and it may be prepared into several good medicaments: and if all that which may be done with it, should be described at large, it would require too much time. The lixivium, if it be coagulated, hath wonderfull vertues, so that if one should describe them, he would hardly be credited by any body, because it is not made of costly things; and truly the life of man is too short to finde out by experience all that lyes hid in it: and it would be but a laughing matter to a proud fool, if one should reveale it: therefore it is better to keep counsel, then to sow strife. Basilius Valentinus in his Triumph of Antimony, where he writeth of the signed star, hinted it sufficiently, but very few take notice of it. Paracelsus also, here and there in his books under an unknown name, makes frequent mention of it; but its true preparation and use, by reason of the unthankeful was never described by the Philosophers, which for instruction of good honest men we do here mention.

Before you edulcorate the Regulus (made by fulmination) you may extract of it a good medicinal Tincture with spirit of wine, and if you dissolve it with spirit of salt, there will shoote a white foliated Talck in all like unto the Mineral Talck: whereof a liquor may be made, which coloureth the [Page] skin very white, but if this calx of Antimony, before it be extracted with spirit of wine or dissolved with spirit of salt be made into fine powder, and exposed to the moist aire, it will dissolve into a fat liquor, which though it be something sharpe, yet doth no hurt to the skin, if it be used with discretion, but rather cleanseth it more then any other thing, and so it doth likewise to the haire and nailes; but as soone as the liquor hath been applyed for that purpose, it must be washed off again with water, lest it do not onely take away the gross and unclean skin, but also work upon the tender white skin and do hurt, and therefore I give warning, that you use it discreetly: for according to the old proverbe, you may misuse even that which else is good in it self. If you put some of it into warm water and bath your self in it, the gross skin will peele off all the body, so that you will almost seem to be another body. And this bath also is good for many diseases: for it openeth the pores mightily, and cleanseth all the blood in the body, by drawing many ill humors out of it, which maketh a man light and strong, especially if he be purged first, before he useth the bath. It is also good for Melancholy, scurvy and leprosie, especially when the red Tincture drawn out of it with spirit of wine, be used besides. It is also good to be used in a foot bath for those that are troubled with corns and other excrescencies upon their feet, or with nailes that cut the flesh; for it softeneth them and makes them fit for cutting, and as tractable as wax. For there is nothing known under the Sun, which softneth more a hard skin, haire, nailes and other excrescencies, then this oyle. And this I did set down therefore, because I know, that many are so tormented therewith, that they cannot well endure their shoes upon their feet. But if you coagulate this oyle into salt, and melt it in a crucible, and powre it out into a flat brass bason, that it flow at large and may be broken, then you have the best Causticum, to open the skin withal where is need. If you dissolve crude Tartar with it and coagulate it again, you will get a salt which is useful in many Chymical operations; and there may be extracted out of it [Page] a blood red Tincture with spirit of wine, which proveth very effectual against all obstructions.

Also every combustible sulphur can be easily dissolved with it, and used among bathes, it acteth his part admirably. If any oyle of spices be boyled therewith, then the oyle will dissolve in it, and they turn together to a balsome, which doth mingle it self with water, and is good to be taken inwardly for some infirmities: but women with childe must not meddle with it, because it makes them miscarry. But after their delivery, it is good to expel after burthen and other reliques. But if you boyle Oleum ligni Rhodii with this liquor and rose water so long till the oyle do incorporate with the liquor and waters and then separate the watery substance from it, you will get a sope as white as snow, which may be used for to wash the hands with it, and it doth smel very wel. You may also wash the head with it; for it strengthneth the braine and cleanseth the head and haire. This sope may be distilled, and it will yeild a penetrating oyle, very good for the sinews and nerves.

Now as this liquor of Regulus Antimonii softneth the skin, nailes, haire, feathers, horns, and the like, and dissolveth them more then any thing in the world: In the like manner also it hath power to dissolve not only metals, but also the hardest stones, but not in that manner which is done by boyling, and was mentioned by the sulphur, but after another way, which is not proper for this place. It sufficeth that I hinted it. The fiery fixed salt nitre can be dissolved with spirit of salt or vinegar, and sublimed into a Terra foliata. What further can be effected with it, doth not belong to this place, and perchance some where else more shall be spoken of it.

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To distil Butyrum out of Antimony, Salt and vitriol, like unto that, which is made out of Antimony and Mercury sublimate.

TAke one part of crude Antimony, two parts of common salt, and four parts of vitriol calcined white, beat all to powder and mix them wel, and so cast it in as you were taught to do with other materials, and there will come over a thick oyle of Antimony like butter, which may be rectified like any other oyle, that is made after the common way with Mercury sublimate, and is also the same with it in use, which use you may see in the first part: the same also can be made better and in a greater quantity in the furnace described in the first part, and also with less coals and time by the help of the open fire, because it endureth greater heat then in the second furnace.

To distil Butyrum of Arsenick and Orpiment.

AFter the same manner as was taught with Antimony, there may also out of Arsenick and Auripigment together with salt and vitriol a thick oyle be distilled, which not only outwardly but also inwardly is safe to be used, and may be so corrected, that it shall be nothing at all inferior in vertue unto the butyrum Antimonii, but rather go beyond it: which perchance will seem impossible to many. But he that knows the nature and condition of minerals, will not be astonished at my words, but they will be to him as a light in a darke place.

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To make a rare spirit of vitriol.

IF common vitriol be dissolved in water, and you boyle granulated Zinck in it, all the metal and sulphur contained in the vitriol will precipitate on the Zinck, and the solution will turn white, the precipitated matter is nothing else, but iron, copper, & sulphur, which the salt of vitriol did containe, and now is drawn from it by the Zinck. The reason why the metal precipitateth out of the salt upon the Zinck, belongeth to the fourth part, where you will finde it sufficiently explained; The white solution, from which the metallical matter is separated, must be coagulated to the dryness of salt, and so by it self a spirit distilled of it, which riseth easily, and is in taste and vertue not unlike unto common oyle of vitriol, but only that this is a little purer then the common.

Here perchance many may object: you take the green from the vitriol, which Paracelsus doth not teach, but bids us to keep it. To which I answer, that I do not teach here to make the sweet red oyle of vitriol, whereof Paracelsus hath written, but the white acid oyle; which is as good, or rather much better then the common, which is made of the common impure vitriol. To what purpose is it that you take green vitriol to distil, whereas the green doth not come over, and although that green should come over, why should that oyle be better then the white? for the green in the common vitriol is nothing else but copper and iron, which the salt water running through the passages of Metals did dissolve and take into it self, and as soon as such a green vitriol feeleth the fire, the green turneth into red, which is nothing else but a calcined iron or copper, which in the reducing by a strong fire and by melting is made manifest.

Paracelsus hath not taught us, that we should drive over the green by the force of the fire into a red and sweet oyle, but he hath shewed us an other way, which is found out by few [Page] men, whereof in the beginning of the second part already hath been made mention.

This spirit or acid oyle distilled out of the purified vitriol i [...] of a pleasant sowreness, and serveth for all those uses, which above by the vitriol were described. And this process is set down onely for that end, that we may see, that when the vitriol is purified, that then it is easier distilled, and yeildeth a more pleasant spirit, then if it be yet crude and impure.

And that such a purifying of the vitriol i [...] nothing else but a precipitating of the metal, which the water (as before said) running through the veines thereof hath assumed, is thus to be proved; dissolve any metal in its appropriate Menstruum, whether it be done with distilled acid spirits or sharpe salts, adding common water to them, or else dry by the fire in a crucible, according as you please, and then put into that solution another metal, such as the dissolvent doth sooner seize on, then upon that which it hath assumed and then you will finde, that the dissolvent doth let fall the assumed metal or mineral, and fals upon the other, which it doth sooner seise on, and dissolveth it as being more friendly to it; Of which precipitation in the fourth part shall be spoken more at large.

This one thing more is worthy your observation, that among all metals there is none more soluble then Zinck, and therefore that all the other (as well in the dry as in the wet way) may be precipitated thereby and reduced into light calxes, in so much that the calx of gold or silver precipitated in this manner (if so be you proceed well) retaineth its splendor or gloss, and is like a fine powder wherewith you can write out of a pen.

To make a subtle spirit and pleasant oyle of Zinck.

BEcause I made mention here of Zinck, I thought good not to omit, that there may be made a penetrating spirit and wholesome oyle out of it by the help of vinegar, which is thus to be done. Take of the flores (which were taught to [Page] be made in the first part) one part, put them into a glass (fit for digestion) and poure upon them 8. or 10▪ parts of good sharp vinegar made of honey; or in want thereof take wine vinegar, and set the glass with the flores and vinegar in a warm place to dissolve, and the solution being performed, powre off the cleer, which will look yellow, and after you have filtred it abstract the phlegme, and there will remaine a red liquor or balsome, to which you must add pure sand, such as is well burnt, and distill it, and first there will come over an unsavory phlegme, afterward a subtle spirit, and at last a yellow and red oyl which are to be kept by themselves separated from the spirit as a treasure for to heale all wounds very speedily. The spirit is not inferior unto the oyle, not onely for inward use to provoke sweat thereby, but also externally for the quenching of all inflammations, and doubtless this spirit and oyle is good for more diseases, but because its further use is not known to me yet, I will not write of it, but leave the further triall to others.

To distil a spirit and oyle out of lead.

IN the same manner as was taught of the Zinck, there may be out of lead also distilled a subtle spirit and a sweet oyle, and it is done thus: Poure strong vinegar upon Minium. or any other calx of lead, which is made per se, and not with sulphur, let it digest and dissolve in sand or warm ashes, so long till the vinegar be coloured yellow by lead, and turned quite sweet. Then poure off the clear solution, and poure on other vinegar, and let this like wise dissolve, and this repeat so often, till the vinegar will dissolve no more, nor grow sweet, then take all these solutions, and evaporate all the moysture, and there will remaine a thick sweet yellow liquor, like unto honey, if the vinegar was not distilled, but if it was distilled and made clear, then no liquor remaineth, but onely a white sweet salt. This liquor or salt may be distilled after the same manner as was taught with the Zinck, and there will come over not only a penetrating subtle spirit, but also a yellow [Page] oyle, which will not be much, but very effectual, in all the the same uses, as of the spirit and oyle of the Zinck was taught.

N. B. This is to be observed, that for to make this spirit and oyle, you need no distilled spirit, but that it may be done as well with undistilled vinegar, and the undistilled yeilds more spirit then the distilled. But if you look for a white and cleer salt, then the vinegar must be distilled, else it doth not shoote into crystals, but remaineth a yellow liquor like unto honey, and it is also needless to make the solution in glasses, and by digestion continued for a long time, but it may as well be done in a glased pot, viz. powring the vinegar upon the Minium in the pot, and boyling it on a coale fire; for you need not fear that any thing of the vinegar will evaporate, in regard that the lead keeps all the spirits, and lets onely go an unsavory phlegme. You must also continually stir the lead about with a wooden spatula, else it would turn to a hard stone, and would not dissolve: the same must be done also when the solution is done in glasses; and the solution after this way may be done in three or four houres: and when both kinde of solutions are done, there will be no difference betwixt them, and I think it providently done not to spend a whole day about that which may be done in an houre.

And if you will have this spirit and oyle better and more effectual, you may mix ℥ i. of crude Tartar made into powder with lb j. of dissolved and purified lead, and so distill it after the same manner as you do distill it by it self, and you will get a much subtler spirit and a better oyle then if it were made alone by it self.

To distill a subtile spirit and oyle out of crude Tartar.

MAny think it to be but a smal matter to make the spirit of Tartar, for they suppose, that if they do but onely put Tartar into a retort, and apply a receiver, and by a strong fire force over a water, they have obtained their desire: and they do not observe, that in steed of a pleasant subtle spirit, [Page] they get but a stinking vinegar or phlegme; the pleasant spirit being gone. Which some careful operators perceiving, they caused great receivers to be made, supposing by that means to get the spirit. Now when they after the distillation was done, weighed their spirits together with the remainder, they found, that they had suffered great loss, wherefore they supposed it to be an impossible thing, to get all the spirits, and to lose none, and indeed it is hardly possible to be done otherwise by a retort: for although you apply a great receiver to a smal retort, and that there be also but a little Tartar in it, and the joynts being wel luted, so that nothing can pass through, and though you make also the fire never so gentle, hoping to get the spirit by that way, yet for all that you cannot avoyd danger and loss. For at last the retort beginning to be red hot, and the black oyle going, then and but then the subtlest spirits will come forth, which either steale through the joynts, or else do break the retort or receiver, because they come in abundance and with great force, and do not settle easily: wherefore I will set down my way of making this most profitable, and excellent spirit.

The preparation and the use of the spirit of Tartar.

TAke good and pure crude Tartar, whether it be red or white, it matters not, make it into fine powder, and when the distilling vessel is red hot, then cast in with a ladle half an ounce and no more at once, and so soon as the spirits are gone forth and setlted, cast in another ℥ ss. and this continue, till you have spirit enough, then take out the remainder, which will look black, and calcine it wel in a crucible, and put it in a glass retort, and poure the spirit that came over together with the black oyle upon it, drive it in sand at first gently, and the subtlest spirits will come over, and after them the phlegme, at last a sowre vinegar together with the oyle, whereof you must get each by it self. But if you desire to have the subtle spirit which came over first, more penetrating yet, then you must [Page] take the Caput Mortuum that stayed in the retort, and make it red hot in a crucible, and abstract the spirit once more from it, and the calcined Tartar will keep the remaining moystness or phlegme, and onely the subtlest spirit will come over, which is of a most penetrating quality, whereof from half a dram to an ounce taken in wine or any other liquor provoketh a quick and strong sweat, and it is a powerful medicine in all obstructions, and most approved and often tryed in the plague, malignant feavers, scurvy, Melancholia Hypochondriaca, colick, contracture, epilepsie and the like diseases. And not onely these mentioned diseases, but also many others more, which proceed from corrupt blood under God may successefully be cured with it.

The phlegme is to be cast away, as unprofitable: the vinegar cleanseth wounds: the oyle allayeth swelling and pains, and doth cure scabs, and disperseth knobs that are risen upon the skin, as also other excrescencies of the same, if it be used timely, and the use thereof be continued.

N. B. If the black stinking oyle be rectified from the calcined Caput Mortuum, it will be clear and subtle, and it will not only asswage very speedily all pains of the goute, but also dissolve and expel the conglobated gravel in the reines, applyed as a plaster or unguent. In like manner it will dissolve and extract the coagulated Tartar in the hands, knees and feet, so that the place affected will be freed and made whole thereby: because in such a despicable oyle there lyes hid a volatile salt which is of great vertue. But if you desire experimentally to know whether it be so, then poure upon this black stincking oyle an acid spirit, as the spirit of common salt, or of vitriol or salt nitre, or only distilled vinegar, and the oyle will grow warm and make a noyse and rise, as if Aqua fortis had been powred upon salt of Tartar, and the acid spirit will be mortified thereby, and turne to salt. And this well purified oyle doth dissolve and extract the Tartar out of the joynts (unless it be grown to a hard stony substance) even as sope scowres the uncleanness out of cloths, or to compare it better, even as like receiveth its like, and is easily mixed with [Page] it, and doth love it; but on the contrary, nothing will mixe it self with that wherewith it hath no affinity at all. As if you would take pitch out of cloth by washing it with water, which never will be done by reason of the contrary nature; for common water hath no affinity with pitch or other fat things, nor will it ever be taken out therewith without a mediator, partaking of both natures, viz. of the nature of pitch and that of the water, and such are sulphureous salts, and nitrous salts, whether they be fixed or volatile. As you may see at the soape-boylers, who incorporate common water by the help of sulphureous salts with fat things, as tallow and oyle. But if you take warm oyle or any thin fat substance, and put it upon the pitch or rozin, then the oyle easily accepteth of and layes hold on its like, and so the pitch is dissolved and got out of the cloth, and the remaining fatness of the oyle may be fetcht out of the cloth with lye or sope and common water, and so the cloth recovereth its former beauty and pureness. And as it falleth out with the sulphureous things, so it doth likewise with the Mercurial. For example, if you would take the salt out of powdred flesh or pickled fish with lixivium it would not succeed, because that the nitrous and acid salts are of contrary natures.

But if upon the powdred flesh or pickled fish you poure on water wherein some of the same salt (wherewithall the flesh was powdered) is dissolved, that salt water will extract the salt out of the flesh, as being its like, much more then common sweet water, wherein there is no salt.

In this manner the hardest things also, as stones and metals, may be joyned or united with water, whereof more in my other books are extant; it is needless here therefore to relate. I gave a hint of it, onely for to shew, that alwayes like with like must be extracted. True it is that one Contrarium can mortifie another, and take the corrosiveness from it, whereby the paynes for a time are asswaged, but whether the cause of the disease it self be eradicated thereby is a question.

Here may be objected, that I made a difference between the sulphureous and Mercurial salts, whereas neither Mercury [Page] nor sulphur apparently is to be seen in either. It is true, he that doth not understand nor know the nature of salts, is not able to apprehend it. And I have not time now to demonstrate it, but the same is shewed at large in my book de Natura salium, that some of them are sulphureous, and some Mercurial: but he that looks for a further direction yet, let him read my book de Sympathia & Antipathia rerum, wherein he shall finde it demonstrated that from the Creation of the World to the time present, there were alwayes two contrary natures fighting one against the other, which fight will continue so long till the Mediator betwixt God and Man, the Lord Jesus Christ shall put an end unto this strife, when he shall come to separate the good from the bad, by whose lightning and fire flame the proud and hurtful superfluous sulphur shall be kindled and consumed; the pure Mercurial being left in the center.

How to make pretious spirits and oyles out of Tartar joyned with some minerals and metals.

TAke any metal or mineral, dissolve it in a fit menstruum, mix with it a due proportion of crude Tartar, so that the crude Tartar being made into powder together with the solution make up a pap as it were; then at once cast in one spoonful of it, and distil it into a spirit and oyle, which after the distillation must be separated by rectification, for to keep each by it self for its proper use.

The use of the metallized spirit and oyle of Tartar.

THis spirit of a Tartarized metal is of such a condition, that it readily performeth its operation according to the strength of the spirit, and the nature of the metal or mineral, whereof it is made. For the spirit and oyle of gold and Tartar is good for to corroborate the heart, and to keep out its enemies: the spirit of silver and Tartar doth serve for the braine; that of Mercury and Tartar, for the liver: of lead [Page] and tin for the spleen and lungs: of iron and copper for the reins and seminary vessels: that of Antimony and Tartar for all accidents and infirmities of the whole body; and these metallical spirits made with Tartar, provoke sweat exceedingly whereby many malignities are expelled out of the body Likewise also the oyle hath its operation, though this of several metals, as of Mercury and copper, is not well to be used inwardly, because it causeth salivations and strong vomits. But externally they are very good for to cleanse all putride ulcers, and to lay a good and firme ground for healing them.

The remainder, whereof the spirit and oyle is distilled, you may take out, and reduce it in a crucible into a metal, so that what is not come over, may not be lost, but made to serve againe.

And as you were taught to distill spirits and oyles out of dissolved metals and crude Tartar, so you may get them likewise out of common vitriol and Tartar, viz. thus, take one part of Tartar made into powder, two parts of good pure vitriol, mixe them well together, and distill a spirit of them, which though it be unpleasant to take, for all that in all whatsoever obstructions and corruption of blood it is not to be despised, but very successefully performeth its operation; especially when it is rectified from its Caput Mortuum, and so freed from its phlegme; and its best vertue, which consisteth in the volatility, be not lost in the distilling.

N. B. But if you will have this spirit more effectual, then you may joyn Tartar and vitriol by boyling them together in common water, and crystallizing; and then cast it in, and distill it, and there will come over a much purer and more penetrating spirit; because that in the solution and coagulation of both many faeces were separated: but if to one part of vitriol you take two parts of Tartar, and dissolve it together and so filtre and coagulate it, then the Tartar with the vitriol will shoote no more, but there remaineth a thick liquor like unto honey, out of which with spirit of wine there may be extracted a good tincture against obstructions. This liquor [Page] taken from ℈ i. to ʒi. doth purge very gently, and sometimes it causeth a vomit, especially if the vitriol was not pure and good: and it may also be distilled into a spirit not inferior unto the former in vertue. Besides the way above taught, there is yet (for to distill a metallized spirit of Tartar) another way, whereby several metals and minerals may be reduced into much pleasant spirits and oyles, and of more vertue, and it is done in this manner.

Take of the Tartar of white Rhenish wine made into powder, powre upon it sweet raine or running water, so that to lb j. of Tartar there come lb x. or lb xij. of water, or so much that the Tartar may be dissolved by it in the boyling, and then boyle the mixture with the water in a tinned kettle, or which is better, in a glased pot, until it be quite dissolved, and in the mean while take off the skum (with a woodden skimmer) still as it riseth in the boyling: and when no more skum riseth, and all the Tartar is dissolved, then powre the solution thus hot through a linen cloth, tyed straight on an earth glased vessel, that the remaining slymigness may be separated. The Tartar water being strained, let it stand for 24. or 30. houres without stirring, and there will stick a crystallised Tartar to the sides of the vessel, which after the water is powred off may be taken out, and washed with cold water, and then dryed. This purified Tartar keep, untill I shall teach you, what further is to be done with it; and this Tartar is pure enough for the above said purpose, viz. to reduce metals into oyle with it, as shall follow anone. It is also good taken of it self for an abstersive to make the body soluble. But if you desire to have it yet whiter and fairer and in great crystals, you must proceed thus.

You must know this that all salts, if they shall shoote into great crystals, there must be a great quantity of them, for of little there comes but little. And if you will make great and faire white crystals of Tartar, which will be not better then the former, but only pleasant to the eye, then you must proceed in this manner.

Take of white Tartar made into powder about ten [Page] or thirty lb. powre so much water upon it, as is needful for to dissolve it, and boyle it by a strong fire in a tinned kettle untill all the Tartar be dissolved, which you may know by stirring in it with a woodden ladle, and skim off diligently all the filth rising on the water; and you must take heed, that you take neither too much nor too little water to it; for if you take too little, part of the Tartar will remaine undissolved, and so will be cast away and lost among the slime: but if you take too much of it, then the Tartar is too much dispersed in the water, and cannot shoote well, and so will likewise be lost, being cast away afterwards with the water. For I heard many a one complain, that they could get but little of a pound, and therefore supposed the Tartar to have been nought, whereas the fault was not in the Tartar but in the workman, that managed not wel his work, powring away one half which did not shoote with the water: but if you proceed well, then four pound of common Tartar will yeild lb iij. of pure white Crystals. The solution being well made, and one, and no skim more rising at the top, cover the kettle, and let it coole without removing from the warme place it stands in, which will be done within three or four dayes, if the kettle be bigg. But the fire must be taken away from under the kettle, and so let it stand for the time mentioned. In the mean while the Tartar will crystallise to the sides of the kettle, which crystals after the time is expired and the water powred off, are to be taken out and washed and boyled again with fresh water, and so skimmed and crystallised; and this proceeding must be still reiterated, untill (which is done the third or fourth time) the crystals are white enough: then take them out, dry and keep them for use; whereof from ʒ j. to ℥ j. made into powder, and taken in wine, beer, warme broth or other liquor, will give some gentle stooles, and serveth▪ for those, which cannot endure strong physick. This Tartar may be sharpened with Diagridium or any other purging drug, that so you need not take it in so great a quantity at once, but a lesser dose may serve turn. But if you do not look for great crystals, but only for Tartar well purified, then you [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [Page] may use this following manual, and you will get exceeding faire and glistering little crystals, which need no beating into powder, but by the working come to be so pure and fine, as if they had been ground upon a stone, and looking not like a dead powder, but having a gloss, like unto small glistering snow that fell in very cold weather, and it is done thus: when the crystals are come to be pure enough by often dissolving and coagulating, then dissolve them once again in pure water, and pour the solution into a clean vessel of wood, copper or earth being glased; and let it not stand still (as above taught with the crystals) but as soon as it is powred in, with a clean wooden stick stirr about continually without ceasing, till all be cold, which will be done in half an houre. In this stirring the Tartar hath no time to shoote into crystals, but doth coagulate into the smallest glistering powder, pleasant to behold, and like unto frozen snow settleth to the bottom of the vessel; then poure off the water, and dry the powder, and keep it for use. The waters which you powred off, in regard that they containe yet some Tartar, ought not to be cast away (as others do) but evaporated, and the Tartar contained in them will be saved, and so nothing will be lost, and in this manner not onely white Tartar may be reduced into clear crystals, but also the red being several times dissolved and crystallised, loseth its redness, and turneth white and cleer. Besides the above said there is another way to reduce the Tartar into great white crystals at once by precipitation: but these being good enough for our purpose, viz. to make good medicines out of metals, I hold it needlesse to lose more time by the relation of it, and so I will acquiesce.

The other way to make a metallised spirit of Tartar.

TAke of purified Tartar dissolved and coagulated but once as much as you please▪ poure so much raine or other sweet water to it as will serve to dissolve it; in which solution you must boyle the plate of metals, until the Tartar have [Page] dissolved enough of it, so that it will dissolve no more; the signe whereof is, when the solution is deep coloured of the metal, and during your boyling you must often supply the evaporated water with pouring on of other, lest the Tartar come to be too dry and burn; and this solution may be done best of all in a metallical vessel; as when you will make the solution of iron, you may do it in an iron pot; and for copper you may take a copper kettle, and so forth for other metals, a vessel made of the same is to be taken. But you must know that gold, silver and crude Mercury, unless they be first prepared cannot be dissolved like iron and copper, but when they are prepared first for the purpose, then they will also be dissolved. In like manner some minerals also must be first prepared, before they can be dissolved with Tartar an water. But if you can have good glasses or glased vessels of earth, you may use them for all metals and minerals for to dissolve them therein, and the solution you may not onely use of it self for a medicine, but also distill it, and make a very effectual spirit and oyle of it as followeth.

To distil the spirit and oyle of Lead and Tin.

TAke the filings of Lead and Tin, and boyle them with the water or solution of Tartar in a leaden or tin-vessel, untill the Tartar be sweetned by the water, so that it will dissolve no more, to which pass it will be brought within twenty four hours, for both these metals will be dissolved but slowly, but if you would perform this solution sooner, then you must reduce the metals first into a soluble calx, and then they may be dissolved in less time then an houre. The solution being done, you must filtre it, and in B. abstract all the moysture to the thickness or consistency of honey, and there will remaine a pleasant sweet liquor, which of it self without any further preparation may safely be used inwardly for all such diseases, for which other medicaments, made of these metals are useful. Especially the sweet liquor of lead and tin doeth [Page] much good in the plague, not only by driving the poyson from the heart by sweating, but also by breaking or allaying the intolerable heat, so that a happy cure doth follow upon it: but externally the liquor of lead may be used succesfully in all inflammations, and it healeth very suddenly, not only fresh wounds, but also old ulcers turned to fistulaes; for the Tartar cleanseth and lead consolidates.

The liquor of tin is better for inward use then for outward whose operation is not so fully known yet, as that of lead. But if you will distill a spirit thereof, then cast it in with a ladle by little and little, as above in other distillations oftentimes was mentioned, and there will come over a subtle spirit of Tartar, carrying along the vertue and best essence of the metals and therefore doth also prove much more effectual, then the common spirit of Tartar, which is made alone by it selfe, and this spirit as well that which is made of tin, as that of lead, if it be well dephlegmed first, may be used and held for a great treasure in all obstructions, especially of the spleen; and few other medicins will go beyond them; but besides there must not be neglected the use of good purging medicines, if need require them. With the spirit there cometh over also an oyle, which is of a quick operation, especially in wounds and sores of the eye, where other oyntments and plasters may not so fitly be used, for it doth not only allay the heat and inflammation, a common symptome of the eye wounds, but also doth hinder and keep back all other symptomes, which few other medicaments are able to do; and for the residue, if it be driven further by the strongest fire, then there will come over a sublimate, which in the aire dissolveth into oyle, which is also of a powerful operation, not only in physick, but also in Alchymie.

And the Lead runeth together in a fair white Regulus, which is much whiter, purer and fairer then other common lead: but the Tartar retaines the blackness, and raiseth it self to the top as a fusible dross, which is impregnated with the sulphur of lead, wherewith you may colour haire, bones, feathers and the like, and make them to be and remaine brown and black▪

[Page] I made tryal once of such a distillation in an iron vessel, whereby the same in the inside was so whitened by the purified lead, that it was like unto fine silver in brightness: which afterwards trying againe, it would not fall so faire as at first; whereat none ought to wonder, for I could write something more (if it were fit) of Tartar, knowing well what may be effected with it, if I did not stand in fear of scoffers, which do vilifie all what they do not understand. I durst presume to call Tartar the sope of the Philosophers; for in the cleansing of some metals by long experience I found it of admirable vertue; though I would not be understood thus, as if I did count it to be the true Azoth universalis Philosophorum, whereby they wash their Laton: but I cannot deny, but that it is of particular use for the washing and cleansing of several metals: for it is endued with admirable vertues for the use of metals, whereof in other places more shall be said hereafter.

How to make a Tartarised spirit and oyle out of Iron or Steel and Copper.

IF you intend to make a good medicine out of iron or steel or copper joyned with Tartar, then▪ for the iron or steel take an iron pot, and for copper a kettle of copper, make them very clean and put in it the filings of iron or steel or copper, which you please, and twice as much of pure Tartar made into powder, and so much water, that the Tartar may be dissolved well by it in the boyling, and so boyle the metal with the Tartar-water so long, till it be deeply coloured by the metal, as red by the iron, and deep green by the copper; and when the water in the boyling doth waste, you must still supply it with other, that the Tartar may not burn; for there must be alwayes so much water, that no skin of the Tartar may rise at the top, but that it remaine alwayes open, and there must not be too much water neither, lest it be too sweet, and not able to dissolve the metal. The solution of iron or steel being come to be red and sweet, and in taste like [Page] unto vitriol, but green and bitter of copper, powre it off warm by inclination into an other clean vessel, and let it stand so long againe in a very gentle heap of coals, till almost all the water be evaporated, and the dissolved metal with the Tartar remaine in the consistency of honey.

Which metallical liquor may be used inwardly and outwardly (especially that of iron) which doth purge gently, and openeth the obstructions of the liver and spleen; cleanseth the stomach and killeth the wormes: externally used it is a good wound balsame, and goes far beyond all such as are made of vegetables. It is a singular treasure, not onely for to cure new wounds; but also for to cleanse and heal old corrupt exulcerated sores, turned to fistulaes: but the liquor of copper is not so safe for to be used inwardly, for it is not only very unpleasant in taste, but also causeth vehement vomits: and therefore I would not advise any one to be forward to use it, unless it be for strong folkes and for to kill wormes in them, for which purpose it is excellent good and surpasseth all other medicines whatsoever; but to little children it ought not to be given at all, in regard that it is of farre too strong an operation for them.

N. B. And if you will use it to strong bodies against the wormes or stomach-agues you must observe that the patient (in case he cannot get it up) thrust his finger into the throat to further the vomiting, that it may not stay behinde, but come forth againe out of the body, which done health followeth upon it; but if it remaine in the body, it causeth a loathsomness to use it any more. And therefore you must take heed to use it warily: and in regard that this liquor is very bitter, you may mixe it with some sugar, to facilitate the taking thereof: but that of iron needeth no such correction, it being sweet enough of it▪self, and therefore I commend and prefer it before the other. But if you will needs that of copper (becauseth it worketh so strongly) then the patient must keep in from the cold aire, and not presently after the operation load the stomach with strong drink and superfluity of [Page] meat, contenting himself with some warm broth and a little cup of wine or beer, and the next day his meat and drink will taste the better with him, and do him so much the more good.

But externally this liquor is of the same use with that of iron or steel, yea proveth more effectual and speedier in healing. It would be good that Surgeons knew how to prepare i [...], and would use it instead of their salves, wherewith many fresh wounds are spoyled and turned into horrid ulcers, especially it requiring so little cost and paines to make it. And if you would have these liquors purer yet, you must poure on spirit of wine, and extract them, and they will easily yeild their Tincture, and leave many faeces behinde which are good for nothing: but the Tincture will be so much the better, purer and more effectual, so that you need but one to four or five drops for purging, whereas of the gross liquor you must have from 4. 6. 8. to 12. or 16. drops: and this extracted Tincture worketh also much better externally and keepeth longer then the balsame or liquor, which in time is corrupted, but the extraction is never spoyled. But if you will distil the liquor or balsame, it is needless that it be extracted first, but may be distilled so as the boyling made it, after the same manner, as above was taught for Lead, and there will come over a yellow spirit and oyle from iron or steel, and from copper a greenish spirit and oyle.

The spirit and oyle of iron may safely be used in the plague, feavers, obstructions, and corruption of blood, from ʒ i. to ℥i. It is much better to provoke sweat, then that which is made of crude Tartar, without addition of a metal: the like doth that also which is made of copper and more effectually yet and sometimes causeth a vomit, if it be used in a greater quantity, then is fitting.

N. B. Although the Chymists do perfer copper before iron as a more firme and ripe metal, nevertheless it is found by experience, that iron or steel by reason of its sweetness is better to be used for an inward medicine then copper. But for external use copper (if it be well prepared) hath the preheminence, [Page] being an appropriate medicine for all ulcers and open sores, in all the parts of the body, if the same inwardly be kept clean besides by fitting purges. For not only the now described medicine, but also many more besides, are taught to be made out of copper in other places of my books.

A Country-physick and purge I will teach for those, which either live far from Apothecary-shops, or have no money to spare for physick, and it is to be made out of iron and copper, whereby they may cleanse their slymie stomachs, spoyled by a disorderly dyet, whence headaches, wormes, agues and other diseases are occasioned, warning withal those that are either too old or too young, or else decayed and weak, and so not strong enough for such powerful physick, that they will forbear to use it, lest besides the wormes they kill and expel life it self also; but those that are of a strong constitution, and a midle age, and of a sound heart, may safely use this purge, whereby stomach-agues, belly-worms, and many other occult diseases may be cured with good success. The preparation is done thus: Take ℥ ss. of pure Tartar made into powder, and ℥ss. or ℥j. of sugar or honey, and ℥v. or ℥vj. of spring or raine water, put all into a clean copper vessel which is not greasie and boyle it upon a coal fire as long or somewhat longer then you use to boyle an egg, or at the furthest half a quarter of an hour; take off the skum in boyling, let it stand till it be milk warm, so that it may be drunke. This potion tasting almost like warme wine sweetned with sugar, give unto the patient to drink, and let him fast upon it, and within half an hour it wil begin to work upwards and downwards: whereat you need not to be amazed, but only keep the body warm, and within an houre it will have done working. But if you will drive out wormes from little children by purging, then in stead of the copper-vessel, take a clean iron-vessel, and put in a less quantity of Tartar, sugar and water, and boyle it as abovesaid, and give it to them, and it will purge onely downward, but sometimes it will also give a gentle vomit, which will do them no hurt, but rather will cleanse the stomach the better. But if the drink be too weak, [Page] so that it doth not work, it may be used againe the next day (but you must take more of the ingredients, or else let them boyle longer) there is no danger in it at all, if you proceed aright and it is much pleasanter to take, then the bitter wormseed, wherewith they usually torment children.

The reason why this decoction works in this manner is that the Tartar and sugar being boyled in metallical vessels with water worke upon the metal, and extract vertue out of it, which causeth vomiting and purging (the Tartar also being helpful to it.)

How to make a Tartarised spirit of Mercu [...]y.

VUlgar Mercury cannot be dissolved like the former metals with Tartar and water, without any foregoing preparation; but must be sublimed first with salt and vitriol, or crystallised with Aqua fortis, and then it may be dissolved by boyling with Tartar and water, and reduced into a balsame, like other metals, but it is not to be used inwardly, unless it be digested a sufficient time, so that its fiercenesse be allayed: Externally it may safely be used in all desperate, especially venereal sores, and it is a very effectual and profitable medicine for them. But most of all it doth serve for Alchymie, although few do know this guest, because he will not be seen by every one. The spirit which comes over from it by distillation, is an admirable thing not only in physick, but also in Alchymie: yet you must take heed, that in stead of a friend, you do not harbor a great enemy: for its force and vertue is very great and powerful.

How to make a Tartarised spirit of Gold and Silver.

GOld and silver also can by no means be dissolved with Tartar in a wet way: but in a dry way adding its helper to it, it will easily dissolve, which doth not belong hither; but if you will draw a spirit of it, then the gold and [Page] silver must first by dissolving and coagulating be reduced to crystals, and then dissolved with purified Tartar and water, and of Gold you will get a yellow solution, and of silver a white inclining unto green, which being reduced to the consistency of honey, may be used safely and without fear. The solution of Gold doth loosen and keep the body open, it effectually strengtheneth the stomach, heart, lungs, and liver, and other principal members: and that of silver purgeth very forcibly, according to the quantity given, like another purge, but without harme or danger, so that in all diseases where purging is necessary, it may be used safely from ℈i. to ʒss. but that of gold is used in a smaller quantity: and both the liquor of gold and of silver may very suceessfully be used externally: but because for external uses inferior metals will serve [...]he turn, it is needless to use costly things thereto.

The spirit which is forced from it by distillation, is endued with great vertue: for the volatile part of the metal cometh over joyned with the spirit of Tartar, the remainder may be reduced, so as it was taught of other metals. This spirit especially that of Gold is exceeding good in the plague and other diseases, where sweating is necessary: for it driveth not onely by sweating all malignities from the heart, but also doth strengthen the same and preserveth it from all hurtful symptomes. Likewise also that of silver is very commendable, especially if it be first dephlegmed from its Caput Mortuum, as above was taught in the preparation of the common spirit of Tartar. For any Physitian expert in Chymistry may easily guess what the spirit of Tartar well rectified and impregnated with the vertues of gold may effect, and therefore it is needless to make any further mention of it, but it shall be left to the tryal thereof.

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To make a Tartarized spirit of Antimony.

CRude Antimony cannot be dissolved in such a manner as above hath been taught: but if it be first prepared into flores, or a vitrum, it yeildeth easily its vertue in boyling, and it is done thus: Take to one part of the flores or of smal ground vitrum Antimonii made per se, three parts of pure Tartar, and 12. or 15 parts of clean water, boyle the Antimony with the Tartar and water in a glased pot for three or four hours, and the evaporated water must be still supplyed with other that the Tartar may not burn for want of water, and the vitrum must be sometimes stirred about with a wooden spatula (which the flores being light do not need) This done, the Tartar water will be deep red coloured by the Antimony, and leave the remaining Antimony settled in the bottom, from which powre off the solution, and after having filtred it, evaporate the water from it, and then extract it once more with spirit of wine, and you will get a blood red Extractum, whereof 1. 2. 3. to 10. or 12. drops given at once, causeth gentle vomits and stooles, which may be safely used by old and young people in all diseases that have need of purging, and you need not fear any danger at all: For I know no vomit, which purgeth more gently then this, and if you please you may make it work only (per inferiora) downward, so that it shall cause no vomits at all: and you need do nothing else but make a toste of brown bread, and hold it hot to your nose and mouth, and when this is almost cold, have another hot in readiness, and so use one after another by turns, till you feel no more loathing, and that the vertue of Antimony hath begun to work downward: This is a good secret for those that would use Antimonial physick, but that they are afraid of vomiting, which they are not able to endure. But if you will not spend so much paines, as to make such an Extract, then do as you was taught above to do with the copper, and take ten or twelve grains of prepared Antimony for [Page] an old body, but for a young one 5. 6▪ grains or more or less according to the condition of the person, and ℥ss. or ʒvj. of pure Tartar, and together with ℥iiij. or ℥v. of water put it in a little pipkin, and boyle it a quarter of an houre, then poure the solution onely into a cup, and dissolve a little sugar in i [...], whereby the acidity of the Tartar will be somewhat qualified. This decoctum drink warm, and keep your selfas it is fit and it will work much better, then it had been steeped over night in wine, which not every one can abide to take fasting: but this decoctum, because it tasteth like warm and sweet wine, is much pleasanter for to take.

N. B. It is to be admired, that well prepared Antimony is never taken in vaine: for although it be given in a very small quantity, so that it cannot cause either stooles or vomits, yet it worketh in sensibly, viz. it cleanseth the blood, and expelleth many malignities by sweat, so that mighty diseases may be rooted out thereby without any great sensible operation. Which many times hapned unto me, and gave me occasion to think further of it: and therefore I sought how to prepare Antimony so, that it might be used daily without causing of vomits or stooles, which I put in execution accordingly, and found it good, as afterward shall follow.

Of the solution above described, viz. of the flores of Antimony with Tartar make a good quantity, and after the evaporation of the water distill a spirit of it, and there will also come over a black oyle, which must be separated from the spirit, and rectified per se; and externally applyed it will not onely do the same wonderful operations, which above have been ascribed to the simple oyle of Tartar, but it goeth also far beyond it, for the best essence of Antimony hath joyned it self thereunto in the distilling, and so doubled the vertue of the oyle of Tartar; and this oyle may with credit be used not onely for all podagrical tumors to allay them very readily, but also by reason of its dryness it doth consume all other tumors in the whole body, whether they be caused by winde or water: for the volatile salt by reason of its subtlety conveigheth the vertue of Antimony into the innermost parts of the body [Page] in a marvellous and incredible way, whereby much good can be performed in Chyrurgerie.

As for the spirit, you may not onely use it very succesfully, in the plague, pox, scurvy, Melancholia Hypochondriaca, feavers and other obstructions and corruptions of blood; but also if you put some of it into new wine or beer, and let it work with it, the wine or beer comes to be so vertuous thereby, that if it be daily used, it doth stay and keep off all diseases proceeding from superfluous humors and corrupted blood, so that neither plague, scurvy, Melancholia hypochondriaca, or any other disease of that kinde can take roote in those that daily use it, wherein no metal or mineral (except gold) can be paralleld with it: but in case you have no conveniency for to make that spirit, and yet you would willingly have such a medicinal drink made of Antimony, then take but of the solution made with Tartar, before it be distilled, and put lb i. or lb iss. of it into 18. or 20. gallons of new wine or beer, and let it work together, and the vertue of the Antimony by the fermentation of the wine will grow the more volatile and efficacious to work. And if you cannot have new wine (in regard that it doth not grow every where) you may make an artificial wine of honey, sugar, peares, figs, cherries or the like fruit, as in the following third part shall be taught, which may stand in stead of natural wine.

These medicinal wines serve for a sure and safe preservative, not only to prevent many diseases, but also if they have possessed the body already, effectually to oppose and expel them. Also all externall open sores (which by daubing and plastering could not be remedied) by daily drinking thereof may be perfectly cured. For not only Basilius Valentinus and Theophrastus Paracelsus, but many more before and after them knew it very well, and have written many good things of it, which few did entertain, and (because their description was somewhat dark) most despised and diffamed them for untruths.

In like manner and much more may this my writing be lightly esteemed of, because I do not set down long and costly [Page] processes, but only according to truth and in simplicity do labour to serve my neighbour, which doth not sound well in the ears of the proud world, which rather do tickle and load themselves with vaine and unprofitable processes, then hearken unto the truth; and it is no wonder, that God suffereth such men, which only look after high things, and despise small things to be held in error.

Why do we look to get our Medicines by troubling our braines, and by subtle and tedious works, whereas God through the simple nature doth teach us otherwise. Were it not better to let simple nature instruct us? surely if we would be in love with small things, we should finde great ones. But because all men do strive only for great and high things, therefore the small also are kept from them; and therefore it would be well, that we could fancy this maxime, that also things of small account can do something, as we may see by the Tartar and the despicable Antimony, and not only so many coles, glasses, materials, and the like, but also the pretious time would not be wasted so much in preparing of medicaments: for all is not gold that glistereth, but oftentimes under a homely coate some glorious thing is hid; which must be taken notice of.

Some may object why I do teach to joyn the Antimony first with the Tartar by the help of common water before its fermentation with the wine: whether it would not be as good to put it in of it self in powder, or to dissolve it with spirit of salt (which would be easier to do then with Tartar) and so let it work? To which I answer, that the working wine or drinke, receiveth no metallical calx or solution, unless it be first ptepared with Tartar or spirit of wine. For although you dissolve Antimony, or any other metal or mineral in spirit of salt, or of vitriol, or of salt nitre, or any other acid spirit, and then think to let it work with wine or any other drink you will finde that it doth not succeed; for the acide spirit will hinder the fermentation, and let fall the dissolved metals, and so spoyle the work; and besides, Tartar may be used [Page] among all drinks, and doth more agree with ones taste and stomach, then any corrosive spirit.

In the same manner as was taught of Antimony, other minerals and metals also may be fitly joyned with wine or other drink, & the use of such Antimonized wine is this, viz. that it be drunk at meals & betwixt meals like other ordinary drink to quench thirst, but for all that it must not be drunk in a greater quantity, then that Nature be able to bear it. For if you would drink of it immoderately, it would stir vomits, which ought not to be, for it is but only to work in an insensible way, which if it be done, it preserveth not only the body from all diseases proceeding from corrupted impure blood, as the plague, leprosie, pox, scurvy, and the like, but by reason of its hidden heat, whereby it doth consume and expel all evil and salt humors (as the Sun dryeth up a poole) by sweat and urine, & so doth unburthen the blood from all such sharpe and hurtful humors, &c. It doth not only cure the above said diseases but also all open sores, ulcers, fistulaes, which by reason of the superfluity of salt humors can admit of no healing, and it doth dispatch them in a short time in a wonderful manner, and so firmely that there is no relapse to be feared.

This drink is not only good for the sick, but also for the whole (though in a smaller quantity) because that it wonderfully cleanseth the whole body, and you need not fear the least hurt either in young or old, sick or healthy. And let no man stumble at it, that many ignorant men do diffame Antimony and hold it to be poyson, and forbid it to be used: for if they knew it well, they would not do so: but because such men know no more, then what they get by reading or by heare-say, they pronounce a false sentence, and it might be replyed unto them, as Apelles did to the Shoe-maker: Ne [...]utor ultra crepidam: but what shall we say? Non omnis fert omnia tell us. When an Ass after his death doth rot, out of the carcass there grew beetles, which can flye higher then the Ass from whence they came; In the like manner we wish it may fare with the haters of the royal Antimony, viz. that their posterity [Page] may get seeing eyes, and what they know not, they may forbear to despise and scoffe at.

I must confess that if Antimony be not well prepared, and besides be indiscreetly used by the unskilful, that it may prejudice a man in his health, which even the vegetables also may do. But to reject it by reason of the abuse, would be a very unwise act: If perchance a childe should get into his hand a sharpe-edged knife, and hurt himself or others, because it doth not understand how to use a knife, should therefore the use of a knife be rejected and forbidden to those that are grown up and know how to use it? Good sharpe tooles make a good workman; so good quick working and powerful medicines make a good physitian; and the sharper the toole is, the sooner a stone carver or other crafts man can spoyle his work by one cut which he doth amiss: which also must be understood of powerful medicines, for if they be used pertinently in a short time more good may be done with them, then with weak medicaments in a long time. Now as a sharpe toole is not to be handled but by a good workman, so likewise a powerful medicine ought to be managed by an understanding and conscientious physitian, who according to the condition of the person and the disease knows to increase or abate the strength of the medicine, and not by such an one, as doth minister it ignorantly without making any difference at all.

Let no man marvaile, that I ascribe such great vertues unto Antimony, it being abundantly enriched with the primum ens of gold. If I should say ten times as much more of it, I should not lye. Its praise is not to be expressed by any mans tongue; for purifying of the blood, there is no mineral like unto it; for it cleanseth and purifieth the whole man in the highest degree, if it be well prepared first, and then discreetly used. It is the best and next friend to gold, which by the same also is freed and purified from all addition and filth, as we said even now, of man. Every Antimony for the most part agreeth with the gold and its medicine; for out of Antimony, by the cleansing Art may be made firme gold, as in the fourth part shall be taught, and which is more, by a long digestion a good part [Page] of the same is changed into gold. Whereby it is evident, that it hath the nature and property of gold and, it is better to be used for a medicine then the gold it self, because the golden vertue is as yet volatile in this, but in the other is grown fixed and compacted, and may be compared to be like an old man to a young child, which you may lead whither you please. Therefore it is my advice, that in the Antimony its medicine should be sought, it being hid therein very richly, and not to trifle away time and cost in vaine and useless things.

Further note, That if you desire to contract neerer together the vertue of Antimony or any other mineral or metal, as above was taught to be done with the Tartar, you must by exhalation of the superfluous moystness in Balneo, reduce the solution to a honey thick liquor, and poure spirit of wine upon it for to extract, and within few dayes it will be very red; then powre it off and powre on other, and let this likewise extract: continue this proceeding with shifting the spirit of wine, till the spirit of wine can get no more Tincture; then put all the coloured spirit of wine together into a glass with a long neck, and digest it so long in a tepide Balneum, till the colour or best essence of Antimony be separated from the spirit of wine and settled to the bottom like a blood red thick fat oyle, so that the spirit of wine is turned white againe; which is to be separated from the faire and pleasant oyle of Antimony, which is made without any corrosive, and is to be kept as a great treasure in physick. The spirit of wine retaines somewhat of the vertue of Antimony, and may be used with success of it self both inwardly and outwardly. But the Tincture as a Panacea in all diseases acteth its part with admiration and as here mentioned of Antimony, so in the same manner all metals by the help of Tartar and spirit of wine may without distilling be reduced into pleasant and sweet oyles, which are none of meanest in Physick: for every knowing and skilful Chymist will easily grant, that such a metallical oyl, as without all corrosives out of the gross metals is reduced into a pleasant essence, cannot be without great and singular vertue.

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How to make good spirits and oyles out of Pearles, Corals, Crabs-eyes, and other light soluble stones of beasts and fishes.

TAke to one part of pearles or corals (made into fine powder) three or four parts of pure Tartar, and so much water as will dissolve the Tartar by boyling; put the corals, Tartar & water together into a glass body, which must stand in sand, & give it so strong a fire, that the water boyle in the glass body with the Tartar, and may dissolve the corals. (This solution may be done also in a clean earthen pot that is glased, and the evaporated water must be supplyed with other, as above was taught to be done with the metals.) The corals being dissolved, let them coole, filtrate the solution, and abstract all the moysture from it in Balneo, and there will remaine a pleasant honey-thick liquor, which may be used in Physick either of it self, or else once more extracted with spirit of wine and purified, or else distilled, as you please.

The extract or Tincture is better then the liquor, and the spirit is better then the extract or tincture: and all three may well and safely be used; they strengthen the heart and brains; especially those which are made of the pearles and corals, they expel the urine and keep the body soluble. Those of crabs eyes and of pearches and other fishes open and cleanse the passages of the urine from all slyme and impurity, and they powerfully expel the stone and gravel in the reynes and bladder.

N. B. The distilled spirit of corals being well rectified, is good for the Epilepsie, Melancholy, and Apoplexie. It expelleth and driveth out all poyson by sweating, because it is of a golden nature and quality, whereof in another place more shall be said.

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To distil a spirit out of salt of Tartar and crude Tartar.

IF you take a like quantity of crude Tartar and of salt of Tartar, and dissolve it with clean water, and then evaporate the water still skimming it, till no skim more do rise, and then let it coole, there will shoote white crystals, which being distilled as common Tartar, they will yeild a purer subtler and pleasanter spirit, then the crude Tartar doth, in al to be used as above hath been taught of the simple spirit of Tartar: therefore it is needless here to describe its use. Before you distill a spirit thereof, you may use them in stead of Tartarus vitriolatus for purging, they will cause gentle stooles, and drive also the urine and stone, and are not unpleasant to take. The dose is from ℈i. to ʒi. in waters fit for your purpose. This salt dissolved with water purifieth metals (if they be boyled therein) and maketh them fairer then common Tartar doeth.

How to get a powerful spirit out of the salt of Tartar, by the help of pure sand or peble-stones.

IN the first part of this book I taught how to make such a spirit, but because the materials, which are to be distilled in that furnace must be cast upon quick coales, whereby the remainder is lost, and that also not every one hath the conveniency to set up a furnace that requireth more room then this here doth: therefore I will set down how it may be got with ease in this our present furnace, without the loss of the remainder, which is not inferior to the spirit it self, and it is done thus.

Make a faire white salt of calcined Tartar by dissolution, filtration and coagulation, pulverise that salt in a warmed morter, and add to it a fourth part of small pulverised crystal or flints or onely of fine sand, washed clean, mixe it well, and cast one spoonful thereof at once into your red-hot vessel [Page] (which must be made of earth) and so cover it, and the mixture as soon as it is red hot, will rise and boyle (like common Allome doth, when it cometh to a sudden heate) and yeild a thick white heavy spirit; and when it ceaseth to come forth, and then cast in another spoonful, and stay out the time of its settling, and then another part again, till all your mixture be cast in. When no more spirit goeth forth, then take off the lid from the distilling vessel, and with an iron ladle take out that which stayed behinde, whilest it is yet redhot and soft, and it will look like unto a transparant cleer white fusible glass, which you must keep from the aire, for it will dissolve in it, till I teach you what you are to do with it.

The spirit which came over, may either be kept as it is, or else rectified per arenam in a glass retort, and used in Physick; it is clean of another taste then the spirit of common salt or vitriol, for it is not so sharp; it smelleth of the flints after a sulphureous manner, and tasteth urine-like, and it is very good for those that are troubled with the goute, stone and Tisick: for it provoketh urine and sweat mightily, and (because it cleanseth and strengthneth the stomach) it also maketh one have a good appetite to his Victuals. What it can do else is unknown to me as yet, but it is credible that it may act his part in many other diseases, which is left free for every one to tyre. In my opinion (since the spirit of the salt of Tartar is good to be used of it self for the stone, and that here it is strengthned by the sand, which have the signature of the stone of the Mic [...]ocosme) there is hardly any particular medicine, which can go beyond it, but I leave every one to his own opinion and experience. Externally used it quencheth inflammations and maketh a pure skin, &c. The remainder, which I did bid you to keep, and looks like a transparent cleer glass, is nothing else but the most fixed part of the salt of Tartar and flints, which joyned themselves thus in the heart, and turned to a soluble glass, wherein lyes hid a great heat and fire. As long at it is kept dry from the aire, it cannot be perceived in it: but if you powre water upon it, then its secret heate will discover it self. If you make it to finde powder in [Page] warm morter, and lay it in a moyst aire, it will dissolve & melt into a thick and fat oyle, and leave some faeces behinde. This fat liquor or oyl of flints, sand or crystal may not only be used inwardly and outwardly of it self, but also serveth to prepare minerals and metals into good medicines, or to change them into better by Chymical art. For many great secrets are hid in the contemptible peble or sand; which an ignorant and unexpert man (if they were disclosed to him) would hardly beleeve: for this present world is by the divels craft so far possessed with cursed filthy avarice, that they seek for nothing but money, but honest and ingenious sciences are not regarded at all; and therefore God doth close our eyes that we cannot see what lyeth before our eyes, and we trample upon with our feet. That worthy man Paracelsus hath given it us sufficiently to understand, when he saith in his book (containing the vexations of Alchymists) that many times a despicable flint cast behind a Cow is more worth then a Cow, not only because that gold may be melted out of it, but also that other inferior metals may be purified thereby, so that they are like unto the best gold and silver in all tryals; and although I never got any great profit by the doing of it, yet it doth suffice me that I have seen several times the possibility and truth thereof, which in its proper place likewise shall be taught.

This liquor of the flints is of that nature toward the metals, that it maketh them exceeding faire, but not so, like women do scowre their vessels of tin, copper, iron, &c. with lye and smal sand, till all filth be scoured off, and that they get a bright and faire gloss: but the metals must be dissolved therein by Chymical art, and then either after the wet or dry way digested in it for its due space of time; which Paracelsus calleth to go into the mothers wombe, and be born again: if this be done rightly, then the mother will bring forth a pure child. All metals are engendred in sand or stone, and therefore they may well be called the mother of metals, and the purer the mother is, the purer and sounder child she will bear, and among all stones there is none found purer then the peble, [Page] crystal or sand, which are of one nature (if they be simple and not impregnated with metals:) And therefore the peble or sand is found to be the fittest bath to wash the metal withal. But he that would take this bath to be the Philosophers secret Menstruum, whereby they exalt the king unto the highest purity, would be mistaken; for their Balneum is more friendly to gold by reason of its affinity with it then with other metals, but this doth easier dissolve other metals then gold. Whereby it is evident, that it cannot be Bernhards his fountaine (Bernhardi fontina) but must be held only to be a particular cleanser of metals. But omitting this and leaving it to the further practise and tryal of those that want no time nor conveniency for to search what may be done with it, let us take notice of the use of this liquor in physick, for which uses sake this book is written. That which hath been said, was onely done to that end, that we may observe, that we must not alwayes look upon dear and costly things, but that many times even in mean and contemptible things (as sand and pebles) much good is to be found.

How to extract a blood-red Tincture with spirit of wine out of the liquor of peble-stones.

IF you will extract a Tincture out of peble-stones, for use in Physick or in Alchymie, then in stead of the white take a faire yellow, green or blew peble, or flint, whether it hold fixed or volatile gold, and first with salt of Tartar distil the spirit thereof, or if you do not care for the spirit, then melt the mixture in a covered crucible into a transparent, soluble and fusible glass, and in a warme morter make it into fine powder; put this powder in a long necked glass, and powre upon it rectified spirit of wine (it needeth not to be dephlegmed, it maters not if it be but pure) let it remaine upon it in a gentle warmth, till it be turned red (the glas with the prepared peble or flints must be often stirred about, that the peble be divided and the spirit of wine may be able to work upon it) [Page] then powre off the coloured spirit of wine, and powre on other, and let this likewise turn red: this powring off and on must be iterated so often, till the spirit of wine get no more colour out of it. All the tinctured spirit of wine put together, and abstract in a Balneum through a Limbeck from the Tincture which will remaine in the bottome of the glass body like a red juyce; which you must take out and keep for its use.

The use of the Tincture of pebles or flints in Physick.

THis Tincture if it be made of gold pebles or sand, is to be held for none of the least medicines, for it doth powerfully resist all soluble Tartareous coagulations, in the hands, knees, feet, reins and bladder; and although in want of those that hold gold, it be extracted but only out of common white p [...]ble, it doth act its part however, though not altogether so well as the first. Let no man marvel, that sand or pebles made potable, have so great vertue; for not all things are known to all; and this Tincture is more powerful yet, if first gold have been dissolved with the liquor of pebles before the extraction. And let no man imagine that this tincture comes from the salt of Tartar (which is taken to the preparing of the oyle of sand) because that of it self also doth colour the spirit of wine for there is a great difference betwixt this Tincture and that, which is extracted out of the salt of Tartar: for if you distil that of the salt of Tartar in a little glass body or retort, there will come first a cleer spirit of wine, then an unsavory phlegme, and a salt will remaine behinde, in all like unto common salt of Tartar, wherein after its calcining not the least colour appeareth, and because none came over neither, it might be questioned where it remained then?

To which I answer, that it was not a true Tincture, but only that the sulphur in the sprit of wine was exalted or graduated by the corporeal salt of Tartar, and so got a red colour, [Page] which it loseth as soone as the salt of Tartar is taken from it, and reassumeth its former white colour: even as it hapneth also, when the salt of urine, or of hartshorn or soot or any other like urinous salt is digested with spirit of wine, that the spirit turneth red of it, but not lastingly, but just so as it fals out with the salt of Tartar, for if by rectification it be separated again from the spirit of wine, each (viz. both the salt and also the spirit of urine) doth recover again its former colour, whereby it appeareth, that (as above said) it was not a true Tincture. He that will beleeve it, let him dissolve but ℥i. of common white salt of Tartar in lb i. of spirit of wine, and the spirit will turn as red of it, as if it had stood a long time upon several pounds of blew or green calcined salt of Tartar; and if I had not tryed it my self several times, I should have also been of that opinion: but because I found it to be otherwise, therefore I would not omit to set down my opinion: though I know I shall deserve smal thanks of some, especially of those which rather will err with the greater number, then to know and confess the truth with the less number. However I do not say, that the supposed tincture of the salt of Tartar is of no vertue or useless; for I know well enough that it was found very effectual in many diseases: for the purest part of the salt of Tartar hath been dissolved by the spirit of wine, it being thus coloured thereby, and therefore that tinctured spirit of wine may very fitly be used. But as for the Tincture, which is extracted out of the prepared pebles, it is clean of another condition: for if you abstract the spirit of wine from it, though it also cometh over white, yet there remaineth a deep tinctured salt, whose colour is lasting in the strongest fire, and therefore may be counted a true Tincture.

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How by the help of this liquor out of Gold its red colour may be extracted so that it remains white.

THis oyle or liquor of pebles is of such a condition, that it doth precipitate all metals which are dissolved by corrosives, but not after that manner as the salt of Tartar doth; for the calx of metals which is precipitated by this liquor, (because that the pebles do mingle themselves therewith) is grown much heavier thereby, then if it had been only precipitated with salt of Tartar.

For example, dissolve in Aqua Regia as much Gold as you please, and powre of this liquor upon it, till all the Gold fall to the bottome like a yellow powder, and the solution turn white and cleer, which you must powre off, and edulcorate the precipitated Gold with sweet water, and then dry it (as you was taught to do with the Aurum fulminans) and you need not fear that it will kindle and fulminate in the drying, as it useth to do, when it is precipitated with salt of Tartar or spirit of urine, but you may boldly dry it by the fire, and it will look like yellow earth, and will weigh as heavy again as the Gold did weigh before the solution; the cause of which weight are the peble stones, which did precipitate themselves together with the Gold. For the Aqua Regia by its acidity hath mortified the salt of Tartar, and robbed it of its vertues so, that it could not choose but let fall the assumed pebles or sand: on the other side, the salt of Tartar which was in the liquor of pebles, hath annihilated the sharpeness of the Aqua Regia, so that it could not keep the dissolved gold any longer whereby both the gold and the pebles are freed from their dissolver.

This edulcorated and dryed yellow powder put into a clean crucible, and set it between live coals, that it begin to be red hot, but not long, and the yellow will be changed into the fairest purple colour, which is pleasant to behold, but if you let it stand longer, then the purple colour vanisheth, and it [Page] turns to a brown and brick colour: and therefore if you desire to have a faire purple coloured gold, you must take it off from the fire, as soon as it is come to that colour, and let it not stand any longer, else it loseth that colour again.

This faire gold-powder may be used by the rich (which are able to pay for it) from ℈i. to ʒss. in convenient vehicles; and in all diseases, where sweating is need [...]ul: for besides the provoking of sweat, it comforteth not onely the heart, but also by the vertue of the peble it expelleth the stone in the reines and bladder (if it be not grown to the height of hardness) like sand together with the urine: so that it may be safely used as well to prevent, as to cure the plague, gout and stone.

How to make further out of this purple coloured gold a soluble Ruby for medicinal use, shall be taught in the fourth part: for in regard that it must be done by a strong fire in a crucible, it doth not belong hither, but to its proper place, where other like medicaments are taught to be made.

If you will extract the colour out of this precipitated gold, then powre upon it (before it be put into the fire for to calcin) of the strongest spirit of salt, and in a gentle heat the spirit will dissolve part of the gold, which will be much fairer and deeper in colour then if it had been done with Aqua Regia: upon this solution powre five or six times as much of dephlegmed spirit of wine, and digest both together its due time, then by the digestion of a long time part of the Gold will fall out of the solution to the bottome like a faire white powder, which may be reduced with Borax or salt nitre and Tartar; it is white like silver and as heavy as other gold, and may easily get its colour again by the help of Antimony. The residue out of which the white gold is faln, viz. the spirit of salt mingled with the spirit of wine, must be abstracted from the Tincture, and there will remaine a pleasant sowre liquor coloured by the gold, upon the bottome of the glass body, which is almost of the same vertue, which [Page] above hath been ascribed to other tinctures of the gold. Especially this liquor of gold strengthneth the heart, braine and stomach.

N. B. Sometimes there comes over with the spirit of wine a little red oyle, which the strong spirit of salt hath separated from the spirit of wine, and it is impregnated with the Tincture of gold. It is an excellent cordial, few are found like unto it, whereby weak people decayed by sickness or age may be kept alive a long time, they taking daily some drops of it, who else for want of the humidum radicale would be forced to exchange their life for death.

Here some body may ask, whether this Tincture is to be counted or taken for a true Tincture of gold; or whether there be another better to be found?

