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C R.

H A R LES the Second by the Grace of God , King of
Entfand , Scotland , France and Ireland , Dcf
Faith, &c. To all to whom thefe Prefents (hall
ing. Whereas JOHANNES SEGERVS WE
Gem. hath by his humble Petition reprefented unto us, ' lat with
much Study, and great Expence he hath compofed a Tra6t De Se-
cretis Adeftorum^ which he is defirous to Print in Oujr Dominions,
and hath therefore humbly befought us to grant unto him Our Royal
Licence and Priviledge for the fole Printing and Publishing thereof:,
We have received good Teftimony of the Ufefulnefs oi the faid
Traft, and being willing to give all fitting Encouragement to fuch
commendable Works 5 have thought fit .to condefcend to that his
Requeft 5 and We do accordingly hereby grant Our Royal Licence
and Priviledge unto him the faid JO HANNES SEGERV S
WE IP E NF EL Z>, his Executors, Adminiftrators and Atfigns, for,
and during the fpace of fourteen Years, to be computed from the day
of the firft letting forth of the fame: And Our Royal Will and
Pleafure is ? and We do hereby Require and Command, That du-
ring the (aid Term of Fourteen Years 3 no Printer, PubJifher^ or
other Perfon whattocver. being our Subjedts, daprefume to Imprint,
or caufe to be Imprinted without the Knowledge and Confent of him
the faid JOHANNES SEGERVS JFEIVENFEL^ his
Executors, Adminiftrators, or Affigns, the aforefaid Trat, or any
Part thereof, or to fell the fame, or to import into our Kingdom of
England any Copies thereof, Imprinted in any Parts beyond the Seas,
upon pain of the Lofs and Forfeiture of all Copies fo Imprinted,
Sold, or Imported , contrary to the Tenor of this Our Royal Li-
cence, and of fuch other Penalties as the Laws and Statutes of this
Our Realm will inflit: And of this Our Pleafure, the iMafier,
Wardens and Affiftants of the Company of Stationers^ are to take
Notice, that the lame may be Entred in their Regiftcr, and due
Obedience be yielded thereunto. Given at Our Court at Wind for ,,
the 1 8th. Day of Auguft 16^4. in the Six and Thirtieth Year of Our
Reign.

By Hi* Majefties Command,

SUNDERLAND.

FOUR BOOKS

O F
HANNES SEGERVS WEIVENFELD,

Concerning the

EGRETS of the ADEPTS,

Of theUfeof J>///s

pint of

A PRACTICAL WORK.

With very great Study Collefted out of the Ancient as well
as Modern FATHERS of

ADEPT PHILOSOPHY,

Reconciled together,

B Y

Comparing them one with another, otherwife difagreeing,and
in the neweft Method fo aptly digefted, that even young Pracii-
tioners may be -able to difcern the Counterfeit or Sophiftical Pre-
parations of Animals 3 Vegetcthtes and Minerals^ whether for Medi-
cines or Metals, from True ; and fo avoid Vagabond Importers
and Imaginary Proccfles., together with the Ruine of Eftates.

ISAACUS HOLLANDUS.

i.Oper. Miner. Cap.^. Pag. 410. Vol.^. T'heatr. Chym.

I difcours'd you plainly, ufing no Allegories ; fhould I tell you of Selbach, Kakabria*
Manefa and of area Matter, or of the Sky-coloured Muerach, Illabar, and Cafft-
rio, or the like, you would not eafily apprehend me j but I h,ave opened you the
way, and removed every Obftacle? that you may not err.

London 5 Printed by Will. Bowy, for ^bo. How^ins in George-fard
in Lombard-Street^ MDCLXXXV.

Author! Sacrum.

4 * ( phorum

QUod nemo eft aufw citior, quod nemo So-
T?r#ftitit, in c alamo claret in or he two
Haftenm in fophicu fparfim tumulata tenebru

Ars j acnit y dubm inveterata ftrophis.
Tabula nafutis $ avidifq^ "Tarantula ftdtu $

Oedipus ignaru j & Labyrinthut am.
Hie afinumfingebat equum,mox certior alter

Pone aures leporem fetenuifte putat.
Sic inhiansL,apidi,Lapidu vice volvere faxum

Conatur chymici nefcia turba gregis.
Hoc quantum tua nunc removendo induftria

Contribuat,fopbi#judicatipfe tyro, (faxo
Semifophiqi tuos pfallent fine fraude labor es,

Veri candoru propria fana tui.

r^-v? L * r ^ fi r

J& cinittona cohorsjxjpes, pro fir at a, rejumptw
Virilw, antiquum (mafte ! ) fubibit onw.

Ne vero line re (is infelicior ipfis,
f^ 11 * . * *

Verge lab or ant em continuare manum,
articipefq^ Sacro dtgttos carbone notare,
Ut wdeant fibi Te reddere nolle par em.

' 2114223

Quo tm Cediilita* tUi nomen & omen Adepti

-^^^^^ * * * i

Afpirante Dei conciliabit ope.
P0jleraq;emtritas cantabit natiolatides
Et refer et grates ubere dote fiat. **

wiw>'

Sic Amico fuo cecinit

ALBEKTVS OTHO FABER,

Reg. Ma}* Britannica Med. Or dinar.

To the Right Honourable

ROBERT BOYLE,

A CHIEF MEMBER OF THE

ROYAL SOCIETY

| Long Life and Health.

TH E Arcanums of Faracelfus be-
ing applauded by many men
with fo many and fuch am-
ple Encomiums, yet not enough, incited
me Ten Years fince, firft to under-
take the confulting of Parace/fushim-
felf about his Medicines. Two Years
thereof had elapfed, in which I turn-
ed over his Books day and night,
with an indefatigable and invincible
Mind, yet with unequal Succels,and
fcarce any Benefit at all : For in the
Books of Paracelfa, beiides theutual
way of concealing Secrets, common

to the Adepts, I found another much
greater difficulty withal, yet lefs fre-
quented by the Adepts ; Paracclfeu, as
Corrector of the Adepts, having pro-
pos'd to himfelf therein, the initru6t-
ing of not only raw initiated Scho-
lars, but even expert Mafters of the
more fecret Cbymy, and for this reafon
he abbreviates his Receipts with
wonderful Accurtations, Learned in-
deed to the Learned, but to us feem
as lame and imperfe6t ; and befides,
they are fo difguifed with moft in-
tricate Terms of the true Philofopbical
Cfynyfis to illude not only fhallow,but
profound Capacities: Which Im-
pcffibility (I had almoft faid ) of un-
derftanding, Paracelfus aggravates, by
intermixing Common with Secret
Receipts j which is not for a Scho-
lar, but a moft experienced Mafter
to diftinguifh.

But of thefe Difficulties, the'firft
andgreateft Obftacle withal, was my
own unhappy preconception of fome

certain

Alkabejt : For being now Out of the
hope of attaining to the preparation
of this Liquor by other mens Books,
as well as Paraceljus his own D<? Virilw
Membrortim, I betook my felf toother
places, treating of the Circdatm mi-
nus&n&Specificmcorropvtim (as fynoni-
mous Terms of the Alkahift with fome
men ) to which I added the Aqua or
Oleum Salts, Aqm Comedens, Aqua Regit>
Circulatum majus, and one after another,
being perfwaded that fome one only
univerfal Mmfaukni was intended by
all, that I might find the Method of
preparing this Liquor in all places
compared together , which I could
not in each feverally ; but at length
defpairing , and being overcome by
the manifold and almoft incredible,
yet unfuccefsful pains I took , I re-
lolved to decline Cbymy and Medicine,
as Arts too deep for my underftand-
ing: When behold! onafuddenthe
Eyes of my Mind were opened, and I
faw all thefe things differ, not in name
only, but alfo in matter, preparation

a and

M .

and life ; fb inftead of one Liquor Air-
kafreft, which I fought for, I found in
Paracelfus many Mtnftriwms , with- the
feveral Ufes of them all in Medicine^
now knew I how to prepare, and ac-
cording to Paracelfus , diftinguiih
things into Effences, Magifteries, Aprwns>
Arcawms, ana thole which he calls the
lefs Medicines ; fb that which was in
P'aracelfa moft difficult to be under-
flood by others, became more clear
tome than any thing elfe; and fo I
obtained the End looner than the
Beginning : Yet the Joy from thence
accrewing, fell fhorter than expeta-
tion j for having tried feveral Expe-
riments in vaia, I came tounderftand
that theie Menftruums of Paracelfus con.
tained fomething abftrufe and un-
known, to be under flood, not in the
leafl according to the Letter : where-
upon, examining them more exactly,
and comparing their Qualities with
|he Nature of the Liquor Alkaheft, I
found avail difference between it and
them j for it .is faid , There is one Li.

quor

C }

quor Alkabeft, and that univerfal ; but
many are the Menftrmms of Paracelfus,
that indeftrudible, that deftrudible ;
that not mixing with Bodies, thefe
abiding with them,- that preferves
the Virtues of things, thele alter
them ; that afcends after the Eflences
of things in deftillation, thefe before
their diiiblutions, Sc. I was at a Itand
fometime which part to take,- one
while I wiftf d for one indeftru6tible
Liquor, rather than many deftru6ti-
ble Mtnftriwms , fuppofing that one
better than many , another while
changing my Mind , 1 defired the
Menflrmms, as fufficient for many Ufes
I knew before.

Truth overcame at length,enabling
me now to demonftrate the moft, if
not all the Medicines of Paracelfa in
Giiido and Bajiliw : On the contrary, I
perceived the Arcanwms of Paracilfw ,
( commonly fo called ) as prepared by
that Liquor Alkabeft, or the like, to
be more and more diilerent, yea con-
trary to the Authentick : wherefore

a 2 as

as to the Preparation of Medicines, I
began to abftain , yea defifted from
further enquiring into the obfcure
Matter, Preparation and Ufe of that
Liquor .Al'kafcft', namely , that which
I find defer ibed in one place of P^-
racetfw as a Medicine, but not in the
leait as a Menflrmm : Which Obftacle
being removed, I found an eafie way
from ^aracelfm to Ldly , Bafilim , and.
other Philofophers of the fame Fa-
culty , who I faw agreed all unanL
moufly in confirmation of the Para-
telfian Menftriwrns $ yea Light adding
Light to Light, appeared fo clear,that
their preparation, variety, fimple and
literal fenfe Ihewed themielves all at
once, one only Word remain ing un-
known, yet expreffing the univerfal
Bafis of all the Adepts , and that is
Spirit -of Wine, not Common, but fhila,
fophicali which being known and ob-
tained, the greateft P bilofopbical, Me-
dicinal, Alchymical, and Magical My-
fteries of the more lecret Cbymy, will
be in the power of the Poflellor. In

[ 3

no Books of the Adepts, hitherto
known of me, have I found any thing
rare, that owes not its original Being
to this Spirit ; fo that I dare affirm,
that whatloever Cbymical Spirits lower
and higher, fixed and volatile, are a-
ble to do , the very fame , and more
will this our Spirit perform : This it
was that moved me to employ all my
Study and Endeavours, turning over
every Stone in queft of the Spirit of
this Wim> and continually ruminating
upon thofe abftrufe , and varioufly
difguis'd Terms whereby they cloud-
ed it, as the Key of all Philolbphy ,
behold the Fame of your great Name
welconi d me to Wilde, the Metropolis
of Lithuania -, and obferving that You
in expounding Natural Vbilofopby, ab-
ftained from all manner of Intricacy,
and as the firit and only Perfon in-
deed uiing a plain and candid Series
of Words in applying common Ex-
amples of Vulgar Chymiftry , I rejoyced
with my felf, thinking, What could
not this great man do, if Mailer of

the

the more fecret Chymy ? I refolved
with my felf therefore to take a Jour-
ney into England, for your fake alone,
that I might confer with you about
the Menftrtttims as well as Medicines, and
other Secrets of Par at el fas ; from whom
alfo I promifed to my felf very great
Affiftance in fome other things not
yet known : Nor indeed has my hope
deceived me; for belides the eaile
admiffion, common to all Strangers
and Foreigners, you have been pleas'd
to vouchmfe me a more free Accefs,
received me courteouily , arid com-
mended my Studies, and thereby
rais'd my Mind to greater Things :
Which Favours do oblige me to
Dedicate this part of my Studies
to you your lelf; Earneftly and
Humbly befeeching you kindly to
accept it , and continue your Love
and Friendly Countenance to him
that is and ever will be

Tour Honour's

Mofl Obedient Servant,

J. S. W.

STUDENTS

OFTHfc MORE

Secret Chymy.

UNder Heaven is not fuch an Art, more
promoting the honour of God, more con-
ducing to Mankind, and more narrowly
fcarching into the moft profound Secrets of Na-
ture, than is our true and more than laudable Chymy.
This is it which fhews the Clemency, Wifdom, and
Omnipotence of the Creator in the Creatures 5
which teacheth not only Speculation , but alfo
Practice and Demonftration, the Beginning, Pro-
grefs, and end of things 5 which reftoreth our Bo-
dies from infinite Difeafes , as by common means
intolerable to priftine health, and diverts our Minds
from the Cares and Anxieties of the World ( the
Thorns and Bryars of our Souls ) to Tranquility
of Life, from Pride to Humility, from the Love
and Defire of worldly Wealth to the Contempt
thereof: And in a word, which raifeth us from
earth to heaven 5 Yec for all that may we fay^of it,

with

C 3

with the fame truth, that amongft all the Arts,
which have yielded any benefit or profit to the
World, there is none, by which lefs honour has
hitherto accrued to God Almighty, and lefs utility
to mankind $ for left a Science of fo great dignity
and utility (hould be too common, or ill managed
by the ignorant and impious, the prudent Pofleflors
of the fame made it their .bufinefs fo to defcribe it,
as to make it known to their Difciples only, but
exclude unworthy altogether from it : But in pro-
cefs of time, the Ac/efts arriving to a greater per-
fection of Knowledge and Experience , invented
fometimes one, fometimes another ftiorter Me-
thod in their Work, altering Fornaces, Fires, Vet
fels, Weights, yea , and the Matter it felf 5 who
being thereby alfo conftrain'd to make new Theo-
ries and Terms of Art, according to the new in-
vented Practice, it happened, that the Scholar of
one Adept underftood not the new Theory, much
lefs thepra&ice of another 5 which alfo fometimes
happened to the Adepts themfelves, thofe efpecially,
which were under the document of fome certain
Patron in fome particular Method and Procefs ;
for they had not the power of difcerning further
than they had learnt 5 whereupon they commonly
fufpefted all the Notions of other men, efpecially
thofe that differed from theirs, though in them-
felves good and right, as fallacious and contrary
to Nature, or applied other mens Theories, Sen-
tences, and Terms of Art unknown to themfelves,
to their own private Procefs, with which they were

C ]

acquainted, as I (hall by many Examples elfewhere
declare 5 by which very thing they involved this
Art in fiich a Chaos of obfcurity, that hitherto
neither Matters nor Scholars have fcarce had the
power of communicating any benefit to the learn-
ed World.

It is to be wondred at, but rather lamented, to
fee fuch imperfect Philofophical Syftems , as have
been hitherto bequeathed to us by the Matters of
this Art, not feldom contradicting both Nature
and themfelves, whereas the Miracles of Nature
might by virtue of this Art have been truly and
pkinly without any convulfion or contraction of
words expreiTed 5 in which refpect I dare , with
Philofophical Licence here affirm, that moft of
the Adepts have by their Writings declared them-
felves to the World better Cbymifts than Philofo-
pkers.

For what I pray could they have better done in
Medicine , than to have applied themfelves to this
Subje<5t, imitating the diligence and induftry of
Paracelfus ? But alas ! amongft all, I find perhaps
three or four, who have been careful and cordial
herein 5 and therefore the lefs to be admired, that
this noble and neceffory Art, has made no greater
progrefs, witnefs Common Chymiftry, where the
names of famous Medicines are noifed about, them-
felves being unknown, and Shells given for Ker-
nels.

Lately indeed we had not only hope , but pro-
mifes alfo from the Rofy-Crucian Fraternity, as if

b thev

they had a mind to make this our Age more happy
I5y their Studies 5 but no effed: being hitherto
heard of, we,cannotbut fear, their fair promifes
will never be performed.

On the contrary, Experience teacheth, that in-
ftead of an universal good derived from the Foun-
tain of this Art, the World hath rather been in-
volved by it in great and many Miseries : for the
Adepts affirming, yea more than often with oaths
.confirming, that they in their Writings treated
more clearly and truly of the Art, than any other
Philofophers, have thereby inftigated many young
Novices of all Degrees and Faculties, to begin their
Chymical Labours according to the Method of
their Prefcriptions, expofing themfelves -not only
to intolerable Expences, but alfo being as it were
pbftinate in a certain confidence of their under-
Handing the Authors geruiine meaning, do rather
die amongft the Coals and Fornaces, than recede
from their Imaginations, once imprinted in them
for true : Whereupon fome of the more Learned
Inquirers ruminating with themfelves, how rarely,
ancr with what great difficulty fome of -die Adepts
attained to the Art lr/ the reading of Books only,
thought it a point of Prudence to defert the Au-

C-* t

thors, together with their Books, perfwading them-
felves to be able to find out a nearer and eafier
way by virtue of their own Genius and Reafon,
trying, repeating, altering, isrc. Experiments and
Conclufions $ but herein were they difappointed
of their defired fuccefs, no lefs than as a Mariner

fayling

[ J

fayling without a Compafs, and fo fuch Inquirers
would have afted more advifedly, if they had in-
quired in themfelves, whether they had overcome
all the Difficulties obvious to them, before they
applied themfelves to this more fecret Art, and
doubtlefs many of them would have hearkned to
the Counfel of Theobald of Hohenland ( who co-
pioufly defcribcd the Difficulties of this Art colled:-
ed out of Philofophcrs Books ) and avoided it, as
worfe than the Plague, or a Serpent : For who of
you ( faith our Saviour ) intending to build a Tower,
will not fir ft fit down, and compute the Charge, whe-
ther he has wherewith to fmijh it, left having laid the
Foundation, and not being able to f>erfet it, all that
beheld it, fhoulcf begin to deride him, faying, That
man began to build \ and could not finish the Build-
ing, Luke 14. 38.

But I am fenfible that thefe Admonitions will
rather be flighted than accepted, efpecially by thofe
who are loath to have the magnificent Towers
built by themfelves in the Air, demolifted : For
notwithftanding the impoffibility of removing the
aforefoid difficulties by fome men, they endeavour
to perfwade others, that they can reach them ,
what as yet they know not themfelves, and fo will
rather perfift in deceiving, than defift from that
which they know to be Weaknefs and Error : O-
thers think themfelves very able to overcome all
manner of difficulties, and therefore it is in vain
to diflwade them from this Art : Others indeed
'perceiving all the difficulties, and an undoubted

b 2

I I

incapacity in themfelves of facilitating them, are,
though free from all fraud and arrogance, .vet by
fome natural or fecret impulfe fo incited to this
Art, as not to be driven from it by any Argu-
ment.

Wherefore having a fenfe of the frailty which
mankind is afflided with, to them will I dedicate
my Studies relating to Medicine. Deceivers I w ill
reftrain, fliame thofe that afcribe more to them-
fdves than das 5 but the true Difciples of this Art,
I will lead by the hand, that they may not for the
future be fubjedt to the derifion, reproaches and
feoffs of Satyrs, together with the lofs of health,
as well of Mind as Body, and at length verifie in
themfelves the lamentable Prediction of Geber,
faying, Mofl miferable and unhappy it he, whom, af-
ter tbfr end of his worJ^, God denies to fee the Truth,
for he ends hi* Life in Error , who being conflituted
in perpetual labour , and funounded with all manner
of Misfortune and Infelicity \ lofeth all the Comfort
and Joy of thk World, and fpends his Life in Sorrow,
without a?ty benefit or reward, Lib. 2. Invert, cap. 38-
So with the fame Argument will I vindicate this
the belt of Arts from the Injuries of Defamers,
who being deceived, by not knowing the Princi-
ples, accufe it as fraudulent, impoflible, and fo
ridiculous, as that they deter the Lovers of it, and
incite them to vilifie all the demonftrations and fa-
mous Teltimonies of the fame 5 and laftly, That
the Honour and Glory of God hitherto buried in
the Afhes of it, may from thence rife again, as a

Phoenix,

Phoenix, I will fet before your eyes, that which you
have not been hitherto able to find Jn fo many Vo-
lumes of this Art, namely, Diana naked, or with-
out Cloaths 5 that is, I will take from her Face and
Body, the Vizards of Tropes, Figures, Parables,
barbarous Names, &c. by which fhe hath been hi-
therto difguifed, left fhe fhould be obvious to the
knowledge of wicked men. I will expofe Diana to
you, namely, the very Truth of our Art ( with fo
much ftudy and labour fought in vain) not co-
vered indeed fo much as with the Veyl of neceffary
expreflion, but her moft fecret parts {hall be expo-
fed to your view, concerning which the Adepts
gave exceeding caution to their Difciples, adding a
Curfe withal, not to divulge them to the unwor-
thy Rabble. Wherefore if you defire to know the
Menftruums of Diana , wherewith the Adepts pre-
pared their Philters, the Liquors of Life and Death,
if you would know the way how they prepared
their Tmfturcs, either tmiverfal or particular for
Metals 5 if laftly , you covet to know how they
made pretious Stones , Pearls , perpetual Lights,
together with other Secrets of the Art, read the
Receipts of the four Books following ; Receipts I
fay, which were either not underftood, or altoge-
ther flighted by almoft ffl of you, becaufe of the
ruggednefs of their Style, which fomctimcs alfe
you efteemcd vain, falfe, and impoflible, compi-
led in a manner meerly to deceive vou 5 yet moft
"'true, collected not out of trivial vulgar Chrmiftry,
but out of the beft Books of the belt Adepts, the

Trea-

Treafury of Diana 5 Receipts, I fay, fo concatena-
ted and elaborated by as well the congruity, as
wonderful dexterity of the Matters , that where
you take away or deny one of them, you cannot
but rejedt all the reft as falfe : on the contrary, he
that owns one amongft all to be true, muft re-
pute all the reft true , and confequently vindicate
the Authors of them, our moft venerable Mafters
from all the Infamy of Lying and Scurrility. Va-
riety fpringing out of Unity , the Fountain of
Truth, and returning into it, as into its Ocean* il-
luftrates the excellency of thofe Receipts : I could
never yet fatisfie my felf, whether there be infinite,
or only one Receipt in our Chymy, divided
into divers parts, and defigned for feveral Ufes :
Variety I obferve in the various and diftinft parts
of thefe four Treatifes, but Unity in every part,
yea in the Individual of every Part, you will al-
ways find three confirming one Treatife : In the
the Firft Book of Menftruums, you will find alfo
the Medicines of the Second , and Alchymical
Tindtures of the Third, and Secrets of the Fourth
Book 3 which very thing is alfo to be underftood
of the Second, Third and Fourth Books. Laftly,
Thefe Receipts are not^ily true , but alfo clear,
defcribed by plain and common Words, to be un-
derftood not only according to the Letter, but al-
fo by their cleamefs, illuftrating and explaining
Places more obfcure otherwife not intelligible, fo
that by one only Procefs you will fometimcs ex-
plain more than ten Theoretical Books, never ex-
plicable but by thi Ught. Now

Now thefe Receipts I was willing to com-
municate to you, ye indefatigable Students of this
Art , .for the Reafons already given , as alfo that
you may throughly apprehend the absolute necefiity
of Lullys Spirit of Wine in our Chymy, before I
treat with you concerning the Matter and Prepara-
tion of it. No man defires that which is unknown
to him, or purfues that which he knows not the
benefit of: Wherefore I was defirous firft to de-
monftrate the fever al Vfes of this Spirit by the Ex-
periments of the Adepts, which if you fir^l true,
they will be of fucli fervice to you hereafter, as
to be much to your detriment to be without them 3
but if falfe, flight and give no credit to them, but
accufe the Matters, the Authors of them, of Ly-
ing, Deceit and Villany 5 but fuch wickednefs I
never expert from you, whatsoever Adverfaries,
the blind and ignorant of this Art, will do* we
little regard, and if a Zoilus or Momus appear ac-
cording to his Cuftom , let him chaw the Shell,
that is, the homely Style, the (lender and 1 flight
Obfer various and Conclufions given upon the
Receipts, all which we give him freely j but touch
the Kernel he cannot.

But if either now or hereafter you reap any joy
or benefit by the l]jk& of Diana, attribute it not
to Diana, though of Ephefws, nor to me, but to
God Almighty, who hath by his Light brought
us out of this Cimmerian Darknefs : The umc. per-
haps will come, wherein I may Be further ufeful
and affiftaat , in procuring liberty for you to em-
brace.

brace Diana in your Arms, as alfo difcourfe fami-
liarly with her concerning her l)oves+ Fore/1, Foun-
tain, M//4, Aqua z//Y#,&c. for at prefent you read
the Infcription upon her Forehead, Touch me not.
Wherefore I advife you, not to touch the Secrets of
Diana, unlefs you have to try the Fate and Fortune
of Afteon.

Infcius Ahron vidit fae vefte

Pr&da fuis canilus non minus ille fuit.
AElaon^ hunting in the Woods alone,
When he the naked Goddefs faw unknown,
He (for who could her Fury flay ? )
Was to her Fury and his Dogs a Prey.

We may indeed behold her,but not" embrace her
yet a while 3 for this is permitted to none but A-
Jepts, and fuch as are Matters of the Pbilofoplncal
Wine 5 but if you object with the Poet,

Quid juuat Afpetttis, fi non conceditur Vfus ?
Tis not the Sight, but Ufe that gives Delight.

To tfiefe Things I anfwer you, That by viewing
Diana naked,

1. You will find, that all the Secrets ofChymy
depend upon one only Center of the Art. namely,
the Spirit of Philosophical Wine.

2. You will under ftan<i ihat all the Preparati-
ons of all the Secrets are cWHe according to the
fignification of the Words.

3. You will perceive, that all ProcelTes of what
Method and Matter foever, if not without the
Spirit of Philofophical Wine, are true, and will ne-
vcrbefalfe. 4. What

4. Whatsoever is rare or feleft, difperfed here
and there by the beft of the Adepts, you will have
here pick'd and digefted into order, fo, as that there
wilhbe nothing wanting , but the enjoyment of
them

5. You will moreover have the convenience of
chuiing the beft and ihorteft out of all the Pre-
cedes.

6. Or you will be enabled to find out alfo more
of your f elves, if thefe pleafe you not.

7. You will fee that he who hath performed even
the leaft thing in this Art, may confequently alfo
perform the greateft.

8. One only clear Procefs will open the under-
ftanding of more, otherwife moft obfcure.

p. You may know alfo , that the Adepts them-
felves have been fometimes in the dark, and often-
times underftood not the ftyle of anothers Wri-
ting : That fome have corrected others, and fo
made the Art more perfedt

i o. And to fay all at once 5 No man, though
never fo Learned , though never fo Eloquent ,
though never fo fubtil an Impoftor, will be able for
the future, either by his Authority, Perfwafion, or
fubtilty, to deceive any man, and drive him out of
our common Road into 'an untrodden Path, ex-
cept he be willing himfelf

Nor will you alone be free from the Deceipts of
other men, but your own Miftakes alfo 3 by which
you have hitherto moft miferably loft all, Time,
Pains, Money, Health, and what not ? You have

c made

. .

made your very Life it fdf vain, unprofitable,and
offenfive to your felves as well as others.

Yea and fuch are the glittering Rays of our Dia-
na, chat I fear they will dazzle your eyes , like
as the Ifraelites were at the fight of Mofes de-
fcendmg from the Mountain.

You will fcarce believe me, fhould I affirm, that
the Secrets of the Adepts are to be underftood and
prepared according to the Letter ; if you argue it
to be improbable that the Adepts (houSd have ex-
pofed their Atyfteries to the view of all men, they
themfelves having advertifed you of the contrary.
What then ?

Is not thit our Art, faith Artefius, cabaliftical y and
full of Myfteries ? And you Fool believe we teach the
Secrets of Secrets openly, and under ft and our Words
according to the Letter; be a/jured (lam ?iot envious
06 others} he that takes the Philofophers Sayings ac-
cording to the common fence and fignification^ hat al-
ready loft the Clew of Ariadnes, and wanders u$ and
down the Labyrinth, and it would be of the fame be-
nefit to him, as if he had thrown his Money into the
Sea. The fame thing advifeh Sendivogius in the
Preface of the twelve Trcatifes : / would, faith he,
have the candid Reader know, that my Writings ad-
mit not fo much a verbal conftruSlion, but fuch rather
as Nature requireth, left afterwards he Jkould have
Cattfe to bewail the ex fence of iime, fains and coft in
vain, &c. Becaufe, as Arnold faith in his Speculum,
An intention according to the Letter nothing avails,
and to operate according to the intention oj the Let^

ters

ters. Is the diffipation of Riches. For, faith Geber,
Where rye fpoke moft openly we concealed the Art,
fpeaking to an Art i ft not ^Enigmatically , but in a
plain feries of Difcourfe. Yea Roger Bacon proceeds
further, faying, When I fwear I fay true ,. believe it
a //>, that /s, as to the Letter , and therefore when I
tell you of Stalks, under ftand Lead, &c. lib de Arte
Chymica, pag. $6. All that I fay is falfe , therefore
nothing I fay is true $ wherefore I pray , believe me
not 5 but when I fay true^ ta%e it to be falfe $ and if
this, the contrary ; So that which is falfe will be tur-
ned into true, and that which is true^ into falfe : I
tell you thefe things , that you may beware of things
that are to be avoided , and believe things credible^ in
writingproperly r lwrite not, &C .p, ^Qi.And though I
f a y-> Take this and this , believe me not^ operate ac-
cording to the Blood \ that #, the Vnderftanding^and
fo of all^ leave off Experiments 5 apprehend my
meaning, and you will find, believe me being already
a lighted Candle^ pag. 345,

Thefe and the like may you alleadge to confirm
your Opinion 5 but give me leave to fuggeft to you
the diftin6tion that is to be made between th&
Theoretical and Practical Books of the Adepts : In
the Theoretical Books there is fcarce any thing to
be underftood literally, all things being; paraboli-
cal, enigmatical, &$ But in the Praftical Books-
all things are clear and intelligible, according to
the Letter : Philofophical Wine alone excepted; the
foundation and beginning of all Secrets : For ex-
ample, Take the magnum Tejlamentum of Lully. , m^

c 2 the

the Theoretical part of which, is Philofophically,
that is, by various Sophifms, defcribed the Nature,
Matter, and Preparation of Lullys Wine $ but in the
Pradtical part of this Teftamentum, the Vfe of this
Wine is declared according to the Letter : From
hence will you alfo eafily obferve, That thofe A-
depts which rejed: the Literal Senfe are rather
Theoretical than Practical : We treating at pre-
fent of the pradtice of the Adepts, or the Vfe of
Philofophical Wine, will prove that moft of the Se-
crets delivered to us by them, are according to the
Letter.

But fome of you will urge, that the Adepts
themfelves have even more than often declamed
againft the Literal Sence of Pra<5tice, againft the
very Defcriptions ( commonly called Receipts )
of- Experiments 5 but let thefe our Companions
know, the Adepts wrote againft two forts of Re-
ceipts,

The firft comprehends the Receipts of Srnoak-
fellers, Deceivers, wicked men, who pretend they
either had them from the Difciple of fome Adept,
or found them in the Walls of fome old Cloifter
or Sepukher 3 againft whom hear Dionyfiut Za-
charias, .Pag. 781. VoL I. Th. Chym -faying, Before
I left the Colledge of Arts, I entred into familiarity
and friendjhip with many other Sctwlars 5 they had
divers Books of Chymical Receipts, which being lent
we*, I tranfcribed* with very great diligence, my pri-
vate Mafter, who had alfo a long time before began to
labour in this Art, onfenting 5 fo that before I went

away,

a way, I had gathered a very large Boo^ of fuch Re-
ceipts, I went presently with my Mafler to the Place
where I was to ftudy Law, began to turn over my Wri-
tings $ whereof fome contained Projections of One up-
on Ten, others upon Twenty, Thirty $ a Third, a half.
part 5 for the Red of eighteen Ca> racks, twenty, &c.
into Gold of Crowns, Ducats, and of the higheft co-
lour that could be $ One was to endure Melting , ano-
ther the Touch-ftone , another all Try ah : Of the
White likewise, one was to be of 7 en penny, another of
Eleven, another Sterling Silver, coming wlnte out of
the Fire, another white from the Touch : In fhort, I
thought if I were able to perform the leaft of thofe
things greater felicity -could not happen to me in this
world.

Especially when I read the Inscriptions of great
Perfons before fuch Receipts $ one of the Queen of
Navarr, another of the Cardinal of Lorain , Tu-
rine, and infinite others, that by fuchDifguifes and
Titles, Credit might be given by unwary men.

Bernhard alfo complains of the fame Receipts,,
fag. 771. ejufcLVol. If I had had, faith he, at fir ft,
all the Books, which I afterwards procured, doubtless /,
foould have fooner attained to the Art, but I read no--
thing butfalfe Receipts, and ^ erroneous Books $ be-
fides I happened to confer with none but the moft per-
verfe Thieves, wicked Men, and Imp oft or s.

The other fort contains Receipts of Adepts <
themfelves, againft whom fome other Adepts have .
alfo fometimes written : As for example, the fame !
Bernhard, Pag. 748. Vol. Theat, Ch : vm. laying,

To withdraw the true Speculators of this Art from cow-
men Errors into the right Way, that they may not wafte
their Wealth, and lofe thejr Labours, Name and Re-
futation, infifling upon the falfe Receipts of Books,
as thofe of Geber, Rafis, Albertus magnus, Trames,
Lumen, Canonis pandeftarum, Demophon, Sum-
ma, and other Seducers, I will fir Jl declare my own
Errors, &c. And in pag. 750. goes on, Infinite h
the 'number of tfem, whom to write is need. lefs. $ and
there it great -plenty of Books written upon this SubjeSl
under Metaphorical Words and Figures , fo as not to
be eafily underflood by any but the Sons, of Art 5 the
reading of which, leads men out of the right way, ra-
ther than directs to theWorl^ ; in the number of winch,
are Scotus, Arnold, Raymund, Johannes Mehung,
Hortulanus Veridicus, <&c.

My Bufinefs therefore is to fatisfie you, and fav r ,
That the Authors of the firft fort of Receipts de-
ceive a<5tive!y, \vittingly, and willingly : But the
Receipts of the later fort, written by Adepts them-
(elves , feduce only p affively : And this for two
Reafons 5 either in refped: of the Adept being lefs
experienced in the Art, and unacquainted with the
Practice of his more Learned Confort 5 for it is
impoflible for one Ac/eft, though never fo expert
in his Method, to know the various Experiments
of all the other, much lefs the peculiar Theorems,
private Meditations, different Denominations of
things, &c. formed or derived from the fame :
Or in refpedt of your felves , who extort from
thofc Receipts, as to. the Literal Sound, more, than

the

* [

the Adepts themfolves allow , not at all obferving
that the Spirit of Wine being. once and always un-
derftood, the reft you will cafily underftand. For
kiiowing this, faith Flammel, in his Hieroglyphic k,
pag. 28. I perfected the Magi fiery eafily 5 for having
learnt -the Preparation of the fir ft Agent, I following
my Eook^ according to the Letter, could not err if I
would. And a little after $ Then following my Boo^
from word to word, I made Projection. But why
thefe ? Plenty enough of Exam pies in this Treatife
will inftrudt you in all thefe things that are to be
underftood according to the Letter, except Wine,
Lunary^ Vegetable Mercury ^.nd other things fynony-
mous to the Matter of the Spirit of Philofophital
Wim, or things prepared by the fame Spirit, ni?ge-
table Sal Harmomackt PhilofophicalVinegar^&cc.

For this Spirit of Wine being prevaricated, the
Adepts knew, that all the reft,though never fo plain-
ly difcovered to the Sons of Art, could not con-
tribute the lead benefit to the Reader : Wherefore I
fear riot the indignation of the Adepts, nor the A-
nathema's which they thundred out againft the Be-
trayers of their Secrets, having herein done nothing
more, but ( to fpeak ingenuoufly) lefs, than they
themfelves. I have according to my capacity, me-
thodically digefted thofe things which were here
and there confufcdly difperfed, but added nothing
of my own, and fo expedt neither Honour nor
Thanks from you j but this only, that I may know,
if our Studies pleafe 5 and I ihallfuprlv thofe things
that are here wanting and defired, fomcwhat more

largely $-

largely 5 for I will not refufe to aflift you yet fur-
ther by the indullry of my Studies : So that no-
thing remains, but upon our bended Knees to re-
' turn moft humble Thanks to the Father of Lights,
in vouchfafing us this Art by the Writings of his
Servants, and the High Priefts of Nature, without
which it would be beyond the power of man to ar-
rive to fo great a degree of Knowledge.

Now celebrate with me the Urns of our piotts
Matters, who have for the Welfare of Mankind,
rather difperfed, than buried their Talents 5 and
may you oblige your felves to the fame good Of-
fice, if*you have any of their Writings not yet
publifhed.

Finally, It is my earned Suit to the Adepts now
living,that they would pleafe to employ themfelves
freely in expounding Nature, correcting Philofo-
phy and Medicine 3 And laftly, refuting all the de-
ceitful Sedts of Philofophers, as well in the Acade-
mies, as private Schools, for the advancement of
the Glory of God, being fmgularly eminent in
this Art. So be it.

The Firft Book

O F ,

MENSTRUUMS.
R I P L E Y,

Cap. 2. Medulla Pbilof* Cbym.

We will here demonftrate the clear
Practice, how fuch Mtnftriwms as be
Unhious and Moif^Sulphureous,

^ and Mercu real, well agreeing with
the Nature of Metals, wherewith
our Bodies are to be artificially di-
f blved, may be 'obtained.

London, Prifted for Tho. Howkins in Ge 0rg;e-Yard in Lorn-

t, 1685.

The Tranflator to the Reader.

YOur Bufmefs it is, not mine , otherwife than as
a Reader, to judge of this Work^ , but the am-
ple and public^ Encomiums of Learned Societies be-
yon J the Seas, already declaring their Sentiments of
its Rarity and Excellency, are convittive Authorities
far beyond my Opinion $ and therefore 1 {hall be fi lent :
only tlm I thinly necejfary to let you know, that our
Author, having little fpare time himfelf, left his La-
tine Impreffion to be by others cone fled, which ha*
been the caufe of many Errors , and indeed in fame
Places fo grofs, that the Author himfelf could fcarce
retrieve his own Meaning : This to prevent in the
Englifb Tra ^ flat ion , he has been pleafed to ufe all
Care to have it exaRly import hh own Mind. I muft
alfo tell you, that though I have taken no fmall pains
in endeavouring to make this weighty Wor^ fpea\true
and perfeft Englifh, yet my Copy not being punftually
obferved, you will find many fmall Miftakes, befides
the Errata's infer ted at the latter end of the Boo ,
which you may pleafe, a* you re ad, to correff.

FareweL

G.C.
d 2 A

A Catalogue of Menftrams.

^Simple Vegetable Menfruums made of Philofophicat Wine only.

1-Hp W F Heaven, Effence, or Spirit of Wine of Lully. I

X 2 . The Effnce, Sou I or Spirit of Wine o/ Roipefciila. 9

3. 7/?p S;/w of Wine of paracelfus. u

4. ihe EJJence of Wine of Guido. n

II.

Simple Vegetable Menftrmms made of Spirit of Vhitofojbfcai Wine^-
and the hottelt Vegecables,, Herbs, Flow ers 5 dr. being Oy ley.

5. the Anima Met allied^ or Tun aria Caelica of Lully. \6

6. 1'he Aqua Vit& of Paracelfus. 11

7. Another. Ibid.

8. The Aqua Fit* of Ripley. 23

9. T^^ Compounded Aqua Vita 0/Ripley. Ibid.

III.

Simple Vegetable Menftruwns made of Spirit of PhilofofbicalWine and

as Sugar , Honey ^ Tartar Common^ $tc.

10. T^f Mellifitotts Heaven of Par i firms. . 31
1 1 . T/tf 5f2> it of Honey of Lully. 34

11. 1 he S irit of crude Tartar of Guido. , 36
13. The Spirit of crude Tartar of Paracelfus. . Ibid.

Simple Vegetable Menftruttms made of SpiritofPhilofopbicalWine and
Volatile Salts 3 as Sal AuponiadJ^ 5alt of Biccd 3 Urine 3 &c,

14. T^? Spirit of Sal Armoniack of Trifmofinus. 38

J 5. A Water of Sal Armoniack^ of Tliimofinus. 40.

16. The Celgtive Sulphur of Lully. Ibid.

I 1

Simple Vegetable Menflrwnu made of Spirit of Philofophical Win**
and Fixed Salts of Vegetables and Minerals not Tinging.

17. The Coelum Vegetabile of Lully. ^
the Volatile Salt of Tartar ef Lully.

18. ?he Spirit of Wine of Bafilius. 2^

19. the Fiery Spirit of Wine of Bafilius.

20. the Spirit of Calx mve of Bafilius.

2f. thefimple Spirit of Calx viveoj Bafilius ri

22. the tartanzed Spirit &f Wine of Bafilius. ig

23. the Vegetable Acetum acerrimum or Ignis Adept! <?/Ripley. 50

24. ^Aquafortiffima0/Rupefcifla. ' 5*

25. Vegetable Mercury acuated with the Salt of tartar of Lully. 61
16. the fimple Vegetable Mcnftruum produced from 3 Individuals of

Lully. 6^

27. th* Circulatom minus^ or Water of Salt circulated of Paracel-

fuS. fa

28 . the facet Sfirit of Salt of Bafilius. J^

VI.

Simple Vegetable Menftrnnms made of the Spirit and Tartar of

n J r /* I- v -rf-w ** *-i*fc V/l.

Philofophical Wine.

29. Tifo? Coelum Vir.ofum 0/ Parifinus. 7 ^

30. T^e Coelum Vinofum of Lully. i|
Vegetable Sal Hurmoniack of Parifinus. i
Vegetable Sal Harmoniack^ of Lully.

Vegetable Sal Harmoniack of Lully.

Another.

Animal Sal Harmoniack of Lully.

Vegetable Sal Harmoniack^ made by the Accwtanon of Lully.

Another.

31. Co?/f/w Vegetabile of Lully circulated.

32. 7/;f /e/jr Vegetable Mcnftruum <?/ Lully.

33. T^ Vegetable Mcnftruum per dcliquium of Lully.

34. T/tf Vegetable Mercury of Lully.

35. T^ reftfrd Aqua Vitar ^/Lully. S
\6. The Circulaturn minus of Guide.

37. The A.mmal Heaven of Parifinus.

VII.

vn.

Vegetable Menftruums compounded of theaforefaid Simpk

38. The Circulatum majus of Guido. 103

39. The Menftruum acutum of Guido. 104

40. The Ccelum majus of Parifinus. 105

vm.

Vegetable Menfiruums compounded of Simple Vegetable Menftruums^
and Common Argent vive^ or other Metals.

41. The Ignis Gehennas of Trifmofinus. no

42. The Alchymical Mercury of Rjpley. 113

43. The Exalted Water of Mercury of Rjpley. 1 14

44. The Glorious Water of Argent vive of Lully. 115

45. The incalcinated Menftruum of Lully. 115
40. The Mercurial Water by three Veffek of Lully. n6

The Mercurial Sal Harmoniac^ or Mercury of Mercury of Lully. 1 19
47. The Menftruum of Guido for Pretions Stones. 1 22

4$. The Lunar Menftruum ef Lully. 123

49. The Circulatum majus, or Acetum acerrimum of Lully. 124

50. The Circulatum majus of Parifinus. Uo

IX.

-Vegetable Menftruums compounded , made of Simple Vegetable
Menftruums ) and Things tinging being firft fixed,

5 1 . The Circulatum majus, or Metallic^ Acetum acerrimum of Para- -
celfus. 137

Vegetable Menftruums compounded, made of Vegetable Menjlru-
urns compounded, and Metallick Bodies.

52. The Neapolitan Menftruum of Lully. 14^1

53. The Pretious Menftruum for Pearls 0/ Lully. 14$

54. The Mercurial compounded Menftruum 0/ Lully. 147

55. The facet Spirit of Mercury of Bafilius. 140

56. The incalcinated Menftruum of Parififlus, 149

Vegetable Menjlrmms compounded, graduated, made of thecomT
pounded Vegetable Menftruums impregnated with the Influences of
Heaven and Earth.

57. the JLtherial and Terreftrial Waters of Metals of Lully. 1 54

XII.

Vegetable Menflruums compounded, moft highly exalted, made of
compounded Vegetable Menfrmms graduated.

58. The Ethereal and Celejiial Limes of Lully.

XIII.

Simple Mineral Menfruums made of the Matter of

Wine only.

59. The Green Lyon of Ripley.

60. A Menftruum made of the Gum A drop of Ripley. 174

61. A Menftruum made of Red Lead of Ripley. j 70
61. The Simpie finking Menftruums/ 'Ripley.

^3 The Menftruum of Sericon of Ripley
^4. The Green Lyon of Roger Bacon.

65. The Green Lyon of Paracelfus.

66. The Stinking MenftrMtm made of the Gum Adrop and Common Vi-
triol of Ripley. J D J&

6-j. The Stinging Menftruum made of. A toque an Vitriol and Nitre of

o Lully> ^99

68, Ihe Water calcining, all Bodies of Lully. 201

69. The Stinking Menftruum for re iucing Metals into Argent vive of
Lully. 10

70. The Stinging Menftruum made of Azoquean Vitriol^ Common Vitriol
and Ni.re of Ripley.

XIV.

Simple Mineral Menjlruums made of the Acid or Saline Eflences

of Salt.

71 . The Waier or Oylof Salt of Paracelfus
72. TheWaier of Salt by anothtr Defection.

xv.

XV.

Simple Mineral Mcnfiruums made of the Spirit of FhilofophicalWitf,
and Add Spirits > as Aqua fortis 3 Spirit of Nitre, #-c.

73. Aqua fortif mixt with the Spirit of Wine of Paracelfiis.

74. Aqua, fortis mixt with the Spirit of Wine of Trithemius. 11 J

75. Vinegar mixt with the Spirit of Wtne of Bafilius. Ibid.

76. The Spirit of Salt of Bafilius. 115

77. The Spirit of Salt of Guido. Ibid.

78. The Aqua forti* mixt with the Spirit of Wine of Lully. Ibid.

79. Aquafortis mixt with the Spirit of Wine of <* Anonymous.

XVI.

Simple Mineral Menfruums made of Philofophicat Vinegar^ and Vo-
latile Salts ; as Common Sal Armoniack, Urine, &c.

80. The Oyl of Sal Armoniacl^ of Guido. lip

8 1 .- The Water of Sal Armoniaci of Ifaacus. 1^0

XVII.

Simple Mineral Menftrmws made of Philofophical Vinegar and fixed
Saks non tinging, as well vegetable as mineral,

82. The Aqua comedens of Paracelfas. 133

83. The fixati ve Water of Trithemius. 134

84. The Aqua mirabilis of liaacus. 13 5

85. The refufcitative Water 0f Bafilius. Ibid.
8<5. The Water of Sallabntrn'ofParzcdfas. 136

XVIII.

Simple Mineral Men $ rums made of Vegetable

Acids not tinging.

87. Tke Aquafortis of Ifaacus Hollandus. 140

88. The Aqua Regis of Ripley. 144

89. The Kings E*th of Bafilius. 145

90. A Philofophical Water for the folution of Cold of Bafilius. Ibid.
oi . The mott ftro>,g Aqua fortis of Paracelfus. 147

92. The Aqua Regis of Guido. Ibid.

93. The Aqua Regis o/Lully.

XIX.

Mineral Menjbwtms compounded of Pbihfophicat Spirit 'of Wine^ and
Acid Spirits not tinging^ Spirit of Vitriol, Butter of Antimony 3 &c.

94. Sffrit of Vitriol mixt with the Spirit of Wine 0/Lully.

95. i he Butter of Antimony mixt with the Spirit of Wine of Bafil. 15 3

96. 7 he Water of the fourth Gradation 0/Paracelfus. 154
5,7. The Water of the fixth Gradation 0/Paracelius. Ibid.

XX.

Mineral Menflruums compounded of the Spirit of Thilo/ophical Wia-e^
and other tinging things., Vitriol., Cinabar 3 Antimony y &c.

98. The Oyl of Vitriol of Bafilius, 26 1

99. A Menflrmm of Bafilius made of Hungarian Vitriol. 193

100. The Mineral Menftruum of Ifaacus ^94

101. The ftinking Menftruum of l.ully made ef Vitriol and Cinabar. 194
1 02. The fame. Ibid.

103. The ftinking Menftruum of Lnlly made of Vitriol \ Cinabar and
Nitre. 295

104. Iheftmtytg Menftruum of Lully., made of Vitriol^ Nitre 3 Alume^
Tartar, dec. 196

105. The dijfolving Water for the .Red of Ifaacus,, 2.97

106. Another. 290
Wj- d gain another., 299

IO t A dijfolmng Water of Ifaacus for the White. 199

109. Another. 299
v llo. A Red Water ftiningDay and Night of Ikzcus* - 300

I \ l. Another. 30 1

III. Again Another. 3,03

' T - ' '

XXI.

Mineral M?ff/?r#wtfj Compoundcu^ made of Simple Mineral Menftrn-
ums and MeYcury^ the reft of Metals, and other tinging things.

.
1 13. The Spirit of Venus., or Spiri L of VerdigreececfRi.i'ti 1 ^ ^6

114. The Water of Yaradife of. Ifaacus. ^ 310

115. The Her cur ial Vinegar of Tritmofinus. 312
1 1 6. The Mercurial Water of Trifmofinus. Ibid.
117. The Mercurial Water of Aibcrtus Magnus. 313
1 1 8. The Mercurial Water of Paracelfus. 315
Up. The ftinking Mtiitiruum of Lully. ^\6

110. The Mercurial greet* Lyo* of Ripley. 3 r 7
121. The fining Lm*r Mcnitruum of Lully. 317

C ]

ill. The finking Solar Menftrinim of Lully. ft id

123. fhilofofhers Vinegar made of the Mercury of Silver of IkiCtts. 3^8

XXII.

Mineral Menliruums compounded of the Philofophers Vinegar, and
other Simple Mineral Menftrmms^ and things tinging being firft
fixed.

124. The Menftruum fl/Z'iew/.rfl/IfaacusHollandus. 321

1 25 . y4 Menftruum of Vitriol 0/Ifaacus Hollandus. 324
1 16. The Circulatum majusof Ifaacus. 332
'127. the Oyl of Vitriol fining by Night 3 of Trifmofmus. 335

1 28 . The Circulatum majus of Ripley. 337

1 29. The Metallic^ Acetum Acerrimum of Ripley. 33o

130. The Circulatum tnajus of Ifaacus 3 made of Sufyhttr. 339

XXIII.

Mineral Menftrmms compounded made of Mineral Menjlruwns com-
pounded^ andMetallick Bodies^ and other tinging Things.

131. The Oyl of Mats and Venus of Bafilius. 34<5

132. The Sfirit of Vniverfal Mercury made of Vitriol of Bafilius., 347

133. The Oyl of Mars and Venus 3 acuated with the Sulphur and Salt
of Sol of Bafilius. 351

1 34. Ihe Spirit of Vniverfal Mercury % acuated with the Sulphur and
Salt of Luna of Bafilius. 353

135. The Spirit of Vniverfal Mercury acuated with the Sulphur of Sol
and. Luna of Bafilius. 354

1 36. The S. irit of Vniverfal Mercury acuated with the Sulphur of
Sol and Mars of Bafilius. Ibid.

137. The Spirit of Vniverfal Mercury acuaied with the Sulphurs of
Sol, Mars and Antimony of Bafilius. 355

138. The Spirit of Vniverfal Mercury acuated with the Sulphur of
Mars, Jupiter and Saturn of Bafilius. Ibid.

139. A compounded Mercurial Water for the red Work of Ifaacus. 356

140. The Philufophers Water made of three S fir its o/Ilaacus. 357

141. The compounded Water of Silver of Lully. 358

142. The finking Lunar Menftruum acuated with tie Ejfence of Sol of
Lully. - * 360

XXIV.

Mineral hferiftruums compounded of vegetable and mineral Men-
ftruums mixed together.

143. The Vegetable Fire diffolved in the calcinstive Water of Lully. 363

I ]

14!. The Vegetable Heaven difolved in a mineral Menftruum of

Toiliy. 364

1 45 . Ice compounded of Vegetable and Mineral Menftr. of Lully. Ibid.

146. The Anna mvabilif of Ripley. 365

147. The forcing Mcntiruum acuated with tbe Sal Harmdniac^ of

Lully. &

148. the flinl^ng Lunar Menftruum acuated with the vegetable Sal

Harmoniac^ of Lully. J^0

i^/the Spirit of Mercury made with Vitriol^ and the fiery Spirit of

Wine of Bafilius. 367

150. The mixt Menftruum of Paracelf us. Ibid.

Tht

THE

PREFACE.

TO exempt Diana from being expofed Naked to the
Petulant Lufl of Vnfatiabfc Men , as alfo to the
Scorns and Contempt of the Ignorant, as a Common
Proftitute ; the Adepts have taken cafe not only to
cloath, but cover her almoft with federal forts of
Garments : To this kind of Apparel, Antiquity has been pleafea,
yet not properly enough, to refer an Allegory of the Procreation
of Man, deduced from the Analogy of Seed anciently received, how-
ever ill applied to the Mineral Kingdom.

Fir/i, They reckon Coition ; Secondly, Conception ; Thirdly,
Impregnation ; Fourthly, Birth ; Fifthly, Nutriment : If there,
fore no Coition, no Conception ; without Conception, no Impregnation ;
without which no Birth can be prewifed.

Which Difpofition the Ancient Morienus himfdf confejjeth to
have been derived to him from Antiquity. Hermes, whom they
call Father of the Adepts, in his Tabula Smaragdina, hath de-
fer ibed to us the Father, Mother, and Nurfe of the Chymkal In-
fant. No wonder therefore, that fuch an Ancient and Ea/je Do-
flrine as this, fbould have found fo eafie an accefs to Poflerity : it
would be bejides the Intention and Scope to offer thofe things, which
might be inferred by us againfl this Analogy of Seed : Here let it
fiiffice to remember only, that the greater part, as alfo the more an-
cient Adepts, comparing the Chymical Magiflery to the Generation
of Man, did under the Notion of this Allegory , call their Diffol-
i^^Memlruums, or Feminine Seed, but the Things which were
to be Diffolved, Mafculine Seed. My Son , iaith Lully, The
Vegetable Menftruum is of the Nature of a WomansMenftru-
um, becaufe a Mineral Menftruum proceeds from it by DilTo-

B lotion.

The PREFACE.

lution, (of Minerals and Metals') and is made artificially as Na-
ture requireth ; for it hath the property of an incorruptible
Spirit, which is as a Soul, and hath die Conditions of a Bo-
dy, becaufe it generates and produceth Seed as a Woman ; there-
fore we call our D. (Dijfoheni) Menftrual Blood, or Menitru-
urn, becaufe it is Generative and Nutritive , and makes the
laid C, and (C) (Metals) grow and increafe, till they be con-
verted into M (Sulphur of Nature , or Philofpphers Menury)
or into Q , (Tzntfure, or Philefophers Stone) for as Menftrual
Blood perfects the Embryo by nouriflung, and altering one
Principle into another, and one Quantity into another, and one
Form into another, yet the Principles and Quantities appearing
in every Alteration, under divers Forms, differing from the
firfl Forms themfelves, till a certain Subflance appears in one
entire Quantity, dependent upon feveral Matters, which is a
Body, with Spirit and Soul, reduced into Action : And thus
it is with our Infant (Philosophers Stone) Lully, Diftmtt, 3. Can.
4. Lil. de Effentia y When K. (Colour) appears yellow, then
let the Artift know , that the Body of our Infant is formed,
made, and compleatly organized, and begins to be prepared
for the reception of the vegetable Spirit into it, and Nature
continues in that preparation till the yellow K. vamfheth away,
and a red K. (Colour) appeareth ; and then may the Artifl be
afTured that the faid Infant is perfect both in Body and Soul :
fo that he may let the Fire alone till it grows cold , which be-
ing cold, the Artift will find our Infant round as an Egg ; which
he muft take out and purifie (for it is a hard Stone in the mid-
dle of many Superfluities, as the Infant of a Woman appears
after Birth : Can. n. DiftM- 3. Lil. Effent^ and let him take
and put it into fojne clean Glafs Veflel, g c. 3 Diftintt. 3 Part
Lil.de Effect. >

Parifmus , Ripley , Efpanietus , and other later Adepts , the
Difciples ef Lully, had this Analogy of Seed from him^ leing doult-
lefs the mofl Learned of the Chjmicai Philosophers. Of this
living Heaven, /*// Parifmus, RaymundJ^fo in his Third
Book de QuinteJJentia, in the Chapter leginning , Ctclum & Mer-
surius nofler ; Our Heaven hath the property of an incorrup-
tible Spirit, which is as the Soul of it, and hath the Conditi-
ons of a Body in it, generating and producing Seed, as a Wo-

The PREFACE.

man, and herein it differs from the other Principles (of the
Art) It is alfo fenfual, becaufe it is apprehended by fenfe,
namely, by Tight, tafte and fmell, as is declared in the Jirft >/-
ft M ion in the Chapter, which leginneth, Proeterea eft principium
movendi, fcilicet, corpus foe forma : And a little after, Jpeak-
idg of the aforefaid living Heaven, he faith, And in this point
our Undemanding knows that D. ( his living Heaven, or Dif-
folveni) hath a Vegetable property, the fimilitude of which,
R and S (Gold and Silver} do tranfmit into the Sulphur of Na-
ture, which is the Spirit of Metals, or Stone, or transforming
Poyfon, according to the fignification of Raymund, which fig-
nification he ufeth in his Alphaletum figure arloris Philofophicos 9
and therein produceth this following Sentence in Capite de /-
gvra Quint & Effentia\ As the Vegetative part of the Mother
orNurfe, tranimits her Likenefs into the Son, which (he gene-
rates, which property the Son retains, fo our Mercury. The
Intention of the Philofopher (Lully) is to demonftrate, that
the Philofophers Sulphur, or Stone, or transforming Poyfon
receives all its benefit by the excitation of the vegetative Vir-
tue, which is iit this Divine Vegetative Heaven.

The fame Author in the Continuation of his Doftrine, faith, And
alfo the Underftanding knows, that the faid Metals R, and S,
( Gold and Silver ) retain the property of Menftruum , with
which they extend their fimilitudes into exotick fubftances,
tranfmuting the faid fubftances into their own kind, which is.
the reafon why we call it Vegetable Mercury ; as alfo becaufe
it is extracted out of Vegetables. The fame thing at the end of
the faid Chapter he fpeaks afrefh : And our Underftanding alfo
knows , that principle is as a Woman conceiving the Mans
Seed, and bringing forth in the fame form and virtue, as it
was in the beginning. From whence we neceflarily conclude,
that the Elements of this Stone, namely, Gold, ought to be
moved by yertue of a living Qiunteflence, and the aforefaid
Vegetable Heaven, which way I have fufficiently proved and
demonftrated. Parifinus in Lib. i. Elucidarii, pag t xn. VoL 6.
Th. hym.

Ripley, having the fame Mafler as Parifinus, expounds this
Dottrine more briefly, thus ; As an Infant in the Womb of the
Mother, does by the conception of temperate heat, convert

B i the

The PREFACE.

the Menftruums into its own Nature and Kind, that is, into
Flefli, Blood, Bones, yea, Life, with all other Properties of a
living Body ; fo if you have the Water of Sol and Latta, it
will attradt other Bodies to its kind, and make their Humors
perfect by its intrinfick Virtue and Heat ; Ripl. Lil. de Merc.
Phil.

We,' faith Efpanietus, to deal plainly and truly; affirm, that
the whole work may be perfeded by two Bodies only, that
is, Sol and Lu*a y rightly prepared : For this is that Generation
which is performed by Nature with the help of Art, in which
the coition of Male or Female is required, and from whence the
Offspring more noble thanits Parents,is expected;^/?. io.^rra#.
Herw. Sol is the Male, for he yields the a&ive and informing
feed : Luna is the Female ; which is called the Matrix and Vel-
fel of Nature, becaufe ihe receives the feed of the Male into
her womb, and nourifheth it with her Menftruum, e#. zz.
Arwn. Htrw. Phil. But the Philofophers do not by the name
of Lwa t mean common Lmta y which alib a&s the parts of a
Male in their (whirs) work ; let no man therefore attempt to
joyn two males together, it being. wicked and contrary to Na-
ture, nor can he hope for any Offspring from fuch a copula-
tion, but put Golritius to Beja, Brother to Sifter.

Conji4$to pwget flalili y propriawq; dicalit*

That he may have from thence the noble Son of Sol, Seft.
1$. Arcan. Herw. Phil. I would have the Reader know, faith
SendfaogiitS) that Solution is twofold, though there be many
other folutions, but of no effect : the firft is only true and na-
tural , the fecond violent, under which are all the other com-
prehended ; the Natural is that, by which the pores of the Bo-
f>y are opened in our Water, that the digefted feed may be
ifijeded into its Matrix : But our Water is Celeflial, not wet-
ting your hands ; not common, but almoft like Rain : The
Body is Gold, which yieldeth feed : our Lmia is not common
Silver, which receives the feed of Gold. Tratt. 10. Novi Li^nin.
Saturn taking the Veflel, drew up ten parts of the Water, and
prefently took fome of the Fruit of the folar Tree , and put it
in, and I faw the fruit of the Tree confumed and refolved as

Ice

Ice in warm water. This watef is to this fruit, as a Woman.
The fruit of this Tree can be putrified in nothing, but in this
water only ; for no other water can penetrate the pores of this
Apple, but this : andyoumuft know that the folarTree fprang
alfo out of this Water, which is extrafted from a magnetical
virtue out of the Rays of Sol and Luna, and therefore they have
great affinity one with the other : In the Dialogue of Mer~
cury.

Now here we in this Book intend to treat of this Feminine Seed,
or diffolving Waters of the Adepts. Great indeed, yea vafl w the
Ireafure of our Chymy ; lut altogether inacceflille by thofe that have
not the Keys thereof ; without which the Adepts themfelves could
neither diffolve nor coagulate Bodies. If you know not the way
of diflblving our Body, it is in vain to operate, is the Advice
of Dionyfius Zac f harias,pag. 798. VoL I. Th. Cbym. But he that
knows the Art and Secret of Diflblution, has attained to the
Secret of the Art , faith Bernhard, pag. 40. face Epiftola. For
this caufe it is 9 foitb Pariftnus, that the wife men fa)J To know
the Celcftial Water, which reduceth our Body into a Spirit, is
the chief Myftery of this Art, in Eluc.pag. ^I^. Vd. r. Th,
Chym. For without thefe Menftruums things hejxragejtuw can xever
le perfeftly mixed. Coral y though never fo >fiwly pulverized, can-
not le mixed' with the purefl Powder of Pearls : Tea Goldmixeth
not with Silver (much lefs with Bodies lefs perfeff) though loth le
melted togetlxr ', the Particles of each do indeed touch one another
in their extream parts, leing in a mafs or heap cmfejling of things
heterogeneous, yet thy are and do remain all diftintt, unllemifbed
and unaltered in their Figures and Properties, no otherwife than as
a heap cempofed of Barley and Oats : But in the more fecret Chymy
there is no Body, no heterogeneity,lutwhat hath its own peculiar Men-
flruum,and with which as leinghomogeneousto it, it runs into one/Co**
crete,reJ9ycingin the infepafalle Properties of either. So. long therefore
as you intend to JQyn Metals with Metals, dry things with dry, with'
out the Menflruums of Diia, fo long ( to ufe the Phrafe of Efpa-
nietus ) do you prefume to joyn males together, which is a thing
wicked and contrary to Nature. Hearken therefore to Bernhard ,
Pag 757* -i. Th. Chym.- t Perjwading you to leave Stones and
all forts c, Minerals, Itkewife alfo Metals alone, though they
are the L .ng and our matter. Metals are not only the mat*

The PREFACE.

ter,lut are alfo calfd ly Lully//;? form of the Stone;yet without thefe
Menftruums they fgnifie nothing. The Form, faith he, which is
the Efficient Principle, Former and Transformer of all other
Forms of lefs virtue and power, is defcribed by C , or (C)
(Metals) cannot of it felf only be the Magiftery of the grea-
ter work, &c. Very commodious it is for that Principle to be
known, becaufe hereby the Underftanding knows it to be one
of the two Subflances, from which our Intant is produced, ha-
ving in it the condition of a male, from which proceeds a fperm
in the belly of our D. ( Menftruum or Diffohent, ) Lul. Dift. 3.
Lib.Eff. ' Heaven or Mercury (Menjlruum] is the fourth Prin-
ciple fignified by D. - It is the Caufe and Principle moving C,
and (C) from Power to Action, ruling and governing them in
its belly, as the Woman the Infant which ihe procreates in
her Matrix. And in this point knows the underftariding of an
Artift, thatD (JWenftruum) hath action upon C, and (C") ru-
ling, governing and reducing them into 5 Action, even as the
Heavens above do by their motion, bring things Elementary,
into action, And an Artift is to underftand that of the two
fubftances, of which our Stone is compounded, and by which
it is generated, this, namely, D, (Diffofaent) is the more prin-
cipal. Hid. In the Book de Medicinis fecret is, pag. 336. he goes
0#y You muft know, faith he, that hitherto I h'ave not told
you the moft fecret thing and matter of the whole Magiftery,
which is our incorruptible QuintelTence, extracted out of white
or red Wine, which we call Celeftial Crown , and Menftruum,
after the fublirnations, putrefactions, and -final depuration of
it; which Quinteflence is indeed the foundation, principal
matter, and Magiftery of all medicinal tilings : My Son, if you
have it, you will have the Magiftery of the whole thing, with-
out which nothing can be done.

But you. My companions, know, what mean the Menftruums of
Diana ; jou know, I fay, they are the highe ft fecret s of the more fe-
cret Chywy, much more fecret than the menflruums of Women ; that
the fame alfo were never acquired lut ly the extream Pains and in-
genuity of an Adept, moft cautioujly defcriled, and re- Amended to
us principally as the Keys of the Art: Tcu eafily lelie:, *illy ? fay-
ing, Without thefe Menftruums nothing can be d<^ |. the Ma-
giftery of the Art. Mag. Nat.pag. 319. Or Chriftoji MPartfinus,

that

The PREFACE.

That the great fecret lies in thefe Menflruums , infomuch if
they be not known, nothing can be done as to the tranfmuting
of Metals. Elucid.pag. zn. Pol. 6. Th. Chym. Wherefore I think
it enough to declare to you in fiort, that thefe Menftruums, which
hitherto you have with Jo much ftudy, to little purpofe fought in the
Theoretical Books of Adepts, are now offered to you^ being found ly
me, in Practical Books, no longer jlrowded with Obfcurity, but dif-
robed, and expojed naked to the fight and under/landing of a/I men:
But you have no caufe to fear the Spirit of Philofophical Wine which
you perceive in any Menitruum, it being familiar and wofl gentle^
becauje Philofophical. Nor have you need of many Conjurations,
to make it appear to you ; for in all Pages of the Theoretical Books
of Adepts, it offers it f elf willingly and experts you, provided you
pray to God, that he would gracioufly vouchfafe to open your Eyes;
for without his permijfion or J pedal appointment , it dares not mani-
fefl it felfto you. By the Menflruums of the Adepts, under ft and
not therefore yours, though they be moft fecret to you, becaufe I fear
they arc yet but vulgar , which dijjblving a dry Body, are tranf-
muted with it into a Salt or Vitriol, not with a true, but feeming
coalition and mixture, which a. fearching Fire cajily difcovereth,
prefentlyfeparating thefe fame heterogeneous fubflances again :
the contrary, the unclious Spirit of Philofophical Wine does ly its
TJncluofity mottifie a dry Body, and tranfmute it not into a Salt or
Vitriol, but into an Oyl: It eajily joyns things heterogeneous by its
own equal temperament, and is ly its homogeneity eafty joyned with
things homogeneous to it, by which alfo it is augmented, according to
that of Bernhard : No Water diflblveth bodies, but that which
is of their fpecies. and which can be infpifTated in bodies. , for
a DifTolvent ought not to differ from that which is diflblved, in
matter, but proportion and digeflion ; Pag. 43. of his Epijlks.
For Nature is not meliorated, but by its own nature ; our mat-
ter therefore can be no otherwife meliorated than by its own
matter .Parmenides faith the fame,!,, de Alchym.p4g. 768.^7.1.
Th. Chym. This Spirit of Phylofophical Wine may be united to a/I
things, and is able to unite a/I things inseparably. But they that
fuppofe another water, are ignorant and unwife, and will never
come to the eflk&Jaith Paridnus inEluc.p. xxz. Vol. 6. Th.Chym.
Of which ft brienus, pag. 5 z. thus; As to this Magiftery, let Fools
leek other tilings, and feeking err ; for they will never attain

The PREFACE.

to the effeft of it, till Sol and Lima be reduced into one body,
which cannot come to pafs before the Will of God. Which
Arnold, if I miftake not , thus expreffe th : Tou wiU -fooner joyn the
Sun and Moon in the Heavens, than Gold and Silver in the Earth
without our Menftruums.

But you that have hitherto defired one only univerfal, immortal \
indeftruclille Meaftruum, I mean, the Liquor Alkaheft. or Ignifa-
qua, that undeclinable word, inftead of one, whereof you never yet
knew the Name, Matter, Preparation and Vfe, behold! 1 offer a
great many kinds of univerfal Menftruums, in their Defcriptious
more clear, in Virtues equivalent , if not latter than tins your Al-
kahefL What others have either obfcurely, or impertinently faid
and written of this Liquor Alkaheft, we little regard, as Opinions
and Conjectures. By //^Menftruums of the Adepts, we intend not
all manner ofDiffolvents, prepared without the Spirit of Philofo-
phicalWine, and only corroding but not in the leafl altering the more
minute Particles of Bodies : Nor do we under ft and an immortal Li-
quor, not permanent with things diffolvedin it : But by Menftruum
we mean a volatile Liquor made fever al ways of the Spirit of Philo-
fophical Wine and divers things, not only Jeparating Bodies, but alfo
continuing with them , and altering them with the addition of it
felf, fo as to le no more two, nor again, what they were before. For
out of this DiJJolution (the foknm Wedlock, inseparable Vnion and
Combination of Body and Menftruum } emergeth a new Being, con-
taining the unblemifled Properties of the thing diffolved , and the
thing diffolving, not at all fepar able by Art or Nature.

Thefe Menftruums / have diftingui/hed into Vegetable and Mi~
nerals, not as if the Vegetables were made of Vegetables only, and
the Mineral of Minerals, but every Menftruum, that hath not mani-
feft acidity, aft ing without ebullition and motion, is called Vegetable,
tljough it be made of meer Animals or Minerals by the Spirit of Phi-
lofophical Wine. On the contrary, a Menftruum becomes Mineral,
fofbon as manifeft acidity is mixed either with the Spirit of Philofo-
phical Wine, or a Vegetable Menftruum ; for by adding the acidity,
it now diffolves Bodies with violence and ejfervcfcence. I have ful di-
vided both kinds into Simple and Compound, but not as /f the Simple
conjifted of fewer Ingredients, but lee aufi they are of more fimple or
lefs virtue. Simple Menftruums tinge Bodies diffolved. them lefs y
but the Compounded more.

( I)

O F

Vegetable MENSTRUUMS.
The Firft Kind.

Simple Vegetable Ajenftritttms made of Phi-
lofophical Wine only.

I. The Heaven, EfTence, or Spirit of Wine of Lully,
Defer ibed i Can. i. Dijl. i. L/. Ite Quint a Ef-
fentia.

\ Ake Wine Red or White, the beft that may be
had , or at leaft take Wine that is not any way
eager, neither too little nor too much thereof,
and diflil an Aqua ardens,zs thecuflom is,through
BrafsPipes,and then reftifie it four times for better
purification. But I tell you it is enough to reftifie it three times,
and ftop it clofe, that the burning Spirit may not exhale, be-
caufe herein have many men erred, thinking it ought to be fe-
ven times rectified, But my Son, it is an infallible fign to you
when you fhall have feen that Sugar fkeped in it, and being
put to the flame burneth awey as Aqua ardens. Now having
the water thus prepared, you have the matter out of which
the Qujnteflence is to be made, which is one principal thing we
intend to treat of in this Book. Take therefore that, and put it
ki a circulating Veflel, or in a Pelican, which is called the Ve
fel of Hermes, and flop the hole very clofe with Olibanum or
Maftick being foft, or quick Lime mixed with the White of

Eggs, and put it in Dung, which is naturally moft hot, or the
remainings of a Wine-Prefs, in which no heat muft be by ac-
cident diminilhed, which you may do, .my Son, if you put a
great quantity of which you pleafe of thofe things at a corner of
the Houfe, which quantity mud be* about thirty Load : This
ought to be, that the Veflel may not waut heat, becaufe fliould
heat be wanting, the circulation of the water would be im-
paired, and that which we feek for uneftefted ; but if a
continual heat be* adminiftred to it by continual circulati-
ons, our Quinteflence will be feparated in the colour of
Heaven, which may be feen by a diametrical Line, which
divides the upper part , that is the Quinteflence* , from
the lower, namely, from the Faeces, which are of a muddy co-
lour. Circulation being continued many days together in a
circulating Veflel, or in the Veflel of Hermes^ the Hole, which
you ftopp'd with the faid Matter, muft be opened, and if a
wonderful Scent go. out, fo as that no fragrancy of the world
can be compared to it,- infomuch as putting the Veflel to a cor-
ner of the Houfe, it can by an invifible Miracle draw all that
pafs in, to it ; or the Veflel being put upon a Tower, draws
all Birds within the reach of its Scent, fo as to caufe them to
{land about it. Then will you have, my Son, our Qainteflence
which is otherwife call'd Vegetable Mercury at your will, to ap-
ply in the Magiftery of the tranfmutation of Metals : But if you
find 'not the influx of Attraction, flop the VefFel again, as be-
fore; and put it in the place before appointed, and there let it
fland till you attain to the aforefaid Sign. But this. Qumteflence
thus glorified, will not have that Scent, except a Body be dif-
foked in it, nor have that heat in your mouth as Aqua ardens :
This is indeed by the Philofophers call'd the Key of the whole
Art of Philofophy , and as well Heaven, as our Quinteflence,
which arrives to fo great a fublimity, that either with it by it
fell' alone , or with the earthly Stars (Metals) the Operator
of this work may do miracles upon the Earth.

Anno-

(3)

Annotations.

TH twenty four following Kinds
that amongft the Diflblvents of the Adepts, no one is made
without the Vegetable Mercury, or S fir it <?/ Philosophical Wine ;
for it is the foundation^ beginning ana end of them all : Tea it u ac-
cording to the 'various and diftintt degrees of itsftrength, fometimes
the leaft, fometimes the greatefl of all the Menftruums. It is the
leaft and weakeft, when it doth by its fimple Vnttuofity diflofoe only
the unftuous or oyly parts of Vegetables, but either rejefl or leave
untouched the Remainder leing lejs oyly and heterogeneous to it felf:
it becomes the ftrongeft when we temper its Vnttuofity with Arids> -
^that is, dry things , not Oyty) for fo it is made homogeneous to
things dry-oyly, and to things meerly dry. In refpeft of which Ho-
mogeneity , the Menftruums of the Adepts difffr from the common,
becaufe they do by reafon of the faid Homogeneity , remain with the
things diffofoed infeparably ; yea, are augmented by them, but not
with the leaft faturation, tranfmuted and melted into a third fub-
ftance, and fo cannot part witheut the diminution or deftruttion of
their former Virtues'. The permanent Homogeneity of Menftru-
ums with things to be diffblvea, is the reafon why Effences are made
with Jimpie Vegetable Menftruums , lut Magifteries with the fame
compounded, andfo thefe operate more ftrongly, thofe more weakly.
This is it y to comprehend all in a word, which fhews us the "various
kinds of Menftruums diflintl one from another in fo many federal
degrees , now to be dejcribed and illuft rated by our Annotations.

But that you may more eafily underftand the following Receipts
and me aljo, I thought it neceffary to preadmonijb fome certain things
concerning the Nature and Property of this Spirit of Wine, left you
fiould judge amijs of a thing not fufficlently under flood.

Fir ft, Tou are not to take the Spirit of common Wine, though ne-
ver fo much reftifed) for the Philofophical Spirit of Wine ; fir fo
the following Receipts of all Menftruums would be erroneous and
Jeducing.

Having occafion (fch Zacharias} for a moft excellent Aqua-
Vita for the ditTolving of a mark or half a pound of Gold, we
bought a large Veflel of the beft Wine, out of which we did
by a Pellican obtain great plenty of +Aq/u vita, which was of-

C z ten

(4)

ten rectified in many Glafs-Veflels bought for that end : then we
put one Mark of our Gold,being before calcin'd a whole month,
and four Marks of Aqua vhoe into two Glafs-Veflels, one.Retort
entring into the other, being fealed, and both pitted in two
great round Furnaces : we bought alfo Coals to the value of
thirty Crowns at one time, to continue Fire under it for the
fpace indeed of a whole Year. We might have kept Fire for
ever before any congelation would have been made in the bot-
tom of the Veffels, as the" Receipt promifed, no folution pre-
ceding , for we did not operate upon a due matter, nor was
that the true water of Solution, which ought to diflblve our
Gold, as appeared by experience, pag. 783. Vol. i. Th. Chym.
Ripley adwonijbeth us of the fame thing, who faith^ Some think
that this Fire ( this Fiery Spirit of ' Philosophical Wine^} is drawn
from Wine according to the common way, and that it is recti-
fied by diftillations often repeated, till its watry Phlegm, which
impedes the power of its Igneity, be wholly taken from it. But
when fuch a fort of Water (which Fools call Pure Spirit)though
a hundred times rectified, be cafl upon the Calxes of any Bo-
dy, be it never fo well prepared, we do neverthelefs fee, that
it is found weak and insufficient as to the aft of diilblving a
Body, with the prefervation of its Form and Species, Cap. invite
Medul. Phil. Common Wine (faith he a little lower) is hot,
but there is another fort much hotter, whofe whole fubftance is
by reafon of its aerity moft eafily kindled by Fire, and the
Tartar of this unftuous Humor is thick ; for fo faith Raymund:
That Tartar is blacker than the Tartar from the black Grapes
of Catalonia-, whereupon it is called Nigrum nigrius Nigro-> that
is, Black Hacker than Black: and this humidity being unfiruous,
doth therefore better agree with the Unftuofity of Metals,
than the Spirit extracted from common Wine, becaufe by its
liquefadtive virtue Metals are diflblved into Water ; whicn ope-
ration the Spirit of (Common) Wine cannot perform ,- which,
how ftrong foever, is nothing elfe but clear water mix'd with a
kind of Phlegmatick Water, where on the contrary, in this
our Unftuous Spirit diftilled, "there is no Phlegmatick aquofity
found at all. But this thing being rare in our Parts, as well as
other Countries, Guido Montandr therefore the Grecian Philofo-
pher found out another un:uous humidity, which fwims upon

other

' U)

other Liquors , which humidity proceeds from Wine ; to the
knowledge hereof attainM Raymund, Arnold, and fome other
Phiiofophers, but how it might be obtained, laid not.

O tortas adeo mentes / afliietaque falli
Artificum vario rerum per inania duftu
Pedtora ! cum duris quid molliaMna metallis ?
Apta epulis, atque apta bibi fuaviflima vina?
Hie tamen expreflam proelis torquentibns uvam
Accipit, & phialae poftrema in parte reponit,
Cujus in extremo roftrum conneditur ore,

Tims face tioujly fines the Poet and Adept Augurellus, Lib. i.
Chryf. pag. 2.06. Vol. 3. Th. Chym.

"L.lhat you take not any Oyl,though an hundred times rectified, in-
ftead of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine ; for all oyly matters, ivhe-
ther di ft ilk a or ex prefect , natural or artificial^ alone ', lut much
more mixt with other things, as Alkalies,Acids,^c. do by difli/ling,
digefting, &c. in Bath, Dung, Vapor, &c. lecome thick, pitchy,yea,
at length dry, injipid, Hack as a Coal, and fowetimes like a Tyle,
capable of being made red hot ; which is a manifeft fign, that they
want rather a Diffolvent, than are themfehes Di'ffbhents-

3. // 75 necejjary to olfer-ve that the Spirit of Philofophical
Wine appears in two forms , either like an Oyl fwiwming upon all
Liquors, or like the Spirit of Common Wine ( to the Nature of
which it comes fometimes nearer, and therefore doth from the Ana-
logy borrow its Name ) not fwimwing upon watry Liquors, but mix~
ible with them and its own Phlegm ; jet feparable by Jimple Diftil-
lation, it eaply by this means leaving its Phlegms behind it ; lut if
being rectified, and kindled, it burns wholly away, it affords us
the common Jign of perfeft rectification of the common Spirit , but
however, they are not two, but one only Spirit, differing in degree
of purity andfubtilty. Which to f rove, rs net neceffary, examples
being obvious to us in almofl every Defcription of the Vegetable
Menftruums.

4. Lafllj, Diftinttion wuft be made between the fir ft and fecond
Spirit of Philosophical Wine, Father and Sen. The frft doth in

Its

Its preparation require Laborem Sophia, the woft fecret, diffi-
cult Mid dangerous work of all true Chymiftry. The fecond is eajily
made with the former Spirit according to the Rule of perfect Chy-
miftry : An Ef fence makes an Eflence, a Magiftery a Magiftery.
Differ they do in Order, not in Nature ; they are loth of one l*irtue,
though of different preparation: for this, as hath been lately faid,u of .
a more eafie,that of amor difficult preparation.Eflences they are bothjke
former artificial, the ether natural, in Medecines therefore unequal y
though alike in Chymiftry , as Menftruums , but they are eajily di-
ftingitijhed one from the other by their Epithets. The firit hath
thefe more general Names in the Latine Tongue, Eflentia Vini, Al-
cool Vini, Mercurius Vini, Vinum Vitas, Vinum Salutis, A-
quaVitae, Aqua'ardens, Vinum aduftum, Vinum fublimatum,
&c. Examples 'of which you will have in thefe -and the like Re-
ceipts : Take beaten Gold, and let it be refolved into Liquor
by the EfTence of Wine ; Paracelf. in Defer fyt. Auri Diaphoret.
Lib. 3. de male curate. Take Flints,and diflblve them in the Ef-
fence of Wine, as Salt in Water, c. Paraceli. in Defcript. Effen-

filicum, cap. i& de Mor bis Tartar, pag. 317. Take the Crocus
of Sol, and the Alcool of Wine, corrected, ^c. Paracelf. in TM,
Croci Solis, lil.de proe par at. pag, 81. The Alcool of Wine exiccated
or corrected, is, faith Paracelfus, when the fuperfluity of the
Wine is taken away, and the Vinum ardens remains dry and de-
phlegmed, without fatnefs, leaving no Ftcces in the Veflel, pag.
507. But as to this, you will have many more Examples, ef pedal ly.
in the following Book of Medec'mes*

7& Second Spirit <?/Philofophk:al Wine hath its Sirnames an-
nexed to thefe more general Names, indicating the radix of its Ori-
ginal, of which the following Receipts may le for Examples. Take
the Leaves of Sol four icruples, or the Alcool of Wine drawn from
a Pine , from Balm, ana. &c. Paracelf. in defcript. Balfami Solis,
pag. 90. Chyr. major. The Extraction of Mummy is made by
mixing it with the Bffence of Wine \lrawn from Celandine, &c.
Parac. in defcript. Tiviclurtz Mumia, cap. 10. Lib. 3. de ^italong.
pag. 65. Take the Effence of Wine drawn 'from Celandine, Mer-
cury of Saturn, &c. Paracelf* Lib. 8. cap.io. de Tumor ibus, Pu^
ftulis, &c. pag. 138. Chyr. major. In theje and the like Receipts he
does by the Alcool of Wine, drawn from the Pine, Balm, Celan-
dine, \gc. mean the fecond Spirit of Philofophicai Wine, vr the
Effence ofthofe things made with the former Spirit., which alfo is

( 7 )

proved out of the fifth Chapter of the third Book of long Life,pag.
6' 3 . Where Paracelfus calls the Ejfences of Herbs the Elixir of Life,
or the Wine of Health, made from this or that Herb : which (he
faith'} will be manifefted in the example of Balm. Digeft iialm
(.'wV/; the firfl Spirit ofPhilofophical Wine} a Philofophical Month
in an Atiianar, then feparate fo, as that the .duplicated Elements
may appear apart, and the Qomtellence , which is the Elixir
of Life, will prefently ihew it lelf, in Nepztha fharp, in Lolium
yellow, in Ttncmm blackifh, in Lupulus thin and white, in Cuf*
cuta harih, in others Ukewife to be judg'd according to the Pre-
fcript of Experience. Moreover that Spirit being extracted,
and feparated from the other, behold the Wine of Health,
( Effence-of Balm ) in which the Pfeudo-Philofophers -have ear-
neftly laboured fome Ages, yet never acquired any thing. And
a good part of them that followed Raymund {intending to follow
him according to the Letter + undemanding Wine red or white) emp-
tied fome Butts of Wine in extracting the Quinteflence of Wine,
but found aothing at all but burnt Wine, which they unhap-
pily ufed for the Spirit of Wine : fufficient it is to have thus ad-
monifhed the Spagyrift, which way the Quinteffence may be
had in Herbs.

This twofold, the firfl as well as fecond Spirit of Wine may le
mad* not only out of the Vegetable ', but the Animal Kingdom alfo ;
So is it read of the Aqua Vitac and Phlegm of the Wine of Vrine*
in the i6th. Exper'me nt of Lully,, and in Par amir '0Paracelfr,^7g.
5*y.Many have diligently laboured to find in man his own
Health, Aqua vita, Lapis Philofophoruw, Arcanum, Balflimum^
Aurum potalile, and the like. Which they did rightly; for all
thofe tilings are in him, as alfo in the external world. So alfo
hath he a defcription efthe Liquor of Fleff^ pag. f of . Take of the
Liquor of Flefli fix ounces, of Mummy, CSfc. Here ly Liquor -, he
means the Wine of Flefi, which is proued >ly Paracelfus himfelf ;
faying, Where and according to this it is to be noted, that the
Wine of Balm is a Secret in an Aflhma : Here alfo it is to be
obferved, that by Pulmonaria, not the Herb, but the Liquor,
that is, the Wine of it hath place in this Cure : In which voords^
the Liquor and Wine of Pulmonaria, are fynonimous. So in Lib.
8. de Tumor/fas, cap. 3. By the Liquor of Hermodaclils. And cap*.
9-Bj the Liquor of Balm j and HI. 9. cap. 4. Ry the Liquor

Par-

C 8)

Parthenion, And cap. 5*. By the Liqnor of Bdellium, &c. The
Wines or EJJences of them all ought to le underftood. Though
neither the frfl nor fecond Spirit can le produced out of the dry
Kingdom of Minerals (there are indeed fome purely Oyly, as Ole-
um Petrae, Naphtha?, Carbonum foflilium, Succini, Agathis,
&c. which are reputed Members of this Kingdom^ the Oleo/ity of
which notwithflanding differs fo little from the Z>vfluo/ity of Vege-
tables and Animals y that fcarce tJeferue to be called Subjects there-
of^ yet for the fame reafon that the Offences and Liquors of Vege-
tables are called Wines^ is an Effence of the Mineral Kingdom, fome-
times alfo called the Liquor and Wine of Minerals ; Jo tlx Liquor
or EJJence of Vitriol or Copper is called Wine of the firft Metal,
Cap. n. Lib. 3. de Vita longa^pag. 6$.

Being now inftrutled by the light of thefe Prewifes, let us come
nearer to the Spirit of Wine <?f Luily, which we jball fat! like an
Oyl fwimming upon its Phlegms^ deduced not from the Common, but
Philofophical Aqua vitse by Circulation: But all other EJJences
leing made by the belp of fome certain Effence, this frfl Effence of
Wine alone muft by its own virtues emerge its felj out oj its own
fosculencies and impurities : In this refpeft the making of Philofo-
phical Wine (red or white) renders the work of all the mofl fecret
Chymiftrymoft difficult and abftrufe ; of which we 'jball by the Blef-
fing of God} clearly and truly treat in a particular Book ; namely,
our Fifth. Our purpofe at prefect is to prof e cute the Vfe of this
Wine in the making of Menftruums, where we find Aqua vitas the
frfl and weakefl oj all Menftruums, wjpich, being by circulation
alone reduced into an Oyl> is made much more excellent than before.
Lully'* Receipt is clear enough ; yet however we thought it advifa-
lle to confirm at leaft, if not illuftrate it with the Receipts of other
Adepts. Johannes de RupefcifTa, a Scholar of Lully, had fo
great an efteem for the frfl Diftinftion of his Mafters Book of
Eflence , that he made it his own with a little alteration : He
hath defcribed the Spirit of Philofophical Wine after this wan-
ner:

II. The

(9.)

2. The Eflence, Soul or Spirit of Wine of Johan-
nes de Rupefciffay defmbeJ Chap 5. of bis Book
cfe Quinteffentia.

REpute me not a Liar, in calling Aqua ardens a Quintef-
ience, and faying that none of the modern Philofophers
and Phyficians have attained to it, Aqua ardens being com-
monly found everywhere ; for I fpoke true of a certain : for
the Magiftery of a Quinteflence is a thing occult, and I have
not feen above one, and him a mod approved Divine, that
underftood any thing of the Secret and Magiftery of it : And
I affirm for a truth,that the Quinteflence is Aqua ardens^ and is
Aqua ardens. And may the God of Heaven put prudence in
the heart of Evangelical Men, for whom I compofe this Book,
not to communicate this Venerable Secret of God to the Repro-
bates : Behold now I open the Truth to you. Take not Wine
too watry, nor Wine that is black, earthy, infipid, but no-
ble, pleafant, favoury, and odoriferous Wine, the beft that
can be found, and diftill it through cooling pipes fo oft, till
you have made the beft Aqua ardens you can , that is, you di-
uill it from three to feven times ; and this is the Aqua ardens
which the modern Phyficians have not acquired. This water
is the Matter out of which the Quinteflence which we intend
principally in this Book, is extracted : becaufe when you have
your noble water, you muft caufe fuch a Deftillatory to be
made in a Glafs-makers Furnace, all entire of one piece, with
one only bole above, by which the water muft be put in and
drawn out ; for then you ftiall fee the Inftrument fo complcat-
ly formed, that, that which by the virtue of Fire afcends, and
is diftilled into the Veflel through the Pipes, may be again car-
ried back, in order to afcend again, and again defcend continu-
ally day and night, till the Aqua ardens be by the will of God
above, converted into a Quinteflence ; and the underftanding
of the Operation is in this ; becanfe the beft Aqua ardens that
can be made , hath yet a material mixture of the four Ele-
ments , therefore it is by God ordained, that the Quintefleacfc
which we feekfor, fhould be by continual Afcenfisns and De-
li fcenfions

fcenfions feparated from the corruptible competition of the
four Elements; and this x is done, becaufe that which is a fecond
time or oftner fubluned,, is more pure and glorified, and fepa-
rated from the corruption of the Four Elements, than when it
afcends only one time, and fd to a thoufand times, and that
which is by continual afcent and defcent fublimed, comes at
length to fo great an altitude of Glorification, as to be almoft
an incorruptible Compound, as Heaven it felf, and of the Na-
ture of Heaven ; it is therefore called Qointeflence, becaufe
it is in reference to our Body as the Heavens in refpedl: to the
whole World ; almoft after the fame manner, fo far as Art can
imitate Nature, in a near and connatural fimilitude.

Circular Diftillation therefore being for many days made in
a Veffel of Circulation, you muft open the hole which is in the
head of the Veflel, which is indeed fuppos'd to have beenfeaPd
with a Seal made of Lutum Sapientiv, compounded of the fi-
neft Flower and the White of an Egg, and of wet Paper moft
carefully pick'd and mix'd, to prevent the lead exhaling. And
having opened the Hole, if the Odour (which ought to be
fuper-admirable, above all the Fragrancies of the world) which
ihall feem to havedefcended as it were from the fublime Throne
of the moft glorious God ^ be fo great, that fetting the VefTel
in a corner ofa,houfe, ! if fhaliby-an invifible force with the
fragrancy of the Quinteffence (which is wonderful and highly
miraculous}attrat to it felf afl people that enter in ; then have
^ou the Quinteffence whichyou heard of ; to which none of the
modern Philofophers and Phyiiciafos (except him that I except-
ed before) have fo far as I have -hie to underftand, at-

tained. But if you find not the Odour and Influence of attract-
ing men, as I faid, feal the Ve$el as before, and bring it to the
heat above defcribed, in order to compafs your defire by Subli-
mations and Circulations; namely, in finding out this Quintef-
fence fo glorified, into an Odour of ineft 5 m.able fragrancy and
favour glorified to a wonder, and the influx of attraction before
expreiTed ; and not only fo as to yield a wonderful Scent, but
alfo to raife it felf more fully to a kind of incorruptibility .- it
hath not that heat in your mouth which Aqtta ardeits hath, nor
that moiftnefs, that is, fuch an Aqueity flowing, becaufe the

acute heat of the Aqua ardem ; and its watery moiftnefs is by

f i
Sub-

Sublimations and Circulations wholly confumed, and the Ter-
reity will remain apart in the bottom : And the Heaven .as
welTas Stars,of which this our Quinteflence is compounded both
as to Matter and Form, are riot as that which is compounded
of the four Elements; but there is but little of it glorified fo
much even to the highefl, fill'd with fo noble a form, that the
power of Matter cannot afpire to any other Form, and fo re-
mains uncorrupted, till the Compofition be deflroyed by com-
mand of the Creator : Nor is the Qmnteflence which we feek,
altogether reduced to the incorruption of Heaven ; as neither
is Art equal to Nature : yet- riot wifliftand ing it is incorruptible
in rqfpetof thejCompafitipninade of the .four Elements, be-
caufe fhould it be-altogether incorruptible/ 1 as Heaven,ifw6iiid
abfolutely perpetuate our Body ; which the Authpr of Nature,
the Lord Jefus Chrift forbids. Now have I opened to you
much of the Secret, to the Glory of the immortal God.

Taracelfus extracts bis Efftme of Philofophical Wine not &ut
of Aqua ardens, lutout of Philofophical Wine it felf: Thus ;

3. The Spirit of Wine of Paracelfus ; VefcribeJ,
Chaff. $. of the Third Boo^of Long Life-,

YOur Wine being powred into a Pelican, digeft in Horfe-
dung, and that the fpace of two Months continually,
you will fee itfo thin and pure, that a Fatnefs, ivhicb the fyz-
rit of Wine, will of it felf appear in the fuperiktes. Whatfoever
is under this is Phlegm, without any nature of Wine; but the
Fatnefs alone being put into a Phial, and digefied by it felf, is
ofmoft excellent energy for long Life.

Guido ufed the following Method, little- differwg from the

Paracelfian.

D i 4. Tlic

4. The Effence of Wine according to Guicfo,
Defer ibed, Pag. i. Thefaur. Chym.

TAke White or Red Wine, which isbetter, diftil by Bal-
neo till the Matter remain in the confidence of Honey,
which being divided into two parts in a duplicated Cucurbit,
mixt with the diftilled Liquor, and joyn together again, and
after the digeftion of fix weeks, a green Oyl will fwim upon
the Matter ; which feparate through a Funnel.

From the Receipts, we think thcfe Things follow-
ing worthy of Obfervation.

I. That the Wine, Red or White, is not Common, lut Philofo-
fhzcal, and that is the only thing that is olfcure in thefe four Books ;
to le under flood not according to the Letter , lut lv Analogy: lut
Aqua ardens, Aqua vitse, Spirit or Effence of a Philolbphical
Wine are the proper Names of it.

a. That the Aqua ardens <?/ Philofophical Wmedothw feme
things agree with the Properties of Common Spirit of Wine ;
namely, it goes lefore its Phlegm in dijlillation : it is rectified as
the Common , from its Phlegm. Laftly , le ing refined, it is
known ly lurning Linnen, Sugar, &c.

3. That this Aqua ardens doth ly Circulation doyly lofe its moi-
fture and fharpnefs ; and is at length converted into a fwimming Oyl,
the Effence and Spirit of Philofophical Wine. J?/ who ever redu-
ced Common Spirit of Wme, or Aqua Vitis, ly lare Circulation
into an Oyt* Who, I fay , hath ly continual Circulation Ir ought that
Oyl to Drinefs ; fo as to lefulliwealle as a 'volatile Salt, and tha t
not lut lyaflrong Fire, as Ifaacus affirms himfelf to have cxpe~
rienced, in the Defcription of his Vegetalk Stone ? Qf which lower
m the Third Book.

4. That the Oyl, or Eflence of Wine may 'le divers ways made
cut of Philofophical Wine.

5. That not only the Time, lut alfo' the Scent, Colour, &c. of
the Eflence are varied according to the variety 'of Method i The
Effence <?/Lully is like Heaven, that is, of a Sky-colour ; the Oyl of

is green. 6. That

c is

6. That it hath not a Scent fo fragrant, unlefs it bath a Body
(efpecially a Meta/lick or Mineral} dijfolved in it.

7. That this Heaven, f/tf /r/? <?/V/ Menftruums, isalfoaMe*
decine ; and is called the Eflence or Specifick to a long Life.

8. That it is called Heaven for fewral Reafons ly Lully.

Fir ft, Eecaufe it works Contraries, like Heaven. Our Vege*
table Menftruum , faith Lully, the Celeftial Animal, which is
call'd Quinteflence, preferves Flelh from corruption, comforts
things elemented, reftores former Youth, vivifies the Spirit,
digefts the crude, hardeneth the foft, rarifies the hard, fattens
the lean, wafleth the fat, cools the hot, heats the cold , dries
the moift, moiftens alfo the dry : One and the fame thing can
dp contrary operations. The Act of one thing is diverfified
according to the nature of the Receiver ; as the heat of the Sun,
which hath contrary operations; as in drying Clay, and melt-
ing Wax : yet the Act of the Sun is one in it felf, and not con-
trary to it felf.

Secondly, Eecaufe like Heaven it receives the Forms of all
Things. As the univerfal Form {the Macrocofwical Heaven')
hath an appetite to every Form, fo the Quinteflence ((fPhi*
lofophical Wine} to every Complexion ; whereby it is evidently
manifeft, that the Quinteflence of things is faid to be of that
complexion to which it isadjoyned; if joyned to hot, hot;
if to cold, cold, &c. This therefore the Philofophers called
Heaven ; becaufe as Heaven affords us fometimes heat, fome-
times moifture, &V. fo the Quinteflence in mens Bodies at the
Artifts pleafure, &c. Diftintl. i. Lil. Ejfentia*. To this Hea^
veri we apply its Stars ; which are Plants, Stones and Metals^
to communicate to us Life and Health, Hid.

Thirdly, Becaufe like Heaven it moveth all things from power
to aft. Therefore Heaven or our Mercury is the Caufe and
Principle moving C- (C) (Metals) from power to ab : And in
this point knows the underftanding of an Artift, that D ( our
Heaven} hath action upon C, and ( C ) ruling and governing,
and reducing- it into action ;. as Heaven brings that which is in -
Elemental things, by its own motion into action, &5V. For we.
call it Heaven , by reafon of its motion ; becaufe as the upper-
Heaven moves the univerfal Form, and firft Matter, and Ele-
ments , and Senfes, to compound Elemented Individuals j for.

( H

D moves C,. and (C) and the four Elements to M, (the Sul-
phur of Nature, orPhtlofophers Mercury) or teQj(the Tmfture)
Diftina. "$+de quarto principio Lilri EJentios.

4. Becaufe like Heaven, it is incorruptible. Aqua vita is the
Soul and Life of Bodies, by which our Stone is vivified ; there-
fore we call it Heaven, and Quinteflence, and incombuftible
Oyl, and by its infinite other Names, becaufe it is incorrupti-
ble almoft, as Heaven, in the continual circulation of its moti-
on,.^. 14?. Elucid. left am.

