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 <. i>3Jn 
 
THE OHECKEDJ 
 
 <iY 
 
 
 WORKS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Highly Experienced and Famous C H Y M I S T, 
 
 John Rudolph Glauber : 
 
 (CONTAINING, 
 
 Great Variety of Clioice Secrets 
 
 « 
 
 I N 
 
 Mint anD 
 
 mp 
 
 In the Working of METALLICK MINES, and the 
 
 Separation of M E T A L S : -^^ 
 
 ALSO, 
 Various Cheap and Eafic Ways of making- ^alt-pCtre, attd Improving of 
 
 ^Barren^JlanD, and the ftnit& of the Earth. 
 
 Together with many other things very profitable for all the Lovers of Art and Indujiry. 
 
 J 
 
 I 
 
 Tranflated into Englijh, and Publifhed for Publick Good by the Labour ^ Care^ and Charge^ of 
 CHRISTOPHER PACKE, Philo-chymko-MeJicus. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Pri >y Thomas MilboMrr?y{or the Author, and are to be fold at his Houfe next Door to the CUfi in 
 
 Littlc-Moorfieldi ; by D. Newman at the King's- Arms in the Poultry, and W- Cooler at the 
 
 Pcllican in Little Britain. M DC LXXXIX. 
 
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 Opera Johannis Rudolphi QIauberi 
 
 Imprimantun 
 
 Tho* Witherfy Praefes Coll. Med. Lonl 
 fomnes Betts ^ 
 
 Edvardus Browne 
 Guilielmus Briggs 
 Qulielmm D^f\ms 
 
 Genfbrcs. 
 
 i^'^S^x'^^^^* 
 
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 i^Si&i 
 
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TO THE 
 
 Honoured, and Truly Learned, 
 
 Edmond Dickenfon^ M. D 
 
 Phyfician to the K I N G 'S Perfon and Family. 
 
 :HE ArtofChymiftry, (Honoured Sir) although in its Speculations 
 moft Noble and Delectable to a Philofophick Mind, and in its 
 Pradice highly Infervient, and Beneficial to Mankind ; yet hath 
 it not efcaped the Obloquies, and falfe Imputations of Detradlors, 
 and Calumniators, who either through Ignorance, Idlenefs, or 
 Envy (or all of them conjoined) have made a falfe Reprefenta- 
 tion of this moft Noble Art to the Woi Id, and endeavoured to fet Mankind at the 
 greateft diftance from that which is its higheft intereft to court. For which caufe 
 fuch Writings as Promulge, and offer at the advancing of the Chymical Art^ ftand in 
 need of fuch a Patron as is able to defend them againft all the Cavils of Pride, Envv 
 and Ignorance. 
 
 And if the Exquifite Parts, and Profound Learning in the more Abftrufe Philo- 
 lophy, together with a Long, and Indefatigable Scrutiny and Labour ia the Chy- 
 mical Art, accompanied with a happy Practice in the Honourable faculty of Phy* 
 fick, be fit Accompliflimcnts to Entitle one a ^ttxXi^^ of this Art ; then are thofe 
 Excellencies all met and Concentred in your felf, as is evident ro the whole World 
 by your Curious and Learned Epiftle to £l3UnDanUS!, and iiis Anlwer to it, which 
 anfwer will be a Lafting Teftimony of your great Worth and Merit. 
 
 For certainly, Sir, it is no fmall evidence of your Worth and Abilities in the 
 Tyiotechmck Jrt^ that a Philofopherwho had been more than forty years an Adept ^ in 
 all that time fliould not find three Perfons, befides your felf, whom he thought wor- 
 thy to make certain of the truth of what they fought, and afpired after; and yet 
 gave you an Ocular Sadsfa^ion and Certitude of that which Thoufands havedeh=: 
 red to fee, but could not : And further ferioufly profeflTing, that if he had hid the 
 fame liberty from his Mafler, that fome Adepts enjoy, that he would have revealed 
 to you the whole Secret. 
 
 Ti- 
 
 ne ie 
 
The E^^illle Dedicatory. 
 
 Thefe things have induced me humbly to offer this Book to your Patronage, not 
 doubting but under your Name and Procedion, it will be able to overcome many 
 Difficulties, and obsain a free paflage in this out Bngltjl) World, to the benefit and 
 advantage of many well-difpofed perfons, who feck after Honeft, Profitable, and 
 Commendable Arts, which I am fully perfwaded w^as the chief end of the Author 
 in Writing ; and I am fure is mine in Tranflating his Works. You are throughly ac- 
 quainted with Glmhers ff^n>mffi,you know his Menftruums,and his Medicines,andare 
 able to atteff the truth of what others may account falle and impoflible. As for fuch 
 of them as concern the higher Clafles of Chymiflry, I fliall fay nothing (being yet 
 but ad Corinthnm yer^cns) but commit them to your Mature Judgment, and Pro- 
 tedion, humblv craving your pardon for thismy prefumption, and for what Errors 
 or Overfights I may have committed in this Work j and defiring your Favourable 
 Acceptance of thefe my poor Endeavours. I take leave to conclude with a paffage 
 of the abovementioned Excellent ^UtlDtinUS. / am fully perjmdedj that by the 
 Bleffin^ of (Sod upon your Sagacious Labour s^ you'^ill at length obtain that -i)fhich will abundantly 
 CompenJ are your ^ains and Cojl. To which I adjoin my own hearty Wifhes ; and that 
 after you have been as happy in this World, as true Philofophy can make a Man, 
 you may be Eternally Happy in that which is to come. I am 
 
 SIK, 
 
 An Honourer of 
 
 Tour ?iame and Learnings 
 
 CHRISTOPHER PACKE. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 READER 
 
 THat the Art of Chy miftry is very ufeful and highly ferviceahle in Phyficl^, Chymrgery^ Husbandry^ and 
 Michanick^Arts^ is long (ince evinced by the Excellent Mr.Boyl (jhe Honour both of our Age and 
 CoHtitry') in his Experimental Philofophy, cr Philofophicl^EJf.iys ; who in Et^ay I. znd 11- pews that the 
 Examination of the Juices of Human Bodies^ by t ,e Art of Chymiftry, znay tUujirate their Vfe and 
 Ntnture. And that by it may be Explicated the Nature of our fever al DigefHons-, and their Aberrations. And af' 
 terwardsCv^- VIII. pag 194. freaking of the advamages th.n Chymiftry afords to the Therapeutick or C\iTZ- 
 twt part of Phyjickj (jonchis the chief and principal)^ and to which all the other parts are jubfervient) is plea fed 
 to expre/s himfelf thus : I cannot but think that if Chymiftry did no more than aflift us, by the refolution of Bo- 
 dies, to extricate their more adlive parts, and partly by fuch Refolutions, and partly by alTociating Bodies 
 together, to alter the former Texture of Natures producT:ions, or prefent us with new Concretes of new 
 Textures ; by this very means, if Men want not Curiofity and Induftry, to vary and profecute Experiments, 
 there mull; neceilarily arife fuch a ftorc of new and active Medicines, that in all probability, many of them 
 willbe found endow'd with fuch vertue as have not been (at leaft in that degree) met with, in the ufual Me- 
 dicines, whether Simple or Compound, to be bought in Apothecarys Shops i and confequently, even without 
 any notable difcovery, or improvement of Principles, Chymifls fevcn as Matters now ftand with them) may 
 confidcrably add to the Pharmaceutical part of Phyfick. But if the Operations of Chymiftry were ferioufly 
 enquired into, and throughly underftood, I make little doubt, but by a skilful Application of them, and c- 
 fpeciallybya fericsof them, in a Rational and Orderly way fucceeding one another, there may be found 
 out a great many preparations of Remedies, both very different from the common Ones, and far more No- 
 ble than they. And prefemly after he adds. That if we had but a few Potent Menftruums to diflblve and un- 
 lock Bodies with, I fcarce know what might not be done in ^ 'hymiftry. Then further in that Effay where he 
 treats of the ufefnlnefs of Chymiftry to the Empire of Man over the Inferiour Works of Nature ; he proceeds to jhcw 
 that Chymiftry is very ferviceable to Husbandry in all its parts, and toother profejfions that ferve to provide Men 
 with Fojd or Raiment J or do otherwife minifter to the Necejftties or Accomodations of Life, as Bakers, Brewers^ 
 DyerS) c^c 
 
 Thus far this Learned Philofopher : To which I fljall only add this. That if when he wrote thofe Ejf.iys, Chymifts 
 were able to contribute fo much to the Necejftties and Conveniences of Afa-^hind., when Chymiftry was but young m 
 England, ard but few Chymifts who were accurate in their Operations, and perhaps, fewer who had any competency 
 of Lrarntng^ or fo ?nuch as lightly TinH^ed with the Htrmctick Ph'ilofophy ; if, I fay, that it difcoveredfo great 
 a Irght when It had but newly afcended our Horiz.on, and was, as I may fay, but in its Infancy .^ what ajfiftance may 
 mw behad froin it^ when Qiotwithflanding all the Ohftacles, atid unkind iifage it hath met withal) it is grown to a 
 Irile Age and Vigour '. But although Chy miitry be much enlarged, and advanced in England, in nfpe£t of 
 
 tnoi 
 
 the Numbers, and Qu.dtfic at wis of the Lovers, andprofjfjrsof it\ yet are not Chymifts free from preffing Difad- 
 vantages^ not havin^^ the freedom of adminiftrtng their own Medicines^ how powerful and falutiferous foever^ and 
 othcrwife adapted to the Necejfities (f the Sic\^ than the common Ap[)Zratas of Ph^ftck- So, that as the Cafe no^v 
 ftands, the he'p and Succour which the Sick and Difafed receive from Chymical Pnyfick,, is but xery fmall to what 
 they might havc^ if kl'owing Chymifts had the freedom of exerciftngthat Art wall its parts^ which with much /«« 
 'difftry^ Labour^ andCofts, they have been follicitous to attain. But when this difi-iccuragement of ingenuity and 
 Obflaclc of thepublick g'>od^ fliall become more apparent to thofe in whrfe power it is to redrefs it, I do not djuht but it 
 will meet with a Remedy, 
 
 But now ^ togivi jome account of my prefent under takln(r. I have at length {byGoi's help, and' the affiftance cf 
 my Sitbfcribers') fi/iijhed my Iranftation of Glauber'^ Works, and here prefent it to the Reader, in the Engliftl 
 T)ngue. How well I have performed it, / muft fuhmit to the judgments of dthtrs ■ 1 could have been very glad to 
 
 ha ve 
 
Jht P "KEF A C E. 
 
 h^::;nc^;ri7d^^rhifome ubkr ha.d -, bnt xvhcn I havs heretofore fropofidthe dmr,g but of fome farts of 'Jo' J' 
 i /I -tvfc/-yI/>/...e.r.o;«.W..e^Engli(h An.fts there,., tehng them th.t 1 r^o.deredfo E-^f^^^^ 
 27hor ihnldbe fo /o4 extam, andth^tnor>e jhonld n.ved htm of hts Latin ^r>d German Cown;;.., f'^f'J'''^ 
 toJnL^l Drefs^ I ^^-^ ^^'^ fo^ H-^^^ '^'^^^ '^'f ^ge rv as mt worthy of n, fo that ^tfeem to rnc 
 Zt the ProS. rr o God had referred it for fitter ttmes although to he done by one of the mea.ef^ of he Sons f 
 v7voi^ch7y. But thkj can fay, that J have ac^.tud my fdf m thts matter, as rvdl as the flendermfs of myTartSy 
 mnkrnfs of Body, and the neceffary Affairs of my Laboratory mtdd ^ermtt me ; bnt 
 
 Ubi defint Vires, acceptanda eft Voluntas. 
 
 / defire the Lovers of Chy miftry to accept my Ldotr-s, mththe fame good will that I have m>dergone them, haviv^ 
 r.o other end but to ftrve my Country . And I hereby return thanks to all thofe generous fpmted Gentlemen and others, 
 whohavcS^'bfcnbcdto, aid promoted this Work, wtthont ivhofc 4fiflance{the Charge being very ^eat , as well as 
 the libour (tome ) almofi i>.fHppor table) it mufl yet have remained bid aidmfervmaide to the Englidi Reader. But 
 lam in 4ri efpccial manner obUged to that public^ Fpir'ted Gentleman (whom ought to name were it lawful to do it 
 without his leav.) who freely offered me and pnt mo my hands a not i,confiderable part of the ^f^rmls for this Work., 
 which part alfo had been more confiderable than it was, had not the Spirit of fome, {who mjnfily hwder'd it 1 been as 
 Mian and Sordid, as his was Generous. But that Lofs was., in part, tnade up to me, by a well-minded Anifi, to 
 
 whom 1 alforeti'.rnTba>h. ' „ , , ^ r i . j .. ■ r . .i .■ r r ■ r t 
 
 I have Printed this Book, upon far better and lar<^er Paper than I propofed to do it in; for at the time of fettmg forth 
 my firfi Propofals, I had not the German P'cces, but when they came to my hands upon a more accurate computation 
 of themttter Ifoundthntf I Ihould go on to do the Work upon the Paper 1 had propofed, the Bookwould fweUtotoo 
 ireat a t hi die fs for its breadth and length, and not be only ,U fi>aped iut inconvenient to he read. By this 
 means my Sttbjcrivers h.ive a much better Bouk than J promtfed thim, although the Charge hath alfo been Confiderably 
 
 nreater tome, than J at firj} expected. n-j r t c j .. ji- t-- 
 
 " The ReadJr hath all herein one Column which Glauber ever Printed as far as I can find upon diligent Enquiry at 
 Amfterdam where all his Writings were Printed, and where I purchafed the Original Copper Plates belonging to 
 t^yemB'a whereas, as 'tis /,»^;« W;e Explication of MiraculumMundl, page 177. That the Cut there defcribed 
 was not Pnntedinthe LmnCopies^ nortobe found among theOriginal Plate, ; yet notmthftandmg, I was nnwih 
 liner that the Work, ^d go without the Figure of fo ufefula Furnace as that is, for the lorrefying, or Calcining 
 Jores andfiparating, tnd depurating their Metals, for which reafon I have caufed it to be Delineated and Printed 
 lith others before the Continuation of Miraculum Mundi, ^/rer page 1 88. / have alfo procured from the hand of 
 another Friend, ^^0 is a Leaver of Art, the Draught of the Refrigeratory, Furnace, or Inftrument which ferves 
 for the making the Mercury of Wine, punfymg, and fixing of Argcnt-vive, Antimony Sulphur, &c. and 
 many other uffs which an Ingenious Artifi Will find out. This Furnace the Author always endeavpured to conceal, 
 hirt defcribesit m fome part m the beginning of the fixth part of »k Spagyrical D.fpenfatory .. tp/,.c^ Defcrip- 
 tion J have added the Figure. The Figures of the fever al rcffels and Infhumms belonging to the Fiftu Part of the 
 Furnaces are referrd to at the beginning of the Fourth Part, but fmce, for the better orders fake J have placed them 
 
 ht fore the faid Fifth Part. ,.,.1-1^ t » • t; -»-i • i 
 
 ThcfeTwelve following Treatifes were never Printed in LiUn, hut m the Gtrmiin Tongue only, viZ. 7 k Third, 
 Fourth, W Fifth Centuries; ffce Second W Third Appendixes fo^^eSew.^^ Partof /kSpagyricalDifpen- 
 fatory. r/.e Book of Fires. Proferpinc ^^'i^^^he Artift The three Fire-ftones. The Purgatory of 
 DKiiornnhrr^ De Laoide Animali. The Secret Fire of Philofophers. yJll which I have caufed to be Tranfia- 
 ^}dOn&tn?S:Z^^^^ German Tongue, by a perfon wellsk,li'd both in the High Dutch, andalfoin Chy» 
 miftrv whereby! h'pethis £ook.will not be altogether m.ferviceable nor unacceptable even to the Learned ; befides, all 
 TlVohsof this Author that aretn Latin are very difficultly {if at all) to be met with at any Booksellers Shop in 
 London, and thofe that arc, at a dear rate : For wkn I had entered upon this Tranfiatwn, J was forced to fend to 
 AmOicrdzm to have all the Lzunpiecescompleat. , _ „ ... . , ^ . • err 
 
 The Juthor in many places refers to his Opus Saturnl, Opus Vegetabile, Wtfce Concentration of Heaven 
 and Earth, whnh Treatifes, I am affured, were never printed i at leafi under thofe Tttles) which alfo feems to be 
 manifefi from his Evifile to the Firft Century, or General Appendix, wherein he inculcates that for want of time, 
 h hadUcrted the um of them all in th.'t Treatife. Be alfo mentions a Seventh part of the Profperity of Ger- 
 mnnv in the Preface to the Second Part of Pharmacopeia Spagyrica, which was never Printed under that Title 
 hulam induced to believe it is the Novum Lumen Chy micum. as partly appears by coinpanug it with the forefaid 
 Prrfac And It is evident that in fome farts of his Writings he hath mentioned a Treatife by one Name, and af. 
 terLrds Printed it by ano, kr, as, The Teftimonium Ver itatis, which was afterwards Printed by the Name of 
 Fvnliratio Miraculi Mundi. A for the Opus Saturni, / h.ive heardthat there arejome Manufcnpt Copies oftt,and 
 had hopes of okainin^ U from two fevcral hands, but both failed me. I have been a Jo informed, that there are Five 
 fVnr/ries /» Manufcritt more than I have Printed, but couldnever underflandtn what hands they were, except oneof 
 them\vi.then.xth, the proprietor of which wnuldnot be fokind as tolet mhave it tofrint. 
 
 1 h le (by the advice of an Honourable Perfon) left out th^ AHthor->s Religious and Moral Digreffions where I 
 
 ■cculd do it without prejudice to the matter -, as alfo his Apologetical Writings, except his Apohgy agamft Farmer, 
 
 which I have printed, for af much as tt is inter mi. xt with many profitable Secrets, which perhaps he would not luve pub- 
 
 lijlicd, at leafi not at that time if they had not been, at it were , extorted from him by the ill Treatment of that On. 
 
 ^'"^Tf'idfrTplacethe feveralTreatifes inthat order whtchthe Author publifl>ed them, without breaking the order of 
 the feveralparts, as of the Miraculum Mundi, Spagyrical Pharmacopcca, and Profpenty of Germany ; for being 
 many years in publ,fli:nf, they wtre done promilcucully, but how they fucceeded one another fo far as the Nztmt of 
 i.U. -the Reader Ly' at isfie hi mfelf m the Preface to that Treatife. And as his Writings were pubhfi^edby piece- 
 meal fo are the priJpal Secrets be teacheth, fcattered^p^nd down, n divers parts of them, m one pl.tce he treat. 
 
Tht P K E F A C E, 
 
 eth of a thing obfciirely, or hut in fart ; in ofiother fLice of the fime tbinf openly in thjt part which he bad veiled 
 in the other. Sometimes be declares a Procefs very openly^ omittinv only fome fntall Circiini/tances, or Manual Ope^ 
 ration J which xvoidd feem to many either unpcTtmenty or not neccjj try taS; done, n-ben notrvuhfta-'idifi^r^ the bit fine fs 
 will not fuccei-d withimt it. An tn^arxe of this may he given ti, his Sal Mirabilis, whafe prep.iral ion%e teacheth ob- 
 fcurciy in the Nature o( Salts, bntmoreopeidyinthe Second P.trt of Miraculum Miindi. /-'r/^e Nature of Salts 
 and in the Sixth P^rr 0/ //?e Phai raacopccia Spagyrica, he teacheth buw t'l Dijfolve Gold therewith^ t-nd thence t) 
 make a ki'id cf Aurovn PotabilC) L'i:t wholly omits the adding of acert.iinycget.vj'.c Sidfbnr ^without rvhich the work 
 willnor r.nfndr the Defcription ; this Deft£i he fiipplys in the Second Century, after a t 'refold /f!an?:er., the one not 
 obvious to eajery Man''s Apprehenfion^ I mean the intent of the Author ^m'u. tn thofe Puxcfles where he (hews the 
 muhmg of a Fegttable Sulphur ; hut the other Jl.'emththe n.ajj'ary A'l.r/tu.d Opsr.-itio-i in plan ani 'pen wor.is. And 
 this he h^th done with all his Secrets on fet pufpnfe, that they jhonU bef.itnd out hy.r.one but the Indttlrious. 
 
 Andthis hath given occafon to many^ whoh.ive not tak^n pamsto read him with diligence, cr not heina expsrienced 
 in Operating.^ to reproach him fer an ohfcioc, yea, ev£n for a fal/e Writer^ becaufe they have made two or three Su- 
 perficial, or Vnsktlful Trials <f his Procejfes, which have not fiiccceded according to their Expectations ■ when in- 
 deed, the faidt was in themfelves, either in not fcrceivimr the A/ithoi ''s intention^ or their own want of skjll in right' 
 ly managing the Operatio'i : And I know jome Perjtns that fome time fince f.ud Glauber had been too dark^ in his 
 Wtitings, wh'j r.ow thihk^hi hath wrote too flam. 
 
 But hiving mentioned this, I will here {for the fake of thofe Country Ge>/tleni:n,who have fithfcribed to this Work") 
 a lit tie Elucidate the Anhor^s Proccjs ab itt the inver/ion of Common Salt, with L<me, for the enriching of "oor 
 and Barren Land. He indeed f peaks of feveral Sali^ie Ptepnrativi.s, which greatly promote the fertility ofthe 
 Enrth, hut this with Common Salt, and Lime, is the cheapeji tf all, and^lfo ts nw^ eafie to be done, for any Plow- 
 ma'^^ or Labourer, having hut once fccn it done, may he prcjently able to manage it. The Jam of it is that Com-. 
 
 aiid m/viy other places ; ktt r ives the Procefs of the preparation in iplain and open words in the Appendix to the Fifth 
 Prfrtc/WjeProfperity of Germany? page 416- 
 
 Neither IS the praSiee of preparing either the Land, or the Seed-, in order to tie better Crop, altogether Novel., as 
 itiay partly he fcen in Virgil, Georgic Lil). i . where he f.tith, 
 
 Semina vidi equidem multos medicare ferentes, 
 Et Nitro prius, & nigra perfunderc amurca ; 
 Grandior ut fcetus iiliquis fallacibus eilet, &c. 
 
 Wliich in EngUpy may found thus •• 
 
 Some have I feen their Seeds to fow prepare. 
 With Nitre andOyl-Lees, for they ly care 
 Will grew far greater, an^ he fooner ripe^ &C. 
 
 The Lime miiji be fpread upon theground^ where no Rain can come to it, till it ^.tkc it feif by the Air and fall 
 into a Powder \ of this Powder you are to take four hundred weight to one hundred weight of a>iy common foul Salt 
 which ts too impure for the uft of the Kitchen, where fuch may be had^ otberwife clean Salt^fjor that vpill be cheaper 
 than DunrJ the Salt and L<rne are to be well mixed, and then mjificned with fuch a t]:u>!tity of Water, (or rather 
 Vrine where it maybe had) as will bring the Lime aid Salt mixed, to the Confiflency <f a ^iff Adortar. Of this 
 Adafs Balls are to be made about the hignefs of O'/es F//1:, and laid under a Shtad, or Hoveb. to dry j hein^ dried 
 ihty are to be burnt in a Kiln as Lime is^ fo that the Balls may he red hot for anhjur at leaft j or where no LitnC'Kitn 
 tsnear, they may be burnt by building a File in thi Field, ^rjiwith a Lay of Wood, then a Lay of Balls, then Wood 
 .Tgam, and fj till all the Balls arc placed fit for burning. When the Balls are burnt, they are to be again placed upon 
 a Fhrr under a Shead, cr Hovel, where they may be expofedto the A.'r.^ btu kept free from the Rain, and if you break, 
 them with a Clod-beater prcfently, the Arr will the fooner aft upon them, and ca'ufe them again to fall into a Poirder ; 
 which Puwd.r 7nay then ie carried out and fpread, or ratier fowcdout of a Seedlet, thicker or thinner as the Land 
 ihall riqiitre. Provided this be done in t hie beginning of Summer about the time of Fallow^ far that bein<r many 
 Ho>jhs before the Seed IS to be fowed, the fiery nefs of this rich Cump'ft will be Contemperated by the AirZnd the 
 Earth, and ih.wged i>.t-j a Nitrous fatncfs^ wl.ich joining it fif with the Eaith, is again Maanetically attrafled 
 vy theSrfd when it is fown.^ whofe growth ii thereby fwtftly promoted, avd its Adaltiphcation much aufrme::ted. But 
 if aiy jh ut'dcafl this Matter upon his Land foon after n is burnt, and pre fenily after that jhjuld fow his Seed, ;«- 
 lictdfof ha!"ti»g a greater Crop than he ujed to have, he wouid have a lefs, or per hips no le, that Tear^Jiut the next 
 I'e.v^ oiidfJO" fur many Tears, the fame Land would bring forth plentifully. Therefore it ts necefiTary, that this 
 A fatter jhould lie fix or feven Aionths fpread upon a Floor, and now and thin turn'^d with a Shovel, as you turn Malt, 
 that it may he Conteinpered, and A'limatcdby the Air ; or be caft upon the Land fo long before the Seed be fown. The 
 reafon is the very fame as with Dung, for none takes frefii Dung and fpreads it upon his Land when he is abput to 
 low his Seed, for if he fuuld, his Seed would be burnt up ; but the Husbandman lets his Dung lie fome time to rot as 
 he Calls It ^ after which he lays it on his Land^ and lets it lie jpread fome time before he Flows it in, and all this is 
 but to Contemper the heat of the Animal Salt contained in the Dung, and turn it into A Nitrous Naticre, Thus much 
 I thought good to fay about this Matter in the plainefi words, kafi any, not throughly iindcrfianding the Author'*s Im 
 tc!!tm,ll)0jild erre in the firfi Experiment^ andfo unjuftly bUme the Author, and forbear themfeldts and dtterr others 
 
 ( a ) from 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 from frofcainn^thatta/it: Pra^ice, vhich I am confuit/.t , if riohtly m.mageU^ vnllhrwg luitch pejitto mahy fct^ 
 fo»sui this Niino'!. TmsMHfi alfoof t.acjjiiy bt a yruficMc H utk to thfewhonili iMMrt.ikc it upon the acaunt of 
 jnakinnuf Salt pcU'C •, t/jtii.tlly to fuch ,ts lunicrfiaiul ths Nat:.yt afid Ger;cratio» of that ExcciUnt fait-, which is 
 (f JiiCh ifXCMfcO-Huk lift: in the l',ip.ii\itiu» vj Akditi'.xs^ fcfar..t:,!Jvf Mitnls.^ afuiir. tnchy M(chan:ik.Arts. 
 
 Now forajmtch as tnthis iVcrkS^il Mirabilis, Spirit ol Nitre, ^.'' <?' Sipirit of Salt, <;>■<-- rcconnnaidtd to-voy 
 mat-y lifts-, andevcry oi:c th.n h.:th utund loiuake txptruuci.is tvitii ihi/.'i, i/iciy/^ot h.ivt the Icmrlednc, cr the cof:- 
 've^iioiiy of prcp(irt>itf thcm^ J i enby fionfe-, that J i.ti,.d (Gcdwilluia ) to prepare a'.d l^ep by ffu the yii:thor'*s 
 Sal Mirabilis 0/ bcth forts, that peculiar Spirit of Sa!t» nhiLh bt cammends anah.ft tU Sct^r^y r.nd vtkr Dtfta- 
 fes, a>.d alfotoki^ep Bttr from fowrirtg in tuc Stim//;er^ i'? /k- Confolaticn of Navigators. /j'/V Panacea of An- 
 timony, ^iff^ Golden Panacea, Ijckifof ir.the Securd Part if tht Pharmacopceia Spagyr- the Explication of 
 '^llrzcalamMwdi, afid divers othir I Ltces. /:/m Aurnm Diaphorcticum, 'Ujo the TU'dine of Gold, or Au= 
 ruin Potabile, arediftrttid to be mud^of :k Irreducible Blood of the Lyon) in the Sixth part of rkSpagyri- 
 cal Pharmacopcriaj Chap. 22. Thife / jurpoje cofJh.>,tly to hep by n:e for the accommodathig if Phyjiettir.s^ and 
 others, xvhojhall have cca/iw to buy them. 'ihofe are Exccliot Mec.icints, and Jiich as c. Phyfcia/i M.iy have (orr.e 
 confidefice in ; and indeed^ this Bookcontains a great variety of fuch Medicines us will get a Pi^yfiiim Honour twhich 
 (I hope) will be tryed by all thofe who delight to do good^ and Im brought into ufe for the general Help and Comfort 
 vf the fick. Fir J freely confefs-, t oat if J have a/iy thing in Mtdtiihe.^ beyond what is commonly known., J havip 
 had the Found,;tions of it from this Author ; and if Cod jhall pleaje to grant me life to a ft time, I doubt not but I 
 jbaH from thofe Foundations be able to raife fitch a Super fl mature as jhall teflife the truth of his Writings, and 
 powerfully evince the Worth and F.xulk/icy of Ci:ymn..l AJcdicmes, and that demonjtratively tn matter tf F^El^y'ix. 
 by the Curing of both Acitte and Ch" , ick^Difcufts. 
 
 Aid now by w.iy if Concliifion^ I have only one thi»(T mere to add ; and that is a Reqitesi to all the Ingenious Lo-. 
 vtrsof Chymiftry^ that they would not cccafon this Work^whiib 1 have undergone with fo much labour.^ and lofs of 
 time from my prix'itc Concerns.^ mecrly for the good of ethers.^ to redound to my own hurt ; my meaning is, Th.it I 
 might not be tut to the charge andtroiible of Litters about Cm loiis Enquiries, wherein I am to have net the k aft 
 frofit : This I mention, becaufe I have had divers fuch Lctttrs cime to my hands fince 1 h^ve been about if, and 
 that fometifties two or three very long ones with many Otteries^ in one IVeck- Now fwidd this continue, and I endea- 
 •vour to fat is fie all the Doubts, andgratifie allthe Curiofitiesof all fuch non-confidertng perfons, truly J Jliould have 
 710 time befides what this would tal^e up, to provide for tny felf and Family. But notwithflanding wh.it J have faid, 
 if any Ingenious Per f on fliall flavd tn need of my y)Jft fiance, in preparing of any thing for him, or other wife, wherein 
 J may have a reafonable recompence for my Time and Trouble, I will be ready to give him the bift afftfiance I can. 
 For I a>n now but jiift ready to receive aWr it of Eafe from three Tears daily labour and care about this Work^ and I 
 would be willing to enjoy it fame time, that I might again with diligence apply my felf to my Laboratory, the effects of 
 which, if God fiiall fee good, may at one time, or other, fliew themfslves to the World. In the fnean time, J wijh 
 all Honefi and Ingenious Lovers of the Spagyrick^ Art, good Juccefs tn their Studies and Labours, that thence the 
 Penuries and Mijeries of Mankind, efpecially of the fickj may be effeilually remedied ; that they may Cooperate as 
 Inftruments with the great ends and providences of the Almighty, to bring about that time, in which Cod fitall be 
 Glorified all the World over, and Men live in a more ferene and tranquil condition than yet they have done, which 
 fiall always be the Defire and Prayers of him that is a Lover of Pyrotechnyj and Honwrer of aU true Artifts. 
 
 From my Houfc next Door to the Sign 
 
 oi thtCmlxi Little MoOY'Fields, ^t Chf P^ckc 
 
 THE 
 
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 O F T H E 
 
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 Cape. Conoway. 
 
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 to His Majefty. 
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 (b) 
 
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A Catalogue of the Sdfcrikrs Names. 
 
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 THE 
 
THE 
 
 FIRST PART 
 
 O F 
 
 Philolophical Furnaces. 
 
 Containing a new Art of making Spirits, Ojls, Flowers, and 
 
 other Medicaments, by the help of the firft of thofe Furnaces, after a very 
 cafie and peculiar manner out of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals : 
 With their Chymical and Medicinal ufe. 
 
 A Preface to the Courteous Reader. 
 
 IJIave hitherto referved to my felf as Secret s^ fome peculiar Furnaces and compendious Ways of 
 Dijiillittg-, ivhich with diligent fludy and f peculation I found out fome few yean fince, hy which 
 many excellent Works, impoffible to be done hy the vulgar Art, may he performed ; hut now 
 at lafl I have, confide ring with my felf how advantageous it may he to the World, determined 
 to conceal th s Art no longer, hut for the good of my Neighbour to publi(h it, hy giving to Chy mills 
 a perfect and fundamental information oj this new-invented Art, that they may no longer for the fu- 
 ture fpend their Time and Money in long tedious Operations, hut may after a more eafe ivay, by the 
 help of my Furnaces^ he able to effed many excellent things. Now this Book /hall be divided into 
 Five Parts, the firfi whereof fhall teach how to build a Furnace, in which incombuftihle thin<rs are di- 
 fiilled and fublimed, and indeed fuch things which cannot be done by Retort or any other Veffels and. 
 how the Spirits, Flowers, and Oyls of Minerals, and Metals may hy the help thereof he prepared as 
 alfo what their Vfe and Fertues are. 
 
 In the Second Fart fhall he fhewed another Furnace, in which combuftihle things, as Vegetables, Ani- 
 tnals, and Minerals are diflilled and mofi perfectly fubtiliied : hy help whereof many mofl excellent 
 Medicaments for the cure of mofl grievous and otherwife incurable difeafes may he prepared. 
 
 In the Third fhall be taught a certain new invention hit her 'o unknown, of difl tiling B aningSpirits, 
 as of Wine, Corn, Fruits, Flowers, Herbs and Roots ; as alfo the Waters of Vegetables and Animals, 
 and that in a great quantity, in a fhort time, and without much cofls ; af alfo of boyl/ng Beer, Mead, 
 Wine, and other things, which otherwife are made in Copper or Iron Fejfels ; and all this by the 
 help of Wooden Veffels, and benefit of a certain fmall Copper, or Iron inflrument of two or three pound 
 weight, and that after a certain eafie manner without Furnaces. This newly-invented Art doth alfo 
 teach divers Chymical Operations, as Putrefatlions, Digeftions, Circulation's, Extratiions, AhflraCii- 
 cns, CohobatioHS, Fixations, &ic. And this invention is very neceffary and profitable for yomg begin- 
 ners in this Art, for they need not in the making of burning Spirits, Waters of Vegetables, Extracts, 
 and other Medicaments fo many Furnaces, and fo many Copper, Iron, Tin, Earthen and Qlafs Veffels, 
 for it IS here taught how all the aforefaid Operations may he done onely by the hglp of a certain fmall 
 Copper or Iron Inflrument in Wooden Veffels as well as by Alembicks and other great Copper Veffels, 
 hy which means a great deal of Cofts is faved. 
 
 In the Fourth Part fhall be taught another certain, and hitherto unknown Furnace, in which all Chy- 
 mical Operations may mofl eafely be done : being mofl profitable for the trying of the Natures of Mine- 
 rals and Metals \ as alfo for the proving, examining, melting, cupelling, andjeparating of Metals, that 
 nothing may be lofl of them, and that after a compe}:dious and eafie way, and alfo to great advantage. 
 . In the Fifth fhall be taught how to make and prepare Iron, Earthen, Glafs, and other kind of Inflru- 
 ment s neceffary for the aforefaid four Furnaces, as alfo other neceffary, and mojt prof table Manuals. 
 
 And in the Firfl Part, the Fabrick of the fir fi Furnace being delineated, I fhall alfo fhew how by the 
 help thereof may he made Spirits, Oyls, Flowers, and other mofl profitable Medicaments, alfo their 
 
 Vertues 
 
A Vreface to the Reader 
 
 fertues and Vfe, and that as faithfully as I may, and without fraud. And truly 1 do not douht hut theje 
 cf mderjlandi'Kr^ will approve of this Work, hut ignorant Zoiluss will contemn it: For it is f aid ac- 
 cording to the Proverb, He that builds by the highway, will hear many things from them that 
 find fault, and efpecially from the vulgar, &cc. But it would he well if thofe Thralbes would put 
 forth fomething more excellent^ hefore they find fault with and carp at other Mens pants and la- 
 lours. 
 
 Wherefore let no one rajhly judge of this Work, unti/I he h throughly inforrtied concerning the 
 fame, and then I do not doubt but the Autbour jhall be by him commended. 
 
 And if haply all things jhall not prefently fucceed ivell, to his mind, with him that pall build 
 this furnace, and operate therewith, let him think with himfelf that perhaps he hath erred in feme 
 party (for it is a new and unknown work, in which any dne may eajily err } and not prefently there- 
 fore murmur againft the Authour, blaming him, becaufe he hath not wrote clear enough, but let hirn 
 afcrihe it To his own i<i>wrance, and let him Jiudy to underftand the Authour s meaning, and flill be 
 pra^ifing upon it, and then I do not douht, but he will have betttr fuccejs, ivhich I pray every one 
 may have. Amen. 
 
 The EXPLICATION of the Figures of the firll Furnace in all its parts. 
 
 FIG. I. "E-The firfi Suhliming-Tot, which is fet in- 
 to the npper hole of the Furnace. D. The upper 
 hale of the Furnace. F. The fecond Pot. G. The 
 third. H. The fourth. 
 FIG. II. A. The Ajli-hole, with the widenefs of the 
 Furnace. B. The middle hole, by which the Coals and 
 Matter to be dijiilled, are cafi in. C. A Stopper of 
 Stone, which is to flop the [aid hole after cafiing in the 
 matter. D. The upper bole with a certain falfe hot- 
 torn, which ts to be filled with Sand, E- The Cover 
 of the upper hole, which is put on after the putting m 
 the Coals and Materials. F. A Pipe going out of the 
 Receiver, and joyned to the firfi Pet. G. The firfi 
 Receiver. H. The fecond. 1. The third. K. A 
 Stool on which the firfi Receiver fiands, having a hole 
 in the middle, through which the Neck of the firfi Pot, 
 to which a Difl) fs annexed, pa^eth. L. The Di^i 
 through the Pipe whereof the refrigerated Spirits di- 
 fiill, M. A Receiver into which the Spirits collected 
 
 in the Dijh dofiow. N. A Scre7V to be raifed highe^ 
 at pleafure for the better joynittg the Receiver to the 
 Pipe, and it gceth through a Stool. O. The place of 
 the Pipe for the DifiiUmg of Spirit of Vitriol and Al- 
 lom. P. A Grate eonfifling of two ftrong crofs Iron 
 Barrs, fafined in the Furnace, and four or five more 
 lefs, that are moveable y for the better chanfmg of the 
 Furnace. 
 F I G. 1 1 1. G. The firfi crooked Pipe fitted to the Pipe 
 of the Furnace. F. The Pipe of the Furnace. H. A 
 Receiver fitted to that Pipe, atidfet in a Tub ofwattTy 
 for accellerating the Operations : whidi Receiver bath 
 a Cover with two holes, through the firfi whereof gc- 
 eth a fingle crooked Pipe, and through the other two 
 crooked Pipes, whereof onegoeth into the Receiver, as 
 did the fingle, and the other out of the Receiver H, 
 into H. H. I. The Tub of Water. M. A third Pipe. 
 By this way Flowers are jublimed, and Sprits difiil- 
 ledfpeedily, and in great quantity. 
 
 THE 
 
Place this, Part I. Afore the Explication, before P^ge i. 
 
 J^si'-n 
 
 The Second Furnacer 
 
THE 
 
 W'WWW' 
 
 FIRST PART 
 
 O F 
 
 ^Jilofoptitcal jfuntaces. 
 
 Of the StruBure of the Fir ft Furnace. 
 
 As for the firft Furnace, it may be 
 built greater or leller as you 
 pleafe , a regard being had of 
 the quantity of the Matter to 
 be diftilled > and alfo either 
 round or fquare i either of 
 Bricks, or by a Potter with 
 Potters Clay. Now when the 
 Diameter is of one fpan, viz.. withinfide, the height 
 muft be of four, viz.. one from the bottom to the 
 grate, another from the grate to the hole made for 
 putting in of Coals, and two from thence to the 
 top of the pipe, which muft at lead go forth out of 
 the Furnace one fpan, left the receivers Ihould by 
 the necrnefs of the Furnace be heated: The Pipe 
 alfo muft have on the fore part a Diameter,, anfwer- 
 ing the third part of the intrinfecal Diameter of the 
 Furnace ; alfo a little larger on the hinder part than 
 the forepart- Let the grate be fuch an one, as may 
 be taken out at your pleafure and made cleany being 
 ftopt by the Matter that is caft in and diftilled : for 
 ic is eafily ftopt in diftilling of Salts melted with 
 the coals, whereby the aire is kept from coming to 
 the fire, and thediftillationby confequence hindred : 
 Or let there be put into the Furnace crofs-wife two 
 ftrong iron bars , upon which lay four or five lefler, 
 diftant the one from the other the breadth of a fin- 
 ger , going a little out of the Furnace , by which 
 when they are ftopt, you may take them out with 
 a pair of Tongs, and cleanfe thenl from the burnt 
 Matter , and then again put them into their own 
 places: wherefore alfo the Furnace muft on the 
 fore part be open under the graEe> that you may 
 the better order the grate. 
 
 Alfo the grate muft have above, a covering* of 
 Iron or Stone, with a hole in the middle thereof 
 with a certain diftindion, which is to be filled with 
 fand, that the cover may the better and more fitly 
 ftuit the hole , and prevent the exhaling of the 
 fpirits which by this means will, being foixed, go 
 forttithorow the Pipe into the receivers, after you 
 have caft in the matter which is to be diftilled. 
 
 Of the Receivers. 
 
 Let the Receivers be made of glafs, or of ftrons 
 
 Waldburgick, Hafliack. Frechheimenfian. Siburgic 
 earth, Grc. They are better that are made of elafs, 
 if they are to be. had , and thofe efpecialiy which 
 are made of ftrong and firm glafs, which may be 
 Iraoothed about the joints with a Smiris ftone, and 
 10 htted that they may the better be joyned together 
 and then they need not luteing (but how they fhal! 
 be fmoothed with the Smiris ftone, and be fitted. 
 Oiall be taught in the Fifth part, which treats of 
 Manuals) becaufe by this means they are joyned fo 
 clofe , that no fpirits can go through the joyrts : 
 otherwife you muft clofe the joynts with the beft 
 Lute, fuch as will not let the fpirits exhale, which 
 Jhall be taught in tJie Book treating of Manuals. 
 1 ne torm of the recipient you may fee in the de= 
 ineation thereof. As for the quantity thereof. 
 Know that by how much the greater they are, fo 
 much the better they are, for then you need the ftv}-. 
 er, but the more, by how much the lefler they are- 
 Let the fuperiour orifice be larger than the inferiour, 
 lo that alwaies another receiver may with its inferi- 
 our orifice be joyned to it, and let the inferiour ori- 
 hce have a Diameter of three fingers breadth , or 
 thereabouts ; I mean in cafe the Diameter of the 
 Furnace be of one fpan. For a greater Furnace 
 requires greater holes, as alfo orifices of the receiv- 
 ers, by which means a fuificient and due proportion 
 .of air may be given to the fire : or if the Diame- 
 ter of the Furnace be more than a fpan , ic muft 
 alfo have two or three pipes ( which being conii- 
 dered together , Ihould iiave a widencfs anfwering 
 the widenefs of the third part of the Furnace, for 
 fo great a widenefs, and fo much air is required', if 
 the fire burn freely and do its office) to which vef- 
 fels of the aforefaid proportion muft be applyed, 
 that the fire be not choaked. 
 Now, the Figure that is annexed will teach the 
 
 B coDjnn^ftion 
 
Tbe FirH Part of 
 
 conjundion of the Receivers, as alfo their applica- 
 tion to the Furnace. And, in the firft place, the 
 Receiver Hands in a three-foot ftool hored thorow 
 in the middle, that the neck of the firft Receiver 
 may pafs thorow, to which is applyed a di(h with a 
 pipe receiving the dropping fpirits : To the firft 
 there is joyned a fecond, and to that a third, and 
 fo confcquently (viz.. near unto a wall or ladder) 
 fo many as you pleafe- Let the upper Receiver, 
 and indeed all the reft, be left open : To the lower 
 as hath been faid, is joyned a didi vath a pipe, by 
 which the diftilled Spirits run down into another cer- 
 tain glafs veiiel added thereunto,which being filled, 
 is taken away, and another is fet in the place of it, 
 becaufc that is fet under it without luting,and there- 
 fore may eafiiy be changed. And if you pleafe 
 to diftil any thing elfe, you may take away that 
 difh with a pipe, and make it clean, and then joyn 
 it clofe again (that no fpirit may breath forth) 
 to the neck of the lower receiver. And if that 
 difh cannot be fo clofely joyned, that nothing ex- 
 hale, pour in a fpoonful of Water, for that doth 
 aftringe, neither doth it hurt the fpirits, becaufe in 
 the redifying it is feparated- 
 
 Ofthefttblimtng Fcjjels. 
 
 Thefe you need not make of glafs, or of fuch 
 earth as may retain the fpirits, as hath been above 
 mentioned j it is fufficient, if fo be they be made 
 of good common Potters earth, and be well glazed 
 within, viz.. of fuch a form and figure, as appears 
 by the annexed delineation- 
 Yet you muft chufe good earth that will endure 
 the fire, for the lower pots are fo heated by the 
 fire, that they would be broken if they Ihould not 
 be made of good earth- 
 Now 1 will fliew yon in general the manner-it fclf 
 of diftilling ; as alfo , the manual necefiaries in 
 every diftillation. 
 
 Tbe manner of Diftilling. 
 
 In the firft place, let there be fome burning Coals 
 put in, which afterwards muft be covered with more 
 until the Furnace be full almoft to the pipe, which 
 being done, let not the uppermoft cover be laid over 
 its hole (that the heat and fmoak may pafs that way, 
 and not thorow the pipe, and receivers, which will 
 thereby be red hot ^ and this will be a hindrance to 
 the diftillation; until the fire be fufRciently kindled, 
 and the Furnace be throughly hot; then caft in, 
 with an Iron ladle, of the matter prepared for diftil- 
 lation as much as will cover the Coals, which being 
 done, ftop the Furnace very clofe, by prelTmg down 
 ftrongly the upper cover upon its hole or fand, which 
 is put in the lower part of the hole, being a place 
 made for that purpofe. Now let him that cafts in 
 any thing thorow the middle hole, prefently ftop it 
 with a ftopple of ftone, and that very clofe, for by 
 this means all thofe things which were caft in, will 
 be forced, after the manner of a thick Cloud, to 
 break forth through the pipe into the receivers, 
 and there to condenfe themfelves into an acid fpirit 
 or oyl, and thence to dfftil into the difli fet under, 
 through the pipe whereof they do yet»diftil down 
 further into another glafs receiver- The Coals be- 
 ing burnt out, and all the fpirits being come forth, 
 you muft caft in more Coals, and more materials, 
 until you have got a fufficient quantity of Spirits- 
 
 In this way of diftilling, you may at your pleafure 
 ceafe , and begin again without any danger. 
 
 When you will make clean the Furnace, you need 
 do nothing elfe, then draw out the Iron bars that 
 lye on the crofs bar, that the Cafut Mortiw.rii may 
 fall down , which afterwards may be taken away 
 with a Fire-fliovel, which being done, you myft put 
 in the bars again, and lay them on the crofs-bars 
 as before, upon which you muft caft burning Coals, 
 and upon them others, until there be enough, ihea 
 on them all, being well kindled, caft your materials. 
 
 When you go to make clean the receivers) acd to 
 begin to diftil another thing, you need not remove 
 them, but only pour pure Water into them, viz.. by 
 their upper receiver^ by the defcending whereof the 
 other are purified- 
 
 And by this way, not only out of Vegetables, and 
 volatile Minerals Cincombuftible) but alfo out of 
 fixed Metals and Stones, fpirits, oyls, and flowers, 
 are drawn forth wonderfully, ealily, and in good 
 quantity , which otherwife could never have been 
 done by the vulgar art of diftilling. 
 
 Now, in this Furnace arc diftilled only fuch ma- 
 terials, which being diftilled , yield an incombuftible 
 humidity, as common Salt, Vitriol, Allom, and other 
 Minerals and Metals, each of which doth yet require 
 their peculiar manuals, if operated upon. 
 
 Now, becaufe this Furnace doth not fcrvc for eve- 
 ry matter, becaufe the materials to be diftilled are 
 caft upon burning Coals, which are things coaibufti- 
 ble, 1 have fletermined irt the fecond part to give 
 another, viz.- a Iclfer, unlike to this, yet convenient 
 to diftil all combuftible things that are endued with 
 volatile fpirits, as Tartar , Harts-horn, Amber, Sal 
 Armoniack, Urine, G-c. There are, by the help 
 hereof, made moft fubtile, volatile, fulphureous fpi- 
 rits of Salts, and Minerals, as of common Salt, 
 Vitriol, Allom, Nitre, Antimony, and of all other Mi- 
 nerals and Metals, which otherwife, without this 
 Furnace, could not have been made, with which 
 fpirits, wonderful things are performed in Medicine 
 and Alchymy, as in the Second Part fliall be demon- 
 ftrated more largely. 
 
 Now 4 will (hew you a way to make other Re- 
 ceivers belonging to the firft Furnace, and indeed, 
 fuch as are more fit for fome Operations , as 
 the former were more fit for others : wherefore let 
 him that will operate, chufe thefe, or the other, 
 as he pleafeth. 
 
 As therefore the former being ercded upwards 
 by a wall-, or ladder, by which means the fpirit 
 might afceud from one into another fo long, until be- 
 ing refrigerated and condenfed miaht again drop 
 downward into the difti that is annexed thereto : 
 fo thefe are a contrary way fet and placed collate- 
 ral in a vellel filled with cold Water to condenfe the 
 fpirits, by which means you need not fo many recei- 
 vers ; alio they muft not be fafliioned like the for- 
 mer, as to be open above, and below, but only above 
 like pots that lerve for boyling: but this you muft 
 obferve, that by how much the deeper and larger 
 they are, by fo much the better they are- 
 
 Alfo you muft joyn them together by the help of 
 earthen pipes, being fo diftinft, that the fpirits may 
 be kept back, being yet hot ( and not refrigerated ) 
 from pairing out of one into the other, but being 
 forced through the middle of the feparation of the 
 pipes, may goto the bottom of every receiver^ and 
 thence arife by another pipe into another receiver 
 that hath a double cover like the former, where again 
 
 defcend- 
 
Philofofhical Furnace f. 
 
 dcfcending to the cold bottom, remain refrigerated 
 and condenfed. Now three or four of thcfe are 
 enough fwhereas of other, thirteen or liftccn are re- 
 quired ) a regard being had of their Grcatncfs. 
 
 You may fee the figure of thefc receivers, as alfo 
 their joyning together by the annexed delineation. 
 Now, for the molt part, one is fufficient for him 
 that dillils a few things, efpecially it the matter be 
 not pretious, and then let one crooked earthen pipe 
 at leall be joyned, one arm with the pipe that go- 
 cth forth of the Furnace, the other with the Recei- 
 ver, but lb that ic go into the receiver downwards, 
 even to the middle thereof, and then you need not 
 Ihut the orifice of the receivers, for it is no great 
 matter if fomewhat evaporate, "^i^- if the matter to 
 be diftilled be not prctious- And by this way may 
 new fpirits and new flowers be made every hour, 
 with the help of one Furnace, and one recipient, but 
 with this caution, that for every new diftillation, 
 the recipient be waflied with Water before it be put 
 to the pipe i which being put to, you may then caft 
 your fpecies into the Furnace ; and this do till you 
 have a fufficient quantity of fpirits- 
 
 And this way of difhillation fervcs efpecially for 
 the trying of the natures and properties of mauy and 
 divers Minerals, fuch as yield in the (ire fpirits and 
 liowers. For it would be too. tedious in every new 
 diftillation to apply a new and difliniH; receiver : as al- 
 fo many Itudiousof the Chy'mical art would quit their 
 ftudy, being able to make by retort but one tryal 
 in a day. And no wonder if expences, and Jofs of 
 time fhould deter many. 
 
 Now here there is no need of many Retorts, nor of 
 luting them, nor of receivers, and fuch like fupcrflu- 
 ous things ; neither is there here required the conftaut 
 prefence of the operator, the obfervation of the re- 
 giment of fire, the neglect whereof would other- 
 wife endanger the lofs of the retorts and receivers, 
 and by confequente the lofs of labour. Thefe and 
 fuch like tedious things are not here to be cared for, 
 becaufe it is fufficient only to caft the Matter upon 
 the coals, and cover the Furnace, and then prefently 
 go forth the fpirits, and flowers of the fame kind 
 with their mineral : of which when thou haft got a 
 fufficient quantity , thou muft draw out the Iron 
 bars , upon which the coals lye, that they may fall 
 down, and be taken away ^ and whilft the Furnace 
 is yet hot , to put in the Iron bars again, and upon 
 them to lay frefli coals, which then will of their own 
 accord be kindled with the heat of the Furnace. In 
 the mean time you muft takeaway the receiver, and 
 make it clean and fet it to again, or if you had rather 
 put another clean one, viz.. for the new diftillation 
 of another Alatter. 
 
 And by this way, divers things may be in the 
 fpace of one hour diftillcd, and fublimed, viz., in 
 a fmali quantity- But he that will diftil, or fub- 
 lime in a greater quantity, let him take three or 
 four pots that the fpirits may pafs from one in- 
 to another, that nothing thereof be loft- Here 
 needs not fas 1 faid before) the continual prefence 
 of the operator, for he may be gone , ccafe , or 
 repeat as he pleafe, becaufe the work is without 
 danger of breaking the retorts, and receivers. 
 
 He that knows the ufe of this Furnace, may do 
 many things in a (hort time with little coft- For 
 any one may do more by the help thereof in one 
 hour, than in the common way in twenty four, by 
 which way alfo there is a great faving of coals, 
 becaufe ten pound of coals will do more this way 
 
 than a hundred the other. As for example , he 
 that will try, Ihall make a pound of fpirit of Salt 
 in one hour with three, four, or five pounds of coals j 
 whereas after the other way are required fifty or 
 lixty pounds, and at leaft twenty or thirty hours 
 time, viz.^ in the common way by the help of re- 
 torts: which is indeed very tedious. 
 
 Alfo by this way may be made the flowers of 
 minerals, and metals, in a great quantity, very 
 ealily, and in a fhort time without great coft, fo 
 as that in one hours fpace, with three or four pound 
 ot coals may a pound of the flowers of Antimony be 
 made- And this is no fmall help to the Phylitian, 
 and Chymift. 
 
 Moreover this furnace being once built, endures 
 for ninny years, and being broken is cafily repaired. 
 
 And by this wsy you fliall need only materials 
 to be diltillcd, no retorts and receivers are in dan- 
 ger, by which means much coll is faved. 
 
 Beiides the aforefnid ways, I have yet another, 
 and that more coir,!)c:;dious, viz. of diftillin^, and 
 
 fubliming, and moreeafy, by which means in a ve-* 
 
 ry little time, an incrc'ii 
 Salts, and flowers of Mineri 
 
 cjiiantity of fpirits of 
 is, and metals may be 
 madej which I fliall refer till ar.other time, be- 
 caufe for the prefent I have faid enough. 
 
 Now 1 do not doubt, but diligent Chymifts will 
 follow my fteps , and find out thofe things which 
 are unknown to me. For it ts caji:r t> ctdd to 
 ihiiij^s foi'.ud out^ thai to find cut thi'.gs unknown. 
 
 The conftrudion therefore of the furnace being 
 in my opinion clearly fliewed, there now follows 
 the manner of diftilling, and fubliming with it- 
 
 Although haply, and contrary to my hope any 
 obfcurity fliould be met withal, yet one procefs 
 wilJ explain another : and the diligent operator, 
 and fearcher of Nature fliall without doubt, by his 
 pradife attain the efi"ei5t after the fame manner as 
 I have prefcribed: which together with the blef- 
 fing of GO D,_ I heartily wifli all pious Chymifts, 
 Amen. 
 
 Horn the Spirit of Sdt is to he diJlilleJ. 
 
 TH E reafon why I enter upon the fpirit of 
 fait, before I fay any thing of the fpirits of 
 vegetables , is this , viz.. becaufe it is even the 
 chiefeft , which can be made in this furnace : for 
 few exceed this in ftrength and vertues ; where- 
 fore I alfo have given it the preeminency. Nei- 
 ther is there any of the acid fpirits, about which 
 the Chymifts hitherto have been more bufied, than 
 this, wherefore alfo it is of all, of greateft price, 
 &c. for fome have mixed fait with potters clay 7 
 and have made this mixture into little balls, which 
 they have to get the fpirit, forced by retort in a 
 very ftrong fire: fome have mixed fait with bole, 
 fome with the powder of tyles, others with burnt 
 Allume, c^c- 
 
 Others ufing a more compendious way have made 
 fait to jiow in a retort, which hath a pipe both 
 in the upper, and hinder part , by the uper pipe 
 of which they have dropped in cold water, to e- 
 levate the ponderous fpirits of the fait, but by the 
 hinder they have blown with Bellows, to force the 
 fpirits into the retort : and this way is not alto- 
 gether to be flighted, yet it hath this inconvenien- 
 cy, that in procefs of time the retorts are broken 
 
 B 2 tha: 
 
The FirU Pan of 
 
 '^S* 
 
 that they can no longer retain the fait, and fo the 
 diltillation is intercepted. Some have attempted 
 it with Iron retorts , but by this means the Ipirits 
 have been deaded, becaufe they calily fet upon the 
 Iron, whence inltcad of fpirit they have had flegme- 
 And fuch, and other tedious wayes of diftilling 
 they have invented ; and by the belt of them in- 
 deed they could fcarce diftiLl one pound in 25. or 
 30. hours fpacc with 50. 60. or 100 pound of 
 coals-, this being the reafon, becaufe the laic is ve- 
 ry little wrought upon, and therefore it is that few 
 tvcr had the fpirit right and good , whence alfo 
 the vertucs thereof have been unknown. 
 
 And this therefore I was willing to make known, 
 that it might appear, what price this fpirit hath 
 hitherto been of, and how eafie, and abundantly , 
 and with what little coft, it may after my new in- 
 vented way be made. 
 
 It is ftid above, that the materials may in this 
 way of dillilling be immediately cafb into thehre^ 
 yet this mull be wifely underflood. For although 
 fome of the fpecies may without any preparation 
 be immediately cafb into the fire, yet it doth not 
 follow that all and every one of them muft : for 
 in fome of them we muft ufe our difcretion, as 
 in the diftilling of fait- For if the fait be imme- 
 diately caft into the fire, it will not only yield no 
 fpirits, but will leap fo long upon the coals, until 
 it find a defcent to the lowelt part of the furijace : 
 Now this may be prevented divers wayes -, and firft 
 indeed after this manner : Dillblve fait in common 
 water, then quench burning coals with this wa- 
 rer, tliat they may be impregnated with the fait, 
 which afterwards fet on fire in the furnace : but 
 you mult firft call in other burning coals, upon 
 which you muft caft thofe that are impregnated 
 with fait untill the furnace be full , as is above 
 faid : and while the coals burn, the fait is refoived 
 by the force of the fire into fpirit. 
 
 Now you muft obferve that he that diftils fpirit 
 of fait after this manner , muft make choice of 
 rlafs receivers, becaufe the fpirit whileft it is hot, 
 penetrates by reafon of its wonderful fubtilty, thofe 
 that are earthen- And .this fpirit is of a moft grate- 
 ful tafte. But indefeft of glafs receivers, I fliall 
 (hew you another way wherein you may ufe thofe 
 that be of earth. 
 
 Miv i"alt, and vitriol or allome together, grind- 
 ing them very well in a Mortcr (for by how much 
 the better they are ground, the more Spirit they 
 yield.) Then caft this mixture into the fire with 
 an Iron Ladle, viz.. lb much of it as will be fufficient 
 to cover the coals , and then with a great fire the 
 ipirits come forth into the receivers, where being 
 coagulated, they diftill down into the difh, and 
 thence into another receiver. And if thou know- 
 eft how to work aright, the fpirits will like water 
 continually run out thorow the pipe, the thicknefs 
 of a ftvaw ; and thou mayeft eafily every hour 
 make a pound of the fpirit. Now the reafon why 
 thou fiialt by this way have more fpirits than by 
 the other, is this, "-''i. becaufe the vitriol and al- 
 lome, which is mixed with the Mt^f^ti it flow 
 ouickiy, by which means it is presented from fall- 
 ing down through the coals to the lower part of 
 the furnace, but fticking to the coals is almoft all 
 of it turned into fpirits. The Oip"t Mwnnm ^ 
 which is reddifii, eafily falls with the afiies through 
 the grate, and can no more be diftilled, but yields 
 by cxcoaion a white fixed fait, which ferves for 
 
 the flowing of metals-, and being diflblved in 
 warm water ferves alfo for a glyfter againft the 
 Worms, which it kills, and purgeth alio the Bo- 
 wels. 
 
 Thou wilt objed, that the fpirit made after this 
 manner, is not the true fpirit of fait by reafon of 
 the mixture of vitriol and allome, but mixed, and 
 compounded. ! anfwer ; There can by this way 
 I diftil no fpirit of vitriol, or allome, being tl;ac which 
 ! I often tryed, cafting vitriol or allome into the fur- 
 nace, where I received no fpirit at all •, the reafon 
 of this is, becaufe thefe fpirits are far more heavy 
 than the fpirit of fait, neither can they afcend lb 
 great a heighth, viz.. of three fpans, but are burnt, 
 whence unlefs the flegme, nothing diftils. Where- 
 fore the fpirit of fait that is made after this man- 
 ner is not mixed, but pure and meer fpirit of fait, 
 of the fame taft and vei-tue as that is of, that is 
 made by it felf i becaufe in this furnace the fpi- 
 rit of allome and vitriol, cannot be made unlefs 
 a pipe go out of the furnace neer tlie grate , 
 as you may fee by the delineation of the fur- 
 nace , for otherwife it cannot be made ; befides, 
 thefe fpirit are better, and more truly taught in 
 the fecond part- And if it be granted that fome- 
 what together with the fpirit of fait comes forth 
 (which is yet impoQible ) what hurt I pray you 
 comes from thence either in the folution of metals, 
 
 r>i- n\prlirine ? wherpforp thp Tnirir mcirlp nfrpr tViic 
 
 or medicine ? wherefore the fpirit made afcer this 
 way is not to be fufpeded. Yet I will fatislie the 
 incredulous, and will fliew him another way with- 
 out tlie addition of allome or vitriol, for the di- 
 ftilling of that fpirit, but that will be in the fecond 
 part of this Book, where I will teach you the fur- 
 nace, by which is made fpfiit of Nitre, Aquafoitis, 
 and amongft combuftibles, the Oyles of vegetables, 
 and Fats of animals and other things which cannot 
 be made by this : and by this way I will fatisfie thofe, 
 who are not pleafed with the former. 
 
 Now for want of glafs receivers, we are forced 
 to ufe earthen, but thefe cannot retain the fpirit of 
 fait made after the aforefaid wayes •, in which cafe 
 I could indeed difcover a certain little manual, by 
 vertue of which the aforefaid fpirit may be recei- 
 ved even in a great quantity in earthen recipients: 
 but for certain caufes I ftiall here be filenr, and 
 fliall refer it till the edition of the fecond part- 
 Let it fuffice therefore that 1 mentioned fuch a thing, 
 wherefore omitting that, I Hiall proceed to Ihevv 
 you the vertues, and ufe of this fpirit, as well in 
 Alchymy, as in Medicine, and other Mechanical 
 Arts. 
 
 Of the VJe of the Spirit of Salt. 
 
 IT is worth while, to fpeak of the power , and 
 vertues of this excellent fpirit ^ what other Au- 
 thors have clearly defcribed, I ftiall herepafs over, 
 and refer the Reader to the writings of thofe Au- 
 thors ; touching only on fome few of which they 
 faid nothing. 
 
 The Spirit of fait is by moft accounted a moft exceh 
 lent medicine, and fafely to be ufed, as well inwardly 
 as outwardly : Itextinguiflieth a preternatural thirft 
 in hot difcafes, abftergeth and confumeth flegma- 
 tick humours in the Stomack, exciteth the Appetite, 
 is good for thcin that are hydropical, have the 
 Stone, and Gout, c>c. It is a menftruum diifolvj 
 ing metals, excelling all other therein : For it dif- 
 folvethall metals and minerals (excepting filver) and 
 
 almoft 
 
Pbilojofhkal Furnaces. 
 
 5 
 
 almofl all ftones (being rightly prepared) and re- 
 duceth them into excellent medicaments. It doth 
 alfo many excellent things in mechanical arts- 
 
 Neither is it to be llighted in the kitchen, for 
 with the help thereof are prepared divers pleafant 
 meats for the fick as well as for thofe that are in 
 health, yea and better than with Vinegar, and o- 
 ther acid things : and it doth more in a fmall quan- 
 tity, than Vinegar in a great. But efpecially it 
 ferves for thofe Countries that have no Vinegar. 
 It is ufed alfo inltead of Verjuice, and the juice of 
 Lymons. For being prepared after this way, it is 
 bought at a cheaper rate than Vinegar or juice of 
 Lymons. Neither is it corruptible as exprelTed 
 juices are, but is bettered by age. Being mixed 
 with Sugar it is an excellent fauce for roalt meat- 
 It preferves alfo divers kinds of Fruits for many 
 years. It makes alfo Raifins, and dryed Grapes to 
 fvvcll, fo as to acquire their former magnitude a- 
 gain, which are good to refrefh a weak Stomach 
 in many difeafes, and ferves for the preparing of 
 divers kinds of meats of Fiefh and Fifh ^ but you 
 mufl: mix fome water with the fpirit, or elfe the 
 Railins will contraift too much acidity. This fpirit 
 doth efpecially fervc for making meats delightful- 
 ly acid ; for whatfoever things are prepared with 
 it, as Chickens, Pigeons, Veale, &c. are of a more 
 pleafant tafte than thofe which are prepared with 
 Vinegar. Beef being macerated with it, becomes 
 In a few dayes fo tender, as if it had been a long 
 time macerated with Vinegar. Such, and many 
 more things can the Spirit of Salt do. 
 
 A diJiilUtion of Vegetable Oyles^ whereby a greater 
 qH.vnity is acquired , than by that common way , 
 ky a Fefica. 
 
 AS njany Diftillers as hitherto have been, have 
 been ignorant of a better way to diftill Oyles 
 of Spices, Woods, and Seeds, than by a vefica or alem- 
 bick, with a great quantity of water. And altho' 
 they may alfo be made by retort, yet there is a 
 great deal of care required, or elfe they contraft 
 an Empyreuma ; wherefore that way, by a Hill, is 
 alwayes accounted the better, which way indeed is not 
 to be flighted , if you diftill Vegetables of a low 
 price, and fuch as be oleaginous i but not fo in the 
 diftillation of Spices, axid of other things that are 
 of a greater value, as are Cinnamon, Mace, Saf- 
 fron, <^c. which cannot be diftilled in a gourd ftill 
 without lofs, becaufe then there is required a great 
 quantity of water, and by confequence great, and 
 large velFels, to which fomething adheres, where- 
 fore we lofe almoll half, which is not to be fo much 
 valued in vegetables that are oleaginous, as in Annif- 
 feed. Fennel, and Caryoway-feed, dfc. But the lofs 
 made in the diftilling of dryer and dearer vegeta- 
 bles, as of Cinnamon, Lignum Rbodii , Cajfia^ is 
 evident enough, and by confequence not to be flight- 
 ed. Neither can it be, that all things can be di- 
 ftilled that way, for a good quantity by coftion ac- 
 qiiireth a gummy tenacioufnefs, which cannot afcend 
 with the water. But that this way for the future 
 may be prevented,! will fliew another way to diftill the 
 Oyles of Spices, and other precious things, which 
 is done with fpirit of fait, whereby all the Oyle 
 is drawn forth without any lofs, the procefs where- 
 of is this, viz.. Fill a gourd with Cinnamon or 
 any other Wood, or Seed, upon which pour fo 
 much of the fpirit of fait , as will be fufficient to 
 
 cover the wood, then place it with its Alembic/: 
 in Sand, and give it fire by degrees that the fpirit 
 of fait may boyl, and all the Oyle will diftill off 
 with a little flegme ; for the fpirit of fait doth 
 with Its acrimony penetrate the v.-ood, and freeth 
 the Oyle that it may diftill off the better and ca- 
 fier. And by this way the Oyle is not loft; by the 
 addition of that great quantity of water in thofe 
 great and large veflels, but is drawn in lefler glafs 
 vellels with the addition of a little moyfture. Di- 
 ftillation being finilhed the fpirit is poured off by 
 inclination from the wood, being again ufeful for 
 the fame work. And if it hath contrafted any im- 
 purity from the wood , it may be redified : but 
 the rcfidueofthc fpirit which remains in the wood 
 ye may recover, if that wood becaftinto the afore- 
 faid turnace upon burning coals, by which means 
 it may come forth again pure, and clear: and by 
 this means we lofe none of the fpirit of Salt- And 
 after this way by help of the fpirit of Salt, are 
 drawn forth Oyls of dearer Vegetables together 
 with their Fruit, which cannot be done by a ftill. 
 There are made alfo by means thereof Oyles of 
 Gumras and Rolins, clear, and perfpicuous. 
 
 The clear Oyle of Mafiick^ And Frar.kincenfe. 
 
 TAkeofFrankincenfe orMaftick powdered fmall, 
 as much as will ferve to fill the third part 
 ot a Retort Cwhich muft be coated) upon which 
 pour a fufficient quantity of fpirit of Salt, taking 
 heed that the Retort be not filled too full, or elfe' 
 the Ipirit when it boyles, flows over it, then place 
 It in fand, and give fire by degrees, and there wiU 
 hrit come out fome phlegme, after which a clear 
 tranfparent oyle together with the fpirit of fait, 
 which muft be kept by it felf, after this a certain 
 yeUow Oyle which muft be received by it felf, and 
 laft of all there follows a red Oyle, which altho' 
 It IS not to be caft away, yet it is very unlike to 
 the firft, ferving for outward ufes, and to be mix- 
 ed With Oyntraents and Emplafters, for it doth 
 wonderfully confolidate, and therefore good in new 
 ancl old Wounds. The firft being well redified, is 
 in Its fubtilty, and penetrating faculty not unlike 
 to fpiric of wine, and may profitably be ufed in- 
 wardly and outwardly, viz.. in cold affeds, but 
 efpecially in the ftiffhefs of the Nerves, caufed by 
 cold humors , upon which follows a contraftion ^ 
 out then you muft firft rub the member contracted 
 with a Iinnen cloath, that it may be well warmed, 
 into which then the Oyle muft be chafed with a 
 warm hand. For it doth do wonders in fuch like 
 affeds of the Nerves. 
 
 After the fame manner may Oyles be made out 
 of all gumms. The red, tenacious and ftinking 
 Oyles of Tartar, Harts-horn, Amber, z^c diftilled 
 after the common way by retort are alfo reftified 
 with fpirit of fait fo as to become tranfparent and to 
 lofe the Empyreuma contrafted by diftillation. 
 
 Now the caufe of the blacknefs, and fetidnefs of 
 thefe kind of Oyles, is a certain volatile fait which 
 is to be found as well in Vegetables, as certain A- 
 nimals, which is eafiJy mixed with the Oyle, and 
 makes it of a brown colour- For every vola- 
 tile fait whether it be of Urine, Tartar, Amber, 
 Harts-horn, and of other Vegetables and Animals, 
 is of this condition and nature, as to exalt, and al- 
 ter the colours of fulphureous things, and that either 
 
 G for 
 
The FirH Part of 
 
 for the worfc or for the better : but for the molt part 
 it makes Oyles thick, black and (linking, as you 
 may fee in Amber, Harts-horn, and Tartar- The 
 caufe therefore of the blacknefs, and fetidnefs of 
 thefe Oyles being known we may the more eafiiy 
 take heed thereof in diftilling, and being contrad- 
 
 ?d, correcfl them again by the help of fpirit of Salt, 
 or all volatile fait hath contrariety to any acid 
 fpiritj and on the other fide, every acid fpirit hath 
 a contrariety with all volatile falts, that have the 
 nature of fait of Tartar. For metals that are dif- 
 folved with acid fpirits are as well precipitated 
 with fpirit of Urine, or any volatile fait as with 
 the liquor of fait of Tartar ; which fhall be more 
 at large declared in the fecond part. 
 
 The volatile fait therefore is by the mortifying 
 acid fpirits, as of Salt, Vitriol, Allom, Vinegar, 
 &e. deprived of its volatility , and is fixed , by 
 which means being debilitated it forfakes its aflbci- 
 ate which was inferted with blacknefs by it : it is 
 neceflary that we fhould proceed after the fame man- 
 ner with thefe fetid Oyles, viz.. as follows- 
 
 Take any fetid Oyle of Tartar, Amber, &c. with 
 which fill the fourth part only of a glafs Retort , 
 and upon it pour by drops the fpirit of fait ; and it 
 will begin to be hot, as it is ufed to be, when A- 
 qua fortis is poured on fait of Tartar ; wherefore 
 the fpirit is to be poured on it by little and little, 
 and by drops for fear of breaking the glafs: Now 
 the figne of the mortification of the volatile fait 
 isj when it ceafeth to make a noife, and then no 
 more is to be poured on, but fet your Retort in 
 fand, & give fire to it by degrees,as is ufed to be done 
 in the redtifying things of eafic elevation : and firll of 
 all will go forth a certain {linking water, after 
 which comes a tranfparent clear, and odoriferous 
 Oyle, and after that a certain yellow, clear, and 
 alfo well fmelling Oyle, but not fo as the firft, 
 wherefore each muft be taken a part by changing 
 the receivers. Now thefe Oyles become more grate- 
 ful than thofe fetid ones of the fliops. For thefe Oyles 
 retain* their clearnefs, and fairnefs, the caufe of 
 their fetidnefs, and rednefs being taken away by the 
 fpirit of fait- In the bottom of the Retort re- 
 mains the black volatile fait with the fpirit of fait, 
 from whence it may be fublimed into an odoriferous 
 fait refembling fait armoniack in tall. The fpirit of 
 fait is alfo deprived of its acidity, and coagulated by 
 the volatile fait, and is like tartantm vitriolatum ^ 
 appointed alfo for its ufes , as fhall be fpoken in 
 the fecond part, of the fpirit of Urine. 
 
 After the fame manner alfo are redified other 
 Oyles, which by length of time have contraded a 
 clamminefs, as are Oyle of Cinnamon, Mace, Cloves, 
 &c. with the fpirit of Salt, if they be redified by 
 Retort, for then they acquire again both the fame 
 clearnefs , and goodnefs , as they had when they 
 were newly diftilled. 
 
 Here I mufl; make mention of a certain error of 
 Phyfitians, not only of ignorant Galenifts but Spa- 
 gyricks, committed in the preparations of fome 
 Chymical medicaments. For many have perfwad- 
 ed themfelvcs that Oyle of Tartar, Harts-horn, e^c. 
 having loft its Itink, is a Medicine radically tak- 
 ing away all obflrudlions ; but this raud be taken 
 with a grain of falc. For fome have rcftified thefe 
 kinds of Oyles by calcined Vitriol, and by that 
 n^eans have fomewhat made them lole their Em- 
 fyreufiu^ but with all their Vertues*, which others 
 cb|£rvin£ have coaceived that (be fettdnels there- 
 
 of is not to be taken away, bccaufe the Vertue of 
 them is thereby loll, as if tire Vertue ccnfilled in 
 the fetidnefs thereof; but that is a very great er- 
 ror, becaufe fetidnefs is an enemy to the heart and 
 brain, and in it is no good. But this is granted, 
 that they that take away the fetidnefs of thofe 
 Oyles mortifie the vertues of them. But thou Hiyft, 
 How the;i muft we proceed in taking away their 
 fetidnefs without the lofs of the vertues.^ Muft they 
 be rectified by the fpirit of fait .-* as even now thou 
 taughteft- R. No, for although I faid that Oyles 
 might be clarified with fpirit of fait, yet it doth 
 not follow that my meaning was, that that clarifi- 
 cation was the mending of them : This is only 
 a way of clarification , whereby they become more 
 grateful ; and it is not to be flighted, a better be- 
 ing unknown. But how they are to be redificd 
 from their fetidnefs and blacknefs, without the lofs 
 of their Vertues, and to be made more noble, doth 
 not belong to this place, becaufe it cannot be done 
 by this Furnace : 1 fhall refer the reader therefore 
 to the fecond part, where it fhall be fhewed, how 
 fuch fpirits are to be redified without tlie lofs of 
 their vertues, which being fo prepared may well be 
 accounted for the fourth Pillar of Phylick. And thefe 
 things I was willing at Icaft for information fake 
 to fhew you, not to offend you, and that becaufe 
 I was moved with pity, and companion towards 
 my neighbour. 
 
 The Qujntcjfetice of all ycgetabks, 
 
 POur upon Spices, Seeds, Woods, Roots, Fruits, 
 Flowers, Gt-c. the Spirit of Wine well redifi- 
 ed, place them in digeflion to be extracted, until! 
 all the elTence be extraftcd , with the Spirit of 
 Wine ; then upon this Spirit of Wine, being im- 
 pregnated, pour the beft Spirit of Salt ; and being 
 thus mixed together, place them in Balneo to di- 
 geft, untill the Oyle be feparated, and fwim above 
 from the Spirit of Wine, then feparate it with a 
 feparating glafs, or diftili off the Spirit of Wine 
 in Balneo, and a clear Oyle will afcend i for if 
 the Spirit of Wine be not abftraCled, then that 
 Oyle will be as red as blood ; and it is the true quin- 
 teffence of that vegetable, from wtence by the Spi- 
 rit of Wine it was extraded. 
 
 The Qu'tntejfcnce of all Metals and Minerals. 
 
 DIfl'olveany metal (excepting Silver, which rauft 
 be diffolved in Aqua fortis j in the ftrongell 
 fpirit of Salt, and draw off the flcgme in Balneo i 
 to that which remains pour the beft redificd fpi- 
 rit of Wine , put it to digefting, untill the Oyle 
 be elevated to the top as red as blood , which is 
 the tindlure, and quintelTence of that metal, being a 
 moft Precious treafure in medicine. 
 
 A fvpeet and red Oyk, of Met alt and Minerals. 
 
 Dllfoive a Metal or Mineral in fpirit of Salt , 
 diffolve alfo an equal weight of fait of Wine 
 effentificated ; mix thefe dilfolutions, and diftilt them 
 by retort in a gradual heat, and there will come 
 out an oyle fweet, and as red as blood, together 
 with the fpirit of Salt ; and fometimes the neck of 
 the retort and receiver wiU be coloured like a Pea- 
 cocks tail with divers colours, and fometimes with 
 a golden colour. 
 
 And becaufe I would without any difference cotn- 
 prchcnd all Metals and Minerals uodcr one certain 
 
 general 
 
Pbilofofbical Furnaces, 
 
 general procefs j let him that would make the efTence 
 of filvertake the fpirit of nitre, and proceed in all 
 things as was fpoken of the other metals. Con- 
 cerning the ufe of thefe eflences, 1 need not fpeak 
 much thereof ; for to him that knows the prepara- 
 tion (hall be difcovered the ufe thereof. Concerning 
 the corrofive oyles of metals and minerals, feeing 
 they cannot be defcribed by any one procefs, it will 
 be worth while to fet down what is peculiar to each 
 of them, as foUoweth. 
 
 The Oyky or Liquor of Gold. 
 
 DIflblve the calx of gold in the fpirit of fait, 
 ( which muft be very ftrong, or elfe it cannot 
 diflblve it ) but in defe<ft of the llrongeft fpirit 
 thereof, mix a little of the pureft falt-peter ; but 
 that oyle is the befl: which is made with the fpirit 
 of fait alone. From the gold dilfolved abftraft half 
 the folution, and there will remain a corrofive oyle, 
 upon which pour the exprelTed juice of lemons, and 
 the diflblution will become green, and a few feces 
 fall to the bottom, which may be reduced in melting. 
 This being done, pat this green liquor in Balneo, 
 and draw off the flegme : that which remains take 
 out, and put upon a marble in a cold moilt place, 
 and it will be refolved into a red oyle, which may 
 fafely, and without danger be taken inwardly, curing 
 thofc that are hurt with Mercury. But efpecially it 
 is commended in old ulcers of the mouth, tongue,and 
 throat) arifing from the Frcrch pox,leprofy,fcorbute, 
 &c. where the oylof other things cannot be fo fafely 
 ufed. There is not a better medicine in the exuice- 
 ration, and fwelling of the glandules, in the ulcers 
 of tongue and jaws, which doth fooner mundify, 
 and confolidate- Neither yet muft we negledt ne- 
 celTary purgings, and fudorificks, for fear of a re: 
 lapfe, the caufe not being taken away. 
 
 Neither will there any danger follow, whether it 
 be given inwardly, or ufed outwardly, as in the ac- 
 cuftomed ufe of other medicaments, and gargarifms •, 
 for it may daily, and truly without all danger be ufed 
 at leaft three times with a wonderful admiration of 
 a quick operation- 
 
 Oyle of Mars. 
 
 DIflblve thin plates of Iron in rectified fpirit of 
 fait, take the folution, which is green, of a 
 fweet taft, and fmelling like fetid fulphur ; and filter 
 it from that filthy and feculent refidence : then in a 
 glafs gourd in fand, abftraft all the humidity (^viz.. 
 with a gentle fire) which will be as infipid as rain- 
 water, becaufe the iron by reafon of itsdrynefs, hath 
 attraded all the acidity to it felf : but in the bot- 
 tom will remain a mafs as red as blood, burning the 
 tongue like fire : it takes away all proud flefli of 
 wounds, and that without all danger. It is to be 
 kept in a glafs clofe ftopt from the air, left it be 
 refolved into an oyle, which will be of a yellow 
 colour. But he that defircs to have the oyle, may 
 fet it on a marble in a moift Cellar, and within a 
 day it will be refolved into an oyle, which will be 
 in colour betwixt yellow and red : It is a moft 
 excellent fecret in all corroding ulcers, fiftulas, can- 
 cer, crc. being an incomparable confolidator, and 
 mundifycr. And it is not without profit mixed al- 
 fo with common water to wafh the moift, fetid 
 ulcers of the leggs-, which caufe tumours, by being 
 applied warm like a bath, for it dryes, and heals 
 
 - I 
 
 fuddenly,if withal Purges be adminiftred- It cures alfo 
 any fcab- That red mafs (being yet unrefolved) being 
 put on the oyle of fand, or flints fof which in the fe- 
 cond part ) makes a tree to grow in the fpace of one 
 or two hours, having root, trunk , and boughs : 
 which being taken out, and dryed, in the teft yields 
 good gold, which that tree extradls from the eartli, 
 /. e. from the flints, or fand- Thou inayft if thou 
 pleafeft, more accurately examine this matter. 
 
 Oyle of Venus. 
 
 Spirit of Salt doth not eafily work upon Copper, 
 unlefs it be firft reduced into a calx, and that af- 
 ter this manner. Take plates of Copper made red 
 hot in an open crucible, quench them in cold watery 
 and they will cleave into red fcales : then the re- 
 mainders of the plates make red hot, and quench 
 as before : do this fo often, till thou haft got a fuf= 
 ficient quantity of the calx^ which being dryed, 
 and powdered, extraft with the reftified fpirit of • 
 fait, in fand, until the fpirit of fait be fufficiently 
 coloured with a green tindure, which you muft de= 
 cant, and filter-, and then abftrad from it the fu- 
 perfluous raoifture, that there may remain a greed 
 thick oyle, which is an excellent remedy for ulcers, 
 efpecially fuch as are Venereal, being applyed out- 
 wardly. 
 
 Oyle of Jupiter and Saturn. 
 
 N Either are thefe two metals eafily diflblved ia 
 the fpirit of fait, yet being filed, are diflblved 
 in thebeft reftified fpirit of fait- Bat the operation 
 is performed better with the flowers of thefe me- 
 tals ( the preparation whereof fliall be hereafter 
 tught- ) Take therefore the flowers, upon which 
 a gourd glafs pour the fpirit of fait, and pre- . 
 fently the fpirit will work upon them, efpecially 
 being fet in a warm places filter the yellow folu- 
 tion, and abftraft the humidity, until there remain 
 a yellow heavy oyle, which is proper againft pu- 
 trid ulcers. 
 
 Oyle of Mercury- 
 
 N Either is this eafily diflblved with the fpirit 
 of fait: but being fublimed with vitriol, and 
 fait is eafily dilfolved. Being diflblved , it yields 
 an oyle very corrofive, which muft be ufed vvitli 
 difcretion, wherefore it is not to be adminiftred, 
 unlefs it be where none of the other are to be had. 
 For I faw a woman fuddenly killed with this oyle^ 
 being applyed by a certain Chyrurgeon. But this 
 oyle is not to be flighted in eating ulcers, tet- 
 ter, &c. which are mortified by it. 
 
 Oyle of A'lthnony, 
 
 CRude Antimony that hath never undergone the 
 fire, is hardly diflfolved in fpirit of fait: as al- 
 fo the Regains thereof i but the Regnlus being fub- 
 tilly poudered , is more eafily wrought upon, in cale 
 the fpirit be fufficiently rectified- 
 
 The f^itrum is more eafily , but moft eafily of 
 all the flowers are dilfolved , being fuch as arc 
 made after our prefcription a little after fet down. 
 Neither is Biityntm jintimomi (being made cut of 
 fublimed Mercury, and Antimony j any thing elie 
 but the Rtgnlni of Antimony diflblved with fpirit of 
 
 C 2 fait- 
 
8 
 
 The Firn Fart of 
 
 fait •. for fablimed Mercury being mixed with Anti- 
 mony, feeling the heat of the fire, is forfaken by the 
 corrofive fpints allbciating themfclves with the An-- 
 timony, whence comes the thick Oyle •, whileft which 
 is done the fulphur of Antimony is joyned to the 
 Qiiick-iilver, and yields a Cinnabar, flicking to 
 the neck of the Retort i but the refidue of the Mer- 
 cury remains in the bottom with the Ca^it Mor- 
 tiin.-n, becaule a little part thereof doth diftill off: 
 And if thou halt skill thou mayft recover the whole 
 weight of the Mercury again. 
 
 And thefe things I was willing the rather to fhew 
 thee, becaufe many think this is the Oyle of Mercu^ 
 ry, and therefore that white powder made thence 
 by' the pouring on of abundance of water they call 
 jiU'Curius vita, with which there is no mixture at 
 all of Mercury, for it is meet Regulus of Antimo^ 
 ny dilfolved with fpirit of Salt, which is again fe- 
 parated , when the water is poured on the Anti- 
 monial butter ; as is feen by experience ^ For that 
 white pouder being dryed, and melted in a cruci- 
 ble yields partly a yellow Glafs, and partly alfo a 
 Keeulus, but no Mercury at ail- 
 Whence it doth neceffarily follow that that thick 
 ovle is nothing elfe but Antimony dilFolved in fpi- 
 rit of Salt. For the flowers of Antimony being 
 mixed with fpirit of Salt, make an oyle in all re- 
 fpcfts like to that butter which is made of Anti- 
 mony, and fublimated Mercury, which alfo is after 
 the fame manner by the aftufion of a good quanti- 
 ty of water precipitated into a white pouder, which 
 is commonly called Mrcm«/ vit^: It is alfo by 
 the fame way turned into Bez^omd^cum mineral^ viz. 
 by abltrafting the fpirit of Nitre, and it is nothing 
 elfe but Diaphoretick Antimony. 
 
 For it is all one whether that Diaphoretick be 
 made with fpirit of Nitre, or with Nitre it fetfe 
 wi corporeal, for thefe have the fame vertu^, 
 althouph fome are of opinion that that is to be 
 preferred before the other ; but the truth is, there 
 is no difference. But let every one be free in his own 
 judgment, for thofe things which I have wrote, I have 
 not Writ out of ambition, but to find out the truth- 
 
 Now again to our purpofe, which is to fhew an 
 oyle of Antimonv made with the fpirit of fait. 
 
 Take a pound of the flowers of Antimony ( of 
 which a little after ) upon which pour two pound 
 of the belt reftified fpirit, mix them well together 
 in a glafs, and fet them in fand a day and night 
 to diilolve, then pour out that folution together 
 with the flowers into a retort that is coated, which 
 fet in fand, and firft give a gentle fire, untill the 
 Iki^me be come off, then follows a weak fpirit with 
 a little fironger fire, for the ftronger fpirits remain 
 in the bottom with the Antimony: then give a 
 ftronger fire, and there will come forth an oyle like 
 to the butter of Antimony made with fublimed 
 Mercury, and is appropriated to the fame ufcs, as 
 follows. 
 
 Tk flowers if A'ltimony, White and Vomitive. 
 
 TAke of this butter as much as you pleafe , 
 upon which in a glafs gourd, or any other 
 hrce glafs pour a great quantity of water until 
 the"^ white flowers will precipitate no more \ then 
 decant otr the water from the flowers, which edul- 
 corate with warm water, and dry with a gentle heat, 
 and thou (halt have a white pouder. 
 
 The Dofc is, that i- 2. 3. 8. 10. grains be 
 macerated for the fpace of a night in wine, which is 
 to be drank in the morning, and it worketh upward 
 and downward . But it is not to be given to chil- 
 dren, thofe that be old , and weak, but to thoie 
 that be llrcn; , and accultomed to vomiting. When 
 at any time this infufion is taken and doth not work, 
 as fometimes it fails out, but makes the Patient very 
 fick, he mull provoke vomiting with his finger, or elfe 
 it will not work, bn*- make thofe that have taken 
 it to be fick, and uebilitated even to death. We 
 mull aifo j:, tiie over much working of thefe flow- 
 ers drink a draught of warm Beer, or rather of 
 warm Water, decoiled with Chervil, or Parfly, and 
 they will work more mildly. But let not him that 
 is able to bear the operation thereof any way hinder 
 it, for there is the greater hope of recovering his 
 health thereby, for they do excellently purge cho- 
 ler, and evacuate flegme in the Scomack, being hu- 
 mors that will not yield to other Catharticks \ they 
 open obllruftions, refill the putrefadlion of the blood, 
 the caufes of many difeafcs, fuch as are Feavers , 
 Head-aches, &c. they are good for them that are 
 Leprous, Scorbutical, Melancholical, Hypochondri- 
 acal, infeded with the French- Pox, and in the be- 
 ginning of the Plague. In brief, they do work 
 gallantly, and do many things- 
 After the taking of them, the Patient muft flay 
 in his bed or at leafl not go forth of his houfe, 
 for to avoid the aire, or otherwife they may be 
 miftrufled. 
 
 And becaufe of their violence they are feared, 
 and hated, I (liall in the fourth part of this Book for 
 the fake of the fick fet down fuch as are milder , 
 and fafer, fuch as fliall work rather downward than 
 upward, caufing ealie vomits, which alfo thou may- 
 ell give to children, and thofe that are old with- 
 out danger, yet forae refpeft being liad of the di- 
 feafe, and age. 
 
 The fiorvers of Antimony diafhoreticaU 
 
 THE forefaid flowers if they be call into mel- 
 ted Nitre, and be left a while in melting, are 
 made fixt, fo as to become Diaphoretical, and lofe 
 their Cathartical Vertue. The acid water being 
 feparated from the flowers, if it be evaporated, 
 leaves behind the befl fpirit of fait, ferving for the 
 fame or fuch like ufes again. 
 
 Of the External ufe of the Corrofive- Oyle of 
 Antimony. 
 
 THis oyle hath been long ufed by Chirurgions, 
 for they have with a feather applyed it to 
 wounds almofl uncurable, to feparate impurities, 
 for the acceleration of the cure, that afterwards other 
 medicaments being applyed may the better ope- 
 rate. But it is better if it be mixed, with fpi- 
 rit of Salt, for they are eafily mixed and it is 
 made more mild thereby, and the too great cor- 
 rofive faculty thereof is mitigated. Neither is there 
 any other befides the fpirit of Salt, with which 
 this oyle can be mixed, unlefs it be the ftrongefl 
 fpirit of Nitre, for the weak fpirit of Nitre preci- 
 pitates the butter of Antimony, as you may fee in 
 the preparation of Bez.oardtciim Mtnerale, But the 
 ftrongefl fpirit of nitre diflblving this butter, makes 
 a red folution of wonderfiill Vertue in Chymiftry, 
 of which wc are not to treat in this place ; and if 
 
 this 
 
T bilojofhical Furnaces, 
 
 this be drawn ofF again by diftillation, it leaves be- 
 hind the firft time a fixed Antimony, and Diaphorcti- 
 cal which otherwife mull be drawn off twice, or 
 thrice '^'^- if '^^ be weak, and not able to diflolve 
 the butter without precipitation- 
 
 Now this Bez.oareiicnm is the belt, and fafeft Dia- 
 phoretick in all difeafes that require fweat, as in the 
 plague, French pox, feavers, fcorbute, leprofy, &c. 
 if it be given from 6. 8. lo. to twenty grains in pro- 
 per vehicles ■, it penetrates the whole body, and eva- 
 cuates all evil humours by fweat and urine. 
 
 The Oyl of Arfenic and Auripigmentum. 
 
 AS the fpirit of fait doth not eafily work upon 
 Antimony by reafon of the abundance of crude 
 fulphur, unlels it be reduced into flowers, in the pre- 
 paration whereof, fome part of its fulphur is burnt-, 
 foalfo Arfenic and ^«r/'/)t^we/;f«w are hardly diffolv- 
 cd with fpirit of fait, unlefs they be reduced into 
 flowers, anti the fpirit of fait be very Itrong, which 
 may be able to work upon it. Thefe may be diftilled 
 by retort like Antimony into a thick heavy oyl ■■, 
 which being ufed in cancrous eating ulcers, exceeds 
 that of Antimony in mortifying, mundifying, and 
 purging thofe evils. After the fame manner may 
 corrofive oyls be made out of all the realgars being 
 ordained for outward ufes. 
 
 Oyl of Lapis Calaminaris. 
 
 TAke of the befl yellow or red Lafis CaUmiHorh 
 very fubtilly powdered, as much as you pleafe, 
 and pour upon it five or fix times as much of rectified 
 fpirit of fait, mix and ftir them well together, and 
 do not leave them long unftirred, but ever and anon 
 fliake the glafs with the materials ; and this do of- 
 tentimes, or elfe the Lafis CaUrntrjaris will grow to- 
 gether into averyhardftone,whichcanbedinblvedno 
 more,and is prevented by the aforefaid often fhaking : 
 and when the fpirit of fait will diflolve no more there- 
 of in fr-igido^ fet the glafs in warm fand fo long, un- 
 til the fpirit be tinged with a moft yellow colour, 
 which then decant, and pour onfrefh, and again fet 
 it in digeftion to extraft, and do not forget to fliake 
 the glafs often. The folution being finiflied filter it, 
 and caft away the refidue of the terra mortua. After= 
 wards fet the folution in fand, and give fire, and al- 
 moft three parts of the fpirit of fait will go over in- 
 fipid, which is nothing but the flegme, although the 
 fpirit was never fo well reftified ; the reafon whereof 
 is the moft: dry nature of laps caUmtnariS) to which 
 the fpirit of fait is very friendly, and therefore very 
 hard to be feparated from it. Fpr I never knew any 
 mineral or metal ( befide Zinck ) which exceeds laps 
 c.tlaminarts in drynefs. At lalt when no more flegm 
 will go over, let all things cool •, which being done, 
 take out the glafs, and thou flialt find a red thick 
 oyl, as fat as oyl olive, and not very corrofive ^ for 
 that fpirit of fait being almoft mortified with the Upis 
 calaminaris is deprived of its acidity. This oyl is to 
 be kept from the air ^ or elfe within a few dayes it 
 attrafts much air which it converts into water, and 
 thereby becomes weakened. • 
 
 This Oyl is of wonderful Vertue, being ufed as 
 well inwardly as outwardly. And 1 wonder that in 
 fo long a time there hath been no body, who hath 
 operated in laps calaminaris and defcribed the nature 
 thereof, feeing it hath in it a golden fulphur ( of 
 which thing in the fourth Part ) for if the terreftre- 
 
 ity thereof were feparated from it artificially, pure 
 gold would be manifcflied therein ; now the greatcfl: 
 part thereof is volatile, and immature, and cannot 
 eafily be reduced into a body in melting, wherefore 
 hitherto that ftone hath not been eflieemcd of by Cliy- 
 mifts, but to the wife was alwayes pretious, crc. 
 
 The ufeof the Oyl of Lz^\% Calaminaris. 
 
 IF it be given frorti i. 2. j. drops to ten, and fifteen 
 with futable vehicles, it purgeth the dropfy, le- 
 profy, gout, and other noxious fixed humors not 
 yielding to vegetable Catharticks, of which more at 
 large in the fecond Part of the fpirit of urine and falc 
 of tartar. It ferves outwardly for an exctllent vul- 
 nerary balfome, the like to which canfcarce be Oiew- 
 ed, not only in reducing old corrupt wounds, but al- 
 fo in thofe that are green, for it doth powerfully dry, 
 mundify, and confolidate- 
 
 It is alfo ufed in houihold affairs, for birdlime be- 
 ing diflblved in it, yields a certain tenacious matter 
 ferving to catch birds, mice, &c. about the houfe or 
 in the field . For it is as permanent in the heat of the 
 Sun, as in the cold of Winter, wherefore it may be 
 ufed at any time of the year •, all fmall animals ftick 
 to it if they do but touch the matter. 
 
 A ligature or Itring fmeered therewith, and bound 
 about any tree prevents the fpiders from climbing up 
 thereon, and other kinds of infers that are noxious 
 to the fruit; a thing worth taking notice of. 
 
 This oyl is not by the pouring on of water corrupt- 
 ed, neither is it precipitated, as that of Antimony : 
 wherefore it is ufeful for many things. Common 
 yellow fulphur boy led in it, viz.. in a ftrong fire, fo 
 as to be difl"olved in it, fwims upon it like fat, is 
 thereby purified and made as tranfparent as yellow 
 pellucid glafs, and a better medicine than thofe com- 
 mon flowers of fulphur : it ferves alfo for other ufes, 
 all which to relate here it would be too tedious. 
 
 This oyl being mixed, with clean fand, and diftilled 
 by retort in a fire that is very ftrong ( otherwife the 
 fpirit of fait will not leave the laps calaminaris') yields 
 a moft fiery fpirit, the laps calaminaris remainint^ in 
 the bottom of the retort- 
 
 This fpirit is fo ftrong, that it can fcarce be kept ; 
 it diflblves all metals, and all minerals ( excepting 
 filver and fulphur) wherefore by the help thereof 
 many excellent medicaments are made, which cannot 
 be made with the common fpirit though never fo well 
 reftified, which although it be often revftified, yet it 
 is not without flcgm, which cannot be feparated from 
 it by the power of redification , io well as with la- 
 ps cala/ninaris. 
 
 This fpif it doth perform many things in medicine, 
 & alchymy,as alfo in other arts,as you may eafily con- 
 jedure ; but here is not opportunity to fpeak more of 
 thefe things, yet for the fake of the fick I fliall add 
 one thing,to which few things are to be compared \ the 
 plain & Ihort procefs whereof I would not have thee 
 be offended at- And it is this,^'/^. mix this fpirit with 
 the bcft rectifyed fpirit of wine, digeft this mixture 
 fome while, and the fpirit of fait will feparate the 
 fpirit of wine, and will make the oyl of wine f^im 
 on the top, the volatile fait being mortified: and 
 this oyl is a moft incomparable cordial, efpecially 
 if with the faid fpirit of wine, fpices have firft been 
 extraded, and with the faid fpirit of fait, gold hath 
 been difl'olvcd. For then in the digeftion of this 
 mixture, the oy/ of wine being feparated, attraiT;s 
 the eflcnce of the cordial fpecies, and of other ve- 
 
 D getablestf 
 
10 
 
 The Firn Part of 
 
 getables, being extrafted before with the fpirit of 
 wine, as alfo the tindure of gold, and fo by confe- 
 quence a mofl: efficacious incomparable and univcrfal 
 medicine for all difeafes, fortifying the Humidumra. 
 dkale, that it may be able to overcome its enemies ■■, 
 for which let praife and glory be given to the im- 
 mortal God for ever who hath revealed to us fo 
 great fecrets. 
 
 Of the Extrinfecal life of the fpirit of Salt in the Kitchen. 
 
 Said before that inflead of Vinegar, and verjuice 
 ^ it may be ufed, as alfo inftead of the juiceof Li- 
 mons, now it remains that I (hew you how it is to be 
 ufed, and that indeed as well for the fake of the heal- 
 thy as the fick. 
 
 Let him therefore that will drefs a pullet, pigeons, 
 veal, &c. in the firft place put a fufficient quantity 
 of fpices, of water, and butter, and then as he plea- 
 feth a greater, or.lefler quantity of fpirit of fait: 
 and by this means flefhes are fooner made ready be- 
 ing boyled, then that common way; an old hen 
 though the fl^ih thereof be old is made as tender as 
 a chicken by the addition of this fpirit : but he that 
 will ufe it inftead of the juice of Limons with roft 
 meat, mull put into it the pill of Limons for prefer- 
 vaiion fake, becaufe it preferves it. It is ufed in- 
 Head of verjuice by it felf alone, or mixed with a 
 little fugar, if it be too acid- 
 
 He that will ftew beef, and make it as tender as 
 kid, muft firft diffolve in it tartar and a little fait be- 
 fore he wets the flefh therewith, and the flelh will not 
 only be preferved but made tender thereby: but to 
 keep flelh a long time you muft mix fome water 
 therewith, and with weights prefs down the flelh, 
 that it may be covered with the pickle : for by this 
 means flelh may be preferved a great while. 
 
 After the fame manner may all kinds of garden 
 fruits be preferved, as cucumbers, purflain, fennel, 
 broom, German capers, c^r. and indeed better than 
 in vinegar. Alfo flowers, and hearbs may a long 
 while be preferved by the help thereof, fo that you 
 may have arofe all the winter. 
 
 It preferves alfo wine, if a little be mixed there- 
 with. A little thereof being mixed with milk pre- 
 cipitates the cheefe, which if it be rightly made is 
 never corrupted, being like to fuch cheefe as they 
 call Parmcfin. The whey of that milk diflolves I- 
 ron, and cures any fcab being waflied there- 
 with. 
 
 With the help of fpirit of fait is made with honey, 
 and fugar a moft pleafant drink, not unlike to wine. 
 There is made alfo of certain fruits with the fpirit 
 of fait a very good vinegar like to the Rhenifti vi- 
 negar- Such and many more things, which I will 
 not now divulge, may be done with fpirit of fait- 
 
 And thus have I in fome meafure taught the ufe of 
 the fpirit of fait, which I would not have you take 
 as if I had revealed all things •, for, brevities fake, 
 as alfo for fome other rcafons I have filently palfed 
 over many things. Neither do I know all things my 
 felf: but thofe things, which I do know, I have fo 
 far declared that others may from thence have hints 
 of feeking further. He that would defcribe all, and 
 every power and vertue thereof, had need to write a 
 whole volum, the which is not my purpofe at this 
 time to do, but may perhaps be done another time- 
 There fhall alfo be flievved in the fecond part of this 
 book, fome fecrets which may be prepared by the 
 help of this fpirit : as how it may be dulcified to ex- 
 
 trad the tinfture of gold, and of other metals, leav- 
 ing a white body, which tindure is a medicine not 
 to be flighted. Wherefore now feeing it is mani- 
 feft how great things this fpirit can do, every one 
 will defire a good quantity for his houfliold ufes, ef- 
 pecially feeing moft excellent fpirits may be made af- 
 ter an eafie and Ihort way. 
 
 How an acid fpirit^ or vinegdr may bt dijlilkd ont of all 
 vegetables^ as hearbsy woods^ roots^ feeds ^ &c- 
 
 FIrft put a few living coals into the furnace, .then 
 put upon them the wood that is to be diftilled, 
 that it may be burnt : out of which whilft it is burn- 
 ing goes forth the acid fpirit thereof into the re- 
 ceiver, where being condenfed it falls down into a- 
 nother receiver, refembling almoft common vinegar 
 in its fmell, wherefore alfo it is called the vinegar of 
 Woods. 
 
 And after this manner you may draw forth an acid 
 fpirit out of any wood, or vegetable, and that in a 
 great quantity without cofts, becaufe the wood to be 
 diftilled is put but upon a very few living coals, and 
 upon that another, for one kindles the other ■■, and 
 this fpirit requires no more charges than of the 
 wood to be diftilled ^ which is a great difi^erence 
 betwixt this, and the common way of diftilling, 
 where befides retorts, is required another fire ; and 
 out of a great retort fcarce a pound of fpirit is drawn 
 in the fpace of five or fix hours i^ whereas in ours in 
 the fpace of one day, and that without any coft or 
 labor may be extrafted twenty or thirty pound, be- 
 caufe the wood is immediately to be caft into the fire 
 to be diftilled, and that not in pieces, but whole. 
 Now this fpirit (being reflified j may commodioufly 
 be ufed in divers Chymical operations, for it doth 
 eafily diifolve animal ftones, as the eyes of Crabs, the 
 ftones of Perches, and Carps, Corals alfo and Pearl, 
 <^c. as doth vinegar of wine. By means thereof 
 alfo are dilTolred the glafles of metals, as of tin, 
 lead. Antimony, and are extraded, and reduced in- 
 to fweet oyles. 
 
 This vinegar being taken inwardly of it felf doth 
 caufe fweat wonderfully, wherefore it is good in ma- 
 ny difeafes, efpecially that which is made of Oak, 
 Box; Guaiacum, Juniper, and other heavy woods •, 
 for by how much the heavier the woods are, by fo 
 much the more acid fpirit do they yield- 
 
 Beingufcd outwardly it mundifies ulcers, wounds, 
 confolidates, extinguifheth, and mitigates inflamma- 
 tions caufed by fire, cures the fcab, but efpecially the 
 decodion being made of its own wood in the fame. 
 Being mixed with warm water for a bath for rhe low- 
 er part of the bodv, it cures occult difeafes of wo- 
 men i as alfo malignant ulcers of the leggs. 
 
 This fpirit therefore deferves fome place in the 
 ftiops, i. e. it is unjuftly rejeded in the (hops, feeing 
 it is eafie to be made. In diftilling of wormwood and 
 other vegetables, there remaines in the bottom of the 
 furnace afties, which being extraded with war.m wa- 
 ter yields a fait by decodion, which being again 
 diflblved in its own fpirit or vinegar, and filtred, doth 
 by the evaporation of the flegm, being placed in a 
 cold place pafs intoaCryftalline fait, which is of a 
 pleafant taft, not likeuntoa/».v/i;;.'.'w, nor unto other 
 falts that arc diflTolved in the air.This fait is alfo m.ore 
 efficacious (being reduced into Cryftals by its proper 
 Spirit; than that which is made by the help of fulphur, 
 or Aqua fortis, and oyl of Vitriol, and ctherways 
 which Chyrailts, and Apothecaries ufe. 
 
 The 
 
Philofopbical pHrnacef, 
 
 II 
 
 Thefpirit cf paper and Ur.nen cloath. 
 
 Pieces of linnen cloth gathered> and got from Semp- 
 fters being caft into the furnace upon living coals, 
 yield a moft acid fpirit, which tingeth the nailes,skin, 
 & hair with a yellow colour ,reftores members deftroy- 
 ed with cold, is good in a gangrene, and eryfipelas 
 if linen clothes wet in the fame be applyed there- 
 to, C7-C- Thefamedothfpirit made of paper, •v/x.. 
 of the pieces thereof 
 
 The fpirit of flki 
 
 AFter the fame manner is there a fpirit made of 
 pieces of filk, which is not fo (harp as that 
 which is made of linnen and paper, neither doth it 
 tinge the Skin, but is moft excellent in wounds as 
 well old as green, and it makes the Skin beauti- 
 ful- 
 
 The fpirit of mans hair^ and of other animals^ as alfo 
 of horns. 
 
 OUt of horns alfo , and hair is made a fpirit, 
 but moft fetid, wherefore it is not fo ufefuU 
 although otherwife it may ferve for divers arts : be- 
 ing retlified it comes clear and to be of the odour 
 of the fpirit of urine- It diflblves common ful- 
 phur, and yields a w^ter, that cures the fcab in a 
 very fhort time. 
 
 Now for this bufinefs > fhreds of woollen cloth 
 undyed may fervc , being caft in a good quantity 
 into the furnace. Pieces of cloath dipt in this fpi- 
 rit and hanged in vineyards , and fields, keep out 
 Deer and Swine from coming in» beoeufe they are 
 afraid of the fmell of that Ipirit, as of an huntfman 
 that waits to catch them. 
 
 The fpirit of vinegar ■> honey., and fngar. 
 
 HE that will diftil liquid things, muft caft red hot 
 coals into them, as for example into vinegar 
 in the furnace, or if it be honey, or fugar, let them 
 firft be diflblved in water, by which means they will 
 be drank up by the coals, which being therewith im- 
 pregnated, muft afterwards at feveral times be caft 
 into the furnace, and be burnt ; and whilft the coals 
 are burning, that which is incombuftible comes forth. 
 And by this means you may diftil liquid things in a 
 great quantity. 
 
 Vinegar which isdiftilled this way, is of the fame 
 nature, as that which is diftilled in clofe veflels. 
 
 But honey and fugar that are diftilled after this 
 manner, are a little altered, and acquire other ver- 
 tucs : but how they fliall be diftilled without the lofs 
 of their volatile fpirit Ihall be taught in the fecond 
 part. Alfo after this manner may all liquid things 
 being drunk up by living coals be diftilled. 
 
 Of the ufe of diftilled vinegar many things might 
 be faid, but becaufe the Books of all the Chymifts 
 treat abundantly thereof, I account it needlefs to 
 repeat vhat they have writ- Yet this is worth 
 taking notice of, that the Iharpeft vinegar hath a 
 great affinity with fome metals, which may be ex= 
 traded by the help thereof ; alfo diffolved, and re- 
 duced into medicaments ; yea, many things may be 
 made with the help thereof, as the books of all the 
 Chy mills teftify. 
 
 But there is yet another vinegar, of which there 
 
 is often mention made in the books of Philofopher<:, 
 by the help whereof, many wonderful things are 
 performed in the folution of metals, the name where- 
 of the ancients have been (llcnt in •, of which I do( 
 not here treat, becaufe it cannot be made by this 
 furnace 5 but I ftiall treat of it in another part; yec 
 fo that I incur not the Curfe of the Philofophers, 
 
 Hoxo fpirit s may be made out of the fait of tartar^ vi- 
 triolated tartar^ the fpirit of fait tartariz^ated^ and 
 of other fuch like fixed falts. 
 
 AS many Chymifts as thi;re hath been , almolt 
 all have been of the opinion that a fpirit can« 
 not be drawn out of fait of tartar, and other fixed 
 falts. For experience hath taught that by retort 
 little or no fpirit can be drawn from thence, as I 
 had often experience of before the invention of 
 this furnace: the reafon of which thing was the 
 admixtion of fand, earth, bole, pouder of tiles, &c. 
 for to prevent the flowing of the fait of tartar, being 
 by this means difperfed. But this is done through 
 the ignorance of Authors, who have been ignorant 
 of the properties of fait of tartar. For a ftony 
 matter, as fand, flint, bole, <^c. being mixed with 
 fait of tartar, feeling the heat of the fire, and be- 
 ing made red with the fame, is joyned to it moft 
 clofely, fo as no fpirit can be drawn from thencCj 
 but become a moft hard ftone. For fand, and fuch 
 things that are like to it, have fo great an affinity 
 with the fait of tartar, that being once united can 
 fcarce ever be feparated. Yet it may be made by 
 Art by the addition of pure fand, or ffint, becaufe 
 the whole fubftance of the fait of tartar may be 
 turned into a fpirit in the fpace of one or two 
 hours, as fliall be taught in the fecond part, and 
 it excells all other medicaments in vertue, in curing 
 the ftone, and gout. And if by the regiment of 
 art there be left any Caput MortHnm in the diftil- 
 lation, it hath, being difljolved in the air, a power 
 to putrify metals being prepared, and mixed with 
 it, in the fpace of few hours, fo as to make them 
 become black, and to grow up like trees with their 
 roots, trunks, and boughs, which by how much the 
 longer they are fo left, become the better- Of calx 
 of lead being fubtilized, and of fait of tartar may 
 be made a jpiritus gradatorius of wonderful vertues 
 as well in Medicine as Alchymy- There is made 
 of the Caput MortHHm^ per deli^Hium a green liquor 
 which doth wonderful things ; whence it is proved. 
 That Saturn is not the lowefi of the Planets ^ enough 
 to the wife. 
 
 Andfo is the Lac f^irginis^ and the Philofophical Smnghis 
 Draconis made. 
 
 Sometimes there is found a certain earth, or bole, 
 which hath no affinity with tartar, which being 
 mixed with fait of tartar yields a fpirit, but very 
 little. But in this furnace may all fixed things be 
 elevated, becaufe the fpecies not being included in 
 it, but difperfed, being caft upon the fire, are from 
 the fire elevated through the aire , and are being 
 refrigerated in the recipients again condenfed, which 
 cannot be fo well done by a clofe retort. 
 
 He therefore that will make the fpirit ofthe fait of 
 tartar, need do nothing elfe than to caft the calci- 
 ned tartar into the fire , and it will wholly come 
 over in a fpirit: but then there are required glafs 
 recipients, tecaufe thoTe that are earthen cannot re' 
 tain it. D 2 And 
 
i:2 
 
 Tke FirH Pan of 
 
 And this is the way whereby moft fixed falts are 
 dillilled into a fpirit by the firll furnace- In the fe- 
 cond furnace (t;/^.. in the furnace of the fecond Part) 
 it may be done better, and ealier, where together 
 with the preparation (hall be taught the ufe there- 
 of. 
 
 The fpirit s, flowers^ and [alts of Minerals and fi ones. 
 
 BY this way fpirits may be raifed from any mine- 
 ral or ftone, and that without the addition of a- 
 ny other thing : vet fo as that the minerals, and 
 {tones, as flints, Cryftal, talk, Lifts calam;>!ans^ 
 Marcafite, Antimony, being ground be with an Iron 
 ladle caft upon the coals, and there will arife toge- 
 ther with a certain acid fpirit, fome fait and flowers, 
 which are to be wafhed oft'frora the recipients, and 
 filtred, and the flowers will remain in CiMrtahbnU, 
 or filter for the water together with the fpirit, and 
 the fait palTeth through the tiker, all which may 
 be feparated, reaified and be kept by themfelves for 
 their proper ufes- Now this you muft know, that 
 Vou mufl choofe fuch minerals which have not been 
 touched by the Are, if you defire tQ.have their fpi- 
 rit. 
 
 //ctt> mi>!erals, and metals may he reduced intofioToers^ 
 and of thttr vertnes. 
 
 Hitherto the flowers of metals, and minerals have 
 not been in ufe, excepting the flowers of An- 
 timony, and fulphur, which are eafilyfublimed : for 
 Chymilts have not dared to attempt the fublimation 
 of other metals, and fixed minerals, being content 
 with the folution of them with Aqua fortis, and cor- 
 rofive waters, precipitating them with the liquor of 
 fait of tartar, and afterward edulcorating, and dry- 
 ing them ; and being fo prepared they have called 
 them their Flowers: but by Flowers I under- 
 ftand the fame matter which is by the help of fire 
 without the addition of any other thing fublimed, 
 and turned into a moft fubtile pouder, not to be per- 
 ceived by the teeth or eyes, which indeed is (in my 
 iiidgment ,) to be accounted for the true flowers ; 
 when as the flowers which others make are more 
 corporeal, and cannot be fo well edulcorated, but 
 retain fome faltnefs in them, as may be perceived 
 by the incveafe of their weight, and therefore hurt- 
 ful to the eyes, and other parts. 
 
 But our flowers being by the force of the fire fub- 
 limed by themfelves, are not only without faltnefs, 
 but arealfo fo fubtile that being raken inwardly pre= 
 fently operate,and put forth their powers, wz,.accor- 
 ding'to the pleafure of the Phylltian. Neither is 
 ihei*r preparation fo coftlyasthe others. 
 
 Metals alfo, rni minerals are maturated, and a- 
 mended in their fublimation, that they may be the 
 more fafely taken ; but in other preparations they 
 are rather deftroycd, and corrupted, as experience 
 witncfleth : Now how thefe kind of flewers are to 
 be made I fliall now teach, and indeed of each metal 
 by it felf, whereby the artift in the preparation can- 
 rot evre, ard firft thus. 
 
 Of Cold and Stiver. 
 
 Gold and filver can hardly be brought into flow- 
 ers, becaufe many are of opinion, that nothing 
 comes from them in the fire, elpedally from Gold, 
 although it Ibould be left there tor ever : which al- 
 
 though it be true, viz.. that nothing comes from gold 
 in the fire, althour.h it fliould remain there a long 
 time, and from filver but a lictle except it have cop- 
 per or any other metal mixed, which yet vapours a- 
 way but by little and little- 
 
 Which I fay although it be fo, yet they being bro- 
 ken and fubtilized and fcattered upon coals, and 
 fo difperfed , may by the force of the fire and 
 help of the air be fublimed, and reduced into flowers. 
 
 iNow feeing theaforefaid metals are dear, and of 
 a great price, and the furnace with its recipients 
 large, I would not that any one fhould caft them in, 
 efpecially gold, becaufe he cannot recover them all ; 
 but I fliall to thofe that delire to make thefe flowers 
 ihew another way in the fecond part, whereby they 
 may make them without the lofs of the metal ; to 
 which I refer the reader- For this furnace fervesfor 
 the fublimmg of metals, and minerals, which are 
 not fo pretious, the loofing of part whereof is not 
 fo much regarded. And thus much is faid to fliew 
 that gold, and filver, although fixed, may be fub- 
 limed. Now other metals may more ealily be fub- 
 limed, yet one more eafily than another, neither need 
 they any other preparation but beating fmall, before 
 they be calt into the fire- 
 
 Flowers of Iron and Copper. 
 
 TAkeof the filings of Iron or Copper, as much 
 as you pleafe, caft them with an Iron laddie up= 
 on burning coals, viz.. fcacteringly, i«d there will 
 arife from Iron a red vapour, but from Copper a 
 green, and will be fublimed into the fublimatory 
 velfels- As the fire abates it muft be renewed with 
 frelh coales, and the cafting in of thefe filings be 
 continued, until you have got a fufficient quantity of 
 flowers, and then you may let all cool. This being 
 *done take olf the fublimatory vellels, take out the 
 flowers, and keep them, for they are very good if 
 they be mixed with unguents, and emplafters : and 
 being ufed inwardly caufe vomiting-, therefore they 
 are better in Chirurgery, where fcarce any thing is 
 to be. compared to them. Copper being diflblved 
 in fpirit of fait, and precipitated with oy! of vitriol, 
 edulcorated, dryed, and fublimed, yields flowers, 
 which being in the air refolved into a green bal- 
 fom» is moft ufeful in wounds and old putrid ul- 
 cers, and is a moft pretious treafure. 
 
 Flowers of Lead and Tin. 
 
 YOuneed not reduce thefe metals into fmall crums, 
 it is fufficient if they be caft in piece by piece, 
 but then you muft under the grate put an earthen 
 platter glazed, and filled with water, to gather that 
 which flows down melted, which is to be taken out, 
 and caft again into the fire, and this fo often until all 
 the metal be turned into flowers, which afterwards 
 are again, the veflels being cold, to be taken out, 
 as hath been faid of the flowers of M.trs and Coihs. 
 And thefe flowers are moft excellent being mixed with 
 plaifters and oyntments in old and green wounds, 
 for they have a greater power to dry, than metals 
 calcined, as experience can teftifie. 
 
 Of Mercury. 
 
 THis is eafily reduced into flowers, becaufe it is 
 very volatile, but not for the aforefaid reafon, 
 becaufe ic leapes in the fire, and feeks to defcend. 
 I And 
 
Pbilo/opbical Furnaces. 
 
 And if you defire to have the flowers thereof) mix 
 it firll with fulphur that you may pulverize it, and 
 calt it in mortified- And if you caft into a red hot 
 crucible fet in the furnace, a little quick Mercury, 
 v:z:. . by times with a ladle , prcfently it will fly out, 
 and forae part thereof will be refolved into an acid 
 water, which is to be preferred before the flowers in 
 niy judgment ; but the reft of the Mercury drops into 
 the receiver. But here are required glafs veflTelsj be- 
 caufe the aforefaid water is loft in earthen. And 
 this water without doubt doth fomething in Alchy- 
 my : It is alio good being applyed outwardly, in the 
 i'cab, and venereal ulcers- 
 
 ■ The fiovpers of Zincl^. 
 
 IT is a wonderful metal, and is found in the fpagy- 
 rical anatomy to be meer fulphur, golden, and 
 immature- Being put upon burning coals doth fud- 
 dcnly fly away wholly ; it is inflamed alfo, and part- 
 ly burns like common fulphur, with a flame of a- 
 nother colour, viz.. golden purple : and yields moft 
 gallant white, and light flowers. 
 
 The ufe, 
 
 BEing given from 4) 5,6, grains to 12, they pro- 
 voke fwcat wonderfully, and fometimes vomit, 
 and {tools, according to the offending matter. The 
 vercues thereof being externally ufed are alfo won- 
 derful, for there are not found better flowers, for 
 tfief do not (^nly fpeedily confolidate frefh wounds, 
 but alio ©IdjT fuch as always drop water, in which 
 cafes they excelTalt^ther medicaments. For they are 
 of fuch dryncfs, which hatb joyned with it a con- 
 folidating vertue, as that they do even things incre- 
 dible. They may be ufed divers ways, astobeftrew- 
 ed by themfelves, putting over them a ftiptick plaifter, 
 or being brought into an unguent with honey to be 
 put into wounds ; which unguents in deep wounds 
 may be boyled to a hardnefs for the making of fmaH 
 fuppofitories, which are to be put into the wounds, 
 which muft afterwards be covered with fome plai- 
 ner, and preferved from the air. Being applyed 
 after this manner they cure fundamentally, being 
 mixed with plaifters alfo they do wonderful things. 
 
 if they be mixed with rofe, or rain water, fo as to 
 be united together, and afterwards fome of this mix- 
 ture be fometimes every day dropt into red eyes that 
 water, yielding not to other ophthalmicks, do reftore, 
 and heal them. 
 
 Thefe flowers being taken up in lint and ftrewed 
 upon thofe places of Children that are galled with 
 their urin (thofe places being firft waflied with water) 
 heal them quickly- They heal alfo quickly any ex- 
 coriation which is contraifted by lying long in any 
 licknefs, and is very painful, if they be ftrewed 
 thereon. 
 
 Thefe flowers alfo are more eafily difl"oIved in cor- 
 rofive waters, than other metals, and minerals, nei- 
 ther doth the fpirit leave them in the fire, but an 
 inlipid phlegm only diftills off, leaving a fat and thick 
 oyl, as is above faid concerning the laps calaminaris^ 
 being ordained for the fame ufes, but more efficaci- 
 ous then that. Which fpirit if it be by the violence 
 of fire driven forth, is of fo great ftrength, that it 
 can fcarce be kept. And not only fpirit of fait, but 
 alfo Aqua fortis, and Regia may after this manner 
 be exalted, fo as to be able to do wonderful things in 
 the feparation of metals^ but here is not place 
 
 \3 
 
 for thefe things, they (hall be fpoken of in the fourth 
 part. 
 
 But you need not make flowers for this work, be- 
 caufe crude Zinck doth the fame, although the flowers 
 do it fomething better : whence it appears that a 
 metal contra<fls a higher degree of drynefs in fubli- 
 mation- 
 
 Flowers of Antimony. 
 
 THere is no difficulty to make the flowers of Anti- 
 mony, for Chymifts have a long time made ufc 
 of them, and becaufe their preparation was tedious, 
 they were not fold at a low rate- 
 Wherefore there was no body willing to attempt 
 any thing elfe in them, becaufe they were ufed only 
 for vomiting; thedofe whereof was from 1.2.3.4. 
 grains to 8. and 10. in aff"eifls of the ftomack and of 
 the head, as alfo in fcavers, plague, morbus gallicus, 
 ^''c. Neither is it a wonder if Chymifts tryed no far- 
 ther in them, for we fee that there are found men 
 in thefe days who perfwade themfelves that there is 
 nothing which was not found out by the learned an- 
 cients, can be found out in thefe days, and if there 
 were any thing to be yet found out it was found out 
 already by them. But this opinion truly is very fooI= 
 ifh, as if God gave all things to the ancients, and 
 referved nothing for them that fhould come after. 
 Neither indeed do they underftand nature in their Os 
 perations, which works inceOantly, and is not wea= 
 ried in her labours, &c. But however it is raani- 
 feft that God hath revealed things in thefe times 
 which were hid from them of old, and he will not 
 ceafe to do the fame even to the end of the world.- 
 But to return to our purpofe again, which is to 
 fliew an eafier way of making the flowers of Antimo- 
 ny, whereby a greater quantity may be had, as alfo 
 that they may ferve for other ufes- 
 
 Take of crude Antimony poudered as much as you 
 pleafe, and firft make your fiirnace red hot, then 
 caft in at once a pound of Antimony, or thereabouts, 
 viz.. fcatteringly upon the coals ; and prefently it 
 will flow, & being mixed with the coals by t^e force of 
 the fire will befublimed through the air into the re- 
 ceivers like a cloud, which will there be coagulated 
 into white flowers. Note, that when the firft coals 
 are burnt up, more muft be put in to continue the fub= 
 limation, and thofe muft be firft kindled before they 
 are put in, left the flowers be by the duft of the coals 
 arifing together with them difcoloured, and contratft 
 thence a gray colour: but it matters not if you will 
 not ufe them by themfelves to provoke vomiting, be- 
 caufe there is no danger thereby, for that colour 
 comes only from the fmoake of the coals, where= 
 fore you need not be afraid of them. But let hira 
 that diflikes this colour, firft kindle the coals before 
 he put them into the furnace, and then he fhall have, 
 white flowers- Alfo you muft not Ihut the middle 
 hole through which the coals, and Antimony are caft 
 in, that thereby the fire may burn the more freely : 
 for elfe the flowers of the fuperior pots will be yellow 
 and red, by reafonof the fulphur of the Antimony, 
 which is fubliraed higher than the regulus. Now you 
 may by this way make a pound of the flowers with 
 3 - 4. or 5- pound of coals- It is a little that goes away 
 from the Antimony, vtz.. the combuftible fulphur, 
 which is burnt, all the reft going into flowers. You 
 muft have a care to provide a fufficient quantity of 
 fubliming pots by reafon that a large fpace is re- 
 quired for the fublimatioH of the flowers- 
 
 E Tb^ 
 
14 
 
 The Firn Tart of 
 
 The flowers that are prepared after this way, I to the fire you may be gone, which is a fafe , and 
 
 are fold at a lower rate, ib that one pound there- 
 of is cheaper , than half an ounce of thofe that 
 are made after the other manner- Alfo they are 
 fafer , as being made with an open free flame of 
 the fire, for they do not provoke vomit fo vehe- 
 mently ; moreover the flowers of the lower pots 
 are not vomiting, but diaphoretical, as if they had 
 been prepared with nitre, for thus they are cor- 
 reded by the fire : And by this way at one and the 
 fame operation divers flowers of divers operations 
 may be made, for the flowers of the lower pots 
 are diaphoretical , of the middle a little vomi- 
 tive, but of the uppermoft vehemently vomitive- 
 For by how much the more they have endured 
 the fire, by fo much the better are they corrected •, 
 from whence the diverfity of their power proceeds. 
 Wherefore each of them are to be kept by them- 
 felves, and the uppermoft for plaifters or butter, 
 or oyl, and thofe to be made fweet or corrofive 
 thereby; The middle for purging, and vomiting, 
 but the lowermoft for fweat, being more excellent 
 than BezoardkHfn Minerals^ or AntimoniHm Diapho- 
 retiatm made with nitre. Truly 1 do not believe 
 that there is an eafier way of making vomiting, 
 and diaphoretical flowers, than ours. Now for 
 the ufe of them , you muft know that thole 
 that are vomitive are to be admimftred to thofe 
 that are ftrong, and accuftomed to vomit : but to 
 Children and old Men with difcretion , as hath 
 been faid above of the butter of Antimony : but 
 thofe that are diaphoretical may be given without 
 danger to Old and Young , to thofe that are in 
 health and to the fick ; in any afflidion that re- 
 quires fweat i as in the Plague, Morbus Gallicus, 
 Scorbute, Leprofy, Feavers, <i''c. The Dofe of 
 them is from 3, 6, 9, i^, grains to 24. with proper 
 vehicles to fweat in the bed ; for they do expel as 
 well by fweat, as by urine, all evil humours. And 
 becaufe they that are vomitive are in a greater 
 quantity than thofe that are diaphoretical, and not 
 fo neceffary as thefe, and there may be many more 
 dofes out of them ; it is neceffary to Ihew you how 
 thofe that are vomitive may be turned into dia- 
 phoretical ; and that may be done three wayes^ 
 the two former whereof I have before fhewed con- 
 cerning the butter of Antimony made of flowers 
 with fpirit of fait, the third is this, viz.. put the flow- 
 ers in a crucible covered, (without luting) left any 
 thing fall into it, fo fet them by themfelves in a 
 gentle fire, that they melt not, but be made only 
 darkly glow for the fpace of feme hours \ then 
 let them cool, for they are become fixed aud diapho- 
 retical. Although they had before contraded fome 
 yellownefs or afli-colour , yet by this means they 
 are made white, fixed, and diaphoretical. Al- 
 fo thefe flowers are ufed in ftiptick plaifters by 
 reafon of their dry nature , with which they are 
 endued. 
 
 Alfo they are melted into a yellow tranfparent 
 glafs, neither is there taught an eafier way of re^ 
 ducing Antimony by it felf into a yellow tranfpa- 
 rent glafs , where crude Antimony is firft fubli- 
 med, and being fublimed is melted into glafs. 
 
 This fublimation ferves inftcad of calcination, 
 by the help whereof 20 pound are more eafily fub- 
 limed, than by the help of the other one pound is 
 brought into calx. 
 
 Neither is there here any danger of the afcend- 
 ing fumes, becaufe when the Antimony is caft in- 
 
 eafy calcination, whereas the common way requires 
 the continual prefence of the artift ftirring the 
 matter, who alfo takes out the matter when it is 
 once grown together, and grinds it again j by 
 which means he hath much to do, before the mat- 
 ter come to a whitenefsi but by our way, the 
 matter is at the firft time made fufficiently white, 
 and more than by that common way of calcina- 
 tion and agitation. I fuppofe therefore that I have 
 (hewed to him that will make glafs of Antimony, 
 the beft, and hitherto unknown way •, which being 
 taught, I hope there is no man will hereafter like 
 a fool go that tedious way of the Anticnts, but 
 rather follow my fteps. For by this way may any 
 Phyfitian, moft eafily be able to prepare for him- 
 felf vomitive and diaphoretical flowers, and alfo 
 glafs of Antimony fcr fe. 
 
 Of thofe Flowers may be made oyls both fweet 
 and corrofive, and other medicaments, as hath been 
 above faid of the fpirit of fait, and fliall after- 
 wards be fpoken in the Second Part. 
 
 Let him that will make Flowers of the Regu- 
 lus , fairer than thofe which are made of crude 
 Antimony, caft ic being poudered into the fire, and 
 in all things proceed as hath been faid, and he 
 fhall have them, &c. for they are eafily fublimed- 
 Now, how the regulus is to be made after a com- 
 pendious manner, you fhall find in the Fourth Part- 
 The fcoris alfo are fublimed , fo as nothing is 
 loft. But he that will make Flowers that fliall be 
 difi^olved in the aire into a liquor muft add fome 
 calcined tartar, or fome other fixt vegetable fait, 
 and he fliall have Flowers that will be dilfolved 
 in any liquor : but he that will make red Flowers 
 as well thofe that are diaphoretical , as thofe 
 that are purging, muft mix iron, and he fliall have 
 Flowers like to Cinnabar : Let him that defires 
 green, mix copper, if purple, Ufts caUmviaris. 
 
 And thus out of any mineral may be made 
 Flowers whether it be fixed, or volatile; for it is 
 forced to fly on high being caft into the fire. And 
 thefe may be ufed diverfly in Chyrurgery, in plai= 
 fters and unguents j for they dry , and aftring po- 
 tently, efpccially thofe that arc made of lapis ct- 
 laminaris. Neither are they to be flighted that are 
 made of the golden, and filver marcafite- Thofe that 
 are made of arfenic & auripigmentum,are poyfonous, 
 but are ufeful for Painters. Arfenic & auripigmentum 
 being calcined with nitre, and then fublimed, yield 
 Flowers that are fafely to be taken inwardly, ex- 
 pefling all poyfons by fweat and ftool : For they 
 are correded two wayes, viz.. firft by the nitre, 
 fecondly by the fire in the fubliming : they are not 
 therefore to be feared , becaufe that Arfnick was 
 poyfonous before the preparation thereof For by 
 how much the greater poyfon in .was before prepara- 
 tion, fo much the greater medicine afterwards. 
 
 The Flowers of fulphur are taught in the Se- 
 cond Part, alchough they may alfo be made by 
 this furnace, viz.. the natures and properties there-- 
 of being known by an expert Artift, or othervvife it 
 is burnt. 
 
 So alfo ftones being prepared are brought into 
 Flowers, and many other things, of which we need 
 not fay any thing, only let him that pleafeth make 
 tryal thereof. 
 
 And now I fuppofe I have made plain, and flievv- 
 ed you clearly how diftillation is to be made in 
 this our firft furnace •■> wherefore I will uow end. 
 
 He 
 
Pbilofopbicd Furnaces. 
 
 J5 
 
 He therefore that underftands and knows the fa- 
 brick of the furnace ( which he may underftand 
 by the delineation thereof; and the ufe thereof, 
 will not deny but that 1 have done a good work, 
 and will not difapprove of my labour. 
 
 And this is the befl: way ofdiftilling, and fublim- 
 ing incombuftible things- In the Second Part you 
 (hall find another furnace in which are diftilled 
 combuftible things, as alfo moft fubtil fpirits, &c. 
 The firft furnace ferves alfo for other ufes, as the 
 reparation of metals \ of the pure from the impure ; 
 
 for the making of the central fait, and of the hw 
 midtim radicak of them all. But becaufe it cannot 
 be done after the aforefaid way, by which things 
 are caft into the fire to get their flowers, and fpi- 
 rits, but after a certain fecret Philofophical man- 
 ner, by the power of a certain fecret fire, hither- 
 to concealed by the Philofophers ( neither fliall I 
 proftrate that fecret before all) ■■, It is fufiicient that 
 I have given a hint of it for further enquiry, and 
 have fliewed the way to other things. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 ^^<r^r£ 
 
 l^it 
 
 f<1^4^4^<]^>»2« 
 
 THE 
 
 SECOND PART 
 
 O F 
 
 Wherein is T>efcribed the Nature of the Second Furnace j by the help whereof^ all Volatile] 
 fuhtle , and combuflihk things may be diftilled -, whether they be Vegetables, Mimah^ 
 or Mnerals^ and that after an unknown and Very compendious Way ^ whereby nothing is loji, 
 but e'Ven the moft fuhtle fpirits may be caught and preferyed^ which tlfe without the means 
 of this Furnace is impoffible to be done by <^torts or other Viftilling Inftrumeitts. 
 
 Of the StruUure of the Second Furnace, 
 
 TH E Diftilling VefTel mull be made of 
 Iron, or good earth, fuch as can abide 
 in the fire ( whereof in the fifth Part 
 of this Book it fhall be taught) and 
 you may make it as big or as little as you pleafe, 
 according as your occafion fhall require- That of 
 iron is moft fit to be ufed for fuch fpirits, as are 
 not very fharp or corroding, elfe they would cor- 
 rode the Veflel : but that of earth may be ufed 
 for fuch things, as fhew their adtivity upon the 
 Iron, and do make it to melt, as fulphur, Anti- 
 mony and the like ; and therefore you ought to 
 have two fuch velTels, wx. one of iron, and one 
 of earth, to the end that for both forts of mate- 
 
 rials ( corrofive or not corrofive ) yon may have 
 proper veffels, and fit furnaces for their diftilling, 
 and that they may not he fpoilcd by things con- 
 trary and hurtful to them- The fhape of the vef- 
 fel is Ihewed by the foregoing figure, ^'»^.. the 
 lower part of it fomewhat wider than the upper 
 part , and twice as high as wide ■■, at the top ha- 
 ving a hollow fpace between the two edges or brims, 
 whereinto the edge of the lid may ciofe and en- 
 ter in an inch deep. The lid muft have a ring or 
 handle, by which it may be taken off and put on 
 again with a pair of tongs. The lid mult have a 
 deep edge anfwering to the hoUow fpace aforefaid. 
 The lower part muft haye three knobs or Ihoul- 
 
 E 2 ders 
 
i6 
 
 Tke Second Part of 
 
 ders thereby to reft upon the wall of the furnace ■■, 
 the form whereof is no other, than that of a cora- 
 nion diftilliDg furnace with a fand Copple •, as the 
 figure of it doth lliew : but if you will not have the 
 furnace, then it needeth no knobs or flioulders, if 
 fo be the diftilling vefiel be flat at the bottom, or 
 clfe have legs, for to ftand upon them : Beneath 
 the edge of the vefiel there comes forth a fpoutor 
 pipe of a fpan in length, and one or two inches 
 wide, and foniewhat narrower before than behind, 
 through which the fpirits are conveyed into the Re- 
 ceiver- 
 See the fourth Figure before the firft part, where- 
 in the Letter ^. reprefents the Furnace, with the 
 Iron diftilling VelTelfaftned into it, whereunto a Re- 
 ceiver is applied. 
 
 £. The Diftiller, with his left hand taking off 
 the lid, and with his right hand cafting in,his prepa- 
 red matter. 
 
 C. The external form of the diftilling vefiel. 
 -D. The internal form of the vefibl. 
 £. Another diftilling vefiel, which is not faftned 
 to a furnace, but only ftandeth upon Coals. 
 
 The way or manner to perform the Di(iillatiofJ. 
 
 WHen you intend to diftil, then firft make a fire 
 in the Furnace, that the diftilling vefi'el come 
 to be very hot. But if it be not faftned to the Furnace, 
 then fet it upon a grate, and lay ftones about it,and 
 coals between, and fo let it grow hot, and lay mel- 
 ted lead in the fpace between the two edges or brims, 
 to the end, that the lid , when it is put on, may 
 clofe exaftly, fo that no fpirit can get through. 
 This done, take a little of the matter you intend 
 to diftil, and caft it in, and prefently put on the 
 lid, and there will be no other pafiage left but 
 through the pipe,.to which there muft be applycd 
 and luted a very big receiver. As foon aS the Tpe- 
 cies caft in cogie to be warn?? th^y let go tiaeir fpi- 
 rit, which doth come forth into the receiver: and 
 becaufe there was but little of the matter caft in, it 
 hath no power to force tlirough the lute , or to 
 break the receiver, but nnifl: fettle it felf. This 
 done, caft in a little more .of your matter , cover 
 it and let it go till the fpirit be fettled : continue 
 this proceeding fo long, until you have fpirits 
 enough : but take heed, that you caft in no more 
 at once, than the receiver is able to bear, elfe it 
 will break- And when your vefiel is full, thediftilla- 
 tion not being ended, then take ofi^the lid, and with 
 an iron ladle take out the Caput Mortuum ; and fo 
 begin again to caft in? and ftill but a little at a time, 
 and continue this as long as you pleafe. 
 
 Thus in one day you may diftil more in a fmall 
 vefiel, thanotherways you could do in a great re- 
 tort ; and you need not fear the leaft lofs of the 
 fubtile fpirit, nor the breaking of the receiver by 
 the abundance of the fpirits : and you may ceafeor 
 leave off your diftilling , and begin it again when 
 you lift : alfo the fire cannot be made too ftrong, 
 fo that it might caufe any hurt or damage-, but by 
 this way you may make the raoft fubtile fpirits, 
 which is impofilble to be done by any Retort. But 
 if you will diftil a fubtil fpirit by a Retort , as of 
 Tartar, Harts-horn, Salarmoniack, or the like, you 
 cannot do it without prejudice ( though there were 
 but half a pound of the nxatter in it) tliefubtleft 
 fpirits coming forth with force, feek to penetrate 
 
 through the lute, if that be not good, but if that 
 be good, fo that the fpirits cannot pafs through it, 
 then they break the recei>, er , becaufe it cannot 
 pofilbly hold fuch a quantity of fubtle fpirits at once. 
 For when they are coming, they come fo plenti- 
 fully, and with fuch a force, that the receiver can- 
 not contain them, and fo o/ neceflity muftflye afun- 
 der, or muft pafs through the lutum ; All which is 
 not to be feared here, becaufe there is but a little 
 caft in at once, which cannot yield fuch a quantity 
 of fpirits, as to force the receiver to break : And 
 when there comes forth no more fpirits, and the 
 former is fettled, then more of the matter is to be 
 caft in ; and this is to be continued fo long, until 
 you have fpirits enough. Afterward take off the 
 receiver, and put the fpirit into fuch a Glafs fas 
 in the fifth part of this book, amongft the Manuals, 
 fliall be difcovered ) wherein it may be kept fafely 
 without wafting or evaporating. 
 
 In this manner all things, Vegetable, Animal, or 
 Mineral, may be diftilled in this Furnace, and much 
 better, than by means of a Retort : efpecially fuch 
 fubtile fpirits ( as by the other way of diftilling can- 
 not be faved, but pafs through the lutum ) are got 
 by this our way ; and they are much better than 
 thofe heavy oyles, which commonly are taken for 
 fpirits, but are none, being only corrofive waters. 
 For the nature and condition of a fpirit is to be 
 volatile, penetrating and fubtile, and fuch are not 
 thofe fpirits of fait. Vitriol, Allome and Nitre, 
 which are ufed in Apothecary fliops, they being but 
 heavy oyles, which even in a warm place do not 
 evaporate or exhale- 
 
 But a true fpirit, fit for Medicinal ufe, muft rife or 
 afcend before the phlegm, and not after ; for what- 
 foever is heavier than phlegm, is no volatile fpirit, 
 but a heavy fpirit or (rather called) a fowre heavy 
 oyl. And it is feen by experience, that the Apo- 
 thecaries fpirit of vitriol will cure no falling fick- 
 nefs, which vertue is afcribed to that fpirit, and in- 
 deed juftly : for the true fpirit of vitriol perfor- 
 meth that cure out of hand. Likewife their fpirit 
 of Tartar (as they call it) is no fpirit, but only a 
 ftinking phlegm or vinegar- 
 
 The way to make fuch true fpirits , I will now 
 fliew, becaufe much good may be done by them in 
 all manner of Difeafes- And this way of diftil- 
 ling fervedi only for thofe which feek after good 
 Medicines : but others which care not whether their 
 medicines be well prepared or no , need not take 
 fo much pains as to build fuch a furnace , and to 
 make their fpirits themfelves, for at any time they 
 can buy for a fmall matter , a good quantity of 
 dead and fruitlefs fpirits at the common fellers and 
 Apothecaries. 
 
 Hence it is no marvel , that now adaies fo lit- 
 tle good is done by Cbymical medicaments, which 
 of right fliould far out-ftrip all the Galenical in 
 goodnefs and vertue- But alas ! it is come to that 
 pafs now, that a true Chymift, and honeft Son of 
 Hermes, is forced almoft to blufii, when he heareth 
 men talk of Chymical medicines , becaufe they do 
 no fuch miracles, as are afcribed unto them- Which 
 infamy is occafion'd by none more, than by carelefs 
 Phyficians, which though they make ufe of Chymi- 
 cal medicines, ( becaufe they would fain be efteemed 
 to know more than others) yet they do take grea- 
 ter care for their kitchen, than for the welfare of 
 their Patients ; and fo buying ill-prepared Medicines 
 of unskilful ftillers, and withal ufing them undiH 
 
 erectly 
 
Philofopbicd Pumices. 
 
 i1 
 
 creetly fwliereby they many times do more hurt 
 than good to the fick) they lay fuch foul afper- 
 tions upon the noble Art of Chymiftry. 
 
 But an induftrious and accurate Phyfician is not 
 afhamed to make his Medicines himfelf, if it be 
 podible, or at leafl: to have them made by good 
 and well-exercis'd Artifts : whereupon he may bet- 
 ter rely, and get more credit, than one that know- 
 eth not whereof, nor how his Medicine which he 
 doth adminifter to his patients is prepared. But 
 fuch wicked and ignorant men will one day fall 
 (hort of their anfwer before the Judgment of the 
 righteous Samaritan. 
 
 How to make the Acid Oyl and the volatile fpirit of 
 rttrit. 
 
 Hitherto I have taught, how to diftil in gene- 
 ral, and to get the fubtle fpirits. There re- 
 maineth now to defcribe what Manuals or Prepa- 
 rations are fitting for every matter in particular •■, 
 and iird , 
 
 Of Vitriol. 
 
 TO diftil Vitriol, there needs no other prepa- 
 ration, but only that it be well viewed, and if 
 there be any filth amongft it, that the fame be care- 
 fully pickt out, left being put together with the 
 Vitriol into the diftilling veilel, the fpirit be cor- 
 rupted thereby. But he that will go yet more 
 exadly to work , may diflblve it in fair water, 
 then filtrate it, and then evaporate the water from 
 it till a skin appear at the top, and then fet it in 
 a cold place, and let it fhoot again into Vitriol \ 
 and then you are fure that no impurity is left 
 in it. 
 
 Now your veflel being made red hot, with an 
 Iron ladle caft in one or two ounces of your Vi- 
 triol at once, put on the lid, and prefently the 
 fpirits together with the phlegm will come over 
 into the receiver, like unto a white cloud or mift-, 
 which being vanifhed, and the fpirits partly fettled, 
 carry in more Vitriol , and continue this fo long, 
 until your veflel be full : Then uncover your vef- 
 fel, and with a pair of tongs or an iron ladle take 
 out the Caput Mortuura , and caft more in ; and 
 continue this proceeding as long as you pleafe, ftill 
 emptying the veflel when it is filled, and then cafting 
 in more matter, and fck proceeding until you con- 
 ceive that you have got fpirits enough. Then let 
 the fire go out, and let the furnace cool ; take off 
 the receiver, and pour that which is come over in= 
 to a retort, and fet the retort in fand , and by a 
 gentle fire diftil the volatile fpirit from the heavy 
 oyl i having firft joyned to the retort the receiver, 
 which is to receive the volatile fpirit, with a good 
 lutum, fuch as is able to hold fuch fubtle fpirits, 
 the making whereof fliall be taught in the fifth 
 part of this Book, amongft the Manuals. 
 
 All the volatile fpirit being come over, which 
 you may know by the falling of bigger drops, then 
 take off the receiver, and clofe it very well with 
 wax, that the fpirit may not make an cfcapc •, 
 then apply another (without luting it) and fo re- 
 ceive the, phlegm by it felf, and there will remain 
 in the retort a black and heavy corrofive oyl, 
 which if you pleafe, you may reilifie , forcing it 
 over by a ftrong fire, and then it will be clear ; if 
 not , let all cool, then take out your Retort toge- 
 
 ther with the black oyl, and pour upon it the vola- 
 tile fpirit, which in the redifying went over firft, 
 put the retort into the fand, and apply a receiver, 
 and give it a very gentle fire, end the volatile fpi- 
 rit will come over alone, Iciving its phlegm be- 
 hind with the oyl, which by reafon of its dry- 
 nefs doth eafily keep it. Thus the fpirit beir>5 
 freed from all phlegm, is become as ftrong as a 
 meer fire, and yet not corrofive. And if this fpi- 
 rit be not rc(5tified from its own oyl , it will not 
 remain good, but there doth precipitate a red 
 powder after it hath ftood for fome fpace of time, 
 and the fpirit lofeth all its vcrtue, infomuch chat 
 it is not to be difcerned from ordinary water, 
 which doth not happen when it is redtified. The 
 reafon of this precipitation is no other than the 
 weaknefs of the fpirit, which is accompanied with 
 too much water, and therefore not ftrong enough 
 for to keep its fulphur, but muft let it fall : but 
 after it is reftified by its own oyl , it can keep its 
 fulphur well enough, becaufe then it is freed from 
 its fuperfluous moifture. However the red powder 
 is not to be thrown away , but ought to be kept 
 carefully \ becaufe it is of no lefs vertue than the 
 fpirit it felf. And it is nothing elfe but a Vola- 
 tile fulphur of Vitriol. It hath wonderful vertucs* 
 fome of which fljall be related. 
 
 The Vfe and Dofe of the Narcotickjulphur ofFitriol. ' 
 
 OF this fulphur 1,2,3,4. or more grains (ac- 
 cording to the condition of the patient ) given 
 at once mitigates all pains , caufeth quiet fleep 5, 
 not after the manner of Opium, Henbane, and 
 other the like medicines, which by ftupifying and 
 benumbing caufe fleep, but it performeth its ope- 
 ration very gently and fafely, without any danger 
 at all, and great Difeafes may be cured by the 
 help thereof. Paracelfus held it in high eftcem, 
 as you may fee , where he doth write of Sulphur 
 embryonatHm. 
 
 Of the Vfe and Ferine of the volatile fpirit of 
 Fitriol. 
 
 THis fulphurous Volatile fpirit of Vitriol, is of 
 a very fubtle and penetrating quality, and of 
 a wonderful operation ^ for fome drops thereof 
 being taken and fweated upon, doth penetrate the 
 whole body, openeth all obftruftions , confumeth 
 thofe things that are amifs in the body, even as 
 fire. It is an excellent medicine in the Falling fick- 
 nefs, in that kind of madnefs or rage which is cal- 
 led Mania, in the Convulfion of the Mother, cal- 
 led Sujfocati.0 M^tricis, in the Scurvy •, in that other 
 kind of madnefs which is called Melancholia Hypo- 
 chondriaca ; and other Difeafes proceeding from 
 Obftrudions and Corruption of the Blood : It is 
 alfo good in the Plague, and all other Feavers : 
 mingled with fpirit of wine, and daily ufed, it doth 
 wonders in all external accidents : Alfo in the Apo: 
 plexy, flirinking and other difeafes of the Nerves, 
 the diftreffed limb rubbed therewith , it doth pene= 
 trate to the very marrow in the bones ; it doth 
 warm and refrefh the cold finews, grown ftiff : In 
 the Gholick, befides the internal ufe, a little there- 
 of in a clyfter applyed, is a prefent help : Exter- 
 nally ufed in the Gout, by anointing the places 
 therewith, affvvagech the Pains, and taketh away 
 all tunoars and inflatntnations : It doth heal fcabs, 
 
 F tetter* 
 
i8 
 
 Tke Second Part of 
 
 tetters and ring-worms, above all other medicines-, 
 it cureth new wounds and old fores, as Fillulaes, 
 Cancers, Wolves, and what name foever elfe they 
 may have : It extinguilheth all inflammations, fcal- 
 dings, the Gangrene, diflipateth and confumeth the 
 knobs and excrefcencies of the skin. In a word, 
 this fpirit, which the wife men of old called SuU 
 thur Fhtlofphoriim, doth aft univerfally in 2II difea= 
 fes, and its vertue cannot fufiiciently be praifed 
 and exprelled : And it is much to be admired, 
 that fo excellent a Medicine is no where to be 
 
 found. . . J . , 
 
 If it be mingled with Spring water, it doth make 
 it pleafaiuly fowriHi, and in tafte and vertue like un- 
 to the natural fowre water of wells. 
 
 Alfo by this fpirit, many difeafes may be cured at 
 home •, fo that you need not go to bathes afar off, 
 for to be rid of them. . 
 
 Here I could fetdown a way, how fuch a fpirit may 
 be got in great abundance for the ufe of bathing, 
 without diftillation, whereby miraculous things may 
 be done, but by reafon of the ungratefulnefs of men, 
 it fhall be referved for another time. 
 
 Of the vertne and ufe of the corroftve oyl of Fttriol. 
 
 THis oyl is not much ufed in Phyfick, although 
 it be found almoft in every Apothecaries Ihop, 
 which they ufe for to give a fowrifli tart to their fy- 
 rups and conferves. Mingled with fpring water and 
 given in hot difeafes, it will extinguifh the unnatu- 
 ral thirft, and cool the internal parts of the body. 
 Externally it cleanfeth all unclean fores, applyed 
 with a feather; it feparateth the bad from the good, 
 and layeth a good foundation for the cure- 
 
 Alfo if it bereftified firft, fome metals may be dif- 
 folved with it and reduced into their Vitriols, efpe- 
 cially Mars and Venus ; but this is to be done by add- 
 ing common water thereunto, elfe it will hardly lay 
 hold on them. The way of doing it is thus. 
 
 How to make the Vitriol of Mars and Venus. 
 
 TAkc of your heavy oyl, jnft as it came over, -viz,. 
 together with its phelgm (but that the Vola- 
 tile fpirit be drawn off from it firft j as much as you 
 pleafe, put it into a glafs body together with plates 
 of copper or iron, fet it in warm fand, and let it 
 boyl until that the oyl will diffolve no more of the 
 metal, then power off the liquor, filtre it through 
 brown paper, and put it into a low gourd glafs, and 
 fet it in fand, and let the phlegm evaporate until 
 there appear a skin at the top, then let the fire go 
 out, and the glafs grow cool ; then fet it in a cold 
 place, and within fome days there, will fhoot fair 
 Cryllals; if of Iron, greenifli ; if of Copper, then 
 fomething blewilh ; take them out and dry them up- 
 on filtering paper, the remaining liquor, which did 
 not fhoot into Vitriol, evaporate again in fand, and 
 then let it llioot as before ; continue this proceed- 
 ing, until all the folution (or filtred liquor j be turn- 
 ed to Vitriol. This Vitriol is better and purer than 
 the common :, for it yieldeth a better Volatile fpirit, 
 and for that reafon I did fet down the way how to 
 make it. There may alfo be made a good Vitriol 
 of both thefe metals by the means of ordinary yel- 
 low brimftone ; but becaufe the making of it is more 
 tedious, than of this here fet down, I_ think it need- 
 lefs to defcribe its preparation in this place. 
 
 The way to make a fair blew Vitriol out of Luna (that 
 is^Jilver.) 
 
 DIlToIve the (havings or filings of filver with refbi- 
 fied oyl of Vitriol, adding water thereunto, 
 but not fo much as to Iron and Copper : Or elfe, 
 which is better, diffolve calcined filver, which hath 
 been precipitated out of Aqua fortis either with 
 Copper or fait water -, the folution being ended 
 pour it off and filtre it, and drop into it of fpirit 
 of urin or Sal armoniac, as long as it doth hifs, and al- 
 moft all the filver will precipitate again out of the oyl, 
 and fo there will fall a white powder to the bottom ; 
 This precipitated filver together with the liquor 
 pour into a phiall-glafs, fet it to boyl in fand for 
 twenty four hours, and the liquor will diffolve again 
 almoft all the precipitated filver-calx and become 
 blew thereby. Then pour off the folution (or liquor) 
 and filtre it through brown paper, and abftrad; the 
 moifture till a skin arife at the top ; then in a cold 
 place let it fhoot to Vitriol. With the remaining 
 liquor proceed further, as above in the prepara- 
 tion of the Vitriol of Iron and Copper Lath been 
 taught. 
 
 By this way you will get an excellent Vitriol out of 
 filver, which from 4, 5, 6, ro 10. grains ufed only 
 of itfelf, will be a good purge, efpecially in difeafes 
 of the brain. 
 
 If you have a good quantity of it, that you may 
 diftill a fpirit thereof, you will get not only an acid 
 (or fowre) but alfo a volatile fpirit, which in the 
 infirmities of the brain is moft excellent ; that which 
 in the diftilling remains behind, may be reduced a- 
 gain into a body, fo that you lofe nothing of the 
 filver, fave onely that which is turned into fpi- 
 rit. 
 
 Moreover, the acid (or fowre) oyl of common 
 Vitriol, doth precipitate all metals and ftoncs of 
 beafts or fifhes ; alfo pearls and corals, they being 
 firft diffolved in fpirit of fait or of Nitre, and mak- 
 eth fair light powders of them (which by the Apo- 
 thecaries are called Magifteries j much fairer than by 
 precipitation with fait of Tartar is done, efpecially 
 of corals and pearls, fuch a fair gliftering and deli- 
 cate powder is made ; and likewife alfo of mother 
 of pearl, and other fhels of fnailes, that it giveth as 
 fair a glofs to them, as the faireft oriental pearls 
 have ; which way hath not? been made common hi- 
 therto, but being known only to few, hath been kept 
 very fecretby them, as a fiugular Art Sjch Magi- 
 fteries commonly were precipitated out of vinegar 
 only by fait of Tartar, which for lightnefs, white- 
 nefs and fair glofs are not cor^ i^jrable at all to ours : 
 But if inftead of the oyl of Vp . .ol you take oyl of ful- 
 phur, then thefe powders will be fairer than when 
 they are done by the oyl of Vitriol, in fo much, 
 that they may be -ufed for painting for a black 
 skin. 
 
 Having made mention of Magifteries, I cannot for- 
 bear to difcover the great abufe and error, which 
 is committed in the preparing of them. 
 
 paracclfiis in his Archidoxes teacheth to make Ma- 
 gifteries, which he calleth extratled Magifteries : 
 but fome of his difciples teach to make precipitated 
 Magifteries which are different from the former. 
 Paracelfiis is clean of another opinion in the prepa- 
 ring of his Magifteries, than others in the making 
 of theirs : doubtlefs P(tracetfns his Magifteries were 
 
 good 
 
Pbilo/ofbkal Furnaces. 
 
 >9 
 
 good cordial living medicines, whereas the other are 
 but dead carkafes, and although they be never fo fair, 
 white and gliftering, yet in tik(X they prove but a 
 grofs earthy fubltance, deftitute of vertue. 
 
 I do not deny, but that good medicines may be 
 extraded out of pearls and corals, for 1 ray felf 
 alfo do defcribe the preparations of fome of them j 
 but not at all after fuch a way as theirs is- For what 
 good or exalting can be expefted by fuch a pre- 
 paration, where a ftony matter is dilfolved in cor- 
 rofive waters, and then prcciptated into ftone again ? 
 Can its vertue be increafed thereby ? furely no, but 
 rather it is diminifhed, and made much the worfe 
 thereby- For it is well known, that the corrofive 
 fpirits (no lefs than fire) do burn foms certain 
 things ; for not all things are made better by fire or 
 corrofives, but molt of them are abfolutely fpoy- 
 led by them- Some perchance will fay, that fuch 
 preparations of Magifteries are onely for to be re- 
 duced into a finer powder, that fo much the fooner 
 they may perform their operation- To which I 
 anfwer, that pearls, corals, and other things of the 
 like nature, if they be once difiblved by corrofive 
 waters, and then precipitated and edulcorated, never 
 or hardly can be diflblved again by acid fpirits. 
 Whence it is evident that by fuch preparations they 
 a; e not opened or made better, but rather clofed or 
 made worfe. And we fee alfo by daily e.'vperience 
 that thofe Magifteries do not thofe efFerts, which 
 are afcribed unto them. By which it appeareth 
 clearly, that to the Archeus of the ftomach they 
 are much lefs grateful than the crude unprepared 
 corals and pearls \ whofe tender eflence being not 
 burnt up by corrofives, do oftentimes produce good 
 efFeds. For our Anceftors have afcribed unto co- 
 rals and pearls, that they purifie the impure and 
 corrupt blood in the whole body, that they expel 
 Melancholly and fadnefs, comforting the heart of 
 man, and making it merry, which alfo they eSeftu- 
 ally perform : whereas the Magifteries do not. And 
 this is the reafon , why unprepared corals, pearls 
 and ftones of fifhes have more effed, than the burnt 
 Magifteries. For it is manifeft and well known, that 
 the abovefaid difeafes for the moft part do pro- 
 ceed from obftrudtions of the fpleen, which ob- 
 ftrudions are nothing elfe, but a tartarous juice or 
 a fowre flegme which hath pofiefted and filled up 
 the entrals, and coagulated it felf within them- By 
 which obftrurtion not only head-ach, giddinefs, pan- 
 ting of the heart, trembling of the limbs, a fponta- 
 neous lafiitude, vomits, unnatural hunger ; alfo, 
 loathing of vidtuals^ then cold, then hot flnlhing 
 fits, and many more ftrange fymptomes are caufed ; 
 but alfo a moft hurtful rottennefs and corruption is 
 introduced into the whole mafs of blood, from 
 whence the leprofie, fcurvey, and other loathforae 
 or abominable fcabs do fpring. 
 
 Of which evil the onely caufe (as hath been faid^ 
 is a crude acid Tartar, from which fo many great 
 difeafes do rife. 
 
 This to be fo may eafily be proved ^ for it is 
 notorious, that melancholick folks, hypocondriaques, 
 and others do often caft up a great quantity of ^a- 
 cid humor, which is fo fharpe that no vinegar is 
 comparable to it, and doth fet their teeth on fuch 
 an edge, as if they had eaten unripe fruit. 
 
 What remedy now ? take away the caufe and the 
 difeafeis taken away. If you could take away the 
 peccant matter by purgings, it would be well, but 
 it remaineth obftinate and will not yield to them. By 
 
 vomit it may be dlminilhed in fome mcafure. But 
 becaufe that not every one can abide vomiting, it is 
 therefore no wifdome to turn evil into worfe. Shall 
 then this tartar be killed and deftroyed by contra- 
 ries, which indeed in fome fort may be effcded ; as 
 when you ufe vegetables or animals, whofe vertue 
 confifteth in a volatile fait : fuch are all fpecies or 
 forts of crefles, Muftard-fecd, horfe-radifh, fcurvy 
 grafs, alfo the fpirit of Tartar, of Harts-horn, and 
 of urine and the like, which by reafon of their pe- 
 netrating faculty pafs through all tlic body, finding 
 out the Tartar thereof, dcltroying the fame, as be- 
 ing contrary unto it ; and in this combat tv;o con- 
 trary natures is kindled, a great burning heat, where- 
 by the whole body is throughly heated and brought 
 to fweating ; and whenfoever by thefc contraries a 
 fweating is caufed, there is always mortified fome of 
 this hurtful Tartar- But becaufe that of that acid 
 humor but a little at a time can be mortified and e- 
 dulcorated by contrary volatile fpirits, and that 
 therefore it would be required to ufe them often, for 
 to kill and expell all the Tartar •, and becaufe alfo 
 (as hath been mentioned before) a ftrong fweat al- 
 ways is caufed by every (uch operation, whereby the 
 natural fpirits are much weakened, fo that the pati- 
 ent would not be able to hold out long thereby, but 
 by taking away of one evil, another and greater one 
 would be occafioned. 
 
 And therefore fuch things muft be offered to that 
 hungry acid humour, by which the corrofive nature 
 thereof, may be mortified and grow fweet, with that 
 provifo neverthelefs, that thofe things be fuch as 
 are not contrary or hurtful to the nature of man, 
 but grateful and friendly, as are corals, pearls and 
 crabs eyes, &c. 
 
 For amongft all ftones none are more eafily to 
 be diffolved than Pearls, Corals, Crabbs-eyes, and 
 other ftones of filhes- 
 
 But the truth of this, viz.. that every corrofive is 
 killed by feeding upon pearls and corals, and there- 
 by can be made fweet \ and befides> how a fowre co- 
 agulated Tartar, by the help of corals or pearls 
 may be reduced to a fweet liquor (a pleafant and ac- 
 ceptacle medicine to the nature of manj which ne- 
 ver can be coagulated again by any means, ftiall 
 be afterwards proved and taught when I (hall come 
 to treat of Tartar. 
 
 Now in tartareous coagulations and obftrudions 
 of the internals proceeding from the predominancy 
 of an acid humor there is no better remedy, than to 
 give the patient every morning fafting from ^fs. to 
 5 i- fmore ob lefs, according to the condition of the 
 patient) of red corals and pearls made into powder, 
 and to let him faft two or three hours upon it, 
 and fo to continue daily until you fee amendment : 
 By this means the hurtful acid humor is mortified, 
 and dulcified by the corals and pearls, {o that after- 
 wards it may be overcome by nature, whereby the 
 obftruftions are removed, and the body freed from 
 the difeafe. 
 
 This ray opinion of the abufe of Magifteries and the 
 good ufe of Corals 1 could not conceal, although I do 
 know for certain, that it will take but with few, in 
 regard that it will feem very ftrange to moft. How- 
 ever, happily there may be fome yet, that will not 
 be unwilling to fearch into the truth, and to confider 
 further of it, and at laft will find this not to be fo 
 ftrange, as it feemed to them at the firft : but he that 
 cannot believe or comprehend it, may keep to his 
 Magifteries. 
 
 F^ And 
 
20 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 And if it feem fo ftrange unto any, that corals or 
 pearls made into powder fliall be conceded in the 
 ftomach, and fo put forth their vertue, what will 
 you fay then, if I do prove, that even whole pearls, 
 crabs eyes, and corals being fwallowed, are totally 
 confumed by the Melancholy humor, fo that nothing 
 cometh forth again among the excrements ? and 
 which is more, e'ven the like may befaid of hard and 
 Compad metals, as Iron,and Speaucer or Zinck : But 
 this muft be underftood only of thofe that are of a Me= 
 lancholick conftitution but not fo in others, v:z,, thofe 
 that are of a fanguine,and thofe that are of aphlcgma-- 
 tick conftitution, to whom fuch like things are feldpm 
 prefcribed. For I have feen many times, thatagamft 
 obftruaions, to ftrong bodies there .hath been given 
 at once from 9fs. to 3 i. of the lliavingsor filings of 
 Iron, and they found much good by it, yea more 
 help then by other coftly medicines of the Apothe- 
 caries, whereof they had ufed many before, but to 
 no purpofe, by reafon whereof their excrements came 
 from them black, jull as it ufeth to fall out with thofe 
 that makeufe of medicinal fowre waters, which run 
 through iron mines, and thereby borrow a fpiritual 
 mineral vertue. 
 
 Now if thofe filings of iron had not been confumed 
 in the ftomach, how come it that the excrements are 
 turned black ? fo then it is fufficiently proved, that 
 even a hard unprepared metal can be confumed in 
 the ftomach : and if fo, why not as well foft pearls 
 and corals .' 
 
 Which is alfo to be feen by children, that are 
 troubled with worms, if there be given unto them 
 4, 6,8. to 12- or i6. grains of the fineft filings of 
 ft'eel or iron, that all the worms in the body are 
 killed thereby, their ftomach and guts fcowred very 
 clean, and their ftools alfo turned black. But this 
 muft be obferved by children, when the worms are 
 l^illed, and yet remain in the guts (becaufe that the 
 iron in a fmal quantity is not ftrong enough for to ex- 
 pel them, but only make the body foluble) that a 
 purge muft be ufed after, for to carry them out ; for 
 elfe if they do remain there, others will grow out of 
 their fubftance- But to thofe that are more in years, 
 you may give the Dofe fo much the ftronger, as from 
 3 i. to oi. that the worms alfo may be carryed out, 
 they being bett«r able to endure it than little chil- 
 dren, and although fometimes a vomit doth come, yet 
 it doth no hurt, but they will be but fo much the 
 healthier afterward. 
 
 And thus Iron may be ufed, not only againft 
 worms, but alfo againft all ftomach-agues, head-ach, 
 and obftruitions of the whole body, without any 
 danger and very fuccefsfully, as a grateful or very 
 acceptable medicine to Nature •, for after a powerful 
 magnetical way it doth attrad all the ill humors in the 
 body, and carrieth them forth along with it. Of 
 whofe wonderful vertue and nature, there is fpoken 
 more at large in my Treatife of the Sympathy and 
 Antipathy of things. Which fome Phyfitians per- 
 ceiving and fuppofing by Art to make it better, they 
 fpoiled it, and made it void of all vertue : for they 
 taking a piece of fteel, made it red-hot, and held it 
 againft a piece of common Sulphur, whereby the fteel 
 grew fubtle, fo they did let it drop into a velTel 
 filled with water ; then they took it out, and dryed 
 it, and made it into powder, and ufed it againft ob- 
 ftruftions, but to no elFed almoft ; for the Iron was 
 fo altered by the fulphur, and reduced to an infoluble 
 fubftance (which ought not to have been foj that it 
 could perform no confiderable operation : £ut; if 
 
 they had made the fteel more foluble (whereas they 
 made it more infoluble J than it was of it felf before, 
 then they had done a good work : for he that know- 
 eth fulphur, doth know well enough, that by no^- 
 cjnafortis or Aqua Regis it can be dilfolved ; and how 
 how could it then be confumed by an animal humor ? 
 
 Hitherto it hath been pr, < fufficiently, that in 
 fome men, efpecially in thole mat are of a Melancho- 
 lick conftitution there is an acid humor, which can 
 fufiiciently diflblve all eafily foluble metals and 
 ftones : and that therefore it is needlefs to torture, 
 and diflblve pearls, corals and the like with corro- 
 five waters before they be adminiftred to patients : 
 but that the Archeus of the ftomach is ftrong enough 
 by the help of the faid humors to confurae thofe eafi- 
 ly foluble things, and to accept of that which ferv- 
 eth his turn, and to rejed the reft- 
 
 But it is not my intent here, that this (hould be un- 
 derftood of all metals and ftones ^ for I knov/ well, 
 that other metals and ftones ffome excepted j before 
 they are duly prepared, are not fit for Phyfick, but 
 muft be fitted firft, before they be adminiftred or 
 given unto patients. 
 
 For this relation I made only for to ftiew, how 
 fometimes good things (though with intent to make 
 them better) are made vvorfe, and fpoiled by thofe 
 that do not make an exaft fearch into nature and her 
 
 power. 
 
 I hope this my admonition will not be taken ill, 
 becaufe my aim was not vain-glory, but only the 
 good of my neighbour- 
 
 Now let us return again to Vitriol. 
 
 Of the fweet oyl of yitriol. 
 
 THE Ancients make mention of a fweet and green 
 oyl of Vitriol, which doth cure the falling fick= 
 nefs, killeth worms, and hath other good qualities 
 and vertues befides : and that the Oyl is to be diftil- 
 led fer defcerfum. To attain unto this oyl the la- 
 ter Phyfitians took great paines, but all in vain : be- 
 caufe they did not underftand at all the Ancients a- 
 bout the preparing of this oyl, but thought to get 
 it by the force of fire, and fo ufing violent diftilla- 
 tion, they got no fweet oyl, but fuch as was very 
 fowre and corrofive, which in tafte, efficacy and ver- 
 tue, was not comparable at all to the former. 
 
 However they afcribed unto it (though falfely) 
 the fame vertues, which the ancients (according to 
 truth) did unto theirs. But daily experience fiiew- 
 eth, that the oyl of vitriol as it is found ordinarily, 
 cureth no falling ficknefs, nor killeth worms, where- 
 as this Philofophical doth it very quickly. Whence 
 it appeareth, that the other is nothing like unto the 
 true medicinal oyl of vitriol, neither is it to be com= 
 pared to it- 
 
 1 muft confefs indeed, that pf defcenfum out of 
 common vitriol , by the force of the fire , there 
 may be got a greenilh oyl, which yet is not bet- 
 ter than the other, becaufe it proveth as (harp in taft, 
 and of as corroding a quality, as if it had been di- 
 ftilled through a Retort- 
 
 Thofe that found out this oyl, as Paracelfiis, Ba- 
 fillus , and fome few others, did always highly e- 
 fteem it, and counted it one of the four main pil- 
 lars of Phyfick. And Paracdfns faith exprefly in 
 his writings, that its viridity or greennefs muft not 
 be taken away or marred (which indeed a very little 
 heat can do; by thefire,for f faith he; if it be depriv- 
 ed of its greennefs, it is deprived alfo of its effica- 
 cy 
 
Philofofhical FurmccT. 
 
 2t 
 
 cy and pleafant cflence. Whence it may be perceiv- 
 ed fufTiciencly, that this fweet green oyl is not to 
 be made by the force of the fire as hitherto by ma- 
 ny hath been attempted, but in vain. 
 
 And it is very probable, that the ancients, which 
 did fo highly praife theoyi of vitriol, happily knew 
 nothing of this way of diftilling, which is ufed by 
 us now a days : for they only fimply followed Na- 
 ture, and had not fo many fubtle and curious inven- 
 tions and ways of diftilling. 
 ■ But however it is certain, that fuch a fweet and 
 green oyl cannot be made of vitriol by the force of 
 the fire, but rather muft be done by purification, af- 
 ter a fingular way ; for the Ancients many times 
 underftood purification for diftillation : as it is evi- 
 dent, when they fay, diftill through a filtre, or 
 through filtring paper : which by us is not accoun- 
 ted for diftillation, but by them it was. 
 
 However, this is true and veryfure, that a great 
 Treafure of health (or for the health of man) lyeth 
 hidden in Vitriol: yet not in the common, as it is 
 fold every where, and which hath endured the heat 
 of the fire already \ but in the Oare as it is found 
 in the earth, or its mine- For as foon as it com- 
 eth to the day light, it may be deprived by the heat 
 of the Sun of its fubtle and penetrating fpirit, and fo 
 made void of vertue ; which fpirit, if by Art it be 
 got from thence, fmelleth fweeter then musk and ' 
 amber, which is much to be admired, that in fuch 
 a defpicable mineral and grofs fubftancc (as it is 
 deemed to be by the ignorant) fuch a royal medi- 
 cine is to be found. 
 
 Now this preparation doth not belong to this 
 place, bccaufe we treat here only of fpirits, which 
 by the force of fire are driven over- Likewife alfo, 
 there doth not belong hither the preparation of the 
 green oyl, becaufe it is made without the help of 
 fire. But in regard, that mention hath been made 
 of it here, I will (though I kept it always very fe- 
 cret) publilh it for the benefit of poor patients, ho- 
 ping that it will do much good to many a fick 
 man. 
 
 For if it be well prepared, it doth not only cure 
 perfe(n:ly every Epilepfie or Convulfion in young and 
 old ; and likewife readily and without fail killeth all 
 worms within and without the body, as the Ancients 
 with truth afcribed unto it ; but alfo many Chroni- 
 cal difeafes and fuch as are held incurable, may be 
 happily overcome and expelled thereby, as the 
 plague, pleurefie, all forts of feavers and agues, what 
 ever they be called, head-ach, collick, rifing of the 
 mother; alfo all obftruJlions in the body, efpecially 
 of the fpleen and liver, from whence Mdu?ichoUa 
 Hyfochoiidriacii^ the fcurvy, and many other intole- 
 rable difeafes do arife : Alfo the blood in the whole 
 body is by the means thereof amended and renewed, 
 fo that the Pox, Leprofie, and other like difeafes pro- 
 ceeding from the infeftion of the blood are eafily 
 cured thereby: Alfo it healeth fafely and admi- 
 rably all open fores and ftinking ulcers turned to 
 fiftula's in the whole body, and from what caufe fo e = 
 ver they did proceed, if they be anoynted there- 
 with, and the fame alfo be inwardly ufed befides. 
 
 Such and other difeafes more (which it is needlefs 
 here to relate) may be cured fuccefsfully with this 
 fweet oyl -, efpecially, if without the lofs of its 
 fweetnefs it be brought to a red colour ^ for then it 
 will do more then a man dare write of it, and it 
 may ftand very well for a Panacea in all difeafes. 
 
 The freparation of the fweet oyl of Fttriol; 
 
 Commonly in all fat foylesor clayie grounds, ef- 
 pecially in the white, there is found a kinde cf 
 ftones, round or oval in form, and in bigncfs like 
 unto a pigeons or hens-egg, and fmaller alfo, ^■/^. ns 
 the joynt of ones finger, on the outfidc black, and 
 tlierefore not eftcemed when it is found, but caft ■^- 
 way as a contemptible ftone. Which if it be ciennf- 
 cd from the earth, and beaten to pieces, looks with- 
 in of a fair yellow and in ftreaks, like a goldMarca- 
 fite, or a rich gold Oare, but there is no other taile 
 to be perceived in it, then in another ordinary 
 ftone ; and although it be made into powder, and 
 boy led a long time in water, yet it doth not alter at 
 all, nor is there in the water any other talle or co- 
 lour, than that which it had fuft (when it was poured 
 upon the ftone) to be perceived. Now this itone is 
 nothing elfe, but the beft and pureft Minera (or Oare) 
 of Vitriol, or a feed of Metals^ for ^N^ature hath 
 framed it round, like unto a vegetable feed, and 
 fowed it into the earth, out of which there ;nay 
 be made an excellent medicine, as followeth. 
 
 Take this Oare or Minera beaten into pieces, and 
 for fome fpace of time, lay or expofe it to the cool 
 air, and within twenty or thirty days it will magne- 
 tically attrafl a certain faltidi moyfture out of the 
 air, and grow heavy by it, and at laft it falkth a- 
 funder to a black powder, which muft remain furtl-,cr 
 lying there ftill, until it grow whitifii, and that ic 
 do tafte fweet upon the tongue like viiriol. After- 
 ward put it in a glafs-vefiel, and pour on fo mucii 
 fair rain water, as that it cover it one or two inches ; 
 ftir it about feveral times in a day, and after a few 
 days the water will be coloured green, which you 
 muft powreofF, and powreon more fair water, and 
 proceed as before, ftirring it often until that alfo 
 come to be green : this muft be repeated fo often, 
 until no water more will be coloured by ftanding up- 
 on it- Then let all the green waters which you pou- 
 red off, run through filtring paper, for to purifie 
 them •, and then inaglafs-body cut ofFfliort let them 
 evaporate till a skin appear at the top : then fet it 
 in a cold place, and there will fhoot little green 
 ftones, which are nothing elfe but a pure vitriol : 
 the remaining green water evaporate again, and let 
 it flioote as before : and this evaporating and Cry- 
 ftallifing muft be continued until no vitriol more will 
 flioote, but in warm and cold places there remain ftill 
 a deep green pleafant fweet liquor or jnyce : which 
 is the true fweet and green oyl of Vitriol, and haih 
 all the vertues above related. 
 
 But now this green oyl further without fire may at 
 laft (after the preparing of many fair colours be- 
 tween) be reduced to a blood red, fweet and pleafant 
 oyl, which goeth far beyond the green both in plea- 
 fantnefs and vertue, and is in comp-irifon to ic like 
 a ripe grape to an unripe : Hereof happily (liall be 
 fpoken at another time, becaufe occafion and time 
 will not permit me now to proceed further in it. And 
 therefore the Philo-Chymical Reader is defired for 
 the prefent to be contented with the green oyh to 
 prepare it carefully, and to ufe it with difcretion •■, 
 and doubtlefs he will get more credit by it, and do 
 more wonderful things then hixherto hath been done 
 by the heavy corrofive oyl- 
 
 The 
 
22 
 
 The Second Tart of 
 
 The II fs and Dofe of the [met oylof Vitriol. 
 
 >F this green oy], there may be taken from i. 2. 
 
 ^ 4.8. lo. or 12. drops at once, according to 
 
 the condition of the patient and the difeafe, in fit 
 Vehicles in Vv ine or Beer, in the morning fafting, 
 as other medicines are iifually taken : Alfo the Dofe 
 may be increafed or lelTened, and as often reiterated 
 as rhe difeafe Ihall require. 
 
 This Oyl expelleth all ill humors, not only by 
 ftoolc and vomits, but alfo by urin and fweating, 
 according as it doth meet with fuperfliiities; and 
 this very fafely, and without any danger at all j 
 u'hereby many difcafes radically or perfeflly may 
 be cured. 
 
 Let no man wonder that I afcribe fuch great ver- 
 tucs unto this oyl, it coming from fuch a defpicable 
 li:onc, and its preparation requiring no great Art or 
 paincs, as thofc intricate deceitful procelfes do, that 
 are every where extant in books quite filled up with 
 them. And it is no marvel, that men are in love 
 with fuch falfe and coftly proceffes^ for the moft 
 of them do not believe, that any good is to be found 
 in things that are not in efteem ; but only make 
 great account of dear things, far fetcht, and requi- 
 ring much time and paincs for to be prepared. 
 
 Such men do not believe the word of God, tefti- 
 fying, That Gud is po refpeH^er of ['Crfons, but that 
 all men that fear and love him, are accepted of him. 
 If this be true (which no good Chriftian will doubt j 
 then we miift believe alfo, that God created Phy- 
 lick or the matter of Phyfick as well for the poor 
 as for the rich. Now if it be alfo for the poor, 
 then certainly fuch will be the condition thereof, 
 that it may be obtained by them, andeafily prepa- 
 red for ufe. So we fee that Almighty God caufeth 
 not only in great mens grounds to come forth good 
 Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, for the curing of 
 the infirmities of mankind, but that the fame alfo are 
 found every where elfe. Whereby we perceive, that 
 it is alfo the will of God, that they (hall be known 
 by all men, and that he alone, as the Maker of all 
 good, may be praifed and magnified by all men for 
 the fame. 
 
 I doubt not but that there will be found felf-con- 
 ceited fcoffers, that wiltdefpife this fo little regard= 
 ed fubjeft, as if no good thing could be made of it, 
 bccaufe they could (ind nothing in it themfelves. But 
 be it known to them, that neither to me nor them all 
 things have been difcovered, but that yet many 
 wonderful works of Nature arc hidden to us : and 
 bcfidesthat I amnotthefirft that writ of Vitriol and 
 its medicine. For the Ancients, our dear Anceflors, 
 had always Vitriol in very great efteem, as the fol- 
 lowing Verfe doth prove. 
 
 ytfitabis Jnteriora Terra, Rcciificando 
 
 Jnvenies Occulttm L,ipdtm^ Vtram Mediciram. 
 
 Whereby they would give us to underftand, that 
 a true medicine is to be found in it- And the fame 
 alfo was known to the latter Philofophers : for Ba- 
 f lilts and Paracelfiis have always highly commended 
 it, as in their writings is to be found. 
 
 It is to be admired, that this Oare or Metallical 
 feed, which may juftly be called the gold of Phy- 
 fitians Tin regard that fo good a medicine can be made 
 of it) is not changed or altered in the earth, like o- 
 ther things that grow in it, but keepeth always the 
 
 fame form and fhape, until it cometh to the air, 
 which is its earth or ground, wherein it putrefieth 
 and groweth. For firft it fwelleth and groweth like 
 as a vegetable feed doth in the earth : and fo taketh 
 its increafe and grows out of the air, jufl as a feed of 
 anhearb in the earthy and the air is not only itsMa- 
 tri.v, wherein it groweth and doth increafe like a 
 vegetable, but it is alfo its Sun which raaketh it ripe. 
 For within four weeks at the furtheft it putrefieth 
 and groweth black : and about a fourtnight after it 
 groweth white, and then green ; and thus far it 
 hath been defcribed here : But if you proceed fur- 
 ther Philofopher-like therewith, there will come 
 forth to light at the laft the faireft red, and moll 
 pleafant Medicine, for which God be praifed for ever 
 and ever. Amen. 
 
 Of the SulphHreCHS "volatile and Acid fpirit of common 
 Salt^ and of Allome, 
 
 THe fame way, which above hath been taught 
 for the making of the volatile fpirit of vitri- 
 ol, muft be likewile ufed in the making of the vola-* 
 tile fpirits of conmion fait and allome. 
 
 The manner of preparing. 
 
 ALlome is to be caft in as it is of it felf, without 
 mi.King of it, but fait muft be mixed with bole, 
 or fome other earth, to keep it from melting : with 
 the fpirit volatile, there goeth alfo along an acid 
 fpirit, whofc vertue is defcribed in the firft part. 
 The Oyl of Allome hath almoft the like operation 
 with the oyl of vitriol. Alfo the fpirit volatile of 
 both theie, is of the fame nature and condition with 
 that which is made of vitriol: but common fait, and 
 allome, do not yield fo much, as vitriol ; unlefs both, 
 viz.. fait and allome be mixed together, and fo a 
 fpirit diftilled of them. 
 
 Of the ftilphureous volatile fpirit of Minerals and Me^ 
 ta'.s^ and of their preparation, 
 
 Sllch a penetrative fulphureous fpirit may be made 
 alfo of Minerals and Metals, which in vertue go- 
 eth beyond the fpirit of vitriol, that of common fait, 
 and that of allome, -viz.- after the following man- 
 ner. 
 
 Tk preparation of the volatile fpirits of Metals. 
 
 DIflblve either Iron or Copper, or Lead or Tin 
 with the acid fpirit of vitriol, or of common 
 fait: abftra-.T; or draw off the phlegm i^ then drive 
 the acid fpirit again from the Metal, and it will car- 
 ry along a volatile fpirit, which by redifying muft 
 be feparated from the corrofive fpirit. And fuch Me= 
 tallical fpirits are more effeftual than thofe that are 
 made of the falts. 
 
 The preparation of the volatile fpirit of Minerals. 
 
 TAke of Antimony made into fine pouder, or of 
 golden Marcafite, or of fome other fulphure- 
 ous Mineral , which you pleafe, two parts, mix 
 therewith one part of good purified Salt nitre, and 
 caft in of that mixture a fmall quantity , and then a- 
 nother, and fo forth after the manner above defcri- 
 bed ; and there will come over a fpirit which is not 
 inferiour to the former in efficacy and vertue ; but it 
 muft alfo be well redified. ■^''">' 
 
Pbilo/opbical Furnaces. 
 
 29 
 
 Mother way. 
 
 CEment what laminated or granulated Metal you 
 pleafe , ( except gold ) with half as much in 
 vveighc of common fiilphur , clofed up in a ftrong 
 melting pot or crucible, fuch as doth not let the ful- 
 phurgo through, for the fpace of half an hour, until 
 that the fulphur hath penetrated and broken the 
 plates of Metal: Then beat them into powder, mix 
 them with the like quantity in weight of common 
 fait, andfodiltil it after the way above mentioned, 
 and you will get a volatile fpirit of great vertue : 
 and every fuch fpirit is to be ufed for fuch fpecial 
 part or member of the Body, as the Metal is pro- 
 per f©r, out of which the fpirit is made. So fil- 
 verfor the brainy Tinn for the lungs, Lead for the 
 fpleen, and fo forth. 
 
 The fpirit of Zinc^. 
 
 OF Zinck there is diftilled both a volatile and 
 alfo an acid fpirit, good for the heart ; whe- 
 ther it be made by the help of the fpirit of vitri- 
 ol, or of fait, or of allome : or elfc by the means of 
 Sulphur ^ for Zinck is of the nature of gold- 
 
 The volatile fpirit of the Drofsof RcgHlns Mortis. 
 
 THc black fcoria of the Rtgulus Manis^ being firfl 
 fain afwnder in the air, yields likewife a very 
 ftrong fulphureous volatile fpirit, not much unlike 
 in vertue unto the former. 
 
 T he like Sulphureous volatile fpirits may be made 
 alfo of other minerals, which for brevities fake we 
 omit, as alfo in regard, that they are almoft the 
 fame in vertue. 
 
 How to Tnake a rrhite acid, mid a red volatile fpirit out of 
 fait mtre- 
 
 TAke two parts of Allome, and one part of fait 
 nitre, make them both into powder> mix them 
 well together, and caft into the ftill a little and a lit- 
 tle thereof, as above in the making of other fpirits 
 hath been taught, and there cometh over an acid 
 fpirit together with the volatile fpirit ; and fo many 
 pounds as there is of the materials, which are to be 
 caft in, fo many pounds of water mull be put into 
 the receiver, to the end that the volatile fpirits may 
 fo much the better be caught and faved- And when 
 the diftillation is performed, the two fpirits may be 
 feparated by the means of a gentle reftification made 
 in Batfieo ; and you muft take good heed, that you 
 get the volatile fpirit pure by changing the receiver 
 in good time, fo that no flegme be mixed with the 
 i-ed fpirit, whereby it will be weakened and turn 
 white. The mark whereby you may perceive, whi- 
 ther the fpirit or the flegme doth go forth is this : 
 when the volatile fpirit goeth, then the receiver 
 lookcth of a deep red : and afterward when the 
 flegme doth come, the receiver looks white again : 
 and laftly, when the heavy acid fpirit goeth, then 
 the receiver to be red again, but not fo as it was, 
 when the firft volatile fpirit came over. 
 
 This fpirit may alfo be made and diftilled after 
 another way, viz.. mixing the fait nitre with twice 
 as much bole or brick dnft, and fo framed into little 
 balls to prevent melting : but no way is fo good as 
 the firft ; efpecially when you will have the red vo- 
 latile fpirit. 
 
 Of the life of the red volatile fpirit . 
 
 THis volatile fpirit, which (being quite freed from 
 * flegm) remaineth always red, and doth look 
 like blood, in all occafions may be accounted like in 
 vertue unto the former fulphureous fpirits, efpecially 
 in extinguifhing of inflammations and Gangreens it 
 IS a great treafure, clothes being dipt in it, and laid 
 upon the grieved place i Alfo it goeth almoft beyond 
 all other medicines in the Eryfipelas and colick : and 
 if there be any congealed blood in the body (which 
 came by a fall or blow) this fpirit outwardly applyed 
 with fuch waters as are proper for the grief, and 
 alfo taken inwardly, doth diffolve and cxpell it : and 
 being mingled with the volatile fpirit of urin it doth 
 yield a wonderful kind of fait, as hereafter Ihall be 
 taught. 
 
 The nfe of the mhite acid fpirit of fait nitre. 
 
 THe heavy and corrofive fpirit of fait nitre 19 
 not much ufed in Phyfick, though it be found 
 almofl: in all Apothecaries fliops, and there is kept for 
 fuch ufe, as above hath been mentioned of the fpiric 
 of vitriol, VIZ.. to make their conferves, and cool- 
 ing-drinks taft fowrilh.- Alfo it is ufed by fome in 
 the colick, but it is too great a corrofive, and too 
 grofs to be ufed for that purpofe • and although its 
 corrofivenefs may be mitigtated in fome meafure, 
 by adding of water thereto, yet in goodnefsand ver- 
 tue it is not comparable at all to the volatile fpirit 
 but is as far different from it, as black from white' 
 and therefore the other is fitteft to be ufed in Phy- 
 ITck^ but this in dealing with metals and minerals, 
 for to reduce them into vitriols, calxes, flores, and 
 crocus- 
 
 jAqua Regis. 
 
 IF you di/ToIve common fait Twhich hath been de- 
 crepitated firft; in this acid fpirit of fait nitre, & 
 redifie it by a glafs retort in fand j by a good ftron'' 
 fire. It will be fo ftrong, that it is able to diflblve 
 gold, and all other metals and minerals, except fil- 
 ver and fulphur ; and feveral metals may by the 
 means thereof be feparated much better than by that 
 Aqua regia which hath been made by adding of Salt 
 Armoniack. But if you redifie itv]\thlap:s cal.imina- 
 ns or Ziack, it will be ftronger yet, fo as to be able to 
 diflblve all metals and Minerals ffilver and fulphur ex- 
 cepted) whereby in the handling of Metals, much 
 more may be efFeaed, than with common fpirit of 
 fait nitre or Aqua fortis, as hereafter fliall be taught : 
 and firft in the preparing of gold. 
 
 The Preparation of Awrtim Fulminans^ or Attrnm 
 Tonitruans. 
 
 TAke of fine granulated or laminated gold (whis 
 ther it be refined by Antimony or Acina fonts ) 
 as much as you pleafe : put it in a little Glafs 
 body, and pour four or five times as much of Aqua 
 regis upon it, fet it ftopt with a Paper in a gourd 
 in warm fand \ and the Ac\ua regis within the fpace 
 of one or two hours will diflblve the gold quite in- 
 to a yellow water : but if it have not done fo, 
 it is a fign that either the water was not ftrong 
 enough, or that there was too little of it for to 
 diflblve it. Then pour the folution from the gold, 
 
 G i which 
 
24 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 which is not diiTolved yet, into another ^.lafs, and 
 pour more of frelh ylf^a Regia upon the gold : fet 
 it again to dilfolve in warm land or allies, and the 
 remaining gold will likewife be diflblved by it, and 
 then there will remain no more, but a little white 
 calx, which is nothing elfe but filver , which could 
 not be dilToIved by the ^?«^ l^cgiA Cfor the Jiqu-i 
 Regia, whether it be made after the common way 
 with fait Armoniack,or elfe with common falt,doth 
 not diflblve filver; lb in like manner common A- 
 qmfortis^ orfpirit of ftlt nitre dillolveth no gold ■■, 
 bat all other metals are dilTolved as well by ftrong 
 Aqi'-i fortis as by y^qiu Regia. And therefore you 
 muft bz careful to take fuch gold as is not mixed 
 with Copper, elfe your work would be fpoiled : 
 for if there were any Copper mixed with it, then 
 that likewife would be dilTolved and precipitated 
 together with the gold ; and it would be a hindrance 
 to the kindling or fulminating thereof : but if you 
 ran get no gold, that is without Copper, then take 
 Ducats or Rofc-noblcs, which ought to have no Ad- 
 dition of Copper, but only of a little Silver, which 
 doth not hurt, becaufe that it cannot be dilTolved 
 by the yJqaa Rgt.i-, but rcmaineth in the bottom in 
 a white povvdei" Make thofe Ducats or Rofe-no-- 
 blcs red hot, and afterward bend them and make 
 them up in Rolls, and throw them into the ^^'■ta 
 Regia for to difTolve- All the gold being turned 
 into a yellow water, and poured off, pour intoit by 
 drops a pure oyl made of the Salt of Tartar, per 
 diU^ititvn.^ and the gold will be precipitated by the 
 contrary liquor of Salt of Tartar into a brown yel- 
 low powder, and the folution will be clear- But 
 you muft take heed, to pour no more oyl of Tar- 
 tar into it than is needful for the precipitation of 
 the gold j elfe part of the precipitated gold would 
 be diilblved again, 'and fo caufe your lofs- The 
 gold being well precipitated, pour off the Clearwa- 
 ter from the gold calx by inclination, and pour 
 upon it warm rain or other fweet water , ftir it 
 together with a clean flick of wood, and fet it in a 
 warm place, until the gold is fettled, fo that the 
 water ftar.deth clear upon it again ; then pour it 
 off, and pour on other frelh water, and let it ex- 
 tract the faltnefs out of the gold calx ■ and this 
 pouring off, and then pouring on of frefh water 
 again, mnft be reiterdted fo often, until no Iharpnefs 
 or faltnefs more be perceived in the water that 
 hath been poured off : Then fet the edulcorated 
 gold into the Sun or another warm place for to 
 dry. But you muft take heed that it have no grea- 
 ter heat than the heat of the Sun is in ^ay or 
 'ju.-.e^ elfe it would kindle or take fire, and (efpe= 
 cially if there be much of it) give fuch a thunder- 
 clap, that the hearing of thofe that ftandby, would 
 be much endangered thereby, and therefore I ad= 
 vice you to beware, and cautious in the handling 
 of it, left you run the hazard both of your gold 
 and of your health by your over-fight- 
 
 I'here is alfo another way for to edulcorate your 
 precipitated gold, vt:^. thus , Take it together 
 with the fait liquor , and pour it into a funnel 
 lined with brown Paper laid double, and fo let the 
 water run through into a glafs vcllel, whereupon 
 the funnel doth reft, and pour on other warm wa= 
 ter^ and let it run through likewife ; do this again 
 and again , until that the water come from it as 
 Tweet as it was poured on. Then take the Paper 
 with the edulcorated gold calx, out of the funnel, 
 lay it, together with the paper, upon other brown 
 
 paper lying feverally double together, and the dry 
 paper will attraft all the moiftnefs out ^of the gold 
 calx, fo that the gold will be dryed the fooner- 
 Which being dry, take it out of the filtering pa- 
 per, and put it into another that is clean , and fo 
 lay it afide, and keep it for uTe. The fait water 
 that came through by filtering, may be evaporated 
 in a little glafs body fftanding in fandj to thedry- 
 nefs of the fait, which is to be kept from the air: 
 for it is likewife ufeful in Phyfick \ becaufe fome 
 vertue of the nature of gold is yet hidden in it : 
 though one would not think it, in regard that it is 
 fo fair, bright and clear , which for all that may 
 be obferved by this, that when you mek it in a 
 clean covered crucible or pot, and pour it after- 
 ward into a clean Copper morter or bafon T being 
 firft made warm) you get a purple-coloured fait, 
 whereof 6,9, 12, to 24. grains given inwardly, doth 
 cleanfe and purge the ftomach and bowels, and efpe- 
 cially it is ufeful in feavers and other difeafes of 
 the Itomach. Bat in the crucible , out of which 
 the fait hath been poured , you will find an earthy 
 fubftance, which hath feparatedit felf from the fait, 
 and looketh yellowifli ■■, this being taken out and 
 melted in a little crucible by a ftrong fire, turnetli 
 to a yellow glafs, which is impregnated with the 
 Tinifture of Gold, afld doth yield a grain of Sil- 
 ver in every regard like unto common cupellated 
 filver, wherein no gold is found, which is to be 
 admired: becaufe that all Chymifts are of opinion, 
 that no Aqia regia can diffolve filver which is true. 
 Thequeftion therefore is, from whence or how this 
 filver came into the faltjfince no -'4(j«.?^ef»rf doth dif- 
 lblve filver ? whereupon fome perchance may an- 
 fwer, that it muft have been in the oyl of Tartar, 
 in regard that many do believe , that the falts like - 
 wife may be turned into metals , which I do not 
 gainfay, but only deny that it could have been done 
 here ; for if that filver could have been exiftent 
 in the Aqua Regia, or fait of Tartar Twhereas Aqua 
 Regia cannot bear any ) it would have been precipi- 
 tated together with the gold- But that it was no 
 common filver, but gold which turned to filver af- 
 ter it was deprived of its Tinfture, t Ihall briefly 
 endeavour to prove. For that the fait waters ( of 
 yiqm Regia and fait of Tartar) out of which the 
 gold hath been precipitated, is of that nature , be- 
 fore it be coagulated to fait , though it be quite 
 clear and white, that if you put a feather in it , it 
 will be dyed purple within few days, which pur- 
 ple colour comes from the gold, and not from i'lU 
 ver, in regard that filver doth dye red or black : 
 and hence it appeareth, that the fait water hath re- 
 tained fomething of gold. 
 
 Now fome body peradventure may ask, if that 
 the faid fait water hath retained fome gold, how is it 
 then, that in the melting, no gold comes forth , but 
 only filver ? To which I anfwer, that fome falts are 
 of that nature, that in the melting, they take from 
 gold its colour and foul ; whereof if the gold be 
 truly deprived, it is then no more gold , nor can 
 be fuch i neither is it filver, but remaineth only a 
 volatile black body, good for nothing, which alfo 
 proveth much more unfixt than common Lead, not 
 able to endure any force of fire, much lefs the cu- 
 pel : But like Mercmyov Arfenick^ vanifheth (or flyeth 
 away) by a fmall heat. Hence it may be gathered, 
 that the fixednefs for fixity; of gold doth confift 
 in its foul or Tinfture, and not in its body , and 
 therefore it is credible , that gold may be anato- 
 mized, 
 
Philofofbical Furmces, 
 
 =5 
 
 mized , its belt or purer part feparated from the 
 grolfer ( or courfer ) and fo that a Tingent medi- 
 cine (or Tincture) may be made of it- But whe- 
 ther this be the right way, whereby the univerfal 
 medicine of the ancient Philofophers ( by whofc 
 means all metals can be changed or tranfmuted in- 
 to gold^ is to be attained unto> I will not difpute ; 
 yet 1 believe that peradventure there may be ano- 
 ther fubjed , endued with a far higher Tinifture 
 than gold is, which obtained no more from nature, 
 than it doth need it felf for its own fixednefs. 
 However, we may fafely believe, that a true Ani- 
 ma or Tinfturc of gold ■> if it be well feparated 
 from its impure black body, may be exalted and im- 
 proved in colour ; fo that afterwards of an imperfed 
 body a greater quantity, than that was from which 
 it was abftradled , may be improved and brought 
 to the perfe(n;ion of gold. But waving all this, it 
 is ^rue and certain, that if the gold be deprived 
 of its Tindlure, the remaining body can no more 
 be gold i as is demonltrated more at large in my 
 Treatife ( dc Ado fuabliU vero ) of the true po- 
 table Gold : And this I mentioned here onely 
 therefore, that in cafe the lover of this Art , in 
 his work fhould meet perchance with fiich a white 
 grain , he may know , from whence it doth pro- 
 ceed. 
 
 I could have forborn to fee down the prepara- 
 tion of the fulminating gold, and fo fave paper 
 and time , in regard that it is defcribed by o- 
 thers : but becaufe I promifed in the firfl part 
 to teach how to make the flores of gold, and that 
 thofe are to be made out of fulminating ( or thun- 
 dring ) gold , I thought it not amifs to defcribe 
 its preparation, that the lover of this Art need not 
 firfl have his recourfe to another book for to find 
 out the preparation, but by this my book may be 
 furniflied with a perfed inltrudion for the making 
 of the flores of gold, and this is the common way 
 for to make Aurum fnlmituvn^ known unto moft 
 Chymifts ; but in regard that eafily an error may 
 be committed in it, either by pouring on too much 
 of the liquor of Tartar ( efpecially when it is not 
 pure enough, fo that not all the gold doth preci- 
 pitate J but part of it remaineth in the folution, 
 whereby you would have lofs *, or elfe , the gold 
 falling or precipitating into a heavy calx , which 
 doth not fulminate well, and is unfit for to be fubli- 
 med into flores. 
 
 Therefore I will here fet down another and much 
 better way, whereby the gold may be precipitated 
 quite and clean out of the A(]iM Ke^U vvithout the 
 leaft lofs, and fo that it cometh to be very light 
 and yellow, and doth fulminate twice as ftrong as 
 the former , and there is no other difference be- 
 tween this and the former preparation, but only 
 that inflead of the oyl of Tartar, you take the 
 fpirit of urine, or of fait armoniack for to preci- 
 pitate the diflblvcd gold thereby \ and the gold (as 
 b"-fore faid ) will be precipitated much purer, than 
 It is done by the liquor of the fait of Tartar, and 
 being precipitated, it is to be edulcorated and dry- 
 ed , as above in the firft preparation hath been 
 taught. 
 
 Tht ufe of yinrhm fnlminans. 
 
 T^Here is little to write of the ufe of Jarum 
 
 •*- fulmina/is in phyfick ; for becaufe it is not 
 
 unlockt, but is only a grois calx and not accepta- 
 
 ble to the nature of man , it can do no miracle. 
 And although it be ufed to be given pcrfe from 6, 8, 
 12. grains to 9 1- for to provoke fweating in the 
 Plague, and other malignant feavers, yet it would 
 never fucceed fo well as was expcLted. Some have 
 mixed it with the like weight of common fulphur, 
 and made it red hot (or calcined it) whereby they, 
 deprived it of its fulminating vertue, fuppoling thus 
 to get a better medicine, but all in vain, foV the 
 gold calx would not be amended by fuch a grofs' 
 preparation. But how to prepare a good medicine 
 out of Atriun fidmi/iM!!^ fo that it may be evident- 
 ly feen, that the gold is no dead body, nor unlit 
 for phyfick , but that it may be made quick and 
 fit for to put forth or fliew forth thofe vcrtucs 
 which it pleafed God to treafure up in it, 1 fliall 
 here briefly difcover. 
 
 Firft, get fuch an inflrument fas above hath 
 been taught ) made for you out of Copper , but 
 not too big, nor with a lid at the top, but only 
 with a pipe, unto which a receiver may be apply- 
 ed, which muft not be luted to it ; but it fufllcech, 
 that the pipe enter far into the belly of the re- 
 ceiver ; and at the lower part it muft have a flat 
 bottom ,' that it may be able to ftand : over the 
 bottom there mufl: be a little hole with a little 
 door, that clofeth very exadly : and there muft 
 be alfo two little plates or fcales of filver or cop- 
 per, as big as the nail of ones finger , whereupon 
 the AHYHin fulmiiians is to be fet into the Inftru- 
 ment i which is to ftand upon a Trevet , under 
 which you are to lay.^fon^ burning Coals for to 
 warm or heat the bott6m*ithal. The Inftrument 
 together with the glafs Receiver being fo ordered, 
 that it ftands faft, and alfo the bottom thereof be- 
 ing warmed or heated, then with little pincers one 
 of the little fcales, containing 2, 3, or 4. grains of 
 Anrum fidmmans muft be conveyed upon the Inftru ■ 
 ment fet upon the warm bottom, and then fliut the 
 little door, and when the gold doth feci the hear, 
 it kindleth and giveth a clap, and there is caufed 
 a feparation, and efpecial unlocking of the gold :, 
 for as foon as the clap is done, the gold doth go 
 through the pipe like a purple coloured fmoak in- 
 to the receiver, and flicks on every where like a 
 purple coloured powder. When the fmoak is va- 
 niflied, which is foon done , then take the empty 
 fcale out of the Inftrument or Oven , and fet it 
 with the gold , which will likewife fulminate and 
 yield its flores. Then the firft being cooled in the 
 mean time, is to be filled again and put in, inflead 
 of that which is empty, and taken out, putting in 
 one fcale after another by turns , continue it fo 
 long till you have got flores enough : After the 
 fubliraation is performed , let the Copper Vcflcl 
 grow cool , and then fweep or brufli the gold 
 powder which is not fublimed with a haires foot, 
 or goofe feather out of the veflcl, which powder 
 ferves for nothing, but to be melted with a little 
 borax, and it will be good gold again, but onely 
 fomewhat paler than it was before it was made in- 
 to fulminating gold. But the flores in the recei- 
 ver cannot be bruflicd out thus, efpecially when 
 they are caft in with an addition of fait Nitre, as by 
 the flores of filver hereafter fliall be taught, becaufe 
 they are fomething moifl, and therefore pour in aj 
 much ofdephlegraed Tar tar ifed fpirit of wine unto 
 it, as you think to be enough, for to wafli off the 
 flores with. Thisdone> pour out the fpirit of wine, 
 
 H together 
 
26 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 together with the burnt Phoenix into a clean glafs, 
 with a long neck, fet it (being well luted firlt) into 
 a gentle Balneum, or into warm allies for fome 
 dayes, and the fpirit of wine in the mean time 
 will be coloured with a fair red, which you mulb 
 pour off and then pour on other fredi fpirit and fet 
 it in a warm place for to be diflblved, this being 
 likewife coloured, put both the extracts together in 
 a little glafs body, and abftraiH; the fpirit of wine 
 (in Balneo) from the Tindure, which will be a lit- 
 tle m quantity, but of a high red colour and pleafant 
 in tafte. The' remaining flores from which the Tin- 
 (fture is extvafted, may be with water walhed out 
 of the glafs, and then dryed if they are to be mel- 
 ted ; and they will vield a little pale gold, and the 
 molt part turneth into a brown glafs, out of which 
 perchance fomeching elfc that is good may be made, 
 but unknown tome as yet. 
 
 N- B. If you mix the Awum fulminans with 
 fome flit nitre, before fulmination, then the (lores 
 will be the more foluble, fo that they yield their 
 Tindurefooner and more freely, than alone of them- 
 felves ■■, and if you pleafe, you may adde thereto 
 thrice as much fait nitre, and fo fublime them in 
 flores, in the fame manner, as fhall be taught for 
 the making of the flores of iilver- 
 
 The life of the ThiClHre of Gold. 
 
 THe extrafted Tindure is one of the chiefeft of 
 thofe medicines, which comfort & cheer up the 
 heart of man, renew and reftore to youthfulnefs, and 
 cleanfe the impure blocd^n the whole body, where- 
 by many horrible difeafes, as the leprofie, the pox, 
 and like may be rooted out. 
 
 But whether this Tindture by the help of fire may 
 be further advanced into a fixed fubftance I do not 
 know : for I have not proceeded further in it, than 
 here is mentioned- 
 
 Of the flores of fiver and of its medicine. 
 
 HAving promifed in the firfl: part of this book 
 (when I was defcribingthe preparation of flores 
 oytof Metals) to teach in the fecond part to make 
 the flores of gold and filver, thofe of gold being 
 difpatcht -, there followeth now in order after the 
 gold, to fpeak alfo of filver and of its preparation, 
 which is to be thus performed. 
 
 Take of thin laminated or fmall granulated fine 
 filver as much as you pleafe, put it into a little fepa- 
 rating glafs body, and pour upon it twice as much in 
 weight of reftified fpirit of fait nitre, and the fpirit 
 of fait nitre will prefently begin to work upon the 
 hlver and to difl'olve it. But when it will not dif- 
 folve any more in tlie cold, then you mufl: put the 
 glafs body into warm fand or allies, and the water 
 will prefently begin to work again •, let the glafs Hand 
 in the warm allies, until all the filver be diflblved- 
 Then put the folution out of the little glafs body, 
 into another fuch as is cut oft' at the top, and put on 
 a little head or Limbeck, and in fand abfliracT: the 
 moity of the fpirit of fait nitre from the diflblved 
 filver-, then let the glafs body remain in the fand till 
 it be cool ; after take it out, and let it refl: for a 
 day and a night, and the filver will turn into white fo- 
 liated cryftals, from which you mufl: pour off" the 
 the remaining folution which is not turned ; and 
 from thence abftraft again the moity of the fpirit, 
 and let it flioot or turn in a cold place •, and this ab- 
 
 fliraifting and cryftallifing you are to reiterate, un- 
 til almofl: all the filver is turned to Cryflials ; which 
 you mufl; take out and, lay upon filtring paper to 
 dry, and fo keep it for fuch further ufe, as hereaf- 
 ter fliall be taught. The remaining folution, which 
 is not cryftallifed, you may in a copper veffel by add- 
 ing of fweet water thereto, precipitate over the fire 
 into a calx, and then edulcorate and dry it, and keep 
 it for other ufe, or elfe melt it again into a body. Or 
 elfe you may precipitate the fame vjith fait water, 
 and fo edulcorate and dry it •, and you will have a 
 calx, which doth melt by a gentle fire, and is of a 
 fpecial nature, and in the fpirit of urin, of fait Ar- 
 moniack, of Harts-horn, of Amber, of Soot, and of 
 hair it doth eafily diflblve ; and it may be prepared 
 or turned into good medicines, as fliortly in our 
 treating of the fpirit of urin (hafl be taught. Or 
 elfe, you may choofe not to precipitate the remain- 
 ing folution of filver, but with the fpirit of uriu 
 toextradl an excellent Tindure, as hereafter fliall be 
 taught* 
 
 Of the life of the cryflals of filver. 
 
 THefe cryftals may fafely be ufed in Phyfick a- 
 lone by therafelvess, 6,9, 12- graines there- 
 of being mixed with a little fugar, or elfe made up 
 into pills i they do purge very gently and without 
 danger i but by rcafon of their bitternefs they are 
 fomewhat untoothfome to take-, alfo, if they be not 
 made up into piUs, they colour the lips, tongue and 
 mouth quite black (but the reafon of that blacknefs 
 belongeth not to this place to treat of, but fliall by 
 and by follow hereafter j Alfo if they touch metals, 
 as Silver, Copper and Tin, they make them black 
 and ugly, and therefore they are not much ufed. 
 But if you put into the folution of filver fbefore 
 it be reduced into Cryfl;als) half as much quickfilver 
 as there was of the filver, and fo diflx>lve them toge- 
 ther and afterwards let them fhoot together, there 
 will come forth very fair little fquareftones like un- 
 to Allome, which do not melt in the air, as the for- 
 mer foliated ones ufe to do ; neither are fo bitter, 
 and they purge alfo quicker and better, than thofe 
 that are made only of filver. 
 
 How to fublime the Cryftals of filver into flores, and 
 then to make a good Medicine of the flores. 
 
 TAke of the foliated Cryfl:als of Silver as many as 
 you pleafe, and upon a grinding ftone made 
 warm firfl; , grind as much purified and well dryed 
 fait nitre amongfl; it, then put into your Iron di- 
 fl;illing veflel (to the pipe whereof there is to be 
 applyed and luted a great receiver) coles made into 
 powder two inches high, and make a fire under it, 
 that the veflel every where together with the coles 
 that are in it, become red hot. Then take off^ the 
 lid, and with a ladle throw in at once of your Cry- 
 ftials of filver 3 i. more or lefs, according as you 
 think that your receiver in regard of its bignefs is 
 able to bear. This done, prefently put on the lid, 
 and the fait nitre together with the cryflals of filver 
 will be kindled by the coles that lye on the bottom 
 of the veflel, and there will come forth a white fil- 
 ver fume through the pipe into the receiver, and 
 after a while when the cloud is vaniflied in the re- 
 ceiver, cafl: in more, and continue this fo long, and 
 until all your prepared filver is cafl; in , then let it 
 cool , and take off the receiver, and pour into it 
 
 good 
 
Philo/opbical Furnaces. 
 
 good Alcolized fpiiit of wine, and wafh the flores 
 with it out of the receiver, and proceed further 
 With them, as above you have been taught to proceed 
 with tlie gold, and you will get a greenifli liquor, 
 which is very good for the brain. 
 
 Take the coles cut of the diftilling vedel, and 
 niai<e them into fine powder, and wafh them out 
 with water, to the end that the light coie-duft may 
 be got from it, and you will find much filver dult 
 (or a great many little Giver grainsj which the fait 
 nitre could not force overj which you may reduce, 
 for it will be good -lilver. 
 
 There may alfo be made a very good medicine out 
 of tliccryltals ot hlver, whicii will be little inferior 
 to the former, whereby the difeafes and infirmities 
 of the brain may be very well remedied, which is 
 done thus. 
 
 Ho-x to make a green oyl out of Silver. 
 
 POur upon Cryftals of filver twice or thrice as 
 much ( in weight ) of the ftrongeft fpirit of 
 Salt Armoniack, put it in a glafs with a long neck 
 well clofed, into a very gentle warmth for the 
 fpace of 8. or 14. days in digeftion, and the fpirit 
 of fait Armoniack will be tinged with a very fair 
 blew colour from the lilver, then pour it off, and 
 filtre it through brown paper, and then put it in 
 a little glafs retort or glafs body , and abftraft 
 in Balneo by 2. gentle fire, almolt ail the fpirit of 
 fait Armoniack fwhich is ftill good for ufe) and 
 there will remain in the bottom a grafs-green Li- 
 quor, which is to be kept for a Medicine- 
 
 But in cafe that you Ihould mifs, and abllradl too 
 much of the fpirit from the Tindure of filver, fo 
 that the Tinfture be quite dry and turned to a 
 green Salt, 'then you muft pour upon it again as 
 much of the fpirit of Salt Armoniack, as will dif- 
 folve the green fait again to a green Liquor , bnt 
 if you defire to have the Tindure purer yet, then 
 abitrad all raoiftnefs from it, to a ftony drynefs : 
 upon which you muft pour good fpirit of Wine, 
 which will quickly difiblve the ftone, and then fil- 
 tre it, and there will remain feces, and the Tindure 
 will be fairer : from which you muft abftrad moft 
 of the fpirit of wine, and the Tindure will be fo 
 much the higher in vertue- But if you pleafe, you 
 may diftil that green fait or ftone (before it be 
 extraded again with that fpirit of wine) in a lit- 
 tle glafs retort, and you will get a fubtile fpirit 
 and a fliarp oyl, and in the bottom of the retort 
 there remaineth a very fulile filver which could not 
 come over- 
 
 It ib to be admired , that when you pour fpirit 
 of fait Armoniack , or fpirit of wine upon that 
 ftone, for to dilfolve it, that the glafs comes to be 
 fo cold by it, that you hardly are able to endure 
 it in your hand, which coldnefs in my opinion co- 
 nieth from the filver fbeing fo well unlockt J which 
 naturally is cold. 
 
 The Vfe of the green Liquor in Akhymy-, and for 
 Mechanical Operations. 
 
 THis green Liquor ferveth not only for a me- 
 dicine, but alio for other Chymical operati- 
 ons ( for both Copper and glafs may be eafily and 
 very fairly filvered over therewith ; very ufeful 
 for thofe that are curious and love to make afhew 
 With fair houOiold-ftulf i for if you get difhes, 
 
 ^7 
 
 trencher-plates, falters, cups and other vefTels made 
 of glafs , after the fame fafliion as thofe of filver 
 ufe to be made , you may very eafily and without 
 any confiderable charge filver them over therewith 
 within and without , fb that by the eye they can-- 
 not be difcerned from true filver place. 
 
 Befides the above-related good Medicines, there 
 may be made another ^'s.f}. efpccial good one out of 
 the cryftals offil/cr, viz.. di/lblving and digeftincr 
 them ( for a fpace of time ) with the univer'fal wa- 
 ter , which hath been diltilled by nature ic felf ; 
 and is known to every body : and after its di^eftl 
 ing for a fliort time, and change into fevera" co- 
 lours , there will be found a pleafancefrence, which 
 IS not fo bitter as the above- dcfcribcd green li- 
 quor, which is not brought yet by heat to ripe- 
 nefs and maturation. 
 
 N. B- In this fweet univerfal Menftruum , may 
 alfo all other metals by a fmall heat and the di- 
 geftion of a long time f)e ripened and fitted for 
 Medicines ( having firft been reduced into their vi= 
 trioisand falts) and then they are no more dead 
 bodies, but by this preparation have recoveicd a 
 new Life, and are no more the metals of the covetous 
 but may be called the metals of the Philofophers, and 
 of the Phyficians. 
 
 Befides Phyfitkjir phyfical ufe. 
 
 LAftly, there may be m.any pretty things more 
 effeded ( befides the medicinal ufe ) by means 
 of the Cryftals of filver, v,z.. when you difiblve 
 them in ordinary fweet rain water, you may dye 
 beards, hair, skin, and nails of men or beafts into 
 carnation or pink red, brown and black, accon 
 ding as you have put more or lefs thereof in the 
 water ; or elfe, according as the hair was more or 
 lefs times wetted therewith, whereby the afped of 
 Man and Beaft ("which fometimes in feveral occaflons 
 
 may not be contemned; is changed, fo that they can-- 
 not be known. 
 
 This colouring or dye may be alfo ])erformed 
 with Lead or Mercury no lefs than with filver, 
 but otherwife prepared , whereof in the fourth 
 part. 
 
 Now I have taught how to make flores and tin- 
 dures of gold and filver by help of the acid fpirit 
 of Nitre. There may be many other medicines 
 taught to be made out of them, but in regard that 
 they belong not to this place, they fiiall be'referved 
 for other places of this fecond , and alfo for the 
 other following parts. 
 
 As by the help of the fpirit of Nitre,good Medi- 
 cines may be made out of gold and filver, fo the 
 like may be done out of other infcriour mccals- But 
 in regard that their defcription is fitter for other 
 places of this Book, 1 omit them here. Yet never- 
 thelefs, I thought good to defcril^e one preparation 
 of every metal ; after Silver therefore foilowcth 
 now Copper. 
 
 A medicine out of Copper externally to be fifed- 
 
 Dlflblie burnt plates of Copper ifi fpirit of fait, 
 and abftrad the fpirit again from thence to a 
 drynefs, but not too hard, and there will a green 
 mafs remain behind, which you may caft in by lit- 
 tle and little, and fo diftil it, as of filver hath been 
 taught. It doth yield a ftrong and powerful fpi- 
 rit, and flores alfo for outward ufe in putrid 
 
 H 2 wounds 
 
28 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 wounds, to lay a good ground thereby for the hea- 
 
 ling. 
 
 A medicine out of Iron or Steel. 
 
 IN the fame manner you may proceed with iron 
 and fteel, and there will remain behind a good 
 crocus of a great fbipticity or aftringency , efpe- 
 cially out of iron or fteel, and may with good fuc- 
 cefs be mixed with oyntments and plaifters. 
 
 Of Tin and Lead. 
 
 IF Tin or Lead be dilToIved therein, after the ab- 
 ftraaing of part of the fpirit, they will flioot 
 into clear and fweet cryftals- But Tin is not fo 
 ealily dlflolved as Lead ; both may fafely be ufed 
 for medicines- Alfo there may be (pirits and {lores 
 got out of them by diftilling. The rehearfing of 
 the Preparation is needlefs, for what for the pre- 
 paring of filver hath been taught, is to be under- 
 ftood alfo of other metals. 
 
 The life of the Cryftals of Lead and Tin. 
 
 THE Cryftals of Lead are admirably good to be 
 ufed in the plague for to provoke fweatmg 
 and expel the venome out of the body -, they may 
 alfo with credit be ufed in the bloody flux. Ex- 
 ternally diilblved in water, and cloches dipt there- 
 in and applied, they excellently cool and quench 
 all inflammations , in what part of the body foever 
 they do befal. Likewife the fpirit thereof ufed 
 ferfe fand the flores mixed among oyntments j do 
 their part fufficiently. 
 
 But the cryftals of Tin do not prove altogether 
 fo quick in operation , though they do ad their 
 part alfo, and they are more pleafant than thofe 
 that are made of Lead ; for in Tin there is found 
 a pure fulphur of gold \ but in Lead a white ful- 
 phur of filver, as is proved in my Treatife of the 
 generation andnature of Metals. 
 
 Of Mercury. 
 
 WHen you diflblve common Mercury in refti- 
 fied fpirit of Nitre, andabftrad the fpirit 
 from it agiin, then there will remain behind a fair 
 red gliftering precipitate ; but when the fpirit is not 
 reftified, it will not be fo fair, becaufe that the im- 
 purity of the fpirit remains with the Mercury and pol- 
 lutes it. This calcinated Mercury is called by fome 
 MtrcuriHS fr£Cifitatns^zr\A by others Turbith minerale, 
 wherewith the Surgeons, and fometimes other unskil- 
 ful Phyficiaus do cure the Pox •, they give at once 
 6, 8, 10. grains, (more or lefs) according to its pre- 
 paration and force in operation to the patient ; for 
 if the fpirit be not too much abftraded from it, it 
 woiketh much ftronger, than when by a ftrong 
 fire it is quite fcparated from it ■■, for the fpirits that 
 remain with the Mercury make it quick and adtive, 
 which elfc without the fpirits would not be fuch. 
 
 The other metals alfo, if they be not firft made fo- 
 luble by falts or fpirits, can perform eith^ none or 
 but very fmall operation, unlefs it be Zink or Iron, 
 which being eafily folublc, are able to work with- 
 out any foregoing diffolution, as hath been (liewn a- 
 bove, when we treated oftheoyl of vitriol. But that 
 the (harp fpirits are the caufe of that operation, may 
 hence be perceived, and made mapifeft ■, that al- 
 
 though you take ^ fs. of quick-filver and pour it down 
 into the ftomach, yet it would run out again beneath, 
 as above it was poured in. But if it be prepared 
 with fpirits or falts, then but few grains of it 
 will workftrongly, and the more it is made foluble, 
 the ftronger it worketh ; as you may fee when it is 
 fublimedfrom fait and vitriol, that it groweth fo 
 ftrong thereby, that one grain doth work more than 
 eight or ten grains of Turbith Mineral, and three or 
 four grains thereof would kill a man, by reafon of its 
 mighty ftrength. Alfo it worketh extreamly, and 
 much more than the fublimate, when it is diilblved in 
 fpirit of Nitre and cryftalized, fo that you cannot 
 well take it upon your tongue without danger. Which 
 fome perceiving, evaporate the Aquafortis by a gentle 
 heat from it, fo that the Mcrciirius remained yellow, 
 which in a fnialler dole wrought more than the red, 
 from which the fpirits were quite evaporated- And 
 they ufed it only externally, ftrewing it into im- 
 pure fores , for to corrode or fret or away the proud 
 flelh, not without great pain to the patient : but 
 alfo without diftindion of young or old gave it in- 
 wardly for to purge i which is one of the moft hurt- 
 ful Purges that can be ufed. For this evil gueft,how= 
 ever he be prepared, cannot leave his tricks, unlefs he 
 be reduced into fuch a fubftance, as that it never can 
 be brought back to a running Mercury, for then much 
 good can be done in phyfick without any hurt or pre- 
 judice to the health of man, whereof perchance fome- 
 thing more (liall be faid in another place. 
 
 I cannot omit for the benefit of yoim^; innocent 
 Children, to difcover a great abufe. For it is grown 
 very common almoft among all that deal in phyfick, 
 that as foon asis little child is not well before they 
 know whether it will be troubled with vvorms,or with 
 any thing elfe, they prefently fall upon Mercury, 
 fuppofing that in regard it hath no tafte, it is fo much 
 the better for to get the Children to take it for to 
 ^7/ the Worms. 
 
 But thofe men do not know the hurtful nature of it, 
 which it doth Ihew againft the (inews and Nerves : 
 For fome are of opinion, that if they know to pre- 
 pare Mercury fo, that it can be given in a greater 
 dofe ( as is to be feen in fublimed AIt:rcurins dulcis ) 
 that then it is excellently prepared : but they are in a 
 great errour, and it were much better, it were not fo 
 well prepared, that the lefs hurt might be done to 
 Man,in regard that then they durft not giv^e it in fo 
 great a dofe. Forif that which is prepared with v4<7«;i 
 fortis or fpirit of fait nitre be ufed in the pox to men 
 that are advanced in years, it cannot do fo much hurt, 
 becaufe it is given in a fmall dofe, and doth work 
 with them, whereby nature gets help for to overcome 
 and expel that hurtful venome, and its malignity is 
 abated by the ftrong falivation , which provi- 
 dent nature hath planted in it, fo that not fo much 
 mifchief can come by it,asby Mercurius dukis, where- 
 of is given to little weak Children from ten to thir- 
 ty grains at once, which commonly (unlefs they be 
 of a ftrong nature, and do grow it out) doth caufe 
 aweaknefsand lamenefs in their limbs, fo that (if 
 they do not come to be quite lame at laft ) they 
 have a long time to ftruggle withal, till they over- 
 come it. 
 
 In like manner thofe alfo do err, which do fliake 
 
 Mercury in water or beer fo long, until the water 
 come to be gray- coloured, and fo give that water or 
 beer to little children to drink for the Worms, pre- 
 tending that they do not give the fubftance or body 
 of Mercury, but only its vertue- But this grofs 
 
 preparation 
 
Pbilofofbical Furnaces, 
 
 29 
 
 Preparation is no better than if they had miniftred 
 the running Mercury it felf. Neither have I ever feen 
 that the ufe of Mercurius diUcis^ or of the gray co- 
 loured water was feconded with good fuccefs in killing 
 of the Worms. But it is credible, that it may be 
 done by yellow or red precipitate, in regard of its 
 ftrong operation- But who would be fuch an Ene- 
 my to his Child, as to plague and torture it with fuch 
 a hurtful and murthering medicine •, efpecially there 
 beingother medicines to be had, which do no harm 
 to the children, as is to be found in iron or ftecl, and 
 the fweet oyl of vitriol- 
 
 And fo much of the abufe of Mercury : I hope 
 it will be a good warning unto many, fo that they 
 will not fo ealily billet fuch a tyrannical gueft in 
 any ones houfe, whereby the ruine thereof of ne- 
 cellity mult follow. And that cure deferveth no 
 praife at all, whereby one member is cured with the 
 hurt of two or three other members. As we fee by 
 the Pox, when one infeftcd member is cured by Mer- 
 cury, and that but half, and not firm at all, that all 
 the reft of the body is endangered thereby for the 
 future. And therefore it would be much better 
 that fuch crude horfe-phyfick might be fevered 
 frcn1*good medicaments, and fuch ufed inftead of 
 them, as may firmly, fafely, and without prejudice 
 to other parts perform the cure, of which kind fe- 
 veia! are taught in this book. But in cafe that 
 you have patients, which have been fpoiled by 
 fuch an ill-prepared Mercury, then there is no better 
 remedy to reltore them, than by medicines made 
 of metals , wherewith Mercury hath great affinity, 
 as of gold and filver : for when they are often 
 ufed, they attracft the Mercury out of all the mem- 
 bers, and carry it along with them out of the bo- 
 dy , and fo do rid the body thereof. But exter- 
 nally tlie precipitated Mercury may more fafely be 
 ufed, than internally, in cafe there be nothing elfe 
 to be had, vi::.. to corrode or eat away the proud 
 flelh out of a wound- But if inftead of it there 
 fhould be ufed the corrofive oyl of Antimony, Vi- 
 triol, Allome or common fait it would be better, 
 and the cure much the fpeedier ; and it would be 
 better yet, that in the beginning good medicaments 
 were ufed to freth wounds, and not by carelefnefs 
 to reduce them to that ill condition , that after- 
 wards by painful corrofives they muft be taken a- 
 way. But fuch a Mercury would ferve beft of all 
 for fouldiers , beggers , and children that go to 
 fchool i for if it bt ftrewed upon the head of 
 children, or into their cloathes, no loufe will abide 
 there any longer. In which cafe Mercury muft 
 by his preparation not be made red , but onely 
 yellow , and it muft be ufed warily , and not be 
 ftrewed on too thick, left the flelh be corroded, which 
 would be the occafion of great mifchief. 
 
 Of Ac^Hd fonts, 
 
 OUt of Salt nitre and vitriol, taking of each a 
 like quantity (or if the water is to be not al- 
 together fo ftrong ) two parts of vitriol to one part 
 of fait nitre, a water diftilled is good to dilTolve me- 
 tals therewith, and to feparate them from one ano- 
 ther; as gold from filver, and filver from gold, 
 which in the fourth part pundually (hall be taught- 
 
 The Aqi'.a fortis ferveth alfo for many other 
 Chymical operations to diflblve and fit metals there- 
 by, that they may be reduced the ealier into medi- 
 caments: but becaufe the fpirit of fait nitre and A- 
 
 qua fortis are almoft all one, and have like opera- 
 tions : for if the Aqua fortis be dcphlegmcd and rec- 
 tified, you may perform the fame operations vvith 
 it, which poflibly may be performed with the fpirit 
 of fait nitre ■■, and on the other fide the fpirit of fait 
 nitre will do all that can be done with the Aqi^ii 
 fortis^ whereof in the fourth Part fhall be fpoken 
 more at large. 
 
 Now 1 know well that ignorant laborators (which 
 do all their work according to cuitome, without di- 
 ving any further into the Nature of things , will 
 count me an Heretick ( becaufe I teach , that the 
 Aqihi fortis made of vitriol and fait nitre is of the 
 fame nature and condition with the fpirit of falc 
 nitre, which is made without vitriol ) faying that 
 the Aqiui fortis doth partake likewife of the fpi- 
 rit of vitriol , becaufe vitriol alfo is ufed in the 
 preparation of it. To which I anfwer , that al- 
 though vitriol be ufed in the preparation of ir, yet 
 for all that in the diflrilling, nothing or but very 
 little of its fpirit comes over with the fpirit of 
 fait nitre , and that by fo fmall a heat it cannot 
 rife fo high, as the fpirit of fait niire doth : and 
 the vitriol is added onely therefore unto the fait nitre 
 that it may hinder its melting together , and fo 
 the more facilitate its , going into a fpirit. And 
 the more to be convinced of this truth, the unbe- 
 lieving may add to fuch fpirit of fait nitre, as is 
 made by it felf, a little of oyl of vitriol likewife 
 made by it felf, and try to difiblve filver guilded 
 with it, and he will find that his fpirit of fait nitre by 
 the fpirit of vitriol is made unfit to make a fepe- 
 ration i for it preyeth notably upon the gold, which 
 is not done by Aquafortis. 
 
 Of the fulphurifed fpirit of fait nitre. 
 
 THere may alfo be made a fpirit of fait nitre 
 with fulphur, which is ftill in ufe with many, 
 "Viz.. they take a ftrong earthen retort, which hath 
 a pipe at the top, and faften it into a furnace, and 
 having put fait nitre into it, they let it melt, and 
 then through the pipe they throw peeces of fulphur 
 of the bignefs of a pea, one after another, which 
 being kindled , together with the nitre doth yield 
 a fpirit called by fome fpirit of fait nitre, and by 
 others oyl of fulphur , but falfelv ; for it is nei- 
 ther of both, in regard that metals cannot be dif- 
 folvcd therewith as they are done with other Ipi- 
 rit of fait nitre or fulphur *, neither is there any great 
 ufe for it in phyfick, and if it were good for any 
 Chymical operations, by the help of my diftilling 
 inftrument might eafily be made and in great quan- 
 tity. 
 
 N. B. But if fait nitre be mixed with fulphur in 
 due proportion, and in the firft furnace be taft up- 
 on quick coles, then all will be burnt, and a ftrong 
 fpirit Cometh over, whofe vertue is needlefs here to 
 defcribe ; but more fhall be mentioned of it in a- 
 nother place- 
 
 Of the CUjfus. 
 
 AMong the Phyfitians of this latter age, there 
 is mention made of another fpirit, which they 
 make of Antimony, Sulphur, and fait nitre, a like 
 quantity taken of each, which they call Chjfi'.s ^ 
 and which they have in high efteem, and not with- 
 out caufe, becaufe it can do much good, if it be 
 well prepared. 
 
90 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 The inventor, for the making thereof ufed a re- 
 tort with a pipe, as was mentioned by thefulphuri- 
 ied fpiiit of Talc nitre, through which pipe he threw 
 in his mixture. And it is a good way if no. bet- 
 ter be known : but if the Author had known my in- 
 vention and way of diftilling, 1 doubt not but he 
 would have fet alide his, that hath a nofe or pipe 
 retort, and made ufe of mine- 
 
 The materials indeed are good, but not the 
 weight or proportion j for to what purpofe fo great 
 a quantity of fulphur, it being not able to burn away 
 all with fjfniail aquantity of fait nitre- And if it doth 
 not burn away, but only fubiimc & flop the neck of the 
 retort, whereby the diitillation is hindered, how 
 can it then yield any vertue ? Therefore you ought 
 to take not fo much fulphur, but only fuch a quan- 
 tity as will ferve to kindle the fait nitre, vi:^. to ft i. 
 of fait nitre four drams of fulphur: but becaufe An- 
 timony alfo is one of the ingredients, which hath 
 likewife much fulphur ffor there is no Antimony 
 fo pure, but it containeth much combuftible ful- 
 phur, as in the fourth part of this book fhall be prov- 
 ed : ) therefore it is needlefs to add fo much fulphur 
 unto Antimony, to make it burn, becaufe it hath 
 enough of it felf And therefore I will fet down my 
 compofition, which I found to be better than the firfl. 
 
 Take Antimony ft i. fait nitre ft i j- fulphur ^ i i j. 
 the materials muft be made into fmall powder and 
 well mixed, and at once call in^ij. thereof, and 
 there will come over a fulphureous acid fpirit of 
 Antimony, which will mix it felf with the water, 
 which hath been put before in the receiver ^ which 
 after the diflillation is finifhed mufl be taken out and 
 kept clofe for its ufe. It is a very good diaphoretick 
 (or fweat provokingj medicine efpecially in feavers, 
 the plague, epilepfie, and all other difeafes, whofe 
 cure muft be performed by fweating. The Caput 
 MortHttm may be fublimed into flores in that fur- 
 race, which is defcribed in the firft part. 
 
 Of tie Tartarifed fpirit of nitre. 
 
 IN the very fame manner there may alfo be di- 
 ftilled a good fweat-provoking fpirit out of fait 
 nitre and Tartar, a like quantity taken of each, 
 which is very good to be ufed in the plague and ma- 
 lignant feavers. 
 
 The C.'/v/f AhrtHum is a good melting powder for 
 to reduce the calxes of metals therewith \ or elfe you 
 may let it dilTolve in a moill place to oyl of Tartar. 
 
 Of the Tartarifed fpirit of Antimony. 
 
 % Much better fpirit yet may be made of Tartar, 
 jc\ fait nitre, and Antimony , a like quantity be- 
 ing taken of each and made into fine powder, and 
 mixed well together, which though it be not fo plea: 
 lant to take, is therefore not to be defpifed. For 
 not only in the plague and feavers, but alfo in all 
 obftructions and corruptions of blood it may be u- 
 fcd with admiration of its fpeedy help- 
 
 The Caput Ahnmin may be taken out, and mel- 
 ted in a crucible, and it will yield a Rcgulns^ the 
 ufe whereof is defcribed in the fourth part. Out 
 of the fcoria or drofsared Tindluremay be extraft- 
 ed with fpirit of wine, which is very ufeful in many di- 
 feafes. But before you exlrad with fpirit of wine, you 
 may get a red lixivium out of it with fweet water, 
 which lixivium may beufedexternally for tomend the 
 faults of the skin and to free it from fcabbinefs- 
 
 Upon this lixivium if you pour Vinegar or any o- 
 ther acid fpirit, there will precipitate a red powder 
 which if it be edulcorated and dryed may be ufed in 
 phyfick- It is called by forae fulphur aur.uion dia- 
 phorcticim ■ but it is no Diaphoretick, but maketh 
 ftrong vomits, and foin cafe of necellity, when you 
 have no better medicine at hand, it may be ufed for 
 a vomitory from 6, 7, p, 10, 15. 
 
 Alfo out of the ftoria there may be extrafted a fair 
 Sulphur with the fpirit of urin and diftilled over the 
 Limbeck, which is very good for all difealesof the 
 lungs- 
 
 Of Storje-coks. 
 
 IF you mix ftone-coales with a like quantity of 
 fait nitre, and diftill them, you will get an ad- 
 mirable fpirit and good to be ufed outwardly ; for it 
 cleanfeth and confolidateth wounds exceedingly, 
 and there will alfo come over a metallical vertue in 
 the form of a red powder, which muft be fcpara- 
 ted from the fpirit, and kept for its ufe. But if 
 you caft in ftone-coles alone by themfelves, and diftilj 
 them, there will come over not only a fharp fpirit, 
 but alfo a hot and blood red oyl, which doth ptwer- 
 fnlly dry and heal all running ulcers i efpecially it 
 will heal a fcald head better than any other medi- 
 cine, and it doth coufurae alfo all moift and fpongi- 
 ous excrefcencies in the skin, where ever they be : 
 but if you fublime ftone-coles in the furnace dcfcri' 
 bed in the firft part, there comes over an acid me: 
 tallical fpirit, and a great deal of black light flores> 
 which fuddenly ftanch bleeding, and ufed in plai- 
 fters, are as good as other metallical flores. 
 
 Of the Sulphureous fpirit of fait nitre or Aqnafortis. 
 
 IF you take one part of fulphur, two p^rts of ni- 
 tre, and three parts of vitriol, and diftill them, 
 you will get a graduating Aq'ta fortisy which fmel- 
 leth ftrongly of fulphur ; for the fulphur is made 
 volatile by the fait nitre aud vitriol. It is better 
 for feparating of metals, than the common Aqm 
 
 fortis. 
 
 If filver be put in, it groweth black, but not fi.xed ; 
 fome of it poured into a folution of filver a great 
 deal of black calx will precipitate, but doth not a- 
 bide the tryal. You may alfo abftrad a ftrong ful- 
 phureous volatile fpirit from it, which hath like ver- 
 tue as well internally as externally for bathes, and 
 may be ufed like unto a volatile fpirit of Vitriol or 
 Allome. 
 
 Of the Nitrous fpirit of Arfer.ickj, 
 
 IF you take white Arfenick and pure fak nitre of 
 each a like quantity ground into fine powder, and 
 diftill them, you will get a blew fpirit, which is ve- 
 ry ftrong, but no water muft be put into the receiver, 
 elfe it would turn white, for the Arfenick, from 
 which the blew cometh, is precipitated by the wa- 
 ter. This fpirit diflblveth and graduateth copper as 
 white as filver, and maketh it malleable but not fix- 
 ed. The remaining Caput Mortuum maketh the cop- 
 per white, if it be cemented therewith-, but very 
 brittle and unmalleable, but how to get good filver 
 out of Afenick and with profit, you Ihall find in the 
 fourth part. In phyfick the blew fpirit ferveth for 
 all corroding cancrous fores, which if they be anoin- 
 ted therewith, will be killed thereby, and made fit 
 for healing. ?o 
 
Philo/opbical Furnaces, 
 
 To m.iki a /first of Sulphur , crude Tartar and Salt nitre. 
 
 IF you grind together one part of Sulphur, two 
 parts of Crude Tartar, and four parts of fait ni- 
 tre, and diftiil it Philofophcr-like, you will get a 
 mod adciirable fpirit, which can play his part both 
 in Phyfick and Alchymy. I will not advife any 
 body to diftili it in a retort ; for this mixture, if it 
 growech warm from beneath, it fulminateth like 
 Gunpowder-, but if it be kindled from above, it 
 doth not fulminate, but onely burneth away like a 
 quick fire : metals may be melted and reduced there- 
 by. 
 
 To m.iks a. [firit out of Salt of Tartar^ Sulphur, and 
 Salt ' nitre, 
 
 IF you take one part of felt of Tartar, and one 
 part and a half of Sulphur, with three parts of 
 fait nitre, and grind them together , you will have 
 a commpofition, which fulminateth like Jurum ful- 
 minans, and the fame alfo (after the fame manner 
 as above hath been taught with gold) may be di- 
 Hilled into flores and fpirits, which are not without 
 fpecial Vertue and Operation. For the corrupti- 
 on of one thing is the generation of another- 
 
 Ho:v to make a fpirit offaw-dufi, fulphur and fait nitre. 
 
 IF you make a mixture of one part of Sawduft 
 made of Tiliaor Linden- wood, and two parts of 
 good fulphur, and nine parts of purified and welldryed 
 fait nitre, and call: it m by little aiid little, there will 
 come over an acid fpirit, which may be ufcd out- 
 wardly? for to cleanfe wounds that are unclean- 
 But if you mix with this compofition raineraJs or 
 metals made into fine powder, and then call it in 
 and diftiil it, there will come not only a powerful 
 metallical fpirit, but alfo a good quantity of flores, 
 according to the nature of the mineral, which are 
 of no fmall vertue : for the minerals and metals 
 are by this quick fire deftroyed and reduced to a 
 better condition, whereof many things might be 
 written •. but it is not good to reveal all things- 
 Con fider this fentence of the Philofopers- It tsim- 
 po(fibk to dejlroy xvithjin a flame ^ The comhufiiblc Sul-. 
 fhiir of the Calxy which the digged Mine doth doe. 
 
 Alfo fufible minerals and metals may not only 
 be melted, therewith, but alfo cupellated in a mo- 
 ment upon a Table in the hand or in a nut-Ihell •, 
 whereby fingular proofs of oares and metals may be 
 made, and much better, than upon a Cupel, where- 
 of further in the fourth part of this book. Here 
 is opened unto us agate to high things^ if entrance 
 be granted unto us, we (hall need no more books to 
 look for the Art in them. 
 
 To make metallical fpirits and flores by the help of fait- 
 nitre and linnen cloth. 
 
 IF metals be dilTolved in their appropriated Men- 
 flruums, and in the folution (wherein a due pro- 
 portion of fait nitre mull be diffolved^ fine linnen 
 rags be dipt and dryed, you have a prepared me- 
 tal, which may be kindled, and Cas it was men- 
 tioned above concerning the faw-duft) through the 
 burning away and confuming of their fuperftuous 
 fulphur, the mercurial fubltance of the metal is 
 maaifefted. And after the diftillation is ended, you 
 
 J I 
 
 will find a fingular purified calx , which by rub- 
 bing colourcth other metals, as that of gold doth 
 guild filver, that of filver filvcreth over copper, 
 and copper calx makcth iron look like copper, &c. 
 which colouring though it cannot bring any great 
 prolit, yet at leaft for to (hew the poffibility, I 
 thought it not amifs to defcribc it ^ and per- 
 chance fomething more may be hid in it, which is 
 not given to every one to know. 
 
 Of Gun ' poivder . 
 
 OF this mifchievous compofition and diabolical 
 abufe of Gunportder much might be written : 
 but becaufe this prefent world taketh only delight 
 in fhedding innocent blood, and cannot endure that 
 unrighteous things (liould be reproved, & good things 
 praifed, therefore it is beft to be filent, and to kt 
 every one anfwer for himfelf, when the time com- 
 eth that we fiiall give an account of our ftcward- 
 fijip, which perhaps is not far off-, and then there 
 will be made a feparation of good and bad, by him 
 that tryeth the heart, even as gold is refind in the 
 fire from its drofs. And then it will be feen whan 
 Chriftians we have been- We do all bear the name, 
 but do not approve our felves to be fuch by our 
 works ; every one thinketh himfelf better than o- 
 thers, and for a words fake which one underltand- 
 eth otherwifc, or takes in another fenfe than the 
 other fand though it be no point, whereon falvati- 
 on doth depend) one curfeth and condemneth ano- 
 ther and perfecuteth one another unto death, which 
 Chrift never taught us to do, but rather did ear- 
 neftly command us that we fhould love one another, 
 reward evil with good, and not good with evil, as 
 now a dayes every where they ufe to do; every one 
 ftandeth upon his reputation, but the honor of God 
 and his command are in no repute, but are tram- 
 pled under footj and Lucifers pride, vain ambiti- 
 on, and Pharifaical hypocrifle or ihew of holinefs, 
 hath fo far got the upper -hand with the learned, 
 that none will leave his contumacy or flubbornnefs, 
 or recede a little from his opinion, although the 
 whole world fliould be turned upfide down thereby. 
 Are not thefc fine Chriftians ? By their fruit you 
 fhall know them, and not by their words- Woolves 
 are now clothed with fheeps skins, fo that none of 
 them almoll are to be found, and yet the deeds 
 and vvorks of Woolves are every where extant. 
 
 All good manners are turned into bad, women 
 turn men, and men women in their fafljion and be- 
 haviour, contrary to the inftitucition and ordinance 
 of God and Nature. In brief, the world goeth on 
 crutches. If Hiraclitus and Demuiitus fhould now 
 behold this prefent world, they would find exceed- 
 ing great caufe for their lamenting and laughing 
 at it. Aud therefore it is no marvel, that Gcd 
 fent fuch a terrible fcourge as gun-powder is up- 
 on us ; and it is credible, that if this do not 
 caufe our amendment , that a worfe will follow , 
 "vtz.. thunder and lightning falling down from Hea- 
 ven, whereby the world fliall be turned upfide doun 
 for to make an end of all pride, fclflove, ambiti- 
 on, deceit and vanity. For which the whole Cre- 
 ation doth wait, fervently defiring to be delivered 
 from the bondage thereof. 
 
 Now this preparation, which is the mofl hurtful 
 poyfon, a terror unto all the living, is nothing elfe 
 but zfiilmen tcrrefire denouncing unto us the wrath and 
 coming of the Lord. For Chrift to judge the 
 
 I 2 woild 
 
3^ 
 
 The Second Fart of 
 
 world is to come with thundering and lightning' : 
 and this earthly thunder perchance is given us for to 
 put us in mind and fear of that which is to come, 
 but this is not fo much as thought on by men, who 
 prepare it only for to plague and deftroy mankind 
 therewith in a raoft cruel and abominable manner, as 
 every one knoweth. 
 
 For none can deny but that there is no nimbler 
 poyfon, than this gunpowder- It is written of the 
 Baliliske, that he killeth man only by his look, which 
 a man may avoid, and there are but few (if any at 
 all) of them found : but this poyfon is now prepared 
 and found every where. 
 
 How often doth it fall out? that a place wherein i 
 this powder is kept is ftricken with thunder as with 
 its like, in fo much that all things above it are in 
 a moment deftroyed, and carryed up into the air ? 
 Alfo in fieges, when an Ordnance is difcharged, or 
 Mines blown up, all whom it lays hold on, are fud- 
 denly killed, and mofl: miferably deftroyed. What 
 nimbler poyfon then could there be invented ? I be- 
 lieve there is none, who will not acknowledge it to be 
 fuch. 
 
 And feeing that the ancient Philofophers and Chy- 
 mifls were always of opinion, that the greater the poy- 
 fon is, the better'raedicine may be made of it, after it 
 is freed from the poyfon, which with us their po- 
 fterity is proved true by many experiences ; as we 
 fee by Antimony, Arfenick, Mercury, and the like 
 minerals, which without preparation are meer poy- 
 fon, but by due preparation may be turned into the 
 beft and moll effedual medicaments, which though 
 not every one can comprehend or believe, yetChy- 
 mifts know it to be true, and the doing of it is no 
 new thing to them. And bccaufe I treat in this fe- 
 cond part of medicinal fpirits, and other good me- 
 dicaments, and finding that this which can be made 
 out cf gunpowder, is none of the leaft, I would 
 not omit in fome meafurcj and as far as lawfully 
 may be done, to fet down its preparation : which 
 is thus performed. 
 
 How to make a fplrit of Gunpowder , 
 
 YOur diftilling velTel being made warm, and a 
 great receiver with fweet water in it, being ap: 
 plyed to it without luting, put a diQi with gunpow- 
 der, containing about 12. or 15. grains apiece, one 
 after another into it ., in the fame manner as above 
 was taught to do with gold- For if you fliould put 
 in too much of it at once, it would caufe too much 
 wind and break the receiver. 
 
 As foonas you have conveighed it into the veffel, 
 fhuc the door, and the gunpowder will kindle, and 
 give a blafl: that it maketh the receiver ftir, and a 
 white mill or fleam will come over into the receiver. 
 As foon as the powder is burnt, you may cafl in 
 more before the mift is fettled, becaufe elfe the di- 
 ftilling of it would coft too much time, and fo 
 you may continue to do until you have fpirit enough. 
 Then let the fire go out. and the furnace grow cool, 
 and then take off" the receiver, pour the fpirit with 
 the water that was poured in before Cthe flores 
 being firfl every where waflied off wich it) out of 
 the receiver into a glafs body , and reiftifie it in 
 a B. through a limbeck, and there will come over 
 a muddy water, tailing and fmelling of fulphur : 
 which you mofl keep. In the glafs body you 
 will find a white fait, which you are to keep like- 
 wife. Take out the Captit Mortunm^ which re- 
 
 mained in the diftilling veflTel, and looks like gray 
 fait, calcine it in a covered crucible, that it turn 
 white, but not that it melt; and upon this burnt or 
 calcined fait, pour your flinking water, which came 
 over through the limbeck, and diflblve the calcined 
 white fait with it, and the feces which will not dif- 
 folve cafl away. Filtre the folution, and pour ic 
 upon the white fait, which remained in the glafs 
 body, from which the fulphureous fpirit was ab- 
 ftraded before, and put the glafs body (with a lim- 
 beck luted upon it^ into fand, and abflradl the ful- 
 phureous water from it, which will be yellowifh, and 
 fmell more of fulphur than it did before. This 
 water if it be abflradted from the fait feveral times, 
 will turn white, almofl like unto milk, and tall no 
 more of fulphur, but be pleafant and fweet. It is 
 very good for the difeafes of the lungs. Alfo it 
 doth guild filver, being anointed therewith, although 
 not firmly, and by digeflion it may be ripened and 
 reduced into a better medicine. 
 
 The fait which remained in the glafs body, urge 
 with a ftrong fire, fuch as will make the fand, where- 
 in the glafs flandeth red hot, and there will fub- 
 lime a white fait into the limbeck, in talle almofl 
 like unto fait Armoniack, but in the midfl of the 
 glafs body, you will find another, which is yellow- 
 ifh, of a mineral tafle and very hot upon the 
 tongue. 
 
 The fublimed falts, as well the white which did 
 afcend into the limbeck, as the yellow, which re- 
 mained in the glafs body are good to be ufed in the 
 plague, malignant feav^rs and other difeafes, where 
 fweating is required ; for they do mightily provoke 
 fweating, they comfort and do cleanfe the Itomach, 
 and caufe fometimes gentle ftools. 
 
 Eut what further may be done in Phyfick with it, 
 I do not know ytt. 
 
 In Alchymy it is alfo of ufe, which doth notbe: 
 long to this place. Upon the remaining fait which 
 did not fublime you may pour rain water, and dif- 
 folve it there in the glafs body, (if it be whole 
 ftilljelfeifitbe broken, you may take out the fait 
 dry, and diffolve and filtre and coagulate it again, 
 and there will be feparated a great deal of fxces. 
 This purified fait, which will look yellowifh, melt 
 in a covered crucible, and it will turn quite blood 
 red, and as hot as fire upon the tongue, which with 
 frelh water you muft dillblve again, and then hltre 
 and coagulate ; by which operation it will be made 
 pure and clear, and the folution is quite green be- 
 fore it be coagulated, and as fiery as the red falc 
 was before its dilTolution. 
 
 This grafs green folution being coagulated again 
 into a red fiery fait, may be melted again in a clean 
 and ftrong crucible, and it will be much more red 
 and fiery. 
 
 N. B. And it is to be admired that in the melt- 
 ing of it many fire fparks do fly from it, which 
 do not kindle or take fire, as other fparks of coals 
 or wood ufe to do. This well purified red fait be- 
 ing laid in a cold and moift place , will dillblve 
 into a blood red oyl, which in digeftion diflblveth 
 gold and leaveth the filver : this folution may be 
 coagulated, and kept for ufe in Alchimy. 
 
 There may alfo a pretious Tindlure be extraft- 
 ed out of it with alcolized fpirit of wine, which 
 Tindure guildeth filver, but not firmly. 
 
 And as for ufe in Phyfick , it ought to be kept 
 as a great Treafure. But if the red fiery fait be 
 extraded with fpirit of wine before gold bedifFolv- 
 
 ed 
 
Philofopbical FurnaceT, 
 
 35 
 
 ed therewith, it will yield likewife a fair red Tin- 
 fture, but not Co efTedual in Phyfick as that unto 
 which gold is joyned. And this Tinfture can al- 
 fo further be ufed in Alchymy, which belongcth 
 not hither> becaufe we only fpeak of medicaments. 
 
 Of the ttfc of the Medicine or Tin£fu>e made of G unfovDder , 
 
 THis Tiniturc whether with or without gold , 
 made out of the red fait, is one of the chicfefl: 
 that I know to make, if you go but rightly to work, 
 and prepare it well ; for it purifieth and clean f- 
 eth the blood mightily, and provoketh alfo pow- 
 erfully fweat and urine ; fo that ic may fafely and 
 with great benefit be ufed in the Plague, Feavers , 
 Epilepfy, Scurvy, in Melancholia HyfochondnacA , 
 in the Gour, Stone, and the feveral kinds of them ^ 
 as alio in all obftrutUons of the Spleen and Liver, 
 and in all difeafes of the Lungs , and it is to be 
 admire that of fuch a hurtful thing fuch a good 
 medicine can be prepared. Therefore it would 
 be much better to prepare good medicaments of it, 
 to rcn"ore the poor difeafed to health therewith, 
 than to dcltroy with it thofe that arc whole and 
 found. 
 
 I know a Chymift, that fpent much time and 
 cofl: to-fearch this poyfonous dragon, thinking to 
 make the univerfal medicine orflone of the ancient 
 Philofophers out of it. Efpecially becaufe he favv, 
 that fo many ftrangc changes of colours appeared, 
 whereof mention is made by the Philofophers when 
 they difcribe their medicine and the preparation 
 thereof. 
 
 The Dragons blood. Virgins milk. Green and Red 
 Lyon, Black blacker than Black, White whiter than 
 White and the like, more needlefs here to relate , 
 which eafily may perfwade a credulous man as it 
 hapned alfo unto him. But afterward he found , 
 that this fubjedl in which he put fo much confi- 
 denccj was leprous and not pure enough, and that 
 it is irapolTible to make that tingent ftone of it, 
 for to exalt men and metals, and fo was glad to 
 be contented with a good particular medicine and 
 to commit the reft unto God. 
 
 And fo much of that poyfonous dragon, gunpow- 
 der : but that there is another and more purer dra- 
 gon, whereof the Philofophers fo often made men- 
 tion, I do not deny \ for nature is mighty rich, and 
 could reveal to us many arcana by Gods permiffion : 
 But becaufe we look only for great honor and riches, 
 and negleA the poor , there is good reafon why 
 fuch things remain hidden from wicked and ungod- 
 ly men. 
 
 To make ffirits and flares of Nitre and Coals. 
 
 IF you diftill Nitre (well purified from its fuper- 
 fluous fait) mixed with good coals, the Egyp- 
 tian Sun bird doth burn, away, and out of it doth 
 fweat a lingular water, ufefiil for men and metals. 
 Its burnt afhes are like unto calcined Tartar, and 
 for the purging of metals not to be defpifed. 
 
 To make flores and ffiritt cf flints, cryftals or fand, hy 
 adding of coats anid/alt nitre to them. 
 
 TAke one part of flints or fand, and three parts 
 of Linden coalsj with fix parts of good fait 
 nitre mixed well together, and caft of it in, and 
 the combuftibie fulpbur of the flints will be kindled 
 
 by the piercing and vehement Hre of the fait nitre, 
 and maketh a feparation, carrying over v\i:h it part 
 thereof, which it turneth into fpirits and flores, 
 which muft be feparated by fiicring. The Ipirit talh 
 eth as if it had been made of fait of Tartar arid 
 flints, and is of the fame nature and condition j and 
 the remaining Capiu Afurtimm alfo yieldeth fuch an 
 oyl or liquor in all like unto that, and therefore its 
 condition is not defcribed here, but you may find ic 
 where I fhall treat of the fpirit made of fait of 
 tartar by adding of flints. 
 
 7(7 make ,t fpirit and oyl out cf Talik vcith ftlt nitre. 
 
 TAke one part of Talck made into fine powder, 
 and three parts of Linden-coals, mixe thcni 
 with five or fix parts of good fait nitre, call in of 
 that mixture one fpoonful after another, and there 
 will come over a fpirit and a few flores, which mult 
 be feparated as hath been taught above concerning 
 flints. 
 
 The fpirit is not unlike unto the fpirit of fand : 
 the Cap.:t Mortiittm ■, which looks greyifh , mult 
 be well calcined in a crucible , fo that it melt, 
 and then pouV it out, and it will yield a white 
 tranfparent Mais, like as flints and cryftals do , 
 which in a cold moift cellar will turn to a thick 
 liquor, fatter in the handling than the oyl of 
 fand. It is fomething Iharp like unto oyl of Tar- 
 tar ; it cleanfeth the Skin, Hair and Nails, and 
 makes them white ; the fpirit may be ufed inward- 
 ly for to provoke fweat and urine : externally ufed, 
 it cleanfeth wounds, and healeth all manner of fcabs 
 in the body out of hand. What further may be 
 done with it, I do not know yet : But how to bring 
 Talck, pebles, and the like ftony things to that 
 pafs, that they may be diflblved with fpirit of wine 
 and reduced into good medicaments fhall be taught 
 in the fourth part. 
 
 To make a fpirit, flores^ and oyl out of Tin^ 
 
 IF you mix two parts of the filings of Tin, with 
 one part of good fait nitre, and caft it in, as 
 you were taught to do with other things, then the 
 fulphurofTin will kindle the fait nitre, and make 
 a flame, as if it were done with common fulphiir, 
 whereby a feparation is made, fo that one part of 
 the Tin cometh over in flores and fpirit, and the 
 reft ftayeth behind, which if it be taken out, fome 
 of it in a moift place will turn into a liquor or 
 oyJ, which externally may be ufed with good fuccefs 
 in all ulcers for to deanfe them. It hath alfo the ver- 
 eue, if it be pertinently applyed to graduate and 
 exalt w^onderfully all the colours of vegetables and 
 animals, which would be ufeful for dyers- The 
 fpirit of it mightily provoketh fweating : the flores 
 being edulcorated and ufed in plaifters, do dry and 
 heal very fpeedily. 
 
 To make a fpirit ^ flores and a liquor out of Zinck^, 
 
 IN like manner as hath been taught with Tin , 
 you may alfo proceed with Zinck , and ic 
 will yield a good quantity of flores, and alfo a fpri 
 rit and oyl, almofl of the fame venues with thofe 
 made of Tin: and thefe flores correfted v;ich falc 
 nitre , are better than thofe which are taught to 
 be made by themfeives in the firft part of the 
 book. 
 
 K Tc 
 
54 
 
 The Second Tart of 
 
 To m.-ike a /p"'"^, /orey a^d oyl of Lapis Calat>nn.iris. 
 
 Mix two parts of fait nitre with one part of 
 l.ms '.nLanmiaris and call it in, and it will yield 
 a (liarp ipirit very ufeful for feparating of metals, 
 and there will come over alfo a few yellow floves. 
 The rell remaining behind is a dark green Mais 
 very fitry rpon the tcnguc, WVt fait of Tnrti.r, and 
 if it be difioived with rain water, yieidetha grafs 
 green Iblution , which being not prefentlv coagu- 
 lated into fak, the green fcparatsth it felf from 
 the lixed falc nitre, and there falleth to the bot- 
 tom a fine red powder , and if it be edulcorated 
 ai.d drycd, and given from one grain to ten or 
 twelve it caufcth gentle ftools and eafy vomits, 
 better than prepared Antimony; for tafts cdami- 
 iuiris and Zinck are of the nature of Gold, as in 
 the fourth parr fhali be proved : the white lixivium 
 or lye, from which the green is precipitated, may 
 be coagulated into white fait , like unto fait of 
 Tartar i but if yon coagulate the green folution, 
 before the green be feparated from the fait nitre, 
 then you will get a very fair green fait, high in 
 colour and much more fiery than fait of Tartar, 
 whereby fpecial things may be done in Alchymy, 
 which doth not belong hither- And if you defire 
 to make fuch a green fait for to ufe it in Alchy- 
 my, you need not take fo much pains, as firlt to 
 dift'il a fpirit out of the mixture, but take three 
 or four parts of good fait nitre, and mix it with 
 one part of /»?/'«•? cdamr/i.-iris^ and let this mixture 
 boyl together in a wind furnace, till the fait nitre 
 be coloured green by the l.^^fis calaminans , then 
 pour it out and feparate the green goldilh fait 
 trom it, and make fuch good ufe of it as you think fit. 
 ' But if you will extraft a good Tindure and medi- 
 cine, make it into powder, and extract it with fpi- 
 rit of wine, and it will yield a blood red Tiniture, 
 both in Phyfick and Alchymy of good ufe. 
 
 Further you arc to take notice, that among all 
 metals and minerals, which 1 know (except gold 
 and iilver ) there is none found, out of which can 
 be extratled agrecnnefs which is of fire-proof, but 
 only out of l-ifis caLiminans^ which deferves to be 
 well conlidered and further thought upon. 
 
 To make a fpirit of fait nitre, fulphur and common fait. 
 
 TAke one part of ftit, two parts of fulphur, and 
 four parts of fait nitre, grind all together, and 
 caft in one fpoonful after another to diftil, and 
 it will yield a flisrp yellow fpirit, which if it be put 
 among common water, fo that the water be not 
 made too fliarp of it, it is a good bath, good for 
 many difcafes-, efpecially it healeth all fcabs very 
 faddenly- The C<-.[nt Airrtmtw mny alfo be difioi- 
 ved in water and uied among loathes, and it is good 
 likewife, but the fpirit is penetrating, and doth op- 
 perate fuddenly in (lirinkings and other dcfefts of 
 the nerves-, of fuch kind of bathes there fliall be 
 fpoken more in the third part. Alfo the remain- 
 ing fixed yellow fait is good to be ufed in Alchy- 
 my •, for it graduateth filverby cementing. 
 
 To ir.f.he a fpirit^ fiorcs and oyl cut of fait nitre and 
 Regidns Mortis. 
 
 TAke one part of Regnhts Martis flclUtus ( made 
 of one part of Iron or Steel, and three parts of 
 
 Antimony, whofe preparation is defcribed in the 
 fourth part ) and three parts of pure fait nitre, 
 mix and grind all together, and cafi: it in by lit- 
 tle and little to diftil , and there will come over 
 a fph-it together with a white fublimate , which 
 mult be feparated with water, as hath been taught 
 above with other flores, ai.d both the fpirit and the 
 flores are good to provoke fweat- The remaining 
 C'.pitt Mortmun , ( ss they ufually call it ) is not 
 dead, but full of life and vertue , whereby much 
 good may be done both in Phylick and Alchymy, 
 as foiloweth. The remaining Mafs, which looks 
 white, and is very fharp and fiery ( if the Rcffiihis 
 have been pure, if not, then it will look yellowifli) 
 may be edulcorated with frefli water, and it will 
 yield a lixivium or lye in ali things like unto calcined 
 Tartar, but Iharper and purer, and may be ufed 
 almoll in all operations inftead of fait of Tar- 
 tar ( but firfl the Rcjulus Antnmnii muft be pre- 
 cipitated from it by the help of water ) and af- 
 terward it may be coagulated into fait and krpn 
 for its ufe ; the edulcorated , as alfo that which 
 was precipitated with water is a white and hnc 
 powder, ufefiil in the plague, feavers, and other 
 difeafes to provoke fweating thereb/, and may ve- 
 ry fafely be ufed, and although if it be given in 
 a grearer quantity than ufual, it caufes fome vo- 
 mits alfo, yet for all that it doth no hurt. It is 
 ealily taken becaufe it hath no tafte. It is given 
 to children from 3,4, to 12. grains: to elder folks 
 from 3 [s. to 3 fs. they work fuccefsfully in all dif- 
 cafes, where fweating is needful. This AntuKoni- 
 um Diapboriticum , may alfo be melted into glafs, 
 and fo extradled and dillblved with fpirit of fait, 
 and it may be prepared into fevcral good medi- 
 caments : and if all that which may be done with 
 it, fliould be defcribed at large, it would require 
 too much time- The lixivuim, if it be coagula- 
 ted, hath wonderful vertues, fo that if one fhould 
 defcribe them, he would hardly be credited by a- 
 ny body, becaufe it is not made of coftly things ^ 
 and truly the life of man is too fhort to find out 
 by experience all that lies hid in it : and it would 
 be but a laughing matter to a proud fool, if one 
 fhould reveal it : therefore it is better to keep coun- 
 fel, than to fow ftrife. Bufdlns l^,i!outr:ns in his 
 Triumphant Chariot of Antimony, where he wri- 
 tcth of the figned ftar, hinted it fufficiently, but 
 very few take notice of it- f.irixdfm alfo, here 
 and there in his books under an unknown name, 
 makes frequent mention of it \ but its true prepa- 
 ration and ufe, by reafon of the unthankful was ne- 
 ver defcribed by the Philofophers, which for in- 
 flru;lion of Good Honell Men we do here men- 
 tion. 
 
 Before you edulcorate the Regulns (made by ful- 
 mination) you may extraift of it a good medicinal 
 Tindurc with fpirit of wine, and if you dilTblve 
 it with fpirit of fait , there will flioot a white fo- 
 liated Talck in all things like unto the Mineral 
 Talck : whereof a liquor may be made, which colou- 
 reth the skin very white, but if this calx of Anti- 
 mony, before it be cxtrafted with fpirit of wine or 
 diflblved with fpirit of fait be made into fine pow- 
 der, and expofed to the moilt air, it will dillblve 
 into a fat liquor, which though it be fomething 
 (harp, yet doth no hurt to the skin, if it be ufed 
 with difcretion, but rather cleanfeth it more then 
 any other thing, and fo it doth likewife to the hair 
 and nailes ; but as foon as the liquor hath been ap- 
 
 plyed 
 
 I 
 
Philo/ophical Furnaces, 
 
 plyed for that piirpofe, it muft be wafhed off again 
 with water, lelt it do not onely take away the grofs 
 and unclean skin, but alfo work upon the tender 
 white skin and do hurt, and therefore I give warn- 
 ing, that you ufeit difcreetly : for according to the 
 old proverb, you may mifufe even that which clfe 
 is good in it fclf. If you put fomc of it into warm 
 water and bath your felf in it, the grofs skin will 
 peal off all the body, fo that you will almoft feem 
 to be another body. And this bath alfo is good for 
 many difcafcs : for it openeth the pores mightily, 
 and cleanfcch all the blood in the body, by draw- 
 ing many ill lunnors out of it, which maketh a man 
 light and ftrong-, efpecially if he be purged I. rfl, be- 
 fore he uleth the bath. It is alfo good for Melan- 
 choly, fcurvy and leprofie, efpecially when the red 
 Tincture drawn out of it with fpirit of wine, l)c 
 ufed befides. It is alfo good to be ufed in a foot 
 bath for thofe that are troubled with corns and o 
 tber excrefcencies upon their feet, or with nailes 
 that cut the llelh \ for it fofteneth them and makes 
 them tit for cutting, and as tradable as wax- For 
 there is nothing known under the Sun, which foft- 
 neth more a hard skin, hair, nailes and ether excre- 
 fcencies, than this oyb And this I did fct down 
 therefore, bccaufe I know, that many are fo tor- 
 mented therewith, that they cannot well endure 
 their fhoes ujDOn their feet. But if you coagulate 
 tliis oyl into fait, and melt it in a crucible, and 
 powre it out into a flat brafs bafon, that it flow at 
 large and may be broken, then you have the bell 
 Caufticum, to open the skin withal where is need. If 
 you diOTolvc crude Tartar with it and coagulate it 
 again, you will geta fait which is ufed in manyChy- 
 mical operations ; and there may be extraded out 
 of it a blood red Tindure with fpirit of wine, 
 which proveth very effectual againft all obftrudi- 
 ons. 
 
 Alfo every combuflible fulphur may be eafily dif- 
 folved with it, and ufed among bathes, it adlethhis 
 p.irt admirably. If auv oyl of fpices be boyled there- 
 with, then the oyl will cliOolve in it, and they turn 
 together to a balfome, which doth mingle it felf 
 with water, and is good to be taken inwardly for 
 fome infirmities: but women with child muft not 
 meddle with it, bccaufe it makes them mifcarry. 
 But after their delivery, it is good to expel after 
 burthen and other reliques. But if you boyl 0/aw/ 
 licni Rh'jdii with this liquor and rofe water fo long 
 till the oyl do incorporate with the liquor and wa: 
 ters and then feparate the wateryfubftance from it, 
 you will get a fope as white as fnow, which may be 
 ufed for to waOi the hands with it, and it dothfmell 
 rery well. You may alfo wafli the head with it ; 
 for it ftrengtheneth the brain and cleanfeth the 
 head and hair. This fope may be diftilled, and it 
 will yield a penetrating oyl, very good for the fi- 
 news and nerves. 
 
 Now as this liquor of /^c^a'/w ^fitimonii [bhntth 
 the skin, nailes, hair, feathers, horns, and the like, 
 and dilTolveth them more than any thing in the 
 world : In the like manner alfo it hath power to 
 difiblve not only metals, but alfo the hardeft ftones, 
 but not in that manner which is done by boyling, 
 as was mentioned of fulphur, but after another way, 
 which is not proper for this place- It fufficeth that 
 1 hinted it. The fiery fixed fait nitre may be dif- 
 folved with fpirit of fait or vinegar, and fublimed 
 into a Ter/A foltata. What further can be effeded 
 with it, doth not belong to this place, and per- 
 
 _._} 5 
 
 chance fomc- where elfe more fiiall befi)okeJi of it- 
 
 To diftiU Bnryntm out of Jf.tiinory^Salt and vitriol ^likp 
 Unto that ^ whuh is m.ide oiu oj Antmony and Mir- 
 cury fublimate. 
 
 TAkc one part of crude Antimony, two parts of 
 common fait, and four parts of vitriol calcf- 
 ned white, beat all to powder and mix them well, 
 and fo caft it in as you were taught to do with o- 
 ther materials, and there will come over a thick 
 oyl of Antimony like butter, which may be reOiI- 
 fied like any other oyl, that is made after the com- 
 mon way with Mercury fublimarc, and is alfo the 
 fame with it in u.re, which nfe you may fee in the 
 firft part: the fame alfo may be made better and 
 in a greater quantity in the furnace defcribcd in the 
 hril part, and alfo with Icfs coals and time [)y the 
 help of the open fire, becaufe it endurcth greater 
 heat than in the fecond furnace- 
 
 To difiil Bntyriirn of Arfenich and Oipimoit. 
 
 A Fter the fame manner as was taught with 
 -i A. Antimony, there may alfo out of Arfenick 
 and Auripigment together with fak and vitriol a 
 thick oyl bedifliHed, which not only outwardly but 
 alfo inwardly is fafe to be ufed, and may be fo 
 correded, that it Ihall be nothing at all inferior in 
 vertue unto the hittyrnm Aitimomi, but rather go 
 beyond it : which perchance will feem impoflible to 
 many. But he that knows the nature and condi- 
 tion of minerals, will not be aflonilhedat my words, 
 but they will be to him as a light in a dark place.' 
 
 To make a rare fpirit of vitriol. 
 
 IF common vitriol be diifolved in water, and 
 you boyle granulated Zinck in it, all the metal 
 and fulphur contained in the vitriol will precipitate 
 on the Zinck, and the folution will turn white', 
 the precipitated matter is nothing elfe, but iron, 
 copper, and fulphur, which the fait of vitriol did 
 contain, and now is drawn from it by the Zinck. 
 The reafon why the metal precipitateth out of the 
 fait upon the Zinck, belongeth to the fourth part, 
 where you will find it fufliciently explained ; The 
 white folution, from which the metallical matter 
 is feparated, muft be coagulated to the dryncfs of 
 fait, and fo by it felf a fpirit diftillcd of it, which 
 rifeth eafily, and is in talle and vertue not unlike 
 unto common oyl of vitriol, but only that this is 
 a little purer than the common- 
 Here perchance many may objed : you take the 
 green from the vitriol, which Paracdfus doth not 
 teach , but bids us to keep it. To which I an- 
 fwer, that I do not teach here to make the fwcet 
 red oyl of vitriol, whereof Ptiraal^us hath written, 
 but the white acicl oyl ; which is as good , or ra- 
 ther much better than the common, which is made 
 of the common impure vitriol. To what purpofe 
 is it, that you take green vitriol to diftil, whereas 
 the green doth not come over, and although that 
 green fliould come over, why iliould that oyl be 
 better than the white .-* for the green in the com: 
 mon vitriol 15 nothing clfe but copper and iron, 
 which the fait water running through the paffages 
 of Metals did diffolve and take into it felf, and 
 as foon as fuch a green vitriol feeleth the fire, the 
 green turneth into red, which is nothing elfe but 
 
 K 2 a cal- 
 
3« 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 a calcined iron or copper, which in the reducing 
 
 by a llrong fire and by. melting is made manifelt. 
 Par Ml' If us hath not taught us , that we fhould 
 tlrive over the gveen by the force of the fire into 
 a red and iweetoyl, but he hathlliewed us an other 
 way, which is found out by few men, whereof in 
 the beginning of the fecoud part aheady hath been 
 made mention- 
 
 This fpirit or acid oyl diftilled out of tlie pu- 
 rified vitriol, is of a pleafant fowrenefs, and ferv- 
 eth for all thofe ufes, which above by the vitriol 
 were defcribcd. And this procefs is fet down 
 onely for that end, that we may fee, that when the 
 vitriol is purifyed, that then it is eafier diftilled, and 
 yieldcth a more pleafant fpirit, than if it 'be yet 
 crude and impure. 
 
 And that fuch a purifying of the vitriol is no- 
 thing clfe but a precipitating of the metal, which 
 the water ( as before faid ) running through the 
 veins thereof hath alfumed, is thus to be proved ; 
 dillolvc any metal in its appropriate Menftruura, 
 whether it be done with diftilled acid fpirits or 
 {harp falts, adding common water to them, or elfe 
 dry by the fire m a crucibh, according as you 
 pleafe , and then put into that folution another 
 metal, fuch as the diflblvent doth fooner feize on, 
 then upon that which it hath afliimed , and then 
 you will find, that the diflblvent doth let fall the 
 alfumed metal or mineral, and falls upon the o- 
 ther, which it doth fooner feize on, and dillol- 
 veth it as being more friendly to it ; of which 
 precipitation in the fourth Part fliall be fpokenmore 
 
 This one thing more is worthy your obfervation, 
 that among all metals there is none more foluble 
 than Zinck, and therefore that all the other i as 
 well in the dry as in the wet way) may be preci- 
 pitated thereby and reduced into light calxes,_ in 
 fo much that the calx of gold or filver precipita- 
 ted in this manner ( if fo be you proceed well ) 
 retaineth its fplendor or glofs , and is like a fine 
 powder wherewith you may write out of a pen. 
 
 To mAe a fitbtk /pint af/dpleafaut 0)l of Ziml^ 
 
 BEcaufe I made mention here of Zinck, 1 thought 
 good not to omit, that there may be made a 
 penetrating fpirit and wholefome oyl out of it by 
 the help of vinegar, which is thus to be done. 
 Take of the flores (which were taught to be made 
 in the fuft part) one part, put them into a glafs 
 (fit for digeftion) and pour upon them 8, or lo. 
 parts of good Iharp vinegar made of honey ; or in 
 want thereof take wine vinegar , and fet the glafs 
 with the {lores and vinegar in a warm place to 
 dillolvc, and the folution being performed, 
 pour off the clear, which will look yellow and af- 
 ter you have filtred it abftrad the phlegm , and 
 there will remain a red liquor or balfome, to which 
 you muft add pure fand, well calcined, and diftill 
 it , and firlt there will come over an unfavory 
 l)h'legmc, afterward a fubtle fpirit, and at jaft a 
 a yellow and red oyl which arc to be kept by them- 
 feives feparated from the fpirit, as a treafure for 
 to heal all wounds very fpecdily- The fpirit is not 
 inferior unto the oyl, no: only for inward ufe to pro- 
 voke fweat thereby ,but alfo externally for the quench- 
 ing of all inlbmations, and doubtlefs this fpirit and 
 o' 1 is good for more difeafes, but becaufc its fur- 
 
 ther ufe is not known to me yet, I will not write 
 of it, but leave the further tryal to others. 
 
 To difltll a fpirit a>id oyl out of Lead. 
 
 IN the fame manner as was taught of Zinck, 
 there may be out of lead alfo diftilled a fub- 
 tle fpirit and a fweet oyl , and it is done thus : 
 Pour ftrong vinegar upon Minium , or any other 
 calx of lead, which is made per fe^ and not with 
 fulphur, let it digeft anddiflblve in fand or warm 
 afhes, fo long till the vinegar be coloured yellow 
 by the lead, and turned quite fweet. Then pour 
 off the clear folution, and pour on other vinegar, 
 and let this likevvife dilTolve, and this repeat fo of= 
 ten, till the vinegar will difTolve no more, nor grow 
 fweet ; then take all thefe folutions, and evaporate 
 all the moifture, and thcie will remain a thick fweet 
 yellow liquor, like unto honey, if the vinegar was 
 not diftilled, but if it was diftilled and made clear, 
 then no liquor remaineth, but only a white fweec 
 fait. This liquor or fait may be diftilled after the 
 fame manner as was taught with the Zinck, and 
 there will come over not only a penetrating fubtle 
 fpirit, but alfo a yellow oyl , which will not be 
 much, but very efFe(;T:ual, in all the fame ufes, as 
 of the fpirit, and oyl of the Zinck was taught. 
 
 N. B. This is to be obferved, that for to niake 
 this fpirit and oyl, you need no diftilled fpirit, but 
 that it may be done as well with undiftilled vine- 
 gar, and the undiftilled yields more fpirit than the di- 
 ftilled. But if you look for a white and clear lalt, then 
 the vineger muft be diftilled, elfe it doth not (lioot into 
 cryftals, but remaineth ayellow liquor like unto honey, 
 and it is alfo needlefs to make the folution in glalTcs, 
 and by digeftion continued for a long time, but it may 
 as well be done in a glazed pot, 'via. pouring the 
 vinegar upon the Mineum in the pot, and boyling 
 it on a coal fire ^ for you need not fear that any thing 
 of the vinegar will evaporate, in regard that the 
 lead keeps all the fpirits, and lets only go an un- 
 favory phlegm. You muft alfo continually ftir the 
 lead about with a wooden fpatulla, elfe it would 
 turn to a hard ftone, and would not diflblve : the 
 fame muft be done alfo when the folution is done 
 in glafl"es ; and the folution after this way may be 
 done in three or four hours: and when both kind 
 of folutions are done, there will be no difference 
 betwixt them, and 1 think it providently done not 
 to fpcnd a whole day about that which may be done 
 in an hour. 
 
 And if you will have this fpirit and oyl better 
 and more eff^eftual, you may mix % I of crude Tar- 
 tar made into powder with It j. of diffolved and 
 purified lead, and fo diftil it after the fame man- 
 ner as you do diftil it by it felf, and you will get 
 a much fubtler fpirit and a better oyl than if it were 
 made alone by it felf 
 
 To difiii nfubtik fpirit and oyl out of crude Tartar. 
 
 MAny think it to be but a fmall matter to make 
 thefpirit of Tartar^ for they fuppofe, that if 
 they do but only put Tartar into a retort, and ap- 
 ply a receiver, and by a ftrong fire force over a wa- 
 ter, they have obtained their defire: and they do not 
 obferve, that in ftead of a pleafant fubtle fpirit, 
 they get but a ftinking vinegar or phlegm ; the 
 pleafant fpirit being gone. Which fome careful o- 
 perators perceiving, they caufed great receivers to 
 be made, fuppofing by that means to get the fpirit. 
 
 Now 
 
Part I. 
 
 Pbilofofhical Ftirnacef. 
 
 37 
 
 Now when they after the diflillation was done, 
 weighed their I'pirits together with the remainder, 
 they found, that they hadfuffered great lofs, where- 
 fore they fuppofed it to be an impoflible thing, to 
 get all the fpirit?, and to lofe none, and indeed it 
 is hardly poiiible to be done otherwife by a retort : 
 for aIthoua,h you apply a great receiver to a fmall 
 retort, and that there be nlfo but a little Tartar in 
 it, a!;d the jovnts being well luted, fo tii;;t nothing 
 can pafs through, and tiiough you make alio the 
 fire never fo gentle, hoping to get the fpiritby that 
 way, ycc for all that you cannot avoid danger and 
 Jofs- For at laft the retort beginning to be red 
 hot, and the black oyl going, then and but then 
 the fubilcit fpirits will come forth, which either 
 fteal through the joyiits, or elfe do break the re- 
 tort or receiver, bccaufe they come in abundance 
 and with great force, ?,nd do not fettle ealily : 
 wherefore 1 will fct down my way of making this 
 moft profitable, and excellent fpiric. 
 
 Tkc frcfnr.itio'i a>:d nfc if the f^irh of Tartar. 
 
 TAke good and pure crude Tartar, whether it 
 be red or white, it matters not, make it in- 
 to fine powder, and when the dillilling veJlcl is red 
 hot, then call in with a ladle half an ounce and no 
 more at once, and fo loon as the fpirits are gone 
 forth and fetled, call in another ^ fs. and this con- 
 tinue, till vou have fpirit enough, then take out 
 the remainder, which will look black, and calcine 
 it well in a crucible, and put it in a glafs retort, and 
 poor the fpirit that came over together with the 
 black oyl, upon it, drive it in fand at firil gently, 
 and the fubtlefl: fpirits will come over,, and after 
 them phlegme, at laft a fowre vinegar* toge- 
 ther with the oyl, vdiereof you mufi: get each by 
 it felf But if you defire to have the fubtle fpi- 
 rit which came over firft, more penetrating yet, 
 then you mufl: take the Capit Mcrttmm that ftaid 
 in the retort, and make it red hot in a crucible, 
 and abflracl the fpirit once more from it, and the 
 calcined Tartar will keep the remaining moiflnefs 
 or phlegm, and only the fubtleft fpirit will come o- 
 ver, which is of a raofl penetrating quality, where- 
 of from half a dram to an ounce taken in wine or 
 any other liquor provoketh a quick and ftrong 
 fweat, and it is a powerful medicine in all obftru 
 clions, and moft approved and often tryed in the 
 plague, malignant feavers> fcurvy, AieUticolia Hy~ 
 p-clm'dri.:c.i, collick, contratfture, epilepfy and the 
 like difeafes. And not only thcfe mentioned dif- 
 eafes, but alfo many others more, which proceed 
 from corrupt blood under God may fuccefsfully be 
 cured with it. 
 
 The phlegm is to be caft away, as unprofitable : 
 the vinegar cleanfeth wounds : the oyl allayeth fwel- 
 ling and pains, and doth cure fcabs, anddifperfeth 
 knobs that are rifen upon the skin, as alfo other 
 exxrefcencies of the fame, if it be ufed timely, and 
 the ufe thereof be continued. 
 
 N- B. If the black ftinking oyl be retflified from 
 the calcined Caput Alortunm^ it will be clear and 
 fubtle, and it will not only affwage very fpeedily 
 all pains of the gout, but alfo dilfolve and expel the 
 conglobated gravel in the reines, applyed as a plai- 
 fter or unguent. In like manner it will diflblve and 
 extraft the coagulated Tartar in the hands, knees 
 and feet, fo that the place afFefted will be freed 
 and made whole thereby : becaufe in fucli a defpi- 
 
 cable oyl there lyes hid a vciatile fait v;h;ch is of 
 great vertue. But if you dcfirc experimentally to 
 know whether it be fo, then pour upon this blaci; 
 ftinking oyl an acid fpirit, as the fpirit of com- 
 mon fait, or of vitriol or I'alt nitre, or onlydiiiili- 
 cd vinegar, and the oyl will grow warm and make 
 a noyfe and rife, as if ^cjua fvrtis had been powi 
 red upon fdt of Tartar, and the acid fpirit v\i!i 
 be mortified thereby, and turn to fait- And this 
 well pnri-ied oyJ doth dillblve and cxtrad the Tar- 
 tar out of the joynrs Oinlcrs it b: gro.vn to a hard ' 
 fiony fubftancc.) even as fope fiowres the unclean- 
 ners out of cloths, or to compare it better, even as 
 like receivcrh its like, and is ealily mixed with it, 
 and doth love it ; but on the contrary, nothing will 
 mix it felf with that wherewith it hath no affinity 
 at all. As if you would take pitch out of cloth by 
 waihing it with water, which never will be done by 
 icaibn of the contrary nature ; for common water 
 hath no affinity with pitch or other fat things, nor 
 will it ever be taken out therewith withonta media- 
 tor, partaking of both natures, ^•.■~. of the nature 
 of pitch and that of the water, and fuch are fid- 
 phureous falts, and nitrous faits, whether they be 
 fixed or volatile- As you may fee at the foap boy- 
 lers, who incorporate common water by the he]p 
 of fulphureous falts with fat things, as tallow and 
 oyl. But if you take warm oyl or any thin fat fub- 
 ftance, and put it upon the pitch orrozin, then the 
 oyl eafily accepteth of and lays hold on its like, and 
 fo the pitch is dillblved and got out of the cloth, 
 and the remaining fatnefs of the oyl may be fetchc 
 out of the cloth with lye or fope and common water, 
 and fo the cloth recovereth its former beauty and 
 purenefs. And as it falleth out with fulphureous 
 things, fo it doth likewile with Mercurial- For ex- 
 ample, if you would take the fait outof powdered 
 flefh or pickled fifh with a lixivium it would not fuc- 
 ceed, becaufe that the nitrous and acid falts are of 
 contrary natures. 
 
 But if upon the powdered flefli or pickled fifli you 
 pour on water wherein fome of the fame falc 
 (wherewithal! the flefh was powdered) is dillblved, 
 that fait water will extradl the fait out of thefledi, 
 as being its like, much more than common fweec 
 water, wherein there is no fait. 
 
 In this manner the hardeft things alfo, as ilones 
 and metals, may be joyned or united with water, 
 whereof more in my other books are extant ; it is 
 needlefs here therefore to relate- I gave a hint of 
 it, only for to Ihcw, that always like with like mu/l 
 be extraded. True it is that one Contrary can 
 mortifie another, and take the corrofivenefs from it, 
 whereby the pains for atime areaffwaged, but whe- 
 ther the caufe of the difeafe it felf be eradicated 
 thereby, is a queftion- 
 
 Here may be objefted, that I make a difference be- 
 tween the fulphureous and Mercurial falts, whereas 
 neither Mercury nor fulphur apparently is to be 
 feen in either. It is true, he that doth not undcr- 
 ftand nor know the nature of falts, is not able to 
 apprehend it. And I have not time now to de- 
 monftrate it, but the fame is fhewcd at large in my 
 book dc NMura falmm^ that fome of them are ful- 
 phureous, and fome Mercurial : but he that looks 
 for a further direction yet, let him read my book 
 de Sympathia & ylfitipatliia nriitn^ wherein he fl.all 
 find it demonftrated that from the Creation of tha 
 World to the time prefent, there were always two 
 contrary natures fighting one againlt the other, 
 
 L which 
 
Tke Second Part of 
 
 38 
 
 which fight will continue fo long till the Mediator 
 betwixt God and Man, the Lord Jefus Chrift fhall 
 put an end unto this ftrife, when he (hall come to 
 leparate the good from the bad, by whofe light- 
 ning and lire flame the proud and hurtful fuperflu- 
 ous Iblphur fliall be kindled and confumed : the pure 
 Mercurial being left in the center. 
 
 How to make prctious fpirits and oyls out of Tartar 
 joiied with minerals and metals. 
 
 TAkc any metal or mineral, dilTolve it in a fit 
 menlhuum, mix it with a due proportion of 
 crude Tartar, fo that the crude Tartar being made 
 into powder together with the folution make up a 
 pap a it were :, then at once call in one fpoonful 
 of it, and diftil it into a fpirit and oyl, which after 
 the dillillation mud be feparated by redification, 
 for to keep each by its felf for its proper ufe- 
 
 Tht iffe of the metalliz.ed fpirit and oyl of Tartar 
 
 THis Tartarized fpirit of metals is of fuch a 
 condition, that it readily performe^h its ope- 
 ration according to the ftrength of the fpirit, and 
 the nature of the metal or mineral, whereof it is 
 made. For the fpirit and oyl of Gold and Tar- 
 tar is good for to corroborate the heart, and to 
 keep out its enemies : the fpirit of fdver and tar- 
 tar doth ferve for the brain ; that of Mercury and 
 Tartar , for the liver : of lead and tin for the 
 fpleen and lungs : of iron and copper for the reins 
 and feminary veilels : that of Antimony and Tar- 
 tar for all accidents and infirmities of the whole 
 body •, and thefe metallical fpirits made with Tar- 
 tar, provoke fweat exceedingly, whereby many 
 malignities are expelled out of the body. Like- 
 wife alfo the oyl hath its operation, though this 
 of feveral metals, as of Mercury and Copper, is 
 not well to be ufed inwardly , becaufe it caufeth 
 falivations and ftrong vomits. But externally they 
 are very good for to clean fe all putrid ulcers, and 
 to lay a good and firm ground for healing them. 
 
 The remainder, whereof the fpirit and oyl isdi- 
 ililled, you may take out, and reduce it in a cruci- 
 ble into a metal, fothat what is not come over, may 
 not be loft, but made to ferve again. . 
 
 And as you were taught to diftil fpirits and oyls 
 cut of dillolved metals and crude Tartar ; fo you 
 may get them likewife out of common vitriol and 
 Tartar, 'vi^- thus, take one part of Tartar made 
 into powder, two parts of good pure vitriol, mix 
 them well together , and diftil a fpirit of them, 
 which though it be unpleafant to take, for all that 
 in all obftrudionsand corruption of blood whatfoever 
 it is Kot to bedefpifed, but very fuccefsfully perform- 
 eth its operation ^ cfpecially when it is rcdified from 
 its CafKt Alortftiiw^ and fo freed from its phlegm ; 
 and its beft vertue, which conllfteth in the vola- 
 tility, be not loft in the diftilling. 
 
 hi. B- But if you will have this fpirit more ef- 
 fedual, then you may join 1 artar and vitriol by 
 boyling them together in common water, and cry- 
 ftallizing -, and then caft it in, and diftil it , and 
 there will come over a much purer and more pe- 
 netrating fpirit ; becaufe that in the folution and 
 coagulation of both, many faeces were feparated : 
 but^ if to one part of vitriol you take two parts 
 of Tartar, and dilTolVe it together, and fo filter 
 •and coagulate it, then the Tartar with the vitriol 
 
 Parr. 1. 
 
 will flioot no more, but there remaineth a thick 
 liquor like unto honey , out of which with fpirit 
 of wine there may be extracted a good tincture 
 againft obftrudions. This liquor taken from 3 i. 
 to 5i- doth purge very gently, and fometimcs it 
 caufeth a vomit, efpecially if the vitriol was not 
 pure and good : and it may be alfo diftilled into 
 a fpirit not inferiour unto the former in vertue. 
 Befides the way above taught, there is yet T for 
 to diftil a metallized fpirit of Tartar ) another 
 way , whereby feveral metals and minerals may 
 be reduced into pleafant fpirits and oyls , and of 
 more vertue, and it is done in this manner- 
 Take of the Tartar of white Rhenifii wine made 
 into powder, pour upon it fweet rain or runniitg 
 water, fo that to ft j- of tartar there be lb x. or 
 ft xij. of water, or fo much that the tartar may 
 be dilTolved by it in the boyling , and then boyl 
 the mixture with the water in a tinned kettle, or 
 which is better, in a glazed pot, until it be quite 
 diflblved, and in the mean wliile take off the skum 
 (with a wooden skimmer) ftill as it rifeth in the 
 boyling! and when no more skum rifeth, and all 
 the tartar is dilTolved, then pour the folution thus 
 hot through a linnen cloth , tyed ftraigiit on an 
 earthen glazed velTel, that the remaining (liminefs 
 may be feparated. The tartar water being ftrain- 
 ed, let it ftand for 24- or 30. hours without ftir- 
 ing , and there will ftick a cryftallized tartar to 
 the fides of the veftel , which after the water is 
 poured off may be taken out, and waflied with cold 
 water, and then dryed. 1 his purified tartar keep, 
 until I (liall teach you, what further is to be done 
 with it ; and this tartar is pure enoi^gh for the 
 above faid purpofe, vtz.. to reduce metals into oyl 
 with it, as fliall follow anon. It is alfo good ta- 
 ken of it felf for an abfterfive to make the body 
 foluble- But if you defire to have it yet whiter 
 and fairer and in great Cryftals , you rauft pro- 
 ceed thus. 
 
 You muft know this that all falts, if they Ihall ftioot 
 into great cryftals, there muft be a great quantity 
 of them, for of little there comes but little. And 
 if you will make great and fair white cryftals of 
 tartar, which will be no better than the former, 
 but only pleafant to the eye, then you rauft pro- 
 ceed in this manner- 
 Take of white tartar made into powder about 
 ten or thirty ft. pour fo much water upon it, as 
 is needful for to diilblve it, and boyl it by a ftrong 
 fire in a tinned kettle, until all the tartar be dif- 
 folved, which you may know by ftirring in it with 
 a wooden ladle, and skim off" diligently all the 
 filth rifing on the water ■, and you muft take heed, 
 that you take neither too much nor too little wa- 
 ter to it ; for if you take too little, part of the 
 tartar will remain undilTolved, and fo will be caft 
 away and loft among the (lime : but if you take 
 too much of it, then the tartar is too much dif- 
 fperfed in the water , and cannot flioot well, and 
 fo will likewife be loll, being caft away afterwards 
 with the water. For I have heard many a one com- 
 plain, that they could get but little of a pound, 
 and therefore fuppofed the tartar to have been 
 naught, whereas the fault was not in the tartar, buc 
 in the workman, that managed not well his work, 
 pouring away one half which did not fhoot with the 
 water : but if you proceed well, then four pound of 
 common tartar will yield ft iijof pure white cryftals. 
 The folution being well made, and no skim more 
 
 riling 
 
Part. I. 
 
 Philo/opbical Furnaces. 
 
 39 
 
 riling at the top, coyer the kettle, and let it cool 
 without removing from the warm ■ place it ftands 
 in, which will be done within three or four dayes, 
 if the kettle be bigg. Kut the fire mufl: be taken 
 away from under the kettle, and fo let it ftand 
 for the time mentioned- In the mean while the Tar- 
 tar will cryftallife to the fides of the kettle, which' 
 cryftals after the time is expired , and the water 
 poured off", are to be taken out and wafhed and 
 boyled again with frefh water, and fo skimmed and 
 cryftallifed ; and this proceeding mufl; be Itill rei- 
 terated, untill (which is done the third or fourth 
 time) the cryftpls are white enough : then take them 
 out, dry and keep them for ufe ; whereof from 3 j. 
 to 5 )'• made into powder, and taken in wine, beer, 
 warm broth or other liquor , will give fome gen- 
 tle ftooles, and ferveth for thofe, which cannot 
 endure ftrong phylick- This tartar may be (harp- 
 ned with Diagridium or any other purging drug, 
 that fo you need not take it in fo great a quanti- 
 ty at once, but a Icfler dofe may ferve turn. But 
 if you do not look for great cryftals , but on- 
 ly for Tartar well purified, then you may ufe this 
 following manual, and you will get exceeding fair 
 and glillering little cryftals, which need no beating 
 into powder, but by the working come to be fo 
 pure and tine, as if they had been ground upon a 
 llone, and looking not like a dead powder, but 
 having a glofs, like unto Imall gliftiering fnow that 
 fell in very cold weather, and it is done thus: when 
 the cryftals are come to be pure enough by often 
 diilolving and coagulating, then diiTolve them once 
 again in pure water, and pour the folution into 
 a clean vellel of wood, copper, or earth being glaf- 
 ed i and let it not ftand ftill (as above taught with 
 the cryftals) but as foon as it is powred in, with 
 a clean wooden ftick ftirr about continually with- 
 out ceafing, till all be cold, which will be done in 
 half an houre. In this ftirring the Tartar hath no 
 time to fhoot into cryftals, but doth coagulate into 
 the fmalleft gliftering powder, pleafant to behold, 
 and like unto frozen ihow fettleth at the bottom 
 of the veflel •, then pour ofTthe water, and dry the 
 powder, and keep it for ufe- The waters which 
 you poured off, in regard that they contain yet 
 ibme Tartar, ought not to be caft away (as others 
 do) but evaporated, and the Tartar contained in 
 them will be faved, and fo nothing will be loft, 
 and in this manner not only white Tartar may be 
 reduced into clear cryftals, but alfo the red being 
 feveral times diflblved and cryftallized, lofeth its 
 rednefs, and turneth white and clear. Befides the 
 abovefaid, there is another way to reduce the Tar- 
 tar into great white cryftals at once by precipita- 
 tion •, but thefe being good enough for our pur- 
 pofe, -VIZ.. to make good medicines out of me- 
 tals, I hold it needlefs to loofe more time by the 
 relation of it, and fo I will acquiefce. 
 
 Another way to make a metallifcd fpirit of Taratr. 
 
 TTAke of purified Tartar diftolved and coagulated 
 ■■■ but once, as much as you pleafe, pour fo much 
 rain or other fweet water to it as will ferve to dif- 
 folve it; in which folution you muft boyl plates 
 of metals, until the Tartar have diffolved enough 
 of it, fo that it will diflblve no more , the fign 
 whereof is, when the folution is deep coloured of 
 the metal, and during your boyling you muft often 
 fupply the evaporated water with pouring on of o- 
 
 ther, left the Tartar come to be too dry and burni 
 and this folution may be done beft of all in a me- 
 tallical velTcl ; as when you will make the folution 
 of iron , you may do it in an iron pot ; and 
 for copper you may take a copper kettle, and fo forth 
 for other metals, a velTel made of the fame is to 
 be taken. But you muft know that gold, filvcr , 
 and crude Mercury, unlefs they be firft prepared 
 cannot be diJiblved like iron and copper, but when 
 they are prepared firft for the purpofe, then they 
 will alfo be dillblved. In like manner fome mine- 
 rals alfo muft be firft prepared, before they can be 
 dilFolved with Tartar and water. But if you can 
 have good glades or glazed vefl'cls of earth, you 
 may ufe them for all metals and minerals for to 
 diftblve them therein, and the folution you may not 
 only ufe of it felf for a medicine, but alfo diftill it, 
 and make a very eSedual fpirit and oyl of it as 
 followeth. 
 
 To dijlill the fpirit and oyl of Lead ami Tin. 
 
 TAkethe filings of Lead and Tin, and boyl them 
 with the water or folution of Tartar in a lea- 
 den or tin veflel, untill the Tartar be fweetned by 
 the water , fo that it will diflblve no more , to 
 which pafs it will be brought within twenty four 
 hours, for both thefe metals will be diflblved but 
 flowly, but if you would perform this folution foo- 
 ner, then you muft reduce the metals firft into a 
 foluble calx, and then they may be diflblved in lefs 
 time than an hour. The folution being done, you 
 muft filtre it, and in B- abftraft all the moi- 
 fture to the thicknefs or confiftency of honey, and 
 there will remain a pleafant fweet liquor, which of 
 it felf with out any further preparation may fafe- 
 ly be ufed inwardly for all fuch difeafes, for which 
 other medicaments, made of thefe metals are ufe- 
 ful- Efpecially the fweet liquor of lead and tin do- 
 eth much good in the Plague, not only by driving 
 the poyfon from the heart by fweating, but alfo by 
 breaking or allaying the intolerable heat, fo that a 
 happy cure doth follow upon it : but externally the 
 liquor of lead may be ufed fuccesfully in all inflamma- 
 tions, and it healeth very fuddenly, not only frefli 
 wounds, but alfo old ulcers turned to fiftulaes j for 
 the Tartar deanfeth, and lead confolidates. 
 
 The liquor of tin is better for inward ufe than for 
 outward whofe operation is not fo fully known yet, 
 as that of lead ■ But if you will diftil a fpirit there- 
 of, then caft it in with a ladle by little and little, 
 as above in other diftillations oftentimes was men- 
 tioned, and there will come over a fubtle fpirit of 
 tartar, carrying along the vertue and beft eflence of 
 the metal , and therefore doth alfo prove much more 
 etl'eftual than the common fpirit of tartar, which 
 is made alone by it felf, and this fpirit as well 
 that which is made of tin, as that of lead, if it be well 
 dephlegmed firft, may be ufed and held for a great 
 treafurein all obftruiflions, efpecially of the Spleen ; 
 and few other medicines will go beyond them ; but 
 befides there muft not be negleded the ufe of good 
 purging medicines , if need require them. With 
 the fpirit there cometh over alfo an oyl, which is 
 of a quick operation, efpecially in wounds and fores 
 of the eye, where other oyntments and plaifters may 
 not fo fitly be ufed, for it doth not only allay the 
 heat and inflammation, a common fymptome of the 
 eye wounds, but alfo doth hinder and keep back all o- 
 ther fymptomes which few other medica<ments, are a- 
 
 L 2 b}«^ 
 
40 
 
 bl^o ; and for the vendue, if it be driven further by 
 the ftroni^ell lire, tlien there will come over a fubli- 
 mate, which in the airdillblvech into oyl, which isallo 
 of a jrawcrful operation , not only in phyfick, but 
 
 alfoin Alchymy. . , -, p. 
 
 And the Lead runcth together into a fair white Ae= 
 all's which is much whiter, purer and fairer than 
 other common lead: bat the tartar retaines the black- 
 refs, and raifeth it fclf to the top as a fufible drofs, 
 which is impregnated with the fulphur of lead, where- 
 with you may colour hair, bones, feathers and the 
 like, and make them to be, and remain brown and 
 
 black. ,.„.,, . 
 
 1 nuC:c trval once of fuch a dillillation in an 
 iron vdlcl, whereby the fame in the iniide was fo 
 whitened bv the purified lead, that it was like unto 
 fine filvcr in brightnefs : .which afterwards trymg 
 acrain, it would not fall fo fair as at firll ; where- 
 at none ou"ht ro wonder, for 1 could write fome- 
 thin" more''(ifit wete fit) of tartar, knowing well 
 whn may be efiefted with it, if 1 did not ftand 
 in fear of fcoffers, which vilify all what they do 
 not underltand. I durft prefume to call tartar the 
 Sone of the Philofophers •, for m the cleanling of 
 feme metals, by long experience I tound it of ad- 
 mirable vertue; though I would not be underftood 
 thus, as if I did count it to be the true w^w^fe ««/- 
 ^erfulis Phllojopbo-awiy whereby they wain their La- 
 ton- but I cannot deny, but that it is of particu- 
 lar ufe for the walliing and cleanfing of feveral me- 
 tals", for it is indued with admirable vertues for 
 the ufe of metals, whereof in other places more Ihall 
 be faid hereafter. 
 
 Hi;w to rnM^i a Tartan fed fpirit arid oyU out of 
 Iron or Steel and Coffer. 
 
 The Second Tart of 
 
 Part L 
 
 T F you intend to make a good medicine out of 
 X iron or fteel or copper joyned with tartar, then 
 for the iron or fteel take an iron pot , and for 
 copper a kettel of copper, make them very clean 
 and put in it the filings of iron, or fteel, or cop- 
 per, which you pleafe, and twice as much of pure 
 tartar made into powder, and fo much water, that 
 the tartar may be diflblved well by it in the boyl- 
 in<^, and fo boyl the metal with the tartar-water fo 
 long, till it be deeply coloured by the metal, as red 
 by "the iron, and deep green by the copper ^ and 
 when the water in the boyling doth wafte, you mull 
 ftill fupply it with other, that the tartar may not 
 burn ; for there muft be alwayes fo much water , 
 tliat no skin of the tartar may rife at the top , 
 hut that it remain always open , and there muft 
 iiot be too much water neither, left it be too fweet, 
 and not able to dillblve the metal. The folution of 
 iron or fteel being come to be red and fweet, and 
 in talle like unto 'vitvio', but green and bitter of 
 copper, pour it off w.uni by ii.clination into an 
 other' clean veftel, and let it ftand fo long again in 
 a very gentle heat of coals, till almoft all the wa- 
 ter be evaporated, and the diilblved metal with the 
 tartar remain in the conllftency of honey. 
 
 Which mctallical liquor may be ufed inwardly 
 and outwardly (efpecially that of iron) which doth 
 puree gently, and opencth the obftruelions of the 
 iver and Spleen: cleanfeth the Stomach, and kil- 
 eth Worms : externally ufed it is a good wound 
 ;alfonie, and goes far beyond all fuch as are made 
 of vegetables- It is a fingular treafure, not only for 
 to cure new wounds •, but alfo for to cleanfe and 
 
 heal old corrupt exulcerated fores, turned to fiftu- 
 laes; but the liquor of copper is not fo fate for to be 
 ufed inwardly, lor it is not only very unpleafant in 
 tafte, but alfocauieth vehement vomits: and there- 
 fore I would not advife any one to be forward to 
 ufe it, unlefs it be for ftrong folks and for to kill 
 worms in them, for which purpofc it is excellent 
 good and furpafleth all other medicines whatfoe- 
 ver i but to little children it ought not to be given 
 at all, in regard that it is of far too ftrong an o- 
 peration for them- 
 
 N- B. And if you will ufe it to ftrong bodies a- 
 gainft the worms or ftomach-agues, you muft ob- 
 ferve that the patient ( in cafe that he cannot get 
 it up ) thruft his finger into the throat to further 
 the vomiting, that it may not ftay behind , but 
 come forth again out of the body , which done 
 health followeth upon it •, but if it remain in the 
 body, itcaufeth a loathfomenefs to ufe it any more. 
 And therefore you muft take heed to ufe it warily: 
 and in regard that this liquor is very bitter, you 
 may mix it with fome fugar, to facilitate the ta- 
 king thereof-, but that of iron needeth no fuch 
 correction , it being fweet enough of it felf , and 
 therefore I commend and prefer it before the o- 
 ther : but if you will needs have that of copper (be- 
 caufe it worketh fo ftrongly ) then the Patient 
 muft keep in from the cold aire, and not prefenc- 
 ly after the operation load the ftomach with ftrong 
 drink and fuiieilluity of meat, contenting himlelf 
 with fome warm broth and a little cup of wine or 
 beer , and the next day his meat and drink will 
 tafte the better with him , and do him fo much 
 tiie more good. 
 
 But externally, this iiquor is of the fame ufe 
 with that of iron or fteel, yea, proveth more ef- 
 feftual and fpeedier in healing. It would be good 
 that Surgeons knew how to prepare it, and would 
 ufe it inftead of their falves, wherewith many frefh 
 wounds are fpoyled and turned into horrid ulcers, 
 efpecially it requiring fo little coft and pains to 
 make it. And if you would have thefe liquors pu- 
 rer yet, you muft pour on fpirit of wine, and ex-- 
 tradl them, and they will eafily yield their tin- 
 ture, and leave many fsces behind which are good 
 for nothing: but the tinifture will be fo much the 
 better, purer, and more effedtual, fo that you need 
 ufe but four or five drops for purging , whereas 
 of the grofs liquor you muft have from 4, 6, 8. 
 to 12- or 16. drops: and this e.vtracted tinfture 
 worketh alfo much better externally, and keepeth 
 longer than the balfome or liquor, which in time 
 is corrupted , but the extraftion is never fpoilcd. 
 But if you will diftil the liquor or balfome, it is 
 needlefs that it be extraded firft, but may be di- 
 ftilled fo as the boyling made it , after the fame 
 manner, as above was taught for Lead, and there 
 will come over a yellow fpirit and oyl from iron or 
 fteel, and from copper a greenilh fpirit and oyl. 
 
 The fpirit and oyl of iron may fafely be ufed 
 in the plague, feavers, obftrudions, and corruption 
 of blood, from 3 i. to 5 i. It is much better to 
 provoke fweat, than that which is made of crude 
 Tartar, without addition of a metal : the like doth 
 that alfo which is made of copper and more ef- 
 fectually yet, and fometimes caufeth a vomit, if it 
 be ufed in a greater quantity, than is fitting. 
 
 NB. Although the Chymifts do prefer copper 
 before iron, as a more firm and ripe metal, never- 
 thelefs it is found by experience, that iron or 
 
 fteel 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofofbical Furnaces. 
 
 41 
 
 fteel by reafon of its fweetnefs is better to be 
 ufed for an inward medicine than copper. But 
 for external ufe, copper ( if it be well prepared ) 
 hath the preheminence, being an appropriate me- 
 dicine for all ulcers and open fores, in all the parts 
 of the body, if the fame inwardly be kept clean 
 by fitting purges. For not only the now defcri- 
 bed medicine , but alfo many more bcfides , are 
 taught to be made out of copper in other places 
 of my books. 
 
 A Country - phyfick and purge I will teach for 
 thofe , which either live far from Apothecary- 
 fliops, or have no money to fpare for phyfick ^ 
 and it is to be made out of iron and copper, 
 whereby they may cleanfe their flimy ftomachs, 
 fpoyled by a diforderly dyet, whence head-aches, 
 worms, agues, and other difeafes are occafioned, 
 warning withal thofe that are either too old or too 
 young, or elfe decayed and weak, and fo not ftrong 
 enough for fuch powerful phyfick, that they will 
 forbear to ufe it, left befides the worms, they kill 
 and expel life it felf alfo \ but thofe that are of 
 a ftrong conftitution, and a middle age, and of a 
 found heart, may fafely ufe this purge , whereby 
 ftomach- agues, belly-worms, and may other occult 
 difeafes may be cured with good fuccefs- The pre- 
 paration is done thus : Take 5 Is. of pure tartar 
 made into powder, & %fs- or 5 j. of fugar or honey, 
 and 5 V. or ^vj. of fpring or rain water, put all 
 into a clean copper velTel which is not greafy, and 
 boy] it upon a coal fire as long or fomewhat long- 
 er than you ufe to boyl an egg, or at the furthcft 
 half a quarter of an hour ■, take off the skum in 
 boy ling, let it ftand till it be milk- warm, fo that 
 it may be drunk. This potion tafting almoft like 
 warm wine fweetned with fugar , give unto the 
 patient to drink , and let him faft upon it , and 
 within half an hour it will begin to work upwards 
 and downwards ; whereat you need not be amazed, 
 but only keep the body warm, and within an hour 
 it will have done working. But if you will drive 
 out worms from little children by purging, then 
 inftead of the copper-veflbl, take a clean iron-vef- 
 fel, and put in a lefs quantity of tartar, fugar and 
 water, and boyl it as abovefaid, and give it to them, 
 and it will purge only downward, but fometimes it 
 will alfo give a gentle vomit, which will do them 
 no hurt, but rather will cleanfe the ftomach the 
 better- But if the drink be too weak, fo that it 
 doth not work, it may be ufed again the next day 
 ( but you muft take more of the ingredients , or 
 elfe let them boyl longer) there is no danger in 
 it at all, if you proceed aright, and it is much 
 pleafanter to take, than the bitter worm-feed, where- 
 with they ufually torment children. 
 
 The reafon why this decodlion works in this 
 manner is, that the tartar and fugar being boyled 
 in metallical velTels with water, work upon the me= 
 tal , and extraft vertue out of it , which caufeth 
 vomiting and purging fthe Tartar alfo being help- 
 fol to it. ) 
 
 How to make a Tartarifed fpirit of Mercury. 
 
 Vulgar Mercury cannot be dilTolved like the 
 former metals with tartar and water, with- 
 out any foregoing preparation ; but muft be fubli- 
 med firft with fait and vitriol, or cryftallifed with 
 ^qna fortts^ and then it may be diflblved by boyl- 
 ing with tartar and water , and reduced into a 
 
 balfame , like other metals, but is not to be ufed 
 inwardly, unlefs it be digefted a fulTicicnt time, 
 fo that its fiercenefs be allayed : Externally it may 
 fafely be ufed in all defperate, efpecially venereal 
 fores, and it is a very efTeftual and profitable me- 
 dicine for them. But moft of all it doth ferve 
 for Alchymy , although few do know this gueft, 
 becaufe he will not be feen by every one. The 
 fpirit which comes over from it by diftillation, is 
 an admirable thing not only in phyfick, but alfo 
 in Alchymy : yet you muft take heed, that inftead 
 of a friend , you do not harbor a great enemy : 
 for its force and vertue is very great and powerful. 
 
 How to make a Tartarifed fpirit of Gold and Silver. 
 
 Gold and filver alfo can by no means be dif- 
 folved with tartar in a wet way : but in a 
 dry way adding its helper to it, it will eafily dif- 
 folve, which doth not belong hither-, but if you 
 will draw a fpirit of it, then the gold and filver 
 muft firft by dilTolving and coagulating be reduced 
 to cryftals, and. then diflblved with purifyed tar- 
 tar and water, and of Gold you will get a yel- 
 low folution, and of filver a white inclining unto 
 green, which being reduced to the confiftency of 
 honey, may be ufed faibly and without fear. The 
 folution of Gold doth loofen and keep the body 
 open j it effecftually ftrengtheneth the ftomach, 
 heart, lungs, and liver, and other principal mem- 
 bers : and that of filver purgeth very forcibly, 
 according to the quantity given, like another purge, 
 but without harm or danger, fo that in all difeafes 
 where purging is neceflary, it may be ufed fafely 
 from 3 i. to 5 f- but that of gold is ufed in a 
 fmaller quantity: and both the liquor of gold 
 and of filver may very fuccefsfully be ufed exter- 
 nally: but becaufe for external ufes inferiour me« 
 tals will ferve the turn, it is needlefs to ufe coft- 
 ly things thereto. 
 
 The fpirit which is forced from it by diftilla- 
 tion, is endued with great vertue : for the vola- 
 tile part of the metal cometh over - joyned with 
 the fpirit of tartar, the remainder may be redu- 
 ced , fo as it was taught of other metals. This 
 fpirit, efpecially that of Gold, is exceeding good 
 in the plague and other difeafes , where fweating 
 is neceflary : for it driveth not only by fweating, 
 all Malignities from the Heart, but alfo doth 
 ftrengthen the fame, and preferveth it from all 
 hurtful fymptomes. Likewife alfo that of filver is 
 very commendable, efpecially if it be firft dephleg- 
 med from its C^f«f Alortnumy as above was taught 
 in the preparation of the common fpirit of tartar. 
 For any Phyfitian expert in Chymiftry rnay eafily 
 guefs what the fpirit of tartar well retlifyed and im- 
 pregnated with the vertues of gold may efFert, and 
 therefore it is needlefs to make any further men- 
 tion of it, but it (hall be left to the tryal thereof. 
 
 To make a Tartarifed fpirit of Antimony^ 
 
 CRude Antimony cannot be diflblved in fuch a 
 manner as above hath been taught : but if it 
 be firft prepared into flores, or a vitrum, it yield- 
 eth eafily its vertue in boyling, and it is done 
 thus: Take to one patt of the flores or of fmall 
 ground vitrum jintimonii made fer fe , three parts 
 of pure tartar, and 12. or 15. parts of clean wa- 
 ter, boyl the Antimony with the tartar and wa- 
 
 M ter 
 
42 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part I 
 
 ter in a glazed pot for three or four hoursj and 
 the evaporated water muft be ftill fupplycd with 
 other that the tartar may not burn for want of 
 water, and the litmm muft be fometimes ftirred 
 about with a wooden fpatula (which the flores 
 being light do not need ): This done , the tartar 
 water will be deep red coloured by the Antimony, 
 and leave the remaining Antimony fettled in the 
 bottom, from which pour off the folution, and af- 
 ter having filtred it, evaporate the water from it, 
 and then cxtraft it once more with fpiric of wine, 
 and you will get a blood red Extratlum^ whereof 
 1, 2,3. to lo- or 12. drops given at once, caufeth 
 gentle vomits and ftools, which may be fafely ufed 
 by old and young in all dileafes that have need 
 of purging, and you need not tear any danger at 
 all: For I know no vomit, which purgeth more 
 gently than this, and if you pleafe, you may make 
 it wLrk only ( per tnfenora ) downward, fo that it 
 fhallcaufe no vomits at all : and you need do nothing 
 elfe but make a toaft of brown bread , and hold 
 it hot to your nofe and mouth, and when this is 
 almoll cold , have another hot in readinefs , and 
 fo ufe one after another by turns, till you feel no 
 more loathing, and that the vertue of Antimony 
 hath begun to work downward: This is a good 
 fecret for thofe that would ufe Antimonial phy- 
 fick, but that they are affraid of vomiting, which 
 they are not able to endure. But if you will 
 not fpend fo much pains, as to make fuch an Ex- 
 traft , then do as you was taught above to do 
 with the copper , and take ten or twelve grains 
 of prepared Antimony for an old body , but for 
 a young one 5, 6. grains or more or lefs according 
 to the condition of the perfon, and Ifs. or o vj. of 
 pure tartar, and together with ^ iiij. or 5 v. of wa- 
 ter put it in a little pipkin, and boyl it a quarter 
 of an hour, then pour the folution only into a cup, 
 and difolve a little fugar in it, whereby the acidity 
 of the Tartar will be fomewhat qualified. The de- 
 corum drink warm, and keep your felf asit is fit, 
 and it will work much better, than it if had been 
 fteeped over night in wine , which not every one 
 can abide to take fafting ', but this decoClum^ be- 
 caufe it talleth like warm and fweet wine, is much 
 pleafanter to take. 
 
 N- B- It is to be admired, that well prepared An- 
 timony is never taken in vain: for although it be 
 given in a very fmall quantity, fo that it cannot 
 caufe either ftool? or vomits, yet it worketh infen- 
 fibly, t'Jz.. it cleanfeth the blood, and expelleth ma- 
 lignities by fwear, fo that mighty difeafes may be 
 rooted out thereby without any great fenfible ope- 
 ration. Which many times hapned unto me, and 
 gave me occafion to think further of it ; and there- 
 fore I fought how to prepare Antimony fo, that it 
 might be ufed daily without cauling of vomits or ftools, 
 which I i)ut in execution accordingly, and found it 
 good, as afterward (hall follow- 
 
 Of the folution above defcribedjWx.. of the flores 
 of Antimony with tartar make a good quantity, 
 and after the evaporation of the water diltill a fpi- 
 ric of it, and there will alfo come over a black oyl, 
 which muft be feparated from the fpirit, and redi- 
 fied fcr fe ; and externally applyed it will not only do 
 the fame wonderful operations, which above have 
 been afcribed to the iimple oyl of tartar, but it 
 goeth alfo far beyond it, for thebeft ellencc of An- 
 timony hath joyned it felf thereunto in the diftil- 
 ling and fo doubled the vertue of the 6yl of Tar- 
 
 tar ; and this oyl may with credit be ufed not on- 
 ly for all podagrical tumors to allay them very rea- 
 dily, but alfo by reafon of its drynefs it doth con- 
 fume all other tumors in the whole body, whether 
 they be caufed by wind or water : for the vola- 
 tile fait by reafon of its fubtl.ny, conveyeth the 
 vertue of Antimony into the iir.ermoft parts of the 
 body in a marvellous and incredible way, whereby 
 much good can be performed in Cbyrurgery. 
 
 As for the Ipirit, you may not only ufe it very 
 fuccefsfuUy, in tLe Plsgue, Pcx, Scurvy, Mdancho- 
 lia hyfochoridiinca^ Feavers, and other obllruftions 
 and corruptions of blood, but alfo if you put fome 
 of it into new wine or beer, and let it work with it, 
 the wine or beer comes to be fo vertuous there- 
 by , that if it be daily ufed, it doth ftay and keep 
 off all difeafes proceeding from fuperfluous humors 
 and corrupted blood, fo that neither Plague, Scur- 
 vy, Melancholia HyfOihondriaCa ^ or any Other di- 
 feafe of that kind can take root in thole that dai- 
 ly ufe it, wherein no metal or mineral (except gold) 
 can be parallel'd with it : but in cafe you have no 
 conveniency to make that fpirit, and yet you 
 would wiUingly have fuch a medicinal drink made 
 of Antimony, then take but of the folution made 
 with tartar, before it be dillilled, and put tt> j. or 
 tt> j fs. of it into 18. or 20. gallons of new wine or 
 beer, and let it work together, and the vertue of 
 the Antimony by the fermentation of the wine will 
 grow the more volatile and effic?.'cious to work. And 
 if you cannot have new wine (in regard that it doth 
 not grow every where) you may make an artifici- 
 al wine of Honey, Sugar, Pears, Figs, Cherries or 
 the like fruit, as in the following third part fliall 
 be taught , which may ftand in Head of natural 
 Wine. 
 
 Thefe medicinal wines fer-ve for a fure and fafe 
 prefervativc, not only to prevent many difeafes, but 
 alfo if they have poffeffed the body already, effedu- 
 ally to oppofe and expel them. Alfo all external 
 open fores (which by daubing and plaiftering could 
 not be remedied j by daily drinking thereof may 
 be perfecftly cured. For not only Baftlim ralchu- 
 nus^ and Theophrafius Paracdfus^ but many more be- 
 fore and after them knew it very well, and have 
 written many good things of it, which few did en- 
 tertain, and Cbecaufe their defciription was fome- 
 what darkj moft defpifed and defamed thera for 
 untruths. 
 
 In like manner, and much more may this my jvri- 
 ting be lightly efteemcd of, becaufe I do not fet down 
 long and coftly proceffes, but only according to 
 truth, and in fiaiplicity do labour to ferve my neigh- 
 bour, which doth not found well in the ears of the 
 proud world, which rather tickle and load them- 
 felves with vain and unprofitable proceffes, than 
 harken unto the truth ; and it is no wonder, that 
 God fuffereth fuch men, which only look after high 
 things, and defpife fmall things, to be held in Er- 
 ror. 
 
 Why do we look to get our Medicines by trou- 
 bling our brains, & by fubtle and tedious works,wheres 
 as God through Iimple nature doth teach us other- 
 wife- Were it not better to let fimple nature inftruft 
 us ? furely if we would be in love with fmall things, we 
 fhould find great ones. But becaufe all men do ftrive 
 only for great and high things, therefore the fmall al- 
 fo are kept from them ; and therefore it would be 
 well, that we could fancy this maxim , that alfo 
 things of fmall account can do fomething, as we 
 
 may 
 
Part I 
 
 Philojofbical Furnaces. 
 
 may fee by Tartar and defpicable Antimony, and 
 not only fo many coals, glafles, materials, and the 
 like, but alfo the precious time would not be waft- 
 ed fo much in preparing of medicaments : for all 
 is not gold that gliftereth, but oftentimes under a 
 homely coat fome glorious thing is hid i which 
 ought to be taken notice of. 
 
 Some may objed why do I teach to joyn the An- 
 timony firlt with the Tartar by the help of com- 
 mon water before its fermentation with the wine: 
 whether it would not be as good to put it in of it 
 felf in powder, or to difTolve it with fpiritoffalt 
 f which would be ealier to do than with Tartar) 
 and fo let it work ? To which I anfwer, that the 
 working wine or drink, receiveth no metallical calx 
 or folution, unlefs it be firfl; prepared with tartar or 
 fpirit of wine. For although you dillblve Antimonyj 
 or any other metal or mineral in fpirit of fait, or 
 of vitriol, or of fait nitre, or any other acid fpi- 
 rit, and then think to let it work with wine or 
 any other drink, you will find that it doth not 
 fucceed ; for the acid fpirit will hinder the fermen- 
 tation , and let fall the dillbived metals, and fo 
 fpoyl the work ; and befidcsj Tartar may be ufcd 
 among all drinks, and doth more agree with ones 
 tafte and Itomach, than any corrofive fpirit. 
 
 In the fame manner as was taught of Antimony , 
 other minerals and metals alfo may be fitly joyned 
 with wine or other drink, and the ufe of fuch An- 
 timonial wine is this, viz.. that it be drank at meals 
 and betwixt meals like other ordinary drink to 
 quench thirft, but for all that, it muft not be drank 
 in a greater quantity, than that Nature be able to 
 bear it. For if you would drink of it immoderate- 
 ly, it would excite vomits, which ought not to be, 
 for it is but only to work in an infenfible way , 
 iwhich if it be done> it preferveth not only the bo- 
 »iy from all difeafes proceeding from corrupted im-- 
 pure blood, as the Plague, Leprofy, Pox, Scurvy, 
 and the like , but by reafon of its hidden heat, 
 whereby it doth coniume and expel all evil and falc 
 humors ( as the Sun dryeth up a pool ) by fweat 
 and urine, and fo doth unbunhen the blood from 
 all fuch fharp and hurtful humors, &c. It doth 
 not only cure the abovefaid difeafes, but alfo all 
 open fores, ulcers, fiftulaes, which by reafon of the 
 fuperfluity of fait humors can admit of no healing, 
 and it doth difpatch them in a fhort time in a 
 wonderful manner, and fo firmly that there is no 
 relapfe to be feared. 
 
 This drink is not only good for the fick, but 
 alfo for the whole Tthough in a (mailer quantity ) 
 becaufe that it wonderfully cleanfeth the whole bo- 
 dy, and you need not fear the leaft hurt either in 
 young or old, fick or healthy. And let no man 
 ftumble at it, that many ignorant men do defame 
 Antimony and hold it to be poyfon, and forbid it 
 to be ufed , for if they knew it well, they would 
 not do fo •, but becaufe fuch men know no more, 
 than what they get by reading, or by hear - fay , 
 tTiey pronounce a falfe fentence-, and it might be 
 replyed unto them, as Apdks did to the Shooe- ma- 
 ker ; Ne fntor ultra crrpidam: but what what fhall 
 we fay? Non omnts fert omnia telhis. When an A fs 
 after his death doth rot, out of the carcafs grow- 
 eth Beetles , which caii fly higher than the Afs 
 from whence they came^ In the like manner we 
 wifh it may fare with the haters of royal Antimo- 
 ny, -VIZ.. that their pofterity may get feeing eyes, 
 
 _ ._ 43 
 
 and what they know not, they may forbear to de- 
 fpife and fcofF at. 
 
 J muftconfefs, that (f Antimony be not well pre- 
 pared, and befides, be indifcreetly ufed by the un- 
 skilful, that it may prejudice a man in his heakhi 
 which even the vegetables alfo may do. Buttore- 
 jed It by reafon of the abufe, would be a very un- 
 wife ad : If perchance a child lliould get into his 
 hand a fharp-edged knife, and hurt himfclf or o- 
 thers, becaufe it doth not underftand how to ufe a 
 knite, fhould therefore the ufe of a knife be rejed- 
 ed and forbidden to thofe that are grown up and 
 know how to ufe it? Good fharp tools make a good 
 workman ; fo good quick working and powerful me- 
 dicines make a good phyfitian ; and the fharpcr the 
 tool is, the fooner a ftone- carver or other crafts- 
 man m«y fpoyl his work by one cut which he doth 
 amiis: winch alfo muft be underftood of powerful 
 medicines, for if they be ufed pertinently, in a fhort 
 time more good may be done with them, than with 
 weak medicaments in a long time. Now as a fharp 
 tool is not to be handled but by a good workman, 
 fo likewife a powerful medicine ought to be man- 
 aged by an underftanding and confcienrious phyfiti- 
 an, who according to the condition of the perfon, 
 and the difeafe, knows to increafe or abate the 
 ftrength of the medicine, and not by fuch a one 
 as doth minifter it ignorantly without making any 
 difference at all. ' 
 
 Let no man marvail, that I afcribe fuch great 
 vertices unto Antimony, it being abundantly enrich- 
 ed with the prumimens of gold. If I fhould fay ten 
 times as much more of it, I fhould not lye. Its 
 praife is not to be expreffed by any mans tongue • 
 for purifying of the blood, there is no mineral like 
 unto iti for k cleanfeth and purifieth the whole 
 man in the highcft degree, if it be well prepared 
 firft, and then difcreetly ufed- It is the beft and 
 next friend to gold, which by the fame alfo is freed 
 and purified from all addition and filth, as we faid 
 even now, of man. Every Antimony for the moft 
 part agreeth with gold and its medicine; for out 
 of Antimony, by the cleanfing Art may be made 
 firm gold, as in the fourth part fliall be taught, and 
 which is more, by a longdigeftion a good part of 
 the fame is changed into gold. Whereby it is evi- 
 dent, that it hath the nature and property of gold, 
 and it is better to be ufed for a medicine than gold 
 it felf, becaufe the golden vertue is as yet volatile 
 in this, but in the other is grown fixed and compac- 
 ted, and may be compared to a young child in re- 
 fpedofanold man. Therefore it is my advice, that 
 in Antimony medicine fhould be fought, and not to 
 trifle away time and coft in vain and ufelefs 
 things. 
 
 Further note. That if you defire to contrad near- 
 er together the vertue of Antimony or any other 
 mineral or metal, as above was taught to be done with 
 the Tartar, you muft by exhalanon of the fuper- 
 fluous moifture in Balneo, reduce the folucion to a 
 honey thick liquor, and pour fpirit of wine upon it 
 for to extrad, and within few days it will be very 
 redi then pour it off and pour on other, and let 
 this likewife extrad : continue this proceeding with 
 fhifting the fpirit of wine, till the fpirit of wine 
 can get no more Tindure i then put all the coloured 
 fpirit of wine together into a glafs with a long neck, 
 and digeft it fo long in a warm Balneum, till the 
 colour or beftelfence of Antimony be feparated from 
 the fpirit of wine, and fettled to the bottom like a 
 
 M 2 blood 
 
44 
 
 blood red thick fat oyl, fo that the fpirit of wine 
 is turned white again ; which is to be feparatea 
 from the fair and pleafant oyl of Antimony, which 
 is made without any corrofive, and is to be kept as 
 a ereat treafure in phyfick- The fpirit of wme re- 
 tains fomewhat of the vertue of Antimony, and 
 raav be ufed with fiiccefs of it felf both inwardly 
 and outwardly. But the Tindure as a Panacea in all 
 difeafes adeth its part with admiration, and as nere 
 mentioned of Antimony, fo in the lame manner an 
 metals by the help of Tartar and fpirit of wine may 
 without diftilling be reduced into pleafant and iweet 
 oyles, which are noncof the meanelt mPhylick: tor 
 every knowing and skilful Chymift will eafily grant, 
 that fuch a metallical oyl, as without all corrohves 
 out of the grofs" metals is reduced into a plealant 
 elTence, cannot be without great and fingular vertue- 
 
 How to makrfoodjpmt and oyles out of Pearls, Corals 
 Crabs-eyes, and other light [olnhk Jiones of beafis and 
 fiPs. 
 
 TAke to one part of pearls or corals (made into 
 fine powder three or four parts of pure Tar- 
 tar, and fo much water as will dillolve the Tartar 
 by boyling^ put the corals, Tartar and water toge- 
 ther into a glafs body, which muft ftand in fand, 
 and give it fo ftrong a fire, that the water boyl in 
 the glafs body with the Tartar, and may dilTolve 
 the corals- (This folution may be done alfo in a 
 clean earthen pot that is glafed, and the evaporated 
 water mult be fupplyed with other, as above was 
 taught to be done with the metals.) The corals be- 
 ing diffolved, lee them cool, filtrate the folution, 
 and abftrad all the moifture from it in Balneo, and 
 there will remain a pleafant honey-thick liquor, 
 which may be ufed in Phyfick either of it felf, or 
 elfeonce more extracted with fpirit of wine and pu- 
 rified, orelfediftilled, as you pleafe- 
 
 Theextrador Tindure is better than the liquor, 
 
 and the fpirit is better than the extrad or tindure : 
 
 and all three may well and fafely be ufed i they 
 
 ftrcngthen tne heart and brain ; efpecially thofe 
 
 which -^-.e made of pnrls and corals, they expel the 
 
 uriii and kee-. ihs bo^: v foluble. Thofe of crabseyes 
 
 and of pearches snd other filhes open and cleanfe the 
 
 panares of the u! in from all flime and impurity, and 
 
 they 'powerfully expel the ftone and gravel in the 
 
 reins and bladder , , - „ 
 
 N. B. The di Hilled fpirit of corals being well 
 
 redified, is good for the Epilepfy, Melancholy, and 
 
 Apoplexy. It expellsth and driveth out all poyfon 
 
 by fweating, becaufe it is of a golden nature and 
 
 quality, whereof in another place more fhall be faid. 
 
 To dip II a fpirit out of fait of Tartar and crude Tartar. 
 
 IF you take a like quantity of crude Tartar and of 
 fait of Tartar, and difiblve it with clean water, 
 and then evaporate the water ftill skimming it, till 
 no skin more do rife, and then let it cool, there 
 will Ihoot white cryftals. which being dijtilled as 
 common Tartar, they will yield a purer fubtler and 
 pleafanter fpirit, than the crude Tartar doth, in all 
 to be ufed as above hath been taught of the fimple 
 fpirit of Tartar: therefore it is needlefs here to de- 
 fcribe its ufe- Before you diftill a fpint thereof, 
 you may ufe them in ftead of Tartarns vnrtolatus 
 for purging, they will caufe gentle (tools, and drive 
 alfo the urin and ftone, and are not unpleafant to take- 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 The dofe is from 3 i- to 5 i. in waters fit for your 
 purpofe. This fait difiblved with water purifieth 
 metals (if they be boy led therein) and maketh them 
 fairer then common Tartar doeth- 
 
 How to get a powerful fpirit cut of the fait of Tartar^ by 
 theTielp of pure fund or peble-fiones. 
 
 IN the firft part of this book I taught how to make 
 fuch a fpirit, but becaufe the materials, which 
 are to be diftilled in that furnace muft be caft upon 
 quick coals, whereby the remainder is loft, and that 
 alfo not every one hath the conveniency to fet up 
 a furnace that requireth more room than this here 
 doth : therefore I will fet down how it may be got 
 with eafe in this our prefent furnace, without the 
 lofs of the remainder, which, is not inferior to the 
 fpirit it felf And it is done thus: 
 
 Make a fair white fait of calcined Tartar by dif- 
 folution, filtration aud coagulation, pulverife that 
 fait in a warmed morcer, and add to it a fourth 
 part of fmall pulverifed cryftal or flints or only of 
 fine fand, waflied clean, mix it well, and caft one 
 fpoonful thereof at once into your red-hot velfel 
 I (which muft be made of earth) and fo cover ir, 
 and the mixture as foon as it is red hot, will 
 rife and boyl (as common Allomedoth, when it com- 
 eth to a fudden heat) and yield a thick white heavy 
 fpirit i and when it ceafeth to come forth, then call 
 in another fpoonful, and ftay out the time of its fet- 
 tling, and then another part again, till all your mix- 
 ture be caft in. When no more fpirit goeth forth, 
 then take off the lid from the diftilling velTel, and 
 with an iron ladle take out that which flayed be- 
 hind, whileftit is yet red-hot and foft, and it will 
 look like unto atranfparentclear white fufible glafs, 
 which you muft keep from the air, for it will dif- 
 folve in it, till I teach you what you are to da 
 with it. 
 
 The fpirit which came over, may either be kcpc 
 as it is, or elfe redified p.r arenam in a glafs retort, 
 and ufed in Phyfick ;, it is clean of another tafte than 
 the fpirit of common fait or vitriol, for it is not 
 fo ftiarp •, it fmelleth of the flints after a fulphn- 
 reous manner, and tafteth urin- like, and it is very 
 good for thofe that are troubled with the gout, ftone 
 and Tifick : for it provoketh urin and fweat mighti- 
 ly, and (becaufe it cleanfeth and ftrengthneth the 
 ftomach; it alfo maketh one have a good appetite 
 to his Viduals What it can do elfe is unknown 
 to me as yet, but it is credible that it may ad its 
 part in many other difeafes, which is left free for e- 
 very one to try- In my opinion (fince the fpirit 
 of the fait of Tartar is good to be ufed of it felf 
 for the ftone, and that here it is ftrengthned by the 
 fand, which have the fignaiure of the ftone of the 
 Microcofme) there is hardly any particular medi- 
 cine, which can go beyond it, but I leave every one 
 to his own opinion and experience- Externally ufed, 
 it quencheth inflammations and maketh a pure skin, 
 (5"c. The remainder, which I bid you keep, and looks 
 like atranfparentclear glafs, is nothing elfe but the 
 moft fixed part of the fait of Tartar and flints, 
 which joyned themfelves thus in the heat, and turn- 
 ed to a foluble glafs, wherein lyes hid a great heat 
 and fire. As long at it is kept dry from the air, 
 it cannot be perceived in it: but if you pour water 
 upon it, then its fecret heat vyill difcover it felf. 
 If you make it to fine powder in a warm rnorter* 
 
 and lay it in a raoift air, 
 
 it will diflblve and melt 
 into 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philojofbical Furnaces. 
 
 45 
 
 into a thick and fat oyl, and leave forae faeces behind. 
 This fat liquor or oyl of flints, fand or cryftal may 
 not only be ufed inwardly and outwardly of it felf, 
 but alfo ferveth to prepare minerals and metals in- 
 to good medicines, or to change them into better 
 by Chymical art. For many great fecrets are hid 
 in the contemptible pebie or fand •, which an ig- 
 norant and unexpert man (if they were difclofed to 
 hm) would hardly believe : for this prefent world 
 is by the divels craft fo farpofleded with curfed filthy 
 avarice, that they feek for nothing but money, but 
 honcfl: and ingenious fciencesare not regarded at all \ 
 and therefore God doth dofe our eyes that we can: 
 not fee what lycth befofe them, and we trample up- 
 on with our feet. That worthy man Parcelfus hath 
 given it us fufficiently to underftand, when he faith 
 in his book (containijig the vexations of Alchymifts) 
 that many times a delpicable flint cafl: at a Cow is 
 more worth than the Cow ^ not only becaufe that 
 gold may be melted out of it, but alio that other in- 
 ferior metals may be purified thereby, fo that they 
 are like unto the belt gold and lilver in all tryalsi^ 
 and although I never got any great profit by thedo^ 
 ing of it, yet it doth fufRce me that I have feen fe- 
 veral times the poflibility and truth thereof, which 
 in its proper place likewife fliall be taught. 
 
 This liquor of flints is of that nature toward the 
 metals, that it maketh them exceeding fair, but not 
 lb, as women do fcowre their vell'elsof tin, copper, 
 iron, C/~c. with ly and fmall fand, till all filth be fcou- 
 red off, and that they get a bright and fair glofs : 
 but the metals mult be didolved therein by Chymi- 
 cal art, and then either after the wet or dry way di- 
 gefted in it for its due fpace of time ; which Paracd- 
 fus callethto go into the mothers womb, and be born 
 again : if this be done rightly, then the mother will 
 bring forth a pure child- All metals are engendred 
 in fand or Itone, and therefore they may well be 
 called the mother of metals, and the purer the mo- 
 ther is, the purer and founder child Ihe will bear, 
 and among all ftones there is none found purer than 
 the peble, cryftal or fand, which are of one nature 
 (if they be fimple and not impregnated with metals : ) 
 And therefore the peble or fand is found to be the 
 fitteft bath to wafh the metal withall. But he that 
 would take this bath to be the Philofophers fecret 
 Menftruum, whereby they exalt the King unto the 
 higheft purity, would bemiftaken; for their Balne- 
 um is more friendly to gold by reafon of its affini- 
 ty with it than with other metals, but this doth ea- 
 fier diflblve other metals than gold. Whereby it is 
 evident, that it cannot be Benard his fountain (^Bem. 
 hardi fom'wa) but muft be held only to be a particu- 
 lar deanfer of metals. But omitting this, and leav- 
 ing it to the further pradtife and tryal of thofe that 
 want no time nor conveniency for to fearch what 
 may be done with it, let us take notice of the ufe 
 of this liquor in phyfick, for which ufes fake this 
 book is written. That which hath been faid, was 
 only done to that end, that we may obferve, that we 
 muft not always look upon dear and coftly things, 
 but that many times even in mean and contemptible 
 things (as fand & pebles) much good is to be found. 
 
 Hovp to extraQ a blood-red TinRttre with fpirit of wine 
 out of the liquor of fehle-fiones. 
 
 IF you will extract a tinfture out of peble-ftones, 
 for ufe in Phyfick or in Alchyray, then in ftead 
 of the white take a fair yellow, green or blew peble 
 
 or flint, whether it hold fixed or volatile gold, and 
 firft with fait of tartar diftill the fpirit thereof 5 
 or if you do not care for the fpirir, then melt the 
 mixture in a covered crucible into a tranfparcnt,fo- 
 luble and fufible glafs, and in a warm morter make 
 it into fine powder ; put this powder in a long neck- 
 ed glafs, and pour upon it reftified fpirit of wine (it 
 needeth not to be dephlegmed, it matters not if ic 
 be but pure) let it remain upon it in a gentle warmth, 
 till it be turned red (the glafs with the prepared pe- 
 ble or flints muft be often ftirred about, that the pe- 
 ble be divided, and the fpirit of wine may be able to 
 work upon it; then pour oftthe coloured fpirit of 
 wine, and pour on other, and let this likewife turn 
 red : this pouring off" and on muft be iterated fo oft- 
 en, till the fpirit of wine get no more colour out of 
 it. All the rinifturcd fpirit of wine put together, 
 & abftrad in a Balneum through a Limbeck from the 
 Tinrture which will remain in the bottom of the 
 glafs body like a red juyce, which you muft take out 
 and keep for its ufe. 
 
 The life of the Tindnre of f dies or flints in Phyfick^ 
 
 THis Tincfture if it be made of gold, pebles or 
 fand, IS to be held for none of the leaft mediJ 
 cines, for it doth powerfully refift all folnble Tarta- 
 reous coagulations, in the hands, knees, feet, reins 
 and bladder; and although in want of thofe that 
 hold gold, It be extradted but only out of common 
 white peble, it doth ad its part however, though 
 not altogether fo well as the firft. Let no man mar- 
 vel, that fand or pebles made potable, have fo great 
 vertue ; for not all things are known to all ; and 
 this Tindlure is more powerful yet, if firft gold 
 have been diflblved with the liquor of pebles before 
 the extraction. And let no man imagine that this 
 Tindure comes from the fait of Tartar ("which is 
 taken to the preparing of the oyl of fand) becaufe 
 that of it felf alfo doth colour the fpirit of wine, for 
 there is a great difference betwixt this Tinaiure'and 
 that, which is extrafted out of the fait of Tartar • 
 for if you diftill that of the fait of tartar in a little 
 glafs body or retort, there will come firft a clear fpi- 
 rit of wine, then an unfavory phlegm, and a fait will 
 remain behind, in all like unto common fait of tar- 
 tar, wherein after its calcining not the leaft colour 
 appeareth, and becaufe none came over neither, it 
 might be queftioned where it remained then ? 
 
 To which I anfwer, that it was not a true tinfture, 
 but only that the fulphur in the fpirit of wine was 
 exalted or graduated by the corporeal fait of tar- 
 tar, and fo got a red colour, which it lofeth as foon 
 as the fait of tartar is taken from it, and realfumeth 
 its former white colour : even as it hapncth alfo, 
 when the fait of nrin, or of harts-horn or foot, or 
 any other like urinous fait is digefted with fpirit of 
 wine, that the fpirit turneth red of it, but not laft- 
 ingly, but juft fo as it falls out with the fait of tar- 
 tar, for if by rcdification it be feparated again from 
 the fpirit of wine, each (viz.. both the fait and alfo 
 the fpirit of wine) doth recover again its former co - 
 lour, whereby it appeareth, that (as above faid) it 
 was not a true tindiure. He that will not believe 
 it, let him diffolve but 5 i of common white fait 
 of tartar in ft i- of fpirit of wine, and the fpirit 
 will turn as red of it, as if it had ftood a long time 
 upon feveral pounds of blew or green calcined fait 
 of tartar ; and if I had not tryed it my felf feve- 
 ral times, I ftiould have alfo been of that opinion : 
 
 N but' 
 
46 
 
 The Second Tart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 but becaufe I found it to be otherwife, therefore I 
 would not omit to fet down my opinion : though I 
 know I fliall dclerve fmall thanks of fome, efpecial- 
 ly of thofe which rather will err with the greater 
 rumber, than to know and confefs the truth with 
 thelcfs number- However, I do not fay, that the 
 fuppofed tindlure of the fait of Tartar is of no ver- 
 tue or ufelefs ; for 1 know well enough that it is 
 foimd very effedual in many difeafes: forthepurefl 
 part of the fait of Tartar hath been diHoived by the 
 fpiiit of wine, it being thus coloured thereby, and 
 therefore that tindured fpirit of wine may very fit- 
 ly be ufed. Rut as for the Tinfture, which is ex- 
 tradted out of the prepared pebles, it is clean of a- 
 nother condition : for if you abftrad the fpirit of 
 wine from it, though it alfo cometh over white, yet 
 there remainetha deep tinc'lured fait, whofe colour 
 is lafting in the Itrongelt hrc> and therefore may be 
 counted a true Tindure. 
 
 HoVD by the help of this liquor out of Gold its red colour 
 may be extrriSied fo that it remains white. 
 
 THis oyl or liquor of pebles is of fuch a condi- 
 tion? that it doth precipitate all metals which 
 are diflblved by corrofives, but not after that man- 
 ner as the fait of Tartar doth ^ for the calx of me- 
 tals which is precipitated by this liquor; (becaufe 
 that the pebles do mingle themfelves therewith) is 
 grown much heavier thereby, than if it had been 
 only precipitated with fait of Tartar. 
 
 For example, dillblve in Aqua Regia as much Gold 
 as you pleafe, ?nd pour of this liquor upon it, till 
 all the Gold fall to the bottom like a yellow powder, 
 and the folution turn white and clear, which you 
 mull pour off, and edulcorate the precipitated Gold 
 with fweet water, and then dry it (as you was taught 
 to do with the Atrum fnlminans) and you need not 
 fear that it will kindle and fulminate in the drying, 
 as it ufeth to do, when it is precipitated with fait 
 of Tartar or fpirit of urin, but you may boldly dry 
 it by the fire, and it will look like yellow earth, and 
 will weigh as heavy again as the Gold did weigh 
 before the folution •, the caufe of which weight is, 
 the peble ftones, which did precipitate themfelves 
 together with the Gold. For the Aqua. Regia by 
 its acidity hath mortified the fait of Tartar, and rob- 
 bed it of its vertues fo, that it could not choofe but 
 let fall the alTumed pebles or fand ; on the other 
 lide, the fait of Tartar which was in the liquor of 
 pebles, hath annihilated the fharpnefs of the Aqua 
 Rtgia^ fo that it could not keep the diflblved gold 
 any longer, whereby both the gold and the pebles 
 are freed from their didblver. 
 
 This edulcorated and dryed yellow powder put 
 into a clean crucible, and fet ic between live coals, 
 that it begin to be red hot, but not long, and the 
 yellow will be changed into the faireft purple co- 
 lour, which is pleafant to behold, but if you let it 
 ftand longer, then the purple colour vanilheth, and 
 it turns to a brown and brick colour : and therefore 
 if you defire to have a fair purple coloured gold, 
 you muft take it off from the fire, as foon as it is 
 come to that colour, and let it not ftand any longer, 
 elfe it lofeth that colour again. 
 
 This fair gold-powder may be ufed by the rich 
 ( which are able to pay for it ) from ^i. to 5//. 
 ia convenient vehicles ; and in all difeales, where 
 fweating is needful: for befides the provoking of 
 fweat, it comforteth not only the heart, but alfo 
 
 by the vertue of the peble it expelleth the ftone 
 in the reins and bladder ( if it be not grown to 
 the height of hardnefs) like fand together with 
 the urine: fo that it may be fafely ufed as well 
 to prevent, as to cure the plague, gout and ftone- 
 
 How to make further out of this purple colou- 
 red gold a foluble Ruby for medicinal ufe , fliall 
 be taught in the fourth part : for in regard that 
 it muft be done by a ftrong fire in a crucible, it 
 doth not belong hither , but to its proper place, 
 where other like Medicaments are taught to be 
 made. 
 
 If you will extraft the colour out of this preci- 
 pitated gold, then pour upon it ( before it be put 
 into the fire for to caicin ) of the ftrongeft fpirit of 
 fait, and in a gentle heat the fpirit will diflblve 
 part of the gold, which will be much fairer and 
 deeper in colour , than if it had been done with 
 Aqua Rtgia : upon this folution pour five or fix 
 times as much of dephlegmed fpirit of wine, and 
 digeft both together its due time, then by the di- 
 geftion of a long time, part of the Gold will fall 
 out of the folution to the bottom like a fair white 
 ponder, which may be reduced with Borax or fait 
 nitre and Tartar ; it is white like filver , and as 
 heavy as other gold, and may eafily get its colour 
 again by the help of Antimony- The refidue out 
 of which the white gold is fain, viz.. the fpirit of 
 fait mingled with the fpirit of wine, muft be ab- 
 ftrafted from the Tin(!l;ure, and there will remain 
 a pleafant fowre liquor coloured by the gold, up- 
 on the bottom of the glafs body, which is almoft 
 of the fame vertue, which above hath been afcri- 
 bed to other tindlures of gold- Efpecially this li- 
 quor of gold ftrengthneth the heart , brain , and 
 Itomach. 
 
 N- B. Sometimes there comes over with the fpi- 
 rit of wine a little red oyl, which the ftrong fpi- 
 rit of fait hath feparated from the fpirit of wine, 
 and it is impregnated with the Tindure of Gold. 
 It is an excellent cordial, few are found like unto 
 it , whereby weak people decayed by ficknefs or 
 age, may be kept alive a long time, they taking 
 daily fome drops of it, who elfe for want of the 
 hnmidum radicale , would be forced to exchange 
 their life for death. 
 
 Here fome body may ask, whether this Tindure 
 is to be counted or taken for a true Tinfture of 
 Gold ; or whether there be another better to be 
 found ? 
 
 To which I anfwer, that though many may hold 
 it to be fuch, and I my felf do call it fo here, yet 
 that after due examination it will not prove to be 
 fuch : for although fome vertue is taken from the 
 gold by this way , yet it doth ftill keep its life, 
 though it be grown weak and pale, becaufe it can 
 fo eafily recover its former found colour by a con- 
 temptible mineral : if its true Tindure or_ foul 
 were gone from it, furely an inferibur mineral 
 could not reftore it to life, but of neceflity there 
 would be required fuch a thing for to do it, which 
 hath not only fo much, as it hath need of for it 
 felf, but hath a tranfcendent power to give life unto 
 dead things. As we may fee by a man or any fen- 
 fible bcaft , that if they have loft their vigor by 
 adverfities , in that no life more is perceived in 
 them, yet by medicines fit for the purpofe , they 
 may be refreflied , and brought to their former 
 health, fo that their former difeafe appeareth no 
 more in them : but if their foul be once gone, the 
 
 dead 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philosophical Furnaces. 
 
 47 
 
 dead body can by no medicines be reftored unto 
 life again, but muft remain dead fo long , till he 
 in wliofe power it is to give and to take life, have 
 mercy upon it. So likewife it is to be underftood 
 of gold , when its colour is taken from it , and 
 yetits life is left, which by the help of Antimo- 
 ny, being its medicine, as alio by the help of iron 
 or copper can be reftored unto it , fo that it re- 
 covereth its former fair colours, fo that you can- 
 not fee at all, that it ailed any thing before- But 
 jf its life be gone from the body, it is impolTible 
 for any ordinary metal or mineral to reftore it to 
 life, but it muft be done by fuch a thing , which 
 is more than Gold it felf hath been : for even as 
 a living man cannot give life unto a dead man, 
 but GOD muft do it who hath created man •, fo 
 Gold cannot reftore to dead Gold , the life which 
 hath been taken from it, and how could it then be 
 done by an unhxt mineral ? But there is required 
 a true Philofopher for to do it, fuch a one as 
 hath good knowledge of gold and its compofition. 
 