To which I answer, that though many hold it to be such, and I my self do call it so here, yet that after due examination it will not prove to be such: for although some vertue is taken from the gold by this way, yet it doth stil keep its life, though it be grown weak and pale, because it can so easily recover its former sound colour by a contemptible mineral: if its true Tincture or soul were gone from it, surely an inferior mineral could not restore it to life, but of necessity there would be required such a thing for to do it, which hath not onely so much, as it hath need of for itself, but hath a transcendent power to give life unto dead things. As we may see by a man or any sensible beast, that if they have lost their vigor by adversities, in that no life more is perceived in them, yet by medicines fit for the purpose, they may be refreshed and brought to their former health, so that their former disease appeareth no more in them; but if their soul be once gone, the dead body can by no medicines be restored unto life again, but must remaine dead so long, till he in whose power it is to give and to take life, have mercy upon it. So likewise it is to be understood of the gold, when its colour is taken from it, and yet its life is left, which by the help of Antimony, being its medicine, as also by the help of iron or copper can be restored unto it so that it recovereth its [Page] former faire colour, so that you cannot see at all, that it ailed any thing before. But if its life be gone from the body, it is impossible for any ordinary metal or mineral to restore it to life, but it must be done by such a thing, which is more then Gold it self hath been: for even as a living man cannot give life unto a dead man, but God must do it, who hath created man, so Gold cannot restore to dead gold the life which hath been taken from it, and how could it then be done by an unfixt mineral? but there is required a true Philosopher for to do it, such a one as hath good knowledge of gold and its composition.

Now as we heard that like cannot help its like, but he that shall help must be more then he that looks for help from him; Hence it is evident that the Tincture, whose remaining body (from which it is taken) is still gold, can be no true Tincture; for if it shall be a true Tincture, it must consist in its three principles, and how can it consist therein, the body from whence it came being yet alive, and possessing indivisibly all its three principles? How can a mans soul be taken from him, and yet the body live still? some will say, that for all that, this may be counted a true tincture, although the body still remaine gold, and have kept its life: even as man may spare some blood out of his body, which though it will make him somewhat pale, yet he liveth still, and the lost blood may be supplyed again by good meat and drinke. But what lame and senseless objections are these? who would be so simple as to think, that a handful of blood may be compared to a mans life? I believe no wise man will do it. Although life goeth forth with the blood, yet the blood is not the life it self; else the dead could be raised thereby, if a cup full of it were poured into a dead body; but where was such a thing ever heard or seen? With such groundless opinions some did presume to censure the truth, set down in my treatise de Auro Potabili vero, saying, Geber and Lullius were also of opinion, that a true tincture can be extracted out of gold, the same nevertheless remaining good gold: but it may be asked, what it hath lost then [Page] for to yeild a true Tincture, since it remained good gold? Here no body will be at home for to answer I doubt. What are the writings of Geber or Lully to me? what they have written I do not despise, they were highly enlightned and experienced Philosophers, and would defend their writings sufficiently, if they were alive: and what I write, I am also able to maintain.

Do those men think, that the writings of Geber and Lully are to be understood according unto the bare letter? shew me a tincture of gold which was made by the writings of Geber or Lully? if it were so, then every idiot or novice, that could but read Latine, would not only by their writings be able to make the Tincture of gold, but also the Philosophers-stone it self, whereof they have written at large; which doth not follow, because it is seen by daily experience, that the most worldly learned men spent many yeers, and have been at vast charges, and taken great paines and studied in their books day and night, and found not the least thing in them.

Now if such Philosophers were to be understood literally, doubtless there would not be so many poor decayed Alchymists. Therefore the writings of such worthies are not to be understood according to the letter, but according to the mystical sense hid under the letter.

But because the truth is eclipsed in their books by so many seducing and sophistical processes, there will hardly any man be able to pick it out from so many seducements, unless a light from God be given to him first, whereby he may be able so to peruse the darke writings of those men, that he know how to separate the parabolical speeches from those that are true in the letter it self: or if an honest godly Chymist by the grace of God in his labours do hit upon the right steps, and yet do doubt, whether he be in the right way or no, then by reading of good and true Philosophers books, he may at last learn out of them the firme and constant truth: else hardly any ones desire may be obtained out of their books, but rather after the pretious time spent, means and health wasted, a man shall be forced to fall a begging at last.

[Page] In like manner, if the true tincture be taken from copper the rest is no more a metal, nor by any Art or force of fire can be reduced to a metallical substance.

N B. But if you leave some tincture in it, then it may be reduced into a brittle gray body, like unto iron but brittle.

Another way to extract a good Tincture out of gold by the help of the liquor of sand or pebles.

TAke of that gold calx (which was precipitated with the oyle of sand) one part, and three or four parts of the liquor of crystals or of sand, mix the gold calx in a good crucible with the liquor, and set this mixture into a gentle heat so that the moystness may evaporate from the oyle of sand which is not easily done; for the peble or sand, by reason of their dryness keep and hold the moysteness, and will not let it go easily; it riseth in the pot or crucible, as borax or Allome doth when you cal [...]ine them; therefore the crucible must not be filled above half, that the liquor together with the gold may have roome enough, and do not run over the pot: and when it riseth no more, then strengthen the fire, till the pot be red-hot. The mixture standing fast, put a lid upon it, which may close well, that no coals, ashes or other impuritie may fall into it, and give it so strong fire in a winde furnace, that the liquor together with the gold-calx may melt like water; keep it melting so long, till the liquor and gold together be like unto a transparent faire ruby, which will be done in an houres time or thereabouts; then powre it forth into a clean copper morter, let it coole, and then make it into powder, and powre spirit of wine upon it for to extract, which will look like unto thin blood: and it will prove more effectual in the use, then the above described Tincture.

The residue from which the Tincture is extracted, must be boyled with lead, and precipitated and driven off as you do oares, and you will get the remaining gold, which went not [Page] into the spirit of wine: but it is very pale and turned like unto silver in colour, which if it be melted through Antimony, it recovereth its former colour without any considerable loss in the weight. How the melting in crucibles, and boyling of the remaining gold is to be done shall be more punctually set down in the fourth part, I know several other fine processes, for to extract the colour easily out of the gold, but because the gold must be first made fit for it by melting in the crucible, and that it is not pertinent to speak of that operation here in this second part, therefore▪ it shall be reserved for the fourth, where you shall be informed at large, not onely how to prepare gold, Antimony and other minerals, and make them fit for extraction, but also how to reduce them into a transparent, soluble and fire-proof ruby (which are none of the meanest medicines) and as it was done here with the gold, so you may proceed likewise with other metals and minerals for to extract their colours. And therefore being needless to describe each metals tincture by it self, all the processes of them shall be disclosed in one, viz. in that of the gold. The book would grow too big, if I should describe them severally, which I count needless to do. Let this suffice for this second part, that we be taught▪ how to extract out of the gold its colour after a common way. Which indeed are good medicines, but for ought I know of no use in Alchymie. But he that seeketh to have a true Tincture out of the gold, let him endeavor first to destroy the gold by the universal Mercury, and to turn the inside outward, and the outside inward, and proceed further according unto art, then the soul of gold will easily joyn it self with the spirit of wine, and come to be a good medicine, whereof more in my treatise de auro potabili is handled. If one know the Chalybs of Sandivogius, which is well to be had, he might with little labour quickly get a good medicine: but because we shew our selves still ungrateful children unto God, therefore it is no marvel, that he withdraweth his hand from us, and leaveth us in errors.

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What further may be done with the liquor of pebles.

MAny more profitable things, as well in Alchymie, as in medicine may be compassed by the oyle of sand: as for example, to make faire painting colours out of metals, which abide in all Elements: Also to frame all sort of transparent hard stones out of crystal, which in beauty are like unto the natural, yea fairer sometimes: also how to make many fair Amauses and the like profitable arts: but they belonging not to this second part, shall be reserved for the fourth, where all such shall be taught very punctually with all the circumstances thereunto relating.

How by the help of this liquor to make trees to grow out of metals; with their colours.

Although this process in Physick may be of no great use: yet in regard that to a Chymical Physitian it gives good information of the condition of natural things, and their change. I thought it not amiss to set it down here.

TAke of the above described oyle made of sand pebles or crystals as much as you please, mixe therewith a like quantity of the lixivium of Tartar, shake both well together, so that the thick liquor may not be perceived in the lixivium, but be throughly incorporated therewith, both being turned to a thin solution, and then your water is prepared, wherein the metals do grow.

The metals must be first dissolved in their proper corrosive Menstruum, and the Menstruum must be quite abstracted from thence again, but not too hard, that the calx of the metal may not grow red-hot, whereby its growing vertue would be taken from it. Then take it out of the little glass-body, and break it in peeces about the bigness of a pulse, and lay them [Page] in the above described liquor in a cleer bright glass, that the growing of the metals may be discerned through it, and as soon as the prepared metals are taken out of the glass body, they must be kept from the aire, else th y lose their growing vertue. Therefore thus drye they must be broken in peeces, and laid in the bottome of the glass (wherein the liquor is) a fingers breadth one from another asunder, and must not be laid together on a heap: The glass must stand still in a quiet place, and the metal will presently swell in it and thrust forth some bulks, out of which branches and twigs do grow, so finely that one shall admire at it: and let none think that this growing serveth onely for to please the eye, for some speciall thing is hid in it: for all sand or pebles, although they be white, invisibly containeth a hidden tincture or goldish sulphur, which none without experience will be able to believe; for if for a time you digest the pure filings of lead in it, there will gold come to stick to the outside thereof (which gold may be washed off with water) and lead will look as if it were gilded. Which gold came from no where else but from sand or pebles, although they were white and clear, so that it could not be perceived in them It sheweth also its meliorating vertue, when the metals do grow therein, and for a certain space of time are digested therewith. For it may be seen apparently, that the metals in the growing do increase from this liquor, and attract what is for their turn; which hence also may be perceived, that when but as much as the bigness of a pea groweth therein, it will grow twice or thrice as big, which is worthy to be considered of. Also the pebles or sand-stones are the natural matrixes of metals, and there appeareth a great sympathy between them, especially between the unripe metals and them; as if nature should say to such raw or unripe metals, return into thy mothers wombe, and stay there the due time, till you have attained there to perfect ripeness, for you were taken thence too soon against my will. Further out of this liquor there may be made a good borras to reduce the metals thereby. There may be made also with this liqour faire glased and firme colours [Page] upon earthen vessels like unto Porcellan or China. Also by boyling it with water, a tender impalpable snow-white earth may be precipitated out of it, whereof there can be made vessels like unto Porcellan.

Many other useful things may be brought to pass thereby in mechanical businesses, needless here to relate.

Also the unripe and volatile minerals may be tyed and ripened thereby, so that not only they may be the fitter to be used in Physick, but also the volatile gold and silver containted in them may be saved thereby, whereof more in the fourth part.

N. B. Hither belongs also the process of the spirit of lead, virgins-milk and Dragons blood.

Of the spirit of urine and of the volatile spirit of salt Armoniack.

OUt of urine or salt Armoniack a powerful and penetrating spirit may be made several wayes, which not only is to be used in physick for many diseases, but is also found very useful in mechanical and Chymical operations, as followeth.

Take of the urine of sound men living chaste gather a good quantity together in a wooden vessel, let it stand for its time to putrefie, and distil a spirit thereof, which afterward in a great glass retort with a wide neck must be rectified over calcined Tartar, and still that which cometh over first, may be saved by it self, and so the second and third also▪ the strongest may be used for the preparing of metallical medicines and the weaker for a medicine alone by it self, or else mingled with fit vehicles: and the stronger may serve for the preparations of metallical medicines: the salt which in the rectification cometh over with the strongest spirit; may be put to the weakest, to make it the stronger, or else it may be saved by it selfe in a good strong glass.

But because the spirit of urine is tedious to make, therefore I will shew, how to get it easier out with salt Armoniack. The preparation is thus:

Take of salt Armoniack, and lapis calaminaris, ana, make each [Page] by it self into powder, and then mixe them together, and cast of it into the red hot vessel at once no more then ℥ss. or ℥i. Unto the vessel there must be applyed a great receiver: for this spirit goeth with such a force and power, that it were impossible to distil it in a retort without danger or loss, for I broke more then one receiver with it, before I did invent this instrument. The spirits being wel settled in the receiver, cast in more of your mixture; this continue so long till all your matter is cast in; then take off the receiver, and powre the spirit into a strong glass, which must be well closed at the top, but not with wax and a bladder, because it softeneth the wax and doth penetrate through the bladder; but first stop it with paper, then melt Lacca or sulphur and powre it upon it, so that it come to be very well closed, and then it will not be able to exhale, or thou mayest get such glasses made, as in the fifth part shall be taught, for to keep all the subtle spirits in them, for more security sake. And this spirit if no water have been mixt with it in the receiver needeth no rectifying: but he that will have it stronger yet, may rectifie it through a glass retort, and so keep it for use.

And this is the best way to make a strong spirit out of salt Armoniack: the same may be done also, by taking of filed Zinck, in stead of lapis calaminaris: also by adding of salt of Tartar, salt made of the Lee of wood ashes, unquencht lime, and the like: but the spirit is nothing neer so strong (although all those things may be done with it, that are done with the former) as that which is made with lapis calaminaris or Zinck.

The process or the manner of making it is this.

TAke lb i. of salt Armoniack made into powder, and as much of salt of Tartar, mixe both together by the help of a lye made of Tartar, or only with common water, so that all come to be like a pap, and cast in one spooneful thereof at once, into a distilling vessel, then cast in more till you have spirit enough.

[Page] N. B. The salt of Tartar may also be mixed drye with the salt Armoniack without any lye or water, and so distilled: but it is not so good, as when the mixture is tempered with lye or water: for if it be cast in dry, the spirit will come over in the form of a volatile salt: but if the mixture have been moystened, then most part thereof will come over like a fiery burning spirit: in like manner also the mixture of lyme and salt Armoniack may be tempered moist, and it will yield more spirit then if it be distilled dry.

It may be asked: why lapis calaminaris, Zinck and unquencht lyme, calcined Tartar, salt of pot-ashes, fixed salt nitre or the like things prepared by the fire, must be added unto salt Armoniack, and whether it be not as good to add some bolus, or other earth▪ (as usually is done to other salts) and so to distill a spirit of it? To which I answer, that there are two sorts of salts in salt Armoniack, viz. a common acide salt, and a volatile salt of urine, which without mortifying of one of them, cannot be separated: for as soon as they feel the heat, the volatile salt of urine carrieth the acid salt upwards, and they both together yeild a sublimate, of the same nature and essence with common salt Armoniack which is not sublimed, salt Armoniack is purer then the common. And no spirit would come over from it, if it should be mingled with bole, brick, dust, sand, or any other strengthless earth, and so distilled, but the whole salt as it is of it self (leaving its earthy substance behinde) would sublime thus dry: but that it falleth out otherwise with the lapis calaminaris (which is also like an earth) so that a separation of the salts is wrought thereby, and a volatile spirit commeth over, the reason is that the lapis calaminaris and Zinck are of such a nature, that they have a great affinity with all acid things, and do love them, and are loved by them likewise (whereof some mention hath been made in the first part) so that the acide salt sticks to it in the warmth and uniteth it self with it, and the salt volatile is made free, and distilled into a subtle spirit; which could not have been done, if the acide salt had not been kept back by the lapis calaminaris or Zinck. But that a spirit is distilled off by [Page] addition of fixed salts, the reason is because that fixed salts are contrary unto acid salts, and (if they get the upperhand) do kill the same, and rob them of their strength, whereby those things which are mixed with them are freed from their bond: and so it fals out here with salt Armoniack, that when by addition of a vegetable fixd salt the acidity of the salt Armoniack is killed, the salt of urine, which formerly was bound therewith, gets its former freedom and strength, and sublimated turnes into a spirit. Which could not have been done, if common salt had been added to the salt Armoniack in stead of salt of Tartar; for the salt of urine would thereby (as by a far greater enemy be killed and kept back, so that it could yield no spirit. I thought it fit to give notice hereof to the ignorant (not for those, who knew it before) and to the unknowing it will do much good, and that they may have a light for other labours: for I have many times seen, and see i [...] still by daily experience, that the most part of your vulgar Chymists, whatsoever they do (having got it either by reading, seeing or hearing) they hurle it over like botchers, and are not able to give any solid reason, why this or that must fall out in such or another manner, not labouring to finde out the natures and conditions of salts, minerals and other materials, but contenting themselves onely with the Receipt, saying this or that Author hath written so, and therefore it must be so, whereas many times such books are patcht up out of all sorts of authors. And those that stick to so many books, will hardly ever come to get any good, but are lead out of one Labyrinth into another, spending their life miserably in watching and cares: but if they would first seriously consider things, and learn to know nature, and then take their worke in hand, then they would sooner attaine unto true knowledge; and so much of this matter by the way. I hope that he that hath been in error will be pleased with it, and the knowing will not grudge to have it imparted to the ignorant.

That which remaines after the distillation is done, is also good for use; if the addition have been of salt of Tartar, a [Page] melting powder may be made of it, to reduce metals. Of lapis calaminaris or Zinck, yeilds per deliquium a clear, white and heavy sharpe oyle; for the sharper part of salt Armoniack, which did not turn to spirit, hath dissolved the lapis calaminaris, and is almost of the same vertues for external use in Chyrurgury with that, which above in the first part which was taught to be made out of lapis calaminaris and spirit of salt, save onely that this in the distilling doth not yeild so strong a spirit as the other, but onely yeilds a sharpe sublimate.

Of the use and vertue of the spirit of salt Armoniack.

THis spirit is of a sharppenetrating essence, and of an airie, moyst and warm nature; and therefore may with credit be used in many diseases, 8. 10. 12. (more or less) drops thereof used in a convenient vehicle, doe immediately penetrate all the body over, causing suddaine sweating, opening the obstructions of the spleen, and dispersing and expelling many malignities by sweat and urine, it cureth the quartane, colick, the suffocation of the Matrix, and many more diseases.

In brief, this spirit is a safe, sure and ready medicine for to disperse and expel all tough, gross and venemous humors. Also, this spirit acteth his part externally, quenching all inflammations, curing the Erysipelas and Grangrene; it allayeth the pains of the gout, clothes being dipt in it and applied: and although it draw blisters, it matters not; laid to the pulse, it is good in ardent feavers, it asswageth swellings and paines; discusseth congealed blood, helpeth strayned limbs, and benummed nerves: onely smelled unto it cureth the megrim and other Chronical diseases of the head: for it dissolveth the peccant matter & evacuateth it through the nostrils; it restoreth the lost hearing, being externally laid on with a little instrument fit for the purpose. Also in the obstructions of womens courses applyed by a fit instrument in a spiritual way, openeth presently and cleanseth the wombe and maketh [Page] women fruitful, &c. Mingled with common water, and h [...]d in the mouth, asswageth the tooth-ach, proceeding from sharp humors which are faln into the teeth. A little of it applyed in a glister, killeth the wormes in the body, and allayeth the colick.

This spirit can also further be used to many other things, especially by means thereof many pretious and effectual medicaments may be made out of metals and minerals, whereof some shall be described as followeth.

N. B. There is yet another matter, which is found every where and at all times, and is to be got by every one without distillation and charges, and is as good for the abovesaid diseases, as the distilled spirit, and if all men knew it, there would not be found every where so many sick people, nor so many Doctors and Apothecaries.

To distil a blood red oyle of vitriol by the help of the spirit of urine.

DIssolve Hungarian or other good vitriol in common water, and let it run through a filtring paper, powre of this spirit upon it so much, till all the green be vanisht, and the water be made cleer, and a yellow sulphur be settled: then powre off the cleere, and the rest which is muddy, powre together in a filtrum, that the moysture may run off, and the earth of the vitriol remaine in the paper, which you must dry, and distil to a blood-red oyle, which will open the obstructions of the whole body, and perfectly cure the epilepsie. The cleere water must be evaporated dry, and there will remaine a salt, which being distilled, yields a wonderful spirit. Before it be distilled, it is a specificum purgans, whereof 8. 10. 12. to 24. grains taken, may safely be used in all diseases.

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The tincture of Vegetables.

SPices, seeds or flowers being extracted therewith and digested and distilled, the essence of them will come over with it, in the form of a red oyle.

Vitriol of copper.

IF you powre it upon calx of copper, made by firing and quenching it againe, it will extract within an houres time a faire blew colour, and having dissolved as much thereof as it could, powre it off and let it shoote in a cold place, and you will get a fair sky coloured vitriol, a smal quantity whereof will cause strong vomits; the rest of the vitriol remaineth a blew oyle, good to be used in ulcers.

The Tincture of crude Tartar.

IF you take common crude Tartar, and powre of this spirit upon it, and set it in digestion, the spirit will extract a blood-red Tincture, and if the spirit be abstracted from it, there will remaine a pleasant red oyle, of no small vertue and power.

To make the oyles or liquors of salts.

THis spirit also dissolveth crystals and other stones, they being first dissolved, precipitated and reduced to impalpable powders, turning them into oyles and liquors, good to be used in Alchymy and Physick.

To precipitate all metals with it.

ANy metal being dissolved in an acid spirit can be precipitated better and purer therewith, then with the liquor of the salt of Tartar; for Aurum fulminans which is [Page] precipitated with it fulminateth far stronger then if it were done with oyle of Tartar.

℞. Some juyce of Lemon with the solution of gold, before it be precipitated, and then not all the gold will precipitate, but some of it will remaine in the solution, and in time many small green stones (not unlike unto common vitriol) will appear; which in a small dose will purge all noxious humors.

The oyle and vitriol of silver.

IF you dissolve silver in Aqua fortis, and powre so much of this spirit into it till it ceaseth to make a noyse, some of the silver will precipitate in the form of a black powder, the rest of the silver remaineth in the liquor: the phlegme abstracted from it in Balneo, till it get a skin at the top, and then set into a coole place, there will grow white crystals in it, which being taken out and dryed are a good purge in madness, dropsie, feavers and other diseases, safely and without danger to be used to young and old. The rest of the liquor which did not crystallise may be extracted with spirit of wine, and the saeces being cast away the extraction will be pleasanter. The spirit of wine abstracted from it, there will remaine a medicine of no small value in all diseases of the braine.

To extrast a red Tincture out of Antimony or common sulphur.

BOyle sulphur or Antimony made into powder in a lye of the salt of Tartar, till the lye turn red, and powre this spirit upon it, and distil gently in a Balneum, and there will come over a faire Tincture with the volatile spirit, silver anoynted therewith will be guilt, though not lastingly. It serveth for all diseases of the lungs.

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How to ripen Antimony and common sulphur, so that several sorts of such smels, as vegetables have, arise from thence.

DIssolve Antimony or sulphur in the liquor of pebles or sand, coagulate the solution to a red mass; upon this mass powre spirit of urine, and let it extract in a gentle warmth. The spirit being coloured red, powre it off, and powre on other spirit, let it extract likewise, and this you must iterate so often, till the spirit will extract no more tincture; then powre all the extracts together and abstract the spirit of urine from it in Balneum through a limbeck, and there will remaine a blood red liquor, and if you powre upon this spirit of wine it will extract a fairer tincture then the former was, leaving the saeces behinde, and this tincture smelleth like garlick: and if it be digested three or four weeks in a gentle warmth, it will get a very pleasant smel, like unto the yellow prunes or plums: and if it remaine longer yet in digestion, it will get a smel not inferior to musk and ambar; This Tincture having been digested a long time, and got several smels, is not only notably by the fire increased in pleasantness of smel and taste, but also in vertue: for so many and various sweet smels are perceived in it, that it is to be admired, which variety and exaltation proceedeth onely from the pure and ripening spirit of urine for there is hid in it a fire, which doth not destroy but preserve and graduate all colours, whereof in another place more shall be said.

N. B. Betwixt the spirit of urine and the animal and mineral Copper there appeareth a great sympathy; for it doth not onely love copper above all other metals, and mingleth easily with it, and maketh it extraordinary faire and of good use in Physick, but it prepareth it also to such a medicine, whereby all venereous sores (both by inward and outward use) how deep so ever they took roote in the blood, without the use of any other medicaments, are perfectly cured; it maketh fruitful and barren according as it is used; it cleanseth the matrix, hindreth the rising thereof, and miraculously [Page] furthereth womens courses that have been stayed, above all other medicamenes of what name so ever.

If this spirit be mingled with the volatile (but not corrosive) spirit of vitriol or common salt there will come a salt out of it, which is inferior to none in fusibleness, and useful both in Alchymy and Physick.

N. B. The liquor of the salt of Tartar, and the spirit of wine do not mixe without water, this being the mean partaking of both their natures, and if you add unto it spirit of urine it will not mingle but keep its own place: so that these three sorts of liquors, being put in the same glass, and though they be shaked never so much will not encorporate for all that: the liquor of the salt of Tartar keepeth to the bottome, next to it will be the spirit of urine, and on the top of that is the spirit of wine: and if you powre a distilled oyle upon it, they will keep uppermost of all, so that you may keep four sorts of liquors in one glass, whereof none is mingled with the other.

Although this be of no great profit, yet it serveth for to learn thereby the difference of spirits.

Of the spirit and oyle of Hartshorn.

TAke Hartshorn, cut it with a saw into peeces, of the bigness of a finger, and cast in one of it at a time in the aforesaid distilling vessels, and when the spirits are fettled, then another; and continue this untill you have spirits enough; and the vessel being filled with the peeces that were carryed in, take them out with the tongs, and cast in others, and do this as often as is needful. The distilling being finished, take off the receiver, and powre into it dephlegmed spirit of wine, which will cleanse the volatile salt: powre the oyle with the spirit and salt volatile through a filtring paper made wet first & lying in a glass funnel, and the spirit of wine together with the spirit of Hartshorn and the volatile salt will run through the paper, and the blackish oyle will stay behinde, but it must quickly be powred out, else it will through after [Page] them. The spirit together with the volatile salt rectifie through a retort, and the best part of the spirit will come over together with the spirit of wine and volatile salt: and when the phlegme is coming, take off the spirit, which is come over, that the naughty phlegme may not come amongst it; keep it wel, for it is very volatile, the oyle may be mingled with salt of Tartar, and rectified through a glass retort, and so it wil be cleer; if you will have it fairer, you must rectifie it with spirit of salt.

The first, which is done with salt of Tartar, is of more vertue; it cureth the quartane, proveketh sweating extreamly, cureth all internal wounds and pains, which were caused by fals, blows, or other wayes: 6. or 8. 10. to 20. drops of it taken in wine and sweated upon it in the bed. The spirit is very good for all obstructions of the whole body, from ℈ss. to ʒss. thereof taken in a fit vehicle, provoketh urine, and forceth down womens courses, it cleanseth the blood and maketh sweat mightily. In the Plague, Pox, Leprosie, Scurvy, Melancholia Hypochondriaca, malignant feavers and the like where sweating is necessary, it proveth a rare medicine.

To make the spirit of mans haire an excellent medicine.

AFter the same manner you may make spirits out of all kinde of horns and claws of beasts: but since by reason of their ill smel the use of them is not liked of (though in several heavy diseases, as in the fits of the mother and Epilepsie, they do admirably well:) therefore I will acquiesce. However it is worth observing, that the spirit made of mans▪haire is not to be rejected in metallical operations; for it dissolveth the common sulphur, and reduceth it into a milk, which by further ripening may be turned into blood, the like whereunto no spirit is able to do. The same spirit may also of it self, without addition of sulphur be fixed into a ruby; but that which is ripened with sulphur is the better: and if it be brought so far by the fire, that it have lost its stink and be made fixe, [Page] then it will be able sufficiently to pay for the paines and coals bestowed upon it.

N. B. Hither belongeth the Process to powre dissolved metals upon filed hartshorn, and so to distil them.

Of the oyle of Ambar.

AMbar yeildeth a very pleasant oyle and of great vertue, especially the white Ambar: the yellow is not so good and the black is inferior to this: for by reason of its impurity it cannot be well used inwardly: and there cometh over also along with it a volatile salt and an acid water, which must be separated: the water (for ought that I know) is of little vertue: the salt if it be sublimed from the salt of Tartar and purified, is a good diuretick, and in the stone and the Gout, and may successefully be used both inwardly and outwardly. The oyle if it be rectified, especially that which comes over first, is an excellent medicine against the plague, epilepsie, rising of the mother and megrim, 6. 8. 10. to 20. drops being taken thereof at once, and the nostrils also being anoynted therewith for to smel to it: and it is to be observed, that when it is rectified through spirit of salt, it proveth much cleerer, then done by it self without addition: but if it be rectified with salt of Tartar, it is of much more vertue: though it fall not so cleer, as that which is done by spirit of salt.

N. B. If it be rectified over a strong Aqua Regia having before once already been rectified with spirit of salt, it will turn so subtle, that it is able to dissolve iron or copper in some sort, and to reduce them into good medicines: and in this second rectification by Aqua Regia all will not come over, but part of it will be coagulated by the corrosive water, so that it turneth thick, like unto mastick, which in the warmth is soft, and may be handled with ones fingers like wax: but in the cold it is so hard, that it may be broken and made into powder, and glistereth like gold.

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Of the oyle of soot.

OF the soot, which is taken from Chimneys, where nothing is burnt else but wood, there may be distilled a sharp volatile salt and a hot oyle. The salt is in vertue not unlike unto that which is made of hartshorn or ambar; and it quencheth inflammation, from what cause so ever it do proeeed: The oyle may without rectification externally be used very successefully for all loathsome scabs and for a scald head, &c. But if it be rectified, as hath been taught to be done with the oyle of Tartar, of Ambar, and of Hartshorn; then it may safely used inwardly, as the above written oyles are used; for it be doeth prove, as good as these, yea better in some special cases.

How to make a good oyle out of soot without distilling.

BOyle the soot in common water, till the water turn blood-red (urine is better then water) and set this solution (being in an earthen pot) in winter time into the greatest frost so long till all in the pot be frozen into one peece and turned white: then brake the pot and the ice, and in the midst thereof you will finde the hot oyle unfrozen and liquid in colour like blood, which is not much inferior in vertue unto that which is distilled, yet afterward it may be rectified, and so exalted in its vertue, when you please, and is to be noted, that this separation doeth only succeed in the greatest frost and cold, and not else.

Of the spirit and oyle of haney.

OF honey there may be made a subtle spirit and a sowre vinegar, if it be mingled with twice as much of pure calcined sand and so distilled; and it falleth muchbetter yet if it be made with the flores of Antimony, which were taught to be made in the first part, whereby the spirit is increased in its [Page] vertue, and its running over hindred thereby; and so distilling it, there will come over a pleasant spirit, a sharp vinegar and some red oyle also, which must be separated: the spirit after the rectification inwardly used is good in all diseases of the lungs. It openeth and enlargeth the breast, strengthneth the heart, takes away all obstructions of the liver and spleen: it dissolveth and expelleth the stone, resisteth all putrefaction of the blood; preserveth from and cureth the plague; all agues, dropsies, and many other diseases, daily used from ℈j. to ʒj. taken with distilled water proper for the diseases: the sowre vinegar coloureth haire and nayles as yellow as gold: it cureth the itch and scabs of the skin; it cleanseth and healeth old and new wounds, they being bathed and washed therewith.

The red oyle is too strong to be used of it self, it may be mingled with the subtle spirit which came over first and so used, and the spirit will be exalted thereby in its vertue.

Of the oyle and spirit of sugar.

IN the same manner as hath been taught of honey, there is also made a spirit and oyle of sugar, viz. adding pure sand to it; or (which is better) of the flores of Antimony, and then according to the rules of Art one spoonful after the other of this mixture cast in, it will yeild a yellow spirit, and a little red oyle, which after the distillation must be digested in Balneo so long together, till the spirit have assumed the oyle and be turned thereby very red colour; it needeth not to be rectified, but may daily be used either by it self, or with such vehicles as are proper for your purpose: in all it is like in vertue unto that which was made of honey: yet this of sugar is more pleasant then the other: it reneweth and restoeth all the blood in man, in regard that it received great vertue from the diaphoretical flores of Antimony; and this spirit may fitly be used in all diseases, it can do no hurt, neither in cold nor hot diseases: it doth help nature mightily, and doth so much good, that it is almost beyond belief. Especially if [Page] for a time it be daily used from ℈j. to ʒj. The residue of it is black, and may be kept for the same use again, viz. for an addition to other honey or sugar, or else you may sublime it again into flores in the furnace described in the first part, or in the furnace described in the fourth part of this book with an addition of iron or Tartar or salt nitre into a Regulus, &c.

To distil an excellent spirit and a blood red tincture of corals and sugar.

IF you mix sugar with red corals made into powder and distil it, there will besides the spirit come over a blood-red Tincture like a heavy oyle, which is to be joyned with the spirit by digestion in Balneo, and it will be as vertuous as that which was made with Antimony diaphoreticum. It doeth perfectly and lastingly cure epilepsie in young and old; it cleanseth the blood▪ from all filth, so that leprosie together with its several species may be cured thereby, &c. Its use is the same as was taught above of the Antimonized spirit of sugar.

Of the spirit of Muste or new wine.

TAke sweet Muste or juyce of grapes, as soon as it is squeezed out, boyle it to the consistency of honey, and then mix it with sand, corals, or (which is better) with flores of Antimony, and so distil it, and it will yield such another spirit as that which is made of honey or sugar: onely that this is somewhat tarter then that of honey. With honey, sugar and the juyce of grapes several metals may be dissolved in boyling and so prepared and made up into divers medicaments, both with and without distillation, after the same manner as was taught above with Tartar: for honey, sugar and the juyce of grapes, are nothing else but a sweet salt, which by fermentation and addition of some sowre thing, may be changed into a sowre Tartar, in all like unto that which is gathered in the wine vessels. There can be made also a Tartar [Page] out of cherries, pears, apples, figs, and all other fruit, yielding a sweet juyce: as also of rye, wheate, oates, barley and the like, whereof in the third part more shall be said.

For every sweet liquor of vegetables, if it be turned inside out, by fermentation may be changed to a natural sowre Tartar; and it is utterly false, that (as some do suppose) onely wine yeilds Tartar, which by daily use made of it by those that have very hungry stomachs (like Woolves) indistinctly together with the nourishment went into the limbs, and the [...]e turned to a stony matter. If this were true, then in cold countries, where no wine groweth, men would not be troubled with the gout or stone; the contrary whereof is seen daily: though I must confess, that among all vegetable none yeildeth more then the vine, the concurrent acidity being cause thereof; for it turneth the sweetness into Tartar: for the sowrer the wine is, the more Tartar it yeildeth; and so much the sweeter, so much the less Tartar. By this discourse an industrious Chymist may easily come to know the original nature and proprieties of Tartar, and in default of wine, how to make it out of other vegetables, the common salt or the salt of Tartar may be distilled with honey, sugar, or sodden wine (sapa) and it will yeild as strong spirits, as that metals may be dissolved with them, and they are not to be despised in Physick and Alchymie.

Of oyle Olive.

OUt of oyles made by expression (as oyle olive, rape oyle, wallnut oyle, hempseed oyle, linseed oyle and the like) there may be distilled a penetrating oyle, useful both outwardly and inwardly, which is done thus: Take common potters clay not mingled with sand, frame little bals of it, as big as a pigeons or hens-egg, burn them (but not too strong) to a hard stone, so that they may attract the oyle; and when they are no more quite red-hot, but pretty hot, then throw them into oyle olive which is the best; let them lye in it, till they be quite ful and drunk of the oyle, which will be done [Page] in two or three hours (some cast them red hot into the oyle, but amiss, because the oyle contracts thence an Empyreuma) Then take them out, and cast in one or two of them at once into your distilling-vessel made red-hot, and let it go; and within a while after carry in one or two more, and continue this till you have oyle enough. If the vessel be full of the bals, take them out with the tongs or ladle, that you may proceed without let in your distillation, & in this maner you need not fear the breaking of your retort or receiver, or the burning of your oyle. The distillation being performed take off your receiver, powre the oyle that came over into a glass retort, and rectifie it from calcined Allome or Vitriol, and the Allome will keep back the blackness and stinck, and so the oyle will come over cleer, which must be yet rectified once or twice more with fresh calcined Allome, according to the intensness of penetrating which you look for: that which cometh over first, ought still to be caught by it self, and you will get a very faire, bright and clear oyle, which is very subtle; but that which cometh after is somewhat yellow, and not so penetrating neither as the first; and therefore it is but for external use to extract flowers and hearbs therewith, and to make pretious balsames for cold and moyst sores. Also you may dissolve with it ambar, mastick, myrrhe and the like attractive things, and with wax and Colophony reduce it to a plaster, which wilbe very good in venemous sores and boyles, for to attract the poyson and to heal them out of hand. If you dissolve in it common yellow sulphur made into powder, you will get a blood red balsame, healing all manner of scabs, and other like defects of the skin; especially when you add to it purified Spanish green, and in hot sores Saccharum Saturni, which in a gentle heat and by continual stirring about do easily melt and mingle therewith. It needeth not to be done in glasses, but may be done in an ordinary earthen pot or pipkin.

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The use of the blessed oyle.

THe first and cleer is of a very penetrating nature: some drops thereof given in some Aqua vitae, presently stayes the colick, proceeding from windes that could not be vented; as also the rising of the mother, the navil being anoynted therewith: and a cold humor being faln upon the nerves, whereby they are lamed; if you do but anoynt them with this oyle, and rub it in with warm hands, it will quickly restore them, and therefore in regard of its present help may well be called Oleum sanctum. If you extract plate of iron or copper with this oyle, it will turn deep red or green, and is a soveraigne remedy for to warm and dry up all cold and watery sores. It consumeth also all superfluous moysture in wounds and ulcerous sores, as also all other excrescencies of the skin: it healeth tettars and scald-heads and other like defects proceeding from superfluous cold and moysture. You may also dissolve in it Euphorbium and other hot gums, and use them against great frost, for what limb so ever is anoynted therewith no frost how great so ever can do it any hurt. The balsames made with gum or sulphur may be also distilled through a retort, and in some cases they are more useful then the undistilled balsame.

Of the oyle of Wax.

IN the same manner may be distilled also the oyle of wax, the use whereof is in all like unto the former; and for all cold and infirmities of the nerves, this is found more effectual yet then the former.

A Spirit good for the Stone.

OUt of the stones which are found in grapes, there may be distilled a sowre spirit, which is a certain and specifical [Page] remedy for the stone in the kidneys and bladder, and also for all paines of the goute. It is not onely to be used internally but also externally, wetting clothes in it, and applying them to the places affected, and it will asswage and drive away the paines.

Of the spirit or acid oyle of Sulphur.

TO reduce sulphur into a sowre spirit or oyle hath been sought hitherto by many, but found by few. Most of them made it in glass-bels, but got very little that way; for the glasses being quickly hot, could not hold the oyle, so that it went away in a smoak. Some thought to get it by distilling, others by dissolving, but none of all these would do the feat. Which is the reason why nowadayes it is found almost no where right and in the Drugsters and Apothecaries shops they usually sell oyle of Vitriol in stead of it, which by far is not to be compared in vertue to the oyle of sulphur. For this is not onely of a far pleasanter sowre taste, but in efficacy also much exceeds the other. And therefore being of so great use both in Physick and Alchymie, as in all hot diseases, mingling the patients drink therewith, till it get a pleasant sowre taste, for to quench the intolerable drowth, to strengthen the stomach, to refresh the lungs and the liver: Also externally for to cure the gangrene: Also for to crystallise some metals thereby and to reduce them into pleasant vitriols, useful as well in Alchymie as Physick; I thought good to set down the preparation, though it be not done in this our distilling furnace, but in another way by kindling and burning it as followeth.

Make a little furnace with a grate, above which a strong crucible must be fastned resting on two iron bars, and it is to be ordered so that the smoake be conveighed (not above by the crucible, but) through a pipe at the side of the furnace: the crucible must be filled with sulphur even to the top; and by a cole-fire without flame be brought to burn and kept burning. Over the burning sulphur, a vessel is to be applyed of good stony earth like unto a flat dish with a high brim, wherein [Page] is alwayes cold water to be kept, and whereunto the burning sulphur do flame: Which thus burning its fatness consumeth, and the acid salt is freed and sublimed to the cold vessel, where it is dissolved by the aire, and in the form of a sharpe oyle runs from the hollow vessel into the receiver, which must be taken off sometime, and more sulphur supplyed in stead of that which hath been consumed, to the end that the sulphur may still burn in the crucible: and beat with the flame to the cold head: and within few dayes you will get a great quantity of oyle, which else by the (campana) glass-bell in many weeks could not have been done.

N. B. Such a sowre spirit or oyle may also be got by distillation together with the flores, viz. thus: If you take pieces of sulphur as big as hens eggs, and carry them one after another into the hot distilling vessel, a sowre oyle together with flores will come over into the receiver, which must with water be separated out of the flores and the water abstracted from it againe in a cucurbit and in the bottome of your glass body you will finde the oyle, which in vertue and taste is equal to the former, but you get nothing neer so much in quantity by this way, and if you do not look for the oyle, you may leave it with the flores, which by reason of their pleasant acid taste are much toothsomer to take then the ordinary ones.

To the courteous Reader.

THus I conclude this second part; I could have set down more medicinal processes in this Treatise: but having as many as will be a sufficient guide for the distilling of other things also, I thought it good here to acquiesce; and whatsoever is proper for this Treatise, and hath been forgotten or omitted, shall be made amends for in the following parts.

FINIS.

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THE THIRD PART OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES: IN WHICH Is described the Nature of the THIRD FVRNACE; By the help whereof, and that without Stils, and Caldrons, and other Copper, Iron, Tin, and Leaden Instruments, various Vegetable burning Spirits, Extracts, Oyles, Salts, &c. By the help of a certain little Copper Instrument, and wooden vessels are made for Chymical and Medicinal uses.

By JOHN RUDOLPH Glauber.

LONDON, Printed by Richard Cotes, for Tho: Williams at the signe of the Bible in Little-Britain. 1652.

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A Preface of the Copper Instrument and Furnace.

NOW this Instrument is made of strong Copper plates after the following manner. You must make two strong hemispheares of Copper or Latten of the bignesse of a mans head (or thereabout) and joine them together with a most strong soder, and that without tin, whereof the one must have a pipe: Now the pipe must be of a most exact roundnesse, that it may most accurately fit the hole that is made with an auger or wimble to keep the water from flowing out like to a tap, of the length of one span at least, wider on the hinder part towards the globe, then on the forepart, which also must bee according to the bignesse of the globe, greater or lesser, and be exactly joined with the best soder to its hemispheare, and the diameter of the forepart being very round like a tap, and most exactly filling the round hole must be of two fingers breadth. Now there is required to the foresaid instrument or globe a certaine peculiar little furnace made of iron or copper, viz. most strong [Page] copper plates, covered within with stones or the best lute, i [...]t [...] which is put that globe like a retort, so that it may lye upon two iron barrels of the distance of a span, or span and halfe from the grate; the work whereof (that pipe) goeth forth of the furnace one span at least. The furnace also must have below a place for the ashes, and above a cover with its hole for the letting forth of the smoke, and for regulating the fire, as you may see by the annexed figure. It must also below have a treefoot on which the furnace must be set, and on the sides two handles by the help whereof it may be removed from place to place; the which is very necessary; for it is not only used for the distilling of burning spirits by wooden vessels instead of copper, but also for such distillation, and digestion that is performed in gourds, boltheads, and other instruments, of glasse, stone, copper, tin, &c. which are to be set in Balneo: also in the boyling of beer, methegline, wine, and other drinkes, which are to be performed by the help of wooden vessels.

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A. The furnace with a Copper globe.

B. The Copper globe.

C. The distilling vessel.

D. The refrigeratory with a worme.

E. The receiver.

F. Stooles on which the vessels stand.

A Balneum with a cover having holes in it for the glasses, set upon a treefoot.

A wooden vessel for the making of Beer.

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A Tub for a moyst Bath, which is to be warmed by the Copper Globe.

A wooden Box for a dry Bath to provoke sweat with volatile spirits.

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THE THIRD PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

Of Wooden Instruments of that are to be used instead of Stills, Baths, and Cauldrons.

IN the first place I shall speak of wooden vessels that are to be used instead of Copper stils, in the distilling of burning spirits, out of wine, beer, lees, malt, wheat, meal, roots, hearbs, flowers, seeds, and other vegetables, as also oyles of vegetables.

See that thou hast an oaken barrel, like to those wherein wine and beere are kept, of a just bigness, viz. answerable to the bigness of the globe, as is sufficient for the coction: For a barrel that is too big will make the coction slow, and tedious. A greater globe may be fitted to a lesser barrel, but not on the contrary, a great barrel to a little globe: For by how much bigger the globe is and the less the barrel, so much the sooner is the work hastned. Now seeing that this Art was invented for [Page] the saving of costs, which otherwise would have bin expended in providing of stils, cauldrons, furnaces, &c. it is best not to have too great a globe, which requires a greater furnace, and is more hardly to be carryed, because it is to be covered within with lute, or a wall; for it is sufficient if it be big enough for the coction. Wherefore I wil give you a just and due proportion of both, viz. of the globe, and vessel, which in distillations and other operations, the curteous reader may imitate.

A globe of the bigness of a mans head, containing three or foure cannes, whereof each containing four pints, is sufficient for the heating of a barrell of 30, 40, 50, 60 and 100 gallons, which by how much the more remote from 100 and neerer to 30, so much the sooner is it heated, and the coction furthered; and on the contrary, by how much the neerer it is to 100 and more remote from 30, so much the slower is the coction. I do not therefore advise that a huge barrell be chosen for a small globe, by reason of a long and tedious operation: And if all and every thing be not so accurately observed to a hair, yet it matters not much, because it sufficeth to do the same thing by the help of any small copper instrument, which otherwise is done by divers copper instruments of divers forms. For in this way of distilling, wooden vessels that are requisite to the distilling of spirits, and boiling of Beer, and for baths are more easily provided, then so many copper vessels in the common way. For by this means not only costs are spared, but also it is in stead of building of furnaces; because when any barrell hath been used, you may remove it, and set another in the place of it for another operation, the which cannot be done with stils and cauldrons fastened into a furnace. And this invention is for those that want Artificers, as Coppersmiths, &c. because wooden instruments are more easily provided: also by the help of this globe may most secret operations be performed.

For the furnace with the copper globe may be built in one place, and in another place the Balneum, viz. places divided with a wall, so that he that looks to the fire may not know what is done in the Elaboratory; for oftentimes the care of [Page] the fire is committed to heedlesse servants, that breake glasse instruments by their carelesseness, by which means oftentimes a most pretious medicine is lost; which danger this invention is without.

Wherefore this copper globe with its wooden vessels is more convenient then those copper stils and cauldrons. But this I would have thee know that this new invented distillation is slower, then the common way which is performed by stills, and consequently requires a long fire. I desire therefore the rich that dwell in large and spacious houses, that they would use the old way of distilling; but the poor, who have but little houshold conveniences, and the covetous, that they would use this little copper globe with its wooden vessels: for although there be a longer fire required, yet these are not to be compared to those costs which are otherwise expended upon so many copper vessels of so many divers formes. Let him therefore keep to his copper vessels, who cannot understand me, for it concernes not me. Without doubt there are some whom this my new invented way of distilling will please, before other, being communicated for the sake of the poor labouring house-keepers, that cannot boil Beer, and distill burning spirits for lack of vessels: for a globe of five or four pound is more easily provided, then other copper vessels of 60, 80, 100 pound: also those wooden vessels are more easily provided then furnaces, which some for want of place only cannot build. Choose therefore which way thou wilt, for these things which I have wrote, I have wrote for the poores sake rather then of the rich. Certainly rich men that have spacious Elaborateries need not be ashamed to follow this way, for it is free for every man to goe a shorter way, unless they had rather prefer the old and true way before a new and compendious, whom I cannot help, being contented with a publication which is made for the sake of my neighbour, whether it be taken well or ill, with a good minde, certainly knowing that more profit then disprofit may be obtained by the help thereof. It shall not therefore repent him of his labour, who knows rightly to prepare and use copper and wooden vessels.

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There follows now the preparation of the vessel.

THE vessel being made is to be placed with one bottome, upon a stool that is fitted for it, which being done, make a hole with a wimble neer the bottome, for the receiving of the neck of the copper globe, which is to be covered over with a linnen cloth: make also about the lower bottome another hole for a tap, by the help whereof the remainder of the distillation is drawn forth: also you must make a large hole in the upper bottome, the diameter whereof must be one span for to poure in the water to be distilled, with a funnell. Also there must be made a hole neer the upper bottome of two or three fingers breadth, into which is to be sent a copper pipe of a span long, which is to be fastened closely therein; and to this pipe another oaken vessell with a copper worm and cold water like to other refrigeratories, must be applyed. Also the joints of the aforesaid short pipe, viz. of the first barrell, and of the second barrell, viz. the refrigeratory must be straightly, and closely united together, which afterward may be the better joined together with a fit lute for the distilling. And this is the form and fashion of the wooden vessell, that is to be used in the place of copper vessels, in the distilling of burning spirits and oiles. But thou wilt object that these kinde of wooden vessels are porous, and drink up great part of the spirit and oyls.

I answer; none of the spirits seeketh a violent passage out, in case the wayes be open. There is no danger therefore, when there is passage enough given them by a pipe that is wide enough. Neither doth oil stick to them in distillation, for whatsoever is by force of the boiling water to be separated from the spirit, and seeds that also is sublimable by the force of the seething water, so as to distill in the refrigeratory no more is lost then in the stils. Distillation being made, the aforesaid spirits may be rectified in these wooden vessels, (being first washed) as well as in the copper stils.

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The making of a wooden vessell for a Balneum, which is to be used in stead of copper and leaden Cauldrons for digestion, and distillation by glasse vessels.

MAke an oaken vessel as big or as little as you please, according to the greatnesse, or littlenesse, multitude, or formes of the vessels, of two or three spans high, a little narrower above then below, and so fashioned above, that a cover of wood, copper, or lead, may most closely be joined to it: the cover must have holes greater or lesser, according to the glasses, as is wont to be in the making of a Balneum, as you may see by the annexed figure. This vessel also must be placed upon a stool of the height of an el, or such height as is required for the joining of the copper globe with the Balneum, which must have a hole neer the lower bottom, for the receiving of the neck of the aforesaid globe. In defect of such a vessell, which yet you may provide easily enough, take a wine or beer vessell divided in the middle and make a hole neer the bottome for the neck of the globe, make also a wooden cover with holes, &c. He that will be curious may provide all things according to the best Art.

A wooden vessell serving for boiling of beere, metheglin, vinegar, &c. as well as copper Iron and tin vessels.

MAke a wooden vessel, which shall be more high then broad, a little under above then below, as you please; or take a wine or beer barrel divided in the middle, and neer; the bottome make a hole for the neck of the globe, which is to be covered with boards, which serves as wel for the boyling of beer, &c. as those of copper.

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A wooden vessel for a bath for sweet, or minerall water, which may be according as you please, kept warm, for the preserving of health.

MAke a long wooden tub convenient to sit in, which is to be set upon a stool of a just height, viz. that the bottome of the vessel may answer the neck of the globe which is put into the furnace: you may also have a cover, that may cover the whole tub, which may be divided and united in that place where the head goes forth, as appeates by the annexed figure; or you may cover it with a cloth, laying it upon small crooked sticks fastned in the tub, yet so that the head may have its liberty, especially in a vaporous bath of common sweet, or medicinall water; or make a high wooden cover shutting very close, for a dry sweat, where it is no matter whether the head be shut in or no.

Of the use of wooden vessels in distilling, boyling, bathing, &c. And first of the distilling vessel.

HE that will distill any burning spirit by help of the distilling vessel, out of wine, metheglin, beer, barley, wheat, meal, apples, pears, cherries, figs, &c. also out of flowers, seeds, and other vegetables, hath need so to prepare his materials, that they may yeeld their spirit. Where I thought it convenient, and indeed necessary to say something of the preparation of each vegetable, for better information sake, or else a profitable distillation is not to be expected; but labour in vain to be feared.

And first of the preparation of the lees of wine, beer, hydromel, and other drinkes.

THe lees of wine, beer, hydromel, &c. have no need to be prepared, because they doe easily enough of themselves yeeld their spirit, unless haply having lost all their humidity [Page] they be dryed, which you may make moist again by the admixtion of common water, l [...]ft they be burnt in distilling and stick to the vessel; of which thing more in the distillation it selfe. Now flowers, roots, hearbs, seeds, fruites, apples, pears, cannot be distilled without a foregoing preparation. You must therefore first prepare them, as followeth.

Of the preparation of all kind of corn, as wheat, Oats, Barly, &c. which must goe before the distilling of the spirit.

ANd first of all a malt must be made of the corn, as it is wont to be in the making of beer. Now the manner of making of malt is known almost to all, wherefore I need not speak much of that, because in all places that have no wine, there is scarse any house found in which Malt and Beer is not made, as well in the country as cities. But however there is a great deal of difference of making of it, for a long knife doth not make a good Cook, nor all drinkers of wine are good planters. For many have perswaded themselves, that, if they follow the footsteps of their fathers, they have done well (although they have been in an errour) and being scornfull refuse instruction. Wherefore something is to be said of the difference of malting. Although I never exercised the Art of making Beer, yet I am certain I doe in that excell all other distillers, and Brewers. For I often saw, and indeed with admiration, the simplicity of many in their operations, although common, and dayly, to whom though an age should be granted, yet they would never bee more thrifty, being content with their ancient customes. Good God! How perverse is the world, where no body labours to find out any good, neither is there any one that thinks of perfecting, and amending things already found out: Where all things run to ruine, and all manner of vice increase: for now almost every one seeks only after riches by right or wrong; for it is all one with them, if they have them, not thinking that things ill gotten shall perish, and that the third heir shall not injoy them, and that unjust riches shall devoure [Page] hose that have been honestly gotten, with danger also of eternall damnation. I pray you if our Ancestors had been so negligent, and had left nothing to us, I pray you, I say, what Arts and Sciences should wee have had now? It is come to this pass now that vertues decrease, and vices increase.

Of the difference of malting.

THe difference of malt, by reason whereof it yeelds better or worse beer, and spirit, consists for the most part in the preparation thereof: for being made after the vulgar way it retaines its tast, wherefore it cannot yeeld good spirit, nor good beer, which is observed of very few, wherefore they could not draw forth good spirit out of corn, but such as savours of the tast and smell of the malt. Which is not the salt of the corn, but of the artificer not operating aright in the preparation of his malt, in distilling and rectifying. For if it were prepared a right in all things, corn yeelds the best spirit, not unlike to that which is made out of the lees of wine, in tast, odour, and other vertues. Which Art, although it be not known to all, yet it doth not follow that it is impossible: Now I did not say that it is that common way, whereby that spirit, which is like to the spirit of wine, is distilled, but another which is more subtill, and witty. Out of all vegetables is drawn a burning spirit, yet such as is perceived by some difference of the tast, and odour, but that is not the spirits fault, but of the vegetable, as of hearbs, seeds, corn, &c. communicating their vertues, tast, and odour to the spirit: whence that spirit deserves to be called not simple, but compounded; for else all the burning spirit (being rightly rectified from its flegm) is made out of any thing, having the same vertues with the spirit of wine, although it seem unprobable to some. I do not deny that one simple may yeeld more or less sweet spirit then another. For sweeter wines yeeld sweeter spirits: Also cleere wine yeelds a sweeter spirit then the lees of wine, although [Page] they come forth out of one and the same vessel: For clarified wine, and that which is sparated from the faeces yeelds a sweeter spirit then the Lees, and impure & heterogeneal sediment which corrupts the simple, and sweet spirit, with [...] strong tast and smell: so that that may deservedly being as it were simple, be preferred before this which is accidentally corrupted. And this is to be understood of all other spirits. What hath hitherto been said, hath been spoken for the sakes of them, who have perswaded themselves that they could not perform chymical operations so well by the spirit of corn, as with the spirit of wine, for I never found any difference of both in the extraction of minerals, as vegetables. Let him therefore that can receive my opinion, and experience, seeing I will have nothing to doe with contradicting Carpers: Without hurt to others I dare not reveal the Art of distilling sweet spirit with great profit out of corn, in all things like to that which is made of the faeces of wine, viz. without preparation or grinding of malt, which shall haply be communicated elsewhere at some time or other. For this Book is not written for the publishing of secrets, but of a new invented distillation. But thou that wilt make a sweet burning spirit out of malt or honey; know this, that the corn must be brought after a certaine peculiar manner into malt, and lose its ungrateful savour before its distilling, and fermenting, or else after the wonted manner a certain ungratefull spirit will be drawn from thence, that cannot be compared to the spirit of wine. The whole Art therefore consists in a true preparation; For ungrateful things are by Art brought into a gratefulness, and on the contrary grateful things are made ungrateful by negligence. And thus much for information sake.

Of the fermentution of Malt.

TAke of malt ground in a mil as much as you please, upon which in a wooden vessel set up right, pour cold water, as much as will moisten it, and serve for mixtion and comminution; [Page] then also pour as much warm water as will suffice for the making the mixture moist, and thin, and also warm; for it must be neither hot nor cold; which being done mix with it some new barm, and cover it with a cloth, and in a short space being exposed to heat, it will begin to ferment (wherefore the vessel is not to be filled to the top) and leave it so long in fermentation, until the mixture descends, which for the most part is wont to be done the third day, and the malt will be ready for distillation.

Of the fermentation of Honey.

NEither hath honey any need of a singular Art in its fermentation, because being mixed with 6, 7, 8, 10 parts of warm water, it is dissolved, and unto the solution is added ferment, as hath been spoken concerning malt, which afterward is left covered in some heat for to be fermented, being fit for distillation when it becomes to wax hot. Now know that too great a quantity of honey makes a very slow fermentation, viz. of some weeks and months; wherefore for acceleration sake, I advise that a greater quantity of water bee added; although otherwise it yeelds plenty of spirits, but ungrateful, which therefore I advise no body to distil as being unprofitable, unlesse any one know how to take away the ungratefulness thereof.

Of the preparation of fruits, seeds, flowers, hearbs, roots, &c.

THe fruits of trees, as cherries, plums, apples, pears, figs, juniper-berries, elder-berries, dwarf-elder, and mulberries, &c. are bruised in wooden vessels, with wooden pestils; and upon them being bruised is poured warm water, and ferment added to quicken it, as hath been abovesaid of malt. Seeds are broken in a mill; flowers, hearbs, and roots, are cut small, and are stirred up to fermentation by mixing of warm water and barm.

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An Annotation.

BEfore thou distil the aforesaid vegetables prepared by the help of fermentation, diligently weigh, and accurately observe whether the mixture be sufficiently fermented, for sometimes there is sometimes too much cold, or hot water put to it; sometimes the vessel is not well covered, by which meanes the cold air is let in, whence the fermentation is hindered, and consequently the distillation of the spirit: For by the help of fermentation the burning spirit of the vegetables is set at liberty, without which it cannot be done; also the distillation is hindred by too much hast, as wel as by too much delay: for if thou begin to distil before the time, viz. fermentation not being yet perfected, thou shalt have but few spirits; wherefore also the better part is by many that are unskilful cast to the swine, but without any great loss, if the matter were malt, because that swine are fed therewith: But not so if other vegetables were the matter of the distillation. Also too much slowness where the matter begins to be sowre before it be distilled, yeelds very few spirits, that which often happens, whilest hearbs, and flowers, &c. are out of ignorance left in fermentation 3, 4, 5, and more weeks, before they be distilled, for the greatest part of the spirit is then turned to vinegar, which would not be so very ill done, if so be these men knew how to clarifie the remainders, and torn it into vinegar, that nothing thereof be lost; for the vinegars of hearbs, flowers, seeds, and roots are not to be contemned. And so often times (a thing to be lamented) the better part, if they be spices, and pretious things, is lost.

The matter of the distillation, and other choice things, as seeds, and hearbs are cast away with loss: wherefore for admonition sake I was willing to adde such things that the operators may have an opportunity to consider the matter a little more profoundly with themselves, or at least of learning the art of distilling from countrymen, who do not suffer their malt to putrefie, grow sowre or mouldy, before they fall upon their distillations, but presently fermentation [Page] being made (the third or the fourth day) begin their distillation.

But some one will object, that my vegetable spirits are not pure by reason of the ferment that is mixed, having in it self a spirit. I answer, there is not so great a portion of the ferment mixed which can corrupt the vegetable spirit. For although some spoonfuls of ferment yeelding but a few drops of spirit be added to a great quantity of the vegetables; yet there can come no hurt or detriment to so many quarts of the vegetable spirit. I have seen some supercilious men that would not adde ferment to the matter of their spirit, but sugar or honey, by which they would promote fermentation, and so have thought to get a pure spirit not considering that honey, and sugar after fermentation are made to yeeld their spirits also, whereof one spoonful yeelds more then ten or twenty of Barm: But honey and sugar fermenting not without difficulty themselves, how can they promote the fermentation of other things? Who also have had experience, that the addition of their ferment hath been superfluous, whilest their flowers and hearbs have stood some weeks in maceration, before they begun to ferment, and that oftentimes they have contracted an acidity, mustiness and stink, the reason of which was an unsutable ferment. There are indeed the fruits of some trees that have a sweet and ful juice, as grapes, cherries, apples, pears, figs, &c. which need not the addition of any ferment, having a natural ferment of their own, but other vegetables not so, being lean, as hearbs, flowers & roots. It is necessary there to promote the fermentation of them by the addition of a sutable ferment, left in length of time these hearbs and seeds lose their spirit exhaling in maceration. And thus much I was willing to say for information sake, and indeed for the sake of them who seek after the best, and choicest medicines, wanting a good burning spirit as a companion applicable to them. For this spirit came not only by it self, as Aqua vitae into a medicinall use as well internal as external, especially that which is prepared of cordial, and cephalick hearbs; but also being united [Page] with the proper oyls of those hearbs in many desperate diseases, where it could put forth its vertues eminently.

And thus much sufficeth concerning the preparation of vegetables that goes before the distillation of burning spirits.

The manner of distilling in generall followeth.

HE that is going to distil hath need to stir his fermented matter very well with a stick, that the thicker parts may be well mixed with the thinner, and then he must fill therewith his distilling vessel set upon a treefoot, and joined to the copper globe in the furnace on one side, and to the refrigeratory on the other, the joints in all places being well closed either with Oxe bladders, or with starch and paper. Also the interiour part of the globe in the distilling vessel must be fenced with a copper or wooden basket, that the hearbs, seeds, and other things enter not into the globe, into which only water must come. Also the upper hole must be close stopped with a fitting stopple wrapt about with linnen clouts, (viz. that hole by which the matter to be distilled is put in) like to vessels of wine that are stopped. Which being well done, you must kindle the fire in the furnace under the globe; until all the matter in the whole vessel boil wel, and that burning spirit rise, and go out, though the refrigeratory (where it is condensed) into the glass receiver that is set under it, no less then distilled out of a stil; and you must continue the fire til all the spirit be come forth, which you may know by the tast. Which being done and all things being cold let the remainders be taken out by the lower largetap hole, for meat for swine, or other uses. The spirit that is drawn off may be exalted, and rectified at your pleasure in the same vessel, being first made clean together with the refrigeratory. Note wel, that sometimes there is left a fat oil with the flegm in rectifying of the spirit, proceeding from that hearb of which that was the spirit, which did distil off with the spirit from the matter with a strong fire in the first distillation, but in the rectifying [Page] could not ascend with the spirit in a gentle fire, but is constrained to remain with the insipid flegm. And this oyl also hath its vertues, especially that which is rectified by a glass gourd in Balneo, with spirit of salt, and clarified. Now the like oyl is got almost from all hearbs, roots, seeds, flowers, and fruits, but out of one subject more then another, according to the hot and cold temper thereof. Especially the sediment of wines yeelds a good quantity of such oyl, which is as medicinable as the true oyl of wine, being rectified not before it be endued with a sweet savour, and it is an excellent cordiall, although I knew no body that knew this before.

And thus I have shewed the generall way of distilling, burning spirits, by help of the aforesaid wooden distillatory. Now also follows,

The manner of distilling spices, seeds, flowers, hearbs, roots, Woods, &c.