5. Becaufe it isoftht colour and clarity ofHeaven.Hea.VGn or our
Mercury is the fourth Principle in this Art, and is fignified by D s
of an azure colour and line, and is fignified by that colour, be-
caufe it is celeftial, and of a celeftial Nature, as we faid before
in the defcription of it, Dift. 3. Lib. EJjentitz,

This Effence Johannes de Rupefcifla calls Humane Heaven,
for the following Reafons :

We ought to feek that thing which is to the four Qualities of
whicI^ourBody is compounded, as is Heaven in refpecl of the
four Elements: Now the Philofophers called Heaven Quintef-
fence in refpeft of the four Elements,becaufe Heaven is in it felf
incorruptible and immutable, and not receiving ftrange im-
preflions, but by the command of God ; fo alfo, the thing
which we feek, is in refpeft of the four Qualities of our Body,
a Quinteflence, in it ielf incorruptible fo made, not hot dry
with Fire, nor moid cold with Water, nor hot moid with Ayr,
nor cold dry with Earth; but is it a Quinteflence able to work
Contraries, as the incorruptible Heaven ; which, when it is
neceflary, infufeth a moid Quality, fometimes a hot, fometimes
a cold, fometimes a dry : Such a Radix of Life is the Quintef-
ience , which the moft High created in Nature, with power-
to fupply the neceflity of the Body to the utmoft term which
God hath appointed to our Life : And I faid that the moft
High created the Quinteflence, which is by the Art of man
extracted from the Body of Nature, created by God: And I
will name it by its three Names attributed to it by the Philo-
fophers : It is called Aqua ardem> Aniwa, or Spiritus Vint,
.and Aqua Vita. And when you have a mind to conceal it, call

( is; )

it Quinteflence ; becaufe this is its Nature,and this is its Name,
the greateft Phifofophers have been willing to difclofe to no
man, but caufed the Truth to be buried with them : And that
it is not moid as the Element of Water, is demonftrated , be-
caufe it burns ; which is a thing repugnant to Elementary Wa-
ter. That it is not hot arid moift as Ayr, is declared, becaufe
dry Ayr may be corrupted with every thing, as appears in the
generation of Spiders; but that remains always- McqVrupt if
it be kept from expiring. That it is not dry and cold as Earth, .
is exprefly manifeft, becaufe it is exceeding iharp, and heats
extreamly : And that it is not hot and dry as Fire', is apparent
to the Eye> becaufe it infrigidates hot tilings, and Avaftes and
eradicates hot Difeafes. That it conduceth to incorruptibility,
and prefer ves from corruptibility, I will demonftrate by an Ex-
periment , for if any Bird whatfoever, or piece of Flefb, or
Fifh be put into it, it will not be corrupted fo long as it fliall
continue therein; how much more will it therefore keep > the
animated and living Fleih of our Body from all corruption ?
This Qujnteflence is the humane Heaven, which the moftHigh
created tor the prefervation of the four Qualities of mans Bo-
dy as Heaven, for the prefervation of the whole Univerfe.
And know of a certain, that the modern Philofophers and Phy~
ficians are altogether ignorant of this QaintefTence, and of th
truth and virtte thereof: But by the help of God I will here-
after declare to you the Magiftery of it. And hitherto I have
taught you a Secret, the Quinteflence, that is, the humane
Heaven, Cap. i. Lib. Effentitz,

9. Laft/j, That 'many Receipt f more olfcure, andoiherwtfe Intel*
ligilk ly no man^ are by thefeilluftrated*

(

The Second KIND.

Simple Vegetable Menftruums made of the
Spirit of Philofophical Wine, and the
hotteft Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers, Koots,
&c. being Qyly.

5. The Anima Metallica, or Lunaria Codica
of Lully, Described in Comfofit. Ammo. Tranfmut.
fag. 1^3. Vol. 3. Tbeat.Chym.

Flrft you muft know, that the Matter of our Stone, or
of all the Stones of the Philofophers, together with
Precious Stones, which are generated or compounded
by Art, is this Metallick Soul, and our Menftrmm redrify'd and
acuated, or the Lunarta. Calka^ which among the Philofophers
is called Vegetable Mercury^ produced from Wine red or white,
as is clearly manifeft, being revealed to -us by God, in our
Figura Individuoruw , DiflM. j. Lilri Quint. Effent. &c.

But firft, it is expedient to dlraw our Menfiruum by Art from
Death, that is, the Impurities and Phlegm of Wine, by the
Office of an Alembick, and to acuate it in diftillation with per-
tinent Vegetables ; fuch as are Apium Jyfaeftre, Squilla, Sola-
trum, CardBus, OliandriAm y Piper mgrum, Euphorlmw, Vitkella
or Flawmula, and Pyrethrum, an equal quantity of all, and pul-
verized. Then the Menflruttm muft be circulated continually
for the fpace of ten days in hot Dung, or Balnea Maria.

/ Anno-

( '7 )

Annotations.

THE Vnftuous Spirit of Philofophical Wine attracts none
but the Vnttious natural Ejfences of Vegetables, as we jball
obferue below in the Book of Medecines. Ejfences being thus ex-
t rafted^ as alfo all other Oyly things, crude or expreffed, and all di-
ft tiled of loth Kingdoms ^Animal and Vegetable , this Spirit of Wine
doth byfimple digeflion divide into two diflinfl parts, two Oyls or
Fats, whereof one is the EJJence of the thing^ the other the Body :
The EjJence fo made we named the Second Spirit of Wine. Both
Ejfences, this by Divifeon, and that by Extraction prepared, are by
longer digeflion made one with the aforefaid Spirit of Wine. For
thofe things which are of one and the jame purity, and of a fymlolical
Nature, are eafily mix d together ', and that infeparably, and fo an
Effence made by an Effence, is joyned to that EJJence. And if
we protraft Digeflion further, one of the Fats, namely, the Body
lefs Oyly, and therefore left hitherto, is at length received alfo into
a fymbolical Nature, by reafon of which mixtion, not, only the
Spirit multiplied, but alfo made fitter for the Diffolutions of dry
things, becaufc the Particles of this Body lefs Oyly incline to drynefs ;
Concerning which way we treat in this Receipt, in the Prefcription
of whichy the Oyl drawn out of Oyly Vegetables , is by diflillatiott
together with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, circulated into a
Magiftery : or double Effence, Natural and Artificial ; ofwhtch 9
lower in its place^) by which the Spirit of Wine is multiplied, and
made more homogeneous to dry Bodies. There is the fame Men-
ftruum, but a little etherwife defcribed in his Natural Magick. pag.
358. thus ; Take Nigrum nigrius Nigro, and diftil ten or eight
parts of the fame in a Glafs-Veflel, and in the firft diftillation
you muft receive only one half; this again diftil, and hereof
take a fourth part ; and the third diftillation you muft take in
a manner all, and fo diftil that part eight or nine times, and it
will be periect, but not redlifted under one and twenty Diftil-
lations Take of this Water a quarter of a pound, and acu-
ate the fame by diftilling it with the Vegetables, which are A-
pium Syfoeftre ; and fo of the reft, of which w r as fpoken above
in Anima Tranfmutationis, in the Chapter which begins, Firft you.
mufl know, &c. And then put it into a Veilel of Circulation', in

E ' ' hot

c <

hot dung, or in the remains of a Wine-prefs with the preferva-
tion of the Species. Which water is alfo one of the things
without which nothing can be eifefted in the Magiftery of this
Art.

?kat Menftruum which ought to le drawn from the Death of
Wine bj the Office of an Alembick, acuated with the jaid Vegeta-
bles, and at length circulated, is the Spirit of Philosophical Wine,
"which is ly thefe degrees Jo exalted \ as to be by Lully defcrvedly
called the Matter of all the Stones of the Philojvphers, and vertuous
Stones (that is, Precious Stones*) Anima Metallica, and Lunaria
Coelica, which alfo is called Vegetable Mercury, deduced from
Wine red or white.

The Matter of which this Menftruum is made, is called Wine m
the former Receipt : the Menftruum waft be extrafled from the
Death of Wive : But in the latter it is called Nigrum nigrius
Nigro. 70 thefe two Lully adds a third fynonimcns, pag. i. Teft.
wviffimi. Take red Wine, which we call the Liquor of Luna-
ria and Nigrum nigrius Nigro. By which fynonimous Terms none
iut a Fool can under ft and Common Wine ; for the common Spirit
her<efrom diflil/ed, is altogether inefficient to perform fitch and fo
great things ; yea, all the Arcanums of the more fecret Chymy,
which we are felicitous to defer ibe^ wmla le proftituted to all men,
were this one only Word literally under flood : by Wine therefore is
meant a Philofophical Secret hidden from all the unexpert.

It is expedient to draw from the Death of Wine, by the Of-
fice of an Alembick, that is, we muft reftifie fo often till it be-
ome mofl fure, without the Faces and Phlegm of Wine, which is
by Lully called the Death of the Spirit. It \s{ faith he~) purged
from all its Superfluity, and Phlegmatick corruptible matter,
which is its Death, and which mortifies its Spirit, which hath
the power of vivifying its Earth , let therefore the corruptible
Phlegm be purged and feparated from it by a fubtil method,
which I will tell you : For what reafon .> becaufe if it be not
well purged, its Earth will never become white, nor will Ma-
trimony be made between the Body and Spirit ; and fo that
Spirit is call'd the Spirit of the Stone in Apertorio.

"the Method of Rectification omitted in the former Receipt, is
defer ibed in the latter, as alfo in Epiftola accurtatoria : This
of Philofophj^al Wine Sendivogius under flood not, as

appears

appears ly the Sixth of his Epiflks, Brux. ^5^ Mar til 1646-
Where thus : The fecond Article (my Companion) of the Page-
fan work, endeavours to repeat the myfterious way of ex-
trafting and preparing Mercury y more than needed, the Autho-
rity of Lully being mifunderftood, and the Precepts of other
Philofophers ill applied,he commanding the tenth part of his Ma-
gnefia firft afcending by diftillation to be faved,as the only ufeful,
and truly Mercurial fubftance; but the other nine parts proceed-
ing by continuance of diftillation, to be caft away as of no life,
to this end, that the faid tenth part referved, might at length
be reftored to the Earth remaining after cdmpleat diftillation,
(which Earth is foolifhly fuppofed to be the Salt and Sulphur of
Mercury^ and by repeated cohobations, inhumations, digefti-
ons and fublimations described by him, united but it is a grie-
vous Error, for that which Authors declare concerning the
tenth part containing the Spirit, and of inhumations in its
own Earth , is otherwlfe referred than to the extraction and
preparation of Mercury, as {hall be elfewhere in time demon-
ftrated , nor for the la id extraction and preparation of Mercury
is there any Rule to be ufed befides the bare diftilling of Mag-
nefia, whereby the Spirit and Oyl are together elevated to a
Siccity even of the Faces, and reparation of the Spirit from
the Oyl, and rectification of the fame Spirit oftentimes repeat-
ed : But thefe things we will in their proper place more amply
treat of in the Method of operating.

Parifinus, a Difciple of Lully, will cvrreft Sendivogius,

learnt of Lully to refiife his Spirit of Philofophkal Win#Vj(
this manmr.

Take A (Chaos, our ^egetalle Mercury, in which the four E-
lements are found confufed,pag. zji. Vol. fext. Theat. Chym.} and
put it in a Vefiel to be diftilled through Y (Bdneo y p*g.^76.y
and in this temperate diftillation gather its B. (Celeflial ardent
Spirit, pag. 269. ) continue that diftillation this way and me-
thod till you attain to the Signs declared in our Apertorjal y and
till you .know that the faid B. is diflblved and feparated from,
its Elemental Nature, continuing this Magiftery even to the
fourth Revolution : Then put this Celeftial fiery Matter into a
pure Veflel, and diftil flowly with ordinary fire, and take only
a tenth part,- in the fecond diftillation take half, and in the

E 'L third,

( 20 )

third, two parts of three ; and in the fourth, take four parts
of five, a rid more : Then take that laft Celeftial Water, and
diftil it three or four times by the Rule abovefaid, taking the
whole without any feparation appointed. This obferve, and
admire the neceility of this Myftery and Foundation, and you
will underftand the reafon why dull and ignorant men make
the worft Bread with the fined and pureft Flower, becaufethey
mix the courie part with the fine : The fame thing happens
to prefumptuous Artifts,- who perfwade themfelves that they
are able to find out the beauty of our Q^nteifence with the ex-
uberated Spirit negligently purified, without an exat fepara-
tion of the pure from the impure, in Elucid. pag. XJQ. Vol. 6.
Theatri Chym.

Which way notwithflanding of rectification fo exaflly to olferve,
there feems to me to be no necejfity ; rectification of the Spirit being
goo ft enough, which way foeuer done, either with fewer or more co-
ho bat ions i provided it be feparated from the impurities of the Wine,
which you will know {faith Lully ) when it burns a piece of
Linnen by reafon of its vehement heat, that is, as elfewkere
more clearly, till a Linnen Cloth moijlned with this Spirit, and
kindled, le wholly covfumed. "This retljfed Spirit is in dift 'tiling,
jbarpned with the oyly l^egetalles nominated in the Receipt, the Oj/s
cf which, being mar eft to //, // eafily carrieth with it, and is im-
pregnated with the fame, and acuated by the aridity contained in
them : Tet are we not obliged to ufe thefe Vegetables only, and no
ether, or is it necejfary to mix all of them together, as if one or
two would not fuffice. 'The Oyl of any Vegetable, or drawn out of
d Vegetable with the help of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine, or
already jnade, and added to the Spirit of Philofophical Wine,
mil here fatisfe us* I will give one form or other in confirmation
ef this kind of Meuflruums ; of which fort is,

6. The Aqua Vitas of Paracelfus,
Tag. 508. Tom. i.

TAke of the Alcool of Wine exficcated three pounds , of
the Flowers of Rofemary, Maeis, Lavender, of each
half an ounce ; of Cubebs, Cloves, Cinamon, of each two
ounces; of Maftick, half an ounce; of both forts of Storax,
half a dram of each ; of Doronicum, three ounces ; and coho-r
bate feven times.

The following Vfe lefides the Alcool of Wine exficcated, tejli-
fes, that this Water is made with the Spirit of Philofophical
Wine. Take of the Leaves of Gold, Num. 10. of Pearls not
perforated, Granats, Rubies, .of each half a drachm; digeftfor
a Month : Then take of this Oyl three or four grains with
Malago wine, or the water of Majoram or Sage, this Men-
ftruum is J^inum Effatum or Effentifcatum^ or Spirit of Philofo-
phical Wine impregnated with the EJJences of the Oyly Ingredients y
with which .Paracelfus diffofoes Gold ana Precious Stones into a
moft nolle Oyt or Elixir^ which he fays is a Secret againfl the fu.-
perfluity ofWomens Menftruums. The Defer iption of this Water
being clear > requires no other Light: / will therefore proptfe ano-
ther Receipt more olfcure.

7. Another Aqua Vitae .of Paracelfus^
Pag. 115. Cbyr.Min.

TAke of the waters of Melifla, Rofes, Cheirus, Sage,
Balfamus, of each one pound: of all the Peppers, .Cu-
bebs, Ginger, Cinamon, Maftick, red Myrrh, Mace, Cloves,
of each two ounces ; of the Juyce of Honey, half a pound ;
of reftifi'd Aqua Vitas, five pound : Let them be all digeftcd
together for the fpace of nine days, and after that feparatecv
and diftilled in a Pelican into a Spirit. Then to this Liquor,
add an Apple roafted and broken , and let them be digefted
together with the following Spices upon Afhes for three days;,
of which, take five grains every day. The Spices are thefe-,

Take

Take of Cinamon, Cloves, Mace, of each two ounces , of
Cheirus , Anthos , of each half an ounce ; of Amber, two
drachms; of Musk, five grains ; of Zibeth, half a drachm , of
Ginger, Cubebs, Nutmegs, of each one ounce and half,- of
Amomus, two drachms; of Zedoary, two ounces and half;
of Grains of Paradife, one ounce and half. After Digeftion of
them all, feparate, and keep the Matter in Glafs Vellels very
clofe flopp'd.

From the Dofe it felf of this Prefcription, it is manifejl that the
operation is meerly Philofophical ; for if ly Aqua vitas he would
have under flood the Common Spirit of Wine, // would le altoge-
ther ridiculous to give only foe grains for a Dofe. We meet with
many more Menftruums of this kind, which little differing from
the priflirK Nature of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, were lefs
olfervedlyfome Adepts; wherefore Chriftophorus Parifmus, a
Noble Sicilian,^/.? not very much commend this acuation of the Spi-
rit of Philofophical Wine. Some (faith he ) have made (_ the
aforefaid Spirif) acute with Vitriol^ which way is very good ;
fome with Nitre ; fome with Cinnalar ; fome with thefe two,
fome with all three ; fome with their Earth, which way dif-
pleafeth me, becaufe a thick Unftuofity and ponderofity was
hereby introduced; fome ufe Vegetables , as Herbs, Roots,
Flowers, and Seeds known to you, which have (Irong ( Vege-
table ) Mercuries in them ; wherefore they that handled it af-
ter this manner, augmented rather its Vegetable Form (Vnftuo-
fity ) than that they made it more fbluble. Tarifinus in Eluci-
aariO)pag. 131. Vol. 6.Theat.Chym. For this reafon, Ripley/6?/-
.lowing the fame Maft'er as Parifmus, believed thefe things to le
covered with a Mantle ofPhilofofhj ; for fo he writes in his Me-
dullA Philofophioe. Raymund lakh , it ought to be drawn out
from the Death and Fasces of Wine for the fpace of one hun-
dred and twenty days, by continual rotation, in a Balneo of
of the hotteft Duiig, and that it m.uft be acuated with' hot Ve^.
getable things, as Piper nigrum, BuphorliuM, Pyrethrum, A
.carduS) Squilla^ Solatium, Apium Sylveftre, and fuch like ; for
without the virtue of thefe things, as he faith, it is not fuirici-
ent t^ diflblve Metals, except in a long time ; but that nothing
of doubt or ambiguity may appear, I fay, that all thefe things
are covered and fhrowded with a Philofophical Mantle : For

his

( 23 )

his meaning is, that in this Spirit may be had another refolubJc
Menftruum^ becaufe without filch a relblutive Menftruum Solution
can. never be made : And that refoluble Menftruttm is generated
only from the Metaliick kind, and is by our refolutive Menftru-
um produced into ad, Ripley,pag.i6%. Medul. Philof. Ripley
did ly the refolulle Menftruum produced into aft ly the Menftru-
um refolutive ( that w, the Spirit of Philofophical Wine ) wean,
a certain Mercurial Water ; of the Preparation of which lower : where
likewife it will appear that ly the aforefaia Vegetables Ripley
thought Lully intended running Mercury; yet neverthelefs his
following Menftruum pro ves, that thefe Vegetables have leenfome-
tiwes alfo taken ly him literally.

8. The Aqua Vitas of Ripley.
Pag. 3 38. Viatic i.

TH E Menftruum being diftilled from the firft Farces,
circulate it wit lithe hotteft Species, fuch as are, Black
Pepper ) Euphorlium, Pyrethrum, Anacardus, Grains of Paradife y
and the like, forthefpace of too days in Balneo; and after
that,diftil only half of it,and make your putrefaction with it,&c.
It is here manifeft that Ripley took thefe Vegetables, Not Ar-
gent vive, lecaufe^ Circulation being finijbed, he diftilled only one
half of the Spirit, as the moft fulfil part of the Vegetables,- in
which cafe that Metal (Mercury) though diffblved, would remain
in the bottom. But whereas Lully acuates the Spirit ly diftil-
lingi an d then circulates ; Ripley does this ly circulating , and
after that diftils. To thh Aqua Vitae he fowetiwes adds Oyls> or.
Bffences either <?/Metals or Vegetables, as followeth ;

9- The Compounded AquaVitseof Ripley,

Pag. 343. Viatici.

Circulate the flrongeft red Wine with known Vegetables,
for the fpace of iio days, with continual Rotation in
Balneo, and then draw only the pureft Spirit by diflillafron ;
to which put the Oyl of the purefl Luna^ made without a

Cor-

( 24;

Corrofivei and let them be circulated together 100 days more,
and then is the Water of the nature of the Baflisk, becaufe as a
Bafilisk kills a man at an inftantby the Afpect alone,fo this Wa-
ter being put upon Argent vive does without any other Fire,
fuddenly in a manner congeal it into the pureft Silver : And
note, if the Fire ( Oyl or Effence ) of Celandine be put in, or
the Fire of the Flowers of Thyme, after the firft Circula-
tion, and they circulated together without the Oyl of
Luna y the Argent vive will be much better congealed, &c. But
that which legets the greater fcruple, is the Paraphrafe of Lully
himfelfupon this place* We, faith he, would not have you ig-
norant of that you may extract our Argent vive (J^eget.^) from
itsMyne another way: The way (jny Son) is to take the
Herb which is -called Portulaca marina , Apium , Sftuilla, &c.
diftil the Faeces which remain calcine, draw off the Salt with
the diftilled water, and abftraft the water from it, purifie the
Salt by often diflblving and coagulating, and you will have the
Salt of the acuating Vegetable Herbs : Thefe (faith he ) I
meant, when I faid, acuate with acuating Vegetables, that is,
the Salts, not the fimple Herbs : Wherefore you might fay, it
fo'dowSy that this Receipt of the Metallick Soul hath not at all leen
defcriledy fo as to le under ft^od according to the Literal Senfe ;
but I have my Anfwer ready, namely r , that Lully acuated the Spirit
of Wine with crude Vegetables alfo, it is eajily proved ly the third
Diftinttion of his Book of EJJence, in Figura individuorum, al-
ledged ly him, where he reheat -feth the near eft Individuals, acua-
ting the Spirit of Philolbphical Wine, as are red Wine, new
Honey, Celandine, Flowers of Rofemary, Herb Mercury, red
Lilly, Tartar, tylans Blood, and white Wine. Why he choje
theje, not- others, and thefe only, it is wot my lujinefs to anfwer :
that wftich we learn from thence > is, that he commended two ofthofe
Individuals to us lefore the reft , Tartar and Honey , of winch
thus. There are fome Individuals, in which Mercury (l^egeta-
lle) hath a free Act in fome refped, in Tartar it hath one free
operation only, and " in Honey two, and this an Artifl ought
to kno%, that he may be certified in this Art , and the firft
Truth thereof. He prefers Tartar, not for the fake of the Tar-
tar, lift the Alkali made from thence, and that ke refolves as the
left of Alkalies per deHquium, and circulates it being purified

with

C *5

with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, according to the Dtftr/vt
prefer tied in prima Tabula individuorum, in the fecond Expe-
riment, and in other places. The Alkali of Tartar may be fup-
plied with the Alkalies of Honey, Celandine, and the refl of the
Individuals named by Lully , with which the Adepts did alfo f owe-
times acuate their Spirit of Wine, as Jb a II be declared below in tht
Fifth Kind of Menftruums : But thefe things make a/Jo againft the
Literal fenfe of our Receipt, and do prove that the Salts of the Ve-
getables, not the crude Vegetables themfehes were taken in the
Receipt. But though he made choice of Tartar , lecaufe of tie
ftrongefl Alkali to le from thence prepared^ yet did he not for the
Jame rcafon intimate: , that Celandine,- the Flowers of Rofewary,
Plerl Mercury, red Lilly-, and mans Blood were letter than the refl,
becaufe with thefe he proceeds another way ; 'for he feparates the E-
lements from them with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, from
which he takes only the Fire or Oyl, which he circulates with the
Spirit, and fo aciutes it, as is clearly enough evident in fecttflda
Tabula Individuorum.

But becaufe Honey furpajjeth not enly its own collateral Indivi-
duals, but alfo the Tartar it felf (for he faith that the Spirit of
Wine in Tartar hath one, but in Honey two free Operations] and
therefore attributes his peculiar procefs to Honey, namely, by di-
flitting the whole C#wl, the Honey together with 'the Wax, with-
the Spirit of Philofophical Wine through an Alemlick. Now be-
tween lotb procejfes of Honey, and the refl of the Individuals out-
Receipt keeps a middle flation. If Honey le volatilized as to the
whole fulftance , it becomes thereby a Ma^ijiery, which being joy rid
to the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, yields us a Menftruums/
the Third kind. But the Fires or Oyls of Celandine, of the Flow-
ers of Rofemary, common white and red Wine, &c. are by fepara-
tion of the Elements made with the Spkit of Philofophical Wine,
E (fences, which being added to the j aid Spirit of Wine,- do not^.al-
ttr, ktt multiply it rather, becaufe an Effence is added to an Ej-
fcnce,that is, the fecond to the fir ft Spirit 'of Philofophical Wine.
But if Celandine, the Flowers of Rojewarv, as alfo the Vegetables'
of our Receipt be difti /led with the Spirit <?/' Philofophical Wine,
it dees extratt and elevate 4/1 their 'bntluolny with it felf-, reject-
ing the aridity cf them, lei fig wore Jir/iple, Juli..
kfs loaded with dry Particles, than the V>'ilmiity of crt-d? ////V'-M*;

F and

andfo by being c irculated with the Spirit <?/Philofophical Wine ,- it
is made indeed & Magtjlery, yet more inclining to the nature of an
Effence^ and therefore lefs dry, and lefs altering the Spirit of VI i*e,
than that of Honey, and fo being now defiruedly united with the
aforefaid Spirit, it > makes a Menftruum different from the Men-
uruums of the Third Kind. So the Literal Senje 'of cur Receijt
does hitherto fland unmoved. But net to derogate from the Au-
thority- of the Author, and his own Commentator LuJh , it is m-
ceffary to frppofe, that, the Spirit of Philofophical Wine being
diftilled upon the aforefaid Vegetables, he did jometimes cut of the.
remainder prepare an Alkali by calcination, and acuate his Spirit
with it, andfo make a Menftruum of the Fifth Kind.

From thefe and the like Receipts, we obferve,

i. That Wine, Lunaria, Nigrum nigrius Nigro, the Matter
of the Menflruum of Vegetable Mercury or Soul of Metals, is not
Common, lut. Philofophical Wine ; nor that the Spirit of this
Wine is the Common, lut Philofophical Aqua ardens.

i. That a Menftruum of this kind is the ttnftuous Spirit of
Philofophical Wine acualed, that is, tempered with the common
Vncluofity of Vegetable Oyls 9 Mix, digefl, and diflil any common
diflilled Oyl with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine , and you will
obtain a Menftruum of, the Second Kind much fooner ; ye a, you mil
make the fame in a moment, if you mix the Ejfence ( Spirit ) of
Philofophical Wine with the Magiflery of an oyly Vegetable.

3. That one oyly Vegetable (jSajfron or Macii) of Jo many, is
fufficient for the acuation of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine ,

nor yet will you err, if you take Triacle ; which Spirit of Triacle,
made with this Spirit of Wine, will be a Menftruum of this
kind.

4. That thefe Menftruums are Medecines.

. That thefe Menftruums made out ofmeer Vegetabks^are pro-
perly called Vegetable Menftruums/V/^ which we call Vegeta-
ble Menftruums compounded, are by reafvn of the addition of Me-
tals or Minerals, fometimts by the Adepts called Mineral Men-
ftruums: fo Lully in the ^qth. Experiment, calls his Circulatum
majus made of Gold and Silver ^ the true Mineral Menftruum.
#t we diftinguifo them from the Mineral Menftruums, becaufe

they

(27)

4 bey are corrojive, Icing prepared with the acidity of Miner al Salts -
But thffe are moft fweet, without any Corrofive, and do kindly dij-
folve things that are to le diffolved.

t. That a Menftruum is called the Soul of Metals. Soul is di-
verjly taken among the Adepts.

Firfl, For perfett Metal, Gold or Silver. So Arnold in Flore
Florum : Philofophers call the Soul a Ferment, becaufe as the
Body of man can do nothing without its Ferment or Soul, fo is
it in the thing propounded , for Ferment is a Subftance which
converts other things into its own Nature. And you muft
know , there is no Ferment, except Sol and Luna, that is,
Gold and Silver appropriated to thofe Planets , &c. Ferment
therefore muft be introduced into the Body, becaufe it is the
Soul thereof. This is that which Morienus faid, except you
cleanfe the unclean Body, and make it white, and infufe a Soul
into it, you conduce nothing to this Magiftery.

Secondly, For Metals, and other things, volatilized with a Phi-
lofophicat Menftruum. So Luliy calls Gold and Silver volati-
lized in the preparation of his Circulatum majus, Menftruum,
or animated Spirit. Take, faith he, the animated Spirit of Sol,
and the animated Spirit of Luna, joyn them together, &c. So
the Tinftwes of Gold and Siher volatilized by a Menftruum, as
alfo of im perfett Metals, are ly him called Souls. So in the zoth.
Experiment he hath the Animal Water ef Saturn ; in the zith.
Experiment, the Soul <?/Mars. Tea fe par at ing the Elements, from
all things, he calls the tinge d diflilled Liquors Souls or animated
Spirits, lecaufe ly them is the dead, dry and fixed Earth again
revivified, volatilized, and reduced into a Sal harmoniack. 'See
the Revivification of 'the Salt of Tartar ly its own Water, in the
Volatization of it given in the Second Experiment.

Thirdly, For Menftruums themfetves. For Menftruums are
tie Souls cf Metals, by which the Metals, othenvife dead, are ani-
mated and revivified : fo Lully of this our Menftruum, the Soul
of Metals, ^/g. \9$.Comp. Anim. Tranfm. Otherwife, faith he,
Metals cannot be diflblved , unlefs they be animated with a
Vegtallt Menftrxum,by the power of which, Resolution is made
in tilings refoluble. And in Elucid. TejLim. pag. 145-. Ayta vh V
is the .Soul and Life of Bodies, by which our Stone is vivified-
So ^//6Ripley tK Li-lro Mercian, pjg. loS./j// 1 ^, The Sperm of

V z Me-

( 28

Mttajs is dfo called Metallick Aqua ^//^ 5 bccaufc it adminifi reth
life and health to Metals, oeing lick, dead, &fc.

Fourthly, For the Vnftuojity as well of the Met alas Menflruum.
Of loth faith Ripley , fag. 1 5" o. Medulla Phil. There is forn e cer-
tain Similitude of the Trinity to be perceived in the Body ,
Soul and Spirit (of our Work.') The Body is the Jubilance 'of
the Stone; the Spirit is the Virtue (that is 9 -the. Quintefience,
which excites Natures from Death) a-nd the Soul is to be taken
for the Ferment, which cannot be had but out of fhe rnofl per-
jecl: Body (Gold} in Sulphur (of Gold ; ) there is a Terreflreity
for the Body, and in Mercury (^Mwflruum) an aereal ferenity
for the Spirit ; and in both a natural Uncluofity for the Soul :
For they are all fermentable in the Unftuofity of the Body, be-
ing mix'd and infeparably united with it throughout its moft
minute parts, by which Soul is the Stone formed, becaufe no-
thing can be any way formed without it.

7. That this Menftruum, is called fagetalle Mercury, produced
from red or white Wine. The Adepts have many Mercuries.
The Firft 75, Common Argent vive, running orfullimed.
The Second , The running Mercury of Bodies^ extracted out of
Metals ly the Spirit of PbilojaphicalWine.

A THird jsj Any Salt Alkali, efpecially fixed ivith the Spirit of
Philofophical Wine.

Lully calcines C eland ine, and from thence extracts a Salt ; of
which thus ; Repeat this Magiitery fo often, till you have ex-
tracted all the Salt, which is the Mercurial Part of that Indivi-
dual (jCelandins^) Thefe tilings therefore being done, take all
thefe Difiblutions (Z/x^/^V) and tranfmit them through a Fil-
ter, or Linnen-Cloth, that they may be purged from Terre-
llreity ; then diflilled by Balneo congeal, and the moifture be-
ing gone over, in the bottom of the Veilel will remain a Mer-
cury or Salt, of a white colour ; and by this means you will
have extracted out of this Matter a Mercury, which hath almoil
innumerable Virtues of acuating the Vegetable Spirit, drawn
from (Philofopkjcafy Wine, fo as to have the power of diflbl-
ving all Metals with the confervation of the Vegetative and
Germinative Form.

In Magia Naturali, He calls Tartar calcined, and impregnated
with the Pegetalle Menftruum, ly I e ing four t'mes dift tiled, then

refofaetf

(

refolded per Deliquium, and coagulated by the Name of Mercury.
And faith he, pag. 379, you wil have tiie Salt of Art, or Te-
ftamencary Mercury, without which is nothing done. Some-
times the S.ilt, or Caput Mortuum, in the feparaticn of the Ele-
ment -Sj called ex animated Earth-, he calls Mercury. *90/#Exp. 6.
The inanimate d Earth ofVr'me, diffolued in Water, fit red and co-
agulated, he calls Mercury : Then,jte/j he, Keep our fixed Sal ar-
moniack, our anigial Sulphur, our fixed animal Mercury. Lay
a little of which, upon a Fire-hot-plate, and if it melt as Wax
without fume, it is a fign you have Argent vive fixed and per-
fectly depurated, wherewith you will be able to produce maay
Experiments. This is that Mercury, which hath afforded us
moil convenient relief.

The Fourth Mercury, is either Vegetable or Animal ; of which
faith Ripley in Pupilla, pag. 3 oo. There are more Mercuries
than the two above- faid (^Mineral the red a^d green Lyon) name-
ly, the Vegetable and Animal Mercury, becaufe both may be
extracted out of fome Liquors, as out of Blood and Eggs. Lull?
Diftincl. 3. Lilri Effentice in Figuris & lalulis Individuorum, de-
fc riles the Vegetable s and Animals, in which are found thefe Mer-
curies mofl readily. There is, faith he, laftly this other Secret
of Nature, for the Artift of this Art to know, and really have
the knowledge of the Individuals,in which our Mercuiyis found
mofl eafily. Wherefore let the Artifls of this Art know, that
our Mercury is found in every Elemented Body, yet in fome fo
remote, as to anticipate the Life of Man, before the Artift of
this Art can poflefs it, being extracted, as is expedient : Where-
fore we do in that place reveal thofe things which contain it
mofl nearly. Of this Mercury, faith Lully, Lilro Mercuriorum,
pag. 8. When we fay common Mercury, we fpeak of that
which the Philofophers underftand;and when we fay vulgar,we
fpeak of that which the Ruflick underflands, and which is fold
iu Shops : Winch Ripley in the 3 16 th pag. of his Concordance, thus
expreffeth ; When I Ipeak or Mercury, underftand Mercury
more common than common.

The Fifth is, The Spirit of Philofohical Wine, which Lully in
Ex p. 3 . calls Vegetable Mercury. So, faith he^ will you have a
Vegetable &ilt extracted from this Individual (Honey} which .
Salt is moff precious, and hath the power of gcuating the

Vege-

7 ( 30 )

- Vegetable Mercmy, and dillblving tlie two Luminaries, figfr. in
Exp- 5* Salts be prepares out ofPortutaca,Apium^5qullla 3 ^c. with
all which, /dtf/7 fo, you may acuate the Vegetable Mercury ex-
traded out of Wine,either joyntly or federally ; of which low-
er in the fifth kind of Menjiruums.-

the Sixth is, The Philofophical Menilruum itfclf; for our pre-
fint Menftruum is called Vegetable Mercury^ produced from wbhe
or red Wine. /

The Seventh w, The animated Spint or Air of every Body, in
the.feparation of the Elements, which Mercury being a Fire or O}'/,
is called Sulphur in almofl all Receipts.

,f , The Eighth /j, Sal armoniack Vegetable ^Animal or Mineral, the
f Sulphur of Nature, which is alfo called our Mercury, Mercury 5*1-
limate, and Philofophers Mercury, tfeceflary it is we fbould olfine
thefe things in the following Defer ipt ions <?/Men{truums, except we

would fome times confound the things the mj elves with the Names.

The

;

The Third KIND.

Simple Vegetable Menftruums made of tin
Spirit 0/Philolophical Wme,and Oyly,
Salts, or (facb as can neither be called fixed
nor volatile] hitherto called EfTential
Salts, fticb as are Sugar, Honey, Tartar;
of Common Wine, and other Vegetables.

JO. The Mellifluous Heaven of Parifinus.
. . Inpraftica E lucid, p. 2 3 1 . F. 6. The at. Chym.

THe way of acuating this Celeftial and Burning B (Spr-
ritofPhilofophicalWine) is to take of the Subflances
declared to you what quantity you will : But we
take the Subftances ot Flowers United (that is, the Sub/lance of
Ne.iv Honey y fag. 169.) which we put in a Veflel .todiftillall the
Aquofity through Y (^Balneo Maria. pag. xyo.) Then we pour
in three parts and more of B upon that Subftance prepared af-
ter this manner ; ihuttingthe Veflel with its Cove^calle d Ante-
notorium, and put it in Putrefaction for the fpace of one Natural .
Day; then with three Diftillations by Z. (Fire of Ajbes, fag.
xyo.) we diflill till we obtain all the Mercurial Part with the
whole Juke of the Blefled Subftance by that Method, then re- -
peat the aforefaid Magiftery with New Subllance of Flow-
ers, and making rhis Regiment four times, at the end of which,
you have reduced B folutive from Power into Act by Virtue of
the Mama of the Flowers United.

Now take a ftrong Glais VefTtl, able to hold, as much Water,

'as a common Pitcher, with a Neck one fpan and a half long, to
which another Glafs Vellel, containing a fourth part only of The
Pitcher, muft be joyned, and well luted : Into this Veflel put
four Pounds of C (the faid Menftruurn wade of Honey) to Circu-
late in Balneo, or Hor(e Dung, the fpace of thirty or forty Days,
at the expiration of which time, you will have C converted in-
to D (into the Quinteffence in its Perfection, drawn from excellent
Wine, which is the Form oftheZfniverJalBody reduced into B, and
B into C, and then Circulation to le made. This Quinteffence is
Fegetalle, tecaufe, all the reft of the Jharp Waters deft roy ing Me-
tals, this alone doth ly its Virtue vegetate, augment and multiply
them. Wherefore this Water is the Myftery of Art, lecaufe it is
Burning, Calcines, and Aiffofoes Bodies, if it be perfectly rectified,
pag. 169.) But the Sign of knowing, whether this Converiion
be made, will be a fediment in the bottom of the Veflel, like
that, which appears in the Urine of a found Maw. When the
Glorious Body draws nigh, after thirty Days in the end of Per-
feftion, then will you fee D, or the Qujnteflence in greater cla-
rity and fplendor than any Diamond. The clarity whereof
furpafles all Precious Things, lo as that it is difficult to judge,
whether that Divine Liquor be in or out of the Vefiel : Then
you muft feparate our Heaven from its Sediment or Hy^oflafis
with Indufiry, keeping it in a VefFel well luted in a cold place,
that nothing may from thence expire. This Quintefience is by
the Philofophers called Spiritus Vims, becaufe it gives Life- to
humane Bodies, and Metails, as alfo Aqua Argenti vivz, Aqua Vi-
tte, Aqua C aelejl is, Aqua Divina, Stella Dianas, Anima, Spiritus
Mercurii noftri Vcgetalilis, Fuwus, Ventus, Caclum Noftrum. To
conclude, infinite Names have been given it, which notwith-
standing fignifies pne and the fame thing.

Annota-

(33)
Annotations.

THe antecedent acmtion of the S fir it o/Phllofophical Wine
with Oyly Vegetables^ did n*t fo well pleafc Chriftopher
Parifmus, and therefore tnflead thereof he fulftituted this, which he
found letter than the other. Thegreat Myftery and Treafure (/?/>&
hi) which we teach you in this Chapter, is, how you ought to
make B (the Cdeflml and Ardent Spirit) acute, which we figni*
fie by C> wherefore give Ear, for I know not how I ought to
propound this Doctrine, left this Secret fhoujd be proftituted to
all Men : For all the Philofophers that ever have been, have ab-
fconded this Secret under divers Figures, becaufe without all
doubt this is the thing, which is the Principal, or one of the
Principal Keys of this admirable Science. This I would nave
you certainly believe,that B tiathno folutive Nature actually ,but
only potentially ; for if B were not acuated by. the way and
means manifefted to you, it would have no power of Diflblving :
Some made it acute with Vitriol, which way is good enough :
Some with Niter : Some with Cinnabar : Some with thefe two,
and fome with all three : Some with their Earth, which way
difpleafeth me, becaufe this way thick Undtuofity and Pondero-
fity was introduced : Some have ufed Vegetables, as Herbs,
Roots, Flowers, and Seeds known to you, which have powerful
Mercuries in them , for this Reafon it is, That they which
handled it this way,augmented rather its Vegetable Form, than
made it folutive : Some ufed Flowers United for acuition, which
is the Principal Way, and of our Intention, which is found in
the Alphaletum apertorlale : Some not knowing the true way
of acuating this B, fpent much time in preparing divers Waters,
before they could put any Body into B,as happened to us in the
beginning, feeking that Practice, \\iiich is now manifefled to
you by the Practice of our Sumwetta, which though it hath
fucceeded well, yet with very great Labour. The Myftery of
this didblutive part is difficult, and tedious, and therefore I will
undertake the^ Repetition of it ; for having made B acute by
this Method, which we now manifeft concerning the folution of
Bodies, to be perfected without trouble in a little time, you will
be certain. But I confefs, when I was with you. at that time,

G wherein

(34)

wherein we made the firft beginning - of diffolv ing, \re did not
underfland Raymund Lully in this dilTolutive part ; but having
read him over again returning to our Studies, Praftifing, Pray-
ing, and Failing, a perfeft Illumination of Mind came to us :
this way therefore will I manifeft under the Seal of Silence,^.
2,31. Vol. 6. Theat. Chym.

Parifmus dothbythefe Words make us more affured, that the Spi-
rit of Philofophical Wine hath no power of diffblving any but Oyly
things, Jecaufe it is Oylitfelf; but in order to diffoiue dry things
alfo, it isnecejfary for it to be acuated, that is,fo tefhpered, as to be
made homogeneous atfo to dry things, and Jo diffolue them, which 'to
be a Work difficult and tedious, his own Experience prweth : out of
many acuators therefore of the Adepts, he choofeth Hony before the
reft, whofe principal acuating faculty he calls the great Myftery and
Zreafure of the Art. For according to Lully, the Spirit of Philo-
fophical Wine in Honey hath two free Operations, that is, this Vnfti-
ous Spirit is eafily Vnited to the Ztncluofity of Honey, and by the fame
means alfo eajily tempered with the aridity of Honey. In a Word,
there are other indeed, yea all the following Menftruums Jlrongcr
than this, but none more eajie to be prepared, and better for a young
Beginner. Lully made the fame Menftruum after this manner.

ii. The Spirit of Honey of Lully.
. Lib. Mercur.

TAke of Aqua yitte, and put into this Vegetable Humidity
a third part of a Honey-Comb, with all its Subftance,
Wax, and Honey together, ferment, or digefl it in a gentle heat
for three Hours, and the longer it Hands, the better it is : then
.let it be Diftilled in Balneo, v and repeat the Diftillation and Fer-
mentation nine times, renewing the Comb every fecond Diftilla-
tion.

Parifmus itfeems to me learnt not only the Spirit of Philofophi-
cal Wine, but alfo the preparation itfelfofthis Menftruum, from his
Mafler Lully, thougk the preparation he corrected a little : Parift-
nus digefts one Pound of Honey infpiffated with three or four Pounds
of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, for a Day in Balneo, then Di-

Jlilling

( 35 )

ft tiling three times mixeth them together. The Work he repeats
three times,fo as at thefe four times to have joyned four Pounds of
Honey together with fo many Pounds of Spirit, and Circulates loth
each time. Lully digefls the Hony-Comb three Hours with three
parts of Spirit, and in two D ift illations joyns loth together : He re-
peats the Work four times, fo as in eight D ift illations to have Vnited
four parts of Honey with three of Spirit ; we Menftruum now joy ft-
ed together, he Diftills once more, that in nine times or cohobations y
he makes his Spirit of Honey. Parifmus made choice of three Ingre-
dients for his Medicine : The moft High Creator created three
Mines ; among Minerals, one, and that is of Sol and Luna : a-
mong Vegetables,the Wine ; among Animals,the Bee, pag. m.
Elucid. Lully of thefe three thus, cap. 46. lib. Mercurior. Amongft
all Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals, fixed Gold is chofen tor
the making of Medicines ; and above all the Virtues among Ve-
getables and Animals, are the Virtues of the Juice, or Broth of
Lunar ia, and the Fly ofBefena, which makes Honey. .

Parifmus in his Alphabetum apertoriale hath indeed the fame
way of acuating the Spirit of Wine ; but he in the fame place fuper-
addingthe Salt of Honey, extra fted out of the Caput mortuum cal-
cined to the Menftruum, this acuition is referred not to this, bat to
another Kind.

But the Honey feems to have this f pedal Privi ledge, as //Men-
ftruums of this third Ktnd, could be made of it alone ; yet you mufl
know that all Oyly Salts, (jas areSugar Criftallized, Manna Criftalli-
zed, crude Tartar of common Wine, &c/) do on one fide prove their
affinity with Oyly things, but on the other fide with dry, and fo do by
that their Okojity, introduce their own aridity into the Oyly Spirit
of Philofophical Wine, but by their aridity temper the Oleojity of
that Spirit. Wherefore the fame things are to be under flood of Su-
gar and Manna, as have henfpoken of Honey ; one Example or twt
we will add of crude Tartar, being dryer then the things aforejaid.

G 2 12. The

(3*)

12. TKe Spirit of Crude Tar tar
Pag. 5 t . Thefaur.

TAke oi crude Tartar two Pounds, of Spirit of Wine three
Pounds, Dittm and Cohobate ten times upon 4ts own
Caput Mortimm.

par&l this Spirit of 'Tartar after this wanner :

1.3. The Spirit of Crude Tartar Q( Par ace If us.
Lib. 8. Paragraph, fag. 505.

TAke crude Tartar, beat and digeftit feven or eight times
in the Alcool of Wine, and Diftill it into a Liquor, in
which is no Alkali.

Out of the Receipts we obferve the things following:

i. That the Spirit of Philofophical Wine hath in dry things no
dijfol*ving faculty without acuition.

i. That this acuition is the Myftery of the Art, being difficult and
tedious.

- 3. That it is left made with crude 'Honey -, white Sugar-candy,
and Manna purified.

4. Thatfuch Menflruums as thefe arefomewhat hard to le made
with crude Tartar.

5. That Lully by Aqua Vitoe, Parilinus ly the Celeftial and
Ardent Spirit, Guido ly Spirit of ^^ Wine, and Paracelfus ly theAl-
cool 0fWine, meant not common Aqua Q.rdens,ivhich if a man try an
experiment with the Spirit of common Wine^ he will ly his own Ex-
perience fad the Truth of the Matter confirmed.

6. That Menflruums of this Kind are the Magiflery of Honey,
Manna, Sugar ^ crude Tartar, mixd with Spirit of Philofophical
Wine, they are made extempore jhus : Take of the Effence ^Philofo-
phical Wine, and the Magiflery of Hony or Sugar^ual parts of each,
mix.

7. That thefe Menflruums are Medicaments.

(37)

8. ihat not only the Spirit 0/Philofophical Wine, but alfo the
Menftruums them/elves have been Circulated, by reafon of which
Circulation the Menilruums are called Circulatums ; and though
it le not always exprejly declared in Receipts, that they fhould be
Circulated^ yet it ought to be under flood in all : for this Circulation
is the Purification and Melioration of the Menftruum, Bj F, faith
Parifinus 3 / Alphabeto Summetta, pag. 9. wei M. S s. We mean
Aquantce Circulated thirty Days at leaft, in which Operation
it is Purified from its Terreftreity, fo as to raifeit felf to the Ce-
leftial Virtue of a QuintefTence, which is called our Heaven, In-
fluencing upon the Elements fuch effefts, as you may ^teferved-
ly call miraculous: We therefore Name it QwnteJfincfi'a.n&Atiua,
Vita, becaufe it vivifies Bodies. Without this F, no alteration
can be made in Bodies, which caution may ferve you for a gene-
ral Rule. It is other wife called Vegetable Water, whereof we
have more than often made mention in feveral places of our
Summttta, which we feht you, affirming the difference between
F and D to be greater, than between a clear Day and a dark
Night, as will appear in the Operation of it in particular's well
as generals, which Virtue proceeds notwithftanding from our
Circulation.

The

C38)

.The fourth KIND.

Simple Vegetable Menftruums made if
Spirit >tf.Pltilolopbical Wine, and
Volatile Salts, fach as common Sal Ar-

y &c.

14. The Spirit o(Sal ArmoniackofTrifmofenus.
iL nig. pag.i 3.' Aur Feller. Germ.

TAke of Sal Armoniackonz Pound,of common Salt melted
one Pound and a half, being very well pulverized and
mix'd, fublime them ; the Matter fublimed fublime a-
gain with new Salt, and that to be repeated fo oft, till the- Sal
Armoniack be made like an impalpable Spirit, (Powder) then
imbibe with the Spirit of ^PhikfophicaT] Wine, and the Vedel
being very clofe, fet it in Balneo to be diflblved ; being diflblved
decant, and putrify with new Spirit of Wine added the fpace of
eight Days in Balneo, then Diftill gently one half in Balneo, ancj
being Drilled pour it again to the remainder, and Diftill
again, but with a ftronger Fire, that all may afcend through the
Alembick : Being Diftilled,re6lifie it fo often, till it be without
Fxces.

Annotations.

Hitherto of things Oyly acuating the Spirit of Philofophical
Wine.- now follow thoje things which are left Oyfy, ydatile
Salts, which though theyfeem not to be Oyly, yet that they are fo is
eafily demonftrated ly the following preparations of Salts Harmom-
ack, whofe Earths, otherwife moft fixea and flowing like Wax, are ly

the

the Vnttuofity done of the Menftruum made Volatile > but this mil
not now le our inquiry: It fufficeth us to ufe crude and common Sal
Armoniack, Salt ofVrine^ Blood^ &c. for the acuition of the Spi-
rit of Philosophical Wine, which Salts do by their aridity alter
their Vnttuojity of this Spirit, wore than the aforefaid Oyly Matter j,
and confeqttently make the Vegetalle Menftruum flronger. The
fame Receipt "hath Trifmofmus Libro novem Tinfturarum in
TincTrura Quarta, pag. 59. as alfo in Tinc~rura Pitrumonfonis
Philofophi Angli, pag. 90. of the aforefaid Book. Trifmofmus
fullimes crude Sal Armoniack federal times upon Salt fufed, to
le acuated ly the acidity of this Salt^ and then the letter difohed
ly the Spirit of PhilofophicalWine. Geber de invefligat. Ma-
gift, pag. ^ 84. Sublimes Sal Armoniack with an equal proportion
of Salt. Ariftotle the Ctymift perfected this fullimation after this
manner, pag. 74. Volum. 3. Jheat.Chym. Take of Sal Armoniack
one Pound, of Spuma Maris fix Ounces, of Sal Gemme^ of common
Salt and Alum, of each two Ounces, grind them all together,and
Sift through a thick Hair Sieve, then put the Matter into an A-
ludeJ, and fublime, and the Sublimation repeat.

The Sal Armoniack leing thus fullimed , is impregnated
with the Spirit of Wine , ( not common , for then would the
procefs not .fucceed , but Philofophical Wine) and then
diffohed per deliquium : For the Vnftuafty of this Spirit cannot
dijfohe the fulflame of Sal Armoniaek^ leing heterogeneous to />,
but fuccefwely) and ly flow degrees. Wherefore this dijjolution will
letter fu-ccee'd according to the Method of Lully . Diflblve, faith
he ^ Sal Armoniack inthePhlegme of Vinum of Lotium^ (Philofo-
phical Wine made (fVrine] pals it through a Filter, and remove
the Water by Balneo, and the Salt will remain coagulated and
white; dhTolve again with the Phlegm, and Diftil it away by
Balneo. Then take fuch a quantity of Aqua. Vita (Spirit of
PhilofophicalWiney as you have of Phlegm, and pour them to-
gether upon the fame Salt, and the Vellel being covered with
its Antenotorium (Blind Alemlick^) fet it in Balneo twenty fow-
l-fours ; the Antenotorium being taken away, and an Alembick
put on, Diftill by Balneo with a moft gentle Fire, when the Salt
is coagulated, congeal it again, repeat the fame Magtftery, dif-
folving by turns after this manner, and congealing three times ;
and {(Thave you reduced she faid Salt into a Vegetable Virtue,

by the help ofthe Vegetative Spirit, by which you diflblved and
congealed it. Lully m Exp,. 1 6. Sal Almoniack is eafily diffohed
in the Phlegm of Philofophical Wine, and fo is ly this means fooner
joyned with the Vnttuous Spirit of Philofophical Wine, than if it

Its* -T* x /

were immediately cafl into this. Spirit. That Trifmofmus knew
alfo this Method, and fometimes made ufe of it, appears ly the folloiv-
ing Menflruum.

1 5 . Another Water of Sal Armoniack. of Trifmofwus.
In Tinffura Gereton, fag. 98. Aur. VeL German.

TAke of Sal Armofiiack Crude two Pounds, let it be diflblved
in Wine (Philofophicar) Criftallize it, let the Criftals be
diflblved per delirium ; the folution divide into two parts, one of
which diftil into the other with a Fire fufEciently ftrong, recli-
fy the parts being joyn'd together into a ftrong Water of Sal
Armoniack. The Sal Armoniack therefore beingdiffol'ved tither in
the Phlegrp of Philofophical Wine, (that /i, Atfuaardens not refli-
fyd^or Phflofophical Wine it felf, CriflaKized^ and refolded per
deliquium, is either ly itfelf, or with the addition of new Spirit of
Wine* Diftilled into a Water <?/Sal Armoniack.

This Kind 0/Menftrftums is made not of Sal Armoniack only Jut
alfo of the reft of the Volatile Salt s> thus:

16. The Gelative Sulphur of Lully.
In Exp. 8.

TAke of the aforefaid animated Spirit (of Vrine} one part,
and of Aqua Vita perfectly rectify 'd four parts,which pour
upon the animated Spirit, and forthwith flop the Veilel, that it
may not relpire, which Veflel nmft be a large Bottle, which
fhake and move with your Hands, fo in the twinkling of an
Eye or Moment, you will fee all the Water converted into Salt ;
but if any part of Phlegm be in the (Philofophicar) Aqua Vit^
it will be immediately fepa rated from the Salt in the Form of
Water ; the Aqua Vita therefore ought to be very well^urged

from

f 4' )

from all Phlegm, that, when the work is done, no Matter may
remain with the Salt, but be wholly converted, which will foe
better and more ufeful, and by this means you will have the
Animal and Vegetable Salt, which we will call Coagulative and
.Gelative Sulphur, becaufe it hath the property and virtue of
diffolving the two Luminaries, and reducing them from power
to a6t, their Vegetative and Germinative Form being preferred.
1^\\\\} 7 foretinies fublimed thisQffa or Pag ofVrinejn the Ninth Ex-
periment following) thus :

There is, faith he, befides, another way of Copulating the
aforefaid Animal Spirit with, the Vegetable Spirit, namely, thus :
Take of the Animated Spirit, recliffd as above, what quantity
you will, and pour it upon three parts of our {Philofophicafy.A-
qua Vitoe perfectly rectifi'd, which Copulation ought to be made
in a Body large and' high, to which an Alembick may be fud-
denly fitted : the faid Copulation therefore being made, you
mud have prefently ready fome Cotton-Wooll dipped in Oyl*
and very well fqueezed, wherewith the Mouth of the Diflilling
Veflel mutt be forthwith Hopped, and it mud be let in within
the Neck downward, a hands breath, fattened with a flrong Fla-
nel thread, that upon occafion you may draw out the faid Cot-
ton-Wooll, then put to it an Alembick with a Receiver, very
clofe flopped, andfet it in a Furnace ofAfhes, giving it at firft a
gentle heat ; but then by degrees increafing the Fire, till it be
fublimed : which fublimation you mud keep in a Veflel firmly
ftopped, becaufe with this Salt and other Means you will be able
to do Wonders.

Parifinus/tf his Apertorium, fag. 1 5'. M. S. S. wei, doth by this
Salt of V rim acuate his C. or Spirit o/Philofophical Wine, which
being acuated, he then Circulates ly the way ufed^ and lefore defer i-
led in the Circulation of his Coelummelleum. Lully hath alfofome-
t'mes ufed the Volatile Salt of BUod^ for the making of theje Men-
ftruums, as in his twelfth experiment. Take Blood ground ($lood
drawn from found and cholerick Men, dryed on a clean Table,
that the Phlegm may be feparated from it, and then pulveri-
zed, Exp. ii.) put it in a Glafs Body with a long Week, and ha-
ving fitted an Alembick to it with a Receiver, Diftil firft with
a gentle Fire, till the moiflure exhale, then encreafe the Fire till
the Salt be fublimed, which willbe very white, gather it wanly,

H and

eep it ; for it is of very great Virtue and Efficacy. You
have,. my deareft Son, all the Medicines (Salts) which have pro-
perties with the two Luminaries, as alfo with the other imper-
ie& Metals, without which this Art of Tranfmutation cannot
obtain its defied, end.

Tiie Things which I obferve from the Receipts are :

1. That ly Wine, Spirit of Wine, and Aqua Vitas common, is not

meant Aqua Ardens, with which it is impojfille to reduce or diflil

common Sal Armoniack into a liquid fulftance, and though it wight ;

yet that Menftruum would be Common, not Philofopkical, being made

without the Spirit of Philofophical Wine.

^. That thefe Menftruums are made of all Volatile Saks.

3. That the Menftruums of this Kind are the Magifieries of Vola-
tile Salts. Mix the Effeme <?/Philofophical Wine with the Magi-
flery of any Volatile Salt, andyou will in a moment make a Menftru-
uiri jf this fourth Kind.

4. That thefe Menftruums may le alfo made ly Parifmus his way
cfCcelummelleum,^r/?^/y ly Circulation, and therefore called Cir-
culatums, common Sal Armoniack Circulated, Salt ofVrine, Blood,
Harts-horn, &c. Circulated, or the Water of Sol Armoniack Cir-
culated y the Water of the Salt of Blood Circulated, &c.

5". That it is 'very uncertain what Philofophical Menftruum Trif-
mofmus meant ly Spirit of Wine : For divers Menftruums have
been by the Adept sjignified ly the fame Name of Spirit of Wine ; for
the mofl part they meant the fimple Spirit of Philofophical Wine,
fometimes the fame acuated after a different manner, that is, the Jim-
pis Vegetable Menftruum. So Bafil in his Book of Conclusions, pre-
pares the Oy/s of Metals ivith Spirit of Wine ; ly which he declares
himfelf to have meant not tke fimple Spirit, lut a fimple Vegetable
Menftruum, in the preparation of the Oy I of Mercury , he commanding
this open Met alto le lythe Spirit of Wine, rettifyd jirft with Salt of
Tartar, (ivhich Menftruum we jhall have in tie following Kinds}
reducedmtbanOyl; with the reft of the Met ah leing more compatt)
do more require : Sometimes alfo they did ly the Spirit of Wine in-
tend Vege talk Menftruums compounded ; fo Lully, amongthe other
Names of Circulatum majus, reckons up alfo Aqua Vitae. This
Menflruum, iaith he, the Wife Men called by almoft innumerable
Names, the Acetum acerrimuw, which converts Gold into a Spi-
rit;

( 43 )

rit ; this is Aqua Sicca, A^uA Solis, Aqua ^itx, in xp.*&
Mineral Menftruums alfo the Adepts more than often call by the
Name of Aqua Vitae. So Albertus in iuo Compolitode Compo-
fitis, pag. 939. Volum 4. Theat. Chym. Diflills a Mercurial
Mineral Water ; of which thus : Behold, this is the Aqua Pita, the
Acetum Philofophorum, and Lac PJrg/w,by which Bodies arere-
folved into the firft Matter.

Though therefore it be uncertain to Divine what Spirit of Wine
out ofjuchavajl number of Menftruums Trifmofmus intended >
yet fballmnot much err from the Truth, ifive take any Menftruum
whatfoeveri either Simple or Compounded, Vegetable or Miner al,in-
flead of this Spirit; for we may with a/I promifcuottfly perfeft the fame
Philofophical Work, differing only in degrees, at being flronger or
weaker, which common Spirit of Wine makes altogether impoffible,
and fallacious : Tet notwithflanding Directions there are, which may
in this ambiguity make us more certain; as,

i. Any ambiguous, or unknown Name of any Menftruum, is eafily
known by its Synonimas, if there be any in the fame Book, or other
Writings of the fame Adept, as for Example : If in the Defer iptiw
of the Baliamum Samech of Paracelfus, ym know not what the
Circulatum minus is, the Synonimas (produced by Paracelfus
himfelf, Lib. 10. Arch, in the Defer iptim of the Circulatum ma-
jus, (where it is called Primum Ens Salis, and Arcanum Salis) &*
noting moreover the Nature, yea, and preparation of the Menftruum,
delivered here perhaps lefs clearly (quatenus Menftruum) but elfe-
where more plainly under the Title <?/Eflence or Primum Ens) do
put it out of all doubt, that it is the Arcanum of common Salt. But
Ifaid, Synonimas in the Writings of the fame, not of another Adept,
becaufe oftentimes others intended another thing by thefe Names,yea
that Name which hath in one Book the fame Signification with the reft,
hath commonly in another, though of the fame Author, a fignificatio*
different from them; and therefore that Synonymum mu/i, if poffille^
be had out of the fame Book, which muft then fc compared both with
other Writings of the fame Author, and alfo with the Writings of
other Adepts,ta confirm the meaning of the Author about the identity of
the Synonimum, which was doubted of.

z. But if there be no Synonimas in Books of the fame Author, it
is nut convenient for this unknown Name to be ex plicated by tbe Wri-
tings of other Adepts,aw/ the Adepts themjel-vss have fount-times

H ^ aljp

(' 44 )

atfo erred, in giving an. explication either letter tk\rn wasfttitg* or,
altogether contrary, to an oljcure Name and Place ; yet u it not VK-
H lawful, : lut neceffary alfo,- to olferie what they Jay, efpecta/ly the
Scholars or Followers of the fame Author ; for though tlxy fieiv not
the -Authors Meaning, yet do they their own as to that Matter.

q. B fit if Synonimas cannot dijcouer the Name, fome expreJJIon
ufea in the Receipt will perhaps explain it more eafily, provi-
ded it le rightly examined ly an induflrious Oljener of thofe
Receipts ; as,

i. If it I e not known, whether the Adept means a Miner %K^Aci<T)
or^egetalle Menftruum, // muft le enquired ly the Particulars
foffomng :

Firft, Whether that Menftruum diffohes Bodies with force or
heat, for then it mufl le Mineral, this Sign betraying the acidity of
Minerals Salts : lecaufe. J^egetalle Menftruums dijjbhe Bodies al-
waysfweetly, andjlowly.

Secondly, Whether the diffblution digeftedfor a time le convert-
ed inf& a Black Colour , or Black Powder fwimming upon the Men-
ftruum, for thxtjjgnifies-a Vegetable Menftruum, lecaufe the dijfo-
lutions of Mineral Menftruums d contain Bodies twice diflofoed y
once with the Spirit o/ Philosophical Wine, wherewith they become
Blackjhen with t-he corrofive or acid Spirit of Salts : Therefore the
Black Powder and Colour are Signs of a Vegetable difolution y
whereto is added a Milky Opacity, common indeed to loth Menftru-
irms, for all weak or weakened Menftruums, containing as it were
their artdity lefs diffofoed and precipitated, as alfe Vegetalle diffo-
iutions ionger digefled after llacknefs, do lecomeOpacous and Milky,
Mid fo continue, till they are made diaphanous and moft clear, ly
drawing of the Phlegm, the acid part, or the Spirit 0/Philofo-
phical Wine leing letter concentrated : yet thefe three Signs we ne-
yerolferve in the ufe of the Mineral Menftruums.

Thirdly, Whether the Adepts admonijb the Operator to leware
vf air or fume in Opdiution, or Foyfon in the ufe of the thing already
prepared -, for that is a Sign that his Menftruum is, or wot Mineral,
lecaufe Poyfons derive themfehes Originally from acidity, for Pearls
find Corals,yea Gold and all other Arids, though otherwije moft fn-
-nocentydo, ly leing prepared with a Mineral Menftruum., lecome
the worfl of Poyfons.

, If you fee Mineral Bodies diftinguified into two Oyls,fwim-

miny

( 45 )

\ ming dijlinclly and federally upon the Menftruun\y2ry, that alfo was
a /V>#c/w/ Menftruum, because this cannot le done by any Vegetable
Menflruum, though never fo flrong.

z. If it le not known, whether either the fimple or compounded
Vegetable Menftruum is to le taken, we olferve the things follow-
ing as to the ufe of them :

Firft, If in the diffolution of a Metallickor Mineral Body, a White.
Body orjome refidue le /eft, thenmay ye know it to le afimple Vege-
table Menflruum, lecaufe it extracts only the Tinftures or Effencss
of things , dijfolvingtheOleoJity^ lut not the Aridity of things ^ on the
contrary Vegetalle Menftmums compounded, as alfo Mineral Men-
ftruums, which are Jlronger than the Simple ', do diffbhe the whole
Bo fly y not leaving anyF&ces.

Secondly, Ij the whole Body of a thing dijfolvdd le turned into
Oyljfwiwming upon the Menftruum, that was a Vegetable Menflru-
um compounded, for that only are they alls to do : The fimple Vege-
table Menftruums are not firongenough^ lut Mineral MenftfUurns
are too flrong ; thofe therefore dijfohe not the whole Body, lut thefe
diffofoe not only the whole Body^ lut reduce it, leing dijfolved into
Oy/, not one only, lut twofold: So /^Temperatum <?/ Paracelfus,
(a Menftruum otherwise fufficiently unknown) is ly ttje known, to le
the Circulatum majus, era Vegetalle Menftruum compounded, le-
canfe he reduceth Metals ly it into a fwimming Oyl, or Magijleiy. .

Thirdly, If in the dijjolution or digeflion of the thing diffolvedj
you fee it made Black, or caft forth a Black Powder, fay it was a Jim-
pie Vegetalle Menftruum, lecaufe Vegetalle Menftruums com-
pounded^ and Mineral, as leing ftronger, do letter retain their Body
dijjolved in them.

3 . But the doult, whether the fimple Vegetalle Menfkuum, or
Spirit <?/ Philofophical Wine/j- to le taken, length of time alwe re-
folveth $ for thefooner Effences are made in the Mineral Kingdom^
the Jlronger are the Menftruums ; and on the contrary : But in tic
Animal and Vegetalle Kingdoms it is difficult y if not altogether im-
pojjille, to difcern ly the length of time alone the diffduttons of the
Bodies as leingmore opened ; of which fort are Oyls,Salts, as alfo the
o^en Metal Mercury, eJptcia//yfulHmed, leing mere amply opened by
the acidity of Salts.

(40

The Fifth KIND.

Simple Vegetable Menftruums made of the
Spirit 0/Philofophical Wine, and the
fixed Salts of Vegetables and Minerals
not tinging.

1 7. The Coeltim Vcgetabile of L#//y,made of the
Salt of Tartar.

In the 34/&. Experiment.

lAke the beft Aqua Vita, rectified fo, as to burn a Linnen
Cloth, as you have feen, operating with me, and

therefore no need of amplifying to you the Magiftery

of this Water : Take therefore of Aqua Vitoe tour Pounds, and
put it in a Glafs Urinal '(Cucurbit^ which is very found ; then
take of the Vegetable Salt fubfime^l of the fecond Experiment
(yolattte*Salt of Tartar} one Pound, grind very well, and put it
in the Aqua Vita^ lute the Veilel with its Antenotonum {Blind
Alemlkk} firmly, with Wax Gummed, that nothing may re-
fpire,then putrifietwo Natural Days ; after that take away the
Antenotonum^ and put on an Alembick with its Receiver, the
Joynts being very cloTe, and diftill upon hot Aflies. Take no-
tice, that the Receiver mufl be very large and found, that it
may not be broken by the force of the AqwVita, and thus con-
tinue your diftillation with a flow Fire, till^all be diftilled
through the Alembick : But if any part of the Salt remain in
the bottom of the Veflel, pour it again upon the Water now

lately

( 47 )

lately diftilled, and diftill as before, making the Joynts as clofe
as may be ; the diftillation repeat in this order, till all the Salt
be palled through the Alembick in the Form of clear Water.
Then put of the aforefaid Salt one other Pound into an Urinal,
and pour the fame diftilled Water to it ; cover the Veflel with its
flb

aefore, putrifie as before, then diftill as before;
and when all the Salt is paffed over with the Water, take again
as before of new Vegetable Salt one Pound, and pafs it all
through the Alembick again, as before, with the diftilled Water ;
and by this means you will have thofe four Pounds of At[ua,
y'ttx united with three Pounds of the Vegetable Salt, which hath
the power of diflblving the two Luminaries (Gold and Silver}
and all the other Metals, with prefervation of the Vegetable
Form. But now we intend to reduce this fimple Menftrmm in-
to a Celeftial Form : Take therefore this fimple Menftraum, and
put it in a found Glafs Vefiel (a Circulatory) four parts of which
muft be empty, but the fifth full : Stop the Verfel fo as not to
evaporate, and Circulate in Dung or Balneo fixty Natural Days;
and by this Method will you have a clarify 'd Menftnwm, in
which you will fee a Sediment, wherefore empty the Celeftial
Water into another Veilel, and have a care that no Sediment
pafs over with the Water, which you muft keep very clofe in
Balneo.

Annotations.

AS fo the facility of preparation, the Ccdum mellenm 0/Pari-
fmus is letter than the reft of the Menfttuums, lut this of
Lully hath preference among fimple Vegetalle Menftruums, for it-
is the Sapo Sapientium, compounded of fxd Alcalies, and the
Vnttuous Spirit 0/Philofophical Wine. Fixd Alcalies are not
eafily joynedwith the Spirit of Philoibphical Wine, lut when they
are throughly mix d together, they are eajily fullmied into Sal Ar-
mpniack, Sulphurs of Nature, or Philofophers Mercuries, tJ:s
chieflnflrumetits of the nwrefecret Chymj.

Lully baring prefcriledfe ve ral Acuators of fix Spirit of Philo-
ibphical Wine, f peaks at length of acmting this Spirit with theft
Salts Philofoph'Tcally Volatilized: Let, faith he, our Menftrmm^
is the QjnntcfTence of Winc^ be depurated from all

Plilegnf,

C 48)

Phlegm, and acuated with the Philofopjiers Armoniack , becauie
it cannot otherwife diflblve Gold, nor Precious Stones : But let
the Philofophers Sal Armoniack be well purified, that is, fubli-
med, aud cleanfed from all terreftreity and uncleannefs, accord-
ing to the manner of the Philofophers ; of which Philofophical
Sal Armoniack\VQ have indeed treated largely in%ur Book,te in-
tcntione Alchimiflarum^ Dedicated to the mod Illuftrious King
Robert, in the Chapter De Salilus Arwoniac, &c. and mClau-
fura Teftawenti, otherwife called Vade mecum, in the Chapter
which begins, Par tits VeraTerrce. There you may read from
firft to laft the Magiftery of making and purifying, together
with the Virtues and Energiesof this Salt : And know, my Son,
that whatfoever we Write in that Chapter, we mean that Salt
and nothing elfe : Read and Perufe that Chapter, becaufe no-
thing can be done in the Magiftery without that Salt, for that
is the thing with which we acuateour Menftruuw, to diilblve as
Gold, and Precious Stones, and Pearls,as well for humane Mede-
cines, as for a Metallickand Lapidifick Magiftery, and to make
Pear Is and Precious Stones.

In which Receipt of Lvilly, we have the Volatile Salt of Tartar
given us freely^ hitherto fought in ijain^ with 'very greaP pains and
coft, of which the Theoretical Philofophers have in their Theories ex-
hibited nothing lut what is woft olfcure. Ifpeak, faith Sendivogi-
s 9 all things openly ; the Extraction only of our Sal Armoniack y
or Philofophical Mercury, T have not fo openly revealed : Send, in
Epilogo ix. Trail, pag. 337. Now, out of his fecond Experiment
alledgedy we have the following Defcription of Sal Armoniack, or
Volatile Salt of Tartar, thus :

The Volatile Salt of Tartar of Lully.
Out of the Second Experiment.

TAke thebeft Tartar, pulverize, and put it in an Earthen
Veilel not glazed, to calcine the fpace of three Days, or
till it be White : Which being done, difiblve it in the Aqua l r i-
/#, firft diftill'd (in the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, not yet retti-
jy,ff) thus ; namely, Put this individual, being calcined and

White,

(49 )

White, into an Urinal, and pour in the Aqua Vita fo, as to be lb-
ven Fingers above it, and cover the VeiTel with its Antenotori-
urn (Blind AlemliclC) and fet it on a Furnace of Aflies to fimper
two Hours, then pour that which is duTolved into another Vef-
fel carefully, but that which remains undiflolved dry : .then
again pour in new Aqua Vita, and again boyl it upon Allies :
empty the diffblution again, as before, and keep it with the
other former didblution: the flutter remaining in the Veflel,
dry again,and take it out of the Veflel, becaufe it muft be again
ca-lcin'd, to be the more eafily dillblved ; which being calcin'd,
diilblve again with new Aqua l r it<z, and boyl it upon Aflies :
this didblution keep with the other, as above, and repeat this
Magiftery fo oft, till all. this individual be calcined, and dillbl-
ved : then put all the difiblutions in an Urinal, fitting an Alem-
bick with a Receiver to it, and clofing the Joynts very fall, di-
ilil by Balneo, till the matter be congealed, or till no more will
diflil by that degree of heat, then remove the Receiver, and ftcp
it to prevent refpiring, and then fet the Urinal upon Aflies' ; and
if any corruptible part (^Phlegm and unprofitable Earttij remain
with the matter, let it be burnt, and the VeiTel having remain-
ed two or three Hours, in a Fire fomewhat remifs, and not any,
thing more diftillin'g through the beak of the Alembick, let the'
Veflel cool, and then pour the fame Water {Aqua Vitce^ or Spirit
0fPliilofophical Wine) which you kept before ftopt in the Re-
ceiver, upon the matter again : This matter therefore being dif-
iblved, diflil the Water again in Balneo, as before, which ha-
ving taken away, the Receiver you mull: keep well ftopt from
refpiring : then let the Urinal in Aflies, and dry the matter ;. be-
ing dryed, diflblve it in again with the Water which you kept in
the Receiver ; and if you fee the diflblution is not clear ana dia-
phanous, you muft tranfmit it fo often through a Filter or Lin-
nen Cloth, and fo oft diflblve and congeal it by turns, as be-
fore, till it be free from all Terreftreity, and appear clear and
fplendid : then may you be aflured, that the impure and cor-
ruptible part is fepa rated, and you will fee the whole matter
tranfmuted into an Oyl. But now, moil dear Son, you muft
proceed to the compofition of cur Mercury, and Sal Armwi'ack y
the Powers and Virtues whereof are fo many and fo great, as
fcarcetobe comprehended within the expreflion-of Man. The'

I way

way of which operation is thus : You muft know the weight
of the Salt or Oyl, which you beheld in the bottom of the
Veflel depurated, and pour to it fo much of our Spirit (that is
Aqua Vita re&ify'd fo, as to burn a Cloth fleeped in it) as will
be four Fingers above it, or let there be fix parts more of the
weight of the Aqua Vtta^ than is the Salt or Oyl : the whole
being mix'd together, put into an Urinal with a Cover or An-
tenotorium well luted, that it refpire not : putrifie in Balneo the
ipace of two Natural Days, then take off the Antenotorium, and
put on an Alembick, with a Receiver, clofe the Joynts well,
and diftil in a Furnace of Afhes with a (low Fire : which diflil-
lation muft be continued till the Beak or Head difcover no Veins,
but fuddenly after the Veins difappear, lay afide the Receiver
with the diflilled Water (Spirit 0f Philofophical Wine) and flop
it clofe, for now comes the animated Spirit {Spirit of Win* im^
pregnated with the Effeme of Tartar) which hath the power of
vivifying its Body (or Caput Mortuum) then continue the fame
diflillation, in the end augmenting the Fire, that if anyrpart of
Phlegm remain, it may exhale and be removed by that degree
of heat : Laftly, the Veflel being cold, take out the matter and
grind it : know the weight of the matter, and pour to it four
parts of Aqua Vita more than is the Earth (Caput mortuum) and
covering the Veflel clofe with its Antenotorium, putrifie as be-
fore, then putting an Alembick to it with a Receiver, well lu-
ted, diftill as before, in a Furnace of Afhes : the Soul being with
its Spirit gone over, with the fame Signs of Veins, as before, ap-
pearing, repeat the fame Magiflery three times : For then will
you have the Spirit perfectly animated, and the Body exanima-
ted and calcined : This Spirit with the Soul (of Tartar^) is indeed
capable of difpofmg every Phyfical operation, but in this place
we will ufe it for the vivifying of the calcined Earth : Take
therefore the aforefaid Earth out of its Veflel, and grind it, then
put a little of it upon a red hot plate, which if it melt like Wax
without fume, is a fign of perfect exanimation ; if this fign ap-
pear not, this Magiflery mufl be reiterated, till you have obtain-
ed that fign. Then know the weight. of the E^rth, upon which
pour a fourth part of the animated Spirit, and the Veflel being
covered clofe with its Antenotoriwi^ fet it in Balneo two or three
days to be congealed, or till it be congealed ; which done, re-
move

(50

move the Antenotormw, putting on a Head, and diftill in a Fur-
nace of Afhes without a Receiver, that if there be any part of
Phlegm, it may be from thence removed, for that which comes
out from this diftillation will be infipid, of no favour or efleem
in the Form of Rain Water : Then again pour on a fourth part
of the animated Spirit, as before, and congeal in Balneo, as be-
fore, then diftil the Phlegmatick moifture by Aflies, as before,
and thus repeat the aforefaid Magiflery, till the Earth hath
drunk up and attracted to it all its animated Spirit, and attained
to fuch a fign, that if you put a fmall quantity of it upon a Fire-
hot Plate, the major part fume away, which will be a fign that
the matter is difpofed for the fublimirsg of our moft precious
Mercury, which hath the power of diflblving any Metal what-
foever with the prefervation of its Vegetive and Germinative
form. Take therefore the aforefaid pregnant Earth, and put
it into a Bolt-head (Su&t/matory) with a long Neck, which you
muftlute very well with Lutum Sapie ntia^ and the luting being
dryed, fet it with the matter into a diftilling Furnace, admini-
ftring in the beginning a gentle Fire, till the Bolt-head grow
hot, whofe Mouth muft be (topped with Cotton-wooll, and con-
tinue that gentle heat the fpace of fix Hours, then augment the
Fire fomewhat fix Hours more ; but if it begins not by that de-
gree of Fire to fublime , increafe the Fire gradually to a
more violent degree, till it begin to fublime, which Fire continue
the fpace of twenty four Hours, at the expiration of which time,
the Veffei being cold, take from thence our Sulphur fublimed
(the Vegetable Sulphur of Nature') our Mercury (Vegetable^) our
Heaven (^dry) our ^ Armoniack (J^egetalli) our Stone not yet
fermented, and call'd |py many more other Names, whofe fa-
culty is to acuate its Spirit (of Philofophical \yinej as mall be
made appear by the Experiments hereafter following :

This Volatilization of the Salt of Tartar is fufficiently tedious, yet
eajie and clear , according to the tenour of the Receipt. In the follow-
ing kind of Menftruiims, we fhall have divers examples of making
fuch Sal Harmoniacks, wherefore we will thither referve thofc
things which are to be admonifhed about this way of making the Vo-
latile Salt of Tartar. Lully wixeth three founds of this Volatile
Salt with- f Mr of the Spirit cf Philofophical Wmef/scce/ively by
-various distillations, and reducetb the mixture by circidatitw/ixty

I i Davs

(sO

Days into the Vegetable Heaven. But here we are to fa advifed,
that the Sal Armoniack of Tartar in its own dry Form is a Vegc-
talk Menftruum , andfo according to the preferred method of the
Receipt, it is not always neceffary to reduce that into a liquid ful-
ftance ; for that and the Menftruum made from thence are therein
different ; lecaufe in the making of Heaven, the Vuduojity of the
Spirit of Philofophical Wine leing fuperaddcd^ and noiv prevalent ,
hath- alforled and diffolved the aridity of the Sal Armoniack ;
but this leing this way too much diluted in a greater quantity of
that Oleofum, lofethmuch of it ftrength, and becomes lefs ft for
the dijjolutions 4>f dry Bodies : But now if the volatile Salt of
Tartar le a Menftruum in a dry form, fome. have unadvifedly
faid it ferves injlead of a Philofophical Menftruum, which not-
with/landing is rightly and very well faid \ if a corrojive Menftru-
um, which we call Mineral, le under flood, whofe place the vola-
tile Salt ^Tartar, or Vegetable Menftruum, may upon fever al
eccafans fupply-

Now as this Sal Armoniack reduced into a liquid ful fiance ly the
Spirit of Philofophical Wine, makes our Vegetalle Heaven ; fo
leing diffolved with the Spirit of common V/ine it makes the Spirit
of Wine of Bafilius diffolvedwith Fine gar >our Vinegar diffolved with
Aquafortis, the Philejophers Aqua Regis ; andfo of many 01 hers. At
prefent the aforefaid Spirit of Bafilius hath its place.

1 8. The Spirit of Wine of Bafiliu*.
In Fine Libri Revelat.

TAke generous white-Wine ^common) and diftil after the
ufual manner, to make a ftrong Aqua Vita thereof in a
Copper, which redifie in a Phial and ieparatc the Phlegm : this
Aqua Vita is thus proved: If it burn all away, and leave no A-
qupfity behind it, being kindled in a Glazed Veflel j but if any
remain, diftil yet once or twice, the Joynts being very clofe,
that the Volatile Spirit of the Wine may not exhale : The Aqua
Vitce being thus diftilled, and exactly rectifYd Qbut have a care
that in the time of diftilling you put not a Candle to it, left it
hurt you) joyn three Ounces of Tartar perfectly fublimed with
a^quantity of this Aqw Vita in another Phial, fo as that the Phi-
al

(53)

al be half full, put an Alembick to it with a Receiver large
enough, and diftil in Balnto Mar its moil gently, becaiife of the
Volatile Spirits, a little of the Aqua Vit& being left in the bot-
tom, and as you diftil, cool the Alembick with wet Cloaths :
thus is the Spirit fooner refolded, and pafleth into the Receiver.
This is that Spirit cfWivs which Bafilius ufed in fever al place s y
ef pee hilly in his Cmclu/totts, where ly the Spirit of Wins he redu-
ceth as well Meiallkk as Mineral Bodies into Oyl ; Whofoever hath
imagined to himfelf another Spirit inflead thereof., mufl have a care
left he prove tf*e truth of this fay ing to his own detriment : There is
yet indeed another defer lotion of that' Spirit of Wine in Appendice
"Eiuddationis , which notwithstanding differs no f, from the former ;
except that in the former description it was read tke Volatile Salt
of Tartar ; but here it is read Sal Armoniack, perfectly fubli-
med -, 'but that tlwy are Synonyma's, is even now mamfefi by the
Receipt of Lully : For whatfoever Salt, either fxd. or 'volatile.,
is joyned with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine and fullimed,
is called cur Volatile Salt, our Sulphur of Nature, and our fulli-
med Mercury, which way be ufed promifcuoufly as Salt Philofophica/ly
fal limed ; for both tkofe Salts (of Tartar and Sal Armoniack)
'were by Baiilius made perhaps cut of one and the fame matter : But
this his Menftruum /^ not fo- flrong as the Ccelum Vegetabile of
Lully , though prepared out of the fame Salt 0/Tartqr.jw// as that :
For Bafilius diminifheth the virtue of this Salt, ly adding the
Spirit of common Wine : Lully accompli fteth the fame work, Itf
with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine .- yet Bafilius fowetimes
et/fo made his ' Menftruum ftronge r than the Ccelum Vegetabile of
Lully, byfeparating the Spirit of common Wine from the Pliilo-
fophical Sal Armoniack, which indeed he performed two ways :
Firfl, by kindling the Mendruum in a Copper Feffel defignd frr
this ufe, to burn away the Spirit of .common Wine, but- leave the Ve-
getable Sal Armoniack by it Jeff, reduced into a It quid, fub fiance-
The way is this.

The

iy. The Fiery Spirit of Wine
In the Place as above.

antecedent Spirit of Wine, being fit for this pre-
paration of the Fiery Spirit, make an Inftrument of Cop-
per, which may be taken up in the middle, below and above the
Holes, as alfo above the middle of the Veffel, put on an Alen>
bick with a Pipe, let them be all of Copper, except the Recei-
ver, which mud be of Glals, which put in a wooden Veflel into
Water, and cover it above with wet Cloaths, in the wooden
Veflel let there be a paflage, by which the Water, when hot,
may fly out, and cold be poured on : all things being thus pre-
pared, the Spirit of Wine prepared is put in through the lower
Holes', fo as to touch the Holes, then is it kindled, and the Mer-
cury is driven upwards through the middle Holes, and refolved
by the coldnefs of the Water, and paffeth out of the Alembick
into the Receiver : Thus is the true Spirit of Wine prepared, but
in the work never ceafe from refrigerating, and pour on new
Aqua Viife) left it burn too low. In the Addition or Appendix of
manual operations, Ifafikus defcriled this Spirit thus: Take Wine
burned (rather Wine to le lurned, made of the Sal Armoniack of
Tartar, and Spirit of Common Wine} which put in a flrong Vel-
fel that can endure the flame of Fire,and kindle it with a Match
of Sulphur, and forthwith apply an Alembick of Iron or Cop-
per, with a large Receiver, and the true fiery Spirit of Wine is
refolved ' and diftilled into a Liquor : this is the true airy and
fiery Spirit of Wine.

Secondly, He impregnates Calx Vive, or Qjjck Lime, with the
Tfanfaw&m defcrtled in Numb. 18. from which he diftillsa'b&zn-
"ftruum.jflf jlronger> called Spirit of Calx Vive. Calx Vive,
faith he, is ftrengthened and made more fiery by the pure and
not fophifticated Spirit of Wine (made of Sal Armoniack andSpi-
rit of Common Wine very often cohobated, to which Calx add
the Sal alkali of Tar tar , the dryed Fasces of the fame Salt being
alfo added, from which, being thoroughly mix'd, diftil the true
SpiritusGehsnneus, or Spirit of Hell, in which are great My fte-
ries hidden : the method of acquiring this Spirit I have tcld

you,

( 55 )

you, which obferve, keep, and accept for a farewel-Gift. Bafi-
lius m Repet. Lapidu, m Cap. fie Cake viva. Mark, faith he, in
the End of this Book, De Medicim* fupernaturalilus. I told you
of the Virtues and Qualities of Precious Stones, but there are
alfo found many Stones defpicableand ignoble, yet of great Vir-
tue,as Experience teflifies; though the ignorant and unskilful will
fcarce give Credit to thefe fayings, and cannot conceive thofe
things with their dull Brains, yet will I demonftrate it by an
Example of Calx vive, which Calx is according to the judg-
ment of the Vulgar, of little value, and contemptible in obfcuri-
ty j yet neverthelefs there is powerful Virtue in it, which ap-
pears in the application of it againft mofl grievous Difeafes :
but its triumphant and tranfcendent efficacy being in a manner
unknown tomoft Men, for the fake therefore of thofe that in-
quire into Natural and Supernatural Myfteries, do I difcover the
fecrets of this Book : as a farewel alfo will I reveal the My fiery
of Calx vive, and declare flrft the way of diflilling the Spirit of
it, which work does indeed require an expert Artift, well inform-
ed before, in this preparation.

20. The Spirit of Calx vive of Rafilim.
In Fine Lib. de Med. Supernatur.

TAke of Calx vive what quantity you will, grind and pre-
pare it on a Marble into an impalpable Powder, whereto
pour of the Spirit of Wine (Menftruum intfuml. 1 8.) fo much as
the pulverized Calx is able to imbibe, no Spirit fwimming upon
the Calx. Then apply an Alembick, lute well, and put a Re-
ceiver to it, abftraft the Spirit from it in a moft gentle Balneo ;
this abftraftion mufl be repeated eight or ten times : this Spirit
ftrengthens much the Spirit of the Calx, which is thereby made
more fiery. Take the remaining Calx out of the CucurLk.
grind it very well, and add to it 01 the Salt of Tartar {Alk '
a tenth part, and as much as all of the Earth of the Salt O T
tar, or matter left in extrading the Salt of Tartar, and
ed, diflil them all being well mix'd out of a Retort well lc
three parts of which mufl be empty, in a Receh
firm : Take notice, that the Receiver, into which

(sO

the Retort is put, muft have a Pipe one Fingers breadth, to which
another Receiver is to be apply ed,in which muft be a little quan-
tity of Spirit of Wine (Menfiruum in Nuw&. 18.) then diflil with
a fbft Fire, and the Phlegm will alcend into the firft Receiver ;
the Phlegm being di(lilled,increafe the Fire, and then will come,
a white Spirit, in the Form of the white Spirit diftilled from
VitxvA.(Philofofhicar) which will not defcend into the Phlegm,
but through the aforefaid Pipe into the other Receiver, there
joyning it felf with the Spirit of Wine, even as Fire is eaftly
jpyned with Fire. Take notice, if this Spirit of Calx be not
rightly prepared or impregnated with the like Spirit of Wine,by
tlie aforefoid cohobations, it is indiftilling mixed with its Phlegm,
extinguiihed, and lofeth its Virtue j fo difficult a thing it is to
drive deeply into Nature , ihe referving many things to her.
felf : This Spirit being now mix'd with the Spirit of Wine,take
away the Receiver, pour out the Phlegm, and keep the Spirits
of the Calx and Wine wearily : Obferve, both thele Spirits arc
feparated not without difficulty, for they embrace one another,
and in diftillation afcend together : W'herefore, if you kindle
the Spirits being mix'd and united in a Glafs Veilel, the Spirit
of Wine is burned, but the Spirit of the Calx .remains, in the
Glafs, which keep diligently. This is a great Arcanum^ few Spi-
rits do exceed its efficacy, if you knew the ufe-of it, its qualj-
ties'can fcarce be defcribed by way of Compendium. This Spirit
diflblves Crabs Eyes., and the horded Criftals : thefe three ditlil-
led together through an Alembkk, and many times cohobated,
make a Liquor, three drops of which taken in warm Wine, do
break and diflblve the Gravel and Stone in Mans Body, this
Liquor expells the very root or caufe of that Diilale without
any pain to the Patient : This Spirit of Calx at the beginning is
of a Sky-Colour, but being gently rectified appears white, tran-
fparent and clear, leaving iomeiew Fceces behind- it : Tills Spi-
rit diflblves the moft frxed Jewels, and Precious Stones, and on
the contrary fixeth all Vclatile Spirits by its tranfcendent heat :
This Spirit overcomes all Symptoms whatfcever of the Tcda-
gra, though never fo knotty and tartarous, all which it diflblves
and radically expells.

If Spirit ofWin^ acuatecl with Pegefalk Sal Harmoniack le
kindled^ the Spirit of common Wine is lun.ed, lut the Sal Harmoni-

( 57 )

) afcends in the Form of a Liquor, and u caffed
the Fiery Spirit of Wine 0f Bafilius, but the fame Spirit of Wine
joyned with the Sal Harmoniack being abforbed ly the Calx vive,
and then diflilled into it felf, and then kindled^ the Spirit of con+
mon Wine is indeed consumed by the Flame as before^ but the Spirit
of the Calx, or rather the Vegetable Sal Harmoniack afcettefs not
as before, but remains in the bottom of the Glaft iecaufe more di-
gefted, and made more fixed ; But for the greater elucidation of theft
Spirits, we thought good to add another Defcription of the Spirit
of Calx.

2 1 . The Simple Spirit of Calx vive ofBa/ilius,
In manualibus Operationibus,

TAke pure Calx vive, burn it in a Potters Furnace with 9
moft ftrong Fire, to reduce it to an exact maturity ,grind
it very fine upon a Marble, and put it in a Cucurbit., pour to it
Spirit of Wine made of Philofophical Tartar (as I toft teach in
my method of making Aurum potafote} that the Calx may be
made like thin Pap ; this being done, diftil from thence the
Phlegm, till tlie Calx be dry, pour on new Spirit of Wine, and
draw of: repeat it fix times, then grind the matter very curi-
oufly, and put it in a Cellar to be diflblved^r del't^uium^ and
within ? few days a Liquor will run fromit,which being gathe*'d
and diftilled by a Retort in Sand, fir ft fends forth a Phlegm C0
be kept by it felf, after that a Spirituous Liquor, which allo keep
apart : Now take Criftals pulverized, mix therewith the fame
weight of Vtve or Mineral Sulphur, burn this matter, continual*
ly /firring it, till all the Sulphur be burned away, then reverbe-
rate in an open Fire the fpace of three Hours ; this done, pour
the afbrefaid Liquor to this matter. Take alfo Crab Eyes,- ft>
which alfo pour the fame Liquor of quick Lime in another Gla&,
let them be digefted fourteen Days in a heat ftrong enough, a-nd
from both will afcend an humidity upon the fuperficies, which
decant finely into a Uttk Glafs, and re&ifie in Balneo, and a Li*
quor will remain in the bottom ; three grains of which ac'mi-
nidred in Wine haveiproduced very great and admirable effe&s.

K Thit

(58 )

This Medicine cures alfo radically the Stone of the Bladder and
Kidneys, as well in Men as Women.

The Spirit of Wine made of Fhilofophical Tartar, which Bafilius
promifea to give in hu method of making Aurum potabile, will con-
firm all the aforefaid Menftruums gf Baiiiius ; forthofe are made of
Sal Harmoniack, or the Volatile Salt 0f Tartar leing clivers ways
prepared ; lut this Spirit of Philofophical Wine acuated ivith the
Salt of Tartar, not indeed the common Alca li ; lut that leing reduced
together with the Spirit of Philoiophical Wine into a liquid Julftance :
for we are to be admonifhed that it is not a/ways necejjary to make
the Ccelum or Heaven 0/Lully, and the reft of the Menllruums
of this kind, with the Salt <7f Tartar, as leing Philofophica/ly Vola-
tilized, lut that fometimes alfo the fame Menftruum may le made
of the Salt oj Tartar without the fulliwation or re duff ion of it into
the Vegetable Sulphur of Nature^ ly coholatingonly the Spirit of Phi-
lofophical Wine upon Salt 0/Tartar, till it afcendly diflillation in

the Form of a Milky Liquor* It is thus done,

22. The Tartarifed Spirit of Wine of Baft/ins.
InmanaL Operation.

THe firft thing to be known is that the Philofophers Tar-
tar^ wherewith the Lock is opened, is not like common
Tartar, as moft Men imagine,but is another Salt, though fpring-
ing from the fame Fountain : This Salt is the only Key to open,
and diflblve Metals, if prepared as followeth. Take the Aflies
of a fruitful Wine, and draw a Lee or Lixivium as ftrong as may
te out of them with hot Water, which evaporate by boy ling it
to a drinefs^ that the matter may remain reddiih, which rever-
berate in a reverberating Furnace three days, or thereabouts,
with an open Fire, till it become white : then diflblve it in
Spring- Water, fuffer it to fettle, decant the clear, filter to fepa-
rate the Fxces, being filtred, coagulate, and you will have the
white Salt of Tartar, from which the true Spirit is diftilled after
this manner : Take Spirit of Wine re&ifi'd to the highefl de-
gree, and altogether void of Phlegm, {defcriled in Numb. 1 9.)
and pour it to the Salt of Tartar in a Phial with a long Neck, fo
as to be three Fingers above it,lute an Alembick to the Phial, fit

(59 )

a Receiver to it, and digeft with a gentle heat, then draw ofFthe
Phlegm mod foftly, and the Spirit of Tartar is opened by Vir-
tue of the Spirit of Wine, and by reafon of reciprocal and admi-
rable love they both afcend together ; the Faeces remaining, if
any be, as alfo the Phlegm muft be caft away ; thus will you
have the true Spirit of Wine, wherewith Aurum potabile is
made.

This truly n a mofl Nolle Menftruum, fo as for its excellency to
defer ve a higher Place than this among the Simple Vegetable Men-
ftruums ; whereas it ought to have been more rightly transferred to
the feventh Kind of Menftruums , lut it 'very much at prefent Illuft-
r at ing the Menftruums <?f Bafilius, and fo of greater utility here
than there, we will not remove it from hence ', yet will we add fome
examples more clear offuchfort <?/Menftuums. Thus it is done,

23. The Vegetable Acetum acerrimum, or Ignis

Adepti of Ripley,made of Tartar calcined.

Pag. 331. Concord. Raym. iy Quid.

TAke the Tartar of Wine, and calcine it to whitenefs.
Take of this calcined Tartar one Pound, and being pul-
verized, put it in a great Glafs Cucurbit, and pour to it half a
Cup, or a little more of the ftrongeft Spirit of (PhilofapktcaT)
Wine^ flop the Mouth very clofe, and let them ftand in cold
Water twenty four Hours, then put a Receiver to it, and diftil
in Balneo with an eafie Fire,yet fo as to be diftilled ; which eafie
diflillation muft be continued, till the Phlegm afcend, which
mull be known by the tafte, then let it cool, and again put new
Spirit of Wine to the aforefaid Tartar, the fame quantity as be-
fore, doing all things as before : which work you muft repeat
fifteeii times, but when the VeiTel is opened in every Imbibition,
above all things have a care of the fuddain fume of this Ignis
Adepti : This work being in fifteen times compleat, lay afide
three ounces of this fiered Tartar for apart, to multiply the
Mercurial'Oyl, as lower will appear. Take the other 1 -part of
this fiered Tartar, and diftil it in Sand with a moft itrong Fire,
which Fire being fo ditblicd hath a white Colour, and is our

K x N.itura

( *>)

tfatura ignita^ our Mercury, our ^#4 /^f/a?, laflly the Key of our
Science.

This Menflruum is the fame, as to the Ingredients ax A Firtue^
with the Fegetalle Heaven- of L,\A\y, but it m*ft be Circulated like
that Heaven^ in order to lofe its milky and dmkijb Colour, and ac-
quire the diaphaneity and clearnefs of this. This Receipt hath alfo
Johannes de Rupefcifla, which it is convenient to compare with
this,, efpeciat/y he varyingfomeivhat in Circum fiances, by diffolvinv
per deliquium Tartar impregnated with the Spirit <?f Philofophical
Wkie before the diftillatian aj it.

24. The Aqua Foniffima and Vert&ofa of Johan-
nes ae Rupefci/fa.
Cap. 43. Lib. Effenti*.

^ ,. :- '- . [: ., -;: . ,' ' . . ./--..

/ | <s He mofl Blefled God, the Creator of Secrets, hath made fo
X many wonderful things in Nature, that neither can our
Underflanding perceive,fome few excepted, nor Tongue exprefs
the wonderrul things of God without ftammering : and among
the Secrets, I will reveal to you a Water of Divine Aftiori, and
the Magiftery of it,is, to take the beft white Tartar calcined, and
put it m an Earthen or Glais Veflel, and pour to it the beft
(Thtlofiphicar) Aqua Ardens you can get, put on an Alembick,
ttid diftilthc Aqua Ardens very weak, then take it away, being
tittle or nothing worth, except for waihing of the Eyes or other
carts : Then take you Tartar , and you will find it twice as
ftrong, and this you may prove each time by your Tongue ;put
other Aqtta Ardens to it again many times more, becaufe it will
beevery time ftrengthaed above meafure, and you may bring
it to fo great a degree of flrength, that no created ation can be
compared to it : But if you would make it a hundred times
Sponger, grind it, and put it upon a Porphyry or Marble, to be
converted i$to Water, which then muft be diftilled through an
Afcmbick.

There is yet another way of preparing thhVegetaUe Heaven, not
fayfublimatipnoftheAlcalii vor coholation^ lut fim^k Circulation ' y
n&tefy ly iligefiing the Alee It ^"Tartar, in the Spirit o/Philofo-

phical Wine, till it fwms upon t^e Spirit of Wine like an 0>V. It
is thus done,

25. Vegetable Mercury acuated with the Salt

of Tar tar of Lully.
In Prima Camera Individ nor urn, dift. 3. Lib. E/en.