 Now as we heard that like cannot help its like, 
 but he That fhall help, muft be more, than he that 
 looks for help from him : Hence it is evident , 
 that the Tincture , whofe remaining body ( from 
 which it is taken ) is ftill gold , can be no true 
 tincture •, for if it fliall be a true cindure, it muft 
 confift in its three principles, and how can it con- 
 lift therein, the body from whence it came being 
 yec alive , and pofTelling invilibly all its three 
 principles? How can a mans foul be taken from 
 him, and yet the body live ftill ? Some will fay, 
 that for all that , this may be counted a true tin- 
 fture , although the body ftill remain gold , and 
 have kept its life : even as man may fpare feme 
 blood cut of his body, '.'.hi.n though it will make 
 hip- fomewhat pale , yet he livcth ftill , and the 
 lolt blood may be fupplyed again by good meat 
 and drink. But what lame and fenfelefs objefti- 
 ons are thefe .' Who would be fo (imple as to 
 think, that a handful of blood may be compared 
 to a mans life ? I believe no wife man will do it. 
 Although life goeth forth with the blood, yet the 
 blood is not the life it felf ; elfe the dead could 
 be raifed thereby, if a cup full of it were poured 
 into a dead body, but where was fuch a thing 
 ever heard or feen ? With fuch groundlefs opi- 
 nions foms did prefume to cenfure the truth , fet 
 down in my treatife de ^uro potabili vero, faying, 
 Ccber and LuIUhs were alfo of opinion, that a true 
 tinfture can be extraded out of gold, the fame ne- 
 rerthelefs remaining good gold : but it may be asked, 
 what it hath loft tlien for to yield a true Tin- 
 (flure, fince it remained good gold ? Here no bo- 
 dy will be at home for to anfwer I doubt. What 
 are the Writings of Geber or Lully to me? What 
 they have written I do not defpife, they were high- 
 ly enlightned and experienced Philofophers , and 
 would defend their writings fufficiently, if they 
 were alive : and what I write , I am alfo able to 
 maintain. 
 
 Do thofe men thinki that the writings of Geber 
 and Litlly are to be underftood according unto the 
 bare letter ? (hew me a tindure of gold which was 
 made by the writings of Geber or Lully ? if it were 
 fo, then every idiot or novice, that could but read 
 Latine, would not only by their writings be able to 
 make the Tinfture of gold, but alfo the Philofo- 
 phers ftone it felf, whereof they have written at large ; 
 which doth not follow, becaufe it is feen by daily I 
 
 e.vpcrience, that the moft worldly learned men fpenc 
 many years, and have been at vaft charges, and ta- 
 ken great pains, and ftudied in their books day and 
 night, and found not the leaft thing in them. 
 
 Now if fuch Philofophers were to be underftood 
 literally, doubtlefs there would not be fo many poor 
 decay'd Alchymifts- Therefore the writings of 
 fuch worthies are not to be underftood according to 
 the letter, but according to the myftital fenfe hid 
 under the letter. 
 
 But becaufe the truth is eclipfed in their books 
 by fo many fediicing and fophiftical procefles, there 
 will hardly any man be able to pick it out from fo 
 many feducements, unlefs a light from God be given 
 to him firft, whereby he may be able fo to perufe 
 the dark writings of thofe men, that he know how 
 to feparate the parabolical fpccches, from thofe that 
 are true in the letter it felf: or if an honeft God- 
 ly Chymift by the grace of God in his labours do 
 hit upon the right fteps, and yet do doubt, whe- 
 ther he be in the right way or no, then by read- 
 ing of good and true Philofophers books, he may 
 at laft learn out of them the firm and conftant truth : 
 elfe hardly any ones defire may be obtained out of 
 their books, but rather after the pretious time fpcnt, 
 means and health wafted, a man ftiall be forced to 
 fall a begging at laft. 
 
 In like manner, if the true tindure be taken from 
 Copper, the reft is no more a metal, nor by any 
 Art or force of fire can be reduced to a metallical 
 fubftance. 
 
 N. B. But if you leave fome tindure in it, then 
 it may be reduced into a brittle gray body, like un- 
 to iron, but brittle- 
 
 Another way to extr.iSl a good TinElHre out of gold by 
 the help of the liquor of [and cr fehks. 
 
 TAke of that gold calx fwhich wa:s precipitated 
 with the oyl of fand) one part, and three or 
 four parts of the liquor of cryftals or of fand, mix 
 the gold calx in a good crucible with the liquor , 
 and fet this mixture into a gentle heat, fo that the 
 moyftnefs may evaporate from the oyl of fand which 
 is not eafily done ; for the peble or fand, by reafon 
 of their drynefs keep and hold the moyftnefs, and 
 will not let it go eafily •, it rifeth in the pot or cru- 
 cible, as borax or AUome doth when you calcine 
 them ; therefore the crucible, muft not be filled a- 
 bove half, that the liquor together with the gold 
 may have room enough, and do not run over the 
 pot : and when it rifeth no more, then ftrengthen 
 the fire, till the pot be red-hot. The mixture ftand- 
 ing faft, put a lid upon it, which may clofe well , 
 that no coals, afties, or other impurity may fall in- 
 to it, and give it fo ftrong fire in a winde furnace, 
 that the liquor together with the gold calx may 
 melt like water ', keep it melting fo long, till the 
 liquor and gold together be like unto a tranfparent 
 fair ruby, which will be done in an hours time or 
 thereabouts ; then pour it forth into a clean cop- 
 per morter, let it cool, and then make it into pow- 
 der , and pour fpirit of wine upon it for to ex- 
 trad, which will look like unto thin blood : and will 
 prove more efFedual in ufe, than the above defcribed 
 Tindure. 
 
 The refidue from which the Tindure is extrad- 
 ed, muft be boyled with lead, and precipitated and 
 driven off as you do oares,and you will get the 
 remaining gold > which went not into the fpirit of 
 
 N z wine 
 
48 
 
 Tke Second Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 wine ; but it is very pale and turned like unto fil- 
 ver in colour, which if it be melted by Antimony, 
 it recovereth its former colour without any confi- 
 derablc lofs in the weight. How the melting in 
 crucibles, and boyling of the remaining gold is to 
 be done, fliall be more pundlually fet down in the 
 fourth part ; I know feveral other fine procefles > 
 for to extraft the colour eafily out of gold ; but 
 becaule the gold mud be firft made fit for it by melt- 
 ing in a crucible, and that it is not pertinent to 
 fpeak of that operation here in this fecond part, 
 therefore it Hiali be referved for the fourth, where 
 you fliall be informed at large, not oncly how to 
 prepare Gold, Antimony and other minerals, and 
 make them fit for extraftion, but alfo how to re- 
 duce them into a tranfparent, foluble and fire-proof 
 Ruby ( which are none of the meanefl: medicines ) 
 and as it was done here with the gold, fo you may 
 proceed likewife with other metals and minerals for 
 ro extract their colours- And therefore being need- 
 lefs to defcribe each metals tinfture by it felf, all 
 the procefles of them fliall be difclofed in one , 
 viz.. in that of gold. The book would grow too 
 big, if I fliould defcribe them feverally, which 1 
 count needlefs to do. Let tliis fuffice for this Se- 
 cond part, that we have taught, how to extraft out 
 of the gold its colour after a common way- Which 
 indeed are good medicines, but for ought 1 know 
 of no ufe in Alchymy- But he that feeketh to have 
 a true Tincture out of gold, let him endeavour 
 firft to deftroy the gold by the univerfal Mercury , 
 and to turn the infide outward, and the outfide in- 
 ward, and proceed further according unto art, then 
 the foul of gold will c Illy joyn it felf with the 
 fpirit of wine, and come to be a good medicine , 
 whereof more in my treatife de auro potabiii is hand- 
 led- If one know the Chalybs o( Sandivogius^ which 
 is well to be had, he might with little labour quick: 
 ly get a good medicine : but becaufe we fliew our 
 felves flili ungrateful children unto God, therefore 
 it is no marvel, that he withdrawcth his hand from 
 us, and leaveth us in errors. 
 
 what further may be done with the liquor of febles. 
 
 Many more profitable things, as well in Alchy- 
 my, as in medicine, may be compafled by the 
 oyl of fand •, as for example, to make fair paint- 
 ing colours out of metals, which abide in all 
 elements : Alfo to frame all forts of tranfparent hard 
 ftones out of cryftal, which in beauty are like un- 
 to the natural, yea fairer fometimes ; alfo how to 
 make many fair Amaufes or Enamels and the like 
 profitable arts : but they belonging not to this fecond 
 part, fliall be referved for the fourth, where all 
 fuch (hall be taught very punctually with all the cir- 
 cumflances thereunto relating. 
 
 How by the help of this liquor to make 
 trees to grow out of metals, with their 
 colours. 
 
 Mthough this procefs in Phyfick may be of no great ufe : 
 yet in regard that to a Chymical Phyfitian it gives ^ood 
 information of the condition of natural things., and their 
 change. I thought it not amifs toftt it down here. 
 
 TAke of the above defer ibed oylmadcof fand, pe: 
 bles or cryfl;als as much as you pleafe, mix 
 therewith a like quantity of the lixivium of Tar- 
 
 tar, ftlake both well together, fo that the thick li- 
 quor may not be perceived in the lixivium, but be 
 throughly incorporated therewith, both being turn- 
 ed to a thin folution, and then your water is pre- 
 pared, wherein the metals do grow. 
 
 The metals mult be firft diflblved in their proper 
 corrofive Maiftrmms^ and the Menflrimm mull be 
 quite abftraded from thence again , but not too 
 near, that the calx of the metal may not grow 
 red-hot, whereby its growing vertue would be taken 
 from it. Then take it out of the little glafs-body, 
 and break it in pieces about the bignefs of a pulfe , 
 and put them) in the above defcribed liquor in a 
 cleer bright glafs, that the growing of the metals 
 may be difcerned through it} and as foon as the pre- 
 pared metals are taken out of the glafs body, they 
 muft be kept from the aire, elfe they lofe their 
 growing vertue. Therefore thus dry they muft be 
 broken in pieces, and laid in the bottom of the glafs 
 (wherein the liquor is) a fingers breadth one from 
 another afunder, and muft not be laid together on a 
 heap. The glafs muft ftand ftill in a quiet place, 
 and the metal will prefently fwell in it, and thruft 
 forth fome bulks, out of which branches and twigs 
 do grow, fo finely, that one fliall admire at it ; and 
 let none think that this growing ferveth only for to 
 pleafe the eye, for fome fpecial thing is hid in it ; 
 for all fand or pebles, although they be white, invi- 
 fibly containeth a hidden tindureorr^olden fulphur, 
 which none without experience will be able to be- 
 lieve ; for if for a time yon digeft the pure filings 
 of lead in it, there will gold come to Itick to the 
 outfide thereof fwhich gold may be waflied off with 
 water j and the lead will look as if it were gilded. 
 Which gold came from no where elfe but from 
 the fand or pebles, although they were white and 
 clear, fo that it could not be perceived in them. 
 It fheweth alfo its meliorating vertue, when the 
 metals do grow therein, and for a certain fpace of 
 time are digefted therewith. For it may be feen 
 apparently, that the metals in the growing do in- 
 creafe from this liquor, and attraft what is for 
 their turn \ which hence alfo may be perceived , 
 that when but as much as the bignefs of a pea grow- 
 eth therein, it will grow twice or thrice as big, 
 which is worthy to be confidered of Alfo the pe- 
 bles orTand-ftones are the natural matrixes of metals, 
 and there appeareth a great fympathy between them, 
 efpecially between the unripe metals and them ; as if 
 nature fliould fay to fuch raw or unripe metals, return 
 into your mothers womb, and ftay there the due time, 
 till you have attained there to perfeft ripenefs, for 
 you were taken thence too foon againft my will. 
 Further, out of this liquor there may be made a good 
 borras to reduce the metals thereby. There may 
 be made alfo with this liqour fair glafed and firm 
 colours upon earthen velfels like unto Porcellan or 
 China. Alfo by boyling it with water, a tender 
 impalpable fnow-white earth may he precipitated 
 out of it, whereof there may be made veflels like 
 unto Porcellan. 
 
 Many other ufeful things may be brought to pafs 
 thereby in mechanical bufinefles,needlefs here to relate. 
 
 Alfo the unripe and volatile minerals may be fix- 
 ed and ripened thereby, fo that not only they may 
 be the fitter to be ufed in Phyfick, but alfo the 
 volatile gold and filver contained in them may be 
 faved thereby, whereof more in the fourth part. 
 
 N- B. Hither belongs alfo the procefs of the 
 fpirit of lead. Virgins-milk and Dragons blood- 
 
 Of 
 
Part 1. 
 
 Philofofhical Furnaces. 
 
 4^ 
 
 [ Of the [fir it of urine and of the volatile fpirit of fait 
 yirmoniack. 
 
 Out of urine or falc Armoniack , a powerful 
 and penetrating fpirit may be made feveral 
 wayes, which not only is to be ufed in phifick for 
 many difeafes, but is alfo found very ufeful in me- 
 chanical and chymical operations, as followeth. 
 
 Take of the urine of found men living chaft, ga- 
 ther a good quantity together in a wooden vefTel, 
 let it ftand for its time to putrefy, and diftil a 
 fpirit thereof, which afterward in a great glafs 
 retort with a wide neck muft be rediiied from cal- 
 cined tartar, and ftill that which cometh over firft, 
 may be faved by it felf , and fo the fecond and 
 third alfo, the ftrongeft may be ufed for the pre- 
 paring of metallical medicines, and the weaker for 
 a medicine alone by its felf, or elfe mingled with 
 fit vehicles : The fait which in the redificaticn 
 Cometh over with the ftrongeft fpirit; may be 
 put to the weakeft , to make it the ftronger , or 
 elfe it may be faved by it felf in a good ftrong 
 
 glafs- 
 
 But becaufe the fpirit of urine is tedious to 
 make , therefore I will (hew, how to get it eafier 
 out of fait Armoniack. The preparation is thus. 
 
 Take of fait armoniack , and l^fis calaimnaris^ 
 and make each by it felf into powder , and then 
 mix them together, and caft of it into the red hot 
 vclTel at once no more than 1 A or § i- Unto the 
 velfel there muft be appiyed a great receiver : for 
 this fpirit goeth with fuch a force and power, 
 that it were impoffible to diftil it in a retort with- 
 out danger or lofs, for I broke more than one re- 
 ceiver with it, before I did invent this inftrument. 
 The fpirits being well fetled in the receiver , caft 
 in more of your mixture ; this continue fo long till 
 all your matter is caft in ; then take off the re- 
 ceiver > and pour the fpirit into a ftrong glafs, 
 which muft be well clofed at the top, but not with 
 wax and a bladder, becaufe ic fofteneth the wax? 
 and doth penetrate through the bladder ; but firft 
 ftop it with paper, then meltLaccaor fulphur, and 
 pour it upon it , fo that it come to be very well 
 clofed, and then it will not be able to exhale, or 
 thou mayft get fuch glalTes made , as in the fifth 
 part fhall be tanght, for to keep all the fubtle fpirits 
 in them, for more fecurity fake. And this fpirit, if 
 no water have been mixt with it in the receiver, 
 needeth no redifying : but he that will have it 
 ftronger yet, may redify it by a glafs retort, and 
 fo keep it for ufe. 
 
 And this is the beft way to make a ftrong fpi- 
 rit out of fait armoniack : the fame may be done 
 alfo, by taking of filed Zinck , inftead of Ufis ca- 
 lamtnaris : alfo by adding of fait of tartar , fait 
 made of the Lee of wood allies , unquencht lime, 
 and the like : but the fpirit is nothing near fo ftrong 
 C although all thofe things may be done with it, 
 that are done with the former ) as that which is 
 made with lafis calaminaris or Zinck- 
 
 71be procefs or the mxnner of mAing it, is this : 
 
 TAke ft i. of fait armoniack made into powder, 
 and as much of fait of tartar, mix both to- 
 gether by the help of a lye made of tartar, or on- 
 ly with common water, fo that all come to be like 
 
 a pap, and caft in one fpoonful thereof at once' 
 into the diftilling veflcl , then caft in more till yoii 
 have fpirit enough. 
 
 N.B- The fait of tartar may alfo be mixed dry 
 with the fait Armoniack without any lye or wa- 
 ter, and fo diftilled : but it is ilot fo good, as 
 when the mixture is tempered with lye or water : 
 for if it be caft in dry, the fpirit will come over 
 in the form of a volatile fait : but if the mixture 
 have been moiftened, then moft part thereof will 
 come over like a fiery burning fpirit: In like man- 
 ner alfb the mixtufe of Lyme and fait Armoniack 
 may be tempered moift, and it will yield more fpi- 
 rit than if it be diftilled dry. 
 
 It may' be asked;: wJiy /«/'/; caLnmnaris , Zinck 
 and uuqueficht lyixle, calcined tartar, fait of pot- 
 alhes, fixed fait nitte or the like things prepared 
 bythe'fire, muft b& added unto fait Armoniack, and 
 whether it be not as good to add fome bolus , or 
 other earth ( as tifually is done td other falts ) 
 and fo to diftil a fpirit of it ? To which 1 an- 
 fwer, that there are two forts of fait in fait Ar- 
 moniack, viz.. a common acid fait, and a volatile 
 fait of urine, which without mortifying of one of 
 them, cannot be fcparated: for as foon as they 
 feel the heat, the volatile fait of urine carricth the 
 acid fait upwards, and they both together yield a 
 fublimate, of the fame nature and cfTence with com- 
 mon fait armoniack which is not fublimed, onely 
 it is purer than, the common. And no fpirit 
 would come ovei' from it, if it (hould be ming- 
 led with bole , brick , duft , fand , or any other 
 ftrengthlefs earth, and ib diftilled , but the whole 
 fait as it is of it felf Cleaving its earthy fubftance 
 behind ) would fublime thus dry : bat that it fall- 
 eth out otherwife with the Lipis calaminaris (which 
 is alfo like an earth ) fo that a feparation of the 
 falts is wrought thereby, and a volatile fpirit com- 
 eth over ; the reafon is, that the Upts calamifuiis 
 and Zinck are of fuch a nature , that they have a 
 great affinity with all acid things, and do love 
 them , and are loved by them likew.lfe ( whereof 
 fome mention hath been mad6 in the firft part ) fo 
 that the acid fait fticks to it in the warmth, and u- 
 niteth it felf with it, and the volatile fait is fee 
 free, and diftilled into a fubtle fpirit i which could 
 not have been done, if the acid fait had not been 
 kept back , by the lapis calaminaris or Zink. But 
 that a fpirit is diftilled off by addition of fi.xcd 
 falts-, the reafon is that fixed falts are contrary 
 unto acid falts , and ( if they get the uperhand ) 
 do kill the fame, and rob them of their ftrength, 
 whereby thofe things which are mi.xed with them 
 are freed from their bond: and fo it falls out 
 here with fait armoniack, that when by addition 
 of a vegetable fixed fait , the acidity of the fait 
 arraoniack is killed ; the fait of urine, which for- 
 merly was bound therewith, gets its former free- 
 dome and ftrength, and being fublimed turns into a 
 fpirit. Which could not have been done, if common 
 fait had been added to the fait armoniack inftead of 
 fait of tartar ; for the fait of urine would thereby 
 ( as by a far greater enemy be killed and kept 
 back, fo that it could yield no fpirit. . I thought 
 fit to give notice hereof to the ignorant ( not for 
 thofe, who knew it before) and to the unknowing 
 it will do much good, and that they may have a 
 light for other labours: for I have many times 
 feen, and fee it ftill by daily e.xperience, that the 
 moft part of vulgar Chyraifts, whatfoever they do' 
 
 O (having' 
 
5° 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part I, 
 
 ( having got it either by reading, feeing, or hear- 
 ing ) they hurlc it over like botchers, and are not 
 'cibie to give any folid reafon , why this or that 
 muft fall out in fuch or another manner, not la- 
 bouring to find out the natures and conditions of 
 falts, minerals, and other materials, but contenting 
 themfelves onely with the Receipt, faying this or 
 that Author hath written fo, and therefore it raufl 
 be fo, whereas many times fuch books are patcht 
 lip out of all forts of authors- And thofe that 
 Itick to fo many books, will hardly ever come to 
 get any good , but are led out of one Labyrinth 
 into another, fpending their life miferably in watch= 
 ing and cares : but if they would firft ferioufly con- 
 lider things, and learn to know nature > and then 
 take their work in hand, then they would fooner 
 attain unto true knowledge ; and fo much of this 
 matter by the way. I hope that he that hath been 
 in error will be pleafed with it, and the knowing 
 will not grudge to have it imputed to the igno- 
 f2nc. ,.,^,^ • ^ , . j^^,j ^^. 
 
 That which remains after' tne diftillatioA is done, 
 is alfo good for ufe ; if the addition have been of 
 fait of tartar, a melting powder may be made of 
 it, to reduce metals. Of lapis calamlnaris or Zinck, 
 yields fif dtliquium a clear , white , and heavy 
 fiiarp oyl, for the fliarper part of fait armoniack, 
 which did rot turn to fpirit, hath diflblved the U- 
 pis calami?iaris^ and is almoft of the fame vertues 
 for external ufe in Chyrurgery with that, which 
 above in the firft part which was taught to be made 
 out of L'fis calaminaris^ and fpirit of fait, fave on- 
 ly that this in the diftilling doth not yield fo ftrong 
 a i'pirit as the other, but onely yields a fharp fub- 
 limate. 
 
 Of the life Mid venue of the fpirit of fait jirmoniack^. 
 
 THis "fpirit is of a (harp penetrating eflence^ and 
 of an airy , moift , and warm nature i and 
 therefore may with credit beufed in many difeafes, 
 8, lo, 12. (more or lefs ) drops thereof ufed in 
 a convenient vehicle, do immediately penetrate all 
 the body over, caufing fudden fweating, opening 
 the obftrudions of the fpleen, and difperfing and 
 expelling many malignities by fweat and urine, it 
 cureth the quartane, collick, the fufFocation of 
 the Matrix, and many more difeafes. 
 
 In brief, this fpirit is a fafe, fure, and ready 
 medicine for to difperfe and expel all tough, grofs 
 and venemous humors. Alfo, this fpirit afteth his 
 part externally, quenching all inflammations, curing 
 the Eryfipelas and Grangrene ; it allayeth the pains 
 of the gout, clothes being dipt in it and applyed : 
 and alchough it draw blifters, it matters not ; laid 
 to the pulfe, it is good in ardent feavers , it af- 
 fwageth fwellings and pains \ difFculTeth congealed 
 blood, helpcch {trained limbs, and benummed nerves : 
 onely fmelled unto, it cureth the megrim, and other 
 Chronical difeafes of the head : for it diflblveth 
 the peccant matter, and evacuateth it through the 
 noflriisi it reftoreth the loft hearing, being exter= 
 nally laid on with a little inftrument fit for the 
 purpofe. Alfo in the obftrudions of woniens cour- 
 fes applyed by a fit inftrument in a fpiritual way, 
 openeth prefently, and cleanfeth the womb, and 
 maketh women fruitful , c^^f. IVIingled with com- 
 mon water, and held in the mouth, affwageth the 
 tooth-ach, proceeding from Iharp humors which 
 are falln in the teeth. A little of it applyed in 
 
 a glifter, killeth the wormesin the body, and allay- 
 eth the colick. 
 
 This fpirit may alfo further be ufed to many o- 
 ther things, efpecially by means thereof many pre- 
 tious and effeftual medicaments may be made out of 
 metals and minerals, whereof fome fliali be defcri- 
 bed as followeth. J oJ ei 
 
 N. B. There is yet another matter, which is found 
 every where and at all times,and is to be got by every 
 one without diftillation and charges, and is as good 
 for the abovefaid difeafes, as the diftilled fpirit, 
 and if all men knew it, there would not be found e- 
 very where fo many fick people, nor fo many Doc- 
 tors and Apothecaries. 
 
 To diftill a klood red oyl of vitriol by the help of the 
 fpirit of Hrin. 
 
 ■ir>;w 3ri; 
 
 Dtflblve' Hungarian or other good vitriol in com- 
 mon water, and let it run through a filtring 
 paper, pour of this fpirit upon it fo much, till all 
 the green be vanifht, and the water be made clear, 
 and a yellow fulphur be fettled : then pour off the 
 clear, and the reft which is muddy, pour together in 
 zjiltrmn, that the moifture may run off, and the 
 earth of the vitriol remain in the paper, which you 
 muft dry, and diftil to a blood-red oyl, which will 
 open the obftruftions of the whole body, and per- 
 fedly cure the epilepfie. The clear water muft be 
 evaporated dry, and there will remain a fait, which 
 being diftilled, yields a wonderful fpirit. Before it 
 be diftilled, it is a fpecificum pnrgans^ whereof 8. id. 
 12. to 24. grains taken, may fafely be ufed in all 
 difeafes. 
 
 The Tin^Hre of Femables. 
 
 S Pices, feeds or flowers being extradted therewith 
 and digefted and diftilled, the eflence of them 
 will come over with it, in the form of a red oyl. 
 
 Vitriol of copper. 
 
 IF you pour it upon calx of copper, made by oft- 
 en heating the Copper red hot and quenching it 
 again, it will extraft w ithin an hours time a fair blew 
 colour, and having diflblved as much thereof as it 
 can pour it ofi^ and let it ftioot in a cold place, and 
 you will get a fair sky coloured vitriol, a fmall 
 quantity whereof will caufe ftrong vomits ; the reft 
 of the vitriol remaineth a blew oyl, good to be u- 
 fed in ulcers- 
 
 The Tit?£lttre of crude Tartar. 
 
 IF you take common crude tartar, and pour of this 
 fpirit upon it, and fet it in digeftion, the fpirit 
 will cxtraft a blood-red tindure, and if the fpirit be 
 abftraded from it, there will remain a pleafant red 
 oyl, of no fmall vertue and power- 
 To make the oyl J or liquors of fait r^ 
 
 THis fpirit alfo difl!blveth cryftals and other ftones> ^ 
 they being firft diflblved, precipitated and re- 
 duced to impalpable powders, turning them into 
 oyles and liquors, good to be ufed in Alchymyand 
 Phyfick. 
 
 The 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofofbical Furnacer. 
 
 5^ 
 
 To precipitate all metals with it. 
 
 ANy metal being diflblved in an acid fpirit may 
 be precipitated better and purer therewith, 
 than with the liquor of the fait of tartar ; for An- 
 rnm fnlmr.^ans which is precipitated with it fulmi- 
 nateth far ftronger than if it were done with oyl 
 of tartar. 
 
 R. Some juyce of Lemon and mix it with the fo- 
 iution of gold, before it be precipitated^ and then 
 not all the gold will precipitate, but fonie ofic will 
 remain in the folution, and in time many fmall green 
 ftones (not unlike unto common vitriol) will ap- 
 pear ■■, which in a fmall dofe will purge all noxious 
 humors. 
 
 The oyl af:d vitriol of filver, 
 
 IF you diflblve filver in .Aqua fortif, and pour fo 
 much of this fpirit into it till it ceafeth to make 
 a noife, fome of the filver will precipitate in the 
 form of a black powder, the reft of the filver re- 
 maineth in the liquor : the phlegm abftrafted from 
 it in Balneo, till it get a skin at the top, and then 
 fet into a cool place, there will grow white cryftals 
 in it, which being taken outanddryed are a good 
 purge in madnefs, dropfie, feavers and other difea- 
 fes, fafely and without danger to be ufed to young 
 and old. The reft of the liquor which did not cry- 
 ftallife may be e.xtrafted with fpirit of wine, and the 
 fajces being caft away the extradtion will bepleafan- 
 ter. The fpirit of wine abftrailtcd from it, there 
 will remain a medicine of no fmall value in all dif- 
 eafes of the brain. 
 
 To extra^ a red Tin^iire out of Antimony or common 
 fulfhur, 
 
 BOyl fulphur or Antimony made into powder in 
 a Lixivium of fait of tartar, till it turn red, and 
 pour this fpirit upon it, and diftill gently in a BaU 
 Tjeum, and there will come over a fair tinfture with 
 the Tolaiile fpirit, filver anointed therewith will be 
 guilt, though not laftingly. It ferveth for all dif- 
 eafes of the lungs. 
 
 Hove to ripen Ahtimony and common fnlphur, fo that fe- 
 ver al forts of fhch fmels, as vegetables have^ arife 
 from thence, 
 
 DlfTolve Antimony or fulphur in the liquor of 
 pebles or fandj coagulate the folution to a red 
 mafs •, upon this mafs pour fpirit of urin, and let 
 it extraft in a gentle warmth. The fpirit being co: 
 loured red, pour it off, and pour on other fpirit, 
 let it extraft likewife, and this you muft iterate fo 
 often, till the fpirit will extraft no more tinfture ; 
 then pour all the extrads together and abftrad the 
 fpirit of urin from it in Balneum through a lim- 
 Ijeck, and there will remain a blood red liquor, and 
 if you pour upon this fpirit of wine it will extrad 
 a fairer tindure then the former was, leaving the 
 fasces behind, and this tinfture fmelleth likegarlick: 
 and if it be diverted three or four weeks in a gentle 
 warmth, it will get a very pleafant fmel, like unto 
 the yellow prunes or plums : and if it remain long- 
 er yet in digeftion, it will get a fmel not inferior to 
 , musk and ambar ; This tindure having been digeft: 
 €d a long time, and got feveral fraels, is not only 
 
 notably by the fire increafed in pleafantnefs of fmel 
 and tafte, but alfo in vertue : for fo many and vari- 
 ous fweet fmels are perceived in it, that it is to be 
 admired, which variety and exaltation proccedetti 
 only from the pure and ripening fpirit of iirin, for 
 there is hid in it a fire, which doth not deftroy but 
 preferve and graduate all colour's, whereof in ano- 
 ther place more fhall be faid. 
 
 N. B. Betwixt the fpirit of urin and the animal 
 
 and mineral Copper their appearcth a great fym-. 
 
 pathy ; for it doth not ouly love copper above all 
 
 j other metals, and mingleth eafily with it, and mak- 
 
 j cch it extraordinary fait-, arid of good ufe in Phy= 
 
 ' fick, but it prepareth it alfo to fuch a medicine, 
 
 whereby all venerous fores (both by inward and out: 
 
 ward ufe) how deep fo ever they took root in the 
 
 blood, without the ufe of any other medicaments , 
 
 are perfedly cured ; it maketh fruitful and barren, 
 
 according as it is ufed i it deanfeth the matrix, 
 
 hindreth the rifing thereof, and miraculoufly fur- 
 
 thereth womens courfes that have been ftayed, above 
 
 all other medicaments of what name foever. 
 
 If this fpirit be mingled with the volatile (but not 
 corrofivej fpirit of vitriol or common fait there will 
 come a fait out of it, which is inferior to none in 
 fufiblenefs, and ufeful both in Alchymy and Phyfick. 
 N. B- The liquor of the fait of tartar, and the 
 fpirit of wine do not mix without water, this being 
 the mean partaking of both of their natures, and if 
 you add unto it fpirit of urin it will not mingle but 
 keep its own place: fo that thefe three forts of li- 
 quors, being put in the fame glafs, and though they 
 be ftiaked never fo much will not incorporate for all 
 that: the liquor of the fait of tartar keepeth to the bot- 
 tom, next to it will be the fpirit of urin, and on the 
 top of that is the fpirit of wine : and if you pour a 
 diftilled oyl upon it, that v/ill keep uppermoft of all, 
 fo that you may keep four forts of liquors in one 
 glafs, whereof none is mingled with the other, 
 
 Although this be of no great profit, yet it ferv- 
 eth for to learn thereby the difference of fpirits. 
 
 Of the fpirit and oyl of Harts-horn. 
 
 TAke Harts-horn, cut it with afaw into pieces, of 
 the bignefs of a finger, and caft in one at a 
 time into the aforefaid diftilling velTel, and when the 
 fpirits are fettled, then another, and continne this 
 until you have fpirits enough : and the veflel being 
 filled with the pieces that were caft in, take them 
 out with the tongs, and caft in others, and do this 
 as often as is needful. The diftilling being finifliedj 
 take off the receiver, and pour into it dephlegmed 
 fpirit of wine, which will cleanfe the volatile fait : 
 pour the oyl with the fpirit and volatile falc 
 through a filtring paper made wee firft and lying in 
 a glafs funnel, and the fpirit of wine together with 
 the fpirit of Harts-horn and the volatile fait will run 
 through the paper, and the blackilh oyl will ftay 
 behind, but it muft quickly be poured out, elfe it 
 will pafs through after them- The fpirit toge- 
 ther with the volatile fait redifie through a re- 
 tort, and the beft part of the fpiric will come o= 
 ver together with the fpirit of wine and volatile 
 falti and when the phlcgme is coming, take of the 
 fpirit, which is come over, that the naughty phlegm 
 may not come amongft it ; keep it well, for it is 
 very volatile, the oyl may be mingled with fait of 
 tartar , and redtified by a glafs retort, and fo ii; 
 will be clear ; if you will have it fairer, you muft 
 redify it with fpirit of fait. O a The 
 
52 
 
 The Second Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 The firftj which is done with fait of Tartar, is 
 of more vertue ; it ciireth the Quartancj and pro- 
 voketh fweat extremly, cureth all internal wounds 
 and pains, which were caufed by falls, blows, or 
 other wayes: 6, or 8. lo, to 20. drops of it taken 
 in wine and fweated upon it in the bed. The fpi- 
 rit is very good for all obftrudioHs of the whole 
 body, from "^fs. to 3 fs. therefore taken in a fit 
 vehicle, provoketh urine, and forceth down wo- 
 inens courfes, it cleanfeth the blood and maketh 
 fweat mightily. In the Plague, Pox, Leprofie, Scur- 
 Vy, MeLwcholia Hypochondriacal malignant Feavers, 
 and the like where fweating is necelTary, it prov- 
 eth a rare medicine. 
 
 i.- -: ... J, 
 [ To maks ^^f /pHif of mans fiair an excellent medicine. 
 
 AFter the fame manner you may make fpirits out 
 of all kind of of horns and claws of beafts : 
 but lince by reafon of their ill fmel the ufe of them 
 is not liked of (though in feveral heavy difeafes, as 
 in the fits of the mother and Epilepfie, they do ad- 
 mirably well:) therefore I will acquiefce. Howe- 
 ver it is worth obferving, that the fpirit made of 
 rnans hair is not to be rejefted in metallical opera- 
 tions, for it diflblveth common fulphur, and redu- 
 ccth it into a milk, which by further ripening may 
 be turned into blood, the like whereunto no fpirit 
 is able to do. The fame fpirit may alfo of it felf, 
 without addition of fulphur be fixed into a ruby ^ 
 but that which is ripened with fulphur is the bet- 
 ter ; and if it be brought fo far by the fire, that 
 it have loft its (link, and be made fixed than it 
 will be able fufficiently to pay for the pains and 
 coals beftowed upon it. 
 
 N. B. Hither belongeth the Procefs to pour dif- 
 folvcd metals upon filed hartfhorn, and fo to diftil 
 them. 
 
 Of the cyl of u4>nhar. 
 
 ' A Mbar yeildcth a very pleafant oyl and of great 
 X\. vertue efpecially the white Ambar : the yel- 
 low is not fo good, and the black is inferior to this ^ 
 for by reafon of its impurity it cannot be well u- 
 fed inwardly; and there cometh over alfo along with 
 it a volatile fait and an acid water, which mufl: be 
 fcpcrated -, the water (for ought that I knowj is 
 of little vertue ■, the fait if it be fublimed from the 
 fait of Tartar and purified, is a good diuretick, 
 and in the Stone and the Gout, may fuccefsfully be u- 
 fed both inwardly and outwardly. The oyl if it 
 be redified, efpecially that which comes over firft, 
 is an e.\'cellent medicine againfl: the Plague, Epi- 
 Icpfy, rifing of the Mother and Megrim, 6, 8, 10, 
 to 20. drops being taken thereof at once, and the 
 noftrils alfo being anoyntcd therewith for to fmell 
 to it i and it is to be obfcrvcd, that when it is recti- 
 fied with fpirit of fait, it proveth much clearer, 
 than done by it felf without addition: but if it be 
 recftified with fait of tartar, it is of much more ver- 
 tue, though it fall not fo clear, as that which is 
 done by fpirit of fait. 
 
 N. B- If it be rectified from a ftrong J<]na Pe- 
 ^ia having before once already been redified with 
 fpirit of fait, it will turn fo fubtle, that it is able 
 to dillblvc iron or copper in feme fort , and 
 to reduce them into good medicines •, .and in this fe- 
 cond rectification by Aqi'.t Rigta all will not come 
 over, but part of it will be coagulated by the cor- 
 
 rofive water, fo that it turneth thick, like unto ma- 
 flich, which in the warmth is foft, and may be hand- 
 led with owns fingers like wax, but in the could 
 it is fo hard, that it may be broken and made in- 
 to powder, and gliftereth like gold. 
 
 Of the oyl of foot. 
 
 OF the foot , which is taken from Chimneys, 
 where nothing is burnt but wood, there may 
 be diftijled a fharp volatile fait and a hot oyl. The 
 fait is in vertue not unlike unto that which is made 
 of hart-fhorn or ambar, and it quencheth inflamma- 
 tion, from what caufe fo ever it do proceed: The 
 oyl may without reftification externally be ufed ve- 
 ry fuccelTfuIly for all loathfome fcabs, and for a 
 fcald head, &c. But if it be redlified, as hath been 
 taught to be done with the oyl of Tartar, of Am- 
 bar, and of Hartlhorn ^ then it may fafely be ufed 
 inwardly, as the the above written oyls are ufed^ 
 for it doth as well as thefe, yea better in fome fpe- 
 cial cafes. 
 
 How to make a good t>yl out of foot without diftilling. 
 
 BOyI the foot in common watter, till the water 
 turn blood red (urin is better than water) and 
 fet this fdlution (being in an earthen pot) in winter 
 time into the greateft froft fo long till all in the pot 
 be frozen into one peice and turned white: then 
 break the pot and the ice,and in the raidft thereof you 
 will find the hot oyl unfrozen and liquid in colour 
 like blood , which is not much inferior in vertue 
 unto that which is diftilled, yet afterward it may 
 be reftified, and fo exalted in its vertue, when you 
 pleafe, and it is to be noted, that this feparation do- 
 eth only fucceed in the greateft froft and cold, and 
 not elfe. 
 
 Of the fpirit and oyl of honey^ 
 
 OF honey there may be made a fubtle fpirit and 
 a fowre vinegar, if it be mingled with twice 
 as much of pure calcined fand and fo diftilled ^ and 
 it falleth much better yet if it be made with the 
 flores of Antimony, which were taught to be made 
 in the firft part, whereby the fpirit is increafed in 
 its vertue, and its running over hindred thereby ; 
 and fo diftilling it, there will come over a pleafant 
 fpirit, a fharp vinegar and fome red oyl alfo, which 
 muft be feperated : the fpirit after the reftificati- 
 on inwardly ufed is good in all difeafes of the lungs. 
 It openeth and inlargeth the Breaft, ftrengthneth 
 the Heart, takes away all obftrudions of the Liver 
 and Spleen •, it diflblveth and expellcth the Stone , 
 refifteth all putrefaftion of the Blood \ preferveth 
 from, and cureth the Plague i all Agues, Dropfies, 
 and many other difeafes, daily ufed from 9 j. to 
 3 )■ taken with diftilled water proper for the difea- 
 fes : the lower vinegar coloureth hair and nails as 
 yellow as gold : it cureth the itch and fcabs of the 
 skin; it cleanfeth and healeth old and new wounds, 
 they being bathed and waflied therewith. 
 
 The red oyl is too ftrong to be ufed of it felf, 
 it may be mingled with the fubtle fpirit which 
 came over firft and fo ufed, and the fpirit will be 
 exalted thereby in its vertue. 
 
 Of 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofofbical Furnaces, 
 
 5? 
 
 Of the oyl M'd fpirit of fi^gnr. 
 
 IN the fame manner as hath been taught of ho- 
 ney, there is alfo made a fpirit and oyl of fu- 
 gar, ^^|^■ adding pure fand to if, or fwhich is bet- 
 ter) of the flores of Antimony, and then according 
 to the rules of Art one fpoonful after the other of 
 this mixture call in, it will yeild a yellow fpirit, 
 and a little red oyl, which after the diftillation 
 mult be digcfted in Balneo fo long together , till 
 the fpirit have allumed the oyl and be turned 
 thereby very red in colour ; it needeth not to be 
 redified, but may daily be ufed either by it felf , 
 or with fuch vehicles as are proper for your pur- 
 pofe ; in all it is like in virtue unto that which was 
 made of honey ; yet this of fugar is more pleafant 
 than the other ; it reneweth and reftoreth all the 
 blood in man, in regard that it received great ver- 
 tue from the diaphoretical flores of Antimony i and 
 this fpirit may fitly be ufed in all difeafes, it can 
 do no hurt , neither in cold nor hot difeafes ; it 
 doth help nature mightily, and doth fo much good, 
 that it is almoft beyond belief. Efpecially if for 
 a time it be ufed daily from 9 j. to 3 j. The rclidue 
 of it is black, and may be kept for the fame ufe a- 
 gain, I'iz.. for an addition to other honey or fugar, 
 or elfe you may fublime it again into flores in the 
 furnace defcribed in the firft part, or in the furnace 
 defcribed in the fourth part of this book, with an addi- 
 tion of iron or tartar, or fait nitre, reduces it into a 
 Re^itlas^ &c- 
 
 To diflil an excellent fpirit and a blood red tihBure of 
 corals and jugar. 
 
 IF you mix fugar with red corals made into pow- 
 der and diftil it , there will befides the fpirit 
 come over a blood -red tindure like a heavy oyl, 
 which is to be joyned with the fpirit by digeftion 
 in Balneo, and it will be as vertuous as that which 
 was made with Antimony diaphoreticum- It doth 
 perfedly and laftingly cure the epilepfie in young and 
 oldi it cleanfeth the blood from all filth, fo that 
 the Leprofie together with its feveral fpecies may 
 be cured thereby, o-c. Its ufe is the fame as was 
 taught above of the Antimonized fpirit of fugar. 
 
 Of the fpirit of Ahfieor new Wine. 
 
 TAke fweet Mufl: or juice of grapes, as foon as it 
 is fqueezed out, boyl it to the confiftency of 
 honey- and then mix it with fand, corals, or (which 
 is better ) with flores of Antimony, and fo diltill 
 it, and it will yield fuch another fpirit as that which 
 is made of honey or fugar, only that this is fomewhat 
 tarter than that of honey. With honey, fugar and the 
 juice of grapes, feveral metals may be dilfolved in 
 boyling and fo prepared and made up into divers 
 medicaments, both with and without diftillation, 
 after the fame manner as was taught above with tar- 
 tar : for honey, fugar, and the juice of grapes, are 
 nothing elfe but a fweet fait, which by fermentation 
 and addition of fome fower thing, may be changed 
 into a fower Tartar, in all like unto that which is 
 gathered in the wine veHels. There may be made 
 alfo a tartar out of cherries, pears, apples, figs, and 
 all other fruit, yielding a fweet juice; as alfo of rye, 
 wheat, oats, barley and the like, whereof in the 
 third part more fhall be faid. 
 
 For every fweet liquor of vegetables, if it be 
 turned infide out, by fermentation may be changed 
 
 to a natural fowre tartar ; and it is utterly falfe, that 
 (as fome do fuppofej only wine yields tartar, whicli 
 by daily ufe made of it by thofe that have very hun- 
 gry ftomachs ( like Woolves ) indiftindly toL'.cihcr 
 with the nourifhmcnt went into the limbs, and iliere 
 turned to a ftony matter. If this were true, than 
 in cold Countries, where no wine groweth , men 
 would not be troubled vvith the Gout or Stone ;' 
 the Contrary whereof is feen daily : though I mult 
 confefs , that among all ve^crablcs none yeildetli 
 more than the vine, the concurrent acidity being the 
 caufe thereof ; for it turncth the fweetnefs into tar- 
 tar ; for the fowrer the wine is, the more tartar it 
 yieldeth ; and fo much the fweeter, fo much the Icfs 
 tartar. By this difcourfe an indullrious Chymift 
 may eafily come to know the original nature and 
 properties of tartar, and in default of wine, how 
 to make it out of other vegetables ; common fait or 
 the fait of tartar may be diltilled with honey, fugar , 
 or fodden wine (fap't') and it will yield fuch ftrong 
 fpirits, that metals mav be dilfolved with them, and 
 they are not to be dcfpifcd in Phyfick and Alchymy. 
 
 Of oyl Olrje. 
 
 Ollt of oyls made by expreffion Tas oyl olire, 
 rape oyl, wallnut oyl, hempfeed oyl, linfeed 
 oyl, and the like) there may be dillilkd a penetra- 
 ting oyl, ufeful both out ward^y and inwardly, which 
 is done thus : Fake commofi potters clay not min- 
 gled with fand, frame little bals of it, as big as a 
 pigeons or hens-egg, burn them Tbut not too ftrong)' 
 to a hard ftone, fo that they may attrad the oyl , 
 and when they are no more quite red-hot, but pret- 
 ty hot, then throw them into oyl olive which is the 
 beft ; let them lye in it, till they be quite full and 
 drunk of the oyl , which will be done in two or 
 three hours (fome caft them red hot into the oyl, 
 but amifs, becaufe the oyl contrads thence an Em- 
 pyreuma) then take them out, and caft in one or two 
 of them at once into your diftlling^veflel made red=hot, 
 and let it go \ and within a while after caft in one or 
 two more, and continue this till yon have oyl e- 
 nough. If the veflcl be full of the bals, take thein' 
 out with the tongs or ladle, that you may pro- 
 ceed without let in your diftillation, and in this man- 
 ner you need not fear the breaking of your retort 
 or receiver, or the burning of your oyle. The di- 
 ftillation being performed take oti' your receiver, 
 pour the oyl that came over into a glafs retort, 
 and reflify it from calcined Allome or V^itriol, ancl 
 the Allome will keep back the blacknefs and ftink, 
 and fo the oyl will come over clear, which muft be 
 yet re-lified once or twice more with frelh calcined 
 Allome, according to the intenfnefs of penetrating 
 which yon look for •, that which cometh over firft, 
 ought ftill to be caught by it felf, and you will 
 get a very fair, bright and ckar oyl, which is ve- 
 ry fubtlc j but that which cometh after is fome- 
 what yellow, and not fo penetrating neither as the 
 firft i and therefore it is but for external ufe to 
 extrad flores and herbs therewith, and to make pre- 
 tious balfams for cold and moyft fores. Alfo you 
 may diflblve with it Amber, Maftick, Myrrh, and 
 the like attradive things, and with Wax and Colo- 
 phony reduce it to a plafter,, which will be very 
 good in venemous fores and boy Is, for to attrad 
 the poyfon, and to heal them out of hand- If youi 
 diflblve in it common yellow fulphur made into pow- 
 der, you will get a blood red balfom, healing alj 
 
 P marine*' 
 
54 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Pare 1. 
 
 manner of fcabs, and other like defcftscf the skin j | 
 efpecially when you add to it pnriiied verdegreafe, 
 and in hot fores SMchnrum Satwni^ which in a gen- 
 tle heat and by continual ftirring about do eafily 
 melt and mingle therewith. It needeth not to be 
 done in glalTes , but may be done in an ordinary 
 earthen pot or pipkin. 
 
 The life of the blcffcd oyl. 
 
 THc firfl: and clear is of a very penetrating na- 
 ture : fome drops thereof given in fome ^- 
 (]tia vit.c , prefcntly flays the collick , proceeding 
 from winds that could not be vented-, as alfo the 
 riling of the mother , the navil being anointed 
 tliercwiih : and a coM humour Ijcing fain upon the 
 ncrvs, whereby they are lamed ; if you do but a- 
 ^ noint them wich this oyl, and rub it in with warm 
 hands, it will quickly reftore them, and therefore 
 in regard of its prcfcnt help , may well be called 
 0/ciim ftr.Qitm. If you extradl plates of iron or 
 copper with this oyl, it will turn deep red or green, 
 and is a foveraign remedy for to warm and dry 
 up all cold and watery fores. It confumeth allfo 
 all fuperfluons moifture in Wounds and ulcerous 
 Sores , as alfo all other excrefcencies of the skin : 
 it healeth tettars and fcald-heads, and other like 
 dcfefts proceeding from fupertluous cold and moi- 
 fturc. You may alfo dilTolvc in it Euphorbium and 
 other hot gums, and ufe them againit great froft, 
 for what limb foever is anointed therewith, nofroft 
 how great foever can do it any hurt. The bal- 
 fames made with gum or fulphur may be alfo di- 
 flilled by a retort , and in fome cafes they are 
 ipore ufeful than the undiftilled balfamc. 
 
 Of the oyl of W^x. 
 
 IN the fame manner may be diftilled alfo the 
 oyl of wax, the ufe whereof is in all like un- 
 to the former; and for all cold infirmities of the 
 nerves, this is found more efFc(flual yet than the 
 foroiGr) 
 
 A Spirit good fur the Stone. 
 
 Out of ftones which are found in grapes, there 
 may be diftilled a fowre fpirit , which is a 
 ' certain and fpccifical remedy for the ftone in the 
 kidneys and bladder, and alfo for all pains of the 
 oout. it is not onely to be ufed internally, but 
 alio externally, wetting clothes in it, and apply- 
 ing them to the places afteded, and it will aflwage 
 and drive away the pains. 
 
 Of the fpirit or acid oyl of Sulphur. 
 
 TO reduce fulphur into a fowre fpirit or oyl 
 hath bcgn fought hitherto by many, but found 
 by few. Molt of them made it in glafs-bells, l)ut 
 got very little that way ; for the glafles being 
 quickly hot , could not hold the oyl , fo that it 
 went avfay in a fmoak. Some thought to get it 
 by diftiiling, others by diffolving, but none of all 
 thefe would do the feat. Which is the reafon 
 why now - adayes it is found almoft no where 
 right, and in the Drugfters and Apothecaries (hops 
 tliey ufually fell oyl of Vitriol infliead of it, which 
 by far is not to be compared in vertue to the oyl 
 of fulphur. For this is not onely of a far pleafanter 
 
 fowre tafte, but in efficacy alfo much exceeds the 
 other. And therefore being of fo great ufe both 
 in Phyfick and Akhymy, as in all hot difeafes, 
 mingling the patients drink therewith, till it get 
 a plcafant fowre taft, for to quench the intolera- 
 ble drowth, to ftrengthen the llomach, to refrelh 
 the lungs and the liver : Alfo externally for to cur? 
 the gangreen : Alio for to Chryftallife fome me- 
 tals thereby, and to reduce them into plcafant vi- 
 triols , ufeful as well in Akhymy as Phyfick : I 
 thought good to fet down the preparation, though 
 it be not done in this qur dJIliliing furnace, but 
 in another way by kindling and burning it as fol- 
 loweth. 
 
 Make a little furnace with a grate, upon which 
 a ftrong crucible mult be faftned refting on two 
 iron bars> and it is to be ordered fo that thefraoak 
 be conveighed ( not above by the crucible, but ) 
 through a pipe at the fide of the furnace : the 
 crucible mult be filled with fulphur even to the 
 top; and by a coal-fire without flame be brought 
 to burn and kept burning. Over the burning ful- 
 phur , a velTel is to be applyed of good flony 
 earth like unto a flat dilh wich an high brim-, 
 wherein is alwayes cold water to be kept , and 
 whereunto the burning fulphur doth flame : which 
 thus burning, its fatnefs confumeth , and the acid 
 ialt is freed and fublimed to the cold veflel, where 
 it is difiblved by the air, and in the form of a 
 fliarp oyl runs from the hollow vefi'el into the re- 
 ceiver , which mull be taken off fometime , and 
 more fulphur fupplyed inflieaci of that which hath 
 been confumed, to the end that the fulphur may 
 ftill burn in the crucible : and beat with the flame 
 to the cold head : and within few dayes you will 
 get a great quantity of oyl , which elfe by the 
 (campana) glafs-bcll in many weeks could not have 
 been done. 
 
 N. B. Such a fowre fpirit or oyl may alfo be 
 got by diftillation together with the flores, viz.. 
 thus : If you take pieces of fulphur as big as hens 
 eggs, and cafl: them one after another into the hoc 
 diftiiling veflel, a fowre oyl together with flores, 
 will come over into the receiver, which muft with 
 water be feparated out of the flores, and the water 
 abftratfled from it again in a cucurbit, and in the 
 bottome of your glafs body you will find the oyU 
 which in vertue and tafte is equal to the former, 
 but you get nothing near fo much in quantity by 
 this way, and if you do not look for the oyl, you 
 may leave it with the Hores , which by reafon of 
 their pleafant acid tafte are much toothfomer to 
 take than the ordinary ones. 
 
 To the Courteous Reader. 
 
 THhs I conclude this fecond fart ; 1 could have fet 
 down more medicinal procejfes in this Treatife : hut 
 having as many as will he a fujfcient gu,ide for the di- 
 ftiiling of other things alfo, J thought it good here tQ 
 acqutefce \ and what foever hath been htrs omitted, fljall 
 be fupplyed in the following parts. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 THE 
 
Place this, Part I. Before Tage 5^. 
 
part I. 
 
 5S 
 
 THE 
 
 THIRD PART 
 
 OF 
 
 ^l)ilofopl)ital jf urnaceg: 
 
 In Tnhich is defcr'thed the KiUure of the Third Furnace ; hy the help whereof^ mid that ivlth ■ 
 out Stills J and Caldrons , and other Copper ^ Iron, Jin, and Leaden Injlnments, various Ve- 
 getable burning Spirits, ExtraEls, Oyls, Salts, &cc. by the help of a certain little Copper Ins 
 firument, and Wooden Veffels are made for Chyinical and Medicinal U/es. 
 
 A Preface of the Copper Inftrumcnt and Furnace. 
 
 No W this Infirument is made of ftroag Coffer plates after the following manner. Ton mtifi mahe trro 
 firong hemifpheares of Copper or Latten of the btgwfs of a mans head ( or thereabout ) and join them, 
 together wtth a mofi Brcng fodtr, and that without tin^ whereof the one mitji have a pipe : A^ow the 
 pipe miifi be of a ffiofi exaii roundr.efs, that tt may moft accurately fit the hole that is made with an 
 . auger or wimble to keep t the water from flowing cut like to a tap^ of the length of one fpan at le^ifh, 
 1fii4er on the hinder part towards tbe globe, than m the forepart^ which alfo muft be according to the bignefs of the 
 £lobe , greater or lejfer , and be exa^ly joined with the beft fader to its hemifphe.ir , aad the diameter of the 
 forepart being very round like a tap, and mofi exactly filling the rcund hole muft be of two fingers breath. Now 
 there is required to the forefaid inftrument or globe, a c-ertain peculiar little furnace made of iron or copper 
 VJT. moit prong copper plates, covered within wtth ftones or the beft lute, into which ts put that globe like a re- 
 tort, fo that it may ly upon two iron bars of the diftance of a fpan , or fpan and half frbm tbe grate ; the 
 necli whereof (that pip:) goeth forth of the furnace one fpan at leaft. The furnace alfo muft have below a place for 
 the ajhes, and above a cov:r with its hole for the letting forth of the fmoke, and for reguLitinr the fire, as 
 yon jnay fee by the annexed figure. It muft alfo below have a treefoot, on which the furnace muft be fet, and 
 on the fides two handles by tf}e help whereof it may be removed from place to place • the which is very nccef- 
 f:ry •, for it is not only ufed fcr the dtfttlling of burning fpirits hy wooden Fcjfds tnflead of coppor, but alfo 
 for fuch dift illation^ and digefiicn that is performed in gourds, bolt-heads, and other inftruments of flafs, (lone, 
 copper^ tin, &C. which are to be fet i-2 Baineo : alfo in the boy ling of beer, methegUn, nine, and other d'ir.ks, 
 which are to be performed by the help of wooden Vefttls. 
 
 Of JVoodet^nftruments that are to be ufed infiead of Stills, (Baths, and Qauldrons, 
 
 In the frft Figure, A reprefcnts the Furnace with a Copper Globe- B. The Copper Globe. C The di- 
 ftiUing Vedel. -D. The Refrigeratory with ;i Worm. £. The Receiver- F. Stools on which the VelTels 
 ftand. The Second, A Balneum with a Cover having Holes in it for the GlalFes, fet upon a Tree-foot. 
 
 The Third, A Wooden VefTel for the making of Beer. The Fourth, A Tub for a moift Bath, which is 
 to ()e warmed by the Copper Globe. The Fifth, A wooden Box for a dry Bath to provoke iweat with 
 Volatile Spirits. 
 
 IN the firft place I fhall fpeak of wooden Vef- 
 fels that are to be ufed inftead of Copper 
 ftills, in the diftilling of burning fpirits out 
 of wine, beer, lees, malt, wheat, meal, roots, 
 hearbs, flowers, feeds, and other vegetables, 
 as alfo oyls of vegetables. 
 
 See that thou haft an oken barrel, like to thofe 
 wherein wine and beer are kept, of a juft bignefs, 
 Viz.- anfwerable to the bignefs of the globe, as is 
 fgfScient for the codion : for a barrel that is too 
 
 big will make the codlion flow, and tedious. A 
 greater globe may be fitted to a ledcr barrel, but 
 not on the contrary, a great barrel to a little globs : 
 For by how much the bigger the globe is, and the 
 lefs the barrel , fo much the fooner is the work 
 haftncd. Now feeing that this Art was invented 
 for the faving of colts, which otherwife would 
 have been expended in providing of Itils, caul- 
 drons, furnaces, C^c it is belt not to have too 
 great a globe, which requires a greater furcace, and 
 
 P 2 15 
 
5^ 
 
 The Third Part of 
 
 Part L 
 
 is mdre hardly to be carryed, becaufe i^ is w be 
 covered within with lute, or a wall ^ for it is luttici- 
 ent if it be big enough for the coaion. Where- 
 fore I will give you a juft and due proportion of both, 
 -VIZ.. of the globe, and velfel, which in diftiliations 
 and other operations, the curteous reader may imi- 
 tate- , . 
 
 A globe of the bigncfs of a mans head, contain- 
 ing three or four cannes, whereof each contain- 
 ech four pints, is fuOicient for the heatingof a bar- 
 rel of 30, 40, 50, 60. and 100 gallons, which by 
 how much the more remote from 100 and nearer to 
 30, fo much the fooner is it heated, and thecofti- 
 on furthered ; and on the contrary, by how much 
 the nearer it is to 1 00 and more remote from 30, 
 fo mueh the flower is the codlion- I do not there- 
 fore advife that a huge barrel be chofen for a fmall 
 globe, by reafon of a long and tedious operation : 
 And if all and every thing be not fo accurately ob- 
 fervcd to a hair, yet it marters not much, becaufe 
 it fufficeth to do the fame thing by the help of 
 one fmall copper inftrument of divers forms. For 
 in this way of diftilling, wooden veflels that are 
 rcquilite to the diftilling of fpirits, and boylingof 
 Kear, and for baths arc more eafily provided, then 
 fo many copper vellels in the common way. For 
 by this means not only cofts are fpared, but alfoit 
 is infteadof building of furnaces, becaufe when a- 
 ny barrel hath beenufed, you may remove it, and 
 fet another in the place of it for another operati- 
 on, the which cannot be done with ftills and caul- 
 drons fattened into a furnace. And this invention 
 is for thofe that want Artificers, as Copperfmiths, 
 &c. becaufe wooden inftruments are more eafily 
 provided : alfo by the help of this globe may moft 
 lecret operations be performed. 
 
 For ti;c furnace with the copper globe may be 
 built in one place, and in another place the Balneum-, 
 viz.. the places divided wir.h a wall, fo that he that 
 looks to the fire may not know what is done in the 
 Elaboratory ; for oftentimes the care of the fire is 
 committed to heedlefs fervants, that break glafs 
 inftruments by their carelelleriefs, by which means 
 oftentimes a moft pretious medicine is loft •, which 
 danger this invention is without- 
 
 Wherefore this copper globe with its wooden vef- 
 fels.is more convenient then thofe copper ftills and 
 cauldrons. But this I would have thee know that 
 this new invented diftillation is flower, then the 
 common way which is performed by ftills, and con: 
 fequently requires a long fire. I defire therefore the 
 rich that dwell in large and fpacious houfes, that 
 they would ufe the old way oi" diftilling •, but the poor, 
 who have but little houlhold conveniences, and the 
 covetous, that they would ufe this little copper globe 
 with irs wooden velTels : for although there be a 
 longer fire required, yet thefe are not to be compa- 
 redto thofe cofts which are otherwife expended up- 
 on fo many copper vellels of fo many divers forms- 
 Let him therefore keep to his copper veflels, who 
 cannot undcrftand me, for it concernes not me. 
 Without doubt there are fome whom this my new 
 invented way of diftilling will pleafe, before other, 
 being communicated for the fake of the poor labou- 
 ring' houfe- keepers, that cannot boyl Beer, and di- 
 ftili burning fpirits for lack of veflels: for a globe 
 of five or four pound is more eafily provided, then 
 other copper velTcls of 60, 80, 100 pound: alfo 
 thofe wooden vellels are more eafily provided then 
 furnaces, which fome for want of place only can- 
 
 not build. Choofe therefore which way thou wilt, 
 for thefe things which I have wrote, I have wrote 
 for the poors fake rather than for the rich. Cer- 
 tainly rich men that have fpacious Elaboratories 
 need not to be afliamed to follow this way, for it is 
 free for every man to go a fliortcr way, unlefs they 
 had rather prefer the old way before a new and 
 compendious, whom I cannot help, being contented 
 with a publication which is made for the lake of 
 my neighbour, whether it be taken well or ill, with 
 a good minde, certainly knowing that more profit 
 then difprofit may be obtained by the help thereof- 
 It fliall not therefore repent him of his labor, who 
 knows rightly to prepare and ufe this copper, and 
 wooden veflxls. 
 
 There follows now the preparatm of the vcjfcl. 
 
 TH E veflel being made is to be placed with one 
 bottom, uponaftool that is fitted for it, which 
 being done, make a hole with a wimble neer the bot- 
 tom, for the receiving of the neck of the copper 
 globe, which is to be covered over with a linnen 
 cloth : make alfo about the lower bottom another 
 hole for a tap, by the help whereof the remainder 
 of the diftillation is drawn forth: alfo you muft 
 make a large hole in the upper bottom, the diame- 
 ter whereof muft be one fpan for to pour in the wa- 
 ter to bediftilled, with a funnel. Alfo there muft 
 be made a hole near the upper bottom of two or 
 three fingers breadth, into which is to be put a cop- 
 per pipe of a fpan long, which is to be faftened 
 clofely therein ■, and to this pipe another oaken vef- 
 lel with a copper worm and cold water }ike to o- 
 ther refrigeratories, muft be applycd. Alfo the 
 joints of the aforefaid fliort pipe, viz.. of the firft 
 barrel, and of the fecond barrel, viz.. the refrigera- 
 tory muft be ftraightly, and clofely united toge- 
 ther, which afterward may be the better joy ned to- 
 gether with a fit lute for the diftilling. And this is 
 the form and fafliion of the wooden veflel, that is 
 to be ufed in the place of copper veflels, in the di- 
 ftilling of burning fpirits and oyls- But thou wilt 
 objeift that thefe kind of wooden veflels are porous, 
 and drink up great part of the fpirit and oyls. 
 
 I anfwer-, none of the fpirits feeketh a violent 
 pafl'age out, in cafe the ways be open There is no 
 danger therefore, when there is paifage enough giv- 
 en them by a pipe that is wide enough. Neither 
 doth oyl ftick to them in diftillation, for whatfo- 
 ever is by force of the boyling water to be fepara- 
 ted from the fpices, and feeds ^hat alfo is fublima: 
 ble by the force of the feething water, fo as to di= 
 ftillin, fo that in the refrigeratory no more is loft 
 than in the ftills. Diftillation being made, the a- 
 forefaid fpirits may be rectified in thefe wooden 
 veflels, (being firft wafliedj as vvefl as in copper 
 ftills. 
 
 The m.ikinf^ of a wooden vejfelfor a BahieuMi., which is to 
 le tifed in fiead of copper and leaden Cauldrons for 
 digefiion.^ and dijhllutkn by iLifs vejfcls. 
 
 MAke an oaken vcfl^el as big or as little as you 
 pleafe, according to the greatnefs. or little- 
 nefs, multitude, or fewnefs of the velfels, cf two 
 or three Ipans high, a little narrower above then 
 below, and fo fafliioned above, that a cover of wood, 
 copper, or lead, may moft clofely be joyned to it : 
 the cover muft have holes greater or Iclfer, accord- 
 ing 
 
Part I. 
 
 Fhilojofbical Furnaces. 
 
 57 
 
 
 ing to the glafles, as is wont to be in the making of 
 a B.ilmiffij as you may fee by the the annexed 
 figure. This vellel alfo mufl; be placed upon a ftool 
 of the height of an ell,or fuch height as is required for 
 •the joyningof the copper globe with the B.dneum^ 
 which muft have a hole' near the lower bottom, for 
 the receiving of the neck of the aforefaid globe. In 
 defed of fuch a veflel) which yet you may provide ea- 
 fily enough? take a wine or bear veflel divided in the 
 middle, and make a hole near the bottom for the 
 neck of the globe, make alfo a wooden cover with 
 holes, &c. He that will be curious may provide all 
 things according to the belt Art. 
 
 j1 wooden veffel ferving for boylin^ of bear^ tnetheglin-, 
 vinegar., &C- i-f n"'/' as copper^ no»y and tin vejfds. 
 
 MAke a wooden vefl*el, which fhall be more high 
 than broad, a little wider above than below, 
 as you pleafe: or take a wine or bear barrel divi- 
 ded in the middle, and near the bottom make a 
 hole for the neck of the globe, which is to be 
 covered with boards? which ferves as well for the 
 boy ling of bear, &c. as thofe of copper- 
 
 j4 wooden vejfel for a bath for fweet., or mineral water ^ 
 which may he according as you pleafe^ k^pt war my for 
 the preferving of health. 
 
 MAke a long wooden tub convenient to fit in, 
 which is to be fet upon a ftool of a juft height, 
 ■viz.. that the bottom of the veflel may anfwer the 
 reck of the globe which is put into the furnace : 
 you may alfo have a cover, that may cover the 
 whole tub, which may be divided and united in that 
 place where the head goes forth, as appears by the 
 annexed figure, or you may cover it with a cloth, 
 laying it upon fmall crooked fticks faftned to the 
 tub, yet fo that the head may have its liberty, e- 
 fpecially in a vaporous bath of common fweet, or 
 medicinal water ; or make a high wooden cover 
 Jhutting very clofe, for a dry fweat, where it is 
 no matter whether the head be^fhut in or no. 
 
 Of the ufe of wooden veffels in difiillingy boyling^ bath' 
 thing., &C. Andfrft of the difiilling vejjcl. 
 
 HE that will diflill any burning fpirit by help of 
 the diftilling vefl"el, out of wine, metheglin, 
 bear, barley, wheat, meal, apples, pears, cherries, 
 figs, ^c. alio out of flowers, feeds, and other ve- 
 getables, hath need fo to prepare his materials, that 
 they may yield their fpirit. Where 1 thought it 
 convenient, and indeed neceflary to fay fomething 
 of the preparation of each vegetable, for better in- 
 formation fake, or elfe a profitable diftillation is not 
 to be expeded, but labour in vain to be feared. 
 
 Aid firjt of the preparation of the lees of wine, beoTj 
 hydromel, and other drinks. 
 
 THe lees of wine, bear, hydromel, &c. have no 
 need to be prepared, becaufe they do eafily e- 
 nough of themfelves yield their fpirit, unlefs haply 
 having loft all their humidity they be dryed, which 
 you may make moift again by the admixionof com= 
 mon water, lefl: they be burnt in diftilling & ftick to 
 the vefl"el ; of which thing more in the diftillation 
 it felf. Now flowers, roots, hearbs, feeds, fruits, 
 apples, pears, cannot be diftilled without a forego- 
 
 ing preparation. You muft therefore firft prepare 
 them, as followeth. 
 
 Of the preparation of all kind of corn, as Wheat .^ Oats^ 
 Barly, &c. which mufl .go before the difiilling of 
 the jpirtt. 
 
 ANd firft of all a malt muft be made of the corn, 
 as it is wont to be in the making of bear! 
 Now the manner of making of malt is known al- 
 moft to all, wherefore I need not fpeak much of 
 that, becaufe in all places that have no wine, there 
 is fcarce any houfe found in which Malt and Bear 
 is not made, as well in the country as cities- But 
 however, there is a great deal of difl~erence of mak- 
 ing of it, for a long knife doth not make a good 
 Cook, nor all drinkers of wine are good planters. 
 For many have perfwaded themfelves, that, if they 
 follow the footftcps of their fathers, they have done 
 well (although they have been in an crrour) and be- 
 ing fcornful, refufe inftruClion. Wherefore fome- 
 thing is to be faid of the difference of malting. 
 Although I never exercifcd the Art of making Beer, 
 yet I am certain I do in that excel all other Diftil- 
 lers, and Brewers. For I often faw, and indeed 
 with admiration, the fimplicity of many in their o-- 
 perations, although common, and dayly, to whom 
 though an age fliould be granted, yet they would 
 never be more thrifty, being content with their an- 
 cient cuftomes. Good God ! How perverfe is the 
 world, where nobody labours to find out any good, 
 neither is there any one that thinks of perfedingl 
 and amending things already found out: Where 
 all things run to ruin, and all manner of vice in- 
 creafe : for now almoft every one feeks only after 
 riches by right or wrong ; for it IS all one with them, 
 if they have them, not thinking that things ill got- 
 ten ftiall perifli, and that the third heir fl:all not 
 injoy them, and that unjuft riches fliall devour thofe 
 that have been honeftly gotten, with danger alfo 
 of eternal damnation. I pray you, if our Anceftors 
 had been fo negligent, and had left nothing to us : 
 I pray you, I fay, what Arts and Sciences ftiould 
 we have had now ? It is come to this pafs now, 
 that vertucs decreafe, and vices increafe. 
 
 Of the difference of malting, 
 
 THe difference of malt, by reafon whereof it 
 yields better or worfe beer, and fpirit, confifts 
 for the moft part in the preparation thereof: for 
 being made after the vulgar way it retains its taft, 
 wherefore it cannot yield good fpirit, nor good 
 beer, which is obferved of very few, wherefore they 
 could not draw forth good fpirit out of corn, but 
 fuch as favours of the taft and fmell of the malt.. 
 Which is not the fault of the corn, but of the ar= 
 tificer not operating aright in the preparation of his 
 malt, in diftilling and redtifying- For if it werfe 
 prepared a right in all things, corn yields a ve'ry 
 good fpirit, not unlike to that which is made out of 
 the lees of wine, in taft, odour, and other vertues. 
 Which Art, although it be not known to all, yet 
 it doth not follow that it is impoflible : Now I did 
 not fay that it is that common way, whereby thar. 
 fpirit, which is like to the fpirit of wine, is di- 
 ftilled, but another which is more fubtil, and witty. 
 Out of all vegetables is drawn a burning fpirit, yet 
 fuch as is perceived by forae difference of the taft, 
 
 Q, and 
 
The Third Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 aud odour, but that is not the fpirits faults, but of 
 the vegetable, as of hearbs, feeds, corn, crc. com- 
 municating their vertues, taft , and odour to the 
 fpirit : whence that fpirit deferves to be called not 
 fimple, but com pounded, /or elfe all the burning fpi- 
 rit (being rightly redified from its flegm) is m^ide 
 out of any thing, having the fame vertues with 
 the fpirit of wine, although it feem improbable to 
 Ibme- ,1 do not deny that one fimple may yield 
 more or Icfs fweet fpirit than another. For fwee- 
 ter wines yields fweeter fpirits : Alfo clear wine 
 yields a fweeter fpirit than the lees of wine, al- 
 though they come forth out of one and the fame 
 veflcl : For clarilied wine, and that which is fepa- 
 rated from the fauces yields a fweeter fpirit than 
 the Lees, and impure and heterogeneal fediment, 
 which corrupts the fimple, and fvveet fpirit, with a 
 Ilrong tail and fmell : fo that that may defervedly, 
 being as it were fimple, be preferred before this 
 which is accidentally corrupted- And this is to be 
 underftood of all other fpirits- What hath hither 
 to been faid, hath been fpoken for the fakes of them, 
 who have perfwaded themfelves that they could not 
 perform chymical operations fo well by the fpirit 
 of corn , as with the fpirit of wine, for I never 
 found any difference of them in the extraftion of 
 minerals or vegetables. Let him therefore that can, 
 receive my opinion, and experience, feeing I will 
 have nothing to do with contradicting Carpers : 
 Without hurt to others I dare not reveal the Art 
 of diftilliog a fweet fpirit with great profit out of 
 corn, in all things like to that which is made of the 
 f^ces of wine, -f'^- without the preparation or 
 grinding of the malt, which Ihall haply be C * -Sef 
 Explkat. Mtrac vW;W«] communicated elfewhere at 
 fome time or other. For this Book is not written 
 for the publidiing of fecrets, but of a new invented 
 diftillation- But thou that wilt make a fweet burn- 
 ing fpirit out of malt or honey ; know this, that 
 the corn mult be brought after a certain peculiar 
 manner into malt, and lofe its ungrateful favour be- 
 fore its dillilling, and fermentiug, or elfe after the 
 wonted manner a certain ungrateful fpirit will be 
 drawn from thence, that cannot be compared to the 
 fpirit of wine. The whole Art thereof confifts in 
 a true preparation ; for ungrateful things are by 
 Art brought into gratefulnefs, and on the contra- 
 ry grateful things are made ungrateful by negli- 
 gence. And thus much for information fake. 
 
 Of the fermentation of Malt. 
 
 TAke of Malt ground in a Mill as much as you 
 pleafe, upon which in a wooden vellel fet up 
 right, pour cold water, as much as will moyften 
 it, and ferve for mixtion and comminution ; then 
 alfo pour as much warm water as will fuffice for 
 the making the mixture moift and thin, and alfo 
 warm •, for it muft be neither hot nor cold : which 
 being done mix with it fome new barm, and cover 
 it with a cloth, and in a fhort fpace, being expofed 
 to heat, it will begin to ferment ( wherefore the 
 yefiel is not tobefilkd to the top j and leave it fo long 
 in fermentation , until the mixture defcends, which 
 for the molt part is wont to be done the third day, 
 and the malt will be ready for diftillation. 
 
 Of 
 
 Qf the ferment tition of Honey. 
 
 N Either hath honey any need of a fingular Art 
 in its fermentation , becaufe being mixed 
 with <5, 7^ 8, or lo. par's of warm water, ic 
 is dilTblved, and unto the folution is added fer- 
 ment, as has been fpoken concerning malt, which 
 afterward is left covered in fome 'i cat for to be fer- 
 mented, being fit for diftillation when it becomes 
 to wax hot. Now know that too great a quanti- 
 ty of honey makes a very How fermentation, viz.. 
 of fome weeks and months ; wherefore joi accele- 
 ration fake, I advife that a greater quantity of wa- 
 ter be added j although otherwife it yields plenty 
 of fpirits, but ungrateful, which therefore I advife 
 i!o body to diftil as being unprofitable, unlefs any one 
 know how to take away the * ungratefnlnefs there- 
 of. \_ * $ie the ConfoUc of Naii^ators. ] 
 
 Of the preparation of Fruits, Seeds^ F lowers., 
 Herhy -RootSj Scc. 
 
 THe fruits of trees, as Cherries, Plumbs, Apples, 
 Pears, Figs, Juniper-berries, Elderberries, 
 Dwarf-elder, and Mulberries, &t. are bruifed in 
 wooden vefiels, with wooden peftils ^ and upon them 
 being bruifed, is poured warm water, and ferment 
 added to quicken it, as hath been above faid of 
 malt. Seeds are broken in a milli flowers, hearbs and 
 roots, are cut fmall, and are ftirred up to fermen- 
 tation by mixing of warm water, and barm or yeft. 
 
 ^n jin?:otation. 
 
 BEfore thou diftil the aforefaid vegetables prepa- 
 red by thehelpof fermentation,diligently weigh, 
 and accurately obferve whether the mixture be fuf- 
 ficiently fermented, for fometimes there is too much 
 cold, or hot water put to it ; fometimes the velfel is 
 not well covered, by which means the cold air is 
 let in, whence the fermentation is hindred, and con- 
 quendy the diftillation of the fpirit: For by the 
 help of fermentation the burning fpirit of the vege- 
 tables is fet at liberty, without which it cannot be 
 done i alfo the diftillation is hindred by too much 
 haft, as well as by too much delay ; for if you be- 
 gin to diftill before the time, -viz.. fermentation not 
 being lyet perfecfled, thou ftialt have but few fpi- 
 rits ; wherefore alfo the better part is, by many that 
 are unskilful, caft to the fwine, but without any 
 great lofs, if the matter were malt, becaufe that 
 fwine are fed therewith -, but not fo if other vege- 
 tables were the matter of the diftillation. Alfo too 
 much flownefs where the matter begins to be fowre 
 before it be diftilled, yields very h^ fpirits, that 
 which often happens, whilft hearbs, and flowers, 
 O-c. are out of ignorance left in fermentation 3,4, 
 5. and more weeks, before they be diftilled, for the 
 greateft part of the fpirit is then turned to vinegar, 
 which would not be fo very ill done, if fo be thefe 
 men knew how to clarifie the remainders, and turn it 
 into vinegar, that nothing thereof might be loft ; 
 for the vinegars of hearbs, flowers, feeds, and roots 
 are not to be contemned. And fo often times (z 
 thing to be lamented) the better part, if they be 
 fpices, and pretious things, is loft. 
 
 The matter of the diftillation, and other choice 
 things, as feeds and hearbs are caft away with lofs \ 
 wherefore for admonition fake I was willing to add 
 
 fuch 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofofhical FnYtiaceL 
 
 fuch things that the operators may have an oppor= 
 tunity to conflder the matter a little more profound- 
 ly with themfelves, or at leaft of learning the art 
 'of diftilling from countrymen , who do not fufier 
 their malt to putrefy, grow fower or mouldy, be- 
 fore they fall upon their diltillations, but prefent= 
 iy fermentation being made (the third or the fourth 
 day) begin their dillillation. 
 
 But fome one will objeft, that my vegetable fpi- 
 fits are not pure by reafon of the ferment that is 
 mixed, having in it felf a fpirit. I anfwer, there 
 is not fo great a portion of the ferment mixed which 
 can corrupt the vegetable fpirit- For although fome 
 fpoonfuls of ferment yielding but a few drops of 
 fpirits be added to a great quantity of the vegeta- 
 bles ■■, yet there can come no hurt or detriment to 
 fo many quarts of the vegetable fpirit. I have feen 
 fome fupercilious men that would not add ferment 
 ;o the matter of their fpirit, but fugar or honey, 
 t»y which they would promote fermentation, and fo 
 jiave thought to get a pure fpiriti not confidering 
 that honey and fugar, after fermentation are made 
 to yield their fpirit alfo, whereof one fpoonful 
 yields more than ten or twenty of Barm : But ho- 
 oy and fugar fermenting not without difficulty them- 
 iclveS) how can they promote the fermentation of 
 other things? Who alfo have had experience, that 
 the addition of their ferment hath been fupertluous, 
 whilfl their flowers and hearbs have flood fome weeks 
 in maceration, before they begun to ferment, and 
 that often times they have contrafled an acidity , 
 muftinefs and ftink, the reafon of which was an un- 
 futable ferment- There are indeed the fi'uits of 
 fome trees that have a fweet and full juice, as grapes, 
 cherries, apples, pears, figs, G'c which need not 
 the addition of any ferment, having a natural fer- 
 ment of their own, but other vegetables not fo, be- 
 ing lean, as hearbs, flowers and roots- It is necef- 
 fary there to promote the fermentation of them by 
 the addition of a futable ferment, left in length of 
 tinae thefe hearbs and feeds lofe their fpirit exha- 
 ling in maceration. And thus much I was willing to 
 fay for information fake, and indeed for the fake 
 ef them who feek after the bell and choiceft me- 
 dicines, wanting a good burning fpirit as a compa- 
 nion applicable to them. For this Ipirit came not 
 only by it felf, as j4^iia vtt<e, into a medicinal ufe 
 as well internal as external, efpecially that which is 
 prepared of cordial, and cephalick hearbs ; but al- 
 fo being united with the proper oyls ofthofe hearbs 
 in many defperate difeafes, where it could put forth 
 its vertues eminently- 
 
 And thus much fufficeth concerning the prepara- 
 tic»i of vegetables that goes before the diltillation 
 of burning fpirits. 
 
 The manner of difiiUing in gtr.trd fdlowcth. 
 
 TTE that is going to diftilj hath need to ftir his 
 Jl J. fermented matter very well with a ftick, that 
 the thicker parts may be well mixed with the thin- 
 ner- and then he muft fill therewith his diftilling 
 veifcl fet upon a treefoot, and joyned to the copper 
 globe in the furnace on one fide, and to the refrigera- 
 tory on the other, the joints in all places being 
 well clofed either with Oxe-bladdersiorwith ftarch 
 and paper. Alfo the interiour part of the globe in 
 the diftilling vellel muft be fenced with a copper 
 or wooden basket, that the herbs, feeds, and other 
 things enter not into the globe , into which only 
 
 59 
 
 water muft come. Alfo the upper hole muft be 
 clofe flopped with a fitting ftop|.;e wrapt about 
 with linncn Clouts, {viz,, that hole by which the 
 matter to be diflillcd is pht in) like to veflels of 
 wine that are ftopped. Which being well done, 
 you muft kindle the fire in the furnace under the 
 globe, until all the matter in the whole velicl boyl 
 well, and that burning fpirit rife, and go out, through 
 the refrigeratory ( where it is condenfed ) into the 
 glafs receiver that is fet under ir, no lefs than that 
 diftiiled out of a ftill ; and you muft continue the fire till 
 all the fpirit be conic forth, which you may know 
 by the taftc. Which being done, and all things be- 
 ing cold, let the remainders be taken out by the 
 lower large tap-^iole, for meat for fwine, or other 
 ufes. The fpirit that is drawn olTmay be exalted, 
 and redliiied at your plcafnre in the fame velfel , 
 being firft made clean together with the refrigera- 
 tory. Note well, that fometimesthcie is left a fac 
 oyl with the flegm in reftifying of the fpirit, pro- 
 ceeding from that hearb of wiiich that was the fpi- 
 rit, which did diftiloffwith the fpirit from the mat- 
 ter with a ftrong fire in the firft diftiliation, but in 
 the redtifying could not afcend with the fpirit in 
 a gentle fire, but is conftrained to remain with the 
 infipid flegm. And this oyl alfo hath its vertues, 
 efpecially that which is re^ftified by a glafs gourd iu 
 Balneo, with the fpirit of fait, and clarified. N'ovO 
 the like oyl is got almoft from all hearbs, roots, 
 fteds, flowers, and fruits, but out of one fubjed mere 
 than another, according to the hot and cold temper 
 thereof. Efpecialiy thefediment of wines yields a good 
 quantity of fuch oyl, which being reiftified is a me- 
 dicinal true oyl of wine, but not before endued with 
 a fweet favour, and it is an excellent cordial, al- 
 though I know no body that knew this before. 
 
 And thus I have ftiewed the general way of di- 
 ftilling, burning fpiritsj by help of the aforefaid 
 wooden diftillatory. Now alfo follows, 
 
 The manner of diftilling Spices^ Seeds, Flowers^ 
 Hearbs, Roots, H''oods, &c. 
 
 Firft, the feeds muft be broken in a mill, flowers, 
 hearbs, and roots cut fmall, the woods broken 
 or rafped, upon which afterwards a good quantity^' 
 of water (in which they may fwimj muft be pour- 
 ed for the maceration of them, fo that when the 
 diftiliation is ended there may remain fome water, 
 left for want of water they be burnt in the diftil- 
 ling, and yield an oyl favouring of an onpyrcuma ^ 
 and not fweet- Neither is too great a quantity to 
 be poured upon them, but as much as fliall ferve to 
 prevent the burning of the aforefaid vegetables in 
 the diftilling of the oyl thereof. And indeed frelh 
 vegetables may prefently witlioot any foregoing ma- 
 ceration, being put with their proper waters into the 
 diftilling veflel be diftiiled. But they that be dry 
 may for the fpace of fome dayes be macerated be- 
 fore they be diftiiled. Alfo the water appointed 
 for maceration muft be faked, for the better mol- 
 lifing, and opening the aVorefaid materials, that they 
 may fooner yield their oyl. Now green and frefh 
 need not any fait water, yet it will not be hurt- 
 ful to mix fome therewith, kcaufe fait helps the 
 boyling water, fo Wi to make the oyl more eafily 
 to afcend. It alfo helps and furthers diftiliation as 
 doth Tartar and Aliome, if they be rightly mix- 
 ed and ordered. Which being all rightly done, 
 the materials t/iat are macerated rauft be put by a 
 
 Q. 2 funnel 
 
6o 
 
 The Third Pan of 
 
 Partjt 
 
 funnel into the diftilling vellcl, and fire muft be giv- 
 en as hath been fpoken concerning the burning fpi- 
 rit, and the oyl of the feed, or wood macerated 
 in the water will come forth in the diftillation to- 
 j^ether with the water. And although by this way 
 more oyl comes forth, viz.. Maceration being made 
 by the addition of fait, than without fait, by the 
 help of the fweet water alone, as is the fafhion in 
 all places almofl: to diftill oyls of fpices -, yet much 
 rcmaines infeparable by the water, and confequent- 
 ly not to be fublimed with the water. Therefore 
 the better wiy is that which I (liewed in the firft 
 part to be performed with the fpirit of fait, which 
 if you pleafe you may follow. All the oyl being 
 come forth (which is perceived by the changing of 
 the receivers) the fire is to be extinguifhed, and 
 the remainder is to be taken out, which if it be of 
 feeds, hcarbs, or fruits,' may, being yet warm, be 
 fermented by the addition of ferment for the diftill- 
 ing of the fpirit, of which there cannot be fo great 
 a quantity by reafon of taking away of the oyl, as 
 otherwife is drawn out of things that have not loft: 
 their oyl : For all burning fpirit partakes of niuch 
 oyl, of theedence, and nature whereof more a little 
 after. Now fpirits muft be made without the ad-- 
 dition of any fait, for fait hinders the fermentati- 
 on, without which the burning fpirit cannot be had. 
 But the water that is diftilled together with the 
 oyl, is to be fet in a certain temperate place, un: 
 til the oyl afcend, and fwim upon the water, from 
 whence it is to be feparated with a Tunnel (of 
 which in the fifth part,) alfo there are fome oyls 
 which do not afcend, but fall to the bottom, which 
 are alfo to be feparated with a Tunnel, and kept 
 for their ufes. Now how thefe oyls may be kept 
 clear long, and not contradt any claraminefs, fhall' 
 be taucht in the fifth part: but how they may after 
 they have loft their clearnefs by long ftanding, and 
 are become tenacious, be reftored and clarified a- 
 gain, is taught in the firft part, wherefore 1 need 
 rot here repeat it. 
 
 How Oyls are to be coagulated mo Balfames. 
 
 IT hath been the cuftom a long time to turn aroma- 
 tical oyls into Balfams, where always one hath 
 been willing to e.xcel another in this Art, which ne- 
 verthelefs was nothing hitherto, but for a wafhing 
 and cleanfing •, for they could not be ufed inward= 
 ly, but only outwardly for their odour to comfort 
 the heart and brain. Now the aforefaid oyls are 
 coagulated many ways, and are made portable in 
 Tin, Silver, and ivory boxes. 
 
 Some have mixed the fatof a Iamb with them by 
 help of heat, and have turned them into a liniment, 
 which they have coloured with divers colours ; as 
 for example, they have corrupted the oyls of green 
 hearbs ; as rofemary, marjoram, lavender, rue, fage, 
 with a green colour, by the adraixtion of verdi- 
 greafe (which is noxious to the head and heart) 
 where one corroborates and refrelheth, another de- 
 ftroys. They have tinged the Balfam of Cinnamon, 
 and lignnm Rhodium with a red colour by the help 
 of a poyfonous Cinnabar. Others that are more in- 
 duftrious, have tinged their Oyls with extraded co- 
 lours of vegetables, which balfams are more fafely 
 taken inward : But they are not durable, acquiring 
 a fliminefs and ftink •, wherefore they have mixed 
 white wax to coagulate them : By which means 
 they are become more durable without ftiriking ; but 
 
 yet in length of time fo tenacious, that being fraea- 
 red or rubbed upon the skin, they ftick faft by 
 reafon of the wax that is mixed with them : at laft 
 others have found out a better way of coagulating 
 aromatical oyls, and other things, vit.. by the ad- 
 dition of the oyl of Nutmeg made by exprefllon, 
 having loft its odour and colour by fpirit of wine ; 
 which they called the Mother of B.tlj.imet And this 
 way hath been a long time concealed by Apo- 
 thecaries as a great lecret , until at length it is 
 become common , fo that balfames prepared af- 
 ter this manner are fold almoft in all ftiops : But 
 although that be the beft way, yet they are not 
 durable balfames that are made that way, becaufe 
 they lack fait. 1 do not contemn and difapprove 
 of Balfames made after this way , for if a better 
 way had been known, better had been made , for 
 no man is obliged beyond his power. Wherefore 
 they are not only to be excufed, that have ufed 
 Lambs fat, Wax, and the oyl of Nutmegs in the 
 making of their Balfames, but alfo to be honoured 
 for their communication. Now feeing the afore- 
 faid Balfames cannot be taken inwardly, nor be 
 fo well outwardly adminiftred by reafon of their 
 unftuofity , others have confulted to congeal the 
 Oyls by the admixtion of their own proper fix- 
 falts : And Balfames prepared after this manner 
 are made free from clamminefs,or tenacioufnefs, and 
 may be dilTolved in wine, beer, or any liquor- 
 Wherefore they may be not only conveniently 
 taken inward, but alfo more fitly than thofeold, be 
 tubed outwardly for the odours fake, becaufe they 
 are eafily wafhed off again with water. They do 
 not only give a moft fweet odour being rubbed> 
 but alfo by reafon of the admixtion of the fixed 
 fait, having the nature of fait of Tartar, do beau- 
 tify the skin. Wherefore they are to be com- 
 mended, being diflblved in fair warm water for a 
 lotion for the head, and face ; not only becaufe 
 they beautify, but corroborate with their excellent 
 odour i which thofe fat Balfames cannot do. Where- 
 fore this way is to be preferred far before the 
 other. 
 
 Let him therefore that will, receive what I have 
 faid, for rare and new things are not alwayes accen- 
 ted , efpecially being obfcure : but I hope for the 
 approbation of the age to come. 
 
 The manner of preparing follows. 
 
 TAke the remains of the burning fpirit, and be- 
 ing put into a fack , prcfs it hard : reduce 
 the water prefled out into vinegar , and of rofes 
 thou flialt have a rofe vinegar, and of other things 
 another, being the beft in a Family for to feafon 
 meats : then take the remains out of the fack, 
 and reduce it to white afties in a potters furnace, 
 upon which pour the flegm of its own burning fpi- 
 rit ( being feparated ) to extraft the fait , from 
 which evaporate again all the humidity in a gla- 
 zed earthen pot : calcine the coagulated fait gent- 
 ly in a clean crucible , and it will be white and 
 be like to fait of tartar in taft ; from which ab- 
 ftraft, fometimes its own proper burning fpirit, 
 calcining the fait firft every time-, and the Ipirit 
 will be fo exalted by its proper fait, that it will 
 prefently aftume its proper oyl, and will, being pour- 
 ed upon it, allociate it to it felf fo as to be per- 
 ceived no more in the fpirit, which will remain ve- 
 ry clear ; Which being done, calcine the fait yet 
 
 once 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofo^bjcal Furnaces, 
 
 6i 
 
 once more very well in a crucible , and diflblve 
 fo much oficin its proper flcgm. as fufficcth for the 
 coagulation of the oyl, then mix this folution with 
 the burning fpirit, mixed with its oyl, and fet it 
 in a vial of a long neck well Itopt, in Balneo, that 
 the fpirit mny not exhale , in the codlion of it, 
 and in the fpacc of a few hours there will be an 
 union of the mixture which will be as white as 
 milk. Which being done, let the glafs cool, for 
 there is a conjuntftion of the fpirit, oyl, and ^^lt, fo 
 that neither can be difcerned from another, which 
 is to be poured into a velFel of a wide mouth, and 
 it will be congealed in the cold like a white oint- 
 ment, not only to be anointed withal, l)ut alfo to 
 be diUblved in any liquor, being of an excellent 
 odour, which may alfo be given inwardly very con- 
 veniently, and being ufed outwardly it makes the 
 skin beautiful and fvveeti wherefore this is that 
 mod dclircd balfime of Princes and Ladies- And 
 by this way the three principles of vegetables, be- 
 ing fcparated, and purified, are again reunited, in 
 wiiich union there is found the whole vertue, tail, 
 and odour of the vegetable. 
 
 Note well -, That he that will colour balfames, 
 mufl: draw the colour ovx of vegetables with fpi- 
 rit of wine, which he muft make to be coagulaced 
 together with it. After this aforcfaid manner, 
 therefore you may draw out of any vegetable that 
 hath in it fait , fpirit and oyl , foluble and well 
 fmelling balfomes without the addition of any o- 
 ther ftrange thing, which are not to be contemned. 
 And becaufe here alfo is taught that molt odo- 
 riferous balfame of rofes, for rofes yield but a lit- 
 tle oyl, without which that cannot be done, know 
 that not only rofes or rofe leaves alfo are to be 
 taken for the making the aforefaid balfome , but 
 alfo together with the leaves thofe whole knots ; 
 for that yellow that is in them yields that oyl, 
 not the rofe leaves, &c. And let what hath been 
 faid fuffice concerning our preparation of balfames, 
 which if they be rightly made, are not I fuppofe, 
 to be contemned, neither do I rcjedl thofe that are 
 made without fait : Let him that hath better com- 
 municate them,and not carp at ours- And fo I would 
 that all and each procefs fhould be comprehended 
 under fome one general , vtz.. of diftilling bnrning 
 fpirits, and oyls, by the help of a wooden diftill- 
 ing veflel , and their conjnndlion by the help of 
 their proper fixed fait, I could here add more things 
 concerning the ufe, and vertues of fpirits of wine, 
 and of thofe moffc fweet vegetable oyls ; but be- 
 caufe they are clearly enough fpoken of by others, 
 I account it a fuperfluous thing to repeat the fay- 
 ings of others, being contented with the defcrip- 
 tion of one only general procefs, which you may 
 imitate in other particulars. 
 
 Ihere follows mrv the ufe of the fecond wooden vcjfel 
 which is to he ufed ivfiead of thofe cf coffer or lead-, 
 ferving for diflillattons., dmjlms-, extrailions^ and 
 fixations. 
 
 THc velTel being made ready according to the 
 prefcription fet down before, there is nothing 
 elfe to do, than to fit the furnace with the globe"!^ 
 and at your pleafure to heat water in it, with a 
 government of the fire in the furnace. Now all 
 things may here be done, which otherwife are done 
 in a common Bahieo ^ where there is no other dif- 
 ference but of velTels ; here is ufed a wooden vef- 
 
 fel, there a copper, leaden, or iron, &c. In this 
 operation alfo is ufed the fame furnace with the 
 fame globe, which was ufed above in the diftillauon, 
 wherefore you need add nothing clfe befide, for 
 nothing is more common than a Balneum in diflil 
 lacion ; let the demonftration therefore of the ufe 
 of the copper globe fuffice. Now I thought it 
 worth while to fet down fome Chymical medici- 
 I nal extracfts , not common , which may be made 
 by the help of this BaLicum , which being rightly ' 
 prepared do many things in many diftafes. ' 
 
 ji'id firft of a vomitive Extra^. 
 
 TAke an ounce of the flowers of Antimony, of 
 purifyed Tartar 5 ij. of fugar-candy ^ vj. of 
 rain water two pints, being mixed together, fet 
 them in a Itrong vial in B.ibieo for to be coded, 
 and make them to boyl ftrongly the fpace of ten 
 or twelve hours. Then the Balneum being cold, 
 take out the glafs, and pour forth the deco^^ion, 
 and filter it thi"ougha brown paper put into a tun- 
 nel ; rlie filtred water will be reddifli betwixt fweet 
 and fowre, which take (the fsces in the filtre being 
 call away ) and in a fmall gourd glafs draw off" 
 all the moifture with a gentle fire in B-tlneo unto 
 the confiftency of honey of a brownifh colour, up- 
 on which again pour a pint of fpirit of wine, 
 poured forth into a vial with a long neck ; and 
 let it -in Bal'ieo with a moderate heat the fpace of 
 eight or fixteen hours, and then the fpirit of wine 
 will feparate, and extract the eflence , which wilt 
 be more pure and noble , the fxces being left 
 in the bottom ; which after all things are cold 
 are to be feparated by the Help of Filtration 
 through a double brown paper. Then take the 
 red tindure that is filtred, and in a gourd glafs 
 in a gentle Balneo draw off almoll all the fpi- 
 rit of wine until there remain a matter like a very 
 fweet fyrup, which being taken out keep as a molt 
 excellent vomitive , moll profitable in many di- 
 feafes , where other Catharticks can do nothing. 
 For this medicine works mofl gently , wherefore 
 it may be given to children of a year and half 
 old without danger, and alfo to old men. This 
 medicine purgeth and attracfts all humors from the 
 nerves, and veins, opens all obltrudlions of the 
 liver, fpleen, lungs, and kidneys, by which means 
 many mofl grievous difeafes are cured. 
 
 I never found a vomitive comparable to this, which 
 works quickly and fafely. The dofe of it is from 
 grain 1, 2, 3,4. to 10. and 30. according to the 
 age and ficknefs. It may be taken by it felf, or 
 in wine, beer, o-c. and it will within a quarter 
 of an hour begin to work, and ceafeth within two 
 hours. Sometimes it doth not provoke vomit at all, 
 but only flools, where a glyfter is very helpful if 
 it be given a little before the adminiftring of the 
 aforfaid medicine , being made of two or three 
 fpoonfal of oyl Olive , and fait water •, for the 
 glyfter prepares the way below, fo that it feldome 
 then works by way of vomit : when alfo the pa- 
 tient may prefently after the taking of the medi- 
 cine hold hot tofted bread to his mouth and nofe, 
 which hinders vomiting and promotes the opera- 
 tion by ftool. But in my judgment it is better 
 not to hinder the medicine feeking a fpontaneous 
 way of operation, and not forced : For vomiting 
 is more convenient for fome, than purging by ftool. 
 
 R Now 
 
62 
 
 The Third Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Now thefe things I have fpokcn for the fake of 
 thofe, who although they abhor vomiting, yet dc- 
 fire to be purged by the enfence of Antimony, 
 which is of all that I know the moll fafe , and 
 fweet Cathartick. For it fearcheth the whole bo- 
 dy far better than all others, and frees it trom 
 many occult difeafcs, the which all other vegeta. 
 ble Catharticks could not do. It hath alfo this 
 commodity in it, that although by littlenefs of the 
 dofe, or the ftrong nature of the patient it doth 
 not work by vomit or ftool, yet ic doth not like 
 other medicines hurt the body , but works either 
 by fvveat or urine, fo that Antimony being right- 
 ly prepared is feldome adminiftred without proht- 
 When as on the contrary, vegetable Catharticks 
 being given in lefs dofe or by reafon of fome o- 
 ther caufes do not work , although they do not 
 make the body fwell, and produce mamfelt difeales, 
 yet they threaten to the body occult ficknelTes. 
 
 Now the Arcanum of Antimony doth not onely 
 not do hurt, if it do not fcniibly operate , but by 
 infenfible working doth much good to the body ot 
 man. Wherefore there is a great difference be- 
 twixt purging minerals, and vegetables. For mi= 
 nerals are given in a lefs dofe without naufeouf- 
 tiefs, but vegetables with a great deal of naufeouf- 
 nefs, and fometimes with danger to the lick in a 
 greater dofe- Now that naufeoufnefs alfo proceed- 
 ing oftentimes from the great dofe of the ungrate- 
 ful bitter potions docs more hurt than the potion 
 it felf I wilh that fuch kind of grofs medicines 
 were aboliflied, and the fweet E.xtradts of Vegeta= 
 bles and Eflences of Minerals were fubftituted in 
 their place. 
 
 A pi^gi^i ExtraH- 
 
 TAke of the roots of black Hellebore gatherd in 
 fit time, and dryed in the air , one pound, 
 the roots of Mechoacan, Jallap, of each four ounces ; 
 Cinnamon, Anniffeed, and Fennelfeed, of each one 
 ounce -, of Englifh Saffron a dram, powder all thele 
 Ingredients, then pour upon them the beft resided 
 fpirit of Wine, in a high glafs gourd, and upon 
 this put a blind Alembick, and fet it in digeftion -, 
 in Balneo until the fpirit of wine be tinged red, 
 which then decant otF: and pour on frelh, and 
 fet it again in digeftion •, until the fpint be red, 
 then pour on frelh again, and do this fo often 
 until the fpirit will no' more be tinged red, which 
 commonly is done at three Times. Mix theie 
 tinged fpirits, filter them, and in Balneo by a glafs 
 Alembick, with a gentle heat draw them oti from 
 the Tincture, and a thick juice will remain at the 
 bottom of a brownifli colour, which you muft take 
 out whilft it is yet hot, and keep it in a clean 
 silafs for its ufes. The Spirit of Wine drawn off 
 from the extraft may be refcrved for the fame ufe. 
 Now this extraft is given from grains 3,6,9,12. 
 to 31. according to the age, and ftrength, being 
 mixed with Sugar, it hath not an ungrateful taft, 
 and it works gently, and fafely» if it be not gi- 
 ven in too great a dofe. And if thou wilt have 
 it in the form of a Pill . mix with it being yet 
 hot, an ounce of clear Aloes, and half an ounce 
 of Diagridium powdered, being mixed bring it in= 
 to a mafs for Pills, and keep it for your ufe. The 
 dofe is from grain i- to a fcruple. It evacuates 
 all fuperfluous humors, but it is not to be compa- 
 red with the medicine of Antimony. And this 
 
 extrad I put down for the fakes of thbfe that 
 fear Minerals, and abhor Vomits, which in my 
 judgment is the belt of all vegetable Catharticks. 
 
 A Diaphorctical Extra^. 
 
 TAke the wood Saffafras, Sarffapnrilla, of each fix 
 ounces; Ginger, Galengal, Zedoary, of each 
 three ounces ; long Pepper, Cardamoms, Cubebs, of 
 each an ounce -, Cinnamon, Mace, of each half an 
 ounce; Englifh Saffron, Nutmeg, Cloves, of each a 
 dram : Let the woods be rafped, the roots and fpi- 
 ces poudered, pour upon them, being mixed, the 
 fpirit of wine, and let the tinfture be drawn forth 
 in Balneo, as hath been abovefaid of the purging 
 Extraft, evaporate away the fpirit to the conliltency 
 of honey, which keep for your ufe. It is good in 
 the Plague, Feavers, Scorbute, Leprofie, Frenchpox, 
 and other difeafes proceeding, from the impurity of 
 the blood, curing them by fweat. The Dofe of this 
 Extrad is from a fcruple to a dram with proper 
 vehicles: itprovoketh fweat prefently, driveth away 
 all venenofities from the heart, and mundifies the 
 blood. 
 
 And although it be a moft elfeJlual vegetable Di- 
 aphorerick yet it may not be compared toL.>icfub- 
 tile fpirits of minerals, of which in the '<xol^ part- 
 Alfo animal diapnoreti'.ks have their couimciiJati- 
 ons, as the flclh of vipers, tiie ^xcd fait );' fpiders 
 and toads, in their peculiar operations, whcio each 
 alone without the mixture of any other thing puts 
 forth and fheweth its operations-, neiuier are ^mi- 
 mal and vegetable diaphoreticks to be compared to 
 the mineral, as Ihz.oarticitm miner ale, AntimonMin dt- 
 aphonticu>ny and Aitriim diaphoreticuni. 
 
 A Diiiretical Extratt. 
 
 TAke the feeds of Saxifrage, Carraway, Fennel, 
 Parfly, Netles, of each 3. ounces, the root of 
 liquorifh, the greater burr, of each an ounce, the 
 powder of woodlice half an ounce. Let thefe being 
 mixed and powdered be extradled with fpirit of 
 Juniper according to art : then mix thefe follow- 
 ing things with the extraded matter: Take the 
 fait of Ambar, Soot, Netles, of each half a dram» 
 purified Nitre a dram : Let thefe be powdered , 
 and mixed with the extrad and this mixture 
 be kept for ufe. The dofe is from a fcruble to 
 a dram, in the water of parfly fennel, &c. This 
 extrad forceth urin, opens the ureters, purgcth the 
 reines, and blndder from all vifcous Cegme (the mo- 
 ther of all tartareous coagulation) I'tz.. if it be u- 
 fcd timely : In this cafe is commended alfo the fo- 
 lution of flints, and cryftals, made with fpirit of 
 fait. A greater commendation have falts of nephri- 
 rick hearbs made by expreffion, and cryftaDifation, 
 without calcination, the preparation whereof fhall 
 not here, but elfewhere be taught, 
 
 A fomniferoiis ExtraH-. 
 
 TAke of Thebaic opium four ounces, of Spirit of 
 Salt two ounces, purified Tartar one ounce , 
 fet them being mixed in maceration in Balneo in a 
 glafs veffcl for a day and night, and the fpirit of 
 fait with Tartar will open the body of the opimi,^ 
 and prepare it for extradion, upon which pour half 
 a pint of the beft fpirit of wine, fet it ih a gen- 
 tle Babco to be extraded- Decant off the fpirit 
 
 that 
 
 I 
 
tart I. 
 
 Pbilofofhical Furnaces, 
 
 6j 
 
 ■ that is tinged, and pour on fielh, fet it in digeftion 
 till the fpirit be coloured. Then mix the axtrafti- 
 ons together, and put to them in a glafs gourd two 
 drams of the bcft Saflron, of oylof Cloves a dram, 
 and draw off the fpirit of wine in Balnco, and 
 there will remain a thick black juice, which is to 
 be taken out, and kept in a clean glafs velFcl. The 
 dole thereof is from one grain, to five or fix, for 
 thofe of a mans age, but to children the fixth or 
 eighth part of a grain- It may be ufed in all hot 
 dillempers without danger. It provokcth quiet llccp, 
 mitigates pains as well outward as inward, it cauf- 
 eth frtcat •, but efpecially it is a fure remedy for the 
 epilcplle in children that are new-born; for as foon 
 as it is given to them to tlie quantify of the eighth 
 part of a grain in wine, or womans milk, there 
 prefently follows reft, and fweat with fleep, by 
 whis means the malignity is expelled, the childien 
 are refrelhed, and delire vicTtuals, and the fit returns 
 no more afterwards. Although haply the like fym])- 
 tomes may be preceivcd again, yet if the aforcfaid 
 dofe be adminiltred again, the children are refrelh- 
 ed, and cured wholly, whereas ocherwife they would 
 have dyed, C-c.. whereof 1 have not rcftored few 
 with this medicine. Moreover alfo there are very 
 e{fe..T:uaI anodinc medicines, as thofe volatile fpirits 
 of vitriol, allome, Antimony, and other minerals , 
 with which, as alfo with that narcotick fulphur pre- 
 cipitated from the volatile fpirit of vitriol, nothing 
 may be compared. 
 
 A Cordial Extra^. 
 
 TAke red rofcs four ounces, of the lilly of the 
 valley two ounce?, the flowers of borage, rofe- 
 mary, fage, of each an ounce •■, cinnamon, lignum 
 
 rous oyl go from the extrad not only more effica- 
 cious, but more excellent than that common diltil- 
 led oyl by reafon of the admixtion of the fpiritu- 
 al mctallick vertue, efpecially of gold and filver, dif- 
 folved in the add A'^o/JhrntM communicating its vcv 
 Cues to the Aromatical oyl. Moreover any vegetable 
 oyl may be exalted in vcrtues and odour by the 
 help of fpirit of urine, or fait Armoniack, b/ the 
 help whereof not only odoriferous oy is are exalted, 
 but alfo the inodorous oyls of vegetables arc made' 
 odoriferous, if they be a while digelted in fpirit 
 of urine: and not this only l)ut every mineral, and 
 metallick fulphur, altiiough the odour thereof be 
 bound up v.ith mofl flrong bonds, is opened by the 
 benefit thereof, and is reduced by digellion in a very 
 little timeinto a molt fvveet and odoriferous ef- 
 fencc. Lixivial fpirits cxalc the odours, and colours 
 of fulphurs ; atici purge fulphurs, but change their 
 colours and odours. Musk and Civet get the fweet- 
 nefsi and excellency of their odour from the fub- 
 tile urinous fpirit of a certain Cat, digefting fomc 
 certain fat and converting it into fuel; a kind of 
 moll odoriferous matter. 
 
 And let this that hath been fiiid fuffice concern-' 
 ing Extracfts, which might have been omitted, be- 
 caufe many of thefc kind of Extrafts are found in 
 ihc writings of other authors in many languages: 
 but I was willing to fet down thefe, left this book 
 might fcem to contain in it nothing clfe belides the 
 new way of diflilling, being furnilhed alio with good 
 medicines. 
 
 Of Baths 
 
 A Little^ before hath been given a defcription of 
 a Tub for a Bath in which any one may fie 
 
 aloes, of each two drams ; cloves, mace, nutmeg , j with his whole body except his head, not only to 
 galangal, cardamoms the lelTer, of each half an be wadied in fweet warm water, whether medicii:al 
 
 ounce J the Ihavings of ivory, hartdiorn, of each an 
 ounce ; of E>.glijh fafFron a dram, of nnxvomica a 
 dram : Mix them and reduce, them to a fine pow- 
 der, and let the tindure be extra<fled with fpirit of 
 wine in Balneo, which is to be drawn cfFagain, un- / 
 to a juft confiftence. Let the extraifl be kept for 
 ufe. It may be ufed in almoft all faintings, and 
 other afFefts that are not joyned with a preterna- 
 tural heat- The dofe thereof is from grains 3, 6, 
 9- to a fcruple with proper vehicles; being often 
 adminiftred it refrefheth the fpirit, corroborates the 
 brain, and other parts of the body. It is made 
 more efficacious by the adding of the ellences of 
 minerals, efpecially of gold, of which thing fee the 
 firft part concerning the fweet oyl of gold. 
 
 Of an odoriferous Extract. 
 
 I Need not teach the making of any odoriferous 
 vegetable extraft, becaufe the manner of draw- 
 ing forth, or diftilling oyls of vegetables that have 
 fweet odores, hath been fhewed a little before, as 
 of hearbs, flowers, and feeds, which are the moft 
 noble, and fweet eflences of vegetables, by the o- 
 dour whereof the heart and brain are corroborated, 
 which being reduced into balfams are made tranf- 
 pcrtable. Better extrafts therefore, and more excel- 
 lent cannot in my judgment be made out of vege- 
 tables, then thofe aforefaid oyls, unlefs any one 
 would mix aromatical exirads made with fpirit of 
 wine with mctallick folutions, and being mixed di- 
 geft them, then there will a certain moft odorife- 
 
 and mineral, but alfo to fweat in without water, 
 where the velFel is heated by warm vapours, either 
 of Fvveet waters, or minerals. And every one may 
 provide fuch Baths for himfelf according to his ne- 
 ceflity at home, whereby the fame difeafes are cu- 
 red as thofe that are cured by the help of natural 
 Baths, Fo that he need not for the baths Fake go a 
 great journey, but may ftay at home with his family 
 and follow his Calling without trouble, when he hath 
 occafion and need to ufed them. 
 
 And whereas it cannot be denycd, that by the 
 ufe oF the Baths moft grievous diieaFes which can- 
 not be cured by Phyfitians, are happily cured ; I 
 was willing For the Fake of my neighbour to publilh 
 this inftrumcnt together with the preparation of 
 mineral waters j which publilhing will not without 
 doubt be without profit, and advantage- Wherefore 
 I will in brief fhew you the preparation of mineral, 
 and Fweet waters, and their uFe, and iirll, 
 
 Of a B.jth of fweet or common water. 
 
 THere is no art to make a Bath of Fvveet water, 
 for you have nothing elfc to do, then to fill 
 your velFel with river or vain water, and to make a 
 fire, which by the help oF the copper globe will heat 
 the water, which being Fufficiently heated, you may 
 fit in it, and cover the Tub, that the hot vapors e- 
 vaporate not, nor the cold air enter in, and cool the 
 exteriour parts oF the body : Wherefore alFo you 
 muft apply a clean linnen cloth about your neck, 
 left the warm vapors evaporate there : which being 
 
 R 2 lightely 
 
64 
 
 The Third Pan of 
 
 Part I 
 
 rif^btly obferved, you may fit the fpace of i- 2. 3. 
 hours, or as long as you pleafe or your ficknefs re- 
 quire. You mult keep a continual heat as much as 
 is neceflary, which may be done by the help of that 
 plobe- If you be thirlty in the mean time you may 
 drink fomc proper diailled drink according to the 
 nature of yourdifeafc, of which thing nothing now, 
 becaufe I am rcfolved to write a pccwlhr I'ooli^de BJ- 
 ,jr,s, and here only to (hew the ufe of that copper 
 elobe in heating of Baths- And although there be 
 not a perfecl inftrudion of all, yet of ibmc Baths, 
 and their ufes there (hall a fliort inftruaion be given 
 in this place. 
 
 Of the Jhitinr, and property of tiMitr.il Baths. 
 
 KNOW that the greatefl: part of medicinal wa- 
 ters in GeniU!>;y, and other countries as well 
 hot as cold carry with them from the earth a cer- 
 tain fulphureous acidity more or lefs : in which a- 
 cidity conhfts that medicinal faculty and vertue ot 
 this or that water. And if thofe waters lofe their 
 odour and tad by the exhaling of their fubtile ipirits, 
 ■ then aUb they loofe their vertues •, although alio 
 there be found fome waters, which have not only a 
 fpiritual fulphur, but alfo are impregnated with a 
 certain mineral, or metaliick body mixed with M- 
 lome, or Vitriol, which comes not elfewhere then 
 from' the common water running through the mines. 
 There are found alfo other baths, the power and 
 vertue whereof conlifts not in any fpiritual fulphur, 
 nor in any metaliick body mixed with fair, but on- 
 ly in a certain fpiritual "fait mixed with a certain 
 fubtil fixed earth, which waters do not run through 
 metaliick mines as others do, but rather ftones of 
 the mountaines calcined with a fubtcnaneal fire, 
 whence alfo they borrow their fubtil acidity with 
 their infipid earth. And this no man will deny that 
 hath the knowledge of volatile and fixed falts of 
 minerals, and metals: the which I am able to de- 
 monftrate with very many, and mofl: evident 'rca- 
 fons, if time and occafion would permit ^ but it 
 Ihall be done fometime or other as hath been faid 
 in a peculiar treatife. Now therefore I will only 
 teach how by falts, minerals, and metals, artificial 
 Baths may be made, which arc not only not inferi- 
 our to the natural in vertue, but alfo oftentimes far 
 better, and that without much coft or labour, which 
 any one may ufe at home in ftead of the natural 
 for the expelling of difeafes, and recovering of 
 health- And although I am refolved to fet forth a 
 book that (hall treat largely of the nature, and o-- 
 rit^inal of Baths, and of their ufe-, yet 1 am willing 
 now alfo to fay fomething in brief concerning it, 
 and that from the foundation, feeing that there are 
 fo many different opinions of learned men, and thofe 
 for the mofl part uncertain. 
 
 As concerning therefore the original of the aci- 
 dity as well volatile , as corporeal , as alfo the 
 heat of Baths, know that is not one, and the famej 
 for clfe each would have the fame properties, but 
 daily experience tellifies the contrary.: For it is 
 manifcft that fome Baths help fome difeafes, and o- 
 ther-; are hurtful for them, which comes from no- 
 thing elfe but from the difference of the proper- 
 tics of the mineral waters proceeding from a diver- 
 fity of mines impre[',nating thofe waters. In a word, 
 fwcet waters attraft their powers, and vertues in 
 the caverns of mountains from fome metal and mi- 
 nerals of divers kinds, that have naturally a raoft a- 
 
 cid fpirit of fait, as are divers kindc of marcafitcs 
 containing copper and iron, and fomctimes gold and 
 filver ; alfo kinds of vitriol and Allome cplled by the 
 ancients Mifh A'.i?//, cbdatis, A'lclamcrl.i^ and Py- 
 rttis^ vvlicreof fome are found white like metals, but 
 others difperfed in a fat earth, of a round figure in 
 greater or leifer pieces : which fulphureous fait 
 mines whilell the water run through, and humctlatcs, 
 that fpirit of fait is ftirred up, having got a v.kicnlum; 
 and falls upon the mines by diilblving them, in 
 which folution the water waxeth warm, as if it had 
 been poured on quick lime, or like fpirit of vitriol, 
 or fait mixed with water, and poured on iron, and 
 other metals j where continually and daily that wa- 
 ter running through the mines whofe nature and 
 properties it imitates, carrys fomething with it : 
 wherefore there are fo many, and fuch various kinds 
 of Baths as are the mines by which the water is heat- 
 ed. Let him that will not believe take any mine- 
 ral of the aforefdid quality, and wrap it up in a 
 wet linen cloth for a little while, and he will fee 
 it experimentally that the mineral flone will be heat- 
 ed by the water, and fo heated, asif it were in the 
 fire, fo as thou canft fcarce hold it ir^thy hand, which 
 at length alfo by a longer adion will cleave in fun- 
 der and be confumed like quick lime- 
 
 1 will publilh fome time or other (God willing^ 
 more fully, and clearly in a peculiar treatife this my 
 opinion, which I have now delivered in very few 
 words. Although to the fick it be all one, and it 
 matters not them, from what cauie the batiis come, 
 and whence they borrow their vertues, if fo be they 
 may ufe them ■■, this controverfie being left to na- 
 tural Philofophcrs that will controvert it, which 
 none of them can better decide than a skilful Chy- 
 inifl, that hath the knowledg of minerals, metals, 
 and falts. 
 
 Andfift of fulphureous Baths that have afultil acidity, 
 
 IN the fecond Treatife I have demonftrated the 
 manner of diflilling fubtil, volatile, fulphureous 
 fpirits, wz,. of common fait, vitriol, allomc, nitre, 
 fulphur, antimony, and other falts of minerals, and 
 metals, and their vertues, and intrinfecal properties, 
 now alfo I will (hew their extrinfecal ufe, as they 
 are to be mixed with waters for Baths. The ver- 
 tues therefore of Baths proceed not from inlipid w a- 
 ter, but from thofe moft fubtile, volatile, fulphure- 
 ous, and fait fpirits ; but thefe being of themfelves 
 not mixed with water unfit for Baths, to be ufed 
 for recovering of health, by reafon of their too great 
 heat, and fubtilty ; the mofl high God hath reveal- 
 ed to us unworthy and ungrateful men his fatherly 
 providence fliewing to us by nature the ufe of them, 
 and the manner of ufing of them for the takin?:; a- 
 way of difeafes ; which (nature) being never idle, 
 works uncelfantly, and like a handmaid executes the 
 will of God, by (hewing to us the various kinds of 
 diftillations, tranfmutations, and generations. From 
 which teacher we mufl learn all arts and fciences, 
 feeking a certain, and infallible information, as it 
 were out of a book writ with a divine hand, and filled 
 with innumerable wonders, and fecrets. And this 
 is a far certainer knowledg then that eminy, and 
 imaginary Philofophy of thofe vulgar difputing Phi- 
 lofophcrs. Dofl thou think that that true Philo- 
 fophy can be fold for a hundred Royals ? How can 
 any one judge of things hid in the earth, who is 
 willfully blind in things expofed to the light of 
 
 the 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofophical Furnaces, 
 
 ?5 
 
 the Sun, hating knowledge ? 1 wifh knowledge were 
 futable to the name : how can any one that is igno- 
 rant of the nature of fire, know how to work by 
 fire ? fire difcovers many things, in which you may 
 as inaglafs Teethings that arc hid j The fire fhews 
 to us how every thing, waters, fait, minerals, and 
 metals, together with other iunumerable things are 
 generated in tiie bowels of the earth by the reflexi- 
 on of that; central, and allral fire : for without the 
 knowledge of fire all nature remains vailed, and oc- 
 cult. Fire Talways had in greatefteem by Philofo- 
 phers) is the key for the unlocking of the greatcft 
 fecrets, and to fpeak in a word, he that is ignorant 
 of fire is ignorant of nature with her fruits, and he 
 hath nothing, but what he hath read, or heard, 
 which oftentimes is falfe, according to that ; ^e 
 eafUy fpeakj tmtrnths that Jpe^ks wh^it he hnth 
 heard. 
 
 He that is ignorant knows not liow to difcern be- 
 twixt the truth and fallhood, but takes the one for t"he 
 other. 1 pray thee, thou that arc fo «:redulous, doft 
 thou think that thy teacher wi it his books from ex- 
 perience, or from reading other Authors ? May they 
 not be corrupted and fophifticated by antiquity, 
 and frequent defcription ? Alfo doft thou under- 
 ftand the true, and genuine fenfe of them ? It is 
 better to know, than to think ; for many are feduced 
 by opinions, and many are deceived by faith that 
 is without knowledge- 
 
 And thus much for youths fake I was willing to 
 fay, that they would not fpend their tender years 
 in vanities, but rather would make tryal in the fire, 
 without which no man obtains a true knowledge of 
 natural things ; which although it feem hard in the 
 beginning, yet it is pleafant in old age. 
 
 Nov follows the mixture of thofe fubtile mimral^ fid- 
 fhnreoMS^ and fait [pints with water. 
 
 AS concerning the weight of the aforefaid fpirits 
 fi;at are to be mixed with fweet water, giving 
 it Lhe nature, and property of natural baths* I would 
 have thee know, that of thofe, which in the fecond 
 part I fhewed to be various, and divers, being, -viz.. 
 not equal in vertue, the fame weight cannot ah 
 ways be fo accurately obferted : feeing alfo there 
 is a confideration to be had of their ftrength, and 
 of the ftreneth of the patient. 
 
 Now yon may at the beginning mix one or two 
 pound of the fpirits with a fufficient quantity of 
 the water, and then by fitting in it make tryal of 
 the ftrength of the artificial Bath, which if it be 
 too weak is to be increafed by adding a greater 
 quantity of the fpincs, but if too ftrong, then it is to 
 be diminifhed by abfti adion ; of which more at large 
 ix\ yirtenojtra BJi:eatoria- Now this obferve that 
 it is befl: to make Baths in the beginning weak, 
 then ftrongei- by little and little by degrees, as 
 the nature of the fick is accultomed to them, that 
 it be not overcome by the unaccuftomed ufe of them 
 being too flrong. Wherefore Baths are to be ufed 
 with difcretion, and caucioufly, for which matter 1 
 refer the reader to my Artem Buhieatortam in which 
 he (hall find plain, and perfect inftrudion ■■, let it 
 fuffice therefore that 1 have fhewed the ufe of the 
 Copper Globe, in heating Baths, which let the fick 
 take in good part, untill more come. Now fol- 
 lows the ufe. 
 
 Of Siilfhnr Baths. 
 
 A Ppiy the furnace with the Copper Globe tc the 
 -^ J^ fub after the manner aforefaid, and pour in 
 a fufficient quantity of fweet water, whi(h rr.?kz 
 hot with the lire kindled in the furnace by the help 
 of the globe: which being fufficienrly warmed make 
 the patient ^\t in it, and pour into it fo much of 
 the fulphureous fpiric as is fufficient i vv'ii.i: being 
 done canfe that the tub be covered all ever, that the 
 volatile fpirit vanilh not, and as neceiiiiy requires, 
 continue the heat till the patient come foriii. know 
 alfo that the water is to be changed every time, 
 and frelh fpirits to be mixed. And this is the ufe 
 of the Copper globe, in heating baths of fweet or 
 medicinal water, and that either of vegetables, or 
 mineral, aud this made fulphureous by art or na- 
 ture i whereby moft grievous, and otherwife incura- 
 ble difcafes are happily cured : Of which enough 
 now in this Treatife. 
 
 The ufe if tht, Copper Globe in dry Buths^ which ^re 
 more excellent than the moift in many cafes. 
 
 1 Might have put off this matter unto its proper 
 Treatife, where all things ihallte handled more 
 largely, and clearly : yet by reafon of fome un- 
 thought of impediments for a while procraftinat- 
 ing the edition of the promifed Treatife, I am re- 
 folved to fay fomething of their ufe, after I have 
 made mention of the humid, and indeed not only of 
 the ufe of thofe fubtile, fulphureous, and dry fpi- 
 rits, but alfo of the ufe of fubtile, vegetable and 
 animal fpirits which are medicinal, becaufe in fome 
 difeafes dry baths are more commodioufly ufed, 
 than moift. He therefore that will provoke fweac 
 by a dry bath without water, let him provide a 
 wooden box, or wooden inftrument convenient to 
 fit in, ftanding upon a ftool boared through that 
 you may raife it up more or lefs according as you 
 pleafe, and having boards appointed foi- the amies 
 and feet to reft upon. This box alfo belides the 
 great dore muft have alfo a little dore ferving for 
 the p!itting 'in of a burning lamp with fpirit of wine, 
 or of any earthen veilel with coals for to neat it. [_Sec 
 the fixtb figure.'} The box being well warmed, let the 
 patient go in, and fit upon a ftool, let the box be very 
 dofe fliut all about, and the furnace with the Cop- 
 per Globe be fitted thereunto, under which let 
 there be a fmall fire kindled, by help whereof the 
 volatile fpirit growing warm, goeth forth into the 
 box like a moft fubtile vapour, penetrating all a- 
 bout the patient. But when this fpirit is not fuf- 
 ficient to -heat the box, fet in it a burning lamp 
 with fpirit of wine, or fome earthen pot with 
 coals ("the beft whereof are made of Juniper or 
 the vine, efpecially of the roots as being fuch that 
 will endure long, and cannot eafily be extinguiih- 
 ed by the vapours of thofe fpirits) that the pati- 
 ent take not cold, and the vapours of the fpirits 
 may the better penetrate the body of the patient- 
 Let the wick for the fpirit of wine in the burn- 
 ing lamp be incombuftible made of the fubtle 
 threads of gold, of which thing more in Arte Bal- 
 neatoria. In the mean time that volatile fpirit pe- 
 netrates, and heats the whole body, and performs 
 its office, being this way ufed better than by be- 
 ing mixed with water. When the patient hath 
 fate there long enough let him come forth, and 
 
 S go 
 
6S 
 
 The Third Tart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 go into a warm bed to fweat- Now before he 
 go into the box let liini take a dofe of that vo- 
 latile fpirit, inwardly which is ufed outwardly to 
 Iprovoke fweat, and accelerate the action- And by 
 tin's means not only thofe volatile fulphureous fpi- 
 rits of falts, minerals and metals, are ufed out- 
 wardly without water to procure fweat, but alfo 
 the fpirits of many vegetable?, as of muftard feed, 
 garden ci:effes, crude tartar, alfo of animals, as 
 harts-horn, iirin, fak Armoniack, (^c for theex= 
 pelling of molt grievous, and defperate difeafes, 
 Now the aforefaid fpirits have divers properties, 
 the volatile fpirits of fait, minerals, and metals 
 have fome, thofe of vegetables and animals have 
 others ; thofe have a fulphureous and fiery effence ; 
 thefe a mercurial, and aerial , wherefore they ferve 
 for different ufes. In fome difeafes thofe fulphu- 
 reous are preferred ■, but in others vegetable and 
 animal, where alfo aconfideration istobe had of the 
 ficknefs, and bath it felf, that one be not ufed 
 for the other, to the great dammage of the fick. 
 For almolt all natural baths , and volatile fpirits 
 of falts, minerals , and metals , partake of fome 
 moll fubtle, penetrating, heating, and drying ful- 
 phureous fait fpirit •, but the fpirits of vegetables, 
 and animals partake of a certain volatility that is 
 molt fubtle, penetrating, heating, opening, cutting 
 and attenuating, both urinous and nitrous, wz.. con- 
 trary to the former ; as appears by the pouring on 
 of any volatile fulphureous fpirit , as of common 
 fait, vitriol, allome , minerals, and metals, upon 
 the reftified fpirit of Urin , or fait Armoniack : 
 where prefently the one mortifies the other , and 
 takes away its volatility, and fubtilty : fo that of 
 both fubtle fpirits of divers natures there cometh 
 a certain fait of no odour and efficacy. Whence 
 it is manifeft that all fpirits partaking of divers 
 natures, and eflences have not the fame faculties- 
 Therefore be thou cautious in giving moft potent 
 fpirits, left thou give an enemy inflead of a friend, 
 and learn their natures , vertues, and effences, be- 
 fore thou ufeft them in medicine. But thou dofl 
 ask , whether is that great force of thofe fpirits 
 gone as it were in a moment .•' Did it evapo- 
 rate in that duel ? No I fay, but tranfmuted in- 
 to a corporeal fubltance, for of a moft pure, mi- 
 neral, fubtle, and moft volatile fulphur, and a moft 
 penetrating animal Mercury is made a certain 
 corporeal fait, which is wonderful, and deferves to 
 be called jIcjhiU Philojopborufn, becaufe it is eafily 
 fublimed with a gentle heat, in which many things 
 lye : for it doth not only conduce to the folution 
 of metals , efpecially of gold , but alfo of it felf 
 by the power of maturation doth become a moft 
 efficacious medicine: Of which no more at this 
 time, becaufe I will only advife the reader, that he 
 be diligent in fearching out the nature of fpirits, 
 which although they change their bodies, yet are 
 not therefore to be called dead, but rather re- 
 duced to a better perfedion. And let this fufSce 
 concerning the dry ufe of baths in provoking fweat 
 for the expelling of difeafes : now for what di- 
 feafes this or that fpirit ferves, thou fhalt find in 
 its proper Treatife, of which there hath been 
 mention above , but in a word , know that thofe 
 volatile fulphureous fpirits of falts, minerals, and 
 metals, are good in all obftrudions of the in- 
 ward parts, VIZ.. of the fpleen, lungs, and liver, 
 but efpecially are moft excellent in heating the 
 cold nerves, becaufe they do moft efficacioufly heat, 
 
 attennuate, cut , expel , and mundify , wherefore 
 they are good in Contradures, Palfies, Epilepfy, 
 Scurvy, Hypochondriacal Melancholy, Morbus Gal- 
 licus, Itch , and other corrofive ulcers, and Fiftu- 
 laes, &c. 
 
 But the fpirits of another kind , as of Tartar, 
 Harts-horn, fait Armoniack, Urine, o-c. are hoc 
 alfo, but not fo dry, and befidcs the heating ver- 
 tue , have alfo a penetrating, cutting, mollifying, 
 attenuating, abfterging, and expelling power ; where- 
 fore alfo they work wonderfully in all obftrudions 
 of the inward and outward parts : for they do 
 better than all others, open the pores of the skin, 
 and provoke fweat, mollify, and open the hemor- 
 rhoides ; provoke the zfienfes of young and elder 
 women, purge and heat the womb, and therefore 
 caufe fruitfulnefs ; they heat and purge a cold and 
 moift brain, acuate the intelled, and memory, let 
 they that be great with child take heed of thera, 
 and alfo they that have a Porous open skin. Such 
 and other more properties, and that defervedly are 
 afcribed to thefe fpirits • Now thofe two afore- 
 faid baths (in one whereof thofe fpirits are uled 
 in a humid way, being mixed with warm water, 
 for the whole body to be bathed , and fweat in, 
 but in the other in a dry way where the vapours 
 are by force of the fire m?de under the Globe, 
 forced up into the fweating box towards the pa- 
 tient , which being ufed after this manner do of- 
 tentimes penetrate , and operate more efficacioufly 
 than that humid way ) are not to be flighted for 
 the recovery of health, as doing things incredible. 
 Now thofe fpirits not being found in fhops , nor 
 being made by any according to the manner 
 that I have fhewed in the fecond Part , I would 
 have thee know that there is yet another matter, 
 which needs not to be diftilled, and it is mineral ; 
 which being put into the Copper Inftruraent, doth 
 of its own accord without fire yield fuch a fulphu= 
 reous fpirit, which penetrates very much, and go- 
 eth into the fweating box , like in all things to 
 that which is made out of falts, minerals, and me- 
 tals. Nature alfo hath provided us another mat- 
 ter that is to be found every where , which be- 
 ing in like manner put into the Inftrumenc doth 
 by it felf, and of its own accord without fire yield a 
 fpirit, in vertue not unlike to that which is made 
 out of crude Tartar, or fait Amoniack, Soot, U- 
 rine, &c. Of which in the fecond Part, doing, wz.. 
 the fame things with that which is made with 
 cofts and labours. Thofe forefaid two matters 
 therefore can do the fame things, which are re- 
 quired for a bath and fweating, which thofe two 
 forefaid kinds of fpirits, viz.. mineral and fulphu- 
 reous, vegetable and animal can do, &c. Now 
 what thofe two matters which are eafily every 
 where to be found are > thou defireft to know ; 
 but I dare not if I would, for the fake of the pi- 
 ous to reveal them becaufe of the ungrateful, and 
 unworthy. For it is an offence to caft pearl be- 
 fore fwine, which yet the pious may, by the blef- 
 fing of God find out by the reading of the reft of 
 my Writings. 
 
 Noxp follows a wooden veffel which is to be ufed >«- 
 fiead of a Cauldron in boyling of Beer^ Metheglin^ 
 (Vinegar y &C. 
 
 Any things might be faid concerning this 
 matter , for although men may be found in 
 
 any 
 
 M 
 
ftace this fart 1. iefore ftge 6?', 
 
 J^g- 
 
Part I. 
 
 Pbilo/opbical Furnaces. 
 
 67 
 
 any part of the world , who know how to make 
 malt of corn, and of this beer and vinegar ; yet 
 many things may be faid of this matter for the 
 correding of it ; but becaufe it is not my purpofe 
 to fhew fuch things now, yet I fliall fay fomething 
 of the ufe of the copper globe which any one 
 may provide inftead of Caldrons, and which is 
 to be ufed with a certain wooden veflel in the 
 boyling of Beer, which by this way he may, as 
 bath been fpoken above concerning the operations, 
 make as well as by the help of Caldrons- Moreover 
 I could here alfo teach fome other moll profitable 
 fecrets, "vtz.. {_fce Confolat.of Seamen'^ how honey 
 may be freed from its ungrateful odour , and taft 
 by the help of precipitation ; and how afterwards 
 a molt fweet fpirit is to be drawn out of it very 
 like in all things to the fpirit of wine : alfo how 
 the belt and fweeteft wine clear, and durable like 
 to Mallago, may be made thence : alfo how after 
 purging it is to be cryftallifed , fo as to referable 
 Sugar-cand'y in goodnefs and talt : alfo how the 
 fweetnefs thereof may be converted into Tartar, 
 very like to the natural : C See Exflicat. Mirac. 
 Mundi. 3 Alfo how out of fruits of trees, as cher- 
 ries, apples, pears, o-c. a very goodj and durable 
 
 wine in goodnefs, colour, tail, and vertue, like to 
 the natural, may be made •, alfo how out of un- 
 ripe grapes, that are not maturated either by the 
 inclemency of the country , or air, their acidity 
 being changed into fweetnefs , very good Wines 
 like to the Rhenidi may be made: alfo how out 
 of forrel, and other vegetables, a very good Tar- 
 tar may be made , and that in a great quantity 
 without much colls, refembling the Khenifh in co- 
 lour, taft, and other vertues : Alfo how out of 
 Corn, ( whether malteii , or ground in a Mill ) 
 a very good fpirit is to be made, and alfo a very 
 good vinegar like to the Rhenifli ; alfo how out 
 of Corn, (ground in a millj or Meal, a very good 
 fpirit is to be diftilled without any lofs of the 
 Meal, continuing yet fit to make bread- Such 
 and more of this fort might be taught in this 
 place, but becaufe it is not good to divulge all 
 things together, and at once, and this book would 
 by this means grow bigger than I am willing it 
 fhould, if fuch things Ihould be here taught , 1 
 fhall make an end of this Book ( omitting other 
 excellent poflible fecrets of nature) which although 
 it be but little, yet will without doubt be profita- 
 ble to many. And fo Reader farewel- 
 
 THE 
 
 FOURTH PART 
 
 O F 
 
 Jn ttfhich is defcribed the Nature of the Fourth Furnace ^ hy the help whereof ^ Minerals and 
 Metals are tryed^ and examined after a more compendious TV^jy, than hitherto after the 
 common manner ^ alfo the feparation of Metals by ti^e force of Fufon, and other nccef* 
 fary things that are done by the power of Fufion or Melting. Moji profitable for Chy 
 miftsy TryerSj and Diggers of x^inerals. 
 
 Of making the Furnace. 
 
 In tlie firft: Figure, A. reprefents the Ajh-hole with its ftoor. B. The Regifter appointed for 
 governing the Tire. C, The Hole with its door affignd to receive the Crucihles and Cods. D. 
 The Hole with the door of the Firfi Story. E. The long Pipe of Iron in the top of the Furnace. 
 
 The fecond Figure, A Cone or Cafting Veffel belonging to this Furnace. 
 
 THis Furnace may be made greater, or 
 fmaller, as you pleafe, according to the 
 matter to be tryed : and if the Diame- 
 ter thereof within, be but of one foot, 
 you may fet in it a crucible containing 
 two or three pound ■■, but greater crucibles require a 
 
 freater furnace. Now this furnace mull be qua- 
 rangular, and be built of flones, and lute, fuch 
 which abide the fire, of the height of one or two 
 foot from the bottom to the grate, which muft be 
 
 fuch as may be cleared from the drofs mixed with coals, 
 or fuch as was the grate of the lirft furnace, confifting 
 of too ftrong crofs iron bars faftned in the furnace 
 with certain diftances for the receiving of 5, 6, or 
 7. other lefler iron bars which are to be movea- 
 ble, fo that when they are obllrufted they may be 
 removed, and cleared from the drofs •, the lower part 
 of the furnace mull have near the bottom a hole 
 (in the forepart) of the heighth, and breadth of 
 a little fpan, with an iron or copper door, fliut- 
 
 S 2 ting 
 
68 
 
 The Fourth Tan of 
 
 Part 
 
 ting clofe : the lower part alfo mull have another 
 hole near the grace on the other iide with its re- 
 gifter for the government of the fire, and for the 
 attrading of wind. Above the grate> and a hand 
 breadth from the grate muft be another hole for 
 putting in of coals, and crucibles, fatabletothe pro- 
 portion of the furnace, and the height thereof mull 
 be of one foot? and the latitude of half a foot, if 
 the inward Diameter of the furnace be of one foot, 
 whereby the crucibles may be the more convenient- 
 ly handled, and the coals be caft in with a fire-pan : 
 Let this hole alfo have a very ftrong door of llone 
 covered over with Iute,either of which may endure the 
 fire, and ihuc very clofe, that the fire may there- 
 by (when the crucible is placed in the fire) attrail 
 air, but only from the collateral hole under the grate. 
 Let the height of the furnace (being coated above) 
 from the hole appointed for the putting in of coals 
 and crucibles, be of one great fpan : Let there alfo 
 be a round hole in the furnace, having the third 
 part of the intrinfecal diameter of the furnace, ap: 
 pointed for the flame and fmoke; to v\hich if you 
 will ufe, a very violent fire, put to it a llrong iron 
 pipe of the height of 5, 6, 8, or 12. foot, for by 
 how much the higher you fet your pipe, the ftron- 
 ger fire may you give, and if you will you may e- 
 rtCi. above the furnace 1, 2, or 3. partitions with 
 their doors ferving to divers ufes according to the 
 flame that is gathered into them, by reafon of divers 
 degrees of fire, which is in them, for the lowefl is fo 
 hot, that it can eafily contain in flux fufible metals, 
 minerals, and falts ; and ferve for cementation , 
 calcinations, and reverberations ; alfo for burning 
 of crucibles, and other earthen veflels , made of 
 the beft earth (of which in the Fifth part) and for 
 vitrifications, and foraetimes for trials and burnings, 
 o-c. The fecond divifion of heat, which is more 
 remifs, ferves for the burnings of minerals and me- 
 tals as of lead, tin, iron and copper, that are ne- 
 ceOary for calcinations ^ alfo for the neceffary calci- 
 nation of Tartar, and the fixed fait of other vege- 
 tables, that is required in chymical operation, as 
 alfo the calcining of bones, and horns for cuples , 
 and the afnes of wood. • The third divifion or cham- 
 ber is yet more remifs, S!\i ferves for the drying 
 of crucibles, and other velleh tliat are made of the 
 befl earth, and afterwards to be burnt in the firll 
 partition. There may alio other things be done 
 by the help of thefe partitions, fo that thou needeft 
 not for their fakes kindle a peculiar fire. But if 
 thou wilt give a melting fire the ftrongefl of all , 
 put a long pipe to the lower hole appointed for draw- 
 ing wind, and having a regilter \ for by how much 
 the fire attrads the air mora remotely and another 
 flame is forced to beat upon the metals, fo much 
 the greater power of the heat is there in the fuii- 
 on of them. For which bulinefs fake thou hafl need 
 to have as that inferiour pipe, fo alfo that fuperi- 
 our pipe in the top of the furnace. And if thou 
 hall a fit chamber, in which another may go up 
 from below by the proper chimney, thou mayell 
 build another furnace in the fupcriour chimney , 
 and perforate the wall with the applying of a regi- 
 ftcr, that the fire may be forced to attraft the air 
 from below through the collateral chimney, where 
 you need not that long pipe but only may open a 
 door, or window of the lower chamber , that the 
 air may come into the chimney ■■, and the fire at- 
 traft the wind out of the collateral chimney, which 
 it doth very vehemently, yea and ftronger, than if 
 
 it were helped with bellows, fo that even the fur- 
 nace, unlefs it were built of very good and fixed 
 earth, would by too great a heat be deltroyed ; 
 for oftentimes the ftrongefl crucibles melt with too 
 much heat , wherefore a regiller is made for the 
 governing of the fire. 
 
 And by the help of this furnace, with Gods blef- 
 fing, 1 found out my choifeft fecrets. For before, 
 and indeed from my youth I underwent the trouble 
 of thofe vulgar labours performed by bellows, and 
 common vents, not without lofs of my iiealth, by 
 reafon of the unavoidable malignant and poylbnous 
 fumes, which danger this furnace was wicnout^ not 
 only of poyfonous and malignant fumes , but alfo 
 of all excefiive heat : For our furnace fends forth 
 no fume Tbut above, fo drawing, that the door be- 
 ing opened for the putting in of coals, it attrads 
 by the vehemency of the fire, another fume, that 
 is remote by the diflance of half an ell. And be- 
 caufe the fire doth fb vehemently attrad, it keeps 
 its heat within it felf, fo that there is no fear of 
 burning ■■, yet you mufl cover your hand that holds 
 the tongs with a linnen glove twice double, and wet 
 in water, and with the other hand a wooden fence that 
 is perfpedibh to preferve your eyes ; otherwife it 
 wants all danger of vapours, or fumes, as hath been 
 faid, and all exceflive heat ; the which is a great benefit 
 in Art. I do ingenuoufly confefs, if 1 had not found this 
 a few years fince, I had not without lofs left off all 
 Alchymy together with its tedious labours- For I 
 had fpent many years of my life in great mifery 
 of labours, in fuperfluous cares, and watchings, as 
 alfo in flinks, fo that going into my Elaboratory 
 with loathing, 1 fhould behold fo many materials in 
 fo many, aud fuch various pots, boxes, and other 
 vefTels, and alfo as many broken as whole inftru- 
 ments of earth, glafs, iron, and copper, and did judg 
 my felffo unhappy that I had made my feif aflave 
 to this Art, and efpecially becaufe fcarce one of 1 00, 
 whereof I was one, did get his viduals and cloths 
 thereby. For thefe reafons 1 was determined to bid 
 farewelto Chymillry, and to apply my felf toPhy- 
 fick, and Chirurgery, in which I was always hap- 
 py. But what ? Whilefl I thought to do as I re- 
 folved, and to call forth of the doors all and each 
 veflel of divers kinds, I found fome crucibles brok- 
 en, and in them many grains of gold and filver, 
 formerly melted in them, which together with o- 
 thcrs gathered together, I thought to melt ; but 
 feeing 1 could not melt fuch things being very hard 
 to be melted, without the help of bellows (which 
 I had fold) I began to confider the matter with my 
 felf more feriouily, andfo I found out this furnace, 
 and being invented, I prefently built and proved 
 it, which in tryings I found fo good, that I did a- 
 gain take hope of ray labours, and would no more 
 defpair- 
 
 Seeing therefore an eafie, and compendious way 
 of melting metals, I began to work, and to begin 
 a new fearch, and every day I found more and 
 more in nature, 'viz.. the greatell and mofl pleafant 
 fecrets of nature •-, wherefore I did without ceafing 
 feek, until God had opened mine eyes to fee that 
 which I fought a long time for in vajn. Where zl- 
 fo I obferved, that although 1 had before had more 
 knowledge of nature, yec without this furnace I 
 could fcarce have done any thing that had been lin- 
 gular. And fo God willing, by the help of this 
 furnace, I found out more and more dayly, for 
 which bleffing 1 give to the immortal God immor- 
 
 . tal 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philo/opbical Furnaces, 
 
 6^ 
 
 tal thanks, refolving to communicate this new in- 
 vention candidly, and faithfully for the fake of 
 my neighbour. Judge therefore O Chymifl: ! whe- 
 ther this, or that which is made by the help of 
 bdlows and common vents, be the beft ? For how long 
 doth he that will melt a hard metal in a wind fur- 
 race give fire to it before it will flow, and with 
 what lofs of time, and coals ? He that doth melt 
 by the help of bellows hath need of a companion 
 to blow, with great danger of breaking the cruci- 
 ble with the winde, and of making it fall when the 
 coals are abated, or of impurities falling into the 
 crucible in cafe the cover thereof fliould fall off, 
 although there can be no detriment by impurities 
 falling in. if the matter be metallick, but not fo if 
 it be a fait or mineral, fwichout which that can- 
 not be perfeded in the firej not induring the im- 
 purities of the coals, but boyling over by reafon 
 of them. Now our furnace is free from this dan= 
 ger, becaufe the wind comes from beneath and cru- 
 cibles come always into fight, not being fo over- 
 whelmed with coals as in the common way, &c. 
 For by this means the matter to be melted is flow- 
 ed, although the crucibles be not covered over with 
 coals, nor with a cover, and although thou haft not 
 a companion to blow, for you may at pleafure give 
 any degree of fire by the direction of the regifter. 
 When therefore thou makeft any trial in the fire 
 have this furnace which is recommended to thee, 
 which build rightly with its regifter for the go- 
 verning of the fire, and for the drawing of wind, 
 and without doubt this labour fl]al] not be in 
 
 vaxu. 
 
 How minerals are to be tryed. 
 
 THe manner of trying minerals hath been al- 
 ready made known, wherefore it is not need- 
 ful here to write many things, becaufe divers Au- 
 thors, as Geor^iits Ajrtcola^ Laz.arus Erckcr^ and 0- 
 thcrs have fufficiently wrote thereof, to whofe wri- 
 tings 1 refer thee, efpecially to that molt famous 
 Latarus Erck^r which is fo much commended, Dc 
 Frobatione Mimrnlium^ as well maglignant (obfti-- 
 nate) as mild. But thus much know, being that 
 which experience hath alfo taught us, that neither 
 he nor his predeceiTours had a perfetft knowledge 
 of all things, nor would reveal all things they knew- 
 For many excellent things do yet lye hid, and per- 
 haps fliall yet for a while lye hid by reafon of the 
 ingratitude of the world ; although the moft fa- 
 mous Philofophers do with one confent affirm that 
 imperfed metals, as lead, tin, iron, copper, and 
 Mercury, are intrinfecally gold, and filver, although 
 it may feem very improbable to many that are not 
 curious, but contented with the opinions of their 
 parents \ fuppofing thofe minerals to be barren that 
 leave nothing in the cuple, when they are tryed 
 with lead : when as yet that proof by cuples al- 
 though famous, is not yet that true Philofophical 
 trial of metals, but only vulgar, according to the 
 teftimony of Philofophers, as of ffaac tiollandus^ and 
 others, efpecially of Paracelfus in many places treat- 
 ing of metals, but efpecially in his book f^exatiomm 
 jikhymiftariiw^ containing a true defcription of the 
 properties, and perfedion of metals. Which al- 
 though not being to be underftood by all, matters 
 not ; for a very ealie art is not to be communicated 
 to all, according to Pivractlfus faying. Imperfed 
 metals being freed from their impurities have in 
 
 them abundance of gold, and filver. But how me- 
 tals are to be purged, and feparated he doth not 
 teach, but only commends lead to be the Author •, 
 which made the Alchymift believe that it was com- 
 mon lead, not knowingthatthe water thereof (lead) 
 did not only purge other metals, but alfo lead it 
 felf; fuppofing alfo that the trial of tin, copper, 
 and iron, made in a cuple with lead to be that true 
 genuine bath thereof; not obfcrving that lead hath 
 no afiiiiicy with iron, and tin in a ftrongerfire, but 
 to rejed what is black, and unclean, without any 
 perfeaion. Now this lead can do, if i/z.- it be 
 mixed with a mineral that hath gold or filver in it, 
 and be melted in the fire being incorporated with it, 
 it may together with their impurities enter into the 
 Cuple, the good gold and filver being left in the 
 Cuple, which is the proof of minerals that are dig- 
 ged, and ufcd ; and it is done upon this account, 
 "^iz.. gold and lilvcr may be naturally purged cf 
 their iuperfluous fulphur, fo as never to be any more 
 radically united, and mixed with thofe that be im- 
 perfed, as being polluted with abundance of crude> 
 impure fulphur, although they may be melted to- 
 gether in the fire ; yet that mixture being retained 
 in the fire, the combuflible fulphur of common me- 
 tals, ads upon its own proper argent vive, and 
 turns ic into drofs, which being feparated from the 
 metals enters into the porous matter of the cuples, 
 that which doth not happen intefts, fixed in the fire, 
 which that drofs being feparated from the metals 
 cannot enter into, being made of an earth that is 
 durable in the fire, the drofs remaining in them, 
 which otherwife was wont to enter into thofe cup- 
 les that are made of the aflies of bones? or wood. 
 Wherefote by little and little it goes away into the 
 cuple, "Viz.. as much as the fire reduced into a Li- 
 tharge, or drofs, until all the Lead mixed with the 
 Gold and Silver together with other imperfed me- 
 tals mixed with it go into drofs, and hide them- 
 felves in the cuple, the pure gold and filver being 
 left in the cuple. For Lead in a plain vefiel, feel- 
 ing the heat from above, but beneath cold, is turn- 
 ed into a Litharge, which if it be in an earthen fix- 
 ed veflTel, the Litharge remains, and goes into a yel- 
 low tranfparent glafs at lalt, if it be not mixed 
 with other metals, as iron, copper, tin ; which be- 
 ing mixed therewith, give to the glafs a green, red, 
 black, or white colour, according to the quantity 
 of the metallick matter : but in a porous cuple 
 made of aOies, the Litharge, or drofs finding pores, 
 enters into the cuple by little and little, and fuc- 
 cefllvely, until all the Lead be entred in, which 
 could not be if it were not turned into Litharge. 
 This vulgar trying is therefore nothing elfe but a 
 tranfmutarion of Lead, with the imperfed metals 
 mixed with it, into drofs, which entring into the 
 cuple leaves in the cuple pure gold, and filver, 
 that cannot be turned into drofs by reafon of their 
 purity. 
 
 But perhaps thisdifcourfe may feem to thee un- 
 profitable, and fuperfluous, becaufe this trial ofme= 
 tals is known all the world over : but for aufwcr? 
 I fay that it is not fuperfluous, becaufe many refiners 
 erre, fuppofing that corporeal Lead together with 
 the imperfed metals that are mixed with it, goes 
 into the cuple, not being yet turned into Litharge, 
 becaufe corporeal Lead is again melted from thence ^ 
 for whofe fakf this difcourfe is not properly or- 
 dained, as being thofe that operate out of ufe, and 
 cuftom only without difcretion ; but rather for their 
 
 T fakes, 
 
7o_ 
 
 fakes, who do incelTantly feek after, and fearch in- 
 to the fecrets of nature, viz,, fecking after that 
 Philofophical tryal, which is known to few, by the 
 help whereof more gold and filver is obtained than 
 by the common way, but it is not to be difcove- 
 red in this place , for all muft not have the know- 
 ledge thereof i It is fufficicnt that I have demonftrated 
 the poOlbility thereof Yet know this,if thou knoweft 
 how to prepare Lead, Tin, Copper, and Iron, and 
 to fit them for a radical union, -viz.. that aforefaid 
 water of Saturn, fo as they may endure the force 
 of the fire together, thou mayll feparate and'attraft 
 gold, and filver from the aforefaid imperfedt me- 
 tals 'and with gain leaving them in the cuple, or 
 elfe' you Hiall draw little or nothing from thence 
 rSte Explicit. Mirac. A-iimdi.'] And if you do in- 
 tend to try them with Lead after the vulgar way, 
 and bring them into drofs, yet you do nothing, be- 
 caufe tin'^and iron abounding with gold and iilver, 
 do not remain with the lead in a ftrong fire, but 
 are lifted up like a skin or drofs, by reafon of their 
 fuperfluous fulphur, fwimming like fat upon water, 
 withoutanyfeparation,unlefsitbe tin or iron, which 
 got sold or filver from the mine in their firft fufion. 
 
 And by this means it falls out fometimes, that 
 fomemay make a good proof, but out of ignorance, 
 not knowing a reafon of their operation, where- 
 fore they cannot do the fame again. For if Chy- 
 mills, and Refiners did confider the matter more 
 profoundly, enquiring the caufe, wherefore lead be- 
 ine tryed, deprived of its filver, and melted in a 
 cuple, fliould yet contain in it felf filver, without 
 doubt they would hit upon a good foundation ; 
 without which knowledge all their labour in imper- 
 feft metals would be in vain. And let this fuf- 
 fice concerning that Philofophical tryal, which is 
 known to few •, There is no need of fpeaking any 
 thing of that vulgar, being every where known, of 
 which Lazartts Ercker wrote plainly and fully. 
 
 There is alfo another proof of minerals, which 
 is without Lead, with Venice, or any other good 
 fufible glafs, where one or two ounces of the pow- 
 dered mineral are mixed with half an ounce of the 
 powdered glafs, and being mixed and covered in a 
 crucible, are melted, and poured out ; by which 
 means the glafs attrafts, and diflolves that mineral, 
 and is thereby coloured, which fiiews what metal is 
 contained in the mine, after which may be made 
 another tryal by Lead, tryal being firft made by the 
 firft proof And this is the fitteft proof for the 
 hardefl: minerals, which are even invincible, as are 
 the Lapis bemitttis., fmiru^ granats, taick black and 
 red and thofe which abound oftentimes with gold, 
 and' filver, which becaufe they cannot be mixed 
 with Lead are not eltcemed, but are oftentimes caft 
 away, although they abound with gold and filver, 
 and this becaufe they cannot be tryed, Which being 
 tryed after the aforefaid manner, and confequent- 
 ly the treafures lying therein being difcovered, thou 
 mayft afterward with more confidence handle them, 
 and reduce them to better profit- Now thofe co- 
 lours which follow, indicate the tenure of them. 
 Glafs rcfembling the greennefs of the Sea fignifies 
 racer Copper, but the greennefs of grafs, fignifys 
 copper, and iron mixed together : glafs of a 
 rulty colour fignifys iron : yellowifli glafs fignfys 
 tin, glafs of a yellow golden colour, or like 
 a red ruby fignifys filver : Blew glafs like a faphir 
 fignifys pure gold ; a fmaragdine fignifys gold mix- 
 ed with filver : An Amethyft colour fignifys gold, 
 
 The Fourth Fart of 
 
 Part L 
 
 filver, copper, and iron mixed together. Befides 
 thefe, glafs fometimes gets other colours, accord- 
 ing to the diverfity of the weight of divers metals 
 mixed together; which ufe will teach with a further 
 praiftife that is to be made with Saturn. 
 
 There is alfo another precurfory tryal of mine- 
 rals, and metals, which is made with Salt-peter-, 
 where efpecially tin, iron, and copper do largely 
 draw forth their treafures hid in them, which they 
 will not yield being tryed by Lead, the which is 
 not a fign of their poverty, but rather of not a 
 true tryal made by Lead, which is not the true, 
 and genuine judge, and tryer of metals. For other- 
 wife (if it were) it would draw forth their trea- 
 fure as well out of a greater quantity of metallick 
 matter, as out of a leifer. Now follows the tryal 
 by Nitre : Make a mixture of one part of fulphur, 
 of two parts of pure Tartar, and four parts of pu- 
 rified Nitre, then take an ounce of this mixture , 
 and one dram of the mineral or metal ground fmall, 
 mix thofe together, and being put into a cruci- 
 ble, put a red hot iron or burning coal to them, 
 and that mixture will be inflamed, and yield a moft 
 vehement fire, reducing that mineral or metal into 
 drofs: And what is not brought into drofs muft a- 
 gain be mixed with the aforefaid mixture, and be 
 burnt as before, until the whole be confumed by 
 the fire- Then make that drofs or fait containing 
 in it the metal that is deftroyed, to flow fo long 
 in a ftrong crucible, untill it be made glafs •■, which 
 being poured out there are found grains of gold or 
 filver, which came from the mineral or metal that 
 was tryed. And this opperation ( if it be well done ) 
 will be a pleafant fight, but without profit, becaufe 
 it cannot be done in a great quantity, and by rea- 
 fon of the price of the Nitre. Wherefore 1 fet this 
 way of tryal only for demonftration fake, that it 
 might appear how almoft all tin, iron, and copper, 
 contain in them gold and filver, although they do 
 not draw it forth in the Cuple. 
 
 Now do not fuppofe that this is tranfmutation', 
 which is only feparation -, wherefore thou muft con- 
 fider with thy felf how that may be performed o- 
 therwife. But take heed that thou do not kindle 
 this mixture from beneath, being put upon the coals, 
 but from above, by reafon of the danger of flafii- 
 ing : Alfo metals are eafily fufible by the following 
 mixture. Take one part of the faw-duft of the 
 wood of the teil-tree being well dryed, two parts 
 of fulphur, eight or nine parts of pure Nitre. Make 
 Ijhatum fnper fixatum in a crufible, and take to ir, 
 or 12. parts of this mixture ; one part of the me- 
 tal fubtilly ground, and kindle them, and the mine 
 being melted will yield grains of pure Gold and Sil- 
 ver, if the mine were not too impure, the impuri- 
 ty thereof be confumed by that moft vehement fire- 
 And if this tryal be not for thy profit, yet it is 
 rational, and may be for thine inftruttion- 
 
 Of the melting of mines and metals. 
 
 THe melting of thefe in a great quantity is not 
 for this place, becaufe they cannot be done by 
 this furnace, but it is treated of plainly enough by 
 others in their writings of minerals. 
 
 Of the feparation of metals. 
 
 T His is a moft ancient and profitable Art, where- 
 by one metal may be feparated from another : 
 And it is for the moft part done 4. ways> vtz.. by 
 AqitA Fortis, by cement, by flux with fulphur, and 
 
 lead. 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofofhical pMrnacer, 
 
 7^ 
 
 lead, and laftly by Antimony ; which ways that mofl: ! Therefore this is the belt way of all, not only 
 witty Lazarus Ercker ^ hath clearly, and diftiniftjy I for the fmall cofl, I "" ' 
 
 defcribcd , whofe dcfcription is not to be found 
 fault with, although fome neceflary things may be 
 added thereunto, which being but fe.v, I thought it 
 fuperfluous to add them in this place. 
 
 And that fcparation con lifts in three chief metals, 
 Gold, Silver, and Copper ; he made no mention of 
 other metals, and two of the aforefaid four ways 
 are in ufe, as very eafie, for they are done wirh 
 ■^qux Fotis and Cement, the two others moft com- 
 monly neglefted, which are done by benefit of melt 
 ing with Sulphur and Lc^d■, and alfo by Antimo- 
 ny: that which is admirable, becaufe metals are ca- 
 ller feparated by benefit of thefe two ways, than 
 by ylrj't'i fortis and Cements, fufpctfled of waft, 
 whereas not Sulphur and Antimony, but the igno 
 rant worker, not knowing the nature of Sulphui 
 and Antimony, is rather to be blamed, bccaufe he 
 knows not how to order them, and withnll leaves 
 the nearer way of feparation : and I muft needs con- 
 fefsit that without this furnace I would rot fcpa 
 rate with them, becaufe with that common way of 
 furnaces and bellows, the ftink of Sulphur and An- 
 timony hurtful to the Liver, Lungs, Brain, and 
 Heart, is received by the Noftrils to the hazard 
 of health : for which caufe I do not wonder that 
 thofe two wayes requiring greater diligence than thofe 
 two former by ^ijua fortts and Cements are rejedted- 
 But this Furnace being known, with which wich- 
 out danger one may melt, I doubt not of excel- 
 ling the two former ways hereafter as more profi- 
 table than them. For he who knows Antimony, 
 may not only eafdy with fmall coft feparate Gold 
 from the addition without any lofs of it, and fpee- 
 dily refine it, but alfo eafier feparate gilt filver, 
 than by Sulphur, Lead, Grc. in great ftore without 
 acy lofs of Gold or Silver. 
 
 And this is the eafieft way of the feparation of 
 Gold and Silver which is done by the bene x of 
 melting, requiring no more charge than the coals ^ 
 for there is Antimony which hath Gold in it as 
 much as it is worth, which will be the feparators 
 gain : I would have you know this, how Antimony 
 may again be feparated from Gold and Silver, not 
 by the common way, which is done by bellows, but 
 by the fpecial way of feparation wherewith the 
 Antimony is preferved, fo that it may be ufed a- 
 gain for the fame purpofe ^ which I will treat of 
 in another place. Befides the four ways fpoken of, 
 there is alfo another way, boft of all, by the ni- 
 trous fpirit of fait, namely after this manner : li- 
 the fpirit of fait (prepared by our firft and fecond 
 Furnace) acuated with Nitre difolved in it, to which 
 add grain Gold mixed with Silver and Cop- 
 pery put it in a glafs vial in hot fand to dillblve, 
 and the Gold together with the Copper will be dif- 
 folved in it, and the Silver left in the bottom of 
 the vial : decant off the folution, to which add 
 fomething, precipitating Gold, and make them boyl 
 together, and the pure fine gold will be feparated 
 and precipitated like the fineft meal, ferving Wri- 
 ters and Painters-, the Copper being left in the 
 water ^ which thou mayft if thou wilt precipitate from 
 the water, but it is better to take away the water , 
 which will ferve again for the fame ufe. If the 
 precipitated Gold be wafhed and dryed it gives in 
 the melting (by which nothing is loft) the belt and 
 pureft Gold. For finer gold can neither be made 
 by A^ua funis nor by Antimony. 
 
 , but alfo for the eafmefs yield- 
 ing the beft Gold of all others. 
 
 Then take the calcin'd Silver left in the goiird, 
 fveeten and dry it, which done make a little fait 
 ot Tartar to melt in a crucible, to which by courfe 
 put a little of the refined filver widi a fpoon, and 
 it will be prefently made a body without any lofs. 
 You may alfo boyl that Calx as yet moift ne-.vly 
 tiken out of the gourd with a Lixivium of Silt of 
 Tartar, even to the evaporation of all moiftuie : 
 and melt the dry remnant, v/here alfo nothing is 
 loft- Without this medium the calx of Silver 
 (drawn from Jpa Re^ia) is not fulible of it fclf, 
 fuming into a brittle matter, like hnrn that is whitc^ 
 '>r ot a middle col mr between white a;;d yellow, cal- 
 led therefore of Chymifts the Horfi of the Aioin-^ 
 in reducing which many have tried much, which 
 reduction we have already tautiht. For want of 
 fpirit of fait take y^qu.i Regiu made o^ Aqua t'ortts 
 and fait Armoniack, which doth the fame, but with 
 greater charges. This alfo is to be preferred before o- 
 ther ways, which makes to the feparation of any Gold 
 of any degree, if fo be it exceed Silver in weight •■, 
 which is neceltarily required in the folution made 
 with Aejtta Fortis. 
 
 But that you may fee the prerogative of this fe- 
 paration, mark a little, when you feparate by the 
 Qi^.^-rto and by Aqua fou-.s you muft put juft two 
 or three parts of refined Silver to one of courfe 
 Gold, v^here f-rft the coft and labour of refining 
 the Silver to be melted and grained with Gold are 
 required : then a good quantity of Afia fortis to 
 diffolve, precipitate, edulcorate, dry and melt a 
 great deal of lilver. Confider then 1 pray, the la- 
 bours and charges of my feparation and the vulgar- 
 When thou feparateft with Cements there is need 
 of boxes, and continual fire of one degree, which 
 labour is tedious for times fake, and coftly for coals, 
 which labour you muft twice or thrice take in re- 
 gard of the mixt drofs. Now again conlider the 
 labour and charges of both feparations- When thou 
 feparateft by Sulphur and Antimony, which is the 
 beft way, without great charges, if thou knoweft 
 to feparate Gold from Antimony without blowing, 
 but this is tedious becaufe thrice greater labour 
 than our way, tedious indeed by reaion of the diffi- 
 culty of a perfeft feparation of Gold and Silver 
 from the Antimonial drofs. Think therefore what 
 way of feparation you will ufe to refine Gold fpee- 
 dily, furely you will chufc mine. 
 
 This way of feparation hath alfo this preroga- 
 tive, that it hath no need of refined filver which is 
 done by the benefit of burning, but only its granu- 
 lation, folution or feparation by the ufe of Acjhh 
 FortiSj where though copper mixt with filver makes 
 waft, yet by the help or this fait it is foon pre- 
 cipitated. By this means gilt filver is fbon fepa- 
 rated, the gold being dilToived by the nitrous Ipi- 
 rit, and precipitated with the aforefaid matter pre- 
 cipitating. As for the feparation of gilt filver which 
 is to be done by help of fufion, ar.d none is eafier 
 done than with Sulphur and Antimony, where when 
 the necelfary manual fin^^rsdients) are known ^ a 
 great deal is feparated in a fhort time, but if thou 
 knoweft not how to handle Antiniony and Sulphur 
 (for which our Furnace very well befits) leave them, 
 and ule the common way •> therefore lay not thy 
 fault afterward on me, writing for thy good. 
 
 T 2 
 
 Of 
 
72 
 
 Tke FoHYtb Fart of 
 
 Part L 
 
 Of feparating the courfer metals. 
 
 THe manner of feparating Tin from Lead, and 
 Copper from Iron, without lofs of both me- 
 tals, by prcfcrvins^ both , hath liichcrto been un- 
 known, which fcems importible to me l)y rcafon ot 
 the combuftibility of both metals ; and fiiperfluous 
 for the fmall profit, and faving charges. But how 
 Gold and Silver may be feparated from Tm with 
 which commonly this abounds, without any waft, 
 hath been lon^ fincc fought to no purpofe : but 
 a pollibility will appear to a ferious confiderer ; 
 and though I never trycd in great quantity, bemg 
 content with a precipitation made with a little \ 
 1 am yet perfwaded this bulinefs will fucceed in a 
 great quantity and with much profit ; namely by 
 the help of a 'Furnace made on purpofe where gold 
 and lilver precipitated with lead and Hdb Kopf 
 by extream heat of fire -, that tin is extrafted to 
 the remancnce of the tenth part, which remain- 
 der you mufl: peculiarly take and l<eep. Which 
 done you mufl; precipitate new tm in the forefaid 
 Furnace , and fo extrait to the remainder of the 
 Ecttliis^ which being extrafted from, is to be ad- 
 
 and profit of their Neighbour about yertue and 
 piety ? Why fpent they not rather their life time 
 in leifure and pleafure, as is the cuftom now adaies 
 with them who are appointed to inftrud us ? Why 
 fliould they gull poftcrity with trifles and lyes, ex- 
 pecting from thence no profit ? For mofi: of them 
 were not poor , but very rich Kings and Princes. 
 Befides thcfc, there have been many Chriftians fe- 
 rioully confirming the truth of the Art : Men in- 
 deed of fpecial note, namely, Bifliops, Doftors, 
 C^c. Sucll were Thomas Ac^iilnas^ Albcrtus A'faanasj 
 Lulims , Arncldns , Roger Bacon^ B.ifil^ &c. Why 
 fhould very pious men deceive pofterity with their 
 .Works, and lead thenf into Errors? Although 
 there fliould not remain the Works of Famous 
 Worthies , yet there would be a plain confirming 
 the truth of this Art- For I am perfwgded there 
 are fome to be found having this knowledge, and 
 privately poneflTing it. For who is fo mad to re- 
 veal himfelf to the world , to receive nought but 
 envy for his reward ? Let no man therefore doubt 
 of this fecret Art's truth- But fay you : Why 
 (land you fo much for the Art ? Did you ever 
 fee or perform any thing in it ? I reply , though 
 I never made projections to perfert metals, nor 
 
 Rcnulits filling the Furnace-, which again thou mull 
 precipitate ; for by this means gold and filver are 
 brought together , fo that they may eafily after- 
 ward be feparated from the fuperfluous tin. By 
 this means 1 count the feparation profitable, where 
 but little fubftance is loft , which is turned into 
 afliesand fmoak- Nor doth adding lead and Halb 
 Kopf hinder , becaufe fometime lead is mixt with 
 tin, and the Hab Kopf is feparated again. It is 
 good theretorc to feparate pots and old diflies, 
 by reafcn of the mixture of lead, and to precipi- 
 tate the gold and filver from them , by the adje- 
 aion of Hd'^ i<opf only , where the refidue is no 
 way altered by the Halb Kopf, therefore thou 
 
 ded to the firft and referved; which labor is to be faw tranfmutations •, yet I am fure of this, I have 
 reiterated , till thou hall a fufficient quantity of 1 often from metals with metals , leaving no gold 
 
 -"- and filver in the cupel , extrarted gold and filver 
 
 by the help of fire : But I will not have you think 
 that one imperfedl metal will perfed another , or 
 turn it into gold or filver, impure and drofly with= 
 out , in comparifon of gold and filver ; for how 
 can fuch metals perfedt another imperfeCl? Which 
 thus underltand. For as in the vegetable King- 
 dom, water cleanfeth water, or juice with feething 
 as is wont to be done in purifying honey and fu- 
 gar, or any other vegetable juice, with common 
 water, and white of eggs : fo alfo you mufl un- 
 derftand of mineral juices or metal , of which If 
 we know the water and white, furely we might re- 
 fine the impurity, in which gold and lilver lie hid, 
 mayft fell it, or refine it again : which in my I as in black fliales, and powerfully extrad gold and 
 - ■' • ' filver, which is not a tranfmutation of metals, 
 
 but an eduftion of gold and filver from the dung- 
 hil; Doft thou ask how Gold and Silver can 
 
 judgment will be to great advantage. 
 
 What is to be held concerning the perfdlion of Metals 
 
 THis knot is fcarce foluble, for fo many and di- 
 vers opinions of fo many ages, fo that moft 
 men flighting the tcfl:imonies of true Philofophers, 
 will net believe the truth, efpecially, becaufe fcarce 
 one of an hundred can be found who is not im- 
 poveriflit with this art: the incredulous therefore 
 is not to be blamed for his doubting _, no figns of 
 truth appearing, yet experience tellifies a pofllbi- 
 lity by art and nature, though examples arc rare. 
 i pray with how great abfurdity fliould one deny 
 Heaven and Hell never feen ? But thou faift we 
 mufl: believe this as revealed by God, his Prophets 
 and Apofl:lcs ; but fo is not this, but the Philo- 
 foohick tradition of Heathens- I anfwcr, though 
 mofl; philofophers were heathen (yet fome have 
 been Chrillians ) yet their works are not to be 
 defpifcd , becaufe not handling our fUvation : to 
 whom if Chri ST had Preached, furely they had 
 believed him. For it appears by their books, that 
 they were pious and honeft Men i who though not 
 ProfelTors of Chr i st, yet they did His Will in- 
 deed, which we, though not in words, in aition 
 deny •, who if they had been wicked , why took 
 they fo much pains in making books for the good 
 
 be educed from copper, iron, tin, and lead, to 
 wit, by the help of lotion , out of which none is 
 drawn with that befl proof ( as 'tis thought ) of 
 Cupels ? To which we anfwered before of the 
 proof of Cupels not to be fufficient for all the fe- 
 veral metals. I need therefore fay no more , but 
 I refer the fludious Reader to Paraccljus his Book, 
 the fexation of Chy/mfis, where thou Ihalt find a= 
 nother lotion and purification of metals , which 
 heretofore was unknown to Miners and Dealers in 
 Minerals. As for example : A Miner finding the 
 oar of copper, ufeth his skill delivered by the an- 
 cients to his iitmoft endeavour, whereby he may 
 cleanfe it and reduce it to metal : where firft he 
 breaks it into pieces, and boyls it, for to take a- 
 way the fuperfluous fulphur , then by vertue of 
 melting, he brings it into a ftone Tfo called j which 
 afterward again he commits to fire, and f^reeth it 
 by the addition of lead , of its gold and filver ; 
 which done , he blacks and redens it , turning it 
 into copper, which is his laft labour, whereby the 
 copper is made malleable and vendible : which 
 done, the Chymifl coming, tries another feparation, 
 by whofe help gold and filver is extracted, as yen 
 tryed of very few, of which mention is here made> 
 
 Paracetftts 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofofbical Furnacer, 
 
 73 
 
 Pxracelfus alio faich in the fame place, that God hath 
 given ibme an ealier way of feparating gold and 
 * lilver from courier metals, and indeed without re- 
 fining the oar, which is a fpecial aud curious Art, 
 which he tcacheth not in plain tearms, but only faith 
 it is fuRiciently taught in feven rules of that book, 
 where he treats of the nature and propriety of me- 
 tals ; in which you may feek it. And this purifica; 
 tion of courfer metals I count moll eafie, which 1 
 have often tryed in fniall quantities : and I doubt 
 not but God hath Ihewn other Artifts alfo other 
 purifications by which imperfecft metals are perfeft- 
 ed ; for example, if one would purge the fruit of 
 the earth by diltillaticn, fo that the dregs and im-- 
 purities being taken away, it would grow up with 
 a new clear clarified body : as if one diftil black 
 and impure Amber by a retort, the feparation would 
 be made by Fire, of the water favouring of an 
 Emfyreitm^oixh^ oyl and volatile fait, and the Ca- 
 put mortunm be left in the bottom of the retort ; 
 by which means, in a very (hort time without great 
 labour, is made a great alteration and emendation 
 of Amber, though the oyl be black, impure, and 
 Itinking: but if it be again diftilled by a retort 
 with fome mundifying water, as with the fpirit 
 of fait (namely through a frefh clean glafs retortj 
 there will be made a new feparation by that fpirit 
 of fait, and a far clearer oyl will be extradled ; 
 the dregs with the ftink left in the bottom of the 
 retort, which afterward may be twice or thrice 
 reftifyed again with frefh fpirit of fait, until it get 
 the clearnefs of water, and fweetnefs of fent rc- 
 fembling Amber and musk. . 
 
 And this tranfmutation makes of a hard thing, { 
 a foft ; unlike the former in fhape, which though 
 never fo foft and liquid, oyly, may again be coa- 
 gulated, fo that it becomes as it was at firft, after this 
 manner following. Take the faid oyl very well 
 clarifyed, add to it frefhfpirit of fait, fet it in dige- 
 ftion, and the oyl will attraft from the fpirit of fait, 
 fait enough for its own recoagulation, and again it 
 acquires the hardnefsof Amber, of an excellent clear 
 and admirable colour ^ of which half an ounce is 
 worth more than fome pounds of black Amber ; of 
 which fcarce the eight or tenth part remains in pu- 
 rifyingk all the foul fuperfluities caft away. 
 
 By this means 1 think one may deanfe and mend 
 black metals, if fo be the manner of their cleanfing 
 were known by diftillation, fublimation and recoa- 
 gulation. But thou fay'llthat metals cannot like ve- 
 getables be purified by force of diftillation, to which 
 I prefent our firlt furnace not given to peafants, 
 but Chymifts, purifying metals ^ fo alfo thepolTibili- 
 ly of their perfedion is fhewn by help of fermen- 
 tation. For as frefh leaven can ferment the vegeta- 
 bles juices, which are perfefted by fermentation, the 
 dregs being caft away as one may fee in wine, ale, 
 and other liquors, whofe lafting and perfeftion pro= 
 ceeds from no other thing but fermentation purify- 
 ing the vegetable juices, without which they could 
 not otherwife withftand the Elements, fubjed to 
 corruption in a very (hort time, which fermented laft 
 fome years : fo alfo if we knew the proper ferment 
 of metals, furely we might refine and perfeft them, 
 fo that they not being any more fubjeft to ruft, 
 would be able to prevail againft fire and water, and 
 be nourifhed and fed by them. For fo the world 
 heretofore perifhed with water, and Ihall at laft per- 
 i(h with fire, and our bodies rauft rot and be pu- 
 rified by fire before we come to the fight of God. 
 
 And thus far of the fermentation of metals, where- 
 with they are amended and perfefted. Metals alio 
 are purify'd and amended like milk fet on the fire ; 
 whofe cream the better part (the fubftance of butter) 
 in the top is feparation from the whey and cheefe, and 
 the hotter the place is, the fooner the feparation is 
 made even, fo it is with the feparation of metals ; 
 where mecals put into a Fitted hoc place by thera- 
 felves without any addition of another thir,!? (the 
 metals being before reduced to a milky fubftance 
 or curd) are feparated in time, by parting the nos 
 bier parts from the ignoblcr, opening a great trea- 
 fure ; and as in winter time milk is hardly feparated 
 with a weak heat ; juft fo metals if not helped with 
 Fire, as one may fee in iron, which in a long time 
 under the earth is turned into gold without Art. 
 For often iron oar is found with golden veins ve- 
 ry goodly to behold, fevered from the courfe, eari 
 thy and crude fulphur, by force of the central I heat. 
 And commonly in fuch oar no vitriol is found, be. 
 ing feparated and bettered by its contrary. But 
 a long time is required for that fubcerraneous fepa- 
 ration, which Art very fpeedily performs ■, as is 
 wont to be done with milk in winter when we pre* 
 fently make butter of it, when we put in to the Fire 
 to part the cream fpeedily i which feparation is helped 
 by the precipitation made with acid things, morti- 
 fying the urinous fait of the milk, by which means 
 all principles are feparated by themfelves, as butter, 
 cheefe, whey : fo in a quarter of an hour feparati- 
 on is made by boiling, which elfe without acid things 
 could not be done in fome weeks. If then it be 
 polfible in vegetables and animals, why not in mis 
 nerals ? For what but gold and lilver is found in lead, 
 iron, tin and copper, though it doth not appear ? 
 Why is all goodnefs denyed to the courfer metals 
 granted to vegetables and animals not equal to 
 them for lafting ? Whence is the natural perfecti- 
 on of lead, tin, iron, and copper to be proved? Na- 
 ture ever feeks the perfedion of her fruits ; but 
 courfe metals are ii^perfeft ; Why then is not na- 
 ture helped with Art in perfeding them ? But the 
 bond of metallick parts is worth obfervation, which 
 being broken, the parts are feparated. Urinous falc 
 (as I may fay) is the bond of the parts making milk, 
 as of butter, whey, and cheefe, which istobemor- 
 tifyed by its contrary acid for feparation. But in 
 iron the parts are bound with a vitriolate fait, as 
 with a bond, which is to be mortified with its con- 
 trary, urinous or nitrous fait for feparation. He 
 therefore who knoweth to take away the fuperfia- 
 ous fait of iron, either by moift or dry means, doubt- 
 lefs Ihall have iron not foon fubjed to ruft. 
 
 Fire alfo hath incredible force of it felf in chang- 
 ing metals. Is notfteel madeironby forceofFire, 
 and iron of fteel by different proceeding ? Experi- 
 ence dayly teacheth us alfo divers kinds of changes 
 and refinings by Fire ; why is it not pofiible in me- 
 tals byan expert Chymift having skill in them ? Who 
 would believe that a live bird lurks in an egg, and 
 an hearb having leaves, flowers, and odour, in the 
 feed ? Why may not then abortive metals, getting 
 not yet perfection, be perfeded by Art, with help 
 of Fire? Is not anuniipe apple or pear ripened by 
 the heat of the Sun ? Which fome curious and in- 
 duftrious men obferving, have imitated nature in 
 their works ; and have found fome metals not de- 
 ftroyed with the heat of Fire, but enriched with a 
 fecret gainful heat i fo that melted Cdigeftion being 
 made) they have yielded double weight of gold and 
 
 U filv«r. 
 
7^ 
 
 The Fourth Pan of 
 
 Part h 
 
 iilver- Yea I my felf have fecii the common oai* 
 of lead digefted after the aforefaid manner, which 
 was not only inrichcd with fllver thereby, but alfo 
 partaked of gold which it wanted before in ordinary 
 tryal. Belkles one might work this in great quan- 
 tity, as with an hundred pounds ; which work of 
 fninerals will without doubt bring great profit to 
 the skilful triers of lead : But know this, that not e- 
 very tryal of lead will be furnilhed with gold, but 
 the oar to be ever enriched with fllver, experience 
 being witnefs. 
 
 Many fuch things are found in Nature incredi- 
 ble to the ignorant, and thofethat are unexercifed- 
 But if we mortals were more diligent in reading 
 the book written with the hand of God in the pa- 
 ges of the four Elements, furely we (hould Find 
 more fecrets and wonders in them> but skill and 
 wealth is got with fweat of face and not by floth \ 
 therefore Uboitr and fr^y- Metals are alfo meliora- 
 ted by the help of gradation like to germinaii- 
 on. 
 
 For it is well known? that the fhoot or grafs of 
 fomc fruitful garden-tree implanted in a wood, 
 makes that tree afterwards to bear not wild fruits, 
 but very good and fweet like them of the implanted 
 fhoot, as one may fee in iron dilTolved in an acid fpi- 
 rit, fermented with Venus and turned into Copper : 
 by which means doubtlefs copper is turned into fil- 
 ver> and filver into gold, if the true manner of 
 fermentation were known. 
 
 Now this tranfmutation is like digellion, making 
 beef or horfe flelh of grafs in the ftomach of oxe 
 and horfe, and mans flefh of beef, in the ftomach of 
 man. 
 
 The better parts alfo are feparated from the 
 worfer by the attraftive ftrength of the like, as is 
 to be feen in a metal abounding with fulphur, to 
 which if iron be added in fufion , the fulphur de- 
 ferts its native metal, ( by which means it is more 
 purifyed ) and joins its felf to the iron, with which 
 it hath more affinity and fami^arity, than with its 
 own metal \ for example, if iron be added to kad 
 oar full of fulphur in the melting, this melted me- 
 tal is made malleable , which elfe would be black 
 and brittle. And if fomething elfe to be put to 
 the melted malleable metal were known to us, to 
 take away in the melting, the redundant, crude, 
 combuftible fulphur, qucftionlefs it would yet be 
 made purer ; which thing being unknown, metals 
 remain in their impurity. And indeed God hath 
 done well in this as in all other his works, that he 
 hath concealed his knowledge from us : for if it 
 were known to the covetous, they would buy up 
 all leadj tin, copper and iron, to turn into gold, 
 fo that rurall and poor Labourers could hardly buy 
 raetallick inftruments for their ufe, for the fcarcity \ 
 but God will not have all metals turned into 
 Gold. 
 
 A Similitude of taking away the fuperfluous ful- 
 phur of fome metals in fufion, being given to keep 
 the purer parts ■■, fo likewife is there another man- 
 ner of feparating, the purer parts from the im- 
 pure , namely , by the attradivc power of the 
 like, where the purer parts are drawn together by 
 their like, the impurer and heterogeneous part is 
 rcjetfkd : and that may be fliown as well by the 
 raoifl; as dry way ; an exag^iple of the moift way 
 followeth. 
 
 If quick Mercury be added to impure gold or fj-- 
 veir diflblved in its proper mnfirunm^ the mercury 
 
 draws to it felf the invifible gold and filver from 
 the Menjirnum and mixt impurity and airociates 
 what is pureft to it felf, which fcparation fwiftly 
 fucceeds. Mereury performs the fame likewife in 
 the dry way : namely, when fome earth having fome 
 gold and filver, is moiftned with acid water, and 
 they are fo long bruifed together, till the Mercu- 
 ry draws the better part ; which done you muft 
 vvafh the dead earth left, with common water, and 
 feparate the Mercury being dryed from the attraft: 
 ed gold and filver, by trajeifting them through a skin, 
 but the Mercury draws but one metal from the 
 earth, and' indeed the beft atone time ^ which be- 
 ing feparated, it draws another metal ; for example, 
 if in fome one earth, gold, filver, copper and iron 
 ly hid, the firft time the mercury draws the gold, 
 the fecond the filver, but copper and iron hardly by 
 reafon of their drofs, but tin and lead eafily, but 
 eafieft of all gold by reafon of its purity like to mer- 
 cury. 
 
 Another Dcfnonfiiation ly the dry xvay. 
 
 PUt under a tile a cuple with lead, to which add 
 a grain of very pure gold, moft exaftly weigh- 
 ed (for merrtories fake) make the gold in the cuple 
 to fulmimate, and the lead will enter the cuple, 
 the gold being left _ pale in the cuple : of which 
 pale colour there is no other caufe than the mix- 
 ture of filver, drawn from the lead by the gold. 
 But thou wilt fay, that thouknoweft this, that gold 
 fulminated with lead, is made paler and weightier, 
 by reafon of the filver in the lead , left with the 
 gold in the trial, augmenting the weight, and thence 
 making it pale: to which I reply, though lead leave 
 fome filver in trying in the cuple, mixt with the 
 gold added to it, augmenting its weight, and chang- 
 ing the colour ; yet it is proved by the weight, that 
 lead leaves more being mixt with gold in the cuple, 
 than when tryed without gold. Hence it is proved> 
 that gold in the fire draws its like from other me- 
 tals, augmenting its weight : and this alfo gold doth 
 in the moift way : for if it be dillplved in its 
 own ?ntnftrimm^ together with copper, and put in di- 
 geftion, and then feparated , it attradls gold fronj 
 the copper ; which labour j though not done with pro- 
 fit, yet witnefleth a polTibility. But if the menjhu- 
 iim of gold augmenting the attrafting power of gold 
 or multiplying the fame were known, but diminifli- 
 ing the retentive power of copper, doubtlefs fome 
 gain were to be expelled j and indeed more, if gold 
 and copper, together be melted in $re with the dry 
 mineral minftrHHm ; by which means the weight of 
 gold would be increafed according to FarA-.dJH} fay- 
 ing Metals mixt together in a ftrong Sre, continu- 
 ed a pretty while, the imperfedion vanilheth and 
 leaves perfcdion in its place. 
 
 Which furely well done, is a work not wanting 
 gain. For I freely confefs, that I would fomeiime 
 incorporate filver with iron, when as gold front 
 iron gave me a good increafe of p^re gold, inftcad 
 of fixt filver fought after- And by this means of- 
 ten fome not thought on thing happens to Artifts, 
 as to my felf with fixt filver , not rightly confi- 
 dering the bufinefs. Thaefore raedling with metals, be 
 fure when you find fome encreafe, to weigh well 
 what it was at firft. For many think long trying 
 filver with iron, by the Blood-ftone, Load-ftone, 
 Emraud, lafis calaminaris^ Red-talck, Granats, An- 
 timony Arfenick, Sulphur, Flints, C^'f • having ma- 
 ture 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofofbical Furnaces, 
 
 75 
 
 ture and immature, volatil and fixt gold in them, find- 
 ing in the trying good gold •, that this gold is made 
 of the lilver by the help and ufe of the forefaid mine- 
 rals, which is falfe, For the Ulver drew that gold 
 out of thofe minerals, in which before it lurked 
 volatile- Yet I deny not the poffibility of chang- 
 ing filvcr, as being inwardly very like gold, but 
 not by help of cementation with the faid minerals, 
 bccaufc that gpld proceeds not from the filver, but 
 thofe minerals, attraded by the lilver. This la- 
 bour is compared to feed cafl into good ground , 
 where dying, by its own power it draws its like 
 to ic felf, whence it is niultiplyed an hundred fold. 
 And it behovcth in this work now and then to 
 wet the metallick earth, with proper metallick wa- 
 ters, being dryed up with heat (which operation 
 is called of the Philofophers inceration) elfe the 
 earth will be barren, and it behovech that this wa- 
 ter be ncer in kind to the earth, lb that when they 
 are united they yield a certain facnefs- For as it 
 appears from Tandy dry earth, moiftened with rain 
 \vater, not bringing forth fruit agreeable to its feed, 
 for the finall heat alfo of the Sun confuming the 
 inoifture, and burning the feed in the earth, which 
 mixc with cows dung or other, keeps the water fo 
 as that it cannot be fo foon confumed- By the 
 fame reafon it is necefl'ary that thy earth and wa- 
 ter be mixt, left thy feed be burnt up. Which 
 work if well handled, it will not be in vain, re- 
 quiring the exceeding diligence of nourilhing the 
 earth with warmth and moifture, when the earth 
 is drown'd with too much moifture, or hath too 
 little, it cannot increafe, and this is one of the beft 
 labours, with which I draw forth good gold and 
 lilver of bafer metals, requiring the beft velfels, 
 retaining the feed together with its earth, and wa- 
 ter in its proper heat. 1 doubt not but this work 
 alfo in a greater quantity, may be performed, firm- 
 ly beleiving that the courfer metals, efpecially lead, 
 the fitteft of all not only to be perfected into gold 
 and lilver, but alfo into good medicine : which with = 
 cut queftion is a Philofophick labour granted from 
 God, as a great comfort to the Chymift, but wa- 
 rily to be ufed. For that all and fingular Gods 
 §ifts he will not have common : as indeed I have 
 lound, when I had invented a very excellent work, 
 that 1 fliewing it to a friend, neither could I after- 
 wards teach it to him, nor do it again for my felf. 
 Therefore indeed julUy men are doubtful in writing 
 fuch matters: for many feek with idlenefs to get 
 j;he inventions of others, performed with great cofts 
 and labour- Therefore it is fafer to be filent and 
 give leave to feek, than to publilh fecrets, that they 
 inay undergo the pains and charges to be born in 
 inventing high matters ; nor any more hereafter 
 inay the ingrateful fo impudently gape after others 
 Labours. Therefore I would entreat all men both 
 of high and low degree, that they would not mo- 
 Icft and tire me hereafter with their Petitions and 
 Epiftles, and that they would not turn my good 
 will of benefiting others to the ruin of my felf, but 
 be coiitented with my writings publilhed for the 
 profit of my meighbour- Nor do you think that 
 1 poflcfs and promife golden mountains. For what 
 } have written, I have writ to difcover nature, in 
 thefe difcourfcs of the perfedion of courfe metals 
 in fmall quantity ; For I never made trial in a great 
 quantity, trying truth and poilibility in a lefler on- 
 iy, in fmall crucibles : therefore thofe things which 
 Ibave writ are written to that end that thepoflfibi- 
 
 lity of the Art, may appear, of perfeft metals to be 
 wrought out of Imperfect, therefore he who hath 
 occalion may make trial in a greater quantity : but 
 as for my part wanting opportunity , 1 expedl Gods 
 bleffing, whereby upon occafion I may make tryal 
 in a greater quantity, and fo receive the fruit of 
 my labour and great charges- 
 
 Alfo metallick bodies are tranfmuted by another 
 means, namely by the benefit of a tinging metal- 
 lick fpirit, as one may fee in aiiyitm fulmtn,ins ^ 
 fometimes kindled upon a fmooth clean metallick 
 plate, fixing a very deep golden tindure upon the 
 plate, fo that it may bear the Touch-ltone. The 
 fame alfo happens in the moift way, where plated 
 metals put into a gradatory fpirit made of Nitre, 
 and certain minerals, being pierc't by the fpirit, 
 obtain another kind agreeing to the fpirit. I3ut if 
 one doubt of the metallick gradation, made with 
 aiirum fubni/hVis ; he may try the certainty from the 
 often fireing of frefli aurum fidmvjMis^ upon the fame 
 plate i for he fliall fee that it is not the colour of 
 the metal, and outwardly gilded, but deeply tinged. 
 Likewifeone may try the certainty by a humid fpi- 
 rit, if the transformed metals are tryed, whence the 
 mutual adion and paffion of fubtilized fpirits plain- 
 ly appears, for the power of fpirits is very great* 
 and incredible to one not exercifed ; and this gra- 
 dation of inferiour metals, Philofophers both ancient 
 and modern, doe not only confirm, but alfo diggers 
 of minerals taught by experience, that mineral va- 
 pours by penetration change courfer into purer 
 metals, L^z.«r;w Ercker being witnefs,thatiron is chan^ 
 ged into a good natural copper in green fait waters, & 
 that he faw a pit,in which iron nailes and other things 
 caft in, by the penetration of a cupreous fpirit were 
 turned into a good copper. I do not deny that 
 metallick diflblutions of fome metals do flick pre- 
 cipitated to the plates , and to make them of a 
 golden, filver, or cupreous colour ; for it is well 
 known > that iron caft into a vitriol water not to 
 be turned into copper, but to draw copper out of the 
 water, of which thing we treat not here, confirm- 
 ing the polTibility of metallick tranfmutations by a 
 tinging and piercing fpirit ; therefore I again main- 
 tain that great power is in metallick fpirits ^ look 
 only upon courfe and opake earth, and befides that 
 clear and limpid water with which the clearer and 
 more powerful air proceeding from the water Com- 
 eth from the earth. Are not whole Countries drown- 
 ded with water, fometimes Towns and Cities taken 
 away.' Cannot the air deftroy the ftrongeft Houfes; 
 efpecially fhut up in the Earth, fliake the Land for 
 fome miles, and afterward demolifli whole Cities 
 and Mountains with the death of Men ? all which 
 things are done naturally. Wind artificially raifed 
 by Nitre threatens a far greater danger, which no 
 man can deny. Although that corporeal Elements 
 exercife fo great power, yet they cannot pierce me- 
 tals without hurt, nor ftones and glafs, and thing? 
 foon penetrated by fire. Therefore not by an oc- 
 cult but a manifeft power of Sun and Fire, which 
 it hath over metals, ftones and glafs, which are 
 eafily pierc't by them without any impediment : 
 and why fhould not metals compad of a certain me- 
 tallick fubtile and piercing fpirit be penetrated by- 
 help of fire, and changed into another fpecies ? 
 As is already fpoken of ^wrum fulmwans and »q>iA 
 gradatoria. Therefore there is no doubt of the pof- 
 fibility of the metallick tingent fpirit changing cour- 
 fer metals into finer, both by the dry and moift 
 
 U 2 9vay J 
 
16 
 
 The Fourth Tart of 
 
 Part I, I 
 
 way -, For Metals may be puriSed the fame way 
 as Tartar and Vitriol, and other falts, namely by 
 the benefit of much water- For it is raanifeft that 
 vitriol is purged with iron and copper mixt with 
 it, namely dillblved and coagulated in much water, 
 fo that it waxes as white as allom ; which purificati- 
 on is but a feparation of the metal from the fait, 
 n?ade by the benefit of much water debilitating the 
 fair, fo that it cannot longer retain the mixt metal , 
 which is precipitated liite fome flime, not unprofi- 
 table, becaufe the chiefeft part of the vitriol, from 
 which is the greennefs, viz.. Copper, Iron, and 
 Sulphur- And as by help of feparation metals are 
 drawn from vitriol, more perfeft than faks ; fo 
 alfo it is with metals when the perfcrter and better 
 part is feparated by help of precipitation : as for 
 Tartar, it is purified by the addition of waier, but 
 its better part is not precipitated as in vitriol, be 
 the courfer part which is its blacknefs and fxculency- 
 As for example ; Common Tartar by the often fo- 
 lution (made with a fufficient quantity of waterj 
 and coagulation is made very pure and white, be- 
 caufe in every folution made with frefii clear wa- 
 ter, it always becomes purer ; and not only by this 
 means white Tartar, but alfo red and feculent, is 
 reduced into tranfparent cryftals, and indeed very 
 fpeedily by vertue of a certain precipitation ; whofe 
 limofity is the caufe of the obfcurity of the cry- 
 flaljine fait of tartar, and is nothing elfe but an 
 unfavory thing, dead and ufelefs, mixt with the 
 tartar in its coagulation in Hogs-heads of Wine, 
 and feparated again by power of folution. 
 
 And thefe examples of the two falts of Vitriol 
 and Tartar, are not in vain fet down, becaufe they 
 fhew the difference in precipitation : For in fome Me- 
 tals, by force of precipitation, the courfer partis fe- 
 parated ; but in other, the better and choicer, ac- 
 cording to the prevalency of this or that part. 
 
 In Vitrioh the better part (Copper and Iron) is the 
 Icaft, which is precipitated and feparated from the 
 courfer and greater part, viz.. Salt ; But, in Tartar, 
 the courfer and lefs part is precipitated and feparated 
 from the greater and better part clarify'd : The like 
 is in Metals. Therefore, let every one be wary in fe- 
 parating ; and confider before, whether the better 
 or courfer part of the Metal is to be precipitated ; 
 without which Knowledge, no Man can meddle with 
 this Bufinefs. Let alfo the Workman be ware, who 
 expeds any profit from his labour, of Corrcfive Wa- 
 ters-, z% yiq'ta fortist ^^//.? ^;^«4, Spirit of Salt, Vi- 
 triol, Allom, Vinegar, ere. in the Solution from which 
 ro Good proceeds, as utterly deftroying and corrupt- 
 ing all and each of them ; proving the fame in thefe 
 words, Fro7n Aietah^ by Metah, and with Mttals.^ Me- 
 tds are made perfeU-. Metals arealfo purified, matu- 
 rated and feparated from their Vices, by Nitre burn- 
 ing up the fuperfluous Sulphur- 
 
 And all the aforefaid pcrfe(f\ions of metals are but 
 particular. For every particular medicine, as well 
 humane, as metallick, purgeth, feparatcth and per- 
 fcdeth or amcndeth by the raking away the fu- 
 perflnity. For a univerfal medicine worketh its per- 
 fedtions and emendations, by ftrengthening and mul- 
 tiplying the radical moiflure as well of animals as 
 metals, expelling its enemy by its own natural ver- 
 tue. Rut thou fayfl: excellent examples indeed are 
 delivered by me, but not the manner of doing them. 
 F. 1 have delivered more then you think, although 
 you don't perceive it : for I am fure after my death 
 that my books will be in greater efteemj from which 
 
 it will appear that I have not fought vain glory, but 
 the profit of my neighbour to the utmolt of my 
 power. But do not, feeing my frcenefs of writing, 
 think that you may wrefl; many things from me. For 
 afiiire your felf, that although I have written many 
 things for the pnbiick good, yet I intend not by 
 this means to trouble my felf For 1 cannot fatis- 
 fy the defires of all men, nor anfvver their Epiftles, 
 nor inrich all men, who neither am rich my feif, nor 
 have fought riches. For although I have ^^otten 
 the knowledge of thefe things by Gods bleding, 
 and have tryed the truth of it in fmall quantity, 
 yet have I never made experience in great flore 
 for wealth fake, being contented with Gods blef- 
 fing. 
 
 And let this fuffice concerning the feveral purifi- 
 cations of metals according to my experience; as for 
 that-jniverfal medicine fo famous, I cannot judge of 
 it, being a thing unknown to me ; but the polTibili- 
 ty thereof I am forc't to affirm, being moved with 
 t;'e feveral tranfmutations of metals ; which being 
 unK.no.vn, it behoves us to be contented with that fa: 
 vour which God hath beftowed on us. For often- 
 times qucftionlefs it is better to know little, for Eter- 
 nal Salvations fake ; for mofl commonly wealth and 
 learning pufF up. And pride brings to the Devil the 
 Author of ic, from whence God of his mercy pre- 
 ferve us. 
 
 Of the Philofophers Sto/.e, 
 
 Have undergon much charge and labour for ma- 
 ny years, to extra(ft the tinfture or anima of gold. 
 
 I 
 
 for a medicine to be made therewith, which at 
 length I have obtained, where I have obferved the 
 remainder of the gold, the foul or better part be- 
 ing extraded to be no more gold, nor longer to 
 endure fire. Whence I conjeftured, that fuch an 
 extraftion being fixt again, can per fed courfer me- 
 tals and turn them to gold : But I could not hither- 
 to try the truth of my conceived opinion living ac 
 this time in a forraign place ; therefore againfl; my 
 will, altho"gh greedy of novelty, I have been forc'c 
 to abftain from the work. In the mean time con- 
 fidering the opinions of the Philofophers concerning 
 their gold, not the vulgar, aflerting the univerfal 
 medicine to be prepared therewith. I have again 
 afFufed a certain Philofophical Vinegar to Copper 
 for to extrad the tindiirc, where almoft all the 
 Copper like whitifh earth is feparated from the tin- 
 dure in digeftion, which eauh by no Art I could 
 again reduce into a metallick body. 
 
 Which experiment again confirmed me of a pof- 
 fibility of this Medicine. Which labour though I 
 never followed, yet I doubt not but an humane me- 
 dicine, though not alfb a metallick is attainable 
 thence by a diligent workman- The foul therefore 
 with all the metallxk attributes, confifting in fo 
 fmall a quantity, which isfcarce the hundredth part 
 of the weight, which being extradcd and fepara- 
 ted, the remaining body is no more a metal, but a 
 ufelefs and dead earth ; but it is not to be doubted 
 but being fixt again, it may reaflume and perfcd 
 another mttallick body. Therefore I am confident- 
 ly perfwadcd by the aforefaid Reafons, that fuch 
 a medicint is to be made of mineral and metallick 
 things, VIZ.. in the flowing, changing bafer metals 
 into better- But do not think that I writing thefe 
 things make gold or copper the matter of this me- 
 dicine, which I do rot hold , well knowing thas 
 
 there 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofofhical Furnaces, 
 
 77 
 
 there are other fubjeds eafily to be handled, a- 
 bounding with tindures. 
 
 So thou haft heard now my opinion of the llni: 
 verfal Medicine, which my experience in Gold, 
 Copper, and other Minerals and Metals hath cau- 
 fed : which I will rot preach for Goffel^ becaufe it 
 is human to erre. 
 
 Therefore no certainty is to be had , before its 
 final and compleat perfection, and indeed once or 
 twice trycd for certainties fake- For an excellent 
 way once found out , cannot alwaics be often re- 
 peated, which happens doubtlefs as well to others 
 as to me. Theretore we mufl not triumph before 
 the Vidory; for unthought on impediments may 
 fruftrate Hope : but God is rather to be implored 
 in our labours , that he would be pleafed to blefs 
 cur endeavours , that we may ufe well his gifts in 
 this life as good Howards , and afterward bcftow 
 the free reward of our labours , watchings , and 
 cares on us finners, namely , everlalling Reft and 
 Salvation out of his meer Mercy. 
 
 Whether Minerals^ as Jntimony^ A>femc, Orpin^ Co- 
 bolt^ Zinck^^ Sulphur^ &C- may he tranjuniuted in- 
 to metals^ and into vohat ? 
 
 IT is long fince debated among Chyraifts, whe 
 ther the aforefaid Minerals proceed from the 
 fame principles with Metals , and whether to be 
 counted Metals ; in which Controverfy they have 
 not agreed to this day, when as one approves that 
 which another denies j lo that a ftudent of Chymi: 
 (try icnows not to what fide he had beft aflent. 
 
 But this knowledge not a little helping, con- 
 cerning the purifying of metals i I would put my 
 opinion alfo grounded upon experience ■, for the 
 fatisfymg the doubtful, the fimplicity of them is 
 ftrange who hold not one and the fame beginning 
 to be of minerals and metals, faying, if metals 
 might be made by nature ■> of minerals furely it 
 had long fince been done j but it never was, ex- 
 perience witnefiing ; for remaining minerals , they 
 are never tranfplanted into metals. I Anfwer , 
 metals grow one way, alfo vegetables another, 
 foon budding, and again foon dying '■, but it is not 
 fo with metals •, for all lafting things have long 
 time of digeftion, according to the faying , That 
 which IS foon made^ d.th foon fade ^ this is to be un- 
 derftood not only of vegetables and minerals, but 
 alfo of animals , as appears from the budding of 
 fome vegetables, coming in fix Months fpace to 
 their perfedion, and then again perifhing : when as 
 things requiring longer time of digeftion and perfec- 
 tion are much more lafting. A Mufliroom in the fpace 
 of one or two nights grows out of rotten wood, 
 again foon vaniftiing : not fo the Oke. Oxen, and 
 Horfes in the fpace of two or three year come to 
 perfedion, fcarce living the twentyeth, or twenty: 
 fourth year : but a Man requiring twenty four years 
 to his perfedion, lives fixty, eighty, or an hun- 
 dred years- So alfo we muft conceive of lafting 
 metals requiring many ages, and alfo very long 
 time of digeftion and perfedion ^ metals therefore 
 requiring a very long time of digeftion to their 
 perfedion , it is granted to no man ever to fee 
 the beginning, and end of them ; the tranfplan- 
 tation of minerals into metals by nature cannot 
 be denyed ■, efpecially, becaufe that in the oars ot 
 metals, efpecially of courfe ones, minerals are al- 
 fo found ', wherefore diggers of minerals , when 
 
 they find them, conceive good hopes of finding me- 
 tals, of which they are termed the Covc-ltds^ for 
 feldom metals are found without minerals, or mi- 
 nerals without metals ; nor alfo are ever minerals 
 found wanting gold or filver ; therefore minerals 
 are properly termed the Embryo of Mitals - be- 
 caufe by art and fire a good part of gold and fil- 
 ver is drawn out of them by fulion ; which if they 
 do not proceed from the metallick roots, whence 
 proceeds that gold and filver ? For an Ox is not 
 born of an Infant, nor a man of a Calf-, for al-, 
 waies like is produced of its like- 
 Therefore minerals are counted but unripe fruits 
 in refped of metals, not yet obtaining their ripe- 
 nefs and perfedion , nor feparated from the fu- 
 perfluous earth ; for how fhoiild a bird be hatcht 
 of an egg by an heat, not predeftined for the ge- 
 neration of a bird .-' For fo we muft underftand 
 of minerals , which if they be deprived of theif 
 metallick nature, how fhould by fire metaU be pro- 
 duced from thence? But thou faift that thou ne- 
 ver fa weft the produftion of perfcd metals out of 
 cnurfer ; theretore that it is neither likely , nor 
 credible to thee, to whom many things as yet lye 
 hid, as from nioft men, pcrverfly and foolifhly de- 
 nying things unknown ^ for daily experience wit- 
 nelTeth, that the viler minerals and metals by ta- 
 king away the fiiperfluous fulphur ( however it be 
 done) obtain a greater degree of perfedion, there* 
 fore ihould not thy heart believe, and thy tongue 
 fpeak what thou feeft with thine eyes ? For ex- 
 perience (hews that good gold and filver might be 
 d'-awn out L»y art almoft out of all couife minerals 
 and metals, yet more out of fome than of others, and 
 rpe'-dier ; for there is not that dark night, that 
 is akogether deprived of light, which may not be 
 manifefted by a hollow glafs ; nor is there an 
 element T though never fo pure) not mixt with o- 
 ther elements , nor any malignity depriv'd of all 
 good, or on the contrary. And as it is polTible to 
 gather the hidden beams of the Sun in the aire, fo 
 alfo hidden perfed metals difperfed in imperfed 
 metals , and minerals by fire, and an expert Ar- 
 tift : if once they are placed in fire with their 
 proper folvents, where the homogeneous parts are 
 gathered, and the heterogeneous feparated i fo that 
 there is no need to go into the I/idtes to feek 
 gold and filver in thofe new Iflands, which is pof= 
 fible to find plentifully here in Germany , if fo be 
 the merciful God would pleafe to turn away thofe 
 prefent cruel Plagues, and bring them out of old 
 metals, viz.. Lead, Iron , Tin, and Copper, there 
 left by the Dealers in minerals ■■, indeed without 
 the culture of minerals. Let no man therefore 
 judge himfelf to be poor, becaufe he is only poor 
 and in want (although otherwife very rich and a= 
 bounding in wealth, which yet in a moment he is 
 forc't to forfake ) that being ungrateful , neither 
 knoweth nor acknowledgeth God in his Works. 
 
 What i pray is in lefs efteem in the world, thaa 
 old Iron and Lead , which are acceptable to the 
 wife to ufe in the Lotion of Copper and Tin with 
 the mineral White ? But how they are to be 
 wafhed, is a difficulty to the unexercifed in the 
 fire, and fliall be delivered by fimilitudes : You 
 fee Antimony fredi digged out of the earth, very 
 b ack and impure ; which by fulion feparated from 
 its fuperfluity ( which , though nature gave to it 
 not in vain, but as an help to its purification, ac- 
 cording to that : COD and Nature do mthng in 
 
78 
 
 Tke FoHYtb Part of 
 
 Part ]. 
 
 -vain) is made more pure, and endowed with a bo- 
 dy nearer to metals than its mineral, which if af- 
 terwards melted with fait of Tartar, the crude and 
 combuftibje fulphur is mortified thereby, and is 
 turned intodrofs, and feparated from the pure mer- 
 curial part, fo that hereby is made a new and frelh 
 reparation of the parts, of which one portion being 
 white and brittle, finks to the bottom, the other 
 lighter, to wit, the combuftible fulphur is on the 
 top with the fait of Tartar •, which poured out in- 
 to a Cone, when they are cold, may be feparated 
 with the hammer ; the inferior part of which is cal- 
 led by the Chymifts Regulus, which is purer than 
 Antimony calt the firfl: time out of its mineral ; 
 and this is the ufual purging of Antimony ufed by 
 Chymifts; to wliich (Ktguliis) if afterward any 
 thing (liould be added, for a third purification, with- 
 out doubt it would not only be made purer but 
 more fixt and malleable- For if white Regulus be 
 preparable out of black Antimony, why not as well 
 malleable metal out of the Regulus. 
 
 Another way of Itparattag the fnperfiitotts Anti- 
 muntal Sulphur-, 
 
 R A Ntimony powdred one part, Sak-peter half 
 jL\. as much, mingle them, and kindle th€ 
 mixture with a live coal, and let that Antimonial 
 fulphur, with the nitre be burnt up, the darkilh 
 mafs being left, to wit, of a brown colour ■, which 
 melted for the fpace of an hour in a ftrong fire yeilds 
 an Antimony like to that which is made with falc of 
 Tartar, but fomewhat lefs in quantity : i:i like man- 
 ner the parts of Antimony are feparated, -oiz.. if 
 Antimony, Nitre, and crude Tartar be mingled in 
 an equal weight, and being mixt are kindled and 
 melted. There is alfo another feparation of the 
 Antimonial parts ; when of fmall bits of Iron one 
 part is put into a ftrong crucible , in a wind Fur- 
 nace, to which being red hot, calt two parts of 
 ground Antimony, for fulTon, and the fuperfluous 
 combuftible fulphur will forfake the Antimony , 
 and joyn to the Iron, a metal more amicable to it ; 
 mixc with which, it forfaketh its own proper pure 
 Mercury, and fulphur or R'gnlus, which is almoft 
 the half part of the Antimony. 
 
 And thefe four ways, by which the fuperfluous 
 combuftible fulphur of Antimony is feparated are 
 moft common, not fet down as fecrets, but for de- 
 monftration fake, that it may appear how fulphureous 
 minerals are, to be perfefled and purified, which are 
 little amended •, yet inewing a better way not only for 
 Antimony, but alfo for Arfenick and Orpin, although 
 thefe two cannot be ib done with Iron, Nitre and 
 Tartar, by reafon of their volatility ; but with Oyl,or 
 other fat things in clofe crucibles, giving a Rcgtilns 
 like to the Antimonial ^ and thefe Reguli make 1 in 
 hard, to found and be compart ; if to one pound 
 one ounce be added in fulion, for making good 
 houiliold fluff. And in tryal they give good Gold- 
 And as it is faid of purging Antimony, fo alfo 
 it is to be underftood of the reft, as Wifnnuh^ Ztrnk^ 
 Lapis calununaris^ Lead, Tin, Iron and Copper, to 
 be purged from their fuperfluous fulphur, if thou 
 wilt draw more pcrfed metals, xvj.. Gold and Sil- 
 ver out of them with gain. And fo I make an end 
 cf metallick lotions ; recommending to Chymifts , 
 l^itre., Tartar, Fli,ts and Z,;*z^; for who knoweth 
 to ufe them, ftiall not lofe his labour in Chymi- 
 ftryj but 'tis to be lamented, that every where 
 
 good earth and fixt in the fire, is not to be got- 
 ten, retaining Lead aud Salts j for without our old 
 Saturn little or nothing can be done in refining metals •, 
 therefore who goes to try any thing in this Art, let him 
 feek the belt earth retaining Lead twentyfour hours 
 fpace; afterward let him confult with Tin, what 
 l^itlcan has to be done with Iron ; who will tell hira 
 what he muft fuller, before he obtain the Crown. 
 
 Of the tinSinre of Sol a/id Antimony. 
 
 Sometimes an alteration happens to mans body, 
 from the the attraftion of mmeral vapors (which 
 cannot be done by my Furnace j in the tryal-, there- 
 fore here 1 will fet down a certain medicine for 
 the Workmans fake, as well for preferving as cu- 
 ring, namely, a clear rubin fixt, andfolubleof Gold 
 and Antimony. Take <. f pure Gold half an ounce, 
 dillblvc it in Afta Rtgta ; precipitate the folution 
 with liquor of Flints, as before is faid in the Se- 
 cond parti edulcorate and dry the calx, and it 
 will be prepared ; take Regulus AUrtis ( of which 
 is fpoken a little before) beaten fine, to which mix 
 three parts of the pureft Nitre; place the mixture 
 in the crucible between burning coals , putting to 
 fire by degrees : which done make a ftronger, iiz.. 
 for fufion ; for then the Mafs will be made purple y 
 which taken forth and cooled grind very fmall.of winch 
 take three or four parts and mix with one partof the a- 
 forefaid golden calx ; place it mixed in a ftrong cruci- 
 ble covered over in the aforefaid winde Furnace, and 
 make the mafs to flow together like metal, and ic 
 will alfume the Antimonial Nitre in the fufion, and 
 will dilFolve the Gold or the caLx of Gold, and a 
 mafs of an Amethyft colour will be made therewith> 
 which fo long leave in the tire, till it get the clear- 
 nefs of a Ruby, which one may try with a clean 
 wire or iron bowed and put therein, although in 
 the mean time the mafs deprived of fufibility, i*, 
 thickened ■., it is meet to add fome Nitre or Tar- 
 tar, for fpeeding fulion, and that as ofcen as (liall 
 be needful. Laftjy, pour the ma:?, when it fliall 
 come to the utmbit rednefs of a Ruby, hot into a, 
 clean copper morter, which there leave until it 
 cool, and it will be in colour very like to an O- 
 riential Ruby ; then bruife it hot into powder, for 
 taking air it would melt, and extraift the tindure 
 by the afliifion of the fpirit of Wine in a Vial, and 
 tlie Gold together with the Antimony will remain 
 very white like the fineft Talc, to be wallied with 
 clear vtater, in a glafs, eaukorated and dryed ; 
 which melted with a ftronger fire, gives a Yellow 
 glafs, in which no Gnla appears, yet feparable by 
 way of precipirauou with the filings of Iron and 
 Copper, from which it recovers its ancient colour, 
 but without profit, by reafon of the waft, the tin- 
 ged fpirit is to be taken away from the tiiivlurc , 
 which is a very foveraigo medicine in may grie- 
 vous difeafes. 
 
 Although thou m^yeft; fufped this not to be the 
 fimple tinfture of 5o/, but of Nitre and Tartar mixt, 
 be fure that the quantity ol^.iire added not to ex- 
 ceed ; and fupnofe that tincfture of Tartar and Nicrc, 
 I pray what wafte isthere ? Imce that is fo good a me- 
 dicineby itfelf, & Iamperfwaded,thistindureof/o/to 
 be better than thofe fet aowii in the Second part. That 
 Ruby may be fo ufed by it felf with proper vehi- 
 cles, feeing it is a ibveraii;'! medicine of it felf^. 
 or elfe expofed to the air and relblved to a liquor; 
 for the medicine is no lefs than a tindure, becaufe 
 
 the 
 
Part |. 
 
 P hilojofbical Furnaces. 
 
 the Gold in id and the purer part of Antimony 
 are made potable without corrofives. Wonderful is 
 the power of falts in metals to be deftroyed, pcrfcd- 
 ed and changed by fulion j for it happened to me one 
 time making this Ruby, placeing two other crucibles 
 alfo with metals, by this containing gold with the 
 prepared Ktfutus of Antimony ( for ealily two or 
 three, or more crucibles may be placed in this fur- 
 nace, to be ruled with one fire, which cannot be 
 done in a common furnace by that means) about 
 to put in a certain fait into the crucible next to 
 the crucible of gold, that by a miltake I call it in 
 to the crucible wit!i gold only, whence fo great 
 a coiiflid arofe, that there was danger of boyling 
 over ; therefore forced to remove it out of the furnace 
 prefcntly with tongs, and to effufe it, fuppofing that 
 the Ruby was left by my ralh putting in of fait ; 
 therefore I would only fave the gold. And I found 
 the effufed mafs red like blood, purer than a Ruby, 
 but no Gold; but white grains like Lead difperfed 
 here and there in the falts, by reafon of their fmal- 
 nefs, not feparable but by the folution of the falts, 
 which being feparated by the folution of water from 
 the red tincl^ure like blood, remained in the bot- 
 tom of the glafs, which afterward for fulions fake 
 I placed in a new crucible in that furnace, but wil- 
 ling to try the fulion, I found the crucible emp- 
 ty, and all the Gold vanilhed, a little excepted flick- 
 ing on the top to the crucible and the cover, which 
 I took away and melted for experience fake in a 
 new dofe crucible, but all of it prefently feeling 
 heat flew away like Arfnick, no lign being left in 
 the crucible ; and fo 1 was deprived of my Gold. 
 
 At length I took the red folution, and abllradted 
 the water from tbc falts, and I found the fait red 
 like blood, which I put in a clean crucible in the 
 furnace for to try whether any metallick body might 
 thence be extracted ; but I found the efFufed fait de- 
 prived of all tinfture and rednefs, which feems Ilrange 
 to me even to this day , that by help of this fait 
 the whole fubftance of gold, viz.. the tindure to- 
 gether with the remainder flew away,# having fo 
 great volatility. 
 
 Which labour afterward I would reiterate, but 
 it happened not fo at all as at the firft time ; there 
 was indeed fome alteration of the gold made, but 
 its volatilization was not fo great, the caufe of 
 which thing, I think was the ignorance of the weight 
 of the aforefaid fait, call in at the firll time a- 
 gainfl ray will. 
 
 And two reafons chiefly moved me to infert thishi- 
 llory, Firfl,that it may appear how foon one may mi- 
 ltake in a fmall thing fruftrating the whole pro- 
 ccfs. Secondly, That the truth of the Philofophers 
 may appear writing that gold by art is reducible 
 into a lower degree, equal to lead (which happen- 
 ed to me in this work) and that it is harder to de- 
 ftroy gold and make it like to an Impei fed metal, 
 than to tranfmute an iraperfecl metal into gold ; there- 
 fore I am glad in ray heart that I faw fuch an ex- 
 periment ■■, of which thing our phantallick Philofo- 
 phers will hear nothing, writing whole volumes a- 
 gainft the truth, ftifly affirming, gold to be incorrup- 
 tible, which is an arrant lye :, for I can flicw the 
 contrary (if need be) many ways. I wonder in- 
 deed what moves fuch men to flight a thing un- 
 known, I do not ufe to judg things unknown to me. 
 How dare they deny the tranfmutation of metals, 
 knowing not how to ufe coals and tongs ? truly 1 
 confefs thofe rude and circuraforaneous Mountc- 
 
 79 
 
 bank?» not a little to defile and dilgrace true Chy- 
 millry, every where cheating men by their fraud , 
 being needy and opprcfl with penury ^ unkfs pcr- 
 adventure they find fomc credulous rich man giv- 
 ing them food and raiment for the conceived hope 
 of Gain and Skill, of which alfo feme being fur- 
 niflit with gold, go clad like painted Parrots, whom 
 I judg to be hated worfe than a Dog or a Snake -, 
 but innocent Chymillry is not therefore to be de- 
 fpifed. Some covetous men befortcd with folly and 
 madnefs, laying out their moneys with an uncer- 
 tain hope of gain, who afterward the thing ill fuc- 
 ceeding, are forced to live in poverty, whofe cafe 
 is not to be pityed, dcllroying their money out of 
 covctoufnefs. Some feck we;i!th not out of cove- 
 toufnefs, but rather that they may have wherewith 
 to live, and may fearch nature, which arc to be 
 excufed if they are deceived by knaves, yet not to 
 be praifed if they fpend above their ability- 
 
 uimther tinEturo and medicine of Gold, 
 
 DlfTolve golA'mJiqua Rcgia.^ being didolved, pre- 
 cipitate it with liquor of the fait ol flints , 
 pour fome more of the atbrefaid liquor to the pre- 
 cipitated gold, then place them in fand to boyl for 
 fome hours fpace, and the liquor of flints will ex'- 
 trad thetindureof ihegold,andbedyed with a pur- 
 ple colour :, to which, pour rain water, and make 
 it to boyl together with that purple liquor, and 
 the flint will be precipitated, the tinfture of an ex- 
 cellent colour with the fait of Tartar left ; from 
 which it is nccedary to cxtrail the water even to 
 drinefs, and a very fine fait of a purple colour will 
 remain in the bottom of the glafs, out of which 
 with the fpirit of wine, may be drawn a tinfture 
 as red as blood, little inferior in vertue to potable 
 gold i for many things lie hid in the purple fait, 
 of which more things might be fpoken if occaiion 
 permitted-, therefore let it fuftke to Ihew the way 
 of dellroying gold, for that golden fait may in a 
 very fliort time, vtz.- an hour, be perfedled with 
 fmall labour and tranfmutcd into a wonder of nature ; 
 confuting the flandcrsof the noble Art of Alchimy ; 
 for which gift we ought to give immortal thanks 
 to the immortal God. 
 
 Of Lookifig-glaffes. 
 
 IHave made mention in the treatife of Aurum 
 fotahilc, not only of the material heat of fire, but 
 alfo of turning the fined beams of the Sun into a 
 material bodily fubftance, by help of certain inltru- 
 raents by which they are colleded. I have alfo 
 mentioned there a concave Glafs, whofe preparati- 
 on I will here give, it being not known to ?11 men, 
 the beft that I know is as followeth. Firft, pat- 
 terns are to be made of the beft matter, namely, 
 hair and Potters clay, of which thing in the Fifth 
 part, conformable to the glafles, in form and fi- 
 gure circularly round \ for elfe they cannot gather 
 the Sun-beams together, and again pur them forth; 
 the fault of which thing is to be afcribed only to 
 the pattern or mold ^ for the fulion and poliftiing 
 of glalles is no fingular Art, being known even to 
 Bell- founders, but to melt them when very well (hap't 
 of the beft matter and rightly to polifh them, this 
 is Art : and firft to cut the patterns round, being 
 very well (haped by the ufe of a fliarp Iron Inftru- 
 ment cannot cannot briefly be deinonftrated ; there-. 
 
 X 2 fore 
 
8o 
 
 The Fourth Part of 
 
 Part 1- 
 
 therefore I will fendthe Reader to Authors prolixly 
 handling this thing, viz,. Anlnmeda and Joh.vK Bap- 
 tiji. Porta., and others ; but if thou wantefl; thofe 
 Authors, or doft not underftand them, fee thou 
 have a Globe cxatTtly turned for making the 
 Molds as followeth : firfb make a mixture of meal 
 and fifted afhes, which fpread equally between two 
 boards, as the manner is to fpread palt made of 
 Flower and Butter for Pyes and Tarts, anfwering 
 in thickncfs to the glafs to be fliaped, then with a 
 Compafs make a circle as big a you pleafc, which 
 cut with a knife, and put it on the Globe, and fprin- 
 kle quick lime on it out of a iearce or five, and 
 put clay well prepared with haire over it of the 
 thicknefs of two hngers breadth •, and if it be a 
 great piece you muft impofe crofs wires ftremuh- 
 ning the Mold, lead it be bent or broken. After- 
 ward one part being hardned wich the heat of the 
 Sun or fire, cake away all that from the Globe, and 
 put it on fome hollow thing, on which it may on 
 all fides Hand well, and alfo fprinkle quick lime or 
 the powder of coals on the other fide, and put up- 
 on this the other part of the pattern, and again 
 expoie it by degrees, to be dryed by the heat of 
 Sun or fire, lelt it crack-, which done, take away 
 the ends making thofe parts of the Mold or pattern 
 from the inward or middle, which ends fet one a- 
 gainft another to the inward parts, the diltance at 
 leafl: of a hands breadth, and put between in the 
 top a few live coals to harden the Mold all over ; 
 to which put on other coals, and then more, and 
 fo by degrees even to the top, that they may be well 
 kindled in their lighter parts ; but if the Molds are 
 very thlcki one fire will not fuffice, but it will be 
 recellary to add more coals, until they be through- 
 ly kindled in the inner parts ; afterward, let the 
 fire go out by degrees, that the types may grow 
 cold^ but not altogether, but fo that } hi may 
 touch them -, and prefently befaiear finely the fifccd 
 aflies mixc with water, with a pencil, to ftop up 
 the chincksarifen from the burning the hair, and for 
 fmoothing the types -, then again make both parts 
 (after thou haft h.ft framed a hole in them for a 
 Tunnel) clean, being wary left any foul thing fall 
 upon thein ■■, and carefully bind them together with 
 iron or copper wier^ and very well luie over the 
 joining with clay prepared with hair-, and put on 
 an earthen Tunnel, and place the Mold in dry fand 
 up to the top : And thou oughtell in the mean while 
 thou burneft and preparclt the Mold, to melt the 
 metallick mixture, that it may be poured into the 
 hot Mold, the Metal being well melted, call in a 
 bit of fearcloath, which burning, pour out the mel- 
 ted Metal into the hot Mold, being wary left coals 
 or fome other thing fall into the crucible, and be 
 poured with the Metal into the Mold, fpoiling the 
 glafs; then let the glafs cool of it felfin the Mold, 
 if the matter do not moulder in the cooling: 
 And if it fiiould moulder in the cooling, which in- 
 deed would lefien it, it behoves that the caft glafs 
 be prefently taken out of the Mold , and cover- 
 ed over with a hot earthen or iron velfel , that 
 it may cool under it, which otherwife, cooling fhut 
 up in the Mold not being able to moulder, is broke 
 in pieces, but a little below you fliall perceive, w/hat 
 be thofe mouldering metals. 
 
 And this is the common way (and the beft) of 
 melting, if fobe thou art exercifed; there are alfo 
 other waysi firft, when molds are made of wood 
 oi" lead, agreeing to the glafs, to be imprefled with 
 
 fand, or the fineft powder of tyles or other earth, 
 as is the cuftome of copper-fmiths; and this way 
 only ferveth for leller glafies. 
 
 The third way which is the beft of all, but hard- 
 eft to one not exercifed, is as follows ; make a 
 waxen Mold with a Cylinder to be placed between 
 two boards, as is aforefaid of the firft way, which 
 put upon the globe for to (hape it, and let it be hard- 
 ned in the cold -, then take it away, and fpread o- 
 ver it the following mixture w ith a pencil ^ which 
 fee that it be dryed in the (hadow, then apply pot- 
 ters clay, prepared with hair, the thicknefs of one 
 or two fingers breadth ; then take away the wax in 
 manner following trom the earth : make a round hole 
 in the earthen mold with a knife, coming even to 
 the wax; wich done, place it near a coal fire, the 
 mold being bending down, and the melted wax will 
 run through the hole, into which pour the hot (not 
 burnt) metal, ere. that liniment which is anoynted 
 on the wax inuft be very well prepared leaft while 
 the wax melt, it fall and melt away with the wax, 
 nor let the wax pierce the earthen mold and fpoil 
 it- Now the liniment follows : Burn potters clay 
 well wafiit in a Furnace even to rednefs; afterward 
 grind it and take away its fineft part with walhing 
 of water, fo that you may have an impalpable pow- 
 der, which dry, and again burn with a ftrong fire: 
 after grind it with rain water and fait Armoniack 
 fublimed, upon a ftone , as Painters ufe to prepare 
 their colours, bring it to the juft coniiftence of a 
 paint, and the mixture will be made i the fait Ar- 
 n:oniack keeps that fine powder, left it melt away 
 with the wax : and the prepared earth makes a 
 tender and fine fufion. 
 
 The mctallick^mxturc for the matter of the Look: 
 ifig-Glafs. 
 
 hich 
 
 THere are divers of thefe mixtures , of w 
 one is alwaies better than the other, which 
 by how much 'tis the harder, by fo much the glafs 
 is the betlfcr ; and by how much the harder the 
 metal is, by fo much the better it is poliflit ; nor 
 doth the hardnefs of the mixture fuffice , but its 
 whitenefs is alfo required . lor red proceeds from 
 too much copper-, black from too much iron, or 
 duskie from too much tin, and doth not makethe 
 true reprefentations of things, but changeth the ftape 
 and colour of them : for example fake, too much 
 copper rendereth the Species redder than they are 
 to be, and fo of the reft \ let therefore the metal- 
 lick mixture be very white ; but if burning glaftes are 
 to be made, it is no matter what colour it be of, if 
 fo be that the mixture be hard- 1 will fet down 
 one of the beft, IV. of Copper plates the thinefl: 
 beaten to pieces one part, of white Arfnick a quarter 
 part i firft moiften the plates with the liquor of the 
 I'alt of Tartar, and make a Stratum fuper Stratum, 
 with plates and Arfnick powdred , by fprinkling 
 this on them, until the crucible be filled -, to which 
 pour the oyl of Linfeed, as much as fufficeth to co- 
 ver the copper and Arfnick ; which done put on the co- 
 ver with the beft lute, then place the crucible (the 
 lute being dryedj in fand, fo that only the upper 
 part of the cover may ftick out and adminifler lire 
 by degrees, at firft little^ feccndly fomewhat ftron- 
 ger, till at length it be hot, that all the oyl may 
 evaporate-, in the mean time, the cyl will prepare 
 the copper, and retain the Arinick, ard will make 
 it enter into the plates, like oyl piercing diy Lea- 
 ther ; 
 
Part I. 
 
 T hilojofhical Furnaces. 
 
 8i 
 
 ther: Or place the crucible upon a grate and put 
 Fire to it, which adminifter by degrecS) until the 
 oyl evaporate in the boyling. Lafliy, when it fliall 
 coolc, break the crucible, and thou (halt find the 
 topper of diverfe colours, efpecially if thou flialc 
 take Orpin in ftead of Arfcnick, and twice or 
 thrice increafed in magnitude, and brittle. 
 
 R. of this copper one part, and of latton [OrickU- 
 cum'] two parts, melt it with a very quick Fire, and 
 tirft indeed the latton, to which afterward add the 
 friable copper; pour out the mixture melted and 
 thou ihalt have a very hard metal unfileable, yet not 
 fo brittle, but like fteei, of which diverfe things may 
 be formed ferving in ftead of iron and fteel inftru- 
 ments-, take of this hard metal three parts of the befl: 
 tin without lead one part, melt and effufe it, and 
 the matter of looking glalles will be made. This 
 mixture is a hard white metal making the beft look- 
 ing glalfes, but if this labor feem tedious, take of 
 copper three parts, of tin one part, of white Arfe- 
 nick half .a part for the matter of looking-glafles, 
 which are fine but brittle, as well in the melting as 
 polifhing, therefore carefully to be handled. I mult 
 here fet down a thing worthy to be obfcrved, and 
 known to few •■, viz. ■■ a falfe opinion of many, ef- 
 pecially of thofe who attribute knowledge to them- 
 felves of the proprieties of metals- In the fecond 
 part (oi fubrile fpirits) mention is made of the pores 
 of metals, for experience witnefleth, that thofe fub- 
 tilc fpirits as of hai'ts-horn, tartar, foot, and fome- 
 tiraes thofe fulphureous ones of falts and metals do 
 evaporate through pewter veflels, which at the ull: 
 hearing every man cannot conceive, for whofe lake 
 this difcourfe is made. Make two balls of Copper, 
 and two of pure 1 in not mi.xt with lead, of one 
 and the fame form and quantity, the weight of 
 which balls obferve exaftly, which done, again melt 
 the aforefaid balls or bullets into one, and lirft the 
 copper,to which melted add the Tin, left much Tin c- 
 vaporate in the meltingi& prefently pour out the mix^ 
 ture melted into the mold of the firft balls, and tliere 
 will not come forth four nor fcarce three balls, the 
 weight of the four balls being referved ^ if then me- 
 tals are not porous, whence I praydorh that great 
 alteration of quantity proceed ? therefore know that 
 metals are porous more or lef^ ; gold hath the few- 
 eft pores, lilver hath more, Mercury , more than 
 that. Lead more than Mercury, Copper more than 
 Lead, and Iron than copper, but tin hath moft of 
 all. 
 
 If we conld deftroy metals, and again educe them 
 deftroyed from power to adt, furely they would not 
 be fo porous. And as a child without corredlion is 
 unapt to any goodnefs, but corre.fted is endued with 
 all kind of venue and learning, fo alfo we muft un- 
 derftand of metals which left in their natural ftate, 
 namely drawn out of the earth without corredion 
 and emendation remain volatile, but corrupted and 
 regenerated are made more noble, even as cur bo- 
 dies deftroyed and corrupted, at length Ihall arife cla- 
 rified before they come into Gods fight. Well faid 
 Paracdfiis, that if in one hour metals were deftroyed 
 an hundred times, yet they could not be without a 
 body, realTuming a new fpecies and indeed a better, 
 for it is rightly faid, Vfims corrupt^o., altenus genera- 
 no ; for the mortification of a fuperfluous fulphure- 
 ous body is the regeneration of the Mercurial foul, 
 for without a deftrudion of metals perfecHiion can- 
 not be •, therefore metals are to be deftroyed and 
 made formlefs, that thereby the fuperfluous earthy 
 
 combuftible fulphur being feparated, the pure fine 
 Mercurial fpecies may fpring forth. Of which thing 
 more, when we fpeak of Artificial ftones- 
 
 Of the frmothing and polijhing of Icokirtg-alajftS 
 
 ALooking-glafs,thoughit be very exafllv melted 
 and proportioned, yet is of no value if not 
 rightly poliflied and fmoothed ; for cafily in the 
 fmooching any part it may fufFer fome dammage 
 hurtful to it, and it is neceffary to take from them 
 firft, the grofler part by the wheel, as the 
 cuftom is with Pewterers and Copper-fmiths with a 
 fandy ftone, then to apply to them a finer ftone with 
 water, until they are fufficiently fmoothed by grind- 
 ing ; which done, the looking- glafiesxre again to be 
 taken from the wheel and to be moved to the fmail 
 wooden wheel covcrediwith leather, rubbed over 
 with a fine prepared glazing ftone until the crevifes 
 contracted in the turning no more appear, having 
 got a crofs line.r-afterward another fmall wheel co- 
 vered with leather is required, to which a blood- 
 ftone prepared and vvafht with the afiies of tin rub- 
 bed on, to which likewife by the aforefaid means, 
 according to the fame line, the looking- HJafies are 
 fo long to be moved till they get a fufiicient nnenefs 
 and brightnels- You muft kecpfuch looking-glalles 
 from thcmoiftair, and breathing, and to wipe them 
 when infecfted with air and breathing not with any 
 woolen or linnen cloth, but with a Goats or Harts 
 skin, and not any way, bnt according to the crofs 
 line, with which the looking-glafles are fmoothed. 
 They may alfo be fmoothed by lead artificially mel- 
 ted, by firft rubing theni with a fmiris and water, 
 and then with a finer fmiris and lead ; laftly 
 with a blood ftone and afhes of tin ; likewife 
 alfo with whetftones, by changing for a finer eveiy 
 time, whence at length alfo they acquire a fplen' 
 dour by the afhes of tin. 
 
 Alfo the outward part of the looking-glailes (con- 
 vex) maybe fmoothed, which reprefcnts the fpecies 
 fhort, and fpreads the difperfed rays: but the in ward 
 part (hollow) gathers and multiplies, and puts forth 
 or expofeth the Image. 
 
 Let thefe things fuffice concerning the melting of 
 looking glaQes,& polifhing requifites, for the collerti- 
 on of the Suu beams, and although from the aforefaid 
 mixture other kinds of looking-.glafTes might be made 
 reprefcnting wonderful fliapes and feveral excellent 
 things, as Cylindrick, Pyramidal, Parabolick, c'r. 
 they are emitted as impertinent to this place, 
 yet I could Ihew away to make thera, becaufe I have 
 undergone no fmall labors and charges in the fearch- 
 ing of their preparation and ufe, if it were neceffa- 
 ry. But of all looking-glafTes that is moft ufeful 
 whofe preparation we have fhewn, whofedtameteris 
 at leali two or three fpans, if thou wilt perform a- 
 ny fpccial thing ; afthough it be but of one or two 
 fpans, yet it gathers abundance of beams, fo that 
 thou raaift melt tin and lead with it, if it be well 
 fhaped : yet the larger are the better. Nor ought 
 they to be too deep, that they may caft their 
 beams the further, and better perform their adtions 
 or funcflions, let them have the twentyeth or thir- 
 tyeth part of the fphere (the feiftion being e.xadlv' 
 obferved) which is the foundation of the Art. 
 
 Of 
 
82 
 
 The Fourth Tan of 
 
 Part L 
 
 Of Artificial Gems, and Afetallick Glajjes. 
 
 AS for metallick glades pertaining to Alchymy, 
 and much conducing to the perfedion of me- 
 tals, and cfteemcd bv the Ancient Philofophers, I 
 would not omit to uy ibmewhac in this place, be- 
 caufe they arcealily made by this furnace. 
 
 And indeed the Ancients have found thefe glafTes 
 queftionlefs by chante, in reducing the calcined bo- 
 dys iiiioglafsby a ftrongtiic, for very many fecrets 
 by this means not fought for are found out. Often- 
 times it happensto our labors, that pad hope we find 
 fomthing better or worfe, than the thing fought; and 
 1 think it hath thus happened with thefe glaifcs, 
 but however it be, I am lure thefe glafTes have flood 
 us in much ftead •, for Ii.a.ik Holland faith plainly, 
 That vitrified metals being again brought to metals, 
 by that rcdudion do give better and nobler metals 
 than the firft vitrified ; and indeed gold gives a tin- 
 ^ure, but filver gold, and copper filver; and fo con; 
 fequently the glafs of other metals give better me- 
 tals in redudion, the truth of which experience 
 proves, and although I have not yet made great try- 
 al in this work, yet I know that metals brought in- 
 to dead afhes to be turned into clear glafs cannot 
 be again reduced into metals without great profit : 
 yet one metal is more pliable than another, nor are 
 our glafles the Artificial {tones of gold-fmiths fixed 
 to other large ones for ornaments fake, made by the 
 addition of glafs made of fufile fand ; but ours are 
 made of the juice of metals. But I do not deny the 
 vertue of Venice glafs, and others in the mundify- 
 ing of metals, chiefly copper and tin, which yet is 
 not comparable with metallick juices. I freely con- 
 fefs I havetryed this thing twenty times, and I ne- 
 ver was deceived by it : but I know not whether it 
 may prove lb in a greater quantity, becaufe I never 
 tryed it, doubting of my vefTels not fit to retain 
 fulible glafles a requifit time : fori have fpent much 
 labor in making thefe kind of veffels, but hitherto 
 in vain- For there is very great hope of gain, if thou 
 haft very flrong crucibles, nor is this perfedion of 
 metals without rcafon, for whileft the metal is burnt 
 to aflies, much of the fuperfiuous combuftible fulphur 
 is burnt (as you may fee in Lead, Tin, and Copper, 
 from the fparks appearing in their calcination whilell 
 they are ftirred and feparating) which if again re- 
 duced (^viz. being calcined) its better and heavier 
 part (by benefit of melting) finketh to the bottom, 
 the worfer fiowing on the top is changed into drofs 
 or glafs. And fo the feparation of metals is made 
 by the help of the Fire alone, to the ignorant and 
 une.xpert incredible : but confider gilt filver to be 
 feparated in fufion, which is as it were corrupted by 
 the common fulphur, and the metallick fpecies, be- 
 ing loft, it turns to a black drofs before that in mel- 
 ting it forfakes the gold : which w ay alfo filver is 
 feparated from copper, and this from iron. Ob- 
 ferve alfo that black and crude Antimony? being 
 reduced into afhes by calcination, and melted is fe- 
 parated by a ftrong Fire, the purer parts defcending 
 pure and white like lilver, but tlie impure parts afcend- 
 ing are changed into glafs or drofs, which feparation 
 would never be made without incineration al- 
 though the Antimony fhould have ftood long influx. 
 
 Thou feeft therefore the power of Fire alone in 
 melting metals, wherefore believe thou that thy la- 
 l)or (hall not be in vain if thou knoweft how to help 
 the Fire. E.vcrcifc thy felf therefore in it) for thou 
 
 art fufliciently inftructed, and this furnace wDl help 
 thee i without which it is impollible to manage 
 fuch things well, as experience tellifies, confirming 
 my words. 
 
 Mention being made of metallick glaffes, which 
 belongs to the perfedlion of metals, I am forced to 
 fay fomthing alfo of other Jmacf<3j or coloured glaG 
 fes, which are called Gems, and are worn for 
 beautifying, which t!iough it be not profitable, yet 
 it is a delightful labour, which knowledge, as well 
 noble as ignoble have long fought, not for gain, but 
 recreation fake, erring from the true way (although 
 prolixly defcribed in many tongues) through igno- 
 rance of the art to render cryftalor flint fulible, and 
 colouring it, being content with lead glaifes made of 
 one part of cryftals, or flints, and three or four parts 
 of minium or cerufe, glafs of no worth, as not only 
 very foft and unapt for polithing, but alfo heavier 
 than it ought by means of the lead, and having a 
 yellow or green colour, for every glafs made of cry- 
 ftal or flint, and minium or cerufe by themfelves, 'viz.. 
 without the addition of other colours, gets a yellow 
 colour from the Lead, hindering and altering other 
 mixt colours ; therefore a good ftone is not made 
 this way of lead and flint, bat Leaden glafles of this 
 fort, Venice glafs, Aflies of tin, and colours being 
 added to them, be ufed diverfly of the gold- 
 fmiths, namely to colour gold, otherwife of no 
 moment - 
 
 Therefore I will give another preparation, name- 
 ly out of flints err. cryftals alone without minium 
 and cerufe, with metallick colours, having the co- 
 lour and elegancy of excellent ftones ; but not har- 
 der than glafs \ for although cryftal is harder than 
 iron, yet by melting it is deprived of its hardnefs 
 in fome meafurc, and is made like to glafs, yet fo 
 much hardnefs referved, as ferves to write on ano- 
 ther glafs, which glaflTes are eafily poliflied, and ia 
 all things and by all, moft like, hardnefs excepted? 
 to natural ftones •, with which not only various kinds 
 of ftones may be made, and other gold, filver, and, 
 w^ooden works or pi(n:ures adorned ; but alfo diverfe 
 fupelledlils, as falts,liafts or hilts, cups, <^c. and alfo 
 images and antiquities, may be formed fby fufion) like 
 to thofe cut out of gems by the hand of an ingeni-- 
 ous vrorkman, moft delightful. 
 
 They are made after this manner : firft you rauft 
 look for flints and cryftals not coloured, but very 
 white, gathered out of fand or ftreams, which you 
 muft heat in a covered crucible, and quench thern 
 glowing hot in cold water, that they may crack and 
 may be pulverifed ; otherwife they are fo hard that 
 when they are powdred, they take part of the mor- 
 ter and fo arc defiled ; therefore it is worth your 
 labor to handle them well- Afterward 1^ of 
 flints prepared, and the pureft fait of Tartar, 
 made in glafed vefTels, but not in copper or iron, 
 equal parts, mingle them and keep them for 
 ufe. 
 
 And if thou wilt make this mafs into a gem, 
 you muft firft mingle fome colour (what you 
 defire) afterward fo long place it (being put 
 into a clean covered crucible fcarce half fulU in 
 a very ftrong fire, till all the fait of Tartar hath 
 evaporated, and the flint together with the colour 
 come into fubftance fufible like glafs: you muft 
 then put a fmall clean iron wier, and draw out a 
 little of the melted mafs for tryal^ whether it 
 have ftood long enough in the fire, whether there 
 be yet puftles and little fands , or whether it be- 
 ing 
 
Part 1. 
 
 Philofofhical Furnaces. 
 
 H 
 
 ing exaclly melted, it (hall defcend to the bottom, 
 which done, you muft take off the crucible , and 
 place it under fomc hot iron or earthen veflcl, 
 that it may wax cold with the melted flone ; o- 
 therwife the mafs will be broken in the crucible 
 into very fmall parts, and would be unfit for grea- 
 ter works ; neither muft you pour out the melted 
 mafs for fear of the attradion of aire , and pu- 
 fties to arife thence. But being willing to make 
 out of the Mafs by Fufion , not Engraving Mo- 
 ney or Images ^ there is no need to leave the 
 piafs in the crucible to cool, but prefcntly to pour 
 it out hot in a copper mo: ter ■, and nothing will 
 ftick to the crucible, but all the mafs will be pou- 
 red out without any walte : And this mafs , if 
 thou wilt, thou maift powder or break into very 
 fmall bits for fulion and impreflion. But the mafs 
 when cooled in the crucible , is to be taken by 
 breaking the crucible, and to be reduced into greater 
 or leffer ftones by cutting : but melting for mo- 
 ney or images ; you muft place the money or image, 
 which you will imitate, with the backfide or hin- 
 der - part downward in an iron Ring , a Fingers 
 breadth broad of greater capacity than the money, 
 upon a ftone or plain wood, and fprinkle on a lit- 
 tle Tripoly, or fine Sand, through a cloth, name- 
 ly, as much as futSceth to cover the mold , and 
 upon this to put more, well moiftcned with water, 
 like afhes of cupels, and to prefs it, being moft te- 
 nacious, firmly to the mold, but warily, left the 
 mold be moved ; which done , you muft turn the 
 ring , and with a knife lift up- the mold , and to 
 take it, being lifted up with ones hands or tongs, 
 the image teing left in the fand, to be dryed by 
 heat of the Sun or Fire- Afterward to caft the 
 image, place the ring with the image imprefled in 
 the fand under a tile, and adminifter a ftrongfire, 
 that the whole ring, with the fand, and the image 
 in the fand may be very hot : then take off the 
 ring, to fee if the image have fuffered any lofs ; 
 which, if it have not , you muft put upon it fo 
 much of the aforefaid glafs, courfly beaten, as fuf- 
 ficcth in the fufion to fill the image imprefled on 
 the fand j which done , put the ring again under 
 the tile , and adminifter a fire of fufion, till the 
 glafs melt in the ring ; to which , touch with a 
 fraooth iron and light, (with a handle) being hot 
 the ring being taken firft out of the furnace with 
 tongs , prefling the glafs well to the mold ; and 
 then place it under a hot iron , or earthen veffel 
 to cool ; and being cold, take the image from the 
 mold, which anfwers to it in all things , if thou 
 haft aright proceeded , exadly reprefenting the 
 Carvers art, or a feal imprefled on a jewel, which 
 excellent work is moft fit to feign, and reprefent 
 Antiquities and Rarities. 
 
 Th: coloming of the aforefaid mafs follows^ by which 
 it is made mojt lik^ to Gems. 
 
 IT behooveth that colours be taken from metals 
 and minerals, namely from Copper, Iron, Gold, 
 Silver, Wifmuth, Magnefia and Granate ; of other 
 colours I know nothing of certainty, Copper com- 
 monly makes a colour green like the Sea, Copper with 
 Iron, grafs-green; Granate a fmaragdine colour, Iron 
 yellow or jacynth -, Gold the beft skie colour ; Wif- 
 muth common skie colour ^ Magnefia Amethyftine, 
 inixt, they give other colours ; E. gr. Gold raixt 
 with Silver gives an Amethyft colour} Iron and 
 
 Copper, a pale green; Wifmuth and Magnefia, a 
 purple ; Silver and Magnefia, various colours like 
 an Opal. 
 
 Images are alfo made of divers colours, if the 
 maffes of diverfe colours be broken into bits and 
 mixt, be put upon the Mold, crc. And if thou de- 
 fireft an opac mafs (green, red, skie colour, &C ) 
 add a little calx of Tin darkning, on which as on 
 a Bafis the colours infift- For example :, in making 
 a Turcoife ftone or a La'/Lulus, mingle with the 
 Azure made of the lilver Marcafit or Zafora (to 
 colour the mafs) the calx of Tin, that they may 
 melt together , and before the impreflion be made, 
 put upon the Mold fome prepared gold, then fpread 
 and put upon this the aforefaid glafs j and the fu- 
 fion and impreffion being made, will be made thence 
 a ftone havmg golden veins like lapts Laz.ttins ve- 
 ry delightful ; But there muft be a calx of Gold 
 not lofing its fplendor in the fire, fuch as is made 
 by Mercury, or that which is better, which is pre- 
 cipitated out of j4qna Rcgia : of which above. 
 
 Of the preparation of the colours for colouring ths 
 mafs of Flints and Cryftals. 
 
 THe plates of copper often heated, are to be 
 quenched in cold water of which more in th^ 
 Fifth part, from three to fix grains of it may be 
 mixed with ? )• of the mafs for a Sea-green colour. 
 Iron is reduced into crocus by reverberation ; of 
 which from four to ten grains are added to the 
 mafs for a yellow or Jacynth colour ; Silver is dif- 
 folved in yiqua fortis^ and precipitated with tifie li- 
 quor of Flints after it is edulcorated and dryed , 
 whereof from one to fix grains, added to 5 j. of 
 the mafs, they make mixt colours. 
 
 Gold is dillblved in ^(]na Regia^ Edulcorated and 
 dryed, precipitated firft with liquor of Flints, where- 
 of from grain four to 3//. mixt with one ounce 
 of the mafs, make a moft elegant Saphire. And 
 if from three to fix of that foluble ruby made of 
 the Gold , and the nitrous Regulus Martis be ad- 
 ded to ^j. of the mafs , they make a very polite 
 ruby : Magnefia pulverifed , whereof, from fix to 
 fourteen grains , to |j. of the mafs, make an A- 
 methyft. 
 
 Marcafit diffolved in Aqua Regia^ precipitated 
 with the liquor of flints , edulcorated and dryed, 
 whereof from one to five grains, to |j. of the mafs, 
 give a Saphire, but not comparably fo polite as 
 one made with gold- 
 
 But being unwilling to calcine Marcafite, let him 
 take Zafora, and mingle to % j. from five to teii 
 grains ; Granates of Bohemia , or Oriental piilve- 
 rifed , add from fix grains to 9 j to 5 j- of the 
 mafs , for little green ftones like to the natural 
 fmaragd or emrald : other things which remain 
 of the mixture of the colours, are to be learned by 
 experience. 
 
 To what ufes coloured flints and cryftals art ap- 
 pointed, is not here to be treated of; oneufe ex- 
 cepted, which I fet down for the eyes, which are 
 weakened by too much watching, the heat of fire 
 and fmoak •, fee thou have a waxen mold circular- 
 ly round , of the bigncfs of a diih or trencher ; 
 ( the Optiques are wont to call fuch lentes ) to 
 which, put the beft clay well mixed with hair: 
 anoint the waxen type with oyl, and exaftly apply 
 the beft prepared earth of crucibles ( and durable 
 in the fire ) the thicknefs of a finger •, which be- 
 
 Y 2 ing 
 
 l» 
 
84 
 
 The Fowtb Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ing drycd, perforate in foiiie part , that the wax 
 being melted by the fire, may flow forth : after- 
 ward burn the mold in an earthen furnace ; being 
 burnt, fill it with prepared glafs, and place it in 
 a wind furnace till the glafs melf, which at length 
 being cooled, take off' the type by attrition , and 
 there fhalt thou have the cryltal rcfembling the 
 form of the type ; which afterward thou muft make 
 and polilh like fpcrtacles in an iron difh on both fides ; 
 and take it out with a ftrong iron wier, and thou 
 ftalt have a good cryftalline lc»t for b fmall price, 
 which otherwife is fcarce made of cryftal of fo 
 great a bigncfs- Aud if thou wilt, thou maift co- 
 lour the glafs green , very pleafant to the fight, 
 and fie a foot to it for greater benefit. And the 
 glafs dorh not only fcrve for the Multiplication 
 of light in the night time , that you may fee a 
 thing a far off in a chamber, but alfo for the fix- 
 ing and calcining minerals by the Sun- beams, and 
 melting of Metals , and multiplying of Pictures, 
 like an hollow glafs, and alfo for other ufes it may 
 be compared with an hollow looking--glafs, which 
 doth the fame of an equal bignefs with the hol- 
 low glafs ; nor is there any other difference of 
 them but reflexion. This glafs-inftrument is made 
 likewife another way, and by lefs colt and labor, 
 if it be of a polilht looking- glafs, if two great 
 orbes are cut out with a diamond, and if they are 
 fomewhat foftned with Fire, and are left there fo 
 long in the heat , until they fliail ftick like wax 
 very clofe to the Hone, which done, let them be 
 cooled again , which afterward taken out, will re- 
 prefent the form of an hollow glafs ; to which, it 
 behoves to fix a leaf on the convex part. A nd 
 the glafles do the fame that an hollow metalJick 
 looking- glafs doth, the reflexion excepted , which 
 is not fo flrong as of the hollow glafs : And al- 
 though the glafles are fooner broke , yet they are 
 very fit for the making of the following Inftru- 
 
 ment. . , » 
 
 And they are bound together with a ftrong wi- 
 er , applyed acrofs on the concave part , and an 
 hole is cut in the brim with a diamond on one 
 ilde, of the bignefs of a pea, then the cr^vifes are 
 exadtly clofed in every place with the belt lute ; 
 which done, a filver or copper ring is to be tyed 
 about it, holding thofe glafle, fl:raightly , fo that 
 the Infl:rument may be fitted to the foot, all which 
 well done, thofe ftrong wiers are feparated or cut 
 off, with which the glalfcs were bound at firfl;, 
 namely, near the copper ring : afterward very pure 
 yt<jna vitx is to be put in through a funnel , as 
 much as is required for the filling it up •, the In- 
 Itrument being filled, the hole is ihut up, which is 
 to be kept for ufe ; and this Inflrument is better 
 than the hollow glafs •, efpecialiy, if it have in its 
 
 diameter the breadth of one foot , and may be 
 applyed to profpedlive pictures, it doth excellent- 
 ly reprefent and multiply them. 
 
 Behind which, if you place a candle in the night, 
 it gives fo much light in the Chamber , that you 
 would think it came from the Sun. It doth alfo 
 many other things which are here omitted as fu- 
 perfluous. And you may gather the difper fed light 
 in the aire in the night time with it, fo that you 
 may read the fmalleft writing. Such and others of 
 the like things may be done by this furnace, all 
 which to fet down , would fwell the Book too 
 much. Other things of the metals examination 
 and purification by fufion, in another place- 
 Take this, Reader, which is given to thee, in good 
 part, at another time thou flialt have better-, and do 
 not miftake my writings, as if I did reprove the ex- 
 aminations of metals by the Ancients, fufions and fe- 
 parations, who only would communicate my opini- 
 on, and yield my aififtance for further proceeding ■■, 
 for I know that dealers in metals giving too much ere; 
 dit to their fmall proof when they find nothing, do, 
 contemn oars as barren, often abounding with gold 
 and filver ; when neverthelefs, John Mathef. fays ex- 
 prefly in his Sarepa^ that minerals oftentimes tryed 
 in a imall quantity do yield no gold and filver, which 
 in a great quantity, yield a great deal, wherefore cre- 
 dit it is not always to be given to fuch tryals, often de- 
 ceiving, as experience teflifies. 
 
 And this not only in thofe minerals which are dig- 
 ged out of the earth \ but alfo in thofe clayie and fan- 
 dy minerals, abounding with filver and golden flamesj 
 out of which neither by the lefs nor greater proofs> 
 nor ablution nor Mercury is drawn with gain that 
 thin and fiery difperfed gold : which by fome waters 
 is done without fire eafily ; for 1 know fuch mines are 
 found neer many rivers of Germany, and many pla- 
 ces in other Nations of Europe, out of which honeft 
 gain without much colt and labor may eafily be got- 
 ten. Neither are they dreams, which I have fpoken 
 parabolically of the perfedion of metals, for it is 
 poflibleby art to help nature in theperfeding things- 
 There is therefore no more need of any thing than of 
 knowledge ; therefore the nature of metals being 
 known, and their properties, they are eafily fepara- 
 ted, purged and perfedted. 
 
 But what 1 have written of the univerial medicine, 
 I have done for the aforefaid caufes, which have 
 made me believe the thing, not as profeflbr of the 
 Art- The other things of coloured red glafles and 
 looking glafles I have added, becaufe they are eafily 
 prepared by this furnace, as fometimes neceflary in 
 fome works- Other things of the handling metals 
 are not without caufe now omitted, which happily 
 may befometime delivered in another place, where- 
 fore now we end. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 THE 
 
Place ibis Fartl before Page 85. 
 
 .IV- 
 
 A 
 
85 
 
 ^^^^^1^3^^^:^^:^^^^^^^^^?;^ 
 
 THE 
 
 FIFTH PART 
 
 O F 
 
 In Tifhich ii treated of the wonderful TSlatwe of the Fifth Furnace : Jlfoj of the eafy 'Trepdrai 
 t'ton of the Inflruments and jMatertah belon^in^ to the fore f aid Four Fwnaces. Mofi proft" 
 table for Chymical Thyfitians. 
 
 Of the Preparation of the Furnace. 
 
 AS concerning this, of which, though I 
 made no mention in the Preface ; for 
 it was not my Refolution to mention 
 it in the laft Part, becaufe I was pui'- 
 pofed only to treat of the Inftruments, 
 as well earthen, as thofe of glafs, and alfo of the 
 other neceifary things belonging to thofe four 
 parts premifed ■■, yet I am willing now in this Part, 
 ( which I have judged to be the moft convenient 
 place for it , for which I did before defign ano- 
 ther ^ to difcover the wonderful Nature thereof, 
 as far as I may for the Studious Artift's fake. 
 And although I know that more in this part , than 
 in all my other writings, efpecially the ignorant 
 and unskilful, will be offended ■■, yet I will not there- 
 fore pafs it by , perfwading my felf , that by this 
 means I (liall do a work, that will be moft accep- 
 table to the fearchers of Art, and Nature- For 
 1 do devoutly affirm. That this is the choiceft of 
 all my fecrets that I confide in , in which I have 
 already feen wonderful things, hoping that the Di- 
 vine Benedidtion win fome time or other be ob- 
 tained upon the pradice thereof. And as for the 
 ftrudure of it , much cannot be fa id thereof, be- 
 caule it is not built as other Furnaces are, but it 
 is every where found extruded by Nature, being 
 ordained for no other works, than thofe of Na- 
 ture, "Viz.. for the making of any fntnfirnum that 
 fhall diffolve gold, filver, and all other metals, and 
 minerals without any noife, as alfo pretious, and 
 common ftones, and alfo glaD'es: the original of 
 which , is the original of the Me/ijiruum. Now 
 
 what, and what manner of Furnace that is , that 
 produceth this Royal MenfirHum^ f coming from 
 the Me»^!HHm it felf ) and that eafily without any 
 labour , you may eafily conjedurc , that it is not 
 any common one, by the help whereof other things 
 are diltilled, that can yield fuch a Mcn(irHnm that 
 is not corrofive : which certainly is not any com- 
 mon MtnftrHiiin, becaufe there is but this one Moi- 
 ftrHHm that I know, which doth not partake of any 
 corrofive quality, that doth more than any, or all 
 other corrofive waters whatfoever. For all corro- 
 fives whatfoever they arc, as dqna fortis^ aqua re^ia^ 
 fpirit of fait, vitrioll, allome, aud nitre cannot'to- 
 gether, and at once diffolve the clofe uniou of gold, 
 and filver, and other moll hard fubjeds, that can- 
 not be diffolved in waters , thoueh never fo cau- 
 ftick. _ 
 
 This indeed is wonderful, and ftupendous, that 
 a thing every where found moft vile and bafe , 
 fhould doe fo great a miracle: i know not what 
 moved me to write of it , knowing that I (hall in 
 this part offend not onely the wife by writing fo 
 openly, but alfo ilie ignorant detractors, and flan- 
 derers that will accufe me of fallity. And truly 
 thefe confiderations might juftly have deterred me, 
 but that I knew I might doe a good work, recall- 
 ing many from their errors : For many are per- 
 fwaded that there is no other diffolving Mcnsiruum^ 
 befides the aforefaid corrofive fpirits i but thofe are 
 Chymifts that arc ignorant of Nature ; yet the 
 Philofophers with one confent fay, that thofe cor- 
 rofive deftruiftive fpirits make afruitlefs folution of 
 
 2 metals. 
 
86 
 
 The Fifth Tart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 metals-, for experience tellifies, that the folutions 
 made by the help of aqua fonis^ and 'C^i^^, and o- 
 ther fpirits, coiour the hands, being that which a 
 true Philofophical fplution doth not , and further- 
 more, tcftifiqs, that thofe, -viz.. vvhich colour the 
 hands, are not to be reclcon'd among the true Philo- 
 fophical folutions, but to be contemned as Malig- 
 nant. Wherefore I was willing to write thefe things 
 to inflrH.T: thofe that erre. Let no man therefore 
 perfwade himfelf , that a MenfirHum fo vile and 
 contemptible, is of lefs efficacy, than thofe corro- 
 live fpirits- I my felf did once fcarce believe, that 
 fo great Vertues could be in fo molt vile a ^i "- 
 ftritnm, until I had experience of the truth in good 
 earnefl:. 
 
 I could here add more things concerning the 
 originril of the univerfal MthftrHum , which is fo 
 contemptible, vvhich doth by its wonderful powers 
 and vertues dillolve ail metals, minerals and ftones 
 radically without any noife, unites and fixeth them ; 
 the folution whereof doth not colour the hand ; 
 the conjun:lion is infeparable, and the fixation in- 
 combuftible^ I fay, I could add more thirjgs con- 
 cerning it, but that divers iuconvenienccb, which 
 by this means I might incur, as aifo the envy and 
 hatred of others do deter me. For although any 
 one doth think to difcover the polfibility of Art, 
 and Nature ; yet few would be content therewith, 
 being very defirous of all manner of revelation \ 
 and if we fliould not gratify them, we fhould forth- 
 with incur their hatred and envy, who would with= 
 out doubt judge otherwife of the matter, if they 
 had but any experience of our labours. Be thou 
 therefore ( courteous Reader ) contented with this 
 difcourfe, that fiiews thee the pofFibility" of Art and 
 Nature; and diligently feek after it in the fear of 
 God , and without doubt thy labour (hall not be 
 in vain- 
 
 Of the Building of the Furnaces. 
 
 HOw thofe Furnaces of the firft and fecond part 
 are to be built and made of Potters Clay, 
 and Stones ; I need not fay much , becaufe there 
 be many Books extant , treating of this matter 
 fufficiently ■, yet this caution is to be obferved in 
 building of the Furnaces, viz.. that thofe Furnaces, 
 in which a very ftrong tire is not kindled , need 
 rot fo ftrong walls, as thofe in vvhich we diftil, 
 fublime, and melt , with a mod ftrong fire. And 
 for what belongs to fubliming and diftilling Furna; 
 ces ; you may ered them of thofe common bricks 
 which are made of the beft clay, and well burnt, 
 conipafTmg them about with very ftrong walls, that 
 they may the longer retain the heat : or elfe you 
 will continually have fomething to do in mending 
 them, and clofing their chinks , which hinder the 
 regiment of fire. Wherefore they muft be corn- 
 palled about with iron hoops , that they may be 
 durable and not gape. Now what concerns the 
 melting Furnaces, the aforefaid bricks are not of 
 ufe in the building of them, becaufe they not be- 
 ing durable melt in the fire ; wherefore you muft 
 make other bricks of a very good earth that is 
 fixed in the Fire, fuch as is that of crucibles, o-c- 
 of vvhich, afterwards \ which are to be made in a 
 brazen or wooden mould, and to be burnt, and it 
 matters not whether they be round or fquare, a 
 regard being had of the Furnace, that fix or eight 
 of them make one courfe, or row. But you need 
 
 not build the whole Furnace of thofe ftones, for 
 it is fufficient, if the place only, where the coals 
 ftill lye, be made of them, and the other part of 
 the Furnace be made of common bricks. 
 
 A Lute for the ere£Hr?£ of Furnaces . 
 
 LUte may be made divers wayes for this bufi- 
 nefs i for men prepare their Lute feveral wayes 
 as they pleafe- Some mix with fifted Potters earth 
 the beaten hairs of Cows , Oxen, Harts, or the 
 chafTe of Barley, Tow, Flocks, Horfedung, and 
 the like, that hold together the clay, and prevent 
 chops , to which they add fometimes fifted fand, 
 if the clay be too fat , beating the mixture toge- 
 ther with water , and bringing it to a juft confi- 
 Itence. And this is the beft mixture, that is not 
 fubjcft to cleaving, yet weak, becaufe in length of 
 time the hair and chafl'e are burnt, wherefore the 
 furnace becomes thin and weak- Many leave out 
 combuftible things, and mix Potters clay, and fand 
 together, and temper them with brine, for the 
 making of their Furnaces. And this is the beft 
 mixture, becaufe it is not combuftible as the other 
 is, neither is it fubjeft to cracking, by re^fon of 
 the fait: and for Lhis purpofe, the brine of fifh 
 and fait flein doth ferve, and is very good, becaufe 
 the blood helps the joining of them together : but 
 if the Cai.::t ?7iorti:u>!i of vitriol or Acju.t fortis^ be- 
 ing mollilyed, be mixed with -Potters clay and 
 fand , you go a better way to work : for this 
 Lute is not at all fubjed to cracking, but fixed in 
 the fire and permanent. With this Lute are Re- 
 torts, and Gourds very well luted, and coated, al- 
 fo the joints of Retorts, and Receivers doled: 
 this being mollifyed with a wet cloth applyed to 
 it, may again be feparated, and taken ott, as that 
 alfo with which fait is mixed : but the other Lutes 
 that want fait will not be feparated, by reafoa 
 whereof glaftes oftentimes are broken. Wherefore 
 in defeft of the Cufut martuum of Vitriol, temper 
 the clay and fand with brine : But many mix the 
 filings of iron, powdered glafs, flints, G c. but you 
 need not them for the building of the Furraces, 
 but only for the coating of cert.^.m glafles ufed for 
 feparation, and diftillation, becaufe the filings of 
 iron Heing helped with fait, binds, and joins toge- 
 ther moft ftrongly- 
 
 Of the clofing of the Joints^ hindiring the evaf oration 
 of fiibtle Spirits. 
 
 THe aforefaid Lute is fufficient for the clofing 
 of the Joints of the firft Furnace, where air 
 is not kept from the Spirits, but not of the Vef- 
 fels of the fecond Furnace, where moft fubtle Spi- 
 rits- are diftilled, which it cannot retain, penetrat- 
 ing the fame with the lofs of the better part : 
 wherefore you muft make choice of another ^ un- 
 lefs upon the other being well dryed, a mixture 
 made of quick Lime, moft fubtilly powdered , and 
 Linfeed-oyl, befmeared over with a pencil, which the 
 porous clay attracfting to it, is fortifyed, fo as to 
 to be able to retain thofe moft fubtle Spirits : but 
 this Lute can hardly be feparated again ; becaufe 
 refufing water, it cannot be mollify'ed ; wherefore 
 the clay is to be tempered only with the white of 
 eggs, and to be applyed with linnen clouts : but 
 you muft prevent the burning of the linnen , by 
 reafon of the extreara heat of the neck of the Re: 
 
 ceiver 
 
Part I. 
 
 Pbilofofbical Furnaces, 
 
 ceiver, by putting between an iron or ftrong glafs, 
 viz.. betwixt the receiver and the retort- The joints 
 alfo may be clofcd with oxe bladders wet in the 
 white of eggs, alfo with ftarch tempered with wa- 
 ter, if it be fometimes applyed, being fmearcd on 
 paper. For by this means thofc moft fiibtile fpi- 
 rits areeafily retained, but not corrofive, for which 
 ufe the c.i^ut mortumoi '"]'i't fonts is more conveni- 
 ent which after ic is drycd mufl: be fmeared over 
 with a mixture made of linfeed oyl, and quick 
 lime. 
 
 And divers kinds of thefe lutes are had being de= 
 ftined to divers ufes. 
 
 Another Lute for brokrn Glajfes. 
 
 IT happens fometimes that glafs vellels, as recei- 
 vers, and retorts, have feme cracks, but ''other- 
 wife are whole and found ; which are greater in thofe 
 glalTes that do again fufFer the heat of the Fire, 
 wherefore at laft the glalTes ace broken, which if yon 
 will prevent, make a liniment or thin lute of linfeed 
 Oyl, quick lime, and red lead ; which being fmeered 
 over a linnen cloth apply to the crack, upon which 
 being dryed apply another : but if the crack be ve- 
 ry great, you may apply three or four linen cloths, 
 for the greater fafety fake: as you may apply the 
 whites of egges beaten together, upon the cracks 
 with linnen, and caft upon it quick lime lifted very 
 fine, and prefs it down hard with your hand : which 
 being done, you may apply over them more linen 
 clout> wet in the whites of eggs, and calt upon them 
 quick lime again: which when the lute is well dryed, 
 retaines the fpirits, but fooner fubjedl to the corro; 
 lion of corrolive fpirits than the former. 
 
 Note well that quick lime is not to be mixed with 
 the white of eggs, and fo ufed upon linen clouts, as 
 the manner of fome is ; becaufe the whites of eggs 
 acquire a hardnefs from the lime before they be uni- 
 ted, and therefore cannot ftick, but linen clouts wet 
 Firft therewith before the quick lime be caft upon 
 them, fo that the lime dotn not immediately touch 
 the glafs, being applyed befwixt two linen cloths. 
 
 Horo thofe fubtile fpirits when they are made^ may he kept 
 that they evaporate not. 
 
 THofe glalFes in which thofe fpirits are kept are 
 for the moft part ftopt with cork, or wax, up- 
 on which afterward bladders are bound : which flop- 
 ping is convenient for fome fpirits, that do not prey 
 upon cork or wax : For all corrofive fpirits, as of vi; 
 triol, Allpme, common fait, nitre, &(:■ corrode cork , 
 and lixivial fpirits^ as that of harts-horn, tartar, 
 fait armoniack, urin, wine, <^c. melt wax, and pe- 
 netrate it. 
 
 And although other ftopples might be made, vvhich 
 might retain both forts of fpirits, yet it would be 
 tedious and laborious to open thofe fo often, and 
 to ftop them again. Wherefore I have found out a 
 fit kind of glalfes, viz.. of fuch, whofe mouths have 
 diftindions, and are fit to receive their covers ■, as it 
 appears by the delineation. {,See the frft figure~\. A- 
 figniiies tke cover : B. the glafs containing the fpi- 
 rit. C. a drawer by the help whereof the ipirits are 
 taken out of the glafs, when there is occafion, into 
 the diftinftion in the brim of the mouth; viz.. of 
 the glafs that contains the fpirit, is put quickfilver, ' 
 and upon this is put a cover -, this being done, the 
 Mercury clofeth the joynts of both glailes running 
 
 in the brim, fo that nothing at all can evaporate • 
 for the fpirits do not penetrate the Mercury, unlefs 
 they be very corrolive Ta thing to be noted; which 
 then in proccfs of time turn the Mercury into wa- 
 ter, but very feldom ; and then the Mercury is to be 
 renewed. But we need not give fo much honour to 
 corrofive fpirits, being not to be compared to thofe 
 volatile ones, which being abftrafted from corrofives 
 not prey upon Mercury •, and muchlefs than thefe, 
 do lixivial fpirits corrode Mercury ; and for the fake 
 of thefe were thefe glaftes invented, by the help 
 whereof moft fubtile fpirits are without any lofs of 
 their vertues, if you pleafe, a very long time pre- 
 fervcd and kept- And becaufe when there isocca= 
 fion the fpirits cannot be poured forth by rcgfon of 
 the Mercury in the brim, you muft .r^ct a dravver 
 like to that, by the help whereof wine is taken out 
 of the veflel, but lelfer, having a belly with a little 
 mouth made very accurately- This being let down 
 you may take up as much as you pleafe, as is needful j 
 the upper orifice whereof being flopped with the fin- 
 ger nothing drops out ^ being put into a lelfer glafs 
 is thence poured forth for your ufe. Then you muft 
 again cover the remainder of the fpirit that is in the 
 glafs, and as oft as is needful take out with that draw- 
 er as much as is ufeful. . And this is the beft way by 
 which the moft fubtile fpirits are retained ^ which alfo 
 are very well retained in thofe glaffes, whofe ftoples 
 are of glafs fmoothed with grinding. But this is 
 a more coftly way of keeping in fpirits, and it is done 
 after this manner. 
 
 H,w glnfs ftopples are to be fmoothed hy grin Uni? for the 
 ritaimng of fpirtts in their glafs vejfls. 
 
 Ffrftof all order the matter fo that you have glafs 
 bottles of feverai forts, fome greater, fome lef- 
 fer, wiih ftrong necks, and mouths, with their glafs 
 ftopples, which being fmoothed by grinding (hut the 
 orifice of the bottle very clofe:Now they are fmoothed 
 thus. Pat the ftopples in the turn, being fet or faftned 
 in fome wood, bring it into a round fhape, then being 
 moiftned with Siniris^ and water mixed together, let 
 it be put to the mouth of the bottle, fo as to be turn- 
 ed round in the mouth of the bottle, which you muft 
 often take away front the ftopples being faftened to 
 the turn, for the oftner moiltening of it, which is 
 with that mixture of prepared Smiris and water, 
 with the help of a pencil, or feather ; and that fo 
 often and fo long, until the ftopple ftop the mouth of 
 the bottle moftclofely : which being done, you wipe 
 off the Smins with a lint from the ftopples and mouth 
 of the bottle, then fmcer over the Itopple with a 
 liniment made of fome fine walhed earth, and wa- 
 ter, or oyl, and again turn it round in the mouth 
 of the bottle, and often fmear it over v\"ith this frelh 
 mixture, until the ftopple be moft exadllv fmooth- 
 ed, which afterward is to be tycd to its proper bot- 
 tle-, the fame alfo is to beunderftood concerning the 
 reft, that one may not be taken for an other, c^c. 
 And that you may not need to take away fo much 
 from the ftopples, and bottles, get fome copper 
 moulds made for the ftopples, which ftopples muft 
 be taken whileft they be yet warm, foft, and new 
 drawn from the furnace, that they may be made of 
 a juft roundncfs, as alfo other copper moulds. Which 
 muft be put into the mouths of the bottles, whileft 
 they be yet hot and foft, for the bet'er making of 
 them round, whereby afterwards the ftopple may 
 more ealily, and quickly become fie to ftop the 
 
 Z 2 mouths 
 
88 
 
 The Fifth Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 mouths of the bottles very clofe, (as for example : 
 yl. is the (topple, B- thcglafsor bottlej if thou know- 
 eft how to order theai rightly? they will quickly and 
 eafily fit one the other. 
 
 Indefett of a turn, proceed after the following 
 manner, which is flow, yet fafe, becaufe in a turn the 
 glalles, oftentimes waxing hoc are broken by reafon 
 of the over great haft •, and it is thus, make an iron 
 or wooden receptacle fit to receive the glafs bottle, 
 which being covered about with linen, and put in, 
 
 table fixation of fpirits, not fo, where we niuft fol' 
 low Nature, and not commit our felves to fortune 
 in our labours. For only fools arc wont to break 
 their glaflTcs in their fuppofed tin-Tlure ; but Philo- 
 fophers not fo •, for every ziolent thing is an enemy to 
 Nature-^ and all the operations of Nature are fpon- 
 taneou<;. They erre therefore, and never fliall come 
 unto their defired end, who attempt violent fixati- 
 ons. I cannot beperfwaded that bodies dead, or half 
 dead can be fo mixed together as to multiply : but 
 
 join both parts of the receptacle warily and foftly, I could eafily believe that the conjunaion of male 
 with ihehelp of a fcrew, that the bottle be not bro- "" ' "" '' 
 ken, and that that inftrument, or receptacle of the 
 bottle being faftencd to a form with the help of the 
 fcrew, cannot be moved. Afterwards caufe that a-- 
 nother wooden inftrument be made for the ftoppie(as 
 for example, yi. the ftopple with its receptacle B- the 
 bottle with its receptabk; that may be feparated in 
 the middle, and be again reunited with a fcrew af- 
 ter the putting in of the ftopple, which being fmee- 
 red over with the aforefaid mixture offmns and wa- 
 ter, take the inftrument with both hands, and put 
 the ftopple round about the neck of the bottle, and 
 grind it round upon the other, as Wine Coopers 
 are ufed to do in fmoothing the taps •, and that fo 
 long until the ftopple be fit for the bottle ; then rei- 
 tereatethe fame labour with'the earth tnpoUs, until it 
 be compleatedi and it will ftop as well as a ftopple 
 made by the help of a turn [.Sec the fccond and third 
 Figures he fire tht fourth fart r\ 
 
 After this manner alfo you muft work thofe greater 
 glafs receivers of the firft furnace, that without 
 luting they maybeclofed. Stopples alfo of vials or 
 Boliheads for fixation may be wrought after this man^ 
 ner, which in ftead of luting may be put into the 
 mouths of the vials, upon which are put caps of lead ; 
 by which means in cafe of neceffity they may be lifted 
 np, VIZ.. in cafe the fpirits by .too ftrong a fire be 
 ftirred up and rarified, by reafon of the danger the 
 glafles are in to be broken, and may again fall down 
 into the mouths of the bottles being prelled down 
 with the leaden caps, and fo ftop clofe again- And 
 this way of ftopping is better then that which is done 
 with cork, wax, fuiphur, and other things : becaule 
 in cafe the fire be not well governed, and by confe- 
 quence an errour is committed, you may preferve 
 ■your glalles by lifting up of the ftopples, viz.- when 
 the fpirits are too much ftirred up. And although 
 this be a better way of ftopping than the other com- 
 mon way ; yet that which follows is better then this, 
 whereby the fpirits are eafily retained, the gialfes be- 
 ing prcferved, and without all danger of being bro- 
 ken. And it is thus, -viz.. get a glafs pipe to be made 
 crooked according to the figure fet down, into the 
 belly whereof is quickfilver to be put from half an 
 ounce to an ounce, or thereabouts, and let this pipe 
 which hath a belly be put into the vial containing the 
 matter to be fixed (as for example- y^. the pipe with 
 a belly, B- is the vial, and again C. fignifies the afore- 
 faid leaden cap with the neck of the vial D.) the joints 
 whereof afterwards are to be covered over with lute, 
 and the vial will never be in danger of being broken- 
 See the fourth Figure. 
 
 Thefe forefaid ways of ftopping are the beft, by 
 which the breakings of glalles are prevented, viz.. 
 whileft men are in an errour about the fixing of fpi^ 
 rits of falts, minerals and metals, which although 
 they arc fixed with great cofts and labours, yet do 
 not fatisfiewhat is promifed and expetT;ed, becaufe 
 thofe kinds of fixations are violent and forced, and 
 by confcquence contrary to nature : but in the profi- 
 
 and female of one and the fame fpecics, found and 
 nourilhcd with found and wholefome meats to be na- 
 tural, and to make a fpontaneous propagation, and 
 multijilication of their fpecies i i^z.. of thofe that 
 endure in a good, and adverfe fortune, in life, and 
 death , buttheconjundion of dead things,to be dead, 
 and barren. Do but confidcr how many and various 
 inftruments both gold, filver, copper, iron, tin, and 
 lead i as alfo earthen, glafs, ftone, and other vefiels 
 of other materials have been already invented, and 
 found out for the fixing of Mercury alone with gold 
 and filver, but in vain, becaufe they have no mutual 
 affinity. For although Mercury adheres to metals, or 
 metals to it, yet that is not by reafon of any affini- 
 ty for multiplication, or perfection fake : for it ap: 
 pears by experience that Mercury flies away in the fire, 
 and leaves the gold, filver and other metals. Where 
 it is clear that they have no mutual affinity requifite 
 for the multiplication of metals, nor is iteverpofii- 
 ble : For they that have a mutual affinity embraceone 
 the other and abide together for ever, although vo- 
 latile, yet never leave one the other, like gold and 
 Mercury, when they are united together with the 
 ftrongcft bond, fo that they can never be feparated 
 although with the ftrongeft Fire. Wherefore a great 
 care is to be had in the fixation of things joined toge- 
 ther", which if they have a mutual afiinity, will em- 
 brace and retain one the other, without the help 
 of any curious glailes with long necks- Of which 
 things if thou art ignorant, abftain from medling 
 with them, as being more hurtful then profitable, as 
 dayly experience both mine own, and others do wit= 
 nefs. But that thou mayft the better underftand 
 what things have a mutual affinity one with the other : 
 attend a little to what 1 Oiall fay. 
 
 Is not he to be laughed at for his folly who will 
 pour rain, or common water on gold, filver, and o- 
 ther metals to fix them? See therefore the unwife 
 a;rtions of many covetous Alchymifts in fo hard a 
 matter, that fpend their time in trifles, reaping ac- 
 cording to what they have fowed, and at laft leave 
 ofi' their work which they have undertaken, after 
 they have expended much colt, and fpent their la- 
 bour in ftenches, watchings, and cares. For I have 
 oftentimes feen thofe, that although they have not 
 chofen common water for their moiflriw.t)!^ yet have 
 made choice of -^^-^j-dew, fnow or rain gathered in 
 March., and water diftilled out of Noftock, or ex- 
 crement of Stars ; vegetables and animals for 
 their folvent, in which they have loft their la- 
 bour. 
 
 For as the radical union of the aforefaid things 
 with metals is impofllble : fo never is any good to 
 be produced from thence, by reafon of their diffe- 
 rence- And fuch may defervcdly be compared to 
 thofe, who afcending a very high ladder that hath 
 many fteps, doe prefently endeavour to fly from 
 the lowermoft to the uppermoft ; which is a thing 
 impofllble : fo neither can there be any corjundion 
 of things that do fo much dilFcr. But as |ny one 
 
 may 
 
Pare I. 
 
 Philofofbical pHrnacer. 
 
 89 
 
 miy cafily afcend the highelt (lep by degrees, fo 
 alfo any one may T which yet he need not do^ 
 join together extreams, by adding firfl: a thing that 
 is tnoft near to one of the extreams, and then to 
 this another next to it, and fo by confcquence, un- 
 til you come to the other cxtream, which is a thing 
 that requires a very long time, and is a work 
 without profit- And if things b^ joined together 
 that have the next affinity, the one will be de- 
 lighted in the other, and the one will embrace the 
 other, will overcome, and retain it. As for ex- 
 ample, there is a certain laic, and that only, that 
 can coagulate, and turn into a body like to it fclf, 
 even common water, which can be tixed in a very 
 little time, with, and by one only certain mineral, 
 which is very volatile. Minerals alfo may be fix- 
 ed by metals , and metals, ( a thing which I ne- 
 ver yet tryed ) by a certain thing more excellent 
 than metals, without all doubt. But therefore it 
 is needful in the fixation of minerals to begin with 
 the coagulation of water, whereby it is turned in= 
 to fait ; and this afterward into a mineral j which 
 would be too tedious-, but it is fufRcient to begin 
 in things moft near , in which nature hath begun 
 to operate, but hath left imperfedl ; for then there 
 is hope of gain, if contrary things are not joined 
 together, elfe not- Behold how ready Nature is 
 at hand to help any thing that is adminiflred to 
 it, which it can help : as for example, make fait 
 of calcined Tartar by the help of folution and co- 
 agulation ( but do not take that for it, of which 
 a little before mention hath been made, which is 
 far better than fait of Tartar ) of which after it 
 is calcined, obferve the weight ; upon which after- 
 wards pour half the weight of mcft pure rain wa- 
 ter-, diltilled to avoid the fufpition of impurity ; 
 then draw off the water gently in BJneo, or Sand, 
 which again pour upon the remaining fait of Tar- 
 tar, and again draw it off; this do fo often as is 
 needful, until all the water be confumed. Which 
 being done, take out the fait, and weigh it, being 
 firft made red hot in the Fire, and thou flialt find 
 it to be increafed in weight, which increafe came 
 from the water, and not elfewhere. 
 
 Note well that the cohobation of the water is 
 to be reiterated often upon the fait of Tartar. 
 Obferve, that by this means, the water is conver- 
 tible into fait by Art, &c. And if thou doft not 
 believe the converfion of things material and cor- 
 poreal , how wilt thou believe the converfion of 
 things immaterial, as of the Sun, and Fire into a 
 material fixed fubftance ; of which thing , fome- 
 thing fhall be treated in our Treatife of Auntm po- 
 Tabile^ and more at large afterwards in a Treatife 
 De Gintratione Atetallorum ^ if God permit: For 
 you muft know that the circulation of the Ele- 
 ments , and things elementated, "viz.- how one is 
 converted into another ; and how they nourifh and 
 chcrifh one the other : as for example, the Earth 
 yields Water, the Water Air, the Air Fire, and 
 the Fire again Earth ; which if it be pure, yields 
 pure Earth- But that thou maift underftand aright 
 how any thing to be fixed, may be retained by a- 
 nother, by reafon of affinity, obferve the following 
 example. The Husbandman calling feed into the 
 Earth for to multiply, doth not choofe any Earth, 
 but that which is convenient for multiplication, 
 ■vi^. an Earth that is neither too dry, nor too 
 moift ; for the Seed call in fand cannot grow, but 
 is loll : For whatfoever is to be prefcrved , is to 
 
 be prcferved by an equal temper; which, oy how 
 much it is more equal or like, fo much lie more 
 perfeft fubftance it doth produce. Humidity there- 
 fore being necelTarily requilitc for the growth of 
 I vegetables, without which, they can neither grow, 
 nor multiply , but the feed being cafl into moift 
 I fand , and the Rayes of the Sun adling upon the 
 fand, and fuddenly confuming the humidity there- 
 of, whence follows the burning up of the feed irt 
 the dry fand , becaufe there was no affinity be- 
 twixt the water, and fand; without which, the 
 water could not be retained by the fand, and con- 
 i fequently, the feed deprived of its nutriment ; it 
 follows nece/larily, that fome mcdtum be required* 
 or bond joining and binding the rain , and fand ; 
 w;l. fait, by the help whereof, the rain water is 
 retained by the fand, that it be not fo eafily con- 
 fumed by the heat of the fun. 
 
 Tlie fand therefore retains the fait, and the faltj 
 the rain water for the nutrition of the bud : but 
 every fait is not convenient for this bufinefs ; for 
 although Chrift faith, Luk^ Chxp. 14, Verfe the laft, 
 that earth without fait is barren ; yet any com- 
 mon fait is not to be underftood thereby : [See 
 more cie Narura Salium. ] for fome falts , as com- 
 mon fait, fait of Vitriol, Allome, ci-c. do not only 
 not do good, but do hurt to Vegetables, hindering 
 by reafon of their drynefs their growth and in- 
 creafe. Now iixivial falts promote them , that 
 which Ccuatry - men do better underftand , than 
 our fuppofed Philofophers : for they know how to. 
 help their barren ground with the excrements of 
 Animals \ which are nothing elfe but a Iixivial falc 
 mixed with fulphur, making the earth fat and fer- 
 tile. And by this means a vehtculnm ( rather a 
 bond ) is adminiftred to the rain water , that it 
 may the lefs be confumed by the heat of the Sun. 
 Moreover, all feed ( confifting in a Iixivial fait and 
 fulphur ) loves its like , from whence it borrows 
 its Nutriment, which is obferved but by a few 
 Learned or Unlearned. Husband - Men may well 
 be excufed of their ignorance,' becaufe they work 
 only out of Ufe and Cuftome. But others that 
 bear the Title of Learning not fo ; whofe Duty 
 it is to Render a reafon of Germination , who 
 may defervedly be Aftiamed of their Ignorance, 
 being lefs knowing than Husband - Men. It is 
 manifeft , that Dung makes the Earth Fruitful j 
 but how, and for what reafon, not fo ; but if it 
 did want nitrous fait, it would neither make it 
 Fertile, nor promote Germination : for it is not un- 
 known, that Nitre is made out of the excrements 
 of Animals. The goodnefs therefore of the dung 
 confifts only in the iixivial falc contained in it, and 
 not in the ftraw. 
 
 But you will ask perhaps, why doth not any other 
 fait help Germination ? Why is the fait of dung 
 required to Germination, and no other ? We have 
 already anfwered that, like are helped with like; 
 and contraries are deftroyed by contraries: For 
 experience doth teftify, that every feed confifts in 
 a Iixivial fait and fulphur , and not in any acid 
 fait i wherefore alfo it doth delire and embrace its 
 like. Let him therefore, that will not believe it, 
 make tryal of the diftillation of the feed of any 
 vegetable ; of which, let him force over a pound 
 by a retort ; and he fhall fee by experience, that 
 not an acid fpirit, but a flegra together with plen- 
 ty of oyl, and volatile fait whitening the whole 
 Receiver, comes over ; being that which no rooc 
 
 A a or 
 
go 
 
 The Fifth Tart of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 or ftalk can do: for the cliiefefl; vertuc, odour, 
 and taft of vegetables, animals, and minerals is 
 found in the feed, in which thing provident Na- 
 ture hath done very well, whileft (lie attributes the 
 chiefeft faculties to the feed, being more obnoxious 
 to injuries then the reft, which is alfo preferved, 
 nourilhedi and cheriflied by its like. 
 
 Now this difcourfe which might otherwife have 
 been omitted, was therefore appointed, that the caufc 
 of the germination of vegetables might be made the 
 more manifcll ; and that what things have been 
 fpoken of the attradion, and fixation of all things 
 might the better be underftood. The germination 
 therefore, and multiplication of both minerals, ve- 
 getables and animals muft be fpontancous, and not 
 forced, as istliat barren and frulhaneous of thefalfe 
 Chymills, becaufe preternatural. Wherefore when 
 you lix any thing be cautious in the adding of any 
 thing that fliould retain it, with which nothing can 
 be fixed. Fire indeed doth always do its office ; but 
 it knows not how to help any preternatural thing ^ 
 which it doth wholly deftroy, againft which nothing 
 can be prevalent, unlefs it be rightly ordained ac- 
 cording to Nature. 
 
 And thus much is fpoken for inflrurtion fake, to 
 thee that intendefl: to fix any thing, left otherwife 
 thou lofeft thy labour. 
 
 Of the makiytg of the be ft crucible f. 
 
 THe beft crucibles that are requifite for the fourth 
 furnace, not being found in every place, I 
 thought it worth while to fet down the manner of 
 making them ; for I am not ignorant ho.v oftentimes 
 many for wantofthefe are conftrained to be con- 
 tent with thofe that are ufelefs, and truly with great 
 Ipfs of metals, whileft the crucibles are broken in 
 thefire,and confequently with atedioufnefsin drawing 
 them out of the allies. 
 
 Chymifts have been in a greaterrouralongtime, 
 and not only they but alfo goldfmiths, and they that 
 feparate metals, as alfo others that need the help of 
 crucibles, who perfwade themfelves that the beft 
 earth that is fit to make the beft crucibles is to be 
 found no where but in ^ jfn ■-, and therefore with 
 great charges have cauled that Gibfenfian crucibles 
 be brought over ; not confidcnng that almoft in e- 
 very place in Germany fuch earth is to be found,which 
 indeed is a very great folly ol men, proceeding from 
 the not knowing of good earth which is to be found 
 almoft every where. I do not deny but that the 
 earth of B.:ffia is very good for crucibles, tyles, re- 
 torts, and other vefTels which are to be fet in a ve= 
 ry great Fire, for which caufe alfo is commended 
 GibfenlTan, and Waldburgenfian crucibles. 
 
 A few years fmce fome have made their crucibles, 
 and other veflels that will endure the fire well, of 
 earth brought out of EwLmd-, and Frame into Hoi. 
 land-, which have retained metals very well in the fire, 
 but not falts, becaufe they are too porous and notfo 
 compaft ■A'^xho^c oi Hajfia^ wherefore thofe of Haf- 
 f'i are ftill preferred before others, retaining better, 
 metals, and falts. But although this earth be brought 
 fiom thence to other places, yet fuch ftrong cruci- 
 bles could not be made thereof, the caufe whereof 
 being not the conftitution of the air, and place to 
 which fome have falfely imputed it, but an error 
 in the making and burning of them- For in Haf- 
 fu there is a great abundance of wood, of which 
 there is no fparing in the burning the crucibles even 
 
 to a ftony hardnefs, which could not be done by a fraal 
 Fire of turfics. 
 
 The like errouris committed about ftone pots, and 
 other vell'els which arc made at Frechemium and Si- 
 burirjis, and other places near Co/ew, which are car- 
 ryed almoft through all Europe, the goodnels where= 
 of is afcribcdonly to the earth, and not to the mak- 
 ing. But now experience hath taught us that any 
 good earth doth become ftony in a violent fire, with- 
 out refpedof the place where it is taken. Where- 
 fore it is very probable, being a thing pofiible, that 
 fuch veOels are made elfe.vhere: for every earth be- 
 ing burnt retaining a white colour, viz.. with an 
 indilferent Fire, makes pots, and crucibles porous, 
 but with a ftronger, and with a longer delay, corn- 
 pad like glafs, elpecially if common fait be caft in 
 a plentiful manner upon them,being burnt with a very 
 ftrong fire, becaufe it addes to them being very well 
 burnt within an external giafy fmoothnefs, by which 
 means they will be the better able to retain fpirits 
 in the Fire. Wherefore lee no man doubt con- 
 cerning the making the forefaid veflels of any other 
 earth that is white in burning, with the help of a 
 very ftrong Fire : which by how much the greater 
 whitenefs it gets in burning, by fo much the better 
 and excellent pots it makes ; and feeing there is a 
 great difference of making crucibles to be fet in the 
 Fire, and of ftone pots retaining liquid things, I fliall 
 (liew the manner of making both, viz.. of ftone pots 
 belonging tothefirftand fecond furnace, andofcru-, 
 cibles to the fourth, and thus it is- 
 
 He that will try the goodnefs of white and pure 
 earth, viz.- whether it grows ftony in the fire, let 
 him caft a peice of crude earth of the bignefs of a hens 
 egge into a very ftrong Fire, obferving whether ic 
 doth quickly or flowly cleave and break in pieces ^ 
 which if it doth not cleave and become powder, al- 
 though it may have fome cracks, is good earth, and 
 fit for buraing, if fo be the mixture be viell made, in 
 which lys the art. 
 
 The earth that is to be burnt, for pot:;, receivers, 
 and bottles, needs no other preparation then that for 
 bricks, which becaufe for the moft part it is too fat» 
 you muft mix with it clean fifted fufible fand, tread 
 it with your feet, and knead it with your hands be- 
 fore veffels be made thereof ; which being made are 
 to be dryed in the heat of the Sun, or in fome other 
 warm place ; and being dryed are to be burnt in a 
 very ftrong Fire for the fpace of twenty four or 
 thirty hours, on which in the mean time you may caft: 
 fait if you pleafe, whic^i being thus burnt do like 
 glafs retain cafily all liquid things- But let him that 
 makes crucibles, tyles, bricks and other vctfels ap- 
 pointed for a very ftrong Fire, ufe more diligence in 
 the making of them. And truly firft he muft beat 
 very fmall with a wooden hammer, the earth being 
 dryed well in the Sun, or elfe where, and being 
 beaten fearfe it through a great fearfe, and to one 
 part of the fifted earth mix two, three, or four 
 parts (the fatnefs of the earth being confidered) of 
 the earth burnt in a potters furnace, and powdered, 
 which being mixed with a fufficient quantity of wa- 
 ter he muft tread with his feet, and afterwards knead 
 with his hands, and the earth will be prepared for 
 the making of veflels, and when he makes crucibles 
 and tefts, let him provide for wooden moulds both 
 greater and fmaller, made in a turn, hy the help 
 whereof they may be made, for the aforcfaid veflels 
 cannot be formed by the ufual art of the potters ; 
 becaufe the matter of them muft be very lean, ap- 
 pointed 
 
Part I. 
 
 Fbilojofbical Furnaces. 
 
 91 
 
 .pointed for a moft flrong fire •, wherefore common- 
 ly they are made by the help of moulds after the fol- 
 lowing manner. 
 
 Let a piece of the prepared earth beapplyed with 
 your hands to the mould, which you muft hold in 
 one hand) applyingand fitting the earth thereto with 
 the other, or hold it with your legs, that the earth 
 may bs applyed with both your hands. Alfo you 
 muft firft rub the mould very well with clean lifted 
 fand, for elfe the earth will fo flick to the wooden 
 mould, that a crucible can fcarce be taken off with- 
 out danger, which being done, it is further fitted 
 by (triking it with a wooden inllrument fmoothed 
 for the purpofe, by which means the crucible lyes 
 very exaddy upon the mould, for by this means 
 crucibles are made very Itrong ; which being 
 done alfo let the crucible be takfifn off, and fet up- 
 on a board, and be drycd, firft in the air, then by 
 the heat of the fire, or fun, and then be burned in 
 the firft chamber of our fourth furnace, or in a pot- 
 ters furnace- And if you intend only to melt me- 
 tals and not falts, you need not burn the ctucibles 
 if they be well, and exadlly made. 
 
 Now this caution is to be obferved in melting by 
 the help of crucibles not burnt, that you muft give 
 fire above by little and little, for fear of breaking the 
 crucibles feeling a fuddain heat- 
 Now that they may be made equal in ftrength, 
 weight, and thicknefs, you muft weigh one crucible 
 rightly made by the help of the mould in one fcale, 
 and a piece of the prepared earth, which is to be put 
 into the other fcale, and if they be equal in weight, 
 take out that piece, and put in another ; and this do 
 fo often, till you be come to the number of the cru- 
 cibles which you would have made : By this means 
 they are made equal, and you need not cut off any 
 overplus of the earth when it is fitted to the mould, 
 becaufe all are made equal, by reafon of the equal 
 weight of the matter of each of them, and the work 
 is fooner done then otherwife. 
 
 This indeed is the beft way but tedious and labo- 
 rious, wherefore confidering the matter a little more 
 ferioufly, 1 found at laft that the following way is far 
 better than the former : whereby not only ftronger 
 crucibles are made, but alfo more in one hour, then 
 in that former common way in three or four. Where 
 firft, the mould is made of latten (on which I advife 
 you to apply the earth) fignified by the letter A 
 -viz.. that being the beft, which is made by the help 
 of fufion- Then the counter-mould anfv'iering this, 
 fignified by the letter B. yet fo that that do not en- 
 ter too deep into this, not touching the bottom by 
 the diftance at leaft of one fingers breadth ; but in 
 greater crucibles a greater thicknefs of the bottom 
 is required, as the pradife will teach thee. 
 
 Let him therefore that is making crucibles apply 
 the earth to the mould, as hath been above faid in 
 the Firft manner, which being done, let him again 
 take off the crucible that is formed or caft, and fet 
 it in the air to be dryed. Then having Firft made 
 a fufficient number of crucibles, let him make the 
 mould clean from the earth or fand, and annoynt it 
 with greafe, or oyl Olive taken up with a fponge, 
 as alfo the counter-mould, into which let him put 
 the crucible being half made and dryed, and into 
 this the mould, which he mnft ftrike above twice 
 or twice or thrice with a heavy wooden mallet, that 
 the earth may be rightly, and exa^ily applyed to 
 the mould; which being done let him take off the 
 mould, and turn the counteVmould together with 
 
 the crucible, which let him knock a little againft the 
 form (where the crucibles are made) and kt him 
 take in his hand the crucible falling from thence ; 
 which he muft afterwards dry and burn, as hath 
 been above faid in the Firft manner. And by this 
 way are made the belt, and the beft proportioned 
 crucibles, Fixed and fmooth, not only for melting 
 of metals, but alfo for minerals and falts •, the like 
 to which I never yet faw, as being without all dan- 
 ger, if fo be rightly made of the beft earth- And 
 that they may be made equal in weight and ftreneth, 
 they muft be weighed as before hath been faid, And 
 this labour is eafleand pleafant, when they are made 
 with ones own hand, and that greater or lelfer at 
 pleafure. 
 
 After the fame manner alfo arc made tefts viz.. 
 by the help of the like kind of moulds, which mull 
 not be long but plain like fiiclls as appears by the 
 annexed Figure, A. and B. Not only tefts but alfo 
 cuples are made by the help of thefe moulds. T^ie 
 the fifth Mii fuxtb Fi^urcj..'] 
 
 Now tefts are made more eafily this way then 
 crucibles, becaufe the earth only is weighed, and 
 being handled with the hands is put into the coun- 
 ter-mould, which then you muft with the upper- 
 part prefs hard ; that it may be made conformable 
 to the mould, viz. plain, not long, that which may 
 ealily therefore be made; and for this caufe thofe 
 crucibles are eafily agam taken out, viz. if the 
 mould be turned, or the counter-mould be a little 
 knocked againft the fides of the form- And if the 
 earth be beaten in too faft that it goes out at the fides, 
 you muft cut it off with a knife, or elfe the cru- 
 cible or teft is hardly taken out, fticking to 
 the brims, which praftife will teach thee. For all 
 things cannot be io accurately demonftrated bv a 
 pen. •' 
 
 And take this for a caution, that thou do not 
 make thy tefts and crucibles of earth that is too 
 fok, but of that which is half dry, otherwife they 
 are hardly taken out of the moulds , for that is 
 n^ore eafily and rightly applyed to the mould. And 
 it thou proceed rightly according to the prefcript, 
 fcarce one crucible of a hundred will be loft. 
 
 This alfo is to be obferved, that the fupeifluous 
 earth which is cut off muft not be mixed again with 
 the mafs for crucibles, becaufe itisfpoyled with the 
 tat, or oyl that is fmeared over the moulds, and 
 therefore cannot be fo well mixed again, and being 
 burnt cleaves, for which caufe bad crucibles are 
 made- Wherefore it is to be kept apart for 
 mending of furnaces that are fpoiled with an 
 extraordinary heat of the Fire ; or for covers of 
 crucibles that are to be made by the help of the 
 hands only, or of moulds, which we cannot want, 
 if we would work all things exaftly- 
 
 Nc)w for tyles, and other vellels that fervc for di- 
 ftillation, and melting, they are made by the help of 
 wooden moulds after this manner- Let the mould 
 be made exactly like to the tyles, and other vef- 
 fels, then cut off leaves from the earth being ve- 
 ry well prepared, with a copper wler upon two e- 
 qual tables of wood, and then a piece of the earth is 
 to be laid with a knife upon the mould, that it may 
 there get fome hardnefs^ which afterward is to be 
 taken away, dryed well, and burnt. And if anv 
 thing further is to be done, viz.. by cutting oC 
 or adding, it muft be done by earth half dryed, or 
 a little hardened. For by this means any one may 
 get for hrmfelf earthen veffels that are neceffary, 
 
 A a z without 
 
92 
 
 The Fifth Fart of 
 
 Parti 
 
 without much colt or pains for certainty fake. For 
 thofc that are fold, are negligently made, in which 
 oftentimes in the drying , the cracks which are 
 made, are filled up witii fome earthen liniment, be= 
 fore they arc burnt, which therefore are not dura- 
 in the lire , but are broken , and that oftentimes 
 not without great lofs of the metal, which is again 
 to be gathered out of the afhes by the help of a 
 tedious walhing. It is better therefore to vvork 
 thofe vcllels with ones own hand for certainty fake. 
 For not all and every crucible can alwaies and e- 
 very where be made equal, and be of a like dura- 
 blenefs in the Fire , though they are made niofl 
 diligently : and therefore a confideration being had 
 of their goodnefs , they may be Hfed for divers 
 ufes , and the better may be ufed in the melting 
 of the better metals- But let no man perfwade 
 himfelf that all thefe can indifferently hold in the 
 Fire, although they be the befl of all, how many 
 foev'er you make •, for I never yet faw any earth 
 which could hold litharge in the Fire and fait of 
 Tartar , becaufe the belt that ever 1 faw is not 
 free from penetration of them, which is the great= 
 eft impediment of fome profitable operations, which 
 therefore are omitted. 
 
 And let this which hath been fpoken , fuftce 
 concerning the making of crucibles : let every one 
 therefore that hath a care of his bufinefs, ule bet- 
 ter diligence for the time to come in the making 
 crucibles for more certainty fake, and he will not 
 repent of his labonr. Now how Tefts and Cu- 
 plcsmay beexadly applyed to the aforefaid Molds, 
 is not my work at this time to (hew, becaufe ma= 
 m years fince it hath been done by others \ efpe- 
 cially, by that molt ingenious Man, La-^arn! Enkir, 
 whofe Writings concerning the manner of making 
 of Tefts and Cuples I cannot mend, to which Au- 
 thors 1 refer the Reader, where he (hall find fuf- 
 ficient Inftrudion and Information concerning this 
 matter. But there are alfo other Tefts, of which 
 I lliall fay nothing in this place, but elfewhere hap- 
 pily I may, by the help whereof, lead is bettered 
 in tryal if it be fometimes melted again. 
 
 Of the vitrification of Eartheti Ftffds belonging to the 
 firfi And ftcoiid Furnace. 
 
 IN the defeft of glafs InHruments belonging to 
 our firft Furnace, you may make fuch as are 
 very ufeful, of the beft Earth , which being well 
 glazed , or double glazed , are fometimes better 
 than old Glafs •, efpecially , thofe that are made 
 of Earth that do not drink up the fpirit , fuch 
 as is found almoft every where , which becomes 
 ftony being burnt : Now the Art of burning 
 hath not hitherto been lb well known , of which 
 fomething hath been faid already, where the Earth 
 being Iwrnt with a very ftrong fire , is made fo 
 compaa, as that it becomes hard and folid as a ftone. 
 The Potters Furnaces being too weak for this ftrong 
 burning , there is required a peculiar Furnace for 
 this Work i in which , the ftrongeft fire for the 
 burning of them may be made : But becaufe no 
 body thinks to build fuch an one , only for fome 
 few Veffels not worth the fpending of cofts and 
 labours: there is yet another way of vitrifying of 
 any fort of Earth ( red Clay only excepted ) not 
 to be flighted if well done ; efpecially, if the mat- 
 ter vitrifying when it is cold after the burning is 
 ended , doth not cleave and chop , and it is not 
 
 hurt by corrofive fpirits as the glafs made of lead, 
 retaining fpirits, as well fubtle as corrofive, as that 
 white vitrification of the Italians and Hollanders : 
 you muft therefore in defeft of a fitting Furnace, 
 wherein Vellels being burnt become ftony , make 
 them of the beft Earth, and glaze them with the 
 beft Glafs of Tin, but not of Lead ; and by how 
 much the more the calx of Tin goes into the vi- 
 trifying mixture, fo much the better is it madej 
 for Tin being reduced into a calx with Lead, hath 
 no more affinity with corrofive fpirts:, wherefore 
 it is more fit for vitrification. But he that will 
 not be at fo much cofts, let him vitrify with Ve- 
 nice Glafs powdered, which vitrification alfo is not 
 to be flighted, requiring a very great heat for the 
 burning, and therefore flowing with great difficul- 
 ty in thefe common Potters Furnaces ■■, wherefore 
 you muft mix fome Borax with the Glafs, that it 
 may flow fo much the more cafily in the Potters 
 Furnace \ elfe you muft pour upon the earthen Vef- 
 fels being burnt. Water mixt v\ ith Glafs, fo that it 
 the Glafs may ftick to them every where exadlly, 
 which afterwards being well dryed, ftiall be gathe- 
 red together into one heap artificially , left they 
 take up too great a fpace , like earthen Difhes 
 that are to be burnt, and afterwards coinjjafs them 
 round about every where with burnt Bricks , an 
 hole being left open above for the cafting in of coals, 
 yet fo, that the Bricks be diftant from the Vellels 
 the breadth of an hand , whereby the coals being 
 caft in above, may the more freely go round about 
 down to the bottom i which fpace being filled with 
 dry coals , you muft put upon them other living 
 coals, that tlie fire being kindled above , may b/ 
 little and little burn downward and perform its 
 work ; which being fo done, the Veflels will be 
 out of all danger, if fo be they are all well dryed. 
 The fire being kindled and burning , you muft 
 cover the hole with ftones , until the fire of its 
 own accord be extinguiffit ; the coals being fpent and 
 the veflels become cold. 
 
 N. B. Now if there be a great heap of vefTels, 
 you muft firft , the coals being burnt , add frefh 
 coals once more; for elfe the veflels being placed 
 in the middle, cannot be fufficiently burnt, nor the 
 glafs fufficiently flow j wherefore caution is requi- 
 red in the governing of the fire in this manner, 
 where , if all things are rightly done , the veflels 
 are better and more truly burnt and vitrifyed than 
 in any common Potters Furnace whatfoever ; yet 
 with greater danger to the veflTels than in a Pot- 
 ters Furnace compafl'ed about with walls. But let 
 him that burns crucibles and other fmaller veflels, 
 burn them in our melting or diftilling Furnace, be- 
 ing covered wirh coals, giving Fire firft above, for 
 fo I my felf was wont hitherto to burn all my 
 crucibles, and burn and glaze all other diftilling 
 veflels •, and this in defert of fitting Furnaces is 
 the bell way of burning and vitrifying , where in 
 three or four hours fpace, the veflels are exaftly 
 burnt and vitrifyed. Now the earth that is to be 
 burnt quickly, muft be the beft, and durable in the 
 Fire, for fear of breaking of fome of the veflels. 
 Let him therefore in this cafe for fecurity fake, 
 ufe our fourth Furnace , who hath built it with 
 his chambers, in the firll wherereof he may burn 
 and vitrify without any danger. But that forefaid 
 way of burning and vitrifying, is not to be flighted ; 
 wherefore I would have thee be admonifhed to be 
 cautious in giving of Fire, that you give no more 
 w' or 
 
Part I. 
 
 Philofofhical Furnaces. 
 
 93 
 
 or lefs than you fhould, left afterwards you im- 
 pute the caufe of your errour committed, to me, 
 whilft the vcfTels are broke as if I had not wrote 
 the Truth, but to thy felf that errelt , and mull 
 for the future be more diligent , and cautious in 
 this work. 
 
 I know other vitrifications of divers colours hi- 
 therto unknown, and indeed moft fecrct, not to be 
 communicated to every one indifferently : but he 
 that knows how to reduce metals into a true glafs, 
 retaining the colour of its metal , is indeed the 
 inventor of a very great fecret ; to whom, if he 
 confider the matter more profoundly, and exercife 
 himfelf therein, a Gate is open, with the bielTing 
 of God, to a greater light. 
 
 There are a!fo other vitrifications, with which the 
 earth being covered doth appear, as if it were ador- 
 ned with Gemsibutbccaufeitis not our purpofenow 
 to treat of fuch kinds, 1 fhall make an end of vi- 
 trifications, one only excepted, which I fhall com- 
 municate for the fake of the Sick, and Phylicians ^ 
 and it is this : 
 
 Make little earthen Cups very fmooth and white 
 of the belt earth being burnt: then make the fol- 
 lowing glalTe to flow in a very ftrong crucible^ 
 in which dip one cup after another, being held 
 with tongs, and firll made red hot in fome little 
 Furnace, letting them lye covered therein for a 
 while, that the earth may the better attradt the 
 glafs ; which being done, let them be taken out, 
 and be fet again into the forefaid collateral Fur- 
 nace, where they were before made red hot, when 
 one is taken out, dip another in the molten glafs 
 in its place , which alfo is again to be fet as the 
 firft into the aforefaid Furnace ; and this is to be 
 reiterated fo often , until all the pots be covered 
 over with glafs : all which being done, the Fur- 
 nace is to be Ihut clofe every where, that the wind 
 enter not into it, and fo it is to be left until it 
 become cold of it felf, and the glafs covering over 
 the cups remain intire, which otherwife cannot be 
 if the cups be fet in a cold place \ now the glafs 
 is made after this manner. 
 
 Take of crude Antimony two parts, of pure 
 Nitre one part; grind them well being mixt to- 
 gether, kindle the mixture being put into a cru- 
 cible with a red hot iron, and the Sulphur of An- 
 timony will be burnt together with the Nitre, a 
 inafs of a brown colour being left behind, which you 
 rauft take out while it is hot with a fpatle that 
 it may cool, which afterwards being melted in a- 
 nother ftrong crucible for the fpace of half an 
 hour, or an hour, makes that glafs with which the 
 aforefaid cups with their covers are covered over- 
 
 Of the ufe of the aforefaid Cups. 
 
 ' I 'Here is no one that can deny that Antimony 
 -■- is the moft excellent of all vomitives, where- 
 fore , fo many and fo various preparations have 
 been invented by Phyfitians for the taking away 
 of the malignity thereof; whereof I have fhewed 
 fome, together v/ith the ufe thereof in the Firfl 
 and Second Part of this Book, where alwaies one 
 is better than another; yet notwithftanding 'tis con- 
 feft, that Antimony reduced into Glafs, is fuffici- 
 ent to purge the Stomack .and Bowels from all cor- 
 rupt Humors, and that without all danger, ( being 
 rightly adminiftredj as well by vomit as by ftool, 
 by which means many grievous iramineut Difeafes 
 
 are not only prevented, but alfo prefently are cured. 
 But you infer , that this is yet a crude and im- 
 perfed preparation, and therefore not fo fafe- To 
 which I anfwer, that Antimony that purgcth, need- 
 eth no preparation, for if all the crudicy thereof 
 were wholly taken away by fixation , it would no 
 more caufe vomiting or ftoolsi wherefore the a- 
 forefaid glafs of Antimony is not to be feared, be> 
 caufe it is not dangerous, but may fafely be given , 
 to Children that are one or two years old , but 
 not in form of a powder, but in infufion or cx- 
 tra<ftion of its chiefeft vertue made with honey, fu- 
 gar and wii;e, fweet or fowre- After which man- 
 ner being given, it attracts from all the bowels all 
 vitious humours, and evacuates them as well upward 
 as downward, without danger ; of which thing elfe- 
 where more at large. Let him that ufeth the a- 
 forefaid Cups, infufe one or two ounces of wine, 
 and fet them a whole night in fome warm place, 
 and the wine will attrad from the glafs fo much 
 as doth fufHce it, which afterwards being drank in 
 a morning, doth perform the fame as an infufion made 
 with the powder of Stibium i and this is a more de- 
 licate way Uian the other, becaufe a Cup is fent 
 to the Patient that he may infufe in it the fpace 
 of a night, two or three fpoonfuls of proper wine 
 placeing it in fome warm place , which he may 
 drink up blood warm in the morning, with a due 
 ordering of himfelf afterwards : Which, in my 
 judgment is a more delicate way, being made with 
 ones one wme, and ones one hand, than that te- 
 dious way of potions, both large, bitter, and nau- 
 feous. And this Cup may oftentimes be ufed, and 
 if at length the wine fliould not attrad fufficient- 
 ly, the Cup with the wine is to be fet in feething 
 hot water for a little time, that the wine mi-hc 
 the better attraft, and work, when need inall requfre 
 Now he that gives fuch kind of Cups to others* 
 mult inltrud them concernitig the orderin" and 
 adminiftring of the fame. One Cup is fufficienc 
 for the Mafter of a Family, with his whole Fami- 
 ly for all the daies of their life. It is not to be 
 uf^ by all, and every one, and in all Difeafes in- 
 differently, but only by thofe that are ftrong and 
 young i and where the principal parts are not 
 hurt. Cups may alfo after another way be cove- 
 red over with Glafs without Antimony, as follows. 
 Sublime Aitripgrnmum in a Glafs or Earthen 
 Gourd ; and rake the gallant golden coloured Flow- 
 ers thereof, which being after a peculiar manner 
 melted, yield a red and moft beautiful Glafs al- 
 moft like an Oriental Ruby, which being broken • 
 in pieces, may be ufed in ftead of an Ornament; 
 but this IS more foft, and brittle, than Glafs of 
 Antimony. This Glafs, or thofe Flowers of Ay.- 
 nptamonum, which are not yet reduced into Glafs, 
 do notably glaze the aforefaid CupS with a red 
 beautiful Colour. 
 
 He therefore that will vitrify the aforefaid Cups, 
 muft firft heat them red hot in a Fire made with 
 Coals ; and being thus hot, dip them in the afore- 
 faid melted Flowers , and being taken out thence, 
 put them under an earthen, or iron red hot veifel, 
 and there let them cooU which do perform the 
 fame things as thofe which are faid of the Antimo- 
 nial Cups. 
 
 Thefe Cups are not dangerous, as to be feared 
 becaufe as Antimony is correded by calcination' 
 fo Aunpigmoitnm is by fublimation : from which' 
 if all the malignity be taken away either by Fire', 
 
 Bb or 
 
94 
 
 An Ajjendix, 
 
 Part I. 
 
 or by nitre, the vomitive vertue is taken away, as 
 afterward fhall be demon ftrated more at large in 
 thefe five parts, when they (hall come forth again with 
 enlargements, viz.. what purging things are, and 
 how they put forth their vertues, a confideration 
 being had of their malignity. 
 
 There are alfo other ways of vitrification) and in- 
 deed very line, and moft dcfireablc by all, if they 
 fhould be communicated ; but becaufe it is not now 
 my purpofc to treat here of meciianical things, but on- 
 ly of fomc particular vitrifications of vellels belong- 
 ing to our furnaces, I am refolved to omit them at 
 this time, and make an end of thefe things. 1 am 
 refolved, Godwillmg, to fet forth thefe parts more 
 corrected, and in a larger manner, where many ex- 
 cellent things now omitted for fomc reafons , (hall 
 be publilhed, and communicated. 
 
 Wherefore 1 will now put an end to this fifth 
 part, where although 1 might have added fomething 
 
 that is fingular concerning artificial furnaces, yet be- 
 caufe time will not now permit, it (hall be deferred 
 to another time and place, where we (hall treat fur- 
 ther of the examining, trying and feparation of me- 
 tals ; For the bell way of melting of metals in a 
 greater quantity hath not yet been known : And 
 although they that deal in minerals perfwade them- 
 feives of the perfedion of their art, yet I can de- 
 monltrate an eafier, and more compendious way 
 of melting of metals in a (hotter, time, in a greater 
 quantity, and with lefs colts and pains. Of which 
 more at large elfewhere, wherefore fCourteous Rea= 
 der) be contented with thefe things, and if I fhall 
 fee that thefe few things (hall be acceptable to thee, 
 I will fometime hereafter for thy fake and to thy 
 profit communicate wonderful fecrets which the world 
 will not believe, and which hitherto are hid, either 
 out of envy or ignorace- 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 A N 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
 TWo years fince I began to publifh my new 
 invented furnaces where alfo there was 
 mention made of fome fccrets, which 
 though I thought never to divulge ; 
 yet neverthelefs I underwent many 
 troubles for the communicating of them- Where^ 
 fore I isefeech every body that they would no more 
 create troubles to meor rothemfelves by their peti- 
 tions or writings, becaufe for certain caufes I fhall 
 for the future communicate nothing but thofe things 
 which follow. Expeft therefore patiently the time 
 of another Edition, when thefe five parts (hall come 
 forth more correded and enlarged, and many moft 
 choice fecrets (hall be communicated, which were 
 for certain caufes omitted in the firft Edition. 
 
 I fhall now God willing communicate thofe things 
 which follow, yet upon this condition (becaufe ma- 
 ny are fuch, that by means thereof thou maift with 
 a good confcicnce, without hurt to thy neighbour, 
 throu2,h Gods blefling, get great riches) that thou 
 be mindful of the poor, and a good (teward of rich: 
 cs got honeftly, and ufe them to the glory of God 
 and the eternal falvation of thy foul. 
 
 The preparation of corn, as of Barley, Wheat, 
 Oates, C7-C. of Apples, Pears, Cherries, <^c, where 
 fermentation being made they do yield by way of 
 didillation a pure fpirit very like to the fpirit of 
 wine without great colts \ of the remainders where- 
 
 of if the matter were corn, may be made good beer, 
 or vinegar ; but if the matter were any kinde of 
 fruit, as apples, pears, a very good drink like to 
 wine, fo that by this means thou maift find a double 
 profit, by which thou maift not only have where- 
 by to live honeftly, but alfo to lay up for thy 
 heirs. 
 
 An excellent and wholefome drink of fruit, and 
 corn, that is durable and like to Spanilh, French, 
 and Rheni(h wine. 
 
 A diftillation of the Aqm vita of certain vulgar 
 things not coftly and like to the Aqitti^ vit* of French 
 and Rhenilh wine. 
 
 A preparation of fugar like to the Weftern, and 
 of tartar like to the natural Rheni(h, out of honey 
 and not cofliy ; where one pound of fugar doth noc 
 exceed the price of eight or ten ftivers, and a pound 
 of tartar, that doth not exceed the price of two 
 ftivers. 
 
 A peculiar purification of crude tartar without 
 lofs, and a redu(ition of it into great cryftals not 
 coftly, foas the price of one pound doth not exceed 
 fix ftivers. 
 
 The taking away of the ingrateful taft and odour 
 of honey fo as afterwartls there may be made from 
 thence a certain good Aqua vita retaining no more 
 the fmell and tafte of honey : alfo a very good 
 Mead or Meihegline like unto very good wine, with 
 
 which 
 
Part I. 
 
 An Apfendix, 
 
 95 
 
 which the fame things may be done as with thebeft 
 wine. 
 
 A preparation of Mead out of raiflns , great and 
 fmall, very like in all things to Spanilh wine ; out 
 of which alfo is made a very good vinegar without 
 great cofts. 
 
 A preparation of wine and good vinegar of wild 
 grapes. 
 
 Durable and wholefome drinks of goofebernes, 
 barberries, mulberries, ftrawberries, and the like. 
 
 The mending of troubled acid mufty wines, c^c. 
 
 The preparation of a very good vinegar out of 
 certain vegetables which are to be found every where, 
 which may be compared to that which comes out 
 of France, and in a great abundance, whereof two 
 rundlets of nine Gallons do not exceed the price of 
 one Royal. [^A Royal or Imperial is 4^- 6(^.3 
 
 The promoting of the ripening of wines of the 
 cold countries of Europe Ca very few that are very 
 cold being exempted) that they may yield very good 
 fweet and durable wines, whereas otherwife they 
 could come to no maturity, being very like to thofe 
 which hotter countries yield. 
 
 A certain fecret way of carrying wines from 
 mountainous places, where carts> (hips, and other 
 commodities are wanting, where the carrying of 
 ten pipes, doth not exceed the price of one pipeo- 
 therwife carryed, fo that by this means, outlandifh 
 wines may be brought to any place with great profit. 
 
 A very good and eafie preparation of verdegreafc 
 out of copper, whereof one pound doth not exceed 
 the price of fix (livers. 
 
 A new and compendious diftillation of vinegar, 
 of which a rundlet of eighteen gallons doth not ex- 
 ceed the price of half a ryal, with which many things 
 may be done, efpecialjy the cryftallizing of verde- 
 greafc, of which one pound prepared after this man- 
 ner, doth not alfo exceed the price of half a Royal- 
 
 A compendious and very eafie way of diftilling 
 a very ftrong fpiritof urin, and that without any 
 coft and pains, fo that twenty or thirty pints (hall 
 not exceed the price of one royal, being very excel- 
 lent in medicine, Alchimy and Mechanique affairs, 
 by the help whereof a mofb beautiful blew vitriol 
 may be made out of copper, being very profitable 
 in Alchimy and medicine, making filver fo fufible, 
 that by the help thereof, glafs vefTels, as bafons, 
 di(hes, and candlefticks, &c. may be fo guilded as 
 to be taken for (ilver. 
 
 A way of diftilling the fpirit of fait in a great 
 quantity , and that with fmall cofls, fo that one 
 pound thereof will fcarce exceed the price of fix 
 ftivers being very excellent in Alchymy, Medicine, 
 and other Arts ; efpecially for the doing of thefe 
 following things, vtz.. the feparation of gold from 
 filver without hurt to the Cups or other things, 
 alfo the folution and feparation of gold mixt with 
 copper and filver by the force of precipitation, 
 where the McnflrHum that is preferved, may again 
 be ufed for the fame ufes, which feparation is the 
 eafieft of all other humid feparations, whereby 
 gold is reduced to the higheft degree. 
 
 The feparation of volatile fparkling gold out of 
 fend, &C. very profitable, without which other- 
 wife it could never be feparated •, neither by the 
 help of Walhing, nor by Mercury, nor by the force 
 of Melting. 
 
 An artificial fecret, and hitherto unheard of, try- 
 ing of ftubborn Metals, finding out their Contents, 
 which otherwife could not be found out : for 
 
 oftentimes there arc found golden mines, which 
 are ftubborn , in which notliing is found out by 
 the common way , and therefore they are left un- 
 laboured in, and fometimcs elfewhere, where there 
 are not found Mines of Metals, there are found 
 other things , as white and red talc , that yield 
 nothing, being tryed the common way , or very 
 little, all which yet abound with gold and filver, 
 which may be feparated this way. 
 
 A new, and unheard of compendious way of 
 melting Mines in great plenty, where, in the fpace 
 of one day , by the heat of a certain feparacing 
 Furnace, more may be melted than by the common 
 way in the fpace of eight dales, where not onely 
 cofts are faved, but alfo is hope of greater gain. 
 
 Another way for the better proving of things 
 melted, and a new way of feparating filver from 
 lead. 
 
 A very fpeedy way of melting Minerals, where- 
 by they are melted in great plenty , by the help 
 of Pit-coals in defeifl of other coals. 
 
 The fixation of Minerals, Sulphureous, Arfenical, 
 Antimonial-, and others that are volatile , which 
 cannot be retained and melted by the force of 
 fire, by the help of a certain peculiar furnace with 
 a grate, fo that afterwards they may by infufion 
 yield gold and fiker. 
 
 The getting of gold and filver, that fparkles, and 
 is rarified, outoffand, pure clay, flints, C?-c. by the 
 help of melting. 
 
 The feparation of gold lying hid in bafer minerals 
 and metals moft: profitable, whichcannot be done the 
 common way. 
 
 A very quick Artificial and eafie feparation of 
 melted gold and filver by the help of fufion, fothat 
 in the fpace of one day, by the help of one furnace, 
 fome hundreds of Marks may be feparated with far 
 lefs cofts 2tA labour, than by the common way by 
 cemenr zu'j. Aqua fortss. 
 
 The ieduftion of elaborated gold, of chains and 
 other ornaments unto the higheft degree ; alfo the 
 feparation of gold from guilded filver, by the help of 
 fufion , by which means a hundred marks are 
 more eafily feparated than twenty of the common 
 way. 
 
 A certain way whereby more filver is feparated 
 from lead then by the Copper. 
 
 A feparation of good gold from any old iron, 
 which although it be not a labour of great gain, yet 
 it is fufficient for thofe who are contented with a few 
 things- 
 
 A feparation of gold and filver, from tin or cop- 
 per, according to more or lefs. The maturation of 
 mines, fo that they may afterwards be able to yield 
 more gold and filver, then by the common way, alfo 
 the feparation of gold and filver out of Antimony, 
 Arfenick, and Aiiripigmentum. 
 
 The feparation of the external fulphur of Fentts^ 
 that the Son Cupid may be born. 
 
 The feparation of filver from the cuples, into 
 which it enters in the tryal without melting or any 
 other labour or coft. 
 
 The preparation of divers earthen things to be 
 done in any part of the world, like to the Porcel- 
 lan, that hold fire and retain fpirits. 
 
 A certain Allome exalting and fixing any colour, 
 efpecially requifit for fcarlet and other pretious co- 
 lours, with a certain perpetual cauldron, that doth 
 not alter colours, and is not coftly. 
 
 A making of colours for painters? as of purple 
 
 B b 2 gum^ 
 
g6 
 
 Of Aurum Totahile^ 
 
 Part I 
 
 gum, ultra-marine, not coftly , and efpecially of 
 that rich white, never before feen, like to Pearl 
 and Margaritesi alfo a peculiar colouring of gold 
 and filver. 
 
 To conclude, I refer the Reader unto the Re- 
 fidue of my Books > that Treat of thofe Secrets 
 
 more plainly •■, which I am refolved Ihortly to put 
 forth. 
 
 Thofe Secrets are all openly taught in the following 
 TreatifeSf as in the Explication of MiractiUm Afundtj 
 Apology againjt Farner^ Profperity of Germany, &c. 
 
 FllilS, 
 
 M tlje Cittcture of (iolti, 
 
 Or the True 
 
 AURUM POTABILE: 
 
 What It U, and how it differs from the fal/e and fophifticated Aurum Totahik : How ittis 
 he Spa^irically prepared ; Jndhow to he ufedin JMedicine, 
 
 Of Awum fotahile. 
 
 THere is no man that can deny, that the 
 true and ancient Philofnpheis did ftudy 
 losg Iife> and the confervation of their 
 health. Whence it came to pafs that 
 they did diligently feek out the fubjecft 
 of preferving health, and prolonging life : where- 
 fore by the help of fire they did praftife the repara- 
 tions, and proofs of all vegetables, animals, and mi- 
 nerals, feeking out their powers and vertues : Who 
 found out the greatelb harmony of all things as well 
 in the heavens, as on earth, betwixt the Sun, Gold, 
 Man and wine. For it cannot be denyed, that the 
 life of all things proceeds from the heat of the Sun -, 
 •wherefore they fought to unite gold the terreftrial 
 fun or body fixed and perfeft, caufed by the 
 rays of the fun, with man by the help of fpirit of 
 wine. 
 
 But haply there will be fome, whom this my nar- 
 ration may offend denying that gold is the Son of the 
 fan, or a metalllck body fixed and perfedl, proceed- 
 ing from the rayes of the fun i asking how the fola= 
 
 ry immaterial rayes can be made material and corpo- 
 real } But they are very ignorant of the generation 
 of metals, and minerals. And although I am not 
 now refolved to write of the generation, and origi- 
 nal of metals, yet endeavouring to demonftrate that 
 that there is a vivifying power of the fun to be found 
 in gold (deftroyed and volatilized) and to be prepa- 
 red into a moll wholefome medicine for man, I will 
 not omit for the fake of the ignorant and incredu- 
 lous, to demonftrate the truth by one or two exam- 
 ples, which although I could demonftrate by moft 
 certain and firm reafons, yet for brevities fake I am 
 now refolved to omit them, recommending to the 
 fearcher of the Nature, and propriety of metals, 
 my treatife De Generatione Metallorum^ which with- 
 out doubt will take away all fcruple from him ; ob-- 
 jeding only againft him that opppofeth the truth, 
 two queftions and reafons which are to be confu- 
 ted : and the firft is, whence comes that incrcafe of 
 both the quantity and quality of any vifcous, mi- 
 neral liquor, that hath been expofed long to the 
 
 fun 
 
Part I. 
 
 Of Aurnm Potabile. 
 
 ■:'' 
 
 n 
 
 Sun in an open glafs velTel ? Whether from the 
 Sun, or elfewhere ? But thou favcfl, that that cn- 
 creale comes from the air, the vehicle of all things- 
 I anfwer, if from the air, whether was not that air 
 impregnated by the Sun? and whether there be an^ 
 thing in the air, which it received not from the 
 ftars? But place this liquor in a cold Cellar, in a 
 moift air, and thou (halt by e.'cperience know that 
 no weight is added thereto, even as in the Sun, or 
 ('in his ftead) lire : that Liquor will draw fome 
 phlegmatick moilture which will be eafily fepara- 
 tcd by heat, the weight of the former liquor be- 
 ing Icit. This may be fliewed by this Exnmple : 
 dillblve fome fulphurous metal, as Iron, Copper, or 
 Zinck, with any acid fpirit, and at length take 
 away the fpirit, make the remainder red hot ■■, 
 yet not too much, but as much as fufficeth to take 
 away the fpirits, which afterward (its weight being 
 obfervcd) put in a crucible on the fire,' but take 
 heed left the metal run over, but at length let it 
 darkly glow with the crucible , for the fpace of 
 three or four weeks, which done, take it away a- 
 gain, and weigh again the metal , and thou (halt 
 find the evident cncreafe of the metal, which thou 
 fhalt perceive more evidently by this way, as fol- 
 lows : Put copper, or fome fulphurous metal , with 
 16 or 1 8 parts of lead in a well-burnt cupel-, made 
 of the allies of wood or bones, in a tryed furnace, 
 (the weight of the cupel, copper, and lead firll ex- 
 adly obferved ) and caufe the copper to evaporate 
 by fire with the lead, which done, take the cupel 
 when it fhall be cold, and again weigh it, and thou 
 flialt find it far niore weighty , fo that its weight 
 (though much of 'the lead goes into air in the cu-- 
 pellating) not only exceeds its former weight, but 
 alio of the copper and lead by the faid cupellati- 
 on •, therefore it is juftly demanded whence this En- 
 creafe proceeds , whether the heat of the fire was 
 not coagulated into a metallick body by means of 
 that melted metal ? Therefore it is probable, that 
 if you knew the metallick matrixes in the furface 
 of the earth, in which the beams of the Sun and heat 
 of fire being received, may be coagulated, metals 
 may as well be generated in them, as in the bowels 
 of the earth. 
 
 But thou repliell it is probable the heat of vul- 
 gar fire to have fomething metallick in it ^ which 
 comes by acnacftion of the melted metal in the Cu- 
 peli but not in the Sunbeams. 
 
 He that will thus try the truth , let him put a 
 cupel very well burnt in the beams of the Sun, to- 
 gether with copper and lead, to which let him 
 apply a hollow Looking-glafs, fo that it may be 
 operated upon by the Sun-beams gathered into a 
 center, and may thence be made hot : But thou 
 mull continually hold the Looking-glafs in thy hand, 
 that thou maift turn or dired it to the Sun , ac- 
 cording to the courfe thereof, left the cupel wax 
 cold , the beams of the Sun being turned away, 
 but if it be rightly obferved , the work Ihall be 
 done no lefs than in a furnace of fire with glowing 
 heat. 
 
 You muft have a Looking-glafs at leaft in diame- 
 ter two feet, nor muft it be too deep ^ but be in 
 depth the 18 or 20 part of the globe, that fo it may 
 the further caft the beams : it muft be very arti- 
 ficially fraoothed, that it inay more exaftly gaither 
 the beams to the center. Now the preparation of 
 thefe burning-glafles is not of this place, but in the 
 fourth part of our Furnaces, where we have taught 
 
 not only how they arc to be made of metals, buc 
 alfo of glafs, and iiovv poiiflit and ufed- . ■ 
 
 This dcmonftration , which might be othcrvi^ife 
 omitted , is therefore fct dovvu , that it may be 
 known how Gold proceeds froin the Sun , and is 
 fecretly endued with its proper fhcngth and pio- 
 prieties, by Chymiftry, reducible into that wtiicb 
 it was before its coagulation, namely, into a lieat= 
 ing and living fpirit , communicating its ftreneth 
 and faculties to man's body. Therefore the An- 
 cients ufed great diligence in the redu-'iion of gold, 
 in which nothing is found more excellent than the 
 pureft and fineft fpirit of wine made by diiiillati- 
 on,, and they did not ufe common gold melted out 
 of ftoncs, or wafht out of fand, but purged by be-- 
 nefit of fire, and Philofophically quickened and un-f 
 locked, not by help of corrofive fpirits, the ufual 
 way of vulgar Chymifts, but by fome v;ater which 
 Nature freely gives without help, of violenc 
 diftillation ; by which they manifeft. that which is 
 hid in gold , and they have hid what is manifeft, 
 and therefore they have made it fit for the fcpa- 
 ration of its tindlure from a grofs and black fuper^ 
 fiuous body. For they knew that the compart bo- 
 dy of gold hath no affinity with the vital Spirits, 
 therefore they have chofen only the fineft part of 
 gold to their Elixir, viz.. Its tindure, which they 
 have radically joyned with the fpirit of Wine, arid 
 being joyned, have made them fpiritual or volatile, 
 fo that neither can be feparated from each other 
 in the fire, and being in the fire, are fublimed,or 
 fixed by a longer digeftion, and coagulated into a 
 fixt ftone, which they count for the greateft trca- 
 fure in this World. Therefore the ancient Philo- 
 fophers affirming, that there is not a better medi- 
 cine under the Sun than.it, which is made from the 
 Philofophical union of wine and gold, both by an 
 infeparable recoagulation and fixation ; nor with- 
 out gold can fpirit of wine, nor this without ir. 
 be made a medicine , becaufe gold without fpirit 
 of wine cannot be made volatile, nor this be coa- 
 gulated and fixt without it. We therefore, their 
 pofterity juftly, follow the opinions of the moft fa- 
 mous men, not for their authorities fake, but for 
 ocular dcmonftration, which is the trueft tryal. 
 
 Therefore the knowledge of the preparation of 
 this medicine being beftowed on me-from the high- 
 eft , I have intended , becaufe a man is not born 
 for himfelf, briefly to deliver its preparation and 
 ufe : but I will not caft pearls before fwine -, but 
 rie only fliew the way to the ftudious fearchersof 
 the work of God and Nature, who doubtlcfs will 
 underftand my writing, but not the ignorant and 
 unskilful ■■, let therefore the brevity of the prepara- 
 tion offend no man , becaufe I mean not to profti- 
 tute this Art ( divinely obtained, not with idlenefs, 
 but with much watching, labours and pains ) nor 
 give to the unworthy a bit before chawed , but 
 only to communicate it to the pious, who lliall fee 
 with open eyes, that the thing is fo. I defire there- 
 fore, the firaplicity of my ftile may offend no man, 
 being not adorned with rhetorical figures, after the 
 wonted inanner, for truth wants not many and ele- 
 gant words, being contented with fimplicity and 
 brevity, with which it a eafier and better deraon- 
 ftrated, than with thofe intricate and fophiftick 
 difcourfes. 
 
 Ik of living gold one part, and three parts of 
 
 quick Mercury, not of the vulgar, but the Philo- 
 
 jfophical every where to be found without charge; 
 
 Cc and 
 
9S 
 
 OfAnTum Potabile^ 
 
 Part I. 
 
 and labour, f thou maift alfo add living filver of 
 equal weight wich the gold, and indeed better than 
 only gold, for the greater variety of colours pro- 
 ceeding from the mixture of male and female : 
 but one perf.vaded that a better Tiua:ure proceeds 
 from gold alone may mix gold only, not fo, one 
 skilful of metals, who knowcth the power of the 
 cordial union of gold and filver, diflblved in one 
 and the fame Mcnftruum) put them mixt in a Phu 
 lofonhical velTcl to dillblve, and in the fpaceofone 
 quarter of an hour, thofe mixt metals will be ra- 
 dically dilTolved by the Mercury, and will give a 
 ijurple colour ; after cncreafc the fire by degrees, 
 and it will be changed into a very fine green, to 
 which taken out , pour the water of dew to dil- 
 folve, which may be done in half an hour, hl- 
 trethe folution, and abftrad the water through a 
 plafs alembeck in B. which pour out again afrelh, 
 and abftraft, which do three times , in the mean 
 time that greenefs wiU be turned into a black co- 
 lour, like Ink, ftinking like a carcafs, and therefore 
 odious : and it behoves fometimes to take away 
 the water realFufed and digefted, and that blacknefs 
 and ftink will depart 'in the fpace of forty hours, 
 and wiU produce a pure milky whitenefs, which ap- 
 pearing , take away all the moifture till it be dry, 
 which will be a white mafs, and in few hours of a 
 tleafant colour, divers colours firft appearing, it is 
 turned into a fine greenefs better than the former, 
 to which you muft afTufe the fpint of wine well 
 reftified to the depth of two or three fingers, and 
 that ereen gold diflblved will draw that fpirit of 
 wine, for the great amity, like a dry fpunge draw- 
 ine waters, and will communicate to it a quintefience 
 as red as blood, by which means the greenefs is 
 deprived of its quickening tmdture, the fuperfluous 
 alhv body being left- . , -. . . 
 
 You muft decant and filtrate the tinged fpirit, 
 and in a B. by a glafs alembeck, abftraft it from 
 the red tinaure,attraaingthefieryeflenceof the fpi- 
 rit of wine, fo that they may be very clofe and 
 infeparably conjoyned, from which an unfavoury 
 water only diftils, the vertue of the fpirit of wine 
 being left with the tinrture of gold like a red fie- 
 ry fait fufile and volatile j of which gram i. can 
 tinee 5 i. of fpirit of wine , or any other liquor, 
 with a blood:red colour, for it is foluble in any 
 moifture ; and therefore may be kept in a liqmd 
 form for the Panacea of moft defpcrate Difeafes. 
 Now I will communicate the proprieties of the true 
 tinfture, by which true potable gold is known. 
 This tinfture next the ftone is the bell of all me- 
 dicines, between which and that, there is but this 
 difference, the foul of gold is volatile, nor hath en- 
 trance into impcrfea metals, and therefore cannot 
 tranfmute into pure fine gold, which virtue is at- 
 tributed to the Philofophers fbone. The foul of 
 gold, though it be thebeft part, yet it is not fixt 
 in fire, but volatile i but the Philofopher's Stone is 
 fixt in fire, and remains, by reafon of a longer di- 
 eeftion. But whether that foul or volatile tinaure 
 and red Lyon may be fixt by help of fire, and 
 turned into the Univcrfal medicine, and tinging 
 ftone , that I know not , becaufc hitherto I have 
 not tryed, ^c. therefore he may who extrafts the 
 foul of gold, make further tryal, whether he can 
 find any thing better. For this Work treatcth of 
 nothing but the beft medicine bf gold > but Other 
 things 1 know not. 
 
 Therefore the deceit of the Diftillers of Wine, 
 and other vegetable waters, felling potable gold, is 
 not unknown, being not afhamed to fell any water 
 coloured yellow or red to the ignorant for a great 
 price. And the errour of others diflblving the 
 body of gold in ^q-'ta Regia^ or fpirit of fait, 
 which again they abftraft to a dry remainder , to 
 which for extradion they affufe the fpirit of wine : 
 Which is not an extraction , but fome particular 
 folution of gold , made by help of the corrofive 
 fpirits left in the gold, tinging the fpirit of wine 
 with a yellow colour, which fo coloured, they call 
 their potable gold ; which jjotwithflanding is redu- 
 ced into gold, the fpirit of wine being abftraded, 
 which can do no more than any other Calx of gold, 
 which the ylrcheus cannot digeft, but fcparates, be- 
 ing indigefted, with the Excrements. And alfo it 
 is the errour of others, ignorantly deceiving them- 
 felves and others, extracfting the Calx of gold with 
 peculiar mcnftrmms and fpirits, knowing not that 
 the menfiruum affiifcd to gold to be red of it felf 
 by a long digeftion, which decanted, they admini- 
 fter inftead of potable gold , who if they weighed 
 the remaining Calx, would by experience fee that 
 nothing departed from the gold ; which you may 
 try by the fetting the fpirit or mcfjfirnum in a 
 remifs heat, or longer in cold, which of it felf doth 
 wax red, as if it had been afFufed to the Calx of 
 Sol. But the caufe of this rednefs is funknown 
 to them) nothing but a certain nitrous fait and 
 volatile, as of Antimony, Urine, Tartar , Harts- 
 horn, Hair , c^c exalting the colour of any Sul- 
 phur. 
 
 Wherefore it neceflarily follows, if Artifls min- 
 gle with the fpirit of wine in which is a fulphur, 
 fuch exalting falts, that it will thencs be exalted 
 in colour, and wax red ; which alfo happens to 
 them, who ufe to extraft a tindurc with diftilled 
 Oyls, having a volatile fait, as are oyl of Leraraons, 
 Cloves, 5oot, ^c. 
 
 For fuch-like tindure or potable gold is inefEca^ 
 cious, as experience witnefleth. But I would not 
 fay there is no other tindure to be prepared out 
 of gold, befidc this tindure : for being diflblved 
 in fweet mefifirnums.^ that it cannot be feparated by 
 precipitation, it can do wonderful things in many 
 grievous Difeafes ; but alwaies the living metal is 
 to be chofen inftead of the dead- 
 
 But true potable gold is not fo only in name and 
 Ihew (as are divers waters tinged with a yellow or 
 red colour) but alfo endued with golden faculties 
 and vertues , fo that it may adually appear to be 
 made of gold, but irreducible by Fire into Gold, 
 fpiritual and penetrative, ftrengthnirg the vital fpi- 
 rits, that they may overcome their enemies. But 
 
 it muft alfo be endued with this Vertue , that it 
 may change imperfed metals, chiefly Mercury ,Lead, 
 and filver into pure gold -, not truly like a fixe 
 tindure, tinging with profit the bafer metals in flux ; 
 but only perfeding particularly in a moift way by di- 
 geftion, where fome part of the metal alone is tur- 
 ned into better. For this tindure of fait or gold 
 is very volatile, fo that it cannot refift the fire; 
 but with a gentle heat it melteth like wax, and is 
 fublimed like red fait , foluble in fpirit of Wine, 
 that it may be fit for Phyfical ufes. 
 
 Alfo true potable gold being tafted , is neither 
 corrofive,nor aftringent like other folutions of gold : 
 neither doth it pollute the hands, the nails and hair 
 with a black or yellow colour j but rather makes 
 
 them 
 
Part I. 
 
 OfAurum Potabile. 
 
 r« 
 
 them more fine ■■, neither doth it infe<ft copper, 
 tin, leadj with rufl or a black colour, but rather 
 makes them more clear", neither is it a body of 
 gold reducible by extraiftion, nor into white gold, 
 which may recover its former colour by Antimony, 
 zad->4f«aR(]i'U but it is like an afhy earth, and 
 fublimable in a gentle heat like Arfenick, not endu- 
 ring the tryal of the cuple, which vertues if it have, 
 it may be called the true Tindure of Gold : but if 
 not? not fo, but rather a fophilticated potable gold, 
 ' not to be mcdled wichal. 
 
 Of the medicinal life of this golden Medicine 
 
 WE have before demonllrated the fun to be 
 the original of gold, or endued with the in- 
 credible vertues of the terreftrial fun. ^ For the 
 ftrength and vertues of all vegetables, animals and 
 minerals lie hid in it •, which cannot be manifefted 
 but by a Philofopher , and that by fcparation, to 
 wit , of the intrinfical and pure parts , from the 
 impure- 
 
 This fpeech will happily feem to thee incredibIe,or 
 not very likely to fay that gold is reducible into a 
 fpiritual elTcnce, agreeable to humane nature, en- 
 dued with the ftrength of all animals , vegetables 
 and minerals. Surely thou fhalt hardly pcrfwade 
 him whom ^n'-c.m hath not made a Philofopher to 
 believe it. But who will trouble himfelf fo much 
 as with fure reafons to decide all Controverfies, 
 which if poinbie , yet for many reafons is here 
 omitted ; but for fureties fake I will fend back the 
 Reader to the fecond part of our Furnaces, where 
 he Ihall find how out of Antimony and Sulphur, by 
 a good Chymift, with the help of fire, may be drawn 
 not only the force and faculty of divers vegetables, 
 but alfo their natural odour ^ which yet did not 
 appear in them before they were radically diflbl- 
 ved, which if it may be done by any imperfeft and 
 fetid mineral, why not alfo by a perfeft and ma- 
 ture mineral ? 
 
 If we were good naturalifts, and very diligent 
 Chymifts , then we need not to fill Elaboratories 
 with fo many pots and boxes, nor fpend fo much 
 coft in fetching in fo many forreign medicinal fpe- 
 cies, becaufe without queftion the ftrength and pro- 
 perties of all vegetables, animals, and minerals, by 
 an eafier way may be found in fome few fubjeds- 
 And as the true tinifture of 5o/ well fixed, is endued 
 with all the vertues of all vegetables, animals and 
 minerals ; fo alfo defervedly is afcribed to it the 
 force of curing all difeafes •, but with a difference. 
 For there are divers kinds of the Gout in hands 
 and feet, as alfo of the Stone and Leprofie ■■, which 
 fometimes are inveterate and uncurable Difeafes, 
 fometimes new and curable. Who therefore , not 
 mad, would promife to cure all and every difeafe 
 indifferently, by any certain medicine ? Certainly 
 no man,although he had the very ftonc of the Philofo- 
 phers. 
 
 For oft-times the Stone of the Bladder is expel- 
 led or cut out, moll hard and infoluble by j^ijHa- 
 fortis, which not any medicine not corrofive could 
 diflblve ; which ftrength, although they afcribe to 
 their medicine, yet they cannot perform it. Pro- 
 mifes therefore do not fufficc, which none can per- 
 form : for Promifes become Debts, which is obferved 
 by few i v?herefore by the haters of the Art the 
 
 truth fuffers, and the hope of good fuccefs of Chy- 
 mical medicines dyech. Jt is ^hefl therefore ^ ptr- 
 form more fh.vi froimf , and the work (liail praifc- 
 the workman. How can a Medicine penetrate to 
 the extream parts of the body ; to wit, the hands 
 and feet, and diilblvc the coagulated matter wax- 
 ing hard, which out of the Body no corroUve Me- 
 dicine can dillolve ? It is fufficient if a medicine 
 finding a vifcous tartarcous and felt matter, not yet 
 coagulated, do diffblvc and expel it. The like i? 
 to be underftood of the ftone in the reins and 
 bladder- In this manner I will afcribe the curing 
 of the Gout in the hands and feet, the ftone inthc 
 kidneys and bladder, to my tinrturc of 5./, as well 
 in old as young ; but fo that, if need be, fpecifical 
 Catharticks may be adminiltrcd, and extrinfecally 
 Bathes for promoting the cure, whprcby Nature 
 may the fooner do its office. Biit above ail thing?, 
 we muft not flight Divine Providence : For oVt- 
 times God fmites us with a Difeafe incurable by 
 Art, unlefs Divine wrath be firft appeafed by lf(i/f- 
 hie Refoitancc, which is the beft medicine of all. As 
 alfo the cure of all Difeafes coming of. the cor-r 
 ruption of the Blood, as th? Leprofie, the French 
 Difeafe, and other impurities •, which are taken 
 away by this tinilure , if withal Catharticks and 
 Diaphoreticks are adminiftred , cleanfing and re- 
 newing the blood above all other medicines. Thi? 
 Tincture alfo takes away all the obftrudionsofthc 
 Liver, Spleen, Kidneys, and other parts, becaufe it 
 warms, attenuates, incides, and evacuates the origi- 
 nal of divers Difeafes. It alfo cures all violent 
 and acute difeafes, as the Epilepfie, Plague, Fea- 
 vers, c^f. 
 
 It provokcth the Menftrues of old and young,' 
 chiefly, if alfo extrinfically it be riglitly admini- 
 ftred : which way many are well cured, who other- 
 wife are like to perifli miferably; k warms and 
 cleanfeth the Matrix above all other Medicines, and 
 renders it fit to perform its office : It preferves it 
 alfo from all accidents of Sterility., and other very- 
 grievous Difeafes, caudng death. It expels the wa- 
 ter of the Dropfie by urine, it rarifieth and dryeth 
 up the fuperfluous moiftures of the internal and ex- 
 ternal parts, like the Sun drying and confuiiiiug 
 vraters,by which means the body recovers its priftine 
 fanity : of other difeafes to write in particular 
 there is no need, becaufe in all and every one, 
 without diffei'ence , it may be ufed as a general 
 Medicine, in old as well as young. This medicine 
 doth not only reftore, but alfo confcrve health till 
 the predeftinated time. 
 
 The Dofe is from three grains or drops to twelve 
 or more, but to Children i, 2, or i- with its approi 
 priated vehicle , or in wine or beer to be admini- 
 ftred daily, which Dofe may be taken oftener in a 
 day, refpeft being had to the fick party. 
 
 And fo I make an end , hoping to have pleafed 
 rny Neighbour : for without doubt, who ufeth this 
 golden Medicine well, ffiali do well, chiefly lifting 
 up his heart ( acknowledging his fins ) to God the 
 Giver and Creator of all good , in filial humility, 
 imploring his help andbleflingjwhich the omnipotent. 
 God and merciful Father, that he would beftovv oh 
 us his temporal blelTing in this life with found 
 health, and hereafter life eternal, of His free graccj, 
 Let Hi fray , Amen, 
 
 W 1 N I S. 
 
 Cc t 
 
 the 
 
lOO 
 
 THE 
 
 MINERAL WORK: 
 
 THE FIRST PART. 
 
 Wherein is Taught the Separation of 
 
 GOLD 
 
 Out of Flints, Sand, Clay, and other Fofliles by the Spirit of Sale, which othetwife 
 
 cannot be purged. Alio a Tanacea or Univerfal Antimonial Medicine, and the 
 
 ule thereof. Invented and publifhed in favour of the Studious in the 
 
 CBIMICAL Jl{7. 
 
 By giofjn 5^ttDolpl) (Bim\)tu 
 
 A Preface to the Reader. 
 