FIrst, the seeds must be broken in a mill, flowers, hearbs, and roots cut smal, the woods broken are filed, upon which afterwards a good quantity of water (in which they may swim) must be powred for the maceration of them, so that when the distillation is ended there may remain some water, lest for want of water they be burnt in the distilling, [...]nd yeeld an oyl savouring of the empyreuma, and not sweet. Neither is too great a quantity to be powred on them, but as much as shall serve to prevent the burning of the aforesaid vegetables in the distilling of the oyl thereof. And indeed fresh vegetables may presently without any foregoing maceration, being put with their proper waters into the distilling vessel be distilled. But they that be dry may for the space of some dayes be macerated before they be distilled. Also the water appointed for maceration must be salted, for the better mollifying, and opening the aforesaid materials, that they may the sooner yeeld their oyl. Now green and fresh need not any salt water, yet it wil not be hurtful to mix some therewith, because salt helps the boiling water, so as to make the oyl [Page] more easily to ascend. It also helps and furthers distillation as doth Tartar and Allome, if they be rightly mixed and ordered. Which being all rightly done, the materials that are macerated must be put by a funnel into the distilling vessel, and fire must be given as hath been spoken concerning the burning spirit, and the oyle of the seed, or wood macerated in the water will come forth in the coition together with the water. And although by this way more oyle comes forth, viz. Maceration being made by the addition of salt, then without salt, by the help of the sweet water alone, as is the fashion in all places almost to distil oyls of spices; yet much remaines inseparable by the water, and consequently not to be sublimed with the water. Therefore the better way is that which I shewed in the first part to be performed with the spirit of salt, which if you please you may follow. All the oyle being come forth (that which is perceived by the changing of the receivers) the fire is to be extinguished, and the remainder is to be taken out, which if it be of seeds, hearbs, or fruits, may being yet warm be fermented by the addition of ferment for the distilling of the spirit, of which there cannot be so great a quantity by reason of taking away of the oyle, as otherwise is drawn out of things that have not lost their oyle: For all burning spirit partakes of much oyl, of the essence, and nature whereof more a little after. Now the oyls must be made without the addition of any salt, for salt hinders the fermentation, without which the burning spirit cannot be had. But the water that is distilled together with the oyle, is to be set in a certain temperate place, until the oyle ascend, and swim upon the water, from whence it is to be separated with a Tunnel (of which in the fifth part,) also there are some oyles which doe not ascend, but fall to the bottome, which are are also to be separated with a Tunnel, and kept for their uses. Now how these oyles may be kept clear long, and not contract any clamminess, shall be taught in the 5 part: but how they shall after they have lost their clearness by long standing, and are become [Page] tenacious, be restored and clarified again, is taught in the first part, wherefore I need not here repeat it.

How Oyles are to be coagulated into Balsames.

IT hath been the custome a long time to turn aromaticall oyles into Balsames, where alwayes one hath been willing to excell another in this Art, which nevertheless was nothing hitherto, but for a washing and cleansing; for they could not be used inwardly, but only outwardly for their odour to comfort the heart and brain. Now the aforesaid oyls are coagulated many ways and are made portable in Tin, Silver, and ivory boxes.

Some have mixed the fat of a lamb with them by help of heat and have turned them into a liniment, which they have colored with divers colours; as for example, they have corrupted the oyles of green hearbs; as rosemary, majoram, lavender, rue, sage, with a green colour, by the admixtion of verdigrease (which is noxious to the head and heart) where one corroborates and refresheth, another destroyes. They have tinged the Balsame of Cinnamon, and lignum Rhodium with a red colour by the help of a poysonous Cinnabar. Others that are more industrious have tinged their Oyles with extracted colours of vegetables, which balsames are more safely taken inward: But they are not durable, acquiring a sliminess and stink; wherefore they have mixed a white wax to coagulate them: By which means they are become more durable without stinking; but yet in length of time so tenacious, that being smeared or rubbed upon the skin, they stick fast by reason of the wax that is mixed with them: at last others have found out a better way of coagulating aromatical oyles, and other things, viz. by the addition of the oyle of Nutmeg made by expression, having lost its odour and colour by spirit of wine; which they called the Mother of Balsames. And this way hath been a long time concealed by Apothecaries as a great secret, until at length it be made of publick right) so that balsames prepared [Page] after this manner are sold almost in all shops: But however that be the best way, yet they are not durable balsames that are made that way, because they lack salt. I doe not contemne and disapprove of Balsames made after this way, for if a better way were knowne, better had been made; for no man is forced beyond his power. Wherefore they are not onely to bee excused that have used Lambes fat, Waxe, and the oyle of Nutmegs in the making of their Balsames, but also to be honored for their communication. Now seeing the aforesaid Balsames cannot bee taken inward, nor bee so well outwardly administred by reason of their unctuosity, others have consulted to congelate the Oyles by the admixtion of their owne proper fix-salts: and Balsames prepared after this manner are made free from clamminesse, or tenaciousnesse, and may be dissolved in wine, beer, or any liquor.

Wherefore they may be not onely conveniently taken inward, but also more conveniently then those old be rubbed outwardly for the odours sake, because they are easily washed off againe with water. They doe not onely give a most sweet odour being rubbed, but also by reason of the admixtion of a fixed salt, having the nature of salt of Tartar, doe beautifie the skin. Wherefore they are commended, being dissolved in fair warme water for a washing for the head, and face; not onely because they beautifie, but corroborate with their excelcellent odour: that which those fat Balsames cannot doe. Wherefore this way is to be preferred farre before the other.

Let him therefore that will, receive what I have said, for rare things and new things are not alwayes accepted, especially being obscure: but I hope for the approbation of the age to come.

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The manner of preparing follows.

TAke the remains of the burning spirit, and being put into a sack, press it hard: reduce the water pressed out into vinegar, and of roses thou shalt have a rose vinegar, and of other things another, being the best in a family for to season meats: then take the remains out of the sack, and reduce it to white ashes in a potters furnace, upon which pour the flegme of its own burning spirit (being separated) to extract the salt, from which evaporate again all the humidity in a glazed earthen pot: calcine the coagulated salt gently in a clean crucible, and it will be white and be like to salt of Tartar in tast; from which abstract sometimes its owne proper burning spirit, calcining the salt first every time; and the spirit will be so exalted by its proper salt, so that it will presently assume its proper oyle, and will being powred upon it associate it to itself so as to be perceived no more in the spirit which will remaine very clear: Which being done calcine the salt yet once more very well in a crucible, and dissolve so much of it in its proper flegme, as sufficeth for the coagulation of the oyle, then mix this solution with the burning spirit, mixed with its oyle, and set it in a vial of a long neck well stopt, in a Balneo, that the spirit may not exhale, for the coction of it, and in the space of a few hours there will be an union of the mixture which will be as white as milke. Which being done, let the glass coole, for there is a conjunction of the spirit, oyle, and salt, so that neither can be discerned from another, which is to be powred into a vessel of a wide mouth, and it will be congealed in the cold like a white oyntment, not only to be annoynted with all, but also to be dissolved in any liquor, being of an excellent odour, which may also be given inwardly very conveniently, and being used outwardly it makes the skin beautiful and sweet; wherefore this is that most desired balsame of Princes and Ladies. And by this way the three principles of vegetables, being separated, and purified, are againe remitted, in which union there is of [Page] that whole vegetable, found the whole vertue, tast, and odour.

Note well, That he that will colour balsames, must draw the colour out of vegetables with spirit of wine, which he must make to be coagulated together with it. After this aforesaid manner, therefore you may draw out of any vegetable that hath in it salt, spirit, and oyle, soluble and well smelling balsames without the addition of any other strong thing, which are not to be contemned.

And because here also is taught that most odoriferous balsame of roses, for roses yeild but a little oyle, without which that cannot be done, know that not only roses or rose leaves also are to be taken for the making the aforesaid balsame, but also together with the leaves those whole knots; for that yellow that is in them yeilds that oyle, not the rose leaves, &c. And let what hath been said suffice concerning our preparation of balsames, which if they be rightly made are not I suppose, to be contemned, neither do I reject those that are made without salt: Let him that hath bettet communicate them, and not carp at ours. And so I would that all and each process should be comprehended under some one general, viz. of distilling burning spirits, and oyles, by the help of a wooden distilling vessel, and their conjunction by the help of their proper fixed salt, I could here add more things concerning the use, and vertues of spirits of wine, and of those most sweet vegetable oyles; but because they are cleerly enough spoken of by others, I account it a superfluous thing to repeat the sayings of others, being contented with the description of one onely general process, which you may imitate in other particulars.

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There followes now the use of the second wooden vessel, which is to be used in stead of those of copper or lead, serving for distillations, digestions, extractions, and fixatious.

THe vessel being made ready according to the prescription set down before, there is nothing else to do, then to fit the furnace with the globe, and at your pleasure to heat water in it, with a government of the fire in the furnace. Now all things may here be done, which otherwise are done in a common Balneo; where there is no other difference but of vessels; here is used a wooden vessel, there a copper, leaden, or iron, &c. In this operation also is used the same furnace with the same globe, which was used above in the distillation, whrefore you need add nothing else beside, for nothing is more common then a Balneum in distillation; let the demonstration therefore of the use of a copper globe suffice. Now I thought it worth while to set down some Chymical medicinal extracts, not common, which may be made by the help of this Balneum, which being rightly prepared do many things in many diseases.

And first of a vomitive Extract.

TAke an once of the flowers of Antimony, of purified Tartar ℥ij. of sugar-candy ℥vj. of raine water two pints, being mixed together set them in a strong vial in Balneo for to be cocted, and make them to boyle strongly the space of ten or twelve hours. Then the Balneum being cold, take out the glass, and powr forth the decoction, and filter it through a brown paper put into a tunnel; the filtred water will be reddish betwixt sweet and sowre, which take (the faeces in the filtre being cast away) and in a smal gourd glass draw off all the moysture with a gentle fire in Balneo unto the consistency of honey of a brownish colour, upon which again powre a pint of spirit of wine, powred forth into a vial of a long neck; and set it in Balneo with a moderate heat the space of [Page] eight or sixteen hours, and then the spirit of wine will separate, and extract the essence, which will be more pure and noble, the faeces being left in the bottome; which after all things are cold are to be separated by the help of filtration through a double brown paper. Then take the red tincture that is filtred, and in a gourd glass in a gentle Balneo draw off almost all the spirit of wine until there remaine a mattet like a very sweet syrup, which being taken out keep as a most excellent vomitive, most profitable in many diseases, where other Catharticks can do nothing. For this medicine works most gently, wherefore it may be given to children of a yeer and half old without danger, and also to old men. This medicine purgeth all humors and attracts all humours from the nerves, and veins, opens all obstructions of the liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, by which means many most grievous diseases are cured.

I never found a vomitive comparable to this, which works quickly and safely. The dose of it is from grain 1. 2. 3. 4. to 10, and 30 according to the age and sickness. It may be taken by it self, or in wine, beer, &c. and it will within a quarter of an houre begin to work, and ceaseth within two hours. Sometimes it doth not provoke vomit at all, but only stools, where a glyster is very helpful if it be given a little before the administring of the aforesaid medicine, being made of two or three spoonful of oyle Olive, and salt water; for the glyster prepares the way below, so that it seldome then works by way of vomit: when also the patient may presently after the taking of the medicine hold hot tosted bread to his mouth, and nose, which hinders vomiting and promotes the operation by stool. But in my judgement it is better not to hinder the medicine seeking a spontaneous way of operation, and not forced: For vomiting is more convenient for some, then purging by stoole. Now these things I have spoken for the sake of those, who although they abhor vomiting, yet desire to be purged by the essence of Antimony, which is of all that I know the most safe, and sweet Cathartick. For it searcheth the whole body far better then all others, and frees it from many occult [Page] diseases, that which all other vegetable Catharticks could not do. It hath also this commodity in it, that although by littleness of the dose, or the strong nature of the patient it doth not work by vomit, or stool, yet it doth not like other medicines hurt the body, but works either by sweat, or urine, so that Antimony being rightly prepared is seldome adminstred without profit. When as on the contrary vegetable Catharticks being given in less dose or by reason of some other causes do not work, although they do not make the body swel, and produce manifest diseases, yet they may threaten to the body occult sicknesses.

Now the Arcanum of Antimony doth not only not do hurt, if it do not sensibly operate, but by insensible working doth much good to the body of man. Wherefore there is a great difference betwixt purging minerals, and vegetables. For minerals are given in a less dose without nauseousness, but vegetables with a great deal of nauseousness, and sometimes with danger to the sick in a greater dose. Now that nauseousness also proceeding oftentimes from the great dose of the ungrateful bitter potions does more hurt then the potion it self. I wish that such kinde of gross medicines were abolished, and the sweet extracts of vegetables and essences of minerals were substituted in their place.

A purging Extract.

TAke of the roots of black Hellebor gathered in a fit time, and dryed in the aire one pound, the roots of Mechocan, J [...]llap, of each four ounce; Cinnamon, Annisseed, and Fennelseed, of each one ounce; of English Saffron a dram, powder all these ingredients, then powre upon them the best rectified Spirit of wine, in a high glass gourd, and upon this put a blind Alembick, and set it in digestion in Balneo, until the Spirit of wine be tinged red, which then decant off, and powre on fresh, and set it againe in digestion; untill the spirit be red, which also decant off: then powre on fresh again, and do this so often until the spirit will no more be tinged red, which [Page] commonly is done at three times. Mix these tinged spirits, filter them, and in Balneo by a glass Alembick with a gentle heat draw them off from the Tincture, and a thick juyce will remaine at the bottome of a brounish colour, which you must take out whilest it is yet hot, and keep it in a clean glass for its uses. The Spirit of wine drawn off from the extract may be reserved for the aforesaid same use. Now this extract is given from grains 3. 6. 9. 12. to 31. according to the age, and person, beeng mixed with Sugar, it hath not an ungrateful tast, and it works gently, and safely if it be not given in too great adose. And if thou wilt have it in the form of a pill, mix with it being yet hot an ounce of cleer Aloes, and half an ounce of Diagridium powdered, being mixed bring it into a mass for pils, and keep it for your use. The dose is from grains 1. to a scruple. It evacuates all superfluous humors, but it is not to be compared with the medicine of Antimony And this extract I put down for the sakes of those that fear minerals, and abhor vomits, which in my judgment is the best of all vegetable Cathartickes.

A Diaphoretical Extract.

TAke the Wood Sassafras, Sassaparilla, of each six ounces; Ginger, Galangal, Zedoary, of each three ounces; long Pepper, Cardamoms, Cububs, of each an ounce; Cinnamon, Mace, of each half an ounce; English Saffron, Nutmeg, Cloves, of each a dram: Let the woods be rasped, the roots and spices powdered, powr upon them being mixed the spirit of wine, and let the tincture be drawn forth in Balneo, as hath been above said of the purging Extract, evaporate away the spirit to the consistency of honey; which keep for your use. It is good in the plague, feavers, scorbute, leprosie, frenchpox and other diseases proceeding from the impurity of the blood, curing them by sweat. The dose of this Extract is from a scruple [...]o a dram with proper vehicles: it provoketh sweat presently, driveth away all venenosities from from the heart, and mundifies the blood.

And although it be a most effectual vegetable Diaphoretick, [Page] yet it may not be compared to those subtile spirits of minerals, of which in the second part. Also animal diaphoreticks have their commendations, as the flesh of vipers, the fixed salt of spiders, and toads, in their peculiar operations, where each alone without the mixture of any other thing puts forth and sheweth its operations; neither are animal, and vegetable diaphoreticks to be compared to the mineral, as bez [...]a [...]ticum minerale, antimonium diaphoreticum, and aurum diaphoreticum.

A Diuretical Extract.

TAke the seeds of Saxifrage, Caryoway, Fennel, Parsly, Netles, of each 3. ounces, the root of liquorish, the greater bur, of each an ounce, the powder of woodlice half an ounce. Let these being mixed and powdered be extracted with spirit of Juniper according to art: then mix these following things with the extracted matter: Take the salt of Ambar, soot, netles, of each half a dram, purified nitre a dram: Let these be powdered, and mixed with the extract, and this mixture be kept for use. The dose is from a scruple to a dram, in the water of parsly fennel, &c. This extract forceth urin, opens the ureters, purgeth the reines, and bladder from all viscous flegme (the mother of all tartareous coagulation) viz▪ if it be used timely: In this case is commended also the solution of flints, and crystals made with spirit of salt. A greater commendation have salts of nephretick hearbs made by expression, and crystallisation, without calcination, the preparation whereof shall not here, but elsewhere be taught.

A Somniferous Extract.

TAke of Thebaic opium four ounces; of Spirit of Salt two ounces, purified Tartar one ounce, set them being mixed in maceration in Balneo in a glass vessel for a day and night, and the spirit of salt with Tartar will open the body of the opium, and prepare it for extraction, upon which powre half a pint of the best spirit of wine, set it in a gentle Balneo to be [Page] extracted. Decant off the spirit that is tinged, and powre on fresh, set it in digestion till the spirit be coloured. Then mix the extractions together, and put to them in a glass gourd two drams of the best Saffron, of oyle of Cloves a dram, and draw off the spirit of wine in Balneo, and there will remaine a thick black juyce, which is to be taken out, and kept in a clean glass vessel. The dose thereof is from grain one, to five or six, for those of a mans age, but to children the sixth or eighth part of a graine. It may be used in all hot distempers without danger. It provoketh quiet sleep, mitigates pains as well outward, as inward, it causeth sweat; but especially it is a sure remedy for the epilepsie in children that are new born; for assoon as it is given to them to the quantity of the eighth part of a graine in wine, or womans milk, there presently follows rest, and sweat with sleep, by which means the malignity is expelled, the children are refreshed, and desire victuals, and the fit returns no more afterward. Although haply the like symptomes may be perceived againe, yet if the aforesaid dose be administred againe, the children are refreshed, and cured wholly, whereas otherwise they would have dyed, &c. whereof I have not restored few with this medicine. Moreover also there are very effectual anodyne medicines, as those volatile spirits of vitriol, allome, antimony, and other minerals, with which, as also with that narcoticke sulphur precipitated from the volatile spirit of vitriol, nothing may be compared.

A Cordial Extract.

TAke of red roses four ounces, of the lilie of the valley two ounces, the flowers of borage, rosemary, sage, of each an ounce; cinnamon, lignum aloes, of each two drams; cloves, mace, nutmeg, galangal, cardamoms the lesser, of each half an ounce; the shaving of ivory, hartshorn, of each an ounce; of English saffron a dram, of nux vomica a dram: Mixe them and reduce them to a fine powder, and let the tincture be extracted with spirit of wine in Balneo, which is to be drawn off [Page] again, unto a just consistency. Let the extract be kept for use. It may be used in almost all faintings, and other affects that are not joyned with a preternatural heat. The dose thereof is from grains 3. 6. 9. to a scruple with proper vehicles; being often administred it refresheth the spirits, corroborates the braine, and other parts of the body. It is made more efficacious by the adding of the essences of minerals, especially of gold, of which thing see the first part concerning the sweet oyle of gold.

Of an odoriferous Extract.

I Need not teach the making of any odoriferous vegetable extract, because the manner of drawing forth, or distilling oyles of vegetables that have sweet odours, hath been shewed a little before, as of hearbs, flowers, and seeds, which are the most noble, and sweet essences of vegetables, by the odour whereof the heart, and braine are corroborated, which being reduced into balsams are made transportable. Better extracts therefore, and more excellent cannot in my judgement be made out of vegetables, then those aforesaid oyles, unless any one would mixe aromatical extracts made with spirit of wine with metallick solutions, and being mixed digest them, then there will a certain most odoriferous oyl go from the extract not only more efficacious, but more excellent then that common distilled oyl by reason of the admixtion of the spiritual metallick vertue, especially of gold and silver, dissolved in the acid Menstruum communicating its vertues to the Aromatical oyle. Moreover any vegetable oyle may be exalted in vertues and odour by the help of spirit of urine, or salt Armoniack, by the help whereof not only odoriferous oyles are exalted, but also the inodorous oyles of vegetables are made odoriferous, if they be a while digested in spirit of urine: and not this only, but every mineral, and metallick sulphur, although the odour thereof be bound up with most strong bonds, is opened by the benefit thereof, and is reduced by digestion in a very little time into a most sweet and odoriferous essence. Lixivial spirits exalt the odours, and colours [Page] of sulphurs; acid purge sulphurs, but change their colours, and odours. Muske and Civet get the sweetness, and excellency of their odour from the subtile urinous spirit of a certain Cat▪ digesting some certain fat and converting it into such a kinde of most odoriferous matter.

And let this that hath been said suffice concerning Extracts, which might have been omitted, because many of these kinde of Extracts are found in the writings of other authors in many languages: but I was willing to set down these, lest this book might seem to contain in it nothing else besides the new way of distilling, being furnished also with good medicines.

Of Baths.

A Little before hath been given a description of a Tub for a Bath in which any one may sit with his whole body except his head, not only to be washed in sweet warm water, whether medicinal and mineral, but also to sweat in without water, where the vessel is heated by warm vapours, either of sweet waters, or minerals. And every one may provide such Baths for himself according to his necessity at home, whereby the same diseases are cured as those that are cured by the help of natural Bathes, so that he need not for the Baths sake go a great journey, but may stay at home with his family and follow his calling without trouble, when he hath occasion and need to use them.

And whereas it cannot be denyed, that by the use of the Baths most grievous diseases which cannot be cured by Physitians, are happily cured; I was willing for the sake of my neighbour to publish this instrument together with the preparation of mineral waters; which publishing will not without doubt be without profit, and advantage. Wherefore I will in brief shew you the preparation of mineral, and sweet waters, and their use, and first,

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Of a Bath of sweet or common water.

THere is no art to make a Bath of sweet water, for you have nothing else to do, then to fill your vessel with river or raine water, and to make a fire, which by the help of the copper globe will heat the water, which being sufficiently heated, you may sit in it, and cover the Tub, that the hot vapors evaporate not, nor the cold aire enter in, and coole the exteriour parts of the body: Wherefore also you must apply a clean linnen cloth about your neck, lest the warme vapors may evaporate there: which being rightly observed, you may sit the space of 1. 2. 3. hours, or as long as you please or your sickness require. You must keep a continual heat as much as is necessary, which may be done by the help of that globe. If you be thirsty in the mean time you may drink some proper distilled drink according to the nature of your disease, of which thing nothing now, because I am resolved to write a peculiar book de Balneis, and here only to shew the use of that copper globe in heating of Baths. And although there be not a perfect instruction of all, yet of some Baths, and their uses there shall a short instruction be given in this place.

Of the nature, and property of natural Baths.

KNow that the greatest parts of medicinal waters in Germany, and other countries as well hot as cold carry with them from the earth a certaine sulphureous acidity more or less: in which acidity consists that medicinal faculty and vertue of this or that water. And if those waters lose their odour and tast by the exhal [...]g of their subtile spirits, then also they loose their vertues; although also there be found some waters, which have not only a spiritual sulphur, but also are impregnated with a certain mineral, or metallick body mixed with Allome, or Vitriol, which comes not elsewhere then from the common water running through the mines. There [Page] are found also other baths, the power and vertue whereof consists not in any spiritual sulphur, nor in any metallick body mixed with salt, but only in a certaine spiritual salt mixed with a certaine subtile fixed earth, which waters do not run through metallick mines as others do, but rather stones of the mountaines calcined with a subterraneal fire, whence also they borrow their subtile acidity with their insipid earth. And this no man will deny that hath the knowledge of volatile and fixed salts of minerals, and metals: that which I am able to demonstrate with very many, and most evident reasons, if time and occasion would permit; but it shall be done sometime or other as hath been said in a peculiar treatise. Now therefore I will only teach how by salts, minerals, and metals artificial Bathes may be made, which are not only not inferiour to the natural in vertue, but also oftentimes far better, and that without much cost or labour, which any one may use at home in stead of natural for the expelling of diseases, and recovering of health. And although I am resolved to set forth a book that shall treat largly of the nature, and original of Bathes, and of their use; yet I am willing now also to say something in brief concerning it, and that from the foundation, seeing that there are so many different opinions of learned men, and those for the most part uncertain.

As concerning therefore the original of the acidity as well volatile, as corporeal, as also the heart of Baths, though that is not one, and the same; for else each would have the same properties, but daily experience testifies the contrary: For it is manifest that some Bathes help some diseases, and others are hurtful for them, which comes from nothing else but from the difference of the properties of the mineral waters proceeding from a diversity of mines impregnating those waters. In a word, sweet waters attract their powers, and vertues in the caverns of mountaines from some metal and minerals of divers kinds, that have naturally a most acid spirit of salt, as are divers kinde of marcosites containing copper and iron, and sometimes gold and silver; also kinds of vitriol and allome called by the ancients Misii, Rarii, Chalcitis, [Page]Melanteria, and Pyritis, whereof some are found white like metals, but others dispersed in a fat earth, of a round figure in greater or lesser pieces: which sulphureous salt mines whilest the water runs through, and humectates, that spirit of salt is stirred up, having got a vehiculum, and fals upon the mines by dissolving them, in which solution the water waxeth warme, as if it had been powred on quick lime, or like spirit of vitriol, or salt mixed with water, and powred on iron, and other metals; where continually and daily that water running through the mines whose nature and properties it imitates, carryes something with it: wherefore there are so many, and such various kinds of Baths as are the mines by which the water is heated. Let him that will not believe take any mineral of the aforesaid quality, and wrap it up in a wet linen cloth for a little while, and he will see it experimentally that the minerall stone will be heated by the water, and so heated, as if it were in the fire, so as thou canst scarce hold it in thy hand, which at length also by a longer action will cleave in sunder and be consumed like quick lime.

I will publish some time or other (God willing) more fully, and cleerly in a peculiar treatise this my opinion, which I have now delivered in very few words. Although to the sick it be all one, and it matters not them, from what cause the baths come, and whence they borrow their vertues, if so be they may use them; this controversie being left to natural Philosophers that will controvert it, which none of them can better decide then a skilful Chymist, that hath the knowledge of minerals, metals, and salts.

And first of sulphureous Bathes that have a subtil acidity.

IN the second Treatise I have demonstrated the manner of distilling subtile, volatile, sulphureous spirits, viz. of common salt, vitriol, allome, nitre, sulphur, antimony, and other salts of minerals, and metals, and their vertues, and intrinsecal properties, now also I will shew their extrinsecal use, as they are to be mixed with waters for Baths. The vertues [Page] therefore of Baths coming not from insipid water, but from those most subtile, volatile, sulphureous, and salt spirits, but these being of themselves not mixed with water unfit for Baths, to be used for recovering of health, by reason of their too great heat, and subtilty; the most high God hath revealed to us unworthy and ungrateful men his fatherly providence shewing to us by nature the use of them, and the manner of using of them for the taking away of diseases; which (nature) being never idle, works uncessantly, and like a handmaid executes the will of God, by shewing to us the various kinds of distillations, transmutatious, and generations. From which teacher we must learn all arts and sciences, seeking a certain, and infallible information, as it were out of a book writ with a divine hand, and filled with innumerable wonders, and secrets. And this is a far certainer knowledge then that empty, and imaginary Philosophy of those vulgar disputing Philosophers. Dost thou think that that true Philosophy can be sold for a hundred Royals? How can any one judge of things hid in the earth, who is wilfully blind in things exposed to the light of the Sun, hating knowledge? I wish knowledge were sutable to the name: how can any one that is ignorant of the nature of fire, know how to work by fire? fire discovers many things, in which you may as in a glass see things that are hid; The fire shewes to us how every thing, waters, salts, minerals, and metals, together with other innumerable things are generated in the bowels of the earth by the reflexion of that central, and astral fire: for without the knowledge of fire all nature remaines vailed, and occult. Fire (always had in great esteem by Philosophers) is the key for the unlocking of the greatest secrets, and to speak in a word, he that is ignorant of fire is ignorant of nature with her fruits, and he hath nothing, but what he hath read, or heard, which oftentimes is false, according to that; He easily speakes untruthes that speaks what he hath heard.

He that is ignorant knows not how to discern betwixt the truth and falshood, but takes the one for the other. I pray thee, thou that art so credulous, dost thou think that thy [Page] teacher writ his books from experience, or from reading other Authors? May they not be corrupted and sophisticated by antiquity, and frequent description? Also dost thou understand the true, and genuine sense of them? It is better to know, then to think; for many are seduced by opinions, and many are deceived by faith that is without knowledge.

There are many indeed ambitious of sciences, that are too covetous, and idle, loathing the blackness of coals, and the rust of the tongs, who had rather handle the viol and bandore, then coals, &c. And these are deservedly compared to that young man of whom in the 19. Cha. of Mat. it is said, he had a desire to learn the truth, but was unwilling to follow Christ in poverty, and misery. From proud Peacockes, and pratling Parrots, nothing but tedious clamours: whereas on the contrary, the auditors are refeshed with the voyces of birds. Therefore that perverse condition of man is to be bewailed, affecting rather the vanities of a proud world, then vertues and praise-worthy arts, then which nothing is more honest, and nothing more profitable after the world of God, revealing to us the will of God concerning charity towards our neighbor. And thus much for youths sake I was willing to say, that they would not spend their tender yeers in vanities, but rather would make tryal in the fire, without which no man obtaines a true knowledge of natural things; which although it seem hard in the beginning, yet it is pleasant in old age.

Now follows the mixture of those subtile mineral, sulphureous, and salt spirits with water.

AS concerning the weight of the aforesaid spirits that are to be mixed with sweet water, giving it the nature, and property of natural bathes, I would have thee know, that of those, which in the second part I shewed to be various, and divers, being, viz. not equal in vertue, the same weight cannot alwayes be so accurately observed: seeing also there is a [Page] consideration to be had of their strength, and of the strength of the patient.

Now you may at the beginning mix one or two pound of the spirits to a sufficient quantity of the water, and then by sitting in it make tryal of the strength of the artificial bath, which if it be too weak, is to be increased by adding a greater quantity of the spirits, but if it be stronger, then it is to be diminished by abstraction; of which more at large in Arte nostra Balneatoria. Now this observe, that it is best to make Baths in the beginning weak, then stronger by little and little by degrees, as the nature of the sick is accustomed to them, that it be not overcome by the unaccustomed use of them being too strong. Wherefore Baths are to be used with discretion, and cautiously, for which matter I refer the reader to my Artem Balneatoriam, in which he shall find plaine, and perfect instruction; Let it suffice therefore that I have shewed the use of that Copper Globe, in heating Baths, which let the sick take in good part, until more come. Now follows the use.

Of Sulphur Bathes.

APply the furnace with the Copper globe to the tub after the manner aforesaid, and powre in a sufficient quantity of sweet water, which make hot with the fire kindled in the furnace by the help of the globe: which being sufficiently warmed make the patient sit in it, and powre into it so much of the sulphureous spirit as is sufficient; which being done cause that the tub be covered all over, that the volatile spirit vanish not, and as necessity requires, continue the heat till the patient come forth. Know also that the water is to be changed every time, and fresh spirits to be mixed. And this is the use of the Copper globe, in heating bathes of sweet or medicinal water, and that either of vegetable, or mineral; and this made sulphureous is by art or nature; whereby most grievous, and otherwise incurable diseases are happily cured: Of which enough now in this Treatise.

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The use of the Copper Globe in dry Baths, which are more excellent then the moist in many cases.

I Might have put off this matter unto its proper Treatise, where all things shall be handled more largely, and cleerly: yet by reason of some unthought of impediments for a while procrastinating the edition of the promised Treatise, I am resolved to say something of their use, after I have made mention of the humid, and indeed not only of the use of those subtile, sulphureous, and dry spirits, but also of the use of subtile, vegetable and animal spirits which are medicinal, because in some diseases dry baths are more commodiously used, then moist. He therefore that will provoke sweat by a dry bath without water, let him provide a wooden box, or wooden instrument convenient to sit in, standing upon a stoole boared through that you may raise it up more or less according as you please, and having boards appoynted for the armes and feet to rest upon. This box also besides the great dore must have also a little dore serving for the puting in of a burning lamp with spirit of wine, or of any earthen vessel with coals for to heat it. The box being well warmed, let the patient go in, and sit upon a stool, let the box be very close shut all about, and the furnace with the Copper Globe be fitted thereunto, under which let there be a small fire kindled, by help whereof the volatile spirit growing warm, goeth forth into the box like a most subtile vapour, penetrating all about the patient. But when this spirit is not sufficient to heat the box, set in it a burning lamp with spirit of wine, or some earthen pot with coales (the best whereof which are made of Juniper or the vine, especially of the roots as being such that will endure long, and cannot easily be extinguished by the vapours of those spirits) that the patient take not cold, and the vapours of the spirits may the better penetrate the body of the patient. Let the wick for the spirit of wine in the burning lamp be incombustible made of the subtle threads of gold, of which thing more in Arte Balneatoria. In the mean time [Page] that volatile spirit penetrates, and heates the whole body, and performes its office, being this way used better then by being mixed with water. When the patient hath sate there long enough let him come forth, and go into a warme bed to sweat. Now before he go into the box let him take a dose of that volatile spirit, which is used outwardly to provoke sweat, and accelerate the action. And by this means not only those volatile sulphureous spirits of salts, minerals and metals, are used outwardly without water to procure sweat, but also the spirits of many vegetables, as of mustard seed, garden cresses, crude Tartar, also of animals, as hartshorn, urine, salt Armoniack, &c. for the expelling of most grievous, and desperate diseases. Now the aforesaid spirits have divers properties, the volatile spirits of salt, minerals, and metals have some, those of vegetables and animals have others; those have a sulphureous and fiery essence; these a mercurial, and aerial; wherefore they serve for different uses. In some diseases those sulphureous are preferred; but in others vegetable and animal, where also a consideration is to be had of the sickness, and bath it self, that one be not used for the other, to the great dammage of the sick. For almost all natural baths, and volatile spirits of salts, minerals and metals partake of some most subtile penetrating, heating, and drying sulphureous salt spirit; but the spirits of vegetables, and animals partake of a certain volatility that is most subtile, penetrating, heating, opening, cutting and attenuating, both urinous, and nitrous, viz. contrary to the former; as appeares by the pouring on of any volatile sulphureous spirit, as of common salt, vitriol, allome, minerals, and metals, upon the rectified spirit of urin, or salt Armoniack: where presently the one mortifies the other, and takes away its volatility, and subtilty: so that of both subtile spirits of divers natures there cometh a certaine salt of no odour and efficacy. Whence it is manifest that all spirits partaking of divers natures, and essences have not the same faculties. Therefore be thou cautious in giving most potent spirits, lest thou give an enemy in stead of a friend, and learn their natures, vertues, and essences, before thou usest them [Page] in medicine. But thou dost aske, whether is that great force of those spirits gone as it were in a moment? did it evaporate in that duel? No I say, but transmuted into a corporeal substance, for of a most pure, mineral, subtile, and most volatile sulphur, and a most penetrating animal, Mercury is made a certain corporeal salt, which is wonderful, and deserves to be called Aquil [...] Philosophorum, because it is easily sublimed with a gentle heat, in which many things lye: for it doth not only conduce to the solution of metals, especially of gold, but also of it self by the power of maturation doth become a most efficacious medicine: Of which no more at this time, because I will only advise the reader, that he be diligent in searching out the spirits of nature, which although they change their bodies, yet are not therefore to be called dead, but rather reduced to a better perfection. And let this suffice concerning the dry use of baths in provoking sweat for the expelling of diseases: now for what diseases this or that spirit serves, thou shall reader, find in its proper Treatise, of which there hath been mention above but in a word, know that those volatile sulphureous spirits of salts, minerals, and metals are good in all obstructions of the inward parts, viz. of the spleen, lungs, and liver, but especially are most excellent in heating the cold nerves, because they do most efficaciously heat, attenuate, cut, expel, and mundifie, wherefore they are good in Contractures, Palsies, Epilepsie, Scorbute, Hypochondriacal Melancholy, Morbus Gallicus, Itch, and other corrosive ulcers, and Fistulaes, &c.

But the spirit of another kinde, as of Tartar, Hartshorn, salt Armoniack, Urine, &c. are hot also, but not so dry, and besides the heating vertue, have also a penetrating, cutting, mollifying, attenuating, absterging, and expelling power; wherefore also they work wonderfully in all obstructions of the inward and outward parts: for they do better then all others, open the pores of the skin, and provoke sweat, mollifie, and open the hemorrhoides; proyoke the menses of young and elder women, purge and heat the womb, and therefore cause fruitfulness; they heat and purge a cold and [Page] moist braine, acuate the intellect, and memory, let they that be great with child take heed of them, and also they that have a porous open skin. Such and other more properties, and that deservedly are ascribed to these spirits. Now those two aforesaid baths (in one whereof those spirits are used in a humid way, being mixed with warm water, for the whole body to be bathed and sweat in, but in the other in a dry way where the vapours are by force of the fire made under the Globe, forced up into the sweating box towards the patient, which being used after this manner do oftentimes penetrate, and operate more efficaciously then that humid way) are not to be slighted for the recovery of health, as doing things incredible. Now those spirits not being found in shops, nor being to be made by any according to the manner that I have shewed in the second part, I would have thee know that there is yet another matter, which needs not to be distilled, and it is mineral; which being put into the Copper instrument doth of its own accord without fire yield such a sulphureous spirit, which penetrates very much and goeth into the sweating box, like in all things to that which is made out of salts, minerals, and metals. Nature also hath provided us another matter that is to be found every where, which being in like manner put into the instrument doth by it self, and of its one accord without fire yeild a spirit, in vertue not unlike to that which is made out of crude Tartar, or salt Armoniack, Soot, Urine, &c. Of which in the second part, doing, viz. the same things with that which is made with costs and labour. Those foresaid 2. matters therefore can do the same things, which are required for a bath and sweating, which those two foresaid kinds of spirits, viz. mineral and sulphureous, vegetable and animal can do, &c. Now what those two matters which are easily every where to be found are, thou desirest to know; but I dare not if I would, for the sake of the pious, to reveal them for the sake of the ungrateful, and unworthy. For it is an offence to cast pearle before swine, which yet the pious may, by the blessing of God, finde out by the reading of the rest of my writings.

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Now follows a wooden vessel which is to be used in stead of a Caldron in boyling of Beer, Metheglin, Vinegar, &c.

MAny things might be said concerning this matter, for although men may be found in any part of the world who know how to make malt of corne, and of this beer and vinegar; yet many things may be said of this matter for the correcting of it; but because it is not my purpose to shew such things now, yet I shall say something of the use of that copper globe which any one may provide in stead of Caldrons, and which is to be used with a certain wooden vessel in the boyling of beer, which by this way he may, as hath been spoken above concerning the operations, make as well as by the help of Caldrons. Moreover I could here also teach some other most profitable secrets, viz. how honey may be freed from its ungrateful odour, and tast by the help of precipitation; and how afterwards a most sweet spirit is to be drawn out of it very like in all things to the spirit of wine: also how the best and sweetest wine cleer, and durable like to Mallago, may be made thence: also how after purging it is to be crystallised, so as to resemble Sugar-candy in goodness and tast: also how the sweetness thereof may be converted into Tartar, very like to the natural: Also how out of fruits of trees, as cherries, apples, pears, &c. a very good, and durable wine in goodness, colour, tast and vertue, like to the natural, may be made; also now out of unripe grapes, that are not maturated either by the inclemency of the country, or aire, their acidity being changed into sweetness very good wines like to the Rhenish may be made: also how out of sorrel, and other vegetables a very good Tartar may be made, and that in a great quantity without much costs, resembling the Rhenish in colour, tast and other vertues: Also how out of Corne, (whether malted, or ground in a mill) a very good spirit is to be made, and also a very good vinegar like to the Rhenish; also how of corne, ground in a mill, or meale, a very good spirit is to be distilled without any loss of the [Page] meale, continuing yet fit to make bread. Such and more of this sort may be taught in this place, but because it is not good to divulge all things together, and at once, and this book would by this means grow bigger then I am willing it should, if such things should be here taught, I shall make an end of this book (omitting other excellent possible secrets of nature) which although it be but little, yet will without doubt be profitable to many. And so Reader farewell.

FINIS.

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THE FOVRTH PART OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES: IN WHICH Is described the Nature of the FOURTH FVRNACE, By the help whereof Minerals, and Metals are tryed, and examined after a more compendious way, then hitherto after that common manner; ALSO The separation of Metals by the force of Fusion, and other necessary things that are done by the power of fusion or melting. Most profitable for Chymists, Tryers, and Diggers of MINERALS.

By JOHN RUDOLPH Glauber.

LONDON, Printed by Richard Cotes, for Tho: Williams at the signe of the Bible in Little-Britain. 1652.

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A. The place of ashes with its dore.

B. The Register appointed for governance of the furnace.

C. The hole with its dore assign'd to receive the crucibles & coals

D. The hole with the dore of the first Story.

E. The long pipe of Iron in the top of the furnace.

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THE FOVRTH PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

Of making the Furnace.

THis Furnace may be made greater, or smaller, as you please, according to the matter to be tryed: and if the Diameter thereof within, be but of one foot, you may in it set a crucible containing two or three pound: but greater crucibles require a greater furnace. Now this furnace must be quadrangular, and be built of stones, and lute, such which abide the fire, of the height of one or two feet from the bottom to the grate, which must be such as may be cleared from the dross mixed with coals, or such as was the grate of the first furnace, consisting of two strong cross iron bars fastned in the furnace with certain distances for the receiving of 5, 6, or 7 other lesser, iron bars which are to be moveable, so that when they are obstructed they may be removed; [Page] and cleared from the dross; the lower part of the furnace must have near the bottom a hole (in the forepart) of the height, and breadth of a little span, with an iron or copper doore, shutting close: the lower part also must have another hole near the grate on the other side with its register for the government of the fire, and for the attracting of wind. Above the grate, and a hand breadth from the grate must be another hole for the putting in of coals, and crucibles, sutable to the proportion of the furnace, and the height thereof must be of one foot, and the latitude of half a foot, if the inward Diameter of the furnace be of one foot, whereby the crucibles may be the more conveniently handled, and the coals be cast in with a fire-pan; Let this hole also have a very strong door of stone covered over with lute, either of which may endure the fire, and shut very close, that the fire may thereby (when the crucible is placed in the fire) attract air, but onely from the collateral hole under the grate. Let the height of the furnace (being coated above) from the hole appointed for the putting in of coals and crucibles, be of one great span: Let there also be a round hole in the furnace, having the third part of the intrinsecall diameter of the furnace, appointed for the flame, and smoak; to which if you will use a very violent fire, put to it a strong iron pipe of the height of 5, 6, 8, or 12 feet; for by how much the higher you set your pipe, the stronger fire may you give, and if you will you may erect above the surnace 1, 2, or 3 partitions with their doores serving to divers uses according to the flame that is gathered into them, by reason of divers degrees of fire, which is in them, for the lowest is so hot, that it can easily contain in the flux▪fusible metals, minerals, and salts; and serve for cementation, calcinations, and reverberations; also for burning of crucibles, and other earthen vessels, made of the best earth (of which in the fifth part) and for vitrifications, and sometimes for trials and burnings, &c. The second division of heat which is more remiss, serves for the burnings of minerals and metals, as of lead, tin, iron and copper, that are necessary for calcinations; also for the necessary calcination of Tartar, and the fixed [Page] salt of other vegetables, that is required in chymical operation, as also the calcining of bones, & horns for cuples, and the ashes of wood. The third division or chamber is yet more remiss, and serves for the drying of crucibles, and other vessels that are made of the best earth, and are afterwards to be burnt in the first partition. There may also other things be done by the help of these partitions, so that thou needest not for their sakes kindle a peculiar fire. But if thou wilt give a melting fire the strongest of all, put a long pipe to the lower hole appointed for drawing wind, and having a register; for by how much the fire attracts the air more remotely and another flame is forced to beat upon the metals, so much the greater power of the heat is there in the fusion of them. For which business sake thou hast need to have as that inferiour pipe, so also that superiour pipe in the top of the furnace. And if thou hast a fit chamber, in which another may goe up from below by the proper chimney, thou mayst build another furnace in the superiour chimney, and perforate the wall with the applying of a register, that the fire may be forced to attract the air from below through the collateral chimney, where you need not that long pipe but onely may open a doore, or window of the lower chamber, that the aire may come into the chimney; and the fire attract the wind out of the collateral chimney, which it doth very vehemently, yea and stronger, then if it were helped with bellows, so that even the furnace, unless it were built of very good and fixed earth, would by too great a heat be destroyed; For oftentimes the strongest crucibles melt with too much heat, wherefore a register is made for the governing of the fire.

And by the help of this furnace, with Gods blessing, I found out my choicest secrets. For before, and indeed from my youth I under went the trouble of those v ulgar labours performed by bellows, and common vents, not without loss of my health, by reason of the unavoidable malignant and poysonous fumes, which danger this furnace was without, not onely of poysonous and malignant fumes, but also of all excessive heat: For our furnace sends forth no fume (but above, [Page] o drawing, that the dore being opened for the putting in of coals, it attracts by the vehemency of the fire, another fume, that is remote by the distance of halfe an ell. And because the fire doth so vehemently attract, it keeps its heat within it self, so that there is no fear of burning; yet you must cover your hand that holds the tongs with a linnen glove twice double, and wet in water, and with the other hand a wooden fence that is perspectible to preserve your eyes: otherwise it wants all danger of vapours, or fumes, as hath been said, and all excessive heat: that which is a great benefit in Art. I doe ingenuously confess, if I had not found this a few years since, I had not without loss left off all Alchymy together with its tedious labours. For I had spent many years of my life in great misery of my labours, in superfluous cares, and watchings, as also in stinks, so that going into my Elaboratory with loathing, I should behold so many materials in so many, and such various pots, boxes, and other vessels, and also as many broken as whole instruments of earth, glass, iron, and copper, and did judge my self so unhappy that I had made my self a slave of this Art, and especially because scarse one of 100, whereof I was one, did get his victuals and cloths thereby. For these reasons I was determined to bid farewel to Chymistry, and to apply my selfe to Physick, and Chirurgery, in which I was alwayes happy. But what? Whilest I thought to do as I resolved, and to cast forth of the doores all and each vessel of divers kinds, I found some crucibles broken, and in them many grains of gold and silver, formerly melted in them, which together with others gathered together, I thought to melt; but seeing I could not melt such things being very hard to be melted, without the helpe of bellows (which I had sold) I began to consider the matter with my self more seriously, and so I found out this furnace, and being invented, I presently built and proved it, which in tryings I found so good, that I did again take hope of my labours, and would no more despair.

Seeing therefore an easie, and compendious way of melting metals, I began to work, and to begin a new search, and [Page] every day I found more and more in nature, viz. the greatest and most pleasant secrets of nature; wherefore I did without ceasing seek, until God had opened mine eyes to see that which I sought a long time for in vain. Where also I observed, that although I had before had more knowledge of nature, yet without this furnace I could scarse have done any thing that had been singular. And so God willing, by the help of this furnace, I found out more and more dayly, for which blessing I give to the immortal God immortal thankes, resolving to communicate this new invention candidly, and faithfully for the sake of my neighbour. Judge therefore O Chymist! whether this, or that which is made by the help of bellows and common vents, be the best? For how long doth he that will melt a hard metal in a wind furnace give fire to it before it will flow, and with what loss of time, and coals? He that doth melt by the help of bellows hath need of a companion to blow, with great danger of breaking the crucible with the winde, and of making it fall when the coals are abated, or of impurities falling into the crucible in case the cover thereof should fall off, although there can be no detriment by impurities falling in, if the matter be metallick, but not so if it be a salt or a mineral, (without which that cannot be perfected in the fire) not induring the impurities of the coals, but boyling over by reason of them. Now our furnace is free from this danger, because the wind comes from beneath and crucibles come alwayes into sight, not being so overwhelmed with coals as in the common way, &c. For by this means the matter to be melted is flowed, although the crucibles be not covered over with coals, nor with a cover, and although thou hast not a companion to blow, for you may at pleasure give any degree of fire by the direction of the register. When therefore thou makest any trial in the fire have this furnace, which is recommended to thee, which build rightly with its register for the governing of the fire, and for the drawing of wind, and without doubt this labour shall not be in vain.

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How minerals are to be tryed.

THe manner of trying minerals hath been already made known, wherefore it is not needful here to write many things, because divers authours, as Georgius Agricola, Lazarus Ercker, and others have sufficiently wrote thereof, to whose writings I refer thee, especially to that most famous Lazarus Ercker which is so much commended, De Probatione Mineralium, as well malignant (obstinate) as mild. But thus much know being that which experience hath also taught us, that neither he nor his predecessours had a perfect knowledge of all things, nor would reveal all things they knew. For many excellent things doe yet lye hid, and perhaps shall yet for a while lye hid by reason of the ingratitude of the world; although the most famous Philosophers doe with one consent affirm that imperfect metals, as lead, tin, iron, copper, and Mercury, are intrinsecally gold, and silver, although it may seem very improbable to many that are not curious, but contented with the opinions of their parents; supposing those minerals to be barren that leave nothing in the cuple, when they are tryed with lead: when as yet that proof by cuples although famous, is not yet that true Philosophical trials of metals, but only vulgar, according to the testimony of Philosophers, as of Isaac Hollandus, and others, especially of Paracelsus in many places treating of metals, but especially in his book Vexationum Alchymistarum, containing a true description of the properties, and perfection of metals. Which although not being to be understood by all, matters not; for a very easie art is not to be communicated to all, according to Paracelsus saying. Imperfect metals being freed from their impurities have in them aboundance of gold, and silver. But how metals are to be purged, and separated he doth not teach, but only commends lead to be the authour; which made the Alchymist beleive that it was common lead, not knowing that the water thereof (lead) did not only purge other metals, but also lead it self; supposing also that the trial of tin, copper, and [Page] iron made in a cuple with lead to be that true genuine bath thereof; not observing that lead hath no affinity with iron, and tin in a stronger fire, but to reject what is black, and unclean▪ without any perfection. Now this lead can doe, if viz. it be mixed with a mineral that hath gold or silver in it, and be melted in the fire being incorporated with it, it may together with their impurities enter into the Cuple, the good gold and silver being left in the Cuple, which is the proofe of minerals that are digged, and used; and it is done upon this account, viz. gold and silver may be naturally purged of their snperfluous sulphur, so as never to be any mo re radically united, and mixed with those that be imperfect, as being polluted with aboundance of crude, impure sulphur, although they may, be melted together in the fire; yet that mixture being retained in the fire, the combustible sulphur of common metals, acts upon its own proper argent vive, and turnes it into dross, which being separated from the metals enters into the porous matter of the cuples, that which doth not happen in tests, fixed in the fire, which that dross being separated from the metals cannot enter into, being made of an earth that is durable in the fire, the dross remaining in them, which otherwise was wont to enter into those cuples that are made of the ashes of bones, or wood. Wherefore by little and little it goes away into the cuple, viz. as much as the fire reduced into a Litharge, or dross, until all the Lead mixed with the Gold, and Silver together with other imperfect metals mixed with it goe into dross, and hide themselves in the cuple, the pure gold and silver being left in the cuple. For Lead in a plain vessel, feeling the heat from above, but beneath cold, is turned into a Litharge, which if it be in an earthen fixed vessel, the Litharge remaines, and goes into a yellow transparent glass at last, if it be not mixed with other metals, as iron, copper, tin; which being mixed therewith give to the glass a green, red, black or white colour, according to the quantity of the metallick matter: but in a porous cuple made of ashes, the Litharge, or dross finding pores enters into the cuple by little and little, and successively, until all the Lead be entred [Page] in, which it could not be if it were turned into Litharge. This vulgar trying is therefore nothing else but a transmutation of Lead, with the imperfect metals mixed with it, into dross, which entring into the cuple leaves in the cuple pure gold, and silver, that cannot be turned into dross by reason of their purity.

But perhaps this discourse may seem to thee unprofitable, and superfluous, because this trial of metals is known all the world over: but for answer, I say that is not superfluous, because many refiners erre, supposing that corporeal Lead together with the imperfect metals that are mixed with it, goes into the cuple, not being yet turned into Litharge, because corporeal Lead is again melted from thence; for whose sake this discourse is not properly ordained as being those that operate out of use, and custome onely without discretion; but rather for their sakes, who doe incessantly seeke after, and search into the secrets of nature, viz. seeking after that philosophical tryal, which is known to few, by the help whereof more gold and silver is obtained then by that common way, but it is not to be discovered in this place; for all must not have the knowledge thereof; It is sufficient that I have demonstrated the possibility thereof. Yet know this, if thou knowest how to prepare Lead, Tin, Copper, and Iron, and to fit them to the radical union, viz. that aforesaid water of Saturne, so as they may endure the force of the fire together, thou mayst separate and attract gold, and silver from the aforesaid imperfect metals, and with gain leaving them in the cuple, or else you shal draw little or nothing from thence. And if you do intend to try them with Lead after the vulgar way, and bring them into dross, yet you doe nothing because tin, and iron abounding with gold and silver, do not remain with the lead in a strong fire, but are lifted up like a skin or dross, by reason of their superfluous sulphur, swimming like fat upon water, without any separation, unless it be tin or iron, which got gold or silver from the mine in their first fusion.

And by this means it fals out sometimes, that some may [Page] make a good proof but out of ignorance, not knowing a reason of their operation, wherefore they cannot do the same again. For if Chymists, and Refiners did consider the matter more profoundly, enquiring the cause, wherefore lead being tryed, deprived of its silver, and melted in a cuple, should yet contain in it self silver, without doubt they would hit upon a good foundation; without which knowledge all their labour in imperfect metals would be in vain. And let this suffice concerning that Philosophical tryal, which is known to few; There is no need of speaking any thing of that vulgar, being everywhere known, of which Lazarus Ercker wrote plainly and fully.

There is also another proof of minerals, which is without Lead, with Venice, or any other good fusible glass, where one or two ounces of the powdered mineral are mixed with half an ounce of the powdered glass, and being mixed and covered in a crucible, are melted, and powred out; by which means the glass attracts, and dissolves that mineral, and is thereby coloured, which shews what metall is contained in the mine, after which may be made another tryal by Lead afterwards, tryal being first made to know the first proof. And this is the fittest proof for the hardest minerals, which are even invincible, as are the stone hemalitis, smiris, granats, talck black and red, and those which abound oftentimes with gold, and silver, which because they cannot be mixed with Lead are not esteemed, but are oftentimes cast away, although they abound with gold and silver, and this because they cannot be tryed, Which being tryed after the aforesaid, and consequently the treasures lying therein being discovered, thou maist afterward with more confidence handle them, and reduce them to better profit. Now those colours which follow, indicate the tenure of them. Glass resembling the greenness of the Sea signifies meer Copper, but the greennesse of grass, signifies copper, and iron mixed together: glass of a rusty colour signifies iron: yellowish glass signifies tin: glass of a yellow golden colour, or like a red rubie signifies silver: Blew glass like a saphir signifies pure gold; a smaragdine [Page] signifies gold mixed with silver: An Amethyst colour signifies gold, silver, copper, and iron mixed together. Besides these, glass sometimes gets other colours, according to the diversity of the weight of divers metals mixed together; which use will teach with a further practise that is to be made with Saturn.

There is also another precursory tryal of minerals, and metals, which is made with Salt Petre; where especially tin, iron, and copper doe largely draw forth their treasures hid in them, which they will not yeeld being tryed by Lead, that which is not a sign of their poverty, but rather of not a true tryal made by Lead, which is not the true, and genuine judge, and trier of metals. For otherwise (if it were) it would draw forth their treasure as well out of a greater quantity of metallick matter, as out of a lesser. Now followes the tryal by Nitre: Make a mixture of one part of sulphur, of two parts of pure Tartar, and four parts of purified Nitre, then take an ounce of this mixture, and one dram of the mineral or metal ground small, mix those together, and being put into a crucible, put a red hot iron or burning coal to them, and that mixture will be enflamed, and yeeld a most vehement fire, reducing that mineral or metal into dross: And what is not brought into dross must again be mixed with the aforesaid mixture, and be burnt as before, until the whole be consumed by the fire. Then make that dross or salt containing in it the metal that is destroyed, to flow so long in a strong crucible, until it be made glass; which being powred out there are found graines of gold or silver, which came from the minerall or metal that was tryed. And this operation (if it be well done) will be a pleasant sight, but without profit, because it cannot be done in a great quantity, and by reason of the price of the Nitre. Where I set this way of tryal only for demonstration sake that it might appear how almost all tin, iron, and copper, contain in themgold and silver, althoug h they doe not draw it forth in the Cuple.

Now doe not suppose that this is transmutation, which is onely separation; wherefore thou must consider with thy [Page] self how that may be performed otherwise. But take heed that thou do not kindle this mixture from beneath, being put upon the coals, but from above by reason of the danger of flashing: Also metals are easily fusible by the following mixture. Take one part of the saw dust of the wood of the teil tree being well dryed, two parts of sulphur, eight or nine parts of pure Nitre. Make stratum supar stratum in a crucible, and take to 11, or 12 parts of this mixture, one part of the metal subtilly ground, and kindle them, and the mine being melted will yeeld grains of pure Gold, and Silver, if the mine were not too impure, the impurity thereof being consumed by that most vehement fire. And if this tryal be not for thy profit, yet it is rational, and may be for thine instruction.

Of the melting of mines and metals.

THe melting of these in a greater quantity is not for this place, because they cannot be done by this furnace, but it is treated of plainly enough by others in their writings of minerals.

Of the separation of metals.

THis is a most ancient and profitable Art, whereby one metal may be separated from another: And it is for the most part done 4 wayes, viz. by Aqua Fortis, by cement, by flux with sulphur, and lead, and lastly by Antimony, which wayes that most witty Lazarus Ercker, hath clearly, and distinctly described, whose description is not to be found fault with, although some necessary things may be added thereunto, which being but few I thought it superfluous to adde them in this place.

And that separation consists in three chief metals, Gold, Silver, and Copper: he made no mention of other metals, and two of the aforesaid four wayes are in use, as very [...]a [...]ie, for they are done with Aqua fortis and Cement, the two [Page] others most commonly neglected, which are done by benefit of melting with Sulphur and Lead; and also by Antimony: that which is admirable, because metals are easier separated by benefit of these two wayes then by Aqua fortis and Cements, suspected of wast, whereas not Sulphur and Antimony, but the ignorant worker, not knowing the nature of Sulphur and Antimony, is rather to be blamed, because he knows not how to order them, and withall leaves the-nearer way of separation: and I must needs confess it that without this furnace I would not separate with them, because with that common way of furnaces and bellows, that stink of Sulphur and Antimony hurtful to the Liver, Lungs, Brain, and Heart, is received by the Nosethrils to the hazard of health: for which cause I do not wonder that those two wayes requiring greater diligence than those two former by Aqua fortis and Cements are rejected. But this Furnace being known with which without danger one may melt, I doubt not of excelling the two former wayes hereafter as more profitable than them. For he who knowes Antimony may not onely easily with small cost separate Gold from the addition without any loss of it, and speedily refine it, but also easier separate gilt silver, than by Sulphur, Lead, &c. in great store without any loss of Gold or Silver.

And this is the easiest way of the separation of Gold and Silver which is done by the benefit of melting, requiring no more charge then the coals; for there is Antimony which hath Gold in it as much as it is worth, which will be the Separatours gaine: I would have you know this how Antimony may again be separated from Gold and Silver, not by the common way which is done by bellows, but by the speciall way of separation wherewith Antimony is preserved, so that it may be used again for the same purpose; which I will treat of in another place. Besides the four wayes spoken of, there is also another way, best of all, by the nitrous spirit of salt, namely after this manner: ℞ the spirit of salt (prepared by our first and second Furnace) exasperated with Nitre dissolved in it, to which adde grain. Gold mixed with Silver [Page] and Copper; put it in a glass vial in hot sand to dissolve, and the Gold together with the Copper will be dissolved in it, and the Silver left in the bottom of the vial: decant off the solution, to which adde something, precipitating Gold, and make them boil together and the pure fine Gold will be separated and precipitated like the finest meal, serving writers and Painters; the Copper being left in the water; which thou mayst if thou wilt precipitate from the water, but it is better to take away the water, which will serve again for the same use. If the precipitated Gold be washed and dryed it gives in the melting (by which nothing is lost) the best and purest Gold. For finer gold can neither be made by Aqua fortis nor by Antimony.

Therefore this is the best way of all, not onely for the small cost, but also for the easiness yeelding the best Gold of all others.

Then take calcin'd Silver left in the gourd, sweeten and dry it, which done make a little salt of Tartar to melt in a crucible, to which by course put a little refined silver with a spoon, and it will be presently made a body without any loss. You may also boil that Calx as yet moist newly taken out of the gourd with the Ley of Salt of Tartar, even to the evaporation of all moisture: and melt the dry remnant, wherealso nothing is lost. Without this medium of Silver the calcination (drawn from Aqua Regia) is not fusible of it selfe, turning into brittle matter, like horn that is white or of a middle colour between white and yellow, called therefore of Chymists the Horn of the Moon; in reducing which many have tried much, which reduction we have already taught. For want of spirit of salt take Aqua Regia made of Aqua Fortis and salt Armoniack, which doth the same, but with greater charges. This also is to be preferred before other wayes, which makes to the separation of any Gold of any degree, if so be it exceed Silver in weight; which is necessarily required in the solution made with Aqua Fortis.

But that you may see the prerogative of this separation, marke a little when thou separatest by Quarta & Aqua fortis, [Page] you must put just two or three parts of refined Silver to one of course Gold, where first the cost and labour of refining the Silver to be melted and grained with Gold are required: then a good quantity of Aqua fortis to dissolve, precipitate, edulcorate, dry and melt a great deal of silver. Consider then I pray my labours and charges of my separation and the vulgar. When thou separatest with Cements there is need of boxes, and continuall fire of one degree, which labour is tedious for times sake, and costly for coals, which labor you must twice or thrice take in regard of the mixt dross. Now again consider the labour and charges of both separations. When thou separatest by Sulphur and Antimony which is the best way, without great charges, if thou knowest to separate Gold from Antimony without blowing, but this is tedious for thrice greater labours then our way, tedious indeed for hard and perfect separation of Gold and Silver from Antimoniall dross. Think therefore what way of separation you will use to refine Gold speedily, surely you will chuse mine.

This Prerogative also hath this way of separation, that it hath no need of refined silver which is done by the benefit of burning, but only it's granulation, solution or separation by the use of Aqua Fortis, where though copper mixt with silver makes wast, yet by the help of this salt it is soon precipitated. By this means gilt silver is soon separated, the gold being dissolved by a nitrous spirit, and precipitated with the aforesaid matter precipitating, it's for the separation of gilt silver done by help of fusion, none is easier done then what is with Sulphur and Antimony, where when the necessary manual (ingredients) are known; a great deal is separated in short time, but knowing not to use Antimony and Sulphur (for which our Furnace very well befits) leave them and use the common way; therefore lay not thy fault afterward on me writing for thy good.

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Of separating courser metals.

THe manner of separating Tin from Lead and Copper from Iron, whithout loss of both metals, by preserving both; which seemes impossible to me for the combustibility of both metals; and superfluous for the small profit and saving charges. How Gold and Silver may be separated from Tin with which commonly this abounds, without any wast, hath been long sought to no purpose: but a possibility will appeare to a serious considerer; and though I never tryed in great quantity, content with precipitation made with a little; I am yet perswaded this business will succeed in a great quantity and with much profit; namely by the help of a Furnace made on purpose where gold and silver precipitated with lead and Halb Kopf by extream heat of fire; that tin is extracted to the quantity of the tenth part, which remainder you must peculiarly take and keep. Which done you must precipitate new tin in the foresaid Furnace, and so extract to the remainder of the Regulus which extract again: the first receiv'd is to be added and reserved; which labor is to be reiterated, till thou hast a sufficient quantity of Regulus filling the Furnace; which again thou must precipitate; for by this means gold and silver are brought together, so that they may easily afterward be separated from the superfluous tin. By this means I count the separation profitable, where but little substance is lost, which is turned into ashes and smoke. Nor doth adding lead and Halb Kopf hinder, because sometime lead is mixt with tin, and Halb Kopf separated againe. It is good therefore to separate pots and old dishes, for the mixture of lead, and to precipitate gold and silver from them, by the adjection of Halb Kopf only, where the residue is no way altered from Halb Kopf, therefore thou mayst self it or refine it again: which I suppose will be to thy great advantage.

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What is to be held concerning the perfection of Metals.