IN the firft Chamber is Signified, that our Mercury is in the
power of H (crude Tartar^ and in order to draw it out, the
Artift muft put th? fai'd'H into E (that is r in a Glafs- Makers Fur-
nace^ three NaturaV&ays, and there muft be a great cjuintity of
it, becaufe but little will be made from thence, which H (Tartar
HOW calcined) you muft grind fubtilly, and put it into Hof Arlo-
ris Philofophical (into diffolution per deliquiwn) upon aMaifeifc~in
a very cold place, and covered becaufe of duft j and H ww be
. converted into T^oleuwper etehquiwn) whidiT muft the Artift
diftil through a Filtre in a Glals Veflel, and the Artift having
feparatedT from H, will be able to extract our Mercury out of
the faidTtwo ways. Firft, by the Magiftery of the Chapter be-
ginning, Non reputes me, &c. (ly Circulation like the Ejfence or
Spirit of Wine <?/LulIy.)Secondly,by the Magiflery of the Chap-
ter, Non proztermittam (ly the feparation of the Elements, of
not in this place?)

Lully Jome times ufed the Salt of Tartar depurated inflead tf
Oylof Tartar per deliquium, as in the Firft ExperimcNt. You
have,/?/^ he, another fign more certain of the purification of
diis Individual (the Salt ^Tartar) namely, when this moft pre-
cious Salt will, remain in the VefTel upon Fire in the Form of an
Oyl,but being removed from the Fire, will fuddenly be congeal-
ed. But deareft Son ! Let not the Prolixity of time be kklome
to you, in difTolving and congealing this Matter io often, to
take away Corruption, which remaining, it can never be joyn-
ed with its Spirit extracted ^rom the molt precious, and its near-
eft Individual, which is the beft Wine, freed :rom uii manner of
Humidity and Corruption .- Then Circulate it in a Circulating
Veflel, and fo reduce it into a Q^inteflence, and it waJll forth-
with embrace its Spirit : this Circulation we perform'd at firft

in thirty days,but afterwards compleated the fame in forty days,
which Circulation was much better than the the firft, becaufe
the longer it is circulated, the more is it purify 'd, and adepted
for any of pur Phyfical Operations, which order when need re-
quires, you alfo mufi obferve.

Menflruums of this kind may le divers ways made not only out of
the Alcalitff Tartar, but other fix'd , Alcalies .may le alfo taken in-
ffead- of that, as proves 'the following Menftruuin.

26. The Simple Vegetable .Menftruum produ-
cedf rom the three Individuals of Lully.

In Exferim. 25.

' |' s Ake Aq*a Vita fo acute, as to burn a Linnen Cloth, which
_j - tranlmit again through an Alembick, that it may be
perfectly reftify'd : Then take the Salt of Celandine, Salt of
Mans Blood, Salt extracted from Honey, as you have them
above in their Experiments,, all which Salts put together in an
Urinal (Cucttrlii) and upon every Ounce of thole Salts pour
four Ounces of the a,orefaid Aqua Vitoz, cover it with its Ante-
liotormm, (blind Heaf] then having a little time digefted put
on an Alembick, with a Receiver annexed, lute the joynts well f
and diflil in Afhes, fuffering the Salts to go over together with
the Water : If any thing remain, pour to it again its diftillecl
Water, and when all is come over, pour in new Salt again, to
wit, one Ounce, and pafs it through the Alembick as before.
Thirdly, add again another Ounce oi Salt, as above, and difliJ,
repeating this Magiftery three times, every time adding new
Salt : Thefe. things being done. Circulate this Water in a Veflel
deep and narrow the f pace of fifty Natural Days, but obferve
that the Veilel tefpire not. Circulation being finilhed, you will
in the bottom of the Veffel fee a Sediment like the Urine of a
found Man, which will be white ; empty the Water warily in-
to another clean Veflel, and be careful that the Sediment pafs
not over with the Water, but remain in the bottom of the Vef-
fel: flop the Veflel of the ' 'Circulated Water fo as not to rc-
fpire, and keep it fin Balrrf'

The

The preparation cf tie Salt of Celandine, is ?H the Fourth Ex-
periment. Then take the Ames of Celandine, gathered in the
Month of May at full Moon, with its Roots and Flowers, and
put them in a Glafs Vefiel, and thereto pour the water of Ce-
landine diftill'd in BalneO) that you may from thence extract
a Salt ; and let the matter boyl two hours in a mod foft Fire
of Afhes ; empty the diflblution into. another Veilel, but dry
the undifiblved Earth , and when the Ve(Iel is cold grind it,
pouring again new water upon the Afhes as before ; make it
boyl, and decant the diflolution, as before. This Magi-
fiery repeat, till you have extracted all the Salt, which
is the Mercurial part of that Individual: then take all.thofe
diflblutions and filtre them, that they may be purged from
Terreftreity , then diftilling by Balneo, congeal ; for the Liquor
being gone over, in the bottom 01 the Veflel will remain a
Mercury or Salt of a white colour ; which Salt you muft diflblve
and by turns congeal three-times ; and by this means you will
have extracted the Mercury out of this matter, which hath vir-
tues almoft innumerable in acuating the Vegetable Spirit drawn
from Wine, and hath the power of difiblving all Metals with the
prefervation of their Vegetative and Germenative Form.

The fixed Salt of Mans Blood is thus prepared in the Eleventh
Experiment. Take Blood drawn from found and cholerick
men, and put it on . a clean Table, and fo let it dry that the
Phlegm may be feparated from it ; then take the Blood, grind
it very well, and put it into a Glafs Body, and with a flow Fire
diftil the water, which being diftilled keep apart ; and having
augmented the Fire a little but not too intenfely, left the . Salt
perhaps mould fublime ; let only the moifture and fuperfluous
Oyl exhale till it will diftil no more ; then the Veflel being
cold, take the burned Earth, put it into a VefTel ftopp'd clofe to
keep it from refpiring ; for in refpiring it would vanifh av> ay
into Smoak : fet the VefTel in a reverberating Furnace, but the
heat muft be exceeding temperate, that the Salt of the Matter
which is volatile, and not fix a, may not exhale ; and that the Vef-
fel may not by the violence of the Fire be broken,as hath hapned
to us ; and let the matter Hand in that degree of heat the fpace of
two days, and it will be calcin'd ; which done, let the - V eflel cocl,
and being cold, open it ; and upon the calcined matter pour its

own

own Phlegm, that is the water, which you diftili'd at fir ft ;
'let it boyl upon afhes two hours, that feme part may be diflbl-
ved, and that which is diflblved decant into another Veflel, and
again with new water do as before ; and thus repeat till you
have extracted all the Salt ; then draw ofFthe water by diftil-
lation in Balnea ; and in the Veflel will remain the Salt as white
as Snow, of a great many virtues , and if you acuate the Vege-
table Fire with it, it will without doubt diflblve the two Lumi-
naries with the confervation of their Vegetative Form : And
with it may be made a mofl excellent Aurum potalile, to pre-
ferve the radical moifture in men, and expel many difeafes.

Tfo Third Experiment teacheth the Preparation of the Salt of
Ffoney> after this wanner : Take new white Honey together with
the Comb, put it in a Glafs Veflel to putrifie the fpace of fixty
days; then diitil, fifc. Then take the Earth (Caput mortuum)
which remained in the Urinal, and being perfectly ground, put
it in an Earthen Veflel, made of Valentinian Chalk, or of that
which Crucibles are made of; or if you cannot have this Vef-
fe put the feme Earth between two Crucibles, one joyned to
the other, and very well luted ; then fet them in a reverbera-
ting or Glafs-makers Furnace, and there let them (lay four or
five days, fo will' the Earth be white ; but if you do this work
in a reverberating Furnace, have a care that the Fire be not too
violent, for (b would the Earth evaporate ; and if the Fire be
too weak, it will never be calcined, a moderate heat therefore is
requifite ; thus, no fuch error can happen as we have met with;
for when we. began this work, we loft all the Earth by the vio-
lence, of Fire ; but to the purpofe ; this Earth being calcined,
as aforefoid, and the Veflel cold, take it out and grind it ; then
pour the water which you diftilled by Balne o to it, and let the
matter boyl two hours upon aihes, and empty the water into
another Veflel from the Earth, which Earth you muft dry
with a gentle Fire. Upon the fame afhes pour new Phlegm,and
let it boyl, as before, decant by emptying and keeping, as be-
fore, the diflblution of the Body ; and thus repeat the Magi-
ftery, till you have evacuated all the moft precious Salt out of
it, and converted it into water : Then take all thofe ciilToluticns,
and filtre them through a clean Linnen-Cloth, which water
muft diftil by Balnto ; at length m the bottom of the

Vef-

fel will you have a mofl Precious Salt, or Vegetable Mercury :
Which done, know the weight of the faid Congelation or Salt,
and pour to it a third part of the Water, which you kept be-
fore, and which you re&ify'dfeven times in Aflies, (the acid Wa-
ter of Honey) and ftop the Veflel with its Ant enotor -turn ', and fet
it in Balneo five Days, then having taken away the Antenotori-
um, and put on an Alembick, you muft with a temperate Fire
by diftillation exhale all the moid lire that will diltil, and that
will be infipid, for the Earth hath received, and in it felf retain-
ed the Virtue and Acetofity of the Water : Then again imbibe
the Earth with new Water as before, and repeat the Magiflery
by imbibing, digefting, and diftiliing' fo oft as before, till the
Earth hath attracted and imbibed all its Water: And fo by the
help of the living God will you truly have the Vegetable Salt
drawn from this individual, which Salt is mod precious, and
hath the power of acuating the Vegetable Mercury, and diflbl-
ving the two Luminaries, arid all the other imperfect Metals :
And with this may Metals be reduced into their firft Matter.

To thefe Salts requifite fer this Menftruum of Lully, I will add
the fifth Experiment, which teachsth to prepare Alkalies from Portu-
laca Marina, Apium Sylveftre, Squilia, Euphorbium, Pyre-
thrum, Rofmarinus, Herb Mercury, Solatrum, Oliandrum, &c.
with all which you. may acuate the Vegetable Mercury drawn from
Wine, either joyntly or federally.

This fort of Menftruums is wade not only out of the Alkalies^"
Vegetables, but alfo out of Mineral Salts, fuch as common Salt, Sal
Gemmrc, Alum, &c. Thus it is made.

27. The Circulatum Minus, or Water of Salt

Circulated of Paracelfus

Lib. 10. ArchiJox.

TAKE the true Element of Water, or inftead thereof
another Salt which hath not been as yet boy I'd to plain
Drinefs, or alfo Sal Gemmae putrified , pour two parts of the
water mix'd with a little Juice of Rapbamsto it, putrefiein acu-
rate digeftion, the longer the better , let it afterward congeal,

L aa<4

and putrefie again for a Month ; then diflil in a Retort, the
remainder urge with a ftrong Fire, that it may melt ,- reverbe-
rate in a Retort, with a continual Fire, diilolve upon a Marble
the water flowing from hence pour to it, and putrefie again ,
diflil again even to an Oleofity ; joyn it with the Spirit of
(Jrhlofyphtcafy Wine and -that which is impure will fall down,
which feparate ; but let the pure be criflalized in a cold place;
pour on again that which is diftilled, and cohobate fo oft' till a
fixed OyL remains in the bottom, and nothing fweet goes over ;
Digeil moreover for a Month, then diitil, till the Arcanum of
Salt pals over through the Alembeck : Nor let long labour grieve
you> for this is the third part of all the Arcanuws, which are
hidden in Metals and Minerals ; and without which nothing
can be made ufeful or perfect.

The fame Circulatum hath Paracelfus defer tied in his Treatife
of reducing Metals into their firft matter or running Mercury ;
(which is the fourth Treatife in Rofario novo Olimpico Benedicli
Figuli( which Defcription we thought good to compare with thif- y
that they way illuftrate one another. Take, faith be. Sal Gemmae
mod finely pulverized ; put it in a ftrong Crucible, and incrcaf-
ing the Fire by degrees, melt the Salr, being melted, keep it
fo for the fpace of three Hours ; the Salt being cold,pulvcrize it
again, and melt it in a new Crucible, according to the a fore fa id
method, and fo proceed five or fix times ; then to the pulveri-
zed Salt, pour fo much or the hot Juice of Raphams jthat it may
be diflblvcd. .-(wix the Salt, ami fqtteeze it with a little of the
Juice y with a woe den fpoon, in a wooden J/effel ; leing diffolved^
ft rain it through ajleeve, and Jet it apart ; add again a little of the
Juice i and re feat till all the Salt le diffofoed) coagulate or draw
offtjie water by an Alembick ; reduce the Salt into, Powder
putrefie in Balneo fix days ; tben diftil with an open Fire, "like
Aqua Regis, obferving the degrees of Fke, tiil nothing more
afcends , force it with a moil ftrong Fire tor an hour that it
may be throughly calcined ; pulverize the 5|lt, being yet hot,
very fmall on a Marble, and let it be,di(Tolved by it ieif .in a
moiil place ; putrefie all that is diflblved in Bahteo three days ;
then diilil. gradually, by the Rule of Art, all the Liquor.
through an Alembick in Sand ; the remaining Body being well
pulverized diflblve on a Marble, putrefie, and diilil as before ;

repeat

repeat this three times ; the remainder reduce into Powder,arid
put in a Cucurbit ; to which pour thefe three diftilled waters,
putrefie five days, and again diftil in Sand ; thus putrefying an4
diftilling, all the Salt will at length afcend through the A lembick,
except a little Caput wortuum to be caft away : but the water di-
ftilled from the fubftance of the Salt, putrefie for a Day and
a Night, and re&ifie twice or thrice, and you will have the wa-
ter of Salt.

This Menftruum made of Sea-falt, or Sal 'Gemmae, Paracel-
fus made choice of before the reft of the fimple Vegetable Menftru-
ums, as the left, lecaufe according to his Doftrine, it is the Ma-
trix or Center of Metals and Minerals. Becaufe, faith he, be-
ing inftrufted by Experiments, and having in other Books alfo
made mention, that theprzmum Ens, or filth Eflence of the Ele-
ment of Water, is the Center of Metals and Minerals, and
having elfevvhere alfo added, that every product ought to dye
in that in which it received life, In a German Manufcript thefe
Words are thus read, Das ein iegelich frucht in feiner Mutter,
darinnen es daslebenuberkommen, fterben mufs, That is > eve-
ry Fruit ought to dye in the fame Matrix in which it oltains its
Life, that afterwards it may receive a new Life better, and
fo by the depofition of the old Body be reduced into the pri-
mum Em, or firft Being : The way therefore of extracting the
Center of Water, iu which Metals ought to depofe their
Body, will I here add.

This Menftruum vce will explain ly its Branches; whereof the
Firft w, Oyl of Salt' difiblved per deliquium. In the frft procefs
be dijfohes Sea-falt, or Sal Gemmce, in water mixd with the
Juice 0/Raphanus, putrefies, and with a ftronger Fire diflils ; lut
the Caput mortuum (the remaining Salt rather} he dijjohes on
a Marlle per deliquium. In the fecond Receipt he diffol-ucs Sal
Gemmr^, le'mg firffi five or Jix times melted in an equal quantity
of the Juice of Raphanus made hot, then coagulates, putrefies^ and
diftils like common Aqua fortis ; the remaining Salt reduced into
Powder, being as jet hot, he dijfohes , per deliquium in a tnoifl
pLice. Sometimes he does without this Jlinking Juice of Raphanus
more cowpendioujly -prepare that Oyl of Salt per dcliqvuiun, and
that is,fr<;w Salt calcined with Nitre : TJ^e ReJcc'J'pt is to take of
common Salt, and the Salt of Urine equal pairs, to be bv the

L 2. 'Rule

Rule of Akhymy calcined two hours, then refolved in a Cellar
after the ufual manner, &c. From this calcined Salt is diiliikd
a Spirit, which refolveth Gold into Oyl ; but if it be again ex-
tracted, and to the higheft degree prepared, a mod excellent
Aurumpotalile will be had, but without that extraction (D//?//-
IdtiotT) the Gold is only refolved ; then is it a moil pure
Art for Goldfmiths in guildi/ig, and for Iron-fmiths a conftant
and precious Treafure to guild with ; yet they that prepare it
ought to be skilful Alchymifls. Libro de rebus Nat. Cap. 4. de
Sale. pag. 190. That Paracelfus, ly the Salt of Urine intended
Nitre is eafily proved ly what follows. In what place foever
(faith be*) the Urine of Man or Beafl is poured forth, at the
lame fucceeding time is Sal Nitre produced ; for Urine gather-
ed and prepared into another Salt,is called Sal Niter, ilidem. But
the fame Receipt, Tract.de Sale, pag. 171. Pitts it out of all doubt,
leing thus dejcriled. Take Salt and Sal Nitre in equal proporti-
on ; let them be calcined by themfelves till they melt, then re-
folve them into a Liquor.
M The Second , The Oyl or EfTence of Salt, In thefrfl pro-
cefs he takes the Oyl of Salt per deliquium, and coholates it fo
oft with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, till the Salt remains
at the lot torn in a form of an Oyl, and no Phlegm afcends ; lut if
inflead of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine any Vegetable "Men-
ftruum be taken, as for example ; the Menftruum which we treat now
of, leing already prepared, or Salt circulated, there is no nectffity
for the Salt to le dijfbfoed per deliquium, lut is with lefs pains re-
duced Into an Oyl or natural Eflence. Though, faith he, there
are more ways to extract the Ens primum of Sak, yet this, is
moft commodious and moft expeditious ; and after this,, there is
that other way which we mention'd,fpeaking of the Elixir of Salt,
namely, that new Salt mix'd well with the diflblving water,
which is the diftill'd Spirit of Salt, the Circulatum minus made
of Salt, the water of Salt circulated, (//^ Arcanum of Salt,, the
Menflruum which ts now in hand") mud be putrify'd, and di-
ftill'd fo long, till the fubflance of the Salt be diflolved, and
reduced into a perpetual Oleofity, the Body in the Form of
Phlegm being abftrafted from it. The place alleadgedis in Li I. 8.
Archid.de Elixeriis pag."$ i . Take Salt well prepared ,mofl white,
<- ^ ,. and pure,put it into 3 Pellican,with fix times the weight of the dif-

folving

folving water (by the didblving water is our water of Salt
(circulated} to be underflood. Lib. 10. Ar chid. fag. 38.) Digeft
them a month together in Horfe-dung ; then ieparate the dif-
folving. water by Diftiljation, and pour it on again, and fepa-
rate, as before, and that fo oft, till the Salt be converted into
Oyl. This way of making the Effence of Salt with the Gircula-
tum minus, u much better, and more exquifite than that former
preparation performed byjhe Spirit 0/Philoiophical Wine, though
Paracelfus affirms thefirmer me thcd to be more ufeful, and more expe-
ditious than the latter ; which is to be underftood of tlx ufe of 'loth ,
not the preparation : For the Effcnce of Salt is bothfooner and bet~
ter prepared with fome Circulatum minus, than- with the /imple
Spirit of Philofophical Wine ; from which Effence of Salt which
way foeuer made, is prepared the Arcanum of Salt ; which reaftn
will have more commodious, and mort expeditious, in extracting the
Effence s of things, than the Oyl of Salt, nafryet fo graduated* In
thefecona Procefs, Paracelfus commands, indeed, the- Oyl of Salt
made per deliquium to be putrefy "d ; but as to the mtans of putre-
faction, whether with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine^ or fome
fimple Vegetable Menftruum makes no mention, without which not- -
withflanding the Salt would not ajcend in the Alembick, and if it were
diftilkd,yet would it be of no uje in extracting Effence s : Heputri-
fyd therefore the Oyl. of Salt per deliquium, for fome, time, with
the Spirit ^Philofophical Wine, then being putrifyed, diflil it with
aftronger Fire^ the rejidue of the Salt he again diff oh' don a Mar lie y
and being diffolued^ putrid and di ft ill" d it with new Spirit of+
Philofophical Wine, or fome Simple Vegetable Menftruum, jo
often, till he haddijiilfdthe whole into Spiritual Water of Salt.

The third Branch ccnfiftsinthe Reduction of the EJJence of Salt -in-
to the Arcanum ofthejame ; for the Natural, (that u, Saline,) Ef-
fence of Salt, doth by being cohobated fome times with the Spirit, of
Philofophical . Wine, afcena together with it, becomes fweet i and is
tranfmuted into the Arcanum of Salt, or Artificial Effence, of which
Arcanums more in the fecond Book af Medecines. Common Salt
therefore diftilled .with the, Spirit of Philofophical V/ine thwgk.an*
Alembick, is the Circulatum . minus of Paracelfus, the Aqua ialis ,
circulati, //;ePrimum ensfalis^ /^.Arcanum falls, the Aqua foj-
vens, ^Spiritus falis diftillatus, f/^. Matrix ^W Center of- Me-.
ta!s and Minerals, &e. It u called Circulatum,- by reafoncfrbe Cjr 3 -

culation?,

culatign,or fyigfftion of the Effence of Salt fof a Movth with the Spirit
^Phiiof^phieal Wine, or which u more probable, becauft oft he com-
mon Circulation of all the Vegetable Menftruums/0r thefpace of
30, 40, or 60 Days, after the Menflruum was already made, Jo
that, this Circulation, though omitted in our Receipt , wuft be under-
flood in .theft Circulatums c/ Paracelfus : It is. not therefore called
Circuiatum minus, a* if common -Salt had lefs Virtues in 'diflolTjfag,
. than the other Salts, but becaufe it hath thofe only, and not the quali-
ty of tinging fuper added, as the greater Circulatums : after the
fame manner as Salt is made a Circuiatum, may alfo Vitriol
be made a Circuiatum, Alum a Circuiatum, Tartar : a Cir-
cuiatum, &c. This way dtio, faith Paracelfus^ is thf Arcanum or
Magiftery to be made of Vitriol, as alfo of all other Salts, Lib.
10. Arch. Cap. 3. Pag. 38.

'Caftljj As the f aline Effence of Salt lofeth its faltnefs, and be-
comes fweet by being digeft&d and cohobated in the Spirit tffPhilo-
fophical Wine ; fo the^Common Spirit of Salt well mixed and di-
.gefted with the Spirit of Wine, becomes a Jlvest Menftruum. It
js thus done :

28. The S^ect Spirit of Salt of Bafilius.
Lib. Panic, fab Sulphur e Soils & Rep. 1 2. Cla-v.

TAke of the Spirit of Salt wholly dephlegmed one part,
of the bed Spirit of Wine free from all Phlegm, orthe
Sulphur of Wine,made as Iflmll tell you lower (the Description of
which we lately had m^the. precedent Pagei} one half part, fit an
Alembick well 'luted, and diftil ftrongly, fo as that nothing re-
mains : To the Diflillation add one other half part of Spirit of
Wine, and diftil, and that repeat three times , putrefie fifteen
days, or till it become Iweet, which mult be done in a gentle
Balneo; thus will you have the Spirit of Silt and "Wine with-
out any corrofion for extractions.

But though ///^'Menftruum may deferus ils Fra/fes, yet it can
fcarce be reckoned amon?(l Menflruums of ttu$ Kind, where we dii-

J Cjl Y* ~J

fmrfe not ofvcid Spirits, butfxed Salts ; it miift therefore he. con-
fidered as an Appendix of the circulated Salt : to tie ^Ilkjtratino
of which it vcillnot 'a little conduce.

From

Horn the Receipts we obferve,

i. 7V*r by Aqua Vitx, or Spirit of Wive, the Adepts M
fit the ItAJt mtend Common, but Philofopbical Aqua ardens ; for
Common Aqua ardens. mil never perform that which is dejired iri
thefe Receipts; and it being granted, thatitfeems to perform^ )et
Menftruums y^wwdfe, cannot be Menftruums of the Adepts, but
Common, of no efficacy or efleem in the morefecrel Chywy.

2.. That Bafilius has indeed fomettmes ufed Common Aqua ardens
for his Menftruums,; but. never ly it ft If, lift wixed \vith Veg&a-
'tte Sal Armorriack, or Ploilofigkfal 'Salt 0f Tartar : (tk#t'i\ 9 tettfa
the Spirit of Philofophical Wine) 'volatilized; which Salt, king
brought into a liquid fulftance ly virtue of this Spirit, is his Men-
ftruum ; for he feparates again from thence the Spirit of Com-
mon Wine, either by Flame, or ly quick Lime.

3 . That the* greater quantity of Sal Armoniack is joyned with
the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, the ftronger are thefe Menftru-
u ms made ; wherefore Bafilius his Menftruums of this Kind, from
which all the common Aqua ardens is feparated, are tole reputed
amoncr the ieft.

**' 1 f T r f r n r t ' i ""*Tp

. That thefe Memtruums are the Magijtery of fixed Salts, by
Paracelfus call'd the lefs Circulatums, or Arcanum of the Alkali
of Tartar, Beans, Wormwood, as alfo common Salt, Alom, Nitre, &c,

5-. And therefore that thefe Menftruums are Medecims.

6. That thefe Menftruums may le made federal ways ; as thefe
out of the ^\ Armoniack 0/Lully, by the method of Paracelius
his Circulatums, and fo on the contrary, provided the Alkalies or

fixedjalts le volatilized, and' diftil/ed together with the Spirit of
Philosophical W T ine through an Alemlick.

7. That the Spirit of Philofophical Wine is not eafily mixed
with thefe Salts, but ly certain degrees : Firft, He extracts the
Tir.tlure or Soul from them, that is, the more unftuous parts ; which
being more volatile than the reft, are then eafily dtftilled into a
volatile Tincture, or ( to ufe LulyV phrafe ) into the animated.
Spirit', then the remaining Earth, being now fixed 1} tie fame
means, is again volatilizealy alforling the faid animated Spirit ly
//gfflwjhy titnl'JiiMhntii infu 8al Armouiac'k; . ' "" ' ' ' "^

8. That thefe Sal Armoniacks are ful.limed with a very Jlron
fire?. 9

p. That thefe Salts are called Harmoniack, ly reafon of the
Harmony ar Perfection of their mixtion. So have you , faith
Lully, the formal Harmoniack mixtion of all the Elements ;
wherefore wonder not, if we call it Sal Armoniack ; for fo it is
called, becaufe of its exalted and fublimed property the pure
and firfl Matter of Nature, Lib. Mercur. pag. iff.

10. .Ihat the volatile Salt of Tartar, the 'volatile Salt <?f Worm-
wood, Carduus.Benediftus, &c. common volatile Salt {ly Para-
celfus ouSfVSal enixum") are rightly term d Sal Harmoniacks, Phi-*
lofophical Vegetable Mercuries, and Sulphurs of Nature, &c.

1^. that the Spirit of Salt, Nitre, Vitriol, Aquafortis,
arevy faing cohobated with the Sfirit of Philofophical
Jwtet.

The

( 73

The Sixth KIND.

Simple Vegetable Menftruums made of the
Spirit and Tartar of Philofophical
Wine.

The Cesium Vinofum of farifinw made of the

Salt of Philofophical Wine.
In Append ice Eluc. Pag. 271. Vol. 6. The at.
Chym.

TAke the Philofophers firft Matter, called Chaos (Vegeta-
ble Mercury, the Philofophers Wine) diftil its Spirit (ar-
dent) and'Watery Element (Phlegm) in its convenient
Vellel, as we fliall teach in its proper place, till its Body remain
in the bottom like melted Pitch, which by two diftillations wafh
with its Watery Element, then pour its Spirit to it, four Fingers
above it, mixing the Matter W 7 ell, till it be well united, and fet
the Veflel to diitil in Balneo with an eafie heat : then put it into
Putrefaction fix Days in a convenient Veflel, and diftil in Aihes,
(the animated Spirit) then take other Spirit, (ardens) and that
being poured to it, put it again into Putrefaction fix Days, and
fo repeat this Magiftery, till you fee that the Spirit has imbibed
and extracted the Soul out of the Body, an infallible fign of
which will be, when you fee its Earth hard and dry : for then
may you be allured, that the Body is for its health-fake dead,
which you may vivify and make incorruptible, and it will no
more fear Death, nor Corruption in this World. Now take the-
aforefaid Body, firft weigh it, then gut it in a convenient Veflel,
and pour to it an eighth part of its Spirit (animated Spirit)

M which

(74)

which extracted its Soul, then put your Veflcl in a Fire of dige-
ftion-, -fwktch we toil fpeak of afterwards) imd continue the
Fire tUiyou fee that tire Earth hath imbibed its liquor : then
open your Veflel, put on an Alembick, and gather that little
fweat, which will have the ta He of hot Water : Imbibe now
your Matter for a fecond time with a feventh part of the afore-
faid Spirit, which contains the Soul, and proceed in the metho-
dizing of Hre aforcfaid Magiftery : Now for a third time im-
bibe with a fixt part, for a fourth time imbibe with a fifth part,
for a fifth time imbibe with a fourth part, and do not multiply
the weight of the aforefaid Spirit, but continue it fo, obferving
the aforelaid Method, till the Matter, which hath drunk up its
Spirit, and is again united with its Soul, be white. Take now
the aforefaid Earth, and put it inconvenient fubiimation, the
lower part of the Veflel being luted below the Matter, and
make tjie pure. part fublime from the impure, and fo will you
IkVfe our Mercury, which is clear and irnning as a Diamond.
This is that which the Philosophers do by divers Metaphors,
call the firft Vegetable Matter, Sal Armoniack, our Mercury,
our Sulphur of Nature, whereas notwithftanding 'tis one and the
fame thing. Take the other Simple Spirit, which you firft ex-
traded out of your Otaw, that which hath not extracted its
Soul, and make it more pure and fubtil by the way following :
Take of the Vegetable firft Matter (Sal Arwomack) which you
made before, one Pound, and put it in a convenient Veflel in
Balneo, till the Matter diflblve it felf {per deliquwm) then put-
ting to an Alembick, diftil the fuperfluous Water, then pour on
three Pounds of the aforefaid Simple Spirit gardens) and the
Veflei being conveniently flop'd, as will be manifefted below,
put it into Putrefaction for one Natural Day, after the manner
following : Get you a Brafs Veflel, about one fpan and a half
broad, and three fpans and a half long, which towards the Ori-
fice muft have a Copper Bottom pierced with many Holes, the
Cover whereof, which is to go into the Veflel, and flop it well,
mufl have one or two Holes .- but the Glafs Veflels, which you
would put to that Copper Veflel, ought to be conveniently co-
vered : in the lower part of thofe Copper VeiTels of Putrefaction
muft be common Water, thofe Copper Veflels put upon a Fur-
nace, making a moderate Fire under, by the ftrength of which

the

( 75 )

the fume or vapour of the Water will afcend, and heat the Vef-
fels, in which your Mattel is ; the whole work of our Supream
Magiftery will be matured and prepared by this Method, then
diftil conveniently in Aihes with a heat, fcarce unlike to the
heat of the Sun, till you have drawn all the Juice from it, then
diilblve the Matter by pouring to it of the aforefaid Simple Spi-
rit three parts, in refped of the Matter, which remained in the
Yeflel, after the aforefaid Ji*ice wasabftraded from it ; Repeat
the Magiftcry a fourth time, proceeding a ndobfervieg all thing*
exadly as above : So will you have the Spirit of your Chaos,
which is by the Philosophers called Fire depurated, reduced
from power into acl: with the Virtue of the Vegetable Matter.
Take therefore a Glais Veilel, ftrong, able to contain themea-
fureof a common Urne, pure and long, whofe Neck muft be
ftrong, and two fpans aacta half loog, whofe Coves rnuft be ano-
ther Glafs, called Antenotoritw, with a JSJeck turned downward,
containing the fourth part of -a common Urne, to be put into
the aforefaid Veflel : Into this Circulating Veflel put four
Pounds, and no more, of the depurated Spirit, which you brought
from power to adtion, by Virtue of the Vegetable Matter, as I
taught you before, Circulate in Balneo, or Dung the fpace of
fixty Days, and when Converfion is made of the Spirit deduced
from power to aftion by the firft Vegetable Matter, then this
you will thereby know, that in the bottom-of the VeOel will be
a Sediment, like the Urine of a found Man: Then will you fee a
Quinte/Tence brighter and clearer then a Diamond, which ex-
ceeds the Stars in fplendour, fo as to be doubted, whether it be
contam'din the Glalsor not : which you muft dexteroufly fepa-
rate from its Sediment, and keep in a Veflelclofe flopped in a
cold place : This is that Virtue which the envious have hidden,
and oblcured by innumerable Metaphors, calling it Spiritus Fi-
vitSy Aqua Argentt vzvi, ^Aqua %> Aqua Celeftu, Aqua Dian&y
Axima Menftrui Vegetafaln, FKWUS, Vent us, our Heaven, Mewftr&-
al Blood, Vrine fuUiwed, Mewftrutiw, our Water of Sulphur, our
Bleffed Stone, giving it infinite other Names, which we mention
not here, but have by Experience feen and known them to be
one and the feme thing.

M 2, Annoti-

(7O

Annotations.

MO/? 0f the Adepts knew no other but this way of ctcuating the
ty/r//0/ Philosophical Wine, for they believed there was
one only thing^and one only Method : but this 15 not the lafl amongfl the
difficult Methods, nor much different from the Ccelum Vegetable of
Lully made of the Alkali of Tartar. The Tartar of this Wine is
lefs Oyly than common Tartar, and therefore adjoyned to this, as a
higher Kind ; but that we may the fatter under ft and the Receipt, 'tis
convenient to compare it with its Original, taken out of the lafl Tefla-
ment of Lully.
.

30. The Cesium Vinofum of Lully.
In Teflam. Noviff.

TAkeRed Wine, which we call the Liquor of Lunar ia, and
Nigrum nigrius nigro, and diftil an Aqua &rdens in Balneo,
and rectify it, till it be without Phlegm, which you will know r ,
when it burns a piece of Linnen Cloth, by realon of its heat,
which you will make it do in five times, fometimes in three, and
having fuch a fign, divide it into two parts, and keep one part
for the making of the Menftruum^ and with the other part abftracl
the Soul from the Earth (a, pitchy mafs) by the way which I
ftiall tell you. The way, my Son, is, to diftil the Phlegm, till it
remain in the form of liquid Pitch, then put to it, of the Water
(ardens} which you refttfy'd, fo much, as to iwim three Fingers
above the Matter, and the Veflel being very clofe, fet it in
Dung or Balneo fixDaystodigeft, after that diftil all the Water,
in which is the Soul, upon hot Aihes, then increafe the Fire a
little, and take out the Oyl, which keep : then pour in of the
other Water (ardens, or Spirit of Philofophical Wine} as before,
and put it in Putrefaction fix Days, as before, and then diftil in
Afhes, firftthe Water, then the Oyl, and thus continue theMa-
giftery the fame way, till you have extracted all the Soul from
the Earth, keep it, becaufe it is the animated Water, and keep
the Oyl for the Tindufe : Then take the Earth being dry and

hardned,

, ( 77 )

hardened, and calcine till it grows white, being .white, give the
Soul in the Water referved to it. My Son ! the way is this, Take
the Earth being white and depurated (Salt) and know the
weight, put it in a Veflel of Glais, and pour upon it an eighth
part of the animated Water, the Veflel being very clofe, and
place it in Balneo three days, till you fee the ardent Spirit con*
denfed in the Balneo, and rectify it, till it be without Phlegm,
then having put on an Alembick, draw off the Liquor without
tafte, becaufe the Soul hath embraced the Spirit, which is in
that part , and imbibe a fecond time with a feventh part of the
animated Water, and digeft as before, and diftil away the moi-
fture : A third time imbibe with a fixth part, digeft and diftil
away the Water : A fourth time pour on a fifth part of the
animated Water, as before : The fifth time give a fourth part^
and digeft as you know ; and continue with the fourth part al-
ways digefting and drawing- of the Liquor, till our Earth be
pregnant and white : Then take the Earth being pregnant, and
put it in a fubliming Veflel luted and very clofe in a Fire of the
third degree, the fpace of twenty four Hours, and fublime the
pure from the impure : And thus my Son will you have the Ve-
getable Mercury fublimed, clear, tefplendent in the Form of a
wonderful Salt. Know you muft my Son, that the Philofophers
and we do call it properly Vegetable Sulphur, Sal Armoniack, our
Sulphur, the Sulphur of Nature, and many other Names we alfo
give it. Take, my Son, of this Vegetable Sulphur, which you
made, one Ounce, put it in a Glafs Veflel, and pour upon it three
Ounces of the Water, (Aqua ardens reftifyed to the highejf) re-
vealed to you before, and the Veflel being covered clofe, put it
in Balneo for one Natural Day, then Diftil in Afhes, till all afcend
that can, then know the weight of the Salt remaining at the
bottom of the Veflel, and ^our to it three times its weight of the
aforefaid Aqua ardens, and put it in our Balneo the fpace of one
natural Day, then Diftil in Afhes, and thus do three times :
Then is all the Vegetable Salt come over the Helm with its own
Water, and mixture is made, and the Water clear, which we
call Simple Menftruum. My Son ! Take a Glals Veflel, which
muft be white Glafs and found, and it muft be a large Veflel,
and put into it four Pounds, or fix (at moft j of this Menftruum
thus (imply diflblved., and the Veflel being well fhut and lealed,

put it in Balneo or Dung, the fpace of frxty Days, and it will in
that time be converted into a Quinteflence exceeding Glorious
and Odoriferous, which you will know, when you fee in the
bottom of the Veffel a Sediment, like that in the Urine of a well
Complexioned Youth, and it will be clear and refplendent, as a
Star of Heaven : Keep it in ahotandmoiilplace, as is a Balneo,
feparating it firft from its Sediment, and fealing the Veflel well
as may be.

Both Receipts agree in aH things ', except that Lully calcines the
dead Earth ^ and by dijjofoing in common Water and calcining, puri-
fies if; Parifmustf0/y0 ; ^ Earth notwithftandingfeeming ly this
way of put r rj > ing 'to le made fitter for the Reception of its Spirit ;
The Receipts confift ofthefe two parts, the preparation of the Vege-
table Sal Armoniack, and the Reduflion of the fame Salt into a li-
quid Sulftance or Menftruum: The preparation of the 'Sal Armoni-
ack u ejfetted ly two Operations: In the firft, the Soul is extracted
ttt of the Body by Virtue of the Spirit, to exanimate and fx the
Earth , and make it melt like Wax on a red hot Plate : In the fe-
cond, the Sottl is ft ore d to this fixed Earth ly times y and this r uari~
tutfly^ to make it Volatile : In both Receipts as weflofLttlly, as Pa-
riunus, the animated Spirit if reftored to the Earth fo exanimate d,
in an eighth, fe ve nth^fxth^ fifth, and fourth part of its weight, till
it wholly evaporates upon a fiery hot Plate ; this method of im-
pregnatingipr revivifying the Dead Body will le confirmed and itht-
flrated by the

Vegetable Sal Armoniack. of Parifinus.
In Apertorio Cap. F. andL. and pane fecund a Ci-
tharoe vtl Violettas^anJCa^.^.Elucid.pag.
235. Vol. 6. The at. Chym.

OUr Vegetable Mercury is that Principle to be admired
above all other things of this Art, which confifts in the
preparation and ablution ol its moft precious Earth, wnich is of
ib great Virtue, as not to be comprehended by the wit rf any
Men, thofeonly excepted, who have attained to the miraculous
effects of it. Our purpole is to take the matter remaining (in

the

( 79)

the J/ftzflattMofPl&vfophiczl Wine) like melted pitch, to which
pour of its Death Iffifegffi) the height of four fingers above it,
- agitate ; that the tin&ure, or unctuous fuperfluous part of it
may l>e diilblved, let the matter fettle, decant the tindhire, to
the remaining matter pour new Phlegm, agitating and decanting
ib oft, till no more tinfture afcends, and the Earth remains
white, fparkling like a Diamond, which dry in the Sun or fome
fuch heat ; being clryed and pulverized, pour to it of C, that is,
its (ardent] Spirit, fo much as willfwim upon it thefpace of four
Fingers, digeft in a blind Head three natural Days, then diftil
with a (lender heat of Allies, till the Veins difappear, take away
the Receiver, flop it well, put another to, diftil away all die
Phlegm with a Firefomewhat (konger, cool the VefTel, take out
the Matter being hardened, pulverize, and putting it in the fame
Veflel, pour to it of C the breadth of three Fingers, lute, and
putrefie three days, take away the blind Head, diftil through an
Atembitk, till the Veins afcend, then change the Receiver, as.
before, repeat thefe Operations; till the Earth remain white, and
fume not upon a hot Plate : Now take a Phial, put the aforefaid
Earth into it, lute w T ell the Neck of the Phial, and fet it to di--
geft, or calcine rather in Allies, and you will have your moft.
precious Earth now fit to receive its Spirit (ftwn&ted} or Soul,
with the confervation of its radical moifture. Take this-Earth,
put it in a round Veflel, a hands breadth deep, broad about the
Orifice, and imbibe it with its Soul, or animated Spirit, as we
mall declare, cap. L. thus have youfo full an Inftruftion of this
Matter, that 'tis impoflible for you to err, if you be a faithful,
Chriftian. I promiled (he goes on cap. Z.) to give you full di-
red-ion for the making of all forts of Sulphurs for our Magiflery,
that is, Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Sulphur. Wonder not,
that I did firft fublime, and vivify the Mineral Sulphur of Na-
ture, I doing this, to give them in order, and that you might
the better attend your Practice and Theory : though I' know,,
you are not ignorant, that no diflblution can be made without
cither Vegetable or Animal Sulphur, Now to our purpose ;
Take the Vegetable Earth prepared, as I taught you 93 p. F. im-
bibe it with its animated Spirit, giving an eighth part ofic, (/*
refpeft. ef the Earth^ cover the Veflel with a Blind Head, digeft
eight days in Balneo, then lay afide this Head, and draw ot all .

the

( 8 )

the infipid moiflure in a gentle heat of Allies, or of the Sun :
then imbibe with a feventh part, digefting in Balneo, and diftil-
ling in Alhes, as before ; then imbibe with a fixth, then a fifth ;
JaftJy a fourth part, and with this quantity repeat the reft of
the imbibitions, till the Earth hath drank up two parts and more
of its weight : Then take the Earth out of the Veflel, pulverize,
and put a little of it upon a red hot Plate, if the greateft part of
it rume away, put the powder into a Sublimatory, and fublime
the Philofophers Sal Armoniack, giving the beginning of Vegeta-
tion to both the terreftrial Luminaries (Gold and Silver) with-
out which, neither the Vegetable nor Animal Work, yea nothing
at all can be done in this Magiftery.

. This Volatilization of the fixed Earth the Adepts performed other
ways a/fo, not always ciiferving the order of the aforefaid weights of
the animated Spirit, in the refufcitation or impregnation of the dead
Body: For fometimes they imliled this exanimated Earth with an
eighth part of its animated Spirit fo eft, till it lecame animated
again, and was made Volatile. Thus Luily made his.

The Vegetable Sal Armoniack.ofLully.
Libro Je materia Vegetabili inpraftica quart a.

TAke excellent Wine either red or white, diftil by the Rule
of Art an ardent Spirit, burning Cotton, evaporate the
Phlegm till the Matter remain thick, as melted pitch, to which
pour of the ardent Spirit fo much, as to fwim four Fingers above
it : digeft for a week in Balneo, then diftil the animated Spirit
by Alhes, to the Earth pour new ardent Spirit, repeating fo oft,
till the Earth remain dry, and in the Form of powder : More-
over, you muft from the Earth diftil an Oyl in Allies with a Fire
fufficiently ftrong, fo as that the Earth being laid on a red hot
Plate,cafts forth no fume. That Oyl, as alfo the Phlegm are of
no value in the prefent Work. Calcine or Reverberate the faid
Earth in a clofe VefTel, to which pour of the animated ardent
Spirit an eigth part in an Alembick, digeft in Balneo three days,
then gently draw offthe fuperfluous moitlure, being infipid as
common Water, imbibe as before, and continue fo oft, till the

Earth

Earth in a clofe Vefiel, to which pour of the animated ardent
Spirkan eighth part inanAlembick, digeft in Balneo three days,
then gently draw off the fuperfluous moifture, being infipid as
common Water, imbibe as before, and continue fo oft, till the
Earth be made Volatile, which you will know, if a little of it put
on a red hot Plate be almoft wholly evaporated : This impregna-
ted Earth fublime with a fubliming Fire the fpace of twenty-
four Hours : The Volatile and foblimed Salt fublime by
it felf yet twice, which is to be with the ardent Spirit diflblved,
diftilled, and forty or fifty days Circulated into an Odoriferous
Liquor.

Seme times they impregnated the Earth from the beginning to the
compleat fatiirity ofit, with a fourth part of the animated Spirit,

f- f-i - , C-

The Vegetable Sal Armonlac^of Lully.
In Apertorio fuo.

TAke of the beft Juice of Lunar ia, that you can find, one
Pound or two, and put it into a Veflel with an Alembick,
the feams being well joynted and luted, fet it in a little Furnace,
and underneath make a Fire of one wiek, and with fucha gentle
heat let the aforefaid Spirits be diftilled, and fo long, till it fee-
gins to make Veins : When therefore the Phlegm begins to Ihew
Veins, then is it a fign, that the Spirit is diftilled, which contains
in it all the perfection of Life, and then take that diftilled Spirit,
and keep it very choicely in a Glafs well ftopt with white Wax,
then put another Receiver under the Alcmbick, 2nd receive the
fecond Water, becaufe it retains yet fomething of the aforefaid
Spirit, though not fo ftrong as the firft : diftil from that fecond
Water fo long, till nothing elfe comes but Phlegm, which is no
otherwise then as common Water, rafting a little, it it has yet any
Virtue, than may you diftil yet more, but if it be as the other
Water pure in tafte. then lay afide the Receiver with that fecond
Water, and put another Glafs to receive all the Phlegm, diilil-
ling fo long, till nothing more diftils, and then let all the Phlegm
be poured away, becaufe it is that, which brings Death to our

N Precious

Precious Stone, and tlois the vulgar knows not, but we know.
Now have you the Earth, which remained in the bottom of the
Veflel black, like melted Pitch : For that calcination of the
Earth cannot be done with a flrong Fire, as Sophiflers believe,
but it is done by its own Spirit, -which k'.ejxs it iroin burning.be-
oiufe its Spirit draws tjie Soul from its Bod}-, and repels us iu-
perfluo'us Phlegm, and moj tines the Earth, and then vivifies it:
Now therefore calcine the aforefaici F.arth in tliis manner; Take
the fecond difciiled Water (^Aqua ardens mix d with Phlegm) and
pour it upon the black Earth (Pitclf) in its Veffel, and mix well,
till it be difTolved, becaufe the Earth is prefeatly diflblved. Then
put on an Alemjbick, and lute well, and diftil the Spirit with one
wlek, as 1 told you before, till you fee Veins, tlien again feparatc
the Receiver of the Alembick with the Spirits, and let it apart,
and put another Receiver to, and diftil on, looking if there be
yet any Spirits there, if not, then the Water which is diftill'd,
hath a tafte like hot common Spring Water, which put away
again, becaufe fuch Water is Phlegmatick, which caufeth Death
to our Stone : And after the whole diftillation take the Veflel
with all the Matter, which you will then find more hard than
before, and this is the reafon , becaufe that Spirit hath attract-
ed the Aereral Soul to it from its Body, it being the place in
which the Soul is contained : that Operation repeat fo oft, till
you fee your Matter calcined in the bottom in the Form of a
black Powder, or even fo long, till you fee no more Phlegm arife,
fo as the laft Water to be of as great virtue, ftrength, fmell and
tafte, as the firfl : And you m'ufl not be ignorant, that in the
third diftillation thofetwo Spirits (ill and wettrefl/fyd}. are to
be mixed t@gether upon their Earth, fglong, till the Earth and
Spirits have thofefigns aforefaid, namely, the Earth be calcined,
and the Spirits yield no Phlegm. Then take the Earth, and
with it a fourth part of its weight of the Spirit, and put the Mat-
ter into your Veflel, which we call Retsntorium, and place it in a
Furnace, continuing an eafie heat fo long, till the Spirit be alto-
gether coagulated in the Earth. Know Son I that the Body,
which was Dead, puts on white Garments, as, if God pleafe,you
fhall fee, when you try the things afbrelaid. Son ! this mufb
you repeat with new Spirit fo long, till you fee the Earth altoge-
ther white as Snow : and then is the Earth big and impregna-
ted

(83)

ted with Eternal clarity, which will bring forth an In&nt, ac-
cording to this way : When the Earth is very white, then Son !
take it out of its Veflel, and grind it into a moft fine powder,
and this do upon a Glafs Plate, then again put it into a Veflel,
luting the Joynts of it well, and fet it on a little Furnace, and
kindle a Fire, continuing it for thirty Hours, and in the corners
ami fides of the Veflel y6u will find our Infant, born and refufci-
tated in the likeneis of a powder, moft white, moft fair, and in
fuch clearnefs, as the Body of Silver : Keep it therefore in high
efteem, becaufe' it is your Terra foliata^ and it is called the Spirit
of fublimed Bodies,converte<iinto lerrafoliata ; fo winto the fame
the 'Soul, &c.

Sometimes they impregnated this Earth without olferving any
weigh t, a* thus :

Another Vegetable al Armoniack. of Lully.
In Luce Mercuriorum.

TAke Wine red or white, putrify it in Balneo twenty days
at leaft, that the parts of it may be difunited, and the
better feparated, then by diftillation of Balneo,witha moft gentle
Fire draw oft the Aqua ardsns, which put in rectification fo oft,
till nothing of the Phlegm remains : then draw off the Phlegm
by diftillation with a Fire of Aflies, till a certain matter remains
in the bottom of the Veflel like liquid Pitch, and thefaid Phlegrti
put apart : then take the faid matter, and pour to it of the Phlegm
fo much, as to fwim four Fingers above it, and put it for two
days in Balneo, then one day in a Fire of Ailies, that it may'
boyl leifuxely, and you will, find the Phlegm much coloured,
which empty into another Veflel : fet it in Balneo again for two'
days with new Phlegm, and for one day in Aflies, then empty it
into another Veflel, and thus proceed till the Phlegm will be no
more coloured, and if Phlegm be wanting, then take the colour-
ed Phlegm,and by diilillation draw off one half; or a third part
of it by Balneo, and operate with it as before ; but when that
Phlegm is no more coloured, then will there remain in the bot-
tom of the Veflel an Earth almoft white, the Phlegm having at-

N -L meted

(8 4 .)

traded all the Oyl out of it : if you would feparate them afurr
der, put them in diflillation of Balneo, then the Phlegm only
rifeth, and the Oyl will remain in the bottom of the VeiTel
mod red. Take this Earth, and pour to the fame of Mercury,
(J^egetalle^ or Aqua erdens*) lo as to fwim two Fingers above it,
and put it in a Fire of Aihes for one natural Day, fo as to boyl
gently, then draw orT(V//?//) the Earth by a Firs of Afhesas be-
fore, and put it apart : And of new Aqua ardens pour to the faid
Earth fo much, as to fwim two Fingers above it, and fet it in
Ames for a Natural Day, then draw it off by diflilling in Aihes
as before : and thus proceed till there be no more Spirit (elfe-
where called Soul) remaining in the Earth, but all pafs'd over
with the Aqua ardens, which you may know by the Earth re-
maining in a moft impalpable powder, and putting it on a Ffre-
hot Plate it will yield no fmoak, which will be a fign, that it is
without Spirit CSotif) : which Earth put then into digeflion in
an Athanor, and there let it ftand ten days in a continued Fire.
Then take of the Aqua ar dens, in which the Spirit (,SW/)is, and
pour it upon the faid Earth, fwimming one Finger above it, and
put it in an Athanor for one Natural Day: then fet it in Balneo,
and by diftillation draw off the Aqua ar dens without the Spirit
(SottT) the Spirit remaining in the Earth, then pour on other
Aqua ardens ; and thus reiterate, till the Earth hath drank up
all, its Spirit, which you will know by putting the Earth upon
a red hot Plate, becaufe the greateil part of it will turn into
Smoak , which Earth digeft for fix Natural Days in an Athanor ,
then put it in A-lhes, increasing the Fire, till by the fublimation
the Vegetable Mercury rifeth at the fides of the VefTel, and in
the bottom remains the Terra damnata, which is not an ingredi-
ent to our Work : Which Mercury gather fpeedily, and whilft
k is new; after its rifing, mix it with its Water for two days,
and it. becomes a Water which hath wherewithal to diffolve all
Metals with the prefervation of their Form, and this Water we
call Vegetable Menftruum.

Animal Sal Armoniacks may alfo le made the fame way as
talk Sal Armoniacks thus K made.

The.

(5 )

The animal Sal Armoniack. of Lully.
In Teftam. Novi/Kmo.

SOn ! thei^ is another way of this animal Sulphur of Nature,,
in which there is mod accurate knowledge, as in Vegetables,
which you muft perform by the method which we fliall teach
you ; and Son ! the way is to take the Urine of Young Men of
good Complexion, and put it in a Giafs Veflel forty days, till it
be putrified : then take a Cucurbit, and putting on an Alem-
bick in Balneo for the fpace of forty hours, diftil a clear Water,
and the Spirit wild remain in the Earth [the Soul M Pitch"} dry it
being well luted, and rectify the Water feven times, and the
vf hite Sak (Volatile) which it made in every diftillatibn gather
warily, that it may not feel the Air, and put it in its Water (jSpz-
rit?) Then put the Earth and Water (Pitch and Spirit) toge-
ther in Balneo or Dung for four days, then diftil in the fame Bal-
neo, and put it again upon the Earth, "digeft and diflil again as
before four days ; then take the Water by it felf, and put it in
Dung the fpace of two Natural Days, and diftil in Balneo, and
again putrify in Dung, and continue this order five times : Then :
is the Water (Sfirii) perfectly rectify 'd and clear. This work
being ended, reftore the Water to the Earth (Pitc^) and fet it in
Dung, then diftil in Balneo, and dry up the Earth a nd the Alem-
bick being taken off, and another Cover put on, fublime for the
fpace of twenty four hours the animal Sulphur of Nature :,
Then gather it together, and upon the Earth, which remained^
pour its {animated^) Water, and put it in Dung, and diftil in Bal*
neo, dry and fublime as before, repeating, till allthe Sulphur i.e
fublimed. Son ! We have revealed to you every way of know-
ing our Vegetable Sulphurs, andalfo the animal Sulphur, with a
Declaration of the whole Magiftery. Now, with the help of
God, we fhew you, thatthtre is one way and means in the ani-
mal and in the Vegetable, without any variation.

This Receipt le'wg lefs dear, in. making no mention. .cfctke Spirit :(>{
Philofophical Wine, wi'd yet of no worth without it j . /, will therefore
add his . jixth' Exferirrext. cf the rational Ar.mal^ \. rd : ere. thus.:.

Very great, certainly, and incomprehenfible Gifts hath the moft
high God vouchfafed to us ; in the acknowledgment of which,
our Duty is both Day and Night to love, worihip, and revere
him with our whole heart, and everywhere extol his Name with
all our might : for befides his creating us out of nothing, and
redeeming us with his rftoft precious Blood, he hath alio made
Man partaker of all the Bleflings contained in the greater
World, and for this reafon is called Microcofin ; for it has by di-
vine infpiration been revealed' to us, that all Virtues as well Ani-
mal and Vegetable, as Mineral are in Man himfelf, and this very
thing I will prove to be true by this wonderful Experiment :
Take the Urine of Boys, which mud be from the eighth to the
twelfth Year, and no more ; which Urine gather from 'thole
Boys in the Morning, rifing out of Bed, a great quantity of
which 'tis convenient for you to have, which muft be very well
putrifled in a Glafs Veflel, the Veflel being ftop'd, not to refpire,
two parts of which Veflel mufl be full, the other empty, and
thus ought it to be placed in HorfeDungtoputrify, till the Urine
grows black, which commonly happens within forty or fifty
days : but that the Urine may putrify and grow black in a
fhorterfpace of time, this we have had for a fecret, and proved
it by true Experiment, that mixing and joyning a Cup of Aqua
Vita^ (fl'Mojofiicar} but firft highly rectified with the aforeiaid
Urine, will accelerate Putrefaction: Putrefaction being done,
put the Urine in an Urinal, (Cucurlit] with an Alembick and
Receiver carefully ftop'd, two parts of which Veflel muft be full,
but the third empty, and diftil in Balneu with a gentle Fire one
part of three, or till it produceth Veins in the Head, which
Veins being vanifhed and gone, remove the Receiver, and being
very clofe ftop'd keep it with the diftilled Water, which is die
Mercury (Spirit) of it, in a place as. cold as you can ; then con-
tinue the diftillation, increafing the Fire, and its Phlegm will be
diftilled., which requires a fbonger Fire to go over the Helm :
and thus continue diftiliing, till the Body appears in the likenefs
of Honey, or melted Pitch, then let the Veflel cool, snd keep
the Phlegm, which f hall diftil : Then take the jfirft Mercury, or
firft Spirit, which you diftill'd in the beginning, and rectify it
thus : Put itrinto a large Cucurbit an Arm and a half high, then
put into the Mouth of the faid Veflel Cotton enough to (top

the

(.8 7

the Mouth of it , which Cotton rnuil be firft moiftened with
H 1, and preffed out, and tyed to a Hempen Thred, that when
you have a mind, you -may draw it out ot the Neck of the Vef-
tel, and that the Cotton may not fall, into the Cucurbit - then
put an Alembick to the Cucurbit with a Receiver, the Joynts be-
ing very dole, belmeared with Whcat-Hower and "Linnen
Swaths, that is, impaRed with the Pap of Flower bound feft to
the Neck of the Cucurbit, to keep the Vefiels from refpiring,
which pad (Chymical Lute} being dryed, put the Cucurbit to a
Fire of Balneo, boyling gently, and the matter will be fublimed
into a rnoft precious Salt : Yet Son! take notice of this, that
the Beak of the Alembick muft be large and wide, left the Salt
rifing and ftibliming out of the Cucurbit iliould flop the Mouth
of the Beak of the Alembick, when it flows over into the Recei-
ver , for if fo, the Vefiels would be broken, as it hath alfo hap-
pened to us, when we brought this Experiment to pradtice ; when
you fee all the Salt gone over by diflillation, there will remain
in the Cucurbit a certain Phlegmatick Water, which throw-
away, as nothing worth , but the Salt empty with care, and keep
"it in a Glafs VefTel very clofe ftop'd, which Salt will be Volatile,
and we will ufe it either for the diflblving of Bodies, or for the
making of Medecines. There is alfo another way of re&ifying
or purging the aforefaid animal Spirit or Mercury : Take there-
fore that animal Spirit, and diftil by Balneo, and half the Liquor
being gone over, remove the Receiver, and throw away that
which remains in the VefTel : that which is (Milled, diftil again,
taking two parts of it, what remains in the VefTel throw away
again as before, and what isgone over, diftil again a third time,,
and take little lefs than all of it, and thus will you have the ani-
mal Spirit or Mercury perfectly re&ify'd, wherewith you may
exanimate your Earth, which you load before remaining in the
likenefs of liquid Pitch : Take therefore that liquid Pitch, or
rather Earth diffolved, and pour upon it fo much* of the afore-
faid animal Spirit, as to rife four Fingers above it, the Veflel
xvith its Anhnotorium lute, with Wax gummed, that it exhale
not, then fhake the VeiTel or Urinal very well, that the Spirit
may be incorporated, and the iSrth. being well joyned with the
Spirit difiblved, put it in putrefaction tor two Natuial D^s,
then take away the Antenoforium, and immediately put on an

Alembick.

Alembick with a Receiver, lute well to prevent refpiring, and
diftil by Afhes : Have a care of the fumes when you open th^
Veflel, for they are exceeding ftrong. All the Spirit therefore
being by diftillationgone over, increafethe Fire, that the Soul
may be imprinted into the diftilled Water, and laftly again in-
creafe the Fire thus gradually, till fome other Salt or Sulphur be
fublimed : When no more will fublime, cool the Veflel, and ga-
ther the fublimation, and lay it with the animated Spirit lately
diflilled ; then take out the hard and burned matter remaining
in the Veflel, and grind it, and pour again to it of new Spirit as
above, cover jthe Veflel with its Antenotorium again as above,-
and putrify, then take away the Antenotorium y and putting on an
Alembick with a Receiver well ftop'd, diftil the animated Spirit
by Afhes ; which being diftill'd again as before, increafe the Fire
at laft, that fome part of the Oyl may be forc'd over, and the
other part of the Sulphur fublimed ; but when you fee nothing
more will diftil, nor any thing fublime, fuffer the Veflel to cool,
and keep the animated Spirit laft diftilled with the other diftilled
before : So alfo, if any part of the Salt afcends by fublimation,
mix it together with the aforefaid Spirit as before, and keep them
all in a Veflel clofe ftop'd : then" again pour new Spirit upon the
Earth, fo as to rife three Fingers above it, and joyning an Ante-
notgrium to it, putrify as before, and then diftil in Aibes as be-
fore : but when nothing more will diftil, increafe the Fire as
much as poffcble by adding fuel, that the Earth may be calcined,
and in this third Operation converted into a Beretine or afh Co-
lour, then the Vefrel being cold, and the Receiver with the ani-
mated Spirit taken away, keep it with the reft of the animated
Spirit, but put the Earth into a Veflel of Earth or Chalk, which
muft be found, and able to endure Fire, covered with the like
Veflel, giving it as ftrong a heat as can be made with wood, and
fo continue two days, then by that time you will have calcined
the Earth ; the Veilel being cold, draw out thefaid Earth, which
will be almoft white, -or of an ath Colour clear and bright, pour
fo much of its Phlegm upon it, as will iwim four Fingers above it,
and let it boyl in Aflies four Hours, and then decant the Liquor
warily into another Veflel,and I^epit ; dry the remaining Earth,
and pour to it again of new Phlegm as beibre, then make it bo) 1
as before, then decant as before, and dry the Earth ; thus re-
peat

peat the Magiftery till alltheEarthisdiflblved, or the moft
part of it imprinted into that Phlegm, which probably will hap-
pen in the third or fourth diflblution : if any thing remains un-
diflblved, throw it away, for it is an empty Earth of no Virtue,
but the Earth which was ciiflblved in the Phlegm,pals through a
Filtre, and then again through a moft fine Linnen Cloth, which
done, congeal the diilblution in a moft gentle Fire of Aihes, in a
Glafs Urinal, to which muft be put an Alembick with its Recei-
ver : which being congealed, diflblve again in the fame Water
lately filtred, then pafs it through a Cloth again, and laftly con-
geal it as before: But this Magiftery you muft reiterate, till it
yields no more Terreftreity in the Filtre : Then keep our Phy ft-
cal Sal Armoniack) our Animal Sulphur ^ our fixed Animal Mercu-
ry , whereof lay a little upon a hot Plate, and if it melt as Wax
without fmoak, it is a fign you have the Argent vive fixed, and
perfectly depurated, wherewith you will be able to accomplifh
many Experiments : This is that Mercury, which hath afford-
ed us moft feafonable fuccour, as fhall be manifefted in the fol-
lowing Experiments.

To this ex animated Eurth reft ore the animated Spirit by 'various
imbibitions, according to the ways defcribed in the preparations of
Vegetable Sal Arrnoniacks, becaufe,^/^ Lu/fy y there is but one
way and method in the animal, as in the Vegetable, nothing va-
rying.

But the ways of making thefe Salts being 'very tedious, we will for
a conclujwn add Lully's ivay of abbreviation.

The Vegetable Sal ArmoniacJ^mzdc by the

accurtation of Lully.

In Teflam. Noviff.

THis Sulphur (of Nature) may, my Son ! with the help
of Gocl be wonderfully'abbreviated,and the way is this -.
To take our liquid Pitch (after the Phlegm is drawn off ) and put it
into a Cucurbit, in a Fire of the third degree, and extract the
Oyl, till the Earth remains dry and burned. My Son ! calcine
as I have taught you, and purity the Earth, and ibleparate the

O Salt

Salt from it, and upon it pour a forth part of the Spirit, which
is in the fecond Water, (diffiilted out of the Pitch') and digeft as
above , then drawing off the Liquor (fuperfluouS) injipid, and to
be caftaway} pour again a fourth part, cugeft and dry as before,
till the Earth be pregnant, the fign will be, that nothing more
(of the af or ef aid Phlegm or Liquor) will diftil, fublime, and you
will have the Vegetable Sulphur clean and pure, and of the fame
Virtue with the rirft. I charge you,my Son ! with the fear of
God, not to reveal this mod excellent way of abbreviation to any
Man.

Parifmus in bis way of making Vegetable Sal Armoniack, </<?-
dares the Oylextratted out of the Pitch of Philofophical Wine, to
befuperfluous and imonfonant : Separate, faith he, all the fuper-
fluous unftuofities, which do burn the perfect and precious Ele-
ments mix 'd and latent in that Vegetable Matter,and are repug-
nant to that composition : and a little after; After the feparation
of the fuperfluous unhiofity,and aereal fubftance, which blacks
and burns the other precious Elements of this competition, pour
to it its ardent and celeftial Spirit. Tea, Lully himfelfhas infome
Experiments before declared, that Oy/, a& alfo the Phlegm of this
Wine to le of no Virtue in the prefent Work : nevertkelefs in this
accurtation 0/Sal Armoniack,/;^ not only ufeth the f aid Oy/, and w-
deed(whicbyou may wonder ai]for the abbreviation^ of a moft tedious
labour, but alfo affirms that Sal Armoniack thus prepared, is of the
fame Virtue with the rcfl. Sometimes he v.fedalfo the Water or ani-
mated Spirit, together with the Oy/, for prefent abbreuiation,
thus :

Another Vegetable Sal Armoniackby the

Accurtation of Lully.
Lib. cfe mater i a Vegetdbili in praffica feftima.

TAkethe beftred Wine, diftil the ardent Spirit, according
to Art, fo as to burn Cotton, after that the Phlegm, up-
on the matter remaining ia the bottom -of the Alembick, being
thick as liquid Pitch, pour the Phlegm half afoot above it, let it
hoyl three Hours, decant the tinged Phlegm, pour on other, re

Beating

( 9* ')

peating fo oft, till no more will be tinged, if you have not Phlegm
enough, you mud draw off the tinged Phlegms in Balneo, which
being evaporated, a Vegetable Oyl will remain in the bottom of
the Glafs, the tincture being drawn out of the Phlegm, the mat-
ter will remain like a dry Earth, upoathis dry Earth pour of the
ardent Spirit the height of four Fingers, let \t boyl two Hours,
that which is in the mean time ditlill'd pour again to the Earth,
let it fettle two Hours, then decant the animated Spirit from the
Spirit or Soul of the Earth, pour new Spirit upon the Earth,
doing as before, three times : The Earth being black and calci-
ned, put into a Glais with a long Neck, and pour the Vegetable
Oyl {aforefaicT) to it, digetl in Allies ten days, then decant, and
put it into an Aiembick, to which add a fourth part of the ardent
Spirit animated, digeft in a vaporous Balneo for twenty four
Hours, then continue tli3 fuperaddition of the other three parts
of the animated Spirit every twenty four Hours, then diftil
away the fuperfluous, infipid, and ufelefs Liquor gently by
Afhes, and augmenting the Fire by degrees, lublime the Volatile
Sak, &c.

Hitherto of the 'various preparations of Vegetalk Sal Armoni-
acks. We will now proceed to the other part offheCcdum Vinofum,
namely, the federal ways of re during theft Salts into a liquid ful-
ftance. The, Adepts did for the moft part diftil through an Alemlick
one part of Vegetable Sal Armoniack with three parts of the Aqua
ardens, to which Liquor they added again, one part of the aforefaid
Salt) and diftilM, and that they repeated three, and f owe times four
times, to mske the weight of the Salt and Water equal ;fir the great-
er the quantity of the fame Salt , the flronger is the quality of the
Menftruum, then laftly they circulated the Menftruum, thereby to
make it more pure and excellent : But though this Method was- more
inufe among the Adepts, yet either their curiojity or fedulity found
out alfo other ways ; Jo inflead of the Aqua ardens, wherewith they
prepared the Fege table Sal Arrnoniack, as well as the Men-
ftruum, they fometimes took Aqua ardens circulated, or the
Heaven , or Effence of Philoiophical Wine , deferred in
Numb. i. ft is thus done,

Ox u. Cesium

3 1 . Coelum Vegetabile ofLully Circulated.
Lib. Je materia Vegetabili in praffica quinta.

TAke the beft white Wine, diftil the ardent Spirit till it
burns Cotton; put this Spirit into a Circulatory two
thirds empty, ftrengthen the Mouth with Wax, and Bury it in
hot Dung,with its Mouth downward, for the Spirit to be circula-
ted and digefted the fpace of forty five Days, or till it fwims
above more pure and clear, (in the Form of an Qyl>-fc tke Hea-
ven, or Effence of Philofophical Wine, in Numb, i.) having feen
this fign, take out the Glafs warily, and with a Needle perforate
the Wax, that the impure may flow out, then fuddenly turn up
the Circulatory, that the pure or more fine may remain, which
we call the ardent Spirit circulated, which is of a moft delicious
Sent : -now take the refidue, from which the Spirit of Wine was
drawn, and diftil the Phlegm ; and upon the matter remaining
like melted Pitch, pour the (aid Phlegm, fo as to fwim four Fin-
gers above it, digeft two days in Balneo, decant the tinged
Phlegm, and pour on other, and that repeat fo often, till the
Phlegm will be no more tinged, which is a thing ufelefs in this
operation : Now the Earth calcine in a Reverberatory, pulve-
rize, put it in an Alembick, and imbibe with an eighth part of
the ardent Spirit circulated, digeft in Balneo, and tmtilfome cer-
tain fuperfluous moifture by Aflies : continue this imbibition,
digeftion, and diftillation, till the Earth be impregnated with,
the dry Spirit, which was in the ardent Spirit circulated, of
which the fign will be, if it doth almoft all evaporate, being a
little of it caft uptfn a red hot Plate : This impregnated Earth,
being put into a Sublimatory, fublime according to Art into a
Volatile Salt, which digeft in Balneo two days and more, with
fix parts of the ardent Spirit circulated, decant the dtflblution
gently, and if any thing remain undiflblved, proceed with it as
before, this diftolution circulate thirty days, and it will be a
Quinteflence to be compared in Virtue with the Aurum fotabik
of the Ancients.

As thefe Menftruums are made either weaker orflronger accord-
ing

C 93 )

ing to the variety of we/ghf y fo alfo are fhfy more or lefs pure, by
longer i or fhorter, or altogether negletted circulation, for fame Men-
ftruums there are of this kind^which the Adepts circulated not ; For
an Example take tbe following

32. The lefs Vegetable Menftruum
Lib. de materia Vegetabili in praftica prima*

TAke the befl Wine (red is thebeft} two pounds of it, put
into a Cucurbit with a blind Head, and luting the joy nts
well, put it ia Balneo, to putrify kindly the fpace of forty five
days, then fit an Alembick to it, and augment the heat, that
the ardewt Spirit maybediftilTd, which reftify thrice by it felf,or
till it is free from all Phlegm,and burns Cotton ; keep this ardent
Spirit well ftop'd in a cold place : take the matter remaining
in the firft diftiliation, and draw off the Phlegm, till it remain
thick like liquid Pitch, upon which pour of the Spiritus ardent
fo much, as to be the fpace of four Fingers above it, digeft three
days in Balneo, then diftil gently by Alhes three days, and by
Virtue of a ftronger Fire, the ardent Spirit will carry over the
Soul with it, which it could not do in Balneo keep the diftil-
lation : To the remaining Matter pour new Spirit, doing fo
often, till all the Soul be come over, and that you will know,
if., by being projected in a Imall quantity upon a red hot Plate,
it yields no fmoak, becaufe the matter is now deprived of its
Soul, Which we call dry Earth, which' imbibe with an- eighth
part of the animated ardent Spirit, digeft for three days in BaL-
neo, then diftil gently in Allies the fuperfluous Liquor, being
infipid as common Water : make the lecond imbibition with a
feventh part, and Ib continne doing as before, till the Earth be
made heavier by a fourth part of its weight, and it will be dit-
pofed to a reduction into a Volatile Salt by the way of fublima-
tion : This Earth therefore being well pulverized, put into a,
Sublimatory, adminiftring Fire according to Art, and that
which you find fablimed white as Snow, is the Volatile- Salt,
which keep in a Vefiel well ftop'd: Take of this Volatile Salt
one part, of the ardent Spirit fix parts, digeft in Aihcs, and the.

dillolution,

(94)

diiTolution is the Vegetable Quinteflenceapt to diflblve the per-
fed Bcxiies of S0/and Luna, to make an Elixir, and other Me-
dicines, precious and graterul.

Vegetable Sal Armoniack diffolvdin Aqua ardens (om part of
the Salt to fix of the Spirit^ makes the prefent Menftruum ;
but the following is prepared from Sal Armoniack refohed

per deliquium.
.

33. The Vegetable Menflmumfer deli-

quium of Lully.
Lib. de materiel Vegetabili i n Praffiica fee unda.

TAkethe beft white-Wine, putrify it in Balneo twenty
days, or longer, thendiftil the Spirits 'ardens according
to Art, till it burns Cotton ; then draw off the Phlegm, till the
matter remains in the bottom of the VelTel thick as liquid Pitch,
to which matter pour fo much of the Phlegm, as will iwim four
Fingers above it, digeft in Balneo two days, arid in Allies one
day, decant the tinged Phlegm ; pour new Phlegm to the mat-
ter, doing as before, till no more will be tinged, and the matter
remains at the bottom of the Veflel like a white Earth, upon this
Earth pour the height of two Fingers of the ardent Spirit, digeft
for a day in Aihes, and the Soul which is in the Earth, will en-
ter into the ardent Spirit, decant the ardent Spirit being anima-
ted, pour ofFthe ardent Spirit again upon the Earth, doing it fo
oft as before/ till the Spirit draws out no more Soul, and the
Earth remains in the Form of a moftfine powder, being defpoil-
edofall its Soul, which you will know, if itfmoaks not upon a
fiery Plate ; this Earth digeft ten days in A flies, then put it in
Balneo, and pour of the tinged Phlegm fo much, as will fwim
two Fingers over it, diftil in Balneo,' cait away the diftillatiori as
aching of no Virtue, then again pom- the tinged Phlegm upon
the Ea'rth, repeating as before, till no Phlegm remains, and the
Earth is impregnated with all the tincture that was in the
Phlegm : This done, imbibe the Earth with the animated ardent ^
Spirit, digeft with an eafy heat in Balneo, till the Earth is well
dryed, then again imbibe, and fooft as before, till the animated

ardent

('95 )

ardent Spirit js abfqrbed by the Earth, and is made Volatile,
which, you will -know, if a little of it call upon a burning Plate
fumes away for the moil part ; then put this matter into a fub-
limatory, and iublime with a iubliming Fire, and that which is
fublimed, is the Volatile Salt of the Vegetable matter : put that
Volatile Salt into a Phial, digelt in Balneo for a day, and it will
'be seduced into a Water, which we call Vegetable Menftruum>
which is a wonderful diffolvent for the radical duTolving of the
two Luminaries.

Thefe Menftruums the Adepts made fometimes not of Vegetable
Sal Armoniack, but ly the way following.

34. The Vegetable Mercury of Lully.
Lib. de Mat. Vegetdbili infraffiicafexta.

TAke the- beft odoriferous Wine, put it in a Circulatory
large enough, flop the faidVeilel very well with Sulphur
melted, and putriry in Balneo twelve or fifteen Days, then diftil
the Spirit and Phlegm according to Art, till the Spirit burns
Cotton ; upon the matter remaining like liquid Pitch pour fix
parts of the Phlegm, digeft two Days in Afhes, making the Vef-
fel now and then, decant the Phlegm being tinged, pour- on
other, and doing as before, till it hath extracted all the tincture,
and a black Earth remains at the bottom of the Alembic"k : put
the tinged Phlegm in an Alembick, and diftil in Balneo,and that
w hich remains, at the bottom of the VefTel will be the Vegeta r
ble Oyl, pour the ardent Spirit to the height of four Fingers up-
on the black Earth, diflil by Afhes, and that which is diftilled
will be the ardent Spirit impregnated, to the matter pour new
ardent Spirit, repeating as before three times, and in thelafi in-
creafingthe Fire about, theendt Calcine the Eardi with a Fire pi
Reverberation into whitenefs, out of which extract the- fixed
Salt with a little of the Phlegm,the fixed Salt being pulverized,
put in an Alembick, pour, to it; the animated ardent Spirit about
two Fingers, difiil gently in ; Balneo the infipid and. ufelefs
moiftee, repeat as before, rill the animated Spirit afceods with-
out diminution of its Virtue, and then will you ha\ j ejhQ;feed
Salt acuated, which put in an Alembkk, and pow to it the

Vegetable.

Vegetable Oyl three Fingers high, digeft in Afhes for a day, in-
create the Fire, and diftil whatibever can afcend; the diftiilation
keep warily, becaufe it is the Vegetable Mercury : But if any
of the Salt remains in the Alembick, you muft repeat the fame
operations, till at length all the Vegetable Mercury pafleth
through the Alembick, 'which will extraft the Tinftureot Gold,
being calcined with common Mercury and Salt, and lafUy with
Sulphur, which is an excellent Aurum potalile.

Sometimes they prepared thefe Menftruums ly cekobation
\vithopt awy 'mlilitiw;

35. The re<5tified Aqua Vita of Lully.
In poteftate Vivitiarum.

TAke Wine, feparate the Spirit warily, as foon and as
purely as you can, becaufe you will never feparate it fo
warily, but that it will contain in it fome of the pureft part of
this Phlegmatick Subftance,or Water : this Spirit being once le-
parated,is called Mercury, that is, Aqua ardens, the fign of which
is, that if you dip a Linnen Cloth in it, it will turn into aflame
(if fir ft kindled^ and not be burned, but if you feparate often
times, (jettify*} it is called Limaria redtify'd, that is, Aqua ar dens
rehfy*d, whereof the fign is, that a Linnen Cloth dipp'd in it,
burns all away : Separate now all the fuperfluous Phlegm, till
none at all remains, and .at the bottom will .refide a Pitch;
then mix the Lumrta, that is, the Aqua ardens re&ify'd, with
that fubftance made like foft Pitch, making it well, till it be in-
corporated, and fet it to diftil, and that which goes over, is cal-
led Man's Blood reftify'd, which Alcbymifls feek for. That Blood
isalfo called Air or Wind,and of this thing ipakethe Philofopbfr^
when he faid Wind carryed him in its Be/ly : from the remain-
der feparate the; fuperfluous Oyl {called above Vegetable} by di-
fUlling it through a Glafs Alembick, till nothing remains, which
Oyl keep apart, till I mall tell you ; but the refidue will be a
fubftance black and dry, which reduce to a fine powder, and
mix by little arid little with the rectify 'd Man's Blood, and let
them (land together for the fpace of three Hours, and then di-
ftil

(97)

ftil, and then this Water is caUed Aqua ignea refti/icata, or Fiery
Water retify'd : then calcine the Caput morfttunt'm a Furnace of
Reverberation, till it be made like Lime, and this Calx or Lime
mix with the Fiery Water reftify'd, and diflil feven times, and
then is it called Aqua Vit<z rectify 'd.

The fame Menftruum bath Paracelfus in his Book, deElixire Vi-
tx, and the Author of the Appendix of the third Volume 0/Thea-
trum Chymicum. fhefe Menftruums differ not from the afore-
(aid made ofSzl Armoniack, lut only in preparation ; in thoje the
whole Earth of the Philofophical Wine is by its own Spirit redu-
ced into a liquid fubflance, with which is performed the fame Work,
but after another manner : Hitherto ought t9 It referred the Men-
ftruum <:/ Guido, made thus :

The Circulatum minus of Guido.
In Thefauro Chymiatrico.

TAke of the Spirit tf(Philofophicar) Wine one pound, of the
Salt of (the fame ") Wine four ounces, mix,the Joynts being
well luted, diftil through anAlembick in Balneo, pour back the
diftillation, and cohobate four times, and it will be prepared.
Lully reduceth his Sal Armoniacks with fame difficulty into a liquid
fubflance: lut Guido dijlils the Salt of Philofophical Wine by four
cohobations into the fame Menftruum : the caufii of abbreviation is to
be fought in the preparation of that Salt, which is two-fold, commm
or fee ret; of the common, faith Guido thus : The ardent Spirit of
Wine being diftill'd, draw off the Phlegm, till the matter remains
in the fubltance of the thinner Ibrt of Honey, which will in a
cold Cellar yield Criftals like Nitre, which are called the Salt of
Wine,whichtake out and keep ; the remainder evaporate a little
while, and take more, & c. Of thefecret way of making this Salt,
faith Guido alfo, pag. S.Thef. Take of the Salt of Wine, and Spir
rit of Wine, of each four ounces, digeft the fpace of eight or ten
days, draw off gently in Balneo, and the Phlegm only will af-
cend, and you will have fix ounces of the Salt ot Wine, to which
Salt add again an equal quantity of its Spirit, and digeft again
ten days, and draw ofFthe Phlegm, pour new Spirit to the re-
maining Salt, and proceed as above, and thus may you increafe

P the

the Salt of Wine as youpleafe ; Khi$ latter way of Making the Salt
of Wine, is not only the multiplication, and addition a.< well of the
qtia,ntity, as qwifay of it, lut moreover is alfo the 'volatilization of it :
M is no wonder therefore, that the Salt, whoje half part was Spirit of
Philofbphical Wiae, jhould Jo eafly ajcend with the fame Spirit ,-
jtf is.it- 1* Is. well olfervd) left we temper the aridity of the Salt of
$we too much, with too great an addition of Vnttuofity, and inftead
of a Menftruum^/^/J./T/Jw/, make a weaker of the Jecmd Kind.
.' What has leen declared offagetalle Menftruums is alfo to fa
mderflood of animal Menftruums,- for an. Example we
Jtance.

37. The animal Heaven of Parifinus.
In Apertorio.

JAke the Urine of Children, between eight and twelve
Years of Age, of good difpofition and health, get that
which is good, and a good quantity, and put it in many (glafs
Veffels, which you, muft not fill above two thirds, that it may
the better circulate : To eve^rv ten meafures of Urine mix of our
C. (Philofophical Aqua, arc! ens) half a rneafure, which muft be
without any Phlegm, i'he Veilels being very well fealed with
Wax, let them putrefy fifteen days, and then you will find the
matter black jand feparated from itsTer-reftreity : And you mufl
know, the longer it remains in putrefaction, the more perfect
will be>h work, every five days the Dung muft be changed :
then' pour it out into the VeiTel, which we defcribed in the Ve-
getable Work, and the Joynts being well luted, diftil till you fee
the fign, which we fpoke of in Chap. B. but for a more certain
fign, diftil only two parts, then take away the Receiver, and put
another to, continuing the diftillation, till it remains like Syrup
or melted Pitch, then take thefe two parts referved, and diftil
by the fame Balneo, receiving three parts of four, the remaining
fourth caft away, but diftil half of thefe three, and again diftil
three parts of four parts of this half^which diftil twice by them-
felves, and thus will you have your Flower rectify 'd, with which
weextraft^fctfaw acerrimum out of its own Earth : Take there-
fore this Earth, being in the form of Syrup, to which pour the

Flower

(99}

Flower (Spirit} the height of three Fingers, cover the Veflel
with a blind Head, and lute the Joynts with gumnf d Wax, put
it in putrefaction three natural Days, and iliake the matter in
the luted Ve(Iel now and then, as is convenient, that the faline"
parts may the better be diflblv'd ; then take away the blind
Head, and put on a common Alembick, but have a care in this
changing, left the iharpnefs of the Salts offend your Eyes : then
diftil gently in Afhes, and when you have by fuch a heat extraft-
edaii the Wafer, increafe the Fire, that the Oyl or Soul of it may
afcend alfo together with thediftill'd Water, whereof one part
will be fublimed, the other part will (lick to the fuperfkies of
the Earth in the form of a white po*wder, let the Veffei cool, ga-
ther the : fublimation ; being gather'd, put it in its Water, make
the VefTel very clofe, becaute it contains the animated Flower,
(^Spirit) then take out the dry Earth remaining, reduce it into
powder upon a Porphyry Stone, pour to it the Flower ^or Spi-
rit) the breadth of three Fingers, putrefy three days, diftil in
Afhes, increafmg the Fife with Wood as above, repeat rlieMa-
giftery, till the Earth remains of an Afli Colour, then ! calcine it
in aReverberatory, as we taught- you in the Mineral Work, in
Chap. x. And fo you will have the animal Earth prepared,
abounding with fo great Virtue, as not to be expreffed. - O tf> ;
folute power ! upon which all other powers 'depend, into what;,
thing haft thou infufed fuch ^ifture ? No Man will comppeh^dl
fo great a fecret, none will believe, unlefs he himfelf hath feen
by Experience, as we have feen. < Take the animated Flower,
rectify it three times in -Allies, always -catting away the Earths,
(Terr eft ial Faces') then diftil in Balneo three parts from four, the
remainder throw away, this repeat yet -once, k then diftll -t?he
whole, fo will you have the animated Flower redifyed. T:ake
now a large Veflei (a Cucurbit)- and put ift the f edtifyed flowery
ftop the Moatliof the Ve^Tel with Cottony ' put^pian Ajwrftflw
with a Receiver, -and with a gentle hfcat of Aihes kil'or.jjitf-^gtfeftt^
eft part will be fublimed in the Form of a-iHo'ft f i^i^Us Silt,^
with which (if you w///)you may acuate ourC, which then )?bu
muft circukteaccordkigtetlie Chap. D.D. therewith you may
perfect all your operations (^which We taught in the precedent- -
Chapters) which you will foorier complect ^t^As'^e^fl^tt^.
But- if you defire 'the animal Sulphur of Nature, *fo&tteeefferj*

P ^ for

for you to fublime prefently after you have rectify *d the defired
Flower, namely, by imbibing the Earth according to the method
and order which we declared in the Vegetable Work, that is,
with an eighth, feventh, fixth, fifth, and fourth part, fublime and
ufe to do as in the Vegetable Work, to wit, by acuating the ani-
mated Flower with its animal Sulphur fublimed, circulating, and
doing all things as in the Vegetable Work. Now Son ! you fee
how I love you, having repeated fuch things over and over, and
with fuch pains, left you mould have occafion to complain of
me, and that you fhould be expert in every thing, in which I
perfwaded my felf you might err ; therefore have we in this
Chapter repeated and defcribed that, which noPhilofbpherever
did in his great Volume, and I may eafdy believe, that no Phi-
lofopher has prefumed to defcribe to long and ample a practice,
as this of ours ; all which proceeds from my paternal affection
towards you, by which I would oblige you under the pain of
God's wrath, not to reveal it to any one, but rather burn it, as
foon as you have reduc'd it into ufe, as you have more than of-
ten promifed us : My farther advice is, That you would ftre-
nuoufly endeavour to live according to the triumphant Gofpel
of Grace and Peace : rejeft and avoid Evil Societies and Afti-
ons,as we have often admoniihed you ; but if you dootherwife,
you will not pleafe him, who is the Donor of this Famous Know-
ledge, of every good Thing, and Grace it felf.

From the Receipts we Note.

I. That thofe things which were noted in the fifth precedent Kind,
may hitherto alfo be referred, /^Menftruums^ this Kind 'differing
only in matter from the antecedent y thefewere made of Philofophical
Wine only> thofe of the fixed Salts of divers things^ but as to the way
tffubliming) cr the way cf making Vegetable Sal Armoniacks, they
toth agree in all things.

2,. Thatthefe Sal Armoniacks are called Sulphurs of Nature. In
the preparation of Philofophical Wine there is an Earth found^
which is called Sulphur, exigent in the Vegetable Mercury, coagula-
ting its own Mercury ;for the Jake of which Earth, the y called every
ether ex animated and fxed Earth> Sulphur; but the animated

Spirit

( 101 )

Spirit (Eflence, Tinture, &c/) they termed Mercury, to be coagu-
lated by this Sulphur ', but loth of them being reduced into one Body,
and fub 'limed, they call d Sulpijur of Nature, (not more fixed,
but) fublimed.

3. Thefe Salts are calf d Sulphur's of Mature, to diftinguijk the m
from Sulphur againft Nature, that is, of every Acid. Fire, faith Ri-
p/ey, differs many ways j for one is a natural Fire, another un-
natural, another elemental, and another contra naturam : Natu-
ral Fire is that which proceeds from the Influence of the Sun,
Moon, and Stars, from which are produced the Spirits of bum-
ing Waters, the eflential vapours of Minerals, as alfo the Natu^
ral Virtues of living things ; the unnatural is an occafional Fire,
which is called a moid Fire,made artificially by Philofophers : it-
is alfo called a 'Fire of the fir (I degree,which is for the meer tem-
perance of heat called Balneo, Stove or Dunghill -, in this Fire is
made the Putrefaction of our Stone : elemental Fire is that
which fixeth calcines, and burneth, and is nourifhed by things
combuftible ; Fire againft (or contrary to) Nature,duTolves vio-
lently, breaks, kills, and deftroys the governing power of the
Form of the Stone : for it diflblves the Stone into the Water of
a Cloud with the deftruftion of the fpecifick Form : but it is
termed Fire contrary to Nature, becaufe the operation of it is
contrary to all natural operations, as Raymond aflerts : for all
things that Nature hath made, this Fire deftroys, and brings to
Corruption, unlefs the Fire of Nature be added to it, Sfr. Med*
Phil. fag. 135. Wherefore alfo there are four Fires in our art,
namely, the Natural, which is the Menflrmm Sericonis ; the un-
natural, that is,HorfeDung, or findemia, and the like : the ele- -
mental, viz. maintained by Wood and other combuftille things ;
and the Fire contrary to Nature, that is, all corrofrve Waters,
made of Vitriol, Salt, and fuchlike things. Viatic, pag, 341. lut
ofthefe in another place, namely, theffih Book.

4. That thefe Salts are to le ufed prefently after thefullimation
of them.

5-. That Philofophical Aqua Vitx, though never letter re ttifyd f ;.
yet contains in itfome certain fuperfluous nioifture, which it expetts,
either by being circulated by. itjelf, <u in the preparation ef Lully's
He erven, or imbibed in thwgs fixed, as in the ways of making t be] aid
Salts.

6. That

I02

6, That tfMenftmum made of "L\&\y's Heaven, with the EJJence
or Oy/0/Piiilofophical Wine, is no ftronger than the reft, as to the
preparation of the Sal Armoniack, though it may be fooner made
with this Oyl, thanfimpk Aqua ardens, but as the Sal Armoniack
already made is mixea, and again circulated not with the thin Phi-
lofophical Water, but with the Oyl or Aqua Vitas circulated.
P. 7. -that the divers ways ofjubliming thefe Salts do moft clearly
difwver to us as well the Nature of that Spirit of Wine, as of thefe
Menftruums, and moreover commends the incomparable Experi-
ence 0/Lully in thefe things.

8. Animal Menftruums, tho extracted eut of the Vrine, and
other parts of Man, are nevertheless not properly Jo called, fo long as
the matter of that Spirit of Philofophkal Wine was Vegetable, and
only acuated with an animal thing : yea the very Spirit 0/PhiIolb*
phical Wine made alfo out of the animal Kingdom, as alfo acuated^
would notwithstanding differ not from thefimple Vegetable Menilru-
ums;/ the properties of diffolving, becaufe it would together with
the faid jimple Vegetable Menftruums, very much vary from the
tinging faculty of the compounded Vegetable Menftruums, from
which it ought to be diftinguifhed ; whereas otherwife it might be
ranked among the Vegetable Menftruums.

The

Vegetable Menftruums compounded of the
aforefaid Simple Menftruums.

38. The Circulatum ma jus of GUI Jo,
Pag. 4. Thefauri Chym.

TAke of the Spirit &i(Pbttofifjfocat) Wine fix Ounces, of
the Salt of (the fame) Wine four Ounces, the Veflel be-
ing well ftopp'd,diftil the Spirit in Balneo,which pour
back upon the Salt of Wine, and again diftil, and this ought to
be done twelve times : then diftilior a Month \xiBalneo rer^ :
Putrefaclion being done, takeout the matter and diftil in a Cu-
curbit, with an Alembick of two Heads or Beaks, in Balneo, and
the Spirit of Wine will afcend through the upper Beak into its
Receiver, but the Phlegm through the lower into its Veflel :
Take out the Salt of Wine, pour one half of the Spirit of Wine
to it, and difti] with a Retort into the other part of the Wine,
diftil yet once upon the remainder, and all the Salt will afcend
iato a ftrong Menftruum : But if you defire a weaker, add fix
(other) Ounces of the Spirit of Wine, and if you wouk} have it
very wedk } pour to it a greater quantity of Spirit, but accord-
ing to the aforefaid weight, it is made our great Vegetable^!-
) or Circulatum majus.

Annotations.

Hitherto of Simple Vegetable Menftruums ; mw follow thofe
which are fata to le compounded, not as if they are compound-
ed of wore Ingredients, lut lecaufe they are flronger than the Sim-
pie-, as we/I in their qualities of 'dijfoluing^ tinging : The Menftru-

urns of this Kind difftr not from the former in matter, nor in the
method of preparing,but in weight only ;for the more Aridity you add
to the uncluous Spirit of Philoibphicai Wine, the flronger are the
Menftruums made. Guide made his lejs' Girculatum of one part
of the Salt ofWine^ and four parts of the Spirit of Wine ; lut the
greater Circulatum he makes of two parts of the Salt of Wine > and
three parts of the Spirit of Wine. Jhe greater quantity of the Salt y
the flronger is the Circulatum. The lefs Cirailatums doextratl
the Ejj'ences, or ? inftures of things ^ lut the greater Circulatums do
diffbfoe the whole Body into a Magiftery^ as will appear in thefecond
Book.

Vegetable Menflruums compounded are made alfo, ifthcfimplc
Vegetable Menftruums^ taken inftead of the Spirit 0/Philofophi-
cal Wine, in the Defer if t ions of them all; as thus :

39. The Menflmum acutum ofGuido.
Pag. 8. Thefauri Cbym.

TAke of the Vegetable Menflrutim (Circulatum minus, defer i-
led in Numb. 3 6.) one Pound, ot Sal Armoniack (common}
twelve Ounces, diftilby a Retort firft with a weak Fire, then a
ftronger, and the SalArmoniack will in part afcend, pour it back,
and diftil yet once : then again add twelve Ounces of new Sal
Armoniack) diflil flrongly in Afhes, pour back, and cohobate yet
twice, and you will have our acute Menftruum.

Sal Armoniack reduced into a liquid fulftancc by the Spirit of
Philofophical Wine, is a Menftruum of the fourth Kind, lut the
fame Salt dijiill' d with the Circulatum minus of Guide, made
not ajjwple y lut compound Menftruum, and the better for addingfo
great a quantity of new Sal Armoniack. Parifmus in the third
Kind 0/Menftruums acuates the Spirit of Philofophical Wine with
crude Honey , ly which way it is made a fiwple Menftruum of that
Kind) but if mixed with its fxed Salt, and diflil led through an
.) 'tis made a compound ^Mtnftruum.

40. The

40. The Coslum majus of Parifinus.
In Apertorio.

TAke B, that is, red Wine putrify'd, as you know how, put
it in a Glafs Cucurbit, with its Alembick, and Receiver
well luted, and fet it in Balneo, wherein muft be fo much Wa-
ter, as to fwim two Fingers above the faid Lttnaria, and diftii
gently, and forthwith you will fee Veins appear in the Alem-
bick , continue the diftillation fo long as they appear, and thefc
Veins will be like Tears clear as Criftal, and when Death
(Phlegm) comes, which kills the Spirit, the faid Veins or Tears
will ceafe, and appear round as Pearls : then take away the Re-
ceiver, ftop it, that the Spirit may not evaporate, and fet it in a
cold place, and fo have you feparated the Soul (Spirit) of it, tho'
it contains a little of its Death yet in it, and thus continue the
diftillation (the Receiver lehig now changed*) till all the odorife-
rous Phlegm is afcended, and the matter remains like melted
pitch, black and thick, which obfervenot to dry overmuch, but
according to the faid Signs gnly : And thus will you have two
ferments from our B. beware of revealing to any one this
Practice, which we communicate to you under the peril of
your Soul, for you would be the caufe of much Evil in this
World, to be committed by the Sons of Iniquity : put it there-
fore into the hands of Almighty God, who knows the Will of
thofe that live according to his Will, and the triumphant Got-
pel, for the Glory of which you have extracted the Form out of
B, and the fame way you may extract from all Individuals Ani-
mal and Vegetable. Cap.fecunduntjjgnificatum,per C.

Take the Soul (Spirit) of it refervedin the cold place, and di-
ftil half o*' it in Balneo, or till the precious Veins ceafe from af-
cending, rectify yet twice, obferving the lame Rules, but the
third and fourth time, fo loon as the Veins appear, leave off di-
Hilling, and try whether it will burn a linnen Cloth, if not, re-
peat the diftillation till it doth : then cohobateby it felf four or
fix times in Balneo: And thus have you acquired a way fit for
the reifying of the faid Matter or Soul, (Spirit) which is of fo
great Virtue, as not to beexprefled by any Tongue, or the Se-

crets,

crets, which the Eternal God hath vouchfafed to it, recited , as
when we were at Vtnice, that Famous City, we both faw fome
Experiments of it ; and fo keep it well in a cold place. Cap. ter-
tium Jignifcatitm per D. D. Having declared the method ofr recti-
fying and feparating our ardent Spirit from its Death, depra-
ving its Virtue and Power : you muft now know, that it is not able
to diflblve the two Luminaries, and reduce them into action,
except it be flrft acuajted, as I ftiall tell you : Though this pre-
paration is to be taught in general, in Cap. F. yet to prevent the
lofs of time, fo foon as you have rectify 'd your ardent Spirit,
otherwife called the nrft Flower, I had rather have you forth-
with put it into Practice, which we have in this Chapter Jigvified
ly thefe two Letters, D. D. whereof one denotes the acuition of
it, the other its Roy alAcuator, that is, Salt extracted out of Ho-
ney, by the way which we have oftentimes Ihewed you, that is,
with its moil precious Water (of Honey, or the Menftruum de-
fer ihd in the third Kind, Numl. 10.) and though this Water be
good enough, yet this Water, being acuated with its moft preci-
ous Salt, of which you will be more certain, will recompence
your Labour, and abundantly fuftain you, till you attain to the
end of your Labour, the great Medicine. Now to the purpofe,
Take white Honey of young Bees, put it in Putrefaction in Jarge
Cucurbits, with their Alembicks in Balneo, and make it boyl
continually for an Hour, the reft of the time let it remain in a
temperate heat, and this do for thefpace of fifteen Natural Days,
then pour to the matter fo much of C, as to fwim the breadth
of four fingers above it, covering the Veflels with the blind
Heads, and putting them in Putrefaction three Natural Days ;
then put on the Alembicks with their Receivers, and the Joynts
being well luted, diftil in Balneo, and when feven parts of eight
are diltilled, or (which is a more certain fign) when you fee
round tears or drops afcend,lay afide the Receivers clofe ftppp'd,
that nothing may evaporate, keep them in a cool place, for the
acuition of the matter ; then continue the diftillations in the
fame degree of heat, till nothing more afcends ; but if neceflky
requires a greater Fire, have a care of making it too ftrong, and
when nothing will afcend by the faid Rule, take away alfo thefe
Receivers, and keep them, becaufe they contain the fecond Wa-
ter ox Phlegm for the extra&ion of the moft precious Salt :

Now

.107

Now put your matter in Afhes, and diftil with a heat of the
third degree, the Oyl being diftilled, fuffer the matter to cool,
which being pulverized, reverberate in an Earthen Dilh irt a
Reverberatory for eight Days, or till it be calcin'd enough , the
fign will be when you find it of an Afh Colour : then pour of
the referved Phlegm to it fo much as to cover it the breadth of
two Fingers ; the Veflel being covered with a blind Head, keep
it in Balneo two or three Days, decant the Liquor, and pouring
on new Phlegm, repeat fo oft, till you liave extracted ail the Salt,
which will exceed Snow in whitenefs : And this is that Salt,
wherewith we acuate our fimple C, (the ardent Spirit for a
Menflruurn dfthe Fifth Kind} thisis that which gives the begin-
ning of Vegetation to both the Luminaries, reducing them into
the Nature of a Quinteflence : And with the fame may you al-
fo acuate, and augment its own Water (of Honey ^ or Menftruum
of the Third KM} which hath the power of Vegetating all Mi-
nerals. With this alone will you fupport your feif in your ne-
ceflity, fo as to be in duty bound, my Son ! to give thanks to
the abfolute power : Be careful not to difclofe fo great a fecretro
any Man ; for we have now declared it fo plainly, that 'tis im-
pofllble to add any thing more. Now take your decantations,
which you drew off in Balneo, that the Salt may remain moft
white, which you muft diflblve, filtre, and congeal three times,
and it will befit for all your operations. Now let us defcend to
the practice of acuition . Take of the Salt aforefaid one ounce,
to which being well pulverized, pour four parts of C, that is,
the firft Spirit (ardent, lut lecaufe a Menft.mum of the ffik, and
not of this Kind) would be made by this Spirit, therefore is C> being
acuate d with Honey, or the me/hflnous Heave n of Parifinus, a Men-
flruum of the third Kind to le taken} in a blind Head, and the
Joynts well luted, putrify the fpace of two Natural Days, then
put on an Alembick with a Receiver, and diftil in. Afhes : diftil- '
lation being ended, take a pound -of the Salt remaining in the
Retcrt, and add to it four times the quantity of C, putrifying,
and diftilling in Afhes as before, and the Magiftery 16 often re-
peat, till all the Salt afcends together with its Celeftial Spirit,
or G, and by this way may you acuate and multiply as you
pleafe : but remember that one part of Salt requires four parts
Q' /l this.place, the C&lam we/lifluum of Parifmus. ) And you

muft

C "8 )

muft know, I tell you no fabulous Stories, but very diftin&ly de-
clare to you the order of true Praftice, yet with this Provifo,
That when firft you have brought it into action, you would al-
together conceal it, confidering with how great obfcurity the
ancient Philofophers delivered theirs, which notwithftanding
they had not done, but to reftrain the ignorant from being too
arrogant, for the fame reafon alfodowe defire, that, as we have
more than often admonifhed you, you would keep fecret, and
in convenient time and place work for your felf, and the poor of
JefusChrift. Cap. quar turn JigMificatum per E. We ought to re-
turn infinite thanks to the goodnefsof the Eternal (}od, in teach-
ing us fo bountifully the way of preparing our Heaven, and ma-
king us partakers of fo admirable and ineftimable a favour. Cer-
tain it is, when I had compleated this moft fecret Science, and
fben real tranfmutationthe firfl time, I was in a manner aftoniln-
ed^ and often lifting up my Eyes to Heaven, fell proftrate up-
on the Earth, giving thaxiks to Almighty God. Now to the
purpofe i Take a large Glafs of fuch a fize, as I feewed you one at
Mttrarium, into which put two or three pounds of that Menftru-
utn> ftop it well, and circulate in Balneo or Horfe-Dung, but
have a care left in changing the Dung you impede the circula-
tion, and fo let itcircukte the fpace of forty Natural Days, and
then you will find your matter clear asCriftal, with a Sediment
in the bottom like Silk, which decant warily into another Glafs,
keep it very clofe in Balneo, and you will have a Simple Vege-
table Menffltuum^ {if made of the ardent Spirit ^ and Salt of Honey,
hut a, compound jf prepared with the Ccelum mellifluum of Pariil-
nus and Salt of Honey) our Heaven is in Virtue beyond expreili-
on, herewith do we truly calcine and diflblve the Luminaries,
with the prefervation of their radical moifture. This is that
which will reduce imperfect as well as perfect Metals from pow- .
er into a&ion*. And though 1 may feera not to have delineated
to you-, the Form of the Glafs, yet I know, and do remember,
that I left fome of them at your Houfe, and many other of our
Cucurbits, which are every one good. Govern your felf ac- .
cording to your difcretion, we having fulficiently manifeftcd to
you the way of Truth in this Chapter. .