 THere will he fome without doubt ^ becaitfe the 
 Edition of other Pieces ( of vrhich I made 
 mention in fome former Tr abates a few 
 years faH: ) hath been hitherto by reafon 
 of diverfe journeys^ and other various im- 
 fedimnts-, negleSted, rvho will thinly (having no know- 
 ledge of me)" that I am unable to perform my fromije ; 
 and there are others^ who knowing my Condition^ and 
 the Contumelies of 7ny Enemies, wilt fear that J being 
 diverted from my pitrpofe by thefc Reproaches^ wiU make 
 void myjccnt promijcs. But J have refolved to fiand 
 to my profnife, th.n thcfe men may fee that I am nei- 
 ther moved nor altered with the Tamts of the Envious ; 
 but that they may be convinced by real demonBrationof 
 my fccrets ;, fome of which, J flyall new for the publick, 
 good endeavour to communicate. And although the in- 
 gratitude of the World be caufe enough for my flence, 
 yet the upnghtmfs of my Heart would not permit- 7ne to 
 conceal thofc things, notrvithft.tnding the malevolent and 
 ungrateful. Bcfide alfo the following Reafon ?noved wf, 
 becaufe there are fome ambitious men., who faljly boafi of 
 the knorvledge of diver fe of my fecrets ^ wherefore^ fo?ne 
 have been moved to thinks that mine are not my own^ 
 hut the Works and Writings of others; by xvhich means 
 1 have been deprived of my due Praife^being attributed to 
 another. Jnd this I have often found., that one or other 
 having by entreaties obtained a fccret from me, have 
 afterward through Ojl emotion afcribed it to themfelvcs. 
 
 Ti.ere are others alfo who fear not to reproach me, and 
 my Writings., as thvujh they were trifles, not attaining 
 their defire'd end,who(rlither than J who have written pLun 
 enough ) are themfelves to be blamed, fur being ignorant 
 how to work. Such and other things might deter me, but 
 I would not omit the piibliflnng of theje Writings for thofe 
 mens Jake who are pious and honefi. Wherefore J open^ 
 ly ajf.rm, that thefe things publijlicd by me Oit 7iot on- 
 
 ly no trifles, but mofi true, and alfo my own, and not thg 
 Invention of another. Andl call him a Iyer, whojhall 
 boajh himjelf the Author without any of my help. But 
 of thefe enough ! yet I would have the Reader kliow, that: 
 for the meanefs of the fiile , / am not like many Wri- 
 ters, who more look, after the flourijli of words than the 
 thing it felf ; I rather feek that tny Neighbour may pro- 
 fit by me. Wherefore, for his better wider fi.wding, I bad 
 rather beproUxe in mords, tedious to delicate ears,than write 
 in obfcure brevity adorned with Rhetorical figures. For I 
 know that the fludious in the Art do affect a prol}.\-e,plain^ 
 and diftinSt information or infiruHion, r.ither th.zn a Cl- 
 ccvoniZVi or obfcure. And now, in the Name ofCod^J 
 will begin 7r.y Wirk,which is /noft profitable to all , and 
 will faithfully cotn/fumicate and puhUfii the f.une in that 
 7na7iner as it was written by me in 7/,y travel, und.rthe 
 title of The Mineral Work, divided into three parts. 
 In the fir ft ofwhuh fiiall be taught how out cff.i.dand 
 golden flints, lorporcal gold may be dr.iwn Ly the help 
 of Spirit of Salt, Which fcret , although it tnay feem 
 Jmall, yet it is that whereby (a knovolcdge cf the true 
 Bones and true fand being obtained ) life 7nay be fu~ 
 flained., and alfo the cos} laid out t/iay be recompenfed^ 
 as fiall be proved in the following parts. 
 
 In the fecond part fiiall be treated of the original and 
 generation of metals, and alfo cf the defter uliion of Alinc- 
 rals and Aletals. 
 
 In the third part fiiall be dc/nonftrated the poffibili- 
 ty of ffietallicol tranfnmtation by Nature and Art, and 
 that with divers reajons : nhich denionflration is not 
 {tmlefs I am deceived ) perfcrmed yet by any , bei7ig the 
 foundaticn of all iiictalliik^ Philofophy, and t,.e Goldea 
 Crown of all >ny Writings. Which Godgr.mt I may 
 perfeh, to the glory of Ins Divine Name., and the good 
 of tny Neighbour . kiWZR. 
 
 THE 
 
lOl 
 
 HtliS ittiS 'ttt^ i<lM «»>»= W*hi -Ht^ 
 
 - •»-. Ty^yri ~r-^ r^*- r^yr ^f<fr- ^y- i^«^ i-.>r: -^-f^ 'ytr' ff^ i^*>^ T^^ S^. C' 
 
 ■V. -ry '^•' "fy "^^^y- -^"r^ri 
 
 1^ r nyt -,■?***• rv>^ «M>^ =*v^ ^^^r t^«^s v.^r^ ^^^'TT^ *?v^' 2r<- iT^ i^^- XT^ , jl ' ^ :ir ■.^^ ;^ -^ i."'^ --^-^ -T^ ^'Tt- ^^^?^ -T^r:^ 
 
 The Firft Part of the 
 
 Mineral Work. 
 
 A mofl profitable procefs of the feparation of Gold out of Flints., Sand., C'/<7y, red and Hack Talk, 
 and other Foffiles, containing vtry fubtle Gold., thin and Jpongeous, which othenvife cannot he fe pa- 
 rated, either for its jcarcity, or the ohflinacy of the Mineral., by reafon of the great Coji to he 
 iefloived ; viz. very eafily with the fpirit of Salt. 
 
 KNOW firft, ( good Reader ) that not all 
 Sand, Clay, nor all Flints, and other 
 Foflllesdo contain Gold, but only fomei 
 without the knowledge of which, this 
 fecret availcth nothing. And becaufe 
 the knowledge of thefe are very neceffary for the 
 Artift, I will (hew how they are to be proved, whe- 
 ther they contain Gold or not? that he labour not 
 in vain, but that it may prove to his commodity or 
 profit. 
 
 The madnefs of Men, fearching after uncertain 
 things is wonderful, but neglecting certain, although 
 expofed to every ones view , for many feeking the 
 perfeftion of Metals to gain Riches, are bulled about 
 an uncertain thing, becaufe of a thoufand fcarce one 
 obtaines his end : altho' they may be perfedcd and 
 purified , I mean imperfcLT: and impure metals, fo 
 that good Gold and Silver may thence be extrac- 
 ted, but this Art is given to few , neither is every 
 one fit to perform the bufinefsi becaufe it requires 
 an ingenious and experienced Artist : But the 
 thing which is certain, may be performed with 
 fmall coft and labour by any vulgar Chymift, ha- 
 ving any knowledge of the Art of fufiou and fe- 
 paration, being an ingenious man, and not feeking 
 things too high or too gainful at the firft tryal- 
 I3e cautious therefore in the exiradion of the afore- 
 faid ftones, for if thou fhouldft with the fpirit of 
 Salt extradt many of them, having no Gold with- 
 out doubt thou fhalt find no Gold there : And if 
 thou fnouldft extraift fome contained in them, and 
 if thou be ignorant of the feparation of it by An- 
 timony, thou canft thence hope for no profit. 
 
 Firft then, the knowledge, viz.. of thofe ftones 
 is neceflary afterward of that feparation by Anti- 
 mony. Impute therefore the fault, if thou erreft, 
 not to me , but to thine own ignorance, if thou 
 knoweft not to extract the Gold ; for I have writ- 
 ten clearly, though thou fhouldft not know any 
 thing that were omitted. And 1 before admonifh 
 
 thee to be cautious in thy work , left thou labour 
 for nought : For it is certain, and no fiflion, that 
 in many places there are found golden flints, and 
 golden clay', and fand, oft-times abounding with 
 gold- And if they do not abound with it , yet 
 may they be extraded with profit : but the flints 
 abounding with it are extracted with greater gain. 
 There are alfo found whole Rocks and Mountains 
 of Gold, and great Mountains filled with golden 
 Sand and Clay, not returning the charge of walh- 
 ing, cither for its too great rarefadion or fpungiofi- 
 ty and levity, by reafon of which, its wafhed away 
 with the fand ; all which, how poor foever, may 
 be extraded by the fpirit of Salt with gain, and 
 by Antimony fixed and purifyed. In brief, this is 
 fuch a fecret, by which, no man can be an impe- 
 diment to another, as in other mechanical opera- 
 tions, whereof no man may be afhamed ; for God 
 did therefore create Gold in the earth and ftones, 
 that we may therefore extrad it to the glory of 
 His Name, and the benefit of our Neighbour ; nei- 
 ther hath he forbidden the true and genuine ufe of 
 it. I fay therefore in truth, that I have here d6- 
 fcribed this Art, how everdefpifed by the ignorant,' 
 yet of greateft moment, and almoft incomprehen- 
 fible. Now confider the thing a little farther, 
 thou flialt find every where in the earth great Trea- 
 fures to be hidden, which only through ignorance 
 are not difcovered. Truly it is known to all, that 
 there is found golden fand and clay in diverfe pla- 
 ces, which for the aforefaid Reafons afe left un- 
 laboured, but by this our Art may eafily be woiked 
 upon. 
 
 There are found alio filver Mountains , out of 
 which, filver cannot be extracted for the little 
 weight it yields: there is alfo found in many pla- 
 ces a certain yellow or reddifh earth, or fuch like 
 clay, which though it contain ftore of filver, yet it 
 cannot be extraded with profit by this way, yet 
 feparable, with gain, but net by the fpirit of fait, 
 
 D d which 
 
102 
 
 The Firjl Pan of 
 
 Part L 
 
 which leaves it nntoucln, but by fome other thing, 
 every where to be found in plenty, of which, ior 
 fome reafons wc flicill fpeak nothing here. 
 
 And this way of leparation makes much for the 
 poor mineral of copper, which with profit cannot 
 be worked upon by the vulgar way, to be feparated 
 from the Copper, afterward by ripening it into a 
 better metal, or turning it into verdy-greafe for want 
 of a better art, which bulluefs alfo may well and ho- 
 neftly more than maintain a family. This way alfo 
 may the rejeded drofs of the gold, filver> and cop- 
 per be with proht feparated. But bccaufe I have de- 
 treed to handle here only the extraftion of gold out 
 of Itones, therefore thefe menftrues which are afed 
 in the extradlion of copper andfilvcr, aredefcrved- 
 ly omitted, and refervcd for another place, where 
 fomctinie they fliall be delivered, to wit, if I fhatl 
 fee that this demonftration ihall be accepted in mens 
 eyes, which more very excellent fhall follow. As 
 HOW I have undertaken a more excellent matter in love 
 to my countrcy, by which it may appear, that G r- 
 fnariy however reduced to want, is yet rich enough, 
 if it would but at lall look upon its hidden treafures. 
 There is no need to offer a fore-chewed bit, for de- 
 monftration is fufficieat, neither will we obtrude a 
 j^od upon the negligent ; for to the ungrateful the 
 beft things are unacceptable. Thefe therefore being 
 waved, in fhort we will give the demonftration and 
 extradion of thofe flints, not doubting butthe ex- 
 pert and experienced, though the Huggifh may 
 not, will thence reap profit, aad give God the 
 praife- 
 
 What belongs then to the aforefaid ftones, out of 
 which gold may beextraded, thus the matter ftands. 
 All kind of flints for the moll part have invilible 
 gold, fometimes vifible and invilible, volatile and 
 corporeal together : but many commonly contain 
 impure iron-like volatile gold, and alfo mature, and 
 a few, fulphureous and copper like. 
 
 Stones which the Germans call Qttartz.cns and Horn- 
 fietn^ containing pure and corporeal gold, although 
 mixc with filver and copper, may be burnt and 
 ground, and extraded with Mercury, and if they a= 
 bound with gold, be purged by flux; which labours 
 are ufual with diggers and dealers in metals, of 
 which I do not intend to write, becaufc others have 
 heretofore writ of them. But thofe flints ^wrrx.e« 
 and Horyifiein every where almoft to be found, con- 
 taining but a mean quantity of difperfcd iron-like 
 Gold, Marcafite=likc, and that either fixt or vola- 
 tile, cannot be feparated with gain, to wit, neither 
 by Mercury nor by Flux, wherefore they are neg- 
 ItCttdi by the Miners, cither out of ignorance or for 
 the intolerable cofts- Bet I having tryed thofe bafe 
 ftones, that how little gold foever they polTefs •, 
 yet may it be feparated with great gain, I would 
 not intermit to publilh this knowledge for my Chri- 
 ftian neighbours fake, not doubting but this pub- 
 lication will be profitable to very many. Fori am 
 not ignorant that there are as well learned, as un- 
 learned, noble as ignoble, fecular as fpiritual, either 
 by warorotherwifeexpofed to poverty, fo that they 
 are hardly able to maintain their family, o-c. and 
 for their fakes and others in want- I have pub- 
 Jiflied this fecret, v/hich rightly handled may bring 
 no fniall gain yearly, but efpecially where thofe 
 ftones are plentiful, and alfo that fpirit of fait, 
 whereof the defcription is given in the firft part of 
 the Philofophical Furnaces, and hereafter there (hall 
 be given a better, if nothing hinder ", in the mean 
 
 while ufc and enjoy thefe. And if it happen fo that 
 thou canft not rightly perform all things of thea- 
 forefaid tratlatc, bluili not to learn the manual O- 
 perations Qwhich cannot be fo exailly defcribcd] 
 from thofe that are experienced, left you hereafter 
 nnprofitably fpend your labour and cofts. As for 
 thofe ftones know that very many of them are 
 found in feveral places, chiefly in thofe that are 
 fandy and mountainous, but in fome more and bet- 
 ter than in others : for there is feldom feen fand 
 without flints, and oft-times the fand it felf, though 
 very little doth not want Gold. But they are very- 
 likely to be found on the fhoars of Rivers, where 
 the waters wafliing away the fand from the flints 
 they are found in great abundance, though they are 
 not fo eafily known by their outfide, as thofe which 
 were found clean in the fand, becaufe they are covered 
 with flime. Wherefore they muft be broken with a 
 hammer, that that may be feen which is in them, 
 which may better appear if they be burnt, and 
 qucncht in cold water. For the ftone retaining 
 its whirenefs when it is burnt and quencht doth 
 contain nothing •, but acquiring a rednefs it (hews 
 there is fomething in it, and the more red it is the 
 better token it is. 
 
 N. B- But this is not to be underftood of fandy 
 ftones, waxing red in fome part, in the fire, con- 
 taining no gold, but of flints out of which by a mu- 
 tual percuOion fire is brought forth, which the more 
 pure they are the purer gold do they yield, There 
 are alfo flints out of which fire is forced by percuf- 
 fion being red in the fire, which contain no gold but 
 Iroui which you may know by that clear rednefs 
 before the burning, which being burnt is changed 
 into an obfcure rednefs, not fliining and crude : but 
 the flints containing Gold, being burnt do acquire a 
 fair golden yellownefs, or reddifli colour, as if they 
 were covered with gold, and that through the whole 
 fubftanceif they be broken in pieces. And thefe give 
 a pure gold, but thofe other yield a red extraftion like 
 blood, -yielding not gold, but the pureft and malleable 
 iron, good in Chymick ufes, (but chiefly for filver to be 
 cemented and exalted j for gold isfeldometobefound 
 in them-,the which is well to be obferved left thou draw 
 out iron in ftead of gold, and fo lofe thy labour. 
 
 Alfo the beft ftones containing gold, are thofe 
 which are white and fliining, here and there through- 
 out having in the whole fubftance green fpots and 
 lines, red, yellow, skic coloured and brown. There 
 are alfo black flints out of which fire is forced by pcr- 
 cullion, having gold and iron, which may be fepara- 
 ted with profit, yielding fometimes plenty of ironilh 
 Gold, which may in like manner, be feparated of 
 which afterward. 
 
 They are very good flints alfo which being burnt 
 retain a whitenefs, with veins green, skie-coloured, 
 and fuch like, neither are they difefteemed which 
 burnt, have black fpots, and not veins. 
 
 But the ftones {<^artz.e>iar\d ^ornftein) although 
 they in burning are not altered, yet if there be feea 
 before gold volatile and fpiritual, they by repara- 
 tion of themfelves yield gold. 
 
 Grofsandfubtle fand having light and yellow gold, 
 yields in the burning a skie-coloured fmoak, and is 
 exalted in colour, w^. brownifli : but that hath no- 
 thing which is not altered. 
 
 Subtle earth, yellow or red, pafling through fand 
 or a mountain like a vein contains alfo gold, which 
 is for the moft part volatile, and not mature, flying 
 away in vedudlion, having ingrefs into filver and 
 
 Other 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Mineral l4^ork. 
 
 lO^ 
 
 other metals, and therefore for this reafon conler- 
 
 vable, 
 
 For thy better knowledge thou mayfl- prove the 
 ftoncs, with white fullle glafs, which thing is trea- 
 ted of in the fourch part of the Philofophical Fur- 
 naces, that thou mayft not have caufe to impute the 
 fault of thy errour to me ; therefore I would havc 
 thee underftand, viz.. that all Itones contain not 
 gold, neither in all is it feparable by the fpiric of fait : 
 they are therefore to be known before they be ap- 
 plyed to the work. 
 
 Now follows the freparation of fiints^ and the cvtra^- 
 ion of the gold contatmd tn them^ by the f^irit of 
 fait. 
 
 FIrft the flints being made red hot in the fire, they 
 muft be quencht in cold water, after taken out 
 and cooled, and finely powdered. 
 
 N. B- When they are broken in a Mortar the bet- 
 ter parts may eafily be feparated from the bafer : 
 for while they are finely powdered, always the bcfl: 
 part goes into red powder firft, the worfer part thick- 
 er and harder, containing little or nothing, being 
 left ; And if they be courtly powdered and fifted 
 through a fine (ieve the more iubtle part like red 
 powder goes through the fieve, the unufeful part be- 
 ing left in the fieve like white duft, which may be 
 calt away : and if yet fome rednefs appears, it muft 
 again be powdered in a Mortar, and the better part 
 fhall go into a red powder, the bafer part being left 
 in the fieve hard and white which is to be call away, 
 but you muftobferve that not all and every of thefe 
 flints are thus feparable by powdering -, for fome 
 being beaten do every where retain the famecolour, 
 without any feparation of the better parts, which 
 you muft finely powder and extraft in the whole fub- 
 ftance , But they {viz.. thofc feparable) are more 
 eafily extracted, becaufe all the gold contained in one 
 pound for the molt part may be gathered out of 
 three or four ounces finely powdered and fepara- 
 ted in theaforefaid manner -, fothat it is not needful 
 to extrad the whole ftone, nor to fpend fo much 
 fpirit of fait. But fand and clay need not fuch a 
 preparation, but without a preparation being made 
 before, are extracted by the afflifion of the fpirit of 
 fait. 
 
 R then of the flints as aforefaid prepared and fe- 
 parated two, three, four, fix pound, to which being 
 put into a cucurbit of glafs whole (undivided) pour 
 of the fpirit of Salt to the depth of three or four 
 fingers breadth, and place it in hot fand or Babeo, 
 that there the fpirit of fait may be hot,and may extrad 
 the Gold, and fo let it continue for five, fix or more 
 hours fpace, until the fpirit tinged with a deep red- 
 nefs, can extrad no more. And perchance at the 
 firft time (though feldom) it may not be tinged with 
 fo great a rednefs, then muft you decant that fame 
 imperfedly tinged fpirit, and pour to other flints 
 after the manner exprefTed, prepared in another cu- 
 curbit, and place it with the flints in a moderate heat 
 for to extrad the gold ; which done poifr it off again, 
 and pour it to frefli flints, and do fo often until it 
 hath drawn to it a fufficicnt quantity of gold ; which 
 afterward thou muft keep, until thou haft gotten a 
 greater quantity, and all the Gold may be fepa- 
 rated at one time from it, as afterward Ihall be 
 fa id. 
 
 Which done pour to the referved flints in the 
 firft cucurbit, a frelh fpirit of fait, and leave that fo 
 
 long in heat, until it be coloured, and extract the 
 gold that is left in the flints, and was not at the 
 firft time extracted :, which fpirit being atterward 
 decanted, pour it to the flints referved in the fc- 
 cond and third cucurbit, toextra(it the reOduc ol the 
 gold which was left at the fii ft time ; and fo tonfe- 
 quently to the others referved, until the fpirit be 
 fufficie.itly coloured, and can attract no more ■, which 
 afterward pour off and put it to the firft, which 
 was referved. You muft alfo pour a frc(h fpirit 
 to the remainder of the extradion for the extrailt- 
 ing of all the gold. At length pour to it alfo com- 
 mon water to wa(h away the ti^gcd fpirit of gold 
 remaining in the flints, that none of the Gold may 
 be loft. 
 
 And this labour is fo long and often to be repeat- 
 ed till there remain neither Hints nor fpirits ; in the 
 mean while you (hould ait awiy the flints extrad- 
 ed and waflied, that the cucurbits may be filled with 
 frefli flints, and fo continue the work '■, and if there 
 be no more fpirit left to continue the cxtradion, 
 you may then feparate the extraded gold from the 
 fpirit, which is done as followeth: but firft you muft 
 have plenty of glafs vefl'els, or retorts of the beft 
 earth, which may retain the fpirits ^ which you may 
 fo far fill with the impregnated fpirit, that the fpi: 
 rit in the abftraiftion run not over, which done, it is 
 to be extraftcd in a dry Buheo by little and little 
 from the Gold, which fpirit ye may ufe again in the 
 aforefaid work. And the Gold which is left in the 
 bottom of the vefl^els, is to be feparated from the 
 veflels with a crooked iron wier and fkept being ve- 
 ry like to red earth) for its ufe, until thou haft got» 
 ten a good quantity, viz.. fo much as fufficcth for 
 feparation and purgation Cof which afterward; to be 
 made by Antimony. 
 
 A^. B. But when thou fiialt extrad red talc with 
 fpirit of fait, red or black granates, Smiris., or L^- 
 pis CaUmtnaris.^ and Other Fofliles, which befide fixt 
 Gold contain much immature and volatile Gold j 
 you muft in the abftradlion caft in a little iron, viz.. 
 to the folution, which retains and fixes the gold 
 which otherwife flyes away in fufion. Wherefore 
 thofe folutions and extradions of Talc and other 
 things containing volatile gold are better exrradt- 
 ed out of iron Cucurbits by earthen alembicks than 
 out of glafs and earthen retorts, becaufe then that 
 volatile gold doth attraft only fo much thence as is 
 fufficient for its fixation ; which iron is after eafily 
 feparated by the Antimony from the gold, as ftiall 
 after be taught. And this is to be noted, that not 
 the whole granate is foluble in the fpirit of falc, 
 although it be long left in digeftion, always retain- 
 ing its former colour -, wherefore there is a difix:- 
 rence to be made, or a preparation to be learned, 
 requific for the folution of the gold contained in 
 them. 
 
 And you muft extradl Talc not with too much 
 or exceriive heat, left its fubftance be totally difllal- 
 ved in the fpirit and be a hinderance to the work i 
 becaufe there is little profit then, for it is therefore 
 appointed, that a little gold difperfed in a great 
 quantity of Talc may be reduced into a little com- 
 pafs that it need not that ail the quantity of Talc 
 be made fufile, becaufe it will thereby procure lofs. 
 But there is no danger in flints, becaufe the fpirit 
 of fait doth not dilfolve them as it doth Talc, but 
 only extrafts gold from thence, the ftony body be- 
 ing left. The lapis caUminarts may alfo otherwife 
 bs handled in the extrartion and fixation than gra- 
 
 D d 2 nates 
 
104 
 
 The FirU Van of 
 
 ParcL 
 
 nates, fliiu^ and Talc, becanfe ic is alinofl wholly 
 foliible ill the Tpirit of fait ; which work is not hoie 
 to b: handled, becaiifs the cxrrailion and fixation 
 is taught ill a peculiar way in another place, neither 
 do I mean to treat of it here, but only of the ex^ 
 tradion of ■^pk\ out of Hints every where to be 
 found. And this is the way of extraction of Gold 
 out of flints and fand in heat by the fpirit of fait, 
 to be done in glafs veiFcls. But tliere is another 
 way too, which is dorc in cold without glafs vef- 
 fcls, which I thought worth the fettiny; down, 
 that in the aforclaid work you may choofc which 
 vou pleafe, this or that, and it is done as fol- 
 loweth. We muft have in this way ftore of 
 earthen funnels well burnt, and not fucking up the 
 fpiritsi for want of which we inuft have fuch as be 
 of ftroiig glafs : there muft alfo be a form with many 
 holes in it to receive the aforefaid funnels, under 
 which moll be placed glafs diflics or bafons to re- 
 ceive the flrained fpirit. 
 
 Here follows the work^ to be performed by Fnmicls. 
 
 TTHc Funnels being put in the holes of the form, 
 you muft lirft put a big piece of /!/'•' in the ftraigh- 
 tcr part of the Funnel, to which after put leffer pie- 
 ces, and on thefc again lefs, viz,, as much as ferveth 
 to fill the ftraight part of the Funnel, of which the 
 larger part is after to be filled with powdered flints, 
 but fo that there be left a dcpch of three or four 
 fingers breadth for the fpirit of fait. Ky this means 
 thofe greater pieces in the lower part will hinder 
 the palTage of the fine powder in the AfTufion of 
 the Spirit of Salt. 
 
 Which being done as it ought, pour to the flints 
 contained in the Funnels the fpirit of fait, two 
 or three fingers breadth in deepnefs, which forth- 
 with ihall work on the flints, and attrad their gold, 
 and then run into the diOi or bafon fet underneath : 
 and becaufe for the molt part at the firft time, 
 fome of the powder pafleth through with the fpi- 
 rit, you mult fo often pour the fame fpirits on 
 the flints until there be a ftoppage, and the fpirit 
 come clear ; afterward pour this fpirit into the fe- 
 cond Funnel with flints •, ' and then into the third, 
 and fo confequently , until it be ftrained through 
 the flints of every Funnel i or till the fpirit be fuf- 
 ficiently coloured, which you muft keep until you 
 have gotten a fufficient quantity to be diftilled by 
 retort for the fcparating the fpirit from the gold. 
 Then that firft fpirit being ftrained through the 
 flints of each Funnel according to order and co- 
 Joured, pour a frefli fpirit to the flints of all the 
 Funnels according to order, beginning at the firft, 
 till you come to the laft, until that be fufiiciently 
 coloured -, which being done, pour a frefli fpirit of 
 fait to the flints ( according to their order ) con- 
 tained in every Funnel- And when you_ fee the 
 ftrained fpirit not to receive a tindure, it's a fign 
 that all the gold is extraded ; and then pour on no 
 more fpirit but common water, that it may be ftrai- 
 ned, and the water will artrad the fpirit of fait left 
 in the flints, that none fliall be loft, which acidiOi 
 water fave by its felf to the fame, and the like 
 ufes: which being done , take out the extraded 
 flints, and lill the Funnels with frelh as before, ^7^. 
 to be extraded ; and do this fo long as you have 
 flints and fpirit. But you muft not pour a fpirit 
 not fufficiently tinged into the fpirits that are well 
 
 .1 part, and pour it lliH to freih prepared flints, 
 according to crd-. r, contained in divers Funnels, 
 Vi^L. until it be fufiiciently colouied :, and being co- 
 loured , feparate it by the glafs retorts vviiti the 
 reft, extruding it from the gold by abftraction i 
 and being abftraded again, ufe it to a new work 
 like the former. And by this means with loo 
 pound of fpirit of fait may be extraded fome thou- 
 fand pounds of flints prepared , and feparate the 
 gold contained in them, which otherwife by fulioa 
 cannot be done. But the chief point confifteth in 
 the cxtradion ('the fpirit of fait being well and 
 rightly firft adminiftred ) viz.. that the fpirit may 
 not be wafled , whereby many ftones may be ab- 
 ftraded with a little fpirit- But this caution is to 
 be obferved in this cxtradion, which is done in 
 cold, that it rcquireth a ftronger fpirit of fait than 
 that, which is done in heat by cucurbits, or elfe 
 the bufines goes on flower : but with a ftronger 
 fpirit by this ( the cold ) way they are extracdedl 
 fooner and eafier than by that wliich is done irs 
 heat •, and neither fo dangerous, laborious or coft- 
 ly : this cxtradion then, viz.. the cold, requires 
 a ftronger fpirit of fait ( which is worth noting ) 
 than the hot. 
 
 And this is that way , by which thofe golden 
 flints, and other golden fofliles are prepared, and 
 with the fpirit of fait are extraded, and by which 
 it is again feparated from them : Now fhall fol- 
 low the manner of purification, viz.. of the Gold 
 left in the Retort. 
 
 N. B. The pure gold being extraded out of the 
 flints, not the iron- like, there needs no great bufinefs 
 of purification •, for thou mayft purify it by fufiou. 
 with borax, or with the fluxing powder made with: 
 the equal weight of nitre and tartar : but if the gold' 
 extraded out of Flints be mixt with iron , as for 
 the moft part it is, then you muft not fufe it with. 
 Fluxing Powder, becaufe it is not thereby purify- 
 <d or rendered malleable Gold, but feparate it by 
 lead, by which way it is purged and made malleable. 
 And if fuch Gold have any fulphureous impurity 
 mixt befides, it is not to be feparated with lead, 
 becaufe it is then partly turned to drofs and o- 
 ther impurities by the iron with lofs ; wherefore 
 it is to be purged with three parts of Antimony 
 and feparated ; by which means nothing is loft ; 
 which is the beft way of reparation and purifica- 
 tion of Gold, VIZ.. the ferreous, without which it 
 cannot otherwife be feparated without lofs- 
 
 How impure Gold may be feparated and pureed by 
 ylntimony. 
 
 THis work is necefTary to be known, if you 
 think to have any benefit by the aforefaid ex- 
 traction of Flints by the fpirit of Salt, which with- 
 out this feparation and redudion is of no moment : 
 and what profit I pray is there by the cxtradion 
 of immature Gold, which by the common way can- 
 not be purg'd, requiring the induftry of the Ar-- 
 tift in fulion, whereby it may be feparated from its 
 fulphureous faces and fixed ? For it is eafie to con- 
 jcdure, that fuch fpiritual and volatile gold mixed 
 with Iron, by that common flux is not reducible in- 
 to a body, but rather into drofs : for experience 
 teftifies that gold dilfolved with the fpirit of fait, 
 end alfo iron, or any other fulphureous thing, the 
 fpirit of fait being abftraded cannot be reduced 
 
 coloiued and impregnated with gold, but keep it whole by the vulgar flux made of Nitre and Tartar, 
 ' " .1 going 
 
Pare I. 
 
 The Mineral lVor\. 
 
 T05 
 
 going intodrofs : which if it happen to corporcal,pUrc 
 and hxc gold, how O.all it be ocherwifc with thai 
 which is incorporeal, unclean and volatile ? for the 
 Gold being ironilh commonly, which is cxtraded 
 ont of ftoiies, and iron having great affinity with 
 gold fby reafonof which being nearly united, it is 
 difficultly feparated, fo that it ealier goes with iron 
 into drofs than parted from it) you muft of neceffi 
 ty make a flux not only attracting that impure 
 gold, but alfo purifying and clcanling it, thac which 
 Antimony alone doth, which with its combuftible 
 fulible Sulphur eafily enters that ironilh Gold : 
 But by its Mercury it attraifteth the pure corporeal 
 gold, and deanfcth it , and feparates it from all 
 drofs without any lofs: wherefore there cannot be 
 a better flux, but requiring induftry, or an ingeni- 
 ous feparation of the Antimony from the gold,with- 
 out wafting the gold •, which is done as follows- 
 
 And firft your ferreous gold, that is left in the 
 abftradion of the fpirit of fait, muft be finely pow- 
 dered in iron retorts or pots, and mingled with it 
 two or three parts of Antimony powdered , and 
 mixt in a very ftvong crucible filled and covered, 
 and then fufed in our fourth furnace, until that flow 
 like water ; which foon appearing, pour them toge- 
 ther into a heated Cone, fmeared within with wax, 
 and when they be cold, feparate from the drofs the 
 Regulus (having moft of the gold) with a hammer, 
 and keep it by in felf. Which done, you muft a- 
 gain melt the drofly Antimony fas yet containing 
 much gold ) that was left, in the crucible, and add 
 to it a little filing of Iron , mixing them with a 
 crooked wier, and that Antimonial combuftible ful- 
 phur will be mortified by adding iron ■, and will 
 yield a Regtdns containing the reft of the gold, 
 which,asa regard is had to the quantity of iron added, 
 will be more or lefs, and for the moft part will an- 
 fwer in weight to the weight of the iron ; then 
 caft the mafs (well flowing) into a Cone heated and 
 fmeared on the infide with wax, which being cold, 
 feparate again the Regy.lus from the drofs with a 
 hammer, which alfo is to be kept by it felf-, melt 
 the drofs again, as before, and precipitate it with 
 iron, and extradl the Regains thence, which keep 
 by its felf, for it contains gold and filver mixt. 
 For the beft gold is precipitated the firft time, but 
 afterward the bafer fort, and at laft only Silver. 
 Wherefore every Regulus is to be kept by it felf, 
 that the pureft gold may be a part, and the filve= 
 red gold by it felf. 
 
 ^- B. And if the Antimony, by the addition of 
 Iron, do lofe its fufibility, and therefore can yield 
 no Regulus , it's required , that you at every time 
 when precipitation is made, by adding iron , that 
 you do alfo caft in fome ^"^^tfy^ to make the mafs 
 to melt in the crucible and precipitate the Regulus. 
 All the gold and filver being reduced into three or 
 four ReJiilitj'i^ you muft keep the drofly parts by 
 themfelves that were left, of which we fliall fpeak 
 hereafter. 
 
 A^ow foUows the Wciy of fep^raiing the Gold and Silver 
 from the Antimony. 
 
 nPHE aforefaid antimonial Regulus''^ may rnany 
 -■- waies be purged, and firft by help of Bellows 
 on a plain earthen teft, as the cuftom is with Gold- 
 fmiths when they make Gold fufile by Antimony, 
 which labour is tedious and dangerous ; which can= 
 
 not be done often without the lofs of health , nor 
 in great quuitiry : wherefore when a better wny 
 is knov.'n, 'tis a folly to do it lb. The RigalnPi 
 alfomaj be purified by lea^ onatefte, which work 
 may be done in a great quantity, but it requires 
 abundance of coals and lead, where the Antimony 
 cannot be prefei ved : but it may be done with gain, 
 and is to be preferred before the former waies : 
 Thou mailt if thou pleafcft calcine the aforefaid 
 Rigu!ns''s to afties, and then fufe them; which way 
 the gold and lilver may eafily be drawn out. Thou 
 maiit alfo fufe them in a crucible, and by the addi- 
 tion of fome falts, feparate the antimony from the 
 gold and filver, turning the antimony into drofs> 
 which being feparated, thofe are found purified and 
 malleable, which though it be the cafieft way, it is 
 yet alfo very dangerous, for the fairs often, if you 
 do not warily proceed, do fpoyl much gold and fib 
 ver, and forhctimes leave gold immalleable , and lb 
 double the pains- 
 
 But he who knows how to do this by Nitre only, 
 he may with great gain, and in a ftiort time, pu- 
 rifie a great quantity of the aforefaid Regulus^ with- 
 out lofs of the goldj filver , or antimony. There 
 are alfo other means for the doing of it which to 
 relate were tedioiis and indeed impoflible. Where= 
 fore I win fct down the beft of all, moft profitable 
 in the feparations of great quantities of Refulus''s. 
 Where firft is required fome peculiar little Furnace 
 vvith a Fire almoft like to that in our firft part of 
 Philofophical Furnaces, built for the fubliming of 
 Flowers ; it wants indeed a grate, but it hath little 
 vents for to make thfe coals burn, that thy antimony 
 feparated from the gold, may be fublimated or ele- 
 vated into lublimatory veflels. Which being right- 
 ly built and heated, let fo much of the Regulus be 
 caft in with a fpoon as the Fire can bear > which 
 will quickly melt and be elevated, the air being ac- 
 traded by the vents , without any trouble : which 
 being fublimed, you may caft in more» if you have 
 more, until all the Regulus be feparated and fubli- 
 mated from the gold and filver , which are left in 
 the Fire pure and malleable ; tfie furnace being cold, 
 you may take out the Flowers and keep them (of 
 which afterwards) for ufes, which way you may not 
 only feparate a great number of Regulus's from gold 
 and filver in a fmall time, but alfo keep all the an- 
 timony, which may many waies be ufed in Alchy- 
 my and Medicine with great profit. Which fure is 
 an excellent knowledge, for not only hereby may. 
 any one get abundantly, without wronging bis neighs? 
 bour, but alfo help many fick People, "vtz.. by that 
 excellent Medicine made of the Flowers : which is 
 a fpecial gift of God, for which we owe immortal 
 Thanks. And this is, of all others that I know, the 
 beft way of feparation of gold from antimony, 
 which is not only done in great quantity, in a Ihort 
 time, and with fmall charge, but alfo without lofs 
 of the Antimony. 
 
 HerefoHom the Vfe of the Jntimonial Florpers, 
 
 FIrft,you may take the whiteft of the Flowers out of 
 the lower hole, and keep them for a Univerfal 
 Medicine ; but reduce the reft ( being lefs pure ) 
 into Regulus by the fait of Tartar, for divers ufes , 
 as fliall be faid afterward ; or you may mingle them 
 with an equal weight of common fulphur, or anti- 
 mony, which being mixt in a covered crucible, melt 
 them, and they will yield an antimony like to a na- 
 
 E e tural, 
 
[o6 
 
 The Firfl Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 tural, good co puiifie gold : or thou maifl: mingle 
 them witii other metals or minerals , that by this 
 means ihey may be made better. Or thou maift 
 life them inChyrurgery, tor they ofall Itiptick plai- 
 Ilers make the belt. In brief, the aforcfaid Flowers 
 may many waies be ufed with good s^ain and Inc- 
 cefs. 
 
 The aforcfaid antimonial drofs may alfo be redu- 
 ced into Flowers , and ufed in the fame manner ; 
 which indeed arc endowed with as excellent Pro- 
 perties , as they which are made out oi Regulns'%-^ 
 becaufe in that fulion and fcparation of gold cx- 
 tra(fled out of Flints and Talc, the gold only that 
 was lixt and mature, was fe!)3rated from the Rcgn-- 
 /"j'si (the immature and volatile being left in the 
 drofs) and elevated with the Flowers: It follows 
 thence, that thefe are better, as well in medicine as 
 in the tranfmutation of metals- 
 
 Or, if thou wilt, add to the antimony (as afore- 
 faid ufed) old iron, to reduce it in a furnace, and 
 take the Rmdns, having gold and filver, which may 
 therefore be ufed in other operations of Chymi- 
 ftry, where there is need o{ Rtyuhts, as we may 
 fliew hereafter- But the drofs doth yield a Rega- 
 ins, v:z.. in a very ftrong Fire, and a Furnace with 
 a peculiar feparatory by abftra.'lion, which although 
 it contain not gold, yet it may be ufed not with- 
 out gain, as if it be mingled with Tin in fulion, 
 it procures to it a hardnefs and found , ufeful for 
 falhioning divers fort of Houflwld-ftufF, which is 
 not fo eafily darkened as the common Tin, or if thou 
 wilt not, thou maift make weights of it. 
 
 Hitherto we have treated of the extradion of 
 gold out of Flints , and of its putrification by an- 
 timony •, now we will teach you how to ufe the reft 
 of the antimony, as well in the pcrfcdlion of bafe 
 metals as in medicine, as well for the preferving 
 of Health, as the curing of Difeafes- 
 
 But feeing we have made mention of an Univer- 
 fal Medicine- to be made out of antimony afore- 
 faid, I would not have thee think that that is fuch 
 as can take away all diftempers in general , with- 
 out diftindion, which vertue is only afcribed to the 
 Philofophers Stone, but not by me to this medi- 
 cine i to which 1 attribute no more than I have 
 trycd : But this in truth I dare affirm, that there 
 is, belides the ftone, fcarce any comparable to it ; 
 for it doth not only preferve the body from divers 
 Difeafes, but alfo happily frees it from the prefent, 
 fp that it may dcfervedly be termed a "OmvcrfJ 
 Medicine. 
 
 The Preparation fo^orvcth. 
 
 Vi of the flowers purified from the drofs a pound, 
 fit,, of Antimony , by which the extraded gold 
 was purified, which for the moft part are of a yel-- 
 low colour, having gold volatile and immature : 
 in dcfed of which , take the ilowcrs made out of 
 the golden R('^itus\ beiilg for the moft part white, 
 to which pour in a GlafsVial, ftrong and long- 
 ncckcd, of fpirit of wine tartarifcd, three or four 
 pound, mingle and ftir them well together, and put 
 on it another crooked pipe fwithin which let there 
 be feme ounces of Quickfdver, as is defcribcd in the 
 Fifth Part ot our Philofophical Furnaces) and make 
 Jtrong the joynts with a bullocks bladder thrice 
 falde3, madpwet:, which dryed, place the gla[s in 
 B.iliiuioi-, and give fire by dca,rccs, that the fpirit of 
 wine witii the antimony may di^^eft, in wliich leave 
 
 it for 24 hours fpace, and fo foon as the fire isout, 
 take out the glais , when it is cold, pour off the 
 fpirit tinged red from the Flowers , and pour on 
 frelh ; and place it, as before, in Bahicum^ to digcft 
 2+ hours fpace, till it be red, and do this the third 
 time, or fo often till tiic Spirit Lx: no more colou- 
 red, for then no more is to be poured on, and that 
 which is coloured, is to be filtred with Cap-pnper. 
 The reft of the Flowers, after the extradion, as not 
 requifite to this bafinefs, are to be either kept by 
 themfelvcs, or thrown away. But the tinged Spi- 
 rit is to be abftraded out of a glafs cucurbit by an 
 alembick, to the half, from the tindure, which di- 
 ftilled fpirit may again be ufed in the fame work : 
 but the tindure left in the cucurbit is the medicine, 
 of which mention has been made. 
 
 Now mention being made alfo of tartarifed fpiric 
 of wine, that 1 may fatisfie the doubtful concern- 
 ing that I will here alfo give its defcription, which is 
 as followeth. 
 
 R. of Tartar 20 or 30 pound, put it in a large 
 coated retort, and place it in land, and diftil the 
 fpirit oft' with a foft heat. 
 
 N. B. This work may better and fooner be per- 
 formed by that inftrument of our fecond Furnace ; 
 and becaufe it requires great and large receivers, 
 as being very penetrative , thou maift firft apply 
 a tin or copper Serpen: to the neck of the retort, 
 inftead of a receiver, which is placed in a tub fil- 
 led with cold water, that the fpirits being there- 
 by cooled, may be retained , which afterward yoo 
 muft abftrad to the half, out of a glafs cucurbit by 
 an alembick : for the other half with the black oyl is 
 unprofitable in this work, and therefore to be ta- 
 ken away. After that, mingle the more fubtilepart, 
 diftilled with half of the Cafnt Monmim-, of the a- 
 forefaid Spirit .,. calcined to a whitenefs,and abftradt 
 it half again in a gentle Bdnmm^ out of a glafs 
 cucurbit by an alembick , the joynts whereof are 
 every where to be well clofed , and the calcined 
 Tartar ftiall receive with it felf the ftench, toge- 
 ther with the phlegm , only the purer part of the 
 Spirit, and more fubtile diftilling forth , which is 
 again to be mingled with the other half of the Tar- 
 tar calcined to a whitenefs, and to be redified by 
 another alembick i the Caput Monnum may again be 
 calcined to take away the fetidnefs, that it may be 
 ufed again. And this is that tartarifed fpirit of 
 wine, with which the aforefaid tindure and eftence; 
 is extradcd, and truly not only this , but of all 
 other metals , which no other can do. And if ic 
 were lawful, I would write fomcthing more of its 
 wonderful force and vertue which it hath inpurify^ 
 ing bafcr metals, with which it hath a great affini' 
 ty ; for it can feparate t!ie pure from the impure> 
 of which more in anoihcr place. But when ir is to 
 be ufed in mending of metals, it needs not fo much 
 redification as is required in the extrading of me- 
 tallick medicines •, where you may draw it in plen- 
 ty out of the dry Ices of wine. Bat there is alfo' 
 another tartarifccl fpirit of wine, which may alfo be 
 ufed in this fame work, which is made after the 
 followiug way : Dilfolve in a pound of the fpiric 
 of wine" fix ounces of Cryftal of Tartar ; which 
 folution ufc ir. the aforefaid extradion, inthefijms. 
 
 manr-cr. 
 
 Of 
 
Pare I. 
 
 the Mineral IVork. 
 
 \(TJ 
 
 Of the VtrtHCs of th:s Medicine. 
 
 THis Antimonial Tincture doth, above all other 
 Medicines evacuate vitious humours, and inlen- 
 libly purgeth impure blood ; opens any oblhu.tions 
 of the Liver, Spleen, Reins, and the other vellcls, 
 attracting to it all malignities, and leaving no im- 
 purities behind it. And becaufe it clcanfeth the 
 blood, it cures the Leprofy, French-pox, and itch, 
 and other Dileafes proceeding from the. impurity ot 
 the blood- By its penetrative and attcnuative ver- 
 tue, it refolves all tartareous humoursi and cvacua- 
 teth them, wc. which ingendcr the Gout, the ftone 
 of the Bladder and Reins \ but not the Stone per- 
 fectly coagulated, only it mitigateth its pain, and 
 hinders its encreafe ; but being not hardened or co- 
 agulated, it attraftech and evacuateth it totally and 
 fundamentally oat of all parts •, it takes away alfo 
 ail Fcavers,and other difeafes coming from the fuper- 
 fluity of humours- It gently evacuateth the water 
 between the skin, by fiege and urine. In brief, it 
 Itrengtheiis and purges the principal parts, and 
 preferves them from all preternatural accidents. It 
 is a rooft excellent prefervative in the time of pefti- 
 lence, and other contagious difeafes •, and of them 
 being caught , it is a moft abfolute remedy, expel- 
 ling the difeafe fuddenly from the heart, and eva: 
 cuaiing it. in few words, 'tis of all others a moft 
 excellent Univerfal Medicine, very profitable to both 
 old and young , and alfo very fafe •, but warily to 
 be miuiltred, by reafon of its Itrength with which it 
 is endued) which is moft powerful , for it is as a 
 great fire, which extinguifheth the lefTer. Truly a 
 better medicine cannot be defired than this, which is 
 extracted of a very mean thing, in a (liortipaceof 
 time, and with very fmall coft and pains- I inge- 
 Duoufly confefs, I never faw its like, which I doubt 
 not to be the beft in the World. Wherefore then 
 do we feek any other but this,wz.. which excels in 
 thofe things which are defired from the real medi- 
 cine ? But as it is moft excellent, yet lam certain, 
 that many deluded people will be offended at it, 
 being prepared out of Antimony, a mean and de- 
 fpifed thing, and after a plain way. But 'tis no mat-- 
 ter) F<jr the w.rld will be <3(tTe«x'er/, looking after gay 
 things, difrefpecling and defpiling mean things,when 
 all good things, yea, even when God himfelf doth 
 rejoice in fimplicity , for which, by wicked and 
 proud men he is not fought unto. But this is the 
 effeft offin, by which man is fo blinded, thatfhough 
 he know not good, when fet before his eyes , yet 
 be is ftudious of evil. 
 
 Of the Vfe and Dofe of this Medicine. 
 
 SEeing of all medicines it is the moft powerful, 
 it had need be warily ufed, for a fmaller dofe 
 is alwaies fafer than a greater •, which therefore 
 may after be given ; the which is to be obferved 
 in all difeaies of young and old. To children of 
 2r3>4'>or 6 months old, againft the Worms, Scabs, 
 Feavers, and Epilepfie , you need not give above 
 half a drop with a proper vehicle, which you may 
 repeat three or four times a day : it killeth the 
 Worms, itemptyeth the ftoraachofevil humours: 
 it refrelheth them , and preferves them from fcab- 
 binefs ; and becaufe it evacuateth evil and corrupt 
 humours, ii preferveth them from the fmall pox 
 and meafles, ^i^, if it be ufcd every month ; but to 
 
 children of i, 2, or 3 years old, you may give a drop, 
 and to children of 4 or 5 years eld a drop and a 
 halt : to young people between 15 and 24 years, 
 may be given 2, 3, or 4 drops. To ftronger bodies 
 from 2^ to 50 years. 4, 5,'^, or? drops. But the 
 dofe mail: be greater or leis, with a regard had to 
 the Kcknefs of the patient. And in the Stone and 
 Gout, may be daily adrniniftrcd in wine or beer, viz.. 
 
 in the morning 
 
 fafting, unlefs the patient be very 
 
 weak ; for then you may give it twice or thrice in 
 a day, and continue this till the cure be pcrfefted -■, 
 where is to be obferved that he muft keep a tem- 
 perate dyct- 
 
 In the Leprofy, French-Pox and Scurvy, every 
 morning may a dofe be given, and the difeafe (halt 
 totally be rooted out. Otherwife,x'>i. thelhengrh 
 being too much wafted and weakned , you may 
 give only every other day, "viz.. fo long asfliallbe 
 need. 
 
 In the Epilepfie it may be given daily ; and al- 
 fo in the Dropfy. In all Feavers, two or three 
 hours before the fit- In the Plague it is to be gi- 
 ven prefently, and every day to be repeated : but 
 for a prefervative to be drunk every week once. 
 In all other internal affcdts it muft be given daily, 
 until the declining of the difeafe \ but afterward by 
 little and little, the medicine is to be ufed till th« 
 difeafe be fully cured. 
 
 In external, as in fredi wounds by a blowjthrult 
 or n.ot, broken bones, O-c. every day once ; with 
 a necelFary extrinfical application of a Plaifter. In 
 old Fiftulaes and Cancers , it may be ufed once 
 every day intrinfically and e.xtrinfically, the place 
 affeded may be cleanfed with Mineral Gyntments, 
 For by this means every inveterate evil, how def- 
 perate foever, is throughly cured, and pleafantly, 
 without all pain. 
 
 But although this be moft precious of all medi- 
 cines, yet there is a menftnmm not corrofive, with 
 which not only more eafily than with the fpirit of 
 wine tartarifed, a Univerfal Medicine may be e.x- 
 traded out of Antimony , and endued with better 
 than the aforefaid vertues •, fo that for the charge of 
 one royahin three days time, fo much may be gotten 
 as may ferve to cure fome thoufands of men , but 
 alfo all vegetables, animals, and minerals and me- 
 tals, are radically diffolved and reduced into their 
 firft matter : by which means not only very great 
 Poyfons are changed into moftwhokfome medicines> 
 but alfo bitter things are deprived of their bitter- 
 nefs : for by it things are fo corrected, that they 
 do no more provoke ftool and vomit) 'vtz.. which 
 are very vehementCatharticksfby nature) being chan- 
 ged into moft excellent reftoratives. Alfo fetid 
 things being corredled by it, do acquire a fwecC 
 odour. And it doth not only fwhich feems a vvon- 
 der) diftolve vegetables, animals and minerals with 
 thofe things which come of them, but alfo the very 
 GlalTes ; wherefore you muft alwaies chufe the 
 ftrongeft glafles for digeftion and folution , or in 
 the defedl of fuch, the weaker are to be changed eve- 
 ry 6 houres. And yet it is not at all altered byi 
 thofe things that it doth reduce and turn into their 
 firft matter medicinal, neither in vertue nor colour ; 
 for it alwaies keeps the middle place between pure 
 and impure, of which this falls to the bottom » but 
 that fwims on the top of the ww/r/w/», which may 
 again be ufed. In brief, it's vertues in preparing 
 medicines cannot be enough praifed. But it may 
 be compared with the Mercurial water of Bafdhs 
 
io8 
 
 The Fhn Part of 
 
 Parti 
 
 Fakmmu ; and the AlcahefloiParacdftis and Hel. 
 7mnt, which I juc^e to be the t'lr, of the Maccaka 
 turned into a chick water under-ground. t is a 
 perpetual fire, but not alwaics burning vifibly ;, it 
 is a water permanent, not wetting the hands, the 
 SopeoftheWifc, the Philofophers Az.oth, and the 
 Royal- Bath. 
 
 Which Mcnftrue though I have known lome years, 
 and have often ufed it with metallicks, and by it 
 have found out many fecrecs, yet I never tlioughc 
 of its ufe in Phylkk , until being askt of one who 
 was a great Student of Hdmont , whether I knew 
 the preparation oi i\\^Vi(\^ox Ale aha fi oi P^r^c d J hs-, 
 and naming fome of the vercues of this liquor in 
 preparing Medicines, I began to bethink my iclt,and 
 I obferved that it was my ]>:crct B.^hmm, that pu- 
 rifies minerals. Wherefore I prefently made tryal 
 with vegetables and animals (for I knew the Ver- 
 tues thereof in metallicks) and I found wonderful 
 and aftoniftiing things in it, which before were in- 
 credible to me. I affirm and confefs therefore fin- 
 cerely, that all and every the invented medicines 
 publinied by others and my felf, how rare and coIt= 
 ly foever, are molt mean things in my eltimacion. 
 For this Vmverfai Key was wanting to us. For our 
 vegetables and minerals, however by art macerated, 
 cannot be perfedly refolved, and therefore we hi= 
 therto have had but part of their vertues. But now 
 we need not much art, labour and coft, to reduce 
 a whole body without corrofives, into the firlt mat- 
 ter like in (hape to fome clear and excellent wa- 
 ter! of its own accord calling forth its fuperfluous 
 terreltreity, and becoming a molt wholefome medi- 
 cine, confiding of the three purefl principles i the 
 which cannot be done without this fne>^ftrimm For, 
 What elfe could Phyficians extras out of herbs than 
 Syrups Eleftuarics, Conferves and Waters ? With 
 which Preparations they were not amended, but on- 
 ly qualilied with the addition of Sugar or Honey, 
 becaufe there is no reparation made of the pure 
 from the impure, or good from bad . For all are left 
 mixt together in the Eleftuaries and Conferves, but 
 in 'the Syrups and Waters diftilled there is only 
 fome part. Extrads indeed by the fpirit of Wine 
 are not to be difefteemed, if rightly prepared, but 
 they are no better than their fimples ; and befides, 
 want that which the fpirit of wme cannot draw 
 out, which remainder , though being calcined for 
 the drawing out the fait, which is mingled with 
 the extratfl, yet that is not of much moment, for 
 fire deltroyeth the vcrtue of herbs , fo that fi.ved 
 falts, as cryftaUifed, do perform nothing in medi- 
 cine thofe excepted which without combuftion are 
 made out of the juice of herbs, of which in the third 
 cart of our Furnaces Philofophical-But none dares ex- 
 trart the molt (trong or efficacious fort of herbs 
 for medicine, becaufe they in preparation arc not 
 correded or amended. 
 
 But by this means the molt flrong Herbs, which 
 without this Preparation are poyfons, are matured 
 and purified by the liquor Alcahesl, fo that they may 
 fafely betaken againllraoft grievous Difeales- For 
 God did not create thefe herbs in vain, as fome think, 
 which hepurpofely created that his wonderful works 
 might appear , and that it is poffible to take away 
 the Curfe from them by a man, being freed from 
 the malediaion by the regeneration through Chrilt. 
 See Oputm, Mandrake, Henbane, Hemlock, and other 
 Itupifying things, how deadly they are, being cauti- 
 oiifly ufed -, which correaed by this .Menftiue , be- 
 
 come moft fafe and excellent medicines. How dan- 
 gerous is fpurge, Icamony, hellebor, gambugium.and 
 other ftrong purgers ( being adminiltred unwarily j 
 no man is ignorant : all which are by this way cor- 
 reded, and changed into moll wholefome medica-- 
 ments. Who, I pray, dares eat Wolfsbane, and poy- 
 fonous Toad-ilools, and other venomous vegetables ? 
 which are all fo coneaed by the liquor -^'f-'^^f/, as 
 that not only they are not poyfonous, but are alfo 
 turned into molt fafe and wholfome medicines of 
 many difeafes , Nuxvom'cay Levant-berries, and 
 other things that difturb the Brain , are by this 
 means made wholfome ; alfo poyfonous Animals, as 
 Spiders, Toads, Serpents, Vipers, C'e. are by it cor- 
 rected, as that not only they arc not poyfonous, but 
 do refill and expel poyfon. 
 
 N-B. Confider the Spiders figned with the crofs, 
 who change their skin every month, and renew them- 
 felves, which the ferpents and halcion do but once a 
 year. How great thevertue of worms, earthy and 
 crude, &e. is in refolving tartarous humours , and 
 the French Difeafc, many know ; What then will 
 they do, being correded with this Menllrue .■* The 
 Caitharides and Millifedes are alfo fo correded, that 
 they may more fafely be ufed in provoking Urine. 
 And if that molt venomous Bafilisk, of which there 
 are.fo many fables, whofe fight only kills men (which 
 according to the letter is faJfe j could be had , he 
 might be changed into medicine by the \\q\XQr Mca-. 
 hefi ; as that mineral Bafilisk, Gun-powder may bej 
 which in a moment kills innumerable men ; alfo 
 Arfenick, Orpiment, Kobolt, and the like ; fo that 
 they be deprived of their malignity, and be reduced 
 into very excellent medicines. In brief, its excellent 
 vertues which it manifefls in correding of venomous 
 fimples cannot be fufficiently defcribed. Wherefore 
 it's worth our pains to fearch it with all our power, 
 that we may prepare admirable medicines , that the 
 fick may not for the future be fo vexed with thofe 
 tedious and bitter cups. Truly I cannot enough ad- 
 mire its great vertues, which have been hid fo long- 
 It is not a corrofive thing, and yet diflblves every 
 thing, but fome things fooner than others. It chan- 
 geth and amendeth their natural vertues ; wherefore 
 it may be the comfort of Spagyrifts, having a long 
 time fought for rare medicines, "viz.. being that by 
 which vegetables are feparated and corrected, and aU 
 fo animals and minerals. Wherefore all confcien- 
 tious Phyficians may have commended to them the 
 Preparation of this univerfal Menllrue, by the help 
 whereof to prepare their medicines ; of which the 
 original and preparation is vile, but its vertues moft 
 effiicacious, the finding out and ufes abftrafe. Where- 
 fore it is not obtained, but from God , from whom 
 proceeds every good gift. Do not think then that glut- 
 tony and drunkenneft, idlenefs , pride, and lying, 
 the contempt of thy neighbour, malice, avarice, with 
 an impious life, to be the means by which it is to 
 to be obtained, for it is only the gift of the mercifid 
 Cud., VIZ.. this Menllrue, the gate and key of which 
 is only Divine mercy. But that thou mailt know 
 what is to be determined concerning medicines pre- 
 pared out of poyfonous fimples, I will in brief ex- 
 pound that by example ;, for all vegetables, animals, 
 and minerals, called poyfons, making war with hu- 
 mane nature being intrinlically ufed , and therefore 
 not undefervedly ihunn'd of all, are like fome povven 
 ful unvanquifhable enemy, with all his power feeking 
 the oppiclfion and deftrudion of his contrary, who 
 being checked by a mediator of no left Ilrcngth, and 
 
 recon- 
 
Part 1. 
 
 the Mineral l4^orl^ 
 
 109 
 
 reconciled with his contrary, docs no more (being 
 unable before the reconciliation to rcflft his powerful 
 enemies; fear the contrariety of his enemy, which 
 now is made his friend, bringing aid for the exftir- 
 pating and varqiiilhingof all fiich- like rothcrwifej 
 invincible enemies. Even fo is it with venomous vege- 
 tables, animals, and minerals, deltrudive to humane 
 nature : which by the liquor j^tkjhcjt (a checker and 
 reconciler) are fo corroded and reduced, that they 
 hurt not , being deprived of their malignity and 
 made friends with men : whereby Chey arc not lon- 
 ger poyfonous enemies, but very fafe and vvholfome 
 remedies, agreeing to humane nature, overcoming 
 and expelling other the like enemies othcrwifc poy- 
 fonous and Invincible, for by how much the more 
 enemy before reconciliation it was, by fo much the 
 more help is brought by it, the reconciliation being 
 made- There is not the like found in nature, 
 which can fo fuddenly corre(fl: Poyfons, and reduce 
 them into their firft matter, and bring them into 
 very wholforae elTences. Let religious Phyficians 
 then that can, get this. And fo I end this declarati- 
 on ( not without caufe fct down ) which will move 
 thofe hearts which are not as yet hardened. This 
 certainly is a true Philofophical correction , with 
 which that which is malign is turned into a whol- 
 fome fubftance. What profits that corret'lion , I 
 pray, which is made by the admixtion of other things, 
 as in the mixture of Catharticks and Cordials? Truly 
 nothing, neither can the Cordials do any thing but 
 debilitate the Catharticks-, for naturd is not at once 
 able to expel a purging poyfon, and attratT: a thing 
 confortative and corroborative : For a Purge being 
 given, forthwith that fhews its ftrength in the bo- 
 dy, whofe malignity nature refilling, defireth to ex- 
 pel it, before that it can attrad the confortative -, 
 wherefore that friend is expelled, together with the 
 difeafe. The fame happens in the mixture of fu- 
 gar, honey, and other fweet things with bitter, fliarp, 
 and tart, crc. whofe unpleafantnefs is not correfted 
 by fweet things, but only dulled, thereby acquiring 
 another fmell and tafte , without any other effen- 
 tial alteration. Which correction is like to that 
 which is made in Taverns, amending the air with 
 fweet fumes, which before was infeited with the 
 fpittings, fpewings, and ftinks of rultick drunkards, 
 ivhich is to rufticks an excellent correction, attract- 
 ing the ill as well as the good aromatick odour, being 
 by drunkennefs deprived of their judgment, but not 
 fo to fober men enjoying the ufe of Underllanding, 
 to whom that feems a ruftick correction. In this 
 manner (not to be commended) are at this day fim- 
 ples corrected. But a true and Philofophical cor- 
 rection is done by it felf, without the addition of other 
 things, by benefit of the fire only, as well aCtual as 
 potentially moift, by ripening, mending, and fepara- 
 ting the malignity; which is done by the liquor .A!- 
 cthcfi, as it is called by Par.icclfus and Helmont. 
 
 But whether this my liquor be the fame Alcaheft 
 oiP.vacelfits znd. Helmont-, it matters not if it per- 
 form the fame things- 
 Fire, and a fiery vertue may do much, but not by 
 burning and deftroying, but by maturation and nu^ 
 trition ; and feeding and moiftening. Of which 
 nioifl: Fire, fee Artephius^ Bernhardns^ Bafilins^ Pa- 
 racclfits., &c. for maturation is not done with cold 
 things, but hot, promoting germination. And what 
 eve- Nature hath, left imperfeCt in the vegetable, 
 mii.eral, and animal kingdom , 'vix.. accidentally ; 
 that may be amended by Art with the liquor Alkj- 
 
 ' heff^ which is the belt vyay of correction, untjj by 
 beiicHt of art, and tiie help of hature, fome better 
 
 '■ thing be found out, C^c. 
 
 I And thcfe are the vertues of that wonderful liquor 
 Jlkjhcf/-^ which is made ufc of in the preparation of 
 medicines : And, becaufcit is faid before that it lliews 
 its vertues on metallicks alfo,I could not conceal them 
 from the ftudious. But all its vertues fhall not here 
 be related, for it is endued with fo many, that no 
 mortal 13 able to number them. As for me, al- 
 though by divine favour and the inllruCtioa of that 
 exccUen': man Puriicdfns (excellently in a certain 
 place, but obferved but by few •, defcribing it, fpeak- 
 ing of it briefly, but very plainly and clearly naming 
 it) I did obtain the knowledge thereof, which after- 
 ward daily 1 did more and more encreafe, fothati 
 could hardly believe that any ever had fpent fo 
 much money and pains in the fearching of its ver- 
 tues, for the trying of metals : yet I muft needs con- 
 fcfs, although happily I have made more tryal there- 
 in than any other ; that many of its vertues are as 
 yet unknown to mc. Seeing then that its vertues 
 and ftrength cannot all be tryed by any man, by 
 reafon of his fliort life, although fearching an hun- 
 dred years ; and that by our merciful Father only 
 to a few, and but part of the knowledge of its 
 wonderful and incredible force, is granted, to the 
 glory of His Divine Name, in favour of the poor 
 lick, which none, how learned foever, with his am- 
 bitious learning and craft could ever obtain. There- 
 fore fome excellent gifts being given from the Fa- 
 ther of lights, the Omnipotent G O D, to fome of 
 His Children, j/"^('J, and out of nieer mercy, viz.. 
 for fome caufes, I eafily believe, that it is not His 
 Will that it (liall long be keptclofe, but be revealed 
 to the world, to the glory of His Kame, and the be- 
 nefit of our poor neighbour- Wherefore I could 
 not longer hold my peace, hiding my talent whicfi 
 I received ^>-4r«V, though fmall, but communicate ic 
 gratis to my neighbour j but fo that the Divine my- 
 flery may not be gotten by thofe ungodly abufers, 
 but only by the worthy through divine favour. I 
 affirm therefore exprefly, that in whole nature fuch 
 a thing may not be found ^ for not only by its help 
 all animals, vegetables and minerals may be reduced 
 into very excellent and. fafe medicines, but alfo be 
 brought into the firft matter ; minerals and metals 
 may be purified, wafhed and fix'ed, and fo changed 
 into better bodies. That which is worthy admira- 
 tion, that in fo vile and mean a fubjeCl; ihould lye 
 hid fo great vertues, by which alone without any 
 other art, may be acquired riches and honours, and 
 loft health. Than which thing, what doth mortal 
 man more need in his mifery > befides the Divine 
 Word, the comfort of the foul, than for neceflary 
 fuftentationof life, foundnefs of body, and honeft 
 report before God and men ? All thefe things may 
 be had with this fubjeCt, fo that one need nottoin^ 
 volve himfelf into any other troublefome art or va- 
 nity of this world, having this fecret, whereby all 
 necefTaries may in abundance be procured : of which 
 gift that this unclean world is unworthy, I do af- 
 firm fincerely, becaufe it fweils with arnbition and 
 avarice ; for which we are not able to give God the 
 Donor fufficient thanks in our whole life, where- 
 fore I would have all what ftateor order foever ear- 
 neftly admonillied, that they do not ufe this gift from 
 Heaven to the deftruCtion of their fouls, but in thank- 
 fulnefs to Him that gave it,and every way to the good 
 
 ,of their Chriftian Neighbour- 
 
 F f A'oiP 
 
iio 
 
 The FirH Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Now follow the Firttics which it manifeficth in 
 Adetdllicks. 
 
 Flrft, it (vIt..) the Philofophical Mcnflrue, doth 
 radically dillblve all minerals and inctals with- 
 out noifc, and reduces them into very fafe and 
 vvholfome medicines. Out of gold it makes pota-. 
 ble gold ; outoffilver potnblc fdver, and foconfe- 
 quently of other potable metals ; fo that it may well 
 be called The Vniverfd Akrcitry. 
 
 Secondly, This fecret Menftrue purgeth, walheth, 
 and tranfmuteth minerals and metals to a more noble 
 fpeciesi wlierefore it may well be called S.'.fo Sapicn- 
 turn, by which the faying of the Philofophers is con- 
 firmed ; I,nitsO' yiz.oth abhuirit Latomm. 
 
 Thirdly, By it all minerals and metals are matured 
 and fixed, fo as that afterward the immature gold or 
 iilver incorporated with them , may by cupellation be 
 drawn out with gain ■■, wherefore 'tis defervedly com- 
 pared to Hermes feal. 
 
 Fourthly, It makes metals volatile, and radically 
 conjoyns them that they abide together, and one art 
 on the other in the fire ; it deltroys and revives, 
 kills and renews ; wherefore it is compared to the 
 
 Fifthly, It feparates metals without any lofs, and 
 that fpeedily ; but after another manner than corro- 
 fives, fo that each of them may be had by themfelves. 
 For Example: Being about to feparate gold, filver, 
 copper, iron, tin, lead mixt ; one, or two, three, 
 or four of them mixt, that they may appear each 
 by themfelves, without the lofs of any , you need 
 not cupellate the mixture with lead, which way only 
 gold and filver are gotten out, with the lofs of all 
 the reft : but by this way they are all preferved, 
 where by turns, one after another, they are extrart- 
 ed wonderfully and fwiftly, in half an hours time, 
 by this fharp f^meg^r of the Philofophers, &c. 
 
 Sixthly, By it metals may fuddenly be mortified 
 and reduced into tranfparent glafs, irreducible, and 
 Uke Jmaitfa, but rcferving the propriety and nature 
 of every metal : which in the reduction of Gold 
 do give' perfed filver •, whereby is confirmed that 
 faying of the Philofophers, The corruption of one thing 
 is the generation of another j and that of Paracclfus, 
 JEx aliijiiofiat nihilnm, & ex nihtlo alicjnid. But this 
 incombuftible water, or permanent water, fhews the 
 truth of the Philofophers writings, generally mentio- 
 ning it. In it the folution, putrefadion, diftillation, 
 fublimation, circulation, afcenfion,defcenlion, coho- 
 bacion, inceration, calcination, coagulation, fixation 
 and fermentation, c'-c in their work to be done at 
 one time and one way : In which only operation all 
 the colours appear of which the Philofophers make 
 mention ; as the head of the crow, virgins milk, dra- 
 gons blood, peacocks tay Is, green and red lyon, err . 
 There is alfo by it demonftrated the truth (by the 
 liquor Alkahefi) of that Hermctical faying , That 
 which IS above ^ ts as that which u bene^ith, &c. and 
 many other things are performed by its help , as 
 making that fecret Sandivogian Cbal^bs ^ alfo that 
 long fought- for oylofTalc. 
 
 So far (courteous Reader) hath come my Fxpc- 
 rience \ neither doubt 1 , but by it to obtain that 
 univerfal S.iLnr.ander which lives in the f.re. 
 
 Thefe things which I write are true, and nofah 
 lacies. And though this fecret be incredible to the 
 ignorant, for the wonderful vertucs it ihcwcth in the 
 preparation of medicines , I would willingly pub- 
 
 lifh it to the World for publick good, but on con- 
 fidcration 1 held it not meet to communicate it for 
 certain canfes. But only left liic knowledge of ic 
 ftiGuld perifli, and that the true (and almoft extinill) 
 medicine for the curing of difeafcs vulgarly incura- 
 ble, might ttourifli, I have revealed this fecret mcn- 
 firniun to two friends, I'iz.- its preparation and ufe. 
 C See rhe preparation in A-inac. Mu>:di^ zvA Apolgy 
 again]} farrier. ] 
 
 But do thou not think, becaufe I write of thefe 
 high things, that I do intend to make common the Se- 
 cret to all in general ; not fo , but I endeavour to 
 confirm him that feekech, and give him occafion to 
 fearch this fecret deeper ; which being found , he 
 fhall not only find the truth of my words, but he 
 Ihall daily by cxercife obtain far greater things 
 than thefe. 
 
 And becaufe I have never afpired after vain ri- 
 ches and honours, nor never defire them ; 1 might 
 well be perfwaded to leave to others, as ye' not 
 hating the wicked World, my troubiefome labours, 
 becaufe in this my painful age fuch tedious labours 
 are very burdenfome ; befides Philofophy hath poin- 
 ted me another way , fo that what I am able I have 
 determined to abftain from thefe vanities, and to 
 feek a perpetual good , the life of reft •, but my 
 counfel Ihall not be wanting to thole that feek it : 
 for befides moved with the former reafons, alfo fee- 
 ing innumerable m^ny vain philofophers , as well 
 learned as unlearned, uncclfantly working, and lofing 
 their time and labour, and at laft defpairing , are 
 perfwaded that there is no truth in the Philolo^ 
 phers writings, but to be all filled with lyes and 4e- 
 ceits •, whence royal Chymiftry is difgraced. 
 
 But this nienfinium fufficeth to defend the writings 
 of the Philofophers, without the metallick tranf- 
 mutations ; fo that I verily believe the time to be 
 near, when the Omnipotent G O D, before He judge 
 the World by fire, will fliew His omnipotency to 
 the Nations, by the revelation of the wonderful and 
 incredible things of nature ^ of which, tranfrautatioa 
 of metals is not the leaft, which in the third part 
 of this Mineral Work I fiiall deliver to the laft age, 
 (being acceptable to God j to the profit of my 
 neighbor, and for demonftration fake. Wherefore 
 1 now pafs over fuch things, with a firm hope, 
 that this faithful Admonition fiiall be received as an 
 undoubted and infallible truth. 
 
 How the afore faid Regulus of the fiwers and drofs ■of 
 Antitno/'y , is to be ii/ed in the bttterina of cnrff 
 Metals^ jball be jhervn, that ART may not be a- 
 biifed. 
 
 THE Antimonial ^f^«/w, a radical metallick hu- 
 mour, may help to perform wonderful things, 
 for being reduced to a water without a corrofive, 
 it refolveth all metals, cleanfeth, wadieth, and puri- 
 fieth them, and turns them into a better fpecies. fo 
 that particularly not a fmall gain may be from 
 thence received. But how it may be reduced into 
 water, and how by its help metals may be refol- 
 ved, volatilized, and again fixed , hath been de- 
 monftrated by Artephius, Bafilms and Paracelfus ^ 
 wherefore wc need not here repeat their writings, 
 but refer the Reader to their works. 
 
 But not only the Regains, but alfo all Antimony 
 may many waies be ufed in the feparation of me- 
 tals, 1"^. For the extradion of hidden Gold, whicti 
 
 can- 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Mineral fVorl^, 
 
 111 
 
 not be done wichout Antimony i as fhalj appear by 
 the following example. When you [md a marcalit 
 or other ironifh folfile, that will not yield to the 
 iryal by lead, add to it three parts of Antimony, 
 and being well mixt, melt them in a covered cru- 
 cible, and being nieltedj pour it into a cone •, and 
 when all is cold, feparate the Rtoulus^ which purge 
 again by fire as before, and thou (lialt find gold 
 contained in the aforefaid follile : And if it be in- 
 dued with more plenty of gold , for it is not all 
 drawn out at one time, viz.. with the firlt Kt^nlns, 
 another Rigulus is to be melted , by adding more 
 iron and falt-petre, which is alio of a nature near 
 to Sol. And if thefe marcafit fodiles are not fer- 
 reous, you mult in the firft fufion, add irOn and ni- 
 tre to them, or elfe they yield no Regnlus. By the 
 adding more fcales of iron, more Regnlus is made, 
 and for the fame ufe as that is, of which above in 
 the fufion and feparation of extracted gold ^ 
 weights alfo may be made out of the drofs. And 
 thus are Ufis calaminaru, marcafit, kobolt, zink, 
 talc, and other folliles feparated , vtz.. containing 
 gold. 
 
 But all gold containing iron ^as that of Stiria, 
 Carinthia, the Granacia, and of Tranfylvania,<^f.^ 
 may this way be eafily feparated with profit, by the 
 help of iron. And if the iron have no gold , yet 
 if the Antimony have it, it may thence be fepara- 
 ted by fufion with iron, "viz.. if it be brought to a 
 Regnlns. The reft of the Antimony may again 
 be fufed with new iron and new glafs of more 
 weight than it, but lefs than this, and be reduced 
 into a Regiilus fit for the following ufes. Out of the 
 drofs let weights (that nothing may be loft) be 
 made » that thou niaift have the more gain ; as 
 may appear from the following example- 
 
 When you have the Antimony, a hundred of 
 which contains two duckats , if you will feparate 
 the gold ; take a hundred [weight] divided into 
 three or four parts, fufe it according to art, ad- 
 ding a little iron and fait of afhes , and reduce 
 them into fmall Regnlns's^ weighing a pound or two- 
 Then melt the drofs with half the weights of the 
 iron in a large and ftrong crucible, and thou [halt 
 have more Regidus^s about fifty pound or more, 
 drofs 40 lib. which make weights of, or elfe guns, 
 (^c. the reft, about eight or nine pounds, will va- 
 nilh into fraoak. And fo thou haft reduced the 
 gold contained in a hundred weight , into one or 
 two pounds, which thou maift fublime by fire in- 
 to flowers ( leaving the gold in the fire ) for its 
 ufes, but thofe 50 or 60 pounds of the Reguliti''s 
 prepared by adding much iron, they having little 
 or no gold, you may mingle with tin for itsbeau= 
 ty, hardnefs and founding, to make divers forts of 
 houfhold- fluff, as platters, dilfies, &c. for tin mixt 
 with the Rejitliis looks like filver for whitenefs and 
 hardnefs, and founds like it, nor is it fo eafily dul- 
 led as unmixt. 
 
 Now let us weigh what gain may come from 
 the feparation of the meaneft Antimony. Put cafe 
 that a hundred^ weight of Antimony be fold for 
 three Royals (for fo for the moft part the Polonian 
 is fold, than which, although that of Hungaria and 
 Tranfilvama be dearer, yet this hath more gold>> to 
 which add 60 pound of iron, which is fold for half 
 a royal, and the charge of coals and crucibles re- 
 quifite be half a royal more : the total of the ex- 
 pences is four royals, for which take two duckats 
 in gold, fixty pound of Regnlns^ eighty pound of 
 
 drofs, and one or two pound of flowers. Thofe 
 60//^. of RegniHs may be fold at the price of tin, 
 whereof a pound is fold for a quarter of a royal, 
 and then their whole price is fifteen royals. Then 
 the eighty pound of refufe made into weights, may 
 be lold at forty fliillings, or at leaft twenty four 
 Ihillings, or half a royal , and all things being conli- 
 dered and reckoned, as they ought, there may remain 
 the value of fi'xtcen royals. 
 
 And though the Antimony fhould yield but one 
 duckat , and a pound of Regidns fhould be fold at 
 the eighth part of a royal, yet the remainder would 
 be above Ijx royals : And in a day there may ea- 
 fily be two hundred weight feparated by two men. 
 And then ilippole it fhould contain no gold (as 
 fome Antimony doth not J yet may four or five royals 
 be gotten daily. 
 
 But when you have Antimony, one hundred 
 whereof contains three, four, or five duckats, and 
 iron requifite to the feparation containing one or 
 two ducats, then there is fo much more gained- 
 Then Jet him that undertakes this bufinefs feekfor 
 the beft Antimony and iron, and he may well gain in 
 a day twenty, thirty, and fometimes fixty royals. 
 
 ■^^- B. And if you fiiould have fo much Rtgnins 
 
 that you could not mix all of it with tin, for wane 
 
 thereof, then it may be fold in parcels, fo t;hat oiie 
 
 Ife may go at a fourth part of a royal ; by which 
 
 means the daily gain may not be diminifhed , but 
 
 may be rather encreafed ; as may be feen by what 
 
 follows. The RcgHlus of Antimony is the mafculine 
 
 fpecies of Lead j whofe firft being is gold impure 
 
 and immature : but the firft being of common Lead 
 
 is impure and immature Silver \ as experience wit- 
 
 nelles i for Antimony being purged and fixt, yields 
 
 gold, but the common lead only filver. And be- 
 
 caufe Antimony, which is better than common Lead, 
 
 is called the Phihfophers lead, or their fecret lead ; 
 
 of many fo named, but known of few ; not that the 
 
 thing is unknown, orof an unknown original, but by 
 
 reafon of its hidden proprieties; therefore I fay that 
 
 Its vertues are not all to be known by any mortal, 
 
 though he fhould have a hundred years to fearch 
 
 into wonderful nature, for it is unfearchable, and 
 
 the creator of all wonders, let him injoyn himfelf 
 
 filence, neither lee him glory in the knowledge of 
 
 It, who hath not made tryal of it \ for in it, through 
 
 It, and by it, Nature and Art do ftrive for per- 
 
 fedtion. Of which more elfewhere. 
 
 iVoip follovds the Vfe, 
 
 HAving mentioned Antimonial Regulus.^ which is 
 Lead and better than the common- It muft 
 alfo purify impure metals, wafh them, feparate the 
 occult Gold and Silver in them ; that which the 
 common Lead can do, to which, if thofe be add- 
 ed, it attradeth the more impure part in the Cu- 
 pel, which it converteth into drofs, and draweth 
 down with it into the porous afhes, leaving the pu- 
 rer Gold and Silver in the Cupel : but from fome 
 Tin and Copper not yielding to the Lead , nor 
 willing to be wafhed by it, it cannot extraft their 
 Gold and Silver ; neither hath any one written the 
 way of feparation by it. Laz-arus Erktr indeed 
 hath deferred ( and others alfo ) the way of fe- 
 parating Silver from Tin and Iron, which is not 
 to be difefteemed if it be accidentally mixed with 
 Silver , which is feparable that way , but not fo 
 being generated in, and radically mixt with them*' 
 
 Ff2 ,^: 
 
112 
 
 Tbe Pirjl Fan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 requiring other Lead, willingly embracing Tin and 
 Iron, which nothing but Rignlus can perlorm. 
 
 But feeing Tin and Iron do for the moll part, 
 contain much Gold ( but chiefly Tin ) ^•'-• infe- 
 parable by the common way, it will be worth our 
 pains to fcek another Lead and way of reparation •, 
 as it is apparent to Refiners, proving Tin and Iron 
 by the common way on a tell ; whilft Tin and I- 
 ron meked in the Lead , do forthwith fiiew their 
 Itubbornnefs by innate proprieties and lorfake it, 
 viz^. as a contrary riling to the top like drofs or 
 afhes, without any feparation? Gold and Silver be- 
 ing excepted, if accidentally mixt together, which 
 are left with the Lead i but not fo being hid in 
 their middle or center. But that the truth here- 
 of may appear, I will demonftrate it by example : 
 Place on a tell under a tyle i6. parts of Lead, and 
 one of Tin, after the manner of proofs, give a fu= 
 fing fire for to feparate the drofs •, and all the Tin 
 almoft flying away, will at the bottom be burnt, 
 and feparated like alhes,being fublimated on the top 
 of the Lead ; not deprived of its Gold and Silver 
 incorporated together, which afterward I (hall de- 
 monftrate, when all the Tin is fublimated from the 
 Lead, and calcined, and the teft taken from under 
 the tyle, and the reft of the Lead poured off, and 
 you Ihall find after cupellation no more Silver than 
 the fixteen parts of Lead did contain before , if 
 they had been cupelled without Tin ; fometimes 
 lefs, fome part being taken away by the Tin in the 
 examination : the fame is done with Iron , altho' 
 thou fliouldft add Copper with glafs of Lead, to 
 retain the Tin and Iron, thereby to feparate their 
 Gold and Silver , you would efFed nothing : for 
 although fome more Silver may hereby be cxtra- 
 fted , yet that would not come from the Tin or 
 Iron, but from the Copper : it may therefore be 
 extrarted another way, of which, hereafter. 
 
 In the mean while I will prove clearly, that the 
 reparation of tin and iron by common lead, there- 
 by to get their gold and lllver , is of no value, 
 which being left in them, are turned into afhes and 
 drofs. 
 
 Take any tin, and redace it into alhes by lead, 
 or agitation, on a fmooth earthen vefiel ( tryed be= 
 fore , by the common way , for diftinftion fake, 
 which calcine well, that the corporeal tin powder- 
 ed, may be calcined, or being melted, may be fe- 
 parated from the afiies. Then take of thefe afhes 
 one part, and of the following flux, or of that a 
 little after fix parts or more ; being mixt , fufe 
 them in a ftrong crucible with a ftrong fire, un- 
 til the Flux have Confumed or drunk up all the 
 calx of the Tin, and of them both fhall be made 
 one, Viz.. yellow or red Glafs , yvhich may be try- 
 ed with a crooked wier put in : which if it fecm 
 not clear, the crucible muft be covered again, and 
 a greater Fire be given, until the Fire be pcr- 
 fcdli which labour in one half hour is finilhed : 
 which done, pour it into a brafs mortar, afterward 
 to be covered, until it be a cold, that it leap not 
 out and be loft. 
 
 Afterward powder it, which with calx of Tin, 
 mix the equal weight of filings of Iron ; being 
 mixt, put them into^ a ftrong Crucible (becaufc the 
 Flux is very penetrative ) covered , and give a 
 ftrong Fire for fufion half an hour : which done, 
 pour it out, for the Tin hath made feparation, 
 and reduced fome part of the Lead out of the 
 Flux, finking to the bottom to be feparated when 
 
 it is cold, to be reduced into drofs on a teft , and 
 then to be cupelled, and you fhall find grain Gold 
 drawn from Tin without Silver. And if before 
 you weigh the calx of Tin by the lelfer Hundred 
 weight, and after that the grains of Gold , you 
 may eafily conjedure how much Gold is contain- 
 ed in the whole hundred weight of Jin aflic;, W;:. 
 at the leaft 3, 4, 5, or 6. Lotoms-, or half Omces^ 
 if thou work aright. 
 
 See then ttie Fault is not to be imputed to the 
 metals, but us, being ignorant of the feparation of 
 the Gold and Silver. 
 
 You fhould not perfwade yoiir felf by this means 
 to Eet much wealth out of Tin ; for I have not 
 written this for that end, but only to demonftrate 
 the poffibilitv. And if thou think that Gold will 
 come out of Iron by the fluxing powder, mingle 
 then filings oi iron with the Flux, before thou put 
 in the calx of Tin, and thou (halt find in fo do- 
 ing, that Gold doth come neither from the Flus 
 or Iron, but out of Tin ; then being hereby affu- 
 red, that 'tis the Tin which contains Gold , thoa 
 mayft confider, how moft conveniently t.iat may 
 be extrafted, wz.. with other Lead , and another 
 way, as (hall be hereafter taught. Neither think 
 that Tin contains no more Gold than you have 
 heard ; for more there is if you can wifely extraift 
 it : neither do 1 deny, that more Gold may be ex- 
 tracfted out of the Tin, but more care than this is 
 to be given, if you defire more plenty. But Gold 
 may thence be extrafted, not only by Flux, but di-' 
 verfe other wayes, in diverfe weights ; for vvlia 
 is written, is only for deraonftration of the pcffi- 
 bility, that the Gold contained in the imperfei3: 
 metals, may be extraded by a fecret feparation. 
 
 The Flu.xinff PowJer requifte to tUs Work^ 
 
 R' one part of rery pare and white Sand , or 
 Flints , having no Gold fufible ; to which , add 
 three parts of Litharge of Lead ; being mixt, fufef 
 in a very ftrong Fire, that thereof a tranfparenc 
 Glafs may be made of it, which pour out, that it 
 may be cold, and reduce it to powder j which ufc 
 in the aforefaid manner. But you may ask, why 
 Sand and Flints are mingled , feeing they are flot 
 of a metallick nature: to which I fay, the calx of 
 Tin , cannot , as alfo other FoHllcs be Examined 
 by Lead alone, for the following Reafons, viz.. 
 becaufe in the Calcination of Tin , its metallick 
 nature is hidden , but the impure and earthy parts 
 are manifeft , wherefore it hath no longer affiflity 
 with Lead and other metals •, unlefs the hidden 
 parts of the lead be manifeft, and alfo other metals 
 and the manifeft be hidden, for then they eafily 
 embrace one the other, and are again mingled well, 
 and not altered. 
 
 What belongs to the alteration of other metals 
 doth not belong hither ; for to this place only per- 
 tain Lead and Tin, the alteration of which is de- 
 monftrated by this tryal ; whereby it appears to 
 be thus- 
 Lead reduced into afhes, by it felfj or into Li- 
 tharge, and deprived of its metallick form , cannot 
 fo in this work be ufed without the flints or fand, 
 for the following reafon. The lead and glafs there- 
 of made by it felf is very fufible and volatile ; but 
 the calx of tin is very ditlkukly fufed : which 
 two calxes , although they fhould be mingled to 
 fufe in a crucible , yet would not be mingled , nor 
 
 being 
 
Part {. 
 
 the Mineral JVor\. 
 
 1 
 
 ') 
 
 being fufcd, embrace one the other,by reafon of the 
 dirtereiKc of their fuiibilicyv becaufe the calx of 
 lead alone being fiifeJ [ y a fmall ::re, will perfo- 
 rate and penetrate the crucible, the calx of Tin be- 
 ing left in the crucibie : wherefore you muft add 
 find or flints to the lend, vi^. to hinder its fufi- 
 bility, that it may endure the fame degree of heat 
 with thofe that are difficulcly fufed , and further 
 their flux. For like things do mutually affect and 
 embrace each other-, as water doth water? oyloyi, 
 and glafs glal's •, and metals other metals ^ but wa- 
 ter is not mingled with oyl ; neither are glalles 
 mingled with metals, but metals with metals, and 
 glafs with glafs, whether it be made of metals or 
 out of fand. Wherefore they greatly err who 
 mingle the calx of metals diiHcultly mifcible, or 
 other hard things with lead to prove or exa: 
 niin, not confidering that corporeal lead hath no 
 affinity with thenl : who remaining in their errour, 
 and not weighing the thing further, confequently 
 can find nothing of anv moment. 
 
 But when the calx of metals united with lead by 
 a mid'.itm^ as flints or fand, are brought together 
 into tranfparent glafs ; then the lead being preci- 
 pitated and feparated from the mixture, it cannot 
 be, but that the gold and filver contained in them 
 mult be carried away with it. This is a true and 
 philofophical tryal, and not to be contemned , for 
 many things may be by it performed. 
 
 N. B. But this is not to be palled by , that in 
 the mutual mixture and fnfion of the glafs of lead 
 and the calx of tin , and other hard metals, one 
 may ealily err, viz.. in the precipitation (which is 
 done with the mixture of iron) of the gold with 
 ttie lead into Re^u'itSy by either the excefs or de- 
 fcift, fo that nothing may be gotten, which is com- 
 mitted in precipitation. For if the mixture ftand 
 long in the fire not fufed, it is burnt, fo that it 
 cannot well be feparated, and if it ftand too long 
 fufed in the f^re , the gold is attradled by the 
 dr-ofs, by reafon of the mixture of the iron , ha- 
 ving great alTinity with the gold, fo that by this 
 means nothing can be gotten : wherefore the Work 
 is to be done warily, and with wifdom and induftry. 
 You muft have a care you burn not the Rmtlus of 
 lead with too much fire, when you reduce^it into 
 drofs-, for fear of attrading the gold from the 
 iron, and turning it into drofs. And although this 
 may by Art be prevented , yet we muft not pre- 
 fently create every one M-tfter of Jrts, it requiring 
 diligence and daily exercife, befides the reading of 
 Books- But this Secret Ihall other where be commu- 
 nicated. 
 
 This admonition then I give , that thou do not 
 impute thy errour (if thou'doft err) tome, but to 
 thy felf, for what I have written is true : and do 
 not_thcp.ee infer an impollibility of attrading gold 
 by iron, out of lead, and of turning it into drofs, 
 which is no wonder to me, though it may fo feem 
 to thee. Which he who hath the knowledge of 
 metals will himfelf eafily perceive. But that thou 
 maift be certain, try the certainty after the follow- 
 ing manner: Take two hundred ///'. of lead, of the 
 lelfer weight of the Refiners, put it on a teft un- 
 der a tyle ■, add eight or ten t'jtons of pure gold, 
 cf cin two or three/, fixor eight of iron, v»<„ of the 
 lelfer weight : make them flow together an hour 
 to make drofs -, as Examiners ufe to do •, then pour 
 ie out, and feparate the lead from the drofs , viz.. 
 to cupel that which is feparated , then weigh the 
 
 grams of gold Icit, ana tnou Ihalt Had half oi ic 
 confumcd by the drofs. If this happen to corporeal 
 gold and fixr. How will it be with that which i^ new- 
 ly extradicd out of an impertect metal f There- 
 fore you muft diligently fearch out the natures of 
 metals, and then fuch cafes will no;; fccm. incre- 
 dible. 
 
 From henec then, ,and other Examples mentioned 
 it appears, that that feparation which is done by 
 cefts and cupels , is not true and legitimate i and 
 confequently, that another jirofitable' feparation of 
 metals is to be fought j becaufe by this the greater 
 part of gold and filver burns into drofs , witnefs 
 Experience, for which caufe the former example 
 was a'.'eadged i whither belongs the proof, w~. how 
 much gold the drofs hath at'traded, which is done 
 asfolloweth : R' the remaining black drof^, to which 
 add a double weight of fait of tartar, put it in a 
 crucible filled but to the half ( for fear of boyling 
 out) and covered, that nothing fall in, under a tile 
 or among live coals, one or two hours fpace to di- 
 geft i and a new Refuhts of lead (ball be precipita- 
 ted, which feparated from the drofs, you may cu- 
 pel, and you (hall find new grains of gold attrsdted 
 by the iron in the drofs, and now feparated by the 
 fait of tartar, overcoming the force of the iron. 
 And fo you have heard from t;Vo examples, how 
 in the coc^ion of the feparation gold may be drawn 
 out of the lead by tin and iron, and that therefore 
 there is need, that gold be feparated by the ^.r*- 
 «o»;.t/ i?r^/.'/«/ out of the aforefaid metals, and not 
 by lead, if you would extrad ttie true fubltance with 
 gain. 
 
 N- B. Gold m_ay likewife be feparated out of the 
 glafs of lead (being firft dillolved with theaflicsof 
 tin j with coal duft, adding it in the flux and ftir- 
 ring it with an iron wier ^ and alio with common 
 fulphur, by burning it on it: but the aforefaid way 
 with iron, is to be preferred before thofe two which 
 fpoyl die gold,c^c. wherefore the remaining drofs 
 is to be-gathcrcd, which by fome abftrafting fur-' 
 nace by other means may be tryed, for to recover 
 the fpoyled of loft gold and filver. 
 
 And all thefe are alleadged to demonftrate that 
 the gold in tin and iron is to be feparated by the 
 A>itu7ionid Regnlns., and not by Lead. But how 
 this feparation may be perfeded, you (hall hear in 
 the third part, where we will t^eat of lead, explai- 
 ned by Paracelfits, in his book called Cccbm J'hito^ 
 fophorum^ and other artificial Chymical labours-: 
 wherefore here we omit it, being fuperfluous to han- 
 dle one thing in divers places. In the mean while 
 exercife thy felf in lefler things, that thou maift bt 
 more fit for greater when they ftiall be fa forth. 
 But wonder not at my liberality in publifln'ng fo 
 great fecrets , for I have reafons for it. Such a 
 burden is too much for me alone , neither doth it 
 profit the Covetous to fell his goods to them which 
 keep not their words, nor pay the money, after they 
 have obtained their art, which hath hapned to me. 
 Wherefore I have determined to communicate fome 
 fecrets to all the world indifferently, that the poor 
 may receive fome profit by them -, knowing that 
 though I write plainly, yet that all will not at the firft: 
 view obtain their defires. For fome are fo dull, thnc 
 they cannot imitate a work though often feen. For 
 fome have often vilited me, to fee my new manner 
 of diftilling , which though it was fufficiently dcmon= 
 ftrated to the eye, yet they could not imitate it, -til 
 with often perufals at length they have found the 
 
 Gg 
 
 right 
 
114 
 
 The Second Tart of 
 
 Part L 
 
 right path- Others have left it as too hard a work, 
 when it would not prefenrly fucceed, which if it hap- 
 ned to thofe who Irad an ocular demonftration, how 
 much moi-c difficult will it be and hard ro them who 
 have nothing but what they have heard or read- 
 Wherefore I am certain, that thcu-h 1 Ihould piib- 
 lifii every one of my fccrets, yec could they not be 
 performed by all men, my coals and materials be- 
 ing left fufficing for my neceiliiy. Wherefore 1 
 fear not to pubiidi, the next opportunity offered, 
 divers profitable and e.NjCcllent fecretS) viz.. in favour 
 ofall and every one. 
 
 As for that fpirit of fait neceffary to this work, 
 you may find it in the firft part of my Philofophical 
 Furnaces correded and amended ; but the way of 
 feparation in the fourth part. 
 
 And fo I finifh this work, being pub! i Hied in fa- 
 vour of thofe who by war (thou^^h honeft men) are 
 reduced to poverty. But what things are deficient 
 in this little traft fhall (God willing) be delivered in 
 the next (which fhall follow in a fliort time) large- 
 ly and clearly without fraud. 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 S3«i 
 
 
 Q?) <3© ^ ^51? ^ ^ ^ ' 
 
 ^ ^ <??. J 'ils ^ ^la ^ <pf ^ 
 
 ii^ ^ i^ *;'^j ^'ji\;^ '-^^ "^^ ^*^2? *fi^ ^i*w^ <i 
 
 5i'§:%?^^5^3|^fi'#^l«#^ll^^l^^)#^^l^'±^^i*'4*^i^ 
 
 THE 
 
 SECOND PART 
 
 OF THE 
 
 jHmetal BBo^k; 
 
 of the 'Birth and Orimal of SMetals and ymerah^ viz. How they are produced hy the 
 Starrs and take to themfehes a body out of the Water and Earth, and are found in a 
 fundry fl)a^e. Written and brought to light for the fake of the Diligent Searchers of Nature, 
 
 A Preface to the Reader. 
 
 Courteous Reader, 
 
 WHereas in a fonner little Book.^ lately by 
 7ne pttbUjfied, I mentioned this little Tra£l 
 of the Generation of Metals^ and through 
 rvant of time, c uld not hitherto make it 
 fiiblick^, although earnefily defired by men of the meanefi 
 and highest condition : I have now determined to fpare fo 
 7niich time from my other Jniployments, as to do this Work 
 for the f Mich good, noways doubting, but that {although 
 this my opinion of the Generation of Metals, doth not agree 
 with all the Philofophers ) yet will it get credit from, 
 f.ndtheafftnt of not a few qnickifighted men. 
 
 That which I here declare, I. do not exhibit it With 
 flattering words, or many circumftances, or the tejiimo- 
 nie's of other Writings, but with a naked andgenmnfim. 
 plicity ; for which \ery caiife J would not make this 
 little I'raEt too frslix, but have unfolded my mind with 
 the moft Compendious ftile that J could. But let none 
 thii.k that I endeavour to weaken and nullifie the Opi- 
 fiidns of other myri concerning the Generations of Me- 
 
 tals, and obtrude mine in the World , «o, not in the 
 leaft ." / leave to every man his free will, and the Li- 
 berty of viewing others, who have written Mvnumenis 
 of this thing,and of comparitig of them with my writings., 
 that he may evidently perceive which of the t wo Corre~ 
 fponds moft with Nature and Truth : J aim not at any 
 Honour hereby, as tf I were wiftr than the common fort : 
 Nor do I reap any benefit by fnaking this little Booky 
 but "'tis done only for this end and prrpofe. That (^be- 
 catife I have formerly written of Metalline things , and 
 have alfo made mention of this little Tra^ of the Birth 
 and Nativity of them') I may give light unto my Wri- 
 tings , and render them more eafie to be under flood ; for I 
 Jhould moft bitterly fujfer, if but one only fiould be lead 
 into erronr by my Writings , but I truft that the light 
 is fpringing up unto many, by the guidance whereof they 
 will more cauttoujly handle than hitt}erto they have done. 
 Let the Benign and Merciful God, our Father of all 
 things, of whofe Wonders the Heaven and Earth are full, 
 give unto Hts poor needy Children that which may tend 
 to the Glory of His mo^ holy Name, and to our health. 
 
 OF 
 
Part 1. 
 
 The Mineral Worl^ 
 
 1^5 
 
 ^ K>. ^ ^ ifc'fe J?!^-! ^ 
 
 «n<>: °<<n>>^ '-^aK: V«(h5 '.ativ: ^^<C^ XiCkia 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 iStrtlj and j^atitJttp 
 
 O F 
 
 METALS 
 
 e 
 
 THere have alwaies been many, and vari- 
 ous Opinions concerning the Original 
 of Metals and Minerals, to wit^ of what 
 matter they are firlt of all generated 
 in the Bowels of the Earth ; and how 
 come to fuch a fixity, infomuch, that a young Be- 
 ginner in tills hard Science, hath been in fufpence ; 
 which of them he fliould alTent unto, and by what 
 Phylofophy he fliould dired his courfe. 
 
 And whereas, throughout the whole Univerle in 
 fo many Nations, there are fo many men, both of 
 high and low degree, as well Learned as unlearn- 
 ed, who bufily feek at this day , to get their Fe- 
 licity from the Metals; and whereas, without the 
 true Knowledge of them , nothing at all of profit 
 can be had ( for by what means I pray can any 
 one convert any imperfect Metal into a better, if 
 he be ignorant of what Parts it is compofed*, 
 into what Parts it is to be refolved before that 
 it can obtain a more Noble Form) and that the 
 Knowledge of their Generation is worthily necelTa- 
 ry for their Melioration ; we will in a few words 
 clearly evidence. What is to be confidered as to 
 their Nativity. Although the whole Company of 
 Phylofophcrs do almofl: unanimoufly teftify, ( but 
 yet in fuccincT;? obfcure, and enigmatical Terms ) 
 That Metals receive their Generation from above, 
 by the force of the Stars, and are produced in the 
 bowels of the Earth ; yet feme there are, who con- 
 tend very ignorantly. and aflirra, that Metals ^have 
 not any feed at all, as other Animalj and Vegeta- 
 ble things have; and that ( upon this account they 
 have no propogating faculty, but were produced 
 fuch in the belly of the Earth, by GOD in the firfl 
 Creation of things. But this Deceit is too grofs, 
 and palpable , and may be met withal moll eafily, 
 by daily experience » declaring the contrary. For 
 when being found in the Earth , they are by the 
 Miners brought to light, we abundantly, and ocu- 
 larly p::rceive, that even now they daily grow, and 
 ^'vill not ceafe from this motion > unlefs robM of 
 
 their Vegetable Vertue and Life, by external Ac- 
 cidents, which very thing convinceth the Opinion 
 of Errour. Some there are, who teach that God, 
 when he made the World, did inftil into the Ma- 
 trix of the Earth, not the Metals themfelves, but 
 their Seed only for its own propagation ^ which 
 if fo, then long ago, would this Seed have afford- 
 ed a new harvcft of it felf ( of which , no foot- 
 fteps are any where extant ) by its own abfolute 
 Vegetation. Know therefore, that the manner of 
 the Metallick Seed is far difierent from that of the 
 vegetable and animal Seeds, which are perceptible 
 to the fence of fight and feeling. 
 
 For the Metals are not all together created m 
 the beginning of things, but begotten in length of 
 time, out of the bofome of the Elements ; and on 
 them, being created by the Omnipotent GOD , is 
 this Command injoyned, and this Power implanted, 
 that they fhould give growth to all things, by their 
 Vertue and Efficacy j for accomplifliing of which 
 thing, the one cannot in the lealt want the Com- 
 pany of the other. 
 
 For the Stars or Elements of Fire, delivers out 
 the metalline Seed out of its own bowels ; which 
 the air carries down into the Water, that it may 
 adapt to it felf, a palpable form or body, which the 
 Earth ( embraceing it ) doth cheriili, nourifii, and 
 augment from form to form, until it comes to be 
 a perfed Metal, which it (at length) brings forth 
 into the light, as a Mother doth her mature young 
 one ; which Conception and Generation of the Me- 
 tals, taking its Original at the very beginning of 
 the Worldj will alwaies continue even unto its Dif- 
 folution. 
 
 For by the efficacy of the Elements, new things 
 are from thence generated , and contrarily , old 
 things are deftroyed ^ which thing is not only done 
 in Metals, but mod apparently in Vegetables and 
 Animals : for none can deny , but that various 
 Hearbs, and little Animals are produced upon this 
 Stage, by the alone vertue of tbe Elements, with- 
 
 G g 2 out 
 
1!6 
 
 J he Second Part of 
 
 rai-c I 
 
 cut planting of the Herbs ; and without the Seed 
 of the Animals, which to purfiie. I could lay down 
 many Documents, were it needful, but 'tis alto^^e- 
 ther nccdlcfs, to fay any tiling, of tiiat, of which 
 none arc ignorant. And novF, who will not believe, 
 but tliat the fame may be done in Mctalticks. God 
 Om'jipoter.t hath implanted in the Starrs, or Ele- 
 ment of t'ire , the vivifyin?, prolilitk and feminal 
 vcrtue of all things, which power it doth not keep 
 fhut up within it fclf , but lendi and lets it down 
 by Divine appointment into the earths center , by 
 mediation of the air and the water \ which fiery 
 beams ccafe not, by reafon of their implanted im- 
 pulfe and vertuc, to go forward, until they do at laft 
 meet uiih a place, beyond which it is impolTible 
 for them to go , nor can they ftay there any lon- 
 ger, but leaping, b.ick from the center unto the cir- 
 cumference, are difperled throughout the whole 
 earth, cherilhing and impregnatintz, it r which thing, 
 unlefs it were done, and tlioie fidereal vertues fliould 
 remain in the center of the earth, and never flow 
 upv\ards, nothing at all would grow upon the Earth. 
 But becaufc heat, and whatfoever is of the fire, is 
 endowed with this nature, to go forward as far as 
 it can, and where it can go no farther, 'tis ftruck 
 back, and leaps from the center to the Superfices ; 
 which thing is evident in a burning-glafs, wherein- 
 to when the Solar beams fall, and cannot penetrate 
 the compail and polifht metal, they are difperfedly 
 forced backwards, and in thofe fiery beams, whilft 
 (every where j they leap back, do in the porofity of 
 the earth fnatch up, as it were, a fat humidity, ad- 
 heres thereto, and by mutual mixtion are coagula- 
 ted into a certain palpable Eflence, out of which, ac- 
 cording to the purity or impurity of the place, a 
 pure, or an impure metal is with length of time 
 produced ; becaufe a metal doth not prcfently be- 
 ome ripe in the fame moment of time , but the Seed 
 of the Metal is by little and little nourifhed and in- 
 creafcd in the matrix of the earth, with theheatof 
 the central fire, until it attains its perfedlion. 
 
 Like as in the generation of Vegetables and Ani- 
 mals, it comes in ufe, whofe feed being received in- 
 to the fuitable matrix, takes encreafe from thence 
 by little and little, until (if no obftacles prevent) 
 it ol)tainsa predcftinaterd and appointed form, whence 
 'tis, that according to the purity of the place the me- 
 tals are alfo varied : For it is but one only feed out of 
 which Metals and Minerals do proceed : but the 
 place and other accidents are the caufe of their Un- 
 likenefs, as wc fliall prove in the fubfequent wri- 
 
 But to fome men it will feem mon (Irons, that I fay 
 there's a place in the middle of the Earth , the 
 which nothing can pafs through or penetrate, but is 
 ftopt:, that which is heavy remains there, but the 
 more light is carried backwards : which opinion 
 it will be worth while briefly to explain. 
 
 In the Crcation.of the World, the Elements being 
 3S vet not fep:irated each from the other, but being 
 a Ghaos^ God inftituted their feparation, and or- 
 dained a place where the more ponderous part of 
 the mafs inou.d be feparated , (which is the Earth) 
 which thing is even continually done, becaufe eve- 
 ry heavy thing or earth knits it felt to its alfigned 
 point, as a Bee doth to his hive, from whence at 
 length this Globe is made or born^ upon which we 
 inhabit: Prelenily after, that which was riext in 
 weight , the water, made its feparation from the 
 Other Elements, and encompafs'd the Superfices of the 
 
 earth, having the fame center with the earth, info- 
 much that if the earth were not, the water it feif 
 would have chiefly or primarily encompaffed the /Kt- 
 ble and founded point of Gravity or the Magnet ; but 
 becaufe the earth exceeding the water in ponderolity, 
 doth intercede, it worthily aiiiimes its appointed 
 place, and lakesthe waters upon its back. 
 
 Now, as the other two Elements , the lighted of 
 them, the Fire, God likewife fent to its proper aboad, 
 a place moft remotely dilhint from the inferiour 
 Globe of the heavy Elements ; the other light Ele- 
 ment, the Air , being the mtdinm between the lire 
 and the water, God hath let it between them two, 
 that conffantly touching each the other, they might 
 inutually circulate, cherilh, and uphold each the' o- 
 ther, until being at length dillolvcd, they are reduced 
 into their own nothing, from whence they were pro- 
 duced. 
 
 For the Fire cannot burn without the Air, nor the 
 Air be conferved without the Water, nor the Wa- 
 ter be nourifhed without the Earth, nor the Earth 
 (being as it were dead; bring anything to light, 
 except the Element of Fire doth (irlt fpiritually 
 initill thereinto its own feed, whence it is afterwards 
 niade ccrpcreally and fenfibility, fuch as isneceffary 
 for all growing things. 
 
 And now, left what J have fpokcn fi'j;:.. that the 
 Earth hath its own center unpaflable by any thing, 
 whereinto the fidereal rays ftriking, are contraftcd 
 into a flreight room, and (driven backj from thence 
 are fublimed and diftillcd throughout the whole Orb, 
 from which all kind of Metals and Minerals ( by 
 the help of the Earth and Water corporifying them) 
 are producedj may feem a fable 
 
 Know, that this Philofophy is demonftrable by 
 many uncontronlable reafons ; which Philofophy I 
 do not my felf only embrace, bat alfo many more 
 have done, 'mongft whom the moll famous 5;t;;flf;x/oTP 
 is not the leaft, who writ, That in the Earths cen- 
 ter is a vacuity, in wliich nothing can reft, the which 
 thing even the reafon or order of Nature fee ins to 
 evidence, in whofe middle point a void place is 
 necefl'arily requifit, into which all the vertues of the 
 Stars may pour out themfelves, may mutually ope- 
 rate upon each other, and excite a marvellous hcatj 
 permitting neither delay or quietude for any thing 
 in that place: but from thence, even the unbroken 
 vertues of the Stars are by little and little enforced 
 to go back unto the circumference , where joyning 
 themfelves to the moft pure earth, they exclude a me- 
 tallick child ; fo that you need not wonder, becaufe 
 of that moft intenfe heat that fways there, when as 
 all the Afterifms, the Sun, the Moon, the other 
 Planets, with Starrs innumerable, do into that place 
 injcft their povveis with all their might. If you 
 conlider but the folar magnitude only , being by 
 Aftronoinical Calculation 64 times the bignefs of 
 the earthly globe Confuting to fpcak of the other 
 innumerable huge bodies , that jointly call; their 
 influences into the belly of the earth) what an un- 
 fpeakable furious heat thinkcft thou that all thefe 
 will give, which in the center of the earth mufter 
 up their vertues, and make them manifeft and effi- 
 cacious : Conlider a little how much one pugil of 
 the Sun- beams can do, being taken in a concave 
 glafs, or a metalline ring well poliflied, or any 0= 
 ther inftrument , and ftraightencd into the center 
 for a concave-glafs rightly made, having but the 
 Diameter of a fpan, doth eafily burn wood, or any 
 corabuftible body -, but if the Diameter be two 
 
 fpans, 
 
Part 1. 
 
 The Mineral Worl^ 
 
 117 
 
 fpans, it melts with the Sun, Lead, Tin, Bifmuthum, 
 and other metals cafily fluxible ^ if 4 or 5 fpans, 
 then it melceth Copper and Silver, and fo mollifies 
 Iron, that it may be wrought upon the Anvil. If 
 now experience evinceth this thing, that a little hand- 
 ful of the beams collefted and itrengthened into a 
 point, be of fo great force as to melt even mctalsj 
 and to fume away 5, 5, and Arfnick , Auripig- 
 ment, Koboltum, and other volatile and immature 
 metals of like kind ; what thinkeft thou would be, 
 if the beams were congregated the compafs of 10 or 
 20 fathoms, doubtlefs they would burn up all other 
 metals, except Gold, like a flame, and elevate them 
 into fume ? And what are 10 or 20 fathoms, if com- 
 pared to fo many thoufands ofthoufands which are 
 attributed to the Sun , whofe heat Tpafling by to 
 fpeak of the other great Starrsj it it were congre- 
 gated into one place, T which is fo done in the earths 
 center) what an incomprehenfible burning heat, 
 thinkfl thouj would be there ? verily nothing would 
 be fixt enough to refill: the burning ^ and indeed 
 there is nothing in reality that doth refift it, whence 
 neceffarily that point is vacuous wherein nought can 
 reft or remain- 
 
 Thou wilt objeft, that I fpeak of many things, 
 but prove a very few ^ for who was ever there, 
 and beheld fucli a Cavity ? I Anfwer thus, that al 
 belt, there be no ocular Teftimony of this thing, yet 
 naturally Phylofophy affords Teftimony fufficient, 
 whereby 'tis in very deed demonftrated, that fuch 
 a place there is : now none denies , that the Sun 
 and Stars by their motion do inviron the terreftri- 
 al Globe, and imprint their beams thereon, which 
 being granted ( for no fober man will contradid 
 this) it alfo follows, that thofe hot and invifible beams 
 do by an innate fofce and vigor go forwards » un- 
 til they are fomewhere ftop'd, and a further pro- 
 grefs prohibited them ; whioh thing is done in the 
 middle moft point of the Earth, or all the Phylo- 
 fophers are altogether Lyers, who unanimoufly be- 
 lieve, that the heat is carryed diredlly forwards, and 
 not backwards : but behold an apparent Example 
 of this thing ; Put a Coal upon fome thick brafs, 
 or iron plate, and thou (halt fee that the fide un- 
 der the Coal will firft wax hot by the penetrating 
 heat •, take off" the Coal and try with thy hand, and 
 thou ftialt find it hurtful by the overmuch heat; 
 try alfo the under fide of the Plate, and thou /halt 
 find it to be but gentle warm, and after a little de- 
 lay, try yet once again, and thou flialt find that the 
 heat is gonediredlly forward, and that the under- 
 fide of the Plate is hotter than the upper part, where: 
 upon the Coal lay. 
 
 Hence thou maift clearly perceive, that the heat 
 never goes backwards, but is carried direftly for- 
 wards \ which being fo, thou Ihalt be enforced to 
 confefs nolens miens , that in like manner the Aftral 
 heat fticks not in the Superfices of the earth, but pier= 
 ceth even to the very bottom center. 
 
 Well, but thou wilt again objed » If the Sun- 
 beams defcends through the earths thicknefs, even to 
 the very center, Whence is it, that the whole earth 
 grows not hot thereby, or atleaft fo warm as it is 
 on the furface? for 'tis found by experience, that the 
 digg'd-up earth is not warm, but cold, and no heat- 
 ing beams are therein perceptible. Take this for 
 an anfwer. That the difperfed beams of the Sun do 
 not difplay their efficacy, but only in thofe places 
 where they are coUeded and become fenfible; a 
 hint of which you may obferve in the earths fur- 
 
 face it felf ; where a fpeedier paflage being not per- 
 mitted, but through the hardnefs of the ftones, and 
 its own denfity, there being a flop and obftruftion 
 I the heat becomes duplicated , and manifeftly aug- 
 mented, infomuch, that in all very hard rocks and 
 clifts there is fometimes created fo great a heat by 
 the continual Conflux and Condenfation of the Sun- 
 beams , that if accidentally , wood or fuel be laid 
 thereto, it burns and flames up, which never hap- 
 pens in a thin and porous Aire ( how near foever 
 to the Sun ) it being uncapable of ftoping thofe 
 beams ; for by how much the higher you afcend 
 into the Aire, by fo much the more intenfe (hail 
 you find the Cold to be -, infomuch that the moft 
 Touring Mountains, altho' pofited in warm Coun- 
 tries, are alwaies covered with Froft, Ice, and 
 Snow, when as in the bottom of thofe Hills , the 
 Ground is very warm, and brings forth varieties of 
 Fruit, although it be more remote from the Sun i 
 The caufe of which Cold in the Tops , aod of 
 Heat in the Bottom, only confifts in the reflexion 
 of the folar Beams, which are flayed and multi- 
 plied below ; which thing cannot at any rate be 
 done in the Fire that is above. 
 
 Thefe beams having firft paffed the fuperfices of 
 the Earth, where they were a while joined and mul- 
 tiplyed, are by little and little debilitated, and re- 
 turn to their fimplicity ; whence it comes to pafs, 
 that that part of the Terrene Globe, which is furthcft 
 diftant from the Centre , hath as little heat, as 
 the Aire on high : but if it were poffible to afcend 
 higher, and nearer to the Sun, the heat would bv 
 little and little be encreafed, and be found greatell 
 at the Sun it felf: In like manner may a Compari- 
 fon be made about the Earths heat, which near the 
 Surface is very faint, but nearer the Centre, more 
 and more encreafing i (there being its Seat and Col- 
 ledion ; fo that the middle Earth , between the 
 Sun ( from whom the heat flow ) and the Centre 
 where the whole being gathered together, is reper- 
 cuffed, may defervedly be efteemed the coldeft part ; 
 of which truth, a certain demonftration is readily 
 produceable. 
 
 For when in the hotteft day of Summer, watry 
 Clouds are elevated by the Winds , higher than 
 ordinary , they are made pure Ice by the force of 
 a moft intenfe Cold, which fall down in little bits 
 of that form or fliape, which they were imprinted 
 with by the Aire, to the great detriment of Vege- 
 tables-, and is by us call'd Hail, and fo cold, that 
 we are not able long to hold it in our hands, and 
 Hfually lies fome dales in the Suns heat ere it melts 
 by the warm Aire, and returns into Water. 
 
 Now then if there were not a greatCold in the mid= 
 die Region of the aire ; whence is it,that thofe Clouds 
 are fo frozen ; and who knows how great the Cold 
 is, where the Aire, in its own middle point, is 
 moft of all cold ; doubtlefs it is fo great, that no 
 living thing is able to live therein the twinkling 
 of an eye, but would incontinently be tranfmuted 
 into a ftone, even as we have frequently percei- 
 ved the earthy Exhalations born up on high into 
 the middle Region of the Aire, to have been there 
 coagulated , and compacted into the moft hard 
 ftones, and fo to have fallen down ; and not on- 
 ly ftones weighing fome pounds , but alfo metals 
 too, and chiefly iron of a great weight, reprefent- 
 ing the fliape of many conglomerated drops, have 
 been in that part of the Aire condenfed out of 
 dry Exhalations, and thrown down thus concreted y 
 
 Hh the 
 
ii8 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 the which thing others have handled more at large •, 
 whence 'tis fufficiently evident, that the Sun-beams, 
 in fuch places as they can freely pafs through, with- 
 out any impediment, give not any heat from them- 
 felves: but only where they arc detained and fixt, 
 and by how much harder the detaining matter is, 
 by fo much it caufeth a better heat- Thou alfo 
 feefl; that Wood , or any porous Body never con- 
 trads from the Sun, fo great a heat, as a ftone doth ; 
 ror doth a ftone, fo much as a metal, although all 
 placed the one by the other, to the Suns heat ■^ the 
 caufe of which diverfity, doth alone conlifl; in the 
 pores, of which fome bodies have more, fome lefs; 
 thereby granting a more fpeedy pafTage to the heat •, 
 for 'tis r as I have often faid ) the property of the 
 heat, to haften direftly forwards, as long as 'tis not 
 impeaded, and extreamly unwilling to go back. A 
 Teftimony whereof, as well the Kitchen Fire, as the 
 Solar, or Fulminous Fire affords unto us; for if 
 any body fitting near the Fire, hath cafually in his 
 pocket, any metal, be it a key, knife or money, the 
 heat ( eafily penetrates the thin Garments ; lights 
 upon the metal, whereto it adheres and augments ; 
 and gets fo much heat , that fometimes it cannot 
 be held in the hand ; but the cloathing, although 
 Higher the Fire, is fcarce gently warm ; the fame 
 thing ufually falls out in Thunder, whofe Fire, be= 
 caufe itflyes very furioudy, if it hath not room to 
 pafs the pores of folid withftnnding bodies, it dif- 
 lipates and dilTolves them in a moment, and leaves 
 porous bodies whole, which Lightning, often melts 
 the fword in the fcabbard, or money in the purfe, the 
 Receptacle of them being whole : Ic alfo breaks 
 the hollow and marrowy bones of Animals, the flefh 
 remaining whole and found ; the Caufe thus , for 
 that this fulminous heat moft fwiftly penetrating, 
 is deprived of time to penetrate, and warm a me- 
 tal by degrees, and will not return backwards, con- 
 trary to its own nature, and therefore fubdues and 
 conquers the weaker Element by force and power ; 
 for Fire only is the moft potent of the Elements, 
 and knows not how to yield to the other three, but 
 they are compelled to ftoop to it, with which pri- 
 viledge the faid Fire is from God endued, even from 
 its very infancy. 
 
 In the fame and like manner is it with the Sun's, 
 Moon's, and other Stars heat, and occult Vertves, 
 which by their efficacy, haften on forwards fo long, 
 until they meet with that which they cannot pene- 
 trate, where making a ftand, and heated as it were 
 together, are compelled to go back, fearching after 
 a place to reft,and become corporeal ; for the chiefeft 
 heat being in the Earths Centre, gives not any delay 
 to any thing, but continually drives back, what flows 
 thither, into the poFOus and moift Earth, where the 
 Beams being fublimed and hidden, may cloath them- 
 felves with a fenfible Corporeity, and proceed from 
 one degree to another , until they are well conco- 
 (fted into perfeft Metals , no impediment interven- 
 ing. 
 
 But let me not be miftaken by any one, as if it 
 'twere my Opinion, that in the Centre of the Earth, 
 the fiery place is conftitute, of which the Scriptures 
 make mention ; for I have nothing to fay as to that 
 place ; nor defire to know ought concerning it. 
 This place which 1 defcribe, is difcovered to us by 
 natural Phylofophy, but that place the Scripture 
 makes mention of, 1 leave to Theologifls, by which 
 they may terrify the wicked Multitude , that they 
 precipitate not themfelves rafhly , and by Troops 
 thereinto. 
 
 And now becaufe the Hellilh Fire is here mention- 
 ed, I cannot omit to blaft the molt unfound Opinions 
 of fome putatitious Dodlrines thereabouts : There 
 are in many places found Mountains, belching forth, 
 with huge force, flames, fumes, afhes, and Itones: 
 In Europe^ is the Hill *>£t»a of Saciha-^ in Ifland, 
 is HoB/i, behind Nonvay^ there's alfo Vefuvins,z& 
 joining to Naples^ and many more other places in 
 other Parts of the Earth ; fome part of which con- 
 tinually burn and fume ; others at certain times and 
 intervals; which places, many acconnt for the fu- 
 mings of Hell. 
 
 But verily this cannot be rational, becaufe thofe 
 burning Mountains have a natural Original, and 
 Caufe of Fireing, ku6wn but to very few ; for in 
 in fome places are found Mountains wholly Sul- 
 phure which being kindled, either by the Central or 
 Elemental Fire of Thunder, or any other accident 
 cannot but burn, and when fuch a Mountain hath but 
 once taken Fire, and begins to burn, who can re- 
 ftrain the burning ; no body, becaufe of the great- 
 nefs of the Fire, and danger of what may happen, 
 being therefore left to it felf, it feeds downwards, 
 being never dellitute of matter fit for the Fire- 
 
 And now if any one underflanding by the Monu- 
 ments of the Antients, that the(e Mountains have 
 burned for fome Ages, yea, and for Thoufands of 
 Years, fhould wonder , whence Fuel fufficient for 
 that Fire fliould be had, let him know, that this may 
 eafily be done ; that a Mountain fhould burn with- 
 out intermifTion, not only for the magnitude of the 
 Terrene Globe, in whicli a mountainous Wax, or 
 Bitumen , Brimltone , and fuch like Combuftible 
 Things abound : But alfo , becaufe of the never- 
 interrupted Motion of the Stars, whereby they ne- 
 ver ceafe replenifliing the Earth -with their out^ilow- 
 ings, and generating ( befides Minerals ) fuch Com: 
 buftible matters as tlide, augmenting and cherifh- 
 ing the Fire. 
 
 But they endeavour to confirm their Opinion by 
 the lamentable Howlings, which at fome times are 
 heard nigh thofe Mountains ; which Cryes , the 
 credulous Vulgar People report to be of the Souls, 
 which are loft : But thefe are but Trifles ^ for 
 thofe Out-cryes are then only uttered , when the 
 Mountains endeavour to throw out much Fire, other- 
 wife they burn and fume very gently, which as foon 
 as the Adjacent Inhabitants perceive , they well 
 know, that they fhall fhortly have an Harveft of 
 alhes, fire, & Itones, out of the Mountains : and that 
 they may avoid the hazard and danger threatned 
 by the Fire , they carefully keep far enough off. 
 And for the moft part, a great Qiiantity of the Sul- 
 phure is prepared in the neighbouring parts, where- 
 by the needy get their food , by digging it up, 
 purging it from its Impurities, and preparing it for 
 humane ufes ; but as to the Cryes, it feems to be 
 nothing elfe in my opinion, but OJily the Fire break= 
 ing forceable through the ftreight Channels, the 
 hard Stones and Caverns, and produceing thereby a 
 dreadful found , which they commonly call Ejula- 
 tioHjor Howling- They alfo add, that about thofe 
 fiery Mountains, Ghofts, Vifions, and Spirits ufually 
 appear vifibly. This alfo is true , and Grounded 
 upon Nature, but yet thou canfl not prove that they 
 are Devils and infernal Spirits ; there being even 
 otherwhere feen, and found diverfe Spirits in the 
 Bowels of the Earth, being Monfters not unwont- 
 ed, or ftrangc to fuch as dig, or are Miners, by 
 which they are frequently injured ; yea, and Ibme- 
 
 time& 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Mineral IVorl^ 
 
 119 
 
 times deftroyed, lamed or infeded ; fometimes thefe 
 fpirits are hurtlefs and idle fpe(ftators,or playing with 
 the workmens implements ^ or even labour themfelves 
 rot in the leafb tilling their Pockets, how ftrongly io- 
 cver they fliew themfelves bent upon rtheir work- 
 But fuch fpirits appear in various forms, oftentimes 
 refembling an Horfe, a Dog, or other Beaflr, fome- 
 times a Dwarf-like crooked man ; frequently they ap- 
 pear doathed with an afliy Cowle of a Monk^'., they 
 ufually are Teftimonies of great Felicity and rich 
 Mines ; fometimes they do great mifchicf,by choak- 
 ing the Miners with a wicked habit,or throwing them 
 headlong into the Pits, by reafon of whofe malice 
 many of the rich Mines are unavoidable left undigged, 
 they boldly defending their hidden Treafures. 
 
 Let thefe things concerning the fpirits? about the 
 burning Mountains, or thofe remaining in the profun- 
 dity of the Earth, and appearing inthefeveral Ihapes, 
 befpoken by way of Parenthefis. And now I return 
 to the thing in hand, and will demonftrate, that there 
 is nothing of Community betwixt thefe burning Moun: 
 tains and the central or infernal fire , but that thefe 
 blowout a thick and material.fire ■, which I thus prove. 
 
 Firft of all, Thefe Mountains do at fometimes ceafe 
 to burn, breathing out fmoak only between whiles 
 more copioufly : fometimes they dye and expire 
 through want of fuel to fupply them- 
 
 But the central fire can never be either diminifhed 
 or vanilTi as long as the fun fhines and ftarrs gli- 
 fter, and fend down their vertues into the earths 
 centre. Even as the infernal Fire fiiall never ex- 
 pire, the Scripture thus teftifying, wherefore that fire, 
 though a moll furious Mountainous fire » cannot be 
 either of thefe two, but is meerly material, fubjedt 
 to encreafe and decreafcj and its food defifting, 
 plainly extinguilheth : Befides, the fire of thofe Moun- 
 tains heats not fervently, but for the greateft part 
 fmoke obfcurely ; but the adjoyning Earth is very 
 hot, for the fpace of fome miles, fo that you can- 
 not long ftand there without injuring your feet- 
 The Waters alfo which flow down from them, are 
 boyling hot, and manifeftly fmell of fulphur a good 
 Portion whereof they have within themfelves. 
 
 Befides thefe flaming and fmoaking Mountains,there 
 are fometimes found other Denns or Caverns, breath- 
 ing forth neither Flame nor Fume, and yet a great 
 heat, which is another kind of fire, which is largely 
 treated of in the Chronicles of Metals , where a- 
 mongft other things, this is alfo added; That on a 
 time a V\'ind gaping, arofe in a certain Mountain, 
 and fent forth a huge heat , and in the night only 
 was fome fplendor perceptible , afcending towards 
 Heaven, and fometimes a breathing heat was only 
 obferved. 
 
 On this a curious Monk^wz^ in himfelf perfwaded 
 to let down into the cranny, a pot, bound on an Iron 
 Chain, with intent to draw up fome molten Gold, 
 which he believed to be thereunder, which when it 
 came to touch the fir<f, it prefently melted and fell 
 down, the which in like fort burnt away like Chaff, 
 with a good part of the Chain alfo, and was ejedted 
 and thrown up again in the form of a fume, with a 
 great noife and crack , but the Monk hardly fcap'd 
 with his life, the gold being left behind in the Hell ; 
 but thou maiit readily divine what fort of fire this 
 was, which reduced the Pot and Chain into fume in 
 the twinkling of an eye, that it was not a material 
 fire, becaufe void of fmoak, but the aftral fire. 
 
 It is weB known to the Miners, that the central and 
 geheunal fire doth oftentimes afcend the high parts of 
 
 the Mountains, and warm them, and there cherilh and 
 maturate the metals: which Caverns, when in their 
 fearching for Metals, they come nigh unto, they feel 
 too much heat, that they are evcnagainlt their wills 
 compelled todefift. But this heat, although indeed 
 in the adion of the growing. Minerals doth ufually 
 excite and make great enough ; yet for the greateft 
 part it derives its Original from the central fire, and 
 this central from the Starrs. But after what manner 
 and reafon the ftarrs beget the central fire, and this 
 generates the Minerals and Metals, I will demonftrate 
 to the unknowing as briefly as I can. 
 
 Thus therefore ftands the cafe : We read in Mjfes^ 
 in the firft of Genefis^ that God, when he made the 
 World out of the confiifed Chaos^ did give the E- 
 lements their original firft, and affigned to Earth its 
 proper place, and injoyned on earth its Office to be 
 done •■) but by what means they are preferved by 
 the interceding perpetual Circulation, natural Phi- 
 lofophy doth demonftrate. It will not therefore be 
 to our purpofe to treat prolixly of them, but on- 
 ly of the rife and nativity of metals, will 1 com- 
 pendioufly fpeak as far as I know of them, viz.. in 
 what manner the metallick kind draws its original 
 from them, together with its encreafe and augmen- 
 tation, and how having arrived to the top of their 
 perfeftion, they come to their end- 
 
 I have a little before demonftrated, that the fus 
 periour element of fire, as the Sun, Moon, and the 
 other Starrs, fend down their invifible vertues and 
 fiery beams into the earths center, where they are 
 congregated, and caufe huge heat, and being not 
 permitted there to reft, leap back again, and are Mat- 
 tered throughout the univerfal Globe, and impreg- 
 nate it with various and wonderful Crefcentials,which 
 are called Minerals by the Philofophers , cherilhing 
 and perfecting them in various forms- The reafon 
 and manner of which thing I will here in a few 
 words unfold. 
 
 Every fpiritual thing, come it from whatfoever 
 body it will, is invifible and impalpable, nor can any 
 thing be made of it alone, but it's forced to remain 
 a fpirit, until it meets with a fubjedl whereto ic 
 may adhere, be united, and by the benefit thereof 
 be turned into a Corporeal Nature, and pure, an- 
 fwerable to the purity of the fubjeit and fpirit, the 
 fpirit is in the room of feed \ but the fubjed an- 
 fwers to the earth or matrix in which the fpirit is 
 concoifted, into a fenfible body fuitable to its own 
 nature. But 'tis to be known, that the manner of 
 Metallick conception and generation, is fardiiferent 
 from that of the Vegetable and Animals : For in moft 
 Vegetables that have arrived to their perfection, na- 
 ture works out a feed for a farther propagation and 
 encreafe, being the moft excellent partof the herb, 
 which at the Springs Entrance being committed to 
 convenient earth, produceth a new plant in all points 
 like unto the former, from whence it fprang, by 
 which doing new feeds of the fame plant, are always 
 conferved. Although indeed fome plants are not 
 propagated by the feed, but by the root. Yet they 
 are very few, and in fuch, the root it felffervesin- 
 ftead of feed. And that in fome places Plants grow 
 out of the earth , without the afiiftance of either 
 feed or root, ics done by the help of the Elements, 
 in whom the fame force of impregnating the void 
 earth and produdion of Plants, is at this Inftant, 
 as was at firft , when they generated and brought 
 them forth in the beginning of the World- In like 
 manner is there a twofold produdion of Animals, 
 
 H h 2 the 
 
I20 
 
 The Second Tart of 
 
 Parti 
 
 the one done by a proper fperm, by which they are 
 propagated, the other is a produillion of fome lit- 
 tle Animals, upon the world's ftage, even without 
 Sperm, by putrefadion only, and the mutual adion 
 and pafllon of the Elements. 
 
 Thefe two waies have footing alfo in Minerals, 
 the one is the Univerfal impregnation made by the 
 Starrs in the beginning of the world , the other is 
 Daily. And even as the firft generation of Vegeta- 
 bles and Animals is to be accounted far more excel- 
 lent than that which is accidental and quotidian, fo 
 is it with Minerals likewife- As fome Vegetables ar- 
 rive to their perfedlion, and perifh fooner than other 
 fome, fo do metals and minerals alfo ^ and by how 
 much the fooner and quicker growth they have , by 
 fo much the fooner do they perifh ; and fo on the 
 contrary- And as a rational and movable Animal is 
 a thoufand times in his nobility and fixity beyond a 
 Vegetable, fo alfo doth a Mineral, by reafon of his 
 fixity, far tranfcend any Animal -, which wants an im- 
 mortal foul. 
 
 Now when the Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, 
 fatally terminating their period, are corrupted, and 
 return into a nothing, each Element takes to it felf 
 what is its own- The Starrs, the Spirit, the Earth, 
 keeps the body which it formerly gave, and the Prin- 
 ciples of the thing do each return unto their Foun- 
 tains from whence they at firft did flow. 
 
 And in this manner is there perpetual Death 
 and Regeneration of things , by the teftimony of 
 Experience- 
 There are many ways by which Metals are brought 
 to light, -viz,, by huge Fires: if by Accident and 
 Carelefnefs of Shepherds, a Wood catchethfire, the 
 Earth by reafon of the intoUerable heat Gapes, and 
 the molten Metal flows forth and is deteded : fome- 
 times alfo vehement Earthquakes difcover them. 
 
 Befides, the Veins of Metals are found out when 
 deep Wells and Pits are digged,or by the Plowing in 
 the Fields, they are fometimes dig'd up, and their 
 Veins difcovered : ftrong Rivers walhing away the 
 Earth and Sand, do fometimes open their Veins-, the 
 Fruits of which being found in the Banks, give caufe 
 of fearching after them. 
 
 They are alfo difcovered by means of an Animal, 
 even an Horfe, by pawing with his foot, beating away 
 the Earth uncovers the Vein,vvhich happen'd at Gojla- 
 ria in Ramdshug ^ even Hogs fearching after Acorns, 
 have diged up Mine-pits ; or a pure Metal lifts up it 
 felf into the Aire in the likenefs of a Reed, by which 
 means the exceeding rich. Mines of Silver ai Kiitten- 
 berg in Bohemia^ was by a Monk manifefted to the 
 World, who walking in the Wood gathered a Silver 
 Reed growing out of the Earth, and put it in his 
 Cowie, and declared the thing in the Convent. 
 
 Sometimes alfo moft vehement ftorms pulling up 
 very great Trees by the roots do open veins. Moft 
 frequently a Corrufcation gives undoubted teftimo- 
 ny of Veins, which being enkindled by the warm 
 air, runs a long fome fpace, in the likenefs of a 
 blew flame ■■, nor is the finding out of the procefs of 
 Veins (not lying over-deep buried) very difficult if 
 you rightly confider, for they continually breath forth 
 a warm Sulphureous vapour, upon which, not only 
 the Grafs growing is thiner than is elfwhere wont to 
 be , but even the Trees that grow upon them are 
 dwarf-like, have paler and thiner Leaves than other 
 Trees elfewhere planted have. 
 
 Likewife where the Dew, Hoar-Froft, fooner melts 
 and vanilheth, 'tis a teftimony that a Metal is there- 
 
 under •, the caufe of which melting, is the warm va- 
 pours afcending from the Veins. 
 
 But that teftimony which the moft imploy them- 
 felves in,in feeking by anHazel rod( which my felf have 
 many times experienced) is fallacious and uncertain- 
 
 This is the Work of the Art, if any one conjoyn- 
 ing Metals in the Fire under a certain confteliation, 
 melt them into an eledrum and make of them a lit- 
 tle Ball, perfortated in the middle, wherein a wand 
 of hazel ofone years growth wanting little boughs, is 
 to be implanted, which carry ftreight out before thee 
 where thou conjedureft Metals to be, when the little 
 Ball, bows the Rod & bends towards the ground it is 
 without doubt that thereunder are metals, & that the 
 labour undertaken about them will not be in vain- 
 
 This teftimony proceeding from the Natural and 
 infallible foundation of Philofophie, is defervedly to 
 be preferred before all other Arts concerning the 
 finding out of Metals. 
 
 Nor mayeft thou wonder thereat, for we are un- 
 acquainted with moft things ; who is it that can cer- 
 tainly unfold why the Magnet atrafts Iron, and heat- 
 ed Amber attrads Straw, Grafs, Thread and other 
 Vegetables ? the whole Earth is full of unfearchable 
 Wonders and Secrets of G O D which are to be 
 diligently obferved by us. 
 
 Now as to the caufes, why fo many kinds of Me- 
 tals are generated fo unlike amongft themfelves ; 
 fome think one thing, and fome another; many 
 will that the Seven Metals onely have their produft 
 from the Seven Planets, viz.. Lead from Saturn., Tin 
 from Jitpttiir, Iron from ^ . Gold from the 5//«, Cop- 
 per from 2 . Quick-filver from 5 . and Silver from 
 the Moon ; but I am not of that Opinion ; for how 
 can the Sun, j , or any other Planet feek out to it 
 felf in the profundity of the Earth, a peculiar place 
 where to fow its Seed, and procreate a Metal con- 
 formable to it felf; whereas we fee that no Metal 
 is digg'doutof the earth, alone, but alwayes mixt 
 with others-, for thou Ihalt never find Lead but 
 there is filver in it, more or lefs ; no Tin is dig'd 
 or wafhed out but it hath Gold and Silver ; all Cop- 
 per and ^ contains Silver, and fometimes much ® 
 which is neither conceived of, or believed by the 
 Metallurgifts, nor is ever Gold found without Sil- 
 ver or Copper, and ) is very feldom void of ® or 
 other Metals ; but if each Planet (hould generate 
 its own Metal , how comes it that another is ad- 
 joyned to it? I fpeak of thofe Metals only, which 
 are either folely contained in their own Veins, or elfe 
 are found and walht out in grains in the Earth or 
 Sand, either pure or raixt with ftones. 
 
 I exclude thofe which are (two or three mixt 
 with each other) each in his own proper Vein, and 
 are a burden or impediment, to one another, as 
 Metallifts fpeak, and are often carried along a great 
 while together, and not feldome do come together 
 making one Vein, and are by and by feparated and 
 difperfed into various little Veins ; and now, if each 
 Planet fhould create his own proper Metals verily he 
 would alfo chufe his own place , and would not 
 fufFer anotherto poflefs his proper neft, and difturb 
 his operation. 
 
 But let us allow to each his proper Metal, and 
 then what Starr ftiould we affigne to Bifmuth Co- 
 bolt, 5 and Zink for their Generator, they being un- 
 defervedly excluded from the Metalline Company , 
 wherewith they are nearer affined .then 5, being fb- 
 fible with other Metals, and brougiit to ufe by the 
 Artificers hand, which with 5 Cannot be done ; in- 
 deed 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Mineral Worl^ 
 
 I2t 
 
 deed fome are to be found alone, in Veins, as Lead 
 and Silver> but © being any where found and clean- 
 fed from every Mineral, and wafhed out of the Sand, 
 yet never wants Silver and Copper ^ Tin and iron are 
 alio gotten out of the Sand, and Earth in fmall pieces, 
 never limple, but mixt with Itone •, thcfe grains or 
 pieces yield the mofb Excellent Tin, (Called by the 
 Ctrm.^.ns feciffcnjin) and for the moft part contains 
 more Gold than that which is digged out of the 
 pit, Becaufe while thofe litle granulated ftones are 
 wafhed out ('»>toittcr o? s»intranpm) many granula- 
 ted ones containing much Gold, commix themfelves 
 therewith, and are excocted and melted together with 
 the Tin ; in like manner the little grains of Iron 
 yield the mod Excellent Iron. The Miners find 5 
 either runing or inclofed in a Red ftone but to be 
 excoded and vivified by Art \ fometimes alfo Copper 
 is found in very little ftones (IRecfluplcin) like the 
 Angulated Piris Stones ; otherwife all Metals grow 
 in their own Mines or Veins of the Mountains, out 
 from whence being gotten with greateft labour and 
 coft, together with hazzard of life, are purged from 
 the Mine, by beating, wafting, and melting ; but how 
 each are to be known, exploded, digged, beaten, 
 wafhed, melted, and feparated from heterogeneous 
 things, is copioufly demonftrated by the mofl Fa- 
 mous and Antient Metallifts, G"eor^e>^^r>co/4 and La- 
 7.a.rn! Erker. 
 
 I do therefore conclude that Metals,and Semime- 
 tals or Minerals, have their birth from one common 
 Seed, but are by accident fevered into various forms 
 and fhapes. 
 
 For the Vertues of the Stars being jointly carri- 
 ed into the Centre of the Earth, do not remain a- 
 lone, but being mixt each with the other, goe back 
 into theCiverns of the Mountains, fecking a place 
 of Reft, -vherc they may make tiieniielves a Body ; 
 which if it be pure, makes alfo a pure Metal, if 
 impure, an unpure Metal ; and fuch place is moft 
 like unto a Matrix conceiving Seed from the Male, 
 which if it forms into a body, cherifheth, and be- 
 ing excoded to maturity , perfeds it. Now the 
 Afiral Spirits fupply the room of man-like fperm, 
 which being received into the moift Earth, in Ca- 
 verns, as in a Matrix, is nourifhed, and fafhioned 
 into diverfe metalli k Forms, and palpable Bodies, 
 according to the purity of the place. 
 
 Hence alfo 'tis evident. That various kinds of 
 Metals are generated out of one Seed accidentally, 
 becaufe the Metals, whilft in being, do grow riper 
 by little and little, and are more and more melio- 
 rated, and daily experience doth deraonftrate, that 
 they are nobilitated, not only under the Earth, but 
 even above it. Hence 'tis , that the Miners dig- 
 ing out an immature Mineral, as BifmHth, Cob.il- 
 tum^ or 2fw/:^ examining it, as they do filver, and 
 finding nothing , fay, that they came fooner there 
 than they ought, which Minerals being expofed to 
 the Aire, and then exploded, and tryed after 
 fome years, are found to contain much filver. 
 
 On this account I affirm. That if the common 
 Seed of Metals, had alwaies a clean , and fitting 
 Matrix , and no accidental impediments interve- 
 ned, nothing elfe but Gold ( the higheft perfeftion 
 of metals ) would be generated ; and that this is 
 Natures intention, alwaies to bring to perfedion, 
 what flie hath begun : but Gold only attains this 
 ftate, all the reft remaining imperfedti but it fhall 
 be clearly demonftrated in the Third Part enfuing, 
 that by genuine Alchumy , even they may be ad- 
 
 vanced to the fame degree, which if it could not 
 be demonftrated , that imperfeft Metals might by 
 Art, be brought unto pcrfertion, and by Induftry, 
 and the Fire ; it might be very probable and cre= 
 dible, that each Metal had his own appropriated 
 Seed and Planet. 
 
 But now , if common lead polTeffing but little 
 filver, by the ufual trying of the Cupel, may, by 
 the benefit of maturating Salts , be lb far perfec- 
 ted by a fiiort digeftion, as to yield much filver; 
 and by a longer digeftion or fixation , to yield, 
 even Gold it felf , which it had not in it before 
 'iConf. P.trt 3^.] 'tis evidently perceptible, that 
 'twas not Nature's intent, that Saturn fhould fo 
 remain in his Saturnine Eftate, but that he fiiould 
 be madei'ilvcr and Gold. 
 
 The other imperfed bodies may alfo be maturas 
 ted by digeftion, that they fhall yield forth fixt: 
 Gold and Silver. 
 
 In like manner the fpurious Metals or Minerals, 
 as 5 Coboit, Zinck-, Btfmuth^ and others of that: 
 kind may be fo fixed, as to be behind them , in 
 the Cupel, good Gold and Silver, which is molt 
 plainly done in the Third Part. 
 
 Thus thou feeft. That 'tis not Natures Fault, 
 that there is fo many imperfeift Metals i but 'tis 
 to be imputed to external Impediments ; for if 
 that Gold lay not hid in the Potentia in the im- 
 perfed Metals, by what Art could it be reduced 
 into adion ? 
 
 Art cannot create either Gold or Silver, but 
 Nature can , and yet doth not alwaies accomplifh 
 it upon the Earth without the induftry of Art : 
 When a Gardner fuffers the feed and root of the 
 Plant to wither, nor commits it to the Earth, thaE 
 it might be perfeded ; 'tis not the fault of the 
 feed, but the Gardner, who fuff"ers it, that it comes 
 thus to perifii. Nature doth very often want help, 
 as appears in the fruits of Animals, and Vegeta- 
 bles ; and why may not help be necefTary and pro- 
 fitable in metalline produds, where, by the Artifi- 
 cers ingenuity, they may be holpen- 'Tis evident 
 then, that Nature aims, as well to make Gold out 
 of Minerals , and bafer Metals, as to make a Man 
 of an Infant i or a Tree of a Nut: and if it be 
 otherwife , it is not to be imputed unto her, but 
 to external Accidents. 
 
 Now I fuppofe that I have fnfficiently proved by 
 thefe things , that all Metals proceed out of one 
 feed and root ; and may be reduced thereinto, and 
 alfo, that Minerals may be compared unto the firft 
 buding of Vegetables, imperfed Metals to Semi- 
 adult , or half ripe Plants ; but Gold to perfed 
 feed or fruit, brought by Nature unto its end or 
 bound- 
 But this is to be underftood of the Univerfal 
 Birth, and Generation of Metals; which for the 
 greater part, drawing their Original in the profun= 
 dity of the Earth out of the Central feed, do grow 
 in Caverns and Veins, and increafe together into 
 various fibrms, and are from thefe digged out with 
 great cofts, hazards, and labour. 
 
 Now there's another Generation aduated in a 
 plainly-diverfe manner, without the Central com- 
 mon, and propagated feed, done upon the Earths 
 fuperficies, by the Operation of the Stars above i 
 yet 'tis the leaft part of Metals , that are thus 
 generated. It hath been faid, that there is a two- 
 fold aianner of Generation, nature makes ufe 
 
 11 
 
 of 
 
1^2 
 
 The Second Pan of 
 
 Pare 1* 
 
 of in Animals and Vegetables, and fo its in Metals- 
 The Firft is raoll frequent and notable, the o- 
 thcr is rare and infenfible : The one is done in 
 Plants by the preparation of the feed or root ; 
 the other ftrongly perfeded by the influence of the 
 Stars, and the Elements efficacy and power : for 
 Example, If Rain-water, being received into fome 
 Vcilcl, exhales in the heat of the Sun, or of the 
 Aire, an Earth remains, which by an innate pow- 
 er, produceth various little Plants, little Animals, 
 fmnll Worms and Flies, without the accefs of feed. 
 The fame happens in Metals, when the Sun, or 
 any other Star operates upon the moill Earth ; 
 the allral Vertues are congregated, and being made 
 corporeal, do exhibit divcrfe Minerals and Metals, 
 according to the purity of the Matrix , or moift 
 Earth •, where the Water is inftead of the Matrix, 
 and the Stars inltead of the Father, or Seed : like- 
 wife , it is not podiblc for Metals to be generated 
 in the Centre, where all things are dry , but far 
 off from that place, where the Waters moiften the 
 Earth, and with which the Central Spirits can join 
 themfclves, and pafs into Bodies and Metals. 
 
 For a dry fpirit cannot coagulate himfelf into a bo- 
 dy, by reafon of his drynefs, but wants a fit fubjeft, 
 from whence to take its body, which is Water : as 
 foon as ever the fulphureous fpirit is mixt with 
 the water, it is no more common water , but the 
 rudiment and beginning of a metallick generation cal- 
 led 5 by the Philofophers, not the vulgar being alrea- 
 dy made metalline, but a vifcous water, which the 
 metallurgifts call Gur or a fermenting fpume, which 
 if contained in a convenient place, and Cherifhed with 
 the due Central' heat, and an humidity, is in length 
 of time maturated into a metal. 
 
 The Conception therefore, and generation of me- 
 tals is not only in the profundity of the earth by the 
 mediation of the central fpirits carryed upwards, 
 butalfo in the fuperRccs by the ftars calling their 
 invifible beams into a fubtle, and fat earth where 
 they are held, and become Corporeal. 
 
 For the fidereal Ere never ceafeth to infufe its vir- 
 tues into the earth, and to Impregnate it with vari- 
 ous piodnas of vegetables, animals,and minerals, ac- 
 cording as it meets with a raatrix,nor is this done only 
 in the earth as being molt fit for metallick generati- 
 on, but even in the air in thick Clouds, do they ad 
 the fame thing. . 
 
 Truly we frequently fee that not only little Ani- 
 mals, as Palmer-worms,Caterpillars,Frogs & other in- 
 fedls are there conceived and thence excluded, and de- 
 fcend mixt with the rain, buttis alfo evident by Cre- 
 dible Teftimonys, that ftones of an hundred weight, 
 alfoMalles of Iron in the form offmall Conglome- 
 rated drops, exceedingly malleable have fallen down 
 from the air, and alfo various Comets and other Ig- 
 neous fubftances being gathered together in the air : 
 are kindled ; their matter being taken away they dy, 
 and falling down upon the earth like a fume of Arf- 
 nick they infeft it with their brats, whence an har- 
 veft of many deadly difeafes doth molt plentifully 
 bud forth. Nay even thunder and lightning it felf 
 is nothing clfe, but a fubtle nitre enkindled, and 
 with the Crack falling ftones are procreated in the 
 air ■■, thence it appears, tliat not only the central fire 
 doth ingravidate the Intrals of the earth : but alfo 
 the Aftral fire leeks a place of creating metals in the 
 fuperficics or in the air it felf, but no where more 
 apt then in the veins and dens of the earth. 
 
 I well know} that there are many Opinions of 
 thofe metals, which are not in the bowels of the 
 earth •, but are found above either in the earth, or 
 fand in little grains, but they are for the mofl part 
 Erroneous. Moft men do think that gold which is 
 found on the banks of Rivers and there wafhed out, 
 was not generated in that place, but were broken off 
 from fome veins of gold by the ftrength of waters, 
 falls, or floods, and brought thither out of the moun- 
 tains, which indeed may be true, for fomtimes tor- 
 rents do hurry alongft them little fhining golden 
 grains which are afterwards taken up on the hairy 
 backs of the bealls, but that all gold found in Rivers, 
 and ftreams, is by the help of currents wafht out of 
 the mountains, feems unlikely, but was rather ge- 
 nerated there ; for fometimes gold is gathered by a 
 river from whence the fountains are exceedingly 
 remote and diftant, which fhould bring it thi- 
 ther. 
 
 Likewife in open Mountains, never feen by any 
 fountains, is gold gathered out of the earth or fand, 
 of v.'hich kind is almoft all the gold, which the Hol- 
 landers buy of the Indians of the value of an hun^ 
 dred or thoufand markes, which is not gotten out 
 of the fountains or rivers, but for the greateft part 
 out of the fand in open places, Elevated from the 
 waters. 
 
 Such fublime and dry places have been in Germa- 
 ny, alfo where the auriferous earth was carryed 
 down to the rivers, and feparated from the gold, 
 and even to this day where little grains of Zwitter or 
 Tin are wafhed out, are grains of gold alio found, 
 not in low deep places, but fcattercd about the 
 mountains and are ufually melted with the Tin, 
 whence tis that fuch Tin is generally v\ont to a- 
 bound with gold, which thing 1 have frequently 
 found experimentally. 
 
 The caufe why gold is oftncr found near rivers 
 and ftreams is this, becaufe that being carryed on 
 with force they wafh away the fand, being lighter and 
 leave behind them, the more heavy grains of gold, 
 from which the remaining fand is waflied away with 
 lefs ado j but now the Rhenifh gold, fuch as here is in 
 Germany, and the like,isnot pure, but mingled with 
 filver and copper ; nor is it always alone, or fine, 
 like a metal, but in the form of an heavy and ful- 
 phureous powder, whofe combultible fulphur being 
 burnt and removed by fufion, it acquires a golden 
 colour tendernefs, duftibility and purity. 
 
 But that which is brought from India, is, as to 
 appearance gold, and is fome greater, fome Imaller 
 graines, and not as that with us is, yet not fine, but 
 fome is found better than other fome. 
 
 1 fometime faw a dutch Merchant having a lump 
 of this kind of gold well nigh fine or of Twenty four 
 Carradls weighing fome Lotons, but generally they 
 are of the bignefs of a midling fand. But that 
 which is wafht out in Hungaria, and Tranfllvania is 
 clteemcd the fineft of all, which I have found equi- 
 valent to duckets. 
 
 Now I fuppofe that I have fufHciently demon- 
 ftrated, that all gold is not generated by the central 
 fire in the belly of the earth, but alfo in the fuperfices 
 thereof, by the vertue ot the fupcriour ftars, and not 
 only gold, but other, metals and minerals, efpecial- 
 ly ^ and S are in like manner generated, and J molt 
 frequently, which is plentifully found every where 
 in round or angulated little ftones, for the mofl part 
 of a golden Nature, and though commonly neglect- 
 ed yet deferve well to be obferved. 
 
 Such 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Mineral fForl^, 
 
 Such alfoarethofe flints which are within of a red- 
 difh colour conteining a golden iron, for there is a 
 great familiarity and friendfhip between «? and ®, 
 where under lys hid, a great fecret and in the third 
 part fliall be explained more at large- 
 
 Now for a further conviftion of fijch as are incre- 
 dulous, the metals are generated upwards or here a- 
 bove in a moift earth without the central feed, this 
 example is conducible in marfhy parts, and places 
 that arc always moilt, the Superiour Stars have a fit 
 Subjcd to generate Metals in, witnefs Holland, where 
 they yearly dig a peculiar turf or earth, which they 
 burn inltead of wood, which contains, bcfides fulphur, 
 Arfnick, <? and 2 yet, all, is not thus, but only that 
 which is dig'd out of the mofl deep places, and is 
 called bottrrt, the reft called hern feldora contains 
 any thing other thing than,fulphur & a little Arfnick, 
 whereas theother hath very much, fulphur and Arfnick 
 being an unwholefome fire to fuch as are not there 
 unto accuftomed, which although it be in depth 
 Twenty Thirty or Forty feet, yet do they fcarce 
 extrad or dig out five or fix, or at the utmoft ten 
 foot, becaufe in fonie depth it wants fulphur alto- 
 gether, and is unfit for the fire. 
 
 Now then fuch as try for bituminous Turf, or fuch 
 as fearch for the depth ofaMarfh, or feek after a 
 fandy bottom, drawing forth the earth with long 
 borryers or Caugcrs) do find that by how much 
 the deeper they go, fo mucli the lefs, fulphur they 
 find, and at the bottom none at all. 
 
 Whence tisevident that fulphur Arfnick,or that Mi- 
 neral that lys hid in the earth received his Origi- 
 nal from above, and not from beneath. But the 
 moft Metals are produced in the earths bowels, and 
 the feweft nigh the Circumference, whofe feed is 
 found more powerful in the deep, than in the Cir- 
 cumference ; for the lidereal virtues do conftantly 
 haften to the centre, and not finding further palTage 
 fight together, and ftriveeachagainft the other, and 
 caufe a huge heat, by the reperculfion whereof the 
 whole globe grows warm, and is gravidated with all 
 kinds of Minerals. 
 
 Thus then are all Minerals, and Metals procrea- 
 ted, as well in the deep as in the Circumference, out 
 of a moft fubtle Aftral feed, with a futable moifture 
 wherein it frameth a body to it felf, nor let any 
 wonder that Metals are generated of an infenfible, 
 and moft fubtle warm vapour, if joyned with humi- 
 dity, they fall not down from heaven as a ftone from 
 an houfe, but defcend fpiritual, and getting a fit- 
 ting place in the earth do (by the waters mediati- 
 on) put on a body, and get their weightinefs from the 
 earth, even as the feeds of vegetables and Animals, 
 which (as is moft evident) give only the form,increafe 
 and life, but fupplys not the place of the body it 
 felf 
 
 But moft faifeisthe foundation of fuch as imagine, 
 that Metals have there Original from common run- 
 ning, Sand burning fulphur (each beinga femi-mettal) 
 tis indeed certain that metals are born of 5 & fulphur 
 but not the common, but fuch aforementioned, viz.. 
 Aftral, a fulphureous warm, dry, and fpiritual foul, 
 and terreftrial vifcous water, from whofe mutual 
 conjnndion (as of Male and Female SeedJ all Metals 
 are born. 
 
 That Erroneous Opinion hath been the caufe of 
 many labours on, 5 and they are not a few, who 
 have wafted all they had by this, their philofophy. 
 And how many have attempted to fix common, 5 ei- 
 ther with or without Gold or Silver, anddoattbis 
 
 I23 
 
 day attempt the like, with hopes of turning it into 
 Gold or Silver, but all in vain, my felf have to my 
 lofs tryed it, and how far 1 have come, the third 
 part fhall declare. 
 
 In like fort as great a number have attempted to 
 extraa runing, 5 out of Metals, intending to fix it 
 (as the firft of Metals) into Gold or Silver, but all 
 in vam, for as the beginning was foolilli, fo the end 
 terminates in lofs; and fuch have chiefly with much 
 trouble fought after the 5 of ^ or Antimony being 
 perhaps feduced by the fayings of the Philofophers 
 who affirm that ^ the father of all Metals reduced in- 
 to 5 may be cafily Changed into Gold, but this is not 
 that running 5 but a vifcous water, that may be hand-- 
 led like the lirft being of Metals, according ;is the Ar- 
 tificer willeth, and may be changed into any form. 
 I cannot tell what madnefs poflelfeth men that aim 
 to reduce ^ or 5 into running 5 i n hopes of a more ea- 
 fy fixing it, whereas neither of both ever was run- 
 ning 5 and in my opinion will never be, but grant 
 it may be made 5 to what will it be more profitable 
 then Tj it felf,it being hereby made more volatile, and 
 not more fixt, but fay they 5 is a purer fubftance then 
 h and will therefore the more freely be amalgama- 
 ted and fixed with the Sun and > no, by no means. 
 Well ! I will grant that 5 may be made of 17 or 8 which 
 yet 1 can hardly believe, what will it profit thee.' 
 Nothing at all ; but now I readily believe, and have 
 experienced that T7 and 5. being after a Philofophi- 
 cal manner reduced into 5 that is, intoa vifcous wa= 
 ter, is moft eafily joyned with the © and > and is 
 to be fixed even without them, but twas never feen 
 that, the putatitious 5 of h did ever accomplilb any 
 praife worthy thing in the Meliorations of Metals. 
 I grant that running 5 may ealily be made out of 
 any Metal by the addition of vulgar » and I have 
 tryed it, but what profit comes therefrom ; en- 
 quire of thofe that have to their lofs pra^ifed there- 
 abouts- 
 
 If running 5 were the principle of metals, fome 
 fmal portion thereof would verily be found in all 
 mines of metals, or in moft of them, but becaufe it 
 is not there found it neceffarily follows, that fuch 0- 
 pinion is to be accounted a vain fiftion. 
 
 Now all Philofophers do unanimoufly teftify that 
 nature forms the firft rudiments of metals, out of the 
 Aftrall Spirit, and terreftrial water, by affirming 
 that every thing may by art be reduced into that, out 
 of which it was at firft made. 
 
 And whereas metals may be reduced into a vifcous 
 water without any corroflve, and this by a due heat 
 and digeftion tranfmuted into more pure, and better 
 metallick forms, tis undoubtedly credible that they 
 proceed from hence, and not only metals, but alfo 
 many ftones, and mineral things, either conteining 
 metals, or void of them, found "upon the earth, and 
 under it, have their firft beginnings after the like 
 manner, my felf having feen fome mine-diggers, in 
 fandy mountains diging for other things, who have 
 accidentally chanced upon this dir or Kur, thinking 
 it to be a Lump of Fat, one of them carryed it home, 
 and anointed his fhooes therewith, hut the next 
 morning he found them over laid with a ftony cruft, 
 and the lump or mafs it felf converted into an hard 
 ftone, but I am not ignorant that ftones are other- 
 wife generated, the reafon how, pertains not here- 
 unto- 
 
 A metal being reduced into its firft matter like to 
 Kur, is in the Artificers hand to induce into it, what 
 form he lifts, nor can it indeed be ever meliorated 
 
 I i 2. unlefs 
 
124 
 
 The Second Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 unlefs it be firfl: reduced to its f>rima materia. In a fo- 
 lid metal, it cannot be perceived of what parts it is 
 compounded, but being refolved, it's parts are dif- 
 covered, and it being by extraction deprived of its 
 proper Soul, wherein its life and whole dignity lodg= 
 eth it is no more a metal, but refembles an unflia- 
 pen brittle earth, without metallick Liquability, and 
 its whole goodnefs confifts in a very little quantity of 
 foul, and ftarry mafculine feed, the remaining bo- 
 dy being a dead and vile earth. 
 
 Finally, even this fwhich I have mentioned in my 
 treatife of Potable Gold ) fufficiently confirms that 
 metals arealfo created upon the earth, becaufe, that 
 not only the folar beams being colleded in various 
 fubjefts become corporeal, but even the heat of 
 our ufual fires doth likewife do the fame thing which 
 the tryals of the Cupels abundantly teftifies, let the 
 Reader fcarch and view the place- Nitre and other 
 falts are evidently produced by the fun, in a moifl: 
 earth, which thing will never be efFedted in a dry. 
 And the Philofophers making mention of the meli- 
 oration of metals, have always minded inceration, as 
 exceeding neceffary to their intention. 
 
 In this work, moifture is the patient, and heat 
 fupplys the place of an Agent •, this is difcernable in 
 Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, there being no- 
 thing that can attain perfection, without due 
 moiftening or endure the adion of a maturating 
 
 heat- , . , , . 
 
 And by how much the thicker and fatter the water 
 is, by fo much the fitter for a matrix, and there- 
 in feed will more greedily and fpeedily ftick and 
 germinate. 
 
 But by how much the thinner, it is by fo much the 
 more fit it is to be accounted for the feeds vegeta- 
 tion. 
 
 Water of it felf cannot be made a metal, unlefs 
 it be firit impregnated with feed by the ftars, and 
 gifted with a Vegetating life ; which feed is the o- 
 riginal, the foul, and life of all metals •, and how 
 much the more of fuch feed they have, fo much the 
 better and more fixt they neceflarily are. 
 
 On this account I firmly adhere to this Opinion , 
 That metals receive their Soul, Spirit, and Life from 
 the Starrs, as from an univerfal feed, and their Bo- 
 dy from the Water as an univerfal mother, and 
 derive the diverfity of Bodys, and degrees of Good- 
 nefs according to the Scituation, purity or impedi- 
 ments thereof, and are digged out by men (for whofe 
 fake (as the nobleft Creature) all things are made) 
 with great greedinefs, cofts, and hazards from the 
 Bowels of the great Animal, and are prepared and 
 elaborated for their many-fold Ufes. 
 
 Let thus much fufEce as to the generation of Me- 
 tals ; but now by what means they arrive to the 
 utmoft end of perfedion and Dye, and are hin- 
 dred in their growth, we will not pafs over in fi- 
 
 lence. 
 
 Thus therefore the Cafe Stands, There is a cer- 
 tain time prefixt to all Creatures, how far they may 
 come or protratT: their life, which predeltinated time 
 if it be cutoff, and attaines not unto its fcope or end, 
 it comes by accident and may not be imputed unto 
 Nature, and this is done fundry wayes according to 
 the various tempers of fuch enemies as they meet with-- 
 aljfome are hurt by the cold Air, prohibiting their 
 growth, as is evident in Metals digged from their 
 mines or trunks and expofed to the air, then ceafing 
 to grow, and were they ripe or unripe Metals, fo 
 remaining, but if they get a new matrix, then as the 
 
 feed of a plant on the Earth, they begin again to grow 
 and haften towards perfedion. To fome, as to Ve- 
 getables and Animals ; the aire is the life, of which 
 being robbed, they expire and Dye. The air de- 
 ftroys Filh, the water is their life, but the death 
 and deftrudion of two-footed and four-footed A- 
 nimals. 
 
 Even as all the elements have their proper of- 
 fpring which they cherifh, fo are they the deftroy- 
 ers of other things , which the rife and death of 
 Metals clearly teacheth- 
 
 For as foon as ever (being conceived in the earth) 
 they begin to grow, they become partakers of a 
 certain faltifh Nature, as their matrix, in which, and 
 by which, they are afterwards perfeded, wherein as 
 long as they remain uninterrupted, they go forward, 
 and are bettered in quality and quantity, but as 
 foon as ever their contrary, as Aire or common Wa- 
 ter meets with them, they are ftopt from proceed- 
 ing further in the matrix and Dye. 
 
 They being ( becaufe of this moft fubtle fait ) 
 while in being, molt impatient of both viz,. Wa- 
 ter and Aire. 
 
 Now if the aire invades them, their life, confilt- 
 ing in a Volatile fait, is elevated and drawn back 
 by the Stars: If water breaks in, they diflblve and 
 are waflied away, the matrix being deftroyed by 
 its contrary Element, whence 'tis that fuch Metals 
 in their frimum Ens, lying Embryon like, and ob- 
 noxious even to the fmalleft corruption, do perifli, 
 and never attain to the appointed perfedion by rea- 
 fon of fuch deftrudive accidents and injuries, whofe 
 tender fait is gon into fulphur, and is no more fubjeft 
 to the corruption of either Water or Aire. As for 
 thofe that are Mature and perfed, if they are noc 
 cut off from their ftock being extraded out of the 
 Earth, from which they have no more nutriment, 
 their fulphurious covering being laid afide, the de- 
 fence and fafegard of their Nature being baniflied, 
 they rightly referable a decrepid Old man, whofe 
 Radical moifture is dryed up and are diflblved and 
 eaten up by the fame Aftral Salt, or Vehement Cor- 
 rufcation, from whence they did fpring, and thus 
 are reduced unto Nothing; araongfb which, viz.. 
 metals, as well as amongft Vegetables and Animals, 
 Nature obferves a perpetual Circulation of Life and 
 Death. 
 
 It fometimes happens that the diggers finding a 
 metal excavated by the Aftral fait, like to the Hony 
 Comb by the Bees, are accuftomed to fay, that they 
 came thither too late, whence it is concluded that 
 the fame corrufcation is the begining and end of 
 metals. 
 
 Tis of fmall moment to know who firft digged 
 up metals applying them to ufe ; uidam was the firlt 
 to whom GOD revealed the Art, becaufe he could 
 not want it. 
 
 It feemeth certain, that that whichwas by his 
 fucceflTors difcovered to Noah, and from him pro- 
 pagated unto us will undoubtedly be conferved un- 
 to the Worlds end, becaufe of its great neceffity 
 and benefit. 
 
 But as this Art is profitable and ufeful, and no- 
 ble, fo itischargable,coftly, and dangerous, and al- 
 fo uncertain of getting gain, but yet not to benegled- 
 ed on that account, it being an honefl; thing, and plea- 
 fing to GOD, and managed heretofore by many 
 Prophets and Kings, and now at length, difervedly 
 had in great eftimation by us Chriltians, becaufe 
 of its neceffity. 
 
 He 
 
the Mineral Wor\. 
 
 125 
 
 He may well boaft of earthly felicity, to whom 
 GOD (hall vouchfaf* to give fuch a Light, of fee- 
 ing by what Artifice Nature is to be holpen ■> and 
 that which is fuperfliious and adhering to vile and 
 abjctl metals every where, may be removed , and 
 the defed fupplied ^ fuch an one hath in very deed 
 a rich and durable Mme ; neither are Ghofts, Inunda- 
 tions of Waters, evil Tempcfts, unwholfome Va- 
 pours, and other inconveniences, that hinder from a 
 purpofed intention, to be feared. But verily man, 
 by reafon of the continued wickednefs of his Life? 
 being made uncapableof this high Art and Science, is 
 compelled to get out Metals from the Earths bowels, 
 in the fweat of his brows, and to pafs over his life 
 in cares and labours. 
 
 And thus I conclude this Trael concerning the 
 generation of Metals, and refer the Reader, defiring 
 things more at large, to the Third Part? wherein is 
 accurately taught of what property Metals are, how 
 to be diftinguifbed each from the other, opened with- 
 out corrofivesj reduced into their firft matter, and 
 
 how by the benefit of art and fire, new and better 
 Metals are to be generated out of that firft matter. 
 
 Likewife, how they arc to be examined by a far 
 better way and manner than ufual ; how to be pur- 
 ged and fcparated each from tlie other, and alfo un- 
 folding (as far as is permitted; a little Book of the 
 molt expert Philofopher Paracelfus, or his Book of 
 The rcxation of Akhymifts, whereby the honour due 
 unto him (though much obfcured by evil fl.inderers) 
 may be again reftored unto him, andthe wholeworld 
 may know that he was moft expert in natural things, 
 and wrote very faithfully, and left unto us a large 
 light, though obferved by a very few, for the en- 
 creafing-and propagating whereof, and defending it 
 againfl the haters of the Light , I will enter upon 
 the Third Part, for my Neighbour's good, for the 
 accomplifhment whereof I pray GOD, the Creator 
 of all things, and the Patron o( Truth , mercifully 
 to vouchfafc his adiftance. Jlme?i. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 to oe diltmguilued eachrrom the otner, opened with- 
 out corrofiveSj reduced into their firft matter, and ' F 
 
 THE 
 
 THIRD PART 
 
 OF THE 
 
 IHinetal W^m, 
 
 whey cm under the Title of a (Commentary on a little 'Booh. </ Paracelfus, called, The Hea- 
 ven of Philofophers, or a Book of Vexations , the Tranfmutation of SlAetaU an 
 Taught in general ,• "ivith an Jp^endix demonjlrating their particular ^rocefs^MeltingjExplora' 
 tion^ Separation, and other yieceffary Operations. 
 
 A Preface to the Reader. 
 
 Courteous Reader, 
 
 I Will not conceal from thee the re.ifon why I have ta- 
 ken upon me in this Third Part to explain a Bcok^ 
 o/Paracelfus, calkdThe heaven of Philofophers, 
 lefi then jhanld*n- believe 1 wanted matter to write, 
 did I not encreafe my Book_ by the Writings of other men. 
 That Good which I have here decreed to write, I conld 
 have done even without the admixtion of Paracelfus'^ 
 Books, but this properly is the caufe, becaitfe Paracelfus 
 in our precedent Aoe, publiflied very many mofl elegant 
 Books for the PublickjSood, but obfcure enough, and for 
 this reafon are by the unskilful accounted falfe , and are 
 contemned ; but yet becaufe thsy arefiored with Arcana'^ 
 or Secrets, they are mofi highly to be eFteemed. Now, 
 after that I had perceived the faid Books ^0 ^f "''"', ^ did 
 very impatiently bear fuch finifter reports of this man. 
 
 as blazed him abroad for one Ignorant of all thinas, and 
 af^agabond; who in very deed had but a few Eqiuls in 
 true Genuine Philofophy, Medicine, and AJchymy. 
 
 He did many good ticfns to all, efpecially to the PooTy 
 of which many Teflimonies are extant ; and amongjt o- 
 thers, that Epitaph is to befcen, whtch is in the Uqfpital 
 of St. Sebaftian at Saltsburg, where he was buried, and 
 to which he bequeathed his Goods, andis graven in Capi^ 
 tal Letters in a Marble, and ere^ed in the Wall , the 
 'tenour whereof I my fclf have read, and is thus : Here 
 lies buried PhiUppus Anrcolus Paracelfus, a famous 
 Doftor of Medicine, who by a wonderful Art cured 
 thofe direful Difeafes, the Leprofy, Gout, Dropfy, 
 and other incurable Contagions of the Body, and 
 to his honour gave and bequeathed his Goods unto 
 the Poor. He died in the year of our Lord, 1541. 
 the 24th. of September. 
 
 K k And 
 
12^ 
 
 The Third Tan of 
 
 Part L 
 
 Arid what hafi thou mw to fay ? Had he not been fir.h 
 a one as is mentioned in the Epitafh , the Magi ftr ate 
 would not have honoured him with fo eminent an Encomi- 
 Morcover^ all prudent Lovers of Truth do to this 
 
 urn 
 
 day believe^ that he never had his equal ■ ^nd although 
 through the Envy of fome unlearned men he is dejpifed^ 
 \etit derogates nothing from him ^ for he will fiiU re- 
 
 main Paracelfus. 
 
 Jnd now , feeing that our Paracelfus hath hitherto 
 undergone fuch bit7er things^ and that none have dared 
 to open their mouths againH- thofe fanderers^ . / will at- 
 tempt the explication and illuftration of his chief eft Books, 
 and prove that he was not either a Lyer or Impoftor, but 
 
 mo ft experienced in the light of Nature ; and to this end 
 will J begin with his Heaven of Philofophers : / wiS 
 
 not avow, that he could make heaps of Gold and Silver 
 ( himfelf mentioning not any fuch things but he only dij- 
 covers the pojfibility of the thing , which even I aljo will 
 endeavour to declare^ although J am ignorant of doing it 
 in great quantities^ which thing I am not greedy after) 
 yet''tis my contentation to be capable of difcovertn^ truth 
 from falfliood, and convince fuch as are tncrcduhits^ ha- 
 ving fome hopes ^ that by this my faithful writing, an oc- 
 cafion will be adminiftred unto others of fe arching after 
 and obtaining their defired end. Amen. 
 
 eabert of tlie ^liilofopliets : 
 
 O R, 
 
 A Book of Vexations.' 
 
 By |^;)a<ppns{ ii:i)eopl)^aaa£; i^ataccifus;. 
 
 The Art and Nature of Alchymy, atid what is to be thought concerning it ; being comprehen- 
 ded in Seven undoubted 1(ules^ ref^eSling the Se^^en 'Vulgar Metals. 
 
 The PREFACE. Tteofbrafius Paracelfus to all Alchymifts and 
 
 Readers of this little Book. 
 
 BEloved and Expert of the Art of Alchymy, 
 and all ye who promife to your felves much 
 Riches and Gains of much Gold and Silver, 
 which thing Alchymy doth plentijully teach, 
 and ye (who being occupied avout thefe thi gs) would be 
 •vexed, and cannot ceafe until you have experienced what 
 it gives , and wnat promifes it performs ; verily^ daily 
 Experience teacheth-, that thjre is not one of a thoufarid 
 that becomes Maftcr of his De fire; which ^ will not call 
 the fault of the Art or Nature, but the nr.skilfulnefs of 
 the Artificer , 
 
 Wherefore I will not ftujf this littk £ooi^ 0/ Alchymy 
 roith difficult Art and tedious Labours^ as the common 
 Alchymifts are wont to do. 
 
 C K.' 5 melt it with Nitre and Tartar, of this take 
 one Lot , of Gold one Lot, of Tin three drams, of 
 Schlich one dram,of Sulphur two Lots,of Vitriol two 
 lots-.let them flow with )in a Crucible with Arfenick. 
 JBecaufe alfo all the fgns of Heaven, and the characters 
 of the Stars and I'lanets , together with their chan- 
 ged and inverted terms and names, as alfo the Receptacles 
 of the matter , and the Infiruments of Artificers are 
 iifuatly very well kliown ; It will not be needful to treat 
 of thefe things anew in this Book^-, although herein are 
 ufed thefe figns, names, and charatJers , when it fcems 
 convenient and profitable. 
 
 * Now here is delivered another Reafon of Alchymy, 
 in /even Rules, accommodated to the feven Metals , af- 
 ter an infallible manner, although in Expreffions not a- 
 dorned, but undrejjed and fimple ■• Tet, as to the fence, 
 the expreffions are ahftrufe and profound as can be ; 
 which may dcfervedly be called the Miftnfs and Summ 
 of all Alchymy •, from which even the myfteries of other 
 things may be produced^ divined, and known ^ with many 
 new Speculations, from whence new Cogitations and won-. 
 
 deroHS Operations, do ( by examining and trying ) come 
 forth to the Eight, that in many places they are even, in 
 the Examen or tryal it felf , found to contradict the 
 Pleafures of the Philofophers. 
 
 Likewife in this Art nothing is more certain, than 
 that which is le.ift apprehended and believed ; and this 
 it the only fault and caufe of all various Operations in 
 Alchymy ; whence "'tis that many fuffer lofs by their 
 own unskilfulnefs, and fo labour tn vain., either becaufe 
 there'' s more of the matter, or lefs, or equal weight, whence 
 the thing is more corrupted in operation and deftroyed; 
 or if the thing is truly lighted on, it is become more 
 exalted, and tends unto Perfection. 
 
 Far the way is ?noft eafie, but is found by but very 
 few. Ws alfo expedient , that an ingenious man con- 
 fider the Art and certain Rule of Alchymy, whether 
 he would make fomething or nothing: he ought to make 
 a nothing , that he may bring fomething unto nothing, 
 and that fomething may be again generated out of no- 
 thing ; which Saying is incredible, but yet Koft true ; 
 Corruption makes a good thing perfed : Tea, good 
 cannot appear, becaufe of his covering and hider ; irood 
 alfo is begun whilft ^tis hidden ; the hider ought to be 
 removed and deftroyed, then the good being freed , will 
 manifeftly appear tn his luftre, the Glofs : the hider or 
 covering is the Mountain, Sand, Earth, or Stone where- 
 in the Metal was generated. Now every vifible metal 
 is the obfcurer or hider of the other fix metals. 
 
 Becaufe therefore that by the Element of Fire Jmpcn 
 feCl things are corrupted, burnt up, and fublimed fuch as 
 the five metals, 1^, ¥, 5, $ , & ^ are ; but the Per- 
 feCt not at all, viz. the two moH Noble, the and the 
 ") J therefore they ought to abide even in the fire, and to af- 
 fume their body out of the other ImperftCt metals, in which 
 they are deftroyed, and to appear vifibly ; which things 
 
 how 
 
Part 1. 
 
 the Mineral Wor\^ 
 
 127 
 
 hoxp it may k done-, mid what helps arc thereto neceffary^ 
 jhallbe tMtgk in the J even Rules ^ viz. What the /htture 
 and propirty cf every metal is j what operation he hath^ 
 bein^ mixt with others ; and what he can do. 
 
 Uts alfo to be ohferved^ that thefc [even Rules cannot 
 fcrthwitb be under jlood by one that ts Jomewhat clnll,at the 
 first reading and view ^ a weak under fianding cannot com- 
 pafs hard things. Hence every ofthefe Rules wants much 
 fcarch and travel. Some are puff't up and proitd^ ["ff^fi^Z 
 themfilves well to under fi and -y and the fe things are chil- 
 dip), which arc here deh vered^ and they know far better.^ 
 and do pl.tinly contemn thefc things of mine. 
 
 (0(aiUi.3 This Preface is of it fclf perfpicuous, 
 and needs not any lingular Interpretation or Explica- 
 tion, but indeed the Procefs which he mentions re- 
 quires a more accurate Obfervation- 
 
 J aks Antimony, melt it with Tartar and Nitre, of this 
 take one lot:, of G Ad one Lot ; of Tin three drams ; of 
 Schlich one dram; of Sulphur two lots:, of yttriol two 
 lots : let themfljw with Silver in a Crucible with Arfcfnck. 
 
 This is the Procefs of making Gold and Silver, 
 which Paracelfus will not have to be accounted like 
 unto other Procefiesj of much labour and long time, 
 but is confident, that by the help hereof he can get 
 Gold and Silver with little labour, time, and coils- 
 
 'Tis not to be doubtedj but that this hath been 
 tryed by thoufands,and fruftrated the hope of fuch 
 as laboured thereabouts ; and that not without caufe, 
 they imagining that thefe are foolifn ingredients to 
 be taken for fuch work ; my felf have heard ma- 
 ny of thofe that have made trial, to be very much 
 difpleafed : By what means can gold and filver be 
 made by volatile and preying ravenous things,fuch as 
 5,Vitriol,Sulphur,&Arfenick are, which do not only 
 yield from themfelves no Gold or Silver, but even 
 corrupt them) and bring them to fume, or at the 
 leall turn them to Scoria •, my felf trying this when 
 I had Mown them altogether, I found that thefe me- 
 talline rpccies,as Schlich, Vitriol,Sulphur5andArfenick 
 did, corrupt vhe Sun and Moon, fpoiling of its metal- 
 line form, and tranfmuted it into Scria or drofs. 
 But now cnis is the thing which Paracelfus requires 
 and aims at, and therefore fhould not by any means 
 hinder or deterr us j heprefently, for the better ex- 
 plication of his meaning, adds, Something ought to 
 be made a Nothing ; and again, the Nothing to be 
 made Something; which thing nhe unskilful doth 
 rot heed or believe, chat Metals being corrupted and 
 made Scona , when by the benefit of Art they are 
 reduced, are by this means meliorated ; which al- 
 beit it be moll true, yet are they but a very few 
 (as he faithj who believe it to be true: and he con- 
 firms the vviiole procefs throughout the Chapter, even 
 to the Chapter of 5 , and explains it, faying, Cor- 
 ruption makes a goo A thing perfect. 
 
 The Good cannot appear by reafon of its cove- 
 ring. The hider or veil muft be taken away, that the 
 Good may be freed and become confpicuous ; that 
 alfo the firft covering, under which metals are hid- 
 den, and wherein they are generated, is a Mountain, 
 Sand, Stone, or Earth, all which are to be fepara- 
 ted by fullon, that the metals may become pure. 
 
 Here the Metallurgill dellfts , and is clearly i- 
 gnorantofany other covering. But Paracelfus ad- 
 deth. That each metal is a hider of the other me- 
 tals, which thing the feven Rules do largely demon- 
 ftrate, and advifeth the Chymift not to reft fatis- 
 fied, when he hath gotten from the Mines a vendi- 
 ble metal, as <?, S, ¥, fe, melted from the drofs, 
 but to confult further with natural Philofophy, and 
 
 to exarain whether or no thefe are pure enough, 
 without any adhering and deteriorating veil. 
 
 How great the dirterence is betwixt a rude and 
 a vile xMineral ("where the metal is largely difpcis'd 
 and commixt with much flony matter and other 
 impurities; and a tradable metal faithfully fcpara- 
 ted, is well known. So much, and more, is the 
 difierence betwixt a vulgar and imperfect metal, and 
 the Gold and Silver which it contains fhut up in 
 its bowels. But becaufe the melting of metals out 
 of their mines is, by reafon of its long ufe, grown 
 vile , and not efteemcd an Art, but a Trade, and 
 every where exercifed, without any ones admirati- 
 on •, yet in its beginning, before it became fo com- 
 monly known, it was worthily accompted a deep 
 Secret, although now difrefpeded. We may not 
 doubt, but that even yet another veil adheres to 
 metals, and may with as much facility be removed i 
 and its inward, pure, and fixt center, Gold and 
 Silver be melted out and feparated, if the way were 
 but known. But becaufe men do not beftow any 
 further Labour and Induftry in fearching , and the 
 ufe of vulgar metals is highly neccffary, we reft 
 contented, in tliat metals once melted from their 
 mines become malleable, and fitted for the ufe of 
 man: Nor is this unadvifedly done, for the life of 
 man can as little want Ironj ¥, 2> and Lead, as ic 
 can gold and filver. 
 
 Paracelfus teacheth. That imperfed metals are 
 corrupted and brought into a nothing, by the force 
 of fire ; which they cannot fuftainorbear ; but their 
 good parts, Gold and Silver, cannot be deftroyed- 
 but in the great ftrait and force of fire do come 
 together out of the imperfeft metals, and mutually 
 defend each other, the impure portion being burnt 
 up and removed. 
 
 Now then, that the fpecies and ingredients of 
 this procefs may be underltood, fomethingmuft be 
 mentioned by us thereabouts. 
 
 Thus then 'tis written :, R. 5 melt it with Ni- 
 tre and Tartar, of this take one lot ; 'tis to be 
 noted that you are not to take the lot of the whole 
 molten mafs, but of one of the two, either the up- 
 per part being the Scoria^ or inferiour or lower 
 being the Regidus, which this flowing mixture fends 
 downward. 
 
 But which it is , it cannot be perceived by the 
 words j yet becaufe Paracelfus^ intention here is to 
 deftroy gold and filver by the admixtion of the 
 aforefaid ingredients, and to bring them to nothing, 
 out of which nothing the deftroyed augmentation of 
 the fun may be afterwards by fome'^additamenr^ 
 obtained, in reducing it, it feems probable to think 
 that the Scona of the mixture is not to be taken, but 
 the Regitiiis^ which hath Ingrefs into Tin, Arfenick, 
 and Schlich, and unites them with gold and filver, 
 for it is the Property ofthe^e^«//«,to unite &; conjoin 
 contrary Metals and Minerals. 
 
 Tin is joined with malleable metals, and melted 
 and fuffers the fire with them,briDgs them into Sana., 
 the which thing Sulphur,Vitriol,and Schlich,alfo per-; 
 form,and are here ufed by Par.xclfus for no other end 
 than to corrupt the fun and moon, and bring them in- 
 to Scoria. But what fchiich (3»cljlitlj) this is, be- 
 caufe no proper name of Gold, ), <f j 2 , T?, or v,rs 
 added, no body can eafily tell, for this is called 
 fchlecht byChymifts and Metallurgifts when they take 
 a Mineral excellently well ground, and wafiied with 
 water, thereby feparating the mineral or the rubiflj 
 and ftoncj the heavyer, and more noble part of the 
 
 K k 2 metal, 
 
128 
 
 The Third Pan of 
 
 Pare I- 
 
 metal remaining in the bottom of tbevefTel, which 1 this QiiintelTence properly is, which Faracelfus here 
 
 examining they' thereby Conjefture the value of the 
 metal or mineral : this labour they call a bnngmg 
 into Schlnh^ or alfo Sechcrj and becaufe all metals 
 may be reduced into fchlichs or calx, this word Sch- 
 lich or Calx may fuit with all metals, or elfe it may 
 be that mofl fmall dud or powder in polilhing mills, 
 (sTljlfiff-ir.uljlfli) where various Iron Inftruments, 
 Swords, Breft-plates, and other Arms are Polifhed, 
 and which is wont to be under the grinding ftone m 
 deep euttars deftinated to that purpofe, or gathe- 
 red in'wooden velTels, and fold to fuch as dy black 
 cloaths, and is called cab; or Schlich. But now whe- 
 ther or no, he means this or the calx of any other 
 metal, it is uncertain, nor doth it much concern ; for 
 the Sun and Imay be reduced into a nothing with- 
 out anv of thefe Calces, and may be again augmen- 
 ted, and brought into fomething, as you (liall fee in 
 the following Chaptets of the Tranfmutation of 
 
 metals. 
 
 Vain was their expeftation who thought to turn 
 all thefe fpeices, thus blown together, into Gold and 
 Silver, but yet could not get any other thing than a 
 yellow, or fpadiceous Scorta contrary to their hopes 
 but the Corrufcation QWct ) is mofl: blelfed and 
 gladfome, if any one can get by redudion from ade- 
 itroyed metal brought into Scoria, a moft noble one 
 and better than heretofore it was. But thisdeftruai-- 
 on and reduftion is not uniform, but is perfefted 
 many fcveral ways as the following Chapters teach. 
 
 mentions, much might be fpoken, but 'tis not fo con- 
 venient at this time, my felf and other Philofo- 
 phers have largely treated thereof, and therefore 
 fpeak not of it now. 
 
 This only I add over and above. That Taracd- 
 fus will have the QuintelTence to be a thing not fub- 
 jed to the four Elements, but permanent and incor- 
 ruptible, whereby he gives tounderftand. That fee- 
 ing 'tis fo, that the fluidity of Mercury hath its 
 originality from the Quinteflbnce, and not elemen- 
 tary Fire, fo its coagulation is in like manner to be 
 made by the QiiinteiTence and not by the elementa- 
 ry Fires, be they hot or cold. 
 
 But now, what that Qiiintellence is, that coagu^ 
 lates Mercury, and tranfmutes him into Gold or 
 Silver, it may be eafijy conjeiftured , that it is not 
 to be fought for out of Vegetables and Animals, 
 but to be extracted out of Metals, and ought to be 
 much more pure, fixt, and meltable than they are. 
 Many are the things which Paracelfus hath writ- 
 ten of this Quintetfencc, attributing great Virtues 
 thereunto ; he that defires it, may read thereof in 
 his Writings- Likewifc many Philofophcrs affirm 
 it to be a thing reduced by the benefit of Arc 
 into the purefl- and higheft fubftance. Which 
 name of Qiiintcnence, fomc there are that attribute 
 unto that Tindlurc, wherewith perfedions are wont 
 to be made. By which it is evident, That by the 
 name of Qiiintellence is alwaies underllood the moft 
 pure, the befi:, and the moft powerful part of a 
 thing. But be, it what it will be, 'tis clear, Thac 
 Mercury is a wonderful fubjed, nor is to be coagu- 
 lated and fixed fo eafily, as many have falfly be- 
 lieved, and tryed the contrary to their great lofs. 
 
 Many are the Coals which have been vainly con- 
 fumed about his fixation , and are confumed , al- 
 though alwaies in vain ; my felf have alfo, though 
 not often, handled him with a great dealoftedi- 
 oufnefs, which although not permanently fixt, yet 
 obferving therein many fingular things , of which 
 I count it expedient to relate fomething. In him 
 is a moft great power and virtue , moft friendly to 
 Metals ^ he is eafily mixed with the pureft .Metals, 
 and moft difficultly with the impure ; which denotes 
 him to be of a moft pure nature: And now, if he 
 come to be fixed, I could demonftrate, if need were, 
 by indubitable reafons, that a thing more pure than 
 Gold would flow therefrom- It alwaies produceth 
 fomething as often as it is added to Metals , and 
 conftrained to undergo fome fire, helping them evi- 
 dently , even whilft it is in its Volatility ^ what 
 then would it do, if being therewith fixed, it were 
 along while melted with them in the Fire ? 
 This I add for the better Lights fake. 
 When I was in my youthful days, and faw ma- 
 ny attempting to fix Mercury with Gold and Silver, 
 by Amalgamation,Sublimation, Coagulation, Precipi- 
 tation, and other Labours of that kind, to tranfmute 
 it into Gold and Silver •, my felf alfo attempted 
 fomewhat about him , by the advice of ParacclfHs\ 
 Sayings, That in Saturn its Coagulation is to be 
 found. On this account I melted in a little Cru- 
 cible f> or 7 parts of Lead, and added one part of 
 Mercury -, this I put into another Crucible where Ni- 
 tre did flow, that it might be covered over thereby ; 
 in the mean while I melted the glafs of T?, fbeing 
 made ot 4 parts of Minium, and one part of Flints j 
 eflence , and therefore hath not any affinity with 1 in a greater Crucible, whereto I put the two for- 
 thefc Elementary fluxings and meltings. Now, what mer Crucibles heated to be covered by the glafs, 
 
 • 1 hefe 
 
 CljcifttttEirte* 
 
 Of the Nature and Property 0/ Mercury. 
 
 ALL things are abfconded and hidden in all things , 
 hut of all things there is one which is a covcnr 
 or hi,kr of the rr/?, and is a Corporeal Body, External, 
 rifibk, A-foieMe -• all fluxes are manifefl tn this vrjjil^ 
 for this vcfel is a Corporeal Spirit, and therefore all Coc- 
 ^ulations, and Confiflences are captivated and Jim itp 
 "therein icing overcome by its flux compaffed about and 
 firengthcncd thereby, vohat this flux is, its caufe and 
 name ivhat it is called, cannot he found ^ becaufe there 
 is no heat which may be therewith compared. The bur- 
 niniT of the Gehennal 'Fire may be likned thereunto, 
 on'which account this F Inx hath nothing at all of Com- 
 munity or J^intty with other fluxes^ which are melted 
 hy the heat of' common fire, and become hard and coa- 
 gulated by natural cold. Thefe fluxings or meltings can- 
 not thus operate with 5 , they are too roe<«^, he values 
 them not- hence "'tis to be obferved^ that the mortal 
 Virtues of the four Elements have no ingrcfive Opera- 
 tions upon the Cakfl'nl Virtues, which Virtues we alfo 
 call (hintejj'ence-, becaufe Elements cannot cither give' un- 
 to or take anv thing from this Quinreffence •, the Calefti- 
 ai&r Infernal Virtue cares not for the four Elements. 
 
 Hence note. That none of the Elements, nor any Ele- 
 mentary thing, be it dry or moift., hot or cold, none of 
 thefe can do any thing againfl that Qujntcfjentid Vir- 
 tue, but each hath its operation and efficacy fir it jelj 
 apart. 
 
 (Elaub.l In this Chapter or firft Rule of 5, Fa. 
 racelfus ul'eth fuccind' but yet perfpicuous words, 
 faying, that the fluidity of Mercury arifeth not from 
 the four corruptible Elements, but from the Qiiint- 
 
 affinity with 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Mineral Worh^ 
 
 129 
 
 Thefe three 1 again funk into a new Crucible flow- 
 ing with theglafs of T?' thinking that I fhould this 
 way keep in the volatile Gueft, having now fhut up 
 Mercury in fo many walls, I put him to the fire, in- 
 tending to fix him, and then indeed he fuftained it, 
 not being able to break through ; but increafing my 
 fire, and the Glafs melting with Nitre, away he 
 goes leaving an empty neft, and left Tj's weight 
 whole and perfect;, which having examined, it yield- 
 ed a grain of Silver heavier than the common > 
 which I believed to be Mercury fixt and coagulated? 
 but reiterating that labour, 1 found it to be other- 
 ways, VIZ.. that the Mercury was not it felf fixed, 
 but flown away , but yet by his occult power pene^ 
 trated and meliorated the lead, that it afforded a 
 little filver ; alfo the whole mafs of lead was here- 
 by made black, and hardened like tin, whereby I 
 perceived, that Mercury being a pure, meer fiery 
 fpirit, is moft impatient of the Fire, and cannot be 
 fixed without a Quinteflence. 
 
 But thus much indeed it can do, if being joined 
 with other metals, it can be fo long held, as to en- 
 dure the Fire ; although it prefently vaniflieth away, 
 it doth in a manner change them , not by bette- 
 ring them, but ftirring them up by its penetration, 
 that they may mutually zCt each upon the other, 
 and receive a meliorating faculty , although with- 
 out any great prorit, as far as I know, but I only 
 intend to difcover its pofllbility, its miraculous and 
 almoltuPiearchable power, for it may defervedly 
 be edeemed a Miracle of Nature. It is a meer in- 
 vifible Fire 5 albeit fuch as are ignorant account it 
 cold, and by Art it may be made far more fiery and 
 volatile-, which I fometimes have tryed, where be- 
 ing often injedted into a vehement fire , again and 
 again, and received in GlafTes, it h^th elevated it 
 felf without any fire, and gone away into its own 
 Chaos. In a word, many men have accomplifhed 
 prodigious things with Mercury , but all of them 
 without any fruit i of which more (hall be fpoken 
 in its place- 
 
 Of Jupiter and his Nature. 
 
 WHatfotver thing is manifeft^ (as the Body of 
 Jupiter for examfle) the fix other Corporeal 
 Metals are therein hidden fpiritually , and one more 
 frofomd and remote than another. Jupiter partakes not 
 of the qttinteffence^ but of the nature of the four Ele- 
 ments^ therefore his fluidity is manifejied by a little 
 heat of the Firey and his coagulation in like fort per-, 
 feiled by a little cold, and hath communion with the reft 
 if the metalline Fluxes. 
 
 Wherifgre by hove much one thing is in nature like to 
 mother y by fo much the readier is it united there- 
 ttnte, if they mutually touch one another j that alfo which 
 is nigh, is more efficacious and fenfible -^ for that which 
 is afar o/", doth not enforce , nor ts that which is re- 
 mote , how great foever it bcy much feared. Hence ''tis 
 that heaven is not defired, becaufe ^tis far difiant^ nor 
 feen by any one ; neither is hell feared., becaufe it is far 
 off, whofe form none hath known and feen^ nor felt the 
 Torment y and therefore "'tis valued as nothing. Thofe 
 things then t.iat are abfent, are little regarded^ or plain- 
 ly rejeHedy being conftitiited in a thick, place ^ for by 
 the property of the place every thing is deteriorated or 
 
 meliorated -J which thing may be proved by m.iiy Ex- 
 amples. 
 
 By how much therefore Jupiter is farther of from 
 <? and 9 , and nigher to tioe Sun and Moon, byfo much 
 the more Golden or Silver -lik^ ts he in his own body^ 
 and ftems more great ^ potent., pellitcidy jenfihlc, more 
 fair, pleafanty notable, palpable^ more trite and more cer- 
 tain than elongated, or at a di fiance- On the contrary ^ 
 by how much the more he is elongated, by fo much the 
 more vile and abjcEl he is in the matters aforefaid : 
 for things prefent are alwaies more notable than thofe 
 which are abfent : by how much any thing vifiAe is nea- 
 rer., by fo much a thing inVifibk is more remote. There- 
 fore it behoves the Alchymifi to ftudy how he m.ty place 
 Jupiter in a fpirit ual Arcanum and remote place^in which 
 are Sol and Luna •, and that he may take Sol and Luna 
 from far, and bring them ne.^r, into a place where Jupiter 
 extfieth corporally^fo that the Sol and Lnna may alfo be 
 corporal and truly prefent before his eyes tn the Examen- 
 For there are various labours and modes of tranf muting 
 metals from their impet feilion^ into a perfeSh flate. 
 
 To mix one with another^ and again to feparate the one 
 from the other pure and fncere,is nothing elfe but a genuine 
 permutation made by the labour of Jlchymy. Note., that 
 Jupiter hath much Goldy and not a little Silver. Put to 
 him Saturn and Luna, and the Luna will be awmentedby 
 the reft. "^ ^ 
 
 <Blaub.Il Although I do not certainly know the 
 reafon why Paracelfus beginning with Mercury, paf- 
 feth next to Jupiter ; neverchelefs it is very probable 
 that he would thereby point at fome fingular Myfle- 
 ry. Here he repeateth the former fentence , faying. 
 Every vilible metal hideth in it felf the reft invifibly, 
 from which if we would reap any good, their invifi- 
 ble and fpiritual Gold is to be taken and brought near, 
 or to be vifible :, and on the contrary, the vilible to 
 be removed afar off and made invifible. But hov/ 
 this ought to be done he doth not teach, but leaves 
 the Reader to fearch it out in his feven Canons or 
 Rules, which are very difficult to be underfliood not 
 only by a rude Tyro, but even by one well excrci- 
 fed : And feeing that not one in a thoufandur:der= 
 ftands them, it is no wonder that his Writings have 
 been had in Contempt. 
 
 Without doubt he aimed at our good,fuppofing 
 he had written very clearly, and direded his fpeech 
 in fuch a manner , as if he had to do with one 
 that is skilful in the metalline nature, without having 
 any refped to th« common blindnefs and ignorance, 
 whereby he received great thanks, and was highly 
 efteemed of by. ail- 
 But what fliall we fay or do ? 'Tis bad meeting; 
 with wicked proud men, as thou molt clearly wri- 
 teft i yet becaufe the unexercifed, if they have even 
 once erred, they wrack and abufe the Writer with 
 meer flanders : Hence it comes to pafs, that many 
 defire rather to be filent, and leave unto fools their 
 own toys and vanities: But the Cafe being with 
 more accurate examination confidered, it feemeth 
 evil to be revenged on the Innocent as well as the 
 Guilty- 
 
 As for Tin, if thou fearchefl into its nature and 
 property, it is a pure (compared with the other me- 
 tals) unripe metal, abounding with very much com- 
 buftible Sulphur, whereby it obtains its liquifadion 
 and corruption in the fire : which being removed 
 ( and it may be done with a gentle fire j it lofeth 
 its metalline fluidity, and very much refembles un- 
 raelted afhes, whereto if you add another fulphur^ 
 whereby that alhes may turn into a metal , and again 
 
 LI con-' 
 
150 
 
 The ThiYd Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 converteft it into allies, repeating this labour until all 
 its comhuftible fulphur being burnt up, it refufeth to 
 go into allies, by Calcination, and then melt it, twill 
 eafily give forth its gold and iilver in the trial 
 dm alitftfl'cn.) Now, in the being mixt with Lead, it 
 caufech a Itrife in a ftrong Fire, and getting upper- 
 moft, turns into afhes, that is to be imputed to the 
 combuftible fulphur, whereby itfo being melted with 
 Gold, Silver, Copper and Iron, it makes them brit- 
 tle like to Glafs , but being difpelled of that Sul- 
 phur, by roafting or calcining by Incineration or 
 Cementation, or' any other way, it doth not any 
 more make them brittle (which thing to do is full 
 of difficulty) but is melted with them, and moft ea- 
 lily feparated with,Venus(latt aclj fcljffcrnjfhe know- 
 ing how by her kind and flattering words to per- 
 fwade the two old men f? and ¥ , mutually to a- 
 bide each other in the fire ; Gold and Silver will 
 alfo do the fame thing ; but becaufe they are pre- 
 cious and eafily ilow out of the Crucible, and the 
 Work may perifli, it is fullicient to ufe 2 , which 
 alfo will give from it felfits own hidden Gold and 
 Silver, and not to take thefe metals which are pu- 
 rified with great labour, and drown them afrelh in 
 impure metals, and deftroy them. 
 
 There are alfo other waies of purging V , from 
 his fuperfluous fulphur, -viz.. a Nitrous fire- If fi- 
 led V, being mixt with Nitre,Sulphur-& Sawdufl:, be 
 kindled, part of the tin is elevated up into flores,and 
 a part remains reducible in a ftrong fire, which is to 
 be fo often handled the aforelaid way, till all the 
 fubftance be reduced, into flores and afhes, the me- 
 tallick form and nature being moft plainly de- 
 ftroyed •, after this, let the flores be gathered out of 
 the Receivers, and the adies elixiviated or wafhed, 
 and by the help of a good Flux be reduced into a 
 metal, which is to be again filed, fublimed , and 
 burnt, as before, until all the Tin remains like Sco- 
 ria, and will not fublime i which being melted with 
 Lead and feparated , ( uiit Bkn anitticticn tnti alitrci= 
 ten) thou fliaic find gold and filver lliut up in its 
 bowels- 
 
 Likevvife pour fixed Nitre (the liquor of it) on 
 the filings of Tin, digeft it its time, fupply the eva- 
 porating moifturd with new Liquor, that it may be 
 alwaies moift, but yet let it not be too wet, but like 
 thick water. This Liquor dilTolves and takes away 
 the combuftible fulphur of the Tin, and fixeth that 
 which is incombuftible, and makes it capable of 
 enduring the fire ; fo that being melted with Lead, 
 and purged (acnQcHm tintJ abtrcibtn) it yields its 
 gold and filver. 
 
 Another feparation is thus inftituted ; Reduce 
 Tin with common b or Re^'ul^ts, 5 j. into Glafs or 
 Amaufa, which keep a good while in Flux in a 
 ftrong fire, (forget not the inceration of Nitre or 
 fait of TartarJ by which labour the purer parts of 
 the V being gathered together, do give a Regidus^ 
 the impurer parts feparating themfelves with the 
 Lead and Salt into Scoria, th& Keoulus being purged 
 (abffctirliftO thou (halt have the fixed gold and fil- 
 ver in the Cupel. 
 
 But 'tis to be known, that thefe Operations may 
 be done without Copper, but yet will yield more 
 © and > if Copper be added ; not only for that the 
 S it felf gives forth its © and >, but becaufe Tin 
 of it felf, without the admixtion of S , doth not 
 willingly let go its own © and ) . But in feeking 
 of ftielter amongft its own 9 , and withdrawing it 
 felf to the 6Vor;V,is there hidden (the Labour be- 
 
 ing finifhed^ the Scoria can no more attrafl; it into 
 it felf. 
 
 2 therefore is as it were a Receptacle , wherein 
 the Sun and Moon colle<fted and leparated outofthe 
 mafs, can defend and hide it felf, and is by Chy-, 
 mifts called a Bath or Balneum. 
 
 In the 4th. Chapter, which treats of 25a more 
 large account is given of this labour of metalline 
 Glafs. Moreover gold and filver may be feparated 
 out of tin in this wife. 
 
 Melt common Lead in a Teft ( tnib fcfierbnt ) un- 
 der a Muffle ( EcnmufEcl ) and being throughly hot, 
 caft in a little V, and it will incontinently have In- 
 grefs, but will forthwith afcend and kindle like bur= 
 ning fparks and go into afhes ; which muft be taken 
 oiF with a crooked Inftrument , and more new 
 Tin put in i which being burnt, let it be taken out. 
 Repeat this labour fo long, till all the Lead be devou- 
 red as it were by the Tin. 
 
 Put thefe allies on a Teft, under a Muffle, and let 
 them be yet well heated by the fire for an hour ; 
 fo that if any grains of h remain, they may be 
 made afhes, and the calcined allies of the tin may 
 be the better fixed. Reduce thefe afhes, and 'twill 
 become a metal, which let be again made afhes up- 
 on a Teft ; repeat this labour, until in redudlion ic 
 refufeth to go into a metal, but remains a Sci^na 
 and a metal deftroyed -, which put into an excellent 
 Crucible, and by a Flux made of Tartar and Ni= 
 tre, let it melt its due time, and the fixed Tin, to- 
 gether with part of the Lead , will go to the bot= 
 tom into a Re^gulus ^ which being wafhed (abgttrirbf n) 
 makes manifeft the gold and filver hid in the Tin 
 on the Teft. This Labour is neat, eafie, and but of 
 fmall charge, efpecially where wood and coals are 
 cheap, the 5cor/4, from which the RegHms 'i:, fepa- 
 rated, is not to be thrown away, but kept for other 
 ufes, of which we (hall prefently fpeak. 
 
 Now he that promifeth Gain unto himfelf from 
 this fmall work on a Teft, is deceived, becaufe 
 hereby is only found how much ® and > is con- 
 tained in an hundred weight ofV, and what cofts 
 are expended in its melting, whereby may be com- 
 puted what gains may be expeifted every day, nor in- 
 deed is this work ( thus done under a muffle ) fo 
 profitably accomplilhed, as 'tis in greater Furnaces, 
 where being a greater heat of fire, a more plentiful 
 gain is promifed. And although becaufe of many 
 various Imployments my felf never tryed,yetl wiU 
 briefly delineate and defcribe how a large Return 
 may be made, according to Calculation, computed by 
 a fmaller quantity. 
 
 An hundred of Tin requires 10 or 12 C. of "h % 
 Tthe work being wifely handled j the price of the 
 Lead, ¥, Coals and Labour, being fuipmed up, and 
 being fubftraded from the ®, there feems to 
 remain but a very little to defray the charges. But 
 if you look thereinto a little more narrowly , you 
 will find a recompence and benefit arifing thence,not 
 to be defpifed, efpecially if you ufe Lead impregnated 
 with >, which by reafon of not confidering the be- 
 nefit and gain, remains unfeparated therefrom. Like- 
 wife you may ufe a golden V, fuch being often found 
 as contains as much © as the ¥ cofts ■■, and you may 
 alfo meet with ^, which contains as much > as 
 the Lead is worth, but not feparated by the Refiners, 
 becaufe they are ignorant of this feparation, which 
 by the ufual way cannot be feparated with pro- 
 fit : and that your Labour may be the more bene-: 
 ficial, you may add to your V lome golden or filver 
 
 Hones 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Mineral Wor}\. 
 
 131 
 
 ftonesand minerals, as Marcafites, 8, Arfenick, Au- 
 ripigment.Cobolt, and various Pyrites or Kilij (which 
 becaufe of the fmall quantity of their included 0, are 
 liever wont to be melted) & let them be/to>7^e^,whicli 
 yieldina alfo their gold and filverido bring in a greater 
 pro'iti Sutefpecially if thcfe Minerals having beenfirft 
 tneltea with Copper, are by the benefit of Iron Tor 
 melted with Iron) brought into Rigiilus^ and their 
 Gold reduced to a narrow compafs, which Regulus 
 being thrown into the Lead, together with the Tin, 
 Jet be made into Scria^ and then their © is gotten 
 without much charge, and is depurated by the Tin. 
 But now, if you would have this reparation profi- 
 table, it is not to be done in Crucibles, but in well 
 compaft Furnaces or Hearths, whereon the bright 
 flames running, let your metals be throughly heat- 
 ed or calcined, and your Calcination, Incii.erati6n,or 
 Annihilation being accompliflied, let Rcdudion be 
 made in an acute Furnace, fnn »>tirljofett,) of which 
 thing my time permits me not to give any larger 
 account •, its fuiF.cient to have experienced the truth 
 thereof in a leller quantity *, any one may try his 
 fortune in Metallick Operations. 
 
 Now, although there are more waies of feparating 
 and i from ¥, yet what I have already declared 
 feems fufficient for this time , the following Chap- 
 ters, wherein the nature of the other metals is trea- 
 ted of, will manifeftly open what 1 have decreed to 
 difcover concerning them- 
 
 Of Mars and his Property. 
 
 THi fix hid Mitals have thruji out-, or expelled the 
 fevtnth from them , and made him Corporeal^ 
 having H'ito him lorvefi Dignity^ and imf^fmg on him 
 the im^ thtck^hardnefs and labour. In this body have 
 they manifefted their whole ftrength , and hardnefs of 
 Coajnlatton to be^ fhutting up, or keeping inward^ their 
 Colours and Nobility^ with their fluidity. Tis hard 
 and full of Labour , to make a Pnnce or King of a 
 Pe.ifanty or common Fellow : But ^ by his f^ertue^ obi 
 tains Honour^ and gets up into the high Throne of the 
 KiniT : But ^tis expedient^ that care be ufed, leaft h.t- 
 flih pofim/ forward , he be tak-n. It is to be confi- 
 deredby what Art (? tnxy be promoted to the Throne-^ 
 but the 4v^ y put in the place of ^ with T7 • 
 
 (BlaubJ We are come now to M^irs in order, it 
 being the 3^. according to the Compute alfo of the 
 Aftonomers, defcending from above. Now Paracel- 
 fus doth not attribute the firft place to ^, as the 
 Allronomcrs do, but to 5 ; and haply, not without 
 great Caufe, hinting hereby fome lingular thing. 
 He goes on, and fays Mars is rude, fharp, and thick, 
 becaufe the other Metals have call out their moft 
 ignoble, and bafefl: part upon him, which thing ex- 
 perience teftifies : He is compofed of -bard knotty 
 Timber, and hath in him but little good ; he is fharp 
 and churliih, and not at all to be compared to gentle, 
 tender, ai'd noble v •, but if he be once freed from 
 his knotcinefs, which is hard to do, and render'd 
 tradable, he fiiews his Virtue, and difcovers him- 
 felf alfo to be a partaker of the Royal Blood. Pa- 
 racelfus adds, than fj can take away his knots, and 
 elevate him to an higher degree, although the Aftro: 
 nomers are very much difpleas'd with the Conjun- 
 ftion of thefe two, as being the Author of all evil, 
 and have therefore inferted peace-making, and be- 
 
 nign Jupiter in the middle. Now that Lame Satur^t 
 may polifh and make crabbed c? fmooth , P.tracetfus 
 tells you that there's need of Caution, left by over 
 haftinefs, he bring lofs upon himfelf. He Itoutly 
 refifts, nor doth he eafily yield, but rather bufily 
 contrives how to captivate and deftioy others ; yen 
 Paracelfus mentions its poffibilityi whofe Reafous, 
 Way, or Manner , w^ will briefly illullrate. ^ in- 
 deed is by Birth, fitted to wafh the other imperfed: 
 Metals, and to purge them from their fuperfluous 
 Sulphur , if any good doth accidentally adhere un- 
 to them, but knows not how to remove their radi- 
 cal, and innate Impurity ; and that it is not alone 
 fuflicient for this thing , the trial of the Telt vvit- 
 nefleth \ for although you add Iron to t? , to be 
 feparated upon the Cupel ; ( S[lig£!)fU i-offcu ) yet 
 hath it no fincere ingrefs into T? ^ but if it be fo 
 far brought by great labour, it doth not remain, 
 but fpeedily feparates to the Superficies, like Sco- 
 ria-, and leaves nothing with the Lead , but what 
 was accidentally in it, himfelf withdrawing with his 
 whole power, and native goodnefs ; Tin alfo doth 
 the fame , but Copper albeit it fwims not upon 
 the Lead, nor goes away, yet it is not therewith ra= 
 dically joined , but being reduced with the Lead, 
 into Liquable Scoria^ defcends into the porous Aihe?, 
 of which we have accurately treated in the Fourth 
 Part of our Furnaces, and in the Appendix. 
 
 Lead is not therefore the true walhing of Me- 
 tals, but that it may fo become , *us clear tiiat it 
 muft be aptly prepared ; and if you do more exad= 
 ly contemplate on the thing, you'll find it very ra- 
 tional •, for by what means can T? the (molt liqua= 
 ble of all the Metals, freely copulate with cf , which 
 is the hardelt : Indeed 'tis true, that they enter 
 each into the other by mutual fufion-, but 'tis forced- 
 ly and fuperficially, not radically ; as if one boils 
 Water, mixt with Meal, into a Pulfe^ the Wa- 
 ter thickens, the Flour moiftens ; yet neither 
 entring into the other , radically ■., but the Water 
 getting into the Pores of the Meal , or Flour, 
 makes it Pap : In the fame manner is it with t? 
 and (?, they are indeed mixt; but cannot equally 
 fuftain the violence of the Fire. $ doth not al- 
 ter his 'breeding or wit ; but in the melting toge- 
 ther, remain an hard, and not eafily melted Metal ; 
 nor is the humidity and liquability of the Lead here- 
 by correfled \ for although they are become one 
 Mafs, yet each keeps his old Condition: but if 
 they are fo order'd, that both of them may under- 
 goe the fame Fire ; then the Iron will yield, and de- 
 liver his Gold unto the Lead, and his warm Vola- 
 tile Sulphur maturates the Silver, lying hid in the 
 Lead ; exalts it, and makes it corporeal, that each 
 beftows on the other , his Goodnefs and Virtue i 
 each fupplies the others defeds, and both are per- 
 fected ; for although hard crabbed c? be made 
 flow with liquid and combnftible Sulphur, or a 
 Sulphureous Mineral, as 5 , Jrjenuk., or Juripig.. 
 ment ; yet is not any tranfmutation made, each re= 
 maining in his own Nature, without alteration ; like 
 as 5 being reduced into anA>nalgama, with ® or 
 >, makes no folution, only adheres unto the Gold, 
 and ealily feparates therefrom , leaving the Gold 
 to hhnfelf : But if any one know how to conjoin, 
 © and > with Mercury radically, they would nor 
 forfake one the other •, but would perfeLl: thera- 
 felves mutally in a ftrong Fire ; fo would the other 
 Metals too, were they but radically commixt. Some 
 one may ask, what is this radical or fpiritual CDm- 
 
 Ll 2 mixtioo 
 
13^ 
 
 The Third Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 mixtion of the Metals, and what I underftand there- 
 by ? for Anfwer, They are to be fo united with an 
 implanted Love, that they freely join together, and 
 fo remain equally, enduring profperity and adverfity ; 
 and neither of them difcernible from the other, 
 that they penetrate the fhut Gates, and thick Walls, 
 without any obftade $ that the Volatile exhales 
 not in the Fire : that which is liquable, feparates 
 not from what is illiquable -, thereby penetrating 
 the Vellel , leaving behind it,, the more fixt , or 
 rougher part, in the form of .Scon^ : But thou 
 maylt demand by what means I fpiritualize the Me- 
 tals, and radically conjoin them ', what, mull they 
 firft be dillblved in ^fia fvrtis^ or other corrofive 
 Spirits, and be diftilled by an Jkn.iick y that 
 they may become Volatile ? No, 1 mean not any 
 of this ; this kind of fpiritualization is a meer de- 
 ceitful, and cheating Labour, hindering many thou^ 
 fands, which otherwife would be nigher to the 
 Truth : All the Philofophers difTwade you there- 
 from, that you do not torment the Metals with 
 Iharp fpirits, whereby inftead of being perfefted, 
 they are corrupted and mortify ed radically. Tis 
 madnefs to pour more Water into any one that is 
 fufFocated with Water, thereby to reftore him to 
 Life ; this is ro put the Bridle on the Horfe's Tail- 
 Now 'tis evident, that the fuperfluity in imperfeft 
 Metals , is their combuflible and corrofive Sulphur ■, 
 and by how much , the more imperfed and bafe 
 they are, fo much the more of a combuftible Suh 
 phur do they polTefs : an evident Tcftimony, of 
 which we have in Iron, or <J : 'Tis only his acid 
 Sulphur that deprives him of every degree of dig- 
 nity, which grofs, acid , and vitriolated Sulphur, 
 did he not fo much abound withal , he would not 
 contrad Ruft fo ealily ; and by the attradive Moi- 
 fture be fo foon corrupted : and were he not fo 
 quickly rufty, he would be put to better ufes, than 
 now he is- But you may objecft, that you cannot 
 conceive, how he can have fuch a corrofive Sul- 
 phur , whence fliould it happen to him , for the 
 Mineral, and Stones, whence he is extrafted , do 
 not appear to be impregnated with fuch a Sul- 
 phur ; whence comes it therefore to be in him ? 
 Befides, if the Mineral did partake of fuch a Sul- 
 phur, furely it would never abide a Fire fo vio- 
 lent, but it would be driven away. 
 
 My Friend, thou dolt not at all underftand the Na- 
 ture of Metals, and for what end it was, that Nature 
 left fuch a Sulphur in Iron, and the other imperfed 
 Metals ; for it is a Nutriment unto their better Parts, 
 being like an Embryo, and as it were, a Covering or 
 a Matrix , in which a noble Child is maturated, 
 and is (after the ripenefs of the pure Metal) thence 
 excluded. For Natures intention was not, that Iron 
 fhould be but Iron, but rather Gold ; but the dig- 
 ger not willing to wait fo long, and knowing the 
 manifold ufes of Iron , allows not time for it to 
 become Gold, juft like the Filher-man (who catch- 
 ing a very fmall Filh, and the Fifh defiring to re- 
 turn into the Water, until being grown bigger, 
 he might the better fill the Platter) faid, nay, but 
 I will hold thee, as thou art, for 'tis uncertain, 
 whether or no, being grown bigger, thou mayft 
 then be found. Juft thus doth the Miner do, he 
 waits not the Irons becoming Gold, but puts it to 
 its prefent ufe. 
 
 'Tis commonly known, that there is abundance 
 of corrofive Sale therein, which is not combuftible 
 in melting Fire , neither needs it any further de- 
 
 monftration ; it having been alfo treated of in the 
 Annotations of my Appendix : and that thou mayft fee 
 that a Metal can preferve, and keep its volatile 
 combuftible Sulphur in a melting Furnace, I will 
 expound it fomewhat clearer t Gold having already 
 obtained its perfedioii (it being a mature produft^ 
 Nature hath feparated this combuftible Sulphur, 
 or acid volatile Salt therefrom ; becaufe it needs 
 it not for any further nutriment •" neither would 
 it hold it, if it fhould be put unto it, but thrufts 
 it from it in the Fire, and hath no affinity there- 
 with, as the other imperfecft Metals have. 
 
 Now Luna although it be not focompleatly per- 
 kCt as Sul ; yet , 'tis more perfeft than the o- 
 thers, and hath notwithftanding, a Commerce with 
 this fulphureous Salt ; yea, fo as to hold common 
 Sulphur a very long while in a great heat, which 
 we fhall declare anon in the feparation of Metals ; 
 and if > r which is almoft a ripe Metal ) doth 
 thus , queftionlefs the other niore imperfed; ones 
 will do it more willingly ; which thing , that you 
 may be the more alTured of, incorporate a fulphu- 
 reous Salt with any Metal, and continue it in a 
 great heat ; and after a few hours you fhall fee 
 that your Metal will hold that Sulphur, and de- 
 fend it againft the force of Firej but if a Me» 
 tal be in fome fort freed from this fulphureous Sals 
 by a melting Fire, it doth again receive and hold 
 it •, Will it not therefore hold its own, wherein ie 
 was born and from whence it came forth, cf excells 
 them all as to this, being not only a friend to ful- 
 phureous and corrofive Salts , but alfo to Vrinous 
 which (when it cannot have acid falts) it doth by a 
 magnetick power a ttraft and defend thefe inthefire. 
 For example ; mix the filings of <? with Nitre and 
 fait of Tartar , and thefe falts, in a melting Fire, 
 will be fixed with tf , and refifts the Fire. Which 
 thing is moft worthy obfervation, and by no means 
 to be negleded- 
 
 But to return to my former purpofeof demonftra- 
 ting, that Imperfeft Metals are not only, not bettered 
 by corrofive falts and fpirits, but are rather corrup- 
 ted : Daily experience doth prove it before the eyes, 
 that all fuch as have ufed corrofive fpirits in their 
 bettering of metals, have done no good at all there- 
 with, but have, to their hurt, loft both their time and 
 labour : whereas thofe that have ufed other fnem 
 jlruums that are not corrofive, have profited more 
 therefrom,and have feen more than they have fought j 
 fuch as thofe are in a way tending to dilFolve metals 
 without corrofives '■, to make them fpiritual, and ra- 
 dically to unite them, that they may mutually a^l in, 
 and fuftain or undergo the Fire alike, and may co-o- 
 perate to purity and perfedion , and may ennoble 
 themfelves. Of which Spiritiializ.ation more fhall be 
 fpoken in the Sixth Chapter, where ParMclfus alfo 
 treats thereof. This therefore do I affirm of jf ,thac 
 he muft be handled with fuch menftrmms as are nqc 
 only not corrofive, but contrary to Corrofives , and 
 fuch as mollify and feparate thofe Corrofives which 
 the Metals hold in fufion, thatfo for the timeto come 
 they may attrad no more any moifture, and thereby 
 contrad Ruft, and be corrupted ; but may be rather 
 able to preferve and defend themfelves againft Corro- 
 fives and combuftible Sulphur- But let none think, 
 that (J being by this Antidote freed from its thick, 
 earthy, and combuftible, and corrofive fulphur, will 
 I be wholly turned into (f, for 'tis the fmalleft pare 
 I of <S that is good : by how much the © is more no^ 
 ble than common ^, by fo much is the ^, from 
 I whence 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Mineral Wor\ 
 
 m 
 
 whence the Sol is feparated more vild than other 
 Iron, and the remainder is nothing elfe but a molt 
 vild Earth or Scoria^ void of all metallick fufion- 
 The milk of a Cow or another Animal, if unmixt 
 with water , is good milk ; but yet 'tis far inferiour 
 in goodnefs to pure,good, well- wrought Butter ; and 
 by how much milk is more vild than butter, by fo 
 much is the whey and acid milk from whence the 
 Cream is feparated, more vild than that which is 
 fvveet and abounds with Cream- If generous wine 
 befpoiled of its fpirit mofl fweetand mofl;excellent)by 
 the benefit of Dellillation, one part of that is better 
 than 12 parts of wine out of which it was extradt 
 ed ^ the remainder cannot be wine any more , but 
 is much inferiour to good wine, as wine is to the 
 fpirit. 
 
 The like is it with Metals, which being depri- 
 ved of their foul, whereby they obtained a metallick 
 form,they can no more be malleable Metals. There- 
 tore 'tis good to confider whether or no in the fe- 
 paration of © out of the Imperfed: metals, it will 
 be anfwerable ( in value ) to the metal, and other 
 Expences necelfary about extraifting it ; but now, if 
 you know how to apply the refidue of the Metal to 
 other ufes, you may with the more confidence at- 
 tempt the reparation. But to return to the words of 
 Paracelfns^ 1 will fhcw how c? may, through ij's 
 help, arrive to a Kingly dignity. I have before 
 faid, that there is no familiarity between rhe moft 
 fufile and molt hard metal, but the one will be gone 
 away in fume before the other will melt, and that 
 we cannot wanr h in the reparation of <f j but how it 
 is to be handled, I will briefly explain. 
 
 Saturn of himfelfis liquable and volatile, but yet 
 can be made ilUquable and fixt without detriment of 
 the Radical Moiiture or Metallick Nature ^ fo as to 
 undergo the fame Fire with c?, and being brought 
 to this pafs, it is then fit for the feparation of <?. 
 'Tis many waies made illiqiiable (l^actfludijj j but 
 the belt way is by fixed Salts, of a contrary nature to 
 the fupcrrtiious Sulphur in;?, and excellently well fepa- 
 rated from the Result made of ^ ; for Nitre and 
 Salt of Tartar do not only harden T? ,Ibut unite other 
 metals with him, making them fpiritual , and molt 
 like to tranfparent , foluble Glafs, the which having 
 fultained the Fire their proper time, the Agent be- 
 ing taken away, and the Patient fufficiently purged, 
 the pcreft part of the Metals, thus fpiritually mixt 
 together, doth by the force of Tj feparate from the 
 other unprofitable part. The Re£ulits is purged ea- 
 fily, fo that there's no need of feparating the whole 
 Mafs by precipitation and reducing it into ReguU j 
 but tj by his innate force, doth in its due time fi- 
 nilhthe feparation or precipitation of the pure from 
 the impure, of metals thus fpiritually commixt and 
 united- This is enough fpoken concerning the way 
 of feparating gold out of J, by T?, -viz.. T? being 
 firll fixed by falts, and made hard to melt, fo as 
 to endure the fame force of Fire with <?, or other- 
 wife 'twill be impoHible to have any thing from <? 
 by the ufual way of the Refiners , by the help of 
 fcorifying with b (mit anficDcn) and feparation 
 (abtrcibcn) which even as ¥ alfo doth not ftay with 
 common Lead in a ftrong fire, but feparate themfelves 
 and go into Scona ; the which we have alfo hinted 
 in the Firft Part of this little Book, whereto we re- 
 ferr the Reader. This feparation of ® out of cf , 
 may be done with Regidus oi Z> and Nitre, and in 
 fome manner better than with common Lead , but 
 that I do not deliver the whole Procefs from top 
 
 to bottom, let no body wonder thereat, for then the 
 Book would grow to too great a bulk, and I fhould 
 not receive any reward the more from the Unthank- 
 ful : Let itfuffice, that I have declared the manner 
 and the Species wherewith 'tis to be done ; for 'tis 
 for the fake of fuch Chymilts as are mofl exp:rt in 
 the Fire and Metalline Works that I write, and not 
 for the common Deflillers of Waters. And as 
 touching what may tend to illuftrate v/hat is faid, ic 
 fhall be fupplyed with fome ProcelFes at the end of 
 the feven Rules. 
 
 Whereas I have attributed to c? in the Firft Part 
 of this Treatife and elfewhere, that he doth not 
 only unwillingly deliver his own gold , but alfo if 
 any be either accidentally, or of fetp.u'pofe, added 
 thereto, he fwallows it up and hides it, and will not 
 rellore it without detriment and lofs. Some body 
 may admire how it's pofilble for tobedonefoeafily 
 by 1} and Salts ; let him know that this Extraction 
 of © one of c? is not any the common Examcn or 
 Trial, (abtrn'hca J bat a true and Philofophical fepa- 
 ration (^rtgccimjl)) wherewith S being well diiToI- 
 ved, is molt throughly feparated from his thick and 
 hard body, concerning which, I never met with any 
 full pregnant Procefles any where. And albeit that £ 
 am not ignorant that many, yea moft that read, will 
 not have any higher thought or conlideration , yet 
 I fay that there is fomething elfe hereunder ; and 
 do believe, that it is to be eileemed far more ex- 
 cellent than Sol it felf ; whicn that thou maift not 
 overmuch trouble thy head about. I will not be 
 fhy in communicating it alfo unto thee. vz.. Out of 
 Iron is prepared a Salt without any corrofive, which 
 is able to extract the foul from Gold, that it will 
 remain half dead. But c? will be impregnated as 
 it were divinely, fo as to be able to give forth a 
 golden Child : the debilitated Gold will recover its 
 loft Colour and Virtue by 2 and 5. Other Philo- 
 fophers have likewife made mention hereof, -^'/z.. that 
 i will not fpare even the King, out of whofe bowels 
 he will Ileal Freafures, and will not bludi to adorn 
 hirafelf with the fame. Concerning which Secret the 
 moll famous Sandivow wrote on this wife. " The 
 " Chymifls know how to change Iron into Copper or 
 " 2 , without the Sun : They likewife know how to 
 "make 5 out of ¥ : Others there are that can make 
 '' > out of T} ; bat if they ki.whow to adminiller 
 " the Solar Nature to thefe matations, queftionlefs 
 "they would find a thing more precious than any 
 " Treafjre. On which account I fay, that we mull 
 '' not be ignorant of what metals are to be conjoined 
 ''one with the other, and whofe nature of them 
 " correfponds to Nature. There is therefore given 
 '' one metal, which hath a power to confume the 
 " other metals, for it is as it were almoll their was 
 " ter and their mother;, one thing there is thaton- 
 '' ly refills it,^nd is bettered thereby, Wz.. the ^«/«»- 
 " dnm Radicale of the Sun and Moon ; but that I 
 '' may difcover it, 'tis called Chaljbs. 
 
 Thus you fee, that from (? alfo fome good is to 
 be gotten, although all fpeak ill of him ^ and in- 
 deed he is wicked if he gets polfenion : Nor will he 
 fpare the highefl Powers, from whom he will forci- 
 bly wrefl their hidden freafures, but yet by Com- 
 merce with 2 he will again repay it in time to be 
 diflributed amongll the fubjefts^ although the king 
 being robb'd of his goods, looks pale upon it, yet he 
 lays not down his Life , and he remaining alive, 
 there is no caufe of complaining, for as long as the 
 Riches are not exported , but remain in the King- 
 
 M m dom. 
 
m ^ 
 
 dom, diftributed amongfl: the fubjefts, he is able to 
 receive his former majefty and fplendor from his Re- 
 vemies, and to gather new Riches, and preferve his 
 kinsly dignity whole and found. 
 
 Here I forefee that our common Know-littles, in 
 the light of Nature, will traduce me, as if I enter- 
 pret Sandi-voxv^s Chalyis to be common S , and fay 
 that 'tis not to be underftood according to the Letter, 
 but the Author would hint fomewhat elfe there- 
 by \ but 'tis no matter, what I have written, I have 
 written, and that not without caufe. I am not igno- 
 rant, that he means not comnaon Iron no more than I, 
 but his inmoll Magnetick force and power, or ef- 
 fence, prepared without corrofive, and known to few, 
 which doth mofl: greedily extraft and tranfmute the 
 foul of Gold above all other things- And herewith 
 we will reft and ceafe- 
 
 The Third Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Of the Nature of 2. 
 
 TH E other Six Metals have in fi framed all their 
 colours^ and the medium of their Flux (with in- 
 confiancy) into an External body. It would be there- 
 fore profitable to hint to the underftanding by fome exam- 
 ties by what means the vifble may by the benefit of 
 Fire be made invtfible-, and this agam ?nade vifihle and 
 m.^teriat. M combiifiible things may naturally be chan- 
 (red in the Fire, out of one form into another, as into a 
 "Cor.ly Soot,Jfhcs,CUjSy Colours, Stones, Earth, but the 
 Earth is reduced intofundry metalUtl^ bodies ; and if a 
 metal comluft rr corrupted with old age^ is thereby be- 
 come unmalteablej>ar-p, and brittle, let n well flow, and 
 ''twill a<rain become malleable. 
 
 (iPIaulun Although that 2 being malleable more 
 than all the metals, in and out of the Fire, is fit for 
 all Operations, yet even this is not void of a com- 
 buftible fulphur, but is radically polluted therewith, 
 fo that it will moft eafily, of it felf, without addi- 
 tion of any other fulphur, be reduced into Scoria, 
 and be corrupted, which corruption is occafioned 
 by the muchnefs of its combuftible fulphur ', Gold 
 and Silver being void of that Sulphur, are not fub- 
 jed to deftruftion. So that, although they undergo 
 the Fire a moft long feafon , yet go they not into 
 Scoria like the other imperfedl bodies ; and for the 
 reducing of them into allies , combuftible fulphur 
 muft be added ; whereas the imperfett metals too 
 much abounding with the fame, are changed by a 
 moft light heat into Afhes, Powder, or 5c-&rw,which 
 Sccria''s are melted into either tranfparentordarkifh 
 tinned Glafs, according to the nature of the metal; 
 which GlalTes may be melted into malleable Metal, 
 and again into Alhcs and Glafs , as you pleafe, but 
 alwaies with fome lofs, by reafon of fome combuft 
 parts irreducible into metal, the metal alfo remain- 
 ing, as it was at firft, without being any thing bet- 
 tered. , . ,1 ., 
 He who knows how to melt Metals into pellucid 
 Glafs, by the addition not of metallick things, but 
 of fuch things as have affinity with the metals , as 
 Salts, Sand, or Stones, Ihall in reducing them , al- 
 waies find his metal better than it was in the be- 
 ginning : And that the Reader, for whofe fake I have 
 written thefe things, may the more throughly un- 
 derftand my mind, I will explain it fomewhat more 
 clearly. Paracelfus hath above affirmed, That eve- 
 
 ry vifible metal is an hider of the other metals ly- 
 ing hid inviiibly therein , and that the hider is to 
 be removed, if you would that thofe vifible metals 
 become vifible and corporeal, which being moft 
 truly fpoken, I know not what light it may be il- 
 luftrated withal. The words alfo are fuccind and 
 eafie to be underftood, yet nobody believes them -, 
 There's fcarce one amongft an hundred that con- 
 ceives what they tend unto. Metals cannot be chan- 
 ged without putting ojf their nietallme form ; for if you 
 keep them along time in Flux , by tbemfelves, or 
 joined with others, if they remain in their Corpora- 
 lity, they cannot help each the other, but being de- 
 ftroyed either by themfelves, or joined with other 
 Metals, and nourifhed in the fire their due time, ic 
 cannot otherwife be, but that they fliould be bet- 
 tered , for fo long as it retains its metalline form, ic 
 cannot be holpen. 'Tis neceflary that a hard body 
 be broken and annihilated, before there can be made 
 a feparation of the pure from the impure- 
 
 But this is to be done by a genuine Chymical 
 manner, and they are to be difiblved and through- 
 ly opened, with things of affinity with them, where- 
 by the purer parts may be united, and the more grofs 
 may be feparated. If a metal be forced with a moft 
 vehement Fire, its parts do firmly hold together j 
 for if it be fixt, then the parts abide in the Fire ; 
 but if volatile, then the parts thereof fly away to- 
 gether, their natural bond holds them together, de- 
 fending them againft the Fires power , but dilfolve 
 their bond, and then they are compelled to fubmitto 
 FidcarPs Force and Empire, and will let you make of 
 them what you pleafe- It may well ihame theChy- 
 mifts to work fo difagreeably with Nature , and 
 may well learn by the Husbandman's labours to fend 
 for Nature's help. The Husbandman therefore, • 
 when he fows his feed, to have a good Crop there- 
 from, he cafts not his grain upon any fort of earth> 
 without confideration, but chufeth fuch earth for 
 each proper feed, as being well dung'd, may fuit 
 beft therewith, and in a convenient feafon fows his 
 grain, that it, being putrefied and annihilated, may be 
 multiplied, he leaves it to the warmth of the Sun, 
 and to the vivifying Rain to concod and maturate it; 
 well knowing, that without precedent putrefadion 
 and lofs of its form, it cannot be multiplied. He 
 likewife knows , that when it hath arrived to its ma- 
 turity it muft not be left in the Field, but muft be 
 reaped , and then the better and more heavy part is 
 to be fanned and feparated from the lighter and wor- 
 fer part, I'lz.. the Chaff; the which operation is, 
 by Experience and long life, known to be good and 
 needful. This Procefs muft a Chymift obferve, for 
 one Metal may be made the field of another, wherein 
 putrefying, it may get it felf a new body , which 
 being done, he muft likewife know how to feparate 
 the new body from the f-xces, from which 'tis ga- 
 thered and made •, and how to fan Vukan like the beft 
 and moft ponderous, from the lighteft, for both of 
 them will be made better by the foregoing prepara- 
 tion, and the annihilation of the bodies. When a 
 Country-woman intends to feparate the better pare 
 of the Milk from the more grofs and cheefy part, 
 (lie puts it in a quiet warm place, that the beft 
 part may rife up, and the worft part go down ; the 
 which being as yet not fufficiently purified, flie adds 
 her art, and puts it into a Churn, and doth fo long 
 ftir or agitate it until another feparation be made 
 of the pure from the impure, which we call B'ltnr-, 
 which notwithftanding , had it lain never fo long 
 
 by 
 
Part 1. 
 
 the Mineral Wor\. 
 
 195 
 
 by it felf, had never come to have been Butter,with- 
 out the Hand and Art of the Country-woman. Who 
 would believe that in Milk there lies Butter, if he 
 did not daily fee it ? This feparation of the But- 
 ter from the watcrilhnefs, proceeds from the quick 
 fhaking and agitation, whereby the Milk heats ; and 
 if ic doth not fadge, then do they put thereto fonie 
 warm moifture, which uniting it felf with the moi- 
 Iture of the Milk promotes a feparation , for heat 
 alone is the meer caufe of haftening the fcpara= 
 tion- This now may fcem a grofs Example to the 
 Ignorant, but let none imagine that this feparation 
 of the Butter from the Milk is alledged in vain, 
 but rather to fliow the way how out of impcrfeft 
 Minerals the golden and filver milk or part, is to be 
 fcparated by the accefs or addition of a warm Mi- 
 neral water, and by the Fires agitation : Even as warm 
 Water helps the moifture of the Milk, that fo it doth 
 the eafier feparate its own heterogeneous Butter ( and 
 yet the way of feparating the Butter from the Milk, 
 without agitation, by the afiufion of a warm thing 
 andcodtion, is not unknown;) fo alfo the Metals are 
 feparated , if they are along time boiled with their 
 own Water- 
 Now, becaufe of themfelves they arc compad bo- 
 dies, if yon keep them in Flux a long feafon, they 
 remain compacft, and are not able by their own po- 
 wer to (liew forth their Good or Evil, nor make it 
 appear, whether or no they contain Gold or Silver : 
 They are to be a long time boil'd with Water, that 
 being difperfed, they may be tranllated out of their 
 metalline nature, and the pure Tby the agitation of 
 the Fire) may be fcparated from the impure ; which 
 purer part of the metal doth not fwim at the top, like 
 Butter, but fettles to the bottom like a Regnlns, after 
 the metallick manner, and all being cool, it muft be 
 feparated from the Scoria^ and in a Cupel be walhed 
 to the utmoft purity Ca&grtcicbctt). 
 
 But now 'tis worth the while to know what Water 
 this is which is fit for this Work, and makes a fepara- 
 tion of metals ; for feeing that it mufl: have power 
 to diffolvc metals, it's expedient that it be a friend 
 unto them, and of the fame kin, or (that I may 
 fpeak clcarerj 'tis fit that it be their diflblver and 
 examinator ; and this old Satitmhath power to do, 
 out of which it may with fmall cofts and labour be 
 prepared ., but the cojnmon Satitr», although it be 
 called the Water of Metals by all the Philofophers 
 ( but in the ufual wafhing in the Cupels 'tis not found 
 fo to be) yet as long as it remains in a compaft me- 
 talline form, 'tis unfit for this thing ; let him firll be 
 made Water himfelf before he reduceth the metals 
 into water ; which work is eafie, of fmall coft, and of 
 a few hours labour, and it goes into Water , and the 
 Metals ai*e thereby wafht. Of which more fliall be 
 faid in the following Chapter of T? , and elfewhere. 
 This alfo is to be noted, That if Copper being diflbl^ 
 ved with the Water of Lead, be digefted its proper 
 time, the moifture dries, and the metal is harden- 
 ed, and returns into a metallick body; therefore 
 the Solution is to be kept alwaies liquid by the afTufion 
 o»- pouring on of new water, left the mutual adiion be 
 hindered, which the Philofophers call Incineration : 
 Which being neglefted, all the Work doth not pre- 
 fently perifhi but there remains raoft elegant Amaufa, 
 :md tinged Glafs, which ftiines among the Copper, gi: 
 ving out from it felf a Blood-red Colour, wherewith 
 not only wooden Vefiels may be adorned, but alfo 
 Glafs=Paintersmay ufeiti of which red Glafs there 
 hath been fome found in old Churches ; but 'twas be- 
 
 lieved that the Art was throughly loft ■, but this came 
 not by chance without doubt, but was purpofely con= 
 cealed by thofe whofc praclifing hereabouts did per- 
 ceive a better thing to lie under it ^ for the red -^- 
 maitfiwi or Glafs , being burnt its proper time with 
 a ftrong fire, gives a RegtiUs yielding in the Leaden 
 wafhing ( im alitcrihcn ) good Silver. But if you 
 feek for ;> out of 2 , it's better not to make the red 
 Amaufum or Glafs at all, but to keep on with Ince- 
 ration, that it may not come to be red, but may re- 
 main a pellucid and green Glafs, even until 2 be 
 well wafht- 
 
 Moreover this is to be noted , That 2 and the 
 other metals are not only reducible into foluble 
 and infoluble Glafs, by this Satitrnine Water, but the 
 fame is to bs done by the addition of clean Flints 
 and Salts, by which they are made much fairer than 
 thofe done with t -^ but in the feparation ( ^tiQC- 
 rting^) they are vilder, becaufe the Dillolvent^is not 
 fo metalline, and after purgation , they do not fo 
 eafily give their /;?(;«//» as tliofethat arc done with 
 the Water of ii . There's alfo another way, by 
 which the fuperlluous burning fulphur of 2 may be 
 wafhed, and Ihc cleanfed without the water of T? or 
 of the Flints, -viz.. with Sah-Petre. If 2 or any 
 other imperfecft metal be often mixt therewith and 
 burnt, the purer parts come togedier, and the com- 
 buftible parts come together, and the combuftible 
 fulphur feparates in the form oi Scoria. To conclude. 
 This feparation and wafliing may be done by the help 
 of other fixed Salts, but none fo good as the Water 
 of t, . Now let the Reader know, that thofe things 
 fpoken in a rude ftile, concerning 2 , want not their 
 weight, even as the following Chapters will openly 
 declare- 
 
 m)z fifti) jauic* 
 
 Of the Nature and Virtue of Saturn. 
 
 THfisfpcali^ Saturn of himfelf: The other Six PU: 
 nets have excluded and thmfi me out, who am their 
 Examinator., from the fpiritiial City^ ajfigning me an 
 habitation with a corruptible body ; fcr what they neither 
 are, nor will be, J am confirained to be ; My fix Bre- 
 thren are Spiritual-, wherefore as often as I am in the fire t 
 they fajs through my body^ and both I and'they ferifii to-' 
 get her r.i the Fire^ the two be ft excepted, ® and >, who 
 are moft neatly and purely wafht in my waters, and wax 
 proud. My Spirit is Wattr^foftning the hard bodies of 
 my Brethren -^ but my body ts addiBed to th: Earth., 
 whatfoever J lay hold on , // alfo made like the Earth ; 
 and is converted into one body. It would not be good that 
 the World fhould know what is in me, or what I could do ; 
 it would be better did they but know how to get that thing 
 which is mine., and is in my faculty, they would lay afide 
 all other Arts of Alchymy , and handle this thing only^ 
 which I am able to per fell. The Stone of Coldnefs is in 
 me ; this is the Water by which I caufe the Spirits of the 
 fix other Metals to congeal into the Corporeity of the 
 Seventh^ that is to promote © with > . Antimony is 
 twofold, the one fort IS the common blacks 3, wherewith 
 ® being mixt and melted^ is purged-^ this is of near eft' 
 kin to Lead ; the other is white Magnefia, Bifniuth, 
 at.d neareft to Tin j being mixt with the other 5 , it en- 
 creafeth > . 
 
 (BlatibO Here we have mention made of Saturn, 
 from whence the Bath (fpoken of afore) for 2 and 
 
 M ra a * the 
 
13^ 
 
 Thi Third Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 the other metals is prepared, and that twofold, the 
 omlnand 5, botf which 1 have mentioned m my 
 
 former Traas, as P^^^^^f ^ ^ ^'^^J '"^ C 
 one is fitter for fome metals than ^he othe . ^^-^ 
 «;illina1v enters into Tj , and may molt ngtitiy oe 
 : HIS ftparated (pMsfr,) »ith the common 
 Saturnine water, <? and x will not -, but 8 receives 
 ?hemToft greedily, holds and waOjeth then^ whjch 
 is imponible for the common h to do. Jet not 
 »vithIlandingP^^.rcW>/feemsto hmt at fome other 
 Thing here , fpeaking of the tranfmutation of ^ 
 with other metals, afming (as I conjedlure) as well 
 at an univerfal as a particular tranfmutationof Me- 
 t 1 by Saturn. Now Saturn aUb, as he is the wa- 
 ter and wannng of other metals fo may he him- 
 felf be walhed with Salts, which, as I Ihallanonde- 
 
 clare, are his water. ^ , , „f 
 
 But let no body wonder that I fpeak no larger ot 
 the nature and virtue of Saturn, whom Ifet lo high 
 an efteem upon ; for it hath been moft frequently 
 mentioned, knd after this wilbe; ^o'u^^^otjtjo 
 often to repeat the fame thing, one Chapter illu- 
 ftrates another. See fach other f-^^" Jrafts as I 
 have written of Saturn, and compare them well to- 
 gether, and without doubt you will perceive my 
 mean nR That which P^r^cd/ns adds concerning 
 Sc d fference of 5 is plain enough, and wants no il- 
 ultr tion , for common Lead and 5 (although much 
 diff r ng in the diverfity of Sulphurs) was by the 
 Philofophers called Black Lead- Bifmuth,alhy Lead, 
 and T^n, among the ancient Metallurgifts, is white 
 Lead ; which appellations we (liall leave to the an- 
 cients, and fay no more thereof. 
 
 of the Moon, anJ her Nature and Property. 
 
 I 
 
 F anyone aoes about ta reduce ) into t, or^ tt xvdl be 
 asdMcTlt as to make > (^mth great profit) mt of 5 , 
 "tt ^ 2 &>■ Tj But ^tis >.ot expedient to make wle 
 thlncl out of good, l-Ht to make fruwns t\nngs oHt of 
 
 bafe and abjeEt things. , „^ ■ „J 
 
 \u alfofit to k^tw of what matter the Moon a and 
 whence 'tu rtfen • he that is tgnorant of tks, will find it 
 impnjfd'le to make Luna. 
 
 Oueft. What therefore >s Luna ? 
 
 Anfvv It ts the feventh external, corporeal, material, 
 
 of Vhe six metals there,n hidden ; for altvates(as.t 
 
 Lth been very rften fatd) the Seventh hath the other S,x- 
 
 liZally huidln J,th,n it fclf-, netthcralfo can thefe 
 
 % e Jhout an external, materia metal; nor can any 
 
 Z real Metal be mthont the fix fp.mual cnes andthe.r 
 
 iTnce Jf yc« «'e/r the feven Corporeal Metals, U doth 
 
 „ 1,1' as\lna\^ng © •• after mtxtion,each as tts na- 
 
 tZtt remains fixttn the fire, or volatde For example 
 
 ZlasmllasyLcan 5, V,T„<?, 9 ® andJ,rtro,ll 
 
 Z^ therefore follow, that the © and > w.l tranfmnte 
 
 Z hi five/hat thly become® and ^: Although they 
 
 Z blown together >nto onemafis yet each remains inus 
 
 ownftate,vk. rf yontak^ of the corporeal mtxtton;for 
 
 IraJf nutation cinfifts ,« the (pirttual m,xtion and union 
 
 of Metals, bec^^ Spirits admit of no fcparatwn and 
 
 piortification. • i ■ „*„■/; 
 
 Jthouoh you kill the Body an hundred times,yet will 
 
 they ahvaies have another Body more noble than the for-. 
 
 Ter And this is the promtion of Metals from one 
 
 mortification into another ; that is, from a more igncbk 
 degree to a higher, that is Luna, and from a better to the 
 befi, that is Sol ; a mo ft illujlnous and royal Metal ^ 
 "'tis alfo true, and alwaies will be, which hath been often 
 fpoken of before, that alwaies the fix metals generate the 
 feventh, and dtliver it from themfehes into a palpable and. 
 vifible fubflance. 
 
 Queft. Now, then if it be fo, that the Luna, or any 
 other }netal, is alwaies caufed and produced from the other 
 fix. What therefore is its Property and Nature ? I an- 
 fwer, Out of ^,V, S, S, '^,and ®, no other metal 
 can be made, but > ; the reafon is, becaufe as to the other 
 fix metals, each are indued with two good virtues, which 
 in all make Twelve : thefe virtues are the Silveriff} or 
 Lunar Spirit, which in brief undcrfiand thus ; Silver is 
 compounded into a corporeal Metal, cut of the fix Spiri- 
 tUAl Metals, and their Properties, in nu/nber twelve, and 
 is likened to the feven Planets, and the twelve Coeleftial 
 Signs ; for the > hath from 5 the Planet, and gg, and 
 K, a bright white flux andfpiendor , 5, ja, K ; alfo > 
 hath from V , <? , and ^ , a white colour, a great confian. 
 cy againfl the fire and fixation, ¥, J , « ; from ^, S, 
 and T, it hath hardntfs, and a ^yood clangour or found, 
 c?, S, r ; from 2, H, !^, it i:,atb the meais of Coagula- 
 tion and Malleability, 2, n, fis ^from h, "^,1^,11 hath 
 a fixt body with heavintfs and gravity, fj, vr,ni ; from 
 ®, ^, If , /> hath afincere purity, and a great confhancyy 
 againfi the violency of the fire, ®, ^, np . 
 
 Thus IS briefly explained what is the exaltation and 
 caufe of the fpirit and body of Silver, with its ow/i com- 
 pound Nature a> dEjJince. 
 
 It fnuft alfo he known what matter the metallick fpi- 
 rit s do take in their fltrft Nativity, when they are car- 
 ried down into the Earth from the Ccetefiial Influences, viz. 
 avile Dirt or Stone , wmch the Aiiue-diuger by breaking 
 the body of the metal, defiroys and burnt in the fire, in 
 which mortification the metalline fpirit affumes another 
 body, not fry able, but pure and malleable. Then the Al- 
 chyniifl coming,deflroysthis metalline body, kills and pre 
 pares it by Art, but that metallick^ corporeal Spirit makes 
 apparently confpicuous, another more noble and much more 
 perfeSt body, whether it be the Sun or Aioon ; then both 
 the metallick^Spirit and Body being perftElly united, are 
 free and fafe from Corruption by the Element of 
 Fire. 
 
 (Blaitb-] Faracelfus in this Sixth Chapter repeats 
 the words which have been oftentimes afore mentio- 
 ned, VIZ.. That every vifible rtietal is an hider of the 
 other metals which lie fpiritually hid within it; with- 
 al teaching, that it is impoflible for corporeal me- 
 tals, although melted together never fo long, to be 
 meliorated, unlefs they are firft made fpiritual ; 
 which I have oftentimes demonllrated and fhewed 
 to be the very Truth, and the right way to Tranfmu- 
 tation. • 
 
 But he doth not in exprefs words teach the way 
 by which they may be made and rendered Spiri- 
 tual ; nor is it convenient to chew a Morfel, and 
 thruft it into the mouths of the Ignorant. 
 
 Now I fay, that as touching the fpiritualizing of 
 Metals, Paracelfus doth not advife that Metals be dif- 
 folved in corrofive Spirits,.^: digefted & dellilled over 
 the Helm with its by often Cohobations. The Spiri- 
 tualization which he mentions here, is not to be done 
 with Corrofives, for they are rather corrupted by 
 them than perfefted, neither in Glailes, but in Cruci-- 
 bies, and that in a few hours, without Corrofives, 
 whereby they are fo depurated, and as it were pon- 
 dered, that they are tranfparcnt in and out of the 
 fire , and diflblvable in any water. This is a tpue 
 
 Spi- 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Mineral lVor\, 
 
 ^37 
 
 fpiritualizatiou of metals, and gainful if it hath the 
 faid Properties : 'Tis otherwife called by thePhilo- 
 fophcrs, the firft matter of Metals, and at this time 
 known but to few. 
 
 Our Laborators now adays know not any metallick 
 fpirits, but fuch, as by the help of peregrine and 
 noxious things, they drive over by an Alembick or 
 Retort ■■, but Experience tefl:ifies,that thefe are wholly 
 ufelefs and unprofitable for Melioration. And al- 
 though the ancient Philofophers write , Make the 
 fixt volatile, and the volatile fixt, yet they mean not 
 that the metals (hould bedeftilled. Which fublimation 
 or deftillation they did not meddle with, but all their 
 metallick labours, as Solution^ Piitrefatlion, DeftillOtt- 
 on, Sitbltmation^ Calcination^ laceration^ Cohobatton^ and 
 Fixation^ were done in one earthen vefl'el, without 
 Corrofives ; nor did they weary themfelves with 
 thofe ridiculous labours that are done by the means 
 of GlalTes- But of this more in another place- 
 
 Now read diligently over and over again what Pa- 
 racelf IS wvites at the end of theChapterj and it will 
 appear, that he fpeaks of fufion, and not deftillati- 
 on in GlalTes •, where he (hews , that a metallick 
 fpirit at its firft defcending from the ftars into the 
 earth, hath a moft vile form, like a ftone, or dirt, 
 which the digger of it melts with a ftrong fire, where- 
 by it gets a better form , and becomes a malleable 
 metal. And here he is at a ftand, and cannot pro- 
 ceed any farther. No,v, faith Paracelfnf, the Al- 
 chymift comes and takes this metal, and by his Art 
 deftroies the metallick body, killing and preparing 
 it ; and by his labour it afTumes a more noble and 
 fixt body, called (becaufe of its maturity) Gold or 
 Silver. The ) , although li; be more pure and excel' 
 lent than 2, ^, v,and l7,yet having not arrived to 
 maturity, it is ( in companlOD of the ©J like a flower, 
 which is more excellent than the herbj but inferiour 
 to the reed,which is the moft perfed part of the fame. 
 And, as in Vegetables the flowers are indued with a 
 more elegant colour than either the feed or fruit : So 
 alfo is the > more abounding with Tindure than 
 theOi which I have very often tried, and could 
 demonftrate by many Examples ; contrariwire,altho' 
 the flower be, as to the form, colour and odour, 
 above the feed, yet in goodnefs and durability it is 
 much inferiour •■, for the flower at an approaching 
 cold falls away, but the feed endures, and if it be 
 helped, it produceth a new herb, flowers, and feed, 
 by which its fpecies are conferved and propagated. 
 And as in Vegetables the herb is the greateft part, 
 the flowers lefs, and the feeds leaft , fo in Minerals 
 is the like order moft fitly obferved : for liiould Na- 
 ture produce only Flowers and Seeds with the Herb, 
 whence would there be Grafs for Beafts , whereby 
 they might fill their Bellies, and fo yield dung for 
 the Country-man to dung his ground withal, that it 
 might produce a new Crop of Herbs- Without doubt 
 there's more Tindure hidden in > than in ©, the 
 inmoft part of which is a meer rednefs ; but the cen- 
 tre of © is a moft fixt and fplendid Sky-colour, which 
 is to be well obferved. As for the other Properties 
 of ), which are moft frequently known, 'tis need; 
 lefs to mention them ; as to purity and fixation , 'tis 
 ncareft to ®, and therefore in metallick things 'tis 
 to be likened to a Flower : 'Tis plainly void of 
 combuftible and preying Sulphur i but being not as 
 yet arrived and concoded to perfeftion, it is a moft 
 fuitable Vehicle to extrad © out of volatile and 
 unripe Marcafites, and other auriferous Minerals, 
 and to make it corporeal. Concerning which I have j 
 
 formerly written , and will write more hereafter- 
 
 Cljc ®eucntf) Eirte. 
 
 Of the Sun , its Nature and Property. 
 
 Corporeal © is the fevemh Metal of the px f^iritunt 
 ones ; in it felf it is a niecr Fire ; but the Reajon of 
 its being outwardly of an elegant^ ycllorVi vifible^ fenfibk-, 
 ponderous^ cold and malleable body, is^ becaufe it hath in 
 It the coaotdation of the other Jix metals^ whereby ''tis 
 compeU'd into a vifibk body. And as to its being melted 
 with Ele?nental fire^ "'tis from hence^ becaufe it hath a 
 fluidity of Mercury ^ >€, and zz-, fpiritually hidden in it 
 felf-^ the which is alfo outwardly evident^ becaufe it is 
 mofl- eafily mixt with the 0, and detained by him. 
 
 And whereas after meltings it grows hard by the Cold^ 
 viz- is coagulated^ and grows ftijf^ that comes from the 
 other five metals^ ¥> Tj, <J, 2, and J ; in thefe five ?>ie' 
 tals the Cold dwells and bears fway, and therefore ® can- 
 not be fluid out of the fire, becaufe of Cold. Nor can 5 
 with his heat, nature, and fluidity help him againfl the five 
 cold metals, for its heatfujfceth not to l^eep the ® in perpe- 
 tualfliiXj/o that it is enforced to obey the other /netals ra- 
 ther than one only, g, who (^as to coagulation of metals') 
 hath nothing to do, its Property being to make liquid, 
 and not hard : It is the work^of heat and life to maks ''" 
 ejuid, but cold is the cauje of hardnefs, ftijfnefs^ and un- 
 movable, being therefore likened to Death. 
 
 For Example, /fyoit would reduce the fix cold metals to 
 fluidity, whether it be V,<i ,'h,S, >,®, "■ i^ fo be done by 
 the heat of the fire, for metals are not melted with cold 
 Snow or Ice, but are hardened thereby- Now^ affoon as 
 they are melted by the fire., and that the heat ceafeth^ the 
 coldrufliethin^ whereby the metal ftands ftill, grows fiiff, 
 dies, and remains immovable. And becaufe that 5 is 
 alwaies fluid and living,tell me., ^ f'^'^y, whether or no fuch 
 ,z thing proceeds from heat or cold ? Some or other may 
 fay, it is becaufe of its cold and moift nature., and that it is 
 living becaufe of Cold; but whoever faith thus., and be- 
 lieves thus, is ignorant of Nature., and deceived and fe- 
 duced with the vulgar, whofe belief of any thing is out of 
 the right way,(^ amifs,& are therefore to be avoided and 
 jhun'*d by him that would truly k>^ow • for 5 is not living, 
 by reafonofcold, but becaufe of its heat and fiery nature^ 
 as all things elfe live becaufe of heat., for heat is thecaufe 
 of life, and cold the caufe of death. 
 
 But that © is in it felf a meer Fire., not alive in- 
 deed, but hard, fiiewing its fiery heat only outwardly, as 
 yellow mixt with red, and the other five metals, are cold^ 
 viz- ¥» (?, T? , 2, and > , giving their virtues to the ®, 
 viz. according to their frigidity a body., by their fire 
 colours., by their ficcity hardnefs, hy their fnoifture weight 
 or heavinefs ., by their refplendancy found; and that it 
 is not combufiihle, and to be deflroyed by the Element of 
 Terreftrial Fire, that is by reafon of its fixednefs. Fire 
 d/jth not burn Fire, nor deftroy it., but Fire joined to Fire 
 becomes the greater and more powerful in ftrength. The 
 Calefiialfire defcending from the © upon Terreftrials., ii 
 not fuch afire as is in Heaven, nor fuch as our fire is on 
 Earth ; but with us the CasleB-ialfireis cold, a rigid and 
 congealed fire • and this is the body of Gold., and there 
 fore we cannot tame or maficr ® with our fire, we can on- 
 ly divide it and melt it., as the fun dijfolves and melts 
 fnow., congealed ice and WAter. Wherefore it is not per- 
 mitted for one fire to deftroy another., becaufe ® it felf ii 
 fire., and in Heaven it is re/olved, but with its it is coagm 
 latedi 
 
 N n Gol<i 
 
138 
 
 The Third Pan of 
 
 Pare I. 
 
 Gold is in a threefold ftate with its Eflence. 
 
 1 
 
 1. TheCoekfiial 
 
 2. The Elemental 
 
 3. The Met alii ck. 
 
 r1s 
 
 Refolved, 
 Liquid. 
 
 '■poreal. 
 
 'W.^c €nli of rijc »)£fecn BulciS* 
 
 i^Iaubt 
 
 ■ E are now come to 0, a kingly and 
 
 ^V moll excellent Metal', the which P^- 
 racelfus compares to a meer abfolute Fire ^ and^ \o 
 'tis found to be, if it be feparated into parts v tis 
 likewife endued with a feed-like nature, more hot 
 than the Herb it felf or the Flower- But to what 
 end fliould we write of bettering it, when as it needs 
 it not, being already conltituted in the higheft de: 
 gree of perfection, and Nature not being able to pro- 
 mote it to an higher degree : Now then if it be to 
 be made better, 'tis behoveful to make it Medicme, 
 for never was a more excellent metal than it feen- An 
 Herb planted in a fruitful foil, and brought to its 
 perfedion by the heat of the Sun, the feed be; 
 ing ripe, it remains not in the fame form, but wi- 
 thers, and the feed falls away •, but if it be feafonably 
 gathered, it lafts a long while, and may, at your plea- 
 fure, be put into the Earth, for the produdion of 
 new Herbs of its kind ; or elfe it may be ufed for the 
 health of Mankind, having no other notable life be- 
 fides. In like manner , Gold having arrived to its 
 perfedion, if it be to be farther advanced, it muft be 
 made Medicine, or be put upon the Metallick Earth, 
 as Seed is on the Common Earth ; where putrefying 
 or augmenting, or growing, it may exhibit and pro- 
 duce a metalline OfF-fpring- Every body knows 
 that a good Medicine may be thence made, and that 
 various waies, but few know the manner how •, but 
 that 'tis able ( like the Vegetable feed; to make En- 
 creafe out of the imperfect metals ( being its own 
 Earth; Paracelfus teacheth in this place, and many 
 Philofophers witnefs the fame , which is not only 
 true in a particular melioration , where by attradl- 
 iiig its like out of the imperfeft metals, it is encrea- 
 fed ; but 'tis alfo to be believed as true, that from 
 it may be feparated , by the induftry of a skilful me^ 
 tallickPhilofopher, its inmoft Vegetative power and 
 pureft portion ( all its husks, or outfide, wherewith 
 'tis cloathed, being laid aiide) and may thereby be 
 exalted to a more than pcrfeft eftate, although 'tis 
 incredible to many, yet 'tis not in the leaft to be 
 doubted of, except we would make all the Philofo- 
 phers to be Lyers. 
 
 As for my felf, although I never fet ray hand to io 
 hard a Task, yet I believe and affirm it to be in the 
 nature of things, as having evidently obferved by 
 my other metallick Labours, that this Medicine is in 
 the pofllbility of Art ; the which I will alfo in due 
 time fet upon, if God give Life and Leifure. What 
 the other properties of © are, and by what means 
 good Medicines may be prepared therefrom, I have 
 Ipoken thereof in many places of my writings, and in 
 its proper place more alfo fliall be fpoken. And 
 here we reft and conclude this little Book of the 
 Rules of the Seven Metals. 
 
 (©©DanUl^atute make notljine; inuain* 
 
 'THe Eternal City of all things (thert''s an Eternd 
 ■■■ flace in all things) without time, without begin- 
 ningy and without end , is every where ejjentially. Jt 
 operates in that wherein is no hopes., and that which is 
 accounted impojfwle, itnexpc^ied, incredible., and plainly 
 deploratle, will he true even to admiration. 
 
 (Blaul).!] Paracelfus having finifhed his Seven Rules 
 of the Properties of Metals, begins after a fort, to 
 repeat and illullrate his fentiment or opinion, com- 
 forting the Operator, left happily he fliould be dif- 
 couraged, if his affairs do not prefently meet with 
 good fuccefs ; but let him ingenioufly proceed, be- 
 caufe Nature makes ?iothing in vain ; that which is 
 leaft of all believed, comes moft of all to pafs j his 
 words are clear enough of themfelves. 
 
 Item. Note now feme things on Argent Vive.' 
 
 Whatfoever whitens is of the Nature of Life., and of 
 the Property and Ftrtite of Light., which caufeth and 
 makes Life. The Fire with its heat gives birth to 
 this motion. And whatfoever blackens, is of the Na' 
 tiire of Death, of the Property and (Virtue of Darknefs, 
 ( having the efficacy and force thereof ) which caufeth 
 Death ; to the which hardening or induration the Earth 
 with its Cold is the coaaitlation and fixation. The 
 Hoiife is alwaies dead., but the Inhabitant ts a living 
 Fire •• // thou haft found out the true Vfe of Exam- 
 ples., thon haft overcome. 
 
 CBlaub.] Paracelfus fpeaking here of Mercury, 
 mentions Fire, which by its heat is the caufe of 
 Light and Life , but that which blackens , is the 
 caufe of Death ; where making as it were a paufe 
 or ftand, he adds thefe pregnant words. 
 
 Sacrifice the fat Verrvein (or Sulphur;. R' eight lots 
 of Salt Nitre., four lots of Sulphur ^ two lots of Tartar^ 
 mi.v them, and let them flow. 
 
 (Blaub.il Here begin the Complaints of the Al- 
 chymifts, becaufe Paracelfus writing of fo good a 
 matter, doth fo fuddenly break off, adding fuch a 
 Receipt, as in their judgment hath no affinity with 
 Mercury, but is to him as a thorn in a man's eye.This 
 powder indeed is a good fulile powder, for the re- 
 du(ftion of fuch metals as are otherwife hard to 
 melt i but in this place 'tis raeerly vain and need- 
 lefs, becaufe 5 by his innate fiery power and heat, 
 doth alwaies flow ; wherefore we want not this Flux 
 for him.Had he written in this place, how he (viz.. 
 5 ) is to be coagulated and fixed , we would moft; 
 willingly have heard him, and as willingly have been 
 content that he had kept his fluxing powder to him- 
 felf. 
 
 Such as thefe ought to blame themfelves and not 
 Paracelfus., that with'd well unto them. The words 
 which went julb before, may excufe him •, for he laid, 
 that GOD and Nature made nothing in V'lin -., where- 
 by he intimates , that this powder is not fo ftrange^ 
 ly to be look'd on, as if it did not pertain to ?, 
 who is more than enough fufile already, and wants 
 it not- Nor was this mentioned to vex the Al- 
 chymift i no, Paracelfus knew this nimble fufile 
 powder, and its operations upon the metals, better 
 than he that complains thereof, ( 'tis of incredible 
 benefit in the metals, did any one know how to ufe 
 it) and he placed it here, that we might perfeift- 
 ly learn its higheft force and efficacy upon the me- 
 tals-. 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Adinerd JVorl^ 
 
 139 
 
 tals ; the which thing his foregoing words do alfo 
 admonifh us of : It operates beyond hope , that 
 which is judged impoHible is unexpefted, incredible, 
 and defperate , will prove true to admiration. 
 Wherefore, think you, would he have added this fire 
 had it not been needful in this place ? doubtlefs he 
 knew how to burn the wings of 5 , and thereby to 
 ftay his flight. And although I know not how to 
 fix 5 herevvith, yet have I experienced wonderous 
 things as well in the metals as 5, for if the metals, 
 efpecially 5, be Philofophically joined herewith, fub- 
 limed and deltilled, they afford wonderful Aft«- 
 jiruHtns, 
 
 It's alfo here faid, Sacrifice the fat Vervein (or 
 Sulphur^- 'Tis full well known, that the fuperfluous 
 Sulphur in metals that are imperfed , is the caufe 
 oi their bafenefs , and this fire is able to burn it up, 
 but 'tis impoflible that all Ihould know it ; there's 
 need of ufe and diligence, if you defire Icarus, fly- 
 ing with his Father Dxdalus, and approaching too 
 nigh the Sun f whereby his wings being burnt , he 
 tumbled down into the Seajfliould be drowned in the 
 waters. The which let fuffice, for tliere's enough 
 fpoken unto a wife man •, let us therefore proceed. 
 
 What is to he determined concerning the 
 Coagulation of 5. 
 
 TJs not at all expedient to kill 5, to coagulate 
 hifftj and then reduce him into 1) , and to weary 
 him with many Jublimations and other things^ for this 
 is but the defiruHion of the Sun and Moon that is in 
 him. T her e''s another more compendious way^wherehy 2 
 is made "y^ of fmall coft and charge, without any la-, 
 hour of coagulation : Every man reads in the Writings 
 of the jilc^mijlSffuch Arts as are mean and viky and 
 eafily ^reparable, whereby in a port time he might make 
 abundance of © and 5 , and are tired and vexed with 
 the Writings of fuch as do not teach them clearly and 
 plainly, and would willingly hear this., viz. Do fo and fo^ 
 and thou jhalt have good ) and © to inrich thee. 
 
 But good Sir ftay a while , and wait till the Se- 
 cret be plainly opened to thee in pofitive words with- 
 out any labour ; fo as to enable thee ( in as 'twere a 
 moment of time) to take h, 5, and ¥, and make5o/ 
 and Luna thereof. The Art will never be fo eafily 
 known, how Ihort and facile foever it be in it felf. 
 
 (Slauti.] P<«>-.tcf///<j goes on, and faith, That 'tis 
 not needful to coagulate 5, that ® and > may be 
 thence made, and that it is to be done with a moft 
 eafie labour, and therefore few words are belt- And 
 here Paracdfus is to be compared to that Rich man, 
 who having heard that many perifhed with famine, 
 'tis faid that he fhould anfwer, That before he 
 would be tormented with hunger , he would rather 
 feed on rufty Bacon and Peafe, believing that all 
 abounded with this fare :, the which they defpillng 
 by reafon of their daintinefs, defervedly perifhed- 
 In like manner the good i'*2>'^ce//wi believed, that all 
 Chymifts were his equals, as to the knowledge of 
 Metals, not dreaming of the many poor Colliers that 
 torment 5 by their folutions, precipitations, fubli- 
 mations, refufcitations, fixations, and other labours ; 
 when as they are ignorant of what it is , what a- 
 bounds or is wanting therein, and fo for want of 
 knowledge, toil and labour to no purpofe : 2 is a 
 fubjed of wonder, and is frequently wont to deceive 
 the Alchymifts, whom (yiz..^ ) if you would on 
 the other fide deceive, when you purfue him, give 
 him a little breathing ( becaufe by force he's not 
 
 to be compell'd ) that he may a little wander 
 about, but truft him not too much, left flying a- 
 way , he leaves behind him an empty Ncft. For 
 which Work the firft Furnace, with its many Glaf- 
 fes, very well fitted and united, will ferve excellent- 
 ly well. But in few words , 'Tis a fubjeft of an 
 inexhauftible wonder , the which I alwaies found 
 the moft ftubborn of all the metals, that I have be- 
 ftowed grievous pains about \ but yet do believe, 
 that he that knows rightly to deal with him , will 
 reap a benefit from him not to be contemned. 
 But who is there that difcovers the Way ? Won- 
 ders muft alwaies remain unknown unto us, and 
 albeit we know not all things, yet let us acknow- 
 ledge the great Mercy of G O D, and give Thanks 
 to Him for that which we do know. 
 
 The Receipts of Alchymy. 
 
 WJHat (lull we fay of the many Receipts and the 
 ^ ' various P^ejfelsfuch as are the Furnaces^ Glajfes^ 
 Tejls^ Waters^ Oils, Salts, Sulphurs-, Antimojiia, Mag- 
 nepa^ Salt Nitre, Alume^ Vitriol^ Jartw^ Borax, jitra- 
 mentum or Copperas^ Orpiment^ Spume of Glafs , Arfe* 
 »i<:K, Calaminaris, Bole-Armoniack, P^ermilion., Calx^ 
 Pitch, Wax, Lute of Wifdom , Powder'^d Glafs, Ver- 
 digreafe. Salt Armoniack, Soot, Rofn of the Pitch-tree, 
 Chalk,, Mans-fat, Hairs, Egg.jliells, Lac Virginis, 
 Ccrufe, Minium, Cinnabar, Vinegar, Aqua-fortis, 
 Crocus Martis, Elixir, Lazure, fultro- Marine) Soap, 
 Tutia, ^i^atJCrffOlD, Cryflals. What likewife flull we fay 
 to their preparations, putrefactions, digejtions, probati- 
 ons, fithlimations, calcinations, folutions, cementatitns 
 fixations , reverberations , coagulations, graduations ^ 
 rc^ifications, amalgamations , and purgations. Moft 
 Books are fully ftnfft with thefe Alchymical things, as 
 alfo what things are to be done by the benefit of Herbs 
 Roots, Seeds, Woods, Stones, Animals, Worms, Bone- 
 Afbes, Cockle'jhells, Mufcles, fire- 
 
 All thefe things are the Labyrinths of Alchymy, and 
 are gre.tt and but vain Labours. Moreover, although 
 © and ) might be made by the means of thefe things, 
 yet by reafon of the multitudes of them, the Work^is ra- 
 ther hmdred than advanced ; and therefore it cannot he 
 truly learned from the afore faid things, how to make 
 Q and >. But ^11 fuch things are to be omitted, as 
 operate not with the fve imperfect Metals, for the pro- 
 du^ion of © and > . 
 
 What therefore is the true Way, and the port Path 
 void of all difficulties, that leads to the fpcedy making 
 of good Sol and Luna ? How long will /> be ere thoit 
 revealeft it ? I believe that thou underftandefi nothing 
 of this matter , may fomehody fay, but dofl only mock^ 
 us with thefe Riddles. For anfwer : If ^'"^ ieen al- 
 ready fpoken of , and is evidently enough difcovered in 
 the Seven Rules ; He that underHands not , let him 
 blame himfelf. Befides, let no body be fo mad, as to 
 perfwade himfelf, that the Art is moft eafie to be un- 
 der pood, and to be perfeilly known by the vulgar ; that 
 is neither fo, nor mufi it fo be ; but it will be better 
 underftood in an occult and hidden Sence. 
 
 This is the Art , viz. If you make the Heaven or 
 Sphere of Tj to flow with life in the Earth, put tn all 
 the Planets, or which you pleafe of them, but let there 
 be of Luna leap of all ; let it flow fo long, until the 
 Heaven of Tj doth wholly difappear , and the Planets 
 remain alone dead with their own corruptible Bodies, 
 and have affumed a new, perfeB, uncorruptible body, that 
 
 Nn i l>ody 
 
The Third Fan of 
 
 140 
 
 My is the Spirit of Heaven^ by which the T I arm she- 
 came am» corporeal and alive ; as afore ^ Takeout that 
 ne-:o B^dy from the Life, and out of the Earth, and keep 
 it for It is Sol and Luna. And thus hafi thou the 
 Art plainly uncovered and inttre-^ if thou dofi not yet 
 under jiand and apprehend ity 'tis well, for f it muft be ^ 
 nor mufi it be piiblickly divulged. 
 
 (0laiib.] In this Chapter Paracelfus teacheth, 
 That there's no need of fo many ridiculous fpe- 
 cies, for the tranfmutation of Metals , but that 
 there's virtue cnoughin the metals to operate up- 
 on, and to better one another, if they are rightly 
 conjoined amongft themfelves i yet in fome Lz- 
 bours we cannot be without Salts and Minerals, be- 
 caiife they are ufeful to raollifie hard Metals, and 
 to difpofe theai to aifume a melioration. But 'tis 
 to be obferved, that Corrofives are to be omitted, 
 and fuch Salts only to be ufed as are friendly to 
 Metals. Likewife other Minerals and Fofliles may 
 be fruitfully ufed in fufion, (a)ci!jcnmgl) J feparation, 
 and other metalline Operations, as additaments 
 (alj3»)Urari0). The which thing Paracelfus denies 
 not, but only rejefts, and that defervedly, thofe ri- 
 diculous Compofitions of the unskilful Alchymifts, 
 which they making in their ufe Sol. He dehorts 
 the ftudious Artift, and endeavours to bring him m- 
 
 to the right way- , , , . , ^ 
 
 Furthermore, he teacheth but m an occult fence, 
 how good Sol and Lima, fuch as will endure all tri- 
 als is to be extracted out of imperfedt Metals ; 
 but''tis fo obfcurely done, that no body can thereby 
 underftand the thing ; and fuch only as aforehand 
 know fomewhat, and have had the like Labours 
 under their hands, are able to underftand his mean- 
 ing- ^ , , r 
 
 Doubtlefs this Procefs hath found many an one 
 
 work enough, who have at lall attained to nothing •, 
 but yet fome have by chance lighted thereon, and 
 fo perceived the Truth of his Words, mofl of which 
 Inventions do cafually happen ; and whilll that 
 one thing is fought after, and by accident loft, 
 fomething is oftentimes found more excellent than 
 that which was intended. 
 
 In like manner, mofl: things unfought after have 
 happened to me ; an4 alfo my Labours have mani- 
 fefted to me the ^reatefl; part of P^vrucelfnsh Arts, 
 and not his Writmgs. And who will certainly and 
 plainly teach what lies under that Covering .? Many 
 Archers there are, but few hit the mark. Neither 
 feems it fo neceltary to take nothing elfe but the 
 aforefaid Metals -, the which thing Paracdjus alfo 
 in his forementioncd Procefs doth hint at, faying. 
 When thou makcfl: the Heaven, or Sphere of Tj , 
 to flow with Life in the Earth, fow in all the Planets, 
 or fuch as you pleafe of them •, but let not the Moons 
 part be biggeft, but let it betheleaft of all. By which 
 words 'tis eafily conjedured, that the greateft part 
 jnufl: be of Saturn, whereby the other metals are to 
 be wafhed and purified, and the lealt part of the 
 Moon. But fome body may ask. What reafon is 
 there for the Moon being here, fhe being already 
 pure, for the w^adiing of whom there's no need ? 
 Why this hath been already elfcwhere anfwered thus, 
 viz.. That (lie may attraft, defend, and make cor- 
 poreal, the wafhed, purified, and tender Sun, which 
 would otherwife remain in the Scoria : Notwithftan- 
 ding this feparation may be made without the Luna, 
 but then 'tis not fo gainful. Neither alfo is it ne- 
 ceflary to conjoin the Metals, and fo make but one 
 work i« waiLingthem with Saturn ; each of them 
 
 Part I, 
 
 may be taken apart, and fo cleanfed, unlefs a man 
 knew how to contrive the compofition, then indeed 
 the Work would be facilitated, and more Sol got- 
 ten ; the which is to be well obferved, if either none, 
 or very little Luna be taken. But if you take not >, 
 then S is to be added, as being of nearefl: affinity to 
 © and > , in its malleability, and fo that will attraft 
 the volatile and immature ©out of the imperfeft 
 Metals, and defend it in the fire, but much weaker 
 than > . Tin and Iron being mofl: impure and fharp 
 metals, may be waflied with Lead, but with much 
 difficulty, and may be deprived of their fpiritual and 
 occult ®,but with far greater charges and coft-,than if 
 you took in > , or at leafl: wife 2 . Now knowing 
 this. Why do we not give to every one its proper ad= 
 ditament, for the expedition and enriching of the 
 Operation ? 'Tis worth Ithe while to be able to 
 make a good mixtion of Metals, and with profit to 
 wath them with fj, in which mixture none believes 
 how much there's placed, nor my felf neither, had 
 1 not with Lofs learned the fame. For, when in 
 former years I fought after fomewhat in this kind 
 of operation, as walhing and feparation , and had 
 fometimes found out a good Proba ; I have gone to 
 repeat the fame labour again, and have egregioufly 
 erred. And although I have for many years wrought 
 hard in this kind of labour, and fpent much (which 
 I repent not of) yet I dare not boaft of catching the 
 beft prey, but am content with a piece of Bread, but 
 yet I do not difpair. Good things come flowly on, and 
 the thorny prickly Buddsfpring forth before the Ro- 
 fescoine- Now, if thou learneft the weights the 
 Work will be fafe, and thou needefl: not to doubt of 
 doing the fame in a great quantity. Paracelfus got'* 
 on, and bids you to let the Planets which you have 
 put in, to flow fo long with the Heaven of T? , until the 
 Heaven of T? vanifh, the Planets will remain, having 
 received a new body, which is to be taken out of 
 the Life and the Earth, which will be ® and ) . And 
 thefe words are varioufly interpreted by fundry men, 
 efpecially what the Heaven of Tj is, and are perfwa- 
 ded, that if that were known , the refidue of the 
 Procefs they could ftate well enough. Many un- 
 derftand hereby the common feparation made by a pe- 
 culiar T?, taking the Rcgulns Stellate of 5, which is 
 ftampt with a Cceleftial Star, the which they blow 
 on and melt with the Life, (which they interpret to 
 be the fire)in the Earth (a Cupel or Teft tre(bfclj£rbm) 
 the bodies being left upon the Teft, like mortified 
 Metals, the which reducing by a fufing addition, 
 and melting with Lead, ( anjycfotttn ) and promiling 
 themfelves Gold and Silver , they find themfelves 
 to be in an errour, and accufe Paraceljus of Sophi- 
 ftry and Deceit, becaufe they can't make good quan- 
 tities of ©and >,by means of his Writings. 
 
 And now, what this Sphere of Saturn is, may be 
 varioufly explained : It may not unfitly be taken 
 for common T? , becaufe being fufed , it Jhines, and 
 is turned round: or it may be taken for itsGlafs, 
 which being melted in the fire, fliines like the Sun : 
 or it may be the Stellar Regains of 3 , becaufe its 
 Stria reprefents Stars when 'tis broken. But what 
 benefit is it to know the Heaven of T? and to be igno- 
 rant of the true requifite Life, and the reduction of 
 the dead and reducible bodies. Common Fire is not 
 the Life that Paracelfus mentions, but it may beltir- 
 red up thereby ; and fo he faith ; The fire with its 
 heat, is the Nativity to this motion : If by the Ele^i 
 mental Fire he fliould mean the Life, and by the fepa- 
 ration of I2, or blowing of the Repulus of 5, (the 
 
 tiow- 
 
Part L 
 
 the Mineral JVor\. 
 
 141 
 
 flowing which Paraceljus mentions) then it mult ne- 
 ceflarily follow, that the deftroyed bodies which re- 
 main, fliould be made more perfed, and the Spirit 
 of Heaven (hould yet remain with them ; for thus he 
 writes, w^. The Planets by it do become corporeal 
 and living, as they were before •, but in thefekind of 
 reparation, fcorification, or blowing off, it is not 
 found fo to be •, but in thefc Operations their Bo- 
 dies remain like Scorta, in which is neither fpirit or 
 life, much lefs ® and > to be found , though never 
 fo diligently fought after. Paracelfns faith exprefly, 
 viT.. That Body (wz,, of the flain or kill'd bodiesj is 
 the Spirit of Heaven, by which the Planets do again 
 become corporeal and alive as before ; from whence 
 'tis to be underftood, that thofc bodies are fpiritual,& 
 not only corporeal and refufcitated, but fuch as may 
 give life even to flain or deftroyed bodies, the which 
 can't be faid of them, for a fpirit mufb be pene- 
 trative and vivifying, and they arc not fuch. 
 For if (according to Pnracclfns'smmd.) the dead bo- 
 dies ought to be reduced to Corporality and Life, 
 'tis neceflary that they have fome hidden powers 
 Twhich every one knows not^ whereby they may 
 demonftrate molt fpeedily their embodying and vi- 
 Vification in a fpiritual manner, without the additi- 
 on of any peregrine Flux*, or elfc they aredeferved- 
 ly to be rejeded. But if any one fliould now ima- 
 ^ gine , that metals being by the red fire deprived of 
 life, made fpiritual and again corporeal and living, 
 fhould forthwith be all ® and > ; he promifeth more 
 tohimfelf than is right, and is deceived (for -P^r^- 
 celfiis faith, that That new body is to be taken out of 
 the Life and Earth and kept, for 'tis and ) ) for 'tis 
 impolFible even for the Philofophers Stone, to convert 
 the whole bodies of Metals into ® and ) , for out of 
 nothing, nothing can be made, as the Philofophers 
 fay ; and Experience teftifies » none but God only 
 made any thing out of nothing ; but that thing which 
 is, may by Art be reduced into nothing, and that 
 again reduced into fomething- Seeing therefore 
 that the greateft part of metal is an unprofitable, com: 
 buftible noxious Sulphur, which never was a metal, 
 but adhering only outwardly unto them, and being 
 combuft, reduceth their hiimiMii?n Radicals into ^co-. 
 ria ^ which Hitmldum Radicak only (after its de- 
 ftru(ftion) and not the whole mafs of Metal or fuper= 
 fluous Sulphur, is reduced by the fpirit of the Sa- 
 turnine Heaven, out of nothing unto fomething, i-Zz.. 
 a Body and Life ; the Sulphur which before the cor- 
 ruption was nothing, remains Itill a Nothing ; and 
 if thou throughly obferve the thing, the Cafe ftands 
 clearly thus; viz.. If in this operation there mull be 
 a feparation of the imperfed metals, and a gathe- 
 ring together of the more pure, and a difperlingof 
 the more impure parts ^ thefe feparated parts mult 
 therefore neceffarily be much unlike one another ; 
 and by how much ©and > is more pure, if compa: 
 red with imperfedt metals, from which 'tis feparated : 
 And thefe feparated parts are not of the fame Good- 
 nefs and Nature ■, as if ten duckets were divided into 
 two parts, each part would have S of the fame good- 
 Hefs and weight. Now, if from one of thefe halfs 
 you take two or three parts, and put them to the 
 other half, it only makes the one bigger, and the 
 othfer lefs : And if there be nine parts on the one 
 lide, and but one left on the other fide, yet cannot 
 the major part boafl of its excelling the other in 
 quality, but only in quantity ; As toGoodnefs, they 
 are both equal. But now, if you take a Mineral or 
 Metal commixt with ftones, and by meafure divide 
 
 it into two equal parts, and then pound them, and by- 
 pouring water thereon, feparace the lighter parts af- 
 ter the accullomed manner, and the heavy Metal will 
 fettle to the bottom : Now the drofs and metal will 
 fill the former meafure, but will very much dili'er in 
 their goodnefs- 
 
 Or if any one take two raeafurcs of Wine, and by 
 the heat of Fire, feparate the more excellent Spi- 
 rit by deftiliing in a Glafs Alembick , and leave 
 the other meafure in the Cucurbit : Thefe two 
 parts, though equal in quantity, yet they do much 
 differ in goodnefs ; the one part will be more no- 
 ble than Wine, and the other worfer j and as the 
 other rcfidence is no more Wine, being deprived 
 of Spirit, Life, Soul, and Strength, and is thereby 
 unable to defend it felf from death, but tends to 
 putrefadion ; fo on the other hand, the Spirit is 
 not fubjedt to putrefadion , but prcfcrves other 
 things therefrom. 
 
 The like is to be underftood of this metalline 
 feparation, for the remainder , from which ® is 
 feparated, can no more be made Tifi, Copper, or 
 Iron, but is a grofs earthy Sulphur, by thereafcti 
 of the ©taken thence ■■, whereas before it was V, 
 2 , ^ , or T? . And by how much the Spirit of Wine 
 is more excellent than common Wine, and © thaa ■ 
 an imperfe(n; Metal, by fo much alfo will the Spirit 
 of Wine and © excel , if they are again feparated, 
 and new fseces fegregated therefrom. But this is 
 not fo neceflary in this place ; 'tis fufficient to have 
 declared the way and reafon of this metalline fe- 
 paration, about which- we have even now treated> 
 "oiz.. That the whole metal , nor the i or ^: part 
 thereof, will become Sot , and the reft remain a 
 metal ^ but the feparation of the pure is very fmall 
 in quantity, in comparifon of the much impurity 
 whence 'tis feparated. Nor let any one think he 
 
 hath not attained the Art , and fo will not reft 
 here, if all things become not © ; 'tis fulficient if 
 there be fome gotten , and that all the Labour is 
 not bellowed in vain. 
 
 By what means Cryflals are to he Conju- 
 red^ and all things to hefeen in them. 
 
 TO Conjure is no other things than mil to obferVs 
 a things to know 
 
 and underjiand what tt ts z 
 Cryjtal is a Figure of the Air-, in which is to hefeeh 
 whatfoever is moveable in the air or unmoveable. The like 
 appears in a Looking-glafs-, in Cryjhal^ and in the IVa- 
 ters., for the Atr^ Water ^ and Cryfials, are all one to 
 Sight ; like a Glafs wherein an Objeil is to be feen, as 
 it were-, reverted. 
 
 (Bfaiili J I do not fully know what Paracelfns 
 intends by this Conjuration of Cryflals, becaufe ic 
 appertains not to the metalline Arts ; but yet it 
 feeras not to be here added without good reafon, 
 fome what he would intimate hereby. We read 
 of the. Ancient P^^gan Philofophers , that they con= 
 jured Cryflals, and beheld in them many wonder- 
 ful things ; the which, whether it be true or no, 
 I leave as I find it, becaufe in my Judgment, fuch 
 an Art feems not natural, but belongs to Diabo- 
 lical Magick , which I have nothing to do with. 
 
 Paracelfns alfo hath elfewhere written of won^ 
 drous Looking-glafies of the fame, and hath taught 
 how to compofe them of Metals , melted together 
 in a certain Time and Conftellation ; the which ma- 
 ny have attempted to do, but not one (as far as I 
 
 o know) 
 
142 
 
 The Third Part of 
 
 Parcl 
 
 know) hath attained the Myftery. It feems very | 
 probable, that he intends by this Conjuration ofj 
 Cryftals, that the Metals are to be made like to 
 pellucid Cryftals, Air, or Water, wherein the foul 
 of the Metal may fliine, if you would fpiritualize 
 them, and make them yield their © and > • And 
 in this Sence it agrees with the aforefaid Chap- 
 ters. . . 
 
 It likewife feems, that the mentioning ot this 
 thing is necelfary for the fake of thofe , who pra- 
 difing on a feparation with t?, have experienced, 
 the Metals are to be firft reduced into Tranfparent 
 Cryftals , before they part with their occult Sol : 
 Which I have elfewhere fpoken more largely of, 
 about Amaiijuj and therefore will here end. 
 
 Of the Heat of Mercury. 
 
 THey that believe that Mercury is of a moifi and 
 cold nature^ mitft lay down the Buckleys^ for "'tis 
 not fo but it abounds with a great heat and moiflvre^ 
 which being naturally planted therein, keeps it alxvaies 
 fluid : For, were it vf a cold and tmifi Nature , it 
 ■would alwaics remain rigid and hard-, likf to cor.geakd 
 Water and were to be melted like other metals, by the 
 heat of the fire, which it (viz. 2 ) hath no need of, be- 
 canfe it hath already a fluidity from keat, whereby it 
 fi^ws, and ts alwates conftraified to live , af:d not to 
 die, grow fit f, congeal, or be fixed. But this is fin- 
 gdarly to be noted, that the Spirits of the [even Me- 
 tals, or of as many of them as are conjoyried in the 
 Fire, are wonderfully provoked and fiirred up, and Mer^ 
 Cury chiefly, and they emit, and fend out their forces amongji 
 each ether, for a mutual l^tilory and Tranfmutation ; 
 the one takes away the Firtue, Life, and Form from 
 the ether, communicating a new Nature and For7n j fo 
 the Spirits or Fapours of Metals art fiirred up by heat 
 and mutual a^ion andpaffion, and are tr an [muted from 
 cne Firtue to another, and at l.fl to PerfcHion and Pu- 
 rity. But what elfe is to be done with ^, that fo his 
 heat and moifture being taken away, he may catch a great 
 Cold, and be congealed, ftand ftill, a>/d die ; do as you 
 hear in the following Figment. 
 
 K' a mofl pure Silver f^eflel, in which (hut up Mer- 
 cury, tl.en fill a Pot with ?/:olten Lead, in the midft of 
 which put in the Veffel with the Mercury ; let it flow 
 a whole day, and the hidden heat will be taken away 
 from Mercury, and the external heat will communicate 
 to it the internal cold of the Lead and ), being both 
 of a cold nature, by which Mercury will grow fiijf, ri- 
 gid, and become hard. 
 
 Note, The Cold which yiercwry hath need of for its 
 hardening and death, is not outwardly perceptible, like 
 Snow or Ice , but is rather hot. Nor is the heat by 
 ■which Mercury flows , felt by the hands , but "'tis ra- 
 ther cold. Berice Sophiflers (that is menfpeaktng with- 
 out knowledge ) pronounce him cold and moifl, andft^udy 
 how to coagulate him with hot thvngs, and thereby rather 
 liqnifie than harden him. Which thing Experience it felf 
 tefitfiith. True Alchymy, winch by one only Art teach- 
 tth to make © and Cout of the Five ImperftEl Metals, 
 tifith no other Receipts, than only from Metals, out 
 of Metals^ by Metals, and with Mttals, are Perfetl 
 jMetals made ; for with Other things it is Luna ; for in 
 Metals It is Sol- 
 ^\m\),'^ Here Paracelfus democftrates their Judg- 
 
 ment to be falfe, who fay that Mercury ( in it felfa 
 meer Fire) is by nature Cold, and returns to lpcak= 
 ing of Spiritual Metals, the which being ftirred up 
 by great heat of Fire , do operate upon one ano- 
 ther, meliorate, change, and advance to perfedion, 
 as hath been taught in the foregoing Chapters. 
 Then he adds a Fable or Story, how to coagulate 
 or fix Mercury ; but it muft not be taken in the 
 literal fence, but of the fpiritual ), whereby Mer- 
 cury is to be promoted to Coagulation, in a moift: 
 way, and not in a dry, as the other Metals are, 
 which Procefs I never yet attempted. Then he fi- 
 nidieth with an univerfal Rule of Tranfmutation, 
 faying, Perfeft metals are made from metals, out of 
 metals by metals, and with metals, and that out of 
 fome ) , out of others © is made. He advtfeth to 
 take no ftrange thing, and only metalline fubjeds 
 are to be taken for this Work out of fomc Lun^ 
 only ; out of others Sol only, or © and > , both are to 
 be extraded, which I have often tried ; as in j,, 
 which of it felf gives only >, Tin> ffjaiidt?, b^" 
 themfelves give only Luna, and pure So/ j buccom- 
 mixt with other Metals in a due proportion, they 
 give only © , and very little or no i : Which 
 maturation is to be afcribed only to the labour and 
 mixtion, which is defervedly to be admired. 
 
 Wljat Matter and Inftruments are needful in 
 Alchymy. 
 
 T 
 
 Here is no fpccial need of any things exceptin/r a 
 Fire-place, Coals, Bellows, Tongs, Hammer, Cru- 
 cibles, Tifi, ( tfCil) fcfjcrbcn) 'i^d Cupels made of gcod 
 Beech.afiies. Then put in h , V, <?, ®, Copper, g 
 and Luna. Proceed to the end of Tj . ^Tis ve-ry difli-. 
 cult and uncertain to find out Metals a>:d Minerals in 
 the Earth and Stones ; yet becaitfe all Metals are to he 
 fir fi fought after and digged out of the Earth, this La- 
 bour ts not to be contemned, but is Praifi-worthy. Nor 
 will this luB and defire in digging in Mines fuoner 
 ccafc, than the love of young Men to Maids will fail 9 
 a'nd as the Bees are greedy of extracli>:g Hof.ey and 
 Wax out of the Rofe, fo prone and forward fliould a 
 Man be, to find out the Minerals in the bowels of tits 
 Earth, but without Covetoufnefs ; he that is overmuch 
 greedy, receives leafi, for God dot h not fill all men with 
 gold and fiver, but with want, ditn'r, dirt, mifry , lOid 
 fcarcity. Some men alfo God beflows a peculiar Intcl- 
 le£l upon, and a piercing knowledge of Minerals and A^l-. 
 tals ; fo that they l^nowafar n.ore compendious way of 
 making Sol and Luna without digging in the Mine-pits, 
 and without the Ex.imen or Trying, and Fufivn of Mi- 
 nerals. So that "'tis not fo altogether necefjary to dir 
 in the Earth for native Sol -«Kd^Luna, but by acertatn 
 knowledge it mi^ht be made of five Species, (but of 
 Minerals become Metals , which are Imperfe^ Mitalj^ 
 and are fo called ) viz. 5 , ¥, T? , Mars, and Cop- 
 per : Of fome more eafily, of other fome more difficultly 
 IS Sol andl^undLtobe had- 
 
 Note alfo. That cur of Argent Vive, Lead , y. 
 Gold and Stiver is eafily made j out of J and 2 diffi- 
 cultly. Neverthclefs ^tis poffible, but in the beginning 
 and accefs o/"Sol'««'^Luna. 
 
 Out of Mngnefia and Lead comes Luna. 
 
 Out of 5 <?w^ Cinnabar arifeth pure Sol. 
 
 Ltkcwife an Ingenious mm (as I well remember') is 
 
 ablt 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Mineral Wor\* 
 
 143 
 
 Me hy due aiteritio» afid frtpu', ation fo to handle a 
 Metdlt as to be able by his uigennity to do more in the 
 Tr.mfmittatioa of Ahtals to perfettio/i ^ and to gutde 
 the f.ime better than all the Signs and Planets of Hea- 
 ■vcn can da. Tis djo rieedlefs to obfcrve the Trvdve 
 Shns and to calculate the /notions and Re^tmeiit of 
 the planets^ and to obferve a time^ a day, the ho^tr of 
 this or that liickcy or un,iickey Planet ; fuch things nei- 
 ther promote nor hind<.r any thim •, ihey neither hurt 
 tior profit ougln in the natural Art of Alchymy : -S^f 
 if th It rightly underfiandeft the art and pojfibtltty 
 thereof^ then go to rvork^ and Labour when thou feefi tt 
 mnfl convenient ; but ifthoit want'' fi the kjiorrledge ai-d 
 tra^ice thereof^ then all the Planets,^ Stars^ and Signs 
 Will xrhnlly fail thee. It alfo comes to pafs^ that metals 
 lying lo'ig in the Earthy are not only changed into Rtijr^ 
 tut by a longer flaying tn the Earthy they return into 
 th.ir N-itive Sto le^ if which fort arc many found ^ al- 
 beit t'jey are not o.Jerved, for there are found slony piecis 
 of Money, of W;^ GentileS) which were Metal heretofore^ 
 and by Curruption were transformed into Stone. 
 
 <5\dwb.~\ Here we are> in the (iril place, taught, 
 that for the making of © and > there needs not 
 many Inltruments nor Species, but the metals are 
 only to be conjoined, but not by the common re- 
 paration or wafliiug : For if you fhould wafh all 
 the metals with Lead, yet would there remain no 
 more © and > than was taken at the beginning -, 
 the relt will defcend with the Lead into the Cupel, 
 and will lie at the top thereof like Scoria ; there- 
 fore he doth again dire(ft to a fpiritual Commix- 
 tion and Philofophical Separation. Alfo he adds, 
 That 'tis an honed , good, and necelTary thing to 
 dig up Metals, but that the other is the more ex- 
 cellent, and that defervedly, for it feparates Gold 
 and Silver by Art from the more vile metals •, for 
 all fuch as apply their minds to metals , do well 
 know with what dangers, cofts, labours, and Cares, 
 they are to be gotten out \ but yet 'tis not there- 
 fore to be abftained from , efpecially fince we la- 
 bour by this Rule , of having a fore-known and 
 certain end of ourpains and work i the which cannot 
 indeed be donein metallickMineings, for we are fre- 
 quently drawn by vain hopes to bellow all our Eftates 
 on the Mines ; and having fpent all in vain labour, 
 we are at laft compelled to delifl: from the Work ^ 
 but yet if it fucceeds well, they yield the more 
 plentiful Returns ; and many Chronicles of Metals do 
 teftifie, Tliat many Poor men have, by the Benefit of 
 a rich Mine- pit, grown moft Rich and Wealthy in 
 a few years fpace. The finding out of Mines there: 
 fore doth wholly confifl; in Chance and Cafualty, 
 where Profit and Lofs are equally and alike to be 
 expeded : The Work is likewife very chargeable, 
 and can't be fet upon by every body? and therefore 
 'tis not for ordinary People , who have but little to 
 lofe, but for rich Men, who, though they lofe much, 
 are notwithftanding able to live , unlefs happily a 
 Poor man lights upon fome Earth or Sand that is 
 very rich in © and ), and other Metals, by the 
 walhing whereof he may get a livelihood ■■, or elfe 
 finding a rich Mine , and fo betakes himfelf to a 
 Rich man for his Copartner, fuch a one as is able 
 to bear the Charges of digging it forth ; and this is 
 often done. But yet be it as it will, the thing is 
 full of uncertainty. , Whereas this Metallurgy , or 
 Work on Metals, which Paractlfus makes mention 
 of, is to be preferred far before the other, if any one 
 (by the Grace of G O D) attaineth the Art, where- 
 by he may with profit e-xtradt the. © or > out of 
 
 the already-digged-up Imperfeft metals, which are 
 every where to be fold. 
 
 But to return to the bulinefs in hand, viz.. To 
 illultrate the Writings of Paraceljus., who defcrved 
 much of his Country. He names fome metals,ouc 
 of which Gold and Silver may eafily be extradcd, 
 and others, out of which 'tis difficult to get it, 
 but in both Sol and Luna is to be added ^ for 'tis 
 profitable, yea, neceflary fthe which 1 have frequent-- 
 ly exhorted to) in the extradion of Gold and Sil- 
 ver out of imperfed metals , and is volatile , and 
 may the more commodioufly make it corporeal and 
 fixt. Then he adds. That Metals, by a longer Hay 
 in the Earth , do die , and return into flones and 
 earth, from whence they had their original. The 
 like happens to Man, and all Creatures :, nor is 
 there any thing in the World? how glorious foever 
 it be, but is vain, empty, and periOiing, but the 
 Knowledge, Love, and Fear of G O D alone. 
 
 A 
 
 What thing Alchymy is'. 
 
 L C H Y M Y is an intention, imagination 1 
 
 ana 
 
 ftiidying^ or conjidering how or Wjertby the Species 
 of Aivtals are tranfmitted from one dearee and nature 
 into anot er. Let therefore every ingenious and undtr- 
 (landing man throughly confider the good Art of Alchy- 
 my, for he that fpeculates and well ftudtes , will the 
 j'coner attain the Art and find out the Truth. 
 
 Note, That very much is to he attributed to the 
 Stars and Stones^ for the Stars are the framers of aH 
 Stones. And all the Cwkfltal Conftellations^ the Sun 
 and Moon^ are in themjelves nothing but flones , from 
 which the Terreflrial Ao arife ^ being as tt were their 
 iiirnt party Ccal^Ajhes^iOittcafi, Excrement^ Expurga-^ 
 tion, from which the Cccleflial Stones feparatinj them' 
 felves , become clear and tranfparent by their proper 
 bnghtnefs : A' d the whole G lobe of theEarth is nothing elfe 
 but a dejecied^fiiddcn down^commi.xtjbroken./'eco^cd Rub', 
 bifih and blown as ''twere into one Mafs , havma ob~ 
 t.iined Refl and Conflancy in the middle Circle of the 
 E irmamc/it . 'Tis atjo to be noted^ that Gemms ( the 
 names whereof I jhall prefcntly mention') together with 
 the ether Stones^ came down into the Earth from the 
 Ccleftial Stones or Stars^ to which they are nearefi tn 
 all pcrfe^ion of Purity^^ Fairnefs^ Bnghtnefs^ Firtue, 
 and Conflaticy^ or Fixity^ and Incorruptibility inthefire^ 
 and are in a manner like to the Cetefital stones and 
 conftellations^ being parts of them , and of the Nature 
 derived from them^ and are found by men in an im- 
 pure grofs veffcl^ and are fuppoftd by the vulgar {who 
 judge raflily of all things J to have been there born or 
 generated j fuch as are found are polifiied^ and are car. 
 rted throughout the World to be fold, and are accounted 
 as great Riches, becaufe of their form, colour, and other 
 FirtueSf of which I am now going to Treat. 
 
 Of (^ctnmi^* 
 
 THe (SmcraltJ is a green Tranfparent ftone ; it helps 
 the Eyes, fuccours the Memory^ defends Chaftity ; 
 the which being violated^ it fclf, viZ. the flone , it 
 hurt. 
 
 The aaamant or 3DiatnonD is a blacks Cryfial ; 'tis 
 called Evax, becaufe it produceth Joy: 'Tisobfciire^and 
 
 OO2 
 
 of 
 
The Third Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 of an Iron colour^ moft hard, is dijfolved mth Goats 
 blood, andixmds not the bignefs of a FtlkrdNut 
 The a^agnct is a ftone of Irofi^ becanfc n attratts 
 
 Iron. , • 
 
 Tfc" St^ai'ptitC " a Pearly and not a i>tone •, tts ge- 
 vcfatcd m \hds, and is rvhite ; for whAtfoevcr ts gc- 
 tierated in Animals^ in a Man or Fifl'-, is not properly 
 a Stone, but only m the opinion of ths vulgar : It ts 
 froperly a depraved Qor a tranfmnted) Nature on a 
 
 Pe-rfdl mrk, . , ^ , . ,. 
 
 The ^lacpnrij is a yellow pdlnctd ftone ; tis aljo a 
 Flower, the which the Potts fain to have been a Man. 
 
 The ^appljil'C IS a S!^e-culoitr ftone, of a Celejtial na- 
 ture. 
 
 The Eubf is a none deeply red. 
 
 Tk Carbuncle 's a n-one of the S«;7, emits light 
 and fplenddtr, like to the Sun tn hts own nature. 
 
 COIQI alfo ts Uke to a ftone, all red, tt grows tn the 
 fea, on wood or a fnruh, of the nature of the Water and 
 Ar ; "'tis prefently changed by the Air, and turns to a 
 fionej grows red, ts tncombuftible in ths Ftre, and there- 
 fore may be efteemcd a Bone. , , r 
 
 "fhe CljalCCtlonP is a ftone with bright and objcitrc 
 colours wit b mixi and cloudy fluidities and colours ^ruddy, 
 like to a Liver, the vileft of all the Gemms, ftnmng with 
 
 every colour. ,r • i • ; 5 • 
 
 The'ilo^a^isaftone,P>mng aljo tn the night; tts 
 
 found in either rocks or ftones. , , „ 
 
 The ametljift fs a ftone of a red and yellow ; tt 
 
 "m Cn'fOpa£fU0 is a ftone fiery in the Night, and 
 in the day'tt appears Golden coloured. 
 
 The Crpaal IS a white tranfparent ftone, hke to Water 
 conjrealed by the Air, and cold, Qrofthe Air and Cold J 
 tt u fubUmated, extra^ed, or (^as they fay) wajhed out of 
 
 othet Rocks- ... . , . n 
 
 And now, for a Conclufton, I will give yon this moft 
 
 ■true farewel. If any one will ufe a right reafonjence, 
 
 and cogitation towards Metals, what they are, and 
 
 whence they come, let him know , that our metals are 
 
 vcthma elfe but the best portion of common ftones ; they 
 
 are the Spirit of the ftones, that is, the Marrow, Oyl, 
 
 Fitch, and Fat of the ftones ; but it is not fincere, 
 
 pure and perfect, as long as "'tis mixt and hid tn the 
 
 ftones ', this therefore is to be fought for arid found m 
 
 ftones] and to be known in them and extraEled from 
 
 them\ and then it is no more a ftone, but a well-wrought 
 
 and vtrftEi Metal , afimilated to the C(£lefti.il Stars, 
 
 the which alfo are peculiar floncs,diftin5tfrom thefe ftones. 
 
 Whoever therefore ts willing to find out metals , let 
 
 him firmly believe this, and thus account. That he mt/ft 
 
 not be only intent on the common Metals, mr have his 
 
 hope placed tn the bowels of the Earth , that fo he 
 
 inight get good Minerals from thence, for often times 
 
 there is above or without the Earth in fight, which is 
 
 not in the profundity and depth thereof, and oftentimes 
 
 is better, and more rich. 
 
 Therefore all Jiich ftones as you meet with, whether 
 great or fmall, as great whole ftones or flints are to 
 be moft accurately jearch'^d or looked into, and to be 
 confidercd of what Nature and Property they arc ; for 
 oftentimes a moft vile Flint is found to be more excellent 
 than any Cow. For the Matrix or Rock,, SbllJUC^, 
 ■whence they are gotten, from whence fuch a Bone did 
 itrife, is not alwaies to be earneftly fought after , that 
 you may have more from thence, for thefe ftones have 
 no Rock , the Heaven is their Rockj, oftentimes alfo the 
 Ahfe^ Earth, Ponder^ and Sand, hath much gold and 
 
 . ftlver Duft, (^cljUc^) which obferve. 
 
 dPlaub.l Here Varacelfus declares what A.'chymy 
 is, whofe words being perfpicuous enough, need no 
 illultration : Then he leads us to the birth of me- 
 tals, the which are generated in the Earth, out of 
 the Stars above : He attributes to Gemms the nea- 
 reft place of Perfedion , but does not intend that 
 we fhould earneftly feek- after them, to have gold 
 and filver from thence, but that the metals fhould 
 be made like thfm , as to their outward Afpeft, 
 and then afterwards the and > is to be extract- 
 ed , to which all the fcope of the foregoing Cha- 
 pters tend, which is to be obferved and enquired 
 into , what his meaning is : Nor are the bare Let- 
 ters alwaies to be trufted to, here is nothing men: 
 tioned by him in vain. What affinity have Gems 
 with the metals ? None at all : And although fome- 
 times the hidden © and y may be extradled , yet 
 he doth not at all intend here that we fhould make 
 that, but repeating the former Dodlrine, he hints 
 unto us. That the metals out of which the © and 
 3 is to be extracted with profit, are to be firft re- 
 duced into foluble or infoluble Glafs, moft like to 
 Gemms-, a good Company of them he here reckons 
 up, and adds to what ufe they ferve ; not that we 
 might learn their Nature, Colour, and Properties, 
 {'as I fuppofej but to teach us, that as they are 
 found different in Colours and Virtues, even fo may 
 the metals be prepared into Colours likeuntothem- 
 He that neither underftands nor will believe , let 
 him feek better things, and get help and afliflance 
 elfewhere. 
 
 Then at length, by way of addition , he con- 
 cludes what Metals arc, and that they are not al- 
 waies to be gotten out of the profundity of the 
 Earth, but are fometimes to be found moft plentiful 
 in moft vile powder, fand, and ftones ; neither is it 
 necelfary to be earneft in feeking their rock or 
 original, whereby more may be gotten, becaufe the 
 Heaven by its operation generates them every where : 
 he reproves men for their blindnefs, becaufe they 
 alwaies gape after great Mines, lying deep, dan- 
 gerous to be found , and chargeable to dig out. 
 That which is laid before their feet , as it were, 
 they difdain to acknowledge, peevilhly afTcftingthe 
 dark, and ftubbornly contemning the light exhibi- 
 ted to them by honeft men, and by an innafe ma- 
 lice they ftudy to extinguifli it. And thus is this 
 Book ended, the which Pareicelfus,z rnoft experi- 
 enced man , hath left behind him, written of Me- 
 tallick things, and is moft full of abftrufe wifdom, 
 although few believe it, to the Elucidation and ex- 
 plaining whereof, I have heretofore uttered my 
 mind, nothing doubting , but that hereafter it wiU 
 be in better elteem with All. 
 
 Indeed I could have written more openly, and 
 explained his tvords more largely, and morcexaft- 
 ly have difcovered his occult fence, but time and 
 want of leifure permits it not at prefent. But if 
 1 feem to any body to have written more obfcure- 
 ly, let him confuft with my other Writings, for they 
 illuftrate one another. 
 
 Now follows the Traxh of the aforefaid 
 Theory. 
 
 THE afore-written Explanation of the Rook 
 (of Fexations) of Par.icclfiis, hath taught a moft 
 
 certain and undoubted Tranfmutation of Metals, 
 
 and 
 
I^art I. 
 
 the. Mineral WorJ\. 
 
 '45 
 
 and hath fufficiently advifed by what means they 
 are to be handled- But becaufc this adion re- 
 <5uires a great experience in metalliclc affairs, I am 
 willing to add fome fpecial waies of Proceeding, 
 and that in perfpicuous words ; but 'tis impofTible 
 to write fo plainly that none may erre ; it would 
 be too prolix, tedious, and unfit, and as if many 
 Elements of the Phylicks, and other fubtile things, 
 were read to a Child that is not capable of under^ 
 Handing them ; the labour thus bellovved, would 
 be wholly in vain : Nor do I undertake to inftruift 
 the Tyroes or Novices in Akhymy^ but fuch as are 
 skill'd in the metaliick labour of fufion, wafhing, 
 reparation, and the like, of a fubtile Intellect and 
 experienced Judgment. 
 
 I would verily have written more clearly, did I 
 rot fear that the Art would become a Trade \ 
 fome will think that I have v;ritten too openly, 
 and will be angry that fuch Secrets are made known 
 to the .World : Who can fatisfie all People ? But 
 be it as it will, 'twill be alwaies good tohavedone 
 a profitable Work for my Neighbour. 
 
 This is the ART. 
 
 WHen thou haft put in the Heaven of T?, and 
 haft made it to flow with its Life in the 
 Earth, then add the Imperfed Metals in a due 
 Weight, '^'/•^- T?,V, c?, 2 5 and a little !) •, let them flow 
 fo long with the Heaven, until with it they difap- 
 pear, and having loft their nature and metalline 
 form, are reduced into earth. This metaliick earth 
 being yet joined to the heaven of T? , and com- 
 palTed wholly round therewith, raife up bythefpi- 
 rit of Heaven, and make it corporeal , and it will 
 receive its former metalline form ■■, but although it 
 be bettered, yet let it be killed three, or four, or 
 five times, and raifed up, that the melioration may 
 be greater, and produce in the feparation more Sol 
 and Luna. There needs no Tyle, ( SBuffcl) Cupel, 
 Teft, (tccib0-fcf)crb£n j Cucurbit , Aqita-fonis^ and 
 fuch like Veffels and Inftruments neceffary in other 
 Metalline Labours, but 'tis perfeftly finillied in one 
 only Crucible, in one Furnace, with one only Fire, 
 and in the fpaceof a few hours, from the beginning 
 to the end. And to fpeak more plainly in this 
 Procefs, the Sphere of ij is the Rcgidus of 5 ^ the 
 Life is a whitening Salt, having its operation and 
 motion from the Fire \ the Earth is the Crucible. 
 And thus haft thou the whole Procefs of the Work 
 laid open, the which I have tried above an hun- 
 dred times in a fmall quantity •^ but let the ftudi- 
 ous Artift, above all things, obferve the Fire, of 
 what original, nature, and virtue it is, and the 
 other things will be the more eafily underftood ; 
 for the 'A'ood, the Coals, and fuch-like burning 
 things, are not the Fire properly, but only its ha- 
 bitation, in which the Fire being occultly difper- 
 fed in the Air, is made manifeft, vifible, and per- 
 ceptible- Even as the Manis not the Life or Soul, 
 but only the receptacle wherein the Life or Soul, 
 being infufed from above, doth lodge : Nor is the 
 man any more a man, but a meer carcafs when the 
 foul expires. In like manner Gold ceafeth to be 
 Gold when deprived of its foul, but is volatile, and a 
 Mineral without colour. Whence 'tis evident,, 
 
 that the Goodnefs of metals confifts not in their 
 bodies, but in their fouls : On this account > is 
 added to the Imperfeft Metals, that it may receive 
 that invifible foul which lies largely difFufed through- 
 out their bodies, that it may colled it, make it vi- 
 fible, perceptible, and corporeal, whereby the mix- 
 tion of both (viz,, oi the Luna and the Soul of the 
 Imperfed Metals) being made, it gets the name 
 of 0. Some body may ask. Whether or m Cold will 
 be produced^ if no > he tiddid to the metallhie mixture ? 
 For anfwer. There will be © produced, but lefs in 
 quantity than if Z-m? were added, becaufethemoft 
 tender Tand as it were incorporeal) golden foul of 
 the iraperfed bodies is not able to quit itfelf and 
 get out by its own proper force , from fo many 
 impurities as 'tis invironed with, without fome other 
 help, nor make a new body^ 'tis needful and good 
 to adminifter and lend to it a body wherein it may 
 be contraded, and thereto betake it fclf, for 
 which the Lma is moftfit ; the which being by a 
 vivifying Fire radically united with the unclean me- 
 tals, and well fubdued or exercifed in the mutual 
 afcenfion and defcenfion , the purer particles ofthe 
 imperfedl bodies do come together in this Circula- 
 tion ofthe Lti»a, adhere thereto, are mixed, and 
 become corporeal, the impure corruptible body be- 
 ing left, and a feparation made of the good from 
 the bad. 
 
 So then, I have now taught perfpicuoufly the Art 
 of extrarting Sol and Luna out of all the Imperfeift 
 Metals, either apart , or conjoined with or without 
 the addition of the Liif!a. If therefore thou atcain- 
 eft to the Art, I am glad ; if not, thou haft no 
 caufe to complain of me, for I have candidly im- 
 parted unto thee the meer and naked Truth. 
 
 Another Separation of Sol and Luna out of 
 the Imperfeh Metals^ by Tj . 
 
 FIrft of allr melt Ti well in a melting VefTel, 
 _ (»>cfjtrlim) add V, c?, and £, mixt in due 
 weight, melt them together, and forthwith the v 
 and i will corrupt the Lead , being reduced into 
 Scori.x like to yellow Earth, and being reduced, they 
 will in part reftore their own Lead and Copper, 
 but the V and i remain like black Sfor«V?, which' 
 are to be kept : Let the Coppery Lead flow well 
 again, and again add v and S, and there will be 
 again made Scoria., which are prefently to be redu- 
 ced- Let this Labour of Scorification and Reducti- 
 on be repeated, until there remain fcarce one or 
 two pound of Lead out of an hundred to be walTi- 
 ed, and you fhall find © and > in part, which the 
 Metals give out from themfclves in this operation : 
 But the Scoria which can't be reduced, let lie well 
 heated red hot, in a peculiar Furnace , for fome 
 daies, and be fixed, and they will give in 
 the reduiftion a golden and filvery 'h or Lead 
 to be wafhed , that fo the remaining © and > 
 which the ScorU drank up, bcingextratled, may be 
 of ufe unto us. This labour fwhich I never tried in 
 great quantity, will doubtlefly ( in my opinion ) fuc- 
 ceed in quantities ; any one may try the thing, and 
 exactly compute how much profit may be thence had 
 every year. 
 
 Pp 
 
 Alfo 
 
14^ 
 
 Alfo the ir.oft Impcrfed Metals may (by the benefit 
 «f Salts r.ot corrolive) be truly and infallibly fixt and 
 waili'd by a p.rticular way , that they may give 
 much © and >, concerning which none need to 
 doubt i the which I having oftentimes mentioned 
 in my Writings, will not repeat it again. 
 
 Metals alio being firft reduced into a Calx, may 
 be purged and walh'd ()y the glafs of Lead, made 
 by the addition of Flints, fo as to yield much Sol, 
 concerning which I have written heretofore : But 
 there's required much T?, whereby the metals may 
 be largely diffufed, otherwifc it will not let fall the 
 ixccs ; nor can its move pure parts be gathered to- 
 jictherinto a body, and concentrated ; I take m the 
 Flints, that they may receive into themfelves the 
 fxccs of the unclean Metals, and fo make a fepara- 
 tion of the pure from the impure. And like as 
 we are wont to mix the whites of Eggs to Honey, 
 Su!'ar, and other Vegetable Juices, in the punfica^ 
 Mon of them by Water, that thereby the vifcouf- 
 ncfs of the juices may be attraded, and fo be cla- 
 rilied. In like manner, the Flints do in this ope- 
 ration occupy the place of the whites of Eggs, and 
 12 of the Water wiierein ^, i, or ¥ isto bedif- 
 Iblved- the Labour is molt plealant and fpeedy, 
 exceeding gainful, if the Crucibles ( perforated by 
 the Litharge) v/ould but hold the mixture, and not 
 let it pais through fo ibon. , „ ^ , 
 
 But whofoever niall be fo happy as to hnd VelTels 
 wdiich can keep in the Glafs of Lead for ten or 
 twelve hours, he need not be fohcitous or careful 
 of other Arts to inrich iiimfelf by. For my own 
 part, I could never be fo happy hitherto, albeit 1 
 have carefully fought it for fo many years. One \ 
 only pound of Iron, 2, or v, doth fometimes yield 
 half, yea a whole lot of Su!, if the Work be right-- 
 ly managed- And if you add a lix'd Salt, as of 
 Tartar or bare Pot-alTics, it will then yield more, 
 but the Crucibles will be the fooncr perforated to 
 our grief. I do believe that one or other will be 
 a curious Searcher after this, and may in due 
 time find how to make this Work fucceed very 
 well, both in Crucibles and in great Fires, or mel- 
 ting places ; and will be thankful to GOD the Gi- 
 ver, and to me the Writer hereof. Heretofore I 
 did fct by this Labour very highly ; and although 
 1 would not then communicate it to any body for a 
 great price, yet now (being not permitted to make 
 any further Progrefs therein) 1 freely bellow it, 
 that others alfo may try their fortune. 
 
 Alfoimperfeft metals arc purged from their com- 
 buriib'.e and noxious falphur, by the fuddain fire of 
 Nitre, of which we have formerly fpokcn about Mer- 
 cury, the which is to be lookton as the moft fpeedy, 
 and as it were a momentary Melioration of metals 
 N. B. efpecially if they are reduced into a folublcfalt 
 without a Corrofivc, for which thing <? and 2 are 
 moll fit, exhibiting a Philofophical Vitriol, the 
 which may be mofl commodioully purifyed to perfe- 
 ction. There's a great fecret lies here under,and haply 
 -leaterthan a particular work may require; let the 
 Poetical fable of ^w" and her fon Cupid be confide- 
 fcd of; what is there meant by C/.^/V/, whether or no it 
 be not 0- Verily I could difcover more good ways of 
 producing •• and ) out of the more vile metals, 
 but becauTe there's enough already fpoken in the ex- 
 plication of the feven Canons or Rules, it fcems good 
 to me to forbear- He that doth not undcrlland that 
 nor can apprehend its drift or fcope, will not be 
 profited by the addition of more things. If the funda- 
 
 The Third Part of 
 
 Part L 
 
 mentals are laid open, any one will conveniently ad- 
 miniller his intent and labours: But yet IvuUadd 
 over and above, a mofl: pleafant work, Parabolically, 
 being the foundation and Bafisof the v\holeAlchy- 
 mical Art, under which is comprehended the radi- 
 cal folution of metals, Conjufin-ion^ Dcjl illation^ Sitbli- 
 fihiii'j/i^ yijctfition^ Defcenfion, Cvhohation^ Ctmi'):tationy 
 CaUi/'iation, Inctration-y and Ftxation-, and fo I will end 
 the work of Tranfmittatiof?. 
 
 There was a man (^ ) who had two fons, (Bifmith 
 or 'I'itiglafs, and y) the younger {^) faid to his Fa- 
 ther fTj), giveme my portion, (Note wcU^Bifmuth 
 and V were always accounted Lead, as well by the 
 Philofophers, as by the ancient workers on metals, 
 the one mz.. Biff»:ith^ they called an afhy colour'd 
 Lead, the other rv)awhite Lead, and this a black 
 Lead,) and behaved himfelf flubbornly and unman- 
 nerly, that is, afcending or getting up; his Father 
 gives it him,and he goes a wandring therewith, (Note 
 well, when V and ^//;«w/j together with Tj do feel 
 the fire, the ¥ is feparated from the T? and Bif- 
 miith, and afcending, takes fome-what from h with 
 it, and becomes a Contumacious •^'conV?, and this is to 
 go a wandring) and he enters into an Inn, vhre <f 
 the Hoft , a>id $ the Hofitfs , had the fign of the 
 VVorld( 6 ) in a hanging Table,who having entertain- 
 ed him, difpoiled him of all his Fathers goods, (So- 
 lution) Then there grew fuch a great fcarcity of Corn 
 (with drought)that all men were even deformed by rea: 
 fon of the Famine fcorruptionj, to prevent which he 
 is enforced to keep hogs, (that is to dwell with fxtid 
 Nitre) and to feed on huskes,(that is Tartar') (incera- 
 tion, imbibition) by which being humbled ('Digcllior, 
 Circulation, Edulcoration, Putrefadiori) he returns 
 to his Father, flncorporation) as a loll Son5(fome 
 thing is made nothing, and nothing is made fomcthing 
 again) he brings forth a new Garment, (.^?7f7/fcfl/;j)he 
 puts a Gold Ring on his finger, (y impregnated v\ith 
 ®) after which he remains confl:ant with his Father, 
 and becomes a good and thrifty Koufcholdcr, that is,a 
 fixt metal. And now that I thus compare this Tranf- 
 mutationofimperfed bodies, efpecially of y to the 
 parable of the lotl Son let no body be therewith 
 difpleafcd, for 1 did it for the eafier knowledge there- 
 of. There lies under it a great fecret,! never obfcrved 
 the like^changes in my whole Labours; for firfl of 
 all, in the Solution appears a blacknefs, which have- 
 ing remained his time, there follows the tail of the 
 Peacock,greennefs and then whitenefs^but whether or 
 noarednefs would follow, if it be detained ion2.er 
 in digeftion, lam not certain, for I never arrived 
 beyond the whitenefs- It is a mofl pleafant Labour, 
 greatly exhilerating the Artificers mind, of fmall 
 charges and little difficulty; if they, find the weight 
 and good veli'els, it fhevvs the way and opens the Door 
 to higher Secrets, happy is he who attains the thingS) 
 he'll never be fatisfyed with the fight thereof, norad- 
 miration,how rich, generous, fair and glorious Na- 
 ture is in her retirements. Note well, that every Me-- 
 tal may be w.alht apart with 'b and Sidts, fo that be- 
 ing exalted, it may yield and ) in fcparacion, and 
 pafs through all colours, but it will not be lb proii- 
 table, as if they were all joined together, for then one 
 operates fpiritually upou the oriier, changcth and 
 pcrfeds him. And now having abundantly difcovcr- 
 cd, how © andf ) is to be extraded out of th.c impcr^ 
 feft metals, and becaufe in that labour © and ) is 
 moft an end jointly together, 'tis very nccclfary to 
 know, by what Art they may befepnraied each from 
 the other, that fo each may be had by it felf, which is 
 I to 
 
Pare 1. 
 
 the Mineral Wor\ 
 
 H7 
 
 to be done thus ; If this mixture hath more © than 
 •y , 'tis moft profitably to be melted by Antimony and 
 precipitated into a Regulus with Iron walhed withNi- 
 tre and purifyed- This work, you may find de- 
 fcribed in my former Books- NB. If the Nitre in the 
 reparation of purification of the Rcguli, prey upon 
 fome of the and > and attraiH; it to it felf. Jet 
 none grieve thereat and account his labour loll, but 
 let him remember the faying of Puracclfus, Defl:ru= 
 ftion or Corruption makes the good perfeift ; The 
 Nitrous Scoria,in which the cleanied Reguli are,let be 
 carefully kept and fixt, then by a ftrong flux let them 
 be reduc'd and you fliall receive the loft Son, much 
 more elegant than he was before it's being loftj fo 
 that hereby you lofe not, but rather become a gain- 
 er- Here would be a fit place to fpeak of a certain 
 profitable work if the drift of the thing would per- 
 mit. Enough is fpoken to a wife man, Fools will not 
 profit by any thing: But if it contain more > than' 
 ©, let the mixture be at firftof all granulated, and 
 burnt with Sulphur, let it be precipitated, either with 
 5 alone or without it, with lead and Salts i thus fepa- 
 rating the © from the > into Reguli •, then wafli it 
 with N itre or with Lead, and let it be purifyed, the 
 work being to be done in like manner. You are to 
 rote that if the precipitation be done with ^ ,then the 
 Cipiit »iort!(iim(Jt'}&lbll\0'^S) is to be added, where- 
 by the work will be apparently haftned and bet- 
 tered. NB- If the Rcguli of the maturated or fixt 
 Metals be coppery or pale, they need not be waflit, 
 but 'twill fufKce if being granulated, they arc pre- 
 cipitated with Salts, and the dipat Mortiutm fiaalfi 
 BoptFj all the ® and )will come forth in peculiar 
 Reguli, the Copper and the Lead will be fcorifyed, 
 and may in acute Furnaces (Sticlj otcil) be reduced, 
 and beaplyed to other ufes according to the rule 
 of Art. I judge it inexpedient to heap up more 
 things concerning Extrat^ion (Scigercn) wafliing, and 
 the icparation of metals, being every where men- 
 tioned in my other writings. Alfo it will be need- 
 
 ] lefs to explain, by what manner metals may be more 
 I commodiouily melted fo as to yield more and better 
 ; metals, as alio how the poor and rough Minerals 
 that abound with a preying and devouring Sulphur, 
 whereby the metal in its fulion, is turned into Scor'u;^ 
 and afibrds fo little profit, that being not able to 
 quit cofl, they remain unmanaged,the which Sulphur 
 efpecially in the Minerals of Copper and Lead, may 
 by a lingular Cement or Grr.datory fire, be inverted 
 and changed, fo that afterwards in their fulion. It's 
 fo far fromfwallowingiip the metal, and turning of 
 it into Scorui^ that it rather exalts it fo as to give 
 in the feparation, the which could never have been 
 done without this burning or roafling. No body 
 doth throughly fearch after any help for this or that 
 metal, either before the melting or in the melting of 
 it, if the grofs fire is not able to melt it down, but 
 mofl frequently the belt part remains in the Scoria 
 without profit or ufe. 'Tispoflible foran experienced 
 Chymift, profitably to extrad that ® and > which the 
 Scoriahave fwallowed up, what by fufion and by ad- 
 hibiting fuitable Moifiniums. A work of this na- 
 ture hath been hinted in my difcourfe of the Extra- 
 (ftion of Flints, and more fliall be likewife mentioned 
 when I come to write of the felicity and hidden 
 Treafures of Cermnny^ which time let the Reader 
 with patience exped. A nother benefit would arife to 
 fuch as work on metals, if they had the perfed 
 way of feparating > and feparating the by pre- 
 cipitation, that lies therein, ('ipcilicf fecljlaijl); that 
 it may not be fo unworthily walled with the > by 
 the Artificers. 
 
 And thus I conclude this Appendix or addition to 
 the Mineral work, the which I have brought forth 
 to light with a good will for my Neighbours fake, 
 that fo, being accepted with a ferene mind, the Glo- 
 ry of God may be thereby advanced ^ for which end 
 I wifli with all my heart a divine berjcdiiftion on the 
 Labours of every honelt and adive fearcher into 
 the metalline aflairs- Amen. 
 
 •5? ^ *^ ^ T* ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ <*> I T* <«> f^ r5) •«> TO '5> *yi> •!* 1f> fW tTt r5» 
 
 *t^ ^Ip ^.i<j ^ d^a =r. Ja ^-4.0 ^1f ^ ms ^I^ ^la ] ^^ ^iff <^ rfs ^ ^1s ^ ti X4 m^ <;% ^Cs ^ Itii ^ r^i §» 
 
 The APOLOGY of 
 Againft the Lying Calumnies of 
 
 CHRISTOPHER FARNNER- 
 
 'Tis an ancient Proverb, He that toucheth Tiung is defiled^ and will alwaies fayoilr 
 of a VunghiU. Experience makes it evident. 
 
 I Ever hated Qparreling, as more agreeable to 
 the Peviflinel's of Women, than the more Ge^ 
 nerous Temper of Chriftian Men •, and have, 
 as much as I might, alwaies declin'd it, being 
 rather defirous to fuflrr injuries, to bear loiles, by 
 filence to forgo thofe things I might lawfully lay 
 
 claim to, to undergo any thing, fo that I might 
 enjoy my beloved Peace ( with which GOD has 
 bleil me hitherto). Neither have I ever, fo long 
 as I have liv'd in the World , ( and I am pretty 
 ancient ) been taken, by the worll of men, for a 
 contentious Perfon : But perfidious F.unmr, unpro- 
 
 P p 2 vokedj 
 
148 
 
 Glauber's Apology 
 
 Part h 
 
 Yoked, urges mc to this vindication of my felf,by 
 going about not only to hurt my peifon, but alfo 
 by a" Pride no Icfs than his Envy, to explode and 
 defame all my Writings, and by infamous Letters 
 difperfed abroad, to render me odious to all good 
 men- Which vfickcd Enterprize, though I heard 
 of it by many, 1 durfb not believe, fill a printed 
 Epifllc of his came to my hands , which having 
 pcrufcd, I thought 1 could not enough admire his 
 detcftable Impiety, and the many fcandalous names 
 he had for me. 
 
 Art thou not adiamed Farmer, to expofe my 
 Works to the contempt of others, when thou nei- 
 ther doft, or ever canft underftand 'em, and before 
 now haft praisM 'em, as may be proved from your 
 own hand ? I'm fure I never merited that you 
 fliould cavil at me where-e'er you come, and pro- 
 claim my Writings unprofitable- You ought ra- 
 ther all your Life, in confideration of the many bene- 
 fits you have receiv'd at my hands, to have beha- 
 ved your felf as a Man grateful to me ; but inftead 
 of that, notw.ithftanding the Obligation that lies 
 upon you to the contrary, you have defpightfuUy 
 recompenfed all my kindnefs with the bafeft Ingra- 
 titude, which is diredly oppofite to goodnefs- 
 
 To what end do you deny that you had your grea- 
 teft knowledge from me , and in the mean time ex- 
 
 pofe it as your own, and upbraid me from whom 
 you had it ? 
 
 I never before believ'd you unfaithful, but al- 
 vvaies thought you candid, and have communicated 
 fo great things to no man as to your felf- I believe 
 you will not deny your coming twice from Lochpovia 
 to me at Kttz.twa , and entreating me to communi- 
 cate fome Secret to you, whereby you might get a 
 livelihood. Have you not been forced twice, being 
 rcpulfed, to return home with this Excufe , That I 
 wanted time to inflruft you ? And when you came 
 the third time, I fuffered my felf to be perfwaded, 
 and did communicate fome Secrets to you oratis^ on 
 this confideration, That you fliould impart thofe 
 things wherewith I trulted you, to no man without 
 ray leave ^ which you promifed by an Obligation, 
 (viz.. That you wou'd keep all things fecret) under 
 the penalty of Difgrace, and the forfeiture of all 
 your Goods. Why haft thou falfified thy \A/ord, 
 and contrary to thy Promifes, fo wickedly ridicul'd 
 me among all men , when with thy whole Family 
 thou didft promife to be faithful to me ? Not only 
 Obligations, but alfo thine own Letters are Witnef- 
 fes: Neither do I queftion, that if I had loft or 
 wanted them to convince thee, thou wouldft have 
 denied, and that with an Oath, that thou waft ever 
 beholden to me for any thing, as thou haft already 
 begun, and as thou in thy fpightfiil Writings de- 
 fpifeft all my Secrets, and proclaimeft thine (which 
 yet are mine) withpraife- You doubt whether or no 
 the reading this will make me repent that I ever 
 truftcd you with fo many things, which 1 had never 
 {Tone, had not you obliged your felf to labour di= 
 ligently with me in my Laboratory , to produce 
 tlK)fe things for the profit of us both. But what 
 (an I do with them ? They are periflied and gone 
 which yet might fufficiently have iliftaind both you 
 and me, had not you made 'em publick. 
 
 I pray. What gain can you hope for from them, 
 - now they are every where known ? Wherefore when 
 1 fee thofe things taken from me, and by you impar- 
 ted to all men, in fpight of me, for your own advan- 
 tage, I think lit Cfor 1 cannot hope for any farther 
 
 profit from them privately j to make 'em known to 
 the World -, and by the Grace of G O D, I may live 
 without them : But it I alfo fliould buy all thy goods 
 which thou unjuftly pofi'elleft and felleft to every man, 
 of thee, and diftribute them about the world , thou 
 wilt fee thou canft not eafdy recover them, or others 
 in their room- I indeed will give you nothing for 
 the future, neither can my unfaithful Servant, whom 
 you have made as good as your felf, give you any 
 thing, for whatever he hath learn'd of me thefe 
 two years, he has given you, which you alfo have 
 laid up among your own wares and expofed to fale- 
 Who will hereafter truft you, you have fo wickedly 
 deceiv'd me ? Every man will abominate you, and 
 fliun your Partnerfliip and Company, neither unde- 
 fervedly, for the Laws of your own Obligation make 
 this your Fate : So the merit of the Crime fliall re- 
 turn upon the Author, and you can be more fure 
 of nothing, than that Divine Vengeance will pur- 
 fue you. 1 coiifefs indeed fome others, as well as 
 you, have injur'd me, but none by fo wicked an 
 ad; j whom neverthekfs GOD (to whom I refer'd 
 my Caufej hath fo feverely punifhed, that each of 
 them, by one caufe or other , has brought upon 
 himfelf his deferved Reward of Punifhment- But 
 I had yet farther tolerated you to exercife your 
 Trade at your pleafure ; neither had I followed you 
 to Lochgovia, to urge your Obligation to you, but 
 had committed Vengeance to GOD; only for that 
 you were not content to fell thofe things publickly 
 for your filthy lucre, which you had of me, and. 
 which you obliged your felf to keep fecret, and to 
 take that profit to your felf which was due to me, but 
 alfo you have rendered me, and the things you had 
 from me, odious ", which has been fo much to my 
 difadvantage, that I can no longer bear, but am 
 now refolved to the utmoft to refute thofe impious 
 and lying Calumnies, which you by your Letters 
 have fent into the world concerning me, and to de- 
 fend my felf and my Works , againft which you 
 have fo wickedly inveighed, that all the world may 
 fee how great your perfidioufnefs has been towards 
 me, and that your Heart aifted by Hellifh wicked- 
 nefs , has raged againft me with horrid Lyes, Taunts 
 and Reproaches, contrary to all manner of Ecjuity : 
 You muft needs know, that nothing can be more 
 troublcfome to me , than to fpend that time in re- 
 proving your Lyes, which I could othcrways em- 
 ploy to greater profit ; wherefore I Oiall anfwer 
 your trifling ftories as briefly as is poflible- Every 
 wife man will enfily fee how frivolous your Excufe is. 
 Do you think that any honeft man will believe you, 
 if you fay you don't owe the greateft of your 
 Knowledge to me ? No furely, for no man is igno- 
 rant of it : About two years fince, you did not 
 know how to bring a Crucible to the Fire, much 
 lefs to make a trial of Brafs ■, which you did not 
 learn of me, but my unfaithful Servant taught ic 
 you, whom you for that caufe efteem ; yet feeing 
 you know fo much, how lawfully may I complain 
 of him, what a Rafcal he has been to me, and that 
 you for that very reafon have taken him to your 
 felf, that you may fifli from him whatever he had 
 learned in thofe two years he ferved rae ; although 
 he did not fhun you, becaufe he was unwijling to 
 communicate thofe things he had learn'd of me to 
 
 any man elfe. 
 
 And fo you make your felf Maflcr of my Se- 
 crets, and Covenant with him to undo me and 
 mine : Is this the part of a good man ? You do not 
 
 only 
 
fart I. 
 
 agaitiH Farnner. 
 
 149 
 
 only expofe thofe things you had of me, but thofe 
 alfo which my perfidious Servant has lince given 
 you to be fold at a price, when you have no right 
 to fell another mans goods, to which you have no 
 title. We'll come to the point and expofe all your 
 wickednefs, as well your impious fpeeches, as per- 
 fidious actions, to the view of the world : But firft 
 of all, I will lay before you the obligations you 
 gave me, as mod fure pledges of your truth, that 
 by the review of them, you may judge your felf 
 how honeft you have been, and how faithfully you 
 have kept your promifesi and every man (hall 
 thence fee, (efpecially thofe among whom you have 
 fo wickedly ridicul'd mej with what bafe ingrati- 
 tude you have recompenfed all my Favours. 
 
 The frfi Ohligation ivhich FARNNER gave 
 MCy runs thus; 
 
 Forafmuch as the mofi excellent and learned 
 Mr. John Rudolph Glauber, moved hy a fwgular 
 ajftiiton towards vie, has commiwicatedt jhewen and 
 demonftrated to me undernamed^ fame of thofe fecrets 
 whereof he is Mafter^ and hath enjoined me to filence ; 
 / therefore bind my felf, and fromife upon ?ny Credit 
 and Reputation^ and call God and ?ny chrifiian fro- 
 fe/ftort to witnefs^ that I will divulg^e none of thofe 
 thinirs to any man living : bttt if it be fo {which God 
 forbid) that I do at any time communicate any of thofe 
 things to any man, then I fiutl mofi willingly renounce 
 all my right in thofe Coods^ tnovables or immcvabks^ 
 which I jhall fojjefsy and give him abfolute power to 
 take them to himfelf^ and convert them to his own itfc and 
 advantage: and not that only., but I give htm far- 
 ther power to proclaim me perfidious and wicked^ 
 to defame me and make me abominable to all men, for 
 which reafon^ the laws of Silence Jhall be obfervcd by 
 me mofi firiStly. Nay farther^ in confideration of the 
 many benefits he has befiowed on we, / give up my felf y 
 my beloved w'lfe^ and my children to Jerve him m ail 
 things lawful and honefi, to go when and where he 
 fleafes, and to eafe his labours ; and if he dye firfi, 
 (which God avert") to be alike ferviceable to his whole 
 Family^ which care he alfo has promis''d to me and mine.- 
 J promife then, (if my Fates grant me life) that I will 
 be to my tit mofi, ferviceable to him fo long as he lives : 
 Jnwitnefs whereof,! have hereto fct my hand and feal. 
 Given at Kitzinga, the 15th '^^J^o/ June, 1652. 
 
 Teftis, SpirenfisCanonicatus Qiisflor, Lochgovia & 
 Borrhemi. Cljjiaop&crujJ j^acnnmisf. 
 
 The fecond Ohligation. 
 
 T Chriftopher Farnner, for the time being Canonlcate 
 Q^<tfior o/Spire,Lochgovia andHorrheme, in the 
 Dukedom of Wirteraberg, '^o all by whom thefe prefents 
 p)all be read, make known^ that the mofi excellent and 
 learned Mr. John Rudolph Glauber for little or no re- 
 war d^ has communicated fome of his fecrets to me, and 
 with me made a covenant after this manner ^ That I mnfi 
 
 oblige my felf for what he hath already done, Cfr hereafter 
 Jhall do for me, to be all my life thankful, not only to him^ 
 but to his Children alfo. But for as much as ^tis most cer^ 
 tain, this life Will have an end, bttt we k^ow not the time 
 when^ the firfi- Obligation is not full and clear enough^ 
 and far that caufe I bind my felf and promife, (fo help 
 mc God) and fwear by the King of Heaven who always 
 bears witnefs to the Truths and farther^ upon my Credit 
 and Reputation, for the pre fer vat ion whereof every Chri- 
 fiian man jhould be induc'^d to keep his promife, if (which 
 that God would in mercy avert, J Jliall not ceaje to put 
 lip my daily Prayers) the above named Mr. Glauber 
 and his beloved wife fliaJl die, and leave their Children 
 unmarried^ I do oblige my felf by this mofi fotemn Oath^ 
 to cbferve faithfully, and as a Chrifiian man ought, theje 
 following things : viz. / will forthwith take his Children to 
 an inheritance with mine^ and to my utmofi sktU, infiruit 
 them in the fecrets of their dead Father, and flicw them 
 all things reejuifite and neceffary, as fully as to my own 
 Children; and that after this manner. That what ever of 
 their Parents heritage belongs to them, they fhall wholly 
 P^Jfefi, and they (flail lawfully demand it as their proper 
 due^ and if any thing goes from him, I will redeem it, fo 
 that my Children pall lay no claim to it: on the contrary, 
 (for thofe fecrets communicated to me, which hereafter 
 tnay redound to my profit) 1 make the aforefaid Mr*' 
 Glauber's Children Hens with mine, that they may 
 be admitted equally to ;»y Efiate, and alike enjoy the 
 Goods of me living: But if I Farnner, contrary to my 
 expell^ation,jliall depart this World before Mr. Glauber, 
 he is bound to in fir iM my Children in his An, accord- 
 ing as they are qitaltfyed,only fo far, as that thereby they may 
 get their living, and that they may not be biirdcnfome 
 to him. He 7nay at his pleafure infiruU: him that he 
 pall efieem mofi fit in fome fecret, with which he Jhall 
 afterwards teach his Brethren to get themfelves main- 
 tenance. And for the fame caufe, I call my little Son 
 Alexander, and fnrrender him to Mr. Glauber and. 
 his fer vice, fo that he may keep him as long as he Jhall 
 be willing, and it Jhall not be in my power to take him 
 from him according to the agreement we have both 
 made with hmi : all which things are refirain^d to this 
 on either fide. That if the Parents of either part die be- 
 fore their Children are provided for, which God forbid, 
 and our Children Jhall be free by the early death of 
 their Parents, then each Jhall to his utmofi, provide for 
 his own Children^ 
 
 That all thefe things may be obferved the more firmly.^ 
 I afilx my Seal and name, and by my own hand writings 
 oblige my felf fo, that if at any titne I falfify my 
 word, my Children may be calPdto witnefs ivy perjury. 
 Given at Kitzinga the loth 0/ September, in the year_ 
 1652. Ctuiflop^EC jfarnncr, 
 
 NB. I did not require this obligation of F^r;7»fr J 
 neither wou'd I have taken it, but admonirti'd him to 
 be true to the firft, with which I was content; for 
 he gave me this for no other reafon, but to get 
 more out of me: But, becaufe I had found out his 
 cheats, and he wou'd not be advis'd for his own pro- 
 fit, he at laft makes mention of this new obligation, 
 in a certain epiftle of his, thinking thereby I was 
 obllgM to a farther communication of my Art to him, 
 tho I have often told him, that I valu'd not this laft; 
 obligation but wou'd give it him again: But when he re- 
 fus'd to take it, I cancell'd it, and kept it by me, 
 for this reafon, that it might be feen how he had 
 bound himfelf by this new Obligation , which 
 certainly he wou'd jiever have done, without ve- 
 ry good caufe. Q.q Ex^ 
 
150 
 
 GlauberV Afology 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ExPreftons gathered out of certain of Farnner'j 
 Epijtles lent to me ; from which is evieleut 
 hom greatly be is beholden to me. 
 
 THerefore I faithfully ajfure you^ that I will flwrtly 
 leave my Hoitfe ^ and take a Journey farther 0/, to 
 frovide for my Family ; my Wife too is very willing to 
 ffo with me, and to he intereftcd in our agreements^ hut 
 J can't fee what jiion'd oblige her to it, when it can't he 
 eff'e^ed very commodioHJiy : Tet J refolve^if nothing ex- 
 traordinary hinder me, after eight dales ^ that is, on the 
 -*th. <^.ty 0/ April, to depart hence, and then anfwer 
 yonr moft friendly Letters, together with my beloved 
 Wife, and all my Family^ to ta^part wit h you in a/l your 
 ^ Labours, and helpyoH with the great eft diligence. But be-. 
 " cattfe I intend to be fo fuddenly with you, I fliall write no 
 more at this time. March 26th. 1653. 
 
 Out of another Epillle, July 17th- 1653. 
 
 I Hope you will excufe me, that I did not come to you, 
 hecaufe hindered by my Wife's fault tnefs^ who telUng 
 weflie wou'd come with me, privily laid Obftacles in my 
 ■way ^ this ojfcnce wou'*d not dcftroy a Knave : Wherefore 
 I avain ir.treat you not to caft me off, hut continue your 
 won ted favour to me ; and J fiall endeavur in my place to 
 give you ample Jatisf action ; neither jhall any thing hin- 
 der my f pee dy performance of what I have promifed. 
 
 Out of another Epiftle, July 29th. 1653 ■ 
 
 FOrafmuch therefcre as J have hy the wicked deceit of 
 my Wife broken the many Promijfes I made of coming 
 to you unlefs I wou'd have taken her wicked Amafius orga- 
 lantjj Companion in the Journey ; it has at length plea fed 
 God to take htr away, and fo put me in a capacity, Worthy 
 Sir of ferviniT you without the leaf: impediment , where- 
 fore 1 give my f elf wholly to your Commands : ylnd altho* 
 I have been perfwaded by perfons of principal Atthority to 
 ?narry aq^ain, 1 will not, hut commit my f elf to be managed 
 hy your'counfel, as you were my Father. Therefore, f nee 
 we are parted, if my Fates grant me Life and Pro- 
 fperity I will come to you, and commit my felf to your 
 guidance and proteClion, Worthy Patron ; for which rea- 
 fon I fi)all forbear to write any thing at this time of your 
 Laboratory, more than what I fee in your Letters, that 
 all things may proceed the more regularly. Wherefore, 
 though J have been folicited hy many, yetflialt reject all as 
 muc% as I may commodioufy, in hopes of this, that when 
 J have fr ft gotten your conjtnt, I may communicate my la- 
 bour to lome, whereby I may get a good Sum of Money : 
 But thefe things flia! I be deferred till our happy meeting. 
 
 In another Epiftle he faith ; 
 
 'T^Hat he was confident he could find out all my Art hy 
 my Writings, except that the f^ejjels do not alwaies 
 abide the Fire, and th.it the Apothecaries refufed to buy 
 his Medicines, unlefs he would teach them the way to pre- 
 pare''em : Again, he would give /ne Fifty R. Dolkrs for 
 each month, for my part ^ as may heftiewn from himfilf ; 
 thefe are his words : And if he was not obliged to me, why 
 WQuldhe give me Fifty R. Dolkrs each Month ? 
 
 From all which (and much more I might add, 
 which tor brevities fake I omit) it evidently appears, 
 that Farnner was obliged to me, which lie would 
 never have been, had not he recdvM fome benefit 
 
 from me, which render'd him bound to me : But if 
 he is oblig'd to me, why was he fo wicked, as in his 
 lying Epiftlesfo malapertly to defpifejand difparage 
 me and my Secrets, which he had from me ? Hence 
 then every man may perceive what they ought to 
 judge of him, that he has both behav'd himfelf molt 
 perfidioufly wicked toward me, and alfo, that he 
 has fufficiently dedar'd himfelf the moll ungrateful 
 in the World. 
 
 But that no man may fufpeift that I wreft any 
 word of Farnner^, in his obligations given to me, 
 to his difadvantage, or my own ends, I have taken 
 care to have his own hand-writing view'd by No- 
 taries and Witnefles, who will atteft, that what I 
 have printed is word for word the fame with what 
 I have in writing under his own hand. 
 
 A Specification of thofe Chymical Secrets which 
 Farnner /c^jj'w'^^o/ Glauber, and in the trial found true, 
 and of thofe which yet are found and brought to trial ; 
 where tt muft he known, that thofe, of which there is no 
 mention made here, if Glauber jhould relate them , they 
 would 7J0t anfwer his expectation in PraUice^ according 
 to his information : Alfo the Charge which he muft be at 
 who will make trial of thofe Secrets after a right man- 
 ner, is here added, 
 
 I. Glauler'sPanacea, for 30R. Dollers. 
 
 A Bout which thefe things are to be confidered : Jt is 
 made chiefly of Antimony ^ to which, according to 
 his common way. Sulphur is added ; which done, another 
 Separation is made,in which,from a whole pound of Sulphur 
 and Antimony, no man jhall receive more than three oun- 
 ces of the pur eft Sulphur. There are indeed two other 
 SubjeHs, which produce a golden Sulphur better than Anz 
 timony ; hut J have found a way to extract a thick_ and 
 pure Sulphur from all fort s of Metals (^except Luna and 
 Sol J and Minerals, and after GlauberV manner to make 
 TmClures- All thefe Secrets annexed will be taught for 
 the price named, 
 
 2. To reduce J\iinerals andjktttals into Drofs, after 
 Glauber'-f way, to reduce them to nothing, and then with- 
 out Charge to bring them to their own Species again , or 
 to turn them into fluid Oil, or Powder, or TmElures ; 
 which things hear an affinity to thofe above : For Twenty 
 R.DoUers.' 
 
 3. Glauber'i Alkaheft, and a way to prepare it, per. 
 haps unknown to Glauber, and built upon a more firm 
 foundation ; Fifty R. Boilers. 
 
 4. The Trial of all forts of Brafs, hut not of every 
 fort at once, for every one tnuft have a particular Pra- 
 Hice. 
 
 5. To make ftore of Flowers of Coral for a little 
 Coji ; ten R. Dullers, 
 
 6. To make melted Tin hard, that it fliall Jlnne and 
 found like ^Silver'}; Ten R. Dollers. 
 
 7. To make white Fitrifications upon Veffels; for Ten 
 R. Dollers. 
 
 8. Plentynf Spirit of Salt. 
 
 This is not prepar''d after GlauberV way, and though 
 Glauber was fo great a Lyir as to affirm , that in a 
 clear Fire fifty pound of this Spirit might be prepared 
 in one day, yet he cannot produce above one or two pound -• 
 Wherefore my invention is much better, and my Spirit is 
 pure, but Glauber'^ has Vitriol mix''d in %t. 
 
 And though I gaveQXzvbtX a great Sum of Money to 
 communicate thefe Secrets to me, yet 1 have not jcund 
 
 any 
 
Part I. 
 
 againft Farnner. 
 
 15^ 
 
 any of them trne^ according to bis Information^ hut was 
 fain with "reat induftryy to feel^ other waies of working 
 thofe ahvvenamed. 
 
 And for theft th.it follorv-, though they may feem to he 
 derived to me from Glauber, ytt they have not fucceed- 
 ed by his Information, iitt I was forced to go another 
 way to work, which will hardly be found ^j Glauber. 
 