THis knot is scarse soluble, for so many and divers opinions of so many ages, so that most men sleighting the testimonies of true Philosophers, will not beleive the truth, especially because scarse one of an hundred can be found who is not impoverish't with this art: the incredulous therefore is not to be blamed for his doubting, no signs of truthappearing, yet experience testifies a possibility by art and nature, though examples are rare. I pray with how great absurdity should one deny heaven and hell never seen? But thou sayest we must beleeve this as revealed by God his Prophets and Apostles; but so is not this, but the Philosophick traditions of heathens. I answer, though most Philosophers were heathen (yet some have been Christians) yet their works are not to be despised, because not handling our salvation: to whom if Christ had preached, surely they had beleived him. For it appears by their Books that they were pious and honestmen, who though not professours of Christ, yet they did his will indeed, which we though not in words, in action deny; who if they had been wicked, why took they such paines in making bookes for the good and profit of their neighbour about vertue and piety? Why spent they not rather their life time in leisure and pleasure, as is the custome now adayes with them who are appointed to instruct us? Why should they gul posterity with trifles and lyes, expecting from thence no profit? for most of them were not poore, but very rich Kings and Princes. Besides these there have been many Christians seriously confirming the truth of the Art, men indeed of speciall note, namely Bishops, Doctors, &c. Such were Thomas Aquinas, Albertus Magnus, Lullius, Arnoldus, Koger Bacon, Basill, &c. Why should very pious men deceive posterity with their workes, and reduce them into errors? Though there remain not the works of famous Worthies, yet there would be a plain confirming the truth of this Art. For I am perswaded there are some to be found having this knowledge and privately possessing [Page] it. For who is so madd to reveal himself to the world, to receive nought but envy for his reward? Let no man therefore doubt of this secret Art's truth. But say you: Why stand you so much for the Art? Did you ever see or perform any thing in it? I reply, though I never made projections to perfect metals, nor saw transmutations; yet I am sure of this, I have often from metals with metals, leaving no gold and silver in the cupel, extracted gold and silver by the help of fire: But I will not have you think that one imperfect metal will perfect another, or turn it into gold or silver, impure and drossie without, in comparison of gold and silver; for how can such metals perfect another imperfect? which thus understand. For as in the vegetable kingdom water cleanseth water, or juice with seething as is wont to be done in purifying honey and sugar, or any other vegetable juice, with common water and white egges: so also you must understand of mineral juices or metal, of which if we know the water and white, surely we might refine the impurity, in which gold and silver lye hid, as in black shales, and powerfully extract gold and silver, which is not a transmutation of metals, but an eduction of gold and silver from the dunghil; Dost thou ask how gold and silver can be educed from copper, iron, tin, and lead, to wit, by the help of lotion, out of which none is drawn with that best probe, (as 'tis thought) of Cupels? to which we answered before of the probe of cupels not to be sufficient for all severall metals. I need therefore say no more, but I refer the studious Reader to Paracelsus his booke the Vexation of Chymists, where thou shalt finde another lotion and purification of metals which heretofore was unknown to Miners and dealers in minerals. As for example: A Miner finding the oar of copper, useth his skill delivered by the ancients to his utmost endeavour, whereby he may cleanse it and reduce it to metal: where first he breaks it into pieces, and boils it, for to take away the superfluous sulphur, then by vertue of melting he brings it into a stone (so called) which afterward again he commits to fire, and freeth it by the addition of lead, of its gold and silver; which done he blacks and reddens it, [Page] turning it into copper, which is his last labour, whereby the copper is made malleable and vendible: which done the Chymist coming tries another separation, by whose help gold and silver is extracted, as yet tryed of very few, of which mention is here made. Paracelsus also saith in the same place, that gold hath given some an easier way of separating gold and silver from courser metals, and indeed without refining the oar, which is a special and curious Art, which he teacheth not in plain tearms, but onely saith it is sufficiently taught in seven rules of that book, where he treats of the nature and propriety of metals; in which you may seek it. And this purification of courser metals I count most easie, which I have often tryed in small quantity: and I doubt not but God hath shewn other Artizens also other purifications, which imperfect metals are perfected; for example, if one would purge the fruit of the earth by distillation, so that the dregs and impurities being taken away, it would grow up with a new clear clarified body: as if one distil black and impure Amber by a retort, the separation would be made by fire, of the water savouring of the Empyreum of the oyl and volatile salt, and the Caput mortuum be left in the bottome of the retort; by which meanes, in a very short time without great labour, is made a great alteration and emendation of Amber, though the oyl be black▪ impure, and stinking: but if it be again distilled by the retort with some mundifying water, as with the spirit of salt (namely through a fresh clean glass retort) shall be made a new separation by that spirit ofi salt, and a far clearer oyle shall be extacted; the dregs with the stink left in the bottom of the retort, which afterward may be twice or thrice rectified againe with fresh spirit of salt, until it get the clearness of salt, and sweetness of sent resembling amber and musk.

And this transmutation makes of a hard thing a soft; unlike the former in shape, which though never so soft and liquid, oily, may again be coagulated, so that it become as it was at first, after this manner following. Take the said oyle very well clarified, adde to it new spirit of salt, [Page] yea salt enough for its own recoagulation, and againe it requires the hardness of amber, of an excellent clear and admirable colour; of which half an ounce is worth more than some pounds of black amber; of which scarse the eight or tenth part remains in purifying, all the soul superfluities cast away.

By this means I think one may cleanse and mend black metals, if so be the manner of their cleansing were known by distillation, sublimation and recoagulation. But thou say'st that metal cannot like vegetables be purified by force of distillation, to which I present our first furnace not given to peasants, but Chymists trying metals; so also the possibility of their perfection is shown by help of fermentation. For as fresh leaven may ferment the vegetable juices, which are perfected with fermentation, the dregs being cast away as one may see in wine, ale, and other liquors, whose lasting and perfection proceeds from no other thing but fermentation purifying the vegetable juices, without which they could not otherwise withstand the Elements, subject to corruption in a very short time, which fermented last some years: so also if we knew the proper ferment of metals, surely we might refine and perfect them, so that they would not be any more subject to rust, they would prevaile against fire and water, and be nourished and fed by them. For so the world heretofore perished with water, and shall at last perish with fire, and our bodies must rot and be purified with fire before we come to the sight of God. And thus far of the fermentation of metals, wherewith they are resisted and perfected. Metals also are pur'd and mended like milk set on the fire; whose cream the better part (the substance of butter) in the top is separated from whey and cheese, and according to the heat of the place the separation is speeded: even so it is with the separation of metals; where metals putinto a fitted hot place by themselves without any addition of another thing (for metals were before reduced to a milky substance o [...] curd) are separated in time, by parting the nobler parts from the ignobler, opening a great treasure: and as in winter time milk [Page] is hardly separated with a weak heat; just so metals if not not helped with fire, as one may see in iron, which in long time under the earth is turned into gold without Art. For often iron oar is found with golden veins very goodly to behold, severed from the course, earthy and crude sulphur, by force of the centers heat. And commonly in such oar no vitriol is found, separated and bettered by its contrary. But a long time is required for that subterraneous separation, which Art very speedily performes; as is wont to be done with milk in winter when wee presently make butter of it, when we put it to fire to part the cream speedily; which separation, precipitation made with acid things, mortifying the urinous salt of milk much helps; by which means all principles are separated by themselves, as butter, cheese, whey: so in a quarter of an houre separation is made by boiling, which else without acid things could not be done in some weeks. If then it be possible in vegetables and not animals, why not in minerals? For what but gold and silver is found in lead, iron, tin and copper, though they doe appear? Why is all goodness denyed to courser metals, granted to vegetables and animals not equal to them for lasting? Whence is the naturall perfection of lead, tin, iron, and copper to be proved? Nature ever seeks the perfection of her fruits; but course metals are imperfect; Why then is not nature helped with Art in perfecting them? But the bond of metallick parts is worth observation, which being broken, the parts are separated. Urinous salt (as I may say) is the bond of the parts making milk, as of butter, whey, and cheese, which is to be mortified by its contrary acid for separation. But in iron the parts are bound with vitriol salt, as with a bond, which is to be mortified with its contrary, urinous or nitrous salt for separation. He therefore who knoweth to take away the superfluous salt of iron, either by moist or dry means, doubtless shall have iron not soon subject to rust.

Fire also hath incredible force of it self in changing metals. Is not steel made iron by force of fire, and iron [Page] of steel by different proceeding? Experience dayly teacheth us also divers kinds of changes and refinings by fire; why is it not possible in metals by an expert Chymist having skill in them? Who would beleeve that a live bird lurkes in an egg, and an hearb having leaves, flowers, and sent, in the seed? Why may not then abortive metals, getting not yet perfection, be perfected by Art, with help of fire? Is not an unripe apple or pear ripened by the heat of the Sun? which some curious and industrious marking have imitated nature in their works; and have found some metals not destroyed with the heat of fire, but enriched with a secret gainfull heat, so that melted (digestion being made) they have yeelded double weight of gold and silver. Yea I my self have seene the common oar of lead digested after the aforesaid manner, which was not only inriched with silver thereby, but also partaked of gold which it wanted before in ordinary trial. Besides one might work this in great quantity, as wi th an hundred pounds; which work of minerals will without doubt bring great profit to the skilful triers of lead. But know this not every one by this tryal of lead to be furnished with gold, but the oar to be ever enriched with silver, experience being witness.

More such things are found in Nature incredible to the ignorant, & those that are unacquainted. But if we mortals were more diligent in reading the book written with the hand of God in the pages of the four Elements, surely we should find more secrets and wonders in them, but skill and wealth is got with sweat of face and not by sloth; therefore labour and pray. Metals are also by help of gradation equal to germination.

For it is well known, that the shoot or graffe of some fruitful garden-tree implanted in a wood, makes after that tree to bear not wild fruits, but very good and sweet like them of the implanted shoot, as one may see in iron dissolved in an acid spirit, fermented with Venus and turned into Copper: by which means doubtless copper is turned into Silver, and silver into gold, if by manner of fermentation, the true way were known.

[Page] Now this transmutation is like digestion, making beef or horse flesh of grass in the stomach of oxe and horse; and mans flesh of beef in the stomach of man.

The better parts also are separated from worser by the attractive strength of the like, as is to be seen in metal abounding with sulphur, to which if iron be added in fusion, the sulphur deserts its native metal (by which meanes it is more pured) and joins its self to iron, with which it hath more affinity and familiarity, then with its own. For example, if iron be added to lead oar ful of sulphur in the melting, this melted metal is made malleable, which else would be black and brittle. And if something else to be put to the melted malleable metal were known to us, to take away in the melting the redundant, crude combustible sulphur, questionless it would yet be made purer, which thing unknowne, metals remain in their impurity. And indeed God hath done well in this as in all other his works, that he hath concealed his knowltdge to us: for if it were known to the covetous, they would buy up all lead, tin▪ copper and iron, to turne into gold, so that rurall and poor Labourers could hardly buy metallick instruments for their use, for the scarcity; but God will not have all metals turned into Gold.

By a given similitude of taking away the superfluous sulphur of some metals in fusion, for to keep the purer parts; so likewise is given, of separating the purer parts from the impure, namely by the attractive power of the like, where the purer parts are drawn together by their like, the impurer and heterogeneous part is rejected: and that may be shown us well by a moist or dry way: an example of the moist way ensueth.

If quick Mercury be added to impure gold or silver dissolved in its proper menstruum, the mercury drawes with it invisible gold and silver from the Menstruum and mine with the refuse, and associates what is pu [...]est to it self which separation soon succeeds. Mercury performes the same likewise a dry way: namely when some earth having some gold and silver is moistened with acid water, and they are so long bruised [Page] together, till Mercury drawes the better part; which done you must wash the dead earth left, with common water, and separate Mercury dryed from the attracted gold and silver, by trajecting them through a skin. And Mercury drawes but one metal from the earth, and indeed the best for one time; which separated, it draws the second another metal; for example, if in some one earth, gold, silver, copper and iron lye hid, the first time mercury draws gold, the second silver, but copper and iron hardly for the dross, but tin and lead easily, but easiest of all gold for its purity like to Mercury.

Another Demonstration by a dry way.

PUt under a tile the cuple with lead, to which adde a grain of very pure gold, most exactly weighed (for memories [...]ake) make the gold in the cuple to fulminate, and lead will enter the cuple, the gold left pale in the cuple: of which pale color there is no other cause then the mixture of silver, drawn from the lead by gold. But thou sayest, that thou knowest this, that gold fulminated with lead, to be made paler and weightier, for silver in the lead, left with gold in the trial, augmenting the weight, and thence making it pale: to which I reply, though lead leave some silver in trying in the cuple, mixt with gold added to it, the weight of gold augmenting, and changing the colour; yet it is proved by weight, that lead leaves more mixt with gold in the cuple, then tryed without gold. Hence it is proved, that gold in fire draws its like from other metals, augmenting its waight: and this also gold doth in the moist way: for if it be dissolved in its own menstruum, together with copper, & put in digestion, it draws gold separated from copper which labor though not done with profit, yet witnesseth a possibility. But if the menstruum of gold augmenting the attracting power of gold or multiplying the same were known, but diminishing the retentive power of copper, doublesse some gain were to be expected; & indeed more, if gold and copper together be melted in fire with the drymineral menstruum: by which means the weight of gold would be increased according to Paracelsus saying: [Page] Metals mixt together in a strong fire, continued a pretty while, the imperfection to vanish, and leave perfection in its place.

Which surely well done is a work not wanting gain. For I freely confess, that I would sometime incorporate silver with iron, when as gold from iron gave me a good increase of pure gold, instead of fixt silver sought after. And by this means often some not thought on thing happens to Artists, as to my selfe with fixt silver, uot rightly considering the business. Therefore medling with metals be sure when you finde some increase, to weigh well what it was at first. For many think, long trying silver with iron, by the Bloud-stone, Loadstone, Emraud, lapis calaminaris, red talc, granats, antimony, arsenic, sulphur, flints, &c. having mature and crude, volatil fixt gold in them, finding in the trying good gold; that this gold is made of silver by help and use of the foresaid minerals; it is false. For silver drew that gold out of those minerals, in which before it lurked volatile. Yet I deny not the possibility of changing silver, as being inwardly very like gold, but not by help of cementation with the said minerals, because that gold proceeds not from silver but those minerals, attracted by silver. This labour is compared to seed cast into good ground, where dying by its owne power it draws the like to it selfe, when it is multiplyed an hundred fold.

And it behoveth in this work now and then to wet the metallick earth, with their proper metallick waters, dryed with heat (which operation is called of the Philosophers inseration) else the earth will be barren, and it behoveth that this water be neer in kind to earth, so that when they are united they yeeld a certain fatness. For as it appears from sandy, dry earth moistened with rain water, not bringing forth fruit agreeable to its seed, for the small heat also of the Sun consuming the moisture, and burning the seed in the earth, which mixt with cows dung or other, keeps the water so as that it cannot be soon consumed. By the same reason it is necessary that thy earth and water be mixt, lest thy seed be burnt up. Which work if well handled, it wil not be in vain, requiring [Page] exceeding diligence of nourishing the earth with warmth and moisture when the earth is drown'd with too much moisture, and with too little it cannot increase, and this is one of the best labours, with which I draw forth good gold and silver of baser metals, requiring the best vessels, retaining seed together with their earth, and water in its proper heat. I doubt not but this work also in a greater quantity, may be performed, firmly beleiving that the courser metals especially lead, the fittest of all not only to be perfected into gold and silver, but also into good medicine: which without question is the Philosophers labour granted from God, [...]s a great comfort to the Chymist, but warily to be used. For that all and singular Gods gifts he will not have common; as indeed I have found to be an inventer of a very excellent work, that I shewing it to a friend, neither could I afterwards teach it to him, nor doe it again for my self. Therefore and indeed justly men are doubtfull in writing matters: for many seek not at pleasure to detract the inventions of others performed with great costs and labour. Therefore it is safer to be silent and to give leave to seek, then to publish, secrets, that they may undergoe the paines and charges to be born in inventing high matters; nor any more hereafter may the ingrateful so impudently gape after others Labours. Therefore I would entreat all men both of high and low degree that they would not molest and tire me hereafter with their petitions and Epistles, and that they would not turn my good will of benefiting others to the ruine of my selfe, contented with my writings published with the profit of my neighbour. Nor doe you think that I possess and promise golden mountaines. For what I have written I have writ to discover nature, in these discourses of the perfection of course metals in small quantity, For I never made triall in a great quantity, trying truth and possibility in a lesser only, in small crucibles: therefore those things which I have writ are written to that end that the possibility of the Art may appear, of perfect metals to be wrought out of imperfect, therefore hee who hath occasion may make triall in a greater quantity: but a [...] [Page] for my part wanting opportunity, I expect Gods blessing, whereby upon occasion I may make tryall in a greater quantity, and so receive the fruit of my labour and great charges.

Also metallick bodies are transmuted by another means, namely by that benefit of a tinging metallick spirit, as one may see in aurum fulminans, sometimes kindled upon a smooth clean metallick plate, fixing a very deep gold tincture upon the plate, so that it may bear the touch▪stone. The same also happens in a moist way, where plated metals put on a gradatory spirit made of nitreand certain minerals, pierc't by the spirit obtain another kinde agreeing to the spirit. But if one doubt of the metallick gradation, made with aurum fulminans, he shall try the certainty from the often fireing of fresh aurum fulminans, upon the same plate, for he shall see that it is not the colour of the metal, and outwardly gilded but deeply tinged. Likewise one may try the certainty by a humid spirit, if transformed metals are tryed, whence the mutual action and passion of subtilized spirits plainly appeares, for the power of spirits is very great, and incredible to one not exercised: and this gradation of inferiour metals Philosophers both ancient and modern, doe not onely confirm, but also diggers of minerals taught by experience, that mineral vapours by penetration change courser and to purer metals. Lazarus Ercker being witness, that Iron is changed into a good natural copper in green salt waters, and that he saw a pit, in which iron nailes and other things cast in, by the penetration of a cupreous spirit were turned into a good copper. I do not deny that metallick dissolutions of some metals do stick precipitated to the plates and to make them of a golden, silver, o [...] cupreous colour; for it is wel known, that iron cast into a vitriol water not to be turned into copper, but to draw copper out of the water, of which thing we treat not here, confirming the possibility of metallick transmutations by a tinging and piercing spirit; therefore I againe maintain that great power is in metallick spirits; look only upon course and o [...]ke earth, and besides that clear and limpid water with which [Page] the clearer and more powerfull air proceeding from the water cometh from the earth. Are not whole countries drowned with water sometimes, Towns and Cities taken away? cannot the aire destroy the strongest houses; especially shut up in the earth shake the land for some miles; and after ward demolish whole cities and mountaines with the death of men? all which things are done naturally. Wind artificially raised by Nitre threatens a far greater danger, which no man can deny. Although that corporeal Elements exercise so great power, yet they cannot pierce metals without hurt, nor stones and glass, and things soon penetrated by fire. Therefore not by an occult but a manifest power of Sun and fire, which it hath over metals, stones and glass, which are easily pierc't by them without any impediment: and why should not metals compact of a certain metallick subtile and piercing spirit be penetrated by help of fire, and changed into another species? As is already spoken of Aurum fulminans and aqua gradatoria. Therefore there is no doubt of the possibility of the metallick tingent spirit changing courser metals into finer both by a dry and moist way; For metals may be purified the same way that Tartar and Vitriol and other salts, namely by the benefit of much water. For it is manifest that vitriol is purged with iron and copper mixt with it, namely dissolved and coagulated in much water, so that it waxe as white as allum; which purification is but a separation of metal from salt, made by benefit of much water debilitating salt, so that it cannot longer return mixt metal, which is precipitated like some slime, not unprofitable, because the chiefest part of vitriol, from which is the greennesse, viz, Copper, Iron, and Sulphur. And as by help of separation metals are drawn from vitriol, more perfect then salts; so also to be taken from metals with the perfecter and better part is separated by help of precipitation: as for Tartar it is purified by the addition of water, but its better part is not precipitated as in vitriol, but the courser part by reason of blackness and faeculency. As for example: Tartar by the often solution of the vulgar (made with a sufficient quantity of water) and coagulation [Page] made very pure and white, because in every solution made with fresh clear water, it alwayes becomes purer, and not only by this means white Tartar, but also red and feculent, is reduced into transparent crystals, and indeed very speedily by vertue of a certain precipitation; whose limosity, for obscuration sake of the salt of crystalline Tartar, is nothing else but an unsavory thing, dead and useless, mixt with Tartar in its coagulation in Hogs-heads of wine, and separated again by power of solution.

And these are the examples of the two salts of Vitriol and Tartar, not in vain set down, because they shew the difference in precipitation: for in some metals by force of precipitation the courser part is separated; but in other the better and choicer according to the prevalency of this or that part.

In vitriol, the better part (copper and iron) is the least, which is precipitated and separated from the courser and greater part, viz. salt. But in Tartar the courser and less part is precipitated and separated from the greater and better part clarified: the like is in metals. Therefore let every one be wary in separating, and consider before, whether the better or courser part of metal is to be precipitated, without which knowledge no man can meddle with this business, let also the workman be ware who expects any profit from his labour of corrosive waters, as Aqua fortis, Aqua Regia, spirit of salt, vitriol, allome, vineger, &c. in the solution from which no good proceeds, as utterly destroying and corrupting all and each of them; proving the same in these words, From Metals, by Metals and with Metals metals are made perfect, metals are also purified, matured and separated from their vitiosioties by Nitre burning up the superfluous sulphur.

And all the aforesaid perfections of metals are but particular. For every particular medicine, as well humane, as metallick, purgeth, separateth and perfecteth or amendeth by the taking away the superfluity. For universal medicine worketh its perfections and emendations, by strengthening and multiplying the radicall moisture as well of animals as metals, expelling [Page] then by its own natural vertue his enemy. But thou sayst excellent examples indeed are delivered by me, but not the manner of doing them. R. I have delivered more then you think, although you don't perceive it: for I am sure after my death that my books will be in greater esteem, from which i [...] will appear that I have not sought vain glory, but the profit of my neighbour to the utmost of my power. But doe not seeing my freeness of writing think that you may wrest ma ny things from me. For assure your self that although I have written many things for the publick good, yet I intend not by this means to trouble my self. For I cannot satisfie the desires of all men, nor answer their Epistles, nor inrich all men, who neither am rich my self nor have sought riches. For although I have gotten the knowledge of these things by Gods blessing, and have tryed the truth of it in small quantity, yet have I never made experience in great store for wealth sake, contented with Gods blessing. Therefore I would advice all illuminated by God, that they fall not into this sinne of ingratitude; but that they be mindful of the poore, as in thankfulness to God, as hoping to escape eternal damnation. Nor let the envy of the malitious move thee famous for knowledg e by divine favour, for the covetous and ambitious wish well to none but to themselves; who o ught to consider, that as they brought nothing with them, so also they shall carry away nothing. Be thou onely a good husband in the gift from God intrusted to thee, and do thou justice undauntedly.

And let this suffice of the several purifications of metals according to my experience, as for that universal medicine so famous, I cannot judge of it being a thing unknown to me; but the possibility thereof I am forc't to affirm, moved with the several transmutations of metals; which unknown it behoves us to be contented with that favour which God hath bestowed on us. For oftentimes questionless it is better to know little, for Eternal Salvations sake; for most commonly wealth and learning puffe up. And pride brings to the Devil the author of it, from whence God of his mercy preserve us.

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Of the Philosophers Stone.

THe Universal Medicine is beleived from many ages, by many very famous men, Jews, Ethnicks, and Christians, to bring men and metals to the highest degree of perfection, and the possibility thereof by Art; nor is only beleived, but also proved by many sure reasons, for which thing numberlesse writings of divers tongues are true and false: there is no need to adde any thing of my self; altogether ignorant of this thing: although I have some times heard, how many times in divers places pure fine gold is made of courser metals, especially of lead, prepared by some medicine artificially: yet I have left this kinde of discourse in its worth, never yet resolved to undertake such a business, scared with the example of other men as well of high as low degree, learned and unlearned loosing their labour and charges in this Art; but I am rather perswaded that such a wondeful universal medicine cannot be found in the world. And though I have often seen wonders in my labours giving occasion, yet I never durst try wanting the opportunities of time and place; until at length a belief of the possibility comes into my hands, seeking something else of no great moment. For I have undergone much charge and labour for many years to extract the tincture of salt of gold, for a medicine made therewith, which at length I have obtained, where I have observed the remainder of the gold, the soul or better part being extracted to be no more gold, nor longer to endure fire. Whence I conjectured, that such like extraction being fixt again, can perfect courser metals and turn them to gold: But I could not hitherto try the truth of my conceived opinion living at this time in a forraign place; therefore against my will, although greedy of novelty, I have been forc't to abstain from the work. In the mean time considering the opinions of Philosophers concerning their gold, not the vulgar, asserting the universall medicine to be prepared therewith. I have again affused some Philosophical Vineger to the Copper [Page] for to extract the tincture, where almost all Copper like whitish earth is separated from the tincture in digestion, which earth by no Art I could againe reduce into a metallick body.

Which experiment again confirmed me of the possibility of this Medicine. Which labour though I never followed, yet I doub t not but it is humane medicine, thought not also metallick, attainable thence by a diligent workman. The soul therefore with all the metallick attributes, consisting in so small a quantity, which is scarse the hundredth part of the weight, which extracted and separated the remaining body is no more metal but a useless and dead earth; not to be doubted but fixt againe may reassume and perfect another metallick body. Therefore I am confident perswaded with the aforesaid reasons, that such a medicine is to be made of mineral and metallick things, viz. in the flowing, changing baser metals into better. But doe not think that I writing these things make gold or copper the matter of this medicine; which I doe not hold, well knowing that there are other subjects easily to be handled, abounding with tinctures.

Which medicine though rare and hardly can be obtained, yet Art and Nature are not to be blamed therefore, but w [...] rather slothful, covetous, proud and impious: for no wicked man is worthy this Art, or a despiser of God and his Word, and an ambitious hater of his neighbour. Thou'lt say this is a work of Nature and Art, not therefore to be attributed to our life, heretofore given to Ethnicks, not to be compared to us for piety, as not having the true knowledge of God. Therefore my life (though wicked) cannot hinder me: because this Art consists in the knowledge of naturall things. I answer, O pretty fellow! thou art quite mistaken; dost thou think that the Ethnick Philosophers did not know the true God? They had greater knowledge of God then thou; to whom although Christ was not preacht, yet they knew from Nature; and according to the rule of this knowledge they led their lives, obtaining this profit [Page] from God, that they put it not to ill use but to the profit of their neighbour. But thou then perswad [...]st thy self to excel thy neighbour in learning, whose mote thou seest, knowing not the beam in thine eye, spending thy life in covetousness, pride, envy, hatred and other sinful pleasures, dost thou so think thy self hid from the sight of God that he cannot hinder thy endeavours? Truly so great a gift is not given of God to covetous and proud false Christians. Therefore every one must specially examine himselfe undertaking this work, whether he come with washt or polluted hands. For it is very certain and true, that never a wicked man though running shall obtain this profit, which is of God alone, not of man.

So thou hast heard now my opinion of the Universall Medicine, which my experience in Gold, Copper, and other Minerals, and▪metals hath caused: which I will not preach for Gospel, because it is humane to erre.

Therefore no certainty is to be had, before its final and compleat perfection, and indeed once or twice tryed for certainties sake. For it is not lawful to try often an excellent way once found out, which happens doubtless as well to others as to me. Therefore we must not triumph before the victory for unthought on impediments frustrating hope; but God is rather to be implored in our labours, that he would be pleased to bless our endeavours, that we may use well his gifts in this life as good stewards and afterward bestow the free reward of our labours, watchings and cares on us sinners, namely everlasting rest and salvation out of his meer mercy.

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Whether minerals, As Antimony, Arsenic, Orpin, Cobolt, Zinck▪ Sulphur, &c. may be transmuted into metals, and into what?

IT is long since debated among Chymists, whether the aforesaid minerals proceed from the same principles with metals, and whether to be counted metals; in which controversie they have not agreed to this day, when as one approves this which another denyes, so that a student of Chymistry knows not to what side he had best assent.

But this knowledge not a little concerning the purifying of metals I would put my opinion also grounded upon experience, for the satisfying the doubtful, the simplicity of them is strange who hold not one and the same beginning to be of minerals and metals, but if metals might be made by nature, surely it had long since been done; but it never was, experience witnessing, for permanent minerals are never transplanted into metals. I Answer, metals grow one way, also vegetables another, soon budding and again soon dying; but it is not so with metals, for all lasting things have long time of digestion; according to the saying, That which is soon made doth soon fade, this is to be understood not only of vegetables and minerals, but also of animals, as appears from that budding of some vegetables, coming in six moneths space to their perfection and then again iron perishing: when as things requiring longer time of digestion and perfection are much more lasting. A Mushroom in the space of one or two nights grows out of rotten wood, again soon vanishing: not so the Oke. Oxen, and horses in the space of two or three yeer come to perfection, scarce living the twentieth or the twenty fourth yeer: but a man requiring twenty four yeers to his perfection, lives sixty, eighty, or a hundred yeers. So also we must conceive of lasting metals requiring many ages, and also very long times of digestions and perfections; metals therefore requiring very long times of digestions to their perfection, it is granted to no man ever to see the beginning, and end of them, the transplantation of minerals into metalsby nature [Page] cannot be divided; especially because that in the oares of metals, especially of course ones, minerals are also found; wherefore diggers of minerals, when they finde them, conceive good hopes of finding metals, of which they are termed the Coverlids, for seldome metals are found without minerals, or minerals without metals; nor also are ever minerals found wanting gold or silver; therefore minerals are properly termed Embryon metals, because by art and fire a good part of gold and silver is drawn out of them by fusion; which if they do not proceed from the metallick root, whence proceeds that gold and silver? for an Oxe is not born of an infant, nor man of a Calf; for alwayes like is produced of its like.

Therefore minerals are counted but unripe fruits in respect of metals, not yet obtaining their ripeness and perfection, nor separated from the superfluous earth; for how should a bird be hatcht of an egg by heat, not predestined for the generation of the bird? for so we must understand of minerals, which if they be deprived of their metallick nature, how should by fire metals be produced from thence? But thou saist that thou never sawest the production of perfect metals out of courser, therefore that it is neither likely, nor credible to thee to whom many things as yet lie hid from most men, perversly and foolishly denying things unknown: for daily experience witnesseth, that the viler minerals and metals by taking away the superfluous sulphur (however it be done) to obtaine a greater degree of perfection, therefore should not thy heart believe, and thy tongue speak what thou seest with thine eyes? for experience shews that good gold and silver might be drawn out by art almost out of all course minerals and metals, yet more out of some then of others and speedier; for there is not that dark night, that is altogether deprived of light, which may not not be manifested by a hollow glass; nor is there an element (though never so pure) not mixt with other elements, nor any malignity deprived of all good, or on the contrary. And as it is possible to gather the hidden beams of the Sun in the aire, so also hidden perfect metals [Page] dispersed in imperfect, and minerals by fire, and an expert Artist; if once they are placed in fire with their proper solvents where the homogeneous parts are gathered, and the heterogeneous separated, so that there is no need to go into the Indies to seek gold and silver in those new Islands which is possible to finde plentifully here in Germany, if so be the merciful God would please to turn away those present cruel plagues, and bring them out of old metals, viz. Lead, Iron, Tin and Copper, there left by the dealers in minerals; indeed without the husbanding of metals. Let no man therefore judge himself to be poor, because he is only poor and in want (although otherwise very rich and abounding in wealth, which yet in a moment he is forc't to forsake) that being ungrateful, neither knoweth nor acknowledgeth God in his works.

What I pray is in less esteem in the world then old Iron and Lead? which are acceptable to the wise to use in the Lotion of Copper and Tin with the mineral white. But how they are to be washed, is a difficulty to the unexercised in the fire, and shall be delivered by similitudes: You see Antimony fresh digged out of the earth very black and impure; which by fusion separated from its superfluity (which though nature gave to it not in vain, but as a help to its purification, according to that: God and Nature do nothing in vaine) is made more pure and endowed with a body nearer to metals then its mineral, which if afterwards cast with salt of Tartar, the crude and combustible sulphur is mortified thereby, and is turned into dross separated from the pure mercurial part, so that hereby is made a new and fresh separation of the parts, of which one portion white and brittle sinks to the bottome, the other lighter, to wit, the combustible sulphur is on the top with salt of Tartar; which powred out into a Cone, when they are cold, may be separated with a hammer; the inferior part of which is called by the Chymists Regulus, which is purer then Antimony cast the first time out of its mineral, and this is the usual purging of Antimony used by Chymists, to which (Regulus) if afterward any thing should be added, for a third purification, without doubt it would not only be made purer [Page] but more fixt and malleable. For if white Regulus be preparable out of black Antimony, why not as well malleable metal out of the Regulus?

Another away of separating the superfluous Antimonial sulphur.

℞ ANtimony powdred one part, salt petre half as much, mingle them, and kindle the mixture with a live coal, and let that Antimonial sulphur with the nitre be burnt up, the darkish mass being left, to wit, of a brown colour, which melted for the space of an hour in a strong fire yeilds an Antimony like to that which is made with salt of Tartar, but somewhat less in quantity, like to these the parts of animals are separated, viz. if Antimony, nitre and crude Tartar be mingled in an equal weight, and they being mixt are kindled and melted. There is also another separation of Antimonial parts; when of smal bits of Iron one part is put into a strong crucible, in a winde furnace, to which being red hot, cast two parts of ground Antimony, for fusion, and the superfluous combustible sulphur will forsake the Antimony, and joyn to the iron a metal more amicable to it then sulphureous; mixt with which forsaketh its own proper pure Mercury and sulphur or Regulus, which is almost the half part of the Antimony.

And these four wayes, by which the superfluous combustible sulphur of Antimony is separated are most common, not set down as secrets, but for demonstrations sake, that it may appeare how sulphureous minerals are to be perfected and purified, which are little amended, yet shewing a better way not only for Antimony; but also for Arsenick and Orpin, although these two cannot be so done with iron, nitre and tartar by reason of theit volatility, but with oyle or other fat things in close crucibles, giving a Regulus like to the Antimonial, And these Reguli make tin hard, to sound and be compact, if to one pound one ounce be added in fusion, for making good houshold stuffe. And in tryal they give good Gold.

[Page] And as it is said of purging Antimony, so also it is to be understood of the [...]est, as Wismuth, Zinck, lapis calaminaris, lead, tin, iron and copper to be purged from their superfluous sulphur, if thou wilt draw more perfect metals, viz. gold and silver out of them with gaine. And so I make an end of metallick lotions, recommending to Chymists, nitre, tartar, flints, and lead; for who knoweth to use them, shall not lose his labor in Chymistry; but tis to be lamented, that every where good earth and fixt in the fire is not to be gotten, retaining lead and salts; for without our old lead little or nothing can be done in the refining metals; therefore who goes to try any thing in this art, let him seek the best earth retaining lead twenty four hours space; afterward let him consult with tin, what Vulcan has to be done with iron; who will tell him what he must suffer, before he obtain the Crown.

Of the tincture of Sol and Antimony.

SOmetimes another alteration happens to mans body from the attraction of mineral vapors (which cannot be done by my furnace) in the tryal, therefore here I will set down a certain medicine for the workmans sake, as well for preserving as curing, namely a cleer rubin fixt and soluble of gold and Antimony. Take of pure gold half an ounce, dissolve it in Aqua Regia, precipitate the solution with liquor of flints, as before said in the second part, edulcorate and dry the calx, and it wil be prepared, take Regulus Martis (of which is spoken a little before) beaten fine, to which mixe three parts of the purest nitre: place the mixture in the crucible between burning coales, putting to fire by degrees: which done make a stronger, viz. for fusion, for then the mass will be made purple; which taken forth and cooled bake very smal, of which take three or four parts and mixe with one part of the aforesaid golden calx; place it mixed in a strong crucible covered over in the aforesaid winde furnace, and make the mass to flow together like metal, and it will assume that Antimonial nitre in the fusion, and it will dissolve gold or the [Page] calx of gold, and a mass of an Amethyst colour will be made therewith; which so long leaveth the fire, till it get the cleerness of a Rubie, which one may try with a clean wier of iron bowed and put therein, although in the mean time the mass deprived of fusibility is thickened, it is meet to add some nitre or tartar, for speeding fusion, and that as often as shall be needful. Lastly pour the mass when it shall come to the utmost redness of a rubie, hot into a clean copper morter, which there leave until it coole, and it will be in colour very like to an Oriential Rubie; then bruise it hot into powder, also taking aire it would melt, and extract the tincture by the fusion of the spirit of wine in a vial; and the gold together with the Antimony will remaine very white like the finest talc, to be washed with cleer water, in a glass edulcorated and dryed, which melted with a stronger fire, gives a green glass, in which no gold appears, yet separable by way of precipitation with the filings of iron and copper, from which it recovers its ancient colour, but without profit by reason of the wast, the tinged spirit is to be taken away from the tincture, which is a very soveraigne medicine in many grievous diseases.

Although thou maist suspect this not to be the simple tincture of Sol, but of nitre and tartar mixt, be sure that the quantity of nitre added not to exceed; & suppose that tincture of Tartar and nitre, I pray what waste is there? since that is so good a medicine by it self, and I am perswaded, this tincture of Sol to be better then those set down in the second part. That Ruby may be so used by it self with the proper vehicles, seeing it is a soveraigne medicine of it self; or else exposed to the aire and resolved to a liquor, for the medicine is not less then its tincture because gold in it self and the purer part of Antimony are made potable without corrosives. Wonderful is the power of salts in metals to be destroyed, perfected and changed by fusion: for it happened to me one time making this Ruby, placing two other crucibles also with metals, by this containing gold with the prepared Regulus of Antimony (for easily two or three, or more crucibles may be placed in this furnace, to be ruled with one fire which cannot be done [Page] in a common furnace by that means) about to put in a certain salt in the crucible next to the crucible of gold, that by a mistake I cast it into the crucible with gold onely, whence so great a conflict arose, that there was danger of boyling over; therefore forced to remove it out of the furnace presently with tongs and to effuse it, supposing that the Ruby was lost by my rash putting in of salt, therefore I would only keep the gold. And I found the effused mass red like blood, purer then a ruby but no gold, but white graines like lead dispersed here and there in the salts, separable for the smalness, not by the solution of salts which separated by the solution of water with red tincture like blood, remained in the bottome of the glass, which afterward for fusions sake together I placed in a new crucible in that furnace, but willing to try the fusion I found the crucible empty, and all the gold vanished, a little excepted sticking on the top to the crucible and the cover, which I took away and melted for experience sake in a new close crucible, but all of it presently feeling heat flew away, no signe being left in the crucible like Arsenick; And so I was deprived of my gold.

At length I took the red solution and took the water from the salts, and I found the red salt like blood, which I put in a clear crucible in the furnace for to try whether any metallick body might thence be extracted; but I found the effused salt deprived of all tincture and redness: which seems strange to me even to this day, that by help of this salt the whole substance of gold, viz. the tincture together with the remainder flew away, having so great volatility.

Which labor afterward I would reiterate, but it happened not so at all as at the first time; there was indeed some alteration of gold made, but its volatilization was not so great, the cause of which thing, I think was the ignorance of the weight of the aforesaid salt, cast in at the first time against my will.

And two reasons chiefly moved me to insert this history, first that it may appear how soon one may mistake in a smal thing frustrating the whole process. Secondly, that the truth of [Page] Philosophers may appear writing that gold by art is reducible into a lower degree, equal to lead (which happened to me in this work) and that it is harder to destroy gold and make it like to an imperfect metal, then to transmute imperfect metal to gold; therefore I am glad in my heart that I saw such experiment; of which thing our phantastick Philosophers will hear nothing, writing whole volumes against truth, stifly affirming, gold to be incorruptible, which is an arrant lye; for I can shew the contrary (if need be) many wayes. I wonder indeed what moves such men to slight a thing unknown, I do not use to judge things unknown to me.

How dare they deny the transmutation of metals, knowing not to use coales and tongs? truly I confess those rude and circumforaneous Mountebanks, not a little to defile and disgrace true Chymistry, every where surprizing men by their fraude, needy and opprest with penury unless peradventure they finde some credulous rich man giving them food and raiment for the conceived hope of gain and skil, of which also some covetous men furnisht with gold, go clad like painted Parrots, whom I judge to be hated worse then a dogg or a snake; but harmless Chymistry is not therefore to be despised. Some covetous men besotted with folly and madness, laying out their moneys with an uncertain hope of gain, who afterward the thing ill succeeding, are forced to live in poverty, whose case is not to be pityed laying out of covetousness, some seek wealth not out of covetousness, but rather that they may have wherewith to live, and may search nature, which are to be excused if they are deceived of knaves, yet not to be praised if they spend above their ability.

Another tincture and medicine of gold.

DIssolve gold in Aqua Regia, precipitate it dissolved in liquor of the salt of flints, powre some part of the aforesaid liquor to the precipitated gold, then place them in sand to boyle for some hours space, and that liquor of flints shall extract the tincture of gold, and shall be dyed with a purple [Page] colour; to which powre in rain water, and make it to boyle together with that purple liquor, and the flint shall be precipitated, the tincture of an excellent colour with salt of Tartar left; out of which it is necessary to extract water even to drought, and a very fine salt of a purple colour will remaine in the bottome of the glass, out of which with the spirit of wine may be drawn in a tincture as red as blood, little inferior in strength to potable gold; for many things lye hid in this purple salt, of which more things might be spoken if occasion permitted; therefore let it suffice to shew the way of destroying gold, for that golden salt can in a very short time, viz. an houre, be perfected with small labor and transmuted into miracle of nature; confuting the slanders of the noble art of Alchimy; for which gift we ought to give immortal thanks to immortal God.

Of looking glasse.

I Have made mention in the treatise of potable gold, not only of the material heat of fire, but also of turning the finest beams of the Sun into a material bodily substance, by help of certain instruments by which they are gathered. I have also mentioned there the preparation of the hollow glass; I will here give it being not known to all men, the best that I know as followeth. First patternes are to be made of the best mold, namely haire and clay, of which thing in the fifth part, conformable to the glasses in form and figure circularly round; for else they cannot gather the Sun beams together and againe put them forth; the fault of which thing is to be ascribed only to the pattern, for the fusion and polishing of glasses is not an excellent art known even to bel-founders, but to melt them very well shap't of the best matter and rightly to polish them this is art: and first to cut the patternes round very well shaped by use of a sharp instrument cannot briefly be demonstrated; therefore I wil send the Reader to Authors prolixly handling this thing, viz. Archimedes & Johan. Baptist. Porta, and others, though thou wantest those Authors, or dost not [Page] understand them, see thou have a globe exactly turned for making patternes as followeth; and first make a mixture of meale and sifted ashes, which spread equally between two boards as the manner is to spread paste made of meale and butter for pyes and Tarts, answering in thickness to the glass to be shaped, then put on a compass and make a measure as you please, which cut with a knife, and put it on a globe, and sprinkle quick lime on it out of a searce or five, and put clay well prepared with haire of the thickness of two fingers breadth: although it be a great piece you must lay across wires strengthning the pattern, lest it be bent or broken. Afterward one part hardened with the heate of the Sun or fire, take away all that from the round, and put it on some hollow, on which it may on all sides stand well, and also sprinkle quick lime on the ashes of coals on the other side, and put upon this the other part of the pattern, and again expose it by degrees to be dryed by the heat of Sun or fire, lest it crack, which done take away the ends making those parts of type or patterne from that inward or middle, which ends set one against another to the inward parts the distance at least of a span, and put between in the top a few live coales to harden the type all over, to which put on other coales, and then more, and so by degrees even to the top, that they may be wel kindled in their lighter parts. Although the types are very thick one fire will not suffice, and it will be necessary to add more coales, untill they be throughly kindled in the inner parts: afterward let the fire be kindled by degrees that the types may grow cold, but not altogether, but so that you may touch them: and presently besmeare finely the sifted ashes mixt with water with a pencil to stop up the chincks arisen for burning the haire and smoothing the types, then again makeboth parts (after thou hast framed the first hole in them for a Tunnel) clean by being wary left any foul thing fall upon them, and carefully binde them with iron or copper wier; and very wel lute over the joining with clay prepared with haire; and put on an earthy tunnel, and the type on the top of dry sand: And thou oughtest in the mean while thou burnest and preparest [Page] the type to melt the metallick mixture, that it may be powred on the hot type, the metal well melted put on a searcloth, which burning powre out melted metal into the burning type, being wary lest coales or some other thing fall into the crucible, and be powred with the metal into the type spoiling the glass; then let the glass cool of it self in the type, if the matter be not mouldred in the cooling. And though it do moulder in the cooling, which indeed would be lessened, it behooves that the cast glass be presently taken out of the type, and covered over with a hot earthen or iron vessel that it may coole under it, which otherwise cooling shut up in the type not able to moulder, is broke in pieces, but soone after you shall perceive, what be those mouldering metals.

And this is the common way (and the best) of melting, if so be thou art exercised; there are also other wayes; first when types are made of wood or lead, agreeing to the glass to be printed the sand, in the finest powder of tyles or other earth as is the custome of copper smiths; and th is way only serveth for lesser glasses.

The third way best of all, but hardest to one not exercised, is as followes, make a waxen type with a cylinder to be placed between two boards as is aforesaid of the first way, which put upon the globe for to shape it, and let it be hardned in the cold: then take it away, and spread the following mixture with a pencil; which see that it be dryed in the shadow, then apply the clay prepared with haire the thickness of one or two fingers broad: then take away the waxe from the earthen type, make a round hole in the earthen type with a knife coming even to the wax, which done, place neer that coale fire the type bending down, and the melted waxe will run through the hole, into which powre hot (not burnt) metal, &c. that liniment which is anoynted on the waxe must be very wel prepared lest while the wax melt, it fall and melt away with the wax, nor let the waxe pierce the earthen type and spoyle it. Now the liniment follows: Burn clay well washt in an earthen furnace even till redness; afterward bruise it and take [Page] away its finest part with washing of water, so that thou take the finest dust, which dry and again burn with a strong fire: after grinde the dust with rain water and salt Armoniack sublimated, upon a stone, as painters use to make their colours, bring it to the just consistence of a paint, and mixture will be made; salt Armoniack keeps that fine powder lest it melt away with the waxe: but prepared earth makes a tender and fine fusion.

Metallick mixture for the matter of the glass.

THere are diverse of these mixtures of which one is alwayes better then the other, which by how much tis the harder, by so much the glass is the better; and by how much the harder the metal is, by so much the better it is polisht, nor doth the hardness of the mixture suffice but its whitness is required: for red proceed from too much copper; becoming black from too much iron, or duskie from too much tin, doth not make the true representations of things, but changeth the shape and colour of them: for example sake, too much copper makes shapes too red, and so of the rest; let therefore the metallick mixture be very white, but if burning glasses are made, it is no matter what colour it be of, if so be that the mixture be hard. I will set down one of the best, ℞. of copper plates the thinnest beaten to pieces one part, of white Arsenick a quarter, first moisten the plates with the liquor of the salt of Tartar, and make a bed upon a bed with plates and Arsenick powdred, by sprinkling this on them, until the crucible be filled; to which powre to the oyle of flax as much as sufficeth to cover the copper and Arsenick: which done put to the cover with the best lute, then place the crucible (the lute being dryed) in sand, so that only the upper part of the cover may stick out and administer fire by degrees, at first little; Secondly, somewhat stronger, till at length it be hot that all the oyle may evaporate; in the mean time the oyle shall prepare the copper and retaine the Arsenick and shall make it enter into the plates like oyle piercing dry leather: Or place the crucible upon a grate and put fire on it, [Page] which administer by degrees, until the oyle evaporate in the boyling. Lastly when it shall coole, break the crucible, and thou shalt finde the copper of diverse colours, especially if thou shalt take Orpin in stead of Arsenick, twice or thrice increased in bigness and friable.

℞ of this copper one part, and of latton two parts, melt it with a very quick fire, and first indeed the latton to which afterward add the friable copper; powre out the mixture melted and thou shalt have a very hard metal unfileable, yet not so brittle but like steele, of which diverse things may be shaped serving in stead of iron and steele instruments; take of this hard metal the third part, of the best tin without lead one part, effuse it and the matter of looking glasses will be made. This mixture is a hard white metal making the best looking glases, but if this labor seem tedious, take of copper three parts, of tin one part, of white Arsenick half for the matter of looking glasses, which are fine but brittle as well in the melting as polishing, therfore carefully to be handled. I must here set down a thing worthy to be observed, and knowen to few; false is the opinion of many, especially of those who attribute knowledge to themselves of the proprieties of metals, in the second part (of subtile spirits) mention is made of the pores of metals, for experience witnesseth, that those subtile spirits as of hartshorn, tartar, soote, and sometimes those sulphureous of salts and metals do evaporate through pewter vessels, which at the first time no man conceives, for whose sake this discourse is made. Make two bals of Copper, and two of pure Tin not mixt with lead, of one and the same forme and quantity, the weight of which bals observe exactly, which done again melt the aforesaid bals into one, and first the copper, to which melted add the Tin lest much Tin evaporate in the melting; and presently powre out the mixture melted into the type of the first bals, & there wil not come forth four but scarce three bals, the weight of the four bals reserved; if then metals are no [...] porous, how I pray doth that great alteration of quantity proceed? therefore know that metalsare porous more or less, gold hath the finest pores, silver hath more, Mercury more then [Page] that, Lead more then Mercury, Copper more then Lead and Iron then copper, but tin hath most of all.

If we could destroy metals and again educe them destroyed from power to act, surely they would not be so porous. And as a child without correction is unfit to any goodness, but corrected is endued with all kinde of vertue and learning, so also we must understand of metals which left in their natural state, namely drawn out of the earth without correction and emendation remaine volatile, but corrupted and regenerated are made more noble, even as our bodies destroyed and corrupted, at length shall arise clarified before they come into Gods fight. Well said Paracelsus, that if in one hour metals were destroyed an hundred times yet they could not be without a body, reassuming a new species and indeed a better, for it is rightly said, Ʋnius corruptio, alterius generatio; for the mortification of a superfluous sulphureous body is the regeneration of the Mercurial soul, for without destruction of metals perfection cannot be; therefore metals are to be destroyed and made shapeless that after thereby the superfluous earthy combustible sulphur separated the pure fine Mercurial species may spring, of which thing more de amausis.

Of the smoothing and polishing looking glasses.

A Looking glass though it be very exactly fused and proportioned, yet it is of no value not rightly polished and smoothed, for easily in the smoothing some parts it may suffer some dammage hurtful to it, and it is necessary to take from them first the grosser part by the wheel as the custome is with Pewterers and Coppersmiths with a sandy stone, then to apply to them the purer whetstone with water, until they are sufficiently smoothed by grinding, which done the looking glasses are again to be taken from the wheele and to be moved to the wooden wheele covered with leather, rubed over with a fine prepared glazing stone until the crevises contracted in the turning no more appear having got a cross line, afterward another wheele covered with leather is required, to [Page] which a blood stone prepared and washt with the ashes of tin rubbed on, to which likewise by the aforesaid meanes according to the same time looking-glasses are so long to be moved till they get a sufficient fineness and brightness. You must keep such looking glasses from the moist aire, and breathing, and to wipe them infected with aire and breathing not with any woolen or linen cloth, but with a Goats or Harts skin, and not any where but on the cross line, with which sleeked looking glasses are smoothed. They can also be smoothed with lead artificially melted with an emrald and water, first by grinding; secondly with a purer emrald and lead; lastlywith a blood stone ashes of tin: likewise also with whetstones, by putting in another purer every time, whence at length brightness is procured to them by ashes of tin.

Also the outward part of the looking glasses convexe may be smoothed, which represents short shapes, and spreads the dispersed rayes: but the inward part hollow gathers and multiplies, and presents a shape.

Let these things suffice of melting looking glasses and polishing requisites to the collection of the Sun beams, and although from the aforesaid mixture other kinds of looking glasses might be made representing wonderful shapes and several excellent things, as Cylindrick, Pyramidal, Parabolick, &c. yet they are omitted as impertinent, yet I could shew a way to make them, because I have not undergone small labors and charges in the searching of their preparation and use if it were necessary. But of all looking glasses that is most useful whose preparation we have shewn, whose diameter is at least two or three spans, if thou wilt perform any special thing, although it be but of one or two spans, yet it gathers abundance of beams, so that thou maist melt tin and lead with it, if it be well shaped: yet the larger are the better. Nor ought they to be too broad that they may further cast their beams, and better performe their actions or functions, let them have the twentieth or thirtieth part of the sphere the section exactly observed which is the fundament of the Art.

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Of metallick glasses.

ASfor metallick glasses much conducing to the perfection of metals and esteemed by the Ancient Philosophers, I would not omit in this place because they are easily made by this furnace.

And indeed the Ancients have found these glasses questionless by chance, reducing the calcined bodyes into glass by a strong fire, for very many secrets by this means not sought for are found out. Oftentimes it happens to our labors that past hope we finde something better or worse, then the thing sought; and I think this happens with these glasses, but however it be I am sure these glasses have stood us in much stead, for Izaak Holland saith plainly, that vitrified metals brought to metals by that reduction do give better and nobler metals then the first vitrified, and indeed gold gives a tincture, but silver gold, and copper silver; and so consequently the glass of other metals give better metals in reduction, the truth of which experience proves, and although I have not yet made great tryal in this work, yet I know that metals brought into dead ashes to be turned into cleere glass cannot be again reduced into metals without great profit: yet one metal is more pliable then another, nor are our glasses the metallicks of goldsmiths fixed to other large ones for ornaments sake, made by the addition of glasse made of fusile sand; but ours of the juice of metals. But I do not deny the vertue of Venice glass, mundificating another fusile of metals, chiefly copper and tin, which though is not comparable with metallick peeces. I freely confess I have tryed this thing twenty times, and I never was deceived by it: but I know not whether it may prove so in a greater quantity because I never tryed it, doubting of my vessels not fit to retaine fusible glasses a requisite time: for I have spent much labor in making these kinde of vessels, but hitherto in vaine. For there is very great hope of gaine if thou hast very strong crucibles. But this perfection is not without reason, for whilest the metal is burnt to ashes, much of the superfluous combustible [Page] sulphur is burnt (as you may see in Lead, Tin, and Copper, from the sparks appearing in their calcination whilest they are stirred and separating) which if again reduced (viz. calcined) its better part (by benefit of melting) and the weightier sinketh, the worser flowing on the top is changed into dross or glass. And the separation of metal is done by the help of fire alone, to the ignorant and unexpert incredible: but consider gilt silver to be separated in fusion, which is as it were corrupted by that common sulphur, and the metallick species, being lost it turns to black dross before in melting it forsake the gold: which way also silver is separated from copper, and this from iron. Observe also that black and crude Antimony, which reduced into ashes by calcination, and melted is separated by a strong fire, the purer parts descending pure and white like silver, but the impure parts ascending changed into glass or dross, which separation was never made without incineration although the Antimony stood long fluid.

Thou seest therefore the power of fire alone in melting metals, wherefore believ thou that thy labor shal not be in vain if thou knowest how to help the fire. Exercise thy self therefore in it, for thou art sufficiently instructed, and this furnace will help thee, without which it is impossible to meddle with such things as experience testifies confirming my words.

Mention being made of metallick glasses, which belongs to the perfection of metals, I am forced to say something also of other Amausa, or coloured glasses, which are called Gemmes, and are worn for beautifying, which though it be not profitable, yet it is a delightful labour, which knowledge as well noble as ignoble have long sought, not for gain, but recreation sake, erring from the true way (although prolixly described in many tongues) through ignorance of the art to render crystal or flint fusible and colouring it, content with lead glasses made of one part of crystals or flints, and three or four parts of minium or ceruss, glass of no worth, as not only very soft and unapt for polishing, but also heavier then it ought by means of lead, and having a yellow or green colour, [Page] or every glass of crystal or flint and minium or ceruse by themselves, viz. without the addition of other colours, the lead gets a yellow colour hindering and altering other mixt colours, therefore a good stone is not made this way of lead and flint, but there may be of these Saturnine glasses, Venice glass, Ashes of Jupiter and colours being added to them, be used diversly of the goldsmiths, namely to colour gold; otherwise of no moment.

Therefore I will give another preparation, namely out of the flints &c. crystals of Sol with minium and ceruse, with metallick colours, natural in colour and elegancy of excellent stones; but not harder then glass; for although crystal is harder then iron, yet it is deprived of its hardness in some measure, and is made like to glass, yet so much hardness reserved, as serves to write in another glass, which glasses are easily polished, in all things and by all most like, hardness excepted, to natural stones; with which not only various kinds of stones be made, and other gold, silver, and wooden works or pictures adorned; but also diverse supellectils, as salts, hafts or hilts, cups, &c. and also images and antiquities may be formed (by fusion) with gold, silver and stones of impresses, like to those cut out of gems by the hand of an ingenious workman most delightful.

They are made after this manner: and first you must look for flints and crystals not coloured, but very white, gathered out of sand or streams, which you must heat in a covered crucible, and quench them glowing in cold water, that they crack and may be pulverised; otherwise they are so hard that when they are powdred, they take part of the morter and so are defiled; therefore it is worth your labor to handle them well. Afterward ℞ of flints prepared, and the purest salt of Tartar, equal parts, made in glased vessels, but not in copper or iron, equal parts, mingle them and keep them to use.

And if thou wilt make this mass into a gem, you must first mingle some colour (what you desire) afterward so long place it (being put into a clean covered crucible scarce half full) in [Page] a very strong fire till all the salt of Tartar hath evaporated, and the flint together with the colour come into substance fusible like glass: you must then put a smal clean iron wier, and draw out a little of the melted mass for tryal; whether it have stood long enough in the fire, whether there be yet pustles and little sands, or whether it being exactly melted it shall descend to the bottome, which done you must take off the crucible and place it under some hot iron or earthy vessel, that it may wax cold with the melted stone; otherwise the mass will be broken in the crucible into very smal parts, and would be unfit for greater works: neither must you powre out the melted mass for fear of the attraction of aire, ad pustles to arise thence. But willing to make out of the mass by fusion, not carving, money or pictures; thete is no need to leave the mass in the crucible to coole, but presently to powre it perfect and hot into a copper morter, & nothing will stick to the crucible, but all the mass will be poured out without any wast; And this mass if thou wilt thou mayest powder or break into very smal bits for fusion and impression. But the mass cooled in the crucible is to be taken by breaking the crucible, and to be reduced into greater or lesser stones by cutting. But melting for money or images, you must place the money or image, which you will imitate, with the backside or hinder dart downward in an iron ring a fingers breadth broad of greater capacity then the money, upon a stone or plaine wood, and spread a little earth or fine sand, or earth through a cloth, namely as much as sufficeth to cover the type, and upon this to put more of the best moistened with water like ashes of cupels, and to impress it being most tenacious firmely to the type, but warily lest the type be moved; which done you must turn the ring, and with a knife lift up the type, and to take it lifted up with ones hands or tongs, the image being left in the sand, to be dryed by the heate of the Sun or fire. Afterward casting the image, place the ring with the image of sand impressed under a tile, and adminster a strong fire, that the whole ring with the sand and the image of sand may be very hot: then take off the ring to see if the image have suffered any loss; which if it have not, you must put upon it so much of the aforesaid [Page] glass coursly beaten, as sufficeth in the fusion to fill the image impressed on the sand, which done put the ring again under the tile, and administer the fire of fusion till the glasse melt in the ring; to which touch with a smooth iron and light (with a handle) being hot, the ring taken first out of the furnace with tongs, pressing the glass well to the type; and then place it under a hot iron, or earthen vessel to coole; and being cold take image from the type which answers to it in all things, if thou hast aright proceeded, exactly representing the Carvers art or a seale impressed to a jewel, which excellent work is most fit to faigne, and represent antiquities and rarities.

The colouring of the aforesaid mass follows, in which it is made most like to Gemmes.

IT behooveth that colours be taken from metals and minerals, namely from copper, iron, gold, silver, Wismuth, Magnesia and Granate: of other colours I know nothing of certainty, copper commonly makes a colour green like the Sea, copper of iron grass-green; Granate smaragdine colour, iron yellow or Iacynth; Gold the best skie colour; Wismuth common skie colour; Magnesia Amethystine: mixt, they give other colours; E. gr. Gold mixt with Silver gives an Amethyst colour; Iron and Copper, a pale green; Wismuth and Magnesia, a purple; Silver and Magnesia various colours like an Opal.

Images are also made of diverse colours, if the masses of diverse colours be broken into bits and mixt be put upon the type, &c. And if thou desirest an opac mass (green, red, skie colour, &c.) add a little calx of Tin darkning, on which as on a Basis the colours insist. For example; in making a Turcoise stone or a Lazulus, mingle to the Azuremade of the silver Marcasit or Zafora (to colour the mass) the calx of tin, that they may melt together, and before the impression be made, put upon the type some prepared gold, then spread and put upon this the aforesaid glass; and the fusion and impression being [Page] made, let be made thence having golden veines like lapis Lazulus very delightful; But there must be calx, gold is not loosing its splendor in the fire, such as is made by Mercury, or that, which better is precipitated out of Aqua regia, of which above.

Of the preparation of the colours for colouring the mass of flints and Crystals.

THe plates of copper often heated, are quenched in cold water, of which more in the fifth part, from three to six grains of it may be mixed to ℥j. of the mass for a sea green colour. Iron is reduced into crocus by reverberation; of which from four to ten grains are added to the mass for a yellow or Iacynth colour; Silver is dissolved in Aqua fortis and precipitated with the liquor of flints, after it is edulcorated and dryed, whereof from one to six grains, added to ℥j. of the mass, they make mixt colours.

Gold is dissolved in Aqua regia, edulcorated and dryed, precipitated first with liquor of flints, whereof from grain four to ℈ss. mixt with one ounce of the mass make a most elegant Saphire. And if from three to six of that soluble ruby made of the nitrous gold and silver of iron be added to ℥j. of the mass they make a very polite ruby, Magnesia pulverised, whereof from six to fourteen grains to ℥j. of the mass, make an Amethyst.

Marcasit dissolved in Aqua regia precipitated with the liquor of flin [...]s, let be edulcorated and dryed, whereof from one to five grain to ℥j. of the mass give a Saphire, but not comparably so polite as one made with gold.

But being unwilling to calcine Marcasit, let him take Zafora, and mingle to ℥j. from five to ten graines; Granates of Bohemia or Oriental pulverised add from six grains to ℈j. to ℥j. of the mass, for little green stones like to the natural smaragd or emrald: other things which remaine of the mixture of the colours are to be learned by experience.

To what uses coloured flints and crystals are appointed is not here to be treated of; one use being excepted, which I set down for the eys, which are weakened by too much watching, [Page] the heate of fire and smoake; see thou have a waxen type circularly round, of the bigness of a dish or trencher (The Optiques are wont to call such lentes) to which put the best clay well mixed with haire: anoint the waxen type with oyle, and exactly apply the best prepared earth of crucibles (and durable in the fire) the thicknes of a finger, which dryed perforate in some part, that the waxe being melted by the fire may flow forth; afterward burn the type in an earthen furnace; being burnt fill it with prepared glass, and place it in a winde furnace till the glass melt; which at length cooled take off the type by attrition; and there shalt thou have the crystal resembling the force of the type; which afterward thou must make and polish like spectacles in an iron dish on both sides; and take cover it wrought with a strong iron wier, and thou shalt have a good crystalline lent bought for smal price which otherwise is scarce made of crystal of so great a bigness. And if thou wilt thou mayest colour the glass green very pleasant to the sight, and fit the foot to it for greater benefit. And the glass doth not only make in this for the multiplication of light in the night time that you may see a thing afar off in a chamber, but also for the fixing and calcining minerals by the sun beams, and melting of metals & multiplying of pictures like a hollow glasse, and also so to compare it for other uses with a hollow looking glass which doth the same of an equal bigness which the hollow glass; nor is there any other difference of them but reflexion. This glass instrument is made likewise another way and by less cost & labor, if it be of a polisht looking-glass if 2. great orbes are cut out with a diamond, and if they are somewhat softened with fire and are left there so long in the heate untill they shall stick like waxe very close to the stone, which done let them be cooled again, which afterward taken out will represent the forme of a hollow glass, to which it behooves to fixe a leafe on the convex part. And these glasses do the same that a hollow metallick looking glass doth; the reflexion excepted, which is not so strong as of the hollow glass: And although the glasses are sooner broke, yet they are very fit for the making of the following instrument.

[Page] And they are bound together by strong wier applyed across on the concave part, and a hole is cut in the brim with a diamond on one side of the bigness of a pea, to which is put an Ascent, then the crevises are exactly closed in every place with the best lute, which done, a silver or copper ring is to be tyed about it, holding those glasses straightly, so that the instrument may be fitted to the foote, all which well done those strong wiers are separated or cut off, with which the glasses were bound at first, namely neer the copper ring; afterward it is infused with very pure Aqua vitae through a funnel as much as is required for the filling it up, the instrument being filled the Ascent is shut up, which is to be laid up to use; and this instrument is better then the hollow glass, especially if it have in its diameter the breadth of one foote, and may be applyed to prospective pictures, it doth excellently represent and multiply them.