From .

) :

From the Receipts we obferve.

I. fhaf the Menftruums of thisfe-uenth Kind differ from the
Jortner fimple Menflruums, ndtin matter s> norm ways of making^ lut
in the weights andufe of the Ingredients.

^. That thefe Menftruums//^w/ their diflblution^ which is the
trope rty efcvmpound Menftruums. Every Vegetable Mercury con"
tains indeed its own tinging Sulphur in its Bowels^ fufficient both for
it f elf and others, as will le aemonflrated in the third Boek, lut
efpecially in the fifth) veyerthflefs we affirm, that every Spirit of Phi-
lofophical Wine wants TMttre^ as being not acmted with things
more tinging.

The

The Eighth KIND.

Vegetable Menftruums compounded of Sim-
ple Vegetable Menftruums, and common
Argent Vive, or other Metals.

41. The Igrii* Gehennas of Trifmofinuf made of
the Spirit ofPhilofophica/Wine, and Mercury
Sublimed.

Pag. j. Aurei Vetteris Germ.

TAkc of Alum calcined, Nitre, of each two parts, of Salt
decrepitated,one part,mix, take of this mixture and Mer-
cury fublimed, of eaclione pound, fublimeby the Law of Art,
mix the fublimation with new mixture of Salts, and fublime,
and that repeat three times : To this Mercury thus fublimed
and pulverized pour the Spirit of (Philofopkicaf) Wine^ and draw
it off in Balneo to an oleity, cohobate fometimes, and the fourth
time will afcendthe Mercury together with the Spirit of Wine,
rectify the diftillation till it leaves no Farces, and it will be a
Water burning like Hell-Fire . This Water rectify again in
Alhes, till it afcends without leaving any Sediment ; laftly, di-
ftil through a Paper feven times double in Balneo, "and you will
have a Water truly Spiritual, which keep in a Veffel clofe ftop-
ed, by reafon it is very Volatile.

Annotations.

f "JT^He Kind immediately antecedent is indeed computed in tie
JL vumler of the greater Circulatums, or Vegetable Menftru-
ums compounded V iecaufe the Menftruums' vf tbat Kind do in the
tower of diffofoing excell the other Simple Menilruums, lut not in

in ;

cit\ as. veil <u thofe do want ; lut we mil MOW offer
tbofe which jh*tt Le. Letter ; they will not only diffolve, lut in difjol-
t'tng moreover tinge the things diffolve d in them, and fo wake them
letter-, they will not only ex trait the Ejfinces of things, luttranf-
mute whole Bodies into Migifteries : Amongft theje, the Vegetable
Mercurial lifters, wade of common Argent vive, and fitn pie ^ r ege ta-
lk l\icn(\r tt.i\ms have priority ; fir many of the Adepts being fo
taught by Experience, have called common Argent vive the open
Metal, 'for it isfooner diffolve d than the other Metals, and does ly
its aridity more temper the unftuofity of the Spirit of Philofopbical
Wine, than the individuals hitherto ufed in the antecedent Kinds cf
Menilruums : As concerningthis matter , hear the Pbtlofopker.s, and
above the reft the great Parscelfus, Prmce,without quefiion,of all the
Adepts, who faith, If you intend to convert Metals into a Magi-
fiery, and tinge the whole Body altogether into an Eflence, you
muft take the chief and open Metal, to.jjjjiich all the reil have
affinity in Nature, and putrify it initsbwn Matrix, which is
fituated in Water, and is call'd the Mother of all Metals, (fa-
racelfus his Circulatum minus made of common Salt) purge it from
fuperfluities, and reduce it into its liquid fim being, that is, the
Metallick Acetum acerrimum, the primum Ens. of Mercury. Lib.
10. Arch. Cap. 3. pag. 37. Asa temperate Eflence (lie goes <?)
is drawn out of Herbs (as out of a Vine, for example) by which
very EiTence, the like Eflence may be extracted out of all forts*
of Herbs and Roots, fo, as that the Mercury of Wine (hews not
its own Nature, but the Nature of that with which it is eflentia- ,
tedj for {he like reafon out of Metals and Minerals,the like Mer-
cury or Spirit is extracted out of the open and middle Metal Mer-
cury. Lil. 10. Arch. pag. 39. Mercury vive is the Mother of
all the feven Metals, and ought defervedly to be called the Mo-
ther of Metals, for it is an open Metal. Liiro de rtlusnAturalilus^
pag. 87. Wherefore call to mind thofe things which have
been laid before of half perfect Natural Tilings, among which
Mercury vive is one, which is not brought into compaction, but
kft in liquidity : Befides you muft know, that every generated
thing which is open, as Argent vive, is like an open H oufe, into
which every Man that will may enter, for (b lies Mercury open,
that every Phyfitian may take what he will from it, but itisnot
fo with Gold, Silver, Tin, &c. for that Gate is fliut by coagu-

'latioo,

(112}

ktion, t'rll opened, dilTolved, and reduced into the firfV matter
by Art, which Metals have indeed many impediments, fuch as
.ars not in Mercury > for it is open, and wants nothing but the di-
rection of preparation, tract, z . lib. 2 . de morbis wet a tikis. 7x3.

Bztiiius agrees with Paracelius,/?}//;^ .- In the beginning of Ge-
neration the firfl of all is Argent ^/w,being open, and loofely co-
agulated, becaufe it hath little Salt communicated to it, and
therefore is more Spiritual than Corporeal : the reft of the Me-
tals being derived from its Eflence, have more Salt, and there-
fore are made more Corporeal. Lib. de rebus natural. & fuper-
nat. Cap. ^.

Chortalailxus affirms the fame faying : Argent vive is of divers
Colours, white, skyilh, afh, blackim, one flow, another fwift,
yet in it felf an open Metal, and hath a Body eafily tranfmuta-
fcle. Cap.pag.T>59. Voluw.fextiTheat.Chym.

In fearching for Sulphur, defpair not /faith Sendivogitts, I tell
you by all that's facred, it is in Gold and Silver molt perfect,
but in Argent vive mofl eafy. Pag. 2,13. lib. de SuJphure . Of the
cmtient Philofophers-Iwi/l add Arnold, who in Lib. i. Cap. 7. Ro-
farii, faith : The Medicine is as well in Metallick Bodies, as al-
fo in Argent vrve, as to Nature, becaufe they are found to be of
one Nature, but indeed in thefe Bodies harder, in the Argent
vive nearer, but not more perfectly. In Argent vive alone it is
found more eafily and more nearly, not more perfectly, it being
the Father of both thofe Luminaries, and all things fufible, for
they are all derived from it, and therefore are they all refolv'd
into it, becaufe Nature embraced! its own Nature more amica-
bly, arid rejoyceth with it more, than with that which is Hete-
rogeneous. For in it is the facility of extracting that fubtil
fubftance.

Among the Metals there is none that fooner wixeth with the Spi-
rit ofPhilofophical Wine, and is more eafily altered, than Argent
vive, wherefore the Adepts efteemedit as an open Metal ; all other
Metals and Mineral Bodies are with very great difficulty diffolved ly
the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, lut being once comited with this
Spirit, they are as well as Mercury, con-verted into a third fubflance,
never to be divided into their co'nftitutives, that is> Metal and Spi-
rit ; This open Metal thej made more openfometimes by the acidity
of Salts ; fo Trifmofinus didfometimes jubliwe common Mercury for

kis

his Ml Fire yet principal care tn.ift le taken, that fuch Menftru-
ums as ''" r e mads of 'Mercury f ultimate, le ly being dulcify d with
longer .,</; ordinary circulation^ or repeated cohobitionS) freed from
all t : acidity of the Salts; hut this operation be ing full of danger,
yeacon+r. he Rale of 1 'e+etalle Menftruums, which excludes

every Acid wh.itfoever, we have therefore thought good to aduife
young Bei 1 >>?rs to ufe crude Mercury, asjajer thanfullimate. hftead
oftbejew ?->/// therefore contend the Menftruums wade of crude
Argent T "

42. The Alchymical Mercury QfRifley.
In Concord. Raym. & Guidon.

TAke of crude Mercury well purged one Ounce, of our
Fiery Tartar, or ioruner Vegetable Salt referved (in the
Fifth Kind in NUM& 13.) tlvree Ounces, grind both together ve-
ry fine upon a Marble, till they be incorporated, then put the
matter in a warm Balneo, and let it be all diflblv'd into a kind
of white Milk, put it all upon a Pound of crude Mercury, and
let it be all diltolved into the like Milk, and thus do in infinitum.
This Vlercury being diilolved putrify in Balneo, then diftil in
Alhes firflwith a gentle Fire, and an infipid Water will afcend,
which muft be thrown away : then the Fire being moreincrea-
fed, another Water will afcend more thick, which Water indeed
diffolvesall Bodies, putrifies, cleanieth and fixeth them, at the
end with a more vehement Fire will an Oyl afcend of a Golden
Colour, which mufl be piefervcd for the diflblving of the red
Ferment, arid for the multiply ing of the red Elixir, for it is our
peculiar Gold, not yet fixed by Nature.

Elfeivhere inftead of Tartar fired {that is, the Spirit <?/Philofo-

phicai Wine dryect in the Salt ^/Tartar, or Vegetable Sal Armo-

niack made of the Salt <?/ Tartar, lut not yet fMtned) Ridley

f owe times afedfome fimple Vegetable Menilruum, with which he wade

the exalted Water of Mercury, asfo/fawefh.

R . The

( "4 )

43- The exalted Water of Mercury ofRipley.
Cap. 1 2. Philorcii.

TAke Nigrum nigrius nigro, and diftil an Aqua ardent, and
fortify it with Pepper > Squilla, Pyrethrum, Euphorlium, So-
latrum, Anacardus, grains of Paradife, Staphis-agria, and the like
in acuity : but this is a great fecret. Take the Water of the
fifth fortification, and diftil, pour it upon Mercury fo, as to fwim
two or three Fingers above it, flop the Veflel to prevent exha-
ling, put the Mercury in Balneo to diflbive for a Month, that
which is diflblved of it empty into another Veflel, and keep :
pour new Water upon the Mercury not diflblved, and proceed
as before, thus continuing, till you have one Pound of Mercury
diflblved : Then put the diflblution together in Balneo the fpace
of fifteen Days, and after that diftil, and that which afcends
keep apart in a Veflel, not to refpire, and upon the remaining
Fxces pour new Water, and proceed by Balneo as above, and this
Work continue, till all the Mercury is exalted : But this is not
the Work of idle and (loathful Men. Now this Water thus ex-
alted is by the Philofophers call'd by many Names, for it is Lac
Virginia, Aqua roris Mail, and Aqua Mercurii.

Nigrum nigriusnigro, and Philofophicai Wine,u? have proved
lefore ly Lully to le Synonimous : the fortification or acuition of that
Water or Spirit, with Pepper, Squilla, &C. vce taught in thefecond
Kind. Mercury, though an open Metal, is yet hard enough to be
dijfoh'd in the aforejaid Menftruum of the fecond Kind, lut the
flronger the jjmple Vegetable Menftruums are, the fooner alfo is it
dijfohed ; an Example you will have in the following Glorious Water
o/Lully, where Mercury h in the fpace of fix days dijjolved in the
Codum Vinofum of Lully, ly A Menftruum ofthejixth Kind.

44. The

( it's )

44. The Glorious Water of Argent mm

of Lully.
In Teftamento Novijjimo.

TAke of common Argent vive one Pound, put it in a Glafs
Veflel, and pour upon it of the Vegetable Menftruum
(above defer ibed in the Sixth Kind in Numb. 30.) fo much, as to
fwim four Fingers above it, let it in Balneo or Dung fix Days,
and it will be all diflblved into a Glorious Water, elevate the
Menftruum gently by Balneo, and at the bottom of the Veflel
will remain the Light of Pearls, and Soul of Metals : This we
meant in the Chapter which begins : Oportet nos cum eo incipere y
& cum eofinire. Then take of this Glorious Water of Argent
viveone Pound, and mix it with two Pounds of the Vegetable
Menftruum^ ccelificated (pfCaslumVinofum, in Numb. 30.) and it
will all become one Water, with which you will diflblve all
Bodies, as well perfed as imperfect, for the Production of our
Sulphur.

The fame way almoft he prepares that which he calls the in-
calcinated Menftruum.

45. The incalcinated Menftruum of tatty.
In Experim. 34.

TAke common Mercury, brought out of Spain m Skinsleal'd
with a Spanijk Seal, to prevent Sophiftication, force it
through a fine Skin, then take the Mercurial Water, extracted
from Mercury by the Magiftery, as we taught you in the Ex-
periment of three Veflels, as you know, and 16 diflblve the Mer-
cury ; being all diflblv'd, draw the Water from it by Balneo,
and in the bottom of the Veflel will the Mercury remain in the
Form of an Oyl : This therefore we will ufe to be incerated
(circulated rather} into our Heaven or our ccelificated Menftruum :
Take therefore four Pounds of the codificated Menftruum (the
Vegetable Heaven defcriled in the fifth Kind in Numb. 17.) and

R z one

onePoundof the aforefaid Mercury reduced intoOyl, and joyn
them together, then will you have at length the' incalcinated
Menflruum, with which you will diflblve the two Luminaries
preferving ttieir Form, and not only preferving it, but alfo pro-
pagating it winfnittfito*

The Receipt (f this Menflruum is plain, yet muft we declare what
he means ly the Mercurial Water extracted ly the Maoijleryof three
Feffelsy the Definition of which MenR-mum -we read thus ;

46. The Mercurial Water by three Vcflels

of Lully.
. In Experim. 1 3.

TAke Spanift) Mercury, which is brought in Bladders with
the Seal of Spain, that it may not be adulterated,* fab-
lime it thus : Take Vitriol dryed from all Phlegm, and common.
Salt prepared, and decrepitated, or firil burn'd in Fire ; joyn the
Mercury with thefe two, grinding very well, then fublime in a
Veflel,at firft with a gentle Fire, then increafethe Fire, till it be
perfeUy fublimed : the Veflel being cold, gather the fublimati-
on carefully, and beware of the fumes, being Venomous ; im-
bibe the fublimation very well with the Oyl of Tartar (per deli-
qu'iurn} and quick Lime, then put the matter into a Retort, and
adminifler Fire, till Mercury vive is gon^e over into the Receiver;
fublime again as before, with the fame new Matters, then as be-
fore vivity by a Retort, thus repeat the Magidery four times :
Then take this Mercury thus prepared, and make it boyl with
(Philefophical) Aqua fifoe, being dryed, preisit through a Goats'
Skin : Then take this Mercury, and put it in Veflels , three Alu^
de Us) which mud be firmly and flrongly joy ned together, and
- covered on all fides with ftrong lutujmjtftaiM, then prepaie a
Furnace, in wh^ch thefe VefTels may be fitly placed, fo as that
they may all have equal heat ; but the Receiver muft by no
means feel the Fire, fo aLo the Beak of the firft VefTel, through
which the Mercury is to pafs, muft be out of the Furnace :
Then give Fire to the faid Vefiels, fo as to be red hot, both with-
in and without, then put in the Mercury through the Pipe on
the outfide of the Furnace, and prefently (lop the Mouth of the

Pipe with Cotton ; and by the lharpnefs of the Fire,part of the
Mercury will in a thort time diftil into the Receiver ; but one
part in die likeneis of Water ; feparate the Water from the Mer-
cury, and keep it, but that which remains quick, caft again into
the faid VefTel as before, fo oft, till it be through the fbarpnefs
of the Fire all converted into Water, empty the Receiver every
time into another Veflel,and keep it well ftopp'd : Then take of
this Water four Ounces, and of the-Oyl or Salt .of" the/r/? Expe-
riment (j$ alt of Tartar impregnated with the Spirit of Philofbphi-
cal Wine^ orte Ounce, make it go over together with the'faid
Salt, diltilling that Water in Allies with a moil gentle heat at firfl,
then in the end increasing the Fire, till more will not diflil :
Then take new Salt, or Oyl of the fame frfl Experiment^ and
joyn it with that Water a little before diftilled, and make it go
over again, ciifhlLng by Allies as before ; but this Magiftery
you muft repeat five times, mixing one Ounce of the faid Salt or
Oyl of the frfl Experiment every time with three Ounces of die
faid Water, diftilling as before in Alhes, with the fame
of Fire, and the fame weight as before, as well of the W
of the Salt or Oyl : And by this means will you by the help of
God, have a Mineral and Vegetable Water united together,
which hath the power of diiTolving Mercury, and all MetaJ%
efpecially the two Luminaries : For the multiplication of this
Water you mufl proceed thus , Take one Ounce of Mercury
purged, and five Ounces of the faid iharp Water zpared^

joyn thefe two together in a fmall Cucurbit, lute k well, then
Will the Mercury be forthwith diflbh . uch diflblution put
in a little Urinal, with an Alembick and Receiver, the ]oynte
well luted diftilling in Allies, and it Will ail come over into a
Water, fome Terrefireity of no moment beiq:- left in the bot-
tom of the Veflel : Then may you this \\ altiply the faid
Water as much as you will, viz. by taking parts o

andoneof Mercury purged, diflblvingfirft, an'i .'iitifiingi
an Alembick as before.

He revivifies Mercury fullimate^ to le purged
way, ly the Oyl of Tartar, and quick Lime ; leivg
-digefts it in Aqua Vitx, tbat js, ' Phi lof optical , for c
Wim woM be' here ofrw cffeft; wherein ths -di-

:-.?/ Aqua Yitx, much of the permanent unttuofcy :

cent

gent vive, altering it exceedingly ; then he puts it into divers Alu-
dels, joyned toge ther, and to the Receiver, and wade red hot, in or-
der to 'be converted into a Mercurial Water : The way ofdiftilling ly
Veffels red hot) I find in many places to have leen much in ufe among
the Adepts, lut whether they contrived this way for the abbreviating,
or more exquifite way of operating, or for what other caufe, I know not.
BafUius, Lib. particularium, in particul. Sv\is,diftils not Mercury,
lut Gold oft en extinguifhed in the, Philofophical Aqua Vitse through
a hot Veflel into a red Liquor. Take of Aurumfulminans, faith he,
one part, of the Flowers of Sulphur three parts, calcine with a
gentle Fire till the Sulphur be confumed, the red hot matter ex-
tinguifli in the Spirit of Wine, acuated with fome drops of the
Spirit of Tartar (the Vegetable Menftruum made of the Salt of
Tartar) decant the Spirit, and the powder dry at the Fire, to
which being dryed, add again three parts of the Flowers of Sul-
phur, calcine and quench as before : This Work repeat fix
times, that the powder of the Gold may be made like Butter,
foft and fat, which muft be carefully dryed, becaufe it melts with
a little Fire, this powder being a little heated put into a Retort
with a Pipe, and made red tyot, and the Pipe being prefently
ftopp'd,diftil the red drops falling into gocd Spirit of Wine put
before into the Receiver.

If the Gold leing divers times extinguifhed in the Spirit of Philo-
fophical Wine is made foft and fat, why might n&t this le alfo done
in common Mercury, digefted according to the Receipt, in the fame
Spirit of Wine ? Butfuppofe Lully proposd it only to himjelf, to re-
duce Argent vive into a common acid Liquor, yet does he cut of this,
with the addition of the Salt of Tartar of the fir ft Experiment, make
a Vegetable Menftruum of the Fifth Kind, with which he diffolves
common Argent vive, andreduceth it into a Mercurial Water: then
he diffolves common Mercury ly this Mercurial Water, and draws it
ojffo, as to remain in the form of an Oyl ; which Oyl of Mercury Ic-
ing diffolved in the Vegetable Heaven, he circulates, and leing cir-
culated, calls it the wctf/cwtfW Menftruum. If inftead of the Oyl
of Mercury you take crude Mercury reduced into the true fir ft matter
of Mercury, and acuate the Vegetable Heaven with thu Mercurial
Sal Armoniack, you will make the fame, yea a much letter incalci-
nated Menftruum. The way of waking the Sulphur of Nature of
common Argent vive is this following.

The

The Mercurial Sal Armoniacf^ or Mercury

of the Mercury of Lully.

In Exferim. 18.

TAke Mercury being twice fublimed with Vitriol and Salt,
put the fublimate upon an Iron Plate, being firft very
well pulverized, add to it two Ounces of Tin calcined, then fet it
in a moift place,and it will bediflblved ifublime again,and lay it
upon an Iron Plate as before, and it will be all difiolved, and
thus may you diflblve as much Mercury as you pleafe : then
take this Water, and rectify it feven times in Allies, or till it
will yield no more Terreflreity, then diftil it in Balneo with
an eafie heat, and diftil one part often, which is of no ufe, be-
ing Phlegm, which it contracted in the moift place, then know
the weight of the Water remaining in the bottom, and to eve-
ry four Ounces put one Ounce of the Vegetable Salt of the/ir/?
mfecond Experiment, being both of the fame ilrength, then di-
ftil in hot Allies with an Alembick and Receiver well luted,
which being all diftill'd, add new Salt to it again, obfervingthe
fame weight as before, of the Salt as well as Water, then diftil
again as before, and this fame way diftil four times, to every
diftillation adding new Salt as before, and diftilling in Allies,
and fo will you have a Mercurial Water fit for allPhyfical Ope-
rations : Then take common Mercury, warned with Vinegar
and Salt, and ftrained through a Goats Skin, put it in a Veflel,
andif there be one Ounce of Mercury, add four Ounces of the
aforefaid Mineral Water, and having put on a blind Head in
Allies, let it boyl gently, and it will in a fliort time be all diflbl-
ved, empty the diflblution into another Veflel warily, that if
any Terreftreity be left in the bottom, it may be feparated
from the faid diflblution, as a thing of no effect : you may this
way diflblve as much Mercury as you will. Then take the afore-
faid Mercury diflblved, andputrify thirty Days in Balneo or hot
Dung, which muft be changed every ten Days, that the heat
may endure, and not be extinguiflied : having putrify'd, re-
move the Veflel, and putting on an Alembick to, with an Uri-
nal

nal and Receiver well luted, diftil all the Water in Balneo, and
the Mercury will remain in the Veflel white as Snow, then
pour to it fo much of this Water, which you now diftilled, as to
be four Fingers above it,- the reft of the Water keep in its Veflel

; ffopp'd in a cold place,then putting a blind Head upon its
Veflel, and fealing the Joynts, putrify a Natural Day, then ta-
king away the blind Head, and putting on an Alembick with a
Receiver clofe luted, diftil in Allies, and increafe the Fire, that
the Soul may pafs'over into its diftilled Water; laftly, diftilkti-
on ceafing, let the Veflel cool, takeaway the Receiver, and keep
it well ftopp'd,for that which is diO ill'd therein is the animated
Spirit ; but to the matter remaining in the Veflel, that is, the
Urinal, pour again of the diftilled Watei; fo much as will fwim
four Fingers above it, and having put on a blind Head, putrity
as before, and taking away the blind Head by turns, and put-
firig l on ; i Alembick with its Receiver, wherein you kept the
other part of the animated Spirit, the Joynts being well luted,
diftil again by Allies, and\laftly increafe the Fire, for the Soul
togr> over mro the diftilled Water as before, then the Veflel be-
ing cold, keep the animated Spirit in the Receiver as before,
well ftopp'd, and to the matter remaining in the bottom pour
again new Water as before, and putrify as before, 'diftilling in
Allies, pour the Spirit into the fame Receiver, where you kept
the other : thus repeat the Magiftery, till the Body remains
dead, Ihck, and void of all moifture, which you will prove
by this fign ; take a little ofthis black Body or Earth, and lay it
upon a hot Plate, and if it fumes not,nor llyes away irom Fire,
then take "that Earth, and put into a little Glals-Globe wel luted,
and the Mouth well ftopp'd ; fet in a reverberating Fire the
; pace of twenty four hours,- then remove that calcined Earth,
and put it in hot allies very well ftopp'd to prevent the attract-
ing of any moifture : Then take the animated Water, and recli-
fyitfeventimesin Allies, which animated and vivify ed Water
divide into two parts, whereof one we willufe for the vivifying
of the Earth, the other for the diffolving of Sol and Luna : Then
one part of the faid Water, and know the weight of the

:h referved before, grind firft, put it in an Urinal, then
pour upon it of the afbrefaid Water a fourth part of its weight,
and joyning a blind Head to it well luted, fet the Veflel in Bal-
neo,

12! )

neo, not to touch the Water of the Balneo, but for the matter to
be heated by the vapour only, and fo let it remain four days ;
then having taken away the blind Head, and put on an Alem-
bick, diftil in Aihes with a gentle heat like that of the Sun, and
an infipid Liquor will flow over, which caft away, as nothing
worth , then again imbibe with a fourth part of the animated
Spirit as above, digefting as above, and chilling the Liquor by
Arties as above : This Magiftery thus repeat, till the whole Bo-
dy hath re-affumed its Liquor or Soul, and remains white as
Snow, which Body take out,dry, and grind ; being ground, put
it into a fmall Cucurbit,ftrongly luted with {^umiafienua^ and
the Mouth of the Cucurbit llopp'd with Cotton, and fet the
VeiTel in a Furnace of Afhcs ; but take notice, if the Fire be too
violent, the matter will turn into Oyl, and cannot be fublimed,
befides there will be danger of breaking the Veflel, as has hap-
pened to us, and therefore we are willing to advife you to con-
tinue an eafy heat, till the matter be fublimed : This alfo ob-
ferve, that this way of fubliming may alfo be done in the Fire of
an Athanor, but then the matter will not be fublimed in lefsthan
the fpace of three or four days ; which fublimation will indeed
be mod white, as the Scales of Fifh, or as Talk: Then warily
take out the Magnefia^ the firft matter of our common Mercury,
our Sal Armoniack, our Sulphur ^ which keep in a fmall Cucur-
bit, well llopp'd in Afhes, warm as the Sun, but that which re-
mains in the bottom, and cannot be fublimed, caft away, becaufe
of no efficacy, its precious Seed being vacuated.

Here be aiffvfves Mercury with calcined Jupiter upon an Iron
Plate per deliquium, with which he cohobates the Vegetable Salt of
the firft or fecond Experiment (Suit of Tartar imprecated with
the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, or fttblimcd into a Vegetable Sal
Armoaiack") in equal weight (yet by degrees) through an Alem-
b'ick ; (wfleadof f&jMenitruum way be taken the Vegetable Hea-
ven of Lujljfr) with this Menftruum he diffohes common Argent
vive, Jtffreduceth it into a white Oy/, out of which 0>/ he draws the
animated Spirit^ repeating the Work) t HI the Earth of the Mfrcury
:hs I lack, fixed) and without fume on a hot Plate : This exani-
rnate$ and reverlerteed Earth-be revwijteSy by imbibingit with a
fourth part of the animated Spirit] eve n time s rectify d, till it be-
white and volatile-^ which then he jublimes into a Mercurial

S Sal

Armoniack, the making of which differs not from the antecedent
Defer ipt ions of the Sal Armoniacks ; but if it be mixed with four
parts of Lully V Vegetalle Heaven, that which is caUd the ir.calci-
nated Menftruum is wade from thence ', andfo much theftroMger, as
that Sal Armoniack isftronger than the Oyl of 'Mercury, lui~ifthis
frjl matter of Mercury, le circulated according to its time* you will
mafce a Menftruum deferring the Name #/ Mercurial Heaven.
Guido prepares the incaicmated Menftruum not from common Mer-
cury ', kit the Mercury of Metals, Sol or Luna.

47. The Menftruum of GUI Jo for Precious

Stones.
Pag. $2. ThefaurL Cbym.

SAkeof the Vegetable Menflrmm acuated (jdefcriled in the
Seventh Kind in tfuwl. 38. or Nianb. 39.) four parts,ofthe
Oyl of the Mercury of Sol or Luna one part,mix. He elfewhere
pag. 84. defer iles the Oyl of the Mercury of Metals thus : Take of
the Mercury of Sol (a Defection of which we fball have lower in
the third Book} three*Pounds, of the red Lyon (Gold Sublimed, of
the preparation of which in its place in the fecond Booty twelve
Ounces, or equal weight, mix very well, put it in a Cucurbit
with. its Alembick, lute well, and increafing the Fire by degrees?
fublime,* and the Mercury will afcend partly quick, partly in
the form of a white or Afh-Colour'd Sublimate, and about the
lower part of the Glafs, of a citrine Colour, mix the quick Mer-
cury again with the Sublimate, and again fublime, and that fo
oft, till all the Mercury is fublimed, which being fo fublimed,
put into Phials of a large bottom, and in every one eight Oun-
ces, to putrify in Balneofix weeks, and then fix weeks in Ralneo'
rorido^ and the fublimed Mercury of Sol will be refolved into a
black Oyl, which rectify through an Alembick, rft with a
weak Fire, then a ftronger, laftly mft ftrong, fo will you have
the Oyl of the Mercury of "Sol.

But lefides Mercury, that open Metal, Menftruums of this Kind
may le alfo made of the other Metals, though more compact, an Exam-
ple of which we have in the Lunar Menftruum of Lully.

. 48. The

- - ( 123 )

48. The Lunar Menjlruum of Lully.
In Experimento 24.

TAke common Mercury, and waih it with Vinegar,' when
the terreftreity of it is taken away, let it run through a
Goats Skin, then put it into thofe your Veilels, of which yots
had a Form before, (/# Numb. 46.) put the Mercury in thofe
Veflels,and diftil with repetition, till it turns all into Water, as
I taught you above ; then take four Ounces of this Mercurial
Water, and therein difTolve one Ounce of the Vegetable Mercu-
ry of t\izfecond Expe riment {Salt of Tartar fubli wed, or Vegetable.
Sal Armoniack wade of the Salt qf Tartar) pafs it through an
A lembick together with the aforefaid Mercurial Water, then in
every four Ounces of the Water, diflblveone Ounce of Mercury
as before prepared, (that v Vegetable) putrify eight days, then
diftil by Aihes, increafe the Fire at laft, that fo it may pafs into
that which was diftilled, in which diilblve half an Ounce of
Silver cupellated, then putrify three Days, then diftil in Aihes,
and laftly increafe the Fire a little, that all the clearness, or
whitenefsof the Luna may go over by an airy refolution in this
diflillation.

He ex t rafts not the whole Silver, lut the more Volatile fart of
it) (called in the ways of making Sal Armoniack, animated Spirit)
ly the Menflruum of three Veffels already defcribed in Numb. z6.
with the Defcription of it there dedared^youmayexflainthofe things
which are more olfcure in the prefent Receipt. He fowetimes jqyns
the animated Spirit of Luna, arid the animated Spirit of Sol foge-
ther^ and ly circulation reduceth them into an admirable Menftru-
um ; after this manner ;

S i 49. The

The Circulatum majw or Acetum aceni-

mum of Lully.
In Experiment^ 25.

TAke the fimple Vegetable Menflruum of three individuals,
defer ibed before in Num&. ^6^) then take Luna, calcine it
with Mercury, then take principal care to remove all the Mer-
cury from the calcined Luna, and the fame way calcine Sol with
Mercury, then let all the Mercury be taken wholly from it :
thefetwo Bodies put into Glafs Dimes each by it felt apart, and
to them each by it felf apart pour clarify ed Honey, mixing the
Calxes of the two Bodies very well with the Honey upon Allies
fo as to boy 1, then take the H<3ney from the Calxes, by wafhing
them in hot diftilled Water, and the Calxes will remain in the
bottom of the Veflel,then mix tire Calxes with the Honey again,
boy ling as before, and mixing with a Spoon as before, and thus
repeat your Work three times as well in the Calx of Luna,?.sSol :
Then take thefe two Bodies being calcined and waihed, and put
them into a Veflel of {Solution feverally, and pour upon them of
the former coelificated Menftmum (of the three individuals^) fo
much as wilt fwim three Fingers above it, cover the Veflel with
a blind Head, luting the Joynts well with wax gummed, that
it may no way refpire, fet it in Balneo for a Natural Day, fo as
to toy 1 gently, then for two other Days put it upon Ames, and
let it bo yl gently as before, then empty that part of Sol, which
was diflblved into another Veflel by it felf, which folution will
lie of a ellow. Colour : So alfo take out the diilol

yellow. Colour : So alfo take out the diilolution
by it felf apart, and pour it into another Veflel, each of which
dirlblutions keep in each Veilel as before in Balneo, butthediflo-
lution of Luna will be of a Sea or Green Colour ; the uadiilbJ-
ved Earth as well of6Was .Lzwd dry upon Afhes :. Which done,
pour again to each, of the new circulated Menjlruums, and the
Veilel being covered with a blind Head as before, fet it in Bal-
neo, and make it boyl gently as before, and continue the fame
boyling upon Allies, laftly decapttthe diflblution of each Body
as before into its Veflel, wherein the other diflblutions above
were kept by themfelves apart : But this- Magiitery you mud

repeat,

repeat, till all the Sol, and all the Luna are diilblved , thefe dif-
folutions putrify by themfelves apart the fpace of foity Days,
after putrefaction put the diflblutions feverally into two Urinals,
with Alembicks and Receivers ftopp'd, and the Joynts being
well luted, diftil firft the whole Menftruuw in Balneo, but the
Bodies will remain in the form of anOyl, then again pour upon
them fo much of their Water lately diftill'd, as to fwim three
Fingers above the Matter, cover the Veflel with a blind Head,
andputrify twenty four Hours, then take away the blind Head,
and put on an Alembickwith a Receiver ,and luting the Joynts,
diftil with a gentle Fire in Afhes ; laftly increafe the Fire fome-
what, that the air (the animated Spirit) may pafsover into the
Water,laft of all iikewife force it with a flronger degree of heat,
till the Fire (the Soul being more vifcous) afcends over into the
air; the Veflels being cold, pour again the new referved Water
to the remaining Matter, the animated Spirit of each Body be-
ing firft luted in its Receiver, to prevent refpiring, cover the
Urirfal again with a blind Head, putrifying as before, and laftly
diftil in Ames as before, laitdf all as belore, increafe the Fire,-
thus repeat the Magiftery, till both the Bodies of SoU&nd Luna
are by an airy revolution tranfmitted feverally through the
Alembick : But if thefe Bodies will not entirely come over by
diftillation (a little indeed will remain, which keep for the reft
of the Experiments) then take the animated Spirit of Sal, recti-
fy it oftentimes by it felf in Afhes, but be fure not to take away
any of the Terreftreities, which will every rectification remain
in the bottom of the VefTcl, but rather pour back the diftilled
Water always to the fame Fasces, till you have performed the
Work feven times compleat : Andobferve the fame order in recti-
fying the Water of animated Luna referved before. Tliis done,
joyn thefe two Waters together, which Conjunction is called
the Conjunction of Father and Mother, Male and Female^ Man
and Woman'. And thus will you have the Menftruum majus y the Am.
mat, Vegetable^ and Mineral, being joyned together, and thefe
three reduced into one fubftance you muft circulate fixty Days
in a VefTel fo luted, as not to refpire j Circulation being com-
pleated, you will have the Menftrtfum wajus brought to action,
the power of which is fo great, as not to be related : This there-
fore is that admirable Mcnjlrt{um\\ Inch diflblves aUBodies^ with

the

<the prefervation of their vegetative and tranfmutative Form :
This, I fay, is that Menftruum containing in it fuch odour
and fragrancy, that nothing can be compared to it : This kitty-
is the refoluble Menftrmm, which is by theWifecall'd by almoft
innumerable Names, the Ace turn acerrimu-m, which converts
Gold into a Spirit : This is the Aqua Sicca, Aqua Solis, and Aqua.
Vitoz ; Parifmus made this Menftruum, (which he otherwise calls
the greater Mercury, or compounded Menftruum) by this method.

50. The Circulatum ma jus of Parifinus.
In Apertorio. Cap. G.

TAkc of the beft calcined Luna three Ounces, of Sol alfo cal-
cined according to Chapter H, (jn which the Calcinations
of Metals are after the common way defer He d} two Ounces to each,
being put by its felf in its Glafs, pour of Circulated, or the^fim-
ple Quinteflence (acttate d with Honey , or the Ccclum nielli flu urn
defcriled in Numb. 10.) the height of four Fingers, the Veflels
with their blind Heads put in Balneo two Days, andinAfhes
two more : when you fee the Waters in fome meafure tinged,
decant them, and the diflblutions keep by themfelves in Balneo
well ftopp'd,to the undiflblved Calxes pour again of E,digefting,
decanting, and repeating (o often, till the Bodies of Sol and Luna,
be reduced into a liquid fubflance, then diflil the Compofition
(Diffolution) of Sol, and the Compofition of Luna in Balneo, and
the Bodies will remain in the bottom of the Glafs like an Oyl ;
but to the Waters drawn from the (aid Luminaries in Balneo,
put Vegetable Sulphur, according to the weights of the Sol and
Luna, and it will in the fpace of two Days be diflblved in
Balneo ; fofoon as the faid Sulphur is diflblved in every of its
Veflels, pour every one to its Metallick Oyl, but to avoid Er-
ror, you mud know that your dillblved Sulphur is tkat which
we taught the preparation of in Chapter L, namely, that which
is extracted out of (JPhilofophical} Wine, other wife called, &?/
Arwoniack, put the Veflels in Putrefaction eight Days, then
draw off the Waters in Balneo every one by it felf, then
pour of new Water the height of two Fingers, cover the VcfTels
with blind Heads, and d^eft for a Day in Balneo, then put on

common

I2 7

common -Alembicks, and diftil the Waters gently in Allies,
then increafe the Fire, that the air may alfo afcend into the
Waters ; the Veflels being cold, pour new Water to each re-
mainder, coverlhem with blind Heads, digeft in Balneo for a.
Night, then diftil in Ames, and this repeat as before, till you
have extracted all the Liquor of the two Luminaries $ keep the
Earths, and if a little of it be caftnipon a red hot Plate, and
burns not, it is an infallible fign, becaufe the faid Earth is depri-
ved of its Soul ; keep thefe two Earths mix'd together in dige-
flion of Afhes, for the receiving of their Mercuries, (the dijtil-
kd Airs or E fences} as we {hall teach in Chapter L. (in the way
of waking the mineral Sal Armoniacks, or Met a Hick of Gold and
Silvery Now take the Liquors of both the faid Luminaries,
that is, their Souls or Mercuries, already pafs'd through an Alem-
bick, andjoyn them together, diftilling through an Alembick in
Afhes ; if any flimy Earth remains, add it to the former Earths
referved, and this do fix times, always removing the flimy Earth:
Take a large Veflel or Cucurbit, with an Alembick made all of
a piece, in which pour your compounded Menftruuw, 'flopping
the Mouth with a Glafs Stopple, luted with the white of an
Egg, quick Lime, and courfe Paper, which being dryed, lute
then with our Bitumen^ made of an equal quantity of Pitch, Wax,
and Maftick, and Circulate in a Sophical Balneo, as we iliewed
you at Mr. Angelas Houfe in the Famous City of Venice, when
we made the fimple Circulated Menftruum, and let it be Circula-
ting forty Natural Days, which being expired, you will fee our
Menftruum or Mercury clearer thanCriital, and more odoriferous
than any Perfume : This Menftruum, my Son ! hath the power
of diflblving the two Luminaries, and reducing them from pow-
er to action ; and you mud know that by this alone, yet with
the addition of its red or white ferment, you will by Circula-
tion make particulars of great projection : This is that which
our Captain Raymond Lully, in his Epiftola Accurfatoriafyokeof,
-faying, Having diflolved Sol, and drawn the Water from it in
Balneo, then know the Gold is made Spiritual, and irreducible
into its firmer Body, to which if you add a hundred parts of
common Mercury, it will congeal it into true Gold : Moreover,
my Son ! if the laid Gold congealed into a Gum be dliTolved in
fome. Water, and given to a Patient of what infirmity foever,

( 128 )

he will in a very few Days return to his good temperament j
it removes whitenefs of hair, and all other figns of Old Age, re-
flores former Youth, and preferves health eveiuo the time pre-
fixed by the Eternal God : Know alfo, that mould I defcribe all
the Miracles (and indeed they may well be called Miracles) and
all the effects performed by this Mercury, which, as I remem-
ber, I fufficiently declared "to you by Word of Mouth, and ex-
plained the various Sayings of our Captain in the BookofQuin-
tejfeme then, &c.

From the Receipts we obferve.

i. That thefe Menftruums are ft rower than all tie ante cedent,
as being acuated with letter arids, or dry things, and therefore do
not extratl the Ejfences , but diffolve the whole Body into a
Magiflery.

z. That thefe Menftruums are the Magifteries of Metals and
Minerals, and therefore Medecines.

3 . That they are made many fever al ways now known to us.

4. That the Sal Armoniacks of Metals are made the fame ways
M Vegetable Sal Armoniacks.

5". That every eneofthem is properly called Philofophers Mercury,
or Mercury of the Mercury of Gold, Silver, Ironic, fullimed $ ihe
Mercury of Antimony, common Sulphur, 6tc. fublimed, becaufe like
common Mercury fob limed, it is moft cajily refufcitate d by hot Water
or Vinegar, into the running Mercury of Gold, Silver, Iron, Antimo-
ny, &c. as we Jball le letter ajfurcd by Examples of the foHoiving
Books.

6. Thatjimple fogeJalle Menftruums,^ as being permanent Wa-
ters, continue alfo with things Metallick,andftick moft perfeftly to them,
uot for Medicines only, lut alfo for the making of precious Stones, yea
Tinflures, as well particular as univerfal : s to the Jimple Vegeta-
ble Menftruums^x/r^ the EJJences of Vegetables,and the fame com-
pounded t that they do makeMagifleries for a Medicinal ufe,ive jl\i!l e.i-
filyagreejbutfor the uxiluous>and moft inflamalte Spirit of Pllilofophi-
cal Wine, made of combttftible Vegetables and Animals, foleacon-
iiitutive to any Chyrnical'T injure, feem stole anaffertion altogether
Paradoxical ;for which caufearewe to beadmomjkedjbaithe Adepts
rejected every Combuftilk Vegetable and Animal, as a th'wr ufe'efs

for their T'ivftures, but never defpifed the purify d Elements of Ve-
getables and Animals, made incombuflible, or acquiring inccwbufti-
bility in the procefs it felf, though they haue declared them to be
(without the ferment of the Stove) infufflkient, as alfo Metals alone
without theft Menftruums, being therefore mixd with Metals, they
make linttures as we II particular as uniuerfal for Metals, Witnefs
Ripley, faying : If you have a mind to make Gold and Silver
by thePhilolorJhical Art, you muft for that purpofe take neither
Eggs nor Bloody but Gold and Silver, which are Naturally and
Prudently, and not Manually calcined, for they produce a new
Generation increafing their Kind, as all other Natural Things :
But fuppofe a Man might with benefit effed it in things not
Metallick, in which are Colours found in Afpecl: pleafant, as in
Blood, Urine, Eggs, and Wine, or in half Minerals taken out of
Mines, yet would it be neceflary for the Elements of them to
befall putrifyed, and joyn'd in Matrimony with the Elements
of perfect Bodies. Libro. ix.portar. portu. i. The Elixir, he
proceeds, is not to be made of Wine, as Wine, nor of Eggs, Hair,
or Blood, as meerly Eggs, Hair, or Blood, but of the Elements
only, and therefore we are to feek, in order to obtain the Ele-
ments in the excellency of their fimplicity and rectification; for
the Elements, faiesthe Philofopher Bacon in his Speculum, are the
Roots and Mothers of all things living: But the Elements of
. the things aforefaid are not Ingredients to the making of Elixirs,
but by the Virtue and Commixtion with the Elements of Spirits
(whereof he recites four, Argent vive, Sulphur, Arfenick, and com-
mon Sal Armoniack^) and Metallick Bodies, and fo, as Roger Bacon
faies, they are Ingredients, and do make the great Elixir. Mid.
Phil. Chym. Cap. y. We, faith he further, take neither of the firit
Principles, they being too fimple, nor of the laft, they being too
grofs and fecualent, but only the middle, in which is the tinclrure
and true Oyl, feparated from any unclean Terrc ft reity, and
Phlegmatick Water ; therefore faith Raymund thus : The uncH-
ous Liquor is the near Matter of our Phy fical Argent vive : And
though thofe Bodies, in which thofe Mercuries are hidden, be
fold openly by Apothecaries at a low Price, according to the
faying of the Philofopher in this manner : Our Sulphurs we have
from the Apothecaries at a mean Price, yet if you underiland
not the Art of feparating the Elements, according to the Do-

T ' clriae

ftrine of Ariftctlc, in is Epiftle to Alexander, in the Book of the
Secrets of Secrets, where he faith, Separate the fubtil from the
grofs, the thin from the thick, and when you have drawn Wa-
ter out of Air, Air out of Fire^ and Fire out of Earth, then have
you the full Art : except, I fay, you underftand this, ycu will do
little or nothing in my Work. Pupi/la Alchym. Pag. 2,98. It
appertains not to this place to prove thefe things ly more Examples,
it is enough to have inflamed tkefe few ly way of anticipation, the
following Boohs treating more copioujly of this Truth*

7. 7 hat the Name (Hell Fire) ^MenftruumofTrifmofinus,
is the prefer and common Name of MercurMlMenfttvums : for wo ft
of the Adepts do affirm Mercury to le of a moft hot ye a Fiery Nature :
fomefewdwy, ace omit ing it the coldeJiMetaL

Amongft the Affirmers was the great Paracelfus,/3}-7g : We find
Mercury to be inwardly of the greateft heat, and no way to be
coagulated, but by the greateft cold. Libro. 6. Archid. magic.
Whoever think Mercury to be of a moid and cold Nature, are
convinced of an open Error, it being of its Nature moft hot and
moift, by reafon of which it always and perpetually floweth ;
for if it was of a moift and cold Nature, it would be like frozen
Water, and be alwaies hard and folid, and it would be necefla-
ry to melt it by the heat of Fire, as other Metals, which indeed
it requires not, having a Natural Liquation and Flux through its
own heat, which keeps it in a perpetual Fluxion, and makes, it
quick, that it can neither dye, nor be congealed. Coelum Phil.
Sett, de calore mere. pag. 1 24. No Name can be found for this
Liquefaction (Flux ion of Argent ittvt) much lefs the Original of
it, by which it may be called, and no heat being fo vehement,
as to be equivalent to it, Hell Fire ought to be compared to it.
Calum Phil. can. 1.121. Bafilius taught the fame, faying : The
Fiery. Spirit of Sulphur being invifibly incorporated in Mercury,
therefore it prefers it felf in Fluxion, not to be coagulated, (&c.
For Mercury is a meer Fire, and therefore cannot be burned by
any Fire ; no Fire toucheth it fo, as to deflroy it,tor either, &c.
Currus triumph. Antimomi, Pag. 40.

And Sendivogius : I Mercury am Fire, &c. My Spirit and the
Spirit of Fire love one another, and fo far as able, one accompa-
nies the other, &c. If any Man knows the Fire of my Heart, he
fees Fire is my Food, and the longer the Spirit of my Heart eats

Fire,

(

Fire, the fatter it will be, the Death of which is afterward the
Life of all things, QjV. I am Fire within, Fire is^my Food. Dialog.
Mercurii Pag. 5*15. Volum. 4. Theat.Chym.

Ripley did by the moft hot things cfLully (actuating the Vegeta-
ble Menftruum, without the Virtue of which things, it would not le
able to diffohe Metals, but in a long time^ underhand Mercury : I
zm> faith he > forc'd to fay, that all thefe things which Raymond
fpeaks (of things moft hot') are covered with a Philofophical Veil,
for his Saying is, That diflblution mull be made with Spirit of
Wine, but his intention alfo is, that in this Spirit (of Philfophi-
cal Wine) may be had another refoluble Menftruum, which is
only of the Metallick Kind. Medul. Phil^ Pag. 1 68. For that is
Raywun/s Water, which Mary the Prophetels fpeaks of, faying,
Make your Water as a running Water, by Divine Infpiration
extracted out of the two Mineral and Vegetable Zaiboth (^Mer-
curies) that is, circulated together into a Criftalline Water, &c.
becaufc, as faith Raywund, there being in Mercury a Point of
Igneity,by the power of which is diflblution made, it is requi-
fite to animate it with the Water of Vegetable Mercury, other.
wife it can dificlve nothing : And this is the Water containing
all thofe things which you want, and by Virtue thereof are
Pearls made. And this Vegetable Water being compounded, doth
by Virtue of the Mercury (Mineral^) prefently diflblve all Bo-
dies, and by reafon of its Vegetability (Vegetable MenftmunV)
revivify every Body, and by its attractive Virtue, (Symbolical
Nature} produce an Oyl from every Body, and Mercury draws
to it felf its like, that is, the Mercury of a Body. Of this Wa-
ter, faith Raymund, in Compendio Art. Tranfm. ad Regem Rober-
tum : You'know, mod Serene Prince, that our Stone is made of
nothing but Argent uive alone, t^iat is, compounded of Vegeta-
ble and Mineral : And therefore fa id the ancient Philofophers,
the Stone is made of one thing only, that is, Argent vive, Viatic.

Mercurial Waters are called Tgnes Gehenna:, by reafon of this
Fiery Nature of Argent vive, the corrofive Specif ck voas becatffe of
the Mercurial Water caff d by Paracelfus Ignis Gehenna:. Libro.
de Specif. Pag. 29. The Circulatum majus, prepared from
Mercury, he caffs a Ihwg'Fire, moft ex tr earn Fire, and c&leftial

r** ^^

Fire.

T 'L If

If you- would bring into 3.&ion, faith he, (the Life of Antimo-
ny hidden in \\s Hewitts') you mull refufcitate that Lite \\ ith its
Jike living Fire, cfMetallick Vinegar, with which Fire man) of
the Philofophers proceeded ieveral ways, but agreeing in the
Foundation, they all hit the intended Mark, &c. Yet that Fire,
or Corporal Life in common Mercury is found much more per-
fed andfublime, which manifeftly proves by its flowing, that
there is a moil abfolute Fire, and coeleilial Life hidden in it ,
wherefore whoever defires to graduate his Metallick Heaven
(the Arcanum Lapi4i& ? or Antimomi) to the higheft, and reduce
it to alion, he muft firft extracT: the firfl liquid Being, as the
coeleftial Fire, Quinteflence, and Metallick Acetumacerrimum^vA
of the Corporal Life, (common Mercury^ &c. Lilro. 10. Arch id.
Cap. 6. Pag. 39.

Amongftthe Denier s, who judge Mercury to le of a cold Nature,
u frft Bernhard, illuftrious for Learning as we 'II as Linage, fay ing :
Whereas Mercury is compounded of the four Elements, they
therefoie being heated by the common and general Caufes, the
Natural heat is excited by it$ own motion, by fuch motion as
this are the Fire and Air in Mercury moved likewife, and by lit-
tle and little elevated, thefe Elements being more worthy than
the WateV and Earth of Mercury, neverthelefs moiilnefs and
coldnefs are predominant,^. Lib. Alchym. Pag. 766. Volum. r.
Theat. Chym. Argent vive being mod cold, may in a ihort time
be made moil hot, and may the fame way be made temperate
with things temperate by the Ingenuity of an Arriil. ' Epift.
adThomam, Tag. 57. Art.Aurif. Arnoldus de Villa No ua in the
Book, call'd Rofarium, is obferved to have declared, that crude
Mercury, that is, Argent ui^ve^ which is by its Nature cold and
moift, may by fublimation be made hot and dry, then by revivi-
fication made hot and moiil like the Complexion of Men, & c .
The faid Arnold, though a Reverend Dc&or, and Ingenious in
other. Sciences, yet perhaps handled Experiments in this Art
without the Do&rine of Caufes ; but he faith, that in the firft
Purgation, the crude Spirit (^Argent vive) is fublimcd with the
lefs Minerals and Salts, and that Mercury it felf, which is in its
Nature cold and moift, may be made a Powder by Nature hot
and dry, as he faith^ this is indeed of no benefit to our Philofo-
phical Work : but fuppofe a Man may make fuch a Powder, as

he fpeaks of, out of Mercury, namely, dry and hot by fublima-
tion with faline Things, yet thefe Purgations are vain and im-
pertinent, yea hurtful as to the perfecting of our Work, ^c.And
if it be faid by way of inflance, that as by Purging the impuri-
ties of Mercury, the faid Arnold dryed it by fublimation, foalfo,
as you fay T^w^moiflened it by revivification, and made the
Mercury hot and moid, fuitable to his own (humane) Body in
Nature, this indeed impedes not my Reverend Doctor, nor im-
pugnesthe Truth of the Philofophical Art ; yea rather the Error
appears in this Natural Art : For, as it is clear, Arnold teach-
eth, (if you regard the foundof Words)that Mercury being thus
dryed,by hot Water> into which it is caft, is revivifyed, and he
faith, made hot and rnoift, whereas when firfl fublimed, it was
hot and dry : But what Philofopher can truly fay, that Mercu-
ry, or any other Metal, is by fimple Water, though never fo hot
and boyling, changed as to. its internal quality in Nature,
acquires moiilnefs Natural to it felf, and fo is revivifyed ? In this
revivification therefore Mercury requires nothing, forafmuch
as common Water decodts not, nor alters it, becaufe it enters it
not, and that which enters not, alters not, becaufe every thing
to be alter'd mufl firfi be mixed : Some fuperficial impurities of
Mercury, fuch Water may indeed waih away from it, but can-
not infufe a new quality into it : For fuch a Nature as Mercury
had when reduced into Powder, and mortified by fublimations,
fuch a Nature exactly will it keep being revivifyed by Water :
This I am willing to fay with Reverence and Honour to the
faid Arnold, but I confider and defend the Truth of Nature and
Experiment. About the end of his Epiftle to Thomas.

But be it what it will, it conjifls not with our Prudence to adhere
to any Opinions, of what Authority foever, but to Truth alone ', <in
which refpett we fay Argent vive is neither cold, nor hot, jet that
being of eafier diffolution than the reft of the Metals, it is mofl fit for
this kind 0/Menftruums , and that the Mercurial Waters prepared
from it, may by Chymical Liberty le calkd Hell-Fires,- though be fides
thefe Waters the Adepts call alfo other Menftruums Infernal Fire,
of which fort is the acetum acerrimum of Ripley /;/ the Fijth Kind :
But the following Arguments taken out of the Text it felf do prove,
that A'rnold, Lully'j- Mafler, was as to his reducing #/ Argent vivc
Into thefirft Matter or Efftnce, not f efficiently underjlocd, -and wif-

olferved ly Bernhard, taking Aqua fervens/0/- common loylwg Wa-
ter : Arnold divided the Second Book of his Rofary into four
Principal Works ; which *r?,Solution, Ablution, Reduction, and
Fixion, as appears ly the firft Chapter of the ajorefaid Book : Of
thefirftWork, namely, the D\tto\\x\Qn of the Stem, in the fccond
Chapter, thus : You muft diffolve the Stone (Gold or Silver)
being dry and thick, into Argent vive, that it may be reduced
into its firfl Matter ; and all this is done by Urgent vive only, it
alone having the Power of converting Sol and Luna into their
firfl Matter ; but Argent vive having a terreflrial and aduflible
feculency in it without inflammation, and fubflance of aqueity,
you muft of neceflity take away that which is fuperfluous, and
fupply what is wanting, if youdefirea compleat Medicine , but
the Earthly feculency is to be wholly taken away by fublimati-
on, &c. This fublimat ion or depuration of Mercury he defer lies in
the third Chapter following : The Craft (Way} therefore of re-
moving the Earthy fuperiluous fubftance from it, is to fublime
it once or twice with Vitruw (yitriol formerly fo called} and Salt,
till the fubftance of it becomes moft white, having afcended

moft white, caft it into Aqua ferve^to t returns into Argent vi-
ve; then take the Water from it, and Work with it, becaufe it
is not good to operate with it, except it be firft pufifyed this
way : and therefore faith Aviceit 9 The firft things to begin with,
isthefublimation of Mercury, after that,the folution of it, that
it may return into its firft Matter, and fublime it wholly:
Then put clean Bodies in the fame, weighed into this clean Mer-
cury, &c.

If we refyecl the found of theWordsf>ws\M& in his long Argumen- -
tat ion cor retted Arnold defervedly, but if the Setfe of the Words,
here is nothing deferring Correction : Aqua fervens, the Name of
Arnolds MenQruum, ths chief and almofl only thing conceded ly
Arnold in the whole .Prattice of his Book, which had ke wanifetiid,
he would have pr oft tinted a /I the more fecret Ckymy ; lut that l:e
meant not common loyling Water. is proved ly the following confidera-
tions.

i. Gold or Silver muft le diffched into Argent vive, or thefrfl
matter, fir ft Being, Effence^ &c. ly Argent vive, not common -, Ittt
Philofophically prepared : Nothing reduce th Gold into a firft Matter,
lut a fir ft Matter ; as here the frft Matter of common Mercury, clean

Mercury,

C 135)

Mercury, or the Mercury of Mercury. The Adepts have a
That a firft Matter prepares a firft Matter , Therefore <u Mercu-
ry prepares Mercury ; an Ejjence an EJJence ; a Magiftery a Magi-
ftery ; fo the Philofophers Mercury, or the primum Ens, EJJence,
&c. of Sol or Luna, cannot le prepared but ly the Philofophers
Mercury, primum Ens, or fome Effence ; wherefore ly Aqua fervens
in this' Receipt, we under ft and the EJJence of Mercury, Ittt not in the
leafl common loylingWater.

2. Chan Argent vive, or thefrfl Matter of Mercury, made of
Argent vivefullimed ly Aqua fervens, cannot le running Mercu-
ry, lecaufe itu in the Form of a. Liquor : For,

Firfl, The diffolution of Gold made with this clean Mercury is to
lefltred. Grind time after time, and imbibe, and boyl in Bal-
neo, then diftil through a Filter, till it (meaning the Metal dijjol-
ved in the Menftruum, Chap. 3.) goes through.

Secondly, In the Diffolution of Gold, the TMure only is extrafl-
ed, the Body leing left. Be patient, faith he, and extract not the
Tinfture haftily, nor feek to have things perfefthaftily orfwift-
ly, for the firft Error in this Art is hafle, &c. Bodies difTolved
are reduced to the Nature of a Spirit, and are never feparated, as
neither Water mixed with Water, and that becaufe_Nature re-
joy ceth in Nature, as theSpoufe is joyned with the Bridegroom ,-
but thole things which are not diflblved, have not pure parts,
except they be mollified. Therefore, my deareft, you want
wherewith to operate in the diflblution of the Stone, that is, you
mufl feparate their purer parts from them, that the Work may
be effected with lighter, the heavier parts being caft away.
Cap. 3.

Thirdly, Mercury, orthefrfl Matter of Gold prepared with clean
Mercury, h alfo liquid. Chap. 3. The beginning of our Work is
todiflolve our Stone (Gold or Silver) into Mercury, or into a
Mercurial Water, Chap. 4. No wonder therefore if Mercury pre-
pared ly Aqua fervens be called Water : It \sjaithhe, expedient to
diflolve Bodies by Water, that is, by Argent vive. Cap. 3.

Fourthly, Becaufe it ext rafts an Oylfrom every thing Put,
faith he, of the pureft Mercury fo much as to f\vim four Fingers,
or more, which is better upon the fubftance of the Body, from
which you wbukl extract an Oyl, then kindle a gentle Fire un-
der it till you fee the Oyl, that is, the Air of it, by little and lit-

the.-

tie afcend, or be elevated upon the Mercury ; gather it warily,
and keep -it apart, &c. Cap. 10.

3. This Procefs of Arnold is ordinary, and calf d ly the Adepts,
The way of feparating the Elements, which, cannot be done with*
out either a Vegetable or yW/Kmr/Menftruum. .

4. Aqua fervens among the Adepts is the ufual Name of Men-
, ftruum. DiiTblve,yrf///7 Lully, the pureft Sol in its own Aqua

fervent, then feparate the Phlegm, and the Sol will remain be-
low, &c. Codicil, cap. 43. Pag. 103. That Fire burns Gold
more than Elemental Fire, becaufe it contains heat of a terre-
Itrial Nature, and refolves without any fortitude (force, effervef-
cence, or corrojion) which common Fire cannot do; we therefore
enjoy n you to make the Magiftery of the hotteft things you can
get, and you wiJl have an Aqua calida, which refoives every
ftrong thing. Vademecum, Pag. 2.7 ^.

Which Form of Speech Bernhard himfelf krew, out of Mori-
enus : Saying, Know that our Laton is red, but of no benefit to
us, till it be made white : Know alfo, that Ayta tepid a : cdida,
and fervens, Synonimas of one Menftruum) penetrates and
whitens, even as it felf is (white ^) and a moift \-aporous Fire ef-
fects all things : Again Bendegid, Johannes Mehungus, and Haly :
You that feeking Day and Night fpend your Mony, w r aile
your Wealth, and Time, tormenting your Wits in vain about
the fubtilties of Books, I admoniih you out of Charity, through
Companion, as a Father moved toward his Son, that you would,
I fay, whiten the red Laton by a white odoriferous Aqua tepida,
but tear fo many Sophiftical Books, fo many Methods, and
leave fuch great fubtilties ; believe me, that it may be well with
you. Lil.Alchym.770. Vol. The at. \\.Chym.

5. It is ly the llacknefs of the diffolutien proved, that Arnold's
Aqua fervens was a fiwfle vegetable Menflruum ; the black ap-
pearing above, faith be, gather apart, becaufe that is the Oyl,
and the true fign of dinolution, becaufe this which is diflblvcd,
attains to the end of fublimity, and is therefore feparated from
the lower parts, afcending upwards, and afpiring to higher pla-
ces. Cap.^.^Rofarii.

Theje things we are willing to fay , not impeaching the Rever&ice
and Honour 0/Bernhard, lut we contemplate and defend the Truth
and Experiment of A mold .

The

( 137 )

The Ninth KIND.

Vegetable Compounded Menftruums made
of Simple Vegetable Menftruums, and
things tinging, being fir ft fixed.

5 1 . The Circulatum majus,or Metallic^ Acetum
acerrimum of Paracelfus.
Lib. 10. Arch. fag. 38.

IF common Mercury ought to be reduced into the firft li-
quid Being, then is it firft to be mortify 'd, and deprived of
its Form, and that is done by feveral fublimations with Vi-
triol and common Salt, that at laft it may be made like fixed
Criftal : Then diflblve it in its Matrix, namely, in the primum
Ens of Salt, (the Circulatum minus made of Salt , or the Water of
Salt circulated defer iled above in Numb. 17. ~) putrify a Month,-
add to it new Arcanum of Salt (Circulatum minds') that the im-
pure may be precipitated to the bottom, but the pure turn'd into
Criftals : fublime the fame in a clofeReverberatory, being fub
limed,turn it up continually, till it comes to a rednefs ; this fub-
limation extract with the Spirit of Wine reftifyed to the high-
eft (PkiGfophicalWine} feperate the Spirit of Wine (ly diflillati-
00) the remainder (the dry Tincture or Crocus of Mercury) diflblve
upon a Marble, (jer deliquium} and digeft for a Month, pour
new Spirit of Wine to it, digeft for a time, and diftil ; Then
will the Arcanum of the primum Ens, or firft being of Mercury
rife over in a liquid iubftance, which is by the Philofophers cal-
led Metallick Acetum acerrimum^ and in our Archidoxyes Circu-
lation majus : And the fame is,to be underftood of Antimony,
Gemms, and all otlicr Metals.

V Annota-

(

Annotations.

THere is a great difference let ween this and the precedent Kind,
though they loth treat of Mercurial Waters : The antecedent
were made of crude Mercury : This Circulatum <?/ Paracelfus, is
indeed made of Mercury, lutfirfl fixed : The precedent were moft
clear ; thefe greater Circulatums are indeed mojl clear, lut alfo mofl
red, and fo much letter in their Tinctures ttoan the precedent. . The
Receipt we will conjidfr as divided into its parts, in the fir ft of which
Paracelfus fullimes Argent vlvefo often, till it le wade like fixed
Criftal, that is, like mineral or common Criflal, clear and tranfpa-
rent : As this part is common, fo it lefs needs explaining. In his
Book, De Renovat & Reflaur. he takes only Mineral Gold or Anti-
mony for the fame Work, which Bodies not with fl and ing are more
lound up thau the open Metal, Mercury ; and for this reafon it may
feem to left enough for diffolution in Circulated Salt without fulli-
wation : for the illuftration of the Receipt, we_ will add the Defer/"
ption of the faid Book-

Take of mineral Gold or Antimony moft finely ground one
Pound, of Salt Circulated four Founds, being mixed, digeft them
together in Horfe-Dung for a Month ; from thence willfpring
a Water, wherefore the puremuft befeparatedfrom the impure,
coagulate it into a Stone, which calcine with Wine cenificated
(Jenificated^) and feparate again, and difTolve upon a Marble :
Let this Water be putrified lor a Month, from it will be produ-
ced a Liquor, wherein are all fuch Signs, as tttfb&jrimumEns of
Gold or Antimony, wherefore we delervedly call it theprimum
Ens of thoje things: It is no other wife to be underftood of Mer-
cury, and other things alfo.

In the fecond part, he diffohes Mercury leingfofullimed, /#SaIt
Circulated, /foprimum Ens of Salt, /^Arcanum ^"Salt, the
Water of Salt Circulated, (Synonimas of Paracelfus his Circula-
tum mm\\s)putrijies or digefts, precipitates with new Circulated
Salt, filters, and laflly reduceth it into Criflals, or Philofophical Vi-
triol. In the Receipt of Lib. de Renov. he adds the weights of
things: Tzkefaitbhe, of mineral Gold or Antimony one Pound,
of Salt Circulated four Pounds, and then digefts, and feparates

the

the impure from the pure, and coagulates into Criflals. Some -
times he diffolves Bodies by fome mineral Menftruum p which he
draws off two or three times from them, and fweetens them again by
taking away all the acidity fofar as he is able with common Water :
Thus he diffblves common Sulphur in the ftrongefl Aqua fortis (Pa-
racelfus his Aqua regis, to be defer 'ibed in the sixteenth Kind) co*
hobates three times into a black Matter, which he fweetens with dj-
Jli/led Water, Libro de morte rerum.

For it is much at one, whether Gold or Antimony be diffolved by
the Circulatum minus only, and reduced into a Philofophical Vi-
triol ; or whether Argent vive, for the abbreviation of time, be m
tbe fublimation of it fir ft impregnated with the acidity of Salts, and
Jo made more open for the Work, and then mixed with the Circulatum
minus, purified by digeflion and precipitation, and laftly reduced into
a Philofophical Vitriol ; or whether to make the time yet fhorter,
Sulphur be mixed with a mineral Menftruum, that is, an acid, and
the Circulatum minus mixed together, and then freed from the
acid Jo as with the Circulatum minus to be made the fame Philo-
fophical Vitriol ; for which ivay foever Philofophical Vitriol is made,
it conies to one and the fame effect : but of thefe Vitriols hereafter in
the Receipts of miner al Menltruums.

In the third part, hefublimes the Stones or Criflals of the Mercu-
ry in a clofe Reverberatory (that is, a Philofophical Egg) always
turning it up, till the Vitriol of the Mercury is at length fixed into a
mofl red Precipitate. This part the Sublimations of Sulphur and An-
timony in a, clofe Reverberatory will i/luflrate. ihe flrongefl Aqua
fortistorz often drawn off from the Sulphur, the remaining matter
being made thereby black , and thenfweetncd, he reverberates, that
is, fab lime sin a clofe Reverberatory, and beingfublimed, turns up tJ:e
clofe Reverberatory, or Philsfophical Eggfo oft, and continually till
it comes to a rednefs, as Antimony, faith he, which will become
firfl white (fuUimati\ then yellow, thirdly red, {precipitate^ as
Cinnabar ; which being obtained,you ought to rejoyce, for it is
the beginning of your Riches : This reverberated Sulphur gives
a mofl deep tin&ure to any Luna, reducing it into moft excellent
Gold, and prefervesa Man's Body in moft perfect Health : This
reverberated fixed Sfllphur (olferve) is of fo great Virtue, as. is
not fitting to declare. Libra, de morte rerum. pag. 9 f .
The Reverberation of Antimony is in fag. 67. Chyr.

V 2,

hus : Take of Antimony reduced into a moft fine Alcool, (into
Philofophical Vitriol with the- Circulatum minus, ly the way of
Mercury in the Circulatum majus ; or again into a black andfweet-
ned matter ly the way of Sulphur?) what quantity you will, let it
be reverberated in a clofe Reverberatory for the fpace of one
Month (continually turning up the Reverberatory, till the matter
will be no more fublimed} and it will be Volatile anil Light, firft
White, then Yellow, then Red, laftly of a Purple or Violet Co-
lour : The Antimony being thus fxed byfublimation, he extracts the
tintture, ly the Spirit 0f Philoiophical Wine, which tinfture he
calls the moft Noble, mofl Precious, and only not Divine Effence of
Lily.

In the fourth part he diffolves Mercury being p reap it -ate 'd, and ex-
trailed ly tie Spirit <?/ Philofophical Wine, per deliquium, and
digefls with new Spirit 0f Philofophical Wine 3 ^W cohobates, till it
ajcends through the Alembick into the primum Ens or Effence of
Mercury, Mercury Circulated, the Circulatum majus prepared from
Mercury, &c.

In the Receipt we obferve,

1. That Argent vive, Antimony, Sulphur, yea Geld, Silver, and
all the other Met ah, being diffolved infome Jim pie Vegetable Men-
Itruum, then reverberated, or by fubljmat ion fixed, diffohed per
deliquium, anddiftilfd into a liquid fubftance ,are Argent vive, An-
timony, Sulphur, Gold, Silver, &c. Circulated, or the Circulatum
majus made of Mercury, Antimony, Sulphur, &c.

2. That thefe Menftruums are called Circulatums, becaufe they
were by the ancient Philofophers Circulated for the fpace of thirty
or forty, fometiwes fixty Days. \

3. That thefe are called the greater Circulatums, to 'be diftin-
gmjbed from the lefs Circulatums, being lefs excellent, the greater
having greater ftrength, and communicating tinfture to things that
are dijjolved in them.

4. That thefe Circulatums are the firft Beings, or graduated
Effences of Metals and Minerals, and amongft things Volatile no-
tl}ing can be more excellent than they, they bemgexalted from a fixed
Effence or Aftruiry/0 a much more Noble EJjence, called an Arca-
num.

<. That

5'. That thefe Circulatums are Medicines, or Medicinal Arca-
nums.

6. That thefe Circulatums ore mofl red. Sublime the Stones,
faith Paracelfus, till they come to rednefs. He extrafts the tin-
fture of Lily out of Antimony reverberated to a Purple or Violet
Celour -, but makes the Soul of Metals out of Sulphur reverberated,
of which thus : What Hermes faid, that the Soul alone is the
means of joyning the Spirit to the Body, was not impertinently
fpoken: For Sulphur being that Soul, a nd maturing and excoft-
ing all things, as Fire, it will be alfo able to bind the Spirit with
the Body, and incorporate and unite them together, fo as from
thence to produce a very Nolle Body : The vulgar combufti-
ble Sulphur is not to be reputed the Soul of Metals, but the Soul
is fomething more than a combuftible and corruptible Body,
and therefore cannot be burned by any Fire, being all Fire it
felf, and indeed it is nothing elle but the QjinrefTence of Sul-
phur, which is extracted oat of Sulphur reverberated by the
Spirit of (Philofophicar} Wine, and is of a red Colour, and clear
as a Ruby : Which is indeed a great and notable Arcawm to
tranfmute white Bodies, and to coagulate running Mercury in-
to fixed and tefted Gold : Accept this as commended to you to
make you Rich, and you have reafon to be content with this
only-Secret for the tranfmutation of Metals. Lib. \.degener.
rerum, Nat- pag.%7. If 'Mercury, Antimony, and Sulphur fixed by
reverberation, and the Spirit of Philofophical Wine drawn off, be
red, and diaphanous as a Ruby, it follows that the fame Bodies, vo-
latilized with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, do become more
red. Prom he me ire obferve, that the Menflruums of Diana are of
divers Colours, fometimes white , milky and opake ; fometimes mojl
clear, fometimes again mod red and mo ft transparent; fo that the
Arguments of Bern hard, denying tie diaphaneity of Menftruums,
may be eafily refolved : Where Fools, faith he, do out of the lefs
Minerals extrab corrofive Waters, into which they put any fort
of Metals, and corrode them : for they think that therefore they
are cUiTolved by a Natural folution, which folution indeed re-
quires permanence together, that is, of the dhTolvent, and the
difiblvcdj that from both, as from the Mafculine and Feminine
Seed a new Species may refult: I tell you truly, no Water dif-
folves a Metallick Species by Natural Reduction, but that which

remains

C 142 )

remains with it in matter and form, and which tthe diflblved
Metals are able to recongeal ; which happens not in any fort of
Aqua fortis,b\\t is rather a defiling of the Compofition, that is,
the Body that is to be diflblved : Nor is that Water pertinent to
Bodies in foliation, which remains not with them in congelati-
ons , Mercury is of this fort, and not Aquafortis, or that which
Fools efteem Mercurial Water, clear and diaphanous : For if
they divide and obftruft the Homogeneity of Mercury, how
will the firft proportion of the Feminine Seed ftand and be pre-
ferved ? Pag. 60. Epift* adThowam. The Elixir and Azoth (he
goes on) that is, the Vital Spirit (Spirit of Life, Philofophical
Aqua vitas") and fugitive Soul (amma ted Spirit ) are not diapha-
nous nor tranfparent, nor clear as the Tear of ones Eye, nor any
diflblving Spirit. Pag.y^.Ejufd. Epift. Which cannot be done
in a diaphanous, clear and tranfparent Liquor : becaufe, if the
aforefaid Elixir and Azoth, that is, Spirit and Soul had or could
ihew any diaphaneity, the Earth would now in proportion have
difmified the Water, and feparated it felf from it, whereas other-
wife it would have infpifTated and coagulated the parts of it,
caufed an opacity in the Elixir and Azoth, and made the Me-
tallick Form to ftand congelable : For in reftringing fixed Me-
tallick Species, the reftringer muft of neceffity act upon the re-
flringible, and the congealer upon the congelable, which can-
not be done in the aforelaid diaphanous and clear Water : other-
wife it is in Vegetables, in which a ftmple and diaphanous Water
is by deception infpiflated in thofe Vegetables, which notvv itli-
ftanding vanimeth and evaporates at length by the Try al of
Fire, becaufe it is not permanent and fixed in the Compofition,
not having an Earth Naturally Homogeneous to it in Compofi-
tion with it, as Argent 'vive has ; which Earth is indeed the caufe
of permanent fixion in things Homogeneous ; wherefore fimple
Water cannot by congelation be fixed with Vegetables, as-Mer-
cury with Metals : It tlierefbre Mercury hath received diapha-
neity in the Philofophers Work, it will remain in the quality of
an irreflringible fubflance, and will not be congealed upon La-
ton as to a Metallick Form, Species, and Proportion, which car-
ries the congelation of it felf neither with it, nor in it, as Water
does Earth, which Earth, as a forefaid, is indeed Mercurial, and
the firft caufe of infpiflation, coagulation, and fixation : If there-
fore

fore that Water remains not in Metallick Proportion, how can
the like Species be produced from this Compofition ? They
therefore, that think fo toextrada dear tranfparent Water out
of Mercury, and work many wonders by it, are in an Error;
for fuppofe they can make fuch a Water, yet would it be of no
advantage to the Work, nor to the Nature and Proportion of it,
nor could it reftore or erect a perfeci Metallick Species j for fo
foonas Mercury is altered from its firft Nature, lo foon is it ex-
cluded from being an ingredient toourPhilofophical Work, be-
caufe it hath loft itsSpermatick and Metallick Nature : Bythefe
things therefore it is known, what Truth your Opinion con-
tains, and wherein it is contrary and abfurcf, you aiTerting it to
be neceflary, in order to perfect the great //x/r,to have a Gum,
in which are all things neceflary to it, containing the four Ele-
ments, and is a moil clear Water as the Tear of an Eye, made
Spiritual, which cau r eth Gold to be a nicer Spirit : For one Bo-
dy penetrates not another, but a pure Spiritual iubflance con-
gealed, is that which penetrates and tingeth a .Body. Be it, as
you fay, my Honoured Doctor ! that Natures are not j3yn'd
without a Gum, orOyly Matter, &c.

Plad Bernhard dijputed only againft every Mercurial Water nut
permanent^ made diaphanous with Aqua fortis, or any other vulgar
Menflruum, and not alfo againft the mofl clear Mercurial, Water of
Thomas deBononia,/<f# the Arguments aforefaid had lcen~of great
flrength , lutnow the objections againft the limpidity ^f Menltruums
as well of this as other Adepts,<w of no validity. The fame Eartk^
which Icing lefs than well diffofoea, is the caufe of opacity in Bern-
hard s permanent Menftruum, ifiewryjameexaftly diffohedisthe
caufe of limpidity with Thomas, znfpiffating and .coagulating the
Water , a* well, if not letter, than if it had leen lefs dtjjolved. The
(/iaph'tweityofMenftmumsis defended ly Lully, Parifmus, and
'mofl of the Adepts : Lully proclaims his Coelurn Vinofum to h
clear, Iright, and refplendent as the Stars of Heaven. In Teft.
novif.pag. 8. Of which very Menftruum Parifinus /te, in Appenr
dice Elucidarii, pag. 173. Vol. 6. The at. Chym. Then will } ou
fee a Quinleflence brighter and clearer than a Diamond,
exceeds the fplendor of the Stars, fo as to be doubted, "\\ JlttJ^f

it be contained in the Glafs, or no.

* j\

+ The

The Tenth KIND.

Vegetable Menftruums compounded made
of Vegetable Menftruums compounded,
and IvLttalluk bodies,

5 2 . The Neapolitan Menftruum of Liilly.
InExper. 13.

TAke Luna, and calcine with common Argent vive, that
is, by amalgaming, and then grinding the Amalgame
with common Salt prepared, then evaporate the Mer-
cury with a mod gentle Fire, then take away the Salt with hot
Water diftilled, and fo you will have Luna calcined. Take the.
calcined Luna, and pour to it four parts of the Mercurial Water
(jdefcnled ly the three hot Veffeh before m Numl. 46.) and the
Veflel being covered with its Antenotoriumfet upon Aflies, fo as
to boyl gently, and you will perceive a Green or Sea Colour,
which Liquor pour warily into another Vefjel, fo that the Faeces
be not difturb'd, the Matter remaining at the bottom dry with
an eafie Fire, like the heat of the Sun : Then know the weight
of the faid Calx, and pour again four parts of the faid Mercurial
Water upon onepartof the laid Calx-, and the VefTel being cover-
ed with its Antenotcrium, as above, let it boyl again gently, the
diffblution pour into another VefTel as before, and joyn it with
thefirfi; difiblution ; but remember to keep the faid diflblved
Matter continually in Balneo, till the whole Work of diflblution
%-coinpleated ; repeating the Magiftery fo oft, till the whole
TOtT^'of Luna be fully diflblved and decanted over, which has
indeed hapncd to us at thelecond time, and fet it in putrefaction

fourtoin

( '45)

fourteen Days : Then put it in an Urinal, with its Receiver and
Alembick, very well luted, and diftil in a Furnace of Afhes,
then increafe the Fire, that the Soul of the Body may afcend in-
to its Water : The VefTel being cold, examine the weight of
the Earth of Luna remaining in the bottom, for I believe of one
whole Ounce there will not remain above two Eights
(Drachms} of the Body not diflblved, the reft will be perfectly
difiblved, (that is, diftilled;) But if more of the undnTolved
Earth remains, then pour to it fo much of its Water lately diftil-
led, as to be three Fingers above it, and the Veflel being cover-
ed with an Antenotoriuw, put it in Balneo for a Natural Day,
then takin g a way the Axtexoioriumjind putting on an Alembick
with a Receiver very dole, diftil by Afhes ; at the end of the
diftillation increafe the Fire as before : This repeat, till the
whole Body of Luna be pafs'd through the Alembick by an airy
revolution ; and thus will you by the Help of God have a
Menftruum, with which you may diflblve Sol.

Annotations.

Hitherto we have ly^ Argent vive acuated either the Spirit of
Philofophical Wine, or Menftruums made with this Spirit,
which hadfo good a faculty of dijjohing, that moflofthe Adepts Ic-
ing content with thefe Mercurial Waters, deffledjrom inquiring af-
ter ftronger Menftruums. The Mercurial Water, which Lully terms
Glorious, he faith, isfufficient, yea, a proper M enftruum to make the
Philofophers Mercury, or Metallick Sal Armoniack, out of all Me-
tals and Minerals. You muft know, faith he, my Son ! that in
the Truth and Faith of God, no Sulphur of Nature of any Metal
can be fublimed without this Water of common Argent vivc*
Tcfl. Neviff: Pag. u.

But in this Tenth Kind 0/Menftruums, the Adepts wade yet
other Menftruums, adding moreover divers Bodies, according t9
the intended federal ufes to the aforefaid MercurialWaters : LuTly,
to make a more Nolle Menftruum/0r the diffolution of Gold, added
Silver to the Mercurial Menftruum : If perhaps he wanted aMen-
ftruum/0r Pearls, he joyned Pearls with the Mercurial Menftruum :
If he had a mind to make AurumpotabUe,^r?/tfm/rf Menftruum

X out

cut of Gold and Silver, as wore fuit able to this fn]rpdfi,\et ivh-
Mercurial Menftruum, andfo cf ethers, a* you will olferve in the
following Examples-

53. The precious Menftruum for Pearls

In Comp. Animx tranfmut. Pag. Vol. 3.
Theat. Chym,

^"T^Ake the Liquor of Lunar /a of the third or fccond reHfica-
tion (Philofophical A^m ardens reftifyed} pour it upon
Ardent vive, fo as to fwim three Fingers above it, and putrefic
three Natural Days, and a great part of it will be diflblved with
the Water of Lunaria, which decant, and pour frefh Liquor up-
on the Faeces, putrefie in Dung or Balneo, and repeat till all the
Mercury is reduced into Water,then joyn all the did illations to-
gether, and draw off in Balneo, and when you fee it in a manner
thick, fo as to be half a Pound of the Water of Mercury and
Argent vive, (Vegetable and Miner -aT) putrifie fix Natural Days,
then put in Pearls, and they will within ten Hours be diflblved,
then exuberate them by the way, which I taught in the exube-
ration of Metals, till they be converted into a (Sal Awoniack, or
Sulphur Naturae, of Pearls*) whereof difTolve one Ounce in a
Pound of its Menftrmm aforefaid, and diilil four times, then put
in Pearls, and they will in half a quarter of an Hour be diflbl-
ved, by reafon of the greater fabtilty of the Menjhuum. As Sil-
ver isjoyned to the ^rrr/^/Menftruum made ly the three Fire-
hot Veffds,for //.? Neapolitan Menftruum, (which maylefo cattd,
lecaufe it was reveal'd to Lully at Neapolis ly Arnold de villa
nova)y^ this Menftruum for Pearls is n^nde of the Sal Armoniack
of T earls, and the Mercurial Menftruum, or Glorious Water cf Mer-*
cury, which if they le Circulated toother a convenient time, you will
wake thereof dCoelum perlatum,

54. The

54- The Mercurial compounded Men-

ftruum of Lully.
In Experim. 34.

TAke three Ounces of Luna, and three Ounces of So/, cal-
cine them feverally with Mercury, as in the former Ex-
periments, (in the Neapolitan Menftruum) then evaporate it
from the faid Metals,- being calcined, put them feverally in di-
ftincl: folutory Veflels, and put upon them fo much of the incal-
cinated Menftruum {defer ibed before in Numb- 45".) as will fwim
four Fingers above it : cover the VefTel with an Antenotorium y
putrifie in Balneotwo Days, and two Days more in Alhes with a
heat like that of the Sun, decant the diflblution, and dry the
remainder : being dryed, pour upon them of the incalcinated
Menftruum again as before, putrifying in a clofe Veflel in Balneo,
then upon Allies, and emptying the feveral diflblutions (of Gold
and Silver') into their feveral Vefiels as before : If any thing re-
mains undiflblved,dry anddiflblve as before, till all the remain-
der be fully diflblved, then putrifie both diflblutions twenty Na-
tural Days, being putrifyed, take the diflblutions, and put them
feverally into their Urinals with their Receivers, and having
luted the Joynts well, diftil the Waters of both (frletali) in Bal-
neo ; in the bottom of the Vefiels will remain the Bodies like
melted Honey or Oyl, pour upon thofe (Oy/0 again of their
own Waters (The Menftruum now drawn from the Oyls} diflilled
only by Balneo, fo as to fwim three Fingers above the Matter,
cover both VelTels with their Antenotoriums^ and putrifie for a
Natural Day : then take away the Antenotoriums, and put on
Alembicks, lute well, and diftil upon Aflies, laflly increafe the
Fire, that the Soul or Element of Air may pafs over into both
their diflilled Waters, and lafl of all increafe the Fire to the high-
eft degree, that the Element of Fire may pals into the Air :
But to the Compofition of Luna this Rednefs or Fire is not ne-
ceffary : Diftillation being compleated, let the Vefiels cool, take
the Receivers from them, and keep them very well ftopp'd, that
they may not refpire, and put diftinft Schedules or Infcripti-
ons upon them., that when you have occafion, yoa may not take

X 2, one

one for the other : Then again to the Earths (of Gold and Sil-
ver, left in diftillation) pour their Waters diftilied by Balneo as
before, and having put an Antenotorium to it, putrifie as before,
then diftilby Allies, each Veflel having its own Receiver, where-
in you kept the Souls of thofe Bodies, and thus repeat the Magi-
ftery till the Earths are exanimated and deftitute of radical
moiflure : Then take thofe Earths, grind well, and joyn them
together, then put them in aGlafs Egg, and keep them in hot
Aihes, till I tell you what to do with them : Then take the ani-
mated Spirit of Luna, and rectifie it feven times in Allies, then
take the animated Spirit of Sol, and after the fa me manner recti-
fie it feven times in Afbes; the limofities (remaining Earth')
which the Spirit of Sol will in every rectification eject, keep ve-
ry clofe, being the Element of Fire (jn the form of an Earth?)
Having' rectify ed, take the animated Spirit of Sol, and the ani-
mated Spirit of Luna, and joyn them together, then Circulate in
a large Veflel, as that wherein we Circulated the fimple Mev-
ftntum : continue this Circulation fixty Days, in which time
you will have a true Mineral Menflruum (not acid, lut wade of
Minerals, as Mercttry,Gold, and Silver^) by which you may cpe-
rate innumerable Experiments.

Hereto ought to be referred the Menftruum which is. called ly
Bafilius.

55. The fweet Spirit of Mercury ofBa
Cap. 3. Libri de rebus nat. to 1 fufernat.

TAke of Natural Cinabar, or Oar of Mercury, and of the
befl Oar of Gold equal parts, to which being pulveriz-
ed and mixed,pour the Oyl of Mercury made of Mercury fubli-
med, and putrifyed (that is, Oyl of Mercury fulliwed alone, no
other Ingredients leing added, except the Spirit of Philofophical
Wine, or fome Vegetable Menflruum, without which it cannot Ic
made) digeft them for a Month, and you will have a Celeftial
rather than Terreflrial extraction, draw off the extration in
Balneo, and the Phlegm being taken away, in the bottom will
remain a ponderous Oyl, dinblving all Metals in a'moment ;
to which add of the Spirit of Wine (Philofophical, or Fiery Spirit

of Wine of Bafilius) three parts, Circulate in a Pellican to a
Blood rednefs, and incomparable fweetnefs , being Circulated,
pour it upon Tartar calcined to whitenels, and diitil the Spirit
of Mercury with a ftrong Fire, the Spirit of Wine remaining
with the Tartar.

We muft diftinguijh between this Spirit, a*d another of tie fame
Name, left me le taken for the other: Per Bafilius prepare d alfo a
Spirit oj Mercury fr cm the white Spirit of Vitriol, cf which you way
read in federal places, in the Book de particularibus, ej'pecially in
the particular of Luna; a Defcription vf which Spirit is /ewer among
the ^//w/vjr/Menftruums, lecaufe it is add : But the other, namely,
this cur Spirit of Met cury, is moftjweet and fragrant, which you have
alfo in the particular ^Luna, as alfo in the Jeventh Chapter of the
Book de rebus nat. & fupernat. where he diflblves the Crocus of
Luna in the white Spirit of Vitriol, as alfo in the-w oft fragrant Spi-
rit of Mercury.

Parifmus/0r Alchymical Tinflures made a Mercurial compounded
Menftruum, of his Circulatum majus, andthefrjtor middle fub-
flame of common Argent vive, thus :

$6. The incalcinated Menftruum of Parifmus*
Cap. G. Apertoris*

TAke of the Circulatum majus (jdefcriled lefore in Numb. 5*0.}
one Pound, of Mercury prepared, as we fhall teach in the
tenth Chapter, two Ounces, mix, and obferve that true putre-
faftion be made with this Menftruum : But when firft it is incal-
cinated, that is, mix'd with fuch Mercury, it is no more ufed for
Men's Bodies, but only as Medicines for Metals,now the laid
tenth Chapter is this, as followeth :

Of reducing common Mercury into the frft Matter or
Middle Sulftance.

Now my Son ! we will give you full inftruftion and demon-
ftration of decoding and reducing common Argent vive into
its firlt Matter, or middle fubftance, and as in the foregoing
Chapters we declared the way of reincrudating the two Lumi-
naries^

(15)

narles, fo now we will demonftrate the ways and means of de-
coding the faid Mercury. Firft,we will teach the way of di-
ftinguiihing good Mercury from bad, fophifticated and corrupt-
ed which way is, to take common Mercury, brought out of
Spain in Skins lealed, or if you cannot have this, take any other,
and put a little of it in a SUv 7 er Spoon heated fo, as to make the
Mercury evaporate, and if the remainder of it be of a white or
citrine Colour, 'tis good; but if of another Colour, bad, and not
at all fit for our Work, becaufe fophifticated : Then take of
Roman Vitriol two Pounds, melt it in a glazed Vefiel, being
melted, add one pound of Mercury, and as much of common
Salt prepared, flir and {hake till they be all mix'd, evaporating
the moifture with fuch a heat as that of the Sun ; then take
out the Matter, grind, and put it in a Sublimatory, and fublime
the Mercury by the ufual degrees of Fire : The Veilels being
cold, take out the fublimation, to which being put into a Retort,
pour of the Vegetable Water without Phlegm (Thilofopbical A-
qua Vitce rettificT) about three or four Fingers, let it boyl in Bal-
neo two Hours, then diftil in Arties, that the Vegetable Water
may afcend ; then cover the Retort with Allies, and fticreafing
the Fire, the Mercury -wre will afcend into the Aqua archns, de-
cant the Water trom. the Mercury, which again fublime with
new Matters, and that fix times, always calling away the For-
ces : But take notice that thefe feven fublimations muft always
be tranfafted in Aludels, becaufe you will no other way lep a-
rate the aduftible powder afcending in the Aludels : And to in-
ftruft you, that you may not err, I will more dilUnftly repeat
the method of the faid feven Sublimations : The Way is this, to
take a Glafs Vefiel like one of the narrower fort of Cucurbits,
with its blind Head, perforated in the upper part of it, into this
put two parts of Vitriol very well pulverized, of Mercury one
part, and of Salt prepared one part, mixing all weli,the Matter
being now gently dryed, put on a blind Head, or rather an
Aludel, yet obferving not to cover the Cucurbit with Allies
above one third, the moifturebeing evaporated by an eafieheat,
flop the Hole of the Aludel with a little Cotton, and increafing,
fublime, all being cold, take out that wliich is fublimed, as well
out of the Aludel, as the Cucurbit, in which (if not yet col/) dif-
folve the Faxes with hot Water, and fo you will eafily cfeanfe

the

C 151

the faid Veflel for its uie. Now mix new Matters with your
lublimation, and fublime as before, and this repeat feven times;
then grind the fublimation into a mod fine Powder, put it in the
aforelaid Cucurbit with its blind Head, or Aludel, and alfo with
its common Alembick, becaufe of the operation ditfering from
the former ; the fublimation being put into a Cucurbit, pour
to it of the fimple Animal or Vegetable Menflruum (the Animal
Menftruum defer tied in Nnml. 37. or Vegetalk in Numl. 2,9.)
lut here above ke order d him to take Vegetable Water refit*
{yd, that />, Aqua ardens) fo much, as to be three Fingers above
it, cover it with a blind Head, and digeft in Aihes twelve Hours,
then taking off the blind Head, put on a common Alembick,
and draw oiT the Menflruum in Balneo, lay a fide the Alembick
again, and put on an Aludel, fet the Veflel in Allies fo deep, as
to cover the Matter in the Glafs, give Fire by degrees, till all
the moifture is exhaled, the Hole in the upper pan of the Alu-
del flop with Cotton , increafe the Fire, that the Mercury may
befublimed: Sublimation being ended, and the Veflels cold,
tske away the Aludcl, and what you find fublimed in it, is not
for our purpoie , for it is that aduil part, which is no Ingredient
to our Magiftery : Then gather the fublimation from the fides
of the Cucurbit, which will be clear as Criftal, and have a care
that it be not mix'd with itsFitces, grind, flit, and put it into
the fame Veflel, being cleanfed from the Fasces, and pour the
Menftrmm drawn ofFin Balneo to it, cover the Veflel with an
Aludel, digeft twelve Hours as before, lay afide the Aludel, put
on a common Alembick, diftil in Balneo, lay afide this Alem-
bick, put on an Aludel, and fublime in Aihes ; the Fxces, as alfo
the aduflive part being call out of the Aludel, gather the mid-
dle fubftance out of the Cucurbit dexteroufly ; with this method
you muft fublime feven times, or till it leaves no Fxces in the
Cucurbit : Having obtained this fign, take the faid fubftance,
grind, and put it in a Glafs Veflel, pour to it the fimple either
Animal or Vegetable Menflruun^ the height or" three Fingers,
cover the Veflel with a blind Head,, digeft gently two Days in
Afhes, then decant the difTolution into another Veflel, and that
which remains in the Veflel, dry with a temperate" heat, like
that of the Sun, to which pour new Menftruum, covering "the
Veflel with a blind Head as before, and repeat the fame method,

( '5* )

till all the diflblvible part is diflblved, and in the bottom of the
Glafs will remain an indiflolvible Earth, to be cail away, as no-
thing worth : Now take away difiblution, that is, your decan-
tations, and diflil in Balneo, and the Menftruum being diflilled,
put on an Aludel, and in Ames fublime the Criftallinefubftance,
which may truly be called the firft Matter of Mercury ; this
is that middle fubftance, with which we incalcinate our Menftru-
um^ (Circulation majus^ defer tied in Numb- 50.") and make infi-
nite particulars, as we have taught you before : This alfo is
called the Mineral Stone. Now, my Son ! will you be able to
proceed by infinite ways, yet follow ing thefe which I have fhew-
ed you ; and remember, that Mercury thus reduced, is that,
which our Captain Raymond fpeaks of, making mention of the
Mineral Stone, as alfo in the lafl Chapter of his Book, namdVzdz
mecum, and in many other places of his Volumes, This is that
Mercury which Arnold de Villa nova-, treats of in his Rofarium^
and we declare to you, except Mercury be reduced into thefirfl:
Matter with the faid Vegetable or Animal Water, it is altoge-
ther impolfible to do any good with it, by reafon of its great
Corruption, occafionedby the crudity of it.

From the Receipts, of this Kind we obferve :

1 . That Menflrunms way and ought to le made according to the
defigned ufes, for they are de fired not only to dijfolve Bodies pro-
mijcuoufy, I Ht rightly alfo ^t hat the tinctures of things dijfolve d may
mt ly any Heterogeneous tintlures of the Menliruums le inqu'ma-
ted> Ittt rather illuflrated.

2. That /^/Menftruums^?/tfg once compounded , tht oftnerthe
Composition is repeated ly adding new Matt er^ are endowed with fo
tnttch a greater Virtue ; whereas on the contrary it is man if eft ^ that
common Menflruums are this way debilitated.

3. That thefe Menflruums are moft fragrant, and of exceeding
fweetnefs and rednefs, yet neverthelefs called Acetum acerrimum,
which difTolves Gold into a Spirit.

4. That thefe Menftruums d/r the Effences or Magifteries of Me-
tals made by Magifleries or Effences ', and mix d together into com-
pounded Girculatums.

5". Tk '

( '53 )

5". That thefe compounded Circulatums way le made not only of
Gold and Silver ) lut alfo of imperf eft Metals and Minerals.

6. That Sal Armoniack may le made of Corals, and other arid s,
ai well as Pearls.

7. That ParifmusHy/r/? Matter of Mercury is an Effence ra-
ther than a Magiflery^ it is indeed fooner prepared than the Mercu-
rial Sal Armoniack of Lully, lut is not of the fame , lut lefs Vir-
tue.