 9. To prepare good fiore of the Spirits of Vitriol, 
 Nitre, Salt, Aqua fortis, Aqua Regis, alfo Swlphur, 
 after a manner not yet k^orvn, and which will fcarce be 
 known to Glauber ; forty R. Dollers. 
 
 lO- To produce plenty of volatile Mineral Spirits^ 
 which Spirits afcend the Still before the Phlegm -, but the 
 ahovenamed after the Phlegm. 
 
 NB. Thefe Spirits have the fame tafle that Spirit 
 of iVtne h.ith , and evaporate like it ^ and are void of cor-, 
 roding : neither do I doit'ot^ but I can produce fitch Spi- 
 rits from Aiitals alfo, though in metalUcks 1 have made no 
 trial yet. 
 
 1 1 . Flowers of Minerals and Metals, almofl without 
 diminution^ compendioitjly under a refrigeratory cover, 
 which Glauber never faw ; Ten R, Dollers- 
 
 1 2. The Quinteffence of all l^egetables : Although 
 Glauber) in his Iraii^ promifed to bring that alfo to 
 ii?ht, ytt he never performed it from all y'egetables^ but 
 only from hot, which give Oil, which is of no moment; 
 Bin that from cold, to wit^ Herbs, is artificial. Thirty 
 R. Dollers. 
 
 1^. To give new flrcngth to dead and eager Wines, 
 and make them as good as ever, or better ; Two Hun- 
 dred R. Dollers. 
 
 NB- Note here ) That I very much run againft 
 Glauber'^ Tra^ of Vinary Secrets ; and if my own 
 Jndiiftry had not taught me more than that ^ I 
 mi^ht indeed, accordi>ig to his infiruUion^ encreafe the 
 ilrength of Wine, but with an ingrateful relijh^fo as 1 
 could never hope to try eager Wines according to Art. 
 But now I cannot only bring to maturity all forts of Li- 
 quors from bothfiveet andfowre Grapes, and other forts 
 of Fruits, and give them new firength in the Hogjliead, 
 but alfo render them pallatahle to all men. Whoever 
 hath tajled GlauberV Wines, and jh.tll afterwards tafh 
 mine, will eafily difcern a difference, 
 
 1 4. To give any Wines what relijh I pleafe, 
 
 15. To prepare a burning Spirit of all forts of 
 ^read-Corn in abundance, with great eafe and pro^t, 
 very much like that whic'j is made of the Dreggs of 
 Wine, and fuftaining all Trials : There are already eight 
 founds of it in trial, whether they will bear a f^oyage 
 by Sea, or not ; they arefent beyond Sea, which if they will 
 undergo ; Two hundred R. Dollers. 
 
 NB- Further, I knew how to reduce all burning Spi- 
 rits into one form; aS^ the Spirit 0/ Juniper, or Bread- 
 Corn, like to Brandy, or to makefpint of Wine like fpirit 
 of Bread-Corn or juniper, fo that it fiall not be dif- 
 cernedof what fubje^ ^tis made. 
 
 Neither do I doubt ^ but that J know alfo how it comes 
 to pafs, that fome Liquors carry'^d beyond Sea, are corrup- 
 ted: Whichtherefore,ifbythe benefit of this trial, the 
 Certainty is made kl'own to me, a good reajon, and after 
 what manner it may be help'd, may be learn' d of me for 
 « trip. 
 
 16. To encreafe the firength of all forts of Beer, that 
 theyjliall have equal Ftrtue with R.henilh-W^<»e, and yet 
 the Beer lofe nothing of its relifii, but be both more plca- 
 fant and durable ; for when thus order'' d, it will not fofoon 
 futvre ; but tf it be decay''d, which will happen to Wine in 
 time, the F'megar which will arife from it, wilt be as 
 good as Wine- Vinegar -' fifty R. Dollers, 
 
 i~. To give fuwre Beer its natural fweetnefs^ a>id in 
 
 fourteen days to make it fell for fre^ ; and fo,thoiigh turn'd 
 three or four times, to make it fweet in fourteen dates 
 time without fail. 
 
 1 8- To produce Vinegar of Bread-Corn, and fitch other 
 things^ very like Wine-'Vine? ar in all thinrrs.withoutfail ; 
 fifty R. Dollers. 
 
 19. To prepare Vinegar of green woods, an Hundred, 
 meafiires daily , together with Oil of Wood, without 
 Charge ; but if any man will have this like other yme- 
 gar^ it requires retlifying, which will ask fome time and 
 cofi- : Ten R. Dollers, 
 
 20. Although Gh\ihcr delivered in a little Tra^,a 
 Way to makf Tartar of the burnt Lees of Wine, yet I have 
 alwaies committed many Errours, by following his very 
 Oral infiru^ions, till bethinking myfelf, I at lafi made 
 it with fruity and plainly reduced it to Cryflals. 
 
 NB. Whoever will follow the Directions of that TraSl^ 
 may. 
 
 x\. To fepar ate every Oar of Copper with profit, and 
 from thence to produce Gain. 
 
 22 . Of that fort of Copper Oar, if by chance they have 
 any ) from thence , to fepar ate it with fruit, without 
 lofs of the Copper and Lead. 
 
 23. To fepar ate Lead from Tefis and Cufels, for fmall 
 Cofi, and as little Labour. 
 
 24. To fepar ate Cold and Silver by melting, 
 
 25. To build a Furnace, in which one may both torrifie^ 
 melt, and try Metals in the Probations of Cineritium ; 
 containing the fmall Trials of an hundred Crucibles, 
 or mort, only he.it with Wood. 
 
 26. Further, a Furnace, in which, without Bellows, 
 one jnay try a good quantity by the Probations of 
 Cineritium. 
 
 And Laftly, Forafmucb as the lejfer Trials have de- 
 ceived me, if I went to work, on a greater quantity, I 
 will teach wherein my chief skill confifis. 
 
 1. In the leffer trial I have found, that with the 
 Spirit of Wine, as "'tis generally prepared , 1 can make an 
 Anatomy of all Vegetable, Animal, Mineral, and Metal- 
 lick^ Subje^s, feparate their three Principles^ make the 
 volatile fix^d, andthefix'dvolatiki and force ''em through 
 a Limbeck. 
 
 2. To force the Anima and S. tit of Gold through the 
 Limbeck, and to reduce it, well mix d with its Spirit and 
 volatile Salt, into a potable body like Vegetable Effences. 
 
 Bat becatife Gold may be reduced intofuch a fort of Ef. 
 fence, it will not be very hard to render the imperfect 
 Metals and Minerals, with their Three Principles, pota- 
 ble : and thefe Principles are in fepar able in their volatili- 
 ty ; wherefore I doubt not but they may hefix''d. 
 
 3. Furthermore, I have found by fnutll trials the way 
 of taking all Corrofion from all Corrofive Spirits, by this 
 general Spirit, and of reducing them ( by the help of Di- 
 vine Providence ) into fweet Oils or Mcnflruums ; which 
 if it anfwer the defire in large quantities, (and J don't 
 doubt it) Glauber with his Alkaheftj which indeed is 
 not wholly to be defpis''d,mufi be forced to hide ■' for I have 
 hopes, that by the ajfifiance of Divine Providence, what- 
 foever fubjeEi Jfiiall propofe to myfelf, I can feparate and 
 purge its three Principles ;laftly, join them, and foproduce 
 abater fubje^t and more pure : But ''tis true.^ feeing \ was 
 fo often deceived in the leffer trial, I did not interpret it 
 as Truth, but Speculation. However, I can 'efflii very 
 well whatever I have here faid, as well in the great at 
 leffer, 
 
 4. But for af much as [0 many excellent, as well as new. 
 Secrets, off'er thcmfelves, that I can''t chtife but clearly 
 know them, and therefore "'tis impojjible that I fiiould make 
 all thofe Secrets ahovenamed profitable to my fdf : Aid 
 although I am now about m.my things , that hereafter a 
 
 aqi 
 
 g^rext 
 
152 
 
 crcat quantity of them may be exps'd by me to be fold in 
 pounds arid hundreds ; yn I fiull not be Jo envious to re- 
 'fufe a Communication of them to any man for the named 
 Reward j nor k:ef from him any knowledge I carl give 
 
 him. . 
 
 Tet he mufi kf!on\ that it is very troublefome to tnstrtilt 
 any man that is altogether ignorant and void of skill in 
 Chymiftry ^ Therefore whoever will learn any of thefe 
 things of me^ let him either come to me, or fgnifie his 
 mind by his Letters, thus : To Chriftopher Farnner, 
 Canonicate jQuxJlor of Spire, C?''". 
 
 Thefe arc the words of the perfidious Farnner, 
 which he hath ufed in his mofl falfe and wicked 
 Writing. 
 
 Glauber X Apology 
 
 Parti 
 
 A Specification ofthofe CBymical things, 
 
 THis, good Reader, is the Beginning or Preface 
 of that Lying Writing, in which he hath expo- 
 fed to Sale thofe Secrets he had of me , and found 
 good : Befides, he adds, That thofe Secrets which he 
 had of me, which do not fucceed according to his de= 
 fire, are not added ; but thofe only whofe Truth he 
 has found in the trial. 
 
 Now we'll open this Fedler'*s.Statl,zadlodk.tlivovigh 
 all its parts, to fee what is in it. 
 
 Thefe words follow J 
 
 1. Glauber'^ panacea ] 
 
 ■ About which thefe things come to be confidered. 
 
 and every where makes common, to the view of the 
 whole World, that no man lliail need to give Money 
 to Farnner for 'em, or any other reward , but may 
 come to the knowledge of them for nothing : for if 
 that knowledge is divulg'd by Farnner^ who unjuft- 
 ly, by the publication of it, endeavours to heap up to 
 himfelf Fame and Riches , I may well communicate 
 them to all men faithfully, that every man may favc 
 his money: But becaufe this P-^w-^tc*? is prepared by 
 the benefit of a hot and Saline Liquor, which I call 
 Alkaheft^ therefore 'tis necelTary that he who defires 
 this Panacea fhould firft know the Preparation of the 
 Liquor it felf, without which he can efFeft nothing. 
 Indeed it grieves me, and I am very hardly brought to 
 difcover and divulge to the World fo excellent a 
 Menfruum, by which fo many rare Medicaments may 
 be prepared ; and I had never done it, had not this 
 perfidious Farnner chang'd and adulterated it and its 
 ufe in the Preparation of the abovenamed Panacea o^ 
 Antimony and others, from Minerals, Animals, and 
 Vegetables, and by proftituting and communicating 
 it to all men. I think him, indeed, a Boar out of 
 theForcft, broke'into my Garden of Flowers, that 
 has with his fnout routed up all the many Fruits, 
 which with much fweat and labour I have planted > 
 but the deed will once be rewarded. 
 
 Now follows a very (hort Defcription of the Pre- 
 paration and ufe of that Liquor, needfully requifite 
 in Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral Medicaments : 
 And though I might teach another and far better 
 way of preparing it , yet there's no neceiTity for 
 throwing all my Pearls before Swine : It is fufficienr, 
 j to my Ibrrow, that I cannot recal thofe which this 
 unfaithful Farnner hasfent abroad, and am forc'd to 
 behold their deftrudtion with the greatell trouble. 
 
 H 
 
 Ere Farnner faies ray Panacea^ for the greatelt 
 
 part, is prepared of -<4»«wo??y i befides, there 
 
 are yet two other fubjeas,from which a purer Sulphur 
 may be extraded, than that which is drawn from An- 
 timony : Which vain fancies he may vend, or what 
 elfe he will, I can't hinder him, feeing I have taught 
 him to extraft nothing but a pure Medicinal Sulphur 
 from Antimony, by the benefit of a fingular Liquor, 
 which 1 call Alkahejt. He adds alfo. That he can ex- 
 traft the fame Sulphur from all forts of Metals and 
 Minerals (except ©and >) and after Glauberh way 
 convert them into Tindures. 
 
 I declare againft this his firft Pofition : Farnner here 
 faith, That Panacea may be prepared from Antimo- 
 ny for the molt part, and promifes to communicate it 
 to any man that defires it, for a certain price, to wit, 
 thirty R- Dollers. But thou haft feen, gentle Rea- 
 der, how ftrongly he bound himfelf, by his Obliga- 
 tion given to me, to keep fecret thofe things I had 
 taught him, and communicate them to no man, un- 
 der the Penalty of Difgrace, and the forfeiture of all 
 his Goods. 1 confefs indeed, being cajol'd by his fre- 
 quent felicitations, I taught him the way of pre- 
 paring the Panacea, but from no fubject but Antimo- 
 ny. This Panacea of Antimony Farnner expofes to 
 fale, for thirty R. Dollers i and moreover has taught 
 that Preparation to many, from whence great profit 
 hath redounded to him ; when yet this was not law- 
 ful for him to do : But he fliall be forced e're long to 
 give his Reafons for fo doing, and I will one day fee if 
 lean have a remedy for this evil. I will now only 
 ihew how wicked he has been to me : Wherefore I 
 am compelled to expofc thofe fecrcts he had of me 
 
 Of the Preparation and 7Jfe of a certain fecret 
 Vniverfd Menftruum , ivtth tvhich one may 
 infiitute an Anatomy of all Vegetables , Ani' 
 mals, and Metals ; correfl them^an J from thence 
 prepare good Medicaments, 
 
 OF this Menflrmm the Modem Philofopher HeL 
 mont makes mention in fome places of his 
 Writings, and attributes wonderful Effefts to it, 
 which he exhibits in the Preparation of Medica= 
 ments, and gives it tlie name Alk^ihcfi ; which name 
 Paracelfiis alfo remembers ; but in few words, it is 
 the fame as if we fliould fay Alkali cfl ; for when the 
 Letters /and ?are joyn'd withadafh, it produces the 
 word Alkaheft. But what moved Hclmont to call it 
 Alkaheft, we fhall not here difpute : I indeed believe 
 he did it, thereby to dcmonflrate its Nature and Ef^ 
 fence ', for in German Alkaheft is as SW gar IjcijJ, or 
 Sll ju l)EE0 ; but in the Brabantickydaoiiim-, which was 
 the Mother Tongue of the Author, it founds ^Itfjo- 
 IjfflS, that is, very hot ; and fo the name anfwers to 
 the Efience •, for this Liquor is nothing but a meet 
 fiery Water, by whofe immenfc and fecret heat Ve- 
 getables, Animals, and Minerals, if they are put into 
 it a certain time, are forthwith purged, ripen- 
 ed, and made better, fo that they become excellent 
 and wholefome Medicaments, which without this fie- 
 ry water cou'd notbedone. This Mcnfratim then, 
 is nothing but an igneous Liquor, prepared of urinous 
 Salts, which is endowed with thofe Virtues which are 
 attritjuted to it in my Treatife of Flints. 
 
Part I. 
 
 agaidi Farnner. 
 
 159 
 
 jin A-imotsitiori. 
 
 Here it is to be noted, that this Metiftrimm may 
 be prcpar'd of inore than one fiibjed •, for Nature is 
 Copious, and fees before our eyes many various Ingre= 
 dients, from which, by the help of Art, divers things 
 may be ctfeLted •, as may be evidenced in this admira- 
 ble Liquor, which may be made not only of the com- 
 mon ^'d terr<c^ or Sale Peter ^ but alfo of the fix'd Salt 
 of all Vegetables, and cfpecially of Tartar ; 'tis no 
 matter of what fubjed it is prepared, for it has ftill 
 the fame Virtues that are afcribed to it, forafmach 
 as, if a right Preparation be made, the common Sal 
 rf^>-<candthefixM Salt of Vegetables are of one and 
 the fame Nature and Ellence : For the genuine Sal 
 tern:, or SMt-Pctre, may be made of Salt of Tartar ; 
 and of Sal terra^ or Nitre, a fixed Salt, like Salt of 
 Tartar; of Spirit of Wine, Salt of Tartar; and of 
 Salt of Tartar fpirit of Wine : of Wine- Vinegar, 
 Nitre •, and of Nitre, corrofive Vinegar. So thofe 
 Salts partake of either nature, and will be manag'd 
 at pleafure ; neither are they undefervedly by the 
 ancient Philofophers, called Hermaphroditick Salts. 
 Wherefore it is not for any one to be offended at its 
 bafe original, and accordingly undervalue it^ 'tis 
 no matter wherein the good conlifts, 'tis fufficient to 
 fay it is good, and may be converted to good ufes: 
 Good things ought to be fo much the more eiteem'd, 
 by how much the more mean and bafe their original 
 may have been , for Nature and true Art ufe both 
 bafe and abjed things in their Works, and never- 
 thelefs, their defires are accomplifhed : But on the 
 contrary, the vainreafon of Man in his labour aims at 
 nothing but Sublimity and fpecious Notions , and 
 therefore brings nothing to a good end, but defti- 
 tute of a happy fuccefs, tioilhes his fruitlefs labours 
 with great damage. 
 
 To conclude then, take this advice ; Be not offen- 
 ded at this wonderful Liquor, becaufe of its mean 
 original, but let the Work praife the Work-man. 
 
 Now follows the Preparation, 
 
 IF any iflan will prepare this Menflruura of Salt- 
 Petre, he muft extradt and coagulate that Salt from 
 the earth with common water,' and adding coals or 
 fome other vegetable Sulphur, fix or calcine it fo long, 
 till it be refolv'd in the Air into a fiery liquor, then the 
 preparation is finiflied. But becaufe that fort of 
 earth, from which this fait is extraded, cannot be 
 found every where, in its ftead, you may take Nitre 
 well cleans'd, which muft be melted in a Crucible, 
 upon which you muft caft a fmall quantity of coals 
 and that fo long, till the coals upon the flowing Nitre 
 will take {ire no more, but remain dead upon it, for 
 then your Nitre is fi.x'd and prepar'd, fo as from 
 it, this fo admirable water may be made, which is 
 made after this manner •, While the fix'd Nitre flows 
 yet in the Crucibele,pour it into a brafs mortar that 
 in that it may cool, then beat it to powder, and 
 fpread it on a Glafs table plac'd in the Cellar, or 
 Ibme other moift place, that there it may flow; 
 foyou have that fiery water which is endowed 
 with fo many wonderful virtues in the preparation 
 of medicaments of vegetables, Animals and IVline- 
 rals, of which 1 made mention before. But if you 
 
 wouM make fuch a liquor of Tartar, which will be 
 beft for preparation of Medicaments of vegetables 
 and Animals, then you muft bring common Tartar 
 made pure by Calcination, Filtration, Solution and 
 Coagulation, and by Hints purg'd from all impuri- 
 ty, into a fair and bright Salt, mixing fix or eight 
 parts of the pureft Tartar with one part of flints 
 well pulverated, which mixture you muft melt in 
 a cover'd Crucible, and pour it into a brafs Mortar 
 tocool: This bright and white fiery mafs you muft 
 reduce into powder and put it into a Glafs body, and 
 pouring rainwater thereon, boil it upon hot Aflies, 
 for then the rain water will diflblvc the Tartar only, 
 and leave the Flints at the bottom, like a Mucilagfi 
 I nous matter which draws to it felf all the impu- 
 j rity of the Tartar^ which before, by the common 
 j folution and filtration cou'd not be taken away, 
 I and fo keeps it, that the Salt of Tartar^ is by this 
 means freed and purg'd from all impurity : then you 
 muft filtrate this folution, and draw the water from 
 it by a limbeck, that fo that Chryftalline fiery liquor 
 may remain in the Glafs : And this is that prepara- 
 tion by which vegetables and animals are reduced 
 into the beft medicaments; but to prepare metallick 
 Medicaments, and efpecially for the making them 
 better, \ici\iox oiTartar is not to be added, but only 
 liquor of the Salt of fix'd Nitre, which is not pre- 
 pared by coals, but by the Regulus of Antimony, 
 and that after this manner^ 
 
 Put three parts of clean and pulverated Nitre to 
 one part of Regulus Martis, put this mixture into a 
 Glafs wafh'd clean, and by a prudent increafe of 
 fire, make it boil a little in a Fixatory Furnace, and 
 in this degree of fire, leave it live on fix hours, then 
 take icout that it may cool, then very finely pul- 
 verize it, and pour upon it rain water, and the 
 Nitre, which by the Regulus of Antimony comes out 
 fix'd, wafli out; and laftly abltrad the water, fo 
 yoii will produce a fiery liquor fit for ufe in me- 
 tallick operations- 
 
 NB. Thisfixationmay beas well made in cover'd 
 Crucibles, as in Glafles, and is good enough, only the 
 management of the fire muft beobferved, neither let 
 the heat from the begining be too intenfc, leaft your 
 Nitre evaporate before it be brought to a fixation, 
 but keep a gentle fire, and it will effed; the fixation 
 in conjundion with the Antimony- 
 
 The Praxis. How l>y the mediation of this liquor 
 regetables, yintmals, and Minerals jnay he converted 
 
 imogood Medicam.nts. 
 
 TAke an herb, root, or feed, beat it very fmall in a 
 ftone Mortar, then put it into a glafs, and pour 
 upon it fo much of this fieryMenftruum, asthat the 
 herb may be fufiiciently imbrued in it,aftcrwards let ic 
 upon fand fome days, or boil it, that of the herb and 
 Menftruum may be made a thick liquor, which done 
 put to it as much fpirit of Wincn well dephlegmated, 
 as there was of Alkaheftick Liquor, and well mix 
 them, in a fmall heat, left the fpirit of Wine 
 evaporate; fo longdigeftit, till the feparation fliall 
 be made, and your Alkaheft, with the faeces, will go 
 to the bottom, but the fpirit of Wine, with the Ef- 
 fence and Virtue of the Herb, will ftay at the top, 
 which afterward , though never fo much ftirr'd, 
 will not mix, but each remains ftill in his own 
 
 R r place ; 
 
154 
 
 Glauber's Afology 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 place : pour all that whole matter into a wide- 
 mouch'd Glafs, and there let it fettle; then fcpa= 
 rate the Medicine which the fpirit of Wine has 
 extrafted from the Herb, with a gentle inclination 
 from the Alkaheftick Liquor, which retains with it 
 fclf the fsces of the Herb, fo you will have the 
 Virtue and Ellence well correfted and perfectly 
 ripcn'd in the fpirit of Wine, which abftrafl from the 
 Ellence of the herb in a Bath,and the Medicine which 
 remains like a red juice, and endowed with great 
 Virtues, keep and ufe it as it is ordain'd by God 
 and Nature. But the Alkaheftick Liquor, mixed 
 with the fxces of the Herb, Calcine in an earthen 
 VelTel , that all the relifli and fcent of the Herb, 
 which remains in it, may be cxhal'd from it, and 
 afterwards dillblve it in Water , and filtrate it, 
 and draw it to a fiery Liquor, fo ifi will be as good as 
 ic was before, and you may put it to the fame ufes 
 as often as you pleafe. 
 
 Animals are to be bruifed after the fame manner 
 in a Stone Mortar, and with the Alkaheftick Liquor 
 digefted,and by fpirit of Wine feparated, and in Ve- 
 getables the labour is the fame. 
 
 But Metals in their proper CorrofiveMenftruums 
 muft be dilTolv'd precipitated, wafli'd, edulcorat'd, 
 exficcated, and then laftly with the Alkaheftick li- 
 quor poured on, digefted,diirolved, and with fpirit 
 of wine feparated and reduc'd into a potability. 
 
 But Minerals which may be pulveriz'd need not 
 bediflblvM and brought to a calx, but 'tis fufficient, 
 that after pulverifation with the Alkaheftick liquor 
 poured on, they be digefted, and by fpirit of wine 
 feparated. 
 
 Neverthelefs, you may alfo at your pleafure 
 render metals brittle and frangible, viz.. By the 
 help of the Regulus of Antimony, fo that they may 
 be pulveriz'd,'then pouring your Menftruum upon 
 them, diffolve, digeft and convert them into Me- 
 dicine : Which method is certainly good \ You may 
 alfo proceed another way with metals prepar'd by 
 Antimony, viz.. Mix them with three parts of pure 
 Nitre, and in a Glafs or earthen veflel,by the dry way 
 diffolve, digeft, fix, and by fpirit of wine prepare 
 into Medicine, which alfo will be good, for it is 
 more profitable to operate by the dry than by the 
 moift way, as it is cuftomary to be done in vege- 
 tables and Animals- 
 
 And this is the fiiorteft method of reducing Ani= 
 mals. Vegetables and Minerals by the Alkaheftick 
 liquor to the beft Medicaments. 
 
 But how imperfed metals or Minerals,which other- 
 wife in a Cupel or Cineritium trial, leave no gold or 
 fiver behind them, are to be brought to maturity and 
 fx'd, that afterwards in the Cineritious trial, they 
 may give a perfcd gold and filver is done another 
 way, whofeprocefsisthis: 
 
 Mingle and melt fo much (Regulus) of Antimony 
 with the imperfed metals or minerals as may render 
 them friable, that they may be pulverizM,with thefe 
 mix three parts of the pureft Nitre, and this mixture 
 clofe ftopt up, put upon a fire in glafs or earthen 
 veffels to fix for fome hours, afterwards take it off, 
 and as they are melted pour them out, that they may 
 give the regulus which is to be taken away, and 
 with lead put into a Cupel and reduc'd to drofs, 
 then that gold and filver which the imperfed: metal 
 or Mineral got in the fixation, ftays in the Cupel 
 which may be examined by the Icller weights of 
 probation, whence it will appear how great a fix= 
 ation fo little time will produce. 
 
 This is the plenary and fundamental inftrudion of 
 the ufe of 2'artar purg'd by flints, to extrad the 
 ellence of vegetables and animals and of Nitre 
 fix'd by coals and Regulus of Antimony, which be- 
 gets a penetrating, correding, bettering or ripen- 
 ing and purifying fiery, but notcorrofive, virtue, 
 which goes beyond all things, penetrates and correds 
 as above written, I have attributed to it. Butleaft: 
 the ignorant of natural things fhould cfteem and 
 proclaim this a corrofive liquor, we will prevcnc 
 them, and (hall endeavour to demonftrate, that this 
 liquor is no way a corrofive, but an enemy to and 
 deftroyer of all corrofives- 
 
 Like loves its like, with it is mingl'd, and im- 
 mutably ftays with it, as may befeen in fpirit of 
 Salt, Vitriol, Alum, Nitre> Vinegar and other cor- 
 rofive fpirits when they are mixed. But unlike 
 things if they are join'd, are contrary to themfelves, 
 and fight againft each other, and forcibly withftand 
 one another fo long, till the ftrong o'er comes 
 the weak and kills and deftroys it or produceth 
 another fubftance from it : that may be feen if this 
 fiery liquor o^ Tartar or Nitre be mix'd with a cor- 
 rofive Spirit, for it can not confift with it, becaufe 
 contrary to it, then which of thefe is the ftronger* 
 deftroys the weaker and takes its nature to it felf. 
 
 And this difference arifcs from the unlikenefs of 
 the nature of either liquor, for one corrofive does 
 not deftroy another, as alfo one fix'd urinous liquor 
 does not deftroy another urinous liquor; becaufe 
 one contrary fights againft another contrary, but not 
 againft his like-, fo'tis true, as hence may be fully de- 
 monftrated, that this fix'd liquor of Tartar or Nitre 
 is not corrofive, but only a fiery water and a perpe- 
 tual enemy to all corrofives, and both kills and takes 
 away their corrofive faculty from them. But fome 
 will fay that the corrofive fpirits of Salt, Alum, 
 Nitre, Vitriol and fuch like are fiery waters : I con- 
 fefs it, but yet with this diftindion, thofe fpirits are 
 indeed hot waters, but not vivifying, but rather 
 cold and killing fiery waters, which no way riper, 
 purge or corred Vegetables, Animals and Meta s, 
 but deftroy and kill all things they are mix'd with. 
 But the fix'd liquor of Nitre or Tartar is contrary, 
 and ripens, purifies and brings to perfedion all it is 
 mix'd with, which is impoffible to all corrofives, 
 whence it is as clear as the Sun, that it is no deftroy- 
 ing corrofive, but a correding fire. 
 
 Now follows another Claufe of F^zrwrn'sEpiftle. 
 
 2. y^ll Minerai's and Metals. 
 
 I much wonder that F/jrwwj' was not afraid to offer 
 this procefs to others at a price, which is plain- 
 ly and clearly defcribed in many places of my Books: 
 and is done only by Nitre, by which fulphurous me- 
 tals (but not all metals and minerals, as he vainly 
 boaftethj arc reduc'd to drofs, from which by fpirit 
 ofvvincametallick tindure may beextraded, as we 
 have fliewn above in the trad of the Alkaheft : that 
 drofs is truly fiery, and therefore eafily attrads air, 
 and is turn'd into oil, of which I have largely treated 
 in the fecond and fourth parts of (Furfi.) and in the 
 mineral ivoik efpecially in the explication of the 
 wonder of the world, as alfo in my Hermetic Col- 
 loquies- 
 
 Glauber's 
 
Part I. 
 
 againfl Farnner. 
 
 3 . Glanbcr'j- Alkahefi. 
 
 IM this Paragraph Fanmer openly betrays his va- 
 nity, bragging, and hcllifh calumny, in reprehen-- 
 ding the indultry and labour of good men, and boaft; 
 eth of a more firm foundation than perhaps I know 
 of; whence it will appear to any man of Under- 
 ftanding, what this molt ungrateful of men would 
 be at, namely, which is the only thing he can do, 
 he would do what he could to bring thofe Secrets 
 I intruftcd him with into contempt with all men, 
 and introduce his own foolifh trifles. 
 
 Firft, he iaies, Gt.uikr's A'kjhcft^ and prefently 
 fubjoins another and better foundation or way of 
 preparing it : which if he points at any thing but 
 my Alkaheft, why then does not he forbear mentio- 
 ning and contemning my Alkaheft ? for he does con- 
 temn it, and endeavours to prove, that that way or 
 fundamental is unknown to me. Now he cxpofes it 
 to fale at fifty R. Dollers. 
 
 4. The Trial of all forts of Coins- 
 
 »T^ Is true, Farmer did not mention this as a ven- 
 X dible , for it is not worth purchafing with 
 Money of him : for the common way of trying money 
 has been fhewn not only by many provers of Metals, 
 as Laz^arm Ercher^ George Agricola, and many others, 
 but I my felf alfo in many places of my Writings, and 
 efpecially in my explication of tiie Wonder of the 
 World, have fully and exadly taught it , which 
 F>ir/:>ier can never be able to mend nor imitate. 
 
 5. Flowers of Coral. 
 
 YOU muft know what belongs to this Procefs 
 that Farm.er did not learn this Preparation of 
 me, but of another man, which pleafes him extream- 
 ly, though 'lis of no moment. But he raoft unworthi- 
 ly calls them Coral Flowers, which he expofesto fale 
 at ten R. Dollcrs, feeing they are not Flowers, but 
 rather to be called a Cremor ; for when in a very 
 hot fire they are reduced into a white Calx, from 
 this Calx, by the help of Water, is drawn a Cream 
 after this manner : The calcin'd Corals are put into 
 common Water , and left in the Water a whole 
 night, then in the top will appear a little skin, as 
 is ufual in Calx vtva^whlch muft be taken offto dry- 
 Laftly, while that is doing, another little skin ap- 
 pears, which is alfo to be taken off, and that fo of- 
 ten, till the Water will give no more. 
 
 I know alfo, that this Powder is held up by fome 
 Apothecaries as a certain fingular Secret, ( but that 
 indeed exceedeth it ) which is prepared of Calx viva^ 
 which I have alfo fliewn to fome that have attribu- 
 ted great things to this Powder, who, the Experiment 
 behig made, feeing me produce true things. What 
 need is there, faid they, to burn precious Corals,when 
 common Chalk (or C^lx viva) will give the fame 
 thing as Corals, and they prepar'd no more Powder 
 of Corals, but of Calx viva. 
 
 Therefore this does not deferve to be called a 
 Secret. 
 
 NB. That Corals, Pearls, Pearl-fhells, and Tor- 
 toife-fhelK-, as well thole that are in the Sea, as thofe 
 that are in Running Rivers, if they are burnt toge- 
 ther, are brought into 2 true and natural Lime, like 
 that which is made of burnt Stones, needs no proba- 
 tion. Hs that will not believe rae, let him go to Hoi- 
 
 ^ 
 
 landy and other Sea- Ports, and he fliall fee that the 
 men of thofe Countries do not ufe Lime made of 
 Stones, which arc wanting in thofe places to build 
 Walls, butthat which is made of burnt Shells, which 
 the Sea in great abundance cafts upon the fliore -, 
 which yet, is not fo good as that which is made of 
 Stones, which fome Lovers of Curiolity have alfo 
 brought them from Germany. 
 
 6 . To make melted "iin hard. 
 
 AN D this Paragraph, by right, ought to have 
 been omitted, for it is not worth Ten R, Dol- 
 lcrs, requiring no Art in the making it; and I my 
 felf taught it many years fince, as well in the Firft pare 
 of the Mineral Work, as in the Fourth part of my 
 Furnaces i and it is made by ./<;t;t;^//«^ of Antimony, of 
 which one part is mix'd with 1 2 parts of melted Tin, 
 and no more, for otherwife tlie Tin would be made 
 brittle, and rendered unufefij ; rather if one part of 
 Rt'gnhts is mingled with twenty parts of melted Tin, 
 it will come out hard eiiough. And farth;.r, it may 
 as well and rightly be made of Zi^k^, as by Hegmus of 
 Antimony, and needing no great matter of Labour, 
 melts fooner than Kc^ulus of Antimony. 
 
 7. White Vitrifications. 
 
 THefe Vitrifications alfo, which he expofes to fale 
 at Ten R. Dollers, are of no moment, for they 
 are prepared of Glafs of Lead, Tin-Aflies, and Flints, 
 and Wood-aflies. 
 
 In HdUad this Preparation is very common : 
 whether Farmer is excellent at it or no, I much doubt ; 
 How then fliall he teach others ? And if he does excel,, 
 who will be the better for it ? For no man ftudies thefe 
 Curiofities, or fo much as looks after them, or co- 
 vets them- 
 
 But although Glauber, &c. 
 
 Here f^rwwr again vomits at me a mighty heap of 
 his infernal Lyes, which are as noifome as any dead 
 Carcafs, as if he intended to infedl me with their ve- 
 nom •, but thefe ftories do not at all agree with his 
 other ; for here he faies , Although he had with a 
 great Sum of Money purchafed certain Secrets of 
 (Blfiuber, yet he had made no Examen of them, bun 
 he was forc'd to convert them to other ufes. In the 
 beginning of his Calumnious Paper, he thus writes: 
 a »»pccifican'on of tljofe Cljpniical SictmjJ toljiclj tlje 
 unacr-tojittcn Farnner Icarn'd of Glauber, anH in tlje 
 '(Trial fotmli %n\z. 
 
 Here any impartial man may fee what to judge of 
 this double:Tongu'd Monfter. Here he denies what 
 before he confefs'd ; he both calls them Glau.tr\ Se- 
 crets, and here affirms, that they never fucceeded to 
 hispurpofe: which if true, Why docs he prefix my 
 Name to them, if he never made trial of them 1 But 
 if they have fucceeded, and in the trial he has found 
 'em true, as he above confelTes, Why does he here 
 deny it ? Can the fame thing be True in one place, 
 and Falfe in another ? Certainly I can refute fuch 
 horrid Lyes no way better than by his own words. 
 For if I fliould fay. See here, there, or in that place 
 thou lyeft, he would not care, but anfwer, He did 
 not lye at all, but fpake the truth \ and I might repre: 
 fent a Conteft between two fcolding Women, one 
 whereof calling the other Whore, and the other 
 throwing back upon her the fame things \ but this 
 will do nothing ; wherefore I fliall take another me- 
 thod. 
 
 Rrz Iq 
 
i5<^ 
 
 GlauberV Apology 
 
 Parti 
 
 In the firlt Obligation he gave me, he exprcQy 
 faies, That 1 had communicated, demonftrated, and 
 flicwn him fome Secrets : But if they were not for 
 his life, why did he give me a valid Obligation, to 
 keep thofe fccrcts from the publick ? Not bent to 
 thele things, Why did he in all his Letters (which 
 
 that he bought his Secrets of me at a great price, is 
 a pure fallity- Indeed he forc'd a fmall Reward 
 upon ir.c, half of which 1 gave him back again, 
 and what I kept he got over and over by commu- 
 nicating my Secrets to other men, fo that he has 
 fully leceiv'd what he gave me ; and by this his 
 
 thele things, vviiy uiu r.e m an lus i^^Ln.i^ «,.>—■ — -j ■--— - , ° ; ;■ . , 
 
 he fent me and which arc kept fafe to confirm what 1 \ communicating to others, ( which uas done un- 
 
 fay; confefs, and profefs, that he, his Wife and 
 Children, were bound to me, and that he wouM come 
 to me, that with hisiie might ferve me all my Life- 
 
 If none of my fecrets have fuccecded to him, Why 
 ciid he give me long iince a new Obligation to be 
 grateful to me ? as 1 have demonftrated from his 
 obligations and extracts out of his Epiftles. 
 
 NB. What! Cou'd he not make trial of thole 
 things he had of me, in eighteen Months time ? But 
 if the trial has prov'd the truth of thofe things, and 
 he has bound himfelfto me by a new Obligation; 
 Why then docs he dare to fay, That none of thofe 
 things which I communicated to him, prov'd fuc- 
 cefsful ? Why two years after ? Now he is ahenated 
 from me, and having broken his Promifes of coming 
 to me, and working with me in my Laboratory, 
 (being married again) is an Excufe for his abfen- 
 tinghimfelf, vet he asks me to communicate to him 
 mo't e fecrets, and then he'll come. NB. But if the 
 iirft fecrets have not flood the Teft , why does he 
 defiremoreof me.'' 
 
 For he might know over and over in two years 
 time, whether my Writings wou'd conduce to him 
 
 or not. r , • 1 • 
 
 In one Epiflle, in which he boafts of killing a man, 
 he writes thus : Wherefore I again and again intreat 
 you not to caft me oir, but do to me according to 
 your wonted Favour. I will on all occafions, as I 
 have promifed, in my place, fatisfie you ; neither 
 will I caufe that any thing (liould therein be dehr'd ; 
 for which reafon alfo I will efFecH; it both better 
 and fooner. 
 
 From thefeandthc like words, which in two Epi- 
 Itles he us'd to me, I could collect nothing of Fraud, 
 and perhaps at that time he meant none. But when 
 
 known to me) he broke his Promife •, which iiever- 
 thelefs for Peace fake I pafled by. Wherefore, if 
 he will confefs the Truth, I am fure he can never 
 fay that he bought all thofe Secrets I intrufted him 
 with, at fo great a price. 
 
 Hitherto we may believe how much Money has 
 come to him ■, for fince he has fent abroad his in- 
 ftitory Letters five months ago, ( nay, as I am told, 
 two years ago) before I could know it : he could 
 not chufe but get money by it, when forthwith he 
 with my perfidious Servant proceeded to that info- 
 lence, as in a knit Society with fome o^ Prankfordy 
 he caufed his Calumnies to be every where fpread, 
 and fent abroad, not only througout upper O'erwrf- 
 ny and Bclyia^ but alfo into France^ and other Fo- 
 reign Countries, to get Money. Yet, according to 
 my hopes, this inftitory Ware-houfe (by the Grace 
 of G O D) will foon fall. 
 
 8. Pkfity of S fit-it of Salt. 
 
 IN this Paragraph alfo he gees on after his man- 
 ner todifgracc me, accufing me of Lyes, as if it 
 was falfe, and impolTible to prepare fifty pound of 
 Spirit of Salt in one Furnace, and in one day ; and 
 adds , that this Spirit is not fo good as his , for 
 Every man for h'wifdf : but this is done by adding 
 Vitriol. 
 
 Which Vitriol does not hurt the Spirit of Salt, 
 as is demonftrated in many places of the Firft Part 
 of my Furnaces ■■, and he denies that fifty pound or 
 above may be prepar'd in one day in my Furnaces, 
 when yet it may be done commodioully enough, 
 and needs no farther proof. 
 
 From all which a wife man may eafily judge how 
 
 and perliaps at tliat tune nc meant nunc, cuu win,u "'""'.".•. " .....j j j—h • 
 
 he had kiU'd that Man, and married another Wife, good a Ciiriftian Farr.mr ,s, whofe mouth uttereth 
 
 all his Promifes and Obligations were to no pur- 
 pofe. And from that very time, all his endeavours 
 have tended only to do me what hurt he could, and 
 he daily hates me more and more ; which at laft 
 appears more publick in thefe his lying Calumnies. 
 Indeed , I am apt to think the Devil and that 
 Murder h^A pollened his Heart. NB. For hisEpi= 
 Ille to me witncfteth, that for fourteen dales toge- 
 ther he had fought occafion how he might catch 
 that man with his Wife, and bloodily revenge him- 
 felf upon him:, I fuppofe, by the inftigation of Sa- 
 tan, whereby both the Man was kill'd in his Sins, 
 and the Woman with many wounds compell'd to 
 a lewd kind of Life ; of both which Crimes Fartj- 
 r.cr is yet guilty in his own Confcience, and ('unlefs 
 a fpeedy Repentance follow on his part) he will ne- 
 ver be freed from them. But if in a fiidden pallion 
 he had done it by chance, he might merit fome 
 
 cxcufe. 
 
 But to endeavour it fourteen dales together , is 
 nothing but a Devililh Revenge and Cruelty, which 
 can by no means be excus'd in a Chriftian, though 
 'he do it never fo fccretly. 
 
 But befidcs, he ufes evil Arts ■■, for he drew ray 
 Servant to him by Flattery, and receivM him into 
 his intimate friendlhip, notwithftanding he knew 1 
 turn'd him away for his infidelity- What he writes, 
 
 nothing but wickednefs, contempt, and contention, 
 and except my inward faculties fail me, the envy 
 of his heart, his hatred, lyes, and infernal calum- 
 nies, fliall (;c difplay'd. 
 
 What is his fpirit of Salt to me, or mine to him ? 
 Let him prepare it after his way, and I will do it 
 my way, v.hen need requires : Wherefore does lie 
 endeavour to defile my things with his, fince they 
 cannot be defervedly reprehended by any ma.-:, much 
 lefs by him. 
 
 9 . Spirits of Vitriol, Nitre., Salt, Jlqiia fortis., jiqna. 
 Re^ia-, in plenty ■, alfo Sulphur ; at Forty 
 "^ R. Dolkrs. * 
 
 IN this place may be feen the inhumane and 
 devilifli nature of this wicked fellow ; for he 
 fcarce utters three words but he proceeds to my 
 difparagement. 
 
 But what hath Glauber to do with his fpirits, 
 for he does not ufe them ? and if he does need 
 them, he can make them without him. 
 
 What does he care, lif you can prepare them 
 after a better way than he, which yet never can be ? 
 
 V/hatever CLv.btr has writ of thefe things is worth 
 the rcadijjs ; and he can defend both himielf and ir, 
 
 neither 
 
Part I. 
 
 againfi Farnner. 
 
 157 
 
 neither can you or yours fpot his fame, which is fo 
 well known to the World. 
 
 to. A'finer.il Spirits : for twenty R, Dollers. 
 
 HErc Farnticr ventures to proraife a way of pre- 
 paring volatile fpirits, which is eight years 
 Jince fully dcfcribed by Glauber ^ in the fecond part 
 of his Furnaces, whither I referr the Reader- 
 
 1 1 . Flowers of Minerals a>:d Metals ; for Twenty 
 R. Dollers. 
 
 BUt if any man will explore another man's nature, 
 let him permit him tofpeak, and he fhall ealily 
 know what temper he's of; but efpecially that, of all 
 things, may ealily be difcern'd in a drunken or an- 
 gry man, who can very hardly conceal his internal 
 blemilhes- In like manner we may fee by Farnner 
 that he endeavours to hide his lying Proceedings in 
 my name. What if I had feen his way of prepa: 
 ri>ig metailick flowers, what profit or lofs fhould I 
 fullain by it ? He glories of thofe things which merit 
 no praife. He promifcs to make metailick Flowers 
 under a frixatory Cover, when yet Flowers can't be 
 made under it, for they are not Flowers when the me- 
 tals are burnt under a frixatory Cover, into a Calx, 
 or rednc'd to afhes, there is, and fo remains a heavy 
 Calx : but the Flowers of metals fliou'd be brought to 
 a very light fort of Flowers by Sublimation ; as is 
 defcrib'd at large in the Firfl Part of my Furnaces. 
 
 Farnner indeed, with his Shop, leaving his filthy 
 knife , fliould rather have gone to the Chymical 
 School a little, than (being ignorant of Cnymical 
 terms) fold his heavy Calxes of Metals to other men 
 for light Flowers, and defpifed Glauber''s way of pre- 
 paring Flowers, which yet has been reprehended by 
 no nua^ Thefe his Flowers, with his Coral Flowers, 
 are courfe Meal, which don't deferve the name of 
 Flo-.vers, but Cream. Indeed, if Farmer had not 
 fo vehemently inveighed againft me, I hadnotdif- 
 play'd him thus, nor deign'd his vain Proceedings 
 one word ofanfwer. 
 
 Yet 'tis no matter, though good men are fometimes 
 in this life bark'd at, and provok'd by mad Dogs, 
 lince it often happens that by this means excellent 
 things are made publick , which otherwife would 
 lie fccrec. 
 
 12, The Qjilnteffince. 
 
 HEre you may fee, candid Reader, that wicked 
 Farnmrh endeavours tend to dilhirb the quiet 
 of all good men, and deftroy my well-grounded and 
 yet irrefutable Writings by his foolilh Opinions, 
 which he Ihall never be able to do, no more than 
 a little Whelp is able to attack an armed man, 
 whom by his barking he cannot hurt. 
 
 My Trad which I writ of the Elfence of Vege- 
 tables, and printed at Nortmbera , under the Title 
 of The Firfi Part (f the Spagyrick Pharmacopasa; nei- 
 ther Farnner, nor any man elfe, could rejecl or 
 contemn ; but that little Tradl will defend it felf. 
 
 I have made publick many and excellent inventions, 
 but no man can Ihevv one place wherein I reprehended 
 and brought into contempt other mens Works , as 
 this Farnner does- If he would aft as a good man 
 ought, and had any thing againft me, he (liould fpeak 
 it to my face, and not abufe rae fo wickedly behind 
 my back. 
 
 13. ^U acid Wines. 
 
 IT troubles me Indeed, that I communicated this 
 excellent fecret of encrealing the Virtue of acid 
 Wines, and making them better, to ^-'.^rawr. What 
 he writes, that he found out thofe things, is a pure 
 Lye, which he had of me -, when ncverthelefshe is 
 not afraid to tell fo impudent a Lye , as that he 
 had found out a better foundation of that Secret 
 which is moll notorioufly falfe , for neither he nor 
 any other man, nor I my felf, can find any thing 
 better than the pure ElTence of Wine , conducijig 
 to that Work; which Eilcnce of Wine, by the 
 ftrength of its innate fiery Nature and Property, 
 all forts of immature Wines may be ripen'd in 
 fermentation, and turn'd to a brisk Staple, and goocl 
 Wine, in which lies all the Art. 
 
 For he that knows this, may alfo correct acid 
 Wines , yet let him have^a carethat he does not take 
 foul Brandy-wine, as Farnner has done, wherewith 
 he has done it, as he faies. 
 
 _ This excellent Art , and heretofore unknown, to 
 him that knows how to handle Wines, may ferve 
 inftead of many -, and this unfaithtui Farnner might 
 have receiv'd much profit from it , if he had noc 
 made it publick \ but fince he has every where pub- 
 lilh'd it, there (hall henceforth no profit accrue to 
 him nor me, if I fhould bedeftitute of better things, 
 for he has defamed this excelkut Secret every 
 where by his lying Epiftles fent abroad. 
 
 As for me, though he has taken from me the great 
 profit which redounded to me from i:, by his pra- 
 ting and lyes, I do not this from fuch a trouble of 
 mind as will happen to him, if he fnall ^e rorcei 
 indeed to want all its fruit. 
 
 If this perfidious Farnner had hid this Secret, he 
 would have needed no other Arts, neither need he 
 have fold it for an hundred Duckets, but he might 
 from it have procur'd to himftlf fufficient whereon 
 to live. A greater damage has happen'd to me by 
 his publication than I can declare ; and I very hard- 
 ly endure tha,t fo excellent and profitable a--Secret 
 fhould be defpifed ; neither will any good man ap- 
 prove it, efpecially they that fuftainlofs by it, and 
 for that caule will alwaies abhorr him- He might 
 have gotten enough by it, in fecret, and without 
 detriment to his Neighbour, but that he was min- 
 ded rather to marr the profit and propagate the 
 damage of not only himfelf , but me , and many 
 others that have knowledge of it ; which no man 
 can deny to be a wicked a(ft- 
 
 That Reward which Farnner gave me for com- 
 municating to him my Secrets, in all amounted to 
 but lixty or feventy Vwanci (zn Vti^ar-cns is Nine 
 Shillings of our Money,) which yet, from the com- 
 munication of thofe Secrets I trufted him with, he 
 receiv'd again , fo that all thofe things which he 
 had of me, colt hina little or nothing. Nevcrthe- 
 lefs, he does not ftick ro fay, That he gave me a 
 great fum of Money for my Secrets, which yet I 
 refufed to take ■■, and though he twice made a Jours 
 ney of Fifteen miles to me, that he might get fome^ 
 thing out of me, yet I deny'd him, and communi- 
 cated nothing to him, till he came the third timej 
 and learn'd fome of my Secrets , and afterwards, 
 when he had oblig'd himfelf to work with me ia 
 my Laboratory, I communicated more to him. Nei- 
 ther had I Ihew'd him the lealt of thofe many Se- 
 crets for his Prefent, which will never compenfate 
 
 Sf the 
 
158 
 
 Glauber's Apology 
 
 Pare L 
 
 the damage I have fuflain'd by him, had not he 
 oblig'd himfelf under the lofs of all his Goods, as 
 alfo his Credit and Reputation, that he, his Wife 
 and Children, fhould ferve me fo long as I (hould 
 live , as plainly appears from his Obligations gi- 
 ven to me- 
 
 But if he had given me a Thouhnd'^n^aricijor 
 Duckets, and I had known he would have expos'd 
 this Secret to fale, I would rather have given him 
 all of it back again , than fuffer'd it to be made 
 common. Neither can his vain Excufe, That he 
 cxpofcs his own inventions, and not mine, to fale, 
 profit him any thing ; when 'tis evident enough, that 
 nothing in the nature of things can be found, which 
 may render fmali Wines better than the ^mma 
 or Qiiinteflence extracted from other Wines ; for 
 the yJmtna o( Wine only, and nothing elfe, can 
 encreafe the ftrength of Wine- Neither is the cora- 
 parifon of this melioration of Wines incongruous 
 with two torn Garments, neither of which can be 
 worn •, but if eiiher of this is cut, and that which 
 yet is whole and good, is fewed to the other, and 
 fo of two torn, one whole Garment is made ; then 
 that Garment may be worn, when yet, before, nei- 
 ther of them was ufeful. 
 
 The fame alfo is to be underftood of fmall wines 
 that are neither durable nor vendible , but after 
 one Hogfliead is ftrengthen'd by another, it becomes 
 not only durable, as good Wine, but vendible, and 
 will yield as good a price as two fmall Hogfheads- 
 And this Secret is both very noble and profitable in 
 thole places, where the wines are feldora brought 
 to maturity, and for that caufe are not durable nor 
 faleable. For there is a lamentable Complaint 
 among Vintners, that immature wines are not ven- 
 dible, and they can get no money for them. Thus 
 they lay, Have we labour'd in vain with our wines 
 a whole year ? Look there the wines lie, and no 
 man buys them : in the mean while we fufFerwant 
 and can't make our felves merry with our wines, for 
 they neither profit us nor others ; unlefs we have 
 prefently fome other better wine, wherewith to 
 mingle this, and fo render it vendible, it will ftrait 
 be corrupted, and turn'd to water. Thefeandthe 
 ]ike Complaints I have often heard from Vintners i 
 but if they had the wit of Taylors, that can make 
 one new Garment of two old ones , their affairs 
 would be in a better condition, for after this man- 
 ner they might preferve their acid wines, and there 
 would be no need of mixing better wine with them. 
 For which excellent Invention, all men that deal in 
 wine?, ought to thank GOD and me- 
 • 1 pray, who would not have communicated thefe 
 things to a man that had given himfelf for a pledge ? 
 But if he muft not ftand to thefe Obligations, 1 can't 
 Jce whom we may truft- I curfe the unhappy hour 
 wherein this unprofitable fubjeft and that perverfe 
 man (if he may be call'd a man j came firll in my 
 fight : which troubles and . moleflations he brings 
 upon me in my old Age, which might fpend its 
 time much better, than by refuting his detellable 
 Calumnies. Neither does his wickcdnefs to me hurt 
 me only, but my Children alfo. 
 
 In his laft Obligation he promifes, That if by pre- 
 mature death I (hould be taken out of the world, that 
 be, for the kindnefles I had done him, would adopt 
 my Children for his own, and make them his Heirs : 
 but here, in his moft falfe writing, endeavours all 
 lis can to deprive my (yet young) Children of their 
 
 own, and convert their Goods to himfelf, as indeed 
 he has done. 
 
 Further, He in his laft Obligation alfo faies, he 
 humbly pray'dGOD to prolong my Life and Health, 
 but in this place he endeavours by his Cavils and 
 Calumnies to kill me, and if he could do it with his 
 own hand, ( which God forbid ) 1 believe he would 
 not flick at it : It is a fmall thing with him to fpill 
 Man's blood, for he has expcrienc'd his ability that 
 way- 
 
 I indeed efleem it the Goodnefs of God to me, 
 that it is His will, perhaps, that this fhould rather 
 turn to my profit than difadvantage^ for hereby I 
 am taught to be wifer another time, and to fhun hu« 
 mane Frauds- 
 
 14. All Wines, 
 
 HEre any wife man may judge whether or no 
 , this thing deferves to be fent into Foreign 
 Countries, and thereto be fold at a price ^ when 
 there is no Country-man that does not know that 
 Winealfumes the relidi of the Herbs, Flowers, &c. 
 which are fleeped in it. 
 
 1 5 . Brandy-Wi'ie of all forts of Corn. 
 
 THatF<«r»»CT brags of this knowledge, he owes it 
 to G O D and me, from whom he had it : For 
 when at firfl he complain'd to me, that he could 
 not keep the Corn from burning in the Still, and 
 fomake the Brandy-wine ftink, I upon his intreaty 
 communicated this Secret to him- But becaufe 
 F arnmr io mwch. glories of this knowledge, he fhall 
 not enjoy it long- I muft confefs, indeed, that this 
 Secret is not of lefs value than that whereby wines 
 are meliorated ; neither does he get lefs by it : bun 
 forafmuch as 1 refolve to buy all his Wares every- 
 where of him, I will neither leave him this, that he 
 fhould be free from the trouble of informing others 
 in this thing, and that othcrwife would be forced to 
 make long Journeys to buy them of him, may leave 
 off thofe Journeys, and take this way of preparing it: 
 Take as much Corn as you will, whether Barley,R.ye> 
 Oats, or Wheat, fteep it in fweet water for fome days, 
 then place it that it may fprout after the fame manner 
 as Corn is Malted for the making of Beer; turn in 
 well for a certain time, left it be corrupted by too 
 much heat : then when it is well fprouted, fpread ic 
 abroad, that it may prefently cool, and it will never 
 fowre. 
 
 But if you would ufe it prefently , then take as 
 much of it as your Deftillation will require, and in 
 a Kettle full of water, boil it fo long, till the grains 
 are broken, then pour it into a wooden VefTel, and 
 when it is luke-warm, add to it the frefh dreggs or 
 groundsof Beer, and let it ferment ^ when it has fer- 
 mented enough, which is ufually at the end of two 
 or threedaiesj then Brandy-wine is made in a com- 
 mon Still, by deftillation from that Corn j what re- 
 mains in the Still will ferve to feed Oxen, Cows, 
 Hoggs, or other Cattel. 
 
 But the Brandy-wine which proceeds from thence, 
 muft be recflified, as the way is, and by this means ic 
 is render'd more fweet and grateful to the relifh, than 
 any other Brandy made of Corn : the reafon is this. 
 That all Bread-Corn, of which Brandy-wine ought 
 to be prepared , if it be put to ferment prefently 
 after foftening, it is neceffarily in the ftill, by boiling, 
 
 redui 
 
Part I. 
 
 againfl Farnnefi 
 
 '59 
 
 reduced into a pap, and fo being corrupted by a 
 duftion, produces aftinking Brandy-wine. 
 
 But tiiis protuberating and burft Corn cannot be 
 burnt, and therefore makes good Brandy. 
 
 Alfo the Corn may be broken on a I\Iill-none, wa- 
 ter poured upon it, and diltilledout ot'a Still, pla- 
 ced within another, or in a Kettle full of water, fo al- 
 io it cannot be burnt ■» yet this way it will yield 
 but little. 
 
 NB. But if any man will give this Brandy a re- 
 lilli, like thatmadeoftheLecsof Wine, then he muft 
 redilie it upon the Lees of Wine> for this way by the 
 Oil of Wine, which is plentiful among the Lees, he 
 acquires his ends, and in all things lie may ufe this in- 
 ftcad of that. 
 
 NB. Alfo, he that will, may, without this previous 
 coTtion and Icrnientation, pour the budding Corn hot 
 into a veliel ofluke-warm water, for by this means 
 the Corn begins to ferment of it felf, and needs no 
 other Lees to ics fermentation ; yet it does not pro- 
 duce fo fweet a Brandy , as if it had firll been 
 boiled: for by codion the ill tafte is taken from the 
 Corn, which the Brandy otherwife retains. Further, 
 alfo it produces much more Brandy, if the Corn is fo 
 boil'd, that it may be broken. And this, good Rea 
 der, is a moll excellent and profitable Secret, and will 
 bring you in much wealth, if you ufe it rightly , and 
 you may makegreatquantitiesof it- 
 
 Farn/itr did no man wrong, by taking faccording 
 to his own eftimationj a Hundred Duckets for it, for 
 it is worth much more, efpecially if the refidue of the 
 Corn pays the charge. Yet no man hereafter will give 
 him fo much for it now 'tis made publick. 
 
 Indeed it is injurious to me to divulge it, but be- 
 caufeit is now in the foul hands of f'i>'«w>', 'tis better 
 that others alfo enjoy it, than that he only fhould 
 reap the benefit of it. But though by my communi- 
 cation Farmicr Ihould put on a Lyons skin for his de: 
 fence, yet he can't hide his Affes ears under it ^ as 
 appears from this Paragraph, where he writes, that he 
 had fent four meafurescrofs the Seas, to try if they 
 wou'dbear the Sea-water •, for then he thinketh he 
 hath made his Port. Good God ! how refplendant is 
 the Wifdom and Philofophy of this Fummr \ Cer- 
 tainly, if he fliall make one or two E.xperiments of 
 this kind, that his Brandy-wine will bear the water, 
 he'll duly merit to be created the chief Profellor in the 
 Academy of Idiots, for that will befit him, feeing that 
 the reafon is not hid to him, ashe writes ; wherefore 
 Drinks are alter'd by the Sea--waters- 
 
 Buthe will make his firft Experiment inthefe four 
 meafures, and if it proves well} then he promifes to 
 teach this Art at a price- 
 
 Othe blindnefsof this pervcrfe World fwelling 
 with Pride ! Who ever heard that a good burning 
 fpirit, whether made of Wine or Corn, will be cor- 
 rupted by the fea-water ? I grant it may be corru- 
 pted, if it be invalid before : But a good and firm bur= 
 ning fpirit will never be corrupted by fea,for all wines 
 bear the water, thofe only excepted which labour 
 with a defed of fpirit, but ftrong wines very feldom, 
 for the more fpirits there is in any Liquor, whether 
 Wine, Beer, or Metheglin, it is in the lefs danger of 
 being corrupted. 
 
 But if the ipirit which is in wine, belts preferver, 
 and defender from Corruption, How comes it topafs 
 that Brandy-wine, which if well prepar'd, is nothing 
 but fpirit, (hould be corrupted ? If the Spirit in wine 
 be the Preferver and Defence of the wine, which yet 
 is wcaken'd by a great quantity of water? fo as the / 
 
 wine remains good, and is fafe from the corruption 
 of water : Why then (hould not it defend it felf, fince 
 it is fo ftrong and free from water ? Who doubts 
 that a concentrated Life is able to perform greater 
 things than a difTufe and weak life ? 
 
 Hence you may fee how great knowledge Farmer 
 has drawn from the light of Nature, that he (hould 
 boalt fo. 
 
 16. To ftrengthen all forts of Beers. 
 
 IN this place Farnner again Ihews his AITcs ears, 
 when he writes , That he can ftrengthen Beers, 
 that they flial! not be infcriour to Rhenifh wine. Here 
 every wife man may difcern how great and Itupen- 
 dious this man's folly is. 
 
 Behold , he aitributeth the goodnefs of Rhenifli 
 Wine to its ftrength,which indeed is a great errour ; 
 for the goodnefs of Rhenifh-wines confifts not in 
 their ftrength, but fweetnefs. French Wines are far 
 more fragrant than Rhenifh, yet in fweetnefs and 
 foundnefs it comes not near it- So likewife Hunga- 
 rian^ Gred{^ Italian-, and Sp.tm'jb Wines, O'c. are much 
 ftronger, but for fweetnefs, as well as goodnefs and 
 wholfomenefs, Rhenifh wine, far better, although the 
 other excell it in ftrength. And fo this is a great ab- 
 furdity : Indeed Beer may be ftrengthen'd,by adding 
 a burning fpirit to it in fermentation, whereby it may 
 endure the longer ■, which thing I can't deny, and it 
 ought to be done : but that a Vinegar may be drawn 
 trom them like Wine-Vinegar, is a pure ftory i for 
 though it may happen that Beer may give a ftrong 
 Vinegar, yet it never yields Wine-Vsregar, for a 
 great difference may be difcern'd between Wine and 
 Beer- Vinegar, though they have both the fame 
 ftrength, if you make trial of both : Whence it ap- 
 pears, that f-^rawer is ignorant what Vinegar is, be- 
 caufe he knows not the difference of it. 
 
 Strong and right Wine-Vinegar is known by thefe 
 Trials. Firft, if it be fhaked in a Glafs , it by and by 
 receives its clearnefs, and leaves no fcumj dreggs, or 
 bubbles, on the top, as Beer- Vinegar does : for let it 
 be never fo ftrong, it retains its own nature, and 
 caufesa fcum, if it be fhookjuftas the Beer it is made 
 of: but Wine^Vinegar leaves no fcum. Secondly, the 
 longer Wine-Vinegar is boiled, the ftronger it is •, the 
 reafon is this, There is naturally in it an innate (harp- 
 nefs, which is not volatile •■, but the fharpnefs cf Beer- 
 Vinegar confifts in its volatility, which in boiling is 
 abated ^ fo that the longer it boils, the weaker it is. 
 And thefe are the two chief and moft certain trials of 
 Vinegars, which Farntierh Vinegar will never bear, 
 and therefore will ftill be Beer- Vinegar, and does not 
 deferve that it's Preparation fliould yield Fifty R. DoI« 
 lers. 
 
 jicid or Sower Beof- 
 
 TTTTHat belongs to this, requires nothing of 
 y V Art, neither is it worthy to be taught at a 
 price when every Country man can do it, by pro- 
 jefting and well ftirring in a veffel of acid beer, 
 two or three handfuls of beech aihes well fifted, 
 made wet with a little beer, and leting them lie in it 
 about eight days, for then the alhes by reafon of 
 the Salt which is in 'em takes away the fowrenefs of 
 the beer, and make it drinkable. 
 
 NB- If the beer be not too fowre, a handful of 
 fifted alhes may be fewed up in a linen bagg, and 
 put into the Beer through the bung, and there left 
 
 Sfi for 
 
l^O 
 
 GlauberV Afology 
 
 Part I 
 
 for this way the Beer may be preferv'd from fowreing 
 aud need not be ftirred nor troubled. Alfo feme 
 ha;idfuls of wheat p'JC into the beer, draws its 
 fowernefs from it, the fame alfo is done by egg 
 fliells, Crabs eyes, Tortoife lliells, Sea fhells, calx 
 ^iva., and fuch li;<e things which attrad the fliarp- 
 nefs, and turn it into fweetnefs- 
 
 But whence is it that F^rwwe?- now fo abounds in 
 the knowledge of wines and beers, when yet but two 
 years lince, when he prepared and fold brandy wine 
 and beer, that he complain'd ;to me, that he had fu- 
 Ilained much damage in handling them, fo that he 
 lliou'd perifh unlefb he learn'd how to take away and 
 remedy the burning of Corn in the Still, the ill fmell 
 of his brand/ wine and the fowrenefs of IJeer. Why 
 cou'd not he then help himfelf, and beware of thofe 
 Lolfes ? he will objeil that at that time a certain light 
 flioneupon him, by whofe benefit he knew Nature. 
 Howevertruehisobjeiftion be> it will never induce 
 me to believe that this light cou'd in fo great a mea- 
 fure fofuddenly help him, which is a great abfur- 
 diry : for fomuch knowledge is given to no man in 
 a ;iioh b flc-ep, it is a falfe flory. But that my faith- 
 ful inftudlion, with which I inftrurted him, has en- 
 li^^iiLen'u him, and like a guiding ftar led him in the 
 right wav, is mod true, tho he i'^ unworthy ofthofe 
 preciou^ Pearls which like a wild boar he treads in 
 the din under his feet- 
 
 1 8. Vttiegav of Corn. 
 
 "% TX 7Hat belongs to this Paragraph, is deraon- 
 V V ft rated in the fixteenth paragraph, that tis 
 impoilible to make a vinegar of Corn, like that of 
 wine : wherefore this cannot fas he thinks, deferve 
 fifty R- Dollers. 
 
 1 9. Vinegar of green Woods. 
 
 IN deed I wonder that Farmier is not afliamed of 
 thefe things which I have many years fince fo clear 
 ly defcrib'd or to bring them to light anewahache 
 migiit get money by teaching thofe things to others, 
 which are already publUhed in the firft part of tnr- 
 riaces, And fo he adorns himfelf with other mens 
 Feathers. 
 
 But he will objed, I have in the trial found thefe 
 things true, and therefore dcfcribe them, but he 
 dees it to this end, and to no other than that he 
 may cheat themoi their mony who did not know 
 thatl had fo long lince writ of them- He that de 
 fires any of thefe things, may fii.d *em in the lirft 
 part of my Furnaces^ and he Ihall not need to give 
 fiun.er^ ten R. Dollers for his inftruction herein, 
 
 20. Altho Glauber, O-c. 
 
 Here he contemns my way of extradting Tartar 
 from the lees of wine, when yet it was a year 
 lince clearly and perfpicuouily defcrib'd and publilh- 
 ed at Norimbcrg^ w\{\c\\ F arnner cou'd never correcft- 
 But he bragg'd that he had found by a certain po- 
 fition another compendium, which indeed might 
 be, fince it is eafier to add fomething to an Art once 
 foundj than to find the Art it felt, but it does not 
 become him to dillwade men from this Art which :is 
 already defcribed, and which maybe had gratis, and 
 to defpife it and bragge among all men of his own 
 inventing a better- What good men will think of 
 
 thefe bold malignities may be eafily judg'd : but if 
 I had writ nothing of thefe things, who would havee 
 taught him that there was Tartar in the lees of wine ? 
 But I not only found and writ what was in them, but 
 alfo largely taught how they might be ufefully ex- 
 trafled. 
 
 Yet this trifler dares as impudently, as falfly fay, 
 that he had correfted it, andadded to it, and there- 
 fore wou'd not let it go without his price. 
 
 After the fame manner he deals with my other fe- 
 crets r which, tho he had them of me, hebraggs that 
 they are his own) with which he proceeds, as with 
 the lees of wine, namely with my Alkahefl, Pana- 
 cea, Melioration of wine, compendious diftillation 
 of Corn, preparation of vinegar, corredion of 
 beer and others in many places. 
 
 Whence cou'd he have known what was meant by 
 my Alkaheft and Panacasa, or how fmall wines and 
 and beers ihould be meliorated, how Corn without 
 aduftion fhou'd give plenty of burning fpirit, and 
 whether there was Tartar in the lees of wine or 
 not, and how it might be extraded thence, except 
 he had feen and learn'd all thefe things of me ? of 
 which alfo I had many years fince publickly made 
 mention in my writings, which is fo well known that 
 he cannot deny it, how much foeverhe oppofes the 
 truth. 
 
 21. j4ll Copper Ores. 
 
 FnthJs place Famner teaches that Copper Ores are 
 *■ to befeparated, when, yet they are notfepa- 
 rated bur melted, that thence the Copper may come 
 forth, which Copper if it contains fuver being mix'd 
 with a due weight of lead, it isfeparated : but Mines 
 ofcopperareneverfeparated, which he does not un- 
 derftaud, and fo he betrays his ignorance in thefib 
 terms. This way of feparating is fuffiiiently 
 known, and every where whereccpper mines are 
 found, is wrought in abundance and cannot be hid. 
 He that poffellei-h Copper mines, will eallly find men 
 that will thence elicite the copper, and afterwards 
 feparate it, neither will any man need to go to 
 Farnntr on that account. Indeed I wonder at his ex= 
 tream impudence, that he was not afraid to promife 
 that he wou'd teach others fo many Sciences, of 
 .vhich if he knew the half part, his village wou'd not 
 hold all the furnaces he wou'd need for thedemon- 
 ftration of them. 
 
 Further, for thefe and the following Sciences, 
 which yeti are the mofl: difficult and laborious of all, 
 he requires no money, but for a certain reward pro- 
 mifes to demonftrate them all. 
 
 22. From 7 efts and Cupe's. 
 
 HE has drawn this feparation alfo from mywri^ 
 tings, that therewith he might Rl his calum- 
 nious letters : neither do I believe he cou'd do it 
 before he had feen me do it. It is done by the powder 
 of coals, as I have plainly defcribed in my Chymical 
 Colloquie. 
 
 23. Gold a?id Silver. 
 
 THis Art Lazarus (EKljcr has defcribed, but be- 
 caufe his way is too hard, I have fhewn an eafier 
 in the explication of the wonder of the world, and 
 there the following melting Furnaces are alfo de- 
 fcribed, and therefore I need not fay any thing of 
 them here. All 
 
Part I. 
 
 againjl I arnner. 
 
 \6i 
 
 AUthcfe inventions whicli farnncr braggsott'as 
 his own, arc mine ; for my unfaithful Servant taugtjt 
 iarma- chofe furnaces uhicli lie learn 'd of mc. 
 
 Ar.d i!t kri> I h^ 
 
 I have nothing to fay to thefc four Inft paragraphs, 
 becaufe tliey don't concern mc as the former doe, 
 and Farm'.i:r himfelf expofes them as fpeculations 
 and not as experiments, as 1 alfo believe that they arc 
 only fancies and foolilh imaginations : yet there is 
 one thing which I muft anfwer, which he mentions 
 in his third paragraph, thatthe time will come when 
 Cl.inber\ Alkaheft muft be forcM to hide, alcho it is 
 rot wholly to be rejected. But if it be fo unprofitable 
 that it muft hide, why docs he cxpofe this to fale at 
 fifty R. Dollers, and the Panaccea which is preparM 
 with it, at thirty ? and he has already got furticient- 
 ly by it : if it be fo improfHtable, why then docs 
 he offer to Sell it to others knowingly and willingly 
 at a price? \i F..rm.ei- has rightly tcrm'd my Alka- 
 heft unufeful and muft be forc'd to hide, he has fuic- 
 ly deceivM many. But I confidently aflcrt, that my 
 Alkaheft will never hide, but defend it feif in all 
 places: Perfidious calumniators, thieves and their 
 accomplices fhall hide, but not my Alkaheft. If he 
 has found out better things than 1, let him pubiiOi 
 them as I have done, that every man may judge 
 whether they be true or falfe : Why this boafting 
 and wicked vanity in defpiflng others ? For truth 
 needs few words and lefs braj;,ing. In his writing 
 in which he fets down the value of every Secret 
 contain'd in the laft paragraphs, namely, from the 
 twenty firft to the twenty eighth, he promifes to 
 teach other men for no certain price, but on courte- 
 fy, thofe fecrets which yet are the beft, if he cou'd 
 know them. But if he can effect thofe things and 
 teach 'em to others, he wou'd not certainly teach 
 them gratis, for 'tis impollible for him to build 
 
 thofe Furnaces rcqiiifitc td the making of thofe 
 things in half a years time. 
 
 From which it fi'.lTlcicnJy appears bow ignoranc 
 he is of what he writes: C?rc;iinly if his wares 
 which he had of me gratis, fliould find Ciwpmen, no 
 doubt but in one year he would ect forhc thouiands 
 of ducats. 
 
 I thought fit to^nnfvver you thcfc thir.i's ncw,*that: 
 1 niight fliut your foul moutli whicii uas fo widq 
 open to !y:s, but if after this you don't ccafcyour lycii 
 aiU caltimnic^, you \\\\\ compel mc to i-fc other 
 means to bridle ycur malice- in the mean while I 
 doubt not, but all good men in this flioVt Apolo'^y 
 (in which I have not refuted thy lying caia;nnies 
 with indecent or contentious words,bnt fiom thy own 
 obligations and hand writing) will plainiy fee how 
 wickedly and pcrfidicnny thou h^ft [Jchavcd thy fclf 
 towards me. This damage which thou haft dor.e 
 mc, neither you nor all yours both prefent and future 
 faculties, nor all thy fervants can ever repair: It 
 remains therefore, that I fay with Job, God gave, and 
 God has taken away, blelTcd be the name of the 
 Lord. But I don't believe you vv-iil cfcape divine 
 pnnilhment, to which I commit my caufe at this 
 time. It is certain that every thing has its time 
 which I alfo patiently expcding your downfd 
 Twhen God fhall take upon him the patronage of a 
 juft caufe,) perhaps with thcfc my eyes fhairYconer 
 fee than hope. Indeed I wanted not matter todilpute 
 thefe things more largely, but that for a reafon 
 known to my felf, I was hinder'd in doing ic at 
 this time. But as foon as I can, God aillfting me 
 I fhall not be wanting to propofe to al) impartial 
 men inthe world, queft:ions to be refolv'd,from' which 
 every ingenious and good man may fee, animadvert 
 and give judgment, how ungrateful, perfidious, un- 
 juft and inhumane thou haft been to me. 
 
 « 
 
 Miraculum Mundi ; 
 
 Or, A Plain and Perfca Defcripclon of che adnriirable Nature and Property of that 
 
 moft powerful Subjed, called by tlic Antients^ 
 
 The MERCVRr of PHILOSOPHERS. 
 
 By which yejrctahles^ Jnimals, znd Minerals mzy eafily be Tranfmuted into moft Sa- 
 lubrious Medicines, and the Imperfea Metals into Perfed and Permanent. 
 
 ' A Preface to the Reader. 
 
 To vphomfoever tins little B<jok^{treating of the 
 Proprietyy Nature, and Effence of that incom- 
 farabk Snl] El^by the aattLm Philofophcrs cal 
 led^ The Univcrfal Menftruum or Solvent, 
 fhtll occHrr^aKd is offendid ;;/ reading of thofe oreat virtues 
 by meaf.ribedto it ; .i^;d bcc.infe^he u?iderfiandith not 
 
 the thi"g, judgcth it not to be credited ^ I would have him 
 %oip, that whatfoever poiver I have attributed to it, that 
 that ts In 710 mje a Ftffme>it, Dream^ or vain Opt/Jiori^ 
 but to be taken for a Truth, found out by a diliaent and 
 manifold Pral^ice. But whu h \v;ll be nwH- prvfita'i l-J,for 
 me to proftitute all »:y inventions to the IVorld, or co^^ceal 
 
 T C than f 
 
\62 
 
 A Preface. 
 
 Part I. 
 
 /•; 
 
 thvm ? Fur rtrhicb caiifc I v.ill (jit le.-tfi for theprefcnt) 
 Only poii.t at many rvo/jdcrfiil things which may be per- 
 for/iicd by this lu.iverfal MtuflrMtni^ but not treat of 
 t hcffi, leaving tt free for ev:ry mm to believe my fiytrgr 
 as far as hep'cafeth-J;i!t ifthcyfiall be credited by no ma'/, 
 itpialhwt di ft lira me-, it beir^gjrffieic/itformeto have 
 Jhemcd xphcre and by what rc.ijofi, the truth or fccrcts of 
 nature are to be found. 
 
 Ai for the SiibjiQ rvkoje nature and operations I h.iv:: 
 determined to touch upon., it is like to that of which I 
 have made mention in -my Mineral work, by the f^nal 
 hi'.me of Alkahcft, which appcllaiion I have thrre danon. 
 ftrated, not to be impofed upon it without rcaf/n. But 
 fcein/r that long fi.a the chief Menftrtutms of fume 
 Fhilofophers, were called by the fame uame^ and that J 
 know not whether theirs were Itk^ to mine or mine to 
 theirs in nature at^d virtu -sjhall not much trouble me; 
 for it matters iiitie for diverfe Aie/.ftrmtms to be called 
 hy the fame name-, al though they do rut an fiver one a/.other 
 tti all thincrs. For even as wine ts ip/vc, although it come 
 from Germany, Italy, France or Sp^in, nevrrthUefs 
 each is wine-, ah hough the tne exceed the other inftrength 
 and rtllifl)^as long as the fame nature and virtues are 
 found in it^ which ought to be in wme: 'the fame is to 
 be judged concerning my Alkaheft: To wit, that if the vir~ 
 tucs be agreeable to the n.ime-, \i om nl.atjoever Subjeft 'f be 
 extrailek, it rightly meritith the fame name, which 
 that it may the better b? underftood,! mean by the name 
 o/Alkaheit, avrry h'jt, fiery^dry, and alfo humid wa- 
 ter void of all corrofive power, by which Vegetables, 
 Animals, ^wa! Minerals, arc dtffohed without r.oifc, yu 
 not ali in the fame manner-, and elaborated into Salutife- 
 roiis medicines, as J have jhcwed in the firft part of my 
 Mineral work. -And becaufc I have written fuch 
 thinis oftt, many have endeavoured to prep.ire fuch a 
 Menftruiim , every one from his own Subjetl; Impoftors 
 alfo have offered to others, a water plainly corrojiix in- 
 flead of it, fafly pretending that they had obtained the fe- 
 cretfrom me, and that it is the fame which I have dc- 
 fcribed in fny Mineral work", then one fills that pi:ta- 
 tious Univerfal folvent to a ancther at a dear rate, 
 whnfe nativity and preparation lies hid with the feller, 
 that fo the l!lind leading the blind both may fall into the 
 ditc':\ which thing, when I knew it, 1 was conftrained 
 whether I would or no, toL-iy oven to the Reader, what is 
 properly the nature of my Alkahefi', and what are its 
 •virtues and powers, fo that thije w'n erre, may have a 
 ridt by w ich they maybe a':le to judge of any other pre- 
 tended Alkahefi:, whctkr it be mine or net 
 
 fortis, aqua regia, or other corrofive waters, not in the 
 Isajt, bur workrth altogether after another tnanner, viz. 
 Vegetables W Animals arc dijjolved in digrftion, by 
 thj mil ft way, in which joint ion, the pure parts are Jepa- 
 rated from the impure. 
 
 And Minerals and Afctals alfo being dijfohed in the 
 mo 'ft w.iy by its benefit, may be wafhed-, purged and ma- 
 turated, and reduced either into g'od medicines, or into bet- 
 ter metals, but not With the fame adv ant a2^e and celerity as 
 in the dry way, by which very many incredible mutations are 
 prelently p-;rjormed, to be admired by the inexpert, too 
 tedious here to be treated ■^ff'- Befdesthoje two ways of 
 dijj'jlving, which Qhat J might. demonftrate the pojjibili- 
 ty if the matter) J have jhew.d to fome; there yet ocatrrs 
 a'.other far different from thoje, by which metals and 
 other Sitbjetls are fwiftly, meliorated totheexe, and are 
 maturated-, depurated, and tranf muted into tue beft of 
 medicines, and into purer bodies : the reafons of which 
 folution there is no need to expofe to every one, chiefly 
 becaufc that labour reqiiiri.th a skilful Chymift and 
 there are few who heartily fear ch into thefecrets of nature, 
 but moft Chymifts vexing themfelves with vain proccJJ'es. 
 under (i.md nothing foUd m /Medicine or in Chymiftryy 
 which imaginary jirtifts, when they happen upon true 
 writings, cannot reach their fence with their dull brains^ 
 they j peak evil of the A'-ithor, difd^intng hisindiiftry and 
 unwearied labour, in communicating his talent ; whence 
 It comes to pafs that he which brings forth any thinir of 
 good, finding nothing but ingratitudcj chtifeth rather to 
 carry his talent with him to the grave, than to piiblilb 
 it to his own damage. And this is the only caiijif 
 why I have not plainly profecuted the tije of this Men- 
 ftriium in the preparing of medicines, and meliorating 
 of metals, but have only pointed at what may he €f'ec}ed 
 by the help of it, that it may he made manifeft, what is 
 to be judged concerning it, and whether that which is fold 
 for fuch by others, be like to that defcribed in my Mine- 
 ral work or not ; / doubt not but many will cjuickly 
 dcfpond, thinking that their Alkahefi will in no wife 
 perform thofe things which I here afcribe to my Menfhru- 
 um, and will alfo believe the matter not to befe> eafy, as 
 before they thught it to be, but althcugh it arife from a 
 vilefiibjtil, that neverthelefs its invention and iife is ve- 
 ry difficult. For whofoever hath fuch a menftrttum by 
 which theje following things may be tjfe^ed, he may m-. 
 deed rejoice in the pofefiion of the univerfal folvent or 
 Mercury of Philofophers, having a door opened to 
 true medicine and Alchymy. 1 hereforefor t.hc fake of 
 Searchers, I will begin to ^mv fomewhat of its virtues 
 
 Therefore this tnco'iiparablc fubjeU: is called an univer-. ! aini powers, as far as I may, that the Magnalia of God 
 fal folvent, becaitfe by Its htm fit, many incredible things , may thence be made m.wifcjt , and that I way aive oc~ 
 are performed in the preparation of good Medicines, and ^cafion to every man, to render praife, and thankj to his 
 alfo in the preparation of metals, yet let no man btHeve , Creatour, who is the giver of all good, 
 that ifd.'ftulwth metals fwiftly and violently, like aqua ' 
 
 Of 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Miwdi. 
 
 163 
 
 OftheTjanJcendait Virtue^ Tower, 7<(^Uurc^ andTropcrtyofthis Woiuhfid 
 
 Llnivcrfal Menllr uum , 
 
 IT is worth our noting-) that three Operations 
 efpeciallv may be performed by the benefit 
 I. It maturateth all Vegetables and Ani- 
 mals, being diilblved into a Liquor, and ta-- 
 king away their Venom, converteth them into falu- 
 tary Medicines. 
 
 11. It diflblveth Minerals and Metals, as well by 
 the moifl: as by the dry way, corredeth their venoms, 
 ripeneth and fixcth their crudity, fo that they may be 
 made good Medicines \, and after fixation, yield good 
 and genuine Gold and Silver- 
 Ill. Thofe Metals, Minerals, Stones, and other 
 compaft Subjeds, not dilfolvable l;)y the aforcfaid 
 waies, it diflblveth, maturateth, purilieth, and in an 
 hours fpace exalts Metals, more than the two former 
 Solutions can do in a whole day, vvhofe change into 
 better may be obferved in every hour: It diliblvcth 
 Metals and Minerals into a penetrating fpirituality, 
 ib that the Metal is not feparated from the Aloijhimm^ 
 but a folution is made of both, either by the dry or 
 moill way, from which the more pure part of the 
 Metal, or that which is Gold or Silver, after the prc- 
 tnifed fixation, is precipitated by Art, efpccially if 
 many were jointly dilTolved. Whence it is fufficient- 
 ly manifeft, that in all the Imperfeift Metals Gold 
 and Silver is notably abfconded, not difcoverable by 
 the vulgar Examen of Cupels : which Operation be- 
 ing performed by a Mi'iftruum, prepared in fo grofs 
 a manner, it is credible, that if this volatile Her- 
 maphrodite and fpiritual Mercury were again fixed, 
 and rendered Corporeal, that it would be by many 
 degrees more fubtile, penetrant, sncl efficacious, for 
 the didblving , altering, and perfeding of Bodies, 
 than it was before. 
 
 This is its life in general \ but fpecially it abun- 
 dantly exerts its manifold Virtue ; before whofede- 
 fcription, it fecms not amifs to point out the common 
 Name of this fubjccT:, and what the common People 
 think of it. Which , that I may expedite in few 
 words, know, that it is nothing elfe but the naked 
 felt of the Earth, of which S.dt-Pctcr is made- But 
 that every ftit of the Earth, or common Salt-Peur^ 
 hath thofe Virtues which I here alTign to my fub- 
 jeft, I fliall in no wife fay, feeing that it ought to 
 be diverlly prepared for divers uies, according to 
 which, thou maifl expert divers Virtues. 
 
 This fubjeiJt is neccllary to be known by all the 
 Inhabitants of the whole Earth, to all orders and 
 degrees of men, becaufe not to man only, but alfo 
 to every Creature, it is profitable or noxious, accor- 
 ding to its various application- 
 
 This fubjeit fcrveth for Phyficians^ Cbimr^icns^Qud 
 jifothtcaria t of which they may prepire excellent 
 Medicines again ft the natural Difcafes of Men- 
 'A'hence the truth of that common faying of Phi- 
 lofophers is undoubtedly aflerted, 'viz.. That of the 
 areatcjl Vtnom the nreatejt Medicine a^Atr.^ Difeafcs 
 is to be prepaicd. And that Nitre is the vvorft of Ve- 
 noms, 1 haveevinc'd in the fecond part of my Fur- 
 naces, where I prefcrr it to the B.-./ilislthiml'dt'-f and 
 
 that from the fame Nitre, and its mediation, is to be 
 prepared a molt excellent Medicine. In the Firft 
 Part of my Mineral Work , for the fake of Phyli- 
 cians, Chirurgions, and others, applying them felves 
 to Phyfick, I have Aiewed how by the help of my 
 Alkahelt, Medicines are to be prepared from Vege* 
 tables, Animals , and Minerals, far exceeding the or- 
 dinary waies of Preparation. 
 
 But it is not my mind at prefent to difcourfe much 
 of Medicines, it may fuflice to have fhcvved what 
 Virtues this Univerfalfubjcd hath, and to what ufcs 
 it may be appointed. I fay, that it may be profita* 
 ble to all orders of men, as welt to the fuperiour, as 
 to the inferiour, to fpiritual and fecular, noble and 
 ignoble, rich and poor: of which orders the Phy- 
 ficiaii is not to be deemed the loueft. 
 
 That I may perform my promife, what unheard of 
 things may be done, by the benefit of this fubjeft, 
 in natural difeafes incident to man, who is obnoxi- 
 ous to all kind of miferies, I will in the next place 
 reveal fomewhat for- his health and comfort. 
 
 But this my Medicine,which I dclivcr,isnot of great 
 price, but of great Virtue, and of which the poor as 
 well as rich, may be partakers, and ( by the blefling 
 of God ) may be freed from every curable difeafc- 
 
 The preparation. 
 
 TAketrro or three founds ofthi.<McnllTmm,whofecor2 
 rofive nature tr.tnjmitte by force of fire into a nature 
 Kot corrofve ; tind ycit h.tve the Menitruum prepared, 
 with which you jh.tll elalorate this Med:ct»c^ i-i thij Man- 
 ner : Diffolve in this Menftruum as much of thefirfi 
 Ens of Gold (mhich is to he found in all places of the 
 World, but efpccially in aoldcn Mines more cop-.oufly') 
 as it will attract in the heat ; fo that a red Solution may 
 be made-, which diacfl for fome dales ^ with its orvn wcii^ht 
 f the diffulving Wine -^ Jnakefufaration of the pure parts 
 from thj impure, by removing the faeces which fever them- 
 felvesfrom the Medicine^ by falling to the bottom^ th's 
 being cunccnt rated by an eafi: heat^ will be a red pellii-. 
 cidfi one-, very like t> a fallible falt^ which is to be care- 
 fully preferved. This M:dicine will be fecond to none^ 
 except the flone of Philofnphcrs-, and will be of the fame 
 gjodnefs, after a Hundred Tears-, that it was the firft 
 diy it was made, performing all thinas wh:ch J j/jeip 
 with afi't'.z.emenr^for which no mortal man can ever ren- 
 der fufficient Thanhs to God. 
 
 The Vfe of this Medicine in general. 
 
 THis Univerfal Medicine will cure every natural 
 difeafe both in young and cM , ftrong and 
 weak, in a very fmall dofe, without any danger, not 
 nanfeating the llomach, as the ufual Potions do ; 
 and is to be taken in any Liquor, accordin;' to the 
 Condition of the Sick, as warm Broth or Gruel, Wine,' 
 
 T t 2 Beet' 
 
i64 
 
 Mirjculum Aiundu 
 
 Part I 
 
 Beer or Ale, Water, Milk, cr-c. from one grain to 
 eight e,rain3,- which IS the hi^^hcfl dofe. It opera- 
 ted! after a divcrlc nianucr, according as the Itreiigth 
 of tlic lick, or the nature ot tlie difcafc requires : 
 If you continue in the life of the prclcribcd Do- 
 les, the operation will be infenfible, ic Itrengthen- 
 cth and raundilieth the radical nioiilurc, ar.d in a 
 wonderful manner expellcth everyEvil out of theBody 
 beir/; taken daily, every other or every third day : 
 It p'cfcrveth from accidental Difeafcs, corredeth 
 Venom, and reliileth infcdious Airs- But if the Dofe 
 wore greater, the Oj^ration will be more evident, 
 by Sweat, Urine, Spitting, and fomctimes by Stool, 
 according as you pleafe, by encrealing or leilcning 
 the Dofe •, and if the difpolition of the Difeale 
 comply, it is cured by a fmall c}uantity of this Me- 
 dicine, v\ ithout ocular obfervation ; but being radi- 
 cated, recjuircth a manifefi: operation, ifitreluleto 
 yield to a fmall Dofe atT;ing invilibly i l)ecaufe both 
 in i)reparing and uling this Medicine, regard is to 
 be had, that you neither err in excels or defeft, 
 but by obfcrving a Medium , you fhall obtain both 
 Profit and Honour- 
 
 Thofe of ripe years may take from one to fx 
 grains every day, if they have Icifare to attend the 
 Cure, but if not, three grains every fourth day,un^ 
 til there remain no footdleps of the Difeafe : ta- 
 king nothing befides this Medicine, and keepingthat 
 day from the cold Air, and abflaining three or four 
 hours from Food. In the Lcptof.'e and foul Scab, 
 there is no Remedy fafer than this Medicine, extir- 
 pating the Hoots of the Evil without trouble- Nor 
 will ^-ou ever be fruftrated in the defired effect, 
 if the Sick have ftrength fufficient to undergo the 
 Cure. C See its Preparation and Ufe more particu- 
 larly defcribcd, in Part 2. Phjr. Spa^^yr.'] 
 
 After the Defcription and Ufe of this Medicine, 
 by which the health of Man may be preferved.and 
 being loff, may be reflored, which is far to be pre- 
 ferred to all the Treafuras of the whole World. 
 There now follow other Secrets, fliewing how by 
 the help of this fubjecT; a man may acquire an ho- 
 neft Living; and, as I have faid in the Prcface,this 
 fiibjeilt may be prol^.table to all orders of men in the 
 World, v.heiher fuperiour or inferiour, Ecclclialfi^ 
 cal or Political, noble or ignoble, rich or poor, by 
 conferring or admonifhing fomewhat of good to 
 every one in his Profellion. Therefore I will no"w 
 begin to teach fome fignal ufes of it, that it may 
 be manifcft to all men , that this is an Univerfal 
 lubjeifl:, which I have alvvaies judged fuch, and that 
 others with me may find it fo- 
 
 In the firlf place, all Fofliles or Minerals digged out 
 of the Earth, may be perfetT.ly examined by the me- 
 diation of this fubjed , what metals they contain, 
 how many, and how much of each : It is an infalli- 
 ble Guide to the diggers and melters of Ores, fa-- 
 ving them both lofs of time and matter. An ex- 
 cellent Artifice, by which the value of all Minerals 
 may be difcovered without much labour and charge, 
 being highly receilary for Merallurgifts , of Co- 
 tihmy cfpecially, being quite undone by a continual 
 War, who may in a fliort time lay up great Stocks 
 or Treafnres, to l)e imploycd agninit tl:e Enemies 
 of their Country in time of neccility : by whofe 
 liencfit alfo rich Mines of gold and filver fwhich 
 othci wife would for ever lie ncgledled ) may be 
 difccvcrcd , when they are fwittly and accurately 
 cxamined- 
 I'he Marcafitcs of Gold and lilver being mekcd 
 
 by the mediation of this, by a Jiiignlar compendium, 
 hitherto unknown, do ailoid niorc metai than by 
 the common way. 
 
 The volatile and immature Marcafitesof gold 
 and ]ilver, are fixed in the fpace of three hours, fo 
 that they yield more metal tlr^n they could have 
 don« without fixation. 
 
 Thofe three things arc very neceffary and profi- 
 table to every Magiftrate having Mines m iiis jurif- 
 diillion, by which he may obtain much wealth. 
 
 All Gold and Silver uhichis not purely melted 
 from its Marcalite, is fvviftly purged from all addi- 
 tament, the Silver is fcparated from the Gold, by 
 fuliononly, with fmall labour and celt, but in great 
 weight. Gold and Silver are ealiiy drawn out of 
 old Tin vellcis, the tin being preferved almoft in the 
 fame weight, and being made better than it was 
 before, may ferve for the fame ufes to which it is 
 wont to be put. 
 
 From lufmith much filver is feparated, the Bif- 
 mitth being preferved, thisfecret being agreeable to 
 thofe places which abound with that Mineral. 
 
 From old Copper much Silver may be feparated, 
 the Copper remaining unhuvt,by which Artifice Coun- 
 tries abounding with this metal, may not a little pro- 
 fit themfelves. 
 
 Every cotnmon filver, may in the fpace of a few 
 hours be exalted into the nature of Gold, the which 
 if it be done four or five times, which may be in a 
 fhort fpace of time, it giveth fo much gold, as affbrd- 
 eth a fufficient livelihood, over and above the colts. 
 Gold may be feparated by fufion, from every ad- 
 dition of Copper, Tin, Iron, Lead, Orpinient, Anti= 
 monyArfenick orthelike,and be purifyed withoutCu- 
 pels,each being kept ajwrt^profitable for Metallurgifts 
 and the like, from the fhortncfs of the time, fmalluefs 
 of the charge and labour, and much gain, 
 
 Every imperfeft metal without the mixture of 
 other metals, may be ripened by this fecret alone in 
 the fire, in the fpace of an hour, fo that it will yield 
 Gold and Silver, but without gain. 
 
 There is another very gainful augmentation or 
 increafe of the perfecT: metals, by the imperfecT:, aa- 
 fwering to the Germination or growth of vegetables; 
 for even as every feed being call into the earth, 
 groweth therein arifing to be an herb or a tree, and 
 taketh alfo its encreafe from the faine by its inbred 
 attractive power; fo is it here alfo, for Sol or Lissx 
 groweth and encreafeth in Satum^ Jfpittr^ f^emis^ 
 ov Mars, as in their native foil, and are nourilhed 
 after the manner of herbs, and encreafe from day 
 today- An Art not tobedefpifed by Philofophers. 
 By the mediation of this, from all imperfect me- 
 tals and minerals, yielding nothing by the ufual ex- 
 amen of Cupels, Gold and filver is produced in a 
 manifold manner, being an argument that the im- 
 perfedt metals have fomewhat of the perfect reeonded 
 in them, when they are inverted and fhew themfelves 
 to our light, a work not ingratciul to thofe who work 
 in Metals. 
 
 Thefe are the chief things which I have found 
 may be done in meialiick works, by the help of this 
 Subjeft; yet I make no doubt but there are many 
 more unknown to me,to be revealed to others after me 
 wholliall make a good beginning from my writings, 
 tlic which I alfo wifli from ijiy heart, that the hid- 
 den mylfcries of the natural wonders olGod, may at 
 length be i)roughc to light, for the ufe of mankind. 
 Among the eniimoratcd Arcanums, ibtnc perhaps 
 may fccm of little worth to the Reader ^ but there 
 
 are 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mnndi, 
 
 iSs 
 
 are iomz from which may be had a commodious 
 livelihood, fo that an Artifl: need not be at the will 
 of another, without he pleafe- O how great a 
 thing is Liberty) which no man can worthily elteem, 
 who hath not been a -Servant himfelf A piece of 
 Bread is fweeter toa quiet, prudent man than many 
 dainties, with care, danger, and noifc. It is happy 
 for him who can fay with P.tracclfus^ Alteriits non jir, 
 tjiii Jims ejjcpotefi -^ Let him mt be ano'.bcrs^ who m.jy be 
 his otvn. But it is good for him that would ufe well 
 the Gifts of God , not to be unmindful of his 
 Neighbour,lelt temporary Liberty cad him head-long 
 into the Dungeon of eternal Slavery. After fhew- 
 ing this fubjeft to be conducible to all the Inhabi- 
 tants of the earth, I have defcribed its ufe in Me- 
 tallicks, which is not to be indifferently undertaken 
 by every man, but by thofe only who arc concern- 
 ed in digging of Mines, and melting and fcparating 
 of Metals, whether they be noble or ignoble, lear- 
 ned (as well fpiritual as fecular, exempted from pub- 
 lick offices) or rude, which maintain themfclves from 
 Merchandice, or live upon their Eftates, all which 
 may receive Fruit from thefe Secrets, but not Hus- 
 bandmen, Labourers, Ditchers, e^c. but that to thefe 
 alfo fomewhat of profit may proceed from my inven- 
 tions, I will (hew in order ; although the principal 
 will redound to ingenious Artificers, Engravers, 
 Painters, Statuaries , thofe who adorn Glafs or 
 Clothes with Silk, Gold, or Silver, and they who 
 make Wax-work- 
 
 They who etch upon Copper, may prepare from 
 this fubjed a good corroflve water, by which (the 
 Copper- plates being firfl fmeared over with a co: 
 vering fit to defend them, and what Images and lines 
 they pleafe, being drawn upon them with a ftile or 
 ftift j by a very eafie and compendious manner, they 
 will be eroded or eaten into. 
 
 P.^/Vfr.f, by the help of this, may prepare forthem- 
 felves moft excellent Colours, zsVltra-Mari-ie^Smalt ^ 
 fine red or fcarlet L.-icca^ Venice- Ceriife-, and otUers ne- 
 celfary for their llfes, which otherwife they mufl 
 have from far, as italy^ H^ll.vid^ France-, &c. and at 
 a dear rate. 
 
 En^avcrs^nd Statuaries may fo harden their Tools 
 that they may hold their points long , if they be to 
 cut ftones. 
 
 Embroiderers may put any durable Colour they 
 pleafe upon the fdk with which they work. 
 
 They who paint Glafs, by an eafle work, may thence 
 prepare all Colours or Enamels for Glafs,fo that there 
 will be no need to have them from f^emce. 
 
 They who work in Wax, by the benefit of this, 
 may whiten it exceedingly , and colour it as they 
 pleafe. 
 
 />r///tfrj may add this fubjecl to their Ink, which 
 will caufe it to adhere moft firmly to the Paper, and 
 render the Letters very fair. 
 
 It is convenient io\ Chd-^nakers or Watchmakers ^'li 
 a Water be deRilled from it, which foldereth Iron or 
 Steel without Fire, if a drop of that Aquafortis be 
 dropped upon it, whence the Iron growing hot , it 
 prdentlv waxeth foft, as if it had been foldered in 
 the fire by the help of Copper. 
 
 All S/«;//^/may by it harden their Files, and other 
 Iron Tools, as hard as if they had been made of the 
 hardelt Steel. 
 
 1 m-wurkersor PevctererSf may harden their Tin or 
 Pewter, and give to it an elegant whitenefs,fo that it 
 will refcmble Silver both in colour and found ; nei- 
 ther will It ealily tarnifli, and by reafon of its liardnefs 
 
 will endure longer than common Tin or Pewter. 
 
 Ct^/wf.w,i%>-j may flrike an excellent Ulack upon 
 Pear-tree, Cherry-tree, Box, Walnut-tree, and other 
 hard Woods, which may be ufed for curious Works 
 iiiftead of Ebony- 
 
 Skinners or Furriers vm^ dye their Ermins, Fox- 
 skins, Wolf-skins, and the like Furrs, with a Scar- 
 let, Crimfon, or deep Black colour, far exceeding the 
 natural. 
 
 In like manner, Feather-dyirs may fwifcly give any 
 lafting colour to their Plumes- 
 
 Taylors may take out fpots or ftains out of Wool- 
 len, Linen, or Silk Garments, and rellore their 
 beauty- 
 
 U Sboomakers put old Iron to this fubjcfH:, they 
 may therCA-ith adorn their Leather with an excellent 
 Black. 
 
 Weavers may render their Linen threads fo fine and 
 foft, that they fliall emulate Silk. 
 
 Dyers^ by this, may give fo firm and unchangeable 
 a ground to their Cloth, that the fuperinduced Co- 
 lours fliall not be corrupted or fpoiled by any Wine, 
 Vinegar, Urine, Pickles, Air, or Sun. 
 
 Potters may thence prepare a GlafFy colour, not 
 unlike to the Indian Porcella/ie, of which Velfels may 
 be made, having the Afpedl of Gold, Silver, or Cop- 
 per, a fingular Ornament for Noblemens Tables, hi- 
 therto unknown to the World. 
 
 Sculdiers^ Merchants^ Travellers , Carriers , and 
 Others who are much in the open Air, may of this 
 prepare a Varnifh, in which they may dip a Linen 
 Cloth, which will not permit either Air or Water 
 to pafs through ir, with which they may defend 
 their Boots or Clothes, fo that they may travel dry 
 in the Rain. 
 
 They who make Tapeftry, may reftore their fainc 
 or faded colours, fo that they fhall be ftrong and 
 beautiful. 
 
 Miftrifi^es of Families may prepare of it fine Soap 
 orWafhballs, far exceeding that of f^cwf. 
 
 Pfciijbold-.Maids may with it fcowre or cleanfe their 
 metallick veflels, fo as to render them neat and 
 beautiful. 
 
 Womcfj may change the yellow, pale, or brown co= 
 lour of their face and hands into a beautiful white- 
 nefs- 
 
 Old Women may by an eafie way take away the 
 wrinjclesof their face and hands ; asalfo, the Corns 
 of their feet, and boil their Linen to fuch a foft- 
 nefs, that it fhall come but little fhortof Silk. 
 
 Gardeners by this fubjedl may deftroy all Infcrts, 
 by mixing it with Water, and pouring it into thofe 
 places where they breed, for they will either die in 
 their holes, or run out to die, becaufe they are noc 
 able to abide that fire. It alfo ripeneth Fruits, if a 
 little of this Menftntum be applied to the roots, at 
 the entrance of the Spring •, and if a large quantity of 
 Apples be covered well over with it, they may thence 
 prepare a lafting Wine, Vinegar, or burning Spirit. 
 
 Bakirs may ufe it inftead oi Ferment or Yealt, if 
 they diffolve a few Hops therein. 
 
 Brewers m^rj have very ftrong Ale or Beer by its 
 help, if they extraft their Hops with it. 
 
 Mead or Metheglin, as alfo Beer and Canary, 
 which are upon the turn, and growing fowre, may by 
 this be rendered drinkable. 
 
 Con.b-mahfrs-, and Other Horn-workers, may by this 
 foften their Horns, fo that they may imprint upon 
 them what Images they pleafe. 
 
 Uu 
 
 Kee^en 
 
i66 
 
 MiraculumMmdi. 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Keepers of Armries may preferve their poliQied 
 Arms or Harnefs fafe from Ruft, by anointing it 
 over with this fubject- 
 
 Bird-C.uchirs may by help of this prepare fuch a 
 Birdlime as will not be hurt cither by Cold or 
 Heat- 
 
 SunUicrs by means of this may prepare from 
 Gold a fulminating Powder, of which the magnitude 
 of a Peafe being put upon a red-hot Iron plate will 
 give a greater clap, than half a pound, yea, a whole 
 pound of Gun-powder ; the fame may alfo be pre- 
 pared wiUiout Gold , only by the addition of Salt 
 of Tartiir and Sulj)hur j as it is defcribed in the 
 fecond Part of our Furnaces. 
 
 En^nmcrs and A^ai^rs of Fkc-worhs^ may perform 
 many wonderful things by hclpofthisfubjed- 
 
 There may alfo many new Works, belonging to 
 Weaving and the Smith's Art, be thence made, which 
 may be communicated to neighbouring Countries, 
 whereby Money may be brought in lieu thereof to a 
 Countrcy impoverifhM by War. 
 
 If rtne'drcjjers^ Or Keepers ofFweymds^ pour S little 
 of this fubjeft to the Roots of their Vines, they will 
 have ripe Grapes, and Mnst^ov new Wine fooner 
 than their Neighbours ; of which they may make a 
 good advantage. 
 
 Neverthelefs, Muft and Wine alfo may be ripened 
 after another manner, in the Hogfliead , without 
 this Art ; fo that they who underftand the way, may 
 have alwaies good Wine, when others haveitfowre; 
 A Secret very profitable to cold Climates, which for 
 the mofl: part produce fowre or tart Wines. It is 
 alfo agreeable to Countries abounding with Wine, 
 when through a want of the heat of the Sun the 
 Grapes do not ripen well •, which may be helped by 
 . this Art, fo thac it may be readily fold. 
 
 But becaufe the greater part of men, efpecially of 
 the meaner fort, cannot be perfwaded to things 
 which tliey have never fccn nor heard of, 1 well 
 know, that if I fliould in plain words defcribe the 
 reafon and manner of meliorating Wines, fcarceone 
 man in a Hundred would believe me, but would rather 
 fay. Our fore- Fathers were wife men, and got great 
 Eflates by Wine, without the knowledge of this Art, 
 nor did they delire it. If Nature will not ripen our 
 Wines, let them be fowre ; yet notwithflanding, if 
 fometimes they will not ferve the Matter, they may be 
 drank by the Servants. 
 
 Men of this fort are incurable, neither are they (be- 
 ing old^ caCly tamed; and young- men take little 
 care how prudently they manage their Affairs. Hence 
 it comes to pafs, that Antiquity obtains upon all 
 men. But that the Vine-drelfer may fee that the 
 prcfcnt Age is more skilful than the former, I will 
 fct before him only one demonftrative Example, by 
 which he may plainly fee how much they differ. 
 
 Our fore-Fathers knew not how .to make any 
 thing of the fasces or dreggs of Wine, but a burn- 
 ing Spirit or Brandy, which being e.xtraded, the 
 remainder they threw away, or fometimes mixed it 
 with the Fodder of Cattel, very rarely dried them 
 in the Sun, and burnt them into Pot-alhes ; but by 
 my invention, there may be thence drawn a far 
 greater quantity of burning Spirit, then alfo a large 
 quantity of Tartar, and at laft the Pot-anies,which is 
 a threefold profit. Which if you manage the mat- 
 ter well-, from a Pipe of Lees, you will have at 
 the leall fcven or eight Urns {xchicb vill he about a 
 Fifth p trt ^ an 'Dm being foif Gallons') of good Wine, 
 
 from the refidue, you will have the burning Spirit, 
 
 and Tartar, at the laft the clavellated Alhes , the 
 profit being four times as much as heretofore, which 
 thing was altogether unknown to our Anceflors. 
 How many Thoufand weight of Tartar is every 
 year thrown away in FrMiconia^ Sitivia, j^lfatieiy the 
 PJathiate^ upon the Rhine^ Adoftll-, and Daf:nbe, which 
 would be very profitable to thofe Countries, if the 
 men were Artifts- 
 
 But what doth it fignifie to teach, if there be 
 none to hear or learn : for it is more advifeable 
 to fit ftill and do nothing, than to be largely im- 
 ployed to no purpofe. But 1 am perfwaded, that 
 after my death, there will be fomc who will under- 
 ftand my good will to the World, and fearch out 
 phe truth out of my Writings, to their own great 
 profit. There is an opportunity or feafon for every 
 thing -, Trees firft bring forth Budds, then follow 
 BlolToms and Leaves, and laft of all. Fruit. 
 
 There remains yet another thing very profitable 
 to Country-men ; the juice of Apples or Pears be- 
 ing preffed out, by the help of this fubjeft, fuch an 
 Ertervefcency (or working) is promoted, as Wines 
 may be thence made, having the relilh of the natu- 
 ral,and but little inferiour in durability and ftrength : 
 and although the beating of the Apples be fome- 
 what tedious, ( which is now done much quicker by 
 Mills) thac labour is recompenfed with a good pro- 
 fit, by the Wine arifmg from the juice \ a Secret 
 very neceflary for cold Countries , which cannot 
 ripen Wines, and yet abound much in Apples, but 
 by this way may fave much in the price of Wines, 
 for which they ufually pay dear. 
 
 I have indeed many Arts relating to Wines, but 
 they belong not to this place, my purpofe here being 
 to treat of thofe only, which are adminiftred by 
 my Vnlverfal Menflritnm : Arts (as I think) hitherto 
 known to none, or at leaft not divulged, that it 
 may be manifeft to the Reader what proficiency the 
 World hath made in good things- Whether the 
 matter be credited, or not, flgnifies little to me, I 
 my felf alfo might have doubted, if I had not lear- 
 ned by experience^ but Judgment ought not to be gi- 
 ven raflily •, we are to know, that God doth won- 
 derfully difpenfe his benefits to thofe who are his 
 Servants, and whom he hath appointed to be his 
 Inftruments, to bring his wonders to light- 
 
 If Husbandmen moiften their feed with i\\i%Mcn. 
 ft>nti//j^ it will fooner be ripe, and have larger, fat- 
 ter grains than ordinary : NA^hich being done,Ii^ll 
 fliew by what means they may make great profit of 
 their grain. The grain being whole, not ground, 
 pour to it warm water, impregnated with this Men~ 
 Jhiium^ in a HogOicad well ftopped , let it ftand 
 and ferment or work for a time , the water will 
 extraft all the ftrength of the grain , the remain- 
 ing husks ferving to feed Hogs : If you ferment 
 Hops with this Liquor, or extrad, it will be good 
 Beer: If you will not do this, you may thence 
 draw a very good fpirit , the refidue, in a fhort 
 time , will be Vinegar ; and if you be wife , you 
 may put this burning Spirit or Wine to many ufes, 
 by which you fhall have more profit than by fel- 
 ling it ■■, a Secret not to be defpifed where grain is 
 cheap- I have yet one thing to add among my Wine- 
 Arts, concerning grain, and the Fruits of Trees 
 and Shrubs, which is to be received with thankful-- 
 nefs, as a great Gift of God to Mankind- f^iz.. It 
 i s found by induftry and manifold experience, that 
 from Rye, Wheat. Oats, Rice, Millet, alfo from Ap- 
 ples, Pears, Peaches, Cherries , Plumbs, Sloes, Da^ 
 
 mafcens. 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miracultim Mmdi. 
 
 167 
 
 maf€cns,Quinces, Figgs ; as alfo from Goofe--berries, 
 Mulberries, Barberries, Black- berries. Elder-berries, 
 and other-like Fruits of Trees and Shrubs ; from all 
 thcfe, 1 fay, maybe prepared, with little labour and 
 colt, a Drink very like to Wine, both in tafte, fmcU, 
 and ftrength, being grateful, wholcfome, and du= 
 rable. For which large bounty, the Inhabitants of 
 cold Climates (which never fee Grapes) cannot ren- 
 der to God fufficient Thanks. 
 
 There yet remains a manifold ufe of this fubjed 
 in Medicine, which if it were rightly defcribed, 
 would make a great Volume, which Ijclongs not to 
 this place, but (hall be done more comniodioully at 
 anotner time in a peculiar Treatife. It were to be 
 wifhcd, that this fubjctft were better known , and 
 more ufed by ingenious Chymills and Apothecaries, 
 that fo many dead Herbs and unprofitable Waters 
 might not be fet to fale. What, I pray, would it 
 avail, if the whole Mafs of Blood being inflamed 
 with an intolerable heat (as happencth in the Plague 
 and other contagious Feversj you fhould wrap the 
 head with a moiftened Rofe-Cake , comfort the 
 Temples, Pulfes, Hands and Feet with Water ? think 
 you by this to drive away the Difeafe ? Not at 
 all, but rather render it worfe, as Experience hath 
 often witnefled. But it feems to me as if a vapo-- 
 rary Bath or Cauldron were too hot, and one fliould 
 go and cover the Furnace all over with cold linen, 
 to temper the heat, a thing to be laughed at; but 
 the wood which caufeth the flame being taken out, 
 the F^jrnace cools of its own accord- By a like 
 reafo'D, the malignant Fire of hot Difeafes is in the 
 fpace ofa few hours, drawn out from the molt in: 
 ward Penetrals of the Heart, by four grains (at the 
 moll) of a good Medicine, where no place is left 
 for external Coolers, or corroborating Epithems- 
 Which thing I have obferved not only in one, but 
 in many Experiments; That the Venom being ex= 
 eluded from the Heart, the Body hath returned to 
 its due temper , and by degrees to health and 
 Itrength- 
 
 To what purpofe are fo many Ointments, Oils, 
 Emplafters, <^c. when a fmall quantity of a good 
 Medicine is able to effeft more than them all ? A 
 whole year is often fpent in the curing a fmall Ul- 
 cer or Wound, and then left worfe than at the be- 
 ginning, the Bridle faccording to the Proverb) being 
 applied to the Horfes Tail, and nof^o the origi- 
 nal of the Difeafe. The Fountains of external Ul- 
 cers are to be dried within, and not imprudently to 
 be flopped up with outward Plafters , which other= 
 wife, without any outward Remedy, by afmailquan: 
 tity of a good Medicine, may be radically cured in 
 the fpace ofa few weeks. Therefore fuch a Medi- 
 cine is to be fought, and all other trifles to be laid 
 afide : But what doll thou, feeing the World will 
 be deceived, and defireth no other ? For if any 
 Phyfician have a good Medicine, which is much 
 ealier for the lick to take , than many ingrateful 
 Potions ^ this is neither efbeemed nor rewarded, 
 tor if he require a Fee or Reward, he is anfwered, 
 That he gave only a few grains of powder , two 
 or three times, which cannot be fo dear : Heace 
 chufing a certain thing for an uncertain, he requi- 
 reth his reward according to his vifics, and prefcri- 
 bcth Bottles full of Phyfick, which may be long in 
 taking, and he have tiie fitter opportunity to en- 
 creafe their number. 
 
 The fame thing hath alfo obtained in Chirur- 
 gery, for it an honclt Chirurgeon quickly cureth 
 
 an outward Evil by the help ofa good Medicine, 
 he fliall not have a due reward, but fhall be told. 
 That he hath only .applied two or three Plafters, 
 which can be worth but Little. Therefore inftcad 
 of being paid for a quick Cure, he reaps nothing 
 but ingratitude i fo that being better taught, it be- 
 hoveth him to do like others, by employing a month 
 or more about that Cure, which he could perform in 
 three dales. 
 
 For this, and the like caufes, very hvi are trea- 
 ted with good Medicines, but Phylicians fludy de- 
 laies, after the old manner, if not in refpecftofthc 
 lick, yet at Icalt for their own profit ; for if thefick 
 readily pays his Fees, he, cither out of ignorance or 
 voluntary neglcit, neglcdtcth the matter, for which 
 he will have an heavy account to give. 
 
 The prefent World doth only this, he that Han- 
 deth, let him fland, and he that falleth, let him lie, 
 none regardeth it •, every one takcthcare of his own 
 matters; nor will he put his hand to the quenching 
 of the fire. That famous Patron of Art, -Akxandtr 
 the Great, who bellowed upon his Philofopher v^>7- 
 ftotlc more than a Hundred Thoufand Crowns a year, 
 for his Inquiries into Vegetables, Animals, and Mi- 
 nerals, now ceafcth to be. The mofl wife Emejins 
 Duke of Bavaria. , and Eledor of Colo?>,e, What 
 Expence hath he not been at in colleding the Wri- 
 tings of that incomparable German Phyfician and 
 Philofopher, Paracclfus , and ether fuch Chcrilhers 
 and Advancers of Arts, our Uermany hath lately 
 brought forth ? but ^'iars (the Sword j aflerting his 
 Empire, hath baniflied Juptter and Mercury f Juftice 
 and Arts) fo that they play leaft in fight ; but fure 
 it is, that if they be not quickly reftored and ad- 
 vanced to their dignity, it will be to the unfpeaka- 
 ble detriment of the Country, and to the great ad- 
 vantage of Strangers •■, which Cod of His AJercy pre 
 vent. 
 
 And now the benevolent Reader hath feen, what 
 wonderful and incredible things may be performed 
 by the benefit of this fubjeft ; yet I will not deny, 
 but that it may alfo ferve for many more things 
 which I know not, being profitable for all orders of 
 men, fuperiour and inferiour, learned and illiterate, 
 great and fmall, according to their feveral Vocations 
 and States. But fome men may fay, 1 do indeed be^ 
 lieve that many great things may be done by its 
 means ; but becaufe thou dofl not together and at 
 once fhew the way of preparing the Univerfal Me- 
 dicine or Tinrture by its help v there is therefore 
 reafon to doubt whether it be the Vnivcrjd Secret 
 Menftrimm of the ancient Philofophers, to wit, the 
 Hcr/nafhrodite Mcrcioy^ fo much fpoken of bv them> 
 every where to be found, a thing contemptible and 
 vile, to be found in every Dunghil, by nature cold 
 and hot, a great Poifon, quickly killing and quickly- 
 healing, a matter to be found with all men , which 
 the rich and poor equally pollefs, which Adam 
 brought with him out of Paradife^ and many more 
 Epithets of the Ancients, which are all agreeable to 
 that thing. Tothislanfwer, That in my judgment 
 the Ancients had no other Univerfal Mercury, to 
 which all their marks do perfeflly agree, and may 
 be applied. Do not all men know it, feeing and be- 
 holding their own Urine, of which it is generated? 
 Is it not a very vile matter, which we keep not in the 
 Houfe, but throw outof doors, according to the Pre- 
 cept of the Philofophers , to be fought in Dung ? 
 Is it not a great Poyfon whenmade into Gun-pow- 
 der or y^qn'i fortis f andj Have not I fhewn that a llni- 
 
 Uu2 verfal 
 
i68 
 
 Miraculutn Mundi. 
 
 Part I. 
 
 verfal Medicine may be made of it ? Is ic not a meer 
 Fire, andalfo being pure, cold as Ice? and if you 
 will, hach ic not equally mafculine and feminine gifts? 
 Doth it not fo impregnate the imperfed Bodies in the 
 fpace of a quarter of an hour, that they generate 
 Gold? Is not it felf impregnated by the heat of the 
 Fire, thatit bringeth forth thofe Fruits? Is it not 
 highly volatile, and prefently firmly fixed ? Is ic not 
 a Water both moiftand dry ? a great Corrofive, and 
 yet being rightly prepared, an Enemy to Corrofives ? 
 Is it not moil heavy and raoft light ? To what thing, 
 except Nitre, doth this Enigma of the Philofophers 
 agree ? For, What is blacker than a Crow, whiter 
 than aSwan, more hurtful than a Serpent deftroying 
 many, lighter than the Wind, heavier than Gold ? Is 
 rot this the true dcvourer of his own Children (the 
 Metals) the Jx.^th of Philofophers, the Soap of 
 the Wife, the Urine of Boys, Sulphur vive, the Salt 
 of Strangers, the Secret Fire of Philofophers? 
 
 Are not all thefe things in Nitre ? But by what 
 method they may be there found, is not my bufincfs 
 to fhew in this place, let it be fufficient to have poin- 
 ted out the fubjeft in which they are to be fought 
 aiid found, which no man before me hath been fo kind 
 to do. For further demonflration, to wit, that from 
 Nitre a true V>iiverfal Solvent ( 1 would not have you 
 im^g\ut\x.x.obz ^cjuafortis ) vCiZ'j be prepared, there 
 needeth not. But thou maift contradidt it if thou 
 canft, or name another fubjedl in which are all thofe 
 things. Which I know thou canil not do, if thou 
 could'ft at once take a view of the whole World- 
 
 That 1 have not written any thing concerning a 
 Tinfture to be prepared of it for the Imperfedt Me- 
 tals, ( which defeft the ancient Philofophers have 
 Tupplicd; thou maift think that I have not proceeded 
 fo far, and that I have wanted time and opportunity 
 to make a farther Progrefs, nor did I ever afpire to 
 fo great things, but have contented my felf with thofe 
 of a meaner Rank- But how far I have penetrated 
 by fearching into Nitre, may be feen in the Second 
 Partofmv Furnaces, where 1 have prefcribed fome 
 notable Procclles from a grofs fubjed, of which this 
 is not the leaft, where I flicw, that fome years be- 
 fore, I would have melted a Calx of Gold, and be- 
 caufe it would not melt, 1 iiddcd by intervals a Flux: 
 ing Powder, prepared of Salts, till all flowed well, 
 then the Crucible being taken out of the Fire, and the 
 matter poured out, when I expeited Gold, inflead 
 of that I found Lead, but the Fluxing Powder was 
 very red, (although made of the whitcfl; Salts) be- 
 ing tipged with the ^w«.( of Gold, the Gold being 
 diverted of all its dignity. Which thing, when I had 
 conlidered, believing fome Secret to lie in the matter, 
 I fcveral times repeated the labour, but alwaies in 
 vain; the caufc of which crrour was not the fubjedt, 
 but my felf, who had not pbferved the weights and 
 decree of Fire \ or God, who would not that I fliould 
 make any farther difcovery- Truly, if that Labour 
 had fucceeded, 1 fhould long ITnce have polTeired the 
 Scone of Philofophers, who am now forced tofuftain 
 my Family by meaner things with labour. But palhng 
 by this, fee, I pray you, what the molt accurate P>3t. 
 liffHs Paracelfas afcribeth to rude Nitre,when he faith, 
 Chymfiry hath dlfcovered the matter to lie^ in Nitre. 
 Let Ba/iirJentine, Sendivogius, and the ancient Philo- 
 fophers, be confidered,and you fhall fee that all their 
 Sayings are accomodated to the operation of this fub 
 jedV, and that I have not attributed too much to ic, 
 but rather lefs than is due. I could, had 1 a mind fo 
 to do, compofe all the terms of Philofophers with 
 
 thisfubjecH:, but to v\ hat purpofefo great a prolixity ? 
 He that (hall once come, fo far as I am, the Secrets of 
 the Philofophers will be fufficiently manifeftto him, 
 and will freely confefs, that this is the only true Vni- 
 verfal Solvent^ and that there is no other. Many have 
 alwaies believed this thing to be prepared of Nitre, 
 but becaufe they were not fully confirmed in their 
 minds, they tried nothing with ic,and therefore found 
 nothing. Many men in my time have endeavour'd to 
 fix Nitre into a Tindure, but becaufe they took it 
 crude without a due Preparation and fit Aflbciate> 
 fuchas it was when they committed it to the Fire, 
 fuch it remained ; but if they had known how to have 
 joined an amicable fubjed: with it, perhaps it might 
 have been more profitable. Bafilius commandeth 
 to alTociate it with a brisk and lively female, from 
 whofe embraces the Queen might bring forth ilTue : 
 All the Philofophers fay, that to Mercury is to be ad- 
 ded its own weight of Gold and Silver, ( but not 
 the common) and that of both is to be made one 
 indilTolvable thing ; for while the Gold is dilfol- 
 ved by the Mercury, in the fame moment the Mer- 
 cury is coagulated by the Gold , the folution of 
 the Body, and the coagulation of the Mercury, are 
 done both by the fame Work- Certain it is , that 
 there is one thing among Minerals, which is con- 
 joined and fixed with our Nitre, and during the 
 fixation, pafleth ail colours ; but I know not the 
 end of the thing, having never performed that la-- 
 bour, and by reafon of ray great age, think not to 
 repeat it *, nor will I be the advifer of any»man, 
 that he fhould fearch aiCer an uncertain labour with 
 a certain Lofs r but if any man in doing this Ihall 
 mifs his hope , let him not blame me for giving 
 him the occafion by this Writing, who have wrote 
 this only for this end, that I might make it ma- 
 nifeft, that the name ofVmverfal is not undeferved= 
 ly alfign'd to it : Neither alfo is there any need, 
 that a thing of fo great moment fliould be made 
 known to an ungraceful World. Any of thofe 
 things which I have fliewn may be done by it, are 
 fufficient for a man to fuflain his Family. 
 
 Some man may except, and ask, Who hath revea- 
 led to thee, that this is the Mercury of Philofophers f 
 I anfwer. That I know it to be fuch from thepro-- 
 perties , form, and nature affigned to it by the Phi- 
 lofophers, which thou alfo, if thou hadft Philofo- 
 phick eyes, wouldll acknowledge to be fuch, which 
 is wont to hide it felf from the proud, and to re- 
 veal it felf to whom it pleafeth God. If a skilful 
 Gardener fliould happen into a Garden, where he 
 fliould fee that wonderful Vegetable, Noli me tan- 
 gcre, ( which at the firfl was brought from the Eafi 
 ^Indies, therefore planted and cherilhed with great 
 care and admiration in great mens Gardens) of 
 which he had read fo many portentous things, viz.. 
 That refufing every touch, it would fall to the ground. 
 And although he had never before feen this Herb 
 with his Eyes, would he not certainly apprehend 
 this to be that very Herb ? for the Vertues attribu- 
 ted to it argue that it cannot be any other. So he 
 whole eyes it hath pleafed God to open, fo that he 
 can apprehend all the Properties to be in a fub- 
 jed, which the Philofophers affirm to be in their 
 Univerfal Mercury, Will he not, acquiefcing in that, 
 defilt from feeking out another ? 
 
 Laftly, Sal Nitre is the only growth, generation, 
 and encreafe of all Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, 
 as alfo their Deftrudtion, and Regeneration, by a per= 
 petual Circulation of the Elements, by which things 
 
 being 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 169 
 
 being diflblved, do again retorn into the fame from 
 which they arofc : For the Nitre of Vegetables in 
 ihebodicsof Animals, by the intervening digeftions 
 and feparations, is generated into a Mineral Salt, 
 which none will deny : and Nitre or Salt of the 
 Earth, is Vegetable, Mineral, and Animal, which can- 
 not be faid of any other fubjed, but the Univer- 
 fal Matter. And even as it is the chief Conferver 
 of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, fo it is alfo 
 their Deftroycr and Death ; therefore by them it is 
 both loved and hated. Vegetables love it , when 
 growing in the Earth, they thence draw their nou= 
 rifhment ; for when the Earth is dead, or void of 
 Salt, it afFordeth neither nourifhment or cncreafe to 
 feed, Chrift himfelf being witnefs, when he faith, 
 Te are the Salt of the Earth : but if the Earth be defti- 
 tuteofSalt ( or the Salt hath loft his faltnefs) it is 
 altogether dead, and can bring forth no Fruit. An 
 ignorant man faith, that Dung maketh the Earth 
 fruitful, but undefervedly, for not the Dung, but 
 the Salt which lies hid in the Dung, doth this, which 
 is generated of Vegetables after their putrefadion, 
 and again tranfmuted into their feeds and roots 
 which are in the Earth ; the fame Animals again re- 
 ceive in their food, whereby their bodies are ftrength-. 
 ned and preferved from Corruption. For no man 
 is fo rude, but he hath learned by experience, that 
 Salt is the Preferver of things both living and dead- 
 But an ignorant man may objeft, that other things 
 alfo have a prefervative Power, as myrrh, aloes, 
 and other Balfamick Liquors, which preferve Flelh 
 and Fifh from putrefadtion. To this I anfwer, That 
 it is not myrrh or aloes, but their fait , which 
 effe(n:eth this- Honey alfo and fugar preferve things, 
 which are not falts. I anfwer , That thou under- 
 Ifandeft not the nature of Salts ; thofe are fweet 
 falts, the other are bitter falts, which by putrefa- 
 ction are changed into fowre and acid- Alfo eve- 
 ry burning fpirit of Wine , and other Vegetables, 
 preferveth other bodies, although they are not in 
 form of fait, neverthelefs it is nothing elfe but the 
 moft pure volatile fait of the Wine; mixed with 
 its fulphur, which doth this ; for none of the Prin- 
 ciples is fincere, and wholly free from the mixture 
 of the reft. Vinegar doth the fame thing, and is 
 a meer fait, which if time would permit, I could 
 cafily demonftrate. Whatman's fenfes are fo dull, 
 that he cannot underftand one thing to pafs into 
 another, by the mediation of putrefaction, to him 
 even great Volumes would profit nothing. From 
 the fweeteft Muft (or new Wine) Sugar, Honey, by 
 the help of putrefadion and Fermentation alone, is 
 made an acid Tartar, a ftrong Vinegar, and a vo- 
 latile burning Spirit ; all thefe will prefently return 
 into a nitrous fait, which few underftand , thofe 
 cfpccialJy who are believed to know much. Not 
 only Man is delighted with fait, without which he 
 cannot be found and in health, but alfo all Animals. 
 Mice, above all, are very greedy of Salcthe which 
 if they find not, they lick the faline cfflorefcencesof 
 Walls, and make a very nitrous Urine- Pigeons 
 alfo frequent old Walls, which abound with fait. 
 Hens pick out the grains of Oats from Horfe-dung, 
 which are full of fait , preferring them to freft 
 Oats, and thence become more fruitful, in laying 
 more Eggs, the falc conceiting the fmall ftones 
 
 which they fwallow, in their Ventricles, is the firft 
 matter of Eggihells ; but if, being fliut up in Pens 
 or Coops, they have not that fait earth, with the 
 fmall fand or ftones, which they ufually devour, or 
 their ftoraachs being weak, doth not digeft them, 
 the Eggs they lay afterwards , will be fucH as we 
 call windy Eggs, having no fhells, or fuch as are 
 very imperfet't. Minerals growing in the bowels 
 of the earth ( Experience being witnefs) rejoice in 
 fait, from which they alfociate to themfclves bo- 
 dies, and maJce an encreafe: In like manner, they 
 love it out of the earth, and by it are ripened and 
 meliorated; amongft which Salts, Nitre, as 1 have 
 fiid, is endowed with a lingular fympathy towards 
 Metals. On the contrary. Minerals as well as Ani- 
 mals and Vegetables, abhor fait, if they be unduly 
 alfociated with it, for fo they are corrupted and 
 deftroyed ; for fait being adhibited in a due man- 
 ner, is the only preferver, augmenter, and perfeder 
 of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, which all the 
 Philofophers confefs ; amongft whom, Plato afcri- 
 beth to fait fomething divine, to whom fucceeding 
 Ages have affented, feeking many things in fait, yea, 
 even the ftone of Philofophers it felf ^ but being 
 ignorant what a true fait was, and of the manner 
 of applying and preparing it, they could not make 
 any further progrefs. Hence any man nlay eafily 
 fee why the Ancients called thofe Secrets by the 
 name of Akhymy^ viz.. as a certain handling and 
 melting of fait , for which reafon alfo they fami- 
 liarly ufed thefe words ; /« Fire and Salt conffteth 
 theMa^ificry : Implying, that by the benefit of fire 
 and fait, a true Medicine was to be prepared , as 
 well for the health of men, as for the perfedion of 
 Metals. 
 
 If God prolong my Life, and grant me opportuni- 
 ty, I will hereafter, for the good of Mankind, opea- 
 ly declare what Salt and Fire are, that the incredi-- 
 ble Vertues of thofe two bodies, as yet unknown ta 
 the World, may be made manifeft toall Men. One 
 thing I will add, that the Philofophers pointing out 
 the Univerfal matter, fpeak obfcurely, when they 
 fay, that it is every whereto be found, that the Poor 
 hath it as well as the Rich, and that no man can live 
 without it, whence many have fought for Air, Rain, 
 Snow in March, May-dew dreaming the univerfal 
 matter to be in thofe, and when their labour hath 
 happily ceafed, they have obtained fomewhat of a 
 nitrous fait. It is certain, that the Stars do im- 
 pregnate the Air and Clouds with their Catholick 
 feed, which prefently falling in form of Rain, Snow, 
 and Dew, render the Earth fruitful and fitfofgcr= 
 mination, and that they are again drawn upwards 
 by the warmth of the Air, leaving their Nitre in the 
 earth, to be again impregnated by the ftars, and 
 again to defcend to conciliate the fertility of the 
 earth, left the earth at any time fliould labour under 
 a want of this univerfal feed, but continually ap- 
 plieth it felf to the vegetation of things, and pre- 
 ferveth a perpetual Circulation of the Elements. 
 Hence Hermes hath written, ihit That rchich is above 
 is as that which is below. Yet neverthelefs, we need 
 not feek it among the ftars , feeing that it may 
 fufficiently be had, by a far fliorter way, at hand, 
 and before our feet- For fo much the words of 
 Hermes intimate. 
 
 Xx 
 
 Th 
 
lyo 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 Parti 
 
 T/;e Words of the Secrets 0/ H E R M E S. 
 
 TRue it is, and remote from every cloak of a 
 Lye, that wliatfoever is below, is like to that 
 wliich is above i by this the wonderful things of the 
 work, of one thing, are acquired and perfedled, even 
 as alio things arc made of one, by the confideration 
 of one , fo all things are made of this one by con- 
 junaion. Its Father is the Sun, its Mother the Moon, 
 the Wind carrieth it in its belly, the Earth is its 
 Nurfe, the Mother of all perfection. Its power is 
 perfea, if it be changed into Earth -, the fubtileand 
 thin being feparated by the fire from the grofsand 
 thick, and indeed prudently with moderation and 
 wifdom ; this afcendeth from the Earth unto Hea- 
 ven, and again defcendeth from Heaven to the 
 Earth, and rcceiveth the power and efficacy of the 
 fiiperiours and inferiours. In this manner thou fhalt 
 acquire the glory of the whole World ; thou fhalt 
 drive away all darknefs and blindnefs, for this is a 
 Fortitude excelling all other power and ftrength, 
 for it is able to penetrate and fubdue all things, as 
 well thofe which are thick and hard , as thofe 
 which are fubtile. In this manner the World was 
 made , and hence its admirable conjunftions and 
 wonderful effeds , feeing that this is the way by 
 which thofe wonderful things are effected •, and for 
 this reafon I am called by the nzvatoi Hermes Tnf- 
 mciifiiis, feeing that I have three parts of the wif- 
 don-i and philolbphyof the whole World. So I con- 
 clude my Speech which I have made concerning the 
 Solar Work. 
 
 Thefe are the words of the mole ancient Philo- 
 fopher Hermes, who for his ^erkO: knowledge of 
 Nature, is defervedly ftiled The Father of Phiiofo- 
 fhus ; in which words he hath fufliciently hinted, 
 That his little Bird without wings T which tiying 
 day and night is not wearied ) is the Spirit and 
 Life of the fuperiour and inferiour Elements , the 
 Conferver of the fuperiour and greater, and of 
 the inferiour and leller World, and that it lies hid 
 in Nitre : For the better underflanding of which, let 
 a man throughly confider the Air, in which the 
 Vmverfil Spirit, the firft Ens or Being of all things, 
 dwelleth, without which no Animal can live a quar- 
 ter of an hour, nor any Vegetable or Mineral be 
 produced ; neither can the Sun Ihine, nor the Fire 
 burn. Even as the Excrements of Vegetables, Ani- 
 mals, and Minerals, by a' continual circulation, are 
 tranfmuted into Elements, the Elements into Ex- 
 crements, and thofe again return into Aliments, by 
 an ur.ceflant renovation and tranfmutation , which 
 Man only doth not attain. 
 
 The Hitshandwm knoweth that the Leafs, which 
 every year fall from the Trees, afford a new vigour 
 and nourifhment, that the Excrements of Cattel 
 produce very good Grafs, that the Fseccs or Recre- 
 ments of Minerals, from which a Metal hath been 
 once feparated, is in a Ihort time impregnated by 
 the Stars, that being melted, they again yield the 
 fame Metal which they had done a little before : 
 and the Scoria of metals arp every where returned 
 to their Mines, where in a years time being recrui- 
 ted by the attraftive power ot the Univerfal Spirit, 
 they are again impregnated, fo that they again by 
 melting aflbrd metal. Doth not the Earth, from 
 which ^SMt-Tetre hath been extraded , being expo- 
 
 fed to the Air in the interval of fome months, yield 
 other Sah-.Pctre , and this as often as you will, as 
 if nothing had been extraded from it ? Doth not 
 all things which are calcined, viz.. Lime made of 
 Stones, Shells, Woods, Herbs, from which the Fire 
 hath forced the Univerfal Spirit, by a very ftrong 
 Appetite or Magnetifm, draw the Univerfal Spirit 
 again afrefh, and return into a Corporeal Nitre ? 
 Is not the heat and vertue of the fun , the excre- 
 ment or fuperfluity of the fun, by which it is nou- 
 riflied and fuftained ? If heat were nothing to the 
 fun, the Air, by its Nitrous Eflence, could never 
 render it weighty, nor caufe it to diftill in fruitful 
 Rains j nor could the Earth bring forth Fruit, and 
 afford frefh nutriment and food to the fun, its con- 
 ferver : Whence it followeth, that an Excrement is 
 alwaies the confervation and nourifliraent of that 
 thing which makes or fepsrates it. but here P/^^ro 
 commandeth to reft ; at another time (God willing) 
 more fliall be fpoken- We have heard, thatinfalc 
 efpecially in Nitre, although flighted by the unskil- 
 ful, there are found mofi: potent and profitable ver- 
 tues, as well for true Mtdici>ic^ as for jilchymy. Nor 
 is it reafonable that any man fliould be offended 
 with its cheapnefs or low efteem 5 but he may ra- 
 ther think, that that which is defpifabie before the 
 World, and imaginary Philofophers, is moft pre- 
 cious with God, and thofe uho know the myfte- 
 rics of Nature. Therefore it remains, that in the 
 nature of things there is not a betcer fubjcd , by 
 which more and greater wonders may be perform- 
 ed , than Sal- Nitre. Therefore, I alfo conltantly 
 affirm, That of it may be prepared the true Mer^ 
 cttry of Philofophers .• but I will not fay, that I knovsr 
 the Preparation of the Stone of Philofophers from it, 
 becaufe I never went fo far : But thofe things whicli 
 I have delivered concerning it in the corredion of 
 metals, and other good Arts, Experience alone hatli 
 taught me; in which I acquiefce, and all thofe things, 
 if the matter fhould require, and it fhould conduce 
 to a good end ; I fliould not blufli to demonllrate 
 fingly through their parts , that it may be laid 
 open to all men, that all thefe things may be per= 
 formed, but not by every man •, feeing that I have 
 not written for that end, that they fliouId be pro- 
 flitutcd to all men, for then I fliould have wrote 
 more fully, but that they might remain in the po- 
 wer and cuftody of Friends- It can hardly be be- 
 lieved, what great troubles my Writings have crea- 
 ted me, while one accofts me from this place with 
 long Letters , willing me to unfold this or that 
 Others addrcfs me with a great Catalogue of Q_ue= 
 ftions, of which, if I fliould anfwer the tenth part, 
 I fliould fcarcely have Bread to eat. 
 
 If the L O R D fee good, he will afibrd me time 
 and occafion of doing yet better things, but if not, 
 let the Reader accept the ir/V/ for the deed : Truly, 
 there are many Sciences of great moment in my 
 Pofleflion, by which I could point out a fafe path 
 to Pofterity, for the attaining of higher things,- 
 but becaufe I have alwaies ftudied to maintain my 
 Family, with ray own honeft labour , without de- 
 triment to my Neighbour, I am (contrary to my^^'- 
 ■'iins) prohibited to publifli more, being conftrai- 
 ned to apply my hands to ancient labours- Some 
 
 may 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miracnlum Mmdi. 
 
 i7i 
 
 may inferr ■■, If thou hall: found out more, ad by 
 others, thy hands being fufpcnded from the Work, 
 let it fuffice thee to have difpofed of thy labours. 
 But he that Ihall thus fay, confeflcth himfelf , not 
 to know the World to be perfidious : If I could 
 have been made partaker of faithful Operators> 1 
 fhould long fince have had a free profped of my 
 affairs. 
 
 But it is not at that pafs as many believe, men 
 are now perfidious, keeping no promifes, every one 
 feeketh tiis own, right or wrong •, Benefits are re- 
 warded with evil, which hath happened to me more 
 than once ; when I have adopted one for a faithful 
 fellow-labourer, the contrary hath happened : For 
 as foon as he hath learned any Secret , believing 
 himfelf to be more learned than me, hath feigned 
 divers excufes to get away, which if he could not 
 effed openly, and with Confent, he hath attempted 
 
 it privately ; or hath carried himfelf fo petulant- 
 ly, that I fliould thank GOD to be freed from him. 
 Whence it came to pafs , thct I alwaies loll my 
 purpofe, perceiving the Proverb to be true, //c that 
 vpilL have his bufinefs well done-, mufi be both mafier and 
 fervant. 
 
 But I trufl:, that in a fhort time after my death, 
 thofe who fhall. diftribute my Laboratory amont; 
 them, where I have made a Hand , will further 
 fearch out the fecrets of Nature, and being liphted 
 by my Torch, will come to the defired end : but it 
 will be much more grateful to me, if my Secrets, 
 which I have found out with great Cofts, Labour, 
 and Care, fliould be known to many, than that they 
 fhould be intombed with me, without Ufury. To 
 which end I will alwaies, according to my power, be 
 a moft ready helper and Counfellor, for the fake of 
 Poller ity. 
 
 ^^'^'■r^^^'^<r^l^r^'r^'!r^<r^''f^T^^^ 
 
 
 THE 
 
 EXPLICATION 
 
 OF 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 Set forth 
 
 in Teftimony of the truth of that Matter, and for the Advantage of the Lovers 
 
 and Followers of /< (2^ T 5. 
 
 Reader, 
 
 IN the ^rfi place^ before J prove atid verifie the 
 powers and vertues of the aforefaid Vniverjd 
 fubjeEl, which I have attributed to it ^ in every 
 pwit^ It Will be nccefjary to make k^jown after 
 what manner the mentioned Salt cf the Earth perfor- 
 j/ieth its Operations^ that the benevolent Header may 
 KOt be confounded , nor imar^ine that t't exercifeth all 
 its Operations in one only manner and way^ to wit^ 
 crude, as it is of it felf •, for tt doth not fo^ but it 
 txcrteth its power in three manners^ forms, or fifitres. 
 
 Tor Example fake ; Its firB Vfe is in many Bufi^ 
 \mffes and Arts^ as it is fimply drawn from the Earthy 
 being purified^ and is known to all men. It is applied 
 to another ufe, being firfi calcined by fire, and ckanged' 
 and exalted into a more fixed fubfiance. Again, for 
 another ufe^ it is firfi defiilled into a volatile Spirit^ 
 and Aqua-fortis. And fo that Jiibjc^t performcth its 
 Operations in Figures , fimple, as it is in its felf , in 
 form of a Snn ^ fecondly, as a fixed fiery Liquor • 
 I thirdly, in the figure of a volatile fpi^it, or corrcfive 
 1 Aqua:fortis ; as p^ll be demcnfirated below, frem point 
 to pointy m order. 
 
 XX2. 
 
 Point 
 
17^ 
 
 Miraculmn Mundu 
 
 Part L 
 
 ^olnt I. 
 
 In thefirfl face all Fojfiles^ by the mediation of this Suh- 
 jcEt^ may be ferfcilly examined, what Metals they 
 properly contain^ how many ^ and how much of each. 
 
 FOr the verifying and demonflratiDg this firft point, 
 I will begin to fhcw, that Minerals may be moft 
 commodioufly proved by the Mediation of the Salt of 
 the Earth, and in what manner this is to be done. 
 Firft, The Mineral is to be finely powdered, whe- 
 ther it be 6'oW, Silver-, Coffer, or Lead. To a hun- 
 dred weight of this,add three or four hundred weight 
 of Calcined or fixed Nitre, [Note, That the [mall Say 
 weight IS here }neant~\ mix all very well together, put 
 the mixture into a very ftrong Pot, which is to be 
 fhut with its Cover, fet it upon a fmall foot in fuch a 
 melting Furnace, as is defcribed in the fourth part of 
 my Furnaces, kindle the fire by degrees, and let the 
 iiiinera, or Ore flow well with its liquor in the Pot, 
 like water, then pour it out into a Vefl'el fit for this 
 purpofe, fuffer it to cooh then take out the Regulus; 
 if it be ©, > , 2 , or T? , weigh it in a Probatory Ba- 
 ]ance,and you fhall find how much ®, ),2 , or T? ,there 
 is in that Ore. NB. That Iron and Tin cannot be pro- 
 ved in this manner, for >$ is not fufible in fuch a fire, 
 and ^ is reduced into Scoria by Combuftion, by rea= 
 fon of the Salt. NB- That if theRegulusof © or > 
 come not pure, or contain any 2 or fj , fufierit to run 
 uponaTeft or Cupel, with a little T?, till it fpar- 
 kle and fiiine, and you fliall have the Metal fine, which 
 is a proof that may fecurely be trufted, and accord- 
 ing to that a Computation may be made, without any 
 fear of fraud orSophiftication ; the Regulusof Cop- 
 per or Lead, need no other trial, but are judged good. 
 NB-Thatif the Orebeftubborn, and yields no Re- 
 gulus in the firft melting, let the Pot be again fet into 
 the Furnace, (if it be yet whole, putting to the Ore, 
 giving no Regulus, a piece or two of Iron) being co- 
 vered, leaft the Coals fall into it, fufter it to flow, 
 then the iron entereth into that untameable Sulphur, 
 exifting in the Ore, and hindering it from pafling in- 
 to Regulus, and fuffercth the Gold, Silver, Copper, 
 or Lead, contained in that Mineral, to fall down, 
 which is to be poured out into a fit vefiel, and the Re- 
 gulus will fettle to the bottom, which being cold is to 
 be feparatcd from the Scoria ■, but if you will prove 
 whether or no the Gold containeth any Silver, or the 
 Silver any Gold or Copper, or the Lead any Silver 
 cr Gold, then fuffer the Regulus to flow upon a Cu- 
 pel, till it fparkle with a Splendour, and afterwards 
 make feparation by ^qna fortis, and you fliall find 
 how much of every Metal is permixed with the other. 
 There is no need todcfcribe this feparation at large, 
 becaufe it is every where known, and now very per- 
 fpicuoufly taught by Lazarus Erker, fo that it needs 
 no repetition : 1 have here flie wed, and proved, that 
 |)y the Mediation of Nitre, Minerals may eafily and 
 fpeedily be examined. Therefore, this firft Point be- 
 ing now proved and verified, 1 gire thanks to God, 
 who 1 truft, will further aflilt mc. 
 
 Toint II. 
 
 The Marchaftcs of Gold and Silver, bciiig ffrclted by the 
 Mediation of this, by a fingtilar Compendium, hi- 
 therto unknown, do afford more Met al t han bythecoi/i' 
 man way. 
 
 THat which is contained in this fecond point is not 
 the leaft amongftmy Lucriferous Secrets, but one 
 of the beft, which I have always referved moft fccrec 
 within ray own Breaft. Many Men have often allured 
 me with fair Speeches, to demonftrate it, but hither- 
 to I have :3ot been prevailed with to do it, not out of 
 envy, or that my felf alone fliould have that art at 
 command, bnt becaufe Faith is hardly any where to 
 be found, it is now reputed an honour to promife ma- 
 ny things, and perform few, but a difparagemcnt to 
 keep Promifes ; for 1 have often learned to my loft, 
 that when through fair Words, and Promifes often= 
 times more than I required, I have been perfwaded to 
 Communicate this, or that Secret ; as foon as it hath 
 been cut of my hands, I have found the quite contra- 
 ry, for inftead of a Reward, they have either derided 
 me, or began to quarrel and contend, and in this 
 manner,thc Benefits which I have confer'd upon them, 
 have been recompenfed with great Impiety. 
 
 The Procefs followcth. 
 
 Let there be a Furnace built of good Stone, which 
 is able to endure the Fire, fmall or great,as you pleafe, 
 or according to the neceflity and commodity of your 
 Labour, in the following manner. Firft build an Arch 
 about a Cubit high from the ground, the which co- 
 ver and make level above with Iron Plates, or Stone 
 that will hold the Fire, which fliall be the foot of the 
 Furnace, the length of which ought to exceed the 
 breadth four times, that is, it ought to be four times 
 as long as broad ; by this Arch or foot of the Furnace 
 there is yet another Furnace to be eredled, whofe big= 
 nefs within muft be half the breadth of the long Fur- 
 nace, and about two Cubitshighfrom the wind holes, 
 into which the Wood is to be put, and in that Furnace, 
 on that fide which adjoineth to the melting Furnace, 
 is to be a hole, through which the flame of the light- 
 ed Wood may ftrike upon the Hearths of the Fur- 
 nace;, and heat them; above, let there be an Iron Co- 
 ver, to that end that when the wood is put in, the Fur= 
 nace may be covered with it, and the flame may be 
 forced to enter by the fide into the Melting Furnace, 
 and let the Melting Furnace, the Hearth being now 
 pcrfed, be divided according to its length, into three 
 Chambers or parts, fo that every Chamber be fquare, 
 that is, as long as broad, and between every Chamber 
 let there be a Wall, with a hole in the lower parr, 
 that the flame may pals freely into the fecond and 
 third Chambef, between which two lee there be alfo 
 the like Partition or Wall, with its hole at bottom, 
 and let the third or laft Chamber be clofc, faving its 
 little door, let it have one only hole, by which the 
 flame may pafsout, alfo on one fide of the Furnace, 
 there is to be a hole in every Chamber, by which the 
 Hearths may be difcerned, and the Minerals and Me- 
 tals taken out and put in, but the Chambers arc not 
 to exceed a Foot, or a Foot and a half, in heighth ; in 
 the upper part of which, let there be a Cover or Cap 
 of good Earth, well luted and accommodated to it in 
 fuch manner, as whenfoever need ftiall require it may 
 
 be 
 
iPart I. 
 
 Miracnlum Mmdi. 
 
 m 
 
 be removed with a pair of Tongues, and put on again. 
 All thefe things being thus rightly prepared, let a 
 Hearth be made in thefirlt Chamber of good Earth, 
 which can faftain the lire, let the Earth not be too far, 
 or loo lean, butof a middle condition ^ inthefccond 
 let there be a Teft made of Argill, or Wood Aflies, 
 but in the third Chaiiiber,let there be a Hearth of good 
 Earth, and in the Name of the Lord, let the fire be 
 kindled in the fide Furnace, that the Furnace with its 
 Hearths may be throughly dried- Which being done, 
 let the Ore of ® or > being rightly prepared, be put 
 into the lafl Chamber, that it may be made hot by de- 
 grees, and burn, but not melt, which may be hindcr« 
 ed by the help of the little door, and the fire may be 
 governed at a beck, according as it fliall be nccelfary, 
 and the Mineral requireth, or Toall be able to fuITer ; 
 the Minerals are foraetimes to be iHrrcd and turned 
 well about in all parts, with an Iron Hook or Ladle, 
 that they may be well Calcined. In the firft Chamber 
 let there be put fo much Lead as the Hearth will hold, 
 and when it moveth well, put upon it, fpoonful after 
 fpoonful, of the Calcined Mineral in the laft Cham- 
 ber, ftirring it with the Lead, and turning it with 
 an Iron Ladle, and let it be fo long upon it, till the 
 Lead Ihall have attracted all the Metal, then the Sco- 
 rix are to be taken out with an Iron Ladle fit for this 
 work,and to be kept by them.felves ; then again, more 
 of the Calcined Mineral is to be put upon the Lead, | 
 and'fo the melting, turning, and taking out of the 
 Scoris, is to be continued as long as there is any of the 
 Mineral at hand, or as much as is fufficient for the 
 Hearth ; and if during this labour, the Lead (hould 
 be impregnated with a fufficient quantity of Gold or 
 Silver, by the Mineral, (which may be perceived by 
 taking a little out in a Spoon, and examining it upon 
 « Cupel) then let Nitre be burned upon it, and let 
 it be repeated two or three times, for fo the Lead will 
 be purifyed, grow white, and be rendred dudlile, and 
 pallech freely in the Tefl-, without walte, which yet 
 would not be if it had not been firft depurated by Ni- 
 tre i the Lead into which the Gold and Silver hath 
 palled, is to be taken from the Hearth with a Ladle, 
 and the Hearth made of Afhes, in he middle Chamber 
 is to be filled with it, and the Bellows to be planted 
 againft it, to blow the Coals to the other fide, and 
 according to the common manner, the Lead is to be 
 deduced into Salt, and the Cake of Gold or Silver is 
 to be taken oat, and afterwards to be throughly depu- 
 rated in good Tefts : And fo in that Furnace may be 
 performed three Labours, and more of the Gold and 
 Silver is retained then by any other way, for blowing 
 with Bellows waflesand deitroys much of a Metal, 
 and reduceth it by burning into Scoria, which the 
 fweet flame of wood doth not do ; the Scorix being 
 taken out, fufTer them to pafs through a high Furnace, 
 that if there be yet any Lead among them, it may be 
 faved, to be ufed again in the former Labours, (to 
 wit for attracting Gold and Silver, in the firft Cham- 
 ber, from the Minerals Calcined in the laft) in this 
 manner nothing will be loft, and not only more Gold 
 and Silver obtained,but alfo without fo great a charge 
 of Coals as is ufed in the ordinary way. You fiiould 
 have always two of tliofe Furnaces, or more (if you 
 have a great quantity of the Mineral j in your Ela- 
 boratory, that whilft you work in one, the other may 
 be repaired, and when there is need, furnilhed with 
 new Hearths. 
 
 This is the beft and moft profitable manner of 
 melting the Ores of Gold, Silver, and Lead, con- 
 taining in thcmfelves Lune, and this without Coals, 
 
 andftrongblo.ving, but by the flame of wood only. 
 A. the Foot of the Furnace, B- C D- the three 
 Chambers, E- F. G. the three little doors of the 
 Chambers, by which the Minerals and Metals are put 
 in and taken out, H. the Cover or Cap of the Fur- 
 nace, I. the Wind holes, or Regiftcrsby which the 
 flame is governed, K- three holes in the Wails, or 
 Partitions of the Chambers, through which the flame 
 pailctli, for the heating of the Chambers and Hearths, 
 L. the Furnace on the fide, into which is put dry 
 wood, M. the Afii hole, N. its Cover or Stopper, 
 M. the hole in tfic fide, by which the flame is convey- 
 ed into the Chambers, P- the Iron Rods, with which 
 the Minerals are turned, whilft they are in torrefying 
 and the Scoria are taken away from the Lead, Q. a 
 Spoon or Ladle, by which the torrefied Mineral is 
 put upon the flowing Lead, and the Lead which is 
 impregnated with Gold and Silver, is removed froni 
 the firft Melting Hearth to the other. R. the Tongs 
 with which the Cakes of Gold and Silver, are taken 
 from the fecond Hearth, S. the Furnace in which the 
 Cakes of Gold and Silver are perfeftly depurated 
 T. the Tefts, V. the Cinericia. NB.That the Works 
 coming from the firft Hearth, may alfo be perfciftiy 
 finiflied in the fecond Chamber, but it is better to do 
 it on Tefts fit for this purpofe. [I'he figure of this Fur- 
 nace is mt frimedi'i the Latin Copy, mr to be found a- 
 mo-rig the other Origin.ils.-^ NB. That what Concerns 
 this Point, is of greater moment than many will be- 
 lieve, becaufc in our Country, there are found in ma- 
 ny places rich Mines, abounding with Gold and Sil- 
 ver, which ne\'crthclefs are not rightly depurated by 
 the common way of Melting, fo that they afford 
 fo little, that it will not pay the charge of the Coals - 
 and therefore it is yet unknown how much good Metal 
 they contain, but it lies hid in obfcurity, which ne- 
 verthelefs might be very well perfected in this man- 
 ner, with great profit- I know Mines of this fort in 
 various places, which 1 have found very poor, accor: 
 ding to the common way of proving, but according 
 to my Method very rich. What Treafures doth Hiiy;- 
 gary^ Bohemia^ Carinthia, Stiria, and Saltsbiirg pof- 
 fes in their Regions, unknown to them, and y« after 
 an eafie manner to be obtained ? What Treafures 
 hath Mifiita^ Thiiringia, Brunjwicl^^ and Fichtclhtrgh^ 
 hid in them, and do no good ? There is no Man of a 
 found m.ind, but may eafily by labour and obfervation 
 difcern what a great diflxrence there is between the 
 common way of Melting, and mine, if he ferioufly 
 confider the matter. A Mine of Lead doth not want 
 an exquifite Art of melting, becaufe it is of fmall price, 
 nor will the lofs be great, if fome of it be burnt in 
 melting, or remain in the Earth. Inlike mannerthe 
 vulgar way of melting Copper, byhigh Furnaces, and 
 ftrong blowing, is fufficient. But the Mines of Gold 
 and Silver, are not to be treated fogrolly, but after 
 a more fubtile and profitable manner, that nothing of 
 them may be loft, but may be of greater ufc and pro- 
 fit, than hitherto hath been done. For the Mineral 
 of Gold, although it is not in fome great Rocky 
 Mountains, yet for the moftpart,it is found in Flints, 
 and Stones containing Iron, or in any crude Mineral 
 in which ofctimes Antimony, red Sulphur, and Arfe- 
 nick, is mixed together with the Minera of Gold. As 
 may be feen in Cannthia and its Confines. But how 
 (hould fuch a Mine, if melted with Coals after the 
 common manner, yield its fruit without lofs •, for 
 whether it be torrefied, or not, if it be caft upon 
 Coals, and agitated with the ftrong blaft of Bellows,' 
 that which is immature fliethaway, carrying with it 
 
 Y y fclf 
 
174 
 
 The Explication of 
 
 Parti 
 
 fclf that which is good ; that which remaineth paf- 
 Icth into Scoria. For although it fliould be mixed 
 u ith Lead, the xMinera of Lead, or Salt of Lead, yet 
 they would not remain conjoin'd, but the Lead is 
 car;ly melted, floweth, and leaveth the Ore, which 
 by Rror.g blowing is reduced into Scoria , retain- 
 ing much gold, which fo is loft, as well as the other 
 which flew away in fmoak, and at the beft but a very 
 little faved, which hath entred the Lead- 
 
 NB. But, in my way, it is neceflary that the Ore 
 fliould be broken and fubdued, and thereby forced 
 to yield its Gold, if it be well incorptirated with the 
 lead, and the volatile is prefervcd with the fixt i add, 
 that the ilame lightly ftriking or playing upon the 
 matter, dcftroyeth nothing, and by this way, there is 
 no inetal loft. 1 hat the thing is fo, I will prove by 
 a certain limilitude or comparifon ^ make proof in 
 what manner you pleafe, of gold or filver Ore, and 
 obferve how much good metal that contains, after- 
 wards prove the fatrie in a great quantity upon Coals, 
 and you fliall find much lefs in that, than in your fmall 
 proof; when neverthelefs the contrary ought to be, 
 becaufe a great nrc hath a greater force of ading up- 
 on the Ore, than a fmall one; and this is the only 
 ccufe, becaufe a great quantity requireth a more vio- 
 lent f re than a fmall one ; which is averfe to all crude 
 and volatile Minerals. But by my way, there is found 
 as much, if not more, in 3 large quantity, as in a fmall 
 proof. Therefore I will here ftiew yet by another 
 manner of probation, that by the common and ufual 
 way of melting Minerals, all the metal cannot be ob- 
 tained, and fometimes fcarcely half or a third part. 
 To an hundred pounds of the Mineral, reduced into 
 a fmall powder, add 8, 12, 16, or 18 pound of gra- 
 nulated Lead, or as much as the Mmeral Ihall need, 
 mix the Mineral and the powder of Lead , which with 
 a little Spoon are to be committed to a fiery hot Cu- 
 pel, placed under a Cineritium or Muffle, give a ftrong 
 heat, and the Lead will attradt all the metal from the 
 Ore, and caft out the Scoria or drofs, which will reft 
 upon the moving Lead ; which being done, you muft 
 have at hand a hot Iron Rod, with which you may 
 move and ftirthe Scoriaevery way well,upand down 
 upon the Lead, to the end, that if any good metal 
 fliould as yet remain in them, the Lead by that moving 
 may lay hold on it, and catch it to it felf ; afterwards 
 fuifer the Scoria for a little while to heat and burn up- 
 on the Lead, that it may flow well ^ then let the heat 
 of the fire fome what abate, and the Scoria will become 
 thicker and fit to be drawn out with an Iron rod,which 
 is to be broad at the point, round, and fliarp. that the 
 Scoria may be every where clean and wholly drawn 
 a- av from the Cupel, which are diligently to be kept, 
 thnt'nothing be loft, and left the future eflay fliould be 
 faife This being done, drive the Lead remaining in 
 the Cupel with an indifi"erent heat, then there will re- 
 main the gold or filver, which that hundred pounds of 
 Ore did contain; that grain or portion is to be taken 
 out and referved. NB. That whilft you are proving 
 the Mineral, you may alfo impofc another Cupel, of 
 the fame magnitude and weight, and as much Lead 
 upon it as was mi.xed with [lie mineral, without it, 
 fuffer it to fio^ alone by it felf The grain or por- 
 tion which comes to be obtained from the mineral 
 upon the other Cupel, will be what that mineral did 
 contain. Afterwards the two Cupels are to be weigh-- 
 cd apart , and as much as this, in which the lOre was 
 wrou'-'ht, fliall be heavier than that in which only the 
 Lead flowed, fo much of Lead or Copper that hundred 
 
 weight of Ore did contain •, and fo much gold or filver 
 as the grain or portion remaining in the Cupel weigh- 
 cth, and fo much Scoria or drofs as was removed and 
 drawn out with the Iron Rod. 
 
 NB- Some man may object. That the Scoriac^in- 
 not be fo accurately and purely removed from the 
 Cupel , but fomewhat will be left behind. I an= 
 fwer. That although the removing of the Scona 
 fliould not be exadly done, which notwithftanding 
 may be done, if diligence be ufed, becaufe the Sco- 
 ria to be removed are not pure Scoria, but as yet 
 contain fomewhat of the Lead, which may be eas 
 lily as heavy, yea, heavier than the Scoria remaining 
 in the Cupel, and which cannot be removed, never' 
 thelefs the proof wifl bejuft and good. But if by a 
 melting made in a great quantity, you ftiafl find as 
 much > or 0, 5 or ¥, (NB. that Iron and Tin 
 cannot be proved in this manner) as the fmall proof 
 demonftrated, C J think it fliould be, if you flial! not 
 find <^c. and the charader ¥ fliould be T?.] believe 
 that you have not rightly proceeded, and that that 
 which is loft is gone in fume, or by combuftion, into 
 Scoria. Seeing therefore that this proofis of a great 
 weight, and accordingly is to be made by a great mel- 
 ting Work, I wifl declare that labour more copioufly. 
 For exair.fk fake ^ I take two Cupels, accomodated 
 to one and the fame form, I weigh them fingly, if one 
 be heavier than the other, then with a knife I pare or 
 fcrape it a little above or below, fo that they may 
 be of equal weight , afterwards I put them fide by 
 fide conjundly, or one before, and the other behind, 
 under a Cinerhium ; when they are duly hot, I put 
 upon one the Mineral, mixed with the granulated 
 Lead, and upon the other, the granulated Lead only -, 
 then I fuffer them to flow together, feafonably ab- 
 ftrading the Scoria from that where the Mineral is :, 
 then I caufe both to ceafe. Now fuppofing that I have 
 added to the Hundred weight of Ore, 1200 pounds of 
 Lead, and alfo wrought 1200 pounds of Lead in the 
 other Cupel alone, and each Cupel to have weighed 
 three Lothones, according to the weight of the City, 
 and that I find in that Cupel in which the Mineral was 
 wrought, a portion of Gold or Silver, weighing Tac- 
 cording to the probatory weight) nine Lothones, and 
 in the other Cupel, a portion of Silver weighing three 
 Lothones, which the 1200 pounds of Lead yielded: 
 But in regard that I alfo added to the Mineral 1200 
 pounds of Lead, which alfo have yielded three Lo- 
 thones, which I fubftrad from the nine Lothones, and 
 there remaineth fix Lothones of Gold and Silver, 
 which the Hundred weight of Ore hath yielded. 
 NB- If you would know whether the Mineral alfo 
 containech Lead and Copper, and how much, then I 
 weigh both the Cupels apart, obferving how much 
 that in which the Mineral was wrought is heavier than 
 that in which the Lead was wrought alone, and fo 
 much Lead or Copper I may affirm to have been, to- 
 gether with the Gold and Silver, in that Mineral; 
 fuppofe the Cupel in which the Mineral was wrought 
 to weigh 30 pounds, according to the probatory 
 weight, more than that in which the Lead was agi- 
 tated alone, then I am fure that there was fo much 
 Lead or Copper in that Mineral, together with the 
 gold and filver ( for iron and tin do not enter the Cu^ 
 pel, but pafs into Scoria., but the © and > remain on 
 the Cupel) and the remaining weight, towit, fcventy 
 pounds, I find all in Scoria., for a little flicth away in 
 fume: in this manner it may be obferved what quan- 
 tity a hundred pounds of the Ore of Lead or Cops 
 
 per 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum MundL 
 
 175 
 
 per containeth of good Metal, and whether it have 
 any gold or filver or not i according to which a com- 
 putation may be made, whether it will pay the 
 Charge in a great quantity, or not, and what gain 
 may be had from it- This is a moft defirable proof, 
 invented for the ufe of gold and filver, which are 
 necellariiy by this way yielded in great qgantity ; if 
 it happen otherwife, the errour is to be afcribed to 
 the working; for the Mines of copper and lead, this 
 proof doth not fucceed in great quantity, although 
 by it may be certainly known how much of either 
 of them is contained in an hundred weight of Ore, 
 for both tbefe metals are eafily burnt by the fire, 
 and reduced into Scori,i, which happencth not to 
 gold and filver,if they be rightly handled ; only here 
 it is made appear what quantity of S.itur>ioxVt>-iis 
 is contained in an hundred pound= of Ore of Sa- 
 titrrt or yetiMs, which is iiupoflible to extort in great 
 quantity, by the common and known way : for foft 
 and fulphureous metals of this fort lofe much, becaufe 
 part is driven away by ftrong blowing i another part 
 is reduced into 5corw : but by my way nothing is 
 loft thus, and but very little remaineth behind. I 
 know yet another way, and that better too, of per- 
 feding the Minerals of gold, filver, copper, and lead, 
 with a certain compendious profit ; but feeing that in 
 my Mir.iciilam Mmdy 1 have made no mention of a 
 
 this -manner, more gold may be obtained; yet the 
 Nitre maketh the work dear, which I indeed con- 
 fefs to be true, if the Nitre be bought at a dear 
 rate, but if by an artificial Culture, It may ahvaies 
 be had at hand, it will cofl little , and this torre- 
 fadion and fixation, may be pcrfeded with great 
 profit. 
 
 folnt IV. 
 
 ^11 Cold and Silver not fur dy melted from its Marcafte 
 m.iy be fwiftly furged from $very yidditamoit, the 
 Jilver feparated from the G old ^ by fiifion only with 
 a f mall labour and cojl^ hut in or eat weight. 
 
 THis way of purifying © and 3 from all addi- 
 tionquickly, and in an eafie manner, is a thing 
 moft profitable, and an Art highly necelTary to be 
 known by thofe who- handle metals ; for it is foot 
 ner done, than by the way of cupellating or blow- 
 ing off with Lead, but is dearer, by reafon of the 
 Nitre ; neverthelefs, the labour is eafie and plea- 
 fant, and it is done in this manner: Let a Crucible 
 of impure gold or filver be placed in fuch a Fur- 
 nace as is defcribed and depifted in the Fourth Part 
 of our Furnaces, let it be melted, then caft in fome 
 
 Work of this fort , I (hall here fay nothing of Regulus of Antimony, more or lefs , according to 
 
 Jt. lalfoknowa way of extrafting from very poor 
 Copper Mines, all the Copper contained in them, 
 without great labour and coft ; which Mines are 
 every where in great quantity to be found, but are not 
 fufficient to pay the Charge of melting in the com- 
 mon way ; but this my fecret way will yield great 
 profit, for fcarcely one pound of Copper will remain 
 behind, and be loft in an hundred pounds of Scoria. 
 
 (point III. 
 
 The volatile and immature Marcafites of Sol a»d Luna 
 ; 4*-e fixed in the [face of three h.urs^fo th.it thty ren- 
 - der a double quanttty of Metal ^ to whut they could have 
 done before fixation^ &c. 
 
 THis fixation is a fingular fecret, in perfeding An; 
 timonial qnd Arfenical Minerals , which are 
 Wholly crude, which commonly yield a little Gold : 
 For when Minerals contain much Antimony, Arfe- 
 nick, or Orpimenr, and are torrefied in the common 
 way, then theArfenickor Orpiment deftroyeth much 
 of the Gold, carrying it away in fume ; but if they 
 be melted without a foregoing torrefaftion, then the 
 blowing forceth away more ■^ if from a Mineral of 
 this fort , the yellow or red Sulphur, Arfenick, or 
 other rapacious fubftances, be diminifhcd or confu- 
 med, by clofing it in Earthen Vellels, as many do, 
 then by this means tiie Mineral is burnt, lofeth its 
 flux and ingrefs into Lead, fo that much of the gold 
 is deftroyed , and reduced into Scoria ^ to prevent 
 which, this fclbwing way is the beft : With one 
 part of the mineral mix half a part of Nitre, let 
 it be kindled with a Coal, and fixed, then the Ni- 
 tre bjrnith away the greateft part of the rapaci- 
 ous fulphur,aRd fixeth the reft, fo that there is but 
 little of the Gold loft, and it keepeth its flux and 
 ingrefs into Lead ; if it be put into the foregoing 
 Farnace, and there wrought, it yieldeth all the gold 
 and filver which it containeth, and nothing is loft. 
 Here fome may object, and fay, That although in 
 
 the greater or lelTer impurity of the Gold, and' ac- 
 cording as it hath more or lefs need of cleanfing for 
 its purification. When all Ihall flow and be clear in the 
 Crucible, caft into the Crucible upon the metal , at 
 feveral times, about fo much Nitre, as there is of ad- 
 dition to the Gold •, let it flow, then the Nitre at- 
 tradeth the Regulus of Antimony, together with the 
 impurity contained in the Gold, which pafleth into 
 Scoria. And this Procefs doth not fevve only for 
 impure Sol and Luna, but alfo for fuch Sol and Luna 
 which contain Copper, Iron, Lead, T!n,.Ch3lcitis, 
 Aurichalcum, and other metallick and mineral mat- 
 ters, Tin efpecially, which is difficult to be fepara- 
 ted from Sol and Luna by Lead, withoutlofs. Butin 
 this manner it may be quickly and eafily done. But 
 that my meaning may be the more rightly underftood 
 and the lefs errour be committed in working, I will 
 here inftitute the Procefs clearly, and in exprefs 
 words. Suppofe to ft j. of gold or filver, there be 
 two lothones of Copper, and three lothones of Tin 
 {alotho>,etshalf anonnce) which I would feparate, 
 andifitbedone by the known way of blowing off" 
 with Lead, there will need at the leaft thirty or forty 
 lothones of Lead, and neverthelefs one part of the Sot 
 or Luna will be loft ; but by my way to two lothones 
 of Copper, and three lothones of Tin, adjoin five lo- 
 thones of Regulus of Antimony, then abftrad: the Re- 
 gulus, together with the addition of Copper and Tin, 
 by the mediation of Nitre, which mny be done in the 
 Crucible in the fpaceof one hour, which by torrefadis 
 on and agitation in the common way, could fcarcely 
 have been done in loor 12 hours-, befides nothing of 
 the Additaments is loft, ail remaineth in the Scoria, 
 from which, afterwards, as well the V as the 2 and 
 Regulus of Antimony may be recovered, to wit, if the 
 Scoria, in which the v, ^i ^nd Regulus of Antimony 
 is, be put into a Crucible, a live Coal caft in, and 
 then the Crucible covered with a tyle, let them flow 
 a quarter of an hour, pour all out, and you fliall find in 
 the bottom of the Cone a little Regulus, in which 
 will be the remaining 5(// or ^«w^, which the Scoria 
 did prey upon ; let them be depurated on a Cupel, if 
 
 Y y 2 they 
 
i7^ 
 
 they be not already pure enough : The Scoria being*, 
 again melted, calt in a live Coal, fuffer all to flow well 
 together, again there will fall another Regulus from 
 the Copper, the y & <? reraaineth, and neither by 
 Coals nor any other art, can be brought into Regu: ' 
 Jus-, but if thefe Scoria be driven through a probatory 
 • Furnace, then they alfo yield the Tin again, and that 
 better than it was before- This Procefs is not only 
 plcafant, arnlicial, fwift and eafie, by which gold 
 and filver is puickly and purely ieparated from all 
 addition, but there is alfo hidden in it a great my- 
 Jtery : But becaufe 1 have only propofed to prove 
 thofe things to be true and natural, of which I have 
 made mention in my Miracidum Mitudi, let what I 
 have now faid fufficc, and what is here defir'd may be 
 found perlpicuouOy and fatisfadorily declared in the 
 following Procelfes. 
 
 ^olnt V. 
 
 Gold and Silver ^.rc ca/ily drawn out of Old Tin or Pewter 
 yejfels^ the Ttn being prcferved almofi in the fame 
 ■weiirht^ and ki'if m^de better than it was before, may 
 ferve for the fame ftfcs to which it is wont to be pit. 
 
 THis Procefs alfo is very well performed by the 
 mediation of Nitre, wz,. in this manner- Let 
 the Tin, in which is © or >, be reduced into Afhes, 
 even as Lead is wont to be prepared, for the working 
 of Minerals ; and let there be mixed with it as much 
 powder of Nitre, let the mixture be put in a ftrong 
 Pot which will endure the fir.e,upon which put fublim- 
 ing Pots, let the mixture be kindled in the lower Pot 
 (which is under the Subliming Pots, and muft have a 
 little hole in the fide for that purpofe) with an Iron 
 Rod, red hot, thenthe Mafsbeginneth to burn, and 
 fendeth many Flowers into the Subliming Pots, the 
 Tin and Salt-peter remaining in the Pot, take out, 
 and melt in a Crucible, if there be much Lead, then 
 thatfalleth together with the ©and >, to the bot- 
 tom of the Crucible, but the Tin with the Nitre paf- 
 feth into Scoria, which if the melted Mafs be poured 
 out into a Cone, they are feparated from the Regulus 
 of Lead, and after cooling maybe taken out, which 
 Regulus of Lead, by the addition of other Lead, may 
 again be wrought, and in a ftrong Crucible be redu- 
 ced into Scoria with Nitre •, then there will remain a 
 little Regulus of Lead, which containeth the © and 
 >, which was in the V, The firft and laft Scoria 
 may be reduced by a ftrong blaft in a Probatory Fur- 
 nace, then the Tin will be again obtained, better, 
 harder, and whiter than it was before ^ the reafon is, 
 becaufe the Nitre hath confumed part of the com- 
 buftible Sulphur, and alfo feparated the Lead. Al- 
 though this Procefs is not done with any great profit, 
 yet neverthelefs it fliews the pofllbility ; but he that 
 knoweth how to handle the matter, will fuffer no lofs, 
 for thofe fublimed Flowers are of greater worth than 
 Salt-peter and Tin, becaufe they maybe prepared in- 
 to a good Medicine ; they are alfo very available in 
 thofe curious red Colours for Cloth [iV^r/er , or Bow- 
 dy~\ exalting them in a wonderful manner, and firmly 
 abiding in the Cloth, Ihining, and giving it a fiery 
 ground. 
 
 MiraculumMundi. 
 
 Part I. 
 
 <?oint VI. 
 
 Much Silver may be feparated from Bijmnth^ the Bif 
 muth preferved^ a Secret agreeing to thofe places which 
 abott>id with that JUineral. 
 
 THis Secret is not of fo little weight as perhaps it 
 will feem to fome ; for no Man even to this day 
 hath proved this in the matter it felf and with effeift, 
 yet feeing that it may eafily be done, viz.. in this man- 
 ner, melt Chalcitis in a Crucible, and caft upon it 
 fuccedively fo much Nitre, until all the Chalcitis Ihall 
 pafs into Scoria, or green Glafs, pour out the Mafs 
 into a Cone, then the Silver will fettle to the bottom 
 in form of a Regulus, which v/as contained in the 
 Chalcitis, then put the Scoria of the Chalcitis into a 
 Crucible and melt them well for the fpace of an hour, 
 fo all the Chalcites will be revived, rendred Corpo- 
 real, and a little will be loft- He therefore that can 
 makethe Salt-peter himfelf, and needsnot to buy it 
 ata dear rate, will hence reap great profit, otherwife 
 noti however it proveth that the Salt of the Earth 
 can perform what is here attributed to it. 
 
 <pQmt VIL 
 
 From old Co pper much Silver is feparated, the Copper pre- 
 ferved unhurt., by which j4rtificc Regions abounding 
 With this Metal, may reap m fmall profit. 
 
 "THat this extradion of Silver from Copper by 
 means of the Salt of the Earth, may be verified, 
 you are to proceed in this manner : Mix with the Cop- 
 per its own weight of Regulus of Antimony, then 
 melt both together, upon which caft fo much Salt- 
 Nitre fuccedively or at times until it turn the Copper 
 together with the Regulus of Antimony into green 
 Scoria, then make the fire ftronger, and caufe thefd 
 Scoria to flow like water, and luit a Regulus, which 
 although it be not fufficiently pure, it may be depu- 
 rated upon a Cupel with a little Lead, and it yieldeth 
 the Silver which the Copper contained- NB- This 
 procefs ismofttrue, and will never deceive any Man, 
 but I do not fay that he fhall obtain^ Riches by this 
 means, but only prove to be true, what I have afcri- 
 bed to it in my Miraculum Miindi. NB. But he that 
 knoweth how to fix the Scoria, that is the Copper 
 and Regulus of Antimony with Salt.and to melt them 
 into Artificial Stones, or Enamel, fo that nothing be 
 loft, he ftiall be fure not to undergo the Labour in 
 vain; otherwife he may caft in a live Coal upon the 
 Scoria, from which the Silver is feparated, when they 
 are in Flux, and let them flow half an hour, then ic 
 leaveth the Regulus of Antimony together with the 
 Copper, which the Nitre hath reduced into Scoria, 
 and afterwards another Regulus,to be applied to ufe, 
 which if all things be well handled, from both, viz.. 
 from the Regulus of Antimony and Copper, (after 
 their Edulcoration) a green colour for Painting may 
 be extradled, and lb the Labours will be compenfa*' 
 ted, and the gain will be fo much the greater. 
 
 fohlt 
 
Parti. 
 
 Miraculum MnndL 
 
 177 
 
 (Point VIII. 
 
 Every common Silver may in the [face of a few hours he 
 exalted into the nature of Cold. 
 
 THis Gradation of Silver is performed b7 the help 
 of a certain Mineral Sulpliur, to wit, of 6! 
 and Antimony, in this manner. Adjoin to 3 as much 
 Regulus Martis, and again let it be feparated from it 
 by Nitre, which labour is performed in the fpace of 
 an hour> to the remaining Silver adjoin again as much 
 Regulus,' which is again to be abltraclied •, and let 
 this labour be reiterated five, fix, eight, or ten times, 
 which may be done in one day, afterwards let the ) 
 bedilTolved in Aqua'fortis, then the Gold, which the 
 Nitre by the help of the > hath obtained from the 
 Regulus, will remain in the bottom, which is to be 
 edulcorated, and corporify'd with Boraxi the Gold 
 will be good in an excellent degreg, but the value 
 thereof is fcarce enough to pay for the Regulus, and 
 Nitre- But he that knoweth how to make his own 
 Nitre, or can obtain it without price, may reap a 
 confiderable profit : Efpecially if he know how to 
 transferrthe detracted Scoria into further ufe, which 
 is not here fought, but is only proved that > maybe 
 exalted into © by the help ofKzgvXn^Antwmij Mar-. 
 tialts. 
 
 (point IX. 
 
 Cold may be feparated by fiifion from every addition of 
 Coppi'r^ Tin^ /ron .Lead fir p:mcnt , Antimony^ Arftmck. , 
 or the like, without Capeb, each bew^ kept apart. 
 
 TTHis manner of feparating of Metals, from one s- 
 ' nother, and of depurating ■*-' without Cupels, is 
 a moft pleafing, fair, and profitable fecrct, by which 
 in the feparation of Metals, much time and expence 
 is faved, and no detriment to be feared, which no 
 liian, even to this day could effect, my felf excepted : 
 You are to proceed in this manner- Firft, the mixt 
 Metal, whether it confifl: of few or many, is to be 
 granulated, the grains are to be conjoined with a 
 fourtli part of powdered Sulphur, fomewhat moiften- 
 ed, and to be feton fire in a Crucible luted according 
 to art, which being done, the cover of the Crucible 
 is to be taken off, and the enkindled Metal to be co- 
 vered with the fourth part ofitsweight of Antimony 
 NB. That if there be much <?, £, or ¥ in the mix- 
 ture, then the more Antimony is to be adjoined, that 
 it may draw to it felf the imperfeift Metals. There- | 
 fore when the Mafs flows with the Antimony, inje<ft 
 a little well purified Nitre, dried and pulverized, and 
 when it Hows well, the Mafs is to be poured out into a 
 Cone, and the Regulus, if there beany, tobefiiaken 
 out, which will contain the greateft part of the 
 which was in that Mafs- NB- If there (hall be no 
 Regulus,that is a fign that there was not Nitre enough 
 to fufHce the crudity, which is to be remedied thus : 
 Return the Mafs into the Crucible, and permit it to 
 flow, which being done, throw in as much filings of 
 Iron, as yon judge there is Gold in the Mafs, and mix 
 it with the Mafs with a red ho: Iron, cover the Cru- 
 cible, and give a melting fire for a quarter of an hour, 
 pour it into a Cone, when it is cold feparate the Re- 
 gulus from the Scoria, v.-hich will be about the fame 
 
 weight v/ith the filings of Iron, which you ufed in 
 the precipitation, purific the Regulus in'a fmall new 
 Crucible, by the injedion of Nitre, if it yieldcth 
 Gold without Silver, then it is a fign there is Gold 
 yet in the Mafs, therefore it is necelTary to flux the 
 Mafs again, and precipitate with Iron, if the Regu- 
 lus be yet golden, then it is to [)e depurated apartby 
 Nitre, and to be kept; but if it hath more J than &', 
 it is a fign that all the Gold isprecipitated,afterwards 
 fufTerthcMafsto flow again, and injeft as much fi- 
 lings of Iron, ftirring them well with the Mafs, with 
 a red hot iron, permit them to flow well together then 
 . it rendereth as much Regulus of Silver, as there was 
 Iron put in, afterwards alfo the 2 will be precipita- 
 ted, and la/l of all, the Scoria are again to be fluxed 
 well being mixed with Nitre, that it may appear whe- 
 ther there be yet any Metal in them. The Regulus 
 of > is alfo depurated in the fame manner as the Re- 
 gulus of®: Venus, ¥,and other Additaments,arc melt- 
 ed by Bellows, fo that nothing is loft- This fepara- 
 tion of ©and > from the viler Metals, by melting, 
 hath been long fought by many, but found by few. 
 Laz.arus Er^r^ in his Writings hath taught by what 
 means © may be feparated from > by fufion, but that 
 feparation is unlike to this which I have mentioned, 
 becaufe here it is not only fliewed how may be fe- 
 parated from > , but alfo from other Metals. 
 
 (point X. 
 
 Every imperfcti Metal, rvithnm the mixture of other 
 Metals., may he ripened by this Secret alone in the fire 
 man hours Jpace, f 9 that it wiU yield Gold and Stiver y 
 but without profit ; an indication that the v':kr Metals, 
 may by An be promoted into the Nature of the perfect 
 to the great profit of MetaHHr/rifis. 
 
 THis is done only by the power snd virtue of Salt 
 Nitre, whereby the Metal is penetrated, depu- 
 rated, and fixed into a more perfeft, or exalted in 
 maturity, but cannot be performed with much profit 
 in a great quantity, but it proveth that Nitre hath a 
 virtue of tranfmuting every imperfect Metal into 
 perfed, which is done in this manner. Letthe Metal 
 be laminated into very thin Plates, whether it be 2, 
 ^J, or ¥, c? is indeed corre<n:ed by this way, but melt- 
 ethnot inanyCruciblcand 5 alfo is tranfrautcd into 
 otherforms, but notinto ©or >. Makeina Cruci- 
 ble y^;v^^7/«/;//)f^-/r,««w with Saw-dnlt, Sulphur, and 
 Nitre, as alio with the laminated Metal, of which 
 mention is made in the fecond part of Furnaces; kin- 
 dle the mixture at the top, then a great and luddain 
 flaming fire will arife, by which the laminated metal 
 is penetrated, partly fixed, and amended, fo that if 
 it be wrought on a Cupel with Lead, it Icaveth feme 
 J' or ®, which nevertbelefs before, would have yield- 
 ed neither, whence it is manifeft, that the flame exci- 
 ted by the Nitre hath corrected the Metal. NB. That 
 5 is firft to be coagulated, and Chalcitisto be pulve- 
 rized, before they be commixed with the fudden fire 
 of Nitre, and enkindled. In thcfe Labours, although 
 they may be efteemed of fmall moment, a great Mi- 
 ftery is hidden, which neverthclcfs will be valued by 
 no man, although it fliould be difcovered in plain and 
 open words, becaufe the procefsismean, coftcth lit- 
 tle, and may be performed in the fpace ofaquarcei- 
 of an hour. 
 
 Zz 
 
 Poir.t 
 
178 
 
 The Exflkation of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 To'mt XI. 
 
 M<^t^l! alfvgrow lip in this fubjcit^ in the form of Vege- 
 tables, before the eye, in the fpace of two or three 
 hours-, to the length of a Finger, or hands breadth, into 
 m.my brand ts and txviggs, without Fruit indeed, but 
 is a dcmonBration that'tven Metals themfelves do ger- 
 tninate in it like Vegetables. 
 
 THis Point is mentioned only for this end? to fliew 
 that Nitre hath a power of making Metals to 
 grow after the manner of Vegetables. Which thing 
 the Liquor of Flints alfo performeth, of which men= 
 tion is made in the Second Part of our Furnaces ; but 
 the Liquor of fixed Nitre is better ; which is prepa- 
 red by fixing it with powder of Coals and Flints, 
 which is alfo taught in the Second Part of our Fur= 
 naces, fo that there is no need here to repeat it- 
 If therefore the metals being prepared in little bits, 
 be put into this liquor, they will grow and encreafe 
 after the manner of Herbs, and fo quickly, that in a 
 few hours fpace they will grow to the height of a 
 hands breadth, which is very delightful to the eye, 
 and worthy of a lingular meditation, whence fo fud- 
 den an encreafe fliould proceed. Certainly many 
 things might be written concerning this matter , but 
 becaufe in this place I have promifed no more, but to 
 verifie whati have attributed to the fait of the earth 
 in my Miracidnm Afitndt j let what is faid fufBce- 
 
 (point XII. 
 
 There is af.other augmentation or encreafe- of the Perfect 
 Metals, -very gainful, by the hnpirfc^, anftvering to 
 the germination or growth of Vegetables, &:c- 
 
 AS for this augmentation, it is done by a way 
 far diftant from the foregoing, viz,, in this Sol 
 and Luna are joined with Lead, Tin, and Venns,^ or 
 with Tin alone, where it is to be left for a convenient 
 time, then the Sol attratteth from the Lead or other 
 imperfedt metals, a golden Ellence, is encreafed and 
 made heavier- The Procefs is this : Take one lo- 
 ihone (or hMf an ounce) of Gold, eight or ten lothones 
 (ivhich IS four or five ounces') of Lead, let them be mel- 
 ted together; if you pleafe, you may add Tin or 
 Copper •, put the Crucible, together with the Lead 
 or other imperfeft metals, into a ftrong Crucible, give 
 a temperate and conltant Fire, that the Lead with the 
 Gold may only flow, but not be white hot ; call into 
 the Crucible upon it half an ounce of the beft Nitre, 
 cover the Crucible well, that no Coals fall in, and 
 keep it in a conftant ealie fire, then in fuch a time 
 the Lead, together with the other metals, which were 
 mixed with it, will be turned into Glafs , but the 
 Gold being pure, is feparaced ftom the Glafs by it 
 
 your Gold to be made much heavier than it was be- 
 fore, which weight it hath drawn from the Lead only. 
 
 (point XIII. 
 
 By the mediation of this from all ImptrfeEl Metals and 
 Minerals, yielding nothing in the iifual Ex amen of 
 ^ Cupels, Cold and Silver is produced in a manifold 
 manner, being an Argument that the Jmperfe^ A<fetals 
 have fomewhat of the PerfeU reconded in them, when 
 they are inverted, and jhew themfelves to our fioht. 
 
 IF we would obtain Gold and Silver from the Imper- 
 fedt Metals, by the help of Nitre, an equal weighc 
 of Regulus of Antimony is to be added to them, that 
 they may be rendred frangible, and fit to be pulveri- 
 sed, fo that they may be commixed and fixed with 
 Nitre in this manner : Take an ounce, or an ounce 
 and a half of Copper , Lead, Tin, or Chalcitis, melt 
 it with as much Regulus of Antimony ; pulverize the 
 mixture, and mix with it its equal weight of the belt 
 Nitre, put the mixture into a crucible, kindle it with 
 a live coal, then the mixture will be reduced by the 
 Nitre into Scoria, which muft be melted by a very 
 ftrong fire, in a Wind Furnace, then the Metal will 
 pafs into a Regulus, but the Regulus will remain in 
 the Scoria, which by the cafting in of a live coal may 
 be precipitated and brought to Regulus again : but 
 weigh the metallick Regulus according to the Hun- 
 dred weight, and drive it ( if it be Lead ) upon a 
 Teft, then you fhall find it to contain gold and fil- 
 ver, which the metal had not before- If the metal be 
 Copper or Chalcitis, a due proportion of Lead is to 
 be added to it, that it may be wrought upon a cupel, 
 then it leaveth gold and filver, which without this 
 Operation it would not have done. This Work may 
 alfo be efFeded by another way, w^.. Mix Ij or 2 
 with its own weight of Regulus of Antimony, fuf- 
 fer it to flow well with the metal in a melting Fur- 
 nace, injeft fuccelTively by a little at a time, fo much 
 Nitre as both the Metal and the Regulus did weigh, 
 then let the Regulus and the Metal be fired by the Ni- 
 tre, that fome of the fuperfluous fulphur may be burnt 
 and the mixture reduced to Scoria, afterwards give a 
 ftrong fire, that the Scoria may be well melted, then 
 the Metal will be feparated from the Regulus, which 
 may be tefted, and thecorredion of the metal, made 
 by the benefit of the Nitre, will be manifeft. 
 
 As for thefe 13 Metallick Labours, they are in 
 themfelves very good, and profitable to be known by 
 every one handling Metals, fome of which, if they 
 be accurately manag'd, and by a skilfirl Artift, wiU 
 afford great Gain, and they are all done by the help 
 of the Salt of the Earth. But I will not deny, but 
 that thofe Labours may alfo be performed by another 
 way, which needeth no Nitre. But I do not now in- 
 tend to fay any thing of that, but only to prove that 
 all thofe Secrets and Tranfmutations may be efFeclu- 
 
 felf and will adhere to the bottom of the Crucible, ally performed by the contemptible fait of the Earth. 
 
 which when the Crucible is broken , take out and 
 
 weitih, and you fhall find your Gold encreafed, and 
 
 that it hath taken weight from the other metals. 
 
 Although this labour aHords no profit, yet it fheweth 
 
 how the nature of metals are to be known. There is 
 
 yet another way of trying this thing, thus, viz.. 
 
 Take half an ounce of Gold, join with it 5 or 6 ounces 
 
 of Lead, and drive away the Lead again upon a good 
 
 Tcft, till the Gold fparkle and (hine, and you fhall find In 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mundi, 
 
 179 
 
 In Mechanicks.' 
 
 fpoint I. 
 
 They rvho Engrave or Etch upo/t Copper., may of this fub- 
 jcB prepare a good corrofive Water., by which {the Cop- 
 per Pl^ites being jirfl jmeared over with a Covering jit 
 to defend them., and what Images or Lines they pleafc^ 
 drawn upon them, with afiile orftift') by an eafie and 
 compendtons mariner., they will be eroded or eaten^ which 
 otherwife would require a long time to be engraven. 
 
 THat a corrofive and graduating ylqua-fortis may 
 be prepared of Nitre by deftillation , needs no 
 proof, the way of making it being every where 
 known> as a thing common, only here it is proved, 
 that this fhortening of the Engraver's Work may be 
 performed by the Salt of the Earth. 
 
 ^oint II. 
 
 painters by the help of this, may prepare for themfelves 
 mojt excellent CJours^ as Ultra-Marine, blue Smalt, 
 fine red or Scarlet Lacca, Venice Centfe^ and others 
 n;ceJfaryfor their Vfe.'^ which otherwife they muji have 
 fromfar^ ^^ Italy, Holland, France) e^c ^"d at a 
 dear rate, 
 
 THat excellent colours for Painting, may be made 
 by the fait of the Earth , I will thus prove : 
 'Blue Smalt is otherwife prepared of flowing Sand, 
 Chalcitis, and Potters-afhes : Butifinfliead of thofe 
 a(hes, you take the fixed fait of the Earth, the fmalt 
 will not be only rendred more open, loofe, and fine, 
 but alfo pureK by reafon the falc of the earth is pu- 
 rer than thofe athes- Lacca for the mofl part is 
 made of Flocks fhorn from crimfon or fcarlet cloth 
 in the dreirmg,and by a lingular lixiviim ( inltead of 
 which Nitre may betaken) the colour is extrafted, 
 which is to be precipitated, edulcorated, and dryed 
 upon clean Boards in the fun, or by a ftove- Ver- 
 digreafe and Gerufe are commonly prepared by the 
 help of Vinegar, in Iron VelTels put in Horfe=dung-, 
 but if the Copper or Lead be diflblved in fpirit of 
 Nitre? and the Copper precipitated by a lixivium of 
 fait of Tartar , but the Lead by fait water , then 
 edulcorated and dried, the Copper will exhibit a 
 green colour, which may be ufed in all PaintingSj 
 and will not corrode and deftroy other colours, as 
 the common Verdigreafe is wont to do : And the 
 Cerufe is rendered more delicate white, and pure 
 than that which is prepared by Vinegar, with which 
 oftentimes much Chalk is mixed to augment it, 
 and is not fo conducible to Painting, nor to the 
 (hops, as that which is made pfr/e, without any mix- 
 ture. 
 
 <Point III. 
 
 Engravers and Statuaries may fo harden their Tools, 
 that they may hold their pints long, if they be to 
 cut (tones, 
 
 'T'Hat Iron may be hardened by Cementation with 
 
 Salts, fothat it may ferve inltead of Steel, is now 
 
 openly known ; but the iron or fteel is to be kept in 
 
 cementation as long as need fliall be, not with com- 
 mon fait alone, but mixed with the powder of coals 
 and fait of afhes ■, then the Iron grows as hard as 
 fteel, but fteel is rendered harder than it was be- 
 fore. 
 
 fo'mt IV. 
 
 Embroiderers may put any durable Colour they pleafe HPoft 
 the Silkjwith which they work. 
 
 I 
 
 T may be known, that Nitre, as being a depura- 
 ted fait, will eafily induce colours, and conftantly 
 preferve them, yea, exalt them, which many know, 
 they efpecially who dye cloth with rich grain co- 
 lours, as Scarlet, Crimfon, &c. when they add the 
 fpirit of Nitre in the boiling, to aluminate it, (as 
 the Dyers call it) the colour is wonderfully exalted, 
 and made much more fiery, fo that it may be fold 
 dearer than common Crimfon or Scarlet. This 
 fpirit of Nitre alfo tingeth Afhes, Nails, or Hoofs, 
 Quills, or Feathers, with a golden colour, but if the 
 Nitre be fixed by calcination, then it alfo equally 
 exalteth, but not into a red, but a Purple ; Dyers 
 ufe Potters afhes for thefe Works, but fixed Niter is 
 much purer, and rendereth the Work more beautiful 
 than thofe impure allies. 
 
 (Po/«cV. 
 
 They who Paint Glafs^ by an eafie Work , may thence 
 prepare all Colours or Enamels for Glafs^ fothat there 
 will be no need to have them from Venice. 
 
 TT H E Painters of Glafs fometimes complain, that 
 their fufory Glafs or Enamel will not readily 
 flow, and that the Glafs which they are to colour is 
 melted firll ; the Salt of the Earth being fixed, re- 
 medieth this, if the colouring Glafs be mixed with 
 it in a due proportion , and again melted, for by 
 this means they will be rendered fluxible at plea- 
 fure. 
 
 foint VI. 
 
 They who xtork in Wax , by the benefit of this^ may 
 whiten it exceedingly, and colour it as they pleafe, 
 
 THat Salts with Water do whiten yellow Wax, 
 being melted thin, and expofed to the Air, and 
 often fprinkled with the Salt Water, is fufficiently 
 known, and wants no proof .but not better than fait- 
 Nitre it felf. 
 
 <t>oint VII. 
 
 Printers alfo may add this fubjeH to their Jnh^^ which 
 will caiife it to adhere very firmly to the Paper ^ an d ren- 
 der the Letters very fan- . 
 
 THat fixed Salts will readily conjoin Ink with Wa- 
 ter, is not unknown, and none better than fix- 
 ed Nitre, which alfo excelleth all fliarp Uxiviums^ 
 having a power of cleanfing Lead, Tin, Copper, or 
 other Veflels. 
 
 Zz z 
 
 Point 
 
i8o 
 
 The 'Explication of 
 
 Parti 
 
 (point VIII. 
 
 It is mwemcnt for Clock-makers^ or Watchmakers, if a 
 Water be defiilkd from it, which [oUtrcth Iron or 
 Steel mthoitt fire, if a drop of that Aqua^fortis be 
 dropped uoon it. whence the Iron growing hot, tt frc- 
 feJtly waxethfoft, as if it h.td been foldercd m the 
 Fire by the helf of Copper. 
 
 F an Jqna-fortis be deftilled from Niter and cal- 
 jt cined Vitriol rNB- that there muft be no Water 
 or Phlegm in the Spirit; and two little pieces oflron 
 be melted with it , fbetwecn which there mult be 
 little Filings of Iron) then the Iron groweth hot by 
 the Jqiia-foTtis, which adeth upon it, and the one wiU 
 be joined to the other by melting, as if it had been 
 done by the Fire. But he that will ufe that water, 
 muft know how to prepare it hmifelf, becauie iuch 
 is no where to be found to fell- 
 
 (point IX. 
 
 1^// Smiths may by it harden their Files, and other 
 Iron Tools, as durable, as tf they had been made of 
 the hardfi Steel. 
 
 Fixed Salts being mixed with afhes and powder of 
 coals or fand, after that they have remained 24 
 hours in a clofe Fire, do harden iron like fteel ; as is 
 proved before in the third point. 
 
 (point X. 
 
 Fcrvtcrcrs may harden their Tin or Pewter, and give to 
 It an elegant whitenefs, fo that it will rejemble Stiver 
 both in colour and foimd ; neither will tt eafily tarnijh, 
 and by reafon of its hardnefs, will lajt longer than 
 common Pewter. 
 
 IF Tin be often melted, and extinguilhed in a U- 
 xiviitm of fixt N itre, it is made harder than it was 1 
 before ■, but if it be put to Nitre in Flux, and fuffe- 
 rcd to melt in it ; then alfo it will be more hard. 
 NB. ButiftheTinbe reduced into Scoria by Nitre, 
 .and the Scoria again reduced, it will be rendered 
 harder and taircr, than by the two former ways. _ 
 
 (powt XI, XII, XIII. 
 
 CMnct-makers may flrtke an excelloit Black.npon Pear- 
 tree-, cherry-tree, B x. Walnut-tree, and other hard 
 Woods, which may be ufedfor curious Worhs infieadof 
 Ebony. Skinners or Furriers tnay dye their Ermns, 
 Fox-fskins, Wolf-skinf, and the lilie Furs, with a Jcar- 
 Ict crtn.fon,or deep bbckjoloitr, far exceeding the na-. 
 tural. hi like manner Feuther.dyers may fwftly give 
 any laflmg colour to their Plumes. 
 
 1 F an yi'jua fortis be deftilled from Nitre and Vi- 
 i triol, and a little filver dilTolved in it, and Rain 
 water poured thereon (for the weakening of the 
 jiqita-fortii') then not only all hard Woods , are 
 blacked by it, fo that they reprefent Ebony , but 
 alfo skins and feathers arc made black as a coal, 
 
 a ground being firft laid upon the feathers, skins, or 
 woods, that the Colours may remain and endure 
 firm. Therefore the 11, 12, and 13 points are thus 
 verified together. 
 
 <?omtXlV. 
 
 Taylors may take out Spots or Stains, out of Woolen, Li- 
 7icn, or filkJSarments, and re fiore their Beauty. 
 
 OF fixed Nitre is made a Soap,rofubtile and pure, 
 that by it all Spots may be taken out of Gar= 
 ments. 
 
 ^mt XV. 
 
 If Shooemakers put old Iron to thisfubjeSt, they may there- 
 with adorn their Leather with an excellent Blacky 
 
 IF Nitre be diffolv'd in Vinegar, and old Iron lie 
 fome time in it, it will make an Ink with which 
 Hides maybe blacked with an excellent Black- But 
 there is no need of Nitre for this ufe, for if Iron be 
 put to Aqua Calcis, it effedleth the fame thing ; on- 
 ly mention is made of this in Miraculum Mimdi, that 
 it might be manifeft, that this Univerfal Subjed may 
 be of ufe, to all and fingular Artificers. 
 
 (point XVI. 
 
 Weavers may render their Linen Tl.reds fofine and foft 
 that they will emulate filk,. 
 
 A LI Men know that the boiling of Thread in a 
 ftrong Lixivium renders it foftaud delicate,but 
 feeing that fixed Nitre is better than a ftrong Lixivi- 
 um, it will alfo perform this work better than any 
 common Lixivium. 
 
 (point XVII. 
 
 Dyers by this may give fo firm and unchangeable a ground 
 to their Clvth, that the fuperinduced Colours fl>all not be 
 corrupted, or Jpoiled by any Wine, Finegar, Vrine 
 Pickles, Atr, or Sun. 
 
 IF the fpirit of Nitre be put into the firft boiling 
 with the Alum and Tartar, for the aluminating 
 the Cloths, it will give a permanent ground, as is 
 already proved in the fourth point- 
 
 (Point XVIII. 
 
 Potters may thence prepare a Glajfy Colour, not unlike to 
 the Indian Porcellane, of which rejjels may be made 
 having the afpe^ of Gold, Silver, or Copper a fin- 
 gular Ornament for Noblemen s Tables^ hitherto un-. 
 known to the World. 
 
 T'He Giafing of Earthen Veffels, that they may 
 ■*• appearlike a natural Metal, is an egregious art, 
 but it doth not always fucceed, for the Colours are 
 eafily burnt and deftroyed by too much heat, fo that 
 noMetallick Vitrification can be difcerned. Vellels 
 
 there- 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 18 
 
 therefore, ought to be glafed not in a common Potters 
 Furnace, but in a peculiar Furnace, that the fire may 
 be oftner obfer\Td. If the Vitrification be to repre-- 
 fent Gold, or Silver, or Copper, then Gold, and 
 Silver, and Copper is alfo to be taken in this manner : 
 Take one part of Gold and Silver, or Copper, Regu- 
 ]us of Antimony two or four parts, melt the Regu- 
 lus and the Metal, pulverife them in an Iron Mortar, 
 and mix them with an equal portion of Nitre, fufFer 
 the mixture to be fixed in a Crucible, with which mix- 
 tnre the earthen velfel is to be rubbed over or gilded, 
 afterwards to be committed to a Furnace fit for this 
 purpofe ; if you proceed right, you will obtain a ve- 
 ry beautiful Vitrification, as if the VefTel was gilt 
 with Gold, Silver, or Copper, which will not vanifh 
 or decay, and will far exceed in beauty and fplendour 
 the Velfels which are gilt with thofe Metals, for thofe 
 in procefs of timelofe their fplendour, but thefe do 
 not as long as the leaft bit remains. 
 
 (^omt XIX, md XX. 
 
 Souldiers^ Merchants^ Travellers, Carriers, FiJIiermen, 
 afid others, who arc much in the of en Air^ may of this 
 prepare a Vartiijli in which they may dip li'ien Cloth^ 
 which will not permit either j4ir or Water to pafs 
 throuah it, with which they may defend their Boots or 
 Cloths, fo that they may travel dry in the rain. They 
 who make Tape (Iry, may reft ere their faint and faded 
 
 ■f Colours, fo that they fiuH be ftrong and ieatttifid. 
 
 HEre mention is made of a certain mixture in 
 which if Linen Cloth be dipped and dryed will 
 not permit \vater to pafs through, and it is done in 
 this manner. There is nothing wanting in Linfeed 
 Oyl, but that the humidity be taken from it, which 
 always hindereth its dying ; now to efFed; that, there 
 is no better way, than to boil the Linfeed Oyl gently 
 and gradually with the Flowers of Lapis Calamwans 
 or Saturn, (which are fublimed by Nitre) fo long till 
 the Oyl be tenacious, and growcth hard enough for 
 this ufe« NB. That a Linen Cloth immerfed in 
 this mixture, and fhining Talk being finely laid upon 
 it, may be coloured of any colour, which will very 
 ftrongly adhere to it, and may ferve for the making 
 of Tapeftry. Therefore in this manner the nine- 
 teenth and twentieth Points are confirmed. 
 
 (Point XXI, and XXII. 
 
 Miftrejjes ofFamilies,may of it prepare fine Soap or Wajh-. 
 balls, far exceeding the Venetian- HoH^iold Maids, 
 ' may with it fcour their Metalline F'effels, fo as to ren- 
 der them neat and beahtifnl. 
 
 THat fixed Nitre will wafh and purifie Linen cloth 
 beyond all Soap, no Man will deny, who com- 
 prehendcth the matter, concerning which thing, the 
 Ancients have written much, and not in vain, calling 
 Nitre the Soap of the wife, but not for the wafhing 
 of Womens Linen, but for the intrinfecal purifying 
 of theimperfeft Metals: Their External Purgation 
 may alfo be performed by help thereof, fo that the 
 twenty fecond Point is alfo verified. 
 
 Toint XXIIL 
 
 Women may change the Tellow, Pale-, or Brown Cobur of 
 their Face. 
 
 and hands J t 
 
 nto a beautiful whitenefs. 
 
 THat an Egregious Cofmetick may be made of NI^ 
 tre, calcined with white Talk (by which illco- 
 loured skins maybe whitened) is not to be doubted. 
 For if Nitre fixed by the Regulus of Antimony alone, 
 perforracth that, why fliould it not yet do it better, if 
 it be conjoined with fome white Mineral Talk in the 
 Calcination ? 
 
 (point XXIV. 
 
 Old Women tnay by an eajie way, take away the Wrinkles 
 of their Face and Hands, as alfo the Corns of their 
 Feet, and boil their Linen to fitch a foftncfs, that it 
 jhall come but little jlnrt of Silk. 
 
 IX is eafle to verifie this, to wit if Nitre be fixed 
 with Regulus of Antimony, and fet in a moift 
 Cellar to run into an Oyl, which Liquor will be fo 
 fiery, that if any hard Skin, or Corn, be often anoint- 
 ecl with it, it will fofoften it, that it may be cut away 
 with a Pen knife, and afterwards other fmooth and 
 foftSkin will grow in its room. 
 
 ^ohit XXV. 
 
 Gardeners by this fubjeif may deftroy all In feels, by mix^ 
 ing it with water, and pouring it into thofe pLices where 
 they breed, for they will either die in their holes, or rut 
 out to die, becaufe they are not able to abide that fre. 
 It alfo ripencth Fruits, if a little of this Menftruum 
 be applied to their Roots, at the entrance of the Sprina ; 
 and if a large cjuantity of yuppies be well covered over 
 with it, they may thence prepare a Lifting Wine, Fine- 
 gar, or hnrr-ing Spirit. 
 
 IT is not to be doubted, but that fixed Nitre will 
 kill all Worms in the Earth ; I have often tried it 
 with good advantage, and found it true, in this man- 
 ner .• Many years ago, I had a Garden, in which was 
 aBedof Afparagus, which I covered all over in the 
 Winter with Horfe-dung,to defend it from the FroU, 
 which occafioned the breeding of many fmall Worms 
 like Threadsjfticking to the Roots of the Afparagus, 
 fo that they could by no means grow or increafe, only 
 by reafon of the great quantity of Worms, which 
 took away the nutriment of the Vegetable for them- 
 felves. And once by chance throwing fome fixed 
 Nitre expofed to the Air, and turned into a Liquor, 
 out at a Window into the Garden, it fell upon that 
 place where thefe Worms were, the fixed N itre was 
 dilToIved by the following Rain, and penetrated the 
 earth; which done, the Worms in great numbers 
 crept out of the earth, becaufe they could not abide 
 that fiery Liquor, the Afparagus grew up in the fame 
 place more plentifully and perfedly than before,which 
 moved mc alfo to apply this Liquor in other places j 
 by this means the whole Garden was in a very Ihorc 
 time freed from Worms. 
 
 Aaa 
 
 Point 
 
l82 
 
 The Explication of 
 
 Part L 
 
 foint XXVI. 
 
 Bakers may nfe it in fiead of Ferment or Teafi^ if they 
 dijjolve a few hop therein. 
 
 IF pure Nitre with flower be throughly moiftened 
 with warm water and fet in a warm place, then, 
 by its own proper power and virtue, it beginneth to 
 ferment, efpeciallv if fomc frefli Hops be put to the 
 water, by which alfo other things are promoted to 
 fermentation. 
 
 (Point XXVIL 
 
 Brewers by its help may have very fir oti^ Beer^ if they ex- 
 trdl their Hups therewith. 
 
 I 
 
 N the like manner alfo warm Beer may be excited 
 to fermentation. 
 
 (point XXVIII. 
 
 Mead, and MethegU'^^ as alfo Beer, and Canary wine, 
 which are upon the turn, and growing fowre, may by 
 this be rendred drinkable- 
 
 ANy kind of Drink, whether it be Canary, Me- 
 theglin, or Beer, which eafily fowre m Suni- 
 mer, if you would amend them, to a Tun of the Li- 
 quor put about two or three Ounces of fixed Nitre 
 put up in a Linen Rag into the Bung--hole at the top of 
 the Cask, and let it hang down into the Liquor, then 
 in a fhort time the fowre Liquor will be rendered 
 drinkable. 
 
 Point XXIX: 
 
 Comb' 711 akers, and others who workjn Horn ^ may by this 
 fo foften their Horns, that they may imprint upon them 
 •what Images they pleafe. 
 
 THat every Horn, or Bone may be foftened, if it 
 be fufficiently boiled in a Lixivium of Nitre, 
 may eafily be apprehended ; which thing another 
 ftrong Lixivium, not fo fiery as that of Nitre, will 
 alfo perform. 
 
 (point XXX. 
 
 Keepers of Armories may prefcrve their polified Arms, cr 
 Harnefs free from rufi, by anointing them over with 
 this Subjc^. 
 
 IT is credible, that fixed Nitre will preferve Iron 
 from Ruft, feeing that it is equally contrary to 
 Corrofivcs, with a fimple Aqua-Calcis which per- 
 formeth the fame. 
 
 (point XXXI. 
 
 Bird-catchers, may by the help of this prepare fuch a. 
 Birdlime, as will not be altered by Cold or Heat, 
 
 IF a Spirit be diftill'd from Nitre, and Lapis Cala- 
 minarisdilTolved init, and the Spirit again drawn 
 off, there will remain a thick and heavy Oyl, with 
 which the Glue for Wood being throughly humeded 
 and diflblved, it becometh tenacious and vifcous, 
 which will not be dried by the heat of the Sun, but 
 keepeth its unduofity in all Seafons. NB • That Spi-- 
 rit of Salt, or Vitriol, alfo performeth the fame 
 thing, if any Glue bediflblved therein- 
 
 Ponu XXXII. 
 
 Souldters may by help of this prepare a fulminating powder 
 from Gold, of which the magnitude of a Pea, put upon 
 a red hot Iron Plate, will give a greater Clap, than 
 half a pound, yea a whole pound of Gun-powdir ; tht 
 fime may alfo be prepared without Gold, by the addi- 
 tion of Salt of Tartar and Sulphur, as it is defer ibed 
 in the feccnd part of Furnaces. 
 
 AS for this point, it needeth no proof for it is 
 fufficiently known, that of © diflblved in Spi- 
 rit of Nitre (in which alfo was diflblved Sal Arraoni- 
 ack) and precipitated with Salt of Tartar for Spirit 
 of Urine, which is better) then edulcorated and dry* 
 ed, fuch a powder will be made, which being put 
 upon an Iron, Copper, or Silver Plate, and enkind- 
 led by a light heat? fulminateth more flrongly than 
 half a pound of common Gun^powder, concerning 
 which, I have treated at large in other of my Writ- 
 ings. 
 
 (point XXXIIL 
 
 Engineers, and makers of Fire- works, may perform ma- 
 ny wonderful things, by the help of this Sitl>jefl. 
 
 THat common Nitre is ufed in the making of 
 Gun^powder, and other Fire-works, wants no 
 Teftimony, being a thing every where known. 
 
 Point XXXIV. 
 
 Many new Works belonging to the Weavers, and Smiths 
 Art-, may be made thence, which tnay he Communica- 
 ted to Neighbouring Countries, in hen of which, mo- 
 ney may he brought into a Country impoverijhed by- 
 War. 
 
 AS for this point, it is moft certain, that by the 
 mentioned Subjedt, various Manufadures may 
 be perfected, which thing let no Man doubt ; but 
 there is no need here to particularize ; let it fuffice 
 that I have verified (by the afliftance of God) thofe 
 things which I have named, and propofed to explain 
 in that place. 
 
 hint 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mmdi. 
 
 183 
 
 ^oint XXXV. 
 
 the Roots of their Vtpts^ they will have rife Graces, 
 (ird new Wine fooner than the refl of their Neighboitrs-, 
 of which they nny make a good advantage. 
 
 PLebeians, Country-men, Gardeners, Vine=dref- 
 fers, andthelike, who are converfant about the 
 propagation of Vegetables ; do fay, and believe, that 
 Dung can feth Fertility, and the increafe of things : 
 Buta Philofopher, penetrating farther into Nature, 
 and who is a moft diligent Searcher of her Works, 
 attributeth that to the Salt which is hidden in the 
 Dung, and the matter it felf is no otherwife, for by 
 digeftion in the Stomachs of Men and Bruits, the 
 eflential Salt, as well of Animals, as of Vegetables, 
 is tranfmuted into a Nitrous Salt,which together with 
 the Excrements palTeth out by the Belly, and is ufed 
 byMen for the propogatingof Vegetables of all kinds, 
 but another Salt which doth not participate with 
 that, is fcparated by another way, to wit, by Urine, 
 the greatelt partof which Salt is acid, and contra- 
 ry to the growth of all Vegetables, (although 
 it carrieth along with it fome volatile Salt) it de= 
 ilroyeth, mortifieth, and taketh away from them the 
 power of growing, yea. Life it felf, if they be often 
 moiltened with it ; but the Nitrous Salt reconded in 
 Excrements, on the contrary, vivifieth all Vegetables, 
 and maketh them to encreafe, grow llrong, and bear 
 Fruit, which all men know. Therefore if it be pro= 
 bable that it is not the Dung, but the Salt which is 
 hidden in the Dung, that caufeth fertility and en= 
 creafe, it will be pofTible, that an encreafe by fuch a 
 Salt may be procured in all Vegetables equally as with 
 Dung it felf, and indeed better, for there is Urine al- 
 fo conjoined with the Dung •, which if it be not for 
 fome time expofcd to the Air and the Rain, for the 
 wafliing away that fliarp Salt, the Dung would a= 
 vail nothing to the fattening of the Earth , which 
 Conntry-men know, and therefore they do not pre- 
 fcntly ufe their frcfli Dung, but lay it in the Fields 
 before Winter^ Vine-drellers in their Vineyards; 
 and leaveitthereallthe Winter, to that end, that the 
 Rain may wafli out that fharp and hurtful Salt ; and 
 this being done , then at length they mix it with 
 tiieir Earth ; and the event teacheth them that this 
 fattens more than Dung carried frefh out of Stables, 
 and full of Urine. Therefore if I know how to 
 make a Nitrous Salt, which is reconded not only in 
 the Excrements of Men and Brutes, but alfo in Rain- 
 water and common Earth, I may ufe this inflead of 
 Dung, ( being firft purged from its contrary acidj 
 one pound of which will perform more than an hun- 
 dred weight of Dung ; yet in the mean time it con- 
 duceth tothatpurpofe, if a little Sheeps-dung be diD 
 folved together with the purified Nitre, in Water, 
 with which the Roots of the Trees are to be moiltened 
 or Seeds throughly wetted with the iame. And this 
 1 have proved more than once, and found, that by the 
 help of Nitre well depurated , an encreafe is moft 
 powerfully and fwiftly promoted, yea, more than can 
 be believed- NB. That I would have none under- 
 ftand me, as if common Nitre were to betaken, which 
 is not at all profitable in thefe matters. 
 
 foint XXXVI. 
 
 // Keepers of Vineyards^ ponr a little of this Siibje^ to Neverthelefs Aliifi and Wine may be ripened after ano- 
 
 ther manner in the Hogjbead, without this yirt-, fq 
 that they who underhand the way may have alwaies 
 good Wine-, when others have it fowre^ &c. 
 
 "^His is a very fair and profitable Secret in thofe 
 places, where Wines, by reafon of cold, cannot 
 come to maturity, but are forced to remain crude 
 and impotent, which by this Remedy may be brought 
 to maturity in the Hogfliead ; fo that Wine whirh is 
 eager and fowre, may be made delicate, friendly, 
 generous, and durable. And although I here write 
 nothing but the truth, and what I have often effe- 
 t'tually proved, yet I very well know, that but a very 
 few will apprehend or believe it, which matters lit- 
 tle to me-, lam fatisfied, that I have verified what I 
 have written in this .point. 
 
 Toint XXXVIL 
 
 There remains yet another thing very fr oft able to Country: 
 men. The juice of j4pples or Pears being prejfed ont^ 
 by the help of this fabjeEl.^ fitch an efervefcency or 
 working is promoted, as Wine may be thence tnade, 
 having the relif) of the natural, and but little injeriour 
 in durability and, Jirength^ &;c- 
 
 IN this point mention is made how the juice of Ap- 
 ples, and Pears, may be corrected, that it may be 
 like- to Wine , keeping many years uncorrupted : 
 which certainly is a Secret of great moment and pro- 
 fit. Apples, when ripe, of their own accord fall from 
 the Trees, every thing hath its period ; what advan- 
 tage may be made by this Art in thofe places, where 
 a great quantity of Fruit groweth ; whether is it not 
 better to make this ufe of them, than to leave them 
 to rot and be loft ? I will do what lies in me, and not 
 bury my Talent, that I may be rendered excufable be- 
 fore GOD and the World, although that which I 
 teach may not be received, as becometh it to be ufed. 
 At length, after my Deceafe, it will be obferved, what 
 is hidden in my Writings , but the Phrygians were 
 wife too late. Therefore I again affirm , that all 
 things contained in this point, are purely true, and 
 may be perfedlly effedted. [^ See ylpohgy againft 
 Farnner- 3 
 
 Wint XXXVIII. 
 
 // Hitsband-men moifien their Seed with this Menftru- 
 um, it will fooner be ripe^ and have larger and fit' 
 ter Grains than ordinary : which being done^ J will 
 fliew by what means they may make great profit of 
 their Grain, &c. 
 
 THE 35 Point confirms the truth of this. That 
 Grain will grow the more plenteoufly, if it fhall 
 be humecfted with the Nitrous Water above-mentio- 
 ned, before it be fown, but common Nitre is not 
 hereto be underftood. The other is alfo confenta- 
 neous to Truth, which is written about the moft pro- 
 Stable ufe of Grain, which none need doubt; for as 
 yet more may be done in that than I have here fpo-- 
 
 keE( 
 
iS4 
 
 The Explication of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ken of, for without much labour and coft, by that wa- 
 ter every good and kernelly fubftance, as 1 may fo 
 fpeak, of Grain, is extra^ed, which Extrad may be 
 kept for many years, as a Treafure of great moment, 
 of which afterwards, at any time or place, (by the 
 addition of Water of Hopsj good Beer may be 
 made, and Vinegar, and burning Spirit i itis alfoot 
 fuchavcry Nutritive fubftance, that in cafcofnecein- 
 ty it may be ufcd inllead of Bread, one pound of 
 which will afford more nouriftment than two orthree 
 pound of Bread made after the common manner. It 
 may alfo be kept in Garrifons with great commodi- 
 ty : Alfo it may be ufed at Sea , by thofe who fail 
 to the I"dks, and trade about in Ships, when they 
 want Bread •, of which by the addition of warm wa- 
 ter of Hops, may be made very good Beer, at any 
 time of the year, for it iscafily and wholly dilTolved 
 in warm water. For this reafon alfo it may be moft 
 commodiouQy carried from place to place by Armies 
 in time of War, which in the Field, at any time. 
 Winter or Summer, with the water of Hops, it may 
 be boiled into Beer, and there is no need to carry the 
 water far, becaufe it is to be found in all places ; nei- 
 ther are Hops of any great burden:, therefore in one 
 only Tun there may be carried of thisExtraft as much 
 as fufRceth for the brewing of fix or eight Tun of 
 Beer ^ and which is more, by this means, wholefome 
 Beer may be made in the Dog-daks, as well in Camps, 
 as in Cities and Ships, without any fear of impedi- 
 ment or future fowrnefs ; at which time good Beer 
 is not otherwife made, becaufe then it is wont pre- 
 fently to grow fowre ■, and many other Commodi- 
 ties are procured by this means, all which to declare, 
 would be fuperfliious. Let what hath been faid 
 fuffice. 
 
 (?olnt XXXIX. 
 
 J have yet one thing to add among my Wine- Arts, con- 
 cerning Grain, and the Fruits of Trees and Shrubs^ 
 ■which IS to be received with Thanhfidnefs , as a great 
 GiftofCodto Mankind, viz. his found by indnftry 
 and manifold experience, that from i?;>. Wheat, Oats, 
 Rice, Millet • alfo from A^fks, Fears, Peaches, Cher- 
 ries, plumbs, Stces,Damfcens,Quinces,Ftggs ; ^.s alfo 
 from Goofe-bcrries, Midbcrnes, Barberries, PUckiber'. 
 ries, Elder-.berries, and other like Fruits of Trees and 
 Shrubs; from all thefe, I fay, may be frefarcd with 
 little labour and cofi, a Drink very like to IVtnc, both in 
 tafie, fmell, and fir cngth, being grateful, wholefome, and 
 durable, &C- 
 
 IN this point mention is made, That of the Fruit 
 of Trees and other Bulhes and Shrubs, a clear 
 Drink may be made, which is alfo grateful and du- 
 rable being like to Wine in tafte, colour, and vir- 
 tue ; 'which thing, although it may feem ftrange to 
 thofe who are ignorant of the matter, neverthelefs it 
 is moft true •, lothat thofe things which are contain- 
 ed in this point, may be boldly credited. For what 
 Ihould it profit me to write thofe things which lam not 
 able to prove, it would only turn to my difgracc and 
 detriment. For this reafon I have determined to 
 have fuch a Laboratory prepared, in which not only 
 the owners of Metallick Mines ( if they defire it of 
 me) may learn the manner by rac newly invented, 
 for the compendious melting of Minerals, fo that they 
 (hall yield more Metal, than by the known and com- 
 moa manner ; but will alfo (hew other Secrets, that 
 
 the Aiagnalia and wonders of God may be made ma- 
 nifeft, and We ftirred up to give Thanks to the 
 Giver of all Good : Which Elaboratory ftiall conti- 
 nue open for one whole year, wliich being part, it 
 fliall again be fluit up and ceafe •, for I purpofe not 
 to render the whole courfeof my Life obnoxious to 
 thofe great Labours, but at length to enjoy a quiet 
 tranquility ; which thing I am willing that all men 
 fliould know, that they may fpare nic with their Let- 
 ters, which it is impolTiblc for me to anfwer, much lefs 
 that I ftiould feethe Perfons, feeing that the burden 
 of journying is to me altogether infupportable j but 
 whatfoever 1 may perform at home, I will not refufe. 
 Q See for this point Apology againfi Farnner.] 
 
 Here thou haft, benevolent Reader, a fundamental 
 Explication of my Mir ac it In m M'lndi, fas for thofe 
 la(t points, to wit, 36, 37, 38, and 39, they might in- 
 deed have been very commodioufly explained here> 
 but becaufe this is done at large, in a peculiar Trea- 
 tife, entituled. The Profpcnty (9/ 'Germany ; there is 
 no need to explain them in this place ; rlierefore what 
 the benevolent Reader finds wanting here, there he 
 fhall find it at large, to which I remit him) whereby 
 it will appear to all men, unlefsto thofe who are 
 wilfully blind, that I have not afcribed too much 
 to the Salt of the Earth, as a univcrfal fubjeft, but 
 that I have proved to the whole World, that every 
 thing which I have attributed to it, is pofiible, and 
 plainly agreeable to Truth. But that thefe Secrets 
 which I have proved, may be performed by the be- 
 nefit of the Salt of the Earth, may not be done by 
 other waies, and perhaps nearer, I go not about to 
 deny, but do necelTarily afErm, that the mentioned 
 Metallicks, as vvell asthe Mechanicks, maybe per- 
 formed after other manners. Only here it is verified. 
 That the Salt of the Earth is defervedly efteemed a 
 univerfal fubjeift, which no man will deny, nor will 
 be able to refuce by Arguments, fupported by truth> 
 how wife foever he may feem to himfelf. Therefore 
 let its vilenefs offend no man, for the beft of things 
 is oftentimes hidden in things of fniall price. Where- 
 fore all men erre, who attribute good to oatward 
 fplendor, in which yet it is not, but is only to be 
 fought, found, and obtained in things vile, and of low 
 efteem- il5ot£ tl)i0, btlk'oz tijigf, otfjectoifc tijou toilt 
 mUt attain to any ^coti. 
 
 But here fome Man may objed in this manner : If 
 
 Nitre be a Univerfal Menftruum according to my 
 
 ifes of it, it will thence necefiarily follow, that 
 
 prai , - , , 
 
 the ftone of Philofophers fhould be made by it, of 
 which neverthelefs I have here made no mention. 
 To obviate this Objection, I do indeed readily con- 
 fefs, that I have not proceeded in this fubjedl, any 
 further than thofe things which I have now proved ; 
 but without doubt it containeth in it felf greater 
 things, than are manifefted to me and others. I have 
 made a beginning, 1 have ftrowed the way , let others 
 follow me, and profccnte the thing further, if God 
 ftiall grant it to them ; as for me I am content with 
 fmall things,, and do not anxioufiy, or follicitouflv a- 
 fpire after the higheft. Yet in the mean time, this I 
 freely confefs, if I were not fo old as I am, I ftiould 
 not leave this Matter u'.eOay'd. It is not to be doubt- 
 ed, but many men have fought the Univerfal ftone in 
 Nitre, but what they have found, that themfelves 
 know ; and of this I am the more alFured, becaufe 
 I there Matter in the end of the Work taking fire, hath 
 I vanifhed like a Clap of Thunder; hence the ancient 
 I Philofophers have performed their work in Winter, 
 ' left they ftiould be hurt by Corrufcations ; it is moft 
 ' true. 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum MundL 
 
 185 
 
 true, and void of all errour, that a moft noble eilence 
 of this fort, obtaining a power of expelling all the 
 Natural Difeafes of Mortals, and of tranfmuting all 
 the imperfect Metals into Gold cannot be prepared 
 from an impure Metal, or Mineral,norairo of Gold it 
 fclf. Much lefs of viler and more unlikely things in 
 which Fools are miferably Occupied, prodigally, and 
 unprofitably wafting their Goods; but in my judg- 
 ment, it fhould be no other thing than a Concentrated 
 Aftral lire, exalted by Art, into the form of a ftone, 
 without any other Adventitious matter. For in the 
 nature of things, no purer ElTence can be found, than 
 fire, exercifinga very great power in all things, efpe- 
 cially in Metals : For if we had not fire (I pray con- 
 fiderit) all Arts, and Mechanicks would grow cold, 
 and be involved in the dark filence of Celfation. Arts 
 were invented, and draw their Original from the fire, 
 ocherwife how fliould Metals be got out of their Mine- 
 rals, and prepared for ufe ? truly they would be of no 
 ufe at all- Therefore the fire containeth more than 
 «an be believed. He that doth not know fire to be a 
 moft powerful Element, knoweth nothing, nor with- 
 out this, can he find out any thing, neither by any juft 
 right can he aflume the Name of a Philofopher. The 
 lire alone, without the addition of other things, is 
 fufficient to make Metals of ftones, and particularly, 
 the beft Metals our of the vileft ftones, provided we 
 know how to ufe it ; but univerfally,bcing concentra- 
 ted into a ftony matter •, which lafl although I have, 
 not experienced, neverthelefslhaveobferved, ifTby 
 the favour of the Almighty) a man could exalt the 
 lire into a Corporeal fixed fubftanLe,he would certain- 
 ly have a Tindture for men, and the imperfed Metals. 
 But fome man may objeft, by what way is this Crown 
 to be obtained ? Truly by no other than by Divine 
 Revelation. For the Secrets of God of this fort, are 
 notfoeafily to befoundout, nor will they be manife- 
 fted to Impious men, although the whole World is 
 infefted with a foolifh madnefs, who doatingly think 
 by force to extort Gold from things in which it is not, 
 and one that hath underftanding of the fire and Me- 
 tals, cannot fufRciently admire thofe foolifh and dol- 
 tifli Labours, which they who are Captivated by the 
 hunger of Gold, undertake for the making the Itone 
 of Philofophers •, many being willing to afcend the 
 Ladder, arc prefently fbllicitous about the uppermoft 
 Round, when notwithftanding they are as yet far 
 from the lowermoft ftep : But this is a matter of a 
 higher and more diligent fearch- In the fire, I fay, 
 are contained Secrets of great moment, yea, info- 
 much that fome Philofophers famong whom PUtu is 
 the chief) write that God is moft clearly difcerncd 
 and apprehended in Fire and Salt. Fire, and the Im- 
 mortal God alone can make light of darknefs, which 
 is granted to no Mortal todoi without fire is dark- 
 nefs and death : Without fire nothing can live, no- 
 thing groweth or encreafeth. 
 
 Inlum, Fire is the moft Noble, and moft Potent 
 Work of God in the whole Univerfe, he that know- 
 eth how to ufe it rightly, will have need of no Art- 
 Let the Benevolent Reader alio take with him my 
 fmall judgment concerning the great ftone of the 
 
 wife ; let every man believe what he will, and is a- 
 bic to comprehend. Such a work is purely the gift 
 of God, and cannot be learned by the moft acute pow- 
 ers of an humane mind, if it be not alfifted by the bc: 
 nign help of a Divine Infpiration- And of this I af- 
 fure my fclf, that in thofe laft times, God will raife 
 up fome, to whom he will open the Cabinet of Na: 
 tures Secrets, that they fhall be able to do wonderful 
 things in the World, to his glory, the which 1 in- 
 deed heartily wilh to Pofterity, that they may enjoy, 
 and ufe to the Praife and Hoilour of God) Amen. 
 
 The EPILOgVE. 
 
 I Doubt not but many Men confidering the great 
 good that may be efFefted by the benefit of Nitre, 
 will be defirous of knowing how they may attain it ia 
 great quantity, that fo they may not be forced to buy 
 it at a dear rate^ which certainly would be a greaC 
 help not to a few who labour in the nre, and I could 
 with from my Soul, that all honeft and pious Chymifts 
 might be able to recover fome compenfation for the 
 Coals they haveconfumed without fruit- But feeing 
 that I have made mention of the produLlionor prepa- 
 ration of Nitre, in a peculiar Treatifeentituled, I'he 
 Prs/perity of Germany ; it is needlefs here to repeat it- 
 But this I will fay byway ofprediftion, thatNicre, 
 being throughly known by my Writings, true Alchy- 
 my, or the Tranfmutation of the imperfecl Metals 
 into better, will in a fiiort time be as common, as ic 
 was in Egyfi long fince in the time of the Emperour 
 Diocle/ian, who could not overcome or fubdue the 
 Egyptians^ until he had by mnny Cruelties extorted 
 their Books from them, which he burnt,and fo brought 
 them under the yoke of fervitude- NB. That it is 
 no wonder that the Tranfmutation of Metals ftiould 
 have been fo common with the Egyptians only, feeing 
 that Nitre is found ia all places of the Land of Egypt ^ 
 and the famous River Nile is impregnated with Nitre, 
 which only by its overflowing (which it doth twice 
 in a year) fo fateneth the whole Country, that it is 
 made very rich and fruitfulin all things without dung ; 
 for the Nile aboundeth with Nitre, as the Sea dotli 
 with common Salt- For at certain times of the over- 
 flowing, Viz.- in the fjeginning, the inhabitants are 
 wont to dig deep Pits, that they may remain full of 
 the water, which being afterwards dried up by the 
 Sun, Nitre is very Copioufly prepared, as common 
 Salt ismadein5/i.j/», and other hot Regions. This 
 therefore I was willing to difcovet for the informati» 
 on of the Reader i if he be wife, and God be propi- 
 tious to him, he will believe that I have faid enough ; 
 but if not, an Explication ten times clearer will not 
 help him. Therefore let it fuflace, that what is here 
 defired, fliall be had in thofe Treatifcs which are enti= 
 tuled. The Profpenty of Germany, whereby a man 
 filled with the Love of God, will be greatly de- 
 lighted. 
 
 Bbb 
 
 TH^> 
 
iS6 
 
 Part I. 
 
 KjlS^ 
 
 ^'^Jjp^^^^J^^J^^^^?^^)^'^^'^^^^^^^'^^^'^ 
 
 THE 
 
 CONTINUATION 
 
 OF 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 In which Nature is clearly kid open to the Eyes of the whole World ; demonftrat'mg^ that the 
 chief Medicine of Vegetables^ Anmals, and Mmerals^ may he prepared of Sak^petre^ andthiit 
 Sak'pctre truly merits the Name of an Uni'Verfal Menjlruum, 
 
 The PREFACE, to the READER. 
 
 THis Treatife^ to which Ihai'P^iven the Title 
 of rk Continuation of Miraculum Mundi, 
 containah foi.r excellent Arcaiiums, which I 
 doubt mt^ but mil prove very profitable to 
 the fHblick. Tbefrfi of thcfe I ujfer to CoHntry-.men, as 
 Hasbandmen^ Fine-drejfers^ Gardeners, and all fuch 
 who are occupied i» TilU/ig and manuring the Earthy that 
 they may lean a new Method of fattening and enriching 
 their Fields and Gardens-, without the ufual and ciifiomary 
 way of dunging., and thence yearly acquire a greater 
 profit. 
 
 The Second-, I giveto allCitiz.ens., Merchants and o- 
 thers who have time and leafitre, and abounding in riches^ 
 know not by what means to augment or improve their Gold 
 and Silvi r. Which way I willjhew them, and how to ef- 
 fcih It after a much better and honefier manner than put' 
 
 ting it to VJHry^or incommoding or opprejfmg their Neigh' 
 bours. 
 
 The Third^ I prefent to all Confident ions Phyficians that 
 they may learn to prepare Saint iferous and Efficacious Me^ 
 dicines with fmall charge^ little labour.^ and in a jlwrt 
 time ; that (as becomes Chrifiians') they may help and 
 fuccour the Miferies ofthepck, and acquire tothemfehes 
 an honefi livelihood. 
 
 The Fourth, I dedicate to all perfons of great Name 
 a/id Authority^ by the benefit of which,^ they may pre ferve 
 their Health entire^ and recover it when loft. 
 
 The Omnipotent God give us his Divine Grace, that 
 we may make fitch ufe of his fatherly bounty, as may tend 
 to the promoting of his Honour, and the Love of our Neigh- 
 bour. Amen. 
 
 Arcanum I. 
 
 Being a Gift given to Husbandmen., keepers of Vineyards.^ 
 C.rrdcncrSy &C. 
 
 ALtliough I liad determined with my felf to re- 
 fcrvc the Prefs, mentioned in the firft part of 
 The Profptnty of OcTmany-, (by which the juice might 
 be prefled cut of great Trees, the fcarching after 
 which hath wearied many Mens Brains) for the third 
 part of the fame work ; neverthelefs, it fcems good 
 to mc to defcribe it in this Treatife for the good of 
 the publick. And that chiefly for this reafon, becaufc 
 the Omnipotent God hath now revealed to me other 
 manners of extracling Saltpetre, in plenty, out of all 
 Wood, and that without a Prefs •, and not only from 
 Wood, but alfo from all Vegetables, Animals, and 
 
 Minerals, fo that by an eafie bufinefs, and in a fhort 
 time, without a Prefs and putrefadlion, Wood, and 
 Salt may be converted into Salt-petre : Ypa, in the 
 fpace of three or four hours, every Vegetable, or 
 Animal, as alfo Salts of every kind, may be fo tranf- 
 mnted, as that they pafs into a Fatt, fervid and ful- 
 phureous Salt, which afterwards by the benefit of the 
 Air is animated, and converted into Salt-petre. Such 
 a Salt, although it doth notprefently conceive flame, 
 and burn like Salt-petre, yet it is now brought to 
 that pafs, that in the manuring or dunging of poor 
 and barren ground, it doth the fame thing as the dung 
 of any Cattel is wont to efied- Hence by the fame 
 Salt every pure Sand dcftituteof all fatnefs, is quick-- 
 ly fo fatted, that it is rendered fit for the fowing and 
 bringing forth Corn. Few will believe what Sale 
 can perform, when fpoiled of its Corrofive force. 
 Therefore Chrift faith not in vain to his Difciples, 
 
 Xe 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miramlum Mundi. 
 
 187 
 
 Te are the Salt of the Earth. That Earth which wan- 
 teth Salt is dead ; nor can it bring forth Fruit : For 
 this inverted Salt ferveth not only for fandy andplain-- 
 ly barren Fields, but alfo for thofe which are fruit- 
 ful, that they may be fowed every year, and bring 
 forth Fruit- Truly it is a great Gift of G O Di of 
 which this ungrateful World is not worthy. It often 
 happens, that a Husbandman, through want of Dung, 
 is forced to let his Fields lie unfovvn, till he can have 
 an opportunity to fow them ; but what a lofs is this 
 to thofe who in the mean time mull pay the Magi- 
 Itrates, Taxes, or Duties, for them, and yet make 
 riO benefit of them. Were it not better for fuch to 
 poflefs only the Third or Fourth part of what they 
 have of fuch Land as would yield him every year an 
 encreafe. Certainly by this means, that Land which 
 otherwife is fcarce able to maintain one Country-man, 
 would be fufficient for the keeping of ten, if it were 
 fatened after this manner by an inverted wood or fait. 
 In like manner alfo Vineyards Q^"^ Hopyards'] might 
 be fo fattened, that the Labour beftowed upon them 
 might not be in vain, but they might abound in Fruits. 
 
 So alfo Fruit-trees, and Meadows, and Failures, 
 which bear but little Grafs, may by the fame Salt be 
 Vid. Proh- ^° amended, as to bring forth better Fruit 
 Germ. p. 3. and richer Crops of Grafs. But let this 
 fuffice, concerning thofe things in this 
 place, more (hall follow (God willing) in the Third 
 Part of 1 he I'rofperuy o/Germany- In the mean timj 
 the Plenty of Corn and Wine will be in part confu- 
 med. But I doubt not but that this excellent Gift of 
 God will be fought into by good Mailers of Families, 
 be had in efteem, and even from this time to the 
 World's end, be put to ufe for the promoting of the 
 Divine Honour, and the well being of many Thou- 
 fandsof men. 
 
 But the manner of expreffing of Wood by its 
 proper Fire, and again of coagulating this acid juice, 
 by the benefit of the fixed Salt remaining in the burnt 
 Coals or Afhes, into a Salt fattening of barren ground, 
 or of reducing it into Salt-Petre by the benefit of the 
 Air , is indeed an excellent and lingular Artifice, 
 which rendereth all unpro!itable Wood highly profi- 
 table and beneficial ; yea, thefe are Inventions fo 
 profitable, as the like hath been yet publifhed by no 
 man- And this Invention is much better than that 
 of reducing Wood into Pot-a(tes, in which all the 
 acid juice pallmg away in fmoak, wholly perilheth, 
 and is loll, and from a great quantity of Wood a 
 very few a.'hcs remain, andoutofthem there is found 
 but a little Salt (fcarcejy the Tenth Part) fit for the 
 fattening of ground, or to be turned into Salt-Petrc. 
 For it is not the afhes , but the fait contained in 
 them, that fcrves to both thofe purpofes. There- 
 fore this my method ofextratffing the juice of wood, 
 and converting it into a good fait, is far to be pre- 
 ferred to the making of Pot^alhes of Wood. Nor 
 doth this prefs ferve only for the prefiing out the 
 juice of Wood, where Wood is plenty, but it may 
 be alfo ufed with great profit in Moorifh places 
 where Wood is wanting , and which abound with 
 Turf, which may be ufed inftead of Wood. For the 
 juice of Turf is equally fit with the juice of Wood 
 for enriching of Land -, fo that no Country hath caufe 
 to complain that the Creator of all things hath not 
 plentifully provided it with fome part of that w«'.- 
 dane Treafure. Countries that lie high abound with 
 Wood, and the low afford abundance of Turf 
 Therefore, as in Regions of an higher fcituation, an 
 unfpeakable quantity of Wood perilheth by putre- 
 
 faction, and growing, and again rotting, ferveth for 
 no ufe or benefit ^ fo alfo it is in places lower fci- 
 tuated, with Turf, in which very often vail Trads 
 yield not the Icall profit to any man, although in 
 their inward Penetrals are hidden great Treafures- 
 Seeing that it is fo in Mooridi and Marfhy places, 
 if they are overgrown with Grafs, and Beallsihould 
 be fent to feed upon that Grafs, what profit will thence 
 accrue to men ? But if they Ihallbe invironed with too 
 much wet or plalhinels , (too boggy) fo that they 
 are impalTible by men, they are of no utility at all. 
 
 There arc Marfhy trafts which are covered over 
 (or fwerded only with Mofs) which neither afford 
 Turf, or nourilhment for Cattel, inafmuch as the 
 growth of Grafs, and Turf fit for burning, is hindred, 
 cither by too much Sand, or large Mofs. And yet 
 thofe very trafts being prefled by Fire, yield a fer- 
 tile juice, by which the neighbouring Fields (efpe- 
 cially the Sandy) may be rendered fruitful- For 
 thofe Moors or Marlhes contain nothing but that fat- 
 nefs which the Rain-water hath colleded from the 
 neighbouring, high, and fandy grounds, and wafhed 
 down with itfelf into the Valleys, where it concre- 
 teth into Mofs ; whenceof right it Ihould be reflo- 
 red to thofe barren fandy grounds, to fatten them- 
 And by this means it may be brought to pafs, that 
 great fruitfulnefs may be conferred on much defcrc 
 and waile Land, which brings no profit at all to Man- 
 kind- What I fay, is agreeable to the Truth it felf, 
 and perhaps in Procefs of time, will be found raofl 
 true, and come into ufe in very many places. But 
 at this time, thefe things feem to Country-men, meer 
 Dreams, and far exceed the Capacity oftheir maul- 
 ted Brains. But as every fat Marfli is able to fatten 
 the adjacent, barren, high, fandy grounds ; fo the 
 Ocean is the Univerfal Medicine, and nutriment of 
 all high and barren Regions, through which it paf- 
 feth, and by the fait contained in it, bellows upon 
 them fruitfulnefs. [_ Fid. Nat. Salium. ] Whence 
 the incredible Providence of the Divine Goodnefs 
 manifeflly appeareih , for which unceiTant Thanks 
 are to be given to the Almighty by all men, for His 
 Fatherly Care, and great benefits never to beforgot- 
 ten. But how the Sea fait fatteneth, and maketh 
 fruitful fandy-ground, which is deflitute of all fat- 
 nefs.Ihall afterwards be exaftly demonllrated. Here, 
 by the way, in theDefcription of myPrefs, for the 
 prelling of wood, I was willing to mention this thing. 
 How much better therefore is this my Art and In- 
 vention of preferving the juice, and almoll the whole 
 pond/ts or weight of the wood (the unprofitable 
 Phlegm only excepted ) in thattranfmutation, than 
 the invention of reducing it to Pot-aflics ? For any 
 manofUnderftanding may eafily fee. That in that 
 open burning of the wood the noble Sulphur is con- 
 fumed by the Fire, and can be of no benefit. But if 
 the bufinefs may be fo ordered, that the woodlhall 
 burn, and not confume it felf in burning, but be con- 
 verted into a fulphureous Salt, it will be a thing of 
 great moment. He that knowcth how to perform 
 this, hath indeed attained the fcope, and arrived to 
 the defircd end. Although a Coal be deprived of its 
 juice, neverthelefs it retains almoll the fame quanti- 
 ty that the wood had, whereof it was made. One 
 pound of fuch Coals being burnt, fcarce yields an 
 ounce and an half of aflies, which allies afford but a 
 third or fourth part of Salt, fit to be changed into Salt- 
 Petre, or to fatten the Earth. Therefore it is no 
 fmall Art topreferve the Sulphur of the Coals (whofc 
 Virtues are great j and to convert it into fo noble a ' 
 Salt. Bbb2 For 
 
i88 
 
 The Continuation of 
 
 Part I, 
 
 For the add juice of wood being prefTed out, and 
 reduced to fweetnefs , will efFed far more in the I 
 manuring and fattening of Fields, than any one can 
 caUly believe. Hereafter, if I Ihall fee it necelTary, 
 1 niall publifli yet more and greater things ; but Ifliall 
 yet for fome time fufpend the publication of theThird 
 Part of The Ftofpertty^ of Germany, till I fee how 
 things will prove; being affured that my Writings 
 for time to come will be more grateful , than to 
 this prefent Age. 1 will now enter upon the de- 
 fcription and ufe of the Prefs fo often mentioned, for 
 the exprelTrng and again coagulating the juice of 
 Wood- 
 
 Of the Fiffure^ Vfe, andViHity of the Prefs, by whofchelp 
 the Jmce is f lent tf idly frefcd out of Wood , votthoin 
 great labour , fit for the making q/'Salt-Petre. 
 
 The Form or Figure. 
 
 FIrfl:, Let a round Furnace be built with Bricks of 
 the fame form with that in the firft Figure, no- 
 ted with the Letter A. It mufl be like a Glafs- 
 maker's Furnace, large at the bottom , and riling 
 round by degrees to a fmall point at the top , in the 
 top mult be a round hole, opening about a foot broad, 
 by which the Wood may be put into the Furnace. To 
 the hole is to be fitted a Cover or Stopper, made of 
 the fame matter, with the Bricks, and burnt as they 
 are, to fliut up the hole. On one fide of the lower 
 part of the Furnace, is to be a door, by which the 
 Coals may be taken out. On the other fide is to be ^ 
 a little hole, to which an earthen Channel or Pipe j 
 of about three or four cubits long, is to be fitted, in 
 which the fmoak or fume of the wood, forced out by 
 the fire, may be condenfed into an acid juice, and may 
 deftilinto a wooden Vefiel or Barrel, which is to be 
 fitted to the Pipe , to receive the dcftilling acid juice- 
 See the firft Figure noted with f^r^. 13. at the begin- 
 ning ofthisTreatife. 
 
 A is the Furnace or Oven wherein the Wood is char'*d, 
 
 B, The Cover of the Furnace. 
 
 C The Door at which the Coals arc tahcn OAt. 
 
 d' The Canes or Pipes wherein thefap or juice of the 
 Wood is condenfed, and from thence runs into the Re- 
 ceiver. 
 
 E is the Viffcl or Receiver into which the Vinegar cf 
 
 Wood runs. 
 
 All things being prepared in the manner aforefaid, 
 let the Furnace be filled with wood up to the top, and 
 if the wood be not dry enough, intermix with it, in 
 the putting in from the bottom to the top, fome dry 
 Shrubs or Bullies, or fmall Faggot-fticks, by whofe 
 help the wood may be the more eafily kindled- Af- 
 ter the wood is kindled, and burns well, the hole in 
 the top of the Furnace is to be clofe fliut with its 
 Stopper, that there may be no exit for the fmoak, but 
 that it may be forced to defcend and feek its pafiage 
 through the lower hole, by the Channel or Pipe. 
 Therefore when the wood begins to burn, and yet can 
 emit no flame, the heat prelfeth out all the juice, and 
 forceth it into the pipe, in which, from the fmoak, it 
 is changed into an acid Juice or Liquor, which dcftil- 
 lethbythe Pipe into the appointed receiving Barrel- 
 All the wood being turned into Coals, and emitting no 
 more fume, the whole Furnace, wherefcever it may 
 admit the air; and alfo the hole to v\hicb the Pipe 
 
 is fitted, is to be fmeared over with wet afhes, that 
 the Coals in the Furnace being fuffbcated or choaked, 
 may remain entire. The Coals being taken out, 
 may^be put to neceifary ufes, being equal in goodnels 
 to other Charcoal which Colliers make in Woods. 
 NB. I would have this underftood, offuch wood as 
 isof a pretty good thicknefs, and fufters itsfelf to be 
 reduced into Coals; for if you caft into the Furnace 
 Bufiies or fmall Brufiiy wood, to prefs out the juice, 
 you will obtain only a Powder of Coals, which after 
 the juice is prefl'ed out, is to be left in the Furnace 
 open (not fmeared over, as we taught abovej till it 
 pafs intoafiies, which is required for the coagulating 
 the exprelTed juice ; as fhall appear by and by, when 
 we come to fpeak of its coagulation. NB- When 
 you have no occafion for Coals, or cannot fell them, 
 it is necelfary , that letting the Furnace be open, you 
 fuffer them to burn to allies. If this operation be in- 
 ftituted in aplace where there are ftones fittomakc 
 Lime of, it would be worth the while to fill the Fur- 
 nace with a layer of Wood, and another of Stones, 
 from the bottom to the top , which Chymifts call 
 Stratum Juper Stratu/?!-, 2nd after tlie juice is prelled 
 out to open the Furnace, that the wood may be tur- 
 ned into af]ies,by doing of which at the fame time the 
 ftones will be calcined, and changed into Lime, which 
 beingexpofed to the air, ( yet fo that the Rain cannot: 
 come to it) will fall to pieces into a fine powder. To this 
 Powder, being mixed with woodaOies, the acid juice 
 h to be poured, which was prefied out of the wood, 
 tliat thofe two contrary natures may mutually work 
 upon each other, and well unite : in which operation 
 the (harp fpiritofthewood lofeth its Acrimony, and 
 the fixed Salt of the wood and ftones is altered, fo 
 that from both there proceedeth a contrary middle 
 nature, and a fweeter fait i which being long expofed 
 to the air, draweth from thence a Life, and is 
 tranfmuted into the beft Salt-Petre. NB. This mix- 
 ture is fo to be expofed to the air, that lying under a 
 Covering or Roof, and being open on the fides, it may 
 be defended from the Rain, and nevcrthelcfs atlrait 
 the air. If it fiiall be dried by the air, it miift be moi- 
 ftened again with the Urine of Men or Beafts,thatic 
 may never be throughly dry. If thcfe things be 
 rightly performed, you fiiall have plenty of the beft 
 Salt-petre, from this matter, in the fpace of a year 
 and an half, or two years at the moft ; which be- 
 ing cxtracled, purilied, and boiled up, fiiooteth in- 
 to very pure Cryftals. The reft of the matter being 
 again laid in its former place, under the covering oV 
 filed, and being ordered in the fame manner, as be- 
 fore, will in the fpace of two years produce new S?.k= 
 Petre, which may be cxtraded and boiled up as be- 
 fore ; for that mixture ftill remaineth good, provi- 
 ded it be moiftened with Urine when dry, as t\as 
 faid. NB- He that defireth to acquire Salt-petre 
 fooner, after the conjundion of the acid fpirit with 
 the afiies, and the precipitation and mortilication of 
 both, from that conjoined matter, by the pouring cii 
 of water, he may extract and boil up rlie Salt, and 
 then difiolvethe Salt in Urine, and digcft it by Circu- 
 latory Veffels ; by which means he may obtain the 
 beft falt-petre in the fpace of one year. This la- 
 bour of prcfiirg the juice out of Wood, and at the 
 fame time of making Stones into Lime, may beufed 
 in all thofe Cities and Places where wood rmd ftones 
 are plenty. But if this cperation were to be infti^ 
 tuicd in a Weed, there vsould be no need of aFur- 
 i)2ce built withllor.e, feeing that the Pile of Wood 
 might be covered all over with green Turfs, after 
 
 the 
 
'^'.7,±[a/'tcr r.l.TjSS 
 
 C-1^tc-thia-anJ^m Ofctt djj'Mtrcfi rrum Mi kchi^n. jus ntmhf- 
 
 H .SirmJ.du:rjm---n dai-ammji^-h d^r hoUxJimt^ — 
 
 C^nJcnfft- vnd himtus rmt- . 
 KI/l jui f-is Matn der- halt cjjla LaM^- ~s 
 
, , '" Cffiniui tieue mi- -rcv/i ;;;, „ /, ' 
 
 -■i- ijlr iLr jf7n . J r- '" '. ___^__ 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 189 
 
 the fame manner which Colliers ufe in making their 
 Charcoal, only with this difference, that here muft be a 
 hole in the fide, to which the duft or pipe is to be ad- 
 joined. The juice being prelTcd out, the pile or Hack 
 is to be every where well clofed, that the Air may 
 have no palTage, if you would prcferve the Coals. 
 All being cooled, the Coals may be taken out and fold, 
 or put to neceffary ufes, fo that the expreifed juice, 
 which being received in no VelTel) would have va- 
 niflied in fmoke, plainly cods nothing ; but if you do 
 notdefire Coals, let them be burnt into afhes, that 
 they may ferve for the coagulating the fpirit into 
 fait, and afterwards by the help of the air , in a 
 certain fpace of time tranfmute it into good Salt- 
 Petre. 
 
 NB. It is here alfo to be noted, that the exprefTed 
 juice carries along with it a (harp hot Oyl of a dark 
 reddifh colour, which is not to be call away, but is 
 to be poured upon the Afhes together with the acid 
 Spirit, that putrefying with the Salts, it may with 
 the reft put on the nature of Salt-petre. But he that 
 will may apply the fame to other ufes ; forafmuch as 
 it is profitable for other things- Any Wood expo- 
 fed to the Rain, or Handing in the Water, calily rot- 
 ting, being anointed with this Oyl, will be preferved, 
 fo that it will not fo eafily rot, feeing that the water 
 cannot adhere to the Wood, but is forced to Hide off, 
 or is hindered from penetrating the Wood. Carters, 
 
 or Waggoners may ufe the fame inftead of Greafe to 
 their Wheels and Axle-trees, efpecially when it is a 
 little thickened with Suet or Rofin. But the beft ufe 
 of it that I yet know (li you except Salt-petre) is 
 to diffolve and boil it with a fliarp Lixivium made of 
 Lime and Afhes, by which it becometh a very hot 
 and penetrant Soap, procuring fertility ■■, if a poor 
 fandy ground be fprinkled with the fame and moiften= 
 ed : For it rendereth it very fruitful ; which thing it 
 doth not only in Fields, but alfo in Trees and Vines, 
 infomuch, that one Tun of it avails more in the faten- 
 ing of Fields, than ten Cart Loads of Horfe^dung or 
 Cow-dung: And a Hogflicad, or Tun of this Soap 
 may be carried into Fields and Vineyards, far remote, 
 more eafily than ten Loads of Dung, which is carried 
 to Vineyards fituate in Rocky places with great la- 
 bour, and no fmall charge. 
 
 NB. If this Soap be ufed for the fattening of Vines, 
 too much of it is not to be ufed at a time, leaft the 
 Vines grow too fat and luxuriant '■, therefore its mo- 
 derate ufe is required, which needs not that exatt- 
 .nefs in the dunging of Arable Land : Although in 
 that an excefs brings damage, and indeed it is the ex-- 
 cefs of good things that doth harm- A Tree, or 
 Vine being made too fat by dunging, grows luxuriant, 
 and putteth forth more fruit than it can bear and 
 bring to Maturity. The 'A'ood it felf becomes too 
 fat and foft, fo that in the VVinter it is eafily injured 
 by the cold- Whence in all things a Mediocrity ought 
 to be obferved. This Black Soap made of the Oyl of 
 Wood, is truly a very great gift of God, in thofe 
 places where Sand renders the ground barren. Hence 
 the admirable Wifdomofour Creator appeareth, as 
 it were thus fpeaking to us : Te rude^and imskilful men-, 
 whsrefore do yoit leave this pl,ice uncultivated ? BeCMife 
 yon cannot fovo it with any kind of Grain^ I will that it 
 fl)all produce wood^ andajford you, a matter^ with which, 
 if you Will, you may render it fat. For it is fufficiently 
 known, that Animals, and Vegetables rotting, dung 
 the earth, and render it fat ; which thing even the 
 Rufticks have now learned, that they do the fame 
 without putrefying or rocDing) when they cut dowa, 
 
 and burn the Trees and Bufhes, which had grown up 
 in the Fields, during the long time of the War, and 
 fpread the Afhes on the ground, by which it is fatncd. 
 But that they know not how to fave, invert, and ufe 
 with the Afhes for dunging, the acid Spirit, and hot 
 Oyl , which vanifh in the burning, ought to fecm 
 ftrangc to none, feeing that no man hath hitherto de- 
 clared It to them. Neverthelefs, I perfwade my felf 
 that this way of dunging of Land, will come into ufe, 
 inprocefsof time, but I believe not quickly [herein 
 Germany'^ by reafon of that great quantity of grain 
 which every place affordeth in this time of Peace. But 
 if hereafter, a new War Ihould happen (which God 
 avert) and the Fields fhould lie many years untilled, 
 through the want of Men, Horfes, and other neccffa: 
 ries, then I believe, and not before, this neceffary 
 Art will be fought after. 
 
 But what other things the faid juice of Wood is a- 
 bletoeffeft, we cannot here declare, by reafonofouf 
 intended brevity : Yet this I will add, that if this 
 acid Spirit be recftified, it may be ufed in the prepara-- 
 tion of good Medicines, in Mechanick Arts, in the 
 making of many fair Colours, from the e.xtrain;ion of 
 Metals, Minerals, and Stones, and for all things for 
 which common Vinegar is ufed -, yea, far more com- 
 modioufly, becaufe it much exceedeth the common 
 Wine, and Beer Vinegar in fharpnefs- And even ic 
 felf alone is a Medicine which cureth many incurable. 
 Difeafes ; being mixed with warm water, and ufed in 
 a Bath for wafliing the Body, is far more efficacious 
 than thofe Baths which iffue out of the Earth •, efpe- 
 cially in all Scabs, in Members relaxed by the French 
 Palfie, P.rralyfisGallicd {\ fuppofe he means the Ve- 
 nereal Lues] in Fiftulous and ilinking Ulcers in the 
 Legs and other parts of the Body. Alio in the Gout, 
 Stone, Cramp, Sciatica, Palfie, Difeafes of the 
 Womb, and all forts of ficknefs otherwife to be cu- 
 red by the help of Baths, which this Vinegar preffed 
 out of Wood, far exceedeth in Salubrious Ver- 
 tues- 
 
 The fame alfo doth the hot Oyl which is expelled 
 by expreffion with the Spirit, which exerteth won- 
 derful Virtues in curing thofe Ulcers and external af- 
 fedts- For which certainly, as a great gift, and to 
 be eafily found in all places, none of thofe who are 
 burdened with grievous Difeafes, can render fuffici- 
 ent thanks to the Almighty : But efpecially the Poor, 
 who have not Money to buy Phyfick. 
 
 NB. Here alfo it ought to be obferved, that thofe 
 who ufe the Bath tempered with the juice of Wood, 
 fhould before they enter into it drink fome fpoonfuls 
 of this Vinegar. For this Vinegar by penetrating the 
 whole Body, cafteth out all things fuperfluous and 
 noxious to nature by fweat, and openeth all Obftru- 
 (ftions of the Liver, Spleen, and Lungs : And efpe- 
 cially when the Vinegar is elicited from a Wood> or 
 Herb, which is endowed with peculiar Virtues for the 
 eradicating of thofe Difeafes. As for Example : The 
 acid Spirit of the Vine, Beech, Birch, and the like, 
 takethaway theObftrudionsof the Internal Bowels. 
 That of the Oak, and other hard Woods, cureth 
 the Corruption of the Blood, and all Difeafes pro- 
 ceeding thence, as the Po.x, Leprofie, external Ul- 
 cers of all forts, Scabs, Fiflula, and all open Sores. 
 Alfo all Conrradures or Cramps, Falling- ficknefs. 
 Apoplexy, and Palfie- So the Vinegar of Ani,Cherry- 
 tree, Plumb-tree, Sloe, or Bullace-tree, Medlar-tree,' 
 Arbute-tree, and the like Trees, which bear Fruits 
 having Stones or Kernels, cure the Gout, and the 
 Stone of the Reins and Bladder. That of Balfamicfc 
 Ccc Herbs, 
 
190 
 
 The Continuation of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Herbs, as St- 7o'-''''s Wort, Sage, TaHl\ Betony, or 
 Fleuellin, Sanicle, Betony, Lung-wort, Liver-wort, 
 Saxifrage, and other like, taketh away the internal 
 Hurts of the Liver and Lungs, and all inward affedls 
 arifingfrom Blows, Falls, crc So efficacious a Me- 
 dicine is this juice of Wood,that the moll: coftlyGale; 
 nical Compolitions are forced to give it place. In ma-- 
 king the Bath one Pound of the acid Spirit is to be ad- 
 ded to ten pints of water, and this quantity to be aug= 
 mented, ordiminiflied, according to the condition of 
 the Patient and the Difeafe- 
 
 Before the ufe of the Bath, fome drops of the Oyl 
 may be adjoined to the fpoonfulls of Spirit, which fo 
 fortifieth the Spirit, that it more readily penetrateth 
 the body, more forcibly accoftcth the Difeafe, and 
 the fooner expclleth it. In Gouty Pains, and in the 
 ftone of the Kidneys, the fame Oyl being rubbed up- 
 on the part with the Spirit, gives a relief not to be 
 contemned. In brief, this juice of Woods and Herbs, 
 if it be duly prepared and ufed, is able to fliame and 
 confound all the Apothecaries Shops of Galenical Me- 
 dicines, notwithltanding their proud Furniture of 
 Painted and Gilded Glalles and Boxes. 
 
 And I do not doubt but in procefsof time, that 
 Phyficiaps out ofa good Confcience,will explode thofe 
 unprofitable Coftions, and in their room inllitute bet- 
 ter preparations, that God may have his due praife, 
 and the miferies of the fick receive fuccour. 
 
 For although this acid water doth not contain the 
 Virtues of the whole Herb, neverthelefs it is to be 
 reputed and ufed as an efficacious water of Herbs, in 
 Medicine, feeing that that which is ufed in the Shops 
 ^ath very little virtue,as daily experience witnelTeth : 
 It being nothing but the pure Phlegm of the Herb, the 
 chief Virtues and Eflence of the Herb remaining in 
 thefuppofed fosces, although the water hath carried 
 along with it fomething of the Smell and Talle-Look 
 upon any dry Herb, which the heat of the Sun or Air 
 hath deprived of all its Phlegm and Humidity, and 
 fee whether it be alfo deprived of its Smell, Tafte, 
 and Efficacy. And although in length of time it will 
 lofe all its Tafte and Smell, neverthelefs its chief 
 Virtues yet lie hid in it. Yea, although its «m«w 
 bedrawn from it by diftiUation, that an unskilful man 
 would think that there remained no virtue at all in 
 the remaining black Coals of Wood or Herbs, yet the 
 moft efficacious V irtues yet lie hid in the beft Sulphur 
 and Salt. And that great Virtue doth yet remain in 
 the Coals, is not unknown to Rufticks, who in the 
 Winter burn them to warmthemfelves, and boil their 
 food, which thing they could never do by the P hlegm 
 feparated by diftiUation. Thofe black and con- 
 
 efFeft. For when Flies, Spiders, and other like In- 
 fedsin any Parlour or Chamber, to ffiun the cold, be-- 
 takethemfelves to Holes and Chinks, and there lie as 
 it were dead \ the firft heat they perceive by the ma- 
 king of a fire in that room, recover their former life, 
 and again creep out of their hiding places, as upon 
 the Suns approaching us in the Spring- Yea, if in 
 fuch a Room made hot, there had been before repoli- 
 ted great Infedts, as Frogs, Snakes, Lizards, and the 
 like, as alfo Herbs killed by the cold, they would re- 
 vive, recover llrength and grow equally as if they 
 had been illuftratcd by the Rays of the great Ele- 
 mentary Sun. Therefore if this Contemptible Coal, 
 which in the judgment of the unskilful is deprived of 
 all its Juice and Virtue, can perform thefe things ; 
 what a Medicine think you may be prepared by the 
 help of Art of fuch aCoai? 
 
 But fome Putatious Phyfician may here ask •, who 
 can prepare any Medicine from fo dry and infipid a 
 Coal ? It can neither be diflblved by the ftrongefl: 
 Corrofive Liquor, nor by the moft intenfe fire, if no 
 air come to it: of which, if the leaft Portion ftiall 
 touch it, it prefently conceiveth flame, and is confu- 
 med, fo that nothing of it remains but a few affies 
 mixt with a little Salt- And thofe Virtues which re- 
 freffi all things living, and revive the dead, allpe- 
 riffi by Combuftion, and vanilh in fmoak,which could 
 they betaken and preferved,raight doubtlefs afford a 
 Medicine of great moment. Tothislanfwer : where- 
 fore cannot fo great an efficacy be preferved, and u- 
 fed for the making of a good Medicine, before that 
 it vaniffieth by burning,and flieth into the air ? What- 
 foever Philofopher is ignorant of the manner of efle- 
 CliVig this, truly he is a weak Philofopher, whoought 
 to bluffi in that he fetteth him felf before others, and 
 coniemneth them who exceed himfelf in Learning 
 and Science. He that knoweth not how to ufe any 
 palpable and coagulated matter, before it be confu- 
 med by burning, and vaniffieth away, by what means 
 will he elicit the fame out of its Chaos, and con- 
 centrate it ? But that the way of freeing this Noble 
 Sulphur from its Bonds and Keepers, is not known to 
 everyone, is no wonder. For it will not come at e- 
 very call. Of all the Philofophers, there is none who 
 more clearly and openly teacheth by what means it 
 may be delivered from its Bonds, than Sandtvogius^ 
 who exprefly faith, That this Sulphur Iks hid and is 
 held Captive in an obfatre or dark^prtjori^ and kept by 
 very firong keepers. But that Salt only %n the conpQ: or 
 fight, gave him a deadly wound. No Man hath fpoken 
 more clearly than this worthy Author- Therefore 
 he that knoweth not how to extricate that Vital vir- 
 
 temptible Coals are of fo great vertue, that they e-l tue from its bonds, and how to ufe it in Medicine, let 
 
 mulate the powers and properties of the moft Noble 
 Creature the Sun, for which caufe they merit the 
 name of Tcrreftrial Suns. For whatfoever the Aftral 
 and Sydcreal Sun eflfetleth in the fuperiour Firma- 
 ment, the fame doth the Terreftrial Suns, viz.. Coals, 
 which arc its Vicars, alfo eflctt. The fuperiour ren- 
 dcreth all things partakers of Life and Growth, the 
 fame doth alfo the inferiour Suns- In the Wintertime 
 when the Sun is far diftant from us, all the Vegetables 
 of the Earth are as it were dead: In the Spring upon 
 his retmn, all things revive, grow, move, increafe, 
 and are nouriffied. 
 
 Infefts themfelves which have hid themfelves in 
 Holes and Caverns of the Earth to fly from Cold, 
 and have lain as dead, do again come forth into the 
 light. All which cfTes-Tis are produced by the fuperi- 
 our Sun- The fame things alfo the inferiour Sun can 
 
 him read the above cited Sandivngius, who will dear- 
 ly inftrucf him. If he cannot learn of him, there is 
 no reafon why any one ffiould labour to help him. 
 
 1 will propofe the matter by a limilitude ; a Man 
 is compounded of three things, wji, Body,Soal, and 
 Spirit j The Body is vifible, immoveable, grofs, ear- 
 thy, and corruptible : The Spirit is invifible, movable, 
 living, and neverthelefs mortal ^ But the Soul of Man, 
 which is his moft noble part, is immortal. 
 
 In like manner, there is alfo a certain Jnima or Vi- 
 tal Principle in Vegetables and Minerals, although 
 there are few who know how to extradt it. There- 
 fore as in Man the Soul is the moft noble part ; to 
 which the Spirit is inferiour, and the Body the lowelt 
 or vileft ^ fo it is alfo with Vegetables and Minerals. 
 To acquire the Amma or Vital Principle of any Vege- 
 table or Mineral, that fixed and conftant Amma is to 
 
 be 
 
Part 1. 
 
 Miraculum Mmdi, 
 
 191 
 
 be feparated by the help of Art,from the grofs,unpro- 
 fitable, and dead body. For as long as the grofs body 
 adhereth to this noble Principle, lb long it cannot 
 move it felf in a due manner, nor demonftrate its no- 
 bility, but is held Captive by its grofs body, till it be 
 fet at liberty, by fome body who knows how to dif- 
 folve its bonds- Being freed from its bonds, and the 
 grofs body laid afide, it can prefently exert its power. 
 Therefore let this be the principal care of Phylicians, 
 that inftead of a body dead, and deftitute of Virtue, 
 they labour to attain the fixed and living ^'«w<* of 
 Vegetables, that ufing that in the cure of difeafes they 
 jnay perform far greater things than now they do. 
 
 1 have here inferted this difcourfe, only for this 
 caure,that I might fhew that a whole or intire body is 
 of very little moment, and that that thing whereby 
 any Good is to be efFeded in Medicine, is to be found 
 only in the moft noble part, to wit, the y^«/;«.z. 
 
 And even, as in Minerals, befidcs a fixed and income 
 buftible Sulphur, there is alfo found another, combu- 
 ftible and fugacious : fo alfo there is found a twofold 
 Sulphur in Vegetables, in the dellilling of which, by a 
 Retort, an Oil is expelled, together with the acid Spi- 
 rit and Phlegm, which indeed hath its virtues, but can 
 in no wife perform thofe things which that part re- 
 maining in the black Coals is wont to efFetft. For by 
 how much a Medicine fliall be more fixed and conftant, 
 by fo much the more do they enter and encounter long 
 and fixed difeafes ; Fo on the contrary, fugacious me- 
 dicines are found leFs efficacious in eradicating the 
 fame. 
 
 What I have faid concerning Vegetables, 'viz. That 
 there is in them a volatile and fugacious fpirit, and a 
 conftant fixed A>nma ; the fame is alfo to be under- 
 ftood of Minerals, which befides a combuftible Sul- 
 phur, pofiefs alfo a fixed and conftant A'lima. 
 
 But whoFoever knoweth how to conjoin the Anima 
 of Vegetables with the Anma of Minerals , hath ob- 
 tained a Medicine which is able, after a wonderful 
 manner, to corroborate the Vital Spirit in Man. For 
 the Ammx. of Vegetables and Minerals, are the Rays 
 of the Sun coagulated, which necelFarily contain a vi= 
 vifying or enlivening power. Feeing that the fun ma- 
 keth all things partakers of Life- 
 Andaman, if he only beholds the Fun, or its Vicar 
 the fire, the earthly Fun, although he be in Fome very 
 deep and cold place under ground, where he cannot 
 feel its warming and enlivening powers yet he fhall 
 perceive his Heart to be recreated and ftrengthened 
 by the bare aFpedt of it : But how much greater a re- 
 creation and corroboration would he perceive, if he 
 fhould take the Anuna of Wine, or of Fome other Herb 
 conjoined with the AmniA of Gold, for the curing of 
 his body, with both which it hath a great familiarity j 
 for like rejoiceth in like, and defireth to be joined to 
 it : And therefore it ought to Feem ftrange to no man, 
 that I alFert, the hmmdmn radicalc of the humane body 
 may be augmented by the ^»'Wtf of Vegetables and of 
 Gold : For the Anima oF Vegetables is nothing elFe 
 but an cflential univerFal Fait, which is found in all 
 things. 
 
 Seeing therefore that Philofophers confeFs, that 
 the redneFs of gold and whitencFs of filver may be 
 encreafed by its own univerFal Fait, it is reafonable for 
 us to acquiefs in the Fame opinion, and to maintain it 
 againft thofe that erre. A vifible and palpable de- 
 monftration is to be credited. NevertheleFs I eafily 
 perfwade my Felf, that this difcourfe of mine will not 
 be credited by many, which I canjiot help. It conten- 
 teth me, that I have written the Truth, and lighted a 
 Candle to my Neighbour. 
 
 After one and the Fame manner, of Wood of lit- 
 tle or no worth, I have Ihewed the making oi Salt-, 
 petre . for Souldkrs^ Gardeners, yimners^ and Hnsband- 
 'w», fit for the dunging of Orchards, Vineyards, 
 Fields, and Meadows ; of commodious Baths, for the 
 Sick ; of a good Vinegar for Chymifts and Apothe- 
 caries, necellary for many cxtradions. It now re- 
 mains, that I alFo offer a Gift to the Owners of Me- 
 tallick Mines. If they fliall humeft or moiften the 
 Citlx vivtt or Lime madeof ftones,ir. the preFs, as wc 
 have taught, with the Acctitm or Vinegar of Wood, 
 they fliall obtain a cheap Flux, by which thofe hard 
 and untradable ftones digged out of metallick Veins, 
 may eafily be melted ; for the acid Fpirit of Wood is 
 fixed by tiie Lime, and converted into a Fait, caufing 
 an eafic Flux. NevertheleFs, this fait will be of grea- 
 ter profit to Husband-men, for the dunging and fat- 
 tening their Fields ( for whofe Fake I alfo deFcribeit) 
 than in the melting of Mineral bodies. Phyficians 
 may ufe the noble and eflicacious juice of Wood, for 
 the happy cure of many incurable diFeaFes, and to 
 their own honour and profit. This Vinegar of Wood 
 being expoFed in Hogfiieads to the cold in Winter, 
 that it may be frozen to Ice, the Phlegm only freezeth, 
 but the fharp Fpirit, with the Oil, is not turned into 
 Ice, but remaineth in the middle of the Hogfiiead Fo 
 fharp, that it corrodeth metals like A^na-fortts. if 
 Princes and Great men would be pleaFed to take care 
 that the Wood in their Dominions fothervviFe rotting 
 in the Woods) imghthQtmntd into Sah-Pttrc^ they 
 would do well, and it would not repent them of 
 their labour. Feeing there is a time at hand, in which 
 Satt'Pttre will be much wanted. 
 
 There is yet another Fecret, which for the Fake of 
 Country-men I ought to difcover, which will yield 
 them no Fmall profit ; which is this : If Hop-poles be 
 burnt at the ends which are to go into the Earth, and 
 thoFe burnt ends dipt in the Oil of Wood, that they 
 may imbibe or Fuck in that fatneFs , and afterwards 
 Fet into the earth, they admit no humidity or moifture, 
 which otherwife they are wont to do, being every 
 year diminifiied in that part which ftandeth in the 
 earth. It alFo cometh to pafs, that they communicate 
 their fatneFs to the vines and ftalks of the Hops to 
 which they are joined, and render them more fat and 
 Fruitful, by this means affording a twofold profit, firft 
 in pfeferving the Hop-poles from rotting a longer 
 time than they are wont to laft. The other is. That 
 the Roots of the Vines and Hops, drawing fatneFs and 
 nourifhment From the bottoms of the poles grow the 
 fafter, and are more fruitful. Moreover, thofe ends 
 of the poles, in length of time growing rotten, yet 
 there is bo loFs of the Oil, butftill the Fame profit re= 
 maineth, Feeing that thoFe rotten ends of the poles 
 being ta'Ken up and planted agam in the earth with 
 the Roots of Hops, they will afford them nourifhment 
 for Fome years, better than if they had been dunged 
 with dung. In like manner, by the help of this Oil 
 of Wood, ftrong and durable quick-hedges may be 
 made for the fencing inof Vineyards.Orchards, Gar- 
 dens, and Hop-yards, by which Beafts and Thieves 
 may be kept out- For this purpofe the fiiarp end of 
 theftakesfit for the Hedges, are to be put into the 
 Fire till they grow black, and then whilft they are hot, 
 be dipped into the Oil, that they may well imbibe the 
 Fame- 
 
 With theFe, being drove into the ground after the 
 uFual manner, an Hedge may be made by planting a 
 young fhoot or Fet of Thorn, Crab-tree, Gtc. all along 
 between the Stakes. Thofe fets or Fprigs, which 
 
 C c c 2 other- 
 
192 
 
 The Continuation of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 otherwife, growing but flowly, are many years before 
 they come to a requifite height and thicknefs, their 
 roots now obtaining fatnefs and nourifhment from 
 this Oil, arrive to maturity in lefsthan half the ufual 
 time, and become a thick and ftrong Quick-hedge be- 
 fore the Stakes are rotten. Moreover, there is no 
 danger of wild Beafts coming into thofe places where 
 the Hedge Hakes are imbrewed with this Oil, feeing 
 that wild Beafts fliun all ftrong odours, and dare not 
 approach them. If you fliall imbibe Hempen-Cords, 
 or fuchasaremade of the Bark of Trees twifted to= 
 getherwithGrafs, with the faid Oil, and then bind 
 them about Fruit-trees, it will hinder the creeping 
 up of Spiders, Ants, or Pifmires, Palmer or Canker- 
 Worms, and other the like Infeds, which are wont 
 to damnifie Fruit ; inafmuch as thofe Infefts plainly 
 abhor fuch hot Oils. By this means alfo may Rats and 
 Mice be hindered from creeping up Hovel-pofis^afid devoit- 
 rlnir the Grain. 
 
 There is yet another manner of promoting the dun-- 
 glngof Fields, and the happy growth of Seeds, and 
 not only thofe Fields which are lean and fandy, to 
 which Cow-dung may beufed, but alfo thofe which 
 are hard and craggy, in which neither fand nor any 
 duft of Earth is found. 
 
 But in making manifeft this Artifice to the whole 
 World, my intention is not that the World fhould 
 thereby be inriched with great profit, as I have en^ 
 deavoured by defcribing the manner of Dunging poor 
 Sandy Land, by the acid juice of Wood. My Scope 
 or end is only this, That every man may fee and con^ 
 iider how many wonderful things may be effedcd with 
 wood and fiirubs, which are every where found in 
 great quantity, and neverthelefs are of no ufe or 
 profit- 
 
 Who would credit any man, affirming, that it 
 might be efFeded, that not only Grain, but all forts 
 of Trees, and excellent Vines fliould grow in any hard 
 and naked Rock, without the addition of any Earth 
 or Dung ? Truly, I believe that there is no man in 
 the World, to whom this will feem likely. This 
 will more amaze Fnrnner-, with his whole Crew, than 
 my Miracnlnm Mimdi did. Yet becaufe the thing 
 may be done, I cannot forbear to divulge the Artifice, 
 only to this end, that I may fubjecft the Divine Won- 
 ders to the eyes of the blinded World. But yet it 
 cannot be , but that it will be profitable in many 
 places, in thofe efpecially which lie near Rivers, and 
 afford Wine ; fuch are thofe which lie upon the 
 Mane., Mofell^ Necker-, Rhine, Danube, and other the 
 like Rivers, where great and craggy Mountains fre- 
 quently occurr ; in which having the heat of the 
 Sun al! the day, Vines might be commodioufly plan- 
 ted, if Earth and Dung could be carried thither. 
 Certainly Vines grow no where better than in Rocks 
 and Craggs, into whofe clefts and cracks they infi- 
 nuate their roots, that they may thence attrad to 
 themfelves nourifhment, which few other Plants are 
 wont to do : And becaufe for the moft part much 
 Wood grows about fuch Rocks, it would be worth 
 while to prefsout its juice, by which the hardjRocks 
 might be reduced into a foft Duft, fit for the Re- 
 ception of Vines, which might be performed by this 
 operation-, which neverthelefs would not be necella- 
 ry to undertake, but for the manifeftingofthe won- 
 ders of God to the unskilful, and fiicwing that fuch 
 things may be done- If any defaeth to plant in a 
 place of this fort, in which Vines or Trees growing 
 freely in rocky and ftony places? as Cherry-trees, 
 
 Plumb-trees, Service-trees, and others, bearing Fruits 
 which have Stones ; at the beginning, a little hole is 
 to be cut in the Rock by the help of Mafons Tools, 
 which is to be filled with the Vinegar of Wood 5 
 which being done, the hole is to be covered to keep off" 
 the Rain. After fome dales , let him fee whether 
 the Vinegar hath infinuated it felf into the Rock, and 
 again fill up the hole with frefir Vinegar, and cover it 
 with a Stone, as before. And this Labour is to be 
 repeated in the Summer time fo often, till the Rock 
 hath drunk up much Vinegar, and be thereby fo foft- 
 ned for the fpace of an Ell in length, breadth, and 
 depth, that it may be eafily dug up with a fharp In- 
 ftrument, and become a great hole ; the matter dig- 
 ged out is again to be caft into the hole, and to be 
 again filled with the Vinegar of Wood, and covered 
 with ftones, and fo left till all the matter grows fo 
 foft, that it may be crumbled to pieces with the fin- 
 gers. And in the y^Htiimn, when Trees have loft 
 their Leaves, or in the Spring, before the Leaves 
 come forth, viz.. in the Month of M.irch., Vines or 
 Trees are to be planted in the matter contained in 
 the hole, and the matter to be trampled dofe down 
 about their Roots, then all to be wetted by the 
 pouring on of Water, and the event to be commit- 
 ted to God. So the Vines or Trees grow as well 
 as if they had been planted in other manured ground. 
 Thereafon is this ; Becaufe the Rocks conlifting noc 
 of Sand, but of ftones, fit for the making of Lime» 
 do contain much Salt-Petre, as alfo the acid juice 
 of Wood, partaketh of the fame nature, this, by 
 corroding the Rock, dillblveth the SJt-Petre in the 
 ftone, and fetteth it free, and at the fame time lofeth 
 its own corrofive Acrimony, fo that it cannot hurt 
 the Roots of Vegetables, but is like to Cow-dung or 
 rather better , for' it fatteneth and nourifhcth the 
 Roots better- Therefore a Tree or Vine planted 
 after this manner in a Rock, if it Ihall once puc 
 forth , afterwards dieth not, but the Roots infinua- 
 ting themfelves into the Clefts of the Rock , feek 
 their own nourifhment. Neverthelefs every Winter 
 when the Leaves are fallen off, fome of that acid juice 
 is to be poured to the Trunk of the Tree or Vine, 
 that during the Winter, it may again foften fome 
 Portion of the ftone, which will afford new matter 
 of nourifhment to the Roots. And by thus afFufing 
 of frefli juice every year, there will be no need 
 of Earth or Dung , feeing that the Stone is 
 changed into earth and dung by the juice of the 
 wood. 
 
 Although this Jrcanitm will feem a thing impoffible 
 to many, yet it is moft true, of which, if any will 
 make trial, he may eafily do it in this manner : 
 Let him get a ftone which doth not confiftof fand, 
 butof fuch of which Lime is made, which being ex^ 
 pofed to the Sun, let him pour upon it the acid Li- 
 quor of Wood i which when the ftone ffiall have well 
 imbibed or drank in, let him pour on more, and re- 
 peat this labour fo often, till the ftone be rendered 
 fo foft, as it may be rubbed to powder between the 
 fingers. In this matter, rubbed or ground fmall, let 
 him fow any Seed, which will fprout forth thence, 
 as if it had been fowed in any good earth : The 
 reafon we have already declared, viz.. becaufe the 
 ftone is converted into earth, having its own Sdt^ 
 Pare, or proper Dung in it felf, and moreover, chan- 
 ging the juice of wood into Salt-Petre. He who 
 rightly underftandeth and followeth my Dodrine, 
 and ITiiall fct about the Work with diligence , will 
 
 v\ ith- 
 
Part 1. 
 
 Miraculum Mnndi, 
 
 without doubt attain his end. But if he tries with 
 a Sandy ftone, he will effed nothing. For ftones of 
 thisfortwantanourifhingSalt, and they wholly re- 
 fufe folution by the Liquor of Wood, .fo far are they 
 from imbibing, coagulating, and changing it into a 
 DungySalt. But after the following manner any 
 onemay prove, that natural Salt-Petre maybe made 
 of che Itones of which Lime is made, and the juice of 
 Wood. Let him take fome pieces of this fort of 
 Lime-llone, not yet burnt (for when burnt, it is much 
 more facile, as I have taught) and immerge or dip 
 them all over in the Vinegar of Wood, and dry them 
 in the heat of the Sun, or fome other warm place, and 
 lei him repeat this labour fo often until they be fo foft 
 that they may be rubbed or ground to pieces like 
 Earth. From this ground matter ^xtrad the Salt 
 with Rain-water, which will be plainly like to Salt- 
 petre. So of the Stone is made Earth •, of the Salt ot 
 ihat Stone, and the Vinegar of Wood, Salt-Petre; or 
 a fait equally ferving with the Dung of Cows or Sheep, 
 for the dunging of all Vegetables- 
 
 Neverthelefs we have not written thele things to 
 that end, as if it were necelTary to plant Rocks with 
 Vines by the help of the Vinegar of Wood. Our 
 purpofe is only to fet forth how the great efficacy of 
 the juice of Wood may be known,and how by its help, 
 fertility may be procured even to the hardeft Rocks, 
 which being hitherto unknown and unheard of, my 
 diligent fearch and enquiry hath now broughtto light. 
 Let it not feem abfurd to any, that I afcribe fo great 
 power to theVinegar of Wood i fcJrcommon Vinegar 
 doth the fame thing in foftening of hard Rocks : Why 
 then fhould not this acid juice of Wood do it, which 
 far exceeds the common in Itrength and fliarpnefs ? 
 It isfaid, that ^'^i^w'^'t/ made a palfage through the 
 ■y^lfs, for hirafelf and his Army, foftening the Rocks 
 by the benefit of Vinegar ; what Vinegar that was, 
 Hiftories do not mention- Perhaps it was the Vine- 
 gar of Wine , but if he had had the Vinegar of Wood, 
 he might fooner have attained his dedre. 
 
 This Arcanum.) without doubt, will give occafionof 
 finding out many other profitable things, by the help 
 of this Vinegar. 1 have opened the way, let another 
 come, who by fearching further may enlarge it, that 
 thereby fome perfeftion may the fooner be acquired. 
 There are many things lie hidden in Nature, which 
 through our floth and negligence not being fought 
 after, yield no profit to Mankind- But I doubt not 
 but time will produce fedulous men, who will make 
 a further progrefs in this Vinegar, fothat much pro= 
 fit may redound from it. 
 
 There is found another kind of ftones, which for 
 the mod part is ufed for the building of Houfes, 
 which being foft, is eafily cut, fo that fteps or Hairs, 
 and Window-frames arc made of it. It is to be re- 
 duced by the help of Fire into a Calx of a white, afhy, 
 and reddifli colour \ it alfo refufeth to be melted ; 
 nor is it like to Sandy ftones, but is Partaker of both 
 natures, and contains much Salt-Petre. But neither 
 by its rcduftion into a Calx, nor by the pouring on 
 of water, can it be extorted from them, except it be 
 firft prepared after a fingular manner, for then it 
 yields to water ; concerning which thing I have writ- 
 ten a peculiar Treatife, which God willing ihall ftiort- 
 ly come forth. There are whole Mountains of this 
 fort of ftone, containing a great Treafure of Salt- 
 petre, which hath hitherto been known to none- 
 
 Thefefew things I was willing to offer to Coun- 
 try-men, concerning the prelllng of wood, and the 
 
 _^ ^9} 
 
 ' utility thereof. The Circulatory VelTels in which the 
 juice of the wood, and all the falts of the Air are ani-- 
 mated by an uncellant motion, and converted into 
 Salt-Petre, I will not divulge at this time, but referve 
 them for my felf and my Friends. C ^/"Je^e dc- 
 fcrihcd m tU Third Part of The Profperity of Ccr'. 
 many, T 
 
 In the mean time this excellent Art will Hot flecp, 
 but will be exercifed in many places- Now whofo- 
 cver Ihall need the fame, he will know what is to 
 be done. For I have determined to beftow the fame 
 for the good of my Neighbour, left it fhould be buried 
 with me in oblivion- 
 
 1 have alfo an Artificial Invention ( Ww/j ista:i;ht 
 If! The Profpuity of Germany ) of turning commonfalc 
 in the fpace of a few hovrs, fo that it ftiall be plainly 
 like Salt-Petre, for the enriching of poor,lean fields; 
 and yet an hundred weight of it will fcarcc coft a Do/: 
 Icr (which is about 4/. 6 d.) Which is indeed a lin- 
 gular Gift of God inthefe laft times, which will be 
 highly profitable both to the Rich and Poor, in all 
 places of the World. For if the Culture of Wine and 
 Corn fliall every where become better, and more pro- 
 fitable, by the help of this Art, it cannot be, but thac 
 all men will receive profit, and obtain a more com- 
 modious way of living. 
 
 For by this Art, not only all Fields, whether they 
 have lately brought forth Fruit, or whether they have 
 lain fallow, and for fome time brought forth nothing, 
 are brought to that condition, that they may beat- 
 Fruit every year : but alfo barren places,which would 
 never bring forth any Fruit , are rendered fertile, 
 and fit to bear Fruit ; fo that no place can be found in 
 the world, how barren foever it be, which by this me- 
 dium may not be rendered fertile. Moreover, this 
 Art is to be greatly efteemed, becaufe by it ground 
 may be fattened in thofe places where no Cattel are 
 found, and therefore afford no dung ; feeing that hi- 
 therto no other than the ordinary way of dunging 
 hath been known- 
 
 So alfo in places far remote from the Dwellings of 
 men, to which Dung cannot be carried, this Art may 
 be exercifed with great profit •, efpecially when Dung 
 is difficult to be procured, or cofts dear, and is not 
 carried to thofe remote places without great charge, 
 forvvhich reafon they cannot be tilled, but are forced 
 to lie uncultivated- 
 Seeing that one Hogffiead of ray fattening Salt can 
 effeft more than fome Cart-loads of coipmon Dung: 
 Neverthelefs this is to be noted. That when any Field 
 dunged with the faid fait, is to be fowed with Corn, 
 the feed is firft to be macerated or ftecped for one 
 night in water, in which that fait is dillblved. For 
 being fo prepared, it will grow fafter than if it had 
 been committed to l;he Earth, without any foregoing 
 maceration. 
 
 Confider, when the Souldiers have taken away th» 
 Horfes and Carts, carried away the Oxen, devoured 
 the Cows and Sheep, and wafted the whole Country, 
 by what means fhall the wafted Fields be dunged 
 and reftored to the Husband-man, that returning to 
 their former fruitfulnefs, he may reap from them the 
 expeded Fruit- 
 Indeed, in time of Peace, when Horfes and Oxen 
 abound both for the ploughing of the ground, and 
 making of Dung, Dung is alwaies of worth, there 
 never being too much of it, and therefore this my 
 Invention may bring not a little profit- Whence 
 it may be of a far greater advantage in thofe pla- 
 
 Ddd ;.esj' 
 
194 
 
 The Continuation of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ces, where (bv the Divine permiflion) thofe Lo: 
 cufts have eaten up all things. Ought we not then 
 to receive fo excellent a Gift of God with all Thank- 
 
 fulnefs ? 
 
 The Omnipotent COD give to us all His Grace^ that 
 roe may P>i(» <^li temforcl and carnal Security , as the 
 deceitful fnare of the Devil, and feel^after that which 
 is eternal J confiant^ and perpetual. Amen- 
 
 Arcanum II. 
 
 SeimaGlftprelcntedto rich Afercha»ts, &:c- that they 
 rmy improve their Mvne:y and Elates without V-. 
 fury. 
 
 A- 
 
 Lthough I had determined to treat of this ^r- 
 ^_^ canum, with other excellent ufes of S^/r-i'ff re in 
 theemendatioi. of Metals, in the Third Part of The 
 Frofptrity 0/ Germany ; yet for certain reafons 1 have 
 deferred the publifhing of that Book for fome time j 
 but conlidering my profitable Inventions of making 
 Salt-Pctre, and not doubting but that there will be 
 found men who will ^^MtSdt-Petre to better ufesthan 
 that of making Gun- powder, I could not forbear 
 here to defcribe one good and profitable ufe of 
 the faid fait in the emendation of Metals,which is free 
 for any boldly to experience, feeing that I have 
 written the very Truth. He that fhall follow the 
 fence of my words, and hath fome skill in metal- 
 lick Labours, will not lofe his pains, but will thence 
 reap no contemptible profit. But if any man would 
 ' perfwade himfelf that fuch a work is to be done with-- 
 out labourand trouble, and great Ma fles of Gold to 
 be obtained with idlenefs, he will be greatly decei- 
 ved, not conlidering that this requires his putting 
 his hand to the plough, and ufing great diligence. 
 I have defcribed the following Operation openly 
 ' and clearly ; affirming , that it will fucceed to the 
 Operator, according to my defcription. If any 
 fliall erre in the performance, let him blame him- 
 felf and his own ignorance, and not me- For in this 
 procefs all things are plain, and to be underftood ac- 
 cording to the Letter, and may alfo be performed 
 by an eafie imitation. 
 
 the manner of the Operation. 
 
 R. of Copper one part, of Gold or Silver two parts, 
 nnd oi RegnlnsMartis three parts, all which melt to= 
 gether in a good and welhcovered Crucible, taking 
 great heed that no Goals fall into the Crucible and 
 irrupt the Work. All being melted, and the cover 
 taken off, yet warily that no Coals fall into the Cru= 
 cible, caft in as much Salt-fetre, well dried and pow- 
 dered, as there is of Copper and Regttlits in the 
 Crucible, to the melted matter, and again cover the 
 Crucible, with the fame caution about the Coals,wbich 
 fo put about the Crucible, that they may not lie upon 
 its Cover, but it may be at liberty, to be commodi- 
 oufly lifted up with the Tongs for the infpedingthe 
 Mafs in the Crucible- For if the Fire fliould be too 
 great, the Salt-petre would boil over the Crucible, 
 and inferr lofs. And this may eafily happen, feeing 
 that the Srt/f -Pare entring and working upon the Re. 
 otthts and Copper, fwelkth and rifeth up- Where- 
 
 fore it is necelTary, that this Work Ihould be done 
 in foch a Furnace, as 1 have defcribed in the Fourth 
 Part of my Furnaces, having its doors , by which the 
 Fire may be governed, and rendered ftronger or 
 weaker. 
 
 After that the Salt-.Petre hath imbibed the Regulas 
 and Copper, and turned them into a reddilh Scoriay 
 which is wont to be done in the fpace of a quarter or 
 half an hour, the lower door being opened, the upper 
 one muft be fliut, that the Fire becoming ftronger, 
 may melt the Scona, till they flow like water ; which 
 when you fee, by lifting up the Cover a little, re- 
 move the Coals about the upper part of the Crucible) 
 and take off the Cover, and having taken good 
 hold of the Crucible with your Tongs, lift ic 
 out of the furnace, and pour out the melted 
 matter into a melting Cup or Cone, t ^'"^ ^ °"^ " 
 dejcribed by its Figure tn the Fourth Part of Furnaces."]^ 
 being firft heat, and well fmeared within with Wax ; 
 in the bottom of which, when cold, there will be a 
 Regains of pure Gold, which being freed from the 
 Scoria, will be fo much encreafed in weight, as it 
 hath attrafted from the Copper and Regidus Martis^ 
 which will be the fiftieth part of the weight of the 
 Gold- 
 
 The red Scoria, which have a fiery tafte upon the 
 Tongue, contain the Salt=Petre, Copper, and Regulus 
 reduced into a Scoria; which if you would feparate 
 from the Salt-petre,as foon as you have parted it from 
 the Reguhts-, put it again into the Crucible in the Fur- 
 nace, put a Coal te it in the Crucible, which being 
 well covered, let it again flow well for a quarter of an 
 hour. In this Operation, the Coal or Coals put to 
 the Metals, vtz.. the Copper and ^f|«/w of Antimo- 
 ny, will feparate them by precipitation from the Salt- 
 petre, fo that they will become a Regidus together, and 
 the fixed Salt-Petre will be feparated, and reft upon 
 t.\\Q Regulus^ from which being cooled, it may be re- 
 moved by knocking it off. If the operation be rightly 
 performed, you will recover almoft all the Regulus 
 and Copper: but little alfo of the Salt-Petre is loft, 
 which hath now put on another nature, becomes fixt> 
 and anfwcreth in virtue to the fait of Tartar. 
 NB. Becaufe thofe Scoria cannot be fo perfedly re- 
 moved from the Salt-Petre by the Coals, but it ftill 
 retainethfomewhat of the Copper and .^f^«/w, which 
 the Coals could not precipitate ; they may be kept in 
 fome warm place, left they be diflblved by the air, 
 till you have a quantity of them ■■, which being redu- 
 ced by burning Coals, may yield their Metal. Of 
 which more fliall be faid anon. 
 
 This Labour, although it fquares not with the ca= 
 pacity of the rude and unskilful, neverthelefs it is 
 eafie to be done by thofe who have any knowledge in 
 the melting of Metals. But all the manners of opera* 
 ting cannot be fo accurately delivered, that every 
 unskilful man fliould prefently be rendered capable 
 of underftanding them ; I write the Truth openly, 
 and he that well underftandeth me, may rejoice with 
 profit. I write not to unskilful Tiro's, but only to 
 thofe who know how to handle Metals in the Fire. 
 It may be here asked. Whether this augmentation of 
 the Gold , arifeth from the Copper, or from the 
 Regulus of Antimony .■' I anfwer, from both, but 
 more from the Copper than from the Regulus. For 
 there is no Copper or Antimony found, from which 
 Gold is not elicited after the aforefaid manner, feeing 
 that there is in both an invifible and fpiritual Gold, 
 neverthelefs one containeth more than another; and 
 
 being 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mundt. 
 
 ^95 
 
 being melted with Gold, give it forth to the fame, 
 which alfo attradleth it. Therefore as often as 
 Copper, and Regulus of Antimony, and Salt-petre 
 Ihall be melted together with Gold, lb often will the 
 Gold receive an encreafc i fo that this Labour being 
 repeated eight or ten limes every day, there will be 
 an augmentation of the Gold not to be contemned, 
 for befides all the Cofl:, it will afford the daily Gain of 
 one Floren out of an hundred. ( ^ Floren is 2 s. m 
 Germany, about two and twenty pence value in our Mo- 
 ney. ) This is certainly a profit to thofe who will put 
 their Money to Ufury, much more honourable and 
 fafethan their trufting it in the hands of others. 
 
 But feeing that this Labour is to be performed in 
 Crucibles, Tand that too in large ones, if the gain 
 afortftidbe expefted ) it doth not want its trouble 
 and difficulties •, for if a man will ufe great Crucibles, 
 hecan hardly perform the Operation above three or 
 four times in a day ; and if he ufe fmall ones, although 
 it be ten or eleven times repeated in a day, yet the pro= 
 fit will be very fmall. I will therefore here appoint 
 a way to do it without Crucibles, upon Hearths in- 
 ftead of Crucibles, which neither let out the melted 
 matter by running over, or by their cracking or 
 breaking, as Crucibles are vvont to do, but alwaies re- 
 maining in the Oven or Furnace, fave the trouble of 
 putting in and taking out of the Fire. For Cruci- 
 bles, how good foever they be, being expofed to the 
 cold .'\ir, by taking out, and thence being fuddenly 
 again put into a great heat, are very eafily broken. 
 From whence it is manifeft, that great danger of lo- 
 iingfomeofthe Gold attends the ufe of great Cru- 
 cibles, fo that their ufe is to be abitained from, altho' 
 the Work it felf be of great profit • But good ftrong 
 Hearths may be ufed for this Labour, without all 
 danger ; for as long as they are left in the Furnace, 
 fo long they are good, and the melted Mafs doth not 
 flow out- If I had not found out this way of working 
 with Hearths, I Ihould not have divulged this opera- 
 tion, which is as followeth. 
 
 The manner of preparing the Hearths or Tefls. 
 
 AN Iron Ring or Hoop is to be made , either 
 fquare or round, of the thicknefs of one fin- 
 ger, and four fingers high ( or deep ) one fide be- 
 ing a little narrower or leder in compafs than the 
 otherj being well fmoothed or poIiOied on its infide, 
 having two ears or handles, whofe magnitude and 
 fpace vyill be known by the quantity of the matter 
 which is to be daily handled. To prepare the Focus 
 or Hearth, place your Ring or Hoop upon fome 
 fmooth ftone, and then put into it, fo ftanding, your 
 Earth, being firft rightly prepared, {for tins pnrpofe 
 visr StsfYord-MvQ Clay IS cxullsm^asalfofor making of 
 Crucibles to abide the ftrc) fo that it may a ifttle ex- 
 ceed the upper fuperficies of your Hoop, force it down 
 ftrongly with a broad Iron Hammer, by beating or 
 knocking it in, and what rifeth above the top of the 
 Hoop, cutoft'withaKnife, that it may be even with 
 the Ring ■, then remove it with the Ring, and ftrew 
 upon the itone fome fine fand, or rather the fine pow- 
 der of broken Crucibles, upon which fet the Ring, 
 with the bottom upwards, that the other fide, which 
 before lay upon the ftone, may be wrought in with 
 the Hammer, as the firft, fo that the Ring or Mould 
 may be exaiflly filled with the Earth. The Focus or 
 Hearth being prepared in this manner, the larger fide 
 thereof is to be fo excavated or hollowed away by a 
 
 bowed or crooked Knife, having two handles, fothac 
 the rotundity declining from the Superfices of the 
 Ring, even to its middle, where inclining it felf, it 
 may keep the thicknefs almoftof a finger at the top 
 or fuperficities of the Ring, and fo it will become like 
 a VelTel or Pan, having a round or fphcrical Cavity, 
 fuch Hearths or Tefts are wont to be prepared of 
 Allies, for the bringingof Gold and Silver to a pu- 
 rity in Metallick Mines, Mints, &-c. at length that 
 hollowed roundncfs is every where to be fmoothed 
 with a fmooth and round Hammer or Mallet, and af- 
 ter the fmoothing, the whole Teft being inverted 
 with the Hoop, is to be fet upon a Board, without 
 ftirring it ; if the infide of the Hoop or Ring were be- 
 fore befmeared well withOil,itwill the eafier come off 
 of the Teft,which being expofed to the Air,and dried 
 a little, is then to be fet in the heat of the Sun or 
 warm Furnace, that all the humidity being taken 
 away, it may obtain its requifite drynefs, before it be 
 put into the Furnace to endure the Fire ; for e.xcept 
 it be very well dried, it will crack or chap in the Fur- 
 nace, and be wholly unprofitable for this Work- 
 
 The Teft being taken out of the Ring, and fet by, 
 the infide of the Ring is again to be anointed with 
 OilorGreafe, for the making of another Teft, of 
 which fo many are to be made as need requires, or'the 
 quantity of the prepared Earth will allow- The earth 
 that was left in the hollowing of the firft being mixed 
 with the reft, whilft it is yet moift, ferveth again, fo 
 that there is no wafte or lofs of the Earth. The 
 fame earth alfo ferves for the making of the Co- 
 vers or arched Roofs with which the Tefts are to be 
 covered, to keep the Coals from falling into the 
 melted matter- NB. There is no need of having 
 two Hammers, feeing that one fufficeth, having one 
 end of a hands breadth, and fmooth, and the other 
 end round. 
 
 77;^? way of making the Covers oftheTefis^ which 
 are called Muffles. 
 
 Firft, a Type or Mold is to be made of Wood, an- 
 fwering to the bignefs of the Teft, but not with 
 one Handle, as thofe are made for the purifying of fil- 
 ver, but with two oblong Necks, and without Chaps 
 or Chinks, which otherwife are wont to happen, that 
 fo the Cover may remain entire- Then to this wood- 
 en Mould the Earth is to be applied, and the Cover 
 to be wrought in the ufual manner. 
 
 Of the Figure of the Furnace. 
 
 THE Furnace is fo to be built, that it may have 
 within-fide the fpace of an hands breadth all 
 round the Teft from its Walls, for Coals, theTe/t 
 ftanding in the middle ; fo that the magnitude of the 
 Furnace is to be proportionable 'to that of the Teft, 
 and may be either round or fquare, provided it be 
 built with good Bricks, or fit Stones, and Lute, or 
 Earth rightly prepared- There ought to be atleaft 
 a fpan between the bottom and the grate, which al- 
 fo ought not to be faftened to the Furnace, but ftand- 
 ing upon four Feet, that it may be taken in and ouc 
 by the forefide of the Furnace (when need requires) 
 being alwaies open. Let the Furnace rife above the 
 Grate the heighth of a fpan, being every way clofe, 
 having no door. Upon this heighth of a fpan a hole 
 's to be left of an hands breadth and heighth, by 
 
 Ddd2 which 
 
196 
 
 The Qontinuation of 
 
 Part L 
 
 which the Tell may be infpeded, and the mixed Me- 
 tals put in and taken out, and the Fire may have its 
 paflage. NB. But ifthe Tell fhouldbe aboveafpan 
 over, which would alfo caufe the Furnace to be the 
 greater ^ then that hole being too little, would not 
 allow a fullicient paffage for the Fire -, therefore the 
 hole is to bear a due proportion to them. From 
 this hole, nourifhing the Fire 'by its ventilation, the 
 Furnace is yet to be carried up the heighth of two 
 fpans, to its upper hole or top, where the Coals are to 
 be put in. Moreover, an Iron Cover is to be made 
 with hollow Superficies, with Iron Buttons, or little 
 Knobs inli.xcd, by which the Lute being put on, may 
 Itick fall ; the Convex or upper part of the Cover 
 mull have a Handle, by which it may be lifted up 
 when the Coals are to be put in, and afterwards put 
 down again to (hut the Furnace. See the Figure of this 
 Fitr>7MC, ifj ^tt its p.irts, at the beginning of this Conti- 
 nuation of Miraculum Mundi, noted at the top with 
 Pag.ti' 
 
 At The Furnace^ as it is vporkipg- 
 
 B, The loxverpiirt of the Furnace open, 
 
 C, The upper part of the fame. 
 
 D, ThcGr/itc. 
 
 E, The Hearth or Tefi- 
 
 F, The Muffle that belongs to the Hearth. 
 
 G, The Cover of the Furnace, with which it is to be 
 covered when the C '-"Is are in and at work^ 
 
 H, The rent fr the Smooth. 
 
 ' When you will work with the Furnace, firll put in 
 the Grate, and upon it the foot or prop made of firm 
 Lute, and upon it the prepared Telli and upon the 
 Tell its Cover or Muffle, theforemofl neck of which 
 ought to come clofe to the hole on the forefide of the 
 Furnace, and the hindmofl neck to touch the back 
 of the fame. The foot alfo which fupports the Tell, 
 
 Muffle, being all red hot, the Metals (viz.. the Gold 
 which is to be augmented, and the Copper and R.e?uhts 
 of Antimony, from which the augmentation is" ex- 
 petled ) are to be put upon the Tefl with an Iron La- 
 dle, the great door below, and the little one above, 
 are to be opened, that the Fire growing more power- 
 ful, may forthwith melt the Metals on the Tell, which 
 being rightly melted, a little dry Salt--petre in pow- 
 der is to be call in upon them with an Iron Ladle, 
 which will prefently change a portion of the meltecl 
 matter into a Scoria : When it flows no longer, but 
 ceafcth from operating on the Metals, lying upon 
 them like Drofs, a little more Salt^petre is to be 
 call upon the melted Metals, which will again change 
 part of them into Scoria. This Injeftion of Salt- 
 1 Petre is to be continued fo long, until the Scoria (hall 
 be no longer hard, but remain liquid like Water, 
 which is a fign that the Salt-petre hath abflradted 
 the Copper and /^f'^«/«^ of Antimony from the Gold, 
 and its operation to be finiOied. And fo much Regu- 
 /wof Antimony and Copper is not to be put upon 
 the Tell, {_ I believe the word not is an errour of the 
 Printer, in the Copy, and ought to be left out 3 thac 
 it, when a due portion of Salt-Petre fhall be added, 
 may be full to the brim, and the Coals not be burnt 
 out in vain, in the empty Tell, which is well to be 
 noted. The fluid Scoria of the Salt-Petre, Copper, 
 and Reguliis of Antimony, are fo long to be kept in 
 Flux upon the Gold, as you think the Ted can fuffer 
 it ; for by how much the longer the Gold fliall remain 
 in its Flux, under thefe Scoria, fo much the more of 
 fpiritual Gold it will attrafl: from them, and render 
 it corporeal ; and the Gain will be fo much the 
 greater. Neverthelefs , for the greater certainty 
 fake, after the Scoria have Iain ten or twelve hours 
 in Flux upon the Gold, they may be taken out of the 
 Tefl, to fee whether the Tell be yet ftrong enough 
 to fuHain them longer in fiu.x, becaufe in a continual 
 flux they are wont to attenuate and perforate theTell 
 
 ought to touch Che fore--part oftheFurnace,thatthe with holes, efpecially if they were not prepared of 
 
 fpace between the Ted and the Wall of the Furnace, 
 may be well Ilopt or clofed. Alfo, if the neck of the 
 Cover or Muffle doth not fit clofe enough to the fore- 
 mod Wail, the joints are to be well clofed with Lute 
 mixed with Hair, that the Fire may have no paflage 
 by them, but may pafs through the hindmod neck of 
 the faid Cover, and under the Cover it felf into the 
 Ted, and thence out of the foremod neck. If the 
 Fire fl^all have any other pafTage by the foremod neck, 
 the heat will not be fufficient to melt the Metal. 
 Therefore the chief Artifice concerning this thing, is 
 the building of the Furnace in due form and propor- 
 tion. An iron door is to be fitted to the Furnace un- 
 der the Grate, for the governing the Fire, by which it 
 may be encrealed or diminiflied, as need (liall require. 
 And the other hole in the fuperiour and fore-part of 
 the Furnace, by which the Metals are put in and 
 taken out of the Ted, is alfo to have a door, that ne- 
 ceffity requiring, th« fire may be governed, and if 
 too great, it may be redrained. To this alfo a little 
 Chimney or Funnel is to be fitted, which may receive 
 and carry away the noxious fumes of the Metals and 
 Coals, that they may not hurt the Operator. All 
 thcfe things being rightly prepared , the Furnace 
 being well dried, is to be filled with Coals, and to be 
 revered with its Cover, a lighted Coal or two being 
 put next the Grate, the doors are to be fliut, that the 
 Fire may kindle by degrees, by which the danger of 
 breaking the Ted, and its Cover, the Muffle, by a fud- 
 dcn heat, may be avoided- The Furnace, Ted, and 
 
 good Earth, which is able to endure the Fire. There= 
 fore, if you find the ted: yet flrong and thick, and not 
 perforated with holes, you may again add the Scoria 
 to the Gold lying in the ted, and keep them fo long 
 in flux, as you think the ted will hold good. When 
 the Scoria condenfe themfelves, and flow with diffi- 
 culty, a little frefli Salt- petre is to be added, by 
 which being reduced to a thinner flux, they may give 
 nourifliment and encreafe to the Gold, which in this 
 operation hath the place of a feed, as the Copper and 
 ^eg«/w of Antimony fupply the place of the earth, 
 by affording aliment and augmentation to the Go'd ; 
 the Salt-petre is in the dead of Rain, which moifte- 
 neth the Earth, and rendereth it fruitful \ therefore 
 by how much the longer the Gold licth and groweth 
 in this Earth, fo much the more encreafe it obtain- 
 eth. After the ted is no longer fit to bear the fire, or 
 you would leave working, open the lower door of 
 the Furnace, and take off the Cover from the top, 
 that the heat of the fire may be diverted from the 
 ted, and the Scoria grow thick, and the Gold under 
 them hard, draw out the Scoria by degrees with an 
 Iron Hook, from the Gold, that it may remain in the 
 ted intire, and in one compart Mafs, and not be 
 mixed with the Scoria, like Grains, and orcafionlofs. 
 All the Scoria being taken out, the Gold is to be 
 freed from the ted with a thin ffiarp-poJnted Iron, 
 then taken out with the tongs, and weighed, to fee 
 what encreafe it hath got. 
 
 NB. That 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mundi, 
 
 197 
 
 NB. That as long as the Teft keeps firm and good, ' 
 it were better not to takeout the mafs, but to be left 
 upoa the Gold in continual flux. This is a Labour 
 not to be defpifed, feeing that the firft Coals being 
 burnt out, more are to be added only ; fo that this 
 / operation may be continued for fome daies, without 
 iiitermiiriion,provided the Tells be well made,which 
 alfo ought to be done if you expert any profit \ of 
 which you need in no wife doubt, if the operation 
 be rightly inftituted ; efpecialjy if the Antimony and 
 Iron » of which the Regulus is made , be good : 
 For the more Gold the Antimony, Iron, and Copper 
 fliall contain, the more volatile Gold the hxed Gold 
 which is melted under them, will attracft to it felf- 
 But if you want fuch Metals as are rich in Gold, 
 and are forced to be content with the common, 
 the Gold will neverthelefs get an encrcafe in the 
 Operation- NB. When Metals containing Gold are 
 to be had, there is no need to keep the firft Scorm 
 in fo long a flux upon the Gold, feeing that prefent- 
 ]y after the Copper and Regulus of Antimony fliall 
 be turned into Scoria by the Salc-petre, they may 
 be removed from the Gold with an Iron Hook, and 
 new Metals forthwith added, and again reduced in- 
 to Scoria by the Salt-petre. This labour of remo- 
 ving the Scoria, and adding frefli Metals, being long 
 continued, will add the greater encreafe to the Gold, 
 becaufe Copper, Iron, and Antimony contain much 
 corporeal Gold, which in their redudion into Sco- 
 ria, aflbciateth it felf with the Gold. Therefore 
 when thofe Scoria are withdrawn, and new Metals 
 added, it cannot be, but the encreafe of the Gold 
 muft be greater than proceedeth from the firft Sco- 
 ria, in which only the fpiritual Gold is rendered 
 corporeal. The addition of frefh Metals j and the 
 abftraiftion of the Scoria repeated 10, 15, yea 20 
 times a day, muft necellarily give a great encreafe to 
 the Gold, if the Metals contain both corporeal and 
 fpiritual Gold. The abftrafted Scoria may be re- 
 duced in a Teft of the fame Furnace (of which Tefts 
 there ought to be many in readinefs j and the Copper 
 and Regulus precipitated from them, and put to 
 other ufes, of which my other Writings every where 
 make mention. And they are precipitated by the 
 Powder of Coals, or Antimony. The way of precipi- 
 tation is this; the Salt-petre hath abforbed the Sul- 
 phureous Metals, 'VIZ.. the Copper and Regulus Alrr- 
 tts^ and changed them into Scoria- Now, if to thefe 
 Scoria fome other Sulphur be injetTied, which the Salt- 
 petre coveteth more than the Copper and Regulus of 
 Antimony, it iayeth hold on that, by which thofe 
 Metals which it had firft abforbed, are difmilTed, and 
 fall to the bottom. But the Regulus and Copper 
 cannot be fo feparated by precipitation, but that fome- 
 what of them will yet adhere to the Salt=petre. 
 Thefe may be fixed together, that they may render 
 Gold again in fufion, or the fixt Nitre may be ex- 
 traded from the Scoria, with Rain-water, to be ufed 
 for other Labours ; as (hall be taught hereafter. The 
 refidue of the Scoria will be yet of ufe to Potters, 
 to glaze their Earthen VelTels- But if the Scoria and 
 Salt-petre be not feparated, but left together, they 
 may be ufed with greater profit for the making of 
 Salt- petre, or for the dunging of Land ( of which we 
 Ihall prefently fpeak) than if they be feparated. The 
 riianner of doing thefe things ihall be defcribed in 
 their order. But firft it feems good to me to exhi- 
 bit a proof, by which every one may know the cer- 
 tainty of this matter, viz.. that this work doth not 
 
 only afford a profit to the Operator, not to be con- 
 temned, but alfo that the Gold doth obtain a true and 
 certain encreafe from the Copper and Regulus of An- 
 timony, whereby the Work may be undertaken with 
 the greater boldnefs and confidence ; which I thus 
 demonftrate. Take a fmall piece of filver, freed 
 from its gold by yicjua fonts ^ that you may be fure 
 there is no Gold in it : to which, in fufion, adjoin 
 fo much Copper and Antimonial Regulus, as being 
 reduced into Scoria by Salt-petre, and again fepara- 
 ted from the filver, may leave it malleable and du-i 
 dile. This being dillblved in Jcjaafortis^ will leave 
 at the bottom undiilblved a reddifh powder of gold, 
 which it hath attracted to it felf from the Copper 
 and Regulus of Antimony. Now, fo much as there 
 fliall be of this Gold , fo much and no more cor- 
 poreal Gold did the Copper and Regulus contain, 
 which the Silver hath abforbed. The Scoria polfefs 
 no more corporeal Gold, but yet abound with fpiri- 
 tual, which you may find by the following Expcri« 
 ment- Cover thofe Scoria put into a new Cruci- 
 ble with Powder of Coals, and let the Crucible in- 
 to a fmall Wind-Furnace, that they may melt- In 
 this melting, the Nitre will rather enter the SuN 
 phur of the Coals, than that of the Metals ; and af- 
 fociatingit felf to that, difmifieth the Copper and 
 Regulus- Which being done, pour out the melted 
 Mafs into a Cone, and when it is cold, ieparate the 
 Regulus feparated to the bottom, which will be the 
 fame Copper and Regulus of Antimony which the fil- 
 ver hath deprived of their corporeal gold ; which 
 is demonftrated as followeth : Take a bit of Silver, 
 cleared from its Gold , which join with the faid 
 Regulus by melting, and reduce the melted mafs by 
 Salt-petre into Scoria, as before, pour the mafs into 
 a Cone, and being cold, feparate the Silver- This 
 being difl'olved in Aq:tafortis, leaves at the bottom no 
 reddifii powder, as the firft filver did. By which it 
 clearly appears, that the Copper and Regulus of An- 
 timony had yielded all their corporeal Gold to the 
 Silver in fufion, which neverthelefs can afibrd no 
 gain, except the Labour be many times repeated with 
 frefn Copper and Regulus. But becaufe this repe- 
 tition is wont to require no fmall quantity of Copt 
 per, Regulus of Antimony, and Salt-petre, to brii,^ 
 the filver to a golden nature ; and moreover, eve^ 
 ry one knoweth not how to make profit of the Cop- 
 per and Regulus, deprived of their Gold, or to put 
 them to other ufes, and that Salt-petre is not feldom 
 fold at a great price, no great profit can accrue by 
 this Labour to fuch. Neverthelefs, they will obtain 
 no fmall gain, who after theextradtion of the gold, 
 know how to ufe the Copper, Antimonial Reg'ulus, 
 and Salt-petre, which I have fiiewed in many pla- 
 ces of my Writings. But thofe Metals being mel. 
 ted with Gold, and turned into Scoria by falt-petre, 
 bring far greater profit than when wrought with fil- 
 ver. For fomewhat of the filver is confumed, as 
 well as fomewhat acquired by it; but nothing of 
 the gold is loft, if the Crucible be firm, that nothing 
 run out. NB. If any gain be expefted from filver, 
 fuch Iron j Antimony, and Copper are to be ufed, as 
 are pregnant with Gold, and to be often abftracted 
 from the filver, and the metals themfelves after- 
 wards to be put to other ufes, bringing profit, to fay 
 nothing of the Salt-petre, which may be made at 
 a far cheaper rate (that it can be bought) bv thofe 
 who feek profit from Silver. I have inftanced 
 thefe Experiments, to demonftrate that every Cop-* 
 
 E e e perj 
 
The Continuation of 
 
 Part I 
 
 it 
 
 which the 
 
 per, and every Regnhts Martis contain fomewhat of 
 corporeal Gold, alid being reduced into Scoria, do 
 yield it to the adjoined Gold or Silver-, and that 
 nothing more can be extorted from them, except be- 
 ing reduced into Scoria by Nitre, they be for fome 
 time kept in Flux upon the filvcr, or Gold which is 
 better, that their fpiritual Gold may infinuate 
 felt into the corporeal, and augment if, 
 following Experiment flieweth. 
 
 Take of Copper, and Regulus of Antimony, de- 
 prived of all corporeal gold, by the addition of 
 other gold, what quantity you will, melt them vyith 
 gold, and convert the Copper 5 and Regulus into 
 Scoria, after the ufual manner, with SaU-Petre-,vi\\K\i 
 keep in Flux upon the Gold for 6, 8, or lo hours, and 
 then pour all out into a Cone i the gold being fepa- 
 ratcd from the fcoria , and weighed, will Ihew what 
 it hath gained in this operation. This encreafe from 
 the twofold matter added, i^;^. the Copper and Rega- 
 ins Mortis, is profit ; which notwithftanding pro- 
 ceeds more from the one than the other, as this Ex- 
 periment will prove. Take one part of filver, which 
 holds no gold, and one part of Reguhts Martis, being 
 melted in a Crucible, reduce them, as hath been often 
 faid, by falt-petre, into fcoria, and being well mel- 
 ted, pour them out into a fmall Ingot •, which when 
 cold, fcparate the fcoria from the filver with a Ham- 
 mer ; the filvcr will be pure white, and of very ea= 
 lie fufion, but will contain nothing of gold. NB- If 
 to the filver and Regulus of Antimony, you fliali al- 
 fo add Copper, and then turn all into fcoria by the 
 lielp of falt-petre, and when well melted, pour them 
 into an Ingot, fo that the fcoria flow upon the fil- 
 ver. This filver being feparated from the fcoria 
 with a Hammer , or by lying a while in water, 
 yon fliall find that part which was covered by the 
 jiielted fcoria, to be all over fo gilt, that you can 
 fcarcerub it off with your fingers, which Gold hath 
 adjoined it felf to the Silver, chiefly from the Cop- 
 per. For if more Gold had proceeded from the Re- 
 ^'^ulus, the' melted Silver would alfo neceflarily have 
 been gilded by that, which yet without the addition 
 of Copper is not wont to be- Neverthelefs, let no 
 man perfwade himfelf that the Regulus of Antimony 
 being omitted, the fame augmentation would happen, 
 becaufc the greateft part of the Gold proceeds from 
 the Copper. For without the Regulus, the Copper 
 would not fufFer it felf to be reduced into Scoria by 
 the Salt-petre ; fo that neceflity requireth, that all 
 thofe matters (liould be conjoined in the faid manner, 
 to acquire any profit- 
 Here thou haft, benevolent Reader, Specimens fuf 
 ficient for the trying the truth and certainty of this 
 thing: It's fiee for every man to enter upon the pre; 
 fcribed way with greater and longer Operations, that 
 he may attain the defired profit- 
 
 What I have many times faid, I fay again, That 
 this Operation is true, and brings great profit, pro- 
 vided it be inllituted in a due manner. The Salt-Petre 
 is the chief thing required in this Operation, which 
 he that knows how to prepare with fmall colt, and un: 
 derftands what I have written, may boldly undertake 
 the Work ; but he that muft buy. it at a dear rate, I 
 will not advife to meddle with it. He that cannot 
 underftand what I write, 'tis better for him to fpare 
 his labour and charge, and employ himfelf in thofe 
 things which do not exceed his capacity. 
 
 It bchovethme now to fliew the ufe and benefit 
 which the fcoria which are left in this Operation are 
 
 of, that there may be no wafte or lofs. But the 
 quantity of fcoria in this Operation will be more or 
 lefs, according as it fliall be exercifed. Ifgood An- 
 timony, Copper, andiron, which contain corporeal 
 Gold, may be had in plenty, and Salt-petre alfc^ 
 cheap, the lofs will not be great, if the fcoria fliould 
 not be altogether put to the beft advantage. For 
 if there be enough of the Copper, Rcgulns.Alartis, and 
 Salt-petre to be had, they are to be reduced into fco- 
 ria, flowing upon the Gold, that with it they may 
 leave the Gold contained in them. But here no re- 
 gard is had to the fpiritual or fugacious Gold which 
 they contain, which is laid afidewith the fcoria, and 
 new Copper and Regulus is put to the Gold, and 
 the fcoria again laid afide for other ufes, fo that in 
 one and the fame day, this labour of adding new mat- 
 ter, and as oft feparating the fcoria, may be repeated 
 ten or twelve times- Whence it comes to pafs, that 
 the Gold is every time inriched, and attradeth more 
 corporeal Gold from thofe matters in one day,than it 
 could do in fourteen dales, if they contained only 
 fpiritual Gold. But on the contrary, a great quan- 
 tity of Copper, Regulus, and Salt-petre are required 
 for this labour, which if they cannot be had cheap, 
 thechargc will be the greater, feeing that thofe Me-- 
 tals which are pregnant with corporeal Gold, will 
 abundantly compensate the charge, efpecially if be- 
 nefit be made of the fcoria , which we will prefently 
 fhew. But if a quantity of the faid matters be wan-- 
 ting, and vulgar Antimony and Copper be ufed for 
 the extrarting the fpiritual Gold only, there will not 
 be madefo many Scoria ; but it fufficeth, that the firfl 
 fcoria be left fo long in flux upon the gold or filver, 
 until they have yielded fome augmentation to the 
 fame. And in the mean time, the addition of no 
 other thing is required, but Salt-petre, of which a 
 little is to be injeded to the hardened fcoria, to 
 render them more fufile, and to cover the Gold the 
 better with their flux- This way will not coft fo 
 much, befides a good quantity of Coals : Nor will 
 the VVork it felf be fo troublefome, feeing that it need 
 be infpedted only once in two or three hours, and 
 any Boy may govern the fire. Or if the Furnace be 
 fo built, that (like a dull Henry) the Coals con: 
 ftantly Aiding down, the fire may feed it felf, the 
 Operation may be continued night and day without 
 any looking after. In the working the other way 
 with Metals containing corporeal Gold, there is more 
 labour and care, feeing that every hour the fcoria 
 ought to be removed, and new metals to be added. 
 Therefore every man may chufethat which is moft 
 convenient for him. 
 
 Moreover, where neither Antimony, Copper, or 
 Iron abounding with corporeal Gold, are to be had, 
 the Operation may be inftituted in another manner, 
 and applied to the making of falt-petre in abundance, 
 and with fmall cofts. For after the Regulus and 
 Copper^ in flux upon the gold, are reduced to fco- 
 ria, they are not to be removed, as otherwife they 
 are wont, but the Copper with the Regulus muft be 
 precipitated from the Nitre, by the Powder of Coals, 
 in which precipitation the gold taketh toit felf the 
 metal reduced into fcoria, fo that the fixt Nitre on= 
 ly is to be removed, which is afterwards to be put to 
 other ufes : And the Copper and Regulus, by the 
 addition of new falt-petre, are again to be reduced 
 to fcoria, and to be precipitated from the Nitre 
 by the Powder of Coals, and the Nitre again re- 
 moved- So the Copper and Regulus will alwaies 
 
 re- 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum MmdL 
 
 m 
 
 remain in flux upon the gold in the Teft, and no- 
 thing but the added Nitre will be every time fepa- 
 rated. 
 
 NB. This Labour doth not indeed draw forth 
 fo much gold as that which hath new metals added 
 every time to the gold ; but yet it cxcellcth that in 
 which the Metals are kept in a continual flux upon 
 the gold, vvitjiout the addition of new ; for as often 
 as the Copper, with the Regnlus, are burnt by the 
 Nitre, fo often the Nitre burneth and confumeth 
 fomewhat of their fuperfluous fulphur, and by how 
 much the more the combuftible fulphur is burnt and 
 confumed, by fo much the more the fpiritual gold 
 in it is dillolvcd, and adjoineth it fclf to the corpo- 
 real gold, to get it felf a body. 
 
 And this is the difference of thofc Operations, 
 of which a man may chufe which he pleafcth , or 
 rather that which fits the matters, he hath at hand. 
 Whichfoever he (hall undertake, it will afford a pro- 
 fit not to be ilighted, efpecially if he pay not too 
 dear for his Nitre, or can make it himfelf at a 
 cheap rate. 
 
 Hoiv Profit may he made of the Scoria which 
 remain after this Operation. 
 
 IT behoveth the ftudious of Art to know, that 
 there is a difference in the fcoria removed from 
 the gold by the forementioned Operations. Thofe 
 which arc removed from the gold only remaining 
 in the teft, and in which the Nitre, Antimony, and 
 Copper remain mixt, are metallick, from which 
 the Copper and Regulus may be precipitated and fe- 
 paratedj by the cafling in of crude Antimony or 
 Powder of Coals. The fcoria from which the Me= 
 tals are already precipitated in the teft, are nothing 
 but fixt Nitre. The fcoria alfo differ, in which the 
 Metals are precipitated by Antimony, from thofe 
 which are precipitated by Coals •, thofe partake more 
 of fulphur, [hefe lefs; for the fulphur of coals dif- 
 fers in its nature from the fulphur of antimony, and 
 requireth that a difference be obferved, and that 
 cither fcoria being put to its due ufe, it may bring 
 the defired proMt. And this is the difference : 
 When the Copper, with the Rcgnlits-Martis^ is pre- 
 cipitated by coals, that the Copper, with the Regu: 
 lus of Antimony, is precipitated, but the Iron which 
 was in the Regulus admicteth not of precipitation, 
 but remaineth in the fcoria j whence it comes to 
 pafs, that the Regulus, after precipitation, is found 
 to be lighter than when it was put into the Cru- 
 cible- Therefore what the precipitated Regulus 
 hath lofb, neceffarily remaineth in the fcoria ; for 
 which caufe thofe fcoria are of more hard and dif- 
 ficult fulion than thofe which remain afterthe pre- 
 cipitation with Antimony : For when the metals are 
 precipitated by the cafting in of Antimony, to one 
 pound of fcoria, an ounce, and fometimes more, of 
 Antimony, is call in, which precipitateth all the 
 Copper and the Regulus attraded by the Nitre, and 
 giveth a more ready fufion to the fcoria. But no- 
 thing more plainly (heweth the difference, than the 
 pouring of water upon the fcoria, to make a t'lxivi- 
 um. Tiie fcoria upon which the coals were calt,yield 
 a clearer and (harper /t.v<V/«w than thofc on which 
 Antimony was caft. On the contrary, the Antimo- 
 nial fcoria, by reafon of the Antimonial combufti- 
 ble fulphur, are of a drier nature and property. 
 
 The belt thing in both the fcoria, is the fixt Ni- 
 tre, which is to be drawn out of them by Water, 
 and may be put to various ufes , with no fmall 
 profit. 
 
 In the (irfl place, from thofe fcoria a good Me- 
 dicinal Tinfture may be drawn by the affuflon of 
 fpirit of Wine, of which mention is made in di- 
 vers places of my Writings. Thofe fcoria far ex- 
 cel all Dung, and alio common falt-petre it felf, in 
 promoting of vegetation. Nevcrthelefs, they are 
 tirll to be made more temperate, bccaufe they are too 
 fierytobeufed alone. They alfo cffeftually promote 
 the augmentation of Gold, and alfo the health of 
 the humane body, by their moft pure Effence ex» 
 traced by the fpirit of Wine. 
 
 They may without injury be called The Philofo- 
 phickDung, bccaufe they augment the growing power 
 in Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, neither in 
 Operations of this kind is there any Equal in the 
 world . 
 
 Their fmell is like that of humane Excrements ; 
 nor are they unlike to them in Afped, but moft 
 efficacious in their ufe- There are many things of 
 great moment yet lie hid in them, all which it is 
 not for me to defcribe. Thofe things which I have 
 hitherto written, I have often done with my own 
 hands, and proved by many Experiments. What I 
 deliver is not from hear-fay, or the reading of 
 others Books, being refolved to publifh thofe things 
 only, which an infallible Experience hath taught me, 
 fo that every man may boldly, and without any 
 doubting, give credit to them- 
 
 Moreover, this fixed Nitre is endowed with the 
 fame virtue with other ftrong hxiviums : Nevcr- 
 thelefs, it is more efficacious than that of any common 
 Wood, inafmuch as Nitre exceedeth the fixed f^lt 
 of Wood in its maturity. The refidue of the fco- 
 ria from which the lixivium is extraiHied, ferveth 
 for the glazing of earthen Veffels. 
 
 He that defireth to know more of fixed Nitre; 
 may find it in my Furnaces^ as alfo in my Pharmac, 
 Sfagyric. and efpecially in The Explication of Mirncu-. 
 htm Aiundt ; where he will meet with many things 
 worthy of admiration. For the Philofophick Dung, 
 fee the 3 5 Article of The Explication of Mtrachlum 
 Aliindi-, my Apology againft Farmer^ and the De- 
 fcription of my Prefs for Wood, in this Treatife •, 
 in which places he may find thofe things which will 
 abundantly fatisfie him- Concerning this Univerfal 
 ( tho' contemptible) fubjert Nitre, we will treat more, 
 God willing, in the following fecond part of Miracu- 
 lum Mundt. 
 
 Here we have fhewed the well- minded Reader,how 
 by this one only Operation, he may encreafe or aug- 
 ment his Gold, inrich his Fields with a fruitful 
 foil, and preferve his health •, fo that there will be 
 none who may not receive profit from it- 
 
 I cannot but here commemorate what fome time 
 happened to me in this Operation- When the Cop- 
 per and Reatthts- Mortis were mixed by melting toge- 
 ther, and reduced into fcoria by Nitre, the matter 
 thence proceeding was wonderful, appearing in va-* 
 riety of fair Colours, emulating a Peacocks Tail. 
 Therefore when I faw fuch various colours, I pre- 
 fently thought with ray felf, whether that matter 
 might not be lit for making a Tinfture, which 
 might change the imperfcd Metals into Gold; feeing 
 that I had read in fome Philofophcrs, that there is 
 more Tinifture in Iron and Copper than in Gold, 
 which gave me an occafion of conlldering whether 
 
 E e e 2 this 
 
20O 
 
 The Continuation of 
 
 Part 1- 
 
 this conjundion of ^^'trs and Teww, might not be 
 the Adultery fpokenofby the* Poets, or rather the 
 Vitriol of the Philofophers ; for this matter retaineth 
 a very fair greenefs, not only in the fire, but alfo out 
 of it, as well wet as dry. Whence 1 began to per- 
 fwade my felf^ that Iron was the Gold of Philofo- 
 phers , Copper their Lii»a , and Antimony their 
 ^rgcfit-vive^ and Nitre to perform the Office of a 
 Solvait or Bath, in which they are diflblved and di- 
 gefted. Being moved with ail thefe things, that! 
 might make a trial, according to my fimplicity, I put 
 all the faid matters into a Glafs, and committed it to 
 Vulcan, (or the Fire) which being adminiltred by de- 
 grees, all the matter palled together into a black co= 
 lour i to which a very fair greennefs, with variega- 
 ted colours refembling the Tail of a peacock , fuc- 
 ceeded, which continued in the Fire for fome weeks. 
 But feeing that it would not at all be changed, I 
 being wearied with the tedioufnefs, took the fair 
 matter out of the glafs, and put it into a Cruci- 
 ble, which I fet in a Glafs-makers Furnace, that I 
 might perform this Operation with the lefs La- 
 bour : And after three • dales I again took it out, 
 and I found ^11 the matter changed into a glafs of 
 a bloody colour, but not tranfparent- The Cruci- 
 ble being broken , I found in the bottom a little 
 Regulus of an Iron-like colour, which being telled 
 with Lead, yielded white Silver, which being dif- 
 folved in Aqna-fortts-, left no Gold at the bottom. 
 Being ftrook with admiration , I began to think 
 whence that Silver fhould proceed, feeing that I did 
 net expea Silver, but Gold ^ at length being fatis- 
 fied in that, I was of opinion, that from this fubjeft 
 by one and the fame labour, might be made both a 
 red and a white Tindure ■, but I have not hitherto 
 had time and opportunity to try the truth of the 
 matter experimentally. Whatfoever I have here 
 written, is only that I might afford matter to others 
 who are defirous of feeking, by whofe diligent 
 fearches fome good may be obtained. This Ad- 
 monition I alfo think necelTary, That they who en- 
 deavour to bring any fubjedl to a conftancy in the 
 Fire, by fixing, as the Chymifts call it, that they 
 lute 'and clofe well their Veirels, left the Air (which 
 is a great impediment to the Operation) Ihould 
 hinder the Work. 
 
 For Example. A Wood-coal, for the greateft 
 part, confiltcth of a fugacious and immature Sul- 
 phur, mixt with a few f^ces, being put into an 
 open Crucible, and fet in a fmall Fire, it isprefent= 
 ly burnt, and being all confumed, leaveth nothing 
 in the Crucible , but a few Salt-aflies •, but being 
 put into a Crucible well clofed and defended from 
 the Air, and committed to a great Fire, and there- 
 in kept for many years, yet would lofe nothing of 
 its weight, colour and body, but would remain a 
 black Coal, without any alteration- But on the 
 contrary, if any Mercurial fait be added to the 
 Coal in a due weight, and be enclofed with it in a 
 crucible but one day, and kept in the fire, the coal 
 will be changed into a red, fiery, heavy ftone, more 
 Metallick than Vegetable, whofe admirable Virtues 
 the Tongue cannot declare. Seeing therefore that 
 from any fugacious and volatile Vegetable in fo 
 (hort a time a conftant fixed thing may be made by 
 Art, Why fliould not the fame be made much bet= 
 ter of fome Mineral or Metal, which is much nea- 
 rer to Fixity ? And although thefe coals black 
 ihe hand , neverthclefs they contain much good, 
 >vhich he that knows how to come atj will by the 
 
 fame eafily make his hands white again, and draw 
 that from it which is more conducive to the health 
 of Man's Body, than from all the coftly and fading 
 things in the whole World. jiWordis cmtightothe 
 Wife. Although I have here Ihewed, that fulphu-- 
 rated Nitre is a true Medicine for Animals, Vege- 
 tables, and Minerals, yet I would not be underftood 
 as if I affirmed there was no other, which is not my 
 intention, feeing that if this Medicine were to be 
 generally ufed for Vegetables, it would be too coft- 
 ly, \_and there are other thinj^s defer tied in th:s Book^ 
 fur that pitrpofe, rvhieh arc far cheaper ] and 1 have 
 ffiewed it only to the end that the wonderful Works 
 of GOD might be manifeft to thofe who are wil- 
 ling to try- For if any one will macerate the feed 
 of any Vegetable in the Tincture drawn from ful- 
 phurated Nitre, by the Spirit of Wine, in a warm 
 Bath, he may from that macerated feed produce 
 a growing Herb, in a few hours fpace. 
 
 A Tindure of this fort will efieft more in curing 
 of Difeafes, than a whole Apothecary's Shop. But 
 he that knoweth how to join fome fpiritual Gold 
 with this Tinfture, that the Gold may thence at- 
 tradltoit felf nouriffiment and encreafe,asa Vege- 
 table doth from the Earth, will eafily obtain allni- 
 verfal Medicine. But if any think that I mean fuch 
 a Medicine as changeth the imperfed Metals into 
 Gold, in flux, he is miftaken, for that is to be at- 
 tributed to the Stone of Philofophers only. But I 
 call it Univerfal, as it is the chief Medicine of Ani- 
 mals, Vegetables, and Metals, which I intend alwaies 
 to keep by me, ready prepared, that I may render 
 others partakers thereof- I intend alfo this Win- 
 ter to prepare a great quantity of the Univerfal 
 Medicine for Vegetables, by the benefit whereof 
 Grain may be made to grow in meer Sand , that 
 fo this Invention may become profitable to many 
 men, provided they will but undertake the work: 
 Not that I intend to prepare this of Nitre, which 
 is too coftly for the Dunging of Fields- For com- 
 mon Salt, which is abundantly cheaper, in a few 
 hours, may be fo changed, that lofingits corrofive 
 Nature and Property, it becomes plainly like Ni- 
 tre in tafte, figure, and virtue, but not inflamable, 
 and excelleth the Dung of Cattel for dunging of 
 Land. Neither let any man fear that this Pre- 
 paration of common Salt requireth much labour or 
 trouble, or is difficult to be done ; for he that (hall 
 fee the Operation but once, will eafily be able to 
 underftand and imitate the fame- 
 Hence, feeing that in all places there are many 
 barren Fields to be found, it cannot be, but that great 
 profit may be acquired by it. 
 
 Afcanumlll. 
 A Gift offered to all diligent Phyficians. 
 
 The profit able nfe of Salt-.Petre, »> the Concentratmi of 
 Metals, and Preparation of Excellent Medicines. 
 
 ALthough in the Firft Part o^Mraculutn Mindi 
 I have defcribed divers concentrations and 
 emendations of Metals -, neverthelefs in thofe there 
 is nsithing common with that ArcanMm, which I in- 
 tend 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mnndi. 
 
 20l 
 
 tend here to defcribe. For thofe Arcana concern 
 only the emendation of the imperfeft Metals •, but 
 this alfo treatcth of the Preparation of many ex- 
 cellent Medicines. 
 
 The manner of concentrating and amending of 
 Metals hy Nitre. 
 
 Flrfl. a Man is to be made of Iron , having two 
 nofes on his head, and on his crown a mouth, 
 which may be opened, and again clofc Ihut. This, 
 if it be to be ufed for the concentration of Metals, is 
 to be fo inferted into another man, made of Iron or 
 Stone, that the inward head only may come forth 
 of the outward man , but the relt of his body or 
 beliy may remain hidden in the belly of the exteriour 
 man. And to each nofe of the head, glafs receivers 
 are to be applied, to receive the vapours afcending 
 from the hot ftomach. When you ufe this man, you 
 muft render him bloody with fire, to make him hun- 
 gry and greedy of Food- When he grows extream- 
 ly hungry, he is to be fed with a white Swan : 
 When that Food fliall be given to this Iron man, an 
 admirable Water will afcend from his fiery ftomach 
 into his head, and thence by his two nofes flow into 
 the appointed Receivers ; a Water, I fay , which 
 will be a true and efficacious Aq»A-vits, -^ for the Iron 
 man confunneth the whole fwan by digelting it, and 
 changeth it into a moll excellent and profitable 
 Food for the King and Qiieen, by which they are 
 corroborated, augmented, and grow. But before the 
 Swan yieldeth up her fpirit, Ihe fingeth her Swan- 
 like fong, which being ended, her breath expireth 
 with a ftrong wind, and leaveth her roafted body for 
 meat for the King, but her animn or fpirit flic con- 
 fecrateth to the gods, that thence may be made a 
 Sitl.ifnandtr, z wholfome Medicament for men and 
 metals. 
 
 This manner of operating , by which metals are 
 wont to be concentrated, I was willing to defcribe 
 in th's Enigma, that it may be known to be no Fa- 
 ble, but that the fame manner hath been defcribed 
 by other Philofophers before me. This appears from 
 the fixth Key of 5^y7/,where he delivers the like man- 
 ner- BifiltHs writeth concerning Salt-.Petye fpeaking 
 of itfelf; VVhen my End is threatned, c^c. From 
 which words it is manifeft, that he ufed the fame 
 way for the particular and univerfal emendation of 
 Metals, as alfo for the preparing of excellent Medi- 
 cines. But becaufe this Enigma is a little too ob- 
 fcure for the unskilful, I think good to interpret 
 it word by word. 
 
 The Iron man is the deftilling Veflel, which I have 
 defcribed in the SecondPartof my Furnaces. This 
 is put into another Iron or Stone Furnace, and the 
 fire, under it. To the nofes or pipes of the upper 
 part, fome Receivers are to be fo applied, that at 
 leaft three Glafs-Receivers may be applied to one 
 nofe, the hrft of which is to be firmly luted to the 
 nofe •, the fecond mull enter the perforated belly of 
 the firfl: Glafs, by a Pipe -, and in like manner the 
 
 third mufl: t)e inferted into the belly of the fecond ^ wings of Mercury, and maketh him remain liable, 
 the Pipe of the fecond Glafs, which entereth the fo Jupiter is an help to Mercury, and Mercury to 
 belly of the firft, is to be well luted; the third is Jupiter, and both become more noble by the power 
 rot to be luted to the belly of the fecond, but to and efficacy of Salt=petre; for Jupiter polfefleth much 
 remain open, that the expiring gafs may go out ' combuftible fulphur, which neverthelefs burneth not 
 of the fecond into the third- To the other noi's' per Je, without fome help; in the efFedling of which 
 alfo three or four Receivers are to be applied z{-\Salt-Petre is a Mailer, having neither fupsriour nor 
 ter the fame manner, but fo that the lalt may re- equal. Well doth Bafil fay, that fulphur only is 
 
 I Fff Ki- 
 
 remain unluted. The white Swan is the AmaUamx 
 of Tin and Argmt.vivc^io which Nitre is added T and 
 it is done as prefently you fliall hear. \_ See the Figure 
 of tins Furnace^ before the beginning of this TreAtife n<h 
 ted with pag- 96. ] 
 
 A is the Purnace: 
 
 B , The f^LJj'el in the Furnace. 
 
 C, The hole with an hollow f^erge, through which the 
 Swan is conveyed into the Keffel. 
 
 D, The Tongs holding the Cover with which the VeU 
 fd IS to be covered as foon as the Swan tsj)Mt in. 
 
 E, An Iron Ladle, -wherewith the Swan is put into 
 thercjjel. '^■- ■ 
 
 F, The Receiver. 
 
 G, The Bench that fiip^orts the Receiver^ 
 H, The Labor ator. 
 
 R. one part of Tin, melt it in a Crucible, when it 
 is melted, take the Crucible out of the Fire, and pour 
 out the melted Tin into another earthen Veflel, 
 and mix therewith one part of Argent-vive , which 
 will prefently be abforbed by the Tin, but the Tin 
 will become fo brittle and friable, that it maybe 
 ground upon a ftone to fine powder. With this 
 fine powder mix two parts of good and pure Salt- 
 Petre, hy grmding them well together, till the AmaU 
 gama cannot be known from the SJt-pttre, but one 
 white powder be made of both. This powder is The 
 Swan of B.zjilins, of which he prcpareth Meat for the 
 King; but'Icallit TheFalmenofJove, by which all 
 Metals are deltroyed and reduced into nothing. And 
 from this nothing,Metals much better and more noble 
 are generated de novo. Concerning this deftrudion 
 and regeneration of Metals, confult Paracclfus\ Book 
 of The rexation of Alchymrfis^ and the Third Part of 
 my Mineral H^orl^, and you ihall find, that Par acelfus 
 hath involved this Operation in obfcure words, as 
 alfo Baflins^ who delivereth the fame in his lixth 
 Key, with the fame obfcurity, which here, without 
 any covering, I have openly and clearly made mani- 
 feft. 
 
 NB. I would have the fliidiousof this Noble Science 
 know, that 'Jitfiter alone, or Tin mixt with Glafs on= 
 ly, in this artificial deftillation by the fiery man, yields 
 that medicinal fpirit, without the addition of A'- 
 gent-vive , and leaveth the meat or augment of 
 and 3 in the bottom. But that our Anceftors have 
 adjoined Mercury qx Argent-vive.,\ alfo by experience 
 have found it profitable- But it is chiefly done for 
 this end, that the Tin being rendered friable and fit 
 for grinding, may the better be mixed with the Ni- 
 tre ; for it would be laborious and troublefome to 
 file the Tin to mix and deftil with the Nitre, as 
 B.tftifta Porta teacheth in his Natural Magick. This 
 reduction into Powder by Mercury, is performed in a 
 very fhort time, and wonderfully promoteth the La- 
 bour, vvhilft the Mercury adting upon the porous Ju- 
 piter, penetrateth him, and rendereth him compact. 
 On the contrary, The Fnlmen of Jove burneth the 
 
202 
 
 The Qontinuation of 
 
 Part I 
 
 Nitre's belt Friend, and alfo its worfl: Enemy, which 
 we have found to be mo(t true, in this operation. 
 
 When the Tin and Nitre grow hot together, they 
 take Flame like Gun^powder •, the purer part, like 
 fome fubtile fpirit, vanifheth into the Air, and the 
 more fixed, liable, and better remaineth at the bot- 
 tom •, for the noxious and fuperHuous Sulphur of the 
 Tin is burnt by the Salt-Petre, which being fepa- 
 rated, the reft of the Tin acquircth a more compaft 
 and better body. The Mercury alfo adjoined in this 
 operation, yieldeth whatfoever good he hath, offe- 
 ring his Spirit for Medicine, and his Body for the 
 encreafe of Gold or Silver •, fo that more profit ac- 
 crues by the addition of Mercury, than if Jupiter 
 were fulminated by Nitre alone. Very few will be- 
 lieve how noble a Sulphur there is hid in Jupiter, 
 which can be made manii^ll by Nitre only. Truly 
 Mercury can by no way be better deceived and 
 overcome, than by the Fulmen of >w, which calls 
 a terrourupon all the gods. Therefore they are 
 very, wary, left they be touched with that Thun^ 
 dcr,and Qain with fudden death. If Jupiter were 
 deftitute of his moft efficacious Thunder , neither 
 his father 17, nor ©, nor J ■> with the reft of the gods, 
 would be fubjecl to him. Mars, Venus, and Mercu- 
 ry would only fport themfelves with hira. Mars 
 would fnew him his Sword, 2 would intangle him 
 with her amorous Net, and 2 , the deluder of all 
 dreaming Alchymifts, would fly away, and laugh at 
 him- Fokns nolens they all fear Jupiter, and muft 
 allow him the Empire \ the converfation of love is 
 perilous to all the Mcrals, even as it often brings 
 fubjedsinto no fmall u:3nger,to converfe with their 
 Prince- Hence the vulvar Proverb, Procid a^ jovc, 
 frocul a fit' mine ; He thci: keeps from the fire, is not 
 in danger of being burnt- 
 
 But leaving thofe things, we will now addrefs 
 our felves to the operation it felf, and plainly fhew 
 how it is to be performed. And firft, let the ftu- 
 diousknow that this Work requires a diligent and 
 skilful Operator i but he who knows not how with 
 skill to handle the Fire, 1 advife him to abftain from 
 this Work. The Art is true and excellent, fo that 
 lie that underftands but a little, may fee the whole 
 Work to ftand upon a firm foundation drawn from 
 Nature. He that knows the nature of Metals and 
 Minerals, knows that the goodnefs and perfedion of 
 Gold and Silver, the beft of Metals , confifts in a 
 ll&ble, fixed, arxl incombuftible matter, and on the 
 contrary, that the imperfedion of the imperfedl Me- 
 tals, proccedeth from a combuftible and ftinking 
 Sulphur only ; which fuperfluous Sulphur, if it (hall ) 
 he any way fcpavated from them, that which re- 
 maineth, ought neceifarily to be purer, more fufi- 
 ble, and conftant in the fire. There are many waies 
 by which that fuperfluous and combuftible Sulphur is 
 feparated from Metals ; of which mention is made 
 in the Mineral Work, and the fourth part of Fur- 
 naces. In this operation, the manner of feparating 
 it by combuftion, is performed by Nitre. In this 
 Treatife alfo other waies are indicated, yet Nitre is 
 tobeufed in them all. 
 