Behind which if you place a candle in the night, it gives so much light in the chamber, that you would think it came from the Sun. It doth also many other things which here are omitted as superfluous. And you may gather the dispersed light in the aire in the night time with it, so that you may read the smallest writing. Such and others of the like things may be done by this furnace, all which to set down would swell the book too much. Other things of the metals examination and purification by fusion, in another place.

Take this, Reader, which is given to thee, in good part, at another time thou shalt have better; and do not mistake my writings, as if I did reprove the examinations of metals by the Ancients, fusions and separations, who only would communicate my opinion, and yeild my assistance for further proceeding; for I know that dealers in metals giving too much credit to their small probes, when they finde nothing, do contemn oares as barren, often abounding with gold and silver; yet when he, John Mathes. sayes expresly in his Sarepta, that minerals oftentimes tryed in a smal quantity do yield no gold and silver, which in a great quantity yeild a great deale, wherefore [...]redit is not alwayes to be given to such probes, often deceiving, as experience testifies.

[Page] But this not only in those minerals which are digged out of the earth; but also in those clayie and sandy minerals, abounding with silver and golden flames; out of which neither by the less nor greater probes, nor ablution nor Mercury is drawn with gaine that thin and fiery dispersed gold: which by some waters is done without fire easily; for I know such mines are found neer many rivers of Germany and many places in other Nations of Europe, out of which honest gaine without much cost and labor may easily be gotten. Neither are they dreams, which I have spoken parabolically of the perfection of metals, for it is possible by art to help nature in the perfecting things. There is therefore no more need of any thing then of knowledge; therefore the nature of metals being known, and their properties, they are easily separated, purged and perfected.

But what I have written of the universal medicine, I have done for the aforesaid causes, which have made me believe the thing, not as professor of the Art. The other things of coloured red glasses and looking glasses I have added, because they are easily prepared by this furnace, as sometimes necessary in some works. Other things of the handling metals are not without cause now omitted, which happily may be sometime delivered in another place, wherefore now we end.

FINIS.

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THE FIFTH PART OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES: WHERE It is treated of the wonderfull NATVRE OF THE FIFT FVRNACE; ALSO Of the easie preparation of the Instruments and Materials belonging to the foresaid four FVRNACES. Most profitable for Chymical PHYSITIANS.

By JOHN RUDOLPH Glauber.

LONDON, Printed by Richard Cotes, for Tho: Williams at the signe of the Bible in Little-Britain. 1652.

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THE FIFT PART OF PHILOSOPHICAL FURNACES.

Of the preparation of the Furnace.

AS concerning this, of which though I made no mention in the Preface, for it was not my resolution to mention it in the last part, because I was purposed only to treat of the instruments, as wel earthen as those of glass, and also of the other necessary things belonging to those four parts premised; yet I am willing now in this part, (which I have judged to be the most convenient place for it, for which I did before design another) to discover the wonderful nature thereof, as far as I may for the studious Artists sake. And although I know that more in this part then in all my other writings, especially the ignorant and unskilful, will be offended; yet I will not therefore pass it by, perswading my self that by this means I shall do a work that will be most acceptable to the searchers of Art, and Nature. For I do devoutly affirm, that this is the choicest of all my secrets [Page] that I confide in, in which I have already seen wonderful things, hoping that the divine benediction will some time or other be obtained upon the practice thereof. And as for the structure thereof, much cannot be said thereof, because it is not built as other furnaces are, but it is every where found extructed by Nature, being ordained for no other works then those of Nature, viz. for the making of any menstruum that shall dissolve gold, silver, and all other metals, and minerals without any noise, as also pretious, and common stones, and also glasses: the original of which is the original of the Menstruum. Now what, and what manner of furnace that is that produceth this royal menstruum (coming from the menstruum it selfe) and that easily without any labour, you may easily conjecture, that it is not any common one, by the help whereof other things are distilled, that can yeeld such a menstruum that is not corrosive: which certainly is not any common menstruum, because there is but this one menstruum that I know, which doth not partake of any corrosive quality, that doth more then any or all other corrosive waters whatsoever. For all corrosives whatsoever they are, as aqua fortis, aqua regia, spirit of salt, vitrioll, allome, and nitre cannot together, and at once dissolve the close union of gold, and silver, and other most hard subjects, that cannot be dissolved in waters, though never so caustick.

This indeed is wonderful, and stupendous, that a thing every where found most vile and base should doe so great a miracle, I know not what moved me to write of it, knowing that I shall in this part offend not onely the wise by writing so openly, but also the ignorant detractors, and slanderers that will accuse mee of falsity. And truly these considerations might justly have deterred me but that I knew I might doe a good work, recalling many from their errors. For many being perswaded that there is no other dissolving menstruum, besides the aforesaid corrosive spirits; but those are Chymists that are ignorant of nature; yet the Philosophers with one consent say that those corrosive destructive spirits [Page] make a fruitless solution of metals. For experience testifies that the solutions made by the help of aqua fortis, and regia, and other spirits, colour the hands, being that which a true Philosophical solution doth not, and furthermore testifies that those, viz. which colour the hands, are not to be reckoned among the true Philosophical solutions, but to be contemned as Malignant. Wherefore I was willing to write these things to instruct those that erre. Let no man therefore perswade himself that a menstruum is so vile, and contemptible is of less efficacy then those corrosive spirits. I my self did once scarse beleeve that so great vertues could be in so most vile a menstruum, untill I had experience of the truth in good earnest. And the same thing happens here, which happens every where: viz. great and costly things are sought after, but smal and vile things are neglected, contrary to the course of nature, doing all her works simply: let no man therefore be offended at the vileness of any thing. The Jews also were offended at the poverty of Christ, who was all things in all. These, although they did see miracles, which no man but the Messias could doe, yet did not beleeve, being obstinate by reason of the simplicity of his form, which if he had not assumed, being humane, he could not have been our Mediator before God. For we were wholly separate from God by that fall of Adam, so as that being hardened in sins we became the slaves of death, and hell, and so should remain for ever by reason of the loosing of the Holy Spirit, which we had. Now that divine dew, or celestial Manna that doth from heaven water our dry hearts refreshing us by his saving Word, and bloud shed for us, that holy Spirit, which otherwise we could never have received, was again communicated to us. Hence therefore we may see, how we were reconciled by a disesteemed man, and that necessarily. And as formerly the Pharisees and Priests were offended at the poverty of Christ being the son of a Carpenter, not acknowledging him for the Messiah; so also that universal Menstruum (openly named) no man doth esteem, as being base, and found in every dunghill. But doe not thou account it as a fault that I have here [Page] alleadged the poverty, and humiliation of Christ: for the discourse doth not tend to his disparagement, but to his great honour; because he alone amongst the sonnes of men, although most contemptible could deliver mankinde from the power of the devil; as that universall Mercury the basest of all subjects, being overcome by death, doth rise again gloriously for the metallick genus.

Now here may and that not without cause be brought in some similitudes demonstrating our discourse; and first of all how two contraries or extreams can without a medium be joined together: as for example, the subtile spirit of wine, as also of urine, cannot be reunited to its proper salt, viz. separation, and purification, being once made, although they are of one and the same original, without a medium, that is, water, which is in stead of a mediator in this reunition. So also before the fall, God was with Adam, afterwards having transgressed the command of God, he was thereby deprived of that Divine society, and made subject to divers kindes of miseries, to an eternal, and spiritual death, until the incarnation of Christ the Mediator, who unless he had partaked of both natures, could never have reconciled and reunited us; as that most subtile spirit of wine or urine can never again be reunited to its proper fixed salt, without water which partakes of both natures. And if it were lawfull I could, and that easily compare the Philosophical work with the incarnation and nativity of Christ, with his life and death; as also his resurrection; but this is not my worke at this time, for it sufficeth to make mention of it at this time. I wish it were lawful to compare terrestrial with celestial miracles; without doubt the unbeleeving Thomas would have opened his eys. But now it is not lawful; and although Moses, Daniel, Josephus [...], and others that were skilled in naturall Philosophy, and Magick, by the help whereof as well celestial as terrestrial miracles are known, made mention of this thing in their writings, yet it is taken notice of by very few readers. Finally, if we might, and time would admit, we could demonstrate, that God doth not alwayes esteeme of [Page] great things, but rather threaten ruine to them; for he is no respector of persons, or creatures, of which there are extant many examples. Now the world judgeth all things amiss, esteeming, and respecting only glorious things; but our care should not be about them; for alwayes great things are done even by the smallest, and most contemptible.

I could here adde more things concerning the originall of the universal menstruum, which is so contemptible, which doth by its wonderful powers and vertues dissolve all metals, minerals and stones radically without any noise, unites and fixeth them; the solution whereof doth not colour the hand; the conjunction is inseparable, and the fixation incombustible, I say I could adde more things concerning it, but that divers inconveniences, which by this means I might incur, as also the envy and hatred of others do deter me. For although any one doth think to discover the possibility of Art, and Nature; yet few would be content therewith, being very desirous of all manner of revelation; and if we should not gratifie them, we should forthwith incur their hatred and envy, who would without doubt judge otherwise of the matter, if they had but any experience of our labors. Be thou therefore (curteous reader) contented with this discourse, that shews thee the possibility of Art and Nature; and diligently seek after it in the fear of God, and without doubt thy labour shall not be in vain.

Of the Building of the Furnaces.

HOw those furnaces of the first and second part are to be built and made of potters clay, and stones; I need not say much, because there be many books extant treating of this matter sufficiently, yet this caution is to be observed in the building of the furnaces, viz. that those furnaces in which a very strong fire is not kindled, need not so strong wals, as those in which we distill, sublime, and melt, with a most strong fire. And for what belongs to subliming and distilling furnaces; you may erect them of those common [Page] bricks which are made of the best clay, and well burnt, compassing them about with very strong wals, that they may the longer retain the heat: or else you will continually have something to doe in mending them, and closing their chinks, which hinder the regiment of fire. Wherefore they must be compassed about with iron hoops, that they may be durable and not gape. Now what concerns the melting furnaces, the aforesaid bricks are not of use in the building of them, because they not being durable melt in the fire, wherefore you must make other bricks of a very good earth that is fixed in the fire, such as is that of crucibles, &c. of which afterwards, which are to be made in a brazen or wooden mould, and to be burnt, and it matters not whether they be round or square, a regard being had of the furnace, that six or eight of them make one course, or row. But you need not build the whole furnace of those stones, for it is sufficient, if the place only where the coals still lye, be made of them, and the other part of the furnace be made of common bricks.

A Lute for the erecting of Furnaces.

LUte may be made divers wayes for this businesse; for men prepare their lute several wayes as they please. Some mix with sifted potters earth, the beaten hairs of cows, oxen, harts, or the chaffe of barley, tow, flocks, horse-dung, and the like, that hold together the clay, and prevent chops, to which they adde sometimes sifted sand, if the clay be too fat, beating the mixture together with water, and bringing it to a just consistency. And this is the best mixture, that is not subject to cleaving, yet weak, because in length of time the hair and chaffe are burnt, wherefore the furnace becomes thin and weak. Many leave out combustible things, and mix potters clay, and sand together, and temper them with brine, for the making of their furnaces. And this is the best mixture, because it is not combustible as the other is, neither is it subject to cracking by reason of the salt: and for this purpose the brine of fish and salt flesh doth serve, and is very good, because the bloud helps the joining of them together: but [Page] if the caput mortuum of vitriol or aqua fortis, being mollified, be mixed with potters clay and sand, you goe a better way to work: for this lute is not at all subject to cracking, but fixed in the fire and permanent. With this lute are retorts, and goards very well luted, and coated, also the joints of retorts, and receivers closed: this being mollified with a wet cloth applyed to it may again be separated, and taken off, as that also with which salt is mixed: but the other lutes that want salt will not be separated, by reason whereof glasses oftentimes are broken. Wherefore in defect of the caput mortuum of Vitriol, temper the clay and sand with brine. But many mixe the filings of iron, powdered glass, flints, &c. but you need not them for the building of the furnaces, but only for the coating of certaine glasses used for separation, and distillation, because the filings of iron being helped with salt binds and joins together most strongly.

Of the closing of the joints, hindring the evaporation of subtile spirits.

THe aforesaid lute is sufficient for the closing of the joints of the first furnace where air is not kept from the spirits, but not of the vessels of the second furnace, where most subtile spirits are distilled, which it cannot retain, penetrating the same with the loss of the better part: wherefore you must make choice of another; unless upon the other being well dryed besmeared over with a pencil, a mixture made of quick lime most subtilly powdered, and Linseed oil, which the porous clay attracting to it is fortified, so as to be able to retain those most subtile spirits: but this lute can hardly be separated again; because refusing water it cannot be mollified, wherefore the clay is to be tempered only with the white of egges, and to be applyed with linen clouts: but you must prevent the burning of the linen by reason of the extream heat of the neck of the receiver, by putting between an iron or strong glass neck, viz. betwixt the receiver and the retort. The joints also may be closed with oxe bladders wet in the [Page] white of egges, also with starch tempered with water, if it be sometimes applyed, being smeared on paper. For by this means those most subtile spirits are easily retained, but not corrosive, for which use the caput mortuum of aqua fortis is more convenient, which after it is dryed must be smeered over with a mixture made of linseed oyle, and quick lime.

And divers kinds of these lutes are had being destined to divers uses.

Another lute for broken glasses.

IT happens sometimes that glass vessels, as receivers, and retorts have some cracks, but otherwise are whole and sound; which are greater in those glasses that doe again suffer the heat of the fire, wherefore at last the glasses▪ are broken, which if you will prevent, make a liniment or thin lute of linseed oyl, quick lime, and red lead; which being smeered over a linen cloth apply to the crack, upon which being dryed apply another: but if the crack be very great, you may apply 3 or 4 linen cloths, for the greater safety sake: as you may apply the whites of egges beaten together, upon the cracks with linen and cast upon it quick lime sifted very fine, and press it down hard with your hand: which being done, you may apply over them more linen clouts wet in the whites of egges, and cast upon them quick lime again: which when the lute is well dryed, retaines the spirits, but sooner subject to the corrosion of corrosive spirits then the former.

Note well that quick lime is not to be mixed with the white of eggs, and so used upon linen clouts, as the manner of some is; because the whites of egges acquire a hardness from the lime before they be united, and therefore cannot stick, but linen clouts wet first therewith before the quick lime be cast upon them, so that the lime doth not immediately touch the glass, being applyed betwixt two linen clothes.

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How those subtile spirits when they are made may be kept that they evaporate not.

THose glasses in which those spirits are kept are for the most part stopt with cork, or wax, upon which afterward bladders are bound: which stopping is convenient for some spirits, that doe not prey upon cork or wax: For all corrosive spirits, as of vitriol, allome, common salt, nitre, &c. corrode cork; and lixivial spirits, as that of hartshorn, tartar, salt armoniack, urine, wine, &c. melt wax, and penetrate it.

And although other stopples might be made, which might retain both sorts of spirits, yet it would be tedious and laborious to open those so often, and to stop them againe. Wherefore I have found out a fit kind of glasses, viz. of such, whose mouths have distinctions, and are fit to receive their covers; as it appears by the delineation. A. signifies the cover: B. the glass containing the spirit. C. a drawer by the help whereof the spirits are taken out of the glass, when there is occasion, into the distinction in the brim of the mouth; viz. of the glass that contains the spirit, is put quicksilver, and upon this is put a cover; this being done the Mercury closeth the joints of both glasses running in the brim, so that nothing at all can evaporate: for the spirits doe not penetrate the Mercury, unless they be very corrosive (a thing to be noted) which then in process of time turn the Mercury into water, but very seldome; and then the Mercury is to be renewed. But we need not give so much honour to corrosive spirits, as not to be compared to those volatiles, which being abstracted from corrosives doe not prey upon Mercury; and much less then these, doe lixivial spirits corrode Mercury: and for the sake of these were these glasses invented, by the help whereof most subtile spirits are without any loss of their vertues, if you please, a very long time preserved and kept. And because when there is occasion the spirits cannot be poured forth by reason of the Mercury in the brim, you [Page] must get a drawer like to that, by the help whereof wine is taken out of the vessell, but lesser, having a belly with a little mouth made very accurately. This being let downe you may take up as much as you please, as is needful; the upper orifice whereof being stopped with the finger nothing drops out; being put into a lesser glass is thence poured forth for your use. Then you must again cover the remainder of the spirit that is in the glass, and as oft as is needful take out with that drawer as much as is usefull. And this is the best way by which most subtile spirits are retained; which also are very well retained in those glasses, whose steeples are of glasse smoothed with grinding. But this is a more costly way of keeping in spirits, and it is done after this manner.

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How glasse stopples are to be smoothed with grinding for the retaining of spirits in their glass vessels.

FIrst of all order the matter so that you have glass bottles of several sorts, some greater, some lesser, with strong necks, and mouths, with their glass stopples, which being smoothed by grinding shut the orifice of the bottle very close: Now they are smoothed thus. Put the stopples in the turn, being set or fastned in some wood, bring it into a round shape, then being moistned with Smiris, and water mixed together, let it be put to the mouth of the bottle, so as to be turned round in the mouth of the bottle, which you must often take away from the stopples being fastened to the turn, for the oftener moistening of it, which is with that mixture of prepared Smiris and water, with the help of a pencil, or feather; and that so often and so long, untill the stopple stop the mouth of the bottle most closely: which being done, you wipe off the Smiris with a lint from the stopples and mouth of the the bottle, then smeer over the stopple with a liniment made of some fine washed earth, and water, or oyl, and again turn it round in the mouth of the bottle, and often smear it over with this fresh mixture, untill the stopple be most exactly smoothed, which afterward is to be tyed to its proper bottle; the same also is to be understood concerning the rest, that one may not be taken for an other, &c. And that you may not need to take away so much from the stopples, and bottles, get some copper moulds made for the stopples, which stopples must be taken whilest they bee yet warm, soft, and new drawn from the furnace, that they may be made of a just roundness, as also other copper moulds. Which must bee put into the mouths of the bottles, whilest they be yet hot and soft, for the better making of them round, whereby afterwards the stopple may more easily, and quickly become fit to stop the mouths [Page] of the bottles very close, (as for example: A. is the stopple, B. the glass or bottle) if thou knowest how to order them rightly, they will quickly and easily fit one the other.

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In defect of a turn, proceed after the following manner, which is slow, yet safe, because in a turn the glasses oftentimes waxing hot are broken by reason of the over great hast; and it is thus, make an iron or wooden receptacle fit to receive the glass bottle, which being covered about with linen, and put in, join both parts of the receptacle warily and softly, with the help of a screw, that the bottle be not broken, and because that instrument, or receptacle of the bottle being fastened to a form with the help of a screw, cannot be moved. Afterwards cause that another wooden instrument be made for the stopple (as for example, A. the stopple with [Page] its receptacle B. the bottle with its receptacle) that may be separated in the middle, and be again reunited with a screw after the putting in of the stopple, which being smeered over with the aforesaid mixture of smiris and water, take an instrument with both hands, and put the stopple round about the neck of the bottle, and grind it round upon the other, as Wine Coopers are used to doe in smoothing the taps; and that so long untill the stopple be fit for the bottle; then reiterate the same labour with the earth tripolis, untill it bee compleated; and it will stop as well as a stopple made by the help of a turn.

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After this manner also you must work those greater glass receivers of the first furnace, that without luting they [Page] may be closed. Stopples also of vials for fixation may be wrought after this manner, which instead of luting may be put into the mouths of the vials, upon which are put caps of lead; by which means in case of necessity they may be lifted up, viz. in case the spirits by too strong a fire be stirred up and rarified, by reason of the danger the glasses are in to be broken, and may again fall down into the mouths of the bottles being pressed down with the leaden caps, and so stop close again. And this way of stopping is better then that which is done with cork, wax, sulphur, and other things: because in case the regiment of fire be well governed, and by consequence an errour is committed, you may preserve your glasses by lifting up of the stopples, viz. when

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the spirits are too much stirred up. And although this be a better way of stopping then the other common way; yet that which follows is better then this, whereby the spirits are easily retained, the glasses being preserved, and without all danger of being broken. And it is thus, viz. get a glass pipe to be made crooked according to the figure set down, into the belly whereof is quicksilver to be put from halfe an ounce to an ounce, or thereabouts, and let this pipe which hath a belly be put into the viall containing the matter to be fixed (as for example, A. the pipe with a belly, B. is the viall, and againe A signifies the aforesaid leaden cap with the viall B) the joints whereof afterwards are to be covered over with lute, and the viall will never be in danger of being broken.

These foresaid ways of stopping are the best, by which the breakings of glasses are prevented, viz. whilest [Page] men are in an errour about the fixing of spirits of salts, minerals, and metals, which although they are fixed with great costs and labours, yet doe not satisfie what is promised and expected, because those kinds of fixations are violent and forced, and by consequence contrary to nature: but in the profitable fixation of spirits, not so, where we must follow Nature, and not commit our selves to fortune in our labours. For onely fooles are wont to breake their glasses in their supposed tincture; but Philosophers not so; for every violent thing is an enemy to Nature; and all the operations of Nature are spontaneous. They erre therefore, and never shall come unto their desired end, who attempt violent fixations. I cannot bee perswaded that bodies dead, or halfe dead can be so mixed together as to multiply: but I could easily beleeve that the conjunction of male and female of one and the same species, sound and nourished with sound and wholesome meats to be naturall, and to make a spontaneous propagation, and multiplication of their species; viz. of those that endure in a good, and adverse fortune, in life, and death; but the conjunction of dead things to be dead, and barren. Doe but consider how many and various instruments both gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and lead; as also earthen, glass, stone and other vessels of other materials have been already invented, and found out for the fixing of Mercury alone with gold and silver, but in vain, because they have no mutuall affinity. For although Mercury adheres to metals, or metals to it, yet that is not by, reason of any affinity for multiplication, or perfection sake: for it appeares by experience that Mercury flies away in the fire, and leaves the gold, silver, and other metals. Where it is clear that they have no mutuall affinity requisite for the multiplication of metals, nor is it ever possible: For they that have a mutuall affinity embrace one the other and abide together for ever, although volatile, yet never leave one the other like gold and Mercury, when they are united together with the strongest bond, so that they can [Page] never be separated although with the strongest fire. Wherefore a great care is to be had in the fixation of things joined together; which if they have a mutuall affinity, will embrace and retain one the other, without the help of any curious glasses with long necks. Of which things if thou art ignorant, abstain from medling with them, as being more hurtfull then profitable, as dayly experience both mine owne, and others doe witnesse. But that thou mayst the better understand what things have a mutuall affinity one with the other: attend a little what I shall say.

Is not hee to be laughed at for his folly who will poure raine, or common water on gold, silver, and other metals to fix them? See therefore the unwise actions of many covetous Alchymists in so hard a matter, that spend their time in trifles, reaping according to what they have sowed, and at last leave off their work which they have undertaken, after they have expended much cost, and spent their labour in stenches, watchings, and cares. For I have oftentimes seene those, that although they have not chosen common water for their menstruum, yet have made choice of May dew, snow or rain gathered in March, and water distilled out of Nostock, or excrement of Starres; vegetables and animals, for their solvent, in which they have lost their labour.

For as the radicall union of the aforesaid things with metals is impossible: so never is any good to be produced from thence, by reason of their difference. And such may deservedly be compared to those, who ascending a very high ladder that hath many steps, doe presently endeavour to flye from the lowermost to the uppermost; which is a thing impossible: so neither can there be any conjunction of things that doe so much differ. But as any one may easily ascend the highest step by degrees, so also any one may (which yet hee need not doe) join together extreames, by adding first a thing that is most neer to one of the extreames, and then to this another next to it, and so by consequence untill you come to the other extream, which is a thing that requires a very long time, and is a worke without profit. [Page] And if things be joined together that have the next affinity, the one will be delighted in the other, and the one will embrace the other, will overcome, and retaine it. As for example, there is a certaine salt, and that onely that can coagulate and turne into a body like to it selfe, even common water, which can be fixed in a very little time with and by one onely certaine minerall, which is very volatile. Minerals also may bee fixed by metals, and metals, (a thing which I never yet tryed) by a certaine thing more excellent then metals, without all doubt. But therefore it is not needfull in the fixation of minerals to begin with the coagulation of water, whereby it is turned into salt; and this afterward into a minerall; which would bee too tedious; but it is sufficient to begin in things most near, in which nature hath begun to operate, but hath left imperfect: for then there is hope of gain, if contrary things are not joined together, else not. Behold how ready Nature is at hand to help any thing that is administred to it, which it can help: as for example, make salt of calcined Tartar by the help of solution and coagulation (but doe not take that for it, of which a little before mention hath beene made, which is farre better then salt of Tartar) of which after it is calcined observe the weight; upon which afterwards poure halfe the weight of most pure raine water; distilled to avoid the suspition of impurity, then draw off the water gently in Balneo, or sand, which againe poure upon the remaining salt of Tartar, and againe draw it off; and this doe so often as is needfull, untill all the water be consumed. Which being done take out the salt, and weigh it being first made red hot in the fire, and thou shall find it to be increased in weight, which increase came from the water, and not elsewhere.

Note well that the cohobution of the water is to be reiterated often upon the salt of Tartar. Observe that by this means the water is convertible into salt by Art, &c. And if thou dost not beleeve the conversion of things materiall [Page] and corporeall, how wilt thou beleeve the conversion of things immateriall, as of the Sunne, and fire into a materiall fixed substance; of which thing something shall bee treated in our treatise of Aurum potabile, and more at large afterwards in a treatise De Generatione Metallorum, if God permit: For you must know that the circulation of the elements, and things elementated, viz. how one is converted into another; and how they nourish and cherish one the other. As for example, The earth yeelds water, the water aire, the aire fire, and the fire againe earth, which if it be pure yeelds pure earth. But that thou maist understand aright how any thing to be fixed, may be retained by another by reason of affinity, observe the following example. The Husbandman casting seed into the earth for to multiply, doth not choose any earth, but that which is convenient for multiplication, viz. an earth that is neither too dry, nor too moist. For the seed cast in sand cannot grow, and is lost. For whatsoever is to be preserved is to be preserved by an equall temper; which by how much it is more equall or like, so much the more perfect substance it doth produce. Humidity therefore being necessarily requisite for the growth of vegetables, without which they can neither grow, nor multiply, but the seed being cast into moist sand, and the raies of the Sunne acting upon that sand, and suddenly consuming the humidity thereof, whence followes the burning up of the seed in the dry sand, because there was no affinity betwixt the water, and sand, without which the water could not be retained by the sand, and consequently the seed deprived of its nutriment; it followes necessarily, that some medium bee required, or bond joining and binding the raine, and sand; viz. salt by the help whereof the raine water is retained by the sand, that it be not so easily consumed by the heat of the sun.

The sand therefore retaines the salt, and the salt the raine water for the nutrition of the bud. But every salt is not convenient for this businesse. For although Christ [Page] saith, Luke Chap. 14. verse the last, that earth without salt is barren, yet any common salt is not to bee understood thereby. For some salts, as common salt, salt of Vitrioll, Allome, &c. doe not onely not doe good, but doe hurt to vegetables, hindring by reason of their drynesse their growth and increase. Now lixiviall salts promote them, that which country-men doe better understand, then our supposed Philosophers: For they know how to help their barren ground with the excrements of animals, which are nothing else but a lixiviall salt mixed with sulphur, makeing the earth fat and fertile. And by this meanes a vebiculum (rather a bond) is administred to the raine water, that it may the lesse be consumed by the heat of the Sunne. Moreover all seed (consisting in lixiviall salt and sulphur) loves its like, from whence it borrowes its nutriment, which is observed by a few learned as unlearned. Husbandmen may wel be excused of their ignorance, because they work onely out of use and custome. But others that beare the title of learning not so: whose duty it is to render a reason of germination, who may deservedly be ashamed of their ignorance, being lesse knowing then husbandmen. It is manifest that dung makes the earth fruitfull; but how and for what reason, not so; but if it did want nitrous salt, it would neither make it fertile, nor promote germination. For it is not unknowne that Nitre is made out of the excrements of animals. The goodnesse therefore of the dung consists only in the lixiviall salt contained in it, and not in the straw.

But you will ask perhaps, why doth not any other salt help germination? Why is the salt of dung required to germination, and no other? Wee have already answered that, like are helped with like, and contraries are destroyed by contraries. For experience doth testifie that any seed consists in lixiviall salt and sulphur, and not in any acid salt; wherefore also it doth desire and embrace its like. Let him therefore that will not beleeve it make triall [Page] of the distillation of the seed of any vegetable, of which let him force over a pound by retort; and he shall see by experience, that not an acid spirit, but a flegme together with plenty of oyle, and volatile salt whitening the whole receiver, comes over; being that which no root or stalk can doe: For the chiefest vertu, odour, and tast of vegetables, animals, and minerals is found in the seed, in which thing provident Nature hath done very well, whilest she attributes the chiefest faculties to the seed, being more obnoxious to injuries then the rest, which is also preserved, nourished, and cherished by its like.

Now this discourse which might otherwise have beene omitted, was therefore appointed, that the cause of the germination of vegetables might bee made the more manifest; and that what things have beene spoken of attraction, and fixation of all things might the better be understood. The germination therefore, and multiplication of both minerals, vegetables and animals must bee spontaneous, and not forced, as is that barren and frustraneous of the false Chymists, because preternaturall. Wherefore when you fix any thing bee cautious in the adding of any thing that should retaine it, with which nothing can bee fixed. Fire indeed doth alwayes doe its office; but it knowes not how to help any preternaturall thing; which it doth wholly destroy, against which nothing can bee prevalent, unlesse it bee rightly ordained according to Nature.

And thus much bee spoken for instruction sake, to thee that intendest to fix any thing, lest otherwise thou losest thy labour.

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Of the making of the best crucibles.

THe best crucibles that are requisite for the fourth furnace, not being found in every place, I thought it worth while to set down the manner of making them: for I am not ignorant how oftentimes many for want of these are constrained to be content with those that are useless, and truly with great loss of metals, whilest the crucibles are broken in the fire, and consequently with a tediousness in drawing them out of the ashes.

Chymists have been in a great error a long time, and not only they but also goldsmiths, and they that separate metals, as also others that need the help of crucibles, who perswade themselves that the best earth that is fit to make the best crucibles is to be found no where but in Hassia; and therefore with great charges have caused that Gibsensian crucibles be brought over; not considering that almost in every place in Germany such earth is to be found, which indeed is a very great folly of men, proceeding from the not knowing of good earth which is to be found almost every where. I do not deny but that the earth of Hassia is very good for crucibles, tyles, retorts, and other vessels which are to be set in a very great fire, for which cause also is commended Gibsensian, and Waldburgensian crucibles.

A few yeers since some have made their crucibles, and other vessels that will endure the fire well, of earth brought out of England, and France into Holland, which have retained metals very well in the fire, but not salts, because they are too porous and not so compact as those of Hassia, wherefore those of Hassia are still preferred before others, retaining better, metals, and salts. But although this earth be brought from thence to other places, yet such strong crucibles could not be made thereof, the cause whereof being not the constitution of the aire, and place to which some have falsly imputed it, but an error in the making and burning of them. For in Hassia there is a great abundance of wood, of which there is no sparing [Page] in the burning the crucibles even to a stony hardness, which could not be done by a smal fire of turffes.

The like errour is committed about stone pots, and other vessels which are made at Frechemium and Siburgus and other places neer Colen, which are carryed almost through all Europe, the goodness whereof is ascribed only to the earth, and not to the making. But now experience hath taught us that any good earth doth become stony in a violent fire, without respect of the place where it is taken. Wherefore it is very probable, being a thing possible▪ that such vessels are made els where: for every earth being burnt retaining a white colour, viz. with an indifferent fire, makes pots, and crucibles porous, but with a stronger, and with a longer delay, compact like glasse, especially if common salt be cast in a plentiful manner upon them, being burnt with a very strong fire, because it addes to them being very well burnt within an external glasses smoothness, by which means they will be the better able to retaine spirits in the fire. Wherefore let no man doubt concerning the making the foresaid vessels of any other earth that is white in burning, with the help of a very strong fire: which by how much the greater whiteness it gets in burning, by so much the better and excellent pots it makes; and seeing there is a great difference of making crucibles to be set in the fire, and of stone pots retaining liquid things, I shall shew the manner of making both, viz. of stone pots belonging to the first and second furnace, and of crucibles to the fourth, and thus it is.

He that will try the goodness of white and pure earth, viz. whether it grows stony in the fire, let him cast a peice of crude earth of the bigness of a hens egge into a very strong fire, observing whether it doth quickly or flowly cleave and break in pieces; which if it doth not cleave and become powder, although it may have some cracks, is good earth, and fit for burning, if so be the mixture be well made, in which lyes the art.

The earth that is to be burnt for pots, receivers, and botles, need no other preparation then that for bricks, which because [Page] for the most part it is too fat, you must mixe with it clean sifted fusible sand, tread it with your feet, and knead it with your hands before vessels be made thereof; which being made are to be dryed in the heat of the Sun, or in some other warme place; and being dryed are to be burnt in a very strong fire for the space of twenty four or thirty hours, on which in the mean time you may cast salt if you please, which being thus burnt do like glass retain easily all liquid things. But let him that makes crucibles, tyles, bricks and other vessels appointed for a very strong fire, use more diligence in the making of them. And truly first he must pound very smal with a wooden hammer, the earth being dryed wel in the Sun, or elswhere, and being pounded searse it through a great searse, & to one part of the sifted earth mix two, three, or four parts (the saltness of the earth being considered) of the earth burnt in a potters furnace, and powdered, which being mixed with a sufficient quantity of water he must tread with his feet, and afterwards knead with his hands, and the earth will be prepared for the making of vessels, and when he makes crucibles and tests, let him provide for wooden moulds both greater and smaller, made in a turn, by the help whereof they may be made; for the aforesaid vessels cannot be formed by the usual art of the potters; because the matter of them must be very lean, appointed for a most strong fire, wherefore commonly they are made by the help of moulds after the following manner.

Let a piece of the prepared earth be applyed with your hands to the mould, which you must hold in one hand, applying and fitting the earth thereto with the other, or hold it with your legs, that the earth may be applyed with both your hands. Also you must first rub the mould very well with clean sifted sand, for else the earth will so stick to the wooden mould, that a crucible can scarce be taken off without danger, which being done, it is further fitted by striking it with a wooden instrument smoothed for the purpose, by which means the crucible lyes very exactly upon the mould, for by this means crucibles are made very strong; which being done also let the crucible be taken off, and set upon a board, and be [Page] dryed, first in the aire, then by the heat of the fire, or sun, and then be burned in the first chamber of our fourth furnace, or in a potters furnace. And if you intend only to melt metals▪ and not salts, you need not burn the crucibles if they be well, and exactly made.

Now this caution is to be observed in melting by the help of crucibles not burnt, that you must give fire above by little and little, for fear of breaking the crucibles feeling a suddaine heat.

Now that they may be made equal in strength, weight, and thickness, you must weigh one crucible rightly made by the help of the mould in one scale, and a piece of the prepared earth, which is to be put into the other scale, and if they be equal in weight, take out that piece, and put in another; and this do so often, till you be come to the number of the crucibles which you have made: By this means they are made equal, and you need not cut off any overplus of the earth when it is sitted to the mould, because all are made equal, by reason of the equal weight of the matter of each of them, and the work is sooner done then otherwise.

This indeed is the best way but tedious and laborious, where considering the matter a little more seriously, I found at last that the following way is far better then the former: whereby not only stronger crucibles are made, but also more in one hour, then in that former common wayin three or four. Where first the mould is made of latten (on which I advise you to apply the earth) signified by the letter A. viz. that being the best, which is made by the help of fusion. Then the counter-mould answering this, signified by the letter B. yet so that that do not enter too deep into this, not touching the bottome by the distance at least of one fingers breadth; but in greater crucibles a greater thickness of the bottome is required, as the practise will teach thee.

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[figure]

Let him therefore that is making crucibles apply the earth to the mould, as hath been above said in the first manner, which being done, let him again take off the crucible that is formed or cast, and set it in the aire to be dryed. Then having first made a sufficient number of crucibles, let him make the mould clean from the earth or sand, and annoynt it with grease, or oyle Olive taken up with a sponge, as also the counter-mould, into which let him put the crucible being halfe made and dryed, and into this the mould, which he must strike above twice or thrice with a heavy wooden mallet, that the earth may be rightly, and exactly applyed to the mould; which being done let him take off the mould, and turn the countermould together with the crucible, which let him knock a little against the forme (where the crucibles are made) and let him take in his hand the crucible falling from thence; which he must afterwards dry and burn, as hath been above said in [Page] the first manner. And by this way are made the best, and the best proportioned crucibles, fixed and smooth, not only for melting of metals, but also for minerals and salts; the like to which I never yet saw, as being without all danger, if so be rightly made of the best earth. And that they may be made equal in weight and strength, they must be weighed as before hath been said. And this labour is easie and pleasant, when they are made with ones owne hand, and that greater or lesser at pleasure.

After the same manner also are made tests viz. by the help of the like kinde of moulds, which must not be long but plain like tests, as it appears by the annexed figure, A. and B. Not only tests but also cuples are made by the help of these moulds.

Now tests are made

[figure]

more easily this way then crucibles, because the earth only is weighed, and being handled with the hands is put into the counter-mould, which then you must with the upperpart press hard; that it may be made conformable to the mould, viz. plaine, not long, that which may easily therefore be made; and for this cause those crucibles are easily again taken out, viz. if the mould be turned, or the counter-mould be a little knocked against the sides of the form. And if the earth be beaten in too fast that it goes out at the sides, you must cut it off with a knife, or else the crucible, or [Page] test is hardly taken out, sticking to the brims, that which practise will teach thee. For all things cannot be so accurately demonstrated by pen.

And take this for a caution, that thou do not make thy tests and crucibles of earth that is too soft, but of that which is half dry, otherwise they are hardly taken out of the moulds; for that is more easily and rightly applyed to the mould. And if thou proceed rightly according to the prescript, scarce one crucible of a hundred will be lost.

This also is to be observed, that the superfluous earth which is cut off must not be mixed againe to the mass for crucibles, because it is spoyled with the fat, or oyle that is smeered over the moulds, and therefore cannot be so well mixed againe, and being burnt cleaves, for which cause bad crucibles are made. Wherefore it is to be kept apart for mending of furnaces that are spoiled with an extraordinary heat of the fire; or for cover of crucibles that are to be made by the help of the hands only, or of moulds, which we cannot want, if we would work all things exactly.

Now for tyles, and other vessels that serve for distillation, and melting, they are made by the help of wooden moulds after this manner. Let the mould be made exactly like to tyles, and other vessels, then cut off leaves from the earth being very well prepared, with a copper wier upon two equal tables of wood, and then a piece of the earth is to be laid with a knife upon the mould, that it may there get some hardness; which afterward is to be taken away, dryed well, and burnt. And if any thing further is to be done, viz. by cutting off, or adding, it must be done by earth half dryed, or a little hardened. For by this means any one may get for himself earthen vessels that are necessary, without much cost or paines for certainty sake. For those that are sold are negligently made, in which oftentimes in the drying cracks which are made are filled up with some earthen liniment, before they are burnt, which therefore are not durable in the fire, but are broken, and that oftentimes not without great loss of the metal, which is again to be gathered out of the ashes by the help of a tedious [Page] washing. It is better therefore to work those vessels with ones own hand for certainty sake. For not all & every crucible can alwayes and every where be made equal, and be of a like durableness in the fire, though they are made most diligently: and therefore a consideration being had of their goodness they may be used for divers uses, and the better may be used in the melting of the better metals. But let no man perswade himself that all these can indifferently hold in the fire, although they be the best of all, how many so ever you make; for I never yet saw any earth which could hold litharge in the fire and salt of Tartar, because the best that ever I saw is not free from penetration of them, that which is the greatest impediment of some profitable operations, which therefore are omitted.

And let this which hath been spoken suffice concerning the making of crucibles: let every one therefore that hath a care of his business use better diligence for the time to come in the making crucibles for more certainty sake, and he will not repent of his labor. Now how tests and cuples may be exactly applyed to the aforesaid moulds is not my work at this time to shew, because many yeers since it hath been done by others, especially by that most ingenious man Lazarus Ercker, whose writings concerning the manner of making of tests and cuples I cannot mend, to which Authors I refer the reader, where he shall finde sufficient instruction and information concerning this matter. But there are also other tests of which I shall say nothing in this place, but elswhere happily may, by the help whereof lead is bettered in tryal if it be sometimes melted againe.

Of the vitrification of earthen vessels belonging to the first and second furnace.

IN the defect of glass instruments belonging to our first furnace you may make such as are very useful of the best earth, which being well glazed or double glazed are sometimes better then old glasse, especially those that are made of earth [Page] that do not drink up the spirit such as is found almost every where, which becomes stony being burnt; now the art of burning hath not hitherto been so well known, of which something hath been said already where the earth being burnt with a very strong fire is made so compact as that it becomes hard and solid as a stone. The potters furnaces being too weak for this strong burning, there is required a peculiar furnace for this work, in which the strongest fire for the burning of them may be made; But because no body thinks to build such an one onely for some few vessels not worth the spending of costs and labors; there is yet another way of vitrifying of any sort of earth (red clay only excepted) not to be slighted if well done, especially if the matter vitrifying when it is cold after the burning is ended, doth not cleave and chop, and it is not hurt by corrosive spirits as that glass made of lead retaining spirits, as well subtile as corrosive, as that white vitrification of the Italians and Hollanders; you must therefore in defect of a fitting furnace, wherein vessels being burnt become stony, make them of the best earth and glaze them with the best glass of tin, but not of lead; and by how much the calx of tin goes into the vitrifying mixture, so much the better is it made; for tin being reduced into a calx with lead, hath no more affinity with corrosive spirits; wherefore it is more fit for vitrification. But he that will not not be at so much costs, let him vitrifie with Venice glass powdered, which vitrification also is not to be slighted, requiring a very great heat for the burning, and therefore flowing with great difficulty in these common potters furnaces; wherefore you must mix some borax with the glass that it may flow so much the more easily in the potters furnace. Else you must prove upon the earthen vessels being burnt, water mixt with glass, so that the glass may stick to them every where exactly, which afterwards being very well dryed, shall be gathered together into one heap artificially, lest they take up two great a space like earthen dishes that are to be burnt, and afterwards compass them round about every where with burnt bricks, a hole being left open above for the casting in of [Page] coals, yet so that the bricks be distant from the vessels the breadth of a hand, whereby the coals being cast in above, may the more freely round about go down to the bottome: which space being filled with dry coals you must put upon them other living coales, that the fire being kindled above, may by little and little burn downward and perform its work; which being so done the vessels will be out of all danger, if so be they are well dryed.

The fire being kindled and burning, you must cover the hole with stones, untill the fire of its own accord be extinguisht; the coals being spent and the vessels become cold.

N. B. Now if there be a great heap of vessels, you must the first coals being burnt, add fresh coals once more; for else the vessels being placed in the midle, cannot be sufficiently burnt, nor the glass sufficiently flow; wherefore caution is required in the governing of the fire this manner, where if all things are rightly done, the vessels are better and more truly burnt and vitrified then in any common Potters furnace whatsoever; yet with greater danger to the vessels then in a potters furnace compassed about with wals. But let him that burns crucibles and other smaller vessels, burn them in our melting or distilling furnace, being covered with coals, giving fire first above, for so I my self was wont hitherto to burn all my crucibles, and burn and glaze all other distilling vessels; and this in defect of fitting furnaces is the best way of burning and vitrifying, where in three or four hours space, the vessels are exactly burnt and vitrified. Now the earth that is burnt quickly must be the best and durable in the fire, for fear of the breaking of some of the vessels. Let him therefore in this case for security sake use our fourth furnace, who hath built it with his chambers, in the first whereof he may burn and vitrifie without any danger. But that foresaid way of burning and vitrifying, is not to be slighted; wherefore I would have thee be admonished to be cautious in giving of fire that you give no more or less then you should, lest afterwards you impute the cause of your error committed to me whilest the vessels are broke as if I had not wrote the truth, but to thy self [Page] that errest, and must for the future be more diligent and cautious in this work.

I know other vitrifications of divers colours hitherto unknown, and indeed most secret, not to be communicated to every one indifferently. But he that knows to reduce metals into a true glass, retaining the colour of his metal, is indeed the inventor of a very great secret, to whom if he consider the matter more profundly, and exercise himself therein, a gate is open, with the blessing of God, to a greater light.

There are also other vitrifications, with which the earth being covered doth appear, as if it twere adorned with gems, but because it is not our purpose now to treat of such kinds; I shall make an end of vitrifications, onely one excepted, which yet I shall communicate for the sake of the sick and Physitians, and it is this.

Make little earthen cups very smooth and white of the best earth being burnt: then make the following glasses to flow in a very strong crucible, in which dip one cup after another, being held with tongs, and first made red hot in some little furnace, letting them lye covered therein for a while, that the earth may the better attract the glass, which being done, let them be taken out and be set again into the aforesaid collateral furnace, where they were before made red hot, when one is taken out dip another in the molten glass in its place, which also is again to be set as the first into the aforesaid furnace; and this is to be reiterated so often untill all the pots be covered over with glass: all which being done, the furnace is to be shut close every where, that the winde enter not into it, and so it is to be left untill it become cold of it self, and the glass covering over the cups remaine intire, which otherwise cannot be if the cups be set in a cold place; now the glass is made after this manner.

Take of crude Antimony two parts, of pure nitre one part, grinde them well being mixt together, kindle the mixture being put into a crucible with red hot iron, and the sulphur of the Antimony will be burnt together with the nitre, a mass of brown colour being left behinde, which you must take [Page] out while it is hot with a spatle that it may coole, which afterwards being melted in another strong crucible for the space of half an hour, or an hour, makes that glass with which the aforesaid cups with their covers are covered over.

Of the use of the aforesaid cups.

THere is no one that can deny that Antimony is the most excellent of all vomitives, wherefore so many and so various preparations have been invented by Physitians for the taking away of the malignity thereof; whereof I have shewed some, together with the use thereof in the first and second part of this book, where alwayes one is better then another; yet nothing withstanding tis confest that Antimony reduced in o glass, is sufficient to purge the stomach and bowels from all corrupt humors, and that without all danger (being rightly administred) as well by vomit as by stoole, by which meanes many grievous imminent diseases are not only prevented, but also presently are cured.

But you infer, that this is yet a crude and imperfect preparation, and therefore not so safe. To which I answer, that Antimony that purgeth, needeth no great preparation, for if all the crudity thereof were wholly taken away by fixation it would no more cause vomiting or stools; wherefore the aforesaid glass of Antimony is not to be feared, because it is not dangerous, but may safely be given to children that are one or two yeers old, but not in form of a powder, but in infusion or extraction of its chiefest vertue made with honey, sugar and wine, sweet or sowre. After which manner being given it attracts from all the bowels all vitious humors, and evacuates them aswel upward as downward without danger, of which thing elsewhere more at large. Let him that useth the aforesaid cups infuse one or two ounces of wine, and set them a whole night in some warm place, and the wine will attract from the glass so much as doth suffice it, which afterwards being drunk in a morning, doth perform the same as infusion made with the powder of Stibium; and this is a more delicate [Page] way then the other, because a cup is sent to the patient that he may infuse in it the space of a night two or three spoonfuls of proper wine, placing it in some warm place, which he may drink up blood warm in the morning, with a due ordering of himself afterwards. Which in my judgement is a more delicate way, being made with ones own wine, and ones own hand, then that tedious way of potions both large, bitter, and nauseous. And this cup may oftentimes be used, and if at length the wine should not attract sufficiently, the cup with the wine is to be set in seething hot water for a little time, that the wine might the better attract, and work, when need shall require. Now he that gives such kinde of cups to others must instruct them concerning the ordering, and administring of the same. One cup is sufficient for the master of a family, with his whole family for all the dayes of their life. It is not to be used by all and every one, and in all diseases indifferently, but only by those that are strong and young, and where the principal parts are not hurt. Cups may also after another way be covered over with glass without Antimony, as follows.

Sublime auripignemtum in a glass or earthen gourd; and take the gallant golden coloured flowers thereof, which being after a peculiar manner melted yeeld a red and most beautiful glass, almost like oriental ruby, wherefore being broken in peices may be used in stead of an ornament; but this is more soft, and brittle then glass of Antimony. This glass or those flowers of auripigmentum, which are not yet reduced into glass, do notably devitreat the aforesaid cups with a red beautiful colour.

He therefore that will vitrifie the aforesaid cups must first heat them red hot in a fire made with coals, and being thus hot dip them in the aforesaid melted flowers, and being taken out thence put them under an earthen, or iron red hot vessel, and there let them coole; which do perform the same things as those which are said of the Antimonial cups.

These cups are not dangerous, as to be feared, because as Antimony is corrected by calcination, so auripigmentum is by sublimation: from which if all the malignity be taken away either [Page] by fire, or by nitre, the vomitive vertue is taken away, as afterward shall be demonstrated more at large in these five parts, when they shall come forth again with enlargements, viz. what purging things are, and how they put forth their vertues, a consideration being had of their malignity.

There are also other wayes of vitrification, and indeed very fine, and most desireable by all, if they should be communicated; but because it is not now my purpose to treat here of mechanical things, but onely of some particular vitrifications of vessels belonging to our furnaces, I am resolved to omit them at this time, and make an end of these things. I am resolved, God willing, to set forth these parts more corrected, and in a larger manner, where many excellent things now omitted for some reasons shall be published, and commuincated.

Wherefore I wil now put an end to this fift part, where although I might have added something that is singular concerning artificial furnaces, yet because time will not now permit, it shall be deferred to another time and place, where we shall treat further of the examining, trying and separation of metals: For the best way of melting of metals in a greater quantity hath not yet been known: And although they that deal in minerals perswade themselves of the perfection of their art, yet I can demonstrate an easier, and more compendious way of melting of metals in a shorter time, in a greater quantity, and with less costs and paines. Of which more at large elsewhere, wherefore (Courteous Reader) be contented with these things, and if I shall see that these few things shall be acceptable to thee, I will sometime hereafter for thy sake and to thy profit communicate wonderful secrets which the world will not believe, and which hitherto are hid, either out of envy or ignorance.

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A Cup or melting vessel belonging to the fourth Furnace.

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AN APPENDIX.

TWO yeers since I began to publish my new invented furnaces where also there was mention made of some secrets, which though I thought never to divulge; yet nevertheless I underwent many troubles for the communicating of them. Wherefore I beseech every body that they would no more create troubles to me or to themselves by their petitions or writings, because for certaine causes▪ I shall for the future communicate nothing but those things which follow. Expect therefore patiently the time of another Edition, when these five parts shall come forth more corrected and enlarged, and many most choice secrets shall be communicated, which were for certain causes omitted in the first Edition.

I shall now God willing communicate those things which follow, yet upon this condition (because many are such, that by means thereof thou maist with a good conscience, without hurt to thy neighbour, through Gods blessing, get great riches) that thou be mindful of the poor, and a good steward of [Page] riches got honestly, and use them to the glory of God and the eternal salvation of thy soul.

The preparation of corn, as of Barley, Wheat, Oates, &c. of Apples, Pears, Cherries, &c. where fermentation being made they do yeeld by way of distillation a pure spirit very like the to spirit of wine without great costs; of the remainders whereof if the matter were corn, may be made good beer, or vinegar; but if the matter were any kinde of fruit, as apples, pears, a very good drink like to wine, so that by this means thou maist finde a double profit, by which thou maist not onely have whereby to live honestly, but also to lay up for thy heirs.

An excellent and wholesome drink of fruite, and corn, that is durable and like to Spanish, French, and Rhenish wine.

A distillation of the Aqua vitae of certaine vulgar things not costly and like to the Aqua vitae of French and Rhenish wine.

A preparation of sugar like to the Westerne, and of tartar like to the natural Rhenish, out of honey and not costly; where one pound of sugar doth not exceed the price of eight or ten stivers, and a pound of tartar, that doth not exceed the price of two stivers.

A peculiar purification of crude tartar without loss, and a reduction of it into great crystals not costly, so as the price of one pound doth not exceed six stivers.

The taking away of the ingrateful tast and odour of honey so as afterwards there may be made from thence a certain good Aqua vitae retaining no more the smel and taste of honey: also a very good Meade or Methegline like unto very good wine, with which the same things may be done as with the best wine.

A preparation of Meade out of raisins, great and smal, very like in all things to Spanish wine; out of which also is made a very good vinegar without great costs.

A preparation of wine and good vinegar of wilde grapes.

[...]

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[...]

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[Page] Durable and wholesome drinks of gooseberries, barberries, mulberries, strawberries, and the like.

The mending of troubled acid musty wines, &c.

The preparation of a very good vineger out of certain vegetables which are to be found every where, which may be compared to that which comes out of France, and in a great abundance, whereof two runlets of nine Gallons do not exceed the price of one Ryal.

The promoting of the ripening of wines of the cold countries of Europe (a very few that are very cold being exempted) that they may yeeld very good sweet and durable wines, whereas otherwise they could come to no maturity being very like to those which hotter countries yeild.

A certain secret way of carrying wines from mountainous places, where carts, ships, and other commodities are wanting, where the carrying of ten pipes, doth not exceed the price of one pipe otherwise carryed, so that by this means, outlandish wines may be brought to any place with great profit.

A very good and easie preparation of verdegrease out of copper, whereof one pound doth not exceed the price of six stivers.

A new and compendious distillation of vinegar, of which a runlet of eighteen gallons doth not exceed the price of half a ryal, with which many things may be done, especially the crystallizing of verdegrease, of which one pound prepared after this manner, doth not also exceed the price of halfe a Ryal.

A compendious and very easie way of distilling a very strong spirit of urine, and that without any cost and paines, so that twenty or thirty pints shall not exceed the price of one ryal, being very excellent in medicine, Alchimy and Mechanique affaires, by the help whereof a most beautiful blew vitriol may be made out of copper, being very profitable in Alchimy and medicine, making silver so fusible, that by the help thereof glass vessels, as basons, dishes, and candlesticks, &c. may be so guilded as to be taken for silver.

[Page] A way of distilling the spirit of salt in a great quantity, and that with smal costs, so that one pound thereof will scarce exceed the price of 6. stivers being very excellent in Alchimy, medicine & other arts, especially for the doing of these following things, viz. the separation of gold from silver without hurt to the cups or other things, also the solution and separation of gold mixt with copper and silver by the force of precipitation, where the menstruum that is preserved, may again be used for the same uses, which separation is the easiest of all other humid separations, whereby gold is reduced to the highest degree.

The separation of volatile sparkling gold out of sand, &c. very profitable, without which otherwise it could never be separated, neither by the helpe of washing, nor by Mercury, nor by the force of melting.

An Artificial secret, and hitherto unheard of trying of stubborn metals finding out their tenaciousness, which otherwise could not be found out: for oftentimes there are found golden mines, which are stubborn, in which nothing is found out by that common way, and therefore they are left unlaboured in, and sometimes elsewhere, where there are not found mines of metals, there are found other things, as white and red talc, that yeeld nothing, being tryed the common way, or very little, all which yet abound with gold and silver which may be separated this way.

A new and unheard of compendious way of melting mines in great plenty, where in the space of one day by the heate of a certaine separating furnace, more may be melted then by the common way in the space of eight daies, where not onely costs are separed, but where also is hope of greater gaine.

Another way for the better proving of things melted, and a new way of separating silver from lead.

A very speedy way of melting minerals, whereby they are melted in great plenty, by the help of pit coals, in defect of other coales.

The fixation of minerals, sulphureous, Arsenical, Antimonial; and others that are volatile, which cannot be retained [Page] and melted by the force of fire, by the help of a certain peculiar furnace with a grate, so that afterwards they may by infusion yeeld gold and silver.

The melting of gold and silver, that sparkles, and is rarified, out of sand, pure clay, flints, &c. by the help of melting.

The separation of gold lying hid in baser minerals and metals most profitable, which cannot be done the common way.

A very quick Artificial and easie separation of melted gold and silver by the help of fusion, so that in the space of one day, by the help of one furnace, some hundreds of Marks may be separated with far less costs and labour, then that common way by cement and Aqua fortis.

The reduction of elaborated gold of chaines and other ornaments unto the highest degree; also the separation of gold from guilded silver, by the help of fusion, by which means a hundred marks are more easily separated then twenty of the common way.

A certain way whereby more silver is separated from lead them by copper.

A separation of good gold from any old iron, which although it be not a labour of great gaine, yet it is sufficient for those who are contented with a few things.

A separation of gold and silver, from tin or copper, according to more or less. The maturation of mines, so that they may afterwards be able to yeeld more gold and silver, then by the common way, also the separation of gold and silver out of Antimony, Arsenick, and Auripigmentum.

The separation of the external sulphur of Venus, that the son Cupid may be born.

The separation of silver from the cuples, into which it enters in the tryal without melting or any other labour or cost.

The preparation of divers earthen things to be done in any part of the world, like to the Porcelane, that hold fire and retaine spirits.

[Page] A certain Allome exalting and fixing any colour, especially requisit for scarlet and other pretious colours, with a certain prepetual cauldron, that doth not alter colours, and is not costly.

A making of colours for painters, as of purple gum, ultramarine, not costly, and especially of that rich white, never before seen, like to pearl and Margarites, also a peculiar colouring of gold and silver.

FINIS.

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A Preface to the Reader.

WHAT moved me to annex an Appendix to those five books of my Philosophical Furnaces, you may presently see in the entrance thereof, which therefore I accounted superfluous to repeat. Moreover my aime was to declare to the world, how great, and hitherto unknown, and most profitable secrets God hath reserved for this age for the sustaining of our life, not doubting, but to provoke, and excite many perverse men to a due thankfulness to God. But the contrary fals out: For the Appendix which you have seen hath begot great admiration in many, as well learned, as unlearned, that God should reserve so great and hitherto unknown secrets to be revealed to this age, who therefore have given God thanks. But others, and indeed very many, have according to their usual manner derided the Appendix, and have proclaimed the contents thereof for things impossible and lyes, wherof even some that are scornful, and slanderous (being ignorant of nature and art) have broke forth into these words. It is a wonder that Glauber doth not teach how to make bread of stones, since he hath taught the possibility of making wine out of water, that husbandmen for the future may not be at so great labors. Such sort of cavillations as these, men have such devised in their meetings, whereof some would seem learned and wise, who by [Page] reason of too much wisdome (folly) know not themselves, who indeed are blockish, unlearned, rude, and proud asses, although puffed up, despising others far more skilful; whose ignorance I do so much admire, as they do my writings, seeing now with open eyes the reasons of many mens silence, to whom God hath given a singular knowledge of natural things, who left nothing to posterity. But it matters not much, For it is impossible to please all; as experience can witness from the beginning of the world till this day, wherefore there is nothing strange. But how ever it be, yet it is no wonder that any one should take it ill that the ingratitude of wicked men should be a reward of his labours, as also their cavillations and contumelious reporting of mens writings to be false and lyes. Why doth not Glauber, if he had the knowledge of so great things, of which he made mention in the Appendix, make himself rich, but lives in idleness? Therefore they are nothing but vaine dreams. Thou dost judge very excellently of colours, which thou never sawest, to whom I am not constrained to give an account of my idleness; of which if thou hadst asked me, without doubt I had given thee satisfaction, and had prevented thy foolish censure. But such kind of men betray their own ignorance of things that are to be performed by fire; for he that goes about to catch fishes, doth not cast his net upon the mountaines, but into the water; so he that gets his living in metals must needs be conversant in these places where metals are found.

Now that I have lived in these places so many yeers with disprofit besides my will, hath been a hindrance to my fortune, which elswhere, where I might have operated, perhaps might have happened to me. But it is better to possess a few things in peace, then many things in the hazardousness of a dreadful war. But now I am fully resolved, whether that most desired peace of Germany succeed or no, to betake my self to such places, where I may have opportunity to handle coales and mines; which when I have done, let cavillers, if they will, enquire, whether I do any thing, whereas indeed in this place I was not minded to attempt any thing whereby to be rich, by reason of inconveniences: For in this place I had enough to do, all things being dear, to get an honest livelyhood, and to search into the secrets of nature for thy good, and to make experiment in less things, greater being neglected. Hence the cause of my slothfulness will appear to thee; wherefore do not thou any more judge rashly, but minde thine own affaires, aud let other men alone. And this [Page] is the cause of explaining the Appendix which was made not for the general and universal communicating of those secrets, the knowledge whereof (as you may guess) is not so easily to be attained to, but for the demonstration of the truth, that toyes and and trifles may no more be esteemed by the incredulous and ignorant, but the profitable secrets of nature (the inventor whereof I can boldly pronounce my self to be) prized, and received by all, and every one.

Wherefore from the beginning to the end I shall treat of each of them briefly, and shall give the explanation of each, as far as I may without prejudice, that they may be received not for dreams, but for natural sciences, certaine, and most profitable, for the confutation sake of cavillers.

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Annotations upon the Appendix of the FIFTH BOOK.

PARAGRAPH I.

A preparation of corn, wheat, barley, oates, &c. also of pears, apples, cherries, and other tree fruits, to be performed by the help of a certain fermentation, whereby through the help of distillation they yeeld a very good and most pure spirit, very like to that which is made of the lees of wine, without great costs: where also from the remainders of the corn (the burning spirit being drawn off) may be made a very good beer or vineger; and of the remains of the fruits a very good drink like to wine. Whence there is a double benefit, so that any one may not only have from thence wherewith to live, but also to lay up.

THis Art hath appeared to many very strange, of which no man yet hath made mention. Some having knowledge of the common distilling Art, have thought that that which is to be distilled, having a burning spirit is to be put into a still, yeelding all its spirit in the fire, nothing thereof being left in the remainders: This is to be ascribed to their ignorance, they not knowing to give an account of their operations, operating only out of use and custome things which they have seen & heard, not considering with themselves, that there may [Page] be given a better or nearer way of distilling of spirits; with whom I will not contend, but only shew in brief, which way all kindes of corn, and fruits being distilled yeeld more spirits then that common way, or at least how, the spirit being abstracted, something may be made of the residue of the matter, being equall in the price to the matter distilled, so that by this means the burning spirit may be had almost for nothing: and it is done after this following manner. It cannot be denyed, that all vegetables whatsoever, as all kinds of corn and fruits, also grass it self, being prepared and fermented, yeeld a burning spirit more or lesse in quantity and quality, viz. a consideration being had of the maturity, or immaturity, fatness or dryness of them. For those things which are fatter, and sweeter, yeeld more spirits, then things which are unripe, sowre and dry; for by how much more the subjects are dry and less ripe, so much the fewer spirits doe they yeeld, and that not before fermentation, which gives them such a maturity as to make them yeeld their spirit in distillation, which otherwise they would not doe. Hence therefore it doth necessarily follow that fermentation is the onely cause of the burning spirit, and by consequence the onely Medium whereby plenty of spirits are obtained, viz. if the things be rightly and well fermented, whereby they are so qualified as to be able afterward to yeeld their burning spirits the more easily; which by how much the better they are fermented, doe yeeld the more. But seeing that common fermentation is not sufficient for the totall elevation of the burning spirit, it comes to pass that the best part thereof is left in the still, which hitherto by reason of ignorance hath been used to no other purpose then to feed hogges, which is ill done, for the matter that is left ought first to have lost its fatness, and that either by distilling of more spirits, or by the making of beer or vineger, before the reliques be cast to Hogges; whence there comes a double profit to the operator. But you must not be ignorant that for this operation you must not make choice of any common Cauldron in which fruits are used to contract an Empyreuma, viz. an ungratefull tast, and smell, but [Page] another certain instrument of the same Nature, which wil hinder and not permit the adustion of the matter which is to be distilled, though it be thick, by the help whereof there is obtained a very sweet spirit, & in a great aboundance by the help of our secret fermentation. And so thou dost understand the reasons, by the help whereof more, and sweeter spirits are obtained from corn, and fruits (whence a double gain) viz. by the help of a certain vessel or instrument, and of our secret fermentation.

PARAG. II.

The making of wine not unlike to Rhenish, French, or Spanish, that shall endure for the space of many yeares, out of corn and fruits.