. 8. That Parifmus defends Arnold de villa nova in his way of
fulliming Mercury, (defcrihd in the Rofarium) againft his Confort
Bernhard.

9. That thisfrfl Matter of Mercury is a Poyfon ; wherefore Pari-
fmus the Author gives caution that it is not to le ufedfor humane
Medicines, lut Metals only, yet if this incalcinated Menftruum
le Circulated as tbe reft, it lecomes harmlefs , and ait excel-
lent Medicine.

The

( 154 >

The Eleventh KIND.

Vegetable compounded Menftruums gra-
duated, made of the compounded Vegetable
Menftruums, impregnated with the in-
of Heaven and Earth.

57. The Etherial and Terreftrial Waters of Me-
tals of Lully for the making of Pretious
Stones.

Canon. 43. diftinft. i. Lib. Quint. E/en.

TAke the Water of Mercury, made by the way, which
we declared in our {Novifwium) Teftamentum, and in
Lilro Mercuriorum (the Mercurial Menftruum, or Glo-
rious Water of common Argent viv 7 e, defcriled lefore in Numl. 44.)
and in that Water, Son! you muft diflblve one half Ounce of
the pureft Luna, after the filtred dnTolution, feparate tlie Water
from the Faeces (diftil the Menftruum from the Silver through an
Aiemlicfy in which the limofity of the Silver will afcend : This
Water, Son ! refolves all other Bodies, aid Argent -vive it felf,
by Virtue of which, < Son / Pearls are reformed by the way
which I told you in our Teftamentum, and in the Compendium fu-
per Teftamentum & CodiciHum miffum Regi Rolerto.

The fecond Water is thus made :Take half an Ounce of Lead,
and of the aforefaid Water as much as fufficeth, when you fee
the Lead difTolved, feparate the Water by fihred diftillation
(fltre the dijfblution of the ZW) and throw out the Fxces, as

nothing

( U'S )

nothing worth,then diftil the Water by Balneo {draw off the Men-
flruum in Balneo} and keep the Forces (the diffol-ued Lead') for
occafion. *

The third Water is thus made : Take of Copper one Ounce,
and diflolve it in as much of the firft Water as you pleaie, and
let it reft in its Veflel, in a cold place, for a Natural Day, then
feparate the Green Water through a Filtre, and pour out the
firft Fxces, (that which remains in the Filtre mufl le cafl away)
then diftil the Water through an Alembick, and keep the fecond
Faeces.

The fourth Water is thus made : Take one Ounce of the pu-
reft Tin of Cornwall, which is purer than any other, and diflblve
it in a quantity of the firft Water, and diftil (through a Filtre)
that Water (dijfolution) with its limofity, and the Fasces which
remain caft away, then diftil the Water through an Alembick,
and keep (the refidue, or Tin dijfolved) the fecond Fasces.

The fifth Water is thus made: Take of the pureft Iron one
Ounce, and diflblve it in a fufficieot quantity of the firft Water,
then diftil through a Filtre, and caft away the Fasces, diftil the
Water through an Alembick, and keep the fecond Fasces.

The fixth Water is thus made: Take of the pureft Gold one
Ounce, and diffolve it as I told you in my Teftamentum, that is,
with pure Lunaria (thefimpk Vegetalle Menftruum without Ar-
gent vive and Silver) mix'd with fuch a weight of the fifth
Water (now prepared from Iron) and do, as you did with
the other.

You may alfo, Son ! diflblve allthofe Metals in this order :
Having made the firft Water, m it diflblve the Metal, which
we commanded you to diflblve after the fecond way (to wit
Lead) then do with it as we told you before. In this fecond
Water diflblve the third Metal, (Copper) and in the Water of
the third Metal diflblve the fourth Metal, (Tin) and in the Wa-
ter of the fourth Metal diflblve the fifth Metal (Iron) and in-
the Water of the fifth Metal diflblve the fixth Metal (Gold.')

Take which of thofe Waters you like beftto diflblve a Metal.
Son / thefe limofities of Metals are called Quinteflences, or
Mineral Mercury, which the Philofophers efteemed in the Al-
chymical work (in Akhymkal Tinctures) and the lapidifick, (in
the making ofPretious Stones) and in the Medicinal Work (in the

Y 2r prepa-

of Medicines?) But Son ! in the Aicliymical Work thofe
Quintefiences. ought to be morefubtil, and to be done by divi-
ding the Elements as we (in the third Book of this Volume] flial[
declare, butin(w3kMgPreti0Hs]Stones.thQ Quinteilence (afore*
faid*] are not fo, m fhcn a fubtil Matter, but in Medicine either
of them (thu two-fold way of preparing) may be ufed.

Having fpofeen of the Quinteflences of Minerals (of Met a Hick
Waters], how we are to make them, it is now convenient to fpeak
of the divifion pf them in general. And rny Son ! do thus ;
When your Metals are diflblved, you muft divide every Water
(be'tngfrft fltr.&d) and dift Hied from its remainder] and every di-
vided Water (now diftilkd] into two parts, and one part of every
part you muft put with its ownfceces (the remaining Mctal^which -
the Water had left in dijlillation) into a Glafs Alembick, and .di-
ftilaL/w/w/&/r//,which is Air made out of two Bodies, (or Me*
tali] in the Furnace, which we defign'd you firft with a gentle
Fire, iriining with great Mineral Luttre, and with great limofity
appropriated to receive Celeftiol Virtues : And put every one
of thofe Waters into a GJafs VeiTel, with along Neck and round,
and then flop the Mouth of it with common Wax, and after that
with Maftick, and every of thofe VefleJs put in the open Air fo,
as that neither Stone, nor any other hurtful thing may touch
the Glafs. Son / Take the material Fasces, from which you
refolved the Limus, which are the fecond Fccces left in the diftil-
lation of the Waters which you put in the Air. (Take the Caput
toortuum from the dift illation ofe-very Limus defertus, or the third
Faces ) for thejjrjt remaining in the Filtre were cafl away^ from the
fecond the Limus defertus was diftilkd ; now the Fasces- of the Li-
mus defertus, are thofe which he here calls, the fecond^) and put them
in a Glafs VefTel with a long Neck, which may contain two
hands breadth, and put in part of its. own Water, which was
referved from that aforefaid limous fubftance, and ilop the Vef-
fels with a Stopple of Wax, arid with Leather and Maftick, as
you did to the other, and Bury them (Waters of Metals'] in a
Garden, in an Earth half a Yard deep, and put alfo fomething
about the Neck of the Veflels, which may appear above ground,
for the prefervation of them, and let them be there tor one
whole Year : Son ! the Waters which are put into the Earth
^re.pf one Nature, awd thofe. which are put in the Air of anp-

thir,

( 157 )

ther , for Son/ thofe which are put into the Earth have a hard-
ning, coagulating, and fixing Virtue and Quality ; and thofe
which are in the Air, have the Virtue and Property of being
hardened, coagulated and fixed : The Year being ended, you
will have all that is deftred in the World for this Work, &c.

Annotations.

YOu will perhaps wonder, that we have ajjigned this fo high a
place to thefe Menftruums, they leittg inferior to many
Menftruums of the antecedent Kinds, as to Ingredients, as well as ta
the method of preparation ; but though it lefo, nevertheless thefe
Menftruums are by veixgexpnfed to the Air for a Tear, orforfo
long a time committed to the Earth, made letter and more excellent
than the aforefaidMenftmums, as mil appear hereafter by the uje
of them : We will at prefent explain the methods of making thefe
Waters : The Waters cfthefrft method he makes thus : HediJJohes
Lead, Copper, Tin, Inn, and Gold in the Qlcncus Water c/Argent
vive, acmted moreover with Luna, fltres every diffolution, cafting
away the Faces, draws off the filtred dissolutions in Balneo to drj-
nefs, d'miaes the dijlilled Waters into two parts, in one of which he
diffofoes its own Metal left in the drawing off of the diffolution,
which he then diftilis into a Liquor, which ke calls Limus defertus,,
Q^inteflence, or Mineral Mercury, and hangs it in the air for a-
Tear, to le his Etherial Water: The Caput mortuiun of the Li-
mus defertus he diffohes in the other part of the Water referred,,
and Buries it in the Earth for his Terreft rial Water. Tn Com-
pendio Animie tranfm. pag. 108. Velum. 4. Theat. Chym.
He adds alfo the Waters of common Mercury and Si her to the rej}-^
the Mercury Water is thus made ; Take ot common Mercury one
Ounce, and diilblve it in the diftblving Water (aforejaid) in the
digefhion of I. (Aftes) diftil through a Filtre, regard not the
Fxces, but keep the fecond (left in the bottom) alter diftilling
through an Alembick.

The Water of Luna is thus made: Take one Ounce of the.
pureft Silver, dilTolve it in what quantity of the difiblving Wa-
ter you pleafe, diftil through' a Viltre, and cafl away the firft
Faeces, then diftil through an Akmb.ick in the digeftion ofH,.
(Balneo) and keep the iecond Fxces, you muft.keep the fecond;

Fsecesof all the Waters in their own Veflels, every one by it
felf. Moreover (in Compendia Avimd) he divides not the diftil-
lecl Waters in to equal parts, zsin'Lilro Effentio3^\\t draws offthe
diffolutions of Metals by diftilling one half for the Terreftrial
Water, and diftils the other half for the Etherial Water. You
mail indeed, faith he, be cautious in refolving the Limus t be-
caufe you are to make two Waters or parts of every Limits, di-
ftilling one half of the Limits, which you muft keep apart, be-
eaufe the Terreftrial Water is made of that firfl part, and you
muft likewife diftil the other (half) part, which the Aerial
Water is made of, whieh is hung in the Air as aforefaid, for a
Year, Pag. 109. Volum. 4. Theat. Chym.

The Waters made lythe latter method are more compounded than
thofe ofthefrft, the fir fi were prepared promifcuoujly with the Lunar
Menftruum, the fee on d not fo', for the Water of Lead is made ly the
Lunar Menftruum, of which Water of Lead is made the Water of
Copper ; of this Water of Copper is made the Water of Tin ; from the
Water of Tin he prepares the Water of Iron, lut the Water of Gold is
made with the Lunar Menftruum,^ which is added half of the Water
of Iron. wonderful mixture ! I will notfay^confujion of Metals ! yet
doultlefs the mojl acute Philofopher had reajwtsfor it. This method
is alfo /#Lapidario, Cap. 9. & fequentibus.

From the Receipts we obferve :

i . 7 hat the Etherial Waters are the Effemes of Metals, expofed
to the influences of the Heavtns for a Tear.

i. That the fer reft rial Waters^ are the Bodies of Efftnce s, diffol-
<ved in their vwn Menftruums, and Buried for a Tear.

3. That the E fences of not only Metals, lut the whole Mineral
Kingdoms do lyjuch a method yield Etherial and Terreftrial Wa-
ters.

4. That thefe Waters acquire their principal Virtue sly leing im-
pregnated with the Stars of Heaven.

The Adepts held divers Opinions concerning the Influences of the
Heavens. Some would have the Situathns,Afpe^ts^and determinate
Times of the Planets to le highly neceffary to this Work, lut others
thought the contrary : Amongft the Affirmers let us hear Thomas
Norton, an Engliih Adept, who thus in the Sixth Chapter of his
Ordinal. Pag. 99. of Theat, Chym. Britannicum.

The

THe Fifth Concord is known well of Clerks,
Between the Sphere of Heaven, and our fubtil
Nothing in Earth hath more fimplicity, (Werks ;

Than th' Elements of our Stone will be :
Wherefore they being in Work of Generation,
Have moil Obedience to Conftellation.
Whereof Concord moft kindly and convenient,
Is a direct and fiery Afcendent ;
Being Sign common for this Operation,
For multitude of their Iteration :
Fortune your Afcendent with his Lord alfo,
Keeping th' Afpect of Shrews them fro j
And if they muft let, or needly infect,
Caufe them to look with a Trine Afpect.
For the white Work may Fortunate the Moon, *
For the Lord of the fourth Houfe likewife be it done ;
For that is Thefaurum alfconditum of 'Old Clerks,
So of the Sixth Houfe for Servants of the Werks :
Save all them well from great Impediments,
Asit is in Picture, or likethe fame Intents.
Unlefs then your Nativity pretend Infection,
In contrariety to this Election,
The Virtue of the mover of the Orb is formal,
The Virtue of the Eighth Sphere is here Inftrumental :
With her Signs and Figures, and parts afpectual,
The Planets Virtue is proper and fpecial.
The Virtue of the Elements is here material,
The Virtue infufed refultethofthemall:
The firft is like to a Work-man's Mind,
The fecond like his Hand ye mail find ;
The third is like a good Inftrument,
The remnant like a thing wrought to your Intent :
Make all the Premifes with other well accord,
Then {hall your Merits make you a great Lord.

Amongft the Denyers is Lully hiwfelf: Who thus ; we fay not,that
it is the bufmefs of an Artift to 'operate with the Figures and Ima*
ges of Heaven, by the knowledge of their motions, as many

Philofophers

( 1*0 )

Philofophers affirm : But it is enough for you to know the in-
fluence of the Celeftial heat, informed by the Figure of the
Heaven and Stars, by reafon of which, Virtues are infufed into
Matter being aptly appropriated, which receives them by the
Natural Induflry of an Aitift with refolution, which is done by
Art imitating Nature, &c. And in this Point the Philofophers
have been miftaken, in reprehending tliofe Men that knew,
that the Celeftial Virtue is too common to every elemented
Nature ; for by its great Noblenefsit takes determination at any
time, becaufe in things mixed it is influenced as well by Art as
by Nature, and this is done by reafon of the Natural Virtues,
which are the fubject and proper detainer of it in fuch a man-
ner, as that it receives fuch a Virtue, according to the proper-
ties of the Matter, and its Kind, which afterwards effects fuch
things by Nature, as are reputed for a Miracle. In like manner
let every Artift take Notice, that Nature cannot operate but by
the fucceflion of the lead particles, nor alfo can it receive any
Virtues but by the fucceflion of its operation, nor can they allb
do all at once, nor can the Conftellations fuffer the Station of any
time punctually in a certain Virtue, which may not be imme-
diately varied : And it being alfo granted, that it might, the
time of Conftellation is fofmallby reafon of the Circles of revo-
lution, as that it may fooner pals from one Virtue to another,
&c. Lib. Effen. dift. i. Pag. 18.

An ingenious Artift, faith Paracelfus, will by diligent animad-
; verfion be able to prepare Metals, fo that being guided by true
reafon, he may promote the perfection of tranfmuting Metals,
by his own work or conduct better, than by Courfes of the
twelve Celeftial Signs, and ieven Planets,which therefore toob-
ferve, will be fupertluous, as alfo the Afpefts, the ill or good
times, day or hour, the profperous or unhappy State of this or
another Planet, which cannot help, much lefs hurt in the Art of
Natural Alchy my ; if otherwife,you haveatruepoflible procefs,
operate when you pleafe ; but if there beany defect in you, or
your Operations, and Underftanding, the Planets and Celeftial
Conftellations will fail you. C&lum. Phil. Pag. 125-.

If they alledgejrf/^ Gelerjhat the perfecting of Metals is from
a certain fituation of one or more Starrs which we know not,
we anfwer, that we regard not this ituation and motion, nor *

alfo

aifo is it neceflarily requifite for us to know it : becaufe there is
not any fpecies of things generable and corruptible, butGenera-
tion-and Corruption may be dayly and in every inftant made
from the individuals of it : And it is therefore manifeft, that
fuch a pofitionof the Stars is every Day good, and able toper-
feet, and fimply to corrupt all the fpecies whatfoever of Indivi-
duals. It is not therefore neceflarily expedient for an Artift to
expect the place of the Stars, though it might be ufeful , becaufe
it isfufficient for him only to difpofe and adminifler the way of
Nature, that She, who is wife, may difpofe the fituations ofthofe
able Bodies agreeing : For Nature can perfect nothing without
the motion and pofition of the Planets. Wherefore if you dif-
pofe, and duly confider the Artifice of Nature, whatfoever
may be the contingents ofthisMagiftery,it will be perfected un-
der a due pofition by Nature agreeable to it, without theconfide-
rafion of it : For when we fee a Worm produced from a putri-
fied Dog or other Animal, we do not prefently confider the po-
fition of the Stars, but the difpofition of the ambient Air, and
other caufes conducing to putrefaction, befides that pofition :
An J from fuch a confideration we know fufficiently, that Worms
are produced according to Nature : For Nature finds convenient
places for it felf, though we may be ignorant of them. Summa.
perfett. Lzb.i.parte.i. Cap.il.

Pefrus Bonus of Per r aria hath the fame Opinion of Influences.
As to the ninth reafon,/^ he, we fay it is true, that Forms are
introduced into thing? below, by the motion and light of CeJe-
flial Bodies, and by their particular Portions and Afpects ; but
it is not necefiary for us to know, nor can we know them, but
in aconfufed manner, as in fome things by the Sun, who is the
oiufe of the four Seafons of the Year , Sowing, Reaping, and
Planting, being done at certain Seafons ; and in fome Animals,
as Horles, Afles, and Hawks, Conjunctions are made in order to
Coition and Generation at fome certain Periods of the Sun , but
in fome thefe things are done at any time indifferently, as in
Man, Pigeons, Hens, &c. Wherefore if we would generate a
Worm out of putrifying Flefh, we do not confider any pofition
of the Stars, but only the difpofition of the ambient Air, and
other caufes of putrefaction : Likewife, if we put Eggs in Dung,
or &ch a like place for the production of Chickens, the Form will

Z be

be given at any time in the place and time predeflinated by the
Celeflial Powers, without our confideration herein : After the
fame manner in the Generationof Lime and Vitriol, and Gold,
and Silver, or Sulphur, and Cerufe, and Minium, and Cinabar,
likewife in the Competition of Therkcle, and other Confecli-
tfns, 'becaufe'thefe things maybe done at any time, and.any
hour , for'the Celeftial Virtue is very common to all things, and
is circumfcribed by the Virtues and Difpotitions of thofe things,
which are the fubjed of it in things Elemented and the Ele-
ments themfeives, jbecaufe, as aforefaid, the Celeftial Venues do
operate in the w Hole Nature of things capable of Generation
and Corruption continually according to the difpofition of the
Matter, either properly or commonly : Wherefore faid Lilium^
The Work is not caufed by the motion of the Powers above, be-
caufeit may be done at any time. And Hafs in 70. LilroP,e-
prebevfwnis ,: Time operates not any thing in this , and adds
becauie fh'olild time operate in it, it would be of no efleem
amongft the People. If therefore, all contingents in this Magi-
ftery concur rightly in their time, their Form will be introduced
ifncfer a due Petition and Afpeft of the Stars, at the time prefix-
ed in the Matter, without any confideration herein : And there-':
fore faid Plato, According to the merit of the Matter, are the
Celeflial Virtues infufed, &c. But as to thofe things, in w:hich
an accidental, new, and hidden Form is infufed by the Celeflial
Powers, as is manifefl mArte Iwagimm Ctekftium,it\s neceffary
for us to know and obferve the determined Petitions and Afpe&s
of the Celeflial Bodies, according to the time propofed: Becauie
fuch a Form is imprinted by fueh alone, and at fuch a time and
no other, as appears in the Books of Aflrology concerning the
Ejection of Hours, Images, and Wars, Buildings, Journey, & c .
Wherefore Alchymy being no fuch Art, therefore is it not exper
dient for a Man to know thefe things. Margar.'pretiofa, Pdg,.

- >

The

The Twelfth KIND.

Compounded Vegetable Menflruums moft
highly exalted, made of compoundedVege-
table Menftruums graduated.

58. The Ether ial and Celeftial Limes of Lully y
for the making of Alchymical Tinftures.
In Teftam. Noviffimo.

(Ake the Sulphur of Q6ld,(/fo Philofopbers Mercury made
of Gold, or Sal Armoniack of Sol"} put ittin a Glafs Veflel,
and pour to it as much as it weighs of the Celeftial Ve-
getable Menflruum^the Ccclum Vinvfum ofLully defcriled in Num.
30.) which you know already ; put it in digeftion of Balneo fix
Days, then diftil by Balneo , then pour on new Menflruum ac-
cording to the weight of it, anddigeft in Balneo fix Days, then
fet it in Afhes one Day, drilling all that can be diftilled, and
put it with the otlier diftilled before : And again pour on new
Menftruum, and digeft and diftil as before ; and continue the re-
petition of this Royal Magiftery, till all the faid Earth or Sul-
phur is emptied of its Air, which is done in two and twenty
times, if you know how to operate : Then take all the diftilla-
tions and put them in Balneo, and diftil the whole Menflruum^
and fee if all the Air remains in the Form of a Liquor, then will
you know that the Earth is emptied of its Air, but if not, repeat
with new Menftruum in Balneo, digefting and diftilling in Allies
as before three times, and then will all our Sulphur be freed
from its Air : Then take the Air which you kept, and upon it
put its whole Ifatoflruun*^*tikfofa is that with which you emptied

Z z the

the Air, and pour it upon the Earth of the Sulphur of Gold, and
put it in digeftion in Balneo eight Days, then diftil all the Men-
ftruum in the faid Balneo for one Day, and another in Allies,
draw ofFafl. the Air and Fire, as much as you can, namely, in
another Receiver, which you will know,, when the Air begins to
change the reddifh Colour. Keep that Fire apart, and again put
the Air with the Menftruum drawn from it, or with other, and
put it to the Earth in Balneo, and digeft fix Days, and in the
faid Balneo diftil all the Mevftnmm for one Day, and the Fire in
Aflies, feparating then every one by it felf as you did before,
and keep the Fire in Balneo : And again put the Air with the
Menftruum upon the Earth, in which is the Fire, and digefl as be-
fore, and this Magiftery repeat, till the Earth is well emptied cf
its Fire, which is done in forty times or repetitions. Then mull
you fublime the Earth after this manner ; Take that Earth
which remained after the feparation of the Air and Fire, and put
it in a Glafs Veflel, and pour upon it of the Vegetable Menftru-
um, according to the quantity of the Earth, and let it in Balneo
for a Natural Day, then another Day diftil in Aflies , and again
put of the faid Menftruum according to the weight of the Earth,
and digeft in Balneo the fpace of one Day, and diftil in Allies
another Day, and again repeat, digefting in "Balneo, and diflil-
li-ng in Alhes, till all the Earth is converted into an impalpable
Powder : Then take that, and put of the Menftruum upon it ac-
cording to its weight, and digeft in Balneo two Days, then dift.il
in AlhesoneDay, and put the diftillation in Balneo : Then take
the Earth, and put again of other Menftruum equal to its weight,
digeft twoDays,and diftil as before ; proceed in repeating the
inhumations and diftillations till the Earth has palled through
the Alembick together with the Menftruum That Earth being
thus mixed with the Menftruum, is called Argent vive exubera-
ted according to the intention of the Alcyhmifts : put therefore
thole diftillations wherein is that Earth, tobediftilled by Balneo,
and draw off the ^/<?#/?r##w, and the Earth will remain dry and
prepared in the bottom of the Veflel, which keep : Thus Son !
lave you the Elements of the Sulphur of Gold divided with the
help of God. Then muft you have the Sulphur of Silver, (the
Philofophers Mercury prepared from Silver, or the Sal Arrnoniack
tf Luna) and feparate the Elements from it, feparating tke Air

with

C 1*5 )

with the Menftrual Water, and the Fire with the Air and Wa-<
ter, and the Earth fubliming with the Me^jbtmm^ and cauic it to
pal's through the Alembick with the fame Menftruum. Thus
have yon, my Son ! the Elements of the white Sulphur, and
the Elements of the red Sulphur feparated and divided : Now
take the Menftrtwm or Water with which you feparated the Ele-
ments of the Sulphurs of Gold and Silver, and for every Pound
of the Menftruum in which you dilTolved the Gold, diflolye one
Ounce of Gold , and in the Menftrmm wherein youdiflblv'd the
Silver, an Ounce of Silver ; and put either of them by it fclf in
a Veflel of Circulation in Balneo or Dung, the fpace of fifteen
Days, and there it will be (Irengthened into its Menftrual Na-
ture : Tins Water,Son ! we ca)lElemented^?#y?m/>w, or Water
wafhecl and drawn from the Fasces of the Earth. Now take the
two Elements, namely, the Air and Fire of the Sulphur of Gold,
put them together into aGlafs diftilling Veflel,and diftilin Afhes
with a mod temperate heat, till }ou have three parts of five
diftilled in the Receiver, then let it cool, and that which is di-
llilled receive by it felf, and diftil it feven times, and keep it
apart, then diftil that which you left , when you have diftilled
three parts of five, continue diflillingthe two which remained,
till you lee the Fire congealed at the fides of the Veflel, let it
cool till the Fire be congealed : And that Fire which you drew
off till the Fire was congealed, (he means that which afcends as yet
moiftlefore the fulllmation of the Matter from thefe two parts lefi)
is called the fecond Air and Tincture, and we call it our Secret,
and our Treafure, and the Vapour of the Elements : This, my
Son ! you muft rectify by feven diftillations or rectifications,
and the Earth, which after the diftillation of the firft and fecond
Air you drew out of the Veflels, in which you diftilled the firft
and fecond Air, put in the Fire to be congealed, and that Earth
is called Fire : Now Son ! prepare this Fire after this manner.
Put it in a diftilling Veflel, and upon it pour its own Water,
which is that wherewith you feparated the Elements of the Sul-
phur of Gold, when we commanded to reduce it toa fifthSpirit
in the Veflel of Hermes^ and faid, Take the Water wafli'd from
the Fxces of the Earth (otherwife the Elemented Menftruum of
Sol) five parts of its weight, that is, five Ounces of the faid
Water (/m?tfWMenftrum0/ (?<?//} to one Ounce of the laid

Fire,

( \66

Fire, and digeft in Balneo eight Days, then diftil in Allies
moft gently, and again put new Water, namely, five parts,
digeft and diftil as before , repeating this method feven
times, and fo you have the Fire and Earth (of the Sul-
phur of Gold) calcined by Philofophical calcination; and they
are the two Elements of the red Sulphur prepared for the de-
fert Limes. And take notice, that you muft put the Earth of
the white Sulphur, which you calcined and prepared after the
feparation of the Elements of the red Sulphur with tjie Earth,
which you drew from the Air mix'd with the Fire, and put both
with the Fire congealed. Now Son ! take the Earth ot the Sul-
phur of Silver, which remained after the feparation of the Ele-
ments, and prepare it, as you did in calcining and preparing
the Earth of Gold, after the feparation of the Elements fublimed
together with the Menflruuniy and reduced into an impalpable
Powder, andcarryed through the Alembick with the fame Men-
ftruum. You may alfo prepare the Earth of the Sulphur of Sil-
ver with the Menflruumy that you ufed in feparating the Ele-
ments of the Sulphur of Silver: Then have you the Earths of
the Sulphur of Gold and Silver prepared by themfelves, which
you will know by the fign given you, that is, putting a little
of it upon a red hot Plate ot Luna, the greater part will tume
away : Then take thofe Earths in equal weight and ounces,
and put them in a preparing Veflel, then take the Menftruum^
with which you prepared the" Elements of Luna, and in one
Pound of it, put one Ounce of the Vegetable Sulphur, which
we fliewed you how to make from the Earth of Wine (Vegeta-
lle Sal Armoniack made of the Earth of Philofophical Wine) and
diftilling, make the whole pafs through the Alembick, and then
will you have the Menftruuwy with which you extracted the Ele-
ments of the Sulphur of Luna, animated and acuated : Then Son !
you muft mix and prepare the Earths of the aforefaid Sulphurs
(that is of Gold and Silver) together, allowing of the faid Men-
ftruum^ now animated and acuated,a fourth part of their weight,
digefting and drying, as is done in the making of the Sulphur
(of Nature, or Sal Armcniack) till they have drank up four parts
of the faid Menftruum^ and are difpoled to fublimation, which
you muft fublime with a Fire of the fourth degree : And ob-
ferve that all thofe preparations and d filiations of the Earths

are

tire to be done in Balneo : And thus, Son ! have you our Sul-
phur or M.itfer, or Vegetable and Met attick Earth in one Kind united^
tor the making of tlie Glorious, High, and Virtuous Stone, which
will transform common Argent vive iijto perfect Sol or Luna t
without the help of Fire, but as the Eye of a Bafilisk, which
kills Animals by fight alone : But it is your intereft Son ! toufe
great diligence, and exquifite Ingenuity in making the Roots of
this high and lofty Tree, which Hoots we call dcjert Limes, in
which the whole Virtue of Heaven and Earth relating to this
Magiftery will be infilled : And the way is this,

Take of the Vegetable '(ad Mineral) Earth or Sulphur > ivhich
you united in one Kind, by iullimation, which is that which you
cali'd the Earth of Sulphur in one Kind nnittd^ put it in a Glafs
Veffel, and pour Ib much as it weighs of the Menftruum, with
which you feparated the Elements or the Sulphur ot Luna, and
prepared the laid kind of Earth, and put it in a Philofophical Bal-
neo three Natural Days, and in that time it will be all dilTolved,
which being thus diflblved, put in a common Balneo, and diftil.
tiutfiteftruuw 9 and the Earth united to its. kind will by fublima-
tion remain as ?n Oyl, which we call the Philofophers Oynt-
ment , and it is one of the Secrets, which we take care to have
concealed : Then,

Take of that Oyl or Oyntment aforefaid ten Drachms, and
of the reitify'd Air of the Sulphur of Luna one Drachm (not one
Ounce : And of the Air of the Sulphur of Sol one Drachm} and di-
fhl in a Fire of Allies, and that which is diftilled, which is almOxO;
all, is called the Terr^ilrial defert Limes, keep it. Take of the
Element of the (Fire} Sulphur of Gold already prepared and
congealed ten Drachms (not twenty) and of the Element of the
Air {Sulphur} of Luna one Drachm, and of the Element of the
Air of the Sulphur of Gold another Drachm, and put all in
A (lies, and diftil ; that which is diftilled from it, which is almofl
all, is called \\izEtherial defert Limes 5 keep it for occafion;

Take of the Element of the Fire of the Sulphur of Gold one
Drachm or two, and rectifie it again thus, pouring upon it five
parts of its own Menftruttm, which is that, with which you iepa-
ratedthe Elements of the fame Sulphur of Gold, and put- it to
digeft in Balneo for one Natural Day, then diftil in Alhes what
you can : And again pour the faid Menffuum upon it,

diftil by Ailies, end repeat, till it be all pafs'd over by a Fire of
A flies. Then take its weight of the faid Vegetable Earth, united
andfullimed together prepared above} and you muft unite them
together (with the difti/led Element of Fire} and not diftil, butfo
lay it afide, and it is called theTerreftrial^/dr/ Limes , (of Gold}
not vaporized.

Take pfthe faid Earth (in one kind united} one Drachm, and
of the Oylof the Air (of the Sulphur') of Luna one Drachm, -mix
them together, and you will make the fame Magiftery, as you
did with the precedent Gold, and it is called the Terreflrial de-
fert Liwes lunifcated (not} 'vaporized.

We do now think good to fhew the way of celificating and
preparing thofe (Limes) in order to receive the Virtues of
Heaven and Earth, and the way is tills : Take Brafs or Iron
Cages, and let them be like thofe wherein Parrots whittle, but
the twiggs mufl be clofer, fo that no Earth, neither Celeftial nor
Terreftnal can enter, but only the vapour of Heaven and Earth,
which you will have by Influence.

Take the Lime s (above mentioned, 'Terreflrial defer i) made of
ten Drachms of the Earth or Sulphur united, which is that
which you united with the Earth of the Sulphur of Silver, and
reduced into an Oyl or Oyntment ; and of one Drachm of the
Mr (of the Sulphur) of Luna, and one Drachm of the Air (of
0/)mix'd,and that Liwes put in aGlafs Veflel with a long Neck
exactly Sealed with the Seal of Hermes, and put it in the Cage,
and fet it one Arm or two deep, and let it (land a Year and half^
or atleaft a Year, covering it well with Earth, and keeping it
from all dangers, and in that time will it be made a powerful
Water, with wonderful fixative Virtues of the Stone, and it hath
Admirable Virtues acquired from Heaven, which it attracted from
the Vapours of the Earth. Son! depend upon. this.

Take the Limes (above declared, Etherial defert^) which you
made of ten Drachms of the Fire of the Sulphur of Gold, and
of one Drachm of the Air of the Sulphur of Luna (and one
Drachm of the Air of the Sulphur of Sol) and put it in another
Glafs Veflel with a long Neck Hermetically Sealed, and put it in
another Cage, and hang it in the Air on a Tree, or any private
place, free trom all Wind, Dull, and Danger ; leave it a Year
and half, or a whole Year at leaft, as we laid of the other, and

( 1*9 )

fo will be made a clear Water endowed with the Virtue of
hardning, fixing, congealing, penetrating, and making the
Stone Volatile, and is called the Mercury of Air of moft
acute penetration.

Take the (Terreflrial defer f} Limes of Gold not vaporized,
nor celificated (neither diftilled through an Alemlick, nor circula-
ted} which is that, that you made (ly meerly mixing) of one
Drachm of the Element of the Fire of the Sulphur of Sol, and
of one Drachm of the r arth (united in its Kind^) and that (take
alfo the 'Terreflrial dejert Limes Ittnificated, not vaporized^ which
you made out of one Drachm of the Earth of Sulphur unite '^,and
one Drachm of the Air (of the Sulphur} of Luna, and put thole
Limes every one by it felf in a Glais Vcflel Sealed, as was faid
of the other, and put it in tho Earth the depth of one Arm for
a whole Year in a Cage, and in that time will be made a Water
of wonderful Virtue in joyning Bodies, and content your felf
with this.

Take the Limes which you made out often Drachms of the
Fire or Air, and one of the Earth; and take that which re-
mains of the Air (of the Sulphur} of Luna^ becaufe you took but
three Drachms of it, when you made theLzwes, and let it hang
in the Air in a Glafs Veflel Sealed, and in a Cage, as you did
with the other, and there will it receive the Celeflial Virtues,
which are the means of Conjunction between the Limes of the
Earth, and the Limes of the Fire t znd other Limes alfo.

Take the fecond Air (the Menftruum Elemented^ in which wers
diffohed the Air and Fire of the Sulphur ofGold^ and gently drawn
of\ that is y three parts only from fae of it} which is that, which
you drew from the Fire congeled, which we calTd Philofbphi-
cal Oylj andPhilofophical Treafure (not that, which is alfo called
the Fhiiofophers Oyntment^ made of the Earth united in one Kind 9
lut that which was calfd the Vapour of the Elements} and put it
by it felf in another Glafs Veflel well Sealed, and put it in the
Air near the other, which you put for a whole Year.

Take the Menftruum with which you feparated the Elements
of the Sulphur of Luna (and that 'Menilruum, wherewith you fe-
parated the Elements of the Sulphur of Sol) and put in every Vef-
fei, wherein is Menftrwm of Luna (and the Menftruum of Sol)
one Drachm of Sulphur (or fegetalle Sal Harmoniack) and fee

A a it

if in Balneo,then in Aflies, till you have made it all go over with
every Menflruumhy itfelf: Then each Menflruum being thusrefti-
fy'd or animated, put in a Glafs Veffel Sealed by themfelves in
their Cages,and hang them in the Air near the other, for a Year.
Take the Oleagineity of Luna (thefirfl, orfrfl Air^) which_is
that, which you drew from the Earth of Luna, when you pre-
pared it for the making of the Sulphur of Luna, which we
commanded you to keep, and faid it fhould be for the making
(of the Sulphur of Nature) put it in a Glafs Veilel Sealed in the
Air, and there it will be made a Fluxible and Virtuous Water of
wonderful penetration : And what we faid of tfie white Oyl,
we fay alfo of the red incerative Oyl (of Sol.') And now Son !
you have th*e Stone (MenftruuwT) divided into eight parts, three
in the Earth, and five in the Air.

Annotations.

THe Ten foregoing Kinds of Vegetable at well Simple as com-
pounded Menftruums, the Adepts made ly tempering the
ttnftuous Spirit 0/Philofophical Wine,tw//; many forts of dry Bodies,
and lyfuch means produced Menftruums adapted equally for every
ufe, and permanent and inft 'par "alle , they leing of the fame Nature
with the things that were dijjolved. In the Kind immediately ante-
cedent we fhemdyou, that all the ^r^/^/Menftruums, whether
jimple or compound \ exalted withfo great Labour to the highefl
degree ly tempering them with dry things, may le raifedyet higher ',
and augmented in their Virtues : For what Art cannot do, Nature
can ; what the Earth cannot do. Heaven can : For Menftruums
perfected ly Art, do, ly leing expofed to the Influences of tke Hea-
vens, attain to very great and incredible Virtues ly Nature : In the
eleventh precedent Kind, we had Menilruums/0r Pretious Stones,
made of the Jimple Elements of Metals : In this twelfth, he takes the
Sulphur of Nature,SalHarmoniack,or Mercury of the perfect Me-
tals Sol and Luna, inflead of crude Gold and Silver, and ly expo-
fngthe Elements of them to the Heaven and Earth, feparates them
much more Nolly for the left of all Alchymical Tinftures.

From the Receipts weobferve :

i . That Limes in their Compositions are indeed clear, lut Cloud-
ed with a wearifowe multilocution, and difguifed ly fo great a va-
riety

( I7O

riety of operations, le fides alfo in refpeft of time made woft tedious
on pttrpofe to deter young, and unadvifed Practitioners.

^. That thefe Limes differ from the former Etherial and Ter-
reftrial Waters in finenefs of preparation ; thefe Elements are of the
SalHarmoniack or Philofbphical Mercury of Sol and Luna , lut
thofe Elements of a crude Metal, ^Qr,faid Luliy, Limes for Al-
chymical Tinftures ought to be of a purer Nature, than thofe
which are for Pretious Stones.

3 . That thefe Limes are F. fences graduated, expofed to the In-
fluences of the Hea-ven and Earthy and confequently are Medicines.

4. That the Sulphurs Naturx of imperfect Metals do alfo ly the
fame method yield Limes, asjtrong in their kind, as the Sulphurs
Naturae of Gold and Silver in their kind.

Hitherto have we treated of Vegetable Menftruums, now follow
thofe which are called Mineral : But lefore we proceed further, we
are to take notice that by Vegetable Menftruums are meant alfo Ani-
mal Menftruums : For all the Vegetable Menftruums already al-
.leadged, are not called Vegetable in refpett cf Ingredients ; for le-
fides Vegetables, Animals alfo, and Minerals were made ufe of in
their preparations ; but by re af on of the Spirit of Philofophical
Wine produced chiefly from a Vegetable unftuofity ; which Spirit, if
you knew how to extract out cffome Oyly Matter of the animal King-
dom , as the Adepts have more than often done : To* might with this
Animal Spirit tranfmute the aforefaid Vegetable Menftruums, in-
to Animal Menflruums, which neuerthelefs you cannot apply to
Mineral Menftruums ; for though there are alfo in this Kingdom
thin Oyls, fwimmivg upon watrifh Liquor s, as Oyl 0/Petre, Pit-
Coals, &c Tet tkefe are extraordinary Oyls of this Kingdom, pro-
duced either by exorbitancy, or defett of Nature. And therefore
ft4ch Oyls as thefe the Adepts referred to both the Vegetable and
Animal Kingdoms, for they are of one and the fame Nature ; where-
as the Oyls of Minerals and Metals are more dry and mafcttline, then
to produce our feminine Seed or Menftruum : Now to recite the parts
of Animals, and the way of ext raft ing this Spirit <?/ Philofophical
W'mefrom them, is not proper to this place, but belongs to a peculiar
Book, namely , our fifth (treating wore copioufly of theje things'} to le
ptnllifhed in due time, when God permits ; wherefore rM mention-
ing Animal Menftruums, we proceed to the Mineral, or Acid
Menftruums. A a 2, Ot'

O F

Mineral MENSTRUUM^
The Thirteenth KIND.

Simple Mineral Menftruums made of the
Matter of Philofophical Wine only.

. The Green Lyon of Rifley.
Libra Ac curt. Pag. 383.

lAke the Green Lyon without diflblution in Vinegar
(as fometime the Cuftom ) put it in a large Earthen Re--
tort, which can endure the Fire, anddiltil it the fame
.way as you diftil Aquafortis, putting a Receiver under it, and
luting the Joynts well, that it may not refpire ; then diftil flrft
with a gentle Fire, till you fee white fumes appear, then change
the Receiver, flopping it well, and diftil with a great Fire fo, as
Aquafortis is diftilled, thus continuing twenty four Hours, and if
you continue the Fire the fpace of eight Days, you will fee the
Receiver always full of white fumes, and fo you will have the
Blood of the Green Lyon, which we call Secret Water, -and Ace-
turn acerrimum, by which all Bodies are reduced to their firil
Matter, and the Body of Man preferved from all infirmities.
This is our Fire, burning continually in one Form within the
Glafs Veflel, and not without : Our Dunghill, our Aqua Vitv,
our Balnea, our Vmde ma, our Horfe-Belty, which effects wonder-
ful things in the Works of Nature, and is the Examen of all Bo-
dies diflolved, and not diflblved ; and is a (harp Water, carrying
Fire in its Belly, as a Fiery Water, for othei wife it would not

have

C '73 )

have the power of diflblving Bodies into their firft Matter. Be-
hold ! this is our Mercury, our Sol and Luna, which we life in
our Work. Then will you find in the bottom of the Veflel Fas-
ces black as Coals, which you muft for the fpace of eight Days
calcine with a gentle Fire, (&c.

Annotations.

Hitherto we have wixd or tempered tke unctuous Spirit of
Philofophical Wine with things Oyly, Dry-oyly, Oyly-
dry, and purely Dry, and reduced them to divers Kinds of Vege-
table Menflruums ; in which we have exhibited Menftmums every
way abfolhte and per fe ft, in Swell, Tafte, and Colour incomparable,
dijfolving without biffing or effervefcence, and permanent with thing
dijfolved : Now follow in order, tbofe which are called MmeralMen-
flruums, which though they be of a ft inking Smell, of an acid or cor-
r ofae Taftc, and fr the moft partofa mil^y and opake Colour, , and
diffclv? Bodies with very great violence and corroj'wn, yet neverthe-
lefs having the fame Spirit of Philofophical Wine, as'the Vegetable
Menftruums/0r their Foundation, are therefore as permanent as they,
yea letter than they <u to* the abbreviation of time ; for the acidity
of Mineral Salts (for which corrofive or acid Menftruums are cal-
led Minera^) Icannot deflroy the Nature of the Spirit of Wine, ncr the
Nature of the Vegetable Mendruum, but by corroding makes the
particles of dry Bodies wore apt to unite thewfelves with, the Oyly
Spirit of Philofophical Wine ; but if that acidity be taken away, it
becomes that which it was before, namely, either the Spirit of Philo-
fophical Wine, or a Vegetable Menftruum.

The method which we ufed in the Vegetable Menftruums, we will
as near as we can obferve alfo in thefe Mineral Meifftruums .- 'L, - he
Vegetable we extratted from the Philoiophical Wine an Ac;ua ar-
dens, from which we did by Circulation Jeparate an Oyl ir'EjJwct of
Wine, which is our Spirit of Wine, which then by ucu*tit.g
ways we reduced into the precedent Kinds of Vegetable *< I e nl -, i
but h the Mineral we will begin with Philoiophicf ! Grap-
Matter it felf ^fPhilofophical Wine, which eljcwhere citiedtii
Lyon, Adrop, &c. Though the Difccurje of 'this Mutter a^c\ . -
not to this place, yet if any thing prefents it f elf to us eithe, .

Ret

Receipts themfehes, or elfewhere, which way tend to a more clear
manifeftation of it, we will not conceal it ; lut on the contrary have de-
fer mined to itluftrate and explain things Jo , as not only to make you
more affured of the ufe and neceffity of this Spirit promifed to you,
but moreover alfo, thatyou may have Jome certain notions beforehand
of its Conception, Sulflance, Nativity, &c.

For the elucidation of this Receipt, we will propound fome other
Receipts of the fame Matter, that being compared together, they may
le made the plainer : In thefirft place we willpropofe a Menftruum
wade indeed not of the Green Lyon itjelf, lut of the Green Lyon
diffolved with an acid, and reduced into a certain Gum.

60. A Menftruum made of the Gum

AJrop of Rip ley.
Libro accurtationum, Pag. 381.

TAke Adropj that is, the Green Lyon, which we fpoke of
before, and diflblve it in diftiiled Vinegar for the fpace
of (even Days, fhaking well the Veflel which the Matter is in,
three times dayly, then empty the diflblved Liquor, and diftil
"through a Filtre three times from its Faeces, till it be clear as
Criftal, and evaporate the Vinegar with a gentle Fire, till it be
thick as Bird-Lime, which you cannot flir by reafon of its Vif-
cofity, and being cold, take it out of the Veflel, and keep it ;
and again make more of it, and this do, till you have twelve
Pounds of this Green Lyon or Adrop reduced to the Form of a
Gum, then have jou the Earth extracted from the Earth, and
the Brother of the Earth. Then take a Pound of that Gum,
and put it in a Glafs Veflel of the bignefs of a Bottle, well lu-
ting the Joynts of the Alembick with Glew made of the white
of Eggs and Filings well mix'd together.

This Receipt in the Treatife of the Philofophical Adrop (which
isinthefixth Volume of Theatrum Chymicurn, and injcriled to
fin anonimous Difciple of the great Guido demonte, lut differs not
from the BooksofR\ip\Gy,mmdyjhefrefeMt de Accurtdtiombus.W
the Clavisaurexportx, the great eft part of which is afcriled to the
Famous Dunftan, Archlt/JbopofCznttitbttry^is altogether the fame
as to the Senfe, though thefe Words run letter in the Travfljtion

thus :

( 175 )

thus : Now take three Pounds of the aforefaid Gum, put it into

a Diftillatory able to hold about two Meafures,-and putting on

an Alembick, lute the Joynts with luting made of Ale, the

white of an Egg, and Wheat-Flower, Pag. 5 51. Volum. 6. Theat.

Chym. Which is confirmed with the Procefs or Receipt of the Cla-

vis aurex portx, were thus : Put three Pounds of this Milk (thrct-

ned or Gumnd^mtQ a Glafs Pag. 157. Clavis aureos ported : and di-

ftil in a Sand Furnace, and let the. Sand be the thicknefs of two

Fingers under the Veflel, and fo roundabout even to the middle

of the Veffel, or till the Matter be covered : put a Receiver to

it, making at firfl a gentle Fire, but not luting the Receiver, till

the Phlegm be gone over, and this continue, till you fee fumes

appear in the Receiver white as Milk ; then increafing the Fire

change the Receiver, (topping it well, that it may not evaporate,,

and lo continually angmentthe Fire, and you will have an Oyl

moil: red as Blood, which is airy Gold, the Menftrmm fattens,

the Philofophers Sol, our Tinfture Aqua ardens, the Blood of the

Green Lyon, our unclrious Humor, which is the lafl confolation of

Man's Body in this Life, the Philofophers Mercury, A^uafoluti-

<va, which diflblves Gold with the prefervation of its Species,and

it hath a great many other Names : And when firil the white

fumes appear, continue your Fire twelve Hours, in which fpace

if the Fire be ftrong, will all the Oyl be diftilled, which keep

well flopp'd to prevent refpiring.

This Menftruum differs from the precedent ; forafrnuch as in this,
the Green Lyon is dijfohed in Vinegar Jut in that, it is all diflilled
alive, lut they are loth clearly enough defer iled in thewfcfaes ; yet.
the Matter of the Menftruum remaining more olfcure-, and lefs in-.
te/ligille to the Reader, we have found out four Reafons in Ripley x
why it is called Green Lyon.

EMyfaftk he, by Green Lyon, the Philofophers means the Sun,
which by its attradtive Virtue makes things Green, and go-
verns the whole World. Tratt. de. Adrcp. Phil. Pag. 547. Vo-
lum.fexti Theat. Chym. and elfe where : The Green Lyon is that,
by which all things became Green, and grow out of the Bowels
of the Earth by its attractive Virtue, elevated out of the Winter
Caverns, whofe Son is moft acceptable to us, and fufficient for
all the Elixirs, which are to be made of it ; for from it may be
had the power of the white and red Sulphur not burning, which

( '7* )

is the beft thing, &ith--^wcejw that Alchymifts can take, there-
by to make Gold and Silver. But thefe Words may fuffice a
Wife Man to know and obtain the Green Lyon. Medulla Phil.

39-

Secondly, It is moreover alfo called Green, becaufe that Mat-
ter is as yet iharp and unripe, that is, not yet fixed or perfected
by Nature, as common Gold. The Philofophers Gr^en Lyon
therefore is green Gold, Goldvive, which is not as yet fixed,
but left imperfect by Nature, and for this reafon hath it the
Virtue of reducing all Bodies into their firft Matter, and ma-
king thofe Bodies which are fixed Spiritual and Volatile. Traft.
de Adrop. Pttg- 547.

Thirdly, It mayjilfo be called Lyon, becaufe as all other Ani-
mals give place to a Lyovfo all Bodies yield to the power otGold
vive, which is our Mercury. Tratt. Adrop. Pag. 548.

Fourthly, This Noble Infant is. called Green Lyon, becaufe
when it is diflblved, it is cloathed with a Green Garment. Yet
out of the Green Lyon of Fools (Vitriol} is with a violent Fire ex-
tracted that which we call Aquafortis, in which thefaid Lyon
ought to be elixirated. Medulla Philof. Pag. 139.

Thefe things fpoken of the Green Lyon, are alfo to le under flood
of Adrop, being a Synonymous term of the fame Matter : Take,
faith Ripley, Adrop, that is, the Green Lyon. Now as to Adrop
he 'declared as fo/loweth : Adrop, faith he, is Gold and Silver in
power but not in fight, as Rhafis faith, and cur Gold and Silver,
according to the Philofophers, is not common Gold and Silver,
for our Gold and Silver are airy, which in order to be well fer-
mented, ought to be joyned with the beloved (common Gold?)
Forafmuch as the Philofopher faith, That Adrop in its profun-
dity is airy Gold, and. Adrop it felf is called Leprous Gold. And
to thefe Sayings feems to aflenf Guido, the Greek Philofopher,
fpeaking of the Mercurial or Me nilrual Spirit (the Spirit or Blood
of the Green Lyon) which is e: , acled out of the Natural Adrop
by Art, where he wn*c* : And that Spirit is Sol extracted out
of the Philofophers S>lary Hater, Arfenick, and Luna : And in
the fame place prefently adds ; The Body is the ferment of the
Spirit, and the Spirit the ferment of the Body, and the Earth,
wherein lies the Fire, dries, imbibes, and fixeth the Water , and
the Air, wherein lies the Water, (the Air which lies in tlx\\ \iter,

( 177 )

it ought to le read according to the Doftrine offefarating the Ele-
ments} wafheth, tingeth,and perfedteth the Earth and Fire,; and
fo Gmdds Saying, that they tinge and perfect, ought to be un-
derftood, that the Stone (the Menftruum drawn/row Adrop, ?
the Green Lyon) is fufficient for the compleating of it felf into
an Elixir , and that no Exotick or Heterogeneous Matter, as he
affirms, is or ought to be introduced to it, but all the, parts of it
are co-eflential and concrete, becaufe the Philosophers meaning
was to compleat that work in a Ihort fpace above the Earth,
which Nature Icarce perfecteth in a thoufand Years under die
Earth : Unskilfully therefore according to the Opinion of the
Philofophers, as Guido faith, do they proceed, that feek to obtain
a ferment from common Silver and Gold for our felect Body :
For that Matter, in which is Argent -vive clean and pure, not
(mofty is ill.read} throughly brought to perfection by Nature, is x
as Quido affirms, after compleat purification, a thoufand times
better than the Bodies of Sol and Luna vulgarly decocted by the
Natural heat of the Sun. Concord. Lully & Guidon. Tag. 3x3.
.A certain Philosopher faith, He goes on Difcourfmg of the fame A-
drpp , A fume (white} is drawn from its own Mines, which if
rightly gathered, and again fprinkled upon its own Mines, will
there make a fixation, and lo the true Elixir will in a fhort
fpace of time.be produced from it : And certainly without thofe
Liquors or Spirits, that is, the Water andOyl of Mercury (Men-
flruurn\ this AlchymicalBody which is Neutral or Adrop, is not
purged : And that is the AlchymicalBody, which is called Le-
prous Body, that is, black (at the beginning of the Work} in which,
as faith Vincent ius in his Speculum Nat ur ale, are Gold and Silver
in power, and not in. afpefc j which in the Bowels of it is alfo
airy Gold, to which no Man can attain, except the unclean Bo-
dy be firrt cleanfed, which is without doubt after its compleat
dealbation, and then it is a thoufand times better than are the
Bodies of common Gold and Silver decocted by Natural heat :
Thefirft Matter of this Leprous Body is a vifcous Water infpifla-
ted.inthe Bowels of the Earth .- Of this Body, according to the
Judgment of Vincent i us, is made the great Elixir for the red
and white, the Name whereof is Adrop, otherwife called . tlje-
Philofophers black Lead, out which Raymund commands us to
extract an Oyl of a Golden Colour, orfuch likei.fc/ywtfW adds,

B b But

C 178 )

But this Oyl is not neceflary in tfce Vegetable Work (namely,
for thrinceration of the Vegetable Stone) becaufe folutions and co-
agulations are there foon made ; and if you can feparateit from
its Phlegm, and after that ingenioufly find out the Secrets of it,
you will in thirty Days be able to perfect the Philofophers Stone :
For this Oyl makes Medecines (Tin fines) penetrable, fociable,
and amicable to all Bodies, and in the World there is not a great-
er Secret. Medul.Phil. Chym.pag. 131.

Jlipley hath here recited various Sjnonimas of this Adrop: We
for a time will follow the Green Lyon ly the way <?f Philofophical
Lead, as we are diretted lyftvpley hthcfe'ucry Words: Firft:, un-
derftand, when Avecenn faith, that Gold and Silver are in Lead
by Power, and not by fight, and they are left by Nature crude
and half cocled, and therefore that ought to be perfectly fupplyed
by Art, which is left imperfect by Nature, and by way of a fer-
ment digefting and coding that which is left crude : For a fer-
ment therefore take perfect Gold,for a \ftt\e {paululHw^ot paula-
tirn) of their fixed fubftance (thofe fixed Bodies'] will draw and
convert much of Bodies not fixed to the perfection of Gold and
Silver. And thus will Art help Nature, that in a little fpace of
time that maybe done above the Earth, which is not in a thou-
fand V"ears done under the Earth : And by this means you will
under ft and, how Lead contains in it the greateft Secrets of this
Art : For it hath in it Argent vive, clean, pure, odoriferous, not
brought by Nature to perfection : And this Argent vivc is the
Bafis and Ground- Work of our pretious Medicine, as well for
Metallick as Humane Bodies, fo as to be the Elixir of Life, cu-
ring all infirmities : Which the Philofopher meant, laying, There
is in Mercury whatfoever Wife Men feek : From this are the
Soul, Body, Spirit, and Tincture drawn : Moreover alfo in this
Mercury is the Philofophers Fire, always burning equally with-
in the Veflel, and not without : It hath alfo a great attractive
Virtue and Power in diflblving Sol and Luna y and reducing the
fame into their firft Matter : With this Mercury are to be dif-
folved the Calxes of the perfect Bodies in congealing the afore-
faid Mercurial Spirit, &c. Pupillafag. 195-. but have a care that
you operate not with (common) Saturn, becaufe commonly it is
faid, Eat not of the Son, whofe Mother is corrupted, andbelieve^
that many Men err 'in Saturn. Hear what Avicenn faith*

Satura

( 179 )

Saturn will be always Saturn-, yea operate not with the Earth
oftfbjWefb?) Saturn, which the Spirit of it has defpifed, and
i eliriquiihed for the worft Sulphur : Operate only with the fume
of jt to congeal Mercury, yet not as Fools, but as the Philofo-
phers do, and you will have a very good Work. Phil. Cap. -L.
Pag. 1 8 8. The whole compofition we call our Lead ; the qua-
lity of the fplendor proceeds from Sol and Luna, and in fhort,
thefe are our Menftruums wherewith we calcine perfect Bodies
naturally, but no unclean Body is an Ingredient, one excepted,
which is by the Philofophers commonly called Green Lyon,
which is the means of joyning the Tinctures between Sol and
Luna with perfection, as Geler himfelfattefteth, Lilro. ^.por-
ter. Pag. ix. To manifeft this thing to you, you mud know,
that it is one of thofe, which are of thefeven Days {Planets} and
the meanefl of the fame, out of whofe Body is artificially ex-
tracted Blood, and a vaporous Humor, which is called the Blood
of the Green Lyon, from which is produced a Water, called
White of an Egg, and Aqua Vita, May-Dew, and by many other
Names, which to avoid prolixity, we now omit. Phil. Cap. 3.
Pag. 190.

The method of extracting the Blood of the Green Lyon out <?f cal-
cined Lead, or Philofophical Minium is this thatjolloiveth.

... 4

6 1 . A Menflruum made of the red Lead of

Ripley.
In pupilla Alcbym. pag. 303.

TAke of Lead calcined or rubifyed, or the bed Minium , that
is, Mineral Antimony, prepared, what quantity youpleafe,
yet with this confideration, that you muft have fo many quarts
of diftill'd Vinegar, as you have pounds of the aforefaid calcined
Lead : To this Vinegar pour the aforefaid Lead in a large Earth-
en Vedei well glazed, then for the (pace of three Days fUr the
Matter ftrongly with a Wooden Spatula fix or feven times a
Day, cover it well fromDuft, and let it not be put to the Fire by
any means during all this time, after which feparate all that is
clear and criftalline by a Filtre into another Veflel, then put it
into a Brafs Skillet to a gentle Fire, that all the Phlegmatick

B b 2. Water

C 180 )

Water may evaporate, till a very thick Oyl is left in the bottom
of the Veffel, which fuffer to cool ,' which being done, the
Matter will become like Gum, fo as to be cut with a Knife,
hereof put four Pounds into a Glafs Cucurbit with an Alembick,
the Joynt being well luted with a Pafte made of the Scales of
Iron, Flower, and the whites of Eggs well beaten together : put
the Veflel in a Furnace of Sand, and not in Alhes, and let the
Veilel be buried in the Sand even to the middle of it, and let
the Sand be two Fingers thick under the bottom of the VefTel ;
then put a Receiver to it, but not luted, till you have drawn out
allthePhlegmatick Water with a moft gentle Fire, which Wa-
ter throw away : When you fee a white fume appear, then lute
the Receiver, which muflbe two foot long ; which being drawn
out, ftrengthen the Fire as much as you can, and continue it till
you have diftilled all that can be extracted in twelve Hours,
'$nd fo will you have the Blood of the Red Lyon, moft red as
Blood, which is our Mercury, and our Tincture now prepared,
to be poured upon its ferment, that is, upon the Calxes oi moft
pure Gold, &c. But if you would ufe it for the white Work, you
sn.uft diftil your Mercury three times with a flow Fire, always
yefervingthe Fasces apart in every diftillation, and then will you
have your Mercury moft white as Milk : And this is our Vir-
gins Milk) whitened fr&nftruum, and our Argent uiue Philofophi-
cally exuberated ; with which by Circulation make an Oyl out
of the Cakes of Luna^ and proceed in all things, as you did with
the red Mercury upon the Calxes of Gold, and you will have a
white Elixir^ which will convert any Metal into perfet Luna :
But the Golden Oyl ought to be perfected and tempered, and
well united with artifical Balfom, by the way of Circulation,
till out of them i$ made a moft clear and refplendent Golden
Liquor, which is the true Aurum potalile^ and Elixir of Life
more pretious for Mens Bodies, then any other Medicine of the
World.

7/^7/^rM^nflruumRipley kath in his Medulla Philofophise
Chyrmca^

6%, The

62. The Simple ftinking Menftnaim of Rifley.
Medulla Phil. Chym. pag. 170.

TAke the iharpeft Juice of Grapes, and being diftljled,
diflblve into a clear Grifhlllne Water, the body hieing
well Calcined to a Rednefs, which is by the Thitofipbers called
Sericon; of which make a Gum, which is like Allum mtafte,
and is by Raymund called Azoque'an Vitriol. Out of this Gum
with a flow Fire is drawn firft a weak Water, which hath its

tafte no iharpnefs, no more than Spring-water : And when a
'white Fame begins to appear, then change the Receiver,, and
Lute ftrongly, that it may no way expire; and fo you will have
your Aqua ar dens, Aqua vir<z, ar *d a refolvitive Mevftruum ,
which before was refolvible : This is the Potential Vapour, a-
ble to diflblve, putrifie, and alfo purifie 'Bodies, divide the Ele-
ments,, and by its attractive Virtue exalt its own Earth into a
wonderful Salt: And they that think there is any other Water,
befides this which we fpeak of, are miftaken in this Work : this
Water hath a moft fharp tafte, and partly alfo a ftinking Imell,
and therefore is called ftinking -Menftruum ; and it being a very
Airy Water, it therefore ought to be put upon its Calxes in
lefs then an Hour after it is diftilled or rectified ; but when it
is poured upon the aforefaid Calxes, it begins to boyl up, and
then if the VetTel be well ftopp'd it will not leave working ,
though no Fire be adminiftred to it from without, till it be
dryed up in the Calx ; wherefore you muft apply no greater
quantity of it than fcarce to cover the Calxes, then proceed to
the full compleating of it, as in the work of the compounded
Water. And when the Elixir is reduced to a purple Colour,
let it be diilblved in the fame MeMftmuw, being firfl rectified in-
to a thin CM, upon which fix the Spirit of our Water by Cir-
culation, and then hath it the Power of converting all Bodies
into mod pure Gold, and to heal all Infirmities of man's Body,
more than all the Potions of Hippocrates and Galen, for this is.
the true Aurum Pctalile^ and no other r which is made of Artificial
Gold Elemented, turned about by the Wheel of Philofophy, &c..
The fame Menftruum is kdd in the Vade Mecum 0/Ripley.

63. The

3. The Menftruum of Sericon of Rifley.
In /W<? Mecum, commonly called the Bofom-Book.

TAke of Sericon or Antimony thirty Pounds, out of which
you will have twenty Pounds or thereabout of Gum, if
the Vinegar be good; diflblve each pound of that Sericonm
"two meafures (a Gallon) of Vinegar twice diftilled, and having
ftood a little while in digeftion, ftir the matter often every day,
the oftner the better, with a clean ilick, filtre the Liquor three
times, throw away the Fasces, to be taken avray as* fuperfluous,
being no Ingredient to the Magiftery, for it is. the damned Earth :
Then evaporate the filtred Liquors in Balveo Marta with a
temperate heat, and our Sericon will be coagulated into a Green
Gum, call'd our Gre en Lyon y dry that Gum well, yet with care,
left you burn the Howers, or deftroy the Greens of it: Then
take the faid Gum, put it in a ftrong Glais Retort well luted,
and with a moderate Fire diftil a w r eak Water to becaft away :
But when firft you perceive a white fume afcending, put to it a
Glafs Receiver large, and of fuificient capacity, whole Mouth is
exactly joyned to the Neck of the Retort, which muft be very
well luted, left any of the fume be loft or evaporate out of the
Receiver : Thenincreafe the Fire by degrees, till a red fumeaf-
cends, and continue a ftronger Fire, tijl bloody drops come, or
no more fume appears : Then abate the Fire by degrees, and
all being cold, take away the Receiver, and forthwith ftop it,
that the Spirits may not exhale, becaufe this Liquor is called
our blefled Liquor, to be kept in a Glafs VeiTel very clofe flop-
ped : Then examine the Neck of the Retort, where you will
find a white and hard Ice, in the form of a congealed Vapour,
or Mercury fublimate, which gather carefully, and keep, be-
caufe it contains great Secrets, of which lower: Then take the
Faeces out of the Retort, being black as Soot, which are called
our Dragon, whereof calcine one Pound^ or more, if you pleafe,
in a Potters, Glafs- makers, or Philofophical Furnace,-, into a
white Snowy Calx, wjiich keep pure by it felf, it being called
the Bafis and Foundation of the Work, Mars, our white fixed
Earth, or Philofophers Iron : Now take the refidue of the

Pieces,

< 1*3)

Fsces, or black Dragon, and fift it on a Marble, or any other
Stone, and at one of the ends light it with a live Coal, and in
the fpace of half an Hour the Fire will run over all the Face's,
which it will calcine into a very Glorious citrine Colour ; thefe
citrine Faeces diflblve with diftilled Vinegar, after the aforefaid
manner, nitre alfo three times as before, then evaporate the dif-
foJution into a Gum, and diftil the Mv//?>w/*, which is now cal-
led Sanguis Draconis, or Dratons Blood, and repeat this Work in
all things as before, till you nave reduced all, or the greater part
of the Fxces into our Natural or BlefTed Liquor, all which Li-
quors pour to the firft Liquor or Menftruuw, called the Blood of
the Green Lyon ; the Liquor being thus mix'd, putrefie it in a
Glafs Veflel the fpace of fourteen Days: Then proceed to the
feparation of the Elements, becaufe in this Blefled Liquor you
have now all the Fire of the Stone, hidden before in the Faeces ;
which Secret has been hitherto kept wonderfully clofe by the
Philofophers : Now take all the Menjlruum being putrifyed, put
it in a Venice Glafs of a fit fize, put an Alembick to it, and lute
with Linnen Rags dipp'd in the white of Eggs ; the Receiver
muft be very fpacious, to keep in the refpiring Spirit, and with
a temperate heat feparate the Elements one from another, and
the Element of Air, which is the Oyl {ardent Spirit, containing a
little white Oyl at the top) will firft afcend : The firft Element be*
ing diftilled, reftifie it in another Veffel fit for it, that is, diftil
feven times, till it burns a Linnen Cloath, being dipp'd in it and
kiudled,' then is it called our redify'd Aqua ardens, which keep
very well ftopp'd, for otherwife the moft fubtil Spirit of it wilt
vanifh away : In the rectifications of the Aqua ardens the Air
will afcend in the form of a white Oyl, fwimming upon the
Aqua gardens) and a citrine Oyl will remain, which is diftilled
with a ftronger Fire : Mercury being fublimed, and reduced into
Powder diflblv'd^r deliqumm, upon Iron Plates in a cold place.}
pour a little of the Aqua ardens to the Liquor-being filtred, and
it will extract the Mercury in the form of a Green Oyl fwin>
minga-topj which feparate and diftil by a Retort, and there
will afcend firft a Water, and then a thick Oyl, which is theOy 1
of Mercury : Then diftil the Flood or Water of "the Stone into
another Receiver, die Liquor will be whitifh, which draw off in
Balneo with a moderate heat, till there remains in die-bottom of

the

the Cucurbit a thick Oyly fwbftance, like melted Pitch, keep
this Water by it felf in; a Glafs well ilapp'd. Take notice, whe n
iirl\ the Liquor rifeth white, another Receiver mull be put to,
becaufe that Element is wholly diftiiled : Two or three drops
of that black liquid Oyl being given in the Spirit of Wine, do
Cure any Foyfon: Now. to this black and liquid Matter pour
Q#r : Aqw ardensy mix them well together, and let the mixture
fettle three Hours, then decant, and nitre the Liquor, pour on
new Aqua ardem, and repeat the operation three times, then di-
fUl again jnBalneo with a gentle heat, and this reiterate thrice,
and it will come under the denomination of the re&ify'd Blood
of Ma.n >; .which Operators feareh for in the Secrets of Nature :
Thus have you exalted the two Elements, Water, and Air, to
the Virtue of a QujntefTence ; keep this Blood for occafion :
Now to the black and liquid Matter or Earth, pour the Flood
or .Water of the Stone, mix them well together, and d \ftil tlie
whole, till the Earth remains very dry and black, which is. the
Earth of the Stone ; keep the Oyl with the Water for occafion :
Reduce the black Earth to a Powder, to which pour the afore-
faid Man's Blood, digeft three Hours, then diftil in Aflies with a
Fire fuffieient.ly ftrong, repeat this Work three times, and it will
becall'd the rectify 'd Water of Fire, andfo have you exalted the
three Elements, namely, Water, Air, and Fire, into the Virtue of
a Quintefience : Then calcine the Earth being black and dry, in
the bottom of the Reverberatory, into a moit white Calx, with
which mix the Fiery Water, and diflil with a llrong Fire as be-
fore ; the remaining Earth palcine again, and diftil, and that fe-
ven times, or till the whole fubftance of the Caix be pafs'd through
the Alembick,and then have you the redify'd and truly Spiritu-
al Water of Life, and the four Elements, exalted to the Virtue
of a QuintciTence ^ this Water will di(Tolv.all Bodies, putrefie
and purge them : This is our Mercury, our Lunary, but who-
foever thinks pf any other Water -befides this, is ignorant and
foolifh, never attaining to the defired effects.

This Menftruum is made of the fame Matter as the precedent
Menftruums. for Gr^en Lyon, Adrop, Philofophical Lead, Mi-
neral Antimony, Airy Gold, Mercury,; &c. are Synonimas of
one and the fame Matter : This Matter leing, diffolved in diflilfd
Vinegar ^ and again infp/ffated into a Gum, in tajie like Alum, u ly

Ripley

Ripley in the Description of the antecedent Menftruum in
6^. called Lully's Vitriol of Azoth, or Vitriolum Azoqueum :
Lulty m pratticd Teftamentif,*?. 9-Pag. i5> Vol. 4. Th.Chym.
makes a Menftruum of B. C. D. By B. he meant the f aid Green
Lyon, or common Argent vive, which as he fays elfewhere, is more
common to Men, than vulgar Argent vive, B. faith he, Pag.
15-3. of the faid praftica, fignifies Argent vive, which is a com.
mon fubftance confiding in every corruptible Body, as appears
by the property of it, &c. By C. he intended common Niter. C.
faith he, fignifies Salt Peter, which hath a common (act/) Na-
ture, and like Argent vive by the property of its ftrong (acid'}
Nature, Pag. 1 54. 4. Volum. aforefaid. By D. he mder flood Gum
Adrop, made of the Green Lyon. "D. faith he, fignifies Azoquean
Vitriol, which corrupts and confounds all that is of the Nature
and Being of common Argent vive. In the fame place, Both
C. and D. he calls the purer mediums. Cap. 58. Theor. Teft. pag.
96. You muft know Son ! faith he, our Bath, you may waih
the Nature of (F/;//) Argent vive fo, as Nature could never do,
that is, to make Argent vive a compleat Elixir. But (Phil^) Ar-
gent, vive and Metals being both in Nature, and in your Work,
extreams,and extreams not being able to joyn themfelves, with-
out the Virtue of a middle difpofition, which is between the
foftnefs of Argent vive, and the hardnefs of Metal, becaufe there
is by reafon of that middle difpofition a Natural complyance,
which is the caufe of Conjunction between Body and Spirit, as
it is in every thing generated, or in capacity of being generated:
In Nature are many mediums, whereof two are more pure, and
more vifcous, the Gre en Azoquean Vitriols, with t he flony Na-
ture, which is the Salt and Nature of Stones. By the help my
Son ! of this contemptible Matter is our Stone, which we have
fo much fought for, procreated, (feV.

With the other of thefe mediums, C, the flony Nature, Salt Pe-
ter, Salt of Peter, or Niter, we have no lufinifs at prefent ; lut le-
ing felicitous of D. Gum Adrop, or ^Azoquean Vitriol 0/Lully,
it will le worth while to confult Lully himfelf : Of which the Phi?
lofopher,^^ 5-9. Theor. Teftamenti, thus : Son! faith he, the
Azoquean Lyon y which is called ^Azoquean) Vitriol, is by Nature
made of the peculiar fubflance of common Argent vive, which is
the Natural Root, from whence Metal is procreated in its own

C c Mine.

Mine. By common Argent vive, he meant not the Vulgar but
Philofophical Argent vive^ the natural Hoot as well of Metals as
Minerals, When we fay common Mercury, faith he, we fpeak
of that,which the Philosophers underftand; and when we name
the Vulgar, we fpeak of that which is known to the Country-
men, and fold in Shops. Cap. I . Lib. Mercuriorum, which the
following Synonymas of this Mercury, namely? Chaos, Nature,
Origo, Green Lyon, Argent vive, Unguent, Oyl, Failure
and Liquor of great Value, do alfo teftife in Cap. 45. Jheor. Teft.
pag 75". Vol- 4. Th. Chym.

This common Argent vive, or Green Lyon^ mufl be purged
from its Superfluities, before the Aroquean Vitriol of Lufly,
or the Gum Adrop of Ripley can be made of it. You mufl faith
be, my Son / being a Student of this Science, be ftcdf aft, and
not fearch after this or that, becaufe this Art is not perfected
with many things ; and therfore we tell you, there is but one
only Stone, that is Sulphur, and one only Medicine, namely,
the composition of Sulphur, to which nothing is to be added,
only the Terreflrial and Phlegmatick Superfluities taken away,
becaufe they are and ought to be feparated from our Argent vi-
ve, which is more common to men, than Vulgar Argent vive,
and is of greater Price, Merit, and ftronger Union of Nature,
from which and the firft forms of it, it is necedary to feparate,
by the known degrees of feparation, all that belongs not to
the Sal Armoniack of Metals, fipV. Cap. 18. Theor. Teft. pag.
33. Volum 4. 77?. Chym. We fay there is but one only Philo-
ibphicai Stone ( volatile not yet fxed^ or matter of a Menftru-
um} extracted from the things aforefaid by our Magiflery.
And therefore when it comes newly into the World, you muil
not add any other Powder, or any other Water, no>r any thing
incongruous to it, more than that, which is born in it, being
radical to its own Nature, and the Mother of it, which feeds
and carry ed it, that is Sulphur, which formed the Stone in a
Celeftial Colour: But before you extraft (<///?//) it {the
Stone ) throughly, purge, and cleanfe kfrom all its.Phlegma-
matick, Terreftrial, and corruptible Infirmities, which are
contrary to its Nature, becaufe they are the death of it, with
which it is furrourided, which do mortifie its vivificative Spirit.
Cap. 7. Theor. Teft. pag. 20, of the faid Volum. It is to be di-
ligently

ligcntly noted, that one of the two aforefeid Natural Principles
(^Sulphur and Argent vive ) is more truly Natural in the whole,
and through the whole fubftance of it, as well within as with-
out, and that is the pure Sulphur, hot and dry, introducing
its form, that is, according to which the form of a Metal pur-
fues a pure effect : But the other ( Argent vhe ") is unnatural,
that is inwardly natural, and outwardly againfl Nature , but
the internal natural part is made proper and alfo con-natural to
it felf, becaufe it comes by its own Nature, but the external
part is added to it by accident, and is to be naturally feparated
from it after the corruption ( Putrifattion^) of it,- wherefore it
is manifeft that fuch Argent vive is not in the whole fubflance
of it natural,in the firft reception of it,nor is depurated to the full,
unlefs it bedepurated by the Ingenuity of Art.C. 5. p. 10. Codicilli*

As to this Pur if cat ion of Argent vive, or the Green Lyon, Rip-
ley thus : Wherefore faith he, this Mercury ( the cbrrofive Spi-
rit of common Vitriol ~) is by Raymond called, Our Fire againfl
Nature: Neverthelefs the fame thing happens in forhe mea-
fure to this Mercury ( the acidity of Vitriol ) as alfo to the o-
ther ( Vegetable Mercury, or Green Lyen ) which is our natural
Fire: For both of them are hidden in the middle or center of
their Bodies, that is, between the Phlegmatick Water on one
fide, and Terreftrial Craflitude on the other fide, nor are they
obtained without the great Induftry of Philofbphy, and fo
thole parts can avail us nothing, except only their middle fub-
ftance : For faith Raymond, We take neither of the firft Prin-
ciples, becaufe they are too fimple, nor of the laft, becaufe they
are too grofs and feculent, but only of the middle; wherein
is the Tinfturc, and true Oyl, feparated from unclean Terre-
ftreity,and Phlegmatick Water : Therefore faith Raymond tfms;
The undbious Moi(lure,is the near Matter of our Phyftcal Argent
'v'rve, pag. 2,89. Pupilla Alchym.

Argent vive, or the Green Lyon, is purified ly common Vitriol^
as thus : When the Argent vive is put in a dry Vitriolated
Vapour (Spirit of Vitriol ) which is a marp Water, it is pre-
fently diublved by the Incifion and Penetration, caufed by the
fharpnefs, being manifeftly ftrong,andindiflblving,is converted
into the Nature of Terreftrial Vitriol, not taking a Metalick,
nor a clear Coeleftial Form, as appears after the evaporation of

C c i the

the faid Water, and the congelation of it in the form of Yel-
low Criftals, which Yellownefs proceeds from the fharp Sul-
phurous Terreftreity, which was beyond ineaiure mixed in the
faid Water by Atoms, with an Homogeneous Univerfality and
fimplicity, which fimplicity was taken and bound by the faid
Terreftreity, with the alteration of the Light, Clarity, and
Lucidity into Obfcurity, &c. Cap. Sy.Theor. Tefl. 141. Vol.
4. 77;. Chyw. Son/ the thick Vitriola ted Vapours from which
Vitriol is produced, is very iharp and pontick, and therefore
penetrates the parts of the Sulphur, and Argent uroe being de-
purated, and penetrating, tingeth that purify 'd Matter, con-
gealing it into the Form of that Vitriolated ami yellow Ter-
reflrial Vapour, which is mixed with them. Wherefore w hat
we have faid is manifeil, that is, This is the great Gate, name-
ly, that the Terreftrial Virtues muft not excel the Cceleflial,
but on the contrary, if you will have the thing deftred, -Cap.
85". Theor. Teft. pag. 137. of the fame Volume. You may re;
member that you would put nothing with the Menftrual ( the
Matter of the Menftrunm ) but that which proceeded from it at
the beginning of its mixtion; for if you add an incongruous
thing, it will prefently be corrupted by the incongruous Nature,
nor Will you ever have that which you would have. Gold
and Silver, and Mercury are diflblved in our Menftrual, becaufe
it participates with them in proximity and vicinity of the firfl
Nature, and from hence will you extract a white Fume, which
is our Sulphur, and the Green Lyon, which is your Unguent,
and the ilinking Water, which is our Argent vive : But' -it is
requefite for the Green Lyon to be throughly diflblved in the
Aqua Fastens, or {linking Water, before you can have the
laid Fume, which is our Sulphur, which Sulphur is indeed the
fame way didolved from the Body, congealing the Spirit in the
form of a dry Water, which we call Stone, and the highefh Me-
dium of all our Work, Which is the connexion and aggregation
of both Natures^ that is, of Body and Spirit. Son ! This Wa-
ter is called Aqua igvis, or if you had rather Ignifaqua, that
Undeclinable Word^ becaufe it burns Gold and Silver better than
Elementary Fire can do, and becaufe it contains in it heat of- a
Terreftrial Nature, which diflblves without Violence, which
common Fire cannot do. Wherfore we enjoy n you to make the

Magiftery

1 8*0-

Magiflery of the hotteft things you ca<n get in Nature, arid you
will have a hot Water, which dtflblveth all things, Cap. 59.
T-heor. Tefl. Pag. 98. Of the fame Volume.

Tlxfe SayingsKi$\ey -comprehends infbort^thus : Thefe Words,
faith he, may ferve a Wife Man in order to know and acquire
the Green Lyon : But this Noble Infant is called Green Lyon, be-
caufe being diflblved it is : Cioathd : in -a Green Garment. " Yet
out of the Green Lyontf Fools (l r ifrioT} is extracted by a violent
Fire, that Water which we c&l'Aqt-tafortisQSpirit of Vitriot) in
which the fa id Lyon ought to be Elix-irated. : For all Alchyml-
calGold is 'made' of Corrofives, -fc. Pag. 1^9. Medulla Phil:

This Argent viv'e, Green Lyon,* Philosophers Lead, &c. le'ing
purifyed with "Vitriol, rnvfi Ic farther mature d or calcined into a red

J ~S^/ ** *J

Colour, Minium, Lead .calcined, Sericcn, : ^r. E. (that is, ^itrio-
lated Azotli, Pag. 15. Theor. Teft.*} tlie fourth ^Medium or Prin-
ciple)'^ a fubftance produced from its Mine, andin it, more near
to the Nature of Metals, -which is by Y6me called .-Calcnntis', and

' '>,*

yitrew; '{Mercury Vitriolate'd'^r'A^ciuem Vitriol*} which, is

Azoth yitrew; '{Mercury Vitriolate'd'^r'A^ciuem Vitriol*} which, is
the Earth and Mine of Metals, and is by another Name called
Vrifms, of ihining white and red within Bkckand Green open-
ly, having the Colour of a Venomous" Lizard^, immediately ge-
nerated out of Argent -vive, the Matter aforelaid impregnated
with the faid hot and dry fulphur6us Vapour -'(of commit ^itri-
of) in its refolution congealed into -a Lizard, in which {Azoth
Vitriolatedy\s the form and fpecies of the (linking Spirit in its
mixtion, the Mineral heat' of which is multiplyed, which is the
Life of Metal, and is figriified by E. Cap.-^ "Tkeor. Teftam. Pag.
rii /^/me. 4. 7 heat. Chym. And a lit tie' after ; In the -Work of
NatUre is Argent vn-e, but not fuch as is found upon the Earth,
nor will be, fill it be mil turned into an apoflemated and veno-
mous Blood. "In the 'fame plac e : You mufl know Son'.! that
by AM and Nature Argent viit is congealed by an acute' Water,
uuderftand therefore Phtlofbphioally, becaufeif it were hot '{harp
and acute, it could not penetrate, -which is the firft action in
diflblution, after which diflbltition it is returned into-an apofle-
mated Blood, by the mutation of its own Nature into another.
vSon-i t there arJe two things, -which ought to flick together by the
agreement of con'trarie'ty, one pure, the other impure ; the im-
pUrt recedes, Tii"e being an Erferrjy, by reafotfof its Corruption ;

the

the other remains in Fire, hecaufe of its purity, being tranfmu-
ted into Blood, and this is our Argent vive, and our whole Se-
cret, cloathed with a tripartite Garment, that is, black, white,
and red, and that alone we want for the purpofe of our Magi-
fiery, Argent vive containing all that is neceflary for a Quintef-
fence. There is in Mercury whatfoever Wife -Men feck; for
under the fhadow of it lies a fifth fubftancej for the fubftance
of it is pure and incombuftible ; and all of it is nothing elie but
Gold and Silver (not common Metals, lut airy, being in Mercury,
or the Green Lyon) melted and fufed within and without by
Virtue of the ^ireC again/I Nature) and afterwards purify 'd and
feparated from all its Original Blemiih and Pollution ; for that
Gold which is incombuftible, remains fufed and liquid, and im-
parts its Golden Nature in the fald Mercury, Qfc. Cap. 62. Thecr.
Teft.Pag. 103. Volume^. T*h.Chym.

Out of this Philofophical Minium, calcined Lead, or Sericon
only, the Ade^tsfometimes diflilled their Menftruums ; for Exam-
ple, thefrft of this Kind in Numb. 5*9. Sometimes they dijjofoed this
Minium in dijlilkd Vinegar, which being drawn off] they reduced
it into Gum Adrop, or Luily's Azoquean Vitriol, out of which they
then diftilkd the ftinkingMenfawim, or Menftruum fcetens, in
Numb- 60. Sometimes they diffolved Gum Adrop per deliquium
frft, and then diftit fed it. The thirteenth way of pradifing,
faith Ripley, as it here appears, is very curious, and that is in Sa-
turn, (Philofophicar) rubified inaGkfs VeiTel ftopp'd, to prevent
refpiration, with a ftrong and continual Fire, till it becomes red :
Take therefore that rubified Saturn, and pour a good quantity
of diflilled Vinegar upon it, and {hake it very often every Day
for a Month (_a Week) then feparate the Vinegar by a Filtre,
and take only that which is clear without Fseces, and put it in
Balneo to diilil, and after the feparation of the Vinegar, you
will find at the bottom of the Veflel a white or sky-Coloured
Water, which take, and being put in a Bladder five double, to
keep out the Water, dillplve it in Balneo intoacriftalline Water ;
put that Water in a Diftillatory, and if you will, feparate the
Elements from it, or diftil the diflblved Water, which reclifie in
a Circulatory, and the Earth which remained in the bottojp (in
the dijlillatio*) calcine, till it grows like a Sponge, and then is it
very fit to realTume its Mercury feparated from it, that a new

GenemHrm

Generation may be made, and a Son brought forth, which is
called Ki* of Fire, and which is fo great in the Love of all the
Philofophers, Cap. ij.Philof.Pag. no. Of this Work Ripley wade
mention : Cap. 4. of the fame Book, Pag. 194. Saying , There is
moreover another Work in Gum produced by Vinegar from red
Saturn, out of which is the reparation of the Elements made, af-
ter it is diflblved in Bladders : The Menjbuums of Gum Adrop>
which way foever made, were called (linking Menflruums, be-
caufe of the ftinking fmell : This Water, faith Ripley hath a
moft fharp tafte, and partly alfo a (linking fmelt, and therefore
is called (linking Mcnftruum. Afafatida alfo is fo called frqm the
fmell, which our Mercury hath when it is. newly -extrafted out
of its polluted Body, becaufe that fmell is like Affa f<ztida\ ac-
cording to the Ph Jofopher, who faith ; That (link is worft be-
fore the preparation of this Water, which after the circulating of
it into a Qjintedence, and good preparation, it is pleafant and
very deleftable, and becomes a Medicine againft the Lepro(ie v
and all other Difeafes, without which Gold uive, you can never:
make the tr\\z potable Gold, which is the Elixir ofLifeandMe-
tals, Adrop. Phil. Pag. 548. Volum. 6. Theat.Chym..

Theft Menftruums they, called White Fume, lecaufe of their
white and opake Colour, It is alfo called White Fume, faith Ripley y
nor without caufe, for in dillillation a white fume goeth out
firfl, before the. red Tinfture, which afcending into the Alem-
bick, makes the Glafs white as Milk, from whence it is alfo cal-
led Lac Virginis, or Virgins Milk. In the fame place : Out of
the red FumeorredTivflure, otherwife call' d the Blood of the Green
Lyon, the Adepts did by rectification alone prepare two Mercuries^
namely, red and white : Upon this occafion, faith Ripley -, I will
teach you a general Rule : If you would make the white /v//y
you mufl or.neceflity divide your ,Tinfture (the Blood of the
Green Lyon^ into two parts, whereof one mud be kept for the
red Work, but the.other didill'd with a gentle Fire ; and you
will obtain a white Water, which is our white Tinfture, our
Eagle, our Mercury and Virgins Milk : When you have thefe
two Tindlures, or the white and red Mercury, you will be able
to practife upon their own Earth, or upon the Calx of Metals ;
for the Philofophers fay, we need not care what fubftance the
Earth is of, &c. Adr. Phil. ^.554. ^ol.6.Theat. Chy. Roger Bacon
made a two-fold Mercury thus : 64. Thft

(.!>*)

~ The Green Lyon of Roger Bacon.

A Raymundo Ganfric/o in verbo abbreviate de
Leone Viridi. Pag. 264.. Thefauri Chymici
Bacon'ts.

T He abbreviated moll true and approved. Word of hidden
things being manifefted,! have in a fhortDifcourfe abre-
vdated to you in the Work of Luna and Sol ; in the firft place
earneftly requiring the Readers not to expofe fo Noble a Pearl
to be trodden upon by Dogs or Swine ; for this is the Secret of
all the Philofophers Secrets, the Garden of Delights, Apices, and
all Treafures, into which he that hath once, entred, will want
no more : Now that Word, not without caufe defired by many
Men, was firft declared by our eminent Dobor Roger Bacon ;
afterwards J. Fryer Raymund Jeffery^ Minifter General of the
Order of the Fryers Minors, took caretd explain the Word, with
as much brevity as I could, to the Sons of Philofophy. In the
Name of Chrift then,take a great quantity of the ftrongeft -Vi-
negar diligently diftilied through an Alembick, in which diffblve
a good quantity of the Green Lyon> being dhTolved,diftil through
a Filtre, and keep ifc inGlafs Cucurbits well flopp'd : If any re-
markable part of the Lyon remains undillblved, diilblve it with
the aforefaid Vinegar, and diftil through a Filtre, and being dif-
folved, joyn it with the other Waters before referved in the
Cucurbits, then take the referved Waters fdiilblutions) and diftil
them all in 'Balneo Man^ applying Alembicks tp them well
luted, that the Cucurbits may not refpire, put Fire under, and
receive all the Waters, which will be diftilied, but have a ca*re
that the diflblved Lyon be not altogether congealed in the Cucur-
bits, but that it may remain liquid or foft 5 then take all the Cu-
curbits, and put all that is in them into one Cucurbit, which
lute well with its Alembick, and put it in a Furnace of Afhes,
as is fitting, and put a gentle Fire under, becaufe of the temper
of the Glafs, and becauie of the Heterogeneous moifture, which
is in the Lyon to be rooted out: And take notice, that muft be

always

always done with a gentle Fire, but when the Heterogeneous
moifture is gone over, flrengthen the Fire by little and little, and
have an Eye continually to the Beak of the Alembick, if a red
Liquor begins to go over, but if it does not yet go over, con-
tinue the aforefaid Fire- till it do'thjbut when you fee the red Li-
quor diftil, change the Receiver forthwith, and lute it well to the
Beak of the Alembick, and then flrengthen the Fire, and you
will have the Blood of the Lyon exceeding red, containing the
four Elements, very odoriferous and fragrant [after due putre-
fattion} keep it therefore in a good Phial well flopp'd: Then take
the Blood,and put it inaPhialclofeftopp'dto putrefieand digefl,
in hot Dung, changing the Dung every five Days, there to be
digefted for the fpaceof fifteen or fixteen Days, and this is done,
that the Elementary parts may be diflblved, and be fitter to be
divided into the four Elements, and that by diftillation , being
putrify'd fifteen or fixteen Days, take it out, and put it into a
fit Cucurbit, to be diftilled with a gentle Fire in Balneo Marine;
but it is enough for the Water to boyl with the Fire, take the
Water {diftilled'} and the Faeces, which you find at the bottom
of the Cucurbit, keep carefully the .Water which you diftilled,
diftil feven times, always referving the Faeces which it makes,
with the other Fasces referved before ; and lo you will have a
fplendid Water, clear and white as Criftal, and very ponderous,
which is faid to be the Philofophers Mercury hidden by all the
Philofophers, and cleanied and purified from all its fuperfluities,
moft choice, and mod pretious ; keep it therefore warily and
wifely in a Phial well ftopp'd . Then take all the Fasces of the
Mercury, as I have faid, before referved, grind them well on a
Marble (with the Phlegm of diftitfd Vinegar*} dry them in the
Sun, and grind again, from time to time imbibing them with
the Water of diftill'd Vinegar upon the Marble, and drying in
the Sun, and repeat the operations of grinding, imbibing, and
drying, till all the blacknefs and fuperfluity is driven out of the
Faxes, which you will know thus : If the Faxes be red, or rcd-
diih, or citrine by the aforefaid imbibitions and ablutions, then
it is well done ; but if they be yet black, repeat, the contritions,
imbibitions,and deficcations, till you have the fign aforefaid, and
then keep them : Then take a Glafs Cucurbit, wherein put the
aforefaid Forces above prepared, with a good quantity of diftill'd

D d Vinegar,

Vinegar, and fet it in a Furnace, that is, in Balneo Maria, put
Fire under, and continue it in courfe, till the Faeces aforeiaid
be throughly diilblved by Virtue of the Vinegar and Fire, and
being well difiblved, take the Cucurbit from the Fire, and diftil
them through aFikre as is fitting, all that Water (diffolution of
tke Fasces} being thus diftilled {fitted} put it in anew Cucurbit,
well flopp'd , but if any confiderable part remains in the Filtre
to be diilblved, take that part, and fct it again upon the Fire, as
you did the firft Faeces, in Balneo Maria, till it be diflblved, that
you maydiilblve thofe Faeces which remained with the Vinegar,
as you diilblved the firfl Faeces in Balneo with Vinegar in a Cu-
curbit, then diftil through a Filtre as before, and put it with the
other Water diflill'd betbre,which you referved ,- then take that
new Cucurbit, in which you put the aforefaid Faeces diflblved
and diflilled, before, and lute it well with its Alembick, fet it on
a Furnace in Balneo, give Fire, and cliftil as is fitting ; but have
a care that the Fasces be not throughly dryed, but let them tc
moift or liquid : Then take down the Cucurbit from the Fur-
nace, put it upon Ames fiftedand well prefs'd, and give it a gen-
tie Fire for the tempering of the Glafs, and extracting the He-
terogeneous moifture, which it hath from the Vinegar, and fee
often to the Beak of the Alembick, if a Golden or Ruddy Liquor
diflills, if not, continue the Fire till it does ; being diililled, pre-
fently change the Glafs being very clean, and lute it very well to
the Beak of the Alembick, then ftrengthen the Fire, receive the
Ruddy Oyl, and thus continue the Fire, till all the Liquor be di-
fttLTd, and fave the Faeces becaufe they are the Fire, but the Oyl
aforefaid the Philofophers us'd to call their occult Sulphur ;
which you muft reftifie thus : put it again in a Cucurbit, put
on an Alembick well luted, then fet it on a Furnace in Allies, ad-
minifter a gentle Fire, till it diftils, receive the Liquor which di-
ftills in a Bottle well ftopp'd with the Beak of the Alembick,and
the remaining Faeces fave, becaufe they are the Fire : joyn that
Fire with the other Fire referv'd, and fo putrefie by diitilling it
feven times, andreferving the Faeces, it makes, as I faid before,
and fo you will have your Air or Sulphur well depurated, clear,
bright, and perfectly purified, and of a Gold Colour, &c.

The BUod of tke Green Lyon being Fifteen Days put rifyd, Ba-
n times ly Balneo jnto a clear and ponderous Wa-
ter y

( 1*5 )

ter, which he called the Philofophers Mercury ; out of the Faces
left in the rectifications of this Mercury ', diffoived in diflilled Vine-
gar, he made a new Gum, out of which he then diftilled a Golden
Liquor, or ruddy Oyl, which after the Seventh rectification he-would
have be the Philofophers Air, or Sulphur well depurated, clear and
bright : But Ripley ufed two ways in rectifying the ftinking Men-
ilruum, or Green Lyon, for either he divided the frefh Blood of
the Green Lyon into two parts, diflilling only one half] the dift ti-
led part he called, white Mercury, white Tin&ure, Virgins-
milk, &c. The other remaining part he calls the red Mercury ,
red Tindture, c. as it may be feen in his Book called Adrop
Phil, in the place before alleadged; or putrifyd the whole Menjlruum,
the Blood together with the white Fume the fpace of Fourteen Days,
which after that he divided into three Subftames, a burning Wa-
ter, a Water thick and white, and an Oyl, of which at length he
made a Vegetable Mendruum, which is described by Lully /
Potentate Drvitiarum, and by Ripley {above in Humb. 35-.) in his
Vade Mecum.

Concerning thefe three Suljhixccs of the ft inking Mevflruum, Rip-
ley hath theje fallowing Sayings, in his Book named Terra Terne
Pliilofoph. pag. 319- where thus : Wljen therefore you have ex-
traded all the Mercury out of the Gum, know, that in this
Mercury are contained three Liquors, whereof the firit is a
burning Aqua vita:, which is extra&ed by a moft temperate
Balneo : This Water being kindled, flames immediatly, as com-
mon Aqua vita:, and is called our attractive Mercury, with
whicli is made a Cnfblhnc Earth, with all Metallick Cakes
alfo, of which I will lay no more, becaufe in this Operation
we want it not : After that there follows another Watsr thick
and white as Milk, in a fmali quantity, which is the Sperm of
our Stone, fought by many men; for the Sperm is the Origi-
nal of men and all living Creatures , whereupon we do not
undefervedly call it our Mercury ,becaufe it is found in all things
and all places; for without it no man whatlbever lives: and
therefore it is faid to be in every thing. This Liquor, which
now you ought to efteem moft dear, is that Mercury, which
AVC call Vegetable, Mineral, and Animal, our Argent vivc,and
Virgins-milk,and our permanent Water: With this Mercurial
Water we walh. away the Oiiginal Sin, and pollution of pur

D d 2, Earth

Earth, till it becomes white, as Gum,foon flowing ; but after
the diftillation of this aforefaid 'Water, will appear an Oyl by
a ftrong Fire; with this Oyl we take 'a red Gum, which is our
Tincture, and our Sulphur vive, which is otherwife called the
Soul of Saturn, and Living Gold, our pretious Tincture, and
our moil beloved Gold, ot which never manipoke fo plainly;
God 'forgive me therefore, if I have any way offended him, be-
ing cqnltrained to gratifie your will.

Some great Myfiery of Art is here difcovered ly Ripley, for
the repealing of which he fears thcdtfpleajure,of not only the Adepts,
lut of God himfelf: Lully, and -others have indeed plainly enough
declared to their Difcipks, 'though psrhaps it may not appear to us
being lefs injl rutted in the matter, wist our Green Lyvn is, what
common Mercury more common Jo us than common Argent vive , what
the Azoc[uean Vitriol is, and the Meiiftruwm made thereof; but Rip-
ley affirms that no man ever fpoke fo plainly of the prefent Secret.
The Adepts have indeed in their Praclicks defer tied the ufe of
Philosophical ) Wine without any veyl ofPhiloJophy, and amongfl
them Raymond and Arnold with fome others have attained to the
knowledge of the fame, l&t (^to ufe Ripley'j exprejjion in Medulla)
how it might , be obtained they faid .not : Where/are they being
plenty Ripley thefrfl, and indeed the only man of all, declares to
us, that the Key of all the more fee re t Chymy lyes in tl:e Milk and
Blood of the Green Lyon, that 'is, that the ftinking Menflruum
( or the parts of it, Mercury and Sulphur, Virgins Milk, and
the Lyons Blood, white ^Wred Mercury ) lemg four teen Days

digefted gently, is the white ^^rt'red Wine oj Lully, and ether A-
depts . Nor was he fatisfed in declaring this freely to us, lut adds
Strength and Light to his Words, in making a Vegetable Menllru-
um the. Rectify d Aqua vitas (defcriled ly Lully //rPoteftate
Divitiarum, and ly us in tiuml. 31.) of the j aid ft inking andcorrojivs
Menftruum, ly which one only example he was pkajed to teach y,
that all Vegetable Mf nftruums. wwy le made cf the faid (linking
Menftruum: Lully s rectify 'd Aqua vitae is made ly divers Coho-
lations upon its own Caput Moituum ; We -may if we pie afe proceed
ly another way or method: Diftil the Menftruum Fcetens, leing
fourteen Days digejkd, and firjl will afcend the Aqua ardens, then
the Phlegm , and in the bottom mil remain a Matter thick at
welted Pitch, which are the Conftitutive Principles of a/I Vegeta-
ble Menftruums. Let

( IP7 )

Let us therefore defift from further par/kit of the f aid Green
Lyon, which we have purfued through the Meads and Forreft of
Diana, through the way of (Philofophical) Saturn, eyen to the
Vineyards oj Philofophy : This moft pleafant place is allowed the
Difciples of this Art, to recreate themfelves here, after Jo much
Pains and Sweat, dangers of Fortune and Life, excerci/ing the work
of Women, and the [ports of Children, being content with the moft
red Blood of the Lyon, and eating the white or red Grapes of
Diana, the Wine of which being purified, is the moft fecret Se-
cret ;of 'all the more fecret dry my; as leing the white or red Wine of
Lully, the Neflar of the Ancients, and their only defire, the pecu-
liar refrefhmcnt of the Adopted Sons ; but the Heart-breaking, and
Stumbling-Hock of the Scornful and Ignorant.