 But the ftudious of Art ought to know that in this 
 Operation, not only the fuperfluous Sulphur of Ju- 
 piter and 5 maybe feparated and confumed by burn- 
 ing and each Metal concentrated and amended, but 
 alfo to both, or to V alone other Metals may be ad= 
 ckd, and by the help of Salt-petremay be fulminated 
 and concentred ; for the Fulmen oilove doth not on- 
 ly concenter and amend his own proper body, but 
 
 alfo other Metals adjoined to him. Nor do I know 
 a nearer way of deftroying Gold and Silver quickly, 
 than the Fulmen of J- w, which fo deftroycth all the 
 Metals, that afterwards without the addition of other 
 things, ihey cannot by any force of fire be reduced 
 to their former fufile bodies, inafmuch as in melting 
 pf^/c, they alwaies pafs into Glafs, every one being 
 tinged with that colour which is proper to the metal. 
 Gold is changed into a very elegant glafs, like to 
 a Ruhy^ the glafs of Silver hath the colour of a Chry 
 folyte ; the glafs of Copper hath a green and red 
 colour like a Jafper ; the glafs of Mars differs not 
 much from it ; the glafl'es of Tin and Lead remain 
 white. Thefe Glafles being ( by an artificial redudi- 
 on ) reduced into their bodies, are much better and 
 nobler than they were before. This fudden fire alfo 
 clippeth the wings of Mercury, fo that part of him 
 is conftrained with the V to abide the fire. That 
 fwifc fluxing powder which is compounded of Nitre, 
 Tartar, and Sulphur, mentioned in the fecond part of 
 my Furnaces, is alfo not to be contemned ^ for when 
 that mafs is mixed with 5, and kindled by a live 
 Coal, the 5 is altered, as when it is to fufl'er the 
 fire, it maketh a cracking noife, till it breaks through 
 the fire, but being apprehended by the Fulmen of 
 Jo-ye, it hath no time allowed it to cry out ■■, for 
 when it beginneth to feel the heat, it fingeth a Swan- 
 like fong, but before it can break out from the Ful- 
 men it is killed. Bafiltus czWtih this Tue Song of the 
 Swan, alluding to what the Ancients have delivered 
 concerning that Bird, ■viz.. That when flie is old, 
 and ready to die, /lie fings a fong, which being 
 ended, ftie prefently dieth- ThisSaying the vulgar 
 believe of that Bird, which yet is falfc, feeing that 
 I never yet heard any^man fay that he had heard the 
 Song of a dying Swan. The ancient Philofophers 
 hereby meant our Metallick Swan. But let any one 
 enquire, whether the Amdgama of ¥ and 5 may be 
 compared with a Swan \ becaufe it may every way 
 be broken, within and without, it is like to the 
 Feathers of the faid Bird, and therefore the Phi- 
 lofophers have not unfitly called it a Swan. As 
 for its finging, it is thus ; When the Amalgama is 
 mixt with Salt-Petre, and wrapt up in Papers, and 
 one after another of them caft into the Iron man, 
 the 5 with the v beginneth to fing a Song like the 
 fine Note of fome Bird, which endureth no longer 
 than the crowing of a Cock, feeing that the flame 
 prefently followeth , which maketh the fepara- 
 tion- 
 
 But that any one may be more certain of this 
 matter, I will openly and clearly expound the Ope- 
 ration word by word. 
 
 R. of Tin and 5 each ft j- make an Amdga?na^z% 
 
 I have taught above ^ grind this with tfe ij. of pure 
 
 Salt-Petre, freed.from all its faces, reducing the. whole 
 
 mafs into a minute powder, till the Amdgama can be 
 
 no more felt by the fingers. This fine powder di^ 
 
 ftribute into fixty equal parts, more or lefs, and put 
 
 each part into a Paper, fo that every Paper may 
 
 contain about two lothones, or an ounce, wrap them 
 
 up: This quantity is not to be exceeded, efpecially 
 
 if the Iron man and the Receivers be not large ^ for 
 
 the lefler Velfels require the lefs of the matter : 
 
 For the matter being caft into the red-hot Velfel 
 
 in Papers, when it taketh flame, giveth a crack or 
 
 puff like Gun^powder, whi^h is kindled with a Coal. 
 
 The Labour is eafie, which may be called The Work 
 
 of IVomtn, or Pl^iy of Boys. For as foon as one Paper 
 
 is enkindled, the vapours afcending with fmoak and 
 
 Vt'ind, 
 
Part f. 
 
 Miraculum Mmdi. 
 
 20^ 
 
 wind, pafs into the Receivers, which being quietly 
 fettled, another Paper is prerently to be call in, 
 that it may fing its Swan=like Song, and pafs into 
 the Receivers in a fume. This calling in of the Pa- 
 pers is fo long to be continued till they are all fpent. 
 Yon can fcarcely put in above ten Papers, or fifteen 
 at themoft, in an hour ; for if one Paper be caft in 
 toofoon after another, the afcending Spirits of the 
 V and 9 would not.all fettle, but fome would fly 
 out at the hole of the lafl: Receiver, and be loft- By 
 this means the Iron man is nourillied by degrees with 
 his food, 7''-. the white Swan, even as Infants arc 
 fuccelTively fed by their Mothers- 
 After all the Papers are in, the fire is to be let go 
 out of its own accord ; and when all the Spirits are 
 condenfed in the Receivers, the Receivers are to be 
 removed one after another, in which is the A imu of 
 Tin and Mercury, and of that metal which was ad- 
 ded, of a white or alhy colour, if Tin and Mercury 
 only were ufed. But if Gold was added, it will 
 be of a purple colour:, if Silver, of a yellow; if 
 Copper, the colour will be reddifli. And this is not 
 only to be underllood of the matter which palTeth 
 into the Receiver, but alfo of that which remains in 
 the bottom of the Iron man. The AmmaVxAzxh it 
 felf in the corporeal flowers which afcend into the 
 Receivers, by which it is the more eafily acquired, 
 and which otherwife, perhaps, by reafon of its great 
 fubtilty, would be very difficult to obtain. If you 
 can put your hand into the Receivers, you may take 
 out the flowers with a bene fpoon, which hide the 
 Amwa \ but if not, with an Iron Wier fitted for 
 the fcrapingthem off", or by walhlngthem out with 
 Water, which are to be handled further, as you 
 fhall prefcntly hear. 
 
 The mafs remaining in the ftomach of the Iron 
 man, being taken out when it is cold, hath a fiery 
 rature and a white colour, if it were only of Tin 
 and Nitre, but if any other metal was added, the 
 colour will be varied, as above. This mafs can- 
 not be reduced to its former body by Fire alone, 
 how vehement focver it be, feeing that when it is 
 melted, it runneth into glafs, and that too very 
 difficultly. Neverthelefs, by the following operati- 
 on it may be reduced to its prifl:ine Body : Put it 
 into a very flrong Crucible, which cover, and fet in 
 a Wind-Furnace that will give a very flrong Fire 
 (fuchasis my Fourth Furnace) the Fire being rai- 
 fcd by degrees, let it be made white-hot, and when 
 it is fo, the Cover being a little removed, throw 
 into the fiery mafs a little Sulphur, Antimony, or 
 Coals in fine powder, put on the Cover again, and 
 laflly, cover the Crucible over with Coals, that all 
 the matter may flow well. In this operation the 
 combuflible Sulphur will enter the fixt Nitre, and fe^ 
 paratc it from the fixed Metal, and with the fame, 
 whatfoever of Sulphur, Antimony, or Coals was ad- 
 ded, will be turned into black Scoria. The Tin, 
 with the Mercury, and the Metal,ifany were added, 
 feparateth it felf from the Scoria, and returneth in- 
 to a metaliick body, which after it is poured out 
 and cold, is to be feparated from the Scoria. Ju- 
 piter hath the afped of his former body, but is a- 
 mended, as the proof will fhew him thatpleafeth to 
 make it ■■, the remaining Scoria are to be kept, be- 
 caufe an excellent univerfal Medicine may be made 
 of them. The /?f^/.'//« being melted again, is again 
 to be amalgamated with its own weight of Mercury, 
 which Amalgama is to be mixed with its equal weight 
 
 of Nitre, and put up into Papers , and again caffc 
 into the Iron man, as we have fliewed before, than 
 the Flowers and A,nm.t may be collected and added 
 to the former. The remaining mafs is to be preci- 
 pitated with fulphnr, as before, and the Scoria being 
 feparated from the Regulus , to be added to the 
 former, and the Regulus to be again brought with 
 Mercury to an A/nal^ama^ that with Nitre the Flo- 
 wers and Aaii/ia may be again elicited. This Labour 
 is to be fo ofiien repeated , until half the Regulus 
 be converted into fcoria : That part which remains 
 being examined by the Cupel, will fliew how much 
 gold and filver is generated by this Labour. Which 
 profit will fcrve to buy other Coals and Metals to 
 carry on the Work. The Anima which pafTcd into 
 the Receivers yieldeth a mofl excellent medicine j 
 fo do alfo the fcoria which were referved at divers 
 times, afford one little inferiour to that \ and hov? 
 they are to be handled, we will teach in order. 
 Therefore by this only operation a univerfal medi- 
 cine for humane and metaliick bodies is acquired 
 particularly, and from the remaining part, an amen- 
 ded metal paying the necefiary colts which are re- 
 quired for the continuing the great Work. 
 
 How therefore particularly of Tin and Copper 
 often fulminated, one may get a profit not to be 
 contemned, I will clearly fbcw \ forafmuch as I have 
 not performed that labour only once, but many times; 
 in like manner I will deliver the way and mode where- 
 by an excellent medicine may be prepared for the cu: 
 ring of all curable Difeafes, which alfo I haveoften 
 done. But how a Univerfal medicine may be pre- 
 pared of the -.^w'"-^ of metals, for humane and me- 
 taliick bodies, I cannot teach ; for I have not hither- 
 to had time and opportunity of perfeding fo great 
 a Work- Neverthelefs, I do not at all doubt, but 
 that the Philofophick flone may be made of this 
 Amma: But by what means I think this maybe ef- 
 fecfled, r faving to every man his own judgment) I 
 will not conceal from the fludions of the Divine 
 Wonders. What I have done with my hands, I can 
 render others the more certain of ; thofe things 
 which I have not done, I leave as they are. The 
 beginning of the Labour I have clearly enough pro- 
 pofed ; from which, if any man cannot learn more, 
 'tis befl for him to abltain from this kind of La- 
 bour. 
 
 All the Philofophers cry out with one voice, Icix 
 the volatile, and volatiliz.e thefixt^ and you fliall have 
 the true univerfal medicine. From which fcope he 
 will not erre, who ffiall take good fubjeds for his 
 work. Therefore, becaufe in this our operation. 
 Gold C befides the reft of the metals) being endowed 
 with a mofl pure body , is rendered volatile and 
 fugacious, and flript of its Amma, verily it will be 
 credible, that of the Anima of Gold, if the A-iiimt 
 of Mercury fhall be joined with it and digcfted to 
 fixation, may be made the Salamander conftant in 
 the Fire- The purple Anima of Gold and Mercury 
 which hath paflbd into the Receivers, I free from 
 the Flowers of Tin , by wafhing it out with the 
 fweet univerfal Water, known to every one, fil- 
 tring it through Paper, coagulate it, and then fix it 
 into a tinging ftone. And I doubt not, but fome 
 good thing will thence proceed. 
 
 From the fcoria remaining after the rediiiftion,yoii 
 may eafily extract a medicine. Neverthelefs, thofe 
 fcoria are divers, and have a diverfe nature^ for 
 thofe which remain after the operation with Tin 
 
 Fff2 
 
 an^ 
 
204 
 
 The Continuation of 
 
 Part I 
 
 and Argent-vive, are of another nature and proper- \ 
 ty than thole which proceed from the working vvith 
 other Metals adjoined to thofe two, as Gold, Silver, 
 Copper, or Iron. Every Metal hath its own proper 
 powers and virtue?, which in the extradion of the 
 Scoria go forth together, and render that Extraft 
 more noble, or elfe diminifh its virtues- Goldand 
 Silver have a different nature and properties from 
 Copper and Iron- Nevcrthelefs Copper and Iron 
 are not malignant or hurtful in the Scoria, but alfo 
 polfefs great virtues. Ncverthelefs the greateit vir- 
 tues which arc elicited from the Scoria, are to be ta- 
 ken for a Tindture of Sulphur ; for the Metals being 
 deftroyed by fulmination, and again reduced into a 
 body, leave but a very fmall part in the Scoria, 
 feeing that their greateft part returneth into a me- 
 tallick body. Therefore the Scoria principally con- 
 fifl of fixt Nitre, and that Sulphur by which the 
 deftroyed Metals are again reduced into a metallick 
 body from the Nitre- The Scoria of the Metalsde- 
 ftroyed and precipitated by Coals, or common Sul- 
 phur, have one and the fame nature, virtues, and 
 properties. The Scoria of that reduction made by 
 Antimony, partake of another nature, to wit, of a 
 groffer and Itrcnjer than thofe which are made by 
 common Sulphur or Coals, for they fometimes caufe 
 vomiting, which the other do not. 
 
 And thisl would note, thatbecaufe Antimony as 
 yet containeth many Arfenical qualities, common Sul- 
 phur containeth but few, and Coals none at all ^ that 
 therefore alfo the Scoria made by thefe, are fafer 
 than the other •, neverthclcfs, 1 confefs that thofe 
 are fomewhat cruder, and more immature than thofe 
 made with Antimony ; but being extrafted with Spi- 
 rit of Wine, yield an excellent Tiufture, which is 
 a kind of a Univerfal Medicine •, for it is fufficiently 
 known, that no fubjeds ( Gold and Silver except- 
 ed ) are found fitter for Medicine, than Antimony 
 and common Sulphur. And becaufe Wood-Coals 
 exadly anfwer to this common Sulphur in their 
 nature, properties, powers, and virtue, therefore I 
 commend the Scoria's made by them , and prefer 
 them to thofe prepared by Mineral SulpViur and 
 Antimony ; not that there is a greater efficacy in 
 Coals than in Antimony and common Sulphur,but be- 
 caufe thofe of Coals diflblved by fixt Nitre,_are ren- 
 dered more apt and eafie to render their virtues to 
 fpirit of Wine, are of a more eafie extradion, and 
 are fomewhat more familiar to the animal nature, 
 than common Sulphur and Antimony. But the Me- 
 dicine prepared of either of thofe fcoria, is effica- 
 cious, and diflereth but little in its external fpe- 
 cies a'nd colour. All the difference in thofe Tin- 
 dures, is, That that which is extracT;ed from the 
 Antimonial fcoria, if it be taken in a little the lar- 
 ger dofe, before fixation, caufeth vomiting, and 
 operateth more forcibly than the other two. All 
 three after the manner of fulphurs, gild fiver, help 
 the growth of Vegetables, by dunging, and nourilh 
 and augment Gold being made fpiritual, and clofed 
 up in the moifl way. 
 
 And although 1 do not yet know what it can per- 
 form in the tranfmutation of Metals, yet I am per- 
 fwaded, that if it were fixed and rendered conffant 
 in the Fire, and made to have ingrefs into metals, that 
 it would cfFcft fomething in tranfmutation. Itfuf- 
 ficeth me at this time to have indicated the way f)y 
 which a univerfal Remedy againft all curable Di= 
 feafes, is to be prepared of the remaining fcoria. 
 
 He that defires to know more, let him fet to his 
 iiand , and fearch farther ; the way is opened to 
 him: But if he defires fomewhat better, let him fet 
 upon the Spirit of Mercury and Gold, which is forced 
 into the Receivers, and fearch for it in that- As 
 for the remaining parts, 'viz.. the metallick flowers, 
 and the running Argent-vive, which pafTed together 
 into the Receivers, the running Argent-vive may be 
 feparated from the Flowers, and ufed again for the 
 like labour, by amalgamating it with Jupiter- The 
 Flowers are again to be reduced with the fulminated 
 metals, that nothing of the Gold and Silver may 
 be loft ^ fo this labour being continued, will give 
 a perpetual encreafe of Gold and Silver, befides the 
 tinging ^/lima, and the Expences will be only for 
 the Salt-Petre, which will be little to thofe who know 
 how to make Salt-Petre themfelves, for the making y 
 of which, I have fliewed the way; fo that without " 
 any great labour , trouble, and coft, not only an 
 honeft livelihood may be gotten, but alfo a good 
 medicine, for the relief and comfort of theforla- 
 ken Sick. 
 
 But before I conclude this my concentration of 
 metals by Salt- petre, I think fit hereto adjoin fome 
 admonitions for the benefit of the ftudious of thefe 
 Labours- When in the reduction of the metals de: 
 ftroyed by the Fulmen of Joie, the fcoria are left 
 too long upon the gold, ar.d not poured off indue 
 time, they (after a certain magnetick manner j at: 
 trad the remaining Anima which the Fulmen hath left 
 in the Gold, and leave the whole pale. If Argent- 
 vive be amalgamated afrefh with this pale Gold, and 
 this Labour fometimes repeated, the Gold will be 
 wholly fpoil'd of its Anma^ being partly driven in- 
 to the Receivers, and that which is left attracted by p 
 the fcoria, then the gold lofeth all its colour, 
 and the fcoria put on a bloody colour. From this 
 red fcoria the Tindure is to be extraded , by a 
 certain fingular Artifice, and to be ufed in the known 
 manner- The pale Gold recovereth its yellow colour 
 by Iron, Copper or Antimony. 
 
 Moreover, this is alfo to beobferved, When by 
 the Fulmen of Jox'c the 4w/w« of © and 5 is propel- 
 led into the Receivers , the Receivers being taken 
 off, the Flowers which hide the Amma^ are to be 
 taken out, and kept in GlafTes clofe ftopt- For the 
 faid Anima of© and 5 is fo fpiritual, volatile, and 
 fugacious, that like a Bird it prefently flies away, 
 ancl leaves an empty Neft i the truth of which thing 
 I have experienced, tis that ttHI not believe rvhat I 
 fay, let him try, and he xvilifind it to he true. 
 
 But that I may Ihew the ftudious of the Herme- 
 tick Medicine how he may experience this matter, 
 I will declare by what chance I my felf came to 
 know it. 
 
 At a certain time , when I had taken the anima 
 of Gold and Mercury, made by the Fulmen ofjow, 
 out of the Receivers, not clearing one Receiver fo 
 well, but that fomewhat of the anifna remained 
 therein ; I put in fome ounces of Water , that I 
 might thereby the better wafh out the remaining 
 Flowers : In the mean time, fome more urgent bu- 
 finefs called me away, 1 fet the Receiver with the 
 Water in it, upon a Table in my Laboratory, be- 
 fore or near a Window, and forgetting it, left it 
 there for fome daies •, the Cold being then very 
 fliarp, in that time had frozen all into Ice ; I coming 
 into my Laboratory, to fee if fomeGlaflcs, in which 
 were Water, were not broken by the Ice, as is ufual, 
 
 1 found 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum MundL 
 
 205 
 
 I found fome wholly filled with Ice, and feeing this 
 Receiver to lie there, I prefently bdieved that Re- 
 ceiver to be broken by the Froft \ but taking it up in 
 my hand, I found that the Water in it was not fro- 
 zen, but remained clear, therefore 1 rejoiced that 
 the Glafs remained unhurt, and wondered much 
 whence it (hould proceed^ but N;ould impute it to 
 no other thing, but to the hot fpirit of Gold and 
 Mercury, of wliich notwithftanding there could not 
 above three or four grains remain in the Glafs, 
 vphich although fo very little, preferved fome oiinccs 
 of Water from freezing. From that time weighing 
 the matter more diligently, I found an incredible 
 heat in that AmmA. Let others enquire and fearch 
 what may be performed by fuch a heat ; this I know, 
 that hereafter there will be fedulous Artifts, who will 
 thank me for this my faithful Inftitution. 
 
 For it is very likely, that this fubtile and fiery Spi- 
 rit of Gold and Mercury, fuch as it yet is before 
 fixation , may be prel'ently ufed with great profit, 
 in the taking away many occult Difeafes of the 
 Body. Moreover, it is to be obferved , That if 
 Metals, whether Gold, Silver, or Copper be to be 
 conjoined by amalgamation with Tin and Argent- 
 vive, they ought firft to be reduced into pure and 
 fhining Calces, that they may be the more readily 
 received by the Mercury : But only a fourth or fixth 
 part of the Calx is to be added in the Amalgama- 
 tion, left the Tin (by too great a quantity of the 
 Caixj be hindered in fulminating, for the whole 
 operation conlilleth in a right fulmination. But left 
 any fliould erre in working, he may firft make trial, 
 whether all things be well mixed and prepared, by 
 putting half a dram of the mixture into a fmall 
 Crucible, and upon that a live Coal, and behol- 
 ding the Fulnien with an intent eye, that he may fee 
 what colour it gives : If it rifeth fo white and 
 clear, that it dazleth the eyes , as the looking upon 
 the Sun is wont to do, all things are rightly and 
 orderly mixt -, the fmoak is tinged with the co- 
 lour of the adjoined Metal, as Purple from Gold, 
 Blue fromSilver, Green from Copper, but Tin and 
 Argent-vive only give White. Alfo from the Mafs 
 remaining in the Crucible, it may be feen whether 
 the Fulmen be rightly performed, w~. if the Caput 
 -/I^or. or refidingMafsbe porous, and fiery upon the 
 Tongue, being touched therewith- The Colours aU 
 fo of that Mafs are various, according to the added 
 Metal -, Tin and Argent-vive alone leave a fiery 
 white matter. 
 
 Neither is this to be pafled by, being of no fmall 
 moment, ^/i. If you feek not a Medicine, but only 
 the emendation of Metals, it is not neceflary to add 
 
 Mercury with the Metals, but the Gold, Silver, or 
 Copper may be melted with Tin, for fo they become 
 a brittle Mafs, which may be powdered in a Mortar, 
 and mixed with an equal weight, or a little more, of 
 Salt petre, and put into a ftrong Crucible, and cove- 
 red, then put into a circular fire, fo that the fire may 
 approach it by degrees, till the Crucible and Matter 
 be hot, and at length taking flame, may be enkin- 
 dled and difpcrfed. In which operation many Flo- 
 wers flie away, and a fiery Mafs remaineth in the bot- 
 tom, which is again to be reduced into a metallick 
 body in a ftrong Crucible, in a Wind:Furnace, by 
 the addition of fome combuftiblc fulphur, and after 
 the redu(^ion, to be reduced again into powder, and 
 mixed with frelh Nitre, and again treated in the fame 
 manner, by fometimes repeating the former Labour. 
 At length that Mafs being reduced in a Crucible, the 
 Gold, Silver, or Copper will be found augmented by 
 the Tin. 
 
 NB. Becaufe in this operation, not a little of the 
 Metals flies away in fume, the Cruciblfe may be fet in 
 fome Wall, and on the Wall over it fome VefTels or 
 fubliming Pots capacious enough may be faftened 
 over it, that the Metals being kindled by the Fulmen, 
 the elevated Flowers may be preferved and advanced 
 to a puver Metal than they were before- This La- 
 bour doth not differ much from the Operation of Ba-. 
 filiHs, in which Salt-petre faith, My Lover is a cheerful 
 or pleafam iVoman^ &c. 
 
 There are only two feminine Metals, viz.. Luna, 
 and Vtmts., either of which ferveth to this Labour, 
 yet this is more profitable than that, yea, and the 
 fame Labour giveth an augment to Sol, Mars, and Sa- 
 turn, which are not feminine. When Tin is melted 
 with 2 or > , thefe pleafant females are elevated with 
 joy, they ling, dance, and fufler themfelves to be han= 
 died in what manner foever it Ihall pleafe one to treac 
 them, therefore they are called brul^or pkafant Wo^ 
 mm. This is an Operation not to be contemned, 
 forafrauch as it well compenfateth the Labour, and 
 requireth but fmall cofts be fides the Sah-Petre, and 
 alfo may be wrought in a great quantity, but our for- 
 mer with Mercury is better. There is yet more lies 
 hid in this operation, but I think it not necefTary here 
 to recount all things- Let the Reader kindly accept 
 of this, and Ihortly TGod willing) more and better 
 fliall follow. 
 
 Whatfoeverl have here written, is the very truth, 
 and confirmed by manyExperiments, in which every 
 one may fafely confide, and if he operates aright, will 
 find the truth •, for all things here delivered, are to be 
 underftood according to the Letter, and fo to be ob- 
 ferved in all the Labours. 
 
 Ggg 
 
2o6 
 
 A Vui'Verfal Medicine ; 
 
 Part I. 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 Of an Univerfal Medicine ; I 
 o R, 
 
 Being an accurate Defcription ofa True Univerfal Medicine, and of 
 
 its admirable Virtue and Efficacy which itfheweth upon the Vegetables^ Animals^ and 
 Minerals. A Gift prefented unto all fuch Noblemen as are defirous to prf ferve 
 their Health, and to attain to a Long Life i it being an Umyerfal Medicine, or J True 
 
 Aurum fotabik. 
 
 AFter that I had by GOD^S affiftance defer ibed 
 three excellent Procejfcs in the Continuation of 
 the Miraculum Mundij and had beftowed the 
 fame on men of feveral orders ^that thereby they 
 might the eaflier, and with a fifer Confcience, provide 
 thewfelves with Food and Raiment : I was alfo defirous 
 of tendering fome fmalt Prcfent to Noblemen too, and fuch 
 who are of eminent power and authority^ and whom I had 
 not forgotten to prefent with fame Gift, which may firve 
 for the pnfervation of their good health for a long time, 
 andjorthereflaurationofit whenlojh. 
 
 For It IS a thing of the greateft Concernment for the 
 Nobles, and fuch men as are placed in the degree of Power 
 and Authority, to have the fruition of bodily health, 
 whereby they may wifely rule over thefubjeits committed 
 unto them iy Ccd, and tray ufe a found mind abjut the 
 defence of the Good, and the punijhment of the Vngod- 
 ly. Now a found mind inhabiting in a found body, doth 
 proceed (^next after the Divine Grace) out of a found 
 Heart and Brain. And it cannot be, lh.it a publick^Go- 
 vernment can be rtfhilj and well admtmfired without a 
 good Health; and^this ts as clear and evident as the noon, 
 day light is. Forafmuch therefore as the fafety and pre- 
 fervittion of all Kingdoms and Republicks is placed in the 
 Wifdom of their Rulers and Magtfirates, and that im- 
 prudence and ignorance of the Rulers is wont to ruin their 
 SiihjiEls, tt ts a thing of the higheft confcjuence to five 
 the Head of the whole Kingdom or Country found, whole, 
 chegrfiil., prudent and ingtnicus, and that he be not made 
 Knfit or Hicapable for tl-( Government , by dtfeafes, fad- 
 tiefs, l}oihfulnefs, and finptdity. Turefore the love of 
 
 my Neighbour conflrains me to puhlifh this Vniverfal 
 Adedicine for the fake of the Great ones of the World, fee- 
 ing it is fo much conducive to the perpetual felicity and 
 happinejs of a found and good Government ; for no man 
 can be f aid to be a found man, if he he not of a found cont 
 ft It M ton of Body, What benefit., I pray, can afick mart 
 
 \ bring to himfelf, or to other men /' Verily none at all, but 
 ts rather an hindrance and detriment both to himfelf, and 
 
 ' unto others Itkewife : For when the Head is ill, there are 
 a great many Members muft ferve it ; but if the Head be 
 found and well, it exercifeth the governance of the whole 
 Body very happily. 
 
 What profit has a man that is tormented with Sichneffes 
 and Dolours, of all his vaft Wealth and Riches, ftnce he 
 
 \ can neither ufe them nor enjoy them, looking upon them 
 with a ki"d of naufeate,and at Lift leaving them nith^rief 
 behind. Certainly a found body is to be preferred far before 
 alltheTreafures of this World, and no body wik gain- fay 
 this. He is to be judged the Happieft man, that pojfeffeth 
 thofe two thegreateft Gifts of God, viZ- good Health and 
 Riches. Sicknefs and Poverty are to be efieemed vnorfe 
 than even Death it felf 
 
 We fometimes fee, that pious Magiftrates and Gover- 
 nours are fnatcht away, and killed with fmall Difeafes, 
 which otherwife might have yet Ruled very many years 
 over their fubjeits^ had they had but good Medicaments, 
 by help whereof they might have been fuccoured. 
 
 As for the way of Conferving good Health, and reco- 
 vering it when loft, this little Book^doth moft exa£Hyfhew 
 the fame, which I commend unto all thofe who are de fir out 
 of its prefervation. 
 
 Of 
 
Part I. 
 
 Or, an Aurum Porabile. 
 
 Q07 
 
 Of a Llniverfal Medicine^ 
 
 O R, 
 
 AURUM POTABILE. 
 
 THE Medicine that is honoured with the 
 Title oiVmver/al mufl: be of this pro- 
 perty, 'viz,. to operate univerfally upon 
 the three Kingdoms, 'Z'/z.. the Vegetable, 
 Animal, and the Mineral, and to be able to fuccour 
 each of them, as a moft high Medicine Ihould do. 
 Whatfoever now does not abound with fuch an excel: 
 lent property, the Title of Vniverfd is faldy attri- 
 buted unto it ; nor is it worthy fuch a Noble 
 Name, 
 
 Therefore it doth, in the firlt place? behove me 
 really, and in very deed, to demonftrate in this Book 
 which treats of fuch a llniverfal medicine, that this 
 fame»medicine which is fo intituled, doth alfo potfefs 
 thofe very fame virtues and properties which a llni- 
 verfal medicine ought to have- And farther, Such 
 a llniverfal medicine ought not only to be a moft 
 friendly Auxiliary and Helper, univerfally, to thofe 
 three Kingdoms, viz.. the Vegetable, Animal, and 
 Mineral, but it is likewife neceflary that it be alfo 
 preparable out of all thofo three Kingdoms, Vege- 
 table, Animal, and Mineral, and that too out of each 
 apart, without the addition of any peregrine thing, 
 and without any great labour, for the benefit and 
 profit as well of the Poor as of the Rich. 
 
 They therefore do extrcamly erre who are of 
 fuch a foolifh opinion, as to Dream that the mat= 
 ter of the univerfal medicine is only produced in 
 fuch or fuch a place, and is to be fetch'd out of 
 this or that Country with a great deal of Labour 
 and Charges. 
 
 This opinion is Diametrically oppofite to the com= 
 mon Vogue and Saying of all true Philofophers, who 
 do unanimoufly confefs, that their matter is every 
 w here to be found, and every one has it, and it is in the 
 poirelTion both of the Poor and of the Rich : And this 
 verily is fo open and evident a Saying, that nothing 
 can be fpoken more apparently. 
 
 For my part, I do affirm, that this Art is Vegeta- 
 ble, Animal, and Mineral, and that there is not a man 
 to be found in the whole World, that has not the 
 knowledge of this univerfal matter, and that does not 
 ufc the fame- Yea more, I do alfo affirm, that even a 
 new-born Infant cannot live without it- 
 
 I have already accurately demonftrated in many 
 places of the Writings I have hitherto publifhed, that 
 Nitre is found in all the things of the whole World ; 
 and fo not only in all Vegetables, Animals, and Mi- 
 nerals, but alfo in the very Elements themfelves, vtz., 
 in the Earth, in the Water, in the Air, in the Fire : 
 And for this reafon it both may , and defervedly 
 ought to be called a Univerfal matter ; for without 
 the Elements can no man live. And now, whether 
 any one believes this which I here mention, or does 
 not credit it, 'tis all a cafe tome, what I have faid I 
 have faid, nor need I fay more. And thus much let 
 fuffice concerning the univerfal matter; 
 
 The Preparation I have openly enough treated of 
 in many places of my Writings, but efpecially in my 
 Miraculnm Mmdi^ and in the other ^A'ritings therei 
 unto appertaining ; and therefore I forbear to make 
 any more prolix declaration, and to multiply any 
 more words about it- 
 
 But yet notwithftanding, I do here adjoin thus 
 much, and confefs, that although I have feveral times 
 prepared that univerfal medicine, yet the Preparation 
 thereof has not at all times anfwered my defires \ nor 
 hath it as yet been ever brought by me unto the ut- 
 moft perfedlion and fixation, becaufe I have wanted 
 both time and opportunity of accomplilhing it, and 
 many other Impediments have hindered me from 
 compalTing the fame according to my mind. But as 
 concerning what Progrefs 1 have therein made, and 
 that I can as yet perform or finilh the fame in three 
 dales time ; this, I fay, I will confecrate to eternal 
 memory, and in no cafe hold my peace, but fpeak 
 on, for the inftrudtions fake of Pofterity. 
 
 And this 1 do to this end , that the omnipotence 
 and bounty of God may be the more manifeft, and 
 that His Divine Name may be honoured the more, 
 and that many Thoufands of Sick people may be 
 fuccoured with a moft prefent and fpeedy Remedy. 
 
 This is the only caufe that ftirred me up to make 
 this Difcourfe of the univerfal medicine; for I nei- 
 ther would, nor indeed ought I to burthen my C(mi= 
 fcience by the concealment thereof, nor to hide and 
 bury with me in my Grave, fuch a noble Gift of God, 
 and the Talent which of His Gracious Benignity He 
 hath been pleafed to beftow upon me. 
 
 _ But yet I would not that any one fhould perfwade 
 himfelf that he Ihall (by hisfoothing words and large 
 promifes of golden mountains) fqueeze out from me 
 the Preparation of the fame, whereby he may make ufc 
 thereof to lead his Life in Pleafures, Pride, and Im- 
 piety, and fo hurt poor mankind. No, let fuch an 
 one be affured, that I will never do fo, for it is not in 
 my power to reveal to every one fuch a great Gift, 
 and which is of God, and not of Man, but 'tis in the 
 power of God alone fo to do : And as for my felf, 
 1 would much rather die, than to reveal and proftitute 
 it to a wicked man- Befides, I would not have any 
 one to fuppofe, that whereas I call this medicine of 
 mine llniverfal, it is therefore able to tranfmutc the 
 ImperfeL't metals into Gold, fo as to furnifh one with 
 fuch vaft Treafures as the Philofophers attribute unto 
 their univerfal medicine : No, for I am as yet igno- 
 rant of fuch a tranfmutation, nor indeed do I covet it» 
 or gape thereafter,but give unto God only moft great 
 Thanks for that medicine, by which fbeing vouchfa- 
 fed me of His meer bounty ) I am able to fuccour 
 the miferable, fick, tormented, and difeafed ones, 
 and celebrate the glory and benignity of the Lord. 
 I do withal readily confefs, that I have not as hither- 
 to received any benefit at all therefrom about the bet; 
 
 Gggs 
 
 fermg 
 
D08 
 
 AnZJniverfal Medicine^ 
 
 Part I. 
 
 leering of the Metals thereby ; nor do 1 at all feek 
 after any benefits in that kind of way, being conten- 
 ted with that Medicine, advanced to fuch a pafs, as 
 whereby it may be able to lliffice me to get Food and 
 Raiment by God's help. I covet not after abundance 
 of Riches, and do only beg of God, that He would 
 neither atflid me with Poverty and Want, nor bellow 
 on me too much Satiety and Fulnefs, left I (hould be 
 lifted up with Pride, and fay. Who is the Lord ? Nay 
 verily, if I could with this Medicine get my felf great 
 benefit, as to the metallick affairs, yet would I not do 
 it, nor would I lay out fuch a great Gift of God,upon 
 temporary things, thereby to rob the poor, miferable, 
 fick people of the fame, for whofe fake God was plea- 
 fed to bellow it. 
 
 Perhaps it may fo come to pafs, that this my Me- 
 dicine may, by the labour of diligent fearchers, be 
 brought to fuch a pais, astobecapableof exercifing 
 its power upon the lelTer and imperfeft metals, and 
 that by a fruitful or prolitable amending and corretft- 
 ingthem: But this is a thing that God referves to 
 Himfelf, aspolited in His alone good pleafore, whofe 
 Grace and Favour we muft with a patient expedtation 
 wait for : Mean while we may lawfully enjoy this 
 moll excellent medicine, which being a moft certain 
 Argument of the verity and power, arifing from fuch 
 a notable Art, doth abundantly ferve to flop the 
 Ihamelefs mouths, and break the mifchievous Teeth 
 of all Farmienan Alfes. But yet notwithftanding 
 fome or other of them may haply fpuc out fome poi- 
 fonous ftuff out of his ihamelefs mouth, and fay, 
 With what right can 1 impofe the name of Vniwrf^l 
 Afeditine upon this Medicine of mine, feeing that I 
 do not in the leall deny, that it is not available to 
 bring me any benefit out of the metals, but can only 
 heal the Difeafes of the Sick : Whereas the Philofo- 
 phersdoon the contrary atteft, that their Univerfal 
 medicine hath fuch virtues as are wont to tranfmute 
 che lelfer or meaner metals into Gold, and that with 
 moft exceeding profit. 
 
 For anfwcr to fuch asthefc, I fay, that although 
 this medicine of mine which is here treated of, hath 
 not hitherto brought me any profit by the meliora- 
 tion of the metals, yet it deiuonftrates it felf to be 
 univerfal, and to be worthy that fame Title ; for 
 I have been hindered through want of time and other 
 letts ( as I faid afore) from hitherto bringing it unto 
 perfection and fixation- And I pray who can tell 
 what God will be pleafcd to vouchliife in procefs of 
 time. A new-born Infant cannot well be upbraided 
 C if wanting wit and judgment it does not attempt and 
 effeift fome great matters j and be on this wife twitted- 
 Ho! it is not a man, 'tis beardlefs, it underftands 
 nothing, it lies along and cannot help it felf, it has 
 nothing but what they reach out unto it. Well, well, 
 let the Infant but arrive unto its due age, and let 
 its due meat and drink be adminiftred unto it, and 
 then in length of time it will attain toarequifite fta-. 
 ture and ftrength, and will propagate and multiply 
 its own kind. For if there be but once the humane 
 form, there will not proceed ought elfe thencefrom, 
 but a perfed man. Juft fo ftands the cafe with my 
 medicine, which is exceeding like to a new=born In- 
 fant, whereto regard being had, according to a Phi- 
 lofophical manner, there will be no.doubt, but that 
 it will arrive unto a due perfedion. 
 
 And now, the things which it doth even already 
 perform, do all of them fufficiently argue and teftifie, 
 that procefs of time both can & indeed muft produce 
 
 thereout of fome better thing ■, even as a good Pa- 
 rent wilheth for nothing more, than that (whilft him- 
 felf is living) his Children may grow up to man's 
 cftatc, and be happily married, and by a new Off- 
 fpring prefcrve his Name and Stock, and yield their 
 help towards the multiplication of mankind, and he 
 himfelf is wondrouily joyed in his Grandchildren : 
 But yet in the meanwhile he cannot be at all certain 
 that his Life fliall be fo long prorogued, as to have a 
 fruition of fo much happinefs, and therefore mull 
 commit the whole affair to God's pleafure, and pa- 
 tiently wait upon him, and fee what that Omnipo- 
 tent Creator ( who indeed fhewed unto A-Jofa the 
 Promifed Land, but granted him not fo long Life as 
 to enter thereinto) will do with him and his ^ even 
 fo hath the Lord (hewed unto me the Promifed Land, 
 but whether or no I am worthy to arrive fo far as to 
 enjoy the pleafant Fruits thereof, GOD only knows- 
 His merciful bounty hath beftowed upon me in my 
 old Age a Philofophical Infant, which doth exceed- 
 ingly rejoice me : But yet verily am I utterly ignorant 
 whether or no He will vouchfafe unto me fo long 
 a Life, as to fee the virile or man-like age there= 
 of. 
 
 Therefore, like as a Father, unto whom in his old 
 Age the Divine Bounty hath vouchfafed an Heir, tho* 
 (haply) he well knows that the faid Heir cannot po^- 
 fibly arrive unto man's eftate, during his ( viz.. the 
 Father's) life, yet neverthelefs he is exceedingly joy- 
 ed, in that he hath an Heir to keep up his Name, and 
 which will in time trace his Father's footfteps (wz:, 
 have more Children): Even juft fo doth my new- 
 born Philofophical Infant exceedingly rejoice me> 
 though haply I know that my Life will not laft fo 
 long, as to be a PolfelTor of the fame, in the ftate of 
 its being advanced unto perfertionHowever, 1 doubt 
 not but that God will ftir up other nurfing Fathers to 
 this tender Infant, that being educated and nourifhed 
 by them, it may arrive unto a Man-like ftrength 
 and unto virile powers and virtues, and may become 
 ferviceable to the advancement of the Honour of God 
 and to the fuccouring of many Thoufands of fick 
 People. The way of attaining this, I have, accor- 
 ding to my fimple judgment, too and agen, and peice- 
 mealas it were, opened and revealed in divers places 
 of my Work, viz.. how it may be moft commodi- 
 oufly effeded, and therefore I judge it needlefs to 
 treat thereof any farther in this place. 
 
 Of the Nature, Form, Properties, and admiralle 
 Virtue and Efficacy of mj True Aurum Po- 
 tabile. 
 
 AS touching the form of this fame new-born 
 Infant, I would have the well-minded Reader 
 know, that it is like unto a poor, naked, tender Babe, 
 ofnofplendour-, of a fimple afpeft, but yet carries 
 within it felf all the colours of the whol^ World, 
 which by how much the older it grows, fo much the 
 fairer colours doth it yield. The Fire affords it nu: 
 triment , and clothes it with Garments of various co: 
 lours, and makes it ftrong, fair, noble, and potent, 
 infomuch that it may not undefervedly be termed its 
 Father. Being bora out of the Earth its Mother, it 
 
 loves 
 
Part I. 
 
 Or, at! Auiuni Forabilc. 
 
 qo^ 
 
 loves it, and ufeth it for its nutriment, until that 
 arriving unto full years, it becomes like its Father 
 the Fire, and leaves its Mother the Earth, and like a 
 Lord of full age, bears rule over its Hereditary Pof- 
 feffions- But during its Minority and Infancy, all its 
 adtions are look'd on as childilh, but yet fo that pre- 
 feDtly(or even now) appears what kind of notable 
 man he will be, making good that Proverb ; Vritma- 
 turf quod vnlt urtica viutitre. 
 
 That which will a Nettle be^^ 
 Sth'ffs betimes^ triifi ycu me. 
 
 For feeing that a new-born Infant doth abound with 
 fo much virtue, as to be able to do fo much good, 
 What would not he be capable of efFeding, fhould he 
 attain to a ripenefs of years ? It will be therefore 
 'worth while to hear and fee what virtues it is able 
 toexercife upon Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals -, 
 and firft, we will treat about the Vegetables. 
 
 By ivhat way a Trial is to he maJe, ivhether or 
 no this Aurum Potabile, or Aqua-vitcc of the 
 Philofophers, he a moH high Medicine for the 
 Vegetahles. 
 
 EVery body knows, tliat the Vegetables which are 
 to grow up, and be multiplied, mufi; be alio nou- 
 riflied- This nourifhment now is nothing elfe but a 
 fulphureous Salt, whether it hath its Rife from the. 
 Vegetables, or from the Animals, or from the Mine- 
 rals i for 'tis all a cafe to the Vegetables, from what- 
 foever it proceeds, fo that they have but their nutri- 
 ment, by which they may grow, be encreafed, and be 
 multiplied. The Husband-man ufeth the Dung of 
 any Cattel or Sheep, to dung his Lands withal, that 
 the Seed fown in the dunged Earth, may thence ex- 
 traftthe Salt, and convert it into its own nutriment, 
 and fo grow up, and be encreafed ; and befides this 
 kind of Dunging he knows none. 
 
 But the true Naturalift makes ufe of the Excrements 
 of other Animals, yea, and the Minerals themfelves 
 too, for the dunging of the Ground ; concerning 
 which thing, I have written at large in my other- 
 Writings, and cfpecially in my Mir.icahtm Mundi ^ 
 and therefore there's r.o need at all of making any 
 farther repetition of the fame here. Forafmuch 
 therefore as ray Anuim Potabile is alfo a fulphureous 
 Salt, but yet far flronger, and more efficacious than 
 that which lies in the common Dung of Beafts and 
 Cattel, and fo confeqnently promotes the accretion 
 or groAth,and multiplication of all the Vegetables in a 
 wonderful mauerl have judged it a thing worth while 
 to fetdovvn in this place the ufe thereof in the me- 
 lioration of the Vegetables, that fo it may be evi^ 
 dently demonftrated, that this my Potable Gold is the 
 i moft excellent Medicine for all the Vegetables, and 
 f that their P^i' ticuUr Medicine which doth firft proceed 
 from the Dung of Sheep and Cattel, doth afterwards 
 
 (difplay its virtues by an VrnDcrfal operation. For 
 if the Dung of Horfes, Cows, and Sheep fas 'tis bare- 
 ly Dung) could but fuccour Men and Metals, like as 
 -j it brings a medical or helping fuccour unto the Vcge- 
 ll tables, then might it by the fame reafon be likewife 
 called VniVirJAl. 
 
 But whereas it is an helper to the Vegetables on- 
 ly, and hath no conjoining familiarity with the Mine- 
 rals and Animals, therefore is it rightly and dcler- 
 vedly to be referred to the order of particular Me- 
 dicines, which are helpful to the Vegetables only. 
 But yet notwithllanding , the S2lt being extrafled 
 out of thofe forts of Dung, and converted into Salt- 
 petre, (which is a thing eafilydonsj doth then ad- 
 mit of being tranfmuted into a Vniv.rfM Aicd-xn.e : 
 But row, afore fuch a Tranfmutation be made, in 
 does not exceed the order or bounds o( Particular Me^ 
 dicaments. But this Aiiri:m Patau le of mine merits 
 the name ofa true Univerfal Medicine, as being roc 
 only a moft high Medicine for the Vegetables, but al- 
 fo for the Animals and Minerals too, and this Ihall be 
 pcrfecftly demonftrated as follows- 
 
 You muft get fome Velfels made of the beft Earth, 
 and ftrong, and fuch as being well burnt in the Fire, 
 become like a Stone. And amongft fuch Earths, the 
 Colt/!, Sibitrg, lVMe>ibcr£,znd other fuch-like natured 
 Earths, are the fitteft for this Work ■, let them be made 
 very thick, and fuch as will not imbibe any Water. 
 If you want fuch as thefe, caufe then your Veflels to 
 be madeof Glafs; for every porous kind of Earth, 
 though it be glazed over with Lead-glafs, yet it is 
 not fo fit for this kind of operation ; therefore you 
 muft of neceflity provide your felfwith fit and con- 
 venient Veflels, and have a moft efpecial regard to 
 this admonition. Let fuch a Ved'el be a fpa'n long, 
 or high, or deep, and let it have the fame breadth or 
 largenefs, and let its bottom be perforated with fome 
 final! holes, like as thofe Pots which are nndc for 
 the keeping of Flowers in are wont to be : The Pots 
 being thus prepared and fiJled up top^full, with clear 
 and lean Sand, you may pi't or plant therein three 
 or four Seeds of fuch Heibs that you have a mind to 
 plant, that fo if haply oTie of them comes not to good, 
 thefecoud, third, or fourth may. When the feeds 
 are on this wife put in the faid Sand, and fiiaii have 
 been moiftened with our Llniverlal VV'ater, the Pots 
 muft then be fet abroad to the Sun and Air, that fd 
 the Seeds may fpring up and grow ■, which feeds, if 
 good, and not too old, will in a few daies time, grov\/ 
 up out of the Sand, as if they had been in any other 
 fat Earth- Now, when they fhall have fprouted up fo 
 high as a fingers length, you muft leave in your laid 
 Pots twoof the biggeft and ftrongeft ftalks or fprouts, 
 and pluck up the others, left they ftiould impede each 
 others growth ; and you muft let them have room 
 enough in the Pot to grow. 
 
 This Vellel thus filled with fand, and planned with 
 feeds, is to be fet upon another ftrong Difli or Plat- 
 ter, and which is made of the like fort of Stone-like 
 Earth, that fo if that medicinal water Ihould happen 
 to penetrate and deftil through the fand, it may not be 
 loft, but being faved, may be again poured into the 
 pot-full of fand- Moreover, you muft diligently 
 take heed that no R-iin-water fall therein and walh 
 away that medicinal water, and fo take from the 
 Herbs their nutriment. The fand muft not be too 
 much wetted, but lie ahvaics fomevvh.^t moift, Iclt 
 by being quite dry, or too wer, tiie whole Work bz 
 corrupted by either the excels or defcd of the due 
 temperament: All things here prefcribed being du- 
 ly obferved, the Herb fprings up in alhcrt time,and 
 bears Flowers and Fruits fconer and better, than if it 
 had gro.vn in other dunged Earth- The Colours be- 
 come fairer, the Odours will be ftrcn"er^ the V irrncs 
 alio will be greater, and thefe Herbs do lil-.ewife ion- 
 
 H h !i ger 
 
2lO 
 
 An Vniverfdl Midi cine ; 
 
 Part L 
 
 gcr keep their virtues, and are not fo corruptible as 
 otbcrs are. Alter that all the humidity which you 
 poured firifc on, Ihall have been confumcd by the Sun 
 and the Air, (o as that it is plainly vanidit, there mult 
 fonte other Rain water ( wherein a little of that po- 
 table Gold (hall have been dillblved ) be again poured 
 on upon the Sand, that fo the Herb may have its due 
 fupply of nourilhmcnt, fo long as it fliall be a-growing, 
 for the whole World knows, that there does not 
 grow ought at all out of fand, which is only wetted 
 with bare Rain-water- 
 
 Likewife by the help of this Univerfal Medicine all 
 kinds of Herbs and Plants may be made apt to ger- 
 minate and grow even in mid-Winter, and may be 
 at any time amended, if ib be that dilfolved Liquor 
 be but poured on upon the Roots- So will they be 
 fooner ripe, and yield their Flowers and Fruits much 
 fpeedier than thofc that are dunged after the com- 
 mon way ; yea, and more too- I fay, that as to their 
 virtues and efficacy, they arc to be preferred far be- 
 fore the common ones- The bare jimple Univerfal 
 Medicine is wont to Ihew fo much efficacy, as is here 
 mentior.ed : But now fome metallick Ferment being 
 added thereunto, makes it far more efficacious ; for 
 by means thereof, the Herbs acquire greater and bet- 
 ter virtues. 
 
 If there be adjoined thereunto an aureous ferment, 
 the Herbs will not only get the virtues of the Gold,but 
 will alfo appear fpottedhere and therein their Leaves 
 and Flowers, with golden fpots like little Stars, and 
 will wonderfully pleafe the fight by their delicate 
 
 afpcft. 
 
 If a Silver Ferment be thereto added, the Herbs 
 will be impregnated with Silvery virtues, and be pain- 
 ted with lilver fpots as they grow. The Herbs being 
 by this means bettered with a golden Ferment for 
 the Heart, and with a Silver Ferment for the Brain, 
 do with a more admirable efficacy fuccour thofe Mem- 
 bers. And if the great ones of the World did for 
 their Health's fake take care for the nourifhing fuch 
 Herbs as thefe in their Gardens, there's no doubt at 
 all to be made, but that they would thencefrom ob- 
 tain moll great benefits. For, befides their wonder- 
 fully delighting the fight with their beauty and deli- 
 catenefs, ai:d befides their admirable virtues, in which 
 they far excel the common Herbs, they do likewife 
 bring this exceeding great profit, wz.. they may be 
 made ufe of inftead of my Jnrum potabik , which 
 perhaps fome great men may be avcrfe from taking, 
 through the pcrfwr.fions of their ignorant Phyficians, 
 who moll-aner.d do, by reafon of their fottifli llupi- 
 dity and ignotiance, fnsrlc and bite at fuch kind of 
 eminent Medicines, and divert their Lords and Ma- 
 ilers from the ufing ot them, as if they were fo 
 many Foifons- 
 
 If therefore (to free therafelvcs from that necd- 
 lefs care) they did but make ufe of thefe Herbs in- 
 ftead of my Potable Gold, they would however, by 
 the help of fuch V^cgetablcs , enjoy fo much of the 
 efficacy of my Potable Gold, as to keep themfclves 
 in good Health, or to recover it, being loft- 
 
 Befides too, the faid Potable Gold may be moft 
 commodioufly and fitly applied to the ufe of Man- 
 kind, not only by the help of the Vegetables , but 
 alio of the Animals too, and that on this wife. _ 
 
 Hens (or Pullets, c-c) are to be a while nonnffied 
 with Oats, Barley, Wheat, or other kind of Grain, 
 macerated with the Liquor of that Univerfal Medi- 
 cine; and being nonriffied therewithal, thev will by 
 concodion or digeftion tranfmute thofe Medicinal 
 
 V'irtues into their Fleffi, and fo be far more effica- 
 cious and nobler than the flelli of other Hens or 
 Poultry. The Dung likewife of fuch Fowls may be 
 faved, and mixt with Sand, and Herbs be therein 
 planted, which by this means will be rendered bet- 
 ter than the common Herbs, bccaufe they alTume 
 to themfelves the B.eiiques of tlwt Liquor which the 
 Fowls did not confume, and by digeltion tranlmute 
 into their Flefh, and fo do convert it into their proper 
 juice, fo that there is not any thing at all of that Li- 
 quor loft, but the whole of it pailech into moft nota- 
 ble profit. 
 
 Verily this is an excellent and admirable TranO 
 plantation of an Univerfal Medicine, into the Vege- 
 tables and Animals, the which the tender great ones 
 of the World may mak,e ufe of with the greateftfe- 
 curity. 
 
 Such now as thefe ( viz.- the great ones ) feeing 
 that this Univerfal Medicine of mine doth not at all 
 hurt the tender feeds of Herbs, or the young Pullen, 
 but rather beftows on them a greater efficacy and 
 ftrength, will doubtlefly be induced to believe and 
 underftand thus much, viz- that this fame Medicine 
 will in no cafe prove hurtful unto Men, who as to 
 tcndernefs, cannot be like the feeds of Herbs, or like 
 tenderPullen. 
 
 IfthisMedicinebeoffo great an efficacy as to.be 
 capable of tranfmuting fome venenate Mineral, fuch 
 as Mercury is, into true Gold, and that in a few hours 
 fpace, as we ihall fee and hear by and by, it muft 
 neceflarily follow, that it is not infeded with an7 
 malignity or venom, for the malignity of one thing 
 does not amend or correft the malignity of another 
 thing, but rather makes it worfer. 
 
 From hence it is apparently manifeft, that that 
 Potable Gold does not at all partake of any maligni- 
 ty, but is a moft wholfome Medicine for both Ve- 
 getables, Animals, and Minerals: Which thing, if 
 any one will not give credit unto, or fhall not be 
 capable to underftand the fame, I know not what 
 other help to afford him ; for minding my own affairs, 
 I have propounded and fet down all things out of a 
 good and fincere mind ; if fo be that any one hath 
 ought that is better, let him produce it out-right, 
 and not defpife thofe things which he does not un- 
 derftand, left haply he hazardeth his good name, as 
 that convided Lyar Farmer hath done , and be de- 
 rided , and made a laughing-ftock to the common 
 People. 
 
 But. F.trfifier''j fetting upon me with his calumnies 
 and flanders, hath miniftred unto me an occafion of 
 anfwering, and of defending ray felf : Upon this oc- 
 cafion of ray replying, there have fprung up, and 
 come forth to the Light moft excellent Secrets and 
 ^/czwii'i of Nature. Surely 1 ffiould never have fo 
 openly publifiied my knowledge in natural things, 
 but fhould have lain hidden in quiet, had not that 
 Blood- fucker and fccret Murtherer thrown me out 
 of my tranquility by his venomous biting- 
 
 But that it may not feem a thing ftrange and ab- 
 furd, that I write, that this Aitr;iinPitabik of mine 
 doth induce into the growing Herbs a golden Na- 
 
 ture , it feems a thing expedient unto me, to con- 
 firm the bufinefs by fome true Hiftories. 
 
 In the Hungarian and Tr.vilylvanian Chronicles, 
 it is mentioned, That in thofe Countries, in which the 
 foil or ground haih every where about in the Moun= 
 tains, an aureous or golden nature, and from whence, 
 for this Thoufand years, even to this very day, much 
 Gold hath been, and yearly is digged out by the Gold- 
 Miners, 
 
Part I. 
 
 Or^ an Aurum Potabile. 
 
 211 
 
 Miners, and l)een molten, and coined into Moneys, 
 
 there have been oft times found fuch Vines, as 
 have not only had their Leaves, but alfo the Grapes 
 too gilded over, as it were, with Gold, juft as if 
 they had been artificially gilt. Nor is this an old 
 Wife's Fabic, but a thing molt certainly true, and 
 which many have affirmed unto me for a moft un- 
 doubted Truth, feme of which Perfons have had their 
 Habitations in thofe places, and othcrfomc of them 
 do even live there at this day . About fome fix years 
 iince, when I lived in Francorduy it chanced, that a Vine 
 to whofe Roots I laid Gold opened, and reduced in- 
 to its firit Ens, produced Bunches of Grapes, whofe 
 Stones were gilded : Which Story i have mentioned 
 more at large in the Confolation of Navigators- 
 And but very lately a certain Nobleman of Hungary, 
 told me for a mofl: certain Truth, that not far from 
 Cremnitz.^ being one of the Mountain Cities oiHim- 
 garia-, a certain Husbandman found in his Vineyard 
 a piece of corporeal Gold, above an Ellloug, grown 
 out of a Stone, and twined round about the faid 
 Stone, a little piece of which was given mcby the 
 faid Nobleman, becaufe of the Novelty and Won- 
 ders fake- 
 But put cafe thqt this were not true, which not- 
 withftanding is very true and indubitable, as being 
 a thing known to the whole World, that fuch gih 
 ded Grapes are often found in Hnngaria and Traajyl- 
 vant,'. • yet however, thofe things that I have men- 
 tioned, and attributed unto my Potable Gold , are 
 moll a (Hired I y truc- 
 
 Nor can I allcadge any other caufe for thefe gil- 
 ded Grapes and Leaves in HungarLt, but this, that 
 the Earth there is impregnated with golden vapours, 
 or with the not yet hardened and coagulated firft 
 Ens of Gold, and that aureous water being mixt 
 with the Rain-water, infinuates it felf into the Roots 
 and from thence afcends up into the Boughs and 
 Grapes, and in them manifells it felf, and becomes 
 vifible. 
 
 Even thus alfo is it with my Aurum Potabile, (which 
 is like to a fpiritual Gold ) if it be diflblved with 
 common Rain-water, and be therewithal commixt, 
 and the fand ( in which the feeds of the Vegetables 
 were fown ) be moiftened with that Liquor, the 
 nutriment is atiradled out of the fand by the Vege- 
 table Herbs, and being attrafted, renders them par- 
 takers of an aureous nature : And this experience 
 teftifies to be a thing moft true i nor can it be other- 
 wife. 
 
 By thefe few things here fpoken, every Lody Tas 
 I fuppofe) will fufficiently enough perceive, that my 
 Anrum Pttabik is a moft high Medicine for the Ve- 
 getables. Now we will likewife prove by fome hw I 
 but yet clear and convincing Arguments, that it is a 
 moft high Medicine for the Minerals too. 
 
 the pofTibility thereof, both in the moift and in the 
 
 Of'jhe Vfe of my Aurum Potabile in the 
 melioration of the Minerals. 
 
 AS concerning the bettering of the Minerals by 
 my Potable Gold, thus (lands the cafe : It is 
 capable of exhibiting to thofe that are inquilitive 
 after the tranfmutation of the Metals, and would 
 make trial of the fame, fome moft exa^t proofs of 
 
 dry way. 
 
 In the firft place, it is behoveful for every one 
 to know, that tlie faid Aunim Potabtk, when brought 
 to its due perfedlion, and fuch, as my felf know, 
 hath the refemblance of a bright and clear water, 
 is of a burning, hot, and fiery tafte upon the tongue, 
 and gives out a fulphureous, but yet pleafanc 
 odour. 
 
 But fome may fay, What can any fuch virtues be 
 in a clear Water } What reafon h;ive you to call ic 
 Potable Gold, for that ought to be yellow or red? 
 To fuch an one I anfwcr. That in the whitcnefs is 
 a rednefs hidden, which is not difcrrnable in its 
 tender Infancy ; but when by the help of the Fire it 
 arrives to a greater age, then it difcovers it felf, 
 and flicws forth its comclinefs and excellency to- 
 gether with moft eminent Itrcngth and efficacy: 
 For thus fay the Philofophers, Vnlefs you make our 
 (Sold white 1 you cai.not tnakc tt red. And in another 
 place. If any one k;70n's how to deflroy Gold^ fo as it jliall 
 be Gold m more^ he hiuh arrived to a moft great Secret. 
 And again, in another place, Onr Goldis not commcn 
 Gtldy hut Gold potcmial^mt formal (or Gold i» power-, not 
 itipjape). Such Sayings and Sentences the whole 
 Troop of the Philofophers is full of^ by which it 
 is exacftly demonftrated, that the true Awum Pota* 
 bile ought not to be prefently red, as to the out- 
 ward view, but that it merits this Title, if there 
 be but only that golden and red virtue and effica- 
 cy lying hidden in its internal principle. For if 
 this whitenefs did not cover over an hidden red: 
 nefs, it could never poffibly become red. Now my 
 Aurum Potabile being coagulated by the means of 
 fire, and reduced to a ftability in the fire, is tur- 
 ned into a ftoneof a blood-red colour, and yields 
 not in the melting any corporeal Gold, unJefs a 
 metallick body be adjoined unto it, into which the 
 Spiritual and Philofophical Gold, betakes it felf, that 
 focloathing it felf with a body, it may become Cor^ 
 poreal. 
 
 This potable Gold of mine is, Ltcr/>-^'w, or the 
 Virgins Milk, which is coagulated with a fmall heat. 
 This Coagulum Paffeth into (or becomes) the Dragons- 
 Woo^, which being coagulated, muft rereffarily yield 
 the conftant or Anrzblt Salamander. I ccnfefs, that 
 hitherto I have not prepared it; nor had I any op- 
 portunity to prepare it, but remain contented with 
 my Lac rirgims^ as with a moft excellent Univer- 
 fal Medicine , patiently expeding what the Divine 
 Grace will in time to come beftow upon me- 
 
 But that I may proceed on to fliew that my ^«- 
 rum Potabile doth likewife heal the Minerals, amend 
 them, and make them golden, I will here letdown 
 fome waies of doing the fame both in the dry, and in 
 the moift way. 
 
 The manner of trying (^hy the moifl way^ vohe- 
 ther or no my Aurum Potabile he a true Phi- 
 lofophical Volatile Gold. 
 
 rAke of my potable Gold \ j. and 9 j. or 3 fs. 
 of common Quick-filver, put them into a ftrong 
 Glafs, and fo fmall, as that it may be half full with 
 this matter- (NB. The glafs muft have a round 
 
 H h h 2 bot- 
 
2':2 
 
 A ZJiiiyei^d Medium 
 
 Part I- 
 
 bottom, whetlier it bz a piece of fome fmall Bolt- 
 head, or offome fmall Piiial, that fo the Mercury 
 may gather it felf into one Ball in the botrom) 
 and place your glafs, with the potable Gold and 
 Qiiick-filver, in Sand, to the heighthofthe Liquor, 
 then heat it, and leave it for about one hour in a fuffi- 
 cient beat, that the Phlegm being exhaled, the pota- 
 ble gold may ftay behind in the form of a white 
 Salt : This done, pour agen upon that Salt fo much 
 Rain-water as it evaporated in the boiling, or fill the 
 glafs fo full with Rain-water, as it was before full of 
 the Aitruin Pota ile, that fo lying a while upon the 
 faid Salt, it may dilTolve it, which is hereby again 
 turned into the fame potable Gold, having the fame 
 colour, the fame tafte, and the fame virtues as it 
 had before. The Mercury being freed from the faid 
 potable Gold, which is to be poured off, is found 
 to be hard, and fix in the bottom like the beft gold, 
 and of the fame bignefs or quantity, as when it was 
 put into the glafs. NB. U by fome errour com- 
 initted the Argent-vive be not enough tinged and 
 brought to a due degree, but hath gotten fome black- 
 nefs, it is to be taken out of the glafs, and put into 
 fome little Crucible, and to be heated red-hot with 
 live Coals , that fo it may receive the due golden 
 colour •, which faid colour it will get, and will be like 
 the bsfl: Duckat Gold, and will abide good and firm 
 in all trials. But that Aumm Potabik which was 
 nfed about the coagulation of the Quick-hlver, may 
 be often made ufe of about the fame labour ^ but 
 yet you are to note, that you alwaies take each time 
 lefsand lefs Qiucblilver to this operation, becaufe 
 the potable Gold doth in each of thofe fuccelTive la- 
 bours lofe by little and little its virtues. 
 
 This way of coagulating of Mercury may be like- 
 wife ufed about the coagulation of other Minerals 
 and Metals, provided that the faid metals bereda-- 
 ced irto thin Plates or Leaves, and fo put in ; for 
 being put in too thick, they cannot be totally digc- 
 fted in fo (liorta time by the Aumm Potabile,into the 
 due degree of Perfciftion, but remain (as their infide 
 part) crude, and therefore an accurate regard is 
 hereunto to be had. If this Labour be rightly 
 done, the Metals will be throughly tranfmuted into 
 pure and good Gold, and that of the fame magni- 
 tude, figure, and form they were of when you put 
 them in; but yet one metal is fooner tranfmuted, 
 and morecommodioully than another, according as it 
 fliallbe of a nearer afilnity unto gold. NB- Ifthe 
 Metal be not in a due manner proceeded withal, but 
 be as yet black when it is taken out of the pota- 
 ble Gold, it is then to be well heated red-hot, that 
 fo it may get its golden colour. And if there be 
 even yet any doubt left, let him put it in b, and 
 purge it by the Cineritium, or the Cupel, that fo 
 be may be allured of having true gold, and maybe 
 freed from all kindof fcruple and doubt i for neither 
 Tj nor $ will take away ought therefrom -, which 
 thing the proof it felf will molt clearly demon- 
 ftrace. 
 
 The manner ef making a Trials ly the dry ivajf\ 
 concerning the T r an j mutation of the Imperjed 
 Metals, by my Potable Gold. 
 
 TAke of my potable gold, or L:c f^ir^inis-, ^ j. 
 and put it in a glafs dilh i which done, and the 
 diHi placed in fand, evaporate all the humidity, until 
 thwe remain about almoft half an ounce of white 
 Salt -, put this Salt in a Crucible, with 9 j. or 3 fs. 
 of the Plates of Silver, or Copper, or Iron, for Tin & 
 Lead need notbelaminatediPlace your Cruciblc,toge= 
 ther with the Salt and the Metal, amonglt Wood- 
 Coals, and the Salt will prefently melt like Wax, 
 and penetrate all the whole Metal, and tranfmute 
 it into gold ; and this operation is done in one quar-- 
 ter of an hour, or half an hour at the utmoll. 
 The molten Salt being poured forth out of the Cru- 
 cible, you will find in the fame Cruiible the Plate of 
 the Metal, of the fame quantity and Ihape it was of 
 when put in, and throughly tranfmuted into pure 
 good gold. The Tin and the Lead will be molten 
 into Granes, as being of eafie fufion , which Granes 
 will have the nature of pure good gold- If the 
 Crucible fhould be too much heated with too intenfe 
 a Fire, it may alfo happen, that even the > , Copper, 
 and Iron too may melt into granes. And this I 
 thought good to inform the Studious of. 
 
 Thefe ( Othou Lover of Arts) are the too Exa= 
 mens and Proofs of my potable gold, and of trying 
 it both by the dry and the moift way , which if 
 thou flialt rightly perform, thou fhalt not erre from 
 the mark. But now I mult needs confefs, that this 
 Tranfmutation is not gainful , and I have alreadj 
 faid before, that my divulgingof all thefe things is 
 only to this end, i^'^. vifibly to fhew the polTibili: 
 ty of the Art. For although that the gold gottea 
 by thefe proofs be true, and purely good, and paf- 
 fine all the ufual Trials, yet neverthelefs it brings 
 no profit, becaufe this Aitrum Potabik requires fo 
 much expences, Cafore it arrives unto this degree 
 of power) as that the gold gotten by the benefit 
 thereof, cannot countervail the fame. Nay, if ic 
 Ihould be fomewhat profitable in this way, yet would 
 that man do much amifs, that fhould wafte away 
 and imploy fo kingly a Medicine for the getting of a 
 little Qpld, feeing there are other waies to get Gold 
 by. j^p verily, it would be a great fin and fhaflie 
 for a^^^n to confume fuch a molt excellent and emi- 
 nent Medicine for 9 little mony's fake- Neither is it 
 for this end, that I have thus mentioned what I 
 have here faid, viz. to ufe it about the making of 
 Gold i for my aim is only this, that all the world 
 may fee that there are men to be found , even at 
 this very day, upon whom the Divine Grace hath 
 beltowed the Art of preparing and making moft ex- 
 cellent Medicaments. I do not envy, that other men 
 fliould learn fomething out of my Writings, and 
 take the opportunity of advancing this Work to a 
 farther perfeQion : But I would not have the ini- 
 pious ones at all to perfwade themfelves that they 
 fliall obtain this Inftrument to do evilly, and to 
 exercife their wickednefs by •, God, who knov?s 
 what He has to do, will not do thofe things w'hich 
 areCperhapsJ liking and pleafing to our fancies- I 
 can every hour demonftratc the truth of what 1 have 
 written, with which demonftration I reft fatisficd. 
 
 , 1 can 
 
Part I. 
 
 Or, an Aurum Potabik. 
 
 215 
 
 I can eafily conjc(.'liire that various'men will pafs 
 various cenfures upon my Writings, but this is what 
 I am HOC iibic to prevent ; nor indeed do I much care, 
 but I do herein comforr my felf, in tliat I have writ- 
 ten an undoubted Tnitii,andcan defend it even be 
 fore ihe whole World. I can withal readily guefs, 
 that fomc or ether may obje:l againft me, and fay 
 as follovvcth, i>c. That my Potable Gold is a bare 
 folutipu of common Gold , which being adjoined 
 unto the other Mctah, is by them precipitated, and 
 fo reduced i no its former body; and this cannot be 
 faid to be a true tranfmutation of the Gold. To 
 refel this objeiftion therefore, I demand, Whether or 
 no the common corporeal Gold can be dilfolvcd Vvith- 
 out fome ccrrolive Liquor .'' For this Aurum Potnbk 
 of m:nc is void of all corrofion, and is a fiery wa- 
 ter, mod extrcamly contrary unto all corroiives: 
 Seeing it is nothing elfe but fixed Nitre, or a ful- 
 phureous Salt, betwixt which Srdts verily, and com- 
 mon Gold, there is no familiaritv .u all ^ nor are 
 there any fuch virtues therein , as to dillolvc the 
 Gold : But put Cafe it could fo be, that the body of 
 common Gold /lionld j|p didblved with thofe fixed 
 Salts, and that by fuch a Solution it fhould difToIvc 
 Cor make) my Aaruin ?^-f.it»/c,verily it would necelTa- 
 rily follow, that fuch a folutionof Gold would be of 
 a yellow or red colour. But now 'tis not fo with 
 mine, for my A:irum Potal ilc is fo clear and bright, 
 as that it far exceeds the bright tranfparency of 
 even Fountain-water it felf: Bcfides too, the folution 
 of corporeal (jold tingeth the hair, hands, and nails 
 with a black colour i but on the contrary, my Pota- 
 ble Gold docs not fo at all, and therefore jufily and 
 defervedly, it both may and ought to bear the Title 
 of Fhiliijophial Gild ; for all the Philofophers that 
 have been true Poflellors of an Univerfal Medicine, 
 do confefs in cxprefs words, Th.^t thetr Gold^ or the 
 johition thereof^ doth not .a nil cokiir the hands ^by which 
 Charaderand Sign they dlRinguifli betwixt the vul- 
 gar and philofophicalGold. 
 
 From hence it neceffarily follows, that my Anrnm 
 PorrfWt is prepared of the true Philofophicai Gold, 
 feeing it does not tinge the hands with any co- 
 lour. 
 
 But put cafe that a Solution of common Gold 
 fhould be made by the help of fome mc>;jlruitfn that 
 is not corrolivcj ( but fuch is not my folution ) yet 
 nptwithftanding, it would not throughly tinge the 
 Imperfect Metals and common Quick-filver in dige-- 
 ftion w ith them, and tranfmute them, but would co- 
 ver over fas it were^ their Superficies only with the 
 colour of the precipitated Gold, like as is wont to be 
 with all other folntions of Gold, and fuch a powder 
 performing the fame effcil, may be prepared of com= 
 mongold ; the way of the Preparation thereof I have 
 delivered in my Writings. Silver being therewithal 
 laid over, is as well gilt, as if it had been done with 
 Gold and Qiiick-lilver : The fuperticies therefore is 
 only gilded over, but the body of the Silver it felf 
 is rot at all tranfmuted, but abides in its former 
 ftate- So Gold dillblved in fpirit of Salt, doth, by 
 the help of the Vitriol of Venus, gild over the Su- 
 pcriicics of any Iron, but the Iron retains its Irony 
 property and nature: If to fuch a folution plenty of 
 Water be poured, and -^'■^f'^-ww. Tin, Lead, Iron, 
 or Bih/;/;th, be put thereinto, the gold is wont to prc: 
 cipicat: out of the corrofive water, in the form of 
 a poroui Sponge, and to adhere to the meral therein- 
 to puL. Now, as foon as ever the water is fliook a- 
 bnar, the precipita:cd gold difperfeth it felf abroad 
 
 in the water, like a troubled muddincls, and the 
 Metal is the fame as it was before putting in, wiih^ 
 cut any tranfmutation at all. 
 
 Moreover, if any Solution of common gold could 
 tinge the whole body of the imperfect metals ( l)ut 
 vet this can never be^ it would r.cccH'arily gild over 
 the external fuperficics of the Metals, and efpcfially 
 the external fupcrficies of pure Lnna, when rubbed or 
 fincared over with the fame ; and even this now my 
 AiofiM PotaLilc does not do •, but if ic be fmeared up^ 
 on Silver, it colours and paints it with j11 kinds of 
 colours, and as infinite as appear in the Peacock's 
 Tail, and in fuch tvlfe too, as that they cannot be 
 ealily rubbed out ; and thefe Colours are an undouljt- 
 ed Argument, that this my Anntm /'or^Wc isnotthe 
 vulgar Gold , but the fccret Gold of the Philofo- 
 phers. 
 
 All thcfc, and other the like ObjeJlions , I could 
 moft ealily prevent by due and fitting Anfvvevs, if 
 they (liould be objeded againft mc ^ but I think no 
 body will be fo audacious, as (without producing any 
 better things j to oppofe himfelf againft thofe things 
 which in the judgment of the whole World arc ac- 
 counted for good- 
 
 Of the Z>[e of my true Atiriim Potabile ht 
 Medicine. 
 
 TO what purpofe fliould I make many words of 
 the moft great Efiicacy and Virtues of my Po- 
 table Gold in Medicine ? I do not deem it a thing 
 neceffary to write a large Book concerning them, 
 for fuch kind of Writings do many times more 
 hurt than good : For there is fuch an odd cultom 
 of Writing fo prevalent, as that fome men bluflv 
 not oft-times to afcribe fuch great virtues to fome 
 coloured Brandy=wine, as can hardly be attributed 
 even to Anrnm Potabile it felf. I confefs, that many 
 times there lies more Virtue in fome very vile mean 
 thing, than in precious and fumptuous Pearls. 
 
 But feeing that every one cannot dilcern the true 
 from the falfe, and is conftrained Con the contrary) 
 to give credit unto thofe things which he draws in by 
 his Ears, it cannot potlibly be, but that he erre 
 from the Truth, and often chufe the evil inflead 
 of the good ; which defcdt is eafily helped by ma= 
 king trial, and proving them, for this way is wont 
 to try the Truth of things. 
 
 Should I but defcribe in an accurate manner the 
 Virtues of my Potable Gold, it would fill a large 
 Volume : And this is not my intent in this place, but 
 TGod permitting ) it fhall fliortly be efteded in a 
 little Book, wherein fliall be comprized many other 
 of my beft Medicaments, and (hall fhortly come a- 
 broad under the Title oiGLuibi.r''s Ph.ir>nacopcei.t .■ 
 And in this place I will in few words hint out the 
 Ufe of my Aurum Potabile. 
 
 Therefore, forafmuch as my Potable Gold is fas 
 1 have already frequently repeated j a conceritrated 
 Fire, and reduced into a liquid form, and all its 
 whole ElTence may be faid to refemble nothing elfe 
 but fome tender penetrating Fire, yet void of flame, 
 every one may readily conjecture what it is helpful 
 for, and what ufe it is of in Medicine. 
 
 til 
 
 Amongft 
 
A ZJniverfal Medicine, 
 
 Part I. 
 
 214 
 
 ^nwiislTairthe Element^be puixfl:. Tubcilefl, 1 Veirels and ftop or furr them up, do mod: fpec 
 
 moil penetrative, and moit efficacious, is Fire, and dily of all (hevv this faiTis operauon Ihe fame is alfo 
 
 this is "ranred by every body -, for the foice of \ done in open Vcjfels, ir, "Ji^. the clear an.l tranfpa- 
 
 theFire,wi.its heat penetrates even the mod compait 
 bodies, as Metals, and Glafsi nor is there any thing 
 that can Hop its way:, the Water, Earth, and Air 
 are eafily (hut out. The Omnipotent God Himfelf 
 is compared with Fire, from whom all things receive 
 Spirit and Life, and without whom nothing can live 
 or move it felf, for without him, all things are dead, 
 hard, and cold-, as appears in the bodies of men and 
 other Animals, which being alive, are alwaieshot, 
 but being dead, become more colfl than any Ice- 
 Therefore, as long as that fmall ipark of Life in 
 Man, and other Animals, is fed and nourilhed with 
 its due Food and Drink, fo long alfo doth it attract 
 its nutriment, and continues in its vigoroufnefs. 
 
 But as foon as it is deftitute of its nutrition, and 
 that it be taken thcncefrom, the Life doth pre- 
 fently begin to be debilitated, and to fade, like as 
 a kindled Lamp, if Oil be not poured thereunto, 
 doth at laft go out, and extinguilheth. 
 
 Seeing now that the Life of a Man is a meet fire, 
 and is fed and fuftained by a fuitable Food and 
 
 rent Water of Fountains be fevcral times heated in 
 a Copper, and be agen fo often cooled, there doth 
 then at length ftick on to the infide of the Copper 
 a tenacious fliminefs, which at laft is turned into an 
 hard Stone. 
 
 If now the pure and bright Water of a Fountain 
 effecfteth fuch an operation, What, think you, would 
 that Water do, which in its own nature is troubled 
 or muddy, thick, faltifli, and ilimy. Hence it is that 
 not only new-preft Wines, or that thickifli, muddyifh 
 Mult, do let fall their faeces to the bottom, and fallen 
 their Tartar to the (Ides of the Barrel , but even 
 the old Wines do likcwife do the fame, butnotfo 
 much as the new ones do. 
 
 Now then, feeing that fuch.kind of troubled drinks 
 arc ufed by men for nutriment, it is clearly nece- 
 tfary, that ( the internal Bowels ot the body being 
 ftopt by their dregginefs) their nourifhing property 
 of the Lifemuft with-draw, like as the feculent Oil 
 withdraws from the light of ^e Lamp : For all thole 
 things which a man feeds upon, and daily drinks. 
 
 Drink only, like to a Lamp, which fwithout thel do in procefs of time ftop up the paQages of the 
 Dourin" on of OikaiVd without Air, without which no internal bowels and conveyances in the body of man, 
 I ° , I !c_ i:..„\ „„„ — r ^^^Cor,7t. \t<: and fn drfnnil the vita! Fire of its nnrriment. There- 
 
 fire can burn, nor any Life live) cannot conlerve its 
 light. Some or other may demand, What the rea= 
 fon is, that fuch men are fo eafijy fcized on by Di' 
 fenfes, who have no want of the beft Food and 
 Drink, and which too is moft fit for the fuftaining 
 of Life ? Hereto I anfwer , That in fuch kind of 
 men, the grofs, crude, tenacious, and cold humours 
 do fliut up the paffage to the point and fpark of 
 Life, wiiereby it is deprived of the nutriment, be- 
 ing hereby kept back. For an Example of which, 
 Take a kindled Lamp > in which the Wiek or Cot- 
 ten is furred and clogg'd up with the Dreggs of 
 impure Oil, whereby the Oil can have no farther 
 accefs to the bm'ning Flame ^ and hence it comes to 
 pafs, that it goes out^ and vaniflieth, and dies, though 
 there be flore enough of Oil. So likewife is it with 
 an old Tree, though there be flore of Dung thcie- 
 to applied, yet the vegetation is not alwaies, and for 
 ever, but all things die at laft. Now, the crude, 
 grofs, and clammy humours infinuating themfelves 
 into the Roots, do hafLen on this death, and the 
 Roots being ftopt or clogged, the due nutriment is 
 withdrawn or with-held from the Tree, like as is 
 wont to happen in Men, and in burning Lamps, as 
 we faid but now- 
 All things have their natural Caufes, the which 
 thing God Himfelf hath doubtlclly fo ordained and 
 implanted in Nature, that all things in their order 
 haftening on to their deftruttion, nothing may be 
 found wholly conftant and ftable in natural things, 
 but be all fubjcLT. to decay and death, and that Eter- 
 nity alone, and Divine ftability, (or the durability 
 of co:leftial things only) might be laid open. 
 
 Bright clear Water, having its courfe throtigh 
 Channels and Wooden Pipes, doch, after many years 
 time, at length fill them with Dirt, ftops them up, 
 and bars up its own way and current- This is the 
 Operation of the clear and cold Water of Fountains ^ 
 the hot Baths do it far fooner, as appars in the yifus. 
 grane Baihs,and others, in which the Aq:hiduth and 
 conveyances for the Water are to be frequently open- 
 ed and ckanfed, whereby the Water may have the 
 freer palTage. Bur thole Waters, which being hot, 
 do Cwhea cool) prefendy let fall their fxccs in the 
 
 and fo defpoil the vital Fire of its nutriment. There- 
 fore by how much the more this nutriment of the 
 Life is withdrawn, fo mucji the fooner is the light 
 or vital Fire e.xtinguifticd, and the cold and dark- 
 fome death approacheth the nearer, and becomes fu- 
 periour. From hence arofe that old Proverb, Eat 
 fuch thwqs US are well cockld or baked ; Drihkfuch drinks 
 Its are clear -J Speakf'ich things as are true, that fo you 
 may be loni^-ltvcd. 
 
 Butnowfome may fay, I will therefore (liun trou- 
 bled drinks, and feed upon well-dreft and well-prepa- 
 red Meats, that fo by (hunning the way for Death's 
 entrance, 1 may enjoy a long-life. I confefs, 'tis well 
 faid, for fobriety in meat and drink, and the fiiunning 
 of grofs and crude meats, and troubled drinks, do 
 much help to conferve health : But yet it does not: 
 follow, that he fhall not be at length fubjeft to Di- 
 feafes, nor die:, for there is no meat diat is fo well 
 cook'd, and no drink that is fo clear, but it carries 
 with it its hidden fi^ces, with Which the internal Vef- 
 fels may in a longer procefs of time, be ftopt up, and 
 Difeafes introduced, even as we Ihewed but now, 
 by an example drawn from Fountain^water, which in 
 procefs of time ftops up itsownpadages : And by the 
 fame rcafon too muft thofe Trees that are in the 
 highefttops of the Mountains at length dicv when 
 (though they are nourifhed with molt clear Rain- 
 water) their nutrition is with-held from them by 
 the ftopping up the pores of the Roots. 
 
 But yet 1 do not fay that an Oak, or fome other 
 wild Tree, in wild places, which is nourillied only 
 with the Rain-water, and the Leaves which yearly 
 fall off, dures no longer than fome Fruit- bearing Tree 
 does, which is dunged and nourillied in the Gardens 
 with lingular care and labour: No, for it is known, 
 that an Oak doth many times endure and live a Thou= 
 fand years ; whereas on the contrary, fuch a til led or 
 tenderly-kept Tree fcarce attains to the Hundredth 
 year, and this is to be imputed to the diverfity of nu- 
 triments. The Stag in the Woods, and the Crow in 
 the Air,iive above an Hundred years,but being caught 
 
 and finely fed, they fcarce live Fifty years. _ A man 
 th3t lives barely. upon Bread and \Var.er, will doubt-- 
 lefs projong his Life to far more years than if he 
 
 ufed 
 
Part I. 
 
 Or J An AurumPorabile. 
 
 215 
 
 ufed delicate food and driik;3ncl this is a moll manifell 
 thing, and yec men lay it not to heart, but by enjoy- 
 ing too great a plenty of delicacies, they burthen 
 Nature with too great a load, from nhenceobftni- 
 (Hiions of the bowels do arife , and a way laid for 
 Difcafes to enter in. A Tree that is dunged with 
 too much Dang, gets to it felf, together and at once, 
 too much fatnefs) and this choaks up the Roots and 
 hinders nutrition, whereby the body and boughs 
 thereof cannot be fuppliect, and fo confequcntly 
 Death muft enter in, and put out the Life of that 
 Tree. What Counfel now > You will haply fay, If 
 that obdrudions be the principal caufes of Difea= 
 ies and Death, are there no Remedies, by whofe help 
 fuch likeobftruftions may be prevented-, or(ifthey 
 already are made) be wholly removed and taken a- 
 way.? Yes, [fay, that both may be done, f*i. a time- 
 ly prevention, and alfo a thorough abolition of 
 them, when they have gotten head •, and this to be 
 done by fuch kind of Medicaments which arc friendly 
 to Nature, and contrary unto the things from which 
 thofcobltrui.T:iom and conltipations have their rife •, 
 for cold, tenacious, impure, and watery humours 
 tnull necelTarily be attenuated, mollified, cut, and 
 opened by heating , attenuating, inciding, or cutting, 
 penetrating, and fiery Medicaments ^ for daily Ex- 
 perience teacheth, that it is a thing clearly impolTible 
 for obftruutions to be taken away , wiiat kind fo- 
 cvcr they be of, without the help of warming and 
 penetrative Medicaments- And amongfl: all thofe 
 Medicines, thcfe are found to be the moft certain 
 and maft efficacious, ^/c. the volatile Spirit of com- 
 mon Salt, or of Vitriol, void of corrolivenefs •, the 
 volatile fpirit of crude Tartar ; the fpirit of Urine, 
 and of Salt^Armoniack, and other the like fiery Spi- 
 rits, whieh do e.vercifc their Virtues with moll ex- 
 cellent fucccfs in the taking away of thofe kind of 
 obltruftions. But forafmuch as thofe volatile fpi- 
 rits do for the moft part fet upon and refolve fuch 
 obllrudions as are but beginning, and not as yet con- 
 firmed, but do not feize upon the more fixtand inve- 
 terate ones, as having not fo much ftrength as to fub- 
 due and caft outtl.em, for they are to be caft forth 
 by their like, that is, by the more fixt Medicaments •, 
 which thing no skilful Phyfician will gain-fay. The 
 whole drift therefore of the bufmefs lies in this, 
 VIZ.. by what means fuch kind of Medicaments may 
 begotten, as by whofe help not only the newly-rifen 
 obfl:ruin:ions, but alfo the inveterate and confirmed 
 ones too, may be driven out of the body of man. 
 Now, this cannot be efiefted by Herbs, and fuch- 
 likenatured tilings, as is fufficiently witnefied by this 
 prefent Age , for no body that is fubjed to thofe 
 kind of obilruflions, is cured by the help of the 
 Herbs, and fuch-like thi-ng?. For after that thefick 
 Patient hath a long time ufed the palliative Cure in 
 vain. Death at length comes forcing in, and fnatcheth 
 him away after his licking in many Pots full of 
 fuch fluff, which notwithflanding, by fome good 
 Medicine might have been eafily prevented : For, I 
 pray, how can it poffibly be , that a cold, grofs, 
 crude, and not well-prepared Medicine fhould draw 
 forth cold and grcfs humours, which fliculd be 
 heated, cut, and mollified ? 'Tis jufl as if a man 
 would melt one piece of Ice with another piece of Ice, 
 and fo reduce it into Water ■, but yet it will never 
 be done without lire or heat. And therefore a pene- 
 trating, fiery) living, and good Medicament, is to bci 
 a;vplied unto thofe cold and tenacious obllra,lions,f 
 
 to heat, extenuate, and fcowre them out i and the 
 Syrups, Conferves, and tiie cold, dead, and mucous 
 or llimy Juleps fliould be removed. 
 
 Verily , 1 cannot fufficiently. enough wonder, when 
 I think upon the fmalj regard that is had to the 
 Life of Man, and how ratlily and wantonly itisneg- 
 Iciled, out of meet pure ignorance. 
 
 The prefent World is fo blind and perverfe, as 
 that it neitiier will nor can believe this, though it 
 be fliown it even with ones fingers : But yet this 
 itubborn perverfencfs does not hurt any fomuchas 
 it does the Innocent, who underftand not thefe 
 thir.gs, and are even conftrained to credit thofe 
 things only which they hear of ; all other things 
 they commit to Cliancc and Time, together with 
 the refl of thofe errours, unto which, as likevvife 
 unto other abufes, this endeavour of mine, will ( if 
 God fo pleafe) fome time hereafter adminifler fome 
 Redrefs. 
 
 We do therefore conclude and determine, that the 
 principal and chiefeft occafion and caufe of Difeafes 
 and Death, are thefc llimy, grofs, tenacious humours, 
 which by little and little feize on and ftop up the 
 internal bowels of the body, and withdraw (or with- 
 hold) from the radical humidity its nutriment, and 
 fo debilitates the vital fire more and more, and at 
 length quite cxtinguifh it. 
 
 Now, to remove and throw off thefe Furrings, 
 there is no other Remedy, but that the palfages of the 
 internal bowels be kept open and clean, or that they 
 be opened and unlocked , as 'twere, if already 
 flopt up. 
 
 Now this thing my Jliirum Potahile can perfeflly 
 efFeel ; a better Medicine than which, and one more 
 apt and fit to open all the obftrudions of the body 
 of man, 'twill not be fo eafie a matter to find •, for 
 it is in its nature a fubtile, fiery, penetrating e/Tence, 
 warming all cold afi^eds, attenuating the grofs, in- 
 ciding or cutting the tenacious, and confuming, and 
 drying up all humours and Waterifhnefs -, infomuch 
 that rbeing made ufe of) it doth inhibit and im- 
 pede the generation (or growth) of all kind of ob- 
 ftrudions, and by mollifying and inciding them when 
 they are already generated, doth wholly take them 
 away : Upon this accompt, by its corroborating the 
 radical moillure and vital fpirit, and preferving it 
 fafe and found, it gets the preheminence over all 
 other fuch Medicaments as perform the fame efFeft •• 
 Moft worthy is it therefore to be called and efteem- 
 ed the concentrated center of all Medicaments- For 
 all thofe virtues which are found (Imple and divers 
 or diftind in any of the Vegetables, Animals, and 
 Minerals, and which do, by a Particuhr Efficacy, 
 fet upon Difeafes ; are concentrated in my Aurum 
 Potahile, and being colleded into one, do difplay all 
 the virtues of thofe particulars univerfally, and there- 
 fore do thefe virtues difcover it to be well worthy 
 the name of an Univerfal Medicine : For this Medi- 
 cament does not only exceed all other Medicaments 
 in the moft fpeedy operation of its virtues in the 
 curing of the bodies of men, but alfo it plainly a- 
 bounds with the fame admirable virtues in the bet- 
 tering of the Vegetables and Minerals :, and therefore 
 it is to be preferred beyond all others, and to be ex- 
 tolled with the higheft Praifes. 
 
 But now, if in cafe it fliould abound with far more 
 noble and more efficacious virtues, ( as to the taming 
 and fubduing tlie Difeafes of men) then it already 
 hath j and yet, on the contrary, ffiould efied nothing 
 
 I i i 2 by 
 

 A Vn'iVerfal Medicine ; 
 
 Part i. 
 
 by thofe ies virtues in the melioration or amending 
 of tiie Vegetables and ^.linerals, it could nor pofl;bly 
 claim to \t felf the I'itle of an Univcrfal Medicine, 
 but would be rank'd anionic fl: the number of t'^rrti- 
 ciiUr Mcdinraencs, as tending only to the curing of 
 the Difeafes of Animals- But now, feeing that 
 (asvTC fijid before j my yinrnm Potab'ik doth moftpo; 
 nerfully help not only men, in the Animal Kingdom, 
 bat lii<?vvifeinall the Ve.^etables and Minerals, (out 
 of the Dominion of which three Kingdoms, tt^.' Ani- 
 mal, Vegetable, .-nd Mineral, there is nothing in all 
 Nature to be found; and is a rcoft high Medicine un- 
 to them all ; therefore r'fo th^: Name and Title of 
 a Viiivcrf.xl Afcilicu.c dc*h rightly and properly ap- 
 pertain thereunto. 
 
 The Philofophers do indeed afcribe thus much un- 
 to their UnivcrialMediune, ■vi:^. that it isable to 
 heal all the Difeafes of Mankind, and of the imperfed 
 Mctals; and their defeCls, and tranlmute the faid me- 
 tals into perfea Gold- But concerning its being 
 the fuprc^m medicine for Vegetables too, that they 
 are filent in: Why they lilenr.ly pafs this over, for 
 my part, ! cannot ccitaiiily tell, nor do I deem it ne= 
 cefiarv to expound the fame: 'Tis fufdcient that my 
 felf have proceeded farther, and do manifellly de- 
 clare, that ic will perform the fame in the Vegeta- 
 bles too. 
 
 But yet I wou^i that cKry one fliould underfland 
 me aright, and not count me fo flmple, as if I did 
 liken or compare mv Aumm Potubik with that great 
 Sicne of the Philofophers, which tranfmutes vafl 
 quantities of imperfcft metals into moll pure 
 Gold by projcdiou : No, no, I do not afcribe fuch 
 great Virtues unto my Medicine, which it has not in 
 it, but yet withal I cannot tell, whether or no in pro- 
 cefsoftime fome better thing may not arife there- 
 from- ^ ^ , . ,, ,. 
 Farther too, the Philofophers fiy of their Medi- 
 cine, that it can make varioufly- coloured precious 
 Stones- agreeable in any colour to the natural ones, 
 out of all kinds of Flints- And now, perhaps fome or 
 or.her will require this of my Anrum Potabik ; to whom 
 I reply, as afore, fo agen now at prefent, that ray ^n-- 
 rum P t.iiilc is as yet imperfecl, and is but in its in- 
 fancy, which h^ply fbeing brought by the benefit of 
 the fire unto perfeftion ) will efTcct the felf- fame 
 thing : But in the fl-ate which at prefent it is in, 
 and whereuntomy felf have brought it, and 'tis at 
 prefent conftituted in , it is turned in three hours 
 fpaceina covered Crucible, into a tranfparent 
 Scone, red like blood, and refembling a Ruby: Of 
 which, if a little bit be calt into molten glafs, it 
 makes it green, yellow, sky-co!our'd, or even black 
 too ; according to the morcef^ or lefsr.efs of the 
 .quantity thrown in, or a cording as it isjonger or 
 lelfer while kept in Flux- If now it operates thefe 
 things, whillt unfixt and immature, any one may eafi- 
 ly conjeclure what it would eiied, were it brought to 
 a perfeclconltancy in the fire- 
 
 But it tingcth fome forts of the white Flints, kept 
 for fome hours in the Fire, with various colours, 
 and tranfmutes Sulphur it felf into molt excellent 
 Gold i which eflca makes me more admire, than all 
 the things that I ever heard of-, and how this beti^ 
 ded me, it will be worth the while, at prefent, to make 
 meriticn of. 1 did once put fome ounces of my faid 
 yjurnm Potdik'in a porcclanc dilh, as they call it, 
 and placed it in Sand, that by the evaporation of the 
 Phlegm,! might reduce ii into a Salt : But u hilit I was 
 
 abfent, tlie heat of the Fire being too much en- 
 creafcd , a good part of the Liquor boil'd over the 
 Difli, and fpilc ic feJf into the Sard , Now when 1 
 came to look to it, I perceived that the Liquor which 
 boild ever the di(h had hidden it felf in the hot fand, I 
 took out the faici fsr^d, which with the uiuntM Pet,, bile 
 was gachcrcu into ClJC body or mat's, and I put it in a 
 glafs,and poured Rainwater ihcreupon,and placed the 
 Glafs in liot Sand, then I put xh:: U'ater with which 
 I extraifted the Salt, into a Tunnel, together with 
 the fand uhich was to have the fait feparated from 
 it, and fo I feparated by a Filter the Liqiior thus nw- 
 pregnated wi'h the fait, from the find, which faid 
 Liquor paft through tranfparent, and unchanged in 
 colour and tafte : But now this fand, which was white 
 atfirlt, was clad now with a red colour, which llir- 
 red in me an exceeding admiration, that this Potable 
 Gold of mine fhould tinge the land. This fand I put 
 in a Cupel, and brought it to the Tcft, and it yielded 
 me pure good gold ; and this made me wonder the 
 more ^ for verily it is a wondrous tranfmutacion,and 
 fuch as I never heard of. 
 
 Upon this account do I perfwade my felf, that a 
 piece of Cryllal may by a bare digeftion in this po- 
 table Gold, be digefted into a precious Stone, but [ 
 have never as yet tried it, but yet 1 will try it, if 
 God prolong my Life- 
 Having made this trial with the fand, I prefent- 
 ly coBJedured, that the fand which I planted my 
 Herbs in, and which I moillened with my Aunun 
 Pot^bile, did not impart the full virtues, and all the 
 qualities of the gold to the Herbs, implanted there- 
 in, but did retain the better part to it felf, for its 
 own meliorationi aiid afforded but the fmalleft por- 
 tion thereof ■» the Herbs: Nor did this con jedure 
 deceive me, for upon this occalion I fearcht far- 
 ther into this bulinefs, and fouad it even fo. And 
 therefore, for the future, 1 nfcd i o more fand, for 
 the comiivjriicating the go Jen virtues and faculties 
 unto the Kerbs, bur inftead thereof, I ufed Sawdufl, 
 in which I began to fow or implant the Herbs, for 
 Wood is not endowed with fuch powerful or flrong 
 virtues, as to be capable ofextrading the aureous 
 Elfence out of the Potable Gold , like as the fand 
 doth. 
 
 Upon this accompt therefore any rotten Wood 
 or even the Sawdufb of Wood will be more fit for 
 this 'A'ork of planting, than fand it felf is, for the 
 fand attratls to it felf the mofl principal virtues of 
 the .AurHm Pvtabtk, and thereby doth better it felf, 
 and be/tows upon the Vegetables fome fmall Re- 
 liques only- Had 1 not accidentally found this etfedt, 
 the fand would have robb'd rae of much bene- 
 fit. 
 
 Moreover, this thing likewife, which is well worth 
 the knowing, nuift not be palled over in this place, 
 viz.. that what herbs foever are (by the help of my 
 jiuriun PttdiU) grown up, they are all of them 
 greater and ihonger than the common fort are,and 
 do far exceed tliem in colour, taHe, fmell, and in all 
 virtuous qualities. The reafon is this , becaufe the 
 faid Vinverjal A^edictt.e is a meer fire, and bellows 
 its fiery vigour upon the Vegetable* and Herbs : 
 For it is a thing fufficiently known, that by how 
 much hotter the Countries be, fo much the more 
 efficacious Heibs do they produce. 
 
 TheHerbs that grow in the lower M//.?W Coun- 
 tries, are not comparable to thofe which the upper 
 G..rnu:n) ( which is of a drier and hotter foil and 
 
 that 
 
 K 
 
Pare I. 
 
 Of, an Autum Porabile. 
 
 217 
 
 air; doth produce, neither in odour, favour, nor | 
 virtues- Nor doth H'\g\i:Germany produce Herbs of 
 that efficacy and bignefs as Frame doth, which is of a 
 hotter and drier air than Germany is; for in Gcrma- 
 ny Rofemary will hardly preferve it felf fafe from 
 being injured by the Winter fcafon^ whereas in the 
 French Defarts it grows fo exceedingly well, as that 
 it runs up like Trees, capable of defending one againfl 
 the Rain, the which thing is not ufual in the more 
 cold Countries. Verily mofb excellent Honey is 
 brought from Marfdlks, fwhere the Bees fuck it out 
 ofthe Rofemary Flowers) into Germ^y, Holland, and 
 other Countries, wherewith excellent Metheglin is 
 made, and other Fruits and Flowers conferved there= 
 withal, ButthatHoney which the Bees are wont to 
 gather in Holla-nd and Friezland^ about in the moifl 
 Meadows and moorifli Fields, from the Flowers there 
 growing, hath fcarceany odour at all, but yet it is in 
 goodnefs beyond that which the Bees gather from the 
 ftrong-fmelling Flowers of wild Trees, or from the 
 Bloflbms found in the barren Broomy Thickets. By 
 this therefore it appears, that there is a vaft difference 
 between the Virtues ofthe Herbs in this or that Coun- 
 try, and that fuch men are not a little deceived, who 
 without any regard had, efteeming of all the Enrop'can 
 Herbs alike.do attribute to the Herbs ofthe Northern 
 Countries, as Denmark^, Swcddatid, Norway, ToUnd, 
 the felf-fame Virtues as the ancient Phyficians afcri- 
 bed to theirsj in the more Southern Countries. And 
 thus do our modern Galenills, affirming that their 
 moifl: Herbs in thefe cold Countries are of equiva- 
 lent Virtues to thofe Herbs which the ancient Phy- 
 ficians have made mention of ■■, but Experience fuffi- 
 ciently tellifies what effefts they fliew, and what er- 
 rours the faid Galenifts commit- 
 
 Awenn^ Averroes^ t^gincta^ and the pillager Galen, 
 V?ere not Germcjis^ Swedes, Danes ^ or Polomans, but 
 dwelt in thofe hot Countries, wherein the foil or 
 earth was day and night heated with the Solar rays, 
 and impregnated with an aureous property, and fo 
 communicated to the Herbs wonderful Virtues and 
 admirable Efficacy. Extreamly therefore do they 
 erre, that dare attribute the very felf-fame virtues 
 to the Herbs of our colder Countries. But I con- 
 fefs, that by the benefit of Art, the felf-fame vir- 
 tues may be beftowed on the Herbs, even in our moft 
 cold Lands, which thofe Authors attribute to their 
 Arabian Vegetables •■, Where Nature ends, there the Ar- 
 ttrt miifi begin, fay all the Philofophers, but efpecially 
 Uermes, who is, as it were, the Father of all the Phi- 
 lofophers, doth clearly and openly teftifie the fame in 
 his Smar.igdine Table, faying, Ihat which is beneath^ is 
 like that which is above ; andthat which is above, is like 
 that wkiih is below^for the accom^lijhment ofthe Miracles 
 of one thing, gtc. 
 
 And albeit that thefe words are expounded with 
 divers Explications, yet notwithftanding, the general 
 lenfe and meaning of them points at nothing elfe but 
 the fuperiour and inferiour ©, which generates all 
 things, and brings them to perfection : We cannot 
 by any force draw unto us the upper 0, much lefs 
 enjoin him to make our Lands partakers of his more 
 hot beams, and to fill the Herbs that grow therein 
 with the felf-fame virtues that the Arabian Vegeta-- 
 bles were endowed with : Alas, the Sun neither hears 
 r.or knows us , but proceeds on in its accuftomed 
 courfe, and difchargeth that Office which was impo- 
 fed on it by the Divine Power. If we are defirous of 
 
 bettering thofe gifts of Nature that are vouchfafed 
 unto us, then mufl: we fet about the Work of Art, 
 and fee whether or no it (being an imitator of Na- 
 ture) can afford us any help. And this it will do very 
 eafily, infomuch that our Enropaan Earth may bring 
 forth as efficacious Herbs as the Arabian foil doth, 
 and that with fmall Colts and Labours ; fo that 
 there is no need of my more chargable AnrHm Potabtle 
 for the accomplifhment of that bulinefs ■■, for a fulphu- 
 reous and fluid fait Water will perfedly effeft the 
 fame, feeing that in fait and fulphur the Solar beams 
 are abundantly concentrated and coagulated. This 
 is our Terreftrial ©^y the virtue whereof all things 
 do grow, which if we do but know how rightly to fie 
 and order, we ffiould verily effedt the very felf-fame 
 thing by the helpi of Art, that the fuperiour and natu- 
 ral Sun operates in the Herbs, after its natural kind 
 of way. 
 
 He now that neither underftands nor apprehends 
 thefe things, is not at all worthy to be accounted a 
 Philofopher, but follows after blind Leaders, and hur- 
 ries others as v.-ell as himfelf into darknefs- The Sun 
 performs its courfe in the Firmament, according to its 
 accuflomed manner, and cannot be rendered either 
 greater or lelTer : But we have the inferiour Sun in 
 our power, and can accommodate it to our Herbs ac- 
 cording as we lift our feives, and in what quantity we 
 pleafe. 
 
 Upon this accompt Art doth far outfirip Nature, 
 and 'tis in our power, by the help thereof, (viz.. of 
 Art) to outftrip it, if fo be we have it and know how 
 toufe it. But this Difcourfe of mine hath been more 
 large than I intended,and minds me of defifting there- 
 from. I fuppofe I have fpoken enough for a wile 
 man's inftruiftion ; and thus much I thought it was 
 expedient for me to hint by way of a Parenthefis. 
 
 But yet however, that I may the more clearly and 
 more perfpicuoufly fet down all matters, that fo eve- 
 ry one may fee and apprehend, that I have fet before 
 them the meer pure naked Truth ; I judge it expe- 
 dient to infert here yet more E.xamples and Inflrudii- 
 ons, thatfo whoever has a mind to make trial, may 
 in very deed experiment the Truth of this thing. 
 
 Coagulate my Potable Gold into a red Salt, and put 
 in 3, 4» 5' 6,7,8. 13 grains, more or lefs, into half 
 an ounce of Cryftal glafs melted in a Crucible, that 
 lying in the fuperficies thereof, the faid grains of Au- 
 rHmPotabileSa\x.mzy'otvao\i&n. This done, the glafs 
 will prefently attraft into it felf the Tindure, and be= 
 come of a Jacynth colour, and fo delicate, that it is 
 not a whit inferiour in colour to the natural Ja;- 
 cynth. NB- If the melting be continued yet longer, 
 the glafs will be tinged with a golden, green, sky-co- 
 loured colour, and at lall with a black-colour tod, 
 if it be too long left in the fire. 
 
 He that defires to make a Ruby, let him put the 
 bare coagulated Potable Gold (without the addition 
 of any peregrine thing) into a pure and covered 
 Crucible, and there leave it in fufion for fome hours, 
 and he will get fuch a delicate blood-like coloured 
 glafs, as is capable of refrediing a man's nature, when 
 debilitated with the multiplicity of cares, troubles, 
 and labours, and this by a bare looking thereupon- 
 And anyone may eafily con jedure what arefrefliment 
 it will be to a man's mind, when (after abundance of 
 vain-fpent labours, and exceeding earneft expecT:ati- 
 onsofthe Bleffing ofGoduponthem, he doth at lafi: 
 fee with his own eyes, that that thing is poffible to be 
 effeifted, which with fuch an incredible,ardent a defire 
 
 Kkk ha 
 
2l8 
 
 An ZJniverfal Medicine ; 
 
 Part L 
 
 he hath fo long a time fought after. Without doubt 
 the feeing of the promifcd Land did afFsd; ^iofi^ with 
 an unexpreflible joy, though he never entred there- 
 into. 
 
 What man knows by looking upon the feed of any 
 thing, what colours and what figure the Plant is of, 
 that will proceed therefrom? but'in its growing up by 
 a due nutrition, it doth at length become maniteft, 
 which afore lay therein hidden : Even fo the truefirlc 
 Ens of Gold lies hidden in my Atrum Potatile, and is 
 not vilible to the fight, much lefs doth that appear 
 which fhall or may by Art be made thereout ot, be- 
 fore it fliall have arrived unto ks conftant fixity or 
 fixation, ( as the Chymilts phrale itj by the help of 
 the fire- And therefore mull there be a patient ex- 
 pecT:acion until this Infant wax ripe, and attaining un= 
 to a man-like eftace, it performs man-like adions. 
 
 Who would ever have believed that there lies hid- 
 den in an Egg the whole eflence of a Bird, with all its 
 Members, Feathers, and whatever elfe appertains 
 thereunto, but that it is a thing fo thoroughly com- 
 mon ? The Mull ot Wine, if drank in too great a 
 quantity, hurts the floraach, weakens it, and caufeth 
 Colick pains ; and the fame Liquor, after it is be- 
 come a Itrong and clear Wine, corroborates the fto- 
 mach and the whole body, and fo at length lays off 
 thofe virtues or properties which it held hidden in it 
 felf whilft it was Mull. He that knows a Vegetable 
 Seed, an Animal Egg, or a Mineral prhmm Ens, doth 
 at lall alfo come to"know, that from a Seed there mull 
 proceed an Herb, from an Eeg a Bird, and from the 
 Jirll Ens of Minerals an Univerfal Medicine : But he 
 whofe under/landing cannot comprehend thefe things, 
 but contemns them, as an abjedor contemptible Seed, 
 Egg, and fiifl Ens of Minerals, wz.. a fulphureous Salt, 
 fuch a one doth even ignorantly defpife the Herb, the 
 Bird, and the Univerfal Medicine hidden therein- 
 Therefore no body (hould contemn thofe things that 
 he has no knowledge of. And feeing it is clearly 
 perceptibie, that the firllEns of Gold hides withm it 
 the ti-uc Univerfal Medicine, and which Time, Art, 
 and Nature will really produce unto the Light: There- 
 fore there is no reafon why any one Ihould undervalue 
 my Potable Gold, or defpife it, becaufe it is as yet in 
 its infancy, and is like fome common fait vvater_i but 
 he ihould rather think thus with himfelf, that it is like 
 the white of an Egg, which hides within its inward 
 bowels, as I may fo fay, its yolk, which in procefs 
 of time will bring forth a rnofl: delicate Bird. 
 
 But thefe things which I have already fpoken of the 
 natuie and properties of my ^. '>•««; Potabile may fuf- 
 fice j its Medicinal ufe fliall (hortly be clearly defcri- 
 bed amongll my chiefefl Medicaments, and fo he 
 publiilied, together with them. But he that is min- 
 ded to make ufe of the fame in the meanwhile, may 
 fafelydoit,and without any kind of hazard at all, for 
 it operates nothing elfe, but what is conducive to the 
 good health of man's lx)dy, corroborating the debili- 
 tated radical humidity or vital fpirit, and confirming 
 it, by which the life of man is nourilhed, encreafed, 
 and confcrved many years in a widi'd-for, healthful 
 ellate, jull as a Lamp is kept alive by the pouring on 
 of Oil, or the vigour of the Fire by the appofition of 
 Wood thereunto,by which it is preferved from extin- 
 guiihing and dying : But yet the ufe thereof raufl be 
 warily and judicioufly admitted, i^ecaufe bcicg a mecr 
 pure fire, it mud be moderately adhibited. At the 
 beginning of adminiftring it, one or two drops may 
 be given in Wine, Ale, or other Drink, unto the Sick, 
 
 but befl of all in the fpirit of Wine : Then the 
 next following day one little drop more may be ad- 
 ded, and fo the Dofe may each day be augmented by 
 the appofition of one fmall drop, until it work by 
 Sweat and Urine, and fometimes alfo gently by 
 Stool. 
 
 This Operation being made (and on this wife 
 adlive ) then the Dofes are to be in like manner daily 
 leffened by theomilfion of one drop at a time, until 
 the Sicknefs be happily removed, and fo the Sick need 
 no farther ufe of the fame. 
 
 All things being thus rightly inflituted,it will mani: 
 feftly appear, that all SicknelTes, yea, the hidden ones 
 too, are expulfed by this Medicament, and even as ic 
 were confumed. like as Wood isconfumed by a burn- 
 ing fire, in fuch wife, as that nothing at all of it re- 
 mains, fave the fixed Salt, but is all reduced into a 
 Nothing : For all Difeafes, as we (hewed afore, have 
 their rife from moift humours, which nothing can 
 heal and remedy more commodioufly and fafely than 
 this Aiiri'.m Potabile of mine,which is fuch a vehement 
 rcfifter of all over-abounding humidities, opening, in- 
 ciding, confuming, and difpclling them, juft as tlie 
 confumes Water in a Velfel, and wafts it away by 
 evaporation. Hence it is, that it both cures, and by 
 way of a prefervative, prevents the Leptcjie^ French-. 
 Pox, Q^artane, and all other Fevers ; the Scurvy^ Epi- 
 lipfie, Ajxplexy-, Hypocondriack Ai.Lintho'y^ the Stone in 
 the Reins end Bladder^ the Co///-, and all the Difeafes of 
 the Matrix^boxh known and unknown, and the various 
 SicknelTes of Women, as alfo the dreadful PLigne, Wxth. 
 all the evilefi^eifts arifing therefrom.For it is found. that 
 nothing is fubjed to Corruption and Death, but an a- 
 bounding Phlegm, or an immature humidity which is 
 wont mofb fpeedily to pafs into a putrefaftion. 
 
 From hence it is clearly manifeft, that the fanguine 
 man, which is endowed with a drier temperature, has 
 a far better fruition of his health than the phlegma^ 
 tick man hath, who abounds withmoifture. 
 
 Dry Sugar dures many years, but being moiftencd, 
 it turns fowre, and becomes ropy and ill-fa vour'd,tho' 
 it be a Salt, and is mixt with other corruptible Vege- 
 tables to preferve them. 
 
 From hence may it be feen, that a fuperfluous humi- 
 dity opens the Gate for Death to enter in by, and 
 feizc upon the Life : Baton the contrary, a tempe- 
 rate ficcity preferves all things in an healthful ftate, 
 and barrs up the paffage againft any corruption. The 
 Roofofa curious and llately-built Houfe being full of 
 chinks and holss, lets the Rain in, which moillens all 
 the whole flrufture, and caufeth it to rot and fpoil : 
 But if the holes in the Roof be ftopt, and the windows 
 by which the Rain beats in be fliut, and the windows 
 on the other fide of the houfe, where the wet beats not 
 in, be on the contrary opened, that the warm Air paf- 
 fing in, thereby may throughly dry up all the moi- 
 flurc, and fo inhibit or put a llop to the Progrefs of 
 Pntrefaftion, then the whole frame and building will 
 be kept found and good, which otherwife would be 
 rotted and quite fpoiled. Such men as live in the 
 moorifh fenny Countries, and feed upon a waterilh 
 Meat and phlegmy Drink, are for the moll part of an 
 unfound tempe'ratureiand troubled with Catarrhs and 
 the Scurvy- But on theother hand, thofe that inhabit 
 high and lofty places, and have the fruition of a drier 
 and purer Air, and that feed upon fuch meats as are 
 more conducive unto health \ thefe men know nothing 
 of thofe watery ficknefl'es, but have flourifhing and 
 ftrong bodies, and have firm, compacT:, and exceUently 
 1 well 
 
Pare 1. 
 
 Or^ an Aiirum Potabile. 
 
 219 
 
 well tempered flefli. And this difference is not found 
 only to be in Men, but alfo in all other things. For 
 not only Bread, Flefli, Fruit, and fuch other things as 
 are ufedfor daily food, do grov/ mouldy muchfooner 
 in the moid places, and fo corrupt, but alfo even 
 Metals themfelves too , as Iron, Copper, Tin, 
 and the like, even thefc cannot fliun the corruption 
 of the Air, but are laid over with Ruft, which (in 
 a drier air) they do not fo eafily contraft. 
 
 By all thefe circumftances it is fo clearly eviden- 
 ced, that fupertluous nioifture is to all things al- 
 waies hurtful, and gives an inlet unto Corruption, 
 that 1 think there is nobody that will dare to fay 
 any thing to the contrary- 
 
 And therefore feeing that this Anrum Pctahile of 
 mine doth (amongft all other Medicaments, what 
 Title foever dignified with ) mofl: notably excel in 
 the taking away of Corruptions, and may be moft 
 fafely made ufe of both for prcfcrvation from, and 
 curing of Difeafcs, it ought to be accounted and 
 efteemed of as an Vniverjal Medicine^ and that very 
 defervedly, and which gives place to none- 
 
 Thefc few things I was willing to defcribe here in 
 this place, concerning the ufe, efficacy, and virtues 
 of my Potable Gold, in the curing of the Vegeta- 
 bles, Animals, and Minerals. Ihere fliall fuddenly 
 follow more concerning the fame, in Ihc Defcnftton 
 of the ufe of my Pri/.ciyal Medicaments, 
 
 It now remains, that 1 make feme brief mention 
 ofthe preparation of my aforefaid Potable Gold, al- 
 though I have already often done the fame in many 
 places of my Writings, and have very clearly (liown 
 the fame, but yet after a Philofophical manner, and 
 without fetting down any Receipt, but here and there 
 by piecemeal ; as for example, in my Miracnlum 
 Jld:indi-, in its Expoftion and ContiriHMio)!^ where it 
 is briefly defcribed, fo as that it therefore needs not 
 any farther illuftration. 
 
 But yet, that I may abundantly fatisfie all men, I 
 do rby way of over=plus)admonifh every one, that 
 he do not think thatthis fubjecft is to be fought af- 
 ter from foreign andfar remote places, with a great 
 deal of cofts and charges \ for the matter out of 
 which my Anrum Potabile is made, is in every place, 
 and offers it felf even in a manner ^'/'.if/-', to the moll 
 poor as well as the richeft, and without Cofts, and 
 is brought to its perfeftion in three dales fpace : To 
 that perfciftion, 1 fay, (that you may rightly under- 
 ftand my mind) as its infancy requires, viz.. fo as 
 to become a Lac f^ir^nns^ or a clear Univerfal Me- 
 dicinal Water, which \ caW. Anrum PotabiU\ and in 
 which the moft precious Dragon's-blood lies hid- 
 den, which is tobetranfmuted in a certain limitted 
 time, by fixation, into a conftant Salamander ■-, the 
 which I have not as yet ever efFcifted, and therefore 
 forbear to ufe more words, refting fatisfied with this 
 my Amn>n Pcta'jtk., which 1 have many a time prepa- 
 red by my labour, and here treat of, and forbear to 
 multiply any more words about things of greater mo- 
 ment. In the mean time I doubt not, but that (if time 
 andiabour be bellowed hereabouts) this A itnim Po- 
 tabile would arrive unto the utmoft fixity and con- 
 ftancy, both in the moift and in the dry way. 
 
 Farthermore, I deny not, but that this fame An- 
 rum Potabile may be made of all the things of the 
 whole World, butyetealier and fooner out of one 
 fubjecl than another- ^ here is no Infant that is bom 
 fo foor^ bin that he necejjarily enjoys thatfubjc^.^ and can- 
 not live without it : Therefore fomeofthe ancient 
 Pliilofophers have written ? That Adam and Eve had 
 
 the fame matter in Paradife ; when as yet they had no 
 cloathing- 
 
 Mary the Prophetefs and Sifter of Mofes^ calls it, 
 The Work.of three h.nrs ; another calls it, The Philofo- 
 phical iVort^ of feven dales : \ CLinler-, being a new 
 Difcipleof /:/t'>-/;/fj, do moft trr.iy affirm. That this 
 my Anritm Potabile.^ which I here treat of, may be 
 perfeded not only in three daics, but even in three 
 hours fpace, and that out of fuch fubjeds as are eve: 
 ry where to be found, and which all men know and 
 make ufe of, and cannot be without. 
 
 I fpeak the pure naked Truth, without hiding it 
 under any Coverings of limilitudcs or enigmaiicalex- 
 preffions. And that no body may thinK that thefe 
 my Writings are not to be underftood according to 
 the Letter, but that they conceal all things under an 
 hidden meaning, I do again affirm this third time 
 thatthc Auriim />ofrt/»'(? which 1 write of, may be made 
 of any Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral, but yet 
 fooner out of one than another. For although any 
 one may prepare it out of a piece ot Wood, Bread, 
 or Flefh, and out of an handful of Straw, Leaves, or 
 Grafs, yet notwithftanding, it mny be eafler made out 
 of an handful of the fait of any Vegetables and Ani- 
 mals, as being their concentraicd center ; and this I 
 bequeath to the whole World as an infallible Truth- 
 But I would have every one rightly to undcrftand me 
 what Salt I here point at, viz.. I mean no other, but 
 that which is to be found in all things. 
 
 But that the true meaning of my words may be yet 
 the clearer and openlier difclofed, I will adjoin 
 a fhort but fundamental Difcourfe. It is not fuffici- 
 ent for a lover of Art, that is inflamed with a de- 
 lire of obtaining fome good thing, barely to read 
 over fuch or fuch a Philofopher, and prefenily to ner- 
 fwade himfelf, that by the meer reading, he ffiall 
 forthwith underftand clearly and perfpicuoully the 
 Art treated of- No, but he muft accurately medi- 
 tate, and confider what that is which he feeks for 
 whence it hath its original, and by what means or 
 what way he may obtain it- For if we will make our 
 fearch from the utmoft and extreameft Coafts ( or 
 Bounds as it were) even to the inmoft bowels or 
 center, we ffiall find, that God was One and alone from 
 Eternity, even till the time wherein it pleafed him to 
 create vifible things for His own glory and delight. 
 And when He went about doing this, He faid, Ltt it 
 be : Affoon as this Fiat^ or Let hc^ was pronounced by 
 God, it began to move it felf, and to change (or 
 turn) into four Elements, out of whkh Elements 
 there afterwards arofe all thofe Creatures, which can 
 be difcerned with our Eyes, and without the four 
 Elements they could neither be nor confift, and 
 without them even Nature her felf can bring forth 
 nothing- 
 
 Now, if any one would endeavour after what is 
 purer and better than thofe things which are gene- 
 rated from the Elements, he muft make his attempts 
 by A H r,the which, by overcoming or outftripping 
 NATV K £, hath its tendency to that Butt vvhere= 
 unto Nature cannot attain; and he muft there begin 
 his operation where Nature ended hers, as not know: 
 ing how to make any farther progrefs : For then is 
 aQuintejfcnce obtained, which exceeds Nature one 
 degree , and cannot be promoted by Art any far- 
 ther- 
 But if any one hasadefire of obtaining any better 
 and greater thing than this fame ^««fc,^e/7ce, he muft 
 then proceed fome other way ; for (as we faid but 
 now) Arc caunot make any farther progrefs beyond 
 
 K k k 2 a Q]3in« 
 
220 
 
 A ZJniyerfal Medicine ; 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 a Quintencnce : And therefore neceflity requires, 
 tlvat there be made a regrefs or retrogradation unto 
 the Center from which the very Elements themfelyes 
 have their original- This Center is that Divine -fV.7f 
 or Vniverfal Btrfiiafhroditick^ S.dt^ participating of 
 both natures, which being the true rrin.iun Mobile^ 
 comprehends hidden in it fclf two contraries , which 
 afting one upon another, do bring forth the three 
 Principles of the three Kingdoms, f^cgaahk-, Ammal 
 and Mineral^ and do nourifh them by the four Ele- 
 ments, and muUipIy them, and this is the common 
 tourfe of nature. 
 
 But now Art makes a much farther progrefs, and 
 reduceth the Circinnjcrcr.ct: to the Center^ and doth not 
 permit unto that Center or rrmitm Mobile, that the 
 Patient be overcome or fubdued by the Agtf't, by 
 the operating of thofetwo contraries upon each other, 
 nor dees itYuffer it to pafs into thofe three king^ 
 doms, ^i^- t^egctAble^ A»imal, and Mineral^ as into 
 its Circumference, but doth fofubdue, and keep, and 
 bridle in that Primum Mobile^ that it does not divide 
 or dilate its Virtues by a large circumferential walk, 
 as it were, but doth in a manner fwallow them down 
 into its own felf, or concenter them •, juft as if a Dra- 
 gon fhould bite off his own venomous Tail , and 
 therewithal nourifli himfelf, when he cannot light 
 upon any other Food, and fo by this means becomes 
 a moft high Medicine- And therefore moft wifely 
 faid Hermes^ Our Dragon doth not die, but by its Brother 
 and Silter. It is a thing necelTary, tliat one Fire 
 fhould overcome the other, and tranfmute it into a , 
 more noble eflence-Such a fireasthis,is my Alkahefitcal 
 ^rcanitm^or tvns Aunt m Pot ab He iVi'ith which wonderful 
 things may be effbaed- It is a tranfparent clear 
 Water, wherein the colour and form of Fire lieth hicl- 
 den and introverted ; but yet that internal Fire is 
 ealily and fpeedily raanifeftable, and educible unto 
 view, by either the dry or moilt Fire. The dry 
 way is done by the heat and fire of common Wood- 
 Coals ; and as for the moift way, a well-reftified 
 Spirit of Wine is to be ufed, and fuch as is void of 
 all its Phlegm- Take therefore of the dry and con- 
 centrated Fire % ]■ put it into 5 iij- of the moift Fire 
 or Spirit of Wine, which moift fire will prefently 
 fwallow up the dry one- Thefe being both of them 
 digefted by a due heat of Fire for fome hours, in a 
 long'-neck'd Phial or Bolthead, will put on a blood-red 
 colour, and will manifeft and expofe to view its con- 
 centrated Virtues, with curious colours, and with a 
 pleafant tafte and fmell,by which heart-corroborating 
 qualities it far excels all other Aromatical EITcnces, 
 
 that ferve for the ftrengthening of the heart ;, for 
 thofc properties which afore lay turned inwards, 
 and were fhut up in its inmoft bowels, are all of 
 them drawn forth and made vifible , and become 
 fubjed to the external diftinguiftiing fenfes- By 
 this means the abjed and little Infant which was 
 clad in a white colour, becomes a fpeaking, ftrong, 
 and prudent man, and this very Lac Virgtnts it felf 
 is changed into the moft efficacious Dragons-blood, 
 This now is the moft true Afia-vita, and the moft 
 tru&iVine 0/ //frf/f /;, feme few drops of which being 
 daily taken, do conferve good health, and beftow 
 long Life. 
 
 Many honeft men have with their own eyes feen at 
 my Houfe the admirable and moft fpeedy efFedls of 
 my often-mentioned true Potable Gold, and efpe- 
 cially its operative efficacy in the tranfmutation of 
 thelmperfed Metals. 
 
 If therefore fuch a one as is troubled with grievous 
 Difeafes, and who finds no help in thofe vulgar,com- 
 monlyknown Galenical Medicaments, Ihall need the 
 help of this my Aumm Potabile, I will out of Chri:= 
 ftian Charity willingly beftow upon him fo much 
 thereof, as may be requifite for the recovery of his 
 former healthy and this I will the rather do, that 
 the wonderful miraculous deeds of the Divine Po- 
 wer may be made known in thefe laft times. 
 
 No body ffiall fiffi out from me more Diredions 
 than thofe which I have too and agen hidden in my 
 Writings, concerning this Aurum Potabtle i let it 
 fuffice every one, that he can find this Medicine ready ■ 
 prepared in my hands, the which fcarce one of an 
 hundred would be able to make, were he a PofTellbr 
 of the Secret. 
 
 This Medicine fhall lie ready prepared by me as 
 long as I live ; I will not deny it to any body ^ nay 
 more, I will openly Ihew the ufe thereof too, unto 
 fome of my fricnds,in the melioration of both the Ve- 
 getables,Animalsand Minerals themfelves,that fo the 
 Wonders of GOD, and the poffibility of Art may 
 bemanifefted,and come to light. 
 
 And now, may it pleafe the Omnipotent GOD, 
 who is the beginning and the end of all things, to in- 
 fpire us, out of His meer Grace and Mercy, and im- 
 plant in our cold hearts, which are ftopt up with 
 darknefs, the warming heating fpark of His Holy, 
 Eternal, Infinite, and all-corredting Light, that it may 
 therein, as in fome faltifh and fulphureous Earth, be 
 nourifhed, and grow up like a little Seed, and bring 
 forth Fruit a Tlioufand fold, to the Salvation of all 
 our Souls. Amcfi. 
 
 THE 
 
Part I. 
 
 221 
 
 THE 
 
 SECOND PART 
 
 O F 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 In which is defcribed the Magnificent Coming of 
 
 ELIAS THE ARTIST; 
 
 And that the wonderful Salt of Philofophers is the mofl: Excellent Medicine 
 of Vegetables^ Animals^ and Minerals. 
 
 By the help of which, not only Fegetahlef do grow, and are multi- 
 plied; Difeaies of Men and Animals, whether internal or external, are miracu^ 
 loiifly Cured, and Imperre6t Metals really changed into Sol and Luna ; yea, pure 
 Sol rendered able to fuftain the Force of Fire beyond the natural 24^^. 
 to the 2 S^h. degree i but alfo from every Plant natural Sol is extra(5ted, and diC- 
 pofed to fixednefsj for multiplication of it felf. 
 
 THE PREFACE. 
 
 Candid Readerj 
 
 AMong ancient Philofophers of the Heathen^ as 
 Chaldeesj Egyptians, Perfians, Greeks, atid 
 Romans, yci^ and the Hebrews themfclves, 
 It was a brig-received Citfiom^ cmgmatically to 
 frcprfg what they efitemed mofi worthy of conjideratio'i^ 
 lift juch Secrets jhonld either he divulged or loft • to the 
 end-, that vnxforthy perfons having regard to the Letter 
 only^ and mt re/pc£ling the Sence exprejjed in thofe words, 
 might h>iow nothing at all of them : But contrarily, the 
 Worthy^ eidightentd with the Light of GOD and ^Na- 
 ture^ well underftanding what is fig/nfied by thoJeWords^ 
 might thence reap moft profitable Fruit. The Truth of 
 this is fufficie-iitly proved by the Writings of ancient Phi' 
 lofophers ; alfo by the Books of Moks^ and the Ht (lories 
 rf the Prophets. For all the fe^ or the great eft p.irt of 
 them^ do indeed need another explication^ than the Letter 
 it felf fee ms to inferr^ becaufe joine occult matter is in that 
 contained. 
 
 In like manner our Chriflian Philofophers^ both ancient 
 and modern^dif covered tlmr ^xcznnm's enigmatically; aSy 
 among many other, Balilius and Paracelfus ^;W : For, al-. 
 
 though the fe men delivered all things trite, yet they are un- 
 der jhod by very few : which hath been the occaf on of Con- 
 tempt and Reproaches,with which ignorant men, and the 
 evilly-difpofedy afpcrfe all Philofophers (amomr whom 
 Kings themfelves^and divers Princes, in times p.ift have 
 been, and are yet found ^ and fay. There is no fuch 
 thing in Nature, as tlie Tranfmutation of Metals into 
 a better ftate ; and that The Univerfal Tin(fture or 
 Stone of Philofophers was never. found by any Man. 
 Truly it is a matter worthy of fijarp Reproof, and not to be 
 fufferedy that the Chymical Writings of m.wy excellent pi. 
 ous men, fimuld ( although moft con fonant to F'erity') be fa 
 inalicioH^y rejefled, and proclaimed falfe. This is rather 
 due to Chymical Mountebanks, (^undirftanding nothing Icfs 
 than Chymiftry) becaufe they expofe to fale the Philofj- 
 phers Stone unto others : This fort of men have rendered 
 Chymiftry fo vile and abje^ at this day, as many men 
 judge It a Reproach to be called Chy mifts- 
 
 That we might, as far as is poffible, prevent this evil, 
 an^dcmonftr ate thofe things to be true.^ which the above- 
 named Writers have left to us, under the Title of The 
 Salt of Ancient Philofophers, ir/j/r/j /^y Paracelfus .'^ 
 called Eiias the Artift ; we refolved to effe^ the fame thus, 
 
 L 1 1 Fara- 
 
2^2 
 
 The Preface. 
 
 Part L 
 
 Paracelfus treating of the Tranfmutation of Metals^ 
 hecaufe he was -fiot nilllng to infigmz.eThz Salt of Phi- 
 lofophers with ttstruc name^ refens the Reader to Elias 
 the Artift, who, he faith, when he comcs^ will teach the 
 way hy which the Tranfinittation of Metals may be eJfeEt. 
 ed. Here Mm imagine Wonders, and generally regar- 
 din?- the words thanfclvcs, expe^ the cumtng of a certain 
 Manfent from GOD, whom they believe, {hall in the later 
 Jges of the IVorlJ, difcover occidt Arts, and make known 
 tl7e Secrets of Nature. Whereas, if the Name Elias the 
 Artift be rightly confidered,or a tranfpofitionof the Let- 
 ters be made, wc read Artis Salia,^«fl' thefe Salts indicate 
 Elias the Aitift of Paracelfus- Thefe perform Won- 
 citrsjo as a man fojfefrng the Salt of jirt, or ksowmg the 
 nature thereof.^ fiuty effdt Wonders. Elias the Artift 
 tofuch a man appears to be the caufe of ejfetling marvel- 
 lous things. 
 
 BafilTus, in his Tefiament, did very obfcitrely defcribe 
 this Salt, where he fieweth the way of making The Stone 
 of Philofophers of tOOTW0« rttrtol; yet no man is able 
 from thofe Writings to gather which way he Jhotdd prepare 
 ihefame. 
 
 jilfo he that confiders the rrords of Paracelfus, where 
 he foretells the coming of EVmsthQ ArtiR, will find, that 
 in that he defcribes Vitriol, both obfcitrely and openly ; ob- 
 fcurely indeed in his Treatife entititled, The Tindlure of 
 Naturalifts ; openly, in that which he left, touching Vi' 
 trial in Species. Me would not cxprejlyfay, that Elias the 
 ArtiftjOr The Salt of Art, rvas exprejly contained in 
 Vitriol; only this he was willing to jhew to Pofterity,viZ. 
 That the Art of changing vile Metals into better, was de-. 
 fcended from the Ancients unto him, and with hunjlwidd 
 perifii, until the coming of Elias the Artift, who pmld 
 jhew \he trite Tranfmutation of Metals, viz. in the 
 58th. year of the fc liming Age. This time many have 
 e.xvtiied with grief and trouble, hut in vain hitherto. 
 
 Many Philofophers, befides Paracelfus, haveprediUed 
 the Coming of Elias the Artift, rvho coming from the 
 North, attended with a firong Lion, fiiall teach Arts, 
 find out and manifeji the fecret Treafitres of Nature, 
 and difpofe the various mutations of mundane things for 
 the benefit of Mankind. Thefe have ?nany men in vain be- 
 lieved to be fpoken touching fome one man; for if we con- 
 fidt the Writings of thvfe men, who have fet down this 
 PrediHi n, we fiiall find them not to have intended a 
 Man, but Salt-petre only, and his Brother the Salt of 
 Art : Hence it is that they cry out, O our Salt ! O our 
 Salt-petre ! O our Radical Salt ! Hence alfo it is, 
 that they write, If GOD had not created this Salt, it 
 had been impolTible to make our Medicine ^ and va> 
 riuns exprefiijns like to this, in matiy places of their Wri- 
 tinas they ufe, as I have declared in fever at of my TraEls, 
 tfpecially in the Third Part of The Profperity of Ger- 
 m.iny where (among other things) I faid, I hoped that in 
 time 'to come, by me fliould be unto all men exhibited 
 Sa.'t-Pctre, or The Salt of Art, fitting CUke fome Mo: 
 narch) in a Triumphal Chariot. 
 
 / doinz, this, take Paracelfus out of his Sepulchre, and 
 (as himfelf prediEied) turn him tomirds the Orient, that 
 IS, I expofe him (o the Light, by which the verity of that 
 Predi^ion may be dijcerned by All. 
 
 Perh.ips my Difciples may da the fame ; and they feeing 
 the verity of the Tranfmutation of Metals, or rejtoring 
 the Sick to health in a way unheard of, draw me after 1 am 
 dead, or whilft I live, out of the Sepulchre into which ?ny 
 evil-minded Enemies have cafi me. And when they do 
 thefe things, they will cffe^fonotable a mutation in Medi- 
 cine and Alchymy, as indeed for the future there will he 
 even no Artin;who will not fee and undcrftandtbe frauds, 
 irnorance, or hatred of the proud and high-fiown Adverja- 
 
 ries of Art and Truth, andjnjlly oppofe themfelves againft 
 fiich malicious Enemies of true Verity. Thus may thofe 
 who have long before been blind, receive fight, profefs 
 themfelves to have beenOppofers of Truth, and ftrenuoufly 
 labour tofiipprefs and amend what's amifs. Infuch a, 
 time not only true Medicine, and the tnofi noble Art of 
 Chymiftry woiild begin tofiourifly, hut alfo all Arts would 
 afcend to a greater degree of perfeilion ; and fo one Age 
 will exhibit it felf much more excellent than others. 
 Wherefore my Prayer is, that the Gates may be opened to 
 divine and natural Arcanums, that Elias the Artift, rt«<i 
 the Salt of Art would difcover the predicted Golden Age, 
 and that the mojl Wife GOD would unto pious men arant 
 an entrance into the Land of Promife, that they may 
 thence bring Fruits,and pre/ent them to their Neighbours, 
 for the Honour of GOD mofi high, and thejolace and com- 
 fort of the Needy, Amen. 
 
 Indeed Paracelfus makes fome mention of this Salt in 
 his Works, calling It Sal Enixum ; but we in our Treatife 
 ( publifiied in the year i6%S,) of the nature of Salts, have 
 fomewhat t7Jore largely expounded the matter, calling that 
 Sal Mirabile. In the prefent Treatife of the Salts of Art 
 It is exprejly called Elias the Artift ; the verity of which 
 Appellation, we fhall by the help of GOD clearly demon- 
 flrate, viz. tW Elias the Artift o/paracelfusy^?w]fff 
 no other than the Salt of Philofophers, prepared of Salt- 
 petre, ccmmonSaltjO/- Vitriol. Indeed it is in tafie 
 like Salc-petre, Jf^ it is not inflammable, although it may 
 he procured hy Art. Paracelfus and Bafilius made it of 
 Vitriol, as fcveral parts of their Writings fhew, which 
 for better knowledge fake 1 fhall here infert. 
 
 Elias and El'ii\^a, what men they were, and what rnira- 
 cles they wrought, Sacred Letters JIj.w. The Miracles 
 they wrought were Divine ; the fu:ne almofi is our Salt 
 able to perform in a natural way : Therefore not without 
 reafon have we called it The Monarch of the World, or 
 Elias the Artift ; for there is 710 jubjeH found in the na- 
 ture of things, by help of which we are able to do the fame, 
 as may be effe^ed by the benefit of This. The truth of 
 this all Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals do witnefs, as 
 we fljall demonftrate varioufly anon. 
 
 But fome One may fay. Since Chymiftry is treated of 
 info various Tongues, and there are found almofi infinite 
 numbers of Chymical Books, How comes it topafs, that this 
 Salt hathfo long remained unknown, even until this day^ 
 and it was never fo clearly defcribed by any Writer, as we 
 thence could underhand what it is, or whnh way it Jhould 
 he made ? J anfwer. Writers and Readers alfo are found 
 of a twofold condition. They, who writ by the guidance 
 of Experience, did all acknowledge, andobfcurely defcribe 
 this Salt : Otherwife they, who compiled their Books from 
 the Writings of others, being ignorant of the thing it 
 felf, propofed nothing but Eitlions, leading the Reader in- 
 to a Labyrinth and various By-paths. 
 
 Writers are diligently to be confidered; regard is not 
 fofnuchto he had of their Words as of their Sence ; if 
 this be minded by you, you will find none of the true Wri- 
 
 ters, who did not make mention of this Salt , which, as it 
 is maniffi to thofe that underfiand,fo it is hid from thofe 
 who are yet ignorant of thefe things. Tou may find 
 very tnany, who in Writings feek. the Stone of Philofo- 
 phers, and yet are ignorant what they feek., or what the 
 Stone is, whether it he fomethtng hLuk^or white, hot or 
 cold. And if fitch a thing fiwuld be prefe/ited to thofe 
 men, they would fiegleCt it, and after their fafiiion lea- 
 ving the mofi precious Jewel, proceed to pleafc the?nfelves 
 in Dung. Many men handle this Salt with their handsy 
 yet what they have in their hands they know not, hecaufe 
 they are blind, and their arrogant mind infiigates them to 
 betake themfelves to things more vile. But on the contrai 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mmdi. 
 
 223 
 
 ry, not a few may be found-, who will divulge none of fliall be open to my Friendsy (yet with refpefl of perfo/js) 
 
 more than is fit^ ts already dtfcovcred to Enemies. Is 
 there any reafon we ^loitld call Pearls before Swine ? 
 If what others obfcurely treated of, 1 fhould here openly 
 communicate to Enemies, would they, think you, ceafe to do 
 evilf and bepn to do well ? Although Ipurpofe not at 
 all to difcover the Preparation and VJe of this Sal Mira- 
 bile, yet I doa'ot not, but that I jhall prepare and make 
 eafie the way for finding it out;fo as in a few years fpacc 
 all Europe will fee Alchymy flourlfl', and not fo much 
 any other way, as from the difcovery of this Salt. 
 
 Of other Arts, which we jhall perceive to arrive to 
 a more excellent fiate, tbe reafon is the fame. It is 
 fujfcicnt that I have fhewcd fuch an incomp.jrable Salt 
 is found in the nature of things; yea, I dcmonjirate the 
 place where it may be found. If Columbus had not told 
 us. That the Occidental part of the Earth did abound 
 with Gold and Silver , who could have found the fame, to 
 bring fuch Tre,". Cures thence to us ? If fame One had 
 not revealedi, that gold, filver, and precious Jiones were 
 contained in Caverns of the Earth, and Pearls to be found 
 in the Sea, who (^doubting the event') would ever have 
 been at thofe vait charges of Diggings and Fijhings ? 
 But now we all k»owfuch Treafures are to be found there-, 
 none refujeth to fearch for them. And although they are 
 not obvious to all, yet that they are in being no man doubts- 
 even fo I judge It to be with our SalMirabile. 2'he vir- 
 tues of it I deliver, which are great, and with mofi eafie 
 labour, and a very little direClion ; other things may he 
 thereby obtained. The cnlv moving caufe why / propofe 
 thefe things, is the mr.fi Wife COD., whofe wonderful 
 Works I neither would nor could hide or keep to my feif any 
 longer. 
 
 ihofe excellent things which they know. Oh , how hap- 
 py is he that ftudies Taciturnity .' he is permitted to lead 
 a (Jiiiet life. I indeed do ferioujly bewail my fo liberal 
 Communication of Secrets, but 1 did that to difcover the 
 Wonders of GGD, toferve my Neighbour, and to pre- 
 ferve our Art. Egregious things would often be exhi- 
 bited to the World, did not the high Ingratitude of mor- 
 tals deterr the Writer, and prevent his good intention. 
 When they find a man endowed with the Knowledge of 
 fome things beyond others, they flock about him, entreating 
 him to impart his Secrets to them : there are found di-. 
 vers of this fort. The Wealthy come, the Needy come, 
 and men of a middle condition alfocome. The fir fi fort 
 of men being, for the mofi part, very covetous, will re- 
 turn nothing in exchange j the fecondfort have not any 
 thing to give ; but the third only we have fometimes 
 found grateful. What we have acquired with v-.ry great 
 labour, we cannot eafily impart to Enemies, Tet it of- 
 ten happens, that thofe who are judged good, are after, 
 ward found evil, and in a Farnnerian w/?«»fr, /or Bene- 
 fits received, return Calumnies and Reproaches. There- 
 fore, tn fuch cafes there is need of great circumfpeilion, 
 and we mufl not difcover all we k>Jow, left afterward we 
 repent. But as for my felf, I have not changed my 
 mind, I have begun to make known the Wonders of the 
 Omnipotent, and will go on (GO D willing) and kindle an 
 imextinguifiinble Light to this blind World. In this 
 Treat ife I fij.ill only defcribe the wonderful Virtues of 
 the Salt of Art, refer ving the way of preparing or ufe to 
 my Friends ; for what are our A'ms, we miifl not caft 
 them away, left our Enemies take them up, 0nd wound us 
 with them, after the example of Famnev. 
 
 I f peak of the Salt of Art, the Virtues of which I 
 Ittiow, 1 will not communicate its Preparation or Vfe • all 
 
 THE 
 
 SECOND PART 
 
 O F 
 
 Miraculum Mundi, &c. 
 
 I. of the Original of this Salt, 
 
 Touching the Original of this Salt, I have 
 before Ihewed which way it fhould be 
 made of F. and common Salt. Yet I would 
 not have thefe words be fo taken, as if the 
 fame could be prepared no other way than this. The 
 methods of preparing it are various ; for it may be 
 prepared of G. onIy,without the mixture of common 
 fait, yea, of allume,fulphur,or common fait, with- 
 out the addition of H. or without the benefit of the 
 Fire of any other fait. No fait can be found, which 
 is not a commodious matter for this fait of Art ; 
 yet it may be colleaed from one more eafily, and 
 more copioully than from another. But becaufe we 
 exhibited one only way of preparing that before, as 
 
 well for other reafons, as becaufe of want of time, 
 and left we fhould be too tedious to the Reader j 
 therefore we now think it convenient to Cgnifie, 
 that thefe wonderful falts may be prepared, and 
 that they are endowed with fpecial virtues denied 
 to others, which they exercife, as well univcrfally as 
 particularly, in Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals- 
 For, Who can deny that fait to be of another na- 
 ture, which remains after the Deftillation of fpiric 
 of common fait, and that which is left in theDeftih 
 lation of Aqua-.fortis or R. although they be falts of 
 a molt diverfe nature , of which thefe are prepa- 
 red } 
 
 LII2 
 
 Vcl 
 
[24 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part I 
 
 . Yet every one ofthefe is endowed with power of 
 diflblving and fixing. But tliat which is made of 
 Sal Armomach volatilizeth all bodies fo, as the fouls 
 ofthempafs over by Alembick; in like manner a 
 fpirit feparatcd from SaLArmomack^ by the help of 
 C- manifclts other virtues and properties, than thofe 
 which are found in the Spirit of common Salt- To 
 one more accurately confidcring thefe, ArcMiumsoi 
 great note will exhibit thcmfelves : But more of 
 thefe elfewhere. 
 
 Of the Name of this Vniverfal Salt. 
 
 ON this Salt we impofe the name of, The Vtii- 
 vcrfd Salt of Philofuphers^ refpeding thofe ex- 
 cellent Powers and Virtues, with which it is endowed 
 above any other Salt. We defervedly call it Uni- 
 verfal, bccaufe it is the highcft of thofe Medicaments 
 which proceed from Minerals,Animals,orVegetables^ 
 as in the following Treatife lliall be demonftrated : 
 Of Philofophers is added, ()ecaufe the demonftration 
 of this matter is necellarily grounded on Philofo- 
 phick foundations. 
 
 Of the Virtues of this Vniverfal Salt. 
 
 Touching its virtues, they are innumerable, and 
 we JLidge it impolTiblc to difcovcr them all ; for 
 if I fliould undertake only to v\ rite what I knowofthe 
 virtues thereof, a whole years time, day and night 
 labouring, would fcarcely fufficc. Perhaps GOD will 
 difcover more to others \ perhaps they, who are 
 younger than I, may find what is to me unknown- By 
 me the firft, by me the Guide is opened to the Sear- 
 cher an entrance to things more excellent. 
 
 My purpofe is to communicate to others thofe 
 things, which the molt Bountiful GOD hath large= 
 ly conferred on me? for His Honour, and the profit 
 of my Neighbour : I intend, I fay, to divulge the 
 wonderful Works of GOD, but at this time ( by 
 reafon of various bufinelTes and hindrances) I Iliall 
 only make mention of fome of the virtues, which 
 1 find to be in my Sal Mirabilc, or Salt of Art, refer- 
 ving the more fpecial explanation of all things to a 
 more commodious time. 
 
 This Salt is rightly called Unlverfal, becaufe it is 
 the principal Medicament of the three Kingdorasjw'^. 
 of Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, and hath po- 
 wer to perfeft and augment the fame. I remember 
 that heretofore I have attributed to Nitre the Dig- 
 nity of this, and not without reafon i yet in many 
 things it is inferiour to this Sal Mtrabilc, foasitde- 
 ferves not to be compared with the fame. There- 
 fore in no wife correfpondent to Verity are thofe 
 Writings, which teach. That by the help of a certain 
 Corrorive,atranfparent Salt may be extrafted from 
 a Metal, and that fait, dilTolvable in water, is the true 
 Salt of the Wife- Such Writings are of no other 
 life, than to feduce the Ignorant by Lyes. 
 
 For the fait in which a Metal is dillolved, deferves 
 no more to be called or efieemed a fimple fair, but 
 receives the condition of a metallick Vitriol, whether 
 that Vitriol is green or yellow, of Svl and Luna^ox: 
 white, of A'lcrciiry^ J^ftter^ and Saitrti •, or blewifh: 
 green, oi Mars and I'^ttms ; for what is to be an Uni- 
 verfal Medicine, extending it felf to all Kingdoms, 
 muft necellarily have no extraneous thing mixed with 
 it. This is confentaneous even to the Judgment of 
 Rufticks. 
 
 The true Univerfal 5alt fliould be partaker of no 
 metallick matter \ but altogether pure, and moil ea- 
 lily able to put on the nature of all things contai- 
 ned in the kingdoms of Vegetables, Minerals, and 
 Animals, and fo exhibit it felf a moft excellent Me- 
 dicine. And fince thefe Properties are mofl: fully- 
 found in our Univerfal fait, there is no reafon we 
 fhould afcribe to it lefs Honour, or not preferr it be- 
 fore all falts. 
 
 Intending toexpofe the Verity ofthefe fayings to 
 all, we begin firit with Vegetables. 
 
 Of the wonderful power of the Univerfal Salt irt 
 the kingdom <?/ Vegetables. 
 
 I Said in my Miracle of the World, and the Con- 
 tinuation thereof, that a fulphureous fweetfalc 
 is the mod excellent Aledicament of al! Vegetables: 
 The Truth of which no man hath caufe to doubt ; 
 for I have fhewed in various places, that barren 
 grounds are made fruitful by the addition of that Of 
 this fait, which we may ufe inftead of Dung, there 
 is great diverfity, for it is prepared of Wood-allies, 
 of Stones burnt to Lime, and of other bodies putre- 
 fied by length of time. But the Chief of all thefe 
 is Salt=petre, being the fait of Vegetables, Animals, 
 and Minerals putrefied, efpecially bccaufe it is en- 
 dowed with a certain occult and fweet Fire. Alfo 
 the fignature proper to it, dearly cxpofech to our 
 fight its augmentative virtue i for it exhibits not ic 
 felf in a Cubical form, as is obferved in corrofive 
 falts, (altogether adverfe to the augmentation of Bo- 
 dies) but Dart- like or acuminate. By this fignature 
 Nature intended to (liew of what condition and vir- 
 tue falt-petre is. And indeed, if Experience be con- 
 fulted, the things we have propofed will be found 
 true, viz.. that in Nitre is a principal Virtue, aug- 
 menting Bodies. As for example : R. what Corn 
 you will, fteep it for a night and day in Rain-water, 
 wherein Nitre is diilblved, commit it to the earth, 
 and you will find, that it not only fhoots up more 
 copious flalks and ears, and hath a more fwift ger- 
 mination and ripening, but alfo is endowed with a 
 much more acceptable tafte, than other Corn in the 
 vulgar manner produced by the help of the Dungs 
 of Animals- But of this matter, more at large elfe- 
 where. 
 
 Pure Nitre is a fait genited in old Stables, from 
 the Dung and Urine of Animals. Urine and Dung 
 are no other than Vegetables themfelves, putrefied by 
 digeflion in the llomachs of Animals :, which con- 
 codtion is wont to be perfeded in 24 hours fpace: 
 But Vegetables and Animals, out of the ftomachsof 
 Animals, cannot be putrefied without long time, efpe- 
 cially when they have acquired fome undue hard- 
 nefs. 
 
 Thus 
 
Part 1. 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 225 
 
 Thus we fee Putrefaaion differs in refpeft of time, 
 yet it acknovvlcdgeth no diverfity ; for whether it be 
 made in the ftoraach of an Animal, or out of it, it 
 is all one, and never dirtcrcnt ii virtue^. By this 
 fnedium the Ves^etable kind hath its propagation and 
 cncreafcbiit altogether in a ruftical manner, bccaufe 
 a better way is not vet known- 
 
 Indeed, unto Philofophers is known a more eafie 
 and more compendious way of reducing Vegetables, 
 Animals, and Minerals to their firft matter, or into 
 a fulphureous fweet Salt ; yet they referved the fame 
 among their yircamirns. left fuch a moll noble Art 
 (hould be made too common. 
 
 As it is altogether impoflib.'e that the feed of any 
 Vegetable fct in dry Herbs fnould gro.v, or Man him^ 
 fclf > or any other Animal, (liould be able to fuftain 
 Life, cncreafe, or be multiplied, with the only ufe 
 of Sand or Flints ; but earth moiftened with a faline 
 liquor, is required, unco which the feed mufl: be corn; 
 mictcd i and in Man fuch Aliment mull: be digefted in 
 theltomach, as will cafily be changed into nutri- 
 ment of the Parts : fo it is impollible to augment 
 Metals, unlefs they have been before reduced to their 
 firft matter, and fo fpiritually conjoined each to 
 other, as one may give nourifhment and encreafe to 
 the other. All thefe things are far more eafily and 
 more readily performed by Art than by Nature- 
 
 By Art that all Vegetable, Animal, and Mine- 
 ral fubjeJts may moft eafily and fwiftly be reduced 
 to their firft matter, which is a fulphureous fweet 
 Salt ; and by that means be multiplied, the true Uni- 
 verfalSalt clearly demonftrates i which fait, if we 
 obferve its fignatureor long figure) is not only more 
 excellent than Salt-petre, but is alfo generated eafily 
 in the air. We have difcerned fand or a ftone to 
 imbibe this falt^ if expofed to the air, and from an 
 ingenited virtue thence to grow, yea, and that which 
 firft grew being taken awaVi in a few dales fpace ano- 
 ther hath fliewed it felf, and fo to Infinity. Indeed 
 thefe things feem impoflible, but they are not fo to 
 him who rightly knows Nature ; for that augmenta- 
 tion is efFedlcd in a Magnetical mannerjof which we 
 do more fully treat in another place. 
 
 Hence, nor without good caufe, do we afcribe to 
 thisUnivcrfal ftlt the title of HERO, and a moft 
 rich and liberal Monarch. 
 
 The PROCESS. 
 
 A tnojl eafie Way of acquiring Spirit of Salt to- 
 gether with the Sal Mirabile. 
 
 R. of common fait two parts, dilfolve it in a fuffi- 
 cient quantity of common water; pour -A. upon the 
 folution ■■, pat the mixture into a glafs Body, or a glafs 
 Retort well coated, or elfe into an earthen Body or 
 Retort. If a Body, fet on an Head, and begin to de- 
 ftil with Fire of fand, encreafingyour Fire gradually •, 
 with the firft heat comes off the unfavoury Phlegm, 
 which gather apart ^ when the Liquor comes forth 
 fowridi, change your Receiver, and receive the fowre 
 fpirit : Continue the operation till no more fpirits 
 will arife, then let out the Fire, and permit the Vef- 
 fel to ftand in fand till all is cooled, when cold, take 
 it out, and ^if it be unbroke, fill it again with the 
 aforefaid matter, and proceed as we taught : The 
 Phlegm is not to be caft away, but muft be kept, that 
 in it may be dilfolved Salt fbecaufe it is better than 
 
 common Water) for another deftillation. Thus from 
 every pound of fait you will have Ifc j. of the beft and 
 moft pure fpirit, Dillblve the fait remaining in the 
 Body or Retort (if neither be broke) in Water, fil- 
 ter and evaporate the Water, let it cryftallizc, the 
 Cryftals will be white, endowed with wonderful Vir- 
 tues, to be declared here following. 
 
 Note, If the Glafs be broke, there will be no ne- 
 ceflity of difiblving the Salt, it will be enough to 
 take out the dried SalMirabilc, and refcrve it 
 for Ufe. 
 
 Note, This deftillation may be performed in a fil- 
 ver Body, for fo doing, we fliall be free from all 
 danger of breaking •■, yet the Vcffel muft be made of 
 very pure Silver, void of all Copper, left thofe moft 
 lliarp fpirits do attra(fl the Copper from the Silver, 
 and lb the Body become altogether porous and fofc. 
 Although in the fait is no property agreeingwith fil- 
 v^er, yet every deftillation it raceth off fom'e of the 
 filver, which that you may 'fave, gather the white 
 Powder left in the Filtre, after filtration of the 
 dilfolved fait. Dry this Powder, raoiftened with 
 a ftrong Ltxivtnm, and melt it in a Crucible into 
 filver ; yet you muft not inftitute this meltiag of the 
 [\\\tx ftr fe^ becaufe it hath acquired fuch volatility 
 from the fpirit of fait, as it will fume all away. 
 
 And although every deftillation fome quantity of 
 the filver be raced off", yet you may deftil the fame 
 matter fome hundreds of times in the fame Body- 
 before you ftiall need a new one. Thus we Ihall 
 have the lefs need of Glafies, and fooner perform 
 the deftillations, becaufe a ftrong Fire may be given 
 at firft, without fear of breaking the Vefiel- 
 
 A yet more compendious way is, when we fet the 
 Body alone upon a Trivet, and by putting Fire un- 
 der it, extraft the fpirit ; for fo we ftiall need no 
 Furnace, unlefs we will, for better conftringing the 
 heat: Nor will any great quantity of Coals be fpenc 
 in fuch extraftion, becaufe tt j. of fait may be deftil- 
 led with two or three tt> of Coals- 
 
 This fpirit being of it felffuflkiently clear, and of 
 a grateful tafte, needs no re<^ification. 
 
 Yea, it is able to effeil more than vve afcribe to 
 it in our Writings- Alfo the rcpiaining fait effeifcs 
 other incredible things, beiides thofe we afcribed to 
 it in our Treatife of the nature of falt5. 
 
 Plainly, after the very fame manner as we have 
 taught fpirit of fait to be prepared, foraay alfo be 
 made Aquafortis and jiquA-rtgis. Inftead of fair, 
 take Nitre, and you will have Aqna-fortts ; and if 
 to a folution of Salt and Nitre, equal parts, you add a 
 fufficient quantity of B. you will, by help of Deftil- 
 lation, acquire AqHa-re^is, 
 
 Therefore fince the infallible 5^// and Foundati- 
 on of Medicifw and Alchymy is C- or elfe D- it is now 
 known to us, which way, and for little Charge, we 
 may produce large quantities of this Medicine ; 
 whereas in the vulgar way great Cofts and Labour is 
 required •, and the more eafily we can obtain it, the 
 more abundantly profitable will it be to us, efpcci- 
 ally when we intend to beftow time in the tranfmu- 
 tation of the more vile Metals- Wherefore its 
 principal Uffe is direfted to the Preparation of F. 35 
 is faid moft eafily. Hence alfo the fpirit of fait and 
 Sd Mrrabik may duly be ufed in true Medicine and 
 fruitful Alchymy. 
 
 Of a Lyon and Panther is produced a moftlharp- 
 fighted Lynx ; yea, of a Lyon and Eagle is genited 
 a moft potentDragon, vomiting Fire, flying on high, 
 and carrying up in the air an Horfe, with a man fit- 
 
 M m ra ting 
 
226 
 
 The fecond Part of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 ting upon him. Although thefe can do very much, 
 yec they could not preferve the moft noble Art of 
 Alchymy from bein^ accounted unprofitable and 
 negleifted by evil-minded and ignorant men- _ Yet 
 at 'length an unfatiable Gnio confuming all things, 
 being genitedof a Dog andaWolf^rellored the fame 
 to a due fplendour. This dares to demonllratethe 
 fpecies of Metals to be mutable, contrary to the 
 opinion oi Anjfotk^ and by this means plainly (hew 
 and confirm, that Akhymy is moll profitable, and con^ 
 temned without caufe- Akhymy ftands obliged to 
 this, becaufe by the fame it hath recovered its 
 priltine and truly royal honours i to this, becaufe it 
 both acquires favour and praife. 
 
 Of the Vt'ility which our Salt of Art contrihutes 
 unto all jWu, of what flats or condition foever 
 they he. 
 
 THE Utility of this is very great, for if feeds, be- 
 fore they be fovved, be lleeped in it, they will 
 yield an incredible encreale \ which is a thing of ve- 
 ry great concern to all men dwelling on the Earth, 
 becaufe they (hall never fiiflain the want of Bread. _ 
 And will not the Husband- man, gathering in his 
 Fruits for lefs labour and charge than in the vulgar 
 manner, be able the more certainly to pay his Dues 
 to the Magiflratc } 
 
 Of Artificers alfo the Reafon is the fame ; becaufe 
 they being hereby better able to exercife their Crafts, 
 may alfo return the benefits thereof to their fupe- 
 riours. 
 
 Llnto Phyficians, by the help of this, are known 
 more excellent Medicaments, and they being prefent, 
 more fpeedy and certain relief is procured to the 
 fick. 
 
 So is it with Apothecaries, Chirurgions, and their 
 Medicines, Plaftcrs, and Unguents, which by this are 
 more perfedly prepared, and therefore the Cure is 
 fooncr, and more happily abfolved, than by Medi- 
 cines vulgarly known. 
 
 And I believe every Artificer and Trading Man, 
 when he can perform his Work with lefs labour and 
 charge, and acquire his Wares for lefs trouble and 
 colt, will fell his Commodities to his Neighbours, 
 at a cheaper rate than he could before he found 
 the benefic of this fait. 
 
 Husbandmen and Gardeners, and other fuch labou- 
 ring men, when they can more eafily, fooner, and 
 more abundantly reap their Fruits than before, can- 
 not chufe but fell to the buyers for lefs price than 
 they could afford thera at when they had no bene- 
 fit of this. 
 
 Thus we generally fee, of how gregt Utility our 
 Salt vf Art is, or what benefits may thence redound 
 to men of every condition. What man, confide- 
 ring thefe things, will not imploy all his faculties 
 that he may become the Mafter of fuch a fait, whence 
 he may not only benefit himfelf, but his Neighbour 
 alfo ? 
 
 Of the Vfe of this Sal Mirabile in Medicine. 
 
 I. THis fait ought to be numbred among Univer- 
 ■'■ fal Purgers, for by aMagnetick Virtue itex- 
 trads all forts of noxious humours out of the Body. , 
 
 2. This purging Property is augmented by Metal^ 
 lick or Mineral Bodies diflblved in it- 
 
 3. For expelling all depraved humours, the raofl: 
 profitable to be diffolved in it, is Antimony ; whea 
 the Medicine is to be appropriated to the Heart, 
 Gold }. when to the Brain, Silver ; to the Liver, 
 Spleen, and Reins, Iron •, to the Lungs, Tin and Sul- 
 phur ; to the Habit of the Body, Copper and Mer- 
 cury. 
 
 4. If purging Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals ■ 
 be boiled in the Water in which this fait isdilToI- 
 ved, and that decoftion be ufed in a Clyfler, we 
 know all corrupt humours will be evacuated thereby. 
 
 5. In all thofe Perfons, young or old, which can- 
 not or will not take purging Medicaments, either b/ 
 the mouth, or ocherwife, it will be very profitable 
 to free their bodies from corrupt humours, to make 
 fuppofitories of Honey and this fait mixed. 
 
 6. In Hecid-nchst all Fevers, and the Epilepfie^ it 
 willdeferve the praifes of a fuitable Purger. 
 
 7. In Catarrls^when the Head is full ofPhlegma- 
 tick Humours, half a grane, or a whole grane of this 
 fnufted up the Noftrils early in the morning, or ia 
 the day-time, wonderfully evacuates the Phlegm. 
 
 8. It is an admirable Remedy in Afieds of the 
 Jaws, and parts adjacent, as the Tongue, Tonfils, 
 Cheeks, and Gums, having their original from a 
 fharp Catarrh falling down, and oftentimes con- 
 joined with Ulceration and Corruption, as is fre* 
 quently known to happen in Scorbutick Difeafes. 
 For it extrads the humours caufing the Evil., and 
 heals the part vitiated, if it (diilblved in Water) be 
 often ufed hot as a Gargarifm^ and the ufe of Pur- 
 ging not neglected. ' 
 
 9. In like manner, in the Tooth-ach it performs 
 Wonders, drawing out the Humours caufing dolour 
 in the Teeth ; if as much as will lie on the point 
 of aknife,or Sj.of it,beapplied,tiedupina fine Cloth, 
 to the aking Tooth, yet after the ufe of fome gentle 
 Purgation- 
 
 10. It is a famous Medicine in AfFeiHis of the Eyes 
 and Ears, drawing their Original from a Catarrh^ 
 provided the ufe of fome Purging Medicine be not 
 negleded. 
 
 1 1 . This fait is egregioufly ufeful, and efpccially 
 after Metallick Bodies have been diilblved in it> 
 againft green Wounds of the Body and old Filtula's. 
 
 12. If it be mixed with a due quantity ofcommoa 
 Water, and thence a Bath be made, it admirably 
 clears away the Scab and like Affeds of the skin, bet- 
 ter than natural Baths themfelves ; for by its famous 
 power ofattrading depraved Humours, lyingbetwecn 
 the skin and flcfli, and producing fuch Affects, it heals 
 and extrafts the fame, efpecially if that power be 
 helped by fome other Medicine. 
 
 13. It extrads Humours of every kind, fliarp, 
 gnawing, or which, are moll firmly inherent in the 
 external parts, or which often produce Vermin like 
 Lice, and cannot be removed by Baths or Unguents. 
 
 14. This ufed internally and externally, (viz.. in 
 a Bath) extracls the Water out of Droplical per- 
 fons ; and this it efferts fo much the more powerful- 
 ly, if Gold be diflblved in it. 15. Ic 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mundi, 
 
 IT] 
 
 15. It is a famous Medicine for removing Dolours 
 'of the Gout, or dimini(hing the fame. 
 
 16. Inwardly given, ii is conduccntagainfl: bloody 
 Fluxes of every kind. 
 
 17. Alfo externally applied, it wonderfully Hops 
 Blood in Wounds, elpecially if after it is calcined 
 
 , and reduced to Powder, it be mixed with Cobwebbs 
 or Peacocks Dung, or which is better,when Steel hath 
 been diflblved in it. 
 
 18. It kills and expels all Worms- 
 
 19. In Fraiinres of Bona, and in Ruptures, it is a 
 moft excellent Medicament. 
 
 20. It, dilfolved in Water, and put upon the body, 
 not only preferveslnfcdts from Corruption, but alio 
 greater Animals, and Man ; yet it may be ufed in a 
 more dry form. 
 
 21. It is an excellent Conditure not only of Animals 
 but alfo of Plants and Flowers. 
 
 22. It preferves bodies difleifted from rottennefs, 
 ftink, and dryncfs ■-, contrary to what we have ob- 
 ferved Turpentine, Spirit of Wine, Aloes and Myrrh 
 to do-, yea, from decay, as we have feen done in 
 Salt-water. 
 
 23. It of Gold produceth an excellent Elixir^ in a 
 few dales, fome granes of which ufed either liquid 
 or dry, moft gently expels depraved Humours by 
 Urine, Sweat, and Seidge. Such an Univerfal Afca- 
 t/iim was never before this time known to Mortals :, 
 we liberally give it, for the Honour of GOD, and 
 Health of our Neighbour. 
 
 24. It fo prepareth Gold, as by the help of Alco- 
 lizatefpirit of Wine, it pafTeth the Alembick of a 
 golden colour, and is a famous Medicament- 
 
 25. Alfo by the help of that (although after 
 another manner) a blue Tindure may be extraded 
 from Gold, of excellent ufe in Medicine and Al- 
 chymy. 
 
 26. It is able to imprefs the nature of Vegeta- 
 bles on all Metals ■., fo as Metals this way prepared, 
 and added to the Roots of Herbs, impart to 
 thofe Herbs the nature of the Metal applied. How 
 famous the ufe of fuch Metallick Medicines will be in 
 Medicine, it is eafie to underftand. 
 
 Of the Vtilities of the Salt of Art , in 
 various ARTS. 
 
 i.TT fuddenly coagulates River- Water , Rain= 
 J. Water, or any deftilled Water, fo as it be- 
 comes Ice, and may be carried in Paper, a Sack, or 
 Wooden^Box or Cheft, wherefoever you will, and be 
 diflblved when need is, foas the fait may be fepara- 
 ted from the Water •, which fait is not at all changed 
 by the Water, but may oftentimes again be ufed for 
 like Coagulations. 
 
 2. After the fame manner Wine, Vinegar, Beer, 
 Metheglin, and like Drinks, may be reduced by coa- 
 gulation into a clear fubftance, and again be moft 
 eafily dillblved. 
 
 3- Alfo by help of that may be coagulated faline 
 fpirits, as, Jqn-i-fortis., Acjita- Regis, fpirit of Salt, 
 fpirit or oil of Vitriol, and the like, fo as they will be- 
 come hard falts, without any change or corruption, 
 portable in Paper or wooden Boxes, to other places, 
 where being dilfolved when need is, they exhibit 
 
 a Liquor diftindtfrom the fait, the fait in the mean 
 while keeping its coagulating Virtues intire. 
 
 4. To Honey and Syrup it gives the confiftency of 
 fugar. 
 
 5. Fountains may be fo flopped with it, as their 
 flowing to be ftayed- 
 
 6. Itchangeth wood in procefsof time into a moft 
 hard ftone. 
 
 7. It abftrads the fuperfluous Phlegm from Wine 
 Beer, Vinegar, and fpirit of Wine, fo as they become' 
 the ftronger. 
 
 S. It feparates the Phlegm from fubtile Mineral- 
 fpirits, whence they are made volatile and more po- 
 werful. 
 
 9. Ittakesaway from Wine, Beer, Vinegar, and 
 fpirit of Wine, .its ungrateful tafte or odour, and 
 unto them alfo gives greater clcarnefs. 
 
 10. Alfo itcorreds theunfavory fmell ofVelTels, 
 fo as we may commodionfly ufe them. 
 
 1 1 . It preferves for a long time all Fruits, as Cher; 
 ries, Apples, Pears, Grapes, Garlick, yea, Hens=Eggs, 
 and whatfoever maybe changed by the air, and other-i 
 wife would be corrupted. 
 
 1 2. Unto Painters it may be a Bajis for their Co- 
 lours - 
 
 13. The feeds of Vegetables moiftened in it, are 
 wonderfully multiplied, fo as from one only grane 
 10, 20, or 30 ears will arife : And the fame will be 
 efFeded, ifthefaltit felf be committed to the earth. 
 
 14- Itcaufeth the Earth long to keep the Rain- 
 waters it receiveth. Hence muft necelTarily arife 
 great profit to the Fruits. 
 
 15. This applied to the Roots of Trees, reco- 
 vers them, though alraoft dead before, and makes 
 them fruitful. 
 
 16. Yea, Animals fuffbcatcd or drowned in Wa- 
 ters, asDogs, Cats, Mice, and Infeds, by help of it 
 may again be reftored to life. 
 
 17. It attrads the breathings of many men lying 
 together in one Chamber, and coagulates the fame a's 
 fnowor ice;, not indeed by any reall co-touching, 
 but being included in fome Glafs, and hung up by a' 
 Thread. Even fo, in a Magnetick manner have we 
 obfervcd fuch breath or vapour to adhere to the out- 
 fide of Glafs like true Ice- But this is a Winter opera 
 tion- 
 
 18. Flowers and odoriferous Herbs, by additionof 
 this, may be prefervcd without change of odour, 
 tafte, or colour. 
 
 19- By the benefit of this fait, various colours and 
 very many odoriferous fpccies may be prepared ; 
 whence the Roots of Plants, if they be applied to 
 them) attrad thecolour or odour, which they com- 
 municate to the Herbs themfelves- 
 
 20. It takes away the bicterncfs of Oil-Olive, 
 rendering it fweet and clear, better than boiling 
 can do. 
 
 21, Linfeed-Oil being mixed with it, is pre- 
 fently clarified, and freed from its Aquolity, which 
 otherwife cannot be efFefted in many dales. |[ See 
 more in the Second Century- 3 
 
 Mmm z 
 
 0/ 
 
228 
 
 The fecond Part of 
 
 Parti 
 
 Of the Vfe of the Salt of Art in Alchymy. 
 
 I. TTdinolves and fixcth all Vegetables, Animals, 
 
 1. and Minerals. 
 
 2. In three hoursfpace it reduceth all the aforefaid 
 into their firft matter, whence mofl excellent Medica- 
 ments are made, and whence proceeds a produd of 
 Metals, new and more excellent than others- 
 
 3- It demonftrates, that in all Hcrbs> none except- 
 ed, there is volatile ©, and teacheth which way it 
 lliould be fixed- 
 
 4. It adds llrength to Jqua-fortis^ jiqua-Regis^ 
 and fpirit of fait. 
 
 5. In a few hours fpace > it extracts the 
 foul from Gold, fo as it afcends by Alembick, and 
 becomes a very excellent Medicament. 
 
 6. To the white body of ©, and of other Metals, 
 fpoiled of its foul, it reftores the fame. 
 
 7. In a very fhort time it reduceth Gold to fuch 
 an cflence, as it may be united with the feeds of 
 Vegetables, and communicate it felf to the Herbs- 
 
 8. It extraifls Gold, Silver, and Copper from Me- 
 tals moft compendioully, and with very great profit, 
 in a dry way, without fufion or any addition- 
 
 9. It gives more noble qualities to metals, whilft 
 they are wadied in it, fo as even by the help of fuch a 
 Lotion, Iron can join it felf with Mercury, yea, be: 
 come fluid and ductile, like Copper, which is a thing 
 very profitable. 
 
 10. It brings imperfect Metals by graduation to 
 maturity, and fo changeth them into ©and>, as 
 well by the dry as humid way. 
 
 11. It can ripen every iron into fteel- 
 
 12. By the help of this. Iron may be changed in- 
 to Copper, Copper inte Silver, and Silver into Gold, 
 either by the humid or dry way- Alfo every Gold 
 may be brought to the 28th- degree, yea, to a true 
 Tindure- But of the laJt I have as yet made no 
 experiment ; neverthelcfs, it feems not to be impoffi- 
 ble, becaufe there is no metal which may not be chan- 
 ged into another, and indeed more excellent metal ; 
 yea, we know that common © keeping its colour, 
 may be exalted. And although the way of making 
 this Tindure is not yet certainly known, yet there 
 will be fome one, that fliall fucceed us, to whom GOD 
 will grant the knowledge of the fame, whofhall 
 Hop the mouthes of all ilanderous and evil-minded 
 men, and difcover their malice. 
 
 But fome one may fay, How (hall we know this 
 colour of Gold to be true. Gold, and not Copper ? 
 To him I anfwerj For this Procefs neither Copper 
 ror any other Metal is required ■, only a Vegetable 
 Sulphur with the Salt of Art abfolves that- Whence 
 then fliould the Copper have accefs to the Gold ? 
 To fay, from the Vegetable Sulphur, is nothing : 
 for that mufl: be numbred among Miracles. Hence, 
 if that lliould be Copper, we fee it may well be de- 
 monllratcd, that all Metals yea, and 7 /;e Phtlofphcrs 
 [tone it felf, may be prepared of Vegetables- Which 
 'is a faying moft nearly correfpondent to Truth : 
 for there is no Plant, yea, I fay, no Excrement, no 
 not humane Dung, which exhibit not true Gold, or 
 a true Tinflure- Therefore this colour, which we 
 find to have accefs to Gold, by help of the Sal ^/;, 
 rMlt, and Vegetable Sulphur, argues not Copper,but 
 true Gold. The Elementary Rays of © have palTed 
 ipto Sulphur in the coagulation in Herbs-, this, by 
 
 help of the Salt of Art, is changed into TintT:ure,whcn 
 fixed, and added to Gold, becomes corporeal. 
 
 From thefe and the like, we judge the certainty of 
 the Tranfmutation of Metals to be fuflicicntly mani- 
 feft to every one. Indeed many have endeavoured to 
 demonftrate this,^but none more clearly than I have 
 done, becaufe this appertains to S^d MirAuk only. 
 Therefore let Ignorantsceafe to gain-fay GOD and 
 the Truth, left they be feverely puniflied- 
 
 Thefe, and various fuch- like Tranfmutations, may 
 be performed with very great profit ^ therefore £ 
 judge it needlefs to fpeak more of them. Occalion 
 of knowing many things offers it felf to Pofterity, if 
 GOD give the Blefling. For the Utilities of this 
 Salt are daily more and more known to my Difciplcs, 
 fo as it cannot otherwife be, than that all Eurofe by 
 the help of this Salt only, fliall fee true Alchymy 
 flourifh- Whence, and not undefcrvediy, it is czX- 
 \cA the S.jlt of Art ^ or EUr.s the Artift^ who entring 
 into the World, fhould communicate various Arts to 
 the fame. Here you now have him, teaching thcfe 
 things which alwaies were accounted impoffible. 
 
 The World not contented with this EUns^ muft 
 neceilarily expecT: another. The Jews tonlidering 
 the abjedl ftate of Chrift, efteemed him unworthy the 
 Honours of the before prophefied of v^(#<»j, altho' 
 with their own eyes they faiv very many Miracles 
 wrought by him. If the fame happen at this day in 
 this cafe, what wonder is it ? It is very hard to be- ' 
 live, that fuch a wonderful Salt can be found in moft 
 abjed Vitriol. 
 
 Could fuch men know the nature of common Vi- 
 triol expofed to the eyes of all men, they would 
 eafily underftand more to be contained in the fame, 
 than I have attributed to my Sal Aliralik. It is bet- 
 ter fomething fhould be referved to Pofterity, ttian all 
 things laid open to our Age. I have begun, let others 
 proceed - 
 
 Paracelfus^ in that Chapter he writ of Vitriol, faith, 
 By help of this every Iron may be changed into the 
 beft Copper ;, but which way, fomething more excel- 
 lent. Viz.. Iron, may be changed into Gold, Elua the 
 Arttfi C which we call the Salt of Art)vihc\\ he comes, 
 will demonftrate. That the occult virtues contain^ 
 ed in Vitriol may be more known to every man, what 
 this Author left in Writing, touching Vitriol, I 
 thought good here to infert- 
 
 Therefore, fince I in this Treatife denominate my 
 Salt of Art, Elias the Artift long fInce predifted, fome 
 one may properly fay,^/)" Glauber, yon frocLmn your 
 Sal Mirabilefo be Elias the Artift ; but ;« Paracelius'-f 
 Writings ire read^ 1 hat when he comes-, he will teach tlx 
 way of tranfmitthig Iron into Gold ^ «oip jl>ew us which 
 way your Sal Mirabile can do this. I anfwer. That 
 here is nothing of impoffibility, I have obfcurely in 
 this and other places fliewed ; but which way the 
 Operation is to be inftituted, I have not declared : be- 
 caufe I ray felf have not as yet obtained a perfect un- 
 derftandingof the fame. Neverthelefs, that it is 
 polTible we have often obferved •, for Iron hath accefs 
 to Gold, and fo augments it even as it augments 
 Copper. 
 
 For when Copper is diffolvcd in a certain fait, and 
 the folution is poured upon thin Iron Plates, not on- 
 ly the Copper and Iron fettle to the bottom, and Co be> 
 comes Copper again, but alfo whillt the cotlion is 
 performing, a great quantity of the Iron hath accefs 
 to the Copper, fo as you take out more Copper than 
 you put in. 1 bring for a true Teftimony of this Ex- 
 periment, 
 
Part 1. 
 
 Miracnlum Mundi. 
 
 229 
 
 periment, the Saying of that mofl: true Writer, La. 
 z^arus Ercker, in his Probatory Book, where he faith. 
 He had often obferved, that Iron Inftrnmcnts in 
 length of time were clianged into Copper ,_without 
 any depravation of their Figure. Yet it js credi- 
 ble, that this Mutation is from Spirits , not from 
 Bodies, becaufc Spirits are endowed with a greater 
 penetrative power- 
 Since the Writings of this man are in the hands or 
 few, I thought good here to infert what he hath 
 left written, touching the Tranfmutation of Iron 
 into Copper. 
 
 Whether Copper may he made of Iron, 
 
 Courteous Reader, 
 
 I Did for a long time ferfift in denyiw-, That Iron in 
 Coppery V/arers^fuch as are made of Fitriul, green 
 Tartar^ and th: Ukc, could be precipitated into Copper ; 
 7/or could I ill any u'ije lelitve^ that any encreafe could 
 come to Copper^ from Iron j but daily Experience hath 
 taught the contrary, viz- That in Mines and Moun- 
 tains of rttriol , were left Iron Infiruments, which af- 
 ter lont) time were changed wholly into Copper. For 
 although precipitation of Coppeir is made, by the benefit 
 of Jron^ yet the fame quantity of that-, as ts put in , is 
 not taken cut again. Notwithftandmg this, here it is 
 to be obfcrv^d^that together with the Copper, which is 
 fo precipitated , Silver a!fo ( if any be ) fettles to the 
 bottom. Therefore they feem to do well, who for Pre-, 
 cipitation of Silver, bcfides Copper caft alfo into the 
 Aqua-fortis Vlates of Iron: And fa in one and the 
 fame Operation, Silver and Copper fettle to the bottom, 
 and we fave all-, which the feparatory Water did con-. 
 tain. 
 
 As it is manifefi:. Copper may be made of Iron, 
 fo alfo that the fame may be changed into Gold, is 
 mofl ealily demonllrated- That it is poffible , I 
 have often obferved, although without profit, becaufe 
 the true way of Operating was then unknown to 
 me. 
 
 Iron is not changed into Copper in every foluti- 
 on, but in that which is in certain Determinate Salts. 
 For, if you diflblve % fs. of Copper in uiqua-fortis, 
 and to reprefs the fharpnefs of the Aqua.fortis add 
 a little common Water, call in Plates of Iron, or 
 duly inllitute coAion •, 5 fs- of Copper will indeed 
 be precipitated by the Iron, but the Iron not chan- 
 ged into Copper- The certain reafon of this, we 
 believe, is, becaufe no Salt having power of Gra: 
 duation, was added to the Aqua-fonis. Of Gold, 
 the reafon is the fame, if it be diflblved in Aqua- 
 regis i for the Gold is here found to be precipitated 
 alone, and the Iron not changed into Gold, becaufe 
 of the defecT: of fait convenient for gradation. 
 
 But if a folution of Copper or Gold be made in 
 fpirit of fait, and Iron call into that folution, then 
 not only the Copper or Gold fettles to the bottom 
 with the Iron, but alfo in this folution part of the 
 Iron palTeth into Copper or Gold, becaufe the fpi- 
 rit of fait more potently aifts upon the Iron, and in- 
 troduceth Tiniture better than Aqua-fortis. 
 
 Although any Iron, as you fee, may be changed 
 
 '-Into Copper or Gold, yet no profit is thence to be 
 
 expeded, for commonly fome part of the Gold re- 
 
 mains in the folution, and is not precipitated •, and 
 which way this may be feparatcd from the Water 
 is not known to all. Therefore it is better to 
 omit this Operation, than to labour and be at charge 
 to no purpole : For reduftion of this Gold, mixt 
 with the folution, experienced men are required, 
 which will do all things with judgment, and are not 
 contented with that only which expofeth it felf to 
 fight. 
 
 Yet I do not in any wife think that fuch grada- 
 tion cannot be inltituted without profit. If we can 
 really tranfmute a very fmall Particle of Iron into 
 Gold or Copper, Why may we not alfo do the 
 fame in a greater quantity ? It is our faults if we 
 do it not, who are ignorant how to ufc rightly Salts 
 of gradation, fiifficicntly able to conipleat the work- 
 That the way of effcding that was known to Paracel. 
 fi's, I doubt not \ yet he would not communicate it 
 to the ungrateful World, but referred the divulgati: 
 on thereof to the coming oi Elias the An;fi, and that 
 not without Reafon. I doubt not, but that this gra- 
 dation may be performed with very great profit, by 
 hdpof my Sal .Mirahile, or Salt of Alt ; yet I cannot 
 fubfcribe to it as an infallible certainty. I have other 
 things now in hand to fpeak of: My Labours and 
 almoll incredible Charges have difcovered various fe- 
 crets, which I publickly communicate for the profit 
 of my Neighbour- Other things may be elFcded in 
 time, by which ( Darknefs being difcufied ) Light 
 may be given to the World, and the Miracles of the 
 Omnipotent G O D be expofed to the view of all. 
 Here IS need of Labour. 
 
 That Gradation of Iron may be made by the 
 help of appropriate falts, fo as to be changed into 
 Copper, Silver, or Gold, our Sal Mirabile plainly 
 enough declares, whether the gradation be inllitu- 
 ted in an humid way, or Cementation made in the 
 dry. 
 
 Now it remains, that wc dcraonflrate, thst fuch 
 gradation may be made by fpirits, having power of 
 perfefting and fixing, fo as no confumption of the 
 Iron be, as we fee done in the addition of Aqua-fortis. 
 It is fure that the fame gradation which Laz.arus 
 Ercker faid, he obferved in the aforefaid Mountains, 
 is of like condition ; and fince we poflefs fuch Spi- 
 rits, we alfo, remote from Mountains, may effetl the 
 fame. I cannot believe that any other can (if he 
 would ) teach us the way of preparing fuch fpirits, 
 befides EUas the Artijr. 
 
 In what relates to me, I fay, that this gradation of 
 Iron may be the better performed, Copper, Silver, 
 and Gold mull firft be reduced into Vitriol, having 
 power to effect gradation, and that indeed by the 
 benefit of the Salt of An. I have more than once, by 
 the help of the Salt of Art-, changed filver or gold in- 
 to a green Vitriol: I need not fpeak of Copper, the 
 mutation of which is far more eafie, yet the other 
 is not very difficult, and indeed in an humid way. For 
 I have not feldorae (when it happened that the Iron 
 being confumcd, my labour was to no purpofe) had 
 one end of an Iron Wier changed into Copper, and 
 the other into Gold. If time will permic, for my 
 Friends fake, and that they may be mindful of mc, I 
 will repeat the fame labour. But the principal 
 thing, which infers difficulty in this Operation, is a 
 too great corrofion of the Iron by the Vitriol. 
 
 Note. Befides this, there are other things, which 
 caufe difficulty, and fo render the labour invalid, in 
 the dry way as well as in the humid, viz.. the apt- 
 nefs of Glafles to break in the humid ; ai-dofCruci- 
 
 N n n bles 
 
^^b 
 
 7'he Second Part of, &c. 
 
 Part I. 
 
 bles in the dry way ; whence it comes to pafs, that , 
 the Sal Mirabik cannot be kept in them a due time, 
 but runs out- 
 
 The gradation of iron into gold, in what way 
 foever made, without gold can very difficultly be per= 
 fefted ; and if a glafs happen to break, Who (hall be 
 able to gather up what runs outi" The lofs of one 
 gradation, by the breaking of the VelFel, and out- 
 flowing of the Liquor, will fcarcely be repaired with 
 5 or 6 other gradations compleated without lofs. 
 Therefore it is belt to defifl from fuch Works- 
 
 Ofthat Operation, which is performed by the dry 
 way, the reafonis the fame. For here the gold,which 
 is added for gradation, is almoft all loft, without 
 regard to the breaking of Crucibles, which by that 
 means cannot contain the SJt of An its due time : 
 Andbefides all this, the fubftance of the Crucible will 
 imbibe fomcof it, and together with the fame part 
 of the Gold ; and, Who can without lofs extraft it 
 thence ? Yea, we think the Crucibles drink in a grea- 
 ter quantity of the gold, than we acquire by the gra- 
 dation, akhous^h our Work fucceed well- By Expe- i 
 rience it is manifeft to me, that when there are eight I 
 parts of Gold, but one part of Iron in gradation is 
 changed into Gold, which way foever the Work is 
 performed. What will it avail to fpend our time in 
 perfeding thofe things, the event of which is very un- 
 certain ? This is the reafon why very many with 
 me have refuftd this profitable Operation. 
 
 We confidering the poffibility of the matter, whe- 
 ther it was polTibleto prevent thofe difficulties, began 
 to labour, but to no purpofe, a great while, until at 
 length it pleafed the Higheft Giver of all Good things 
 to hear our Prayers, and opened to us the way ofpre- 
 paring fui:h GlalTes, as falthough not luted, are able 
 to bear the vehemency of Fire without coating ■■, and 
 Crucibles alfo we know how to harden fo, as they 
 will continually keep Metals in Flux. I now hope, if 
 GOD hinder not, for better fuccefs. 
 
 A man not fearing the breaking of Glafles and Cru- 
 cibles, might perform egregious things, this way 
 handling Metals, according to his will inftituting gra- 
 dations and fixations, and fo reduce Metals to due 
 maturity, even as the fun, by continual digeftion, 
 ripeneth Fruits : For no man, if he fear breaking of 
 his VelTel, and lofs of his matter, is able to keep the 
 fame till its final compleatment in a Glafs or Cruci- 
 ble. 
 
 By the benefit of either of thefe inventions, fuch 
 things may be effefted in Medicine andAlchymy,as 
 before were impoffible to be done. 
 
 Yet let no man follicite me (confidering the great 
 labour and vail charge 1 have expended thereon) to 
 divulge this fecret. Ncverthelefs, that it may not 
 be buried with me, I purpofe to communicate that to 
 two of my moft loving Friends, adding (befidesmany 
 other Arcamims ) a fuccincT: Explanation of this fe^ 
 condpartof xhz Miracle of the World. It will con- 
 cern thefe men to ufe the fame for the Honour of 
 GOD, and good of their Neighbour. I did not this 
 to profit our felves,becaufe they are rich enough and I 
 live contented with what I have, but only that the 
 fuftentation of the Poor might be chiefly regar- 
 ded. 
 
 iron may alfo another way be changed into Gold 
 
 or Copper, 'vIt.. by the help of fiery fpirits, which 
 Salt-l'etrc fthe Coufin-German of our Salt of jin) 
 exhibits, and of which I have very plainly difcourfcd 
 in a fpecial Treatife, not yet publilhed. Tliat you 
 may fee the poflibility, I will declare the matter by 
 example. i 
 
 Make a Fulmen of Tartar, Sulphur, and Nitre 
 mixt,tothisaddofthe .^'»c)'rt (or Ore) of Copper, 
 Silver, or Gold, never expofed to the vehemency of 
 Fire, but ftill endowed with its own Sulphur, endow- 
 ed with power of tinging and perfcdting Gradation 
 an eighth part. Put % fs. or 5 j- of the mixture in- 
 to a Crucible at one time, and fet this Crucible under 
 the Receiving VelTels of our fifth Furnace, and with a 
 live Coal kindle the Fulmen, and then the Orifice be- 
 ing well clofed, you will find and obferve the Grada- 
 tion of Iron unto Copper, Gold, or Silver, according 
 to the diverfity of matter added to the Fulmen. 
 Here mod commodioufly maybe ufed Steel-Needles ^ 
 thefe I have often drawn out of a Crucible, wholly 
 changed into Gold. 
 
 Note- He who intends to make Gradation with 
 Gold, muftneceflarily apply Receivers, in which he 
 may colledl the volatile Spirits of Gold. If a man be 
 contented with a very fmall quantity, he needs not 
 ufe Receivers, afterward ( being firft afTured of the 
 certainty of the Operation) he may build a Furnace fit 
 for it. I built fuch a Furnace, in which the laft Sum- 
 mer, for my Friends fake, I performed this Opera= 
 tion- 
 
 Note. If a fufficient abundance of good Metals 
 be wanting, that your labour may not be in vain, it 
 will be requifite to make the fame fpiritual with Salt- 
 Petre, before they be added to the Fulmen. If you 
 would make trial of graduating into Gold, to^ j. of 
 the Fulmen, you may add 3 j. of fulminating Gold 
 (precipitated with fpiritofUrine, not with Lixivium^ 
 and your endeavour will have good fuccefs, if you pro- 
 ceed right. 
 
 By help of this Fulmen, all Metals may be changed 
 into Gold or Silver \ that is, the true Regal Cement 
 of ancient Philofophers, which they alwaies kept fe- 
 cret ; only Paracclfus., in his Preface to the Book of 
 Cements, was willing to make fome fmall difcovery , 
 Ton muft wof (faith he)/o much regard thelngredients of the 
 Cement^ hut the way of cementing is only to he conjidered^ 
 the Fire only^ which is in it, mufi be endowed with power 
 
 f fixing aud graduating. Yea, in his Book of Vitriol 
 he almoft fpeaks the fame. 
 
 But fome one may fay , What is that Regal Ce» 
 ment, orwhat is the way ofufing the fame? Al» 
 though this hath been alwaies kept as a Secret, yet 
 I in thefe laft times communicate the fame to All. 
 There is indeed no Metal, which may not (even with- 
 out the addition of any other thing having power of 
 perfeifling Gradation) by the help of this only, be 
 turned into gold ; as in our work of Tj we largely fhew. 
 Yet this Operation is not done with fo great profit, 
 as that which adds Powders perfefting gradations 
 to the Cement j neverthelefs it is fufficient to Ihe w the 
 poflibility. ^ 
 
 But that the Doftrine of Blias the Artijt may be 
 more manifeft by the aforefaid ParacelfHs^vte thoughc 
 good here to fubjoin his own words at large, which 
 take as follows. 
 
 THE 
 
i Parti. 
 
 231 
 
 THE BOOK 
 
 O F 
 
 Of Hohcnheim,MjMtircfc of^hilo/ophers, Trince ofSpJgyrifts^ChiefofJHronomersJParadoxic 
 cal ^hyficim^ and gnat Mifier ofMechanick Secrets, 
 
 TOUCHING 
 
 The TINCTURE of Natural Things, 
 
 Againft Sophifters born fince the Flood, in the Age of Our LORD 
 JESUS CHRIST the Son of GOD. 
 
 THE PREFACE. 
 
 Since /^feo«, Sophifter, withfoolijlj and lyifig Words^ 
 hafi reproached me in all places^ hecaiife I mas horn 
 in Helvetia, that I am ritde^ and underhand or 
 know nothing ; alfo^ that being one Letter tJiore 
 than a Fhyfician^ I rove and wander about from one Regi-. 
 on to another : Therefore I purpofe in thisfmall Treattfe 
 to difcover and lay open to the Worlds ignorant and unex- 
 perienced men •, alfo that in thefirfi j4ge good Arts were 
 in being •, and what your Art is able to efici again/} mine 
 and mine agat/ifi yours^ and what is to be judged of either ^ 
 and how Pofiertty in the Age of Grace will imitate me. 
 
 Conftder Hermes, Archelaus, and others in the Firfi 
 Age, wh.it Spagyrifts they were, and how great PhiJofo- 
 phers. That they were fnch, is witneffed even by their 
 Enemies-, who are thy Patrons, (or Idols rather at this 
 time) Sophifier. But if this had not been tefltfed by 
 your Authentick Fathers and faljly-reputed Saints • yet 
 the ancient Sm^aragdine-Table difcovers more of Art 
 and Experience in Medicine, Alchymy, Magick, and 
 ether like Sciences-, than can ever be taught by you and 
 all your Tribe. J f from the Precedent you do not yet un- 
 der fland what-, and how great Treafures thefe be^ tell me 
 why no Prince or King was able tofubjugate the Egypti- 
 ans ? Then why did Dioclefian ^^^e Emperour command 
 all Books of Chymifiry (how many foever they were he 
 could come by) to be burnt ? For their Books beimr de- 
 froyed, they were long fnce compelled to bear fuch an into- 
 lerable Toke, as will m time fall upon the neck of thee and 
 thy C'ollegues, Sophifter. 
 
 In this Middle Age the Alonarchy of all Arts is at 
 length derived to me, Theophraftus Paracelfus, Prince 
 of Pbilofophy and Medicine ; for unto this am I chofen by 
 COD-, that I m.iy extinguijl) all Ph.inta/ies of devifed, 
 pntatitioHS, ani falfe Works^ and prefumptuous Words, 
 whether they be the Placets of Ariftotle, Galen, Avi- 
 Cen,Mefue, or any other Follower of them. A'ld my 
 
 Theory proceeding from the Light of Nature, fliall never 
 fail throng its unconfiancy-, nor be changed^ but heain to 
 flourijli in the ^2th. year of the following Age. Then the 
 Pra^ice following-^ itjliall be proved by admirable and in- 
 credible Signs, fo as it jhall be openly manifest to A^c- 
 chanicks and the Common People, how conjlant and unmo- 
 ved the Paracelfick Art flands againft the Trifles of 
 Scphijlers ; in the mean while that Sophiftick^ Art hath 
 need of Papal and Imperial Privileges , to ftreuirthen 
 and uphold its Impertinencies. But whereas I am by thee, 
 OSop'>:ifier ^accounted a Beggar andVagabond,the Danube 
 andthcBihiTLt, Ibeingfilent^ fliall anfwer for me to thee. 
 Often hath thofe impertinent ly-devifed Calumnies of thine 
 againft- me, difpleafed many Princes and Earls ^ alfo Im- 
 perial Cities, Nohlemen, and Knights j for J have a Trea- 
 fitre in a certain City of Forum Julij , called Weiden, 
 hid in the Hofpital there, which neither thou Leo the 
 Roman, nor thou Charles the German, w/ffc all your 
 Subftance, are able to purchaje- Although a fignate Star 
 fell upon the Arcanum of your Names, yet it was known by 
 none but the Sons of the Divine Spagyrick Art. IVhere- 
 fore ftnce.,thou l^erminous and Low fie Sophifter^judgefi the 
 Monarch of Secrets to be an ignorant Fool and prodigal 
 Decoder ^ I will now, in the middle Ave., openly d'fcover 
 (^as an honourable profecut ion of thofe things I h.ivs afftr- 
 ted ) the Virtues and Preparation cf th.it Tintlnre^ for 
 the profit and honour of the Lovers of Truth, and that the 
 Contemners of true Arts may be reduced to Beggary. The 
 latter Age will be illuft rated and honoured with this Ar- 
 canum, as the Gift ofGOD^ and manifeft Endowment of 
 the true Spirit, fo as from the Beginning of the World 
 the like fprrjut of Vnderftanding and Wifdom was Jcarccly 
 ever heard of. In the mean while, Vice fliallnot be able 
 tofupprefs the J/«/?, nor the Riches or power of thofe that 
 are evil, be any Damage totheVpright, 
 
 Nnni 
 
 OF 
 
232 
 
 Part L 
 
 Of Philip Thcophraftus Paracelfus 
 
 His Tindure of Natural Things^ &c. 
 
 CHAP.. I. 
 
 \ 
 
 I Philip Theoflrraftus Paracelfus Bomb aft ^ fay, 
 That fafter the manifeftation of Divine Grace) 
 many waies to the Tinfture of natural things, 
 were found out, which did all finally tend to the 
 fame fcope and end : For Hermes Trifmegifins the 
 EgyfttanittzboMX. this Work, according to his own 
 Reafon. Onts the Grecian obferved the fams Procefs. 
 //.-?/« the ^''^'■i^wperfifted in his own orders but Al- 
 bert us Magmts followed a Procefs very prolix. Every 
 one of thefe proceeded in his own manner, yet they 
 all attained to one and the fame end at laft, -viz.: to 
 long Life, and an honefl fuftentation and Conferva - 
 tion of the fame in this vale of mifcries. At this time, 
 I Theofhraftns Paracelfus Bomb aft ^ Monarch of Secrets, 
 am endowed with peculiar Gifts of GOD, I'lz.. in 
 fuch a manner, as every fearcher of this high natural 
 Work mult needs imitate and follow me, whether he 
 bean Italian^ Pplonian^ Fre>ich-man-,Cernianj or what- 
 foever he is, and whofoever he is. Hither mult you 
 all, Philofophers, Altronomers, and Spagyrifts, how 
 high foever you be, come after me. 1 by my own 
 immenfe Labours, will (hew and open to you, Alchy- 
 milts and DoftorSjthat corporeal Regeneration. I 
 will teach you that Tinfture, Arcanum, or Qiiinte- 
 flence, in which the Foundations of all Mylteries and 
 Works are latent : For every man may and ought 
 to give credit to another in thofe things only, 
 which he hath experienced by Fire- If any one, 
 othcrwife than by this experience, offer any thing in 
 Chymiflry, he is not to be believed, becaufe the true 
 mult be feparated from the falfe by Experi- 
 crxe in Fire. AlTuredly the Light of Nature was 
 created for this end, -viz.. that by it the trial or 
 Proof of every thing fhould appear-, yet to thofe 
 only who walk in that Light. With this Light we 
 fliall be taught by the belt dcmonftrations, That all 
 thofe who eVer before me entred this fo difficult Pro- 
 vince, with their proper phantafies and acute fpecula- 
 rions, have made trial to their own hurt. There- 
 fore, by my Foundation , many Rnlticks have been 
 made Noble-men •, but on the contrary, by the pu- 
 tatitious and opinionative Art of thofe men, of No- 
 bles, many have been tranfmuted into Rulticks :, be- 
 caufe they could bear golden Mountains in their 
 Heads, before they had put their Hands into Coals. 
 But firlt are to be learned Digeflious^ DeftilUtiom^ 
 Su'itmatkrts^ Reverbcrutiofis, Extrailwns, Solutions, 
 Coairnlations^ Fermentatians^ Fixations^ and every In- 
 ftriiment requifite for this Work, is to be known 
 
 by ufe, as Glalfes, Cucurbits, Circulatories, Veflels 
 of Hermes^ Earthen Veffels, Balneuros, Wind-Fur- 
 naces, Reverberatories, and other fuch like j as alfo 
 a Marble, Mortars, and Coals ; fo may you at length 
 proceed in Akhymy and Medicine. 
 
 But as long as you by Phantafle and Opinion ad= 
 here to your Fidlitious Books, you will be apt for, 
 and predeftinated to none of thefe. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Of the Definition of the SuhjeH: and Matter of 
 theTm(Xmt of Natural Things. 
 
 BEfore I come to the Procefs of the Tinfture, ic 
 is convenient! fliould difcover to you the Sub- 
 ject thereof; for this was alwaies kept fecret (with' 
 a peculiar concealment^ by the Lovers of Verity. 
 Therefore the matter of the Tindure ( here you 
 mult underftand me in a Spagyrick fencej is a certaia 
 thing, which from three padeth into, or remains in 
 oneEllence, bythe Art of Vulcan. But that I may 
 lignifie the fame to you by its Name; according to 
 ancient ufe, it is by many called the Red-Lion^ but 
 by few known. This, by the help of Nature, and the 
 Art of the Artift, may be tranfmuted into a white 
 Eagle, and of one two be made ; yet then the golden 
 fplendour fhines not fo much to the Artilt, for they 
 two kept in one fliine more. Now, if yon under- 
 ftand not the ufe of Caballifts and ancient Altrono- 
 mers, thou art not born of GOD for the Spagyrkk^ 
 Art^ nor by Nature chofen for the yulcanicl^ \Vork, 
 nor created to open thy mouth in Alchytnifticl^Arts, 
 Therefore , the matter of the Tin(n;ure is a very 
 rich Pearl, and a molt precious Trcafure. and the 
 nobleft thing Tnext to the manifeftation of the molt 
 High) and moft worthy of humane conlideration, 
 that can be in the earth. This is the LI LI of Al- 
 chymy and Medicine., which Philofophers have fo dili- 
 gently fought, but through defedl of intire know- 
 ledge, and perfedt Preparation, they attained not to 
 the perfeift end thereof. By their Searchesand Ex- 
 periences, a Beginning only of the Tinfture is given 
 to us ; but the true Foundation which my Collegues 
 
 fhould 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 fliould imitate, was left to me ^ wherefore no man 
 rauft mix liis Vizors with our Intentions. I, after 
 my long Experiences, defervedly correa Spagyrifts 
 and feparate the falfc or erroneous from the true, 
 having by continual Searches found out thofe things, 
 by reafon of which I may juftly reprehend and alter 
 many and diverfe things. Yet had I found the Ex- 
 periments of the Ancients more excellent than my 
 own, I would not have fuftained fo great Labours, 
 as 1 willingly undertook for the fake, profit, and ho- 
 nour of all good Ale hym ids, &c. Therefore, fince 
 the fubjedt of the Tinfcure is fo fufficiently decla- 
 red, as a more faithful difcovery cannot, nor mull 
 be made between two Brothers, 1 will enter upon the 
 Preparation thereof-, and after I have pofited the 
 Experiences of the Firll Age, I will alfo add my 
 own Inventions, unto which, in time to come, the 
 Age of Grace will adhere, whomfoever thou ( S;- 
 fhifier ) from thy own Philofophy in the mean while 
 fhalt conftitute Patriarchs or Principals. 
 
 CHAP. iir. 
 
 Of the Procefs of the Ancieitts in preparing the 
 tinclure ; and oj a more port way found out 
 hy Paracelfus. 
 
 ANcient Spa^yri^s putrefied LUi for a Philofo- 
 phick Month, and then deftilled from it the 
 humid Spirits, fo long as until the dry were eleva- 
 ted : The Ca^ut Mortimm they again imbibed with 
 the humid Spirits, and from it, by dellillation, often 
 • abftraifled them , and continued this Operation fo 
 long, as until the dry Spirits were wholly eleva- 
 ted. Then they united the abftraded humours and 
 dry fpirits by a Pellican together, 3 or 4 times, until 
 all the Lih remained dry in the bottom- 
 
 Although the firlt Experience followed this Pro- 
 cefs before fixation, neverthelefs our Anceftors of- 
 ten obtained their wilhed end perfe(fl:Iy. But they 
 would have had a more fhort way of coming to 
 the Red-LyorPs Treafure, if they had learned the 
 Concordancy of Aftronomy with Alchymy, as I have 
 demonltrated it in the Apocdyps of Hermes. Yet 
 fince every day (as Chrill fpake for the comfort of 
 the faithfulj hath its proper Care, the Labour of 
 Sfagyrifls before me was vaft and great, which now 
 by help of the Holy Spirit adifting, will be eafed and 
 lightned by my Theory and Praftice, and declared 
 to all thofe, who abide conftant in their Labours 
 \vith patience ; for I am experienced in the Pro- 
 perty of Nature, and know the EiTences and Con- 
 ditions thereof, and the conjuniflion as well as refo- 
 lution of the fame. Which is the highell and 
 greatefl: thing in Nature, never yet known to So- 
 phifters- 
 
 When the firft Age had the firfl Experience of 
 the Tindure, Spagynsls of one fimple made two ; \ 
 but afterward, when in the middle Age that Inven- 1 
 tion was loft, their SuccelTors, by diligent fearch, 
 at length happened on the two names of that fim- 
 ple, and with one denomination called it LUi^ as 
 the fubjedt of the Tindure : Then the Imitators of 
 Nature pucreHed this matter (no otherwife than as 
 
 Seed in the Earth) for its due time \ becaufe be- 
 fore this Corruption, nothing could of it be pro_ 
 duced, nox zvi"^' Ar carat ni difcover it felf; and after 
 putrefadion, they abftraded the humid fpirits from 
 the matter, until by the force of Fire they were 
 dried and fublimed ; that this way (no otherwife 
 than as the Husband-man waits on the Seafons of 
 the year) the faid fpirits might come to maturi- 
 ty, as one thing is wont to rife and fall after ano- 
 ther- And laflly, as after Spring the Summer ap- 
 pears, they incorporated thofe Fruits and dry Spi- 
 rits, and brought the Magiftery of the Tindure fo 
 far, until it (hould come to its Harveft, and difpofe 
 it felf to ripencfs. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Of the Procefs of preparing the Tin£lure of Na-i 
 tural Things, abbreviated by Paracelfus. 
 
 ANcient Spagyrifts would not have'undergonefo 
 prolix a Labour, and made fuch tedious Reite> 
 rations , if they had learned their Work from my 
 School, and in their labour followed the Rules of 
 the fame, but would full as well have obtained 
 their end with much lefs Labour and Charge. Ac 
 this time, in which Theopkraftits P~iracelfns /the Mo- 
 narch of Secrets, comes, is the Seafon of Invention, 
 which was hid from all Spagyrifls before me. 
 Wherefore I only fay ; Take the Blood of a Ro- 
 fie colour from the Lyon, and the Gluten from the 
 Eagle, which, after you have joined them together, 
 coagulate according to the old Procefs. Thus you 
 will have the Tindture of Philofophers, which in- 
 finite men have fought, but very few found- 
 
 Whether thou wilt or no, Sophifter, this Magi- 
 ftery is in Nature, and is a wondrous Work of 
 GOD above Nature, and the moft precious Trea- 
 fure in this Vale of Miferies. If you confider ic 
 externally, it appears to be that which tranfmutes 
 foraevile thing into another much more noble than 
 it was before- Yet that Miracle is produced by a 
 Spagyrift, becaufe he had patience , and was not 
 weary, and by the Art of his Preparation did corrupt 
 the vile extrinfecal Body, and from thence raifed 
 up another and moft precious Effence. If thoii 
 haft learned, or knoweft any like thing by the light 
 of Arifiotle, or from the Rules of Serapw, produce 
 it here, and bring it to light by experience. Now 
 keep the Law of the Schools, as becomes a Lover of 
 Honour, and a Dodor. But if thou knoweft no- 
 thing, or art able to do nothing. Why doft thou con- 
 temn me,as an imtionzl f^elvettan Calf,and accufe me 
 to be a Vagabond-Circulator ? ■ Art is another Na- 
 ture, and a peculiar World, as Experience witneffeth 
 and demonftrates againft thee and thy Idols. There- 
 fore the Alchymift fometimcs compounds certain 
 Simples, which he afterward'^, according to his ne- 
 celTity,' corrupts, and thence prepares another thing. 
 For fo, very often of many, one thing is at length 
 made, which effeds more than Nature per fe is able 
 to do ; as is fufficiently manifeft in Gafiaynnm^v}htre 
 oi Saturn Fcmts is made-, in Caryf7thia^o{ Tenus Luna , 
 
 and in Hungary^ of I-ii'fti 'So/. Not to mention other 
 
 Ooo Tranfmn- 
 
54 
 
 J be Second Part of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 Tranfmucations of Natural things (fufficiently known 
 to Magicians) which bring greater wonders to Light 
 than Ovul fpcaks of in his ii^etamorpbofis. 
 
 But that you may rightly underflanci me, feek your 
 Lion in the Ortaa^ and your Eagle toward the Sonth^ 
 which are to be allumed for this Work- You can- 
 not find better Inftruraents than Huna.:ryzv\di. Hiftrta 
 produce. But if you would deduce that from Unity, 
 through Duality into Trinity, with an equal permu- 
 tation of either, then you mufl; direift your Journey 
 towards the Somb^ for in Cyfnts thou canft not ob- 
 tain all thou defireft -, yet here we muft difcourfe no 
 farther than at prefent we have declared- Of thefe 
 ArcArmms, which exhibit tranfmutationsj there are 
 many more, although known by few ; and fhould 
 they by the Lord GOD be manifefted to any one, 
 the rumour of this Art would not therefore pre= 
 fently break forth, but the Omnipotent, together 
 with it, would give underftanding to conceal thefe 
 and other things, until the Coming of Elias tbe Ar- 
 ttfi, in which time nothing (hail be fo hid, as not to 
 be revealed- You very clearly fee (although there 
 is no need tofpeak of this here, whichmay by forae 
 be taken in derillon j in thefireof fulphur, is a great 
 Tiniture of Cfwwi, which- indeed exalts them more 
 fublimely than Nature pcrfeh able to do. But this 
 Gradation of Metals and Gemms muft in this place 
 be omitted by me, becaufe 1 have very fufficiently 
 writ thereof in my Secrets of Scents, in Tbe Book, of 
 Vexations of Ale hy mi (is ^ and in other places. As I 
 have begun our Anceftors Procefs of the Tinaurc 
 of Natural Things^ fo I will perfedly conclude the 
 fame- 
 
 reafon to fet down any thing here more amply or 
 clearly than I have already done j let thy Fban-. 
 fauk^ Schools teach thee what they will, from their 
 own unftable and tottering Foundation, it will not 
 reach their end or fcope •, but after you fhall, as ac- 
 curately as is polTible, have learned Alchymiftick 
 Induftry, nothmg then in the nature of things will 
 be fo difficult, but it, by help of this Art, may 
 be manifeft to thee- Indeed, Nature her felf brings 
 forth nothing to light, which is brought to its high- 
 eft perfedion ; as in this place may be fecn by the 
 Unity or Union of our Duality ; but Man fliould,by 
 Spagyrick preparations, deduce it to that, unto which 
 it was ordained by Nature. 
 
 Thus far have I faid enough of the Procefs of 
 the Ancients, and of my correftion of Tbe TtnSlure 
 of Natural Things, as to its preparation. 
 
 Now, we having this Treafure of the Egyptians in 
 our hands, it concerns us to convert the fame toour 
 profit , which is two-foldly offered to us from this 
 Spagyrick Magiftery. In the firft way, how it may- 
 be applied for Renovation of the body ■■, in the fe- 
 cond, how it is to be ufed for Tranfmutation of 
 Metals : Therefore, fince I Theo^'brafius Paracelfus 
 am experienced in both diverfly faccording as the 
 figns of the Work, both in experience and proof, 
 have appeared better and more perfeiflly to me 
 than any other) I will defcribe and propofe the 
 fame. 
 
 C H A P. V. 
 
 Of the ConclufioH of the Procefs of the Ancient s^ 
 made by Paracelfus* 
 
 LAftly, the ancient S;^(r^>-?7?;, by a certain order- 
 ly augmentation of Fire, long continued, fixed 
 their pellicanate and dry LtU^ until from blacknefs, 
 through a change of all colours, it became red as 
 Blood, and with its colour had put on the conditi- 
 on of a Salamander. Rightly indeed did they pro- 
 ceed in fuch a Labour ■, and it is equal and fit, that 
 every man, who would compafs this Pearl, ffiould 
 proceed after the fame manner. To declare this 
 more clearly to thee, would be very difficult for 
 me, if you have not in the fchool of Alchymifts 
 learned to obferve the degrees of Fire, and alfo to 
 change your VeiTels. If you have done this, then 
 you will fee, that as foon as your Ldi Ihall be made 
 hot in the Phyfical Egg, it will with wonderful ap- 
 pariiions become blacker than a Crow, afterward, 
 in fnccefs of time , whiter than a Swan ; and laft- 
 ]y,paffing through yellownefs, become more red than 
 any blood- Sett, /cfl^ (faith the firft Spagyrift)<zw^ 
 yoiijiiall find, kncck^and it jliall be opened inito yon. It 
 would be an impious and uncomely thing to put 
 Meat into the mouth of fo perfidious a Bird. He 
 ffiould rather be fuffered to flie out, as I, and all 
 others before me were compelled to do. There- 
 fore follow the true Art i for this will leadthee 
 to the pcrfe(fc knowledge of That- There is no 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Of the Tranfmutation of Metals ly Proje^ion 
 of the Medicine. 
 
 IF the Tinifture of Naturalifts be to be ufed 
 in Tranfmutation, one pound of it is firft to be 
 projeded upon a thoufand pounds of in Flux ; 
 then your Medicine will be prepared for tranfmuting 
 the Leprous humour of Metals. This is a wonder= 
 ful Work in the Light of Nature, "viz.. that by 
 this Spagyrick Magiftery or Operation, that which 
 before was fuch a Metal, ffiould periffi, and become 
 another Metal. That renders Arijlotk, with his 
 evilly-founded Philofophy, a Fool : The Country- 
 men in HiMgaria cafting Iron for a convenient time 
 into a certain Fountain called Zipferhrunnen, find 
 it confumed into a Fanigo for Iron fcurf ) which 
 melted in a ftrong Fire with Bellows, is prefently 
 pure Copper, which never more returns into Iron. 
 Likewife, in the Mountain Kuttenkrg (as it is com- 
 monly called) they ftrein a Ltxiviim from Marca- 
 ftes, in which Iron is prefently changed into the 
 beft Copper, highly gradated, and more malleable 
 than other natural Copper. Thefe, and many fuch 
 like, are better known to limple men than to So- 
 phiftcrs, for thefe men tranfmute one fpecies into 
 another ; yet thefe Arts remain for the moft part 
 abfconded, by reafon of the notable contempt of 
 Ignorant men, and alfo partly by reafon ofthejuft 
 Envy of Artificers. In Jfiria I have often brought 
 Venus beyond the 24 (alias 38J degrees, fo as the 
 colour of Sol could not afcend higher, and it was 
 conftant in Antimony, or in the Quartal Examen ; 
 this indeed I ufed in all Cafes, as the other- 
 
 Although 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mundi, 
 
 235 
 
 Although ancient Artifts were earneftly delirous of 
 this Arcanum, and fought the fame with very great 
 diligence, yet very few could after perfeil Preparati- 
 on deduce it to its end. For the Tranfmutation of a 
 Minor-Metal into a better, brings with it many diffi= 
 culties and hinderances ; as when Tin is to be tranf- 
 muted into Silver, or Copper into Gold. Perhaps 
 GOD will have the Magnalia of Nature hid from 
 many Men, by reafon of their Sins. For fomctimes 
 it hath happened, that when this Tindure hath been 
 prepared by Artifts, and they could not bring Proje- 
 dion to eftect, that the fame (through their negle(ft 
 and carelelfnefs in keeping of it) hath been devoured 
 by Hens, whofe Feathers afterward fell off, and grew 
 new again, aslmyfelf havefeen. This way, by a- 
 bufe, through negligence of Artifts, came Tranfmu- 
 tation into Medicine and Alchymy- For when they 
 could not ufe that Tinfture according to their own de- 
 fire, they converted the fame to Renovate Men, as 
 you fliali hear more at large in the following Chap- 
 ter. 
 
 CHAP. Y\\. 
 
 Of the Renovation of Men. 
 
 Some of the firll and ancient Phyficians in E^y^t^ 
 by this Tindure, lived 150 years. Alfothe 
 Life of many was produced and prolonged for feveral 
 Ages, according as we find it clearly recorded in di-- 
 vers Hiltories, which feems a thing almoft incredible. 
 For its Virtue is fo admirable, as it extends the 
 ftrength and vigour of the Body further than is poffi- 
 ble by Nature, and Conferves it in that degree fo 
 firmly, as it lives fafefrom all Infirmities, And al- 
 though it be grown aged, yet it appears as in a youth- 
 ful Conftitution. 
 
 1 herefore this Tindure is an Univerfal Medicine, 
 like an invifible Fire confuming all Difeafes, howfoe- 
 ver they are predominant- Its Dofe is very fmall, but 
 .the Operation of it moil potent. With it, by me, 
 the Leprofie, Venereal Lues, Dropfie, Epilepfie, 
 Colick, Rofy-drop, C Gittta RofMea ] and like Di- 
 feafes, have been cured and healed ; alfo, the Wolf, 
 Cancer, Ndunctangtrc^ Fiftula's, and other internal 
 Difeafes, more certainly, than can be believed \ of 
 which Gtrmxny^ France^ Italy, Polonia., B 'hernia^ &C. 
 will give a Teftimony large enough. 
 
 Now, thou Sophifter, behold Theophrafius Paracel- 
 fiis^ and confider how your Apollo^Machaon^ and Hip. 
 p crates^ natural Phyficians, fought this Tinfture for 
 refilling Difeafes, becaufe all Phyficians aim at long 
 Life, and by this Univerfal, they, for the moft part, 
 obtained it, and that very efficacioudy ; and accord' 
 ing to their own Arbitriment, named it theTindure 
 of Naturalifts, For in all Medicine, what can be 
 greater, than fuch a cleanfing of the Body, by which 
 every Superfluity in it, is totally eradicated, and 
 tranfmuted .-' The Seed being found, all things are 
 perfect. What profits the evilly founded purgation 
 of Sophifters, fince it removes nothing of that, which 
 Ihould be taken away? Wherefore the moft excel- 
 lent Foundation of a true Phyfician is, Regeneration 
 of Nature, and Reftoration of Youth : Then, that 
 
 new ElTence, expels all whatfoever is adverfe to its 
 felf. For this Regeneration, the Powers and Virtues 
 of the Tinflurc of Naturalifts were ftrangely found 
 out,, and until our time ufed by true Spagyrifts, and 
 abfconded as a Secret. 
 
 OfVlT%^lOL. 
 
 ]VT Ature generates a Salt, called Htno!. This is a 
 L\I peculiar kind feparated from all other Salts, 
 poffefling alfo Virtues different from them. Its Vir- 
 tues are fo many, and fo famous, as of right they 
 ought to be defcribcd in this Book. For, a perfeft 
 Cure of the Jaundice is latent in Vitriol, alfo of the 
 Gravel and Stone in the Reins or Bladder, of all Fea- 
 vers, Worms, Falling-ficknefs, 0-c. And in Confti-- 
 pations of the Body, it is a famous Deopilative: In 
 the mean while of other Virtues in thisCliaptertobe 
 mentioned, I here am filent. The Defcription of this 
 is to be direfted both to Medicine and Alchymy. For 
 in Medicine, it is an excellent Remedy ;, in Alchymy 
 it is profitable for many other things. But the Arc 
 confilts in the Preparation of Vitriol for Medicine 
 and Alchymy- For Vitriol crude, is no fuch thing, 
 it is like Wood, of which all things may be made. 
 It is profitable for Medicine of the Body ; it profits al- 
 fo in Chirurgery, or External Difeafes, asthePfora, 
 Tetter, Hereditary Leprofie, and others; where all 
 other Remedies are ineffedual, and as it were dead to 
 the Difeafe. Vitriol affaults Difeafes of this kind 
 powerfully, and cures them fundamentally. There- 
 fore the true Preparation of Vitriol is in a fpecial 
 manner to be known by Phyficians. For its Virtues 
 when crude are other, than when diffolved^ and 0- 
 ther when calcined,than when converted into a green 
 red, or white clear Oyl. This is the condition of it* 
 that as often as it is reduced into another form fo 
 often it is made a peculiar Arcanum. 
 
 This confounds all Apothecaries, and Writers, 
 both hdians and Germans. For this part is fuch, as 
 it alone per /I' can fill a fourth part of all their Shops, 
 and cure E)ifeafes proportionally. This being pre- 
 fent, there is no need of fo many Boxes, Pots, l31af- 
 fes, Cz-c. fetall of a row, and difpofed in o'rderin 
 Shops. It concerns a Phyfician, not to take care for 
 fo many Boxes, and Beyond-Sea Medicines, but to be 
 circumfped, provident, and wife as a Virgin ; fince 
 in fuch numbers of Vellels adulterate Remedies are 
 for the moft part contained. If he ufe the aforefaid 
 circumfpedion, at his own doors he will find more 
 choice Remedies, againft all Difeafes, than Indta^ 
 Egypt., B.irb.iry, Or Greece can afford. 
 
 Let every Phyfician follow this Balls, for it is now 
 known even to plain Country-men, that meer Frauds 
 are contained in thofe Boxes : Which, as they are for 
 the moft pare of Wood, fo are they that ufe theni 
 Wooden Dodors and Apothecaries : But like with 
 like do very well agree. 
 
 (if 
 
7^6 
 
 The Second Tan of 
 
 Part L 
 
 Of the Species of Vitriol, 
 
 THere are many Species of VitrioU for they vary 
 according to the Pits out of which they are ta- 
 ken. The common Probation of this is, as Coperas 
 is proved upon Iron, but this is not true. The Ge- 
 nuine Probation is, that it be ufed crude againit the 
 Worms, in that manner as we will now explain ; and 
 accordingly as it expels Worms, fo is it more or lefs 
 excellent in Medicine. In Alchymy,another Probati- 
 on by Cuprolity is more available ^ yet it may alfo be 
 thus proved. If Vitriol change Iron into Copper, and 
 that fpcedily, and the fame be perfedtly well grada- 
 ted and foft under the Hammer, then is that Vitriol 
 beftin Medicine and Alchymy- For there is a Con- 
 jundion of Iron and Vitriol, whereof Iron it makes 
 Copper good and excellent. Of the belt Vitriol the 
 belt Copper is made. Let no man wonder, that Cop- 
 per can be made of Iron by Vitriol ; for there is alfo 
 this virtue in Nature, 'viz.. that the Water of Borax 
 makes Qjiick-lilver of Lead. Alfo experience teach- 
 eth, that Cacbymiii's tranfmute all Metals into other, 
 no otherwife than as Vitriol changeth Iron into 
 Copper. Nor is Vitriol, only the tranfmuter of 
 one Metal into anothcr,but there are alfo other things, 
 which have like efFcd upon all Metals. The reafon 
 why we know not them all, is, becaufe Sophifters 
 pervert Arts for their private benefit, ufing them on« 
 ly to fupply their Purfe and Kitchin. 
 
 In Hungary is a River proceeding from Vitriol, or 
 pr fe confifting of Vitriol, not coagulated into Cry- 
 ftals. If Iron be put therein, and left for its due 
 time, itturnstoaRubigo, orRuft. If that Ruft be 
 melted by a Wind^Furnace, it is prefently made pure 
 and conftant Copper, not convertible into its own 
 Nature of Iron- There are infinite Mines of Vitriol 
 found throughout Germany, all which cannot be de= 
 fcribed apart. Yet the aforefaid Probations are to 
 be ufed both in Medicine and Alchymy. There is be- 
 lides thefe another Probation (not profitable in Medi: 
 cine, but in Alchymy only j and that is: If the Col- 
 cothar of Vitriol do from it felf by Fire, give or 
 yield Copper. If it give Copper, then m Medicine 
 it is weak, butin Alchymy ftrong Vitriol. Likewife 
 the Colours of Vitriol are to be obferved : That which 
 is all over blue, mixed with no other Colour, is not 
 fo good in Medicine, as that Vitriol, which is (as it 
 were) parted, and all overfilled with red and yellow 
 Lines and Veins. What in the Air inclines to white- 
 nefs, is efficacious, and fit for the green and white 
 Oyl of Vitriol: what turns to a rednefs and yellow- 
 ncfs is more excellent for the red Oyl. There needs 
 no more to be faid touching the Species of Vitriol, 
 than what is fuggefted by Probation ; which every 
 Phyfician and Alchymifl: fhould make, according to 
 the ufe he intends it for. Laftly, this Probation is 
 never fallacious. If mixed with Galls, or Oak- 
 Apples, it makes good Ink, thenit may beufed in all 
 Cafes: But if it niaketh an aqueous, or waterifh Ink, 
 that needeth many additions, it is not fo good. 
 
 Of the Virtues of \' itriol in Medicine : firft^ 
 of it Crude, and its Colcothar. 
 
 IN explaining the virtues of Vitriol, I will firft 
 fpeakof the virtues of it Crude, and of its Col- 
 cothar. Therefore, know ye. Vitriol is a famous 
 Purgation, in grievous and difficult Difeafes of the 
 Stomach- For it fometimes happens, that the Sto- 
 niach is diftempered by Meats and Drinks, and falls 
 into a Diuturnal Difeafe, which continues unto death, 
 and by depraved Meats and Drinks, it often comes to 
 pafs,that the Sick are either contraded in their Mem^ 
 bers, or die. 
 
 Alfo among Souldiers, through Immoderation, it 
 frequently happens, that burning Feavers, Dyfen- 
 teries, and other Difeafes arife- In all thefe Evils, 
 the highefl, and molt excellent Remedy is a Purga^ 
 tion by Vitriol, which rightly and Allegorically is 
 called Gryllum. Its Dofe is as much as you can take 
 up at fix times upon the point of a Knife. IfthatO- 
 peratenot, repeat the fame Dofe, and if not this 
 Dofe neither, give it a third time, and it will be fuf- 
 ficient. To the Weak, give it in Wine or Watery 
 but to a ftrong Man, that is not eafily Laxative, in rich 
 Wine. It fo exhibited, will throughly purge upwards 
 and downwards. Indeed Hellebore, both the Spur- 
 ges, Coloquintida, &c. do famoufly purge alfo •, yet 
 not with virtues equal to Vitriol. The Reafon of 
 this is, becaufe in V icriol is a certain fowrenefs, which 
 hath a conjoined Sharpnefs, Acrimony, and Deter- 
 fion i by which faline fowrenefs the Operation ob- 
 tains a full and perfed power, which neither Helle- 
 bore, nor Coloquintida, c5-c. hath- For the Nature, 
 or way of Purgation is here two-fold : One purgeth 
 perf, the other by Saltnefs. Therefore here the two 
 virtues are better than the only one in Hellebore. In 
 Saltnefs a Specifick Form is latent, and that of fuch a 
 Nature, as all Worms touched by it die. And that 
 is a fingular power, which deftroys Worms, being 
 what none of the aforefaid doth. Therefore it is e= 
 yident to every one, that a Purgation, which hath in 
 it felf fowrenefs and faltnefs, together with a Laxa- 
 tive virtue, doth in a double way and manner exqui- 
 fitely cleanfoevacuate and purge. Wherefore, for In- 
 ternal Difeafes, it is twice more noble, and more ex- 
 cellent than other Purgations. But becaufe I intend 
 at large to declare to you the Nature of Vitriol, 
 there is no need I lliould alfo explain thofc Internal 
 Difeafes : Yet in general \ fay, that a Purgation of 
 this kind in all Vices of the Stomach, in the Falling- 
 Evil and Vermination, is mofl: profitable and moil 
 fafe, if it be ufed according tothc condition of time, 
 Difeafc, Perfon, c^c 
 
 Touching Colcothar you are to know, that it is not 
 inwardly to be taken, but only to be applyed in Chi= 
 rurgick Difeafes, "Viz.. in putrid Ulcers, which admit 
 not of Sanation : For in thefe it difcovers the way to 
 perfeft healing. Yet there are many Chirurgick Di- 
 feafes, as Grievous, Malignant, Worfe and Worfi:, 
 Againftthe Worfeand VVorfl, Colcothar is not con- 
 ducent, yet is cfteiftual againft thofc, which confift in 
 the firft degree-, and therefore to be applied to them. 
 For the Worfeand Worft of all, its Oyl is to be ufed 
 according to the degree of the evil, and of the Oyl, 
 All Ulcers of this kind, how many foever they be, are 
 cured by Vitriol ; but according to the degree,the ufe 
 of it is, that it be reduced to good Colcothar, which 
 
 mult 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miracnlum Mundi. 
 
 237 
 
 muft be certain times cxtingnifli'd in Vinegar ; and |the Epilepfie muft have a fubcile, (harp, and penetra 
 being dry, be fprinkled on, or permixed with fome iblc Spirit 
 
 Plafter, which by the Phylician fliall be judged apt 
 and lit for that evil. So it makes an Efcar, which ta= 
 ken off by Fatnefsj a good and ealie Cure follows. But 
 the Evil, which is not obedient to this Cure, of it 
 yon (hall thus judge, 'viz.. that there is yet more ve: 
 nom latent, which muft thenceforth be fearched out 
 with Oyls applied j becaufe the Balls of the Ulcer 
 cannot fiifficicntly be amended with Colcothar for an 
 intire Sanation- If crude Vitriol be dillblved iu Vi- 
 negar, and the Solution thickened with Colcothar into 
 a Powder, and foapplied, it foon cleanfcth the bot- 
 tom of the Ulcer much more potently, than of Col- 
 cothar is faid. But the bell way of reducing it to 
 Colcothar, is to extraft the water thereof, and there= 
 wich to imbibe the C.'ifut tnortmim^ until it be confu- 
 med, after '.vards to dry it Icifurcly in the Air. If 
 this be uicd, it induceth a better bottom in Ulcers. 
 Bat whatever you do, mind the degree of Ulcers, 
 Tetters, &c. Whatfoever of thefe is not cured, fet 
 about the Cure of, with itsfeparated Oyl and Water 
 of which afterwards- 
 
 Although Colcothar anfwer not the dedred end, 
 yet by reafon of that the Cure muft not be defpaired 
 of, but you muft think of correfting it in diftilling. 
 For by Preparation the Medicine is brought to the 
 higheil degree, fo as it even cures all Ulcerous Af- 
 hCiii as the Wolf, Cancer, and the like. Thefe 
 are explained more at large where we fpeak of the 
 Preparation of them. 
 
 Of the Water of Vitriol in Chirurgkk, and In- 
 ternal Difeafes. 
 
 ALchymy difcovers many excellent Arts to Phy(i= 
 cians -, by which, wonderful Sanations of ma- 
 ny Difeafes are made. For this caufe in the beginning 
 of Medicine, Phyficians always ufed Alchymy \ be- 
 caufe this was the Mother and Genetrefs of many 
 Commodities. Thefetwo Faculties, C^i. Medicine 
 and Alchymy] as Socintes fo long kept together, as 
 until Deceivers and Humorift Sophifters arofe, who 
 mixed Venom with Medicine, and made her a Strum- 
 pet. Such Medicine as this, will always remain, as 
 long as Humorifts live. Thefe things I thought good 
 to premonilh you of, that henceforth you may give 
 the more diligent heed to this head Chapter, by rea- 
 fon of its famous Medicinal Utility. 
 
 But this is always to be premifed, ^'iz. Thatasof- 
 ten as unskilful Men take in hand any Art, fooften do 
 they every way defile and corrupt it, and of a Pearl 
 make a ftinking Puddle. The very fame is alfo com- 
 mitted in Vitriol. At firft, the Spirit from Vitriol 
 extracted, was wont to be gradated to the higheft. 
 By this exalted, the Ancients did perfeftly cure the 
 Falling- Evil, whether Recent or Inveterate, both in 
 Men and Women, of what Condition foever they 
 were. But here unskilful Laborators rulhing in, at- 
 tempted otherwife to reduce the Virtues of Vitriol, 
 and thus failing of the firft way and Arca>:nin, they 
 fufFered that to expire, and then fought an Oyl in the 
 Colcothar, which could not any way be made to that 
 endj or have fuch a Ufe. For what is to take away 
 
 In that confifts a faculty of piercing through the 
 whole Body, and of leaving no one thing untouched 
 therein. And by that pervadon, or penetration, the 
 Difeafe is alfaulced in its own place. For it cannot be 
 known certainly and indubitately, whence comes the 
 Seat, or Centre, or Period thereof. Hence we con- 
 clude, that a Phyfician hath only need of fuch Reme- 
 dies, as can penetrate the whole Body. This is the 
 Reaforr, why fordid Humorifts heal none, but pro- 
 Ititute all their DoJtrine and Profelhon. Therctore, 
 I pofitively atfirm, that in the Oyl, which thofc La- 
 borators feck, is no penetrating Spirit. AmcerTer- 
 reftreity (as 1 may call it) is by them ufed, which pes 
 netratcs not at all, but where it falls there it lies, 
 Wherefore it is greatly to be bewailed, that the true 
 Procefs is fupprell'ed by thatunskilfulnefs, and a falfe 
 fubftituted in its ftead- But I am perfwaded, the 
 Devil contrived that, to the end the Sick (hould not 
 be cured, and the Sed of Humorifts might thence- 
 forth fpread the more- 
 Let us return to the beginning; how the Spirit of 
 Vitriol was found out. The Humid Spirit of Vi- 
 triol was at f,rft diftilled from its Colcothar-, then it 
 was gradated, by diftilling and circulating fcrfe, as 
 the Procefs teacheth. This way the Water began to 
 be ufed for many Difeafes, both Internal and Exter- 
 nal, as for the Falling-ficknefs, &c. and thus a mar= 
 vellous Sanation wasefFeded. But in the cxcradion 
 they were wonderful diligent -, for they took the Spi- 
 rit of Vitriol correded, as above, and diftilled ic 
 from Colcothar eight or ten times, with a moft ftrong 
 fire ; fo the dry Spirits were mixed with the Humid 
 Spirits, and the V/ork fo long continued, as until the 
 dry Spirits came forth together with the Humid, by 
 extrading. Afterward, both Spirits put into a Phial 
 were gradated to the higheft. Phis Medicine they 
 found to be of much more powerful Operation againlt 
 Difeafes, and by that Medicament efieded fo much, 
 as they confounded all Humorifts in General. Yet 
 here is no Corredion added to it (by Artifts) by Spi- 
 rit of Wine, to render it of greater Penetration. 
 But it was of no greater degree, than as I 
 (hewed. 
 
 Now I will Communicate to you my Procefs, which 
 I commend to all Phyficians, efpecially for Cure of 
 the Falling-Evil, the lingular Cure of which, confifts 
 in Vitriol. For which caufe. Charity to our Neigh- 
 bour binds us to inftitute a more diligent Cure in this 
 Difeafe. The Procefs is thus. 
 
 1 imbibe the Vitriol with Spirit of Wine, and af- 
 terward diftilitfromthedry and humid Spirits:This 
 being done, I find the following Addition to be very 
 profitable, viz.. If Spirit of Tartar, correded, be 
 mixed to a third part of the Vitriol, and Spirit of 
 Treacle-water Camphorate, be added in a fifth part, 
 with refped of the Vitriolate Spirits. Thus I admi- 
 nifter it, before the afl'ault of the Fit, or certain 
 times in a day. This Medicine is famoudy effica- 
 cious againft this Difeafe ; yea, fo excellent, as a bet- 
 ter cannot be defired from Nature- 
 
 Therefore, the firft Procefs invented by the Anci- 
 ents, is to be retained with the faid Corredion, viz.. 
 by imbibing with Spirit of Wine before diftillation, 
 and by adding the Spirits of Tartar and Treacle-wa- 
 ter after diftillation, as is faid- For fo is attained the 
 Heart of Nature, and every Virtue. 
 
 Ppp 
 
 I 
 
238' 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part L 
 
 I hope 1 (hall not be blamed, but commended rather 
 by every good Man, that confiders the horridnefs of 
 this Difeafe, which would even move a ftone to Com= 
 niifeiation. ' Since fo great is the vehemency andhor- 
 ridnefsof this Difeale, as almoft any Man may lavv- 
 fully fay, Curfcd be all Phvficians, who pallmg by 
 fucii Side, yield them no relief, but like the Pj^'t/f 
 and Levitt- in Jcmho, who forfaking the wounded 
 man, left him to be cured by the Samantan.^ ] pray 
 here give your judgment, what Condemnation were 
 that Priellznd Ltvite worthy of, who paffingbythe 
 diftrefl'ed,/op/'t^ their Nof,., as the Proverb is i furely 
 they were worthy of Hell Fire, from which is no Re- 
 demption. „ r.1. r • 
 
 And who can judge any other of all Phylicians, 
 none cKcepted, that look upon this Difeafe, and yet 
 pafs by with their Nofc ftopt ? Who can other- 
 wife fay, than that they mult render an account 
 of it at the laft day ? Notwitliftanding, all thefe 
 men are generally fo difpofed, as they will not wag 
 their hand, or beftow one penny, for acquiring a more 
 certain Foundation for the cure of this Difeafe. Did 
 they not, as it were, by compaCl imitate Pnejls and 
 Z-ew>f^, but would rather ftudy to imitate the Sama-. 
 ritan, GOD certainly would recompenfc their fide- 
 lity with a manifeftation of the Secrets of Nature, 
 with which they might be helpful to the Sick- 
 And if fuch Virtues were not incited in Nature, 
 the Almighty would undoubtedly create them anew. 
 Therefore 1 teftifie. together with you noble .and ig- 
 noble men, that all Doftors generally have bafely 
 erred and deviated from the Truth. Whatfoever 
 thofe Seducers, G'.!/fH,y^:.«e«,Gr'c. foolidily devifed, 
 to that they adhere, and relie upon thofe Lyes, fo 
 far are they poflefled with the Devil , that they 
 cannot exercife Charity towards their Neighbours ^ 
 and in this manner they make themfelves the Sons of 
 Damnation ", for their only ftudy and drift is to 
 heap up Wealth. The Kingdom of GOD is firft 
 of all to be fought, yet not after the falhion of the 
 Trieft and Lcvitc^ but according to the Samaritan 
 nature. If we be merciful, and follow the exam- 
 ple of the 5(?w^/-<>^w, GOD is with us, who will pre= 
 fently help us with a Remedy not yet created in 
 Nature. In the mean while, fince Phyficians deal 
 with the Sick Levitically and Priefi-Vike, the moft 
 Wife GOD withholds Medicine, and referves it to 
 himfelf The Sick flie to the Kingdom of GOD, 
 but Phyficians to the Infernal Abyfs, prepared for 
 Levitical Doftors of the fame fort- Therefore 
 open your eyes and look, the way is two- fold, one 
 leads to infernal (hades, this the Lcvites follow ; the 
 other way leads to Heaven, unto which the Samari- 
 tan d'lred.^ his Feet. 
 
 That Vitriolate Arca-fUim-, and its extraction, is 
 not only excellent in the Falling Evil, but is alfo 
 condncent in other fpecies like unto it, as in Smun-. 
 t'lgs^ Extafes^ &c. Alfo it is after the fame manner 
 beneficial in all Oppilations and inward Iinpoft- 
 humes , and is no lefs efficacious in precipitation 
 and fufFocation of the Matrix. Yet in it are many 
 more Virtues acquirable than are here commemora- 
 ted, if greater diligence in inquiring be beftowed 
 thereabout, and F^hyficians themfelves would be better 
 men. But the Devil, whom they ferve, polTefleth 
 them, and ftirs them up to the hating of Him who 
 3oves Verity. Even thus things are ad:ed about the 
 Health of Good Men. 
 
 It is further to be known, that the aforefaid Re^ 
 ceipts of the preparation of the humid fpirit of 
 Vitriol cannot more clearly be defcribed ■■, for to 
 underftand that, a fufficient Artift is required ; thofe 
 fordid Decoders cannot underftand a thing of fo 
 great moment- Therefore you are only to expert 
 all- fufficient Information from true -^>ny?/, and ^Z- 
 chymrftiek^Laborators-^ fo alfo by them you muft be 
 fully inftruifled about the correction of fpirit of 
 Wine. For the Dodtors of Academies are fo very- 
 rude, as they canfcarcely dLiic^vn Agarick^^nd -^^an-. 
 na. Yet this kind of Affes are created Doctors. 
 You have Treacle- Water contained in my practice, 
 in the Chapter of the Cure of the Falling-Evil -^ 
 what others there are of this kind, are not here to 
 be recited. By this Chapter you may learn. That 
 the Art and all Virtue of Vitriol, confifts in vvell- 
 extrading the Spirit, and graduating it to the height, 
 and by addition deducing it to Penetration, where- 
 by it may fearch out the center, root, and feed of 
 the Difeafe. For 'tis impoffible lb exquifitely to find 
 the places, as thofe Dodors babble of Humours. 
 Certainly, the Foundation is not yet known, as what 
 it is that makes a Difeafe, or where that lies, or 
 what that is, which cafls a man into fo grievous a 
 Fit. Therefore every Operation is only to be com^ 
 mitted to that Arcanum, which Nature hath direft- 
 cd to the Difeafe ; that Arcanum fearcheth out his 
 Difeafe, as the Sun penetrates all the Angles of the 
 World. Briefly, I fay, vvhofoever endeavours to be 
 a true Phylician, ought firft of all to learn to be a 
 Samaritan, not a Pnefi or Levite. If he be zSama- 
 ritan^ all things he hath need of will be given him; 
 nothing will be occult to, or hidden from him. But 
 to him who will firft be a Pnefi or Levne^ nothing 
 will be given, unlefs it be Infidelity,which he alfo had 
 before. Thus are fuch men paid in their own 
 Coin. 
 
 Ofthe Red Oil of Y'itnol 
 
 '^T'OW. are alfo to underftand, how of the Colcothar 
 *• by a Retortive Deftillation, in a Chymical man- 
 ner, a blood-like and moft fowre Oil may be pre- 
 pared. This Oil Laborators have judged more effi- 
 cacious in the aforefaid Difeafes than the Spirit> 
 but that their judgment was erroneous. The vul- 
 gar Procefs of preparing it I think not to menti- 
 on here •■, for every thing of moment is cited in 
 manual Operation and diligent Infpedion, alfo in 
 convenient Inftruments. As touching the Virtues 
 you are firft to underftand, that it is a fowre thing, 
 fo far exceeding all fowrenefs, as nothing than it 
 is more fowre- It likewife contains a corrofive 
 nature, for which caufe it had need be ufed cir^ 
 cumfpedly and warily, viz^. not ferjl\ but in a good 
 Concordancy and fuitable mixture, with refpedt to 
 that againft which it is exhibited. We will explain 
 this by Example : The Viper is a Serpent moft 
 venomous, therefore of no ufe alone, but in Com- 
 pofition it is moft excellently ufeful ^ forofitTrea- 
 Iclfe is made. The very fame is alfo to be judged 
 of this Oil, wx,. That it is not to be ufed alone, 
 
 but 
 
Pare I. 
 
 Miracnlum Mundi. 
 
 239 
 
 but in a Compoficion fuitable and fit, as of Trea- 
 cle we have laid- By reafon of its fowrnefs , it 
 profits a Stomach free from Choler and an Ina- 
 polthumei but if either an Impoflhume or Choler 
 be prcfent, it is maiiifefl: by Experience, that it hath 
 no good efted. For the Impolthume is inraged by 
 it, and exafperated by fuch fowrnefs, paiTeth into 
 an unquiet matter. And if Choler be prcfent, a 
 mutual Ebullition and Strife is caufed, no other- 
 wife than as is feen between Aqua-fortis and Tar- 
 tar, neither of which can remain or perfifl: with 
 the other- Therefore diligently and circumfpcd- 
 Jy confider, left you erre to the damage of'the Sick- 
 In Compofition this Oil is profitable for other Affedls, 
 as in ail Fevers and want of Appetite, if given in the 
 aforefaid manner, viz.. in a good concordancy. There 
 are many other Virtues faid'to be in this Oil, but Ex- 
 perience confirms few of them- I have feen and pro- 
 ved thofe to be egregious Lyars, who have boafted, 
 that they could do \A^onders with this Oil. It is true, 
 it is ufeful in the Stone and Gravel, yet I have known 
 no man cured by it- In all it doth fomething, but not 
 topurpofe : Yet in my Pradice, in the Chapter of the 
 Cure of Gravel, you (hall find a Compofition thereof, 
 for this and other difeafes- But as I faid of the Cor- 
 rofion of this OiU ufed by it felf, fo I do alfo affirm, 
 that the fame Corrofion hath power ofdiminifhingor 
 breaking the 5r'j«f, and expelling C^r^w/; yet that is 
 done with fo great difficulty, as there is need of fome 
 other Invention, than hath hitherto been practifed; 
 for otherwife it may not fafely be ufcd. As much as 
 any mnn hath gained by Experience, fo much I allow 
 of This Medicine is new ; wherefore it daily ought 
 to be proved anew, and as oft as need is permixed 
 with new Compofitions- 
 
 But as to Chirurgery, of this Oil you are to note, 
 It doth indeed excite great dolours, yet it inferrspre- 
 fent Health) even in the moft difficult difeafes- for 
 in the Hereditary Scab of the Head, called ^c We/, 
 it is fo effertual, as it takes the fame offin one whole 
 piece, as a Man pulls off an Helmet from his Head- 
 With this Oil the whole Head is to be anointed with 
 a Feather, where it is hairy, for 3 dales continually ; 
 then expeft its Operation. If you fee it notfuffici- 
 ent, anoint it more often, according as the Scab fhall 
 be. The fame Oil may alfo be co- tempered and 
 mixed with Water of Selar.drne, and the Head often 
 wafhed therewith. Yet he who would be healed, 
 muft not think that his Cure can be efFecfted without 
 dolour i for the condition of the Sick is the fame as 
 of a pregnant Woman, which brings not forth "with- 
 out exceeding great pain. So Meat, without pain, 
 cannot be prepared for us ; with dolour and fweat 
 alfo we are freed from difeafes. This way all Tetters^ 
 Scabs^ and Jtch^ together with all other Vices of the 
 skin, howfoever sriling, are healed ; andlikewifethe 
 depraved Tenti^o^ by anointing herewith, is cured, 
 and the W''o//and Cancer expelled and mortified •, yet 
 in this cafe you muft diligently obferve, if the Evil be 
 very forcible (that the Venom fo deeply penetrate, as 
 the quick and found flethbein fuccefsof time like to 
 be eaten a way and fall off) to apply a good Oppodcloch 
 foradefenfive- 
 
 But in whatfoevereftiomenous Ulcers,other Reme- 
 dysbedcficient,thisMedicine yields relief, by reafon of 
 the degree it holds- It will not be improper to mix this 
 Oilvyith fome fat Unguent, and fo apply it. This 
 way it will caufe lefs pain, but it is not fo fwift in ope- 
 rating : Dolonr can by no means be avoided, no more 
 
 than a Woman in Trav»l can be delivered with- 
 out pains. The heft, and moftfublime way of pre- 
 paring this Oil, is to deftil it into fpirif, fo a 
 very fmall weight will be fufficient in all the a- 
 forefaid difeafes, which are then removed with little 
 trouble. 
 
 Thefe things I have found out by experience of the 
 Red Oil of Vitriol, which in grievous difeafes is an 
 excellent and famous Medicine; for fetid and con- 
 tagious difeafes of this kind, as are the Scab, Jtch^ 
 Tetter^ Achores, and other like Affeds, which are of 
 affinity to the Lcpmfie^ may be cured by this great 
 Gift of Nature, which is here offered to the Phyfi; 
 cian, by which he may effeftually cleanfe and heal 
 difeafed men- There is not an abundance of Reme- 
 dies of this kind, therefore I will carefully preferve 
 this Oil, C7-C. for all other COwlures are nothing 
 worth, nor do they remove thefe loathfome difeafes, 
 but with their fatnefs do caufe them to be reincruda- 
 ted and encreafed. 
 
 Of the White and Green Oil of Vitriol. 
 
 IT is worthy of confideration, that from crude Vi. 
 triol an Oil is deftilled by defcent, fometimes 
 white, and fometimes green, according to the con- 
 dition of the Vitriol- This Oil deferves ,a fingular 
 commendation ; for Once it is prepared of crude Vi- 
 triol, therefore it alfo contains the fpirit of the fame 
 touching which I have above treated- This Oil' 
 made by defcent, demonftrates by thofe its Virtues 
 that it is an excellent and admirable Remedy for the 
 before- mentioned internal difeafes- The fame Oil 
 whether it be white or green, (but the green is better) 
 if circulated and mixed with the above=commemora- 
 ted fpirit of Vitriol, is a certain and indubitate Re- 
 medy againft the Falling- Evil, and all its fpecies. But 
 it is worthy your obfervation, that this difeafe is feh 
 dome fo folitary, as not to have other Evils concur- 
 rent with it. Indeed, that fuch a concurrency is, 
 is evidently manifeft by all difeafes. Hence it is now 
 clear, that a Remedy againft the principal Evil is 
 not fufficient, but Secrets againft concurrent fym- 
 promsare alfo required. For this caufe in my Pra- 
 ftife I have defigncd a peculiar Chapter of the Fal- 
 ling-Evil, not for the principal Remedy fake, which 
 in this place is fufficiently defcribed, but only for 
 the underftanding of thofe things, which concurr 
 together with the firft Affea:. If other Accidents do 
 not concurr together with the firft AfFefl, there is 
 no need of exhibiting other Medicaments than the 
 principal, which is fufficient. Therefore, touching 
 the green Oil, thus do ye : Graduate it to the higheft:, 
 that it may be feparated from its terreftreity and 
 fasces, in -Srf/»co firft, afterward in dry Fire. So in 
 Babito the phlegm is taken away, and the terreftreity 
 removed by dry Fire, and the fpirit ofthe Oil only is 
 collected, which in it felf is circulated. Afterward 
 you may make addition with fpirit of Wine, but there 
 is no need of adding more, if it be only to be ufed 
 as a Primary Remedy.without Medication of coherent 
 difeafes. 
 
 It 
 
240 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part L 
 
 It is to be given in Water of Pseony, alwaies before 
 the coming of the Fie, whether ic be frequent or fcl- 
 doine, &c. Therefore mind the Paroxifms. As foon 
 as the fpiritof the Oil finds out the center of the di- 
 feafc, then the Fit is pacified, and thenceforth waxeth 
 more and more gentle. But when it exercifeth a po- 
 wer of Healing,' it firft of all excites a rmi^o fenfible 
 to the Sick, who notwithftanding do not fall nor 
 foam, nor are fhakcn, or quake, nor deprived of 
 rcafon, but are feized with a gentle llecp, and are 
 much better prefently. At length the rmigo alfo cea- 
 feth, and the fleep is ended ; yet in the mean while 
 the Medicine mult continually be applied, feveral times 
 reiterated, according to the condiaon oftheDifeafe 
 and Patient. This way the Cure is to be followed,and 
 all things diligently adminiltred. This belongs not 
 to a drunken Phyfician, or DuRor Levne. 
 
 0///.'^ Vitriolate Oyl to he ufed in Alchymy, 
 and alfo of the Crude. 
 
 it out ; fo you will fee an Amalgama left. Suffer that 
 Amalgama toexpireby Vulcanick Heat, and you will 
 find pure and good Copper. Of this Copper, R. ^fs. 
 of Silver as much, make them flow, or melt them to- 
 gether, and the Silver will prefently afcend to the fix- 
 tcenth degree. This way you may prove, that fuch 
 Copper is made of Iron: But that the degrees are fixed, 
 is not true. Yet he, who in Regal Cement is able well 
 to operate, may thence receive a fulBcient Recom- 
 pence for his pains. The whole bufinefs conliflsin 
 the Operation, and in Judicious labouring: Yet in 
 this molt men erre. Neverthelefs, by the aforefaid 
 Procefs, you may always make Copper of Iron. I fo 
 often inculcate this, only to confirm the tranfmutati- 
 onof one into another. 
 
 Alfo of Vicriol fuch is the Nature, as if the Col- 
 cothar thereof be calcined, it with eafie liquefadion 
 is turned into Copper. For in it is a wonderful Cop- 
 pery Nature, and in Copper alfo a Nature of great- 
 eft Affinity to Vitriol. If Copper be diflolved in >^r 
 cjiufortis., and Cryflallized, it makes every Copper 
 Vitriol, and it is no more Copper : So alfo of Vitriol, 
 Copper is made;, and that is no more Vitriol. There- 
 fore the Reafon of fuch AIHnicyin Vitriol and Cop- 
 per is very ftrange. What is Cuprous or of Copper^ 
 makes good Vitriol. So Verdigreafe, which is good 
 and highly gradated, gives a Saphyrick Vitriol. 
 
 Although it may feera ridiculous for us to difcourfe 
 of thefe things ; yet it cannot be deny'd, that in Vi- 
 triol a Tindlureis latent, which is of greater efficacy 
 than many can believe- Blefled is he that underftands 
 this- Rut touching the Oil of Vitriol, furthernote. 
 If the Oil of Qiiick-lilver, and this Oil be conjoined. 
 
 NOw to fpeak of the Alchymiflick Virtues ab- 
 fconded in Vitriol : I will lirft propofe to you 
 the Virtues of Crude Vitriol : How every Crude Vi- 
 triol of Iron makes Copper. For the Alchymifl 
 doth not this, but Nature, or Vitriol, by the Ope- 
 ration of the Alchymift performs the fame. And this 
 
 is the fublime power of Nature. And in the light of \ and io coagulated in their Procefs, a Saphire of won- 
 Nature it is done, but not without admiration-, I derful Nature and Condition is produced: Not indeed 
 to fee any Metal, as it were put off it felf, and be- a Saphire flone, but like unto it, of an admirable Tin- 
 come another i which is aluxlt, as if of a Man, a | dure i of this I willfay nomore- Hence it is evi- 
 Woman fhould be made. But in thefe things Nature i dent, that ftupendious, and to be admir'd yircat.ums 
 hath her fingular Privilege granted by G O D, for j aretreafured up in Nature, and in many other things 
 tl'.e lake of Man. I fpeak this of Tranfmutation, created by GOD, and produced by Nature. Now, 
 that you may underftand, that the fooliffi Philofo- , it would be more commendable for us to fearch out 
 pher >^>//?or/f,vvas not well grounded in his Philofophy, i thefe things with an indefatigable labour and ftudy. 
 
 but was meerly fatuate- Now I will give you the 
 Receipt, that you may know how, in all places of Ger- 
 7nany^ to make Copper of Iron ; whence we may ea- 
 fily gather, what the power of Tranfmutation is, and 
 that many other Tranfmutations may be made \ al- 
 though they as yet be unknown to Us. 
 
 To change Iron into Copper is not of fo great mo- 
 ment, as to turn Iron into Gold. Therefore, what 
 is Icalf, GOD manifefts, but the greater is yet hid, 
 until the ^Uns of Sciences ffiallcome : For Arts alfo, 
 want not their Elias. The Receipt of this Trianfmu= 
 tation is thus. 
 
 R. Of the Scales, or Filings of Iron fwithout all 
 other Metals, as Copper, Tin, c?-c.; tb j. Quicbfil- 
 ver, ft fs. Put both into a large Iron Pan, or Pot, and 
 pour on them oneMcafure of Vinegar, and of Vitriol 
 5 //')■. Sall-Armoniack, ^ ;. fs. Boil them together, 
 and continually ftir them well with a Wooden Spatula. 
 If the Vinegar vapour away, pour on more, and add 
 new Vitriol. 
 
 By this Decoftion, Iron is changed into Copper : If 
 it be made Copper, it all palfeth into the Qiiick- 
 lilver, the boiling being continued for ten or twelve 
 hours. After the Codure is ended, feparate the 
 Qiiick-filverfrom the Iron fas much of it as is leftj 
 and well walh it, that it may be clean. Putthat Quick- 
 Hlverintoa Bagmadeof Leather or Cotton,and prefs 
 
 than to confume our days in Luxury, Drunkennefs> 
 Whoredom, e^c. But at this time, Lafcivious 
 Whoremongers, are in greateil Honour, and fo are 
 like to be, until with thefe Vices one third part of 
 Men be fuffocated, and another third part deflroyed 
 by Peftilence ; fo as one part of the World, will 
 fcarcely remain untainted, or unconfumed . For with 
 this abomination the World cannot long endure, nor 
 good Arts flouriffi. Therefore, of neceflity thefe e- 
 vil Courfes muft be annihilated and cut off, otherwife 
 no good can have place. But when this evil time is 
 expired, the Golden age fhall flouriffi; that is, Man 
 at length fhallufe his own Underltanding, and live as 
 a Man, not as a Brute, nor afl; as a Swine, or lie in 
 the Caves of Murtherers or Robbers. 
 
 Therefore, fince I have communicated to you thefe 
 things of Vitriol, out of my good affedion toall i 1 
 do earneftly entreat all Phyficians in general, when 
 they ffiall fee the unhappy and miferable fick fo affli- 
 dted with that molt grievous Difeafe the Falling-Evil, 
 ferioufly toconfider, what GOD the Creator, their 
 own Confciences, and Charity to their Neighbour, 
 command and require of them in fuch a deplorable 
 State as this; and not contemn, orflightly efteemof 
 the Virtues, which by GOD himfelf are infited in 
 Vitriol. Let Charity move you night and day to be 
 diligentin thefe things: Let none be found idle, buc 
 
 every 
 
Part L 
 
 Miraculum MnndL 
 
 241 
 
 every one make ic his bufinefs to help his needy 
 Neighbour : But be not you deterred herefrom, be- 
 caufc Lawyers do not -rhis. Hear what Chrift faid : 
 Wee to you Lawyers. Surely this is not a light Saying. 
 Nor take you any offence at Theologians, becaufe they 
 rather fcek Rewards and Salaries, than take care for 
 the fick : Thefe are they, which in Jericho palTcd by. 
 Be yc Samaritans, and prefs after the Samaritan Vir- 
 
 tue : So GOD will conferr on you fuch profound and 
 ncceflary Gifts, as in curing the fick you fliall be feni 
 libleof no Deficiency. All things you have need of 
 (liall be given you, do you only fcarch out this Trea- 
 fure. 
 
 Thus far Paracelfus, 
 
 An Admonition, 
 
 ALthough all things wc have in the foregoing 
 Difcourfe propofed, touching our Sal Afira- 
 bile-, be confentaneous to Verity ; and rhe 
 Virtues, which wc have afcribed to it in 
 Medicine, Alchymy, and various Arts, do powerful- 
 ly difcover themfelves, yet we find very much diver- 
 iity in it, according to the diverfity of matter, of 
 which it is made. For, that which is prepared of 
 Vitriol, is of a far other Nature, and endowed with 
 far other Propercies, than that, which is made of 
 Salt'Nttrc. And what is made of common Salt, a- 
 grees with neither of thefe .• For one polfelleth a 
 greater fharpaefs than another; yea, this more than 
 that, diflolvcs Metals. The more potent, are fit for 
 Xranfmutation and Solution of Metals ; the more 
 weak iiibfervientto Medicine; the weakeft, and moft 
 fweet. profitable for multiplication and propagation 
 of Vegetables. 
 
 Thefe things, he who would reap the defired Fruits 
 of his Labours, ought necefTarily to know, and con- 
 fider accurately of. For if any one, in hopes of 
 future Mulciplication, committed to the Earth the 
 Seeds of Vegetables imbibed with the ftronger Salt, 
 he will indeed never obtain his defired end, nor will 
 the Earth give forth any Plants, becaufe fuch fliarp 
 Salts do rather deftroy, than augment Vegetables. 
 In like manner, Metals are delighted with a conve- 
 nient Salt, W^. with the more (harp, as Vegetables 
 are with the more f.veet. Therefore, when we find 
 our labour to be fruftrated, we mull not impute that 
 to the Sal Mir.ibik^ but to our own Unskilful- 
 nefs. 
 
 Indeed thefe Salts are endowed with far more no- 
 ble Virtues than we mentioned in the precedent 
 Difcourfe ; but the high Ingratitude of Men of this 
 Age. permit us not to difcover the fame. For if 
 you communicate your Secrets to thofe Men, from 
 whom you cannot require a promife of Secrecy ^ be 
 alfured, the knowledge of thofe Secrets will prc- 
 fently come to others,- who wiil proudly ufe the fame 
 to thy Difparagement. 
 
 If you do the contrary, and keep to your felf, 
 whatfoever you have purchafed b/ your own La- 
 bour and Colts •, you will create Enmities to your 
 fclf. So as which way foever you take, you will fu^ 
 ftain lofs. 
 
 The Confideration of thefe things, have caufed 
 mc to lefolve to expofe my Laboratory, with all 
 
 my Arcaaums, to the view of others. The end of 
 this only was to exhibit to the fight of all, the truth 
 of rhofe things, which I have purchafed with indefa- 
 tigable Labour, and communicated to the World by 
 writing ^ that this way, the Mouths of the Malevolent 
 and Ignorant may be ftopped. 
 
 I could, if ic were needful, give various other 
 Reafons, by which I was moved to make my Labora- 
 tory common to thofe that defired it. 
 
 Now the year is pall, in which I promifed »'« my 
 fourth part of the Frofperity of Germany, I would 
 build a Laboratory, and exhibit the Wonders of 
 GO D to my Friends. 1 then publickly and privately 
 demonftrated various moft excellent Inventions, not 
 without labour and very great Charges, all which I 
 value not, fince I know, that by this means I have 
 difcovered the Truth to many, which they alfo will 
 publickly own to the honour of the moft high G O D, 
 and Corredion of envious Detraclers- 
 
 I did purpofe alfo, in the following year, to con- 
 tinue ray Labours for the fake of faithful Friends, 
 but (befides other hindcrances) my Age prevented 
 that , Neverthelefs, thofe, to whom I have commit- 
 ted my Laboratory, will perform the fame, and exhi- 
 bit a Light to this blind World. This I was willing 
 to fignifie to all, that they may for the future ceafe to 
 trouble me with Letters. 
 
 Butwhilft I exhibit the Virtues of my Sal Mp-able, 
 and to it fprepared in GlalTes after the above recited 
 mannerj afcribe the virtue of changing imperfeLt 
 Metals into Silver and Gold, I would not have this 
 matter founderftood, asif we could by the hdp of 
 it acquire to our felves Gold in a very great quantity, 
 it is fufHcient to have demonftrated the pofTibility (of 
 Tranfmutation) and the fame to be proved by a fraall 
 quantity. 
 
 It is moft certain, that very many Medicaments 
 may be prepared, by the help of it, againft various 
 efteds of the Humane Body. Alfo it is moft certain, 
 that it is very conduccnt for a particular gradation of 
 the Minor Metals into better. Believe me, that have 
 experienced the fame % if you rightly proceed, you 
 will reap no mean Fruits. 
 
 But touching the true Univcrfal, I do qucftion."' 
 whether by the help of it, it may be procured. Af- 
 faredly, if common Gold, as to its degree, can 'e 
 changed above what is Natural, Why fhould ir be 
 judged impoffible, to exalt it further, in length of 
 Q-f]q time? 
 
^4^ 
 
 The Second Tan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 time ? My decrepid Age forbids me to put my hand 
 to tliis Work ; yet to Pofterity (better able than I to 
 fuftain the heat of fire j occafion is given, by Pray- 
 ers and Labour to fearch further ■■, perhaps, GOD 
 will grant to them , what he hath denied to 
 
 us. 
 
 This Operation, by which we peculiarly draw 
 profit from the Minor Metals, cannot be performed 
 in common Crucibles, as we before faid •, becaufe they 
 are obnoxious to breaking, and fo the Liquors are ea- 
 filyloft, but in fuch as will not cafily break, unlefs 
 after a longtime, and will not permit the humid Sale 
 to run out. Here it will be needful to perufe thofe 
 things Crelating to this matter) which I mentioned 
 in the Third and Fourth Parts of the Profpmty of 
 Germany. 
 
 To prepare tbefe Crucibles is a great Work, grea-- 
 ter to make fome Pounds of Salt, or rightly to 
 ufe the fame ; but greateft of all, (and in which the 
 fumm of all confilts) to know what Metals are to 
 be joined, or in what quantity. Here many will 
 have enough to do, and beat a lofs, although they en- 
 joy my Secret Furnace, and know how to make the 
 Salt of Art in abundance. 
 
 Befdes ail thefe, we mull needs crack the hard 
 Nut, if we will eat the fweet Kernel. It is re= 
 quired of us to know an eafie way of feparating 
 Gold or Silver from fixed Metals i for fuch a Me- 
 tallick Mafs, altogether untameable, cannot be fepa- 
 rated by the help of Lead, per fe, as Dudtile Metals •, 
 but here is need of another Separation ; which is the 
 principal thing. 
 
 Nor fliould any Man perfwade himfelf, that all 
 things are here fo clearly written by us, as he can by 
 their literal fence moll eafily inftitute the Operation. 
 For there is need of a long time, and a skilful Ma: 
 fter. It would be a very inconfiderate thing to 
 fet about thofe things, of which we have no know- 
 ledge. 
 
 Although this is my Admonition, here often re- 
 peated, yet there will be fome, who negledting it, 
 ■vill fet about the faid Operation, and perhaps find 
 out various profitable things: In like manners 
 there will be various found, who following my Pre- 
 fcripts, will reap much benefit from the Minor Me- 
 tals. 
 
 Who can deny, but that ^ary Rama, a Prlttaln^ 
 hath Prophefied truly, -vtz.. That true Alchymy 
 fliould flourilh in the Year of Chrift, 1660? 
 I my felf have not feen this Predidion, but have 
 it from the Relation of others, whereunto I re= 
 fer the Reader. And add, that if fuch a Predi= 
 dion were not, daily Experience doth abundantly 
 witnefs, that egregious things are here and there 
 performed in Metallicks, by help of my Sal-Mira- 
 bile. And there is no doubt, but that all Darknefs 
 willdaily more and more be diflipated by the power 
 of this Light. 
 
 I have unto fome communicated the ufc of this 
 Light for their proper benefit ; but thefe, contrary 
 to my Intention, have caufed what I thought to 
 have kept fecret, to be fpread abroad in publick 
 and_ mar.y have hit on the right way leading to 
 Verity. If this be done without my knowIedge> 
 what would not have been done, if my Laboratory- 
 had been open for a year longer ? Certainly the 
 World would have fliewed it felf other than it is, and 
 altogether new ^ which" the new and great Star ex« 
 tending it felf from the South to the Weft, feems to 
 indicate. 
 
 Let the moft high GOD grant what are ne- 
 ceflary, and falutary for us, turn the Ungodly into 
 the right way, and give to his own Children, Relt 
 and Peace, that his moft Holy Name and Truth aH 
 ways to be magnified, may nocbe totally fupprefled 
 by the Impious, uinm. 
 
 ANNOTA:: 
 
249 
 
 JPart I. MiraculumMundi, ^ 
 
 ANNOTATIONS 
 
 UPON THE 
 
 CONTINUATION 
 
 O T 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 Explaining and Defending tlie S EC^E TS therein contained; 
 As al(o the True Anrum Potahile therein mentioned. 
 
 IT is truly faid, that He who builds an Houfe by 
 the Highway expofeth his Building to the judg: 
 ments of all forts of men, and to their cenfure 
 efpecially who have not skill enough in Archi- 
 te(n:u.rej to ered a Country Cottage- The fame is 
 tvont to happen to thofe who write concerning 
 things not common or unknown. For you ihail pre- 
 fently hear People faying, Who knows whether this be 
 true or mt ? thereby Signifying that they cannot per- 
 ceive thofe things which exceed their Capacity ; but 
 neverthelefs they will not altogether reje(fl: them, be- 
 caufe they are yet in doubt concerning the truth of 
 them. This their doubting is not to be taken ill, be- 
 caufc it proceedcth from ignorance, but rot from 
 envy. On the contrary , there is another fort of 
 perverfe men, who being puffed up with their own 
 putatitious knowled;je, defpife unknown things, not 
 cut of hrpplicity or ignorance, but out of a mcer 
 diabolical envy to thofe who have a greater know- 
 ledge and experience of things than themfelves- 
 
 This hach alfo happened) and doth daily happen 
 to me, efpecially fince the publifningof my Miracu- 
 lum Miindt^ in that I have there difclofed Secrets of 
 great moment, of which the Vulgar, nor yet the bub- 
 bles of Envy, have plainly no knowledge ■■, and there= 
 fore out of meer Envy, reproach them for Unprofita- 
 ble and Falfe. 
 
 But to Hop the mouths of fuch perfons, I intend 
 fliorily to build a fpacious and well- fur niil.ed La- 
 boratory, and in it to place a good Laborious Opera- 
 tor, who lieing occupied therein uith continual La= 
 bours, lliall (hew the Divine Wonders to thofe who 
 delire to/ee the fame. Which being done, I (hall 
 have no farther need to defend my Writings againft 
 every Cnlnnniator i feeing that 1 know there will be 
 thofe (GOO willing) hcrcafcer, who will defend the 
 truth u'hicti they have feen with their eyes and han 
 died with their hands. 
 
 _ In this Laboratory fhall be feen not only thofe Ar- 
 tificial deftiUing Furnaces, and my Prefs for Wood 
 with the circulatory Inftruments neceffary for the ea- 
 fie making of Salt-Petre -, but alfo thofe things (hall 
 be (hewed, which I have treated of in ray Miraculum 
 Mdndi, znd its Continuation, yea, and much more than 
 I have there declared. 
 
 Thofe things nlfo which I have afcribed to my ^u. 
 rum fotah'.l (hall be demonftrated to be the very 
 truth, viz.. That crude Mercury, in an hour or two's 
 time, may be by it converted into pure Gold. Nor 
 (hall this only be proved, but alfo that after my Au- 
 rn,n PAMile hath tinged and changed the 5 into 
 pure and conftant Gold, that neverthelefs it hath yet 
 great Virtue, -uiz.. that any Arfenick, whether white 
 or yellow, being digelted in it for fome hours, is 
 fo changed, that its poifonous quality palfeth into 
 a good Medicine, refilting all Poifon. Nor doth it 
 only become a powerful Medicine againft venomous 
 and incurable difeafes, which cannot be eradicated 
 by purging, bleeding, fweating, and the like Reme- 
 dies, whillt it Tindureth the evil Humours in the 
 Blood and other parts of the Body, and changeth 
 them into good Humours- But this alfo being chan- 
 ged into Medicine, and its Venom converted, (heweth 
 its power in Metals ; if it be cafl upon melted Cop- 
 per, then the Copper poured out and proved on a Cu- 
 pel with Saturn, leaveth behird it fome good Silver 
 and Gold. Thefe two proofs are fufficient for the 
 defence of my Aurum Potahile. But that any one 
 may be yet rendered more certain, after thofe two 
 Experiments, ^'iz.. the coagulation and tranfmutation 
 of Mercury into pure Gold, and the converfion of poi- 
 fonous Arfenick into a fafe Medicament, he may yet 
 try a third, and that indeed incredible, v\ ith the fame 
 AiiYHm Potahile that hath been twice ufed, as before 
 and this rot upon mild or flight Poifons, tut upon 
 the mofi: dangerous and indefenfible both to Men, 
 BeaHs, and all living things, to wit, Mercury fubli- 
 
 matC) 
 
^4"^ 
 
 T 
 
 Annotation upon 
 
 Part \. 
 
 niate, which being digefled for foine hours in the faid 
 ylaritmPotabik, layeth slide all its horrid and for- 
 midable Venom, and palleth into a fafe Purging and 
 Diaphoretick Medicine, and loilng its former white 
 Colour and corrofive Venom, it becomes a fweetred 
 Powder, purging out the 6'owf, Po.v, Lqrofie, and 
 other detefl:ablcdifeares,and impregnateth Saturn m 
 fome meafure with a Golden Tinfture- So alfo white 
 Arfcnick, after digeaion, putteth off its white co- 
 lour, lofeth its corrofive faculty, and is changed into 
 a fweet and yellow powder. 
 
 Thefe Expcrin»-:nts and Proofs ought not to be 
 hidden to the Studious of ^ood Medicines, but to be 
 made msnifeft to the everlaicing and immortal tefti- 
 mony of llie Truth, againft all ignorant Sophilters 
 whatfoevcr- ^ j r 
 
 I have, for my defence, the molt fharp Sword ot 
 Truth, whofe edce, if any defire to feel, let him come 
 forth-, the defence of the Truth will be grateful and 
 eafie to me, although the malice of the whple world 
 Ihould oppofe me. I here challenge all thofe Calumnia- 
 torswho being moved by a diabolical envy,have endea- 
 voured to oppofe my moll true Writings -, let them 
 come forth with their Lyes into the open light, and 
 into the view of the whole World, and fliew any Ex- 
 j^eriment like to thofe which 1 here promifeto Ihew, 
 that we may fee how filthily or bafely they will ap= 
 pear, like the darknefs vanilliing by the light and 
 fplendour of the Sun. If thev cannot, as indeed it is 
 rictintheir power,(/o>^te*'^^t hath any knowledge of 
 thi!7^s never contemneth a good one ) nor will be pollible 
 for them todo; forafmuch as they know nothing, it 
 IS but reafonable that for the time to come they Ihould 
 reftrain their virulent tongues, and ceafe to calumniate 
 thofe things which they neither know nor under- 
 
 ftand- 
 
 I do not wonder that thofe Slanderers, attempting 
 the coagulation of Mercury into Gold, have erred, 
 feein'J that it hath fometimcs happened to my lelt,that 
 I have erred two or three times together, and could 
 not cfFed that Tranfmutation, until the caufe there- 
 of was kp,own to me : For if through too much hafte 
 the humidity of the J^mum Potabde (hall exhale or 
 evaporate too faft, the Mercury being dried up, can- 
 rot be fufficicntly penetrated, nor throughly tm- 
 
 An errour alfo may be committed, if the glafs con- 
 taining the Mercury and the Jurum Paahik grow 
 hot too fail, fo that the Mercury with the ^nniw 
 Tctabtle boil, and" leaps, difperfeth it felt by too much 
 motion, and exhibiteth it lelf in form of a powder, 
 when it ought to remain in the bottom, concre- 
 ted into a round mafs. So will he alio greatly erre, 
 who {hall ufe Mercury that i? not pure and clean, but 
 adulterated, and delil.d with many fordesor impuri- 
 ties which Impediments deny ingrefs to the Tindture, 
 and 'render the trial uncertain and precarious Therc= 
 fore it is neceOary that the Mercury be firit well 
 ground with Salt and Vinegar, in & [igmun v,ta or 
 Stone or Glafs Mortar, and by a diligent wafhing 
 freed from all its blacknefs, whereby it more eafily 
 admitteth the Tinfture- 1 have found that Mercury 
 very fit for this Operation, which is fublimed by 
 t'mF^-l'nenofhve, into which my Anrum Potabde hath 
 a fwift Ingrefs, and tingech the whole of it- 
 
 Truly itfliews the great ignorance and boldnels ot 
 thofe Calumniators, to dare to fpread fuch falfe cla- 
 mours and rumours, faying, That A^enury canm be 
 indeed tinned into CvU by my Aurum Potabilc, but th.it 
 
 the Gold nhich ivns before in my Aurum Potabile appL'ct.h 
 it felf to the Mercury, and in fome fort coagr.latcth it, bitf 
 doth not render it fixt and constant. But this is indeed 
 avery rude and ignorant Aflertion, which every one 
 but meanly verfed in the handling of Gold and Mer- 
 cury, is able to dcted of folly. 
 
 For if common Gold, dilibivcd in Water, would 
 readily coagulate Mercury, what fliould we further 
 feek or defire? But this is greatly wide of the mat- 
 ter, feeing that in all fuch Solutions the Gold in di- 
 geftion adheres to the injeded Mercury by precipi- 
 tation, and pafleth with it into a white Amaigcima^ 
 the Mercury conftantly perfevering in its priltine 
 Nature, not admitting the Icaft tranfmutation into 
 Gold, the which cxceedeth not the knowledge and 
 capacity of Rufticks, but is difficult to be under- 
 ftood by thofe putatitiousDoftors, vv'ho believe fuch 
 things to exceed all Belief, 
 
 It ris well known, that the purefl Gold hath no 
 more of perfection than what it needeth lor its own 
 defence ; that hath not the leaft power to amend 
 any other metal, and to render it fixt and confi:ant> 
 much lefs that it can coagulate Mercury, (the deri- 
 der of all Alchymifts and Sophilters) into Gold. 
 Of both is made a white Am:ilgama^ but not hard 
 yelfow Gold conftant in the Fire. He that believeth 
 not me, let him make trial hirafelfjand he (lisll find 
 it aiifwerable to my words. Befides, all corporeal 
 Gold refufeth folution by fixt Nitre, of which my 
 ^«?-«w Pof/zi^j/e is prepared, the which, if it were yet 
 poffible , the Gold u ould not be hid in it, but the fo- 
 lution would be yellow, and would colour the skin 
 with a fubrubid or blackidi colour, which my Aiu 
 rum Pntabile doth not. Therefore its tinging Virtue 
 confifteth not in corporeal Gold, but in a golden 
 Tinfturc, from the firft E?is of Gold, converted in- 
 to an Aflral EfTence, by the benefit of Art. By a like 
 reafon the Jftrmn of Lima imprelleth Mercury with 
 the nature of Silver, the Ajhum of Venus tranfmu- 
 teth it into Copper, the Ajhitm of Mars converteth 
 the fame into hard Iron, the Afiniw of Jupiter of ic 
 maketh Tin, and the Aftrnm of Saturn invelleth it 
 with the nature of Lead. For Mercury is tranfmu- 
 tcd into that Metal, whofe Afirum it (hall receive. So 
 the ^/n/w of Mercury changeth all the metals into 
 a running Argea-vivc, although this tranfmutation 
 brings little or no profit. Neverchelefs, I intend to 
 prepare the ^/>'«wj of all the metals, and thereby 
 to Ihew the power of Nature and Art to theftudious 
 of the Truth, and fo to manifeft it to the World- 
 The Ajlrwns of metals being extrailed from their 
 firft £ns, they are no longer metals, but their tinging 
 Anima's, which at length with Mercury, become cor-, 
 poreal metals. 
 
 This is the true and genuine Foundation, upon 
 which the whole ftrufture of my Ai.rntn Potabile is 
 built. Therefore, as pure Gold, cannot render Mer- 
 cury partaker of its own golden nature ; fo neither 
 Silver, nor Copper, nor any other metal, will com- 
 municate its nature to Mercury, but being precipi- 
 tated, attradech it to it felf, but in no wife changeth 
 it. Hence the Philofophers fay. That the Tindtures 
 of Metals are not to be fought in the metals them- 
 felves, but in their firft Ens. As Bafl Kaleminc ; 
 
 Quod prima Entia n^.n cfficinnt^ 
 Ha Aurum ^ Argent um nonfaciunt. 
 
 Which is to be well regarded by him who dciires to 
 attain his vvilhes. From 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Continuation o/Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 From all thefe things it appears, thac my yl^rum 
 PoMt/.'e being made of the firlt £«J of Gold, by Art, 
 into an Aftral Tincture, ought to be an excellent 
 Medicine ; asalfo, rh;ic it is fuch, I have largely dc= 
 nionflrated : For if it were not better than a common 
 Solution of Gold, it would not change Mercury into 
 true Gold, neither alfo would it have the power of 
 tranfmuting a moit potent Poilbn into an excellent 
 Medicine- Without doubt, fuch Medicaments,which 
 by the help of my A^irum Poiab:L\ from moft violent 
 Poifons, are changed into fo falubrious a nature, 
 as Antidotes, do poAerfuliy refill other Poifons and 
 pertinacious Difeafes, and may be ufed in Phyfick 
 with great admiration. What would it profit, if 
 the Body (hould be purged by an hundred ilools,and 
 at the fame time the Difeafe doth not confilt in the 
 matter of ftools, but ftill keeps its place, and gives no 
 way, except it be attacked in its own quarters ? Nei- 
 ther will it avail any thing to let all the blood out of 
 the body, if the feat of the Difeafe be not in the 
 blood. Yea, if it were there fixed, and the whole 
 mafs of blood wholly corrupted,it would be in vain 
 to undertake to amend the fame by bleeding ; for 
 all the blood cannot be drawn out, without peril of 
 Life. And if, for example fake, two or three pounds 
 of twenty fliould be left in the body, to be amended 
 by fanguifying Meats and Drinks, and good Blood 
 to be encreafed, yet the event would not be anfwe- 
 rable, becaufe the encreafing blood would be cor- 
 rupted by the former. E. g- An Hogfliead of fharp 
 Vinegar, out of which, if you (hould draw all the 
 Vinegar, leaving only the fxces or Lees, and Ihould 
 by degrees pour into it noble and generous Wine, 
 the Wine would be plainly corrupted by thofe few 
 faces- Even fo it is with thofe fixed Difeafes, v?hich 
 have taken fuch deep root in the humane body, 
 that they cannot be taken away neither by Purging, 
 Bleeding, nor Sweating, nor by outward Anointings. 
 ,Jherefore they are to be tinged and amended in 
 thofe places, to which they pertinaciouily adhere, by 
 the help ofTindures or Aflral Medicines, as above 
 is done with Mercury, and Mercury fubliraate, tiiat 
 remaining there, they may put on a better na-- 
 ture and quality , and no farther molelt the humane 
 body. And this is the true and genuine way of Cu- 
 ring radicated and incurable Difeafes. Yet I would 
 not be fo undcrftood, as if I condemned all Purga- 
 tion •, for Purging being ufed at a due time, brings 
 no fmall profit. Blood-letting alfo being feafonably 
 ufed, wants not its utility, but being often abufed, is 
 thccaufe of great raifchiefs, and not feldom haltens 
 on untimely death- 
 
 Moreover, the following Experiment, for the try- 
 ing the Truth of my Annun Potabde^ is not to be 
 contemned. Rub fome Araent-.vivc upon a fmall Sil- 
 ver Plate, and what is fuperfluous, and doth not ad- 
 here, wipe oiFwith a Linen cloth, after the manner 
 of Goldfmiths, for Gilders) who gild with the A- 
 >!:,:h,i;':.t of Gold and Quick-fiiver : Digeft the Sil- 
 ver Piat; in my Aurum PotabiUi for half an hour, or 
 an hour, then take it out, and yon fhall fee with how 
 fair a Golden Colour it will be gilt. For in this di- 
 geltion the Mercury is not fo heated, that it can va- 
 nifli in fmoak, and therefore adhereth to the Silver 
 Plate, and is tinged by my Aurum Puabile into the 
 bell Gold- Now try the fame operation with ano- 
 ther Silver Plate, rubbed over with Ar'ic>n~vivt^ and 
 digeft it in a folurion containing corporeal Gold, to 
 fse if that Plate will be gilt like ilie othcr.For thcPlate 
 
 ^5 
 
 coming out white,you will fee a very great diflerence. 
 
 1 could here add more fuch Experiments, if I 
 thought it needful. If Goldfmiths (or Gilders) could 
 gild their Silver Vclfcls, by iuch a codion for dige- 
 Ition) in a folution of corporeal Gold, without doubt 
 they would fooii leave the common way of giidin^^ 
 by the Amalgama of Mercury and Gold, becaufe by its 
 poilonous Mercurial fume, affeding the bodies of 
 thofe who handle it, it is wont to ca/t them into dan- 
 gerous and lafting Dilcafes. But becaufe they can 
 efFcd nothing by fuch golden folutions, they are 
 forced to fupcrlluc their life, and to acquieice in the 
 old ufual way- 
 
 Thefe few things of my Anntm PotabUe^ which is 
 the Fourth and Lall Article in my Comi/maticn ofAJi. 
 racnlitm Mundi y I am conftrained to publilh for its 
 defence, that every one may know I have not attri- 
 buted too much to it, but that it can perform much 
 more; the truth of which I am ready to exhibit. 
 Therefore this is a Medicament mod worthy to be 
 prefentcd to Great and Noble Men, as a precious 
 Gift. 
 
 As for the Third Procefs in the fame Work, which 
 is offered to Phyficians and Citizens, that they may 
 by an eafle labour obtain good Medicines for Man- 
 kind, and an honefl: livelihood ; it is openly and 
 clearly defcribed, fo that in it not the leaft thing is 
 hidden or concealed, I cannot force any to believe or 
 try the matter ; I have enough to do with my own 
 affairs; but if in my Youth I could have obtained 
 fuch a Manududion, as I have hitherto and ftill do 
 adminifter to others, I (hould not have been forced 
 to the fearching out of Nature with fo great charge 
 and labours, heavy ftinks, and great danger of my 
 Life, as I have. I here again aifert that which I have 
 often alTerted, w'^. That by the fulminating of Salt- 
 petre with Tin and Mercury, muchGoldand Silver 
 IS acquired ; which thing I have often done, and as 
 yet can do it, and do promife that in due time I will 
 demonftrate it publickly in my Laboratory to Friends. 
 The other point, in which I have taught how Rich 
 men may augment or improve their Gold and Silver, 
 much fafer than they arc wont to do by putting it to 
 Ufury, I have truly and candidly revealed, and have 
 kept back nothing. NB. But that there are other 
 vvaies of acquiring Riches, without great Coit and 
 Labours at the Fire, tlie troublefome Ex'ercife of Mer= 
 chandifc, or other things, difturbing or hurting the 
 mind, I do in no wife deny- For the like things are 
 every where obvious, in divers place of my Wri- 
 tings, efpecially in the 2,3, znd ^^^vx.%oi The Pro- 
 ffer ny of Germany, where mention is made of an Ex- 
 cellent Work, by means of which an honeft livelihood 
 may be obtained in tranquility, without noife, mel- 
 tings, and blowings of Bellows, and that by the help of 
 a certain Water extrading Gold and Silver from 
 Sand, Earth, Clay, Stones, and Minerals, without, 
 great labour and cofts. And although there fhould 
 not be at hand any fuch Earth, Sand, or Stones, which 
 contain Gold and Silver, from vfrhich thefe cannot be 
 elicited by common melting ^ ( yet there is hardly 
 
 I any place in the World, where thefe matters do not. 
 occurr) neverthelefs there is no want of Lead and 
 
 j Tin, from which two at all times, and in all places 
 of the World, Gold and Silver, by the help of the 
 
 I faid Water of Saltpetre may be extraclcd ^ vrhich is 
 an excellent and profitable Art, the which, leit it 
 
 1 fnould die with me, I have already (hewed it to fome 
 
 I Friends. 
 
 I Rrr lalfcr 
 
f34^ 
 
 Annotations ufon 
 
 Part L 
 
 I alfo here promife, that in my publick Laboratory 
 I will fliew and demonftrate various Secrets. But 
 let no man perlvvade himfeifthat I will do this to all 
 men, without defcrimination, or admit every un- 
 known Perlbn to this demonftration, but only thofe 
 whofe Piety and Candour I my felf have long 
 known? or fuch as (hall be recommended by them, 
 or other known Friends- 
 
 Moreover, befides my publick Laboratory, I will 
 alfo have a private one, in which ihall be fhevved to 
 my Friends the more curious and excellent things 
 which I have mentioned in my Writings. 
 
 There fiiall be fliewed rare and hitherto unknown 
 Wonders of Nature, as Vegetable and Mineral Plants. 
 As for example. 
 
 - Vecetahks of a Met alii ck.Natiire ; of which we have 
 fpoken in the Treatife of The Nature of Salts. 
 
 Herbs f^ri/igifia up or growitig out of hard) Flints^ 
 yea J out of pieces of Iron. 
 
 Metals in a few hours aroxvinj up like Vegetables., by 
 the help of a certain Water ^ concerning which, fee ray 
 Defcription of the Liquor of Flints, inThe Second Part 
 of furnaces, 
 
 ■ Metals in a few hours fpace., like Herbs., without the 
 addition of any foreign matter^ growing up , fo that 
 they lofc nothing in the trial of the Cupel; 
 
 Alfo divers manual Operations, and Compendi- 
 ums not common in the Deftillation of excellent Spi- 
 rits, profitable both in Alchymy and Phyfick.fuch are 
 Spirit of Nitre, Spirit of Salt, ^^lu-fortis, yifia-regu, 
 and the like, by which they are fo ealily and fwiftly 
 deftilled, that with two or three pound of Coals, by a 
 Body and Head, in Sand, every hour may be deftil- 
 led one pound of fpirit, and that fo pure, fweet, and 
 clear, that it needs no reditication. 
 
 But feeing that this is a thing unheard of,and there= 
 fore will be iook'd upon by the common Chymifts as a 
 thing incredible, I cannot forbear here only to point 
 at the way, by which it may appear poffible to be 
 
 done. , ^ ^ J rr ■ 
 
 Snppofe that I have need of fome pounds or Ipi- 
 rit ot fait, and want the opportunity of preparing 
 it in a long time, by the force of lire, 1 ufe the follow- 
 ing preparation. Inftead of a great and continual 
 fire, I ufe a feparatory Art, fevering the pure from 
 the impure, diHolving common Kitchin-falt, orfalt- 
 petre, in common Water, and adding to the folu- 
 tion put into a Cucurbit a feparatory fulphur. The 
 Cucurbit, with a Head or Retort, (by which alfo the 
 Deftillation may be made) being fet in fand, I kindle 
 afire, by which the water containing the fait may 
 boil, and foby the fulphur, in the boiling, the pure 
 parts arc feparated from the impure ; the purer parts 
 are rendered very fugacious and fweet clear Spirits ^ 
 the grofier, more earthy and fixed fait remaineth in 
 the Cucurbit or Retort, of a very wonderful Nature 
 and Property. And after this manner, from one 
 pound of fait or falt-petre, may ealily be deftilled 
 one pound of fpirit of fait, or fpirit of Nitre. From 
 a pretty large Cucurbit, in ten hours, may be made 
 ten pounds of fpirit of fait, or fpirit of Nitre, which 
 two fpirits being mixed together, make an v^<j.'.'.- 
 regia. The quantity of your fpirit in each Deftillati- 
 on will be greater or lelTer, according as your Cu- 
 curbit is larger or fmaller. He that delireth to make 
 jicjua-regia by the fame deftillation , muft diflblve 
 equal parts of fait and fait petrc in Water, and de 
 Ilil by a Body or Retort. 
 
 This is indeed an excellent Compendium for all 
 thofe thr-t need a great quantity of thofe Spirits. 
 Gold, Silver,as alfo all the otherMctalSjffiay hediflol- 
 ved without y^(]!ia-foytis, or ^cjita-regis, and thC like 
 fpirits, by the help of certain falts dilTolved in wa- 
 ter, which truly is alfo a famous Invention. So alfo 
 it is with thofe other rare Experiments above- mention 
 ned i as for example, If a metal ought to grow in 
 height, fomething contrary is to be added to it •, for 
 this, while it flicth from its contrary, arifing out of 
 the mafs, groweth up as well in the dry as the 
 moift way. 
 
 If we would have an hard Metal or Flint bring forth 
 anHerb^ the Metal, whether it be gold, filver, coppcr> 
 iron, tin, or lead, arc firft to be reduced into a tender 
 Powder bv falts, and that Powder being put into an 
 Earthen Vellel, is to bemoiftened with a certain pe- 
 culiar Water, and the feeds of the Herbs to b; 
 fo wed or fet therein, which after they are grown to 
 perfeftion, are to be no longer moiftened, but the 
 powder is to be expofed to the Rays of the Sun, 
 which again becoming a metal or an hard llonc, plain* 
 ly like to another metal or ftone, containeth the in- 
 hering Roots of the Herb, and caufeth liie Ignorant 
 to admire how an Herb fliould grow out of a piece of 
 Gold, Silver, Iron, Copper, or an hard Flint. This 
 is alfo certain, and not to be doubted, that the faid 
 Herbs fo growing out of the Metals, do obtain the 
 nature and properties of thofe out of which the/ 
 arife. 
 
 Although thefe Experiments of Herbs thus grow- 
 ing afford no profit, yet they are noble Operations of 
 Nature and Art, having more in them than they 
 promife at the firft fight, therefore I have not 
 here brought them in vain, inafmuch as they arc of 
 no fmall moment. 
 
 But that I may here ( at leaft ) mention fome- 
 what of this growing faculty of Vegetables and Me- 
 tals, be it known to every one, that in my publick 
 Laboratory /liall be feen the feeds of all forts 06 
 Herbs, and efpecially of Grain, as Wheat, Barly, 
 Oats, and others, w^. by what means they may be fo 
 prepared, as to acquire a fwift faculty of growing, 
 and that one grain may produce ten, twenty, or thir» 
 ty ftrong ftalks, with full ears, and fruit an hundred 
 fold. 
 
 In like manner fliall be ftiewed to fome Friends,how 
 Salt-Petre, as the only promoter and helper of the 
 growing faculty, may befowed it felf, fo that it ftiall 
 recompence the labour an hundred fold ; for falt- 
 petre multiplieth it felf, and groweth up out of 
 common fait, like other Vegetables •, whence that 
 old Proverb of fowing of fait might perhaps take its 
 Original. 
 
 It behoveth that I here make mention of yet a- 
 nother wonderful thing concerning the growing 
 faculty, to be fiiewn ( God willing ) in my private 
 Laboratory. And it is this, that Gold and Silver 
 do grow, are encreafedand multiplied out of grofs 
 Saturn, even as the feeds of Vegetables, out of a 
 dunged and fait Earth, fo that in fifty ounces there is 
 daily an augmentation of one ounce, if not of two. He ^ 
 that ftiall be here a good Husbandman, and skilful in 
 ploughing of Saturn, and rendering him fertile, and 
 of lowing or planting in him a fit feed, he will have 
 a plentiful Harveft , anfwerablc to the feed which 
 he fowed, and will eafily gain three or four times 
 as much. ♦ 
 
 There- 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Continuation o/Miraculum ^Tundi. 
 
 Q47 
 
 Therefore, becaufe the growing faculty of Vege- 
 tables, Animals, and Minerals, or Metals, taketh its 
 rife from the only and llniverfal Salt of the Earth, 
 and this from the Salt of the Sea, and the Sea Salt, 
 from the Sun, if the Divine Goodnefs (hall grant me 
 Life, I will Ihew to my Friends, how by fniall labour 
 and charge, the llniverfal Salt fatnefs, fit for the ren: 
 dring all barren and fandy ground fruitful, inltead of 
 Dung, may be copiouflyfeparated from Sea Salt- Yea 
 if need require, 1 can eafily demonftrate, that alfo 
 the natural Seed of Gold, the true llniverfal Medi- 
 cine may be prepared of the fame, or that it may be 
 acquired from the vifible Ocean which is known to e- 
 very Man. But feeing that belongs not to this place, 
 we referr the Reader, dellrousof fuch fubtile know- 
 ledge, totheTreatifeof theNatureof Salts> where 
 
 he will find thofe things which will fatisfie his de- 
 fire. 
 
 Thefc, and the like Experiments fliall be fliewn in 
 my Laboratory, among all which, that is the molt 
 excellent, by which a Man, without the incommoding 
 of another, and with great quietnefs and Tranqui- 
 lity, may honeftly get his Food and Raiment- There 
 fliall be alfo demonllrated thofe four Arcanum^ trea- 
 ted of in the Com hunt io>i of Miraculnm Mundi, and 
 many other things treated of in my Writing^:, which 
 many believe cannot be eiFcclied. .Xhat fo I, by gi- 
 ving an occular Demonftration, may vindicate my 
 Writings from the Injuries and Reproaches of the ig- 
 norant, and alfo leave behind me fomewhac for the 
 good of Pofterity. 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 atttte of 
 
 O R, A 
 
 Clear Defcription, declaring by a perfed Explanation, the Nature^ 
 
 Properties, and ufe of fuch Saks as are commonly known, as alfo of a certain 
 other very wonderful Salt, hitherto unknown to the World ; by whofe help all 
 Vegitables Animals and Minerals, without diminution of their weight, 
 or change of their form, may be tranfmuted into hard and incombuftible Bo- 
 dies : 
 
 WITH 
 
 A mod firm Demonftration that Salt (after God and the Sun)is the only Beginning,^ 
 Original, Propagation and Augmentation of all things ; from which the greatcfl Treafure of 
 the whole World j and the greatefl Riches may be obtained. 
 
 THE PREFACE. 
 
 THe manifold and various forts of food^ whe- 
 ther prepared of Fkjh or Fijh^ if brought to 
 the T^ible not feafoned with Salt^ are not 
 grateful to the Palat j in as much as they net-, 
 ther exhibit a fleafant relifi)^ nor conduce to the health of 
 the Body, Every man will readily ajjent to the truth of 
 
 this trite and vulgar Maxim, if he fiall confider with an 
 accurate mind ^ that among all the Seafonings and Sauces 
 of food. Salt holdeth the chief e^ place^ and that there is 
 no other equal to it^ fo that among jo many, there is no 
 one to be preferr''d to it. 
 
 There' 
 
•48 
 
 'I be Preface. 
 
 Pare f. 
 
 Therefore wlmt great and excellent Treafures, adiiw^' 
 He Vtrtnes. and moft worthy Endowments, in which, by 
 diUvem fearrch. and tvcpnjitwn the mnds of men may be 
 occupied, are contained therein^ J have determined in this 
 prefent Trcattfe to enquire into, and declare ; inajmiici] 
 as for the fpace of fifteen or fixteen years, I haveendea-. 
 vowed nothing more, than that by all my Labours I might 
 lerve the Divine Glory, and thepiMck good. For by my 
 firfl endeavours J publift'ed a Work, treating of Philoio-- 
 nhical Furnaces in five parts, and I ffovered five Fur- 
 naces, adaptcdto the various m.odes of Difttllatwn ; J al- 
 fo n,imd the way of preparing {by an arti^ctal manner) 
 excellent Medicines which drive away various and divers 
 Dijeafesapaingthe Humane Body, which profitable and 
 artificial Inventions, no mm before me hath reveal- 
 
 ^ 'Next follows my Mineral Work, jhewing the Origi-. 
 nai and emendation of Metals and Minerals : To which 
 fttcleedeth my Pharmacopoeia Spagyrica, in three parts, 
 treating of Vegetables, and by what means efficacious Me-- 
 dicines may be prepared sf ti.em. .j • ui 
 
 Next after thefe, was my Work, of the Admirable 
 Nature and Properties of Salt=petre, inwhichisfoUd- 
 Ir demonfirated, that that Miracle of all forts ts the true 
 ■Vnivcrjal Solvent of Pbilofophers, which is fubfervicnt 
 to the life of all men, high and low, rich and poor. I hat 
 little Treat ife I have called by the name of Uiracmm 
 Mundi, which J have augmented by an Explication and 
 Continuation, and fenced it with a defence and Jpology 
 againfl the wicked Infults of Envy ^"dScor" In all 
 there! have fet before the Eyes of this blind World, the 
 ]i)!vine Miracles and Mifieries of Nature 
 
 Jfter this came out another Treatife, under the Title of 
 theProfoericv of Germany, in four Books,thetwo latter of 
 „hUhTmy^r Printed, but Jhall be pMifhed inaflmt 
 time, if God'fiull prolong my life, which contain very 
 profitable Precepts of the Oecommy and Admimftration of 
 
 things familiar. „ , -,, ^ r i .• f 
 
 Then another little piece, called. The Confolation ot 
 Sailers •, teaching how they may defend and preferve them- 
 felves in alllong fToynges, as to the Eaft-Indies and other 
 tarts acrainft Hunger, Thir ft, and other ^commodities 
 ofthat\nd, to which they are wont to be Obnoxt- 
 
 cates, that Salt is a mtfi profitable thing, ard anhiaklj 
 ncceffary gift of God, therefore of right tlaimtththepre- 
 cedincyof cthir A''c,ns in Jetting upon the 1 able, and of 
 remaining there, till they are again removed- But that 
 this mofl Noble and Divine Gift, may the better be un- 
 derstood by the ignorant, and may be made more known 
 than hitherto it hath been, I cannot pafs by, but 1 mufi 
 indulge my ftlf, as my time will allow, in a few words, 
 and as it were by the bye, to fi>adow out, and dcpiti its 
 great and admirable efficacy, for the prfit of Afankind. 
 Butherelfi'allfp.'t'kbut of few thinnt, and that very 
 compcndicu^y, the fludious of Divine Wonders may find 
 the reji in the Writings of othtr pious and diligent Men, 
 if he hath a defire to know more. 
 
 As for the Original of Salt, which is drawn out of the 
 Ocean, as an Vntverfal Storehoufe, Writers are divided 
 into divers parts and Opinions, Some thmkthat thofe Salt 
 Fountains, which in many, and various places of the Earth 
 
 ens 
 
 Moreover, A Treatife of Tartar, Vinegar, and 
 Spirit of Wine, fi'ewmg their eafie attainment and pre- 
 
 ^^'^ToTh'efe I have adjoined, a Treatife o{ Aurum Pota- 
 bile and another of true Aurum Potabile, or the Uni- 
 verfamedicinc, W orkr Apologetical Writings, tn 
 -which 1 have not only fet forth the perfidious unfaithful: 
 vtfs of men, but have alfo revealed many excellent Scien- 
 ces, that by all thefe Writings I might illufirate the Di- 
 vine Glory, and contribute to the benefit and profit of my 
 Neighbour by giving him as it were wholfom and excel- 
 lent food, whereby both his Body and mind may be equally 
 
 And although the [aid Meats be wholfome^ of a good 
 Savour, and^contain their own Salt; nevcrtheUjs, tt 
 feems to me neceffary, to fait them as it were afrejh and 
 to fea/on them with a certain Sauce, that they may beta- 
 tied with fo much the greater appetite and pleajure. And 
 1 have fo much the more a mind to do this, as I more ftii- 
 dioufly endeavour to thferve that precept of the ancient 
 DoElors, that no Meat flmild be brought to the Table 
 ■without Salt. For it was a received cuftom m former 
 time in well ordered Familiss, to fet the Salt fir fl upon 
 the Table before any other Dijb, and not to take it away 
 till all other Dijhes were firfi removed: The which mdi- 
 
 break, forth from their Springs, and by the help of boding, 
 yield their Salt, do not take their beginning from the Oce- 
 an, hut from a Salt pecidiai ly generated, a>:d brouoht 
 forth in many places of the Terrene Globe, like Me tab. 
 And they eftabijh their Opinion by this Argumer.t ; That: 
 the Water of th'fe Fountains much exceedeth, oftentitnes, 
 that of the Sea m filttiefs; and on the contrary, the Sea 
 Water being brought by long and tedious Pajfages tbrowrh 
 the Earth, -neciffnily lonfeth its faltnefs, and therefore 
 leaving its Salt, it ought to co/ne forth plainly Jweet, or 
 infipid. This reafon, at the firfl fight, feemeth fo a- 
 grecable to truth, that one can hardly think^-the matter to 
 beotherwife. But moft Springs of fweet Water, in their 
 fir^ rife were Salt, which penetrating the pajfages of the 
 Earth, have depofitcd their Salt in the fame, to noitrijh 
 the Earth, and that they might come forth fwcet for the 
 daily ufe of Man. Whence they have given rife to fo ma- 
 ny, and fuch various Rivers, which again ret urn in that 
 Vniverfal Siore-houfe the Sea, or Ocean, by which incef- 
 fant and Reciprocal Flux, they are impregnated with Salr^ 
 and Communicate the fame to the Earth, that it may ne- 
 ver labour under a want of due noariflmtent, but may ren- 
 der Minerals, Stones, Trees, Grafs, Beafls, and even 
 Men alfo, partakers of the fame perpetually, andfo may 
 ferve as well for the Suflentation, Propagation, and Con- 
 fervation of Irrational, as Rational Animals, the which 
 no ynan $f a found mind can deny, except he will alfo deny 
 the Circulation of the Blood in the Body of Man, or Mi- 
 crocofm, which is plainly unknown to not a few, and wilt 
 fay, that the blood in the little Toe, or little Finger, or left 
 Ear, or other places , doth not ar ife from the Liver, the 
 Vniverfal fountain of Blood, but that it is p.vrticularly 
 generated and produced by the yital Spirit, in' thofe very 
 parts, which favoureth not a Tittle of Abfurdity. 
 
 Seeing therefore, that the confiant Circulation of the 
 Blood in theMlcrocofm, can be in no wife deny''d, why 
 fiioiild not alfo fucb a Circulation in the Macrocofni be 
 admitted as true ? For as the Blood of the Human Bo- 
 dy arifing from the Liver, diffiifeth it felf through all 
 the Paffa?es and Veins of the Body, as well fmall as 
 great, and Conferveth the life of the whole, nourifi'eth 
 all the parts, and augme?iteth the good juices, which art 
 changed into Flejh, Bones, Skin, and Hairs in the Mem- 
 bers themjelves, and leaving the unprofitable Phlegm to be 
 expelled by the Pores of the skin : So alfo is it with tlx 
 Nutriment and Vniverfal Aliment of the great World, 
 while the Salt water without inter miffion, of the great 
 Sea, or Ocean, encompaffing the whole Globe of the Earth, 
 by muny fmall and great paff'ages or Veins, pajfeth through 
 \ all the parts of the Earth, and nourifiieth and ffjtaineth 
 [them with its Salt, tk.t Minerals, Metals, Stones, 
 
 
 Sand, 
 
Part I. 
 
 Tbe Preface, 
 
 249 
 
 Sand^ Cl.-iy^ Shrubs, Trees, and Grafs may he wuripwd I 
 and g-row, and in growing take their encreafe. The refi 
 of the Water kei^/g freed from all fait nefs^ts exterminated 
 as a fitpcrfinity in the Superficies, and king dtjfufed into 
 various Springs, as well f mall as great, is expelled, no 
 otkermfethan tbe fuper^itous fweat of the Blood in the 
 Microcofm, i>y innumerable paffages andprres. But that 
 in many places of the Earth, the Water djth not leave its 
 fait, but carrieth it along with it felf, thai may very 
 veil come to pajs for divers reafons. For firfh, the mofi 
 excellent Governour, by His Divine Providence, hath mofi 
 rvifely ord.iined and appointed, that a fait water of this 
 kind, which men coitld in no wife be without, JIkhI^ break 
 forth out of the Earth, Mid it is thus tffe^ed,: The Sea- 
 rvattr every where paffi>:g through the paffages and clefts 
 vfthe Earth, in foi:ie places is ariedupby tlje Central fire, 
 and coagulattd into hard and great fieces, which being 
 d'gocd up by men, anddijfolved by the help of Water, and 
 fiudfiom its facts, ts boiled up in fit FejJ'tls, and redu- 
 ced into a pure Salt. 
 
 But if it happeneth that other Water paffing through 
 thofepaffa^es, findith pieces of Salt of this kind,itdif- 
 folveth fo much of t^}e fame as it can carry (.long with 
 tt, and afterwirds is boiled into Salt after various man 
 
 Tiers, according to the greater or lefjer quantity of Salt it of the great Vniverfalitftlf, or the revelation of great 
 
 'hith carried aiong with tt 
 
 But that one S-ilt Fountain is richer in Sak than 
 another , the caufe of the difference is in the Water, 
 whtch pajfing by, doth more or lefs affociate itfelfwjth 
 the S.ilt, and fo is made fironger or weaker . 
 
 The fe few things are fufficient for the re felling of their 
 Opinion,who ajfert,that Saline Fountains do not draw their 
 original from the Sea, but are generated and produced in a 
 peculiar jnanner in the Earth, by the help of the Stars- 
 
 But if this fliould fetm credible, neverthtlefs it would 
 feem tnore credible, that the Sun and Stars cafiing their 
 Rays and Influences into the Ocean or Seas, fiiould there ge- 
 rerate Salt, which afterwards penetrating through the per- 
 vioHS paffages of the Earth, fiiould convey due nourifiiment 
 to the fame. 
 
 This reafon may alfo he affigned of the greater or leffer 
 ^u iT.tity of Salt in Fountains or Salt-fprtngs, that thofe 
 fafj ages which receive fait water from the Sea, differ in 
 fiiiu.nion of place, and are alfo differently difpofed or al- 
 lotted by the fea-watcr it felf, which being various a>Jd 
 manifold (^inrefpeii of faltnefs) differs much in one place 
 from aKOthef. 
 
 For by hott much the neafer the Sea-water is to the 
 North, it contains fo much the lefs fait, fo that oftentimes 
 it fcarcely holds the tenth or twelfth part of Salt. But 
 the nearer it ii to the 5outh or the Ealt, it is inrt'ched with 
 fo much the more fait. For this reafon, in many places of 
 t/;e Eafl <?»^ Weft Indies, the fea aboundeth and fwel- 
 Ivth -With fo great a force of fait, that when it is fiirred 
 up ly the vehement impetuofity of Tempefts, it cafii out 
 with its fitrges a copious fpume or frothy feu m upon the 
 Jhore, which being afterwards dried by the Rays of the 
 Sun, the Inhabitants are wont to ufe for the fslting of 
 Flefii andFifii. Experience teacheth, that in places of 
 this fort, four pounds cf Sea-water yield one pound of fait, 
 andthe fertility of thofe Lands alfo indicates the great 
 quantity cf fait, which without any cultivation or hu- 
 man labour, both Winter and Summer inrich the Inhabi- 
 tants with mofi excellent Fruits. B-t thofe Regions fci- 
 tuated near the Ar^ick. Pole, or Ncrth, do not enjoy fo 
 great a fertility, becaufe they want the greater and more 
 penetrating Beams cfthe Sun, and do not exhibit fo great 
 a q-iantity of Salt, which is the caufe of all fertility, ntd 
 therefore thofe Regio'-s are denied fo large and f pent, tneeus 
 A fruitfulr.efs. 
 
 But th.it Salt which the VnskHftd huve been accujio^ 
 medto have in. little or no regard, may be had in greater 
 honour, I neither could or would any , longer pafs by its due 
 Name in filence, and therefore I have called it the great efi 
 Trcafure, and mofi ample Riches of the World, 
 
 Moreover, that I may prove And demon fir ate, that this 
 common abjcil fait, kfjown to every man, ( in which the 
 life, confervation, growth, and propagation of all the Crea-- 
 tures confifieth, and which is the beginning and end of all 
 things') doth defervc this title, and that a greater Trea- 
 fure is not found tn the Earth ; it will be neceffary to do 
 this, that I make manifefi the infallible Verity of the 
 Myfieries of COD and Nature. 
 
 But I defire of the unprejudiced Reader ^ that he wiO. 
 not be offended at the vilenefs of abfeSt and contemptible 
 fait; nor think that I, in giving this Title to it, and caU 
 ling it the greatefi Treafure and chief efi Riches of the 
 whole World, have exceeded or given it too great honour. 
 For fo great and honourable a Title doth of right belong 
 toit,and Pwuldasyet be infigniz.ed with a greater^ if a 
 greater by me could be attributed. And I cafily perfwade 
 my felf, that if thofe who are captivated by the hunger of 
 Gold, fliallfee this Book, and read the Title, they will 
 conceive no other thing in their ininds, than the defcriptiou 
 
 RivhesT^nd ma fyTreaf tires, which they will hope to find 
 in this Treatife , never dreaming that poor abjcit and 
 contemptible fait fiiould be fet before them, and therefore 
 will fay. What is aU this noife about a handful of Salt ?. 
 Who could have thought that Glauber would have da>-edto 
 have given ftch a Title to Salt t But I earnefily requirQ 
 of thee, my Friend, that thou wouldfi patiently read thofe 
 things which in this Writing I have put before thine eyes, 
 concerning Salt, and that thou wouldfi accurately examine 
 them, that thou maifi apprehend me to have written the 
 pure andfincere truth. If they exceed the capacity of thy 
 mind, and thou haft not hitherto learned or under fiood the 
 fame from the Books of others, I would have thee to un- 
 der fiand that all men have not knowledge of all things ^ and 
 th.it the Omnipotent GOD hath left many Sciences ta 
 Fcfterity, whtch he hath hitherto concealed from the 
 proud and haughty. Read over and over the true Wri-' 
 tings of the ancient Philofophers, that thou maifi know^ 
 and throughly know, that thofe men who have fear ched the 
 mofi intimate Penetrals of Nature, had J alt in great efii-. 
 mat ion, to have itidu^rioufiy concealed its Myfieries and 
 Arcanums from the ingrateful World, which now in thefe 
 lafi times are brought to light, for thee and all others, to 
 be received as incomparable Gifts, with a grateful mind. 
 
 Therefore Reader bend thine Ears, and open thine Eyes.^ 
 overgrown with blindnefs and darknefs, attend to thofe 
 good things which I jhall difcourft to thee of fait ; // tho:i 
 Wilt make trial, and will fearch them throughly by an ac- 
 curate examination, whether they agree with Cod, Nature 
 and Truth, I doubt not, but thy mind will be enlightened 
 With a£reat Ufht, and thou wilt become as a m.tn renova- 
 ted ; but if With a proud mind thou fiialt refufe to learn 
 and under fiand thofe things, orfctffor mock at them, thou 
 fii.ilt be reckoned amongft the number of Fools, aid perpetu- 
 ally abide in the fame, although Ariftotle himfelf, and 
 all the Profeffors and DoElors fiiould fit upon thy long Afs-. 
 ears, and thou with the fame jhouldfi endeavour as an Afs 
 with a fack^ to cover thyfoolifii Pride and proud folly. It 
 is much better for a man toknow manythir:gs,and meafure 
 or efiimate himfelf in his own way or manmr, thanto know 
 nothing, and bear himfelf out with the Vain pride of his 
 own ignorance. I have never jcen any man end wid with 
 true knowledge, whohath preferred himfelf to others ; on 
 [the contrary, I hAVe found very many, who bsmr fiirred 
 
 srr " ,i^ 
 
250 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 up by er.vy, hatred, and inhumane malice, do nothtng 
 foomr or more readily ^ than infult and make a mockery at 
 vioui men, to whom the Divine Bounty hath granted his 
 Gifts, and as it rvere^ devnr them with their Wolf-like 
 Teeth, which diabolical wickednefs the Divine Jufitcc in 
 
 its own time will not fuffer to efcape unfuniflied. 
 
 Thus ?>ntch I was willing to fay to the frond Caviller i; 
 now therefore attend to tbofe things which I P'all fpeak 
 concerning Salt, 
 
 K 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Mature of ^alts. &c; 
 
 I. Of tie Nature of S A LT. 
 
 THat it may be demonftrated in a Compen- 
 dium, how many good things, as firft the 
 Tranquility of our mind, the chiefefl: 
 Temporal Good, the Confervation of our 
 Bodily Health, the great Riches and Treafures, and 
 other things which are necellary for humane ufe, are 
 latent or hidden in the defpicable Body of Salt ; in 
 the firft place let us hear what our Saviour Chrift 
 himfelf faith, who is the Truth, the Light, and the 
 Life, intheGofpelofSt. Luke, Chap. 14- Ver. 34- 
 and in A'iark. Chap. 9- Ver. 50. Salt (faith he) ts a 
 goodthing. And in L<e, Chap. 18. Ver. 19- No man 
 (\2:\x.\\hQ)isgooA^bnt God alone. But he calleth his 
 Difciplcs the Salt of the Earth, and addeth, // the 
 Earth wantcth falt^it is unprofitablc^neither doth it bring 
 forth Fruit. And Dung it felf, without Salt, isof no 
 ufe. This is as if he fhould have faid, Salt is the 
 moft noble thing of the whole World •, and yet 
 amongft Fools the moft abjedl and contemptible. Be 
 ye like to this, and do the Will of God, and as Me- 
 diators, lead Sinners to GOD.which otherwife cannot 
 be done. J am your Head, your Mafler^ and go before 
 you •, tread ye in my footfleps^ follow we, I am the 
 
 'Way, &c. , . • . f 
 
 But to return to Salt, we will hear the opmion of 
 others concerning it : There is here no need to cite 
 the Writings of Philofophers at length, feeing they 
 are at hand, and from them it may be manifeft to 
 every man, that next after GOD, the Sun, and 
 Fire, they have efteemed it the moft Noble Crea-. 
 ture, and have given to it Honours as it were Divine- 
 TheHeathens would not facrifice to their gods with- 
 out Fire and Salt. If you read the Old and New 
 Teftament, you (hall find that God himfelf hath com- 
 manded to have regard to Salt- In the Gofpel of 
 St- y^larhjjow fhail find that all men are to be feafo- 
 ncd or preferved by Fire, andall facvifices with fait, 
 and that the Lamp or Light upon the Altar was never 
 to be put out, but to be kept in continual Burning. 
 
 In the Chriftian Church, this manner is ftiU obfer- 
 ved,that no Infant is baptized, without fome Light or 
 Candle be prefent, and the Prieft fprinkles a little 
 fait upon the mouth of the Baptized, with thefe 
 words. Receive the fait orfeafoning of Wifdom ; as if jhe 
 fhould fay. Learn to undcrfland and know God^ and be 
 not like the Beaft, which hath no nnderfianding. Thefe 
 Ceremonies are obferved in fome places at this day.' 
 The Greek Church baptizeth with fire and water, by 
 that Rite indicating the Holy Ghoft to be like to fire, 
 becaufe he warmeth the cold hearts of Men, enlive- 
 neth them, and turneth them to GOD. God Him- 
 felf calleth himfelf a confuming Fire ■■, and the Holy 
 Ghoft hath alwaies appeared in the form of Fire, and 
 fhewed Himfelf to the Difciples of Chrift in fiery 
 Tongues. The Abyfini profefTmg the Chriftian Re- 
 ligion in Africa, under the moft Potent King and 
 Prieft Frefterjohn, baptize with Fire and Water, and 
 make a fign or mark in the Foreheads of the men 
 which are baptifed, by Burning. In Ihort, thereis not 
 any man among the Heathens, Jews, Turks,and Chri- 
 ftians, who doth not highly value Fire and Salt, of 
 which notwithftanding he knoweth no more than a 
 mad^man, or than a Swine, or an Ox, or other irratio- 
 nal Beafts, which pafs their life without underftand- 
 ing. But thefe two Creatures of God, to wit, Fire 
 and Salt, are one and the fame in the foundation of 
 Nature; for Fire produceth Salt, and Salt is again 
 converted into Fire, and Fire into Salt, fo that by a 
 mutual converlion they are alwaies changed one in- 
 to the other. Therefore Hermes the Father of 
 Philofophers faith. That which is above, is as that 
 which is below, and that which is below, as that which is 
 above ; as you may read in his SmaragdineTahle. The 
 Sun or Fire is above, Salt is below, which is by an ea- 
 fieway rendered combuftiblc, like the fun or fire-, as 
 I have taught in many places of my Writings, and all 
 Philofophers, with an unanimous confent, do confefs, 
 that the greateft Secret lieth hidden in fire and fait. 
 
 Henee 
 
Part I. 
 
 Miraculum Mundi. 
 
 251 
 
 Hence is the word Alchymy from fire and falt,-which 1 have their Rife from the fame Subjefts, viz.. Salt 
 
 „ .,• jr.:„. :. .u-c u„i ^e,-r^r^ ' and Fire, which their Anatomy doth clearly demon- 
 
 ftrate. And although this may exceed the Capacity 
 of fome, yet it doth not thence follow that it is not 
 true. If all things were to be fpoken truly and open- 
 ly, I confefs there would be found a very fmall 
 numbei" of thofe who rightly underfland Nature, 
 feeing that almofl all men who have but frequented 
 a School for fome years, and obtained any thing of 
 Latinj whether they underftand Nature, or are ig- 
 norant of her, will betaken for Philofophers, traduce 
 thofePhilofophers who are iliijminated by the light 
 of Nature, with ftrangc Cavilhngs and wicked L^s, 
 every where fetcing torth themfelves by their owa 
 ignorance. Therefore it is no wonder that the Se- 
 crets of Nature fiiould lie hid, and by the ignorant 
 and unskilful of this fort be all taken for fables and 
 foolifti Whimfies, which their Sheeps Brains cannot 
 reach. But who is able to cure this Evil } Per- 
 verfe manners are to be lefc with a pervcrfe World. 
 But that \ may prove and demonftrate that it is not 
 altogether impollible for Art to tranfmute Wood 
 into Gold, I will point out by what means it may be 
 done- 
 
 penetrate all things, and Fire is the Symbol of GOD, 
 who hath alwaies exhibited himfelf to mortal eyes, 
 in the form of Fire : But Salt is the Symbol of 
 Eternitv, inafmuch as it defendeth and prefervcth all 
 things from Corruption. 
 
 There are fome who determine the Evangelifl: John 
 to have underftood Hermetick Philofophy ; and 
 there is yet e.Ktant an Hymn, compofed and fung by 
 the ancient Fathers, in honour of the fame John^ in 
 which occurr thefe words : Who mjketb Gold of Rods 
 cr lTvhgs.)a'iclGemn:s oj Stoics. Neverthelefs I leave 
 thofe things to every man's judgment, and here I 
 only fay this. That both Heavenly .and Earthly My- 
 Iteries were known to the Prophets and Apoftles. 
 
 But although I have never taken in hand fo great a 
 Philofophick Work, neverthelefs it is fo known to mc 
 fro 11 the Writings of the Prophets and Apoilles, and 
 from the Light of Naaire, that by comparing things 
 Divine and Humane, I could eafily fubjeft it to tlic 
 Eye, but that power is not allowed me, and there- 
 fore I truft that no man will make an evil Interpreta- 
 tion of what I have faid, feeing that thereby I aim 
 at nothing but the glory of God, and the profit of 
 ray Neighbour- 
 
 There is no need for any man to feek many 
 things from the Old and New Philofophers, feeing 
 that by reading and confidering the Divine Wri- 
 tings of ^''^/b/?/, che Prophets and Apoftles, he may 
 
 Firft, Then it is manifefl: before all things, that all 
 Wood and every Herb hath its original from a certain 
 fulphureous fait, to which Metals alfo owe their Rife 
 and greatly agree in fimilitude, and by an intimate 
 agreement in the fame name ; fo that how eafily a 
 
 .....^■.^. - -J -, W..W . .«, -«- ..J,-—-., ..- — J -j-,.^.....^..,^ .,, ^..^ iULii^ .ic.i.v , lu LiidL iiuw cajuy a 
 
 obtain h.s delire, and may without doubt, m them, Mineral fufFereth it felf to be changed into a Vegeta- 
 find theSconeof Philofophers defcribed, provided he ble, and that again into a Mineral, I have flgnified 
 fliall have bu^ a little knowledge of Nature- I will | in other places of my Writings. Indeed if you fliall 
 fay no more, but that the infallible Truth occurrs j look upon the external difference of any Wood or 
 in thofe. All thefe things are to betaken fo, Herb, and a Metal, it will indeed appear great; but 
 : u» ..„j„_a„j :„ „r^:..:_. being rcduced to their firft matter, they will not dif- 
 fer in any difcrimination ; as is manifelled in my 
 Co?itrnuatton of A<fi-f.-icnlum Mnndi, 
 
 Therefore if the firft matter of Vegetables be ad- 
 joined to any metallick feed, this is hourilhed by that 5 
 and again, if a metal be reduced to its firft matter,and 
 any Vegetable feed put to it, that will be changed 
 into a Vegetable ; which Experience hath often Ihew- 
 ed me. But if thofe two had not a great affinity with 
 each other, they would not fo eafily admit of a mu- 
 tual cenverfion one into the others the feeds indeed 
 differ between themfelves , but they agree in the firft 
 matter, which appeareth thus: If a fulphureous fait, 
 not corrofive, be mixed with fand, and moiftened 
 with water, and the feeds of divers Herbs fowed in it, 
 for every feed doth thence attracfc its own nonrifh- 
 ment, every one, according to its fpecies, producing 
 its like, endov/ed with various colours, fmell, and 
 proper tafte, powers, and virtues, all which proceed 
 from one only fait, and are manifefted by the heat of 
 the Sun, and the operation of the internal Archeus. 
 But to make the matter more clear, it is to be known 
 that the principals of Vegetables are Water, Salt,and 
 Sulphur, from which alfo Metals take their original, 
 and not from running Mercury, as many think. For 
 that Argent'vive.^ in its own peculiar nature, is alfo a 
 metal arifing from the fame three principles, front 
 which the other metals, and all Vegetables draw their 
 original;wi. from Water, Salt, and Sulphur, which 
 their Anatomy maketh manifeft. Here the rout of 
 Unskilful men will take Counfel to refel this my opi- 
 nion, inafmuch as it will feem worthy of credit to 
 few. But the caafe of this incredulity is the rudenefs 
 andunskilfulnefs ofmen of thisfort, who having no 
 Experience in Natural things,nor in no wife enlighte- 
 
 ^ ned 
 
 that things Divine may be underftood in a Divine 
 fence, and Natural things in an Elementary fence, 
 without changing or mixing, feeing that they have 
 no Communion among themfelves. 
 
 But left it fhould feem to any, to be abfurd, that 
 St. 7/3' theEvangeliftihould make Gold ofSticks or 
 Twiggs, and Gemms of Stones, as the faid Hymn 
 teacheth, by an Art indeed great, and to be admi- 
 red, 1 have thought it necefl'ary to open and fhew to 
 the Unskilful by what means that might be done. 
 
 In the firft place, this waspoifible to St. Jt^», as 
 he was a man abundantly gifted with the Holy Spirit, 
 and feafoned with the Salt of Wifdom, fo that he 
 might perform this adion fupernaturaliy, as well as 
 naturaUy, feeing that he was endowed by the holy 
 Spirit, without all doubt he had alfo the natural Light 
 in his polfeffion. 
 
 But by which of thofe powers he eifeilcd this, is 
 not for us to know, nor doth it behove us to know. 
 But becaufe few will believe that St • John wrought the 
 fame by natural means, and many not believing in 
 Nnture and Art, will only fay, that it could never be 
 that Wood fliould be tranfmuted into Gold, and 
 Scones into Gemms- And although the later fliould 
 be in fome fort credible, by reafon of the alliance or 
 likensfs bctvtcen Stones and Gemms, neverthelefs the 
 former, by reafon of the great difagreement between 
 Woods ar.d Metals, inafmuch as they belong to di- 
 vers Kingdoms, they objeft, exceeds all Belief, and 
 other Objedions of this fort, maybe found amongthe 
 Unskilful, tiy reafon of the external fpecies^ of place 
 But fuch things are wont to move no admiration in 
 Philofophers, much lefs any doubt, feeing that they 
 arc not ignorant how great familiarity there is of 
 the Vegetable Kingdoniwith the Mineral, both which 
 
252 
 
 The Second Tart of 
 
 Part I 
 
 Ped by the Light of Nature, arc blinder than a 
 
 Mole. . ^ J 
 
 Thofc things which hitherto I have fo often, and 
 with fo manf words inculcated, the fame I here re- 
 peat and affirm, to wit, That a Metal may be conver- 
 ted into a Vegetable, and that again into a Metal, 
 and that no Vegetable is found, from which a natural 
 and yellow Sulphur, in all things like to the Mineral, 
 may not be prepared ;, and this Sulphur prepared of 
 any Vegetable, if it be adjoined to any fixed mctallick 
 Sulphur, it is maturated by the fame, into a metal, 
 yet not without a medium ; as I have often indicated 
 in my VVritings, and that medum I have faid to be 
 Salt. Therefore whofoever knoweth how to adjoin 
 any immature fulphur, whether Vegetable or Mine- 
 ral, to any ripe Metal, the fixed and conftant fulphur 
 of Gold and Stiver, will be nouridied and encreafed 
 by the Vegetable or Mineral fulphur, not fixed, and 
 will tranfmute that into thefpecies and property of 
 the other, as the Ferment Ihall be white or red, in like 
 manner as the feed of any Vegetable doth. So gold 
 and illver may be made of a i'ulphureous fait, accor- 
 ding to any ones will, which neverthelefs requires a 
 due"time,feeing thatatranfinntation of thisfort is per-- 
 feded gradually,and by a due heat,asalfo inthepropa: 
 gation of \'egetables &Mineralsit is wont to be done. 
 From thefe things it appears, that this Tranfmutation 
 is the meer Work of Nature, which many Experi- 
 ments which I have made, and yet am able to make, 
 do evidently demonftrate •, therefore there is no rea- 
 fon why fuch things Ihould feem fo wonderful or ab- 
 furd to any. 
 
 Whether St. Joh'J performed the Tranfmutation of 
 ' which we havefpoken,by thehelpof any natural Art, 
 or whether he did the fame by a Divine Power, we 
 will not here difpute •, but let it fuffice to have demon- 
 ftrated that fuch things may be performed by a natu- 
 ral reafon. 
 
 For when Wood, Bread, or piece of a Bone ; or al- 
 fo any Herb (hall be adjoined to its own fait, in due 
 manner ofArt, and reduced to its firft matter, that 
 fait tranfmuteth the Flower, Bread, Wood, or Herb 
 into afulphureous fait, which encreafeth the growing 
 faculty of Vegetables and Minerals. A fait of this 
 fort being mixed with a fraall quantity of white Flint 
 reduced to powder, and melted in a ftrong Fire, will 
 give a red and pellucid Itone or glafs, which if it be 
 kept long in the Fire, it turneth green, and at length 
 black, like a Coal, and acquireth fo great hardnefs, 
 that it may be cut and poliffied after the manner of 
 other precious Hones. Here the defirous of Art may 
 fee, that by one and the fame way, and in one and 
 the fame time, that Gold may be prepared of Wood, 
 and fair and pellucid Hones, of various colours, of 
 white Flints. But that the Eyes of the ftudious of 
 Divine and Natural things, may be the better opened, 
 I will more clearly expound what the firft matter is. 
 
 Therefore, as to this firft matter, of which we here 
 fpeak, that of it Metals no lefs than Vegetables may 
 be brought forth, it is to be known how eafily it may 
 be prepared by the help of Fire, and of a certain Salt 
 notcorrofive, of Metals, Vegetables, and Animals, 
 and indeed fo fwiftly, that in the fpace of three hours 
 a piece ofBread,FleIh, or of any Metal, maybetranf- 
 muted into a fulphureous fait. The fame thing ajfo 
 happeneth in the ftomachs of Men and Beafts, in which 
 the Vegetables and Animals which are eaten, are con- 
 fumed in the fpace of 24 hours, and tranfmuted into 
 that fulphureous fait from which they have drawn 
 
 their Rife. But Metals being too fixed and corapaft, 
 thofe ftomachs have no Jurifdidlion over them, inaf- 
 much as they are not able to reduce them to their firft 
 matter, except the fame were fo reduced before, and 
 fo (hould come into the ftomach, opened by a radical 
 folution, and fo are digefted and confumed like Ani- 
 mals and Vegetables. But what need is there of the 
 help of humane ftomachs to perform fuch things, feer 
 ing that Operations of thisfort may be perfeded by 
 the help of Fire and Art- A moift putrefaction withs 
 out the help of Fire, performeih the fame thing in 
 Vegetables and Animals, in a long Procefs of time ; 
 but in Metals very difficultly, and not except in a very 
 long time. Neither are humane Stomachs themfelves 
 alike potent, in reducing every Vegetable to its firft 
 matter, inafmuch as they exercife their power only 
 upon thofe Vegetables which by a due Preparation 
 are firft rendered fit to be digefted and concoded 
 by the ftomach, and reduced to their firft matter. 
 For firft they are boiled, roafted, or prepared by fome 
 other way, becaufe thofe things which are admitted 
 into the Body, contrary to humane Nature, exercife 
 nothing but venomous Operations. By a like reafon 
 Metals and Minerals refufetobe brought totheir firft 
 matter in a humane Stomach, feeing that the ftomach 
 cannot fufier them, as being averfe to humane Nature, 
 ,but ejeds them as a certain Venome , not without 
 great peril of Life. Here I except Gold, which Me- 
 tal only, being firft rightly prepared, doth not refufe 
 reduiftion into its firft matter in the ftomach of Man i 
 neverthelefs Art doth it more eafily and readily. He 
 who knoweth not this Artificial Redudion, muft be 
 content with the Natural, which neverthelefs is not 
 defirable, by reafon of the toil, ftink, and length of 
 time which it requires. For which reafon it is of lefs 
 account than the artificial. Some of the ancient 
 Philofophers have indeed Tnot without reafon) ufed 
 the Dungs of Animals, by reafon of the incredible 
 I Virtues which they poflefs. But becaufe we have 
 1 better and fitter Medicaments at hand, not without 
 reafon we omit thofe, and leave them to them who 
 labour under the want of better ; which happeneth 
 to Country people, who being remote from Cities 
 and Medicines, are wont to ufe Dungs in various D]- 
 feafes inftead of Medicines. They purge the Bodies 
 of Boys and Girls with Moufe - dung, Horfe- 
 dung, and Goofe-dung, being diflblved in Wine or 
 Beer, and ftrained through a Linen Cloth, they ufe 
 in curing the Falling- ficknefs by Sweat. In the Cure 
 of an Ery/ipebs, or Bums, or Scalds^ they ufe Hoggs - 
 dung ; and in all kind ofSm/Hn/s Sheeps-dung ; in a 
 ^/>//ey white Doggs- turd, or Humane dung, as alfo 
 to other Difeafes of the Neck, which the rude and 
 ignorant are wont to drink againft various inward 
 and outward defeds of the humane Body. 
 
 I remember once to have feen an admirable Cure 
 done in a moment by the help of humane dung, in a 
 certain, long, and tedious Difeafe,which it plainly and 
 fwiftly removed, drawing thofe into admiration who 
 were ignorant of the reafon of fo fwift a Cure.He that 
 underflandeth the nature and properties of Dung,will 
 eafily perfwade himfelf,that wonderful things may be 
 effeded by the fame- TThe reafon is ready, becaufe 
 humane Dung is nothing elfe but Bread and Flefh, re- 
 duced into their firft matter, all their Bonds being 
 loofened, and rendered fit for the exercifing of their 
 Virtues ; and from humane Dung is elicited, without 
 any great difficulty, a natural Burning, and like to Mi- 
 neral Sulphur, of which being mixed with Coals and 
 
 Salt-pttre, 
 
Part 1. 
 
 of SALTS. 
 
 255 
 
 Salt-petre, Gunpowder is wont to be made ; as alfo 
 a certain Salt, not much unlilce the Sal Enixum of 
 Paracelffis. And both thofe, to wit, that Sulphur, 
 and that Salt, the Humane dung containeth in it felf ; 
 the which may put forth their wonderful Virtues, by 
 admirable Operations, I think may be doubted by no 
 man. Put a piece of Gold for a time into Humane 
 dung, and afterwards cleanfe it by wafhing, you (hall 
 find it equally yellow, asif it had Iain in a Lixivium, 
 in which common Mineral Sulphur had been difTolved- 
 And that yellownefs adhering to the Gold \j)r rather 
 Silver, for the better diftin£lto>i2 is but the Vegitablc or 
 Animal Sulphur arifing from the Food which the Man 
 hath eaten. 
 
 This I fay is the caufe that the Dungs of Men and 
 Beads produce fo great effefts, which Bread and 
 Fle(h otherwife cannot produce, befbrethey are redu- 
 ced into their firfl: matter. Neverthelefs, I do not 
 therefore admit them of value in Medicine, but only 
 fliew whence they have their Virtues of refilling DU 
 feafes, thatby this means I mayalTert Vegitables, A- 
 nimals, and Minerals do highly exercife their Vir- 
 
 tues, when they return to their firft matter, not that 
 it is at all neceiTary to be done in the Stomachs of Ani: 
 mals, feeing that the Operation of the fire alone 
 fervcth for this reduftion. 
 
 In what manner foever this firft matter be made, 
 whether by the Stomschs of Animals, or by the O- 
 peration of fire, there is no great difference, only 
 that which is made by fire is purer, and not fo /link- 
 ing, as that which is done by the Stomachs of Ani- 
 mals, although in gilding of Silver, they are found 
 to be equal, and obtain a fulphurous nature. And 
 hence it appears, that there lies hid in Bread, and in 
 Flefh, a fugacious and fpiritual Gold. And for this 
 reafon 1 conclude, that in all things of the World 
 born of Salt, and brought to Maturity by the heat of 
 the Sun, there is necelTarily reconded a fugacious Vo: 
 latile, and fpiritual Gold, yet in greater quantity in 
 one fubjedl than another, but not manifefted till the 
 body containing it, by the help of art, returneth to 
 its firft matter. 
 
 The which Art, feeing that it is out of the reach of 
 Rufticks, it is but reafonable, that they fhould make 
 ufe of Dungs, without any ill interpretation. For in 
 the greater, and more powerful Virtues to be produ- 
 ced. Dungs are found more potent than thofe things 
 from which they proceed. Bread, Wine, Fle/h, and 
 the like things deftinated for the nouridiment of the 
 Body, are not Medicines, but only Nutriments, from 
 which, after an Animate Body hath feparated its Ali- 
 ment, that which is left, obtaineth Medicinal Powers 
 and Virtues •, and did I not fear that this dungy dif- 
 courfe fhould lead me too far from my purpofe, I 
 could declare things to be admired of Dungs. For 
 Metals alfo being prepared but once by the help of A- 
 rimals, may be wonderfully Converted, and reduced 
 to their firft matter, although it is in no wife necefTa- 
 ry that we (hould take that way of doing it, feeing 
 that an eafier and better way is at hand, than that by 
 the help of Animals. But he that is ignorant of this 
 artificial Converlion, rauft be content with theother, 
 till the teachings of experience, fhall bring him to bet- 
 ter things. 
 
 That incredible Virtues are hidden in the'Dungs of 
 Animals, Paracelfus at fome time declared, in the pre= 
 fenie of fome Noble-Men, to fome Unskilful Phyfi- 
 cians, who being moved with anger, departed,think- 
 jog themfelves to be highly reproached by P^iraceljh, 
 
 becaufe they had asked of him fome great Medicinal 
 Secret, and he had fet before them Humane 
 Dung. But without doubt, he would have fhewed 
 them great Secrets hidden in fuch a matter, which 
 exceeded their dull Capacities, but not the incompa= 
 rable Ingeny of Paracelfus, who without doubt had 
 revealed to them thofe Secrets which himfclf had 
 found, had they not gone away from him with wrath 
 and Indignation. 
 
 In another place of his Writings, he faith in ex- 
 prefs words, that he that knoweth not his own Dung 
 knoweth nothing at all, and is a blind Afs, to whonx 
 nothing of Heaven and Earth is manifeft; which 
 words do plainly prove Paracelfus to have been able 
 to perform many things with Dung. But this I af- 
 fert, that this my Tranfmutation, and Converfion of 
 things into their firft matter, doth far excel that 
 which is done by Dungs, in as much as being endowed 
 with a greater efEcacy, it appeareth not in the fpecies 
 of Dung, but of a Sulphureous Salt, and may com- 
 modioufly be ufed by all Men, and in all Difeafes. Its 
 Virtues are not reftrained to any particular Difeafe, 
 but operate generally, not only in all Humane Difea- 
 fes, but alfo in all Infirmities and Defedls of Vegeta- 
 bles and Minerals, as I have fhewed in other places of 
 ray Writings. What I have here fpoken of Dungs, 
 I would not have any think that I have done it to the 
 end that I would have them ufed in Medicine, but for 
 this reafon, that I might fhew the great difference be< 
 tween an Herb as brought forth by the Earth, and 
 that which being firft digefted, the Animal Stomach 
 hath freed from its Bonds, and reduced it to the ope- 
 ration of its hidden Virtues : The which I have very 
 clearly proved by the Dungs of Animals- Therefore 
 the expert and learned Phyfician, fetting afide all 
 Dungy Medicines, may by the Spagyrick Art, reduce 
 his Herbs to their firft matter, that is a Sulphurous 
 Salt, and may perform by Salts of this fort, more 
 and greater things, than by the unprofitable, and de- 
 ftitute of all Virtue,Barks, Shells, and empty Husks, 
 which a multitude of Phyficians are accuftomed to nfc 
 at this day. I have thought fit to cxpofe to the light 
 thefe few things,concerning the firfl matter of things, 
 andDungs, which are not diftinguifhed, by any great 
 difference: But let us return to the matter it felt, and 
 fee how fairly the light of Nature fhincth from the 
 Divine Light. 
 
 As God formed the firft Man Mam of the Earth,' 
 and breathed into him a living Soul, and placed him 
 in Paradife, and the Devil withdrew him fromGod, 
 and Precipitated him into Eternal Damnation, ufing 
 the Serpent as.a Mediator : Soalfo,Man who fell from 
 his Creator, being deceived by Satan, by the Divine 
 Serpent and Mediator, to wit, Jefus Chrift,was again 
 to be reconciled to God, which could no otherwife 
 be done, and God permitted it fo to come to pafs, 
 who otherwife might have bridled the Devil, fo that 
 he could not have feduc'd a Man, and alfo could have 
 kept Satan himfelf in his Angelical Eftate, that he 
 fhould have had no hatred againft God or Man. Now 
 this Philofophick Elementary Secret may be compa= 
 red, in all points, to the Heavenly Miftery • For if the 
 Elemental Sun, in the feparation made by God, in 
 which he lifted himfelf on high from the rude and 
 formlefs Chaos, had not ejeded his earthly and cor- 
 ruptible Sulphur, and fent it down to the Abyfs of the 
 Earth, theRaysof the Sun, when they now penetrate 
 the Earth, would not be hindered to Communicate 
 with the Solar Progeny or IfRje, fo that the Bowels of 
 
 T c t the 
 
254 
 
 Of the Nature 
 
 Part 1 
 
 the Earth would produce nothing but Gold ^ and the 
 other Metals, -vtz,. Iron, Lead, Tin, Copper, <^c. 
 iliould not be, which neverthclefs are brought forth 
 impure owing their received impurity to that impure, 
 ftinking, and earthly Sulphur, which is mixed with a 
 Metallick Body in the Bowels of the Earth. 
 
 But to help Metals infefted with a Sulphur of this 
 fort, that they may become like to Gold, as the Son 
 of the true Sun, it isnecellary thatSol fliould humble 
 his Son, to wit Gold, and fufier him to put on a Sa-- 
 line nature.whereby he may become the Medium of re- 
 ducing radically the imperfedMetals to perfeSion-Salt 
 is the only Medium of reconciling Gold to common 
 Sulphur, and of making of it a Tin(fture,changing the 
 impcrfedl Metals into perfect, of which all the Phi- 
 lofophers, whom few underltand, have written fo 
 clearly. 
 
 Concerning this matter I have written very clearly 
 in a Treatife, which I lately publilhed, defcribing a 
 Saline Water, or Aurnm Fotnbik, which certainly 
 containeth a great Millery, although very many can 
 neither underltand or believe it. For becaufe it whol= 
 ly tin^eth Mercury, it cannot be a folution of com» 
 mon Gold, becaufe no Water, nor no Liquor prepa- 
 red of Corporal Gold it felf, can give to Mercury a 
 conltant Tindure. It may indeed be done that Gold 
 diablved, may adhere to argent viw, or chat to Gold, 
 fo that both may pafs together into a white Amal- 
 gama : But that fuch an Amalgamafhould become yel- 
 low and hard,or the Argent vive tranfmuted intoGold, 
 will never happen, although it fliould be digeftedor 
 coded an hundred years in fuch a Golden folution. 
 For the fnowy whitenefs of Mercury never fuffereth 
 it felf to be tinged or coloured by common Gold, 
 but is obedient to any tinging and coagulating Sul- 
 phur, concerning which in the Appendix to the Con- 
 tinuation of Aiiraculum Mimdt^ more things are de- 
 clared. Let thefe few words be well examined, in 
 which will be found a great Millery \ to wit the whole 
 Philofophick work it felf, provided the light of Na- 
 ture fliali a little fliine- Neverthelefs this is not fo ef- 
 ficacious, as that it can reveal fuch Mifteries to a Man 
 who wants Venus to open his Eyes, with which he 
 may behold the light of Nature. For without Godr 
 there is no light, and without light, no life, no Un- 
 derftanding nor Wifdom ; Obfcurity is Death, and 
 Death Eternal Deftrudion. 
 
 Salt fpeaketh thus of it felf; Jam fire and life-, and 
 mComhnJiitle Sulphur can be made Gold ^ except J le the 
 Mediator. Salt is the only Medium between Com- 
 buftible and Corrupt Sulphur, or the imperfed Me- 
 tals, and Gold. The pernicious Sulphur or Satan, 
 which lieth hid in lean Death, isfirft tobevanquilh.ed 
 and overcome in Hell, then arifing a Glorified Body, 
 it occupieth its Royal Throne, and Converteth the 
 Difeafie Metals into Gold. 
 
 But to delay the Reader, burning with a defire of 
 Divineand Humane My fteries, no longer, I will de= 
 fcribe the whole Operation in a Philofophick manner, 
 briefly, clearly, and truly, as I have oftentimes done 
 it with my hands, but never yet, by reafon of vari- 
 ous Obfl:acles have brought it to a due pcrfeftion. 
 
 To the common Salt of the Earth well ^leanfed, 
 adjoin a Terreftrial Sulphur in a due weight, the in- 
 jefted Raysof the Sun being firft received by the Salt ; 
 the Salt and Sulphur will fight in Hefl fo long, until 
 the Sakovercoraeth the Devil and Death, and arifeth 
 a Glorified Body, by which its fick Brethren are to be 
 Cured, or Converted into Gold. 
 
 This is the whole Operation, in which nothing is 
 omitted, but the weight, and the name of Satan or 
 Death. But the name of the Salt I have already 
 manifefted, and nothing here remains, but that I 
 fhould exprefs the name of Satan and Death, which 
 for the Glory of God and Profit of my Neighbour, I 
 will not conceal. 
 
 The Death and Devil of all Metals, is that Combu- 
 flible Sulphur, which having its feat in all things, is 
 equally in Vegitables, Animals, and Minerals- Con- 
 join Salt and burning Sulphur, and caufe them to fight 
 until the life (that is Salt) fliall overcome and fwal- 
 Jow up the burning Sulphur, which is Death, and 
 from both will proceed a Glorified Body, like a fair 
 Ruby, or pellucid and red Carbuncle, by which the 
 Difeafes of Men and Metals inay be cured. In this man- 
 ner of operating, delivered in few words, lieth hid a 
 millery of great moment, which one of a thoufar.d 
 will fcarce underltand, and by reafon of the vilenefs 
 of the matter, it will be to many ofFenfive, and con- 
 temptible. But we will have no regard to Fools, blind= 
 ed with their own folly and madnefs, who feek good 
 where it is not to be found, and neither do nor will 
 know it when put before their eyes. If after a So- 
 phiftical manner I fliould have propofed fome Chy- 
 mical Operation with a long and tedious Circumflance 
 of words, I make no doubt, but the blind World 
 would more readily have received it, than aihortand 
 compendious way of operating of this fort : Whence 
 SendivQgins-y and other true Philofophers, have not 
 faid without caufe, that if the true manner of Ope- 
 rating fliould be revealed to any man, neverthelefs, 
 by reafon of the vilenefs of the matter, it would 
 not be believed. For this reafon, fome will objeift; 
 1 pray what good is like to be in fo vile and abjed a 
 thing as Salt.'* And when was Sulphur wont to be 
 made Gold ? Hence alfo, they neither will nor can 
 believe the truth. 
 
 But that I may clearly prove, that there are Secrets 
 hidden in Salt and Sulphur, it behoveth, that I ma- 
 nifeft thofe things more largely. Salt is the Symbole 
 of Eternity, feeing that it is not diminiflied nor al= 
 tered, neither by Fire, Air, Water, or Earth, but 
 preferveth all things for a longtime from Corruption. 
 It is a thing well known, and converfant in the fight of 
 all the World, and is a help to all other things, yec 
 wants not the help of any thing- Burning Sulphur is 
 the Symbole of Death, and the true Infernal Devil, 
 which no Element, nor any other thing (one Salt ex- 
 cepted j is able to yanquifli and overcome. For al- 
 though Sulphur not yet freed from its Bonds, being 
 furely kept in its Prifon fliould fulFcr it felf for many 
 years to be tortured by the fire, yet would it not re- 
 ceive any fenfible mutation, nor any lofs of weight, 
 provided there be no open pafl'age for its Exit. By 
 the like reafon, if it fliould abide an hundred years, 
 in the Air or Water, yet it would in no wife putrifie. 
 Salt only overcometh it, and changeth it into a Car- 
 buncle i I fay into a Carbuncle, fo cafled, becaufe flii- 
 ning with a pellucid rednefs, it flieweth like a burning 
 Coal, and for its excellency may be accounted among 
 Precious Stones. It is found by few, but they who 
 have it in poflefllon, hide it, nor do they expofe it to 
 Sale like Diamonds, or other Gemms. Itisnotdig= 
 ged out of rough Mountains, as others, but is fought 
 by Prayers to God, and acquired by the Labour o£ 
 the Hands. 
 
 But why do I fay fo much ? Seeing that I have al- 
 ready exceeded my due limits, yet I know, that what 
 
 I have 
 
Part I. 
 
 ofSA L rs. 
 
 25^ 
 
 1 have faid will exceed the capacity and iinderftanding 
 of the Impious. But that no man (hould doubt, that 
 fait and fulphur are molt noble Creatures, although 
 very lightly efteemed) I will prove that fait is the 
 bc<rinnin^ and end of .tU things. In the Creation of the 
 World fak was firit made, from which afterwards the 
 four Elements proceeded, fo that by the Philofophers 
 fait is called The Center of the Elements concentrated; 
 and by the fame reafon, by which it was the firft, it 
 ftill is, and remaineth the laft. All things arife from 
 fait, and after they aredeftroyed by death, do again 
 return into the fame. Et fal ihefaurosgrandes er fojfi- 
 dec i/r'.'it. In Salt and Fire are contained great Trcajn) es. 
 Salt is Fire, and Fire is Salt, and they contain in them-- 
 felves a third thing, to wit, an hidden Spirit. When 
 the moft Omnipotent Creator had pronounced the 
 word Eut^ and hadcreaied fait, the Ch.ws was after- 
 wards parted or divided into four portions, and divers 
 feats or places afligned to each, and alfo each had its 
 Name given to it ; which being done, the Elements 
 took their beginning,inllituting in themfclves mutual 
 adtions, and ordaining their generations. The molt 
 pure and fubtiie part became thcTirmamert, and gave 
 the Sun, Moon, and Stars the more grofs and heavy, 
 joined together in'.o a ma's of Earfh, and like fices 
 or dregg<;, occupied the loAell place. The watery 
 and airy Portions encompafs the Terrene Globe. 
 
 Now when the fuperioiir or fiery part, with the 
 Stars operate and immit their powers upon the lower 
 part or Sea, the Water is rendered pregnant, or as it 
 were with young, and generateth Salt without inter- 
 niilliion. But left this continual generation of Salt, ef- 
 fe.'ted by the operation of Fire, fhould be produced in 
 the Sea or Water only, and the reft of the Elements 
 l|ioQld be idle, God hath alfo given to each of thefe its 
 proper Gift, 'viz,. to the Air, that it (hould receive the 
 feed fent from the Stars, and communicate it to the 
 Water; to the Water, that it fhould diftribute the 
 received feed through the pafTages and clefts of the 
 Earth, that fo by this reafon Minerals and 'Metals 
 of every kind might as well be produced within the 
 earth, as all kinds ofHerbs,Fruits,and Trees, without 
 it in the fuperficies, ferving for the nutriment-,encreafe 
 and multiplication of Animals. This thing is wit- 
 nell'ed by daily Experience ; for if the Sea fhould not 
 difpexfe its fait through the earth, fo many excellent 
 Minerals could in no wife exift in itsboweis, neither 
 in its fuperficies could not fo many and fo great Trees 
 Dor fo various and manifold Herbs, and fuch divers 
 forts of Grafs, be brought forth. For as much Salt 
 as Vegetables draw to the external fuperficies, and 
 Minerals to the inward bowels, fo much the Sea or 
 Salt-water reftoreth to them, fo that the Earth may 
 never labour under a want of its fait, of which the 
 Indigent are to be rendered partakers. For if the 
 Sea (hould not provide for the Globe of the Earth a 
 continual nourilhment, the Earth it feif being defti- 
 tute of the fame, would not be able to afford a due 
 aliment and encreafe toother things. For a Cheft 
 which is continually exhaufted by taking out, and 
 nothing put in, at length being empty, retaineth no- 
 thing. But becaufe the wife Providence of God hath 
 appointed that the Terene Globe, without intermi- 
 tion, fhould be fertile in bringing forth good Fruit for 
 the nouriiliment of Mankind, necellity requireth that 
 a perpetual aliment fliould be afforded to the Earth, 
 from the Sea, for which end the Stars never ceafe in 
 animating the Air and Water with their influences, 
 that the Elements, by mutual helps, might fuccour 
 
 one another, and no (lop or hinderance fhould be put 
 to the courfe of Nature. For if one Element only 
 reft, and ceafe to perform its ofHce, the other would 
 alfo ceafe from working, and fall into fuch a Reft. 
 
 Except the Stars fliould generate Salt, and the 
 Water receiving it, fliould difperle it through the 
 Earth, by what means fliould itcomc to pals, thatany 
 thing fliould be brought forth, grow, and encreafe ? 
 I he whole Orb of the Earth would at length grow 
 dry, andpcrilh, which reverthclcfs by the perpetual 
 accefs of fait, never intermitteth, bi-t is encreafed 
 andfaftained. 
 
