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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
M
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
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
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
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, 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
C
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.
>.
I.
^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.
TO
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.
V.
I 1
V.
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! ^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.
C
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.
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
to
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.
OF
( 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.
1
\ 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
C
2
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 -
^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 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 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 Aniwa, or Spiritus Vint,
.and Aqua Vita. And when you have a mind to conceal it, call
it
( 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 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
C
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 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 'ilmiity of crt-d? ////V'-M*;
F and
andfo by being c irculated with the Spirit 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 &
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.
8.
(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
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 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
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 #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 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
a
(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 )
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 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 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 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.
v
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{
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
c
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, -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 Vith 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, 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,
c
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 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 .,>?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 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
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
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 ', 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 , 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-
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.
JL
(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 ^/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/ (? 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
fo
( 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 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 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 (,*
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*)
~ 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,/ 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 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 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
5
wades the latter Procefs inexplicably u the unknown Juice
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 &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 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 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 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 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
4S
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 Wf
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 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 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
to
( 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.
if
tbcfe Menflruums jr 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 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//> 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 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
to
( 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 Lour 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 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 /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
)t
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 # 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,
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
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 -./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. PupillJfch(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-
um
( 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 !&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 . 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 VitfT!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. fublimed to red-
nefs, in B 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 *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 . 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
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/& 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 //. 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
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)
X.
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.
XL
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/ IU ' WUILLJ.*
- O ^ ^
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