But before we depart hence,! will prefent you(Vztzc\fam*) with
another Difh, and that not unfavory, which is, that the Virgins-
milk, or white Mercury (jotherwife the white Wine of Lully )
ex t rafted out of the Green Lyon h by Paracelfus that Glub of the
Eagle, or Green Lyon, fo carefully fought for: For Eagle and
Green Lyon are to the Adepts Synonymas of the fame thing: For
thus Ripley before : You will obtain the white Water, which
is our white Tincture,- our Eagle, our Mercury and Virgins-
milk. Confequently therefore, red Mercury (jor the red Wine of
Lully) is the Blood of the Red or Green Lyon: For the fame Ly-
on is called fometimes Green (in his Touthful Eft ate} fometimes red
(/ his more grown- 'Eflate) and therefore the Blood is fometimes
faid to le of the Green Lyon, fometimes of the Red .- So Ripley
(/ the Mend r u'um defer ibed in Numb. 61.) faith; Take the
Blood of the Red Lyon beirjg moft Red, as Blood, which is
our Mercury, and our Tindlure now prepared to be poured up-
on its Ferment, that is upon the Calxes of the pureft Gold :
alfo elfe where; Tihe Blood of the Lyon of a Rofey Colour. But
let us hear Para eel fasfomfelf.

05, .The

65. The Green Lyon of Paracelfus.
Aurei Velleris Germ. p. 41.

TAke diflill'd Vinegar, wherein diflblve the Gr^ Lyon,
putrefie, filtre the Solution, draw off the Liquor in Bal-
neo to an Oylinefs ; this Oyl or Refidue put in a Retort, diftil
away the moifture in Sand with a gentle Fire: Then increafe
the Fire, and the Green Lyon y being compelled by the flrength
of the Fire will yield his Glue, or Air ; To the Caput mortuum,
pour its Phlegm (the moifture drawn off') putrefie in Dung (cr
Balneo*) and diftil, as .before, and again will afcend the Spirits ;
force it flrongly, and there will come a tenacious Oyl of a Ci-
trine Colour : Upon, the Caput wortuum pour again the firft di-
flill'd Water, putrefie, flltre, and diftil, as before : Laftly with
a moft ftrong open Fire, and there will come over a Bloody
Oyl, which is otherwife called Fire : The remaining Earth re-
verberate into whitenefs, &c.

Hither to we have had the ft inking Menftrmms made flfAzcquean
Vitriol only, yjt fometimes the Ade'pts have added common Vitriol
to it, thus.
-

66. The ftinking Menftruum made of the Gum
Adrop, and Common Vitriol of Rifley.
Pag. 357. Vjatici.

TAke and Grind the Gum made of Sericon with diftill'd
Vinegar, and as much of Vitriol evaporated, and firft
diftil the Water with a gentle Fire, then with a ftrong; receive
the Oyl (lloodofthe L)on) which feparate from the Water,
till you have the pure Oyl by it felf.

Sometimes inftead of common Vitriol, they added common Nitre
to the Azoquean Vitriol; thus Lully in Prattica Teftamenti made
his ftinking Menftruum.

67. The

c *99

The flin&ng Menftrmm mz&z tf Azpquean

Vitriol, and Nitre of Lully.
Cap. 9. Pra3. Teflam.f. 159. Vol. 4.
The. Chym.

TAke one part of D, (D, fgmfes Azoquean Vitriol, which
deftroys and confounds all that is of the Nature and Being of
common Argent vive, pag. if4.) and half a part of C, (C, figni-
fes Salt Peter or Nitre, pag. 1 5*4 of the fame Volume} which being
very well ground, fiited, and mixed together, put in a Glals
Cucurbit in a Furnace., and putting on an Alembick, in which
the Spirits are by resolution diflilled and condenfed ; lute the
joynts of the Ve/lels with linnen Cloath, impafted and fleep-
ed" in luting, made of Wheat-dower, and the whites of Eggs,,
that the united properties of the three Mercuries, namely, SaJt-
ifh, Vitriolick, and Watty, being joy nvl and united together,
may be preferved .- And obferve, that the faid Powders put in-
to the Cucurbit exceed not the weight of eight Ounces; and to
abbreviate the time, put ofthe like Powder into two other Cu-
curbits, according to the weight of eight Ounces in every Cu-
curbit, and place them upon little long Furnaces, fo as I mall
declare in the Chapter of Furnaces; put not above three Cu-
curbits upon one Furnace, for the Fire cannot adminifter equal
heat to more, as the mixtion of Nature requires; and let the
faid Cucurbits be placed the diftance of five or fix Fingers one
from another, and Jet the bottoms of the Cucurbits be luted
with Potters Clay mix'd well with hair; put fine Aihes well fifted
and prefled the thicknefs of five Fingers under them, and to the
Beak of every Alembick put a Glals Phial with a long Neck at
the end, becaufe the Receiver of thofe Phials mufl not feel the
heat ofthe Furnace, nor the Water ofthe Phials flow back, nor.
the Spirits recede or fly away : Then muft you provide a good
quantity ofSaw-duft, whereof take two parts,, and half a part .
of the husks of Grapes, or the powder of dry Fiie, and mix it
with the faid Saw-duft, and with- this Compofition fill your
Furnace, then light your Fire at both ends, and let it burn ; .for

you

( 200 )

you mufl make no other Fire, till you fee fix, or ten, or fifteen;
or twenty drops of Water diftil, and when twenty have diftill'd,
make your Fire with fmall Wood dry, and fo by little and little
make the Fire flame diredly to the Matter ; and fee when it di-
ftils,that the Water be clear, and when it is at fifteen Points, and
the Water clear, and the fumes fubtil, continue that Fire equally :
And if you fee it returned from fifteen to twelve Points, or lefs,
flrengthen the Fire, and continue it according to the Point of
its diftillation, and then thirdly, ftrengthen your Fire one Point
further, and continue it till nothing more diftiils, and then let the
Fire go out, flop your Furnace, and let the Matter cool ,- and if
the Water be clear, without any diilurbcd Colour, or without
muddinefsjtake and keep it,and (lop the Phial with warm Wax,
that nothing may refpire, nor the Air enter, becaufe the Spirits
which are fubtil, would prefently be corrupted by the Air. Re-
member, when you begin to make the Fire of dry Wood, that
your Veflels muft be covered with the aforefaid Pafte, and wrap-
ped about with Linnen Cloaths, and the Phials well luted to the
Beaks of the Alembicks with the fame luting, putting a Quill
between the Beak of the Alembick and the Phial ; tor whilft
the Fire operates, the Air will for the moft part go out and re-
fpire, when it hath not a Receiver to retain it, for it is hot, and
the fubjecT: which retains it, is not able to endure an exceeding
heat, and therefore it requires forne place wherein it may re-
fpire ; when therefore you hear it blow, open the Quill-hole for
it. O Father ! how have you made the practice thus tedious !
Son! That you may be acquainted with all things bpth (mail
and great, and that you may have both a general and particular
knowledge of Fires, and other operations, as alfo of all forts of
luting; becaufe it is not our intention to fpeak any more of them,
there being nothing difficult to the wife, circumfpecl:, and intel-
ligent, and that you may hereafter fay, that the {linking Men-
flruum is at your command, which is a mean thing,by which all
Bodies are in a ihort timeconverted into their firft Nature, and
it is the pure and proper Original of a wonderful and moll com-
modious thing, but you muft know how to apprehend it with a
clear understanding, &c.

The like Menflruum hath Lully in hu Magia Naturalis, which
is called

68. The

The Water calcining all Bodies
Magia Naturali*. Pag.

TAke of the Earth, that is, D. (of Azoquean Vitrio^ five
Ounces and a half, and of the Water, that is C. (of Salt
Peter and Niter) two Ounces and a half, the Sum of which is
the weight of eight Ounces, and being all mix'd, grind the Mat-
ter fine upon a Marble, then put it in a glafs Veffel with an
Alembickupon it, and diftil the whole fubftance, firft making a
gentle Fire of Saw-Duft, taking two parts of it, and one part
and a half of Coals fmall or ground, and a little dry Bran, and
light the Fire, and let it kindle of it felf, till it begins to diflil
from one Point to twelve (twenty} Points, and then you muft
begin to ftrengthen the Fire with fmall Wood, making the Fire
of the Flame right under the Matter, and fo continue the Fire
till it be returned to twelve or fifteen Points, or alfo to fewer,
and then continue the whole Fire according to the Points of its
diflillation, and after that ftrengthen the Fire one Point further,
and continue it till the Alembick lofeth its Colour, or no more
diftils ; then ceafe, and let it cool, gather the Water, keep it in a
hot and mo ill place, and have a care that it refpires not : And
remember to have a Quill in the luting of the Beak of the Alem-
bick, and the Neck of the Receiver, that you may fometimes
draw it out, that the Receiver may have vent, for the heat is
there fo quick, that the Veflel containing the Matter cannot en-
dure it, wherefore it is requifite fometimes to be opened and
fometimes iliut : Take notice, that this Water, though made of
a contemptible thing, hath the power of converting Bodies into
their fir ft Matter, which being joyn'd to the Vegetable Virtue is
of much perfection, and muft be put into practice prefently
after it is diftill'd, that the Spirit which is fubtil and of a ftrange
Nature, may not be loft by the Air.

The fame Menftrnum is defcriled in Lolly's C/dw/# under this
Title,

E e 69. The

( 202 )

. The Stinking Menflruum for the dilTolution
of the Calx of Gold and Silver, in order to
the reducing them into Argent vive.
Caf. 15. Clav Fag. 299. Vol. 3. Th. Chym.

TAke of Vitriol two Pounds, of Salt Peter one Pound, of
Cinabar three Ounces (J do not under fland ly what Error
Cinalar kas crept in among the other Ingredients of this Menftru-
um,/<?r it isaconftitutive notofthis^ lut of the following Menitruurn
for the diffohing of the Philosophers Stove-, efpecia/ly Lully himfelf,
in Cap. zo. Claviculoe, f peaking of the extratting of Mercury from
a perfefl Body, having wade no mention ofdnalar^ whereas notwith-
ft and ing in the fame place he gave a Defcription of this Menftruum
in thefe fewWords, Joying: Put of our (linking Menftrual, made
of two parts of red Vitriol, and one of Salt Peter, and let the
aforefaid Menflruum be firft diftilled feven times, and well recti-
fy J d) let the Vitriol be rubified and pulverized, then put in the
Salt Peter and Cinabar, and grind all together, then put the
Matter in fit Veflels well luted to be diftilld ; let it be diflill'd
firft with a gentle Fire as the Work requires, and as they know
how that have done it : Let this Water be difhli'd very often,
cafting away the Faeces which remain at the bottom of the Cu-
curbit, and fo it will be your belt diftilled Menflruum.

Sometimes they added common Vitriol to the Azoquean Vitriol
And Nit re : It is tlm done.

70. The Stinking Menftruum made of Azoquean
Vitriol, common Vitriol, and Niter o
Cap. i . Pag. 143. Medul. Phil. Chym.

TAke Vitriol made of the fowreft Juice of Grapes, with
the Fire of Nature and Sericon (Azoquean Vitriol) joyn'd
together in one mafs with Natural (common') Vitriol a little dry-
ed, together with the Sol Niter , and out of thefe diftil a Water,
which will firft be weak and phlegmatick, not colouring the
VefTel, which throw away :. Then will afcend a white Fume,

which

will make the Veflel look like Milk, which muft be ga-
thered, till it ceafeth, and the Veflel is returned to its former
colour : For that Water is the Stinking Menftruum, wherein is
our Quinteflence, that is, the white Fume, which is called the
Fire againft Nature, without which our Natural Fire could not
fubfift, whereof we will fay more in its proper place : And thefe,
namely, the Mineral and Vegetable Water, being mix'd toge-
ther, and made one Water, do operate contraries, which is a
thing to be admired ; for this one diflblves and congeals, moi-
fteneth and dryeth, putrefies and purifies, diflipates and joyns,
feparates and compounds, mortifies and vivifies, deftroyeth
and reftoreth, attenuates and in r piflates, makes black and white,
burneth and cooleth, begins and ends. Thefe are the two
Dragons fighting in the Gulf of Sathalia, this is the white and
red Fume, whereof one will devour the other : And here the
diflblving Veflels are not to be luted, but onely ftopp'd (lightly
with a Linnen Cloth and Maftick, or common Wax : For this
Water is a Fire and a Bath within the Veflel, and not without,
which, if it feels any other ftrong tire, will be prefently ele-
vated to the top of the Veflel , and if it finds no reft there,
the Veflel will be broken, and fo the competition will be left
fruftrated. So much as this compounded Water diflblves, fo
much it congeals and elevates (is congealed and elevated ) into
a glorious Earth : And fo it is the fecret diflblution of our Stone,
which is alwayes done with the congelation of its own Water :
And becaufe this Fire of Nature is added to the Water againft
Nature, fo much therefore as it loft of its Form by the Fire a-
gainft Nature, fo much it recovers by the Water of Nature,
that our work by the Fire againft Nature, may not be deftroyed
or annihilated.

From the Receipts we obferve.

i . That the Menftruums of this kind., leing wade of ttfc very
matter of Philofophical Wine, or Philosophical Grapes, are the
firjl of all other Menftruums, either Mineral or -Vegetable.

z. That the milky Liquor or Spirit, Virgins Milk, white
Mercury, the White Wine of LulJy, W//^Glew of the Green
Lyon, called ly Paracelfus the Glew of the Eagle, are term

E e z fjnonymeus j

( 204

Anonymous ; and that the Red Liquor, Blood 0fV/?<? Green Lyon,
Red Mercury, the Philofophers Sulphur, and the Red Wine of
Lully, otherwife by Paracelfus, the Blood cf the Red Lyon, are
likewife Synonyma's. ,

3. That the acid Mineral Menftruums, are ly digeftioM or fur-
ther elaboration, tranfmuted either into a fimple Vegetable Men-
ibruum, or into the Heaven or Spirit of Philofophieal Wine.

4. That thefe acid Menftruums are to be diflilled with very
great caution, by reafon of the excejfive effervejcence of the Azoque-
an Vitriol, or rather Spirit of Philofophieal Wine, which is in
this Vitriol caufed by the Acids.

5. That Mineral Menftruums are the Heaven, or Eflence of
Philofophieal Wine diffolved in an Acid, fo that having acquired
this Spirit, yon may make them ex tempore by Jimple dijfjolution.

6. That the Menftruums even now prepared, are prefently to
le ufed y left they perifh.

7. That Menftruums are by dijfolving Bodies coagulated.

8. That Metallic k Bodies are by theje Menftruums reduced in-
to rMMg Mercury.

y. That thefe are called Stinking Menftruums, lecaufe of their
ftinking{me\\.By tht fine II alone we eafily diftinguijb thefe from thofe
fragrant Menftruums called Vegetable. Thus the unfavoury fmell
of the Menftruum // felf proves that Morienus ufed the Stinking
Menftruum. What is the fmell of it , faith King Calid, by
way of Sueflion, before and after the making of it .-> Moriems
anfwereth , Before it is made, the fent of it is fti ong and unfa-
voury ; but after the preparation of it, it has a good fent, ac-
cording to that Which the wife man faith : This Water refem-
bles the unpleafant fmell of a Body dead, and void of life ; for
the fmell of it is ill, and not unlike to the fmell of Graves :
He that can whiten the Soul, and caufe it to afcend again, and
keep the Body well, and take away all obfcurity from it, and
extradl: the ill favour out of it, will be able to infufe it into the
Body, and in the hour of conjunction, exceeding Miracles will
appear, Morien. de Tranf. Metal, p. 3 3. Geber alfo acknowledged
himfelfto have operated with a mineral Menftruum, Cap. 15. Sum-
moe per feel* The firft natural Principles, faith he , out of which
Metals are procreated, are the Stinking Spirit, that is, Sulphur,
and Water Vive, wMch alfo we allow to be called dry Water.

And

And in wether PLicc at fl( > t f bis Sock de Inveftigat. he goes
on ; We do by plain and open proof conclude our Stone to be
nothing elfe but a Stinking Spirit, and living Water, which we
alfo call dry Water, being cleanfed by natural deco&ion and
true proportion with fuch an Union, that nothing can be ad-
ded or taken from it,to which a third thing ought to be added for
the abbreviation of theWork,that is,a perfect Body attenuated.

10. That Adrop, the Name of the Matter ofthefe Menflruums,
fignifes the Philofophers Saturn, or Lead. The firft Matter of
this leprous Body, faith Ripley , is a vifcous Water infpiflated
in the Bowels of the Earth. The great Elixir for the Red and
for the White, faith Vmcentius, is made of this Body, whofe
Name is Adrop, otherwife called Philofopbical Lead, pag. 132.
Medul PhiLCkym.

Our Stone, ]aith Arnold, in Speculo Alchym. is called Adrop,
which is in Latine Saturmts, in Englifh Lead, and according to
the Trojans Dragon or Topum, that is, Poyfon, Septma Difpof.
Speculi, pag. 5* 96. Vol. 4. Tkeatr. Chym. I havefhewed. that the
Philofophers gave it divers Names, becaufe of the diverfity of
Colours; but as to their Intention, they had one peculiar Name,
that is, Roman Gold, or Adrop, or Stone above all the Stories of
this world, Qjiarta difpojitioSpeculi, pag. 594. of the fame Vo-
lume. Laton and Azoth are together, and never afunder, but
remain always joyned together, but becaufe of the diverfity of
Colours, the Pliilofophers call'd them by many Names ; and
as the Colours are varied and changed, they impofed fo many
Names ; becaufe Azoth among the Indians is Gold ; among the
Hermians Silver ; among the Alexandrians and Macedonians
Iron ; with the Greeks Mercury ; with the Hebrews Tin ; with
the Tartars Brafs ; with the Arabians Saturn ; and among the
Latines, and efpeciaUy among the Romans Ognividon, (ly an
Anagram Dono G -vini, G fignifying Philoiophical Mercury,
or Sulphur aqueum ; ) But that none may err, I fay it hath one
proper Name, and is commonly called by men ; and every one
knows the Stonej Te rtia difpof. Specul. p. 5-93. of the fame Vo-
lume. ^

Some of the Adepts write not Adrop, but Atrop , by which
Name they hcrue been pleas' d to fignife the Matter of thefe Men-
ftruums to be as it were the Gate of all the mojl fecret Chymy :

for

for Atrop, ly the inverfion of the Letters is read Porta, a Gate :
Thus Robertas Valenfis in Gloria Mundi , pag. 305. That
you may attain (faith he ) to the true foundation, I will once
again repeat it to you, and call it the firft H}le, that is, the
beginning of all things ; it is alib called the only Holy ; appre-
hend what Elements are in it by thofe which are repugnant ;
the Stone of the Phiiofophers, of the Sun, of Metals, the fugi-
tive Servant, the airy Stone, the Thernian Stone, Magneiia,
or the corporal Stone, Marcafite, the Stone of Sal Gemma, the
Stone of Children, the gokien Stone, 'the Original of worldly
things, Xelis, alfo by t inverfion Silex, a Flint, Xidar, by the
fame inverfion Radix > Atrop, by inverfion, Porta, a Gate ; and
it hath alfo as many other Names, yet is but one only thing.

To Robertus Lully feems to incline, who has leen pleafed to call
every alteration of the Azoquean Vitriol, or .Matter of the Men-
ftruums of this Kind, the firft Porta or Gate of the Work ; thus be
catfd the diffolution of the Matter the firft Gate. In our whole
Magiftery, faith he, there are three principal Spirits necefiary,
which cannot without the confummation of their reiblution
be maaifefted, and they are other wife called, three Argent
vzves. And becaufe Refolution is fo often ufed for the Firft
Gate of our Magiftery which we will declare ; the faid Refo-
lution is divided into theee principal parts : The firft is Corpo-
ral, and is called in the Latine Tongue Recfage ( that is, Ana-
grammatically facere G^butly G,he means Sulphur aqueurn, Cap.
5. The. Jefl.pag. 115. Vol. 4. Theat. Chym. or our Mercury, Cap.
xo. Praft. left. pag. 170. of the fame Volume. ) The fecond is
fpiritual, and called Agazoph. The third is Ipiritual and cor-
poral, and called Vlridrugat. &c.

When the Matter in the Refclution of it appears Hack, this Black-
nefs C for which fowe haue call'd it Lead J ke would haue to le
afign of the firft Gate. In the firft Refolution, faith be, lies all
the danger, and therefore I give you notice, that you muft
have the Sulphurs of fimple Argent vives deftroyed by heat, in
fuch manner and form, as that their active property may not
be expelled by extraneous heat, and that it may not Le fepa-
rated from its moift Subjedr, which appears wholly black, full
of a noble Spirit :That Blacknefs demonftrates the fign of the
frfl Gate leading into our Magiftery, and without it can 'no-
thing

( 207 )

thing be done, becaufe it is the Fire of Nature , which is to
create the Stone, and which cannot be mamfefted without the
corruption ot its Body, Cap. x8. Theor. Teft.pag. 5"!. Vol. 4. fh.

Laftly, He calls the Defoliation of this Mutter the firft Gate
alfo. The way of preparing the Stony, and fermentable Spi-
rit is, to take the Juice of Lunary, and extract the fweat of it
with a fmall and gentle fire, and you will have in your power
one of our Argent vives in Liquor, in the form of a white
water, which is the aulution and purgation of our Stone, and
its whole Nature : And that is one of the moft principal Secrets,
and is the frft Gate, as you may understand by the Reafons
aforefaid, ?c. Cap. 9. Theor. Teft.pag. 21. of the fame Volume,

Being perfwaded ly thefe and the like Quotations, I may affirm f,
that Atrop is to le written rather than Adrop, lecaufe lefides
the Blacknefs or Philofophical Lead, Atrop figxifies the beginning
or firft Gate of the Work.

1 1. That in the Adeptical Chymy are many Green Lyons, to le
ncceffarily diftinguijked one from another.

By the firft the Adepts meant the Cosleftial Sun, governing the
whole World.

Thefecond is Argentvive, more common to us than common Ar-
gent vive.

The third is called Argent vive diffohed into a Green Colour.

The fourth is Adrop, Azoquean Vitriol, Philofophers Lead,&V.

A fifth is the Stinking Menftruum, other wife called the Blood of
the 6reen Lyon.

A fixthuthe Green Lyon of Fools, Roman Vitriol, Verdi-
greece, &c.

The feventh is extraordinary, namely, common Mercury fullimed^

12,. 7 hat there are alfo many Saturns.

Thsftrfl is common Lead, the impure ft of Metals, and consequently
the moft remote of all in our Art ; which to prove ly the Sentiments
of the Adepts is a thing fuperfluous, finding almoft every where
amongfl the Adepts a.folemn caution for us to beware of this devour-
er of Metals and Minerals, Saturn. Have a cam, faith Ripley,
(to Iringone Witnefs for all^) of operating, with S.Jfn, becaufe k
is commonly faid, Eat not of the Son, whole Mother is defiled,
and believe me, many Men err inSatvrn, Hear what Avicywe

faith,

( 208 )

faith, Saturn will be always Saturn, yea operate not with the
Earth Q?(Phzlofophicafy Saturn, which the Spirit of it has defpifed,
and left for theworft Sulphur, &c. Cap. z. Philorcii.pag. 188.

The fecond is Adrop, or Azoquean Vitriol? whereof Before*

A third is the fir ft Colour r llacknefs of the fr ft Work ; of which
lower.

The fourth is Copper ', thefirft of 'Metals. ; of which Arnold in Spe-
culo Alchym. difp. 8. Pag. 605". Volum.4.Theat.Chym. thus :
There were, faith he, Philofophers that placed our Science in the
feven Planets ; and our firft Planet is called Venus, the fecond
Saturn, the third Mercury ', the fourth Mars, thejfifth Jupiter, the
fixth Luna, the feventh Sol : The Generation of Copper hath
the firft place after (the univerfafy Mercury, faith Bafilius, Lilro
de relus nat. & fupernat. Cap. 4. Of allthofe things Jait'h Paracel-
fus, which proceed from Salts, there is none more nearly allyed
to the Mineral Virtue, than Vitriol , the reafon is, becaufe Salts
are Minerals, and all Minerals lie in one Mafs and Ares. Now
Vitriol in the reparation of Minerals , is the laft thing, to
which is immediately fubfequent the generation of Metals,
whereof Venus is the firfl, Lib. 4. Philof. de Element Aquos, pag.
2,79. And a little after he faith, The Marcajites and Cachymys
being thus feparated from the firft Matter of Metals, then fol-
lows the firft Generation, which is of Venus, &c. Befides, by
the reparation, whereby the nature of the Marcajites and Ca-
shymys are expelled, the generations of Copper do immediately
concur, imprint themfelves, and are coagulated together, be-
caufe it is the firfl Metal after the feparation of the Marcajites
and Cachymys. inthe fame Book, pag. 2,81.

The Vitriol of Venus being the fir (I of all things added or joyned
to the Vegetable Mercury in the making of Adrop, is called ly
Lully the firft Male. This Fire, faith he, is that Property of
the Mercury, which you mud endeavour to preferve from burn-
ing, being the Tincture of Vitriol, with which (the Vegetalle*)
Mercury ought to be fublimed, becaufe it is the frft Male of it,
and is the augmentation of our Tiri&ure, which is a great addi-
tion in virtuj^nd power, when it is joyned with the Tincture
of Sol ; for ilyou know how to extract the Property of Mer-
cury from Vitriol and Salt, and make them friendly by con-
junction, which is done by gentle fublimations p you will know

one

one of the greateft Secrets of Nature, and the true principal
perfection. Codicil, cap. 91. pag. lox. So in many places of his The*
orioe Teflamenti majbris, he means Vitriol ly hu Male ; in thefe
efpecially : Thefireofour Male, pag. 50. The Virtue of the
Male, pag. 94. The Virtue of the Sperm of the Male, pag. 108.
The Heat of the Male, pag. 72* The Female ( ^j ) is in this
cafe the Male, and is not fo hot as the true {fecond ) Male, Gold,
Pag. 73. Vol. 4. Theat.Chym. ThisMzk alfo Efpanietus men-
tioneth in the mating of hu Menftruum. Take, faith he, the
winged Virgin compleatly wafhed and cleanfed, impregnated
with the fpiritual Seed of thejirji Male, &c. Sett. 58. Arcani
Hermet. Phil.

Paracelfus, the letter to exprefs the Mafculine Nature of Ve-
nus, calls it Metallus, a Noun of the Mafculine Gender , as Me*
tallus primus. Take, faith he, the Coralline Liquor, I mean
that which is very diaphanous, to which add a fifth part of the
Vitriol of Venus, digeft them in Balneo for a month; for by
this means the Wine of the frfl Metal feparates it felf aloft,
but the feculent part of ( this} Wine, the Vitriol of Venus re-
tains ( he means the refulue left in the extraction of Vitriol ) and
lo that frfl Metal (Metal/us primus) is made a perfpicuous, di-
aphanous, and truly red Wine, &c. Cap. 11. Lib. ^.DeJ^ita
longa, Pag. 65. As the Adepts calf A Venus the frfl Metal (Me-
tallus primus) in the Mafculine Gender, fo alfo they changed Sa-
turnus (Saturn) a Noun of the Mafculine Gender, into Saturna,
a Noun of the Feminine Gender, to jignifie not common Lead, lut
Venus, being a Feminine Noun, of Copper. I have, faith Ripley,
a dear and beloved Daughter, named Saturna, from which
Daughter are both the white and red Elixirs afluredly procrea-
ted -, if therefore you deftre this Science, you mud extrad a
clear water from her, &c.

Sometimes to defer ile.ly Saturn, not only Venus, lut alfo tfo
Philofophical preparation of Copper (that is, to le performed ly a
Vegetable Menftruum) they made it a Vegetable or Herb, that
fo they might diflinguijh that which was, from that which was not
prepared i 'Thus Flamel in his Summary.- Some wiskilful men,
and unlearnefl Chymifts take common Gold, Silver, and Mer-
cury, and handle them fo ill, till they vaniih away by fume,
and thereby endeavour to make the Philofophers Mercery ; but

F f they

'( 2TO )

they do not attain to that, which is the firft Matter and true
Myne of die Stone: But if they would attain to that, and reap
any good, they muft betake themfelves to the feventh Moun-
tain, where tnere is no Plain, and from the top downward be-
hold the oriier fix, which they will fee at great diflance. At
the top of this Mountain you w-M find a triumphant Royal
Herb, which fome Philofophers call a Mineral, fome a Vege-
table, and if pure and clean Broth be made thereof, the better
part of the work will be hereby accomplilhed, and this right
and fubtil Pkilofopkical Mercury muft you take. This Place v
thus read in Chortalaflkus, pag. 313. Vol. 6. Theat.Chym. Aicend
theretore the Mountain, that you may fee the Vegetable, Sa-
turnine, Plumbeous and Royal, likewife allo Mineral Root, or
, take only the Juice of it, and throw away the Husks*

The

The Fourteenth KIND.

Simple Mineral Menftruums made of the

of Salts.

7 1 . The Water or Oyl of Salt of Par ace If us.
Cap. 3. Lib. 10. Arch. Pug. 3$.

T Hough there be many ways of extra&ing the prwtuw
Ens of Salt, yet this ' (met hod of making Salt circulated,
the Circulatum minus of Salt, the dijjolving Water,
the Water or Spirit of Salt circulated, defer ibed above in tfuml.
17.) is mod commodious, and expeditious, and after this is that
other way, which we mentioned (peaking of the Elixir of Salt,
namely, that new Salt being mix'd well with the diflolving Wa-
ter, which is the diflilied Spirit of Salt (circulated) muft be pu-
trefied, and fo long diftilled, till the whole fubftance of the Salt
isdiflblved, and reduced into a perpetual oleofity, the Body of
Phlegm being drawn neatly from it. This way is alfo taught
the preparation of tiie Arcanum or Magiftery of Vitriol and
Tartar, as of all other Salts.

Annotations.

WE take notice that the Menftruums of the antecedent Kind
are made of the vtitluous Matter of Pliilofophical Wine,
purged, diffolved, And -volatilized with an acid ; in t\x brefent we
fhjllobjerve the contrary, namely jhat the acid > ar f aline Elfences of
Salts wude with the wtc'twus Spirit <?/ Pijilofophical Wine, Are
Menitruums of this fourteenth Kind.. Paraceliios in the preferred
Receipt reduced Salts, ly cohubatian akn?,,w'tth the Water of Salt

F f 2, circulate J

212 )

circulated into a liquid fulftance or Oyl, lutthe Oyl made of common
Salt, ly the method aforefaid, he commends lefore the reft to his Dif.
cjples, for the extractions of Met a/lick Bodies. Certainly, faith he^
there cannot be a more Noble and better way, than by the Wa-
ter or Oyl of Salt, prepared as we have clearly defcribed in Al-
chymia (and in Lilris Chyrurgicis?) For this Water fundamen-
tally and radically extracts out of all Metallick Bodies their Na-
tural Liquor or Sulphur, and a moft excellent Crocus as well for
Medicinal as Chymical Operations: It refolves and breaks any
Metal whatfoever, converting it out of its own Metallick Nature
into another, according to the various intention and induilryof
the Operator. Mandate de Lap. Phil. pag. 139.

It will therefore le worth while to explain the way of making this
Oyl of Salt more clearly to you : Fir ft for the illuft ration of the Re-
ceipt we will propofe the Defer ipt ion of the Oyl c/Salt alleadged ly
the Author himfelf, in the eighth Book of his Archidoxes, which in
the Elixir of Salt, Pag. 31. we read thus: Take Salt accurately
prepared moft white, and moft pure; put it into a Pellican
with fucha quantity of the diflblving Water, as to exceed the
Weight of it fix times : Digeft them in Horfe-Dung together
the Tpace of a Month, then feparate the diflblving Water by di-
ftillationi pour it again to it, and feparate as before, and that fo
oft, till the Salt is converted into Oyl.

By comparing the Receipts it appears, that Sea-Salt newly made
is not to be underftood ly new Salt, lut the fame exquijitely purify-
ed : Then it is clear, that the weight of the Water of the circulated
Salt omitted in the Receipt of the tenth Book, ought to le fo deter-
mined, as to le fix times more than the weight o] the Salt : More-
over, the time and place of put refaction omitted in the former procefs
are defer iled in the other, that is, to le digejled a Month in Horfe-
Qung : Befides it ufrom the^ Receipts olferved, that all the Salt is
not converted into Oyl, the Body of the Salt leingdrawn as a Phlegm
from the Eflence. Laftlyjhat the Oyls of Vitriol and Tartar may le
ajfo made ly the fame method.

The Receipts leing thus compared, are not only without atlolfcuri-
/y, lut do ly the exuberance of their Light give Light alfo to otfor
Proceffes, being otherwife lefs inte/Iigille. So this- Oyl of Salt, as the
Eflence or prknum Ens of Salt explains that more olfcure Defcri-
-'" ''' " /7 "-- "^'^grven in Libro 4.ArchidPag.i4.Take

( 213 )

Salts, and calcine them throughly , if they be Volatile, born
(fullime) them, after that refolve them into a tenuity (per deli-
quium) and diftil them into a Water (through a Filter?) This
Water putrefy (not ly itfelf, lut as the Difciples of the Art ought
to under ftand and know^ with the Water of Salt circulated} for a
Month, and diftil by Balneo, and a fweet Water willafcend (the
Body of the Salt ly the way of a Phlegm^) which caft away : That
which will not aicend, digeft again (with ntiv dijfohing Water)
another Month, and diflil as before, and that fo oft, till no more
fweetnefs is perceived. By this way you have now the Quin-
teflence of Salt in the bottom, (like an Oj/) fcarce two Ounces
out of a Pound of the burned or calcined Salt. One Ounce of
this Salt thus extracted, if common, feafoneth Meat more than
half a Pound of another ; for theQuinteflence of it remains only,
and the Body is drawn from it by liquid folution. This way is
the Quinteflence of all Salts feparatea.

This Procefs being thus enlightned ly tie rayes of tie antecedent^
refletts nofma/l Light upon the faid Receipt s> namely ', that fcarce two
Ounces are acquired from one Pound of the Salts.

InClavi Archidoxorum, Lib. 10. Pag. 37. Paracelfits has de-
fer iled the Eflences <?/Salts in thcfe Words : The way of extract-
ing the QmntefTence of Salts, as Vitriol, Salt, Nitre, Tartar, &c.
is this : Cohobate with its own Liquor or Water very often, pu-
trify with the Phlegm, and then draw off the Bedy in the form
of Phlegm even to the fixed Spirit : This Spirit diflblve in its
own Water, and by a ftrong heat feparate the pure from the
impure with the Spirit of Wine. This Defcription is moft olfcure^
lut made clearer ly thofe aforefaid. The meaning ofParacelfus is
thh : He putrefies the Salts, and cohobates them Jo oft en with their
ovtn Liquors or Water s^ that Z5, with their own Circulatums;
common Salt with common Salt circulated ; Nitre with Nitre circu--
lated ; Vitriol with the Water of Vitriol circulated ; Alume with
the Water of Alume circulated, the diffoluing Water of Alume y the
Circulatunt minus of Alume, &c. ti/l they remain at the lot torn in
the form of an Oy/ 3 which Oyl lehtg either acid or faline , eafly makes*
an ejfervefcence with the unfluous Spirit 0/Philofophical Wine, or
its own Circulatum, and in this heat lets fall f owe of its impurities?
andfo becomes purer, which thing is confrmed ly the Defer iption //
felf of the Water of Salt circulated^ whtre he putrejies Salt, leing

mditdl

d and refohed per deliquium, with the S fir it 0/Philofophi-
cal Wine, coholate$> and draws it to an Oleity : Joyn h, faith be %
with the Spirit of (Philcjophical } Jtflw, and the impure will M
to the bottom, which iepiuate, but let the pure be CrifiaJLzed
in a cold place, pour the diihllation to it again, and cohol ate
fo oit, till a fixed Oyl remains at the bottom, and nothing iwect
will more diflill.

Moreover, this Oyl of Salt as a Menftruum, wakes his Procefs m
Chyrurgia intelligible, which otherwije cottldnot le under ftood.

72. The Water of Salt by another Deferi-

ption of Paracelfus.
Cap. 2. Tratt. 3. part. 2. C by r. major. Pag. 66.

TAke Salt without any addition of Art being moft white
by Nature it fe\f[SalGe w//g")which mufl be divers times
melted, then being reduced into a moil fine Powder mixt with
the Juice of Raphanusfax them together ; after refolution diftil,
dklil thedidillationwithan equal quantity of the Juice of San-
guinea five times more : In this Water are Plates of Sol, being
purged by Antimony, eafily rcfolved into Powder ; this Powder
being thus prepared mud be wafhed with Iweet Water diftilled,
till it hath no tafte of Salt, for the Salt not entringmto theiub-
ftance of it, is eafrty wafhed away.

In this Procefs Sal Gemmx leing fufed ly the method of the Wa-
lter of Salt circulated, u diffiihed in tbe Juice cfRaphanus, evapo-
rated and rejofoed per deliquium, thenjjx times dijli/led with an
equal proportion of the Juice efSanguinea. In the antecedent De-
fer ipt ion of this Oyl of Salt, thisfujion of the Salt^d/ffolution in the
Juice of Raphanus, and refolution per deliquium is not neceffary, le-
c-jiufe the Water of Salt C initiated 15 fitfficient of it felf to feparate
the EJJetice of Salt from its Phlegm : But where we tije the Spirit of
Philoiophical Wine in makingfhe Water of Salt circulated, without
the faid previous preparation of the Salt y we fbould ha^e the Work
too tedious : In the wean time both ProceJJes agree in weight of
Menftruum, for it is all one ^ whether the Salt le cvbolatcd into an
fyl with fix times as much of the diffolvinv Water, or difti/Ied fix
times with the Juke c/Sanguinea in equaTweight. One thwg that

makes

wades the latter Procefs inexplicably u the unknown Juice <?/ San-
guinea, but however it is evident by what hath been faid, that cither
the Spirit of Philoibphical Wine, or the Water of Salt circulated
fupplies its place. Bafilius indeed refohed common Salt with the
Spirit of Philoiophical Wine not into an Oyl , but reduced into it a
Green Stone thus :

Viricie Sal is of Baft Hut.
In fuppkmento Libri de conclufion.

TAke common Salt, calcine it well, yet without fufion, re-
duce it to a Powder, rzfolvz per delirium in a Cellar, or
mRaphanus made hollow, then diftil in Sand with a quick Fire,
and a Water willa/cend, the refidue in the bottom pulverize^
and diilblve it in its diftilled Water, and-c-Uilil again ; this repeat
till all the Salt has afcended, which will be in the fourth or fifth
time : Draw off the Phlegm from the diflilled Water in Balneo,
the remainder put into a Cellar in cold Water, and you will have
Criftals, which take out, and diilolve in the Phlegm j then draw
off one half, and you will find new Criftals, repeat the Opera-
tion four times or more, for the oltner, the more fufvble will be
the Criftals, which being dryed and pulverized on a Marble,
pour to them the reftify'd Spirit of (JPhilofipbical) Wine, which
cohobate from the Salt fo oft, till you perceive the Qyl of Salt
coagulated into a Green traniparent Stone, which reierve.

Paracelfus in his Receipts appointed the calcination of Salt to be
done by thefujion of it ; lut in this Procefs Bafilius prohibits this
liquefaftion of Salt, wherefore we conclude it to be little effential in
the ] aid depuration of 'Salt ', nor do we think itfo necejjary, for the
Salt being refohsd per deliquium to be difliUed^ thereby to be made
a fufible Salt ; Paracelfus having taught how to make the Jame Oyl
out of fufed Salt, which Oyl Paracelius kimfe If, befides Bafilius, in.
many places affirms to be cf a Green Colour. Thus we read of the
Green Oyl of Salt : Librode malecuratis, Pag. 170. Chyr. Ma-
joris. Of the Greens of Salt , Libro. 4. de Gradibus, Pag. 15:4.

From

From the Receipts we obferve,

I. ThattkefeMenRruums are the Eflences of Salts not tinging.

i. That the Oyls or Eflences of fining Salts, as Vitriol, Qfc.
way alfe be made ly the fame method, and do appertain not to this,
lut to another Kind.

3. That thefe Menftruums are ly further digejlion or coholation
tnaae facet, and tranfmuted into volatile Arcanums, lefsCircula-
tums, or Simple Vegetable Menflruums of the Fifth Kind.

4. That thefe Menftruums do diffofoe Metals into Powder for
the extraction of the Crocus or Sulphur of Metals and Minerals :
The way we will I or row from Ripley in the Vfe of Stinking Men-
flruums.

Let us, faith he, proceed, Pag. 14 ?. Medul. Phil. Chjm. to
pradtife upon the Calx* of a ( Metallick} Body duly cafcined :
The Body therefore being prepared, pour upon it fo much of
this compounded water (^ in Numb. 70.) as to cover it half an
inch, and it will prefently boil upon the Calxes of the Body
without any external heat, didblving the Body, and elevating
it in the form of Ice, together with the exficcation of it felf,
which mufl be taken away by the hand of the Operator .-
And the remaining Calxes being well dried again by Fire, put
Ib much water to them as before, and proceed in all things as
before , continuing the fame way of operating, till all the
Calxes be well diflblved : which fubftance being well difiblved,
neatly feparated, and pulverized, muft be put into a good quan-
tity of the reftify'd water of the Fire of Nature ( Spirit of
PhilofophicalWine^) that in that VeiTel well flopp'd it 'may by
the adminiftration of external heat, together with the excita-
tion of internal heat, be diflblved info an Oyl, which willfoon
be done, ^r. When the Menflruum {of Sericon, in NuwL 63. )
% poured upon the aforefaid Calxes ( of Metals ) it begins to
boylup; and if the VeflH be well Itopp'd, it will not leave
working, though no external Fire be adminiflred to it, till it
be dried into the Calx ; wherefore you muft rot put a greater
quantity of it than juft to cover the Calxes. In the fame place
171. For in this Operation the lefs of the Spirit, and thg

more of the Body is put, the better and fooner will be the dif.
Iblution, which is made by the congelation of the Water.
You muft have a care therefore,, as it is laid in the Rofary, that
the Belly be not too moift, becauie then the Matter would not
receive drinefs : And this way muft be obferved, till all the
water be dried up. The fame Place, pag. 161.

5". That all the Jkarpnefs of this Met a/lick Powder may be waftfd
away with fweet water. That the Menftruums of the Adepts
are permanent, is manifefl by the ways of making them ; but more
clearly by the Vfe of them in the Receipts of the following Books :
However Paracelfusy^ew/^ to have appointed the contrary by the
prefent ablution of the Menftruum, tejl therefore you Jbould fall
into the greatefl and moffl dangerous Errour of all the Adeptical
Chymy, we thought good to communicate to you an Obfervation or
two about the permanence of Menftruums.

Firft, That Aqua ardens, the Philofophical that is, is by dige-
flion or circulation divided into Phlegm and Oyl fwimming upon it,
as you obferved in making the Effence or Spirit of Philoiophical
Wine. Tou have taken alfo notice that the fame Aqua ardens, or
fame Oyl mads of it, is further concentrated, and rejects the re-
maining Phlegm, but that it f elf as a wtwOleofum, remains with
the inanimate 'd Earths Jo called, in the Preparations as we /I of Ve-
getable, as Mineral Sal-Harmoniacks : For it is impojjible for the
faid Phlegm being the vehicle of the unftuous Spirit to abide with
things diffolved, much lefs be fixed with them, they being fo con-
trarytoit: wherefore the permanence of Menftruums, but rather
of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine is eafie to be underflood,
namely, as theft Menftruums are unttuous mixed with dry things,
not in the leafl diluted in their aquofaies, which do all Je par ate
tkemfelves as ufelefs in fixation. Examples you will have in Lib.
2. De Aftrisck Arcanis, and often in Lib. 3. of Philofophical
Tinctures.

Secondly, Thefe Menftruums do not prefently, or at the fir ft
time ab'ide^ with their diffolutions : For fometimes, nay more than
often, we are forced to pour on and cohabate before any part of it
will continue with the d/ffolved Body, whereas in the mean time tat
reft ajcends unaltered.

Thirdly, Nor do the Menftruums perjift with all things pro-
mifcuoujly, but are united only to things homogeneous to them, which

in reafon tt;ey ftould remain with. Thus the Simple Vegetable
Menftruums do continue with Eflences, but not with their relin-
quifted white Bodies ; whereas the Compounded Vegetable
Menftruums king futable to theje Bodies, do diffolve them wholly
in the making of Magifleries.

Fourthly, Tea though every Menftruum is either an Eflence,
Qt a Magillery, and one Effence prepares another, eajjly entring
and mixing themf elves radically one with another , yet fo long as
they are of different kinds or degrees, are they loth feparable again,
nor do they continue ; till vne being newly extratted, is raijed to
tbs fame degree as the other, then do they flow together at lenvth
into a mixture not to be feparated by Art or Nature.

Fifthly, -As to thefe Mineral Menftruums , you have obfer-
ved , that the Acidity of them^ admits of the fame rea-
fon with the Phlegm or Aquofity of the Vegetable Menftruums,
fo far ash is moijl, and therefore to le feparated in tie fxations of
things: But as it confifls of the dry Particles of Mineral Salts,
(but Salts they are dry things diffolve d in Acids) it will fall un-
der two fever al Confederations.

In the firft, the Acidity of the Menftruum being perhaps in
greater plenty than is nece'ffary, cr flicking about the "fuperficies of
the thing diffblved, js eafily wafted away with common Water.

But in the fecond,the fame Acidity being more artificially mixi,
and abforbed by the Aridity of the thing dijfolued, js made the.,
caufe of venenojity, and now cannot be altered but by Vegetable
Menftruums tranfmuting it. Paracelfus commands the waft-
ing not of t fa Oyl of Salt, but the fbarpnefs of the Salt, which
penetrates not into the fubflance of the Metal, and is eafily wafted
away, but the Vnftuofity of tht Salt being throughly mixed with
the unftuous Spirit of Philofophical Wine ,- and now united to the
Vnttuofity of the Metal, common Water cannot touch nor feparate.
But an Acid received into the bowels of an Arid, he corrects again
with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, that it may not become
the caufe of venenofoy : Tet there is a place in Paracelfus, where
hefeems to have eflablifted a particular Decree againft the perma-
nence of Menftruums. Many feveral ways, faith he, Lib. 4.
Archid. de Effentia,pag. ix. are found, whereby the Quintet
fence may be extracted, viz. by Sublimation, Calcination, by
Aqua fortifies, by Corrofives,by Sweet, by Sowr, &c. It may

be done which way you pleafe : Where this is withal to be
obferved, that every thing added by way of mixture, to the
QuintefTence, for the neceility of extraction, mull be again
taken away, and fo the Quinteflence remain alone, not mix'd,
or polluted with any other Matters : For the Quinteflence can-
not be extracted from Metals, efpecially Gold , which cannot
be fubdued by it felf alone,- but fome fitCorrofrve muftbe
made Ufe of, which may afterwards be feparated from it again,-
fo Salt ( dijfohed ) in water, is drawn again from the water
left void of Salt : Whereas notwithftanding it muft be confi-
dered, that every Corrofive is not fit for this purpofe, bccaufe
they cannot all be feparated : For if Vitriol or Alume be mix'd
with water, neither can be feparated from it again without
detriment or corruption, bat will leave fome fharpnefs behind
them, becaufe they are both watry ; and two likes concur to-
gether, which ought not to be in this place : Wherefore it is
to be advifed, not to put watry to watry, or oyley to oyley, nor
refmy to refiny, but a thing contrary muft feparate the Quin-
teffence, and extracl it, as waters extract the Quinteftences of
things oleaginous, and the oleaginous the Quinteiiences of wa-
try things, as we may learn by the Qumtedences ol Herbs :
The Corrofives therefore are to be feparated again after the
feparation and extraction of the QojntefTence, which may
eafily be done ,- for oyl and water are feparated with eafe,-
but oyl cannot be drawn irom oyl, nor water likewife from
water without mixing, which being left, would indeed infer
very great detriment to the Qumteiience : Fora Quinteflence
ought to be clear and pure without any mixture, fo as to have
an uniform fubflance , by virtue whereof to penetrate the
whole Body.

Left the Ejjence Jbould be defiled by things added for thenecejjity
cf extraction^ he commands no Watry Matter to le extracted by a
watry Menftruum,<7^ oyley by an oyley, a refiny by a refinyjwt by fome
contrary. 'This Rule, if underftood according to the Letter, is
erroneous , for it takes away all the permanence of Menftruums
.eflablifhed upon the Maxime fo often repeated by the Adepts ; The
Didblution of the Body* is the Coagulation of the Spirit or
Menfiruum ; and on the contrary : It takes away , / fay ,
all the natural homogeneity cf the diffohent and the diffohed ; yea

G e 2, is

220 )

is repugnant to the Experience of Paracelfas himfelf, who bad no
Menflruum but what remained in a radical mixtion with the things
diffohed in it, as by the. Vfe of them we fh all prove hereafter.
Now an-Effence is divers ways coinquindted ly things added in the
ex traction of it.

Firft, When a Natural or Sewinal Efience is extracled ly the
like Nz/wrf/ Eiience of another fpecies ; For example, the Efience
of Saffron' is inquinated and confounded with the virtues of Cina-
mom, in ex trail ing it with thejpecifck Efience of Cinamom, and
therefore the Efiences of Vegetables are not to le extracted with a
Natural^ or rather Artificial Efience, or with the Spint of Philo-
fophkal Wine, notyetfpecifaated.

Secondly, An Efience is inquinated, when a Menftruum or
Efience is in greater than convenient quantity ufed in the extraction
of another Eiience, ly which quantity the quality of the Jaid Ef-
ience is wafted, wafted, and as it were tnquinated ; wherefore the
fitperfluity of the Menftruum muft ^ always le taken away, that
the Eiience may remain ly it felf alone without any mixture.

Thirdly, An Eiience is inquinated ly extracting it with Air
or mineral Menftruums according to fome ProceJJes of^ the Anci-
ents. For an Acid, though it cannot le radically mix d with any
Edence, being no Efience it felfc yet h eafily alforled or hidden
ly the aridity of mineral Eflcnccs, and fo joyned with the faid
Efiences ly accident, and from a thing otherwife innocent, creates
a very flrong Poyfon: This therefore to remove, the Ancients frft
wa/hed off that which ftuck to the out fide of the Body, then tranf-
mttted that which was more deeply admitted, ly the digcftion of
Vegetable Menftruums .- But in the making of Eflences with
acid or mineral Menftruums according to the reformed Procefs,
otherwife called ly Paracelfus, the Procefs of two Colours, the faid
inquinaiion of an Efience hath no place. In the leginning of this
Procefs the acid leing alforled by the arid, lecomes indeed the
caufe of venencjity, as in the Procefs of the Ancients ; lut when this
Procefs of Patacelfus is by indttftry and ingenuity raifed to fuch
perfettion, that no more Aridity can remain to hide any Acidity in
it, lut on the contrary, the whole Body is converted into two Oyls
or Fats, from which all Acidity may eajily le voafhed away with
common Water, then is there no inhumation to le feared from Acids.
The Saying of Paracelfus , we fuppofe is to le referred to this

Method,

Method, he having there treats el of it onpurpofe\ efpec tally
faid that the oleaginous EfTences of Metals are to be extracle
by Watry, 'that AT, acid or corrofire Menftruums, but that the
watry Effences of Herbs, that /j, lefs oyley in refpecl of Metals,
mufl be mads by Oleaginous, that is Vegetable Menftruums,
which things being not in common terms, but obfcurely enough deli-
we red) we do therefore ' leave them to be better explained by his
Difciples ; but if they were to be under flood according to the Lef-
ter, it would certainly be an Err our ^ not indeed to be connived at
in the Prince of Adepts : But according to the Proverb, We are
Men,^3V. Forfowetimes good Homer himfelf has nodded, and
the Pen of Paracelfus has wanted mending.

The

222 )

The Fifteenth KIND.

'Simple Mineral Menftruums made of the
Spirit of Philosophical Wine, and
Acid Spirits, us Aqua fortis, Spirit of
Nitre, Spirit of Sulphur, Salt,
diftilled Vinegar,

, %

73. Aqua fort is mix* with the Spirit of

Wine 0/Paracelfus.
. Paracelftca, Pag. 37. AureiVel.Germ.

TAke thebeft Wine (the red er white 0/Lully) reHfy till
a Linncn Cloath burneth, being dipp'd therein and
kindled : This Spirit is called the Ejfence of Wine.
Take of Vitriol two Pounds, of Nitre one Pound, from which
diftil Aqua fortis into the aforefaid Effence of Wine ^ then digeft
ten Days, that they may be well united.

Annotations.

THat the Adepts acuated the Spirit cfPhlofophical Wine
divers ways as weB with Oyly as Dry things, we have given
plenty enough of Examples in the antecedent Kinds of Vegetable
Menftruums , // jhaU now be declared, in the following Menftru-
ums, which ways this Spirit is to le acuated by Acids. In this Fif-
teenth Kind we will joyn the unttuous Spirit of Philofophical Wine
withfome Acid Spirits^ that ly the help of their aridity it way dif-
fohe and perfect Aridsfoonerand eajier than before without. Para-

celfus

celfijs itt our Receipt htettJntg to ajjwa^e the excejjive effer~uefcettc&
in diffol-uing the Spirit c/Philofophical Wine in Aqua fortis, di-
ftilld the Aqua fortis into the Spirit of Wine, that they might lotk
by degrees le wixd together, which leivg thus mixd one with the
other , he digefled moreover the f pace of ten Days. The fame Men-
ftruum is defcribed by Trithemius.

74. Aqua for tit mix'd with the Spirit of Wine
of Tvitbemi&s.

Pag. 46". Aurei velkrit Germ.

Akeof the Spirit of Wine three Pounds, of Vitr/olznd N/-
J_ tre one Pound, diftil the Spirits of the Aquafortis Lto
the aforefaid Aqua vitce, digeft eight Days. '

"This quantity of 'Aqua iortis is inefficient to diffol-ve three Pounds
of the Spirit of Wine, Ounces perhaps are to'le underflood for fo ma-
ny Pounds. No Art is here required, provided the Acid and Oyly le
mix V together. Informer times the Adepts ufed diflilled Vinegar ^ .
itjjlead 0/Aqua fortis,/^/- this -Menftruum, thus :

75. Vinegar mix'd with the Spirit of Wine

of Bafilius.
Cap. de We in E/fig.in Repet. LafiJis.

DEr Wein Eflig. (yinegarmnc^ a Jingle un dec Unable Word*^) is,
not the Phiiofophers Vinegar, which is another Liquor,
viz. the Matter it felf of the Stone, becaufe the Phiiofophers
Stone is made of the Phiiofophers Azof ; but Vineganvine, is
made of common Azot diftilled [common Vinegar} and Spirit of
Wine (that h, Philofofhical^) And elfewhere, Lilro de particu-
lar ibus de particul. Generis. I fpoke even now, /^/f/;^,Paraboli-
cally of this preparation, in Lilro Cla-vium (in- Repetitione*) Capite
de Wein Effig. where I (aid that common Azot (Vinegar^ is not
the Matter of the Stone, but our Azrt or fir(l Matter extraded .
out of common Azot and Wine, which compofition is called the
exprefled Juice of unripe Grapes, with which the Body of Venus
is to be diflblved, and reduced into Vitriol (then into our Azot,

the

( 224.)

the fir ft Matter of the Stone, Philojupkers Mercury, Spirit of Mercu-
ry wade of Vitriol, &c.) which you mud very well oblerve, that
you may be free from many troubles and dangers. The PMlo-
lophers Mercury, faith he, Lilrode Conclufwnilus, Sett. 2. deVi-
triolo Phi^of&phurum, v or rurft Matter ot.the Stone muft be made
by Art, for' our Azotls not common Vinegar, but extracted by
Virtue of common Azot.

Though therefore a Philofqphical Menftruutn may le made of
common Azot or diftilled Vinegar, and the Spirit of Philoiophical
Wine, as alfofufficient and qualified for the diffolutions of fome Bo-,
dies, yet being lejsjbarp, efperially in the Alcbjmical ufe of Metals
and Miner als,infle ad therefore of Vinegar the Adepts took Aqua for-
tis, thefooner to finifh their Operations. You mud know, faith
Ifaacus Hollandus, that our Ancettors laboured in the Art divers
ways, and yet came to one and the fame end, but their Stone
made not projection always alike, one making a deep, another a
ftrong projection, as the Works \JMenftruums) were fharp, or of
a deep Colour : fome fweatalong time with pains, before they
produced the Stone : others ihortned the time by jharpnefs of
Wit, as it is now done every day with fweat and pains. Some
of our Anceftors wrought three Years, fome four, before they
acquired the Stone, for in thofe days Aquafortis was unknown,
and they ufed nothing but diitill'd Vinegar; but now their Succef-
fors have found out Aquafortis, which hath much abbreviated the
Work. Cap. 6. Lib. ^. Oper. min. pag. 413 Volnm. 3. Theat.
Chym. Even at that time Bodies wore to be opened (lowly,
namely, by calcination, reverbt ration, folution in our lharp Vi-
negar \Jfinegar mix d with the Spirit 0/Philofcphical Wine) which
their pofterity olferving and conjidering, qukkned their Wits$ and
found out Aqua fortis, which did much abbreviate the way to
them. Cup. 77. Lib.i. Oper. min. pav, 358. of the fame Vo-

hand

To make theprefentKinctofMzn&Timms, the Adepts diffofoed
this Spirit cf Pmlofo'phica] Wine, not in Vinegar and Aqua fortis
only, but in any acid Spirit not tinging* as of Salt, Sulphur, &c. It

is thus prepared ;

. 76. The

*j 6. The Spirit of Salt of Bafilius.
Lib. partic. inparticul. Sofa.

TAke of the Spirit of Salt accurately dephlegmed one
of the bed Spirit of'tPhihfopbicafyffltie without any
Phlegm, or of the Sulphur of Wine half a part, the Veflels being
luted, diftil with a (Irong Fire, fo as that nothing remains.

If ^ou add new Spirit of Wine to the dift illation, and digeft for

fome time, it lecomesfweet : It is therefore requifite to dijfbfoe the

Spirit ofiVim in the Spirit of Salt without digeft ion., left the acidity

- or brackijhnefs of this Spirit be loft. GuidojotnettMes took his Cu>

culatum eith&r minus or majus, infteadofthe Spirit 0/Pliilofophi-

cal Wine, into which he dift illed the Spirit of Salt.

77. The Spirit of Salt of GUI Jo.
Pag. 7. Thefauri Cbym.

TAke of the lefs Vegetable Menftrttum (in tfuntlr. 36.) or the
great (in Nuwl. 38.) one Pound, put it in a large Recei-
ver. Then take of common Salt, or Sal Gemma, of the Stone of
TrtyolyfA each four Pounds, diftil in an Earthen Retort with an
open Fire, firft gentle, tilJ all the Phlegm is drawn off, then put
the Receiver with the Circulatum to it, and diftil thr Spirits, till
not a drop of the Oyl of Salt afcends, and you will have an acu-
ated Menftruum.

To make thefe Menftruums ftronger, theyfowetitnesfcparatcd or
drew off the Acid f torn the Oleofum,/to the Spirit of Philofophi-
cal Wine might remain in the form of Oyl or Ice, thus :

78. Aquafortis mix'd with the Spirit of Wine

of Lully.
InElucidat.Teftam.-pag. 147. Artis aurifer.

TAke of Vitriol one part, of Nitre one part, of Alume a
fourth part, mix them all well together, and diftil with a
gentle Fire, till the Liquor is gone over, then give aftronger, and
laftly moil (Irong, till the Alembick grows white, for then is

H h rhe

the Aquafortis prepared. Then take of the aforefaid Water
one pound, put it in a large Cucurbit, and pour it upon four
ounces of Aqua Vita, {Aqua ardsns} four times diflilled, and
put an Alembick on with its Receiver, then will it make great
noifes, boy ling exceeding 'violently without Fire , and there-
fore the Waters ought to be mixed by little and IktJe. Then
put it into a lefs Cucurbit, and put on an Alerabiek with its.
Receiver, and diftil the Water in Balneo, that a Matter may
remain alone at the bottom of the Veflel in the form oPlce ;
pour back the water, and diftil again, and this repeat nine
times, then will an Oyl or Matter like Ice remain in the bot-
tom.

7%is Menftruum of Lully is clear, and therefore requires nor
wr Explanation. But it is defer He d ly an^Anonjmous in Rhena-
nus, thus ;

79. Aqua fortis mixed with the Spirit <?/ Wine of

an Anonymous Author.
Libro de Princifiis Nature , & Arte Alcbym.
28. Syntagm. Harm Joh. Rhenani.

TAke; arr equal Quantity of Niter and Alume , diftil'the
Phlegm, till the ftrong and diffolving Spirits afcend,
and fetr before them new and clean diftilled water, and force
the Spirits into it with a moft ftrong Fire. Then take the Spi-
rits of Witt being well purged, and artificially diftilled in Bal-
aeo, take four ounces of them to one pound of Aqua fortis,
put them into alarge Cucurbit, apply an Alembick to it, ftop,
and put it into cold water, and let them boyl till they will ,
boyl no more : Then put it in Balneo, and diftil the water,
fo that the Spirits may remain yet moift, then pour the water
firft drawn off, to them again, and da as before, and that
feven times, continually diftilling with a gentle Fire, till no-
thing more will diftil,, but the Matter remains like an Oyl in
the bottom.

Erom

( **} )

From the Receipts we obferve thefe remarkable Things :

1. That the Spirit of Philofophical Wine diflolved in an add
Spirit, is a mineral Menftruum. Our Aqua fortis, our Vinegar^
diftilkd Vinegar, Vinegar mixed with the Spirit of Wine , our
Spirit of Salt, Sulphur > &c.

2. That the Spirit of the y^weWine, is with very great ebulliti-
on diffohed in an Aei^and therefore you ought to be exceeding cart-
filleft you pour too much of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine upon
the Aqua fortis, and vice verfa : For it would be more fafe to d>
flil the qua fortis upon the Spirit </ Philofophical Wine, as Pa-
racelfus advifeth.

3. That Aqua fortis mix*d with the Spirit of Wine, may le ta-
ken inflead of Vinegar mix d with the Spirit of Wine, or Spirit of
Salt mixd with the Spirit of Wine. &> f. in Chymical Works efpe-
dally.

4. That the more thefe Menftruums are abftraftedfrom the Acid
debilitated in dijfoltttion, tkeflronger they are made.

5. That the Adepts ufed alfo corrofae Menftruums or Aqua
fortis. There are fom? y not only common ignorant Operators^ but
Adepts alfoy who not knowing the Preparation and Vfe of tbefe
Menftruums, haw written againfl thefe Lorrofi've Menftruums.
Fools, faith Bernhard, do out of the leis Minerals make and ex-
trat corrofive waters, into which they caft the Species of Me-
tals, and corrode them ; for they think them to be diflblved
by a natural folution ; which folution doth- indeed require per-
manence together, that is, of the diflblvent -*nd the diflblved;
.that from both, as the Mafculine and Feminine Seed a new

;ies may refult. Verily I tell you no water diflblves a
M.ialltck Species by a natural reduction, but that which con-
tinues in matter and form, and which the Metals themfelves,
being diflblved, aie able, to re-congeal. Which Quality is not in
^ttafortt/etjyot is rather injurious to the Compofition, that is,
of the Body diflblve^ ^- Yet thus they think they diflblve,

jniftaking Nature; but they diflblve not, becaufe the Aqua for-
tifies being abftra&ed, the Body melts,as before; nor will that
water.be permanent- to it, nor is it to that Body as radical Moi-
fturer The Bodies :;:c indeed corroded, but not diflblved, and

Hh 2, lo

( "8 )

fo much the more alienated from a Metallick Species. Where-
fore fuch folutions as thefe are not the foundation of the tranf-
mutative Art, but rather Impoftures of Sophiftical Alchymifls,
who think this facred Art lies in thefe things, &c. Epifl. aft
Thorn. de Bononia,pag. do. Artis Aurifer. So in the Regeneration
of Metals, faith Sendivegitts, Vulgar Chymifts proceed amifs,
they diflblve Metallick Bodies, either Mercury, or Gold, or
Saturn,or Luna,and corrode them with Aqtta fortijfes,znd other
heterogeneous things not requifite to true Art, then they joyn
and force them together, not knowing that man is not genera-
ted from the Body of a man diflefted, &c. Tratt. 6.ja&. 488.
VoL^ TfcChym.

Some do by Art corroding Waters wake y
In which Metalline Species they calcine ;
But then the Liquor doth the Earth forfake,
Nor ly mans Skill together they will combine :
This way to Feols we leave, for nothing fo 9
But for to waft ones Thrift, beware of it.
Page 41. of the fecondPart oi the Marrow of Alcbymy.

Thefe and the like Expre/wns they refleftagainft our Mineral or
Acid Menftruums, whereat they were written by the Philofophers
againft Common not Philofbphical Aqua fortifies. In that Point,
faith LuHy, they ignorantly err, imagining the Bodies of Me-
tals to be diilblved, and as I faid beiore, reduced to their firfl
Matter or Nature with Common Aqua fortifies; but if they had
read our Books, they would certainly know that thefe Liquors
are repugnant to the intention of the Philofophers, &c. Comp.
Anm. Jrunfm.pGg. 194. Vol. 4. Th.Chym. Parifinus, a faithful
Dtfciple of LulJy, explains his Meaning thus : Thofe tilings that

are objebedby us againft A^ua fortifies, namely, that they are of
no ekaey in the Art, and neverthdefs are taught by Lully^ are
to be otherwife underftood : For he this way puts a difference
betweea the Vulgar and Philofophical Aqua fortijfts^ &c. And
tlierefore Ray?mnd rejecting iharp Waters, means the Aqua for-
tiffes of iepararion, but not thofe of the Philofophers, Cap. 6.
Lib. i. Elttcid pag. ^Q6. Vol. 6. Th. Chym. But it would be meetly
faperfluous for us, either ly Authorities or Arguments to il/uflrate
that which the Menftruums themfehes will dewcnflrate.

The

The Sixteenth K I N D.

Simple Mineral Menftruums made of
rhilofophical Vinegar , and Vola-
tile Salts , as Common Sal Armo-
niack, Urine ,

80. The Oyl of Sal Armoniac^of Guido,
Pag. ii. Tbefaur. Cbymiatr.

TAke of the Oyl of Salt (the Menftrum deferred m
71. ) ha'f a pound, of ( Cowmen ) Sal Arwoniack four
ounces. Diflblve the Salt in the Oyl , cohobate the
Diflolution three times through an Alembick.

Annotations..

IN the attecedent Kind, the Spirit of Philofophieal Wine.ivAf
diffohcd in Acids : flow to make thefe Qyley-acid Menftru-
ums jlronger , the Adepts added to them Salts^ that is, Arids
diffolved in Acids ', and Criftallized. In this prefect Kind they
took Volatile Salts, as leing ofeajier preparation^ in the following:
fixed Salts, lecaufe offlronger 'virtue. In the Receipt of Guido,
there is nothing either difficult or dark, unlefs you mil cljeft agfiinji
the Ingredients, which cannot le loth cowmen, lecavfe Guido Jul-
. limes Gold Philofop hie ally with this Menftruum. Whatjcever alfo
you read in the Books of Practical Chymy , under/land always
according to the Letter ( we need not c.dwomjb yen to except
the Terms of Art ) iffo y that which is fromifed in the Preparation

and

r 230 y

# ufe wa~t te performed ; ifnotjeek an Analogical fi^fe not in the
rnetbt d and ufe of preparation^ lut tn the ingre dicr.t s ; according to
which Rule either the Oy/^Salt, or Sal Armoihack, or loth ought to
le Philofophical, lecaufe Gold cannot lePhilojvpkicullyfullin.ctlirztb
Common Menftruums. The Oyl of Salt ^'Paracdfas, as alfo the
Spirit or Oyl 0f Salt ^"Bafilius, wherewith he extra ft s tie SMphttr
tfSoly do prove the QylofSskto le a Philolopiiical Menflruum,
Cap. 6. dc Rebus nat! & fupernat.

Prolalk it is that Guido meant the fame Oyl, for othermfe the
Name of Oyl had leen improperly attributed ly a Philvfopher to the
thin and common Spirit of Salt. But if you think rather that Gui-
do meant the common Spirit of Salt ly thepyl <?f Salt, you muft ly
Sal Armoniack understand not the commonfiut Vegetable Sal Har-
moniack (the Spirit o/Philofophical Wine dryed with feme Salt,
and then fullimed^ for fo you wight alfo make a Menflruum of the
fame if not offtronger Virtue, ajpecies of the following Eighteenth
Kind: But if both the Oyl of Salt and Sal Armoniack le Thilofo-
phical, ^Menftruum Mile from thence produced yet ftronver than
both the precedent : Here you may deviate frowthe true and genuine
fenfe of the Receipt , lut never from Chymical Truth, fo long & you
are guided ly the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, lut here yon muft
have a great care that you do not tranfmute (^ fometimes through
inadvertence you may) the falfe Receipts of deceitful Diftillers into
true ones ; an impoflille into apoffille ; a lye into truth ; and a wick-
ed Man into a Philofopber.

Sometimes they impregnated common Sal Ar moniack with a
Tincture, to make a Menftruum higher ^ thus :

81. The Water of Sal Armoniac^ oflfaacus.
Cap. 47. 2. Oper min. fag, 4^0. Vol. 3. Theat. Chym.

TAke S.il Am-- fubiime it with Roman Vitriol^ one

Pound cfSs.l Armoniack^ to two Pounds of Vitriol, then
grind upon a Stone the Faeces, and fublime again, then throw
away the Fxces, and fublime again with two Pounds of new
Vitriol, do as before, repeating nine times : p~ ilverize

moniack, and put the Powder into a GMs, v.ur uponitdiflilled
Vinegar^PhUofopliica^or feme Menfiruum c i iii-3 Fifteenth Khid)

fo as only to be diffohed, and no more, than that the Sat A&
mox/ack may be turned only into WateVas yellow as Sol 9 be-
caufe the SalArmoniack was fublimed by Vitriol, and that pro-
duced the Tindure : And this is that Water of Sal Armoniack*,
which I promifed before to teach you how to make.

From tile Receipts we obferve ;.

r. That the Oyl or Eflence 0/Salt becomes a ftronger Menflruurrr
try the addition of Volatile Salts.

i. That this ought to be underftood alfoofthe Menflruums oftbs
fifteenth precedent Kind.

3. That thefe Menftruums^re the fame mth the Vegetable Men-
ftruums of the fourth Kind 9 exceptingonly that they have art Acid ad-
ded over and above.

4. That thefe Menflruums are ofmofl eafy preparation.^ being
made by three cohobations only.

5*. That it is very difficult for a Man to err, being experienced in
the more fecret Chymy, for he that under ft ands the pr a ft ice of this
Art, willeafilj explain the Receipt of every Adept, be it never foob-
fcttre, either by the /e, or title, or way of preparing ; for it is in a
manner impojfible, not to draw fowe Light from one or other of the
faid three, or dire ft ion enough tofndthejawe Receipt more clear in
the Writings either of the fame orfqwe other Adept : And indeed
though we fowetimes meet with Receipts^ which in title, way of pre-
paration, and ufe, feem to be like the Receipts of vulgar Chymiftry,yet
a Defciple of our Art will eajily determine either for the approbati-
on or reprobation of thefe Receipts : For there are infallible Signs to
diftinguifkatruefrom a falfe Menftruum j this one following fbatt
herefuffice : The quality of a good Menftruum is to diflblve Bodies
either gently or violently, and make them not only Volatile* but fat
alfoy yea reduce them into a true Oyl either fwimmivg upon, or (inking
under watery Liquors. This At tribute of a Menftruum & inconjijient
to any common dijjolvent> but proper to the Philofophical, and to them
alone, being made of the unfti-.ous Spirit of Pbuiofoplucal Wine,
which Spirit alone doth by its permanence make the dry Sulphur of a
Metal both thinner and fatter : That Menftruum therefore in the
ufe of which are promifed Jucb things.^ as cannot be performed ly corn-
won

won Menftruums, may te truly called Philofophical, with a caution
tr two to be obferved.

I. That the Receipt mufl be of fane known and not fuf petted Au-
thor ', not of every fmoak-fc Her jromijing great ami many things with'
out a Foundation, wherefore every Receipt wanting its Author ity y
though it mayfeem like a true one> yet we think ought to be re jetted
Offufpicious.

x. That the Receipt mufl not le alone^ defer ibed not in one but di-
vers places by the fame Author , or at leafl mofl clear in its ingredi-
ents : Per the fame Names have one fignif cation with one, but. ano-
ther with another Adept ; fo long therefore as it is not known ly col-
lateral places ', what an Author means by his Matters, fuch a Mans
Rfceipts we declare uncertain.

3. That the Receipt mufl import a competent Rule in operating^
tkat is y declare whether Matters are to le volatilized in part or in
the whole y but whatfoever are moreobfcure and concife we lay afide as

The

Simple Mineral Menftruums madeofPbi-
lofophical Vinegar, and fixed Salts not ting-*
ing, as well Vegetable at Mineral.

82. The Aqua Comedens of Paracelfa*
Lib. 10. Arch. fag. 37.

Y Aqua Comedens(Eat\ng or Corroding Water) we mean
Vinegar mix'd with the Spirit of (Philosophical^ Wine^

which muft be drawn from common Salt fo often, till

it is ditiolved, and comes over by diftillation in the Vinegar.

Annotations.

THe Philofophical Vinegar, or Vinegar wix'd with the Spirit
of Philofophical Wmz,whichyou acuated with Volatile Salts
in the precedent Kind, is made ftronger ly the mixing of fixed Salts
fo called. We have defer ibed fever al fegf^/p Menftruums made
with Akali Saks in. their fifth Kind^ which if prepared with Philo-
fophical Vinegar injlead of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, will
produce Mineral Menftruums of this Kind y though prepared another
way, with this only difference^ that -they are made more flowly with
the Spirit . of Philofophical Wine, lut with Philofophical Vinegar
mmh fooner^ye^ immediate ly^ if either Common or Philofophical Vi-
negar bejoynedto the Vegetable Menftruums. Aqua comedens, er
Eating Water, is the third Menftruum that we have olferixd tv Is
made of common Salt. The firji is in the fifth Kind of Vegetable

I i Menftruums,

Menftruums, where cowmen Salt being fufed and refohed per deli-
quium, is by Virtue of 'the Spirit <?/Philofbphical Wine. reduced in-
to the Oyl or Effence of Salt, which by being fowetimes cohobated
with the fame Spirit, becomes fweet, and is tranf muted into the Ar-
canum 0f Salt, or Circulatum minus made of common Salt. The
fecond is in the fourteenth Kind, where the aforefaidOyl of Salt is left
in its acid (rather f aline} Eilence. 'The third y which is taught in
theprefcnt Ki>id^ agrees with the fr ft [ , except only that it is prepared
not with the- Spirit of Philolbphical Wine, but Philofophical Vine-
gar, andfo^fconer than t hatband in ufe isftronger, at a Mineral Men-
itruum. Difjohe the Arcanum of Salt y or Salt circulated in any
Acid not tinging ; for ex ample ^cowmen Vinegar difti/l > d,Spir}t of Ni-
ter, Sulpkur,Saltfac. and it will produce the Eating Water by fim-
ple mixtion ; on tlx contrary. ij 'you weaken, or take away the Acid of
the EaiiH^WiHter, either by precipitating it with common Spirit of
Wine, common Water, &c. or dige fling it ly it felf, you will have
the Arcanum of Salt, or Water ef Salt circulated. That which has
leenfaid of common Salt^ is alfo te fa under ft ood of Niter, Alume,and
all other Salts not tinging. The Receipt of the Eating Water is clear
ofitfelf, except that in the, Latin Tranflation, a Salis Nitri Spiritu
is read amifs, the German Authors own Writing having it a Sale
communi, .Von gemeinen Saltz : The Error it is requifoe you
fhould cor reft*

Menftruums of this Kind are made not only of Mineral Salts not
tinging, lut alfo of Vegetable Alcalies, thus :

8 3. The fixative Water of Tritfamys*
Pag. 37. Aurei Vetter. Germ.

Aquafortis mk'd with the Spirit, of Wine, (defer He d
above in tfuml. 74.) whereto add of the Oyl of Tartar
per delirium half a Pound, diftil the Spirit, throw away the
Phkgm, and difiblve the remaining Earth or Salt in the Spirit.

Keep tke folution for thefxing of things ; lut for volatilization
tht Suit of Tar tar wuft lecoholatedfo oft, till it afcends as the ctm~
won Salt in the Eating Water.

Hereto is rejerred the Menftruum> called

84. The

( 235 )

84- The Aqua Mirabilit of Ifaacus.
Cap. 2p. 2 Oper. Min. <& pag.?i. Manws Phil.

TAke old Urine, diflil with a weak Fire, then a flronger,
that whatfoever can, may afcend; redifie the defoliation,
taking away all the Fatnefs or Oyl, till it leaves no Fxces be-
hind it. The Caput Mortuum left in the bottom, calcine the
fpace of two hours, but without fufion of the Salty draw all
the faknefs from the calcined Matter, with common Water ;
evaporate the Liquor to a thin skin, that the Salt maybe Cri-
flalized, repeat lometimes, that the Salt may be made moft
pure, which diflblve in the diftilled Urine. Then take of
this regenerated Urine fix pounds, of diftilled Vinegar, and
Spirit of ( Philofophical ) Wine^ of each three meaiures, of
Common Salt two pounds , of Sal Armoniack and calcined
Tartar, of each half a pound, diflblve them all together into
an AquaMiratilis*

The. like Water almoft bath Bafilius, lut that he diflils his
through an Aiembick ; the Description of which followeth.

85. The Refufcitative Water . of Bafilius.
Pag. 8 I . Currus Triumphal^ Antim.

TAke of the Salt of Mans Urine clarified and fublimed, of
Sal Armoniack , and Salt of Tartar, of each one part,
mix the Salts, pour ilrong Philofophical ) Vinegar Co them,
lute with lut urn fapientfay digeftthe Salts fora Month in a con-
tinual heat, then diftil the Vinegar by Allies, till the Salts re-
main dry, then mix them with three parts of Venetian Earthy
force them with a ilrong Fire through the Retort, and you will
have a wonderful Spirit lor the making of Running Mercury out
of Antimony. The fame Water we fnd alfo, pag. 39. of hu Ma-
nual Operations.

The Adepts have fowetimes ufed fome crude Qylcy Matter in-
ftead of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine in waking thefe Men-

li 2, ftruums;

ftruums ; thus Paracelfus volatilized four Salts into a Menftruum
of this Kind with Wax dijjched in Aqua fortis.

86". The Water of Sallabrum of Par ace If.

LilrO de reJuftione MetaUorum in Argentum vi-
vum, five Traftatu 4. Rofarii novi Olympic} Be-
ned. Figuli,fag. 24.

TAke notice there is no fliorter Method of reducing Metals
into Mercury, knownto us, than that which we uied in.
our Book de putrefaftzone quatuor Satiuw, which we there called
Sallalrum, as thus ; each of thofe ( Salts, as lover ) muft be
converted into a pure Water or O}1 {'per deliqumm} which,
being mixed in equal weight, are called Lac Vtterum,-w
Milk of the Ancients : Which Philofophical Milk put into a
ftrong Receiver, and diilil the Spirits of calcined Vitriol, cal-
cined Alume, and the heft Niter, ana, ftv r e times upon it, and
the mixture will be called Flying Eagle, carrying Mttals in its
Talons aloft; fuch a Metal being iublim'd, grind to powder,
from which draw the Spirit of ftrong Wine being poured to it
the height of a FingeK, three or four times gently in Balnto,
and you will have a quick or running Metal as common Mer-
cury. , Now the Eagle is made volatile thus : To the / ' hilofc-
fibers #////acuated with the laid Spirits, or Eagle, pour Wax,
being very well liquefied and purged, about the thicknefs ot a
Finger, diftil the Phlegms together with the Spirits by a Cu-
curbit in Balneo, which Matter muft be cohobated io oiten,
till they are ajl coagulated or well mixed ; and you will have
the Pkilofopkers Borax, \\hich we wrote of in our Book devir-.
tute Vitrioli, wherein \\\Q Volatile Eagle abfconded it ielf with
its Feathers, namely, S pints- Now take the Calx of what Me-.
tal you pleafe, made of Aqua, fort is, one part, of the Flying
Eagle half a part, ITLX, putrefie nine days, the longer the bet-
ter, then lubiime the Matter upon Sand in a Cucurbit well lu-
ted, and ali the Metal you took will afcend, w here with pro-
ceed as before. Sallalrum defcribed in the B ok mentioned,
utref aft tone quatuor Salium ) Take Sal F*ter, Sal Gemma,

common

( 237 )

common Salt, Tot-A[hes, an equal quantity of each, diffolve
every one by it felly and purge it from all Terreflreity , out
of all being mixed together, make a clear and tranfparent Wa-
ter, which again -coagulate in a clean VefTel, and you will find
the Salt of another colour, namely, yellow, penetrating, and
fweetning, diifolving and. -fixing : Love and efteem this Salt ,
becaufe there are many Secrets in it ; for it fixeth the Volatile,
and vivifieth the Spirit being dead ; and moilifieth the hard
and friable, and freeth from any Leprofie and Poylon, fixeth
Arfenick, and moreover is the promoter of many famous
works to a happy and defued End.

In the fir fl place, let its adw.cnijh you to leware cf this and fuch
like Menitruums -,for a Myftery lies in tbeje Receipt s> nhkh to ol-
ferve is neceffary, left you begin to doult the Truth cf them ajter
many mofl dangerous Experiments tried in i-ahi : for you Beginners-
let this fuffice ', that it is iwpojfille for H ax, or any other <yley
Matter to fupply the place , of the Spirit of Philofo pineal Wine.
There would be no need of this Spirit in the irbo/e Art, if crude
oyley things could perform the fame as this mojt pure and mojt un-
iluous Liquor. No man lut he that is expert m the Method of
preparing the Spirit <?/Philofophical Wine, can nuke theft .Men--
llruums, whereof, all the reft may le made ly any Idect, // he /'.
lut the Spirit of this Wine given him. The Adepts do m i.
Receipts loth prepare and acuate this Spirit of Wine ; no wonder
therefore that they either wholly omitted ths Myftery, or not Juffi-
eientl} exprejs'd itin their Compo{itions ; for which rcajon alfo thefe
Menftruums do appertain to the preparation of the Spirit of Phi-
lofophical Wine, rather than as all the reft to the Vje of this Spi-
rit, or cornpofowns of thefe Menftruums; nor fhmld I have re-
wemlred them here, had they not leen detrimental 'to many men $
and that to my own knowledge. The Name Saliabrum is given
quafi Salis labrum, or Salt -Cellar, not that Salt is 'to le contained
in this Veffel, as Candelabrum, or Candle flick is jo called, le^auje
Candles are Jet in it, lut rather lecoufe the Eilence or F^re ofjorr.e
Metals, or fome Chymcial Light is either to le referred,
.in this Sallabrum, as Aiume is ly liaacus in Man.-
pag i8. called Lucerna, Jign/fyinga Lanthorn. '

Concerning this Sallabrum,Thomas Aquinas in hil
pag. -1065. frol. 4. 77;. Chym. Thus j

Adde:

f 238 )

Adde labrum Salis quanta fit fexta duorum
Conjunge poneq; fimui

In the fame place he calls this Sallabrum the Medium of joy mug
TindureSf the middle between two Extreams, between hard and
foft, between Luna and the Spirit, between the Body and Spirit :
As the Menflrual Blood is the Medium between the Sperm of the
Male and Female, fo this our Salt, pag. 1085". Sallabrum he calls
thmdring Salt, illuminating Stone, and fatnefs of the Eagle, pag.
1087. Sal Alembrot, the Stone Bore (Borax) and fatnefs of the
Eagle, pag. 1097. Tincar, Borax,

This Sallabrum or Saline Labrum is by Paracelfus made of
thefe Salts, Niter, Sal gemme, common Salt, and Alcali,

Guido ufed thefe four following in his reduction of Metals into
Mercury : Common Salt, Alcali, Sal armoniac, and Salt of Tar-
tar, pag. 2,3. Thef. Chym.

Thomas Aquinas took the fame Salts as Guido, for his La-
brum Salis. The Affinity which I obfenje between the Salts of
Paracelfus, Gemme and Common, I perceive alfo between the Salt
of Tartar, and Alcali of Guido ; but the foundation of the Re-
ceipt is not grounded upon thefe four Salts. Paracelfus was fome*-
times fatisjied with Niter and common Salt fufed and refolded to-
gether per deliquium. Nor does the Mjflery of the Receipt lie in
the Wax, in the room of which if you choje any oyley thing elje, you
will not err. Injhad of the Jame, hefometimes ufed Litifeed-Qyl in
the Water of the Jixth gradation ; but of this hereafter.

From the Receipts we obferve,

j.. That thefe Menftruums are fimple Vegetable Menftruums of
the Fifth Kind dijfolved in Acids. Dz/bfoe any of them in common
Aquafortis, and you will have a Menflruum cf this Kind -, but
take away the Acid, and it willlt a Vegetable Menftruum again,
as it was before.

2,. That thefe Menftruums are by reafeti of the Acidity loth
fooner made, and do more powerfully operate than the fai(i Men-
flruums of the Fifth Kind.

* That

3. That they are not always made of the Spirit of Philofbphical
Wine, lut alfo with any common Oyley Matter ', provided it le un-
dertaken ly an Artifl expert in the Method of making the Spirit of
Philofophical Wine.

4. That thefe Menftruums do ly their own flrength without
any addition of Common Argent vive, reduce Metals and Mine-
rals into running Mercury.

5. That Metals dijfohed in thefe Menftruums, and fullmed^
are properly enough called Philofophical Mercuryes, becaufe as
Common Mercury fublimate, fo thefe are moft eafily refufcitated
into running Argent vive.

The?

< 24 )

The Eighteenth Kind.

Simple Mineral Menftrums made of Ve-
getable Sal Harmoniack, and Acids not
tinging.

87. The Aqua fortis of Ifaacus Hollandus.
Caf. 122. Oper. Min. fag. 3^7. Vol. 3. Th.Cbym.

MAke an Aqua forth with an equal quantity of Saljfar-
moniack, and Sd/ Niter, dry the Sal Niter to a dry
Powder, then mix the Sal Harmoniack difcreetly among the
Pawcier of the Sal Niter, fo as to be well mixed together, and
incorporated one with the other; then diftil; not luting the
Receiver clofe to the Beak, before it begins to diftil ,- tor if
you lute the Receiver at fir ft to the Beak of the Alembick,
there are windy wild Spirits in the Matter, which would break
the Receiver ; but having diftilled a little while, lute the Beak
without fear, and diftil the Water according to Art.

Annotations

Annotations.

BEfides the Philofophers Vinegar, there is a Sal Harmoniack,
under the Name of which is Comprehended the Spirit of Phi-
lofophical Wine, the root of all Menftrums, being concentrated \
dried in an Arid, and fublimed into an admirably Salt. This pre-
fent Kind treats of this Salt , not common Sal Armoniack, dip
folved in common Acids, not tinging. We have alfo made indeed
Philofophical Menftruums before of common Sal Armoniack,
ly the help of Philofophical Vinegar, or an Acid mixd with the
Spirit of Philofophical Wine, but the Menftruums of this Kind are
flronger than they, the Spirit of Philofophical Wine being fubli-
med into a Vegetable Sulphur or Mercury, is made better, as be-
ing acuated either with #;*Alcali, or fome fixed Arid, and for this
reafon being dijfolved in an Acid, it yields alfo a more noble Men-
flruum. Ilaac in our Receipt mixeth Vegetable Sal Harmoniack
withfo much o/Sal Niter , for the Vegetable Salt to le ly fubfe-
quent diftillation diffolved in the Mineral Acid ofS&\ Niter ; but
becaufe this way of diffolving, is by reafon of the fudden ebullition
of the oyley and acid y too dangerous , he durfl not therefore lute
the Receiver clofe to the Beak , but the like effervefcence
appearing in the diftillation, of common Sal Armoniack ,
and Sal Niter, we muft prove, that by S.al Harmoniack Ifaacus
meant not the Common, but Philofophical ; which we prove frftlj
the Vfe 0//^Menftruum : Of 'which faith Ifaack thus ; Diflolve
your Sol in the Water made, and put it in Balneo, with a glafs
Alembick upon it ; kindle the Balneo no more than that you
may endure your hand in it, and lute the Receiver very firmly
to the Beak, and a little hole being made above in th'e Alem-
bick, put a glafs Funnel therein, whereby other Aquafortis
may upon occafion be poured in, and keep the Balneo in that
heat aforefaid a day and a night, and when you fee your Aqua
fortis brought to a fmall quantity ( by diftilling ) as it was
when you dillblved the Sol in it, pour to it new Aquafortis*
and let it gradually diftil a day and a night in Balneo p and*
when it is thick again, pour Aqua fortis agpin to the Matter,
doing in all refpeds as before ; repeat it three times, always

K k pouring

pouring to it new Aqu* forth, but the third time diflil it dry
( to ficcity ) then let the Body cool, and take the Receiver
from the Beak, and flop it firmly with wax, remove the A-
lembick from the Pot , and then take a Drachm or Scruple
of the Matter out of the Pot, and put it in a glafs Phial, pour
contmpn cliftilled water to it, and fet it on a Fornace in Allies,
and let the water boyl half an hour : Then let it cool of its own
accord, -and (land a clay and a night, and a Powder will fettle
in the bottom of the Veflel ; pour off the top of the water
gently, and the red evaporate with a lukewarm heat, to dry
your Powder: Being dry, take it out, and heating a filver
Plate, put a little of your Powder upon it, and look earneflly
whether the Powder fumes not , if you perceive it fume, have
a care of your felf, for the fume may kill you, &c. pag. ^97*
of the fame Volume. Then be gees <?;;, Cap. 14. fiy&g > Then put

^ '

your Matter or Powder in it ( the f Miming Vejfil^) with 'a
Targe- and clean Alembick upon it very well luted, fo as to be
certain that no Spirits can pierce the lating; for they are fub-
til beyond defcription, and fliould they penetrate, and you re-
ceive the fume, you would die. Lute alfo a large Receiver to
the Beak of the Alembick,. and let the luting be in every place
throughly dry ; Then put Fire under the Fornace, fir ft a very
fmall Fire , and fometimes .increafe it by degrees, till your
Matter begins to fublime, which it will do with a little heat ;
and when you fee the Matter afcend, diligently obferve to
keep the Fire in the fame degree, that it may fublime very
gently, Which will be eafily done; for the Matter is fublimed,
and afcends with a very little Fire, pag. .402,. of the fame /V
fame.

Gold diffolixdih this Aqua fortisr/ Ifaack, -and. once or twice
cohabited, then wajbed with common Water , lecawcs fo volatile, a$
to afc&ndwith a- very fmall beat info a w'dft poyjvnou'S Stt&liwate;
if any man doe $ -the jam e ly as eajje a Method with cowmen Aqua
Regis made 0/Sal Armortiack and Niter, we declare he needs

but that common Sal Armoniack

Sal

Harmpniack, Mch -agree not in the leajl with the Ctnmon of

the

( 243 )

the fame .NW, do prove the excellency of this Menftruum.
Now, faith he, we have a mind to teach you how and which
way to joyn Soul, Body and Spirit together, fo as to enter one
into the other; for a Congregation of Contraries cannot be fo,
as to remain together without a Medium ( which lefore in cap.
146. he called Sd Harmoniack or dry Water ) Take an exam-
ple from the Dyers that dye Cloaths^c. Thus it is with our
Stone. Though we have rightly prepared the Body, Soul and
Spirit, if they enter not into one another, they will neither
now, nor at any time ever remain together without the Medi-
um of our dry Water. Now Beloved, where now fhall we
find this Water ? For Geler faith, Our water is not Rain-water.
Ariflotle faith, Our water is a dry water. Hermes faith, OUF
water is gathered out of a filthy and (linking Menftrual Matter.
Dwthynus faith, Our water is found in old Stables, Houfes of
Office, and ft inking Sinks. And Morienus, Our water fprings
in Mountains and Valleys, and Fools underiland not thefe
words, but think it Mercury ; it is not Mercury, it is a dry wa-
ter, which caufeth all Mineral Spirits, Soul and Body to enter
and mix together, and when it has joy ned them together, it
departs from them, and lets them remain fixed. And this wa-
ter is found in all things of the world. For if this water was
nor, in vain mould we endeavour to make the Stone : For
how fliould we make one of our prepared Matter enter into an-
other ? As the Apothecaries gather their Herbs together, fo
ought we to do either in the Vegetable, Animal, or Mineral
Kingdom, to make a perfect work or Quintellence, W 7 e ought
to have a dry water out of every diftincl: thing. A dry water
therefore is in all things, to make themfelves perfect. There-
fore, faith Galen, All things have their own Medicine to make
the Stone either in the Mineral, Animal, or Vegetable King-
dom, without the addition of any exotick things. Wherefore
when we would make the Stone, or any Fixation, we ought
to make that conjunction with our dry water, as was faid of
the Dyer and Apothecary. Therefore is it, my Beloved! that
fo many fall into Errors, becaufe they do not underftand nor
follow Nature : Therefore did I mention the Dyer and Apo-
thecary, for ; you to \mderftand Nature, by that rude way,
that you may in your own mind perceive that no conjunction

K k z can

244

can be made without a Medium.. Wherefore all the works
above cited are good, but thofe two things are not there na-
med, the Spirit i that is, and Dry Water ^ weights and way of
joyning, wherein confifts our whole Art : wherefore I conjure
you never to reveal this Secret ; for all the Art that is in the
world is comprehended in it, to make the perfect work in a
fhort time and little pains, Cap. 147, 148,149. i.Oper.Min.j>ag.
5x4, ^x^. Vol. j.Theat. Chym.

Kipley hath defer tied the fawe Water thus ;

88. The Aqua Regis of Rifkj..
Pag. 349. Viatici.

MAke a corrofive Water of Salt Peter and Harmoniack, and
put not above four Ounces in the Deflilktory , and
draw a water with a flow Fire, wherein diflblve and make the
Oylof Sol,&c.

ThK Water Bafil Valentine calls the Kings Bath, of which thus,

in the elucidation of the fecond Key : Take notice, friend ! and

ferioully confider, becaufe here lies the principal Secret Make

a Bath, have a care that no ftrange thing enter into it, left the

fcfoble Seed of Gold be radically deilroyed after the diflolution

of it : Exactly therefore, aad with care examine the things

which the fecond Key informs you of, that is, what Minerals

are to be taken for the Kings Bath, wherein the King ought to

be duTolved, and his external form fubverted, that his Soul

may appear without blemifh : To this purpofe will the Dragon

and Eagle, that is Niter and Sal-Armoniack ferve, out of which

being united, is made an Aqua fortify as you will be informed

in my Manuals, where I ihall treat of the Particular of Sol...

. The

The Kings Bath of Bafelius.
Lib. Panic, in Particul. Solis.

TAke of Salt Peter one part , of Sal Harmoniack , one
part , " of Flints pulverized half a part, mix, and di-
ftil. Take notice, that this Water muft be carefully and
exactly diftilled ; for it cannot be diftilled by the common
method : He that is expert in the operations of (* the
wore fecret ) Chymy , will know what is to be done. Ob-
ferve, you muft have a ftrong earthen Retort well luted, in the
upper part of which mufl be a Pipe half a fpan long, and two
fingers broad ; put a great Receiver to it, lute well, and in-
creafe the Fire by degrees till the Retort grows red hot : Then
put in a fpoonful of this Matter through the Pipe, and fudden-
ly flop the Pipe with a wet Cloath, and the Spirits will pafs
impetuoufty into the Receiver; the Spirits being afTwaged,
put in another fpoonful of the faid Matter, thus proceeding,
till no Matter remains, and you will have Aqua Gehenma, or
Hell- water, diflblving the Calx of Gold in an inftant into a
thick folution, which we mentioned in the third Part, as alfo
in the fecond Key, not only diflblving Gold, but reducing the
fame into volatibility, &c.

fhis Kings Bath is defended ^^yBafilius hi Revelations
Manualium Operationum, thus ;

po. A Philofophical Water for the Solution ot
Gold of Bafilius.

Lahore frimo Revelation. Man. Operat.

TAke of Saltpeter, and Sal Armomack y of each two parts
of Stones wafhed one part, grind them together, and
by a Retort (with a Fife) diftil the Water into a large Receiver
putting in two or three ounces through the Pipe; the Receiver 3
muft be a big one, and lie in a VeiTel full of cold Water, and co-

vered

with wet LinnenCloaths, that the Spirits may cool; for
it will be very hot, flop the Joynts of the Retort very dole,
kindle a Fire, and the Retort being hot, caft in three ounces
of Matter, the Pipe being fuddenly f topp'd, the Spirits will pafs
through, and the Receiver will grow white, and drops fall :
When the Spirits arefetled, put in three ounces more, flopping
the Pipe immediately, proceed as before, changing very often
withwet Linnen : Continue this Operation till you have water
enough, which "flop very well, that it may not evaporate j it is
the true Water and Mineral Bath for the King.

That Banjius as well as Ifaacus ufed the Sal Harmoniac not
common SalArmoniac, for hu Bath> the Vfe of the fame doth al*
fo prove. ,

Take of this Water three parts,of the Calx of Gold one part,
mix them in a Cucurbit, put it with an Alembick upon kot
Aihes to be difTolved ; if it be not wholly diffolved, pour our
the Water, and pour on new, and that till all the Calx is dif-
folved in the water, being cold, white Faxes fettle in the bot-
tom, which feparate; put all the water together, anddigefl
fora day, and anight in Balneo, then removing the Faxes,
digeft the fpace of nine Days conrinuall; .1 the Water, that
the Water may remain in the bottom like C
till all the Gold has -pafs d.' through the Ale
place : This unltious Bath reduce'th Gold \int
Ojls, lecaifi it is W<? of the Oyfy Spirit t>f
concentrated, and d.n'edmfomeP'egc: * ; ; d Spirit of

Nitre, whereas on the contrary Sal 'An
Regis, cannot tranfinute Metals beyond its jtiine
Olsity ivbich it hath *tf, it' cannot give, li^cusfir writ of a Re-
tort with a Phe, perhaps, not Icing at tktt time known, fuftawed no
fma/llofs ofSfirits m dijWttnz, tLis McT.ftrvaim, which Bafi.
by kelp oj the faid Retort endiavvxr to repair',
without] owe difficulty.

The later Adepts, Crinot, Trifmofinus, .and Paracelius elfet
ring the difficulty of dijiillmg, and ike lofs of Spirits made it letter,
who fa a plain 'but ~ letter nethMlJoktd tit Yegetalltt
moniack^ Sfirit of tfitre-r Aqaa iortis,.;jw//?^ (try lofs, dan-
ger, dr delay.

91. Thp

247

$i.' The moft ftrong Aquafortis of Paracelfus.
Lib. 3. Arch, de fepar. Elem.fag. 7.

TAkeSal Nitre, Vitriol,, and Alume, in equal parts, whkh
diflil into Aqua fortis, this again pour to its Faeces, and
repeat, diftil in a'Glafs, which Aquafortis clarify with Silver,
and didblve Sal Armcmackvn it.

That '"Paracellus wither ly Sal Arrnoniack meant tie cowmen,
is alfo dentonftrattdfyilsitje of the Menftruiini, i-bich Is thus 'dc-
fcriles : Thefe things being done, take a Metal reduced into
Plates, and there refoive it into Water, in the fame Water, then
feparate by Balneo and pour on again, this repeating, till you
find an Oyl in -the bottom, of ^/orG^apurple^Oi Lnn.i a k-
2urine , of Mars red and Very dark ; of Mercury white of Sa~ -
turn livid and lead Coloured ; of Venus altogether green ;' oF^-
piter yellow ; in the fame place. Whoever diffofaed Metals pro*
wzfcttfftifty with comwon:^<\^ regis, loth Siher.and Gold into an
Ojl y either fur pie or laznrh?c,> t No-td (ay'anfthitig'cf the reduftion
of all Metals into two Fats \ed'and tm&e, the Ejjence thereof, and
the Dead Body. It is therefore clear from the effett that Paracelfus
diffolved Sal Harmoniack in Aqua iortis for his moft ftrong Aqua
/ortis.

' In making this Meniliuurn Guido adds the weight of tJ$
Harmoniack which Paracelfns wits*

The Aqua Regis of GUI Jo.