 There is no Stone which can want Salt, which ar- 
 gueth Salt to be its beginning and nourifliment, and 
 that thofe Mountains, in which is a great quantity of a 
 faline nutriment, do grow and encreafe thereby, as 
 receiving it in a plentif^ul manner from the nearell: fea. 
 This is no where more eafily to be found, than in thofe 
 places in which the Mountainous Coafts are very fer^ 
 tile and fruitful in Metals, for the acquiring of which 
 the Rocks are to be digged through with holes ia 
 height or depth, affording a commodious going in 
 and out. But when in places of this fort all the Me- 
 tals are dug out, or the metallick Veins are broken 
 off (& loft) from the tranfverfe Walls,or fides,or alfo 
 from the Aiding or dropping Waters, they are rende- 
 red unprofitable ; and for that reafon fuch a Mountaiil 
 is tobedeferted ; neverthelefs it doth not ceafe to 
 grow, and indeed as well the Stones as the Metals, ha- 
 ving their feat in it. Whence it is wont to happen, 
 that thofe holes or paffages abovementioned, througl^ 
 which one might have walked upright, in a long pro- 
 cefsoftime, do fogrow together,and become fo little 
 and ftrait, that he who defircs to go into the moft: 
 intimate Penetrals, muft ftoop even to the ground. 
 This is to be underftood of fuch forts of Stones as a- 
 bound with fait, for places not paflable by fait, are 
 found to be fit neither for the generation of Stones,or 
 of other things, as alfo thofe which refufe to admit 
 Water : For Water is the Vehicle which carrieth Sale 
 through the whole Globeof the Earth, and by it dif- 
 perfeth its nourifliment, as the Air is the Receptacle 
 of the Aftral feed, of which the Water is to be rende- 
 red a partaker. 
 
 Thofe things which I here write, altlio' they may 
 feem to be vile, and of fmall moment, neverthelefs 
 they are moft true,and cannot be rendered more clear- 
 ly and truly by any man. And altho' the fame might 
 be propofed by a more prolix defcription, yet there 
 is no need of that prolixity, when all things may be 
 delivered more compendioufly. 
 
 Neverthelefs, that 1 may as yet confirm by a clearer 
 demonftration, that the Life of the whole World is- 
 Salt, and that of it all things take their original,! will 
 bring for witnefs the Univ'erfal Opinion of afl the Phi- 
 lofophersunanimoufly alferting,That all things being 
 reduced into their firft matter, return into fait ^ from 
 which Saying it followeth, that they have taken their 
 beginning from Salt 5 and this Argument can be refel- 
 ledbynoinan. 
 
 Now fome man may fay. How fliall I be fure of 
 this.'' or, By what reafon may all things be reduced to 
 their firft matter ? To obtain the knowledge of thofe 
 Labours and Operations, it behoveth thee by expe- 
 rience to go to clear Philofophers and Chymifts, bes 
 caufe 1 intend not at the prefcnt to treat of operations 
 of this kind. Every Countryman taketh notice of the 
 Work of Nature, who feeth daily, that every Herb, 
 every Wood, every Man, and every Animal,after that 
 
 is 
 
25^ 
 
 Of the Nature 
 
 Part I. 
 
 it hath attained its end by Death, padfeth by putrefa- 
 fadtion into a fulphureous fak, hidden indeed in a pu- 
 trefied Dung, but unknown to him, although with the 
 fame he dungeth his poor and barren Land wanting 
 fait, and rendereth it tat and fertile- As long as the 
 Herb, Wood, and Animal enjoyeth its own vital Air, 
 it doth not difmifs its fait by which it is preferved,but 
 fuperfluous fxces. But as foon as death hath taken 
 away the vital Air, and dilfolved the P^iricnlttm or 
 Bond, the reft of the parts can no longer fubfift, every 
 one going out ro that place whence it proceeded. Rain 
 diiTolveththeialt,and by all Rivers carrieth it back 
 to its Mother the Ocean, from whence it had come 
 forth ^ the fpirit is attrafted by the ftars ; the ear- 
 thy matter rcmaineth in the Earth, to which it oweth 
 its Rife. For the Fruits of the Earth do not obtain 
 this univerfalnourifliment from the Sea, by right of 
 Inheritance, but thcv take it only as a profitable Ali- 
 ment, given them to enjoy as long as they live ; after 
 death, the univerfal Mother, to wit, the Sea, taketh it 
 back, and beftoweth it upon others which (he hath ac- 
 commodated to it. If thou haft a mind to make trial 
 of this thing by another way, burn any Herb, Wood, 
 Stone, or Animal in the Fire, for fo whatfoever is fpi- 
 ritual flleth into the air, and the fait will remain in the 
 afties,to be extrafted with water, and feparated from 
 the dead earth- Salt therefore in all things is the he, 
 ainning aid the e»d, and moil viOTthy, which is accu- 
 rately to be noted, inafmuchas it is that which con- 
 taineth great myfteries and fecrets. 
 
 He that is ignorant of thefe things, deferveth not to 
 be called a Philofopher, but rather a proud Afs,know^ 
 ingand maintaining nothing but flanders and calum- 
 nies, with which, to conceal his own ignorance, he 
 caviileth at the Truth, and bringeth it into contempt. 
 The Ancients were not ignorant of the excellent Vir- 
 tues hidden in fait, fo that many of the Philofophers 
 have thought that fomething Divine was hidden in 
 fait, and therefore they have exprelly written, that 
 the knowledge of God can be drawn from nothing 
 more clearly than from Fire and Salt. Therefore 
 they at all times adjoined to their Sacrifices and Al- 
 tars Fire and Salt, as Symbols of God and Immorta- 
 lity- They were afraid to touch any Fire or any Salt 
 with unwaften hands, left they fliould draw the Divine 
 "Wrath upon themfelves, if they fliould defile thofe 
 moft noble Creatures with impure hands : They fwore 
 by Salt and Fire, not ufing any greater Oath •, and 
 in any matter to be fearched out by a diligent exami- 
 nation, they propofed to the interrogated Salt and 
 Bread, that fo he (liould witnefs the truth ;, whence 
 perhaps came that Proverb, SJem & Menfam^ mn vio- 
 labts. Our Saviour Chrift is called The Salt of Wij- 
 d'>m. InholyBaptifm, the Prieft putting a little Salt 
 to the mouth of the Infant,is wont to add thefe words, 
 Receive the Salt of Wifdoui \ which cuftom, with the 
 burning of 'A'ax- Candles, alwaies adjoined in Bap- 
 tifm, that Chrift might be remembred to be the light 
 of the world, is now in many places abrogated by In- 
 novations i fo that it is to be feared, if the world 
 fliould continue long, the matter would come to that 
 pafs, that it would alfo be prohibited to name the 
 very Name of Chrift- For truly it is already come 
 to that boldnefs, as to prohibit iheCelebration of our 
 Saviouj^'s Nativity, under the injundion of a certain 
 penalty. O the miferable condition oiChrtjhfidom at 
 this day ! 
 
 Chrift himfelf callethhis Difciples the Light of the 
 WorldyandtheSaltiftheEtirth^ L«l:. 19.9. Salt and 
 
 Water, by Faith and Baptifm unite God and Man : fo 
 alfo fixed Gold and combuftible fulphur are copulated 
 by the help of fait and water, which thing, although 
 it may feeni impoflible, neverthelefs it is very well 
 known totrue Chymifts ; for when they are minded to 
 feparate melted Gold and Silver, they are wont to in- 
 jeft a little fulphur, which interceding between both 
 like a Partition wall, disjoineth the gold and lilver,b7 
 reafon of the enmity which it hath with the gold, dif- 
 agreeing with the fulphur by fo great an antipathy, 
 that it can at no time fuffer it. Neverthelefs fait 
 and water take away this Enmity, reducing both into 
 favour with each other, no otherwife than Chrift, the 
 Salt of Wifdom,and the Divine Light, as a Mediator, 
 reconcileth the filthy finnertoGod. 
 
 Chrift faith in certain places, fait is good^ or it is a 
 good thing: When the Earth wanteth fait, being dead, 
 it bringeth forth no. Fruit} the fame is Dung, when 
 deftituteof fait. 
 
 Here I have the eternal Truth Himfelf my Wit- 
 nefs, reproving my impious f<jrawm<2« Enemies, who 
 endeavour to refel my Miraculum Mnndi with their 
 falfe Calumnies and Cavils. In which Book I have 
 demonftrated by moft manifeft Arguments, that the 
 Earth is rendered fat and fertile, not by Dung, buc 
 the Salt which is in it. Thefe Calumniators being 
 convided by the true teftimony of this witnefs of 
 their llianiefui Lyes, muft without doubt bridle their 
 venomous Tongues, and for time to come, ceafe to 
 tear me with their favage Teeth- The Truth may in- 
 deed be prcjfed, but never quite born dorvn ; for G O D at 
 length will bring it to light, although forfome time it: 
 may be preffed and perplexed by Satan the Father of 
 Lyes, and its capital enemy- 
 
 In another place Chrift faith. None is good but God. 
 Alfo in another place,5j/f is good. This is truly a moft 
 efficacious teftimony, and famous praife, by which 
 Salt is extolled - 
 
 Salt is alfo taken for Underftanding and Wifdom, 
 and forthat reafon a rude and ignorant man is called 
 dull and infipid, and in the fame fence a fpeech is faid 
 to be unfavory or witlefs, as if having nothing of fair, 
 it were unhandfome and ftupid ; whence the vulgar 
 Proverbs are wont to fay. How heavy and infipid is 
 this man ? How dully and unfavourily doth he fpeak ? 
 Alfo that ufual faying. That which reliflmh, murtfluth ; 
 and fo on the contrary, where there is no favour> 
 there is alfo no nourifliment. There is nothing can 
 be brought forth in the nature of things, without the 
 medium of falti yea, Man himfelf is not born with- 
 out the Sun, Man, and Salt. Therefore a certain Phi- 
 lofopher faith very appofitely, The vigour of fait is 
 fiery ^ and of a Celcfital Original. The fun and fait are 
 the Parents of all things, which procreate all things, 
 and without which nothing is procreated ; Bread and 
 Flefh, which are feafoned with fait, afford more Vir- 
 tues than all other Foods which are not faked- Sale 
 being added to Wine in its fermentation, rendereth it 
 ftronger and fweeter- 
 
 NB. Thatneverthelefs the fait herefpokenofought 
 not to be common and vulgar fait, which doth not give 
 a good relifii to Wine- Empty Hogfheadsmay indeed 
 be purged by common fait dilfolved in warm water,fo 
 that every ill tafte or fmell may be drawn out, and the 
 wine preferved in its vigour. Moreover fait exceed- 
 eth wine in corroborating the heart of Man, and is 
 therefore in many things to be preferred before it. 
 And he that knoweth how to conjoin true fait with 
 wine, and in the fame to dilTolve the Sun of the earth, 
 
 (which 
 
Part I. 
 
 of SALTS. 
 
 257 
 
 (which is Gold J may from it extraft a Royal 
 Medicine, as is flicvvii in other places of my Wri- 
 tings. 
 
 For any man of underflanding may eafily fee, that 
 if the noble virtues of thefe three things Corrobora- 
 ting the heart, to wit, Gold, Wine, and Sale fliall 
 be joined together, what a noble Medicine will pro= 
 ce€d from fuch a Conjun^lion. Pamceljhs hath not 
 without reafon determined with thePhilofophcrs,that 
 no true ^ifn/n Porabilc^ can be prepared without Salt 
 If there were no Salt in the Earth, neither Herbs, 
 nor Grafs would be broaght forth for the food of A- 
 uimals, nor the life of Man fultained. All Animals 
 alfo do therefore defire the Salt of fruitfulncfs. con- 
 cerning which, you ihall find more, in thedefcription 
 of my Green Liquor. The Combination of Gold and 
 true Salt, reitoreth decaying feeds to their priftine 
 fruitfuinefs, and alfo reftoreth to half dead and bar- 
 ren Trees, their faded greennefs, if that Medicine 
 be applied to their Roots- On the contrary, common 
 ialc before preparation, is hurtful to Vegetables, and 
 killeth them by its Corofion, but after preparation it 
 cx'ceedeth dung in fatening them : Neverthelefs,there 
 are fome Vegetables, which are able to bear the Co- 
 rolive power of fait, viz.. thofe which grow fponta- 
 neoudy upon the Sea fliore, as the Herb Kuly, of 
 which the Ancients prepared their Sal jilk^di; for 
 being burnt it leaveth a very fharpfalt. Alfo all thofe 
 Fruits which are of afowre, or bitter Tafte, or have 
 fowre, or bitter Rinds, do equally bear the Corrolion 
 of fait, as Olives, Limons, Oranges, Lentisk, and 
 the Palm, which alfo rejoiceth in common fait ; ason 
 the contrary, the Vine, Grain, and Fruit-Trees are 
 delighted with the fweeter Sun -^ concerning which, 
 more hereafter- 
 
 I remember to have read, that in the Ifland S.rrdi- 
 fiia, near the City C.:ta;\ fo great a quantity of fait I 
 liath been digged up, that it was given to the Inhabi- 1 
 tants for their necelUn-y ufes, for nothing, and the | 
 rcll was fold to Foreign Sailors and Merchants to be 
 Exported. And the Countreymen fo abounding with 
 fait, gave it lb largely to their Cattel, that they won- 
 derfully abounded in Mili;,whence they made moft ex- 
 cellrntC!ieefe,which was fold all Enrobe over,but whe- 
 ther it be that vv'hich we call PnrmafAn^l know not. But 
 it appears, that fo great a plenty of Milk and Cheefe 
 proceeded from fait only, which is alfo very agreea- 
 ble to the Truth. The fame Author fwhofe Name 
 is Bsr/ihardiis Co/iieftHs) alfotaketh noticcthat in the 
 IVtfi-Indus there is a City ftanding in a fandy and 
 barren place, abounding with a great multitude of 
 filhes, which are theretaken. And the Inhabitants 
 call the Heads of the Fiflies into a pit, or hole in the 
 Earth, fprinkling them well with fait, and after a 
 certain time taking them out, they plant or fowine- 
 ycry Head, a Corn of fome Grain, and caft the fame 
 into the fandy Earth, and thofe Grains growing, do 
 again bring forth an hundred fold. That this might 
 belb.dorie, isnot dill'onant to the truth, feeing that 
 the Heads of the Fifhes prefervc the fait in the Earth, 
 that it cannot be wadied away with the Rain, nor the 
 Grain be deprived of its Alimentary Juice, But fuch 
 Kaysof fowmg Grain, are tedious and laborious- I 
 have a far other preparation of fait, which without 
 much coft and labour, rendcreth a great quantity of 
 it lit to make fandy ground fruitful, and yet is not 
 wafiied away by the Rain, fait is tb be rendered ful= 
 pliureouj, that it may generally and univerfally nou- 
 rifli- 
 
 NB. Here fome may fay, if a fulphurous fait be the 
 effeftcr of Fertility, how is it that the Mare MortitiuH^ 
 or dead Sea of 5'o<^c)w,abounding with fulphur and fair, 
 doth neither bring forth Fini,nor contribute any thing 
 to fruitfulncfs ? 1 Anfwer, becaufe the faid Sea is full 
 of bitter and Vitriolate Minerals, which by their Ve- 
 nom arc hurtful to all Fifli, and Vegetables, and alfo 
 Fifhes themfelves cannot live in Waters which are too 
 fair, which is to be obferved. For every thing that is 
 too much, is turned into a Vice. But what Fertility 
 flit imparteth to natural things, may be learned by 
 Fill), many thoufands of fmall Fiflies at once, proceed- 
 ing from the Spawn of one Filh, which is not granted 
 to Birds and Animals, It was not in vain that God 
 would have King P bar nob Dream firll of feven fat 
 Kine, and afterwards of other feven lean ones, de- 
 fending from the Earth into the Sea, thereby flgnify: 
 ing fruitfulncfs to draw its Original from the Sea. Jo- 
 fiph being illuminated by God, both by Divine and 
 Maturai light, underflood this, and interpreted the 
 Dream : To wit, that it was in the power of fait- 
 Salt is infignized with the Title of the Fountain of 
 Philofophers- Hefiod^ Horner^ PL,to^ Pythagoras, 
 and other Philofophers, deliver that of all things, fait 
 is moft aftinc or near to God- I alfert, that by the 
 help of fait, many become the chofen Sons of God- 
 If the Earth (hould want fait, there would not thence 
 proceed any fruits affording necelfary Aliment for 
 Men, whence Mankind would perifli, not being able 
 to draw itsNouriilimcnt and Multiplication from the 
 Air, but is conllrained to take it from the Earth. Salt 
 becomcth Milk, Honey, Sug,ar, Wine, Bread, Flefh, 
 and pafleth into all thofe things which we want. Salt 
 is all in all things, the beginning and the end of all 
 things which God hath created- 
 
 But fome man may here ask \ whether therefore do 
 all things arife from fait ? Whether it be neceflary 
 that fait in the feeds of Herbs, fiiould be changed into 
 Herbs, in the feeds of Animals, into Animals, and in 
 the feed of Metals, into Metals.^ Whether fuch de« 
 grees may not be fooner palled by the quicker progrefs 
 of Art, correcting the more flow advance of nature ? 
 I anfwer; yea, it may be done, it is poffible for Art 
 to bring fait to its higheft perfection, by a far more 
 compendious way, than nature can. But by what 
 way that may be done, is not proper to (hew in this 
 place. This I would have you to know, that won- 
 derful Generationsdo arife from the Sun or Fire, uni- 
 ted with fait, which otherwife would not appear. 
 For Example, in the Months of !;««£■, Jidy^ and ^«r 
 gufi, fill a wooden velTel with common water? and 
 expofe it to the Rays oi the Sun, that it may night 
 and day receive the Aflral Influences, and be dried 
 up, being dried up fill it again with more water, and 
 fo keep the Vellel always full, in which at length, 
 from' the fait contained in the water, there will be 
 brought forth Vermin of all forts without any feed ; 
 fuch as is accuflomed to be brought forth in other pu- 
 trid Waters, as Frogs, Toads, and Serpents, 
 
 NB, That the Vcflel mult be made of Wood, not 
 of Metal, leafl the water fliould fuck in a Vitriolate 
 Juice which is adverfe to the life of Animals: Alfo 
 beware that nothing of Iron or Copper fall into the 
 Vellel, and corrupt the Operation, Or (ill the fame 
 VefFelwithfand, and moilten it with water, thenfub-- 
 jedt it to the Sun beams, and when it is dry, moiften 
 it again, repeating the Humedtations, and by this 
 Operation you fhall fee various and unknown Herbs 
 to come forth and be produced, without any feed, 
 
 U u u as 
 
zi is 
 
 tinss. 
 
 Of the Nature 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ma 
 
 nifcft from other places of my Wri- 
 
 A thing cxc eeding the credit and belief of the 
 ful, although experience it fe!f wisneifeth it 
 
 ^, 
 
 Gold the mod conftantof all Metallicl^ Bodies, and 
 asitweremvindble, feareth not the violent allaults 
 of any other Element, and fubfilkth m the fire it lelt 
 with fo great conflancy, as not tolofe any thing ot 
 its weight, although for many years it fliould be kept 
 in a continual toiture of Fire. Neverthelefs, fait 
 draweth from it its Anima, and taketh away thattair 
 red colour, and that conlbncy, whereby it was wont 
 to refift the fire, fo that it obtaineth the colour ot 
 Lead, and the brittlcneis and fugacity ot Antimony 
 
 '" '" ■ uiisKil- 
 
 to be 
 true. Hen"ce it appeareth, that there is a greater 
 power in Salt than in all the Elements and Elementa- 
 ry things- and therefore we deem it to be juftly called 
 the Center of the Elements concentrated. Gold elu 
 deththe mod potent and fubtil powers of thchre, 
 which nothing can refill:, and yet is overcome by bait, 
 which by a Itupendious Miracle of Art, aitrafteth its 
 mofl Noble Part, ^'~. its Anima being leparated 
 from its more grofs and earthy parts How noble a 
 thing the Anima of Gold is, any Man mpy eafily 
 imaaine, and without doubt may fee, that it hath the 
 chief place in Medicine. Thl. is like to what S.Wi^o- 
 hath written concerning his Ch.ily^-^.< Ipoiling 
 Gold of its Anima, but although fuch an extraftton 
 hath divers times fucceededto mc according to niy 
 Willi, that the Anima being extraded, the body_ ot the 
 Gold hath been left brittle, tugacious, and blacky 
 yet I confefs, that the fame Operation harh not al- 
 ways anfw ered my ^'.sfn^ ; as if God would not per 
 mit fuch a feciet to be commonly known, y^^^^' 
 fore I am weil content with lefier things, and have 
 fhewed thefe things only to tlic end that I might ma- 
 Hifeft the Powers of Salt, and teach them to others : 
 Neverthelefs, I would not have any Man perfwade 
 himfelf, that this Royal Medicine maybe extorted 
 from Goldjby the help of common Culinary fakifor to 
 this matter another Salt is required, to be prepared 
 by Fire and Art. But of this Artificial Concentrati- 
 on of Gold, the foutth part of the Fnfpenty of Ger- 
 many, which God wilHng, Ihall Ihortly be publifhed, 
 will fiicw more at large. More indeed might be laid 
 concerning Salt, which we leave for another time and 
 place, feeing that thofe things which have hitherto 
 been fpoken, feem to me to be fufiicient. 
 
 Therefore I conclude, and affirm Salt to be a help 
 to all things, and on the contrary, to want the help 
 
 of nothing. r , to i 
 
 Here fome Man may ask me and fay. Of what Salt 
 dofl: thou fpcak, for there are many forts of Salt ? I 
 fbeak of the Uuiverfal Salt, known to all Men, which 
 is boiled up from Sea water, or Salt Springs, or dig- 
 ged out of Pits in Mountains or other places, and 
 but to common and familiar ufes. This knownSalt, 
 there call fand not injuvicufly; the UniverfalTrea- 
 fure and general Riches : For it adminiftreth Nou- 
 riniment to the whole World, that not only the Beafls 
 of the Earrh, Fifhes in the Waters, and Birds in the 
 Air, but alfo all Metals in the Bowels of the Earth 
 may nib'ill for the ufe of Man, to fay nothing of the 
 -Tvcat and Univerfal Medicine, which may be obtain- 
 ed by its benefit. O f right therefore it meriteth the 
 Title oF the Univerfal Treafureof the World, fee- 
 in" that nothing can be found, which doth not owe its 
 Original to Salt. But that one fait is purer ^ 
 and more precious than another 
 
 better, 
 1 do not deny, that 
 
 the Original and beginning of all falts, is one and the 
 fame, and that their difference happeneth only from 
 Accidents. For fo long as fait is pure, and mixed 
 with nothing, as it is made by the Sun in the water, 
 it is one and the fame, and polTefleth one and the fame 
 1 alle, andthe fame Virtues : But as foon as it is mix- 
 ed with other things, or changed by the fire, its firlt 
 nature being laid afide, it bec^mcth either better or 
 worfe. This is taught by Wood and Stones, reduced 
 by the fire into Coals or Afhes, in which part of the 
 lalt tlieth away with the fmoak, the reft remaineth in 
 the Aihcs, fliewinga far othernature from that which 
 it had before it was deftroyed by the violence of fire. 
 Indeed, by the Operation of the fire, all falts obtain 
 a tiery and fulphureous nature, and therefore necefla- 
 rily aifume another Property, which being well known 
 needs no difpute- The moft known, moll fimple 
 and void of all mixture is that fait which is elicited 
 from Sea-water, or fait Fountains, or Mountainous 
 Caverns. Vitriol and Alum , are indeed alfo 
 falts, but infeded with an Earthy and Mineral Pro- 
 perty, and therefore unworthy of the name of fimple 
 falts. 
 
 Salt-peter is alfo numbred among fait, but it can- 
 not be faid to be a fimple fait, fuch as the Sun opera- 
 teth. For it is either digged out of the Earth, being 
 generated of the Urine of Men and Beafts, and elici- 
 ted by water, and by decoiflion fhooteth into Chri- 
 ftals, and feparateth from other Salts -^ or it is taken 
 from the Mortar of old walls made with Lime, or it 
 is taken out of Mountains and Limy or Chalky Hills, 
 by the help of water ;, or it is made by Art of com= 
 mon Salt, Wood, or Lime=ftones. But which way 
 Ibever it cometh, it is of one and the fame nature, 
 and burneth with a flame, as my Treatife of the Pro' 
 fperfty of Germany, defcribeth more at large. Salts 
 extracted from the Afhcs of burnt wood, do again 
 pofi'efs another nature and other Properties, and are 
 called by the Name of Alkalies. Alfo there is ano- 
 ther Salt prepared from Urine, common fait, Soot» 
 and Bulls blood, knownby theNameof Sal Armoni- 
 ack, and is ufed inftead of another Sal Armoniack* 
 which wasdigged up in certain Mountains,and brought 
 to us, which now ceafeth to come. 
 
 Thefe are the moft noted falts, and ferve for very 
 many ufes, as Sea fait. Fountain fait. Mountain fait, 
 which is alfo called Sal- Gem, which are ufed in the 
 Kitchinfor feafoning of food, for the faking of Flelh 
 and Filh to preferve them fome time from Corrupti- 
 on. The ufe of Vitriol is chiefly in Dye-houfts, for 
 dying Silks and Cloth black, as alfo in Apothecaries 
 fliops, where it ferveth for the preparing of Medi- 
 cines .• Concerning thefe things, fee more in the firlt 
 part of my Furnaces. 
 
 Alum is profitable for Dyers, Phyficians, and 
 other Artificers. Of Salt-petre is made that devils 
 ifli thing call'd Gun=powder. Befides this it is profita- 
 ble for the making of many excellent Medicines, and 
 for the Chymical Emendation of Metals, and tbe in- 
 venting and utility of many Mechanical Arts, as ap- 
 pears by the fecond part of my Chymical Furnaces, 
 and the fecond part of my Pharmacopoeia Spagyrtca, al- 
 fo Miracidiim Aiimdi^ its Defence, and Continuation» 
 as alfo the four parts of the Projpenty of Germany. 
 
 Of fixed falts, thofe which Wood AOies afford, 
 have their ufe in Medicine and Alchymy, but they are 
 more frequently ufed in Dying of Cloth, and making 
 Soap. Sal Armoniack is ufed in Medicine, Alchymy, 
 and other Arts, but all thofe falts are fo well known, 
 
 thac 
 
 i 
 
Part L 
 
 ofSALTS, 
 
 259 
 
 that wc fliall fuperfede any farther Declaration of 
 them. Thole therefore which wc have here mentio- 
 ned, are Salts, which hitherto, by a long Progrefs of 
 time, and continual experience, have made manifeft 
 their own Virtues and Powers. Among thofe, the 
 Culinary or Kitchin-falt is mofl: eminent in noblcnefs, 
 excellency and neceflity, inafmuch as it is that from 
 which all the reft do arife, as alfo by the help of Art 
 may be madcjas my Writings every where teach •, and 
 is the B.i/is of all other Salts, whether known or un- 
 known ; which thing is moll true, and will alwaics re- 
 main to be true : For by a very eafie bulinefs, by fire 
 and the addition of any metallick fulphur, it is turned 
 into Alum or Vitriol-, by thehelpof Sulphur, Fire 
 and Air into a burning Salt-petre ; and by the help of 
 9 certain peculiar ftrong fire, it pafleth into an alkali- 
 late ralt,and being deprived of its fliarpnefsjbecoraeth 
 very profitable for the dunging and fattening of 
 Fields, and fandy and barren Land- 
 
 Moreover, the common Kitchin-falt fuflcreth it 
 felf to be purged and cleanfed by its own fpirit, 
 and by that purgation and cleanllng acquireth a clea- 
 rer and whiter colour, pleafanter tafte, and more 
 excellent powers and virtues for the feafoning of 
 Food, and faking of Flefh and Fifli, for it becomes 
 fweet, clear, and pellucid like Cryftal, and fhooteth 
 into fquare Cryftalslikc Dice, reduced into Figures fo 
 perfed, that they cannot be more perfedly formed 
 by any Inftrumcnt. 
 
 Hence no man will deny, but that fuch a cleanfed 
 fait is more conducible to health than that which is 
 grofs and impure- 
 
 I admire at our fupine negligence, who are fo little 
 follicitous about our own healch. We daily fee with 
 our eyes, that no man can want the ufe of fait, that it 
 is fubfervient to the health of man, and alfo nccella- 
 ryforCattel. And if when grofs, as it comes from 
 th£ pans, and as yet loaded with many faces, it doth 
 much good i without doubt it would do much more, 
 if it were cleanfed and prepared by an artificial pre- 
 paration. It is the incerelt of great men (if not of 
 others ) who have the government of many Sub- 
 jeds, to preferve a firm health of Body, and to caufe 
 fuch fait to be prepared for the ufe of their Tables. 
 The Colt required for the doing this is fmall,by which 
 the fait is made fo fweet, that by its pleafantnefs it 
 vv ill invice every one to covet it. It doth not pro- 
 voke thirft after the manner of common fait, inaf- 
 much as it wanteth thofe earthy fasces which yet ad- 
 here to common fait, but quencheth it, allayeth hun- 
 ger corroborateth the heart,as alfo the ftomach,brain, 
 and all the members of the body, admitteth no putre- 
 fadlion in the body, preferveth it againfl all Difeafes, 
 and excclleth with wonderful Virtues, to which that 
 grofs fait is in no wife to be compared. Truly it is a 
 great Trcafufeand high Gift of God, by which IVlan: 
 kind is fuftained, nourifhed, corroborated,and encrea= 
 fed, for which great thanks are to be given to God. 
 
 BeJides the commemorated Purgation of fait, in= 
 verfion and commutation of common Salt into Alum, 
 Vitriol, Salt-petre, Alkalies, and the likefalts menti- 
 oned in my Writings, there is yet a more fecrct pur- 
 gation and emendation of the fame common falt,exal- 
 ting it into a more noble and far more excellent ftate, 
 concerning which I do not remember that I have read 
 any thing in any Author, except in Pxraccljns^ who 
 maketh mention of it in few words, in the Chapter of 
 the Virtues of common fait, faying. The Virtues of 
 5alt confill in its preparation •, crude fait only doth 
 this, that ic preferveth the goodnefs of FleHi and 
 
 Fifli. But if it (liall become a Sal £;//.v«/«, it kccpcth 
 all things in their ftate, fafeand found, for an incrcdi» 
 ble fpaceof time, it turneth Wood into Stone, as alfo 
 duft and fand •, the Leaves of Trees remain green in 
 it ; whatfoever is befprinklcd with this fait, refufeth 
 all mutation- It prelcrveth like a Balfam, and effe- 
 (llcth more, becaufc in procefs of time it coagulateth 
 all things. 
 
 Thefc arc the words of that incomparable Phyfi- 
 cian and Philofopher, concerning his Sal Emxti/n^ but 
 what this name ligniiies I know not, but 1 call it Sal 
 Mirabik. He attributeth this to it, that it is able to 
 preferve all things fafc and found^for an incredible 
 fpace of time : Nor doth he erre from the Truth, for 
 he that can prepare fuch a fait, may not only perform 
 that, but alfo much more. 
 
 The manner of preparing it is -well known to me, 
 bccaufe I have often made it, and found in it things 
 incredible : Whether my preparation agrees with the 
 preparation of Paractljits or not,neverthelefs all things 
 which Pnracdfns afcribeth to his Sd Enlxmn^ and far 
 more, I do in no wife doubt to attribute to my S.j/ 
 Mrrabtle ; neither is it any matter to me or others, 
 whether I ufe or not ufe tlie fame preparation than 
 Par-McljHs did, provided my fait performcch the fame 
 things which I affirm it can perform. Alio 1 would 
 not give the fame name to my fait, which Paracelfus 
 did to his, left Calumniators and Cavillers (hould, out 
 of envy and hatred, takeoccafion thence of calumnia: 
 ting me, and faying, T hat my fait is not the Sal Eni- 
 xHtn o( Paracelfus, which hath already happened ta 
 me, when J gave the name Alkaheji to my Univerfal 
 Moistrmm : For the proud Sophifters and ignorant 
 haters of me, in their debauched Cups, have taken oc^ 
 cafion to cry out againft mc with loud vociferations, 
 faying. The yjlkahefi y/Glauber // not the Liquor A'.ka- 
 hefi of Paracelfus a»d Helmont ■, when neverthelefs 
 mine exieedeth the Liquor of Paracelfus and Helmont: 
 by m.any degrees- For mine is at hand, and to be feen, 
 by help of which I prepare my Aunim Potahile^ ting- 
 ing Mercury into pure Gold. That Ltcjuor of Para- 
 ccljiis and fJelmont is plainly invi(ible,and can be prepa- 
 red or procured by none: ^ [mail Bird in the hand is bet- 
 ter than many thoufands of great birds that file in the Air 
 
 &canneitherbe feen nor taken. kXidl\A%\%X.\vzxtz{m^\K^ 
 I would not call my Salt by the fame name, becaufe I 
 would not afford my haters,the wonderful Brethren of 
 Ignorance, nev/ matter of flouting, fcoffing, and de- 
 faming me ; although I well know, that my Sal Mir a- 
 ^</f doth not in the leaft come behind the S^/ /:«/*•///« 
 o(ParacelJits in Virtue, and perhaps alfo much to ex- 
 ceed it ; which in the following Narration I have de- 
 termined to make manifeft. 
 
 As P.iracdfus delivereth, that his Sal Enixum de- 
 fendeth all things which are put into it from Corru- 
 ption, for an incredible fpace of time, and at length, 
 by an admirable MetaraorphofIs,tranfmuteth them in- 
 to ftone ; my Sal Mirabilc doth not only perform 
 that, but effeiteth ten times more. 
 
 But before 1 enter upon the defcriptlon of the Vir- 
 tues lying hid in my Sal MirahUe, I thing itneceflary 
 to indicate, ThatSaltsof this fort do every where oc- 
 cur in the Earth, and being dillblved by Water, are 
 carried to the fupcrficies , and fuel) Fountains are enu- 
 merated b)'Cerogiiis Auricula, fliewingin what places 
 they may be found, and that all things put into them 
 are in a fiiort time converted into a ftony matter ; 
 which other Writers alfo tellifie, and efpecially Ctlfus 
 in his Book De rebus inetalUcis. Nor is there any rea- 
 fon why any raa-n Ihould doubt it, feeing that f oun- 
 
 caias 
 
^6o 
 
 Of the Nature 
 
 Part L 
 
 tnins of this fort offer tlicmfclvcs in our Germafyy, al- 
 thoii.?,li few judge them to be of any moment. There 
 is fuch a one in a certain place of Helvetia^ which in a 
 certain Ipace of time converteth all Wood caft into it 
 wholly into Stone. And the Inhabitants ofthat place 
 do very often make trial ofthe thing by Ex-periments, 
 by cutting fome Wood, and reducing it to the figure 
 of a Wlietitonc> and putting it into the water of the 
 faid Fountain, in which, being converted into a ftone, 
 they afterwards ufc for the whetting of Sythes, and 
 orher the like Inftrumcnts. I my felf have feen whet- 
 Itonesofthis fort, and had them in my hands, from 
 The figure of uhic".. it fuflkienelyappeareth, thatthey 
 were firfl wood, and have been converted into fcone 
 by fo wonderful a Meiamorpliofis. The matter is 
 out of all doLibt, and there are many Fountains obvious 
 in other places, of the fame Nature. 1 have not fcen 
 that in tldz-rn.:, but 1 have fcen the Infant ot S^afi 
 with Dr. £a-;«/, who is yet living. To this Infant,! 
 in a very large Glafs, Handing upon a low fettle, the I 
 Signi or £.v/«^ had poured a certain peculiar Liquor, 
 which had prefervcd it plainly uncorrupted and un- 
 hurt, to that time that it was fliewed to me. And they 
 told me, that the Infant was by the Liquor changed 
 intoftone;buCl, feeing I did not touch or handle it, 
 cannot affirm that for certain ; but I faw it fittmg 
 with a full body, as if it had been but new born, fmce 
 which time it is now above Twenty years, and then 
 it had been Ten or Fifteen years in that Water, in 
 which alfo it yet remains, as 1 have lately heard. But 
 no man knowcth what water that was which the Sig- 
 uier Exiiu had put to that Infant, whether he took it 
 from a Fountain turning wood into Hone, or whether 
 he made it by Art. There is a Fountain of the like 
 ' nature and property in Anflyia at Nca^oli's Vicmienfis^ 
 a fenced City about eight miles diftant from Vienna ; 
 I being a young man,longtinie lince travelling towards 
 Vienna, fell into a burning Feaver, known by the name 
 of rk Hu/igariun Dtfe/fe^whkh feldom any ftranger 
 eicapes, and having fomewhat recovered my former 
 health, came to the faid Neaplis, and fuffefing a Re- 
 lapfe, was conltrained to ftay there. And the Difeafe 
 had fo debilitated the Appetite of my ftomach, that 
 it neither defir'd nor digeftcd any Food. The Inha- 
 bitants advifed me to go to a Well of almoft an 
 hours Journey from the City, fituated near a cer- 
 tain Vineyard, and to drink of the Water to recover 
 my loft Appetite. Following their Counfel, I took a 
 great piece of Bread with rne to the Well, neverthe- 
 lefs I gave but little credit to their words, who told 
 me, that I would eat all that piece. Coming to the 
 Well, 1 eat the crumb of the Bread fopped in the wa- 
 ter, and it relidied to me very pleafantly, who be- 
 fore at home loathed the greateft Dainties- I took up 
 the fame water with my hollow crull of Bread, and 
 drank it, which fo excited my Appetite to eat, that 
 at length 1 alfo cat up my Cup, which I had made of 
 my Bread •, returning home much better and ftronger, 
 1 declared to the Inhabitants the event, fucceeding ac- 
 cording to my wifh, who affirmed to me, that if I 
 would continue the ufe of that water, the faculties 
 of my ftomach would be throughly confirmed. I ask- 
 ed them what kind of water that was? They anfwered. 
 that it was water of Salt-petrc, which I believed.being 
 then unskilful in fuch things, but afterwards 1 found 
 the contrary : For it could not be the water of Salt- 
 petrc, feeing that in no wife conduceth to the ftomach, 
 but rather occafioncth naufeoufnefs and loathing. It 
 might be, that the water of the faid Fountain being 
 evaporated to a Cuticle, might fhoot into Cryftals 
 
 like to Salt-petre, butnotwithftanding was not true 
 Salt-petre, as wanting all burning, and not taking 
 llamc, which they might cafily have found, if putting 
 a little ofthat fait upon a burning Coal, they had 
 tried it after theaccuftomed manner of trying Salt: 
 pctre : For now it is certainly evident to me, that 
 that Fountain contained that Salt which Pa>\icdfifsc2l- 
 led Sal Er/ixnm, and I Sal Mirabile j and alfo that it 
 is the nature of that to flioot into long Cryftals, and 
 yet not to conceive flame. That IVdl is cnclofed with 
 wood, in which many waccr-Mice have their Habita- 
 tion, which prefently will feize and fwallow any 
 crumbs of Bread caft into the water. I asked why a 
 Wdl of fo great moment was endofed and fenced 
 with wood, and not with ftone .>* They anfwered> 
 That could not be done without damage, for the wood 
 being taken away, which had now palled into a ftony 
 nature, it would come to pafs, that the fand falling 
 into the well, would clicak it up. The wood which 
 
 did not touch the water was now rotten, as I then 
 very accurately obferved, being a young man of 21 
 years of age. 
 
 Staying in the fame City the following winter, I 
 found, that the Moors or Marlhes about the fame, 
 which rendered it foftrong, were never frozen into 
 Ice by the cold of the winter-, which is an Argument 
 that a certain peculiar fait is latent in that water -, 
 which is the reafon that the Planks or Piles fixed into 
 the Marfliy' ground, upon which many, yea, the grea- 
 teft part of the Houfes ofthat City, doItand,orare 
 fet, in a long progrefs of time, are changed into meer 
 ftones, and afford a firm Foundation to the Houfes 
 built upon them. 
 
 From all thofe indications I have hitherto conjcctn- 
 red, that all the Springs about that City abound with 
 that fort of fait which Paraccljns calleth Entxion^ fee= 
 ing that in the faid Marflies 1 have fcen the Grafs 
 green all winter, which is a certain indication of this 
 kind of fait there exifting. The watery Animals 
 which are in the Fountain and Marfhesnear to the Ci- 
 ty, confirm the conjedure, among which the number 
 of the water-Mice is not fmail, which cannot live in 
 all waters ; and the niell-Filh,or Tortoifes, which are 
 every wherein an incredible quantity, in the water 
 flowing about the City, and watering the Marfiiesand 
 Gardens, although wont to be efteemed by great men 
 among Delicacies, are here of no account at all ; and 
 for that reafon both the Citizens and Countrymen put 
 two or three of thofe flicU-fiflies into the velfel in 
 which they fave the walhings of their Dilhes, to give 
 totheir fwine,faying,that this fort ofAnimals abiding 
 in their wafli, conducech much to the fattening them. 
 And from thefe things it appeareih, that water-Mice 
 and Shell-Fifh of this fort, do delight in fwect waters, 
 tempered with a certain fait. Any man that hath a 
 miiTd to take the faid Shell-Fifli, orTortoife, goeth 
 into the Meadows or Paftures in a morning, which are 
 watered with this kind of water, where they wander 
 about in the wet Grafs, feeking their Food ; and alfo 
 in the evening after fun fct, when they return again to 
 to feed. If they perceive any body in their way, they 
 prefently betake themfclves to the water, and in their 
 entrance into the water, they retraft their four feet, 
 which with their head and tail ( like to the heads and 
 tails of Serpents) they hide and lecure in their (hell, 
 which is fo hard, that it can fcarcely be broken with at 
 ftrong and heavy Hammer- The Inhabitants, when 
 they will boil them, prick them with fome fharp lii- 
 ftrument, at the feeling of which, they again put 
 their head and tail out of the fhell, which they pre^ 
 
 fently 
 
Part I. 
 
 ofSAL f S. 
 
 261 
 
 fently cut off with a knife- The body being boiled 
 in water, the fliell openeth of its own accord, out of 
 which the Fidi being taken, is purged, and prepared 
 with Butter, Wine, and Spice, and is not much diffe- 
 ring from Veal, nor ofaningrateful tafte, and there- 
 fore reckoned amongft delicate Foods, by thofe who 
 are given to feed daintily- Truly, I am perfwaded, 
 that Animals of this fort are not to be u(cd as Food, 
 but are rather profitable to the health of Mankind, bc- 
 caufe they abide in pure waters. 
 
 Thefe few things my Experience hath adminiftrcd 
 to me concerning thefeWarers, by which Wood is 
 changed into Stone, yea, not Wood only, but alfo 
 the skin and bones of Animals. I have alio feen half 
 a Loaf of liread turned into a Stone ; whence any 
 man may conjecture, how great a fixing pov\yer is la- 
 tent in the faid fait, concerning which there is yet 
 more to be faid. 
 
 ThisTranfmutation of'A'ood into Stone will put 
 all the Brethren of Ignorance to the blufh, who with 
 their ridiculous Mockeries laugh at and deny the won- 
 dersof Nature of this kind, that by the operation of 
 Art emulating Nature, a Body fiiould be fpoiled of 
 its fugacity,and be tranfmuted into a conftant and in- 
 combuftible body. All Wood being burnt by the lire, 
 is confumed, leaving nothing behind it except a few 
 fait afhes, which neverthelefs being tranfmuted into 
 a ftone by a fixing water of this kind, retaineth its 
 priftine body, and cannot be confumed by any fire- 
 This is an infallible Argument, molt clearly refelling 
 thofe Afs-Iike Deriders of Art. Can thefe Belwea-- 
 thers be more clearly refuted by any other Argument 
 or Teltimony ? Ifpeakthefe things, to the end that 
 they may be brought to a more eafie belief, and not to 
 be amazed with fo great admiration, when they Ihall 
 in the following Treatife hear me affirm, That any 
 fubtile Spirit of Wine, by the help of this kind of 
 Water, may be changed into a fixed Salt, conllant in 
 the Fire. 
 
 Seeing therefore it may come to pafs, that by fuch 
 a Tranfmutation any fugacious Spirit of Wine may 
 pafs into a fixed and conftant Salt, Who will deny, 
 but that the fame conftancy may be afforded to fu- 
 gacious Metals, by a water of this kind ? But by 
 what means fuch an operation, which feems impoffible 
 to every man, may be elfe<n:ed,may be worth the while 
 to indicate in few words, feeing that it happened to 
 me cafually, notfeeking it, and which 1 my felf atthat 
 time fhould not have believed, although any one had 
 ferioufly affirmed it to me. 
 
 The S.;/ Eiiixttm of Paracelfus, or my fixed Salt, 
 which diflblveth all things, is endowed with that vir- 
 tue and efficacy, that itdiffolveth all things by fire ^ 
 at a certain time I had diilolved Gold with it by the 
 dry way, and would make trial whether Spirit of 
 Wine would take a Tinfture from it or not : The 
 diflblution being made, I would have poured upon ic 
 a burning Spirit of Wine, but by chance I poured 
 upon it in the Glafs Spirit of Juniper-, afterwards 
 perceiving my errour, I fetthe Glafs alide, and half 
 a year after, I found the Spirit tinged with a bloody 
 colour, which I filtrcd through a brown Paper, and 
 put the clear Tincture into a Glafs, to feparate the 
 Spirit from it by the Fire. But feeing that 1 obtained 
 not a Spirit, but an inllpid Phlegm by evaporation, 1 
 found that that Red Salt, in a long procefsof time, 
 had rendered the Spirit fixed, and by a wonderful 
 change had coagulated it into a fixed Salt- The fame 
 Salt afforded me another Experiment) and indeed yet 
 worthy of greater admiration : A certain Friend gave 
 
 me a glafs of Oil of Citrons, prepared from mouldy 
 or decaying Oranges and Citrons, by deltillation, 
 which Oil fmelt muftily, to take away which iiifmell, 
 I would have poured upon it Spirit of Salt, but b/ 
 chance put to it my SJ Emxiim diilolved, and dcftil- 
 led it by lire, which indeed rendered me a clear Oil, 
 but in fmall quantity, and fcarce the one half i^ 1 here- 
 fore continning a Itronger fire, v\hcn nothing more 
 would deftil, 1 let the fire out, the Glafs being (.old, 
 and taken ou: of the fand, I foi;nd all the rclidue of 
 the matter turned i.nto a black Coal, and when I had 
 taken it out of the Glafs, 1 put it upon a burning Coa), 
 to fee whether or no any Oil yet remained ; but tl e 
 matter being confumed by the Fire, left many Adits, 
 and difcovered the fixing nature of my Salt. And 
 fearching more accurately into the cperation, I foand 
 many wonderful things, which afterwards gave me 
 occalion to call that Salt by the Name oiSat Mir.tbJa. 
 Let others fcarch into the matter, by more exa^T; Me- 
 ditations, tiiat they may be able to penetrate into ijc 
 with a deeper fight. He that cannot fee the virtuesof 
 this Salt, is deftitutc of Eagles eves, behokfng the 
 Rays of the Sun with an unmoved afpe(fl:, and hath the 
 eyes of an Owl, which can fee fomewhat in the dark, 
 but is blind at Noon-day. Truly, it is a thing to be 
 admired, that an Oil fo combuftible, in the fpace of a 
 few hours, fhould be reduced to that ftatc, that ic 
 fhould gloA' and burn in the fire like a Coal. There- 
 fore let it not feem ftrange to any man,that any Wood 
 abounding with much combuftible Oil, fhould in a long 
 progrefs of time, by the help of this Salt, be tranfmu- 
 ted into a Stone. The knowledge of thefe things 
 happened to me by chance ; But who doubteth, but 
 that the ftudious of Art may, by a fedulous and accu- 
 rate fearch, find out many more .-' Thefe are enough 
 to the wife. 
 
 Now followeth the praxis , demonftrating the 
 Theory, by what means this Salt is to be prepared, 
 and to what ufes it is to be adhibited, and what won- 
 derful and incredible things may be performed by tts 
 help, as well in Alchymy as in Medicme. 
 
 I. Of the Preparation of S^\ Mirabilis. 
 
 THis my Sal MirabUe is prepared and feparated 
 from all vulgarSalts, by thehelpof Art, never- 
 thelefs more eafily from one than from another : For 
 it may be elicited not only from the Saltof the Kitchin, 
 but alfo from other falts, as Salt-petre, Vitriol, and 
 Alum : Alum and Vitriol abound with many fulphu- 
 reous and mineral qualities, and therefore occafion 
 much difficulty and labour in their feparation \ and 
 Salt-petre polfeffeth a fugacious and burning nature- 
 Therefore fetting thofe Salts afide, we prepare our 
 Sal A'tirabtk oi i\\iiX. common fait which is ufed in 
 Kitchins, feparating fromit, bythehelp of Fire and 
 Water, whatfoever is earthy and terrene; and the 
 fame being prepared, as much as in us lies, we ufe it 
 to the Honour of God, and the profit of our Neighbor. 
 
 Of the external Fiuttre^ Colour , Tajie, and Smell of 
 Sal Mirabilis. 
 
 THis Sal Mirabilis being rightly prepared, lookcth 
 like Water congealed or frozen into Ice ; it ap: 
 peareth like the Cryltals of Salt-petre,whichflioot in- 
 to a long Figure ; alfo it is clear and tranfi>arenf,and 
 being put to the Tongue, melts like Ice. It t.iJlech 
 neither fharp, nor very fait, but leaveth a little aftrin- 
 
 X X X gency 
 
2^2 
 
 Of the Nature 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 gency upon the Tongue- Being put upon burning 
 Coals, it doth not leap and crackle after the manner 
 of common falc, neither conceiveth flame like Salt- 
 petre, nor being red hot, fends forth any fmell ; which 
 gifts or endowments no other faltpolTelleth. 
 
 II. Of the External and Internal Vfe of my 
 Sal Mirabilis. 
 
 IN the firfl: place it is to be known, that my S.tl Mr- 
 Tfibtlis containeth many great and hidden Virtues, 
 inafmuch as it is not fo lliarp and acute as other faltsj 
 and therefore its infernal as well as external ufe,isea- 
 fily admitted in Medicine. Externally adhibited, it 
 cleanfcrh all frefli wounds, and open Ulcers, and hea- 
 lethlhem; neither doth it corrode or excite pain, as 
 other fairs are wont to do- Within the body it exer- 
 cileth admirable Virtues, cfpecially being aflbciated 
 with fnch things whofe Virtues it encreafeth, and 
 which it conduifleth to thofe places to which it is ne- 
 ceffary they lliould arrive : For Salt istheCondufter 
 and Rcftor both of good and evil Powers or Vir- 
 tues, and carrieth tiiem along with it felf, according as 
 they ihall be joined with it- As the nourifhment of 
 Vegetables and Minerals confifteth only in Salt,fo alfo 
 the nourifhment of Animals dependeth upon the fame. 
 For it the Herbs, Bread, Flefh, and all other things 
 which we eat, Oiould be deftitute of fait, they could 
 in no wife fuRain, nourilh, and encreafe the Bodies of 
 Animals, for by fuch it would forthwith come topafs, 
 that they (hould confume and die : Therefore Food al- 
 fo nourifheth, as it is well and in due manner feafoned 
 with fait:, for a thing that hath no relifh, is unfit for 
 nourifliment, according to the common Proverb, 
 Qi:od [afit-, tiiitrit ; And that -which hath m taftcy doth 
 alfo >iot noi'ri[h. Therefore the Omnipotent G O D 
 hath given fait to all His Creatures, by which they 
 are nouriflied and fuftained •, fo that there would have 
 been no need of faking of Foods with fait , appointed 
 for the ufe of Man, had not Sin and the Curfe debili- 
 tated and corrupted all things, feeing that they were 
 endowed with their own fait by Nature : Therefore 
 for thefuccouringof Nature, thofe things which con- 
 tain little fait, are to be faked with common and 
 vulgar Salt, which is appointed by God for this end, 
 that it might afford nouriOiment to the humane Body, 
 corroborate and ftrengthen it, as we fee that Bread, 
 Flefli, and all Herbs or Sallets, may be indeed eaten 
 without fait, but not toafibrd fo much nouridmient : 
 For it is commonly known, that Flefh, Fifli, and Sal- 
 lets being faked, do far better fatisfie and nourifli, 
 than if thofe Foods (hould be received into the fto- 
 raach wholly deftitute of fait- For this reafon men 
 that undergo hard labours eat Flelli, Fifh, Herbs, and 
 other Foods, plentifully feafoned with fait, whereby 
 their Bodies are prefervcd in their due ftrength ■■, but 
 thofe who are not e.xercifcd with fuch labours, feed 
 upon Foods not fo fait, but of a more eafie digeftion- 
 Salt therefore is the only nutriment not only of Ve- 
 getables and Animals, but alfo of Minerals; yea, it 
 iiniverfally nouriflieth and encreafeth whatfoeverexi- 
 fteth in the World, 
 
 Seeing therefore that without fait nothing can exift 
 or live, and that the life of all things confifteth in fait 
 alone>as is witnelfed by daily experience^ Where- 
 fore do Fools think Sakto bea thmgof fo fmall mo- 
 ment ? 1 anfwer, That this happens becaufe very 
 few know what Sale is, what Powers and Virtues k 
 
 exerteth, and what is rcconded in its inward Pene- 
 trals : As is faid a little before, I compare fait to a 
 Carrier, becaufe he carrieth or conveyeth all thoffc 
 things which are put to him, whether good or evil, 
 thither to where they are to be conveyed, without any 
 labour or trouble, but committing the care to him, 
 whotaketh all the burden. 
 
 In like manner, Salt being r.:ixed with good things, 
 which adminirter a good nourilhment, aflifteth the 
 nutritive faculty, and is the conveyer, helper, and 
 ftrcngthener of the adjoined nutriment : Being mixed 
 with venomous and hurtful things, it encreafeth and 
 confirmeth the Venom v;ith great detriment to the 
 Body, infinuating it into the Paffages and Members, 
 into which, without fak, the Venoin coyld not have 
 penetrated •, therefore with the good it is good, and 
 with the evil it is evil, and being addicted to neither 
 part,isfubfervient toboth, according to the vvill of 
 the Artift, making good the vulgar Proverb, Salt and 
 Wine cjukkcn the rvit : That is, when mixed with good 
 things, they he moderately ufed . So alfo the contra- 
 ry is true, if it be faid, that Salt and Wme deprave the 
 Wit \ which I could demonftrate by many Examples, 
 which for brevity fake ^re here omitted. Neverthe- 
 lefs, that I may be the better underftood, I will in- 
 ftance in two things : As I faid but now, if Salt be 
 mixed with good fubjefts, containing a good nourifh* 
 ment, fuch are Bread, Fieffi, and Herbs, the fame are 
 rendered fitter for nouiilhment, if daily experience 
 inay be credited, which no man will deny. Why 
 therefore ftiould not the contrary be likely, that it 
 fliould render an evil thing yet worle, and corrupt it 
 more, if it be aflbciated with it- As for example. 
 Common Ardent. vive is efteemed Poifon, and indeed 
 truly, and is rendered obnoxious to a greater or lefter 
 poifonous quality, according as it fhall undergo this 
 or that Preparation. If one fwallow half an ounce of 
 it, it operateth nothing in the Body, and pafleth away 
 without hurt \ but being fublimed with falts, and exal- 
 ted in its venomous quality, being exhibited in the 
 weight but of two, three,or four grains, is fufficient to 
 kill a man. 
 
 In the fame manner Orpiment> as digged out of 
 the Mountains, performeth nothing of good in an hu- 
 mane Body, exciting frequent and intolerable vomi- 
 tings and ftools, if given in too great quantity ; ne- 
 verthelefs one, two, three, or four grains of the fame 
 may be taken without any danger,caufing eafie vomits 
 and ftools;but being exalted by fublimation with com- 
 mon fait, becometh fo hurtful a Poifon, that being 
 drank, it forthwith killeth Men and Bcafts, So alfo 
 it is with white Arfenick, which being fublimed with 
 Salt, obtaineth fuch a poifonous nature, as is com- 
 monly known, although the caufe of that evil be 
 known to few, as the faid Examples do fufficiently 
 declare. 1 vvill yet add one thing over and above, for 
 the fake of the Ignorant : They who have been ver- 
 fed in the Labours of the Fire, know thofe things,and 
 want not my teaching,akhough their number be very 
 fmall, but of the Ignorant and Unskilful it is large 
 enough. Arfenick and Cobolt are indeed moft ve- 
 hement Poifons, but neverthelefs are not hurtful to 
 the Body, if they be taken in .their corporal form^ 
 1 but being exafperated by fublimation with Salts, and 
 reduced into a more fugacious nature, arrive to that 
 vehemence, that they are able to kill a man only by 
 their odour. Thofe who have mixed Arfenick with 
 j Vitriol and Saltpetre, for the preparing of gradua- 
 I ting Waters, as they call them, have experienced the 
 ' Truth of this. Such Waters are fo vehemently poi- 
 fonous, 
 
Part I. 
 
 ofSA LTS. 
 
 )6:^ 
 
 fonous, that they fmite the Heart with a trembling 
 of any one that taketh in their odour by the Nofe, 
 and alfo e>.treamly debilitate the Brain. Tliat vulgar 
 Proverb, which faithjThat Salt corroboratcth tit Hart 
 and e]::uke'ietij the (t'/f, is true, when wholcfom and 
 healthful things are. alTociated with it ; but if things 
 unvvholefom and poifonous be adjoined with it, it doth 
 the quite contrary, fuiTocating the Heart,and weaken- 
 ing the Brain, both which I my felf have found. 
 
 Long ago, when I was young, being occupied with 
 Arfenical Waters of this kind, it often happened to 
 me, that tliofe llrong faline Spirits had almolt put out 
 my Candle. Again, on the contrary, I have found, 
 when I have mixed corrobovating fubjefts with Salt, 
 that it hath encreafed their ftrengthening Virtues,and 
 exalted them in a wonderful manner. Therefore it is 
 not without reafon that Paractlfus tcacheth, That 
 Gold exercifefh no power or virtue in the humane 
 Body, but by the Spirit of Salts, which infinuate the 
 virtuesof Gold into the Members, and augmentcth 
 them. Here fome may fay. Seeing that other Metals 
 exert their powers in humane Bodies without Salt, 
 Why Ihould not Gold alfo do the fame, if it hath any 
 virtues ? I anfwer. That this is the reafon of the dif- 
 ference, becaufe the other Metals being reduced into 
 fraall Particles, by filing, do ad in the humane Body, 
 by reafon of their own Vitriolate Salt, which they 
 retain in melting, more eafily admitting folution in 
 the Stomach, and performing their Operations, by 
 reafon of that natural acidity, which Operations 
 would be exafperated by the addition of Salt. But 
 that the imperfed Metals effeit nothing of good in 
 the body of Man, is vvitnefTcd by Tin and Copper, in 
 a Velfel of which, Wine Handing all night, and then 
 drank, caufeth Vomitings and Cholical pains, as alfo 
 Palpitations of the Heart ; in exciting of which, Cop= 
 per exceedeth Tin, which doth not fo frequently ex- 
 cite Accidents of this kind, efpecially that which is 
 not adulterated with Bifmuth or Tinglafs, but is pure 
 and unmixt. Lead being fwallowed, drieth, and cool- 
 eth too vehemently : But the filings of Iron are ufed 
 medicinally, not without great profit, becaufe they 
 kill and expel the Worms in Children ■, and itsCr:- 
 cus is alfo wont to be mixed with altringent Medicines 
 with Fruit. Silver being filed and taken, is of no ufe 
 in the humane Body, becaufe it hath in it felf no fait, 
 with which Iron and Copper are endowed. Never- 
 thelefs, being prepared with Salt, it obtains an en- 
 trance into the Members of the Body,and expelleth all 
 hurtful Humours, and ftrengtheneth the Brain. But 
 being bitterer than Gall, it is fo ingrateful to the Pa- 
 late, that it is more difficult to be taken than Vitriol 
 it felf. Gold, the moll eminent among all the Mc: 
 tals, in purity and nobility in its own nature,polleireth 
 no Salt, and therefore hath no Operation at all in the 
 Body, whether it be taken in filings, or reduced to 
 a fubiile powder ■■, for the aciditm of the Stomach is 
 not of fo great power, that it can enter and dilTolve 
 Gold, as it didolveth Copper and Iron, butdifchar- 
 geth it with the Excrements in the fame form in which 
 it was taken- Hence the Unskilful have been fo bold, 
 as to exclude Gold from a medicinal ufe, as a thing 
 deftitute of all Virtue, and altogether of no ufe ; an 
 errour truly not Philoibphick, but foolifh, proceeding 
 from meer un^kilfulnefs and ignorance, feeing that 
 Experience doth altogether teftifie the contrary. He 
 that believeth no Virtues to be in Gold, may by an 
 eafie experiment find the contrary, if he (hall dilTolve 
 it in Spirit of Salt well cleanfed and reftified, and 
 ihalj drink a little of this Solution mi.xed with Wine 
 
 or Beer, or any warm Broth or Gruel, for he a.ail per- 
 ceive a very fwift and he.ilthful Operation,ca!ting ouC 
 all I'uperfluous fxces, according as they Ihall offend, 
 either by Vomit, Stool, or Sweat, or Urine, without 
 any weakening of the Body, but evidently confirming 
 itsftrength,asl havefl;ewcd in my Book entituled, 
 I he Confolation of Navigators ^ in few words, by rea- 
 fon of the (hortncfs of time, which did not allow me 
 to treat of this matter more at large Ncvcrthelcfs I 
 here alfert, that a fjlution o^ Gold of this fort by Spi- 
 rit of Salt, is able to i)Crform very much in Medicine, 
 although by reafon of its ingratei'til reliih, it is not 
 much tobeefteemed: For feeing the fpirit of Salt, 
 with which the Gold is to be dilTblved, ought to be 
 very ftrong from this corrofive Liquor, without which 
 the Gold cannot be dillolved ; firft, thisincommodity 
 arifetl), that its ufe is unpleafant, it blacketh the Lips 
 and edgeth the Teeth i to which may be added, that 
 a great quantity of Liquor is required for tiiis foluti- 
 on, and the acidity by degrees bringeth loathing to 
 the fick, and fometimes the fick cannot bear the fliarp- 
 nefs. Moreover, if this folution be taken in Broth, it 
 hindereth its operation, and wanteththe defired fuc- 
 cefs, of which it is not dellicute when drank in Wine 
 or Beer. For this reafon this Medicament, which in 
 it felf is very noble, and of great moment, is difficultly 
 admitted into ufe. But becaufe we have faid thac 
 Gold without Salts is able to operate nothing at all, 
 its whole folution confifts in fuch a me>:firtitim which 
 is neither corrofive, nor of an unpleafant relifh, never- 
 thelefs openeth theGold, and rendereth it apt to be- 
 come a very whoHom Medicine ; which endowments 
 I have found in no other thing but my S.4 Afirabile^ 
 which being void of all corrofion and unpleafantncfs, 
 isitfelf an excellent Medicament, and co.Kiliateth a 
 pleafant fvveetnefs to all things which it dilTolveth : 
 For when it dillolveth Gold, it doth not ftain the lips 
 and hands with any colour, like other folutions,which 
 are made by Aqu.i Regia, or fpirit of fait ; neither al- 
 fo doth it aftringe like other ibiucions, but is of plea- 
 fant ufe, and exerteth its gifc by a noble Ope- 
 ration. I have tried many admirable things with this 
 Salt, and at length obtained a folution, or rather an 
 extradion of Gold , green as Grafs, and is a very 
 wholefom and moll noble Medicament: For he who 
 hath brought Gold to a greenefs, hath performed 
 much, in praife of which, many ancient Philofophers 
 call it The BUfed Viridity. But what this greenefs may 
 effed in Medicine, belongs not to this place, feeing 
 that I intend here to treat of nothing but Salt, and 
 to prove it to be the Beginning and End of all things, 
 and that it encreafeth and exalteth the powers and 
 virtues of all things. 
 
 And feeing that this is agreeable to Truth it felf, 
 and cannot be difproved by any man, itmufl necelTari- 
 ly be granted, that a Salt brought to the highefl: de- 
 gree of Purity, (asmineisj m'ufl be far better, and 
 more noble than any grofs and impure Salt. Alfo 
 becaufe it amplifieth and exalteth the virtues of all 
 Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, and that Gold 
 exceedeth in noblenefs all other Creatures which are 
 found under the Sun, it is eafie to ccnjedure, that if 
 the purell and moll noble part of Salt (hall be alTocia- 
 ted with Gold, that alfo a moll noble Medicine mull 
 thence arife : For Salt and Gold,being the Off-fpring 
 of the Sun, are (as it were) immortal and incorrupti- 
 ble, and therefore afford help to all mortal and cor- 
 ruptible things, and defend them from putrefailion 
 and corruption. 
 
 Never* 
 
if^4 
 
 Of (he Nature 
 
 Part V 
 
 Ncverthelefs,! would not have any man perfwade 
 himlelf, that in thefe words I go about to allert any 
 Immortality, my purpofetendetli not thither, feeing 
 that I am not ignorant t')at there is no Medicine a- 
 
 gaina Death. ' i would only lignifie this, that from 
 the aiTociation of Salt and Gold=thei-e mult necedanly 
 proceed an excellent Medicament- If Salt carneth 
 and promotcththe Virtues of other things,vvherefore 
 nlfo iliould it not promote and convey the Virtues of 
 Gold ? Truly there is found no Herb fo abjedl, no 
 Stone fo vile, nor no Bone fo contemptible, that doth 
 rotpoliefs its own Virtues : Who then can deny 
 that Gold, as the mofl: Noble Creature of God (after 
 the Sun and Salt, of which it is generated J fhould pof- 
 fefs Gifts and Endowments, to be preferred to thofe 
 of the more vile Creatures ? That nothing of evil 
 can proceed from two excellent fubjefts, to wit, Gold 
 and Salt, every unskilful Rullick can underftand -, 
 Wherefore then cannot thofe proud and idle Scoffers 
 perceive it? I think it to be, bccaufe they would not 
 be numbred among rude and ignorant Afles. iffub- 
 Icribing to my words, they lliould confefs fuch a Medi-- 
 cine to be r^'rr, urn narvr.t^ and notwithftanding to be 
 ignorant of its Preparation. But it were better for 
 them not to envy thofe v\ho have received fuch Gifts, 
 norro allaulc the Innocent with fo many filthy Ca- 
 lumnies and Slanders, but to leave thofe things to 
 them which exceed their own Capacities. 
 
 I now make m-ntion of my Green-Lyon, whofe 
 wonderful Virtues are to be declared and manifefted 
 to the whole World ; although I well know, that this 
 Green-Lyon will not find fewer enemies than my white 
 or red ji::r:tr!-Pot.iblk\\^i\\ done : For the Devil can 
 in no wife fuffer, that any thing which is profitable to 
 Mankind fhculd be made manifelt, therefore heufeth 
 ali his power and arts to hinder the knowledge of the 
 Truth, by calling Humbling- blocks in its way. What 
 various Arts have been excogitated, to bring my An- 
 rim Fotabilc into Contempt, and indeed by fuch a fort 
 of men, who might eafily think that I fhould not grant 
 one drop of it to fuch haters of the Truth, although 
 they (hould petition me for it- 
 
 And feeing thofePot Companions could not ask it 
 of me, they have endeavoured to extort it from me, 
 under pretence of the fick,not that they would ferve the 
 iick, but only get an occalion of contemning it, and 
 of bringing it into an Odium with the Sick, left by it 
 they (liould recover their former Health. Have they 
 not taken counfel together in their Meetings, one of- 
 fering this, another another thing, fo that by every 
 way pofTible they might oppugn my Jitrim Potabilc ? 
 Buti,this Hatred and Envy, carried on againfl me with 
 great ftudy, I leave to the Divine Vengeance •, and al- 
 though many watery and obfcure Clouds may endea- 
 vour to hide the Sun, and to overfpread his warm and 
 vivifck Beams with darknefs, neverthelefsthey fliall 
 effeft nothing :, for at length being difperfed into va- 
 pours, and vanifhing in Clonds,they will give place 
 CO the Solar Rays. Tiiere is nothing able to extin- 
 ' guifh the Truth, which may indeed be preft,but never 
 ■ overcome, and is therefore like the Light, never whoh 
 ly exringuinied. The Air is never filled with fo ma- 
 ny dark Clouds, but at length they being dillipatcd, 
 theS-un again appears to fight. By a like reafon al- 
 io the Truth at length frceth it fclf from the fnares of 
 lyes, and cometh forth into the Light: Therefore I 
 mav without fear propofe the Truth, although there 
 be many that can but ill bear my liberty of Ipeech , 
 for GOD is to be obeyed rather than Men and the 
 benefits due to Good men are not to be omitted for 
 
 for the fake of thofe which are Evil- 
 
 Therefore ( in the Name of God j I v\ ill go on in 
 declaring the Virtues of my Sal AUrabiL ; becaufe 
 I havefaid in the precedent difcourfe, that Salt is the 
 RcLtor or Difpofer of all things,carrying thcirvirtues 
 conjoined with it felf, to their due place ; therefore ic 
 is not fit that evil and venomous things fhould be ad- 
 joined to it, but fuch as arc good only, if any thing of 
 good be expefted from it. 
 
 But there is no Creature under the Sun more noble, 
 excellent, and pure than Gold,nor which more refill- 
 eth thedeftruifion of all the Elements, which with- 
 out a true folution , as we have faid, cannot render 
 
 the Body of Man partaker of its Virtues,and all corro- 
 ding folutions are found to be unfit to dilFolve it j 
 therefore fuch a folution is required, as may be per- 
 formed by the help of a Salt which is not corrolive -, 
 therefore taking fuch a one in hand, we will fee what 
 good is to be expeded from it. 
 
 Of the Vfe of my Sal Mirabilis , as well in the 
 Solution of Metals, as in the Preparation of 
 Medicines. 
 
 FIrfl, it is to l)e noted. That not only Metals, but al- 
 fo all Stones, and Bones themfelves, refufing the 
 folution of all corrofive Salts, may be radically difToh 
 ved by my Sdl Afirahile, and moft things fo dilfolved, 
 whether they be Metallick, Vegetable, or Mineral, 
 put on a green colour, of fome of which the greenefs 
 remaineth, but of others, in procefs of time, is chan- 
 ged into a yellow or red colour. 
 
 Concerning this wonderful mutation and folution,, 
 I could write a great Volume, if 1 had notdefigned this 
 Labour for another place, intending here only to de- 
 fcribe the folution of Gold, becaufe another better 
 cannot be found. I have found the folution of the 
 reft of the Metals which are adhibited, to be unfit; 
 either tor the prefervation or recovery of Health, as 
 Ihaveadmoniihed a little before-, but I have found 
 Salt and Gold to be moft noble fubjecfts, of which an 
 excellent Medicine muft necefl'arily be prepared : For 
 Salt exalteth the Powers and Virtues of all things to a 
 high degree of perfeflion, and infinuateth them into 
 the humane body : This feems to me not unlike the 
 volatile and fugacious Spirit of Vegetables, as of 
 Wine and Beer, &c. which coming into the Body of 
 Man? addeth ftrength to the Animal Spirit, that it 
 moveth it felf more readily, and with greater alacrity. 
 Indeedevery other Meat and Drink, whether it be 
 Bread or Water, communicattth fome ftrength to the 
 Body, but not fo powerfully and efficaciouily as any 
 generous Wine, whofe Spirit is very pure, efficacious, 
 and fubtile ■, fo that its too plentiful ufc awakeneth all 
 things that lie hid in a Man,and brings them to light. 
 In the fame manner Salt encreafeth and confirmeth all 
 things,& being united with them, maketh manifeft all 
 their hidenVirtucs, which vvithoutSalt would remain in 
 darknefs. Who could have manifefted to us thatgreat 
 Poifon which lies hid in Arfenick, if Salts had not re- 
 vealed it ? Ifany mclancholly Perfon(who otherwife 
 in his own nature is prone to ftilnefs, like one dead^ 
 (hall drink any fpiriiuou<; Wine, or ftrong Drink, his 
 Spirits, that were before dull, and as it were buried ia 
 a Dream, will prefently be awakened, and his Tongue 
 fct at liberty. The fame doth Salt perform, which 
 addeth an encrcafe to the powers of all things, efpe-- 
 cially of the Mctalsj which it rcndereth manifeft and 
 
 known. 
 
Part I. 
 
 ofSALT S, 
 
 2^5 
 
 known. And indeed without Salt Poifons could not 
 have been known, as I have faid a little above, con- 
 cerning Arfenick and ^';?t;wf-ww : If Salt worketh 
 thofe things in evil fubje^s, by dilating and cncrcafing 
 tlieir malignity. Why Ihould it not effeft the fame in 
 good fubjehs, by augmentingthcir goodncfs ? There= 
 fore, becaufe among Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral 
 fubjeds, there are none more noble and eminent than 
 Gold and Salt, which have their original from the 
 Sun, it would be ill done to pafs them by, and to feek 
 viler fubjei^s.for the making cf an excellent Medicine, 
 feeing that if we take Wine, Salt, and Gold, there are 
 no other things which afford us fo excellent Virtues 
 Therefore acquiefcing in thefe, we will endeavour of 
 them to make a moft noble Medicament. 
 
 The P ROC ESS. 
 
 TAke three or four parts ofSd AfirabUe, and one 
 "*- part of Gold (rightly fitted or prepared for this 
 Operation) mix them, and put the mixture into a 
 ftrong Glafs Retort,well luted,which place in an open 
 fire, encreafing the fire by degrees,until the Glafs be 
 red hot, urge the fire,and continue it ftrongcr, for an 
 hour, then ccafe, and let all cool, take out the Retort, 
 and free it from the Lute, that it may not be mixed 
 with the matter contained in the Glafs, but that may 
 remain pure, which is to be accurately feparated from 
 the Glafs, and together with what is fublimed into the 
 neck of the Retort,tobe put into a clean glafs ; which 
 matter will look of a greenilh colour : To this matter 
 pour fome Rain-wat;er, that it may be difFolved in an 
 eafie heat, and the Salt, with part of the Gold, may be 
 mixed with the Water. Filter this grafs-green Solu- 
 tion through Paper, and draw off fome part of the wa- 
 ter by deftillation, that the green Liquor may remain? 
 rot corroding nor tailing (harp, nor yet too urinous, 
 but fit to be drank in all Vehicles. The Gold which 
 the Sal £«<.v«/M hath not dilTolved, you will find after 
 the folution, which you may again ufe for the like 
 Work ; but the green Liquor you may prefently ufe> 
 as well in Medicine as in Alchymy, which will afibrd 
 you many profitable things. He that will draw off all 
 the Phlegm to a green Salt, and then extrad that fait 
 with an alkalized Spirit of Wine, will obtain a Medi- 
 cine yet more efficacious : For the Spirit of Wine will 
 rot be tinged with a green, but a red colour, and will 
 be very fweet, rendering the Golden Virtues of the 
 Salt more efficacious, and more commodioufly and 
 readily infinuateth them into the Members of the Hu- 
 mane Body. 
 
 NB. This is to be noted, That the S.^/£«/.v«w doth 
 not imbibe the whole mafs of Gold in diffolving, but 
 only its purer part. Now, if you repeat this Opera- 
 tion upon the fame pure mafs, as yet once more, you 
 will extrad the greateft purity, and without all doubt 
 obtain a moft noble Medicament, which no man can 
 refute, although he be a capital Enemy to the Truth. 
 This is the Operation, no lefs compendious than true, 
 of preparing a great Medicme of Gold, Salt, and 
 Wine, meriting the name of an Aurum PotabUc^whofe 
 great Powers and Virtues are now to be manifelted 
 to the neceflitous Sick. 
 
 Of the Towers and Virtues of my Green- Lyon, 
 Vitriol of Sol, (^/-fFWf/-/^/ Golden Salt. 
 
 'T'His green golden Liquor may be fafely and plea- 
 fantly ufcd by all, whether young or old, ilckor 
 in healch, without any difici cnce of Pcrfons, becaufe ic 
 containeth nothing which is evil or prejudicial : For 
 a deanfed Sale and Gold, never infcrr any ill, but arc 
 alwaies profitable, exerciling their vvholcfom Opera- 
 tions, as well inVcgctables,as Animals and Mincrak.as 
 in the folio .vingTreatifcfliallb: clearly demonltrated. 
 Firft, This green liquor ,only<by its external afpect, 
 cheereth the Heart, Brain, and all the vital Spirits, 
 feeing that of all colours there is none fuperiour to the 
 Green in plcafantnefs, of which all men arc vvitncfs, 
 who have overcome the intcnfe cold of a fliarp Win- 
 ter, behold tjic renewing greennefs of the Trees half 
 dead, and Herbs extind, in the Spring time, with 
 gjeat delight and plcafure, and feel all the Blood in 
 their Body to be renewed and revived. 
 
 Secondly, This Golden Liquor being drank, (Ireng- 
 thenedi and confirmeth the whole hmnidum rad'ic.ik^ 
 Stomach, Brain, and all the inward parts of the body, 
 beyond all other Medicines which I have hitherto 
 known. Alfo it expellethMelancholIy, and all anxie- 
 ties of Mind, taketh away Palpitations of the Heart, 
 openeth Obflrudions ofthe internal Veffcls ; it hea- 
 leth the hurts of the inward parts, as Liver,Lungs,©"c. 
 and cureth all inward Exulcerations j it cureth Gra- 
 vel and Stone.whether inthe Reins or Bladderiit keep- 
 eth the Body foluble ; expelleth Wind,with the pains 
 of the Cholick ; preferveth the Blood from Corru- 
 ption ; cureth the Leprofie, Scabs, and Fevers of all 
 forts j inprocefs of time it taketh away the Gout ; t,o 
 the infulting Apoplexy and Epilepfie it aflbrdethpre- 
 fent Cure ; ic cleanfeth the Blood infeded by the 
 Scurvy, Plague , and other contagious Difeafes ; jc 
 preferveth and freeth from all internal Ulcers ; de- 
 fendeth the Lungs, Liver, and other parts, and remo- 
 veth Exulcerations already arifen, and takes them a- 
 way radically. It fo tingeth all the inward parts of a 
 Man with its Balfamick Virtue, that not being eafily 
 obnoxious to Difeafes, they enjoy a found and long 
 Life. Outwardly ufed, it healeth all frefh wounds, 
 410 lefs than old and open Ulcers, without any Oint- 
 ments or Plafters ; for in curing Ulcers of this fort, 
 there is nothing in Animals, Vegetables, or Minerals, 
 which anfwereth to this in Virtue-, as alfo inwardly 
 it cureth Ruptures. 
 
 This is tiYe nature and property of Gold, that it 
 raofl potently .taketh away all filths, and alfo aftring- 
 eth ; which two things are neceffarily required in the 
 Cure of all Ulcers. This Salt, by its own help, conis 
 modioufly doth the fame, and alfo wonderfully pro- 
 motes the Virtues of the Gold : The faid Liquor very 
 quickly taketh away the Ulcers of the Mouth and 
 Jhroat, with all their fcorbutick Infedion, which 
 are wont to give way but very flowly to other Medi= 
 cines : And this it doth, although the Tongue, Uvula, 
 and all the Palate (hould befuUofPuItules. Infhort, 
 for the taking away all internal and external Ulcers, 
 I think no Medicine preferrablc to this Liquor ■■, but 
 all other defeds of the Body which it cureth, for bre- 
 vity's fake,l will pafs over. 
 
 Moreover, this green and golden Liquor hath this 
 nature and property, that beyond all other Medi- 
 caments, it conciliatcth a wonderful fertility to all 
 things, as its fignature, the wit, the green colour»and 
 my diverfc infallible Experiments, do truly teftifie. 
 
 Y y y Hence 
 
M 
 
 Of the Name 
 
 Part F 
 
 Hence the feeds of ail Vegetables being macerated in 
 the fame l.iquur and ice in mcer naked Sand,ihey put 
 forth golden Sprouts and pUnts, having a fmell much 
 ftronger and pkafantcr, a fairer colour, and g,reater 
 Ifugtli than ihofe which grow out of a fat Earth. 
 Therefore thib green Liquor holdcth the chief place in 
 rendering Vegetables green and fruitful, and augmen- 
 ting their growing faculty ; fo alfo among all the Me= 
 dicines, 1 know it hath no equal in conciliating and 
 preferving fertility in the humane body : For in all 
 the Difeafo of Mankind it bringeth great help and 
 comfort, and cfit^teth more in allifting the fruitful- 
 refs both of M^le and Female, than can be believed, 
 and is fo great an exciter of Venus, that it bringeth 
 great folace not only to Old men, who being baulked 
 by their ycuntjer Wives, are forced to lie ftill, but al- 
 fo to fuch Women who are barren in their ftourilh- 
 ing age, and therefore deftitute of Heirs. 
 
 "l write not dreaming,but am taught by Experience, 
 having fecn fome men fo ftrengthened by this Medi- 
 cine, that they have feemed to themfelves never to 
 have been weak, tlie which alfo fome Women have 
 experienced. Neverthelefs fuch Medicaments are 
 not to be adminilhed too frequently to this Sex, fee- 
 ing that without tliis fort of help they are wont to be 
 fometimes exagicated by a m.ore falacious Itch than is 
 convenient : Its ufe is more fnfe to Old men,inafmuch 
 as it cannot do them the leall damage. Nor ought 
 thofe things which I here deliver, to feem a wonder 
 to any, for they have their certain and undoubted cau= 
 fes of Operation. 
 
 Let thofe two fubjefts, of which the Green-Lyon is 
 C9mpofed,to wit,falt & gold be infpededithey are the 
 tell of things, ScnecclTarily required to the generation 
 of all things ; for,what herb can be brought forth with- 
 out feed and lliltPnot indeed the Icaft : for if the earth 
 or fand wanteth fait, the feed of the Herb can neither 
 have nutriment nor produftion: Yea, if the feed it 
 felf be alfo fowcd in a fat Earth, and yet be deflitute 
 ofthe Rays of the Sun, it can in no wife grow out ot 
 the Earth, but will be fuffbcated and perifh •, the which 
 thing is not hid to Rufticks, who after they have fow- 
 ed their feed, do ardently cxpeft the warm Sunlhine. 
 Therefore, for adefirable coming up of Vegetables 
 out of the Earth, and their encreafe, there is required 
 a fat and fait Earth, as alfo the warm and fruitful 
 heat ofthe Sun, with neceffary Rain •, which alfo is 
 to be underftood ofthe generation and multiplication 
 
 of Animals. ' '' 
 
 NB. In Jm-iim potabik fait fupplies the room ot 
 fatnefs.Gold is the Sun, and the Spirit of Wine per- 
 "formeth the Office ofthe warm and fruitful Rain ; fo 
 alfo no Minerals are procreated, but by the help ofthe 
 fun and labour of falc. They exerciling their ope- 
 rations upon the Wa.cr, generate Minerals, as the 
 Writings of the ancient Philofophers teach. 
 
 Some ignorant man may here objeft and ask, How 
 'it can be, that the Sun, by operating in the depth of 
 the Earth nioukl generate Minerals and Metals ot lalt.-* 
 Lee him know, that the Sun, by his hot Rays, doth ex-- 
 rit'^ the central fire in the profundity ofthe Earth; 
 valch central fire is not unknown to thofe who are 
 occupied indiggin- Metals out of the Earth, who 
 fometimes feel fo llrong a heat, that laying afide their 
 Clothes they are conftraincd to labour very leilurely, 
 vea, fometimes wholly to intermit it i as I havetauglit 
 in m e:rjl Part of >ny A^nierJ Work. Therefore no 
 man of a found mind will dare to oppofe thefe things, 
 feeing that it is wholly agreeable to Truth, that ge- 
 seration and encreafe in all Ani:nals, Vegetables, and 
 
 Minerals, do arife from the fun and fait, to which 
 water is wont to be an help. 
 
 Seeing therefore that my golden Liquor is prepared 
 of fuch fubjecls, it can operate no other thing ihaa 
 fertility, and thereby figned by Nature with that 
 beautiful greenncfs, by which it iigniiieth its endovv-- 
 ment to render all things fruitful : God adorneth no- 
 thing with His marks and figns in vain ; from which, 
 as from His fignatures,the powers and virtues may be 
 more clearly known, than from Books. For the fig- 
 nature with which things are figned by GOD and Na- 
 ture never erreth •, but the Books and Writings com- 
 piled by Men very often erre. Wherefore did the 
 ancient Philofophers and Poets worfliip yems^ the 
 Goddefsof Love and of Generation, and attribute to 
 her a beautiful green, generated ofthe fpume or foatn 
 ofthe fea ? What is the foam or froth which the fea 
 cafteth out upon the niore,but fait, which being dried 
 up by the heat of the fun, is reduced to fait .'' And the 
 Poets, efpecially Virgil and Ovidy who were men of 
 great literature, would not have handled fuch things 
 with fo prolix an ambage of words, but that they were 
 willing by their Fabulous writings to reveal that greac 
 Philofophick Myftery to the world : Tnerefore I con- 
 ftantly afl'ert, That this green Liquor is the chief Me- 
 dicine of all things to grow or be encreafed, as its 
 pleafant Viridity and infallible Experience do teltific. 
 TheOcean, the Mother of all fertility, fheweth alfo 
 its greennefs, efpecially in thofe places where it is rich 
 in fait, and ftrongly irradiated by the Beams of the 
 Sun. This is well known among Seamen, who from 
 the change ofthe water into a greener colour, pre- 
 fently colleft, that they are near to hotter Regions, ia 
 which the Sun-beams are more ftrongly projeded ; 
 for in fuch places the Sea is fo fait, that it fhineth like 
 fire: TheUrireofthofepiffmgout of a fhip, falling 
 into the Sea, fheweth like fparks of fire •, there four 
 parts of water are found to contain one part of fait. 
 The Mediterranean Sea is not fo full of Salt, as that 
 which is between Sf-??" and France ^ and again, in this 
 it felfis found not a little difference, feeing that the 
 Spafiip iide exceedeth the French in faltnefs ^ and the 
 Ocean it felf, by how much the nearer it is to the 
 North, by fo much it is lefs fait •, for which reafon al- 
 fo the fait is weaker, and of lefs Virtue, being more 
 remote from the beams ofthe Sun. Therefore the 
 D.ww,Swff(^f, and other Nations, inhabiting the Nors 
 them parts, although they have plenty of Sea-water, 
 neverthelefs they do not make fait of it, but fetch ic 
 from France or Spam ; which is a Teftimony evident 
 enough,that fait is elaborated in the water by the moft 
 ardent Beams of the Sun, and produced for the faks 
 of an univerfal fertility. 
 
 This is indicated by the German name of the Sea, 
 Mecr^ which is all one as if we (hould fay Vermeer,tbat 
 is, Encreafe, Enlarge. An Appellation very well agree- 
 ing with the thing, becanfe without the Sea nothing 
 would encreafe in the Earth, but on the contrary, al! 
 things live, and are encreafed by it. 
 
 Hence the green colour is a manifefl Index and Sig- 
 nature of Fruitfulnefs, which might be demonftrated 
 by infinite examples, which, for the avoiding of^ pro- 
 lixity, is not here necefl'ary, feeing that the thing it 
 felf is fo manifelt. 
 
 Some profligate Deriders, who love to oppofe the 
 
 Truth, may fay. That this green colour doth not 
 
 oceed from Gold, but from Copper^ that fo tliey 
 
 may drawhoneft men away from the Truth, becaufe 
 noGoldfeemethto them to be of ufe in Medicine-, 
 with which Cavil they have before now. accolted my 
 
 ji:iru/a 
 
Part 1. 
 
 of SALTS. 
 
 267 
 
 Aurtim Potabile. That I may flop their impure mouths 
 and obviate the frivolous Objedions of this fort, I fay, 
 that I indeed confefs, Copper among the Metals doth 
 obtain a green colour, if it be diflblvcd in Aquafortis^ 
 and other Corrofive Liquors of that kind : But Gold 
 
 taken by any, when a fuflicicnt quantity of Water is 
 mixed with it ; but it is not fwcct, it conltringeth the 
 Tongue, and Itaincth the Hands ; this doth not my 
 green Liquor, for it neither colourcth the Hands,nor 
 aftringeth the Tongue, nor yet corrodeth the feeds of 
 
 being diffolvcd in the fame, appeareth in a yellow co- Vegetables, but rather exciteth them to ferriiiry 
 
 lour, and not a green, which is known to every body 
 But who would think me to be fo ftupid and rude, to 
 impofe upon any fo open a Cheat ? Who alfo in any 
 wife could hide fuch a Cheat ? For Copper being dif- 
 folved in fait waters, would prefently difcover the 
 Fraud, by its evil naufeating and Vitriolick tafte, of 
 which butone drop being fwallowed down, would ex- 
 cite violent Vomitings, and would not be a Medicine, 
 but rather a Poifon. Moreover, ifyoupiita Knife 
 into fuch a folution, it will be prefently covered over 
 with the Copper, and appear to be Coppery. The 
 contrary plainly happeneth, if any pure Iron be dip= 
 ped in ray Green^Lyon '-, for it will prefently appear 
 to be giltwith the colour of Gold, and that more fair 
 and eminent than any Ducat, or other piece of golden 
 
 andthereleftfor a certain time, it will at length be 
 changed into a pure Gold, which is an infallible telti- 
 mony, that that Liquor doth not draw its original 
 from Copper, but from Gold. Again, it may be ob- 
 jeded, that a vulgar folution of Gold by Aqua Rcgia^ 
 alfo tingeth Iron with a golden colour, and adhereth 
 to the fame ; therefore this is no ftrange thing, foraf- 
 much as it is common and known to every man- I an- 
 fwer, That fuch a folution, not green , but yellow, 
 doth indeed by precipitation adhere to the Iron, and 
 diflblveth the Iron it felf, and reduceth it into a 
 Mud, but doth not penetrate it , and preferve it in its 
 form, as my green Liquor doth, which therefore is 
 not to be numbred among thofe corrofive folutions^ 
 but that which is done by the Sal £> ixttm^ is rather to 
 be called an Extradion than a Solution : For my Sal 
 jMirdile is of that nature, that it doth not throughly 
 dilTolve any fine Powder, or Calx of Gold, but only 
 cxtradeth from it whatfoever is moft pure, and lea- 
 veth the reft like a black Powder. Moreover, that 
 Solution is not corrofive ; for if it were, it would cor- 
 rode and diflblve the Iron, and not tinge it with the 
 colour, and advance it to the degree ofGold,the Iron 
 rem.aining whole. By a like reafon the green Soluti- 
 on of Copper, made with the vulgar corrofive waters, 
 afibciatcth it felf with the Iron, in a green colour. 
 
 Whence it appears, thnt my fjid S>UMi,abik is 
 not corrofive, but by it feif is a good Medicine for all 
 Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, which Experience 
 it felf moft evidently argueth: Therefore it can work 
 nothing but good, becaufe prepared without any Cor- 
 rofive, and reprefentcd to the eye by a wonderful fig- 
 nattire, to wit, the fair Green coloi^r. 
 
 This fignature is an undoubted token of its extraor= 
 dinary Virtues, in rendering all living things vegete 
 and fruitful, which lie abfcondcd in its inward Pene- 
 trals. And this I think fufficient to be faid to thofe 
 foolilh and idle Cavils of ignorant Scoffers,with whicli 
 they may infult over me- 
 
 Whatfoever I have here afcribed to my Green 
 Lyon, my red Auritm PotMk , extraded with Spirit 
 
 Monyexhibiteth. If any Iron-Wire be put into it, of Wine, alfo per formeth the fame, and that as well in 
 
 corrcdcrh it, and forfaketh the Copper. But if Cop- 
 per be diflblvcd with my Sal Mirabik, that folution 
 doth net penetrate Iron, but tranfmuteth the whole 
 in its own form into Copper, yet not prefently, but in 
 a long progrefsof time. 
 
 From all thefe things maybe feenthe great diffe- 
 rence between the vulgar corrofive folucions of Gold, 
 Copper, and other Metals, and mine, void of all cor- 
 rofion, which is performed by my S.d Mirahik, dilfol- 
 ving the Bodies of the Metals, after a far other man- 
 ner than thofe corrofive folutions are made. There- 
 fore it is not to be reckoned among vulgar folutions, 
 feeing that it poITeireth far other Virtues. The vulgar 
 folution of Gold, made by Aqua Re^ia, hurceth all 
 things, as a corrofive Poifon ; a little of it being put 
 to any Vegetable feed, depriveth it of all its growing 
 faculty, and throughly killeth it. Some drops of it 
 being drank by a Man, would corrode his throat and 
 ftomach, like Poifon. A Liquor of this fort, by its 
 corrofive and gnawing faculty, converteth the Metal 
 put into it into flimeormudd. That folution which 
 is made by the redified Spirit of Salt, may fafely be 
 
 Vegetables and Animals, as in Minerals; for the Spi- 
 rit of Wine can hurt none of them, but rather infinua- 
 teth the virtues of Gold into Vegetables and Animals, 
 and rendereth them moreefiicacious. But concerning 
 the folution of Gold by my Sai MirabUe, and its effica- 
 cy and operation, this may fuffice for the prefent. 
 
 As for the folution of the other Metals, there is no 
 need to make many words, or to write a large Vo- 
 lume about it, feeing that from what hath been al- 
 ready faid, any man may eafilyconjedure, that folu- 
 tions of this fort, made by the help of Sd AUrabile, 
 are far better than thofe made by Corrofives. The 
 Vitriol ofTenHs made by its help, doth not hurt Vege« 
 tables, as common Vitriol, which killeth the fame bj 
 its corrofion •, but the Vitriol made by Sal Mirabtle 
 wonderfully proraoteth the growing faculty in Ve- 
 getables, fo that Lunar,VenereaI, Martial, Jovial,and 
 Mercurial Herbs may be produced, which will have 
 wonderful efFe(fts,efpecial!y if the Vegetative faculties 
 of Lunar Herbs be encreafed and promoted by the 
 Salt of Luna; of Venereal, by the Salt of Venus, and 
 fo of the refl;. 
 
 Enough hath been fpoken to the Wife, but he that 
 hitherto cannot apprehend what 1 have faid, is an Afs, 
 and unworthy of fuch Arcamms. From this Foun- 
 dation a diligent Phyfician may ereft a far other me- 
 thod of Curing, and may prepare for himfelf fuch 
 Medicines, by which he may obtain Honour and 
 Wealth. I have for many years obferved, that Herbs 
 I are wont to acquire Martial faculties and properties, 
 if they grow out of a reddifh Martial Earth, although 
 they were not before of a Martial nature, but of a So- 
 lar, Lunar, V'^enereal, Jovial, Saturnine, or Mercurial 
 Property. 
 
 But how much more would the innate properties 
 and virtues of Herbs be ftrengthe icd and encrea- 
 fed, if they were notnourifhed by the Dung of Ani- 
 mals, but fet in pure fand and watered with Sal Mi~ 
 rabile impregnated with the virtues of Metals, and 
 thence acquire the promotion of their growing facul- 
 ty. Truly other Herbs of far greater Virtues, and 
 other odours and tafls, would be brought forth, than 
 the common, which are wont to be produced by the 
 Dung of Animals, and the fimple Salt of the Earth. 
 By this means foftrong an attradlive Power may be 
 conciliated to the Seeds of all Herbs, that by a Mag- 
 netick power they inay .attract to themfelves the 
 Aftral powers and influences, and fo encreafe their 
 
 Virtues 
 
''\ 
 
 268 
 
 Of the Nature 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Virtues, that without any Preparation they might be 
 able to cure all Difcafcs to admiration- NB. That 
 It is necelTaiy, that he that would exadly underltand 
 the nature of Hcr[)s, niould Icnow how to promote the 
 VGiretative faculties of Solar Herbs. wi:h Solar Sale i 
 of Lunar with Lunar, and fo of the reft, and not that 
 he Ihould intermix the one with the other, without any 
 coniidcration •, which without doubt would be a hin- 
 drance to the dcfired fuccefs. . 
 
 Confider thefe things with an accurate Meditation, 
 as ffreat Secrets and ^rMW'w/, which will not be re- 
 vealed to the pcrverfe World. A word to the Wife 
 is enough •, therefore I will add no more ; but I make 
 no doubt, but that this Revelation of my Sd AUrabde, 
 in proccfsof time, will be accepted by diligent Phy« 
 ficians, and bring fo much benefit, that they will by 
 the fame cffeft much good in comforting and curing 
 the Sick. All things have their time, fa alfo this Ar- 
 canum, which in its time will be in vigour.; but I 
 v\-ould not have any man perfwade himfelf,that he may 
 fidi out of me the Preparation of my Sal Mirabtle, 1 
 will not caji Pe.vHs before ingratefitl Sm"e^ but will re- 
 ferve them for Friends. But left an occafion (hould 
 be given to ignorant Deriders, and thofe that hate me, 
 of calumniating and Qandering me,asif I my felf were 
 ignorant of preparing of a Salt of this fort, I have 
 determined to deliver fome fmall portions to divers 
 prudent men, not of this Salt only, but alfo of thofc 
 Salts which are endued with the Virtues of Gold, Sil= 
 ver, and other Metals, that at any time they may be 
 able to exhibit a clear Teftimony of the Tinith : And 
 I will produce thofe Herbs themfelves, that I may have 
 them in readinefs to lliew to others- _ 
 
 Therefore let no man trouble me with his Letters, 
 to ask ofme this fait, or other Medicines, for I will 
 communicatethemtonone, but fuch as 1 know, and 
 with whom I am familiar. 
 
 Great Thanks are to be given to Almighty GOD, 
 who hath made this prefent unworthy World partaker 
 Q'ii\ic\iM,tgnalia. I have fought, and have opened 
 the way to others •, let another alfo feek, and enter by 
 the way I havelliewed, that infifting in myfootfteps, 
 he may by thceafier labour, obtain a greater light of 
 
 Nature. . . 
 
 Bucthat I may omit nothing which pertainethto the 
 good Inftitution and Dodrine, and concerneth the 
 glory and honour of Salt, I will yet over and above add 
 one infallible Teftimony, by which any rude and ig- 
 norant man may evidently fee, that all fertility con- 
 lifteth in Salt only, and that it is the raoft precious 
 Treafureofthe whole World, for the health of the 
 Body, and that in it lie hid raoft ample Riches. 
 
 Fertility is indeed already demonftrated in many 
 
 foregoing Teftimonics ; but becaufe the Hiftory of 
 
 the "Prophet Bli^'-i agrceth more than a little with 
 
 thefe my fayings, and may be a dear Teftimony to 
 
 them, I have thought fit here to adjoin it. We read in 
 
 xKhurs.x. 19. that the men of the City faid to Eh. 
 
 fjj.;, Belold, It is good to dwell »« this Ciiy^ as my Lord 
 
 'fteth ; hut the water is ria:ight^ and the ground about it is 
 
 barren: Bring hither to me ^faith he) a new Fcffd full 
 
 of Salt. Which being brought, he went to the Spring 
 
 into which hecaft the Salt, faying. Thus fanh the Lord^ 
 
 J have healed this Water ^ from henceforth tkre jhjl no 
 
 eivarth and barrcnmfs ttrife thence. So the Water was 
 
 healed even to this day, according to the word of £- 
 
 lijha v\hich wasfpoken. 
 
 That this great Myftery may the better be under- 
 ftood,it will be necellary firft a little to conlidcr the 
 Hiftory it feif, from v\'hich it may be known by what 
 
 means the Salt of EUpia became fo ftrong, that it ex- 
 pelled Deatii, and rendered the Water good , and the 
 barren Earth fruitful. 
 
 When Elias was to be carried up into Heaven, he 
 faid to EliP'a, Ask of ra? what I fliall do for thee, be- 
 fore I am taken from thee. Ehjlia asked o( Elias^thzz 
 he would grant to him a double portion of his Spirit : 
 Elias anfwercd, It ts a, hard thing which thou haft asked , 
 if thoujhalt fee me when I am taken fro/n thee, it fiiall he 
 as thou defirtfi^ but if not y thou jhalt obtain nothing. And 
 when they went on together talking, behold, there 
 Cometh a fiery Chariot with Horfes of Fire, and par- 
 ted them afunder ;, fo-E/'Vz-f was carried to Heaven in 
 a fiery Chariot ^ and fZ/y'^.t feeing thisj cried out, My 
 Father^ my Father, Grc. Liften therefore, Wherefore 
 did Elias fay to Eli^ut^ If thou flialt fee me when J jhall 
 be taken from thee ^thouflialt have thy defirc^ctherwift not ? 
 And why with this condition ? Could not Elias at his 
 own will have rendered EUlha the polTenbr of his 
 wifti ? Perhaps very eafily, but Elias woulcj not with: 
 1 out fome medium^ becaufe £////j^ was to be doubly fea- 
 foned with the Celeftial Fire, by which he was fepa- 
 rated from Elias^ for Fire bringeth forth Salt ; the 
 Celeftial Fire bringeth forth a Celeftial Salt, and the 
 Elementary Fire an Elementary. 
 
 In this Fliftory is fet before our Eyes the eternal 
 Divine Light, and alfo the natural, although fewdif- 
 cfern either of them, inafmuch as their hearts are har- 
 dened and obfcured by a horrid blindnefs. And both 
 the Old and New Teftamcnt are full of fuch Myfte- 
 ries ; fothat I dare boldly affirm. That all the Trea= 
 fures both of Soul and Body may be found in the Holy 
 Scriptures, if we will-, andtliatwe have no need to 
 read the Writings of the Heathen Philofophers, I add 
 this onething, That it is of God alone to open the 
 Eyes of thofe who defire to underftand Divine and 
 Natural Myfteries •, for without divine illumination, 
 all things are dead and buried in darknefs. Thi? 
 Truth putteth to flight the diabolical Cavils and Slan- 
 ders of all fcoffing Mountebanks and Jack-puddings. 
 But which of them will oppofe this, and feek fertility 
 from any other thing than Salt ? Truly, I believe no 
 man, except that moft profligate Famner^ with his 
 wretched Followers, who determine. That Salt doth, 
 not fatten, but Dung ^ when neverthelefs this is to 
 be afcribed to the former, and not to the later. But 
 thofe Afs-like Brethren of Ignorance, being convinced 
 oftheir filthy Lyes by the moft evident Truth, will! 
 hope have their impure and fhamelefs mouths more 
 than fufficiently flopped. I therefore acquiefce in 
 this demonftration, in which I think I have evidently 
 proved. That the Sun and Salt are the moft noble 
 Creatures of God, and that Salt is by me rightly and 
 defervedly called the greateft Treafure, and the grea- 
 teft Riches of the World •, becaufe after an earthly 
 manner of fpeaking, nothing can be more defirable for 
 fruitfulnefs. Salt is the Original of all fertility, the 
 Sun is the original of Salt, and God the Creator of all 
 things, of the Sun, to whofe Name be Honour and 
 Glory for ever. Amen. 
 
 But although this demonftration, which doth evi- 
 dently fhew, that fait is the greateft Treafure in the 
 world, be moft clear, and beyond all doubt ; never- 
 thelefs, I doubt not, but it will not fatisfie the Cove- 
 tous, who will fay. Where is the Stone of Philofopherf 
 which we expedcd from thee,as the greateft Treafure 
 of the whole world, that it being known and acqui- 
 red, we might lead a brave life ? But ftay, my friend, 
 until fome man fliallcome and render fordid men par- 
 takers of fo great a Gift : For thinkcit thou that if I 
 
 were 
 
Part I. 
 
 of Sa/ts, Metals^ and Planets. 
 
 269 
 
 its poITf fTor, that I would defcribe fo great a Mvftery> 
 in inch clear words as 1 have defcribed the fertility of 
 the Earth : Not -at all j nor have I the power of do- 
 ing that, feeing tha: a man cannot give to any thofe 
 things which are not his own) but God's. Keverthe- 
 lefs, that the p:ous fearcher after Truth may have 
 fome manodudion to a Work of fo great moment, I 
 cannot but noid forth to him that fmall Light gran- 
 ted we by Divine Grace, provided he hath not Owls 
 eyes, fi.iinning the li.;ht of Nature, becaufc they can- 
 rot be'.r its fplendcur ^ which if he hath not, it cannot 
 be, but he wili give crev.!it to a manifeft Truth- And 
 concerninii, fc great a work, this is my opinion. That 
 it is altogether pciTible, that the molt noble univerfd 
 Pearl, to wit, the I^lec'.icine and Stone of Phiiofophers, 
 reftoring the di^ealie Bodies of Men and Metals to 
 their pnRine health and ftate, may be prepared of 
 common fall-. Butof the Preparation, which is un 
 known to mc, I can affirm nothing certain -, but that it 
 mny be done, manifold and infallible Experience hath 
 caufcd me to believe ; which Experience I keep to my 
 felf, and will not part with it to any, although 1 could 
 very freely, if I might or durfl: make pious men par- 
 takers of it : But becaufe Faith is effecled in us by God 
 alone, it is to be fought from Him by Prayer, and not 
 to be expcifted from Men. 
 
 Therefore that faccording to my promife) I may 
 demonftrate, That the Stone of Philofophers, lying 
 
 hid in fait, may begot out of it by the bcncHt of Art, I 
 def.reoniy t:iis thing of the ftudious of divine My- 
 n:eries,th?.t he would learch after inofe things, in my 
 Writings lately printed, v.'hich I havefpoken concer- 
 ning the li:tJe f-.;h £chi,ie.s^ viz.. by what means he 
 may be taken with a Net out of the fa':Sca,for there 
 he wili iind a fufticient manuduraoii, of which it is not 
 necefTiry that I fliould here fay any more. Thofe arc 
 the things which I was willing to add in honour of 
 that noble crf-ature fait : He ci\at will not believe the 
 moll noble PcyrI, of a univcrfal and particular Medi- 
 cine, to be included in the inward Penetralsof Salt, I 
 cannot help him ; it is free for every man to feek and 
 walk in another way. 
 
 Would it not be too tedious, I could alfo plainly 
 prove, that trom marine Bodies, (as Coral, Mother of 
 Pearl, Oylter-fliells, and the like things, being diflol- 
 vcd into water, and precipitated^ may be extrafted 
 corporal Gold, which 1 have done with my own hands, 
 and therefore can boldly witnefsit- 
 
 But I will fhut up the Tables, what I have hitherto 
 fpokcn being fuflicient for this time-, from which I 
 hope and believe that others will receive benefit : 
 Which 1 heartily widi, together with the divine bene- 
 diftion to all pious men. .Amen, 
 
 "£> 
 
 ^r <fA f3f 
 
 Wr, T^.a- ^ia ^Kf «K» i^> i^ra G»j c:^5 n ija -eirc ^f. ?f^ isicr «£j -i-^ ^3- «.ia zi;s .^ ;aa 'c^i r.v.^ ^^ 
 
 m>. *nS« «#o- vieiM «np «»§? 4Mi!> ^tWi" ' mjJ* ■>.•■£•) ^iy-j; "f^J^ 4«^ a*!V,-« .^.Zm ,t >. iCtJ^ -,-/?^?f» ',',/>.jf 5<TOs» m/jwj -z^^ »/K3« Jlap 
 
 ^ r^ <r^ ^ ^ 4^ ^ T^ r^ ■r^l >r^ >^ ^j^ 4^ ^£f <»£(< r£i ^^ ^£i> r^ •r^ g^ 4^ ^ 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 Of the Signature of 
 
 alts, :0letalg. anU 
 
 O R, 
 
 A Fundamental Inftitution evidently fhewing by what means not only the Virtues, 
 Signification, Nature, and Properties of Saits^ Metals, and Planets, may be eafily known, but 
 alio the reafons of their Names and Appellations, and tliis not from Books or Writings, but from 
 their naked Sigrtature, to be obtained and known by the help of the Circle and Quadrant. 
 
 (I(32tttcu fo? tijeic Caress toljo ticligljt in ti)t P;iofitaWe anti \mW JOecetTatP Cou- 
 
 tcmplatiou of Di^jine^ttacicsi, 
 
 To the well minded READER. 
 
 IT is a common faying. Beware of thofe vhom Nature 
 hath marked, the which is indeed true, if it be 
 underftood concerning men who are inlignized 
 Vv-ith fome preternatural marks, or of the abor- 
 tions of Nature, but concerning other things it is falfe- 
 For the Almighty God hath iigned all His Creatures, 
 
 as well fmall as great, equally with their own certain 
 lignatures, and hath as it were fubjected their depict- 
 ed Lineaments to the Eyes of men, by which they 
 might know what the nature and property of every 
 thing is, and what Commodity and Profit it may 
 bring to mankind. Hence not only all Vegetables, as 
 
 Z z z HerDs, 
 
r>ri^ 
 
 Of the S'ignature 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Herbs Shrubs, and Trees, but alfo Animals, as Beafts 
 of every kind, yea, and Man himielf, which abide upon 
 the Earth, the Fiihcs inhabiting the Waters, and the 
 Birds of the Air ; but alfo all things moveable and 
 immoveable, he hath figncd with their peculiar forms 
 and figures, to lignifie to us by thofe their figns, of 
 what ufe every Herb, every Animal, every Bird, and 
 every FiQi is, and for svhat purpofe it fcrveth. And 
 this is the Divine Infcription which the Divine Finger 
 hath written upon all things, and by which the nature 
 of ail things (hould have been learned by us- 
 
 but afteV that Fvlen began more and more to de- 
 cline from thehumane,toabrutifli nature,aud ceafed 
 to have the Rcafon of fo noble a Signature, prefer^ 
 ring their brutal Conceptions to the Divine Works, | 
 ancf poRponing the Signatures incited in all things by ! 
 Nature-, it came to pafs, that in a long procelsof 
 time that true Signature, or Divine Infcription, being 
 obfcnred. periflied by degrees, and wholly vaniflied ; 
 fo that but a very few are found in this Age, who are 
 endowed with any knowledge of fo great a Science; 
 for the greateft part of men arc wont to follow the 
 duftoflBooks and Writings, andftudy to learn the 
 Virtues and Proprieties of tilings out of them. Nei- 
 ther could this ftudy be difapproved of, if the true, 
 iicornipted, and entire Writings of the ancient and 
 iinguiarly:experienced noble Authors remained with 
 us. But becaufe in a long Series of time their fre- 
 quent defcriptions, emendations, and interpretations 
 have fo corrupted them, that fcarceany thing of truth 
 is to be found in them ; it were far better that fuch 
 mangled and corrupted Writings were not fo much 
 followed, but that rather that old foundation laid by 
 God himfelf, upon which all thofe Writings, all Cha- 
 raders,and all Signatures do reft, and from whence 
 they have received their beginning, Ihould be again 
 brought out of Darknefs into Light, and the nature 
 and properties of things learned from thence. This 
 would be the true way of coming to the knowledge of 
 Nature, in a (hort fpace of time, without fo many er- 
 rours, to which, by thofe falfe Writings, a man can- 
 not come in many years. 
 
 Some perhaps may ask> where that ancient Founda- 
 tion laid by God ought to be fought, or where it may 
 be found ? I anfwer, Every where, inafmuch as it is 
 before the eyes of every man, but efpecially (hewing 
 itfelf in the Heavens, where the Sun, Moon, and all 
 the Stars are conftituted by God in a round Figure, 
 fignifying to us that all Forms and Figures take their 
 beginning from a round Circle, and that a Circle or 
 Rotundity it felf,as a moft perfedt thing, pertaineth 
 to the Heavens, and to GOD Himfelf The Ancients 
 certainly put it in that manner, that by a round Cir- 
 cle they might denote thofe things which they could 
 neither comprehend by number, pronounce by words, 
 nor conceive by their ingeny •, and on the contrary, 
 thofe things which did not exceed their capacity, in- 
 geny, nor number, they figned with a fquare Figure: 
 So that things celeftial, and exceeding humane capa- 
 city, they have denoted by a Circle, but things vifible, 
 earthly, and fubjed to humane capacity, by a Square, 
 proceeding from a Circle- 
 
 And although the fame ancient Philofophers,attri. 
 buting a Circle to God only, were of the opinion, that 
 God could not be more aptly exprcll by any thingthan 
 a Circle, havinaTlike Himfelf j neither beginning nor 
 end: Neverthelefs all thofe things which after God 
 theyellcemed great, they alfo noted with a Circle, 
 to wit, the Sun in the Firmament, and Gold in the 
 €arih; the firft of which, fomc of thofe Phi lofophers 
 
 thought to be God himfelf Others of thofe Heathen 
 Philofophers have feigned for God the Effigies of a 
 Serpent, winding himfelf into a round Circle •, and all 
 earthy things of a celeftial original, they have repre* 
 fented by a Square, and fo they have Ihadowed out the 
 Celeftial and the Teneftrial, by the Circle and Qua- 
 drant. 
 
 Therefore as they obferved how much of the Ce- 
 leftial or Terreftrial Nature were in the things to be 
 figned, fo much of the Circle or Square they added or 
 fubftraded, and according to that they varied their 
 Figures : And not only in the Ctleftial Lights, to wit, 
 the Sun, Moon, and other Planets, but alfo in all earth- 
 ly Creatures, produced in the Earth by the operations 
 of the Sun, Moon, and the reft of the Planets and 
 Stars, VIZ.. Gold, Silver, Copper, Tin, Iron, Lead, and 
 Argent:vive •, they have ufed this manner in figning 
 them ali with Charaders of this fort, and have noted 
 them with the fame Charaders which they have given 
 to the Celeftial Lights, producing and effeding the 
 Caufes of thofe inferiour Creatures. So the Sun 
 and Gold, as the moft perfed Creatures of God, are 
 ligned with a Circle having a point or center in the 
 middle ■, the Moon and Silver appear in the figure of 
 an half CircIe,or of two femicircles,ata fmall diftance 
 from one another ; which fhew their Bodies not to be 
 abfolutely perfed, but as yet to labour under fome de- 
 fed. The Charaders of the other Planets, as T?, y, 
 <?, 5, and 5, are alfo the Charaders of the reft of the 
 Mttzls, viz.. Lead, Tin, Iron, Copper, and Argent= 
 vive, becaufe they are much more vile and imperfed 
 than Gold and Silver,and are noted with more imper- 
 fcd Charaders •, fuch are an half Circle and half 
 Square, fignifying that they fcarce anfwer to the per* 
 fedionof Silver in the half part, and hardly to the 
 fourth part of that of Gold. 
 
 But that I may propofe the thing more clearly, I 
 think it necelfary to inclofe the Charaders of the 
 Celeftial Lights, as©, 1>, 5, 2, <?, ¥,and T?,and 
 of the Terreftrials, as Gold, Silver, Argent- vive,Cop: 
 per, Iron, Tin, and Lead, which the ancient Aftrono- 
 mers and Philofophers have impofed upon them, ia 
 SquareSjConfiftingofthe fame magnitude,thatby thofe 
 it may appear in what degree they differ from each 
 other in perfedion- 
 
 A. 
 
 402. 4 
 3, 
 
 T. 
 
 D. 
 
 I. 
 
 I. 
 
 3. 
 
 3. 3. 
 
 r. G, H. 
 
 T. T. I. 
 
 3. 5. 
 
 3. 
 
 Here thofe Charaderiftick Figures of the 'Signa- 
 tures are enclofed as it were in little Houfes, which 
 are the Squares : Now, if into one of thofe I put the 
 CharaderoftheSunorGold,w"2., around Circle no- 
 ted with the letter B, it toucheth four parts of the 
 Square, marked i j 2,3} 4> and filleth it up, lignifying 
 
 that 
 
Part I. 
 
 of Salts, Metals^ and Planets. 
 
 271 
 
 that among Ccleftial and Terreftrial Creatures, the 
 Sun and Gold do excell all other things, in their per- 
 fe(Sion. 
 
 The Charader of the Moon or Silver, under the let: 
 terCj toucheth three fides of the Square, to wit, the 
 fuperiour with the top of her Horn, marked i, the 
 lower fide marked 3, and the bending of her back 
 toucheth the third fide, marked 2 ; but by reafon of 
 the incurvating concavity of her Superficies, flic can- 
 not touch the fourth fide, marked 4. 
 
 The Cliarader of ^/frc«ry,under the letter D, with 
 both his horns toucheth the upper fide of the Square, 
 marked with number i, and with the bottom of the 
 Crofs the lower fide number 3 : the other two fides, 2 
 and 4, heleaveth untouched. To that the half part of 
 the Square remaineth untouched by Mercnry. Lii>'.t 
 toucheth three fides or the fame, and Sol or Gold is 
 contiguous to all the four fides. 
 
 Vonts or Copper, under the letter E, alfo adhereth 
 only to two fides of the Square, to wit, to the fuperi- 
 our number i,and to the inferiour, marked with the 
 number 3 , but the fides, 2 and 4, remain untouched • 
 
 In like manner alfo Mars., or Iron, toucheth only 
 the upper and lower fides, as you fee under the letter 
 F. So alfo Satiir»^ or Lead, under G j And Jitpher or 
 Tin under H, you fee touch but two fides of their 
 Squares. Therefore from this figure may be feen 
 in what degree ofperfedion the Metals exceed one 
 another, lb that he who hath refped to this figure, 
 cannot errc in difcerning the faid degrees. 
 
 The Ancients have not impofed thefe Charaders, 
 neither by chance nor in vain, but they have diredled 
 the whole reafon of charadlerifing to this end, that the 
 Character might exactly agree with the Nature and 
 Property of the thing figned ; as the great agreement 
 between the Celeftial Luminaries or Planets, and the 
 Metals, doth clearly manifeft. Neverthelefs thefe 
 things are not to be difcerned by all men, but by thofe 
 only who are able throughly to infpeifl the nature of 
 Metals, and from that knowledge of the Metals, to 
 know the faid degrees of perfedion i for fo much of 
 rotundity as exhibits itfelf in the Character to the 
 fight, fo much alfo of purity and perfedion is in the 
 Ijgned body ^ and fo much as it fhews of the fquare, fo 
 much alfo it hath of imperfedion : And this is a Chy- 
 mical Axiom or Precept altogether infallible, and lb 
 certain, that he who in the emendation of Metals fhall 
 follow it, will not eafily erre. 
 
 Gold, the mofl; perfect of the Metals, by touching 
 the four fides of the fquare, argueth its great perfe- 
 (tion: Silver is not far from the perfection of Gold. 
 And among the reft of theMetals^Argent-vive, Iron, 
 and Copper have the half, but Lead and Tin only the 
 fourth degree of perfection. 
 
 Thefe few things we think fufficient for thofe who 
 aredefirous of fo great knowledge. He that defires 
 to know more of thefe Harmonical Signatures, of the 
 Celeftial Lights, and Terreftrial Bodies, let him accu- 
 rately examin this Foundation, and he will find thofe 
 thing; which nthherAnfiotle long ago,nor ourSchools 
 at this day, have had any knowledge of. This I dare 
 aflert for truth. That the Ancients, in the E^ypttafi 
 Schools, have hidden great Myfteries under the Cha- 
 raiters of their Signatures,and not only in thofe figns 
 iTipofed upon the Sun, Moon, Stars.and Metallick 80= 
 dies, but that they have manifefted great Secrets by 
 the very Names which they have given to all things, 
 which was not by chance that they have given to tins 
 thing fuch a Name, and to that another : But when 
 after times changed many Nain;s, thence it happened, 
 
 that thofe Signatures fell into great uncertainty, and 
 are now perplexed with many doubts. The Names 
 which from jidam, Noah, and their Pofterity, were 
 in ufe with the Egyptians, Ch.ddeans^zvA Hehrews, ths 
 Greeks alfo had in ufe, and from the fame Foundation 
 called things by due and tiue appellations. The La- 
 tins have taken no care about thofe derived to them, 
 although the only and true Foundation uf ever^ In- 
 veftigation of thofe Secrets is placed in thofe. In- 
 deed I being ignorant of the E ypiian^ Cha^acin, and 
 Hebrew Tongues, know not how to interpret thofe 
 Names with their fignature. But one that is skilful 
 in thofe Languages, and endc'jwed with fome know- 
 ledge of natural light, by applying himfelf to fuch 
 fearches, by a prudent inquifition, will find the Truth 
 of thofe things which I have here written, to wir 
 That the Nature and Property of all things are po- 
 fited in their Names and Characters: I will expedite 
 the matter by a clearer Explication,and in a few words 
 expound the Circle and Quadrate- In my Treatife of 
 the Nature of Salts, I have clearly taught and demon- 
 ftrated, that all things in the World have their ori- 
 ginal from the Sun and Salt. The Ancients have de= 
 figned the Sun by a Circle, and Salt by a Square : But 
 as a Circle is firft drawn before that a Square can be 
 put to it i and as a Circle by right is preferred before 
 a Square, inafmuch as that is the Original of this ; 
 fo alfo the fun is to be preferred to fait, to which ic 
 hath given Rife, and which it hath preceded in itscxi- 
 ftency, and which being compared with the fan its 
 Original, is lefs to be efteemed : Hence, without the 
 fun, fait generateth and produceth nothing ; nor yet 
 the fun without fait, becaufe in every generation and 
 production there is necefiarily required the conjumti^ 
 on of Male and Female, the fun performing the office 
 of the male, and the Moon of the female. 
 
 So Eve the Female, as a Square, arofe f-'om Mam, 
 as from a Circle, and from both, to wit, from the cir- 
 cle and the fquare conjoined, the fertility and propa- 
 gation of mankind hath drawn its original. The Poets 
 have attributed this propagation to f^e^ms, and noted 
 it with a fign compofed of a Circle and a fquare, fay- 
 ing, that the Goddefs/^e««j was born of the froth or 
 foam of the Sea and Salt, and dried up by the Rays of 
 the fun. 
 
 The Character of f^emis being weighed with an ac- 
 curate confideration of mind, very perfpicuoufly fhew- 
 ethhow wifely and prudently the Ancients havefha- 
 dowed out the Myfteries of Nature by their Cha- 
 racters- 
 Venus is figned with a round Circle, with a Crofs 
 pendant from the Circle ; the Circle denoteth the 
 Sun ; the Crofs, Salt : For when four lines are con- 
 joined in their extremities, they make a Crofs, all the 
 ends meeting in one point. But if all thofe Lines be 
 difpofed fourfquare, they form a Quadrate. There- 
 fore in things figned, the Crofs and the Square differ 
 only in their external Figure, and fignifie one and the 
 fame thing- 
 
 That thisMyftery may be the better apprehended, 
 I will interpret the true fignature of thofe principal 
 Creatures of God, (to wit, the Sun and Salt, from 
 which all things proceed) attributed to them by the 
 Ancients, according to their Latin fignitications Sol 
 and Sal, that their degrees and difference in nobility 
 and goodnefs may evidently appear : For the more 
 Circles there are confpicuous in thofe words,the more 
 of purity and goodnefs thev argue to be in the things 
 which they denote; and the more fquares there are 
 in a Word, the more of earthinefs, imperfettiojo, and 
 
 iin- 
 
C!72 
 
 Of the Signature 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ified. 
 
 impuri-y is lliewnto be in the thing thereby figni 
 But this Rule hoick only in thole words which were 
 impored upon things by the Ancients, in others not. 
 
 bccinp therefore chat it is beyond all doubt, that 
 thcfe tvvo words. So' and S-r/, were by the Ancients 
 imiiofed upon the things they llgniiie, according to a 
 true fignaiurc ; we will therefore further explain 
 
 ^ And here it is firfl to be noted, that al! the forms 
 and figures of Vegetables v:z.. of Trees, Herbs, and 
 other tilings growing out of the Earth, and alio ot 
 Animals, whether Men or Beafts, alfo of Minerals, do 
 lakeihcir orieinalonly from the circle and iquaie, 
 fo that by tiinie it maybe known what bodies or mem-- 
 bers are round or longi for the Body of a Man, as al- 
 io the Trunk of a TieCj have not only around, but 
 alfo an cblor.g fici-re, and the joints of every finger, 
 and the leaves and branches of Herbs and Trees (licvv 
 forth the fame figure, fo that in thofe theCivcle and 
 the Qiiadrare are every where found- 
 
 Ard not only all the Creatures of God are noted 
 with the fame fgnature, but alfo all Writings and 
 Letter?, proceeding Irom ^^.J^', Ao^ifo, ard their 
 Pofleriry, have taken their beginning from the Circle 
 and Square. As for example : All the Latin Letters, 
 even trom the beeinningto the end, you (hall nnd to 
 be compofed of a^circle and a fquare. A containeth 
 two lines and a half of a fquare •, B confilteth ot tvyo 
 femicircles , and one line of a fquare ; C isa femicir- 
 cle-, Disfcrmedofafemicircle, and one line ot a 
 fquare-, £ hith three lines and a half of a fquare; 
 F two and a hlilf of the fame -, G conlilteth of a fem> 
 circle, and half a line of a fquare ; and fo on to the 
 laft Letter of the Alphabet: So that all theLettersbe- 
 in<- compofed ot a circle and a fquare, were left by the 
 Ancients to ihadow out and fignihe thofe Myftenesto 
 
 Poiferity. .. . , 
 
 Therefore feeing that in my Treatifeof the nature 
 efS.Hts I have evidently demonftrated the Sun and 
 Salt to be the beginning of all things, 1 think it necefla- 
 ry to interpret thofe two words, Sol and S.?/, accor- 
 ding to their nature, and to prove that they are the 
 true beginning, and true end of all things. 
 
 Between the words 5«/ and S/ there is no other 
 difference, but the middle letter, which in Sal is ^'^K 
 but in SAOmc^a -, by which two Chrifl manifeited 
 himfelf to St. John : But the initial and final letters of 
 both words are the fame, they are diftinguilhed only 
 bv the middle letters, AtfU and Omga^md that not 
 
 without great rcafon i for as Sol generateth Sdixova 
 the beginning, and ail things which are take their on: 
 ginal trom him, fo alfo the end of all things diall hap- 
 pen at the lall day, when all things born and arifen 
 from the Sun and Salt, fliall again be confumed by fire, 
 as Fettr writeth, to wic, that the Sun, Moon, and all 
 the Stars, fhall tall from Heaven, and that the whole 
 Earth (hall be reduced to Afiics. Therefore in So/ and 
 S=i.',the beginning and end of atl things are perfeftly 
 difcerned- Neither dothefe two words only fet be- 
 fore our eyes the beginning and end of all things, 
 with the deitruttion of this earthy and fading World, 
 butthey alio make manifelt the whole Myftcry ot the 
 Holy Trinity, which 1 could very eafily dcmonftratc. 
 
 But becr.ufe the £^vp'''2« Learning, built upon the 
 foundation of Nature, is loft, and in the room there- 
 of Sophiftical Schools have grown up, which by their 
 vain loquacity have altogether opprellcd and banifiied 
 the truth; it might eaf.l'y happen, that I might bring 
 aNeft of Hornets about my Ears,ifIlhouId write fuch 
 
 multitude. Therefore it is better to be filent, than 
 to incumber my felf vvith urnecelf-iry contentions. 
 
 But that we may fee there have alfo been others, 
 who were not ignorant of the Myftci ie? h.idden in fait, 
 it feemsfit to me, in the end of thisDifcourfe,to fub- 
 join the opinion of a certain learned man, explaining 
 the Greek word «'^^> Cuaf. 13. Buok 4. and as it were, 
 bringing into view the gre^^it Myirery of Gcd hidden 
 in the fame, that To we m^y be invited to read the 
 learned Book or the laid Author, concerning fait, 
 which containeth many things highly worthy to be 
 read,ai;d of the reading of which no man will re- 
 pent j the name of the Author is Btmardus Gotnefmsy 
 printed at f r<2ni>/or<^, in the year 1605, a Book truly 
 worthy of any mean's reading, and as fuch I lludioufly 
 recommend it to thofe who are defirous of learning 
 any thing of good. 
 
 But to return to my pnrpofe, I feriouHy aOirm, that 
 the nature and property of Metals may be learned and 
 openly known, not only from the fignature afligned 
 them by the Ancients, but alfo from that which the 
 fire introduccth into them, and this fignature procee- 
 ding from the fire, is far to be preferred to that of 
 the Phiiofophers \ not therefore becaufe the Elemei t 
 of Fire pofleflcth a greater authority or might than ail 
 Phiiofophers ever had or can have: But becaufe the 
 Fire alwaies performeth immutable aClions, and com- 
 mitteth no errours, nor can it commit any, provided 
 the Operator who handleth the fire doth not deviate 
 from the manner of operating, for at all times in one 
 and the fame manner it fheweth the fignatures of the 
 metals. 
 
 The nature of the fire is fuch, that whenfoever we 
 will, it exhibiteth tons, byalingulai fignature, the 
 occult nature and hidden properties ot aie metals ; 
 for even as any burning fpirit of Vegetables, or vo- 
 latile fait of Wine, being drank by men, itirreth up 
 their nature and propertics,and expofeia thole things 
 to view, which before lay dorment, and which would 
 not have been known, if the warm fpirit of the wine 
 had not manifeited them : So alfo is it with Salt, 
 which, as we have taught in the precedent Treatife of 
 the nature of falts, hath a power and faculty of exci- 
 ting the nature of metalsj andof manifefting their me- 
 dicinal Virtues. But the Fire, of which we here treat, 
 hath the faculty offubjcding their perfe(ftion to our 
 
 For as by the pure fpiritof Wine the vital fpirit 
 of aMan isprefently cheered, and being awakened, 
 the hidden fignature forthwith goeth out of the in- 
 ward Penetrals of the heart i fo that the Sanguine fing, 
 dance, play, and are occupied in Amours ; the Cho- 
 lerick break forth into quarrels and fighting-, the 
 Phlegmatick grow drowlie and flccpy, and the Melan- 
 choly are taken up with fpeculations, meditations, 
 and fearches, Thefe fignatures the fpirit of Wine 
 can draw forth from the mofl inward recelTes of men. 
 By the fame reafon the fignature of Metals is awa- 
 kened, excited,and educed by the operation ofthe fire, 
 wz. when they are melted in a Crucible ; for the 
 fmoak or fume going out from them,prefently indica- 
 teth the nature and property of every of them. Pure 
 Gold, and free from all addition, emitteth no fume 
 alone, but being melted with fait, giveth a purple ex- 
 halation. Silver alv.-aies exhaleth fomewhat of a 
 blue, bitter, and unplcafant fume : The fume of Cop- 
 per is green, and flinketh : Of Iron not fo much as 
 Copper, being alfo red, fnikcth the Nollrilswith a 
 ftink -. Lead and Tin fend forth a white fume, ftink- 
 
 ihinaspublickly, ashy the knowledge ofthe leamedl ing and poifonous : Argentvive, in its whole fub-- 
 
Part I. 
 
 of SaltT, Metals and Platetf. 
 
 275. 
 
 ftanccjVanilliechina venomous fume, and thefe are 
 ihe figns of che fumes, by which melted Metals, when 
 they are not mixed, are wont to bediftinguiflied and 
 known from one another. But if Copper, or any 
 other imperfcift Metal, (hall be mixed with Gold or 
 Silver, it cliangeththe fume, and rendereth the proof 
 or examen doubtful and uncertain : Neverthelefs of 
 the judging of the perfection of Metals by the Fire, 
 this Experiment is of all the mofl: perfed and certain, 
 viz.. wlien they are fo melted by a very ftrong fire, 
 that they move themfelves, and are as it were turned 
 or whirled about in the Crucible, and by how much 
 the rou.:dcr this motion Ihall be, and the higher it 
 eievatcth it feU, by fo much it flieweth the Metals to 
 be morcperfeil ; the more deprefled and equal, and 
 the plainer the fuperficies fhall be, the leffer of pcrfedti; 
 en is in that melted Metal. The trial of this thing is 
 eafily made, by which it is found, that among all the 
 Metals Gold is chiefly moved on the Tell, orin a Cru- 
 cible, by a round or fpherical motion •, next Silver ; 
 next to that Copper ; next to Copper Iron •, after 
 Iron Lead ; and lallly, after that Tin. 
 
 The fame difference of perfcftion and imperfedion 
 is fliewed by the pouring of a melted Metal upon a 
 Porphyry ftone, or any the like well levigated, and 
 put into a Kettle of Water, fo that the water may not 
 touch its fuperficies, which is to receive the melted 
 Metal : This therefore being poured out upon the 
 faid Stone, leapeth and divideth it felf into many 
 grains, greater or lefler, more round, orlefs round,ac- 
 cording as the Metal ihall be more or lefs pure. But 
 of all the Metals, there is none more imperfeft than 
 Tin, which by effufion upon fuch a Stone, very rarely 
 difperfeth it felf into grains, but if the effiifion be dex= 
 troufly made, it dilateth it felf in breadth in a very 
 thin form, like to writing Paper, fo that it may be 
 writ upon (by a ftile or Itifc) like Paper, and folded 
 and fealed, and fent to others, after the manner of 
 other letters : Such letters made of Tin, are hurt by 
 no Water, fo that they may be of great ufe, where ne- 
 ceflity requireth fecrefie in fending letters. 
 
 But that Tin fpreadeth it felf into fuch broad 
 leaves, and doth not feparate into grains, after the 
 manner of Gold and Silver, the reafon is its imperfe- 
 ction, which its before-mentioned fignature evidently 
 argueth, containing but little of roundnefs,and taking 
 the greateft part from the fquare. 
 
 The knowledge of a metallick perfedion is alfo ac- 
 quired from the rotundity of the metallick motion in 
 the Examen of Saturn, or the feparation which is 
 made by Lead in a Cupel, where Gold, before all the 
 reft boileth with a fpherical roundnefs,and all the lead 
 being fent away in fume, by the violence of the fire, 
 remaineth on the Cupel or Teft, in a pure, round, or 
 fphericalhody,efpeciaily when there fhall not be too 
 great a quantity of Gold. 
 
 Silver doth not anfwer to Gold in its round body, in 
 which it remaineth, yet it exceedeth Copper in round= 
 nefs, which foraetimes alfo remaineth pure and round, 
 if it be in a fmall quantity. 
 
 Iron and Tin do not admit the Examen of Lead by 
 the Cupel, for indurating the Lead, they deprive it of 
 all flux, fo that by combuftion it is reduced into a 
 powder. 
 
 Argent-vive is by the Fire wholly driven away into 
 the Air, in which neverthelefs keeping a perpetual 
 flux, its fignature of perfedlion may be judged of in the 
 Cold, which perfedtion exceedeth that of the other 
 imperfect Metals, and cometh near to gold and filver ; 
 for being difFufed into fmall grains, it exhibiteth in 
 
 running a round or Ipherical body, imitating melted 
 Gold : So that it is not without reafon, that the An- 
 cients in its iignaturc have uied the iigns of 0, > , and 
 a fquare; being within wholly Gold ajid Silver, ific 
 be coagulated ;, the truth of which many Experiments 
 have deinonltrated to me, made by the Waters of grat 
 dation, as they are called ; Experiments, I fay, which 
 1 have performed in fmall lultrumenrs, for hitherto I 
 could not make them in great ones, and in a large 
 quantity. If any youngmin lliall have a defire to try 
 the fame, let him in the firft pl^ce bevyare that he 
 ufe not corrollve and eating waters, and by this means 
 render the Argent-vive more fugacious. 
 
 It behoveth that he fcek and know true fulphiir, 
 which if it fliall be red, he fliall alfo bind it with a red 
 bond i but if white, he fiiall preferve its colour con- 
 Itant, and bind it with a white bond, otherwifc it is 
 wont to vanifh in fume. 
 
 Thefe few things I could not pafs by, but fignifie to 
 thelludious of the Divine Signature of Metals and 
 Planets. Let every one occupy the powers of his 
 Ingeny in the exercife of this Science, that he may 
 become expert in the wonders of things, efpecially of 
 thofe which lie hid in the words ornamesimpofed up^ 
 on things figned by the Ancients, who have found out 
 great Secrets, as well Celeftial as Terreftrial, and 
 have comprehended them in thofe. Some fuch words • 
 of the Ancients I would have interpreted here, but 
 that in fo doing I fhouldhave divulged thofe things 
 which are not vulgarly known, for which caufe it is 
 better to pafs them by in filencc. He that will bend 
 his endeavours to fo great a Science, may obtain ma* 
 ny wonderful things ; but of thefe enough ^ it fufticeth 
 at theprefent to have laid the Foundation, the reft I 
 leave to him, who being prompt to the ftudy of feek- 
 ing, Ihall bring his mind to the acquiring of this 
 knowledge; if he fhall once get into the right path, 
 he will find out more than he Ikketh or defireth; Alfo 
 Mountains, Woods, and Countries, by their fignatures 
 do not only indicate the Treafures and Riches, given 
 them by God, but are alfo wont to foretell their owii 
 Fates, as their Rife, Encreafe, and Deftrudion- In 
 remains, that we briefly examiD,and take a (hortvic^ 
 of the fignatures of falts, with what notes or marks 
 they are figned by God, and alfo by what they figni- 
 fie their natures and properties; for without doubt, 
 they have their fignatures, and efpecially the common 
 and vulgar Salt, the which, wherefore fliould it not 
 have its fignature, feeing that it is the original of all 
 other things ? There is not found any Herb or 
 Weed fo vile, any Worm fo abjed, which wanteth its 
 marks given it by God, by which it manifelteth to us 
 its nature and virtues. I have above indicated the 
 Sun by a Circle, and Salt to be defigned by a fquare 
 added to it : and in the Sun andSalt all earthly things 
 as Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, to have the be- 
 ginning and end of their generation. propagation,and 
 encreafe •, alfo ail things being rifen from the fun and 
 fait, to be figned by the Almighty God, with certain 
 fignatures, from which their nature, powers, virtues, 
 and properties may be known ; neither have 1 only 
 afl^erted, but alfo affirmed, that all the Myfteries of 
 Languages and Words may be fearchcd out and 
 known by thofe figns, to wit, the Circle and Qiia- 
 drate. 
 
 Thefe things are fo certain and true, that they are 
 beyond all confutation, which I will make plain to 
 every one, by one only Argument, not exceeding the 
 Capacity of a fimple Boy, if the envious Brethren of 
 Ignorance, being lifted up by their great pride, ihall 
 
 A a a a refufg 
 
274 
 
 Of the Signature 
 
 Parti 
 
 refufe to undertake it- That the Sun is convenient- 
 ly and appolitely figned with a Circle, no n;an wUl 
 deny, becaufe it never flieweth it felfto the fight in 
 any other figure than a round fiery Sphere, which 
 lign being attributed to the Sun, by the Ancients, lb 
 remaineth even to this day. 
 
 The Ancients have alio ligned Sale with a fquarc, 
 which by the length of time, and the negligence of 
 men, hath vaniOied, fo that every one hath ligned the 
 fpccies of falts according to his pleafure, one in this, 
 another in another manner-, and by this occafion pe- 
 culiar Charaders are invented by alnioft every Chy- 
 mift, whence one ufeth not that which another doth. 
 But at this day among them, for the mofl- part. Salts 
 are figned in the following manner. The common 
 KitcliinSalt hath the Charafter of a Circle, cut by a 
 line tranfverfe : Salt-petre hath a Circle reprefenting 
 the form of an Egg, and cut by a line drawn from the 
 top to the botccm^ ; But who was the Author of thofe 
 Charaders to thefe Salts, I know not, neither is_ it 
 much matter, whether a man know, or not know it ■■, 
 but without doubt they were men who had never feen 
 Salts brought to their higheft Purity : For vulgar 
 falts, as they are every where found, have not their 
 proper figure and form which they ought to have, and 
 which they obtain after their cleanfing: So the vul- 
 gar and fimple fait, as it is made from the Sea, or fait 
 Fountainsjor dug out of the Earth,hath not its true and 
 proper fignature, neither can it have, by reafon of its 
 many earthy feculencies ; but after all its fsces are 
 removed, and it hath obtained a great purity and 
 cleannefs, its own true fignature, to wit, a fquare then 
 appeareth, and indicateth the fign which is due to it. 
 1 have already demonftrated this to be true in my 
 Treatife of the Nature of Salts, where I have taught 
 by what means every common Kitchin Salt is to be fo 
 purged, that it Ihall be no longer rough, foul, obfcure, 
 and altringent, but clear and-tranfparent likeCryltal, 
 both in fmall grains, and greater pieces, of a fweet 
 favour, and a fquare or cubical figure, and which way 
 foever it is thrown, alwaies cxhibiteth four Angles, 
 like to a fquare, as if it were formed by Art : Going 
 forth in this molt pure form, it feemeth thus to fpeak 
 to Mortals : J^cre ye fee my t ritt ,i>!e! thitnral f'.rtn, given 
 to me by the Sini my father^ in the body of the iV^ter my 
 mother^ which the Earth indeed hath covered with a roitoh 
 a>jd vile Curmcr.t, but Art hath a^ain tahen it off'(prai- 
 fed be God) nflonng to me my prifiine form^ to the future 
 advantage cf many fiik. '■, there fore as I was created from 
 thebciniiing^Jo now I appear ^ without a>iy impediment ^to 
 perform thofe things for which I was appointed by Divine 
 Creation, 
 
 If the Sun in the Firmament could by any accident 
 be fo defiled and corrupted, that he Ihould lofe his 
 Light, it could in no wife be that any thing in the 
 whole World could remain alive for one day. Which 
 thing Experience it felf Jhevvcth us, when the Moon 
 interpofing between the Sun and our Eyes but for one 
 hour, depriving us of his Rays; in which Cafe the Sun 
 in no wile fuffercth, nor is in any manner corrupted, 
 but only hindred for that little time, from tranfmit- 
 ting to us his vivifying Rays- Therefore if fo fmall 
 an Impediment in the Orb of the Earth can canfe fo 
 many Difeafes, and other Incommodities to men, why 
 iliouldnotalfo thctxces ol)icuringSalt, eclipfing its 
 natural form, and rendering it more ignoble, be a de= 
 triment and impediment to its Powers and Virtues ? 
 Let every man judge, if a grofs and impure Salt can 
 be as commodious to all Men and Beafts, as that which 
 hath been reftored to the higheft purity of its Body. 
 
 Seeing therefore that it is the great inteiell: of 
 Mankind to enjoy fuch a pure Salt, I have determined 
 to prepare a quantity of it, according to that manner 
 of purging it, prefcribed in my Treatife of the AV 
 titrt; ofSJts^ that I may be able to accommodate many 
 therewith. 1 have hope, that at length the Eyes of 
 Alortals will be opened, that they may fee how for a 
 long time they have been feduced by blind Leaders, 
 and finding this, will have a greater regard to their 
 own health. Truly there is but a very fmall Labour 
 and Colt required for the cleanfing of common Salt, 
 to free it from its earthy f$ces, and render it clear, 
 tranfparent, andin the Water of a Cubical Figure, 
 and that without the addition of any foreign thing, 
 only by folution, filtration, and coagulation of its ovi-n 
 proper fpirit- 
 
 If by thefe Operations you fhall bring fait to its 
 higheft purity, you may boldly afierr, that you have 
 acquired fuch a fait as the pure Sun operated in the 
 pure Water at the beginning ; when the Sun, feated 
 in the height of the Firmament,vvou!d very freely per- 
 form his Office, yet being hindered by grofs and tur- 
 bid Clouds, interpofing between him and the Earth, 
 whereby he cannot render us partakers of his all-war- 
 ming Rays, we ought not to impute the fault to the 
 fun, inafmuch as he is not in fault, but rather to thofe 
 thick and dark Clouds, which hinder us of his fplen- 
 dour and efficacy. 
 
 So alfo is it with Salt, which would freely exercife 
 the Gift beftowed upon it by the Almighty Creator, 
 were it not hindred by its terreltrial fsces ; therefore 
 this impediment is not to be attributed to fait, but to 
 the intervening faces, which hinder its falutary vir- 
 tues. If it were in our power to remove thofe thick 
 Clouds from the fun at our pleafure, as it is to fepa- 
 ratethe earthy fsces from Salt, we might every year 
 make our felves a very commodious Summer, which 
 neverthelefs cannot be done, feeing that God the 
 great -/'rfffr/<j«;7«.ij, hath refcrved this alone to His 
 own Power- 
 As for the fignature of Salt-petre, that certainly is 
 very unequal, by reafon of the great diverfity of this 
 Salt, arifing hence, that it is well or ill purged, is de- 
 filed with more or fewer fxces, or other ftrange falts- 
 The Common, which is required for the making of 
 Gun-powder, is never perfedlly pure, but alwaies 
 mixed with other Salts, which cannot be feparated 
 from it by the accuftomed and ufual manner of foluti- 
 on and coagulation : Hence alfo you Ihall find no falr-' 
 petre, which can have that true and genuine fignature, H 
 which God and Nature hath given it- 
 
 For by whatfoever vulgar labour and painsthe Salt- 
 petre which is got out of Stables, is purged by Soluti- 
 on and Coagulation, it is yet impollible that it fhould 
 obtain its due cleannefs and fignature- But co acquire 
 that, it behoveth to ufe the following Operation. 
 
 Firlt, fome pounds of Saltpetre are to be taken, 
 which are to be purged by Solution and Coagulation, 
 and that to be fo of ten repeated, untill it acquire 
 that purity which it is wont to admit by this vulgar 
 Operation. Being fo cleanfed, it is to be divided iijto 
 two equal parts, and one of them to be mixed with 
 white Potters-earth (or Tabaco-pipe-clay) of which 
 little Balls are to be formed, to be dried in the Sun, and* 
 put into aGlafs Retort well coated, or an Earthen one 
 which will hold the fpirits, that the pure fpirit of 
 Nitre may be Elicited by Diftilation, and received inf 
 alargeGlafsadjoyned to the Retort, containing fome.' 
 Water, into which the fpirit cntrcth freely. Theo- 
 ithcr part of the deanfed Salt- petre, being put into a 
 
 Cva- 
 
Part 1. 
 
 of Saltf, Metals, and Planen, 
 
 275 
 
 Crucible,istobereducedintoafieryfixedSalt, by the [deniemcnts, exhibit clear and pciiucid Ciiryftals 
 
 cafling in of Charcoal.Tartar, or the Stellate Regulus which yet will be much clearer it purged by fevcral 
 
 of Antimony) then to be diflblved in rain Water, and ''^ - ■ 
 
 filtred through brown Paper : So much only of 
 
 this Liquor of fixed Nitre, is to be poured drop by 
 
 drop to the diftilled fpirit of Nitre as will fuffice for 
 
 the fixing it. This Operation ftirreth up a great 
 
 noife, hiding and bubling, which ceafing, admoniiheth 
 
 to leave off pouring in any more, and indicatech that 
 
 thofe two contrary Natures,to wit, the acid fpiritiand 
 
 fixed liquor of Nitre have mutually fatiated one ano- 
 ther, and the corrofive fpirit hath iofh its corrofive 
 
 nature, and the fixed fiery liquor its fiery quality, both 
 
 returning to the priftine nature of Salt-petre. From 
 
 this liquor, the Glafs being impofed in fand, the un- 
 profitable Phlegm is to be diftilled off lb long untill a 
 
 Cuticula or thin skin^ppear at the top of the matter, : 
 the fand being cold, the glafs is to betaken outi and ' 
 fet in a cold place, and let Hand for one night to 
 fhoot into long and (liarp Chryftals, to be freed from 
 the reft of the liquor, by pouring it ol?. This liquor 
 is again to be freed from its unprofitable Phlegm by 
 diftillation, and again to be expofed to the cold to 
 Chryftallife. Whatfoever fliall remain after every 
 Operation, is again to be Evaporated in fand, till the 
 Cuticle appear, and to be reduced to Chryftals in the 
 cold, which Chryftals may be ufed as common Salt- 
 petre. The Chryftals of the two firft Operations, are 
 once moretobedilfolved in Rain Water, Filtred, E- 
 vaporated and again Chryftallifed, which are now 
 white as fnow, and extend themfelves into length, 
 thin, fexangular, and fo equal, as if they were fmooth- 
 ed with a Plain : For not the leaft roughnefs or un- 
 evennefs is to be feen in their fuperficies, but they Ex- 
 hibit the true and natural Signature of Salt-petre. If 
 any one fhall be defirous of bringing this Salt yet to a 
 higher purity, he may again divide this "purified Salt 
 into two parts, and from one draw the Corrofive fpi- 
 rit by diftillation, and fix the other with Coals, and 
 deftroy both by Commixion, repeating the Operati: 
 ens as we have already taught, he will prepare a Salt- 
 petre far more Excellent as well in Chymical as Medi- 
 cinal Operations*, as is raanifeft in many places of my 
 
 writings. 
 
 If you Operate rightly all the Chryftals, none ex- 
 cepted, wiU be ftraight, fexangular, and equal in 
 length, without any roughnefs, or unevennefs, which 
 is the true and genuine fignature of well purged Salt- 
 petre. 
 
 NB. The fixed liquor of Nitre, being, left in the 
 Air for a long time, and afterwards Evaporated to a 
 Cuticle,(hooteth into fmall Chryftals .reprefenting the 
 Effigies of Stars, whofe figure appeareth in a rotun- 
 dity fo neatly and pleafantly Conftituted, that thole 
 fix Rays proceeding from the little body in the center 
 or middle, feem to be moft- exa^H-ly dilpofed and di 
 ftributed to an equal diftance and length, as in a cir- 
 cle. Truly it is an admirable and ftupendious work 
 of Nature, and a fignature very unlike to the former, 
 in as much as the fix Angles of this, are comprehended 
 after a Circular manner, but in the other they ex- 
 tend themfelves only in length and (happnefs. Thofe 
 things which we have here delivered concerning the 
 true fignature of common Salt, and Salt-petre, the 
 laraearealfotcrbe underftood of the fignature of 0- 
 ther Salts, which muft be free from all their fordes 
 and f^ces, before they can Ihew forth their true fig- 
 nature. 
 
 Vitrioland Alum, which always flwot in a knotty 
 and uneven Figure, after they have laid afide their 
 
 Operations. Yea, being reduced to their hii>helt pu- 
 rity, they put on a Cubical figure like common Salt, 
 neverthelefs in Elegancy, Beauty and Pleafantnefs, 
 giving place to that. Hence it is manifcft, that nature 
 is always ready for the gracing and adorning of hei: 
 own fiuit, if a helping Hand be afforded her by Art- 
 
 Before I put an end to this Trcatifc of the fig- 
 nature of Salts, 1 think it fit to point out in what de- 
 grees of Dignity, thofe two Werds5(?/ and S.il differ, 
 and are diftinguilhed- 
 
 The word Sol, containcth two Circles and the half 
 part of afquare, O- is a whole Circle; S. hath two 
 lemicircles, which being conjoined, make an entire 
 Circle-, this being cut in the middle, and the half of 
 the fedtion turned upwards, towards the right 
 hand,and the other half downwards, towards the left ; 
 givethtwofemicirclcs forming the Letter S. L. is the 
 half part of afquare. 
 
 The word 5.// hath only one Circle, to wit, the Let- 
 ter S. confiftingof two femicircles : Alfo one fquare, 
 conftitutingthe Letters A and L, which argncth that 
 the good which is in Salt is partly tempered with the 
 other Elements,and partly combined with Earth. The 
 Sun far exceedeth Salt in purity, neverthelefs it is 
 not abfolutely perfect becaufe the Letter L conraineth 
 the half of a fquare, which flieweth that it cannot be 
 endowed with an abfoluteand perfeflpurity, neither n 
 it as Telefcopes at this day demonftrate, by whofc 
 help thofe folar fpots have been obfcrved in thole 
 times. Neither alfo ought it to have an abfolute per- 
 fedion, the which belongs only to God, and not to a- 
 ny creature, in the number of which is the Sun: Ne- 
 verthelefs that he is the pureft of all creatures, there is 
 no Man dare deny. Hence it came to pafs, that the ig- 
 norant Heathens,attributed to the Sun Divine Honour, 
 thinking that befides the created, there was as yet ano- 
 ther uncreated Sun ; That is, the Omnipotent God 
 himfelf, the Creator of the Elementary and fliining 
 Sun, which according to the Words of Chriftfhall alio 
 perilh at the end of the World. By a like reafon there 
 }s a twofold Salt, v^i. one Eternal, Divine and Celc- 
 ftial •, the other Terreftrial and fading. And as the 
 Holy Spirit proceedeth from the Eternal Light, and 
 Divine and Celeftial Salt, for the warming and en- 
 lightening the Hearts of Men involved in darknefs;and 
 for the defending our fouls againft the crafts and de- 
 ceits of Satan ; fo alfo from the Elementary Sun or 
 Fire, and the Terreftrial Salt, proceedeth th^t moft 
 noble falinc fpirit for the ftrengthening of humane Bo- 
 dies, defending them againft various Difeafes, and 
 prefervingthem in good Health- Therefore there is 
 an Eternal and Divine S^/, a Celeftial Sal and Holy 
 Spirit-, and alfo an Elementary, frail Sun, Salt and 
 Spirit- But it is our Duty to Love, Praife, Honor, and 
 Adore the Eternal Sun, and to him to commend the 
 health of our fouls. And to ufe and enjoy temporal'and 
 fading things for our neceffities, with thankfgiving. 
 
 The Explication of the Word a.'K{ or Sal, by 
 Bernhardus Gomefius. 
 
 BUT before we undertake to expound fuch excel- 
 lent places, it bchoveth us to invoke the divine Be- 
 ing-, that, that which cannot be fore- known by any Au- 
 gury and Divination, we not errjng, but being led by 
 the Divine infpiration r.ad inltind, may^at length ex- 
 
 pouad'j 
 
2/6 
 
 Of the Signature 
 
 Part I 
 
 pound •, feeing that in the treating of things fo Di- 
 vine and unTpeakablc (that being wanting) if we Ihould 
 erre, ir might be unpardonable, but if we fliall pioully 
 and happily profecute the matter, univerfal thanks 
 and praifc may be given to God alone, and to Chrift 
 the great giver of Salt- FirIt,thereforc we are to (hew 
 what the "Celeltial Salt is, and by what means it may 
 hcdiftinguifhcd from the Terreftrinl Salt, of which 
 Chrill fpeaketh in the Gofpcl. And becaufe the Evan- 
 gelical Words of Chrift will be of great force to us in 
 rhcfpeakingofit: A-d feeing that Chrift when he 
 would grace the Apoftles with a high Title, called 
 them the Salt of the earth : we think it not improper 
 to call him the pure and undefiled fait of Heaven. For 
 there is fcarce any thing of fo many preparations of an 
 inferiour nature which excels the (as it were) Divine 
 Itrength and efficacy of Salt in this part : For Chrift 
 and h^s blelTed Humanity is the only Salt that is placed 
 upon the Table of the Blelfed. In whom Salt is the 
 fullncfs of his infinite, inexhaufted, and never- 
 ending divinity ; which abundantly filleth both Hea- 
 ven and Earth and all things therein ; and then again 
 making himfelf palatable to us, he exhibits himfelf to 
 be tafted nioft fwectly by all Men- For from that all 
 things that are, and ever were and that (liallbehere- 
 afrcr, have both received their being, and are made 
 perfeft, and without it could not be, for his Divine 
 leafoning, or become palatable to the feafoner. 
 • So this fait endeavours to exprefshis,in whofe name 
 are both in Greek and Latin three Letters in one fy lia- 
 ble ; or rather to adumbrate this one and the fame 
 Divinity common to the three Perfons, For tho' 
 the Divine myftery and facred thingsare fhut up in 
 Letters chiefly with theChrJdccs and Hebrews, becaufe 
 GOD fpake by them : Yet they don't always want 
 the Elements of the tongues, efpecially the Greek, 
 which was both derived from them, and words con- 
 Ihued from thefe things are not impofed from their 
 power but from their propriety, as Pl^ito the greateft 
 ohhcCeeks fuppofes; For that the divine infinity 
 and Immenlity is expreft and explicated m Greek let- 
 ters, is lliewn in the Aj-ocaly^s^ Cap. i . where John 
 faw and heard our Lord Chrift preaching of himfelf, 
 I am si and «, the Beginning and the End. i 
 
 For as the fun, when it lightly touches with its pr- 
 fpicuous light, by that its image and fplendour it is 
 forthwith given: So the Heavenly and Infinite Divi- 
 nity, with allGoodnefs, as it were His Brightnefs, 
 docs not only leave His impreft Image in the things 
 themfelves.but alfo in Letters,with which thofe things 
 are enlightened and made perfpicuous. The like we 
 have found in Salt,delign'd in Greek notes •, for that 
 which in Latin is called S.;/, in Greek is called *"^S ex- 
 prefsM by the fame Letters,though chang'd in order, 
 9nd extended in three Letters, but one Syllable -, but 
 the Greek word exprcHeth both more plainly. 
 
 For the firft Letter of it is *, which by its infinite 
 roundnefs, as with two Horns, feems to be brought 
 intothe following Letters; which note plac'd with 
 the Holy and Divine Trinity, fignifies the firft perfon 
 of it, to wit the Immcnfe Father : Who as a^.?^, is an 
 infinite beginning in himfelf ; fo the fame pours out 
 and infirtitelv communicates his Nature to other two 
 Divine Perfons proceeding from himfelf: in one of 
 which by Generation the Son ■, but in the other by in- 
 fpiration he produces tlie Holy Ghoft. And further, 
 ab a. il'i;^'^ it felf, its certain divine Operation follows 
 thatEternal, Infinite and never ending Power of the 
 fame Mighty Father,, which alfo he fometime ponr'd 
 out from his Almighty Infinity, to procreate the Uni- 
 
 verfe. As alfo in two horns, I mean Benedi^flions one 
 is found to be in Creatures by the Creation of things; 
 and the other in their Prefervation ; both by the Wif- 
 dom of the Omnipotent Son, and by the Goodnefs of 
 the Holy Spirit. 
 
 But the middle Letter a, is a Note full of fvveetnefs : 
 which is exprefled with a Face, round, and compofed 
 for Mirth ^ and its Figure is not unlike a Circle- For 
 from the fuperior Angle two fides llretching back- 
 wards, feem to make a 1 riangle, yet without a bafe 
 and without end,as the Letter it felf expreffes. Which 
 note again relates to the fame Trinity, and reprefents 
 the fecond Perfon of it, to wit the Son, or Word pro- 
 ceeding out of the moftfweet Mouth of the Father : In 
 which, two eternal Relations, as they call 'em, as to 
 Infinite fides,are found : the one whereby he relates to 
 the Father, from whom he proceeds by his eternal 
 Generation •, the other whereby he is Related to the 
 Holy Ghoft, whom he breaths together with the Fa: 
 therby an eternal and infinite habitude, and without 
 any intermilfion. 
 
 But this note a, I mean Chrift the Son of GOD, 
 and Mediator between GOD and Man, is never when 
 time prefents,vvanting in his moft beneficent Anions: 
 that he who had taken the Human nature to the Di- 
 vine, and was made the Corner ftone, might (as he 
 has done) connert the two Walls, to wit the Jfraelites 
 ^nAGe/ittlis astwo fides, when he built in himfelf a 
 ftrong and fafe Sandtuary for them both, that flying to 
 Him, they might efcape the fearful fentence of ever- 
 lafting damnation- 
 
 Laftly, the Letter <, concludes this Monofyllable.' 
 This note is defign'd with a certain finuous and Cir- 
 cumflext line drawn from hence and thence, which 
 goinglfrom the two extreams in the middle, defigns as 
 it were two diftin(5t femi-circles ; out of which is fhewn 
 that they are made and conftituted. Which linea- 
 ment compar'd with the Trinity it felf, adumbrates 
 the third Divine Perfon, to wit the Holy Ghoft. For 
 that fpirit proceeding out of the Bofomofboththe 
 Father and of the Son, by one and the fame Infpirati- 
 on, fo knits thofe two diftind Perfons, to whom he is 
 co-equal and co eternal, by an Infinite tie of Love, 
 that he remaining a diftind Perfon, might agree with 
 them in their moft fimple, individual, and immenfe 
 nature. 
 
 But as to the other Perfons, fo alfo his Communica- 
 tion is attributed to the Holy Ghoft in time j which is 
 wonderfully exprelled by the fliape of this Letter s : 
 Yet if we confider its lower extream,which feems as it 
 were toarife of the former Letters of the Monofylla- 
 ble, that is how it comes to be fl:retch'd chiefly to- 
 wards the right hand : then from right to left, is 
 wrefted a little by afcending by a finuous derivation : 
 and thence at laft, with the like following obliquity it 
 ends again on the right hand. For the fame Holy 
 fpirit proceeding from thole two eternal and infinite 
 Perfons, as from an immenfe Fountain of Infinity, 
 whileft from time to time he communicates his Gifts 
 to the World, firft thofe on his right hand, that is 
 into the hearts of Men, he pours out to them that are 
 illuftrated and. endued with the Divine Light of Na- 
 ture : Then the fame Light remaining, as it were 
 bending from the right, afcending a little to the left, 
 he brought forth the Mofaick Law written with the 
 Finger of God, that is Didated by him to the 
 IJraelites. Laftly, leaving the Mofaical Law on the 
 left, he return'd to the right hand, and feafon'd the 
 Evangelical Law deliver'd by Chrift our Saviour, 
 witii ills moft Wife and Loving fait of Grace- 
 
 Froiti 
 
Part I. 
 
 of Salts, Metals and PU/iets. 
 
 V 
 
 From all which, that which pertains to the bufinefs, 
 appears from tliofe three Letters of S<j/, making one 
 Syllable i and again, this unfolding it felfin thofe 
 three Letters, fhcws us, that there is in SJ a certain 
 imprefs or image of theSacred and Individual Trinity, 
 which we worlhip, Three in One> and One in Three. 
 Which Trinity we ihould have had, as an infinite, 
 eternal, and inexprefTible thing, commonly unknown, 
 and incompreheniible, and as a moft remote Salt,never 
 heretofore put into an humane or Angelick Saltfeller, 
 we (hould have- left untouchM ; unlefs at length the 
 Divine Perfon ot thisTrinity, the Word, in taking 
 the Humanity to himfelf, as it were Salt into a Salt- 
 feller, had prefcnted to our tafte fo much Divinity ; 
 for this very Saltfeller, both in figure, is covered with 
 the eternal fplendour of the Father, as alfo pointed 
 and illultraced with the embroidered Notes of His PaH 
 lion and likewife adorned with the Undion of the 
 Holy Spirit is alwaies placed upon the Heavenly Ta 
 ble of the Blelled, to feafon their Food and folemn 
 Banquets, after an eternal and ineffable manner ; for 
 in him all divine, and moft fweet relifhes and excellent 
 taftcs of His eternal Wifdom are feafon'd anew ; for 
 Chrift Himfelf is not only the Heavenly and moft 
 Wife feafoner of the moft opulent Feaft, but alfo the 
 very feafoning, and thing feafoned, and the Food 
 which is fo placed -, for by Him his Heavenly Father, 
 the King of kings, and magnificent Lord of lords,who 
 out of HisGoodnefs, and as He loves His good things, 
 gives moft liberally to all People a very large meafure 
 of Salt, that is, the help of His Grace to feekHira, and 
 ask of Him Henvenly things. 
 
 True, that th.-y who are called to the Heavenly Ban- 
 quet may prepare ihemfclves to come in this meafure, 
 and molt happily lit down in it ; but if (like fools^ 
 they refufetocome, the Meafure being taken from 
 them, tliey will be plung'd into eternal punifliment. In 
 which refped they may be like ,ed to Fiefh and Bones 
 put into a Pot'together, and water and fait put to 
 them, hung over the fire to boil, and afterwards 
 brought to the Table : Of which the Bones, which 
 will be neither feafoned by fait, nor fofcened by water, 
 are thrown under the Table, to be broken by Doggs ; 
 but the Flefh, becaufe it is made tender by heat and 
 water, and takes the feafoning, is again fprinkled with 
 a purer fait on the Table, and eaten with the greateft 
 pleafure: For as Bones are to Flefh, fo are Evil men 
 mingled with Good : Of which thefe, when they will 
 neither rcli.h the Salt of Divine Grace, nor bewafhed 
 nor fo rcned by pure Water, nor warmed by the heat 
 of the Meavculy Word to be willing to divine things, 
 will bt t lie fevcre Judgment of the great Tafter Chrift, 
 at his magnificent Table, be referved to the moft e.v- 
 quihte punifhments : Which obftinate and unfeafon'd 
 Fools, He, tor their haidnefs. fiiiding unworthy his 
 heaver,! V Tabie, plucks out from among the Righte- 
 ous, and throws 'em down into Hell, tl,ere to be torn 
 in pieces and devoured by thofe infernal Dogs, to all 
 Eternity. 
 
 But the Good, who have been feafoned not only 
 with the former, but alfo the later Salt, I mean with 
 antecedent I'as we fay) and confequent Grace, and 
 are not only adorned with Virtue, but havefuffer'd all 
 crofles and atflitftionsof this Life for Chrift: Thefe, 
 as Flelh worthy His Table, the divine Tafter offering 
 to God the Father, He feafons with the new Salt of 
 Glory ; and though Aliei^.s and Stranger;, places 
 them among tne Angels and Citizens of Heaven, and , 
 
 with thefe Commands an equal Man.^on of B Idled nefs 
 to be given to them, thpugh ne"cithclefs thev both 
 come to tic Pne f elir ity, by a different v/ay of nicrt- 
 tingit. ^ For from what thofe above Angelical Ci- 
 tizens, ilom ciie very bcginnin.!; of things, and lincc 
 firfta fullJeliicfeiz'd them, thc; have preferred the 
 Heavenly Suppers ofCnrift to the mid-day Dinners of 
 the moftinfolent Lixijer ; they have deferved to fol- 
 low thofe Oppip^ry, and (astlicy call'em) Princely 
 Banquets fealbned with the moft fweet Salt of Grace, 
 and made refpUrid?ir,t with the fhining light of glory. 
 
 But the Inhabitants of the Earth, and Men, ftran- 
 gers of Heaven, oppreftby the great weightof a Body, 
 and iii /olvcd in the thick d3rknefs,'<'have made fo long 
 a Journey to the Country, by a far more tedious way 
 of travelling ; for the Univerfal occalion of defert is 
 not to be fnatch'd by thofe in the Journey of Life ic 
 felf, and thofe under the terminativc moment follow- 
 ing the Creation i but they ought rather ftudioully 
 and laborioufly to take this by a continual and daily 
 periodof life, even to their death : Bcfides that, the 
 Journey, to the Country is fo hard and we3i;ifome,and 
 expofed to fo many dangers, brings fo many anxieties 
 upon ftrahgers every where, leads thenj into fo much 
 anguifh of mind and troublefome folicitudcs,that it is 
 plain, that not humane ability, but divine grace mulb 
 caufe, that ftrangers are not deficient in the way, or 
 that they do not wander from the true fcope or end of 
 their Journey : Which would be the fortune of every 
 one in the World, unlefs Chrift, by divine Counfel 
 conftituted the Parochian of the whole World,who gi= 
 veth to his ftrangers every where Salt and Wood, 
 doth recreate and refrefh them, and alfo lead them 
 into the way that diredls to the fame Heavenly Coun- 
 try- 
 
 This may fuflice to be fpoken of the fignature of 
 Salts^ Metals, and PLmets^ at this time. He that dili- 
 gently weighs it, will fearch Nature deeply enough: 
 If God grant me life, I fhall publifli a Trtft of the Sig-. 
 natures of regetabks^ A'timah-, atid Minera's; alfo ia 
 which I.fliall deliver many things good and pro.fjtable 
 for all forts of Men. 
 
 OEterml, Almighty-, Boumifnl, ard Merciful GOD 
 atid Father^ the Heat, Light, and Sun of JnfttcCy 
 enlighten and warm the hearts uf all men, overwhelmed 
 mth a Jleepy numbnefsijhadjwed with thick^dxrknefs,and 
 made rigidity an horrid coldnefsy that they may fee, know, 
 love, mdfear thee., and give thee due Thanhs and Praifes 
 for all thy Benefits, and at lafl awakened^ they may receive 
 that fight they had before lo/t. 
 
 O Eternal Word of God^ mofl fweet ^ wholfom, and fa~ 
 latabUS.ilr,Jefiis C.rifi, recreate and rcfrefli cur 
 fu\and mifcrableJoitls,by thy Divine l^trtiic and Effcacyy 
 that we being corroborated} neither Death nor the Devil 
 may hurt us, 
 
 OHoly Ghofi, the only Leader to Truth, who proceede/t 
 from the Eternal Fire and Heavenly Salt, comfort 
 all the fiidden and defarttd Sheep, wandering this poi fan'' d 
 Marjl) aid f^.iltey of Mifems, a'lO'g devouring Wolves 
 and corroborate them, that they may patiently endur-: their 
 Crofs ; and here.ifter feparate them from the ftini^ng 
 Goats, and bring all the Elt^ into the green and heavenly 
 P-iflurts, that tf ere they may cuntiniiatly behold the etrrnal 
 Light, taf-c the h-aven!y Salt, andenj,y tje fulnefs of 
 JoyjPe^ce, Grace-, and Mercy for ever. Amen. 
 
 Bbbb' 
 
 tnt 
 
278 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ;^'^^^'S^^^^<r£i^^^'S^r£i-^^\^^fj^'rj^^3^-r^'f^'^i 
 
 THE 
 
 CONSOLATION 
 
 O F 
 
 NAVIGATORS. 
 
 In which is' Taught 
 
 How they who Travel by Sea may preferve themfelves from Hunger and Thirft, 
 as alfo from Difeafes, which are wont to happen to them in long Voyages. 
 
 / 
 
 miimn fo? tf)e %lp, Comfojt, ant) feolatt of att tlioft toljo xmlt long tlopafft^ foj t^e (Boot) of t^nr Country, 
 
 THE PREFACE. 
 
 Reader, 
 
 OV R SJFIOVR C H R I S T hath prefcri- 
 bed to us this DoO:rtm^ that we jhouU behave 
 our felves towards our Neighbour, as we 
 would that he (liould do to us ; yea, that we 
 fhould love him as our felves: Thi^ He hath earnefHy 
 comme-'ided unto us, as the iniifpeufthlc Will of Cody con- 
 tained in the Larv and the Prophets. But although there 
 he few who confider this., and all men feckjnly their own, 
 yet one or other is ftill found, who calleth this duty to mind, 
 and as far as he can, taketh every opportunity or occaftonof 
 ferving his Neighbour. Although alfo there may be fame 
 who be.tr alove"to ct her s^andde fire to ajftfi them with their 
 counfel and helf, and yet arc deflitute (fapower of giving 
 them any thing ; for no man can dijiribute more than he 
 hath. Moreover ^ Covcloufnefs and Envyfofargoverneth 
 fome, who have plinty enough to befioiv upon other s.,that they 
 will do oood to none but themfelves ; of which fort there 
 are marny now to be found in the World, and hence Chari- 
 ty towards our Neighbour is wholly vamfied. 
 
 Seetng therefore that the Almighty, of His fingular 
 Grace, hath biftodiedon me a f mall Talent, in fearching 
 out the Secrets of Nu tire, it ts, without doubt, to the end 
 that I fliould thereby do good to others ; which Talent J 
 would not bury., but have put to life in writing particu- 
 larly from year to year, for the pu'jlickGv^d, and being af- 
 fected towards my Neighbour, have nude them publick- 
 J have alfo determined,if time jhjll permit, to publijl) yet 
 mare and better things of this nature. But after that/ome 
 defcribed Voyages" to the Eafl and Weft-Indies, 
 and other far dTfant places., ha I h,ippe>ie.i into my hands., 
 J perceived., not without great admiration what immcnfe 
 daggers occmronthe Seas, not only from Robbers and Py- 
 rates, but aljo the adverfuys of violent Winds, (to pa/s by 
 ni^ny other Calamities wjilencc) by which the Ship-, toge- 
 
 ther with all in it that draw breath, are overwhelmed., and 
 pertjh : And when I further contemplate thofe things with 
 an intent mind., nothing feems to me more grievous and in^ 
 tolerable than Hunger and Thirfi.,or the want of Meat and 
 Drinks, which fometi me s happeneth to Ships by adverfe 
 Fortune : For when they are overcome by the hand of an 
 Enemy, they are wont indeed to jujfer the lofs of their 
 Goods^but the Lives of the men are for the rfiofi part fa- 
 ved; which lofs of Goods they may again ea/ily repair by 
 M:rchandiz.ing j and although tkey flwuldbe adjudged to 
 death,yet their pain would quickly have an end. But if 
 through an ill fate of neceffity o>?e be defiitute of Bread and 
 Water., and be forced to tear another in pieces to eat, 
 that is of all the highejt misfortune, and death itfclfwere 
 more defrable, than to fuftain extremities and mif erics of 
 this fort. And although the want of Food doth not fo fre- 
 quently happen, yet the want of Water often falls out^ 
 whence Seamen are grievoujly tormented with Thirft, to 
 whom, as in a mofi urgent Calamity, Mercy and Chriflian 
 Compajfton ought to be adminifired ; but. Who can carry 
 themfuccour afar off, and in a tempejluous Sea ? And 
 feeing that the Profperity of Maritime Countries (where 
 for the mofi part there is no Wine, no Fruits, no Mines, as 
 in the upper Gertmny, and other places') con ffieth only in 
 Navigation, it were very well worth the while that this 
 fimuld be promoted to the ut mofi. J have therefore dili- 
 gently confider ed the matter with my felf, and have found 
 that a Remedy may be applied to this Evil, viz. the war.t 
 of A'feat and Drinks, by providing iti time <«« Appara- 
 tus, or certain matter to be carried in Ships, which is of 
 far greater efficacy in pnitigating Hunger and Thirll, 
 than common Bre.id and Water ; yea, is able to prevent 
 and e.xpel that Difeafe which is jo familiar to Seamen, to 
 wit, the Scurvy, which is often a great hindrance to Sai- 
 ling : So that this matter may becarricd t gethir with the 
 ufnnl Provifkns, as a PreferVative, and in cafe ofniceffi- 
 
Part I. 
 
 of Navigaton, 
 
 279 
 
 ty. as if the Ship be overmuch harafs'd with Storms^ or he 
 kindred by other infelicities-, or detained longer in the f^oy- 
 age than expcBed, it may betaken and ufed. It were in- 
 deed to be wiflted-, that thefe materials might never be xv.vi- 
 ted in any Ships, but as the old Proverb hath it^ A fuper- 
 fluous Caution never doth hurt i therefore it ts alwaies 
 better to hiive a thing in readiwfs^ which we do not ufe, 
 than to want it when its ufe is neceffary. But what thnfe 
 materials are-, of which J fpak., and how they are to be 
 nfedwhe/i needis^ J jh.ill communicate to my Neighbour^ 
 for the pubUckjSopd, not at all doutting^ but that this in- 
 vention will prove highly pro^table to many who ufe the 
 Seas. 
 
 The Reader now under fiands what hath niQved meto write 
 this Treatife-, viz. the love of my Neighboitr^ and that 1 
 have not compofed it only for the fake (f fame few.^ but 
 that I have emitted it to the publick, to the end, that thofe 
 highly profitable Inventions might afford help and comfort 
 to all Mankind^ and efpeciatly to all that ufe the Scas^ and 
 fuch who are t):firm in their health : Nor do J doubt but 
 that this my fiHceriiyof mind w U be a great prefervative, 
 comfort,andre!ieftoth''fe who pafs the Seas, when they 
 are in danger^ by the benefit of which, they may efcape va- 
 rious Chances and many Misfortunes, or beware of them 
 for the future : For by this means which I jhull here pro- 
 duce againfl Hunger and Thirft, or other Dijeafes which 
 are wont to'affli^i Sailors, it will be found, that ifihat I 
 afcribe to them may he fulls' deduc(d to the defired effefl. 
 Sind therefore many Thoufands of men may thence receive 
 Fruit a)id Profit, as long as the World fh all endure ; fothat 
 <\ll who travel the Ocean, and are afflicted with any Di- 
 Je.'f"^, ought to rejoice, .wdgive That-ks to God. 
 
 Now, if any one jbould yet doubt of the juccefs of this 
 matter, (which n^verthelefs is fiiewcd from fo clear and 
 irrefragable Fimdame".ta!t) I leave him to his freedom, 
 whether he will put the matter into examination^ and cer' 
 tifis himfelf of the Truths before he give credit to it ■ 
 
 Which alfo may be proved in a fmall qu intity, and uot am 
 ly on the Seas iri f^uyages, bus ou thi Land alfo »>/ rlje 
 tioufe, among both the Sound and the Sick. Therefore let 
 no man vilifie what he doth not u/iderj}und, hut let him 
 commit the thing to trial, and fee its rtafjn and quality 
 before he contemneth it, or pafs an immature Ji-difmeni 
 lefi his curiofity or imaginary Wifdom from a vain in- 
 fttnEl , deceive hint, or confound him mthfljame when the 
 proof Jhalljhew it to be better than he could perfwade him-. 
 Jelf. 
 
 B.'it that in fame places I have itfed obfcure words, and 
 have not propofcd aU. things fo clearly, as that every man 
 will be able to under fiand them^ let no man wonder At this 
 for 1 have certain reafons for fo doing -^ for no man will 
 have *ny prejudice 0/ injury therehy^feeing that m vert he- 
 Icfs there are fuch points of this fort elucidated, which will 
 rem.iin after me fafe and found : Therefore wh.nfoever 
 the Reader fiiall here find written, let him efieem it wor- 
 thy to be received and embraced, as the Gift of God; the 
 which, if I find to be gratefully accepted, more (God wil- 
 ling ) fhall follow. Alfo to all thofe who fiiall have need I 
 offer the Medicaments aforefaid, profitable a^ainfi Hun- 
 ger and Thirft.^ and all Sea- faring Difeafcs, a good ejunn- 
 tity of which I will caufe to be prepared, that every man 
 may ufe them that will, and thence fat tsfie his defire. 
 
 Wherefore it is the inter efl of any to whom I haoe com- 
 mitted the Preparation of this Medicine^ to betake himfelf 
 to it, and when need fiiall he, he will not be unwuUng to ufe 
 it. I have not fought my fel fin the fe things, being con- 
 tent toferve my Neighbour out of Chriflian Charity. And 
 although this my good Will jhall not l-e accepted by fooliffi 
 and ungrateful men^ neverthelefsGod fiiall have tbepraile 
 wlfo hath committed to us a mutual participation of love 
 and good will^ which alf m his own time will qrant the 
 bene^t of this to be derived and redound to my Children 
 afttr me, by fame pious Souls, of which J mak^ no doubt 
 and therefore readily acquiefce in my prefent condition. 
 
 THE 
 
 Confolation of Navigators, &c. 
 
 NOw to come to the Work it felf, vit will 
 point out the Remedies, whofe ufe is fo 
 neceflarily required in Navigation, and 
 which is able to preferve us not only from 
 the prelTures of Hunger and Thirft, but alfo from the 
 injury of Difeafes ; and they are no other than Corn 
 and Water concentrated, or reduced into a more 
 compa(n: and narrow compafs, the one for the extin- 
 guilhing of Hunger, the other of Thirft •, and how 
 they are both to be concentrated, and adminiftred in 
 cafe of neccfllty, I will exadlly defcribe and teach. 
 And, 
 
 I. Of the Concentration ofQom or Grain. 
 
 AS for this-, it is fufficiently explained in the Firfl 
 Pnrt of the Prtfperity of Germany ; fo that it 
 might be here paffed over ; neverthelefs I will make 
 this fliort repetition. 
 
 Make a Malt of Wheat, Barley, Oats, or any other 
 Grain, as is ufual for the brewing of Beer^ Z^^^ '^^ 
 
 full Defer ipt ion, Prcfp. Germ. p. 1 . ctp.z.'] and extraft 
 all theftrength with Water, as if Beer were to be 
 made thereof: Afterwards boil this Liquor away 
 gently in broad and fliallow Veffels or Coppers, tothe 
 confiftency of Honey : The Dreggs or Grains fcrve 
 for Food for Cattel, but the infpiffated liquor or juice 
 may be commodioully carried by Sea, and at pleafure 
 may be made into Beer with a mixture of Hops and 
 Water. And becaufe for the moft part eight Tuns 
 I ot Grain afford one Tun of the infpilTated Juice,every 
 Tun of Grain maketh a Tun and an half, yea, two 
 Tuns of Beer, for every Tun of Liquor maketh at the 
 I leaft eight, ten, twelve, or more Tuns of Beer, accor- 
 j ding as you will have it ftronger or fmaller. There- 
 ' fore it is caller and cheaper to carry in a ftiip one Tun 
 of this Juice, than ten or twelve Hogflieads of Beer, 
 which eafily corrupts and grows fowre ; but on the 
 contrary, this Liquor being kept from the Air, retai- 
 neth itsgoodnefs ; and this is of fingular advantage, 
 feeing that good frelh Beer may be made of this juice. 
 To this alfo belongs another great Commodity, viz.. 
 
 chat 
 
2§6 
 
 - - ■ ■ ■ m, , ,. ^ .» ■ ■ ■ ■ >■ ^^- - . ■ 
 
 The ConfoUtion 
 
 Pait I. 
 
 that if this Juice be mixed inlteRcl of Water, with 
 Wheat flo'.ver, and baked, it makes an efficacious 
 Bread, which aftbvdeth far more nouriihmentto fai- 
 krs than their common Bread, and containeih in it 
 feif fo great power, that it can refrclh and cheer the 
 Sick: For which reafon our Anceftors didnot invain 
 life ro temper fine Flower with clarified Honey inftead 
 of Water, and make Bread thereof, which they cal- 
 led Cakes of Life, becaufe they were a great fupport 
 to tiie Humane Body, and as it were excited the Life 
 it fclf : But in our dales all things being fubfervient 
 to Avarke^^ow may fceihofe fweet Cakes, made up 
 with common, impure, and unclarified Honey,which 
 cannot generate much good blood, or juices •, but 
 this our Bread will approve it felf to be of a greater 
 fweetnefs, nobility, and efficacy, inafmuch as the eli- 
 cited juice of Grain, afl'ordeth a far better nourith- 
 mcnt than Honey. But if any defire to proceed far^ 
 ther with it,this concentrated Liquor of Corn will yet 
 afford a greater utility, viz.. if being infpillated or 
 brought to a thick conliltency , it be mingled with fine 
 Flower of the beftMault, and Bread made thereof, 
 -which after it is baked, is to be cut into pieces, and 
 'again put into the Oven, till it be dry and hard, and 
 then put np into Cherts or HogQieads, to preferve it 
 from the Air, and fo carried to Sea ; for then this 
 Bread, when necefilty requires, may be infufed in 
 warm Water with a few Hops, and excited to the fe- 
 paration of its fxces, and it will acquire the fubftance 
 ofBeer : But that which doth not pafs into the Li_ 
 quor, nor become Beer, maybe heat in a Kettle, and 
 fome Butter put to it, which will very much comfort 
 the languithing ftomachs of Seamen, as well,or better 
 than the eating of Bread foftened in Beer. But in 
 regard that bitter Potions are not agreeable to all Pa- 
 lates, it may alfo be made into Beer without Hops, by 
 mixing the bread with good water oilly, and after- 
 wards boiling it fortheevaporating the more phlegma- 
 tick part, which will have a pleafant talte. But this 
 Bi'^ket alfo, or twice baked Bread, may be ground 
 fmali in a Mill, and pat up clofe in Casks, and prefer= | 
 vedonlhipboard. Afterwards, when need (hall re- 
 quire, you may temper it with warm water, and in an 
 open Hoglhead fwhich yet mufl: have a bottom) fufFer 
 it to fettle, and clear it felf i fothe llower afcendeth 
 npwards, and the water attraJleth the fweet liquor, 
 and hence becomcth excellent and wholfom Beer, 
 which if it be drawn out at the bottom of the Hogfhead 
 runneth as clear, as if it had been made fome Months ; 
 iox, there is now a feparaticn made of the pure part of 
 the Bread, from the impure or grofs, and when that 
 which is fine is drawn otF, the grofs part may alfo be 
 drawn out of the Veifel, which being boiled with but- 
 ter-affords a fingulac pieafantnefs to thetaftei yea, 
 alfo is of a greater falubrity, and better digeltion in 
 the ftomach, than Peafe, Beans, or French Barley boi- 
 led : So that here is nothing loft, Bread or Meal of 
 this fort affording good Beer, and alfo a wholfom 
 Food to eat. And thus on fhipboard one may at any 
 time of the year not only have good frefh Beer, bilt 
 alfo thence may be made good Vinegar- And this 
 may fuflice to have briefly taught t-he manner of miti- 
 gating Hunger and Thirftby concentrated Corn. 
 
 IfliallnowtreatoftheCureof Difeafes, to which 
 Seamen are liable, and whichoftcn bring death. 
 
 Now, if you regard the Nature of ^!an, you fliall 
 generally find, that he ufeth no meafureor mediocrity 
 in eating and drinking, but rather puts down fo much 
 till his belly will hold no more. Which Vice one man 
 obirudcth upon another, under the (hew of kindneis 
 
 and good'vvill, from an old cuftom and enormous a- 
 bufe, although in this one offends more than another. 
 Therefore while the Appetite is more liberally indul- 
 ged, than admitteth ot a good digeflion, the Liver 
 atlumeth a Chyle which is fcarce half conceded: 
 Whence alfo a grofs blood is generated •, and fo in 
 ■ prccels of time the Vifcera are filled and obftrudted 
 withcrafs and vifcous humours , hence they cannot 
 perform their office as they oazlit, but rather many 
 and divers Difeafesdo arifc, according as the heap of 
 crudities encompafs the Fleih covering the Joints, ob- 
 ftruifl the Veins and Nerves, and deprave all the me- 
 ^»/wj of nourilliment ; therefore when the Evil cora- 
 j eth to that pafsjand grows prevalent, the whole body 
 [' is fenfible of it, but chiefly in that place where it fix- 
 eth its feat ; And hence neceffarily CMie part fuffereth 
 I by the hurt of another, till at length all the powers go 
 to decay, and the whole body languifheth, and cannot 
 help it felf, and unlefs fuccoured by Art, dyeth. 
 
 For thefe caufes Phyfick was invented, that thofe 
 Difeafes arifing from intemperate eating and drink- 
 ing, might be met in the way, the perverfe Enemy or 
 primogenial Vice of the body be removed, the vifcous 
 and phlegmatick Salirrra of the depraved humours 
 dilTolved and opened, and the opprefled Members e.x- 
 purged, that fo the body may again recover its former 
 healthful eflate ; the which is wont to be done by di- 
 vers means, and in various manners, according as the 
 Phyfician underflandcth the Difeafe to be, fo he alfo 
 affords his help, viz.. taking it away by Evacuations 
 upwards or downwards, by Sweat or Urine, or by 
 other means, as the nature of the Difeafe requireth. 
 But by which way foever the recrements of the malig- 
 nity bedillipated and expelled, and the inward parts 
 be freed from thena, it is well, ana the Phyfician hath 
 performed his Office, alfo meriteth Thanks and a 
 due Reward. Therefore whofoever well underftan- 
 deth the nature, rife, and birth of difeafes, and alfo- 
 pollelFeth a good Medicine, or can obtain one, is fitly 
 qualified for a Phyfician •■, but he who knoweth not 
 the difeafe, nor is alfo furnifhed with fit and cffica'-, 
 cious Medicines, nor knoweth how to obtain them» 
 grievoufly erreth by trying Experiments fo long, till 
 the Evil more and more encreafing, the Sick at length 
 expires \ the which isfo well known that it needeth 
 no proof i fo that many who have contrafted difeafes 
 from immoderate eating and drinking, are afraid to 
 commit themfelves to an unskilful Phyfician,but chufe 
 rather to cure themfelves by abftinence and fafting, 
 which way is indeed fafe, although it be tedious and 
 fullofdeUy. 
 
 Others again ufe vulgar and trifling Medicines, and 
 yetrecover their health, tho' late, thinking that this 
 happened by the ufe of their Medicine, when never- 
 thelefs the length of time,and the fparingnefs of their 
 meat and drink, during their illnefs,whence the fuper- 
 fluous pravity of humours hath gradually walled,hath 
 effeifted this •,' which alfo fometimes happens to thofe 
 who take no Phyfick ;, but by how much the greater 
 the pravity of the humours is, by fo much the lon- 
 ger it will be before Nature will be able v/ithout help 
 to overcome and expel them- The which, if it take 
 4, 5, or 6 weeks to accomplifii, a Phyfician Tby the bc= 
 nefit of good Medicines) might effed it in 2 or 3 days. 
 So great is the difference between a Cure which Na- 
 ture performeth in a long time, and that which is 
 quickly done by Art- 
 
 But here it may be objefled, that all difeafes take 
 not their beginning fo much from an evil and fuper- 
 fluous humidity, as from manifold other caufes- one 
 
 being 
 
Part I. 
 
 of Navrgatorr. 
 
 281 
 
 being deiivcd from this, another from another caufe- 
 Tot'hisIanlWer, tnat all thofe affects of the Body 
 which exift in the skin, ar.d do not proceed from ex- 
 ternal accidents, as wounds, bruifesjfalls, Crc. whence 
 the bruiling of the body, and alfo Death, at length 
 happens, dd draw their original from the intempe- 
 rance of eating and drinking, which adminifter occa- 
 fion, and furnift matter 10 noxious humours, which 
 hence occupy and infed divers Members ^ for one part 
 aftedeth another, till the whole body abounds, and 
 is imbued with a inaltitude of vifcous humours- 
 When the Stomach is over-gorged, and its tone is 
 fpoilcd itcontiadleth cold crudities, and falls into a 
 dangerous eltate, How then lliould it rightly digclt 
 the Food ? and, What good can it tranfmit to the Li- 
 ver? And feeing the Liver receiveth nothing but 
 what is evil and depraved. What can that procreate 
 of good, and ditt'ufe throughout the whole body? 
 Therefore as I have faid, one Member muft f'lffer by 
 another, till the errour become common. Whilff a 
 Tree or an Herb in the ground remains temperate, 
 that it be neither too wet nor too dry, its root draw- 
 eth from the earth virtue, atid imparteth it to the 
 trunk, and the trunk to the branches, leaves, flowers, 
 and fruit, and is able to produce fruit conducible to 
 health, for many years. But if the root be ill placed, 
 the Salt being ill difpofed, whatfocver the flock there 
 finds, it allbciates to it felf, and alfo communicateth 
 the fame, and no better to the branches : And if it 
 ftand too wet, it brings forth an infahibrious Fruit, 
 which by reafon of too much moifture, falleth otF be- 
 fore it is ripe, in whofe itead fungous protuberances 
 ariling from putrefadion, fpring up, and fuch Plants 
 do not endure long. 
 
 Again, if the Root Hand too dry, it cannot thence 
 have juice fufficient to nourilh the Tree, and bring 
 forth Fruit, but will by degrees wither away and die. 
 So alfo it is with Men, and their Difeafes^ for accor- 
 ding as their Bodies are treated, they are healthful 
 and fruitful, or elfe difealie. Now feeing that I have 
 proved Difeafes from redundancy or humidity, or 
 from drinefs, it will be ealie to provide preventive 
 Remedies againfl: them ; or if any errour or delay 
 Ihould happen in this, it may be amended in the cura- 
 tive part, by which the Evil may be abolifhed. Thefe 
 are requirecl tobeot t;iat nature and property, that 
 they attrad the fupcriluous and pernicious humours 
 from all the Vifcera and principal Internal Members 
 of the whole Body, into the Ventricle, conciliate a 
 new corcoiftionor dif^eftion, feparate the pure from 
 the impuie, adjoin the one to the Liver, and ejed 
 the other by Seige : And To the body is not only 
 freed from depraved burthenfom humours, but alfo 
 recovered itslhength, and isnired of allln irmities- 
 Which raannerof Curing, at this day, the more the 
 pitv, is known but to few ; feeingthat it is not to be 
 effcded with common Herbs but fomewhat better is 
 required, than v\ hat the Philofophy of old V\ omen 
 prefc r^bcth : Neverthelefs there is a great efficacy in 
 certain Simples ; as may be feen in HdUbore or Helk- 
 bor^ij'r/., by whofe benefit the Ancients prolonged 
 their lives, bv the daily ufe of a certain dofe of it. 
 Moreover, Tabaco where it cometh to maturity, ef- 
 fedeth things to be admired, being rightly prepared 
 and adminillred ; yea, even that which (being crude) 
 is taken in Pipes, coolethand refrefheth the body, and 
 alfo in fome mcrfuie relieves againlt Hunger and 
 Thirilj which common experience daily witnefleth. 
 But whence this Virtue happens, Tabaco takers nei- 
 ther know nor carcj but acquiefcc, in that they either 
 
 receive pieafure or pioi.t by it : Thc.ei'orc, if Taba- 
 co, or any o:her vulgar Plant can pen'orm fo many 
 and fo great things, being yet crude, without any 
 preparation. What would not an Extrad or concen- 
 trated Eflence of all the Vegetables do, being rightly 
 made ? which neverthelefs oug'it to be of that na- 
 ture, that it may not only diipel every heap of malig- 
 nant humours, but alfo llrengthea t'ne inward parts, 
 and prcferve from all things which may happen in the 
 generating of a Difcafc. 
 
 Such a Medicine is that which I her'' prefcnt to all 
 thofe who continually ufe the Seas, and belides the 
 Scurvy,undergo many other Difeafes i by which they 
 may not only efficacionfly proted thcmfelves againft 
 theallaultsofDiftempers, and hinder their progrcfs 
 when already began, but alfo under the prefent want 
 of Meat and Drink, may make found an infirm body : 
 But how, and from what Ingredients this Euporifl 
 may be made and preparcd,needsnot tobe manifefted 
 to every one. This is a great Gift of God,wh!ch ought 
 to be honoured, and not proltituted to the Unwor- 
 thy. Let it fnffice at this time , that fuch a Medica- 
 ment may be obtained at a fmall price -, I will not fuf- 
 fer it to be buried with me, but will leave it toothers, 
 who may keep it, and fell it to thofe who defire it ac 
 a reafonable rate. 
 
 This is given in form of an Eleduary, and may be 
 taken for a Prefervative, daily, or every fecond,third, 
 or fourth day, asoccafion requireth, in the quantity of 
 halforawhole Peafe, upon an empty n:omach,fafl:ing 
 two hours after it, if need be, but if not. Food may 
 be taken prefently after it, although it is better to 
 abftain fome hours : But when a Difeafe hath already 
 invaded a man, whether it be Fever^ Scurvy, Head.tch^ 
 Catarrh, or any Other Difeafe infefting Seamen, let 
 the Patient forthwith fwallow down of this Eledua- 
 ry the magnitude of an ordinary Peafe (for it hath no 
 nnpleafant talte) and fweat if he can •, if not, let him 
 keep however a very moderate Dyetall the day, and 
 in Summer time, as much as he can, avoid the intenfe 
 heat, and in Winter, the extremity of Cold •, the next 
 day let him take the quantity of a Peafe or two, and 
 fo let him encreafe or diminilh the dofe, according 
 to the ftate of the Difeafe. Thefe things being well 
 obferved, all Sicknefles will give place. 
 
 If a man carry with him but half an ounce of this 
 Medicine to Sea, in a long Voyage, he will poffefs a 
 Pamicea-, both for the preventing and curing all Di- 
 feafes incident to his body. 
 
 This is of very great ufe and profit efpecially for 
 Mafters of Ships, to whom I alfo highly recommend 
 it as fuch, and not to them only, but alfo to all the In- 
 habitants of the Earth, towhom it promifeth no lefs 
 fuccefs. If a Medicine can be invented, ( befides that 
 univerfal one of the Philofophers) accommodated to 
 all difeafes,' truly this is one, and will perform all, 
 or even more than I have attributed to my CathoUcon 
 in the 5ffrW Pan of my Pbarmac. Spa'jyr. that is a 
 Powder, but this, of which I now difcourfe, an Eledu- 
 ary prepared of certain good Ingredients and Sugar. 
 I affirm again. That there is no difeafe, whether inter- 
 nal or external, for the curing of which this Medicine 
 doth not fuffice ; for it doth not only rcfifl the Fe- 
 ver, Scurvy, and Pox, but even the Gout and Leprofy 
 it felf, provided they be not too much fixed and radi- 
 cated ; yea, although they be very inveterate, and 
 cannot be throughly rooted out by this Medicine, 
 neverthelefs it gives relief in them, and renders them 
 more tolerable, and hinders the acceflion of the daily 
 fits, and keeps it under. Certainly where this Medi-. 
 
 C c c c cine 
 
>82 
 
 The Confolmon 
 
 Vm 
 
 { ine can yield no help. Nature muft be wholly ruined 
 :iiid tired out- What 1 have here written, is the 
 Truth, which I am able to prove by experience; 
 however it is free for every one to believe or not be: 
 lievcme, as he pleafeth: Chriftian Charity to my 
 Neighbour hath compelled mc, if it be well taken, it 
 is wdl, if not, I have done my pare, and difcharged 
 my Confcience. Nor will 1 infift any farther on the 
 praife of this P^-nnaa^X have faiJ enough to thole who 
 believe? or can underfland me. 
 
 And thus I hrr/e fct before the whole World, that 
 Medicament which can prefervc from, and cure the 
 moll: grievous Difeafes accompanying Ships and Voy^ 
 ages, and alfo relieve in the extremity of Hunger- 
 
 This being done, there yet remains another Remedy 
 whereby the Body may be relieved, and refrelhed in 
 extremity of Thirft, when drink is wanting :, and this 
 is done by Water cor.centrated, which is of fo great 
 virtue, that it giveth fuch a refrigeration to a thirfty 
 Palate, that in the whole World there is not the like. 
 Seeing therefore that in long Voyages Water is often 
 wanting, and putrefieth and iFinkcth, it will be very 
 receflary here to declare and (hew, how Thirft may 
 bcreftrained and rendered tolerable intimeof necelTi- 
 ty. Then alio how common Water may be prefer- 
 vcd from corruption •, moreover, that one Tun may 
 e.ffcd as much for the quenching of Thirft, as other- 
 wife 2 or 3 Tuns of common Water can. Which is 
 not only my laying, but the Truth it felf i as I will 
 here prove by manifeft teftimonies : And this is to be 
 done as I have faid, by Water concentrated and coa- 
 gulated. Bat what that is, I will firft fhew, and then 
 by what means it is to be prepared and ufed. 
 
 To explain the genuine Property of concentrated 
 Water to many, may feem unneceirary,in regard that 
 Seamen are not skilled in fuch difcourfes, nor careful 
 about them ; and that they rather belong to Philofo- 
 phers, and the Contemplators of Nature, that they 
 may render the knowledge of them familiar to them- 
 felves : But this Treatife without doubt will come in-- 
 to the hands of wife and experienced men, as well as 
 into thofe who ufe the Seas, and therefore perhaps I 
 Ihall not lofe my labour, if 1 fomewhat more exadtly 
 defcribe the nature of that water- 
 It is fulliciently evident to all thofe who have fain- 
 ted but the Threfliolds of Nature, that the Omnipo= 
 tent God, in the firft Creation of the World, hath fe= 
 parated the Elements from the rude Chaos, as alfo the 
 Elements from one another, placing the Earth in the 
 bottom or foundation of the Center, and over that the 
 Water, over the Water the Air, and over the Air the 
 Fire ; fothat every of them holdeth its own recepta- 
 cle and feat, from whence, without the will of God, it 
 cannot recede- Neverthelefs, we find that one al- 
 waies participates of the other, and none is found 
 without another, although one be predominant and 
 vifible ; butthereft cxift init invilibly, and by the 
 skill of an Artift, may vifibly be deduced from it. So 
 from the Earth v\e elicite Air, Water, and Fire ; from 
 the vifible Water, natural Earth, Air,and Fire i again, 
 from the Air, Earth, Water, and Fire •, and from the 
 Fire, Air, 'A'ater, and Earth. Hence the Elements 
 arc continually circulated from one fpecies into ano- 
 ther, which indeed we do not obfcrveor perceive,and 
 no Element can vv'ant an Element, butdraweth its life 
 and nutriment from another. The Fire cannot burn 
 without Air-, the Fire operateth upon the W:itcr,and 
 of it maketh Air; the Water reftcthintheEarth,and 
 moifteneth the fame :, the Fire imprcgnateth the Air •, 
 the Air inlinuateth the Seed into the Earth ; the Earth 
 
 nouriflieth and cherifheth the Seed unto perfeftion, 
 and afterwards bringeth to light what it hath concei- 
 ved, and carried in its belly- 
 
 Thefe things arc only hinted at by the way,and not 
 without caufe. 
 
 But to return to our concentrated water, that we 
 may explain its nature, know, that water is thefiwaj 
 fmm or beginning of all the Elements ; which thing 
 is fufficiently manifeft, and may be fcen daily, efpeci- 
 ally \nt\\tfnhterraman Mines of Metals, whofe inward 
 bowels are fo penetrated, that there is not only water, 
 but we alfo fee it to be quickly tranfmuted into vari- 
 ous forms of Mineral Bodies, the which without is fa- 
 miliar:, and the more limpid or clear the water is, 
 the brighter Stones an<l purer Minerals it generateth : 
 Of which you may read more in thatTreatife,C7'/je5f- 
 coiid Part uf the Mineral Wvrl(^ where I have defcri= 
 bed the generation of Minerals j alfo that Flints and 
 Sand, in the Earth, Rivers, and Seas, receive their en= 
 creafe from water,is fufficiently manifeft ; for all fand 
 was primitively water only, and hath paifed out of 
 water into hard fand or ftones, and into which it may 
 again be changed. But this is not to be ufed as a Re- 
 m?dy againft Thirft, becaufe it is now too hard, and 
 difficultly retnrneth to its firft matter, viz.. Water, 
 except by the benefit of another fubjetl, which is a /»?= 
 diim between Sand, Flints, Cryftal, and common wa- 
 ter, -^/z.. Salt, which hath an agreement with the na- 
 ture both of common water and that of ftones, and 
 may be eafily changed into either of them ^ as you 
 fhall hereafter hear- But this concentrated water, 
 which I here propofe for the vanquifhing of Thirft, 
 andrefrelhingof the body, is fait prepared and con« 
 centrated, either of the watersof Mountains, or of the 
 Sea, which are of the famegoodnefs : Of which after- 
 wards is prepared by Art a water fo excellent, that 
 for repreffing of Thirft and refrelhing a languid body, 
 there is no Remedy in the world may be compared to 
 it- 
 Here fomeone ignorant of natural things may ob- 
 jeft, and fay. How can it be that Salt ftiould repel 
 Thirft, feeing that when it is eaten, it exciteth and 
 encreafeth the fame ? To this I anfwer, That com- 
 mon fait, as it is firft extrafted or boiled, can in no 
 wife reftrain the Appetite of drinking,but rather pro^ 
 voke it, except its pravity be firft corredled and depu- 
 rated ; for every fait feenis to have laid afide its na- 
 ture and property, fo long as it contains earthy and 
 grofs fsces, which neverthelefs may be removed from 
 it by foluiion, filtration, and coagulation ; whence al- 
 fo it is bitter, aftringent, and hard ; but this har/hnefs 
 and terreftreity being removed, the fait remaineth no 
 longer hard, but is reduced into a foft and fluid Li? 
 quor, not fweet,butpieafantly acid, tafting like an 
 Apple or the ftones of Grapes. And this purification 
 muft be made by the force of Fire, w'c. when the fait 
 in deftilling is fublimed in earthen Veffels, by ftrong 
 Flames; and then the pureft and moft noble part on- 
 ly afcendech,and the more grofs and earthy remaineth 
 in the bottom, and is of no ufe ; but the purer part is 
 of great power and virtues, not only againft Thirft, 
 but is alfo very necelfary for many other things, as 
 (liall hereafter be demonftrated- That otherwife in 
 impure common fait a great Virtue is latent, let no 
 man doubt, feeing that it may be daily obferved : 
 Wherefore that excellent Philofopher Pu^o writeth. 
 That ill f^dt there is fiMcnhjt Aivl^; ; and according to 
 the opinion of other great and wife men, GOD hath 
 openly manifcfted Himfeif in Fire and Salt, and the 
 ancient Philofophcrs were hence taught to prepare 
 
 their 
 
Part I. 
 
 of Navigators. 
 
 28j 
 
 their Vniverfal Medicine ; which Art of preparing 
 they have called Alchytny^ or The melting of Salt ; but 
 I fpeak not this by experience, in regard that I never 
 yet durft attempt fo great a Secret, being contented 
 with finailer things ; but this I know, and have divers 
 times done, I'tz. that by a certain Artifice, I have pre- 
 cipitated from common Salt forae corporeal Gold, al- 
 though without profit, and only to fee the pofTibility, 
 which without thofe precipitations remaineth fpiri- 
 tual,apd at length by them obtaineth a corporeal fub- 
 ftance." 
 
 Indeed the greatefl: Myftery of the whole World 
 confilteth in Fire and Salt, and with thofe two faftcr 
 GodJ nothing may be compared ; for the Flame rai- 
 feth Light out of Darknefs, which otherwife none but 
 God can do. It is alfofit to reftore life to the dead, 
 no otherwife than the warm Sun or Oven reviveth 
 Worms, Frogs, Serpents, Flies, and other Infedts, 
 which have been killed by the Cold ; of which 1 have 
 made mention in the fecond part of my Pharmacop. 
 Spagyr. as alfb in Miraculam Muridi^ and its Explica- 
 tion. Many men ufe Fire,yet know not what they have 
 or ufe : So alfo it happeneth with fait, all men ufe it 
 out of cuftom, but obfefve not what they tafte. Salt 
 is a thing of great moment •, by it we give ftrength to 
 relifl Corruption, both to the living and the dead. 
 
 And fo it is, that if men had not fait, or at the leafl: 
 thofe Plants and Fruits,in which it dwells, they would 
 putrefie while yet living. Which would alfo happen 
 to Cattel, if they did not eat Grafs, which contains in 
 it felf its own fait, and fufficeth them in feeding ^ ne- 
 verthelefs iffomething better were given them with 
 it> it would be very profitable for them ; for if to hor- 
 ned Bealts, as alfo Hogs, fome faltnefs were given 
 with their meat and drink,they would thereby acquire 
 much ftrength and fatnefs. 
 
 Seeing therefore that Salt, whilft it is yet grofsand 
 rude, and defiled with many impurities, performeth 
 fuch things in living Creatures, and preferveth Flefli 
 and Filh, as alfo all Herbs and Grafs, long from Cor- 
 ruption •, What could not fuch a fait do, which by the 
 help of Art hath received a greater purity than Na- 
 ture hath beftowed upon it ? For the Fire containeth 
 a power of correifting and purifying fait, and conver- 
 ting it into a finer and better fubftance- The common 
 falts which we daily ufe, do indeed give a relifli to all 
 Edibles, and preferve them from putrefacftion ; yet 
 neverthelefs they dry, aftringe, and bind the belly^ ah 
 fo excite Thirft •, but fait being redlified and depura- 
 ted, communicateth a fweet and grateful talte, alfo 
 more powerfully refifteth Corruption than the other, 
 neither doth it bind the belly, but keepeth it foluble, 
 cxpelleth Urine ; nor doth it caufe Thirft, but rather 
 taketh it away both from the fick and found : So great 
 a difference is there between the common and corre- 
 cted and depurated fait, which Rufticks little under- 
 ftand. The nature and property of common fait is 
 known to every one, as far as concerns the Kitchin, 
 but the redificd is known to few : And the Spirit of 
 Salt, which is in ufe in Apothecaries fhops, and which 
 they alfo fell, being for the moft part not rightly pre- 
 pared, etfecteth little, and therefore not frequently 
 ufed : But if it were made and redified as it fhould be, 
 it would not only have a pleafanter tafte, but alfo a 
 better operation. So many things bear Names which 
 are not agreeable to the thing, and therefore cannot 
 perform what is expert ed from them. 
 
 The Ancients have afcribed great Virtues to Spirit 
 of Salt in Medicine, which it indeed hath, if after its 
 deftillaiion it be wdl redified and dephlegmed •, but if 
 
 it be adminiftred fo crude as it afcends the (irft time^ 
 it may perhaps do more harm than good, inafmuch 
 as a great deal of terreftreity comes over with it, 
 which in the rectifying remaineth in the bottom of the 
 Glafs, as an infipid, bitter, or aftringent fait- And al- 
 though this be wdl enough known to fome, neverthe- 
 lefs they abhor to reftifie their fpirit, becaufe the 
 fpirit in I'edification lofeth a great part of its weight, 
 byfcparatingits fuperfluities. ,o 
 
 I taught, many years fince, how to prepare the fpi- 
 rit of fait in quantity, whofe defcription isalfoexadl- 
 ly fet down in the /^/ and fecond part of my Furnaces. 
 It alfo demonftratetli its utility in Metallicks ; as ma- 
 nifeftly appears in the frfi part of my JUmcral Workj, 
 where the manner of extracting Gold fromStones,by 
 its help, is taught. Altho'thc fpirit for that work 
 fhould be prepared after another manner, than that 
 which is to be ufed at Sea, or on Ihore, for the curing 
 Difeafes or reprefling of 1 hirft ; wherefore I'll firft: 
 teach the way of making this, and then alfo fhew its 
 Ufe. 
 
 As for the manner of anatomifing Salt by Fire and 
 Art, and tranfmutingir into a pure and fweet fpirit, 
 it is various, for one ufeth this, another another way, 
 as I alfo have taught divers waies, in thtfrfi a^d fecond 
 fart of my Furnaces ■ but here I will appoint another, 
 which is thebeft and moft commodious for theufes 
 treated of in this Book, and is thus to be performed. 
 
 Get fome ftrong Retorrs; made of good Earth ( but 
 Glafs is better ) fill them with the following mixture 
 of Salt and Earth, then according to Art,deftil thence 
 a fpirit gratefully acid, which duly rertifiejand it will 
 be prepared for Ufe. The fait is to be thus prepared 
 for deftillation : Fill a great Crucible with Sea-falt, 
 which cover with an earthen Cover, and by degrees 
 put Fire about it of flaming Coals, encrealing it, until 
 the fait be all over red-hot ^ this being done, prefent- 
 ly remove it from the lire, and let it cool ; by this 
 means, if any greafie fordes, or other combuftible im- 
 purities, adhere to the falt,they will beconfumed and 
 vanilh. Dilfolvc the fait in common water, filter or 
 ftrain it through a fine clofe Linen Cloth, that the 
 f^ces may be feparated ; the clear Liquor evaporate 
 in an earthen glazed Veffel, till theCuticula appear, 
 then make little balls of clay and fand,about the big- 
 nefs of Walnuts or Pigeons Eggs ; dry them, and heat 
 them red-hot in an earthen Veffel, and fo the fat fpi- 
 rit of the Earth will be burnt away ■ then imbibe thofe 
 balls with your ftrong fait water, by letting them re- 
 main in it for fome hours, that they may drink in as 
 much of it as they can, then take them out, and dry 
 them: With thefe fill your Retorts, and adminifter 
 Fire by degrees, and at length urge with the ftrongefl: 
 flames, fo long, till they emit no more fume, for then 
 all the fpirit is come forth : The Receiver muft be 
 of Glafs, and very large, in whofe bottom muft alfo be 
 a little water, to attract and condenfc the fpirit- The 
 Deftillation being fjniflied, the fpirit is to be rertified 
 by it felf in a low Cucurbit in fand, and tirft the water 
 or phlegm vyill come over, fvvhich you may keep for 
 another deftillation; then the pure and fweet fpirit 
 will rife limpid and clear, and an unpieafant falc will 
 remain in the bottom, which is to be call: away, and 
 the fpirit to be kept for theufes to be fhewed here- 
 after. 
 
 But if you defire to have the fpirit yet more pure» 
 
 and efiicacious, you may rertifie it again upon calcined 
 
 or powdered Flints, which will retain in the bottom 
 
 , whatfoever is yet grofs or impure, and the fpirit will 
 
 1 be rendered very pure and fubtile ; for the Flint at the 
 
 firft- 
 
1%/\ 
 
 The ConjoUtion 
 
 Part }■ 
 
 firft was Water and Salt, and hence both contain in 
 themfelvcs fo ftrei^ht a communion. This may be 
 feen among the Glafs-makcrs, who reduce Sand or 
 Flints into clearnefs by melting, that thence they may 
 make pure Glals ; for Salt in the Fire uillblvethSand, 
 Flint, Cryftal, and together with them receiveth the 
 Eficnce of Glafs ; yea, and thefe very fpecies and 
 matters, by the help of an Alhly Salt, are refolved in= 
 to a diaphanous Glafs, which being put mto common 
 Water, melt like'^Jalt ; of which I have difcourfed in 
 the'Jhird Partofmy Fiirnaca. When we deftil the 
 afovefaid reftiiied Spirit of Salt again from powdered 
 Flints, from the iniiaie love which it hath to the 
 Flints, it carrieth fome part of them upwards with it 
 felt, and is made better for nfc in all Difeafes, efpeci- 
 a!ly in the Dnwfu\ btom, and Com it is an excellent 
 Medicine. The Flints remaining in thebottom.yield 
 a water which diflblveth tliehardelt Cryftals, and is 
 acid like the fpirit of Salt, and nothing elfe but partof 
 it coagulated with them, and may be adminiilred in all 
 cafes as the Spirit of Salt. 
 
 Let no man wonder that lafcribe more to this Spi- 
 rit redlified with Flints, than to any other common 
 fpirit of fait; for few know what Virtues are latent 
 in flints or fand. All Birds and four=footed Animals 
 ufe fand. Many men adminifter the powder of Flints 
 and Cryltal, for the corroboratingof weak ftomachs. 
 Hens devour Sand and fmali Pebbles, that they may 
 thence have matter for their Egglhels, and being de 
 barred of it, lay Eggs without (liells. Wherefore 1 
 affirm, That this fpirit of Salt, abftrafted from Hints, 
 to be better in many Difeafes than the common fpi- 
 rit, and efpecially the Cryltals, or fpirit of fait coagu- 
 lated, of which we have above made mention. 
 
 Let this fufnce concerning the Preparation of fpirit 
 of fait. Now we will alfo teach, how it is to be admi- 
 niftred either at Sea or on Shore, for the repelling of 
 
 bers of the body, it confumeth pitui«ou5 matter mxMt 
 Reins and Bladder expellcth Urine and Stone, kecpeth 
 the Belly foluble,promotethdigeItion ■, itfuffercthno 
 Dileafc to grow from corruption of the Blood, to 
 which otherwifc Sea-faring men arefubjett: Moreo- 
 ver, itexerteih its falutiferous Virtues, if a little of it 
 be mingled with Vv'ineand Beer, in Sliips, which will 
 long preferve it in its goodnefs and lincerity, caufing 
 it the better to reprefs Tliirft, and there'ore to go the 
 farther in ufe. Alfo Beef, Mutton, and Veal may by 
 it be preferved a longtime^ '!^/~- if they be put into 
 ftone pots, and powdered or condited with fome fait, 
 diflblved in the fpirit of fait. Neverthelefs it beho- 
 veth that the Fielh be /ithout many Bones, and that 
 all the legs, fhins, or fhanks be cur off. Moreover, a 
 very fmall quantity of the fpirit being added to the 
 water in which Fifh is to beboiled, maketh the Fifh 
 eat firm and clofe>and of a much folider relifh than 
 when fprinkled with Vinegar. So alfo Raifins being 
 put into water impregnated with fpirit of fait, will 
 grow foft, and fwell, and will recover their ftrength 
 and fweetnefs, as if they were frefl) plucked from the 
 Vine, which will afFoid a great refrefhment to taofe 
 who frequent the Seas. 
 
 In a word, this fpirit may commodioufly be ufed, 
 not only in Water, Wine, or Beer, but alfo in all forts 
 of Food in Ships i foritgivetha very pleafant tafte 
 to all meat and drink, and corredleth them fo, that 
 they become more wholfom. It hath alfo another 
 very profitable ufe, w^. If in hot weather bur one 
 drop, or fo fmall a part of the coagulated fpii it,as the 
 magnitude of an Hempfeed, be mixed witii fugar and 
 held upon the Tongue ; for it fo coolcth the mouth, 
 and allayeth Thirft, that there will be no need of bad 
 Water or Beer, by which the body is more violated 
 than corroborated, through drinking often and much 
 of them- Nor is this the leall of its virtues, that 
 
 Thirft and the Cure of Difeafes: To what other pur- when in a long Voyage there is a want of watcr,a lit 
 
 pofesthe fpirit of fait ferves, befides Medicine,! have 
 (liewed elfewhere ; here my intention is only to fig- 
 nifie of what great ufe and profit it may be in Voyages 
 to Sea, which was the only, occafion of writing this 
 Treatife. 
 
 Of the Vfe of Spirit of Salt in Ships , againjl 
 Thirft^ and alfo the Scurvy, 
 
 IN the firft place,this fpirit is profitable to the body, 
 when a fmali quantity of it is put into the Hogfheads 
 of Water, \^ hereof Seamen and Souldiers drink, to 
 which it givesa grateful acidity, like that of Wine, 
 and is far moreefFeftual in quenching of Thirft, and 
 in lefs quantity than other Water, and befides pre- 
 ferves the Water from corruption and ftinking,which 
 otherwife in long Voyages it is wont to fuffer,contra- 
 dting a mnddinefs, blackncfs, and breeding Worms, 
 which generate tlic Scwi-yy -, for the Water containing 
 the fpirit of fait, cannot corrupt; which fpirit alfo 
 preferveth other things, both living and dead, from 
 putrefaction. And becaufe the water with the acid 
 fpirit of fait extinguifheth Thirft more than any other, 
 it necelfarily follows, that fo great a quantity of water 
 need not be carried for a Voyage, as otherwife is ufu- 
 al. Moreover, feeing that the fpirit of fait refiftcth all 
 putrefaaion, it fuffereth not the Scurvy to take root, 
 for it refredieth and exhilarateth a man with great 
 vigour, corroborateth the ftomach, and all the mcm- 
 
 ile more of the fpirit of fait may be put into it than 
 will ferve for a grateful acidity ; for fo it will quencit 
 Thirft for a longer time, and in a lefs quantity thaa 
 otherwife a greater quantity of water can do Yea, 
 although the Ship ihould be caft away, and the men 
 forced to betake themfelves to their Boat, or broken 
 pieces of the Ship, as it often happens, if they have 
 but an ounce of the fpirit of fait in a Glafs, or half fb 
 much ofit coagulated, in defed of Drink, they ma/ 
 fuftain their lives and health therewith fo long, till ic 
 pleafe God to afford them a means o{ getting to fhore; 
 nor will they be forced to drink their own Urine, or 
 Sea-water, which is pernicious. 
 
 Thefe and the like Virtues the fpirit of fait ftievv- 
 eth in Ships, which for brevity fake, are not all decla- 
 red. 
 
 1 have alfo meditated how the Sea-rv.iter may be 
 made fweet and drinkable by precipitation, which 
 would be very defirable in want of water : And fo far 
 I have attained^ that 1 can precipitate a good quanti- 
 ty of the fait from the water, which alfo becomes 
 much fweeter, but yet not fo fully, but fome falcnefs 
 remains in it- Although in cafe ofnsceffity this wa- 
 ter may be ufed in Ships for the boiling of Peafe and 
 Beans^as alfo for the fermenting oi concentrated Com. 
 What I now know concerning this precipitation, I 
 will make manifeft for the good of my Neighbour,and 
 fhcw a good beginning how Sea-water may be made fit 
 
 to drink- 
 There is a certain ^kind of Mineral called Mary'^s 
 [cc\ it is not the A^'tfcovian Giafs, as perhaps fome 
 may think, but another thing ; when it is heat red-hot 
 
 in 
 
Part I. 
 
 of Navigator/. 
 
 in the fire, and fo cafl: into Sea-water, it is prefently 
 reduced to a tender and white powder ; which being 
 done) the Water will be agitated and moved hither 
 and thither-, then the Powder attradeth to it felf 
 part of the Salt from the Water, and fettleth to the 
 bottom of the Vedel, and the Water groweth clear, 
 Iiich may be poured out, and if this labour be once or 
 
 VJ 
 
 twi'.e repeated, the Water, by this precipitation, will 
 indeed be made fweeter, but not altogether potable. 
 Alfothefaltor folutionof S^?f«'«difmineth much of 
 the fait from Sea:water, yet by that it is not rendered 
 drinkable. The beft way which I now know, is this 
 vviiich folIows,but it is foraewhat coftly : Neverthelefs 
 whcnnecelnty urgeth, fweet and good water profiteth 
 a man more than a Bond ofan hundred pieces of Gold- 
 Hence this Artdeferveth tobe honoured, although it 
 be coftly ; for a man ready to die with Thivft would 
 give all he hath for a draught of Water to fave his 
 Life : Wherefore fomewhat of this precipitation may 
 be committed to Ships, for their prefervation, which 
 may be ufed in great neceOity, but if no fuch be, it 
 may be brought home again, and kept for another 
 Voyage, feeing thatit will in no wife decay, but be as 
 good after an hundred years, as the firft day of its pre= 
 paration. 
 
 But what this is, there is no need openly to divulge, 
 but he who defireth it, may come to me and have it : 
 But for the information of thofe who are skilful in 
 Chym'.firyA will intimate this ; That the precipitation 
 of Salt from Water, is neceflarily to be performed by 
 aflngular fand, which doth not only drive fait down- 
 wards, but alfo all Phlegm, Sordes, and Impurities ; fo 
 that although the water fhould be like to a Fen or 
 Dunghill in lilth and ftink, by the benefit of this pre- 
 cipitation, in a few hours, it fliould become like clear 
 Fountain water, becaufe the evil odour and tafte would 
 alfo be precipitated. 
 
 The fame may be done in all Waters, how nafty 
 and muddy foever, and not only in Waters, but alfo 
 in all potable Liquors, as Wine and Beer, although 
 the Wine were red, feeing that the precipitation caft- 
 eth to the bottom all muddinefs, colour, and ftink. 
 And hence not only thofe Liquors, which are changed 
 red by corruption,or other accident, but alfo Cryftals, 
 which are red by nature, may be reduced to a perfpi- 
 cuous clarity •, which is a thing very profitable for 
 Vintners-, for otherwifethe Sea- waters become fweet 
 when they are carried far through common fand, which 
 imbibeth their fait •, for thofe two have a mutual com- 
 munion and communication, feeing that both are gene: 
 rated of Water ; hence alfo, by the fire, they are re- 
 folved into a dry Water, or pellucid Glafs. Whence 
 any man knowing in the nature of things, may appre- 
 hend, that this precipitation of Sea-water is built upon 
 a foundation agreeable to Nature- 
 
 My Alcxiphurmac^ Or Mineral- Eleduary , before 
 mentioned, as alfo the Spirit and Cryftals of Salt-,may 
 beadminiftred,aswell at Landas onSea, againft the 
 Scurvy^Fcvers^2nA other Difeafes. 
 
 And although in the Su'j>:d Part of my Pharmacop. 
 I have already defcribed a certain Mineral Remedy, 
 under the Title of a Panacea^ and commended it a- 
 gainft all Difeafes, by which admirable Cures are e'ry 
 where done, yet I prefer my Mineral Elcdluary before 
 that, becaufe it is more accommodated to ufe, feeing 
 that when need requires, it may be taken out of a Box 
 with a Knife only ■■, neither is there need of any Vehi- 
 cle, as Wine, Beer, or others, which are necelfary to 
 be ufed with the /'.iw.rcM -, neither is there need of 
 Weighing it, but may be proportioned by the Eye, ac- 
 
 cording to the age and ftrength of the lick. Thofe 
 who are of full age and ftrength, may take as much of 
 the Eleduary upon a fafting ftomach as will equal the 
 magnitude of a Peafc, and faft fome hours after it, if 
 time and opportunity permit ^ alfo let the Patienc 
 avoid the cold Air, and the heat of the Sun in hotfea- 
 fons. It is to be taken twice, four times, or oftner, in 
 a week, according to the necelTity of the fick,to which 
 it muft alfo be proportioned by encreafing ordimini- 
 /hing the Dofe ; for if one grain fhoiild not work,the 
 Patient may take two, afcending to 5' or 4, if need be. 
 Whena finall Dofe isadminiftred,it works infenfibly; 
 if a little more, then it workcth by ftool, and fome- 
 times by vomit, when it findethdifeafie matter in the 
 ftomach; ifitfindeth depraved fait humours, itcaft- 
 eth them out by fweat, fpitting, or urincand through- 
 ly purgeth the body from every evil. In brief, I fay, 
 it greatly purifieth the Blood, openeth all obftruftions 
 of the internal principal members, as the Liver ^Spkoj^ 
 and ^«'.^/,beyond all Phlegm aioguss : It hindereth the 
 growth of all yip'>fte/>iatio>is both within and withouc 
 the body ; it confumeth F/«.vf.f and Catarrhs^ which 
 fall upon the Eyes,Ears,and Teeth •, it exterminateth 
 the venereal Pox in a (hort time ; it alfo cureth the 
 Drop/ie^ Lepro/ie, Gont^ and F ailing- fickncfs^ both in old 
 and young •, expelleth the Stotie both of the Kidneys 
 and Bladder ; cureth all forts of Fevers ^ and laftly, 
 it healeth all inward and outward Wmindsand Vlcers^ 
 being taken inwardly, and a due Diet obferved. 
 
 This is a fafe and approved Medicine in the cure of 
 all curable difeafes, nor doth it fail to help in invete- 
 rate afFeds, Viz.. when a difeafe hath been long grow- 
 ing, and is now firmly rooted and fixed, that it cannot 
 be totally expelled, as thtGoitt and 5/ow, yet then this 
 Medicine mitigateth the pain, and maketh the Fits 
 flower and more tolerable, and fuffcreth not the Di- 
 feafe to encreafe, but to be more and more abated and 
 diminifhed. It cures all Scabs and Ringworms., or Tet' 
 fe^'.f, proceeding from an impure Blood and Liver, on- 
 ly by taking it inwardly, without any outward undi- 
 ons. What (hall I fay more ? This Medicine cannot 
 be fufficiently praifed, feeing that it operateth univer- 
 fally againft all the difeafes both of Men and Beafts : 
 But I muft forbear, for if I ftiould fhew all its Virtues, 
 this Treatife would fwell to too great a bulk. 
 
 \n Maritime Tov^ns, and other places where the 
 Scurvy is regnant, a better Medicine than this cannot 
 be found,for it reraoveth all pravity of Humours, from 
 which fuch difeafes proceed ; itpreferveth from the 
 Plague, zzd other Cont3gions,and happily cureth their 
 Infertions ; it ftrengtheneth the Memory, Heart, and 
 Brain j preferveth from the Palfie and its Concomi- 
 tants : In time it reftoreth thofe who have their Mem- 
 bers contraded, and their Nerves reprelTed and im- 
 movable, after the being anointed with Mercury, for 
 the cure of the Pox. He that will take it every week 
 or once in 3 or 4- weeks as a prefervative, (hall not 
 have the Tocth-ach, nor (hall his Ears be troubled with 
 ringing or other noifes, nor (liall his Eyes be troubled 
 with (harp Rheumsjbut by the benefit of this-.thofecon- 
 tinual inveterate Corroders of the Body, Catarrh, Fi- 
 ftnla^ Cancer, and other almoft incurable fymptoms, 
 are throughly cured. 
 
 Hence both Rich and Poor, and thofe efpecially 
 who go long Voyages to Sea, and want Phyficians, 
 ought to efteem this Akxipharmac^znd provide them- 
 felves with it againft a time of nece(rity. If any man 
 carries with him halfan ounce of it, it will be fufficienc. 
 for prefervation and curation for more than a year, in 
 many difeafes. If a Ship going to the Faft or Weft Ir- 
 
 Dddd dii\ 
 
586 
 
 7 he ConfoLnicn 
 
 Part I, 
 
 dies, carry widi rlieni Iialf a pound of it,they may fave 
 the Lives of mnny men ; ore of wh'ch :s o! ten times 
 more value th.m the price of the Medicine, by iielp of 
 which the lives and health of many Hundreds of Men 
 may be prefei vcd, and being fick, may be reduced to 
 ll-eir former liealth. 
 
 Now it is farther necellary to dcfcnbe the Virtues 
 
 wii 
 
 ich ti- 
 
 that 
 
 nc Spirit of Salt fliewcth on Shore; tor 
 which is prolitable to the lick on iliipboard.isnot hurt= 
 fill for thofe who rl well at Land : For this fpiric may 
 be ufcd in all Houfes in their ufual drink, as Beer or 
 Wine,efpecial!y in thefe moift Rc-ions, where the 
 Scurvy commonly reipreth ; io that there is fcarccly 
 an Hoofe to be fonnd, in which there is not one at the 
 leaft infefted with this Difeafe •, for the drink is here 
 by made clear, fo that it well dilateth the Urinary 
 pafrages,moreovtr hindereth the growing of the ftone 
 in the Kidnys and Blauder ; it alfo gives a pleafant 
 talleto the Wine, removeth its fuperfluous Tartar 
 and precipitateth it to the bottom, fo that Spa>.tjl> and 
 fn^.'cb Wine acquire a clcarnefs like to A'k;^ wme- 
 In Summer time, after Liquors have once wrought, it 
 luffereth them not to fret, grow mucous, or work a- 
 gain, but keepeth tlicra from many Accidents. Fni^ch 
 Wines, as fold in many places, have neither odour 
 nor talle, but good- Wine is endowed both witha Vi- 
 nous relilh, and a graterul odour ; and when thefe are 
 wanting , the name aerees not with the thing. But 
 the Spirit of Salt,with the ElTenceof Winexonciliates 
 loFremhwlv.Q the fmcll, tafte, and colour of Rhcmjh 
 wine. Hence alfo being To meliorated, it will, like 
 RUmRi, keep many years, which otherwife will hardly 
 hold good two years. Moreover, by the fpirit of fait 
 that quality may be taken away from Honey, which 
 renders its tafte fomcwhat ungrateful, and its hidden 
 Impurities may be precipitated, fo that an excellent 
 vvholfom drink may be made of it. Which is a famous 
 Art to be ufed in thofe places where there is no wine ; 
 for when Honey is well depurated, and the unpieafant 
 tafte taken from it, it becomes as a comforting Bal- 
 famtoMan; as that old Souldier had experienced, 
 whom Alexander asked what he had ufed to prolong 
 his Life to fo great an Age, be anfwered, That in- 
 wardly he had ufed Honey, and outwardly Oil- And 
 it is evident to m:?ny, tl at there is a great virtue in 
 Honey, but by reafon of th; unpieafant tafte, it is loa- 
 thed -, which yet is removed by the fpirit of fait, fo 
 that a drink prepared of fuch pure Honey, is as whol-- 
 fom asthe b:lt wine : which hath alfo this benclit,that 
 every Houfckccper may liave this drink at his Table, 
 at anytime ofihc year. This honied Nedar alfo hol- 
 deth good many years, after the manner of the beft 
 Tihanlh wine, and is made for a fmall charge, and v;ill 
 be a grcatcomfort to thofc who arc not able to go to 
 the [Mite of wine- Moreover, every one may make 
 his own drink asfttong and as fweet as he pleafeth ; 
 whidiisthe principalheadofthc Art, to take away 
 the ungrateful tafte from t!ie Honey, which !)eing re- 
 moved by the fpirit of fak,the drink will become clear, 
 to which you may add a little Froich or a7;«.';j?j wine 
 for tafte fake. You may thence alfo make good Beer, 
 whi^h u'ill hold its goodnefs i o or 20 years, or more, 
 -ctz.^. if inftead of common water you take the water 
 ofH:ps, to diffolve the purified Honey, to which ( if 
 you pleafe) you may give divers rafts, by potting into 
 it divers Herbs, as is wont to be done in wine and beer. 
 But this you are efpccially to regard. That for this 
 bnfinefs you donctufc unrcdified fpiric of fdtjorfuch 
 would fpoi! the tafte, and corrupt the drink, butal-- 
 waies take that which is wellrcaify'd, which I have 
 
 fufficiently taught the manner of doing of,both in this 
 Treatife, and divers other places of my Writings- 
 
 Nb- There is no need to put the fpirit into a Vef- 
 fel of Wine or Beer, but it fufficeth to keep it in a 
 fmall glafs, and as often as you have occafion to put 
 fome drops of it into a Bottle of Wine or Beer, and 
 fo to drink of it- Every one therefore may make 
 his drink as he will, by putting in raoreorlefsofthe 
 fpirit, according to his Palate-, which doth not only 
 ferve to make the wine and beer clear and diuretick, 
 but may alfo be ufed in Fountain- water, in hot w'ea- 
 ther, for the allaying of wixie : For if fome drops of 
 it be put into a bottle of water, it giveth it a grateful 
 acidity, not much unlike to the natural Mineral acid 
 waters, and in hot weather allayeth the over-great 
 heat of the Blood, and quencheth Thirft, fo that there 
 is no need of burdening the ftomach with much wine 
 or beer. Alfo all thofe drinks, as wine, beer, and 
 water, which are mingled with the wcll-reiftified fpi- 
 rit of fait, are far wholfomer than other ordinary 
 drinks- If a little pure Steel be dilfolved in fpirit of 
 Salt, and then put to fair water, it will have almoft 
 the fame tafte with the S/^ijir-.water, and if fome qu3n= 
 tity of it be drank, itloofeth the belly ,and evacuateth 
 black E.vcrements, whence a man grows lively Jtid vi- 
 gorous, as ifhe had drank of the Sf^tp-.waters- 
 
 And this benefit may accrue by it to all Travellers, 
 who carrying with them a little fpirit of fait in a glafs, 
 may at all times, and in all places, correft and amend 
 their beer or wine in their Tuns, and give it a better 
 relifti : But becaufethis fpirit is more liable to be loft 
 in a liquid form by any accident befalling the glafs, 
 therefore being coagulated into a dry fornij it may 
 be more com raodioufly carried about in a Paper or 
 Box, of which the magnitude of a fmall Peafe drank 
 in one cup of water, quencheth Thirft better than a 
 great quantity of water alone. This fpirit or fait will 
 be ferviceable to men of all forts, but to none more 
 than to Seamen or Souldiers, in war-like expeditions, 
 i of which fometimes more die through want of water, 
 than by the fword, who alfo for the moft part contraift 
 their Difcafes from the filths in Ships, which might: 
 ealily be prevented- What will it profit a Captain 
 ofaManof War, or the Commander of a Merchant* 
 Ihip, to have many men for his defence and fervice, 
 if they are difabled by a Difeafe ? Were it notthen 
 better to ufe all diligence to preferve their health,and 
 toreftoreicwhen loft?Which may be done with fmall 
 Labour and Coft. A General brings an Army foma 
 time into the Field, of 10, 20, or 30 Thoufand Men, 
 and feeing that thofe obferve no due order in eating 
 and drinking, and being deftitute of Medicines, if the 
 Plague^ Ff^v>•,or BLody-Fhix comes among them,they 
 drop oft'one after another like Flies in Winter ; when 
 notwitiiftanding they might be fuccoured and helped 
 in thofe Difeafes by my Eleftuary, |^ This Ele^nnry I 
 thmkjo be the Panacea Antimonij '"i^de up with Sii^ar.'J 
 Salt of Salt, or Spirit of Salt, infpiflated or thicke= 
 red with Sugar. The fpirit of fait hath alwaiesbeen 
 highly efteemed,both by ancient & modern Phyficians, 
 for its great virtues which itflievveth both inwardly 5c 
 outwardly; befides which, it is of great ufe in other 
 Arts, as I have (hewed in the /'Vi? andftcond Part of my 
 Fura.ucs. And that the Reader may fee that I am not 
 fingular in what I have afcribed to the fpirit of fait, I 
 will here fet down the Experience of that no lefs Iear= 
 ncd than fainous Phylician Cumadus Ktmr.-.th^ of the 
 fpirit of fait, as he hath expreffed it in his Mcdn'.U 
 Dtlfill.uori.i, printed at fJambm^h, jinro 1638. in 
 thefe words, P^^rt i . fag. 59. 
 
 The 
 
Part I. 
 
 of Navigators, 
 
 The Great and EfFedual Operations which are 
 attributed to the Spirit or Oil oiSA L T. 
 
 THE Spirit or Oil of Salt is not of fo acrimonious a 
 tajte^ as Salt commonly is : Nor hath it fo great 
 an acidity as the Spirit of y'ltriol, hut it tafieth almofi 
 like the juice of wild Afples, with fomewhat of fweetnefs 
 intermixt. Jt difcujfeth^ dijjolveth^ cvifiwiethy and dry- 
 eth,yet it doth not heat too niuch^but hath a temperate na- 
 ture, mitigating and comforting the natural heat, which it 
 alfoencreafeth^anddif^elleth all things contrary to Na- 
 ture^ preferveththefiate of found hu?nours unhurt^ efpcci- 
 allyproft able for thofe who are phlegmatich^ whofe vijcoiis 
 Saburra of humidities it confumeth-, taketh away Catarrhs 
 which fall from the Head^ and preferveth from all Difea-. 
 jes which arife from a noxious Pituity^ Afucor, and Flu- 
 xes.Tea^thofe whr> ufe labour and ftudy,P>atl perceive their 
 Strength to be reftoredby it^ and as it were renewed. 
 
 Experience, the Mifiris of things, wttneffeth^ That it is 
 (I prefent Remedy againjl f fceFalling-ficknefs, being admi- 
 niftrcd in good Aqua-vit£ : Agamfi the Apoplcxy,Pal- 
 fie? or lofs of Speech ; as alfo the trembling and beating 
 rfthe Hearty and all dejeiitons of Mnd; as alfo in the 
 time of the Plague, or in any infe^ious Air, it may be ad- 
 minijfredwith profit, by mixing half an ounce of the Spirit 
 or Oil of Salt with two ounces of the Juice of fiolets^ and 
 as much of the Electuary of Juniper-berries., in a Stone or 
 Clafs Mortar^ and the Patient tal^ina the quantity of a 
 F liber d in the morning upon an empty ftomach. 
 
 This Compound: A'^edicine being given to Women with 
 child, facilttateth the Birth., and is highly profitable a- 
 gainji various fymptoms ofWojnen in Child-bed., without 
 any danger. If any defire to preferve their native heat, 
 let them of tin ufe this Alexipharmack- 
 
 Whoever is burdened withfuperfluous moifiure, let him 
 take this Spirit or Oil of Salt daily, in Wine or fome other 
 Fehicle. 
 
 In Coldnefs, and continual Fluxes., which flop up the 
 Breaft, it conduceth much., and taketh away inveterate 
 Coughs and grievous Afthma's, which are fiirred up by 
 thofe Flu.xes. It dijfolveth , confumeth, and dijfipateth 
 depraved humours^ coHeUed and indurated in the flomach •., 
 and although of it felftt communicateth little nourijliment, 
 yet it excites the Stomach to a good Appetite, and difpofeth 
 the Adeat to a good digeftion andpafjage through the body. 
 
 It hclpeth in the Tartarous and indurated Obiir\lCi.iof\s 
 of the Liver and Spleen, ro/jicfe /r openeth and relieveth, 
 and hence removcth and taketh away the Jaundice, Drop- 
 lie, Hypocondriack Melancholy, and pains arid ajfetts 
 o/f^Ribs «»^ Vifcera, and alfo whatfoever artfeth 
 from Wind and Flatulency, and other fymptomes proceed- 
 ing from the faid caufcs, it efpeciallj abfunieth the Ana- 
 farca, »■ Water under the skin, and throughly removeth 
 watery Titmbitrs in the Genital Members or Legs, which 
 for the moft parthappen to thofe who are Hydropic al,Phthi- 
 fical, or labour under a Difie/nper of the Liver. It alfo 
 taketh away the great Thirfi in thofe, which otherwise in 
 this ktndofdife.ifes doth not lightly afiliCl, fo that the Pa- 
 iient fl\tll h.-tve no defire of drinking, but may remain fome 
 dates without. The fame is alfo a Remedy againfl all pu- 
 trid Fevers- 
 
 In tormenting Pains of the Belly, and Cholick, wfe/V/; 
 I ■ •«re excited by the vifcofity of humours, or intemperature of 
 flatulency, cr force of cold, and a denfe and tough Phlegm 
 driven into the Intejlines ^ this fpirit rejolveth and ccnfii. 
 I vieth, andfo openeth thefiopt pafages of the Bowels, and 
 hojeneth the Bi lly, that it eaf th the Iliack pains, whether 
 it In taken at the mouth, or adminifl^red Clyjferwfe- In 
 
 287 
 
 the Lientery,Dyrenccry,o/- Uxmovvhz^tjt is to hcnven 
 tn Clyftus ; in Itk^ manner tn Nephritick DtfeafZ and 
 
 the dolorous Stone in the Bladder, which tt difpelUthand 
 e.xterminateth. 
 
 /« Ruptures, rf/r/jt' Hernia rfv^Enterocele, let fome 
 drops be given daily tn good Wine ; kt the Tumour of the 
 Scrotum be alfo often anointed with this Spirit or Oil,a>/d 
 chert filed by a fit Trufs, or fome other bandage, and in a few 
 dates the fick will recover his former health. 
 
 It kilkth all Worms in the Body, .nflcth them out,and 
 prohibits their breeding <gain. 
 
 It is a /noft efi^iialprefervative ag.iinft the contaaion 
 o/f fee Plague ; and alfo is very conducihle to thofe % ho 
 are already infeiled. It alfo wonderfully prcfitethfuch as 
 have eaten Poifonous A'/nfiirooms or Opium, as a'.fo thofe 
 who are hurt by Serpents, Hpers, Spiders, and the likeve- 
 nomous Infects, it is accommodated both to inward and out- 
 ward ufe, bccaufe it confumeth virulent humidities. For 
 the flinging of Wafps and Hornets it is to be applied topi- 
 cally. ' 
 
 For fat Women, and thofe who are troubled with impu- 
 rities of the Matrix, from a fuperfliioiss phlegmatick, hu- 
 mour, it is very profitable ; for by the benefit of it, every 
 redund.wcy and incommod^ty of Phlegm is purified, confi- 
 med, and dried up,fo that the jeed may more eaftly refl in 
 the Womb, and fertility be greatly promoted. 
 
 In protuberant Excrtfcencies of the Eyes, Films, Ca- 
 taraas,Blifters,Puftles, or Spots, Dimnefs or Dark- 
 nefs of fight, n is to bcufcd in a good Cvllyry, or other 
 commodious Vehicle. In Blows, Bruifes, or Falls, when 
 the Blood IS congealed, ( which we call black and blue ) in 
 the Eyes or Face, let a bit of a Sponge or Lint he wetted 
 with the Spirit or Oil of Salt, and applied to the place af-. 
 feaed; or elfe difolve in the fame a little red Myrrh, 
 and with the Difulution mix a little Honey, and 
 anoint with ir. It dnveth aw.iy noife-and pain^of tl:c 
 Ears, alfo when the Ears fend forth an ulcerous and pu- 
 rulent matter, the fame Medicine may be adminiflred with 
 an happy fuccefs . And in thefe Symptoms it is to be mi.vcJ 
 with Winc-Finegar, and dropped into the Ears, and rub- 
 bed upon the difeafed parts. 
 
 In the Thrani, and other fore mouths of fuckina Chil- 
 dren, alfo in the glandular or kerhtlly Swellings' of the 
 Neck,fculne/sof the Tongue, fwe lied and rotten Gums 
 Scurvy in the Mouth, Tooth- ach, fuferfluous humour's 
 andfllths adhering to the Teeth a>id Gums, this Spirit or 
 Oil of Salt is an e.-ccelUnt Remedy ; as alfo in prefervino- 
 from thofe Evtls^ it is to be conjoined with clarified Ho- 
 ney, and the Mouth, or parts afeUed in it, to be anointed 
 therewith. Again fl the evil ^ff'eHs andVlcers of Wo- 
 mens Breafls,fome linen rags are to be humected with the 
 Spirit or Oil of Salt, and t1ny will be quickly healed. The 
 moifi Itch, Tetters, Ringworms, and other contagious 
 Afe^s of the Skin, are happily cured by both the inward 
 and outward ufe of this Spirit. Ulcers and fungous Tg. 
 mours in the Venereal Difeaje, or others, if we would bring 
 them toafuppuration, the Oil of Salt ivilleJfeU tt, being 
 applied either alone,or mixed with other convenient Reme- 
 dies . For the healing of venomous VIcers, which pierce 
 the Bone itfclf, as alfo all virulent Jpcfiems, the Spirit 
 or OilofSalt is to be mixed with White-wine, and Barley- 
 Flour, into the confiflency of a Plafter, which is to be appli, 
 ed to the Sore. 
 
 Alfo in cancerous, eating, and fpreadmg VIcers it is 
 very profit able, being mi.vcd with the juice of Rhue,and apt- 
 ly applied. 
 
 That I may fummarily exprcfs its ufe both inwardly 
 and outwardly. It reflflcth all fuid and corrodma Vices 
 and l.iyeth the foundation of their Cure. In tuxated 
 p.'ortened, cr contracted members and joints, it afordeth 
 
 frefcfil 
 
sSS 
 
 The ConfoUtion 
 
 Part I 
 
 Yrcfu:t Mp, being nfcd done, or joined mth fit fomntm- 
 oiii or Epithems. ■ , ■ j 
 
 h, the taking away of Warts, this Spirit is to be mixed 
 with the juice of AfangoUs^ and applied to than: It alfo 
 tak^th away Corns, if after they art foftened with warm 
 water, tlcy he well cut and cjwinted with this Oil. in 
 the Eryflpelas, St. Anthony's Fire, this being mixed 
 with EUcr^ymegar, and applied, is of great virtue. 
 
 The Hands or Feet being corrupt id or chapt by Cold,are 
 recovered by the b^tft of t his AUdiane. This Spirit or 
 Oil arcatly condnchh to help the wearinefs and weaknefs of 
 the '^Fut and other Members, rcflonng to them their 
 firength and vigour, if they be well bathed therewith be fore 
 
 the fire. ' v j 
 
 Moreover, in the dolorous Gout it. is a famous Remedy, 
 and a profit able Anodine for allaying the pain, if be fides 
 Its internal life it be alfo applied topically • For to this our 
 Medicine are to be joined Oil of Turpentine, Oil of Wax 
 on of Camomile, or alfo Oil of Coir^tps, with which the 
 f.irts ajfeHed are to be well anointed. But where the mem- 
 bers are contra^ed by Fluxions and Catarrhs,]^! Fomen- 
 tations arc alfo to be tifed, andbc fides our Oil or Spirit, the 
 dtdcified Oil of rnriol. and pure Oil of Turpentine, arc to 
 be mi. xcd together, and the parts to be therewith anointed 
 before the fire. And hence the Nerves and Joints are Jo 
 comforted, that they will net foeafily admit fuch Flu.xtons 
 a?ain. JIfo if t Here be Tophes or Nodes in the Joints, 
 they will he dtfciijfed beyond Lclief; being duly anointed 
 ixitb this Oil, mixed with the dulcified Oil of f^itnol. 
 
 It is alfoufed with great profit both inwardly and out- 
 wardly,.igainfi the Cramp and Convulfion of the Nerves 
 
 by Cold. 
 
 In extcrnalWounds andSympton:s there often happens 
 a Pntretude, and alfo proud Fie fii fvmetimes fiarteth up, 
 and cauftth great pain. Thefe Protuberances being anoin- 
 ted with this Oil or Spirit, are prefently dijfolvcdand con- 
 fumed, and alfo preferved from future corruptions. 
 
 In brief, this is a mofi excellent Medicine^ overcoming 
 
 jnanyDiJeafes. Moreover, the Reader is to know, that 
 
 this Spirit or Oil of Salt, ( bcfides thofe Virtues which I 
 
 have declared) if it be diligently prepared, and rightly 
 
 pnfcribed, may he ufedfor the preparing of many excellent 
 
 and precious things in the Chymical Art; for it diffol- 
 
 ■veth Gold, Gemms, and other Stones, Pearls, Corals, &c. 
 
 fo that they are reduced into e.vcelltnt Medicines,tn a liejiiid 
 
 or potable form, highly ufeful for Mankind: But how 
 
 thofc Proccjfes are to be infiituted, I fiiall here pretermit, 
 
 But be that hath drawn a good foundation of working from 
 
 that information which my Medulla Deftillatoria hath 
 
 faithfully propounded, Lt him weigh the matter with an ac- 
 
 curate mind, and put his hand to the Work, there is no-. 
 
 thing in it fo tedious, but he will eafily conceive; moreo- 
 
 xer^ let him affociate himfelf with honefi, fincerc, and 
 
 skilful Artifis, and take their ccunfcl, then he will find out 
 
 many Secrets of Narure,audfingular Arcana's, and will 
 
 fee that his care and diligence hath not been w vain : Then 
 
 let him ufe that Experience to the Glory of God, and the 
 
 help of bis needy Neighhutir. 
 
 The Virtues or mod efficacious Operations of 
 the Spirit or O/l of Salt, in which Gold is 
 ightly diilblvcd, according to Art ; or, when 
 
 nt 
 
 it ihall be made an Auri4m Potahilc. 
 
 PHllofophers and Phyficians, endowed with the great 
 Exercife and Knowledge of Things, have attnbutid 
 to the Spirit or Oil ofS.dt, in w'.iih Gold is rightly difol- 
 vtd,er the Aunmi PotzUkwadc with it, vcrygn.:i ope 
 
 rations in the body of Man, in a f much as in all Difeafts 
 and Infirmities,of what name foevrr^ it givethprcfent help, 
 and in all dejcciions of the vital fptrit, although they tend. 
 to the fatal period, it giveth fi'.ch relief, th.it life and vi- 
 gour may be yet fomewhat farther protra^cd, if; xj,tbreey 
 or four drops be adminiftred as occafion fi'li/crvem a 
 good Aqua vitae or Cordial Water. In like manner, if 
 three drops be adminifirredonce a week '» generous JVr-je, or 
 Aqua vitx,or other fit Fehicle, it tenovatetb a ."i.i>, makes 
 him youthful, changcthgray Hairs, froducah new NaiU^ 
 and Skin, prefcrveth froin\varivus and divcrfc fymptoms 
 of Difeafes, and preferveth the body tn fuch a ftate, even 
 to the prefixed hour of the Divine appointment, 
 
 Thefe are the very words of that famous Philofo- 
 pher and Chymical Phyfician Conradus Kunrath, in his 
 Medit'la Deslillatoria ; as the Reader may there fee- 
 Now any may eafily conjedure, that although this 
 learned man had found out many things, yet that he 
 knew not all, but what was known to him, that he di- 
 vulged. But that as yet more might be done by that 
 Spirit or Oil of Salt, than what he had fet down, ea- 
 fily appeareth from that which he (heweth at the end, 
 concerning the Oil or Liquor of Gold, prepared by 
 the Spirit of Salt, which words arc Truth ic fclf, and 
 much more may be done by the benefit of that folu- 
 tion. He hath written what Experience hath taught 
 him, the reft he hath left to the ftudy and fearches of 
 others. 
 
 Seeing therefore that I alfo (not to fpeak boalling- 
 ly) have often handled Furnaces and Coals,and among 
 others, have found this Liquor of Gold or Aurim Pc- 
 tabile, made withOil of Salt,to be of great virtue, and 
 knowing its great ufe, power, and virtue by experi- 
 ence, 1 will defcribe it in an open ftile, left fo noble a 
 Medicine fiiould be buried. Such a Liquor of Gold as 
 is here mentioned, is compounded of the pureft Sol, 
 and the moft highly reiflified and again concentrated 
 Spirit of Salt : The Sol is to be firft melted, and 
 throughly purged with Antimony, then to be diffol- 
 ved in Aqua Regia, and precipitated with ; , to be 
 edulcorated and brought into a fubtile Calx, which 
 muft be heat red-hot (to free it from the g) and then 
 difiblved in ftrong and well-prepared Oil of Salt ; be- 
 ing difiblved, abftrad part of the fpirit of fait from it, 
 and a very yellow Liquor of Gold will remain at th? 
 bottom, which yet is not, fit for ufe alone, feeing that 
 the Oil of Salt containeth too much Acrimony i 
 therefore a drop of it is to be mixed with a fpoonfut 
 of Beer, Winej or warm Broth, before it be admini- 
 ftred to weaken the fpirit of fait ; but if any defireto 
 haveitfv?eeter>inftead of Wine, Beer, or Broth) ic 
 may be mixed with melted Sugar, or fyrup of Rofes. 
 The Dofe for a man of ripe age,is two or three drops, 
 which if he (hall perceive not to operate fufficiently,he 
 may encreafe to three or four drops, fo long, till he 
 fliall find an evident operation, which appearing, let 
 him encreafe the Dofe no longer, but rather diminifh 
 it a drop ; and when the Oil of Gold rightly perfor- 
 meth its operations, thefc figns will appear : In the 
 firft ufe, a certain loathing or naufeoufnefs of the fto- 
 mach,will be perceived, when the Oil ofGoldfindeth 
 there a vitious pituity, and endeavouring to expel it, 
 driveth it downwards, and ejedeth it by flool. i.The 
 Excrements are as black as a Coal, and during the ufe 
 of the Medicine, the fick maketh a difcharge by ftcols 
 at leaft twice, fomecimcs three or four times, without 
 any impediment or fence of neceffity, as is wont to be 
 in the working of Purges. The Urine will alfo be 
 thick and turbid, bccaufcthe Medicine diflolveth the 
 Tartar and Phlegm in the Reins and Bladder? and by 
 
 dC' 
 
Part I. 
 
 of Navigatorr. 
 
 289 
 
 degrees expelleth it. N B- That by the black Excre- 
 ments, it is manifeftjthat Gold may be radically dilfol- 
 ved in the ftomach of a Man, which fome thiiik to be 
 impoflile. The humane ftoraach hath a grearer po- 
 wer in thedeflrudlion of things than the ftrongeft fire, 
 as may be here feenby thcGold : Yea, all things 
 which are eaten or drank, in the fpace of 24 hours, it 
 throughly diflblveth and tranfmuieth into a new form 
 of Excrements. 
 
 If the ftomach of a man canefFe(fl fuch things, why 
 not Art alfo ? Yea, hence it is cxprelly proved, that 
 the colours of Gold, at length, when it is radically 
 dilTolved and deftroyed, do appear, and may be 
 known, feeing that in Colours Blacknefs hath as it 
 were the firft and chief place,and containcih all others 
 hidden and concentrated under it. 
 
 NB. That thefe black Excrements fliould not be 
 caft away, but the radically-dilTolved Gold ought to 
 be feparated from them, with which perhaps fome 
 great thing may be effefted. 
 
 1 fome time finceadminiftred this Oil of Gold, for 
 eight or ten dales fucceffivelyj to a certain Infant, for 
 the freeing his body from Mercury, which had been 
 imprudently given him for the jWorms ; I ordered 
 the Excrements to be faved, for fome Experiment, 
 which neverthelefsibecaufe they flood long and bred 
 Worms, I could not ufe, but commanded them to be 
 cut to the Roots of a young Vine, which had not yet 
 born Grapes, being but of two years growth, which 
 produced a fmall Grape with large ftones, which had 
 golden fpots like Stars, admirable to behold. This 
 Example is worthy of a profound confideration. It al: 
 fo feems to me, that the Urine of thofe who continu- 
 ally ufe the aforefaid golden Liquor fhould be aurife- 
 rous, although it appear not in the colour. The thing 
 is out of doubt, feeing that men, in the ufe of the faid 
 Medicine, attraft only a certain hidden virtue from 
 the Gold, and again fend the reft forth of the body, 
 that that Gold is better than other common Gold : 
 The Benignity of the Divine Being hath difpofedand 
 ordained every thing in the World forthebeft. 
 
 Seeing that in the Stomach of Man or Beaft the Food 
 is deftroyed and putrefied, Nature taking a little from 
 it only for nourifhment fake, cafteth out the reft by 
 liege, which yet is not of fo abjcft a condition, as to 
 want its virtues ? for if thefe Excrements be mixed 
 with any Earth, moiftened with Rain-water, and ex- 
 pofed to the open Air, there will thence fpring forth 
 divers Herbs, without the addition of any feed ; but if 
 the feed of any Herb be adjoined, then is alfo brought 
 forth fruit of the fame fubftance and quality ^ fo that 
 thefe Excrements may degenerate, and be converted 
 into whatfoever Fruits we will : From which Foun- 
 tain the multiplication of Herbs and Metals may per- 
 haps take its original- Therefore it is necelTary, that 
 Putrefadlion fiiould go before Multiplication ; which 
 our Saviour himfelf told his Difciples, faying. Except 
 a grain of Wheat ^lall fall into the Earthy ancUie^tt re- 
 maimth alone ; hut if it die, it hringethfjrth much fruit- 
 The Axiom of Philofophers is, Where Nature endeth^ 
 andleaveth the WorkJmfe-rfeU:^ there Art ought to begin. 
 But the manner of proceeding farther they have invol- 
 ved in filence. Nature from the beginning hath fub- 
 limed a Mineral £"j, or firft matter of Metals, as much 
 
 as it could, and brought it to the royal feat, or hi-'heft 
 perfeftion : Art hath deftroyed the moft perfcif bo- 
 dy of Gold by corrolives, and being deftroyed, hath 
 again diftblvcd it in tlie body of Man : But if any knqv? 
 the manner of proceeding farther with it, he may eafi- 
 ly reduce that ElTenceof the dillbl ved Gold into a bet- 
 ter, and multiply it : But I would not have this taken 
 for an Oracle, feeing thefe arc only my Cogitations. 
 
 The Life of this Medicine is to becontinuedtill the 
 body is freed from all ill fympcoms ;>nor are any other 
 Remedies to be intermixed with it, that its operation 
 may not be hindered : But before this Medicine hs 
 adminiftred, a Dofeor tivo of my Panacea .ouohc to 
 be given, (of which the Second part of my Phar%acop. 
 treateth) for then its efferts arc to be admired. 
 
 This Oil of Gold, or AnrumiPotabile^ is of much 
 greater force in all thofe Difcafes, in which the fim- 
 ple fpirit of fait is conducible, becaufe the Oil of falc 
 hath double the ftrcngth of the fpirit, and alfo diffij- 
 feth its virtues much ^better, by reafon of the Gold 
 which is anatomized in it; the which, becaufe it is of 
 a hot and dry property, agreetli very well with the Oil 
 of fait, whofe nature is hot andmoift: and hence ic 
 e/Fertually relifteth all Corruption which may arife in 
 the humane body. 
 
 Befides, the Virtues which the fpirit of fait, and 
 efpecially the Oil of Gold prepared with it, manifeft 
 both within and without the body ^ it is an egregious 
 prefervative againft Drunkennefs,which 
 is the root of many Difeafes, and the Spirit of Salr, 
 gate by which many evils enter : For ^ Remedy a- 
 ftrong Wine or ftale Beer being drank, Kfs^""" 
 fuffer nothing in the ftomach, becaufe it 
 cannot reftrain their fubtile fpirit, which prefently 
 flieth up into the Head, and difordereth and confound 
 deth allthefenfes. But if in the drinking, a little fpi: 
 rit of fait be mixed with the Wine, it openeth the O- 
 rificeofthe ftomach, and fufFersnotthe fpirits to fl/ 
 upward, but reftraineth and bindeth them, alfo miti- 
 gateth and reprefieth that unnatural Thirft, which 
 otherwife the Wine caufeth in excedive drinkings : 
 Nor doth the Wine, which is mixed with fpirit°o^ 
 fait, fo eafily hurt the Liver •, for as the fpirit of wine 
 heats and inflames the Liver, fo the fpirit of fait cor- 
 reds and cools it. Add that the fpirit of fait permits 
 not the liquor to lie lurking in the ftomach, but pre- 
 fently cafteth it out by Urine : and the fooner the fu- 
 perfluous Wine is caft out of the body, the lefs hurt ic 
 can do. But this is to be underftood of the fpirit of 
 fait well redified, and fubtilly prepared. 
 
 In fliort, I might fooner want Paper to write, than' 
 matter to exprefs what good the fpirit of fait coagu- 
 lated can do, being taken in drink ; I have faid enough' 
 for the prefent ; in my f^e/etable Wo,\ I will more 
 fully difcourfeofthis matter,in which I now acquiefce.' 
 Whatfoever I have here written of a Medicine againft 
 all Sea-faring Difeafes, and of the concentration of 
 Corn and Water, againft Hunger and Thirft ; as alfo 
 of the moft efficacious ufe of Spirit of Salt, againft 
 Drunkennefs, and of the melioration of iVVine, Beer, 
 Water, and other Drinks, is built upon the pure fouq- 
 dation of Truth, which Experience it felf will fuffici- 
 ently teftifie ; with which I put an End to this Dif 
 courfe. 
 
 Eeee 
 
 n 
 
290 
 
 PartlJ 
 
 "i* 
 
 A True and Perfed 
 
 DESCRIPTION 
 
 O F 
 
 Extrafting good TARTAR 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 %m of mm> 
 
 And that after a Plentiful Manner; 
 
 To the moft <l(eyerend <?%^inCE JOHN PHILIP, Lord Arch'MJhop of Mo- 
 guntina, Hg/; Chancellor of the Empire, and Elefior, ^ip?op of Herbipolenfis, Duke 
 o/f ranconia, ^c, my moft Honoured Lord, 
 
 IPrefume, you remember ( moft Reverend 1 
 and Noble Lord Arch-Bifliop and Eledior) 
 that about Two Years fince, I crav'd Your 
 Lordfliip's Licence, to Extract Tartar from 
 theLeesof Wine ; which your Highnefs was 
 pleafed to grant me. From which Work, feeing 
 I have been hitherto hindered by the multipli- 
 city of other bufinefs, and the great Wafte and 
 Lofs which is daily fuftain'd in the E.led:orate 
 oi'MoguMtiHa, and Bilhoprick of Herbipolenfis^ 
 proceeding from the Ignorance of the Lees, dai- 
 ly troubles me; I have determined to dedicate 
 this gainful Extra^ion of Tartar from the Lees 
 of Wine, to your Elcfloral Reverence, under 
 whofe Patronage I may be fafe, and for this 
 Rcafon cfpecially, Becaufe none of the Princes 
 of Germany enjoy a greater Vintage than your 
 Reverend Highnefs ; to whom not only a 
 good part of the Tradt of the Rhine, but al- 
 moft the whole Jurifdiftion of ^/^»f, together 
 witii Franconia, by Divine Providence, belongs ; 
 being very fruitful in Wines; where alfb much 
 Lees are caft away, thro' \gx\or^nc& of the way 
 of extrafting their Tartar, for the Good of 
 the Country, from which a good Spirit of Wine 
 might firfl be drawn by Dcftillaticn ; xheTar- 
 t.jr contained in the thick Lees, and remaining 
 
 in the bottom of the Still, is by all Men cafl: 
 away, as unprofitable, a few excepted, who 
 with great Labour dry them, and of thern 
 make clavellated Afhes : Which Wafte or Lois 
 of the Lees, feeing that it makes every year an 
 incredible Lofs of Tartar, I have thought fit to 
 expofe the Knowledge of this Myftery to the 
 Eyes of all Men, for the Good of my Country, 
 by which fbme being inftrufled, may let about 
 the Extra^ion of Tartar with great Gain, not 
 doubting, but many, when they fhall fee this 
 Labour to be profitable to others, undertaking 
 the fame, will bring great Profit to their im- 
 poverifh'd Country. 
 
 Therefore I truft, this Little Work will be 
 acceptable to your Reverend Highnefs. And I 
 pray the Giver of all Good Things, to furnifh 
 both your Soul and Body with His Gracious 
 Benefits, who ftudy to be 
 
 Your Highnefs's moft 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 
 y. ^id. Glauber. 
 
 A 
 
Part I. 
 
 291 
 
 A True and PerfeB Befcripion of ExtraBing good T ART A%^ 
 
 from the LEES of Wl NE, &c. 
 
 FIril of all, we mufl: know what Dregs are, or 
 what is their EU'ence and Nature, how tliey 
 are refolv'd into Parts, and the Good fepa- 
 rated from the Unufeful, becaufe without 
 the knowledge of the thing we can't give a right 
 judgment of it, but mufl erre : Therefore it is nece- 
 Ifary that we know what we have in our hands, that 
 vve may the fafer handle it. For this caufe I fhall 
 fhew the Ignorant what are properly Dregs,and which 
 way the better part may be extraifled, that hereafter 
 fo great a Good may not by ignorant lluggilhnefs be 
 laid afide, but converted to the profit of all. 
 
 All thick matter, whether it be of Wine, Beer, Vi- 
 negar, or the like, when it has ftood a little, fends 
 the earthy, heavy, and more thick part of it, to the 
 bottom, which vve call Dregs or Lees, upon which the 
 clearer part flows, to be feparated from the impurity, 
 as in the making of common drii ksmaybefecn. 
 
 There was no ufc of thefe Dregs heretofore, except 
 the making Brandy with e'm, and the reft to be 
 throivn out of doors, in which was much Virtue, 
 which Men did not think of : But that all things are 
 not unprofitable vvhich the Vulgar pronounce fo, and 
 that there may be great Virtue in ordinary Matter, I 
 fliall demonftrate by this Excrementof Wine. 
 
 When the Juice out of the VVineprefs is put into 
 Hogfheads, that there working.the dregs falling to the 
 bottom, the clean Wine may come out, the fuperflu- 
 ous Salt of new Wine, while it is fqueez'd out of the 
 Grapes, with the fame labour is feparated, partftick- 
 ing to the fides of the VefTel, which we call Tartar j 
 but the greater part of this Salt or Tartar, imply 'd in 
 the turbid dregs like Sand, finks to the bottom. Be- 
 fides, this is the property of Salts, that by a hot hu- 
 mour they make a thin water, the humour growing 
 cold, not being able to keep all the dilTolv'd Salt that 
 iscompelPd to feparate, which excluded the Vehicle, 
 feeks a new place. If you put into the Solutions Sticks 
 or Strings, that Cryftalline Salt, in a cubical or angu-- 
 lar figure agreeable to its nature, will ftick to them ; 
 or otherwife it cleaves to the fides of the Vefiel. 
 
 'Tis beyond all Controverfie, that the Grape above 
 all Vegetables has much Salt, not fenfible, unlefs it is 
 fermented with a minute heat, which working by 
 Nature, endeavours a feparation, while the purer and 
 more liquid part retains fo much Salt as the Wine has 
 need of, the thicker Salt being exturbated, part of 
 which incruftates the fides of the VelTel, part of much 
 thicknefs fticks, and fubfiding with them, gets the ap- 
 pellation of dregs, from which the vulgar are wont to 
 deftilaSpiiitor Brandy Wine : But thefe dregs are 
 not a ufelefs matter, as they have been hitherto 
 thought, for much Tartar may be extraded out of em 
 with little coft. 
 
 But he that fhall fearch more narrowly into the 
 thing, will fir;d a way whereby poor and decaying 
 Wine may be made good. 
 
 In fbme places, as fuppofe in Fnviconia, yllfatia, 
 ^nftvia^ and the Khonjli I rdl^ moft fruitful for Itore 
 of wine,thefe lees of wine are made nothing of,but are 
 given to Swine and other Cattel to drink, by which 
 
 means the Tartar in it fo purges 'em, that they are 
 foonfat; they feldom try to drap^ the fpirit thence. 
 Otherwhere, where wine is not ma'<3e,efpecia!ly where 
 they fetch their wine a great way,they are much eftee: 
 med of,not only becaufe wine may be drawn from 'em, 
 but alfo put in fmall Hempen facks, are prefTed in ada- 
 pted Preli'es, agood mixt wine flowing thence faleable 
 to others ; yet this being but a fmall wine, many have 
 deftinated it for Vinegar, to which it belt agrees •■, but 
 he that knows how to reftore to ic what it loft in pref- 
 fing, may make a palatable ftrong wine, not inferiour 
 to what it was at firft : But this Secret belongs to ano- 
 ther place, I fliall here only treat of V inegar and Spi- 
 rit of Wine. 
 
 In Holland^ France-, Italy^ this prefling of the dregs 
 and preparation of Vinegar is of frequent ufc> and 
 very profitable to many, who get nothing but what 
 they fqueeze out of the dregs they have of the Vint- 
 ners, and convert the Wine into Vinegar ; the refidue 
 of the dregs they put into Barrels, and fell it to Hat- 
 ters, which being boil'd in water^ they thicken rough 
 Hats with it^ for Wool is brought into a little com- 
 pafs by hot water, and by how much the hotter that is, 
 the Hats are made the thicker by it : For fince it is 
 the nature of Tartar to make the water wherein 'tis 
 diluted hotter than fire, and fince there is much Tar- 
 tar in thedregs, by virtueof which, water acquires a 
 more intenfedegreeofheat, which the ignorant Hat- 
 ters afcribe to the limofity of dregs rather to be at- 
 tributed to the inherent Tartar, hence they put fo 
 much dregs in every pot as they know to be needful 
 totheconftipation of the wool. 
 
 And this is the ufe to which prefl Lees are put, but 
 if they have a greater quantity than the Hatters ufe, 
 fometimes they are corrupted, part turns to Worms, 
 and afterward to a moft ftinking dirt fit for nothing. 
 When they fell them to the Hatters, then the Vinegar 
 made of the wine preft out of them, which coft them 
 little, brings 'em great profit, otherwife they would 
 not gain much by their own Art, if they were not eas'd 
 by the Hatters taking the refidue- 
 
 But after what manner Vinegar may be madeJ fhall 
 briefly fhew : Vinegar-makers difpofe many Hogfheads 
 upon Stands afoot high from theground,under which 
 a pot to receive the Vinegar is fet, ereded in a hoC 
 place, the upper head being taken out, about the mid- 
 dle of the Hogfliead they place two pieces of Wood 
 acrofs, fuftaining another foraminous bottom, upon 
 which they put the Vinous dregs, filling the Veflel 
 even to the top, then they cover it with the head or 
 fome good fquare Cover, that little Air may enter j 
 whenintvvoorthree dales, by putting in your hand, 
 fufScient heat is perceiv'd, the wine which before was 
 preft out of the dregs, is to be pour'd to it, fo that the 
 wine may be above the dregs, fo the Hogfliead clofe 
 covered is left, till on the oppofite row another Hog- 
 fliead can be filled with the like dregs and grow hocj 
 then the Wine being drawn out cf the firft hogfhead, 
 is poured into this, till the drees in the firft hogfliead 
 begin again to be hot, which are again to be macerated 
 in the firft Wine. This mutnal affufion and depletion 
 
 of 
 
292 
 
 The Extra&ion 
 
 Part h 
 
 of the Wine is to be repeated till a jufl: acidity follows, 
 which may be done in the fpace of two or three weeks, 
 according to the heat of the Air^ which will be good 
 arxl permanent Vinegar, to be kept for fale in another 
 Hoglhead. Prefently the firft dregs being hot, frelli 
 wine is to be pour'd to thcm,doing all things as before, 
 tfl! this wine alfo (hall become good Vinegar. If you 
 have many Hogfheads, you may make Vinegar all 
 Summer only, but if you will alfo work m Winter,the 
 place may be made hot by the help of a Furnace. 
 
 After this manner in trMce and fJvlUfid many Fa-- 
 milies are maintarTi'd and enriched, by the dregs of 
 ,Wine prefl: and converted to Vinegar. 
 
 And now I (hall produce my Invention,a good Gik 
 of God, as I take it, to good men ; 'Tis certain, that m 
 ViniferousCountriesjwhere much dregs are boughtfor 
 a fmall price, they may obtain a profit to themfelves 
 not to be defpisM ; for which (next to God) they are 
 beholden to me, who by unwearied toil have found 
 this Science , and let 'em Ihcw their gratitude towards 
 Needy Perfons, left they incurr the difpleafure of 
 God, and fo turn this Blelfing into a Curfe. 
 
 Firft of all, let there be a good Prefs, with a long 
 Beam, from which hang weights, let there be put in 
 fmall bags at leaft 5 or 6 Firkins of Lees, and them 
 found ly preft. 
 
 The wine that comes out by pre(rion,you may turn to 
 Vinegar, either by the help of other Lees, or fome 
 other method ; pour as much of the thick in the facks 
 withadueproportionof water into a Still, let it not 
 boil in ftilling, the Head being on, apply the refrige- 
 ratory, manage the deftillation as other wile Spirit _ of 
 Wine is wont to be drawn, keep the Spirit proceeding 
 thence till there is a good quantity of it, which you 
 ought to reftifie or clarifie by feveral deftillations : 
 ( tho this Spirit is not abundant in the dry dregs, yet 
 there is fufficient to pay for the making of the Vine- 
 gar and Tartar) when there comes an infipid water, 
 take out the fire, open the Pipe or Cock coming from 
 the Still, let the water with the dregs run through the 
 Channel into a great fack put to the Prefs, when 'tis 
 clofe ty'd, prefs it, that the moift may be feparated 
 from the dry : the Liquor cooling in a peculiar Vef- 
 fel, and congealed into Tartar, will ftick to the fides, 
 the reft falls down like fand : Take out the dregs re- 
 maining in the fack, dry them in the heat of the Sun, 
 burn them under a Still as wood, and you will have 
 very (harp aihes, commonly called clavellated a(hes, 
 ufeful for Dyers, the price of which (at leaft) exceeds 
 the predion and preparation of Tartar- When you 
 have (inifhed one deftillation with the Prefs, fill the 
 empty Deftillatory with frelh water and dregs,as be- 
 fore, and while you draw fpirit thence, prefs the firft 
 dregs, and continually put the deftillation to the fame 
 Prefs, which coming out hot, don't put it to the for- 
 mer, but give proper Vellcls to each deftillation. The 
 dayafter,putthelirft water from which the Tartar 
 went to the bottom, to the third deftillation, inftead 
 of frefh water ,that is, by dilfolving and dcftilling new 
 dregs in it, as I have taught : Let the fsces of the 
 fourth deftillation be pour'd in the fccond water,which 
 hath let fall its Tartar, and fo afterwards, by which 
 Compendium you will make no wafte of Tartar,^ but 
 v?hat remains in the water, may take encreafe from 
 the new dregs to which it is pour'd, and it will give 
 its Gain : But if you will, you may animate that acid 
 water from which the Tartar is feparated, and with a 
 fmall charge, by Grain and Fruits of Trccs,give it life 
 and foul again, that it may again be made Wine, not 
 unlike the (irft preft from the Lees, after the fame me^ 
 
 thod it isturn'd into Vinegar, ( becaufe 'tis already 
 (liarp, the life or foul only that preferve from Cor- 
 ruption being wanting) the way of proceeding wiil 
 bring great Gain to him that undeiftands it. 
 
 If you know not the adminiftration, do as I have 
 order'd, and inftead of common water, dillolve the 
 hard dregs in this acid, and you will have good Tar- 
 tar •, but that languid water may alfo be adhibited to 
 other ufes, which 1 fliall fet down in the end of this 
 Book: This do, that the fsces be not burnt by too 
 great a fire, nor the fpirit ftink, and the ftill be fpoil'd, 
 which you may prevent if you anoint the bottom with 
 Lard before you put in the heavy water, and draw off 
 the fpirit. Here I might fliew a Compendium where- 
 by the dregs, tho' dry, fliould not be in danger of bur- 
 ning, but it would be long and tedious to the Reader. 
 But if you mind diligently what I have written, yoa 
 will get enough. 
 
 When you have gotten a good quantity of Tartar 
 from theLees, not neat to outward appearance, but 
 very like dirt or fand, purge it yet more, that either it 
 may be reduc'd to a very fair Cry ftal, or till it cleaves 
 in great Fragments to the fides of the VelTcl, which 
 you may effert by the following Way. Fill a ^efica 
 with limpid water, almoft to the top, put a little gra- 
 nulated Tartar into that water, foundly boiling to 
 difiolve, putting a ftick to the bottom, you may fee 
 when itisdillblv'd, add more by degrees, till no more 
 will melt in the water, which you may thus find out : 
 Fill a Pewter Saucer with this Liquor, if it contra(fls 
 a little skin or cream, it ftievvs that it has enough Tar- 
 tar to produce Cryftals, but if not, add more Tartar* 
 till you fee this fign in the pot ■, while it boils,add the 
 fcum taken ofFwith a perforated Brafs Ladle, to the 
 dry Lees, which by reafon of the Tartar adhering, 
 when burnt, conduces to the clavellated afhes; when 
 the boiling has drawn Tartar enough, let it be let out 
 thro' the Pipe of the Still into a clean Receiver,where 
 while the water cools, the Cryftals will incruftate on 
 the fides-, apply the reft of the water to the fame ufes, 
 you will do better ; if you fhall change it into Wine or 
 Vinegar, let the Cryllalline roughnefs remain in the 
 VefiTel, for if you add a new boiling, greater and fai- 
 rer forts of Cryftals will be made, becaufe by how 
 much the thicker this Tartar is,fo much the dearer 'tis 
 held ; and thus you may conciliate thicknefs to your 
 Cryftals. When it (liall fecm enough, pour the reft 
 of the Solutions into another Veffel, in which the firft 
 Tartar has concreted, let it dry of it felf, afterwards 
 ftrike the fides of it with a great blow, and great Frag- 
 ments of Tartar will fall down, which you may fell 
 for profit,put the veifelto the fame labour again. 
 
 This is the exadl defcription of producing good Vi- 
 negar and Tartar neceffary for many Arts, from the 
 bafeft dregs, and of juftly getting much profit with lit* 
 tie pains. 
 
 Now I proceed to make the Wine which fome call 
 Aduft, or Spiritof Wine, of theLees of Wine, with- 
 out any Cofts. 
 
 After the defecated Wine is pour'd out, put the fx- 
 ces into the Still, add as much water as the diflolutioa 
 of the inherent Tartar requires, kindle a fire, ftir it 
 at the bottom with a wooden Ladle, that it may not 
 burn to -, when you can no longer bear the heat of the 
 water with your hand, and the fpirics break forth,take 
 out the Ladle, put on the Head, and deftil till you per- 
 ceive no fpirit, but nicer Phlegm i the remaining Li- 
 quor draw out into a lack clofe ty'd,xvork it in the 
 Prefs, and ycu will have fpiritof wine by deftillation, 
 and alfo Tartar by cxprelfion, concrenon, cryftalifa- 
 
 tiofl;. 
 
Part I. 
 
 of good Tartar. 
 
 lion', with double encreafe*, as I (hall fhew more 
 clearly by and by, that before you beji,in to work, you 
 in.-. . So lure, how much you hope tognin thereby, left 
 yc. . -ouav in vain, mnturely confultthat you may di- 
 fcern by a premis'd eoniputation what is to be done 
 
 For inltance, I ffivc Firkins of Lees coft halfaUol- 
 ler each, five Firkins will yield two R Dollersand ao 
 half; from thcfe 1 prefs out two Firkins of Wine, 
 two Firkins remain in the facks, one Firkin is fup- 
 pofcd to wafte in tbe transfufion, when yet a Vellcl 
 jeldoin foaks up four qu.irts : I turn the two Firkins 
 of Wine into Vinegar ; the two Firkins of thick Lees 
 being diluted with Water, I draw Spirit of VVine,and 
 prcfs out the Tartar ■■, this \.\'ine drawn by the Fife, 
 together with tlie dregs left of the Tartar, being re- 
 duced by burning into clavellated allies, do equal the j 
 Charge of making t!;eVincgar&Tartar,buttwo !>kiiis j 
 of dregs afford front 40 to ico pounds of Tartar, as j 
 the Wine is Tweeter or more acid- (tho' the hrirfli ; 
 anuius more Tartar than the fweet) but if they yield 
 but 40 pounds, this Tartar refunds the price of the 
 Lecsi the fpirituous Liquor and clavellated Af!ies,re- 
 compcnce the Wood, and the two Firkins of preiled 
 wine you have over-plus to bo turn'd into Vinegar. 
 
 Or if you buy two Firkins of Lees for one R. Dol- 
 lerifirll you may draw eiftfiefpirit; after that, you 
 may prefs out about ten pounds of Tartar, both toge- 
 ther faleable at one DoUer, as much as the Lees coll^ 
 all the Liquor of the Spirit will be clear gain, by an 
 egregious Ihort labour to grow Rich. Suppofe a Fir- 
 kin to coft a Doller, and to yield not above 9 pound 
 of Tartar, each of which is worth two Bazeins ■■, tho' 
 ibmc Lees are better than others, yet feldom any are 
 found fo poor, that do not afibrd their value in Tar- 
 tar ; even the Rhe/iijIiyFrancofiiarr^^nd /■^nfiri anyone Fir- 
 kin yielding one Doller, oftentimes aRbrds fifty pound 
 of I'artar, or more. Bolides, we muft note, if the 
 Lees are dear, Tartar and burning fpirit of wine can't 
 be cheap, becaufe the dearnefs of them depends on 
 the fcarcity of wine : But if the Lees arc dear, the 
 the Vinegar, Spirit, and Tartar cheap, ( which yet 
 was never known) fo that the quantity of Tartar 
 will not yield the price of theLees^ neither alfo can 
 you have the V^inegar and fpirituous winc^r.nis ; yet 
 you fhall have this profit above others, living on Vine- 
 gar and burning wines only, that the Tartar and cla- 
 vellated Aniescollcclcd from the refufe of theeliqua- 
 ted wine, by others rejcded, you may get an help, that 
 you may fell the fpirit of wine, that coft you little, for 
 more than otherwife._ If therefore he gains by only 
 prelfing wine, or deft'illacion of the fpirit, how much 
 rather you that acquire both Vinegar and fpirit of 
 wine from thofe dregs for a gratuity ? 
 
 One thing more I add for confirmation : If 8 Fir- 
 kins of Lees, that coft 4 Doller?, make 4 or 6 Firkins 
 of vinegar, or one of burning wine or brandy, that 
 vinegar or brandy yields 10 or 12 R. Dollers : The 
 prcft or deftiiled dregs, if they give fifty or fixty 
 pound of Tarcar, they equallize the firft price of the 
 dregs ; but if there be a kfs quantity of Tartar, the 
 vinegar or fpirit will ftand you in but little, which bc= 
 ing made better, or fold cheaper than ordinary, you 
 (tiic feller) will allure buyers before others. 
 . Someman may fay, the Art indeed has been un- 
 heard of, and is gainful, but does not agree with every 
 age and condition ; for all don't underftand Mcrchan- 
 di!ing,but rather fome abhor it, feeing the Scriptures 
 compleatly teftiile, that the fraud between the buyer 
 and feller fticks as f^ft ns a Pin betv;een the ftones of a 
 wall •, to whom 1 anfwer, that to every Chriftian an 
 honeft Occupation is permitted by Divine Providence 
 for the fultentation of him and his, but he need not 
 burden his Neighbour in any cafe. For that it is law- 
 
 ful to endeavour a livelihood this vvn": rr t' 
 teftcd to by a laudable example, in ' 
 New Tcftamcnr. - - - 
 
 This is the true way . . j 
 
 reducing it to Vineg-ar, ^;i : -'ady and 
 
 Tartar, and incinerating li,^ .v,.,,^- 
 
 It remains that I fet downtiie ufcs to which thercf: 
 of the water from the Tartar may • -sd with 
 
 profit ■■, but we muft know by tlic v. . , , r ,, - 
 
 ncfs hi that w^ter is nojfhTpg burTarc 
 which ^oes not, take a Ci^alfirie lbr..i .V. ,.. . ..• 
 the Ve^cl : tltercfore th« aeid waqer pcrfoi ins •.-, Iia:- 
 foever is effcdedby Tartar diluted in common •A'ster. 
 
 Siote there is no man but knows how to diiToIve 
 Copper in tartarifed water, without the help of fait, 
 as in the dealbation of ordinary Coins and Silver Vef- 
 fels among ihefilver-workcrs may bq'fcen, who take 
 away the Copper ftickiiig in the iupcrficies of money 
 or (ilvcr-vcfiels by boiiuig, the lilver appearing a? if it 
 had nothingof copper niix'd with it : to this work 
 theaforefaiid water may be very profitably applied ; 
 and feeing that a great quantity of it remains in the 
 working. of the Lees, it cap fcarceiy be better imploy'd 
 than by the following method. If tliiiiffcr MarcaJiDC^ 
 of Copper, every vvheue obvious, and which cannot 
 otherwife be melted w't^ profit, as aUb the Scoria or 
 drofs of Copper, which is thrown away, be boij'd in 
 thisvvater, it will attract the Copper to it felf i caft 
 in Filings of Iron, and they vvili be exalted into Cop- 
 per, and the cxtrafted Copper will be precipitated 
 from the water by the addition of the Iron. This 
 gradation of Iron into Copper being done, which in 
 outward appearance will be like a dirty Mudd, it is to 
 be edulcerated with clear water, and then throughly 
 melted by the foi ce of fire, which will yield a very fair 
 Copper,no way coming fiiort of other Copper in gcod- 
 nefs. Which Labour is very proiitable, becaufe a 
 great quantity of tartariz'd water proceeds from this 
 Worki but that it may the more calily ad upon the 
 Copper,in extrading it from the ftorieorIVlarca|]te,a 
 little fait is to be added in the boiling. 
 
 But if the Marcaliteor Copprious-fto.ne abound with 
 too much fulphur, which yet feldom happens in the 
 more ignoble Marcafites, they muft firft be torrefied, 
 that the fulphur may be burnt, then to be ground, and 
 boil'd with thetartaris'd water, and precipitated with 
 Iron ; which way more Copper is acquired than was 
 in theCopprious:ftone it felf,becaufe while it is preci- 
 pitated, part of the Iron is exalted to Copper, part 
 turns to Vitriol unlike to the natural in hardnefs^ for 
 a green folution remains, whereby Cloth and Yarn 
 are made as black as with common VitrioU alfo it af- 
 fords the beft Black for Shoemakers to colour their 
 Leather, and is naturally adapted with Oak to conci- 
 liate a black colour to Wood. 
 
 If this vitriolated Water beboiPd in an Iron Poc 
 till it be dry, and the refidue melted in a ftrong fire, 
 you will obtain a moft tenacious or tough Iron of won= 
 derlul virtue, if not to be preferr'd to good Copper, 
 at leaft to be compar'd with it. And fo the common 
 Copprice-ftone of Iron is better than the filini;s or 
 fcalesof Iron,ifwith theLeesofwineic bercduc'd by 
 the fpirit ofthe world into fmall Balls,when you mclc 
 them, a very dudile and pure Iron will come our, fie 
 for more ufes than common Iron ; which la!.>oiirsif any 
 will enter upon,they will reap fruits not to be dcfpis'd. 
 
 It would not be belide the matter to annex the man- 
 ner how you might ufe both your Tartar and Allies at 
 home, neither that you might be forc'd to fell them a- 
 broad, but it would be too long, and ratiicr Imrtfiil 
 than profitable to the prefent bufincfs. This I think to 
 treat of farther another time, by :he Grace of God- 
 
 Ffff TH^ 
 
294 
 
 Part L 
 
 K «»'^ !^^ i»5» -^« S^ 3skS 3gK «3»?. .s«9S ««& «^ 
 
 
 THE 
 
 FIRST PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 ^^orpetttp of (§etman|): 
 
 wherein is Treated of 
 
 The Concentration of Wine, Corn, and Wood, and the more 
 profitable ufe of them, than hath hitherto been. 
 
 T o 
 
 All thofe Patrons that Love GOD, and favour their Country, 
 
 HEALTH. 
 
 re Fious, Prudent J and your Coimtry-loving Tatrons. 
 
 I^H E Moll Excellent Glorious God, and 
 our molt Merciful and Bountiful Father, 
 hath Tout of his great Love unto, and 
 fatherly Care of us, from Eternity) fet 
 Nature before our Eyes, that he might fignifie to us 
 his Will ; which faid Nature, is no other thing but 
 the proper, eternal, and only Will of God- To 
 this Nature, God hath (as to his obedient and faith- 
 fullnltrument; abfolutely delivered, and committed 
 his Will and Command to be by her faithfully and dili- 
 gently performed ; Ihe accomplifheth the Task impo- 
 fedon her, without intermiflion, nor refteth fte one 
 moment of time from doing the Divine Will with 
 her utmolt lludy and endeavour. 
 
 Therefore, defervedly ought we to learn to know, 
 worfliip, and love the Creator above all things elfe 
 whatfoe'ver, feeing the Creator is known by the Crea- 
 tures. , . , , 
 
 If his Creatures be great, and unperceivable to our 
 fioht, and fo wonderful , certainly it of neceffity fol- 
 lo'vvs, that the Creator is far greater, and far beyond 
 all Human Underllanding; and this, everyone may 
 eafily underftand: ''Tis therefore clearly and evi- 
 dently manifcft, that God Created all things for the 
 fcrviccof man, that he might thereby acknowledge 
 the Divine Bounty, and Honour, and fear the Crea- 
 tor, andbeltovvercf all good things, and yield him 
 due Thanks for his Gifts. 
 
 But feeing that it may '^o be, that the mofl: jiifl: Gcd 
 will fometime cr other, at kit fbeing provoked by 
 
 the perfidious malice of men, avenge himfelf on the 
 raoft Impious living of this perverfe World, by bring- 
 ing fcarcity of Food, (War, and the Plague j ; and 
 feeing that it may fo be, as that the fmall Company 
 of the Pious, lying hid amonglt the Impious Crew of 
 the wicked, may partake of the fame punilliment : 
 Therefore I thought it very expedient, with a cheer- 
 ful mind to publifh (to the Honour of God, and my 
 Country, and for the comfort and folacing of its Pi- 
 ous Inhabitants; the Talent that God hath vouchfa- 
 fed unto me, by the help of which, very many fuch 
 Calamities as may come, viz.. Famine, War, and 
 the plague, may be prevented. 
 
 But the way I have pitched on to ferve my Country 
 in, doth chiefly confift in the manifeftation and Reve- 
 lation of thofe mofr: great Treafures that lie hidden 
 in Germany, being fuch as by the regardlefncfs of Men 
 have been hitherto unknown, unfought, and r,otgot= 
 ten forth. I have therefore endeavoured, faithfully 
 to manifclt in this prefent Treatife, by what means 
 thofe Treafures are to be fought for, and rightly or- 
 dered for the proSt of my Country ■, and withal, to 
 open the Treafures of the Ncble State of Germ-my^ 
 wherewith ic is mofl abundantly enriched, beyond all 
 the other Countries of E:irope, nnd hath hitherto en; 
 joyed, and ul'ed fbut not fo well as it fliould have 
 donej W-. Wine, Corn, Wood, Minerals, and 
 Metals- For Ungraceful Men liaveextrcamly walled 
 unprolitably, the molt we-Tlthy, and rich Bcnedidion 
 of God, who hath beftowed Wine and Corn on them, 
 in abundance, and the Relicks fwhich they fpent not) 
 have they lu.ffered to corrupt and perilli with lying. 
 
 Nor 
 
Part i. 
 
 The Dedication. 
 
 295 
 
 Nor is there any body that doth in the leaft entertain 
 any thoughts, by what means fuch an abundance of lb 
 freac Gifts, mi.^ht be kept and preferved for future 
 years, which may be accompanv'd with extream fear- 
 city and Dearth. Every one fliifts for himfelf and his, 
 with that plenty of Goods he enjoys •, and leavesano- 
 ther to take care for himfelf, and to fee for time to 
 come, that he provide himfelf for things neceflary 
 * whereon to live- And it is come to fuch a pafs,that the 
 overphis which remains of the abundance of tl.eBlef- 
 fing of God, is meerly cafl: away through ■?. carelefs 
 difregard, andfo nothing isprefervtd for after times. 
 And yecour Lord Jefus Chrift himfelf when he fed 
 many thoufands of Men with Bread, commanded his 
 Oifciples carefully to prefcrve the remaining Crumbs, 
 that nothing might be loft^ the which without all 
 doubt he did for no other end, but that we might have 
 the Gifts of God in high efteem. But where (hall we 
 find fuch as will imitate, and do the fame i certainly 
 no where, which is inexcufable with God and good 
 Men- Certainly fuch a largefs of Divine Gifts, is 
 not beflowed on us, that they fhould miferably perifli, 
 or be call away •, but we (hould rather labour and take 
 care of diligent laying up and preferving (like fo ma: 
 ny Laborious AntsJ all that overabundantnefs which 
 v.e cannot make uie of. Let it Le but confidered, 1 
 pray, in what great heaps Corn lies heaped hoarded 
 up, and is ff oiled. And is it not the fame with Winci 
 which being gathered in fuch over-great quantities, is 
 becorr.e vile and abjc^T:, or caft away ? 
 
 What, cannot there be ftore laid up out of this 
 very plenty (which now isgrutched at, as 'twere) as 
 fo many great Treafures for future Calamitous 
 Years ? 
 
 Well however, though as yet this hath been left un^ 
 done, yet I am confident, that fome good Houfhold- 
 ers will be found, that will not defpife this Inftruftion 
 and Admonition of mine, but will condenfe the fo 
 much fuperiluity of Wine, and Corn, and preferve it 
 againfl: future Years fcarcity. Nor do I at all doubt, 
 but that others, after they have by this Book well 
 learned the manner, will turn the fuperfluous, and 
 cafl: away Wood (which lies and rots, and is reduced 
 to nothing) into Saltpetre in great quantities ; that 
 by its help the Enemies may be refilled, and the Inha- 
 bitants defended- But in the three following Parts, 
 which treat of the Concentration of Metals, and Mi- 
 nerals, wherein all kinds of Medicaments reOfting na- 
 tural Difeafes, (hallbetaught, I know that every one 
 will find refrelhment, and help, againfl: the future 
 Plague, and Contagious Difeafes. So then, when we 
 have Food and Drink necelTary for aLivelyhood,and 
 Salt-Nitre todefend us againfl; cur Enemies, and Me- 
 dicines ferving for the prefervation of us in Health, 
 there remains nothing elfe we can defire, favo a little 
 Gold and Silver, by which we may exercife Trade, or 
 Mcrchandife, and furnilli our felves with Outlandifli 
 Wares. The which, that we alfo may get out of 
 
 thofe Mountains, v;c every where meet withal, and 
 out of thofe abje.;, and given-over Mine- pits, 
 1 queftion not, but ( God permitting) to effect it, 
 and clearly to flicw it in the three following Books 
 of the Concentration of Minerals and Metals. Upon 
 this account I would no longer keep by me this fmall 
 Book of the Concentration of things, but publifh ic 
 to the Honour of God and my Country, (it being a 
 Talent vouchfafed me by God-) 
 
 I do therefore Dedicate it to all Pious, FaithfuLand 
 Good Houfholders, hoping that my f "cere Admoni- 
 tion, andlnftrm'tion, will find fome place, and not 
 be rejeded- 
 
 The three Parts I promlfed, fhall fhortly follow : 
 Furthermore, I offer my mofl: faithful help to every 
 one in the opening and revealing the faid Concentra- 
 tion of Wine, Corn, Wood, Minerals, and Metals i 
 for all things being in a readinefs, 1 can ealily Ihciv 
 the manner of Concentration. And feeing 1 am ig- 
 norant> how long a time the mofl: Merciful God will 
 vouchfafe unto me, the ufc of life and light ; I would 
 not willingly bury with me a Science fo eminent, fo 
 Noble, and fo profitable to my Country. But if now 
 it fliouldfofalloutjthatfcwor none fliouldatallmind 
 it, yet have I done my part, and fatisled myConfci- 
 ence -• Though indeed I do not in the leaft doubt, but 
 that there will be fome good and faithful Houfliolders, 
 by whom thefe Profitable Inventions of mine, will be 
 regarded, and be made ufe of for God's Honour, 
 and for the Confervation of the Country, and its In- 
 habitants. 
 
 This I certainly know, that if this Counfel, or 
 Direction of mine, concerning the Concentration of 
 Wine, Corn, Wood, and Minerals (which proceeds 
 from the fimplicity and fincerity of my mind) Ihall 
 find any place of entertainment, that our mofl praife- 
 worthy Country of Gcrm.v.y-, will in a few Years 
 fpace become mofl exceeding happy, and be fo enrich- 
 ed, that both high and low will be much joyed, and 
 praifeGod, and give him thanks. 
 
 But I eafily conjecture with what various and diffe- 
 rent Judgments this Off- fpring of my Brain, will be 
 expounded- One will haply give credit to the things 
 I have faid ; but another will condemn and difdain 
 them, as mere ImpoHlbilities, and Dreams. But how- 
 ever, the truth will at length break forth, and the 
 work it felf will pilrchafe to its Mafl:er due Praife,and 
 herein 1 content my felf. The mofl: Blefled, mofl: 
 Merciful God, and oar Father, that great Houfholder, 
 bellow on us his Divine Benedidion, that fo we ma/ 
 infi:itute in mofl: places of this our mofl: dear Country 
 this Concentration of Wine, Corn, Wood, and Mi- 
 nerals •, and may by the help thereof obtain fuch 
 Treafures, asmay ferveforthe fuflaining of oar life, 
 in time to come, atd for the refifl:ingof our enemies, 
 and for the Glory of God, and the help and fuccour 
 of very many needy ones in Diftrefs. 
 
 THE 
 
29^ 
 
 Pare i. 
 
 The PREFACE. 
 
 IF the Provirhs of the Ancknts arc to be embraced as 
 wholfam Dottnnes, then certainly this (being mne 
 ofthelcafi^ tsmt tobcrcjtclcd-y andisthits^ That 
 iic that wulnot hear, 'tis fit he fhould afterwards 
 feci. The fneamn? of it ts this ; If fn be any one he re- 
 oardlcfs of a wiinmi^, and focomc to damage, every one 
 Z mm thus to fay o/fc/w, He is but jiiflly rewarded, why 
 did he mt yield to a faithful roarning? who mit help him 
 
 vow • 
 
 But however y I have endeavoured (^for the Honour of 
 Gad of the M.tgtfirate^ and of my Country, and the be' 
 Kcfitof my Nct^hboiir) to Jl)e:Vy by good Admonition, 
 andbyaprofit.ibleTefiimony^ by what means, that great 
 plenty we have in thefe as yet profpero'ts times^ wherein we 
 have abiuidance of Cnrn^ W'rae^ and other things in great 
 plenty throughout all Germany, may not itnproftably be 
 loft ; but be preferred for fupport tn thcfe years of /car- 
 city th.it are next to come, according as Jofeph that mofi 
 cxcdleut Steward meationedm Holy Writ ts faidtohave 
 
 doJiC. . f. 
 
 And now that there may be as much prevention as is poj- 
 fihk that the Wine, and Corn perish not with lying, but 
 he preferred again ft a future fcarcity, I have publijhed 
 this Httk Bovlifor every ones view, concerning the Con- 
 ccMratm tf Fegetables^ Animals, Adtnerals, and Me- 
 t.ils inwhich^ the profperity and felicity of all G^rmzny, 
 and indeed the Vmverfal Treafure and Wealthincfs of the 
 whole iVorldy is feat id- , r i ■ 
 
 And bccaufe fuch an abundant plenty of all thefe things 
 begets a natifeatmgMd loathing, as it were, of thoje Mt- 
 tterals, Aktals, Wtne, and Com, wkrewith Germany 
 exceeds all thcuther Coimtries of Europe; 1 judged it 
 ■wcM worth while to confiringe, or concentrate this plenty 
 int a lit tie rorm, and preferve it from the lofs and defiru- 
 a ton of the fame, arifingfrom Negligence and Contempt. 
 For whenjuch vile, or cheap things are driven into afmall 
 compafs, the bafer and unprofitable part goes of, and the 
 nobler andhetter part is driven together, and prefervcd., 
 and doth not fo cafily become corrupt as afore, when both 
 (rood and bad arc commixed together. 
 "^ And this is to be under flood of the Minerals, and Me-, 
 tals, andoflVine, Corn, and Wood. For where the Wa- 
 ter ts fvparatcd from the Wtne and Beer, and the more 
 Noble Parts arc concentred, as it were into a Centre, you 
 may even preferve them as long as you lift. And when you 
 ■need either Wine, or Beer, the concentrated parts maybe 
 relaxed by the appofition of Water, and be enlarged, info- 
 much, that one r^el wtU hold fix refels of Wme ; and 
 this, taking up but one place, and yet contains fix times 
 the quantity, there will not need fo much cofts, nor will fo 
 much Wine be [polled by vapouring away, as would be by 
 fix Wine ri.jfels, which must always be hpt full. Be fides, 
 this farther benefit arijeth hencefrom, viz. That out oj 
 fitch concentred Jukes (if they be at hand) there may 
 he made every Autumn few Wines footer than ordinary, 
 4, 5, or 8 WLchj time or m^.re., and be fold at a bigger rate, 
 than in the very Autumn S^afon, when the Grapes are 
 rif.e, and every Budy fumifiied with Wt'-e. 
 
 NB- Fo> fuh a Wurk thtre is riqitlfite a certain pecu- 
 liar Inftrnmcnt, and artificial knack,, by thu help of which 
 the Muft may be hoi pen to a fpeedy ftrmentation ; tlere 
 ^.rcaljo ithtr C'-^>!Vcntcf.ces i) hich arf.e from thtfe thus 
 
 concentred M/ifts, which for Brevities fake xve here omit. 
 So likewifc Beer being after the fame manner concentred., 
 doth bring a many more Z^tilities than ordinary Beer. For 
 that Corn which eight Barrels were fearce fujficient to 
 com am afore, need >io more but one txre, the which heimx 
 put in the Beer f^ejfel, will nut turn into Vermin ; nor will 
 it {lie out of the Barn, but may be iifed after lo or 20 
 years. Such Artificial Factious Ales, feeing they are 
 Qn their condinfat ion ) biHeda bugir while, arc far bet » 
 tir than the common forts which are made of dried Corn^ 
 or A-ialt. Whofoever therefore fiiall in a gre.it plenty of 
 Grain, buy up Corn, and condoifc it by fuch Artificial 
 Concentrations, and fo Liy it by, till a fear city comes. 
 Will gain abundantly, and will not only get to him f elf an 
 honcfl, and to others ?io ways injurious profit ; bi:t will 
 withal {being thus ftudious of Charity and Afercy) de- 
 ferve exceeding well of his Neighbour, if he helps him in 
 his great necejfity,and he will readily pay him for his Corn, 
 whereby he may get Money to fsiflain his Family and he a, 
 profuable gainer. 
 
 So then, no body is injured by this condcnfation,and con~ 
 centrationof Ale, or Wine, but both the Buyer and Sel- 
 ler are Gainers, and this Jluuld of riaht, be in every 
 Alan's heart, what condition foever he be of. It would 
 be well done of Noble Men, Princes, Kings, Emperor Sy 
 and other Magifiratcs and Common Wealths, if they 
 would provide in their Store-houfes for Warfare, fuch 
 Hid of condenfed Liquors, and Juices, that fo the poor 
 may in a time of fear city be made partakers of that plenty .^ 
 and they will have no lofs thereby, but rather benefit. 
 
 But the Condenfation of Wood, and turning it into Salt' 
 petre or Nitre, is far more profitable than that of Wine or 
 Ale ; for wood may he had even as it were gratiS) and be 
 with a very fmall Coft tranf muted into Nitre ; the which 
 may be kept without hurt in the Storchoufts for a long time, 
 feeinir it is not wont to corrupt or perijb, and be there con- 
 ferved until it be made up into Gun-powder with Coals and 
 Sulphur, both which are alfo not Jitbje^ to corruption ; fa 
 that it is not fo very necejfary (nay, ratlier it is hurtful J 
 to have fuch vafl quantities of Gun-powder in their C aft let 
 and fenced places. There are examples enough of Towers 
 in which Giin-powder hath been fhrred up, which either 
 through negligence, or elfe by lightning, being fired, have 
 in lefs than a moments time o''retur>i*d whole Cities, and 
 ftain abundance of men. Now this mighty inconveniency 
 may eafily be prevented by this only Remedy, viz. // the 
 Powder be not madeup.,but the matter thereof (\\z. NitiCy 
 Sulphur, and Coals') be only kept in readinefs, wherewith 
 the f.tid Powder may be made, as neceffity requires : Be- 
 fides, herein alfo doth the concentration of Wood exceed ia^ 
 to profit) the condenfation of Wine and Ale, not only be - 
 caufe there lie vajt heaps of Alinerals in Qcrmany^Cwhuh 
 not containing afixt and corporeal Gold, ere therefore dij-^ 
 efieemed) that admit of a ftparation of their better /'«>'', 
 and fixation of it by Nitre \ but wit ha f the meaner Me- 
 tals (their fuperfiiiDiis Su'phar being burnt up) may be tranf-. 
 muted into better ; and t he pcrfe5l Mttals, viz. Gold and I | 
 Silvir, may ( by the help thereof ) be destroyed, and be en- ' ■ 
 forced or concentred into .3 Letter part; the which thing 
 the fi.lhwtng Second, Third, and Fourth Parts treat of. 
 
 So then, this Tranf mitt at ion of Woodinto Salt-petre or 
 Tartar jOj both which not only great qu.intines may be fold, 
 
 I lit 
 
Part 1. 
 
 The Preface, 
 
 hut maybe alfo applied tofundry ufcs^ mil hriNg to our 
 noble Ccu-itry f/' Germany {m xvhich there is a>i incredi- 
 ble cjHti'ttity ofiVuod to be had almofi every where gratis) 
 a mofi notable encreafe of Power and Strength-, not only 
 again ^ its future, but itsprtfoit Enemies. 
 
 Wbofoever therefore jhall have abundance of Wood-, fl) all 
 likewt/e be enriched with Jlcre of Wealthy provided he will 
 but fet his hand to the work^, and t.otfear that ever STiXt- 
 Tinvt xvtll be fuch a Dritgy as to be of no value, and not 
 vendible: Andyetifitjhouldfobe^ yet in the Explica-. 
 t ion of my MirzculamMur.dU already ptiblified, 1 have 
 manifeflcd fv miuh, and will, in the three fullowing parts 
 of this Book.) manifejt fuch things as concern the ufe of 
 this Sah, that there will never want Jiich, as penetrating 
 into the know Udge of the fe Secret s^ will not full well h-ow 
 itsVfe. 
 
 He that hath Eyes, let him look about , and ufe them, for 
 the time comes, yea^ and by little and little approacheth., in 
 which Knowled^'e will be a profit able thing ^ and it wiU be 
 well for thofe who are feafoned with the knowledge of things 
 profitable, f^erily^ Knowledge is better thanflore of Gocds^ 
 for ho body can carry them with him, nor (/« fome cafes') 
 help either himfelf or his Friends with them. Happy is he 
 that can fay with the Philofopher., AU that is mine do 1 
 carry with me : How injur iou^y do they fpeakj>f the mofi 
 bountiful Lord God, who accitje Him for that He hath 
 forborn the befiowing of Wine, plenty of Corn., Fome-Ci. 
 trons., and Gold on fome Count) ics, and yet fully as great 
 Treajnres are to be found there, if the E^es of the Inhabi- 
 tants were not darkened i' If there were nothing elfe., yet 
 certainly there is Wood to be found, which without any la- 
 bour., cofls., or trottlle of Rich or Foor., doth grow night and 
 day., and offers it felf untous, and as it were, faith unto us 
 in thefe words ; What ! am I of no ufe ? Do not I come 
 forth to thy view,that thou maifl: by contemplating on 
 meacknowledgthe Divine Bounty,and make ufe of me ' 
 with thankfulnefs ? There is not therefore any reafon why 
 one Country Jh:uld exalt it felf before another, becaufe it is 
 better -, cr contrarily complain, that the Divine Benedi- 
 Hion lefs regarded it th.m cthir Countries ; no, each Coun-. 
 try hath enough, if it would b:it be content with what it 
 foffejfeth. As for thofe Couutries which are even defiitute 
 of Wood., they doneverthelefs abundantly enjoy the Divine 
 Benediiiion ; witnefs Idand, and other cold Northern 
 Countries, which have their Cwn, and other Neceffaries 
 for Life., brought them out of other Countries, But now 
 on the other hand, thefe Countries afford Cod or Stock^fifli 
 dried ; andfo., though they want Trees, Fruit, Corn., and 
 Wine, yet they do not want, and are equally as well nouri- 
 jhed by the Divine Bounty as the refi be. Though they 
 want Wood, yet have they Fit-Ccals ; for the Earth there 
 is very fulphure, us, and at the Mur.tain Hekla it burns 
 perpetually, and cafis out fire, fmoak, and ajbes, and yields 
 to the Inhabitants a great quantity of Brimfione.,which they 
 dig out and fell to our Country Mariners and Traffiquers, 
 thereby fiifiaining themfelves. 
 
 Some one or other m.iy objeB to me and fay., Seeing that 
 Salt-pctre is to be accompted of as an Univerfal Subjed, 
 and to be found in all things, it mufi neceff'arily be., that 
 feeing \i\2nd has no Wood at all, tkSalt-petre is to be 
 found in the dry Sto(k^jifli,for otherwife this Salt can^t be 
 faid to i'f Univerfal, as being net to be found in fuch or 
 fuch a Country. 
 
 Well then, to clear this doubt, I do a firm, (as Ifaidbc- 
 fore^that Nitre is in Fifiies alfo, though not infuchpLnty 
 as in other fubjtBs, viz. in Wine, Wood, and Corn : But 
 it is found far mere plentifully and potently in Stones, with 
 which thofe Countries are well fiored ; and any cnc tnay 
 eafily e uefs what Riches th-y would produce, were they but 
 vtrfedin the knowledge how to e.vtraH^ it j for iz; Stones 
 
 297 
 
 which by burnirg are turned into Lime, (the irbah may be 
 done without Wood, even by dried Turf or J .ccoal, af/d 
 that eafily) Nitre is as abundantly hidda., as in Wood, 
 and m other Vegetables : Nor is t here c.ir^ht elfe rcquifite^ 
 I fave the knowledge of the way of its extratlion. 
 I // thetefure that harfli and wild kind of Country, where- 
 in nothing grows, be put in the Flnlufophical balance, with 
 themofir;chCou>.tyy,it wculd(feing it contains hidden 
 in its Earth and Stones fuch great Treafures) eafily ex- 
 ceed it, and obtain the chiefefi place. There is therefore no 
 reafon nhy any or.e fiiould complaui before God : A fm.ttl 
 man doth ujually exceed., astofwtftncjs and agility, one 
 that is big and tall: A weak man may oppofe the acuteaefsof 
 his w.t againfl the ftrength of the lufiy : A poor man en- 
 joys Quietude, and patiently undergoes his more hard for- 
 tunes; butcontrariwife,therich:is invircned with cares. 
 A':d this may be alfo under flood of other living Creatures. 
 Thefe things being well confidi red, every one may under- 
 I fiand and perceive, that God hath fatisfed every one, and 
 that there is no Creature that can jufily complain. 
 I It is reported of the Peruvian part of America,rW ic 
 j is enriched with the moH- abounding Silvery Mountain Po- 
 tofi, fcated in a part of that Region, and is about fome 50 
 j German miles in ccmpafs,andthat it doth by itsexceedina- 
 I cold Air hinder the growing of any Vegetables, andyet not-: 
 withfianding, there is fuch a notable power and excellency 
 obtained by the Riches of that place, that the City there 
 founded doth abound with the beft Wir.e, Corn, Sugar, and 
 other fuch-likeneceffary things, and is fear ce infer iour in 
 bignefs and fair Buildings to any City of Germany, and 
 from this very Mountain only receiveth it this felicity. It 
 is hence evident, that all fuch things are not unprofitable 
 which ( by reafon of the meannefs of the outward fljape ) 
 are not fowiH known to every body ; for fometimes a Coun- 
 tryman throws a Stone at a Cow, which is far more worth 
 than the price ofthi Cow is., andyet it is contemned.^ be- 
 caufe unknown. 
 
 The external and fuperficial Figure therefore of a thing 
 is not alwaies to be regarded, but its inward parts are to be 
 fearch''dinto and viewed ; and that we may attain hereun- 
 to, Alchy my points but to us the way, (fhe being the Infiru' 
 ment of the true praife-worthy Philofophy) and opens the 
 Gate, whereby we may fearch into the wmofi bowels of 
 every thinf. 
 
 He who well knows the fire, and the ufe thereof., will not 
 be difireffed with want . And he that has no k^towledge of 
 the fame, neither will he throughly fearch into Natures 
 Treafures : From thefe things it is evident what Treajuret 
 we Germans do unknowingly pc fiefs, and yet convert 
 them not to our ufe; And were not foreign parts as igno- 
 rant too of thefe things as we our felves are, they would 
 readily have upbraided us Germans, that wefpend more 
 time in eating and drinking , than on good Arts and 
 Sciences. 
 
 Now as concerning my writings about the concentration 
 of Wine, Corn, andWoO(i,andthecondtnfationof'em, 
 I P'all never be better able to prove and confirm the Truth 
 of the fame, than by producing it to manifefi light, thatfo 
 the Eyes feeing it, all admiration may ceafe, and all incre- 
 dulity vanifh. There is credit therefore to be given to all 
 the things mentioned in this Book, "s to an experienced, 
 Truth, and which are not made publick^for any other cnds^ 
 fave only that thofe natural Sciences may tend to the utili- 
 ty and benefit of my Neighbour. Whoever therefore fhali 
 believe them. Will purchaje Honour and Profit ; and con- 
 trariwife., he that will not believe , will get only dif- 
 grace and detriment, 
 
 Iwill therefore prediEl orforetell,that this one onlyArti- 
 fee of making Salt pctre in fuch great plenty,,aud the way 
 of itfing it to metaliin: works, 't'^'H bring incredible Trea- 
 
 Ggg 
 
 furet 
 
^08 
 
 The Firji Pan of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 j ures to our Country of Gcamny, if n'c burnt tooaegh- 
 m't,orlet :t flip by a Jhig'^iflj Jlothfiil drowfifiefs. 1 do ve- 
 rily Irlieve th.it if God doth yet vouchfafe me one yt.vn 
 life, that tins f At d Artifice c/Salt-petre willbefrofitable 
 to -very m.my \ but if fo be th.tt tt jliall not pkafe the Di- 
 vine Majefty to prolong my lifefoP>ort a ttme,it may how- 
 ever be accounted of, t%at God hath indeed jl'ewed us Ger- 
 mans, ^s heretofore he dul to Mofes, the Land of Pro- 
 mife, but hath^ by reafon of our fins and incredulity, fiiitt 
 i'.p the pajfage againft ns. 
 
 But that I may abfolittely frve my N- iohbonr, and that 
 he may have no canfero complain, as if I hadferved him 
 hut by halves, in that I have not defcrtbed the Prcfs for 
 Wood, together with the appertaining Infiruments, J do 
 now therefore certifie every one, that all the things neceffa- 
 ry and rcquifite for the concentrating of Wine, Corn, 
 and Wood, arc to be feen in my cii^ody in perfeStion. 
 
 If now any one be dcfiroiis of receiving knrfit from his 
 Wine, Corn, or Wood, and that he find it highly to concern 
 him to get this kl'ortledge he will well know, by the infpe^i- 
 on vfthe Work prefcnted afore htm, wherein lay the defeil 
 as to the oettitw this thing, and what means the faid de- 
 feU is to^he happen by •, bitt the Injlrtiments that I have 
 mentioned, fi}all be no longer to be feen, than from the Ca- 
 lends o/ March to the Calends of Sei)temUr-, this prefent 
 year 1 656. vi2. fix months time ; for I have purpufed to 
 myfelf,not to render my life burdenfome alwaies unto my 
 
 fclf J y carrying fiich troiiblefome burthens about to and fro, 
 but at lafi to get a qinafe.n and abode. So then it witi^ 
 by this here fpoken, be cvuLntly manifcfi to every one, what 
 he is to do as touching this matter. 
 
 The three other P arts concerning the concentration of 
 Minerals and Metals, jhall (if God permit") Jljortly alfo 
 follow. 
 
 But becaufe Nitre is the Alone Jnftrument of that work 
 and that no body can get any eminent profit, unlefs he cai 
 have Nitre at a very cheap rate, it ts wholly nece/Jarv 
 that fume labour he befiowed about the procuring it, which 
 if yon can get good fti.re of cheap, then will the hoped-for 
 profit be perceived, both out of Minerals and Metals : If 
 not, vain wiU it be for you to make your Jearch into that 
 Mineral kingdom. 
 
 Well, I do affirm. That by the benefit of Nitre, thingt 
 wonderful may be ejfe^ed in A'fetallick, Labours ; yea, ten 
 times more than what I have defer ibed in my fmill Trea- 
 tife, called Miraculum Mundi, or dare to defer ibe for the 
 future ; for all things recjuifite to trite Alchymy, may be 
 perfelily accomplijhed in it, hy it, arid with it. 
 
 Herewith I conclude this Preface. Whatfuever is here 
 wanting in this Treat ife, for brevities fake,the demonfira^i 
 tion vifibly expofed to view, will afterwards compleatly re- 
 compence, infomuch that any one will eafily wind himfelf 
 out of all duiibts. And here we refifor this time. 
 
 THE FIRST PAR T 
 
 O F 
 
 ^ofpetitp of #etmattp, &c. 
 
 IN the Name of the mofl: Holy Trinity do I begin 
 to defcribc the moll great Wonders of God,that I 
 may manifeft to everyone (without concealing 
 ought)His Grace and Mercy ,which Heembraceth 
 Mankind withal ; and I pray God,the Father of us all, 
 the merciful Creator of Heaven and Earth, to guide 
 and dired this Work,that it may ferve to His Divine 
 Honour, and tend to all our welfares. Amen, 
 
 We will enter into Franconia, and fee what a weal- 
 thy and large Benediftion of God is to be found there- 
 in : And Iwill fivft begin with Wine, none of the 
 leaft of the moft noble Creatures of God, and will de- 
 monllrate how ungrateful we fliew ourfelvesto the 
 beflower of all good things, and how bafely we abufe 
 
 His Goodnefs- 
 
 Every one knows what a noble Creature wme is, 
 how drained from the Grape and made,and therefore 
 this thing needs no further defcription, forafmuch as 
 others have hertoforefufficiently enough done this task 
 and daily Experience is an abundant teftificr of the ufe 
 of the fame. It is behoveful here, that we only ligni- 
 fie how it ought to be handled better than it has hi- 
 therto bcen,and may fo likewife bring a greater profit 
 and utility to the tillers thereof than hitherto. Every 
 one knows, that wine is the nobleft amongit all drinks, 
 and mofl: conducive to health, and may and ought to 
 be called the Parefl:drink : It chcrilheth old men, and 
 heats the cold, but fuch as are of a tender age, (hould 
 
 defervedly fliun wine, becaufe being drunk too foon, it 
 eafily inflames the Liver, and dries it up, anditirsup 
 various Difeafes, and at lafl; caufeth Death it felf. So 
 then, there is nothing fo good, but may alfo do hurt, 
 nor is any thing fo evil.but doth fometimes bring fome 
 benefit, according as the difference of the ufe is which 
 it is applied unto ; as is here evident in Wine ; the 
 which being drunk moderately,andatdaefeafons,dotIi 
 not only excellently well digeft and concoft the Meat 
 in the Stomach, but likewife evidently ftrengthens the 
 Heart, Brain,and Vital Spirits,and generates pure and 
 found Blood and Flelli. Contrariwife, being immo- 
 derately taken, it overflows as 'twere the Stomach, 
 Lungs, and Liver, fills thofe Veflcls with many evil 
 humours, and obftrnin;s them, fo that they cannot well 
 perform that office whereto they are deftinated by 
 GOD and Nature, but arc overwhelmed with whole 
 Troops of Difeales; for the Heart and Brain is fee 
 upon by their fpiriiual cfiicacy and hot nature and 
 property,and is weakened, and the vital fjiiritis over- 
 come and fufFocated.as we fee in the fire, the which 
 when greater doth alwaies fupprefs and overcome the 
 lefTer- 
 
 Hence it comes to pafs, that men that load them- 
 felves with daily drinkings , do little differ from 
 new-born Calves and Geefe, and are wont to be 
 neither profitable to God, nor to Men, nor tothem = 
 felves. 
 
 In 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 299 
 
 Jn the Name of God^ therefore we will proceed on in 
 the matter we have propofed, and fee by what means 
 more profit may be reaped from Wine than hath hi- 
 therto been. 
 
 In the firft place, he that aims at the bettering of 
 any thing, mull Icnow what the thing is which he ftu- 
 dies the amending of,and of what parts it confifteth. 
 
 Therefore) as concerning Wine, it confifteth as 
 well as the otherVegetablesof three principles, 'viz.. 
 of Salt, S:ilphiir, and Mercury fthat I may ufe the Phi- 
 lofophers terms). The Mercury is its infipid moifture, 
 and the Sulphur is that burning Spirit which is extra- 
 fted or drawn out thereof. You Ihali thus know the 
 thing, by this following Experiment- Put a Cucurbit 
 full of Wine in a B- and with a gentle heat draw off 
 what will come, but yet fo, that the parts which in the 
 deftillation alter or change themfelves, be each of 
 them received apart in its peculiar Receiver. For 
 example; If there were 12 parts of wine, or 12 raea- 
 fures, there afcends firft only one part of fpirit, which 
 is the foul and life of the wine ; after it,come ten parts 
 or meafures of infipid watery the remainder in the 
 bottom of the Glafs is a thick and auftere or harfh 
 matter, which being the Tartar or Salt of the wine, is 
 alfo almoft one part or meafure of the wine. Of 
 thefe three parts all wine is compounded, but yet par- 
 takes of oneor the other of the Principles, more or 
 lefs, according to its being more or lefs mature, or its 
 growing in fuch or fuch a place. As for example-. 
 
 The Auilere Wine hath alwaies more Tartar and 
 lefs Spirit than the Ripe Wines ; and contrarily, the 
 ripe wine doth abound with more Spirit than Tartar, 
 as the Spa'iij^' and other extraneous wines witnefs, 
 which do alwaies abide fvveet, and plainly have no 
 Tartar in them ; thereafon is this, Becaufe in thofe 
 warm Countries they are brought by the Sun to meer 
 fweetnefs, and fo are ripe , fo that the auftere Tartar 
 or Salt is throughly changed, and conceded into a 
 fweet Sugar. Hence it comes, that the faid wines do 
 not in the afore-propofed Examen leave any auftere- 
 nefs,as our wines in Germany do,but rather yield twice 
 as much fpirit, and fcarce the half part of infipid wa- 
 ter : Whenas auilere Wine yields about a twentieth 
 part of fpirit, the ripe CFcrOT^w wine yields almoft a 
 twelfth part, and the Spanijl} a fixth part of fpirit,four 
 parts of water, and one part of faeces without Tartar. 
 So that from good German wine there comes (as I faid 
 afore) one part of fpirit, ten of water, and one part of 
 auftere or fowrilh matter- 
 He that knows thefe things, will eafily contrive and 
 prepare for himfelf by the help thereof, at all times, 
 be it hot or cold, good and conftant, or durable wine. 
 Neither is there any room left a man here of complai- 
 ning,as if God Ihewed greater bounty to men one year 
 than another. The fault of this defed is not to be im- 
 puted toGod, butto our own felves, who know no- 
 thing, nor are willing to know, nor fludy how to help 
 Nature ; for Art can bring an afiiftance and help to 
 Nature when fhe is impeded in her work, and is una- 
 ble to bring her Fruits unto a maturity, provided the 
 Artift removes away that which the wine naturally a- 
 bounds withal,and addeth thereunto what it is defti- 
 tute of. 
 
 For example, Let us examin a thin wine,vvhich be- 
 ing not fufficiently concoded and ripened by the Sun,is 
 endowed with too much fliarpilhnefs and water, and 
 contrarily has but little of fpirit ; if now to fuch a 
 wine, when it begins to boil or ferment, fomc fpirit 
 fhallbeaddedjfo that it may work together with it, 
 it will be even as well ripened in the wine-velFel,by the 
 
 benefit of this liery fpirit, as if it had been ripened by 
 the Sun, as it hung upon the Vine ^ infomuchjthatb/ 
 this means there mought be made excellent wines eve- 
 ry year, if any had but the knowledge of thus helping 
 them. 
 
 NB. But now fuch a fpirit muft not be fuch an one 
 as that common Aduft or Brandy-wine is, but a grate- 
 ful and pure Elfence of wine ; the manner of making it 
 I have defcribed in my Vegetable Work^. Now by how 
 much the more this Spirit (hall ferment or work with 
 fuch a winc,fo much the ftrongerand more efficacious 
 doth the wine become ; Forafmuch as all the Virtues 
 of all the whole wine confiftin theipirit only,and the 
 Tartar or Salt doth by its muchneis make it auftere 
 and (harp. But Mufts being by fuch an Artifice made 
 ftronger and more efficacious, do keep a longer time 
 afterwards without corrupting, and maybe carried or 
 tranfported whitherfoever one pleafe ; whence it 
 comes to pais, that they are never fpoiled, as they are 
 otherwife ufually wont to be, when 'tis not of ripa 
 growth. 
 
 From thefe things 'tis evident, that out of one Muft, 
 grown in one and the fame .^«f«''w, there may with 
 eafe be made wines of 3, 4, or more kinds, according 
 as there is more or lefs of this fpirit added to the Mufi 
 and fermented with it. 
 
 There is alfo another way, by the help whereof eve- 
 ry auftere wine is eafily correded and amended, thus : 
 In the Vintage time, let the liquor of the Mufi^ or of 
 the exprefled juice of the Grapes, be fo boiled in pecu- 
 liar Veflels, that the unprofitable moifture or taltelefs 
 water do exhale by littleandlictle, until thou haft as 
 much as thou wouldft, or as the efficacy of the wine, 
 or the degree thou wouldft by correding reduce it to, 
 ftiall require : For, in the exhalation of the fuperflu- 
 ous moifture nothing goes away, fave that infipid wa- 
 ter •, but the fweetnefs and the aufterenefs remains in 
 that thick and condenfate juice, like to Honey •■, fo that 
 that boiled mafh comprehends all the ftrength and 
 virtues of the wine, concentrated as it were, and con- 
 denfate, and will again difclofc them, if it doth again 
 work, with water thereto added in a due proportion ; 
 but the ufe of this condenfate Muft-^ which as yet hath 
 not wrought or fermented, is this. That it can be at all 
 times carried, and moft profitably fold in far remote 
 Countries, which thing could not afore be done- 
 
 For every one knows, that when there is a cold 
 Summer, Wines become immature and acid, and are 
 not wont to keep •, for as foon as they come to be a 
 year old, they are covered overwith a filmyskin,and 
 being mouldy, corrupt, becaufe they have not in them 
 fpirit enough. From whence it comes to pafs, than 
 many times Vintners, or Vineyard-keepers,fuffer great 
 lofs.aftcr that they have diligently betook themfelves 
 to drefs the Vineyards for an whole year, and haveli= 
 ved fparingly and hardly, and working hard, have 
 fuftained their lives with Bread and Water, hoping 
 that upon felling their wine they fliould fcrape toge- 
 ther a little Money, to buy them fome Clothes and 
 other Necefi'aries for their Family's fupportation ; for 
 the expeded plenty of the wine hoped for, and of the 
 profit accruing by the ftore of Money for it, when 
 fold, hath prop'd them up with this hope^ but now 
 the wine fading and deluding their hopes, and turning 
 into an acid and auilere taite, they cannot fell it, fee- 
 ing 'tis fcarce worm the carriage i or if it be fold,'tis 
 at fuch a mean rate? as fcarcely fufficeth to difcl'.arge 
 the Coft of urefilng it ^ and what fliall now be done for 
 Food, Drink, Raiment; and other Necellaries to fu- 
 ftain tne Family ? 
 
 And 
 
3 
 
 oo 
 
 rbe Ftyft Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 fach a kind of bettcriiigafter vvhatmaiiner foever it be 
 infl:itiited,cannotbe very profitable or advantageous. 
 
 For example, that 1 may be the better underftood, 
 let us inftanceintvvo pieces of Gold, each of which 
 iliould be the value of 25 Imperials : Let them be put 
 in the Balance and examined, and being examined, let 
 one of them be the due weight, and let the other be 
 lefs in weight or price the value of four Imperials. If 
 now you are minded to take fo much away from that 
 piece which is of current weight, as to make them both 
 of alike weight, you may indeed lb do, but yet you 
 are no waies benefited thereby, but rather fuffer lofs : 
 Forafmuch as you took away from that piece that was 
 of due weight,and added unto the other piece that wan= 
 ted of weight, fo much of its value is departed, and 
 both pieces will' be unfit to go in payment, as wanting 
 their due value and weight. What profit tlicrefore can 
 hence redound unto any man ? Eveijfoisthecafe with 
 i the Wine,for if one (hould get foms two load of wine, 
 and could fell one of them for 20, and the other but 
 for 10 Imperials, and yet fliould not be accounted of 
 as vendible Wine, and now the Merchant fhould mix 
 that thin wine with the better, that they may both be 
 equal, would not that better wine become worfe, and. 
 that thin wine be rendered not much the better ? For 
 my part therefore, I cannot fee that fuch a kind of 
 meliorating can bring much profit. 
 
 But as for my bettering and corre(flion,it is always 
 profitable, whereby tbe acid wines are not corrupted 
 Do'iatine^the^^''/ to the confiftence of Honey, the by the acid,but the good and fuperfluous humidity on- 
 which may profitably be carried into flir diftant pla- ly is feparated by the benefit of Art,and the good part 
 ces in which no wine is accuftomed to grow, and be bemgcondenfate in it fdf,and by it felf is reduced in- 
 there fold- Such now as buy up fuch Muft thus con- to a narrower compafs 
 denfated by boiling, do now know how by dilating | 
 it with Water ,to reduce it again into good wines.This 
 
 And yet the Vines mull be dalfed for the next year | 
 too, and more Monies laid out upon them-, but from 
 whence (hall Monies come for Food and Kamient, in 
 the mean time? Alas, what courfe will they take if 
 fome fuch-likc years Ihould follow one ar.other toge= 
 ther? Either the poor miferaljle men mull, together 
 uiththeir Wives and Children, famifh, or clfe turn 
 Souldiers, and be kilPd, or be made fo deiperate, asto 
 betake themfelves to thieving and robbing,and fo hnilh 
 their dales by an Halter: For the prefenc world isfo 
 muchelhangd fromMercy,that one will notufefo^wfo 
 Chriftian Chariry.j as to help another in his necemty. 
 And befides, the ingratitude it felf of men doth 
 fometimes make others llow and fearful of admini- 
 llring and afibrding a mutual help •, forafmuch as very 
 iviany, when they are rid out of their incumbrances,do 
 refufe to reltore thofe things, or by labour to requite 
 or make amends for the things by which they were 
 delivered out of their Straits. r • ji 1 
 
 Hence it comes to pafs, that he who does a friendly 
 good turn, for fuch an ingrateful man, lofcth his Mo- 
 ney, and by reafon of that fo ill placed formerly, ab- 
 hors the lending his helping hand again- 
 
 Now, that fuch great inconveniences may be remo- 
 ved and the Vine-dreilers fomewhat holpen, fo as 
 that they might every year fell their wines at a bene= 
 ficial price, and may never be opprefied with that fore- 
 faid detriment ; it may very conveniently be done by 
 the help of this concentration or condenfadoDj by eva- 
 
 Artifice therefore being fo laudable, will be helpful to 
 both, to the Vine-dreOer, in yielding him prefently 
 ready Money for his Muft, and to the Merchant,in ea- 
 filier furniniing him withWinejand quitting him of fo 
 much Charges'"in the Carriage, 
 
 But that the bufinefs may be yet the better and more 
 clearly underflood, let us fee by making computation, 
 what the benefit and profit of this condenfationis. 
 
 Letusfuppofethcn,thata Winenot ripe remains 
 acid and weak, and that a Franconian Urn, or half an 
 Hogihead of F/v?«i/'o;f meafure, yields fcarce a Flo- 
 rin, or a Dollcr at the utmoft. Such a Wine as this will 
 not quit the Colts of the Carriage, though but for 12 
 miles i \iaQt\m?ir\r,nk ti thee of onrs:\ for it dege- 
 nerates by the carrying it, and becomes mouldyith, as 
 'twere, and turns f6wre,fo that the Huckller can't fell 
 the lame, and he'l have a care how he buys fuch wines 
 another time ; and the Vineyard- keeper is even en- 
 forced to keep them to his great lofs, forafmuch as all 
 his fafety or dcpendance is built thereupon. 
 
 As for the Rich nien,tho' they have fome acid wine, 
 they are not undone by the lofs, for they have ftill by 
 them other better wines, which they mix thofe worfer 
 and more acid wines withal, and fo fell them off- or 
 clfe they keep fuch thin wines till the Autumn comes, 
 with more plentiful and riper Grapes,and to the Muft 
 proceeding from them, do they pour this thin Wine, 
 ■and let it work therewith anew, and by this means it 
 becomes vendible. But yet the Gain ariling hence- 
 from, isfufficicntly poor and mean ; For by how much 
 the thinner the acid n ine is than it ought to have been, 
 iho' it be mixt with good Wine, yet doth this become 
 lb much the worfer ; nay, it fometimes happens, that 
 Ijoth are corrupted and loft i for as much of help as 
 the acid Wine gets from the good wine, fo much of 
 goodnefs doth depart even from the good wiuc.So that 
 
 NB. He that isfo minded, may feparate from the 
 fweet Muft, a fourth part only, or a fifth or fixth part, 
 by evaporation, and prefently bring it to fuch a pafs, 
 as to work or ferment ; for they become fo much the 
 better, by how much the more water hath been con- 
 fumed by evaporation : If the QuinteHence of wine 
 be added to that working Muft, the wines become the 
 better, and the more generous- This kind of way 
 may be made ufeof in thofe places in which the wine 
 doth for the molt part remain acid ; for there needs 
 not this Art to thofe Vines that Nature hath ripened, 
 
 Befides, the wines may be condenfated to the thick- 
 nefs of Honey, that they may be thereby rendered the 
 fitter for Tranfportation. Six Hogfheads, or Onic.^ of 
 Muft, may be fo condenfated, that one Hogfhead will 
 hold them -, t\ie which (if need be) may again by the 
 appolition of 5 Hogfheads of water, which quantity ic 
 loft in the condenfation, make 6 Hogflieads of wine 
 of the very fame goodnefs and efficacy as it would 
 have been of before the condenfation, if it never had 
 been condenfated, but been prefently put out of the 
 Prefs into the Barrels, to have fermented and work'd 
 into wine after the ufual manner. 
 
 NB. But now if any be delirous of making his 
 wine better and more noble than it would have been 
 afore the Concentration, then he muft not put five,but 
 only 4 parts of water;for Ihould he add but three Hog- 
 fheads or parts, it would be yet better and nobler by 
 one degree than the others. Hence is it manifeft, 
 That it is in the hands of the Artift to make and alter 
 thefe wines at his pleafure, and to render them ftrong, 
 ftronger, and middling, and by the addition of water 
 to give them even what efficacy and what virtues you 
 lift. But now, to all the mixtures he may add the foul 
 of wine, if he has it, that the wines may thereby be 
 thefooncr clear and pure- FortheQuintclfenceofany 
 wine being conjoined with new Mufts, and working 
 with them, brings them in a fliort fpace of time to 
 
 clarity 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 §di 
 
 clarity and purity, fo tliat they become tranfpnrent, 
 but principally when they are tartarized, or full of 
 Tartar, for the Spirit of Wine brooks not any Tar- 
 tar, but precipitates it in the fermentation to the 
 bottom, or drives it away from it fcif, and fo by con- 
 fequence makes the Wine clear and tranfparent. But 
 as concerning,what means the Tartarized ("Spirit or) 
 EfTence of Wine is to be artificially prepared by, 'tis 
 needlefs to repeat here, forafmuch as it is already 
 defcribed in divers of rty Writings hitherto publi- 
 fhed, but efpecially in the Vegetable Work. 
 
 Bcfidcs, it is not fo convenient, that every one 
 fhould know, by what means the concentrated Mufts 
 may be prepared with water, and the Tartarized 
 Quinteflence. It is fufRcient in this place, to know 
 how the Mufts are to be concentrated, or brought 
 into a narrow corapafs, that fo they may be tran- 
 fpocted and fold- Let this be the care of the Mer- 
 chants to know how to ufe them when they have j 
 bought them. For the Brains of the Vineyard keep- j 
 crs are incapable of thefe things- Yet neverthelefs, : 
 there will be fonie Men who will know how to make a j 
 due ufe of fuch boiled and condenfed Mufts, if they j 
 can but get them, and every one may be Mafter ofi 
 this Affair, if he has but Coppers and Kettles, necef- ' 
 fary for fuch an Operation-, whereby he may make j 
 ftore enough of juice. But yet every Countryman 
 can't get fuch Kettles, neither will it be worth while, 
 forafmuch as a fmall Portion of Wine, will not be 
 able to quit the Cofts. But vvhofoever beftovvs his 
 Study and Moneys in exercifing this Artifice, will reap 
 thence from a great deal of Utility and Advantage. 
 But whether he does thefe things, or does them not, 
 he neither benefits, nor injures me. 'Tis fnfficienr, 
 that I have evidently demonftrated to the Vineyard 
 Mafters, by what means they may always fell their 
 Wines, whether they be ripe, or have come (hort of 
 their Maturity- 
 
 But for the better inftrudion of the Courtfous 
 Reader, I will compute the Charges of this Opera- 
 tion, and fliow, what gain is to be expefted from 
 the Condenfation of thefe Mufts- 
 
 In the firft place therefore, let us buy fome Mufts 
 in thofe places, in which they are thin, and are fold 
 for a mean price, ■vitl. twelve Urnes,or fix Hogfheads, 
 or Oma's, for xtj. Imperials ; [zn Imperial is about 
 4 J. 6 i^.]this Mull we will condenfe to the Confiftency 
 of Honey, fo that there may be but one Hoglhead, 
 or Oma remaining. Let the Cofts requifite to this 
 Concentration ('always provided you are furnifhed 
 with the Copper Velfel j be valued at half a Dollar, 
 or thereabouts i and the charge of the Wood we'll 
 count an Imperial for. The Wine Cask which is to 
 be filled with this condenfate Juice, we will value at 
 half an Imperial, its carriage forty Miles, we'll rec^ 
 kon fix Imperials for- All which Charges being fum- 
 med up, make nineteen Imperials and an half. And 
 fo much will be the Charges of one Hoglhead, or one 
 Oma of this Condenfate Muft, and its Carriage 
 forty Miles- This Muft now being brought into fuch 
 a place where Wines are dear, you may at any time 
 of the year, by the addition of Water, and by Fer- 
 mentation, tranfmute into good Wine- And that 
 one only Hogdiead being the condenfate Juice of fix 
 Hogfheadsof Muft,vvill yield thee fo many Hogflicads 
 of fuch Wine as the Muft would have been afore its 
 Concentration. And if thou defireft to have thy 
 Wine ftronger and nobler, than as it comes out of 
 the Prefs, and than it could be afore thisCondenfati= 
 on, you may oraiulie putting thereunto fo much wa: 
 
 ter as it loft in the Condenfation, and lelTeh it pro- 
 portionably, that fo thofe fix may make no more than 
 four Hogfheads, and they will be the more generous ; 
 the which thou fhalt far better have by this means, if 
 wz,. You know how thereunto to adjoin a Quintefi 
 fence- 
 
 If now, that oneHogfhead of juice, which aforeits 
 Condenfition was fix Hogfheads, doth again yield 
 four Qand no more] it muft of ncceffity be much bet= 
 ter, and more noble than otherwife it would have 
 been, had it been made after a Natural manner, (viz.. 
 juftas it came from the Prefs.) And by this means 
 too, it will laft the better, and tnay be the eafilier 
 tranfportcd and fold. 
 
 So then, if in fuch a place as is 40 Miles diftant 
 from Wine-making Countrys, an Hogftiead, or Oma^ 
 is fold but for twelve Imperials, and you have of fix 
 Hogflieads of thin Wine, made four of better, and 
 each of thefe you fell for but 12 Impcrials,yet you fliall 
 have 48 Imperials, out of which fubftraft your 19 
 and i Charges, you Ihall have clear Gains 28 Impe- 
 rials, and T. But I have fet a moft low price on this 
 Wine, for in fuch places which are about fome 40 
 Miles from thofe Countries , in which abundance 
 of Wines grow, an Hoglhead, or an Oma, is not 
 ufually fold at the Rate of 12, but of 24 Imperials. 
 The gain therefore of about a Wayn-load of fuch a 
 thin Wine, which haply would have corrupted with 
 lying, and never yielded any profit, doth at theleaft 
 yield above fifty Imperials. 
 
 Every one now may eafily fee how much Gains this 
 Artifice of the Concentration of Mufts doth bring. 
 For befides this Commodity arifing from this Labour, 
 viz.. That the Mufts being prefently fold, yield rea- 
 dy Money ; there is this alio, that the Money being a- 
 gain prefently disburft, opens the way for the next 
 years profit. The Merchant alfo has this benefit by 
 this Labour, that he is not enforced to pay fo much 
 Water's carriage fo long a Journey ; and that he may 
 even at his pleafure make his Wine more or lefsftrong 
 and efficacious •, for what a deal of profit is this, for 
 to have all the Wine of fix Hogflieads, carried in one 
 Hoglhead. 
 
 Befides, the Merchant doth not only gain the price 
 of the carriage of thofe five Hogfheads, but alfo is 
 quitted of the fear of the Carter's corrupting, or 
 fpoilihg that Juice by the way, as is ufual with them 
 to do with Wine, drawing it out, and filling up the 
 Veflels again with Water. This danger thefe Juices 
 are not fubjedtunto ; and may be kept in great plen- 
 ty in fruitful years of Wine, until you need them. 
 For they are not wont to be corrupted, if they are but 
 kept in pure, and well fhut Vefiels. By this means 
 every Vintner may in fuch exceeding plentiful years, 
 furnifh himfelf with a great Treafure, and ftore of' 
 Wines, and fo afterwards, when a dear year comes, 
 reduce his Juices into Wine, and enjoy a great deal of 
 profit. 
 
 I have to this end defcribed this fo famous an Art, 
 that the common Vine-Mafters, may have prefenc 
 fale for their Mufts, and not be enforced fo long to 
 keep them, till fome Carrier comes and enquires af- 
 ter Wine, but may prefently get their Moreys, and 
 may profit themfelves by beftowing them to the ufe of 
 their Family. So then, it fares not only well, which 
 the Vine-Mafters, and the Merchants, but alfo with 
 an fuch as dwell in thofe places which yield no Wine, 
 becaufe by the benefit of this Medium (or Artifice) 
 they may alfo drink Wine at a cheaper rate. For if 
 any Hoceft Citizen provide's himfelf with an whole 
 H h h h Hogftiead; 
 
502 
 
 Hogdicad, or half an Hogdiead of this Juice, he may 
 turn it into ftrongcr, and weaker Wines,and all times 
 of the Year make new, and as yet fermenting fweet 
 Muits, whcnfoever hepleafeth, and as oft as his need 
 requires;and may by theappolicion of Spices,orHerbs, 
 make Aromatical, or Phylical Wines ; which thing 
 cannot be effected without thele Condenfate Juices ; 
 foralhnich as Sweet ^^^ujh^ cannot be carried by Land 
 to any other place, for that they prefcntly ferment, 
 and boil up, and will cither break out of the Veflels, 
 or rend the Cask, a/xl be loll:, which (by having 
 thcfe Juiccsj isnot at all to be feared. 1 do there- 
 fore think that I defervc exceedingly well of very 
 many, by the faithful manifeltation of this Artifice ; 
 which deed of mine, whether it be praifcd, or dif- 
 praifcd, yet will it not be defpiled by fuch men as fhall 
 apprehend, and perceive the benefit and Commodity 
 of fo great an Arciiice. 
 
 It remains now, that we alfo deRribe, and fet afore 
 your Eyes the Inltruments and Vcllels fcrving to this 
 Condenfation, fwithout which, this Concentration 
 cannot be effcded) and withal ihew the manner of 
 proceeding, which is to be thus ordeied. 
 
 In the Firft place, provide a Copper of fuch a big- 
 refs as you fhall judge needful for the great, or lefs 
 quantity of Juice you have ; let it have a plain and e- 
 ven bottom, and let it have the fides about a Span 
 high, and get it well Tinned over in the infidc, and 
 not Leaded, the which Veffel you mull put in a Fur- 
 nace of a fizeable bignefs, and fo order it, that being 
 let in the Furnace, the Flame may come but only to 
 the bottom, and not be able to touch the fides. The 
 Walls of the Furnace are to be fome two foot high, 
 and rauft have an Iron front, or Stone Door, ferving 
 for the putting in the Wood, and regiftring the Fire, 
 by opening and fiiutting it. At the backfide is to be 
 an hole of fuch a bignefs, as may fuffice for making 
 the Fire burn by the'accefs of the Air, and for car- 
 rying away the Smoke and Flame. But it muft be fo 
 ordered, as to be covered with a broad ftone, if need 
 be, that fo the fire may on fuch wife be regiftred, that 
 the Juices may not boiloverbytlie overmuch fire, or 
 tafte of burning. Thefe Juices are to be fo long boil- 
 ed with the wood, until they begin to wax thick, and 
 then more new Mult is to be thereunto added, this ad: 
 dition is to be fo long made, and fo often repeated, 
 until the Copper te almoft filled with thofe thick 
 Juices. Then the holes of the Furnace that ferve for 
 giving air, are to be (hut both above and below, that 
 there may be no flame under the Copper, but the bare 
 hi\it of the lire, and a fweet and gentle warmth, which 
 will bring the Juices by a fweet decodion to the con- 
 iillence of Honey, and will condenfc them without 
 any aduIUon, inibmuch that they will become as fweet 
 as Sugar. 
 
 Thefe Juices, you may let out by a Pipe, or Cock 
 placed nearthe bottom of the Vellcl, and (hutting it 
 again, pour in more to be condcnicd after the fame 
 manner, until all the Mufts arc condenfed , but you 
 roufl: not prefently put the Condenfate Juices, allbon 
 asevcr they come hot out of your Copper, into your 
 Barrels, but let them run firft into fome wooden Vef- 
 fel, and be there left fo long till they are cool, then 
 put them up in your Barrels, and (Init them up tight, 
 and fo may you keep them whole and found, and fr«e 
 ■ from Corruption, even as long as you lilt : For if you 
 ihoukl putiiiem hot into yourl5arrels,andfofhut them 
 up, the B;irrels would burft, or elfe when you open 
 them.would (by reafoji of the pent-up VapourSjWhich 
 can have no exhalation^ break or run out- 
 
 The Firfl Part of 
 
 Part 1, 
 
 NB. And here comes a notable Secret, which I 
 think good to add. When the Juices have reftedfomc 
 two or three weeks, and be afterwards dillblved with 
 warm water, the relidue of the Tartar which would 
 have made the wines acid, will fall down undijlblved. 
 to the bottom, in the form of fmall and big Cryftals, 
 and being walhed with common water, may be ufed 
 inltead of Tartar forafmuch as it is nothing elfe 
 than a meer abfolute Tartar. Now this reparation of 
 the Tartar, is of great concernment as to the Wine, 
 for it thereby becomes much better than if thofe Cry- 
 ftals had remained diffolved with it- Nor is any thing 
 iofl by this means, for that the Tartar is of as much 
 value as the Juices: And befidcs, the Wines will be 
 by this means freed from their acidity, and rendred 
 better and fweeter ; which thing verily deferves to 
 be efteemed of as a great and profitable Artifice ; and 
 which, many there are that will know to ufe it to their 
 great profit. 
 
 Verily, he that is of fo dull an Apprehenfion, as not 
 to be capable of underftanding thefe things, that are 
 fo clearly, and evidently manifefted, will not be any 
 whit the better by larger Difcourfes. But he that 
 has a defire of fetting about this work, will infinuate, 
 or work himfelf by a farther Meditation into the in- 
 moft centrality as 'twere of this fo great an Artifice,' 
 and will with a far jufter mind bear with me, in that I 
 have not fo much time at prefent, as to ufe a more 
 prolix, or larger Stile. 
 
 But if fo be, any do defire to have this Artifice de- 
 clared unto him, by a more clear delivery, let hira 
 read my Explication of the Appendix adjoined to my 
 Fifth part of thePhilofophical Furnaces ; as alfo the 
 Vegetable work, and there he (hall find more fuch 
 Artifices- Or if haply it concerns him, he may fee 
 in my Laboratory, the Furnaces and Coppers requi- 
 fiteto fuch a work, together with the Manual Opera- 
 tions. 
 
 I am even conftrained briefly, and as it were by 
 the bye, to infert thus much, that if fomemorethan 
 ufually unskilful Men cannot underlland thofe things 
 which I have declared concerning the three Principles, 
 w'2.. That all Wine muft needs confift of the fame, to 
 wit, Salt, Water, and Spirit-, I dare boldly and con- 
 fidently averr, that he who knows how to conjoin (ac- 
 cording to art) thefe three Principles, may every 
 where make good Wine. 
 
 NB.But yet I would not have fuch an oneperfwade 
 himfelf that he can do any good, if he mixeth Tar- 
 tar, Water, and Spirit of Wine together, no, no, 
 that is not the way for him to be Mafter of his defire. 
 There are far other-guile Manual Operations, requi- 
 fite to this Artifice, and fuch as! think it inexpedient 
 tomanifeft in this place. Let every one be content 
 with the things at prefent (hown him, haply God will 
 fometime or other beftow (on him) better. 
 
 CHAP. 11. 
 
 Treateth of Corn : Shewing what means it is to he 
 Concentred^ and Condenfated hy, fo us to he 
 Exported in great Quantities into other Coun- 
 tries, wherehy hoth Gain and Moneys may he 
 thereof made. 
 
 1 
 
 Have inftrufted you in the foregoing Chapter, af- 
 ter what manner fuch Wines as are of a mean 
 
 price, 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 505 
 
 price, may by the help of Concentration be conve- 
 niently tranfported out of one Country into others 
 more remote? where no Wines grow, and produce 
 good profit. The which Artifice may be of molt 
 great benefit to the Inhabitants of fuch Countries as 
 abound in Wine, and want fomctimes Chapmen or 
 Merchants for the fame. 
 
 'Tis very well known to every one,that in moft pla- 
 ces tiiGermdny fbut efpecially in Francoma, and in the 
 other Countries adjoining) Corn is fo exceedingly 
 plenty, and of fo vile a priccthat thelnhabitants know 
 no: what to do therewith \ and for that reafon it lies 
 and rots in their Barns and Granaries, the exceeding 
 abundance thereof either hindring the fale of the fame, 
 or the great cofls and charges of Carriage hinder the 
 Tranfportation of it into the lower Countries of 0'f>- 
 rmiiy, where 'tis dear enough- 
 
 Hence conies it to pafs, that the mirerable Inhabi- 
 tants have indeed Wine and Corn enough, but want 
 Moneys to pay the Tributes due to the Magillrate •, fo 
 that tho' they have fuch plenty of the Divine Gifts, 
 and fo much Riches, yet for all that they are in great 
 penury and want, in that they cannot fell off fo much 
 as to pay their Family's expence, 'vIt.. Men-fervants 
 and Maid-fervants wages, or fo much as to fuftain 
 them. Verily, this is a punifhment from the hand of 
 God, and a lingular one too, by which he correds us 
 ungrateful men. In time of the Wars, when a huge 
 Scarcity pinched the Inhabitants of Germany^ then the 
 common outcry went up to Heaven, and promifed 
 largely an ^endment of life^ but when the War 
 was over, and all quiet,and a moft wifht- for Peace re- 
 turning, then all men generally became worfer, and 
 more wicked, tho' the goodnefs and bounty of God 
 had beftowed on them fuch a great plenty of things 
 fo exceeding neceflary : And now fuch great Fulnefs 
 being enjoyed, they now gape after Money too, and 
 murmur againft God, as the JJraelites did,who loath- 
 ing, as 'twere, the plentiful abundance of things ne- 
 ceflary, murmured at Mofes. 
 
 The reafon why Corn is fo exceeding plenty,isthis : 
 After the making of Peace, and fending away the 
 Souldiers, many Commanders being weary of war- 
 fare, and abounding with Money and Horfes, bought 
 (or rather fqueez'd out^of the poor Inhabitflnts,every 
 wheredeftituteof Money, moll notable Farms, for a 
 very mean price, and did fet themfelvcs with the ut- 1 
 moft of their Induftry to till the Earth, which had lain 
 fallow a long time ; which Lands becartie fo fruitful 
 that it even amazed all men.The poor Inhabitantstoo, 
 who now had gotten a little Money, they alfo fet their 
 hands to the PJough,and ufed even the utmoft of their 
 endeavours in the tillage of the Earth : From hence 
 it came to pafs, that they were fo furnilhed with fuch 
 a vaft deal of Corn in a few years fpace, that they 
 knew not at all what to do therewith. As for carry- 
 ing it into far diftant Countries, the troublefomenefs 
 and charges of the Carriage were too great an hin- 
 drance : To lay it up in the Granaries, that the Air 
 will not fuffer them to do, tho' in the time of Jofiph 
 fuch a thing was done in ■E^^'/'f , where the Air being 
 Nitroiis, dry, and not fo ealily fubjed to corrupting, 
 as ours is, prcferved the Corn from Corruption. 
 
 What 1 have here wricten, hath proceeded forth 
 from a good mind and finccre intention, and I hope 
 'twill do more good than hurt. I know thatthe eyes 
 of many will be opened to fee what a B.ity!o>iijh Confu- 
 Con the prefent World is in ; I pray God to be an hel- 
 per to the Good, and to be a reducer of the Wicked 
 from the courfe of their Impiety, into the Right way. 
 
 Tl'e Procefs of Concentrating Corn is this ' 
 
 IN the firft place, you are to make a Male of your 
 Barly, Wheat, Oats, Spelt, or any other kind of 
 Grain or Coin, the which dry either in the Sun or 
 in the Air, or clfe in an Oven heated a little, and not 
 to be fcorched and parched as it were after the Bre- 
 wers cuftom ; for fo the (harp fume of the wood would 
 ftick thereunto, and make it black and bitter, and it 
 may eafily be conjcifluredithat there vvould be no good 
 come of it, for by this means the fmoak of the wood 
 would ftick on to the Corn and the Sprouts it has thruft: 
 forth, and are moiftcned,and fo would make the Ale 
 that is boil'd thereoutof unwholfome, and of an un? 
 grateful bitter favour : But now fuch Malt as is dried 
 in the Air, Sun, or in a warm Stove or Oven, has no 
 fuch ungrateful tafte as comes from the fmoak of the 
 wood, but remains fwect and pleafant. 
 