IN this Paragraph the matter is otherwise then in the first, for in the first is shewed how out of corn, and fruites are drawn spirits, both more and better then by that common way; but in the second, how out of those may be made a drink like to naturall wine, of divers kinds, colors, tastes, and odors, according as you please, and indeed like to Rhenish or French wine, for ordinary drink, or to Spanish, being sweeter and fatter then that; also such as shall be durable for many years, and serve for the same uses to which naturall wine is appointed: so as that there can scarce any difference be perceived. Which indeed is a most excellent and profitable Art, because clear wine is deservedly preferred before muddy beer. But thou wilt say that that beer which is made of corn, although it be like to wine, viz. in colour and tast, yet it is not true wine, as not being made of grapes, but rather cleer beer of a good tast. But know that I am not the first that put the name of wine upon drinks that resemble wine in odour, tast and colour. For that expressed juice of pears and apples is called new wine, or the wine of pears and apples, and that not without cause; for if any individuall things agree in all and each property, why may they not be called by one and the same name? Is not that burning spirit which is drawne out of corn every where called the wine of corn, which if men knew (as they know not) how to prepare, it would be like in all things to spirit of wine, that which no [Page] body yet besides my selfe, as I ever knew, could do. Where let no man judge this secret to be impossible, but rather let him consider the matter profoundly, or enquire the truth of the thing of those who know it, and he will find it to be an Art most excellent and usefull for the preserving of life. If any one could in cold countries that have no wines, make out of corns, and fruits, a drink like wine, cleare, wholesome, well rellished, and lasting, would he not do a thing that would be acceptable to all? Truly although men would choose for their drinking muddy beer as an accustomed drink, yet that would be more acceptable for the comforting of the old and weak. Besides also there is made out of the same wine a very good and clear vineger, better then that which is made out of beer. Although thou sayest that that making of wine, viz. out of peares and apples is a very common thing, and that these wines may in some qualities agree with those naturall that are out of expressed grapes, yet in some they doe not, because they will not last above halfe a year, or a yeare, but will be corrupted; and that vineger made thereof is not durable, hut corruptible, and will grow red and contract a slimyness; and therefore for goodness not to be compared with those expressed out of grapes: To which I answer, I confess that this wine made out of apples and peares, is not comparable to that which is expressed out of grapes. For apples, and pears, and other fruits of trees want some qualities which grapes have; and on the contrary have some qualities which grapes have not; which being taken away, and those added, they yeeld a wine in all things comparable to that which is expressed out of grapes: Such as I have alwayes by me for my ordinary drink, being drunk of many for Rhenish wine, being better then that French sulphurated and sophisticated wine. Wherefore this is a very profitable and excellent art, not only for countryes that lack wine, but also for those that abound with it: For in any place of the world corn is had and tree fruits are had, yea even in the coldest countries, out of which a very good wine may be drawn, which may be used in stead of dearer wine, that is brought from other places, or [Page] is made at home with greater costs; for grapes are propagated with greater costs, then corn, and tree fruits, whereof some also are had for nothing, & are produced in all places, in fields, and every where with manuring; whereas grapes require the best manuring, and a due heat of the Sun, and other labors. I was brought up in Franconia, a country abounding with wine; where the most common drink of most that keep vineyards is water, for they sell their own wine for to buy necessary things, because wines require a great care, and diligence, through out the whole summer, which if it be hot, yeeld better wine then if otherwise, and dearer, which is sent into other countries that have no wine. It is very little that those that keep vineyards reserve for themselves for recreation sake: but when the coldness of May spoils the buds; or a blast in June the flowers, or hail the grapes when almost ripe (that which often happens in mountainous places) then they have little hope for the present, being constrained for the future, to dress vineyards for a livelyhood, who are oftentimes forced for the avoiding of poverty, to sell one vineyard that they may manure another, or else to borrow money which they must return with interest in the harvest. What counsell then shall I give them in case there should be a scarcity of some yeares? Wherefore I testifie that those Vinedressers are for the most part very poor, and drink water and not wine, which they are wont to make for others; but others who are wel monyed, and are able in the time of great scarcity, to dress their vineyards become richer, lending or putting their money to use to the poorer, &c. Now that this Art of making wine is very profitable, not only for countries that have no wine, but also for those that abound with wine, I will thus prove▪ Most of those places that have much wine want beer, wherefore the rich drink wine, and the poor are constrained to drink water, or such drink which is made out of expressed grapes, & water, with which they quench their thirst in summer time, because necessity of buying things to eat, forceth them to sell the wine, and forbids them to drink it. Who if they knew how to make this kind of drink of pears & apples [Page] which are every where had there in woods in great aboundance, they might refresh themselves a whole yeare therewith, and sell their own native wine to buy necessary things therewith: which art being unknown they must be content to drink fountain water, &c. Perhaps thou wilt demand whether those places have any corn, out of which they may make bear. Truly they have aboundance, but the Inhabitants care not for beer, the poor whereof had rather drink water, that is clear and pure, then beer that is as muddy as horse piss, being without doubt mindfull of that German Proverb, Eat things boyled, drink things clear, and speak things true, that thou mayst live.

Let these things therefore which have been spoken and demonstrated concerning the possibility of the art of making wine out of corn and fruit, in any place of the world, suffice, &c.

PARAG. III.

A making of a burning spirit out of the baser sort of things which are commonly known, like to that made out of Rhenish and French wine, and at an easie rate.

THis Paragraph needs no long demonstration, because you may easily understand it out of what hath beene already said, which are very like to those things which are spoken in the third Paragraph, of which you need make no doubt, but take them for truths.

PARAG. IV.

The making of sugar (like to that of West-India) and of Tartar (like to the Rhenish) out of honey, not costly: so that the price of one pound of sugar doth not exceed 8 or 10 stivers: and a pound of Tartar exceed not the price of 2 stivers.

THe possibility of this operation will easily appear to him that shall rightly consider the Nature, and properties of honey. For there is a great affinity betwixt sugar and honey, [Page] as it appears by the separation of the principles of both, of which it is not now my purpose to treat, but only to demonstrate the possibility of the Art. Sugar is a certain sweet juice found in a cane or reed, like marrow, where being maturated in hotter countries by the heat of the Sun, it is cut off, broken in a mill, and pressed forth, being not unlike in colour to brown honey: which afterwards is purified and clarified, and being clarified is carryed from thence into Europe. So also is honey a certain sweet vegetable juice attracted by Bees out of the flowers of trees, and other vegetables growing in medows, and fields, and gathered together with a great deale of diligence for their livelihood: resembling for the most part course and crude sugar, but yet a little impurer, and cruder then sugar, as experience can testifie. The matter being so, why may not honey be by Art purged from all impurities, and be made like to sugar? Is not sugar oftentimes used in Apothecaries shops in the place of honey, and honey in the place of sugar, viz. in the preparing of syrops, and Conserves, because there is no difference betwixt them, then that sugar is naturally a little purer then honey, and of a more gratefull tast? but the unpleasantness of the tast of honey is easily taken away, so as that it may be made like to honey in all things. Which art at length without doubt will become known to the world, (with the help of these my writings) viz. the making of sugar out of honey, that we need no more obtain it at such great costs.

As for the making of Tartar out of honey, we need not doubt of the possibility thereof, as neither of the making of sugar thereout; but this seemes more probable then that; because both are sweet, viz. honey and sugar; but tartar not so, being hard and acid; wherefore I will demonstrate the possibility thereof by a few certain similitudes, and examples, beginning with the example of new wine that is sweet in the beginning before fermentation, which by decoction is inspissated, and reduced to the consistency of a thick syrop, like to honey and sugar in tast; which being kept in clean earthen vessels, or rather glassen, yeelds of its own accord in process [Page] of time an essentiall proper salt sticking to the brims of the bigness of egges, like to red sugar candy; the faeces being left apart, together with the residue of the sugar, which by reason of its too great filthiness could not produce crystals: This is not inferiour in sweetness to the Indian sugar, that grows in Canes, which sweetness being alterable by fermentation i [...] converted into acid Tartar. In this example there is given to us by nature an opportunity to consider better of the possibility of this Art, whilest sugar is made of new wine, by taking away the filthiness and superfluous aquosity thereof. The same also is apparent in raisins (grapes dryed by the heat of the Sun) in which there is found corned sugar, if they are kept for the space of an year, like to that which is produced in new wine inspissated: Wherefore good housewifes in countries that abound with wine are wont often to inspissate their new wine to the thickness of honey, which they keep for the space of a year, and use in meats and drinks. The same is done with sweet pears and cherries being bruised, expressed, and inspissated to the consistency of honey, which being reserved for the space of some years, yeeld a sugar as muste doth: the purer part whereof oftentimes in defect of strong earthen vessels penetrates the pores of those that are infirm, viz. the essentiall salt sticking to the outside of the earthen vessell, coagulated and crystallized, most beautifull, and very white even as the purest sugar, because the purest part only penetrates the porous earth, the faeces being left behind in the pot. Hence therefore it appears that every sweet vegetable, and every sweet juice yeeld a salt as sweet as sugar, which sweetness is converted into Tartar. Why then dost thou make any doubt of honey which is more pure then those expressed juices? But thou sayst that the conversion of honey into sugar is indeed probable because the same thing happens in other inspissated sweet juices, that are of affinity with sugar in sweetness, but not the conversion of it into Tartar, because Tartar is an acid salt, but sugar sweet, and therefore they cannot come from one and the same root.

I answer, the cause of incredulity is the stupidity of the [Page] brain, which if it were so porous as the womens pots penetrated by the sugar of the new wine, without doubt a belief of the possibility would finde entrance into it, and that in as great a plenty as the sugar that sweats out of the pots. Behold now thy long asse [...]ares, which thou canst not cover, and thy little understanding of naturall things! What advantage is it to contradict the truth with ignorance?

Now I will tell thee how an acid tartar may be made out of sweet things, and that not for thy sake (who art wise only to thy self to the deceiving thy self, and others) but for their sakes, who are not ashamed to learn. Consider that new sweet wine is pressed out from grapes, and that most sweet salt comes from thence by the help of inspissation, which is made by evaporating the aquosity, which not being separated, there is by fermentation produced plenty of Tartar; the cause of the separation of which is nothing but the fermentation, congregating the purer parts, and separating the thicker. But thou dost yet further demand, whether this be to be ascribed to fermentation only, that sweet things produce tartar, and wherefore it is not produced in water dulcified with honey and sugar, viz. Mead or Metheglin; in whose vessels is never found Tartar; wherefore thou concludest that it cannot be done by any common fermentation. Now thou dost rightly urge; but that is not a vulgar or common fermentation, by which that Tartar of Hydromell is obtained, because by that operation the separation of tartar cannot be: wherefore such kinde of drinks are unwholesome, and ungratefull, and laxative, although old, because nothing is added to the honey that may cause that separation. For he that knowes not how to make Tartar out of honey cannot also make wine thereof. But I may not now publish that secret by the help whereof these things are done, but it must a little while be reserved for friends untill the time (in which all things are changed) of revelation shall draw nigh. In the mean let the demonstration of the possibility [...]suffice. I had truly sooner attained to this Art at the first, if any one had given me so much light: And because I never could read [Page] or hear any such thing, thou mayst easily conjecture, what great costs, and what great labours I underwent for this things sake.

PARAG. V.

A peculiar purification of vulgar impure Tartar, without any loss, and the crystallizing or reduction of it into great crystalls, a pound whereof being purified doth not exceed the price of 6 stivers.

THis Art consists only in a convenient precipitation, whereby together, and at once all the muddiness is separated from the dissolved Tartar. Wherefore nothing or little is lost; and therefore Tartar is easily converted into great crystals.

PARAG. VI.

The taking away of the ungratefull odour, and tast of honey, which being taken away there is drawn forth out of the honey a very good burning spirit which savours not of the qualities of honey, and also a hydromel like to naturall wine in tast and other vertues, &c.

THis secret also consists in the precipitation of the superfluous muddiness, and ungratefull odour. Whereby the honey obtains a gratefull tast, and odour, so that from thence may be made a good wine and vineger.

PARAG. VII.

The making of a hydromell, very good and clear, out of Raisins, both greater and smaller, resembling the best Spanish wine; out of which also is made a very good and clear vineger.

RAIsins are nothing else but ripe grapes dryed, which in Spain, and other hot countries are cut off in a just season, and are dryed upon warm Earth, and being dryed are sent [Page] into Germany, and other countreys; which in their nature and property are nothing elce but the juice of grapes dryed in the husk, for the aquosity whilest they are in drying, leaves in the husk a sweet juice, as the sugar or essence of grapes; which being lost by the heat of the Sun, the humidity may be restored again by other water, so that wine may be made thereof; that which hath been tryed of many, who have poured upon raisins whole or cut, warm water, and fermented them in a tub or other vessel, that by this means they might obtain Spanish wine or Sack: but it hath not succeeded according to their expectation, for they have not got wine, but a certaine sweet liquor; because the raisins in drying have assumed another nature, by reason whereof they cannot yeeld such a wine as those that are new are used to do. Wherefore hitherto the making of sack out of raisins hath not been known, like to that which is made out of new grapes, which is now found out. It is beleived by many that raisins by the pouring on of water, recover that which departed from them in the drying, and therefore that the making of wine out of them is possible, like in vertue and tast, to that which is made out of new grapes. But this is not done by the common way, but by another, viz. by the help of a certain precipitation, or taking away of the tast of the raisins, by the promoting of fermentation, and separation of the heterogeneall parts. For it is not any peculiar Art to make a certain sweet drink out of raisins by the addition of water after that common known way, which cannot undergoe the proof of true durable wine, but being not yet clarified by the fermentation that is made, doth by little and little grow sour, that which good Spanish wine (although that grow sowre before others) doth not, being durable for the space of some years, if it be rightly ordered. Wherefore because those wines made after that common way out of raisins, are not durable (as experience can witnesse) the making of them was afterward neglected, because of an opinion which men had of the impossibility thereof; which fault is not to be imputed to the raisins, but to the Artist; for if in the drying nothing but the insipid humidity evaporate, [Page] all the goodness being left in the raisins, why should the making of wine out of them be impossible by restoring of a humidity like to the naturall? But the strong tast of the raisins which is got by drying which no one can take away hinders it: But in case any one knew how to doe it, he shall not be able only to make thereof a Spanish, but also a Rhenish wine. But thou wilt ask, how can Rhenish wine be made of Spanish raisins; which being new yeeld only a sweet wine? The answer is given in the preceding Paragraphs, where the possibility of making divers kinds of wines out of any sweet matter is demonstrated.

I dare devoutly affirm that I have sometimes made out of those common raisins, and honey, sweet wines, which have been drunk by most for Spanish. No more therefore of this thing which will be confirmed by experience.

But I shall say this in the place of conclusion, that if thou didst know to take away the ungratefull tast and odour of hony, thou mayst in any place of the world, where honey is to be had, or sweet pears, make good sack, or haply any other, as Mallago, or that which is called the wine of Simon Peters Mount, viz. without raisins, because the matter of them is to be had in every place. These kinds of wine yeeld also a white, cleer, and very sharp vineger, and indeed better then the French, and Rhenish. Such kinds of wines may also be made all the year long, so that thou needst not be tyed to any certain time of the year; that which is a great profit for those, who every year have a great loss of wine.

PARAG. VIII.

How good wines, and good vinegers may bee made in those places, where grapes grow in unmanured placs, and are acid.

THis secret also is very profitable; grapes indeed may be planted in colder places, but not coming to a maturity, cannot yeeld good wine, being immature and sowre; witness Germany, where oftentimes in a cold summer season, as also [Page] in other places otherwise hot, not attaining to a ripeness yeeld a thin and acid wine, wherefore also oftentimes the masters of the vineyard suffer great loss, not knowing how to sell their wines, not being worth transportation, being left for themselves to drink, or for another year to be mixed with better for the better selling of them, and indeed not without great disprofit to them: for if there follow a barren yeare also, they know not how to help their sowre spring wine; and if there follow a yeare fertile enough, producing sweet grapes, yet those wines cannot wanting their own proper goodness, be sold, wherefore they cannot adde any goodness to the sowre wines of the former year, their own being scarse sufficient for them. Wherefore those have need of a very good helper, which yet they have not found; For I have often had experience for the space of many yeares, of the various corruptions of those wines being lost. Also it often fals out that the vinedressers doe in a bad harvest choose only the better grapes, the worst being left on the wine, to their great disprofit, who if they knew how to take away the sowreness of the unripe grapes, would not without doubt cast them away thus. For sowre wine being expressed from unripe grapes, may easily be corrected and amended, so as to be taken for the best, that which I know by my own experience, viz. that very good wine may be made out of unripe hard grapes being pounded, and pressed, like to Rhenish in the judgement of all. Let others also judg of the excellency of this secret, by the help whereof, not only in colder places, where wine cannot at all come to maturity, but also in hotter countries by reason of the inclemency of the air, may be so corrected and amended by helping the unripe grapes, that it becomes to be the best and most excellent, which being known to many it may be so helped, that afterwards they may sell wines corrected by their Art so much the better. Moreover unripe grapes growing natural in vineyards unmanured by reason of the distemper of war, left upon the vines, and otherwise unprofitable, may by the help of this Art be corrected and bettered, as to yeeld good wine. This Art therefore, if it be practised is very good and profitable, yet [Page] not to be communicated to all, and each indifferently, because it may being published be helpfull to enemies as to friends: wherefore it is rather to be concealed, then to be revealed to the disprofit of others, untill it shall please God at last to have it done. Let this suffice therefore to have been said of the possibility therefore.

PARAG. IX.

Also the preparation of wholesome drinks out of Gooseberries, Barberries, Mulberries, and other wild fruits.

THis refers it self to the second, and 8 Paragraph: for the same Art which makes for the maturation of immature grapes serves also for this business, and it is one and the same process on al sides, only one excepted, which is the correcting of that wild odor of those wild fruits, which is not in grapes, for which cause grapes are to be preferred before those; but those before these for the aboundance of them in every place; and these also may be planted sooner, and easier then grapes, which cannot be propagated in unmanured places. For if any sprout of one or two spans, of gooseberries, or barberries, be set in the earth in the spring, it can produce fruits the very same yeare, even in cold countries, and unmanured places: yet a fatter place produceth fatter, and greater kernels, and fruits.

PARAG. X.

The correcting of troubled, viscous, wines, and such as begin to be red, musty, and sowre.

THis Paragraph seems to be of no moment, yet vintners cannot well be without this secret. For we often see that whole buts of wines are spoiled, and contract a viscousnesse, redness, filthiness and stink. Are such now to be cast away? No; for it would be a great loss, but we may help them by medicaments, as we doe sick men. If therefore thou chance to have such wine, thou must precipitate all its filth, and [Page] within a few dayes it will recover all its former goodness, color, and clearness. Also that which begins to be sowre, and is not yet turned to vineger, may recover its former goodness; viz. being helped by due means: but that which is too acid is rightly turned into vineger which no one can want, and that without losse.

PARAG. XI.

A very easie making of vineger in great quantity out of certain vegetables, that are every where to be had, viz. very good, clear, and durable, like to French vineger, &c.

THis is a very excellent secret, by the help whereof very good and durable vineger may be made in any place of the world out of certain vegetables, and that in great quantity, and with little costs. And this secret is for those great Sea Marttowns, where there is great trading, whence with great gain, it may be carryed into other Provinces.

PARAG. XII.

A production of wines in cold places, which otherwise by reason of the cold air doe not bring forth wines, (the coldest places of all only excepted) viz. of the best, sweetest, odoriferous, and durable, not giving place for goodness, clearness, sweetness, durableness, to those that are made in Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

THis secret agrees almost with 8 or 9, but this here is required in the first place, that the Vine-dresser apply to the root of the Vine, that is to be helped, a nourishing, comfortting and fructifying medicine, which may also preserve it from the cold, which is necessary for the production of grapes; which although they doe not attain to a m [...]turity may yet afterwards as well as in the fermentation be perfected, so as you may have very good and excellent wine from thence.

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PARAG. XIII.

A certain secret, by the help whereof wines are easily transported from mountainous places, remote from rivers, and destitute of other conveniences of carriage, so that the carrying of ten vessels is of a cheaper price then otherwise the carrying of one.

THis Paragraph offends many, as well learned as unlearned, ignorant of secrets, judging the thing impossible, and nothing else but dreams and fancies. Which comming to my ears made me repent of what I had wrote, because I have created to my self divers troubles, and the contradictions of many: Yet I was comforted again, considering, that this is the fashion of this perverse and ignorant world, being wont to carp at honest men, and their knowledge. Many judge this thing incredible, because of the want of winged Carts, that need not horses, confirming one the other in unbeleife, leading one another after the manner of the blind, by the hands, and concluding the impossibility thereof. But wherefore I pray thee dost thou judge so perversly? for if thou wast master but of one secret before others, thou wouldst not judge so rashly, but rather wouldst judge of things unknowne to thee, as not to be contemned; for it is the manner of detractors to seek their own glory, despising the opinions of others, who if they were not blockish and sluggish, need not play the Parasites and Sycophants, being crafty appendixes of Courts, doing all their businesses cunningly, whose misfortunes are not to be lamented, being ashamed to learn, and to handle coals. But to my purpose that I may demonstrate the truth. New wine decocted, and inspissated before its fermentation loseth nothing of its vertues, besides an acid insipid humidity, as experience testifies, when as yet when fermentation is made, feeling heat loseth its burning spirit, viz. its better part, the insipid and unprofitable being left behind, as you may see in the distilling of wine. It follows therefore, that new wine assoon as it is pressed forth, must before [Page] its fermentation be boiled to the consisting of honey, but not after that tedious way in a cauldron, which gives an ungratefull tast to the new wine, but in a certain peculiar secret vessel. The humidity being evaporated there remains the eight or tenth part, which resembles honey in its form, in which all the vertue lies. Which juice being thickned, and brought into a narrow compass, and shut up in a vessell may more easily be transported into other places, then those ten parts not inspissated, the carrying or transportation whereof is not only far dearer, but also oftentimes is suspected of being sophisticated by the wagoners, mixing water with the wine.

That inspissated juice being transported to other places is turned into wine, if it be dissolved in a sufficient quantity of water, viz. as much as went from it in the decoction or inspissation, or in a less quantity, if thou desirest a stronger and better wine, and being dissolved is put up into the vessels to be fermented.

Not only one kind, but divers kinds of wines may be made out of new wine inspissated, viz. according to the different quantity of water, that is to be mixed with it, and indeed not without great gain, so that we need not that tedious & costly transporting of outlandish sweet wines, out of France, Spain, and Italy.

N. B. that the new wine is not to be inspissated in a cauldron, by reason of the ungratefull odour, and tast, which it contracts thence, or adustion. But there is required a certain peculiar precipitation, by the help whereof that yellowness, and tast contracted in the decoction of the new wine is separated for clarification sake: without which two secrets, viz. the secret decoction and precipitation, or clarifying in time of fermentation, good wine cannot be made. He therefore that knows those may within a few yeares get great riches by the making of divers sorts of wines: but let the ignorant abstain from this wine-making. Thou maist first make tryall in a Cauldron, inspissating new wine of a lesser value, and thou shalt see by experience that no wine goes from the new juice, that which inspissated being left in the [Page] bottom of the vessell, and to this thou maist again mix a sufficient quantity of water, for the dissolving of it, and thou shalt have a new wine having the same sweetness of the first, except the tast attracted from the Cauldron, which dissolution, fermentation being made, yeelds a wine, but ungratefull by reason of the yellowness, and tast contracted from the Cauldron. But if thou knowest those two aforesaid secrets withous doubt thou shalt make most excellent wines of new wine inspissated.

PARAG. XIV.

A very easie preparation of verdygrease out of old copper, of which a pound doth not exceed the price of 6 stivers.

THis indeed is a very good secret, whereby after a most easie, not tedious, or costly way, verdy-grease is made in great quantity very usefull for Painters, whereby any one may be able to maintain his family honestly.

PARAG. XV.

A new and unheard of distillation of vineger in great quantity, of which two runlets of nine gallons exceed not the price of half a ryall, with which many excellent things may be done, especially the crystallizing of verdy-grease, of which one pound doth not exceed the price of half a ryall.

THis way of distilling hath yet hitherto been altogether unknown, and worthy to be mentioned in this place, because no body can be without distilled vineger in Chymicall operations, and the rather because by the help thereof colours are purged, and clarified, so as to be sold for a greater price, by which means any man may honestly maintaine his family. Which otherwise cannot be done in the distilling of vineger in glass vessels, which is tedious and costly.

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PARAG. XVI.

A very easie distillation of the most strong spirit of urine, very speedy, not costly, nor tedious, where 20 or 30 pints may be made for a ryall, by the help whereof many excellent things may be done in Physick, Alchymy, and Mechanicall affaires, but especially with it vitrioll is made out of copper, very beautifull, blew, and most excellent in Medicine, and Alchymy: with which silver is made so fusile, that by the help thereof glass vessels (as cups, basons, dishes, and other vessels) may as well inwardly, as outwardly be gilded: so as to appear like silver.

IN the second treatise of the Philosophicall Furnaces, I made mention at large of the distllling of this spirit, and I shewed divers wayes of it; but of this way, of which here I treat, I made none; because this distillation hath no affinity with all others that are to be done by instruments, whether of earth, glass, or metall, but only by wooden without any fire, so that 100 pints require not one pound of coals: where not onely 20, 30, but even 100 pints may be made for one ryall: Which distillation indeed is artificially.

N. B. After the same manner almost is the distillation of vineger performed. Now what I said in the appendix of making 20, or 30 pints for one ryall, I did it therefore because it might be more probable then if I had said 100. And because that price of 20 or 30 pints doth not seem probable to the ignorant, I say now openly, that the price of 100 pounds doth not exceed one ryall; let him therefore beleeve it that will, it is all one to me, whether thou beleevest or not, because the truth is certain. Although this spirit be most excellent in divers Chymicall operations, yet I shall communicate only the medicinall uses thereof, for if it be made in a great quantity easily without costs and labour, it may be used liberally in medicine, but especially in moist and dry baths, by the help whereof may grievous and otherwise incurable diseases are oftentimes happily cured. For this spirit doth many [Page] wonderfull, and incredible things; so that honours and riches follow it. Hence therefore it is manifest that this paragraph is not to be contemned, after the manner of detractors. I could adde more things concerning the power and vertues thereof, but time will not now suffer.

PARAG. XVII.

A most easie, and not costly way of distilling of the spirit of salt, of which one pound may be sold for the price of 6 stivers, and it is very profitable in medicine, Alchimy, and other mechanicall arts, but especially for the doing of those things which follow.

IN the first part of our Philosophical furnaces, I shewed an easie way of [...]i [...]tilling of spirit of salt in a great quantity: But this Paragraph treats of another certain peculiar distillation, which I wil not divulge; new spirit of salt being necessarily requisite for divers excellent operations (unknown to the vulgar) I thought it worth while to speak of the commendation thereof. I shall at this time for brevities sake speak onely of the chymicall uses thereof, reserving the rest for some other place and time.

PARAG. XVIII.

The separation of gold from silver without hurt to the jewels: also the solution, and separation of gold that containes silver, and copper, and the precipitation of gold from the water, without any hurt to the water, so as that it may serve for the same uses again; wherefore this is the best way of separations which are done by a humid way, reducing gold to the highest degree.

THe separation of gold from gilt silver by aqua regis is well known to Chymists, as also the dissolving, and separation of gold, containing sylver, and copper: but it is seldom used for these following reasons, viz. because that separation of gold from gilt silver, (viz. when the silver is not covered [Page] thick with gold) doth not quit cost, by reason of the cost and pains that is required for the making of the aqua regia. Now the spirit of salt that is made this way is with costs. Secondly, although the gold be dissolved in aqua regia, yet it is hardly separated again: Some have precipitated gold that is dissolved in aqua regia with lixivium of salt of Tartar, and being precipitated have edulcorated it, and with borax have reduced it, and because this calx when it feels this heat of the fire is kindled with a great noise, they have mixed it with common sulphur, and being mixed have calcined it to take away the cracking and kindling of it, viz. before they have reduced it with borax.

This operation requires a great deal of diligence, great labours, and not small costs, if thou wouldst not lose any of the gold, wherefore it is not the best way. Others have by the help of distillation separated the aqua regia from the dissolved gold, but besides their labours and stenches, as also the danger of breaking their glass, have lost some of the Gold by means of the aqua regia. Wherefore this way of separation also is not to be esteemed as good. Some have precipitate the dissolved gold from the aqua regia with the solution of vitrioll, and allome, into a black powder, which in the melting have been found mixed with iron; and copper attracted from the vitrioll: wherefore this also is an unprofitable way of separation. But in our separation there are not such obstacles, for the gold being dissolved in the spirit of salt, there is presently put a certain precipitating thing to it, and the solution being in a copper vessell (where there is no danger of breaking vessels) is set upon the fire to boil, in the interim whereof a most fine gold is separated, and precipitated; the copper being left in the spirit of salt, which you must decant off from the gold (which you must edulcorate, dry, and melt afterwards) and keep for your use By which means all things are done without loss, or costs. Which indeed of all humid separations is the best and most profitable; whereby gold that contains copper and silver is dissolved. Of which thing more in the fourth part of Furnaces.

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PARAG. XIX.

The separation of gold from pure fat clay (argilla) sand, flints, and other mines, which is sparkling, spongeous, and light, which otherwise could not be separated either by the help of washing, or with Mercury, or by melting; viz. by a certain easie way of elixation not without much gain.

THis Paragraph treats of a certain operation to be performed with spirit of salt; whereby any one may in any part of the world, where mountains, rocks, stones, sand, or pure fat clay are, easily get an honest livelyhood, & more then that. For in every part of the world may be found potters clay, sand or flints that have subtile gold in them, viz. invisible in clay, and sand, but visible sometimes in flints, and stones, when they are broken, which if they be too hard must be heated red hot, and quenched in cold water, that they may clear, and be brought to a powder by grinding, or pounding, by which means the gold is made more manifest in them. There are sometimes found whole mountains full of those stones, which have such a spirituall or subtile gold in them, which is so subtile, light, and thin, that it will not quit cost to melt them. But by this way it is easily drawn forth with spirit of salt, so that any one may privately, honestly, and plentifully get his maintenance. N [...]w you must have a knowledge of these stones, of all which flints are best known, in which being made red hot, quenched, and broken in water, if there be gold, it appears every where in all and each part thereof, of a resplendent yellow and red colour, which if it be ground to powder, appears with a red colour, which flints had not before they were made red hot in the fire: these kinds of stones have also in them iron, which yet is no prejudice to this business, because only the gold is precipitated from the spirit of salt, the iron being left in the water. This is a very excellent and easie labour, which in a great quantity of the matter may be practised with a great deal of gain, so that by this means thousands of men may get their [Page] livelyhood without any prejudice to their neighbour. Now this secret consists in two things, viz. in a plentiful and most easie preparation of spirit of salt, and a due precipitation.

PARAG. X. X.

A new and unheard of proving of tough and stubborn minerals, viz. of all and each, whereby their nature and form is found out, that which cannot be done otherwise by any vulgar way: And this secret is especially for those places, where there are abundance of mines. For oftentimes there is found a stubborn mine of gold, which if examined yeelds nothing, but is left unlaboured in, &c. Sometimes there are found other things, where there are not found mines of metals, as white and red talc, &c. which being tryed after the common way, yeeld little or nothing, yet abound with gold, and silver occult in them, which cannot after any other way be separated with advantage.

THis trying or proving is far different from that vulgar made in tests, and cuples, especially being ordained for those tough and stubborn minerals, that will not mix with lead; of which if they will not be mixed with lead, how shall we know their form and nature? This secret therefore is very profitable and excellent, for those especially, which seek their fortunes in mountaines, in the earth, mines and stones: For by this means their form, although it be never so litle, is easily found out, which being known, you may also know, whether such things, as clay, sands, stones, &c. may be operated in with gaine or disprofit. Now this secret consists chiefly in the joyning of lead therewith. For it is impossible to finde out the form of minerals and other things digged out of the earth, if they cannot be mixed with lead, whereof many abounding many times with gold are, because they have not affinity with lead, left unlabored in as unprofitable stones Which if by help of any medium, they can rightly be united to lead, do not less yeeld their form or golden parts, then other milder minerals, and that not without profit: wherefore this secret is to be accounted the foundation of Alchymy.

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PARAG. XXI.

A new compendious, and unheard of way, whereby minerals are speedily in a great quantity melted, and that not without great profit. Where in the space of one day by the help of a certain peculiar furnace by way of abstraction, more is melted than in that common in the space of eight dayes: by which means there is not only a great deal of costs saved, but also more gaine, then if otherwise.

THis way of melting, whereby metals are in a great quantity melted hath not yet been known, but without doubt shall at one time, or another be published because it is far to be preferred before that common way. Now this secret consists in this, viz. that it is performed without bellows, but by certain vents, blowing the coales as strongly as bellows. For they that operate in minerals know well how much costs they are at every yeer upon bellows, and mils that move, and lift them up. Moreover you must transport your minerals and coals into valleyes for the waters sake, without which the bellows cannot be ordered, which labour is tedious and costly. Also there is this commodity in it, that in this way of melting you may make your furnace as great as you please, which you may not do in the other way: because greater furnaces require greater bellows, and a grater quantity of water, and therefore greater and larger milles; but there is not such a commodity in every place. In this our new way of melting we need not bellows, nor mils although we erect never so great furnaces, for by how much the greater they are, so much the greater quantity may be melted in them. Wherefore I do not doubt but that of all, this is the most noble, profitable, and excellent way of melting. Now whether or no all minerals may be melted in this furnace, I know not, for I made tryal only in the mine of lead, and in no others by reason of defect of mines, and place conveient for the erecting of the furnace. But I hope shortly to live in a more convenient place, where I shall neither want coals, nor mines whereby to make tryal in fire and mines.

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PARAG. XXII.

A better way to separate things melted. A better separation of silver from lead.

THis secret is nothing else but a certain peculiar separation of lead from silver contained in the lead. For as every where in shops lead that hath silver in it is separated, being in the fire by the force of blowing, turned into lytharge; so almost after the same manner is this our separation: where lead is reduced into lytharge, but not by the force of blowing, but by the help of a certain furnace, wherefore this is far better then the vulgar. And this is to be understood concerning that separation, which is done in great quantity, but there is also another separation, which is practised in the separation of metals of a less weight, viz. of a hundred pound weight, which is not done by the help of common copples made of ashes, but of crucibles, whereof four, or six, or eight are placed together in a little furnace amongst coals, viz. immediately, not under a tyle, by which means more proofes are made in one day then under a tyle by the help of copples in eight; because by this means in a short and at one time separation is made in one vessel; but in the common way minerals (if they be stubborn) must be burnt, and then be boyled in a crucible with some certain addition in a wind furnace, or by the help of bellows; then being boyled in a test under a tile be converted into dross, then the dross be coppled. Which four labours, bnurning, decoction, scoriation, and coppling can scarce be done in three or four hours times; but in this separation minerals whether mild, as stubborn, are not dryed, nor decocted, but all by one and the same labour are finished in a quarter or half an houre, and in one crucible.

Which trying of minerals is most excellent, and profitable, without which I had scarce ever attained to so much knowledge of metals. For it is an easie matter to conjecture how much labour, and time is required (to say nothing of coals) [Page] in every proofe, if a particular fire should be kindled in its own furnace for every particular proofe, viz. for divers separations; All which are performed by one fire, and in one furnace, viz. by this new way of separation. And this is a speedy separation of metals for the studious searchers of nature, who by reason of multitude of other occasions cannot practise that common way, as also for those that digg and are imployed about minerals of all sorts, also for Chymists that operate in gold, & silver, for the tryal of the goodness of their work. Also this secret separation may be practised not only in a lesser but also in a greater quantity; for ten or twenty pound may as easily be tryed as one or two ounces, but because in a greater quantity a greater weight of lead is required, greater crucibles are required also. But in this new separation there is not so great a quantity of lead required as in that vulgar. For if a double, or threefold quantity of lead be added to one of any metal, or mineral although it be copper (which requires otherwise sixteen or eighteen parts of lead) it shall be as well and truly purged. Moreover neither the lead nor the copper is by this means lost, neither is it again to be melted out of the copple into which being porous it entred in that common way; because in this copper is easily separated from the lead, viz. in a small fire.

Wherefore it is no smal Chymical secret, opening a gate to divers others. But thou sayest; you do indeed promise many things, but perform few; you do indeed make mention of many secrets, but teach nothing; who can ever I pray you by the acuteness of his own wit finde out such things? I answer, It is not my purpose to offer to thee a morcel chewed before, wherefore seek, and labour incessantly as I have done, and others have done, thou who covetest new things. No body taught me besides exercise, use, and fortune, according to the Proverb. Ʋse makes an artist, and by working we become workmen. If I had had so much guidance, as here I have given to thee, I had without doubt attained to greater things with less costs and charges. America a most vast and fourth part of the world being searched and examined by Christopher Columbu [...], and that not without great care and paines, how much [Page] priviledge I pray you have others with less danger, and labour to deport from thence treasures? Did not he deserve praise, being a finder out of a most rich country, although he did not demonstrate with his finger to every one? Did not many follow his direction, and transport from thence through the wide ocean most vast riches? What now if thou shouldest betake thy self to some labour for this secret sake, by the help whereof gold, and silver might be obtained without the danger of Navigation. But thou wilt say with the Fox; Foot steps make me afraid, I have seen many lose their labour and costs, and spend their houses and lands. I answer; I confess it, but the fault is not the arts but the Artists. But I do not doubt but that these my writings will illustrate the whole body of Alchymie, and recal many from their errors. But know thou that there is another Saturne, with which wonderful things are done in Alchymie (where that vulgar is not used) viz. that, which Paracelsus doth so much commend in his Coelum Philosophicum. Now in this separation that common lead which is known to all is used, being no way inferiour to that of the Philosophers its brother, which being washed, and spiritualized dares no less then the other enter into the kings closet for to receive its preferment.

PARAG. XXIII.

How minerals in defect of coales made of wood; may be melted by the help of pit coales, after a most easie, and profitable manner.

NEither is this labour performed with bellows, but by the flame of the fire of coals, whether they be made of wood, or are pit coals, compassing the minerals, as if they were compassed about with a crucible. Now this way is only for metals that are soft, and easily fusible, where there is not so much loss of the minerals, as in the other way.

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PARAG. XXIIII.

The fixation of sulphureous, arsenical, antimonial, cobolts, and other volatile poysonous minerals, which otherwise by reason of their volatility cannot be retained, and melted in the fire, viz. by the help of any cementing furnace, or such that hath a grate, that go d and silver may the better be drawn from thenc [...].

IT is not unknown to the diggers of minerals that sometimes there are immature minerals found which have neither gold nor silver in them, which being a little while exposed to the aire, and then being tryed yeeld gold and silver as wel in a greater as in a lesser proofe; such are Bismuth, Coboltum, Auripigmentum; and other Antimonial, and Arsenical minerals. The aire therefore causing this maturation (viz. exciting the active, and maturative salt of the minerals) why may not such minerals be perfected, and maturated by such kinde of fixing salts? certainly it may be done by art, and nature, although it cannot be conceived by a dull wit. What advise therefore is to be given? Is this secret to be revealed to the incredulous & ignorant? By no means, let them seek it as others did, and they that shall finde it out are predestinated of God so to do, or else they shall not, although they should be informed more of this thing. But be not thou ignorant that the gold and silver that was drawn forth out of those immature minerals after maturation, did not lye in them corporally; for then they might be separated by that artificial separation, but spiritually like an infant in its mothers wombe compassed about with many coverings. As Paracelsus cals such minerals sulphura embryonata, wanting nothing but maturation, of which they are deprived by being taken too untimely out of the mines by the miners. Now which way they are fixed, is not to be taught in this place; yet this I will say that every volatile immature sulphur hath not affinity with corporeal fixed gold, and therefore scarce to be mixed with it; as it appears by the separation of metals by the help of fusion, where [Page] some metals are melted together, viz. fixed, and unfixed, for in the adjection of common sulphur, which being mixed with the unfixed being next to it, converts them into dross, but the fixed, viz. the gold and silver (especially the gold) will not mix with it, but reject it, and separate themselves naturally from that mixture, and falling to the bottome are turned into a regulus, especially the gold, which being purged from all dross refuseth to be againe polluted with impurities, by reason of the antipathy, which is betwixt sulphur fixed, and unfixed.

N. B. Now common sulphur fixed is easier mixt with gold then with other imperfect metals; that which is wonderful in the eyes of the ignorant, in which there lyes a great secret worthy to be taken notice of Arsenicall minerals, and Kobalta also are fixed so as that afterward they being united with silver will remaine with it. But Antimony and Auripigmentum partake of both natures, viz. golden, and silver, in which in part they may be fixed. Now I must confess that this is a very dangerous labour, where it is to be handled cautiously, and not but in our fourth furnace. As for my part I profess that Arsenical fumes never hurt me, who never used any other preservative then that I never entered upon those operations fasting: wherefore let him that sets upon such operations eat first a piece of bread with butter, and drink a draught of wormwood beer, and avoyd the fume as much as he can.

PARAG. XXV.

A certaine profitable separation of sparkling, and spongious and thin gold, and silver from sand, pure clay, and flints, &c.

I Said above in the 19. Paragraph of such gold, that it could be separated from sand neither by the help of washing, or amalgamation, because being lighter then the sand cannot be reduced a part into a straight place, yet it may be separated [Page] with profit by elixation with spirit of salt: but here it is said, that it may be separated by the help of fusion, that which will seem incredible to many by reason of that small quantity of gold that is mixed with a great quantity of sand, viz. how that little quantity of gold may with profit be separated from that great quantity of sand or clay. To whom I answer, that it cannot be separated by the help of flowing or addition of any thing (though never so vile) I say with profit by the force of liquefaction, because the melted gold will not quit cost: It must therefore be done another way. There are some lesser metals, which being to be destroyed, and perfected by art require the addition of sand or flints, without which their destruction, or perfection cannot be done, in the place of which if such flints and sand be added, then their gold which otherwise cannot be melted is produced into [...] that which the destroyed, and amended metals yeeld, and that with greater profit.

PARAG. XXVI.

A certain profitable and secret melting of gold contained in baser metals and minerals, which can [...]ot be done in any other common way.

THis Paragraph treats of the same business as the foregoing did, And this operation is nothing else but the destruction of baser metals, as of lead, tin, iron, and copper, and a reduction of it into a certaine earthy being, like to glass, or dross, by which destruction and reduction the metals are by force of the fire maturated, and partly purged by the help of addition, so that afterwards they may yeeld their gold, and silver in separation, which otherwise they could not.

PARAG. XXVII.

A certain speedy and not costly separation of melted gold, and silver by the help of fusion, so that by one man in one day in one furnace some [Page]hundred pounds weight may be separated, and indeed with less cost, and labour then by Aqua fortis or Cements.

THis operation indeed is very excellent, speedy, and profitable (because it is done without Aqua fortis) whereby gold is separated from silver; there is no man that is experienced who is ignorant of the tediousness of the separation made by the help of Aqua fortis. But this operation is thus. Silver is broken into pieces, with which a crucible is filled, then a separating flux being given, the silver being melted the gold is precipitated in the silver with a certaine thing precipitating it into a regulus, which being done let all be poured forth together into a cone, which being cold, the regulus is separated from the rest of the mass by the striking of a hammer, but yet [...] lost all the silver, but containing to one part of go [...] [...]wo or three of silver, which after cupellation is done must be separated by Aqua fortis. And by this means gold contained in a hundred marks (or fifty pounds) of silver is reduced into two or three, which afterward are separated by Aqua fortis: where you need not, first purge those 100. markes by burning, or break them into small bits, and then separate them by Aqua fortis; but now we have need of Aqua fortis only for a few Marks, where much charge is saved in buying abundance of Aqua fortis, as also in glasses being subject to breaking; as also much labour. Secondly, a very great quantity of gilt silver may in the space of one day be separated by this way, and that with little labor and costs, which by Aqua fortis could not be done. But do not thou think that this is that way of which Lazarus Erker wrote, because there is a great difference betwixt them. For although that way of separation spoken of by Erker be not to be slighted, yet it is somewhat tedious, and costly; but ours is not.

PARAG. XXVIII.

A very speedy reduction of wrought gold, as of chaines, rings, &c. to the highest degree; also an easie separation of gold from gilt silver, so [Page]that by this way a hundred mark may be more easily separated, then twenty the common way, where much labour, costs and time is spared.

HEre is mention made of another certain separation having no affinity at all with the foregoing, respecting only gold, which is to be separated after a most easie way from silver and copper, and to be reduced to the highest degree. Which labour also is very profitable and easie, because it is not done per quartam, by Cement, or Antimony, but by a certaine peculiar flux which is to be added to the metal when it is to be melted, which being melted, that flux congregates the silver, copper and other metals, and turnes them into dross, which afterwards being poured out are separated by knocking them, the pure gold is to be taken away being separated from the addition. Afterwards also the addition of the flux is separated from the addition of the gold by precipitation; so that first silver only is precipitated (if you please) from the flux, then the copper; or let the silver only be separated, the copper being left in the flux. By this way gold, silver and copper are separated in the space of one hour, and every one apart, which otherwise could not be done in the space of a day; This indeed is the most excellent secret of separation.

PARAG. XXIX.

The separation of silver in a greater quantity out of any lead, then by proof of cuples.

THese words being read, there will without doubt arise a disputation amongst Chymists and refiners of the possibility of this thing; but to them answer is made in the fourth part of our furnaces, where also it is treated concerning the proving of metals, where it is demonstrated that the proof of cuples is not sufficient for all manner of separation of silver from lead, to which I refer the reader. Now that in any lead there is contained great quantity of silver I can testifie [Page] that oftentimes have made tryal of this separation. I do religiously protest before all honest Chymists, that lead is nothing else but impure, and unripe silver; he therefore that knows how to purge, and maturate it, without doubt shall have a most singular thing. I indeed have tryed many things, seeing the possibility of it, but could never attaine to my desired end, because I could never have fitting vessels, that could hold lead with its sope the whole time appointed for that operation: Yet I could do it with lesser crucibles by placing them, one in another, so that the matter that penetrates the first may be retained by the second, or third, but not with profit. The time therefore of mercy is to be expected till God shall at length shew the matter, out of which such vessels may be made, which may shorten the other leg of old Saturne, with which he is used to escape, that he may against his will abide the due time of maturation, and purification.

PARAG. XXX.

The melting of good gold out of old iron, which although it cannot be done with great profit, yet sufficeth them that are contented with few things.

THat iron partakes of a golden nature, not only Philosophers but also ancient and modern diggers of minerals testifie: Now they did not say that all iron was of one, and the same goodness, because alwayes one is more pure, and more golden then another, wherefore there is a great difference in iron. Sometimes it is so rich with gold, that sometimes in a mine that is digged (before the iron be melted) there are found graines, veines, and little stones of pure gold, witness John Matthesius in his Sarepta, together with other Philosophers, saying that they have in divers stones (mines of iron) brought out of the mines of a mountaine, which is called Fichtelberg, as also out of the mines of Stiria seen pure gold like little veines. Paracelsus also doth much cry up the Iron mines of Stiria and Corinthia, and their riches, and that without [Page] doubt not for their iron and steel, but for the plenty of gold hid in them, unknown to the diggers. On the contrary the Swedish, and German iron hath sometimes no gold in it, as I have often tryed. Whrefore let him that will search into it be cautious in the choice of his iron.

Now let this melting de done with Antimony, which also for the most part hath gold in it self (yet one more then another) that of Hungarie, Transilvania, and Cranachia are the best; the rest have but little in them; now gold may be melted though never so little, in iron and antimony, but not with so much profit, as if a greater quantity thereof were in them. But thou wilt ask if it be so, why is it not separated from them by the miners? I answer, the miners are ignorant of this separation, labouring only out of use and custome, as mercenary, without any other consideration. That most witty Lazarus Erker himself also confesseth, that the mine of iron hath much gold in it; which is ignorantly by the miners put under the hammer, who also teacheth the separation of silver from iron, but of gold makes no mention; which haply he knew not: for no man can know all things. But if the miners did know that gold was in the foresaid mines, yet it is a question whether in those places be afforded the conveniences of separating it with profit. For I do easily believe if the separation of gold from Antimony were known to them, that they would not neglect it, but rather separate the gold, then to sell it being left in Antimony, at a low rate. They indeed do know that there is gold in Antimony, as also how to separate, it but with loss. What profit I pray you by the separation of gold which will cost more then the gold is worth? Wherefore they do rather sell the gold with the Antimony, then separate it. For the miners are ignorant of that Antimonial separation by which not only the gold, but the Antimony it self is preserved: and they that will separate that, do it by the addition of a great quantity of lead by the help of cupellation, but with the losse both of the lead and Antimony. But after this manner our separation is not performed, but gold is separated from iron, and Antimony being melted, [Page] without the addition of any strange thing (corrupting the iron or antimony) so that the separation of the gold being made, the iron and antimony may be used again, so that nothing thereof perisheth, but what evaporates in separation; or is unwittingly cast away. And by this, and by no other way gold is separated from iron and antimony with profit. Now this separation is not used about iron, and antimony only, that have gold in them, but also about others; as for the seperating of gold from some Marcasites, lapis calaminaris and other stubborn minerals, in which there is a very spiritual, and thin gold (and therefore not to be separated thence by the help of the common separation with profit) and that with great profit without the loss of the Antimony, viz. whilest those minerals are melted with antimony, and the gold thence precipitated by iron into a Regulus of one pound weight proceeding from a hundred of the mine and antimony containing in it all the gold of the mine, iron, and antimony, which Regulus may afterward be further elaborated for the separation of all those sorts of gold, and that without much costs; where also the antimony is preserved, which may againe be used for other things. This separation therefore is a most profitable secret (although iron and antimony having gold in them should be found in no place) for the separating of gold, viz. out of other stubborn minerals, where gold is without any loss reduced into a narrow compass, or Regulus, which may easily be elaborated further, where the whole Antimony melted with the mine, need not to be boyled, and so destroyed with lead, and that rather with loss, then profit, because in this operation not only the gold is drawn forth, but the antimony also is preserved.

Which way of separation I submit to the censure of all Chymists, and honest refiners that are skilful, and that for divers causes. I question not but to have the approbation of all and every one of them that will not contradict the truth. Moreover there is also another separation of gold from iron, and antimony, which is not done in crucibles; where they are first mixed together, then immediately reduced with a strong [Page] fire of coals for the obtaining of the Gold of Iron and Antimony.

PARAG. XXXI.

Also a separation of gold and silver from any tin and copper, according to more or less.

THis separation is performed otherwise, not with antimony, but with lead, viz. when before tin and copper are in a spiritual manner mixed with it, without which spiritual mixtion the corporeal mixtion of metals is nothing worth. For every one that is skilled in metals is not ignorant, that tin melted with lead after the common way is not radically mixed with it, without which radical union of metals they cannot be perfected, nor bettered one by another. They erre therefore whosoever they be that endeavor to separate gold, and silver from tin, copper, and other imperfect metals by the force of common liquation; let them therefore whilest that Philosophical union, or conjunction is unknown to them, timely abstaine from such vaine and unprofitable labours, being that which I counsel them faithfully, having tryed the truth of the thing with loss of time and costs. But now what that spiritual mixtion is which may be done by the help of waters as well humid as dry, that excellent Philosopher and Chymist Theophrastus Paracelsus, wonderfully magnifies it, and wrote many things of it.

Yet here I would especially have you take notice that to this radical mixtion of imperfect metals there is also required gold by the help whereof there is a separation of the pure from the impure, in impurer, and imperfect metals: And this may be compared with that divine separation, where Christ being present the good shall be separated from the bad (their bodies befirst corrupted) God attracting the pure in heart, but rejecting the impure. Which also ought to be done in this separation of imperfect metals, viz. they must first lay aside their impure bodies, which must be corrupted and purified; for then [Page] gold doth radically associate it self to them, and makes a separation attracting like to it self, and reject what is unlike. For as every man hath a soul, which is a Divine spark, but polluted with sin, infernal sulphur, the craft and deceit of the divel; so also metals have in their center something that is incorruptible, which is yet so compassed about with impure terrestial sulphur, that (in my judgement) cannot be mended unless they be corrupted and brought to nothing, out of which nothing gold doth afterward attract that good spark, and converts it into a good substance, which before the taking away of that sulphureous, black accidental impurity could not be done. In like maner we also cannot be with God before our hearts are purified from that old leaven (left to us by Adam) and put on Christ, and become like children. Which few words truely, with which nature doth in this place agree, inculcating faith in us, are observed by few. And as it hath been said of gold, so also it is to be understood of silver, which being mixed with corrupt metals attracts its like to its self as its nutriment, like to divers seeds in the earth, whereof every one doth attract its like, the superfluity being left. As for example, if any one should cast into the earth fennel-seed, cummin, and onyon-seed, the fennel-seed would attract from the earth only that which is proper to it self for the production of fennel, with leaves, stalks, and seeds, the same is to be understood of the seeds of onyons, &c. The same also fals out in the mineral matallick kingdom, whilest perfect metals are sowed into imperfect, where they putrifie, and attract for their nourishment their like. Now I did not say by this similitude that gold and silver were the general seed of metals, for gold is only a receptacle of that of the metallick seed, and not the seed in its whole substance. Moreover this similitude is brought in, that it might appear, how like things being spiritualized, embrace and retaine one the other. But I would not have thee perswade thy self that metals are to be dissolved in corrosive waters, and to be distilled; which labour of the Chymists is noxious to metals, and therefore sterile, fraudulent, and Sophistical; by which many men, yea very learned [Page] have been deceived, thinking to make the tincture by this way, contrary to the course of nature; wherefore never any good fruit could be produced from thence; Neither could ever any artist insisting in this vaine way have any hope of profit thereby, until he decline from this to the true and right way.

Now metals must be Chymically spirituallized without corrosive waters, and without various artificial instruments, by the help of their proper humidum radicale without much costs and labour. For that whole business (viz. the purificatlon, vivification and spiritualis tion of metals; which is done by solution, putrefaction, distillation, and circulation (viz. Philosophical) may be done by a skilful Chymist without glasses in the space of one hour, so that it then needs not the space of so many moneths to be with corrosive waters vexed, and macerated. And this is to be understood of the humid Philosophical way of a particular separation. But he that knows how to drown gold, or any other golden subject in any most pure, most penetrating, fixed, and fusile substance which hath ingression into other slowed metals, and would be radically mixed with the purer parts thereof, he without doubt will come speedily to a particular transmutation or separation of the pure from the impure with a legitimate and true manuduction to that universal work, with which many hitherto have in vaine been intricated.

PARAG. XXXII.

A maturation of mines, that they may give more gold and silver in the fusion.

THis concerning the maturation of minerals, and metals is one of the most excellent of my secrets of the mending of metals. For I have often endeavored by a certaine secret way to fix metals and minerals, and I found that they might be in some part maturated, so as to leave gold and silver in the cuple, which before they could not leave, viz. before [Page] they were maturated. Now I never had experience of the truth in a greater quantity, viz. of many pounds; and what the cause of this thing is, you may see in the beginning of these Annotations; it is needless therefore here to repeat it.

But this I must yet say, that this fixation is somewhat costly, which moreover cannot be done in any part of the world with gaine (although it may in a greater quantity, which yet I am ignorant of) for that fixation is done by the benefit of a certaine water, which also nature useth in the earth (which you cannot have in every place, where there is not good earth) And if you expect good by the water, the minerals, fixation being made, must yeeld plenty of gold and silver, or else we labor in vaine. I often made tryals with a hundred pound weight of the lesser immature minerals, or semimetals, and I found in a hundred pound weight of cobolt a Mark and half of pure silver, and in bismuth 2. 3. 5. ounces of gold, Also lapis calam inari [...] and Zinck (being digged in a due place) yeelded their gold abundantly. But oftentimes computation being made of the price of the mineral to be fixed, and of the matter fixing, and abstraction of this price being made from the price of the gold and silver produced from thence I found very little and sometimes no gaine at all, so that for the present I left the work, until I shall obtaine a water at a lesser price, or shall be able to maturate metals in a shorter time for the getting of a greater quantity of gold and silver, being that which experience will teach.

Although I never attaine to the fruitful perfection of this maturity, yet I would not have it be contemned, as being most profitable in other Chymical operations, and confirming me in my conceived opinion of perfecting metals by nature, and maturating imperfect minerals and metals (nothing withstanding) as well by art, as by nature in the bowels of the earth, and in converting them into gold: of which thing more at large in my book of the generation of metals.

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PARAG. XXXIII.

A separation of gold and silver out of Arsenick, Auripigmentum and Antimony.

THese volatile minerals have in them commonly volatile gold and silver, especially those that come from the mines of gold and silver, leaving nothing in the cuple. But he that knows how to fix a little of them, and to add to them a metal in which those volatile may hide themselves, shall certainly see a possibility of drawing good gold and silver out of those volatile and contemptible minerals yet not out of all Antimony, Arsenick, and Auripigmentum.

PARAG. XXXIV.

A separatoon of extrinsecal sulphur of Venus for the production of her son Cupid.

COpper (and also iron) is next in nature to gold by reason of a great mutual affinity, as experience testifies.

Very probable it is therefore that it may be so purged, if so be the art of which Paracelsus in his book Vexationum speaks, were known to any that it may leave behinde it gold and silver in the cuple; that which cannot be done by the ignorant. My secret respects chiefly that mine of copper which is found neer the mines of gold, and not every sort. If that superfluous combustible sulphur be separated by water, there is found pure gold. But this art cannot be practised in a greater quantity, demonstrating only the possibility of the art, but not promising riches; out of which haply some profit may come, if it be made with the true Venus after a right manner; but this shall be demonstrated more at large elsewhere, but not in this place. But this I would here have you know that the superfluous sulphur of the mine of copper is not to be taken away with the burning of common fire, according to the manner of them that deal in minerals, but spiritualized [Page] with a certain secret fire, by which its proper body may be amended, and exalted as to become partaker of a golden nature. For such copper mines being melted and purged after the common way yeeld not gold but silver only: whence it appears that they attaine to perfection, not but by that secret fire of lotion or gradation. For skilful Chymists have not only that common fire, but also another, by the help whereof metals are tryed and melted; without the knowledge whereof metals cannot be rightly handled. As for example; in the common melting, and burning of minerals, which is done by a common fire, the volatile part of the metal, which is the spirit and vegetable life thereof is driven away by the force of that fire, the more fixed & thick part being left. But if the more impure parts only be by any peculiar fire separated, the gradatorious spirit being left with the body, there is found a better and more excellent body then that which is melted in a violent common fire. The greatest secrets lye in fire as being the strongest element, but of these nothing is manifest to the vulgar Philosophers and Chymists. In the dross that is cast away, undergoing a greater force of fire there lyes something of what is perfect, which is drawn from thence, if they be melted againe after a peculiar manner, which last operation is not but by a common fire. But this amending of copper proceeds from a certaine fire that washeth, purifieth, and exaleth. I have often tryed the mine of copper by both fires, and I never found any thing but silver to be melted thence by that common fire, as well after as before fixation and not gold but by that secret fire only gold and no silver. As also tin tryed by the common way yeelds only silver; but being reduced into ashes and dross, yeelds not silver but gold, as having passed the greater force of fire. This therefore is to be ascribed to fire, operating diversly according to the diversity of the regiment thereof. Wherefore the differences of fires is to be known, for one destroyes and the other digests, and maturates metals; one mundifies and washeth; another penetrates, heats, exalts, and transmutes metals into a better kind, so that it may be truly said: In gold and salt are all things.

[Page] Besides the hot and dry fires, there are also found those that are cold and moist, having no affinity with those, by the help whereof nature doth as well in the bowels of the earth, as out of the earth, like an artist destroy, and regenerate metals; of which you shall see more amongst the Philosophers, and I could say more if it were needful. But why? Mention made of unknown secrets begets envy. Out of old cloth I will not make a new garment; because there are some Authors of new books, that know nothing but what they have read or heard. As for my part, I had rather be silent, then publish secrets, or write or repeat things already written. For its all one to write secrees, or common writ things, viz. in this age. Wherefore I thought it better to give others an opportunity of searching out secrets, then to publish and communicate them to all indifferently. Let it suffice therefore what hath been spoken of the difference of hot and cold fires, by the help whereof metals are as well within as out of the earth, generated, and destroyed: Of which I have decred more at large to treat in my book of the Original of Metals, where what is here wanting shal not be omitted.

PARAG. XXXV.

The separation of silver from the tests, which entered into them in time of trying without melting, and without labour and costs.

THis is for those that want conveniences of melting their tests, for the separating of silver, which together with the lead entered into them in the time of trying. And it is a very easie secret, without costs and labour.

PARAG. XXXVI.

A cheap preparation or making of most fine earthen vessels, like to the porcellane, retaining spirits, resisting the fire, and to be made in any place of the world.

VVE can scarce be without those earthen vessels, as in houshold affaires, so in a Chymical elaboratory, and [Page] Apothecaryes shops, wherefore mention is made of them not without cause. For the houshold affaires, there may be made basons, dishes, cups, pots, &c. For an elaboratory, alembicks, cucurbits, retorts, platters and other necessaries. For Apothecaryes shops, pots, greater or lesser for syrups, conserves, electuaries, and for waters of hearbs in defect of those of glass. And such vessels may well be preferred before those of glass, because they are not so soon broken, and retaine any subtile, and sharp humidities. They are also to be preferred before pewter basons and dishes, because they do as well in winter, as smmer retaine their cleaness; and more easily made clean without washing.

PARAG. XXXVII.

A confection of Allome exalting, and fixing any colours: especially requisite for scarlet and other pretious colours; As also a preparation of a cauldron that shall be cheap, and not alter colours.

THis allome is not to be sold, because it is made by art of some certain minerals, having this vertue, as to be able to fix, and exalt colours of any kind that they suffer no injury from the sun, aire, water, which do otherwise alter colours, to which business is required also a certain peculiar cauldron.

For diers of scarlet know that the scarlet die which is the best, and most pretious of all colours, is altered in copper cauldrons, wherefore they are wont to cover them over with tin, or to make them of tin. But this our allome and our cauldron are far to be preferred before those vulgar, although they are sold at a cheaper price; wherefore this art is not to be slighted, because much profit may redound to the possessours thereof.

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PARAG. XXXVIII.

A certaine cheap preparation of colours for painting, as of purple, ultramarine, vermillian, &c. but especially of a certain most fine white, never yet seen, most like the finest pearles; also of a silver, and golden colour.

THe aforesaid colours were yet never common, nor could be made so plentifully, and with so great profit as now, &c. whilest therefore these serve for the art of painting, whereby for memories sake as well sacred, as profane histories are painted, it will not be amiss if they be taught; because we can hardly want them: And although it seem a mean, yet it is a most useful art, and also profitable, because those colours are much used in many places, whence much profit must of necessity redound to the possessours thereof.

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The conclusion.

LET no man doubt of the truth of what hath been said in these Annotations. For nature and art can do many things, but our art is little in vegetables, and almost nothing in metals, and this is the reason, that things never seen or heard, seeme incredible and monstrous to the ignorant. Wherefore I protest, and protest againe that these my writings are neither dreams nor trifles, but true natural secrets. For nature is rich, and the earth is ful of hid treasures; that which is believed by few. And not only within, but also without in the circumference, the treasures of the earth are to be found in abundance, although we know not the manner of finding of them out. I will now say nothing of the finest clay, sand, and stones, nor of the baser and abject minerals, out of which gold and silver may be separated, being easily to be found in any part of the earth without costs. Moreover in what places there have been metals melted many yeers since, and still are melted, there are great mountaines of dross, out of which according to are, gold, and silver (left in them) may be melted. It seems as if God had by his divine providence reserved something for our good for us his disobedient children in Europe, and especially in Germany, (being chastised and deprived of outward comforts by strange Nations for the impiety of our lives) which formerly we [Page] could not in time of peace, but now in time of war our enemies might use. As we also by nature being corrupt use providence for the sakes of our disobedient sons, consuming a patrimony ill, which hath been gotten wel; laying up mony for a certaine time of extream need, that they do not altogether despaire to the infamy of their parents, and may return to a better thriftiness, and be reclaimed.

And why may not that most high and wise God, our merciful Father, seeing our penitency provoke us by his reserved treasure to a due gratitude and repentance and obedience. God doth nothing in vaine, being not ignorant of what he hath to do, and what may profit us; who without doubt seeing our filial obedience will provide for us with his divine blessing both temporal and eternal.

And truly it seems as if upon this account the whole Provinces may rise againe, for after that some have gotten riches, they may be able to help others either by lending, or giving them wages for working and doing businesses for them. But let no man wonder that I said that somegood might lye in abjected dross, saying, If there be any good in them, why was it not melted by our Ancestours? I answer, though it be granted that at that time nothing more could be drawn out by the violence of the fire, yet it doth not follow that there can no good be drawn from thence now.

For, first of all refiners, as well those of former yeers as latter are not ignorant that the dross that hath been cast away and left for some yeers in the aire, hath oftentimes been again impregnated by reason of a magnetick power, and hath afterwards yeelded more and better metals then before (of which thing let the ignorant see the books of them that treat of Minerals and Metals) for in this art there is not used any singular art, but that which is common and used in all places.