Pag. 22. TbefauriChynii

TAke Vitriol, common Salt, and Nitre,, diftil l
fortis, take one Pound of this,, four Ounces of (Philofo-
phical} Sal Harmoniack^ and'ditHl yet once. i

Solomon Triimofmus fometimes AjffffhedyJ^^^ in- ^mmn
Aqua fortis, and to the fcltftion. added &&\ Hafflio^jsct- ;Thus he

volatali zed Silver, leing JiJJbfoeJ in Aqua fortis, with the afore-
faidSalt. Lib. 8. Tinft. quinta. pag. 81. Aurei velleris Ger-
man. Take of pure Luna four Ounces, diflblve it in common
Aqua fortis, draw off" the Phlegm, to the remainder add fix
Drachms of Sal Harmoniack, and pour on new Aqua fortis 9 dra.w
off again in Afhes to an oleity, this repeat four times with new
Aquafortis, then urge it ftrongly, and the Luna will afcend toge-
ther with the Aquafortis.

Sometimes he volatilized Gold and Silver together with this Men-
ftruum. In Tinftura Regis Julaton. pag. 16. Aurei veller.
Take of the filings of Gold of Sal Harmoniackj&xh two Ounces,
to which put four Ounces of the befl Silver diflblved in eight
Ounces of Aquafortis, draw off to an Oleity, pour on hew Aqua
fortis, and repeat three times with new Aquafortis, and the
Gold will afcend with the Silver through the Alembick.
. Lully wade his Aqua Regis ly diffbhing Vegetable Sal Harmo-
niack in the acid Water of Mercury fullimate.

. The Aqua Regis of Lully.
In Exp. 1 7.

TAke Mercury being twice fublimed with Vitriol, and com-
mon Salt prepared, each time with new materials, grind,
and if there be one Pound of fublimate, take the whites of nine
new laid Eggs, which whites beat fo long, that it feems to be
Water ; then mix the white with that fublimate, and put it in a
Retort with a long Neck, joyn a Receiver to it very clofe, gi-
ving it a Fire of Afhes at the beginning moft gentle, till it diftils
by that degree: Thediftillationceafing, increafe the Fire, and
at lafl give a moil violent Fire, and by this means part of the
Mercury will turn into Water, and part into running Mercury,
which running Mercury being gone over fublime again, then
grind and joyn it with the diftilled Water, anddiflil again as be-
fore, repeating the Magiftery, till all the fublimate is gone over,
and converted into Water: Wherefore you may the fame way
multiply it as often as you pleafe, always putting new fublimate
50 the Water, and diftilling till it be converted into Water.

Now

Now take this Water, put it in a fmall Urinal (Cucurbit) joyn-
inga Head to it with a Receiver, then diftil by Balneo, till the
wmte feems to be gone over mixt with it, which you will thus
know ; take an Iron or Copper Plate, upon which let one drop
of the diftillation fall, if it boy Is and feems todiflblve, takeaway
the Receiver, joyning another very well luted, and diftil by
Allies, and again by Alhes repeat this Magiftery feven times :
And thus you will have a Mercurial Water^ which will ferve
you in many operations : Take now one Ounce of the Salt of
the fecond Experiment (Volatile Salt of Tartar Declared in Numb.
17.) and four Ounces of this Water {the acid Water now diftil^
led from Mercury Climate] mix them together, and the mixture
will prefently bediflblved ; being diflblved, diftil by Afhes with
a gentle Fire luting the Joynts well, in the lad place increafe the
Fire, that all the Salt may with the Water pals through the
Alembick, then again put one other Ounce of the Salt into the
fame Water, and by diftillation pafs it ail over as before, and
thus repeat this Work of diftillation four times, in every diftilla-
tion adding an Ounce of the faidSalt to that Water : Then will
you have at length a Mineral Water vegetated and acuated,
with the augmentation of Virtue and Power proceeding from
the faid moft precious Vegetable Salt, without which is nothing
done.

Our Annotations upon the Receipts are :

I. That the M&&.rwims of this Kind are Jimplc Vegetable Men-
ftruums ofthefixth Kind> dijjohed in Acids. Take away the Acidi-
ty ', and it will be a Menftruum again of the Jixth Kind.

x. That thefe Menftruums are better wade of &op&fcx\;&, it be-
:ng an Acid ftronger than the reft : jet that they may be aljo wade
^f-^y-^t^-Aud-lefsflr^gy^L^^d Vinegar, Spirit of Salt, Std-
phttr, &c.

3. That thefe are the left of all the firnple MzneralMenR.ru\ims 9
loth in the facility of making, and excellency of Virtue.

4. That it is much at one, whether the Metal lefirft diffofoed in
common Aqua fottis,and then the Vegetable Sal Harmoniack added,
or the faid Salt fir ft, and then the Metal.

L 1 5". That

5-. That thefe Aqua regifles differ from the common, zn that they
dtffbhe all Metals promifcucujly, Silver as well as Gold, and reduce
the fame not into a Calx, lutOyl, which cannot be /aid of common
Aqua regis.

<5. That Metals diffolvcd in thefe Menftruums andfublimed> be-
come the great eft Poyfons leknvinr to this Art.

o -^ o a

The

-..

m V/

The Nineteenth K 1 N D.

Mineral Men/trams compounded of
the Philosophers Spirit of Wine 9
and Acid Spirits tinging , Spirit of
Vitriol, Butter of Antimony, &c.

. Spirit of Vitriol mixt with the Spirit of Wine
of Lully.

accurtatoria, fag. 32 J.

TH E ty/r/f of Vitriol is more dry and thick, than the
Spirit of the Quinteffence of ^JM ardens, and great
affinity there is between the />/r/> of Vitriol, and
the Nature of Gold, becaufe they are both derived from the
fame Principles with t Minerals : The Spirit therefore of Vitriol
being joyned with the Spirit of Aqua ardens, infpiffates it, and
makes it fuddenly adhere to Gold, fo as to be fixed with it ;
and believe me, this is a very excellent way of Abbreviation.

Annotations.

THis Difference you mayolfer-ue between the Simple and Com
pounded Mineral Menftruums; The Simple diffolue only, but
the Compounded do loth dijjolve and tinge things diffohed ; for they
are in a wonderful manner exalted ly things tinging, and made many '
degrees letter, fo as to have enough to feme thewfehes, and ethers
alfo, and therefore may deferwdly le called graduated, a* ivell at
graduatory Waters. Hitherto we have treated of the Simple ; In

L 1 i thh

C 252 )

Nineteenth Kind, we are to confider them as Compounded, of two
Spirits, Oyley and Acid tinging, as in the prefer tied Receipt of the
Spirits <?/Pinlofophical Wine and. Vitriol mixd together, and in-
timately joyned ly two or three d filiations. The Preparation ismofl
eafie, in which notwithflanding it will not le impertinent to take no-
tice of this on?- thing ; tfat both Spirits mttfl le without Phlegm,
and exquifitely reftified according to the Advice of the following
Anov^rmts. A burning Oleity is made out of Wine, therefore
it participates with Sulphur,and herein is indeed the greateft vir-
tue of the Metallick Nature, which it drew and conceived
from the Earth ; and as" this Oleity, the Spirits that is, are
much more agil than the Spirits of other things; therefore
their Virtues are much more agil than the Virtues of other
things : but yet you muft know that thofe Spirits (as faith the
Text of Alchymy, and as indeed the truth is) which come out
of 'Vegetables and Animals, conduce not to Alchymy as they
are in a Vegetable Nature, but it is requifite for them to attain
to a Metallick Nature by many depurations and diftillations,
and then they are ferviceable to it : Therefore is there one on-
ly flone, and one foundation necedary to the Art, namely,
the Metallick virtue, though fometimes Vegetable and Animal
things are taken, yet they do not remain in a Vegetable or A-
niffial Nature, but are tranfmuted into a Metallick and Sul-
phureous Nature, which contains a Metallick Virtue. Where-
upon , faid Ferrarienfis, cap. iQ.fuaruw Qtyeftiomm : It is im-
poffible to coagulate Argent vive, without Sulphur, or fome-
thing that hath a fulphureous Nature, becaufe Sulphur is the
coagulum of Argent wve, and if there be fulphureities in Wine,
having a burning faculty, it argues there is a Metallick Nature
in it : wherefore fome do operate in Wine and Gold or Silver,
to extract out of the Wine its moft fubtil Spirit, ftrengthning
the virtue of Gold with it, that fo the Spirits may be fixed
with it, by which confequently the Tincture of the Gold is di-
lated and multiplied, and of a certain there is a very great co-
herence or participation between the Spirits of Wine and the
Spirits of Gold, they being both of a hot Nature, and there-
fore the Spirits of Wine are infeparably fixed with Gold , yet it
is to be noted, that the Spirits of middle Metals, as Vitriol,
feV. are of larger fixation, and more nearly allied to Gold, both

fpringing

C 253 )

fpringing as it were out of one Fountain, namely, out of the
Mines of Metals, than the Spirits of Wine, which proceed
from a Vegetable Nature ; though the Spirits of Wine are more
agil and fubtil. Some~there(ore do compound the Spirits of
them, fo as to joyn the Spirits of Vitriol with the Spirits of
Wine^ to infpiflate one with the other, and to make them more
eaftly united to Gold : But he that intends to operate with thefe
things, mud take the ftrongeft Spirits, and the pureft Matters,
fo that the Spirits muft be exactly purified before they are fixed
with Gold or Silver. Anonym, de Principiis Natur. & Arte Al-
chym. pAg. ^o.Syntagm. Her won. Rhenani,

Not only the rectified Spirit of Vitriol, lut every Acid Spirit, is
here effectual, provided it le tinging, and mixed with the Spirit^
Philofophical Wine , therely to be made a Menftruum of the
fame Kind. '2 is thus ma fie:

95. The Butter of Antimony mix'd with the Spi-
rit of Wine of Bafilius.

Pag, 88. Currus Triumfhalis Antim.

TAke of Common Mercury mod purely fublimed, tf Anti-
mony > equal parts, grind, mix and diflil by a Retort,
which retains the Spirits, three times ; redifie this Oyl with
the Spirit of ( Philofophical ) Wine^ and it is prepared, and of
a Blood-colour ; in the beginning it was white, and thickens as
Ice or melted Butter. This Oyl hath done many wonderful
things ; yet the Virtue, Faculty, and Operation of it hath al-
ways appeared, making an ill thing good.

This Compojitioj though given ly Bafilius, as a Medicine, mt
AS a Menftruum, yet is ly Paraeelfus in Lilro de Gradationilus y
defer iled as fuch.

6 . The

*54

. The Water of the fourth Gradation of
Paracelfus.

Libro de Gradationibus, pag. 131.

TAke of Antimony one pound, of Mercury Sublimate, half
pound, diftil both together with a violent Fire through
an Alembick, and a rednefs willi afcend like Blood,thick,which
tingeth and graduates any Luna into Sol, and brings this pale
Colour to the higheft degree, of a permanent Colour.

Though Paracelfus thought it not always necejfary to admonijh
hk Difciples of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine <u an addition in
his Compositions, yet neverthclefs ought I to declare to you the
neceffary addition of this Spirit in this Menftruum, that you may
not err; for without it, it would le of no conference, but rather a.
dammage to you in the more fee ret Chymy :

The Adepts made fometimes Menftruums of this Kind, not
with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, lut the Matter of it, name-
ly, fome Vegetable Oleofum, Thus ;

The Water of the o fixth Gradation of
Paracelfus.

Libro de Gradationibus, fag. 132.

TAke of Sulphur wive, two pounds, *&Lixfecd Oyl, four
pounds, boyl them to a Compofition ( commonly called
the Liver of Sulphur) which muft be diftilied into an Oyl ( ly
a peculiar and Philofophical manual Operation, appertaining to the
making of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine : ) To this muft be
added again the fame quantity of Sulphur vzve, and boy I'd as
before to a Compofition, and digeiled in Horfe-dung for a
Month, or if longer, better : Then muft be adcled of Sal Niter,
Vitriol, Alume ( Ingre dients of Aqua fortis ) Flos /Eris, Crocus
of Mars, Cinalar, ( to increafe tk-e Tinclure of the Sulphur ) of
each half a Verto ( e'mem hallen 'vierling, that ir, a fourth part
of half a pound , or two ounces} diftil whatfoever will afcend,
and take away the Liquors , the Oyls only being kept ( not

Oyl,

Oy/, lut Ojls, lecaufe they are two. White and Red} which muft
be put into a glafs Cucurbit, the Species being added, as before,
and the Caput mortuum pulverized; diftil them again together
as before ; then pour the diftillation back to the Faxes, and let
it be putrified again for a Month, and didilied again : Then
the Colours being evacuated or leparated ( the Red from tie
White') keep the Red, and reftifie it as is requifite, m which
let Plates of Luna be digefted a due time, and then reduced by
cupellation.

Paracelfus fometiwes made this Oyl or Fire of Sulphur ly &
felfy without other tinging things for the graduating of pretious
Stones as well as Metals. It is come to that, faith he, pag. 2.00.
Ltb.de Sulph. that the Spirit of Tranfrrmtation hath given his
Receipt of making a Liver or Lung out of Linfeed Oyl and
Sulphur: The diflillation of this Lupg or Liver is done many
ways ; but it is found by operating, that this Liver yields a
Milk nothing differing from common Milk, being thick and
fat , it yielded alfo a red Oyl like Blood : -This Milk and that
Blood confounded not their Colour and Edence by diftillation,
but remained diftincl: and feparate one from the other> the
White fetlingto the bottom, and the Red afcending to the top:
Now Art has been felicitous in making. Silver out of the White
or Milk, and out of the Red, Gold; but to me it is plain that
never any thing could be either by the Ancient or Modern
Philosophers done with the White or Milk {of Sulphur ) I do
therefore affirm that Milk to be dead, and nothing contained
in it : But as to the Red Oyl which yields the Liver, obferve,
every Criftal or Beril being firft well poliflied or purified, &c.
( See the fourth Book concerning the Vfe of this Oyl in the Grada-
tions oj Pretious Stones ) exalts Gems even to. the higheft de-
gree, yea higher than they can be exalted by Nature v Here
alfo note, that all Silver put into it a due time, at length grows
black, and leaves a golden Calx, yet not fixed before its exal
time, but a volatile and immature thing; but if it hath its
time, it performs all things feafible, whereof no more muft
be here declared. Thus therefore obferve of Sulphur, if it be
taken into degrees, the more fubtil, clearer, higher, and of
quicker operation it is, the higher and better it is : . This* way
areMetalsand Stones made. He, that, is about. to attempt. .it,

muft,

muft not think, but know himfelf able ; for it is, as to Opera-
tion, the moft dangerous Labour in all Alchymy, and there-
fore requires notable Experience,and repeated Prahce,nor muft
he proceed by Hear-fay,but by much Experience, &C.

Tet not being fatisfyed with theftrength of this Oylin this twelfth
gradation, he was willing to exalt it yet higher with other tinging
things , as Flores ^ris, and Crocus of Mars, by which Paracelius
we ant not Common lut Philofophical Medicines. We perceive, faith
he, Lib. 4. Archie/, de EJfentiis, pag. 1 6. Verdegreafe is accoun-
ted the Qjinteflence of Ferns, whereas it is not ; but the Cro-
cus of Venus is a Quinteflence fo to be underftood, Flos &ris is a
(common) tranfmutation with a thick and iabtil fubftance toge-
ther, extracted out of the whole Complexion of Copper, where-
fore it can be no Qjintellence ; but the Crocus of Venus, .as we
have taught, is a true QjintelTence, it being a potable thing,
without corrofion, and in mixtion divided from the Body, very
fubtil, yea more than I am minded here to write, to avoid pro-
lixity. So alfo the Crocus of Mars and the ruft of it has hither-
to been efleemed a Quinteflence, it not being fo ; but the(tor)
Crocus of Mars is the Oyl of Mars, (which is fometimes in a dry
form under the Name of an EJjexce, and called the Pllilofophical
Crocus 0/~Mars in thefecond Book ef Medicines.

From the Receipts we obferve.

I. That common Spirit of Vitriol, Butter of Antimony, Arfenick,
Tin, &c. mixd with the Spirit 0r"Philofophical Wine, are Philo-
fophical Spirit of Vitriol, Philofophical Butter of Antimeny, &c.

i. That the Menftruums of this Kind, are the fame with the
Menftruums of the Fifteenth Kind-, lut with this difference, name-
ly, in that, Philofophical Vinegar not tinging is prepared, lut in
this, Philofophical Vinegar tinging; becaufe thefe are made of the
Acid Spirits of things tinging, that is Metals and Minerals; but
thofe of i he Acid Spirits of things not tinging, that is Vegetable
Salts, and fome Minerals, whofe dry part was neither Metal, nor
any coloured B.dy.

3. That thefe Menftruums are not only dijfolving Waters, lut al-
fo gr ad at ory, becauje prepared with things tinging.

4. That thefe Menftruums are the Effences of things tinging, or
Magifteries diffofatd in an Acid, and confequently Medicines.

. That

5-. That thefe Menftruums, may be alfo made of tmdc Oyts;
provided a Man knows the way of preparing the Spirit o/Philofo-
phical Wine.

6. That the fame two Oyls of Sulphur ( whereof the Red is an
Effence, after the way 0/Paracelfus, that is, the teji^ which Pa-
racelfus elfewhere prepares with the moft Jlrong Aqua fortis, de-
fer tied before in Numb. 91* are here made by the fame Author , of a

crude oyly matter*

7. That Vegetables and Animals a* fitch, and crude, are not
Ingredients in Philofophical Works, but as they art made incom-
luftible, and reduced into a Metallick Nature. The faid fepa-
ration,/7tf the Author of Viz. Veritatis, pag. 15-3. You muft
well obferve, for from hence the Ancient Sophi tookocca-
fion to inquire into the Three Natures ( Thre e Kingdoms}
namely, the Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral-, and they lo much
learned from it, that the reparation of Natures is nothing elfe
but a defeat of codhon in Nature : Then they confidered them
fomewhat further, how (for inftance) thofe EfTences, which
were moft weakly cocted by Nature, might be fuccoured in a
Natural way, with common Fire, that the Eflences which are
now combuftible, may by their Liquors (which the Anci-
ents through envy called Mercury, and are black, feparated
from the Kflence) be made period; by Art, fo as that the E
lences may remain with the Liquor fafe and fecure from burn-
ing, and the Liquor not be able to feparate it felf from the Ef-
fence': This the Ancients called our Sulphur; for according
to this preparation, the Eflence is no more Vegetable, nor Ani-
mal, but now by coftion made a Mineral Ejfence, and there-
fore called Sulphur. And atterv.ards, pag. 164. he thus pro-
ceeds, One Nature is more cocled by its moifture with its
Elementary Fire, than another, whereof the Vegetable Nature
is in coftion the leaft, becauie the Eflence of it is eafily burn-
ed, and the Liquor alfo is moft eafily feparated from the Ele-
mentary Fire, by the help of common Fire. The Animal Na-
ture is in codion not much unlike the former (Vegetable Na-
ture) the Eflence of it being likewife eafily burned, and there-

M m fore

(258)

fore,th$ Mineral \Narure is in codHon the' higheft, becaufe the
Metalick Liquor will be more and better united by coition
with the Elementary Fire, than the other two aforefaid Na-
tures: Wherefore alfo. Metals do refill common Fire, Letter
than the other things comprejicnjed under a Vegetable and
Animal. Nature, as .you may fee by Metals put into frire, which
do not Flame as Wood; for the Eflence or it is not fo coded
with Liquor, as the Metalick moifture with its Effence; and
the conjunction *Oi the Liquor with the Eflence is not IN.e-
talick, but Amply Vegetable, which is confurncd in a black
Fume. But u hen the Eflence hath attained to coclion by Na-
ture, then if remains not a Vegetable, but is now: made a Me-
talick, and is now coniumed in a white Fume by common
Fire, no otherwife than as you fee in perfeft Metals, when
they are melted in Fire, difperfe.a white Fume ircrn than.
Now confider, faith ChortalaiTeus, or the Author cj- Area sr-
cani Artificiofrilimij in his Cabula Chymica, p, 7 g. ^(^. y i m
6. Th. Chym. by way of advice ; how the aforelaid Speeches
of Vegetables and Animals are to be taken, neither of
them muft be rejected; for they differ one from the other
no otherwife, than that the Vapour is purer, and of greater
quantity in one than the. other ; but you may make the
more impure, like to the pure Vapour, for they may by
fubtil management be fo reduced, that thole two, that is,
the Animal and Vegetable, in a Watry Body may be taken
together with the Mineral Spirit or V0pour y and then the
Mineral Spirit feparated from the reft with great difcret ion,
whi-h though it fhevys it ielf in a fmall quantity, is not-
withftanding of the greateft Virtue, and clearer than the
Light at Noon; In this (late will that Spirit if you pleafe
bring the Animal and Vegetalle Spirit, fo as to be like it
felf. .This is the Foundation of the whole Art, that is,
for the fegetalle or Animal Spirit to leave its combuftibi-
lity, and become Incorruptible, and Immortal : This is the
Key to open ail Gates; here you have the true firfl matter
of Gems, and Mecals: Yet if I confider this thing right-
ly, it is not the firil Matter, but a threeiold extraction
out of the firft matter of Gems , and therefore you ought

( 25*.)

to praiie God Eternally, and give i him thanks in making
you worthy of this matter, and vouchsafing yo\a~--io, c .iikfeft
underftanding, whcrety to obtain to your ufe that which
is the deepeit in the Earth. I proceed in this firft matter;
which if you make Liquid, and open by the incombuftiblo
Vegetable Spirit (not common) you will be able to difTolve
Gold, Silver, all Minerals, and Gems in it, and make it
melt like Ice in warm Water, deftroy, mortifie, and' re-
new it again ; by this means I fay, vifibly obtain, 2 fee,
touch, and perceive an Aftral Spirit (as a Lanthorn, wherein
the Eternal Fire, and Virtue of the higheft Star of Eternal
Wifdom dwelleth^ you w,ll I fay, with your Eyes 1 eaold
an inconfumptible Fire, mining N:glu and Day; Sun, Moon,
Stars, Carbuncles, and a Splendor exceeding all manner of
Fire; and obierve the perfection of the whole Firmament
in it. O man, my Creature/ how great a Divine Gift, as
that which is above all the Heavens, mod excellently clear)
and is mod deep in the Earth, may you in a few Hours
time obtain, whereas (he hath been a vafl time employ-
ed in it, and in fubtJty is far inferior to you, &c. The
fame Author <>j this fir ft matter in his Rufticus. fag. 308. of
the faid Volume, thus .- This Doctrine certainly is very wor-
thy or. Obfervation ; for ma'ny Notable Men, do herein err,
thinking they have the firft matter, when they have ob-
tained the Philofophers Mercury, or Salt of Metals : For
the firft matter is mide when the Man and Woman are
joyned together, witnefs Count Bernhard, faying : Then is
the Conjunction called the firft Matter, and not before ;
that is, of the Stone, and all Metals; concerning which
fee Turla : For before this is done, we do according to the
fruidation of Nature, and with good reafons deiervedly
i eject Animals and Veget^lles^ as things extraneous, and con-
trary and ineffectual to our Work, and our Stone we place
rightly among Minerals.

8. That loth Spirits ought to le warily wixed y lecaufe cf tie
danger of overmuch ejfervejcence.

M m 2 9.

tbcfe Menflruums jr<? y Jigeftion nt
ltd tbt fweet Spirit *f fttriol, fweet Buffer of Antimony*

10. That the Sfirit f Philofophical Wine is fornetitnes not
exprejfed in the Receipts of Menflruums; but it appears
wttateral places, and necejfity requires it to le wderftwd.

The

The Twentieth KIND.

\ '

Mineral Mcnftrtiums Compounded of
the Spirit of Pbilofopbical Wine, and
other tinging things ^ Vitriol, Q^ina^
hr, Antimony, Lapis Hematites, &c.

2 8. Oyl of Vitriol of Bafilius.
Cap. 6. Seff. 2. Libri de Conclufionibus.

TAke Hungarian Vitriol, diflblve it in difUUed Water,
coagulate, criflallize, repeat five times, and fo purge
it from the Salts, Alume, and Niter : This Vitriol
thus purged, diftil with the Spirit of (Yirilof optical}
Wine to a red Oyl, which ferment with Spiritual Gold , add
to it, its part of the Mercury of Stibium, and you have a Tin-
fture for Man, and reducing Lma into So/. Vifaando Inferi-
or a Terr&) Re^lifcanJo^y Itrvenies Qc(uttntn Lapidcm, Veram
Medicinarn.

Annotations

THE Antecedent Kind contained Mineral Menftruums,'
compounded of Acid Spirits containing a Metalick Tincture
fa them ; in tbu prefent we ufe the Bodies oj tbefe Spirits, to make
tkc Menftruums a degree better. For a. li*fture, jcr Example

(2*2)

extracted out of the dry part or body of Vitriol difli/kd^ with the
Spirit cf Philoiophical Wine is an Effence, which being in the fame
aijlilkition dtjfol-yed in its own Add Part, produced a Menftru-
nm cf this Kind; whereas in the Precedent K ind> that fmall quan-
tity cf Copper, d/jfolued or contained in common Spirit of Vitriol,
and elevated with a violent Fire, is fy the Spirit of Philofophi-
cal Wine reduced not into the Effence, but Magijtery, little effectu-
al as well through the fmalnefs of its quantity as Twtlure : This
prejent Qyl of Vitriol is not the leaft efleemed among the Secrets of
Bafiiius, and therefore we will a little more exactly conpder hu mojl
clear defiription, that by his more abundant Light, we may I/Iu-
ft rate darker places- Firft, Bafiiius bids us pun fie Roman Vitriol
by diuers Jolutions, and coagulations ; which purification is necejjary
tofeparate the Vitriol from ftrange Dufl, Drojs, and other imper-
tinent Offals^ yet this we think Superfluous^ when the Vitriol is pure-
ly criftatitzed, for the Tereflreity fetling in the diffoltition vf Vi-
triol, is not Faeces , but Copper,lefs difohed^than the reft^ and left
ly the Acid, being too much diluted with common Water: The Vi-
triol be ing purified, he enjoyns to be dift tiled with the Spirit cf Wins
into a red Oyl. .

He reduced not only Natural Vitriol, but alfo Artificial Vitriols
made of Metals intofuch Oyls. The Sugar or Vitriol of Saturn he
dijlills together with the Spirit of Wine into a red Ojt, curing Me-
lancholy, the French DJ/eafe, &c. Coagulating and fixing Mercu-
ry, but) ij fxed with the Mercury of Mars, tinging thirty parts <f
Mercury into Gold. Libro de Conclu. Traft. x. Sect. \.Cap. i,de Sit'l-
fhure Saturm. The fame way,/?///.; he, is a red fweec O\ 1 tin-
ging Saturn into Gcld,to be diftilled out of Sugar or Vitriol of
Jupiter -, in the following Chapter y which he repeats in Seel. 2. Cap.
a. de Vitriolis Saturm f Jovis. Argent vive he diffo/ves in Aqua
forti^ and being reduced into Crifial or Vitriol, djflils with the
Spirit of Wine reclijyd before with the Salt &f Tartar (the Men-
Uruum defcnled in Numb. 18.) into a Jweet Oyl, cur ing the
French Fox, OldVlcers, Paljie, &c. to be joymd to Martial Tin-
flures in the Tranfmutation of Metals. Sefl. ^. Cap. 5. de Vitriol
Mercurii'. The more fixed Metals fiold and Silver he dtjt ills in Bal-
nea Regis ( in Numb. bp.J through an Akwbkk, which, the Men-
ftruum being drawn off> he redmth into Volatile Vitriols, to be

diflilled with the Spirit of Wine into Oyh. Sett. 2. Cap. I. De Vr
triolo Solis et Luna. The more dry Metals, Iron and Copper, he
prefer lies to le dijtil/ed into the fame Oyls, lut omits the way of di-
fl tiling. Se3. i. Cap. }.De Sulphuribus Mams & Vtneris, Seft.z.
Cap- 3. De Vitriolo Mams. Cap. 4. De Vitnolo Veneris ; but the
following Kind 0/Men(lruum will prove that they are to le diftilled
with Philojophical Vinegar : By theje places compared together , we
are letter affured of divers things .- Krfl that the Oyl of Vitriol is
not avy common Acid of Vitriol ^ though drawn out of Vitriol mojl
exquisitely punjyd, for thzjame Oyls ma} le made with the Vitri-
ols >fall Meials bj the fame Spirit of Wine. Secondly, that common
Spirit cj Wine is altogether itjelefs fy this Work ; but that the Phi-
lobpiiical, or Menftruum rather defc riled in tfitmb. 18. is meant
ly Bafilius by the Spirit of Wine. Moreover, that tlie Vitriols of
Saturn and Jupiter do yield faeet Oyls, lecaufe made offome weak
Acid, namely, common Vinegar, which is eajily altered or tranfwu-
ted by this Thilofophical Menftruum. Bui that the Oyls of the o-
ther Met ah, btwg made with Jlronger Acids > either Philosophical
Vir.egar, or Mineral Menftruums do remain Acid, efpeci&ly the
prefcnt Oyl of Vitriol, in the dift illation of which, the Spirit of
Philosophical Wine, or Vegetal^ Menftruum is diffofoed ly the
Natural Acid, or common Oyl of Vitriol, and withfuch a prevalent
Acidity, afcends in the form of a red Oyl. Laflly, that this Oyl of
Vitriol is commended to us ly Bafilius^ a Menilruum to le fer-
mented with Gold ; which we would have you take f pedal notice of;
for BailliUS hath here and there in his Books difco~uered many nota-
lle things concerning the Meuftraum of Vitriol, lut moft rarely ad'
"tjifed the diftilhti-.n of it with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine ;
yet without which all Proceffes and Lalours,all Endeavours and ex-
periments are vain, and of no importance in the more Secret Chy-
my.

For the making this Oyl of Vitriol the Adepts fometimes diffolved
it in the Sprit of Philolophical Wine; which afterwards lelng cri-
ft allied, they called Vitriol corrected or graduated. Of this cor-
reclton or graduation of Vitriol Paracelfus, thus : The Deicription
of Vitriol, faith he, is to be directed to Medicine and Alchymyi
In Medicine it is an excellent Remedy : In Alchymy it is good for
many other things; but the Art ot Medicine and Alchemy, con-

fifls

fids in the preparation oiTitriol: For the Crude is not fuch, but
like Wood, out of which anything may be carved. Lib. de Vi-
triolo^pag. zoo. At fir ft, he proceeds, the Spirit of Vitriol being
obtained, the cuftom was to graduate it to the higheft, where-
with being exalted, they cured the Epilepfie, whether new or
old, in Men and Women, of what condition foever, &c. But let
us return to the beginning, how the Spirit of Vitriol was found ;
Firft they diftilled the moid Spirit of Vitriol by it feif from the
Colcothar, then they extended its degree by didilling and cir-
culating it alone to the higheft, as the procefs teacheth : Thus
. the Water began to be ufed for feveral Difeafes, as well Inter-
nal as External, as alfo for the Falling Sicknefs ; fo a wonder .,
ful Cure was performed: But thofe that came after were much
more diligent in the, extraction; for they took the Spirit of Vi-
triol, .jcorrefted as before, and didill'd it with the Colcothar
eight or ten times with a mod flrong Fire ; fb the dry Spirits
were mixed withthe moid : They urged the work fo long, con-
tinually and without mtermiilion extracting, till the dry Spirits
were over , then they graduated both Spirits, the moid as well
as the dry, in a Phial together their own time : This Medicine
they found to be of much greater operation againft Difeafes,that
they confounded all the Humorids in general: Yet is there
fome correction by Artids added by Spirit of Wine, for better
penetration fake, but of no higher degree: But I will commu-
nicate to you my procefs, which I commend to all Phyfitians ,
efpeciaily for the Epilepfie, which hath the -only cure in Vitri-
ol,- .wherefore even the Charity of our Neighbour, requires
us to appoint the more diligent care in that Difeafe : Now my
Procefs is for the Spirit vf^Philofophical ) Wine to be imbibed by
the Vitriol, and then diftilled, as I faid, from fhe-dry and moid
Spirits, figic. But you muft further know, that the aforefaid Re-
ceipts of making the moid Spirit of Vitriol cannot be more clear-
ly defcribed; for an Artift is required to underftand it ; thofe
fordid Boylers do not in the lead underftand a thing of fo great
moment. You mud expe& fufficient information of all things,
from Artids (of the merefecret Chymy) Alchymtfts and Operators^
fa alfo to be more indrufted by the lame in the way of correcting
the Spjrit of Wine .

Banlius in his Elucidat.ii.Cla'uiuni.'W'kere he made the following
Menltruuni//><?& of fuch a graduated V it rid; net cmmon. L 99.

A Menftruum of Bafilius made of Hunga-
rian Vitriol.

In EluciJ. 1 2. Clavium.

IF you have obtained fuch a highly graduated and well
prepared Mineral , called Vitriol, mod humbly befeech
God to give Underftanding and Wifdom for the fuccefs
of your Intention , and when you have calcined it , put it
into a Retort well luted : Diftil it at firft with a (low Fire 7
then increafe it , and the White Spirit of Vitriol will appear
in the form of a horrid Fume or Wind, and pafseth into the
Receiver fo long as any of the fame Matter is in it : And take
Notice , that in this Wind are hidden all the Three Princi-
ples , proceeding from one and the fame Habitation } it is
not necefsary therefore to be always diving in pretious
Things , becaufe by this Means a nearer way to the Myfte-
ries of Nature lies open , and is obvious to all Men apt to
learn Art and Wifdom. Now if you can well and purely
feparate and free this Expelled Spirit by the way of Diftilla-
tion , from its terrene Moifture ,* then will you find in
the bottom of the Glafs Treafure , and the Fundamentals
of all the Philofophers , hitherto known t'o few , which is a
Red Oyl ponderous as Lead or any Gold whatfoever, as
thick as Blood, of a burning and fiery quality , which is
the true Fluid Gold ofthePhzlofophws^ which Nature com-
pacted of the Three Principles , in which are found Spirit ,
Soul , and Body , and it is Pkilofophical Gold , that (-
rit ofPhilofipbical Wine) excepted, with which the Difsolu-
tion of it is performed, &c.

Cittabar tke Adepts fometi me s added to the- Vitriol thw.

O o ico. The

ioo. The Mineral Menftruum of Ifaacus.
Pag. 59. Mat*u<s Pbilof.

Ake of the Rowan P/fw/'cakrneH to Rednefs , and
Cinaber an equal quantity, mix and pulverize, then
pomAquaViteto them, diftill and cohobate up-
on the Capttl MortHuw three or four times.

The fame Menftruum hath Lully in Magi A Ntithrali , but
infteadoftke Caput mortuum , he takes mn- Species in every

. '

1 6 1- The Stinking Menftruum of Lully made

of ~ Vitriol and Cinabar.
Pag. 371. Magia Naturalls.

AFte"r the Fourth DilHllation of the Water aforeiaid
(Aqua Vita or Ardens made of Philofophical Wine )
Diftill feven times with an equal weight of good G-
nabar and Vitriol , putting in new things every time con-
ftantly, and drying the Matter of the Stone (Vitriol and G-
nabarjwe]]. in every Diftillation , before you pour in the
Aqua (Vit<e) &c.

102. The fame Stinking Menftruum
Epift. Accurtatoria Pag

k He Vegetable Stone being Diftilled (the Vegetable
Menftruum or rather Aqua ardens , or the Spirit of
Philofbphical Wine) iill the Water is free from
Phlegme , and that commonly is in the fifth time , take
an equal Weight of Vitriol very clear , and of the beft
Cinabar , mix and grind them well together , dry
the Matter, in the Sun, till all the moifture is exhaled ^
then caft in your Water, and Diftil firft with a gentle Fire ,

and

and ftrong in the end , as the cuftom is in preparing the Phi-
lofophers Acute Water } and then the Spirits or Quintef-
fence of Patriot and Cfoa&ar , which do principally make fyc
Mineral Stone (Mineral Mtnftruitrti) do mix and joyn toge-
ther with the Spirit of the Quintefsence of Aqua Ardens,
which Spirit is the Vegetable Stone -, and this continue ten
Times , beginning after the fifth (five times after the fifth
Rectification of the Spirit ofPhilofophicd Wine ) and fb con-
tinue the Diftillations five times withthofe Bodies (Vitriol 'and
Cinabar .) And you muft remember to make the things tho-
rough dry, before you put them into the Water, fo that all
the Water ( all the Phlegnti) muft be dried up (evaporated}
and the Spirits remain , which muft be joyned together, be-
caufe of the ftrength of the Aqua Ardens , and every Diftil-
lation you muft put in new things.

To Vitriol and CmdbM he fowetimes added Niter }
made tkfr call'd

i o j.The Stinking Menftnww tfLully made of com-

mon Vitriol, Cinabar , and Niter.
In Clavicula. Pag. 299. Vol. 3.' Th. Cbym.

TAke of Roman Vitriol calcined to Rednefs three
Pounds , of Salt Peter one Pound , of Cinabar three'
Ounces, grind all together upon a Marble, then put
the Matter in a thick and ftrongBody (Cucurbit*) and pour
Aqua Vit (even times Pveftify 'd upon it, and put it in Horfe
Dung fifteen days , the Vefsel being well Sealed : Then Di-
ftilwith a (oft Fire, till you have all the Water in the Re-
ceiver, then increafe the Fire till the Head (Alembic^ be
red, then ftrengthen the Fire till the Head ( Alewbick^) be*
white , then let the Vefeel cool , take away the Receiver ,
Seal it very well with Wax , and keep it for occafion : Take
Notice that the Menftnitim ought to be (even times re&ify'd
by Diftillation , every time cafting away the Feces , before
it be made ufe of.

Befidcs the Ingredients of Aqua Fort is andQnalar^hefom^
times adds aljo Tartar calcined thttf^

O o 2 . 104. The

104. The Stinking Menftruum of -Z^y made of
Vitriol, Niter, Alume^ Tartar, and Cinabar.
In Exferimento 26.

TAkc AqttaVit& fo hot as to burn a Linnen Cloth,
then take Vitriol free from all Phlegme, fo as to Boyl
upon Fire without Liquefaction (Vitriol calcind the
common way*) the beft Sal Niter , Roch Alume dephlegmed
arid dried , one Pound of all the aforefaid , of white Tartar
calcined , and Cinabar of each half a Pound , grind and fift
every one feverally through a Sieve 3 then mix , and put the
Matter into a Retort , pouring the aforefaid Aqua. Vn<e up-
on it , put a Receiver to it, the Joynts being very dole , and
the Luting firft thoroughly dried : The Receiver" muft be
large , as thofe , wherein Aqua. Fortifes are commonly diftil-
led : Now the Luting being dried , make a gentle Fire at
firft , till the Retort grows warm , then continue the Di-
ftillation in this degree , that you may pronounce ten words
between each drop of the Diftiiling Water, and when it will
Diftill no more with that Degree of Fire , increafe the Fire
ib as to return the Diftillation again to the fame ten Words
as at firft 5 and this degree continue , till the Diftillation in-
creafeth again , and laftly , increafe the Fire with Wood, co-
vering the Retort round about with Tiles above , that it
may have a Fire of Reverberation 5 but this oblerve , the
Retort muft firft be ftrcngthened on all fides with ftrong Lu-
ting , before this Diftillation is begun , and when the Di-
ftillation is begun , and when the Diftillation is , it ought
to be placed in a convenient Fornace , with an open Neck 5
but it would be beft and moft commodious in this Work , if
the Receiver of this Diftilling Water could be handfomly fet
in a Bafon full of cold Water , but if that cannot be , you
muft at leaft lay Linnen Cloths dip'd in Water upon the
Receiver again and again oftentimes } thus the Receiver
may not be broken by the violence of the Spirits , all which
particulars mark well, The Diftillation being ended , let

the

the Vefsels cool , and keep the Receiver with the Water
very clofe flopped. Then take the fame Mineral dried, and
prepared as before , in the fame order and meafure , which
grind together , and put into a Retort , as before, and pour
the Water a little before Diftilled upon it , fit a Receiver
to it , the Joynts being very well Luted , as before, and ha-
ving dried the Luting , put Fire under , the Diftillation be-
ing compleated, take again New Materials of the fame Weight,
and put them again into a Retort with their own Water, and
Diftil , as before , with the fame Degrees of Fire 5 which
being done , and the Veflel cold , take away the Receiver ,
and keep it carefully with its Diftilled Water firmly dropped :
-For you will have a Phyfical Mineral Water , or Stinking
Menftruum with its Form : This W r ater hath the power of
Calcining, and at the fame time difiblving all Metals~with the
prcfervation of their Vegetative Form : Many Experiments
we have herewith both feen and done.

Ifaactt* Holland** to augment the ftrength of thefe Menftru-
ums , did rather addfome tinging Minerals to the Vitriol, than
the Acidity of Niter and Alums. Thus he prepared a Menftru-
nm called.,

105. The Diflblving Water for the Red, of the
firft Defcription of 'Ifaacu*.

Cap. 103. Oper.Min.

TAke of Roman Vitriol fix parts , ofLapx Hematites ,
Croats Martjf , Cinabar , JEs uftuKi , Mineral An-
timony , of each one part , being well dried , mix ,
and putting them into a Retort , pour four Pounds of Recti-
fy 'd Aqua. Vit to them , Diftill and Cohobate three times
upon the Caput Mortuum pulverized.

The following Menftruum being like this , groves it to be of
afangitine colour.

m6. The.

106.. The DiiTolving Water for the Red of the
fecond Defcription of Ifaacvs.
Cap. 45. 3. Oper. Miner.

TAke of Mineral Antimony , HLs uftum, Crocus Mart is ,
Cinabar , of each two parts, of Vitriol the weight of
all , being all dried and mix'd together , pour to them of
Aqua Vita moft purely rectified , the height of two hands 5
the Veflel being clofe luted , digeft in Balneo the fpace of
ten day* , ftirring the Matter three or four times every day ,
that it may be the better incorporated with the Aqua. Vita }
thefe ten days being ended , and an Alembick put on , Di-
ftill with a gentle Fire , but at laft with a moft (Irong Fire
twelve hours together , that all the tinged Spirits may a-
icend with the Aqua Vita : This procefs repeat , always Di-
ftilling the Water with new Matters , till it becomes Red as
Blood.

To tkefe tree we witt add alfo a third Menftruum of this fort.

107. A DifTolving Water for the Red of the
third Defcription of Ifaacu*.
Cap.6i> 3. Oper. Min.

' Ake of Rowan Patriot , Cinabar, of each one part , of
Crocus Martte, Lapis Hematites , lEs ufium , Verde-
greece, of each half a part 5 calcine the Vitriol firft. If
you have a mind , you may extract the Tincture out of Mi-
neral Antimony with (PhilofophicalVinegar*) and being fepa-
rated from the Vinegar , add it to the former Species , as alfo
as much Aqua Vit<e twelve times redify'd as fuiiiceth } the
Veflel being well luted, digeft in Balneo (even or eight times ,
then having put on an Alembick , and luted the Joynts well,
Diftill with a gentle Fire two days , then a ftronger two days
more , then the (pace cf three days , that the Gla(s may be

hot 5

hot 5 the GlafTes being cold , take out the Caput Mortuum ,
which being well pulverized , digeft with the Diftillcd Wa-
ter for the fpace of eight days , then Diftill the firft day gent-
ly , the fecond more ftrongly , the third moft ftrongly for
the fpace of twenty four hours,that the Glafs may be red hot 5
then let it cool , the Diftillcd Water digeft with new Matters,
and Diftill , as before, and that to be three times repeated.

And as tkefe Menftruums were for Red Tinctures , fo alfo he
made fame for White Tin&ures , thus,

1 08. A DifTo! ving Water of Ifaacu* for the White.
Cap. 76.3. Oper. Min.

' Ake ofRoch Alume , Lapif Calami naris , of the Calx
of Eggs^ an equal quantity , pour to them as much
Aqua, vita redify'd from all Phlegme as fufficeth, and
diftil , as the Diflblving Water for the Red.

109 Another Diflblving Water of Ifaacits

for the White.
Cap. 48. 3. Oper. Min.

I Ake of Roach Air, me ^ Lapis Calami naris^ Calx of Egf 9
common Arfe Kick.-* an equal quantity , being all pul-
verized , mix , and to the Powder pour as much A-*
qua Vita well refiify'd , as to be the fpace of three hands n-
bove the Matter , diftil v, ith a gentle Fire , then a ftronger ,
laftly,for twenty four hours foas to be red hot $ cohobatetl e
cliftillation yet four times upon the CaputMorlintw reduced in-
to Powder.

9 M*nyfoch Menftrunins as thcfe we nictt with in fever al
places cf Ifaacus , in tie Definitions of which ,. tho the Ad-
dition <7/Pliilofophical Aqua Vitae or Spirit of Wine le not al-
ways exprcfs'd^ yet thai it is to be under flood in all offkcyr, fc
evident by tt.c forMsr Receipts of Drffolvh/g Waters : The
3sf0l/0i%J??g wAy be Bxafftpk?) in the frjl [Lice tlat
is caLed 1 1C. A

( 3 )

no. A Red Water Shining Day and Night of
the Firft Defcription of Ifaacut, *"

. Min. Pag.^2^.Vol.^. Tb. Chyrn.

TAke the Crocus of Mars, Antimony as it is dugge out of
the Mines, Red Arfenick^, of each one Pound , ofA/t-
ri pigment one Pound , of Roman Vitriol three Pounds , of
Sal Niter as much as the weight of all the reft : Grind all to-
gether into an impalpable Powder -, mix one Pound of Sal
Armoniack. with them , and being well mix'd , put the Mat-
ter in an Earthen Veflel , not glazed within , fuch as can well
endure the Fire , and having put on an Alembick , with $
Receiver ftrongly luted , diftil Aqua jfwffr, as it ihould be,
lirft with a irnall Fire , then increafing the Fire by degrees ,
and a White Water will diftii , which being diftilled , the A-
kmbick will begin to be Red or Yellow > then presently take
away the Receiver , and add another, fbundly luted , and
increafe your Fire till a White Spirit goes over , it is the Sal
Armonia'ck^ which goes over la ft of all, and ftrengthen the Fire
fo long , till the Alembick be altogether clear : When now
the Red Spirit goes over y nothing (of Sal Armoniack^ ) goes
with it , and fo foon as it is gone over (the White Water') the
Spirit and (dry) Water ( or Sal Armoniacl^) go over together,
then the Alembick becomes White within , as if it wasfufl of
Snow , and then increafe the Fire till the Spirit and Water
are driven through the Beak by Exhalation , as a Man cafts
forth his Breath by force 3 fo the Spirit and dry Water do
breath through the Pipe of the Alembick into the Receiver,
and increaie the Fire , and the Spirit and dry Water being
gone over , the Alembick Becomes clean , clear , white , and
tranfparcnt 3 then let it cool , and take it from the Fire, put
the Water into a Glafs , and ftop it clofe. Take the Caput
Mortuum , grind it to a fine Powder , put it in pure clear
Water for two hours, let it fettle, pour off the clear , and
pour it upon pure clear Water again , as before , and let it
boyl an hour.as before 5 then let it fettle again, add it again

( 30 1

to the former, caft away the Feces , and that which you
poured out (\heSoltttion ) evaporate, and a yellow Powder
will remain , weigh it, add as much Sal Niter, and mix them
together, put them into a Glafs, pour your Diftil led Water
{or-MenftruuM} upon it , put on an Alembick ftrongly luted
all over, adding a Receiver, and leave it three days upon thee
Fornace (to Digeft) before you put Fire under, then kindle
your Fire , and Diftill firft with a fmall Fire, then fometimes
a greater , till the White Spirit is gone over, then ceafe,
and you have a Red Water mining Day and Night , which
diiiolvcs fixed Luna, as Lima is commonly diflblved , and it
will take a Tincture as the pureft Sol that ever was feen , yea ,
it tingeth all White Metals of the colour of Sol.

in. A K eJ Water {hewing Light by Night of
the Second Defcription oflfaacws.

Cap* 44. 0/tfr. MVL /Vg. 45 8. Vol. 3. Tb. Chym.

TAke of Roman Vitriol three Pounds , of Cinabar, Verde-
grefe^Ceruffe,of each half a Pound, of * Crocus Marttf, La-
pis L<c#tatites of each four Ounces, of Sal Niter os much , as
the whole Mafs (fivePounds*) pulverize and mix them well to-
gether ) divide the Mais into three parts,and of one part make
an Aquafortis , which pour upon the powder of another
part 5 dittill Aquafortis again , and pour it upon the third
powder , and diftill Aqiiz fortte again -, which being done,
pulverize all the three Capttt Mortttumr. Take the Water
of SalarmottiacJ{_, which I (hall teach you below to make
(" but we have already declard it in Numb. 8 1. J wherewith
grind the aforefaid powder fb fine , as that a Painter may
paint with it , then dry it in your Dry Stove in glais Dimes
being dried , grind it dry upon a Stone, and put it into an
earthen Pot , and pour the Aquafortis (before diftilled) up-
on it ) diftill firft with a gentle fire the fpace of twenty
four hours , then increafe (the Fire) as yet 24 hours more,
then increafe till it begins to fhine , then keep it in the fame

P p fiery

( 302

fiery brightnefs fix hours more, then let it cool , take it
away from the Fire , and ftop the Receiver well : Then
grind and pulverize the Caput Mortuuw upon a Stone with
Vinegar diftilled , and extraft the Salt or Element of Ea- t 1 :
out of the Feces 5 put the Salt into a Glafs , pour yout A-
qnafortis upon it , the Alembick and Receiver being very
clofe, put the Glafs in Sand in a Kettle with Water (in Bal-
neo) diftill all that will diftill , when no more diftilleth, let
the Balneo boil a day and a night whether it drops or no :
Then let it cool , remove it from the Fire , put it in Afhes,
ufe firft a weak Fire for 1 2 hours , then increafe the Fire
yet 1 2 hours more $ then let it be moderately hot , and let
it be fo for (Ix hours 5 then let it cool , take it from the
Fire , and cover it well , and having taken aWay the Feces
or Salt , grind them very imall with Diftill'd Vinegar, put it
into a Stone Jugge , and a good part of the Diftillation be-
ing poured to it , put it in Balneo , doing as was taught be-
fore 5 fee if it hath yet any Feces , and make the Salt clear 5
put it again in a Glafs , pour on the Aquaforfo again , do e-
very way as before , three or four times , and all your Mat-
ter or Earth will diftill with the Aquafortis , then take it
from the Fire, ftop dole , and keep it well : For you have
a pretious Water , above all the Waters that ever I heard
of 5 and believe me in good faith I have feen and done alfb
my felf wonderful things with this Water : This Water I
have reduced to a Red Chriftalline Stone , which would
give light by night , fo as that my Friends might lee to eat
and drink by it. Keep it well for ule , and efteem it as the
moft lecret Water of all you have.

The Method of making fuck Shining Menftruums if better
perceived fy the following Water.

112. A

( 303)

ii2. A Red and Shining Aqua forth of the Third
Defcription of Ifaacus.

Cap. 72. i ; Oper. Min. Pag. 354. Vol. 3. Th. Cbym.

TAke of Vitriol clarified and purified from its Feces, of
Sal Niter, an equal quantity, diftill an Aquafortis
out of them according to Art , then take the Caput
Mortmim out of the Glafs , and reduce it to a fine Powder 5
then grind it upon a Stone , then put it in common Diftill'd
Water , and draw out all the Salt , then filter it , that you
may have it clean from Feces 3 congeal again , and being
congealed , make it an impalpable Powder , aud put the
Powder into a Glafs , and then pour that Aquafortis again
upon the Powder which you diftill'd from thence , and di-
ftill again all that will diftill : Then take out the Caput Mor-
tnum again , grind it to Powder as before , and do in all
things as before } this Operation repeat, till you have diftil-
led all the Salt within the Aquafortis : Then have you an ex-
cellent Red Water mining" by night like a clear Fire 3 then
redtifie that Water in Balneo^ oftentimes diftilling, and pour-
ing on again , fo as at laft to have all the Diftillation in Bal-
mo : Then is your pretious Water prepared , by which you
may multiply and open your (Philofophical_) Stone. Thefe
Menftruums are little different , yea almoft the fame with the
former of Ifaacus , as to the Ingredients as well as Method of
preparation , but the addition of the Spirit of Philojbphical
Wine which Ifaacus prefcribcd in tkofeDijJolving Waters , mufl
of necejjity be undcrftood inthefe his Aqua fortifes , for without
this Spirit all thefe Waters would be common , of no Vertue and

Vf e .

P 2 From

From the Receipts we obferve :

1. That all Tinging Bodies whatfoever being either natural-
ly or artificially diffolved in an Acid , and reduced into
Salt or Vitriol by the help of the Spirit of Philosophical Wine,
do yield the preflnt Mchftrnums, by tkefe two Methods^ either
by rcpcatedCokobation , or Simple Dijl illation -, but in thif lat-
ter way it is irecejjary for the Salts or Vitriols oftkefaidEodies
to be firft graduated , that is ., by various Dijjolutions and Coa-
gulations joy tied with the Spirit 0/Philofophical Wine, and
then diftil/ed^ where Caution muji be had , left in this gr&heti*
OttoftheVitnol) the Aci d^ be by Operations lefineceflary than
convenient debilitated 5 for Jo you will eafily prepare Meiiftru-
ums unexpectedly of the Eighth- in ft cad of thif Kind.

2. That thefe Menftrunrns differ from Menftruums of .the
Eighth Kind , thefe being Acid , bitt thofe Sweet. DiJJolve a
Compounded Vegetable Menftruuni of the Eighth Kind m Di-
ftilled Vinegar, Spirit ofSttlphttr , Common Aqua Fortis , &c.
and yon will immediately have a Mcnftruum of .thif Kind^
on tie contrary , debilitate the Acidity of thefe Menftruums,
and they will be tranftnnted into Menftruums of the Eighth
Kind. -

3. That thefe Menftruijms are the Offences of Things, tinging .
diffolved in an Acid.

4. That Hungarian Vitriol ,f Copper naturally diffolved in
an Acid ) thp artificially purged* from Heterogeneous Salts
and Fetes , does neverthelef a*.we,U -at other things ting-
ing , require the Spirit of Philofopkical Wine , in order to
be reduced into an Oil .fo excellent in .Medicine as well of
Alchimy.

5. That it 7f even much at one by what Acid Copper or any o-
th$r tinging Body if reduced into Vitriol , provided it be after-
wards graduated , that if , mixed with the Spirit of Philofo-

'phical Wine Wherefore you tttuft once for always take notice,
that not only in the Writings <?f Bafilius and Paracelfus , but of
cth r cr Adepts alfo , asjn Via Veritatis, 8cc. in fever al pi aces of
which you will tneet with thefe Phrafes , Things graduated,
exalted 5 6cc. you muft nnderftand not Common.

Men-

Menftruums , but prepared with the Spirit of Philofophi-
cal Wine , and fo made fit for the Worlds of the more Secret
Chymy.

6. That Roman Vitriol K reduced intofo Noble an 0/7, not
by the Spirit of Common but Philofophical Wine.

j. That theft Menftruums do by continued Cohobations be-
come moft red , fiining by Night. fo , thatM.cn at Supper want
no other Light , permanent and multiplying the Philofophers
Stone 5 butofthefe in their proper places , namely ,
and Fourth Bookj. x

fhe

The One and Twentieth KIND.

Compounded Mineral Menftruums of
Simple Mineral Menftruums and
Mercury , the reft of the Metals, and
other Ringing Things.

iii 3. The Spirit of Venut or Spirit of Verdc-
greeceof Bafilius.

Libr. Panic. deParticuLVeneri*.

TAke of Copper- as much as you will ^of which make
Vitriol the common way , or inftead of it take Com-
mon Verdegreece fold in Shops , which will do the
fame thing j 'to which being pulverized, pour (Common) Di-
ftilled Vinegar, put it in a heat , decant the Vinegar , being
tranfparent and green , to the remainder pour new Vinegar,
and "repeatflhe Work , till the Vinegar be tinged , and the'
Matter remain in the bottom of the Veilel black 3 draw off
the Vinegar being tinged and gathered together either to
drinefs , or to a thin Skin , that the Vitriol may be Chriftalli-
zed , and you will have the Verdegreece purified ( after the
common way ) to which being pulverized , pour the Juice of
Unripe Grapes (Philofophicd Vinegar in Numb. 74.) put it in
a gentle heat , and digeftingyou will have a tranlparent Sma-

gradine

gragdine Tin&ure, with which is extracted the Red Tin&ure
tfVenuf , an excellent Colour for Painters. This Tinfture
being extracted , mix all the Extractions together , and draw
off the Phlegme gently, that the Vitriol being very clear (gra-
duated} may be criftallized in a Cold place , whereof if you
have a fufficient quantity , you have alfo enough Matter for
the making of the Philosophical Stone 3 if perhaps you mould
doubt to perform fuch a Myftery with every (Natural} Vi-
triol whatfoever : Concerning this Preparation we lately
(poke parabolically in Libro Clavium , Capite de Wein Effig.
where we faid : That common Azoth is not the Matter of our
Stone , but our Azoth or firft Matter extracted by common
Azoth aridWme, which are the exprefled Juice of unripe
Grapes , whereby the Body of Venus is to be diffolved and
reduced into Vitriol : This is to be well oblerved , for thus
you will free your felves from many Difficulties. Now out
of this Vitriol thus prepared , diftil a Spirit and RedOil, &c.

Annotations.

IN the Eighth Kind common Mercury and Metals were ei-
ther by the Spirit of Philosophical Wine , or by fome fim-
ple Vegetable Menftruums converted into compoundedVe-
getable Menftruums. In the Twentieth antecedent Kind ,
tinging Arids dijfolved in Acids are more eajily diftilled toge-
ther with the Spirit of Philofbphical Wine into compounded
Mineral Menftruums : .But the prejent Kind volatilizeth the
faid Bodies , not by the Spirit 0/Thilofophical Wine 3 but Mi-
neral Menftruums , that the Menftruums may be thereby made
fooner, eajier^ and of a higher Kind. In the laft Kind we di-
ftilled natural Vitriol , being macerated in the Spirit of Phi-
lofbphical Wine , or , which is much more conducible , dif-
Jblved in the fame Spirit , and reduced into graduated Vi-
triol , into a Mineral Menftruum : For the natural aci-
dity of Roman Vitriol for the corrojton of Copper , was in
the compojition of it able and ftrong enough to diffolve the
Spirit of Philofophical Wine in the making of the faid

Men-

Menftruum s but here in Artificial Vitriols the matter if other-
wife 5 fir the dry Bodies of Metals co-operating in their Dijfo-
lutions do debilitate the acid , and therefore Vitriols, contain-
ing this debilitated acidity , arefcarcefit cither for the dijfolu-
tion of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine , or the constitution of
theprcfent Menftruum : Wherefore the Vitriols 0/Saturn and
Jupiter being made with a common acid , do by virtue of the

Spirit of Philofophical Wine , yield faect Oils , or Vegetable
Menftruuins , not at till acid or miner al'^ for t hat ireak acid re-

. waiving in the Vitriol /fixation of thofe foft Met ah , if wholly

~- tranfmutedinthediffohttion of the Spirit 0/T'hilofophical Wine,

i of aljo in the very Diftilhtion of itfclf, fo that Vitriol being

artificially- made of Copper and Iron by acids , -is dijiilled not
by the Spirit of Philoiophical Vv'ine , but Mineral Menftruums,
into a Menftruum of the prefent Kind 5 but Gold and Silver
need not only thefe Mineral or Sfn?rtger Mcnftrjums , but to be
li^eirife volatilized by the fame , and reduced into Volatile

Vitriols.

Thus Ba/iliiff in Concliifionibu* fais. Setf. 2. deVilriolis.
Cap. I. de Vitriol o Solis & Lun : reducedGoldzn&Silvtr in-
to Volatile Vitriol, It is requiiite , faith he , firft to have our
Water made of the coid Salt of the Earth (Niter') and the
Eagle (Vegetable Sal harwoniack.) wherewith GoSd^and Sil-
ver are made fpiritual , and coagulated into Griftal ,- or Me-
tallick Vitriol , by which , &c. \n-Labortprimo Ljbri Reve-
lationis , nt & in Elucidatione 12 Qavium , this Vitriol of
-Sol is more exactly thus defer ibed : Take, faith he, of this
Water (the Kings Bath or Menjirttztm dc/cribed above- in
Numb. 89.) three parts, of the Calx of Gold one part, mixe,
put it in a Cucurbit with an Alembick upon hot Adits, to be
diflolved , if it be-not all diflolved , pour off the Water and
f>our on new , and that , till all the Calx is ditiolvcd in the
-Water , when it is cold , white Feces fettle in the bottom,
which feparate , joyn all the Water together , and digeft in
Balneo a day and a nighty then having taken ^ way the Feces,
digeft the.fpace of nine days continually , diftill away the
Water, that the Matter may remain in the bottom like Oyl,
the, Water diftilled from it poui>,on again being heated, di-
ill 3 . as before , pour on again, diftill, and this repeat fome

* cemin

certain times , thus will ( the Menftrtium:*) be debilitated,
then pour new Water to the Matter like Oyl , digeft a day
and a night , diftill in Sand to an Oyl , pour on Water a-
gain being hot 5 diftill , and that fo oft till all the Gold is
come over , but this Diftillation ought to be done in a low
Cucurbit, with a flat bottom , put the Golden Water which
came over in a cold place , to criftallize , feparate the Water
from them. G;// 'do made the Volatile Vitriol of ' G 'old out of
Goldfitblimed : The Gold hefublimed thus : Take of Gold
calcined twelve times with three parts of Cinabar , or of
Leaf Gold four Ounces , of the Oyl of Salt (the Menftruunt
defcriled in Numb. 76. ) twelve Ounces , difiolve in afhes.
Draw off the Oyl of Salt from it feveral times , putrifie for
a Moneth , then diftill , and all the Gold will be fublimed,
of a Red Colour in the tenth or twelfth Sublimation } but
if it will not be fublimed , joyn all together , and draw off
the Phlegme in Balneo , to the remainder add of the Oyl of
Tartar per deliqttium four Ounces gradually , and force it
with a ftronger Fire , and the Gold will afcend Red with
the Menftrtfum , and be precipitated in the bottom of it 5
decant the Water from the Gold , upon which kindle Recti-
fied Spirit of ( Common ) Wine eight or nine times , to take
away all the Acidity of the Oyl of Salt. Pag. I r. Thefaur.
Chym. With Gold thus fublimed he prepared the graduated Vi-
triol of Sol by the following Method. Take of Gold fiibli-
med four Ounces and a half , pour to it Radical Vinegar
( mixd voith the Spirit of Wine ) the height of three Fingers,
digeft three days in Balneo , decant the Vinegar , and pour
on new, till all be difTolved , which draw off in Balneo, but
beware of too much 5 put it in a eold Cellar, and the Vitri-
ol of Gold will be criftallized of a Ruby or Granat Colour,
more or leis beautiful , according to the Method of Opera-
ting ) from which decant the Liquor again to be drawn off
to a thin Skin , till you have five Ounces of the Vitriol. Pag.
19. Thefanr.-Chym. The fame way aljb he prepared the Gradua-
ted Vitriol of Luna , Pag. 31. as alfo <?/Mars , Pag. 36. But
Jupiter, Pag. 42. Venus, Pag. 45. and Saturn, Pag. 49. he
calcind ottely^ and reditcd them with the aforefaid Vinegar in-
to Graduated Vitriols , 'Out of all which Vitriols may Men-

ftruums

( 3*

ftruums of this Kind be diftilted , as Bafilius his Spirit of
Venus.

Ifaacus dtftilted the Spirit <?/ Saturn out of the Graduated
Vitriol

114. The Water ofParadifeof Ifaacus.
In.OfereSaturni.

TAke of Saturn ten or fifteen Pounds, which no other
Metal is mix'd with , beat it into thin Plates , and
have a Bottle half full of Vinegar , lute , put it in a
warm Balneo , and every three or four days fcrape the Sa-
turn that is calcined from the Plates , gather about five or
fix Pounds of it , grind this calcined Saturn ( Cerufe ) with
diftilled (Philofiphicar) Vinegar , upon a Marble, fo as with
a Pencil to ierve for a Pidure , then take a Stone Jugg , and
therein pour Diftilled Vinegar to the calcined Saturn + leav-
ing a third part of the Jugg empty , mix very well , ftop it
with a Glafs or Stone Stopple , fet it in Balneo , ftir it five
or fix times a day with a Woodden Slice or Spoon , ftop it
again , nor heat the Balneo more than that you may endure
your hand in it 5 let it thus ftand 14 days and nights 5 then
pour offthe clear , and pour new Vinegar to the Calx not
yet diflblved } mix , proceed, as before , repeating , till all
the Calx of Saturn is dillolved 3 put the Saturn being thus
diiTolved in Balneo , evaporate the Vinegar with a flow Fire,
the Saturn will be reduced into a Mafs , which move to and
fro till it be dry , it will be of a Honey Colour , rub it on a
Marble \vith Diftilled Vinegar, like Soap , put it again in the,
Stone Jugge 9 being very well mixed , in a warm Balneo the
Jpace of five or fix days , ftir it every day with a Woodden
Slice, ftop the Glafs , let it cool , pour off what is diflplved
into another large Stone Jugge , pour other Vinegar to it,
mix very well , put it again in Balneo , pour off, and thus
proceed , till nothing more will be diffolved , which you
may try by your tongue , for if the Vinegar be iweet, it is
not enoug^i difiblved 5 or put? a little in a Glals Cucurbit 5 and

Jet

let it evaporate , if any thing remains , all that will be Gold
is not diflolved, and that which remains in the Jugge, or Fe-
ces, if they befweetupon the tongue, and you find yet fome-
thing in the Cucurbit that is not enough diflblved , you may
diflblve it by pouring new Vinegar to it. Thefe Solutions
coagulate , as before , diflblve in Diftilled Vinegar , as be-
fore 5 thefe Coagulations and Solutions continue,till no more
Feces remain in the bottom , but are all things diflblved into
a clear and limpid Water 3 then is Saturn free from all its Le-
profie, Melancholy, Feces, Blacknefs, and Superfluities, and
is pure , as (now, being exempted from all filth ) fufible as
Wax , and fweet as Sugar 5 &c. Take half of the Purged
Saturn, put it in a Stone Jugge , and pour to it four Pounds
of Diftilled Vinegar , put on an Alembick , and diftill the
Vinegar in Balnea^ but the Alembick muft have a hole in the
top , through which pour new Vinegar , diftill , as before,
pour on new and draw off , and that till the Vinegar be
drawn off as ftrong as it is poured on , then is it enough, be-
caufe the Matter hath imbibed as much of the Spirits of the
Vinegar , as it needs, and as much as it can retain : Take the
Jugge from the Fire , and the Alembick being taken off, put
the Matter into a Glafs that can endure the Fire , put an A-
lembick to it , put it in a Co pel with Ames in a Fornace 3
make firft a gentle Fire , increafe it by degrees , till your
Matter goes over of the Colour of Blood , and thicknefs of
Oyl , fweetnefs of Sugar , and of a heavenly fmell , if the
heat diminiiheth , keep it while the Matter diftills , increafe
the Fire , till the Glafs begins to be Fire hot , keep it in thtb
heat , till nothing more diftills 5 let it cool by it felf , take
away the Receiver , and ftop it very wetl with Wax , beat
the Matter (Caput mortuttm) in an Iron Mortar, with a Steel
Peftle , and then grind it upon a Marble with DiftuTd Vine-
gar (Vinegar mix'd with tie Spirit ofPhilofophical Wine) put
it in a Stone Jugge two parts full , diftill by Balneo , ^pour
on new Vinegar , diftill as before , . repeat , till the Vinegar
diftills with the fame ftrength as it was poured on , let them
cool, diftili the Matter in a ftrong Glafs upon Afnes as -be-
fore , firff with a gentle Fire , then a ftronger , as you did
before , a Red Oil will go over , as before , &c. beat the

Matter,

Matter , and proceed again , till the Matter will retain no
more of the Spirit of Vinegar in the Diftillation in Balneo ,
then take the Matter , diftil what will drftil in a glafs Cucur-
bit upon Allies , till you have difHlled the Matter into a Red
Oil , which is the noble Water of Paradife , by which all
Fixed Stones may be refolved , and the Stone made perfect.
This Water of Paradife the Ancients call'd their iharp, clear,
Vinegar , d v c.

Metals fometimes are not reduced into graduated Vitriols
but by repeated Cohobation made Menftruums of thff Kitttf

115. The Mercurial Vinegar of Trifmofmus. .
Libro Mor at of an five Otto Tinftur arum

in Secunda Tinftura ,
Pag. 79. Aur. Veil. Germ.,.

I Ake Argent Vive purged the common way , put it in
an Alembick , whereto pour very (harp Vinegar
( Vinegar mi.xd with the Spirit of Vhilofophical Vnne
defcribed before in Numb. 72.) three Ounces of Vinegar to
one Ounce of Mercury 3 draw off fix times in Balnea , then
force it to afcendinto the Receiver , being diftilled , redifie
it , and it will be prepared.

Sometimes ivjlead of. Philofophical Vinegar he ufed the
Aqua Fortis. defer j bed in Numb. .73. .

1 1 6. The Mercurial Water of Trifmofenus.

Libr. Otto JinRurar. in Tinft. quart a. Pag. 80'.

Aurei Veil. Germ.

^Ake of Rowan Vitriol , Sal Niter, of each one Pound
and a half, of (Vegetable) Salarwoniacl^four Oun-
ces , of Tiles pulverized one Pound , out of which
diftil Aquafortis by the Rule of Art. Take of Venetian

Mer-

Mercury fublimed ( youmuft have a care of its Venemous
Fume ) four Ounces , put it in a Cucurbit , pour the faid
Aquafortis to it, drawofF ftrongly , that the Mercury may
be well mixed with the Aqua, fortis , and it will be pre-
pared.

Albertus Magnus prepared the fame Mercurial Water thw ,

1 1 7. The Mercurial Water of Albertus Magnus.
Libro Compofitum eie Compofitis.

Cap. 5. Pag. 93 j. Vol. 4. Th. Chym.

I Ake of Roman Vitriol two Pounds , of Sal Niter two
Pounds , of Alume calcined one Pound '-, being well
ground and mix'd together put the Matter in a fit
Glafs Phial , and having luted the Joynts very clofe, that the
Spirits may not evaporate , diftill Aquafortis after the com-
mon way, firft with a weak Fire, lecondly a ftronger, third-
ly with Wood , that all the Spirits may go over , and the
Alembick turn white , then put out the Fire , let the For-
nace cool , and keep the Water carefully,, becaufe it is the
DiiTolvitive of Luna , keep it therefore for the finifhing of
the Work , becaufe that Water diilblves Luna , (eparates
Gold from Silver , calcines Mercury and the Croctt* of Mars?
&c. This is the firft PhUofophical Water ( Common Aqua
fortis ) and hath one Degree of Perfection in it. Take of
the firft Water one pound , diflblve in it two Ounces of (Ve-
getable*) Sal armoniack^ pure and clear , which being dHIbl-
ved , the Water is presently otherwife qualified , and other-
wife coloured , becaufe the firft was of a Green Colour, and
the Diflblvitive of Luna , and not of Sol., and prefently af-
ter the putting in of the Sal artnoniack. the Colour of it is
turned to a Citrine 3 and diffolveth Gold, Mercury, and Sul-
phur fublimed , and tingeth a Man/ Skin of a moft Citrine
Colour, keep that Water {PhilofopkicalAquaRegis^z-
part. Take of the fecond Water one Pound , and o Mer-
cury fublimed with Roman Vitriol r and common Salt five

Ounces

Ounces and a half , put it to the fecond Water by little and
little gradually , feal the Mouth of the Glafs well, that the
Virtue of the Mercury put in may not fuddenly exhale , put
the Glafs in Ames temperately hot , and the Water will pre-
fently begin to work upon the Mercury , diilolving it and
incorporating -, and let the Glafs ftand thus in hot Ames, and
in the diflblution of the Water , till the Water appears no
more, but has wholly diiTolved the Sublimed Mercury : Now
the Water ads always upon Mercury by the way of imbibi-
tion , till it diffolves it totally : But take notice , if the
Water cannot wholly diflolve the Mercury put in , then lay
afide the Mercury that is diffolved by that Water , and that
which is not diilolved at the bottom dry with a gentle Fire,
grind , and ditlolve it with new Water as before , and thus
repeat this Order , till all the Sublimed Mercury is diflblved
into Water : And then joyn all the folutions of that third
Water, into one, in a clean Glafs , and flop the Mouth of it
well with Wax , and keep it carefully : This is the third
Philofophical thick qualified Water in the third degree of
Perfection, and is the Mother of AqnaVite , which diffolves
all Bodies into their firft Matter. Take the third clarifi'd
Mercurial Water , qualified in the third Degree of Perfecti-
on , putrefie it in the Belly cf a Horfe , to be well digefted
in a clear Glafs with a long Neck , well fealed the fpace of
14 days , make it putrefie , and the Feces fettle at the bot-
tom , then will this Water be tranfmuted from a Citrine to
a Yellow Colour, which done,' take out the Glafs , put it
in Ames with a moft gentle heat , put on an Alembick with
its Receiver , and begin to diftil by little and little a moft
clear , clean , ponderous Aqna Vit<e , Virgins Mill^ , moft
foarp Vinegar , drop by drop , continuing conftantly a flow
Fire , till you have diftilled all the Aqua Vtt gently , then
put out the Fire , let the Fornace cool , and keep it dili-
gently apart. Behold this is AquaVit* , the Philofophers
Vinegar , Virgins M//4 , by which Bodies are refblved into
their firft Matter , which is called by infinite Names. The
Signs of this Water are thefe , if a Drop be caft upon a Cop-
per Plate red hot , it will prefently penetrate , and leave a
White Impreflion , it fmoaks upon Fire , is coagulated irk the

Air

Air after the manner of Ice : and when this Water is diftil-
led , the Drops of it do not enter continually as other Drops,
but one is diftilled one way, another another way j this Wa-
ter afts not upon Metallick Bodies , as another ftrong Corro-
five Water , which diflblves Bodies into Water , but if Bo-
dies be put into this Water, it reduceth and refolves them all
into Mercury , as you (hall hear hereafter.

Paracelfus made this Water by the following Method

1 1 8. The Mecuxial Water of Paracelfa
InAppenc/ice Manual^ de Lap. Phil. Pag.

TAke of Mercury feven times fublimed with Vitriol, Sal
'Niter, xn&Alume^ three pounds of (Vegetable} Sal
armonJack^fablimed three times with Salt , clear and
white , one Pound and a half , being ground together and
alcolized, fublime them in a Sublimatory nine hours in Sand :
Being cold , draw off the Sublimate with aFeather, and with
the reft fublime , as before : This Operation repeat four
times, , till no more fublimes , and a Black Mafs remains in
the bottom flowing like Wax , being cold take it out , and
being ground again , imbibe it often in the Water of Sal ar-
momac\ prepared according to Art ( the Menftruum defiri-
bed in Numb. 91. ) in a Glafs Difh , and being coagulated
of it felf , imbibe it again , and dry nine or ten times over,
till it will fcarce any more be coagulated : Being ground fine-
ly upon a Marble , difiblve it in a moift place to a clear Oil,
which you muft redifie by Diftillation in Ames from all Fe-
ces and Sediment. This Water keep diligently as the beft
of all.

Lully made his Mercurial Water ^/Mercury and the Stink-
ing Menftruum

The

/ 1 19. The Sinking Mcrcvrial Menftruum
Pag.' 6 3. Teftam. Noviffimi-

TAke of the Stinking MeHftrnnri'four Pounds , and put
in one pound G Mercury Vive , put the Matter in Bal-
mo or Horfe Dung fix days , and it will be all converted in-
to Water, diftil by Balnea , and you will have a Mercurial
Water , truly Mineral.

Ripley/0//0W kis Mafter in tke way of making the Mer-
curial Water, as followeth.

120. The Mercurial Green Lion of Ripky.
'Pag. 310. Pupill(2 Alcbymic*.

TAke Mercury fublimed with Vitriol and common Salt , to
the quantity of 20 or 40 Pounds (in my opinion two or
four ougl. t to be read ) that you may have enough. Grind it
well into Powder , and put it in a Glafs Veflel very large and
ftrong , pour to it fo many Pounds of themoft ftrong Water
.(the Stinging Menftrunm is the ftrongeft Water in the World,
Pag. 138. MeduO^) as there are Pounds of Mercury. : Shake
therafoundly together , and the Veflel will become fo hot,
that you can (carce touch it 5 flop it well , and let it (land
nine days in a cold place , fhakingit flrongly three or four
times each day : Which done , put the Veilel in a Fornace
of Ames , and with a mod gentle heat diftil away all the A-
qua Vita ( MettftrMHvT) which keep fafe by it felf , then- im-
mediately add another Receiver well luted , kindle a mofl
ftrong Fire , and continue it till all the Golden Liquor is
wholly diftilled.

The fame ways of the Mercurial Waters are made , may al-
fo be made Menftruums of this Kind out of the other Metal s^

121.

121. The Scinking Lunar Menftruum of Lully.

In Exfer'wientQ 29.

TAkeof tke aforefaid Mineral Water (deferred in Numb.
104.) as you have it in the former Experiment (Numb.
26.) fix or eight Ounces , diflolve in it one Ounce of
Luna^ which diiTolution put into a fmall Retort to bediftil-
ledby Ames 5 which Diftillation ceafing , increafethe Fire as
-much as poffible , and when no more moifture will with
this degree of Fire diftil , cool the Veflel , receive the Diftil-
led Water , wherein is the Soul ofLttua , and fecure it from
refpiring.

Thttf alfo Lully prepares the Water of Sol.

122. The Stinking Solar Menftruum of Lully.

In Exferim. 3 1.

TAke the AqttaFortts or Mineral Water {d-efiriled in
Numb. 104.) as above , and in every Pound thereof
diflolve three Ounces of the Anima-1 Salt prepared and
fixed , as you have it in its (Stxtfi) Experiment : Which be-
ing dilTolvetl , diflolve therein two Ounces of Gold cement-
ed , as you know , after that putrefie eight days , then di-
ftill by Baluea : Now that which remains at the bottom , will
be like melted Honey, upon which Matter pour again fome
of its own Water diftilled by Ba'neo , fo as to flvim t^vo fin-
gers above it$ putrcfie for a natural day,thcn taking away the
AnteHotorhtnt , put on an Alembick with a Receiver, lo clofe,
as not to refpire : Diftil by Afhcs , till no more will diftil,
then increafe the Fire a little , th;.t part of the Air may pals
into the Water 5 and laftly increric the Fire , that alfo the
Element of Fire may pafs through the Alembick 5 :.nd when
nothing will diftil with this lad degree of Fire, cool the Vcf-
fci , take away the Receiver with its Diftilled Water, rnd
keep it well ftopp'd. R r Kb.ctib

V -^ X

Ifaacus Hollandus made a Mercurial Water fomtimes toith
the Mercury of Luna, thus..

123. Philofophers Vinegar made of the Mercury
of Silver of Ifaacut.

Cap. 99. 2. Oper. Min. Pag. ^ji.Vol. 3. Th. Cym.

Ake of the Calx of Luna one Pound , of Sal armoniac^
whieh muft be clear and tranfparent as Criftal , with-
out moifture , a fourth part , being ground, put them
in a Stone Jugge , then take (Philofophical*) Vinegar diftilled
five or fix times from its Phlegme , fo as to leave no Feces 3
empty the Vinegar into another Stone Jugge , and having
put on an Alembick , place it in Balneo : The Jugge which
the ground Calx is in , lute well to the beak of the Alembick,
and let the Luting be throughly dried j Then make Fire un-
der the Balneo^ and diftil the Vinegar leafurely upon the Calx
of Luna 5 and fo many Pounds as you have of the Calx of
Luna ,' fo many four Pounds of Vinegar diftil upon it, and
when all the Vinegar is diftilled , let it cool gently the fpace
of three days , before you remove the Jugge , for if you re-
move it fooner, the Vinegar , Luna , and Sal. armoniack^ will
run over, and you will retain nothing , fb vehement is that
Matter, for Cold and Hot do come together $ and when you
would remove it , have a Glafs Stopple ready fitted to the
mouth of the Jugge, or Receiver , whicji you muft prefent-
ly lute to it , that the Virtue may not evaporate : Then fet
the Jugge in Balneo , let the Fire be no hotter than your
hand can well endure in the Water up to the Knuckles , or
then may be drunk without burning , and thus keep it the
Tpace of fix weeks : Then let it be cold , break it, and pre-
(ently lute an Alembick to the Jugge very firmly , and put a
Receiver to the Beak , diftil in a temperate Balneo , whatfo-
ever will diftil , and when now no more diftils , take it out,
and put it in Ames , lute the Receiver again to the Beak, and
firft apply a gentle heat , then fometimes a ftronger , till
your Mercury begins to fublime with the Sal armoniac^

as white as Snow,and hanging to the White Matter with clear
Fibers , then keep it thus ( tillyoufieitfublimes not) in the
fame heat , to extradt. the Mercury purely out of the Earth :
Then let it cool , take away the Alembick , take out the
Mercury being fublimed with the Sal armoniack^ , which are
fublimed into a Mafs together , which weigh, that you. may
know how much Mercury you fublimed out of the Calxes of
Luna , for you knew how much Sat armomacl^ you put in-
to the Jugge : Then put the Sublimate again into a Glafs,
and again fublime , that you may fee whether any Feces re-
main , for you muft repeat the Sublimation till no Feccs
remain. Keep this Mercury till I teach you what to do with
it : You muft know that in that Veflel , wherein you fubli-
med the Mercury with the Sal armoniac^ is the Body (com-
monly called Caput Mortuum ) or Element of Earth with its
Oyl or Fire, this take out and weigh , that ib you may the
better know , how much Mercury you fublimed alfo out of
it , for you knew how much of the Calx of Luna you had
in the Jugge , fo you may certainly know how much you
have out of it : Then put your Salt or Earth into a Glafs,
and pour Diftill'd Vinegar upon it , and diflolve it into a
pure Water , if it yields any Feces , pour off the top gra-
dually , and congeal again , till it leaves" no more Feces,
then congeal again : Then have you your Salt prepared
with your Earth clear as Criftal. Now take your Sublimed
Mercury and Salarmoniack.^ and your clear Salt , and grind
them together upon a Marble dry , being ground , put all
the Matter into a Glafs Plate, fet it on a Tripos or our Cal-
cining Fornace , and there let it ftand fix Weeks , and apply
fuch a heat , as if you would keep Lead melted without
congealing : Thoie fix Weeks being expired , let it cool ,
then put it in a cold Cellar , and cover it with a Linncn
Cloth , that no duft may fall in , and in thefpace of fix or
eight days it will be wholly difiolved into a clear Water.
Now you muft know , this is the Philofopcrs clear Vinegar,
for' when they write our Vinegar , they mean this Water, and
when they fay P-hilofophers .Mercury , they mean this Water,
.' and it is their Vinegar Which' they vaite tr fo wonderful-

4_J ^

ly ipeak of.

R r 2 - From

C 3^0

From the Receipts we obfervc :

t. That Metals and Minerals TO 1 atiliz,ed with Simple Mi-
r*/ Menfti minis *re- Menftruums ofthn Kind.

2. Tto //'C/t- Menftrunms are the fame with tf.e Menftru-
cf tf.e Eighth Kind dijjohed in Simple Mineral Mcn-

ftrmims , lut differ from tf.e antecedent Kind , in being made
not with the Spirit of Phil ofophical Wine , hut Philosophical
Vinegar.

3. That tJ.efe Mcnftruums are f/-eETences or Magifteiies
of Things tinging dijjolvcd in Simple Mineral Menftruums.

4. That thofc Menftruums being Mineral or Acid , are in
AlchymicalProceffes letter than the Vegetable Menftruums of
the Pjighth Kind , becaufe jlronger.

5. That the dij/olntions of Metals performed by thefe Mei "-
rial Menftruums > have been by the Adepts fomcli,-/;es called A-
nialgamations. You muft know , faith Ifaacus , That this
is the beft Solution , that ever was found in the World , for
herein, is no error of Proportion and Weight. For Nature
errs not. For when Mercury is dillblved , it dillblves other
Metals alfo, as is rightly taught in other places. Nor will it
diflblve rnore than it is able , nor will it receive more of a
Body into it, than its Nature can bear. For whatfbever
has no need of it , it cannot diflolve. And it is the beft
Amalgamation that can be found. z.Oper.Min.Cap.io^.Pag.
494. Vol. 3. Th. Chym. 77j<tf Bcrnhard in Epiftola ad Thomam
treated ?;otflfa dry but of this woift Amalgamation,/ > /7j^/7/>/^z;e
dfeivhere.

6. That the Menftruum of Venus , Sol, Luna, &c. if of
, t fa fame Virtue , & to the faculty of Dijfolving , with the Men-
ftruum of common Argent Vive 5 this Mercurial Menftruum
h 4* been indeed more in ufe than the oiler by fo we Adepts, be-
caufe of the more eajte way of operating upon the Open Body of
Mercury , thp it be lef powerful.. than the reft in Point of
Tinging.

j.< That tlere are divers Kinds of Stinking Menftruums :
The Thirteenth Kind taught us how to diftil the mo ft Stinking
Menftruum of all > out of Atrop : For there the Oyly Matter of

the .

the Spirit of (Philofophicar) Wine being diffolved in Vitriol, *f
in its Diftillatiott purged from all its Putrid Feculencies } but
tie Twentieth Kind treats #/ Menftruums lefs ftinking , be-
in\ made of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine now purified and
flvcet ; The prefect Kind prodnccth from the fame Matter
'fylcnfhuurns of the fame Name i ndeedjbnt not of tie fame Sting-
ing Savour folour. Sec. For Philofophical Vinegar *r, by rea-
fon of the perfect dijjolution of the Spirit of Philofophical Wine,
Diaphanottr , not of a Milky Colour , but in tie Diftillation of
a Menftrunm it is wadeMjify r lecaufe the Acidity of the faid
Vinegar being debilitated by the Aridity of a Body dijfolved , .
' cannot retain the Untfious Spirit of Plilofophical Wimforvell
iU before , but in the precipitation of which the Djftilled Li-
quor becomes M/lkj 5 fir this reafon tie Adepts fomctimes ad-
ded com mm Vitriol and Niter to the Azoquean Vitriol , that
the fat d' Spirit might the better be diffolved. In a word : The
greater quantity of Plilofophical Vinegar , or any other IMline-
ral Menftrunm ftrdngcr than thif^ is made ufeof in the making
of thefe Menftrunms , the lefs Milk^y , and left Stinking will
the Menftruums be, becaitfe made not of the embrionated Stink?
ing Matter of tie Spirit of Philofophical Wine , but of the
fame purified by Circulation and Diftillation.

8. That thefe , as all other Menftruums, are by Digeftion
made fvocet and traufmitted into Dijfolvents of the. Eighth .
Kind,

The

( 322 )

a. xe Two and Twentieth KIN D.

;

Mineral Menftruums compounded of
the Philfophers Vinegar , and other
Simple Mineral Menftruums and
Things tinging being firft fixed.

1 24. The Menftruum of Venus oflfaacttt tiollandus.
Cap. 82. 3. Oper. Miner.

I Will now Son teach you how to make the Stone , which
God gives us freely. You muft know it is made divers
Ways , but I will teach you the Way which I learnt
from my Father. Take of the Stone which(3od gives us free-
ly ( tic Vitriol ofVwus} as much as fufEccth , which cffiTolve
in (PhilofophJcal ) diftill'd Vinegar , let the Feces fettle , de-
cant the Diilolution from the Feces warily, and filter 5 draw
off the Vinegar with a gentle Fire , that the Matter may re-
main dry 3 being dried diflblve it again in Diftill'd Vinegar,
decant , filter , and draw off, and that to be four times re-
peated , rill no more Feces fettle in the Solution : Then
dxfiiLaway the Vinegar with a gentle Fire, till the Matter be-
comes fb dry , as to nie away in the beating of it into Pow-
, yet retains its Spirits : Now it is prepared for Calcina-
cYou muft know Son , that this Matter is in its Nature

Srip-

( 3*3 )

Stiptick and Aftringent , partly volatile, partly fixed, and fb
diflolved in Diftil'd Vinegar , that it may retain the fubtil
Spirit of the Vinegar ,-* and be calcined together with the
faid Spirit, made more fubtil , be better opened and diflbl-
ved,for the Spirit of Vinegar diflblves well before all things.
The Viuiol being thus prepared , Put it in aGlafs Bottle or
Egg, lute hermetically, but the Veflels muft be fill'd , that
there may be no fpace for the Spirits to elevate themfelves ,
fet ' it on a Tripos , and there let it remain in a temperate
heat , to fubtiliate it felf : Then take out the Matter , and
pulverize it, put it in a Cucurbit , put on an Alembick with
a Receiver to it , and fb diftil in Baljieo whatfbever will
diftil ;> it will be diftilled in about 20 or 2 5 days: Then
lay aiicte the Diftillation , take out the Feces lying at the
bottom of the Cucurbit , grind them very fine upon a
Stone , pat them in a Diflblving VefTel , pour all the
Diftilled Water to them , feal hermetically , and it will
be 11 diflolved in Babieo without Feces , diftil the Solu-
tion in a Cucurbit through an Alembick in Ealmo with
a moderate heat , that all the Water may.feparate it felf,
which keep very choicely, continue the Diftillation in Aihes,
that you may receive the Element of Air in the form of a ve-
ry noble Citrine Oyl 5 and this muft be done with a ftrong
Fire , lay afide the Air by it felf very well flopped near the
Water : The Feces being as red as Blood , take out of the
Cucurbit , grind them to an Impalpable Powder upon a
Stone , put them in a Glafs Bottle or Egge , feal , ancl fet it
go days and nights on a Tiipos to be fubtiliated witn a tem-
perate heat , then take out the Matter , grind it to Powder,
put it in a D'.fTojving Vefiel , pour to it the Element of Wa-
ter (atotie diftillecT) feal, and put it in Balnea , to be diilol-
ved , as before j diftil the Solution through an Alembick in
Ames ( the Receiver muft be put into cold Water ) increafe
the Fire by degrees , till at length it be hot 5 fo let it oSfTti-
nuefiveor fix days, and in the mean time will afcend theiEle-
ment of Fire in the form of a Red Oyl , fuffer it to be cool-
ing three or four days , then take away the Receiver , keep
k very well ftopp'd ^ &c.

Annota-

( 3*4.)
Annotation^.

'E have had divers graduated Vitriols in the former
Receipts , which lave yielded u* divers Menftru-
tims. The Vitriol in this Kind if made better than
all of them 5 for it is made of Vitriol graduated /;/ a cloje Vef-
fel , fxcd according to Art , and again dijfolved in Philofo-
phical Vinegar , that by Dijlil/ation it may be made a letter
Menftruum than thofe before. In the Ninth Kind of Vegetable
Menftruums // >e graduated Vitriol 0/Mercury , made 0/Mer-
c\Ky fublimed and Salt circulated , is in a clofe Vcffel reverie-
rated into a Fixed Powder , vrlich Crocus of Mercury then
volatilized with the Spirit of Philcibphical Wine , makes a
VegctMe Menfh num. IftL e fame graduated Vitriol 0f Mer-
cury' be in a clofe Vejjel reverberated into a Fixd Precipitate,
and then dijjolved , ;,ot in tie Spirit 0/Philofophical Wine,
but Philofophical Vinegar, orfome otler Mineral Menftruum,
' it witt be thereby made a Menftruum cf this Kind. That n-hich
isfpokcn of the Vitriol 0/Mercury , wuft le alfo under jiood of
tie prefent Vitriol ^f'Venus in our Receipt } where Ifaacus dij-
folves thefaid Vitriol in Phioipphical Vinegar, depurates and
graduates , which then he calcines , that is, fixeth upon a Tri-
pos ') being fixed it mtift Le diffolved in new PhilcfophicaLVi-
ncgar, and volatilized^ Lefcre the Diftil/dticn of;t, M 'Appears
by tie Defcription of tie fame Mcnftiuum eljewLere gjven.

YI 25. A Menftruum of Vitriol '6filfaacw Holland*
Cap. 62. 2. Oper. Min.

V ^ Ake a great quantity siRowan Vitriol^ 10 or 1 2 Pounds,

! Jaiher more thnn lels, as much as you will , rnd dii-

*" -folve the Vitriol in ccmmcn -Water, let the Fccesfet-

tle,put t he ckarDi Solution in a Stone Vei!el to be congealed,

till a thin skin comes over it, then let it cool and ftand three

daysa.nd you will have notable Stones of a green colour clear

as Criftal 5 take out thofe Stones , and put them in finall
Glafs Veflels in a clean Balneo to dry , the Balneo muft
have fuch a heat as is of the Sun in the middle of Sum-
mer y and your Stones will be turned into a white Pow-
der, which Powder diflolve in common Diftill'd Water, and
let, the Feces fettle, decant the clear into a clean Veflel , as
before , and let it be congealed , as before , this repeat, till
you can fee no Fcces left 5 when you have thus wafhed and
made your Powder white , you may be aflur'd your Vitriol
is rightly prepared. Now take the white powder of Vitriol,
put it in a Oiafs Veflel with a Neck pretty long , and feal the
Neck with the Seal of 'Hermes fo, that no Air can either pafs
out or in , and then put it in a Plate with fifted Ames upon '
a Fornace , put fire under , and put a Burning Lamp under
the Fornace, adding fuch a heat as the Sun yields in the mid-
dle of March , and thus keep it , till you fee your Matter
grow yellow, and continue it in the fame heat, till it be per-
fe&ly ruddy , then increafe the Fire a little, that is, put un-
der one Lamp more , and thus continue it eight or ten days,
and then fee whether your Matter begins not to be red , if it
begins to be red, increafe your Fife, and fo continue it eight
or ten days : But if you gain nothing in rednefs , increafe
your Fire with yet one Lamp , and fo proceed gradually al-
ways one Lamp being kindled , till your Matter be as deep a
red , as a rvofe or Ruby , it being now fo deeply red, fuffer
it even thus the fpace of eight or ten days in the fame heat ,
when you fee your Matter remains in the fame ftate , take it
out of the Plate with Afhes,and empty it into another ftrong
Glafs, pour a good quantity of .(Philofophical) diftuTd Vi-
negar upon jt, and put it /// Balneo , let it boil , and ftir it
with a VVoodden Spatula three or four times every day, and
thuscpntinue it four days and nights , then let it cool , and
pour off the clear , and again pour on Diftill'd Vinegar, and
that repeat three times $ then throw away the Feces , and
draw off the Vinegar through an Alembick in Balvco , till
your Matter become altogether dry, pour on new Vinegar,
: and do as before , and that fo long, till no more Feces remain
in the Diilblution : Then congeal it into a dry Powder,
which put into a good thick Glafs, and putting on an Alem-

S f bick

bickwith aton>e Head, ditto in order to obtain firft Saffron
Coloiir'd Spirits , then a Red Oyl, laftly, white Spirits , then
let it cool take away the Receiver, and keep that truly blcf-
fed Oyl which is in it. Take away the Alembick , and in the
Pot you will find a Matter white as Snow , and clear as Cn-

ftal &c.
'The way of waking of this Menjlrnum , we will confidcr in

its fever -al Branches. .

The fir ft if concerning the choice <?/ Vitriol ,. which Reajon
rewires * veil as the antecedent &$* ^ graduated , that
if diffolved either in theSpint ofPhihfophicalWine , or Phi-
logical Vinegar , and Cnf alined for the Calcination of
common Vitriol , diffolved in common Water and purified, in
a clofe Veffel to a mo ft red colour , is altogether Impoijible, and
of no Efficacy neither ', for nothing hut the common Acidor com-
mon Spirit of Vitriol K extracted out of common Vitriol , be 7t
never fo well purified and calcined: Vitnol therefore veil
Purred in common Water , is to be chofen according to the ^re-
Cent Receipt , but after that , according to tae antecedent well
difTohed in Philofophical Vinegar , that it may be thereby made
vraduatedVitriol , and the fit Matter of tin Mtnftruum.

The fecond Branch treats of the calcination or fixation ofthtf
graduated Vitriol into rednefs : Concerning which, the former
procefe *># too obfcure , but the prefent or later clear enongh:
This Calcination tithe true andPhilofophicalway of fixing tb#
Vitriol and that chiefly , becauje citnnity and rednejs follow -
blacknefs and whitenefs , the true fgns of volatilization as
well as fixation, ./^/^Tho. Ifaacus/^ nothing in both
the Receipts^ other Adepts have mentioned theje Colours, nth*
fixin? of Vitriol- Take.that Stone , faith Ripley, Cap. 7 .Ph*t. .
CupriStillicidium (the Green Lyon of Foots , or common,
Vitnol graduate*) andputit, being ground into a Philofo-
phers Effg, and proceed upon it by the way of PutrefaOion,
as was declared in the Procefs of Rebis and continue the
Stone upon the Fire , till after blacknefs and whitenefs, it is
turnedinto a red Powder, which many call Vitriol Rxbifi-

cated.'

Bui

( 327 )

But here rifethforne dovlt , in that the Red Colour of this
Calcined Vitriol ,feems to be by Ifaacus himfelf called Volatile,
not in tie leaft fixed. This Matter , faith he , will remain
red for ever, and not fixed, for if it (hould be fixed, it would
be altogether corrupted,for it muft be Diilolved into Water,
anddiftilled through mAlemlic^ Cap. 65. To difperfe thk
Cloud, yon xtteft know , the meaning 0/Ifaacus *f, thai Vitriol
calcined , or by what wayfoever redttcedinto rednefs , remains
redout not alfofixcdjbecaufe it muji be diffolvcd in Philofbphi-
cal Vinegar , and Difti tied through an Alembick. For we
find the like , if not the fame Phrafe , concerning tie rednefs
and fixity of tie Philofbphers Stone , which willeafily remove
the aforefaid doubt : When the Stone is perfect , faith he , it
ought to remain in that State now and for evermore. After
Perfection , it cannot be changed for better nor for worfe ,
but will remain a King for ever. Wherefore, if any Man has
prepared the true Philofophers Stone , no Multiplication 1 fol-
lows after 3 wherefoever Multiplication follows after Perfe-
&ion, there is not the Philofopkers Stone, nor is there a true
Stone. It may be a Medicine, or other Stone , of which fort
are many wherewith Projection is made, but it is not the Phi-
Ufophert Stone , which we here Dilcourle of. When the
aforcfaid$V0tfe is perfect and prepared , it ought to remain in
that State forever, Cap. 127. I. Oper. Miner. Pag. 407. Vol. 3.
Tk. Chym.

As to the Permanence of the red colour in the Phihfophcrs
Stone , he declares the following Notions : In Multiplication,
faith he , no blacknefs intervenes , nor do any Colours of the
World (hew themfelves , nor any Whitenefs , nor in Subli-
mation does any thing (hew it felf befides rednefs , nor in fix-
ation does any Colour (hew its (elf except its own , that is ,
an egregious rednefs : For the Stone hath no other Colour
tut rednefs , for it is one only fubftance , one fingle matter ,
and as the Heaven invincible : You muft alfb know, tho it
were fublimed , it would not be deprived of all its fixity ,
for when the Stone is made and prepared in the utmoft vcrtue
of it , then can it not be changed out of its own Eilence into
another , for if the Stone could be changed or drawn out of
its own Eilence into another Eflcnce or Nature , it would not

S f 2 be

be the Philofbphers Stone, nor one fingle Matter, nor a glo-
rified Body S) no, no, underftand my Dilcourfe rightly, &c.
Cap. 72. I. Oper. Min. Pag. 355. of the fame Volume.