 NB- Elfe you-may dothus^ The Cofn, after it 
 hath fprouted and hath been thrown abroad on fomc 
 Floor, open to the air, and thereby been a little freed 
 of fome of its moifture,may be dried purely and quick- 
 ly too in the Brewers great Coppers, in which they 
 are wont to boil their Ale or Beer, provided it be con- 
 tinually ftirred about with fome wooden ftick without 
 ceafing, that it may be all over hot, and fo become dry. 
 But yet you muft have a care that your fire be not too 
 ftrong under your Copper wherein you dry your Malt, 
 and fo burn the Corn, and make it tafte untowardly •, 
 this done, the dried Malt is to be ground as other 
 Malt which is ufed to make Ale withal is wont to be, 
 but yet^fo, that it be not too finely ground nor too 
 grofly i forif itbetoo grofs, and the Grains be un- 
 broken, the water cannot fufticiently get out the Vir- 
 tues and Juice in the boiling,but that the beft part will 
 remain in the boiled Grains, and fo be thrown away 
 on the Beafts in their nutriment i but if it be ground 
 too fmall,it will run into heaps, and hinder theftrain- 
 ing out of the Ale \ therefore a mean is to be obfer- 
 ved, and care taken that no errour be committed, by 
 either excefs or defed. The Malt being on this wife 
 prepared, every one may boil his Ale according to his 
 cuitom,andfo much thereof as his Veffels, Coppers, 
 and Coolers will admit of: Some do pour boiling wa- 
 ter on their Malt, and mix them both by ftirring them 
 well together, and then let them fettle for fome time 
 that the water may take into it felf the ftrength of thq 
 fame ; then they draw out that water by a Tap, and 
 pour on more, and repeat the Infufions fo often, until 
 the water can get out no more fweetnefs, and there 
 remain nothing but the infipid Husks, the which ar» 
 nourifhmentfor Cattel. 
 
 NB. Otherfomc that have no VefTels to extrad the 
 Virtue out of the Malt in, by boiling water, do put the 
 prepared Malt in wooden Veflels or Tubs, and pour 
 thereon warm water or cold,and ftir it very well about, 
 and leave it fo for fome hours, that the iM alt may be 
 macerated \ then do they put it in a Copper,and pour 
 thereunto fo much water as may keep the Male from 
 burning to in the boiling; and having boiled it for 
 half an hour, they pour itout uponabedof ftraw, fit- 
 ted for that purpofe, and placed over a Coo!er,and fo 
 ftrain the Ale : This Labour of pouring on, boiling,, 
 andftraining, is fo oft repeated, till the water fucklj 
 no more fweetnefs out of the malt- This rnanrier of 
 boiling Ale is ufed by thofe only who want ftore of 
 Veflcls, and pretty large ones: The former way is 
 not only better and more commodious, but likewife 
 more fit for the boiling of a greater quantity of Ale.' . 
 
 NB, This 
 
304 
 
 rhe Fv'li Pan of 
 
 Part I, 
 
 NB. This is to be obferved in this place, when the 
 beftand firlt juice or Extracftion is drawn out of the 
 Vefl6l by a Tap, and frelli boiling water poured a fe-- 
 cond time on the malt in the Coi)per,and again drawn 
 off by the Tap, thofe two waters in which thechiefeft 
 Virtueof the maitis, may be boiled and thickened by 
 little and little in a plain orfljt Copper. The third 
 and fourth pouring on are indeed as yet good, but yet 
 rot fat enough, and feeing they are not very fi:rong» 
 are not worth the boiling away, for they won''tquit 
 thccofts of the Fire, and therefore are to be applied 
 to fome other ul-s. Now when a man is about this 
 work, he may fo order his boilings, as to have feve- 
 ral of them one after another ; and then thofe pou- 
 rings on, wz.. thefccondand third, remaining of the 
 firlt courfe of boiling may be poured on the fecond 
 courfe of boiling, in the flead of bare water : And 
 fo is it to be handled, that alwaics thefirft and fecond 
 pouring on Tand which contain in them thechiefeft 
 VirtiKsofthemalt) may be boiled to the confiftcncy 
 of Honey in a Copper made for tha"\; purpofe, of Eva- 
 poration •, and the third and fourth pouring on may 
 be alwaics kept for the next following courfe of boi- 
 ling, and be poured on the malt in the room of bare 
 water, and fo are to be condenfed by evaporation in a 
 Copper, as the firft and fecond pouring on were done 
 withal in the firft courfe of the boiling ^ and fo always 
 the id. and ^-th. pouring on of the former courfe of 
 boiling, is to be the firft and fecond in the next follow- 
 ing courfe of boiling; and this way of proceeding 
 draws out of the malt its beft and chiefeft Virtues,and 
 lelTens the charge of the boiling : For the Cofts would 
 be far greater, if the third and fourth pouring on were 
 
 to be boiled otFpe?-/^- ' ''-.' ' 
 
 NB. The Coppers and Pans necelTiry for the thus 
 reducing thefe extracted Juices to the confiftency of 
 Honey, are already defcribed, where mention is made 
 ofthe Concentration of Wines. He that can't well 
 enough underftand me, may take the pains to come 
 and fee my Furnaces, Coppers, and other Inftruments 
 appertaining to this work; as likewife the manual 
 Operation, for I cannot help him any other way- And 
 as for a larger defcripcion of thefe things, my time 
 will not permit me at this inftant to make it. The 
 Juicesbeing cdndenfate, are to be drawn out of the 
 Copper by a Tap faftened therein, or laved out, and 
 being cool, put them up in Barrels, and (hut them up 
 tight, that the external air may not get thereinto ; for 
 thus may you keep them uncorrupt, even as long as 
 you plcafc. 
 
 N B. In your boiling them you muft be very diligent 
 that the Juices be not burnt to, by theovermuchnefs of 
 your Fire, or that by being heat too hot, they boil 
 not over ; all which may be prevented by Regifters(as 
 lbcC'llym'J'^c^\\ thcm)deftinated for the regulating 
 ofthe Fire- This is a moft compendious way of ex- 
 tracting the Virtues out of Corn, and of reducing them 
 into a narruw room,the which if you order according 
 to Art, that nothing of your Juices be fpilt or loft, 8 
 Barrels of Malt willyicldyou one full of Juice, and 
 which contains all the Virtues that were in thofe eight 
 Barrels :, the relidue fcrvcs to fatten Beafts withal. 
 
 NB. He who knows how to convert thofe remains 
 to his ufc, in another kind of way will do better, and 
 extrart thereoutof fo moch as he isronftrained to lay 
 out in buying his Corn, infomuch that he can have his 
 Juices as it were even ^!<i.'«. But of thefe things 
 more hereafter. 
 
 As touchingthefcjiiices, they comprehend in them 
 the whole Virtue ofthe Corn, out of which ycu ' may 
 
 when you pleafeboil A!e,make Aduft or Brandy-wine 
 or bake fpiced Cakes ; for if it be ufed to them inftead 
 of Honey, it makes them much the fweeter- Thefe 
 Juices therefore are to be prepared in thofe pla- 
 ces in which Corn is fold at a very mean rate, and 
 which cannot be exported to foreign parts, and is 
 there in fuch great plenty, as that the Country-men 
 know not what to do therewith, but there it lies in 
 great Stacks and rots. Farther, they are yet prepa- 
 red with greater benefit and more gain where the 
 plenty and cheapnefsof wood is, the which yields no 
 fmall encreafe and addition to the Gains. 
 
 But that the nature and condition of this Labour 
 may be the better underftood, the following Compu- 
 tation will (hew. Suppofe I take 8 Barrels full of Cora 
 and bring them into Malt, then boil it into Ale after 
 theaforefaid way,and condenfe it into a Juice, where- 
 withal I fill one Barrel : This one Barrel now is far 
 more commodious to be carried into foreign places ei- 
 ther by Waggon or by Ship, than thofe 8 barrels,and 
 will bringme double or treble the profit that SMcMki' 
 m (a Meafufe containing fome fix buftiels,or the eight 
 barrels) of Corn. Why? becaufe the greateft labour 
 is already over, and there remains but very little to 
 boil the Ale out of the Juice,as the following Example 
 will demonftrate. 
 
 I buy me eight barrels in that place where Corn and 
 Wood are to be had at a mean rate, and there paf- 
 feth fome River or other by the place, as the Mhene'm 
 Friinconia^ Nicer in Siievia^^ Ftfurgis in Hnjfia.^ and 
 theDukedome oi Bnwfwkk^.^ Mbis in* Saxony and 
 Ailfuia. j for in all thefe places there is abundance of 
 Corn, and ftore of Wood, and the price of each,meaa 
 enough in confcience. If now one Ahdimms (or iix 
 bufhels) of Corn be efteemed at the price of one Impe- 
 rial, eight Medimni will yield eight Imperials j the 
 VVood will coft one Imperial, theLabour one Florin : 
 The juice out of the 8 barrels of Corn may be put in 
 a Fir-Cask, as they ufe to do with Honey, that fo in 
 paying the carriage, it may not be accompted for 
 Wine or Ale, but fome dry Goods, and fo valued by 
 the hundred, as other dry Wares are priced i fo then 
 the Barrel will coft the Carriage by Water to fome 
 of the Maritine or Sea-coaft Cities, two Florins. Now 
 if we fum up all thefe Expences upon the Corn, Car- 
 riage, Fire, and Labour, they come to 12 Florins or 
 8 Imperials. But now, out of that one Barrel of Juice 
 there may be made eight Barrels of the beft Ale, and 
 if you will have it fomewhat fmaller, then 'twill make 
 10 or 12, according as you boil your Ale to a ftronger 
 or weaker degree. However, this is certain,thatone 
 Barrel of Corn will yield more than a Barrel of good 
 Ale ; fo that out of one Barrel of Corn may be made 
 one and an half of ftrong Ale. Now then, if one of 
 thofe Barrels of Ale yield three Imperials, the eight 
 Barrels, which coft the buying, and reducing into one 
 Barrcl,andthetranfportingit, eight Imperials, may 
 there be fold for 24 Imperials ; from which the eight 
 being fubftrafted, the remainder ofthe Gains is 16 
 Imperials, which verily is enough'upon thofe SBarrels. 
 But put cafe the Corn were dearer, and the Carri- 
 age ofthe Juices to thofe places did coft more,and that 
 thofe 8 Barrels of Corn , or one Barrel of Juice, did 
 yield (befides all the cofts) only S Imperials profitjyet 
 would this be profit enough, and may well content a 
 Man. I forbear to mention the other benefits and 
 profits arifingovcr and above befides this Gains ; for 
 by this kind of way is laved and made vendible that 
 Corn which would elfe be fpoiled : Befides in a plen- 
 tiful time the mean-prized Corn may be bought up. 
 
 Con- 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 305 
 
 concentrated and kept till a fcarcity come. Nor is 
 ^ere any caufeoffear that it will be devoured by the 
 Mice and Rats, or be fpoiled with lying, or wax 
 ipouldy, or be any other way corrupted. 
 
 Nay more, it occupies Icfs room than the Corn 
 ivouldjfor where one Barrel of Juice Iics,there lliould 
 have lain eight Barrels of Corn. 
 
 Befides, the Magiftrates and Subjeds may by this 
 picans reap much profit and help. The Magiftrate 
 [nay be fatisfied by taking Corn of the Inhabitants in- 
 ftead of tribute. The Subjeds may by the benefit of 
 $|iis Medium fatisfiethe Magiftrate, and there will not 
 need the felling his Cattle, or Sheep in the Fold, or to 
 liorrow Money upon iife> and to give his Wife and 
 Cliildren for pledges. For there is requihte no other 
 Igbour than that the Magiftrate appoint a place to 
 ^il his Ale, in which the Corn may be malted, boil- 
 ed and thickned into Juices. As for Wood, that he 
 has himfelf and needs not lay out a farthing upon that. 
 So now, by this means may a Country be brought to 
 ihat degree of happinefs as never to want Money, 
 Corn, or any other neceffary things- For where the 
 juices can be but brought to the Sea-towns many thou- 
 sand Barrels full may be fold to thofe Magiftrates and 
 Jderchants which fend their Ships into the E^rfi and 
 Wcsl-lndia ; in which Countries may be made good 
 Ale at any time of the Year, even in the midft of Sum- 
 mer, or in the Dog-daiesthemfelves, if you have but 
 Hops and Water at hand ; the which is far better and 
 more profitable. 
 
 For in the room of this one Barrel of Juice, there 
 piuft have been flowed 8 Barrels, and yet that fome- 
 limcs turns four too,and is fpoiled,the which never be- 
 ijdesthefe Juices. Now fuch Ale prepared of the Juices 
 by means of Hops and Water are much wholfomer 
 than the common Ales are, becaufe that the Fire hath 
 confumed all the Crudities •, in the boiling of the Jui- 
 ces or hath correfled them.and this every one will rea- 
 tjily believe or affent unto. 
 
 Nay more, thefe Juices may (and that with very 
 great profittoo j be fent into thofe places wherein (by 
 reafonofthe abundance of People there) Corn and 
 Ale is much efteemed,as in HMand^ and the border- 
 ing Cou ntr ies. I f the Ale-.bre wers could but once get 
 fuch Juices, without doubt they would not be at the 
 eofts to brew it out of the Corn, for they would not 
 need fo much time to brew in, nor fuch Coppers, nor 
 fo many Mens help, all which they muft necelfarily 
 have in the common way of brewing. In thefe Juices, 
 there is much fparing of Fuel, (the which makes the 
 common way of brewing Ale, more coftly,j and of 
 Men's labour which doth likewife prove chargable. 
 Nor are we filently to pafs over that great benefit 
 uhich they have hereby, for that good Ale and fuch as 
 will not four may be made without any danger even in 
 the midft of the Dog:days- Every one knows what it is 
 to brew Ale (then,) and that the brewing is at other 
 times fufficiently troublefome, w^. fo to order it as to 
 prevent the danger of fouring. But now this brewing 
 Tthat I mention) is void of all this kind of fear of 
 fouring; whereas the ufual kind of brewings do for 
 "themoftpart (in the Summer feafon) become four ei- 
 ther in the ftraining it through the] Grains, or by 
 ftanding in the Coolers : but thefe labours are in our 
 brewingalready difpatched, and that in thofe places 
 where the charges of Labourers, Wood, and Room 
 fit for boiling it in, are not fo great. 
 
 This work therefore is of mighty profit both to the 
 buyer and feller : For the feller can afford his Corn 
 at a rcafonabk rate. And the buyer need not be at any 
 
 other charges in brewing good and wholfome Ale at 
 any time of the Year fave only the hire of one man 
 that may prepare or fit the Juices, and Hops, and Wat 
 ter for the boiling, and fet it a-working or fermen- 
 ting and pour it into the VcfFcls. Whereas on the 
 contrary in the common brewing of Ale there needs 
 many mens help, huge Coppers,and wooden Flats and 
 a great deal of room to brew in, and ftore of Fire 
 which is fufficiently dear in fome Countries ^ all which 
 are avoided in the brewing with tb^^ Juices. Do but 
 confider 1 pray what a notable and profitable thing 
 this would be in great Cities, and efpecially in thofe 
 places where Houfes, Fuel, and Mens labour are very 
 dear, if fuch kinds of Juices were fettofale; that fo 
 every Mafter of a Family might buy up fome Barrels 
 of this Juice, and dilTolve them at his own home with 
 Water and Hops, in a fmall Copper according to his 
 pleafure, and make the faid Juices into Ale, as fat or 
 as lean or fmall i and as bitter or as fweet as he lift- 
 eth ; and then put it up in his own purified and well 
 cleanfed Veflels, and he and his,drink thereof all the 
 whole year-, and if need be,might make either Phyfick- 
 drink or Spiced-ale. And would it not be much bet- 
 ter than the buying fuch Ales of the Brcmrs, which 
 are fometimes either too new or too ftale, and oft- 
 times acid, impure, not well boiled , and ftinking, and 
 inftead of Hops have Aloes, Xanthium or Burr, Hen- 
 banc and fuch like Herbs put in them. For in fome 
 places, the Brewtrs ufe fuch kinds of Herbs and the 
 like hurtful things, inftead of Hops, to make their 
 Ale bitter, and to fave a few charges in the making 
 their drink- Therefore all fuch as ufe to drink of 
 fuch kind of Beer are never wont to be in compleac 
 health •■, and efpecially in watery and moift places 
 they are for the rooft part afflicted with the Scurvy, 
 MeIancholly,e^t-. which is the ufual fruits of fuch kind 
 of Drinks, for they obftruft the internal parts of the 
 body and the principal members, and ftir up fuch 
 Difeafes. But our Ales that are made of the Juices and 
 good Hops do not only not ftir up fuch Diftempers, 
 but do even Tby their purity and clearnefs) refift them, 
 and preferve men from them ; but efpecially" if fuch 
 Juices be made of fuch Malt as has not a fmatch of the 
 fmokeofWood.buc is dried in the Air, and which 
 are fo handled in the fermentation or working of theni 
 as that all the defilements fettle to the bottom ; for 
 then will you have fuch Ale, as doth both in whole- 
 fomnefsand fweetnefse.xceed fuch Wines as are infe- 
 fted with, or have a tang of. Sulphur^ or that grow ia 
 a foil abounding with Chalk- They dull not the 
 head, they do not caufewindinefs,they puffnotupthe 
 body after the manner of other Ale ; they do not 
 ftop the Urine but provoke it, and keep the Belly fo- 
 luble: They are Medicinal without the addition of 
 PhyficaFHerbs, are fweet and wholfome, and of an 
 excellent taft, and fuch as the like of them cannot be 
 made without this medium or way. 
 
 Such Ales deferve a peculiar praife, and many 
 would there be who would drink of Ales often, could 
 they but get fuch : and would leave off the drinking 
 troubled, unwholfome, and fulphnred Wines. For 
 my own part I will make ufe of fuch kind of Ale, and 
 Wine,inmyownhoufeforthe fultainingof mine own 
 
 Family. 
 
 I could mention much more concerning fuch Ales 
 
 if the time would permit me, but I have fpoken e- 
 
 nough already. And as for what remains unwritten 
 
 I here, may be gotten out of, (or underftood by) the 
 
 , things here described. I queftion not but that good 
 
 for providentj Mafters of Families will fet about this 
 
 1 i i i bufincfj 
 
§6§ 
 
 Yhe Firfi Pan of 
 
 Part L 
 
 , r r c • ^T,on. Tn;r« and 'of fendine I fcate impofc thc fame Tfibutc of Ale OH thc Juiccs. 
 
 '"Befidetthe Brcn^crs of Ale or Beer that are in great | ^. So then 'tis clearly evident, that tjiere cannot pof- 
 Cities will not difdain fuch an excellent Art, but will 
 
 thcmfelvesbiw fuch juices at a confiderable rate. 
 
 Princes, Nobles, and great Cities, will alfo pro- 
 vide for buy up)'^reat quantities of fuch Juices, and 
 lay them up in their Forts and Caftles, and in their 
 Store houfes as a good Treafure, that fo they may 
 have it to ufe in time of necelfity. Nor wdl good (or 
 provident) Houfholdersnegleft tofurnini themfelves 
 therewith,thatfo they may have wherewithal to fu- 
 ftain them and theirs in a time of fcarcity- 
 
 In thetimeofWars, eminent Captains and other 
 Military chieftains will take care to have them, and 
 carry them into their ttrong holds, and there loofen 
 them (or put a proportionable quantity of Water to 
 them) and turn them into good Ale ; as for Water, 
 there's to be found renough)of that every where, and 
 fo need not flore up that, and as for Hops that is eafie 
 enough to be bought. . ,• a 
 
 So then, there will be a notable benefit by this Ar- 
 tifice to ftrong Holds and Caftles, and fuch fenced 
 Places as fear a Siege- Briefly, Words cannot ex- 
 prcfsthebeneBt and profit which will redound to all 
 places, by thefe Juices, in times both of Peace and 
 
 War. 
 
 Therefore every Magillratewho has a care of liis 
 Subje^s health and prefervation, will worthily and 
 with his utmoft diligence carefully provide for the 
 havingfuch prepared juices,thatfo In times of neceiTity 
 
 ■■ they may be at hand for ufe. 
 
 But now, fome may objedt and fay ; I perceive and 
 well fee that this Artifice is good and profitable, but 
 ■'tis not fo eafie a matter for every one to purchafe 
 himfelf Coppers requifite for' this work? To fuch 1 
 anfwer, 'Tis not fo needful that every one fliould fur- 
 niih himfelf with fuch (utenfils)-, if there be in every 
 City but one roan only that is imployed thereabouts, 
 who may buy oft his Neighbours Corn and pay them 
 their Money for the fame, 'tis fufficient. And if o- 
 thers alfo betake themfelves thereunto, there will be 
 the more Money gotten, and the Country made the 
 richer-, neither is any reafon to fear or doubt, but 
 that, if he fhall bring eight thoufand Barrels of Corn 
 condenfed into a thoufand Barrels of juice unto the 
 Cities on theSeacoafl:,he will fell it offfor ready money. 
 Will a thoufand Barrels (think you) be fufficient (or 
 be a drug) in fome populous City wherein are daily 
 drunk fome thoufands of barrels of Ale ? Verily he that 
 fliallexpoleto falein fuch a like City many thoufand 
 Barrels, would not itay long there, but would be loa- 
 dcn (or furnifhed) with ready Money for the fame, by 
 thofe who knew the Art of making Ale with fuch 
 Juices. 
 
 1 do verily believe that it would be altogether 
 much better to fell Corn after fuch a manner, and fo 
 to have profit by it, than let it perifh with lying ■, 
 which is a great fin before God, and a (hameful dif- 
 graccful thing before Men. 
 
 But farther, It may be objerted and faid. If this 
 Artifice of makin;^ Ale were fet up in thofe places, in 
 which there is wont to be a certain Tribute paid the 
 Magi(trat€sfor every Barrel (of Ale,) it would not be 
 allowed of, becaufe by this means the Tribute or Cu: 
 Itoms due to the Magiftrates would be diminifhed. 
 This inconvenience is eafily prevented, if the Magi- 
 
 fibly arife any detriment from thefe Juices, but ra- 
 ther infinite profits and commodity- And therefore 
 every Magiftrate fhould ferioufly caufe his Subjects to 
 make thefe kind of Juices of fuch Corn as they cannot 
 fell, and inftead of fpoiling it get riches by it. Cer- 
 tainly this would be far better, and far more profita* 
 ble for fuch Subjeds as are very poor and go mifera- 
 bly tattered and naked, and have nothing to help 
 themfelves (of which fort there are nota few.; Veri- 
 ly there would be no want of any thing, but the Sub- 
 jeftsas well as their Rulers would have enough : And 
 for this reafon have I willingly undergone this trouble 
 and this labour in raanifefting and laying open this 
 Artifice- 
 
 And although I am not to expeft any reward from 
 any body for manifelting a thing of fo much concern- 
 ment (for this is an unthankful World) yet have I 
 obeyed the will ofGod and have out of a Chriftian 
 love benefited my Neighbour, and in this welldoing 
 do I reft,no ways doubting but that God the rewarder 
 of every good (aftion) will rccompenfe in another 
 place, this my well-doing which 1 bellow upon the 
 World. 
 
 Farther, I can in a kind of a Prophetical manner 
 prediftjthat if regard be had of this my wholfome 
 Doi^rine and Admonition, many Countries vvill in a 
 very fliort time recover their former happinefs, and 
 both the higheft and loweft will live in a profpcrous 
 condition •, but efpecially thofe who firft fet upon this 
 bufinefs afore it becomes common, will get great 
 riches- Now then, whofoever they be that by the 
 help and benefit of this way fhall get the blelfing of 
 God, let them not forget the poor, but bellow thaC 
 bleffing on the cherrifhing and comforting poor Or- 
 phans and Widows, to the Honour of God. For the 
 Treafures and Riches in this temporal Life cannot be 
 better laid out, and laid up, than in diftributing them 
 amongll the poor. For by that means there's no fear 
 of being fpoiledof them by Thieves and Robbers; 
 And more, in the Life to come, thsy fhall be recom- 
 penfedwith a ten-fold reward. 
 
 C H A P. I I I. 
 
 Of the Concentration of Vegetables. 
 
 WE have already taught in the two foregoing 
 Chapters by what means Wine and Corn 
 are to be by an Artificial condenfation reduced into a 
 narrow compafs, and brought to be a gainful Mer- 
 chandicc. It now remains to fhew the way conducing 
 to a condenfation of the Virtues lying hid in Herbs,Bu- 
 fhes. Shrubs, and Trees : (which Vegetables do moft 
 plentifully abound inmofl places and yield no profit) 
 that fo even out of them as well as from Wine and 
 Corn may be reaped a very great profit. No body is 
 ignorant of this,'y«z.. That there is nothing more vile 
 and of lefs efteem than the Grafs (or Herbs; of the 
 Field, and Briars or Bulhes, and Shrubs, and lofty 
 Trees too, efpecially when being at a good diflance 
 from Men's dwellings they cannot be applied to any 
 ufe, and uponthis account arc they not valued at all, 
 
 nor 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 507 
 
 nor by reafon of their di/lance profitable to any, but 
 there they grow and perifh in thofe vaft woods and 
 defarc places. And this is to be feen in thofe moft 
 huge Woods of Germany^ fuch as are the Ingrionei^ 
 the Wood Ardvim^ the Ottomcxne^ Hcrciman^ Sen-tme^ 
 and B^hemun Woods, and the woods of other Coun- 
 tries, in which woods there rots and is fpoiled above 
 tentimesmorc wood than men make ufe of. 
 
 Now no body hath hitherto known what ufe to put 
 thofe Woods unto ; fuch Woods as are not too far 
 off'from Cities or Villages, do Men make ufe of for 
 building, for firingj for boiling, or brewing, and for 
 baking, and other occafions, fo that the Wood which 
 is daily ufed, and every year fetch'd from the borde- 
 ring Woods or Forefts, is thereby favedfrom rotting 
 and being fpoilcd- 
 
 But as for fuch wood as is in Mountains and Woods 
 fcituated far off from mens dwellings, and which are 
 not frequented, that is not of any ufe at all, they are 
 Dens and lurking places for cruel Beafts, as Bears and 
 Wolves ; which faid wild beafts do annoy and hinder 
 other profitable ones, asStaggs, Does, Boars, Hoggs, 
 Sheep, 0-c. from feeding on the wild Fruits of fuch 
 places. But who is there will amend it, 2nd bring 
 fuch places to a due or good ufe ? What ! fliould fuch 
 vaft Woods, which are the receptacle of thofe cruel 
 wild Beafts be cut down and lie a rotting, or be con- 
 fumed by Fire, fo to deftroy thofe wild beafts ? Sure- 
 ly no body will attempt it, as fearing the toilfomnefs 
 rcquifite hereunto : And belldes , forafmuch as no 
 other profit is to be thereby expeftcd, fave an extir- 
 pation of thofe wild beafts, there's no body will take 
 that Task upon him- Nor is it a thing fo behoveful 
 to Fire.and burn down fuch huge Woods, as we read | 
 in Hiftory, that fome have heretofore done, viz..mo^ 
 great Woods have been burnt, meerly to deftroy In-- 
 feds and other hurtful, wild, and ravenous beafts. 
 There is an hazard run in fo doing,for fuch a Fire may 
 fpread wider, and do a great deal of mifchief. 
 
 There are fuch Examples which may be produced, 
 which witnefs how that Fire being put to Heaths,have 
 (by burning thereof) crept into the bordering Woods 
 and deftroyed them, and mightily injured the neigh- 
 bouring Inhabitants : And therefore 'tis not fo advi- 
 fed a Work to confumc Woods by Fire ; and to cut 
 them down, that lb they may lie and rot,and be there- 
 by rooted out, cannot be done, becaufe of the great 
 cofts thereto requilite. 
 
 So that fuch places muft of neceflity even remain 
 the Receptacles of hurtful Beafts and Thieves ; for 
 albeit thatfometimes the Glafs- makers do infuchlLke 
 places build their Furnaces or Glafs-houfes, yet they 
 fall far Ihort of confuming fo much Wood by their 
 making of glaifesjfor thofe Woods are fcarce the thin- 
 ner or leffer for that : Tho' they fpend daily in every 
 fuch Glafs- houfc twenty loads, yet fuch a.vaft quanti- 
 ty as that is,will not decreafe. Befides,the Glafs-men 
 do not uie all the wood without making any difference, 
 but make choice of the ftreighteft and fmoothcft wood, 
 fuch as they may beft and ealieft cleave : As for fhrubs 
 and knotty O.iks and Beach, thofe they touch not. So 
 then the beft Trees only are ufed about their Glafs 
 Woiks, 2nd the brudiy woods, as Briars, Tr.orns^ &c. 
 and which are the moft commodious hiding places for 
 the wild Beafts, are unmeddled withal, as being un- 
 profitable for the Glafs-makers : Nay, they let moft 
 curious arms or branches of BcAih lie a rotting, and 
 make ufe only of the body of the Trees. Moreover, 
 in iuch Woods as are far off, the Glafs-makers build 
 EoHoufes, but do eredl them as near aspoffible they 
 
 can, to fuch places as are inhabited, becaufe they muft 
 of neceffity have commerce with men. 
 
 Farther, 'tis not a little wood that is fpent in the 
 Mmes about Metals, efpecially in fuch Mines where 
 Iron is molten i but what we faid but now touching 
 the Glaffmen,thc fame is to beobferved here ; for fuch 
 mctal-roclting Houfcs are never ereftcd on the high 
 Mountainsjor are built in far remote Woods, becaufe 
 they muft have the afliftanceofMen.and water todrive 
 their bellows-mills,andbelides the place muft be fuch, 
 as that all Neccfl'arics may be brought them in Wag- 
 gons, and their iron tranfportcG^into the Cities or 
 Towns. Nor do the Metal-mclcers indifferently ufe 
 any wood they meet with ; nor make they their Char- 
 coals of every kind of wood, but leave the (hrub^^and 
 bufhy woods as unfit for coaling. And therefore thofe 
 great and vaft woods, tho' there be .Glafs-houfes and 
 Metabmelting-Zhops in many places, do remain un- 
 touch'd, becaufe no body knows the ufe of them. 
 
 But now, forafmuch as I have all my life-time moft 
 accurately fearch'd by a diligent obfervation into the 
 wonders ofGod, and have not fparedany labour or 
 cofts about the fecret wonders of Nature, and have 
 learned from Nature her felf,my inftruding Miftrifs, 
 that God being a true and juft Lord over his Family, 
 did neither do, make, or create ought without certain 
 and juft caufes, which notwithftanding is not regar- 
 ded by the moft part of us men, who imitate the irra- 
 tional beafts, andalwaies live without the knowledge 
 of God and of His Works. Verily, we havenocolour 
 of Reafon at all for it, not confidering that men were 
 created and appointed by God for another-guife end, 
 than the brute beafts, which are void of all Reafon -, 
 and we regard not the Truth of that old Saying, God 
 and Nature never make any thing in vatn. 
 
 So then, whereas this is a Truth fas affuredly it is) 
 certainly we may fee that thefe huge Woods were not 
 in vain made, but that they have fome benefit (for fo 
 they have) -^iz.. a moft great Treafure for fuch who 
 know it, and knov/ how to ufe it. Which I will there? 
 fore fhew, as clear as the Noon-day Sun, and will fo 
 fct it afore the eyes of the blind and darkfom world, 
 that the Deriders and Contemners of natural Philofo- 
 phy, fuch as is to be Learned only by the fire, and not 
 outo( yJrifiotle, may be even enforced, will they, nill 
 they,to confefs and grant that the Fire is the true Tea- 
 cher and Mafter of natural Arts, and fo will be ^ for 
 whofoever they be that are Ignorant as to the Fire, 
 and that know not its wonderful efficacy, tho' they 
 may be moft skilful Proficients in foreign Tongues or 
 Languages ( which In the more-fccret Philofophy 
 makes not at all to any purpofe); yet neverthelefs they 
 will not be able to accomplilh any the leaft matter in 
 things of fo great a moment : I do therefore fay, that, 
 fuch men as are skilled in natural things, are not of 
 right to be contemned,or fecretly back^bicten by thofe 
 who fay,Believe not fuch a man that hath not attained 
 the empty vain Title of a Dodor in the Univerfities- 
 I confefs insenioully, that 1 never frequented the Uni- 
 verfuies, nor ever had a mind fo to do ; for fliould I 
 have fo done, haply I ftiould never have arrived to 
 that knowledge of Nature , which I mention 
 without boafting,as I now pollefs ; neither doth it ever 
 repent me, that I have put my hands to theCoals,a-id 
 have by the help of them penetrated into the knowt 
 ledge of the Secrets of Nature; I do notdefiretodi- 
 fturb any one in this way,)Or to thruft any out of their 
 places ; I never was willing to live on the cofts of 
 great men, but have with my own hands gotten me my 
 Food and Raiment, alwaici-advifedly thinking on 
 that moft known Verfe j — A<uriui 
 
^8 
 
 The Firfl Part of 
 
 Vml 
 
 'AhertHS nonfit ijiti funs effe potefi. 
 
 L't not him anothers be^ 
 Who can of himfdf I v.' frcr. 
 But to return to my concentration of Wood, I can 
 with truth affirm and will experimentally demonftrate 
 it, that the greatcft Treafureof the World ; yea, as 
 great or greater than is in Wine or Corn, lies hidden 
 in Wood. Wine and Corn do require the Labour 
 of M;m for its growth out of the Earth ■^ but Leaves, 
 Grafs, Briars or Buflies, Shrubs, Twigs, all forts of 
 Trees great and fmall. do come forth out of their 
 feeds and fprouts ano'grovv up and encreafe infinitely 
 without any help of man at all. 
 
 Therefore 1 fay that more profit may be reaped 
 of Wood than of Corn and Wine, were the Art of 
 extraifting thencefromfogreata benefit but known to 
 any. 
 
 So then) forafmuch as this little Book (as being the 
 firft partoftheTreatifeof concentration of things) 
 treats of the emendation of Vegetables only ; and thac 
 of Wine and Corn is already liniflied j I will now in 
 the name of God fet about V Vood, Leaves.and Grafs, 
 and lay open tliofe moft great and hitherto hidden 
 Treafuresand Riches, and fet them forth before the 
 Eyes of the whole World- And I pray God, the 
 Omnipotent, VVife,Unfearchable and Merciful Lord 
 and Father of all Creatures in Heaven, in the Earth, 
 Water and Air, that he would fo govern and guide 
 my hand that 1 may here write and teach nothing 
 fave only fuch things as fei\ e for the Glory of his Di- 
 vine name and the health of all Mankind- Amen. 
 
 We have (he .v a in the two foregoing Chapters 
 how Wine and Corn are to be condenfed into their 
 juices, that fo they may be commodiouily fent into 
 thofe places, in which profit may begotten- 
 
 Here now falls in this queftion, How the Juices ate 
 tobe fqucezed out of Herbs, Twigs, Shrubs and great 
 Trees, and being preffed out what good they ferve 
 for, feeing they are not of nfe for meat and drink 
 like thofe which are extracted out of Corn and Wine. 
 To this queition 1 make this reply, that indeed 
 there is not any food to be prepared from them, but 
 tliat yet other things are thence preparable, and fuch 
 as men cannot be without, wc- Whoiefome Medi- 
 cines, and likewife Gold and Silver wherewith a man 
 may alfo buy, bclides Wine arid Corn, other necelfa- 
 ries as Garments and other appurtenances which men 
 fland in need of, be fides meat and drink. 
 
 But to begin the work it felf, we fhould in the firft 
 place teach the way how juices may be fqueezed out 
 of Leaves, Grafs, Shrubs, and then afterwards fhew 
 their ufe. But forafmuch as none is of fo weak a 
 judgment as to lay out Moneys or things valuable, and 
 to bellow his labour and fwcat on fuch a thing whofe 
 ufe and profit he is ignorant of •, 'tis therefore necef- 
 fai y ,that (before we come to teach the way of fqucez- 
 jn" out tiic |uices J we firft Ihcvv, what benefit and pro- 
 fit arifeth from that kind of work i that fo a Man's 
 labour may not be fpcnt in vain : To give fatisfadlion 
 herein, I affirm, that the greateftaud beft virtues of 
 all Vegetables are hidden in a certain Sale wiiich the 
 Phyfic'ians and Philofophers call the Elfential Salt- 
 Of this Saltan Vegetables are full, but yet, one fuller 
 than another as experience teftifics. Such Herbs as 
 have not much t;;fte, as Lettuce, Coleworts, Rapes 
 and fuch like have a lefs portion thereof, and are 
 tlierefcreealily putrefied. But fuch as are fharp and 
 bite the Tongue, as IVMer-yo'jbi//, Arfmart, Laurel^ 
 t pp r-ivori Scurvj-^rafs, all the kinds of Creffts^ all 
 the forts of R.idt^Hs^ Letki^^ O,nons^ Gurlickf AUt^.ird^ 
 
 and fuch like; alfo all bitter Herbs, as Cardmts bef>e~ 
 'diitus^ Wormwobd, Fumitory .^ Efula^ €^c. all fuch &S 
 thcfe are full of it. Befides, all fuch Vegetable plants 
 as are naturally four, yield much of that Saltj 
 amongft which, may be reckoned, unripe Crapes^ foflf 
 yippks^ four Cherries., Wild Plums., rough (of wil'd) 
 Grapes.,t\\t unripe Mnlbcrrki or Blacl^berrks.,)t\\Q tin= 
 ripe Barberies, c^rc. But yet fome of them yield mdrej 
 others lefs Salt ^ which inequality and changablehfeft 
 is accidental^ for they areas to their natural founda- 
 tion like each other. 
 
 NB. Some Herbs and chiefly thofe which have K 
 notable bitternefs, as Cardimsbenediitiis., Wormwosd^ 
 Fumitory^ do (after their being Iqueezed* and wheH 
 their Juice is depurated, and the Phlegm draw o^ 
 and the remaining Juice concreted or condenfed itt 
 the cold,) yield natural Nitre, and fuch as being put 
 upon a burning Coal will prefently burn up in a flame> 
 like the common Salt-petre which is ufually cvtrafted 
 out of the Earth digged in Stables, and fo concreted} 
 or cryftallizedj : As for other Herbs and Fruits 
 which are not bitter, but have a piercing (harpnefs, as 
 all the Crefes., they Cafter their expreffion or fqueeS- 
 ingj yield a volatile Salt, which does not burn likf 
 that which is drawn out of bitter Herbs : Such aS 
 have an acidity in them, as Sorrei., Barberries^ RiltSi 
 curled Grapes., wild j^pples and Orchard ones, and 0* 
 ther unripe Fruits, do yield another Salt, vit. a Sail 
 tafting like the acid tafte of Wine, and refemblihg 
 Tartar of Wine,in tafte,virtue, efficacy & propriety- 
 And now albeit that thefe three kinds of Salts 9fg 
 unlike in tafte, yet nowithftanding the One i s mbft ta- 
 fily tranfmuted into the other, infomuch that Tartaf 
 may be made Salt-petre, and Salt-petre Tartan 
 The third fort which is more volatile than the others, 
 and which proceeds from the Crejfes, Mnftard^ Aro'ti. 
 Pepper.mrt^0-c. will eafily be turned into either of thi 
 former. 
 
 But as concerning this laft, it is virtuous in Medl« 
 cine, as I have hinted to you in feveral places in rtiy 
 other Writings, but (fet a fide its Medicinal ufe) and 
 it is of but little benefit* The two latter, viz.. Tht 
 Nitrous, and Tartarous are of various ufe. Thi 
 Dyers ufe Tartar in Dying their Cloths, and Salt* 
 petre is ufed to make Gun-powder withal, and fof 
 the Tranfmutation of Metals, and other fuch lik% 
 Arts, as I have clearly proved in my Explication of 
 iny Afiraadum Mm/dt. Forafmuch therefore as both 
 forts of Salt are ufed in great quantity throughout 
 the whole World, and that there can fcarcely be had 
 fo much as ferves for neceffary ufe, and upon thatac* 
 count are always good Commodities,and that Salt- pi» 
 tre is twice the value of Tartar, therefore 'tis bUE 
 fitting, and well worth while to extrad Salt-petrf 
 out of the Juices of Herbs and Trees, it being of 
 more value, and better price than other Salts. Bat 
 if it fhould fo be, that there fhould be fo much Salt» 
 petre as that it fhould be of a poor price, then may 
 the Juices be turned into Tartar. But forafmuch as 
 it will not eafily fo happen, that there fhould be fuch 
 a glut of Salt-petre, it will be the beft way, toim^ 
 prove thofe Juices on the making of it ; and fpecially 
 becaufe it may at all times ferve for the profitable bet^ 
 tering of Metals •, nor can ever fo great a quantity bg 
 produced, but that it will fometime fell ofE 'Tismore 
 profitable, and better to ufe it for the bettering of thg 
 meaner Minerals than to make Gun=powder with it \ 
 and were not that moft pernicious Art already too 
 well known, it were better to be without it, than to 
 make it, fo far fhould it be (from any one) to de^ 
 fcribe tlic manner of mailing Gun-powder, Bui 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity o! Germany. 
 
 309 
 
 But forafmuch as neither my defire nor will tends 
 to be any occalloner of hurting my Neighbour by the 
 lielp of Salt-petre, but inclines rather to benefit him 
 tVierebyiand to this end I have already clearly enough 
 difclofed many mofl: profitable Arts which proceed 
 therefrom, viz.. in my ^'raculum A^imdi^ and in the 
 Explication of the fame, and moreover (liall do in the 
 following third and fourth part of this Book, about 
 the bettering and concentrating of Metals •■ 1 am, ve- 
 rily, confident, that none will interpret it in the worft 
 part, if 1 Ihew the way of making Salt:petre out of 
 Wood and other things, that fo, our Country may 
 by the benefit of (Tuch) Herbs, Grafs, and Wood, 
 which othcrwife, ly a rotting, and are of no pro- 
 fit, be enriched ( if it be only fold ) with abun- 
 dance of Treallire, and may afterwards be fpent 
 on moft profitable Arts, as may be feen in the Mira- 
 citlnm A'Jn>uii, and in the Concentration of Minerals 
 and Metals. Sothat he that would not make it into 
 Gun-powder, has no need foto do- 
 
 Befidcs thefc Virtues of Salt-petre which we have 
 reckoned up, there do daily more and more new and 
 admirable ones fpring up out of the dark, all which, 
 were they here to be fummed up they would even 
 draw the whole World into an admiration of them- 
 But we will forbear to multiply more words concern^ 
 ing things of fuch moment i for it may eadly be per- 
 ceived from what has been hitherto demonftrated, 
 and from thole Publications I have made (by my Wri- 
 tings) that many more, and greater things lie hidden 
 inthisSubjed, which neither I, nor others know of. 
 Dcfervedly therefore may Saltpetre, or Nitre, be 
 termed an Univerfal Subjeft, and Wonder of the 
 World, notwithftanding many rude and unskilful Fel- 
 lows, will upon this faying, (brink up their Nofes, 
 and audacioufly contradidl me (and fay) that Nitre is 
 Dot the true and Univerfal DiUblvent. 
 
 But if Nitre be not that Univerfal Subje(!l:,then let 
 thofe that prate againft this Judgment or Opinion of 
 mine, produce another and better Subject ; which, 
 yet, in my Opinion they will never be able to do. If 
 it were not an Univerfal Subject, how comes it to be 
 fo plentifully found to be in all things. Is it not found 
 in all Vegetables ? Is it not in all living Creatures 
 that live cither under the Earth, or in the Waters? or 
 in the Air, or on the Earth ? Is it not met with (or 
 found) in the inraoll Bowels of the Mountains, and 
 even in the moft hard Stones .*' 1 will demonftrate it 
 inthisfraall Treatifeby moft clear Arguments, and 
 will moft evidently evince it- 
 
 In the firft place, that all Vegetables have it, is al- 
 ready clearly demonftrated and proved, for I my felf 
 (and I am the firft,as I know oQmade trial and turned 
 tueir juices into natural Salt-petre. But I will now 
 fo evidently fhew the truth of this thing, that even 
 ihofe blind Back- biters and Detrafters (hall feel it 
 with their hands. 
 
 In the firft place therefore, I demand, whence the 
 common Nitre is gotten? Is it not out of the Earth, 
 which is digg'd out of the Stables where Beafls ftand ? 
 For it has inlinuated it felf into (or joined it felf with) 
 this (Earth) palTmg out of the Excrements of the 
 Beafts in length of time, and hath coagulated it felf 
 therein, out of which it is at length drawn by pour- 
 ing on of water, and then is boiled up into Salt-petre- 
 Who can deny this ? I think no body can. So then if 
 this be granted, that Nitre is found in the Stables 
 where Cattle ftand, theQueftion is, By what means, 
 and way it came into the Stables .? It is by the help of 
 
 the Urine and Excrements which the Beafts have there 
 caft forth. 1 hen again, I ask whether or no thoje 
 Beafts have thofe Excrements from their Meat and 
 Drink, or from elfewhere ? They cannot arife from 
 water, forafmuch asthey drinknothingbut Water : 
 So that they muft nccelTarily have their rife from the 
 foodthey eat, and that con (ifts of the Vegetables, 
 Grafs, and Herbs. Therefore we affirm, that the 
 Salt-petre was of neceOity in thefe Herbs, and Grafs, 
 afore the Beafts feeding on them, for if it had not 
 been there it could never have been made in the Beafts 
 Bodies that which it was nJt afore. For their Sto- 
 machs contribute nothing to this Operation, fave a 
 bare putrcfadion- And befidcs, the Countreymeti 
 do even the fame thing, for they gather up Stubble, 
 the Leaves that fall from the Trees, the Grafs, and 
 fuch like things, and put a great quantity of themin- 
 to a Pic together, and there leave them fo long, till 
 by thehelp of Putrefacftion they are all turned into 
 Dung, and therewith do they afterwards Dung their 
 Ground fin fuch wife) as is wont to be done with the 
 Excrements of Beafts. Therefore, forafmuch a'? 
 that putrefied Grafs and Stubble doth dung the ground 
 and render it fruitful, Caswell) as the Excrements of 
 Beafts, it muft needs be granted, that they have 
 likewife Salt-petre in them. For it is not the Dung, 
 but the Nitre in the Dung, that is, the Author of that 
 Dunging Impregnation and Fertility, as I have al- 
 ready confirmed by Arguments in my MWaculum Mmu 
 M., and which will be fufKciently convincing proofs 
 here in this place. 
 
 I would therefore fain fee that Man that dares be fo 
 bold and headyas to deny this thing, that the ElTen- 
 tial Salt neither is, nor can be made, Nitre. 
 
 And now we come to treat of the Beafts in the 
 Fields, of the Fi(h in the Waters, and of the Birds 
 in the Air, that fo by a thorough examination of all 
 thefe forts we may fee, whether or no they are 
 enriched with Salt-petre, and whether or no their Ef- 
 fential Salt be like the ElFential Salt of the Vegeta- 
 bles, and can by the fame means pafsinto Nitre- 
 
 In the firft place, and above all, this is hereto be 
 confidered, as a main principle, ('t/;;^-) That all thofe 
 things which dung the Fields and Lands, and fatten 
 them, moft neceffarily contain in them Salt-petre. 
 For from this only, and alone, comes all the fertility 
 throughout the whole Earth, which Axiorae cannot 
 be gainfayed. But now, that the Animals, or Beafts, 
 Birds, and Fifhes are Partakers of the fame Virtues, I 
 firmly gather from hence. 
 
 Firft of all, it is not unufual for the Gardiners to 
 put the Horns, Hoofs, and Bones of Beafts^ 
 to the Roots of Trees, and fo cover them over with 
 Earth, and that on this account, becaufe they make 
 them exceeding fruitful- This now is every where 
 ufed : Likewife the Gardiners do every where buy up 
 Hens Feathers, Hens, and Pidgeons Dung ; as alfo 
 from the Tanners and Curriers the Offals or Shavings 
 of the Beafts Skins, and their Hairs, and ufe them to 
 enrich their Gardens, The Vine-dreUers alfo buy up 
 the (havings of Horns of the Comb^makers in many 
 places where they can get them, by which, they fat- 
 ten their Vines, farbetter than with Dung, and that 
 lafts for nine or ten years. The Gardiners do like- 
 wifebuy up from thcTailors-bits'.or pieces of Woollen 
 and Linen to dung their Gardens when they plane 
 Colworts. If they did not find any Nitre, or Fer- 
 tility in them, to what end would they lay out their 
 Money on fo bafe a Matter ? To the Ignorant and 
 
 Kkkk 
 
 Uoikilful 
 
§10 
 
 rhe FiYfi Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Unskilful, thefe things may feem wonderful and in- 
 credible, becaufe fuch a kind of donging Land is not 
 every where in ufe. He that is incredulous, let him 
 goto Cik'i on the Rhu:c, and there he'll find that 1 
 have fpoken nothing but the truth- All thefe things 
 dotheGardiiiers make ufe of according to their anci- 
 ent cuftom, for from their PredecelTors learned they 
 thefe Secrets. Nor know they what other reafon to 
 aliedge for their doing this, but only tell you, that 
 they ferve exceeding well to enrich their Fields and 
 Vineyards. 
 
 But I do affurcdly affirui, that 'tis the Nitre that is 
 hidden in thefe things, performs this cfFeit: There 
 istherefore far more abundarfce of Salt-petre in the 
 Superfluities (as Nails, Horns, Hair, O-c.) than in 
 their Exxiements, or Dung. And I thus prove it. 
 
 Firft, Becaufe they will give you for one Sack full 
 of the Shavings of Horns,"half an Imperial, which 
 is as much as will buy four or five fuch facks full of 
 Cow, orSheepsdung. 
 
 Secondly, They will give the Tanners, or Curri- 
 ers, above an Imperial for one Cart-load of the Sha- 
 vings of the Hides, whereas with the fame Money 
 they may buy three or four Load of dung. Rags are 
 fold for a quarter of an Imperial. Were they not vir- 
 tuous or ell'edual, whyfhouid they be fo dear ? This 
 here fpoken, we have proved fo to be, by the cufto- 
 luaryprafticeof the common men only, asHusband- 
 and Gardincrs. Were it lawful for me to re= 
 
 men 
 
 vealfomev.hattothepurpofe, I could teach how to 
 cxtraft out of every hundred weight of Bones, in 
 Bealh, B;rds, and Fifhes, ten pound of Salt-petre- 
 Bur this is not to be divulged- 
 
 N:,v it remains in the next place, to confirm, that 
 Nitre does not oniy he hidden nioft plenteoufly in the 
 Vegetable and Animal Subjeds,but that it may be dig- 
 gecf, or gotten our, and prepar'd of Stones, Rocks, 
 Cliffs, Hollows of Mountains, and out of the plain 
 Field'in a very many other places ; and this is undeni- 
 able, for 'tis evidently known, and if need were, I 
 could, for witnefs fake, make mention of many luch 
 Teftimonies. He that is defirous of knowing more, 
 
 as touching this fait of the Earth, let him perufe the 
 ancient Philofophcrs. Butforafmuch, as every one 
 hath not thofe Books at hand, and that many Men 
 cannot underftand them, I will for Amplifications fake 
 add yet one demonftration, to fhew whence that Ni- 
 tre arifeth, which itick-s on to, or fwells out of thofe 
 moiftandold Walls of Houfes. Comes it not from 
 the Mortar, with which the Bricks are joined toge- 
 ther ? Not only all Stores are fit for making Calx, 
 or Lime of, but alfo all kinds of Stones, which break, 
 or grow in the Waters, like Drops, or Pebbles : 
 Likewife, thofe ftor.y things which grow in the Sea, 
 as Coral, the Pearl Ihells, or Mother of Pearl, and 
 ShcU-fiihof all forts, which being burnt, moulder in 
 the Air, have in them plenty of Nitre, and will eafily 
 yield it forth to thofe who have the way of extraftmg 
 it difclcfed unto them. But this is not the place to 
 mention itin, becaufe I have determmed to treat here, 
 ofonly exprcffing the Juices of theVegetables,concen- 
 tratingthem,and making them gainful or profitable. 
 ■ Forafrauch as we have hitherto underftood (or 
 fl-.ewn) that Nitre or Salt-petre may be had from all 
 things, -^'i^. from Herbs, Wood, fourfooted Beafts 
 and creeping Things, from Birds in the Air, and Fi- 
 fhes in the Water, yea from the very Elements them- 
 feives, as Earth, Water, Air, and Fire ; It mult needs 
 follow that it is that fo much fpoken of Univerfal 
 Spirit wi'-liout which nathing can either be or live : 
 
 k is the begetter and dellroyer of all thirgs •, in which 
 all things are, as I have demonftrated in my Aiiracu- 
 liun Muiidit out of tlie moll ancient Philofopher 
 Htrmts. I therefore hope, that no body will any more 
 doubtthereof oroppofehimfelf witha perverfe ftub- 
 bornnefs againft a truth fomanifeftly known. Were not 
 the (hortnefs of time an impediment unto me I could 
 moft eafily produce more arguments and thofe too 
 more pregnant- If any one is minded firmly to cleave 
 to his own ftubborn perverfenefs,even Hermes himfelf 
 fhould he arife from the dead, would lofe his Labour ia 
 teaching him •, and therefore let them keep their con- 
 tumacy to themfelves. 
 
 We have fufliciently confirmed and that by argu- 
 ments enough, that Salt-petre is an univerfal Subjed, 
 and every where to be found. Hence it may be eafily 
 believed that it mayalfobe mctwithin woods,and that 
 more ftrong, more powerful, more corporal, palpa: 
 ble, and vifible than in any other Subject : Upon this 
 account therefore is it to be alfo fought for,and drawn 
 forth out of them too. But foraimuch as fuch an 
 Extradion cannot be made afore that the Juices ara 
 preft out of the Wood, out of which Juices the Ni- 
 tre is to be drawn forth, the whole Art confifts in 
 fqueezing out thefe Juices, but yet by another kind of 
 way than is done with Herbs- Therefore the due 
 Prefl'es being fitted ready, I fhall be able to fiiew him 
 v.'ho requefteth it at my hands (fo as he does not enda- 
 mage me^ the way of fqueezing them- For to pro- 
 ftrate a work of fuch great moment to every ones 
 view, whereby thofe that are unworthy, fhould par- 
 take of fuch great Secrets, and by which a thing of 
 fo much value fliould be obnoxious to a common A- 
 bufe, is not verily, either neceflary, profitable, or 
 laudable- Let not any one therefore take it amifs» 
 that I have fo careful a regard of things fo confidera- 
 ble- Let it fuffice, that I have deteded the thing, 
 wherein fuch great Treafureshave hidden themfelves, 
 which hitherto are profitable to no body, but are ea- 
 fily acquirable, ortobehad. Do but look a little 
 upon thofe moll vafl Woods oi Germany^ which arc 
 ftored with fuch mighty abundance of Trees, that 
 wood is of no account. There hath been none as yet 
 that has converted them unto their ufe, fave a few> 
 who in fome places make Pot-afiies of the wood they 
 burn ; and yet they have but fmall gains therefrom, 
 becaufe they can't have vent fufficient for as much as 
 they could make by their burning the wood, nor do z- 
 ny ufe them, but Soap-boilers, and Dyers. 
 
 Befides, I never as yet faw the Man that duly at- 
 tempted that Artifice, and fo adminiftred it as to get 
 therefrom a greater gain. For fometimes they ga- 
 ther fcarce an hundred weight of Pot-aflies out of the 
 burning of ten or twenty great Trees, and they can 
 hardly have above five or fix Imperials for it- And 
 nowconfider but the great Labour and Sweat in burn- 
 ing fo much Wood into Afhes, and of boiling the 
 Alhesinto a black Salt, and then of making this Sale 
 red hot in peculiar Furnaces, that it may become 
 
 white, green, or blueifh •, all this confider'd, 'twould 
 make a Man admire what 'cis that could flir up thofe 
 that follow this work, or order it to be done, to fuf- 
 fer fuch a quantity of Trees to be burnt up, for fo 
 very little profit. But what need many words ? They 
 have the wood for nothing, and (as the Proverb runs) 
 'ibe half White of the Egg, is better than the empty Jhell. 
 Haply if they knew how to makeany thing better,or 
 more profitable out of their Wood, they would not 
 omit fo to do. 
 How many hundred weight of wood, are they to 
 
 burir 
 
 » 
 
IPart 1. 
 
 the Pfofpsrity of Germany, 
 
 314 
 
 burn afore they have one hundred of Pot-afhes? But 
 now if the Juices that are fqueez'd out of them were 
 boiled into Salc-pctre, they would get ten times the 
 profit with far lefs trouble. 
 
 Let us compute the cafe, and fuppofe that out of 
 an hundred pounds of Wood, there are fqueczed 
 forth twenty pounds of Juice, and that from thefe 
 twenty pounds of Juice, you have rome4 or 5 pounds 
 of Nitre, and that a midling Oak or Beach will load, 
 when cleftj Ibmeten Carts, and each load hold twen- 
 ty hundred weight. Now then, one hundred yielding 
 five pound of Nitre, a load of twenty hundred.yields 
 an hundred pound of Nitre-, the Tree that is about 
 ten load, yields a thouiand weight. 
 
 Now we'll put cafe that a hundred weight of Nitre 
 yields twenty Imperials, which being ten times mul- 
 tiplycd, makes two hundred Imperials for ten loads, 
 or for that one Tree divided into ten loads- 
 
 But to wave fo accurate a computation, and not to 
 extend it too far, we will fuppofe a hundred of 
 Wood to hold only three pound of Nitre, and a load 
 to be about twenty hundred of Wood i this load will 
 yield Sixty pounds of Niter, and the Tree ten loads, 
 fo there will be Six hundred pounds of Niter. If 
 now one hundred (of Nitre j will cofl: ten Imperials, 
 that Tree will yield lixty Imperials for the lix hun- 
 dred pounds of Nitre. The fmallnefs of the coft (in 
 making it) makes the labour the more profitable ^ 
 nay, if by this invention of mine, the price of Nitre 
 ftiouid fall down, even to ten Imperials (which not- 
 withllanding, will not fo eafily come to pafsj yet 
 would the gain thereby be great, yea ten times more 
 than th;it which comes from the Pot-afhes- But he 
 tha: knows how to ufe this Nitre, for the concentra- 
 ting of Metals, fconcerning which the three follow- 
 ing parts of this Book fliall treat) will not have any 
 caufe of fear, that this Nitre will lie on his hands and 
 yield him no profit. 
 
 By what hath been faid, the well-minded Reader 
 will eafily perceive what vafl: treafures are oft-times 
 before his eyes, and through ignorance lie as yet un- 
 known, and not ufed to advantage. What man 
 knows God's end, in producing to light fuch great 
 Myftcries and Secrets of Nature, in this raoft filthy 
 Dregs of the World ? To give thereof a Reafon, we 
 will not tire our underftanding, but give molt hum- 
 ble thanks to God for fuch great myfteries that he 
 hath revealed for the comfort of many men, and will 
 pray unto him gracioufly to beftow on us his fatherly 
 blefling, to tiie end that we may well ufe fuch great 
 gifts fo freely beftovved. 
 
 But now if any fhould be of the mind that it is whol- 
 ly unneceflary, that this Art fhould be made publick- 
 ly known, becaufe that Gun-powder is made of 
 Salt-petre, and that by Gun-powder many Cities and 
 inolt flrong holds are overthrown, and nothing isto 
 be expeded ihencefrom, but Slaughters and De= 
 ftrudtion: To fuch, I anfwer. That it was not for 
 thisend that I difclofed this mofl great and moft pro: 
 fitable Art, that by its bafe abufe I might help on thefe 
 horrid Calamities; but my aims have been chiefly at 
 this, if haply any new Foreign Enemies (hould 
 invade our mofl: dear Country ("which is a danger we 
 feem not far off from) we might be able to receive 
 them with like Arms or Weapons, and by a juft de- 
 fence drive away fuch a Calamity. 
 
 And withal, that thofe moll thick and vafl: Woods 
 being defpoiled of their thicknefs, may not for the 
 time to come be a fhelter fot Thieves and Robber?, 
 as likewife for wild beafts, all which oftentimes do 
 much mifchicf. 
 
 And farther, That 'many thoufands of Men may get 
 their Food and Rayment more Commodioufly and 
 more eafily, and may make good Gold and Silver 
 from the unprofitable VV^ood. For by means of this 
 Art, thoufands of moneys may be gotten in our Ger- 
 man Countries, without any hurt to our Neighbour. 
 Nor is it needful to cut down any great Tree, forthe 
 fupcrfluous Branches or Loppings, and the fhrubby 
 briary Underwood which is all about the Trees, and 
 doth chiefly afford a pafl'age to the Stags, and 
 hiding places to other hurtful CreatuivS, will befufS- 
 cient for this kind of ufe or imployment- 
 
 The other Trees that grow up aloft may be prefer-i 
 ved to build Houfes withal, which may be employed 
 afjout Hunting : And beiides, when the Trees are 
 freed from that thicknefs, and have thereby a free ac- 
 cefs of Air, they will the more eafily dilate their 
 Boughs , and grow up taller. And then too, thofq 
 wild Beafts that are profitable, will (when fuch vaft 
 deal of underwood or fhrubbinefs is taken away) meet 
 with fatter pafture, and with more plenty of Grafs, 
 and efcape by having a freer Courfe from the purfu- 
 ingVVoolvcs, which now they are letted from by 
 thofe mofl: thick Shrubs and Bullies. But yet if fo be 
 that in fuch places in which is fuch a deal of Wood, 
 and to no man ufeful ^ a good part even of the great 
 Trees fliould likewife be cut down, and ufed about 
 this Artifice of ours ; yet notwithftanding there would 
 not arife to the Poflelfors thereof any lofs, but much 
 Profit ; and when all's done, there would be yet re- 
 maining a huge multitude of Trees- Confider I pray 
 thofe raoft fpacious Woods the -i^r^www, Ottomck^, 
 ScntAne^ and Bohemian Woods, and many others 
 which the Countries in Germany are cloathed (or en- 
 vironed) with. 
 
 Can it be imagined, that they can at all be leflenecl 
 by the Glafs Furnaces, or the melting of Minerals and 
 Metals. 
 
 Thefe places that are one year bared by cutting 
 down the Trees, you fliall fee in few years covered 
 over again, by the benefit of nature, with new Trees ; 
 fo that it cannot poflibly be, that though even a very 
 great many Preffes fliould be ufed to prefs the Juices 
 out ; fuch a vafl: immenfnefs of Woods fliould be e«- 
 haufted, and make any fenfible diminution of the 
 Wood. 
 
 But now, if any one fliall believe thefe writings of 
 mine, and fliall, after the afore-mentioned way, fee 
 about the Concentration of Wine, or Corn, or Wood ; 
 I do faithfully affirm unto him, that I have in this 
 Book openly propofed the very naked Truth, with- 
 out any difimulation, and have not omitted any thing 
 fave the revealing of the Prefl'es, which for certain 
 caufes I conceal. 
 
 And therefore I certifie every one, that I will not as 
 yet divulgethis mofl: wonderful fecrct, of thus-boiling 
 Nitre out of the Juices of Wood, or elfe I would have 
 defcribed the Prefs too- Befides, though a man fliould 
 even fee the Prefs, and know how to make it, and 
 were ignorant of the purification and concentration of 
 the Juices, he would not bring the Art to effedt j fo 
 that, without my inftrucftion, the work cannot fo 
 eafily be made publickly known. And though this 
 feems to be a thing fomean, yet this fqueezing out of 
 the Juices of Wood, is far beyond ("or richer) than 
 the operations on Wine or Corn. But I doubt not 
 but that many, v/ell confidering of this unheard of, and 
 very gainful Artifice, will begin to think whether or 
 DO good Nitre may not likewife be gotten cut of o- 
 ther Subjefts eafie to come by. Now then I mufl: me- 
 ' thinks needs infl;ruft thefe. Th^ 
 
912 
 
 Tbe Firfl Part of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 The common Foflile Salcand Sea Salt may by the be- 
 iiefit of this Art, be alio turned into Natural Nitre ; 
 but I judge it ncedlefs to fpeak more of this, for as 
 much as t'nat which I have already mentioned concer- 
 ing the Wood feems abundantly enough- Breifly,God 
 doth in all places fet before our eyes His Omnipoiency, 
 where he gives not V Vood, there vouchfafes He Stones 
 and Bones, out of which Nitre may as well be extraft- 
 cd, by thofe that are skill'd in this Art, as it may out 
 of other things. And where Fire is wanting, there is 
 Water however- But I know that it is certain, and 
 paftall doubt, that by the certain experience of Art, 
 plenty of good Nitre may be made out of Sea Water. 
 
 Now if any fliail objed and fay \ Thou afErmeft 
 that Nitre is to be found in all places of the World, 
 but efpccially in Wood and Stones ;, but yet, that there 
 are many places which have neither Wood or Stones, 
 & have only a Marlhy Moorifh Soil, which brings forth 
 Grafs only : By what means can Nitre be there, or 
 in what things, or what places fliould it be fought for, 
 thinkellthou there? 
 
 I anfwer ; I have already, in what hath been faid 
 afore, confirmed, that Nitre may be drawn in large 
 quantity even out of Grafs •, but verily there's no fuch 
 need here of fo doing, to rob the beafts of their food, 
 and to ufe the Grafs about Nitre-making: For the 
 Cheefeand Butter that come from the Grafs, will ea- 
 fily yield more than the Nitre that's made thereof, 
 would ; God deals not fo unjultly or unwifely with 
 the Creatures as to give his bleUings with a liberal hand 
 to one, and take the fame away from another : No, 
 no • The Treafure of his Riches is inexhaultible, and 
 he gives his Creatures largely to partake of ihcm •, nor 
 doth that axiome (or maxime) which is fo very ufual 
 in this perverfe World, prevail at all with him, 'viz.. 
 The fall of one is the rife of another ; but his will is, 
 that all Iliould have their necellaries abundantly fup- 
 plyed, that every cne Ihould have enough, and that 
 every thing fliouid come to perfection. Therefore it 
 is not at all' necelfary, that Nitre fhould be cxtraded 
 out of the Food which the Beafts live on, becaufe it 
 may eafily be extraded out of other Subjeds which 
 which bring not any profit to Manor Bealt, and this 
 in great quantity too. For in fuch plain low Coun- 
 tries and moift watery grounds, where you fhall not 
 meet with either Mountains or Vallies, or Stones, or 
 Wood : The moft gracious God hath, like a pro- 
 vident and wife houfholder provided for the inhabi- 
 tants, giving them a certain kindof earth inlaid with 
 many Roots and Fibers that grow therein, which the 
 Dutch call '(lott, we Tn'fs, the which they ufe inftead 
 of Woods, to boil with, and about othernecelTary u- 
 fes •, fo that they may cafily be without the wood, 
 which is yearly broui;ht them in fuch vaft quantity out 
 of other Countries. " Now thcfe fame Turfs contain 
 in them the like ElTcntial Salt as Wood does which 
 Nitre is extracted out of. 
 
 As concerning Stones, they do not in thofe places 
 flicwthemfelves to fight (as lying deep) if you except 
 fuch as are burnt (or Bricks) and which are brought 
 hither to build houfcs withal, yet God hath bellowed 
 on them a matter fufficiently apt to make Lime withal, 
 fo that they may be without, even Stones themfelves. 
 The Shell-fiOies of ail Sorts (ferve to this work), and 
 fomctimes the raging of the Sea, drives the Fi[hes (hells 
 afhore by heaps, and like little hills, the which being 
 carrycd by the Inhabitants into the Cities and Villages, 
 they' put them in the Lime-Kilns, and reduce them by 
 a Itrong fire into good Lime, and that by means of 
 the Turfy fireing we mentioned but now; fo that 1 do 
 iK)t fee any reafonwhy, in the.fe Countries that are de- 
 
 ftitute of Wood and Stones, there Iliould be found lefs 
 Salt-petre than in others, in which huge quantities 
 bothof Wood and Stone are found- Nay, rather I 
 affirm, that there is more there, than is in almoll any 
 Country of Europe -^ for do but compare the price of 
 Turf and Wood, the Wood is dearer, the other chea^ 
 per ; befides the Wood is harder to prefs out,and this 
 yields its juice more eafily- 
 
 So then, from all the foregoing demonflrations I 
 abfolutely conclude, that there is not any place in the 
 whole World, wherein great quantities of Salt-petre 
 may not be made- 
 
 And if 1 fliould fay, that there is not to be found 
 in the whole world any places in which Nitre may be 
 eafier and plentifullier made than in the low Countries 
 oi Germany y as Brabant^ Holland., Zealand., FUnderSy 
 Fnefelandy the Groningen Ficlds,thc County oiEtndanCy 
 and all thofe Countries which run as far as the German 
 and i5rt/r/c^Sea,in this their moorifh kind of ground \ 
 verily I fliould not fpeak untruth, but if need were, I 
 could witnefs it of a certainty. 
 
 But left my Writings Ihould remain too obfcureand 
 unknown to fuch as are unskilled, and that fuch may 
 not overmuch torment their Brains by unnecefiary 
 Pleadings how this may be elfefted, I j'ldge it altoge- 
 ther necelTary openly toconfefs the Truth before eves 
 ry one, and fay, That Nitre or Salt-petre, were but 
 its true ufe known, is juftly and worthily to be accoun- 
 ted of as the greateft Treafure of the whole world,as 
 being a thing by the help of which, good Health, Ho- 
 nours, and Riches may be purchafed \ and this wc 
 fliall confirm in the three following parts- If then that 
 this be granted, then this alfo will be yielded too,that 
 the Subjeifl-matterout of which it is extracted, is not 
 to be defpifed, but to be highly valued ; and therefore 
 ought Wood and Turf to have their due Honour given 
 them, concerning which, I have by many Arguments 
 affirmed, that the one of them is every where in the 
 upper Gtrmany in great plenty, and the other in the 
 low Countries QiGermafiy.,(jior doth thefe at all come 
 Ihort of the others J and that both may and ought to 
 yield Nitre- Befides, not only the bare Turf is here- 
 to ufefuljbutlikewife the hitherto thrown-away allies, 
 which are every where caft out as unprofitable. 
 
 NB- They are notufeful in wafliing,as wood^alhes, 
 with which the LaundrefTes make Lyes, and being they 
 are not, they are thrown away as good for noughr.But 
 yet there is in them a great quantity of a certain fait, 
 which being inverted by Art, paffieth into Nitre ; 
 therefore through meer ignorance is there caft away, 
 together with thofe Turfy aflies,a vaft quantity of un- 
 ripe Salt petre, from whence a mighty profit might 
 redound to thofe Countries, but being improvidently 
 thrown away, is meerly loft- But yet I would not 
 have any imagine, that the Salt which is made of the 
 L* of 1 urf-alhes, is prefently Salt-petre ; no,for 'tis 
 needful that the fubtilty of Art be firft thereto ufed, 
 afore fuch a Salt be brought to that pafs, as to burn 
 likeSalt-petre: But yet care is to be taken, that that 
 Art become not common, for then fo Noble a thing, 
 and fo profitable to our Countries, will be known by 
 Enemiesas wellas Friends; which to prevent, it mult 
 be warily handled, and the principal work here requi=- 
 fiteisthis, wi. That it may not be publiflied fo im- 
 prudently, as to render the ungrateful and unworthy 
 partakers of the fame, as well as the thankful and 
 worthy ones- 
 
 By thefe things here fpoken may every one fee and 
 gather,that God is no refperter of Kingdoms and Prin« 
 cipalities,and provides for fome better than for other 
 fome ; all Men are His Creatures and Heirs of all His 
 
 Goods 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany, 
 
 9»9 
 
 Goods, iffo be they be but willing, and do not ftub- 
 bornly oppofe and night the Divine Grace, and do 
 rot wantonly call it away and negleft it : Concerning 
 which we fhaf] fpeak more in the following part, 
 touching the Concentration of Minerals. 
 
 This we muft yet farther add, w'?,. That common 
 Salt-Nitre is in all Coafts, in all Trads or Continents, 
 and in all Countries ; yea, even in all thofc places in 
 which there's neither Wood, nor Scones, nor Leaves, 
 nor Grafs, nor Earth, nor any bottom of Earth : As 
 for example-, Near Creew/^w^, where the Sea is faid 
 to have no bottom, where the Whales are caught,and 
 which do greatly inrich the Merchants with their fat 
 or oil : Did they but know, that the remaining Flefli 
 and Bones were even yet of great ufe, and knew they 
 but how to turn them into Salt-petre,they would pre- 
 ferr it far before their Fat, for the fake of which, fo 
 much labour and trouble is undertaken ; for in the fleth 
 of one Whale only Cwhich as it is, is not at all profi- 
 table to any man) I dare fay, that there may be found 
 20, 30, 40, 5°, yea> fometimes ico Centenaries, or 
 hundreds weight of Salt-petre. And fo likewife the 
 Intrailsof the dried Stock-fidi that are caught in IflA'.'d 
 and Norway-, fhould I affirm, that they would even al- 
 moft excel the Fi(h it felf in value, I fhould not be de- 
 ceived. I find no difficulty that might hinder me from 
 affirming this to be agreeable to the Truth. 
 
 'Do not the Salt-petre^men preferr the Nitrous 
 Earth that's found in old burying places (if they can 
 have it) far beyond other Nitrous Earths } And this 
 among others, that moft excellent Examiner of Me- 
 tals, Lazarus Ercker, in his Book of examining of Me- 
 tals, affirms, and gives this Earth the chiefefl: place. 
 Nor is it to be wondered at,that of late in Poland^ to: 
 wards ^^i*fcovy , where formerly great Battels have 
 been, and many thoufands of men flain, and by reafon 
 of the multitudeofthem, have fafter the BatteU been 
 thrown into deep Caverns of Mountains for the eafier 
 burying them J there hath been a great quantity of 
 Salt=petre extrafted out of the Earth. Were there not 
 gain and profit to be gotten, thofc men that are im- 
 ployed in the extrafting and boiling it, would not lay 
 out fo much Money on unprofitable Afhes of Carcafes. 
 
 But to pafs this by^ let any one make but this Expe- 
 riment : Fill fome Veflel with Bulls or Ox-blood,and 
 put it in a warm place till it putrefie and be turned as 
 it were into Earth :, then extrait a Lye out of this 
 Earth, and boil it fo long, till a little skin appear on 
 the top, then lay it by in a cold place, to fhoot into 
 Cryftals,or little Stones, and thefe will be true Nitre. 
 
 NB. There is another and more compendious way 
 ofextrafting Salt-petre out of the blood of Animals, 
 which belongs not to this place to treat of ^ let us but 
 compute the account a little. If there are yearly kill'd 
 in fome great City fome tenthoufand Oxen, befides 
 Calves, Hogs, Sheep, and Goats, and the blood be call 
 away as unprofitable, £ mvt> an hundred weij^ht of blood 
 yields fome 5, 6, 7, or 8 poiind^ or more^ of Nitre, ] the 
 queftion is. How many Hundreds of Salt petre is loft ? 
 That this may be the more clearly evidenced, viz.. 
 That there is much Salt-pctre in all Beafts, Finies,and 
 Birds, take another Experiment: Let a Beaft, Bird, 
 or Fifh be laid in fome warm place, where no Rain 
 comes, to putrefie, out of the Carcafs there will come 
 Worms i of thefe Worms or Maggots take about one 
 pound, more or lefs, put them in a Glafs with a nar- 
 row neck, ftop the glafs with Paper only, and fet it at 
 the Sun, but not too hot, and in a fewdaies the worms 
 or maggots will be turned into water :, then pour out 
 this water into a Copper Veflel tinn'd over, clarify it 
 with the whites of Eggs, as Vegetable juices are wont 
 
 to be clarified ; then evaporate the clarified Juice, by 
 little and little, by dccottion, till it be covered over 
 with a skin-, as we have taught you in theVcgctable 
 Juices i thcnfct it byinacoldCcllar, and there will 
 fhoot good and natural Nitre, but efpccially if that 
 Liquor fliall have flood a while afore in the air. 
 
 The felf-famc Experiment may any one make with 
 other Vermin that arife from Flelh or Cheefe, and he 
 Ihall find that even living Creatures haveSalt=petre in 
 them : fo then there is nothing to be found, wherein 
 that Univerfal fait of the World is not fcen to be-, 
 but in fome the fait doth fooner p..C on a S.ilt-petre na- 
 ture, and in others it is already made Salt-.petre by 
 Nature. 
 
 Let this ferve as an example, viz.. The EfTential or 
 Univerfal fait of Vegetables, Animals,&Minerals,is in- 
 deed in its own nature nitrous, but it does not con- 
 ceive any flame afore it has attracted life and flame 
 from the Air. Further, one fait ativzCts that Life 
 fooner and willinglier than another does, according as 
 it is by Nature framed. By how much the more vola- 
 tile and urinous the falts are, fo much the fooner do 
 they change thcmfelves into Nitre ; and by how much 
 the more biting and more corrofive, fo much the more 
 difficultly and Uo'wly do they put on the nature of 
 Salt-petrc. But becaufe Nitre is a fait that partakes of 
 both naturej,w^. of a Urinous and Corrofive Nature, 
 and is compounded as it were of both a Urinous and 
 a Corrofive Salt, therefore by the help thereof one 
 skill'd in Nature may cafily help the falts,and make of 
 them whatfoever he pleafeth. Nor is there in the na- 
 ture of things any Ihlt, but may by the help of Art be 
 turned into Nitre ^ but efpecially thofe faks which 
 are fublimed fay fire, and are elevated by the force 
 thereof i as likewife thofe that are in the Urine and 
 Excrements of all Animals ; yea more, Animal?, Vege» 
 tables, and Minerals themfelves do eafily afllmie the 
 nature of Nitre : This now is the firft degree of falc. 
 Another degree of falts are thofe that are fomewhat 
 fixer, (as the Sons of Art call them) and are iuch as are 
 left in the fire, from Vegetables, Animals, and Mine- 
 rals : Thefedo more hardly pafs into the nature of 
 Nitre ; but the hardeft of all,"are thofe falts which are 
 in the third degree, as common falt,Sea-falt,Mountain 
 or Foffile fait, Alume and Vitriol ; for by Art are even 
 thefe brought to that ftate, as to pafs into true Nitre, 
 but harder than the former, for they need a longer 
 time for tranfmutation, than the abovenamed flying, 
 volatile, and urinous falts- And therefore I would 
 not have any of you to opinionate, that when I fay in 
 my Writings, that this or that fait may be converted 
 into Salt-petre^ aflbon as ever it is extradted out of the 
 Lixivium^ or by barely calcining with fire, that (I fay) 
 it^ould prefently be true burning 5^/f-^errf^ no,there 
 is a yet farther time thereto required, whereto it may 
 attra<ftits life and foul out of the Air, and become 
 burning or inflamable. 
 
 Every common Barber and mean-patcd fellow, 
 knows that the moft^^/Nfare hitherto made,hath been 
 boiled out of a Lee, drawn out of the Earth taken out 
 of old fiiables, wherein Sheep and other beafts have 
 ftood. And why, I pray, out of the old ftanding pla- 
 ces of Sheep, Oxen, and the like Cattel, and not like- 
 wife out of the new ? It is on this account, becaufe 
 old Stables do not only in loug Procefs of time imbibe 
 more fait out of the Excrements and Urine, and con- 
 fequcntly yield more Salt-petre j but alfo thofe very 
 falts ('that come from the Excrements of the beafts) 
 and which is the main thing, have in long procefs of 
 time received their foul or life from .the air, which 
 new falts have aot as yet attained unto ; For 
 
 LIU lee 
 
3H 
 
 The FirH Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 let any one boil, and try his conclufions on the fre(h 
 Dung and Urine of Animals, as much as he lift, they 
 will never become Nitre,unlefs they draw their Life 
 out of the Air. Let any one take fome good Salt- 
 petre, and mix it with Earth, and deftil off" the Spirit 
 in a Retort, there will come over into the Receiver 
 fuch a niarp and corroding water, as will dilTolve Me- 
 tals, Stones, and ail otlier even the hardeft Mercurial 
 Bodies,andvet theSalt-pctre was not corrofive be- 
 fore. but it hath gotten that degree of corrofivity from 
 the fire's operation. Contrariwife, let fome good Salt 
 Nitre be taken, andjhe calcined in a Crucible, with 
 burning Coals or fuch-likeotlier matters as will burn 
 or calcine it : By this operation it will be changed in» 
 to a very fiery and fixt Salt, but not fo corrofive, and 
 thus it will difl'olve all Fat, Oils, Greafes, and fulphu- 
 rcous Bodies, which thing the former corrofive Spirit 
 will not do-, for fuch bodies as arc diflblveable by 
 this fixt and urinous Sak,the former acid Spirit leaves 
 them untouch'd •, and on the other hand, it will dif- 
 folve thofe bodies which cannot be diflblved by the 
 fixt Salt, and yet are they both extradcd out of one 
 and the fame Subje^a, by the help of the fire. Hence 
 may it eafily be conjedurcd, that this is an Herma- 
 phroditical Salt, and partakes of both natures, feeing 
 it puts on both (or either) of them -, for the Philofo- 
 phical Maxim witnefibth, that every thing hath its 
 Original out of that into which it can be changed and 
 
 refolved. , n.,t j 
 
 Now when I pour the acid Spirit that dellilled over 
 into the Receiver:on that fixt Salt again,they are both 
 of them diverted of their nature and property; the 
 Spirit lofeth his fiiarpnefs and acidity,and the fixt fait 
 puts off its fiery nature,and fothey both become again 
 anHermaphroditicalSalt,butyet not prefently, but 
 'tis neceffary to allow them fome time of ftanding to- 
 gether in the Air, whereby they may receive that life 
 and that burning nature which the Fire hath depri- 
 ved thein of. But yet notwitliftanding, this comes 
 fooner to pafs in this, than in other contrary fubjecfts, 
 becaufe thefe two Contraries have heretofore already 
 been one Salt- petre ; for fuch as never have been Ni- 
 tre, but are hereafter to.be fo, require a longer abode 
 in the Air. Thefe inftrnftions we give to thofe that 
 might haply think that Salts may be animated without 
 the help of the Air. 
 
 And now, that I may perfeclly demonftrate that 
 
 Salts do get their life out of the air, without any en- 
 
 creafing in weight thereby, and not from elfewhere, I 
 
 will give you this following example. Take i /. of 
 
 Honey or Sugar, and let it be dilfolved in ten pounds 
 
 of Water, and let this Water be fet for fome weeks in 
 
 a warm air,the Honey or Sugar will be as a magnet to 
 
 this Water, and will by attrading a life out of the 
 
 air turn it into fharp Vinegar, and that without any 
 
 thing at all encrcafing the weight of the fame- By this 
 
 means Wr.ter,by the addition of Honey, Sugar, Malt, 
 
 or any other Vegetable Juice, will, by the operation of 
 
 the hidden and attrading eflential Salt, pafs together 
 
 with It into excellent Vinegar. But now fome or other 
 
 may imagine chat the Honey, or the juice of the Fruit 
 
 andCorn, have in them an hidden acidity, which by 
 
 the help of the warm encompalTing air, hath revealed 
 
 it felf, and fo did not attraa its birth out of the air : 
 
 But I will fiiew you the contrary, as follows : Take a 
 
 pound of Honey, Sugar, or fome other Vegetable 
 
 Juice, and force it over in a Retort into a Receiver, 
 
 and you w'll lind that there will deftil over lo or 
 
 nothing in them •, the Vinegar and Phlegm that afcen- 
 ded, will not yield one pound of Liquor, and the Vi- 
 negar it felf, with its acidity,will fcarcebcfo ftrong in 
 tafte as thofe ten pounds of water that are turned into 
 Vinegar by the air. 
 
 This now demonftrates, that there was not in the 
 Honey any more acidity than what was thence drawn 
 out by the help of deftillation, for the remaining afties 
 have not any tafte at all. But put cafe that the acidi- 
 ty which is driven out of the Retort into the Recei- 
 ver by the force of Fire, ftiould be as ftiarp as Aq.for- 
 tis, (when as tho' it is fcarce as fowre as VinegarJ yet 
 would it hardly make ten pounds of Water fo acid as 
 to be compared with the other which is made by the 
 efiential Salt and the Air ; fo that it is evident that 
 the acidityCas being a life)is drawn by the Magnetick 
 Virtue of the Honey out of the air. 
 
 But as touching this Eflential Salt of Vegetables,its 
 being a Magnet} toextradan acetous fpiric out of the 
 air, and communicate it to the dead water. You arc 
 here well to obferve, that the univerfal fpirit or foul 
 of the World may be drawn out ofthe Air many and 
 fundry waies. In the aforementioned Example of Vi- 
 negar is a fpirit extradied, which is fit for the con- 
 verting of Vegetable Liquors into Vinegar- InHerma- 
 phroditical falts, the Univerfal Nitrous fpirit becomes 
 burning, as in Wine, Ale, and Metheglin. All thefe 
 are fo made by the means of air, without which no 
 Wine or Ale can ferment, and without fermentatioa 
 it is impoffible for a burning fpirit to be generated ; 
 which faid fpirit is eafily afterwards turned intoVine- 
 gar, and this Vinegar into Nitre,and this Nitre agai^ 
 into a burning Spirit or Vinegar ^ for every Life is of 
 one and the fame original, and may by the benefit of 
 Art be changed out of one nature or property into a- 
 nother. 
 
 Solikewife the fame istobeunderftoodinthegencr 
 
 ration of Salt- petre, a 11 Salts of Animals, Vegetables, 
 
 and Minerals arcdead,afore they getthemfelvesa lif? 
 
 after a magnetical manner out ofthe Air,and be mad* 
 
 into Salt-petre ^ for amongft all falts, none deferve t^ 
 
 be called a Livs Salt^ but that one o( Salt-petre, whicH 
 
 by the Philofophers is called the Watchful Dragon^ 
 
 which likewife at the beginning was dead,but hath got 
 
 himfelf a Life out of the air- By all which it is moft 
 
 clearly manifeft, that the life of all things arifeth ouf 
 
 ofthe air, and that thofe Creatures which come nop 
 
 into the air want Life. and that fuch things as already 
 
 have life, are choakM and die if the air be taken froii i 
 
 them. Hence comes the death ofall things, by afupr 
 
 prcfiingor taking away of air, (in which air the Life 
 
 ofall things conliifts) what way foeverit be done by> 
 
 as the aforefaid example of the Vinegar teachethji 
 
 for if Honev or Sugar were not made thin with W^ 
 
 ter, there would never have hapned that changing in? 
 
 to Vinegar. So likewife Crapes, Apples^ Pears-, Bart 
 
 ley-, Oats, Wheat., were they not moiftened with watei>; 
 
 but remained dry,they never would get the nature and- 
 
 property of Vinegar,and that for this reafon,becau(|f 
 
 the air could never infufe its life into a dry and fhut'iipr 
 
 body. 
 
 This they well know who are iraployed in making a 
 quantity of Vinegar ; and upon this account do thejr 
 in Summer time let their Veflels open to the Sun, an^ i 
 in the Winter, they keep them in warm ftoves near the ! 
 fire, and both afore and behind, and at the bottom d(^ ! 
 they make holestogive the Air entrance, that fothey I 
 might the fpeedilier promote the changing of the 
 
 12 
 
 lots (or half ounces) of infipid Water, and fo many Wine, Ale and Metheglin into Vinegar 
 of acid water i the remainder is a dead 2{hes,and have I They likewife know this too, that even ftrong Vi- 
 negar 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Pfofperlty of Germiny. 
 
 515 
 
 negar if it be a longtime (hut and kept from Air, cor- 
 rupts and dies. The which thing, feeing it is to be 
 as well underftood of other Subjeds, as of thcfe here, 
 VIZ.. Salt-petre and Vinegar,we may affirm thus much, 
 That by how much the more of warm Air comes to 
 the Wine or Ale, fo much the fooner will they pais 
 into Vinegar- And by how much the more of warm 
 Air the Salts draw, fo much thefpeedier will they 
 draw a Life thereout-of, and put on themfelves the 
 nature and property of Salt- petrc. This is the rea- 
 ibn why the Salt-petre boilers do fometiracs turn or 
 dig up the Earth from whence they have had Salt- 
 , petre, and moiften it with water, that fo the Air may 
 the more commodioufly penetrate that Earth by its 
 operation, and infufe Nitre thereinto. But yet this 
 bufinefs goes flowly on, and may be compared with 
 that where a man prefleth out Grapes or Apples a lit- 
 tle , and then expofeth thofe Reliques of the 
 prefs'd Grapes or Apples to the Air, or elfe grinds 
 Malt fomewhat grofly and moiftens it with water and 
 fo fets it by that it may be endued with the nature 
 and virtues of Vinegar : It would indeed come to pafs, 
 but yet much llower than if Wine, Ale,or other Drinks 
 were fet by fo, without the huskinefs or bran: The 
 fame is to be obferved in the making of Salt-petre. 
 By how much the more, the Air toucheth the Salts, fo 
 much the fpeedier will it reduce them into living Ni- 
 tre. This may be feen in old walls that are built in 
 moift places, you fee how the Lime fprouts out and is 
 converted into Salt-petre. We fee not the fame thing 
 doncintheinfideof the wall, where the Air can can- 
 not penetrate into it. Hence know I of a truth, that 
 it is not the husks of the Grapes, nor the husks or bran 
 of the Corn grows four, but it is the thin Juice or Li- 
 quor that is either prelTed out of them, or extra(fted 
 with water. And I likewife fee that 'tis not the Afhes, 
 nor Calx vive, nor the like calcined things that be- 
 comes Nitre, but only the Salt that is hidden in them. 
 Therefore feeing that all calcined things being moift- 
 ned with water and for a long time expofed to the 
 warm Air do extraftaLife and become Salt- petre,and 
 that the Afhes and Calx are like a dead Earth and 
 never yield Salt-petre, but remain a dead Earth. 
 . Likewife, forafrauch as fuch Earth doth not at all 
 conferr ought to the generation and making of Salt- 
 petre, but is rather every where an hindrance there- 
 unto, whereby the Air cannot alTociate it felf to the 
 Salt i therefore do I feparate the earth, body, fliell, 
 and ufelefs garment, and keep the Salt, and I introvert 
 itby the Air and turn it into Salt-nitre, but yet not 
 without the addition of Water,in which the Salt is dif- 
 folvedand rendred more fit for extrafting a Life out 
 of the Air ; for otherwife fhould the Salt remain dry 
 this tranfmutation would be a tedious while a bring- 
 ing to the defired end. 
 
 If therefore the Salts that are prepared by the fire 
 
 are dillblved in water,and the water be together with 
 
 it kept by peculiar Inftruments in perpetual motion, 
 
 and fomc heat be alfo thereto adjoined, fo that there 
 
 be not the leaft Atoms of the Salts to be found which 
 
 have not the unceJTant penetration of the warm air, 
 
 and which are not animated, f becaufe the warm air 
 
 I and motion do in all places touch and vivify the Sales) : 
 
 . Such an operation as this does more in four Weeks, 
 
 i than ifthe Salt lay in the heaped up Earth and open 
 
 : to the air (far longer) wherein it would not in a whole 
 
 ! years time attain to fo great a change. But this per- 
 
 I petual agitation and heating confifteth in a certain 
 
 wooden Inftruraent which may of its own accord by 
 
 i an UDceafing motion heat the Salt water, fo as that 
 
 every Week a growing alteration may be evidently 
 feen and perceived. It isnot of any great charge, and 
 one may get ready as many Vedels 10 be filled with 
 Salt-water to make Salt-petre with (as he pleafeth j 
 for one Man can manage an hundred ofthem or more 
 and conferve them in continual heat and motion, fo 
 chat a Man may keep fuch an Art fecrec as long as he 
 pleafeth. And as concerning the ordering the faltby 
 the help of the fire and getting it a magnccick and at- 
 traiHive faculty afore it be diJlblved in water to be put 
 intothe Veflels; and alfo how the,, Veffels are to be 
 prepared, this cannot be conveniently declared in 
 writing, but it is expedient that as well the manual 
 operations requifite for the endowing of fak with a 
 magnetick faculty,as the Inftruments necelTary for the 
 turning it into Salt-petre be alfo well lookt into, with 
 all the appurtenances thereto belonging. Any ona 
 will eafily comprehend them all, and be able to imi- 
 tate them i yea far eafier than any grofs or great 
 work, and it may be improved in any fubje(ft whatever. 
 It is not any fordid kind of operation, but pure and 
 clean, it needs not any making of Lixiviums, nor any 
 decoi'tion, nor any evaporation, but perfe(n:eth it felf 
 without impediment or retarding the work, and coa- 
 gulates the Salt into Nitre. Verily it is a moft deli- 
 cate and moft profitable invention, from which many 
 others may have a beginning and tiow. 
 
 Thus have we declared and proved that the foul of 
 the World vivifying dead falts, and turning them in- 
 to Salt-petre, adds not unto them either weight or en- 
 creafe, and yet neverthelefs it is of fuch abundant ef- 
 ficacy and power as to reduce them all to Life, which 
 Life is no other thing but the little Bird of Hermes^ 
 and eafily admits of being efteemed for the moft no- 
 ble amongftall the Creatures GOD hath made, fee a- 
 fide but the foul of Man, and may by the help of Arc 
 beagain extra^ed out of the Salt-petre.But that I may 
 mention the thing more openly and more clearly ; 
 Ifay,thatthe falts muft (by the help of Fire and Art) 
 firft get a magnetick and attractive power and faculty 
 afore they can draw a Lifeoutof the air. Now then, 
 after that the univerfal Life of the World is caught 
 and fettered as it were by the falts, and hath 
 turned the dead falts into living nitre, yet that life 
 lies hidden in that Salt-petre invifibly, and can but a 
 little or fcarce any thing at ail (hew out or difpay its 
 virtues by reafon of the Grols body of the fait. 
 
 NB. If fo be that any one (hall but know how to 
 draw out this Life again out of the Nitre, and bring 
 it into a body, and make it vifible,he (hall have a thing 
 fo admirable that he'll fcarce find the like fas I be- 
 lieve) in all natural things. For there is fuch a fweec 
 and red Liquor, as to fight, thence had, that one only 
 fmall drop will tinge a thoufand parts of water with 
 a Golden colour : which(faid Liquor) I have not as yet 
 brought to a conftant or fixed Medicine, but do tnake 
 ufe of it in Medicine (as it is) and I find in it things 
 wonderful. But this little Bird (as far as I know) 
 cannot be again extra(fted out of the Nitre by any o- 
 ther fubjedthan with a net artificially prepared of 
 Sheeps-skins. 
 
 Such a worthy thing as this is, do I rank in the num- 
 ber of great fecrets and myfteries, and I fuppofe it to 
 be that work which the knowledge:defiring J4°"i ^^: 
 ing holpen by Medea who was moft skilful in the 
 [ Chymical Art, took away from the Dragon, and 
 i called it the Golden Fleece : But I would not have any 
 I one perfwade himfelf that I fpeak here of fuch a Tin- 
 j {fture as is extrailed out of fixt Nitre (and like wift 
 i th« fame is extraiiable out of Salt of Tartar) by Spi- 
 rit 
 
3i6 
 
 The Firfi Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ritof Wine. No, that isiio tiueTin>rture, but the 
 Spirit of Wine is fomevvhat altered and tinged by the 
 fixt fait. But that Liquor of mine is the true, occult) 
 and inmoft Tiniliuic, Virtue, and Life of the Nitre, 
 and is of a golden Nature, but plainly {lying and vola- 
 tile, one drop whereof doth fo gild an whole Impe^ 
 rial, as if it were gilt over with Ducket Gold. 
 This Tinifture cannot be changed or altered by any 
 contrary Meuftruum, be it Corrolrve or Urinous, no 
 nor by .'/^«-?-/'o''f'.f, or Liquor of Salt of Tartar; the 
 like of which is fcarce to be found in all nature. 
 
 For if there be ar^nofl: delicate colour drawn out of 
 the Vegetables, as Cochenele, SafTron, and fuchlike, 
 by the help of the Spirit of Wine, and there be dropt 
 therein l)ut one only drop of ^qiu-fortis, the colour 
 will prefently turn pale^and if you add more, it will 
 vauilh for altogether. Or elfe if a drop of the Liquor 
 ofSalt of Tartar lliould be put therein, it would pre- 
 fently change colour and become duskyifli. But now, 
 this true Tin^lureof Nitre,or Soul of the World fuf- 
 fers not any change from either of the contraries. 
 And lliould one have even a metallick Tincture, or ex- 
 tract even from Gold it fclf, yet would it not Hand in 
 this tryal, but would be precipitated either by the 
 acid or the fixt falt,and fcparate from the Menftruums. 
 But ours doth conllantly abide in every trial, and re- 
 fills both the contraries. 
 
 I do therefore repeat what I have often faid, that 
 there is more lies hidden in Nitre than many thoufands 
 of Men can perfwade themfelves of. But becaufe it 
 is fo vile and abjc(fl a thing, no body thinks that there 
 lies hidden any thing of good therein. But do but 
 read the chiefell of the Philofophers, and you fliall 
 therein find that they do enigmatically point at Nitre, 
 and do call it the Dragon which is to be flain by its 
 Brother or Sifter afore it parts with its Treafure j 
 But enough of this- 
 
 The things hitherto mentioned, have I produced 
 for this endjthat my Neighbour may be the better cer- 
 tified concerning them. All the Philofophers Books 
 are full of this thing, aniongfl: whom, Her/nes, and 
 BafilFdk'itine excel, who have written moft clearly. 
 P<3riZCf//«; faith openly,Alchimy hath found it in Nitre. 
 The late Philofopher Nivfntent^ hath publifiied a 
 Treatifeof theSalt and Spirit of the World, and is 
 verily moft worthy the reading, which (faid BookJ 
 I commend to the Reader that ftudies thefe things. 
 Therefore do I here again repeat what I have fo oft 
 mtcrated, U'l.. ThatSalt-petre is the moft admira- 
 ble, the moil excellent, and the moft powerful Subject 
 of the whole Worldiwhofe wonderful properties can- 
 not be enough fearch'd into. But becaufe it hath its 
 rife from dung and putrid rotten things the grcatefl 
 company of foolifh ones do dcfpife it, but the fmall 
 company of Philofophers and Wife-men (who arc 
 thofc that know what ad mirable virtues it has) do moll 
 highly cileem it, and fet thereon a great value. The 
 V ell difpofed Reader will clearly find more as to its 
 virtue and efllcacy, in the three following parts. 
 
 O thou the original of all good things,and Treafure 
 of all Treafurcs.vouchfafe that we may well and right- 
 ly improve this earthly and fading Treafure,and may 
 fo fearch after, and ufe it unto the end, that we lofe 
 not the chiefell good, but may rather find and keep 
 thee, for ever. 
 
 ^H Admor:itio7!^ adjoined as an Over-flus. 
 
 IN thefirft Chapter of this firll part of the concen- 
 tration of things, have I plenarily manifelled, by 
 what means, new Wines and Mulls are (by the help of 
 an Artificial condenfationj to be brought into a nan 
 row compafs, tliat fo they might be carried into far 
 remote places wherein there are no Wines, and may 
 there be fold to great profit. But yet I forgot to 
 fliew, by what means the favour which the winy Jui- 
 ces contraded in their concentration, is wholly to be 
 taken away in the fermentation when they are again 
 dilFolved in water, that fo the Wines made of thofc 
 Juices may not have any untoward and unpleafans 
 tafle. 'Tis an Artifice without which no man can 
 eafily, quit himfelf in this Art of making Wine. Bun 
 that I may certify every one hereabouts, the Medium 
 (or Bafis) neceffary about the precipitation in this 
 work is no other thing but common Sulphur excellent- 
 ly well purified, a little portion whereof (according 
 to the nature and property or difpofition of the Juices) 
 is to be hereto added, which muft boil up (or ferment) 
 with the Wine, that fo it may draw to it felf all the 
 filths, and all the ftrange odour, and favour or tafle in 
 the fermentation and by precipitation caft them down 
 to the bottom, which being done the Wines become 
 fweet, clear, and get a good favour. Furthermore ic 
 is to be Known by what means (feeing that there are 
 many f;Eces and defilements that will feparate them- 
 felves out of thofe kinds of Wines as well as out of o- 
 thers, and fettle to the bottom j even they are to be 
 put to fome ufe, that fo there may not beany lofs, 
 but that the gain may be by fo much the greater. 
 Divers ways arc there of making profit from them ; as 
 for inltancejThe reraainingWines may by prelfed out 
 in bags, or elfe they may be turned into Vinegar, or a 
 fpirit may be thence deftilled, and the remaining gtofs 
 matter be boiled in water, and the Tartar therein dif: 
 folved,and preft out in bags, that it may fo fhoot into 
 Tartar. But as touching this exprelfion I have taken 
 care to have a peculiar Book publilhed at Norimberg^ 
 (yizTljeTreatife of the Lea oflVif/e.^So that it is wholly 
 needlefs to make any mention of the fajne, in this 
 place. The Courteous Readenmay ufe it to hisocca- 
 fions, as being fuch a Book, in which he will find the 
 faid preOlngoutthe Wine and Tartar, and alfo the 
 making of Vinegar^^clearly defcribed, with all the cir- 
 cumflanccs thereabouts, and without all queflion if he 
 rightly underflands mc, and fets about the work, he 
 will do himfelf a great deal of good. 
 
 NB- But iffo be that any fliall know the Art of 
 turning the Tartar of thofe Fsces into Salt-petre,(and 
 fuch a thing may be done and that inaveryfliort 
 time) he will get twice the profit, that is to be gotten . 
 by making Tartar of them ; forafmuch as he need 
 not put himfelf to the inconveniency of preffing them. 
 In the fecond Chapter of this firll part where men- 
 tion is made of the concentration of Corn, there it 
 has been alleadged that the remaining husks or branny 
 parts which remain after the extraction of the Juices* 
 may be made to yield as much yea more Moneys than 
 will pay the colts about the Corn. But it is well 
 known,that thofe reliques that are left in your boiling 
 up of Ale, are improved to fatten Beafls with. If 
 now a.A^cdimnia(^ii meafurc of about fome 6 bufiiels) of 
 Corn doth coll half, nay even a whole Imperial, thofe 
 reliques (that are left of it in working) can fcarce 
 cofl lefs than one eighth part of that Imperial. And 
 uowoutoffuch a/^/f(^//?w/" ormeafure of fuch re- 
 liques. 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 517 
 
 liqiics, they would very hardly when turned in the 
 Beafts, into nutrimeiit,have made in them two pounds 
 growth of (lefli, the price df which (faid two pounds j 
 would not amount to the eighth part of the laid Im^ 
 perial: Where2snow>if thofe reliques were handled 
 after the afore- mentioned way of reducing Wood into 
 luices, they would eafily yield as much, or morcSalt- 
 pecre than the price of the Corn was at the beginning. 
 So that here's an enriching Treafure oii'crs it fclf to 
 the pious and diligent Houdiolder, whereby he may 
 do good to thofe in need. 
 
 In the third Chapter of the firft part? is rtlention 
 made only oftheConcentrationof Wood,of thcpref- 
 Jing the Juices out of the Wood, and of the making 
 Nitre i But becaufe there is not every where fuch 
 great quantity of Wood, as to imploy it to the ma- 
 king of Salt-petre without omitting the more neccfla- 
 ry ufe of it, yet notwithftanding the cafe may be fo or- 
 dered as that a great quantity of Salt- nitre may be 
 made of the Leaves of the Trees and the Grafs that 
 grows under theTrees,and there's no need to cut down 
 the Trecs,if a Man has no mind fo to do. Befides too, 
 in fuch places where there's but little Wood and much 
 Corn, even the very ftubble or ftraw ( of the Corn) is 
 fit enough to be made into Salt-petre. So that there 
 is no place where there is not matter found for the 
 making of Salt-petre- 
 
 And therefore 1 cannot forbear but muft needs teach 
 all pious Houfholders Twhether they have their Houfes 
 in Cities or in Villages) a certain ealle Artifice, by the 
 help of which they may gather a Treafure for their 
 Children, without any labour and coftsj and fuch a one 
 as Thieves can never rob them of. 
 
 And how, feeing I have revealed in this fmall 
 Book, for the benefit both of Rich and Poor, high 
 and low, three Artifices or Workmandiips by which, 
 Wine, Corn, and Wood may be made more profita- 
 ble •, but yet have not brought any alTifting help to 
 fuch as want both Wine, Corn, and Wood, I have 
 judged it worth the while (that fo even they who have 
 nothing, and yet neverthelefs defire to provide for 
 their VVivesand Children infome honeft way) to be- 
 ftow on them a fecret Art, whereby they may feek 
 their advantage or profit. And I hope the thing will 
 redound to the Honour ofGod,and to all our Healths. 
 
 Befides, I will (hew away to fuch as have no inheri- 
 tance left them from their Parents, nor have any thing 
 come to them by Marriage, by what means they may 
 without labour and trouble get a Treafure for their 
 Children. 
 
 Firft of all, Let fuch acne take care to have fomc 
 fhade or hovel made, to join to that fide of his dwel- 
 ling that lies in the middle 'twixt the North and the 
 Eaft part of Heaven, or fome other more convenient 
 place, fo as toadmit the Sun and Air to it, but to keep 
 o.T the Rain. Under this Pent-houfe or Hovel, let 
 him dig a large Pit, and with the Earth he digs out let 
 him make banks round the Pits^mouth that fo it may 
 keep the Rain off of every fide- This done, let him 
 each day in every year, or whenfoever he can conve- 
 niently carry and throw into that Pit thefe following 
 matters, fo long till his neceffity forceth him to dig 
 all out again, and to fee how much Treafure he hath 
 gotten, even whileft heflcpt. Nov; thefe matters are, 
 All (harp and bitter Herbs, growing in by places, a- 
 ( mongilbulhes, and in the way fides, and fuch as the 
 Beafts feed not on, as Efnb^Ciciita or Hemlock, Hen= 
 bane. Fumitory, the thick ftalks of Tabaco that are 
 throv.n away in thofe places where it is planted, the 
 hard ftalks of Colwort, which the Beafts eat not of, 
 
 and likewife all thofe things they leave in their 
 Troughs i likewife Firr tops or Apples if you have 
 them at hand ; alfo the Leaves that fall from the 
 Trees m Autumn are to be gathered; alfo Pigeons- 
 dung, and Hens-dung, Birds and Hens Feathers ; all 
 the A(hes which Women ufually make t!;cir Lees 
 with, and other Adies that are not fit for that ufe, as 
 alfo fuch out of which the Lixivium or Lee is already 
 extraded ; the foot of Chimneys, Hogs hairs, the 
 horns of Oxen and Cows, and the bones which the 
 Dogs eat not of All thefe matters may he throw in- 
 to his Pit, and that he may the fooner fill it, he may 
 gather as much as ever he car. from the bordering 
 places, and throw it therein, that fo in one or two 
 years time he may with all thofe things fill up his Pit. 
 Mean vyhilehe muft pour into the Pit the pifs gather- 
 ed in his Houfcand that he may have enough he muft 
 alfo get as much as he can from his Neighbours, lb as 
 to keep the things thrown in the Pit in a continual 
 moifture, whereby they may the fooner putrefy. In 
 want of Urine, common Water may be taken-, if 
 Sea- water or other Salt-water can be had, it will be 
 the better. Alfo the Brine of Fifhes-pickle, and the 
 faking or falt-water that Fle(h is macerated (or pick- 
 led J in are of good ufe in this bulinefs •, likewife the 
 Blood of 0.\en, Cows, Calves, Sheep, which you may 
 eafily have at the Butchers ; all thefe things putrefy- 
 ing together do put on the nature and property of 
 Salt-petre. 
 
 If now, all thofe matters in your full pit (hall have 
 well putrefied, then ceafe from pouring on any more 
 moifture; and all the things are to be left fo long till 
 they are dried. And then if you need Money, let a 
 Salt-petre maker be fought for, and bargain with him 
 about the price of drawing out your Salt=petre by wa-- 
 ter.of making it, and felling it- This done, caft the 
 remaining Earth again into the Pit, together with the 
 remaining Lixivium that fliot net into Nitre, and 
 there leave it for a year or two, and moiften it fome- 
 times with Urine, or if you have not this, with com- 
 mon Water. T his Earth will again yield Salt-nitre, 
 but not above half fo much as at firft. 
 
 NB- If you ftand not in need of Money, let the 
 matter lie, and as oft as it dries, fo often moiften it a- 
 gain with the aforefaid moifture, that fo the Nitre 
 may more and more grow and increafe. By this 
 means (hall fuch a one gather a fecretTreafure5& fiiall 
 not know almoft how he came by it- If he needs it not 
 himfelf,his Children will find it. Thieves ScSouldiers 
 will not fteal it away. If one Pit be full then ano- 
 ther may be made, that fo nothing at all of thofe 
 matters, which otherwifeare moftbafe, (but in this 
 cafemoft fuitablej may be loft. Now if there were 
 but only one in every Village that were appointed to 
 exercifethisLabour, there would be found out as i: 
 were in a fmall Country many thoufand hundreds of 
 Saltpetre, and fo thefe matters ftillferving for the 
 fame ufe, there would never be anv fcarcity of Salt^; 
 pecre. And now, Nitre being prefent. Gold and Sil* 
 ver are not far off. Let every one obferve this, and 
 efteem it. Men will fometime or other at laft, become 
 thrifty and wife, and will fee what blindnefsthey have 
 been poffelfed with. 
 
 Give GOD the thanks, and be helpful to thy 
 Neighbour. GOD hath beftowed on me, I beftow 
 on thee, do thou likewife beftow fomeA'hac upon 
 thy Neighbour, and it will be well with us all. 
 
 M m m m 
 
 THE 
 
5.8 
 
 Tbe Stcond Part of 
 
 Part 1, 
 
 THE SECON D PAR T 
 
 .r- 
 
 O P 
 
 Clje ^^ofpetitp of (Hetmanp, 
 
 Wherein is ihewn, 
 
 By what nSeans Minetals may be Concentrated by Nitre, and turned into 
 
 Metalick, and better Bodies. 
 
 ■-« 
 
 For the benefit of my Country^ and of all fuch as affe^ionately and tndufirmjly follow after 
 
 Metalick Affairs. 
 
 Friendly Reader, 
 
 IHave taught in the frfi part of ihis Book^^ by what 
 way the P'egetables^ at Wirie^ and Jle^ are to be con- 
 centrated, xvherehy they may yield more profit than 
 hitherto they ha>ve done, and alfo^ how Wood is to he 
 ftdttced into Salt-petre. In this prefent Second part, fhall 
 be taught y how the Salt,petre is to be ufed, and how, by it 
 Minerals may be Concentrated, and wrought into Metal- 
 ick Bodies. And as to this Concentration, thus fiands 
 the cafe ; that is to fay, for af much as a good part of Mi- 
 mrals are of very little ufe, and lie negkSled as things of 
 no worth, and prove not profitable to any one, (^whereas if 
 there were Men that imderfiood but the Art of it, there 
 might redound a great benefit to the Lands where they are. 
 Jt hath fcemed to me worth while to declare it to my Coun- 
 
 try, nor doubt I bttt that there will arife fame diligent in- 
 genuities, who will Uy the thing to heart, and take cart 
 thereabouts, and will even fet their hands to the workii 
 felf, and thence get much profit ^ which to me would be 
 very pleafmg and acceptable. Therefore {in the Name 
 of God) will I fet about the manifeftation of the Giftt 
 of God (which lie every where unk>'own^ and wholly djf' 
 ejleemed, and which yield no Man any fruit) and Uy 
 them of en before the Eyes of the whole World, thatfo they 
 may be better known hereafter^ and be of more bent ft td 
 the Country. And I befeech the mofl Wealthy, and the 
 moft Ancient Houflnlder, our moft merciful Pather, to be* 
 fiow a Bleffing^and good fuccefs on this my endeavour that 
 it may tend to the Honour of his moft- Holy Name, and 
 the health of all our Souls. Amen. 
 
 Of the difference of Minerals, and what is underflooA hy the Name of Minerals. 
 
 AS concerning the v^ox^ Mineral^ why all Fof- 
 file and Metalick Mines are fo called afore 
 they have been wrought upon, and brought 
 by the fire into Malleable Metals, I judge it 
 but of fmall moment to make any tedious Comment 
 thereupon i befides, others have long ago throughly 
 treated of that,and yet it makes but little to the thing 
 it felf But my purpofe is (at prefent) to teach,what 
 means fuch little elteemed Minerals may be made ufe- 
 ful, and profitable by ; but afore I begin this work, I 
 •will recite, and fhew the many forts of Minerals that 
 there be ; then next that, 1 will (hew how, by the be- 
 nefit of fire, and the hands of the Artificer, they may 
 be converted into betier bodies, and become ufeful, 
 and prolicable for Mankind. 
 
 Under the Name of Minerals are comprehended, 
 or reckoned thcfe following, wc. Antimony, Auri- 
 fiini.ent.^ White, Yellow, and Red Arjtnick^, Cobalt, 
 Lpis Calami naris, Zi'\, Bifmute, or the Silvery 
 Atari h.ifite, likewife the Gold, n Marchafitc, Pyrites, or 
 Copperas (tones, f^itriol of various kinds-, as alfo, 
 its kindred, may be added to the number of Minerals. 
 And albeit, that fome do alfo referr Alume, Salt- 
 petre, SalArmoninck, Sal Gem, and others of that 
 kind to the rank of Minerals, yet cannot 1 acknow^ 
 ledge them for filch, orreckon them up amongrt the 
 rumbcr of the above mentioned, feeing there is no- 
 thing Metalline to be found in them : Such only there- 
 fore do 1 call Minerals, that have in them a Metalline 
 nature, and which do admit of being joined with o- 
 
 ther Metais, and of being molten together with them 
 in the fire, and out of which the known Malleable 
 Metals, may be extrafted. Thefe are they which t 
 intend to treat of, and will fee, what good is thence* 
 from extraftable. 
 
 And firll of all we'll fpeak of Antimony, 
 Antimony is the nobleft Mineral of all, not onl/ 
 becaufe it doth for the moft part contain Gold in it» 
 but upon this account too, becaufe more eminent Me- 
 dicines may be thencefrom prepared for the ufe of 
 Mankind. In the Mine=pits it has its peculiar Veins *, 
 that which is found in Tranfilvania, hath fome little 
 bigger portion of Gold in it, and is accompted of ai 
 the beft in all Europe, next that is the Hungarian 5, 
 which likewife doth fometimcs contain no contemp- 
 tible portion of Goldi next is the Fechtenbergich,whkh 
 is found at a fmall Town call'd,in the German Tongue, 
 Gold-Gronack^\ the Po'ontan fort, and that which is 
 found in moft places of Germany, contains but little 
 Gold, or none at all ; but there is fome which has 
 much Silver in it, and ffor the moft part) is nei- 
 ther wont to be ufed, nor defired, or fought for,fave 
 by the Letter Founders, and thefe ufe it to make then* 
 Matters flow- Alfo many do ufe it (vx.. 5) in Me- 
 dicine, and do much good therewith, but it hath cer- 
 tain Enemies who are none of the wifeft, and fo is ha- 
 ted, and rejcifled. But yet there lies in it more hid- 
 den good, than all its Enemies are able to conceive Qf» 
 witnefs my Panacea, which is mentioned in the fc- 
 (Cond part of my rh.xmacopaeta Spagynca, 
 
 \ And 
 
Part 1. 
 
 ». — w^ ■ " ■ " - . 
 
 the Profperity ttf Germany. 
 
 5>9 
 
 And B.tftl yaktititie^ certainly an excellent Philofo- 
 pher, writ the Triumphant Chariot in its Honour, 
 which is an cxquifite Book and profitable to read. 
 
 But as concerning the way of making a Regains out 
 of Antimony, and as to the ufcs it ferves for, that 1 
 have defcribed in the fourth part of my Furnaces. 
 Moreover, as to the manner of depurating Gold 
 thereby, and cleanling it from all Heterogeneous mix^ 
 tures, and as to the graduating of filver, thereby, 
 that it may become Golden, all this have 1 fpoken of 
 in the Explication of my Jktiracnlnm Mundi ; and as 
 to what other efFe(^s may profitablybe done,therewith 
 in Metalick Operations, (hall be fhown, partly in this 
 Treatife, partly in the third and fourth enfuing parts. 
 As concerning the way of feparating it in quantity 
 out of the Ore, per defcenfum^ istobefeenin George 
 jigricoWi Book, that he wrote of the Metalick Art, 
 and in others ; nor indeed belongs it to this place to 
 Ipcak thereof. 
 
 Of Arftnick. 
 uirfenick likcwife is a good FoQile, or profitable 
 Mineral, and is put to many Ufes. It alfo hath its 
 lingular, or diftinft Veins in the Earth, whence it is 
 taken ; it is forced out of the Ore by Afcenfion, and 
 Defcenfion, and is purified for ufe : It is found white, 
 yellow, and red. Alfo fomefilvery Minerals or Ores 
 do in their folution, or meltings yield much Arfe- 
 nick, which the Melters of the Ores do catch in 
 Chimneys or Funnels made for that purpofe^and keep 
 it for ufe •, concerning which, you may read in George 
 ./^^r<co/.4's Writings. Solikewife, Co^o/f yields Arfe- 
 nick, and fo do fome Golden Minerals, or Ore j 
 that which is feparated from a Minera of Gold, fer 
 defcenJHniy is very red, and auriferous^ and this,thofe 
 that deal with Metals, have experience of ; which, 
 if they feparate not from the Gold Ore afore they 
 melt it, it carrys away a great part of the Gold, 
 and hides it in its Belly in the melting, fo that they 
 would not have fo much Gold as there is in the Ore. 
 For indeed, fuch a kind of Arfenick, is an unripe 
 Gold , as (haU be hereafter proved : So then, there lies 
 more hidden in that Contemptible, and Venomous 
 Arfenick, than ail^ one will eafily perfw'ade himfelf 
 to believe- There are alfo Medicines prepared out 
 of it, but fuch, as fervc only to be externally ap- 
 plied, in inveterate, and virulent Evils, as the Can- 
 cer, and Fiftula. It is alfo ufed in Colouring and 
 Dying Cloaths, concerning which, you may perufc 
 my other Writings- 
 
 Of Aurlpigment. 
 This Mineral is in a manner of the fame Effcnce 
 that Arfenick is of •, but this does not come forth of 
 Minera's, or Metalline Ores, but hath peculiar Veins 
 of its own, in which it is generated \ it is an unripe 
 Mineral, and doth for the molt part alfo contain 
 Gold. It is exceedingly Poifonous and Volatile, and 
 therefore it is but little ufed, fave only by Painters- 
 It can be fixed by Nitre, and it makes Copper white, 
 and brittle, as Arfenick doth : And itfufi^ersit felf to 
 be fublimed out of its yellownefs, into Tranfparent 
 Kubies, which are ufed for Ornaments fake. 
 
 Of Cobolt. 
 
 Amongftaljthe Mmeralsthat are to be found Co. 
 
 hit is the molt poifonous ; it's an unripe filver, and it 
 
 ofttimes yields in melting good filver, yet one fort 
 
 more than other i fome alfo there is which hath not 
 
 . J any Silver at all, andis ufed about the sky=colour'd 
 
 Ij Smalt, to help make it, with an addition of Fufile 
 
 Sand, and Potters Alhes- But when they meet with 
 
 that which has Silver in it,they feparate it thencefrom 
 
 byFufion; bcfides, it may be fofixt by the help of 
 
 Salt-petre as to yield permanent Silver, as fliallanon 
 be fpoken of- 
 
 Of the Silvery Marcliafite. 
 Tlie filver Marchafite, or Wifmuth, is a known 
 Mineral ', it's every where found to and again in the 
 filver Mine-pits, as well as Cobolt is, but yet it is 
 much more fixt than Cobolt i neither is it of fo poi- 
 fonous a Nature. It is gotten out of its Ore, or xMi- 
 nera, moft eafily by a fmall flame of wood fire, and 
 is ufed by the Pewterers to make their Pewter hard, 
 founding, and fluxile- Likewife, out of its fcoria 
 or drolly parts, is the blue imalt alfo prepared, 
 which the potters ufe to glaze their Pots, and the 
 Glafs^men to makesky-colour'dGlalfes- It doth ve- 
 ry frequently abound with much filver, and 'tis rar6 
 to find any that is wholly void of filver : And if it 
 holds fo much filver, as is of more value than th6 
 Marchafite can be fold for (as 'tis barely Bifmnte) the^ 
 feparate it, if nor, they leave it in it- Forifan hun- 
 dred weight doth not contain 20 or 30 Lots, or halt 
 Ounces they do not feparate it, becaufe the Marcha- 
 fite will yield fo much- But now,the Silver may begot- 
 ten out of the Marchafite, by Sak-petre, fo as that 
 the remaining Marchafite Ihall lofe nothing of \ti 
 goodnefs nor be at all fpoiled, as I have fliewed in the 
 Explication of my MirMnlnm Mundl. 
 
 Of the Colden Marchafite. 
 The mviizoi March* fit c is proper to every unripe Me- 
 tallick matter(and is jof as many fotts as there arc Me- 
 tals-,hereupon the matter which has Gold in it,is called 
 theGoldcnMarchafite; that which has Copper,theCop~ 
 pery •, that which has Iron,the Irony,and fo that which 
 abounds withSulphurjis called the SuIphureousMarcha= 
 fite. But now there is Sulphur in all theMarchafitcsjand 
 fometimes Arfenick too, but(the Golden ones) have 
 more of Gold than the other Marchafites have ; Be- 
 fides, out of all kinds of Marchafites proceeds (for the 
 moft part j a Vitriol, which (hews the nature of that 
 Metal, which the Marchafite contains ; one while Cop- 
 per, fometimes Iron •, 'tis rare to find a Marchafilc 
 that hath no Metal at all in it •, if it hath nothing of 
 Gold, Silver, or Copper, yet has it Iron, and gives 
 out of it felf a Vitriol ufeful for Dyers, and which (Iich 
 as prepare yiqna-fortis cannot be without. 
 
 0/Zink. 
 
 2^/»iis a Volatile Mineral,or a half ripe Metal when 
 it is drawn out of its Ore. It is much clearer and 
 brighter than Tin, yet not fo malleable and tluxilc 
 as Tin is, and it is ufually put to Tin to make it 
 brighter and harder. We have it not much grow^ 
 ing\n GermMiy^ but great quantity of it is every year 
 brought us by the Merchants out of the Ea/t-I'dte:. 
 The way how to prepare it for Medicinal ufes, have 
 1 defcribed in the firit part of th6 Philofophical Fur- 
 naces. It is a golden but an unripe Mineral, it gives 
 Red Copper a Yellow Colour and turns it into 
 Brafs, as Lapis C^lamhiaris doth ; and inc'ced thac 
 fame Stone is nothing elfe but unmeltable Zi>.k_-, and 
 this Z»>?^may properly be called a fufile Lapis Calam- 
 naris-, for as much as both of them partake of one na- 
 ture. But with Ztd'^, there is molt an end conjoined 
 Lead too, and i hen it is not fit to make Brafs of, unlefs 
 the Lead be fiift taken thereoutof ; fo it is at Go/laria, 
 where together with the Minera or Ore of Ziy,k is 
 Lead alfo digg'd out mixt amongft it, and is called a 
 Lead Ore, though there be contained in that Ore, 
 four times more of Zink than there is of Lead, and 
 yet they burn up the Zink for to have the Lead, which 
 Lead hath fome Silver in it. In the melting it flies a- 
 way in fume, and it is a volatile and combultiblc Mi- 
 neral, and fublimes it felf up into the holes of th^ 
 
 Furnsc^, 
 
i^io 
 
 TIm^ Second Fart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Furnace, whereupon the Mekers or Founders are con- 
 drained to knock it otF frequently, leafl: it (liould too 
 much lefl'cn the Furnace ; this matter they Isnock ofl, 
 they eallCalmci (which is Lapis Calaminaris) and 
 which turns red Copper into Brafs, with encrcafe (of 
 its weight) ; and lb verily by means of the not-know- 
 i:ig or being skili'd in thisOre,a great quantity is year- 
 ly burnt up and loll. Sometimes the founders do ga- 
 ther fomewhat of the Zink, wliich is moll excellently 
 excellent ; but that Ore might be melted with far grea- 
 ter profit, if they did iiot fo burn up thfe Zink, and 
 force it into fume ; ' ut i'eeing men are hardly drawn 
 back from an old cullom, it mull be born with. 
 
 But yet (I fay again) if that Ore were handled in a 
 due manner, there would redound far greater profit 
 thencefrom than now doth. Such a kind of Mineral 
 as this is dotn Wellphalia alfo yield, which the foun- 
 ders there accompt for a Leaden Ore, becaufe it has 
 fome load mixed with it, but when it comes to be 
 freed or molten it goes (all) away in fume, and there- 
 fore they fay, it is alfo a Galmei or Calaminaris Ore, 
 andfoit lies unu fed. 
 
 0/Calmei or Lapis Calaminaris, 
 Calmei Ore is digged out in many places in Germnny-, 
 but there is none of fuch note as that which is found 
 at jiqHifirane-, for that is wholly void of all kind ot 
 Lead y nets, and much different from that of GojUiria^ 
 or WififhaUa ; and therefore it is alfo very fit to make 
 Brafs of, which is there made in plenty, and farther, 
 this has Gold in it, though not fo much as to quit the 
 Colts of feparating it. But there is no Mineral richer 
 with Gold than this, and could it but be ripened (and 
 1 doubt not at all of the pofiibility of fo doing) a good 
 deal of Gold might be drawn out from thence- 
 
 As concerning whatelfe may be performed with 
 that Mineral, 1 have formerly told you in my Firll 
 cr.d Second Part of Furnaces, nor is it needful to treat 
 of the fame thing more at large in this place. 
 
 Of Common Sulphur. 
 
 Sulphur or Bnmfioh'e is the molt known, mofl ufed, 
 and mod combuftible Mineral of all. As touching 
 its ufes in Medicine, and in Alchimy, about the fepa- 
 ration of Metals ; may you find fomething mentioned 
 by my felf, in the writings I formerly publiihed, and 
 in the writings of others too. 
 
 But at prefent we will only mind you of this, -viz.. 
 That it is the very Foundation and Root of all the 
 Metals •, for tis rare to find any mine wherein Sidfhur 
 does not fhew it felf. Very many places in the World, 
 is Sutfhur both made and digged out of the Earth, in 
 very great quantity, & that chieily in Jfland^ and in I- 
 tdy, nightothofe always burning Mountains, Htckla 
 and Fcpivms; ic is alfodrawnout of Marchafitesfo- 
 Lefcojfuiii in many places oiGtrmatiy^ fo that enough 
 of it may every where he had for a little money- 
 
 Thefc are the chiefeft Minerals that 1 ever knew of, 
 and thefe are they which are commonly fought after, 
 and applied to ufe. But now, befides thefe, there are 
 fo many various kinds of Foffiles and Minerals to be 
 met withal, that one cannot reckon them all up, oa" 
 give them peculiar Names. One contains Sulphur, 
 and Arfcnick, another, Cobolt and Sulphur; ano- 
 ther Antimony, and Arfenick, and of that kind are 
 there very many more. But yet thofe that we have 
 reckoned up, are the moil known, and mofl in ufe, 
 and therefore (hall at prefent be fufFicieflt for us to 
 fpeak of. 
 
 Having now taught what Minerals are, and which 
 ofthem are mofl known & ufed; I will now teach, in 
 the next place,by what means they may (by the help of 
 Salt-petre, & of other Subjeds) be fixed, concentrated, 
 
 imbodied, or brought into Metals, fo as toberen- 
 dred profitable for the ufe of Mankind, and which o- 
 therwife lie every where to and again neglected and, 
 are wont to be of no elleem. 
 
 And as to the Concentration of Minerals, thus Hands 
 the Cafe with them •, they are either to be fixed & fub- 
 ducd, as 'twere by the help of Salt-petre, that fo they 
 may not fo fuddenly fly away in fume in the fire, and 
 be burnt up, but may abide the fire and fuffer them- 
 felves to be molten \ or they are to be reduced into 
 bodies by the help of Metals, that i'o they may come 
 in ufe, and that by augmenting the Metals, as Lapis 
 Calaminaris does, or they are to be purifytd, fepara- 
 ted, and made better, as (hall be mentioned of Sd- 
 phur^ A?itttnony, and the others, thatfo thofe kind of 
 Mineralsof which there lies to and again, at prefent, 
 great quantities, wholly neglected, and profitable to 
 no body,may hereafter be of ufe and benelit. 
 
 And firflofall, as to the fixation of the Minerals, 
 the way of proceeding is thus, w'x,. The Mineral is 
 to be powdered, and to be mixt with equal weight 
 of burning Salt-petre, and fo to be fired, that the com- 
 buftibleand volatile part of the Sulphur may be forc'd 
 away, and the Mineral may afterwards brook the fire 
 the better, and be molten and forced downwards (per 
 dsfcerifiu?!); vvhich operation I have treated of in the 
 explication oiva^ Miraciihim Mimdi, and therefore 
 think it needlefs to repeat the fame thing again here. 
 By this mean therefore may Arfenick, Aunpigmaa^ 
 Cobolt^ Zmky Bifmiue^ and other Volatile Minerals 
 be in fome fort fixtby the inflaming and burning up 
 with Salt-petre, fo as afterwards to endure the fire, 
 and to yield forth the good they have in them. There's 
 alfo another way of imbodying Volatile Minerals, 
 W^. by the benefit of Metals ; if the Metals and Mi- 
 nerals are joined together in a due meafure, and be 
 likewife united together by the virtue of a Cementing 
 fire; then doth the volatile Mineral penetrate it felf 
 into the Metal, and becomes Metalline, and doth al- 
 fo encreafe the Metal, as is evident in Calmei or La- 
 pis Calaminaris, which being joined with red Copper 
 and cemented, enters into it, augments and encreaf- 
 ethit, andturneth it into Brafs ^ whereas there can- 
 not be any Metal educed out of the Calmei by the u- 
 fual way of melting. In like manner may all Arfeni- 
 cal minerals be ( by cementation ) introduced into 
 Copper, & made corporeal ■■, and thefe do not colour 
 the Copper yellow as Calmei doth,but make it white, 
 nor is theCopper rendred maleable thereby but britki 
 but yet 'tis not without profit ; for if that white Cop- 
 per be handled after a convenient manner of taming 
 or over-maflering it, then the Gold and Silver that 
 was in the Arfenick, betakes its felf into Regulus's> 
 which are to be depurated in a Ted or Cupel, or elfe 
 by the help of Sak-pecre-, but there cannot any me- 
 talline body be made out of Arfenick, Auripigment, 
 or Cobolt, by bare melting. The way of proceeding 
 with it is thus •, The Copper is to be cut into fmall 
 bits, and to be moiftncd over with Lhfeed Oil, and 
 the Arfenick, Auripigment, Cobolt or any other Real- 
 gar is to be powdered and llrewed thereupon, and ^o 
 a bed of Copper, and a bed of Arfenick to be put one 
 a top of another in a melting Pot ■, then the Pot is to 
 be well covered and fenced with Lute,and placed in a 
 circulatory fire, and the fire is to be put nearer and 
 nearer to it, until the Pot is through red hot, then 
 let it cool, and you fliall find that the Arfenick hath 
 gotten ingrefs into the Copper, and makes it black 
 and brittle. 1 he Copper thus burnt, may be reduced 
 into powder, and burnt with good Salt-peire, whereby 
 the Volatile Gold and Silver which was contained in 
 the Arfeaickjis made corporeaj,and abides as conflant 
 
 upon 
 
Part [. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany, 
 
 921 
 
 upon the Telt as other [ixt Metals do ^ fo that by this 
 means permanent and good Gold and Silver may be 
 gotten out ofcvery fort of ArfenickiAuripigmentjCo- 
 bolt, and the other volatile, venomous and bafe mine- 
 rals. 
 
 NB. This kind of operation is very dangerous to 
 thofe that are unskilful, and who being unverfed in 
 the Chyniick Art, have not learned to take heed to 
 themfelves. And therefore it behoves every one to 
 beware of doing ought rafhly or heedlefly. He that 
 knows not how to carry himfelf (or his bulinefs) wa- 
 rily, let him forbear to meddle at all with this labour 
 orprocefs: But as for one who is better verfed, and 
 pretty well experienc'd, he may fet about this work 
 fafely and will gain by it : Bccaufe there is oftentimes 
 found Arfenick and Auripigment that hath in it much 
 hidden volatile Gold and Silver, and which can not be 
 retained in the common way of melting by Fire, but 
 will totally fly away : But now if it be imprinted in the 
 Copper by Cementation, and fixtinthefame bySalt» 
 petre, and then precipitated by means of Lead or Iron 
 into Regulus's, it will render all that fixt which afore 
 wasunfixt and flying- But as concerning fuch a Ce-- 
 mentation and Fixation to be done by Nitre, will be 
 manifefted by the following procefs. 
 
 NB. But you are carefully to obfervcj that one mi- 
 neral mufl; help another in the reparation of their Gold 
 and Silver (if you would undertake this Labour for 
 profit) : For fo each will produce what it has in more 
 abundance, and thou wilt have a greater reward 
 for thy pains and coils- For example, I prove and 
 try Auripigment or Arfenick, and find that it is auri- 
 ferous, and 1 have a mind to perfed it and turn it un- 
 to my ufe ; hereupon do I look for fuch Copper as is 
 likewife auriferous, (and indeed there's plenty enough 
 of fuch every where) : Into this Copper do I intro- 
 duce my auriferous Arfenick by Cementation, and 
 that 1 may not need to cupellate (or blow off) the 
 fame upon a Tefl (for the very Labour of fo doing will 
 coft more than the gains will be of that feparati- 
 on) 1 do precipitate the Gold that is therein into a 
 Regulus, which Regulus being purified, I obtain the 
 Gold that was contained in that Arfenick and Copper, 
 neither is there any need of cupellating all the Cop; 
 per. But that the precipitation of the Regulus may 
 be the more commodioufly done, I proceed on this 
 wife- I find out fome Antimony of a good fort, and 
 which is of a Golden nature ■, likewife fuch Iron as 
 hath Gold in it, both which,w2.. the Iron and the An- 
 timony )may eafily be gotten,and then I fet on the repa- 
 ration which I thus inftitute. 
 Firft of all I implant the auriferous Arfenick into the 
 auriferous Copper (if fuch may be had) then reduce I 
 thefe into powder, and fire them with an equal ad- 
 mixt weight of burning Salt-petrei by this means the 
 Arfenick is made a little more fixt,and fuffers it felf to 
 be the better dealt withal in the fire, but if you are 
 well skilled in this kind of labour you may fpareyour 
 Salt-petre and may melt down your Copper (burnt 
 with the Arfenick and powdered jwith an equal weight 
 of Antimony. And if of its own accord it lets fall a 
 Regulus out of ic felf, then there needs no precipita- 
 tion, the Regulus may be laid by, and that which re- 
 mains may be likewife precipitated into a Regulus 
 with common Iron ; and this (laft Regulus j is alfo of 
 ufe, as (hall hereafter follow : But if not ("that no Re- 
 gulus falls) then that Mafs may again be put into a 
 Crucible, be molten, and a little Iron filings be caft 
 in to make it fettle •, the which mutt be ftirr'd about 
 with a red hot Iron rod, and when it's well molten, 
 
 'tis to be poured out into an Iron Cone ; which being 
 cool, the Regulus may be knockt off, in which Regu- 
 lus will you have the Gold that was in the Arfenick, 
 Copper, Antimony and Iron- This Regulus mull be 
 cupellated either by Salt-petre in aCrucible, or with 
 Lead upon a Teftj which done, you will have the 
 Gold that lay hid, and Ihut up in the aforc-meution- 
 ed Minerals. 
 
 But now, if one hath a mind to make that feparati- 
 on yet more compendious, and to have greater bene- 
 fit thereby, he may add to that Copper burnt by the 
 Arfenick, fome Silver burnt with Brimflone, and fo 
 melt it with the Antimony, and by the means of Mars 
 precipitate them into a Regulus •, then the Silver will 
 fo much the better draw to it felf the Gold out of the 
 Arfenick and Antimony, and yield Cintbe fepara- 
 tion) greater benefit. 
 
 NB- If fo be a man be not skilful in this operation, 
 let him forbear his Silver a little, and add fome Sil- 
 ver to the Regulus by melting them, and then after- 
 wards purifiethe Regulus by Salt-petre i for fo the 
 Gold that is in the Regulus affociates its felf to the 
 adjoined Silver, and inricheth it with no little in- 
 creafe, viz.. according as the Minerals have had more 
 or lefs Silver, in the making their feparation- 
 
 And this is fuch a work as feems fufficiently able 
 commodioufly to fuftain life ; but it requires an ex- 
 perienced Artifl, not a giddy headed fellow. Nei- 
 ther have I written this procefs for thofe who are not 
 as yet well verfed in Pyrotechny, but for fuch who are 
 well skill'd and dexterous j and although this kind of 
 operation needs no great ftore of Art, yetnotwith- 
 ftanding, every one will not rightly perfeft it, and 
 therefore do I warn fuch as are not well skill'd in Py- 
 rotechny to defifl: from this labour, and betake them- 
 felves to fome other, and fet themfelves about doing 
 fuch things in which haply they are better skill'd, ana 
 not to lay the blame on me, when they arc fruftra- 
 ted of their expectation, as if I had not dealt faith- 
 fully and fincerely in my writing, but let them rather 
 impute it to their own prepofterous raflinefs and un- 
 skilfulnefs; and what lofs foever they bring upon them- 
 felves, let them impute it only to their own (mifcon- 
 ccptions^. 
 
 To deal plainly with you, that labour Is conjoyned 
 with fome difficulty ; but yet if any one be diligent and 
 well exercifed in the Pyrotechnical Art, the operati- 
 on will fucceed in fuch an ones hands very pleafantly } 
 nor will he want a worthy profit, efpecially if he takes 
 fuch Minerals as are richefl:,andufe them about this fe- 
 paration. But fome perhaps will fay, Whence (hall 
 I have thofe fo good Minerals ? Who demonftratesto 
 me, which are auriferous, and which are not aurife- 
 rous, which are good, and which are to be rejerted, 
 that fo leaft being deluded in this, I fliould lofe all 
 my labour ? I would have fuch a one know, that if hC 
 has not gotten fo much skill and experience as to 
 prove a Mineral, whether it be auriferous, or not, 
 he is not at all fit to take upon him this Labour of fe- 
 paration, and he were far better ad vifed, if he whol- 
 ly abftained from fetting about it. Bat yet that I may 
 not omit ought which may feem to be defired from 
 me, I will over and above add here in this place, 
 what way Minerals may be proved by, whether they 
 be auriferous or not, and 'tis on this wife to be done ; 
 all Realgars, as Arfenick, Auripigment, Cobolt, 
 and others of that kind, are firft of all to be implant- 
 ed into Copper by cementation, then are they to be 
 molten, or throughly purged and fubdued with Lead 
 (like as you do with a crude Mineral)-, after this,therc 
 
 N n n Q com^s 
 
5^2 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 C3mes out a certain little filvery Pellet, and this you I pafs intofcoria, but part of the Lead remains whole 
 a' e to Drove as you would for Gold. Now according | or free, and is not fcorified, and therein will the Gold 
 tothemorenefsorlellnefs of the fame, fo is the bu-- be, which the Antimony and Iron had immixed in 
 finefs to be ordered, and compute to be made, whe- | them, which if it be blown cfton a probatory Cupel, 
 ihcror no the faid Mineral is worth the pains of fe= j or Teft, under a MufFel, there will then remain the 
 paration as aforefaid. Likewife the Copper it felf | true weight. 
 
 may be cupellated with Lead alone, and then the re_ 
 maining filver Pellet be proved for the Gold, with 
 ^qua-Fortis -, but as for the Antimony, and Iron, 
 they may be well mel;:d jointly together in a Teft 
 under a Cover or Muffel, or in a clean Crucible in a 
 Wind Furnace, with thisobfcrvation, that there be , 
 ufed twice as much Antimony as Iron, and foaReguj 
 luswill fettle, which is to be purged or tried with 
 Lead in a Tell, and kept flowing till all the fugacious 
 parts are evaporated, which done, there is found a 
 iilver Pellet, which is to be proved with Aqua-fortis, 
 how much Gold it has. 
 
 NB, This probation, or trial is to be accounted 
 of as a certain and lawful trial, but fuch though as 
 you may eafily err in the doing of, and fo may have 
 nothing, though it had in it a good part of Gold ; 
 for the Antimony will not eafily fuffer it felf to be 
 vanquilhed, or go off, but it will break the Teft, or 
 Cupel, and the little Pellet which is the probatory 
 Globulus betakes it felf (by reafon of the fiercenefs, 
 or eating penetrativenefs into the Teft) fo that the 
 Proba or trial it felf, may moft eafily become fallaci- 
 ous, and yield no certain difcovery. Which to re- 
 medy, the bufinefs is to be thus managed, after that 
 your two parts of Antimony (hall have been well 
 melted in the Crucible, with your one part of Iron, 
 there muft be put thereinto a little dried Salt-petrc 
 powder, and the Pot, or Crucible muft again be co= 
 veredovcr, and care taken to make them melt well 
 together '-, then are they to be poured out into an Iron 
 Cone firft fmeared over with Wax, and when 'tis 
 cold, the Regulus is to be knockt off from the Scoria, 
 to which muft be added twice or thrice the weight 
 thereof of Lead, and the Regulus of the Antimony 
 doth inthemelting.-potfeparateit felf by Salt-petre 
 from the Lead, and the Lead is to be afterwards cu- 
 pellated, and fo that goes all off, and the true weight 
 khad. But albeit, that this defcription be clearly 
 enough delivered, yet certain 1 am, that one in ten 
 will not underftand it aright, and therefore it is be- 
 hoveful, more fully to inform, and clearly to fhew 
 the Reduftion of that Regulus into fcoria by Salt- 
 petre. To make this trial or proof 'tis not needful 
 to take a huge vaft pot to fill with Iron, 'tis fufficient 
 to take of 1 ron I CO /. of the fmaller probatory weight, 
 and 200 /. of Antimony, both which are to be mol- 
 ten together, and to be precipitated with a little 
 Salt petre, for fo the Regulus doth the better fepa- 
 rate it felf from the fcoria's, the which is then to be 
 vvafht and purified by Lead and Salt-petre. This 
 Regulus that comes from the Antimony and Iron, put 
 vviththree times its weight of Lead in a clean Cruci^ 
 ble, and make them well to flow in a wind Furnace, 
 but cover your pot dofe that no Coals fall in, and fo 
 hinder the work, then take off the cover and throw 
 in a little powdered Salt-petre, and again cover the 
 Crucible, and above all things have a care that there 
 fall not in any Coals, and let them lie and operate a 
 little upon each other, then the Salt-petre imbibes all 
 the Antimony, Iron, and Lead, and thereby becomes 
 hard. This being done, fome more Salt=petre is to 
 beagaincaftin, and you muft make them flow toge- 
 ther, and fo all the whole parcel of Antimony, Iron, 
 and Lead, betake themfdves into the Salt-petrc, and 
 
 N B. But it is expedient, that there be a juft pro- 
 portion obferved in this kind of Work, that you 
 take not overmuch Salt-petre to this ablution, or 
 converting it into fcoria, and fo bring all the Lead 
 into fcoria, but the bufinefs is fo to be managed, 
 that there be left remaining one third part at leaft, of 
 thofe three parts of Lead you took, which is not re- 
 duced into fcoria with the Antimony \ then may it 
 be poured out into a Cone, and when 'tis cool, the 
 Regulus is to be knockt off from the fcoria, and 
 Cupellated. 
 
 NB. He that is minded towafh Metals after this 
 manner by the help of Salt-petre, and to reduce them 
 into fcoria, muft have an efpecial care that not a 
 Coal falls into the Crucible, for they will much hurt, 
 and will again precipitate them, which the Salt-petre 
 hath already imbibed, and fo render the operation 
 invalid- Befidcs, it is worth the while to adiiionifh, 
 and tell you that all Arfenick, and Antimony is au- 
 riferous, but yet fo, as that one fort is richer than a- 
 nother, and that abundance of Copper andiron hath 
 likewif^ in it Gold, which no body finds out, nor can 
 it be feparated by that old beaten way of Cupellating 
 it with Lead. But fome, or other might here fay» 
 Where (hall I find Arfenick, Antimony, Copper,and 
 Iron, which have Gold in them ? Had they any thing 
 of worth in them, others would doubtlefly have ex- 
 •trafted it, and not have fufFered it to come to my 
 hands whole and found ? To fatisfie fuch an one, I 
 anfwer thus, tho' thofe that work on the Metals, do 
 for the moft part know, that there is in Arfenick and 
 Antimony, a Volatile Gold, yet know they not howr 
 to extradl itthencefrom with profit,forthefeparating 
 way they take would coft more than the Gold they 
 ftiould have would yield, becaufe (according to their 
 ufual way and cuftom of working j all of it would 
 vanifh away with fume. And this is to be underftood 
 of Arfenick, Auripigment, Cobolt, and Antimony, 
 all which may (by the way we have here mentioned) 
 be tamed and introduced into Copper, and be made 
 permanent and fixt. 
 
 But now, that there fhould foraetimes be Gold im- 
 planted, naturally in Copper, and (hould there alfo 
 be left remaining untoucht, is fo done on this account, 
 becaufe there is not in it fo much as to pay the Cofts 
 of thefeparatingit by Lead (for verily the Cupella- 
 ting it with Lead on a Teft, requires great expences.) 
 This is the reafon why Gold lies immixed in the Cop- 
 per oftentimes, and cannot be thence extra(fled with 
 profit. 
 
 The fame is to be underftood of Iron, for a Vein 
 of Iron doth oftentimes ofixr it felf, which is very 
 much impregnated with the more precious Metals, 
 and yet no body either knows, or obferves it- For 
 the Ore of Iron is for the moft part wont to be for- 
 ced out by unskilful Men who have no care at all of 
 the Gold, but only of fuch an Ore as contains a good 
 portion of good and malleable Iron \ and fuppofe 
 they did certainly know, that there were in loo/. of 
 Iron, fome Lots of Gold, by what means (\ pray) 
 would they extra(ft it thenccfrom ? For Iron cannot 
 be dealt withal by Cupcllation on the Teft, much lefs 
 can it be feparated (as Copper is^ by the means of 
 Lead ; fo that there's no reafon for any one to won- 
 der 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany, 
 
 3^t 
 
 der th.it there ate fo few to be found, that promife 
 themfch'es, or feek after much good out of Iron, fee- 
 ing it is not fo apt a Subject to be feparated, and fub- 
 dued as Copper is- Hiit by the help of Arfenick, 
 Auripigment, or Antimony, 'tis no difiicult matter 
 to tame, and bring it under, fo as to make it yield 
 forth what it has: And 'tis thus. This Iron, which is 
 auriferous, may firit be cemented with Arfenick, as 
 we have afore taught of doing fo with Copper, then 
 is it to be precipitated intoReguUis's by means of An: 
 timony, which Reguli being imbued, or mixed with 
 Lead, and reduced by Salt-pctre into fcoria, and 
 cupellated, the Gold doth at lalt offer it felf (which 
 was hidden in the Minera's, or Ores, and fo defpifed) 
 and that with no contemptible profit- But now if 
 any hath a mind to have the bulinefs yet more perfedl, 
 he may inftead of Lead, add fome Gold, and then 
 reduce the Regulus into fcoria's, by Salt-petre, and 
 abllrad it from the Gold ; for fo the Gold you put 
 thereto doth the better hold that other Gold which it 
 has attrat'^ed ou t of the Regulus. and there is made a 
 much more plentiful encreafe, than if the Regulus had 
 been fcoriricd upon Lead. Nor are the fcoria to be 
 thrown away.but they may be precipitated by throw; 
 ing in live Coals, whereby the Salt-petre doth again 
 let fall the Regulus which it hath fwallowedup. and 
 which Regulus you may feparate from the drofs when 
 'tis cold. This Regulus may be afterwards commo: 
 dioully ufed in other Metalick Operations, that fo it 
 may yield anew out of it felf the Gold i concerning 
 which bufinefs there will a place fall in to fpeak of by 
 and by. And beiides,thofc drolfy Ofrals(which for the 
 grateft part are fixt Salt-petre) are alfo of good 
 worth, which may be referved for the fubfequent Me- 
 tallick Operation, which may be ftiled a perpetual 
 Metallick-working artifice -, fo that there is nothing 
 at all wrafted, but all things are of ufe. And this way 
 of the reparation of Metals is fo very profitable, as 
 that any one may get himfelf fufficient gain for to 
 fupply the necelTitics of Life- But if you have no 
 fanlie to meddle with Arfenick, or Auripigment- and 
 would willingly (Inin them by reafon of their poifon- 
 ous nature, they may even be omitted, and you may 
 cement that auriferous Iron, with the Golden Mar- 
 chafite, melt it with Antimony, and precipitate it 
 into Regulus's. For even by this means too, the 
 Gold that was in the Marchafitc, is brought in ufe, 
 and yields an increafe to that Gold whichiscxtra- 
 fted out of the Iron and Antimony. But if fo be 
 there be no Golden Marchafite to be gotten, that fe- 
 paration may be ordered, even with Iron and Anti- 
 mony, and if the Iron be but auriferous, the Labour 
 will not be without profit. 
 
 This kind of feparation or edudion of Gold out of 
 the volatile Minerals, and bafer Metals will be an 
 egregious aid or benefit to fuch as have learned right- 
 ly to operate in the Fire, and whom (otherwife) a 
 grievous want of things and fmall eftate afBidts -, for 
 there is enough of the aforefaid Minerals, every where 
 obvious, but they cannot be well handled, or wrought 
 upon by reafon of their uniixednefs and immaturity, 
 and therefore do they lie neglefted and as ic were 
 wholly ufelefs, and are not made beneScial to any. 
 1 know that fome do well underftand the way of fixing 
 Cobok, z:k\ Bifmuth by Salt-petre, and do thence get 
 an abundance of Silver i and likewife there are fome 
 } that know how to tame and fubdue Arfenical Realgars 
 ' by the help of Salt-petre, fo that they fuffer them^ 
 • felves to be molten, and yield forth their hidden Gold 
 and Silver, But he that ihall ib manage the bulinefs 
 
 as to adjoin thereto che auriferous imperfe.T; Metals, 
 fuch an one will make a more fuccefsful work thereof ^ 
 efpecially if he gets himfelf fome auriferous Iron, the 
 which he may get for a fmall matter : And bclides, if 
 he makes his Salt-petre himfelf, then all that whole 
 operation of fixing or feparating the volatile Mine- 
 rals would be done with very little colts, and yield 
 much gain. 
 
 NB. But now if any one would yet get more profit 
 by this feparatory operation.then he muft contrive the 
 doing it not in Crucibles or Pots, but in he ^ths(or fur- 
 naces) where a great heap of the volatile Mineral may 
 by fixing Nitre melt together, and be precipitated in- 
 to Regulus : then the Regulus may be feparated from 
 theScoria,and be depuratedby Nitre in other Furna- 
 ces, and be fitted for ufe i and fo by this means may 
 there be fo much gain gotten, the like whereof, the 
 great heaps of Ores which Men are nccelTitated to dig 
 outof the bowels of the Earth with fo much e.xpencc 
 and charges, will fcarce afford. 
 
 Likewife all Minerals may by the help of Salt-petre 
 be fixed by the moift way, fo as to yield permanent 
 Gold and Silver \ whereby (without doubt) full as 
 much, if not more, is obtained, as is by the dry way. 
 The way of operating is this. DifFolve a volatile Mi- 
 neral, be it Cobolt, or Zink, Wifmuth, Calmei» 
 Arfenick, Auripigment,or any other the like mineral, 
 in aitrong Aqu.i-.fortts ; the folution being made, fe- 
 parate the jiqua-fortis again ; then fliall you have re- 
 maining a white Calx, which is fixed by the virtue of 
 the Aciita'fortii : So that now it will admit of being 
 molten with Lead, of being feparated from the Scoria, 
 and of being cupellated. But he that knows how to 
 melt that Calx with Antimony and to precipitate it 
 with auriferous Copper and Iron, gets more Gold 
 than by that operation with Lead. But haply, every 
 one can't perform that feparation ; for the excoftion 
 or melting, the reducftion into Scoria, and Cupellating 
 upon the Teft, are operations more known and eaficir 
 to be done- 
 
 Moreover, there are alfo fome Minerals.which may 
 be fixed with the moift fire, that is, with a moft ftrong 
 Aq.fortis^ fo as to yield their Gold and Silver in the 
 Scoria, but efpecially Tin, Quick-filver, and Lead : 
 If a vehemently- ftrong Atj.fortu be but once abftradl- 
 ed from Tin, it makes it fo fixt, as that it will not fly 
 away in the greateft Fire, but will melt into a white 
 Glafs. But now, if you would have it to yield forth 
 its Gold, you muft melt other Metals with it, intd 
 which the Gold may infinuate it felf,and be made cor« 
 poreal, fuch as arc Silver and Lead. Lead, if it be dif* 
 folved in Aq-fortis^ and precipitated by Urine, it gets 
 fuch a hardnefs, that it will fcarce melt in a Crucible ; 
 if you precipitate it with a Lixivium, it becomes glafly; 
 if with Salt-water, it is rendered exceedingly volatile; 
 for common Salt makes all Metals volatile, and on the 
 other hand, Nitre fixeth them both by the moift and 
 by the dry way, binds them, and conftrains them to a- 
 bide in the Fire ; and this you are to kr.ow aforehand- 
 Now, for the better confirmation of this thing,fee how 
 ealily the common Mercury is made to abide the fire, 
 if ^7./orf<; fhall have been feveral times drawn off 
 therefrom, infomuch that it will fuffer it felf to be 
 made wholly red-hot- But now, if the fame be fubli- 
 med with Spirit of Salt, it becomes more and more 
 volatile, fo amongft all Salts there's not one that fix- 
 eth Minerals, fave this moft noble Nitre, and this hath 
 a natural aptnefs to do it both by the moift and dry 
 way, as hath been even now demonftrated- 
 
 And verily, this way of fixing the imperfeft Metals 
 
 (which 
 
324 
 
 The Second Tart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 (wl'iiclus done by the help of Nitre, by either the 
 moift or dry way) is to be preferred far before that 
 which is done only with a Fire of Wood, not barely 
 on this account, becaufe it is Iboner and fpeedilier per- 
 formed, but for this reafon too, becaufe it fixech bet- 
 ter and more durably : For if any one fliall endeavour 
 to make Arjemcl^^ Cobolt^ or other volatile Minerals, 
 permanent or fixe, by the bare force of common fire, 
 How much time, I pray, muR he allow it? Haply it will 
 require fome months for this kind of Work, if not a 
 whole year^yet at Icaft half a year 'twill need ;, where- 
 as by the po^ans of Nitre it may be done in one or two 
 daies : For if a volatile Mineral be mixed with Nitre, 
 do fulminate, and be edulcorated, and that fulminati- 
 On be repeated 3 or 4 times, it will afterwards endure 
 a fufRciently- vehement melting Fire- Or if a Mineral 
 beonly dillblved in yiij-fort. and that ^^. /o?f. again 
 drawn ofrtherefrom,itwill even by thismeans be ren- 
 dered fi.Mt and conllant in the Fire; fo great is the 
 force and virtue that lies hid in Salt-petre •" And this 
 the ancient Philofophers well knew, and therefore faid 
 that the moft vehement Fire of all was to be ufed to 
 the fixation of volatile Minerals -, and this Fire is hid 
 only in Nitre, and is no where clfe to be found ■., for the 
 Central Fire hath too foon withdrawn it felf from the 
 volatile Alinerals and bafer Metals, and left them un- 
 ripe, and they can be advanced to a maturity,bothby 
 our common Wood-fire, and by the fire of Salt-petre, 
 and be fixed. And now I fuppofe that 1 have more than 
 fufiiciently proved, by what 1 have faid, ThatSaltpe- 
 tre fixeth Minerals and Metals, both by the dry and 
 moift way ; nor can anyone reafonably deny the fame. 
 Moreover, I judge it not fit to pafs this too over in fi- 
 IcncCfViz.. That Salc-petre doth likewife make vola- 
 tile, not only the unripe Minerals, but alfo the fixt Me- 
 tals themfelves ; fo as that they fuffer themfelvcs to be 
 fublimed and deftilled wholly (like common Sulphur or 
 Mercury) fave the fxces, which are fomewhat black- 
 ifh and flay behind. Any underftanding man may 
 eafily confider here what benefit is to be hoped for 
 from fuch a Defoliation of Metals -, for feeing that all 
 things are by defoliation brought to thehighell puri- 
 ty (as is clearly evident^ it may well be concluded, 
 that when in impure metals the pure parts are fepara- 
 ted from the impure, fomething of excellency mufl 
 therefrom proceed. I will fay no more of this matter at 
 prefent>forI have already clearly enoughdemonflrated 
 and plainly enough delivered this kind of deftillation 
 or purification of metals, in the third part of my 
 Spagyr. Pkirmacof. and have there fliewn, that every 
 imperfecl mctal.if it fliall be deflilled, yields volatile 
 Co'd,and that that volatile Gold may be made corpo^ 
 real, without almofl: any Cofl in a particular way,(and 
 haply alfo in auniverfal, which 1 confefs 1 have not 
 as yet proved; thither therefore referr I the ftudious 
 Reader of Herraetick and truly Philolophical Arca- 
 na and Secrets. 
 
 But that the difference of thofe waies of fixing or 
 concentrating the volatile Minerals, and likewife the 
 imperfeiH; Metals, may rightly be perceived and laid 
 open, and that it may appear how much more com- 
 pendious and eafie that way which is done by Nitre is 
 than that which is done with common fire •, it will be 
 a good help to fet down here fome procels for an ex- 
 ample, by which it will be manifefl how laborious this 
 way of doing it barely with Wood is, and contrarily 
 how eafle that way of doing it by the moift Fire of 
 Nitre is. 
 
 It is impoffiblc to fix Arjenkh, Anrifigmem ^Cobalt-, 
 and fuch- like as thefcare without the help of Salt- 
 
 petre, nnlefs they are firft introduced into other me- 
 tallick bodies, and are together with them, burnt with 
 a Fire of Coals, and reduced into Afhes, and turned 
 into Scoria, and wholly deftroyed, and then at lalt 
 reduced again into a metalline form, by the force of 
 the intenfe fire of a Blafl or Bellows : All which, that 
 they may bedextcroufly performed, you mufl proceed 
 on this manner, as foiloweth. 
 
 Firflof all, the Cobolt, Arfenkk^^ or any Realgar 
 like thefe, that is auriferous, is to be introduced into 
 Copper or Iron by cementation, in the way that we 
 have aforementioned ; then the Copper or Iron thus 
 cemented with the Realgars, is to be reduced into fine 
 powder, and to be commixed with Antimony, Cal- 
 mei, or Calaminaris, the Marchafite, and fuch order 
 is to be taken, fif for Gains fake you would do a grea- 
 ter heap of matter; to have them flowly and by little 
 and little made red-hot in Furnaces or Ovens, fuch as 
 in which the llame may have room to play,and as'twere 
 brandifh it felf attopofthe matters, and flir them, 
 and fo let them be calcined and burnt into adies, until 
 they emit no more fume, and this will be in fome few 
 daies i then are they to be reduced in a convenient 
 Furnace, and reflored to their metalline form \ then 
 again mult they be put into the former Oven, and 
 there be calcined and burnt into afhes, {till ftirring 
 them to and fro, and the afhes are to be reduced, by 
 the vehement Blafl of Bellows, and this afhifying and 
 reduction is to be fo long repeated, till there be a Re- 
 gulus found in the redudion, and all the relidue turns 
 into unprofitable Scoria. This Regulus then is to be 
 reduced on a Tefl into Scoria, and the Regulus being 
 cupellated, the Gold and Silver which the volatile Mi- 
 nerals contained in them, doth fhew it felf. 
 
 NB. Altho' this feparation is attended on with in= 
 different labour, yet notwithftanding ('if there be a 
 great quantity of matter dealt inj it is alfo gainful, 
 efpecially where Minerals and Coals are to be had for 
 a fraall price, and alfo the other imperfeft metals (as 
 Lead, Copper, and the likej that concurr in this kind 
 of Operation ; by which it alfo comes to pafs, that 
 there is a greater quantity of Gold and Silver extra- 
 cted- For example, I burn Copper or Iron with Arfe- 
 nick, Cobolt, and other poifonous volatile Resl ;arf,or 
 with bare Calmei only, which alfo avails to con- 
 flringe or bind fall ; with thefe I mix Antimony, 
 Bifmuth, Zink, and Lead, and melt them toge- 
 ther : Hence arifeth a brittle mafs, which is to be 
 reduced into aflies,either in Ovens,as isalready afore- 
 fliewed, with the flame of Wood, which darts it felf 
 at top of that mixt matter, and by heating ripens it, 
 or by live:Coals in a peculiar Furnace, and that on 
 this wife : Let there be built a great or fmall Furnace, 
 fof good Bricks or Tiles that will endure the Fire)ac- 
 cording to the quantity of your matter which you take 
 to prepare, let it be at leafl a foot over in the infide : 
 in the forepart let it be open a foots heighth from the 
 Pavement or Ground, to this end, that the Grate may 
 be put in and taken out, as need is. Then fome 2 or 
 3 foot higher than the Grate, let a door be made, 
 whereby you may throw in the Coals, and above or at 
 top of the Furnace are to be made Chimneys, fitted to 
 receive and condenfe the fume of the metal, that it 
 may not fly into the air, but being there cool'd, may" 
 be taken out. All this being done, fill the Furnace 
 with Coals, and when they are well kindled, caft in a 
 portion of your metalline mixture, which will quickly 
 melt, and being melted, will run through the fiery 
 Coals, and ftill keep fuming, and elevate it felf up into 
 the appointed Chimneys i that which melts dowir 
 
 throL>gfr' 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 525 
 
 through the Coals and Graces, and is in the form of 
 metal under the Furnace, fwhich bottom muft be 
 made fomewhat (lielving, that the metal which falls 
 down may run into a hole or pit, is to be taken up 
 with an Iron Spoon, and again thrown in upon the 
 Coals, and this is to he fo often repeated, and fo long, 
 till all your tvhole mixture be burnt into alhes, or car- 
 ried up in fume, and fo Ihall be afliified and fublimcd 
 in the appointed Tunnels or Chimneys, which Flores 
 or metalline Fumes you muft take and reduce them in 
 a reducing Furnace, fo part of them will pafs into a 
 fufiie Metal, but brittle.This Metal now muft be again 
 afhify'd in that roafting or burning Furnace, and be 
 reduced by blaft of Bellows ; and this alhifying and 
 reduction is to be fo often repeated, till all be feentur: 
 ned into Drofs or Glafs ; which Drofs or Scorias are 
 then to be reduced with the raoft vehement blaft of 
 Bel!o;'«, and fo they will produce a Regulus which is 
 to be cupellated with Lead, as is abovefaid. 
 
 NB. But if fo be that of the laft-made Scoria a 
 Regulus cannot be made by the blaft of the Bellows, 
 and that the Scoria remain Scoria, 'tis a fign that 
 you have taken too much Tin, or that your Fire hath 
 been too intenfe ; and therefore you muft take fuch 
 Scoria, and beat them to powder, and mix them with 
 a little of either the fluid Ore of Lead, or Spume 
 thereof, and make them flow in a reducing Furnace, 
 then the Lead draws the Gold and Silver out of the 
 Scoria,which may afterwards be cupellated. Butascon- 
 cerning the manner ofmakingthe roafting or afhifying 
 Furnace, as likewife the fufing or reducing Furnace, I 
 cannot indeed atprefent heredecipherit,but Iwilldoit 
 in the Third Part following, where more fuch-like 
 concentrations of Metals fllall be mentioned and trea- 
 ted of- And farther, the well-minded Reader muft 
 alfo know, that this kind of Concentration is not at 
 all written for thofe that are as yet wholly ignorant of 
 the Art of melting metals, but for fuch only as have 
 already fweated at the Fire, and have been often and 
 much verfed in fuch Separations or Liquefadions. 
 
 I queftion not, but there will be many that will de- 
 fpife this my way ofop-srating, and count it an im- 
 polfibie thing, fuch are to be left to pleafe themfelves 
 with their own fancies. But withal, fome will be 
 found, to whom the nature of metals is known, and 
 thefe will give credit to what I fay, and will abundant- 
 ly profit themfelves, efpecially in thofe places where 
 Minerals, Coals, and other things requifite are to be 
 had for a fmall price. Thegreateft Expence in this 
 way of Concentration is the Coals, which too cannot 
 be any thing much in thofe places where there are 
 fuch vaft Woods. Every one may have his liberty 
 to try it or let it alone. 
 
 NB- But I do openly affirm, that iffobe any one 
 fhall know how rightly to handle and manage this 
 Work, it may be compared with the perpetual or al- 
 waies-lafting mines ; and where minerals may be had, 
 it will be moft gainful ; but I will not perfwade any to 
 attempt it in thofe Coafts where all things are dear. 
 Nor do] think it amifs to dilTwade them that have no 
 experience in thefe kind of Operations, left upon the 
 ■ ill management of the Operation, the cfTeCl fliould not 
 fucceed fo luckily as they hoped for,and that then they 
 fliould lay the blame upon me. That which 1 have at 
 prefent written, is agreeable to the Truth, and may 
 be fuccefsfully and gainfully performed by an experi- 
 enced Artift or Laborator ■" And therefore as 1 have 
 afore warned, fo do 1 again advife theunexperttoab- 
 ftain from this Work, unlefs he means to lofe his La- 
 bour and Expenres- 
 Such things as I have here omitted for brevities 
 
 fake to fpeak of rbe Cotwtnnation of Mnals^ ih3 
 Third and Fourth Part fhall abundantly dedare ^ but 
 whoever he be that fliall know how to bring to pafs 
 fuch a Concentration, either by the means of Salt-pe- 
 tre, by the dry way of a flame, or the moift way, by 
 the help of ^^. fort, fliall have a better efTedt than he 
 that ufetli the Fire of 'A'ood^ bucon theocher hand, 
 this Fire by Wood is of lefs Coft than the adminiftra- 
 tion of the Work of Sak-pctre is- Alas ! What a 
 deal of cofts and labours have 1 beftowed in my life, 
 in fearching oat and trying thofe, kind of bufinefles, 
 and having now brought it to thfs pifs,as to be able to 
 yield me the Reward of my Pains, I am not able to 
 manage fo vehement a fire, and to order the matters 
 which require fo great an heat .^ Therefore do I now 
 with a willing mind make an offer of thefe my Experi' 
 ments, to thofe who arc of a vigorous age, and have 
 Bodies capable of undergoing the toiling in the Fire. 
 But that I may return to the things afore fpoken of, 
 and that that athifying and redudion may notfeemto 
 the unexperienc'd altogether impoflible and incredi- 
 ble, I will for their fakes bring undeniable Reafons or 
 Arguments, whereby it fliall be fufficiently enough evi- 
 denced, that fuch a cineration or turning into Scoria, 
 hath its foundation in Nature, and that after this 
 manner • Whofoever he be that hath feen or experi- 
 enced fomewhat in metals, knows, that the feparatioQ 
 of the more excellent metals from the more vile, is to 
 be done by ths benefit of the Fire: for iffobe that 
 Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Lcad,Tin, fliould be mel- 
 ted together into one mafs, and you would feparate 
 them by the Fire the one from the other \ this can- 
 not be done any other way, but by adding to that 
 mixture fome other adventitious and deftruftive thing 
 whereby the bafer metals may be diflipated and de- 
 prived of their metallick form,of which fort is common 
 Sulphur and fuch-like ; for this works firft on the im= 
 perfcft metals, deftroys them, or brings them into 
 fcoria and drofs, which when they are fo, and no 
 more metals, they have no communion with metals, 
 nor defire or love to be commixt with them after- 
 wards: and by how much the more fulphureity there 
 is in Metals, fo much the eafier doth common Sulphur 
 deftroy them and turn them into Scoria : But, by how 
 much the nobler the metals fliall be, fo much the lefs 
 detriment doth Sulfhttr bring upon them, and the lefs 
 able is it to difturb for alter) them- But befides,S«/- 
 phnr does not only do this, but even the Fire, and Salt- 
 petre both in the moift and in the dry way. Itisdone 
 withS;(//)/3«r, if the metallick mixture be granulated 
 and burnt therewithal, or that it be defpoiled of the 
 metalline Nature, then muft it be molten and by pre- 
 cipitation be driven or be feparated into divers Regu- 
 lus's. For the Snlphur converts the Af.tfs into Scoria, 
 which when they are molten, that which in them is the 
 moft noble doth always feparate it felf from the ScC" 
 ria, and fettle to the bottom •, then next the moft no- 
 ble part comes other which is excellent, but yetfliort 
 of the former, and fo confequently it defcends from 
 one degree to another, as from Gold to Silver, from 
 Silver to Lead, from this to Copper, from Copper to 
 Iron,erc. as hath been by my formerly defcribed fepa- 
 ratory Art fufficiently enough fhewn. But Nitre per- 
 forms the feparations it makes in a different manner : 
 For after that the metallick A^afs is molten in a Cru- 
 cible, and that this (wz.. Nitre) hath been thereinto 
 put, it doth in the firft place fet upon the fulphureous 
 part, and turns that into Scoria, then the bafer Metal, 
 and thus it does on, fo long till it hath attrafted all the 
 imperfeft Metals to it felf, and reduced them into Sco- 
 ria : and fo the perfed Metals remain alone, pure i 
 Good which' 
 
926 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part h 
 
 which order or governance of Operation 
 en again, extant in my Writings. 
 
 Again, the bare fire is wont to keep another clitte- 
 vcntvvayof deltroying and fcorifying Metals, than 
 Sulphur and Nitre do. . , r »i. 
 
 For if a Metalline mixture be put in the lire, tne 
 more imperfcd part thereof is confumed in the firlt 
 place, and driven into adics, the more excellent part 
 fathers up it fclf into a globular form,and as long asit 
 Imds any confumablething therein,fo longdoes it work 
 and aft thereupon, nor leaves it otf afore it hath re- 
 duced all into alhes. ''But that part which is of a con- 
 ftant and durable nature, remains unhurt by the fire ', 
 but yet if the combuaible part be too much bigger in 
 bulk than the abideing part, it does not only carry 
 away with it the filver, but fometimes alfo a good 
 part of the Gold, and brings it into afiies. And now, 
 ■ if thofe aQies (hall be molten with a ftrong fire, then 
 the aflies which arile out of the imperfcft Metals, are 
 turned into Glafs, or fcoria, but the afhes of the 
 perfeft Metals do reduce, and reflore themfelves into 
 a malleable Body, whether it be Silver or Gold, ac- 
 cording as it had this or that Metalline mixture in it •, 
 and if you proceed yet farther, with melting the a- 
 forefaid Icoria in the fire, there will a new Rcgulus 
 fall out, which contains in it that Metal, which is the 
 nobleft next Gold and Silver, 'i-'iz.- Lead, and Cop- 
 per ; the Tin, and Iron do for the raofl: part abide in 
 the fcoria : Even as it is in Cupcllation, or the re- 
 paration of the Metals by the Cupel, the reparation I 
 is there alfo done, by the bare fire only, and when 
 the fire arts upon the mixture, it reduccth the Lead 
 into Icoria, or fpumc, or Litharge, and while this 
 is reduced thus, it fpares not the Tin, Iron, or Cop- 
 per, fcrafmuch as they are likewife combullible, and 
 of affinity thereto, but turns thefc together alfo into 
 fcoria, which faid fcoria do then creep, or fink in- 
 to that penetrable, and porous Cineritious Veffel, or 
 Teft, as Ions; as any of it remains : But the Gold and 
 Silver v\hichknow not how to be thus burnt up into 
 fcoria or aflies, like the other imperfert Metals are | 
 left depured and cleanfed upon the Cupel : The like 
 alfo, is to be judged of the aforefaid incineration of 
 Volatile Minerals, or imperfect Medals; that is to 
 fay, when they undergo the force of the fire, they 
 cannot but go into fcoria and allies, and if they have 
 ill them fomewhat that is efpecialjy good, and dura- 
 ble, yet the greater part being combullible, has the 
 prevalency \ fo that the more excellent part which is 
 in it, is converted together into afhes and fcoria- 
 Bun yet it may be afterwards reduced, for by the 
 vehement bLIt of Bellows, it feparates it felf from 
 the more bale part, and again alfumes a body Me- 
 talline, whether it be Gold or Silver. 
 
 By this Difcourfe any one that is not wholly void 
 of all Mctallick knowledge may fee, that the Metal- 
 lick Incineration and Redurtion, which we have afore 
 delivered, is built upon a firm foundation : But he 
 that cannot undcrftand or apprehend thefe things, is 
 uncapable of being holpen by any art. But the fol- 
 lowing third and fourth parts will yield a more clear 
 light, or inltruftion. Furthermore you are to ob- 
 Icrve, that there are likewife other ways whereby 
 Metals are reduced into fcoria, and the better and 
 more excellent part is afterwards extraftedout of the 
 fcoria, viz.. by the help of Terreftrial things which 
 are together, fulphureous, of which fort is all Sand, 
 Flint, and the like. If ought of this kind be per- 
 mixtand molten with the metalline Calxes, it retains 
 with it the viler part, and lets go the more excellent -J 
 
 is alfo to as for inflance, there's the Glafs of Lead : For if 
 theafiies of Lead be molten with Sand, or Flints, all 
 the Lead together with the Flints is converted into 
 Glafs, or fcoria, but the Silver or Gold which was 
 
 n the Lead feparates it felf like a Regulus, and de- 
 fcends to the bottom. 
 
 Some kinds of Salts alfo are able to make thofe fco- 
 ria s,wx.. thofe Salts which are extraftcd out of burnt 
 allies, and are commonly called Alkalies, fuch as arc 
 the burnt faeces of Wine, the Tartar of Wine, Pot- 
 ters-alhes made of the afhes of Wood, and other 
 fuch like ; thefe alfo love to diffolve tlie fulphureous 
 parts of metals, and do leave the Gold and Silver 
 that is therein whole and found, and fo make a repa- 
 ration of the good from the evil, and give them a no- 
 table fplendour : Concerning which wafliing, we will 
 treat more fully in the following third part- 
 
 Befidestoo, even common Salt deftroyeth and re- 
 duceth the imperfedl metals into fcoria, but not af« 
 terfuchamanneras Alkalies do by wafliing, but by 
 diflblving and extrading- For if a metallick Calx, 
 or Ore, be powdered and mixt with common Salt, 
 and molten together, the Salt doth more readily fei^e 
 upon the metal, than on the reft of the drollinefs, dif- 
 folves it, and turns it into as it were fcoria. But to 
 illuftrate this thing by an Example, If I would fepa» 
 rate a mineral which hath in it. Iron, Copper, Gold, 
 and Silver, and fliould melt it thus mixt with the 
 Salt, then the Salt would the firft time lay hold on the 
 Iron only, and leave the other metals ; but if fo be 
 there were not fo much Iron, as for the Salt to fatisfy 
 its devouring felf, it would diflblve the Copper too, 
 the Silver and Gold remaining untoucht ; for Salt is a 
 common Enemy to Silver, but a Friend to the Iron 
 and Copper, which it willingly diffolves in the melt- 
 ing, and attrafts to it felf, whether it be each aparC 
 by themfelves, or both jointly together, which if you 
 are minded again to feparate each from the orher,yoa 
 muft powder that molten Mafs, and pour water there- 
 upon, and boil it ; fo the Iron and Copper enters in- 
 to the water, together with the Salt, whereintoifyou 
 afterwards put fome Iron Rods, the Copper precipi- 
 tates it felf, and the Iron abides in the fait water, and 
 is made very fit to ufe in dying like Vitriol ; but if ic 
 will not be coagulated like Vitriol, then the Copper 
 (which hath precipitated it felf about the Iron) is to 
 be wafhtand molten, out of which comes purer Cop* 
 per. But yet fuch a Copper may be converted to bet- 
 ter ufe than to be molten, of which more fliall be 
 fpoken in the third part. 
 
 By this means, may one feparate and bring into ufe 
 thofe Coppery Minerals, which have much Iron ia 
 them, and by which, the Copper is otherwife ren- 
 dered unmalleable and unprofitable : and this is fuch 
 an Evil, as the Metal-workers have hitherto little 
 known what remedy to apply •, whereas in the mean 
 while there lie in many places no contemptible Mines 
 of Copper, negleftedand unmedled withal, becaufe 
 they have Iron coniinixc with them. Some there have 
 been,whohave endeavoured to cxtraftthe Iron by the 
 help of a Load-ftone, but this way is too troublefom, 
 and fo is not profitable ; but it may be aptly and con- 
 veniently done after this manner, did they but know 
 how rightly to ufe here that aforefaid fait water, and 
 the precipitated Copper: For the fait exalteth thel» 
 ron, and the Iron doth again exalt the fait, and ani- 
 mate it, fo as that it may'afterwards with a little la- 
 bour and colts be, all of it, and without any lofs, con- 
 verted into good Salt- pctre. But fome or other may 
 fay, what profit would there redound unto me, if I 
 
 fhould 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of German)^. 
 
 327 
 
 flioold feafon one or two, or more Copper minerals 
 with fait, whereby the Copper may be thence drawn 
 out ? I would havefuch an one to know, that in that 
 Operation, fomc hundreds, or thoufand pounds may 
 be done together, and the bufinefs may be ordered 
 upon fire in diftind Furnaces, that lb a great profit 
 may begotten ; and not only thus, but the fame may 
 likewifc be done without any Furnace or Oven, with 
 many hundred, ortlioufaiid pounds in one Operati- 
 on, at the open Air in the Field, or in a Wood,where 
 that Ore and fait are to be found ; fo that the fait 
 may fervc as a covering to the mineral, and the mi- 
 neral as a covering to the fait, and the Wood may 
 ferve both for the Furnace and fire. 
 
 This now in my judgment is an artificial extradion 
 of Copper out of the Mines, (efpecially when 'tis fuch 
 anOrci which (otherwife) is not of any proSt by rea- 
 fon of the immixt Iron, or elfe confifts of fuch a lean 
 Vein of Copper, as will not fuffice to quit the colts of 
 getting it out, but yet it may by this means b; fepara- 
 tedj with no contemptible profit. For there are 
 every where almoft fuch poor Copper Ore as this 
 which lie and are not dreamt of: For indeed it cannot 
 beexpc(5ted,that, (ifwhcn a Copper Mine (or Ore) 
 doth contain in it fome fmall matter ofCopper,it being 
 fo overwhelmed as 'twere with the muchnefs of hete- 
 rogeneal medliesormixtures, that it cannot precipi^ 
 late it felf into Regulus's but paffeth into Scoria) it 
 fhould aafwer the cofts that are to befpent on the for- 
 cing it out ^ and therefore fuch Minerals mufl of ne- 
 ceflity remain without ufe. And how many fuch kind 
 of Ores have I found in Germany^ which a man may 
 have by heaps, but no body regards them, for that fas 
 we have already faid) they are too barren or poor: 
 Whereas notwithftanding they may be moft eafily per: 
 fedled by the help of Salt, fo as to be made very gain- 
 ful,& the cofts exceedingly well repaid that Ihall be laid 
 out upon them, efpecially in thofe places where there 
 is fuch an abundance of Salt, that the Inhabitants 
 know not what to do with the plenty they have of it. 
 Many fuch places there are in Ge-rmany^ as Tirole^ 
 S.iltz.l>urg^ BtiVA-na^ and the Diocefs that we call 
 Bcrgtef-gad'.n : in which places all the whole moun- 
 tains do not only abound with Salts, but have no fmall 
 portion of Copper too : Nor is it fo in thofe places 
 only,but likcwife every where i Salt is common and of 
 a fmall price throughout all Germany. 
 
 And as we have already fhown you, that Iron and 
 Copper may be commodioufly extraded out of the 
 Oresby melting it with common Salt, and maybe a- 
 gain feparated from each other by precipitation : So 
 likcwife may the fame be done in a raoift way by boi- 
 ling ; and is thus,if the Ore be ground and a long while 
 boiled with very Salt-water, the Copper will be dif- 
 folved and paffeth into the Salt-water, out of which it 
 is to be precipitated, and fo fitted for ufe. But now, 
 if the Saltbediftilled into a Spirit, then is it apt not 
 only to extradt Copper, but alfo Gold out of the Ore, 
 and will be of exceeding much profit : But this ope: 
 ration hath already been long agodefcribed.by me, 
 in the FirftPartof the Mineral Work. 
 
 NB. But it will be yet more profitable and gainful 
 to prepare that water out of the Salts and efpecially 
 cot of Nitre, which water is but of fmall price, and 
 yet notwithftanding it is of that Power and Virtucas 
 to diffolve or extraft all the Metals out of the Ores : 
 and as well the Silver as the Gold and Copper in the 
 folution, may be again precipitated fingularly or each 
 Pfr/f one after another; and this kind of vi-ater may 
 you likewife ufe about all Fofiiles or Ores with a moft 
 wonderful abbreviation- 
 
 But now, if you ufe common Aj^t-fortis, it extracts 
 only the Silver and Copper, and leaves the Gold : 
 and if you take common y^7;.'.i->f^/rf, ic p.tciads only 
 the Gold and Copper, and leaves the Silvery fo that 
 neither ofthefehath(as we ufe ro fav) all the points 
 in it, efpecially feeing fuch a kind of Water fcrves 
 but once only ; nor is there as yet any one found who 
 knows how to feparate the metals in the folution one 
 from another,fo as that the water may ftill remaingooJ 
 and fit for other the like ufes. But as concerning this 
 Waterofmine, thus ftandsthe cafe, w:^. One Metal 
 may be precipitated after another oi>i 'of the Water, 
 and each diftindly, and yet for all this, the Water 
 lofeth not ought of its Virtue, but may be many times 
 ferviceable ; certainly it is a moft profitable inventi= 
 on, which Tin the doing or perfetling fome metals and 
 minerals) is to be preferred many degrees before any 
 melting by Fire. For if that there are feveral Metals 
 ofdiverfekinds,inoneOre; asGold,Silver,Iron,Lead 
 (and this often happens lb) and they fliould be forced 
 out by Fire, they would yet remain mixt together; 
 and there's a great deal of work to feparate them. 
 For firft they are to be cupellated on Tefts with a great 
 deal of Lead,that fo the imperfed Metals,as the Iron, 
 Copper, Tin and Lead if thcrein,may go off; then the 
 Gold is to be feparated alfo apart, or by a particular 
 operation, by the help of a feparating Water, and this 
 is not every bodies work, nor have all fuch as are 
 skill'd in the Art, in all places necelTary provifion at 
 hand. But on the other hand, there needs not in that 
 other kind of way, any thing fave the Water and fome 
 GlalTes, with thefe may you manage and compleat all 
 the whole bufinefs, and get a great deal of gam with- 
 out noife and trouble. For as to fuch a one as betakes 
 himfelf to this kind of work, his Neighbours cannot 
 accufe him,that he will (one time or other) mine their 
 Fortunes and Houfes by Fire,for they hear no blowing 
 of the bellows, nor fee they any Coals carried into his 
 Houfe. Nor will the Sfmtbs fay that 'tis his fault that 
 Coals are fo dear, as 'twas objected to him who called 
 himfelf the little Country fellow. Befides too, he 
 will fhun the fufpicion of the Magiftrates, nor will he 
 give them occafion to fufped him to be a rich blade, 
 and fo torment him with the more grievous exadi- 
 ons and with quartering of Souldiers. 
 
 And now yet more, This kind of extradion does 
 not only appertain to the getting out the Gold and 
 Silver out of the Ores or Minerals and fuch as are vo- 
 latile and crude, and which are every where to be met 
 withal, and may without detriment to any, and with a 
 fafe confcience be fixed and feparated by the help of 
 this Water : But you may alfo by the mediation of this 
 Water, profitably and with very fmall Labour fepa- 
 rate all metallick mixtures, fuch as are mixt at their 
 firft forcing out of the Ores, or are melted into one 
 Mafs on any other account, and fo obtain each Metal 
 pure and free from all heterogeneities- As for ex- 
 ample. Put cafe I have in my hands a certain metal- 
 lick Mafs, which hath in it Gold, Silver, Lead, Tini 
 Iron, and Copper : Now I would willingly feparate 
 the Gold & Silver therefrom : hitherto there hath been 
 no other way known of obtaining it but by cupellating 
 fuch a Mafs or mixture upon the Teft with Lead, and 
 fo depurating it; in which cupellacion, the Copper, 
 Tin,and Iron, do pafs together with the Lead into the 
 Teft, but the Gold and Silver remain behind, which 
 are to be afterwards feparated with A^j^i-z-fortis-, that 
 you may have each by it felf But the Iron, Copper, 
 Lead and Tin do remain intermixt with each other in 
 the Teft, and fhould you again melt them even by the 
 
 ftrongeft 
 
r- 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ftrongeft blaft, yet will they be commixt, and can 
 ^ardly be If pavated the one from the other. But Dy 
 this way of ours if they be diflolved in the water to- 
 gether, you may continually precipitate thence one 
 Metal from anotlier, and take them each apart, and 
 roc only the Gold and the Silvei- by themfelves, but 
 the Copper, Tin, Iron, and Argent-vive (each apart). 
 But it IS notfo neccfliiry Tif in fuch ametallme Mais 
 wherein are contained fo many Metals, the Gold and 
 Silver be but the fmaller part) to dillblve all the other 
 b.-ifer metals together, to get out the Gold arid Silver-, 
 this will not be -rdvifcdly done, but it would be bet- 
 ter, firll; to Durffy that Mafs upon a Teft with Lead, 
 and foto feparate the Gold and Silver by the help of 
 that water, or elfc that Mafs may be burnt with Bnm- 
 ftone, and the Gold be thence precipirated and de- 
 pured. But if the Mafs hath lefs of Iron, Copper, 
 and Tin, than of Gold, there will not be fuch need of 
 purifying the Mafs, by firft burning ic upon a Teft, | 
 and then fcparating ic by Jqua-fortts, as is common- 
 ly known and ufed to be done:, but the whole mi.K- 
 ture muft be diflblved, and the Gold and Silver,which 
 you pleafe, be feparately, or apart precipitated into 
 a clean Calx, then the Copper alfo apart, then the 
 Tin ; but as for the Iron, you may forbear to preci- 
 pitate that, becaufe there are no great matters to be 
 performed with its Calx, and it will be better to draw 
 off the yiq:ia-f,rt:s thencc, whereby it may again be 
 had pure, and fie for ufe- 
 
 Then the Iron which abides behind, if it be made 
 red hot, yields a moft excellent Crocus Martis, and 
 a moft excellent Ingredient for Chirurgeons, for all 
 their Wound=balfams and Exicatory Emplafters^ it is 
 flidick •, it will alfo be ferviceable to Painters to make 
 exquifice colours therewithal, fo that the Iron which 
 is the bafeft Metal in the whole mixture, if it fliall be 
 thus wrought upon and brought into good Crocus 
 Martis, yields the money that was laid out upon the 
 water, and yet this very water, after its abftrafting 
 from the Iron is not lefsfif for ufe,but is better thaa it 
 was before. For in its abftraftion from the Iron, it 
 brought over with ic fome Goldennefs, which Golden 
 property doth afterwaids,in other metallick folutions, 
 aftbciate it fclf to theMetals, is imbodyed, and yields 
 as much Gold asthcprirealmoft (of the water) afore 
 (thusufcd; couldbe judged at. 
 
 So likewife there's no need of reducing the Calx of 
 Venus into Copper, but it is twice more precious than 
 other good common Copper, becaufe it can in a few 
 hours fpace be changed into excellent Verdigreafe,and 
 fo is 4 or 6 times the value of Copper it felf. _ Fur- 
 ther, it is not needful to melt down the precipitated 
 Calx of Silver without any farther profit, but 'tis bet- 
 ter to me!', ic by the means of the liquor of Sulphur or 
 Antimony, for by this operation will ic become auri- 
 ferous, and be meliorated. Finally, you are not 
 tound to melt even the Calx of Sol, without any 
 profit in melting, but you may even thereoutof draw 
 fome pro'it, for if ic be amalgamated with the Mer- 
 cury of ^ or J it becomes more augmented from 
 the'^ ar.d 7' •, or clfeit may be ufed by the Gold- 
 fmiihs to Gild wich:il, and by Painters, if its bright- 
 nefs and fplendour be firll reltored unto it, for fo it 
 may be ufed about painting or writing- So then, from 
 this operation doth refult a manifold benefit, and both 
 the Iron and Copper, as alfo the Gold and Silver are 
 rendered better, and more precious than they would 
 have otherwife been, if they had been feparated each 
 from the other after the common manner, by the fire. 
 Thcrcfoicj there is not only a g,reat benefit gotten 
 
 in that way of operating, in thus extrading Gold and 
 Silver out of their Ores, and out of the Crude Mine- 
 rals, and in this fo compendious a feparation of a 
 Mafs (or mixture j of Metals ; but alfo, that fepara- 
 tion brings more profit than the commonly ufed and 
 perceived way of feparating Gold and Silver by A' 
 qiia-fortis doth, in which way the Mafs is to be firft 
 burnt to purity, and all the heterogeneities are to be 
 taken away upon a Teft ; then the Silver is to bedif- 
 folved in Jqua-fonis^ and to be feparated from the 
 Gold ; this done, then the the diffolved Silver is to 
 I be precipitated either by Copper, or by putting wa- 
 ter thereunto, or elfe the water is to be thencefrom 
 diftilled ^ from whence, there is not only to be ex- 
 pefted no greater profit than what is had (or gotten^ 
 out of the Gold feparated from the Silver, but with- 
 al even half the water is loft. But now here (in my 
 way) the greateftpartof the Jcjna-fortis is preferved, 
 and is indeed meliorated Tif there were Tin or Iron 
 in the Mafs)the very bareCrocus Martis only yield* as 
 much as the water coft,& the Flos iEris is mcer gains ; 
 the Calx of Silver is by a folution of Antimony en- 
 riched with Gold, the Golden Calx is augmented by 
 Saturn, and Luna, fo that the gain is fourfold, be- 
 iidcs that Gold which is gotten by feparation out of 
 the Silver ; and now may not 1 juftly call this an Ar- 
 tificial extradion or feparation of the Metals, by the 
 moift way ; but now, like as this is a very notably pros 
 Stable way of extrafting theMetals out of theOres or 
 Minerals,& of artificially feparating tbemby the moift 
 way ; fo likewife may the fame be done in the dry 
 way by fufion^ if (viz..) the Minerals are diffolved 
 by Antimony or Lead, & one of the Metals after ano- 
 ther fhall be thencefrom precipitated ; fo that it is not 
 fo altogether noceffary to cupellate fuch a Mafs, and 
 by the feparatory water (or Jqna-fortis to feparate 
 that, which (by that burning on the Teft) ftiall have 
 been throughly purged ; But if all the Metals (hall be 
 molten together into one Mafs, there may (firft) be 
 precipitated the Gold, then the Silver, then alfo the 
 Copper, and by the help of Nitre be rendred pure and 
 malleable i and this too may be done without much 
 labour or cofts-, fo that as well by the moift, as alfo by 
 the dry waY,all the Metals may be very commodioudy 
 and compendioufly, and in fhort time feparated the 
 one from the other by the benefit of Salt-petre. Sup- 
 pofe I have a Mafs that has Gold, Silver, or Copper 
 and Iron in it, and I would have it fuddenly depured ; 
 therefore I may only burn it with Sulphur, and by 
 the help of Saturn precipitate one Metal from ano-- 
 ther, and purifie the Regulus, by Nitre, and fuch a 
 Mafs though it were loo pound weight could I fepa= 
 rated with the eafy labour of one day,& for 3 or ^Do!* 
 Urs cofts i but as for fuch an one as hath no ufe for 
 folution & precipitation, or hath not convenient melt= 
 ing Pots and Furnaces, he may granulate fuch a Mafs, 
 and thence precipitate the Gold, Silver, and Copper, 
 each apart, and draw off the water from his Mars ; 
 then the Mars yields him the price of the water ; the 
 Calx of Venus yields the reward of his pains and la- 
 bour, and the augmentation or melioration which 
 happens to the Calx of Sol and Luna in the reduction 
 is clear gain ; fo that the Gold and Silver are, as it 
 were gratis, and without any expence feparated from 
 each other, and that both by the dry way and by the 
 moift way ; for the Silver is equally as well gradua- 
 ted and made auriferous in the dry way, by the fufion 
 or melting in the operating, or by the transfufing (or 
 through melting) with the Antimony •, fo then good 
 Gold may by this way be precipitated out of any Silver 
 
 which' 
 
I^art I. 
 
 the Pro/perity of Germany. 
 
 529 
 
 jDOtaureous, provided the bufinefs be but dexteroufly 
 managed. 
 
 In the firft part of this Book, (where I treated of 
 the concentration of wood J I wrote, that a Juice 
 might be prelfed, by a peculiar Prefs, out of any 
 wood, which afterwards might be turned into good 
 Salt-petre by the benefit of the Air and time : I like- 
 wife there added feme reafons, whereby it might be 
 evinced, that it was poflible for Art to perform fuch 
 things, which are no other but the Rewards Nature 
 lier felf yields, and that the Salt-petrc which is wont 
 to be every where digged out of the Stalls, or Sta- 
 bles of Cattle, is nothing elfe but theeQential fait of 
 Vegetables, and Animals, which isin a long tracfl of 
 time, and by the hidden virtue of the Air, turned 
 into Salt-petrc. 
 
 But now if any one fhould haply perfwade himfclf, 
 that if he expofeth that Juice of the Woods to the 
 Air for fome Days, or Weeks, that it will prefently 
 become Salt petre, certainly he would be much be- 
 fideshisaim, neither indeed is it lawful to prefcribe 
 Nature the time of her Operation. 
 
 Does not a Husbandman deferve to be called Afs, 
 or Blockhead, if fome few days after he hath fown his 
 Corn, hefliould go into his Field to fee if his Corn 
 were ripe or not ? Juft thus are you to conceive of 
 this work, for in all things mufl: you cxpeift the due 
 time, in the Generation both of Animals, Minerals, 
 and Vegetables, fochat there is not the leaft need of 
 any farther proof of this matter: For every Gene- 
 ration requireth its own proper time. 
 
 But,that very many haply have wearied themfelves 
 with imagining about that kind of Prefs, which I 
 have mentioned in the firfl part of the Profperity of 
 GcrniMiy, and yet have not found it, is not to be much 
 wondred at. However it is alTuredly true, that fuch 
 a Prefs may very eafily be prepared, by which you 
 may daily prefs a great quantity of Juice out of 
 Wood, be it believed or not believed- But fee- 
 ing that fuch a Prefs hath been feen with me, and hath 
 been beheld prepared, and wood fqueezed out there- 
 withal, and fet to ripen in the Air, fure it cannot be 
 long ere the truth will manifelt it felf and publickly 
 vindicate it felf from all its flanderers. 
 
 1 fay again, that fuch a Prefs is found by me, and 
 that it is an artificial one, and is of lefs colts than will 
 be eafily believed. Nay more, every day brings forth 
 new and better Compendiums, fo that there will not 
 hereafter be any ufe or need for the Prefs, to fqueeze 
 thewoodout by : but every Vegetable and Animal, 
 may without labour and trouble be in a fhort time, and 
 without the prefs, tranfmuted into good Salt-petre, fo 
 that many hundredweight of Salt-petre may be ge- 
 nerated, or produced (by the labour of only one 
 perfon) out of the bare Wood, Leaves, and Grafs, 
 (where they may commodioufly be had) and yet 'tis 
 not the perfon aforefaid, but the air that caufeth this 
 Generation : for the perfon doth no more but expofe 
 to the air the fubjeil matter, upon which it may ope- 
 rate, and out of which it may bring forth Salt-petre. 
 I But there is nothing vvhich I admiremoreat, then, 
 Rl that this prefent' Age is fo fluggifh and averfe from 
 '!' fearching after the fecrets of Nature. Whereas, 
 were but the Properties only of that ftupendious, or 
 wonderful fubjedt Salt-petre, well known, there might 
 well be a forbearance of reading many Chimical 
 Books feeing that by it alone may many wonderful 
 things be performed. I have a little afore fhown, how 
 both a moift and dry extradion of Gold and Silver,& 
 the other metals is to be done by Salt-petre ; and if 
 Nitre were of no other ufe but this only, yet were it 
 well worthy to be beloved and elleemed by all, and 
 they (liould as much as in them lies labour not only to 
 produce it in plenty out of vile things, but withal to 
 
 know how to make ufe of the fame with profit. 
 
 But whereas I have not fo very openly and clearly 
 defcribed, or publilhcd the precipitation which is 
 done as well by the moid, as by the dry way of the 
 excraftion and feparation of metals-, \ would not that 
 any one fliould take it in evil part^ for there are ex- 
 ceeding weighty reafons, that make me fear to pro- 
 ftitute fuch excellent Inventions, or to chew meat (as 
 it werej and thruftit into every Alfcs mouth. Let 
 it fuflice, that I have (liewed, that fuch things arc pof- 
 fible. But yet the Art lies not fofigcd in my brealt, 
 nor is it my mindto fufferit to lie buried with meiNo, 
 God hath bleded metherewithal meerly for this end, 
 that 1 might help and fuccour others, to the perform- 
 ance of which, I am moll ready and willing ; but yet 
 not every one without anyexception, but fuch as are 
 ingenious Lovers of the Wonders of God, and- know 
 how decently to ufe all things,leafl; 1 beingtoo impro- 
 vidcntly liberal, fhould put new Weapons into the 
 hands of mine enemies. 
 
 I could have buricd-over thefe things in filence, and 
 haply been at more quiet, but it was no ways polTible 
 for me to fupprefs the wonderful Works of God, fo 
 as to withhold them from coming abroad to light, 
 and to the view of Men, to the Honour of God. And 
 whenfoever it fo comes to pafs, that the things deli- 
 vered at prefent in this fecond part, and which (hall 
 be delivered in the following third and fourth parts, 
 fhall be believed, and be brought to effcft and be 
 done : then all the crew of Slanderers and Enemies of 
 the truth fliall be confounded with fliame, before the 
 whole World, and that Genuine Alchymy, fliall a- 
 gain be embraced, and honourably flourifh : For Salt- 
 petre mull be the Mailer, as Paracclfns faith, in a cer- 
 tain Chapter where he treats of common fait, and 
 mentions Salt-petre with a commendable Teftimony. 
 Nor hath Bafil f^akntine done a lefs faithful Work as 
 to his Nitre \ but few there are that underlland it. 
 
 I am not of the mind to boaft of the knowledge of 
 many things, but yet thus much I find, that there is 
 not in all nature any fubjecft given that may in good 
 deed be compared with Nitre, as to eminency or ex- 
 lency \ much lefs deferves to be preferred before it. 
 Let not the Lover of this Art be difquieted in his 
 mind, fo long as there are two parts to follow, and 
 come forth : For then men will fee, and be even ens 
 forced to confefs thefe things which afore they did 
 not believe. And upon this fcore do I fliorten this 
 part, that I may the fooner come to the third and 
 fourth parts: In which parts (God willing) theie 
 fliall bedifclofed many mofl highly profitable inven- 
 tions for the benefit of mankind, but yet they fliall 
 be veiled, afterthat fame way and manner, as others 
 afore me haveufed to do, that fo Pearls may not be 
 call afore Swine. 
 
 But th-Jt I may return to my purpofe, and fliew 
 that what I have faid is true, and that great things 
 maybe done (as to the melioration of Metals J by the 
 help of Salt-petre, it will be necclfary, that thofe 
 things which we have already written in this fecond 
 p'lrt be made a little more clear, and may be vifibly 
 dcmonftrated to the unskilful and incredulous, in 
 what it is, that this profit we at prefent fpeakof, is ' 
 feated. 
 
 And fird, as concerning the Generation of Salt-pe-. 
 tre, there hath been enough faid already, viz.. That 
 it may be prepared by heaps outofotherwife-unpro- 
 fitable Wood, Shrubs, Briars, &€. which rather en-, 
 damage the Ground, than do any good, becaufethey. 
 become a refuge for cruel Beafl:s, which fuflrainthem-' 
 felvcs upon the great ruining of the other Wild 
 ones : Nor needs this work any greater cofl:s than to. 
 caufe a HoiJfe to be built in the Woods, nnder which 
 the wood, together with the circulatory Vefiel, ma'/,, 
 
 P p p p Hand 
 
590 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part !. 
 
 fland dry •, and belldes too, one man is fufficiently a= i 
 ble to manage the whole bullnefs, nor is there any 
 thine elfe required but thofe unprofitable underwoods, 
 or Biiars 0-<^- or if you liave not fuch, then, the 
 Leaves that the wind blows ofF from the 1 rees. 
 And if alfo you add feme Salt thereunto, even it 
 xvillbe likewife turned by the help of the wood into 
 Sait-petre, and hereby will arife a greater profit : 
 Neither is there any neceflity of takingtheSalt weule 
 to feafon our meat withal. But yet if you can have 
 it in plentiful qua^nity (as may be in many places ot 
 Gcrwaoj, -where ft much abounds) it will be well, but 
 if it be not to be fo calily had, the wood it fell will 
 n^akc Salt-petre enough ; nor needs there any other 
 
 thin^, but to beginthe work, and let Nature alone to 
 
 perfed it, and to produce the Sait-petre. But far- 
 ther, asOcT;«.?«ydotlf never want Itoreof wood, io 
 
 wants it not fait, for there are whole Mountains of 
 
 fak, which to exhaulf, isa thing impollible ; efpeci- 
 
 ally in theTerriiories of the Arch biQiop ofSJiz^imr^, 
 
 in the Eiedor of -S'«^rf?-«'!'s Country, the Diocefs of . ■ n . 
 
 Berchts.^adcm% we call it, which places, befides their Wood and Coals do (in a longtime) perform ; the 
 
 abounding with Salt,' do aUo abound with Itore of very fame doth luch a water etlea in a' few. hours 
 
 Wood. Have I not realbn to believe that great Trea- ! fpace 
 
 and Silver are only as it were, a little flicking, and 
 will not be thence had by any artof melting)and that 
 with profit loo well worth the Labour. So that there 
 isfcarce required 6 or 7 Lothsof water to extraft the 
 Gold and Silver out of 100/. of Ore ; and if there 
 were but 2, 3, or 4 Lots of Silver at the moil:,in 100/. 
 of fuch matter, yet would it be a gainful extraaion, 
 efpecially if the things, or fubjeft, be Arfenical, or 
 as yetVolatile>and cannot brook the intenfencfs of the 
 fire, but are driven away by a ftrong blall. l:or m that 
 cxtra6lio>i hythsw.itir, that nhivh u volatile, isfixed^ 
 and retained together, that it afterwards admits of be- 
 ing fufed, or molten, and that this is fo, will evident- 
 ly appear to any, experimentally. Let him but take 
 Arfenick, and diUblve it in Aqua-fortis, and again 
 draw off the water, and he will be able piefently to 
 melt the Arfenick, and make it red hot. Qiiicklilver 
 , is well known to be a very Volatile matter, but yet 
 ] even that, (if the water of Salt-petre be feveral times 
 ', drawn off thencefrom) is made fo fixt as to ftand and 
 abide wholly in a moft intenfe fire- For, that which 
 
 fures and Riches may be hence reaped- Salt they have 
 at their Feet, and v alt Dtfarts at hand, which are 
 of noufe : O improvident Mankind ! What account 
 fhall we give that lb behave our lelves in our Steward- 
 Jliip- Would it not be much more praife-worthy to 
 have dravv^n forth thofe Treafures, to the Honour of 
 God, and not to have fuffered them to have remained 
 without being ufcd, and unmanaged ; what is the 
 greatnefs of the charge rcquifite to the carrying on 
 this Work that detcrrs them-^ What expence 1 pray is 
 it, feeing that a little (liead may eafily be built in the 
 Woods? Andbelldes, where great Woods, and ma- 
 ny Trees are, there are alfo found Minerals both ripe 
 and unripe, and the ripe may be forced out by Wood, 
 or Coals, the unripe may be fixed, or ripened by the 
 help of Salt- petre, and the Gold and Silver alfo may 
 be afterwards thence feparated by the Salt-petre- 
 
 And now I pray, would not the Country be en- 
 riched hereby with vaib Treafures, and ftore of 
 Wealth ? But put the woril, if every Country did 
 not abound with itore of Wood, yet hath it a great 
 deal of fuperfiuous Grafs and llubble, and this yields 
 as good Salt- petre as the Wood does. And if in cafe 
 every Country, or Seignory had not Minerals of their 
 own, which might be ripened by Salt-petre, and from 
 whence Gold and Silver might be drawn, yet never- 
 thelefs may they be had out of the bordering Provin-- 
 ces. Nay more, if fo be the already excofted Me- 
 tals lliould be advanced to a maturity by the means of 
 Salt-petre, yet would not even this kind of work be 
 without an acceptable gain, and it would be better 
 for us fo to do, than to hang them up at the Walls in 
 our Houfes, for Ornament, and Pride's fake. If an 
 Enemy comes one Ounce of Gold, is better than a 
 Thoufind pounds of Tin, or Copper, which the 
 owner thereof mult neceffarily be conltraincd to leave 
 behind him, whereas he could carry away the Gold 
 with him ; which kind of concentration we (liall treat 
 of in the following third part: and in th^fourth part 
 fliall be taught, by what means even Gold and Silver 
 may be concentrated, that fo it may lie hidden from 
 the Enemy, and be tranfported (under another kind 
 
 But fome or other may oppofe or queltion thus -, 
 How can it poffibly be, tliat if thofe matters be fo ve- 
 ry poor, 8 or 10 pound of water fhould be fufficient to 
 extracft the Gold & Silver which is contained in them ; 
 for it feems as if 8 or 10 pounds of water were hard- 
 ly enough to moiften 100 /. of Ore or Minera, but 
 would be loft amongfl; fuch a deal of Stuff •• Let fuch 
 an one know, that what I have written is poffible and 
 true ; I can prove it and demonftrate it even to the 
 fight i but as concerning the adminiftration of thac 
 Work, 'tis not fit it fiiould be made too common. 
 
 And verily, in this fticks the main difficulty,'h;re is 
 the Art and Skill ; 'cis not for every one to acquit 
 himfelf here, and if that the gold and filver were ex- 
 traded by means of this Water, yet even then the 
 chiefeft of the Artistoknow how to precipitate the 
 pure Gold and Silver thencefrom, and incorporate it, 
 which knack I juftly referve for my Friendb, -, for ve- 
 rily, this is fuch an Art, as by the benefit of it alone I 
 Ihall renew ancient friendfbip withmany,and moreo- 
 ver purchafe me more new friends : And therefore 
 let no body be angry at me, or count it amifs, that I 
 would not publickly difclofe fo excellent an Invention, 
 and put new Weapwns into mine Enemies hands to 
 hurt me withal. \^l his is taught in the following pans.'] 
 And if I fhould do fo much as clearly to mention eve« 
 ry thing, yet neverthelefs fliould 1 incurr the enmity 
 of many men, as much as if 1 never had done it ; and 
 befides too, it cannot pofiibly be, that all things fliould 
 befo nakedly and plainly decyphercd to the unskilful, 
 as that they fhould prefently be able to do every thing. 
 If they once make trial, and cannot do the bufinefs 
 that they aimed at in their minds,then they curfe him 
 that writ, and beftow many a bitter wifli on him, as if 
 he had been too obfcure in expreffing himfelf, and fo 
 they defpifethat which is otherwife laudable- 
 
 But if fo be that the poffibility of a thing is only de- 
 nionftrated, and no Receipt added, then they will not 
 undertake any fruftraneous Labours, nor will have 
 caufe of curfing any. But fome or other may here en= 
 quire, Where Ihall I find fuch a fort of Minerals and 
 Fonilcs,out of which I may extiatt Gold and Silver? 
 
 of form or Qiape) into fuch places, where it may be \ If any fuch had been to have been touud,they would not 
 
 free from the Enemies ClutLhes, 
 
 And farther, that water which wefpeakof, ferves 
 not only to excrad Gold and Silver out of the Ores, 
 orMinera's, (which otherwife, could not be drawn 
 forth by any excodting or forcing) but alfo for the 
 taming, and bringing to ufe that which is in huge 
 Stoncsl Flints, and the bafer Foffiles (in which,Gold 
 
 have lain idle & waited for my coming -, others would 
 have taken them away long ago, and converted them 
 to their own ufes- I think it expedient to demand as 
 wellof fuch a one, who thofe others fliould be, that 
 fiiould have taken them away before thee ? If then 
 Experience be as little as thine, and thine no greaiei 
 than is theirs^ there's no danger of your fore-prevent- 
 ing 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 ing or deceiving one another, feeing you are all alike 
 ignorant of the thing. 
 
 '"Thinli'ft thou that the number ofthofc that are 
 experienc'd in Metals is fo large ? 'Tisconfeft, there 
 are enough Excoftcrs or Metal:Scparators,but yet they 
 inuft f.r force leave that un^ouch'd which they cannot 
 lind out, feeing they know no other way of ordering 
 their Aff*airs, but the old Road- Ic oftentimes hap- 
 pens, that there is more Gold driven away into the air 
 by thcfe Excotters, than is left behind in the fire, and 
 yet forfooth that Crew arrogate to thcmfelves abun: 
 dance of knowledge, and pcrfwadc themfelvcs, that 
 they ftand not in any need of any ones advice Nor 
 indeed do 1 invite them to any new Studies and Ope- 
 rations i let all fuch as lift, ufe the fame way of ex- 
 codling or feparation that they have learned ■, but if 
 there be among them thofe that are not afliamed to 
 learn better, fuch may be cnunfelled. My purpofc at. 
 prefent is, to do fome acceptable Service to thofe that 
 have no Mine pits, and who cannot feparate Minerals 
 or Ore in grofs, as I may fay, and yet would be very 
 glad to enjoy in private fome little fmall gleanings as 
 'twere of the bits or fmall pieces that the ExcocT:ers 
 leave, whereby they may get fufficient gain for the 
 commodious fuftaining of Life- Thefe are they whom 
 I havearaindto affifti the Richer fort have enough 
 already to fill or fatiate thcmfelves withal ; nor need 
 they any information of mine -^ as for the Poorithere's 
 no regard had to them. 1 he whole Artifice therefore 
 confifteth in the extracting (when there's but a very 
 little Water ufed) and then in theprecipitationof the 
 Metals, fo that the Water may remain good, and fit 
 for other ufes. There's plenty enough of poor Mi- 
 nerals and FolTiles even every where, and which no 
 bod 5^ regards and knows. It would not be amifs to 
 look upon or confider of all Flints , Rocks , and 
 Stones you meet with, and confider what property 
 they are of. 
 
 Concerning this I have written in the Firft Part of 
 the MhicralU^otl^^ viz- How by the Spirit of Salt 
 Gold may be extrafted out of a Flint : But as hither^ 
 to, few there are that have fet about that Work,part= 
 ly becaufe they could not prepare the fpiric of Salt, 
 and partly becaufe they knew not how to precipitate 
 from it the extradled Gold, nor knew how to melt 
 the extra(!l:ed Calx of S:/ with Antimony ; all which 
 I muft needs confefs, is not for every one to perform. 
 But now this Extradion which is made by the Water 
 of Salt-petre, doth extra(5t the Silver too, which be- 
 ing thence precipitated,the water remains as virtuous 
 as afore ; and indeed, if a comparifon be made 'twixt 
 this and that Extraction, there is as much difference 
 as is between black and white, and between the day 
 and night ; therefore 1 fay that this is a thing worth 
 the learning, for it may be of exceeding much profit 
 in times of afBidtion. Greatly is that pledge to be e- 
 fteemed of, H^/j/c»(as theold Proverb is j redetmsits 
 Lord. Art is no burthen to a man to carry, but it 
 rather carries or bears up a Man, eafeth him, and 
 makes him be of a cheerful mind, becaufe it is a thing 
 on which we may fafely trull. It is more precious 
 than Gold and Gems, which may be loft, but this a- 
 bides firm and conftant even to the Grave, and doth 
 abundantly enrich its mafter. 
 
 This Extraction doth likcwife ferve for the draw- 
 ing forth Gold out of Silver, tho' it be not gilt,which 
 to do is not in every ones power, tho' many know that 
 Silver hath Gold in it.yet if it be notof fo much value 
 as to quit the Cofts that are neceflarily to be expen- 
 ded upon it, it is left as it is-, and now there is no 
 where fepnrated Gold out of Silver, unlefs it be gilt, 
 and they fee it flicking thereupon. Any other filver 
 whatfoever, how much gold foever it poirelfeth,is not 
 fepar ated > when as though , foinccitr.es there might be 
 
 33^ 
 
 made more gain thencefrom. But I muft needs confefs, 
 that the feparation of the Gold from the Silver, the 
 ufual and known way is conjoined with abundance of 
 labour, and not worth the cofts fpent about making 
 the feparation, unlefs, haply, the filver partakes much 
 of the Gold : Whereas on the contrary, this my way 
 of feparating is done with light labour and fmall cofts', 
 and therefore may be ufed about all filver whatfoever, 
 though it has in it never fo little Gold. 
 
 But that the bufinefs may be yet more clear, and the 
 better perceived, it will be ufcful to add this informati-- 
 on. When you would feparate the Co\(l fron the Sil- 
 ver by Aqua-fortis, it muft firft be purified with Lead, 
 by burnnig it upon a Teft, now in this work there's 
 the Tcft,Fire,the fufficient portion of Lead,the labour 
 and time fpent hereon to be confidered, and when all 
 this is done, then the Lead has entred, together with 
 the Copper that was in the Silver, into the Teft, and 
 may be efteemed of but as a thing juft kept from 
 being loft. Befides too,the Copper carries away with 
 it,a good part of the filver into the Teft. And altho' 
 that by a moft vehement blaft of Bellows the Teft may 
 be molten,and part oftheLead,Copper,and Silver re^ 
 covered,yet the expeuces neceflarily requifite to this 0= 
 peration,are more than the regain'd Metals are worth, 
 fo that thefe cofts, charges,and troubles are too great. 
 Then finally, when all this is done, and that the filver 
 fiiall have been depurcd by burning,then it muft after 
 all this, be granulated, and this is fome charge, and 
 then when all this is done, it may be feparated by A- 
 qua fortis, and being feparated, be again molten in- 
 to a Mafs. 
 
 _ Now my way of working is freed from all thefe 
 kind of linked labours,and fo much trouble and lofs 
 of expences and time may be avoided ; for when I 
 take on me to feparate any Silver, whether it has 
 much or little Gold, I cut it into bits about the length 
 and bredth of my Finger, fo as that 1 but put it into 
 my feparatory Veffel ^ then I make it gently or by de- 
 grees red hot, to the end that the defilements 
 may be the better wafht off,and the feparatory water 
 may the better work upon it. Then pour I in the wa- 
 ter, and fufler the Gold , Silver and Copper 
 to be diiTolvcd ; then (after this) do I precipitate the 
 Gold, then the Silver, then the Copper ; all which 
 operations, from the beginning to the end, are done 
 in three or four hours fpace, nor requires it any ex- 
 pencc fave only the water, and a little fire, to keep 
 the water warm, that it may the more ftrongly work 
 upon and difiblve the Silver ; the Metals thus fepara- 
 ted from each other and edulcorated, may be melted t 
 and now from thence may any one fee, how much 
 difference there is betwixt ours and the common fepa- 
 ration of metal, by the moift way •, and if there be 
 any one that would ufe this way of mine, of fepara- 
 tion, he would doubtlefsly get much gain and riches, 
 neither could any one endammage him by way of pre- 
 vention, and he would get himfelf an exceeding pro- 
 fit wherefoever he be, not only out of guilt Silver.buc 
 alfo out of any other ^ for there is not a City fo fmall, 
 but it hath aSilverfmith, who buys up the old Silver, 
 and feparates it his own Way, which is very laborious 
 and coftly, and therefore he would the willinglier give 
 his Silver to another to feparate, whereby himfelf 
 might be fpared the labour and coft, were there but 
 any one that would offer him his help thereabouts. 
 
 And feeing that all Copper holds Gold hidden in it, 
 and that that Copper is not any impediment in this my 
 way of feparation, but is refolved together with the 
 Silver, therefore doth it always bring fome increafe 
 to the Gold and confequently more gain ; but the la- 
 bour will be yet more gainful if it be prepared with a 
 feparatory water, which hath other Golden fpecicsor 
 ! things added thereto inthe making, and which render 
 
 the 
 
552 
 
 The Second Fart of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 ^be water auteous, fuch as are Lapis Calaminaris, 
 Zink, the Minerals for Ores) of Iron and Copper jfor 
 hereby is made a water that is in it felf auriferous, and 
 which doth readily (in the feparation)joTn its volatile 
 Gold to the Silver, and fufler its felf to be incorpo- 
 rated i in fo much that even fuch Silver as hath alrea- 
 dy been fcparated and purged, will yield Gold enough 
 in the feparation, if it be dillblved with fuch a fepa- 
 ratory water, which hath been impregnated by gra- 
 duating things. ' 
 
 And even as this fame extraiflion which is done in 
 the moilt vvay,bv the water of Salt-petre is exceeding- 
 ly eminent and c' much ufc, as being fufficienttofup- 
 ply many thoufandsof men with food and neceffaries 
 for life, fo as that they need not at all to be compelled 
 to deceive or damnify one another^ fo likewife,no lefs 
 excellent is the extradlion, which is done by the dry 
 way i if, viT,. the Volatile Antimonial Mineras, or 
 Ores (whether they contain in them Gold, or Silver, 
 or Copper, Ironior Tin, and what metals Ibever they 
 cont;jin in them) be molten with twice, thrice, or four 
 times as much Antimony in a Crucible, and be (by 
 the means of lron)precipitatcd into Regulus's ■■, for by 
 thi< work, what good foever there was in the Ores, 
 and even the Metals themfelves,may be obtained each 
 apart : for when the Antimouy hath extrafted the 
 Gold out of the Minerals, the Gold may then be firft 
 precipitated, then the Silver, laftly the Copper •, and 
 all of them with a very fmall cofl and little labour, in- 
 fomuch, that in one days time many pounds of Gold 
 and Silver may be drawn by this art out of the Mine- 
 ra's : and this too by a little fire. For the Antimony 
 penetrates the mineral like water, and dilfolves what 
 is good in it •, and as for that which is of an earthy 
 nature it calls off from it felf, and brings it intofco- 
 ria- But it brings the Metal to a Metalline form in the 
 precipitation, which mull then be cupellated, or pu- 
 rified by the help of Salt-petre- And if haply you 
 cannot get Antimony for this work, than common 
 Brim (lone may ferve in its (lead, and it will perform 
 the fame thing, if the Minera be ground and mixt 
 therewith, and be molten in a covered PotorCruci- 
 ble, and be precipitated by Iron, for fo the Metals 
 falls down in a Regulus, and the Sulphur abides be- 
 hind in the fcoria. But this kind of work requires a 
 skilful Artifl or Melter, who hath already been long 
 and much verfed in precipitations •, for elfc he will be 
 intangled therein, and not find the willi'd for fuccefs. 
 
 N B. This is to be underftood of that kind of Mi- 
 nerals and Fofliles which partake of ^>'tt?no?7y, Arje- 
 riick,t Co[joU-,A/archaJite or Sulphur, being fuch as ./inti- 
 mony and Sulfhitr love to feize upon and diffolve in the 
 melting: fuch Minerals or Ores as have fand and 
 ftones among them,ihcy (viz.. A>''timo>iy ovSit'fhitrJ\Ni\] 
 have nothing to do with them-, of this kind are Gra- 
 nates, Talk, and fuch like : fo neither, doth the water 
 of Salt petre in the moill way eutend its virtue to all 
 the Minerals, nor extracts itGold and Silver out of all 
 of them •, butefpecially it arts not atall on them which 
 are very fulphureous,unlcrs they are firll Torrifiedor 
 Calcii.cd as'tvvere,and fo freed from the Sulphur^ then 
 at Jength the water pcrfdrm* its office eife not. Nor 
 doth the water ail upon Granates or other Minerals 
 and Fofliles which are (as to the outward appearance) 
 fmooth and as it wereglajfy. And therefore all fuch 
 mult firft of neccHity be mafter'd by an incenfefire, 
 and fubducu. 
 
 There are likewife to be found fome Minerals and 
 Foinies which fufTer not what they have in them to be 
 introduced into either Lead or Antimony,or to bellow 
 tlieir Treafare upon them; nor will they be forced 
 out nor cupellated, but both are and remain fcoria, and ' 
 do retain that formof glafs which they afore had;Un- 
 lefs haply yon make them Hoop, and mafterthem by 
 
 moll ftrong blafl •, for by this means they fufTer 
 their Gold and Silver to be wrellcd from them •• But 
 they may be mallered too, if you thereto add in the 
 fufing fome Potters-afhes, or fait of the Lees of Wine> 
 or Alhes made of Wood, and melt them together, for 
 fo by this means alfo will they be obedient to thee -, for 
 falts dillblve in flux all ftony Minerals, and fuch as re- 
 femble glafs and fcoria, which otherwife no other fire 
 is able to do. But to make any more accurate dcfcri- 
 ption of that thing, appertains not to this place, but 
 to the following Third Part of this Book ; that which 
 we have here minded, is only to make light touches as 
 'twere about fliewing the variety of FolTiIes and Mine- 
 rals", and that, if haply any one fliould light on fuch 
 a Mineral, out ofwhich he cannot extracfl the metal, 
 neither by the help of Antimony, nor by the water of 
 Salt-petre, he Ihould not think it void of every thing 
 or that he has not dexteroufly and conveniently e- 
 nough handled the fame, but may know, that the on- 
 ly caufe is, the property of the Mineral it felf. 
 
 And now, even as the Sulphureous minerals do 
 cheifly admit of being feparated by Antimony admix- 
 ed in the melting, and thofe that are ftony, not fo v 
 even fo the water of Salt-petre doth more willingly 
 extraift the ftony Minerals, than the fulphureou ones ; 
 but yet, if the fulphur be taken from them by Torre- 
 faftion, it is able to diffolve even thefe too. 
 
 But it chiefly loves thofe that have Stria, and arc 
 a fpotted (Quartjig) fandy, poor kind of Minera: 
 which (otherwife) you cannot extrad commodioufly 
 neither by Fufion or by Mercury : But that you may ne- 
 ver be deceived here, it will be altogether expedient to 
 be acquainted with both ways, both with this which is 
 done by flux,& with that moift way which is done with 
 Water ; both ways are good, and exceedingly pro- 
 fitable in the feparation of the Minerals or Ores ; and 
 that not only of fuch as may be every where had, but 
 likewife of metalline mixtures: whether it be by 
 melting them together, or elfe by fome fad raifchance 
 of your Houfes being burnt ; or finally, if it proceed 
 fromthence, that Gold and Silver do lie hidden un- 
 known in copper. Tin, Iron, or Lead ; now they may 
 with eafe be feparated from each other by both thofe 
 aforefaid ways, and on fuch wife as that nothing may 
 be loft. 
 
 The ancients knew not how to extraft the Gold and 
 Silver out of Copper as the modern Refiners are wont 
 to do, but took them together as they lay and fo ap- 
 plied them to any ufes whether to make Bells or great 
 Guns. Neither was the feparation by ^cjna-fortis fo 
 much in ufe in thofe days as in ours : Nay more, if in 
 a Mark of Silver there was no lefs than the quantity 
 of a Ducket of Gold, yet notwithftanding they did 
 not feparate it, but did make it up into money as it 
 was, as the old Coins do fufficiently teftify. For it is 
 evidentthat all Silver almoft, partakes of Gold, and 
 ancients being unexercifed and not well verled in the 
 Art of feparation,all the Silver though never fo aurife- 
 rous was Coined into Money, or put to other ufes ^ but 
 their fucceflburs fmelt out what they had done, and 
 therefore bought up all fuch Money,and feparated it,& 
 madethereof an exceeding gain: fothat there is not 
 in our age fo much as a Dollar, Schrenckbergick, 
 Grofs, Crucifer, even to the fmalleft half Penny, 
 of Gold Coin to be had throughout all Germany^ 
 all being changed and bought up and wiped off the 
 Gold. But yet there is Silver enough left, both made 
 into money, and wrought up by the GoU-fmtths, a 
 Mark whereof contains, f or q: of a Ducket of Gold j 
 and therefore feeing the common way of feparati- 
 on by AcjHa-fortis cannot be of ufe here, becaufe the 
 cofts are too great, and the little portion of the Gold 
 will not countervail the fame; it may be done this 
 wav, and feparated by either the moift, or by the 
 
 dry 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germa'-y. 
 
 595 
 
 dry way, and that with profit, though there fhould be lefs 
 than jth part of a Ducket in a Mai k of Silver. And befides, 
 Bells ever have much Silver in them, neither was it fepa- 
 rated therefrom by the ancients (as we have faid afore): 
 and likewife old Tin hath a great deal of Gold and Silver 
 in it, which was of old wont to be molten and wrought up 
 with theCopper into Bells or great Guns. Many there are 
 that well know, that there is Gold and Silver in thefe 
 things, but how to cxtraft them thence, they know not : 
 For Copper admits not of being cupellated (or purified^ 
 by Lead,mDch lefs of being feparated,& yet more difficult 
 is ittodoitby AqH.i-fortis. But yet, it may be efFeded 
 and that with a great deal of profit by the way which we 
 havefiiewn, both the moift and dry too. And therefore 
 he that Ihall be well skill'd in thefe operations, doing it ei- 
 ther by melting with Antimony, or by the Water, will 
 get abundance of profit out of your old and broken pieces 
 of Bells : Nay fhould he buy them whole, yet would he 
 get no fmall matter, for he may extrad their Gold and 
 Silver, and then melt them anew- For there is not barely 
 in Bells that portion of Gold & Silver which the Copper 
 and Tin had naturally in them,and of which the Bells are 
 made -, but alfo, it was the cuftom of the ancients, (when 
 a new Bell was molten or founded,) to call fome God-fa- 
 thers orWitnefTes (according to their ancient cuftom) 
 who named the Bells afore they were baptized : And like 
 as it is even at this day the ufual cuftom every where 
 throughout Chriftendom in the' baptizing of Infants for 
 the God-fathers to give their God-child fome Money for 
 Plate) as a remembrance ; fo the ancients did do in the 
 baptizing of their Bells, as they were flowing in the Fur- 
 nace they caft thereinto Gold and Silver, to teftify their 
 afFedion to Holy ufes, and alfo that the Bells might fufe 
 the better, and yield a clearer found. Upon this account I 
 fay, that 'tis no fmall gain that may be gotten out of old 
 Bells, feeing there never is a Bell which is deftitute of 
 Cold and Silver. 
 
 • And now the well-mindedReader fees what ufe this ex- 
 tradlion and precipitation of Gold & Silver which is done 
 either in the moift or in the dry way, is of-, and that not 
 only in Minerals and Fofliles, but likewife in metalline 
 mixtures too, out of which there can nothing be obtained 
 by any other way. 
 
 Who 1 pray will not now magnifieor highly efteem of 
 Salt-petre,and take care about having it prepared in great 
 plenty, and fo convert it to his profit, feeing it is clearly 
 raanifeft that fo much good may be done with it both in 
 Metalline Affairs and Medicine ? I do what I am able, I of- 
 fer my felf to all good Men : I f they will not liften to me, 
 1 am not to be blamed but am void of fault. Man's Life is 
 too fhort, than for one Man to be able to defcribe all the 
 things that may be done by the help of Salt-petre ; nei- 
 ther indeed is it to be wifhed that many fhould know it. 
 
 But feeing 1 but now treated of the precipitation of Me- 
 tals and Minerals, I think it worth while,to fhew the caufe 
 of that precipitation, that fo the ftudlous of Art may have 
 a more certain foundation of this thing. That which is to 
 be feparatcd, muft of neceffity be a bound up or faft knit 
 body,for elfe it would not need any feparation -, therefore 
 forafmuch as one Metal knits up,or inclofeth another,they 
 cannot be feparated from one another ,but by the breaking 
 or deftrudlion of the bonds which they are tied withal, and 
 knit each within another •, this deftrudlion now, is to be 
 done by the Fire, both inthe moift and likewife in the dry 
 way. Ccpper,Tin,lron,and Lead, may in the dry way be 
 feparated from Gold and Silver,if they are Cupellated to- 
 gether on aTeft: For then the fuperfluous or burning 5«.'- 
 jp'jw-jin the imperfeiH: Metals, adls upon it felf and reduceth 
 its own proper Body or Metal into Scoria, and feeingthat 
 there is a great part of Lead therein,thofe Scoria are flux- 
 ile, and it doth by little &little(asrauchof it asgoes into 
 fcof ia) infinuate it lelf or Aide into the porous Tefts or 
 Hearths- But ihe Gold and Silver which have no fuperflu- 
 ou«S«/ffc«x-, do remain unhurt upon the Teft, waiht and 
 clean:& do now (hew them felves in their clarity & bright- 
 
 nefs; This is the feparation of the good from the bad, or 
 the combuftiblc from the incombnftible, which is done by 
 the force of Fire only,and foleiy: by which,the imperfeft 
 Metals are by the help of Lead converted into brittle fco- 
 ria,and fo creep into the Tefts, and feparate theml^lves 
 from the perfc^T; Bodies; and this is a very eafic 
 work, and well enough known to every body, and is by the 
 Refiners called Cupellation. But now in this feparation, 
 there's only a feparation made of the imperfeft Metals 
 from the perfc(fl,but the Gold and Silver remain mixt to- 
 gether,and if you would have each apart too, then 'tis rte- 
 ceflary that theonebediflblr^id and feparatcd from the 
 other by a moft ftrong Aqua- fonts. But if the portion of 
 the Silver be more than the Gold, then the Silver is diP- 
 folvcd by a common Aqua-fortismzdt of Salt-petre and 
 Vitriol, and fo the Gold will fall to the bottom : and this 
 way of feparation is well enough known and ufed by all the 
 Refiners and Goldfmiths; but if there be more Gold than 
 there is Silver, then do they difTolve the Gold by Aquar 
 regia^and fo the Silver remains undilTolv'd :, nor is the 
 Aqiu-regia any thing elfe but a ftrong water of Salt-petre, 
 in which iomt Sal-armoniackis difTolved^ for the common 
 or fimple water of Salt-petre doth difTolve the Silver on- 
 ly and leaves the Gold ; and contrariwifethey^^w-^-rc^/.* 
 difTolves the Gold only, and meddles not with the Silver ; 
 but if they know not the right way of ordering the Aqaa- 
 regtay they are wont to add to the Gold in the melting fo 
 much Silver as may make up three times the weight that 
 there is of the Gold, and fo they feparate it by Aqua- 
 fortis^ which (kind of operation^ we call (We ^uart|)» 
 
 There is yet another way of feparation,which is known 
 unto them.and this is done by Cementation,if(W;c.)divers 
 Metals are commixt together,and they are mixt with Vi^ 
 trio], Salt, and Tiles, Stratum fu^er ftr at um^ and fo kepc 
 together a while for fome due lime in a continual fircithen 
 the Salt and Vitriol do affume to themfelves the imperfect 
 Metals,and leave the moft perfeft,that is the Gold, alone. 
 Cementing doth alfo attraft Silver and Iron, Copper and 
 Lead ; but this kind of feparation is only ufed to im- 
 pure Gold, perfedly to purifie It. 
 
 There is yet another way of feparation, which is done 
 by Antimony,and is likewife only ufed to Gold,tocleanfe 
 it from its impurity and vitiofity- There is alfo another 
 way of feparatingby fufion, in which,ifyou would have a 
 metalline mixture which hath Gold,Silver, Copper, Iron, 
 Tin,and Lead in it,to be feparated into its feveral kinds* 
 then the mixture muft be granulated and burnt with Sul- 
 phur, and being burnt,it muft be melted in a Pot, arid fo 
 by precipitating it either with Lead or Iron, one Metal 
 muft be feparated orderly from another ; which way is 
 wont to be ufed (as far as I know j but by few, becaufe 
 they are not fo underftanding in Nature, nor know any 
 caufe why one Metal feparates it felf from another,fooner 
 and more readily out of the mafs or metalline mixture, 
 and fettles to the bottom. 
 
 But that the ingenious Lover of' Art may have fome di- 
 redory, as 'twere, and fome occafion to confider with 
 himfe'f more deeply,and may have a willingnefs to under- 
 take fo excellent and profitable an Arc, 1 have a mind to 
 difcover the caufe of the precipitation. It is fufSciently 
 evident, that hke rejoiceth with /%,and that there's a dif- 
 agreement 'twixt unlike things.Oil loves to be mixt with 
 Oil,& Water is willingly united withWacetjbut not at all 
 with Oil, left by a medium intervening.Hence it is,that for 
 afmuch as oneMetal is of a different nature from another, 
 thatfuchas arealike, love each other, and fuch as be un* 
 like do abhor and fhun each other ■, and therefore when 
 there are divers Metals in one mafs,and that you would fe* 
 parate them, it is necellary that you do it by adding fuch 
 a thing as is of affinity to the more imperfed part, and is 
 at Enmity with the perfeder part- Asfor exarapSulphur 
 is a friend to all the Metals, fave Gold, and that it hates y 
 b.it yet it loves (even in the imperfetl; Metals) one better 
 than another : for by how much the more like they ar0 
 thereunto,and the more imperfert,fo much the mors rea-» 
 Q.q q q dily 
 
The Second Pan of 
 
 Part I, 
 
 dily is it a friend or enemy thereto. And therefore when 
 the Sulphur (hall have been put into the mafs in the com- 
 buftion, then the men: noble parts flie off",and do their beft 
 to free themfelves from the fellowlliip of the imperfed 
 and unclean metals •, but yet they cannot rid themfelves 
 without fome aiTiftancc •, and therefore if fome fulphure- 
 ous or imperfeftMetal (hall be put to the fulphureous mafs, 
 then the fulphur laies hold upon it, and lets go the more 
 perfed: part, tho* not fo pure as yet,but it needs a greater 
 purification j concerning which there may be read more 
 at large in the Explication o( my M'racnltmMttndi.Thh 
 work is called Preiipttatio»y when the more perfedt part 
 is precipitated and feparated from the more vile,and that 
 out of one and the fame mixture- The fame reafonis 
 there in the precipitation made in the moifl: way,if (wJc.) 
 yoweMetals,or all together,be didolved in the vyater,one 
 is thence precipitated after another orderly- Firft.That 
 which is the moft noble and moft perfcft, then the 2 & 3, 
 and fo regularly, untilthey are all precipitated- This is 
 that mO(t excellent and hitherto wholly unknown, and 
 molt gallant Invention wherewith 1 hope to become 
 ferviceable to my Friends. 
 
 He that wellunderftands this precipitation,will gain 
 much,but if he only meddles with thisoperation in a care-- 
 lefs manner, and meerly cuftomary as 'twere, and fo not 
 know the reafon it felf, why fuch, or fuch a thing is, he 
 may worthily be compared to an Afs that carrys a fack, 
 but knows not what is therein contained,nor whither he Is 
 to carry it. Therefore t will yet farther add a more clear 
 information. Iron' precipitates Copper out of both the 
 dry and moift folution •, Copper precipitates filver both 
 in the moift and dry folution : Mercury doth chiefly pre- 
 cipitate Gold, and altho' Copper, Iron, Tin,and Lead,do 
 alfo precipitate Gold and Silver, yet each Metal hath its 
 own peculiar precipitation, and farther note, that Pre- 
 cipitations done with Salts do exceed thofe done with the 
 Metals, for by them may all the Metals be precipitated j 
 and this hath even hitherto been kept fecret- 
 
 And befides,oire Metal does not only precipitate ano- 
 ther, but doth likewife change or alter it. As for examp- 
 If I put the Plates of Copper in a folution of Silver, then 
 (whether the folution or operation be done cither in the 
 moift way or in the dry way)the filver precipitates it felf 
 by means of the Copper. And if 1 but know how to ma- 
 nage that bufinefs krtowingly and skilfully, the Silver will 
 alfo graduate fome of the Copper into Silver in the pre- 
 cipitation, and there will be gained more filver than was 
 put in the folution. In like manner, if 1 precipitate Cop; 
 per with Iron, out of a foliitfon of Copper, then doth the 
 Copper precipitate it felf by reafon of the Iron, but 
 withal,fome part of the Iron doth exalt it felf in the pre- 
 cipitation into Copper; and feeing that thiskind of ope- 
 ration is confirmed by often Experience,there is none can 
 fafcly queftion it- But I do not fay, that in fuch a grada- 
 tion all the Iron is turned into Copper, or all the Copper 
 inro Silver; nor did I ever try it ; but yet I readily be- 
 lieve, that it is a thing polTible to be done by reiterated 
 workings. Mercury precipitates Gold moft willingly, 
 but only in the moift way, for in the dry way it cannot 
 fubfift ■, but to precipitate it in that way. Iron ferves ex» 
 ccllcntly well •, Copper alfo and Lead are profitably ufe= 
 tul hereabout alfo, but yet Iron is better. 
 
 Ti;ere is a fingular precipitation of Silver with Mercu-- 
 ry, which I will here mention. TheChymifts fome hun- 
 dreds of years ago, made Silver out of Cifinabar, but 
 without any benefit or profit; neither did their filver they 
 gotcome from the Mercury, but from that filver which 
 they added to theCinnabar-They took commonCinnabar, 
 made of Quick-fiiver and Brimftone, and brake it into 
 fmall bits, about the bignefs of the Nail of ones Finger, 
 and madeLayc?, or Siratmnptper /r^fww, thereof, with 
 filings ofpure Silver, then they luted up all well, and kept 
 it in a moderate heat for 20, 30, or 40 hours, and by this 
 way they found that their Cinnabar, which at firft was 
 ted, was made black ; this matter they cupellated with 
 
 Lead upon a Teft, and fo got as much Silver as was the 
 weight of the Mercury in the Cinnabar. 
 
 NB. As much filver as they got,fo much wanted there 
 of the filver they put unto it, and fo there was no Gain 
 made from hence ; and they fuppofedfbut fallly)that the 
 Quickfilver extra(fted the foul out of the filver put there= 
 unto, and that therefore the faid filver was rendered vo- 
 latile. Nor indeed is it contrary to Reafon, that Argem- 
 'vive (hould extract the foul from Silver,! thereby convert 
 it felf into filver ; and that on the other hand,this exani« 
 mated filver be made wholly volatile,if it benot animated 
 anew by other Metals ; and this is what fome have done 
 and attained to, by the help of Lead. 
 
 But the Operation which I treat of at prefent is rather 
 an attradlion or precipitation of filver by Mercury, and 
 this precipitation is to be done in the moift way, and is 
 moft wondrous eafie j nor is it without Encreafe or Gain, 
 provided you are willing to wait its time, and 'tis thus. 
 
 If one part of purer filver be dilTolved in A^. fonis^sud 
 in the folution two parts of Rain-water be added to one 
 Part of j4q, fords, and there be likewife thrown in three 
 or four parts of Quick-Mercury, and all this be left fome 
 daies or weeks in a cold place, unmoved, then the filver 
 precipitates it felf out of the Water to the Mercury, and 
 the Mercury dilTolves it felf into the Water, and both to- 
 gether yield a wonderful reprefentation of growing 
 things, like Mountains and Vallies, and certainly is of a 
 moft pleafant afped. The refult of which is this, v»c. 
 if they ftand fo a long time and fliall be afterwards edul- 
 corated and reduced by Lead,then the Silver gets no fmall 
 encreafe from the Mercury : But yet there's no gain to 
 be thence had unlefs thofe out growings for reprefentati- 
 onsof fine things j befufFered to operate and germinate 
 above a Year : And this, few operators will yield to do> 
 and to be withheld fo long a time from the fruits of their 
 Labours. Now the reafon of this operation is thus: 
 The Aq»a-fortisi% a moift and cold Fire, and ripens as 
 well as the dry and hot Fire, but he need be a skillful Ar- 
 tift that fets upon this Work. 
 
 It is evident that fome of the ancient Philofophers ma- 
 turated theirllniverfalMcdicine by a moift fire,as you may 
 fee in Artefhms and others. Other fome Philofophers ex- 
 tracted a certain fecret water,or univerfal Menftruum and 
 dilfolventout of the NitrousSea,and did thereby perform 
 moft notable thingSjbut they always kept it fecret, and the 
 defcriptionthcy have made thereof,hath been obfcured.or 
 painted over with RiddIes,or dark exprc(fions,when they 
 fay, that ij draws his fecret water out of the Sea, of as 
 clear brightnefs as the Moon : which way of drawing it 
 belongs not to this placeto fiiew : only thus much is hinted, 
 that out of Nitre may be drawn an Univerfal Menftruum, 
 which is more excellent than the Corrofive Spirit of Ni- 
 tre, which faid Spirit doth indeed difiblve all things, but 
 after the manner ofcorrofiveSjWhereas this which h draw* 
 and is of the clear brightnefs of the Moon,h3th nothing of 
 Corrofivity in it, butismild and fweet, and wets not the 
 hands,or tingeth them,as that Corrofive doth j and altho' 
 fuch a water be Volatile,and not fixt,yet is it of fuch a na- 
 ture as to conftringe, and fix other fugitive, and unfixc 
 things- 'Tis a thing moft worthy of admiration to confi- 
 der how thofe Natures have a mutual love each to the 0- 
 ther,and embrace one another, and are converted the one 
 into the other- And thus much may fufRce to have been 
 fpoken concerning the precipitation of the Metals outof 
 both the dry, and moill folutions- 
 
 Let no body feek to fifli ought more out of me by their 
 Letters; but as for fuch as formerly have been my friends, 
 and even now are, or (hall hereafter bc,to thefe I will not 
 deny any thing, always provided, that nothing be done a- 
 gainft a ^tcor«w(as they ufe tofay)or a difcreet behaviour- 
 But now if any one thinks that (if he comes flying from 
 the Eaft or Weft)I muft prefently lay afide all my bufinefs, 
 and only attend upon doing and anfwering what he de- 
 mands : No, that's a thing my Affairs won't permit me to 
 do, for I have foraewhat elfe to manage- And therefore 
 
 would 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 would Iforewarn fuch an one,that he enters not on fuch a 
 Journey afore he be certain whether or no it ftands with 
 my convenience or not. For this hath many a time already 
 happened unto me,w'z.. for fomc one to come with a defire 
 of knowing this or that fecret, who Twhen I would have 
 told it him, but that I had no time then to accommodate 
 him) hath gone away ftomaching at me, and began to re- 
 proach me publickly afore allMen,as if 1 were fome inhu- 
 manCjOr merciIefsfellow,and would not fatisfy his requeft. 
 Some alfo there have been, who out ofthe meer malice of 
 their mind have divulged,that Imy felf have nothing, fee: 
 ing they can get nothing from me ; there are many fuch 
 perverfe kind of men to be found, who make no Confci-- 
 ence of enervating, or fucking out the very Marrow of 
 the Bones of others, fo as they may be but benefited there- 
 by themfelves;which verily is agreatevil and inhumanity. 
 How often have fuch kind of men come unto me, whom, 
 (when they have fpoken with their kind words unto me, 
 and alfo carry the garb, and outfide fhow of very honeft 
 Men, and promifed all decent thankfulnefs) I have fatis- 
 fy'd, and yet have afterwards fled off from, and broken 
 their Faith : Therefore it is the befl way for him who has 
 any fingular thing, to bury it over in filence, and fo he 
 need not fear of being drained by others, that know how 
 (by the perfwafive flattering Art j to get out his skill, 
 and give no thanks afterwards for the fame- 
 
 If I had not already began to defcribe the Profpcrity of 
 Cerw.i/;)',certainly I would not now begin •■, but forafmuch 
 as I have taken upon me to finilh what I have begun, I will 
 Hand to my promife, and will in like manner fliortly pub- 
 lidi Tif God Ihail fee it good^ the third and fourth part. 
 
 And feeing that in both the following parts,the meliora: 
 tion, or concentration of the Metals, is chiefly to be done 
 by the help of Salt-petre, 1 was willing more amply to 
 confirm in this fecond part, that which I wrote in the 
 firft part of the Generation of Salt-petre. Andldoagain 
 and again averr with the greateft alFeveration, that fuch 
 a generation of Salt-petre out of wood is very true, and is 
 founded on Nature her felf 
 
 Now muft I proceed a little onwards, and withal de- 
 monftrate to the fimple, that the putrefactory Stomack, 
 in which the wood is digefted and putrefied, and which 
 tranfmuteth all wood,and refolves likewife all Leaves and 
 Grafs in a (hort time, tranfmutcs and reduceth it into 
 Dung, is as the ftomack of Animals is, and this may be 
 done in a moft vaft Quantity, as hath been proved in the 
 firll part of the Profpentyof Germany •, and this no Mortal 
 Man can ever refute, viz. that the efl^ential fait, or fait of 
 Nature,is no other thing but Salt-petre, but is not as yet 
 burning,or flaming up,until it be animated by the air,and 
 conceivea life thencefrom,the eflential fait of Vegetables, 
 barely fuch, is not fo, "viz.- Salt-petre, as hath been fuffici- 
 entlymanifefted. 
 
 Now whatfoever gives fertility and power of growth, 
 is Nitrous ; if therefore there lay hid no Nitre in Mine- 
 rals^as in ftones, why would the Gardiners carry flackt 
 Lime into their Ficlds,andufe it inftead of Dung to dung 
 their Fields withal ? Whence doth the Salt-petre come 
 . that grows on upon old Walls, if not from the Lime? 
 I What is thereafon that the Salt-petre men do feek after 
 I old ruined walls, to make Salt-petre thereout of, were no- 
 thing in them ? I verily believe that this is an indubitable 
 Argument, that there is Salt-petre hidden in all things : 
 For the fait ofthe World, or the Univerfal Eflential fait, 
 is nothing elfe but Salt-petre, when it hath after a due 
 f| time attracted a life out of the air, to which end my fecret 
 circulatoryinftrument was invented, that fuch an anima- 
 tion might be the more conveniently brought to pafs. 
 
 Nor do the other kinds of falts, -viz.. Sal-Gem, the fait 
 made out ofthe natural fait fountains,or fea-falt, likewife 
 all falts which are made out of the Lees of Wood afhes,or 
 of Lirae,alfo Alume and VitrioUall thefe are not fo widely 
 ditferent from falt-pctrc, but they may eafily be tranfmu- 
 ted,and converted into falt-petre by the animation of the 
 air,by the help of my circulatory veflei ; but for the better 
 perception ofthe operation, I will fubjoiu this Example. 
 
 i?5 
 
 Diflbl vc as much Sal-Gem, fea fait, or fait made out of 
 the fait fountains,orcommon fait which is frequently ufed 
 in boiling of meats,or fait made of Wood alhes,or ofthe 
 ftones of Calx- vive, in Aq. fort's, as much as the water 
 will affume to its felf, or be able to diflblve, and let it a- 
 gain cool ; then the fait does not concrete or flioot granu- 
 larly,any more but into iongifhCones like falt-petrc.Pour 
 otFthe Aq.fortis,or Salt-petre water, and diifolve it, viz.. 
 the fait, again in a Li.xivium of Lime, and criftallize it, fo 
 Hiallyou have therefrom a Natural, or Genuine Salt-pe- 
 trc,and no lefs combuftible than any other Salt-petre that 
 is digged out of the ftables where Cattle have ftood. 
 Then again may there be, by the faid Salt-petre water, 
 more fait prepared, either common fait, or fait out of 
 Herbs,or Wood, and bedillblvedandcryftallized, from 
 whence refults a new falt-petre, and this operation 
 may be fo long repeated,until all the falt-petre water be 
 turned together with the fait, into falt-petre- 
 
 Thistranfmutationof falt-petre is perfected in fome 
 hours, and from hence may a worthy reward for your 
 pains be reaped, could it be otherwife performed than in 
 Glaffes ; andindeed,out of one pound ot falt-petre, would 
 there come an hundred pounds of petre, if a part of the 
 tranfmuted fait be ftill diftilled anew into water, and more 
 new fait be by it again tranfmuted. But there is no fuch 
 need of fetting about a work fo laborious, feeing there is 
 at hand a far fpeedier, or more dexterous way of doing 
 the fame, i^viz.. thofe falts fliall be animated by the air, 
 by the circulation that I have contrived, and fo be turned 
 into falt-petre in great quantity : which animation, or 
 hatching as 'twere,may be done in valt quantity by eaCe 
 labour, and little cofts, the air fasweufe to fayj turning 
 or making both fides of the Leaf: For one portion con- 
 tinually kindles and animates another, no otherwife thart 
 as a little Leaven doth a greatMafs of Dough,and as a lit- 
 tle Foeces, or Yeaft, yea, as little as will lie in a Spoon, 
 ferves to ferment a whole VelTel of Ale ; the fame is 
 done here. And indeed, common falt-petre may be im« 
 planted into other falts, even as a Vegetable Seed is fowri 
 in the Earth, fo as thence to get in a fliort fpace of time 
 a great encreafe, even an hundred, or a thoufand-fold. 
 
 But the fluggifh Companions who had rather fatten 
 themfelves with eating'drinking, and lleeping,and wholly 
 give themfelves to lazinefs, who is able to wait fo long in 
 the expecffetion of this thing ? Alafsforye, yefloathful, 
 lazy, and devouring Gluttons,with what face dare ye fo 
 manifeftly to betray your lazinels ? 1 pray, if you put out 
 your Money to Ufe,and have 5 or 6 fer C.as we ufe to fay, 
 a Year, muft you not expeft the years revolution afore ye 
 receive it ? And befides, you run here a hazard too, leaft 
 your Debtor breaks, and defraud you ofthe very Princi= 
 pal itfelf : If you lay out your Moneys on building Hou- 
 fes, fo to make a great gain thereby, may not your Te- 
 nant be reduced to fuch wants as not to have wherewithal 
 to pay you, unlefs haply, out ofthe very Stubble, or Lit- 
 ter of his poverty ? May not your Ships which float about 
 in the Sea, be caft away by Storms and Tempefts, or be 
 taken by Pirates ? Why arc ye not as Patient in your ex» 
 peftation as the Husbandman is, nho after he hath fown 
 his Grain, muft wait a whole year afoie he reaps with 
 advantage what he hath fown- Nay, yet more, if he be 
 pretty fortunate, he fcarce gains 6 in the iso, the cofts 
 and pains being reckoned ; and in the mean time he is irt 
 fear, left the Corn fhould be blited by the cold, or being 
 near ripe, fhould by a bad feafon be fpoiled and corrupted 
 in the field. If there happens a year that is droughty ,then 
 the Corn cannot grow up high, or 'tis eaten by ths Mice -, 
 but now in the preparation of Sdlt- petre all thofe Cares 
 arefaved,and 100 Dollars may yearly yield thee 2, 3,4, 
 or more gains, and that without any wronging thy Cou- 
 fcience, and without endamaging any other, and without 
 Extortion ; for if thou haft much Salt-pecre, thou maift 
 promife thy felf much gold and filver alfo, for there will 
 alwaies be fuch as buy it up ; and if thou attentively hee- 
 deft,thou haft fo much delivered thee in my Writings, as 
 
 that 
 
53 
 
 6 
 
 The Second Part of, &c. 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 that thou thy felt maift fpend it aU on the melioration and 
 feparation ot Metals : Nor needcftthou, if thou thinkeit 
 it good, fell any of the fame.Nor is there any reafon that 
 thou fhould be alhair/d or repent of iuch a \Vork,becaule 
 one man is fufficient, without any others help, to manage 
 the jM-eateft operation : nor need there great expence.lave 
 ouly'a little to build afmall Cottage,wherein the Salt-pe- 
 tre may be kept dry. If you have huge Woods at hand, 
 you may make your Salt-petre out of wood ; if you want 
 wood, then out of the dung of Horfes, Oxen, or other 
 Beafts, and Shecp.or elfe out of even common Salt,which 
 we ufe in feafoning our Meats, out of wood- allies, and out 
 of Lime : Whatever ii be prepared from, it will not colt 
 much, for i /. of Salt will yield thee i /. of Salt-petre. 
 
 But haply foraeor other may be in the mind to think 
 or demand, why GLwber himfelf fets not about this work, 
 and referve the whole Gain to himfelf ? To thefe I an- 
 fwer,that 1 am notof fuch a greedy delire,as to wifh for all 
 to my fcif ; nor will it at all be unacceptable to me, if a- 
 nother hath likewife fomewhat •, nor will it be at alllefs 
 lawful for me to do for my felf fo much as feemeth me 
 j!Ood, as for any other to take his liberty, and to do to 
 himfelf as feemeth him good. Befides too, I am not of 
 the mind to make the thing fo very common, but will fee 
 whom 1 communicate ought unto, that fo it may be ap^ 
 plied to good ufes, and not come into the hands of the 
 Unworthy. 
 
 The fir ft ten years however Salt-petre will not be of fo 
 vile a price, but that it may be made and fold to profit ; 
 Who knows whether or no he fiiall live fo long? And if 
 at the utmoft it fiiould after 20 or 30 years be of fo mean 
 a price, becaufe of this Invention of mine, yet in the in- 
 terim they may all that while enjoy the profit of the fame^ 
 and it may be expected from the hands of God, that He 
 will, for the time to come, provide for them fome other 
 waies : But never will it be ib vile, as to be worth no- 
 
 thing ; and if it were fo, that you could not make any 
 Money of it, Ttho' it is impoflible that it fliould ever be 
 fuch a drug) yet fby that manuduftion which I have afore 
 given in the 1,2, and 4ffc. Parts of my f«'wac« ; as alfo 
 in The Exylication of Mir acid nm Mtindi ; in the id. & ^d. 
 Part of my Tharmac. Spagyr. and in This Second, and 
 (hall be in the following Third and Fourth Parts of the 
 Profperity of Germany^') it may be improved about many 
 eminent ufes, and fo Gain be thereof made ; for Salt-pe- 
 tre is fuch a SubjecT;, as you cnn never have too much of, 
 and is therefore worth our labouring after, and our en- 
 deavouring how to prepare it in good quantity, and with- 
 al,of finding out what benefit it is naturally able to afford 
 us i for it is even a wonder to confider how great things 
 may be done by the help thereof : It is the greatelt Poifon 
 and yet may a moft excellent Medicine be thereoutof pre- 
 pared : Colder it is than Ice, and yet hotter than any fire. 
 It is the Generator of all things, and alfo their Corrup- 
 ter •, it vivifies and kills all things ; it is heavier than gold, 
 and yet lighter than the Wind ; it is alfo Fire and Water, 
 Air and Earth, Male and Female ^ it impregnateth and 
 fuffereth it felf to be impregnated ; it is light, and is alfo 
 darknefs", it is black and white : There are in it as many 
 Colours as the world affords -, it is fixt and volatile, cor- 
 poreal and fpiritual ; it kindles and burns all things,and 
 doth alfo quench all burnings ; it is the Beginning of all 
 things,and yet itcaufeth the End of all things ^ that which 
 is foft, it makes to be congealed and become ftiffi aod 
 again, that which is ftiffor hard, it makes foft- 
 
 OThou Creator of all things,How gieat a vaftnefs is there of thy 
 wonderful Works ? and what a fewnefs is there of thofe who 
 underfland, or know, or labour to know it ! O thou eternal Light! 
 illuminate the dark breails of the loft Sons of the World :, O thou 
 vivifying fire, mollifie, enkindle, heat the ftubborn hearts offluggifh 
 Mankind, that are opprefled with flecp, and frozen with cold, that 
 fo they miy feek thee, and know thee, and learn to fear thee in true 
 Humility.and to honour & worlhip thee w ithout Hypocrifie. ^men. 
 
 yin Adotonition, and fhort Repetition of thofe things which are treated of in this Treatife. 
 
 THdt the Friexdly J^eader msy mikethh Eookyet of more ufe ani bene- 
 fit to himjeif, J thought ii roorth while by way of in Overplus, again 
 tofet here afore his eyes thofe Secrets which have been herein mentioned, 
 tchit 'tis that the ufe of them doth cottfiji propir'y in. 
 
 Firflofall, it hath been Jhown, bow by the means of Salt-petre, ail 
 yohiile, and immature Minerals are to be brought to a ripenefs both in 
 the moi/i way and in the dry way, that fa theymay yield forth out of them- 
 felves in the Melting, good duruHe Gold and Silver. Then l^tighi by what 
 roay the rolatile, Arfenicil, Coboltici^and Awimoniil, Auriferous , and Ar- 
 gentiferous Minerals, may by an eafy labour, be by an artificial fufion, and 
 exirj[lion,and alfo by a precipitation into Regulus's, and by the purification 
 er cupellationofthefaid J^gulus's, by the help of Salt-petre, converted or 
 brought into ufe in the dry way, and the Gold And Silver hidden in them be 
 drann forth. Thirdly. Ihavejhown the extraSion of Gold and Silver tut 
 ef all the barren, or poorer fort of Minerals or Ores.which are not worth the 
 charges of excoding,or the tifual way of proceeding,ttid of the drawing them 
 cut by afingular Art, with the water of Salt-petre, andof rightly working 
 them -I which way is to be preferred far afore any ufual excotlion of thofe 
 poorer kinds of Miner a" s. not only becaufe fuch an extraF^ion is performed 
 tciikout a meltirg fire, and 1 Furnace •, but alfo, becaufe in this extra- 
 Rion there is more obtained than is by excdlion er forcing euf.And yet far- 
 ther, that which was rolatile in them is fixed together, and retained, by 
 thai Water of Sah-petrewhich would otkerwije in a melting Fire fly away 
 in fume. y}nd more than this too, Gold and Silver may by this vtoi/f way 
 and that wilhver) e a fie Labour beexirJiled andin adue manner perfected, 
 andihai commodiouflv and with no fmall profit, out of any, the vile/i Fofi- 
 les (or things dig'd out of the Earth) as out of difegeemed Earths, Dufls, 
 Sands, and Flints, from whence, otherwifeyou cannot extrad any thing nei- 
 ther V} Excodion nor by Mercury : So that in all places of the World what 
 coj/lfoezer, [o it befomewhat a 'dryifl>foil, is to be found fuch kind of Earth, 
 Cla) tor Marie) Sand, Flints, and fuch like which contain in them a thin 
 or fpiring kjnd of Gold and Silver, and from which they may trofitabjy be 
 extrafied. P'erily it is a dainty Art which may be ufed in all parts of the 
 tVf,rld, nor is it at all burdenfom to carry, but may be excellently (well, or 
 fifth) prejervedtilineedrequien. But this is to be noted that the fatter 
 Earth or Clay w.iil firif be made red hot and burnt afore it be mci/fned 
 withtheWalercf Salt-petrt;. For without fo doing, the Earth would al- 
 %a\i remain thickjcr clammy,) would drinkup much water, and it would 
 KOteafilybe [epirated, but being burned, it fuffers it felf to be extraSedno 
 ether than as if it were Sand. So neither do the Ore or Fojdes of Iron 
 which :.re .iitriferous and .ibound with Jron,fuffer the Gold to be extracted 
 and p ecipi^ated cut cfthem a t readily as other Minera's or Ores do. But 
 the Irtn ,(i[ tkerx be i,vermuch ofit)makes the Waterthick. and pappy like 
 
 Mud. And therefore you mufl put into that foliition a part of common W.t- 
 ter, to make it the thinner, that jo the Gold and Silver may he the eafilier 
 precipitated thencefrom . The auriferous Coppery Ores are to be burnt f.r/f, 
 if they are fulphureous, if not, they may then be extr ailed, though not burnt. 
 The fandy , /tony, brittle, and pebblijh, FcJJiles need no other preparation 
 bift to be burnt and ground. 
 
 Likewife all auriferous Irony, or Coppery Ores, may be feparated by com- 
 mon fait, without a Furnace, or melting fire, and that in the open air (as we 
 faid afore where we treated of the poorer Coppery Minera's, or Ores : ) and 
 many hundreds of pounds may be done at one time, and with one labour, 
 and the Gold which is extraSed mixtly with the Iron and Copper, may be 
 feparatedout of the folution, by the moili precipitating way there delivered, 
 and that with a mighty profit and gain, becaufe that fame precipitation 
 hurts not in the lead either the Copper, or the Iron, as to their malleability. 
 
 In like manner may you prftipitate the Gold out of any vitriol water, ani 
 that in quantity (when it has any in it ) : and on fuch wife too, that the pre- 
 cipitation of the yitriol fliall not at all change ought of its nature :, and this 
 is fo compendious a way, as that if there were contained no more than ont 
 quarter of a Drachm of Gold in i co 1. of Vitriol, yet would not that pre- 
 cipitation be of no ufe or profit. And on this wife and manner may all other 
 Mineral waters be precipitated. 
 
 Moreover, as concerning the means of cafily preparing the fait fo as ti 
 ferve for the extr ailing the C«pper, in alj Countries, but efpecially on the 
 Sea Coa/fs, the Concentration of fait out of the waters, er the Sea will 
 afford you no mean, or obfcure Documents touching that thing-., which con- 
 tration it treated of in the Book_Intituled,The Confolation of Navigators- 
 
 Butforafmuch as there is mention made in this Treatife of a yet other cer- 
 tain Artificial feparation of Gold and Silver out of the imperfeS Metals, in 
 which, Antimonial fcoria hive place, in a forentmed extratlian, which I 
 would wiUingly (but as yet have not) delivered \ let no body fo conjirue it, 
 as if I either purpofely.or carelefly omitted tie fame : No I The Cafe it far 
 otherwife, and this is the true reafon; feeing this Book.now in band is be- 
 come more prolix than I intended, 1 determined with my felf to referve that 
 moSi profitable procefs for the foUowingthird fart, which God willing, I 
 win very [lortly publijlj, till then, I entreat tiie Friendly I(eader to expeS 
 or wait for it with agood and patient mind. 
 
 Mean while he may acquiefce with thefe two ways, viz. the dry and tie 
 moi/i, and delight himfelf herein, and withal take care (as far as in him 
 lies) to have ready by him, jome quantity of Salt-petre •, for the following 
 third part JhaB treat of nothing elfe but the performing and doing ofprocejfet 
 by the help of Salt-petre. he therefore that knows how to make it in plenty 
 at.afmallrate, maykope fcrfo much the greater benefit \ andtbis 1 judged 
 expedient, to add here for admonitions fak(. More Jhall be difccvered (God 
 willing) in the third and fourth foUowing pans. 1 HB 
 
 ^ 
 
Korhle'tn mtt Kohlen. . 
 
 Tart I. before Ta^:^??- 
 
 ^ miu Mj Game tf-a/r^-n , 
 Stcli-^ i r^'chi- nach dem liHnAr, 
 
Part I. 
 
 937 
 
 THE 
 
 THIRD PART 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ^^ofpetitp of (ietmanp. 
 
 In which is Delivered, 
 
 The way of moft eafily and plentifully extrading Sdt-ptre odt 
 of Various Subjeds every where Obvious and at Hand. 
 
 TOGETHER 
 With a ruccin(5b Explication o^Taracelfus his Prophecy ; that is to ray,in what manner 
 it is to be underftood the Northren Lion will Inftitute or Plant his political or ci« 
 vil Monarchy ; and t\\a.z Tar acelfus himfelf will not abide in his Grave j andthac 
 a vaft quantity of Riches will offer it felf. 
 
 LIKEWISE 
 
 What an one that Artlft Elias is, of whofh coming in the laft Days, and his difclofing: 
 abundance of Secrets, Paracelfus and others have predided. ° 
 
 To the READER. 
 
 Friendly Reader, 
 
 ALthou^h there are very many Caufes that might 
 dijfwade me from Publijhtng thtsThirdand the 
 Fourth following Part of the Profperity of 
 Germany in Prirt^ {becaufe of the mconvent- 
 encies and hurt done me by the perfidious Farnner, againft 
 whom no body hath hitherto opfofed himfelf ^ bitt all have 
 connived and rcink^d thereat ^ and confcquently have every 
 one left fitch a perfidious Treachery unpmiijli'dj and incou- 
 rage me to leave Germany, a mofi ungrateful Germany 
 as it is. Tet notwithfianding^ the Love to my Neighbours 
 (_amongfi whom there are many honcft andgnod Men to he 
 found, who lead a trouhlefome kind of Life to get their daily 
 food') hath compelled me. lofuch therefore as thefe are, 
 would I willingly give \_or band forth'] a Torch [^fo to di- 
 reii thetn"] that they may for time to come fare better and 
 more eafily get things necejjary to uphold Life withal ; but 
 yet after fitch wife, as that they Jet their Hands to the 
 Wori^, for the Gods fell not ouj^ht to thnfe that Labour not-, 
 hut A.II good things are fought ^ and found out by daily La- 
 bour and diligent fearch. 
 
 A^ow albeit, that all thoje things which are throughly 
 bandied in this bcok are true,and fo confirmed by experience 
 as that any one may eafily underfiand and imitate them^ 
 yet notwithflanding, I am certain that there wll be a very 
 many who by reafon of their ignorance, cannot underfiand 
 them, and apply them to ufe ; becaufe the great eft part of 
 ma-'ikindare too much addiQcd to Liz.inefs, and do for the 
 mofl part refiife to apply their Limbs to work, but would 
 rather walk^abroad, and dtfconrjeof Arts when they are tn 
 their cups. 
 
 I fay that thefe fccrets of minenill no ways profit fuch 
 kind of Aieti^for fuch \mufi fir fi learn in what manner 
 the ^necejfaryi Infirumems are to be han.ikd^ and how the 
 
 Operations are to be rightly i'lftlttued and ,„a,2a<red in 
 Jeemly Order. '^ 
 
 There are abundance of Men who Qf they hap to read 
 fome Chymtcal Writings, or hear others taik^ of the pro- 
 fitablenefs ofthe,», (they) areprefemly inflamed with fuch 
 a love,that they will even wholly devote themfelves to Chy- 
 mifiry on the hopes ofgrowwg rich. And now when they 
 havepropofed any thing to themfelves^ and attempt to do iu 
 if they hap to have a fparkle of Fire light on their hands 
 or that bs reafon of fomc other ohflacle, all things do not im- 
 mediately fad.^e to their minds, they throw away the Toms ■ 
 and the Crucibles upm the Ground, and deleft (or ciirfe) 
 the Author^ becau/e he hath not Written clear enough and 
 that they do not prefemly extraUareat (lore of Gold ' 
 
 Let notftch as thefe at all pcr/wade themfelves that they 
 can receive any tnftrua ion from thefe my IVritiaos- for 
 my Writings require Mm that are diligent, whofe minds 
 are never weaned with labour, and who are not fioathful, 
 and impatient of Labour. Now to the ftiidiotts (fear- 
 chers) and efpecuUi to fuch Children (^or Difciples) ado- 
 pted or chofen by God,all thefe things will be unto them clear 
 manifeftly evident, a?,d eafie to be imitated. * 
 
 Forafmuch therefjre as I hav. Jpoh n many things in the 
 Fir ft ard Second Part of the Profperity of Germany, 
 concerning the making ar.d uje of Nitre, I dj now ao on in 
 Goo's Name, and do teach in this thirdpart, by whtt eafie 
 ways Nttremay be varioufiy marie, and be fruitfully and 
 proptablyufed both by Noble Mm and common Men; fo 
 that there is not a man in the whole World, but may (If be 
 pleafe) get great benefit thereby. 
 
 theOmnipotent God-.the Aithrr and giver of every good 
 t^nr, be flow upon us to be able to enjoy and make ufeof^As 
 
 rf/\'r '.'"£' '"■'y """^ " '■'' '^*''^'«'- '/ hts moll- 
 
 Holy Name, and to the S.ihty and Prefervation of us all 
 Amen -^ 
 
 R r r r d f 
 
55S 
 
 The Third Part of 
 
 Part 1, 
 
 Of the Pnpration of S ALT^PET KE. 
 
 I Shewed in the Firft Part of the Profperity of Ger- 
 mu,ny^ the way whcieby Wood may be concen- 
 trated and turned into excellent Nitre,and which 
 otherwife is e\ ry where for the mofl: part con- 
 fumed by lying rotting in the \A'oods, and yields 
 no benefit at all unto any Man- 
 
 This Operation is to be done with the help of a cer- 
 tain Prefs artificially contrived for that particular bu- 
 finefs,thc due (or right j defcription of whlch,wegav'e 
 you in the Cmittnuation of Miracitlctm Mttncll. But 
 thecirculatoryVefiels by which the Lixivium of the 
 wood (or the diftilled Liquor out of the wood) is to be 
 excited and heated by the Air, have not as yet beende- 
 . fcribed ■■, and therefore we have determined to do it in 
 this Third Part. This Figure therefore reprefents 
 them, and its ufe •, and is as follows- 
 
 There mufl: be two Boxes (as 'cwerej made of 
 Boards, each of them of like bignefs and capacity,as 
 the Figure (or Letter) A (hews. Thefe Boxes are to 
 be fo placed, that a Vellel may be fet under one end of 
 each Box, to receive in it (if need be) the Lixivium 
 poured into them : Let one of the Boxes or Velfels be 
 filled top full of Horfe-dung, Hens, or Pigeons=dung ; 
 orelfe with the Leaves of the Trees, amongft which 
 Fir-tree Leaves are bed ■, then pour thereupon fo much 
 of this Lixivium which we lliall make a defcription of 
 by and by, fo much as may fuffice to moiften the Dung 
 or Leaves contained in the Box or Veffel, and a little 
 to over-top it. The next day Tafter you have fo done) 
 when you judge that all the matter is throughly wet- 
 ted, let the Lixivium run out by a Tap, the which faid 
 Lixivium you muft pour into the other Box filled with 
 the like matters, and which Hands jult againft it- Let 
 thefe things ftandthus wetted for fomedays^ In the 
 mean time', the matter contained in the firft Box,grows , 
 Jior, and the ufelefsmoifture being moftplentifullyre^ I 
 iblvcd into Vapours out of the Lixivium, the faid 
 matter doth daily get more and more efficacy.^ As 
 long as you obferve the heat of this Box to continue, 
 and the evaporation of moifture to laft, fo long muft 
 it be left in theDmc poOture whereby the Lixivium, 
 thus poured on, may by its notable power confume and 
 diffolvethe Dung, or the other matters contained in 
 the Box, and turn them into Water. And here you 
 areto obferve this diredion. You muft always put in 
 new matter inftcad of that which is turned into Li- 
 quor, and fo one Box may be always at all times kept 
 full of the matters. But now when your materials be: 
 ingputinthe firft Box, begin to cool, the Lixivium 
 Which now lies in the fecond Box or Veflel, muft be 
 poured upon the matters yet warm, in the firft Box, 
 that fo it may again contraft a heat thence- from by 
 little and little, and fo may dillblve thofe matters. 
 And now whilft thefe things arc thus detained in the 
 firft Box or Vellel, the materials that are in like 
 manner put in the fecond Box do heat each other, and 
 the unprofitable Phlegm evaporateth : Now as long as 
 this fecond Box vaporateth, the Lixivium muft not be 
 drawn out of the fii ft Box and be poured thereinto.bnt 
 all the matters are to be left to heat or burn (as it 
 werej themfelves- And when you perceive that the 
 materials cool, then the Lixivium muft be drawn oif 
 from the matters in the f.rft Box, and be poured upon 
 them in the fecond Box \ and hereby the matters con- 
 aiaed in the firft Box will again wax hot, be burnt,and 
 
 be turned into Liquor. By how much the oftner and 
 longer this repeated pouring on of Lixivium is done, 
 fo much the more, and fooner are the materials con- 
 fumed ; from which matters thus conlumed, a moll 
 excellent Salt-petre may afterwards be made, for the 
 heat makes the matters rot. Now then to make trial 
 (if it be well enough done) take fome of this Li-vivium 
 boil it away to a fufficient height for ChryitalJization, 
 fet it in a cold place to fhoot, dry the fait you l.nd, 
 being dry, put it on a live Coal, which if you find it 
 burn up, it is a fign that it is full time to draw off, and 
 take all your Lixivium to the intent that Salt-petre 
 may be thereof made by due evaporation and coagula- 
 tion. But if you chance to find it otherwife, and that 
 the fait does not flame up, the Lixivium muft lie lon- 
 ger in the Boxes to be heated and animated by the Air 
 which is magnetically attracted by means of the heat : 
 This labour being rightlyordcred, there may be made 
 excellent Salt-petre out of the faid matters by the help 
 of a convenient Lixivium> in tenor twelve Months 
 fpace without any cofts, fave fome fmall trifle about the 
 Lixivium ; neither is the Work fo grievous or trou- 
 blefome, for there is nothing more required but that 
 the Lixivium be feveral times poured out of one Box 
 into the other. ' ' " 
 
 NB. There are yet, befides the other aforenamed 
 feveral forts of matters that offer themfelves, out of 
 which, Salt-petre may be made by the help of the 
 Boxes,8c a due Lixivium far fpeedilier &plentifullier ; 
 but I judge it not needful todivulge every thing: Like- 
 wife there may be made a convenientLixivium to pre- 
 pare Salt petre fooner, by and after another manner, 
 to wit, in a dry form, without fuch putrifyingas is 
 done in the Boxes or Circulatories '-, but even this Ar- 
 tilice too, will 1 referve yet a little longer for my 
 Friends. 
 
 Nay yet more, there may be (by a yetfecreterand 
 (hotter method) excellent Salt-petre extra(n:ed by the 
 means of iuch a Lixivium in three hours fpace, and 
 that with moft great profit : And this way of prepar- 
 ing Salt-petre, I do prefcrr before all the others, and 
 have found it the moft excellent (Petre j of them all. 
 
 The Lixivium is on this wife made. 
 
 MAke you a ftrong Lixivium of Wood-aflies, and 
 when you burn the unprofitable Wood in the 
 Woods into afties, make by the fame labour of your 
 Fire fome good Lime of ftonesfit for fuch a purpofe ; 
 Then quench this Calx or Lime with Water, that fb 
 it may fall into powder, then pour thereon as much of 
 the Lee of the Wood-a(hcs row fpoken off, as is fuffi- 
 cient, mixt it with a wooden Spatula^ and repeat this 
 mixing and ftirring it very often, fome days following, 
 that fo the Lee may be made the ftronger by reafon of 
 the Lime, and be like Fire, the which has an excellent 
 virtue to putrefy the vegetables and animals, and to 
 turn them intoburning Salt-petre. (Seethe foregoing 
 Figure belonging to this Operation noted at the top 
 page, I.) 
 
 Here 
 
^ 
 
 Part L 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity ^/Germany. 
 
 W 
 
 Here the Cockfitsth.it hatches the Bafiltsk,-, by tU top of 
 
 the Cheft. 
 A A uii-e the two Cheft s. 
 B The appearance of the Chefts within. 
 C The Horfe-du'ig, or Leaves of Trees ^ wh.rewitb the 
 
 C hefts are filled. 
 D The Ciftcru or ycffel to receive the Lixivium. 
 E The Fiimf. 
 F The Man that pumps the Lixivium out of the Ciftern, 
 
 upon the matter tn the Chefis. 
 G The Bottom of the Chefls full of holes. 
 H The fecond or lower moft Bottom where the Lixivium 
 
 is kept without runni>:g out. 
 
 Another ivay of making Excellent Salt-petre in 
 great Quantity out of Lime and the Lee of 
 Wood. 
 
 TAKE the aforefaid Lime and Wood afhes, of 
 each as much as you will ; and twice as much 
 Horfe-dungor Cows-dung, mix thefe matters exadly 
 in a wooden Vellel or Tub, with Mans Urine ar beafts 
 Pifs, and make it of the thicknefs as the thicker fort 
 ■ of Mortar that the M.ifons ufe,is wont to be of You 
 mult have good ftore of this Pafte made. Then make 
 a certain arch of boards, which faid arch muft be fome 
 three, four, fix or more feet broad, and deep or high, 
 and the length of it muft be double to that (or twice 
 as much, as broad,and deep, or high) according to the 
 conveniency of the place, and the quantity of Salt- 
 petre you would make. The arch thus made, muft be 
 all over dawbed with the aforefaid mixture, the thick- 
 nefs of an hands breadth, juft as we fee Vaults, or Ar- 
 ches built up, of Stones and Lime upon wooden arches. 
 Now when all is duly ordered, there muft be put fome 
 Fire in under the vault of the arch, at firft it muft be 
 very gentle,leaft the arch (of wood) as being the very 
 foundation and fupporter of the fothcr) arch fiiould 
 prefently kindle and be burnt, which muft not be, but 
 be kept whole rather, untill the arch or covering 
 thereon which is made ofLime> Allies, and Dung, be 
 perfedly dried. This done, there muft be dawbed on, 
 upon the faid arch formerly made, more of the afore- 
 faid prepared Calx, of about an hands-breadth thick- 
 ncf<;, and you will find that the humidity of this latter 
 "mafs or fecond arching will be in a ihort time attraded 
 by the firft arch, and that this fecond pargetting will 
 foou be dried : When this is done, there muft be again 
 the third time made another dawbing on, after the 
 afore-prefcribed manner. And this Operation is to 
 be fo long and fo often repeated untill the arch be a 
 toot or two in thicknefs, which when fo, it is ftrong 
 enough, nor needs it any more its wooden prop, 
 and therefore now the Fire may be put thereto, and it 
 may be burnt. And thus have you a vault or arch pre- 
 pared,which is a moft commodious inftrument to make 
 a quantity of Salt- petre by : And now if occafion re- 
 quire, and the condition of the place will permit, there 
 may be built or made three or four arches after the 
 fame manner ; though it be better to have them pla- 
 ced one by another, and to be of lei's magnitude or ca- 
 pacioufnefs ; for fo they are more convenient for 
 Operation, as any one that praflifeth hereabouts will 
 calily apprehend and hnd. 
 
 Likewife it is better to build this arched Vault 
 which we have called an Arch, long and narrow, than 
 
 fiioit and broad, becaufe the Fire being put under one 
 part of fuch a long Chimney=like Vault, will very well 
 ditfufe its heat to every place thereof, and fo keep the 
 arch continually hot. 
 
 When this Chimney like vault is wholly dry,it mull 
 be again moiftned with Mms or Bcafts Pifs, that it 
 may thence contradl more new humidi(y,wliich weob- 
 fervc willealtly be, feeing we know that it is made up 
 of Horfe or Cows-dung, and not barely of Lime, for 
 then it would not fo readily and ealily receive the hu- 
 midity, as when Dung is mixt uith it ^ the wetted 
 Chimney-arch muft be dried by the forre of Fire put 
 thereunder, the which may alfo be a little augmented 
 proportionable to the bignefs and thicknefs of the 
 vault or arch. 
 
 NB. You muft take good heed, that the Fire you 
 put under be not too much augmented, and fo hurt: 
 your arches, but let it always be fuch as may fuffice 
 to dry your arch by little and little, or elfe the D.ing 
 will be burnt up, and the already generated S.Ut-p':tre 
 will be fpoiled, for the Fire can ealily endamage the 
 Petre. 
 
 But now when we fhall have often thus moiftned the 
 faid arches with Pifs, and fhall take notice that they 
 {yi^. the arches) do attrad no more thereof {viz.. of 
 the PifsJ as beingalready filled with the Salt of the 11= 
 rine,the which may be done in fome four or fix Weeks 
 time, there muft be little bits broken of? with an iron 
 Inftrument in feveral places of the arch, and thefe bits 
 muft be powdered and be dilfolved in V\'ater fo to 
 make a Lixivium of it, be filtredjand after a due eva; 
 poration made, muft be Chryftallized and dried ; the 
 dried Salt matter muft' be put upon the Fire to fee if 
 it will flame or not : If we Ihall find it thus to be 
 and to burn likeSal'-petre, we muft break down all 
 the arch, and by the help of a certain Mill, re- 
 duce it into powder very fine, and pour hot Water 
 thereupon, to extraift the Lixivium A'ith, then eva- 
 porate it as much as is convenient, and fet it by in a 
 cool place toChryftallize •, this artifice of Boiling and 
 Chryftallifing fliall be declared in proper Figures or 
 Cuts in the end of this Work- But now if fo be we 
 perceive that the Salt extracted out of thofe little bits 
 of the arch do not as yet flame up, 'tis a fign that it is 
 not as yet fufliciently animated by the air : For the air 
 gives life, which the Fire ftrongly attrafteth, fo that 
 by the help of the Fire the air and life are attraited, 
 whereby the Salt is animated and made inflammable. 
 The Fire therefore here, is to be again adminiftred 
 (or put under j and the arched matter to be continually 
 moiftned with Rain watery and that Rain water is 
 beft, which (if it may be had) falls down when the 
 Wind is in the North •, though when there is no Rain 
 water tobe had, other water may be fubftitutcd in its 
 ftead. This pouring on of water is to be fo long con- 
 tinned (always, permitting the Furnace or Arch to be 
 rightly dried afore it be fprinkled with new water) 
 untill the Salt, fticking in the arch, be found to be fufli- 
 ciently animated by the benefit of the fire and air, and 
 be inflammable when you make trial thereof by the 
 aforefaid method. 
 
 This is a compendious way of making good Salt- 
 petre in quantity enough, by only Lime, Wood-afhes, 
 and Mans or Beafts Pifs. If you proceed lightly on, 
 you may get you a great quantity of Salt- petre in a moft 
 fliort fpace of time-and that for fmall cofts,£c in a man- 
 ner no labour at all. The Lime and Afhcs from whence 
 ! the Petre is extracted, may be mixed again with new. 
 ' lime and new afhes, and other arched vaults be made 
 thereof, upon which Uiine muft be continually poured 
 
 in" 
 
340 
 
 The Third Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 iti like manner as we taugiic alore, that To they may 
 beanirricited by the help of fire and air into Saltpetre. 
 But ifyou have always at hand new Calx, or Lime and 
 athcs, it is better to make new arches, thereof in the 
 place of thofe you have pulled down, and to imploy 
 the relidue of that, out of which the Salt-petre hath 
 been already extracted abont dunging feme barren 
 Soil, erpecially the moifter fort of Ground, becaufe it 
 is iiTipoiribie (o thoroughly to fcparate all the Salt that 
 nothing abides behind in the reliqnes- 
 
 This way Icomn^nicatetoalljbucl referve for my 
 Friends only the way by which, with the help of other 
 Waters that coft nothing, and may be had in every 
 place, a far greater quantity of Salt-petre may in a yet 
 jhorter time be prepared by the faid arches, than is 
 done by the help of Mans or Beafts Urine. Nay 
 more, there are fonie waters which in eight days time, 
 • we have obferved to have been coagulated into burn- 
 ing Salt-petre, which fecret verily may be praftically 
 improved with molt notable benefit in all parts of the 
 World that Men live in. 
 
 Belides the fubjeiffs already mentioned, here offer 
 themfclves to cur Hands many others which are obvi- 
 ous to ail, of which fuch arches may be made, and 
 which will yield more Salt-petre than the afore 
 recited matters will -, but let what has already 
 been delivered , fuffice- I cannot here forbear, 
 but muft tell you that there are fome fubjefts to 
 be found which (without the making the aforefaid 
 arches, though there lie notwithftanding abundance of 
 fecrets therein) will bring a molt notable benefit, and 
 that belong not to this place, and which may be chan- 
 ged in three hours fpace into excellent Petre ; which 
 labour (or operationj 1 keep for my Friends, and 
 fhould itbedivulged, it would bring nothing but hurt, 
 and therefore it is better to be lllent: There fhall 
 more fecrets be delivered in the following difcourfe, 
 where we fpeak of the Northern Mcnarche;. 
 
 Here follows another ivay of plentifully extra^- 
 iag Salt-petre out of Rocks and Stones with- 
 out Vegetables or Animals. 
 
 Salt-petre- Yet however I have done fo much by my 
 ManuduLlion,as for any wife Meneafily tounderftand 
 the fame by what hath been exhibited, and I have in 
 fome fort opened it, that fuch things are pollible to be 
 done. But ihave not fo clearly fliown the way of ef- 
 feiflingthe fame, leaft 1 fliould take away the occafion 
 of odier Mens exercifing their ingenuity in bethinking 
 themfelves how it is to be done : Otherwife, it is not 
 prohibited any one to feek a fuller information, from 
 thofe that have knowledge in thefe affairs. 
 
 Therefore forafmuch as the way of extra(fting Salt- 
 petre out of Stones, is look'don as a moft impolFible 
 thing by fuch as are not skiU'd in this Art, 1 have de- 
 termined to defcribe the fame, for the fake and bene- 
 fit of fuch as fucceed us ^ The knack of this Artifice 
 confifteth more in the knowing of the Stones, than in 
 the extrading of the Salt-petre out of them, for the 
 extraction is not any other way to be done, than as the 
 making of their Lee out of the common Nitrous Earth 
 is wont to be, concerning which thing, Lnz.arus Erckcr 
 hath written at large. The knowledge therefore of 
 the Stones, and the preparation of them whereby they 
 may communicate (or let go) their Nitre unto Water, 
 is the principal thing, and without that, there cannot 
 beany thing done in this Operation. 
 
 Firftof all therefore 'tis neceflary that the lover of 
 I Chymiftry knows, that there are various Stones to be 
 found that yield Salt-petre, viz.. all fuch Stones of 
 which (being commonly calcined by the force of the 
 fire) they make Lime for to build houfes withal. For 
 there lies hidden in thefe kind of Stones, abundance of 
 Salt-petre, which cannot be gotten out thence by the 
 help of common Water by any kind of way or me- 
 thod : But when they are burnt with a violent Fire, 
 they yield an hot Salt, extraftable by the benefit of 
 common water ; which Salt indeed is not Salt-petre, 
 but yet may moft eafily be turned by the air into Petre, 
 li.ke as it was formerly Salt-petre afore the Stone was 
 burntj and now firft got another nature by the burn- 
 ing. 
 
 The truth of this thing, viz.. That there refides na- 
 tural Salt-petre in all Stones, which may be burnt inta 
 Lime, may be proved on this wife following : 
 
 Take of thefe Stones which Lime may be made of, 
 ^fs. or I;. powder it very fine,pour thereupon as much 
 of the beft Aqn.i-fortts : place the Glafs in which this 
 matter is contained, in a warm place upon afhes or 
 fandithat the ftone may be diflbl ved in theA^ua-fortis : 
 After it hath thus ftood for about one quarter of an 
 hour, take out your Glafs out of thealhesor fand> 
 though the ftone be not wholly diflblvedas yet, and 
 pour thereon drop by drop, fome Lixivium of wood, 
 untill the ebullition of the Lee or Lixivium poured 
 upon the dilTolved Hone cealeth, and (the noife cea- 
 fing) you fhall perceive fome kind of Salt produced 
 from them thuscommixtj-z^'x.. from thediflblved ftone 
 and the Lixivium. Pour fome common Water upon 
 this Salt, fo much as may ferve todilfolve the Salt in a 
 warm place, the folution being made let the Liquor be 
 filtred, or be ftrained through fome thin Linen cloth, 
 that h the part of die ftone undillolved, and the faces 
 may abide behind in the Filter or Linen cloth : The 
 fikred Liquor muft be coagulated into Salt by evapo- 
 rating It away in a brals Veffel, then you are to weigh 
 it : And now that we may exaiftly know, how much 
 Salt-petre was in that ^j'i- of the ftone, you muft pro- 
 ceed on farther thus : 
 Take the fame quantity of Aqu^t^ funis as you ufed 
 
 TO the intent therefore that it may be fufficient: 
 ly cvidenccd,and that 1 may prove it to be true, 
 that Salt-petre is an univerfal Salt or Subjed, and 
 isconfequcntly contained in all the things the World 
 poflblfeth, I judge it a thingworth while to fet down 
 here fome proofs or trials thereto accommodated- 
 
 It hath been fufficiently enough 'already fhown in 
 the firft part of the Profpmty of Germany., th'di good 
 Salt-petre may by Art be extracted outof all the fub- 
 jedts of the World : But the way of fo doing was not 
 at all difclofed- For as much therefore as all Men do 
 fo greedily delire it, I determined with my feif to de- 
 fcribe firft of ;;11, the Preiles requilicc to the extradi- 
 cn of Sak-petreout of Wood, to the end that fo it 
 may evidently appear unto all Men, that it is a thing 
 agreeable to nature, and that it is moft eafily accom- 
 plilhabicto prefs a juice out of any Wood, which may 
 be turned by the air into good Salt-petre- But as for 
 the circulatory Vefiels, 1 was not willing (then) to 
 jcommunicate them, but rather kept them a little 
 longer for my Friends, which faid Vcflels I have not-- 
 withftanding fet down in this Third Part- 
 
 Likewife it feemed not expedient unto me to reveal 
 unto fuch as are enemies, the transformation (or j but novv,about the iblution of the Lime-ftone,and pour 
 cbangingj of Animals, much lefs of Minerals irto therecn likewife the fame quantity of Lixivium, that 
 
 ' 'i I you 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany, 
 
 94* 
 
 you iifed ; bout ti:c precipitation of the dilToIved ftone, 
 and let there be made a precipitation, let the preci- 
 pitated mutter be coagulated. into the fubflancc of a 
 lalt, and then aifo weigh how much this quantity of 
 fait is : and now, as much lefs weight, as you obferve 
 to be in this falc than in the firlt fait in which the Lime- 
 ftonc is, lb much Sak-petre was there in that half 
 ounce of Lime- ftone. This is a mod certain trial, 
 and by this means may we mofteafily find how many 
 pounds of Salt-petre, arc contained in an hundred 
 weight of ftones- 
 
 NB. To the end that the proof you make, maybe 
 m&It certain, we mull ufc the lefler Centenary, or 
 hundred weight, as being more ufual, and more ac- 
 commodate for the trying of Metals- 
 
 And albeit, that theuling of Aqua-fortis to this O- 
 pcrarion,is altogether without prolidwhere you would 
 extraclthat fait in great plenty out of the ftones, yet 
 notwiihftanding, it is not fo flight or trivial a thing 
 to know a certain way of trying what ftones do moft 
 abounfl with Salt-petre, that fo if we have a mind to 
 e.Ktract Salt-petre out of them, we may takethofe, in 
 which it lies in a plentiful manner* 
 
 Bclidcs, thofe ftones which do commonly yield a 
 
 leien'd, and arc not at all fit to build ftahle, or dura- 
 ble Houfcs with. The Stone-Cutters can eafily di- 
 ftinguifh thefe kind of ftones from others, nor do they 
 willingly ufe them where there is plenty of others to 
 be had. And now, if you Ihould go about to make 
 your trial with thefc ftones, like as you did with thofe 
 that they make Lime of, according to the afore deli-- 
 vercd Probation, fo to know what quantity of Salt- 
 petre is contained in them, it will not fuccecd fo, bc- 
 caufe the Salt-petre becomes '.'ohtile in the Calcina- 
 tion of it, and doth for the moft part fly away into 
 the air : and much lefs can you with Chare] water ex- 
 trafl ought out of the Crude, and not Calcined ftones ; 
 for fuch do not yield any Salt-petre at all, unlefs they 
 have been placed in a moift air for about half a years 
 fpace, whereby they may of themfelves fall in pieces ; 
 for being fo ordered, they eafily yield forth their fak= 
 nefs to the water that is poured on them, and confc- 
 qucntly yield plenty of Salt-petre. Of which thing, 
 this is a moft certain Teftimony, if (viz..) fuch 
 ftones are laid in fome dry place, whereto the Raia 
 cannot come, and we do moft frequently fprinklc 
 them with common water, and they do thereby turn 
 into a powder. And if it fall out otherwife, 'tis a 
 
 Calx or Lime by Cakiration, and which the Brick- 1 fign that thereis very little Salt-petre to be found in 
 
 layers ufe ; there are found other fto;ies, out of which 
 there cannot be mnde any Lime by Calcination, and 
 yet ncvertheicis, abundance of Salt-petre may be 
 thence extracted without any previous Calcination. 
 He that delights himfelf inthiswork, niuft e.vaflly 
 know aforehand fuch kind of ftones : Forafmuch as no 
 body would eaiily perfwade himfelf that Sak-petre is 
 contained in them. Nor do I think that ever afore 
 this time the way of extrarting Saltpetre out of thefe 
 kinds ot ftones was ufed ; buP whether there was no 
 body that knew that there was fuch a Sakcontained in 
 them, or judged it a thing not to be regarded, this I 
 know not- 13ut this I know well enough that that 
 way of extrafting Salt-petre out of them was never 
 obferved and ufed in6>(«j.j«y,though there lies a moft 
 notable quantity of Petreinthem, and eafily extra- 
 dablethence, did webut know the way. 
 . Therefore, forafmuch as there is plenty enough of 
 fuch ftones in all places, and that Salt-petre may eafi= 
 lier be made of them, than of wood, 1 could not for- 
 bear, but rauft needs open and difclofe this artifice for 
 the good of the Country, and clearly explain it in 
 this place- 
 
 Therctore, as concerning thofe ftones which are 
 here mentioned, there is fuch a plentiful ftore of 
 them in moft places, that they even make whole Moun- 
 tains-, they are in fubftance like a foft and tender 
 ftone, whit (h in colour, Cor of a fliining colour] 
 alhy colour'dor reddilh, and are eafily broken, and 
 may be falhioued into all kind of fliapes, or figures ; 
 and therefore they are frequently ufed about building 
 Houies, for the making various Ornaments about the 
 Houfe, as for the corners of the Houfes, the Doors, 
 U'indows, Steps or Stairs, or other External Orna- 
 ments. As long as they are yet in the Mountain, and 
 not expofed to the air, they are of a confiderable 
 hardnefs enough, an<||do always hold it- When being 
 ufed about Baildings, they are put in fuch places, 
 where they may abide ac all times dry, or elfe always 
 moift. 
 
 But if fo be they are one while dry, and another 
 while moift, and are al>vays obvious to the air Cor 
 weather] they eaiily become fofc, and there fcales off 
 
 them, and that the labour you fhallbeftow about them 
 will be in vain. But fuch ftones as grow foft, and fall 
 in pieces, in Uxor eight Monthstime, do promife no- 
 table Rewards for your Labour, viz.. a great quanti- 
 ty of the witht for fait ■■, an hundred weight of thefe 
 kind of ftones thus fallen in pieces, will eafily yield 
 you ten pound of Sak-petre, more or lefs according 
 to the Condition of the ftone. The extracting of the 
 Lee, or fait, is done with common water, in the fame 
 manner as the Lixivium is otherwife extradcd out of 
 that Earth which is digg'd up in the Stables vyhere 
 Beaftsftand; which way of cxtrafting Sak-petre, of 
 coagulating and perfedting it, is clearly and perfcdly 
 enough defcribed by Laz.a-tis Ercker., heretofore the 
 Emperours chief Overfcer of the Metallick Affairs, 
 in his mofttxperienced Book of his Art of the proving 
 of Metals; inforauch, that lefteem him to have ren- 
 dred the hardeft, or moft difficult part, very clear, 
 and therefore I will referr the well minded Reader 
 thither. 
 
 But for as much as every one cannot buy himfelf a 
 Book of fuch great bulk, only to get thereby the 
 knowledge of the way of extrafting and evaporating 
 Salt-petre, I have judged it worth while to fet doivn 
 here for the fake of the Chymical Students, fuch di- 
 rections as the aforefaid Laz.ariis Enker hzih. deliver- 
 ed us hereabouts. For I was never of the mind to 
 caft off fuch things as have been well delivered by o- 
 thermen ; lonly add unro them, thofe things that arc- 
 mine : Let others do the like, that are the Authors of 
 any new thing, that fo there may arife fomc benefit 
 thereby unto our Neighbours, for whofe fake, that we 
 may (viz..) ferve them, the moft great and bJelTed 
 God hath beftowed on us fuch various knowledge. 
 
 But that we may get a certain knowledge of di- 
 ftinguilhing the faid ftones, I think it altogether necef- 
 fary to treat of them more at large. 
 
 Therefore although this kind of ftones arc plentir 
 fully enough, to be found every where in the World, 
 yetthey are not known, orregarded, becaufe we can- 
 not perfwade our felves, that there is any theleafb 
 portion of Sak-petre contained in them •, for albeit, 
 that an hundred pounds of fuch ftone fhould contain in 
 
 from them yearly, a little portion of the back of a ' it ten pound of Salt-petre, and we ftiould reduce the 
 Knifes thicknefs, like Meal, fo that they are yearly j fame into a moft fubtile powder, and ihould labour to 
 
 i Sfff extraft 
 
542 
 
 I'he Third Van of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 extract from thence a Lixivium or Lee, with either 
 cold or hot water, yet fliould we not hereby get fo 
 much as one Ounce of Salt-petre. The reafon is this, 
 becaufe there is not to be found in fuch a ftone as foon 
 as ever it is digged out of the earth, any Uorporal 
 Salt petre, which may be extradedby means of wa- 
 ter, but there lies hidden only a certain Soul or Mag- 
 net of Salt-petre, by the virtue of which, that which 
 gives a Corporeity tiicreunto is to be liril attrafted 
 out of the air, to the 'j.nd that Salt-petre may arife 
 thcncefrom. And this is hereby evident, for were ic 
 otherwiic, and were there in that ftone any Corporeal 
 Petre at the firft digging, it muft neccflarily be extra- 
 aedthencefrom by the help of water-, but we find it 
 impollible to make any fuch extradion, unlefs that 
 ftone be before laid for fome certain time in the air, 
 and doth,together with its foftnefs,acquire (or make) 
 Salt-petrc in a Magnctical manner. 
 
 But for all this, wc know that this our reafon fo ex- 
 ceedingly well founded, will not yet fatisfiethe unskil- 
 ful, unlefs wc make it yet more clear unto them with 
 other Expreflions, and various Examples ■■, but I pray 
 howisitpoHible to declare all fuch Circumftances to 
 one that is utterly ignorant. 'Tis too much labour to 
 boil Meat for anotlier, and to thruil it into his Mouth 
 too. It is furely fufficient enough to have fliown the 
 truth, and difcovered the way by which the operation 
 is to be contrived, though all things be not founded on 
 fuch palpable Reafons. 
 
 But forafmuch, as the work, which I treat at pre- 
 fent of, is an altogether new thing, and unknown to 
 any men,the necelTity of the thing requires,that we do 
 a little more openly and clearly exhibit(and fet down) 
 the whole knack. 
 
 We prefuppofe, that it is a thing well known alrea- 
 dy, even to all, that each thing hath in it its peculiar 
 ^lagnct, by the benefit of which, it attraQeth unto it 
 felf from ihp air, or earth, whatfoever is profitable 
 for it -, and cfpecially , becaufe we have largely treated 
 thereof in our Works-, infomuch, that we deem it 
 altogether needlefs to repeat the fame here. However 
 'tis requifite that I add thus much, viz.. That the Mi= 
 nerals do abound with a certain Magnetick Virtue, 
 more than other things do ; and that they do attrad; 
 their Life, Figure, or Shape, andEfience, out of the 
 air, likeastheAnimalsdo, that fo they maybe nou- 
 rilhed^ andencreafe; but being deftitute, or depri- 
 ved thereof, they are obfervcd to be as it were dead, 
 apd bound, or wholly void of vigor. 
 ''' As for Example- Let the Minera, or Ore of Vi- 
 triol, or Alum, bedigg'd out of the Earth, that the 
 Vitriol, or Alum in tins Minera, be already duly di- 
 gelledand ripened, the fait may evenprefently becx; 
 t'rartcd thereout of, with common water. But if they 
 have not as yet attained their full maturity, there is no 
 fait extraLT:ed thence, unlefs the Minera be firll torri- 
 iied, or calcined. Nay more, aMinera,or Ore, that 
 is yet lefs ripe, will not yield any Salt, neither by 
 the force of the fire, nor without it ; but mull be yet 
 farther cxpofedtothc air for fome time, thatio it 
 may firft attracTt that out of the air, that is requifite 
 to make Vitriol or Alum of, aiid thus (thefe things 
 being.firfl: done) the Alum, or Vicriob is mofl: eafily 
 gotten thereout of, by a convcnieat Extradion and 
 Evaporation. 
 
 We made n^ention in the fecond part of the Phih- 
 fufhicilFiirnjccs^ of a certain Minera, or Ore of Vi- 
 triol, which is plentifully found at [^Hcrckcroda in 
 Hajji/} flicking in that Earth, which in that place 
 they make their Crucibles or Pois, in great quantity 
 
 with i and we fhewed a way of making a red and 
 fweetOil of Vitriol thereof, yet with this Caution, 
 viz.. That wc fiiall not have from the faid Minera, not 
 theleall portion at all of this Oil, if we do not ex- 
 pofe it, broken in bits, to the cold air, for half a 
 year, that fo it may fall into powder. Such as have 
 heeded this going to work, have made thereof amoit 
 fweet Oil ; but fuch as have negleded the doing this, 
 which IpubliOicd out of a fincere heart, and have re- 
 duced the faid Mineral into fine powder, and labour- 
 ed to extrad a fait thcncefrom, by boiling it in fim: 
 pie water, bellowed their labour in vain, becaufe of 
 their refufing to expofethat Minera for a while to the 
 air, and they received not fo much as one Grane of 
 Vitriol •, and thereupon they took occafion to flander 
 me, and toaccufe me of Lying. 
 
 But now, when they have obferved that this Mine- 
 ral that they cafl: away, being expofed to the air, had 
 attraded therefrom a fait by its Magnetick Virtue, 
 when it had lain fo long as to mould into powder of 
 its own accord, and that thereout of a Vitriol doth 
 proceed, they were enforced to believe that there lay 
 hidden fome Vitriol in thofe Hones ; which notwith- 
 ftanding, could not be extrafted by means of water, 
 and fo they have afterward publickly confelfed, that 
 what they afore gainfay'd, or oppos'd, was agreeable 
 to the truth. 
 
 Thus like wife, there are various forts of Copper 
 fOres) endued with an attraftive power, and upon 
 that account, there cannot be feparated any Metal, by 
 fu-fion, when it is firll taken out of the Earth, unlefs 
 we have firll expofed it for fome Months unto the 
 Air. 
 
 Every Nitrous Earth, out of which Salt-petre hath 
 already been extraded, doth Twhen it is again expo- 
 fed to the airj attrad Salt-petre anew, and this we 
 obferve to happen in all Wood-afhes, but efpecially in 
 Lime- Hones Calcined ; for, it attradeth more fait 
 out of the air, than its weight was afore its being Cal- 
 cined. For, at the firll time, you will fcarce get ij, 
 or iy.tb.of fait out of a centenary, or hundred weight; 
 now by how much the longer it lies expofed to the air 
 afterwards, fo much the more plenty of fait doth it 
 yield, as is fufficiently well known already. He that 
 is ignorant of that we fpeak, or elfe cannot under- 
 fland it, let him make trial, and he Ihall find that 
 what we fay is a truth. Such as are Ideots do extream- 
 ly need thefe kind of Admonitions, thatfo, thebufi- 
 nefsbeing the better underllood, we may take from 
 them all occafion of ignorantly detrading from my 
 Writings. 
 
 I fay again, that if the ftones which we here treat 
 of, are but well known, though they do not at the firlt 
 yield any fait, by endeavouring to extrad it with fim- 
 ple water, yet is there no difficulty at all therein, nor 
 ihould we at all mind that, but let them only be left 
 in the air for fome due time, and by this means they 
 will plentifully enough attrad, and yield us, by a con- 
 venient extradion, good Salt=petre. The Ancients 
 did extrad Salt-petre, chiefly out of ftones, which 
 way of Extradion is now wholly loft, or out of ufe- 
 All thz E lire fe tins do now extrgA their Salt-petre out 
 of the Earth of the Stables where Beafts ftand ; al- 
 beit, that the very Name it felf of Salt- pctre,'doth de- 
 clare, what matter it was firft produced out of, viz.. 
 out of Rocks and ftones : For 'tis as much as to fay, 
 fait educed out of Rocks. 
 
 Nay, even to this day there is Salt-petre extraded 
 out of Rocks in the Eaft-Indies^ the which they tran- 
 fport thence in Ships into our Lands : Our Common- 
 wealth 
 
/ 
 
 Part I. 
 
 the Pfofperity of Germany. 
 
 345 
 
 wealth of Amfterd.im only doth yearly receive feme 
 thoufands of hundreds of that Salt, which isextraded 
 out of the bare Rocks without the addition of any 
 other thing ^ I wonder what the reafon is, that, that 
 way of extrarting is unknown to us Germans ; furely 
 I impute it meerly to the want of skill to manage 
 this bufinefs. 
 
 Thus therefore do we think we have fufficiently dc= 
 clared that Nitre may in very deed be cx'tra(fted out 
 offtones; and that fo clearly that I cannot fee what 
 reafon any have to misbelieve my words. 
 
 But now ihat the certainty of the thing may be the 
 
 BlefTed GGD hath vouchfafcd unto thofe places, be- 
 sides Wine and Corn fo plentifully abounding the're- 
 
 K(iz.i//jr is an Eminent I own and well built, belongs 
 to the Biflioprick of IVunsbur^y and is founded upon 
 Lime-ftone, and therefore the foil is very fruitful ; 
 and yields Wine and Corn in abundance. But as 
 foon as ever we are pa fl: over the Bridge of the Afhene 
 the Earth begins to be landy, and has abundance of 
 Flints in it, which contain in them fome Gold as well 
 as Iron. The manner of extrading it. -s defcribed la 
 the fecond part of the Profftrtty'of Gi.rina»y^ and is con 
 firmed in this third Part. 
 
 more apparent, and that no body may think it a fable, Abcut a mile diftance cppodte to the faid City is 
 
 thatSalt-petre may beextraftedoutof ftones,wc will 
 
 fliew fome places in which Salt-Petrelies in the flones 
 
 in a moll plenteous manner : And although that there 
 
 are fundry fuch places that offer themfelvcs unto us, 
 
 where the ftoncs contain Salt-petre in them, we will 
 
 demonftrate the verity of this in thofe pbces we have 
 
 lived in, for 'tis impollible for us cxprelly to pronounce 
 
 fnch or fuch a Mountain in this or that Country full of 
 
 Salt-Pctrei which places we never faw. 'Tis not 
 
 given us to fearch all places of the Earth, but fuch 
 
 places as we have feen and come to, we have left but 
 
 fcAT things in them untoucht, whofe nature we have 
 
 not throughly examined. 
 
 Therefore for Examples fake, we will take fome 
 part out of our own Country, and exhibit or Ihew unto 
 all Men, thofe ftones which are therein found to parti- 
 cipate of Salt-petre, any one that is ftudious in thefe 
 affairs may do the fame in other places, and make a 
 diligent inquiry into them, and he will find that almoft 
 all Mountains are filled therewith, and yet is known to 
 none or at leaft-wifeto but a very few. In fr..«cw, 
 (pxFranconia) and indeed at Kttz.ing where I dwelt be- 
 fore I came to HJl.ind, I often went into the Field in 
 clear weather, with an intent to fearch cut Minerals, 
 and although that fundry Men ignorant of (fuch) bufi- 
 nelFes, do leportthat there are not any Minerals atall 
 to be found in FrancoTiia^ and that never any Veins of 
 Gold or any other Metal have been found there, be- 
 caufe all the Inhabitants do live contentedly with the 
 plentiful provenue of Wine and Corn ; nor do they 
 labour about finding out any other Treafures (for there 
 is not any Country in all Ger/n.wy in which is gathered 
 more abundance of Wine, and of a better fort, than in 
 Frnnconia aforefaid ; which gathering of Wine is to be 
 accompted to the Franl::^ or Frr/rcx/iians inftead of 
 Mine-pits, and yield them imployment enough) yet 
 neverthelefs forafmuch as my mind was ever bent 
 that way, and I was naturally inclined to fearch very 
 inwardly into thofe things which offer themfelvesunto 
 us, amongit the wonderful works of the moll great 
 and glorious God, I could not omit the vifiting fuch 
 places, which fcemed to all Men as unfit for bringing 
 forth Minerals, and which were judged to be clearly 
 void of the fame, as being willing to try whether or 
 no fome things that others knew rot of might not 
 offer themfe Ives unto me. Nor was my hopes in vain, 
 for I found far more than my expeclation was, and 
 ifnecellity required I could fhew thofe very places- 
 
 But forafmuch as I have propofed to my felf, here 
 to (hew fuch places only in which Salt-petre may be 
 plentifully made, I will at this tiraepafs by the other 
 Minerals in filence : Yet fo, as not wholly to leave 
 fuch things, as offer therafelves in the way, untoucht. 
 I will therefore take in hand fome part of the Khine^ 
 which is between ^f^'V-;^ and v^/f'wjfc;/fcr^, and will 
 will very briefly (for my purpofe is not to write a 
 Chronicle; (liew what treafures the molt Great and 
 
 fituated an high Mountain , very full of huge 
 Trees, in this Mountain are various Caltles (or 
 Houfes) the chief of which is the Ci'jJU Cafl:le, which 
 is the Houfe belonging by fucceffion to the Lords of 
 the County de Cofcl : At the bottom of the Mountain 
 there is a Village of the fame name, belonging to the 
 faid Caftle for Palace- ; In this Village there are a- 
 bundanceof Springs, the Waters of moll of them I 
 have often times tafted, and have perceived them to 
 be mightily impregnated with Silt-petre, infomuch 
 that the Beafls do altogether Ihun the drinking of 
 them, much lefs can Men ufe them about the boiling 
 of their Viduals : Yet fome of them yield fweet wa> 
 ter very fit for domeftick affairs. Thefe Nitrous 
 Fountains are of no ufe, nor do they efted ought, fave 
 that they drive fome Mills, and runjthrough the Village 
 a particular way afore they fall into the Mhcne. 
 
 And forafmuch as the aforefaid Earls have known 
 that the chief part (or mofl part) of the faid Foun- 
 tains are wholefome by reafon of the plenty of Salt- 
 petre in them ; they have therefore taken care to have 
 a great Houfe built, that fo the place may be rendred 
 commodious for thofe that by reafon of fome difeafe 
 (hould come unto this place for the fake of waffling 
 their fick bodies ; and there arc abundance known to 
 come, that are ill, intheSummer time, from places far 
 remote i feveral of them too by a due ufing this Bath 
 arereflored to their former health. 
 
 They know not any other ufe of thefe nitrous- 
 Fountains than what is aforefaid ; whereas if they 
 did but know how to add fome Virtues to the faid 
 waters by the benefit ofthe Juice of the wood, of which 
 there is great ftore in that place, they would find bf 
 the ufe of them then, many wonderful effeds in the 
 curing of Difeafes. 
 
 Being therefore earneftly intent upon the fearch 
 hereof, wx:- from whence thefe nitrous Waters ffiould 
 chiefly proceed, I found that the Mountain nigh that 
 place, extending it felf for fome miles, was every 
 where full of Salt-petre, and that itiluck in the Rocks 
 themfelves, out of which whatfoever is on the Moun^ 
 tain grew. 1 did therefore diligently fearch out, 
 what condition thofe Stones were of, which the work- 
 men dig'd out in thefe places, and I knew that there 
 was a great quantity ofSaltpetre contained in them, 
 infomuch, that as many Mountains as here (abouts) 
 feem tobereplenifhed with thefame: Nay more, if 
 you ffiall break one or two of thofe Stones with which 
 the Houfes ofthe Village of Co/7f/ are built, you fliall 
 find every where in them abundance of Salt-jjetre. 
 I went to vifit the place it felf where thofe Stones are 
 digged out, but found not any Salt-petre among the 
 digging, becaufe the Air had not as yet difplaied its 
 Virtues thereupon: But I obferved that in thofe 
 ffones expofed a while to the Air, there was plenty of 
 Salt-petre- He that would fee it with his own Eyes, , 
 let him go imo any Houfe ofthe C<#/ \Mllage, whofe 
 
 Wal!' 
 
344 
 
 The Third Pan of 
 
 Parti. 
 
 Walls are of ancient (landing, andhefliall find that 
 there is abundance of Sait-petre in thofe ftones, and 
 withal, that the Pillars belonging to the Bath=houfe do 
 yearly wax lefs, for as much asfcalings of the thick-- 
 nefs of the back of a Knife do ftill fall off, by the power 
 of the feparated S.ilt=petre, as 1 have often very ac- 
 curately and curioully obft-rvcd. If the Earls or 
 Counts did but know the true ufeof this excellent and 
 
 cult Treafure, they would get far greater riches out 
 of that bare Mountain only than by all the County- 
 
 1 doubt not bwl 'hat feeing I have in this place detected 
 this Treafure, there will forae be found that will 
 labour for their own profits fake to find it out. 
 
 Not far off' from the faid Mountain the whole 
 Earth abounds with Iron, not in the forni of Veins 
 but of Reins, infomuch that the Metal of Iron offers it 
 felf in various particles or pieces of diverfe magni- 
 tudes -^ for in fome places it is found as big as an Ha^ 
 zle-nut, or an Acorn i in other places as big as an Egg, 
 or ones Fid, yea and as big fometimes as ones Head, 
 which by the force of the Fire is made facile and yields 
 abundance of Iron-, nor did I ever yet meet with any 
 Metal of that fort more excellent than that is, but no 
 body knows it, though it may be commodioufly pre 
 pared or fitted for the ufe of Man, becaufe there is in 
 this place plenty enough of Wood and Water to be 
 had [for fuch a purpole-3 
 
 Tnis Mountain llvctcheth out it felf fome milesj 
 reaching as far as Jphovui^ and the jurifdidion of the 
 City of Wurtz.hitrg \ fo that the chiefell and greateft 
 part thereof is feated in the Biflioprick oiWurtzJjiiri •• 
 And therefore might immenfe and vaftTreafuresbe 
 gotten, were there but fuch as were lovers of Art and 
 would makethemfelves skill'd in the Operation. 
 
 Befides, this Mountain yields abundance of white 
 and red Gypfum, which may be reduced to an exceed^ 
 ing whitenefs by the force of the Fire, 
 
 Befides this too, we have known Marble and Alaba- 
 Iler digg'd out hence, and yet it has not been very du- 
 rable, for it becomes nitrous after it hath lain expofed 
 d whiletothe Air, and falls to powder, and yields plen-- 
 ty of Salt-petre, were it but rightly managed, for 
 there's no want of Wood here. 
 
 There is yet moreover found in the faid Mountain 
 another Caftle which is called SwanshHrg^ and belongs 
 to the BiOioprick of f'F;.Tf;L/';.'rff, where the Soldiers did 
 heretofore ufetheMetailick Rods, to fcarch after,and 
 to fee if they could find (by the ufing them) fome Trea- 
 fures ; and they tried whether or no fthe Caftle be- 
 ing burnt by theoccafion of the Warj any fuch Trea- 
 fureslayany where hidden. What they found I do 
 not yet know: But this I know, that the faid Rods 
 did (hew good Metal to be every where Tthereabouts) 
 The which thing gave occafion of explaining or un- 
 folding the faid matter in its proper places, Befides 
 this, they digged up nothing elfe but fuch ni- 
 trous ftones for fome fathoms depth. I once viewed 
 thisplace, and found that the ftones extracted fome 
 years afore out of this Mountain vverealtogether brit- 
 tle, and isamanifeft token that the whole Mountain is 
 fill'd with Salt-petre. 
 
 There is befides this Mountain, another nitrous one 
 that I know of, of the like condition in the mid- way 
 'twixt Kitz.i)n and Wernfdd(zvA is about a miles di- 
 llance from Carlft.^dt') but that which is here had, dif- 
 fers from the forn-,er in this, I'lz.. that the ftones 
 which it exhibitsareofared colour, nor are they fo 
 much impregnated with Salt-petre, as thofe of Kit- 
 7,ing aforefaid, for they are richer in Pctrc,and arc of 
 a more aftiy colour. 
 
 There are likcwife fuch kind of ftor.es alfo that 
 they cut or dig forth at the Mhenex\tzx the City AV 
 toifddr^ but they have not in them fo much Salt-petre 
 as thofe have that are found in the Cojfel and SrvanJ- 
 burg Mountain. 
 
 There's abundance of fuch ftones in feveral places 
 ill F>rt^«,butmy purpofe is not to mention them all, 
 for I was minded to mention fuch only as my Itlfhave 
 feen, and that are near bordering upon the Aihene, 
 
 They that have a mind to deal with them may 
 make their fearch, and they will find inallCountrys of 
 the Earth fit ftones for their purpofe, the which we 
 may hereby know, if being kept a while in the Air, 
 they wax foft, and fcale oft' in moft thin leaves, and 
 there fticks to your Fingers in rubbing them off, a red- 
 dilh Meal. 
 
 Befides this too,you may have a moft certain fign of 
 
 fuch Petry places by thofe Spiders that have a fmall 
 
 body and round, and long feet, for they ftick to thofe 
 
 ftones in abundant meafure : For fuch Spiders do not 
 
 feed upon hearbs, grafs, flies cr other infefts, but oa 
 
 old Walls, and they feat themfelves chiefeft of all on 
 
 thofe aforefaid ftones. They are not all venemous as 
 
 the common houfe Spiders are, and therefore the 
 
 Children do gather them, and are much delighted 
 
 with them. Now they fticking on to the fofter fan- 
 
 difli ftones do moft certainly demonftrate that Salc» 
 
 petre is contained in them ; for tis that which they 
 
 are nourilhed with, and conferve their life by, and this 
 
 I was willing to fignify unto you- But put cafe that 
 
 that no fuch nitrous ftones were to be found, yet hows 
 
 ever there is not the opportunity denied us of making 
 
 Salt-petre of the common Lime-making ftonesjand of 
 
 them there is every where plentyenoughjif they are cal: 
 
 cined by the benefit of Wood, and made nitrous with 
 
 the juice of wood- 
 
 Whatfiiall I fay of the Calcined fxces of Tartar 
 which are yearly gathered up and thrown away in vaft 
 quantities, in all that trait which lies on the Ri- 
 ver Mhene^ between Bamberg and Franchfon^ whereas 
 notwithftanding fome hundreds of hundreds weight 
 of Salt-petre might be extraifled thence- from, did 
 they but mind it- For whatfoever Tartar is therein 
 contained, is all of it Salt-petre when 'tis duly boiled 
 with a Lixivium of Lime, and being hence Itrained, 
 and a fufficient evaporation made, it be fet by to Chry- 
 ftallize- For it attracts the foul after a magnetick 
 manner, which Operation if rightly inftituted, there 
 may be prepared thence-from a moft inflammable nitre 
 inthreedays fpace, the which islikewifeof far greater 
 profit than the getting out the Tartar by the help of a 
 Prefs, and with a great deal of labour '■, or elfe than 
 the making Potaflies, as we fee ufually done. 
 
 Befides too, there are found other ftones that being 
 burnt do yield abundance Gf Salt=petre,fuch as are the 
 Tophi forfoftfandy ftones) which may be abundant- 
 ly gathered near Trufdjhv^^ which is a Monaftery il- 
 tuate on the A^hcn:, and in other places of Qtrmmy 
 they make even whole Mountains : So tjiat it is evi- 
 dent that there is no where any want of convenient 
 matter to gather Salt-petre from, if Men would but 
 fet their hands to the work. Thefe ftones are obvi- 
 ous unto all ; and who knows what Treafures the 
 Woods (which we do not at all fearch intoj abound 
 withal ? Would time permit me I could ftiew that va- 
 rious kinds of Metals are conferved in the Mountains 
 fituate between Kitz^ing and Fratidfort^ and efpcci- 
 ally in the Sfijli-vdcnfm (Mountain,,' the difclofing of 
 which, fome other more commodious place will admit 
 of. 
 
 Now 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 945 
 
 Now follows what we mentioned of the aforefaid 
 
 LAZARUS ERCKER 
 
 Of the 7nanner of 'Boiling Salt-petrc. 
 
 AND FIRST 
 
 Bymohat means a Lixivium is to he made out of a Nitrous Earth, 
 
 IF you are minded to make a Lixivium of fuch an 
 Earth, diji, itasdeep as you (hall find by proving 
 it to be either good or naught, efpecially if you 
 intend to make it in great quantity, and keep it 
 in a dry place. Then take care to have Ibir.c great 
 wooden Tubs, or Veflels made> fo large, that each 
 of them may hold about fome ten Wheel-barrows 
 full of the Earth, and whereby you may be able to 
 prepare Lixivium enough, anfwerable to the work 
 you have propofed to your felf to do, and to the big- 
 nefs of your Copper. Now there are commonly re- 
 quired for fuch a work,to one Copper Pan that weighs 
 two hundred weight, eight Wooden VelTels which 
 are to be placed in fuch order, that on each fide there 
 may ftand four in a row,oppolite to each other. Thefe 
 fame Tubs are to be fo far diftant from the next Col- 
 lateral Velfels, as is requifite for the Wheel-Barrow 
 Wherein the Earth is brought to come between : Yea, 
 and it is necelTary that there be half an Ell's fpace be- 
 twixt the faid Tubs and the Earth, or Ground, it felf, 
 wherton they are placed. Likewife, each of the Vef 
 fels, orTutis, mult have a hole in the fore-part, and 
 towards the bottom thereof, fit to put in a Plug (or 
 Tap) at : Thenfinally,there muft be put under thofe 
 Plugs, a long VeiTel like a Channel-pipe, which may 
 receive in it the Lixivium running out of the Tubs, 
 and may guide it along into a peculiar Wooden Vef- 
 fel, as into a common Store- houfe fet in the Ea»th 
 liollowed for that purpofe, to receive the faid Lee 
 in. 
 
 All your Tubs being thus rightly ordered, put in 
 upon every Tubs bottom another (falfej wooden 
 bottom, perforated with many Holes, and let it lie 
 two Fingers breadth diftant from the true bottom: 
 Upon this Cfalfe) bottom lay yet another made of 
 Bull-ru(hes, or your fmall fort of Reeds which grow 
 plentifully in Ditches about the thicknefs of a quarter 
 of ail Ell : In want of thefe Reeds throw in upon the 
 aforementioned perforated bottom, the quantity of 
 a Span (thick) of Chopt Hay, or Straw, laying fome 
 very thin boards thereon, thatfo it may not be fcat- 
 tered (or float) abroad. And your Veflels arc made 
 compleatly ready. 
 
 Now then, put of the Earth you have already tri- 
 ed and gathered, as much into each of your Tubs, as 
 they can hold, yet with this Caution, That the top 
 part of your V^elTcl be empty a Spans heighth- And 
 obfcrve this, that if you can get fome old afhes of 
 theCtiniers, or Soap-boilers, as much of it as two 
 or three Wheel-barrows will carry, it mult be put in 
 
 upon the topmolt fmade; bottomof the Tub, afore 
 the Earth, but now fpoken of, be put in. At the top 
 of the earth, lay a Cover made of Twigs,(or Withes) 
 and faften it with a wooden flick at the topof the 
 earth- This done, pour common water upon the 
 earth contained in the Veffel, an Hands breadth in 
 heighth, fo as that it may rather touch (or be poured) 
 on the Twigs, than the Earth it felf, leaft the faid 
 earth become unequal thereby, and hollowed in feve-- 
 ral places. Let it ftand thus for eight hours, which 
 time being overpafi:, draw your Plug out, and let the 
 water you poured on, run out at the hole beneath, 
 which as long as it is muddy, you mult always pour in 
 again into the Veflel, irepeating this fo often, rill it 
 comes out clear, then keep it, and this water is cal- 
 led a weak Lee or Lixivium, 
 
 This done, pour common water again upon the 
 earth from which the Lee hath been already, once ft" 
 parated, that fo it may extrart the refidue of the Li* 
 xivium out of the earth ; and this Lee is of no ufe, 
 fave that it may be poured on upon new earth, 
 inltead of fim pie water; for it oftentimes doth 
 even yet contain a great deal of Nitre, infomuch, 
 that you may fometimes extraft out of an hundred 
 weight thereof, three or four pound of Nitre. 
 
 This Extradion being finiflied, takeout theunpror 
 fitable earth out of the VefTel, and put in new, and 
 continue the Operation, after the aforefaid manner, 
 reiterating it fo long, and fo often, until you have 
 gotten Itore enougli<of the Lixivium, that the work 
 of boiling be not intermitted for want of Lixivium. 
 
 Befides, there mult be fome Wooden Vellei placed 
 at the upper part of the Copper which this Lixivium 
 is boiled in, out of which may run fo much Lixivium 
 into the Copper as is wafted away by boiling, that fo 
 there maybe ftill kept the fame order of boiling, and 
 the famequantity of Lixivium in the Copper. 1 his 
 boiling is to be on this wife continued, until a Cente- 
 nary, or hundred weight of Lixivium in the Copper, 
 yields according to the lefsalTay (or v\ eight; twenty 
 five pounds of Nitre ; and this may be done in two 
 Days, and one Night. 
 
 This being thus done, yon muft have ready yet twd 
 
 Tubs, or Veflels (more) of Wood, made after the 
 
 afore prefcribed manner, and furnilhed with a (falfe) 
 
 perforated wooden bottom, belides its own bottom, 
 
 , and likewife with fuch a bottom as is made of Reeds 
 
 ' (or Bull rufiies) ; only you are to obferve this here ; 
 
 I That there muft beput yet another pcrtorated wooden 
 
 bottom upon this topmolt bottom of Reeds, upon 
 
 ' Tttt whicb 
 
94^ 
 
 The Third Part of 
 
 Part I, 
 
 uhich there mull be firft caft .n fome chop d Straw 
 then fome Afhes of Firr, Beach, "'"f^V ^^Ij;'; 
 fo much in quantity as may o^e';toP/h5 ^traw an 
 EllorCubir, r^/«.3 ''iS^ ; or rather ( if it may be 
 had for a very mean price) as much as may fill the 
 Tubs,orVelfels. Bi^t yet, thefe Athesarenot tobe 
 iuftfimply thrown in Cas they are) upon the Straw, 
 butafore this is done, theymuftbe Rrft well m.xt to- 
 gether, then moiftened with fome of the bell hot 
 Lixivium, that there may be made a Mafs Th n 
 vvhen the Afhes are on this wife prepared, ^"d puun 
 the VeneUthe Lixivium boil'd to itsheighth,and which 
 yields inthe proof twenty five PO^^^muft be poured 
 thereon, ashot as polllbly it may, and is to be often 
 drawn off by the lower hole, until (if troubled or 
 muddy) it becomes clear. ^ , , i ^u„ 
 
 After that all the Lee hath thus palfcd through the 
 Allies of both Tubs (the which is done upon this ac^ 
 count, Tliacalliisfatnefs maypafs into (or be left 
 with) the Afiies, which AQ^es are hereby rendred 
 ftronscr to wa!fi withal) keep it in a peculiar Vellel. 
 
 Th^n pour the common Lee or Lixivium upon the 
 Afhesremainins in the Tubs, which when it hath paf- 
 fed through the Aflies, is called the fecond ftronger 
 Lixivium: Then n-ain pour on yet a third time, hot 
 Lixivium, and when 'tis drawn off, it is called the ie- 
 cond weaker Lixivium : Laftly, the common Lee, or 
 Lixivium, may be poured on cold upon the Alhes, 
 that fo all the virtue of the fame may be wholly ex- 
 lra(fled. 
 
 The Figure before going iN.iwb. i •) will (hew you 
 the way of placing the Tubs, of preparing the Lixi- 
 vium, and ordering the boiling. 
 
 A j^re the eight Wooden Tubs, v>herem the emh is 
 
 ^"b Chanr.cU, or Conveyances^ hywhichth: wate-rrum 
 
 into the faidTubs. , , , r- ■ ■ 
 
 C Channels^ cr Gutttrs, by rvhich the LtxiVimn is 
 
 convey cd into a re Ifel fet there frndcr. 
 
 D The Fejfel m which the Ltxtvium is gathered^ or 
 
 received. ... 
 
 E The little Veffel out of which the Lixtvtum runs tn-. 
 
 to the Coffer. 
 
 F The Furnace. 
 
 G The Coffer. 
 
 H The door of the Furnace rv hereby Wood is fat tn un- 
 der the Coffcr. .n , , \ r i 
 
 I The Lower Wmd-dranght (or Jpj-hole) of the 
 
 Furnace, 
 
 K The inward pJafc of the Furnace. 
 
 L An Iron Grate-, ivhich the Wood tsfitt upon. 
 
 The manner of preparing the Liquor, out of tvhkh 
 Saltpetre may he made by Boiling. 
 
 Flrft of all, pour your fecond weaker Lixivium in- 
 to your Copper, and fet it a boiling, then let 
 your fecond ftronger Lixivium run thereinto by little 
 and little-, and then laftly, the firft Lixivium it felf, 
 andwhichisthechiefeftof all, until the Copper be 
 almoft filled, and the Lixivium be boil d enough 
 
 to fiioot. 
 
 And now when you perceive that your Liquor is 
 made ftrong enough by boiling, put in a Brals Ladle 
 
 perforated (ox full of holes) feveral times, even to 
 the bottom of the Copper, and if the Lixivium lets 
 fall out of it any Salt, yod will find it at the bottom 
 the which yon may take up with your Ladle. 
 
 Notealfo, That the Scum which at the end of 
 this Boiling is plentifully gathered, muft be carefully- 
 taken away : Now then try the readinefs of your Lixi-. 
 viums Cryftaliization, on this wife : Put either two 
 or three drops on a cold Iron,or on a Polifh'd Plate of 
 Iron, and if it ftands, or grows hard ; that is, if 
 when you turn the Iron up and down, it does not run 
 Tor flow) down, thefe arefignsof the fitnefsof your 
 Liquors Cryftaliization. Or elfe, you may put fome 
 of the Lixivium in a Brafs Veil'el, and fet it in cold 
 water, and fo you fiiall fee whether the Liquor be fit- 
 ted enough to Cryftaliize ; for aflbon as ever the Lixi- 
 vium fhall be cold, there wilibe plenty of Salt-petre 
 generated : Nay, even the very Brafs Spoon it felf 
 denotes the goodnefs of the Liquor, it beingputinto 
 the Liquor, and again taken out, it will fliow it ftick= 
 ing on it, as if it were Oil- 
 Out of a Centenary, or hundred weight of Liquor 
 thus perfedlly prepared, there will proceed more 
 thanfeventy pound of Salt-petre. 
 
 The ivay of rightly ufing the Liquor for the Gene- 
 ratingof amorc Crude Salt-petre. 
 
 POur your Liquor prepared after the afore- 
 fhown manner, out of the Copper into a narrow 
 Tub, or Veflel, made of Firr, or Pine-tree wood ^ 
 wherein let it remain quiet, till it be a little refrigera- 
 ted,andthe muddinefs,or flimynefs[^Z,i/««^]appear,and 
 you find that the fait fticks on in Granes to the fides of 
 the Vellel \ now when you perceive your Lixivium fo 
 cooled, as that you can put your finger thereinto 
 without burning, pull out the Plug, wherewith an hole 
 made in this long Veffel, about a fpan's heighth from 
 the bottom, wasfliut, or ftopt, and fo let the Liquor 
 run forth, into very great Wooden Veflels, and deep, 
 purpofely made for fuch a bufinefs \ or elfe into Cop- 
 per Pans, buried almoft (up to their Necks) in the 
 earth, ffor the cooler the place is, which they ftand 
 in, fo much the better, and the more plenty of Salt- 
 petre is gathered, and Cryftallizeth) and you will find 
 that your crude Salt-petre will Ihoot therein, the 
 thicknefsof almoft two fingers breadth, partly of a 
 whitifli colour, partly yellow, and partly blackifh- 
 
 After that this boil'd Liquor hath ftood for two 
 days, and fo many nights in the Veffel, the Lixivium 
 of the Salt-petre which fwims at top, muft betaken 
 away, which you may mix with the ftrong Lixivium, 
 and pour a fecond time upon Afhes, for elfe the Lixi- 
 vium will contract too much fatnefs, and there 
 will be no Salt generated. 
 
 Sometimes it happens, that when the Afhes are not 
 good, there's no fait at all gathered in the Liquor, in 
 which cafe there is no prefenter Remedy, than to mix 
 fuch a Lixivium ftronger than is fit, with another, and 
 fo pour ic again upon new, and good Afhes, and then 
 let the boiling be again perfefted after the afore-pre- 
 fcribed manner- 
 
 Likewife, when in the boiling you find the Lixivi- 
 um very muddy, whereby the Colleftion of the Salt 
 is oft-times hindred, it muft betaken away, and let 
 the Waflier- Womeujor Lawndrefies have it,and other 
 
 muft 
 
' 
 
 Part I. 
 
 the Pro/perity of Germany. 
 
 )4'7 
 
 mufl be fubflituted in its room, and be farther purified 
 by the help of Allies. 
 
 The Figure figned (Numb. 2.) fliews the manner of 
 preparing the Liquor by boiling, and of cxtrafting 
 and gathering the Salt thereout of. 
 
 A Lo>!£ narrow Tnbs, or FcjfJs, in which the deco- 
 Ged Lienor of the Lixi-viton is cooled, 
 
 B The Furnace wherein the Coffer ftands. 
 
 C The Man that manageth the boilings and extraSls^ 
 or draws out the [alt with a Ladky the which he lays in a 
 Withy Basket placed on the Coffer, that fo the Lixivium 
 (^w it) may again run down into tlx Coffer. 
 
 D The Itttle Basket. 
 . E The little Tub out of which the firong Lixivium runs 
 (by little and little) into the Coffer, 
 
 F Coolers^ or rejj'els^ in which the Crude Salt-petre 
 jimts. 
 
 G Four Br.ifs Pans fut in the Earthy hollowed for the 
 purfofe, in which lil^wtfe the Sz\i-^QtTC is generated (or 
 frnts-) 
 
 H j4 firong Vcjfcl whereiito the Lixivium remaining 
 after the generating (or jhooting) of the Salt- petre, is 
 put. 
 
 The IV aj to pur if e the Crude Salt-petre. 
 
 WHen all thefe things are thus done, and the 
 Lixivium that fwims at the top of the Salt- 
 fjetre is taken away, life up thofe Vedels, orBrafs 
 Pans, containing that fait, and turn them up and 
 down ill fome convenient place, that fo the refidue of 
 the Lixivium, that lies as yet in them may flow, or 
 run clearly out, into another VefTelfet thereunder. 
 
 This done, take the Salc-petre out of the Cool- 
 ers, or out of the Coppers (or Brafs Pans) with an 
 Iron Spatula, or rather with fuch an Inftrument as 
 your Plafterers ufe (cine telle, a Truel) and put it in 
 a Tub that has a hole in the bottom thereof, that fo 
 the Lixivium may be perfedlly feparated therefrom- 
 They that fell that crude Salt-petre, and not at all pu; 
 rilled, for the Salt-petre Boilers, do pour thereon 
 pure (or clear) Well-water, by the means of which, 
 it is made more white, that which is thencefrom fepa- 
 rated they do again mix with other ftronger Lixivium 
 and fo boil it up for the following ufe. 
 
 But if you have a mind to purifie this crude Nitre 
 from its fait, and all its Impurities, that it may be 
 rendred fair, and white, you are to proceed this fol- 
 lowing way : 
 
 Take almofl as much Well-water as isfufficient for 
 the diOblution oftheSalt=petre, put it in the purifying 
 Copper Velfel, firft cleaned with water, and dried 
 with a cloth, and put the fire under it, and make it 
 mofl exceeding hot, then throw in your Salt-petre 
 by little and little, and in pieces, continually ftirring 
 the Salt-petre that flicks at the bottom with a fpoon, 
 that it maybethe eafier, and fooncr dilTolved ^ this 
 only is to be obferved, that there is required a more 
 gentle fire, while the Salt-petre is caft into the Cop- 
 per, fo as the water may be kept always hot. 
 When all the Salt-petre is almoft dilTolved in the wa- 
 ter, promote the boiling thereof, by augmenting the 
 fire, then try if there be any fait in a (biggifh) grofs 
 form, redding in the bottom of the Copper VelTel, 
 
 which if you find to be, (for indeed, th^ Sa/t-pctre 
 it felf is not fo very eafily dill'olvcd, nor doth its be- 
 ing admixt in a more copious manner, at all benefit the 
 LixiviumJ take it forth with a Spoon, (qx Ladle.) 
 
 This done, feparate the Scum fwimmingat top of 
 the boiling water, tlien have ready a Brafs Velfel that 
 will hold about 5;./j^.of Liquor,fill it half full with the 
 Lixivium, fet the Vefiel in cold water to cool, and 
 youfhall find your Nitre prefently to Cryftallize, or 
 fhoot therein. 
 
 Hereby may you try whether your Purgative water 
 be firong enough, or not ^ for if 7 be ftronger than 
 is fit, you will find a little skin fpread it felf over the 
 matter contained in the Velfel, and when it comes to 
 be fo, add thereunto more hot water, keeping the 
 fire in that degree of heat, as may fuifice to keep the 
 water contained in the Copper, gently boiling- 
 
 Now when you have kept it thus boiling for fome 
 feafon, try the goodnefs of your water again, after 
 the aforefaid manner; and if you fliall find a Cry- 
 ftallization therein, and no Concretion, or heaping- 
 together, leaving a gaping, orchap in the midft, the 
 bufinefs is well done; but if it be ctherwife (than 
 thus well done) fothat it be wholly fliut in for gathers 
 a skin all over) at top, pour on hot water, until your 
 Matters come to fucceed after the manner afore= 
 faid. 
 
 Then after all this, take of the beft Wine Vinegar, 
 about oTie pound thereof, and pour it into the faid 
 water, and you will prefently fee a blackiOi fpurae, 
 or filtharifein plenty at the top thereof, and when 
 you have left it fo a while, it may be eaiily taken off, 
 becaule of the thicknefs it contrad^.s. 
 
 The boiling being yet a while longer continued, 
 pour in the fame quantity of Vinegar again, and di- 
 ligently feparate the Scum as afore: This pouring on 
 of Vinegar, and feparating of the Scum, may be re- 
 peated yet a third time, and oftner, whereby the 
 purgatory water may be made altogether pure, and 
 that there appears not any more fpume. 
 
 When all this isdone,caft in upon this water two or 
 three Ounces of Burnt: Alum, moft finely powdered, 
 ftir all well with a Spatula, whereby the Salt-petre 
 may fhoot into longer Cryftals. 
 
 Then after this, pour out the purgatory water in- 
 to the aforementioned deep Veflels, and cover them 
 over with Linen Cloths, that the Liquor cool not. 
 Let it ftand thus one hour or two at moft, and a yel- 
 low llime will fettle to the bottom : Then let the wa- 
 ter while it is yet warm flow out hence, into other 
 Veffels made of wood, and efpecially of Elm, and 
 which are large enough ; or elfe, you may let ic run 
 into Copper Pans fct deep in the Earth, for the better 
 coolings fake, which cover over very neatly with 
 Cloths, that fo the Cryftallization may begin from 
 the bottom, and not at the upper part, as we fee ic 
 wont to happen, where it is not kept by Coverings 
 from the External cold : And we alfo obferve therein 
 too, that the Cryftals fhoot not into that length, as 
 when the Cryftallization begins from the bottom. 
 
 Let them ftand thus for two or three days, until you 
 fee no more Cryftals generated, which you may 011 
 this wife try. 
 
 Put fome of the Lixivium in your Clittle) proba- 
 tory Veflel, wherein, if you find that there are no 
 more Cryftals generated, you may take out the reft 
 of the Lixivium : Then take out the Petre with an 
 Iron Spatula (or Truel j and put it into a Velfel that 
 is full of holes in the bottom, that fo all the Lixivium 
 may be the better feparated therefrom- And you fhall 
 
 hav? 
 
548 
 
 The Third Fart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 iiavc your Salt-petre pure and white, and freed from 
 its Salt. 
 
 Forafmuch'as the Lixivium liere feparated hath as 
 yet fome faltnefs in it, it may be mixed with other 
 Ih'ong Lixivium to be(agen)boil'd iip,for the prod uifti- 
 onof the Crude Salt-pccre is ufualiy holpen forward 
 there- withal. 
 
 Some there are that for the better purifying the 
 Pctrc, do pui Calx vive in together (with it) whereby 
 tiie water becomes moft white like Milk, and the Salt- 
 petre gets a greater fairnefs. 
 
 You mufl: withaLobferve that during the time that 
 the purifying watei is contained in the Copper, your 
 fire mult be raoft gentle, leaft by overmuch boil-- 
 ing you get fome damage, for a little fire is a- 
 ble eafiiy to caufe (a too vehement) ebullition, and 
 v.'hen it has get flrcngth (or the ftart of you) it is 
 hardly allayed again. The fcum which you take off 
 from it you may pour upon alhes as if it were a Lixivi- 
 um, that To nothing ffvom whence any profit can be 
 hoped for) may be loft. 
 
 There is fomet i mes feen to flick t;o the bottom of the 
 Copper Tefpecially when it is ufed about many boil- 
 ings) a certainllony and hard fubltance like Tartar) 
 which unlefs it be taken away, your Copper willeafily 
 lufFcr damage under that fame matter and be 
 burnt. 
 
 The earth and alhes left, after the weak Lixivium 
 (hath pad through them) are to be laid up in fome 
 convenient place", and there kept for four years or 
 more, that fo they may be again apt to yield a- new 
 more Lixivium by extradion ; which, that it may be 
 the better and eailer done, there muft be made in them 
 (many weeks afore they are wrought upon) by digging 
 Ibme Pits or Gutters, that fo they may be freed by 
 the heat of the Sun from that moifture wherewith they 
 as yet abound- Nor dothe ancients fo much wander 
 from the Truth in that they fuppofe it much better 
 and more profitable to keep all the earth under a roof 
 or (hed, and that it will be far fooner reduced unto 
 a fitting goodnefs, than to lie open to the weather, for 
 much of'the Salt-petre is corrupted Cor fpoiled) with 
 an abundance of moifture.efpecially with the Rain it 
 felf : For it needs only a little wetting whereby it may 
 be generated, and extreamly (huns, or is injured by 
 too much moifture. 
 
 Befidesthefe ways, there are many that mix with 
 this earth that is yet contained in the Tub the Saw- 
 duft of Firr, or fome other Wood Cthe height of ) 
 a Fingers length (on it) : And they perfwade that 
 Salt-petre is alfo generated and multiplied from that 
 fatnefs which is mixed with the Savv-duft, and that 
 the earth prepared on this wife can be fo changed in a 
 years fpace (fo it be kept in a dry place) that it may be 
 again made ufe of as afore. Yea and they fuppofe too 
 that they can do much here, if they pour upon fuch a 
 barren (or lean) earth, thus lying in a dry plape, the 
 reliques or remains of the dyes, which the Dyers are 
 olherwife wont to throw away, and evident it is that 
 they are aluminous, but yet not fo frequently. 
 
 Belides fuch waters of the Ojf'-nhey are wont alfo 
 to mix foot with their earth, (yea and the aftes too of 
 which Lawndrefles do" commonly make their Leei ) 
 that fo it may be made the more fruitful and may be 
 the fooner brought to ufe- 
 
 This only is to be noted, that there are fometimcs 
 foundearths that givca thick black Lee, which being 
 ufed by it felf is too fat, to whicli is to be added a 
 leaner ad dryer earth, that fo the Salt-petre may be 
 the better and more plentifully generated. 
 
 The way therefore how, and the inftruments by 
 which crude Salt-pecre«is purifycd, is ftiovvn by the 
 6 and 8 Figure (in Laz.aria Enkcr^s Book I think 
 he means.) 
 
 The manner of purify /fig the grofs and hlackifi 
 Sale that comes out of the Salt petre. 
 
 THat black or rather afhy colour Salt, which is 
 found in the Copper while the nitre is prepared 
 by boiling, and likewife in the narrow Tub or Velfel, 
 may be reduced into very good Salt, and very conve- 
 nient for daily ufe, and no way^ at all hurtful to Man, 
 if it be but duly purified ■, which faid purification is 
 to be thus ordered. 
 
 The Copper being well cleaned fill it with molt 
 clear Well-water, put fire under it and make it boil, 
 throw in the faid Salt by times (not all at once)into the 
 boiling water, that fo it may be dilfolved •, which,that 
 it may be the fooner and better done, ftir it continually 
 with a S/'<?f"/.«,when you think that it is all diifolved 
 pourout the Lixivkim'into fome Veffel or Tub, & you 
 [hall fee the groiler part will fettle to the botroni, and 
 the Lixivium will clearup : When you perceive this, 
 pour this clear Lixivium again into the cleanfed Cop- 
 per, and boil it fo long till the Salt fettles to the bot- 
 tom, which take out of the faid Copper with a perfo- 
 rated Ladle, and put it in a Basket that is placed over 
 the Copper, that fo allthe fuperfluojs Lee or moifture 
 may again run down into the Copper, and yields (or 
 leaves) the Salt perfed and dry. 
 
 Some there are who afore they ufe this Salt about 
 domeftick affairs, do decrepitate it firft, and perfwade 
 themfelves that ic becomes thereby the more virtuous 
 (orftrong) 
 
 What remains behind of the Lixivium in the Cop- 
 per, you may boil it up like as you would any other 
 Lixivium appointed to be Cryftallized, then pour iC 
 out into the VefFels deftinated to that purpofe, and 
 you (hall fee Salt-petre to be generated in them \ for 
 feeing the faid Salt proceedeth out of the Salt-petre, 
 this Lixivium cannot be wholly void of Salt- petre, 
 and therefore may it be feparated from that Salt by 
 the aforefaid way, and be purified. 
 
 But you are to note here, that where there is too 
 great a quantity of Salt-petre permixt with the 
 faid Salt, or that the Salt it felf is too black and im- 
 pure, that Salt cannot get its due luftre and whitenefs 
 by barely one fuch a purifying Operation, and there- 
 fore there is requilite a reiteration of this Operation, 
 fo that it be again dilfolved in new water, and be pu- 
 rify ed, whereby it may become altogether white. 
 
 However, fuch a black and impure Salt, maybe pu- 
 rified even by this way ffollowing.) Pour thefolutioa 
 it felfi while 'tis yet hot, (the water I mean in which 
 the Salt is dilfolved) upon the afhes whicha Lixivium 
 hath been already poured on before, and you fhall fee 
 the Salt Lixivium to be wholly purified: Rut yet all 
 the Salt which is extraded thence, is not fufficiently 
 white, but that which is gathered laftof all is yellow- 
 ifh, and therefore muft be yet once again purified. 
 Note alfo here, that when fuch a Lixivium of Salt is 
 poured on the alhes, they muft be well edulcorated 
 (after the operation is fini(hed)Ieaft the Salt ftickingin 
 the Reedy or Bull-rulh-bottomfhouldgive an unfitting 
 ' faltnefs to theLixivium that is nextpoured thereupon. 
 
 And thus have you the common method of boiling 
 and preparing Saltpetre, in which you meet with 
 
 what 
 
Part I. 
 
 what may be well difallowcd or rejcdl;ed, viz.. it is ex- 
 treamly tedious, nor is it at all gainful, for out of a 
 centenary of Lixivium, we have no more than three or 
 four pound of Pctre •, to pet which too, all the reft of 
 the water muft be done off by evaporation, which is 
 a long time doing, and requires no fmall cofts. Yet 
 I will (hew in what follous, by what means this incon- 
 venience may be prevented, which I have proved by 
 mine own experience. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 The 
 
 way of augmentingthe Crude Lixivium 
 afore its boiling. 
 
 TH E Salt pctre boilers have hitherto varioufly 
 fought after the way of augmenting \ or fortify- 
 ing) the Lixivium of Salt-petre, that is, of cauling a 
 more plentiful provenue of Salt-petre, in the Water 
 remainingof the extraction of Salt-petre, but in vain, 
 becaufethey were ignorant of the lefler proof which 
 all things here arc tried by. Us augmentation is done, 
 on this wife- 
 Take of a Lixivium,a Centenary of which contains 
 ».'»;ft>. of Nitre, pour fo much of it as a Tub or Vcilel 
 will hold, upon new earth,let it ftand for twelve hours ^ 
 then draw otf the Lixivium, and as much as you find 
 wanting of what you poured on (which may eafily be 
 known by the emptinefs of the meafure which it 
 was in, afore you poured it on, and in which it is now 
 gathered or received againjpour fo much fimple wa- 
 ter on the Earth, which draw ofl'in like manner, and 
 mix it with the Lixivium, and you will then have the 
 fame quantity that you had in your Veffel afore. This 
 ,done try the Lixivium by the lefFer experiment or 
 proof and you will find it to contain 17. ft. of Nitre. 
 Pour this Lixivium that contains in it vjAh of Nitre 
 upon other new earth, and proceed on the manner a- 
 forcfaid, and you fiiall have your Lixivium to contain 
 »A-.lb. of Nitre. You may pour this a third time upon 
 other new earth & proceed on with it after the afore-- 
 faid manner,and you Qiall yet have more Nitre out of a 
 Centenary of Lixivium. But you mull be always wary 
 in this Operation, that you draw off, neither more nor 
 lefs Lixivium from the earth than you had before in 
 theVeflel. Thefe things it pleafed me to add, con- 
 cerning the fecond pouring on of water, mcerly for 
 the experiments or proofs fake, whereby we maybe 
 made certain of the augmentation thereof (forafmuch 
 as the Lixivium doth by this means hold in it more Ni= 
 trej and that we may be forced to acknowledge its 
 augmentation even in that way. Then after this is 
 done, you may ufe the weaker Lixivium inftead of wa- 
 ter, to fill up .the firft meafure, and fo the Lixivium 
 will be the eafier, and more augmented ; and we may 
 in a fliort time have fufficient quantity hereof for to 
 boil. And although this augmentation of the Lixivi- 
 um requires a great deal of labour, yet are all the 
 (pains, &c.) recompenfed, becaufe we hereby get in 
 one Weeks fpace,and with lefsexpence of Wood, far 
 more Nitre than by the other common ways : But yet 
 there are requifite more Vefiels for this kind of work- 
 ing, wherein the feparatcd Lixivium may be kept. 
 
 1 will alio give the Reader a manududlion here, by 
 what way the boiling of the Lixivium is to be ordered, 
 or contrived: Firft of all, this is well to be regarded, 
 that forafmuch as a great boiling requires a great 
 quantity of earth, and yet there does not at all times, 
 earth oi: a like gcodijefs oficr it felf (cfpecially i'eeing a 
 Man cannot make p,4:)of of it all; upon which the cofts 
 
 349 
 
 and labours (nccefiary about it; may be well (cr aC 
 the beft hand; bcfiovved: It fcems wholly expedient, 
 not to makefuch a great Coction (or boiling-trade) 
 but to CO It with only three or four Tubs, that fb we 
 may choofc only the beft convenient earth, which we 
 may dig in the Cities (or Towns; out of Houfesof 
 long ftandmg, and out of Stables, but yet not too 
 deep : Such a Lixivium as contains in an hundred 
 weight of 11 eight pounds of Nitre, may be incrcafed 
 toeighteencrtwciitypounds, if we proceed accord- 
 ing to the cforefaid method. %A therefore fuch 
 Nitre boilers as inhabit thoferes.ions where there is 
 fcarcity of Wood may give hereunto good heed- 
 
 Now the Lixivium augmented on this wife, dcth 
 not attraa al) the nitre out of the earth it felf.but there 
 doth yet fome always remain behind : And therefore 
 you need not prefently throw it avvay,but pour there- 
 upon fome fimple Waters, which after it hath ftood 
 thereon for fome hours, draw ofi" again, and'you fiiall 
 havcaweakLixiviuiiijWhich you may try by the proof,- 
 and proceed on therewith in the method ofaugmcii' 
 ting if, and fo you will have a continual labour- 
 
 Thislikewifeistobeobfervedin an efpecial man-- 
 ner,let the Work-houfe in which this boiling up of 
 your Salt-petre is done, be very low, and covered with 
 thatch, that fo the heat may be the better kept about 
 the Tubs, and this Operation may be done as well in 
 the Winter asin the Summer, and that the weak Li- 
 xivium may not at all congeal- 
 
 And now, even as Salt- petrels made by boiling, out 
 oftheLixivium which is made of Earth, even lb is ic 
 of that Lixivium which is gotten out of Stones or the 
 Lime (and Dung) Arches (a fore-fpoken of^; onlv 
 there is this difference, That this laft way of my con- 
 trivance (with ftones &c.) is eafier, and yields more 
 Nitre. Such as are pleafed with this kind of work 
 may fet about it, nor will they beftow their Labours in 
 vain i there may be abundance of things, and thofc 
 wonderful ones too, eifedled with Salt-petre, as 1 have 
 abundantly demonftratcd in my foregoing Writings, 
 
 and fiiall in my followingonestoo,more clearly dcmon- 
 ftrate if God vouchfafe ftrength and abilities. 
 
 But before 1 come to the pradice it felf, and to de- 
 fcribc the benefits of Salt-petre in fpecie (or in parti- 
 cular) it is wholly neceliary to Ihew how wonder- 
 ful, yea how incomparable a fubjedt, that Salt-petre is. 
 And this thing I have already handled at large in the 
 Second Part of the Phdfophical Furnaces^ in the StconU 
 Pan of the Phannacopaia Spagyrica.hut efpecially in my 
 Alnaailum Mnndi, and in the Explkation, and Comi- 
 matton, and Defence of the fame. 
 