Secondly, there may also from the dross of some metals (whether impregnated from the elements or no) by a certain secret may be drawn forth, and melted gold and silver, when as before there could be none found in them. But thou wilt [Page] say, How could that be, that in the first fusion imperfect metals could be produced, but in a repeated liquefaction, viz. of the dross, gold and silver is produced. But I answer that all imperfect metals containe in them something of what is perfect, which by the tryal of cupels cannot be drawn forth, unless they be destroyed and converted into dross (of which thing elsewhere) for imperfect metals contain much incombustible sulphur, which doth not suffer a sufficient purification of them in the examining of them by cupels, but causing a combustion of the good together, and a conversion of it into litharge, entring into the substance of the cupels: but the remainders of the metal, which could not be melted by that most vehement fire of the first liquefaction being by combustion turned into dross, hath sustained a greater violence of the fire, then that which was melted the first time, wherefore being more purified is made more neer to gold and silver then that metal, from which it was separated. He therefore that knows how to melt that dross, in which oftentimes there is much left, especially the dross of tin, and that with a fit addition, shal without doubt finde better metals, then those which were melted by the diggers of the minerals the first time. Now I do not say that there is so great a power in common fire to puririfie and perfect baser metals.

Fire indeed hath a greater power to purifie and maturate metals, but it is too violent for those that are volatile. Without doubt there are also other things that can help the fire, which being known we may easily be able to do great things. And because it hath been said in the foregoing Paragraphs, that some metals cannot yeeld that gold and silver that is hid in them, unless they be first destroyed, and reduced to dross, it is not needful to destroy those metals for profit sake, seeing there are found in great quantity metals destroyed, and brought to dross already, out of which thou maist draw forth gold and silver for to maintaine thee. But especially some certain dross of tin is commended, that comes out of a certain mine thereof by reason of the abundance of gold, as I can witness by my one experience, and that indeed not without [Page] cause; and although all tin be of a golden nature, yet that (which is called in Germany Saiffen Zinn from sope) is doubly golden; and that indeed first by reason of the gold that is accidental to it, where also commonly graines of gold are found, which whilest the mine of tin is washed, because they cannot be separated by the help of washing, are mixed with the tin in the infusion, which oftentimes refiners know, but of the manner of separation they are ignorant. For oftentimes there is found tin, of which a hundred pound weight is sold for the price of twenty, or twenty four ryals, which containes gold of a greater price in it. But what is your advise worth if it cannot be [...] [...]ithout loss, for all that which is separated by lead after the common way cannot have so much in it, because the greater part thereof is turned to dross; and if it were granted that it were not turned to dross, yet the charges expended for the separation of tin by lead would exceed the price of the gold contained therein. Now thus much information being given, let no man doubt but that some at last will finde out this secret, whom also I shall assist as much as I can with my counsel.

And that which hath been said of the dross of tin is also to be understood of the dross of other imperfect metals, yet not so as if all without any difference had gold in them, and truly the dross of iron, which hath undergone a great force of fire being converted into green or blew glass (out of which some have extracted gold, by common Aqua regis but without profit, for the costs that have been expended have exceeded the price of the gold that hath been brought forth) are to be preferred before others that have not undergone so great a force of fire. But there be some, that do affirm that a true tincture may be made out of that dross, transmuting imperfect metals into gold; but this I leave as being not experienced therein, treating only of those things which experience hath taught me, giving my testimony of the treasure that lies in iron, which you cannot draw forth from thence by the separation of Antimony, of which above, so easie, or by other wayes and mediums, expecting your self the stronger, so as to be the victor taking away the spoyle thereof: for there is no one that shall not at some [Page] time finde himself the stronger, so as to be able to dispense to that as he hath been dispensed to by others. That old Saturne of a most vile aspect is the highest in the firmament, and can do many things in metallicks, without which we can do nothing that is of any moment; wherefore deservedly is he to be honored above the rest. But this separation may be practised not only about the abjected dross of metals; but also about metals themselves, if they may be procured at an easie rate, as now in the time of war, where in the space of thirty yeers such abundance of copper and tin hath been transported from elsewhere into great cities and sold of a low rate, that the owners thereof have been co [...]ained to transport it with their ships to other places. Now if any one had known this separation, might not he have got great riches from thence as well as by the culture of the mines, and withall reserve the metals, and being preserved in separation to dispose of them for metallick uses, viz. Ecclesiastical and martial, as for the making of bels and guns? by which means the greater part might have been keept in his own country, which otherwise must be carryed into other Provinces with great loss, by reason of the want of those that are skilled in metallick affaires. But no wonder that so little is now done in Alchymy, seeing most Chymists have no knowledge of metals, which being wanting, the Chymist is also wanting, whether learned as unlearned: for this knowledge is not got in the universities, consisting in a profound speculation, and daily practise. Formerly amongst the Chaldeans, Persians, Arabians, and Egyptians, arts were more honoured, then now amongst Christians▪ choosing a magistrate out from amongst the wise men, whose Kings brought up their sons in Philosophy. Chymistry especially was very famous amongst the Egyptians, by which they did get wealth and great riches; so that Diocletianus the Emperour could not overcome them till he had burnt all their books. In which time arts were had in great esteem as it appears by that annual salary of Alexander the great, which he gave to Aristotle, viz. four hundred and eighty thousand crowns, & by those 3000▪ associates which he joyned to him for the searching out of nature. But now Thrasoes, Sycophants, [Page] and Morions, wise men being neglected, are honored, whence this present calamity of so many countries and cities, &c. In brief, arts, and sciences are now so rare, as is snow in hotter countries in the middle of summer. For pride doth not permit honest tutoring and education, seeking nothing but wealth and riches, which if any one have he is honoured without respect of his worth and vertues. Some have perswaded themselves that it derogates from their honour to bread up their sons in honest arts, being content with a patrimony for the conservation of their condition. But it often appears how a patrimony sufficeth, when riches and wealth that have been ill gotten are taken away by some mishap at sea and land; are; for then they stand like butter against the sun, when their riches is lost, nothing remaines for the support of their lives, who therefore are not in a little danger. I wish the time would once hasten, when vertues shall be embraced in stead of vices, and children shall be educated in good arts, for then so many calamities would not abound in the world, nor spoiles or man-slaughters, but men would live in peace, and get their bread with the sweat of their brows without wronging their neighbour. And this thou hast heard concerning the remaining honest mediums that conduce to the honest maintenance of a family without usury, or fraud, or the violence of the sword. For those things which have been gotten by fraud, and deceit, or by war, do for the most part perish as being contrary to the Scripture and the good of our neighbor. It is better therefore to leave to every one his own, and to get in the sweat of the brows, according to the will of God, an honest living, that which may well be done by the way that I have now demonstrated: although hitherto no profit hath come to me from these most secret arts, for certain causes, neither (God willing) shall I hope that hereafter there will, yet I am contented with the knowledge of nature. In the interim I hope I shall once again by the blessing of God see my most desired country, where I may be able to labour, and maintaine my houshold affaires honestly: and then indeed I shall be able to set forth and publish something more, and that [Page] more boldly. For I am resolved to write a book the like to which was never seen; very profitable for many men for the sustaining of life: For as a woman with child desires nothing more then to be freed of her burden: so also I, that I may as a divine instrument be helpful to my neighbour, according to the talent that God hath trusted me withal. Now I lack nothing so much as time: For every wise man may easily conjecture what great paines I have been at (I will not say costs) in this place where all things are most dear in searching out the secrets of nature only, setting aside greater labours. I will say yet one thing more, and that sincerely, I am consumed by serving others. If I were given to covetousness I would practise but only one secret, which I knew long since, and I could thereby get great riches: that which I will not do, for my genius hath not suffered me to exercise things that are perfectly found out, or any mechanick art, like an ass that daylie carries hither and thither so many sacks, but would that one secret being found out I should finde out another, and indeed from another secret being found out already, for alwayes one opens the gate to another. That which hitherto I have done without ceasing, and without any consideration of costs, or labour for the good of my neighbour; neither shall I cease (God permiting) until I come unto my desired way. In the mean while I am resolved to serve my neighbour by things found out and tryed; hoping that those that are honest will take my studies in good part, not regarding the wonted contumelies of cavillers (from whence there is no profit) betraying at length their great ass-like ignorance.

I will conclude therefore, and refer the Courteous Reader unto the residue of my books, that treat of those secrets more plainly, which I am resolved shortly to put forth. Farewell therefore Reader, I recommend thee to God the Father of lights.

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To the Malitious.

VVHosoever thou art, O malitious carper, marke what I say, Do not despise things unknown, for there is no man in the earth can please all. Be therefore cautious in thy actions. Do not judge without judgement, lest thou thy self be at last judged. Truth shal remaine, when haters of truth shall perish. And if thou hast companions of iniquity, yet thou shalt not stand, nor escape punishment. Wherefore do not touch the innocent, that seeks nothing but thy good; and shews the right way to get wealth and honour. If thou hast any thing better communicate it; there is no body will hinder thee: if not, bridle thy tongue, and do not carp at him that is through the blessing of God, eminent in arts; or else thou wilt not escape the vengeance that hangs over thee; from which the Zoiles were never free, from the creation of the world, and let these things being candidly spoken be for thy admonition.

FINIS.

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OF THE TINCTVRE OF GOLD, Or the true AƲRƲM POTABILE; VVhat it is, and hovv it differs from the false and sophisticated AƲRƲM POTABILE, How it is to be Spagirically prepared and how to be used in MEDICINE.

By JOHN RUDOLPH Glauber.

LONDON, Printed by Richard Cotes, for Tho: Williams at the signe of the Bible in Little-Britain. 1652.

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OF AƲRƲM POTABILE.

THere is no man that can deny, that the true and ancient Philosophers did study long life, and the conservation of their health. Whence it came to pass that they did diligently seek out the subject of preserving health, and prolonging life: wherefore by the help of fire they did practise the separations, and proofs of all vegetables, animals, and minerals, seeking out their powers and vertues: Who found out the greatest harmony of all things as well in the heavens, as on earth betwixt the Sun and Gold, Man and wine. For it cannot be denyed, that the life of all things proceeds from the heat of the Sun; wherefore they sought to unite gold, the terrestriall sunor body fixed and perfect, caused by the rayes of the Sun, with man by the help of spirit of wine.

But haply there will be some, whom this my narration may offend denying that gold is the Son of the Sun, or a metallick body fixed and perfect▪ proceeding from the rayes of the Sun; asking how the Solary immateriall rayes can be made materiall and corporeall? But they are very ignorant of the generation of metals, and minerals. And although I [Page] am not now resolved to write of the generation, and originall of metals, yet endeavouring to demonstrate that there is a vivifying power of the Sun to be found in gold (destroyed and volatilizated) and to be prepared into a most wholesome medicine for man, I will not omit for the sake of the ignorant and incredulous, to demonstrate the truth by one or two examples, which although I could demonstrate by most certain and firm reasons, yet for brevities sake I am now resolved to omit them, recommending to the searcher of the Nature, and propriety of metals, my treatise De Generatione Metallorum, which without doubt will take away all scruple from him; objecting only against him that opposeth the truth, two questions and reasons which are to be confuted: and the first is, whence comes that increase of both the quantity and quality of any viscous, minerall liquor, that hath been exposed long to the Sun in an open glass vessell? Whether from the Sun or elsewhere? But thou sayst that that increase comes from the air, the vehicle of all things. I answer, if from the air, whether was not that air impregnated by the Sun? and whether there be any thing in the air, which it received not from the stars? But place this liquor in a cold cellar in a moist air, and thou shalt by experience know that no weight is added thereto, even as in the Sun, or (in his stead) fire: that liquor will draw some phlegmatick moisture which will be easily separated by heat, the weight of the former liquor being left. This may be shewed by this example: dissolve some sulphureous metall, as Iron, Copper, or Zinck, with any acid spirit, and at length take away the spirit, make the remainder red hot; yet not too much, but as much as sufficeth to take away the spirits, which afterward (its weight being observed) put in a crucible on the fire, but take heed lest the metall run over, but at length let it darkly glow with the crucible, for the space of three or four weeks, which done, take it away again, and weigh again the metall, and thou shalt finde the evident increase of the metall, which thou shalt perceive more evidently by this way, as follows; put copper, or some sulphureous metall with 16 or 18 parts of lead [Page] in a well burnt cupel; made of the ashes of wood, or bones in a tryed furnace (the weight of the cupel; copper and lead first exactly observed) and cause the copper to evaporate by fire with the lead, which done take the cupel when it shall be cold, and again weigh it, and thou shal find it far more weightly, so that its weight (though much of the lead goes into air in the cupellating) not only exceeds its former weight, but also of the copper and Lead by the said cupellation; therefore it is justly demanded whence this increase proceeds, whether the heat of the fire was not coagulated into a metallick body by meanes of that melted metall? Therefore it is probable that if you knew the metallick matrixes in the surface of the earth in which the beams of the Sun and the heat of fire being received may be coagulated, metals may as well be generated in them as in the bowels of the earth.

But thou repliest it is probable the heat of vulgar fire to have some thing metallick in it, which comes by attraction of the melted metall in the Corbill, but not in the Sun-beams.

He that will thus try the truth, let him put the cupel very well burnt in the beams of the Sun, together with copper and lead, to which let him adde a hollow looking-glass, so that it may be operated upon by the Sun-beams gathered into a center and may thence be made hot: But thou must continually hold the Looking-glass in thy hand that thou maist turn or direct it to the Sun according to the course thereof, lest the cupel wax cold, the beams of the Sun being turned away, but if it be rightly observed, a work shall be done no less than in a furnace of fire with glowing heat.

You must have a looking-glass at least in diameter two feet, nor must it be too deep; but bee in depth the 18 or 20 part of the globe, that so it may the further cast beams: it must be very artificially smoothed, that it may more exactly gather beams to the center. Now the preparation of these Looking-glasses is not of this place, but shall be in the fourth part of our Furnaces, where wee shall teach not only how it is to be made of metals, but also of glass, and how polisht and used.

[Page] This demonstration which may be otherwise omitted is therefore set downe that it may be knowne how Gold proceeds from the Sunne, and is secretly endued with its proper strength and proprieties by Chymistry, reducible into that which it was before its coagulation, namely into a heating and living spirit, communicating its strength and faculties to mans body. Therefore the Ancients used great diligence in the melting of gold, in which nothing is found more excellent then the purest and finest spirit of wine made by distillation, and they did not use common gold melted out of stones or washt out of sand, but purged by benefit of fire, & Philosophically quickened and unlocked, not by help of corrosive spirits, the usuall way of vulgar Chymists, but by some water which Nature freely gives without help of violent distillation; by which they manifest that which is hid in gold, and they have hid what is manifest, and therefore they have made it fit for the separation of its tincture from a gross and black superfluous body. For they knew that the compact body of gold hath no affinity with vitall spirits, therefore they have chosen onely the finest part of gold to their Elixir, viz. its tincture which they have radically joined with the spirit of wine, and being joined have made them spiritual or volatile, so that neither can be separated from each other in the fire, and being in the fire are sublimed or fixed with a longer digestion, and coagulated into a fixt stone, which they count for the greatest treasure in this world. Therefore the ancient Philosophers affirming that there is not a better medicine under the Sun than it, which is made from the Philosophicall union of wine and gold, both by an inseparable recoagulation and fixation; nor without gold can spirit of wine, nor this without it be made a medicine, because gold without spirit of wine cannot be made volatile, nor this be coagulated and fixt without it. We therefore their posterity justly follow the opinions of the most famous men, not for their authorities sake, but for ocular demonstration which is the truest tryall.

Therefore the knowledge of the preparation of this medicine [Page] being bestowed on me from the highest, I have intended, because a man is not born for himself, briefly to deliver its preparation and use: but I will not cast pearls before swine; but I'le only shew the way to the studious searchers of the work of God and Nature, who doubtless will understand my writing, but not the ignorant and unskilfull; let therefore the brevity of the preparation offend no man, because I mean not to prostitute this Art (divinely obtained, not with idleness, but with much watching, labours and pains) nor give to the unworthy a bit before chawed but only to communicate it to the pious, who shall see with open eyes that the thing is so. I desire therefore the simplicity of my stile offend no man being not adorned with rhetoricall figures after the wonted manner, for truth wants not many and elegant words, being contented with simplicity and brevity, with which it is easier and better demonstrated, then with those intricate and sophistick discourses

Before I will begin the preparation, I will briefly describe the qualities of a true spagirick undertaking so great a work, that every one may examine himself, that takes this task upon him. For it doth not suffice to know to make fire, or to distill vegetable waters, but the true knowledge as well of the fruits of the superior as inferior elements is required, and especially piety.

Not prating, but much knowledge makes a Chymist, there is no man, who can deny, that the Art is long since sought by divers for many years, even untill this day, with much labour and charges; but found by very few. I doe not wonder that so great a gift of God hath hitherto been communicated to very few; for all modern Chymists (very few excepted) have gone a wrong way. For some trusted to their riches, thinking violently to get the Art, because they were able to make a fair elaboratory, maintain many journey men and get store of vessels, minerals, and coals, not considering the saying of the Apostle, 'Tis not of him that willeth, or him that runneth, but of God only that sheweth mercy.

Others whose learning consisted in divers tongues were [Page] honoured for their elegancy of prating, attributing skill only to themselves, and perswading themselves that they had all the elements at their beck, for their supposed wisdome and learning, not considering the work of Christ, thou hast revealed it to little ones, and hast hid i [...] from the great and wise. Who perswade themselves, that they see grass grow not knowing the earth its mother, to whom if all things suceed not according to their pleasure, they fear not to slander the most pious Philosophers, and to impeach them of falsehood, and to palliate their ignorance with the nullity of their art; who would judge that the thing is far otherwise if they knew the mystical meaning of the Philosophers, but because they are blinded with pride; no marvell if they take the shell in stead of the kernell, and so come not to the wished end.

The third sort is of covetous slothful men, seeking wealth of those mountebanks, being as ignorant of Chymistery and Nature, as those they teach, having neither knowledg of minerals nor metals, nor understanding the works of the Philosophers, with whom if one dispute of the nature and proprieties of metals, they have nothing to answer, but what they read and hear, viz. it is so writ, and so we have proceeded, and thus we must proceed, and such a matter and no other is required, keeping close to the letter, not considering whether the Authour of his proceedings be skilfull or not, whether he hath borrowed his writings from the experience or readings of other books, to whom although a true and genious information of the nature and the knowledge of minerals and metals, and Chymick secrets should be delivered, yet they would not beleeve, despising plain truth as folly in her simple labors, which are, not chargeable nor tedious. Wealth is sought by such like covetous fellows, spending in some process of no worth some hundreds or thousand crowns, supposing the art to be venall, not considering that the Merchant will keep a good and sure art to himself, and not seek mony of others.

I doe not deny that some Artist may be the possessor of some secret, or thing found by his own experience, or disclosed to [Page] him by some friend, which for poverty he cannot effect, and therefore hath need to crave the help of others, for not alwayes wealth and skill meet together, which deservedly are helpt by the rich, trusting to Gods blessing.

But this caution is to be taken, lest there be a half-pennyworth of profit in time of harvest from a crowns worth of corn, both of wealth and credit. Who is so blind, though but with one eye, who doth not observe the trifles of such like covetous boasters? although the Sun by Gods mercy doth shine on both good and bad, yet it was never heard that ever any true Philosopher handling secrets secretly was a prating trifler. And it is much to be wondered at, that the learned of this age have been so blinded, that they would be gulled by such vagabond knaves.

The fourth kind of seekers are men of a different condition, not seeking wealth and honour but Gods glory and their neighbours profit, contented with mean food and apparell, not proud and vain-glorious, but pious and honest, handling coals in stead of gold rings, not the companions of many men, silent knowers of naturall secrets, seeking and finding by Gods assisting grace, not trusting to the writings of the Ancient Philosophers, but to God the prime teacher of all things, whose mercy is the same now, as it was in the time of those Philosophers, which obtained their Art with earnest prayers from God. Unto these came Arts beyond hope and expectation, and the use and method of using them.

Therefore all that undertake this Art, let them diligently examine themselves, for none of this last number will be furthered by their wealth and conceited learning, because this skill is the gift of God alone, and not man. Therefore the proprieties of a true Chymist, reaping the fruit of the Golden tree being known: I will now begin the preparation of the tincture of Gold, by the hand of a skilfull and excercised workman, and will shew the difference of the true and false tincture, and the physicall use of the true gold, to expell many diseases, as follows.

[Page] ℞ of living gold one part, and three parts of quick Mercury, not of the vulgar, but the Philosophicall every where to be found without charges and labour (thou maist also adde living silver of equall weight with the gold, and indeed better then only gold for the greater variety of colours proceeding from the mixture of male and female: but one perswaded that better tincture proceeds from gold alone may mixe gold only, not so, one skilfull of metals, who knoweth the power of the cordiall union of gold and silver dissolved in one and the same menstruum) put them mixt in a Philosophicall vessell to dissolve, and in the space of one quarter of an houre, those mixt metals will be radically dissolved by Mercury, and will give a purple colour; after encrease the fire by degrees, and it will be changed into a very fine green, to which taken out, poure the water of dew to dissolve, which may be done in half an houre, filtre the solution, and abstract the water, through a glass alembick in B. which poure out again fresh, and abstract, which doe three times, in the mean time that greenness will be turned into a black colour like ink stinking like a carkase, and therefore odious: and it behoves sometimes to take away the water reaffused and digested, and that blackness and stink will depart in the space of forty houres, and will produce a pure milky whiteness, which appearing take away all the moisture till it be dry, which will be a white mass and in few houres of a pleasant colour, divers colours first appearing it is turned into a fine greenness better then the former, to which you must affuse the spirit of wine well rectified to the depth of two or three fingers, and that green gold dissolved will draw that spirit of wine for the great amity like a dry spunge drawing water [...], and will communicate to it a quintessence as red as bloud, by which meanes the greenness is deprived of its quickning tincture, the superfluous ashy body being left.

You must decant and filtrate the tinged spirit, and in a B. by a glass alembick, abstract it from the red tincture, attracting the fiery essence of spirit of wine, so that they may be very [Page] close and inseparably conjoined, for which an unsavoury water only distills, the vertue of the spirit of wine left with the tincture of gold like a red fiery salt, fusile and volatile; of which graine 1. can tinge ℥ i. of spirit of wine, or any other liquor, with a bloud red colour, for it is soluble in any moisture; and therefore may be kept in a liquid form for the Panacea of most desperate diseases. Now I will communicate the proprieties of the true tincture by which true potable gold is known. This tincture next the stone is the best of all medicines, betweene which and that there is but this difference, the soule of gold is volatile nor hath entrance into imperfect metals, & therefore cannot transmute into pure fine gold, which vertue is attributed to the Philosophers Stone. The soul of gold though it be the best part, yet it is not fixt in fire but volatile; but the Philosophers Stone is fixt in fire and remains by reason of a longer digestion. But whether that soul or volatile tincture, and red Lion may be fixt by help of fire, may be turned into the Universal medicine, and tinging stone, that I know not; because hitherto I have not tryed, &c. therefore he may who extracts the soul of gold make further tryall, whether he can finde any thing better. For this work treateth of nothing but the best medicine of gold, but other things I know not.

Therefore the deceit of the Distillers of wine, and other vegetable waters, selling potable gold, is not unknowne, being not ashamed to sell any water colored yellow or red to the ignorant, for a great price. And the errour of others, dissolving the body of gold in aqua Regia, or spirit of salt, which again they abstract to a dry remainder, to which for extraction they affuse the spirit of wine: which is not an extraction, but some particular solution of gold, made by help of corrosive spirits left in the gold, tinging the spirit of wine with a yellow colour, which so coloured they call their potable gold, which notwithstanding is reduced into gold, the spirit of wine abstracted, which can doe more then any other Calx of gold, which the Archeus cannot digest, but separates being indigested, with the excrements. And also it is the error [Page] of others, ignorantly deceiving themselves and others, extracting the calx of gold with peculiar menstruums and spirits, knowing not that the menstruum affused to gold to be red of it self by a long digestion, which decanted, they administer instead of potable gold, who if they weighed the remaining calx, would by experience see that nothing departed from the gold; which you may try by setting the spirit or menstruum in a remiss heat, or longer in cold, which of it self doth wax red, as it had been affused to the Calx of Sol. But the cause of this redness is (unknown to them) nothing but a certain nitrous salt and volatile, as of Antimony, Urine, Tartar, Hartshorn, Haire, &c. exalting the colour of any Sulphur.

Wherefore it necessarily follows if Artists, mingle with the spirit of wine in which is a sulphur, such exalting salts, that it will thence be exalted in colour, and wax red! which also happens to them, who use to extract a tincture with distilled oyls having a volatile salt, as are oyl of juice of Lemmons, Cloves, of Soot, &c.

For such like tincture or potable gold is ineffications, as experience witnesseth But I would not say there is no other tincture to be prepared out of gold, beside this tincture: for being dissolved in sweet menstruums, that it cannot be separated by precipitation, it can doe wonderfull things in many greivous diseases; but alwayes the living metal is to be chosen in stead of dead.

But true potable gold is not so only in name and shew (as are divers waters tinged with a yellow or red color) but also endued with golden faculties & vertues, so that it may actually appear to be made of gold, but irreducible by fire into gold, spirituall and penetrative strengthening the vitall spirits, that they may overcome their enemies. But it must also be endued with this vertue that it may change imperfect metals, chiefly Mercury, Lead, and Silver into pure Gold; not truely like a fixt tincture, tinging with profit baser metals in flux; but only perfecting particularly in a moist way by digestion, where some part of the metall alone is turned into [Page] better. For this tincture or salt of gold is very volatile, so that it cannot resist the fire; but with a gentle heat it melteth like wax, and is sublimed like red salt, soluble in spirit of wine that it may be fit for Physicall uses.

Also true potable gold being tasted, is neither corrosive, nor astringent like other solutions of gold: neither doth it pollute the hands, the nails and hair with black or yellow color; but rather makes them more fine; neither doth it infect copper, iron, tin, lead, with rust or a black colour, but rather maketh them more clear; neither is it a body of gold reducible by extraction, nor into white gold, which may recover its former colour by Antimony and Aqua Regia, but it is like an earthen wax, and sublimable in a gentle heat like Arsenic, not enduring the tryall of the cuple, which vertues if it have it may be called the true tincture of gold: but if not, not so but rather a sophisticated potable gold, not to be medled withall.

Of the medicinall use of this golden Medicine.

VVE have before demonstrated, the Sun to be the originall of gold, or endued with the incredible vertues of the terrestriall Sun. For the strength and vertues of all vegetables, animals, and minerals lie hid in it; which cannot be manifested but by a Philosopher, and that by separation, to wit, of the intrinsecall and pure parts, from the impure.

This speech will happily seem to thee incredible, or not very likely, to say that gold is reducible into a spirituall essence, agreeable to humane nature, endued with the strength of all animals, vegetables and minerals. Surely thou shalt hardly perswade him whom Vulcan hath not made a Philosopher, to beleive it. But who will trouble himselfe so much as with sure reasons to decide all controversies; which if possible, yet for many reasons is here omitted; but for sureties sake I will send back the Reader to the second part of our Furnaces, where he shall finde how out of Antimony and [Page] Sulphur, by a good chymist with the help of fire may be drawn not only the force and facultie of divers vegetables, but also their naturall odour; which yet did not appear in them before they were radically disolved, which if it may be done by any imperfect and fetid mineral, why not also by a perfect and mature mineral?

If we were good naturalists, and very diligent Chymists, then we need not to fill Elaboratories with so many pots and boxes, nor spend so much cost in fetching in so many forreign medicinall species, because without question the strength and properties of all vegetables animals and minerals by an easier way, may be found in some few subjects. And as the true tincture of Sol well fixed is endued with all the vertues of all vegetables, animals and minerals; so also deservedly is ascribed to it the force of curing all diseases; but with a difference. For there are divers kinds of the Gout in hands and feet, as also of the Stone, and Leprosie; which sometimes are inveterate and uncurable diseases, sometimes n ew nd curable. Who therefore not madde would promise to cure all and every disease indifferently, by any certaine Medicine? Certainly no man although he had the very Stone of the Philosophers.

For oft-times the Stone of the bladder is purged away or broken being most hard and insoluble by Aqua Fortis, which not any medicine not corrosive could dissolve; which strength although they ascribe to their medicine, yet they cannot perform it. Promises therefore do not suffice, which none can perform: for promises become debts, which is observed by few; wherefore by the haters of the Art the truth suffers and the hope of good success of Chymical Medicines dyeth. It is best therefore to performe more then promise, and the work shall praise the workman. How can a medicine penetrate to the extream parts of the body; to wit, the hands and feet, and dissolve the coagulated matter waxing hard, which out of the body no corrosive Medicine can dissolve? It is sufficient if a medicine finding a viscous tartareous and salt matter, not yet coagulated, doe dissolve and expell it. The like is to be understood of [Page] the stone in the reins and bladder. In this manner I wil ascribe the curing of the Gout in the hands and feet, the stone in the kidneys and bladder, to my tincture of Sol, as well in old as young; but so that if need be specifical catharticks may be administred, and extrinsecally Bathes for promoting the cure, whereby Nature may the sooner doe its office. But above all things we must not slight Divine Providence: For ofttimes God smites us with a disease incurable by Art, unlesse Divine wrath be first appeased by humhle repentance, which is the best medicine of all. As also the cure of all diseases coming of the corruption of the bloud, as the Leprosie, the French disease, and other impurities; which are taken away by this Tincture, if withall Catharticks and Diaphoreticks are administred, cleansing and renewing the bloud above all other medicines. This Tincture also takes away all the obstructions of the Liver, Spleen, Kidneys, and other parts, because it warms, attenuates, weakens, and evacuates, the originall of divers diseases. It also cures all violent and acute diseases, as the Epilepsie, Plague, Feavers, &c.

It provoketh the Menstrues of old and young, chiefly if also extrinsecally it be rightly administred: which way many are well cured, who otherwise are like to perish miserably; it warms and cleanseth the Matrix above all other Medicines, and renders it fit to perform its office: It preserves it also from all accidents of Sterility, & other very grievous diseases, causing death. It expels the water of the Dropsie by urine it rarifieth and▪ dryeth up the superfluous moistures of the internall and externall parts, like the Sun drying and consuming waters, by which means the body recovers its prinstine sanitude: of other diseases to write in particular it is not need, because in all and every one without difference it may be used, as a generall medicine, in old as well as young. This medicine doth not only restore, but also conserve health till the predestinated time.

The Dose is from 3 graines or drop s to twelve or more, but to children 1, 2, or 3, with its appropriated vehicle, or in wine or beer to be administred dayly, which Dose may [Page] be oftener in a day took, respect being had to the sick party.

Thou mayst not be offended with the reproaches of the calumniator of this book (of which the Divell with his filthy lyes is alwayes the Authour) beleeving stedfastly that the time is neer, when at length by the Divine wrath these Goats will be consumed like chaffe, the sheep being not hurt, for their meat recompensing their Master with milk and wool.

And so I make an end, hoping to have pleased my Neighbour: for without doubt, who useth this golden medicine well, shall doe well, chiefly lifting up his heart, (acknowleding his sins) to God the Giver and Creator of all good, in filiall humility, imploring his help and blessing; which Omnipotent God and merciful Father, that he would bestow on us his temporal blessing in this life with sound health, and hereafter life eternal, of his free grace, Let us pray,

Amen.

FINIS.

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OF THE Minerall Work, THE FIRST PART, Wherein is taught the separation OF GOLD Out of Flints, Sand, Clay, and other Fossiles by the Spirit of Salt, which otherwise cannot be purged. ALSO, A Panacea or Vniversall Antimoniall Medicine, and the use thereof. Invented and published in favour of the studious in the Chymick Art.

By JOHN RUDOLPH Glauber.

LONDON, Printed by Richard Cotes, for Tho: Williams at the signe of the Bible in Little-Britain. 1652.

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A Preface to the Reader.

THere will be some without doubt, because the Edition of other peices (of which I made mention in some former tractates a few years past) hath been hitherto by reason of divers journeys and other various impediments, neglected, who will think (having no knowledge of me) that I am unable to perform my promise; and there are others, who knowing my condition, and the contumelies of my enemies, will fear that I being diverted from my purpose by these reproaches, will make void my secret promises. But I have resolved to stand to my promise, that these men may see that I am neither moved nor altered with the taunts of the envious; but that they may be convinced by reall demonstration of my secrets, some of which, I shall now for the publique good endeavour to communicate. And although the ingratitude of the world be cause enough for my silence, yet the uprightness of my heart would not permit me to conceal those things, notwithstanding the malevolent and ungratefull. Beside also the following reason moved me, because there are some ambitious men, who falsly boast of the knowledge of divers of my secrets; wherefore some have been moved to think that mine are not mine own, but the works and writings of others; by which means I have been deprived of my due praise, being attributed to another. And this I have often found, that one or other having by entreaties obtained a secret from me, have afterward through ostentation ascribed it to themselves.

There are others also who fear not to reproach me, and my writings, [Page] as though they were trifles, not attaining their desired end, who (rather then I who have written plain enough) are themselves to be blamed, for being ignorant how to work. Such and other things might deter me, but I would not omit the publishing of these writings for those mens sake who are pious and honest. Wherefore I openly affirm, that these things published by me are not only no trifles, but most true, and also my own and not the invention of another; And I call him a lyer, who shall boast himself the Authour without any of my help. But of these enough! Yet I would have the Reader know, that for the meannesse of the stile, I am not like many writers, who more look after the flourish of words then the thing it selfe; I rather seek that my neighbor may profit by me. Whereforefor his better understanding I had rather be prolixe in words, tedious to delicate ears, then obscure brevity adorned with rhetoricall figures. For I know that the studious in the Art doe affect a prolixe, plain, and distinct information or instruction, rather then a Ciceronian or obscure. And now in the Name of God I will begin my worke, which is most profitable to all, and will faithfully communicate and publish the same in that manner as it was found by me in my travell, under the title of The Minerall Work, divided into three parts. In the first of which shall be taught how out of sand and golden flints, corporeall golden may be drawn by the help of Spirit of Salt. Which secret although it may seem small, yet it is that whereby (a knowledge of the true stones and true sand being obtained) life may be sustained, and also the cost laid out may be recompensed as shall be proved in the following parts.

In the second part shall be treated of the originall and generation of metals, and also of the destruction of Minerals and Metals.

In the third part shall be demonstrated the possibility of metallicall transmutation by Nature and Art, and that with divers reasons: which demonstration is not (unlesse I am deceived) performed yet by any, being the foundation of all metallick Philosophy and the Golden Crown of all my writings. Which God grant I may perfect to the glory of his Divine name, and the good of my neighbour.

Amen.

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The first Part of the Minerall Work.

A most profitable process of the separation of gold, out of flints, sand, clay, red and black Talck and other Fossiles, containing very subtile Gold, thin and spongeous, which otherwise cannot be separated either for its scarcity or the obstinacy of the Minerall by reason of the great cost to be bestowed; viz. very easily with the spirit of salt.

KNow first (good Reader) that not all sand, clay, nor all flints, and other Fossibles do contain gold, but only some, without the knowledge of which this secret availeth nothing. And because the knowledge of these are very necessary for the Artist, I will shew how they are to be proved whether they contain gold or not, that he labour not in vain, but that it may prove to his commodity or profit.

The madness of men, searching after uncertain things is wonderful, but neglecting certain, although exposed to every ones view: For many seeking the perfection of metals to gain riches, are busied about an uncertain thing, because of a thousand scarce one obtaines his end: although they may be perfected and purified, I mean imperfect and impure metals, so that good gold and silver may thence be extracted, but this Art is given to few, neither is every one fit to perform the business, [Page] because it requires an ingenious and experienced Artist. But the thing which is certain may be performed with small cost and labour by any vulgar Chymist, having any knowledge of the Art of fusion and separation, being an ingenious man, and not seeking things too high or too gainfull at the first tryall. Be cautious therefore in the extraction of the aforesaid stones, for if thou should'st with the spirit of salt extract many of them, having no gold, without doubt thou shalt find no gold there: And if thou shouldst extract some contained in them, and if thou be ignorant of the separation of it by Antimony, thou canst thence hope for no profit.

First then, the knowledge, viz. of those stones is necessary afterward of that separation by Antimony. Impute therefore the fault if thou errest, not to me but to thine own ignorance, if thou knowest not to extract the gold, for I have written clearly, though thou shouldst not know any thing that were omitted. And I before admonish thee to be cautious in thy work; least thou labour for nought. For it is certain, & no fiction, that in many places there are found golden flints, and golden clay, and sand, oft-times abounding with gold. And if they doe not abound with it, yet may they be extracted with profit: but the flints abounding with it are extracted with greater gain. There are also found whole Rocks and Mountains of Gold, and great mountains filled with golden sand and clay, not returning the charge of washing, either for its too great rarefaction or spungiosity and levity by reason of which it's washed away with the sand; all which how poor soever, may be extracted by the spirit of salt with gain, and by antimony fixed and purified In breif, this is such a secret by which no man can be an impediment to another, as in other mechanicall operations, whereof no man may be ashamed, for God did therefore create gold in the earth and stones that we might thence extract it to the glory of his name and the benefit of our neighbour, neither hath he forbidden the true and genuine use of it. I say therefore in truth that I have here described this Art, how ever despised [Page] by the ignorant, yet of greatest moment and almost incomprehensible. Now consider the thing a little farther, thou shalt finde every where in the earth great treasures to be hidden, which only through ignorance are not discovered. Truly it is known to all, that there is found golden sand and clay in divers places, which for the aforesaid reasons are left unlaboured, but by this our Art may easily be worked upon.

There are found also silver mountaines, out of which silver cannot be extracted for the little weight it yeelds; there is also found in many places a certain yellow or reddish earth, or such like clay, which though it contain store of silver, yet it cannot be extracted with profit by this way, yet separable, with gain, but not by the spirit of salt which leaves it untoucht, but by some other thing, every where to be found in plenty, of which for some reasons we shall speak nothing here.

And this way of separation makes much for the poore minerall of copper, which with profit cannot be worked upon by the vulgar way, to be separated from the Copper, afterward by ripening it into a better metall, or turning it into verdygrease for want of a better art, which business also may well and honestly more then maintain a family. This way also may the rejected dross of the gold, silver, and copper be with profit separated. But because I have decreed to handle here only the extraction of gold out of stones, therefore these menstrues which are used in the extraction of copper and silver, are deservedly omitted, and reserved for another place, where sometime they shall be delivered, to wit, if I shall see that this demonstration shall be accepted in mens eyes, which more very excellent shall follow. As now I have undertaken a more excellent matter in love to my countrey, by which it may appear, that Germany however reduced to want, is yet rich enough, if it would but at last look upon its hidden treasures. There is no need to offer a fore-chewed bit, for demonstration is sufficient, neither will we obtrude a good upon the negligent; for to the ungratefull the best things are unacceptable. These therefore being waved [Page] in short we will give the demonstration and extraction of those flints, not doubting but the expert, and experienced, though the sluggish may not, will thence reap profit, and give God the praise.

What belongs then to the aforesaid stones, out of which gold may be extracted, thus the matter stands. All kind of flints for the most part have invisible gold, sometimes visible and invisible, volatile and corporeal together; but many commonly contain impure iron-like volatile gold, and also mature, and a few sulphureous and copper-like.

Stones which the Germans call Quartzen and Horstein, containing pure and corporeal gold, although mixt with silver and copper, may be burnt and ground, and extracted with Mercury, and if they abound with gold, be purged by flux; which labours are usual with diggers and dealers in metals, of which I doe not intend to write, because others have heretofore writ of them. But those flints Quartzen and Hornstein every where almost to be found, containing but a mean quantity of dispersed iron-like Gold, Marcasite-like, and that either fixt or volatile, cannot be separated with gain, to wit, neither by Mercury nor by Flux, wherefore they are neglected by the Miners, either out of ignorance or for the intolerable costs. But I having tryed those base stones, that how little gold soever they possesse; yet may it be separated with great gain, I would not intermit to publish this knowledge for my Christian neighbours sake, not doubting but this publication will be profitable to very many. For I am not ignorant that there are as well learned as unlearned, noble as ignoble, secular as spirituall, either by war or otherwise exposed to poverty, so that they are hardly able to maintain their family, &c. and for their sakes and others in want. I have published this secret, which rightly handled may bring no small gain yeerly, but especially where those stones are plentiful, and also that spirit of salt, whereof the description is given in the 1 part of the Philosophical Furnaces, and hereafter there shall be given a better, if nothing hinder; in the mean while use and enjoy these. And if it happen so that thou canst not [Page] rightly perform all things of the aforesaid tractate, blush not to learn the manual [Operations] which cannot be so exactly described from those that are experienced, lest you hereafter unprofitably spend your labour and costs. As for those stones know that very many of them are found in several places, chiefly in those that are sandy and mountainous, but in some more & better than in others: for there is seldom seen sand without flints, and oft-times the sand it selfe, though very little doth not want Gold. But they are very likely to be found on the shoars of Rivers, where the water washing away the sand from the flints they are found in great aboundance, though they are not so easily known by their outside, as those which were found clean in the sand, because they are covered with slime. Wherefore they must be broken with a hammer, that that may be seen which is in them, what may better appear if they be burnt, and quencht in cold water. For the stone retaining its whiteness where it is burnt and quencht doth contain nothing; but acquiring a redness it shews there is something in it, and the more red it is the better token it is.

N. B. But this is not to be understood of sandy stones, waxing red in some part in the fire, containing no gold, but of flints out of which by a mutual percussion fire is brought forth, which the more pure they are the purer gold do yeeld. There are also flints out of which fire is forced by percussion being red in the fire, which contain no gold but Iron; which you may know by that clear redness before the burning, which being burnt is changed into an obscure redness, not shining and crude: but the flints containing Gold, being burnt doe acquire fair golden yellowness, or reddish colour, as if they were covered gold, and that through the whole substance if they be broken in pieces. And these give a pure gold, but those other yeeld a red extraction like bloud, yeelding not gold, but the purest and malleable iron, good in Chymick uses, (but chiefly for silver to be cemented and exalted) for gold is seldome to be found in them; that which is well to be observed lest thou draw out iron in stead of gold, and so loose thy labour.

[Page] Also the best stones containing gold, are those which are white and shining, here and there throughout having in the whole substance green spots and lines, red, yellow, skie-colored and brown. There are also black flints out of which fire is forced by percussion, having gold and iron, which may be separated with profit, yeelding sometimes plenty of ironish Gold, which may in like manner, be separated of which afterward.

They are very good flints also which being burnt retain a whiteness, with veins green, skie-coloured, and such like, neither are they dis-esteemed which burnt, have black spots, and not veins.

But the stones (Quartzen and Hornstein) although they in burning are not altered, yet if there be seen before gold volatile and spiritual, they by separation of themselves yeeld gold.

Gross and subtle sand having light and yellow gold, yeelds in the burning a skie-coloured smoak, and is exalted in color, viz. brownish: but that hath nothing which is not altered.

Subtle earth, yellow or red, passing through sand or a mountain like a vein contains also gold, which is for the most part volatile, and not mature, flying away in reduction, having ingress into silver and other metals, and therefore for this reason conservable.

For thy better knowledge thou maist prove the stones, with white fusile glass, which thing is treated of in the fourth part of the Philosophical Furnaces, that thou mayst not have cause to impute the fault of thy errour to me; therefore I would have thee understand, viz. that all stones containe not gold, neither in all is it separable by the spirit of salt: they are therefore to be known before they be applyed to the work.

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Now follows the preparation of flints, and the extraction of the gold contained in them, by the spirit of salt.

FIrst the flints being made red hot in the fire, they must be quencht in cold water, after taken out and cooled, be finely powdered.

N. B. When they are broken in a Mortar the better parts may easily be separated from the baser; for while they are finely powdered, alwayes the best part goes into red powder first, the worser part thicker and harder, containing little or nothing, being left: And if they be coursly powdered and sifted through a fine sieve the more subtle part like red powder goes through the sieve, the unuseful part being left in the sieve like white dust, which may be cast away: and if yet some redness appeares, it must again be powdered in a Mortar, and the better part shal go into a red powder, the baser part being left in the sieve hard and white which is to be cast away, but you must observe that not all & every of these flints are thus separable by powdering; for some being beaten doe every where retain the same colour, without any separation of the better parts, which you must finely powder and extract in the whole substance: But they (viz. those separable) are more easily extracted, because all the gold contained in one pound for the most part may be gathered out of 3 or 4 ounces finely powdered and separated in the aforesaid manner; so that it is not need to extract the whole stone, nor to spend so much spirit of salt. But sand and clay need not such a preparation, but without a preparation being made before, are extracted by the affusion of the spirit of salt.

℞ then of the flints as aforesaid prepared and separated 2, 3, 4, 6 pound, to which being put into a cucurbit of glass whole (undivided) powre of the spi [...]it of Salt to the depth of 3 or 4 fingers breadth, and place it in hot sand or Balneo, that there the spirit of salt may be hot, and may extract the Gold, and so let it continue for 5▪ 6 or more howres space, untill the spirit tinged with a deep redness, can extract no more. And [Page] perchance at the first time (though seldome) it may not be tinged with so great a rednesse, then must you decant that same imperfectly tinged spirit, and powre to other flints after the manner expressed, prepared in another cucurbit, and place it with the flints in a moderate heat for to extract the gold; which done poure it off again, and poure it to fresh flints, and doe so often untill it hath drawn to it a sufficient quantity of gold; which afterward thou must keep, untill thou hast gotten a greater quantity, and all the Gold may bee separated at one time from it, as afterward shall be said.

Which done poure to the reserved flints in the first cucurbit, a fresh spirit of salt, and leave that so long in heat, untill it be colored, and extract the gold that is left in the flints, and was not at the first time extracted; which spirit being afterward decanted, pour it to the flints reserved in the second & third cucurbit, to extract the residue of the gold which was left at the first time; and so consequently to the others reserved, untill the spirit be sufficiently coloured, and can attract no more; which afterward poure off and put it to the first, which was reserved. You must also poure a fresh spirit to the remainder of the extraction for the extracting of all the gold. At length pour to it also common water to wash away the tinged spirit of gold remaining in the flints, that none of the Gold may be lost.

And this labour is so long and often to be repeated till there remain neither flints nor spirits; in the meane while you should cast away the flints extracted and washed, that the cucurbits may be filled with fresh flints, and so continue the work; and if there be no more spirit left to continue the extraction, you may then separate the extracted gold from the spirit, which is done as followeth: but first you must have plenty of glass vessels or retorts of the best earth, which may retain the spirits; which you may so far fil with the impregnated spirit, that the spirit in the abstraction run not over, which done it is to be extracted in a dry Balneo by little and little from the Gold, which spirit ye may use again in the aforesaid work. And the Gold which is left in the bottom of the [Page] vessels, is to be separated from the vessels with a crooked iron wier and (kept being very like to red earth) for its use, untill thou hast gotten a good quantity, viz. so much as sufficeth for separation and purgation (of which afterward) to be made by Antimony.

N. B. But when thou shalt extract red Talc with spirit of salt, red or black granates, Smiris, or Lapis Calaminaris, and other Fossiles, which beside fixt Gold contain much immature and volatile Gold; you must in the abstraction cast in a little iron, viz. to the solution, which retains & fixes the gold which otherwise flyes away in fusion. Wherefore those solutions and extractions of Talc and other things containing volatile gold are better extracted out of iron Cucurbits by earthen alembicks than out of glass and earthen retorts, because then that volatile gold doth attract only somuch thence as is sufficient for its fixation; which iron is aster easily separated by the Antimony from the gold, as shall after be taught. And this is to be noted, that not the whole granate is soluble in the spirit of salt, although it be long left in digestion, always retaining its former colour; wherefore there is a difference to be made, or a preparation to be learned, requisite for the solution of the gold contained in them.

And you must extract Talc not with too much or excessive heat, lest its substance be totally dissolved in the spirit and be a hinderance to the work; because there is little profit then, for it is therefore appointed, that a little gold dispersed in a great quantity of Talc may be reduced into a little compass that it need not that all the quantity of Talc be made fusile, because it will thereby procure losse. But there is no danger in flints, because the spirit of salt doth not dissolve them as it doth T lc, but only extracts gold from thence, the stony body being l [...]f [...]. The lapis calaminaris may also otherwise be handled in the extraction and fixation than granates, flints and Talc, because it is almost wholly soluble in the spirit of salt; which work is not here to be handled, because the extraction and fixation is taught in a p culiar way in another place, neither doe I mean to treat of it here, but only of the extraction of [Page] gold out of flints every where to be found. And this is the way of extraction of Gold out of flints and sand in heat by the spirit of salt, to be done in glass vessels. But there is another way too, which is done in cold without glass vessels which I thought worth the setting down, that in the aforesaid work you may choose which you please, this or that, and it is done as followeth. We must have in this way store of earthen funnels well burnt, and not sucking up the spirits; for want of which we must have such as be of strong glass: there must also be a form with many holes in it to receive the aforesaid funnels, under which must be placed glass dishes or basons to receive the strained spirit.

Here follows the work to be performed by Funnels.

FUnnels being put in the holes of the form, you must first put a big peice of flint in the straighter part of the funnel, to which after put lesser peices, and on these again less, viz. as much as serveth to fill the straight part of the Funnel, of which the larger part is after to be filled with powdred flints, but so that there be left a depth of three or four fingers bredth for the spirit of salt. By this means those greater peices in the lower part will hinder the passage of the fine powder in the affusion of the spirit of salt.

Which being done as it ought pour to the flints contained in the funnels the spirit of salt, to two or three fingers breadth in deepness which forthwith shall work on the flints and attract their gold, and then run into the dish or bason set underneath: and because for the most part at the first time some of the powder passeth through with the spirit, you must so often poure the same spirit on the flints untill there be a stoppage and the spirit come clear; afterward poure this spirit into the second funnel with flints; and then into the third, and so consequently until it be strained through the flints of every funnel; or til the spirit be sufficiently colored, which you must keep untill you have gotten a sufficient quantity to be distilled by retort for the separating the spirit from the gold. Then [Page] that first spirit being strained through▪ the flints of each funnel according to order and coloured, pour a fresh spirit to the flints of al the funnels according to order beginning at the first till you come to the last▪ untill that be sufficiently coloured, which being done poure a fresh spirit of salt to the flints (according to their order) contained in every funnel. And when you see the strained spirit not to receive a tincture, it's a sign that all the gold is extracted; and then poure on no more spirit but common water that it may be strained, and the water will attract the spirit of-salt lest in the flints that none shall be lost, which acidish water save by it self to the same and the like uses: which being done, take out the extracted flints and fill the funnels with fresh as before, viz. to be extracted; and doe this so long as you have flints and spirit. But you must not poure a spirit not sufficiently tinged into the spirits that are well coloured and impregnated with gold, but keep it a part, and poure it still to fresh prepared flints according to order contained in divers funnels, viz. untill it bee sufficiently coloured, and being coloured, separate it by the glass retorts with the rest, extracting it from the gold by abstraction; and being abstracted again use it to a new worke like the former. And by this means with 100 pound of spirit of salt may be extracted some thousand pounds of flints prepared and separate the gold contained in them, which otherwise by fusion cannot be done. But the chief point consisteth in the extraction (the spirit of salt being well and rightly first administred) viz. that the spirit may not be wasted, whereby many stones may be abstracted with a very little spirit. But this caution is to be observed in this extraction which is done in cold, that it requireth a stronger spirit of salt than that, which is done in heat by the cucurbits, or else the businesse goes on slower: but with a stronger spirit by this (the cold) way they are extracted sooner and easier than by that which is done in heat; and neither so dangerous, laborious or costly: this extraction then, viz. the cold, requires a stronger spirit of salt (which is worth nothing) than the hot.

[Page] And this is that way by which those golden flints, and other golden fossiles are prepared, and with the spirit of salt are extracted, and by which it is again separated from them: Now shall follow the manner of purification, viz. of the Gold left in the Retort.

N. B. The pure gold being extracted out of the flints, not the iron-like, there needs no great businesse of purification, for thou mayst purifie it by fusion with borace, or with the flux made with the equall weight of Nitre and Tartar: but if the gold extracted out of the flints be mixt with iron, as for the most part it is, then you must not fuse it with flux, because it is not thereby purified or rendred malleable Gold, but separate it by lead by which way it is purged and made malleable. And if such gold have any sulphureous impurities mixt besides, it is not to be separated with lead, because it is then partly turned to dross and other impurities by the Iron with losse; wherefore it is to be purged with three parts of Antimony and separated, by which means nothing is lost; which is the best way of separation and purification of Gold; viz. the ferreous, without which it cannot otherwise be separated without losse.

How impure Gold may be separated and purged by Antimony.

THis work is necessary to be known if you think to have any benefit by the aforesaid extraction of flints by the spirit of Salt, which without this separation and reduction is of no moment: and what profit I pray is there by the extraction of immature Gold which by the common way cannot be purged, requiring the industry of the Artist in fusion, whereby it may be separated from its sulphureous faeces and fixed? For it is easie to conjecture, that such spirituall and volatile gold mixed with Iron, by that common flux is not reducible into a body, but rather into dross: for experience testifies that gold dissolved with the spirit of salt▪ & also iron, or any other sulphureous thing, the spirit of salt being abstracted cannot be reduced whole by th [...] [...]ulgar flux made of Nitre and Tartar, going into dross: which if it happen to [Page] corporeall, pure and fixt gold, how shall it be otherwise with that which is incorporeall, unclean and volatile? for the Gold being ironish commonly, which is extracted out of stones, and iron having great affinity with gold (by reason of which being neerly united, it is difficulty separated, so that it easier goes with iron into drosse than parted from it) you must of necessity make a flux not only attracting that impure gold, but also purifying and cleansing it; that which antimony alone doth, which with its combustible fusible Sulphur works upon that ferreous Gold, or iron easily mixt: But by its Mercury it attracteth the pure corporeall gold, and cleanseth it, and separates it from all dross without any losse: wherefore there cannot be a better flux, but requiring industry, or an ingenious separation of the Antimony from the gold, without wasting the gold; which is done as follows.

And first your ferreous gold, that is left in the abstraction of the spirit of salt, must be finely powdered in iron retors or pots, & mingled with it two or three parts of Antimony powdred, and mixt in a very strong crucible filled and covered, & then fused in our fourth furnace, until that flow like water; which soon appearing poure them together in a heated Cone, smeered within with wax, and when they be cold separate from the drosse the Regulus (having most of the gold) with a hammer, and keep it by it selfe. Which done you must again melt the drossie Antimony (as yet containing much gold) that was left, in the crucible, and adde to it a little filing of iron, mixing them with a crooked wier, and that antimoniall combustible sulphnr will be mortified by addiug iron and will yeeld a Regulus containing the rest of the gold, which as a regard is had to the quantity of iron added, will be more or less, and for the most part will answer weight to the weight of iron; then cast the mass (well flowing) into a Cone heated and smeered on the inside with wax, which being cold separate again the Regulus from the drosse with a hammer, which also is to be kept by it self; melt the drosse again as before, and precipitate it with iron, and extract the Regulus thence, which keep by its self, for it contains gold and silver mixt. For the best gold is precipitated the first time, [Page] but afterward the baser sort, and at last only silver. Wherefore every Regulus is to be kept by it self, that the purest gold may be a part, and the silvered gold by it self.

N. B. And if the antimony by the the addition of iron doe loose its fusibility, and therefore can yeeld no Regulus, it's required that you at every time when precipitation is made, by adding iron, that you doe also cast in some Misy, to make the mass to melt in the crucible and precipitate the Regulus. All the gold and silver being reduced into three or four Regulus's you must keep the drossie parts by themselves that were left, of which we shall speak hereafter.

Now follows the way of separating gold silver from Antimony.

THe aforesaid antimoniall Regulus's may many wayes be purged, and first by help of bellows on a plain earthen test, as the custome is with Goldsmiths when they make gold fusile by antimony, which labour is tedious and dangerous; which cannot be done often without the losse of health, nor in great quantity: wherefore when a better way is known 'tis a folly to doe it so. The Regulus's also may be purified by lead on a teste, which work may be done in a great quantity, but it requires aboundance of coals and lead, where the antimony cannot be preserved: but it may be done with gain, and is to be preferred before the former wayes: Thou maist if thou pleasest calcine the aforesaid Regulus's and then fuse them; which way gold and silver may easily be drawne out. Thou maist also fuse them in a crucible, and by the addition of some salts separate the antimony from the gold and silver, turning the antimony into dross, which being separated those are found purified and mallcable, which though it be the easiest way, it is yet also very dangerous, for the salts often, if you doe not warily proceed doe spoil much gold and and silver, and sometimes leave gold immalleable, and so double the pains.

But he who knows how to doe this by Nitre only, he may with great gain and in a short time purifie a great quantity of [Page] the aforesaid Regulus's with out losse of gold, silver, or antimony. There are also other means for the doing of it which to relate were tedious and indeede impossible. Wherefore I will set downe, the best of all, most profitable in the separations of great quantities of Regulus's. Where first is required some peculiar little Furnace with a fire almost like to that in our first part of Philosophicall Furnaces, built for the subliming of flowers; it wants indeed a grate, but it hath little vents for to make the coals burn that thy antimony separated from the gold may be sublimated or elevated into sublimatory vessels. Which being rightly built and heated, let so much of the Regulus be cast in with a spoon as the fire can bear, which wilquickly melt and elevated the air being attracted by the vents, without any trouble: which being sublimed you may cast in more, if you have more until all the Regulus be separated & sublimated from the gold and silver, which are left in the fire pure and malleable; the furnace being cold you may take out the flowers, and keep them (of which afterwards) for uses, which way you may not only separate a great number of Regulus's from gold and silver in a smal time, but also keep all the antimony which may many ways be used in Alchymy and Medicine with great profit. Which sure is an excellent knowledge, for not only hereby may any one get aboundantly without wronging his neighbour, but also help many sick people, viz. by that excellent medicine made of the flowers: which is a speciall gift of God, for which we owe immortal thanks. And this is of all others that I know the best way of separation of gold from antimony, which is not only done in great quantity, in a short time, and with small charge, but also without losse of the antimony.

Here follows the use of Antimoniall Flowers.

FIrst you may take the whitest of the Flowers out of the lower hole and keep them for a Universall Medicine; but reduce the rest (being lesse pure) into Regulus by the salt of Tartar, for divers uses; as shall bee said afterward; or [Page] you may mingle them with an equall weight of common sulphur, or antimony, which being mixt in a covered crucible, melt them, and they will yeeld an antimony like to a naturall, good to purifie gold: or thou maist mingle themwith other metals, or minerals that by this means they may be made beter; or thou maist use them in Chirurgery, for they of all sliptick plaisters make the best. In breif the aforesaid flowers may many wayes be used with good gain and successe.

The aforesaid antimoniall drosse may also be reduced into flowers and used in the same manner; which indeed are endowed with as excellent properties, as they which are made out of Regulus's; because inthat fusion and separation of gold extracted out of flints and talc; the gold only that was fixt and mature was separated from the Regulus's; (the immature and volatile being left in the drosse) and elevated with the flowers: it follows thence that these are better as well in medicine as in the transmutation of metals.

Or if thou wilt, adde to the antimony, (as aforesaid used) old iron to reduce it in a furnace, and take the Regulus, having gold and silver, which may therefore be used in other operations of Chymistery, where there is need of Regulus as we may shew hereafter. But the dross doth yeeld a Regulus, viz. in a very strong fire, and a furnace with a peculiar separatory by abstraction, which although it contain not gold, yet it may bee used not without gain, as if it be mingled with Tin in fusion, it procures to it a hardnesse and sound, usefull for fashioning divers sort of houshold-stuffe, which is not so easily darkened as the common Tin, or if thou wilt not, thou maist make weights of it.

Hitherto we have treated of the extraction of gold out of flints, and of its purification by antimony; now wee will teach you how to use the rest of the antimony as well in the perfection of base metals as in medicine, as well for the preserving of Health as the curing of Diseases.

But seeing wee have made mention of an Universall Medicine, to he made out of antimony aforesaid, I would not have thee think that that is such as can take away all distempers, [Page] in generall, without distinction, which vertue is only ascribed to the Philosophers Stone, but not by me to this medicine; to which I attribute no more then I have tryed: But this in truth I dare affirm, that there is besides the stone scarce any comparable to it; for it doth not onely preserve the body from divers diseases, but also happily frees it from the present, so that it may deservedly be tearmed a Ʋniversall Medicine.

The preparation followeth.

℞ of the flowers purified from the drosse a pound, viz. of Antimony, by which the extracted gold was purified, which for the most part are of a yellow colour having gold volatile and immature: in defect of which take the flowers made out of the golden Regulus's being for the most part white, to which powre in a glasse Phiall strong and long necked, of spirit of wine tartarised three or four pound, mingle and stir them wel together, and put on it another crooked pipe (within which let there be some ounces of quicksilver as is described in the fifth Part of our Philosophicall Furnaces) and make strong the joints with a bullocks bladder thrice folded, made wet, which dryed, place the glass in Balneum, and give fire by degrees that the spirit of wine with antimony may digest, in which leave it for 24 houres space, and so soon as the fire is out, take out the glasse, when it is cold, pour off the spirit tinged red from the flowers, and poure on fresh; and place it as before in Balneum to digest 24 houres space, till it be red, and doe this the third time, or so often till the spirit be no more coloured, for then no more is to be poured on, and that which is coloured is to be filtred with Cap-paper. The rest of the flowers after the extraction, as not requisite to this businesse, are to be either kept by themselves or thrown away. But the tinged spirit is to be abstracted out of a glasse cucurbit by an alembick to the half, from the tincture, which distilled spirit may again be used in the same work: but the tincture left in [Page] the cucurbit is the medicine, of which mention has beene made.

Now mention being made also of tartarised spirit of wine, that I may satisfie the doubtfull concerning that I will here also give its description which is as followeth.

℞ of tartar 20 or 30 pound, put it in a large coated retort, and place it in sand, and distill the spirit off with a soft heat.

N. B. This work may better and sooner be performed by that instrument of our second Furnace, and because it requires great and large receivers as being very penetrative, thou maist first apply a tin or copper serpent to the neck of the retort instead of a receiver, which is placed in a tub filled with cold water, that the spirits being thereby cooled may be retained which afterward you must abstract to the halfe out of a glasse cucurbit by an alembick: for the other half with black oil is unprofitable in this work, and therefore to be taken away. After that mingle the more subtile part distilled with half of the Caput Mortuum of the aforesaid spirit calcined to a whiteness, and abstract it half again in a gentle Balneum out of a glasse cucurbit by an alembick, the joints whereof are every where to be well closed, and the calcined Tartar shall receive with it selfe the stench together with the phlegm, only the purer part of the spirit and more subtle distilling forth, which is again to be mingled with the other halfe of the Tartar calcined to a whitenesse, and to be rectified by another alembick, the Caput Mortuum may again be calcined to take away the fetidnesse, that it may be used again. And this is that tartarised spirit of wine, with which the aforesaid tincture and essence is extracted, and truly not only this, but of all other metals, which no other can doe. And if it were lawfull, I would write something more of its wonderfull force and vertue, which it hath in purifying baser metals, with which it hath a great affinity; for it can separate the pure from the impure, of which more in another place. But when it is to bee used in mending of metals, it needs not so much rectification, as is required in the extraction of metallick medicines; where you may draw it in plenty out of the dry lees of wine. But there [Page] is also another tartarised spirit of wine, which may also be used in this same work, which is made after the following way, Dissolve in a pound of the spirit of wine six ounces of crystall of Tartar; which solution use in the aforesaid extraction in the same manner.

An Admonition.

I Desire thee not to be offended at the plainnesse of the preparation, viz. of this medicine, made out of a very meane thing, and without much acutenesse of understanding, say not to thy self, if this be true, that such a famous and excellent medicine can be gotten by such easie meanes, what neede we so many various decoctions both pretious and nauseous bee prepared; why is not this substituted in their places? Certainly this should rather be used. But who is so audacious as to dare to displease the multitude defending those kinds of decoction? Surely none; and there are few who are able to turn from their old custom. An ancient custom therefore whatsoever need it hath of being amended, yet prevails. Would to God the time would come when Physitians would practise not out of avarice, but out of charity which we owe to our neighbour, which is desired by, and full of comfort to the sick.

But for the vertue of so great a medicine, I shall open to those that are younger and lesse skilful than my self, not it to those who in yeers and learning doe goe before me, but let every man enjoy his own judgement.