Ifaacus being perhaps perjfwaded of an unalterable conftanfy
ofrednefs obfcrved in the Multiplication of the Stone of higher
Degree or Kvid ,' concludes the Philofopkers Stone to be alto-
gether and alfolutely immutable : which Opinion to defend in
every part , he has foontr ventitredto deny the volatilization it
felfofthe Stone , than give way to the altering of fixity in Mul-
tiplication : You muft know,/*/f /fc, if the Stone werefub-
limcd , yet would it not be deprived of its fixity. Tea , he
has ckofen rather topr evert his own Senfes (for he himfelf
hath in the fame place taught how to volatilize the Philofo-
pfrers Stone , with fo me jhining Menftruum) and the Sehfe
of the Word Fix ( t la upon this Term depends one half of
all the Operations in the more fecret Chymy ) than relinqnifi
this fallacy derived from a Varalogifm. The Stone, faith he ,
may be fb often opened as aforefaid , and after that fublimed,
and again condenfcd (b as to unite its parts , which we call
Fixation , we term it indeed Fixation, but it is not Fixation,
but only Ccndenfhtion , fo , as that all the fubtil parts of it
arc again forced into anllnion joyntly togciher,as they were
at fiift , and the Stone will again expeft Fire, nnd we maya-
gain make Projection with it , as we did before. Cap. 76.
read-j^ 74, 75. Chapters of the fame Boo^

What ivc Lave again ft this Q pinion, n>e will refirve for- the
Third BM/C-) iv the mean time it will be reaui/iteforyou to ob-
Jerve thk one thing : That the Matter of Calcined Vitriol^ as
alfo of the PLilofopf.crsStove, mult/plied^ remains for ever red,
but not fixed ^ iuaufe either of them may be volatilized with
Philosophical Mcnftruums. But let them be how they n-v//, the
Vitriol of Saturn- fixed the fame way by the fame Author , will
prove that the graduated Vitriol of Venus , calcined to rednefs
w a clofe Vejfel is fixed. Taite, faith he , a Glafs Viol , put
in^it one half of Purged Saturn (" Sugar of Saturn made not
with common Dijiillcd Vinegar^ but Phi lofophical ) referve the
Qther part by it lelf till you have occafion , put a fit Glafs to
the mouth of the Viol , and put -the Glafs in lifted Arties in
a Eoinace, qf Tripos Arcauorum ^ or on- a Fornace wherein

you.

you calcine Spirits ^ give it a Fire as hot as the San is at Mid-
fummer , no more, except by chance a little hotter or colder,
provided it be not fo great as to melt the Lead , for fo your
Matter would be liquid as Oyl , and fhould it ftand fo the
fpaceof 1 2 days , all the Sulphur would fly away , and the
Matter be corrupted , for the Sulphur of it is not yet fixed ,
and on the outfide only , and therefore the Matter is moftea-
fily melted,and though it be pure, yet is it not fixed 5 where-
fore the Fire muft befo gentle as not to melt the Matter 5 let
it ftand fo the fpaceof Six Weeks, after which take a little,
project it upon a hot Iron, if it prelently melts and fumes , it
is not yet fixed , but if it remains, the Sulphur of it is fixed :
Thai inci cafe the Fire notably , till your Matter becomes
citiine , and fo continually till it grows red , ftill increafing
the Fire till it attains to the colour of Rubies } incrcafe till it .
is reel hot , and then is it fixed , and, prepared for Infufion ,
with the Noble Water of Paradife(theMc#/?r;/.7*#/ defiribedin- j
NttwL H40

Be fides tils , there is indeed another way alfo of calcining
Philosophical Vitriol , which is done in an of en veffil 5 'thus
graduated l r erdigrefe is calcined to rednejs before te Dijlil-
lation ol 'it , in the preparation of the Spirit of Venus 0/Bafilius,
<w t we have cbfcrved in the precedent Kind , but thi* belongs
not totlis place , for ^/eCalx remains volatile, not fxed,
nkichrvaj/ of Calcining wo* invented, meerlyfor the federation of
the Phlegme. .

The third P>ranch confifts in a new diffolnlien of this fixed
Vitriol in Philofophical Vinegar , for -which Rcafon this Vi-
triol is volatilized again.and made ft for Dijlillalion, in the
former Receipt , this Solntion is wholly omitted^ 'but move ex--. -
aftly defcribed in the latter Procefs,

The fourth Branch is the fin git , and frequent D/ftillatiofi in
the feveral ways of making all thefe Stinking Menft.ruums^e^
this excepted , ; that out of this graduated ,- fixed , and again
volatilized Vitriol., the Spirit afcends not, Vv hite , Int of a
Saffron Colour (bccaufc more Mature ) before theRcdOyl'y :
andlaftly, the White Spirit appears alfo,being cxtra&td out of
or White Bqdy.

Laftly ,

( 3 jo )

'Laftly, Tlxfe words following do frove, that the fame Mcn-
flrmims^^ be alfo wade of any other Metals. But if you
would extraft an Oyl out of Metals , as has been taught of
Vitriol , you muft diilolve your Metal m Aquafortis , and
make it precipitate , and warn away the Saltnefs cf it with
common Water, and being drycd, put into .iGlafs
with a long Neck , and congealed , and put upon a b omacc
with Sifted Afres, make a Fire under it as for Vitriol, till the
Metal be aloeether red, and till the infide of it is turn d out-
ward Then diflolve it in Diftil'd Vinegar, as ti&Vitriol ,
and Coneeal , till no more Feces remain : Then diftil, and
the Metal will wholly diftil into a Red Oyl , and it K
the rerfeft Oyl of the Philofopkers , but the Projection of
it is not fo high , as of the Oyl which was fit ft Salt : And the
Ovl of every Metal youmuft Multiply with the Oyl rfVitriol,
is aforcfaid : And the Oyl is very cafily made after the dime

- W *lJVkViM*v*. ',. *- O ft

manner out of Saturn, and the Projedion of it is very high :
Give thanks to God, Work , and remember the Poor , dii-
penfe the gifts of God to your own Salvation , Cap.

Metals/,/^ It, Cap. 6 7 .of tie fane ^even jnpjtcr

andL;/^, will become red as blood , for the infide of all
Metals is red , one more red than another : When therti
they are brought to rednefs , they muft then be diilolved
( \nPhihfophical Vinegar ) and again congealed , till they
be free from any Feces , and yet contain their Elements to-
gether perfectly 5 for when they are brought to that pitch ,
Nothing remains, fave only Feces 5 for the Earth ( the gM
Mortuu^) being made fubtil and iquid , is hkewife -dillol-
^ved when you have made it fubtil by Diflolvmg and
(rnlatingfo , as that no more Feces remain. Thus you may
Diftil it through an JW^into a Red Oyl. As you was
here taught concerning Vitriol, fo muft you alfo do with all
Metals,as alfo Mercirj , when it is diMved m&S* Forti* ,
and precipitated, the Saltnefs waih'd away and dried, put it
in a Glafs , as wasfaid oiVitriol , and done moreover fo , as
was taught before concerning Vitriol. And that which is
heredeclar'd of Metal , you may aifodowith Antomotttfand
^11 rther Minerals 3 Open your Ears,and hearken, and open

your

)

your Mind , it Was never heard that fuch a Work fhould be
done with fo little Pains.

Here I would advife yon to take Notice of the difference be- -
tween the Oyls of Vitriol and other bodies $ the like Oyl is pro-
duced from all Metals as from Vitriol, yet with this difference^
that Vitriol in the Diftillation of its Oyl , leaves an Earth or
Salt behind it , wherewith the Spirit and Oyl of, it are fixed
into the Philosophers Stone , but Metals and the reft of the
Minerals notfo , they totally afcending into Spirit and Oyl ,
no Earth, Salt or Caput mortuum remaining , whereby to be
fxed into the Stone : Vitriol therefore is that alone, which hath
all things in it , relating to the Perfection ofitfelf, whereas the
Oyls and Spirits of the re ft are forced to borrow fixed bodies elfe-
where for their fixations. You miift know , faith he , when
you would reduce the Salt of Metals to an Oyl , the yne
as hath been (aid of Vitriol , the Elementary Earth of Metals
will diftil together , with the Oyl red as blood, but that the
Earth ofVitrJol does not , the Oyl feperates it felf from the
Earths God hath vouchfafed fuch a bleffing , that the Phi-
lofophers Stone may be made of it alone without Addition ,
tranflating all Metals into true Sol , but the Oyl of itmuft be
fixed with the Earth ( its own Earth or Salt') but that is not
fo with Metals , the Earth. diftils together through the Alem-
bick , and the whole Body is convened into Oyl, tranflating
all Metals into true Sol: .Herein do all \hePhilofophers agree.
An Oyl , he goes on , is alfo made of Mercury, and of Anti-
mony , but their Earth goes over together , and their whole
Body turns into Oyl, and remains an Oyl for ever , and with
this Oyl you may .do wonderful things , which here to recite
would be too long. You know alfo what is written of Anti-
mony and the Oyl of it. Yet muft my Son know , That the
Oyl of Mercury is much better in .all works, wherein the Oyl
of Antimony is ufed. . This is a Secret^ Cap, 69. and 70. of the
fame Work;

An Example , That Metals wholly afcend into Oyl^ he brings
in the following Chapter, namely the ;oth , which we. will

(-332 )

' i ^6. The Circulatum Majus ofjfaacus.
Cap. jo. 2. Ofer.Min. Pag. 474. Vol. 3. Tb. Chym.

TAke this Mercury ( the Metals fubli wed in the Philofo-
phical Menftruums aforegoing ) Diflolve it in Aqua
Fortrs , with an equal quantity of Vitriol and Niter,
being Diflolved , put the Solution in a Glafs Vefiel , put on
an Alembick t , fet it in Sifted Ames , give firft a gentle Fire ,
Diflil the Aqua. Fortis from it, then the Mercury will fublime
upwards into the Alembick. , when it will fublime no more ,
take it away 5 take the Mercury out of the Alcmbick^ , put it
in a Glnfs with a long neck , as you did with the Vitriol , put
it in a VeiH with Sifted Ames , light your Lamp under it ,
fo leave it, till it be perfectly red , as hath been taught of
Vnriol'-) Diflolve , Congeal, being clean , Diftil it into a red
Oyl , as hath been faid of^/fr/W, but all the Mercury diftils
into Oyl , foas to leave no Earth.

'T/:e MeflftrUUm immediately antecedent in Numb. 125 , is
in all things clear , except thefirji Branchtfit , wherein is o-
tnitted the necejfary Dijjbltttion of Vitriol in Philofophical
Vinegar, before the Calcination of it into rednefs or fixation.
Tkefrft Menftruum of this Kind is imp erf eft , not indeed in
this^ but in another Branch , infomuch as it is not therein de-
clared , that Vitriol ttntft after the Calcination ofit , be again
Dijfolved in Philofophical Vinegar. In this prefent third ,
Tho it be faid , that it ought to be wade according to the rule of
the precedent Menftruums , there is no mention at all made of
Philofbfhical Vinegar , yet without it , Vitriol can neither be
fixed into rednefs , nor when fixed, be again Volatalized or Di-
ftilled. The "Recefftf therefore muft be compared as often of the
Adepts have cither through too.much fear or envy leftw them
imperfect : It is enough, if by comparing them together, ne can
pick^ out their meaning M' intent ion , being not fully enough ex-
prejjed in every circumftance, the terms being either too obfcure,
or altogether omitted. Bodies in this Kind are to be fixed ,
*W tkw volatilized by Mineral Menftruums, as Mercury and

Antimony,

Antimony , in the ffitrth Kind, are firft fxed^ and then di~
ft i lied in the greater Circulatums by vegetable Menftrtiums:
This light borrow d from the {aid Nivth K.ind, will difyel all
the Obfciinties and Doubts of this Kind. Vitriol therefore
purged with common Water by Solutions and Coagulations ,
vtu ft fir ft be graduated, that it. fever al times di {Joined in
Philolbphical Vinegar and coagulated according to the Receipt
in Numb. 125, as Mercury is diffolved in the Water of Salt ^
circulated in the Ciiculatum ma jus #/ Mercury. This Vitriol
being graduated in a clofe Veffel , jjtuft befxed into a mo ft red
Powder , and being fixed , then dijjblved and coagulated in
Philofbphical Vinegar , that it may again become volatile ,
as Mercury beingfixedin its own Circulatum , is again made
volatile by virtue of the 6]p;r;f <?/Philofophical Wine. At loft
the Vitriol // to be Diftilled into its Spirits. Now by Row-
ing the method , it is manifeft that the myfteryoftke Receipts
cen/ifts in the Vinegar, but to remove all fir uple from thefe moft
excellent Menftruums , we will prove by the very words of
Ifaacus himfelf , that he meant not a common but Philofophical
Mcnfti uum. Have not I taught you , faith he , how to
draw all Metals through the Alembick^ fo as to Diftil wholly
into Oyl , leaving nothing , but that alone does the ftrong
Spirit of Vinegar, and makes them (Metals) to be perfeftly
feparatedand rectified from their Feces, within and without,
as I taught you , and that the iniide mould be outward, and
the outride inward , and then they are fo refoived and fub-
til,that the Elements cannot be feparated.one from another $
if you fought all the means in the world , you would not be
able tofeparate thcfe Elements, by reaibn of their fubtility,
clennnefs and refolution 5 an-d when they have the fubtil pe-
netrating Vinegar with them ,they pals all together throu'gh
the Alewlh^w'tth the Vinegary but if you mould put them
to fire , and any Spirit of Vinegar (inefficient quantity )
.was prcfcnt , they (the Metal and Vinegar ) would be forth-
with fixed together 5 and bccauie the Vinegar iscopiouily in
their clean, open, fubtil Body , they diftil into Oyl, nndthe
Spirits of the Vinegar are fixed with the Body : Now you
mult know that the Spirit of Vinegar is more Subtil than all
things in the World , yea, a thouftnd times mere fubtil than

T t the

( 334 )

the Qxtrrteffeffce of Aqua Vit<e , it cannot be contained in any
Vefels , but it is eafily half fixed , and therefore it eafily
fjxcth the thing to which it is applied , as it is demonftrated
in the Vegetable (Work.) where the Difcourfe is of Wine ,
and the "Nature of it , where you will befufficiently inftruft-
cd what Vmegnr is , and the Spirit of it, how all things are
diffolved and afcend. Cap. 77. 78. 2. Oper. Miner. Pag. 477.
Vol. 3. Tkcat.Cl.ym. You muft know, faith he elfewhere ,
this is the greateft Secret in this Art , for the middle parts of
Vinegar are of ib great Virtue as to be incredible , by reafbn
oftheir great Subtility, for every thing they are mixed with,
becomes exceeding fubtil and penetrable , wherefore they
make the (Pl.ilofvphcrs) Stone a thonfand times more fubtil
than it was before , and more penetrable , and the fubtil
parts mix them/elves with the Stone , for they are of one
Nature , and are both clean and fubtil , and are mixed
together , as Water with Water , and it is a Medicine of
that Nature, as to make every thing fixed which it is
mixed with , and of its own Nature wherein it is 5 and thus
are the fubtil parts (of Phil ofopkical Vint gar ) fixed in the
(Phihfophical) Stone , and are made of one Nature with the
Stone , and they make the Stone as fufible , as an Artift can
with , as he oftentimes ditfolves the Stone in Vinegar , and
congeals it, for as many or few Spirits remain in the Stone ,
the more fnfible is the Me dicine : Wherefore I have taught
my Son how to make his Stone fb fufible, as thereby to bring
Mercury to Sol and Luna. -, and it is a great Secret, known to
few , pernfethis Lecture diligently, whet vertue there is
in Vinegar , and what with the middle matter of Vinegar
may be made. Cap. 51. I. Oper. Mm. Pag. 337. Vol. 3. Th.
Chym.

Tl. at Vinegar, which is athoufandtimes more fubtil than
tie Quintefience of Aqua Vitae , or Spirit of Philofophical
Wine : The Spirits of which makes the Philofophers Stone a
tloufand times more Subtil : TLat is ofoneNatitre with it ^ancl
fxeth every thing it is mixedwith 5 yon your felves will fay
is no common Menftruum, but another of more excellent quali-
ty. Ifaacus moreover diffolves and coagulates the Stone in this
Vinegar , fo oft, till itis^cenvertedinto Ojl , which will be no

( 335 )

more congealed. Cap. 51, 59, 107. of the fame Book, With
tke fame Vinegar alfo he madz Metals fat^ and tranfmuted them
into Oyls , tkft - he diffolved and coagulated Gold fo often
continually in New Vinegar , till an Oyl w.is made thereof
as red as blood,* ^rCap. 54. of the fame Book. Sometimes
alfo he didwith the fame Vinegar reduce Gold to the confidence
of an excellent White Oyl , out of -which he then diftilled a.
White Spirit , an i a Red Oyl apart , and not immixible to-
gether , fofuhtil , as that he advifed the Artift to have a care ,
left thefe Oyls flwxld condenfe again by too much Reef if cation ,
for then being forced with too ftrong a Fire , the greateji part
of them would by reafon of their great Subtility penetrate the
Glafs , and fo be loft. Cap. 126, 128, I. Oper. Min. Pag-4o6.
Vol.^.Th.ChymJF/Jtf can exfeftfuch andfo great things from
Common Vinegar ? The fame Vinegar^ that dtjjblved the fix 'd
Metal Gold , and divided it into Spirit andOyl, the Confti-
tutives of the Stone out of Sol alone 5 the fame alfo is required
to dijjblve fixed Vitriol , anddiftil it into Spirit and Gty/, the
conftitutives of the Stone out of Vitriol alone , of the mating
of which in the Third fW^/Alchymical Tinftures.

That this Oyl ^yVitriol , jhews light by night^ affirms Tri-
molinus , who hathdefcribcd the faid Oyl thuf.

127. The Oyl of Vitriol fhining by Might, of
'Frijtnoftnus,

Libra Gangeniveron , five nyvem Tin^urarum in Tin"
Rura frima.

TAke of the beft Hungarian Vitriol twelve pounds ,
grind arid dillblve it in pure clean Water , 'or Rain
Water diftilled , let the Feces fettle y decant
the Solution into a Glafs Dim , placed in a Brafs Bafon
fall of Sand, put the faid Bafon in Balnea^ and draw off
the Water to a thin skin 5 let it cool , and (land
three days in a cold place, raid in the mean time
you will mid green Stones , which take out , the remainder

T t 2 draw

(33*)

draw oil- again to a thin skin , and let it Criftallize , and this
fevcn times repeat , put the Stones in a Stove of the fame
heat as the Sun in Dog-days , and in fuch a heat they will
turn into a White Powder. The Vitriol being thus preparedj
put it in a Cucurlit, with a long neck , well Sealed, in Afhes,
under which put a Lamp, fb as that the heat exceed not the
Sun in March , thus leave it-, till the Vitriol begins to be
yellow, being yelldw, the Fire of the Lamp increase one
Degree , and thus leave it ten days and nights , or till it be-
gins to be red , then again increafe the Fire in the Lamp ano-
ther Degree , and thus continue , till the Matter be alto-
gether red as a Ruby, then increafe the Fire yet ten days, and
the hidden part of the Vitriol is now manifeft , and prepared
initsrednefs, as a volatile Matter : The redriefs thus re-
maining, take the Glafs out of the Ames , and the Matter out
of the Glafs, and put it in aftrongerGlafs, to which pour
the bcft Vinegar well re&ify'd ., ftop it well , let it in Bal-
neo, fo let it (land four days, yet ftirring the Matter with
a Spatula, rmde of Hajlewood, three or four times a day , let
it cool , decant the, Vinegar into another Glafs , pour new
upon the Matter , digeftin Balneo , as before, this repeat
with new Vinegar three times , the decanted Vinegar gent-
ly draw off, till the Matter remains in the form of a Salt
at the bottorr, to. which, pour new fharp Vinegar, put it four
clays in Eaimo , as before, to diilolve , and let that be re-*
peafed, till it be free from any fecliiiknt : Then coagu-
late the Matter into a dry Powder , and put it in a Glnfs
Cucurbit, with a wide month', and a large Alembic^ lay*
the Receive? in a Vefiel full of Water , lute the Joynts firm,
and diftilwith an open Hre , but very gently , the fpace of
four hours, afte,r that ftrongly , and the Spii its will afcend
yellow , which are called Air } continue the \ ire in the fame
degree , till the Alemlh 4 begins to be red 5 then (low the Fire,
that the Akmlii\ iriay be of^a blood colour , then increafe
the Fire ftill , that the Glafs may be burning hot as a red hot-
Iron, which keep in that heat , till the Alewbickjae made of
a Snow Col our, then ftrengthen the Fire yet more, that
the Alembickjmy again be clear and tranfparent, then let it-
cool , remove the Receiver , and pour the Oyl into a pure:

Glafs,

( 337 )

Glafs, which ftop well , and you will have the true Oyl of
Vitriol (hining night and day in dark places, which keep well
for your occafion. But you muft know there is a White and
Beautiful Oyl found in the bottom , which to its red
Oyl , &c.

This Receipt #/" Trifmofinus agrees almoft in all things with
liaacus his Defcription of the Menftruum made 0/ Vitriol , fo
that itfeems to me to be borrowed tf/lfaacus , ejpeciatly becaufe
the fame phrafe ^Ilaacus of the volatile rednefs of Calcined: Vi-
triol is retained : Thofe things therefore , which were obferved
before upon the Menftruum of Ifaacus, do alfo hereto relate $
but we added this, becaufe Trifmofinus does more ajfure us,
that this Oyl foines in darknefs , concerning which quality of
hn Menftruum, Ifaacus wtsjilent.

Ripley mads Menftruums of this Kind this way.

1 2,8. The Circulatum Majus of Ripley.
Pag. 3^5. Accurtationum. ,

THe time of true Putrefaction and Alteration is com- >
pleated in the fpace of Six Weeks , but it may be
done inafhorter time by half, and that by the acui- ,
tion of our Mercurial Waters , that is , the white and red
Water (the milk and blood of the Green-Lyon in Numb, 59,) .
with common Mercury fubljmate ,-. which thus do : Fixa-ncl
Calcine the Mercury fublimate ^ and diflolve it in our white-,
or red Mercury (-ofthe faid Menftruum) fo as to be all one ,
true Water , which Water , being thus acuatcd , hath the
Power of putrifying and altering any Calx of Metals , in the
fpace of three W r eeks, ; and that becaufe the two Files, name-
ly , of Nature and againft Nature , are then joyn'd together ,
in that Water.

Common Mercury being didblved mPhilofophical Vinegar.,
or any Mineral Menftruttwt^ and fixed either by Sublimation
as the Circulatum majus of Paracelfa , or Calcination, as the..,
Vitriol Q Itaac/tt calcined to rednefs , is. then diflolved in a
ftinking Menjlrnum , and diftilled through an Alembick. ... He.

reduced

^ *r . *

reduced all other Metals and Minerals , the fame way as h c
did Mercury , into the greater CircnlatHms , thus.

-1,2.2, The Metallick Acetum acenimum of Ripley.
Pag. 266. ClavJt aurex Port*.

HAving therefore thefe two Mercuric* , the white and
red (of the Slinking Menftruum) pradlice with them
either upon their own Earth ("or Caput Mortnunt of
the faid Menftruum} or upon the Calx of Metals prepared ,
for you need not trouble your felf about theEarth,provided
the fubftance of it be fixed : Take therefore any of them ,
being white , and-fermcnt it thus : For the White Work ,
take the Calx of Luna ^ and the altered Earth (a Philofophi-
cal Calx , made of the Mineral MenftruvM 0/Lunaj in equal
quantity, grind them together , and temper them with the
White Mercury , which we call Lac Vjrginis ( in the Defcrip-
tion of the Green Lyon ) and mblime them very well , keep
and gather that which is not fixed, that is, fo much as afcends
white , and fticking to the parts of the Glafs as Mercury fub-
limate , for this is that our Mercury made by fublimation out
of the white altered Earth } then grind it upon its own
Calxes , tempering , diftilling , and fubliming it with Lac
Virgin** , till it be wholly fixed, fo as to be immovable by
Fire : This is the fublimcd and fixed Mercury , for which
fools take that common Mercury fublimed with common
Vitriol and Salt , wherein they very much err : put it into a-
Circulatory , and pourX^r Virgini* uponit,till it be covered ,
then let it be circulated and diftilled through ^.nAleMbick^

An Example of making the altered Earth ^Metals , and the
tray affixing the faid Earth he hath given in Vitriol. Take
Vitriol calcined to Afhes (common Colcothar) gi ind it to a
moft fine Powder , put it in an Urinal , pour Lac Virginia
(the White fume of the Stinking Menibuum ) to it , till it
be covered with it , ftop the Urinal with a Linnen Cloth ,
and let it ftand eight d?ys ,, then add the fame quantity of the
former Milk , repeating it from eight days to eight , but

when

( 332 )

when it will drink up no more, let it itandin the cold well
ftopp'd, till a Criftalline Earth appears in the fuperficies of it,
like Eyes of Fifh. Seperate this Earth from the thicker parts
redded in the bottom , and put it ( this graduated Vitriol
made not indeed of the Spirit 0/Philofophical Wine , nor Phi-
lofophical Vinegar 1 , but the Stinking Menftruum ) in aP^/-
lofophicalEgg , to digeft '(calcine) difcreetly , till it be per-
fectly fixed , then increafe the Fire , till it be perfectly citri-
nated , and (till increafe it , that it may be Rubified in the
form and colour ofSanguis Draconis.

Laftly , for a conclusion , we will add the Circulatum Ma-
jus tf^ifaacus , made 0/Sulphurs , which being moft clear in
the graduation*, fixation , and volatilization of it , will kelp
to illuftrat'e thoje things which have perhaps remained more
obfcure in the antecedent, and make the Receipts in this Kind
more clear.

130. The Circulatum ma jus of Ifaacw .,.
made of Sulfhur.

Cap. 88. 3. Oper. Min.

TAke Hungarian or Spanijh Sulphur ten or twelve
pounds , prepare it upon a Stone , with (Philofophi-
cal) Vinegar diftilled, as Painters do their Colours,
pour a good quantity of the (aforefatd) Vinegar upon it,
put it in Balnev , ftir it well with a Woodden Spatula, decoct
it in a dole Veflel in Balneo the ipace of fix or eight days ,
fUrring it three or four times a day , then let it cool and fet-
tle , filter the tinged Vinegar , pour on new, repeat this
Work , till no more Vinegar will be tinged : Draw off all
the tinged Vinegar in Balneo , that a Powder of a golden
Colour may remain at the bottom. This Powder prepare
and extract with Vinegar , as before 5 filter the folution, and
draw it off, till at length it leaves no Feces behind it , then
draw off the Vinegar , that the reft of the Matter may
remain in the form of a Powder. Take of this Powder one
part , of Salt prepared one part , of Roman Vitriol dried ,

fix

( 34 )

fix parts, mix them all well , and fublime by degrees, firft,
with a weak Fire , fecondly, ftronger , laftly , moft ftrong
for the fpace of two days $ fablime the fublimation mix'd
with its Feces three times , then cafting away the Feces , fab-
lime with new Species, and repeat the Work three times, then
diflblve the Sublimation in the Diflolving Water for the red
(of what Definition foever in th e Twentieth Kind} the Water
being drawn off, fablime, pour on New Water and fablime,
and that do three times: Then take feven parts of this Subli-
mation , one part of the Calx of Sol, and fublime : This Sub-
limation being put into a Philofophical Egg , made of Gold
(for one ofgbuwotiki be of little ufe for this purpofe,becaufe
it would become foft as wax ) flop it well , and (it it upon
a Tripos the fpace of eighteen Weeks to be fixed , but the
firft fix Weeks with a gentle Fire,the next fix a ftronger, the
laft moft ftrong : Thcfe Eighteen Weeks being ended , take
out the Matter (being fixed) reduce it to Powder , to which
being put in a diflolving Veflel , pour an equal quantity of
our red burning Water ( of the aforefaid Dijjolving
Wat erf or the red ) feal or flop the Veflel very well , let it
diflblve and fettle , then take it out , rnd 'diftil
it through an Aletnlicl^ in Balneo with a very fmall
Fire : It is neccflary for the Receiver, to be well luted,
and the AlembicJ^mvift. have a pipe in the upper part , for it
muft be fix times diftilled, always with new Red Water, and
your Matter will at length become thick as Honey, which
diftil in Sifted Afhes by degrees , and an Air will a-
fcend like Water , then changing the Reciver , anOyl of a
Golden Colour will diftil gilding the Alembic ^ , as alfo the
Receiver 5 let it continue in the fame heat till thcAlewLict^
be of a Blood Colour, then take away the Receiver 5 ftop it
fuddenly , put another to , and increafe the Fire for the
fpace of twenty four hours , till the Veflel grows red hot,
in which heat , let it continue twelve hours , and the Matter
will afcend red as blood , and at laft alfo a red fume.: Thefe
Spirits no more appearing , let the Veflels cool, keep the Di-
ftillation , but the Feces reverberate , &?.

Out

'Out cf the Receipts thefe things we obferve.

lt r * \H a t thefe Men ft mums , made of the graduated Vi-
triols of Metals , fixed in a clofe Vcffel , have tie
-*- li kepi ace amongft Mineral Menftruums, as the
greater Circulatums of Paracelfus, have amongft the vegetable
Menftruums. DiJJohe the aforefaid Circulatums /;/ any Add
Spirit , and yon will prefcntly make Menftri;ums of this
Kind.

2. That thefe Menftruums are Medicines , caWd Volatile
Arcanums , dijjolved in an Acid.

3. That the graduated Vitriol of Venus, has feme certain
peculiar Priviledges above the reft.

I. Becattfe in the Diftillations of thefe Menftruums , it hath
it Fixed Body , bejides a Soul and Spirit , whereby the two a-
forefaidmuft be fixed into the Stone , but all the other Metals
and Minerals being reduced into graduated Vitriols , have 'no
Fixed Bodies , and are divided into two parts only , Spirit and
Soul ') but becattfe the Adepts found it necejfary to borrow fome
Fixed Body elfewherefor the fixing oftkefe^they therefore more
than often affirmedthe pojfibility ofmakjng the Stone out of Vi-
triol alone, without any Addition , thus have rve heard liaacus
in the antecedent Receipts faying : God hath vouchfafed
fuch a bleiling to Vitriol , that the Philofophers Stone may be
made of it alone, without Addition , it tranflating all Metals
hito true Sol, but the Oyl of it muft be fixed with (/>/)Earth
(orBodf) but that is not fb with Metals, for their Earth di-
ftils together through the Alembick.

But who obferves not here thefe Words , Without any Addi-
tion,^ be meant of any Foreign Matter, and are fo to be under-
ftood with fome certain reftri'&ion -.<? For this mo ft red Oyl of
Vitriol, fain ing by night , and which muft be fixed with its
Salt into the PhUofophers Stone , cannot in the leaft h produ-
ced from Vitriol alone , and that crude, being not graduated
with Philoibphical Menftruums.

Moreover as the like Oyl being difti lied from Gold, and fix-
in thcpurificd,biit not volatalizcdpart ofit^is calied by Ifaacus

V V tlr.

C 342 )

the Stwe ofSo\ alone 5 whereas ttotwith (landing , htufedhif
Philofophical Vinegar to the Making of it , fo the Stone may
be faid to be made out of Vitriol alone , without Addition ,
though the fame Vinegar TVM ufed in the preparation of it.

Laftly, It k manifeft by the Kinds ofalmoft all Menftruums,
that no Acid (that *r, dry and incombujlible Matter ) c an be
reduced into Oyl , without an Oyly Menftruum , becaufe it
muft receive this nnftiofity from theUntf tout Spirit flfPhi-
lofophical Wine.

2. Becaufe it is of mean value , and fo by the Adepts caU'd
the Stone, which God hath given us freely. This Work, faith
Ifaacvs, you cannot enter upon with a little Matter,you muft
have at lead four or five Pounds of Matter ( Gold or S/l-
ver ) if otherwife , the Work will be inefficient. For
it is not the Work of poor men , except the Stone given
us by God freely , might happily be obtained 5 then
other Charge is not neceilary , more than Veflels , Coals,
and Food , till we have prepared the Stone. And the two
Stones, which God hath given us freely , for the White and
* Red Work , require but half the time , as the Matter which
is to be taken for preparation fake , for before we come to
Sublimation , the Stone given us freely , is already almoft
brought to fixation. Gap. 17. I. Oper. MjneraLPag. 313. Vol.
3. TL Chym. The fame thing is affirmed by Bafilius : faying ,
There is no moifture in Gold, unlefs it be reduced into (gra-
duated') Vitriol , which would be a Work indeed of no Pro-
lit, but much Clwge , becaufe of the great quantity of
Vitriol required to the making of the Philosophers Stovei, and
though there is in Vitriol the defired Spirit of Gold , of a
white quality , and a Soul and Salt of a glorious Eflence , but
how many Countreys, Eftates and Riches , have been thus
confurned, I will not reckon } but this Admonition I give
my Difciples , to follow the fhorter way of Nature , that
they may not alfo fall into extream and inextricable Pover-
ty. If you intend therefore , he goes on , to make the Phi-
lofophers Stone out of the Vitriol of Sol , as many men in-
v v deed endeavour , confult with your Purfes , and prepare
Ten or Twelve pounds of thisP//r/W , and then you will fi-
nifh your Work , whereas Hungarian or other Vitriol would
Office. -3. Becattjt

( 543 J

3. Becaufi it if onr Gold full of the *Tw$urc of common
. Green Vitriol , faith jR//>/fj , kzingStillicidiumVe-

Gold.

neris (or common VtirioT) is by many Philosophers called Ro-
man Gold , becanfe of the abundance of its Noble Tintfure ,
which ought to be fermented with common Gold, Pag. 140.
Medulla Pkilof. For Vitriol , ke goes on, is nothing elfe but
Stillicidium Cxpri (or droppings ofCoppcr)m the Mynes, where-
in Copper is generated , as Bartholomews ( an Englijh Monk^
and Philofopher) faith } and though it hath an' admirable
Tin&ure of rednefs , yet is that Tinttitre polluted with an un-
clean terreftreity , which is called its original blemitli, which
hinders Gold and Silver from being^made of it. Therefore
faith Raymund^et not the Terreftrial Virtues over power the
Coeleftial Virtues ( of the Sun and the reft jf the Stars) and
you will have a good thing in Vitriol. Pag. 305. Pupill*.

Arnold to flew the Golden Nature in common Vitriol to his
Difciple , rejblvedto prove it bjdnExperiment , in Speculo
Alchymis , Pag. 605. Vol.'^. Theat. Chym. where thttf by
the way of Dialogue. Difijple , I wonder, good Matter ,
that you commended Brafs fo much , I know not whether
there be fo great a fecret in it , I thought it to be a leprous
Body, becaufe of that greenncfs which it hath in it : Where-
fore I ftill admire what you faid , that we ought to extract
Argent vive (Menftruum} out of this Body. Mafter , Son"!
You mud know , that the Philofophers Brafs is their Gold ,
and therefore faith Ariflotle in his Book , Our Gold is not
common Gold, becauie that grecnnefs which is in that Body,
is the whole Perfection of it, becauie that grecnnefs is by our
Magiftry fuddenly turned intomoft true Gold , ns we know
by experience , and if you have a mind to try , we will give
you a Rule. Take JEs ttfttim Weil and perfectly rubified
( common to le Sold in Slops) and let it drink fevcn times of
the Oyl Dxcne ch (Spirit of Phi lofopLi cat Wit;e ) as much
as it can drink , always aiiating c-nd reducing (cohckiitwg and
calcining) thcncrnfe it to dcfccnd faffffrirg ills \ if io; f&ixg
impregnated with tie aforefaid Ojl wic a Pvcgulus )' for pure
Gold fettles as grains (ej'Kermcs) red rr.d 'pure 5 rnc! you
mi ft know that fo great a rcdncis defccnds v. iih it,rs to tinge
feme quantity of Silver of a moft true Colour , &c.

V v 2 To

( 344 )

To al ledge all , that the Philofophers have faid of the Col-
den Nature of Vitriol , would be too much , perufe Eaftlius
alone, efrecially \\\e fourth z\\&ffih Chapter, De Rebus Na-
ttfralil/ff & Supcrnatttraljbus , as alfb m n\\z Elucidation of the
12. Keyet , and you will find Vitriol more cftcemcd by him
than any Cold , for his Doclrinc is that the Tincture of the
Vitriol viVcnw and Mars , is far better than the Sulphur of
Go!4, not indeed in its Kind , for it is one and the fame in
all , but that this Tinclure is in the Natural as well. as Artifi-
cial Vitriol of Venits and Mars higher , and more noble in
Colour , more abundant in Quantity , of eafier Separation
from its Body , in Preparation , apd of left Charge in the ufe,
than the jT/>/##re that is in Gold.

4. Becdufeit is Gvld opened , not yet fit fed , and fo of e after
preparation. You have laboured , faith Jfaacus , a longtime,
before this Matter is made fubtil and Spiritual enough to be
fublimed : But if ycu could procure the Stone , which Cod
hath given us freely , there would be no need to prepare it
ib : But you might prefently take it,reduce it to an impalpa-
ble Powder, and wa(h away the uncleannefs of it with a com-
mon Water , till the Mattefrcame clear from it , then dry it
again, and it would be ready for Sublimation, in which re-
fpeclthe Woik ofit is fhorter.C^p. a.Pag. 317. Vol. ^.Tkeat.
Chy;u. To (peak more plainly , fdith Ripley , I affirm, that
the more jflibtil a Body is, of theeafier Diiiolution it is. And
moreover ycu muft know, that Diiiolution ought to be per-
formed by o,ur Vegetable hlenftnnim , or fon:e other Vege-
table. And tlm Vegetable Mercury (Vegetable hienpruum)
cannot penetrate a Body , fo as to complete the diilolution
of it, except the Body be firft made fpongy ^ but no Lead
is.fpfj:origy, nor fo fubtil , as Red Lead or Minium (Vitriol
cahi}?e) and there fore if we, would not be fruft rated of our
expectation , it is neccfiary for us to take Red Lead , that is,
Antimony p] eparccl , which is more fpongy and fubtil , than
any other Lead. For the (Vegetable^) Water will fuddenly
penetrate into it, and eiiiiolve the moft fubtil parts of it.
But now to declare further concerning the fecondBody,
which is RovtanVitriol , you muft know , that it is an eafier
thing to make the feparatiqn of the Elements in athingcom-

plexioned .,

( 345-)

plexioned , which was never before forced into a hard and
compact Subftance by" the violence of Fire , than to perform
the fame in a Subftance forced into a hard Mafs, or in a Me-
tallick and Stony Subftance , wherein the Congalative Vir-
tue is extinguiftied , and therefore in refpecl: to the other is
made Intradable , not being foft nor undious , and confe-
quently lels obedient to Solution and Separation $ for Vitriol.
is nothing elfe but, <&c. Pag. 301. Pupill<e.

4. That the Adepts in ,the more, fecret Chymy meant four
things chiefly by the Stone.

1. The Matter of the Menftruum or Spirit 0/Philofophical
Wine , of which God willing^ in the Fifth Book.

2. All Menftruums whatsoever, made with the Spirit 0/Phi-
lofophical Wine. Examples enough you will find in the Re-
ceipts of Menftruums produced to you.

3. 'Every Matter of the Philosophers Stone '-, fo Gold and
Silver are in many places called Stones, but by the Stones
vrfuch God hath given us freely Ifaacvs me<tntV\ino\for the
Red , and Alume for the White. Cap. 39. 3. Oper. miner.
Pag. 67. He hath bejides thefe two other Stones alfo made of
At (eniek and Auripigment both graduated , of which fee the
Six former Chapters, I. Oper. and Cap. 112. and 1 13. 2. Oper. .
Miner. But of thefe in their proper places.

4. Every Alchymical Tinffiure^ tho not in the form of a. Stone;,
but Oyl.

5. That Menftruums made of Vitriol or Venus are indeed
better than the reft in point ofiinging but not Dijfolving*

The

The Three and Twentieth KIND.

Mineral Menftruums made of Mine-
ral Menftruums compounded , and
Metallick Bodies and other Tinging
Things.

131. The Oyl of Mars and Venus of Bafilms.
Libro Je Conclufion. Seft. i. Cap. 3.

1 Ake ofPerdeerefe fomePounds,and wit
Vinegar diftilled make an Extraction , which is cn-
ftallized into a Noble Vitriol 5 out of which by a Re-
tort is diftilled a Red Oyl , which diflblves Mars into Vitri-
ol , out of which is the Fled Oyl extracted again in a long
time , and with a ftrong Fire , and thus have you the Sul-
phur of Mars and Venus together : with this Oyl is LHA
graduated , and a good part of the Kings Crown obtained,
a part diflblved with a part of Wand Lvtra together, and pu-
trified in this Oyl eight days and nights, is changed into good
Gold. Praifed be God.

Annotations.

THo every Mineral Menfti unm .# able enough to diffolve any
Body wkatfoeverjct // e Adepts thought .ocd to ad: ate them
yet more , by the addition <?/Metal]i( k Bodies, tbtttkey wight
the better dijjolve and tinge their D>Jfch(ticKs. ]n i '. c prcfait
Receipt Bafilius diffolms Mars /// // c t^n-it ^Vcnus, deferred
before in Numb. 113. reduceth it ii t l<> Vitiiol , ar.dai laftdi-
ftjls it into a. Compounded Oyl. Sc&. :. Crp. 4. This Mciifvi u-

( 347 )

um he calls Oyl of the Salt of Mars : NQW, faith he , I have
taught you how to extract a clear Vitriol out of Venus , and
to diftil its Red Oyl 5 this Oyl diiiolves Mars into Vitriol,
and being yet once diftilled ftrongly by a Retort , you will
have a Noble Tinging Oyl, or Salt of Mars, which is a Sub-
ject that pays Tribute to the King, and enricheth him. This
Oyl diiiolves the Purple Spiritual Gold , and brings it over
the Helm , &c. The, Procefs of this Oyl of the Salt of Mars,^ c.
being by its brevity too obfcvre , will be not a little illttflrated by
the following Spirit of Mercury.

1 3 2. The Spirit of Univerfal Mercury made of
Vitriol of Bafilius.

Lahore 2. Libri Rev el at.

'Ake Common Copper , make Verdegrefe of it after the
common way , grind it , pour to it a good quantity
of Diftilled Vinegar (Philosophical, or Vinegar mixd
with the Spirit of Philosophical Wine ) ftir it Well , and the
Verdegreafe will bed uiolved, let the Feces fettle, and the
Solution will be very pure, clear and green : Draw off the
Vinegar in a Cucurbit to thicknefs , and in a cold place a
weighty Vitriol graduated to the higheft degree will be
criftallized , which again diffolve in hot Water , evaporate
the Water till it be thick :> put it again in a cold place , and
the Vitriol will be again coagulated : which folution and
coagulation muft be three times repeated , and the
purification of the Vitriol will be perfect : Let the
Phlegm evaporate from \ti\sVitriol in a Calcining Pot ,
and calcine it till it begins to be red., that is enough.
Then take pure Flints , calcine, and being red hot, quench
them in Diftilled Vinegar, repeat fome certain times, till
they be well calcined : Then again calcine , and when they
are a little cool , pour to them (Philofophical} Vinegar made
hot , and let them be gradually dried. Of thefe little Stones
thus prepared , take one part, of the Vitriol now calcined
two parts , grind and mix , put the Matter in an'Earthim Pvc-
tort , that will not fuck up the Spirits , or in a Glafs Retort

well

( 348 )

well luted , put a large Receiver to it, and the VefTel being
well luted , kindle a Fire by degrees the fpace of 24 hours ,
then give a ftronger Fire 24 hours more , and the Green Spi-
rits will come over White , and the t ire being thus continued
Red Drops at !aft : Keep this violent Fire, till all the Spirits

' and Drops are pr-ne over , then put the Di filiation in a Cu-
curbit , and trie Veflcl being very clofe , rccrifie it in Ealmo
with a moft gentle Fire , and theP/cgwe will afcend , but

iin the bottom of the Cuutrl.it will icmrin the Oyl of Vitriol
red and ponderous. This VVoik being fmiil.ed , Take pure
Filings of Iron, put them mzCucurbtt , pour to them the
laid Oyl of Vitriol , fb as to fwim above them , add fo much
diftillecl Rain Water , till you fee that the Oyl cliilolves the
Iron $ .then draw of the Phlegme by Dif illation , and let the
remainder criftallize in a cold place into pure Vitriol^ and
thus are Mars and/'e///^ joyned together : This Vitriol cal-
cine it under a Tyle , and ftir it with an Iron Hook into a fine
reddim Powder : This Powder put into a Glafs Retort,well

'luted , and the Veflels being very clofe , diftil by degrees of
Fire , as you cli frilled the Cyl aforefaid , and firft you will
have a White Spirit , which is the Philofopkcrs Mercury , then
a Red Spirit , which is the Philofiphers Sulphur , an incom-
buftibleOyl compounded of both the !&<?&/ Q Venus and
Mars never to be feparatecl , and this is the Blood of the
Green and Red Lyon , with which the King their Father ought
to benouriftied, draw of the Plegms from this Oyl in Balveo,
and it is prepared for Go|d to be tinged with it. Take the
Ca$ut~M0rt*um , which is of a Beautiful Crimfon Colour ,
grind it ton moft fine Powder, put it in a Glals , pour (Phi-
Jofophicar) Vinegar diililled to it, digeft'three days in a gentle
heat, to extract the Salt , wherein lye the Treafurcs of the
whole World , without which Salt , all labour would be in
vain 5 draw off the Vinegar in Ames 5 and the Salt will remain
in the Glals, to which, pour the aforefaid Oyl (of Venus and

Mars) in a Glafs Retort , and the Salt will be prefently dif-
fblved , and then diftil with the fame violence , as before ,
and the Oyl will carry its own Spirit of Salt over with it, which

' re&rfy once in Balnee , and it will be ten times ftronger than
Jxfore y j and you have the. inc-ombuftible Oyl of

Sulphur and Salt , iffuing out of one root prepared 5 this Oyl
is the true firft Matter of Metals , and the true root from
which Gold is generated.

This Spirit of Mercury , ye fearchers of Nature ! has been
U * my knowledge , detrimental to many unwary men, feeking
after it either too inconsiderately ,or arrogantly , which to pre-
vent for the future , I wiU fomerohat more clearly manifeft the
Nature, Qualities, and Original of it. CommonVerdegrefe
reducedinto Vitriol by Vinegar , then three times diffolved in
common Water ^ and coagulated, muft be calcined to rednefs
in an open Veffel , that the JvperflttowPhlegm may be drawn,
away, and made fitter for the enfuing Dijlillation. But who-
ever calcined Verdegrefe ^//rT/fo/, in Apothecaries Shops ,
c all* d the flowers 0f Verdegrefe , to rednefs , without the di-
minution of its Virtues .<? Who I fay has diftil'd a mojlRed Oyl
out of this calcined Powder .<? Verdegrefe therefore muft be
diffolvednot in common, but Philofbphical Vinegar, in order
to be not only purified , but reduced alfo into Vitriol , gra-
duated to the higheft. In the 2Oth Kind , Bafilius diftilsthe
fame Red Oyl of Venus , ponderous as Lead or Gold, thick^as
Blood , an d of a f cry quality ^ that is , of extream acidity ,
out of Roman Vitriol being highly graduated , that is , either
macerated , or throughly diffolved in the Spirit 0^ Philofbphi-
cal Wine. In the 2 ith Kind , We tookNotice, that the fame
Vitriol 0/Copper or Verdegrefe being purified with common
Vinegar , was reduced into a graduated Vitriol , not indeed by
the Spirit ^Philofophical Wine alone , but with the juice of
Sowre Grapes , that is, mix'd with common Vinegar , or fom-e
other ftronger Acid, and then diftilled into the Oyl of Venus.
IfMeta!s, Minerals, and all other Acids diffolved in acids,
andreduced into Vitriols , be fo graduated with the Spir/t of
Philofophical Wine or Philofophical Vinegar,//*^ the defrcd
Oyls may be drawn from them , the reafon why Vitriols alone
made 0/Copper , fiould be derived of the faid Priviledge ,
cannot eafily be apprehended : It matters not whether Vitriol
be graduated according to the method given in Numb. 1 1 2. or
according to the prescription of the yrcfent Receipt , for th
'Spirit and Oyl if produced cither way.

X x

(-350)

Now this Oy 0f Venus being made , *W diluted in common
Water , 7n?# // reduced into graduated Vitriol , which muft
like the Vitriol of Venus be alfo calcined into a RedColonr^and
then diftilled tnto a White Spirit and Red OyL The Method of
this Procefs i j, in Libro particul. in particular! Martis , thus ;
Take off the RedOyl ^Vitriol one part , of Spring-water
two parts , mix , wherein diilolve the Filings of Steel , filter
the Solution warm , then evaporate it gently to the comfum-
ption of a third part , and in a cold place you (hall find Cri-
ftals fweet as Sugar , the true (that if graduated) Vitriol of
Mars , from which decant the Solution , then draw it off a
little, and in a cold place you will have New Criftals, which
gently calcine under a Tyle , ftirring them continually with
an Iron Spatula, into a Powder of a Purple Colour, to which
pour (Philofoj>hical) diftil'd Vinegar 5 extract the Soul
(Tin&ure orEjJence) of Mars ^ draw off the Vinegar , and
edulcorate the Soul: This is that Soul of Mars^ which be-
ing diflblved in the Spirit of Mercury , and united with the
Soul of SW, tingethLK#dintOi$W.

But ofthefe below , The Vitriol 0/Mars being graduated and
calcined into a Purple Powder in our Receipt , is without the
extraction of its Soul diftilled into the Philosophers Mercury,
and Philofophical Sulphur, the true Ojl of Mars and Venus, .
the Menftruum next fore-going in Numb. 131. Out of which,
to make the prefent Spir it of Mercury , the Salt muft be ex-
tratted out of the Caput mortuum , with Philofophical Vine-
gar , which Salt being mixd with theOylofMzrs and Venus ,
and diftil'd together thr OH gh an Alembick , // call'd the fir ft
Matter 0/ Metals;

Bafilius fometimes ufed the Salt and Sulphur of Sol , in-
flead of the faid Salt extracted out tf the Caput mor-

133. The

(3SO

133 The Oyl of Mars and Venus , acuatect with
the Sulphur and Sa/tc/Sol c/Bafilius.

In Sufflemento.

TAke of the Purple Coloured Gold (the Crocus of Set t
des Konings Purpur Mantel) half an ounce , of the
Philofbphers Oyl of Mercury ( the Oyl of Mars and
Venus ) one ounce and half, ditfblve , to which add of the
Salt of Sol two drachms , all being reiblved into an Oyl ,
redifie it by a Retort , that it may be clear and pellucid.

For the Spirit 0/Univerfal Mercury, Bafih'us to^Copper
dijfolved in Philosophical Vinegar, and crift a/Sized into gra-
duated Vitriol , and with gentle calcination , reduced it into
the true Crocw, or Red Powder of Venus : But the Iron he dif-
folved in the Oyl of Venus ( di fritted out of the faid Crocus of
Venus) criftallized and calcined into the Crocus tf^Mars. For
the prejentMenftruum herequirethGold diffolved in Balneo
Regis (defcribedznNumb.Sg.) and reduced into a volatile
graduated Vitriol , which then being dijfolved in Diftifd Wa-
ter, he precipitates with three times as much of Argent Vive ,
out tf/^eMenftruum but the amalgamefrom therce^roduced^ke
gently calcines under a Tyle^into a Purple Powder or Crocus ^
as to the making o which here only by tke by, but in the fol-
lowing fecond and third Booths , we fiall treat more fully of it.
The way of making the SaitofSo\,ke has thus in Libro particul.
in particulari Solis , defcribed : Take the White Body of Sol
left in the extracting of its Soul , (tie Fjfince extracted out
of the Crocus of So I, with the faeet Spirit of Salt dejcnled in
.Numb. 28.) reverberate it gently for half an hour , th?t it
. may be made corporal , then pour to it the CorVolive Water
of Honey well rectified , which in a gentle heat v. ill extreme
the Salt in the fpaceof ten days : All the Salt being extracted,
draw off the Meuflruum from it in Balneo , edulcorate the
Salt, by repeating Cchobations in common Dilli-ikd Wr.-cr t
andlaOly, Clarify it with the Spuit o.(Pf. Ho/optical) Vvir.c,
and you will have the Salt of Gold.

X x 2

C 352 )

Concerning thif Water of Honey, Bafilius in Curra triumphal!
Antimonii, Pag. 77. thus. : , Out of fweet Honey may be made
the ftrongeft Con-olive and Poyfbn , which is to moft men
a thing incredible. The fame affirms Paracelfus , faying: The
like is to be underftood in Honey , which by its elevations is
made much fharper than any AqtiaForttsmdCorro/tve, arid
more penetrative than any Sublimate 5 fuch a property of
(harpnefs it hath not Naturally, but by elevation, which
changeth this. Honey into a Corrofive. Ltbro 5. Archid.
Pag. 1 8. and elfewhere , Cap. 14. de Morbis Tartar. Pag. 5 1 9.
Honey of it felf is innocent , but in the third elevation be-
comes mortal.

The way of making thisWater,is not mdeed in the Writings,
which TVS have either 0/Bafilius 0r Paracelfus 5 yet eajily will A
diligent Difciple learnthe fame, by thePrinciples of his Art, for
either the CcelumMellifiuurn of Pariftnus muft be dijjblved in
dijlilled Vinegar , orfomeftronger add, or crude Honey coho-
lated in Philofophical Vinegar, that is, common, ntixd with
the Spirit of Philofophical Wine , and the Procefs will be
fiorter and better. But this Salt of Gold may be alfo made
without, thefaid Water of Honey , provided the Menftruum be
fo corrofivea* to dijffolve the remaining Body of the Gold, thus
in Laboretertio Revelat. he reverberates the Caput.mortuum
of Gold, thejpace of three days, then calcines it ivith an equal
weight of the Salt 0/Taitar, which he wafheth off with Diftilled
Water, and extra&s the Salt out of the dried Powder with
Vinegar , which drawing off the Vinegar , he clarifies with
the Spirit of Wine , that is, he dijffolves , filters, draws off, and
crijlallizeth it into the true Salt 0/Sol. In another ylace , he
extracts the Salt of Gold by the Spirit of Dniv erfal Mercury ,
a* in Elucidatione i2.Clavium, where he affirms^, that the
Philofophers Stone cannot be coagulated or fixed without th#
Salt 5 and that he hath taught the way of making it in the fourth
Kfj. By the Philofophers Oyl ^/Mercury , he means the Oyl
0/;'Mars and Venus ^ not yet reduced into the Spirit ofTJniver-
fal Mercury , or acuated with its own Salt , and the more fix-
ed part indeed of this Menftruum , which he calls the Philo-
fophers Sulphur , not the more volatile part , which is call'd
the Philofophers Mercury : With this Sulphur he dijjolves the

Soul

C 353 )

Soul or Crocus of Sol , and converts it into potable Gold.
Libro de fupernaturali Medicina. Tet fometimes he would
have us take the fame Oyl ofMercutyfortheOjl <?/Roman Vi-
triol , the Menftruumdefiribed in Numb. 98. So in Libro de
particular, in particulari Solis, he reduceth the white Body of
the King ( Gold , left in the extraction of the Soul or Cro-
cus of Sol ) with Philofophical Sulphur , which is the fecond
Principle in order , andthe Spirit 0/Mercury (a little before
call' d the White Spirit of Vitnofynto pure and malleable Gold^
as it was before , not in the leaji. defective in colour and vir-
tue.

Sometimes he acuates the Spirit oflJnJve
the Sulphur and Salt of other Metals : Thus,

134. The Spirit of Univerfal Mercury acuatedmtb
/he bu'pnur and Salt of Luna of Bafilius.

I. i I r. par tic. in particul. L un<z.

THe Sulphur of Luna being extracted and edulcorated,
dry the remainder of the Calx of Luna y to which
pour the fame Corrofjve Water of Honey , that you
ufed for the Salt of Sol , digeft gently the fpace of four or
five days, that the Salt of the Luna may be extracted, which
you will know by the Whitenefs of the Menftrvum. All
the Salt being extracted, draw off the Water of Honey, edul-
corate the Salt , diftilling and clarifying it with the Spirit of
(Philofophicnl) Wine. The remainder left in extracting the
Salt of the Lttna edulcorate , and dry , then pour the Spirit
of. Tartar to it , digeft fifteen days , and proceed as with the
Gold , and you will have the Mercury of Luna (of which in
the Second Book , for here we ufe it not.") The faid Salt of
Luna, hath excellent Virtues for the Body of Man, of which
I (hall treat in a place more conveaient. In the- mean time
the efficacy of the Salt and Sulphur of Luna you will learn
by the Procefs following. Take the Lazurine Sulphur of
Luna^ diflblved in the Spirit of (Philofophical^) Wine
( wttifcd ) and coagulated 5 pi t it in a Cucurbit, ; pour to it

double

( =54-)

double the quantity of the Spirit of Merctiry made of the
White Spirit of Vitriol : In like manner take the Salt of Lu-
na extracted and clarified , which mix with three times the
quantity of the Spirit of Mercury, lute both the Glafles, and
digeft gently in Balneo the fpace of eight days and nights }
have a care that none of the Sulphur and Salt be loft , but
let them be in the lame quantity as they were feparated from
the Silver. Putrifaftion being ended, mix both Difiolutions
and diftil , &c-

Hefometimes acuated tkfr Spirit without Metallick Salt,rfW
Sulphurs only thus :

135. The Spirit o/Univerfal Mercury acuated 'with
the Sulphur of Sol ^i/Lunao/Bafilius.

Libro farticul. in farticul. Luv<z.

TAke of the Sulphur tfLuna one part , of the Sulphur of
Sol half a part , of the Spirit of Mercury fix parts, joyn
them together , lute well , digeft in a gentle heat, and a Li-
quor will come over of a Red Colour , diftil through an A-
lembick , fo as nothing to remain.

This Spirit ^/Mercury he fermented not ondy with the Sul-
phurs of the perfect Bodies , butfomctimes added to them with-
al the Sulphur of fome imperfect Metal , a* Mars, thus;

136. The Spirit o/Univerfal Mercury acuaiedmih
the Sulphur of Sol <WMars o/Bafilius.

Libro pat tic. in garlic. Soils.

TAke of the Sulphur of Sol and of the Sulphur of Mar s?
equal parts of each , of the Spirit of Mercury the
heighth of two Fingers above them , that the Matter
may be well ditfolved into a Golden Water cf a Ruby Co-
lour , being mix'd , . diftil through an AlemL ick , that they
may become one , ..as they were at fiift from one Stem , keep
Jt well , that nothing may evaporate.

( 355 )

Befides tie Sulphur 1 0/Mars hefotttetimts added alfo the Sul-
phur of Antimony , thut ;

137. The Spirit of Univcrfal Mercury acuated with

the Sulphurs of Sol, Mars, and Antimony

of Bafilius.

Libr o partic. in farticul. Antimonii.

TAke of the Sulphur Q Antimony two parts, of the Sul-
phur of tWone part., mix. Take of the Sulphur of
Mars three parts , of the Spirit of Mercury fix parts , being
well luted digeft , that the Sulphur of Mars may be wholly
diflblved $ then caft in a fourth part of the Sulphur o Anti-
mony and Sol , lute again , and digeft till they be all diflbl-
ved , then add another fourth part of Antimony and Sol,
repeating the Work , as before , till all be perfectly mix'd,
and the Matter made ! ,: a thick Red Oyl , diftil the whole
through an Alembick.

Sometimes he ferment- * rtfr Spirit ^ter an unufual way ,
namely , without :ke Sttlplur of atiy p^rfetf Metal , but meer
imperfeSf onely, thus : .

1 38. The Spirit of Univcrfal Mercury acuated witb

the Sulphur of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn

of Bafilius.

Libro -panic, in far tic. MercuriiVivi.

TAke of the Soul of Mars two Ounces , of the Soul of
- Saturn one Ounce , of the Soul of Jupiter one Ounce,
diflolve them in fix Ounces of the Spirit of Mercury ,
being well diflblved > . diftil them through an Alembick
without any Sediment into a Golden Water like" to the tran-
fparent Diflblution of Gold.

The

( 35* )

Thothefe Menftruums 0/Bafilius may well deferve the firft
place among the Diffolvents of the Adepts , yet fome of the A-
depts made Menftruums not mnch inferionr to them. Ifaacus
Hollandus not ontly the better to dijfolve Bodies , but tinge
the>?t alfo deeper , made his Menftruums of Tmging Menftru-
ums, and cow won Mercury, but being initiated with the Tin-
litres (Souls, Sulphurs, Scc.J of Tinging Things. Ths made
he- the Menftruum calld,

1 39. A Compounded Mercurial Water for the
Red Work of Ifaacus.

Cap. 43. 3. Oper. Miner.

TAke Argent Vive purged with Salt and Vinegar ^
which fublime with an equal quantity of HLs ttftitm,
Crocus of Mars , Croc its of Venus , and Lapis He-
matites ^ of Rowan Vitriol the weight of all, and a little Salt,
and repeat the Sublimation feven times , every time with
new Species , and the Mercury will be fublin'ed for the Red.
Take ofJEfuftHMt , Cinabar , Crocus of Mars , Venus, Lapis
Hmatites , Antimony , equal parts of each 3 of Roman Vi-
triol the weight of all , mix,and reduce to a fine Powder, to
which pour of Aqua Vit# compleatly re&ifi'd (Spirit ofPhi-
iofofhical Wins ) the height of two hands breadth , digeft in
Bahteo three days , ftirring the Matter daily , then draw off
the Aqua Vit<e with a gentle Fire , then increafe the Fire gra-
dually 5 laftly, force with a nioft ftrong Fire for the (pace of
Twelve hours ^ xhat all the Spirits may afcend : This Work
muft be three times repeated with new Matters continu-
ally. Take of this Water one Pound, of Argent Vive fubli-
med for the red as much as fufficeth , or you can diflblve,
diftil, and refer ve.

Beftdes Mercury he fometimes added al/b Sulphur and Sal
ArmorniickJtfMiwedfir the red , thvs ,

140. Tfa

( 357 )

I '

>fT!rr ; , , ; ' - ,. ; r

,to. The lUiiiofopncrs Water made o/Tlirce Spirits
of Ifaacus.

Tap 10. 3. 0{>er< Mm

\- \> :".

ke pi Rawa Vitriol \\\ pans, of JJflp* 1 lltvt.itins ,
Crocus c Mrfr/,of I^M/S , (Jinabar^JiLs -itftuM^bmriil
of each one part ,. dry well and mix, put.

the Matter in a Retort , and pour to it of Aqual r it<e recrifi'd
(Sprit ofPkitylpltcal ll'inc) four Pounds, diftil, andcoho-
bate thiee- times , with the Cap/it Myrtttttm ptiiyeri/c-i : Di-
vide the Water into two parts, whereof we;one , in die o-
therdiiioivc one Ounce of Salarwoni.uk,->. fublimed to red-
nefs, in B<ih/co, which being diilolved , diiiolve one Ounce
of Sulpjwr prepaiecl y laftly,alio put in an Ounce of Men-toy
fubliintd for the Red Work : Theft three being diilolved
in the Difoh ing Water made ofAquaViM , you have a Wa-
ter, which is dcfervedly called the Philosophers Water , by
re > foil of its admirable and fecret Virtues , the Miracles of
which muft not bedcfcribed, becaufe not convenient for
certain Rcafons , &c.

1 he Preparation of Sulphur , Take cf ~ Sulphur Vtvitm 15
Pounds, to which being pulverized, pour difiillcd '( Pkr-
lofophical) Vinegar , let them boyl gently in Balveo , the
V~eiiel being very clofe the fpace of three days , decant the
Vinegar being now tinged warily , to the refidue, pour New
Vinegar , digelt, and decant , and fo often repeat , till no
more Vinegar will be tinged : The tinged Matter diflfil gent-
ly inBalvco , to the remainder of a fourth part 5 from the
refidue , you will in the fracc of three or four days in a cold
Geller leecive Ciiirals. (tke graduated Vitiiol <?/Siilphui)like
Nittr , clear as An/ltr , and of the colour of Gold : The
remaining Vinegar evaporate into a Golden Powder , then
xliflolve the Criftals and Powder in the aforeLiil Vinc^r ,
and Criftallize , and that fo eft , till the S?t/f!.:.,r I.. no
Fcces behind it. -This is a great AlckjK;* :J^^,\ :

C O / 1 r l^l T-) -' A f *T" ' : ' ''t*

i y

M an Vitriol (by w/.zch tie Adepts do marc than efte;?. wean
ich K ^radtizted) fix or eight Pounds , of common
Salt two Pounds , itti* them together with three Founds of
Mercury i f urged with Salt and Vinegar, fublime the Mer-
cury , and that repeat three times always with new Species ,
keep the Mercury.

The Preparation 0/Snlarmoniack , Take of Salarmoniack
three Pounds , lublimeit thrice with&?w<f Vitriol, and La-
PK ktmatites, with New Matters every time.

Thotkefi Menftruums0/Jmcus are not jb Mitch efteemed,
.fsthofe before 0/Bafilius , as to tic Excellency of Preparation ,
ytt arc they ofw lefs but the fame Virtue with thofc , M to the
quality of tinging , for they are wade of the fame Sulphurs ,
Crocufies,*//^ Ei'ences 0/Mnrs, Venus, Sulphur, ev. TX the
compounded Mineral Menftruums of Bafilius rrere wade of.
Lully acuatcs the fame Menftruums with Mctallick Eltences ,
not indeed already Made , but to Le mude in the preparation of
the Menftruum , -thus with the Stinking Menftrnum , awaitd
with Vegetable SalharmoYiiack, he makes the Ejjence 0f Luna,
rvhhh being tuixd with thcfaid Menftruum , Iccowes a Men-
ftruum of this Kind . , and is called,

141. The Compounded Water of Silver of Lully.

Cap. 10. Praflic* 7 eft amen ti majors Pag. 1 61.
Voi 4. Th. Chym.

IN the Power of A (G^/, J take one Ounce of F
Luna, Pag. 171.) well purged and refined : And that
Silver being well beaten (extendedrvith a. Hammer Jimo
Leaves, cut them into imall pieces , ihort and flender , then
divide them into two equal parts , and take two diflblving
Glalles , the Form and Meaiure of which , you will fee in
the Chapter ofVeJfils - y and in one of thefe two,put one Ounce
and a half of }L-(Menfirnal Pag. 17 1, alleadgedby us before ^ in
Numb. 67.) I mean the eighth part, of the whole Menjirttal ,
then, put in piefemly one part of F, and be cnreful immedi-
ately to ftog-the Mouth of, the Veflei with its Cover ,. and

lute the joynt well, with the kiting r. fore/aid -{in tie
Preparation of the fuid Menftrual ) or with clear and pure
Wax } which done, put it in Balneo Mart* hot for three
days , that God may give you a happy day. Then t?ke. F
(the Dijjohttion of the &/t>*rJ)and ft lain ( decant) the Water
into another clean Glafs Veiicl , and incline the Vc!;e! well
and warily , that the Earth of F may not be ftrained with
the Water, nor the Water troubled , and ftop the laid Phial
wherein you put the Water of F, rnd keep it apart. Then
upon the Diiiol ving Vcilel of that F, which ought to be
difiblved (the other part of Silver to it df ft 2 lied i??to a Mc;>-
ftrHKtx) put its Alemlic^ which mult be clofe and diicrect-
ly joyned with the luting aforefaid 5 then place it upon Sifted
Afhes , and fetting it on a Fornace , kindle your Fire and
diftil , put the Liquor in a Glafs Phial , and make a Fire of
Saw-duft , and when the Liquor is in a manner all diftilled ,
ftrengthcn the Fire a little with Coals , according to that
which is ufed for the exaft calcining of an Earth , but keep
it from too much heat , for we have fecnit done by the heat
of the Sun 5 underftand this well, unleis you would be made
a fool , give this heat continually for eleven hours, then ftop
theFormce, and go to ileep , and in the Morning take
your Calcinatory ( which if Jo called becanfe of the property
of its operation ) and put in the Menflrxal often mentioned,
wherein G (onr Mercurial Pag. 171. or Vegetable S^l armo-~
niack^) was d\(\o\\'cd(Jce the M.enjiritum beloiv in Numb. 1 47.)
and you will fee it operate , and the fume afcend , and the
Metal calcined with LiqttcfaZion , but ftop it better than
before with its own ftojple , which goes in (to the faid Cal-
cinatory) and have a care of pining it into any other heat ,
till it hath operated by its own Virtue , and when it hath
wrought and is quiet, lute the joynt well with common Wax,
and being fo luted , put it in a hoc Balnco Man* three Na-
tural days , as you did clfcwhcre , bccaufe it is fo expedient.
Then diftil the Water , and calcine the Earth (reHHtrn/n in

'the bottom*) as aforelaid , and repeat ib eft till all the Earth
is diflolved by this Method in the Form of a Liquor, and the

Di/olved Limttf , or Oyl by Art diiloived , whi;h is tl:e
SubRance of a Body depurated by W?ter , and earned by

Y y 2 the

the Water of the Wind^ahvays keep apart, and: when it' is all
diflolved (and diftilled} joyn them together , then putt ifie
fix weeks (to he circulated) ima temperate hc;U , where the
Vefiel mnft be very well luted with its Cover , and Co ought
the Figure of I tube done (the coK/^ofilie/r , onomfowd-
edWater <?/Luna, Pag. 171. <?///<? /^///e Vela me?)

The fame tray font crimes kc prepares the Eilencc of Gold
with the Stinking Lunar Menftruum, by addition of which ,
he makes the faw-e Menftruum more acute , that K mors
xzble.

142. The Stinking Lunar Mcnftruum acuattdmtb
the ElTence of Sol o/Lully,

7 r

IV bfXfenmento 30.

TAke the aforeiaicl Water, \\ he rein you have the
Soul of Luna ( described in Nitvd>. 1 2 ii) ' and di A
folve in it two.Oimccs orbne and a half of the fixed-
Salt of Urine , as you have it in its Experiment (tie-
jipcth , but produced by tq in Numb. 50.) which being dif-
folved , diifolve one Ounce of Gold in that Water , putre-
fie eight days , then Separate the Water by/^/;/r<?, and the
Body will remain in the Veflel like melted honey, upon-
which Matter pour back fb much of ,the Diftilled Water,
as to fwim two fingers above it , cover the Veticl with its
Antcnotorium , and putrefie in Balneo- the (pace of 24
hours, then put on an AlembicJ^ with a Receiver, line
the joyntswell , diftil in Afhes 5 . lallly , increnfe the firecx-
treamly , and that which comes over , keep very clofc, for
it is the animated Spirit , or Sett I of the Gold.

lorm

Fom the Receipts we obfd've.

I. ~|-</7rf/ the Mcnftrmims of this Kind .r? more //title than
thojf of the 2cth and 2ith Kinds , there t't.e Ej-
fences orMagi fieri es <?/ Metals were drjfolved in Sim-

ple Mineral Menftiuum?, but here in tie fame compounded.

2. That tbefe Menftruuins differ not- from tie Mcnftruums
of the Tenth Kind , but in tie addition of Acidity } dtffolvc
a Menftruum of tie Jazd Kind in. what Add you will, and
it. will be forthwith transformed into a. Menftruum sf this
Kind.

3. That thffe Mtnttnmrns' "<?.re by Dige ft ion wade' facet a-
gain, tndVtgttablt as beore.

4. That thefe Me lift mums arc notfatiatcd^ but by their
Dilutions augmented , as well in quantity M quality in
irtfinitum.

5. That the Spirit- <?/ Uni-verfal Mercury , or fir ft Mat-
ter of Metals of Bafilius, is by kirn alfo called Mercury dupli-
cated , 'wherein the Kings Mantle if to be diffolved. Scci. I.
Cap.de Sulf liure Mercil rii , Seft. 2. de Vitriolo Phil, and
Sciij. 2/Cap. 4. de Vitriolo Veneris. In another place ^ the
Suiprmr <?/Mars axdVcnus duplicated. Sedhi.Gap.^dedulph.
Martis 8c Veneris. In another place the Soul of. Mars and
Venus, as in Particul. Veneri*.

6. That this duplicated Mercury is ?nade much letter by
addine the Kings Mantle , the Crocu.v^/Sol, Luna, and o-
ther Metals. That the Menftruums of aim oft all Kinds are

HJly called Philosophers Mercuries, bntoftkele mone
and~Mor% exactly in the^l bird Book.

the Spirit of Univerfal Mercury 0/Bafilius, is*
the fame with the Magifteries of Mars and Venus , made
after the Mineral way 5 dijfolve the Magift-eries of Mars
and Ven!is /;/ the common Spirit of Vitriol , and by thif
fiwple Dijfolution , yon will mal^ the fame 6^/n><?/UniveiTal
Mercury.

8. Tha.

8. That & Mars And Venus , fo alfg Jnpiter and Saturn ,
and the reft dftke Metals, may be mads into thefaidfrft Mat-
ters, that //, ofthefatneVtrtnes vrith the firft Matter <?/Mars
and Venus, /* tethefafttltyofdijjolving: But Mars and
Venus are preferred fir the excellency and exuberance oftkcir
Tinftures.

The

The Four and Twentieth KIND.

Mineral Menftruumsrm/^;^^ ^/Ve-
getable and Mineral Menftruums

mixd together.

143 .The Vegetable Fire ttiffbhed in the Calcinacive
Water of Lully.

Tag. 363. Magi* Natural!*.

TAke of the Vegetable Water acuated ( the Metallic^
Soul'ofL\\\\j , defcribedin Numb. 5. ) one Ounce,
put it in a Phial with a long Neck, into which you
poured .three Ounces of the Calcinativc Water (Me Mineral
Menftruum dcferibed in Nnmb.68. ) and fuddenly cover the
Phial with its Cover, luted clofe with Wax, then place it
well in a Balnea, the fpace of two Natural days, and in that
time, the \vhole Vegetable wAi be converted into Clear
Water.

Animadverfions'.

THe Adepts aciiated tic Spirit 0/Philofbphical Wine di~
vers ways, and reduced it hrtojlverat as ire// Vegeta-
ble as Mineral Menftruums / the antecedent Kinds. Now
in this 24th and Lift Kind 0/McnftrmimSj tkey mix not cither
common Ojlj or Arid, or Acid Matters , with, the Unffieus
Spirit of Philosophical Wine , AS they did in tic aforejaid
Compofitwns of Menftruums, butjoyn Vegetable dWMinernl

Menftruums

( ?^4

Menftruurris, already perfiffed together, in order to

finmiri; of tin K.ind. The ///^JbtenRruumatwoft /> /;/./ U /.,

I. uly, dtid caird

1 44.. 7"fe Vegetable Heaven dffohcd in a M ncral
Mcnuruum o/JLully.

Pa?. 59. Teftam. Noziffimi.

* 'mrmr -

v)/ .1 J 1 tjAj J

"*y* Ake of the Stinking 'Menflruuw ( dcfirjlcdin Nniiib.
99.) one Pound , -ac'f! one Pound, or half a Pound,

which \vill he enouh , o

and acaatcd

\vith the iubliiiicd Salt of-Trf >//;- (/// Numb. 17.) or Wine :
-Hold the Veftel in your hands, and do not put it on the
ground or any other place, till the fury (of the eknll/tJou)
is over , and it i* a mixture of a Vegetable with a Mineral }
fcal it \v.nh Wax, and let it ft and a day, then put it two days
uiBalt/eo, and diftil in A(hes, and you \vill h:\vealimpid,
clarify'd and ponderous Water 5 then put it in a Circulating
VeOel very well fealcd , the /pace of fixtcen days in Bah,- CD
conveniently , till you return, and fee the Water vvcll united,
and at the bottom'of theVei-el, in the form of a CnftalHne
Salt, keep it.

The fame Menftrnuin btrt vf different nxigl t / e wad* elfewktre,
he added half a part of the Vegetable Menftrauhl to one part of
Me Stinking Menflrunm in tfc avtccc.icnt, -but hi tkefiUmtifa
Menftrunm he takes were tf the Vegetable .tl:m Miiiei-al
Menftrnum.

-145. Ice compounded of Vegetable and Mineral
Mcnftruums of Lully.

7\r>. 6%. Teftam.

TAkc of the Mineral G, or Siiifk'Z Mcnflrititm, three
Ounces, and of yi<///rf ^//,f rccliti'd and acuatecl with
the Salt ofTartxr four Ounces, put them together in a Glafs,"

i ii4" x

C 3*5 )

and dift$"nine times in Balnea , and in that time it will be

all converted into one , as Tee.

Ripley mixd vegetable and mineral Menftruurns

146. The Aqua Mirabilis of Ripley.
Pag. 212. Philorcii.

TAke the Tartar calcined white as Snow , grind it up-
on a Marble,and incerate it with Aqua Vit fortified
with its Species , as is premifed (with f/'eMenftruum
defcribcd in Numb. 8.)till it be as thin pafte , then put it in
a Circulating Veflel,and circulate the Water , till it is whol-
ly dried up in the Tartar 5 repeat the fame Work , and fo
continue , till it hath drank off tie Water double its part
and quantity in weight , which done , grind the Tartar, and
lay it upon a Stone , or hang it in a Linncn Bag , and put a
Glafs under to receive the droppings of it , and this muftbe
done in a place under ground, till all the Tartar isdiftilled
into clear Water 5 out of which, after Diftillation and Coa-
gulation ,is made a wonderful Salt of Nature, which the Phi-
lofopkers call Salt-peter , andincombuftible Sulphur proper-
ly the volatile Salt ofTartar) which fixeth any Argent Vive :
But to have perfect Aqua Vit ( reqtiijtte for this Work} put
(Philofophical) Wine in a Circulatory for a hundred days ,
to be circulated with its Species , and then extrad Aqua Vit&
out of it (the Menftrttum in Numb. 23.) because if you put
to it as much Salharmoniac\^$Q\vCQ& as Tartar , one drop
of it , after it is perfected , fuddenly kills a Cancer in the
Flelh of Man , and if it be dropped upon ones hand , pene-
trates it , and didolves every Body. Without this Water
we profit little in this Art , and he that has this Water , will
not in the leaft doubt of compleating the Art : But this Wa-
ter is made twice as ftrong , if an equal quantity of the Mi-
neral Spirit, which is the Philofophers acute Water (the Green
Lyon 0/Ripley z^Numb. 59.) be added to it , and then cir-
culated upon the Tartar,and upon the Sal harmoniackjio fpif-

Z, z ilty,

( 3" )

fity , and then diflblved into Water $ which if done , thip
Water will be of greater value than any Gold , and one of
the wonderful things of this World.

Sometimes they mixed Vegetable Salharmoniack, //?eW0/
Vegetable Menftruunyw>/& Mineral Menftruums. Thus ,

-I

147. The Stir king Menftruum &cuatec) with the

Salharmoniack of Lully.

TAke of the vegetable G. (Vegetable Mercury or Salhar-
moniack) one Ounce , put it in the Phial with a long
neck, wherein you put three Ounces of E before (the^ Stinkc
ing Menftrnmm in Numb. 67.) andprefently flop it with its
ftopple ., fealed with common Wax, that nothing may refpir^
then diftil in a hot Balneo\ the fpace of three Natural days
into a clear diilolved Water.

As they added Salharmoniack tofimple Mineral Menftruums
fo aljo to the fame compounded.

148. The Stinking Lunar Mcnftruum , acuated
with Vegetable Salharmoniack of Lully.

Cap. i^PrafiicaTeft.Major. Pag.
Vol. 4. fh. Chym.

IN the power of A f God } take one Ounce of the
Compounded Water of Silver (defcribed in Numb. 141.)
diftilled through an Alembic^ and put to it one
Ounce of the vegetable G. ( Mercury or Sa
difiolve, &c.

Bafilius mixed theft Menftruums thus.

. The

( 3*7 ) **

149- The Spirit of Mercury mixed with Vi-
triol and the Fiery Spirit of Wine
6/BafiUus

. Libri Revelat.

TAke off this Oyl (thefrft Matter of Metals, made out of
Venus and Mars , or Spirit of Univerfal Mercury de-
fcribed in Numb. 132.) eight Ounces, of theSpiritof
Wine rectified to the higheft (the M^snjlrunm defcribed in
Numb. 1 9.) five Ounces, diftil by a Glafs Retort, and that
three times, always with New Spirit, fo as that fifteen
Ounces of the fiery Spirit of Wine may be joyned to the
eight Ounces of Oyl.

Paracelfus made the following#ttx'elMenfauumfir the Ar-
canum Lapidis or Antimony.

I !..

150. The mixd Menftruum of Paracelfus.
Cap. 6. Lib. 10. ArcbiJon. Pag.

WHoever defires to graduate his Metallick Heaven
(Antimony) to the higheft , and reduce it to aa
Actic n , muft firft extraft the liq uid primum Ent
Coeleftial Fire, Quintellence of Mercury , (not of Sol $ as it
is ill read in the Latint)and the Metallick Acetum acerrimum
(it. e CircuUtnm majuf of Paracelfus dejcribed in Numb. 51.)
out of its -life,that is,eommon Mercnry , by diflblving it with
its Mother , that is , the Arcanum of Salt ( Salt circulated
in Numb. 27.) and mix it with the Stomack of Ant i. ion, that
is, the Spirit or /^-r/0/(VjeMenftruum defcribed in Numb.98.)
and in it {the mixd Menftuum) diiiolve, digeft , &c . the
coagulated Mercury of Antimony ( the Kegnluf of Anti-
mony.*)

Z z 2 From

(3*8 )

From the Receipts \v r e obfcrve.

thefe Menflruums are tie mixtures of divers Men-
ftruums.

2. And that they may be macte of all Vegetable and Mineral
Menftrnums , being mixd together at tl e Artifts fleafttre. '

g T>ttkat tkey Are made the better ., the mere tinging the
Mtnfirunmsn?ere.

4. That fe/e Menftruums do by Digeflion become facet and
pureVegetable Menftruums.

EP1-

E P I L O G U E.

f m "^Htfe are the things, My Friends ! which 1 frcn-ifed ycu;

^ the Menftruums of Dianafotkerto ly none lut the Adepts

defer tied) declared, and rightly applied to Vfe, and are

MOW by me Jo manifeftly explained, and dijlnluted into their Kinds,

that 'they may le diftinftly apprehended even ly the weaxeft Chy-

rmfts. There are indeed many more Menfhuums remaining ( for

Diana has fuperfluity of Menftruums ) which I have net flewed

you; lut I thought thefe fujftcient, as Examples to you : You, if you

pleafe, may collet} more? and appropriate them to their Kinds : But

if it le our duty to refpecl the common Good, I could wijbjou would

communicate to me jome of the more rare Marwjcripts or Iwprejfi-

cns of the Adepts, if you have any in your Studies or Libraries,

that they may le of fervice not only to you, lut to all Mankind^ or

at Icaft fignife their Names to me, that I may either luy^ or ly

entreaty lor row them of you or others ; efpecialfy you being already

ftell affured , that in Practical Books all Secrets depend upon the

Spirit of Philofophical Wine, lut that in the Theoretick, they are

all moft olf cure > le ing figurative, andnotintheleaft to le under ^

flood according to the Letter ; which, if you keep longer in ywr

LilrarieSy will le dayly expofed to a thoufand dangers, and at

length, as nothing worth, leing mouldy and rotten > become tke Ali-

ment of Time, the Confumcr of all things.

In the mean time, defpife not theje Receipt's tf Menlhuums of-
fered to you, lut rather read and peruje them^ and every where en-
deavour to fnd out the Chymical Truth, lut thoje which you do not
either under fl and, or not ejhem, cajt a\\ay a* trivial', for if one on-
ly Kind , or any one Receipt*of a Kind out of four and twenty ,
pleaje yeu, it is Sufficient; for we will eafily prove that ly that cue,
all the Secrets of the more Secret Chymy may le prepared.

Jf aljo you are plea{ed to cljefl againji //.<? Autlx, nty^ ye .7 Ho-
nejiy and Sincerity of this or that Adept, M, Faracehvs, LulJy,
&c. you may leave him, and rejeft his Receipts, waking choice of

any*

any other , in whom you may have greater confidence, and we
prove all the rejl ly his Receipt : Learn therefore the ways of nta-
king tbeje Menliruums, cljerve their Orders, Degrees, Mat-
ters, Methods of Making, the Virtues of DiiTolving, Tinging,
Multiplying them/elves, & c. and you will acknowledge them to le
the leji Injtruments of all the more Secret Ch) my, as Keys, with-
out which nothing, and with which all the Secrets if this Art are
opened and unlocked.

To make thefe Things, which we have declared in the former
Dijceurje, of the Excellencies of the Menflruums, mere eajte to
you, 1 will I. ere contract into a Breviary, and reduce them into
twelve Juljequent and infallille Conclttfions-

That the Defcriptions of thefe Menflruums are un-
derftood according to the Sound of the Letter.

THat the Receipt? of this Book contain nothing occult, lut the
Spirit <?/ Philosophical Wine (the Ufe only of which we
promifed to define) you will eajdy vouchjafe us your Affent. Nor
yet is it too olfcure, lut that it may le properly called an unftuous
Spirit, proceeding from the White and Red W^ne of Lully, the
Conflitutives of the Menftruum foetcns .- The reft, winch feem
more olfcure , are Terms of Art, for the moft part explained in
the very Defcrifticns of the Receipts of things made and produ-
ced from this Spirit : But the oljcurity, which a jhorter er longer
defcription of a Receipt caujeth, is ly accident, to le eajjly over-
come and removed ly any diligent Difciple of this Art.

II.

That no one of the aforefaid Menftruums is prepa-
red without the Spirit of Philosophical Wine.

AMong all thefe Menftruums of the Adepts imparted to you,
there is not one, which has not the Spirit of Philoiopfocal
Wine for its Bafis. There are indeed Menftruums, in the Receipts
if which, we meet not with the Name of this Spirit, yet there it is

lurking

lurking under the name of this or that .Mervmwm. Other Re-
ceipts of Menftruums there are, which do not take the Spirit of
Piuloiophical Wine fre e, but (is it were fettered, that is, any
Common Oyl; but when in the making oj thefe Menilruums the
Spirit is unfettered, as aljo acuated , fuch Menilruums cannot in
the l.eafl be j aid to be made without it. The re are laftly alfo Men-
ftruums, in the Receipts of which , neither the Spirit of Phllofo-
phical Wine, nor any Oyley Matter is exprefly mentioned ( I tit
th-efe are more rare t on pttrpofe alledgd to ftew us cither the Envy
or Morofity of the Adepts^ whereas notwithflanding it is by the Vfe
of the Menftruum, manifefl that this Spirit is added through ne-
ceffity ; for that which is promifed , could not otherwife be ef-
fitted.

Finally > There arefowt, which you will affirm may be n:ade with
Common Spirit, Common Vinegar, and Aqua fortis, or Com-
mon Sal Armoniack without the Spirit ef Piiilofophical Wine .-
Suppofe it fo ; but when you proceed to Practice, and try an Ex-
periment with fuch a Menftruum, you will Joon find it not only too
weak, but alfo altogether ineffectual and deftruftive in the more
Secret Chymy : For it is imfojjible to do that with a common
Menftruum, which the Adepts have prefer ibed by a Philofophical
Menftruum. The Secrets of the more Secret Chymy have this
Priviledge, that they cannot be made by any man but him that
is poffeffed of Philofophical Wine.

III.

That thefe Menftruums are prepared from any fort

of Matter.

We have dewovftrated that the Menftruums aforefaid are made
of divers QleofitieS) Aridities and Acidities of the three Kingdoms.
Tou have obferved the fimple Vegetable Menftruums to be wade
of things neither Tingirw nor Acid ; Compounded Vegetable
Menftruums of things Tinging, not Acid , Simple Mineral Men-
ftruums made of things Acid, and mt tinging ; ^Compounded,
of things both Acid and Tinging. Wherefore being now better ajfu-
red of your Menftrual Matter hitherto Jo anxicujlyjcugl:t for, you
may take crude Mercury, or Vitriol) Ntter, common Salt^ Salt of

Tartar^

( 37* )

Tartar, or Vrine, Ram-Water, May-Dew >, the Spirit of the World
alfo, by whatjcever Art chained, or any other Matter alfo which
you have made choyce of lefore the reft, for the true and univerfal
Matter of a Mcnilruum, in which choyce you will not err ; for it is
witch at one, whether you wake it of Gold or Mercury ; whether of
P-earls or Arfenick ; Vegetable or Mineral Salt, provided you pro-
ceed according to -this or that Kind 0/Menllruums, with confede-
ration alfo of what Vfe you would have the Menftruum, left you
prepare an Effence inftead of a Magiftery, or a Poyjon for an Anti-
dote : On the contrary, take pure Honey fo applauded by Parifi-
nus, or the Salt of Tartar, commended by Ripley ; or common
Salt, efteemed ly Paracelfus, as the Matrix of Metals ; or Vitriol
abounding with the Tintture of Gold, extolled by Bafilius, or Ar-
gent vive magnify d by moft of the Adepts, as the open Metal : Take,
I fay, which of them you pleaje, but you wuft know it cannot in the
leaft anfweryour expectation, except it be joyned, that is, corrected,
exalted and graduated with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine.

IV.

That thefe Menftruums are alfo prepared by any

Method.

YO V have here had fever al Methods of Preparation , which
if not fatisfattory, you may pleafe to invent new ones. Herein
is contained nothing fee ret, if your Matter, and the Spirit of Phi-
lofophical Wine be, without any pojjibility of being fcparated,
mixed together, and diftilled either in part or whole, through an
Alembic k: For every Matter, by what method Joever volatilized
and diftilled with the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, is a Men-
flruum. *

( 373 )
v.

That thefe Menftruums are fufficient alfo for

every Ufe.

Y'OV have now in this Book obferved theUfe of the Spirit
of Philofophical Wine, as alfo cf mofl Menftruums in
thefe ways of making Menftruums: hereafter, in the following
Books you will perceive them to I e fufficient for every purpoje. By
thefe means you will make all the Medicines of the Adepts,;W#ce all
Metals into running Mercury ^ or if you had rather ^ into the Fhilo-
fophers Mercury ', or frft Matter of Metals. By thefe will you make
as well ttniverfal as particular Tranfmtttatives of Metals > the left of
all in refpeft of deeper TMure, Jbortnefs of lime, and concifenejs
of Work. Hereby laftly, will you prepare whatfoever curiofity h<u
been left us by the Adepts, ana prefiribed in their Books, Jo that
if they have any Preparations without the Spirit of Philofophical
Wine, you may decline them without any dammage : For thefe
Menftruums do volatilize all fixed Bodies^ and fix the volatile
and volatilized^ dijfofae the coagulated^ and coagulate the dijjolved:
ZJnder which few Notions are comprehended all the Operations of
the more Secret Chy my.

VI.

That thefe Menftruums are many.

YO V have olferved divers Kinds of Menftruums, defgned
forfeveraldiftMVfes. Simple Vegetable Menftruums
do extraft) rather than dijjolve Bodies ; the Compounded diffblve
only, Ittt not extract : That which Vegetable Menftruums do>
the Mineral cannot; and fo on the contrary : Of Vegetable Men-
ftruums are made Medicines only^not Pqyfons;lut ?f Mineral, Men-
fir u urns , Poyfons only , and not Antidotes wit hut the fingtdar
dexterity of an Artifl. An Vfe different and contrary to its f elf
admits no . universal Menftruum : The Spirit of Philofophica/
Wine is indeed the univerfal Matter cf them all, but there is not
one of all the Menftruums fufficient for every Vfe ; wherefore, un-

Aaa /f

C 374 )

lefs you Witt for the fame reafon call every one utiiverfal, becauje
they all proceed from the Spirit of Light, the univerfal Bafts of all
things, we cannot but deny an univerfal Menftruum.

VII.

That fome Menftruums are corrofive.

THat Mineral Menftruums are corrofive, And therefore dij-
folve Bodies with ebullition, is clearly manrfeft by the Re-
ceipts aforefaid. I would not have you, being perhaps not fufci-
ently intruded in the Sayings of the Adepts, every where decla-
ring again/I Aqua fortifies, and all Corro/ives, either defpife, or
think ill of them : Thefe are thofe Menftruums by which the an-
cient Adepts abbreviated their Time and Labour in Preparing
their T Mures : And Paracelfus juftly entituled' him/elf to the
Monarchy cf Arcanums, he having been the principal Inflrument in
compleating not only the Abbreviations of Alchymy, but moreover
introducing thefe Mineral Menilruums to Medicinal Z>fe , and
that with Jo much dexterity, that there feems to be now no hope left
to his Difciples of mend/Kg any imperfection of this Art, as mil be
demonftrated in the following Books : Bejides, thefe Menitruums
differ from ^'Vegetable Menftruums no otherwife, than that
an Acidum is Jupe r added to them, or to the Spirit of Philofophi-
cal Wine, corroding the Aridum, and dividing it into Atoms,
making way for the Oleofurn., to be fooner and better incorporated
and mixed together, which notwithftandtng do ly taking away the
Acidum, return into the fame Vegetable Menftruums they were
before.

VIII.
* \^

That thefe Menftruums are permanent, yea fixed
with Things difTolved in them.

IT is by the former defcriptions of Menftruums , m anifeft , that
tu well the Spirit oj Pmlolbphical Wine, a* Men-ftruumswj^
of it, do jhck to the things d/ffolved in them. There is indeed no
tetter Argument to confirm the excellency <^Menftruums,/7.ww that
they are homogeneous and permanent with things dijjllved, and con-

fe^uently

- C 37S )

fcquently Diffohents tranfmutable with the diffolved into a third
fubftancc different from loth: Thcfc Menftruums therefore arc ft
far from Icing immutable* that, accordingto the Editl of the whole
Crowd of PhilofopherS) to wit, The diublution of the Body is
the coagulation of theSpirit,and fo on the contrary ,w^/g in the
more Secret Chymy, can be more infallible, ffow this permanence of
Menftruums you have obferved not only in the volatilizations of
MenftruumSjte alfo in the fixations offomejhtts you had the fixati-
on of /fo Spirit cfPhilofophical Wine/ the greater Circulatums of
the Ninth, and Two and Twentieth Kinds; but you will find more
in the? reparations of Medicines , as well as TinfturesJhey were by an
Analogy of the Ancients ill called Menftruums, unlefs alfo they
could be transformed into the fubflance of an Embryo, and yield
proper Nutriment and augmentation to the Infant : 'The Spirit of
our Wine is indeed an abfolute Oleofum, that is, combttftible, but
here being throughly mixed with Aridums, // becomes incombufli-
ble, and defpifeth the violence of Fire : It is alfo moift, and fo
ttncapable affixation ; but the mcifler and thinner parts, which it
contains, are fe far ate d in the work of fx At ion from the more Oyley
Particles being now concentrated. So you olferued , that) in the
Preparations of the Sal Harmoniacks, or Sulphurs of Nature,
the Spirit of Philofophical Wine, as alfo the Vegetable, as well
as Mineral Menftruums are partly reduced into infipid Water, and
partly flicking to the Matters left in the bottom, and fixed : But
better Examples you will have both in the Second and Third
Books.

IX.

That Menftruums are not fatiatcd with diflblving,
but become rather more avidous, and fo are
by Diffolutions augmented as well in quantity
as qualitr.

only fitch Bodies as are homogeneous to it, that is, purely Oyley, as
it fclfu a j>urt Oleofum, ana ajfoeiate the fame to it, tranfmuting

A a a 2

( 37* )

into its own Nature, and fo multiplies itsfelfby thu means.
fo foon as this Spirit is tranfmuted into an Arido-Oleofiim, //
under the naive of a Simple Vegetable Menftruum, diflolve Ari-
do-Oleofums , that is , the Sulphurs or Tinftures of the Mineral
Kingdom, the pure Aridum Icing untouch'd, and left in the form
of a white Powder, with which EfTences the faid Menftruums or
Eflences may indeed melt together ; but not in the leafl befatiated t
lecaufe there u an Addition and Multiplication of like Parts : But
the fame Vegetable Menftruums being now compounded of the
Simple, do no more extrafl the Tinftures and Effences of 'Miner 'ah ',
but diffelve and tranfmute the whole Mafs or Subflance of thefe Bo-
dies into an Oyl fwimming above, which is called a Magiftery :
Now this being digefted together with its Menftruum, at length
falls in, u united, and fo multiplies the Compounded Vegetable
Menftruum. For an Example to young Beginners ; The Spirit of
Philofophical Wine being a Menftruum of the firft Kind, and
acuated with the Qy/ of Nutmegs, ts hereby made a Menftruum of
the fecond Kind ; or acuated with Honey, if you would ha've a
Menftruum c/f^ third Kind: dijlilei the r of thofe Menftruums
with Common Sal Harmoniack, and you will ha've a Menftruum
of the fourth; but if you defire one of the filth Kind, ccholate
either of them with the Salt of Tartar, and you will have the Ace-
tum acerrimum ^Ripley; or with common Salt, and jou will
make the Sal circulatum of Paracelfus ; Cohobate Mercury, or any
other Mercury, or any other Metal through an Alembick with this
Vinegar or Salt, and you will tranfmute the Simple Vegetable
Menftruums jnto the Compounded Vegetable Menftruums of
the eighth Kind ^ from which you will further frepare Menftru-
ums of the tenth Kind, by diffohing and volatilizing any other
Met aim them. The fame Rule you have as to our Mineral Men-
ftruums : But the Common Menftruums cannot receive bejond
their

i o. That

(377)

That thefe Menftruums are alfo Secrets of the
Second Book.

YOu have in thu Book obfer'ved that among the Vegetable
Menftruums there it none but what is either an Eflence,
or a Magiftery, and it mil be more copioujly demonstrated in the
Book of the Preparations of Medicines : Tou ha-ve alfo taken no-
tice by the af ore] aid Receipts of them, especially being compared with
the following Defer iptions of Medicines, that Mineral Menftru-
ums arc the fame Medicines^ but mixed and dijfohed with Acids.

That thefe Menftruums are likewife Secrets of the

Third Book.

IT is now partly clear by the Receipts of them-t but will be more
clear by the Secrets of the Third Book> that the Simple Men-
ftruums are the Philojophers Stones not yet fermented ; but the
Compounded are Menftruums mixed with the Mafculine Seed,
and therefore Volatile and Fermented Stones-

That thefe Menftruums are in like manner Secrets
of the Fourth Book.

Hat thefe Menftruums do gi-ve Light by Night ^ and con-
ftattentlV) are perpetual Lights , yield aljo Matters for

) ,

Pear I ^ Pretious Stones, &c. the Receipts themjehes 'do Jhew ;
which will be confirmed by the. Fourth BooL

RIFLED,

(378)

RIFLE Y,

. i^.Ttbiloreii,

Without theie Waters we do little
Good in this Art $ but he that hath
thefe Waters, will without all doubt
com pleat the Art.

The End of the Fir ft Book,

EPift. Dcl. pag. $. l^.reail thefe for that. Ep. to the Reader, p. 10. 1. 10. r. have a mind
to. Preface. p.$. 1. 20. for Vegetative, r. Vegetable, p.8. l.zS.for Minerals, r. Mineral,
f. ibid. r. fixr Vegetable. />. ib./. 8. aft^r that, r. it fcarce deferveth. p. 12.1.6. /wrnixt, r.
mix.p.14. /.2<5./>-isit, r. it 15.^.24. /. 12. dele of. p. 31. /. 3.afteroyl s r.or middle falts,
J^r falts or. j>, 39. / 5- /w their, >. the. p. 42. /. 33. for with, r. which. /. 45. /. 4. /5 r g 1Cj
r. a. /. itf./or thai only are they able to do, r. that only is able to do this. p. 48. 1. 16. fir
as, r. us. p. $4. /. 1 1. for fly, r. flow. /. $<5. /. 14. /or drive, r. dive. p. 69. /. 24. for diftil,
r. diftilU p, 78. /. 19. /or ftored, r. reftored. ]>. 81. /. i. omit the firft four lines wholly.
p. 95.7. i. for the latter is, r. it. p. 1 19. 1. ult. aele to. p. 127. /. 1 2. for Metallick of, r. Me-
tals, p. 1 28 . /. 3 1. for extraft, r. extra&ng. ]>. 1 30. /. 32. for prefers, r. preferves. p. 1 38.
/. 21. for wherefore, r. whereof, p. 146. /. ult. r. for an Aurum ptfabite, he prepares a Men-
$rmm out of Gold and Silver thus. p. i $2. for away, r. all the. p. 1 77. /. pen. for out, r. out
of. p. 181. /. 8. for its, r. in. p. 182. /. 14. for greens, r. greenefs. p. 199. /. 33. for fire,
r. Firr. p. 21 $./.$ /or into it, r, it into. /.ult. for greens, r.greennefs. p. 246. /. 22./jr
Water, r. Matter. />. 261. 7.3. d/rer Wine, r. and Salts, p. 296. l.vi.dele and when the
Defoliation is. p. 301. /. 14. for fhewing, r. (hining. p. 30^. /. 2. 4/fer Menftruums, r. made.
" '-.for Tho,r.tho. p'^.l.^o.for AcidSjr. Arids/<f 351. l.2^.ftr repeating, r. repeated. i

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