Of the vertues of this Medicine.

THis antimoniall tincture doth above all other medicines evacuate vitious humours, & insensibly purgeth impure bloud; opens any obstructions of the liver, Spleen, Reins, and the other vessels, attracting to it all malignities, and leaving no impurities behinde it. And because it cleanseth the bloud it cures the Leprosie, French pox, and itch, and other diseases proceeding from the impurity of the bloud. By its penetrative [Page] and attenuative vertue, it resolves all tartareous humours and evacuateth them, viz. which ing [...]nder the gout, the Stone of the Bladder and Reins; but not the Stone perfectly coagulated, onely it mitigateth its pain, and hinders its increase; but being not hardened or coagulated it attracteth and evacuateth it totally and fundamentally out of all parts, it takes away also all Feavers and other diseases comming from the superfluity of humours. It gently evacuateth the water between the skin, by siege and urine. In brief it strengthens and purges the principall parts, and preserves them from all preternaturall accidents. It is a most excellent preservative in the time of Pestilence, and other contagious diseases; and of them being caught it is a most absolute remedy, expelling the disease suddenly from the heart and evacuating it. In few words; 'tis of all others a most excellent Universall Medicine, very profitable to both old and young, and also very safe; but warily to be ministred by reason of its strength with which it is endued, which is most powerfull, for it is as a great fire which extinguisheth the lesser. Truly a better Medicine cannot be desired than this which is extracted of a very mean thing, in a short space of time, and with very small cost and pains. I ingenuously confesse I never saw its like, which I doubt not to be the best in the world. Wherefore then do we seek any other but this, viz. which excels in those things which are desired from the reall medicine? But as it is most excellent, yet I am certain, that many deluded people will bee offended at it, being prepared out of Antimony, a mean and despised thing, and after a plain way. But 'tis no matter, For the world will be deceived, looking after gay things, disrespecting and despising mean things; when all good things, yea even when God himself doth rejoice in simplicity, for which by wicked and proud men he is not sought unto. But this is the effect of sinne by which man is so blinded, that though he know not good, when set before his eyes, yet he is studious of evill.

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Of the use and dose of this Medicine.

SEEing of all Medicines it is the most powerfull; it had need be warily used, for a smaller dose is alwayes safer then a greater; which therefore may after be given; that which is to be observed in all diseases of young and old. To children of 2, 3, 4, or 6 months old, against the Worms, Scabs, Feavers and Epilepsie, you need not give above half a drop with a proper vehicle, which you may repeat three or four times a day: it killeth the Wormes, it emptyeth the stomach of evill humours; it refresheth them, and preserves them from scabbinesse; and because it evacuateth evill and corrupt humours, it preserveth them from the small pox and measels, viz. if it be used every month, but to children of 1, 2, or 3 yeeres old you may give a drop, and to children of 4 or 5 yeeres old a drop and a half: to young people between 15 and 24 years may be given 2, 3, or 4 drops. To stronger bodies from 25 to 50 yeares 4, 5, 6, or 7 drops. But the dose must be greater or lesse with a regard had to the sicknesse of the patient. And in the Stone and Gout may be dayly administred in some drops of wine or beer, viz. in the morning fasting, unlesse the patient be very weak; for then you may give it twice or thrice in a day, and continue this till the cure be perfected; where is to be observed that he must keep a temperate dyet.

In the Leprosie, French-pox, and Scurvy, every morning may a dose be given and the disease shall totally bee rooted out. Otherwise, viz. the strength being too much wasted and weakened, you may give only every other day, viz. so long as shall be need.

In the Epilepsie it may be given dayly; and also in the Dropsie. In all Feavers two or three houres before the fit. In the Plague it is to be given presently, and every day to be repeated: but for a preservative to be drunk every week once. In all other internall affects it must be given dayly, untill the declining of the disease; but afterward by little and little the medicine is to be used till the disease be fully cured.

[Page] In externall, as in fresh wounds by a blow, thrust, or shot; broken bones, &c. every day once; with a necessary extrinsecall application of a plaister. In old Fistula's and Cancers, it may be used once every day intrinsecally, and extrinsecally, the place affected may be cleansed with Minerall ointments, For by this meanes every inveterate evill how desperate soever, is throughly cured, and pleasantly without all pain.

But although this be most pretious of all Medicines, yet there is a menstruum, not corrosive, with which not only more easily than with the spirit of wine tartarised, a Universall Medicine may be extracted out of Antimony and endued with better then the aforesaid vertues so that for the charge of one royall, in three dayes time, so much may be gotten as may serve to cure some thousands of men, but also all vegetables, animals, and minerals and metals are radically dissolved and reduced into their first matter: by which means not onely very great poisons are changed into most wholesome medicines; but also bitter things are deprived of their bitternesse: for by it things are so corrected, that they doe no more provoke stool and vomit, viz. which are very vehement Catharticks (by Nature) being changed into most excellent restoratives. Also fetid things being corrected by it doe acquire a sweet odour. And it doth not only (which seems a wonder) dissolve vegetables, animalls, and minerals with those things which come of them, but also the very Glasses; wherfore you must alwayes chuse the strongest glasses for digestion and solution, or in the defect of such the weaker are to be changed every 6 houres. And yet it is not at all altered by those things that it doth reduce and turn into their first matter medicinall, neither in vertue nor colour; for it alwayes keeps the middle place between pure and impure, of which this falls to the bottome, but that swims on the top of the menstruum, which may again be used. In briefe its vertues in preparing medicines cannot bee enough praised. But it may bee compared with the Mercuriall water of Basilus Valentinus; and the Alcahest of Paracelsus and Helmont, [Page] which I judge to be the Fire of the Ma [...]cabe [...]s turned into a thick water underground. It is a perpetuall fire but not alwayes burning visibly; it is a water permament not wetting the hands, the Sope of the Wise, the Philosophers Azoth, and the Royall-bath.

Which Menstrue though I have known some yeares, and have often used it with metallicks, and by it have found out many secrets, yet I never thought of its use in Physick, untill being askt of one who was a great student of Helmont, whether I knew the preparation of the liquor Alcahast of Paracelsus; and naming some of the vertues of this liquor in preparing Medicines; I began to be think my selfe, and I observed that it was my secret Balneum that purifies minerals. Wherefore I presently made tryal with vegetables & animals (for I knew the vertues thereof in metallicks) and I found wonderfull and astonishing things in it which before were incredible to me. I affirm and confesse therefore sincerely, that all and every the invented medicines published by others and my self how rare and costly soever, are most mean things in my estimation. For this Ʋniversall Key was wanting to us. For our vegetables and minerals hower by art macerated cannot bee perfectly resolved, and therefore we hitherto have had but part of their vertues. But now we need not much art, labour and cost to reduce a whole body without corrosives, into the first matter, like in shape to some clear and excellent water, of its own accord casting forth its superfluous terrestreity, and becomming a most wholesome medicine, consisting of the three purest principles; that which cannot be done without this menstruum. For what else could Physitians extract out of hearbs than syrups, Electuaries, Conserves and Waters? with which preparations they were not amended but only qualified with the addition of Sugar or Honey; because there is no separation made of the pure from the impure or good from bad. For all are left mixt together in the Electuaries and Conserves, but in the syrups and waters distilled there is only some part. Extracts indeed by the spirit of wine are not to be disesteemed if rightly prepared, but they are no better [Page] than their simples; and besides want that which the spirit of wine cannotdraw out, which remainder though being calcined for the drawing out the salt, which is mingled with the extract yet that is not of much moment, for fire destroyeth the vertue of hearbs, so that fixed salts, as crystallised, do perform nothing in medicine, those excepted which without combustion are made out of the juice of hearbs, of which in the third part of our furnaces Philosophical. But none dares extract the most strange or efficacious sort of hearbs for medicine, because they in preparation are not corrected or amended.

But by this means the most strong hearbs, which without this preparation are poisons, are matured and purified by the liquor Alcahest, so that they may safely be taken against most grievous diseases. For God did not create these hearbs in vain, as some think, which he purposely created that his wonderful works might appear, and that it is possible to take away the curse from them by a man, being freed from the malediction by the regeneration through Christ. See Opium, Mandrake, Henbane, Hemlock and other stupifying things, how deadly they are being cautiously used? which corrected by this Menstrue become most safe and excellent medicines. How dangerous is spurge, scamony, hellebor, gambugium and other strong purgers (being administred unwarily) no man is ignorant: all which are by this way corrected, and changed into most wholesome medicaments. Who I pray dares eat wolfesbane, and poisonous toad-stooles and other venemous vegetables? which are all so corrected by the liquor Alkahest as that not only they are not poisonous, but are also turned into most safe and wholsome medicines of many diseases, Nux vomica, Levant berries, and other things that disturbe the braine are by this means made wholsome, also poisonous Animals, as Spiders, Toads, serpents, vipers, &c. are by it corrected, as that not only they are not poisonous but do resist and expel poison.

N. B. Consider the spiders signed with the cross, who change their skin every month and renew themselves, which the serpents and halcyon do but once in a yeer. How [Page] great may the vertue of worms earthy and crude, &c. in resolving tartareous humors and the French disease is, many know, what then will they do being corrected with this Menstrue? The Cantharides and Millipedes are also so corrected that they may more safely be used in provoking urine. And if that most venomous Basilisk, of which there are so man fables, whose sight only kils men (which according to the letter is false) could be had, he might be changed into medicine by the liquor Alkahest; as that mineral Basilisk, Gun-powder may be, which in a moment kils innumerable men; also Arsenick, Orpiment, Kobolt and the like; so that they be deprived of their malignity and be reduced into very excellent medicines. In brief, its excellent vertues which it manifests in correcting of venemous simples cannot be sufficiently described. Wherefore its worth our paines to search it with all our power, that we may prepare admirable medicines, that the sick may not for the future be so vexed with those tedious and bitter cups. Truly I cannot enough admire its great vertues which have been hid so long. It is not a corrosive thing and yet dissolves every thing, but some things sooner then others. It changeth and amendeth their natural vertues; wherefore it may b [...] the comfort of Spagirists, having a long time sought for rare medicines, viz. being that by which vegetables are separated and corrected, and also animals and minerals. Wherefore al conscientious Physitians may have commended to them the preparation of this universal menstrue by the help whereof to prepare their medicines; of which the orginal and preparation is vile, but its vertues most efficacious, the finding out and uses abstruse. Wherefore it is not obtained, but from God from whom proceeds every good gift. Do not think then that gluttonie and drunkenness, idleness, pride and lying, the contempt of thy neighbour, malice, avarice with an impious life, to be the means by which it is to be obtained, for it is only the gift of the merciful God, viz. this menstrue, the gate and key of which is only divine mercy. But that thou maist know what is to be determined concerning medicines prepared out of poisonous simples, I will in brief expound that by example: [Page] for all vegetables, animals, and minerals, called poisons, making war with humane nature being intrinsecally used, and therefore not undeservedly shunnd of al, are like some powerful unvanquishable enemy, with all his power seeking the oppression and destruction of his contrary, who being checked by a mediator of no less strength, & reconciled with his contrary, does no more (being unable before the reconciliation to resi [...] h s powerful enemies) fear the contrariety of his enemie, which now is made his friend bringing aid for the exstirpating and vanquishing of all such like (otherwise) invincible enemies. Even so is it with venemous vegetables, animals and minerals, destructive to humane nature: which by the liquor Alkahest (a checker and reconciler) are so corrected and reduced, that they hurt not, being deprived of their malignity and made friends with men: whereby they are not longer poisonous enemies but very safe and wholesome remedies, agreeing to humane nature overcoming and expelling other the like enemies otherwise poisonous, and invincible, for by bow much the more enemie before reconciliation it was, by so much the more help is brought by it, the reconciliation being made. There is not the like found in nature; which can so suddenly correct poisons, and reduce them into their first matter and bring them into very wholesome essences. Let religious Physitians then that can, get this. And so I end this declaration (not without cause set down) which will move those hearts which are not as yet hardened. This certainly is a true Philosophical correction, with which that which is maligne is turned into a wholesome substance. What profits that correction, I pray, which is made by the admixtion ofother things, as in the mixture of Catharticks and cordials? Truely nothing, neither can the cordials do any thing but debilitate the Catharticks; for nature is not at once able to expel a purging poison, and attract a thing confortative and corroborative: For a purge being given, forthwith that shews its strength in the body, whose malignity nature resisting desireth to expel it; before that it can attract the confortative; wherefore that friend is expelled together with the disease. The same happens in the mixture of sugar, honey, and other [Page] sweet things with bitter, sharpe, and tart, &c. whose unpleasantness is not corrected by sweet things, but only dulled, thereby acquiring another smel and tast, without any other essential alteration. Which correction is like to that, which is made in Taverns amending the aire with sweet fumes, which before was infected with the spittings, spuings, and stinks of rustick drunkards, which is to rusticks, an excellent corrrection, attracting the ill as well as the good aromatick odour being by drunkenness deprived of their judgement, but not so to sober men enjoying the use of understanding [...], to whom that seems a rustick correction. In this manner (not to be commended) are at this day simples corrected. But a true and Philosophical correction is done by it self without the addition of other things, by benefit of the fire only as well actual as potentially moist, by ripening, mending and separating the malignity; which is done by the liquor Alkahest, as it is called by Paracelsus and Helmont.

But whether this my liquor be the same Alkahest of Paracelsus and Helmont, it matters not if it performe the same things.

Fire and a fiery vertue may do much, but not by burning and destroying, but by maturation and nutrition; and feeding and moistening. Of which moist fire see Artephiuus, Bernhardus, Basilius, Paracelsus, &c. for maturation is not done with cold things but hot, promoting germination. Aud what ever nature hath left imperfect in the vegetable kingdome, mineral and animal, viz. accidentally; that may be amended by art with the liquor Alkahest, which is the best way of correction, untill by benefit of art and the help of nature some better thing be found out, &c.

And these are the vertues of that wonderful liquor Alkahest which is made use of in the preparation of medicines: And because it is said before that it shews its vertues on metallicks also, I could not conceale them from the studious. But all its vertues shall not here be related, for it is indued with so many that no mortal is able to number them. As for me, although by divine favor, and the instruction of the excellent [Page] man Paracelsus (excellently in a certain place, but observed in few words; describing it, speaking of it briefly, but very plainly and cleerly naming it) I did obtaine the knowledge thereof which afterward daily I did more and more encrease, so that I could hardly believe that any ever had spent so much money and pains in the searching of its vertues, for the trying of metals: yet I must needs confess although happily I have made more tryal therein than any other; that many of its vertues are as yet unknown to me▪ Seeing then that its vertues and strength cannot all be tryed by any man by reason of his short life, although searching a hundred yeers; and that by our merciful father only to a few, and but part of the knowledge of its wonderful and incredible force, is granted, to the glory of his divine name, in favor of the poor sick, which none how learned soever, with his ambitious learning and craft could ever obtaine. Therefore some excellent gifts being given from the father of lights the omnipotent God, to some of his children, gratis and out of meer mercy, viz. for some causes, I easily believe, that it is not his will that it shall long be kept close, but be revealed to the world to the glory of his name, and the benefit of our poor neighbour. Wherefore I could not longer hold my peace, hiding my talent which I received gratis though smal, but communicate it gratis to my neighbor; but so that the divine mystery may not be gotten by those ungodly abusers, but only by the worthy through divine favor. I affirm therefore expresly that in whole nature such a thing may not be found, for not only by its help all animals, vegetables, and minerals may be reduced into very excellent and safe medicines; but also be brought into the first matter, minerals and metals may be purified, washed and fixed, and so changed into better bodies. That which is worthy admiration, that in so vile and mean a subject should ly hid so great vertues, by which alone without any other art, may be acquired riches and honours, and lost health. Then which thing what doth mortal man more need in his misery, besides the divine word, the comfort of the soul, the for necessary sustentation of life, soundness of [Page] body and honest report before God and men? All these things may be had with this subject, so that one need not to involve himself into any other troublesome art or vanity of this world, having this secret, whereby all necessaries may in abundance be proccured: of which gift that this unclean world is unworthy, I do affirme sincerely, because it swels with ambition & avarice; for which we are not able to give God the donor sufficient thanks in our whole life, wherefore I would have all what state or order soever earnestly admonished, that they do not use this gift from heaven to the destruction of their souls, but in thankfulness to him that gave it, and every way to the good of their Christian neighbour.

Now follow the vertues which it manifesteth in metallicks.

FIrst it, viz. the Philosophical menstrue, doth radically dissolve all minerals and metals without noise, and reduces them into very safe and wholesome medicines. Out of gold it makes potable gold; out of silver potable silver, and so consequently of other metals potable metals; so that it may well be called the universal Mercurie.

Secondly this secret menstrue purgeth, washeth and transmuteth minerals, and metals to a more noble species, wherefore it may well be called Sapo Sapientum, by which the saying of the Philosophers is confirmed: Ignis & Azoth abluunt Latonem.

Thirdly, by it all minerals and metals are matured and fixed, so as that afterward immature gold or silver incorporated with it, may by cupellation be drawn out with gain; wherefore tis deservedly compared to Hermes seale.

Fourthly, it makes metals volatile and radically conjoynes them that they abide together, and one act on the other in the fire; it distroyes and revivs, kils and renews, wherefore it is compared to the Phenix.

Fiftly, it separates metals without any loss and that speedily: but after another manner then corrosives, so that each of them may be had by themselves. For example, being [Page] about to separate gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead mixt; one or two three or four of them mixt that they may appear each by themselves, without the loss of any, you need not cupellate the mixture with tin, which way only gold and silver are gotten out with the losse of all the rest: but by this way they are all preserved, where by turns one after another they are extracted wonderfully and swiftly, in half an hours time by this sharpe vinegar of the Philosophers, &c.

Sixtly, By it metals may suddenly be mortified and reduced into transparent glass, irreducible and like Amausa, but reserving the propriety and nature of every metal: which in the reduction of gold, do give perfect silver: whereby is confirmed that saying of the Philosophers; the corruption of one thing is the generation of another, and that of Paracelsus: Ex aliquo fiat nihilum, & ex nihilo aliquid. But this incombustible water or permanent water shews the truth of the Philosophers writings generally mentioning it; in it the solution, putrefaction, distillation, sublimation, circulation, ascension, descension, cohobation, receration, calcination, coagulation, fixation and fermentation, &c. in their work to be done at one time and one way: in which onely operation all the colours appear of which the Philosopherrs make mention; As the head of the crow, virgines milk, dragons blood, peacocks tayles, green and red lyon, &c. There is also by it demonstrated the truth (by the liquor Alkahest) of that Hermetical saying, That which is above, is as that which is beneath, &c. and many other things are performed by its help, as making that secret Sandivogian Chalybs; also that long sought for oyle of Talc.

So far (Courteous Reader) hath come my experience; neither doubt I but by it to obtaine that universal Salamander which lives in the fire.

These things which I write are true and no fallacies. And though this secret be incredible to the ignorant for the wonderful vertues it sheweth in the preparation of medicines, I would willingly publish it to the world for publike good, but on consideration I held it not meet to communicate it for certain causes. But only lest the knowledge of it should [Page] perish, and that the true (and almost extinct) medicine for the curing of diseases vulgarly incurable might flourish, I have revealed this secret menstruum to two friends, viz. its preparation and use.

But do thou not think because I write of these high things, that I do intend to make common the secret to all in general; not so, but I endeavor to confirm him that seeketh, and give him occasion to search this secret deeper; which being found he shall not only finde the truth of my words, but he shall daily by exercise obtaine far greater things then these.

And because I have never aspired after vaine riches and honors, nor never desire them; I might well be perswaded, to leave to others as yet not hating the wicked world, my troublesome labors; because in this my painful age such tedious labors are very burdensome, besides Philosophy hath pointed me another way, so that what I am able I have determined to abstaine from these vanities, and to seek a perpetual good, the life of rest, but my counsel shall not be wanting to those that seek it: for besides moved with the former reasons, also seeing innumerable many vaine Philosophers, as well learned as unlearned, uncessantly working, and losing rheir time and labour, and at last despairing, are perswaded that there is no truth in the Philosophers writings but to be all filled with lyes and d [...]cits; whence royal Chymistry is disgraced.

But seeing and marking the infallible truth of ancient writings, suffering injury by unskilful Zoilus's; I could not but defend their worth and vindicate them from injuries, viz. in a few words demonstrating the possibility of metallical transmutation. But I do not affirme that by the art which I have many yeers exercised and the possibility of which I defend I have gotten much wealth; because hitherto I could not make trial but in smal quantity for finding out the possibility without any gaine, and only particularly; for I have never tried any thing in the universal work, reserving it to a more convenient time and place. But I will not deny such a universal medicine: because I have seen the principles of it, and foundations of the art, wherefore houshold cares being removed, [Page] I intend to make tryal of it. For who will longer doubt of the possibility of it being proved by most excellent men, yea Kings and Princes? which godly and honest men have not written for gaine; some of whom though they lived with Ethnicks, yet were they not Heathens, who had more knowledge of Christ by the light of nature then those foolish detractors of Christian truth, as they appear to be by their writings. But thou wilt urge that if those things were true which they write, then it might be found in them: but it is not, because all and every one miss of it in their practice, so that their time, labor and charges are spent in vaine. I answer, Their writings are not to be understood according to the letter, but according to the hidden sense, according to which they have written the naked truth which to the illuminated is conspicuous.

And this menstruum sufficeth to defend the writings of the Philosophers without the metallick transmutations▪ so that I verily believe the time to be neer, when the omnipotent God before he judge the world in fire, will shew his omnipotency to the nations by the revelation of the wonderful and incredible things of nature; of which, transmutation of metals is not the least, which in the third part of this mineral work I shall deliver to the last age (being acceptable to God) to the profit of my neighbor, and for demonstration sake. Wherefore I now pass over such things, with a firme hope, that this faithful admonition shall be received as an undoubted and infallible truth.

How the aforesaid Regulus, of the flowerss and dross of Antimony, is to be used in the bettering of course metals, shall be shewen, that art may not be abused.

THe Antimonial Regulus a radical metallick humor may help to perform wonderful things, for being reduced to a water without a corrosive, it resolveth all metals, cleanseth, washeth and purifieth them, and turns them into a better species, so that particularly not a smal gaine may be from thence received. [Page] But how it may be redueed into water, and how by its help metals may be resolved, volatized and again fixed, hath been demonstrated by Artephius, Basilius and Paracelsus; wherefore we need not here repeat their writings, but refer the readers to their works.

But not only the Regulus, but also all Antimony may many wayes be used in the separation of metals, viz. For the extraction of hidden gold, which cannot be done without Antimony; as shall appear by the following example. When you finde a marcasit or other ironish fossile, that will not yeeld to the tryal by lead, add to it three parts of Antimony, and being well mixt, melt them in a covered crucible, and being melted powre it into a cone; and when all is cold, separate the Regulus, which purge againe by fire as before, and thou shalt finde gold contained in the aforesaid fossile: And if it be indued with more plenty of gold, for it is not all drawn out at one time, viz. with the first Regulus, another Regulus is to be melted by adding more iron and salt-peter which is also of a nature near to Sol. And if these marcasit fossiles are not ferreous, you must in the first fusion, adde iron and nitre to them, or else they yeeld no Regulus. By the adding more scals, of iron more Regulus is made, and for the same use as that is of which above in the fusion and separation of extracted gold; weights also may be made out of the dross. And thus are lapis calaminaris, marcasit, kobolt, zinck, talc, and other fossiles separated, viz. containing gold.

But all gold containing iron (as that of Stiria, Carinthia, the Gran [...]cia and of Transylvania, &c.) may this way be easily separated with profit by the help of iron. And if the iron have no gold, yet if the Antimony have it, it may thence be separated by fusion with iron, viz. if it be brought to a Regulus. The rest of the Antimony may again be fused with new iron and new glass of more weight then it, but less then this, and be reduced into a Regulus fit for the following uses. Out of the dross let weights (that nothing may be lost) be made, that thou maist have the more gaine as may appear from the following example.

[Page] When you have the Antimony, a hundred of which contains two duckats, if you will separate the gold; take a hundred [weight] divided into three or four parts, fuse it according to art adding a little iron and salt of ashes and reduce them into smal Regulus weighing a pound or two. Then use the dross with half the weights of the iron in a large & strong crucible, and thou shalt have more Regulus's about fifty pound or more, dross 40. lib. which make weights of, or else guns, &c. the rest, about eight or nine pounds will vanish into smoake. And so thou hast reduced the gold contained in a hundred weight into one or two pounds, which thou maist sublime by fire into flowers (leaving the gold in the fire) for its uses, but those 50 or 60. pounds of the Regulus's prepared by adding much iron, they having little or no gold, you may mingle with tin for its beauty, hardness and sounding, to make diverse sorts of houshold-stuffe, as platters, dishes, &c. For tin mixt with the Regulus looks like silver for whiteness and ha [...]dness, and sounds like it, nor is it so easily dulled, as unmixt.

Now let us weigh what gaine may come from the separation of the meanest Antimony. Put case that a hundred weight of Antimony be sold for three Royals (for so for the most part the Polonian is sold, than which although that of Hungaria and Transilvania be deerer, yet this hath more gol) to which adde 60. pound of iron, which is sold for half a royal, and the charge of coals and crucibles requisite be half a royal more: the total of the expences is four royals, for which take two duckats in gold, sixty pound of Regulus, eighty pound of dross, and one or two pound of flowers. Those 60. lib. of Regulus may be sold at the price of tin, whereof a pound is sold for a quarter of a royal, and then their whole price is fifteen royals. Then the eighty pound of refuse made into weights may be sold at fourty shillings, or at least twenty four shillings, or half a royal; And all things being considered and abhracted as they ought there may remaine the value of ten royals.

And though the Antimony should yeeld but one duckat; and a pound of Regulus should be sold at the eighth part of a royal, yet the remainder would be above six royals: And in a day [Page] there may easily be two hundred weight separated by two men, And then suppose it should containe no gold (as some Antimony doth not) yet may four or five royals be gotten daily

But when you have Antimony one hundred a lb. whereof containes three four or five duckats, and iron requisite to the separation containing one or two duckats, then there is so much more gained. Then let him that undertakes this business seek for the best copper and iron, and he may well gaine in a day twenty, thirty, and sometimes sixty royals.

N. B. And if you should have so much Regulus that you could not mix all of it with tin, for want thereof, then it may be sold in parcels, so that one lb may go at a fourth part of a royal; by which means the daily gaine may not be diminished, but may be rather encreased as may be seen by what follows. The Regulus of copper is the masculine species of lead; whose first being is gold impure and mature: but the first being of common lead impure and immature is silver as experience witnesses, for copper purged and fixt yeelds gold, but the common lead only silver. And because Antimony which is better than common lead is called the Philosophers lead, or their secret lead; of many so named but known of few; not that the thing is unknown or of an unknown original, but by reason of its hidden properties; therefore I say that its vertues are not all to be known by any mortal though he should have a hundred yeers to search into wonderful nature for it is unsearchable and the Creator of all wonders, let him injoyne himself silence, neither let him glory in the knowledge of it who hath not made tryal of it, for in it, through it and by it nature and art do strive for perfection: of which more else where.

Now follows its use.

HAving mentioned Antimonial Regulus, which is lead, and better then the common, It must also purifie impure metals, wash them, separate the occult gold and silver in them; that which common can do, to which if those be added, it attracteth [Page] the more impure part in the cupel, which it converteth into dross, and draweth down with it into the porous ashes, leaving the purer gold and silver in the cupel: but from some tin and copper not yeelding to the lead nor willing tone washed by it, it cannot extract their gold and silver; neither hath any one writen the way of separation by it. Lazarus Erker indeed hath described (and others also) the way of separating silver from tin and iron, which is not to be disesteemed if it be accidentally mixed with silver, which is separable that way, but not so being generated in, and radically mixt with them, requiring other lead willingly embracing tin and iron, which nothing but Regulus can perform.

But seeing tin and iron do for the most part containe much gold and iron (but chiefly tin) viz. inseparable by the common way, it will be worth our pains to seek another lead and way of separation; as it is apparent to refiners, proving tin and iron by the common way on a test; whilest tin and iron melted in the lead, do forthwith shew their stubbornness by inate proprieties and forsake it, viz. as a contrary rising to the top like dross or ashes, without any separation, gold and silver being excepted if accidentally mixt together, which are left with the lead; but not so being hid in their middle or center. But that the truth hereof may appear I will demonstrate it by example, Place on a test under a tyle 16. parts of lead and one of tin, after the manner of proofes, give a fusing fire for to separate the dross; and all the tin almost flying away will at the bottome be burnt, and separated like ashes, being sublimated on the top of the lead; not deprived of its gold and silver incorporated together, which afterward I shal demonstrate when all the tin is sublimated from the lead, and calcined, and the tyle taken from under the test, and the rest of the lead powred off, and you shall finde after cupellation no more silver than the sixteen parts of lead did containe before, if they had been cupelled without tin; sometimes less, some part being taking away by tin in the examination: the same is done with iron, although thou shouldst add copper with glass of lead to retaine the [Page] tin and iron thereby to separate their gold and silver, you would effect nothing: for although some more silver may hereby be extracted, yet that would not come from tin or iron but copper: it may therefore be extracted another may of which hereafter.

In the mean while I will prove cleerly that the separation of tin and iron by common lead, thereby to get their gold and silver, is of no value, which being left in them are turned into ashes and drosse.

Take any Tin and reduce it into ashes by lead, or agitation on a smooth earthen vessell (tryed before by the common way for distinction sake, which calcine well, that the corporeall tin powdered may be calcined, or being melted may be separated from the ashes. Then take of these ashes one part, and of the following flux, or of that a little after six parts or more, being mixt fuse them in a strong crucible with a strong fire; untill the flux have consumed or drunk up all the calx of the Tin, and of them both shall be made one, viz. yellow or red glasse, which may be tryed with a crooked wier put in: which if it seeme not clear the crucible must be covered again, and a greater fire be given, untill the fire be perfect; which labour in one halfe houre is finished: which done poure it into a brasse mortar, afterward to be covered untill it be a cold that it leap not out and be lost.

Afterward powder it, to which mingle to the calx of Tin, the weight of filings of Iron; being mixt put them into a strong crucible (because the flux is very penetrative) covered, and give a strong fir for fusion half an houre: which done poure it out for Tin hath made separation, and reduced some part of lead out, of the flux, sinking to the bottom to be separated when it is cold, to be reduced into drosse on a teste, and then to be cupelled, and you shall finde grain gold drawn from Tin without silver. And if before you weigh the calx of Tin lesse than 100 weight, and after that the graines of Gold, you mayeasily conjecture how much Gold is contained in the whole hundred weight of Tin ashes, viz. at the least 3, 4, 5 or 6 lotones if thou work aright.

[Page] See then the fault is not to be imputed to the metals, but us, being ignorant of the separation of the Gold and Silver.

You should not perswade your selfe by this means to get much wealth out of Tin; for I have not written this for that end, but only to demonstrate the possibility. And if thou think that gold wil come out of iron by the flux, mingle then filings of iron with the flux, before thou put in calx of Tin, and thou shalt find in so doing that Gold doth come neither from the flux or iron but out of tin, then being hereby assured that 'tis the tin which contains gold, thou mayst consider how, most conveniently that may be extracted, viz. with other Lead, and another way, as shal be hereafter taught. Neither think that tin contains no more Gold then you have heard; for more there is if you can wisely extract it. Neither doe I deny that more Gold may be extracted out of the tin; but more care then this is to be given, if you desire more plenty. But Gold may thence be extracted not onely by flux but divers other wayes, in divers weights; for what is written is only for demonstration of the possibility, of Gold being contained in imperfect may to be extracted by a secret separation.

The flux requisite to this worke.

℞ one part of very pure and white sand or flints, having no Gold fusible; to which add three parts of Litharge of Lead; being mixt suse in a very strong fire, that thereof a transparent glasse may be made of it, which poure out that it may be cold, and reduce it to powder, which use in the aforesaid manner. But you may ask why sand & flints are mingled seeing they are not of a metallick nature: to which I say; the calx of tin, cannot, as also other fossiles, be examined by lead alone, for the following reasons, viz. because in the calcination of tin, its metallick nature is hidden, but the impure and earthy parts are manifest, wherefore it hath no longer affinity with Lead and other metals; unlesse the hidden parts of the lead be manifest and also other metals and the manifest be hidden, for [Page] then they easily embrace one the other, and are again mingled wel [...], and not altered.

What belongs to the alteration of other metals doth not belong hither; for to this place only pertain Lead and Tin, the alteration of which is demonstrated by this triall; whereby it appeares to be thus.

Lead reduced into ashes by it selfe or into Lithargie, and deprived of its metallick form, cannot so in this worke be used without the flints or sand, for the following reason▪ The lead and glasse thereof made by it selfe is very fusible and volatile; but the calx of tin is very difficulty fused: which two calx's although they should be mingled to fuse in a crucible, yet would not be mingled, nor being fused imbrace one the other for the difference of their fusibility; because the calx of lead alone being fused by a small fire will perforate and penetrate the crucible the calx of Tin being left in the crucible: wherefore you must adde sand or flints to the lead, viz. to hinder its fusibility, that it may endure the same degree of heat with those that are difficultly fused and further their flux. For like things doe mutually affect and embrace each other; as water doth water, oyl oyl, and glasse glasse; and metals other metals; but water is not mingled with oyl; neither are glasses mingled with metals, but metals with metals, and glasse with glasse, whether it be made of metals or out of sand. Wherefore they greatly erre who mingle the calx of metals difficultly miscible, or other hard things with lead to prove or examine, not considering that corporeall lead hath no affinity with them: who remaining in their errour and not weighing the thing further, consequently can find nothing of any moment.

But when the calx of metals united with lead by a medium as flints or sand, are brought together into transparent glasse; then the lead being precipitated and separated from the mixture, it cannot be but that the gold and silver contained in them must be carried away with it. This is a true and philosophicall tryall and not to be contemned, for many things may by it be performed.

[Page] N. B. But this is not to be passed by, that in the mutuall mixture and fusion of the glasse of lead and the calx of tin, and other hard metals, one may easily erre, viz. in the precipitation (which is done with the mixture of iron) of the gold with the lead into Regulus, by either the excesse or defect so that nothing may be gotten, which is committed in precipitation. For if the mixture stand long in the fire not fused, it is burnt, so that it cannot well be separated, and if it stand too long fused in the fire, the gold is attracted by the drosse, by reason of the mixture of the iron, having great affinity with the gold, so that by this meanes nothing can be gotten: wherefore the work is to be done warily, and with wisdome and industry. You must have a care you burne not the Regulus of lead with too much fire, when you reduce it into drosse; for fear of attracting the gold from the iron and turning it into drosse. And although this may by art be prevented, yet we must not presently create every one Master of Arts, it requiring diligence and daily exercise, besides the reading of Bookes. But this secret shall other where be communicated.

This admonition then I give that thou doe not impute thy errour (if thou dost erre) to me, but to thy selfe, for what I have written is true: and doe not thence infer an impossibility of attracting gold by iron out of lead, and of turning it into drosse, which is no wonder to me though it may so seem to thee. Which he who hath the knowledg of metals wil himself easily perceive. But that thou maist be certain, try the certainty after the following manner: take two hundred lib. of lead of the lesser weight of the refiners, put it on a test under a tyle; adde eight or ten lotons of pure gold, of tin two or three l. six or eight of iron, viz. of the lesser weight: make them flow together an houre to make drosse; as examiners use to doe: then poure it out and separate the lead from the dross, viz. to cupell that which is eparated, then weigh the grains of gold left, and thou shalt finde half of it consumed by the drosse. If this happen to corporeall gold and fixt, how will it be with that which is newly extracted out of an imperfect [Page] metall? therefore you must diligently search out the natures of metals and then such cases shall not seem incredible.

From hence then and other examples mentioned it appeares, that that separation which is done by tests and cupels is not true and legitimate; and consequently that another profitable separation of metals is to be sought; because by this the greater part of gold and silver burns into drosse, witnesse experience, for which cause the former example was alleadged; whither belongs the proof, viz. how much gold the drosse hath attracted, which is done as followeth: ℞ the remaining black drosse; to which adde a double weight of salt of tartar, put in it a crucible filled but to the half (for fear of boiling out) and covered that nothing fall in, under a tyle or among live coals, one or two hours space to digest; and a new Regulus of lead shall be precipitated, which separated from the dross you may cupel, and you shall finde new graines of gold attracted by the iron to the dross, but now separated by the salt of tartar, overcoming the rage of the iron. And so you have heard from two examples, how in the coction of the separation gold may be drawn out of the lead by tin and iron, and that therefore there is need, that gold be separated by the Antimonial Regulus out of the aforesaid metals, and not by lead, if you would extract the true substance with gaine.

N. B. Gold may likewise be separated out of the glass of lead (being first dissolved with the ashes of tin) with coal dust, adding it in the flux and stirring it with an iron wier; and also with common sulphur, by burning it on it: but the aforesaid way with iron, is to be preferred before those two which spoyle the gold, &c. wherefore the remaining dross is to be gathered, which by some abstracting furnace by other means may be tryed for to recover the spoyled or lost gold and silver.

And all these are alleadged to demonstrate that the gold in tin and iron is to be separated by the Antimonial Regulus and not by▪lead. But how this separation may be perfected, you shall here in that third part where we will treat of lead explained by Paracelsus in his book called Caelum Philosopherum, and [Page] other artificial Chymical labors: wherefore here we omit it being superfluous to handle one thing in diverse places. In the mean while exercise thy self in lesser things, that thou maist be more fit for greater when they shall be set forth. But wonder not at my liberality in publishing so great secrets, for I have reasons for it. Such a burden is too much for me alone, neither doth it profit the covetous to sell his goods to them which keep not their words, nor pay the mony, after they have obtained their art, which hath happened to me. Wherefore I have determined to communicate some secrets to all the world indifferently that the poor may receive some profit by them; knowing that though I write plainly, yet that al wil not at the first view obtaine their desires. For some are so dull that they cannot imitate a work though often seen. For some have often visited me to see my new maner of distilling, which though it was sufficiently demonstrated to the eye, yet they could not imitate it, till with often perusals at length they have found the right path. Others have left it as too hard a work when it would not presently succeed, which if it happened to those who had an occular demonstration, how much more difficult will it be and hard to them who have nothing but what they have heard or read. Wherefore I am certain that though I should publish every one of my secrets, yet could they not be performed by all men, my coals and materials being left sufficing for my necessity. Wherefore I fear not to publish, the next opportunity offered, diverse profitable and exeellent secrets, viz. in favor of all and every one.

As for that spirit of salt necessary to this work, you may finde it in the first part of my Philosophical Furnaces corrected and amended; but the way of separation in the fourth part.

And so I finde this work published in favor of those who by war (though honest men) are reduced to poverty. But what things are deficient in this little tract shall (God willing) be delivered in the next (which shall follow in a short time) largely and cleerly without fraud.

FINIS.

[Page]

The Contents of the first Part.

OF the structure of the first Furnace 1

Of the receiver. 2

The manner of distilling 4

How the spirit of salt is to be distilled 9

Of the use of the spirit of salt 12

A distillation of vegetable oyles, whereby a greater quantity is acquired, then by that common way by a gourd still 13

The cleare oyle of Mastick and Frankincense 15

The quintessence of vegetables 18

The quintessence of metals and minerals. ibid.

A sweet and red oyle of metals and minerals 19

The oyle or liquor of gold ibid.

Oyle of Mars 20

Oyle of Venus 21

Oyle of Jupiter and Saturne ibid.

Oyle of Mercury 22

Oyle of Antimony ibid.

The flowers of Antimony white and voltill 24

The flowers of Antimony diaphoretical 25

Of the external use of the corrosive oyl of Antimony ibid.

The oyle of Arsenick and Auripigmentum 26

Oyle of lapis calaminaris ibid.

The use of the oyle of lapis calaminaris. 27

Of the extrinsecal use of the spirit of salt in the Kitchen 29

How an acid spirit or vinegar may be distilled out of all vegetables, as hearbs, roots, woods, seeds, &c. 31

The spirit of paper and linen cloaths 32

The spirit of silk 33

The spirit of mans haire and of other animals, and also of horns ibid.

The spirit of vinegar, honey and sugar ibid.

How the spirits may be made out of the salt of tartar, vitriolatedtartar, the spirit of salt tart arised, and of other such like fixed salts 34

Lac virginis, and the Philosophic al sanguis▪ draconis 35

The spirits, flowers, and salts of minerals and stones 36

How minerals and metals, may be reduced into flowers, and their vertues 36

Of gold and silver 37

[Page] Flowers of iron and copper 38

Flowers of lead and tin 39

Flowers of Mercury ibid.

Flowers of Zinck ibid.

The use 40

Flowers of Antimony 41

The Contents of the second Part.

THe structure of the second furnace 51

The way or the manner to perform the distillation 52

How to make the acid oyle & the volatile▪ spirit of vitriol 55

Of Vitriol ibid.

The use and dose of the narcotick sulphur of vitriol 57

Of the use and vertue of the volatil spirit of vitriol 58

Of the vertue and oyle of the corrosive oyle of vitriol 59

How to make the vitriol of Mars and Venus ibid.

The way to make a faire blue vitriol out of Luna, that is silver 60

Of the sweet oyle of vitriol 67

The preparation of the sweet oyle of vitriol 70

The use and the dose of the sweet oyle of vitriol 72

Of the sulphurous volatile and acid spirit of common salt and of Allome 74

The manner of preparing 74

Of the sulphurious volatile spirit of minerals & of their preparation 75

The preparation of the volatile spirit of metals 75

The preparation of the volatile spirit of minerals ibid.

Another way ibid

The spirit of Zinck 76

The volatile spirit of the dross of Regulus Martis ibid.

How to make a white acid and red volatile spirit out of salt nitre ibid.

Of the use of the red volatile spirit 77

The use of the white acid spirit of salt nitre ibid

Aqua Regis 78

The preparation of Aurum Fulminans ibid.

The use of Aurum Fulminans 83

The use of the tincture of gold 85

Of the flowers of silver and of its medicine 86

Of the use of the crystals of silver 87

How to sublime the crystals of silver into flowers, and then to make a good medicine of the flowers 88

[Page] How to make a green oyle out of silver 89

The use of the green oyle in Alchymie and for Mechanical uses 90

A medicine out of copper externally to be used 91

A medicine out of iron or steel 92

Of tin or lead ibid.

The use of the crystals of lead and tin ibid.

Of Mercury 93

Of Aqua fortis 96

Of the sulphurised spirit of salt nitre 98

Of the Clissus. ibid.

Of the tartarised spirit of nitre 99

Of the tartarised spirit of Antimony 100

Of stone coales 101

Of the sulphurious spirit of salt nitre or Aqua fortis 101

Of the nitrous spirit of Arsenick 102

To make a spirit of sulphurous crude tartar and salt nitre ibid.

To make a spirit out of salt of tartar, sulphur and salt nitre ibid.

How to make a spirit of saw dust, sulphur and salt nitre 103

To make metallical spirits and flores by the help of salt nitre and linnen cloth 104

Of gunpowder ibid.

How to make a spirit of gunpowder 107

Of the use of the medicine or tincture made of gunpowder 109

To make spirits and flowers of nitre and coales 110

To make flowers and spirits of flints, crystal, or sand, by adding of coales and spirit of salt nitre to them 110

To make a spirit and oyle out of talck and salt nitre 111

To make a spirit, flowers and an oyl out of tin 112

To make a spirit, flowers and a liquor out of Zinck ibid.

To make a spirit flowers, and a oyle of lapis calaminaris 113

To make spirit of salt nitre, sulphur and common salt 114

To make a spirit, flowers and oyl out of salt nitre and Regulus Martis 114

To distil Butyrum out of Antimony, salt and vitriol, like unto that which is made out of Antimony and Mercury sublimate 118

To distil butyrum of Arsenick and orpiment ibid.

To make a rare spirit of vitriol 119

To make a subtle spirit and pleasant oyle of Zinck 120

To distil a spirit and oyle out of lead 121

To distil a subtle spirit and oyle out of crude tartar 122

The preparation and use of the spirit of tartar 123

How to make pretious spirits and oyles out of tartar joyned with some minerals and metals 126

The use of the metallised spirit and tartar ibid.

[Page] The other way to make a metallised spirit of tartar 130

To distil the spirit and oyle of lead and tin

How to make a tartarised spirit and oyl out of iron & steel or copper 133

How to make a tartarised spirit of Mercury 137

How to make a tartarised spirit of gold and silver ibid.

To make a tartarised spirit of antimony 139

How to make good spirits and oyles out of pearls, corals, and crabs eyes, and other light soluble stones of beasts and fishes 146

To distil a spirit out of salt of tartar, and crude tartar 147

How to get a powerful spirit out of the salt of tartar by the help of sand or peble stones ibid.

How to extract a blood red tincture with spirit of wine out of peble stones 150

The use of the tincture of pebles or flints in physick 151

How by the help of this liquor out of gold its red colour may be extracted so that it remaines white 153

Another way to extract a tincture out of gold by the help of the liquor of sand or pebles 159

What further may be done with the liquor of pebles 160

How by the help of this liquor to make trees to grow out of metals, with their colours ibid.

Of the spirit of urine and of the vo latile spirit of salt Armoniack 162

The process or manner of making it is this 163

Of the use or vertue of the spirit of salt Armoniack 166

To distil a blood red oyle of vitriol by the help of the spirit of urine 167

The tincture of vegetables 168

Vitriol of copper ibid.

The tincture of crude tartar ibid.

To make the oyles or liquors of salts ibid.

To precipitate all metals with it ibid.

The oyle and vitriol of silver 169

To extract a red oyle ont of Antimony or common sulphur ibid.

How to ripen Antimony and common sulphur, so that several sorts of such like sm [...]ls, as vegetables have arise from thence 171

Of the spirit and oyle of harts-home 171

To make the spirit of mans haire an excellent medicine 172

Of the oyle of Ambar 173

Of the oyle of soot 174

How to make a good oyle out of soot without distilling ibid.

Of the spirit and oyle of honey ibid.

Of the oyle and spirit of sugar 175

To distil an excellent spirit and blood red tincture of coals and sugar 176

Of the spirit of Must or new wine ibid.

Of oyle olive 177

The use of the blessed oyle 179

[Page] Of the oyle of wax ibid.

A good spirit for the stone ibid.

Of the spirit or acid oyle of sulphur 180

To the Courteous Reader 181

The Contents of the third Part.

A Preface of the copper instrument and furnace 185

Of wooden instruments that are to be used in stead of stils, baths and cauldrons 189

The preparation of the vessel 192

The making of a wooden vessel for a Balneum, which is to be used in stead of copper and leaden cauldron for digestion and distillation by glass vessels 193

A wooden vessel serving for boyling of Beer, Metheglin, Vinegar, &c. as well as copper, iron, and tin vessels ibid.

A wooden vessel for a bath, for sweet or mineral waters which may be according as you please kept warm for the preservation of health 194

Of the use of wooden vessels in distilling, boyling, bathing, &c. and first of the wooden vessel ibid.

Of the preparation of the lees of wine, boer, hydromel and other drink ibi.

Of the preparation of all kinde of corn as wheat, oats, barley, &c. which must go before the distilling of the spirit 195

Of the difference of malting 196

Of the fermentation of malt 197

Of the Fermentation of honey 198

Of the preparation of hearbs, flowers, seeds, &c. ibid.

An Annotation 199

The manner of distilling in general followeth 202

The manner of distilling spices, seeds, flowers, hearbs, roots, woods, &c. 203

How oyles are to be coagulated into balsoms 204

The manner of preparing follows 206

There follows now the use of the second wooden vessel which is to be used in stead of those of copper or lead serving for distillations, digestions, extractions and fixations 208

And first of a volatile extract ibid.

A purging extract 210

A diaphoretical extract 211

A diuretical extrast 212

A Somniferous extract ibid.

A cordial extract 213

Of an odoriferous extract 214

Of baths 215

Of a bath of sweet or common water 216

Of the nature and property of natural baths ibid.

And first of sulphureous bathes that have a subtle acidity 218

The mixture of those subtile mineral, [Page] sulphureous and salt spirits with water 220

Of sulphur baths 221

The use of the copper globe in dry bathes, which are more excellent then the moyst in many cases 222

Now follows a wooden vessel which is to be used in stead of a cauldron in boyling of beer, vinegar, metheglin, &c. 226

The Contents of the fourth Part.

OF making the Furnace 233

How minerals are to betryed 238

Of the melting of mines and metals 243

Of the separation of metal ibid.

Of separating courser metals 247

What is to be held concerning the perfection of metals 248

Another demonstration by a dry way 255

Of the Philosophers stone 262

Whether minerals, as antimony, arsenick, orpin, cobolt, zinck, sulphur, &c. may be transmuted into metals, and into what 265

Another way of separating the superfluous Antimonial sulphur 268

Of the tincture of Sol▪ and Antimony 269

Another tincture and medicine of gold 272

Of looking glasses 273

Metallick mixaure for the matter of the glasses 276

Of the smoothing and polishing looking glasses 278

Of mettallick glasses 280

The colouring of the foresaid vessel follows in which it is made most like to Venice 284

Of the preparation of the colours for the colouring the mass of flints and crystals 285

The Contents of the fifth Part.

OF the preparation of the furnace 293

Of the preparation of the furnaces 297

A lute for the errecting of furnaces 298

Of the closing of the joynts hindering the evaporation of subtile spirits 299

Another lute for broken glasses 300

How those subtle spirits when they are made may be kept that they evaporate not 301

How glass stoples are to be smoothed [Page] grinding for the retaining of subtle spirit in their glass vessels 303

Of the making of the best crucibles 313

Of the vitrisication of earthen vessels belonging to the first and second furnace 320

Of the use of the foresaid cups 324

An Appendix 328

Annotations upon the Appendix of the fifth Book.

A Preparation of corn, wheat, barley, oates, &c. also of pears, apples, cherries, and other tree fruits, to be performed by the help of fermentation, when thorough the help of distillation they yeeld a very good and most pure spirit, very like that which is made of the lees of wine without great costs, where also from the Remainders of the corn (the burning spirit being drawn off) may be made a very good beer or vinegar; and of the remaines of the fruit a very good drink like to wine, whence there is a double benefit, so that any one may not only have from thence wherewith to live, but also to lay up 338

The making of wine not unlike to Rhenish, French, or Spanish, that shall endure for many yeers, out of corn or fruits 340

A making of a burning spirit, out of the baser sort of things, which are commonly known, like to that made out of Rhenish and French wine, and at an easie rate 343

The making of sugar (like to that of the India) and of tartar (like to that of the Rhenish) out of honey▪ not costly, so that the price of one pound of sugar doth not exceed eight or ten stivers, and a pound of tartar exceed not the price of two stivers ibid.

A peculiar purification of vulgar impure tartar, without any loss, and the crystallizing or reduction of it into great crystals, a pound whereof being purified doth not exceed the price of six stivers 347

The taking away of the ungrateful odour avd tast of honey which being taken away, there is drawn forth out of honey a very good burning spirit which savours not of the qualities of honey, and also a hydromel like to natural wine in tast and other vertues, &c. ibid.

The making of a hydromel, very good and clear out of raisins both greater and smaller, resembling the best Spanish wine out of which also is made a very good and cleer vineger ibid.

How good wines, and good vinegars may be made in those places, where grapes grow in unmanuered places, and are acid 349

Also the preparation of wholesome [Page] drinks out of goose-berries, barberries, mul-berries and other wilde fruits 351

The correction of troubled viscous wines and such as begin to be red, musty and sowre ibid.

A very easie making of vinegar in great quantity out of certaine vetables that are every where to be had, viz. very good cleer and durable like to French vinegar, &c. 352

A production of wines in cold places, which oth [...]rwise by reason of the cold aire do not bring forth wines (the cold [...]st places of all only excepted) viz. of the best, sweetest, odoriferous, and durable, not giving place for goodness, clearness, &c. to those that are made in Germany, France, Italy and Spaine 352

A certaine secret, by the help whereof wines are easily tran [...]ported from mountainous places, remote from rivers and distitute of other conveniences of carriage, so that the carrying of ten vessels is of a cheaper price then otherwise the carrying of one 353

A very easie preparation of verdygrease out of copper, of which a pound doth not exceed the price of six stivers 355

A new and unheard of distillation of vinegar, of which two runlets of nine gallons exceed not the price of half a royal, with which many excellent things may be done, especially the crystallizing of verdygrease, of which one pound doth not exceed the price of half a royal 355

A very easie distillation of the most strong spirit of urine very speedy not costly nor tedious, where twenty or thirty pints maybe made for a royal whereby many excellent things may be done in physick, alchymie and mechanical affaires, but especially with it vitriol is made out of copper, very beautiful, blue and most excellent in medicine and alchymy with which silver is made so fusile that by the help thereof glass vessels, may as well inwardly as outwardly be gilded so as to appear like silver 356

Amost easie & not costly way of the distilling of the spirit of salt, of which one pound may be sold for six stivers, and it is very profitable in medicine, alchymie, &c. 357

The separation of gold from silver without hurt to the jewels, also the solution and separation of gold, that containes silver and copper, and the precipitation of gold from the water without any hurt to the water so as that it may serve for the same uses againe, &c.

The separation of gold from pure fat clay, sand, flints▪ &c. which other wayes could not be separated either by the help of [...] ashing or white Mercury or by melting 359

A new and unheard of proving of [Page] tough and stubborn minerals, viz. of all and each, whereby their nature and and form is found out, the which cannot be done otherwise by any vulgar way 366

A new compendious way, whereby minerals are speedily in a great quantity melted, and that not without great profit 367

A better way to separate things melted: A better separation of silver from lead 362

How minerals in defect of coals made of wood may be melted by the help of pit coals 364

The fixations of sulphureous, Arsenical, Antimonial and other volatile poysonous minerals 365

A profitable separation of sparkling, spongious and thin gold and silver from sand, pure clay and flints, &c. 366

A profitable and secret melting of gold contained in baser metals and minerals, which cannot be done by any common way 367

A speedy separation of gold and silver by the help of fusion, with less cost and labor then by Aqua fortis or cements 368

A speedy reduction of wrought gold to the higbest degree, also an easie separtion of gold from gilt silver ibid.

The separation of silver in a greater quantity out of lead then by the use of cu [...]les 369

The melting of good gold out of old iron 370

A separation of gold and silver from any tin or copper 373

A maturation of mines that they may give more gold and silver in the fusion 375

A separation of gold and silver out of Arsenick, Auripigmentum and Antimony 377

A separation of extrinsecal sulphur of Venus for the production of her son Cupid ibid.

The separation of silver from the tests which entered into them in time of trying without melting and without labour and costs 379

A cheape making of fine earthen vessels like to the porccelane retaining spirit [...], resisting the fire, and to be made in any place of the world ibid.

A confection of allome exalting and fixing any colours, especially requisite for scarlet and other pretious colours, as also a preparation of a cauldron, that shall be cheap and not alter colour 380

A cheap preparation of colours for painting, as of purple, &c. but especially of a most fine white never yet seen most like the finest pearls, also of a silver and golden colour 381

The conclusion 383

To the Malitious 389

Of Avrum potabile 393

Of the medicinal use of this gold medicine 403

[Page]

The Contents of the first part of the Mineral Work.

A Preface to the Reader 409

A most profitable separation of gold out of flints, sand, clay, red and black talck and other fossiles, containing very subtle gold, thin & spongious, which otherwise cannot be separated either for its scarcity, or the obstinency of the mineral by the reason of the great cost to be bestowed, viz. very easily with the spirit of salt 411

The preparation of flints and the extraction of the gold contained in them by the spirit of salt 417

The work to be performed by funels 420

How impure gold may be separated and purged by Antimony 422

The way of separating gold and silver from Antimony 424

The use of Antimonial Flowers 425

The preparation ibid.

An admonition 427

Of the vertues of this medicine 429

Of the use and dose of this medicine 431

Now followeth the vertues which it manifesteth in metallicks 439

How the Regulus of the flowers and dross of Antimony is to be used in the bettering of course metals 442

Its use 445

The flux requisite to this work 448

FINIS.

§

[Page]

REader, Impute the multiplicity of Errata's partly to my absence whilest this [...]reatise was under the press, considering also that the second part thereof was translated by a German, who (though otherwise very learned) yet might not haply be exactly skilled in all the proprieties of our English tongue, whence sometimes the singular number is put for the plural, his for its, he for it and on the contrary: and such like petty mistakes; considering also that the fourth part was translated by another, who might not be acquainted sufficiently with tearms of art, and a smooth English stile; besides the Printers aptness sometimes to mistake the copy being writ with diversity of hands and some bad. If thou please with thy pen to correct what here I have observed thou will hardly meet with any more that may pervert thy judgement or occasion thy mistake, unless in a cursory survey I might omit some few, for the mending of which thy ingenury and candor, which is craved, will be sufficient.

PAge 1. line 3. p. 2. l. 1. l. 9. l. 18. p. 4. l. 19 p. 5. l. 25. p. 6. l. 31. l. 37. p. 7. l. 22. l. 33. p 36. l. 30. for water read matter. Page 1. l. 12. r. neerness p▪ 2. l. 5. r. furnace l. 7. r. by which l. 26. r. luteing p 3. l. 33. r. neck p. 5. l. 22. r humidity l. 23. r. metals p. 7. l. 15. r luteing p. 8 l. 3. r. repeate p. 9. l. 19. r. in a p. 20. l. 6. r. humors l. 34. r. humours p. 28. l. 24. r. will not p. 29. l. 22. r. will p. 45 l. 2. r. scoriae p. 52. l. 6. r. in an l. 12. r. with a copple p. 53. l. 4 r. cast l. 29. or they p. 54 l. 30. r. any time p. 58. l 4. blot out it p. 60. l. 1. blot out green p. 66. l. 23. blot out they p. 57. l. 18. r. spoyled p. 69. l. 26. r. also the p. 73. l. 11. r. saying l. 28. r. aire is p. 78. l. 16. blot out now p. 84. l. 17. r. set upon the warm bottom l. 28. r. is taken out p. 87. l. 5. r. and in p. 100. l. 22. r. sulphur au [...]atum p. 108. l. 36. blot out it p. 117. l. 25. r. concerning the p. 123. l. 3. blot out they p. 227. l. 22. blot out it p. 134. l. 3. r. heat p. 135. l. 15. r. but use four p. 144. l. 15. but if he be not wary p. 148. l. 37. r. fine p. 149 l. 27. r. who scoure p. 162. l. 7. r. be fixed p. 169. l. 3 r. and mixe it with p. 171. l. 26. cast in l. 34. read, will pass. page 17. 8. l 5. read, cast [...]page 18 [...]. line 14. r. cast p. [...]87▪ l. 3. r. bars l. 4. r. neck p. 191. l 32. r. write p. 192. l. 11. r. set p. 193. l. 3. r. or f [...]wn [...]ss l. 19▪ r▪ wider p. 196. l. 1. r. those l. 14. faul [...] p. 202. l. 16▪ r. or fil [...]d p. 203. l. 7. r. distillation p. 206. l. 34. r. reunited p. 217. l. 25. r. heat l. 25. know p. 221. l. 32. blot out is p▪ 222. l. 26. blot out which p. 223. l. 6. r. inwardly p. 241. l. 23. r. hematitis l. 28. r. aforesaid manner p. 243. l. 7. super p. 247. l. 30. r. s [...]ll p 248. l. 31. r. seduce p. 250. l. 6. r. God hath p. 251. l. 1. r. set it in digestion and the oyles will attract out of the spirit of salt, salt enough l. 2 acquires l. 1 [...]. r. and as by these two examples the perfection of metals is proved, so also l. 28. r [...]fined p. 252. l. 7. r. separated by its contrary, and bettered l. 20. not appear p. 254. l. 33. r. which was mixed with l. 35. r. in a l. 37. r. long ground p 255. l. 21. r. augmenting the weight of gold l. 30. blot out, of gold p. 256. l. 2. r. imperfect, perfect l. 24. r. wh [...]nce p▪ 257. l. 2. r. for the earth l. 11. r. operation l. 13. r. his gifts will not should be common l. 14. being an l. 17. many fear. l. 28. r. for the p. 258. l. 27. r. into p. 259. l. 2. r. coming l. 12. r. the power of the sun, and fire being discovered. l. 23. r. from iron l. 27. r. retaine the mixt l. 31. to be under stood of metals where p. 260. l. 28. r. gi [...] ing credit to these p. 261. l. 27. r. concerning the p. 262. l. 15. have been rather p. 263. l. 37. r. gift p. 265. l. 11. r. nature say they l. 21. r. againe quickly perishing p. 266. l. 1. r. be denyed l. 8. r. [...]mbrionated l. 23. r. as from l. 27. blot out to l. 33. r. conceive l. 37. r. hidden in the aire p. 267. l. 10. r. minerals l. 21. blot out though l. 25. r. being afterward melted p. 268. l. 8. r. regulus▪ [...]. 10. r. of minerals l. 18. r. then that which is sul▪ hureous, with which being mixed it fo [...]saketh 269. l. 10. r. old Saturne l▪ 29. r. grind very l. 33. r. and that antimonial nitre will assume p. 270. l. 2. r. leave in l. 10. r. for taking l. 3 [...]. r. in destroying, perfecting and transmuting metals by fusion p. 271. l. 17 r. not but by l. 30 r. and drawed off p 272. l. 19. being surn [...]sht with the gold of covetous men p. 273. l. 7. out a l. 20. conceive p. 274. l. 6. r. a paire of compasses l. 15. lime or the l. 21. the bottome l. 24. smoother parts: if the l. 31. r. and to smooth l. 36▪ r. put an earthen tunnel, and the mould into dry sand to the top p. 275. l. 17. impressed [...]n sand or the l. 34. blot out let p. 276. l. 14. r. acquired l. 26. linseed oyle p. 282. l. 10. r. without minium l. 32. [Page]lot out equal parts p. 284. l. 4. r. smooth and light iron l. 13. r. by which 285 l. 1. r. the re will be made thence a stone p. 286. l. 12. r. forme l. 14. take out p. 287. l. 10. r. afterward is poured into it p. 295. l. 9. blot out is p. 296. l. 10. r. can not p. 302 l. 27. r. stopples p 310. l. 6. blot out that p. 314. l. 17. r. glasses p. 315. l. 14. r. satness of p. 321. l. 31. r. pour p. 322. l. 37. r. and not to p. 331. l. 30. r. spared p. 352. l 27. r. yet by art p. 354. l. 1. r. consistency p. 359. l. 5. r. pure clay: p. 403. l. r. wax-like earth. Page 388. The copper globes are nere through mistake left out, but the manner thereof you may see in the foregoing page. Part 4. for patterne, and types read moulds.

Books Printed, and are to be sold by Thomas Williams at his shop in Little-Brittaine.

THe new light of Alchymy, by Michael Sandevogius, with nine books of Paracelsus of the nature of things; with a Chymical Dictionary.

The Art of Distillation.

Vade Mecum, or a companion for a Chirurgion, fitted for times of peace or war: By Tho: Brugis Doctor in Physick.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

A description of new philosophical furnaces, or A new art of distilling, divided into five parts. Whereunto is added a description of the tincture of gold, or the true aurum potabile; also, the first part of the mineral work. Set forth and published for the sakes of them that are studious of the truth. / By John Rudolph Glauber. Set forth in English, by J.F. D.M.Furni novi philosophici. English.

Glauber, Johann Rudolf, 1604-1670.

Edition statement

1651

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A86029

ID [STC]

Wing G846

ID [STC]

Thomason E649_3

ID [STC]

ESTC R202215

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99862587

ID [PROQUEST]

99862587

ID [VID]

114750

Availability

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A86029)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 114750)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 99:E649[3])

Source

— A description of new philosophical furnaces, or A new art of distilling, divided into five parts. Whereunto is added a description of the tincture of gold, or the true aurum potabile; also, the first part of the mineral work. Set forth and published for the sakes of them that are studious of the truth. / By John Rudolph Glauber. Set forth in English, by J.F. D.M., Furni novi philosophici. English., Glauber, Johann Rudolf, 1604-1670., French, John, 1616-1657..

Extent

[16], 452, [12] p. : ill. (woodcuts)

Printed by Richard Coats, for Tho: Williams, at the signe of the Bible in Little-Britain,. London :: 1651.. (A translation of: Furni novi philosophici.) (J.F. = John French.) (Each of the five parts and "Of the tincture of gold" has separate title page dated 1652; pagination and register are continuous.) (With five final contents leaves and a final errata leaf.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "Decemb. 2.".) (Thomason copy bound with items from December 1651.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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