 Here the Author runs out into a large digrejfwn in his 
 ovon Vindication-, upon the occafion of certain Letters fent 
 himhy one J. H. S. rvhoStikdhimJclf the Son of Sendi- 
 vogiuSi in which Letters he highly extots the Her- 
 mttck learning of the Author .^but bLimes him for Writing 
 fo plainly of great fecrets, add exhorts him to be ?nore 
 fparing and obfcure for the future. Withal offering his 
 jervice {and begging the Authors leave} to defend his Per., 
 fon and Writings again ft Farnner and others. The Au- 
 thor not taking his advice nor yet accepting of his fervice 
 (fufpe^ing him to be a felf defigner ) tl:is I, H. S. aftcr- 
 iv.irds putlijhed a Book emitule^ LucernaSalis Philofo- 
 phorum. In which he offers to teach' the makin-y of the 
 Philofophers-ftone at a price or rew.nd ; and ^reproach-. 
 f'/:) Glauber whom he before had fo highly maantftsd in fe- 
 ver al Letters., adviftng People to avoid his writings as S:- 
 phiftical. In this Treatife he rpemions a PrediElion or 
 Prophecy of three Monarchs tkn wire to app.ar injhe 
 Uuuu World: 
 
550 
 
 The Third Part of 
 
 Part I 
 
 World : ThcjirftofV:^\-ACQ\^v\S^onccr)ihig Ellas the Ar^ 
 tiji. Secondly^ That of Cofmopolita of the comma of the 
 Northern Monarch- Thirdly, Th.'.t of Jacob Behmen, 
 That a Lily ]hall brin^ forth Fhmrs from the North. 
 He intimutcs that himfelfh the Ellas of Jrts. Secondly, 
 n^tfome Northern Monavch jhall do mihtyti.mp in 
 the World : A"d Thirdly, that the iVrtttms of Jacob 
 V>t\\mtV\hnldbea-raiH Vrinteda new. After the Anthor 
 b.ithjhwed the iHdealinz of this I. H. S. ^vlth him, and 
 -vindicated himflf, thoihcfroceeds briefly to Comment up- 
 on thife three Freditriufis cr Prcr^heiics. 
 
 By what hath been f3id,may the Candid and well- 
 minded Reader juclt'^cwhat judgment is to be had of 
 this Monarch of Arts I. H. S. Every one that reads 
 them will find whether or no fuch a Monarchy is to be 
 exi^edcd from iuch a ones Writings. But now that 
 1 my fcif may likewife here prodnce my opinion, con- 
 tcrning F^vraccljns his meaning where he writeth, 1 fay 
 th.it the mofi eminent Secrets rviUmt be known afore Ellas 
 the Art if- jhall come and te.ich them : (But 1 pray) what 
 hath the holy Man Elias to do with Arts ? verily no 
 thingat a II. P^r.ice//^^ minded or pointed at fome other 
 thing, he well knew, that no body comes unto fuch 
 knowledge, unlcfs by Revelation from God, by godly 
 Prayers, and by fcarching : This is the true Eltas 
 which Paracelfus fpeakethof, if rW;:..)the word Elias 
 be read backwards, and E changed into A : For then 
 'tis the fame with S,i//.<that is^Salts) fuch as thefeC-z^tc. 
 falts)are known unto,to them is Ehas a mafter or teach= 
 er- And where the faid Paracelfus fpeaketh of Salts he 
 ndds A'.chimyfi'ids it (to be) m Nitre : Hereby (hewing 
 and pointing at Salia, Salts, which word being read 
 backward is Elias} Andthis is my opinion as touch- 
 ing the coming of Elias the Artift, and I do yet Tagain) 
 fay, that to him to whom Salts are known, hath Elias 
 appeared. And letthisbe fufhcient to have fpoken 
 of the firft Monarchy of I. H- S. and what is to be 
 judged thereof. 
 
 71 
 
 that the Lion fhall be cxpcfted out of the North, if 
 Paraccijiii did by it underftand or mean Salt-petre, for 
 that cannot be faid to be e.xpcfted (or waited for; 
 which hath always been ? Surely the approach of this 
 Northern Lion is not to be fuppofed or thought to be 
 as to the ouifideafpect and known ufe, but only accord: 
 ing to the internal virtue, & the Treafure thereinjhid- 
 den^ concerning which, thePhilofophers have writ- 
 ten many things enigmatically, and kept up all things 
 molt fecretly. Verily he to whom the infide of Salt- 
 petre is known will be able to report wonderful things, 
 for 'tis that only that is the true Monarch, and is ablp 
 to inftitute a good governance for thofe that polfefs 
 and know it. This Monarch will not be to any one a 
 ftirrer up to kill others, and to take from others their 
 Goods and Kingdoms, and to difquiet the whole 
 World, as we fee other Monarchs do,but he will bring 
 Peace and Concord, and will perfwade the Soldiers to 
 ftay at home and to get their food by the labour of 
 their hands, and not to (lied the blood of the innocent ; 
 he will injoin the greedy Ulurers to be beneficial to 
 the, poor & to put an end to their immoderate ufury ; 
 he will lliew to the Divines, that all their contenti- 
 ons are vain, and that they caufe nothing but inquie- 
 tude, dillention and difcord amongft Men, and will 
 require at their hands to Preach concerning friendfhip 
 to, and love of ones Neighbour, which under this un- 
 profitable contending is wholly loft, and to banilh 
 away all hatred ^ and contrary^wife to ftrive after pa- 
 tience and Chriftian humility- Thefe kind of Do- 
 (ftrines and governance the inward or infide knowledge 
 of the Northern Lion will bring with him, and noc 
 any War orlheddingof Blood. But afore the faid 
 Lion is tamed and made gentle, he is very ravenousj 
 and the venomous Bafilisk, and devouring Dragon, 
 preying both upou Men and Beafts, demolifhing Cities 
 and Caftles, and deftroying Goods and Men together. 
 Thus have I in brief expounded my opinion of the com- 
 ing of the Lion from the North, let every one believe 
 it as helifteth. Aud thus much fhall fuflice for the 
 Second Monarchy, and how it is tobeunderftood. 
 
 Nowfo/lows the Second U.omvc\iy. 
 
 AS for thefccond Monarchy, he alledgeththe Pro- 
 phecy of Puraceljns, which vuns thus : A Lion 
 jh III C' >nc from the North, and become the Monarch of the 
 World: Which Prediction is not at all to be under= 
 Hood according to the Letter. What has Paracelfus 
 to do with the Northern Lion? What bufinefs has he 
 with theMonarch of ihe World. Some there arethat 
 endeavour to attribute that Prophecy to one or other 
 of the Northern Kings, but yet that was notin theleaft 
 Paracclfiis's meaning,he drove at a far other-guefs bn- 
 iinefs, and by that Lion he meant Salt-nitre, which is 
 wont to be brought unto us by the Northern Winds, 
 Kain and Snow, and that feveral times yearly as is 
 well known unto all -, hereuiion many amongft the 
 PhiloIophers,andfomcofthem the latter Philolophers, 
 liave filled great Vefiels with the Rain and Snow that 
 tomes out of the North, and aimed at the preparation 
 of a Tinfture thereout of, but they found nothing elfe 
 bat Sqlt-petre, which to get, I have fliown a much 
 
 iliortcr way. „_ 
 
 Paracelfus, Bjflins, and Others have Written many 
 things of the'green and red Lion, all which are to be 
 iinderftood of Salt nitre.which may moft eafily be tran- 
 fmuted into the green or red Lion, concernmg which 
 thing I ray fclf have made mention in many places. 
 But fome or other may reply. How can it be faid 
 
 Now follows the third Monarchical Prophecy. 
 
 AS for what concerns the third Prophecy which 
 I H-S. doth alfo make mentiou of, (&willhave 
 itj to concern a certain Writer, whofe name is Jacob 
 Bchmen-iwho exercifed the Shooe-.makcrs Craft,and pub- 
 liflied many Theological and alfo Chymical things, 
 which John Beth doth again Print : As far as I knovs" 
 by his writings, he was an honeft Man, but I do not 
 know what he underftood in Alchimy •, but however 
 this is evident, that he never exercifed or pradifed 
 Chymical Operations, and that his Chymical writings 
 are moftdifficultto be underftood, but his Theologi= 
 calwritings are read by many. My opinion concerning 
 the bufinefs is this, that this fame 1. H. S, was minded 
 to quarrel with me, that fo there being a brawling 
 bred between us he might make liis Books the more 
 faleable. 1 have therefore thus plainly anfwcred him, 
 but if he proceed on incontrarying and oppofing me, 
 1 ftall be conftrained Nolens niens to meet with him 
 another kind of way, for I am even wearied and glut- 
 ted with contention- If he will needs brawl and Icold 
 let him do it with thofe that have no work to do, fuch 
 as hehimfclf & his allociates are, who have no Family 
 to rule and look after, 1 can for -yiy own part beftow 
 my time better than in thofe con^-^ntions, which bring 
 
 no 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Prosperity of Germany. 
 
 351 
 
 no profit, but only to the Bookfeller, whofe Books be- 
 
 I fore they arc known fell well. 
 
 ! But to conclude, I will in a few words open the ill 
 
 afFedcd mind of J. H.S. to the Candid Reader.When 
 
 I had lookt into his Treatife, and perceived that he 
 
 had ranked mc amongft the Sophifters, I fliowed to 
 
 fomeof my faithful Friends, the Letters which be had 
 
 written unto me, that fo I might hear their Judgment 
 
 i concerning them; verily, there was not one amongft 
 
 ' Ihera all, but wondered at the wicked mind and falfe- 
 
 joefs of this Man : Yea, one of them did afterwards 
 
 Inform him by his Letters, what way I had purpofed 
 
 to take, wi. again to wipe off that undeferved Title 
 
 'he had put upon me, and to defend my felf againft 
 
 fuch Monftrous Impiety, To which he received from 
 
 the faid J- H- S. an Anfwer, which he likewife fhew- 
 
 ed me, wherein ('mongft other things) he pretends, 
 
 that the caufc of his hatred \_ againft me ] was, 
 
 becaufe I had in fome places written fo very clearly of 
 
 the Univerfal Medicine : Yea, and he farther adds, 
 
 that it is no fuch great defpiling one, or Contempt to 
 
 call one a Sophifter ; for Geber was accounted for a 
 
 ; Sophifter, and yet was he a King. And that if I wrote 
 
 1 againft him, he would do the fame againft mc, and 
 
 endamage not only me, but my Children too ; which 
 Epiftle is ycc kept fafe. Now let any Honeft Man coa- 
 (ider whether this be a Human, or Diabolical artion. 
 
 Some, whenthcy heard this, pcrfwaded mctopafs 
 overall in filcnccand thatthcre would come of it fuch 
 another brawling bufinefsaswas wiihFarmier^ whofe 
 Exhortation I yielded to, that I would not fo much as 
 once anfwer him, how great; Lits foever he told, buc 
 rather purpofed by referring all till the next Spring, to 
 getmc Friends by the benefit of my very eminent In^ 
 ventions (God willingj which fliould not only inter- 
 cede, orftandupfor mc, butal.-o for my Children 
 too, after my Deceafc : I doubt not, but that there 
 may be fome principal perfons found, which are ca- 
 pable of overturning fuch Inhuman Perverfenefs. 
 
 Thefefew things was I conftrained to add (in a Pa- 
 renthefis) for the defence of my Writings, thereby 
 topaintoutthedeceitfulncfsof Men, and to difcover 
 what is to be opinionated concerning fuch turn-coated 
 Foxes : The which I entreat the Reader not to take 
 in evil part, but to accept of the Secrets laid open in 
 this Treatife, as a Reward for his pains in reading this 
 Apology. 
 
 Now follows the Moft Potent Lion, and Monarch of the North; 
 to whom none in the World may be compared, nor did ever any 
 excel him in GJory and Power, ovjhall be like unto him. 
 
 BUt before 1 begin to write any thing of that Om- 
 nipotent Monarch, I have thought it profitable 
 to add here in this place, for the better knowledge of 
 the fame, Paracdfus his Prophefie, as I met witli it, 
 whereby any one that is skill'd in nature, may fuffici- 
 ently fee, that Paracdfus did not mean a King, but 
 the great Philofophical Miftery, and would point that 
 out unto us : His Words therefore are as follows. 
 
 The Prophefie of Dr. fUh^ TJ^eophraUus 
 ^ar^celfus of the Northern Lion, 
 
 THey will not leave me in my Sepulchre^ hut wiU hale 
 me out thence, and lay me down towards the Eafi : 
 And I do foretell unto you^ that there are three great 
 Treajitres hidden, 
 
 1 . The Firfi is at Weyda, at the Alps of Julia. 
 
 2. The Second is between Suevia, W Bavaria ■• The 
 flace I do not poine of, becaufe of avoiding the being the 
 original of many evtls^ and becaufe of the fiedding of 
 Blond. "^ 
 
 3. The Third is between Sp^'in and FrztlCC. 
 
 He now that fltall find thefe, will be carried iuTri-. 
 umphy and be admired by all : Likewife between Suevia 
 (or Scawben) and Bavaria, thtre are Books which con- 
 tain no mean and common Artifices, that will offer them- 
 fdves together with precious Stones and a Carbuncle. 
 
 I Will here likewife declare the Aae of fitcb as Oiall 
 findthem. i, J J *^ I 
 
 The Firfi will be 3 1 years old. 
 The Second 50 years old. 
 
 The Third z8 years old. 
 
 And thefe fhall be found not long after the e.vitfor ruine) 
 of the AnRrhn Empire, and it Jhall happen^ that in this 
 very fame time, a Tellow Lionfiiall come out of the North, 
 which Jljallbe Perfeciitorof theEagle^ and at length its 
 Concjuerour • He fiiall fubjeil under this Empire all Eu- 
 rope, and a part of Afia^«^ AfFrica, and pull (roftfs 
 the good and Chriftian Religion, and fiiall have many 
 Followers thereof. It fihill (irfi of all be a mofi trouble- 
 fom work^for him to chafe away the Claws of the Eagle 
 out of the Empire -^ but afore this comes to p.4fs^ there will 
 arife extrcamly great Dijfentions.^ and various Grudges 
 amongft all Men in all Countries ; the Inferior will rife 
 againft the Superior^ fo that there will be a great tumult^ 
 but yet notwithftandmg the Members fiiall fuffer thepu- 
 nifiiments of their wickedne/s, and the head abide fife. 
 
 Nor fiull here be an end, but there {hall he kindled t» 
 great fire., which fiiall turn all into afiies, but the Omni- 
 potent God will be at h.wd to help his own people, for there 
 fiiall yet remain a fmaJl fparkle of Piety., which will take 
 rooting, andencreafe by little and little, and firike a ter- 
 rour into the plundering Robbers, and make that alive, 
 which feim: to be dead. The Enemies and Perfecutors of 
 Chrift, will call themfehes powerful, and every where 
 bring in great Devaftations, injomnch that there will fee/n 
 to be an end of our Anions. 
 
 Now whilpthe Emmy is placed in the very topmoft pitch 
 of fortune, the moji Jiift GoJy will (by the help of a f malt 
 company) deftroy, and utterly root out the Northern Lion 
 accompanying him, together with all his Cle> ks ; yet abun- 
 dance fiiall be Converted, and believe on his Omnipotence 
 and in the mofi Holy Name of God. * 
 
 When therefore this Lion hath gotten the Eagles Scepter, 
 everybody wfU reverence, andrunaftcrhis Mnjefty: He 
 
 fiiag 
 
552 
 
 The Third Fan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 [UU beporroJitliN De.ds ana Cvurijds^ rr.d the Subjdti 
 that mw refiifc himJluiH receive him VDuhihegreutvfijoy^ 
 and fixl^ovrUd^ him their S'ipfrior. 
 
 Then miifi "the afonfaid Treafure ^tvrixt Suevia and 
 Bavaria he found, which is equivalent to the Rubes of 
 twelve KiKgdoMis^ rrhere alfo lies hid^ a Carhmik, as 
 ii/ as an E^g-, richer than any price- 
 
 "The otUr Yreajure that lieshetiveen Spain and France, 
 is indeed great and fotent, bnt yet it gives pUce to the 
 former^ it Jlmllhe /natifefied at thecntrance of the Lion 
 that comes from the North, and, Tvhich jhjl t. ks '^^ 
 £agte, andthcfiat Itgth jhalhr.cn co>ifiderwdl what I 
 
 Tlicop!ira(lus/wwk(7A r n i r- 
 
 Now when the praifed Nmhirn Lioi hath fifiijli.d his 
 Coirfe, end hath broken the edge of the Eagles Cl.ivos^ 
 then Jhall Peace and Concord every where fpeedily and ve- 
 hemcf.tlyfly thereiwtn^ hut yet he will fend afore, fame figns 
 and tokens by which It flull appear lu, to us, that the Mef- 
 jengers fent forth Jliall dtcUre the coming of the Lord. 
 There IS yet one chly tling that I Theophraftus do beg at 
 your hands, that y d) not a-.y of )0.'i impute unto me the 
 things which Jnowl.iy open ^ forafmnch as I cannot be a-. 
 gaif'll-theWtllof Gid, whuh J mn/l put in execution in 
 the Nature of things. 
 
 Thrfe are thoj'c Secrets of Secrets that I was willing to 
 open Hto you. This Treafure far exceeds other Trea- 
 fures j my Jrts are hidden in that place betwixt Suevia 
 and Bavaria, and they arc thefe, viz- Tlie true Tranf- 
 mutation of Metals of a fliort way : The Uiiiverfal, 
 more than pcrfcd : The fo much talked of AurumPo- 
 tabile, rmd Philofophers ftone : But he that by the gui- 
 dance of God has an entrance opened to the ftnding of 
 
 The Epitaph of Theophraftus Paracelfus^ 
 ivhich is to be Jeen Engmycd on a Stone at 
 Sakzbiirg, in the Hofpital of St. Sebz- 
 ftian, creeled again/} the Wall of the 
 Church, 
 
 Ere lies Buried Thilippus Theophrafltis^ 
 
 an Eminent Do61or of Phyfick ; 
 
 Who by a Wonderful Arc, took 
 
 away thofe Dire Maladies, the Leprofie^ 
 
 Goiitj Dropfie, and other the Incurable 
 
 Di(ea(es of the Body ; and Honourably 
 
 Diftributed, and gave his Goods unto 
 
 the Poor. He Died the z^th. Day of 
 
 September, Jnm i 541. 
 
 How could he be polTibly more praifed after his 
 Death, than I fee to be done by this Epitaph. Bun 
 yet I would not have you thinlc that 1 delire you to acs 
 count of my Opinion as if it were Gofpel. It pleafed 
 me here to put it for this end, to fhew, what my 
 thoughts are, as concerning this thing, every one 
 them Jliall there fnd (befides other flones) a precious may believe as lifteth him, but as for my part 1 will in 
 Carbuncle, which ties hidden in a little Box cunningly made no cafe believe, that the Predidion is to be explained 
 by Men, and covered over with Gems; the Key of the according to the Words or Letter : But whereas it is 
 little Box is in a Golden Coffin, the Golden is put in a Sil- 
 ver one ; the Silver one in a Tin one ; and it lies /« fiich a 
 place as God hath chofen, or appointed. 
 
 The Omnipotent God will beftow upon him that finds 
 
 faid, that he fliall be taken out of his Sepulchre, and 
 put in another towards the Eaftj 1 do thus interpret 
 it: Thatif any fliall underftand his Writings, they 
 fliall thencefrom perceive what, and how great a one 
 
 them his Divine Bencdiiiion in all his yijfairs, and will i he was,and fo will make his Caufe their own,and will 
 
 give him power to opprefs all evil, and to draw out good , 
 whereby things neceJJ'ary tnav likewife be obtained from God 
 mho is able again to reduce the world he mxde of nothing, 
 into a nothing : Let the Son and Holy Spirit be alfo with 
 us the Blcjjed Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 Firll of all, Paracelfus faith in this his Prophefie, 
 •that Men fliall draw him out of his Grave, and place 
 him towards the Eafl; ; vvlio is fo Ample as to think 
 that this is to be underfl:ood according to the Letter .■* 
 WhatProfitand Honour would thence arifeto Para- 
 celfus, if his Bones wciedigg'd forth, and tranflated 
 into another place ? Whereas if he were even now li- 
 ving, he could not dcfirc a better and more excellent 
 Tomb, than that he lies in. Whilfl: he was living, 
 lie was not fo proud •, he very well knew that the Ho- 
 nours of this World arc fading and vain. Nor did 
 he ever require, that any Epitaph Ihoiild be ereded 
 to his Honour : Although (when his Fritnds had ta- 
 ken care to lay him in a drcent place.) The Magifl:rate 
 
 commanded a very notable Epitaph tobc engraven on , made a Tincfture of them, and thereupon was willing 
 his Tomb-fl:one for a Tefl:imonialof his Deeds, the thus obfcurely todefcribe fuch Treafures- 
 which Epitaph will bring him Praife enough while the } He that fliall find, that is dig it forth, and fliall 
 
 defend his Writings againft Inimicitious Zoilills for 
 Carpers j and Ignorants, who as well fince his Death, 
 as whilfl; he was alive? entreated him very inhumanly, 
 and as it were, opprefled him with Lies, and Infamous 
 Libels, and fo do they take him as it were out of his 
 obfcure Tomb, and place him towards the Eafl, by 
 which it may appear to every one what an incompa- 
 rable Man he was ; to the performance of which, I will 
 not refufe to lend my poor help, though fmall, CGod 
 permitting.) 
 
 He doth afterwards add, that there are three great. 
 Treafures hidden, which whoever fliall find, fliall tri: 
 umph very nobly •, the places which Paracelfus points 
 at, and where thofe Treafures are hidden, are, where 
 the Metals are digged ; and indeed fuch places they 
 are, as in which there lies hidden the higheft Tincture, 
 and which otherwife is not to be found neither in 
 Gold, nor Silver, nor in all the other Metals, or Mi- 
 nerals. 
 
 I do think that Paracelfus knew thefe Minerals, and 
 
 World lalts. The faid Epitaph runs thus. 
 
 know the way of preparing a 1 indlure thencefrom 
 fliall doubtlefly be magnified, efpeciafly if he will 
 difclofe them unto others. 
 
 Now I believe that if thefe Treafures fliould be 
 digged out by fonic godly, honeflr, and wife Man, ffor 
 the finding them is denied unto reprobates) would 
 not hunt after or afled vain Glory, but be contented 
 
 in 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 35? 
 
 in that he knows it : But it is not convenient to open or 
 difclofe what this Mmera is, wherein God hath put 
 fuch a fingular Tindure, and which he hath hidden 
 from the proud and covetous. But feeing that all 
 things refide in the hands cf God, who can give unto 
 his own People that which he denies unto others, I do 
 not at all fear any one's exhaufting fo eailly aTreafute 
 lying fo profoundly hidden, although 1 (hould make 
 known this fubjert. 
 
 Thus much I have experienced, that there lies in 
 them a much more excellent Tindure than in the other 
 Metals or Minerals, but I do not boall that I have 
 thence drawn the univerfal Tinfturc and made it fix, 
 for time and occafion would not as yet permit it. 
 But I have often times in a particular way inltituted a 
 graduation of Luna., by the help thereof, infomuch 
 that it hath left fomefix'd Sol ■■ Whereby 1 have obfer- 
 ved, that many excellent and profitable things may be 
 effefted, when that volatile Tindure is by the rule of 
 Art made fix'd and fluid. However I will make trial, 
 if God (hall vouchfafe me life and ftrength, and fee 
 what 1 fhall thence obtain. 
 
 As concerning the name of the fubjcd, it is called 
 MagnefiaSatitrnina: which is found between France 
 and Spain in the Piedmont Mountains-, 'its commonly 
 called the Piedmont-.mafnefa, but 'tis very much un- 
 like (to one another j for forae of it is of a yellow co- 
 lour, and this the ^'^wfri^jw Glafs-men ufe, when they 
 make Glafs, that it may become pellucid andtranfpa- 
 rent. The Glafs doth at firftbecomeof a purple or 
 Amethift colour, but this colour abides not one hours 
 fpacc in the fubjed, but it evaporates, becaufe it is not 
 fix'd enough as yetiand then the Glafs becomes wholly 
 tranfparent and bright, but if they would have the 
 Glafs hold the purple colour, they prefently work it 
 up as foon as ever the Magnefia *is therein molten- 
 Many years agoe,when I attempted operations about 
 things of Icfs moment, and changed Cryftals into va- 
 rioufly colour'd GlafTes,! found that this purple colour 
 was not fix'd in the fire ; and that the Magnefia had in 
 it many impurities, whereby my Glaffes were obfcur- 
 cd : But yet I attempted to extrad from thence the 
 pure Tindure by Art, and to free it from its unclean 
 faeces, and to this end ufed various Menllruums, but 
 yet effedcd nothing ; until at length I faw that by 
 mixing that magnefia with fix'd nitre,it was by boiling 
 them in a ftrong Crucible, opened by the Nitre, from 
 whence proceeded a delicate purple colour. I poured 
 out the Mafs and powdered it, and extraded it with 
 hot Water, and pafled the Liquor through a Filter, 
 and then had J a moft dainty purple fiery liquor, 
 which did almoft every hour (ftanding but only in the 
 cold) change colour, fo that it became one while 
 green, then sky colour, another while of a blood co- 
 lour of its own accord, then again prefently it received 
 other moft elegant colours. Out of which liquor I 
 did a- new feparate the more pure part, and I ufed this 
 red powder to tinge my Glaffes, the which thing I in- 
 deed obtained, but becaufe the Tindure was more fu- 
 file than the green ftone it felf which it was extracted 
 from Iwasconftrainedtoleaveitoff- However this 
 I experienced,that there lies a mighty Tindure hidden 
 inthefaid Maguefia, and thenceforward I pondered 
 upon the bufinefs more deeply, and adjoined the Mag- 
 nefia thus fufile unto Lw;.?, and then I found fome Sol ■ 
 but I could not bring the work to any fuller perfcdion 
 becaufe of the want of time,& ftoreofbufinefs.I am of 
 that opinion that fby Gods permifiion) a Tindure may 
 thence be extraded for Metals and Animals, Thefe 
 are my conceptions, but I well know, that the igno- 
 
 rant ^/ow/i/, or Carper, uill hence take occafion of 
 mocking at me, but this 1 cannot at all hinder. 
 
 1 his Sanirnine A£igncju in the y^tps of Julia ij 
 much purer and excellenter than that Piedmont Mag- 
 mfia^vi and there is in it more Tindure, the which wc 
 may extrad moft eafily by the help of Nitre, and al- 
 beit the Mmera be of a yellow colour, yet is there ex- 
 traded thcncefrom by the benefit of Salt-petre, a moft 
 elega.nt Tindure, of a grceniftr-.olour, and is likcwife 
 one while purple -, then sky colour, then again red, 
 and by and by again it allumes a green colour, the 
 which alfo is fo fufile, it fixeth every Ln^^, and 
 doth in fome fort make it golden, fhefc two Mine- 
 rals! have often times handled, and havethencefrom 
 gotten the green Lion, but have not proceeded any 
 farther- 
 
 The thiid Treafure'twixt SwuVj and Bavaria^ '\% 
 not much unlike unto thefe two, and without doubt 
 fuch kind of Treafures will offer themfelves even in 
 many other places where fuch Mountains & Mine-pits 
 are found out, were but the right way of digging out 
 and ripenning them, but known unto us ; which 
 knowledge is only granted unto the Sons of GOD. 
 
 Thefe things was I willing to mention, that fo it 
 may be known what my opinion is as touching thofe 
 Treafures. For I am firmly perfwaded that the uni= 
 verfal Medicine may be thence prepared,eipecially out 
 of that which very much abounds llnning in Metal re- 
 fembling a vein of Lead, and yet yields not any Metal 
 byfufion, bucaufe cf its exceeding volatility, and of 
 wholly flying away in the form of a vapour : Yet ne- 
 verthelefs, that Northern Lion is able to mafter it and 
 to fatten its young ones thereby. And if GOD fhall 
 vouchfafe any one fuch a Treafure,he will verily find 
 more Art^containing Books than is indeed needful. 
 And whereas /'«>-.j«//;« adds that the Lion out of the 
 North will Tafter he hath found the aforefaid Trea- 
 fures) become a Potent Monarch, (this is eafie to be 
 believed, for he is enriched with the digged-out Trea- 
 fures, and is able to manage his affairs as lifteth him. 
 He will be able to give whole Kingdom.s unto others, 
 and yet his power will not be diminifhed, he will in 
 like manner be able to inftitute good precepts and go- 
 vernment, and there will be a notable afliuence of all 
 things, infomuch that there will be nothing wanting. 
 There are many Men would lead an honeft Life, were 
 they notconftrained by poverty and need to do evilly- 
 The Northern Lion is able (when he hath found the 
 Treafureto abolifli all thefe vices, and contrary wife 
 recover a good political Governance, Peace and Qui- 
 etude- For Wealth and Riches are able to tranfmute 
 Strife into Peace, and thefe the Northern Lion can a* 
 bundantly exhibit, infomuch that he may defervedly 
 be Stiled a moft Potent Monarch. But if fo be that 
 evil companioD,'c«j., Sulphur be joined unto him,which 
 may provoke him, he becomes more venomous than 
 the Bafilisk, and is able to kill in a moment of time, 
 both Men and Beafts, yea to ruin Caftles, Mountains, 
 and Fortifications, and toannihilatethem. Butonthff 
 contrary when he hath found the Treafure, he becomes 
 tame and liberal, and lays oft" his anger, and bettows 
 on all Men fundry moft acceptable gifts. 
 
 Furthermore, Paracelfus faith that a yellow Lion 
 fhall come out of the North, "which fhall dull the 
 Eagles Claws-, all which verily is to be only under- 
 ftood concerningSalt-petre's tranfmuting virtue much 
 conducing to a perfeder augmentation of the Metals, 
 from whence ® and 1> together with the Carbuncle 
 may be atchieved ; and not at all of a certain Northern 
 King and the Roman Eagle. For the yellow and fiery 
 X X X X L?o;t 
 
The 'I bird Tan of 
 
 35+ 
 
 Lion which is here treated of, is fixt Nitre, and if it 
 be joined to the volatile Eagle, that is, to the volatile 
 Corrofive Salt ■■, this ( Eagle ) is overcome by that 
 (tixt Sale) and is tamed, becaufe the Corrolive virtue 
 which it abounded withal, is taken away: So that he 
 that is skill'd in Chymiftry may well enough under- 
 ftand what P^^^^W/y/i drives at, and that he does not 
 at all mean thofe Monarchsand Rulers, as may be ga- 
 thered out of his Manu'/., where he Writes, that the 
 Blood of the red Lion is to be commixt with the li- 
 quor of the white Eagle, and that from them by a 
 due Collion is the univerfal Tindurc to be extrafted. 
 
 Therefore they do evilly that interpret the Wri- 
 tings, and thefe prediaions o( P^iracdfHs otherwife, 
 they earneftly expea external Mnnarchs, but experi- 
 ence hath taught that thofe Lions do bring with them 
 nothing but an hungry Stomach, which can hardly be 
 vvellfilled(orfatisHed)with the Sheep and Lambs of 
 allCoun:ries, And 1 pray God. turn them from us 
 and continue unto us Peace and Concord,which is moft 
 of all to bcwiflied for. 
 
 Moreover Paracelfus further faith, that he was 
 conlirained to deteft this Treafiire and hidden k- 
 crets, to fhew the nearefl: way to the defcription of the 
 Philofophers^tone, which (Stone) whoever finds and 
 knows how to open the Gate, he Ihall find a Carbuncle 
 as big as an Egg,together with other Gcms,which are 
 -conferved in a Cheft made of Gold and Gems,and this 
 Cheft in a Golden Sepulchre, the Golden one in a Sil- 
 ver one, the Silver one in a Tin one, on which the 
 Key is placed. 
 
 And now will there be any one fo foolilh as to inter- 
 pret this according to the alleaged Words: No cer- 
 tainly unlcfs he be deprived of the light of Nature. 
 It was never heard off, that ever there was any Car- 
 buncle found of the bignefs of an Egg : neither the 
 Roman, nor Grecian^ nor Perfian Monarchs are re- 
 ported to have had fuch an one, and from whence 
 then fhould Paracdfns only have the fame ? AH Men 
 therefore fee that this Prophecy is not at all to be un- 
 dcrltood barely according to the Letter. Now in 
 that he calls the univerfal Medicine a Carbuncle, he 
 does not therein ofi'end, becaufe even other Philofo- 
 phers have impofed upon their Tin(n:ure this very 
 name, and this meerly becaufe of the form it has, for 
 if there is to be a certain Tindturc that fhould tinge 
 the white Metals into vellow Sc/,it muft of neceffity be 
 red \ and therefore fome of the Philofophers have 
 likewife called their Tindure Hamatitis, for likenefs 
 fake. 
 
 Nay more, for afmuch as it is mentioned of the Car- 
 buncle that it fliincs in the night like a burning live- 
 Coal, and yet fuch a ftone was never any where fecn 
 or found, it necellarily follows that thofe things 
 which are delivered thereof are not to be undsrftood 
 according to the Letter, The chicfeft LapUarn's do 
 Witnefs'that they never faw it ; the Oriental Rubies 
 are thechiefeft red Gems that we know of, of which 
 there is fcarce one found that is bigger than ones nail, 
 which notwithilanding,if it be pure and lhining,is fold 
 for many Thoufands of Duckets. In like manner, 
 Grnnates are red, and of a meaner price, and Ihine no 
 more in the Night than Rubies do. But that a fliin» 
 ing in the Night like a live-Coal, fliould be attribu- 
 ted to a Carbuncle, is not done without caufe ; veri- 
 ly, the Authorsof thatthingarc not at all to be fup: 
 ,pofed to be fuch Merchants, continually handling 
 Gems, (as if they had ever fcen fuch a ftone) : No, 
 but they were the Philofophers thenifelves, whofc 
 words which they wrote of the prepared Tir.^fture, 
 
 Part I, 
 
 the after Writers did falOy conllrue their meaning 
 and underftood it literally, perfwading themfelves 
 that there was fuch a Carbuncle in the nature of 
 things. Therefore we have no rcafon to induce us to 
 believe that the ancient philofophers did in very deed 
 defcribe or mean fuch a Stone as fhines by night, but 
 let us rather perfwade our felves as being thereto con- 
 ftrained by the Verity of the thing, that they did not 
 in the leafi mean a natural Hone, but a ftone prepared 
 by An, and their Tindure. And this, the very 
 Name it felf feems to point out •, for Ct^rbo fignihes a 
 greater Coal ; and Carbnuutlns fignifies a little, or lef- 
 fer Coal. 
 
 Now if fo be that any one would endeavour to 
 prove with Oaths to this blind, proud, and wicked 
 World, that fuch a red Itone Ihining by night, may 
 be made of a Wood, or ftone Coal, certainly every 
 body would mock at him, and would fay , That he 
 propoondeth meet Lyes ; and therefore no body ever 
 dared Tthoughhe were never fo certain of the Truth 
 of the thing ) to write ought of the fame. 
 
 But fome or other will lay, Whence come you to 
 know thefe things, and by what Notes or.Teftimonies 
 do you prove that you are to be credited, as touching 
 this Bufinefs, feeing no body ever writ that thefe 
 things were fo.** To fuch an one I anfwer. That I 
 leave every one at his liberty ; for whether he believes 
 my Sayings, or believes them not, 'tis all a cafe to me. 
 However I fay, that I can change by melting, a meer 
 black Coal by the help of a Salt Tbut not common 
 Saltj into a moft red ftone in one hours fpace. for 
 Coals are nothing elfe but a fixt and volatile Sulphur, 
 which if we will fix it, will be fixt ; if we will volati- 
 lize it, it will be fo. A wood Char- coal fthough 
 there's much difference amongft them) fhould it lie 
 fliut up firmly & rfioft tight in an Iron Veffel even for ' 
 an hundred Years fo as that no air get in, and fhould 
 be (all that while) kept in a moft vehement fire, yet 
 would it not fhew theleaft fign of being confumed or 
 changed, but let but the air come unto it, and it will 
 be reduced into afhes in a moment- If now you have 
 underftanding and fenfe, confider with your felf more 
 largely as touching this thing, and you will find many 
 profitable and good things if GOD fhall open unto 
 you the Eyes of your mind : This red ftone having 
 the form of Glafs, being poured out of the Crucible, 
 fhines in the dark like a burning Coal, according as is 
 the Coal you prepare it of And albeit that this Glafs 
 can perform many good things in Medicine and Alchi- 
 my, yet it is not at all the Stone of the Philofophers, 
 which they call a Carbuncle, for that njuft be fixt, and 
 refift the Fire, both which are denied to this Glafs to 
 be, for it is volatile, and can ealily be changed by the 
 Fires force. 
 
 I have feveral times made this ftone of Salt and a 
 Coal, but never had time as yet to bring it to a perfeifl 
 fixation, and therefore I cannot determine certainly* 
 what may be farther hereof made. However I would 
 not have the lover of the wonders of GOD to be un- 
 acquainted with this, that(^'/^.) my faid Stone of a 
 Coal, or my red Carbuncle, if it be dilfolved in the air, 
 it yields a green fiery Liquor, which if fmeared upon 
 any Silver it gilds it as Sulphur docs. If the Divine 
 Clemency fhall fupply me with life and ftrength and 
 that my enemies, and opportunity fliall permit, I will 
 fome time or other fet about the work of fixation, 
 that fo it may appear what is thence to be hoped 
 for. 
 
 And now friendly Reader who art not addided to 
 ciiherparty tell rac, whether or no there does not re- 
 dound 
 
 I 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Pro/peri ty of Germany. 
 
 dound unto thee more light from thisjmofl: brief 
 treating of the Carbuncle, than from the obfcure I-n- 
 ceniaox Candle of 1. HS. in whofc Book there are 
 indeed the names of a many Authors cited, but none 
 of their Writings are explained, and therefore it is 
 rather a bringing others into a Labyrinth, than a lliow- 
 ing of the true way. 
 
 Parac€lfns adds, that this Carbuncle is hid in a 
 little Cheft made of Gold and Gems, this Cheft in a 
 Golden Coffin Tor Tomb j, this in a Silver one, and fi- 
 nally this Silvery one in a Tin one ; which fayings ve- 
 rily are to be taken or underftood in a far other fence 
 than they areuttcred,as well as the words foregoing : 
 for to what end (hould there be iuch a multitude and 
 variety of Coffins ? My opinion hereabouts is this : 
 Forafmuch as th'ere lies in Tin (as i'<^er<icW/«/ teftifies 
 in his Bookof Texatio^is, when he faith, thzifitptnr has 
 much Gold in it, and not a little Silver) a fpiritual 
 Gold and Silver hidden, and that ) contains ©, and 
 <t> contains TinQure,we are to underftand thefe things 
 ofthemi they being as fo many Coffins. 
 
 But fome may fay, to what ufe fcrve the Tin and 
 Silver, if they are to be removed afore we can come 
 to the Golden Coffin, and get to that which contains 
 the Carbuncle, may we not prefently even at firft dafh 
 feek fuch a ftone in 0, and leave Tin and > untoucht ? 
 I could molt eafily fatisfic fuch an objection, and give 
 a fufficient reafon of Paraalfus his Writing fuch 
 things, but that 1 judge it inconvenient to communi- 
 cate fuch things of fo great a coniideration (or mo- 
 ment) to wicked Zoilifts or Carpers. 
 
 However 1 cannot here let this flip. "viz.. that there 
 lies hid in V an excellent Mercurial Liquor, which is 
 thence extradable by the benefit of that Key which lies 
 upon the Sepulchre or Tomb, vi^. by the benefit of 
 Salt-pctre.This mercurialLiquor,loofens the bonds of 
 ) , and makes it fiti fo as to be extrafted (or made into 
 the belt • , out of which the Carbuncle is to be after- 
 wards made, for every fkind of) ® doth not at all re- 
 ferable the nature of a feed, butfuppliesthe place only 
 of an Houfe or covering, which containeth feed in it, 
 and which (covering) muft of necellity be removed by 
 him who delires the feed it felf. 
 
 I have in other places fhown how properly the me: 
 tallineftock or nature may be compared to a Vegeta- 
 ble Apple : Suturn is the root of the Tree •, Mars the 
 Trunk or Body ; jnpner the Bark of the Triuik -, 
 Me/ciiry the Juice contained betwixt the Bark and the 
 Trunk •, renHs the green Leaves ; Luia the white 
 Flower or BloJTom ; Sd the Fruit or Apple of the 
 Tree containing the feed of the Vegetable. 
 
 Now then, even as it is a thing evident to all, that 
 the Apple it felf is not the feed of the Tree, but the 
 Nut or Kernel is hidden in its inward part, fo that the 
 Apple doth only keep or hold in it the feed •, even fo 
 in like manner ® is not at all to be accompted as the 
 feed of Metal, but only as a preferver (and coverer 
 over) of the feed. He now that lights on the true 
 Key, which Paracdfus hath put upon the Golden 
 Coffin, iyi^.') the infide of Salt-nitre, he will bea- 
 ble to open,not only the Tin Coffin, but the Silver and 
 Gold Coffin too, and to take that Coffin thereout 
 of, which contains the Carbuncle and other Gems. 
 
 Thefe are the things! was willing to publiffi ac- 
 cording to my opinion, concerning that great Carbun- 
 cle lying fo deeply hidden in tholb Coffins: I permit 
 others to expound theniotherwife, for I do not offer 
 thefe things to the old Men who ftiffly contend for 
 their own conceptions as it vi^ere for the belt thing 
 they have, it being an hard matter to tarae an old dog ; 
 
 but 1 prefent them to fuch only as are the younger 
 Itudcnts of the true Hcrmctick Phyfick or Medicine, 
 and who are not already drawn into va^'ious errors by. 
 tJic reading of many Authors- And he that refu let li 
 to believe that even the greaccfl: Arcany jr.ay be han- 
 dled or treated of in a nicer ^implc or plain Srile, and 
 that they need not at all any prolixity, Ihail never at- 
 tain his wiffi'd for end, though he were, able to recice 
 by heart even all the Phiiolbphers Book.s. And thus 
 much may fuffice in this place- 
 
 Laftly, Paracelftis adds at the end^pf the Prophecy, 
 that the molt Greatand Blclled Go6 iviligranc to the 
 finder out of thefe Trcafuies notable Power and Forti- 
 tude, whereby he may opprefsall evils, detcft good 
 things, and get every prolitable thing, certainly who- 
 ever he be that fliall find fuch an umverfal Treafure, 
 he will labour to fupprefs ?vgry noxious thing, and to 
 difJofe (on the other hand j whatfoeyer is any ways 
 profitable for man-kind, and necellary.and this to the 
 very utmoft of his power- For the Philofophers fay, 
 Our Andoth cither find a Man lone ft and godly, or it 
 tvenfuakcs him fuch an om ; that is, it is altogether im: 
 polliblefor fuchanone that lights on fuch Treafurcs 
 to be an ungodly Man, fo, as for thofe highly preci- 
 ous gifts of God not to Itir him up togodlinefs and 
 Mercy. 
 
 I could render this Prophecy of P^r^cdfas more 
 clear, but that 1 ftudy to be brief, and could manifeftly 
 prove,thatit is not to be underftood according to the 
 bare Letter, but that Paracclfiu had regard'to this 
 greatuniverfalof the Philofophers, which is clearly 
 enough hinted in thefe words which are mentioned at 
 the end of the faid Prophecy, 'viz.. That all evils may 
 be kept under, (or abolijhed) and that all good things may 
 be drawn forth or advanced, and ivithjl, all neceffary and 
 ufefi.l things may begotten. Thefe words do openly e= 
 nough point at the univerfal Treafure of the Philofo- 
 phers, by which all evil is kept under, and all good 
 educed, and all necellary and profitable things acquir- 
 ed. On this wife are my Conceptions of them, let a- 
 nother interpret them according as feems hiragood. 
 For when the Lion ffialj have found the faid mineral 
 Treafure, he will be incited or Itirred up to fuch a 
 great paffionate wrath and power, that is able ealily 
 to dull the edge of the Eagles Claws, tha^t is, his ad- 
 verfaries. 'Tis impoffible for the Eagle to get fuch a 
 Treafure, but a thing mofl: eafie to the Lion ; For 
 there is not a fubjeft in all nature that can make the 
 Lion fo fiery and powerful as the magncfia S.-.tiir,.i':a 
 can, and therefore it eafily tames all Corrofives, and 
 cuts ofFtheir Claws. Experience confums the things 
 I here mention, and therefore 1 will fay no more: Yet 
 however I think it expedient to add this one thing 
 more of the nature and properties of the Lion and 
 Eagle. 
 
 It is fufficiently manifeft, that the Eagle is called 
 the King of all Birds, and the Lion the King of all 
 four-footed Beafts. Not, as if the Eagle were the 
 greatelt amongft the Birds, and the Lion the flrong- 
 eft and greatelt Animal amongft the Beafts : No. no. 
 There are bigger Birds and Beafts than the Eagle or 
 the Lion ^ Geefe, Swans, and our Country Storks ;ire 
 bigger than an Eagle, ( I omit to fpeak of the other 
 huge Birds in -^y?.^, /4'/nc<i, &c. Amongft which tiic 
 Ollrich is reckoned for one, which is as big almolt 
 as a Horfe, and runs fwifter than a Horfc.) 1 hen, 
 for Beafts, there are fome of the (like proportionable 
 ftature) as the Rhinoceros and Elephant, which fear 
 the Lion no more than the Oftrich and other (great) 
 Birds do the Eagle 5 yet nevcrthelefs do they ac-. 
 
 knowledge 
 
The Third Pan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 knowledge the Lion and Ea,e,le for King, and that de- 
 ic-rvedly too, bccaufe of the Velocity^ftrength, valour, 
 and other virtues thatthofe Creatures have. 
 
 But yet Hiftorians rank the Griffin and Dragon 
 amongilthe Birds and the greateft Animals- They 
 paint (or defcribe)the Griffin, a winged Animal, one 
 half part rcferabling a Lion, the other half part an 
 Eagle-, the Claws, Wings and Head like an Eagles, 
 the other part of the body like a Lions. But this is 
 a Philofophical and Poetical Fable, by which they 
 would difclofe an -1 lay open other Myfteries and Ar- 
 cana's- For there is never to be found in all this v/hole 
 compafs (of the World; fuch a Dragon as flies in the 
 Airorfpits out Fire; but all thefe fayings, point at 
 Salt-petre. They likcwife feign the Griffin to be of 
 fuch power as to be able to carry away through the 
 air an armed Souldier on Horfe- back ; thefe and 
 
 greater things than thefe can Salt-petre do ; for 'tis pregnated doth after due time produce its young tOr 
 able to blow up wholeCalUes and Fortrelles with many | light 
 
 narch, and then will he gainfully reward his Tutor 
 (or Guardian) 7'!/'^/'''^ for his laborious Wardfliip. 
 
 The Magi and Philofophers obferved the Star 
 of our Infant, which ihinethfo brightly as that it da- 
 zles the fight of the beholder \ nor can any one look 
 long upon it without hurting his fight, and thereupon 
 itisvvorthily called the Son of the © : For there is not 
 any clear or bright light without the Sun, the Country 
 fellows therefore do not perceive fuch a light, but the 
 Chymifts can (whcnfoever pleafeth them) make and 
 fee fuch a light. 
 
 The things which I here declare concerning the na- 
 tivity of Salt-petre, are moft ealie to be underflood. 
 It is generated or born in the Stables, The is its Fa- 
 ther, the > is its Mother, the Wind qonvcys the Pa- 
 ternal feed in a fpiritual manner, into the moift Earth 
 of the Stable, by which, the Virgin Earth being im= 
 
 inyriadesof Mcnintotheair ^ and would to God this 
 were not fo well known. The Philofophers have on- 
 ly ffiadowed out their Dragon amongit other Birds. 
 Our Dragon never dies but by the help ofhisBro= 
 ther and Sifter, that is of the fixt Lion, and corrollve 
 fluid Eagle, the which thing may be likewife faid of 
 the Griffins. For ofthe fixt burning Lion, and fiuxil 
 or fluid corrodve Eagle, there is created no other 
 thing but a Griffin, part Eagle and part Lion, which 
 lifts (or blows) up Mountains of moft vaft weight ; 
 when they light each with the other they kill one ano- 
 ther and are raifed up again out of the dead Carkafs. 
 And thus there are regenerated (or again born) other 
 Lions and other Eagles out of the Griffin, and (if you 
 are fo minded j both the Lion and alfo the Eagle 
 may be fed and fatted with the common Fleffi of other 
 Wild Beafls, fo as thence forward they may generate 
 innumerable Griffins, which you may ufe not only in 
 time of War againfl the Enemies, but alfo in the 
 Mountains, to dig out Treafures thence, and being 
 digged to carry them into the Neft. 
 
 "n B. It is reported of the Griffin that he gathers 
 much Gold which he carries with him into his Nefl i 
 But all thefe things are to be underflood of the ftrength 
 and virtues of Salt-petre-, concerning which I could 
 be much more prolix and more clear were 1 not even 
 conftrained toover=pafsitand let it alone becaufe of 
 the ungodly crew of wicked men. 
 
 And now let us enter with the Philofopher Virnl, 
 into the darkCave or Den ofthe Syti//, and let us fee 
 whether or no we can find the Book therefthat is Salt- 
 petre) wherein are found all the fecrets of nature : Or 
 rather, let us enter into the Stable with the three wife 
 MenorKingsthatcamefrom theEaft, andletus there 
 leekthe Son that^was born of a Virgin,who is the King 
 ofthe World & the King ofallKings,and let us appa= 
 rel or adorn him with due gifts or prefents, that 
 his age & ftrength may grow up and be augmented, & 
 he may at length drive away the Difeafes of his three 
 brethren, w~. of the Vegetable, Animal, and Mine- 
 ral. This Infant needs not Gold, Myrrh, and Franc- 
 kincenfefor hisfuftentation,but we will bcftow upon 
 him inftead of Gold Myrrh, and Franckincenfe, three 
 other things for multiplications fake^ common Sul- 
 phur (hallfupply the room of Gold ; common Salt,of 
 Myrrh -, the external green boughs of Firr or Elder, 
 of Franckincenfe ; thereof will we make his Bed, and 
 thefe ffiall be his coverings. 
 
 The Salt which is animated bv the Sulpliur and con- 
 verted into Milk fliall be his food, fo long until he be- 
 comes great and ftrong enough, yea a Potent Mo- 
 
 N B- That Earth which produceth and confervcs 
 Herbs, Grafs, and Metals is called the Mother -, and 
 that Earth which doth not produce (as in Stabies,&c.) 
 is as yet to be accompted as a Virgin, which doth af^ 
 terwards yield fo noble an offspring. No Earth out 
 of which, Herbs, Trees, and Minerals are born doth 
 ever conceive again, or ever intermits the produftion 
 of fuch things, and for that reafon is it called the Mo- 
 ther of all things- But now that Earth that is found 
 in Stables, which conceives neither the Scl.ir nor Lh- 
 nar beams, nor is moiftned with either Rain or Dew, 
 cannot produce any thing, unlefs the beams are con- 
 veyed thereinto from the Sun by the Air, then the im- 
 pregnated Virgin in the Stables, brings forth an ofi- 
 fpring, which is by the Philofophers prefented for its 
 fuftentation, with a threefold kind of gifts i to wit. 
 Sulphur inftead of Gold, and that being in like man- 
 ner fixt and moft pure; with Salt inftead of Myrrh, 
 which is pure and prefervative, and with the Juice or 
 Refin ofthe Firr-tree, or Elder, inftead offweetfmeh 
 ling Franckincenfe. Thefe three things are the Ali- 
 ment or food of the new Infant ; The Green Boughs 
 ofthe Firr or Elder, do furniffi him with a Bed for 
 his Cradle, The Sulphur and Salt yield him fweec 
 milk to nouriffi him \ fo that there needs not any 
 thing elfe but a good overfeer, Jofe^h., that may keep 
 off the Rain and the cold Air from this Infants 
 Bed. 
 
 By fuch a means as this may wc nouriffi our moft 
 tender Infant and advance him to his Kingly Mo- 
 narchy -, when he ffiall arrive thither he can make all his 
 Brethren found and rich : For the Vegetables do only 
 defire profitable and convenient food, or fome fat 
 earth, whereby they (being well and found) may attain 
 to their perfedion and encreafe themfelvcs ; which 
 thing Salt-petre does better than any other- 
 
 Nor do the Minerals defire ought elfe but that the 
 impurity and fuperfluous Sulphur be taken away from 
 them, that fo they may (after a perfect Purification) 
 caft forth their feed, that is Gold ; and this, Salt= 
 petre does moft perfeiflly. Then Laftly, the Animals 
 feeknot after other food than what the Earth fuppliej 
 them withal, which tocffcd, Salt-petre muft of neccf- 
 fity be at hand. 
 
 Salt-petre therefore is the only prcferver of all Ve= 
 getables Minerals and Animals, but the foul of Man 
 doth not at all belong thereunto, for it is the proprie= 
 ty of lefusChrift •, but as for the bodies, Salt-petre is 
 the moft profitable medicament- Whatfoever I have 
 here produced in this place, 1 have already Written 
 the fame in other places of my Treatifes, in another 
 
 kind 
 
Part I. 
 
 kind of manner and exprcilion. and therefore I fuppofe 
 It to be pi a in iy needle Is to make any farther additi: 
 on : He that will not be able to light his dark Candle 
 ■At this Ibining liftht, will be blind all his life time, and 
 tonfequently incurable. 
 
 As concerning the preparation of Sulphur with Salt, 
 how it is to be made a Lm f^ui^mis \ have already 
 mentioned it abundantly in many places- And as for 
 the making of the Cradle or Bed, and what form 'tis 
 cfldiewed about the beginning of this Work: So 
 that now there remains nothing behind but the apply- 
 ing the hands to the work, if we defire to get honour 
 and goods from ("this) principal Monarch- 
 
 Salt-pctreisthe only Artilicer to reduce Metals un= 
 toiheir fnfl matter, or of making them Aftral. For 
 the Stars are nothing elfc but pure fire. They exercife 
 ficvy Operations, and produce fiery things ; like as 
 the Vegetables do putrefy by the Salt-petre in the 
 Dung, and are reduced unto perfcdion and multipli- 
 cation, without which putrefying there can never be 
 made any multiplication of the Vegetables, 2S Chrift 
 himfelfwitnefleth; if the Wheat does rnot)putrefy in 
 the Earth it can produce no fruits. The like is in the 
 Animals too, yet efpecially in the Eggs of Birds, which 
 faid Eggs mull (link and rot afore the hatching of the 
 Chicken comes. Therefore in vain have many tried 
 fo to dcflle (or putrefy) Metals and reduce them to 
 their firft matter. Now though the Philofophers tell 
 us that Metals are to be firll putrefied afore they can 
 be multiplied, yet they meant not fiich a putrefaction, 
 but the putrefaftion of Metals mult be done by the he! p 
 of fire, and withal muft befo effeded by Artificers, 
 here below, as the Metals are wrought by the Stars in 
 the Heaveo^orwc muft imitate Nature- And foraf- 
 much as nature generates all Metals by a Celeftial 
 Fire, therefore the Artift muft go no other way, 
 but muft imitate nature if .'he would do any good 
 on-t. 
 
 As for Vegetables and Animals, we willingly allow 
 them a moift putrefadion,but for the Metals, a dry 
 and fiery putrefaJlion fuits with them,and which may 
 be perfeded in two or three hours fpace, as may be 
 feen in my Ccntinuation of Aiiraculiim Mundi, and in 
 Cmy J Teftimony of the Truth^ [^or Explication of Afira- 
 cuUtm Mundi ■• 3 And this is the only caufe(or rock ja-- 
 gainft which many have fallen, and fo have not gotten 
 any good thing, (or profitable.) Now, afore putrefa- 
 ction it cannot be enceafed -, and every thing which 
 induceth a putrefaiftion into other things muft of ne- 
 cefllty confiftoftwo contraries in its nature: Water 
 poured upon Water remains Water, and there is no 
 change wrought ; but from Fire and Water do many 
 wonderful things proceed. If we pour the corrofive 
 Spirit of Nitre, of Salt or Vitriol upon another corro- 
 iive Spirit, they eafilyembraceeach other and arecom- 
 mixt without noife, and there is not thence generated 
 any new thing, but it always remains an acid corrofive 
 Spirit. If weput oneftrong Lixivium to another like 
 Lixivii:m, there is no noife (or hilling) ftirred up, nor 
 any change made; but now if we mix that fame Li- 
 Sivium with a corrofive Spirit the one operates upon 
 iheother,beirig both contraries, and there is genera- 
 ted of them both fomewhat of a middle nature,which 
 h<is not the likcnefs of either. This now is clearly 
 evident in ftrong fixt Nitre, or any other Lixivium of 
 Wood, when it is poured into Acjna-.fortts, and they 
 act one upon the otiier ; then of them both, there pro- 
 ceedeth a certain middle thing, "viz.. burning Salt- 
 petre, whichbrings all things to putrefaftion,and pro^ 
 motes or advanceth their multiplication, the which 
 
 the Pfofperity of Germany, 
 
 ^. 357 
 
 thing is after a fort known in the Vegetables and Ani- 
 mals, but as for the Metals, tl,e Philo^phSSe'^c: 
 compted it as a fecret even to this very day ar'cl 
 therefore hence comes ,t to^ pafs that there hath been 
 fomuchernngjn putrefaction fwhich is the very key 
 
 untothe wiili'd forend. '^ 
 
 Forafmuch therefore as Metals ought to be putrefi- 
 ed by theFne, we do not find any thmg morecomno. 
 dious than Sak-pctre,which in i.ie hours fpace, put'e- 
 fieth all the Metals prepared aforehand, and multiplies 
 them, v,z.. when a commodious and moift Matrix is 
 put mto the Fire wherein Ta man) may put his (me- 
 talhne) feed to be therein multiplied , for feed k 
 not multiplied without a Matrix.and this is daily ob- 
 fervable in the Vegetables and Animals 
 . Now, as a Vegetable feed needeth foritsmultiplica. 
 tion a fat and moift Earth,and an Animal Matrix ; fa 
 likewife the feed of Metals needs a metalline Ma- 
 trix, without which It cannot be multiplied : And 
 by how much the more apt and commodious the Ma- 
 trix IS, fo much the more noble is the Fruit, and fo on 
 the contrary. 
 
 So then, by this time all men know that by how 
 much the ftronger and better the contraries be fo 
 much the better are the fruits, as hath been already 
 faid. T he ftronger the yJfia-f.ms ,s, and the more 
 fi.xt the Salt or Ue is^that are mixt together,the better 
 and the more plenty of Salt-pecrc is there generated- 
 But efpecially. if we concentrate corrofive Spirits bv 
 Metals & do make them (thereby) yet more cirrofive. 
 asalfo if we concentrate fixt Salts by Flints, and fo 
 make them yet more fiery, they do then perform many 
 vvonderful Operations For whereas the bare contra- 
 i^ies do yield but only Salts ; being concentrated.thev 
 do yield forth fruits that break out as if it were Trees- 
 Concerning whicn you may fee in the fecond part of 
 the Furnaces, about the Liquor of Flints. This is that 
 which we fee and believe, zi^. that by how much the 
 more the contraries are contrary to each other fo 
 much the greater produd is there of Fruits- But be- 
 caufe Fire and Water are naturally exceeding contra- 
 ry to each other, therefore do they alfo produce the 
 greater fruits, 1/^^ Metals, which are greater than 
 either the Vegetables or Animals are. 
 
 N B. If the Artift can think upon a yet hotter Fire 
 than the common Fire is, and a colder Water (than 
 ufual; ancl know where to find them, fuch will of ne= 
 cemty likewife produce Metals that are more excellent 
 than the Vulgar. 
 
 But feeing that amongft all the fires there is not 
 given a hotter than Salt-petre. a cold wife is to be 
 allocated unto him, and the wedding is to be celcbra= 
 
 ted in Hell, then will both of them leave ^behind them) 
 Sons of Riches and Health. 
 
 Tis an ufual cuftom throughout all (7fr/»*f«y,haply 
 other Kingdoms have the like, that when two con- 
 trad Matrimony, the Bridgroom and the Bride, are 
 led into the bathes two or three days afore the Wed- 
 ding is Celebrated, and they are there waft)'d, to the 
 end that they may be the more acceptable to each o- 
 ther: And although they put on their beft apparel 
 and do adorn themfelves with moft clean drefiings 
 yet do they at laftput off" all their fine Ornaments 
 when they delire to conjoin themfelves and multiply. 
 
 The fame is here to be underftood of the new metal- 
 lick multiplication: If each party be but only found 
 ^ of a good conftitution(though the outward raiment 
 be vile) yet are they able to beget as fair Children, 
 as Royal Perfons, (who are loaden with Gold, Silver,' 
 
 '^ y y y precioff/ 
 
358 
 
 The Third Tan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 precious Stones, ar.d Pearls, j can. Hence it is appa- 
 rent, that the Garments contribute nothingtothe bufi- 
 nefs, but that the multiplication doth folely depend 
 upon the foundncfs and good conftitution of the 
 bodies ^ and this Pythagoras well knew, and willingly 
 left it to poftevity, for he obfervcd that the foul of the 
 Metals being by Art forced out of the body did pre- 
 fently pafs into the nigheH bodies and after their 
 death, again into the nfxt : Hence it was, that he fell 
 into a great enour, when he concluded, that the fame 
 was alio true as to the tranfmigration of the foul of 
 man, and the order therein the fame ; to wit, that the 
 foul of one man did not prcfently pafs into another 
 man, but as well into Sheep, Birds, Fidies, &c. And 
 for that reafon, his fucceilburs, (a great part of whom 
 inhabit /ifrkk) will not to this day kill fo much as a 
 little Worm, fearing leaft that they fliould kill fuch 
 an Animal, as contains in it the foul of their Father or 
 Mother- Belides too, he fignified that the foul of a 
 man was better and more pleafant in Frogs than in the 
 mofl Potent King. Without doubt this errour arofe 
 from hence, v:z.. his feeing the fouls of Metals that 
 are forced out of their bodies, to occupy or poflefs the 
 neareft and more commodious fubjefts- By how much 
 the purer the Subjeft is that the foul of Metals finds or 
 lights on in its dcparture(or going off from the Me- 
 tals) the willinglier doth it pollefs it. Wc Chriftians 
 have a more perfeifl knowledge of the foul given us 
 than was given Pyihrgoms^ but if we fpeak of Metals, 
 then this faying of Pythagoras hath good foundation, 
 which thing, no experienced Philofopher v\ ill ever be 
 able to gain-fay or confute with truth. This we know 
 mofl: certainly, that God doth efteem the foul of a 
 beggar as much as of a King •, the bodies do indeed 
 make the difference for fome bodies are better ador- 
 ned than other fome. Likewife, the noble and not 
 adulterated Alchimy teacheth us that the foul of <? 
 or 2 is as good as the foul of © is i herein is the dif- 
 ference between them, that their bodies are bigger and 
 ftronger, and fo their noble foul is contemned and re- 
 jected by the ignorant, becaufeof the rude grolTnefsof 
 their bodies. Hereupon, the curious fearchers of 
 nature have laboured to dtftroy thofe grofs bodies, 
 and to draw out their pure foul, that they might tran- 
 flate it into better and purer bodies, Tthe which thing 
 alfo fucceeded according to their defirej and by the 
 extrai^ted fouls they tranfmuted the imperfeft aud im- 
 pure bodies of the Metals into moll pure Gold: Nor 
 were they ignorant of the Artifice of particularly puri; 
 fying the grofs and impure bodies of the Metals, like 
 as the fick bodies of men being purified by the virtue 
 and help of medicaments are refl:ored to their former 
 health and vigour. For when an impure Patient meets 
 with an expertPhyfician whom he (viz.. thePhyfician) 
 undertakes to cure, hedothfirfl: of all (if his Patient 
 haps to have the /'c'?, Scabs, the Scurvy-, Lues Venerea, 
 Tubules and other {linking fores) prefcribe him a 
 purge whereby all the impurities may be firfl: expelled. 
 Then he permits the fick pcrfon to ufe a fweating- 
 houfe, or {love, in which he may fweat fo much as to 
 be very much debilitated by the heat. Laftly, he 
 - brings him into a P.irlour or Chamber that has a pure 
 air init, torefrefhhim, and therein he manageththe 
 cure of him, until he hath recovered his former health 
 and purity i and if the fick be not made clean or pure 
 by the firfl: purgation and fweating, he reiterates the 
 fame remedies as often as need {hall require, and till 
 the fick be perfectly freed from impurities. 
 
 Jufl:fo, cfoth the skilful Chymifl: proceed in thepu- 
 rihcaiion of the imperfciH; Metals, for he expels all the 
 
 excrements which they are in an efpecial manner en- 
 dued (or foil'd J withal, I'/n,. the impure and {linking 
 Sulphur by the help of the fire,and by the help of little 
 appropriated fl:oves (or pots) even until they get their 
 due purity ; Art therefore imitates Art. But if fo 
 be that all Phyficians were skill'd in Alchimy and 
 Aftronomy we fliould not need fuch plenty of CofSns, 
 for in them (wz.. Alchimy and Aftronomy) one true 
 Art doth continually produce out of it felf another- 
 
 The Aftronomer when he would give a man his 
 judgment as to the manner and term of his life, doth 
 firfl: of all look to the hour of the nativity, and fiflieth 
 out what condition that afpeft is of, that doth at that 
 time bear chief rule in the Firmament, which when he 
 hath found out he doth by the means of calculation* 
 predid what good or what evil things will befal the 
 Child (or party) whilefl: he lives. 
 
 Although thefe prognoftications are not at all In- 
 fallible, yet are they not therefore by any means to be 
 totally rejedled. For we oftentimes find many things 
 true by experience which otherwife we would not cre- 
 dit : Nor is it fo much without reafon that we fo e- 
 {leem them, but this ought not to be done compulfive- 
 ly for, as if they forced us) for 'tis the ufual Proverb, 
 The Stars incline.^ hut do not mceffitate. For like as $ 
 man that is born under an evil afpe(ft may by do(fh:ine 
 and information be made good, fo that here the a- 
 fpeds may be of no moment ; fo on the other hand, we 
 often find that ftuh an one as is born under a mo{l ex- 
 cellent afpeft is corrupted and depraved by his con- 
 verfation with evil men. And thefe very things doth e» 
 ven Alchimy deraonftrate the truth of: For even as foon 
 as ever the Infant is born & begins to fuck in the air,he 
 doth even then attraifl fuch influences (according to 
 the opinion of Aftronomers) as the Stars do that very 
 hour emit from themfelves upon the inferiour bodies 
 for things here below,) and fo confequently he imi- 
 tates the nature of thefe : Even fo the new born Metah 
 lick Infant, doth in the moment of his birth attraft 
 a metallick Aftrum or Conftellation, like to that 
 which did at that time bear the chief fway, and fo 
 confequently receiveth qualities like the qualities of 
 thisStar or Aflrnm. And although that the metal- . 
 lick Infant were made a partaker of a good Star (or 
 afpeft^ the firfl: time of its nativity, yet notwithlland- 
 ing it may be accidentally infeded afterwards? fo as 
 thence to become an evil Metal : And on the other 
 hand, that which was bad at the firfl; may be reduced 
 to that pafs by Art and a convenient difcipline of the 
 fire, as that thebefl: Metal may thencefrom proceed, 
 and this, experience witnelfeth every day, nor can it 
 be denied by any but fuch from whom the light of na- 
 ture lies hidden. 
 
 If now the fupcrior Stars can exercife luch great vir- 
 tues, what hinders but that the inferiour ones may exer- 
 cife the fame if not greater, provided we but rightly 
 govern and tame them. The fuperiour Stars are not 
 at all fubjcift unto ourpower,they are fubmitted or put 
 under God's guidance only. But the inferiour ones may 
 be handled by us according to our pleafure. The 
 Phyfician may apply them to Medicine, the Chymift 
 may apply them to Alchimy. He then to whom the 
 knowledge of ufing the inferiour Aftrums aright, is 
 granted, may ufe them with mofl; great honour, and 
 eminent benefit,whether he be a Phyfician or a Chymifl:, 
 which Cfaid Aftrums) others are conflrainedto leave i 
 untouch'd to their great dilgrace and lofs. But men 
 now adays are too much given to lazinefs and floath, 
 fo that there are but few to be found that w ill fcarch 
 after nature's Secrets. A many there are that chal- 
 lenge 
 
part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 359 
 
 lensetotliemfelves the title of learned Philofophcrs 
 and yet are altogether ignorant of the foundations of 
 true Philofophy. There is not in this age fcarce 
 anyellceni atall, of true Philofophers, though not- 
 withftanding they deal with us lb finccrely and do 
 clearly fet afore our Eyes,the interiours of nature ,and 
 leave us excellent Writings. So Pythaj^oras whom 
 we mentioned afore did upon this accompt fuppofc, 
 that, (becaufe he faw the fouls of Metals to be carried 
 out of one body into another, and to Operate as well 
 .in this body as in the other former, and confe- 
 quently to animate this, and make it more perfetl:,) 
 the cafe was the very fame with the human foul ■■, and 
 by this means he direded as it were his fuccciFours to 
 tl>; univcrfal and particular work of Metals. 
 
 And even jult after the fame manner hath f^irgil 
 done, when be would that his Carcafs fhould be cut 
 into pieces, and be reduced unto a Life by a continual 
 inltillation (or dropping in) of burning Oil. Perhaps 
 the occafion of his faifing into thofe cogitations was 
 this, either becaufe he obfervcd that the dead metal- 
 lick bodies were by the operation of the Fire, and ad- 
 dition again animated, and fo he perfwaded hirafelf 
 that the like might poffibly be done in man ;, or that 
 well knowing the impolTibility of doing this thing he 
 would give an occalion to fuch as came after, more 
 curioufly to fearch, and fo was willing to point out 
 with his Fingers as it were at the multiplication and 
 jiropogation of the raetallick bodies Cas Pythgoras^ of 
 the fouls, j 
 
 Molt certain it is^that it will not be any difficulty to 
 him that knows Nitre aright) and can foorder it as to 
 operate in metalline bodies in the form of (ire, to mul- 
 tiply 5o/(in anuniverfal way) and to make the viler 
 Metals more perfed (in a particular way.; And this 
 I was willing here to add. 'Tis well for him that ufeth 
 the gifts granted him by God, to his glory and the be- 
 nefit his neighbour. 
 
 And thus much may fuffice tohavebeen fpokenin 
 this place concerning the nativity and multiplication 
 of Salt-petre,and the Potent Monarchy ; more fhallbe 
 fpoken upon fome other occafion if God pleafe- 
 
 Now follows the ufe and benefit o/Salt-petre. 
 
 HAving thus Ihown the Generation of Salt-petre 
 out of every Kingdom, i'«"2.. of the Vegetable, 
 Animal, and Mineral Kingdom \ it now remains yet, 
 briefly to (hew what wonderful things the fame doth 
 eifeft in Medicine and Alchimy, which thing we do 
 not find that ever any one of the Philofophers did per- 
 form, but kept all to themfelves for fecrets. 
 
 Forafmuch therefore as I have made a beginning of 
 the thing already in the fecond part of this Book,where 
 1 fpake of a certain moiftfeparation-, that is, I there 
 delivered that it is poflible to extrad Gold and Silver 
 cut of all {'yea even the moft vile) Metals,by the bene- 
 fit of a nitrous Water, fo as that any one that will but 
 fet his hand to the work may thence get hisfuftenance 
 moft plentifully ■■, it feems a thing necelTary to finifh 
 what hath been already well begun. 
 
 Now forafmuch as 1 did in that place let pafs the 
 defcribing the manner it felf of Extradtion, a many 
 Friends have much defired an illnftration of the things 
 there fi)okcn> but I could not hitherto by any means 
 fatisfie their petition, becaufe that the abundance of 
 my imployments denied me the time of Writing. 
 
 Now therefore I have determined both togratifie 
 thcfe and others by opening this moft noble artifice, 
 
 but yet fo, as that I will referve fome things unto my 
 felf, that fo all things may not be made fo common to 
 my Enemies. Andiffo be that any of my Friends 
 dellre a more plain explication, and de lire an addi- 
 on of the things I have omitted here, it will bean 
 eafie matter unto me to fatisfie their requefts. 
 
 This Art therefore doth not only conduce to this, 
 VIZ.. to extras fixt Gold and Silver out of all fand, 
 earth, ftones, yea and out of the more vile Metals (or 
 Ores of Gold aud Silver ; (but alfo to e.xtracT; the vo- 
 latile andiramatureGold.and Silvgr,and to make ittix» 
 and that in fuch a compendious manner as that it will 
 be a matter of (in a manner) no cofts or labour : Nay 
 more, if fo be there cannot be had any poor Metals, 
 Stones, or fuch like fubjcds that contain in them 
 Gold and Silver (though even thefe are plentifully e- 
 nough to be had in every part of the World; : Yet 
 neverthelefs may that Art be cxercifed with profit, 
 about even the imperfeft Metals fuch as J, 9, V, 
 T}, 5, Calmct^ Zmk-, Bifmnth^ Cadmia^ jirfetiick^^ 
 ^urirtgmiit-, Cr abates ^ Talk,, Smiris, Hematttts-, and 
 fuch kind of Fofliles, are •, and which contain & > , 
 partly fixt, and partly volatile, and may be commodi- 
 oufly extraded by the help of a nitrous Water. 
 
 Befides too, moft excellent Gold may be in like 
 manner profitably fcparated out of all fuch things as 
 are made by Art of Silver, whether they be gilded 
 with Gold, or not, infomuch, that if there be but a 
 moft few grains contained in a large portion of Silver, 
 they may befeparated with gain. And if fobe any be 
 fo minded to impregnate the feparated > again with 
 Gold, that fo it may again yield Gpid by a following 
 feparation,he may moft eafily do fo ; yea, this opera- 
 tion may be lb often repeated after this wife until all 
 the > pafs (by Graduation) into Sol, which thing may 
 be compared to a perpetual durable Mine-pit of Gold, 
 and is perferted by the benefit of Salt-petre only ; and 
 therefore it both may and ought to be called and that 
 defervedly a Store-houfe and comfort for mankind. 
 For when we preparethatSalt-petreof medicinal Sub- 
 jeds, all the Salt-petre doth not put on the form of 
 chriftalsjbut much of it abidesperraixt with the water, 
 ^ whih water doth abound with a moft notable nitirous 
 ' virtue of thoroughly promoting Chriflallization,info- 
 much that the feeds of Rye, Wheat, Millet, Gates, 
 Beech=wheat, and fuch like, when they are macerated 
 or fteeped therein fome due time,afore they arefowri 
 in the Earth, do multiply themfelves extraordinarily, 
 fothat we fee 3, 4, 6, yea and fometimes 20 plants 
 fpring forth out of one fingle Grain. 
 
 With the fame nitrous Liquor too, (fo it be pre- 
 pared of true medicinal things, maybe made a moft: 
 excellent Medicine (which may be in a manner com- 
 pared with potable Gold, and by the help of which, 
 great difeafes and as it were incurable, are happily 
 healed) and that in a few hours fpace. 
 
 Forafmuch therefore, as fuch a Kingly medicament 
 (of which I have made fome mention in the Second 
 Part of my Pharm^copceia Spa^yrica,\\'hcre I treated of 
 nitre) &■ fuch a moft excellent & incomparable dung- 
 ing of the Ground, may,together with the Salt-petre, 
 be prepared &inftituted-, fo moft eafily & almoft with= 
 outcoft, (on which depends the health of the body,- 
 and fertility of the Ground, whether you refped 
 Corn, or Wine, or Hops, or any other things, thac 
 man ufeth inftead of Meat and Drink for the fuftain- 
 ing of Life , or elfe the extradlon of © and > out of 
 all the moft abjcift Subjedis every where found J nay 
 we notjuftly pronounce thus much of Salt-petre, that 
 it is altogether profitable and commodious to all men •, 
 
 and 
 
560 
 
 The Third Part of 
 
 Pare I. 
 
 and iherefore well wortlithe fcarching after, and the 
 application to the ufe of Man. 
 
 Tiierefore like as by the help of 5alt-petre, we fee 
 wc are able to pet ail fuch things as an honeft man 
 fccms to need/uc h as arc Food, Drink,Hcalth, yea and 
 © and > too, and all this mofl: plentifully and perfeft- 
 ly: fo on the contrary') the ufe of thisSalt-petre is 
 veryhuitfui whcnic is ufed for evil, and this is fuffici- 
 ently feen in the time of War. Yet neverthelefswe 
 fhoiild not eflecm lefs of it than it really is, becaiife of 
 its being abufed, bi^^ rather the benefits attending it 
 f which are very many) Ihould ilk up our minds to 
 inake a diligent enquiry into it- The end of the 
 World is at hand, and fundry things are detctfled, 
 which the ancients refcrved amongft the higheft Se- 
 crets, but they are but liitle cflcemed ; fome of them, 
 I will here exhibit and fnow unto you. 
 
 Noiv fo/kws the ^rocefs. Operation, or Manner of 
 extracting Sol and Luna out of all the Me- 
 tals with Profit. 
 
 T Hat you may gainfully extraft > out of the Me- 
 tal (or Mineral) of Silver, Litharge, ftones,and 
 the like folTiles, which have > in them, Firll: of all 
 you mull commit them to the fire, that they may be 
 made red hot (but yet this needs not be done with 
 fand) then powder them, and put them in a Glafs Cu- 
 curbite, pour thereupon as much ^(]iui-fortis2s is fuf- 
 ficient, put this Cucurbice in a pan full of fand, and 
 then heat the fand by little and little by putting Fire 
 thereunder ; that fo the yifu-fortis may by the help 
 thereof attraft the > out of the powder-, then pour 
 cffthe Jiqua-fortti from this powder, and pour it upon 
 theother like conditioned powder, that it may alfo 
 extraftthe ? out of that too, and this decanting and 
 pouring on, muft be repeated fo often until there be no 
 moredillblved. 
 
 The Aqua-fa tis is always dimini/hed or wafted be- 
 caufe fome of it adheres to the Metal, and therefore 
 muft there always be other A'ju^t-foins put in the 
 room of that which is wafted :, The Aqu-i-f orris which 
 adheres to the Metal is to be thence feparated by the 
 benefit of boiling, on this wife •, Pour common Rain- 
 water upon the Metal contained in the Cucurbite, and 
 mix itwellby ftrong (haking of the Glafs, then heat 
 the fand fo as to make it boil, and fo that hot water 
 will draw to it felf the y^fta-.fonis out of the Metal, 
 which faid water contains X' in it. Then when this 
 water is abftracted by inclination or pouring off, put 
 on fome Rain- water a fccond time upon the powdered 
 Metal remaining in the Cucuibite, and this will ex- 
 tract tliatwhicli the former water left of the Afta- 
 firtis partaking of y (unwaHi'd off: ) and fo let no- 
 thing of the J> remain in that metallick powder; 
 v\'hen it's thus done the matter is to be thrown away as 
 altogether unprofitable, unlcfs there lies hid therein 
 any Gold ; which if it he fo, we muft pour fome Aqua- 
 i^ff'.nhereupon, and order the operation according 
 to the foregoing method ; then mix both the ftrong 
 waters together, boih that which cxtrafted the ^ and 
 that whichextrarted the 0, mix them diligently, and 
 there will thence arife a certain whiteWater, and the 
 folution will be like Milk; For the ) cannot abide the 
 Aftfi.-Rfgia^hhi there will precipitate a white povv- 
 derwhich fnatcheth (or prcci()itateth) down with it 
 felf out of the Waters the Gold too. We may make 
 ufe of the decanted Water to cxtrad O out of the 
 
 other Metals, for the pouring on of the y^tjua-fortis 
 with the }^ in it, to the A<jn.i-Rea^t.i^d,oih not at all 
 take away ought of the virtues. 
 
 Upon the precipitated powder of© and > hot Rain' 
 water is tobefeveral times poured, that fo all the 
 Iharpnefs of the Aqua fort is may be extracted. The 
 powder of the > is to be put upon fome Cap-paper 
 and dried. And as for the way of feparating the ii 
 from the© we will prefently teach in what follows. 
 
 The edulcorating waters as well of as of >, are 
 to be all of them mixt together, and then the > will 
 fettle to the bottom, and attrads the © which was in 
 fche other water (or waihings j : fo that there remains 
 notany either© or D in the edulcorating Water (or 
 waftiings): nor are thefe waters of any farther profit 
 as to the work of feparating as afore, yet notwith= 
 ftauding there may be made excellent Salt-petre of 
 them, as we fnali mention in what follows. 
 
 When you have rightly edulcorated and dried the 
 precipitates of ©and I , they are to be put into a 
 ftrong Crucible, this Crucible is to be placed in a Gen- 
 tle fire, until the matter therein contained doth flow, 
 which is eafily done, for it is very Huxile ^ as foon as 
 ever you perceive it flow, turn it out, for fear leall a- 
 ny of it ftiould penetrate the Crucible, and fo bring 
 damage or lofs to the Operator. When the > is 
 poured forth, you will find the © fticking to the fides 
 and bottom of the Crucible like pale Gold, altogether 
 Crude and not at all fluxile. The J> turn'd out is 
 brittle, fufile,and volatile, and is by the Chymifts 
 call'd Horny=Luna, but I call it the 2 of > , it being of 
 excellent ufe in Akhiray, as ftiall be ftiown in what 
 follows. 
 
 The Crucible in which that remained may be 
 kept to melt fuch like precipitates of © & !> in againj 
 when this hath been done pretty often (in the fame 
 pot) melt down this © by adding a little borax, and 
 you fliall receive a paliili Gold, becaufe in this firlt 
 melting, fome of the > doth adhere thereunto. 
 
 This now is the common way of feparating thefe 
 precipitatesof © and > from each other, there ftiall 
 follow a better way in whatenfues. 
 
 NB- That if fobe, both the Metals are boiled in a 
 ftrong Lixivium after their edulcoration ; or if fome 
 fixt Salt made of a Lixivium, be powdered and per- 
 mixt with it afore melting, then the © and ) are re- 
 1 duced together, and may be afterwards feparated by 
 I the help o{ Aqua- fort is : There is yet a more accurate 
 iVvay; (and it is this) when we mix the edulcorated 
 Calxes of Lim.i and Sd with ( A. ) and being 
 mixt put them in a coated Retort, and put fire there- 
 under by degrees (as is wont to be done in deftilling) 
 and keep it for 6 or 8 hours in a continual Cementati-- 
 on ; and fo the volatile S of > is made fixt hy 
 i'(\z help of i A- ) and corporeal : Yea and tin- 
 geth fome part of the added (A. j fo that 
 by the benefit of this Cementation, the > is made 
 more Golden. This Cement is to be moil finely 
 powdered and to be reduced by the following melt- 
 ing : and you will find your © and > augmen- 
 ted. The melting is thus •, Take of the belt Sak- 
 perrc, and ( A. ) each alike: mix them, and fepa- 
 ratethe Spirit of Nitre by a Retort, which ( Spirit ) 
 is much fitter for feparation than fimple Aqua-- 
 fortis: Thc Cjfwf -^^orr^/t;;; remaining behind in the 
 Retort, is to be powdered, the fixt Nitre is tobeex- 
 traclcd with Rain-water out of the powder. This 
 Lixivium or extra(fling Liquor will be of a green co- 
 lour which is to be coagulated into a Salt by a due 
 boiling ; which Salt is able to reduce the 2 of 5 i and 
 
 to 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Prolperity of Germany, 
 
 361 
 
 to make anreous or Goldenj yea,and to reduce theCe- 
 mented 2 (of D too- 
 
 NB. It is better to mix the fixt Salt-petre, or the 
 Green Lyon limply with the horny 3, to cement it 
 in a Retort, than ( to take it ) out of the Retort, 
 (and) reduce it with a ftronger fire-, and fo we ihall 
 have an excellent augmentation of ®. 
 
 NB. The AitrcH>v of Lioia cemented with ( A ) 
 may be likewife reduced by this means, ( -viz.. with 
 this flux ) that we take one part of Flints that will 
 melt in the fire, and of the fixt fait of aQies four or 
 five parts, and fornix them together, and melt them 
 into a white glafs ; 'tis able to reduce the beft Ce- 
 ments- And this is the belt way of all of reduftion. 
 
 Befides,all thofe ways of reducing a Cement, there 
 may even this way too be iiiltituted , and that not 
 unproficably. Take of the fudle Glafs of Lead four 
 parts, of the cementing Powder one part ■, melt them 
 in an iron Crucible in a Itrong Fire, and fomeof the 
 Lead will be reduced out of the Glafs of Lead, and 
 will be near ( or partake of ) > : This Lead is to be 
 blown off on the Teft, and you fhall find an aureous > : 
 But for as much as the Lead feparated from the Glafs 
 of Lead in the iron Crucible, contracts a biackilh co- 
 lour from the Iron ; it is profitable to add to the mat- 
 ter in the fuUng or melting, fome Salt of Afhes? as be- 
 ing that by which the Lead becomes depuratedjand fo 
 is eafily feparated on the Tefl:. 
 
 But if fo be, that (for this work) the Metals (of Mi- 
 nerals) of ©& > cannot be had to precipitate the -Mr- 
 ciiry of > out of them, (then) the artificially-made 
 { velfels or plate j whether fimply Silver, or elfe guilt 
 with ®, may be made ufe of ; let thefe be dillblved 
 with the //i?. for. left after the precipitation,& precipi- 
 tated with Salt water or A-jna Regia^snd be edulcora- 
 ted and mixt with ( A ) and be fixt in a Retort- 
 Now this Operation is to be done in a Retort, that 
 fo the precipitated ) that is altogether volatile, may 
 not be wafted, which in a Crucible evaporates away, 
 a good part of it,which cannot be fo done in a Retort ; 
 for in a Retort, that which flies up, fticks in the Neck, 
 and may be feparated thencefrom, and'be mixt with o- 
 ther Cements : And befides too, the Cement is eafily- 
 er feparated from the Glafs, than from an uneven 
 Crucible ; for fome part always fticks thereon, and 
 cannot be gotten oflf. 
 
 When you are minded to purifie this Cement foon- 
 cr (or more fpeedily j it may be molten with an equal 
 •weight of Antimony, and there will arife from your 
 golden ■) a Regulus, which muft be purified with Salt- 
 petre. Concerning which work of Reduiflion , and 
 which is far eafier than that which is done by the help 
 of the Glafs of Lead, 1 have moft clearly and fully 
 handled it, in my Teftimony of the Truth, or the Ex- 
 plication of my Miraculum MhuM. By this means e- 
 very 5 of > may be rendred aureous,and that as oft as 
 one will, yea,even until all the ) be changed into Gold 
 by Cementation and Gradation. Now if you would 
 otherwife feparateought of the aureous or golden ) jor 
 extr2(ft the Metals ( where neverthelefs you would rc: 
 duce the feparated and > ) it may be effeded by this 
 means moft commodioufly and moft gainfully of all, 
 becaufe the Calx of 'i is made aureous by Cementa- 
 tion. This labour yields a continual augmentation of 
 ® > by which we may live very well and plentifully. 
 
 Another Augment or Eftcreafe of Sol 
 
 Dlllblve > or b in Acj,u Fortis , alfo ¥ in Aqiu 
 Rcguz : ( NB. Let there be always thrice 
 as much Silver as Tin j ) mix the folutions very 
 accurately , and when you fee that all the matter is 
 fallen down (or precipitated) to the bottom ; pour oft' 
 the water, which faid water wiif very commodioufly 
 ierve mftead of A^iia Reo^ia, to diflblve other ¥ in. 
 NB. It your Aqu.t Regia be not ftrong enough, it will 
 not at all diflblve the Tin, therefore in fuch a Cafe 
 you may pour on the Tin, Aqua Fartis mixt with fim- 
 ple water, which after they have a while aded upon 
 each other, there muft be fome falt-water poured 
 thereupon, that fo the > or b may be precipitated to 
 the bottom of the Veflcl, in which (Velfel) the white 
 afhes of the Tin ly. This matter lying in the bot- 
 tom, is to be edulcorated , dryed, and reduced by a 
 ftrong fire, by which operation you have not only an 
 augmentation of your luna, but it is likewife made 
 golden. 
 
 NB. This bnfinefs may alfo be thus managed, Firft 
 diflolve ^ or > in Aqna Fortis • to the folution add 
 an equal quantity of Rain-water, pour this mixture 
 upon ¥,and let the folution be made in a pretty warm 
 place with fand ; feparate that which is dillblved 
 the matter that is yet fomewhat harder, by decant-' 
 ing or pouring it off; then make the precipitation with 
 falt-water, edulcorate it dry it, and melt it, and you 
 fhall have Encreafe- 
 
 ButifthisMafs will not fo eafily melt, then powder 
 it, and mix it either with Antimony, Glafs of Lead 
 or with a fluxing matter made of fait of afiies and 
 flints, that thereby it may be made fluxile or meltable : 
 That which is made fufile by the help of the Glafs of 
 Flints, is prefently pure ; fo is not that which is done 
 by the help of the Glafs of Lead, for that muft be 
 hence feparated, and be ( by the benefit of 5 and J) 
 reduced into Regulufes, and be purified and waftied by 
 Salt-petre. Therefore it is the better way to pro- 
 mote the melting, with the Glafs of Flints than with 
 Antimony, becaufe the > may be afterwards fepara- 
 ted without Lofs, which is notfoeafie a thing fore- 
 very one to do (otherwife J 
 
 The Redudion which is made by the help of the 
 Glafs of Lead, is indeed (otherwife a moft eafy way, 
 but by that way which is done with Antimony, we gee 
 more ® than by any other way. 
 
 Another ivay of Augmenting Sol 
 
 TAke the golden Talck,Granates, Smiris, Hema- 
 titis, the aureous Scoria's of Copper, the green- 
 ifli, reddifli, golden Flint,Sand, or Clay ; extraft their 
 volatile Gold with a ftrong A^ua RegtJi ■ pour into the 
 folution, a folution of Lead madcby Atjna Fortis; 
 mix it well ; when the matter is fettled, feparate the 
 A^iia Fortts by inclination ; edulcorate the faid Calx 
 of^ with water, and dry it, and fo have we gotten 
 the volatile Gold extraded out of the A^ha RcJtn 
 by the T? : This volatile Gold is made fixt on this 
 wife. Take the moft fubtle Powder of '• , or its 
 moft thin Leaves, add thereto thrice as much of this 
 2 of Tj ; or four times as much, or fix times, accor- 
 ding to the quantity of it, by which we formerly goc 
 (or filh'd out) the volatile Gold: Set it in fuch a pl*e 
 where it may have a gentler hear, fo as that the 2 of 
 Z z z z Tj may 
 
62 
 
 The I bird Part of 
 
 Part i: 
 
 Tjmay jiifl: flow, and not fume; the matter is to be 
 ttvus kept in this heat for fome hours, or rather days, 
 that fothe filings of @ or its thin Leaves may by little 
 and little attradl the volatile Gold out of the S of b , 
 and runiccjiiently be therewithal augmented. 
 
 N13. But feeing it is a molt difficult thing to keep 
 fuch a very temperate heat as that nothing at all of 
 the 5 fliall fly away, and thcGfhall net melt in the 
 Crucible : It is licttcr to put the mixt with the 2 
 of ^3 in a coated Retm-t, and fet it at a ftrong Fire for 
 a; fcrdbn for fo nothing of the I of ^ flies away, or 
 penetrates the Crucible. That which afcendsupto 
 the Neck of the Retort maybe fcparated, and be kept 
 for common 5 of ^J , out of which may be prepared a 
 mofl: excellent Medicine. 
 
 Another Augmentation of Sol. 
 
 TAke of red Arfenick, Auripigment, Hungarian 
 Antimony or Cinnabar one part, of 5 of Tj 
 tincc parts, and fome thin Plates of Gold -, let them 
 fland in a Glafs Retort in a pretty hot place, and fo 
 the © will attract the volatile Gold out of the added 
 Minerals, and will thereby augment it felf. And if 
 fo be that there be any thing fublimed up to the neck 
 ot the Retort it may be taken thencefrom, and be re- 
 (Juced to a kind of Tinclure. And fo we may here 
 have a particular augmentation of0, and a- matter 
 vvhereout of a Tinclure may be prepared. 
 
 NB. The veflel that is mofl: fit for the fixation of 
 the Tinifture, is fuch an one as is madcof tixt T: . 
 
 NB- The 9 of Ij or > may be reduced by a fecret 
 fufion for fufile matter j whereby it prefently yields 
 an aurcous"> or T: : but efpecially this 5 of 2^ or Tj,by 
 the help of which,tliere hath bin a fixt or volatileGold 
 extraLledontoftheearth, ftones,fand, and fuch like 
 Minerals, is to be on this wife reduced, whereby we 
 may receive ("and get) as well the volatile Gold 
 as the fixt. 
 
 Likewife too, the 5 of 5^ or ^ may be artificially 
 diftilled, purified, and prepared for a lingular Medica- 
 ment ; But yet let no body perfwade himfelf that fuch 
 a diflillation is to be perfected after the common vyay 
 with retorts orcucurbites.for it is a meerly vain thing 
 to hope for the feparationof the pure from the im- 
 pure that kind of way, for becauie the fire forceth up 
 the good and bad alike, the whichthingis not atal! fo 
 done by ray mors fecret Philofophicai diftillation ; for 
 by it, the moll pure foul only of the Metal is driven 
 up ; as for the tcrrefl;reity that remains,it is feparated 
 cfit felfby that more impure (thing) to which it is 
 conjoined; and makes a <lirtyiih llirae- The 
 purer part willbe found (by the help of the Cementa- 
 tory Copple) to contain both © and 5 ^ as well the 
 purer part of that which is prepared by it felf of this 
 (bare)? of > and 1: : as that which is prepared of 
 fuch (a 5,) as by whofe help fixt and volatile 
 Gold hath been educed (or gotten) out of the nitrous 
 Water ; which way alfo is a molt compendious one, 
 of reducing the fcxtrafted) volatile and fixt Gold. 
 For when we reduce this 2 of i or Tj by the help of 
 fafing things, fome part of the may ealily per i(h and 
 evaporate : But now here, nothing at all perilhcth : 
 For that which dees not remain (behind) in the faid 
 artificial diftillation, and fofep?.rateic felf from im- 
 purities, goes out (or pafieth over) and yields a moll 
 excellent Medicament more excellent than© it Icli", 
 which you are well to cbfcrve. 
 
 l^efidcs too, it is a thing molt cafic to be done to fix 
 
 the foul of I or T> ('that is carried ^or forced] up, to- 
 gether with the volatile Spirit,) in the faid inftru- 
 ment with ; which to effeCl, there (oiherwife) needs 
 a longer time. Therefore even by this one only pro* 
 ccfs is both made a mofl excellent Medicament, and 
 withal,© is gotten too- Thcfe things we have here ex- 
 pofed in very few and plain Words mofl agree- 
 able to the truth, and do mofl cxa(!lly anfwer to ex- 
 perience ; nor is there any reafon of blaming me be- 
 caufe of my fpeaking fomewhat obfcurely, feeing ic 
 is evident that not one of my Predeceflbrs did ever 
 exhibit (or publilh) any of thofe things. Well, what 
 fliall 1 fay ? Excellent Gold may be extradled out of 
 all the kinds of Metals, by the help of Salt-petre ; yea 
 with fo much facility ; that it would feem an incre: 
 diblc thing to mofl Men, though I fhould clearly fee 
 down all the circumfl:ances, word for word : But yec 
 this fextradlion is) not (to be done) without the be= 
 nefit(or help)of G and > : for when we have a puu- 
 pofe of augmenting any thing, there mull in the firll 
 place of necelfity be the feed of the thing that is to be 
 augmented, and according to the quality of tlie feed 
 there mufl be a fit matrix in which it may take its 
 growth or increafe. For example i When we feek 
 for theincreafingof any vegetable feed, we prepare 
 aconvenient Earth for the fame, to which Earth we 
 commit that feed, and fo the like fort of Herb buds 
 forth, which doth again produce thoufands of feeds; 
 which feeds are again put into the Earth, and fo are 
 multiplied even to infinity. This multiplication of 
 Vegetables is fufficiently enough known, and a moft 
 ealie work it is to multiply a Vegetable.if we have but 
 itsfeed,andthatit bewellconfervedlcaflit die. So 
 likewife out of one Fire may be made many yea in{i= 
 nite other Fires, for one is always kindled by another. 
 But when all the feed is dead, 'tis an impoflible thing 
 to produce a new feed. 
 
 Therefore the mofl Great and Blefled GOD, hath 
 moll excellently ordered it, fo that the feed of Vege- 
 tables may be kept the year about ; for if it (liould not 
 be fo, we might well fear the deftrudion of the chief 
 Herbs in theWinter feafon,which now (by the benefit 
 of their feeds fowed in the Earth) we are able to pro- 
 duce a new. 
 
 Now the progrefs or order of the feed of Animals 
 is widely different fro m thefe,although that even they 
 are committed to fuch like Animal bodies, as being 
 their fruitful foil, for multiplication fake : But yet 
 this fowing is done by a vaflly different way from 
 that of Vegetables •, For we can keep the feed of the 
 Vegetables, and carry it from place to place and fo 
 plant or fow it in any part of the Earth we pleafe i 
 which cannot be done with the feed of Animals for we 
 cannot fo conferve that, or tranfport it out of one 
 place into another, or fow it as lilteth us our felves. 
 But it mufl be committed unto the matrix, in that very 
 moment of time that it palfcth out, for it cannot be 
 fruitful and entire if it be but a moment of time out of 
 the body- The fowing therefore and conception are 
 performed bothtogether by both bodies, -viz.. by the 
 Male and Female. The caufe of this thing is thus, 
 becaufethc feed of the Animals abounds with a vola- 
 tile, invifible, and living Spirit ; which once loll the 
 work of multiplication is wholly takenaway. There- 
 fore like as one CAnimal] multiplication is perfefted 
 fo is the other, nor may wc by any means tranfgrefs 
 the courfe of nature. 
 
 In like manner arc the Minerals alfo multi- 
 plied, and by the fame manner that it is once per- 
 tefted bv, is it to be always after perfefted by. 
 
 The 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 965 
 
 The Multiplication of the Vegetables and Animals 
 is well enough known to every ODe,and is every where 
 done, nor (by reafon of its being fo very common) 
 doth it at all caufe in ary one an admiration ; But the 
 multiplication of the Minerals is not fo publick a thing, 
 for there are but a very few that underltand it, 
 though it be as ealie as the multiplication of Vegeta- 
 bles and Animals, infomuch that 1 alfo believe, that 
 there is not any one to be found, that is fo ftupidly 
 foolilh, that would not be able prefently to appre- 
 hend and do the fame, were the way but fliown unto 
 him. Now that there are fo many that erre,and who 
 walkinanunlawfulor contrary path, this is not to be 
 imputed to the art it felf, but to thofe that meddle 
 therewithal fo inconfiderately, and do not imitate na: 
 ture, who always keeps her courfe allotted her by God. 
 
 The Multiplication therefore of the Metals doth 
 folely confift in the knowledge of the feed ; for as 
 the condition or quality of the feed fown is, like fruits 
 will follow, fuch nature as the feed you fow is of, fuch 
 fruits will you reap, and no other- For Example, I 
 feek after : Therefore 1 muftfirlt of all,ofneceHity 
 have the feed of G,at hand,afore 1 can fow it:or mul- 
 tiply it. Now to have this feed, we muft not fet about 
 it with words or imagination, but by Tgetting) the 
 knowledge of nature -, for (he (hews us the fafeft way, 
 if we did not withdraw our felves from hearing her 
 teach us. Now like as (^ic commits O and J> to the 
 Earth} even fo, and no otherwifc mull we alfo do, if 
 wc hope for any good fuccefs. 
 
 And as wefaid above, that there lies hidden in e- 
 very Vegetable and Animal feed, a certain vital or 
 procreating Spirit, without which it is wholly unfit for 
 ought i even fo, there refides a certain Spirit in the 
 Minerals, which vivifies and efTeifteth all, which being 
 abfent, death it felf follows. This fpirit is of no 
 weight or form, and there is nothing to be feen by us 
 but only the habitation or houfe wherein it dwells ; 
 fo that fcarce the ihoufandth part of the feed is life 
 and fpirit, all the reftisdead. The truth of this thing 
 doth(amongother things) appear even from hence. 
 Viz,, if fome Vegetable feed be kept beyond its due 
 and naturally appointed time, whereby the Vegeta- 
 tive virtue and fpirit vanifheth, it doth not yield any 
 fruit at all. nor can it multiply it felf, though it hath 
 ■its former (liape> bignefs, and former weight. And 
 therefore, there is not any thing in the three-fold 
 Kingdom of either Vegetables, Animals, or Minerals, 
 but is procreated and multiplied meerly and folely by 
 the benefit of this fpirit and implanted Life. 
 
 Therefore, even as all the Metals were firit wrought 
 after a fpiritual manner by the Stars in the Earth ( in 
 a convenient Matrix) by the Stars, and made fix -, fo 
 accordingas the Matrix it felf is pure or impure, fo 
 pure or impnre Metals aregenerated^nowthe Matrix 
 of all things is water or moill earth, in which the Stars 
 are congregated (or united together) are made cor- 
 poreal, grow up, and are multiplied. Here there- 
 fore, if Art would imitate nature, there are required 
 Male- like Aftrums and Feminine Matrixes, in which 
 the Aftrums may exercife their operations. There- 
 fore by how much purer the metallick Aftnjm or feed 
 is, and the Matrix purer, fo much the nobler efFedt is 
 produced ; and fo on the contrary. 
 
 But feeing that there is not any Star nobler than O, 
 nor Matrix nobler than > , there is no more required, 
 but that we make common © Aftralby Art ; and that 
 we prepared on fnch wife, as that it may be inftead 
 of a Matrix, wherein the Aftrums of® may exercife 
 his operations; and fo without doubt, there will thence 
 
 come fuch Children as will be like their Parents. Nor 
 is there any ground for any one to think that there is 
 any other v^ay allotted to augment G and J>, bcfides 
 that afore mentioned which is tobe inftituted in a 
 fpiritual manner : After this manner the World it 
 felf was Created, where the Spirit of God moved up- 
 on the Water and impregnated it ^ and even as we 
 daily fee that the Stars do impart to the inferiour 
 things their virtues, and they are.^hcrcby multiplied ; 
 evenfo may we do the fame by ait in thcfe interioui- 
 things ; for fuch as are above, are alfo beneath. 
 Thofe above are beyond our reach ; but the inferiour 
 ones, not fo: For art can do the fame with or upon 
 the inferiour things, as the Stars upon the fuperionr 
 ones. As Htrmts doth clearly demonftrate in the 
 Smarngdine Table. He that underftands tliefe my 
 fayings, will alfo underftand thofe things, which Par a-. 
 cc/y/a delivers in his Book of the^<;.v.«<o«o/ Alchymifls. 
 \nthQ<^th. Rule efpecially of > ; an6.Bafil(y'aknttm) 
 where he treats of Sulphur. 
 
 It is a thing moft eafie to be done, but moft difficult: 
 to be found out, to multiply even the moft vile Me- 
 tals,by the help of the A(trums,and by this fecret way. 
 He that well knows Salt:pctre andean rightly handle 
 the fame, will by the help thereof perform a many 
 profitable things-, for as it is altogether impofhble to 
 get O outofthc viler Metals, without it: So on the 
 contrary it is moft eafie fo to do by its help. Briefly, 
 He that knows how to handle Salt-petre aright, he 
 will excellently well underftand the Writings of the 
 Philofophers, and let him know, that he has a light 
 given him, to arrive unto great Secrets- 
 
 For we may extrad and > , out of all the com- 
 mon meaner or viler Metals, fo that an expert Chy- 
 niiftneedsnot feek after peregrine, or ftrange Mate- 
 rials. An excellent purification, fixation, and aug- 
 mentation may perfeAly be done by the help of Salt- 
 petre, which being a thing that but few know of, (b 
 feems it impofiible, and yet the things I propound are 
 moft true. It makes bodies volatile and fpiritual, and 
 by and by again makes them fixt and compadl : So that 
 UBto it alone is that faying of the Philofophers due, 
 (_Make the f.xcvolatile^a'idthevol.ittlefixt') and to no 
 other Subjeds : Now if Metals be not fpiritualized, 
 there's no hopes of their augmentation- Of fomethincr 
 Miifia nothing be n^dc^and agai'i out of the nothing 77111 jh 
 jomething fruceed : So faith Paracelfiis^ which likewife 
 is very true, though there are but a few that believe 
 the fame. 
 
 The melting together of varioufly mixt corporeal 
 things, yields forth neither O nor D : Butcontrary- 
 wife a fpiritual Union which is done with a moft ftrong 
 heat, is a notable author (or promoter) of Multiplica* 
 tion :, for the Spirits do moft notably penetrate,and by 
 varioufly at^Tiing upon each other, do induce alterati- 
 ons and meliorations, which is denied to dead bodies 
 to perform. The Spirit doth diverily beftow a life, 
 and vivifieth, but the body is of no other ufe, but to 
 yield an houfe or habitation to the Spirit i the which 
 is well to be regarded- 
 
 Thofe metalline Spirits(when the work is finifhedj 
 do infinuate themfelves anew into other bodies, which 
 bodies they make far better than the former were, and 
 all this by the help of Salt-pctre. 
 
 -S.?y</ brings in Salt-petre fpeaking of it felf on this 
 wife. He that intends my death needs be a prudent 
 Man, that fo he may expel (or force out) my foul from 
 me ; when this is done, I adventure upon all the 
 things I am able to do, bat I can do nothing that h^s 
 in iclirmnefs(or fubftantiaily)in the bottom, (or ra- 
 dically:) 
 
364 
 
 1 he Third Fan of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 dically) : ^t«//jis my clicarful VVoman,vvhom (in this 
 place J I take to Wife, but the wedding is celebrated 
 in the vtry inward parts (or center^ uheie the fweat 
 flows uutof nsbothiii a molt plentiful manner. So 
 the iubtile (partj in us, exi)ellcth all defilements, 
 whence ic is; thac we leave behind us moll rich Chil- 
 drei?, and dorcfcrvefor keep in llore) moll eminent 
 Treafures for the dead bodies, which we give them by 
 our Will and TcRament. Who would fpeak more 
 clearly, and woulu not underlland thefe words of 
 themlelveSj (or as they are) without any interpreta- 
 tion. 
 
 The ancient Philofophers wrote, that at the rifing 
 of the Sun is a Bird found in thofe hotter Countries j 
 which builds his reft with Gold^ and when he is 
 grown old, and can live no longerj he gathers toge- 
 ther exceeding dry Wood, which being kindled by 
 I he heat of the 0, confumes both the Nefl and the 
 Bird tco> from the alhes moillned with rain Water, 
 
 and partly by cxpredlbn from the coagulated or 
 cheefy fubflance wrapt up in a Linen cicth, that fo a 
 Cheefe may thence be made. 
 
 Juftfo do we proceed in the making of our metallick 
 Cheefe ; for when we pour Salt-water or Spirit of 
 Salt upon the folution of > or ^ mixt with that (folu- 
 tion) which is of agoldnilli Nature, inz.. of $ or V : 
 we prefently fee a precipitation made ; which done 
 weabftradthe clear water fwimming at top of the 
 precipitated matter, by inclination or pouring off v 
 the which we may keep for farther ufes, principally 
 for the folution of other Metals and golden Subjedts. 
 We put the Cheefe or white Coagulum abiding in the 
 bottom of the Vefi'el, into a Linen cloth, and by ftrong 
 fqueezing it free it wholly from the waterinefs, which 
 faid, water is to be kept as well as the former, for being 
 ufed about making new Cheefcs, it makes them of the 
 better favour, and more aureoiis and vendible. 
 
 This Whey, or that water which is plentifully ga- 
 
 they fay there arife Worms which will be again thercd in the making the Cow- milk Cheefes, though ic 
 
 changed into other Phrenixes. 
 
 Thefe layings are indeed Fabulous, yet neverthe- 
 lefs there is a moll high fecrec difclofed by them : 
 for if werightly conflderall circumltances,we (hall find 
 that Salt-pctre is hereby meant, which gathers the 
 GoldintohisNeft, that is, extrads the Gold out of 
 Metals, Stones, and Minerals, and doth afterwards in- 
 creafe his Family by the burning them. This to a 
 wife man is enough. 
 
 Now that this Arcanum may be the more manifeft, 
 I will add over and above, another way of extrading 
 the fixt and volatile Gold out of Stones and all kinds of 
 Minerals, by the help of Salt=pctre, and of making 
 them corporeal. 
 
 We may very well compare this work to a fifliing 
 Trade, concerning which the Phi lofophers have writ- 
 ten many things, but very obfcure •, Sandivog^ hath 
 more clearly treated of that thing, but Ifaac Holland 
 cleareft of all. Verily this Philofopher was an excel-- 
 Icntfilherof Pearls and an excellent preffer of Cheefe, 
 and for this very reafon he afllimed to himfelf fuch a 
 name. ForZ/'Hwby tranfpofition of Letters is the 
 .fame with Ca(ins^(ox Cheefe. j So that it may be faid 
 10 be Holimd Cheefe ; not that HolUndiis was in very 
 deed a maker of the ufual Cheefe with milk, but that 
 he bears fome kind of refemblance (in his work) with 
 fuch Men : For hebeftowcd abundance of labour about 
 working on that Univerfal, that hath fome Cheefe-like 
 fafliion in it. 
 
 Even as the Hollanders gather the greatefl quantity 
 of Milk more than all Nations befides, out of 
 which they prel's their Cheefes, and fo fultain them 
 nnd theirs ; fo the more skilful Chymifls do frame or 
 make Cheefes after a Philofophical manner, and that 
 cutofMetals,Salts, and Herbs : and this very much 
 agreeableto that method, according to which we fee 
 the Ho! Lnuicrs proceed in making their Sheep- milk 
 Cheefe, where they boil in the Milk fome green Herbs, 
 and fo do thence cxtrad a colour afore they fet about 
 the coagulatingor curdling of it. That is, they dif- 
 folve ^ or > in Ac^na-fums, and a Golden matter, 
 though it be but 2 or ¥ (if they have not at hand any 
 better) in Aqua Rrgta : They mix together both folu- 
 tioiis having both of them the form of Virgin-milk, 
 and they add as muchSaltas is fuilicient. (NB- 'lis 
 better to add Salt-watei", or Spirit of Salt,) and yon 
 
 affords varieties of Profit to mankind, whether they 
 give it their Hogs to fatten them, or ufe it themfelves 
 for their daily drink, efpecially in Summer time, or 
 apply it to other ufes as we fee daily done, yet do not 
 I fee any better benefit than that which it yields to 
 the Citrriers. For they put in it fome old Iron, and 
 when the folution is made, they moiften with thas 
 water the hide already perfcd Tor ready drelTedjand 
 when 'tis dry they moiften it therewithal again, and 
 this thcydo three or four times, until it hath gotten a 
 fi.xt colsur, blacker than a Coal, They do alfo fome- 
 timesadminifler fome ofit unto Children fwith good 
 fuccefs) to kill and expel the W^orms: Nay more, 
 they are likewife wont to make a Bath thereof very 
 profitable for thofe that are troubled with the Scabs 
 or Itch, becaufe it hath gotten a drying force from 
 the ^, and thereupon it makes the skin fmooth and 
 hard : and feeing that the Country Fellows, and La- 
 bourers can do fo much with it, what hinders but that 
 we may inftitute fuch a curing more perfed, and that 
 on this wife- 
 Take fweec Cow«milk, or (which is better) Goats- 
 milk, two meafures, boil it over the Fire, put there- 
 into while it is yet warm Sj. or Z'j- of Spirit of Salt, 
 mix it well, and you fhall fee the coagulum or curd 
 prefently feparate from the whey ; out of which,Chee- 
 fesmay be made by exprellion, which are far better 
 than others, by reafon of the addition of the Spirit of 
 Salt, whereto if you add fome Cummine,Carraway,or 
 fome fpices, they are yet better and more to be 
 preferred- The Whey here feparated is of a grateful 
 favour, and by reafon of theadmixtion of the Spirit of 
 Salt, is fomewhat acididi, and a moll certain and moft 
 fafe loofner or abfterger, being adminiflred to Infants 
 that are troubled with the Worms, or even to Elder 
 ones that are feeble. How many Infants have we ob- 
 ferved to die unexpededly after they have been for 
 fome while and often afflided with a burning Fever, 
 the Convulfion fits, and other fuch like elFeds, and 
 meerly becaufe we will not perfwadeour feives thac 
 they have the worms, & fo forbear the uling any reme- 
 dies to purge them ont ? Now in fuch a cafe this whey 
 is exceedingly excellent, being ufed after this manner. 
 Takeofthe moft iubtile filings of fteel as much as 
 will lie upon a knife's poincmix it with as much honey 
 as isfutficient, and give it the Children : and for their 
 
 fhall prefently fee that milk to be coagulated, like as ' ordinary drink, let them ufe the faid 'A'hey, and fo 
 ('when we pour on fome Salt-water or Spirit of Salt by this means,that filings being diffolved by the Whey 
 uponCowor Sheep milk) we obfervc, daily to happen : kills the Worms, in the ventricle or ftomach and 
 where the Water is partly feparated by de<;antaiicn, drives them out, and verily is a moft excellent Medi- 
 
 cament : 
 
Pare l.i 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 5^5 
 
 cament •, efpccially if taken two or three days •, nor 
 have I hitherto met with a nobler, than this is. And 
 fo there will redound feme profit to Children and 
 Infants too, by this our way of making ChecfC) for 
 which we owe immortal thanks to the Great and 
 Glorious God. 
 
 Belidcs this, I have likewife obfervcd the excel- 
 lent ufe of this Whey, in the adminiftration of my 
 Panacea of Antimony, if there be taken a draught 
 or two thereof, at the end of the Purgation ; for it 
 gently carries off the reliques that ftick to the in- 
 tcftincs. 
 
 He likewife that is fo minded, may before his drop- 
 ping in the fpirit of Salt, add fomc Anife - feed or 
 Fennehfecd to the milk as it boils, thereby to cor- 
 rect its Flatulency or Windinefs. 
 
 And I do moft curteoufly intreat the well-minded 
 Reader to take it in good part, that 1 have been fo 
 prolix in declaring the virtues of our Whey ■■, necef- 
 lity it fclf, and the love of my neighbour forbad my 
 concealing of them : For very many Infants are killed 
 with the Fever, and Epilepfy, or Convulfion-fits, and 
 fo fuddenly die, for no other caufe but our not meet- 
 ing with the Worms, which their bodies are full of, 
 being ignorant of convenient remedies. 
 
 Now then to return again to our Cheefe, and to de- 
 rnonftrate the mofl: eminent benefit, both of it, and of 
 our water which is thence feparated ; we are firfl; of 
 all to know, that even it is alfo able to tinge (fome) 
 fubjefts with a certain colour, not with fuch a black 
 colour, indeed,asthe Whey of Milk, prepared asa- 
 forefaid, dyes the Curriers Hides with,but with a yel- 
 low colour, and more durable than that which is 
 given to the hide, for that we therewith cxtraift a 
 Tinfture out of S and other aureous Subjeds, and 
 with the Tindiure, do foraetimes anoint (or tinge) 
 Lnna. If now the water abound with fuch vir- 
 tues-, what virtues will not the Cheefe it felf a- 
 bound withal ? And like as our Cheefes are diverfly 
 impregnated with fpices, fo are they of different 
 favour, and price, and more or lefs wholfome- But 
 now if that virtue which is in V is alfo added to 
 our Cheefes, there will proceed from thence admira- 
 ble Cheefes ; and this, that Philofophcr was min- 
 ded to point at, who writes that by the help of 
 the Saturnine net, he is able even in a clear night 
 to extracfl the little Fifh Efchweis out of the 
 Sea 
 
 The Ultimate ( or extream J letters of this 
 word Efchn.eis i. and s, if conjoined together, fo as 
 that the letter ~. be thereof made , and then the 
 word read backward, it will found in the German 
 tongue the fame with Ziemfcb^ (.^'z.) the aflies of 
 Tin, but yet let not any one perfwade himfelf that 
 thofe afhes of Tin are fuch as are made by means 
 of the (barej fire, but are prepared by the benefit 
 of the fpirit of Nitre- 
 Saturn docs not only claim (or merit) the prai- 
 fes of being a husbandman, but alfo of being a 
 good fiflier, and hunter, as Tamong other writers) 
 ■B^i/il f^Jcntine doth egregiouily fhew. 
 
 When 0, 5", V, and <? purfue (or hunt) the 
 wild bcalls, ^ is bound to carry the net : N B, the 
 hunting dogs here are Salts, the hare that is caught, 
 is much like the colour ofthe hares skin, being ftript 
 of the fame, he will yield excellent fielh, which the 
 Princes can as little want as the Subjedts can. See the 
 foregoing Figure ofthe Hares ar:d Hounds-, with a Flam- 
 itig Hearty' and the mrd f^E NV S. 
 
 Common Vitriol, but that efpccially which is 
 
 found in thofe places wliere Gold is,- is the green Sea 
 containing excellent lillicn. 
 
 Neither was Jfutc Holland an excellent maker of 
 Chesfe only, as we faid but now, but withal, he was 
 afingular firtierofPearls; for with the net of Tj (the 
 night being clear) we may catch molt excellent Pearls, 
 but yet 'tis a very hard thing to take them out 
 of the net, nor can they be feparated but with a great 
 deal of prudence and art, fronrthe threds of the nets, 
 to which they do ftick fo firmly- 
 
 But yet this fcparation is bejft of all done in a clear 
 Light, the Sun fliining upon the Earth with his beams, 
 and wholly diflipating the Vapours, leafl; it (hould be 
 hindred by their being prefcnt. For the parts being 
 expofed to the Air in a (perhaps he means unfeafona- 
 ble) feafonabie weather are corrupted, nor does any 
 thing remain behind but the fhells- And even thefc 
 [hells do ill their inlide fhew forth fuch diverfity of 
 delicate colours, as that the moft ingenious Painter 
 cannot imitate them with his pencil, and fuch they 
 are as with which the other fhells of mother of Pearl 
 or the commoner fort cannot at all compare : For in 
 one place they reprefent pure O, in another pure >, 
 in another they are of a Green colour. Sky colour. 
 Red, Yellow, and varioufly coloured, fo that they 
 much exceed in beauty, the Peacocks Tail. If then 
 the fhells are fo fair as that we cannot fulEcientljr 
 enough admire them; what I pray will the beauty 
 of the Pearls themfelves be .■' Nor let any one per- 
 fwade himfelf that I do here caft Pearls before 
 fwine by too much divulging fecrefles-, (no) for 
 there are yet many neceffary things hereto requilite 
 to make the Pearls come in fight; and if fo 
 be that any one fhould know the way of dexteroufly 
 extracting them out ofthe net it felf; yet the fix- 
 ing of them doth require abundance of labour ftil), 
 whereby they may be able to defend their fairnefs 
 and excellency, againft all the Elements ; however, 
 in the mean time the lover of Chymiftry, may de- 
 light his mind with thofe fhells, and admire at the 
 moft admirable variety of the colours in them- 
 
 Some haply there will be,that when they have taken 
 the faid Pearl, by the help of T? and 1 , will think it a 
 moft eafle thing to feparate it from the net, by the 
 benefit of deftillation •, but let thofe good men know, 
 that this is a thing impoffible to be done^ for I my 
 felf beftowed abundance of labour in vain on this 
 operation, and this hath to my knowledge fo hap- 
 pened to others too •, for in the common deftilla- 
 tion, that Pearl being commixt with the net, even 
 the Mother together with the Daughter do jointly 
 afcend and get out ; and thus to do is not at all a- 
 greeable or helpful for the great work^ though 
 neverthelefs an ex-cellent particular Aiedtcamtm may 
 thencefrom be made. Concerning which, I have fpo- 
 ken in the fecond and third Part of my Ph^-macopceia 
 Spigyrica ; nor may we expedt (hy fuch a deftillation) 
 the thing we wifh for. But if fo be you defire to 
 fee the Mother, wrap the net together with the In- 
 fant in pure linen , firft mundifyed, and waitit in 
 the fire ; or put them in a glazed Stove, and put 
 fire thereunder by degrees, and make the Net and 
 Pearl to fweat largely, which being kept apart, yields 
 a fingular Medicament, for to quench all the Inter- 
 nal heat of the Body, and always to cool the 
 burning Mercury. 
 
 The provocation of the fweat being finifht, break 
 the fweating glafles, and look for your Pearl, and 
 you fliall find that it is gone o'lt of the fhells, by the 
 force of the heat, and is roafted (as it were) toge- 
 
 Aaaaa th;r 
 
3^6 
 
 The Third Part of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 thcr with the Net, and cannot polTibly be (as yet) 
 fcen ■■, yet nevcrthelefs it is brought to a farther ma- 
 tmitv, and doth yield fome profit in an efpecial (or 
 particular) way. But the Sudatory it felf, con- 
 trafts incomparable Colours from the fweat of 
 
 the Pearl. , . , , n. u ►• 
 
 Now then, live contented with the molt beauti- 
 ful mother, anddc!i<Alit thv mind by barely behold- 
 iiii^ it, until it Ihall plC fc God to give unco thee, the 
 infant alfo. When it was my hap at iirfl to behold 
 that beauteous mother, my mind, that was wearied 
 with the long labour of fearching thcremto, was fo 
 vefrenied, that 1 can fcarce declare it with words", yea 
 I was fo delighted, that I placed thatdeledable mo- 
 ther in fuch a place, where it might lie always o- 
 . pen to my fight, and that fo long till fhe fliewed 
 mc her infant likcwife, which Infant verily was not 
 unlike to Cnfhl. Do you alfo feek, and you will find 
 what you with for : Implore God, and he will give un- 
 to you i Knock at his doors, and they will be open- 
 ed unto thee, if fo be that GOD fhall find thee 
 worthy •, for he bcftows his Grace and Mercy upon 
 noncbut fuch as are of an humble and thankful mind. 
 Take for an exam\)le of this fome Tinder, or Touch- 
 wood, which being handled with dirty fingers, re- 
 fufeth to take fire, though it be never fo copioudy 
 fmitten out of the Steel with the Stone (or Flint.; 
 All things depend on the mercy of G O D, nor 
 can we effeft any thing by our labour. Him only 
 flwuld we feek, and he will manifeft himfelfby the 
 works of nature, even as the nature of a man is known 
 by Chiromancy, and Phyliognomy. 
 
 Two contraries do always produce a third thing, 
 and are the caufe of every generation, and change 
 of things ■, if fire be added to fire, there arifeth no 
 new thing from thence ■■, neither if you put water 
 to water ; but water and fire being conjoined, there 
 are produced new Generations •, for the fire acis up- 
 on the water, and impregnates it according to the 
 nature and properties of (both) the water and fire ; 
 from whence there proceed things pure or impure, 
 according to the purity or impurity of the water 
 and fire. 
 
 • The thing Tor operation) it felf, muft be accu- 
 rately known and handled, if you would have any 
 good to redound from thence unto you. The Sun 
 is in himfelf always good, yet doth he operate as 
 well evil as good. If this fame Sun beftows his Rays 
 or Beams upon the Rain as it falls down, the Rain 
 doth thence contraft (or get) a honeyidi dew, which 
 falling upon the bloObming of Trees, makes them cor- 
 rupt. Now we cannot rightly impute this evil to the 
 Sun or to the honey it felf ; but we fee that it proceed- 
 eth from hence, (•I'/xO^^ecaufe that honeyed dew is not 
 duely and fpeedily enough wafht away with the rain, 
 but is 'evaporated by the heat of the © ; whence it 
 comes to pafs, that the blollbms wither, and worms 
 are generated in them, and fo the whole blofibm is 
 corrupted. 
 
 We will fet down here yet, one more fimilitude 
 for the fake of fuch as love the truth. Put cafe thus 
 then-, a diiit^ent Gardiner walks abroad in his Or- 
 chard for his\ecrcation, and if he happens to find 
 a large, great and curious principal Apple lying on 
 the ground, he prefently takes it up, and does not 
 only well view and confider of it, but tafts it too •, 
 which if he finds to be of an acceptable favour, he 
 feeks out the Tree it felf, with an intention to pluck 
 off more fuch like conditioned Apples; having 
 found cut the TreC) he much fcts by it, or cReems 
 
 it, becaufe the fruits thereof do exceed all the reft 
 in the Orchard, both in tail and fairnefs, and he 
 takes care about that more than the reft, dungs the 
 roots well,) prunes off the withered branches with a 
 fharp crooked knife, and artificially cuts offthofe 
 that are unprofitable, and ufually called fuckers, that 
 draw away the juice from the fruit- bearing boughs. 
 
 Even juft after this manner doth a diligent Chy- 
 mift adt •, if therefore,(as he walks in his Laboratory,) 
 fearching out the fccrets of nature, he happens up- 
 on a Golden Apple, he feeks after the tree, that bears 
 fuch fruit, and having found it, he very charily keeps 
 it, and minifters unto it all fuch things as are ne- 
 ceffary to its confervation, that fo he may thence re- 
 ceive more fuch like-conditioned Apples ; and there- 
 fore gardiner - like he puts dung to the root, that is. 
 Nitre ; he prunes off the dry barren wood, and al- 
 fo the hurtful fuperfluous boughs, that is, the fuper- 
 fluous Sulphur, with a (harp red hot iron, whereby 
 that fame tree may, for the future, yield egregious 
 or feleift fruits, without any impediment, which 
 thing he alfo finds to come to pafs- 
 
 N B. ParacelJHs doth very openly fet before 
 us this labour in his Caelum Philofophomm^ in the 
 fixth Rule of Mercury , where he faith , Sacri- 
 fice the fat Vervains (or fuperfluous fuckers) ^ and 
 yet, thefe words of his, are only fuperficially lodkc 
 on, moft people not underftanding what Paracdfns 
 means by thofe words, though he hath clearly and 
 perfpicuoufly enough figned his writings. 
 
 It is a necefl'ary thing here for the Chyrailt 
 to know, how the cafe ftands, as concerning the me- 
 talline tree, and what is to be accompted its Root, 
 Trunck, Blolfoms, and Fruits ; Tj is the Root ; <f 
 the Trunck or Body, V the Bark about the Trunck ; 
 5 the nutritive Juice between the Bark and the 
 Trunck-, 2 the green Boughs and Leaves-, > the 
 pleafant Flower, or Blofrom ; and ® the ripe Ap- 
 ple containing in it felf the feed of the Tree. 
 
 That Apple which yet fticks on the tree,doth,when 
 it hath arrived to its full maturity, fall down up- 
 on the earth, of its own accord, if it be not gather- 
 ed by the Gardiner '-, and then afterwards the leaves 
 themfelves, when the weather is fomewhat colder, 
 fall off, which do as it were bury the apple, which 
 lying hidden under the leaves, is confumed by rot- 
 tennefs, by little and little-, but the feed afTuming 
 to it felf a natural humidity from the putrefying 
 tree (or fruit rather) inftead of nutriment, begins 
 to take root in the fpringtime^ out of which there 
 grow up, in procefs of time, Apple-trees, which 
 are to be in their fit feafon tranfplanted :_ this tranf- 
 planting being finiflied, the Gardiner joins to fuch 
 a wild tree, generated from the feed, the Scions of 
 fuch fruit as he has a mind to, and that by either 
 ingrafting, or inoculation. And fo an induftrious 
 gardiner may get from the fruit of one tree, an in- 
 numerable company of great trees, and thofe of fuch 
 a nature and kind, and grateful a favour as he likes 
 beft. 
 
 Even on this wife doth the Chymilt do, joining 
 fruitful Scions to wild truncks or flocks, by inoc- 
 culation, fo that he never wants good fruits- 
 
 He that cannot learn ought from thefe things, I 
 cannot help him any other way, for I do not fee 
 how I can fet down thofe things clearer than I have 
 
 done. 
 
 But for the undertaking of this labour, there is 
 required an Artift, no lefs diligent than ingenious. 
 And of how much the better quality the dung is, 
 
 that 
 
part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 967 
 
 that is laid to the root of the tree, and (hy how 
 much) the knife which the boughs are cut oft' with- 
 al, is the fliarpcr (that fo it may not hurt the green 
 (or growing) bark of the tree, and fo the nutritive 
 juice flow forth, fo much the better are the fruits ge- 
 nerated. As it is eafie for a wife man to reap hence 
 fome things; fo it's difficult for an imprudent man. 
 1 doubt not but that there will be fome, that be- 
 ing judicious men, will know that there is an op- 
 portunity given them by my writings, publifhed out 
 of a fincere mind, of making farther inquiry after 
 a truetranfmutation, and confequcntly of efteeming 
 it, more than we find to be ufually done (becaufe 
 that moft things are oft-times propoied craftily and 
 cautiouOy. 
 
 But that fuch a noble art may be freed from a- 
 ny farther contempt, I havepurpofed, the next fol- 
 lowing Spring, to frame a convenient laboratory, and 
 to demonftrate the truth thereof to my friends- And 
 although my endeavours fhail be to prohibit any en- 
 trance by any means to the faithlefs brethren oi Far-^!- 
 7ierus, yet notwithftanding, I know I cannot fo pre- 
 vent and forefee, but that one or other may adjoin 
 himfelf to the number of the true lovers of Chymi- 
 ftry, and feigning friend(hip» lay fnares for me. 
 
 But put cafe that fuch a thing fhould not happen, 
 it cannot be but that the Arcana's will be divulged ■■, 
 for fuch things as this or that man fees, and writes 
 down, may reafonably be thought, will come to o- 
 ther mens hands after they are dead ; efpecially if 
 the preparation of Salt-petre be afore inftituted,nr fet 
 up in divers places-, for nothing can be done in Alchi- 
 my, faith Paracdfns without Nitre ^ Alchimy is found 
 to relidcin Nitre fay I. Salt-petre fhewed us Alchi- 
 my, or, Alchimy was found out by Nitre. 
 
 He therefore that has abundance of Salt-petre, can 
 perform egregious things in Alchimy. Had not the 
 ty£Typtiai!s been polTelTors of great plenty of Salt- pe- 
 trel verily they would never have been fo skilful in 
 Alchimy ; nor could they have had thofe riches, by 
 which they were able to avert (or decline) the yoke 
 of the Roman Monarchy. 
 
 As long as they knew the ufe of Sulphur (Salt- 
 petre I believe he means) they enjoyed Monarchy 
 Twithout fervitude to others) (and this was even to 
 the time of Diockfuvi the Emperour, who knowing 
 their power, commanded all the Books they ufed, 
 to be burnt) and then their Monarchy and their Art 
 it felf perifhed together. 
 
 The Poets have feigned many (tories of /^f^Ver's 
 Golden fhovver ^ certainly did we but know the man- 
 ner of duely managing Salt-petre and V together, 
 we Ihould be likewife able to produce the golden 
 Jhower. 
 
 Jupiter^ when ftirred up with anger, doth with his 
 Thunder and Lightning, ftrike a terrour into all the 
 Gods, and into whatfoever is upon the Earth ; and 
 yet the rain that falls then, at fuch a time, is of an 
 excellent Qiiality, and makes the Earth more fruit- 
 ful than the rain that commonly falls is wont to do ; 
 becaufe there is a certain tinging and penetrating 
 fpirit nicking in the Thunder, that tingeth the air 
 and the rain, and animates it •, if therefore we can 
 (by the virtue of Nitre, and this fame ¥j produce 
 fuch Thunders, & can give to the Thunder fire & air, 
 by which it might operate •, verily there would nothing 
 hinder, but that we might (Jupiter -\'±e) make a 
 Golden (hower too. The purer the ¥ fhall be, and 
 r!ie more clear the Air, fo much the purer will the 
 Rain be, and the Air is more impregnated and fil- 
 
 led with the common Vital Spirit. 
 
 He now that knows how to feparate the life out 
 of the water and air, rightly animated, gets a true 
 liinum fotabih\ or the Soul of the world : belTdes this 
 too, there offer themfelves apparently fuch things 
 to be done, as arc able to exhibit his daily food. 
 And thus much let fuffice for this time. 
 
 He verily that perceives (or undcrllands) not 
 thefc things fo clearly propofcd, furely he will not, 
 though all the Gods thcmfelvf« fhould relate them» 
 underftand ought of thofe things that are taught. In 
 the mean time, I hope that my friends will fee with 
 their Eyes, and feel with their Hands, the moft cer- 
 tain truth of thefe, and the like operations , and con: 
 fequently of my writings, in a laboratory, which 
 God willing, I will in a fhorttime erecft, and will theii 
 defend me againlt all envious, and carping men. 
 
 This one thing I will yet add over and above, that 
 the aftrum of Gold doth tinge his own proper Mer-? 
 cury, or Tthe 2 ) of the firfl; f»-f, (therefore) chiefeft 
 of all: The Aftrum of T? f tingeth) )' ; the Aftrum 
 of V, common 2 ^ the Aftrum of «?, 2 ^ for thofe 
 three fuperiours do always operate upon thefe three 
 inferiour (Planets ; ) fo that they are, as it were, up- 
 per men, and lower women : he is left in the 
 midft, which whofoever adds unto the others for the 
 compleating of the operations, will perform excel- 
 lent things. 
 
 But he that knows how to make that Aftrum of® 
 corporeal and fixt, he may tranflate the Aftrum of 
 ©on this wife prepared, out of one place intoa- 
 nother, and conferve it like a Vegetable feed, to 
 be implanted into all the Metals, in time and place 
 convenient ; which bleffing, we rightly attribute to 
 the blefled great GOD, the giver of every good 
 thing, in the firft place, and then to Salt-petre as be° 
 ing the Northern Monarch- 
 
 It now remains, that we briefly (hew, by what 
 means that Nitrous water, out of which that moft 
 noble Pearl, ® and Gems are taken with the Net, 
 may be prepared for farther ufes, fo that fuch a 
 fifhing may need but very fmall cofts, and may ne- 
 verthelefs Cbefides the daily food which it moft plen- 
 tifully provides us) beftow on us a moft excellent 
 medicament. 
 
 We have taught in the foregoing dircdions, how 
 we may by the help o{ Aqua- fonts or Aqua-regia moft 
 eafily extradl both the fixt and volatile and > out 
 of the Metals, Flints, Sand, Clay, and fuch fubjedts 
 as are every where obvious, and precipitate, coagu- 
 late, dry, and reduce it into a fixt metallick body. 
 
 Now in doing thefe things, part of the feparato« 
 ry water here ufed, is as yet good enough, and may 
 be kept for farther ufes -, but part thereof (viz..) 
 that which is extrarted out of the Metals by the 
 help of common water, is, by reafon of the mixing 
 fweet or fair water therewith, rendred too weak for 
 operating withal, and therefore muft it be correited 
 and amended by fome certain lingular way, fo as 
 it may be again ufed about doing the fame work. 
 
 Were it not for cofts and labours we might fepa- 
 rate that fair water from the Aqiu-fonis and Aqua- 
 regiii^ by the benefit ofaglafs Cucurbite, butforaf 
 much as there is given us a more compendious way> 
 we will make choice of that. 
 
 For he that intends to get himfelf riches by the 
 benefit of this feparatory work delivered by me, or 
 by the extraition of and I , will need a great 
 deal of Aqua- fortis and Aqua-Rtgi.i-, fot what profit is 
 it if you would e.xtrat^ them oiK of (but) a few Metafs 
 
 6? 
 
568 
 
 rbe Third Pan of 
 
 Part I, 
 
 or Minerals ? Seeing thai: fcarce the one hRJf of thofe 
 ftrong Waters can be feparatcd by ponriivj:^ off from 
 thofe fnbjCLls upon which they arc poured, but the 
 chiefeflCor biggeft)part of them (ticks to the faid 
 metalline Matters, and contains ill it as much and 
 7 , as that which we have abftrafted bydecancing it, 
 jmd rcquilitc it is that wc thence abftraO; the fame by 
 the benefit of fair Water by due boiling, from whence 
 it comes to pafs that there will be alio gathered a 
 great deal of finfipidor ufelefsj Water, (over and 
 above) 
 
 Thofe AqHa-fortis''s that are poured off, and Iiold In 
 them (?) and } , when they are mixt together, the 
 y and ©precipitates to the bottom of the Glafs like 
 powder, io that there remains nothing of the Metal 
 in either water, nor is that water arifing from the 
 mixing of the ^'j/<<^/o>f '-5 wherein the l wasdifTolved, 
 and of the Acjtu-regi.t wherein the was diflblved,at 
 nil the weaker, butit retains the virtues of extrafting 
 ® but not of } , bccaufe that the ylcjiM-rc^ia being 
 added to the Jqiia-fortis converts it all of it into-^«f«-i- 
 reiLu 
 
 This precipitation being made, and the clear water 
 feparated from the precipitation by decanting it, yon 
 may extradl that acid Water, which yet adheres to the 
 precipitate, with fair Water ; but for as much as the 
 virtues thereof are thereby much weakned, 'tis better 
 to proceed after linother kind of way, and we preferr 
 this way fas bell.) 
 
 Take the Calxes of © and J as they lie at the bot- 
 tom of the ^^"y/w-rrg'-z (or the acid mixt Spirits j and 
 put them in a Linen cloth placed in a Funnel or over a 
 Glafs v\icha wide mouth, and the greateft part of the 
 ,'icjit.i-.rrgt.i will flrain through into the Glafs fet there; 
 under ; when no more water drops out, which we find 
 is wont to be within half an hours fpace, tie up your 
 cloth with a ftrong thred,thac fo nothing of the calx 
 therein contained may get out; put it under fome 
 weight or heavy matter,that fo all the Aqna-rcgia may 
 be fqueezcd out, and the calx only may remain behind 
 like Curd or new Cheefc. 
 
 But for as much as the Calxes of ©and Tare not 
 Edulcorated, hence it comes to pafs that the Cheefe 
 thence prcpared,after the manner now fpoken of,isas 
 yet corrofive,nor is it eafily dried. Both of them (© 
 and J' ) we may eafily correft, if we only admix there- 
 with (as'tis laid in a dilli) a fourth part of fixt Salt, 
 for by the virtue thereof even the corrofive Spirits 
 llickingas yet therein are mortified, and the exficca- 
 f ion,ccmentation,fixation,& reduftion thereof is pro- 
 moted. The Reduclion being made of ©and > which 
 v\e are now made partakers of, that gpldenilli filvery 
 Maile is to be granulated, and to be diflblved in new 
 ^'^«.j./b/fu,and be precipitated with that Aqiu-re^ia 
 by the help of which, © hath been extraded out of the 
 Metals; the Cheefe is to be freed from the water by 
 fqueezing it, and is to Ije fprinkled over with a fixt 
 Salt, and to be melted- And all thcfc Operations are 
 to be fo often repeated as ncceility Ihall require, and 
 there fliall be at hand any Metal whereout-of Gold may 
 beextradled , and fo there may thence arife a continual 
 Labour, which is beneficial, becaufe that Acjn.ifonis 
 may (when the Labour or Operation is finifrcd; be 
 lifcd about other fuch like extraditions, and that which 
 b tlic weaker fort may be prepared into Salt-pctre : 
 out of which may he made anew, excellent Jfi.i-.foriis 
 by the addition of Vitriol or Copperas, and fo devil- 
 ling them. The Vcllels wherein the precipitation of 
 Metah fs performed, yea and the prelles top by whofe 
 helpthe water is fquceveJ out of iltc Cheefe. muft be 
 
 framed of ftrong Glafs or of glazing Earth well 
 glazed. 
 
 But for as much asthe Velfels of Glafs are very 
 fubjed to be broken, and earthen Veflels, unlcfs they 
 have the folidity of Glafs, walk abundance of water, 
 and fo moulder away; it would feem more convenient 
 in ray judgment to make the expreflion oi the water out 
 of the Cheefe, between two Plates of Silver, for the 
 water of the Cheefe doth not at all corrode the I' ; 
 Yea and if the Tunnels rcquifite to this work were 
 madeof J' , it would not beamifs, nor would there be 
 any fear of their breaking. 
 
 NB. TheExtradion aifo of ® m ade with y^<j«..'- 
 reaui may likewife be put into a Silver Cucurbitc, 
 whereby the work may be facilitated, and all lofs and 
 damage which otherwife maybe iookt for (feared J 
 fromtheufingof Glalfesjmay be prevented- And fup- 
 pofe a Cucurbite, a Prefs and two Tunnels did coft one 
 hundred imperials -, yet notwithflanding the certain- 
 ty and celerity of the Work will repay thofe cods very 
 eafily, feeing that all things are hereby done much 
 fafer,and much more fpcedily : ^efide-- too, there's no- 
 thing loft but the price of the fafliioning your Xefiels, 
 for the Silver is always of the fame value, and may a- 
 gainbe fold at your pleafure- But he that wants fuch 
 like Silver Vellels or cannot buy them, he may make 
 ufe of Glafs ones fo long till he can get Silver ones; 
 butit is necellary that the Silver of which thefe VeC- 
 fels are made be very pure, and have no Copper in it ^ 
 leaft the A^ua-.rtgi^ extract the Copper thereout of, 
 and fo the Vellels (efpecially the Cucurbites) do in 
 procefs of time get an undue foftnefs. 
 
 The manner of extrading Metals by the help of 
 this Cheefe:water, is already difclofed in the fore- 
 going (writings) •, however this I am conftrained to 
 advife here, that it is much more expedient, to ufe 
 prefently at the beginning for the extradionof ©, rc- 
 dified Spirit of Salt accuated with Afia-fonis, than 
 Aqua-regia, becaufe that by thus doing there will be 
 more plenty of ©gotten in the redudion than when 
 the operation is accomplifht by A<jm-regia. It would 
 be too long to reckon up the caufe of this thing in this 
 place : 'tis fufficient that I have (liown which is good, 
 which ill. Nay more. Spirit of Salt is cheaper than 
 Jcjua-regia^ if prepared according to my defcription : 
 Nor is there any reafon to give credit to that llander- 
 ous fellow, ¥ar7imrnsfi% if fuch a Spirit made by Vitri- 
 ol, according to the manner mentioned in the firft 
 part of the Philofophical Furnaces, were not of any 
 ufe, or at leaft^wife could not be prepared in great 
 quantity by the aforefaid way : For when allcircum- 
 ftances fall not out as is wifht, the blame is not to be 
 imputed to my delcription, but to the ignorance and 
 unapfnefsofthe Chymift himfelf. 
 
 If now thofe good men cannot accomplilh fuch ope- 
 rations which are word for word faithfully defcribed 
 unto them : how would they be able then to arrive 
 by fpeculations and various trials to the knowledge of 
 any thing, as I my felf have done ? I do therefore at- 
 telt here too, that we are ablemoft eafily to prepare 
 not barely i o or 20, but even 30, 40, 50 pounds and 
 more every day with one only Furnace- 
 Nay more,if mendid moreaccurately ruminateupon 
 this bufinefs, they would find, that out ofone pound of 
 Salt may be made in a Glafs cucurbite in land, one 
 pound of the beft, moft grateful Spirit of Salt needing 
 no redification, and that in one hours fpace: And by 
 the benefit of a Furnace fcarce a i'pan wide, and v\ ith a 
 very few Cliar-coa!, fcarce exceeding three pound 
 weight. Verily if there beany artificial defiillacion 
 
 this 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Gerniiny. 
 
 369 
 
 this is it : And now let the Find-faults look about them 
 and fee if they can underftand thcfc things we have fpo- 
 ken^ we can at all times dcmonltrate the truth hereof. 
 Ic is altogether inconvenient to fhew fuch an artificial 
 deftillation unto fwinifli Men, it is only due to the Lovers 
 of the truth, ofiwhichfort there are to be found but a 
 very few in this prefent age. 
 
 And that this is true, 'z^'2.- that a moft grateful Spirit 
 of Salt may moftenfily be prepared in vaft quantity, doth 
 even hencefroni moft evidently appear, in that there are 
 fome in thcfe places who having followed my informa- 
 tion, do, bccaufe of their making it in great plenty and 
 without any great Labour, fell a pound thereof for an im- 
 perial- For my own particular affairs do not permit me 
 to take on me that Labour, yet notwithftanding, I have 
 bellowed tlie artifice on fuch Men as now know it as well 
 as 1 my felf do, and who likewife do make that Spirit in 
 fuch quantity as may fupply all Europe. But forafmuch 
 as I did not heretofore find out fo far, as to fee it exxel 
 ulfu-regia in theextra>.T:ion of Gold out of fuch Stones, 
 Sand, and Clay as contain Gold in them, and which are 
 every where obvious. 1 could not omit the commend- 
 ing of it in this place, molt highly unto all Men •, for 
 that Spirit hath an cfpecial delight in ©, not only in that 
 which is fixt,but alfo with that which is volatile, where- 
 by it extrads it and renders it fixt. There are fome 
 Minerals, Stones, Sand, Earths, which have in them a- 
 bundancc of volatile Gold, which is not in the leafl: dura- 
 ble (or fixr,j but is carried up (or forced away) in the 
 formof a vapour and vanifheth into the air, and fo con- 
 fequently not at all to be accounted for true ©, feeing 
 it cannot brook the force of the melting Fire- Befides 
 this, there do oft-times occur moft precious Treafures 
 of no profit to any man, which may be brought to moft 
 eminent ufes (or benefit) by the Extradion, Precipitati- 
 on, Cheefe-making, and Liquefadion delivered by me. 
 For fuch Metals as the Spirit of Salt do not tie and make 
 fixt in the extractions, r or ^ makes them fuch, with 
 which we have taken or fifht the Sol out of the J^ita-regia 
 or Spirit of Salt •, to the obtaining of which this is alfo of 
 much conducement. If the Chcefe now made be altoge- 
 ther fixt by the help of an artificial Cement, and the gra- 
 datory fluxing matter be efpecially reduced in fuch a Vef- 
 fel,out of which not fo much as the leaft volatile part can 
 evaporate : by which it comes to pafs, that not only the 
 volatile Gold you have caught is made fixt, but even a 
 part of the net of 5" or T? is by graduation made aure- 
 ous : For every volatile Gold doth exercife its operati- 
 ons in the Fire upon other Metals, and makes them au- 
 reous.fo that the Sol arifeth thence to be of a greater 
 quantity, than that was which by the helpofthe filve- 
 ry or leaden Dart was taken out of the extrad. Heed 
 thefe things and proceed on in a legitimate courfe, and 
 you (hall find fuch things as you cannot as yet conceive of. 
 The Filhing is clearly enough defcribed in this place, and 
 foisthe Cementation and Reduiflion of the Cheefe clear- 
 ly propofed, and may may be mod cafily perfefted. 
 
 But God fif thou becomeft acceptable unto himj can 
 yet fliew unto thee a much more compendious way of per- 
 fcrting this work with lefs labour, and of obtaining great- 
 er things. 
 
 Be content for this time with what hath been at pre- 
 fent taught, give God the thanks and forget not the Poor, 
 and He will then flicw unto thee more and more compen; 
 dious ways, of cheerfully managing the work There) de- 
 fcribed, to his Honour, and the Comfort of the Poor, 
 and without any wronging thine own Confcience, or 
 hurting of thy Neighbour. 
 
 You need not be much follicitous about fuch kind of 
 Earths, Stones or Sand, from which you may extraft the 
 Gold, for every land is every where ftored with fuch, 
 nor need we fpend much time in fearching after them. 
 Li;;ewife it will be a moft eafie thing for thee by my 
 
 / 
 
 vyritings to make SaJt-petre, of Salt-petre to make ^<jna- 
 furtis and Aqtu-reata ■■ One bare pound of A^ta-fortis 
 may be fuificient for thee to begin the operation withal, 
 for there is not much of it loft in the work it Iclf^ and 
 what of it is wufted may eafily be repaired by an addi- 
 tion of common Salt: And as for the extradling both 
 the fixt and Tolatile Gold and Lnna out of the Earth, 
 andof perfecting it, thou haft no reafon to hope of find- 
 ing a more compendious way than that is which I have 
 here exhibited unto thee. 
 
 You may leave fuch j^vletals Tor Ores) as' have in 
 them plenty of Sol and Litm^ unto others ; and take only 
 the fcoria as 'twere, and thencefrom extradt your part, 
 and none will forbid you that. But if fobe thoucanft 
 be but a partaker of an aureous Earth for Ore) then will 
 all things fadge the better. 
 
 NB. The ©and l that is in the Extraftions may be 
 precipitated by the help of S, but much more charg- 
 ably and more difficultly than by > or Tj , becaufe the 5 
 ufed in this operation cannot be ufed a fecond time. 
 
 N B. The O and > may be alfo cxtrafted from the 
 water without precipitation ; by abftrading the j^^ua- 
 rcgia from the © and the Aqna-fortis from the > : bm: 
 befides this kind of proceeding being full of Labour, we 
 ftiould receive but little fixt Metal, and fcarce the one half 
 of what is gotten by the aforementioned way : For the 2> 
 and © do retain with them fome part of the yiqua-fortis 
 and AijUA-regia, and thereby become (harp or four which 
 is a thing contrary (or an Enemy j to all Fluxes,and which 
 alfo does not only caufe an evaporation of fuch Volatile 
 Gold and Silver as is therein, (but withal fome part of 
 that which is fixt too,) in the melting- But now inthjs 
 Fifhing trade that I have defcribed, being caught it is 
 either edulcorated, or the corrofive power is extinguilhc 
 by the addition of a fixt Salt; fo that hereby the 1 or 
 h holds with it felf as well the volatile as fixt Gold 
 and >. 
 
 NB- He that fliallinftitute this operation aright, will 
 find that the volatile Gold will (in the fecret Redudion) 
 yet farther tranfmute part of the 23 and ^ into O by 
 Graduation, and fo will reap a double (portion of) © 
 for which God is deferved to be thanked- 
 
 I have herein been more prolix than I intended, which 
 I entreat others to accept in good part: It could hard- 
 ly be that the things I have delivered, could be couched 
 in fewer words. Wife Men indeed need not many words, 
 but where are fuch ? Better is it therefore to fet down 
 things at large. 
 
 Now it follows thut we fliew hy what means we may have 
 hemfit out of the edalcoratoiy Water ^ and not be fort- 
 ed to throtP it away, 
 
 WE have taught in the precedent difcourfe, how 
 thofe waters which © is extraded and precipita- 
 ted with, may be ufed for a farther extradion of © : 
 For when the A<]ua-fortis in which J' or 'h is diflblved 
 is mixt with the Aqua-regia wherein © is diflTolved, there 
 arifeth not any mutation or changing, but that > or 'ft 
 only which was in the Acjuafurtis fettles to the bottotiT, 
 fo that this water wherein fuch a precipitation is made, 
 may afterwards ferveinftead of A^m-regia, and focon- 
 fequently with it may be extraded out of the Metals, 
 
 But feeing that the precipitated J or ^ muft be ex- 
 cellently well edulcorated by often pourings on of water, 
 afore it be dried, hence it comes to pafs that there is ga- 
 thered a vaft deal of fuch edulcoratory Waters. N&v» 
 that even this may not be thrown away as ufelefs, and 
 that nothing may be loft in fo noble a work, 1 have here 
 determined briefly to declare, by what means wc may 
 likewife catch fome benefit even out of that too. 
 
 To do this, 'tis neceflary that the ufelefs water be fe- 
 parated from the Aqna-furtis -, now fuch a feparation can- 
 
 B b b b b not 
 
370 
 
 The 'J bird Pan of 
 
 rate 1, 
 
 HOC bf effcdcd in meullick Vellcis bccaiilc ot the iliarp- 
 i.efsof ihe Aqtu-.fvrtis , Icalt in length of time they ihould 
 be dillolved : But to perform the fame in Vcllels of Glafs 
 would take iip much time and fire ; there is therefore ot 
 neccliity another way here required to perform the lame i 
 and a better than this, which 1 will here deliver, I think 
 can hardly be contrived. Make you therefore an Arch 
 of Lime, Allies, and Horfe-dung, according ito the afore 
 jirefcribed manner, where we treated of making Salt-pe- 
 tre (about the beginning of the book) dry it by putting 
 tire thercur.dcr, c^c The Ar/ h being dryed. pour on, 
 by little and little, fo much edulcorating water, as the 
 Arch is capable of attrading, and until you Ihall find it 
 to be made thoroughly moilb , the Arch being on this wife 
 nioiftned,dry it again: and being dryed moiften it again 
 as afore, and fo repeat this work of moillning and dry- 
 ing fo long till the Arch will receive into it felf no more 
 water. I'hisdone, there remains no more, but to do 
 thus, vlt.. Let the laid Arch be broken to pieces, and be 
 ground with a Mill into fine powder •, upon the powder 
 let be thrown fair water, and fo let there be made a Lixi- 
 vium, out of which by due boiling may be made moft ex- 
 cellent and delicate Saltpetre- 
 
 But here nnifl; be very good heed taken, that you ufe 
 about the building ofthe Arch, Wood-Aihes, and Lime 
 made of Stone (or Chalk) ; whereby the Iharpnefs of the 
 cdnlcoratory water may beextinguilht (or mortified) by 
 rhc fixt Salt inherent in the allies and lime, and the cor- 
 rofivity be taken away, and moll excellent Nitre may a- 
 rife thencefrom ^ for if Acjiu-fortts be permixt with the 
 fixt Salt of wood-alhes, both of them lofe their Nature, 
 and Nitre is made thereof. 
 
 ^ But that the operation may more luckily fucceed, and 
 we may be the more certain of the event, it will be the 
 heft way, to put in, by little and little, fome Lee of wood- 
 aihes firft of all, (afore the edulcorating water be thrown 
 upon the Arch) and this putting on, to be fo long conti- 
 nued till all ebullition and noife ceafe, whereby all the 
 iharpnefs of that water may be teken away i this done, 
 that water is to be poured uponthe Arch, and you are 
 to proceed on according to the afore--prcrcribed method ; 
 andfo fliall you have excellent Salt-petre, whether your 
 Arch be made of Lime and Afhes, or of Mud and Alhes. 
 N B. If this taking away ofthe Iharpnefs of the edulco- 
 ratory water by the benefit of a wood-allies Lee, be not 
 linidicd, and done before it be poured upon the Arch, it 
 is clearly requifite that it be done in the Arch it felf, by 
 the goodnefs ofthe Lime and the laid alhes, by which that 
 lliarpnefs may be extinguifhed- 
 
 It is, I confcfs, all a cafe whither that (liarpnefs be ex- 
 ringuifht with a Lixtvinm afore ; or elfe be done in the 
 Arch it felf. Yet neverthelcfs, feeing that Operation is 
 thefafer which hath a foregoing taking away ofthe Iharp: 
 nefs afore itbe poured on the Furnace, therefore it is bet- 
 ter fo to inftitute it ; fpecially,feeing it then matters not 
 at all any thing, what condition the matter is of which 
 the Arch is made with -, becaufc then fuch a water needs 
 no more but an unfolding (or evaporation) and coagu- 
 lation, and this may as well be done by the help of an 
 Arch made of mud, as by one made of Lime : Otherwife 
 if the Iharpnefs of the edulcoratory water be not taken 
 away by the Lixivtim^ an Arch made of mud is of no ufe, 
 for by this means you would nor get any Salt-pttre at all, 
 but rather all the water would be conlumed by evai)ora- 
 tion, which need not be at all feared, if wc ufe an Arch 
 made of Lime and Aflies, feeing that that water is by 
 this means mortified. 
 
 And fo, by thismcars, that edulcoratory w'atcr may 
 be moit (ommodiouily prepared for farther ufes, a!;d the 
 Salt-petre which is extracted thence, is exceeding good 
 . to make Aqua- fort a witli ; and we may gather as much 
 in quantity thereof as rhc extranion of ) and G out 
 of the Metals, Stones, Clay, and Minerals requires. 
 
 NB- If any one be delirous of more excellent bene: 
 fits, let .him dillolve, in that edulcoratory water, (^.) 
 or (C.)and in the Lixivium ('let him dillolve) (D.) then 
 mix both Solutions: When the fermentation is over, he 
 will have double the quantity of Nitre, than what he 
 would otherwife have from the bare mixtion of the con- 
 traries together, and pouring them on the Arch ; the 
 reafon of which thing is this; becaufe (£.) is nothing 
 elfe inwardly but Nitre, but it cannot come forth to 
 light before the body be broken, and till that fait which 
 fticks ( or lies hid j within, be wholly freed (of its bonds) 
 whereby it inay be turned, together with the Corrofive 
 Spirit into Nitre. 
 
 The like is to be underftood of (f .) becaufe even 
 that alio is broken (as I may fay 1 to pieces by the Lee 
 of the wood-alhes, and fo the Salt that lies hid within, 
 and which is nothing elfe but Nitre, lliews it felf to light, 
 and padeth with the other Salt of the Lixivium into Ni- 
 tre. 
 
 Certainly this labour, viz.- the mortification of the 
 edulcorating water by a Lee of wood-alhes, and the con- 
 centration of Nitre, upon the Arches made of lime or 
 mud, is an egregious invention ^ nor do I think that this 
 bufinefs can be better managed any kind of way, than by 
 what hath been here Ihewn, efpecially if the Species, here 
 notified, be alio thereto adhibited (or made ufe of) (I 
 know not I fay, any way) by which greater plenty of Ni- 
 tre may be gathered \ for the coagulation cannot be done 
 in a Copper or Iron pan, becaufe not only the Pan would 
 be corroded and waited, but the Nitre would be rendred 
 impure. But if now the operation be inftitutcd aright, wc 
 (hall get more Niter than indeed is requifite for the 
 extracting O and > out of theMetals \ fo that we may gee 
 us and D withot any cofts : which invention verily is a 
 moft noble one even in all parts ofthe World, and a moft 
 high gift of God: for which, we have good reafon a- 
 bove all things to render Him defcrved thanks, and next 
 Him, to thofe who open fuch a Noble and Unheard-of In- 
 vention, and which is fo profitable to all Men. 
 
 But this Invention will be efpecially profitable in thofe 
 places of the World, where ^^«^-/orjiJ is much ufed,and 
 is prefently after the firft ufing thereof, thrown away as 
 unprofitable, as it ufually happens in the Mint houfes, 
 where abundance of > and is feparated in great quan- 
 tity, and' confequently abundance of J^ua-fortis consum- 
 ed, fo that by the benefit of this invention of mine, we 
 might get much every year ^ but moft of all in thofe pla. 
 ces where are found fuch Stones and Sand which are en- 
 dued with Gold, but yet will not yield any by the help 
 ofthe ufual melting- 
 
 Befides too, this invention is exceeding profitable for 
 fuch kind of Metals of and 3) , that have not as yet got- 
 ten their due ripenefs or fixity, and fo fly away in the 
 melting, and yield either none at all, or at beft but very 
 little of Gold. For the common melting fire forceth away 
 the Volatile Gold, and 7" that refides in theMetals (or 
 Ores) which is not at all fo here, for all (of it) is made 
 fixt by the Aq:i.i-fortts^ and preferved- 
 
 I do believe that there is not a place to be found,where 
 fuch kind of Stones, Sand, or Clay may not be gathered, 
 as hold in them Gold and )', cither fixt or Volatile, and 
 which may be extraiTtcd thencefrom molt ealily, and 
 with exceeding profit according to the way afoiefpo- 
 ken of. 
 
 But, for as much as there are many, who pretend that 
 fuch like Stones, Sand, Clay, and Minerals as have Gold 
 in them, are no where to be found, and that confequent- 
 ly this invention of mine is altogether in vain : To 
 fuch as rhefc I thus apply, i"=^- That luch like Subje^s 
 are therefore unknown, becaufe few there are that feek 
 after them, or are willing to expeiience ought, but re- 
 maincontented with fuch things only as the Ancients have 
 taught, and perfwaded themfelvcs that e and J cannot 
 
 be 
 
Part l. 
 
 the Prolperity of Germany. 
 
 371 
 
 be feparated out of the Metals, but only by the force of 
 fire, where as notwithltanding the operation may be far 
 earilier,and more profitably inllituted, according to the 
 method by me prefcribed, but efpccialiy in thofe Metals 
 (or OresJ of ® and > , which cither require too much 
 cxpence for their melting, or arc as yet unripe and vo- 
 latile, and fo fly away in the melting •, for a great quan- 
 tity of© and > may be extra(^ed with a little quantity 
 of yiqita.fortis ; yea the extra(.T:ion being duly made, and 
 to the belt profit, there may be thereof made Sait-petre \ 
 fo that fuch an extraction of © and > requires but very 
 little colts. 
 
 If any one defires an eafler way of extrafting O let 
 him ufe Spirit of Salt prepared after the manner by me 
 delivered, which faid Spirit he may fortify by adding a 
 fourth part of Salt-pctre, which very fame (when the 
 Extraction is finilht) may be reduced into Saltpetre, like 
 as we have faid of ylqiui-jortis that hath been already 
 ufed. 
 
 NB. An eafier operation yet then all thefe, is this, 
 which may be performed the dry way. 
 
 Take the Metal, Stones, or Mineral, reduce them 
 into powder,mix them with the Salt (G) and make them 
 with clay into Balls about the bignefs of a little Head- 
 Make thefe balls red hot, and by this means the Salt 
 will diflblve the Sol in the fire, and attrail it out of 
 the Metals. This done, grind the Balls or Pellets, and 
 extrad thencefrom in a large Pot or Velfel a Lixivium 
 with boiling hot water, for the Salt which hath attra- 
 fted the O in the Cementation, mixeth it felf with the 
 Water: Out of this Salt-water mayeft thou afterwards 
 catch the by the help of a folution of T? , added for the 
 precipitation \ now out of the Salt it felf mayefl: thou 
 make excellent Salt-petre- So that you may molt eafily 
 extrad out of the Earth both fixt and volatile ®and > 
 withoutany melting it. Nay not only > and but even 
 Copper too, whether we proceed the dry way or the 
 moift way : For we may extrad good Sol out of the 
 fcoria of Sol and Luna and yenns which are caft away, 
 yea and out of Mars it felf too, and by the afore-lhown 
 way- 
 
 NB. The reafon is this, becaufe the Iron being purged 
 
 in a ftrong Fire is heapt up as it were into goldenilh 
 
 Scoria which but few know of, and will believe, though 
 
 it be moft true- For when a Metal is fo burnt with fuch 
 
 a vehement Fire as to referable glafly Scoria, it hath 
 
 gotten to it felf a more noble nature, and thenceforth 
 
 is able to exhibit or yield good Sol ■■ Yea though they 
 
 be the Scoria of 5 tor 3, which thing that excellent 
 
 Met allitrgift: Jfaac HolUndns did alfo know, when 
 
 : he faid. If any one makes ^ , d or S into Glafs^ and redu- 
 
 ; ceth it., it will not be 1> ^ i ,or tf^bHt Q : And if any one 
 
 , Pull turn O into Glafs, and then reduce it^ it will not i>e 0, 
 
 • but TinUhre. 
 
 I Nor was this knack unknown to Brace fens, who taught 
 ; the making of the Philofophers ftone out of the fcoria of 
 !i Iron, but he is laught at, by another Philofopher, though 
 undefervedly. Though I do not know the way of ex- 
 trading the Tindureout of Iron, yet {this I know; that 
 there have been many who have extraded good Sol by 
 Acjtu.reai.i out of the very green Scoria of Iron, when 
 notwithltanding, the «? it felf out of which the Scona 
 came was dellicuteof Gold j the caufe whereof we Ihowed 
 but now- 
 Now if they had but known my invention of moft 
 . ealie preparing a convenient Menltruum for the extrad- 
 ing of the Tindure, and then the manner of afterwards 
 fcparating the 5o/ again, without lofing the Water, cer- 
 tainly they would have been able fo perfcd that Extra- 
 (.i.ion with a great deal of benefit, whereas (not having 
 this ) they only beheld the pollibility of the thing without 
 proix. 
 
 For ifthisLabour beinfli:uted according to my inven- 
 tion afore-written, we ijjay extrad the ^fwwjrwhich com- 
 
 monly is in the poorer Minerals) out of them,- and that 
 with much proht and in great quantity, and the extradi- 
 on being made, fwhether it be done the moilt way or the 
 dry) we may by tiic benefit of the folution of ]) or h , get 
 out the O thence whilclt it isyet mixt with the water, yea 
 and afterwards by the benefit of «? the Copper it felf. 
 He now that well undcrftands the reafon of this Filhing 
 and redudion needs not to fearch after the Metals (or 
 Ores) of So/ and Lnna^ for whatfocver Metals (or Ores) 
 of ^eww contain but even a very little portion of them, 
 will be able to furniih a man w^'jh nccellarics fulliciently 
 enough. 
 
 But that the Pleader may not think that thefe fayings 
 of mine, wz,. that there arc fubjcds to be in all places 
 found that are endued with Gold, are fidions, and are not 
 founded upon any experiments, (for 1 doubt not but that 
 abundance will not only account thefe fayings for falli- 
 ties, but deride them too) I thought it not much from the 
 purpofe, if I (hewed fome little place only, where yon may 
 find fuch Metals(or Ores) as arc endued with Gold,which 
 notwithltanding were never brought into ufe, that fo it 
 may hence appear that fuch Golden fubjeds mult be lik;- 
 wife found in many places- 
 Let us therefore caft an eye to a part of the Mbenc, 
 and let us get out thofe Trcafurcs that are there hidden, 
 and atprefentarenot profitable to any, which neverthe- 
 lefs may be of mighty conducemcnt and benefit to the 
 whole Inhabitants of thofe parts. 
 
 The Mhene is a River molt abounding with Boats and 
 Fifhi it hath its rife out of a very high pine-bearing Moun- 
 tain, it is in fome fort conjoined with three bordering well 
 known Rivers, Sata^ Adrana, and Navn; which again 
 fpread themfelves unto the i quarters of Heaven, as Eafi-^ 
 South, and North. (This pinifirous Mountain is not barely 
 one Mountain^ but confiftt of many which are exceeding full of 
 Pine-trees, Beech, Oakcs, Birch, and other Trees ft very 
 thick^together ^ and fo yields an Harbour for both wild e.r.d 
 tame Beafis. 
 
 This Pine-bearing Mountain, and which is the highell 
 in all Germany (and of which Gaffjt Brufchtus wrote a par- 
 ticular Treatife, which is exceeding profitable for fuch as 
 Itudy metalIickahairstoread,jis Itored with many nota- 
 ble Metals (or Ores.) For there was not only Gold digs 
 ged out plentifully in various parts of that Mountain, 
 many years fince, (and thereupon there's a City called 
 Goltgangh by the Germans, as if you lliould fay a Vein of 
 Gold '.) But withal the other more common Metals that 
 lie here hidden do for the moft part all of them contain 
 Gold, with notwithltanding is not at this day by reafon 
 of the ignorance and unskilfulnefs of Men feparated from 
 them. Nor are the bare Metals only of that place all of 
 them endued with Gold, but almoft all the Earths, Sand> 
 and Stones have Sol in them. Yea even in this time even 
 Antimony the firlt Ens of Gold is digged out in that 
 place. Therefore it may mod eafily be proved, that this 
 Mountain out of which the Mhene flows for this Ituffed 
 with So/ both in the outfideand infide parts, with which 
 proof I mult at prefent in this place reft, leaft I fliould be 
 too tedious. All fuch as are skiU'd in metallick Affairs do 
 well know, that all the metalline Ore, that they get in and 
 about this Mountain, is endued with Gold. 
 
 The moft ftudious fearcher of nature Matk-fut in Sa- 
 repta teftifies that he faw an Iron Stone or Ore endued 
 with Veins of fixt and malleable Gold. 
 
 The afore- praifed Gafpar B'ufchius in the dcfcriplion 
 of this iMountain, mentioneth amongft other things, thu 
 in a little Town tailed €inficDfl, Jitiiate near the faid 
 ■ Mountain, was a Tin mine hcretoibre found, by the Trea^ 
 fares of which the aforcfaid little Tovvn was built. There 
 did a cert;iin Metal-man called SiQtj^nund (ILlfin^ .learn 
 from an It.iUan Woman, whom he married after the 
 death of her former Hnfband, how So! was to be fepa- 
 rated from Jupiter: F rem whence he got him fo much 
 richcs; that even afore he died, hecaufcd ah egregious Ho- 
 
 fpital 
 
I he Third Fart of 
 
 372 
 
 f,:italto bebuilr, and withal contributed thereto many 
 thoufands of Crowns, with which twelve ancient Men, 
 and three Priefts fliould be always nourithed •, to the per- 
 formance of which there is verily a great deal of Gold 
 ie]aired yearly. 
 
 This now is not to be at all accompted as a meer 
 fable, but the very pure truth : For in that edifice, 
 rhe Effigies of the Founder Sigifmnnd Mi.t\\\<S^ and the 
 Foundrefs Barkiry, are yet to be feen even at this 
 very day. Of which liivewife Matthew Mmamts 
 ill his Delcription of frjconia^ maketh mention. But it 
 isfufficiently enough evident (befidcs thefe Teftinionies) 
 that this Mountain is rcpleat with Metals (or Ores) and 
 efpecially with Golden ones, both withinand without, and 
 hence arofe that Proverb of the ancients, vi^. That the 
 Country--inan doth in this Pine-bearing Mountain often- 
 times throw a ftone at an Oxfor Cow,) that is more 
 worth than the Ox it felf. Strangers give credit here- 
 unto, as Italians and others, and do yearly vifit this 
 Mountain, and dig the Gold out of thole places where 
 :hey know there lies much hidden, and take it up at 
 their backs, and carry it away with them : And ma- 
 ny fuch there have been with me, who have afforded 
 their help to flrangers in digging out Gold : Who for- 
 afmuch as they knew not the manner of extrading it 
 fand that they underftood by others that I alfo dealt in 
 WetaIs,J brought rae various kinds of Earths, Stones, 
 Sands, Clays, that 1 might try whatwas in them : and 
 they did all of them abound with Gold. 
 
 The Country- men that live about that Pine-bearing 
 Mountain do daily for Gaine's fake carry fuch earths and 
 (tones, endued with Gold, unto Nonmberge ; which one 
 or other likewife buys, extracting thence by melting ex- 
 cellent Gold. 
 
 But now if fo be thefe men did but know the extradion 
 of '^ by the help of j4^»a-fortis only (without melting) 
 cut of the earths and ftones (as is here taught) : the needy 
 Country-men might live like the richelt Citizens, the 
 Citizens like the Nobles,and the Nobles like Princes; 
 which feeing it hath not fo pleafed God (to have it) all 
 (thefe j things have remained hidden. Every one may ea- 
 lily believe the things I here utter, feeing it is already 
 taken for granted that this Mountain doth abound with 
 egregious Metals (or Oresj and efpecially with Golden 
 ones. Upon this accompt therefore the mofl: Noble 
 Marquefs of Arffach who is Lord of this Pine-bearing 
 Mountain hath prohibited any Foreigner from exporting 
 fuch Earths (or Ores) thence for the- time to come; and 
 though he hath thereby done fomething to it, yet he can- 
 not wholly hinder it, forafmuch as that Mountain is too 
 Vaft and large. 
 
 But now when I pafs down from this pine-bearing 
 Mountain along the Af/w.e downw-ards, to fuch places as 
 are more plain (or even ground j where Wine and Corn 
 grows, there's nobody feeks after So/ and £.««<« there, but 
 each man profefieth himfelf well enough content with 
 the Wine and the Corn, nor hath there been any Metal 
 digged thence or there fought for many years : Becaufe 
 they thought that no plains can produce Metals, which 
 thing I judge to be falfe, and do gain-fay it ; and con- 
 trary-wife affirm that there are fome parts in plains, 
 that as to the production of Metals may be compared 
 with the mollhigh Pine-bearing Mountain. Now, elfe- 
 where there ly high Mountains of each fide of all the 
 Aihcne, out of which there comes a mighty quantity of 
 Wine, but the Metals ly hid to all. 
 
 Befides thefe, I my fclf tried, that there are Ores of 
 all kinds to be found on both lidesthe Mheni: throughout 
 all the Ealt offrunconia even to AUgiu-.tia where the ''l'^'.'f//c 
 runs into into the Rhcwc, byt yet as far as 1 know, there 
 is not any Metal anywhere digged but Iron only; and 
 therefore neither can I pofitively fhew and direct to fuch 
 or fuch Mine piiS) out ofwliich you may apparently get 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Gold and Silver,but as is faid,there are every where found 
 fome footings (as 'twere) that contain Gold and Silver, 
 and that fuch Stones in the Mhcne are rarely without Me- 
 tal : But no body proves or tries them, or puts them to 
 ufe. 
 
 At B.tmberg (which is an Epifcopal Metropolis^ men 
 are become more diligent, infomuch that they have found 
 out feveral places wherein is to be had the Metal (or Ore) 
 of 5o/ ■• Such as this Metal Cor Ore) of Sol, hath been very 
 oft-times brought me by the Inhabitants of that City,buc 
 all of it in a manner did contain a fluxile and immature 
 Gold, which cannot be extraded by the common way of 
 melting, but vanifheth away into the Air, and fo I did noc 
 at that time much efteem it, but left it as an unprofitable 
 Ore. But now I have found that fuch fluxile Metals (or 
 Ores) of 5o/ may be brought in ufe, not by the help of a 
 vehement melting, but only by a nitrous Water, in which 
 this kind of fluxile Metal (or Ore) ofSd is fixed in the ex^ 
 trading it, and then ftays in the melting, and yields pcr- 
 fed Sol. 
 
 Concerning fuch a fixation of fluxile So/ in ftones, by a 
 nitrous Water,! did not at that time know it, otherwife 
 this knowledgeof mine would have been extraordinarily 
 profitable to the Inhabitants of thofe places. Yea and the 
 Bifhop of Bamberg himfelf who is a great Lover of the Me= 
 tals gave me fome proofs of his Clemency for fervicesof 
 no moment that I did him, fo that I would then gladly 
 havebeftowed my utmoft power in lieu of his favours, buc 
 nothing could be effefted by the way of melting,becaufe of 
 the volatility of fuch a Metal. But now there may be ga- 
 thered very confiderable Treafures by the benefit of ni- 
 trous Water- For not far from Bamberg, there is found a 
 Stone ofgreatbignefs that is exceeding full of Granates> 
 which are about the bignefs of Millet or Hemp^fecd : 
 Befides too, all [the Mountains of that place do moft plen« 
 tifully abound with Metal (or Ore) of So/. 
 
 There is fuch a Vein of unripe Gold, not farfrorn Batn. 
 berg J that lies thwart the Mhme^ which much hinders the 
 Velfels, and efpecially thofe Boats which are wont to 
 bring vaft quantities of Boards, Beams, O-c. yearly; in- 
 fomuch that they cannot always get over it, but at fuch 
 time only when the waters are increafed. Now in the 
 Summer time, when Rain hath not fallen awhile, this 
 Vein is feen bare, when the water is fallen away fome 
 Ells height ; and hereupon the Mariners have fmote a- 
 gainfl it with force, and Tools therreby to remove it, 
 if poffible, but all in vain- 
 
 But for as much as I never was minded to run thither, 
 nor !yet am fo conditioned, as that envious Dog, who 
 having hay under his pofleffion, could neither eat it him- 
 felf, nor would fufFer the Ox to eat the fame ; therefore 
 I was willing to lay open thefe things : I cannot at pre- 
 fent fay any more of this fluxile Ore of© ^ yet if any 
 one deiires more, let him repair toanlnhabitant and Ci- 
 tizcn of Bamberg, by name A^. iV- a Farrier, who many 
 times delivered to rae that kind of ore during my aboad ac 
 Kit zing. This man will fatisfy every ones requeft, and 
 will fhew where it is to be found- 
 
 There have verily been others that have brought un- 
 to me various kinds of Ores-, but I have long fince for- 
 gotten their natnes. If you only feck, you will find in 
 that place, abundance of fuch Golden Metal Tor Or'"sj ■ 
 but all of them in a manner, fliiXile (or crude,) and pof- 
 feffing but little fixt Gold, and although they fliould not 
 have in them any fixt ©, and that not any thing could 
 thence be extraded by the way of melting, yet notwith- 
 ftandging it is now known to D. G. by what means (by 
 the liquid way of Nitrous water; all the fluxile Tor crude) 
 G may be abundantly extraded out of the ftones, be 
 fixed, and be turned into good © with abundance of 
 profit. 
 
 The Mbefte near B..'.'«k?-^ is occupied with Veffels or 
 Ships, and I my felf have failed along the Mjoie, and on 
 
 both 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 5-75 
 
 both fides of the Mhef.e from Bdmber? even to lVirtz.kyjr^ 
 did light upon various kinds of Metals ( or Ores ) which 
 were not void of and ? , out of which much © and I 
 may be extraded by the help of this invention of mine, 
 by the moift way by Nitre water, if men would but only 
 apply themfclves to the work. 
 
 But indeed the Corn and the Wine which God hath fo 
 abundantly vouchlafcd to thofe Countries, is the caufe 
 that no body minds any thing elfc, for they have enough 
 to fuffice them, and therefore leave the Metals Cor Ores) 
 of and )' untoucht- 
 
 Without doi:bt, the whole Wood that rcacheth from 
 Wirtzkij or Kitz-irg-, even almofl: to Bambtrg^ is ,full of 
 Metals (or Ores) and yet (as far as I know) there is not 
 digged any of the Metal (or Ore) of So/ or Luna therein. 
 
 It is reported that there was 5c/ and Luna digged 
 up heretofore at Crfj!/c/-, at the other fide of the Mhcne^ 
 towards the Town which i^cGamafn call EomnijfljOffrn, 
 in the Mountain they call l^a0brrfflj,therc was heretofore, 
 Copper digged, which now is left of, becaufe the Copper 
 is not fullle enough, nor hath it any fulphureous flint joined 
 with it, by the help of which it is made fluxile (but is) 
 inclofcd in a Sandilh Stone. Now out of loo weight of 
 this, there can hardly be extraded, by the help of a ftrong 
 melting fire ii'j.%. for the Sandy Stone being deftitute 
 of a fulphureous flintinefs, doth in the melting turn the 
 Copper it felf together into Scoria ; yetnotvvithltanding 
 we are able by the help of Vinegar to extrad above xij. 
 or xvj. Ife. of Copper, and this I have tryed more than 
 once- But whether or no that Metal (or Ore) of Cop- 
 per, contains in it any Volatile Gold, I never tryed, but 
 that there is fome J therein, is true ; yea, and the Cop: 
 per is very malleable, and we can thence extraft by the 
 help of Vinegar, that which is moft fair, and this 1 hum- 
 bly declared to the mod noble Mo^iu.tine Ele(ftor,he be- 
 ing at this time BiQiopoftVi>'^tcr^; but by theTryers 
 Cor Refiners) of that place, it is haply accounted of as un-- 
 profitable becaufe it yields but little by thehelp of Fufion. 
 
 I mult needs confefs that but little can begotten out by 
 melting, but fuch Copper may be profitably extracted by 
 the Acetum of the Wood, which Grows in the places all 
 about in abundance, and may be had for nothing- 
 • . The Mhetie doth every where yield fuch kind of Flints 
 as are endued with Gold. Near Carliladt there offers it 
 felf in a Wood a certain white and fat Earth, and after 
 fome fort filverilh, otherwife firm (or ftrong,) and is fit 
 for making of Crucibles, and other Inftruments (or Vef- 
 fels)to be ufed about the Fire. 
 
 You may likewife find fuch conditioned Earth at Klifi. 
 gcnbtrg upon the Mhcne, where moft excellent Wine 
 grows, which the Glafs-makers of Sfechart ufe to make 
 the Crucibles or Pots in which they melt their Glafs. 
 
 It hath not as yet been known that there hath been any 
 Ore found in the County of Wertheimen where great plen- 
 ty of RiiJJ'elletn Wine is gathered •, yet neverthelefs 1 have 
 proved feveral Earths, which I found about Bretherg^ 
 which is the inexpugnable Caftle of the Lord Ckarks Fer- 
 dinand the Coantof Wertheimcn, in which I found there 
 was contained much Gold. 
 
 Belides thefe, I found oppofite to Wert hdmn where 
 there are Vineyards, an Iron ftone T white like fnow, co- 
 vered over with other ftones,) which is endued with ) 
 and ® : as to the external fhape it reftmbles a white Flint, 
 very weighty, foas that it fcarce yields to the weight of 
 apiece of Iron of like bignefs : But it is nothing regar- 
 ded, and is accompted of as a common ftone. 
 
 The County of Erbach doth indeed yield plenty of 
 Iron, but there is nothing at all found of other nobler Me- 
 tals^ yet my opinion is, that even in this Iron arc contain- 
 ed both S and > : becaufe that there is fand found in {c- 
 veralplaces thereof which yields good Gold, as I have 
 obferved more than once ; the cxtraftion of which may 
 be excellently well performed by the benefit of Salt- 
 petre. 
 
 Likewife Talk of fundry kinds is found in the faid pla- 
 ces, which is endued with 0and > : and it would eafily 
 yield them forth, were it but rightly handled, and' dealc 
 with according to the way by me prefcribed : which hi- 
 therto we never heard to have been done by any. 
 
 The County of Erbach andlikewifeof ^t'c/'r^awwdoa- 
 bound with Iron Metal (or Ore) and all kinds of Mine- 
 rals, which contain in them, © and T . 
 
 Nor arc the Metals (or Ores) of lefs goodnefs that are 
 in the Spcclhirten Wood,and the bordering Countries^ and 
 yet notvvithftanding 'tis evident that ic yields nothing ac 
 all fave this, wz.. That thr=e is excellent Salt made there 
 and Glafs, in great plenty. It is a thing well enough 
 known to all men that here are various Metals (or Ores) 
 found, but never hath any fo procured as to havethetn 
 wrought upon, and thereby to enjoy them. 
 
 We find in feveral places, an Earth impregnated with 
 white, black, and yellow Talk, cfpecially (in that part) 
 which is near to AfclnbHrg^^nd which contains both >, 
 and®: which notwithftanding by reafon of the fnial- 
 nefs of the quantity thereof have never hitherto been 
 thencefrom feparatcd. 
 
 Not far from a Village which the Germans call Schilt- 
 )!:>-o/> there offers it felfaftony Talk, fomewhat ruddifh, 
 which befides Copper contains alfo volatile ®, and of no 
 ufe at all becaufe there's but little 2 therein contained,and 
 that the O is volatile and cannot be obtained by themeatrs 
 of melting. Perhaps this Talk was known even of old 
 time, for the place where it is found in plenty is by the 
 Inhabitants of that place called the Gold-pit even to this 
 day : for it is not incredible but that there was Gold found 
 there. 
 
 However there is not at this time any extraded out of 
 that Talk. I have very often extrafted thence moft beau- 
 teous Verde-greafe by thehelpof deftilled Vinegar. For 
 feeing that there is plenty of Wood to be had in that: 
 place, and confequently requires no cofts, we may get us 
 vaft quantities of Acetum gratis^ (or for nothing) : and 
 by the help thereof extraft the Copper out of the faid 
 Talk : Verily many noble Nen would have (thencefrom) 
 whereon to live honourably. 
 
 NB. But if we make a Spirit of Salt, and with it being 
 fortified with a fourth part of Nitre, extrad the Copper 
 and the out of the faid Talk, and then firft catch the 
 by Tj , and then precipitate the 2 by if , vvefhall not only 
 have very malleable Copper, but fliall likewife receive 
 even pure •, and this I teftify upon my own knowledge. 
 
 He that hath determined the experimenting of thefe 
 things, and yet fees that he does not rightly perceive the 
 things we have here mentioned,! advife him to come unto 
 mein a friendly way,and I will not be wanting unco him to 
 ferve him snd the Country by any farther information. 
 
 Verily there lie hidden incredible Treafures in thofc 
 places,which none know of,and which yield nothing at all 
 by the help of Liquefaftion, and which we are conftrained 
 if we would have them fixt and metalline to make them fo 
 by the benefit of a fliarp Water, and this I was willing to 
 open and notifie for the Countries fake. 
 
 O thou Zoilift or Carper that underftandeft not this 
 knack, pafs not thou thy judgment hereupon, but rather 
 examine thy Wines, and tell us which is beft, either the 
 EJtubachen, Klingenbtrgicl^^ or Wcrtheimen fort : Verily 
 neither of thefe Liquors though they are ftrong, are con- 
 venient forthe extrading of Tww and 5^^/ outof thaC 
 Talk : There is a far ftrongcr required, to wit, fome ni- 
 trous Spirit of Salt, or Spirit of Nitre acuated with com= 
 mon Salt. When the extraftion is ended there may be 
 gathered plenty of Nitre out of the remaining Mcnftru^ 
 urn. Infomuth that there is nothing elfe required buC 
 labour, for the cofts expended on the work are not at all 
 confiderable : And thus in a little fpaceof time, we may- 
 get a great quantity of Copper and 5?.'. 
 
 After the fsme manner as we liave fliown that it is a 
 Ccccc thin^ 
 
The 'I bird Part of 
 
 i'art J. 
 
 thing poflible to excrad Volaiilc Sd by the help of Salt- 
 petre out of iuch a difregardcd Talk and other Stones, 
 and liD make it fixt, fo we can alfo cxtrad the fame out 
 of feveral other Minerals, that are plentifully enough 
 lying on both fides of the Mher/c. So that now, no body 
 hath any ground to fay that the Ores cannot be found in 
 this or that Country, or fuch convenieiit Minerals) as 
 out of which we may cxtraft the volatile and alfo the 
 ripe Gold acording to Glaither's piefcription. 
 
 If now fuch may be found in thofe places tiiat are adja- 
 cent to the Mhe>n-^ which we always judged to be void 
 of fuch treafures, what fhall -fve not find in thofe places, 
 which have already yielded 'us various kinds of Metals 
 for fome hundreds of years fucceflively^ and do yet daily 
 exhibit thcm^ fuch as as arc Huffia^ihz Dukedom of Brur^f- 
 vnky S-ixofiy, Tlouyi/:gia, Ahrtroia, Bohemi.i^ Hungary^ and 
 that fuch like parts of the Earth abound with Metals. 
 Therefore, Friendly Reader, do not thou perfwade thy 
 felt that there is any place in which we are not able to 
 extract many good things out of the Earth. 
 
 1 have likewife found various Metals in our Ilolland-, 
 and yet never, did any one ever hear that there was the 
 lealt particle of them therein found, efpecially in that 
 ])lace that they call f^eLmrv ■, yet notwichftanding it yields 
 Veinsoflron, and a Yellow Sand which hath in it >& ®. 
 
 Neither doth that, place afibrd only fuch Sand Stones, 
 & Earrii,out of which volatile O & > may be extraded, 
 but withal there offer theinfelves at the Sea-lhore in thofe 
 Sand hills, which x.ht Hollanders QzWDiiymn-, which the 
 Itony Sea heaps up, Stones of a Sky colour, which con- 
 tain 2 . They are called by the Hollanders^ Vhrdmanne. 
 
 In this place, is likewife gathered plenty of Oftiocolla 
 it is about the length and thickneis of ones Finger ; yea 
 and fomctiraes is as big as ones Arm •, and as in a clear 
 Seafon it is eafily noted, (or met withjfo in a Rainy Sea- 
 fon it is not to be feen : It is in fome fort hollowed in 
 the infide ; it is of a white colour, like ftone-lime, and 
 thereupon the Chyrurgions ufe it to confolidate the bro- 
 ken bones of their Patients. 
 
 Some (as they have related to me) have extracTied > 
 thereout-of. There is not therefore, any place that does 
 not contain fome Metal, and efpecially O and > . _ 
 
 Thus Friendly Reader, you fee that there are in all 
 parts of the Earth, fuch Subjeds, as do contain, if not 
 tixt, yet at Icaft wife volatile Gold ; infomuch that no 
 body may on good ground, complain that nature hath de- 
 jiyed him O and 2 , fohe but knows how, and be willing 
 to extrad it. 
 
 Did Germany but know thofe Treafures which the 
 Earth contains, and did ufe them aright-, certainly they 
 need not give place to the power of any Monarch. But 
 it fee ms as if God had call a blindncfs upon men, or at 
 lealt keeps them blind, even until ihc due time approach- 
 cth of helping thofe that are his, 
 
 1 have here (hewn the way for the Country to get rich- 
 es and power by; but as concerning the way by which 
 we may extract both the volatile and fixt Gold out of 
 Stones, Sand, and Clay, without any confiderable labour 
 & coHs, acccordingtothis invention of mine ; I will Ihew 
 it in my Laboratory, which by Gods permilTion, I have 
 begun to ered for the fake of Friends. 
 
 But whereas I have omitted fome words in the defcri- 
 ption of this invention i you are to know that it was done 
 upon this account; leafl: otherwife fuch a noble Artifice 
 lliould fall into the hands of my enemies ; I will never be 
 wanting to illuftrate for explain) fuch things as are fome- 
 what more obfcure, unto my friends- The main 
 things are delivered clear enough, to fuch as are in 
 any meafurc skillM in Chymiltry, but the unskilful may 
 not hope for any thing elfe (thereby) but labour in vain. 
 The thing in it felf is eafic, and without rubs, fo as that 
 any one who hath but once fecn the way, may under- 
 ftand itj and manage it. 
 
 I could have exhibited the things I have delivered, m 
 a briefer fl:ile,but upon confideration of the common good 
 1 would not ; he that cannot from thcfe things perceive 
 and learn ought, let him think that God is not willine to 
 vouchfijfe him the Grace of underJtanding them. 
 
 And now, if I had been minded to have exalted this 
 work with mighty praifcs, 1 Ihould not have done unfeem- 
 ly atal},for as much as this labour fiiincs even in the dark, 
 and makes many doubtful things firm and clear. 
 
 For by the means of this labour, we may get iis, not 
 onlyaDundanceof © and > very eafily, but likewife moft , 
 excellent medicaments, and which are not to be accompt- 
 ed common •, nay, even the off-drawn Salt-petre it felf,is ' 
 a moft excellent medicine for all Vegetables, becaufeit 
 is capable of multiplying them abundantly, in fo much 
 that he who is skilful in this kind of work and docs not' 
 forbear from fetting about it, will never want any thing. 
 
 What greater things can a man delire from God, than a ■ 
 ! found Body,daiIy Bread,and as much W & > as neceflity 
 ! requires .'* now thefe gifts of God do abundantly llow in 
 upon us by this labour i if it were not for the wicked Farn- 
 \ nerianifts who are not worthy of any good thing, and do 
 1 contemn every thing that they underltand not, and 
 (fo confequently ^ rcftrain me from treating of thefe 
 I things, with any longer and clearer difcourfe. The whole 
 world would be amazed to fee the fo exceedingly eafie 
 , method of bettering of the Metals, and of making them 
 perfeft, and which method but few there are that know. 
 i But whatfoever we have omited here, fliall, God willing, 
 [k fiiortly delivered in my work of h , where we will de- 
 monftrate by what means © and > may be extraded with 
 exceeding profit out of vile (or common Lead, fo that 
 we need not any other fubjed, but Lead and the Salt of 
 the Earth or a Mineral fire (by whofe help, nature bring- 
 eth (or advancethj all Metals to maturity) for the per- 
 forming this work ^ and hence the word Alchymy (which 
 fignifies nothing elfe but the melting of Salt) feemsto have 
 taken its original. 
 
 He therefore that knows how by the help of Salt, to 
 make Metals volatile, and again fixt (which is not to be 
 done but by folution and coagulation) fuch an one knows 
 the true and unfophiftcate Alchimy, and follows the uni- 
 verfal exhortionof the Philofophers,where they fay,Af4fee 
 the fixtf^(jlatile^& thtVoUtile fixt^DtjJolve d- Coagiilate^^c. 
 He that hath in any meafure meddled with Salt-petrc, 
 eafily perceives what my meaning here is, and what I 
 drive at. He whom Nitre obeys, him do all things elfe obey. 
 I have determined(by God's perminion)to ereita Tryum* 
 phant Chariot for Nitre,& to let itthereupon,asthegrea- 
 te^: Monarch of the Word & to exhibit it to the ignorant;' 
 Whereas novy I had written down this moft noble way 
 of compendioully extraifting volatile and fixt Gold out 
 of Stones, Sands, and Earths, and of farther augment- 
 ing other * and > thereby, I found nothing pretermit- 
 ted of what may any waies help to the profitably accom- 
 plifhing the Work^ favc this, viz.. Whence fuch aureous 
 Subjcfts are to be taken, out of which we may cxtradt 
 volatile and fixed 5o/-, or by what means they (y>z.. ©and 
 I ) may be prepared by fuch like labour in great quantity. 
 To fatisfie fuch as thefe I neither will,nor can deferr it- 
 So then, as touching the Golden Materials, there hath 
 been enough fliewn already to prove that they are every 
 where to be found, and put cafe there were none to be 
 found , is there not a Golden Silver every where to 
 be found, and that Silver may be feparatcd from the 
 Gold, be Cemented, and again made aureous, as often '• 
 as one Oiall plcafe. Yea, and Gold may be profitably ex- 
 traded out of a certain (fort of) Tin, efpecially the 
 : Geyersbergtcl::^-, and fo likewife out of fome Iron too. 
 i Now that fuch, r--'^. Gold) may be made in great 
 j quantity we may dillblve the that fticks in Stones, with 
 I Spirit of Salt, acuated with a little quantity of Nitre; 
 for fuch a fpirit will not be fo coftly as Nitrous water is, 
 I and 
 
Part I 
 
 the Profperity of Germany, 
 
 and befldes this too, it will (after it hath been ufed in the 
 faid reparation) yield excellent Sait petre, of full as much 
 price and value asthe Spirit of Salt it felf was of- So that 
 by this means we may extraft the© without thofe colls 
 (too) : And this moift extraiflion may be excellently well 
 well performed in a Vaporous Balmo. 
 
 But if we feek after the dry way (of doing it) then the 
 Stones are to be mixt with Saltand a fourth part of Nitre, 
 and being mixt are to be made up into little balls by the 
 help of feme fat Earth, fo as to flick together : Then are 
 they to be dried in a peculiar Furnace, or elfe even in the 
 open field, with a Fire of Wood, the which may be done 
 in ones hours time. The Cementation being made, they 
 are to be powdercd,and out of the powder is a Lixivium . of more value, than the cofts expended about the opera- 
 
 m 
 
 felves, 1 will a little ftretch out the thred of my difccurfe> 
 and will in fome fort delineate the very work it felf. 
 
 Yon are therefore to know, that all thofo Minerah 
 v.'hich contain fiuxilc Cor unripe) or volatile Gold, whe- 
 ther they be Itoxiy or not, do for the moft part contain in 
 them fome Iron : Now then, when a man would thence 
 e.nradt the O by the Spirit of Salt, it cannot be but that 
 together therewith the Iron would be diffolvcd too, to the 
 doing of which there is mucli fpirit required : And albeit 
 you may make the faid fpirit molt eafily according to tl;c 
 way by me delivered, yea and may befides, by the additi- 
 on of Ibmeevcn the moft mea-" matter a.-i,ain make excel- 
 lent Nitre, fo as that the Nitre thence cxtraLlcd fliall be 
 
 to be extracted by the means of Water, and you fliall have 
 the © permixt with the Lixivium, which is to be thence 
 extrafted by the help of the folution of Tj , out of the Li- 
 xivium may Nitre be afterwards made. And now by 
 this means may a moft ealie and no ways coltly operation 
 at all, be inftituted with fome hundreds weight. 
 
 But as concerning the melting and reduiition of the Tj 
 which contains in it the © which it caught, it may 
 ealily be done, but 'tis by the bene 
 
 * Mentioned, in the 
 Sfcowi/ Century. 
 
 tion :, yet notwithft<-:nding, this biUlnefs is not void of all 
 
 i kind of labour and trouble, and it requires diligent men 
 
 (not droncs)of which fort there's more fcarcity than p!en= 
 
 ty. But now this which wc treat of at prefcnt, may a 
 
 beard Icfs Country Boy of about fome loor 12 years old 
 
 1 perform: It requires but little Fire, and allthe fMetals) 
 
 : may be extrafted in great plenty- Which to do, you 
 
 , muft know that where the Metals (or Ores) are fulphu- 
 
 reous, that Sulfhir muft be taken away by the force of the 
 
 fit of a peculiar * Tigil or Pot, : fire, for elfe the Spirit of Salt leaves all untoucht- 
 
 the making of which is known only 
 
 unto my felf ; which faid Tigil or 
 Crucible lafts a long time, and doth not at all let any 
 thing of what is thereunto put, run out,becaufe it has its 
 cover made of the Lute of Wifdom. 
 
 But now again here may arife another doubt, and it 
 may be demanded, how we may have fo much Spirit of 
 Salt for the moift way, or fo much Salt and Nitre for the 
 dry way, as is requifite to make this extra(ftion of the 
 Metals. Salt- petre is chargeable, and the Spirit of Salt 
 will be difficultly gotten in fuch plenty; and haply they 
 will ffand us in more than the Gold thereby extradted 
 would be worth ? To fuch I anfwer, It is not fo precifely 
 neceffary to buy Salt-petre for this work, feeing that the 
 faid dilfolvent when it hath done what you would have 
 it, both in the dry and moift preparation, may be again 
 turned by the help of common Salt and other mean Sub- 
 jects, into excellent Nitre: fo as wc may thence have 
 more Nitre, than it was afore. And farther, as concern 
 ning the Spirit of Salt it may be made in great plenty, in- 
 fomuch that (by the benefit of one Furnace j there may 
 be daily made 50, 60, 70, yea 1 00 pounds thereof, and 
 out of every pound of Salt may you extra.ft a whole pound 
 of rectified Spirit of Salt with the help of two or three j volatile, and vanifli away into the Air, for the Cinnabar 
 
 NB. However it is your beft way not to force away by 
 tlie fires violence the Si!lr.htir out of the goldenifh Flints,be- 
 caufe that fo,theregoes off part of the Spiritual © : but ra- 
 ther extrad every fuch aureous5«//)/;/.T with a ftrongLixi-- 
 vium made of fixt Nitre, and precipitate it with 2 dillbl- 
 ved, and fo the aureous Sulphur goes to the bottom, and is 
 to be edulcorated, and I?, 2, or > is to be thereto added, 
 and fo they will feize upon the volati!c(Gold;and the © is 
 by the means of the Lixivium made in fome fort fixt, and 
 is to be feparated by deftilling of the 2 : The edulcora= 
 ting waters do again yield Nitre. So that the extraction 
 requires no cofts at all, at leaftwife but very little- 
 
 N B. When wc have extracfted the aureous Sulphur (by 
 the help of fixt Nitre, or fome other very Itrong Lee of 
 Wood-afhes,) out of the Flints, and have precipitated ic 
 with the folution of the V, and edulcorated it, and fubli- 
 imeditbyaRetort, there is thence made an elegant (or 
 delicate) Cinnabar, which by the addition of the filings 
 of Silver may be changed (by Cementation) into fixt > 
 which) is aureous, by reafon of the volatile ©, which 
 was permixt with the Sulphur. Whereas otherwife, other 
 Cinnabar is by this way fof proceeding) wont to yield 
 I only I : For the filings of the I thereto added, become 
 
 pounds of Coals : So that, that fpirit will in a manner coft 
 nothing at all fave Salt and Coals, which doth again after • 
 it hath been put to its appointed ufe, yield more Nitre 
 than the Salt and Coals colt- This operation therefore' 
 may be done without any cofts as it were. The things I ' 
 here mention are true, although I well know that fcarce 
 one of a hundred will believe what I fay •, however I mat- 
 ter it not,but it is fufficient to me that I know thefe things, 
 and can exhibit (or demonftrate) them to any Friends. 
 
 Albeit that this be a moft eallc Labour and of no ex- 
 
 pences toextraift volatileand tixt Gold out of Ores, Sand, 
 
 Clay, according to the prefcribed rule ; yet 1 queftion not 
 
 but that many men that are given to flothfulnefs will dc- 
 
 firehere.ayeteaiier way, whereby they may heap up a 
 
 greafdealof Gold without any trouble at all- To fuch as 
 
 thefe, I verily could fhew an ealier way of excrading ® 
 
 outof the Minerals without melting, did I not count it 
 
 wholly an unbefeeming thing, to deteft all thefe fecrets 
 
 both to Friends and Enemies alike without any diftinfli- 
 
 on.I will notbeat all wanting to communicatemy morefe- 
 
 tret way to thofe who deferve wellfc thankfully acknow- 
 
 ledge towards me and mine,the benefit they havereceived. 
 
 But yet, that the knack may be in fome fort manifefted, 
 
 and it may be fomewhat known by what means Q and I 
 
 may be gotten eve.a outof the Ores and Minerals thcm- 
 
 hath extravled the foul thereout-of, and hath by it made ic 
 felf fixt ; fo that there redounds no profit at all thence- 
 from, fave only that the poffibility of nature is laid open- 
 But now when the Cinnabar of this place (or mentioned 
 in this place) is mixed with fufile > , edulcorated and pre- 
 cipitated with Salt, or with the Calx of T?, either alone 
 or elfe both mixt together (wz.. the) and T?) they do 
 greedily betake themielvcs into each other, and there a- 
 rifeth thcncefrom a black ftone, which being kept in an 
 apt for fuitable) Fire by degrees, and that for aduetime, 
 doth daily more and more acquire a fixity : Yet do I be- 
 lieve that it needs a long time, to make it wholly fixt : 
 which thing feeing I have not as yet any experience of, I 
 will not here mention ought of certainty concerning it, 
 perhaps fome particular Tindture may thence be extraft- 
 ed, becanfe that the fubjecfts which confliiute it are e.xcel- 
 lent ones, for as Sulphur is faid to be the Father of all the 
 Metals, fo isj called the Mother- 'A'hai may not a burning 
 Sulphur not unlike the common Mineral Sulphur that is in 
 all Metals, be extracted by Art out of any Vegetable ? 
 which(faid Sulphur)l have implanted in mercurial fubjJtes 
 more than once, and have fixed it in them ; yea and by the 
 help thereof have fo extrafted natural Gold thence- from. 
 Verily it is to be wondred at, that this fcienceor skill 
 hath been hitherto unknown to the Inhabitants of the 
 
 world 
 
ThTTbirTPart of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 to 
 
 world, and that no body hath commited the fam 
 vvricingo 
 
 But indeed all men may ceafe to admire, when they fhall 
 confider that the Great and Blelled God beftows his gifts, 
 and the knowledge of Natuvc to fiich only as it Pleafeth 
 liim, wz.. tofuchasbear an humble, and pious Mind -, 
 and contrariwife denyeth them to fuch as are impious 
 and proud. 
 
 And here falls in a thing highly needfull to be known ; 
 by him efpecially, who would elFcfl ought inChimiftry 
 with profit (and that is this, ■viz..) That there can be no 
 bettering of the iMctals ar-ipll (be it either in the univerfal 
 or in a particular way)but by the benefit oi Sulphur (which 
 isahe father of all the Metals) & this both in the moid and 
 inthcdry way. TNB- The Spirits of Salt, of Nitre, Vi- 
 triol and Sulphur, ferve inltead of a fulphur though a 
 nioill one, and perform their ofiice in the moift way.j 
 
 If therefore all the Metals were at firft a Sitlpbnr (for 
 no Metal is there wherein it may not be found, and be- 
 fides too, it is known to be in all the Vegetables) by what 
 means pollibly can it be, but that being by the help of 
 a Sulphur, Salt, and apt Fire, reduced to fixity, it (w^l. 
 any Metal) fhould yield good Q feeing that it (wj- Gold) 
 is nothing elfe but a lixt pure Sulphur. But for as much 
 as Snlphiii- (as being of the Mafculine kind) cannot pro- 
 duce any Metal alone, but that tlfere muft necelTarily be 
 S thereto adjoined, (as being of the Feminine kind) ■, e- 
 very one is bound to feek after an apt or fuitable 3 (as 
 being the Female) for his Sulphur (as being the Male) and 
 to join that 2 to this Sulphur^ and let thefe two cele- 
 brate their Nuptials in Hell, where l^ulcan is Prefident. 
 
 Now then, when the Agent hath adted on the Patient, 
 and perfeded the operation, whether by the moift or by 
 the dry way, it fliews itfelfto be a pure produdl:, and 
 fo much the purer too, by how much the Agent and Pati- 
 ent were more or lefs pure. 
 
 When we fow fruitful Seed in a fatSoil, good Fruits 
 do thence -from proceed. Now then lee Snlphnr be 
 the feed there, and S the field it felf, yet fo as that your 
 Sulphur for feed) be pure, and that the 5 for groundj 
 liavc no Tares in it ^ but let it be duely endued (or dungd) 
 with Sale, and fo let it have the fruition of the folar beams, 
 and patiently wait for the thence proceeding fruits. Now 
 if you meet with fuch a fubjeft as hath both Sulphur and 
 5 already joined together by nature ; you are there only 
 to begin the operation where nature left of, and fo by the 
 help of Fire and Salt, bring it unto its due perfeftion, 
 which nature wasconftrained miens volais to leave imper= 
 fert, by reafon of the defed of Salt and fire. 
 
 i could here prefent the Student of Mrwcrut^medicine, 
 with fuch a foundation, as out of which abundance of 
 commodious conveniencies might be expetl;ed •, but the 
 ingratitude of the men of this Age, prohibits the divulg- 
 ing fuch things. 
 
 Therefore do I herein follow ?.?>-.'Cf//w, who faith, We 
 could verily lay open ?nofi mighty ylrcMia i>i a very few words, 
 if it feemedgood imto God to grant w.to all men the fame (e- 
 quity of) Ricks. 
 
 Turn over and over his Writings, Reader ; and thou 
 wilteafily attain the foundation of the truths butefpe- 
 cially, view well fuch writings as he hath left us concern- 
 ing Sulfhitr and ri»'o/,which we will here rehearfe in this 
 place (becaufe of the affinity of the matter) for thy fake 
 and benefit, which writings of his if any one can make 
 nothing of, verily neither will he underftand thofe things 
 which we (hall add. 
 
 And now are all things Trcquifite) fufficiently laid o- 
 pcn to fuch, to whom God vouchfafes hisbkiTing; and 
 contrariwife, the fame will always remain hidden and 
 unknown to the impious- 
 
 Thus much I add iviz..) That neither can any Tinifture 
 be obtained without Sulphur., nor any Shhhur (ixt without 
 Saltj both thefe now are found conjoined in V'iaio), 
 
 fronj which the noxious fuperfluity is to be feparated, acd 
 the pure is to be msde fixe. 
 
 Now follow Paracelfus /.v^ Ji'^r*/^, coHcern'mg 
 SULPHUR anclYiTVAOL. 
 
 IlVill prefent itf tJ yon., as o^ie well skilPd^ my experience 
 in all nfpeiis concerning Sulphur, viz. rphat is contain- 
 ed in Sulphur, both as to Aiedicine and Alchtmy., and to other 
 things, ^nd mi lefs God be against it and hinder, the operati- 
 ons o/ Sulpliur are fo finpendioits and admirable., that the na- 
 tural Light in m.in canmt enough admire them. . Now if God 
 himfclf doth net hinder., then the defi£t is in the Workmen,that 
 fo handles the Sulphur as that the operation anfwers not to the 
 implanted Virtue. 
 
 Now feeing that every bahling fellow is a Phylician, and 
 every prater an Alchymift, this is the caufe why (tn pUtn 
 Terms) the Sciences (o/ Phyfick^^ti'Chimiftry) cannot be 
 brought to light, 
 
 I his now is the Foundation or Bafts, viz- That in Sulphur 
 are contained fuch great Arcana and Virtues rtlatint to 
 both Faculties (^viz,. Medicine and Alch'imY) that no'hody 
 can ever feai ch them out jujfciently : J Jay,t hat the) e lies fuel.' 
 excellent Virtues hidden therein, as may very defervedly caaf^ 
 in all Aien great admiration. For after long experience aatned 
 in both Faculties, fuch are the Virtues of Sulphur /o.7«^ and 
 known to be, that there are not many other things that arc ei-. 
 ther itsfuperiour^ or which may therewithal compare in Mcdt= 
 cine and Alchimy- 
 
 Sulphur reproves Ariftotle, when as he faith that thefpe- 
 cics of things cannot be ch.inged : For Sulphur is tranfmuted ; 
 did Ariftotlc li've now adays he wo.^ld whclly be ajliamedand 
 bluJJ}. 
 
 Thus far he, as for the many more additions that he 
 makes every one may read them in his Works. 
 
 As concerning my felf, 1 fay thus. That nothing at all 
 can be done in Alchimy without S«//'/;«>- or fulphureons 
 Salts ; like as without feed,neither Vegetable nor Animal 
 can-, as is clearly evident,be podibly generated- Sulphur 
 is inftead of Seed, and Mercury inftead of a Matrix r But 
 you muft not think that I do here fpeak of common SiU- 
 phur only,and common Mercury : [^ No J] I do comprife 
 under them fuch as are far more excellent, and this you 
 are well to heed. If now a metal be not fulphureous, ic 
 muft be brought to a due foftnefs by the force of Fire, 
 which is done thus, viz.- Making it red hot and quenching 
 it fome times in water. But if fo be it is already foft 
 enough, then bare powdering it is fufficient, without fo 
 much as ever heating it red hot and quenching the fame. 
 Put this podwer in Pans of caft Iron, and that there may 
 be the lefs wafte of Fire, let it be encompafled with a 
 wall or mured in a Furnace-, fill them half full, and 
 pour thereupon (whether it be Metal or Ore, or Sand, 
 Stone, or Clay, or golden Mineral,) fo much of the water 
 which we fhall by and by defcribe, as the Iron VeficI can 
 contain, yet fo that the faid Velfels want of being top 
 full the breadth of 3 or 4 fingers,leaft as you ftirr it about 
 fome of it fpil over- This doncput to an hundred pound 
 weight of the Metal or Ore, about one pound of an aure- 
 ous, filvery, -^rf^^ff. Then put Fire under the Pans or 
 Cauldrons,and make the water boil, continually ftirring 
 the matter contained in the Iron Pans, with an Iron 
 Spatula. 
 
 Now forafmuch as tills water is of fuch a quah'ty as 
 that it can neither dillblve Q nor >, ic leaves both the 
 and )"> ,and by reafon of the admixtion of the M.tgnet^ 
 it attrads only the Iron or the Copper. When the wa- 
 ter hath attracted as much c? or 2 as it can, it is to be 
 drawn away, and more new put on in the room thereof, 
 and you muft proceed on to boiling as afore- mentioned, 
 and thusare you to reiterate this work, until all the <^ or 
 S fhall be txtraaed out of the Metal, and nothing re- 
 main behind fave a dead Sand, which may moft eafily be 
 
 feparated 
 
Part l. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 975 
 
 ^ 
 
 feparatcd froaa the Magnet, by the pouring on of com- 
 nion Water, for the fand mixeth in felf with it, and the 
 yl/^^wr remains pure in the bottom of the Veffel, which 
 hath received into it felf the O and "> : This O now and 
 > is again eafily fcparated from the ^%«ff, which faid 
 M-ti>'it may be again ufcd for fuch another work- 
 
 Thus now, one only perfon can by this means daily fe- 
 parate a great quantity of Metal from the © and > it 
 has in if, all the artifice confifteth in the preparation of 
 fuch a water as extrarteth <? and 2 out of the Metals or 
 Ores : And therefore mull it be of fuch a nature, as to 
 diflblve neither © nor ) ,& be neverthelefs ftrong enough 
 to dilfolve <? & 2 and tofeparate them from the © : For 
 that the Ma^>:a cannot extrad the ® out of the $ and 
 2 unlefs they be afore dilTolved. But as touching the 
 quality (or compofition) of this water-, 'tis no ways ex- 
 pedient to divulge it, forafmuch as the whole bulinefs de- 
 pendeth thereupon) nor can any thing at all be effeil^ted 
 without the knowledge thereof. When now yetus and 
 Mars, or elfe yeuns alone, or M-^-rs alone, are extraded 
 out of the Hone (or ore J by the benefit of the faid water, 
 the precipitation of them may be made by the addition of 
 fomecontrary thing, whereby it comes topafs, that not 
 only its (harpnefs is taken away but alfo excellent Nitre 
 may be thence prepared afterwards, which is to be fepa- 
 rated from the M-'irs or i^erms .• The precipitated M.^rs 
 may be reduced with a ftrong fire, and lo it will be made 
 fiuxile, and which eafily melts in a Crucible like Fetins, 
 and becomes malleable ; yea, and of more worth than the 
 belt FenHs, becaufe it performs very many profitable 
 things in Alchimy, which we forbear to fpeak of here, 
 for fome certain reafon. 
 
 He therefore that knows fuch a menftruum or diffol- 
 vent, and which requires no cofts to make it, and yet not* 
 withftanding doth very well diifolve Mars and renus(and 
 Jeave the Sol and Luna) .• Such an one verily may in all 
 places find plenty of Af-irs and Jupiter (Fe>?ns I believe he 
 means) which contains plenty of both fixt and volatile Sol 
 and Luna : neither need he be much follicitous about 
 Golden Metals or Ores. 
 
 Forafmuch then as the whole Artifice confilteth in the 
 knowledge only of the water, and in the manuals for con- 
 triving) of the placing of the Magnet, and in the fepara- 
 ling all the unprofitable matters from the and > \ he 
 thatdoes not know {\ic\[ ■& Magmt and how to prepare 
 fuch a diffolvent, by whofe help ® and, I may be concen« 
 trated, and 2 and j be feparated from them, let him 
 fearch hereafter even as I . my felf have done : But 
 if fo be he cannot find out or invent either of them, let 
 liim get from me what he defires to know, and I will not 
 omit to fatisfy hisrequefl, provided it may be done with- 
 out my detriment and difquiet- But now you mull not 
 think that therefore I will give anfwers to all fuch as 
 troubleme with their tedious Letters, for my time per- 
 mits not the doing of fuch matters. 
 
 There is yet another way by which we may exped 
 profit out of fuch Minerals as contain in them much ^ if 
 we deal with them on this wife- Let it be reduced with 
 the ftrong blaft of bellows, and you fhall find either a 
 greater or lell'er Regulus in the bottom (according to the 
 muchnefs or leffnefsof the <? that theftone contains) 
 which Reiulus comprifeth in it felf the © and ) which was 
 in the Mineral or Ore, if fuch an Iron be malleable, 
 Plates may be made of thofe Reguhijfes, with are to be 
 diflblved (in the Cauldrons made of caft Iron) with that 
 fecret water, out of which folution, the © may be extra- 
 fted by the benefit of the ^^-sgwcr, according to the afore; 
 prcfcribed manner. But if the faid Regulus be brittle, 
 and not malleable, then may it be granulated : Nay, ic 
 would not be much amifs to make large Cauldrons and 
 fuch like Pots thereof by melting, that may be of 2, 3, or 
 4 Fingers thicknefs. Nor muft we fuppofe that what the 
 faid water diflblvesofthe Cauldron and takes from k, 
 
 befides that which it receives from the Plates or Granu- 
 lated Iron put therein to dillblve, is mcerly loit: No, 
 for even it doth in like manner exhibit its Sol too ; fo 
 that by thismcansamoft rich Mine-pit may be made. 
 
 But fome will fay, whence fhall we have fuch Minerals 
 that yield 0, and that bring fuch great profit? We have 
 faid before, that fuch Minerals or Ores containing fuch 
 Iron, are every where to be found : Nor can you light on 
 any common c? which has not therein, which may eafi- 
 ly be extracted from thence, and that with moll great 
 profit. This now is known unto moft (Refiners) that 
 there is plenty of corporea' ©to be found in the Iron 
 that we commonly ule which (faid corporeal 0) is far 
 furmountcd (as to quantity) by the volatile © :, but if a 
 man would feparate it thence by the help of fiifion and the 
 addition of Tj, it requires too much cofts, and therefore 
 men never attempted any other way of extrading it- 
 All Germany affords this fort of Iroufthat is thus endu- 
 ed with Gold; in a moft plentiful manner,& I could ftiew 
 very many places in which it may be found, if fome pregs 
 nantrornotable)caufesdid notprohibitme from fo doing. 
 But that all men may know, that I tell the very truth, 
 and do not like a vain man tell you of great Treafures, 
 and that they are every where to be found in Germany^ 
 and yet notwithftanding by reafon of their not being 
 known are not of any ufe ; 1 will fhow fome of them with 
 my very Fingers as it were, which haply in refped of 
 otheribme that I know not of as yet, will be but a very 
 few, and thefe very vile or poor, too. 
 
 Firft of all then,all the Iron that is in the Pine-bearing 
 Mountain and about it. doth contain both fixt and vola- 
 tile © ; and this I have often experienced fome years 
 fince, when I lived at Kitz.ing in Franconia, and extraded 
 thence from by the help of a melting Fire excellent©: 
 For as then, the manner of extracting from thence by 
 waters only , without any melting fire,was to me unknpwn : 
 For at that time thofe moft eminent Men Mr- CLnfiopher 
 Herbfi, the chief Phyfician of the Prince of Arfparch^ and 
 Mr. Adam Renningen the faid Prince's Lieutenant, and 
 chief of his Houfe, Tor Governour j in the Caftle of Blaf- 
 fenhftrg near Cnlmbach, prefented me various kinds of 
 minerals, to try what was in them contained : And a- 
 mongft thefe Iron ones I find all of them to be endued 
 with Gold, which might be exceeding profitably extra- 
 fted thence by the afore-difclofed moift way. There 
 were likewife given me fuch like conditioned ftones and 
 metals (or ores) which were found near B amber g-,oivihiz\i 
 we have faid foraewhat afore. The truth of this thing is 
 the more confirmed by the Lord Fleifnnan, Governour of 
 the Province of 5rt«;/;f/-_^ my fingular Friend, who wrote 
 unto me fome few months fince, that an excellent Gold* 
 mine is found in the Province of Bamhera^, but yet that the 
 Gold thereof cannot at all be feparatcd from the Iron by 
 the force of Fire^ which volatility of 5c/ 1 fignified to him 
 in my anfwer might moft eafily be amended. 
 
 Now like as all the Minerals and the Iron it felf which 
 are found near the Pine-bearingMountain, are very much 
 endued with Gold, fo thofe which are found in Mifniaj 
 Saxony, Thiirtngia, and Bobetnia, do abound with > : 
 both of which may be extraded thence by the way by mc 
 delivered, with very great profit, i know by good ex- 
 perience that in the /3'««^«r/'««® and > Mine-pits much 
 volatile Gold and Silver is forced away into the Air 
 through meer ignorance. 
 
 Certain I am, that the Metals (or Ores) throughout 
 a\] Citnthia and Styna do polfefs much volatile and fixc 
 Gold ; efpecially the Iron Metal (or Ore) : For I havs 
 many a time made experiments of that thing. 
 
 Moreover, the Htrctniati Wood, Bri:»frcick^, and Haf- 
 fia yield fuch kind of Minerals. Nor is Swjvia dcftitute 
 of fuch Iron as is impregnate with ; and amongft o« 
 ther things I think good to declare, that fome few 
 months fince, a, certain BafiUan Ruler fent me a potion! 
 Ddddd of 
 
2 be Third Part of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 of luch kind of Iron ; withal relating, that the Icfler ex- I 
 periment did there yield ten Crowns of Gold, and that 
 an hundred weight was of this Iron fold for nine Florws 
 price. Which Iron when I had tried by the help of a fu-^ 
 fing or melting Fire I got a fnfficiently great quantity of 
 ©, but in proceeding by my nioilt way, I got twice or 
 thrice as much. 
 
 Such kinds of flones as thefc are found in plenty 
 throughout all Germany^ to which may be reckoned the 
 red and black Talk, the Irony Talk, black and red Gra- 
 fiatcs, Smtris, H^cm.stites, and the like, which always are 
 endued with ©, ifnot with fi.\% yet with volatile Gold. 
 So that now it is manifeltly apparent, that in thofe places 
 where © is digged,all the lloncs are replcat with volatile 
 Gold at leall:, ifnot with fixt too : like as all the Iron 
 that isdiggcd in Sv.vi: doth of a certainty belides volatile 
 Gold contain alfo corporeal Gold. Nay more, there are 
 not only found luch Itoncs that have Gold in them in 
 thofe hotter places, but alfo in moft cold places too, 
 witnefs Norway -^ where you may meet with whole Moun- 
 tains confining of Iron, Talk, and Granates ; out of 
 which there has not hitherto been any gotten by the 
 helpof a nicltingfire with any profit ; though I my felf 
 have found 0, in the lefler experiments. 
 
 Lafl year Mr. J. W. brought me various Ores out of 
 the County of Eysfddan^ that 1 might try what they con- 
 tained. Amongll others, there were forae little grains of 
 Iron round likea Peafe,though fomewhat lener,thus gene- 
 rated in the Earth naturally : This Earth as I was inform= 
 ed, is altogether black, onehandfulof which contains lo, 
 15, 20 Grains : wherefore it is not improbable that all 
 the Earth of that place is replcat with Iron ; thefe little 
 Grains are fo very tradable, as that they may be made 
 into Plates with an Hammer, and contain much Gold. 
 
 Such a kind as this of black Iron grains (yet not fo round 
 or tradable as thole but now fpokenof) were brought 
 me from Saxony, which are endued with plenty of Gold, 
 but volatile ; they are eafily pulverifable, and (as was re- 
 lated to me) are to be found near the Mountain which the 
 Germans call G'f^frpi.i'^, where alfo is gathered a Tin ftone, 
 which doth alfo contain Gold, fuch as Mifma yields more 
 plentifully. Out of 1 00 weight of this Tin, 1 found that 
 loor 12 Crowns of Gold might indeed be cxtraded; but 
 this work requires fuch cofts as far exceed the price of 
 thatv<fhich is extracted : and therefore they fell off the 
 Tin, juft as 'tis digged out, to avoid the expence of e.x- 
 trading the (5. 
 
 That which is gathered in thefaid Mountain, I have of; 
 ten tried, nor did 1 ever find itdeftitute of ©, the which 
 may be very well extradcd by my moift feparation. 
 
 The Stabdcin Abbot prefentcd me with fuch like Iron 
 ftones and feveral others that had Gold in them, toge- 
 ther with diverfe Minerals, fome i8 months ago, fomeof 
 which were gathered in Wefifhdia-, fome in the Province 
 Luttingc^m that part that is under the Government of the 
 Eledor of Co/9^?/f, P. M. The Prince himfclf having a 
 mind to fee by what means I would extrad the volatile 
 Gold out of them, came unto me, but he died in his Journy 
 homewards ; fince that I have not received any more of 
 fuch like aureous Metals (gx Ores.) 
 
 Amongft other (Ores) I knew an Iron Metal (or Ore) 
 found in WcflphJia^ the half whereof was very aureous, 
 butof no ufe,becaufc the Metal-men were ignorant of 
 the way of fcparating thofe Metals from one another; 
 whereas notwithftanding both the pure Copper, and the 
 ® it felf may be molt eafily feparated from the Iron ac- 
 cording to the way by me delivered. 
 
 There were alfo a while ago feveral Iron ftones 
 brought me by the Coloym Merchants, and efpecially Mr. 
 Fetcr Stvet (P.A1.) which are found in plenty in the 
 Mountains, and do abound with much ©: Bcfides this 
 too, all the Mountains of GtrmAny^ do yield a yellow 
 Earth, endued with Iron and >; of which kind a certain 
 
 Phyfician of trfurt fent me forae, which fas he related to 
 me) at Eysfeldt near Erfurt towards the Province of Mo-- 
 guiitia is plenty thereof- 
 Such an Earth containing filver, I my felf found here 
 in the bordering places 'twixt ^mham and Embrtck^^ 
 but not of fuch worth as that of Eysfildt is- 
 
 Who knows but that that fame place which we call 
 f^daxv hides in it vaft Treafures. For I have found near 
 Amhetm a white Clay and Earth out of which I ex- 
 traded fome > : Yea and I found there too, true Veins 
 of Iron, which whether or no they contain and y I 
 cannot tell : For I never proved them, but the firft oppor- 
 tunity I have I intend (God willing) to make an Eilay. 
 
 Thus 'tis evident that there is not at all wanting unto 
 us the matter of efFeding fome good and profitable thing 
 by,butthe loveof idlenefsis thereafon why we negled 
 abundance of fufficiently obvious Treafures- 
 
 The Earth nourilheth men of diverfe natures •, for 
 fomeofthem are altogether flothful,fluggi(h, and extra- 
 ordinarily backward to labour, and yet neverthelefs gee 
 fat bodies enough : On the other hand,there are fome who 
 are very diligent,& do too much confume themfelves,and 
 concerning whom(being like unto a burning Candle jthey 
 may fay thus of themfelveSj^^'/f'"!"''?^ others,am I co>:jHmed. 
 And as much benefit as the Candle gets by affording a 
 ' light unto others and by confuming it felf i fo much dotli 
 there redound, eipecially from ungrateful men, to a dili- 
 gent man who by ferving others wafts and confumes him- 
 felf. 
 
 Thefe and fuch like moft abjed Subjeds are plentifully 
 enough to be found in all parts of the World where Moun- 
 tains are, and out of them may you extrad J and by 
 the help of my nitrous Water, were but the way of doing 
 it known, which way hath been hitherto referved amongft 
 Arcatui by reafon of mens extream ingratitude. And I 
 pray is it not altogether ufeful and expedient that we 
 (hould gather fuch Treafures, and make ufe of them to 
 Gods Honour,and tothe defence of Kingdoms and Man- 
 kind .'' Is there not fufficient ftore of idle fellows, whom 
 it would be very expedient either to invite to labour or (if 
 they fhun work)to banifli them the Kingdom } 
 
 I believe that this blindnefs will hardly leave men afore 
 they are reduced to ftraits, but beware leaft you hap to 
 begin to grow wife too late- 
 
 This work, like as is every other perfedion of Metals 
 is done by Sympathy and Antipathy : For that dif- 
 folvcnt which drives off© and > from it felf. by Antipa- 
 thy, all this doth a mercurial Magntt greedily attrad by 
 Sympathy,fecing it itthus, that viz.. as like loves like,and 
 draws it to it felf ^ foone contrary hates another contra* 
 ry, and drives it away. 
 
 Two contraries do always produce a third thing. 
 Where the Agent ads upon the patient, and that this pa- 
 tient is even enforced to fuffer againft its will, and can- 
 not by any means (hun the force of the Agent, there muft 
 ofnecefFity arife fome better produd from them. 
 
 When water is added to water, neither of them fuffer, 
 bccaufe they arc both of them of the fame nature : But 
 when fire and water aie joined together, the weaker is the 
 fufferer, and from them doth a third thing proceed- 
 
 Theftinkingand volatile Sulphur is the enemy of @, 
 and common Salt, of J) ; and by bow much thefe have 
 more ftench the one, and fliarpnefs the other, fo much the 
 greater is the hoftility they (hew. The greateft matters 
 are performed by love and hatred ; fuch things as are 
 friendly beget a chearfulnefs, joy, and vivacity : Wheres 
 as, on the other hand, the things that we abhor beget a 
 tcadious wearifomenefs, grief and death: therefore the 
 more acceptable a thing is, the more it brings of life ; the 
 lefs acceptable the more of dolour doth it bring- All the 
 perfedion therefore of the bafer metals confiftcthonly in 
 Antipathy and Sympathy : And if once we do but rightly 
 know the nature of metals, all things are eafily acccm- 
 pliflied- 16 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 It is ftorisJ of a certain 'Philofopher in Itily, That he had 
 committed forae evil deed, fur the which he was accufecl, appre- 
 hended, and caft into prifon, being here fliuC up, he could not be 
 brought, neither by entireaties, nor by threats-, no, nor by any 
 means to confefs his faft", but at laft they put into his company 
 a man of no fobriety or modefty at all, wlio did fo grievioufly 
 esafpcratehim with his words, that tliC faid Philofopher could not 
 brook it, and fo rather chol'e death, for he affirmed, that the 
 mind of man was far more noble, than to be plagued by fuch a tag- 
 laa;. with reproachful contumelies. 
 'Even juft Co is it with Metals, by how much the nobler and pu- 
 : rer they are, fo much the Icfs will they commix themfelvcs with 
 impure things. 
 
 Gold the pureft of the Metals cannot be knit with (linking im- 
 pure; and common Sulphur •, for there is an antipathy betwixt them. 
 fcalt alone is endued with thofe virtues as to be able to reduce 
 contrary natures into agreement, and to commix them ', and be- 
 ing commixt, the fixt © is able to make the unfixt Sulphur, like 
 unto it felf in refpeft of fixity, whereas otherwife they always 
 perlecute each other with hatred. Sol cannot futfer any thing 
 until it has gotten the nature of a Salt, and then may it be 
 tormented ("as it were^ by the impure Sulphur, and be changed 
 into better. 
 
 When the Soul of the imperfeft Metals (which is a fpiritual @) 
 is to be forcibly pluckr, and fevered from its body, it cannot pof- 
 fiblybe done without the dolour or pain of the Patient •, for where 
 the pure and fplrituous goldenilh fubftance that dwclletliin the cor- 
 ruptible bodies, is to be made Corporeal, and confequently alliime 
 a more noble form, the firft form muft nccellarily be annihilated, 
 that fo the hidden tender body may come forth to light and be 
 feen. 
 
 And this verily is done by another kind of way than the common 
 and already known \ by which (faid common way) the Metals are 
 feparated by Aqui-jortis from one another, and are afterwards Mol- 
 ten. For if any onefliould make one Metalline Mais of c^, 2 , V, 
 ®, and ) , by melting, and then would again feparate them, by 
 the help of common AquJ-jortis, he would efFeft nothing-, for the 
 Aqua.fortis would diflblve only )^ and 2 and part of ¥ and <?, 
 and leave the remainder with the undiflolved ■, or if he fliould 
 pour on Aqui-regiit there would be only and 2, together with 
 fome part of V and 6 diflblved, and that which remains of the 
 V and S (undilTblvcdj would be left behind with the i , and fo 
 there would not be made any good reparation. 
 
 Butif fo be that any one has a mind to attempt this thing on 
 this wife, an.l fhould fay, I will diflblve «?, 2, or ¥, by the help 
 of Jqui'fortis, or as much of it as pollibly I can, forfo the ) that 
 is in t.e mixture muft needs be dillblvcd. Now then when i'ts dif- 
 folvcd I will precipitate it (vi^- the I out of the folution, by fait 
 water ("if it be fo yet>, the © therefore remains, which could not 
 be dilfolved by the Aqui-fortjs -^ or, if I fhould diirolve the Metal 
 Cor mixture^ by Aquiregii, then the ® is diflblved, (but not the 
 5 ), and fo 1 can precipitate the © out of the folution, by a Lixi- 
 vium, and edulcorate it, and melt it, and fo by this means may I 
 get it. Well (let me tell you,) that neither will this wayfadge, 
 for thefe Metals, and efpecially <J and ¥ are too terreftrial, and 
 admit not of fuch a feparation, though there fhould be in the a- 
 forefakl Metals, abundance of Corporeal ® and J , whereas not- 
 wiihftanding the greateft part is fluxile, and muft be again made 
 fixt and corporeal by folution •, for in this work the already pure 
 and fixt O and ) may be altered, fo as that a Mercurial magnet 
 cannot be able to afliime them. As for example, Take you a 
 Metal, as i , V> or 2, in which (as is well known) there is 
 Corporeal ©. Diflblve this in Aqui-regii, and precipitate the O 
 Ly a Lixivium of fixt Salt', boil this precipitate with 5, and 
 fee if that precipitated will pafs into the 5 •, you'll find not, 
 for this © hath gotten a Cruft (as it were) in its precipitation by 
 the Lixivium; that is, it is environed with a faline Tcrrcftreity, in 
 fo much that the 5 cannot attraft the P. 
 
 Neither likewife can 5 attraft crafllime fuch a filvery Calx as 
 IS precipitated out of the folution with fait water, and that by rea- 
 fon of tiie terreftreity alone, which adheres thereunto by means of 
 the precipitation, by which it is altered and deprived of a pure 
 Metallick form. 
 
 The truth hereof may you eafily experiment, on this wife. Dif- 
 folve a particle of pure j in Aqua-fmis, and diflblve the fame 
 quantity of pure ® in Aqui-regu, precipitate the ) with fait wa- 
 ter, and the @ with a Lixivium, fo as that the J be precipitated 
 into a white, and the ® into a yellow Calx •, edulcorate both Calxes 
 apart after -.he beft way that podibly you can, with hot water ma- 
 ny times, fo long till the edulcorating water be wholly fweet,then 
 weigh thefe dryed Calxes, and you Ihall lee that the ■) and ® 
 yon took, are one fourth part heavier than before the folution of 
 them", and this is to be afcribcd to the Salts only, that have ad- 
 joined themfelvcs to the Metal in the precipitation, and cannot be 
 thence feperated by edulcoration •, and therefore fuch a filvery Calx i 
 yields not (when molten) a pure Lunar body, but a certain Afliy 
 coloured Mafs, fluxile and volatile, by reafon of the Salts ■, and 
 this Calx is not changed (or fwallowed up) into the 5 neithar 
 before oor after its being molten, nor (after ics melting) can it c- 
 
 V^ 
 
 ver be diflblved by Aqui-fortii or Aqui-regu, which alteration pro- 
 ceeds meerly from the Salts that l;ave adjoined chemfelves there- 
 to in the precipitation. 
 
 Even juft fo is it with fuch a golden Calx, which being feparated 
 by precipitation out of the Aqui-regia with a Lixivium, will not 
 have ingrefs into 2 , by reafon of the impurities that accompany 
 iti and therefore this goLlen Calx ("when it is made hot) kindles, " 
 and vehemently operateth upon it fclf, and this is meerly from 
 the Salts. 
 
 From hence it is clearly evident that the Calx of 7' precipita- 
 ted by Salt, and the Calx of (•; by a Lixivium, have not any commu- / 
 nionwith 5, how then can fuch a Calx, which is f now) at firft for- 
 ced out from many terreftrial parts, and imperfeft Metals, and fe- 
 parated froni,thcin, has'e a greater communion therewithal, have in- 
 grefs thereinto, and conjoin ic felf therewith bydigefting. Other 
 wayes therefore miift be taken, ../which you may extraft the vo- 
 latile and fixt Gold, that lies hidden in <J, V, b, or 2 : No'.* " 
 many there be who do in* vain learch ir:o thofe things v;hich they 
 know not the nature of, and fo walk in darkncfi like one that hath 
 already fallen into a Pit. 
 
 But if you come to know fuch a menftruum ordifliblvent, which 
 is an enemy to 0or J, and yet neverthelefs doth plainly diflblve 
 t?, ¥, 2 J and h , then the fpiritual that lies hidden, will mani- 
 feftly appear corporeally and vilibly, and will pafs into the Mcr- 
 curciil Magnet. 
 
 IJelides, this dilfolvent muft likewife be of fuch a nature, asthaC 
 (when in the folution ordigeftionof the imperfeft metal;, it makes 
 the fpiritual and volatile Gold corporeal, and cafts it orTfrora it 
 (as I may fay) by antipathy in the form of a powder) this powder 
 may not be environed with any cruftinefs asabovefaid, but that both 
 the Calx of ) and of may have their natural metallick fpiendor, 
 whereto tlie 5 may adhere, and may attraft unto itfelf whatfoe. 
 ver the dilftlvenr feparates by the continual digeftion. 
 
 Farther, this DilTblvent muft be of fuch a nature as not to be 
 fo fharp as to diffbve the 5 for then the work would not fucceed ^ 
 indeed it isfcarcely necelTary to make ufe of the 2 , to receive into 
 it the fpiritual and fixt Gold which is feparated in the digeftion 
 fixation and feparation of the Volatile © of the Metals', for when 
 it is once evacuated it will never again occupy (or feize upon) its 
 impure body, yet notwithftandingthis chiefly is done for this reafon, 
 viz. that the fpiritual © & ) in the imperfeit metals may be the more 
 willingly made Corporeal, when it finds a fitting fubjeft wherein it 
 may lie hidden and reft. Befides too, thisfpirituall ® and > of the 
 Metals, is indued wirh fuch virtues, as that ic tingeth fome part of 
 the 5 into ® and J) , when it hath thereinto entred, whereby iC 
 yields the more profit. 
 
 Thus much likewife are ye to know, that this labour does not only 
 proceed in themoiftway, butalfointhedry ', but yet fareafier in 
 the moift than in the dry way ; yet in the fdry way) a greater pro- 
 fit is gotten in a fliorter time. For like as to one mcafure of Milk 
 are required i, 2, 3 or 4 fpoonfuls of Salt, that fo the Cheefe for 
 Curd) maybe feparated from the water (or whey), but there needs 
 not the quantity of one fpoonful of the Spirit, which is much ftron- 
 ger than the bare Salt : Even fo ftands the cafe with Metalline ope- 
 rations \ for by how much the greater and more powerful the Agent 
 or Contrary is, fo much the fooner and ftronger doth it perfect its 
 operations. Hence it is,that where the Agent muft be yet more ftrong- 
 ly aftivefas in the dry way,it muft of neceflity be where the ftrong fire 
 adds virtue and vigour to the Agent) it being confequently morecon- 
 trary (or powerful) the feparation is fooner perft£ted. For example. 
 Let us fee how it is '.vith Milk, where 10 or 20 drops of Spirit of Sale 
 fcparate fome cold Milk, there will need but half the quantity 
 only when the Milk is boil'd or otherwife heated; even fo is it with 
 our Agent, whereby we make the Volatile Gold in the more vile or 
 meaner Metals, corporeal and vifible ; it operates far more ftrongly 
 in thcilry way, than in the moift way ; for in the dry way, the exter- 
 nal fire aideth our fire, and hereupon finifheth its operation fomuch 
 the fooner; but in the dry way muft another Magnet be made ufe of^ 
 Thus much let fuffice touching the particular wafhing or exter- 
 nal purgation of the viler Metals ; as concerning the internal, 
 central, univerfal wafhing, by which the intcriour Soul of© and 
 "y is extrafted for the Tinfture, 1 do not as yet (certain) know a- 
 ny thing thereof, nor defire I to know fuch abftrufe and hidden 
 things: content I am with fuch things as God of his meet grace 
 hath beftowed npon unworthy me, and if God fhall fo pleafe, fa 
 far to profit mankind either by mine or any others help, he will 
 alfo prefent an occafion of laying hold thereon (viz- on the Tin- 
 flure) for all good things come from God. 
 
 Now in this aftion'(or operation) is required an ocular infijeflion, 
 fuch great things cannot be underftood by Books or Writings, 
 and he that defires to excel in thel'e (operations; let him take ic 
 in good part, that ( 1 fay) he ought frequently to here me as a 
 maimer, and to fee me labouring about thefe things, which otherwife 
 he will never learn, for the common Alchymifts are plainly igno- 
 rant of this work; yea the Ancient Philofophers did hide it 
 as a fecret, the moft they could, that fo it might not be trodden 
 under foot by Swine. 
 
 But whereas I do fo clearly fet down thefe things, otherwife 
 than ever any before hath done, the confideration of the time 
 
The Ihtrd Pan of 
 
 I'art 1. 
 
 (or 3i,e) rtauir':s ic, and beft of all known ic is to God, why he 
 now delivers thele things to be divulged. Vorasmuch as mention 
 hath b^cnmadc in the aforegoing trcatife of Spiritual ©, which 
 Wijiht be extraded, together witli the corporeal, and I'ome or other 
 ■vvoukl perJiaps very wilhngiy know what is to be underAoud by 
 the name oi Ipiritual O ', 1 chink it not much amifs a little moie 
 largely to explain tlide things for the fake of the Ignorant. 
 
 Every Spiritual thing is invilible, and void of a palpable body ■, 
 but now if a body be gi\en thereunto, in which that fpirit may 
 be made corporeal and vilible, then the fpirit is no: any mure 
 a fpirit, but is changed into a body •, if tlierefore the Spirits are 
 good, they do likew'ife make good Bodies, and fo on the contra- 
 ry. For all the Philofopliers tell us, that the Spirit or Soul in 
 Iron and Copper is more noble than in it felf, becaule the bo- 
 d\' which it dwells in is grofs, re.'re.lrial, and impure. 
 
 The cafe then landing thus, i^.'is no wonder that it thefe fpirits 
 are feparated by art and lorce. and expelled from luch grole bodies, 
 snd ioincd to ot);er purer lubjeas, they then produce lome good 
 thing. Would noc the other Beaits reverence tlie Afs clad in a Li- 
 ons skin, as if he were their King, and this mearly by reafon of 
 his skin-, though inwardly he were an Afs? If fo beany nun be 
 but doathed in filken rayment, and gogawdily, do not every bo- 
 dy put of? their hats to him, and honour him, though inwardly he 
 haply is a thief or a knave', and loon the contrary, if a molt ho- 
 jieft and moft learned man go in tattered apparel, or at seaft in 
 mean layment, is he not rejeded, and dclpiled by all. l-rom 
 lience it lufficiently appears howlinilterlythe common people judge 
 ofall things, and neglect the inlide, and only look to the outlide Ihe.v. 
 Tis the external Shape, according as tis good or bad, that makes a 
 man efteemed by the vulgar either gooJorbad.comtemptible or ho- 
 nonrable, though his nature for education^poireifeth other properties. 
 The like is te be ur.derftood, concerning the contemptible Me- 
 tals, Mirs and yenus, which according to the report of all the 
 Philofophers have more Tinfture in them than ^o/ it felf hath ^ but 
 yet by reafon of the groff.eG of their bodiesare they rejefted : now 
 therefore, by how much better the means or way is by which this 
 ncWe Spirit is extraded, and added to the pure bodies, fo much the 
 better is the produit. 
 
 When therefore the grofs bodies or <S and 2 are artihcially 
 broken, and the fpirit diuolved, and thence forced out, it feeks it 
 felfanother body wherein it may dwell and be at reit. Therefore 
 when we do by art difturb.'asl may fay; the grofs bodies q( Mars, 
 yiriu^. Jupitef, or Sut.ra, and dnfoK'e the pure Soul, and expel 
 k by antipathy, out of its impuie houfes, and contemptible gar- 
 nients and fet before it a pure 2, it pofleffeth it, and Pj alfu- 
 meth anothernobler body than it liad before, and which then is © 
 and- > , according as 'tis managed. This is my opinion, and after the 
 lame manner is the thing to be underftood concerning Spiritual Gold. 
 But what bufinefs have we here with the Spiritual ® of Metals ? 
 Let us be content with the Corporeal, and leave the Spiritual to 
 the Philofophers, to make the Tinfture with. But forasmuch as 
 upon the occafion of my teaching the means of estraaing Corporeal 
 (J, I could not leave the fpeakingofthe Spiritual whoby untoucht, 
 I rnade alfo fome kind of mention of the fame", and it will be be- 
 neficial to fome or other, who till they do underftand my mean- 
 ins, may be content with the Corporeal ®. But fuch as have open 
 zili attentive Ears to confider what my drift is in this difcourfe, 
 ny dofliine will be more prohtable unto them, than either Sol 
 
 or Luxi. 
 
 There is yet one thing more to be added. In fome places they 
 are wont to reduce the Sol and liini into a powder with 5, that 
 fo the Corporeal ©and •» may be feparated and extraiied from the 
 Stone (or Ore;-, and this is no new or unheard of thing. 
 
 But thit is more rare (or leldomer uled) : a Metal which hath not 
 as yet arrived to his due matifrity but is as yet conjoined with his firft 
 ens, and confequently it tlies away in the mel:ing,and neither yields ® 
 iior''> ,-ivhen it (wc. fucha MetaU is commixt with J fait and vinegar, 
 and let'lie to a£l upon each other for fome days, it comes to pafs that 
 the .Mercury attratts the immature. Spiritual feand J, and makes it 
 corporeal and tixt, fo as it may thenceforward be molten. If then the 
 <:piritual 'f) and D doth fo ealily enter into the 2 , and make it Cor- 
 poreal, it is Vit much more facile to be done by my way, which 
 is efFefted bv the help of more ftrong (or powerfnU inftruments, than 
 by bare 5 only, and Sdt and vinegar, with wliich they mix the 
 Me-al witli the 5. nor can they poffibly do fo much as my fecret 
 menftruum which penetrateth all things. , ^ . 
 
 When now the Matter, together with the Salt and Vinegar is 
 duly feparated from the? by" the help of fair water, they pafs the 
 Mercury through a skin of Leather, which is again ferviceable for 
 the fapie ufes-, but that of it which adheres to the >, is thence 
 feparated in an Iron Retort, then is tried the weight of that which 
 is feparated, and as much as there wantethofthe weightofthej, 
 
 fo mdch of J do they receive in its ftead, which is a thing well 
 worthy thenoting, and defcrves a farther inquiry, and is not hers 
 fet down in vain. 
 
 Let not any one defpife thcfe few things which I heve here adjoin, 
 cd, for they compnfe in them moft great myfteriesi yea and grea- 
 ter than w.oA will believe. 
 
 Neither let any one imagine that Twill prefently communicate 
 this molt noble Secret (which clearly fhines in the dark) to every 
 ftranger', no, no fuch matter-, I will (God permitting; fhew thefc 
 things to my honeft friends, that fo it may not perifh together 
 with me i but however 1 will well think on that much ufed Proverb, 
 Fide, fed cui vide -, Truft, but fee whom you truft. 
 
 The fi!r«M;mM/y7i have given me this document", many there 
 have been who have come unto me and declared the raiferable 
 ftate they were in, that wdiat by the Wars, and by other misfor- 
 tunes, they have loft their Goods, and have begged me for the love 
 of God, to fuccour them, by communicating to them Ibme ope- 
 ration, whereby they might fuftain their lives, promiling that they 
 would requite this kindnefs by their earneft prayers unto God in 
 my behalf. 
 
 Thefe and fuch like words have fometimes moved me that I have 
 given fome fecret to one or other, and have beftowed on them an 
 overplus too-, yet I obliged fome of them, that they Ihoukl con- 
 vert it folely to their own ufe, and not communicate it to others . 
 without my privity, which thing they proniifed largely enough. 
 But as foon as. they have been gone from me, they have prefently fold 
 thofe fecrets of mine to others, and which is more, to my Ene- 
 mies. Now when by reafon of their ignorance, they did not know 
 how to inftitute the operation aright, they falfely affirmed, that 
 'hey bought this Art of me at a price, and that they have beca 
 eclated:, whereas they well know, that it was pure afFeilion in- 
 duced me to beftow thefe things upon them without any reward. 
 Thc.e and fuch other like dy'l'ii'eiifa. (or Gift-hinderers; have 
 deterred me from communicating any thing to others for the fu- 
 ture -, and this I would have every one to confider, and not trou- 
 ble me with either Letters or Vilits. 
 
 Yet neverthelefs I will communicate ftore of my fecrets unto my 
 Friends, that fo they may not clearly perifli with me, nor be 
 thrown to ray Enemies, and fwinifh men. 
 
 I have done as much as in me lay, nor will I omit to do more 
 where I fhall fee a grateful mind-, in the next place I will (for 
 the fervlce of my Friends) treat about and fhew in the fourth part of 
 the Profferity o/ Germany, the Secrets ot Saturn, by what means any 
 one that is but a litde verfed in managing the fire, may feek (ot 
 make) fome Country fellows, his tributaries, who may pay him an 
 appointed tribute every week , after the Example of Kings and 
 Princes, who beftow upon their faithful fervants (that deferve well 
 of the Country by their valour againft the Enemies) Kingly gifts 
 as whole Cityes, Towns, Villages, and manySubjefts as an inhe- 
 ritance, of whom they may afterwads receive Tribute and live ve- 
 ry abundantly or plentifully. 
 
 Now by how much the more Country-men there are that be 
 Subjeft to a noble man, fo much the richer is he fuppofed to be, foe 
 they pay the more tribute. And the more Ploughs the Country- 
 man hatha going, the greater is the tribute he pays his Lord, which 
 thing the governance of States or Common-weals induceth, as be- 
 ing a juft thing. 
 
 Now after the fame manner as fhefe things are in ufe in po- 
 litical governments; are they alfo in Alchimy, for it doth likewife 
 when we have for fome time faithfully ferved under her, beftow 
 on us tributary Country men (as 'twere) by way of recompence, 
 from whence we may have Food and Rayment. 
 
 The more Fields and Ploughs that we give to thefe country-folks, 
 the more Tribute do they pay. Neither do thefe forfake their Ma- 
 fters, for they are Ihut up in a ftall, and when their bellies are 
 lilled with Coals, and that they are fafe from the Rain (or Wea- 
 ther) they are contented, and do perform the t^ufmefles that are 
 impofed upon them. 
 
 By how many more the Ploughs are which we give unto them 
 (though one Country - man can hardly manage above two or three, 
 fo much the more do they give. 
 
 Such Country-men as thefe doth the true Alchimy diftribute a- 
 mongft her Servants, whereby they may thenceforward lead a qui- 
 et Life. 
 
 If God rtiall vouchfaft me life and leifure yet a while longer, I . 
 have purpofed with my felf to bring moft mighty benefits unto my 
 Country. 
 
 In the mean while, let thefe things be accepted in good part, 
 Thofe fame tributary Country-men may be Ihewn my Friends, to- 
 gether with fundry other profitable Inventions, in my labora- 
 tory. 
 
 THE 
 
 I 
 
Part I. 377 
 
 THE 
 
 FOURTH PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Profperity of GERMANY. 
 
 In which are revealed many excellent, ufefull Secrets, and 
 
 fuch as are ferviceable to the Country : and withall, feveral Preparations 
 of efficacious Gates extrad:ed out of the Metals, and appointed to Phyfi- 
 cal ufes 3 as alfo various Confed:ions of Golden Potions. To which is 
 alfo adjoyned a fmall Treatife, which maketh mention of my Laboratory 5 
 in the which there fhall be taught and demonftrated ( for the publick 
 good and benefit of Mankind ) wonderful! Secrets, and unto every body 
 mofl profitable, but hitherto unknown. 
 
 (1 The PREFACE to the Friendly READER. 
 
 ? 
 
 Ij ■ A Lt hough I promifed, ahove a year ago^ in the Preface to that Book which I puhlijhed of the 
 
 j /\ Nature of Salts, that ( le fides Sak^ I would Itkevoife adjoyn fome Broth and Jugared 
 
 ■ _J % Sawces and Seajcntngs to the other Meats dijht out upon the Table : 'yet notwithflanding 
 fuch <u arefearchers after good ArtSy would not in any cafe allow me fo much time as to 
 
 • prepare thofe Sawces ; and heing prepared^ to difh them forth upon the Table : but earnefily re- 
 quejied tha boon onely, viz. that I would not forget to furnifh the faid Table with Cheefe and But- 
 ter. The fatisfying of whofe requejl, I confefs my f elf very ready to yield unto^ nor doe I find any 
 
 . ether obfiacle, Jave onely the fcaatnefs of time, which I am conjlrained to imploy about other affairs 
 
 ' more neceffary. 
 
 But however, feeing it is efleemed a very praife- worthy aflion in a Man, by diffufing his kind- 
 nejfes in many places to benefit many, I have deemed it a thing ivell worth while, to adjoyn { fet- 
 ting afide other things^ unto the afore- difi^t-out Meats thoje promifed Sawces , with Butter and 
 
 : Cheefe, in to boot ; but yet, with as much brevity as conveniently may be. 
 
 Had a longer fpace of time been permitted me, I would have clarified the Si'gar letter, and 
 made the Sawces more favory, which the hafiy pofiing away of time hath hindered the perfor- 
 
 . mance of. 
 
 Befides, forafmuch at 1 have promifed a Fourth Part of the Profperity of Germany, together 
 Kith a difclofing of excellent metalUck Medicines , it hath feemed good unto me ( for the fulfilling 
 of my promife } to pulltfh thefe my mofi efficacious Sawces under the Title of the Fourth Part of 
 the Profperity of Germany ; and the rather, becaufe I have not time f efficient for the defer ipt ion 
 and detetlion of other Secrets. 
 
 ^ Now by how much the viler and more contemptible cloathing thefe prefent Arcana s do come abroad 
 in, fo much the greater and more noble virtues do they hide under their fordid or dejpicable ray- 
 
 \ ment. I was of the mind, I confefs, to have kept yet longer by me this Fourth Part, that fo {be- 
 tng fent abroad to publick view in a more convenient feafon, it moufjjt have been more adorned with 
 Secrets of greater mo/rent afore its being exhibited to every ones view. And amon^l thofe Secrets, 
 
 £. e e e e gf^^ 
 
378 
 
 The Fourth Fart of 
 
 Parti. 
 
 one eminent one, u the Concentration of Gold and Silver^ and their reduHion into fuch a form and 
 figure, as that it cannot at all be known hy our Enemies ( vcho fometimes rujh in upon us unlookt 
 for, (ivhich ifore afflitlioH'] God {of his' mercy) keep us from.} And fo by this means may it 
 come to pafs, that fuch kind of Bodies being thus hidden under an unknown Garment, will not be 
 robUd and taken away. 
 
 And whereas I have demonflrated in the foregoing Third Part, by what means great Treafures of 
 Gold and Silver may eafily be gotten in all places throughout all Germany, by the help of my In- 
 mentions ; / w*bie no queftion, ( nor indeed can it otherwife be ) but that fuch as are diligent 
 Houfe-holders will lift en untomy fayings, and put in praclife many of thofe things, efpecially feeing 
 J will both counfel and af[i(i them, as much as in me lyes. 
 
 If now the fearching after fo great Treafures be Inot] too fecurely and negligently handled, it 
 will undoubtedly come to pafs, that our Country will { by fuch a notable Medium, and fuch great 
 Treafure') be rendred even wholly invincible. Hijlory maketb mention, that the /tgvptians (^ bi 
 their skill in the Meliorating of Metals ) enjoyed juch vafl riches, and fo great a power, as that 
 they cafl from off their necks the Toak of the Roman Monarchy, even untill that time in which their 
 Books com.prifing the Art were burnt by the Emperour Dioclefian, whereby they tvere enforced to 
 be fubjetl to the Empire of Rome. For the mojt noble Art of Printing Books was in thofe days 
 unknown, and their Sciences were wont to be written in Parchment with great labour and much cojt ; 
 and undoubtedly they ivere not throughly fiored with fuch kind of Books, tvherehy the Romans did 
 the eafilier get them into their hands and burn them. 
 
 Now ivhen once a Writing is committed to the Prefs, it may be printed off in an almofl- infinite 
 Number, for a Printer will doe more in one day, than a va/l multitude of Scribes would be able to 
 write. And being it is fo, who could poffibly be able to f crape together out of all the places of a 
 whole Country fuch a multitude of Books, thereby to root them out in thefe our times, and by burn- 
 ing annihilate them, as the Romans did. 
 
 This one thing I here fay, viz. Did 1 hut know and find that thofe things which I have hitherto 
 publifhed, would not cnely be acceptable, but be aljo put in nfe and praclife, it would be as afpur 
 unto me to fir me up to adjoyn to what is already done, more and greater Secrets. Meanwhile let 
 what is at prefent offered be well accepted, and what is promifed^ be patiently expe^ed. 
 
 Of the word SaVi/'ce, and what is meant thereby. 
 
 \ 
 
 IHave obliged my felf by promife , to adjoyn 
 unro thoie my' Meats which I have hitherto 
 difht out upon the Table, fbmegood Sawce 
 and Pickle; which Meats, feeing they appertain 
 not unto the plain common ways, but belong !to a 
 very excellent Skill or Science; it is altogether need- 
 full, that the Sawces be correfpondent thereunto, 
 and that even they as well as the meats themfclves, 
 be by realbn of their favourinefs, grateful! unco the 
 Palate. Now therefore as in the Feafts of great 
 men, the Pickles are nor fet on the Table afore the 
 Guefts have hird thcmfelves with Flefh and Fifh, and 
 fo allayed their huni^er,but are fet afore them (after- 
 wards) as fo many Vehicles to drill down the Wine 
 with the greater de'ectation, for fuch Pickles do for 
 themoft part communicate a fv^-eeter (or toothlbmer) 
 taft to all kind of Fruits, Seeds, and Spices, and Su- 
 gar • So likewife muft I, in the making and dilhing 
 out (iich Sawces for this Feaft of mine, mind onely 
 this bufinefs, -viz.. to take care of providing my fclf 
 of the beft Sugar, and choice Spices ; and thefe are 
 extrartable onely out of the Metals ; Saturn atFord- 
 ing Sugar, and Sol and Lum yielding moft fweet 
 Spiceinefs. 
 
 But afore I difh out my Pickles, I have thought 
 good to fet afore them a fweet Broth or Seafoning, 
 [together] with Butter and Cheefe, that haply one 
 or other of my Guefts arc minded to dip a piece of 
 Roaft-meat therein, or e!(e to taft of my Butter and 
 Cheefe, whereby they may with the greater delight 
 taft the fwectnels of the following Sawces. 
 
 And although I was minded to exhibit in this 
 place fbmc excellent and efficacious Metallick Saw- 
 ces : yet notwithftanding I could not chufe but firft 
 prefent you with a fore runner as "twere, fignifying 
 unto you, how that by the help of Salt good Brotlw 
 and Sawces may be made out of the Vegetables,and 
 SaWces, ferving for the bi-tcering of Cheefe and But- 
 ter made out of Animals : that fo my Treatife of 
 the Nature of Salts may not be at all defedive, and 
 that every one may fee what a moft noble and moft 
 excellent Creature Salt is, which is capable of ex- 
 alting the Animals, Vegetables and Minerals to a 
 far more worthy degree by fo excellent a Meliora- 
 tion of them. 
 
 Salt and Vinegar are commonly reputed to be the 
 beft Sawce, and tis moft truly fpoken : For amongff 
 all the Sawces and Seafonings put unto Meats, Salt 
 and Vinegar bear the bell ; now the Vinegar is for 
 the moft part made of Wine, Fruiis, Ale, Honey: 
 But as for Salt, if it be turned by diftillation and 
 redification into a fweet and acid Spirit, it becomes 
 a fweet and ftrong Vinegar, and to be preferred be- 
 fore all others : fo that there's no need at all of the 
 Vinegar of Wine, Ale, Honey, and Fruits. We will 
 therefore fhew unto fuch as are delirous of fweet or 
 favoury Sawces and Picklings needfull for Flefh aiKl. 
 Fifh, and of well tafted Cheefe and Butter, the 
 way of preparing the fame by the help of Salt; 
 whereby a Man may make himfelf for his owa 
 Kitchin ufe or Cookery, various Sawces as him lif 
 teth. And having fhewn this, we will proceed oa 
 to the dcfcription of metallick Sawces. 
 
 Fie that is deflrous of a good Sawce or Pickle fit 
 for Flefh and Fifh, will not find any thing that is 
 more fit or proper than a well-prepared and rei^ifi* 
 
 ed 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Vr offer ity <?/ Germany. 
 
 ^19 
 
 ed Spirit of Salt, the which he may prepare with 
 whatlbever Herbs and Spices he plealeth, according 
 as is agreeable to his Palate 
 
 For example, Like as otherwife moft acceptable 
 Broaths or Sawces are wont to be made with Wine, 
 Vinegar, Pepper, and other Spices, and arc put un- 
 to the Boiled or Baked Flefhor Fifliin the fame Difh, 
 or (ct by the lame in little Sawcers, that (6 all thofe 
 Meats may leave the more gratetull taft upon the 
 Palate : Even (b may the fame be effected with Spi- 
 rit of Salt, and that far more commodioufly, and to 
 better profit than if Wine or Vinegar were made u(e 
 of to the confedion of thofe well tafted Sawces. But 
 it is my Spirit of Salt I here fpeak of, (which being 
 prepared according to my prefcription, is of a molt 
 delicate pleafantnels,) and not of that which is moft 
 an end fold in the Apothecaries Shops, and in other 
 fuch like places, and is for the moft part ill prepared, 
 and not at all reititied, and confequcntly by its un- 
 gratetull fliarp and harfh taft, it provokes to Vomit, 
 if it be taken into the Stomach; 'Tis likewife of a 
 yellowifh colour, and with its (harp conftridion 
 draws up the Tongue, whereas it Ihould be more 
 clear and tranfparent than Fountain Water, and by 
 the pleafantnels of itsacidity excell the Juices of Ap- 
 ples, Grapes, or Limons. And being furnillied with 
 I'uch a fweet or pleafant Juice of Salt, I need not 
 any Wine, Vinegar, orotherlharp Juices of Grapes, 
 Limons, Rafp iierries. Sorrel, and the like, to give 
 a pleafant and favoury taft unco my Flefh or FUh : 
 for it may be done far better with this good Spirit of 
 Salt, than with Wine or Vinegar : For, that Spirit 
 . of Salt ferves inftead of them all, nor is it at all fubjedl 
 to corrupt as other Juices are, but conlerves 
 its fweet and plealant elfence without any decay 
 But if you would make ufe thereof fingly or alone, 
 then muft a little Water or Sugar be mixed there- 
 with, that the acidity or fharpnds thereof may be a 
 little allayed, and thus may it ferve inftead of a 
 Sawce to be added to either baked or boiled Flefh 
 or Filh. But now if a man be minded to add green 
 Herbs for alterations fake of the taft, fiich as are 
 Parfly, Garden Crellbs, Spanifh Pepper, and the 
 like , he may beat or fhred them fmall and moiften 
 them with Spirit of Salt allayed with Water, and fo 
 put them inftead of a cold Sawce to Flefh and Filh. 
 But if now the Sawce is to be poured warm to the 
 Ir'ifh and Flefh, then muft a little Butter be thereto 
 ufed, and that on this wife following. Take forr.e 
 pure and clean Water, and make it lomewhat fhar- 
 per (with good Spirit of Salt) then ftrong Wine, 
 Vinegar, put thereunto fome good Salt Butter or 
 Frelh, at your plcafure ; and likewile fuch Spice as 
 (belldes Peppei, Ginger, Nutmeg, and fuch like) 
 you lift to add, as alio Salt if need be ; put it in a 
 little Earthen Glazed Pot, and not in a Copper or 
 Iron Vellel, for they are altogether unfit lor this 
 Operation ; let the Pot over a lew Coals and heat it 
 gently to meit the Burcer, then ftir it throughly 
 about without cealing, with a Wooden Spoon, and 
 then being molten it alfumes to it lelf the faline Vi- 
 negar, and the Sawce becomes thickifh, the which 
 mult be then poured out to the boild and feafbned 
 Flefti or Filh. but if green Herbs, as Chervil, 
 Parfly, Crelfes^, tiperita or Spanilh Pepper, and 
 fuch like are to be adjoyned thereunto, you may 
 bruile or chop them lma!l, and then put them into 
 the Pot unto your hot Broath or Sawce, and mix 
 them well together, and then prelently pour out 
 your Sawce to the Flefh or Fifh, lor by this means 
 
 the Herbs retain their raft and greenneis, ,->id fo 
 delight the Eyes with their lovelv alpeft, and pleafe 
 the Palate with their pleafant raft, which would not 
 be if they boiled much with the Liquour, for then 
 they would lofe both their llibtile taft and green co- 
 lour. Moreover, you are warily to oblerve in this 
 thing, that this Broath or Sawce be not let lie up- 
 on the Coals too lonp;, and fo the y^c.f.v;w fepdrareic 
 lelfagain from the Butter ; which to prevent, there 
 may be mixt with the Sawce one, two, or three 
 yelks of Eggs, which being well Itirred with the 
 fame makes it the thicker, and better to ftick on to 
 the fopping when you take it our of the Difh where 
 the Flefh or Fifh is. 
 
 Such Sawces do give the Fifli either boiled or fri- 
 ed, a moft acceptable taft, and probably if fome Su- 
 gar be thereto added it would do very well for i-lefh 
 too. But yet, fharp Juices or Broaths are better and 
 more agreeable for Fifli. Now after this manner 
 may every one make his own Sawce ashelifteth, 
 and render the fame with fome Herbs and Spices, 
 the more favoury unto his Palate ; andconfequently 
 needs not either Wine or Vinegar, nor any other 
 acid things .; 
 
 11 any one has but any pure and clean Spirit of 
 Salt at hand, he may (by the addition of certain 
 Herbs and Spices) prepare his Sawce as beft likes 
 him, and make it far more p'eafant and delightfbme 
 than if it were made with Wine, Vinegar, or Ale- 
 Vinegar, nor can you get thefe every where neither. 
 But the Spirit of Salt may be prepared and lo had 
 every where, and therefore on that account too is 
 it defervedly to be preferred before all other lealbn- 
 ings. 
 
 Now in the Winter Seafon, wlien green Herbs 
 are nor to be gotten, the pounded Roots of Spanifli 
 Pepper may ferve, or Muftard Powder reduced with 
 Sugar and Spirit of Salt into hot and cold Sawces. 
 Nor would 1 have any one to be fo bold [and foo- 
 lifhj as to contemn thefo my Sawces afore he hath 
 tailed of the fame ; for I doubt not but that ifheonce 
 comes to taft the delightfome pleafantnels cf the fame, 
 he will prefer tbem afore all other, and will give the 
 Vinegar of Salt its due honour. 
 
 And now to give an experiment, taken out of the 
 Treafury of Salt, unto thole that are delighted with 
 the taft of good Butter andCheele; let them lilten 
 unto thofe things which here follow. If thou art 
 defirous to prepare a durable Cheefe of Cows Milk, 
 and flich Cheefe as hath all the tokens of a good 
 Cheefe, t-/^. fuch as is weighty, compaift, dofe 
 without Eyes, and putrifying Holes, void offlimi- 
 nefs and bad fmell, thou may ft be a Mafter of thy 
 defire by obferving the following Operation. 
 
 Take of Cows Milk, Sheeps or Goats Milk, or 
 of either of thele which thou hafl at hand, as much 
 as thou plcafeff, or as much as is lufficienr, (but a- 
 mongft thele Milks, Goats Milk is the belt, Sheeps 
 next, and Cow Milk inferiour to the other two both 
 in goodnefs and excellency: ) Heat it at the Fire, 
 and pour it out into a wooden \ elfel (N. B. iron 
 and Copper Vellels are not to be uled in this way) 
 and reduce the Milk into a Curd by the pouring on 
 of Spirit of Salt. Now one Spoonfull of this Spirit 
 is enough to curdle ten meafures of Milk. This 
 done, and the Milk and Spirit of Salt having been 
 well hirred about with a wooden Ladle and curdled, 
 put the fame into Hair Strainers or in very clean 
 Linncn ones, that fo the Whey may drain out and 
 be feparated, then gather up the ends of your Strai- 
 ner^ 
 
38o 
 
 The Fourth Van of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ner, and lay thereon heavy weights and fqueeze out 1 
 all the wheyifli moifture. Then take your Cheefe 
 out of thefe Strainers, and put it into wooden Vef- 
 fels, and there break it into (mall bits or pieces ; 
 which being thus broken, fprinkle fome Salt, and 
 fome of your pure Spirit of Salt too thereupon, and 
 mix all well together with a wooden Ladle or with 
 your hands well cleanfed : Being thus mixed, fill 
 ■your Veffels or Cheefe Fats [which let be] greater 
 and lefler [as need is,] and (queeze and com pre fs 
 the matter well in, as they are wont to do in ma- 
 king of Cheefes. Then expofe them to the warm 
 Air, and dry them, and it will give you compacl 
 and durable Cheefes, not unlike to thofe they call 
 Parmelant, and (iich as will be void of Eyes, and 
 of fcetid and putrid Holes, Slimynefs, and fuch like 
 defetls ufiially incident to the common Cheefes, nay 
 they never are obnoxious to thofe faults. 
 
 The reafon is, becaufe the firft Coagulation or 
 Congelation of the Milk is made by the help of pure 
 Spirit of Salt, which defends from all putrefaction, 
 and not by the help of the foetid putrid Ren- 
 net, from which nothing can proceed but Rotten- 
 nefs and Worms. 
 
 Then farther, the Spirit of Salt being together 
 with [Crude] Salt fprinkled thereupon (after the 
 fqueezing out of the Whey) doth in an efpecial 
 manner refift all that putrefadion that is wont to 
 be in Cheefes, and condenfeth the Cheefes, and im- 
 pedes any fermentation, which dilateth the faid 
 Cheefes and makes them fpongious and porous ; 
 and by thus condenfing them, it makes them remain 
 fafe and free from all putrefadion. 
 
 Such Cheefe therefore as is brought to this pcr- 
 feftion , doth well deferve the preheminence above 
 the reft, and is extolled by the praife of thofe An- 
 cient Verfes, viz,. 
 
 (dalefJ, 
 Good Cheefe mufl: neither Argus hQ,Largiis nor Mag- 
 Met hujelah, nor Habbacuck, nor Laz,ams, [Amen.] 
 
 That is, itmuftnotbeeyedlike.^>-^»i-, nor tough 
 like Largus, nor hairy and crying like Magdalen, 
 nor hoary like Methujalcm, nor light like Habbacuck, 
 nor full of flinking holes and rotten fores like Laz.a- 
 rits : which defefts if Cheefe wanteth, it well merits 
 the title of goodnefs : and fuch are thofe Cheefes 
 which are made by the help of the Spirit of Salt; 
 do but make flich a Cheefe and try whether or no 
 it will not be of a more pleafing relifh than all others 
 are. 
 
 Such Cheefes are never corrupted, they never 
 become tenacious, limber, full of holes, and worms. 
 The Spirit of Salt being poured into the holes of 
 Sheep Milk Cheefe, or Cow Milk Cheefe, doth ei- 
 ther kill all the Worms or caufe them to get packing, 
 it contradleth the holes, and turns the bad Cheefes 
 into good ones, and this my felf have tried. 
 
 Thus friendly Reader, haft thou learned how to 
 make a fie Sawce for Fifh and Flefh, and like wife 
 good and durable Cheefe ; it now rem.ains that wc 
 teach thee how alfo to make good Butter. 
 
 If you are defirous of making good Butter by the 
 help of Spirit of Salt, and fuch as is dainty, pure 
 and yellow, and of a moft delicate taft, and fiich as 
 will not eafiiy contraft a ranck taft, you may ob- 
 tain your defire by proceeding on this wife. Take 
 otfthe Cream from good Cow Milk, and make it 
 into Butter, afore it be any thing mouldy, or of an 
 unplealant taft, and feparate the Buttermilk accor- 
 
 ding to the ufual cuftom, then put the Butter in a 
 wooden VelTel, and wafh it fo long in pure cold Salt 
 Water, until! there be nomore Wheyifhnefsleft,and 
 that the Salt Water do come off thencefrom, as clear 
 as it was at firft putting on, and that the Butter ap- 
 pears fufficicntly clean, which wafli it once agen, 
 on this wife following Dillblve in pure and redi- 
 fied Spirit of Salt, as much Salt as it will dilfolve in 
 the cold : And herewithall wafh your Butter anew, 
 yet feveral times, and work it well with that Spirit, 
 and by thus proceeding will it abfijme the refidue of 
 the Wheyifhnels which is the caufe and rife ofrank- 
 nefs, and which common Salt Water could not re- 
 move. This done, the Butter is to be feafoned with 
 common Salt according to the ufual manner, and 
 thus will ic abide perfedly good for a long time;. 
 But now the big Sea Salt is accounted the fitteft for 
 this purpofe, v.'hich being a little heated red hot ill 
 the Fire, comes to be of a very delicate whitenels, 
 and doth the ealler admit of reduction into fine Pov?- 
 der, and is better than that which is boiled up in Iron, 
 or Leaden Pans or Cauldrons. 
 
 N. £. But he that can get fuch a pure fort ofSalt 
 of a fexangular fhape like a Dye, as is prepared in 
 my Laboratory, he may ufe that, as being by far 
 the purer. As for the Veflel it (elf whereinto the But- 
 ter, prepared and cleaned after the aforementioned 
 manner, is to be put, it muft be ordered on this 
 wife following. You muft get you a new Oaken 
 Barrel, and (o fteep it in ftrong Salt Water, not the 
 common [Sea Water,] as that ic may well imbibe 
 the Salt into this Veflel muft the Butter, wafht as 
 aforefaid, be preft and thruft in fo tight and clofe, 
 that there may not be any hole or gaping place left 
 therein ; but you muft: leave two Fingers breadth 
 in the Barrel at top of the Butter, which is to be 
 filled up with Spirit of Salt, glutted with good and 
 pure Salt difTolved therein, that fo the Butter may 
 be well covered over, and all Air being excluded, ic 
 may keep fine and favoury a long time. Now when 
 you would Difh out (bme of this Butter on the I a- 
 ble, you muft take it out of your Tub with a clean 
 Wooden Spoon, and not an Iron one, and wa(h 
 the fame in pure and clear Water afore you eat it, 
 if you would not have ic retain the (harpnefs of the 
 Spirit of Salt. 
 
 Well, here is yet a better way ftill, viz,. Take 
 new Butter and let it melt very gently over the 
 Coals, and it will be covered over with much fro- 
 thy Cheefynefs, let that froth be neatly fcummed 
 off ; which being (b done, it will look in the Pot 
 like to a pure and clear Oil, poiir it out very clear- 
 ly into another Veilel, that the fedimcnt at the bot- 
 tom may abide behind. This Butter when "tis cold 
 looks juft like yellow Wax, but yet is it a little foo- 
 ter thanjt ought to be, and therefore it muft be well 
 wrought its due time with Spirit ot Salt impregnated 
 with new Salt, that it may obtain the hardnefs of 
 common Butter, and then be faked, and banel'd 
 up, and kept for ufe, which will be, far better than 
 the common Butter. For although this purging ic 
 by the Fire takes from it all its Cheefynefs, from 
 which it had its hardnefs ; yet notwithftanding the 
 Spirit of Salt gives unco it a far different and much 
 better hardnefs, and caufeth it to exccll all other 
 (brts in goodnefs and long keeping. _ ' 
 
 Thcfe things was I wihinsj lo takeout of my Kit- 
 chin and fet atore'you, namely Sawce, Cheefe, and 
 Butter of good and exquifite taft,which if they pleale 
 not the Palate of fome or other, I would have him 
 
 even 
 
 ^ 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Frofperitj/ ^/Germany. 
 
 aSr 
 
 even forbear to ufe them. It is not without fome 
 weighty caufe that I have done thefe things, which 
 I well know will undoubtedly undergo the perverfe 
 C enlures of Spies and Mockers, who probably will 
 Jay, what WomaniOi Toys, and Childrens Baubles 
 doth Glauber here Tattle about, making himfelf a 
 Laughing Stock to the Women, and lemale Sex, I 
 who will fay of him, that by his teaching to make , 
 Butrer and Cheefe, he hath thruft his Sickle into , 
 
 I But as to their walhing otf the filth from their 
 I Cioaths, they are wont in the hrft place to pour 
 ' hot Warer thereupon thereby to waih olt the more 
 grofs parr of the Dirt : and then they u(e a (harp 
 Lee, or fbme Sope, or even both together to rake 
 away the remainder of the filth, and to wafh out 
 all the Spots and Dirt, then do they agen wafh off 
 the Sope and Lee with fair and hot Water : But as 
 for the odour that the Sope leaves, ,and which by no 
 
 the Womcns Harveft. Well, let them prate as iwafhing how much or how oft foe'er it bedone can 
 
 pleafeth them, Geefe are not wont to utter ought 
 tlfe but a Goole like Gagling. For my parti minded 
 nothing elfe but to have this Treatife be a meer Wo- 
 man's Work, and Boys Play, [but yet] it will re 
 veal to the Ignorant more good, than [is attainable] 
 by the perverfe inftruclions of all fuch Autliours 
 whofe Writings are Spinn'd out to that height of fub- 
 tility as to exceed every ones Capacity. 
 
 Tis not every one that will eafily apprehend thofe 
 [Knacks] which I teach and reveal under this 
 Cheefe-making Trade, andthele Kitchin Operations; 
 nor indeed doth it much matter that they (hould 
 underftand. God v/ill open the Eyes of fuch as he 
 (hall judge worthy of fuch great gifts, and will con 
 ceal and hide the fame from the Proud and Wicked 
 Crew. 
 
 Having thus finifhed this Cheefe and Butter-ma- 
 king : Let us in Gods Name enter upon another 
 Work of Women, and Boys Play, which Kitchin- 
 like Labour, and Cheefe and Butter making, is 
 [■neerly metallick and doth far excell in excellency 
 ind nobility the hitherto defcribed Operations, al- 
 hough it be performed by the help of the felf fame 
 Salt. For without Salt no imperfed Metal can 
 3e really bettered, the very title of the Art it felf 
 ivitneiring as much, which being (tiled Alchymy, 
 ignifies no other thing than a melting of Salt : but 
 ^et I do not not tell what kind of Salt is here to be 
 jnderftood, [or, that any kind of Salt is here meant] 
 :)Ut thus much onely do I avcrr, that the tranfmu- 
 ■ations of the Inferiour Metals muft be efFeclcd by 
 salt 
 
 Now then, forafmuch as this Treatife of mine de 
 'jendsona former, intituled of the nature of Salts, 
 IS being ap overplus; fo it is likewife altogether ne 
 .eflary, that inflead of Fruit and Sugar, 1 ufe Salts 
 ind Metals about the preparation of thefe my Saw- 
 cs. 
 
 And whereas the making of the Sawces [or 
 .iweetmcars] with Sugar, doth not onely belong to 
 he meaner Sex, bur alio to the more noble, and yet 
 icverthelefs the Operation it felf is nothing elfe but 
 I mcer wafhing and boiling, and a true Womens 
 Vork, we will therefore in our defcription bring 
 
 he fame upon the Stage under the Title of the Work 
 )f Women, and Play of Children. 
 
 If we rightly look upon the Work of Women, 
 .nd compare our metallick labour therewithall, there 
 )rcfents it felf unto us, a very notable agreeablenefs 
 )etwixt them. The VVomcns Work is to boil and 
 valh, and when they are about to boil, they fet 
 heir Pots over the Fire, and having wafht their 
 'lelh, they ftrow thereon fome Salt and Spices, and 
 oil the fame in the laid Pots with Water, VVine, 
 r Vinegar, till it be tender, and become fit to be 
 aten. They likewife feed the Fire they boil withal) 
 ly putting VVood thereon, whereby the heat may 
 e kept up, and no impediment may betide their 
 Tork : And this is the way and method obferved 
 )• the Female Sex in their boiling. 
 
 be carried off, to get that off I fay they are wont to 
 lay their Linncn out in the open Field, and fprin- 
 kle and moiften it with pure Water, which being 
 dried by the Sun, Air, and Wind, they do agen 
 repeat the fame labour, untill all the ftinking fmeil 
 of the Sope be drawn forth by the Sun and the Air, 
 and a better and more wholfome Odour come in its 
 room. Then at laft they dry them at the Air and 
 Sun, and being dry, they fold them up and put 
 them in their Chefls and Trunks, and keep them 
 for their ufe 
 
 Juft fo do we deal with Metals, when we wafh 
 oft their defi'ements, and do by boiling turn them 
 into wholfcjme Food or Medicaments ; but yet we 
 do nor ufe common Vinegar, common Salt, and 
 common Spices, but mineral or metallick fubjeifts, 
 asalfb a duplicate Fire, viz.. one of them is afecrer, 
 philofophical, moiff, cold, and vaporous Fire ; and 
 the other is the elementary and common Fire, by 
 which we ftir up the former Philofophical Fire to 
 difplay its virtues, and render it powerfull and effi- 
 cacious. 
 
 The elementary Fire we make with Wood, Coles, 
 or Oil: The univerfld Agent, or Philofophical' 
 Cold, Moift, Digefting, Penetrating, Mundifying, 
 Bettering, and not Burning, but Conferving, and 
 vaporous Fire, we feek for in Salt, and leave the 
 Operation to the vivifying Sun and Air ; which be- 
 ing well done, we obtain wonderfull Plants, and 
 moft efficacious Food, or Sawce for our Life. 
 
 And forafmuch as my purpofe here is, to treat of 
 fuch metallick and medicinal Sawces, I will here in 
 God's name adjoyn fome of them, which being as fb 
 many famplers or patterns,every one may at hi^ plea- 
 fure imitate in compofing and making of the like. 
 And he will here find a way of confedingfome good 
 Medic-ament, as clearly and evidently demonftrated 
 by me as was lawfull for me to do, nor was it in my 
 power to difcover the fame more perlpicuoufly : And 
 therefore I befeech every one to take in good part 
 what is here prefented, and to forbear to trouble 
 me for the time to come with needlefs queftions. 
 
 So then, feeing I am about to treat in this place of 
 metallick Sawces, itis alfo behovefull to have a me- 
 tallick Sugar and Spice, and this, Saturn will afford 
 us in the fleed of the common [Sugar] by whofe 
 help we reduce Sol and Z,»wp as being moft excellent 
 Spices, into moft effectual Medicines. 
 
 Nor would I have it feem itrange to any one that 
 I ufe Lead here inftead of Sugar, for the inmoft juice 
 of Lead, doth exceedingly out-go the fweetnefs of 
 any Sugar, which thing IJaac Holl^ijul doih very evi- 
 dently tefiifie in his Treatife of 5«r«»-w. The Chy- 
 mifts do frequently extract a fweet Salt out of Lead, 
 with diftilled Vinegar, and call it the Sugar of Lead, 
 and do very well know and find that there is fuch a 
 fweetnefs in Lead as is not in any other Metal beflde. 
 From it therefore will we prepare our Sugar to make 
 our metallick Sawces withall, as follows. 
 
 F f f f f 
 
 Tak« 
 
382 
 
 The Fourth ?art. of 
 
 Part I 
 
 Take of Lead-allies one, two, three, or more 
 pounds, which put in a ftrong well glazed Earthen 
 Pot then pour thereupon Ibme Wine or Ale, Vi- 
 negar, or Vinegar of Honey, as much as may over 
 top it an hands breadth. Set your Pot upon the 
 Coals and make the Vinegar boil. 
 
 M. B. The Aftes are to be unccllantly ftirred, in 
 the boiling with a wooden Sp^itnla, lert they gather 
 into one entire fblid Ma(s : After that the Vine- 
 gar has boiled w]' about half, an hour, and is be- 
 co;ne yellow, and as fweet as Sugar, you muft de- 
 cant it from the Aflies, and pour on more, and agen 
 boil it, and extract more fweetneis, and this labour 
 muft you repeat Co often until! the Vinegar can ex- 
 trad no more fweetnefs ; then having put all thefe 
 Vinegars together, pour them gently off trom the 
 Faeces that (ettle in the bottom oftheVellel, and 
 being thus leparated, filter the fame through Cap 
 Paper or by a filter, that ib the Liquors may be 
 clear, and may give you by feparation, that 
 
 very 
 
 of the Lead which they hold up 
 
 in 
 
 fweetnefs 
 them. 
 
 Into thefe clear Vinegars, therefore being put in a 
 Glafs VeffeJ, pour thereinto (by little and little) as 
 much redified Spirit of Salt, that (b the yellow Vi- 
 negar may be turned into a white Milk, and may by 
 little and little fettle to the bottom likecurdled Cheele, 
 from which the Vinegar being now become agen 
 clear is to be removed by decanting ; then put the 
 Saturnine Cheele in lome ftrong Linnen Cloath and 
 tie it hard up, and Iqueeze out the refidue of the 
 moifture, and lb dry it and lay it by for ule. It is a 
 moft tender Powder, of a bright Inowy colour, and 
 void of alltaft ; for inthe precipitation, all thelweet- 
 nefs being introverted by the Spirit of Salt, hath 
 hidden it lelf within, which doih again afterwards 
 (when that mafs (hall be reduced into a Sawce) Ihew 
 it lelf, and difcovers its former tall, as we Ihall hear 
 anon. 
 
 I would have the friendly Reader know, that I 
 am not minded to produce here many and divers 
 Operations, for I am ftraitned in my time, which 
 flops me from giving you a more prolix and circum- 
 ftantial delcription : 1 do onely propole Ibme few, 
 and leave every one to his fancy to make the relt ot 
 the Sawces or Medicaments, according to the ways 
 here prelcnbed, according to his likeing, and that 
 as many as he will, and out of fuch lubjctls as belt 
 pleafeth him. 
 
 But that I may contraft thefe things concerning 
 my Sawces into a narrow room, 1 fuppole it is we:l 
 enough known, that Sawces and Junkets are difht 
 our in the fecond courfe for this end, either to dole 
 up and ftiengthen the Stomach, cr that if a fudling 
 Itorm be at hand it may drill the readilier down into 
 the Stomack by thefe kinds of Vehicles. 
 
 But yet my purpole is not directed to this end as 
 to teach the making of liich banqueting Diflies in 
 this place, as may allure Wine into the Stomach by 
 fuch an unprofitable Prodigality, and fo detriment 
 the Body it felf too. No, but the main drift of- my 
 Sawces (hould rather be this, viz.. to remove that 
 evil which is flirred up in the Body of Man, by the 
 common Junkets and the overmuch guzling in of 
 Wine, and to ftrengthen the Stomach, Heart, Brain, 
 and other Members of the Body, to heal the parts 
 rhat are hurt, and in particular, to reftore them to 
 •their former health : And finally, to be as a kind of 
 guide and manuducT;ion to lead on the Ingeny of 
 .Men in fuch wile, as that they may by an ealier way 
 
 arrive unto the Knowledge of the univerfal Me- 
 dicine. 
 
 To begin therefore, I confefs that of [all] fruits 
 preferved with Sugar, none have a more gratetull 
 taft on my Palate than Bar-berries, and Ribcs, or 
 St. Jubn's Grapes as they call them ; which fruits, 
 preiervcd up with Sugar, do not onely get the Sto- 
 mach an Apietite, but do vvitliall allay Thirft, and 
 do e.xtinguilh all the internal heat ftirred up and kind- 
 led by overmuch drinking : The like metallick 
 Sawce or Junket Ihalt thou prepare on this wile. 
 
 Buy Ibme Steel filings of the Needle-makers, and ' 
 take thereof as much as you plcalc, diflblve them in 
 rectified Spirt ot Salt, which Solution will be green, 
 and be of a fwectilh t aft ;abftrad the infipid Phlegm, 
 infipid I fay, tor although it be a very ftrong Spi- 
 rit of 6'alt that IS poured upon the Iron, yet nevei> ' 
 thelefs no Spirit comes off, but onely an infipict 
 Phlegm in the abftraction and diftillation, and the 
 Irons retains all the acidity of the Salt, and remains 
 a red, fweetifli, aftringent Juice. 
 
 Take of this, and of the Saturnine Powder which 
 we taught you the making of but now, of each a-' 
 like weight, and put them into a well coated Retort, 
 and the Saccharum Saturni will prelently drink up 
 the Juice of the Sicel Put the Retort in a Veffet- 
 fill'd with Sand, and augment the Fire by little and 
 little that all the infipid Phlegn'i may be wholly 
 drawn off. When 'tis all come off, and that acid 
 drops begin to come, then muft you apply thereun-. 
 to a Glafs Receiver, and the Fire is to be encreafedj 
 by degrees untill the Retort be throughly red hoi^ 
 which muft continue lb about an hour, or half an. 1 
 houra leaft. By this means, the Spirits of the Sale: j 
 which were in the Steel, do almoft wholly come over, 
 into the Receiver, and do carry over with them [the. 
 SpiritsJ of the Saccharum Saturnt, and oil of Mars^ 
 in the form of a red lublimate,which fettles it leltin the ; 
 neck of the Retort, which liiblimate when the Re- 
 is cold and broken you muft takeout of its. 
 
 tort 
 
 Neck, and keep it from th:; Air, lor in the Air it willii 
 dillblve into a red, Iweet, and Aftringent Oil, ofno.| 
 Imall virtues in Medicine and Alchymy. in the 
 bottom of the Retort you will find a molten Mals,^ 
 refembling Lapis H^emaiitu, which being feparated 
 trom all defilements, will give you a red, brittle, 
 futile Stone, and in fome tort aftringent, of great 
 virtues in Medicine, and without doubt in Aichy-v 
 my too, if it were but firft made conftantly to abide] 
 in the Fire. And even this too, rauft you keep 
 from the Air, tor it is ftill impregnated with the SaltSj 
 and therefore is cafily relblved. 
 
 Now when you would make ule of this Stone in.! 
 Medicine, break a little bit thereof into fmall Pow- 
 der (for it is no harder than other Salt, and there- 
 fore dothealily admit of grinding to Powder.) ThiS' 
 Powder heals both internal and external Wounds 
 and Ulcers, being auminiftred in the quantity oftwo, 
 three, lour, five, i\x, or more Grains, according to 
 the age and condition of the Sick, and being take 
 in a convenient and proper Vehicle, it is highly Sa- 
 native and a ftopper ot Bloud. Being applied ex- 
 ternally to Wounds, it wonderfully forwards hea- 
 ling ; hinders all Symptoms, and fundamentally 
 dries, and cures all Ulcers and Fiftulaes, if uted ouc» 
 wardlyand inwardly too. 
 
 It doth moft lately and moll certainly help all the 
 overflowing of the Menles in Women, and is fo ex- 
 cellent a Medicament in the Djjtfnerj, Lietiury, and 
 other Fluxes of the Belly, that its like is not to be 
 found. Thus 
 
 A 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Frofperitj <?/ Germany. 
 
 Thus have we that true anJ genuine H^matitis 
 of the Ancient Phyficians, of which they have writ- 
 ten fo many things, but what through the carelef- 
 ne(s of the Phyficians that fiicccded them, and what 
 through the length of time it became wholly loft, 
 inftead of which there hath been hitherto ufed the 
 infoluble and hard Stone of Iron. 
 
 The Ancients impofed upon their more noble Me 
 dicaments, Names deduced from fimilitudes or re- 
 lemblances, as may be fecn in this our living H^cma- 
 t.itu, and in the dead H<£matatis of the common 
 Phyficians, which is call'd for at the /Cpothecaries, 
 and adminifired to ftop Bloud withall ; But yet it is 
 nothing elfe fave the Stone of Iron, and (uch Oar as 
 is very rich and abounding with this Metal, the frag- 
 ments of which appears [either] in the form of 
 ipear-like Stria's or Streeks, or like a cleft ftone. 
 This our live Hicmntnis is of the lame form, but 
 foluble, andisofa very plealantandaftringentlweet- 
 nels, and containeth moft efficacious virtues for the 
 allaying ol all bloody Fluxes both outward and in- 
 ward. Now that common and well-known H^ma- 
 titis doth not polfels any more virtues than that 
 Jron Scinder-dult which the Smiths (iiiite ott at the 
 Anvil, doth And as for that red Sublimate which 
 afcended up in the neck of the Retort,it is twice frron 
 ger in lubduing the alore-mentioned difcafes, but it 
 is not ot fo Iweet a Taft as is the Stone it lelf, which 
 refided in the bottom of the Retort. And being ex- 
 ternally applied in c!eanfing and mundifying old Fi 
 iluious Ulcers, it works much (ironger than this our 
 Hicrftatnis ( which is more plealantly adminiftrable 
 in internal dcfeds ' doth But whoever he be that 
 kncws how ( by many Solutions and Coagulations . 
 to make this Stone conftant in the tire, will obtain a 
 far more excellent Medicament : concerning which, 
 we will fpeak more in the end of this Treatile. 
 
 _^ 383 
 
 pafs, as having Gold and Silver at hand, which are 
 more ripe. 
 
 n 
 
 This now is fuch a Sawce or Junket, as every 
 good Phyfician and Chyrurgeon hath juft caule 
 moft highly to efteem in all Fluxes and Sores, both 
 old and new, if he would obtain that repute which 
 he thirfieth afttr ; for it is endued with greatVirtuts, 
 whereas on the contrary, the Juyce of Sloes, the 
 common Uiermnitu, and Crocw rnartis, are, in com- 
 parilijn of this, to be accounted of as meer dead Me- 
 dicaments. I could teil you of more virtues that are 
 in the red Sublimate, and this in an efpecia] man- 
 ner, "jiz.. that without being either bound on, or in- 
 wardly taken, but fympathetically and atadiftance, 
 ic is able to cure any illues of Blood whatever. But 
 i fhall doe better to pals the!e things over in filence, 
 becaule to the greatcft part of unskilfull Men, they 
 will not oncly leem wonderful], but impoUible like- 
 wile, Huwever, I commend to every ones accepta- 
 tion this fo excellent a Medicament, for ail interna] 
 .and external llVues of Blood, in all wounds and hurts, 
 s& alfb in all the obftruitions ot the Spleen, Liver, 
 ^od other members of the body. 
 
 After liich a manner as this, may any one eafily 
 turn all the Metals into Sugars, and into moft ex- 
 cellent Medicaments. But torafmuch as the Metals 
 are not all of them indifferently tit to be adminifired 
 inwardly to the lick, I will make mention of Gold 
 and Silver onely as being the beft of all, and pafs by 
 the others, and will teach the preparation of yet 
 moreSawces and Junkets ; Cop^-er, Tin, and Ar- 
 gent-[i;/vej are tome what cruder bodies, and re 
 
 of £ood Medicaments. We will therefore let them 
 
 be manner of Preparing a good Sawce or Junket out 
 of Silver, whicb helfeth the Dtjlempers and Dijea- 
 fes of the Brain. 
 
 THE skilfull Chymical Phyficians have afligned 
 Silver for a Medicament for the Brain , which 
 Adignment of theirs 1 acquielce in, and doe here 
 prefent you with fuch a Sawce or Junis a as is of 
 moft efpecial ufe for the fuccouring of the Brain. 
 
 1 ake ot common Ai^na Fonts ( liich as is common- 
 ly ufed about the diliblution of Silver) one pound : 
 In two ounces of which you muft dilToIve one ounce 
 of pure Silver ; Dillblve likewife one ounce of Laad 
 by it fe'if : Put both Solutions together in a glafs with 
 a wide mouth ; and being thus mixt, pour thereupr n 
 as much reditied Spirit of Salt as is fiifficient for the 
 precipitation of both the Metals Pour off the clear 
 water from the precipitated Metals, and pour upon 
 them fome frefh water, and ftir them well about ; 
 which done, and the precipitated Calx fettled to the' 
 bottom, the water is to be again decanted ot7, and 
 I more frefh water poured thereon : and this Labour 
 IS to be fo often repeated, until] that precipitated 
 Powder be void of all Acrimony : then put it in a 
 pure linnen Cloth placed in a Funnel, that fo the 
 remaining moilture may drain from it. Then tie the 
 cloth very firm, and fqueefe our, in two balls (or 
 (queefings J all the refidue of the moifture out of that 
 filvery Cheefe, and lay th§ fame upon Cap-paper 
 and that will drink up all the reft of the moifture', 
 and will foon dry your Cheefe. This Cheefe (or 
 precipitated Powder ) is to be put into a well coated 
 Glafs-retort, and to be forced with a gentle lire of 
 Sand, that fo all the fuperfluous moifture may be fe- 
 parated. Then, at laft, the Fire being augmented, 
 will force out part of the Silver and Lead in the form 
 of white Flore?, afcending up in the neck of the Re- 
 tort. Now when the Retort hath been thus kept 
 red-hot for one hour, let the tire go out of its own 
 accord, and take out the cold Retort, and break it, 
 and you will find in the bottom of the fame a white 
 and fwect Stone, which will melt ( upon a red-hot 
 Plate of Metal ) like Wax, and penetrate the fame, 
 and is volatile like Argem-vive. Two, three, four, 
 five Grains, even to eight or ten, of this Stone ground' 
 into a Powder, being admin:ftred (refpect being had 
 to the Patient's age and fickne(s) yield a moft pre- 
 fent comfort in the difeafcs of the Head and Brain, 
 and fo are thofe white Flores wont to doe likewife : 
 but is Chymical operations thev are of eminent ufe. 
 Now although this Stone be it fclf of a fugacious na- 
 ture, yet notwitftanding in progrefs of time it makes 
 Mercury, together with it iclf, conftant in the fire ; 
 of which thing I have eliewhere already mentioned 
 in my Writings, fo that I need not fay any more 
 thereof in this place. 
 
 However, I cannot omit to tell you, that, although, 
 otherwife, there is no familiarity at all betwixt Silver* 
 and Lead, and Salt, yet neverthelefs thete three may 
 be fo prepared as (.by a certain mixtion) not to re- 
 fufe each others fociety. Hence it comes to pats, 
 that if the Salt be rightly fitted for this operation^ 
 it piuts forth more powertuU virtues, and tor that 
 reafbn doth the Silver iLitier the more, and doth by 
 fo much the tooner attain to a conftancy in the tire : 
 
 quire greater care and diligence, to have the Title, and fo 'tis evident, that the name of Alchymv or fu 
 
 fing of Salt, was not impofed on this Art for nothing 
 
 For* 
 
384 
 
 The Fourth Vart of 
 
 Part L 
 
 For by the help of Salt, are the Metals to be molten 
 and meliorated, which thing you may take notice 
 of, 
 
 Anothtr Sav^ce or Junket made of Gold and Silver. 
 
 TAke fonie pure Silver, and diflblve it in A/jua 
 Fvrtis, and precipitate it with Spirit of Salt, and 
 free it from its Acrimony with common water, and 
 fqueefe out the water, and lay your matter upon 
 cap-papeiuo dry, and deal with it in all refpecis as 
 we fpake afore in the Procefs of Saturn. Of this 
 Calx take three parts, and one part of Gold dillolved 
 in the Oil of Salt ; and firft put your Silver Calx in- 
 to a (trongGlafs-retort, which mufl be well coated, 
 then pour thereto your yellow Solution of Gold. 
 Place the Retort in Sand , and, firft, force out your 
 Spirit of Salt, in which forcing out, the Calx of the 
 Silver will retain with it felf the Gold ; and of them 
 both will be made a purple Stone, inclining fome- 
 what to rednefs, fufile, and volatile. But the Oil of 
 the Salt will carry up with it fbmething of the Gold 
 and Silver into the neck of the Retort ; which, to- 
 gether with the aforefaid Stone, you fhall take out 
 of the broken Retort ; but yet you muft keep each 
 apart, for a medicament of great moment : [ both ] 
 which ( if they were turned ( by Solution and Co 
 agulation) into a fix Ruby,) would doubtlefly per- 
 form their work, in the metallick Operations, with 
 greater benefit and profit. 
 
 So have you here, briefly defcribed, the third 
 Junket, which, fhould it be defcribed with all its 
 Circumftances, the Procefs it felf would in good footh 
 be more prolix and tedious than is fitting. And for- 
 afmuch as my Writings may feem unto many fuffici- 
 ently tedious, 'tis but fit that I aim at brevity here 
 in this place ; though ( on the other hand ) they 
 will feem ( I well know ) too fhort and brief unto 
 others. But Jupiter himfelf pleafeth not all alike. 
 And the birth-day of him who can latisfie all, is yet 
 to come ; for he is not as yet born. For behave thy 
 felf as thou wilt in thy adions, either in briefly deli- 
 vering thy felf, or in uttering thy mind in a longer 
 difcourle, thou fhalt not at any rate fulfill the expec- 
 tation and defire of all men. I doe therefore here 
 difh out this Junket, and commit the care of eating 
 t'le fame to the Guefts. Every one that will, may 
 more accurately weigh and confider of the fame, that 
 fo he may come to find, how great the Efficacy and 
 * Utility of this Procefs is, though delivered fb very 
 briefly. 
 
 Another Junket or Sawce, viz. A ConfeElion of a Mi- 
 veral Alkermes. 
 
 THere is in the Apothecaries (hops a Confedion 
 made of the Berry or Grains of Kermes, known 
 by the name ofConfeBio Alkermes ; in which compo- 
 fition, there are added to the faid Berries Tome Pearls 
 done into Powder,and Leaf-Gold, and Ambergreafe, 
 and other fuch-like corroborating Simples. This medi- 
 cament being confefted with Sugar, is lookt on as the 
 chiefeft amongft all tliofe Medicines which are wont 
 to be adminiftred for ftrengthening the Heart, and 
 it merits the praife afcribed to it. But now inftead 
 of the Leaves of Gold, ( which cannot be digefted 
 or concoifted by the ftomach, and are therefore car- 
 ried forth with the Excrements without any opera- 
 tion,) I will fubftitute another Gold , which being 
 made fuitable, and accommodated unto nature, fhall 
 
 be able to put forth its virtues, and fupply the place 
 of foliated Gold, in the Confe^lion of .'ilkermes. 
 
 And if any one be fo minded, he may omit even 
 the grains or the berry it felf ( for they are not to be 
 had every-where) and make ufe of this Juyce of 
 Gold, which I am about to tetxh in this place, and 
 mix it with Sugar and other Pouders that are (freng- 
 theners of the Heart. For this Golden Confeftion 
 of a purple Colour, doth moft notably ftrengthen 
 the Heart by its corroborative virtue, and the Gold 
 it felf gives a far more excellent purple or fcarlct Co- 
 lour than the Grains of that berry doe, which are 
 brought us from Adompelicr. The way of preparing 
 the faid Gold, is as follows. 
 
 Dilfolve the Calx of Sol, or of Gold, in ftrong Spi- 
 rit of Salt, and pour upon the Solution fome three 
 or four parts of water more than the Solution is, that 
 fb the Acrimony of the Spirit of Salt may be fbme- 
 what allayed. Being thus prepared, put thereinto a 
 bit of Tin, and fuch as hath no Lead commixt there- 
 with, which faid Tin, the allayed Spirit of Salt will 
 feize upon, and diffolve part thereof. And being 
 alfo debilitated thereby, it will let fall all the Gold that 
 it contained, in the form of a purple Powder, adhe- 
 ring partly on to the Tin, and part will be of its owa 
 natural colour, and fettle to the bottom, but as fub- 
 tile as the Atoms that fly about in the Sun-beams, 
 and refembling little fiars. When therefore the 
 whole body of the Gold is precipitated into a moft 
 delicate and fine Powder, out of ihe Spirit of Salt, 
 which will now be clear and bright : Pour off the 
 Spirit, and take the Tin out from the Golden Pow- 
 der, and wafh the Powder with clean and pure wa- 
 ter, that fo none of the Spirit of Salt may be there- 
 in difcerned ; and being now thus prepared , ic 
 may be ufed inftead of Gold about the Confection 
 of Alkermes. 
 
 Moreover, if you are (b minded, you may take 
 fome pure Sugar-candy, and make it up into a fyrup 
 with weak Spirit of Salt, and then put thereunto this 
 Golden Powder with a litde Amber greafe and fome 
 Powder of Pearls, and fb make full as good, nay a 
 better Confection than that common ConfeUw Alker- 
 mes is ; becaufe a greater corroborating of the povjr- 
 ers of the Heart, and a delicater purple Colour can- 
 not be found in any other thing than in Gold. If 
 now you operate aright, it cannot otherwife be but 
 you muft needs attain to this purple and golden 
 Confetftion. 
 
 N. B. The Tin muft be very pure and clean, 
 for by how much the whiter it is, and the acurer 
 found it has, fo much the fitter is it for this work. 
 And in the Compoficion it felf you may ufe this fol- 
 lowing weight or meafurc. 
 
 Take of the Calx of Gold one Lot [or half ounce] 
 and dillblve it in three or four Lots of ftrong redified 
 Spirit of Salt ; Pour unto the Solution twelve or fif- 
 teen Lots of pure water ; then to all this, put two 
 Lots of Tin, and fet the Glafs that the Solution is in, 
 upon hot Sand, and heat it fcalding-hot, but let it 
 not boil. When it hath thus ftood for one or two 
 hours, all the Gold will be turned into Powder, of 
 a Purple and Gold-like hue, and ferde to the bot- 
 tom. Then having poured out the Water, and fepa- 
 rated the Tin , feparate all the Acrimony from the 
 Powder by feveral wafhings, and fo will you have 
 it fitted for the Confe(rtion. This done, take twelve 
 Lots of Sugar-candy, and one Lot of rectified Spi- 
 rit of Salt, and as much pure fair water as is fuffici- 
 ent to reduce the Sugar into a thick Syrup ; Hereto 
 
 add 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Frofperit)' ^/Germany. 
 
 385 
 
 ' add one Loc of that purple and tender golden Pow- 
 der, and It will tinge all the Sugar wirh a Purple or 
 Scarlet-colour. Then add likcwife thereunto, two 
 Lots of Pearls made into fine Powder, and one 
 Quintula (about two drams and an half) of Am- 
 bergrcafe, mix them well together and let it by for 
 u(e, as being a moft efficacious Confedtion. And if 
 you pleafe, you may add to the former ingredients 
 other ftrengthning and rcfrefhing Powders. The 
 Dofc of this Confeftion is from 5, 6, 9, 11, 15, to 
 20 Grains, according as the perfons are. It corro 
 borates the Heart, Brain, and the whole Body, and 
 doth likeuife ( by reafon of the Spirit of Salt) allay 
 thirft, and ftirs up the appetite to food. 
 
 And thus much may fufficc this time about Saw- 
 ces or Junkets. It now remains that we likcwife 
 fearch after (bmc fe]ed and harmlefs Purges out of 
 the Metals too, and adjoyn them to the former. 
 When in feaftinj^s ' or merry-meetings ) the Guelts 
 are wont to drink Healths to their Lords, and tope 
 off many Cups, and ftore of Glafles full of ftrong 
 Wine, it cannot pofTibly be, but that their Stomachs 
 mull' be flufft with tenacious and clammy hurnours, 
 and the Head much opprefled with Cafthars,and the 
 Bowels find with ftore of wind. Now here cannot 
 be a better and more protitab'e way of fuccouring 
 rhefe Stomachs and Heads, thus befet with fo many 
 tenacious humours, and of helping the whole body 
 thus corrupted by fo often re^jeated draughts, than 
 by a purgative VIedicine, which by expelling all the 
 evil and oiFenfive humours opens all the palFages of 
 the Body, and again brmgs the Co necellary relpira- 
 tion. We will therefore prefent you here with three 
 fuch purging Medicaments, and thofe very good ones. 
 One is of Antimony ; The (econd of Silver and An- 
 timony ; And the third of Gold and Antimony : 
 Each of which, by it fclf, doth far exceed the other 
 purging Medicaments made of the Vegetables. 
 
 For Metals do penetrate the Body far better, and 
 do perform their Operations with Icfs hazard than 
 the Vegetables do, moft of which abound with a 
 rednous clamminefs, which doth often Itick to the 
 Bowels, and caufe great gripings, which is not to be 
 feared at all from metailick purgative Medicines : 
 which (upon this account) are to be preferred be- 
 fore thofe chat are prepared of the Vegetables ; nor 
 do I contemn thefe Vegetable Purges, for they are 
 good, and may be made ufe of, where better are 
 not at hand. 
 
 Therefore, forafmuch as I have in my time, made 
 trial of many fuch Medicaments, and have in very 
 deed found, that metailick Purges do excel the Ve- 
 getable ones both in pleafantnefs and efficacy, and 
 are far fafer ; I could not but commend the fame 
 above all other Purges to fuch as come after me, but 
 yet leaving every one at his pleafure to make ufc of 
 either thefe or them. 
 
 A Turge 0/ Saturn. 
 
 DIlTolve two ounces of Lead in pure Acjua Fcrtis, 
 and pour upon the Solution one ounce of But 
 ter of Antimony, that fo they may be precipitated 
 together inro a white Coagulum or Curd, whereto 
 you muft put a good quantity of fair water, and flir 
 it very well about , that it may imbibe the Spirit of 
 Salt which was in the Butter. 
 
 Then pour off this water, and put on more, and 
 repeat this labour fo long, until! all the (harpnefs be 
 
 wafht out of the precipitated Powder. Thn vv'hite 
 Powder being dried is a moft excellent Pur^o, edu- 
 cing all evil and hurtfull humours out of the Body 
 without danger, and being adminiftred from one 
 Grain to ten, according as the Patient is, doth work 
 downwards, efpecially when it is given in a leller 
 Dofe. But if there be need of vomiang too, then 
 the Dole may be encreafed, efpecially unto thofe that 
 can brook vomiting, and caft with eale. It may be 
 ufc;d without danger as a good and,,,.afe Purge, in 
 all fuch Difeafes as purgative Medicaments are, and 
 may be adminiftred. 
 
 A Turge of Lune. 
 
 DIlTolve two ounces of pure Silver in four ounces 
 of At^ua Fortis, and pour upon this Solution 
 one ounce of the Butter of Antimony, which toge- 
 ther with the Silver will go into a white Curd, as 
 we faid but now of the Lead in the preceeding Pro- 
 cefs. Wafh this Powder with common water, and 
 dry it and adminifter it in the fame Dofe as the Sa- 
 turnine Powder is to be given"; and it will perform its 
 part in all Difeafes, but efpecially in thofe of the 
 Head. . • 
 
 N. B. The Butter of Antimony muft be made of 
 the Regului oi kimmony , with redilied Spirit of Salt, 
 and not with Mercury fublimate, as the common 
 cuftom is. 
 
 Purging Gold. 
 
 IN the firft place, you muft make a moft ftrong 
 Spirit of Niter thus, inz.. put equal parts of cal- 
 cined Allum and good Salt-pttcr into a well coated 
 Retort, out of which is to be drawn (leilurely and 
 by degrees into a very large Receiver luted on to the 
 neck of the Retort) a Spirit, which will make the 
 Receiver look red. All the Spirit being diltilled, let 
 the Fire go out of its own accord, and leave on the 
 Receiver i'o long till all the Spirits are fetled, and 
 that the Receiver be become clear agen : Macerate 
 the Lute, which joyned the Receiver on to the Re- 
 tort,with water, and have an efpecial care when you 
 take off the Receiver, that none of the Lute fall into 
 the Spirit. Put the Spirit in a ftrong Glafs, and 
 ftiut It up well with Wax, that it may not exhale, 
 tor It IS very ftrong, and is red as Bloud, becaufe ic 
 had no water put unco it in the Receiver. 
 
 Pour two ounces of this ftrong Spirit upon one 
 ounce of the Butter of Antimony,and it will prefent- 
 ly pals into a red SoluLion, whereto put one ounce 
 of pure Gold that it may be dilTolved, which Solu- 
 tion will be itdder than Bloud. Then pour in 
 thereupon Ibme common fair water, and the Anti- 
 mony and the Gold will precii'itare into a Purple 
 Powder, which is to be wafhc well with water, and 
 fo dried. 
 
 Its Dofe is from one, two Grains to fix, ('accor- 
 ding as the Age and Party is, it rnay be given in 
 Wine, Ale, Water, or any other Liquor, which 
 may be as a Vehicle unco it. It works without any 
 danger, and doth fafely and plcafantlv (beyond all 
 other Purges) drive out all offending Humours ouc 
 of the Body of Man. 
 
 I 
 
 Aurum Diaphoreticum, or Sweating Gold. 
 
 F no water be poured upon the juft now-fpoken of 
 
 red Solution, thereby to precipitate the fame, but 
 
 G g g g g that 
 
o,U 
 
 The Fourth Part of 
 
 Parti 
 
 that that ftrong Spirit of Niter be drawn off by a 
 Retort, it then takes from the Antimony its purging 
 and vomiting power and makes it Diaphorical. Nor 
 needs the Purple Powder, when it's taken out of the 
 Glafs, any walhing at all, becaufe being adminiftred 
 in two,three, four,five,rix,or ten Grains Dofc it may 
 be fafelv taken, and it provokes Sweat. It is there- 
 fore very profitable in all the Difeafes that are to be 
 expelled by Sweat ; yea in the Leaprofie, Gout, 
 Dropfie, Frent vpox," Plague, Scurvey, and in all 
 Feavers doth it play its part even to admiration, for 
 (by reafon of the Gold which it contains in it) it 
 doth both provoke Sweat, and ftrengthen the pow- 
 ers of the Body. 
 
 The former Powder or purging Gold, being mi.xt 
 with an equal weight of purging Lu»e, or purging 
 Saturn, and molten in a Crucible, turns into a red 
 Stone or Glafs, of which, little Tablets or Pellets 
 fomewhat bigger than a Pea may be 'again caft or 
 molten, and'kept for ufe. And now when there's 
 need of purging, let one of thofe Tablets be put in 
 to fome fpoonfuUs of Wine and lie therein all night, 
 and let the Wine be drunk off in the morning fol- 
 lowing, juft after the lelf lame manner as other pur- 
 ges are wont to be adminiftred. For there is fo 
 much virtue extrafted by the Wine out bfthegla- 
 zen Tablet as to give feveral Stools. If one Tablet 
 or Pellet be not fufficient, then may a fecond, or a 
 third, or more be adjoyned thereunto, and lo left 
 all night in the Wine, that fo the Wine may work 
 more etfedually if need requires. The Tablets or 
 Pellets remain good a long time, and may be many 
 times applied to the felf fame ufe. 
 
 But if any one (hould be defirous of performing 
 this labour even yet better, he may get a little Pot 
 or Cup to be made for him of white Earth, and 
 and may havd it glazed both infide and outiide with 
 this fame Glafs ; for two or three Spoonfulls of Wine 
 infufed for a night in fuch,a Cup, and drunk off next 
 morning, are capable of purging you even as doth 
 th- other. 
 
 Thefe are the effeds of thefe purges in Medicine. 
 They likewife do fome good in Alchymy, if all three 
 of them, -VIZ.. the Saturnine, the Lunar, and the 
 Solar are reduced by melting intoa Glafs •. this Glafs 
 being Philofophtcally cemented fomewhat of the Sil- 
 ver, Lead, and Antimony will be meliorated, and 
 turned into Gold by the Gold. 
 
 Now for a Farewell, take this which follows. If 
 the God Appollo the Inventer of Medicine, would 
 beftow his light upon any one, and by his hot 
 Beams melt the waxen Wings of the untamed, ffy- 
 ing, and (to his Father Dedalns) drfobedient Son 
 Icarrts, (and flying out of the Itle o{ Greet, over the 
 Icarian Sea,) that fo he might fall down into the 
 fweet and fiilphureous Sea of the Sun, and may 
 remain drowned therein : Then from this dead Bo- 
 dy (which is not wont to be fubdued by any other 
 means) may a moft excellent Medicine be prepared. 
 For wfiat way foever he is handled by otherwife, 
 whether he be turned into a white fublimate, or be 
 reduced into a yellow or red precipitate, he is not- 
 withftanding always corrofive ; and brings more 
 hurt than good, and therefore may very delervedly 
 beefchewed. 
 
 Or. if we did but know the way of fixing it with- 
 out any corroHvity, by thole three principal Co- 
 lumes of all Medicine, namely Vitriol, Sulphur, and 
 Antimony, he would undoubtedly be adminiltrable 
 
 without any fear, and be wichall capable of perfor- 
 ming great matters. For then he would not Itir up 
 and caufe fo many purgations, and fuch vehement 
 Salivations, and other hurtful! lymptoms as ufually 
 comes to pafs, but would bring a moft fpeedy help 
 to the Sick by his gentle operation by Sweat and 
 Urine, and get the Phylician a moft eminent praife. 
 This 1 would have every one know, that Sulphur 
 has a power of killing all Corrofives, and reducing 
 them to a fweetnels, whether it be done by the dry 
 way or by the moift. And of all Sulphurs, a Ve- 
 getable Sulphur is the fitteft, which being freed frora • 
 its inflamable nature, is capable of reducing [any^ 
 Corrofives, though never fo great, unto a fweetnels 
 in one hours fpace. Nay more, any Metal being 
 firft difiblvcd in fuch like Corrolives, doth together 
 with the fame become a fweet Medicament: And 
 fb when Gold is diliolved in Spirit of Salt, and Sil- 
 ver, Tin, Copper, Iron, and Lead are difToved in 
 A<]ua Foriis, and that that Corrofive Dillolvent is 
 tranfmutcd by a fweet Sulphur, it fb comes to pafs 
 that the Metal together with the Corrofive is made 
 a Medicament, and becomes potable Such pota- 
 ble liquor of the Metals, (but efpecially of Gold and 
 Silver,) and void of all Corrofivity, will you meet 
 withall in my Medical fhop; which liquor, as well*' 
 thofe of Silver, and Copper, as that of Gold, are 
 red. The Liquor of Gold may be ufed inftead of 
 Aurum i'otabile, and it guilds Quickfilver and the 
 other Metals with a golden Colour, like as the Sil- 
 ver-liquor guilds Aderctiry, and Silver [or Copper, 
 probably ) with a Silver Hue ; and the Coppery-li- 
 quor guilds Mercury and Iron with a Coppery Co- 
 lour. 
 
 N. B. Aurora being inflamed with the love of 
 Jupiter, and withdrawing him together with her felf 
 into Heaven, if both of them be again thruft down 
 headlong by the other Gods into the Salt-Sea, they 
 come forth out of this Bath, fb delicate and fb white, 
 that fhe refembles the fairnels oi' Diana ; and he, the 
 comlinefs of Apollo : but not as yet conffant in the 
 Fire. But when the time of bathing is over, Mart 
 coming to the Sea Shore, draws both of tliem out 
 upon a dry Ifland called Ironj/, from Iron ; where 
 they are yet once more waflit by VuUatt, (who 
 makes ufe oiSatums help) in a dry Bath, who wafli- 
 eth ott the Defilements far more accurately than the 
 Salt Sea could, for he leaves not off walhing and 
 purging them, untill all the Defilements are fepara- 
 ted from both their Bodies, and that they be made 
 like unto Diana and Apollo , in Conlfancy and 
 comelinefs. 
 
 Mars{i.Q\ng that his Sifter P'emis, and Brother Jtf 
 piter did come forth out of the Salt Sea with lo love- 
 ly a fairnefs, leapt thereinto himfelf, that lb by 
 Ipending Ibme time in walhing, he might rinfe off 
 thole black Defilements from his black Body. Buc 
 there was fiach fiore of filth wafht off, as made all 
 the Sea green and fweet, and it hid [or fwallowed 
 upj Mars himfelf, being now much diminilhed, in- 
 fbmuch that he could never have efcaped out of that 
 Sea, had not Sol, out of meer pity on him, dried 
 up the water of the Sea, for old limping Saturn to 
 come unto him, and to take poor wretched him 
 out of the Dirt and Mire, which he alfb did. 
 
 But becaufe there was fuch a deal of Mire and 
 Fihh as that this (film) lame, (hopping Fellow) 
 could not get out agen, he even there fiuck faft 
 with Man, and lb loft his Life Of the dead Bodies 
 of thefe two, "JIX,, of Mars and Saturn, Vulcan did at 
 
 length 
 
Part I. 
 
 the ?rofperitj <?/ Germany. 
 
 387 
 
 length make one Ikad having two Faces, or a dou- 
 ble Countenance, one refembling Afolo, the other 
 Dtana; and upon this account was the name of 
 double-viiaged Janus beftowed upon it by Vulcan. 
 
 By thelcVew and fhort Operations and ProcelJes, 
 may any one make and devile many more (uch like. 
 1 am nut at this time,for my part,minded to bufie and 
 trouble my ielf about any more tedious a defcription 
 ct'luch matters, for I guefs that in what I have al- 
 ready faid and difclo(ed to the unthankfull, 1 have 
 too much exceeded my bounds. Every one may 
 choofe to himfelt thofl' things which he fhall deem 
 moft profitable, and forbear to delpile that which he 
 Ihal] not be capable of apprehending the meaning 
 of. 
 
 'Tis a ufual Proverb, That a Cup of generous Wine 
 wufi accccmpanj Dainty Delicates. 
 
 Becaufe therefore we have in the three precedent 
 Sawces or Junkets, prelenred you with fine favoury 
 Gates, it is but fitting that we accompany the fame 
 with three dainty draughts, and thole drawn out of 
 the beft of Metals too, namely out of Gold and Sil 
 ver, becauie the Gates or Sawces themfelves were 
 compoled of the fame. Our Ancient PredecelTors 
 called thole Drinks of old time Nethr, or the drink 
 of the Gods, which in our days are known by the 
 names oJ potable Gold, and potable Silver. 
 
 Goncerning thele two, do many oi Ignoramus his 
 Fraternity babble many Stories, and falfly boafi that 
 no true potable Gold can be prepared, or be in Be- 
 ing without the Philofophers Stone. This conclufion 
 of theirs is clearly untrue, for a Man may eafily 
 make Gold and Silver potable, though he hath 
 not any knowledge at all of the univerfal Medicine, 
 which is to be thus underftood, 'viz,. when the Gold 
 and Silver either alone or conjoyned, are dill'olved 
 in a Iweet and not Gorrofive McnJhuurK, and ren- 
 dred fit to be adminiftred to the Sick in Water, Ale, 
 Wine, or any other Liquor. For thofe kind of So- 
 lutions may be taken for a fimple potable Gold and 
 Silver. 
 
 But now for any one to dilfolve Gold in that cor- 
 roding Ai]u.i Regis, or Silver in Aqua Fortfs, and 
 then to imagine that he hath potable Gold and Sil- 
 ver, he is altr^gether in an Errour. Potable indeed 
 they are, becauie they may be drunk like other Li- 
 quors : Bat foriilinuch as thole kind of Solutions do 
 corrode all thi.ngs, and bring e.vtream Detriment, 
 they are juftly rejeded, and the rather becaufe be- 
 ing poured into Wine or Ale, they defile and thicken 
 the lame ; which, no true potable Gold dilFolved in 
 a Not-corrnlive Menfimton, will do, but when 'tis 
 mixt with Wine, Ale, or Water, it remains bright 
 and clear. Beiides too, true potable Gold muft be 
 of (uch a property, as to have no vifible corporal 
 Gold producible thereout of, and yet notwithftan- 
 ding, be able to indue the meaner Metals, yea and 
 Mercury it felf with a golden nature, if they be 
 therein boiled, or to coagulate and tranlhiute them 
 into Gold by the dry way in a Grucible, whether 
 it be done with profit or without profit [it matters 
 not.] Now this tinging virtue comes not from cor 
 poreal and dead Gold, but from a fpiritual living and 
 tinging Gold. 
 
 If therefore the common and corroding folution 
 of Gold, cannot be accounted for a true Aurum Po- 
 tabtle, andthat thelpiritual and tinging Gold, which 
 is" diliolved without anv corrofivenels fliould nor 
 come under this Title neither, whence I pray Ihould 
 it be Ibught for, and where fhould ic be inquired 
 
 after. Iconfels, I do ealiiy periwade mv iclf, that 
 as tor the firft Ens of Gold if we did but know how 
 to wafli and purge it in lijch wile, as that being tur- 
 ned into abloud red liquor, it would admit of Dif- 
 tillation by an Alembick or a Retort, we fhould have 
 a better potable Gold. But where fliall we findfuch 
 an Artificer, as can teach us the way of preparing 
 (uch a potable Gold > 'Tis therefore our belt way to 
 content our lelvcs with liich Medicameots as we have 
 at hand, fo long untill God beftoWt'X'h better upon 
 us. This likewile I believe, that if we did but 
 know fuch an Artifice as to wafh and purge Mercu- 
 ry, in I'uch Ibrt as that it might pafs into a ponde- 
 rous and fweet Water, and if we could fo adjoyn 
 fome pure Gold thereunto inftead of a ferment that 
 they might lift up [or fublime] themfelves together, 
 and again become conlbnt and fix : that then, from' 
 them would arife a red and foluble Carbuncle, or 
 true potable Gold. But thele are onely my fimple 
 thoughts and conceptions, no difpraife to thofe fup- 
 pofitions which other men have entertained concer- 
 ning this matter. So likewife if fpiritual Gold, and 
 the Ipiritual Sulphur of the Vine be conjovned by the 
 help of Salt, they give a good potable Gold, which 
 contains in it Gold potentially, but not acftually or 
 palpably, as may be feen in my Treatile of the true 
 Aurum Potabile, which being clear like Water, and 
 a bright or fair potable Gold, I do adjoyn to my 
 Gates or Sawces inftead of White wine 
 
 But even as White- wine the longer it is kept, the 
 yellower it grows, fo likewile white Aurum Pc- 
 rrt^/Zf doth nor retain its whitenefs above two or three 
 months, but becomes more and more yellow, and is 
 at length turned into a rednefs, but ftill retains its 
 tinging faculty. He therefore that fhall not be well 
 pleafed with the taft of [my] Wine or potable Gold, 
 let him tarry till being more old they become yellow 
 or red, for then they are of a plealanter raft, as ha- 
 ving (through long Procefs of time) loft their Sulphu- 
 reous Tait. 
 
 But as touching the manner of making that pota- 
 ble Gold, as alio all other unpleafant, fugacious and 
 unripe metallick Potions, plealanr, ripe, fix,' and 
 fweet Liquors, that ftiall be revealed afterwards. 
 
 furthermore, I dohereferve out inftead nfagood 
 drink, the golden-coloured Soul, or my Tinfture 
 made of Niter, of which I have fpoken in the fecond 
 part of my Spagyrical Difpenlatory. It is of as 
 much virtue in Medicine as that potable Gold is, 
 which I made mention of but now, but performs 
 nothing in Alchymy or in the Tranllnutation of Mc 
 tals ; but what it would do if it were made fix and 
 conftant in the Fire, I do not as yet know, for T 
 have not as yet brought it to that pafs. But how it 
 may be made fix fhall be prefently ftiown. This 
 very Tin^iure in the degree it is at prefent in, pro- 
 duceth great effects in. Medicine, yea and greater 
 too than thofe which I publiftied about it, in the fe- 
 cond part of my Spagyrical Difpenfatory. It is of a 
 delightfull Taft to the Palate, it removes the ob- 
 ftruitions of the Liver, Lungs, and Spleen, it pro- 
 vokes Urine, expels the Stone, prohibits Obftruai- 
 ons with the Excrements, it may be moft fafely ufed 
 by old and young.yea even by thofe whole ftrength 
 is much debilitated, and it is wont to atford them 
 prefent help; it wonderfully Gorroborates, and 
 makes all Animals, Minerals, and Vegetables fruir- 
 full, and this will eafily appear fo to be, if you do 
 but take fome Vegetable Seed and macerate in the 
 lame, and then put in the Earth, it grows far fpee- 
 
 dier 
 
388 
 
 The Fourtb Fart of 
 
 Part L 
 
 dier and ripens much fooner than other Seeds are 
 wont to do. 
 
 I have fometimcs macerated Wheat, Barly, Peafe, 
 and the SeeJs of fuch like Corn in this Liquor for a 
 night, and being thus fteeped, have Town it in pure 
 Sand, and they have grown ripe far fooner than 
 thofe which have been planted in good and fat Earth : 
 which is fuch a thing, as hath made many Men ex- 
 trcamly to wonder, when they law Corn grow in 
 bare Sand wimt)Ut any other Earth or Dung, and 
 Ic able to arrive to fuch perfesTt maturity. 
 
 Many other Salts there are of no great coft, and 
 fuch as are to be had in vaft quantity, with which, 
 Corn being macerated and fown in barren Lands, 
 and in fuch as are not dunged doth come to perfeft 
 maturity ; and this I have tried not onely once, but 
 oftentimes ; and have alfb purpofed ( if God pleafe) 
 to bring it into publick ufe, in thefe United Provin 
 ces : to which end, the moft Supreme Orders, Gene- 
 ral and Provincial, have granted me a Priviledge (or 
 Patent) for many years; whereby it is forbidden 
 to fow or plant barren, fandy Grounds and undung 
 ed, after this kind of way, without my confent. 
 The main Bads of the knack lies in Seafalt, which 
 may be plentifully had in thefe places, and be eafily 
 prepared and made ufe of ( to fatten lean and dry 
 Grounds with ) inftead of Dung. 
 
 But amongft all (uch like Medicaments, the Tinc- 
 ture of Nitre bears away the Bell , for it cauleth 
 many Stalks to fpring up out of one Grane, and to 
 yield fruit, a thoufand fold. Nor doth it onely make 
 the Vegetables fruitfuU, but Men too, and the terre 
 ftrial Animals, and even the Birds themfelves that 
 live in the Air. And by the fame reafon alto may 
 it be brought to pafs, that even the Metals may be 
 multiplied by the help thereof, as we fhall declare 
 anon, in what follows. 
 
 Both thefe Wines or efficacious Drinks doe very 
 well fuit with the metallick Sawces or Junkets, they 
 heat the Body, help the concodtion of the Stomach, 
 corroborate the Spirits, give good Nourifhment, 
 drive forth out of the Body the fuperfiuous Excre 
 ments, in a due manner by Stool and Urine, they 
 caufe Chcarfulnefs, bel^^ow a profperous Health, 
 give a comely Look, and change the Complexions 
 into the Sanguine and beft Complexion ; in the ac 
 complifhment of all which things, that pure and 
 golden coloured Tin^^ure of Niter excells. 
 
 And here I mufl make a little digreflion, and fet 
 fbmewhat more clearly afore your Eyes, the four 
 primary Complexions ; from which the other mixt 
 ones do arife, according as a Man partakes the more 
 of this or that Complexion. 
 
 Therefore as touching the Complexions, the An- 
 cient Phyficians judged thereof according to the form 
 and colour of the Hair, and were of this Opinion, 
 that the Sanguine Complexion which of all others is 
 the pureft, produceth red Hairs and a white Skin 
 full of fma'l anJ bright Pores, fuch Men being indu- 
 ed with hotand moiftBloud, and of a found Confti- 
 tution are diligent, learned, pious, prone to Venery, 
 Ingenious, Ciiearfull, and tor the moft part long 
 livd, but are iubjeil to hot Difcafes, as Feavers, the 
 Plague, and the like ; and do in their nature relem- 
 b!e the Sun, amongft the Planets, and Gold amongft 
 the Metals. 
 
 The Chohrick liave very black Hair, a ye'.lowifh 
 Skin, and their Bloud is hot and dry, and they are 
 wrathfull, quarrellbme, ftrong, bold, Warriours, 
 addided to Whoredoms, fubcle, wicked, falfe, mer- 
 
 cilefs, rejoycingar others harms, as is wont to be in 
 War. They are tormented with raging Feavers, as 
 alio with the overflowing of the Gall, and they are 
 of the nature cf A4ars and Ven:is amongft the Pla- 
 nets ; and of Iron and Copper amongll the Me- 
 tals. 
 
 The Hairs of the Melancholy Complexion are for 
 the moft part betwixt a white and black colour,and 
 their Skin is white. They are of a cold and dry na- 
 ture, quiet, laborious, mufing, induftrious, fincere, 
 pious, and merciful!, inclined rather to weeping 
 then laughter, if they hear of any mifchances, they 
 aim at Juftice, and fear God without Hypocrifie, or 
 efteem of Men. They are fubjed: to all kinds of Di- 
 feafes,are afflided with a debility of their Limbs, and 
 are compared to Saturn ■a.xvX Jupiter amongft the Pla- 
 nets, and to Lead and Tin amongft the Metals. 
 
 Tlie nature and property of the Thlcgmatick is 
 moift and cold, the Hair and Skin white, the Wit 
 dull, a dreaming fleepy quality, negligent, carefull 
 of nothing, obftinate, envious, flow, and grots, and 
 unreachable, the Body confifts of thick or homely 
 Limbs, and is wont to be troubled with the Scab, 
 U'cers, and cold Feavers. 'Mongft the Planets the 
 Moon, and 'mongft the Metals, Silver, are fuppcK 
 fed not much to differ from their Difpofition. 
 
 Thefe are the marks (as is be'ieved) oftheCom- 
 p'exions in Men and Beafts But yet you are to 
 know, that one [fingle] Complexion doth very rare- 
 ly bear abfblutc fway in any Man, but they are for 
 themoft part mixt, and fo the denomination is gi- 
 ven according to the predominant Complexion. 
 
 A Man that confifts of a fanguine and phlegma- 
 tick property, is as ic were double complexioned, 
 and both the colour and denomination are divided, 
 fb that from red and white, yellow hairs arife, and 
 the Men themfelves are of a good, temperate and 
 fruitfuU nature ; and thus is it to be underftood of 
 other Commixtions. 
 
 But forafiiiuch as a pure and fanguine complexion 
 is efteemed the beft and wholfomeft , the An(^ient 
 Phyficians in their Cures were wont to call the fu- 
 perffuity of any phlegmatick fcabby perfbn. Phlegm 
 and watery Blood : l_the fuperffuity] of^the Melan- 
 cholicki, fad and irktbme cogitations [or peniive 
 dumps: ] and [the fuperffuity] of Cholerick, a mad 
 raging brain. Now of this Phlegmatick, Melancho- 
 ly, or Cholerick [perfbnj do we make a Sanguine 
 one, that is, a Man of a found and pure blood. 
 Upon this account have they afcribed this property 
 unto their Univerfal Medicine, -vix,. that it does not 
 onely change all the imperfecft complexions of Men, 
 as the Cholerick, Melancholy, and Phlegmatick into 
 the Sanguine ; but doth alfb tranfmutc all the imper- 
 fed, unripe, grots, and volatile Metals into pure Gold- 
 For if a Medicine be of fb much virtue as to convert 
 all the Complexions into the Sanguine one, it will 
 necefl'arily tranfmute all the impertedt Metals like- 
 wife, as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, l^enns, Aiercury and 
 Lune into Sol or Gold. 
 
 Now forafmuch as I have often found by the fre- 
 quent Experiments that I have made, that my faid 
 Medicine, or Tindure of Nitre is wont to colour all 
 kinds of Hair, as white, brown, black, (black I fay, 
 which may feem impoftible unto many, but never- 
 chelets is very true ; for to dye white Hair with a 
 yellow colour is a thing commonly known, but to 
 tinge black Hair with a yellow or red colour, is"a 
 great fecret) and even all other Colours, none ex- 
 cepted, with a golden colour; and this it does while 
 
 it 
 
Part^ I. 
 
 the Vrofperity of Germany. 
 
 389 
 
 »c isasyecofan unripe and flying nature .- Upon 
 this account I tlare perfwade my felf, that if it were 
 but broujiht to a fix and conftant nature, it could 
 not pofllbly be, but that it would beltow upon the 
 impert'ecl Metals, a golden nature and perfisdtion. 
 Rut by reafon of its too tender a nature, which isex- 
 treamly impatient of a Fire of Coals, I pondered 
 upon the bulinels more accurately, and perceived, 
 that it is indeed a thing poflibie to be done, although 
 that hitherto I never had a convenient time of per- 
 fecting of the fame. And as concerning the manner 
 how It may be done, I cannot but out of Chriftian 
 Love, difcover the fame to my Neighbour. 
 
 During the time that I conlldered not the Words 
 ef the Angel in the Sepulchre of Chrift', faying, 
 V'hy fetk ye the Living ani07ig the Dead ? and therefore 
 fearch'd about in filthy Sepulchres, in which I could 
 not find the Life. God at length vouchfafed to look 
 upon me with his gratious and mercifull Eyes, and 
 brought me into the right way, infomuch that lea- 
 ving the Sepulchres and Monuments or Tombs of 
 the Dead, 1 began to look fi)r Ijfe amongft the Li- 
 ting, and not amongft the Dead. 
 
 God onely is the alone and eternal Life, who be- 
 ftoweth upon us the fn much'de/lrable Sun, (as be 
 ing the Servant of God ) by the help of the Air. Let 
 us boil, roaft, bake, and labour as much, and in what 
 manner foever we p'.eafe ; yet fhall we never find 
 any livelinefs,>'.fave from the Sun, the Servant, Mi- 
 nilier, or inftrument of the Omnipotent God. [ For 
 elfej we [doe but] prepare us Medicaments deftitute 
 of virtues, of fine out- fide Colours, but within, dead 
 and full of poifon, becaufe from things wanting life, 
 no help can be expected. 
 
 Forafmuch therefore, as we gave not life unto our 
 own felves, neither can we defend the fame againft 
 death without that one onely life coming unto us 
 from above : it is very expedient, that, omitting the 
 ftinking dung, we betake our felves to the pure and 
 Jiving fountain of God, as being the Centre of all 
 life ; and doe (eek tor life, from the Sun, as being 
 -the great mafter of a!l the created Palace [or World.] 
 The way of etfedling this, will I reveal unto you in 
 a few words. 
 
 If we accurately weigh with the utmoft of our 
 difcretions this whnlebufincls, we clearly fee it afore 
 .our Eyes, that there is no other life to be any-where 
 found, belides that univerfal life which God hath im- 
 planted in the Sun, and which the Sun fends down 
 unto us by the help of the Air. Let any one make 
 trial, what way (oever it likes him, and he (hall find 
 this moft true. 
 
 If you would putrefie an Herb or Animal in a (hut 
 glaf-s (0 that the Air cannot penetrate [into it,] there 
 .will indeed be Magots generated, but they will want 
 ,life fo long, untill the g!afs being opened, they re- 
 ceive life and motion from the Air. If you put 
 Herbs, or the Flefh of living Creatures chopt or 
 bruiied in a glafs, and (liut it clofe, and keep the 
 glals for a while in hot Horfe dung, or elfe in warm 
 water, there will Vermine [or Maggots] be indeed 
 generated, but yet void of life, which ( the glafs be 
 ing opened ) will begin to flir of themfelves ; and 
 fo having gotten life, creep out, and become greater, 
 and will get other forms or (hapcs. Place likewife 
 in a warm place, (bme little Barrel half full of Wine, 
 and let the bung-hole be open, that it may putrefit 
 and begin to wax Ibwre ; The alcending vapour wili 
 gather it lllf about the (aid Bung hole into a tenaci 
 ous matter, which will yield (mall little vermine [or 
 
 Mites,] much like thofe which are engendred in 
 Cheefe ; and which at length will, by reafon of the 
 Air, live and creep forth. If you put a Cover over 
 the hole, all rhe/c little Mites will again dye, becaufe 
 they are deprived of the Air from which Life doth 
 proceed. Then the Cover being again taken c(F, 
 and the Air admitted, they doe agcn creep ; and 
 following after the Air, endeavour to get out o'f the 
 Banel : out of which, if they dofi but (lay fome 
 hours onely, and feci the full Air^ 'l"hey attain to a- 
 nother form, and get wings and fly away, which 
 cannot be done without the 'Air, feeing that with- 
 out it they can have no life 
 
 Let fuch Earth as hath Seeds fown therein be (b 
 covered over, as that the Air cannot penetrate into 
 it ; which being fliut out, nothing will be brought 
 forth : or let it be fome Plant, which hath already 
 fproutcd up out of the earth ; if you doe but take 
 the Air therefrom, it will ceafe growing and plainly 
 wither and cnme to nought. 
 
 From whence it is clearly evident, that the rife of 
 all Life is to be imputed to the Air, which very Life 
 it felf, the Sun hath firft wrought in the Air, and Art 
 knows how to extrad: the (ame again thereout of, by 
 a certain Magnetical way, and make it vifible, pal- 
 pable, and fenfible. 
 
 But all the Air is not meer life, but contains this 
 fame life difperfcd, or dilated in it, like a great deal 
 of water containing in it but little Salt, it (elf being 
 vifible, but the Sale which is therein, invifible. And 
 ju(t (b is the life difperfed in the bodies of Men, and 
 other Animals, and, being invifible, hath its habita- 
 tion in the blood, fb that, without it, the whole body 
 would be immovable and remain dead. Now when 
 either a Man, or any other living Creature is con- 
 verfant in the open Air, he attrafteth to himfelf by 
 his breathing, (by a certain Sympathetica! power 
 and property) as much Air as is requilite for the 
 Heart, (which is the Center, Receptac.'e, or Hou(e 
 of the Life) for the nourifliraent ofthe (piritual Life, 
 and as (or the refidue, and unprofitable parr, it cafts 
 it away by the Antipathetical virtue and property 
 of the out blowing (breath or) expiration. So that 
 no Man, no Animal, no Herb, no Mineral, can 
 poffibly enjoy a living and growing faculty, if this 
 food of Life were withdrawn therefrom. Which 
 (eeingitis (o, and cannot be otherwife, it doth ne- 
 ceharily follow, that thfe true univer(al Medicine 
 cannot be prepared in any fliut up (is clofe) Vef- 
 (els as is commonly done. Do but look I pray upon 
 the Birth and Generation of Salt peter, the -Body of 
 which is nothing el(e but theeirential Salt of the Ve- 
 getables. Animals, or Minerals, which attradeth to 
 It felf the Fire out of the Air, as is well known. 
 Therefore, whereas all Salts are wont to be turned 
 (by the help of the Fire and Air) into burning and 
 live Salt- peter, and that no body can bring the fame 
 to pais without Air •. we (houU by good rightlearn 
 from thence thus much, vtz,. to endeavour to make 
 our Medicaments too, alive by the Air. For a 
 Medicine that is deflitute of life wili fiibdue and de- 
 (troy a Difeafe even juftas much as common Salt will 
 overturn a Mountain, and throw it out of its place, 
 without being animated as it were by the Air, antl 
 tranfmuted into burning and living Salt-peter. Tru- 
 ly therefore and by experience do I fay, thatal! the 
 faculty of growth, all Tranlplantation, and every 
 life owes its birth to the Air, and without ic do rhcy 
 all become dead and (o remain. 
 
 H h h h h 
 
 The 
 
3^0 
 
 The Fourth ?nrt of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 The Air receives [its] viral food from the Sun, and 
 the Sun derives its Original from God, the Center 
 and Ikginnm^ of every Life. And therefore when 
 we are defivous of extrading that vital food out ot 
 the Air by the help of Art, and of reducing it into 
 a vifible bodv , it is behoovcfull and expedient, that 
 we expofe thereunto a certain Magnet, which may 
 draw the flime unto it felf, and be by little and little 
 augmented the^withall , and may grow both in 
 quantity and vutue, even as an Herb out of the 
 Earth ; or as an Animal gets it (ef growth and en- 
 creafe by meat a^d drink, and adds to it felf an aug- 
 mentation of (trength and greatnefs and at length 
 afTociates it felf unto [or couples with] its like, and 
 hiukiplieth its kind. _ „„r.^ ^r. 
 
 Man himfelf doth without intermiftion attract to 
 liimfelf the Air, by the help of his Lungs ; but the 
 Heart retains onely the viral food thereof, and re 
 jefteth all the reft like fo much excrement. 1 he Bo- 
 dy it felf aTo doth daily alTume food and fuftenance 
 fby the Mouth, but the Stomach tranfmits the nutri- 
 Client that is feparated thereout of, to the Liver, to be 
 Educed into blood and flefh : but the Excrements, 
 ■as the Dung, Urine, Sweat, and the like, it banifheth 
 -but of the body by the ufual paiTages. Thus like 
 wife ftands the cafe with our Medicament. According 
 as the Magnet is, that we expofe to the faid Air, (o 
 accordingly doth it attradl: its like out of the faid Air, 
 whereby it may get to it felf, Life, Virtue,and Power, 
 ^ut it cannot poffibly be, that it fhould extraft that 
 'virtue and faculty fimply pure and dean ; No, but 
 it gets to it felf alfo a certain, unprofitable, and wa_ 
 tery Eflence; which is aflbciated unto that [virtue,] 
 %hich acqueity doth again go off, as a fuperfluous 
 Excrement, and muft necelfarily beftow the Life 
 onely upon the Magnet, that it may be therewithal! 
 encreafed and ftrengthened. If I defire to have a 
 Vegetable, then muit I f?)W a Vegetable Seed ; or 
 fuch a xMagnet is to be placed there, as may aflbciate 
 or ad joy n unto it (elf its like out of the Air, If you 
 would have an Animal, then an Animal Seed, or 
 'Animal Magnet is to be ufed. But if that which I 
 feek is to be more pure, and more conftant [or 
 lading:] a purer Magnet muft neceilarily be expo- 
 sed ; for like doth always feek its like ; love, o^er- 
 'come, and conferve it : according to the teftimony of 
 'the Ancient Wife men. Nature rejojceth with Nature : 
 Nature overMnes Nature :' Nature retains Nature. 
 
 The manver of fo flac'mg the Magnets, that (hj Soluti- 
 ons and Coagulations ) they may receive the Aftral 
 and vi'uifying Rajs of the Sun , and may rendtr 
 them 'Vifible, corporeal, falfable, and durable in the 
 Fire. 
 
 An'd therefore feeing our purpofe tends to this, 
 namely, to extratl the in vifible faculty of Life, the 
 -power and virtue of the Sun out of the Air ; to con- 
 centrate it, and make it corporeal, vifible, and pal 
 pable ; It behooves us to provide our felves with a 
 ffittin'^'Seed or Magnet, which may earneftly attraft, 
 ■ overcome, and hold the lame. Now fuch Magnets 
 -are pure Gold, and the moft pure Soul ot Saltpeter, 
 ^both of them being the true offfpring of the vivify- 
 ing Sun. . ,., , 1 
 Becaufe therefore like defircs its hke, loves, and 
 feeks after it, a poifonous Magnet muft not be expo- 
 fed [to attraft] a vital food : For as is the nature of 
 the Magnet, lo likewifc doth it attrad good or evil 
 out of tlie Air. It is a thing that Husbandmen are 
 well acquainted withall, namely, that Wheat produ- 
 ceth nothing elfb but Wheat, and from Tares do 
 Tares arife If the Seed or Magnet be aurcous and 
 .pure, it will alfo acquire to it felf pure and golden 
 " Virtues, and be encreafed by them. 
 
 YO U muft get made fome flat and ftrong glaS 
 Diflies or Platters, in which you muft put 
 your Magnet the thicknefs of half a fingers breadth, 
 and expole it moift: to the Sun, that the unprofitable 
 humidity may vanifh by evaporation. Which done, 
 ( and in the Summer time it will be done in a few 
 hours, ^fpecially if there were not too much of the 
 Golden Liquor put inio the Difhes ) expofe the fame 
 Difhes, which contain in them the [thus] dried Salt, 
 in the night-time, open to the cold and moift Lunar 
 Beams, that the Salt m.ay by its magnetick virtue 
 aUbciate unto it felf from the Air, the Water, which 
 carries in it the univerfal food ot the Air, and con-- 
 fequently may be dillolved. This Solution is to be 
 agen fet out in the daytime to the Sun-beams, which 
 will again dry up the unprofitable moifture, and 
 leave in the Salt, tljat vivifying and golden Seed, 
 which it contracted in the cold Night and Air, tO' 
 gether with the humidity, which is void of any vir 
 tue. The Salt being freed by the Sun from its fu- 
 perfluous moifture, muft be again expofed at Night 
 to the Lunar beams, that it may again imbibe the 
 Aftral virtues, and may be agen difTolved in the ini' 
 bibed water, that, being the next day, as the day a 
 fore, expofed to the Sun, it may be animated ane\» 
 with thofe fame virtues : Thefe expofings by turns 
 [to the Sun and Moon^ muft be fo long and ib often 
 repeated, untill the faid Magnet, ( after its being dri- 
 ed at the daytime in the Sun) will, at the night- 
 time, hardly admit of any moifture from the Air, 
 and that being dry and put upon a red-hot Plate^ 
 it readily melts without fume. For then may it be 
 applied to ufe, as being a conftant and fix Medic* 
 ment 
 
 This interchangeable Solution and Coagulation 
 muft be repeated fome hundreds of times, and every 
 Solution and Coagulation is to be accounted for a 
 Philofophical day. 
 
 If now in the Summerfeafon the heat of the Sun 
 be not ftrong enough in our Countries for the effec- 
 ting of this operation, the faid heat may be concen- 
 tred by Glalles, or metallick Inftruments, and be 
 made more efficacious, that the Coagulation may- 
 be ripened [or haftned.] But in defeit of fuch In- 
 ftruments, and want of the heat of the Sun, which 
 is frequently over-calt with ftore of Clouds, you may 
 eafily forward the Coagulation with our Common . 
 Fire, and that too with a more unfailable and fpec- 
 dicr operation than that is, v^herein the drying up 
 bv the Solar heat is always to be waited for. And 
 although this operation, which is performed in the 
 Sun, is to be accounted of as far the better, yet not- 
 withftanding the Sun doth operate together with 
 our C^ommon Fire after an invifible manner, when 
 we cannot make ufe of the Sun it fe!f For where- 
 fbever the Air is, there alfo is to be found the inviU- 
 ble Sun, and the occult virtue and power of life; 
 He that can have the opportunity of ufing the Sun 
 in this operation, needs not any other Fire. But the 
 ufing of our Common Fire rcquireth a peculiar Iron 
 Furnace, whereon the Difties or Bafons are to be 
 placed to dry. But yet the heat muft not be under- 
 neath, and ftrike at the bottom of the faid Bafons, 
 ' but 
 
the Vrofperity of Germany. 
 
 391 
 
 ■ bur it muft be (lich as may ftiike the heat down- 
 wards at top of the matter oneJy, and may gently 
 and by little and little confume the humidity : For 
 el(e there would be hazard of the Liquors boiling o- 
 ver, and of being loft, if the heat fliould be placed 
 under the bottom of the Diflies. The Iron Furnace 
 may be made of Iron Plates, refembling Arched work, 
 [or Oven like] and be placed within a Stone Fur- 
 nace, and have a Door fitted thereunto, that fo nei- 
 ther Duft nor Aflies may fly thereinto, and by this 
 way will the Salts be dried in two or three hours 
 time. And now, that you may not need to wait till 
 the night approacheth, you may have a wooden 
 Box or Cbeft made, and covered over at the top, but 
 pierced full of holes all round about the fides, which 
 ( with the Bafons placed therein) may in the Win 
 ter-fealbn be fet abroad to the cold Air, and in the 
 Summer-time may be placed in fome moift Cellar, 
 that fo the Salts n)ay attraLl from the Air the food of 
 Life. For in all places of the World doth the Air 
 contain in it ( though in one place more plentifully, 
 and better, than in another) that occult faculty and 
 virtue of Life, without which, neither Men nor Ani- 
 mals are able to live. But by how much purer the 
 Air fhall be , . fo much the purer and more ex- 
 cellent is the acquired Medicine. As for the Tranf- 
 mutatiun of Metals, it matters not much what Air 
 it is that you get, for every fort of Air is fit for this 
 operation. We doe in this place manifeft onel}' the 
 way of fixing it : Now every one knows that a pure 
 and clean Air is better than a grols and an impure 
 one, and that the heat of the Sun is better than the 
 heat of Coles, or of a Lamp. 
 
 ThomM A<]u'inas writes, that God with his Angels 
 cannot want our fire, and therefore is he reproved 
 by F/tracell»s, becaufe he faith that God cannot want 
 the Elementary fire. Alas, Good ma:i, he did not 
 fo accurately weigh this matter, for this propofition 
 tends onely to this end, namely, to fet afore our 
 eyes the purity of the Fire neceflfary for the Codtion 
 of our Medicine. From whence it is fufficiently 
 manifeft, that a Medicament will be fo much the 
 better, by how much the purer the Fire (hall be. 
 For a grofs Air begets a grols Blood. But in this 
 operation, the Air is the Meat and Drink of our 
 Golden Salt, but the Water or Phlegm is to be dri- 
 ven away by heat, it being a fuperfluous Excrement 
 adhering on to that Air. Now in thofe manifold 
 Solutions and Coagulations, the Magnet doth al- 
 ways retain fome good thing, and encreafeth both 
 in weight and virtue, and attaineth a conftancy : 
 like as Men and other Animals are encreafed with 
 Meat and Drink, and doe grow in ftature, and mul- 
 tiply themlelves. The whole work therefore of ma- 
 
 • king this kingly Medicament by the help of the fecret 
 ...5olar fire, doth confift in a good, pure, and golden 
 .••Magnet, and afterwards in a true Solution and Co- 
 -agulation : Which if it be too fpeedy and ftrong, the 
 ! over-much heat will burn up and confume the at- 
 
 • tracfted food of Life. If therefore a Medium be not 
 lUfed, it fo happens, as 'tis wont to be in any Earth 
 -that is too moift , and therefore not [capable of J 
 
 bearing fruit. So that nothing is more necelfary 
 than to have a due regard of mediocrity , not 
 r onely in the Solution, but in the Coagulation like- 
 wife. 
 
 And this is that way by which the Solution done 
 in the Air, and the Coagulation made in the Sun, 
 doe reduce the Mercurial water, and the Minerals 
 prepared with Salt into fulile and tinging Stones ; 
 
 , which thing the Common fire will never perf(jrm in 
 a gla(s doled up, and without the Air 
 
 Note this, and believe it, and doe it, and thou 
 wilt find what thou haft believed, come topafs. 
 
 Supper being. ended, and the Drinking-bout over, 
 'tis time for the Guefts to go to Bed, unto whom 
 the cuftqmof fome is to prelent a clofing Cup, made 
 of goocjl and profitable Herbs, 'mongft wliich, fiich 
 as are more bitter, are for the moft part in greateft 
 eftcera, becaufo they dole up the im e:h of the Sto- 
 mach, and beget a quiet Sleep. 
 
 Now to parallel this Cuftoni;, I will here fet one 
 down, for thole that are defirous of fuch like bitter 
 Potions, and focli an one as they may prepare accor- 
 ding to their pleafiare, and apply to ufe. 
 
 Take of common A/^na Fortu, which you rauft 
 re.tifie by a Cucurbit, or by a Retort, that it may 
 be bright and clear. Dillblve therein, by i)oiling in 
 hot Sand, as much cupellated Silver as it will dif- 
 folve ; but you are to note here, that there muft 
 not be any Copper at all in the Silver, for it would 
 Ipoil the Medicament. Into the Solution pour ftrong 
 and well revtified Spirit of Sal-Ar?nontack, fo long 
 till the A<^ua Funis makes no more Ebullition. When 
 all the tiffing and noilc is over, there will be about 
 the half part of the Silver precipitated, and fettled 
 to the bottom, and will be of an a(hy colour. Place 
 the Gials in Sand, put Fire thereunder, and boil 
 the precipitated Silver with the Aknfiruum, in which 
 boiling there will feparate yet more Silver out of the 
 Mtnfiruum, and the relidue will remain dilfolved up 
 in the jVknjtrHum, whicii is to be filtered through 
 Cap paper, and then to be evaporated by little and 
 little in Sand, that all the humidity may be ab- 
 ftraa:ed. 
 
 N. B. The Aqua Fort is and Spirit of Sal-Armoni- 
 ack, turn into a liquid and volatile Salt, and have 
 loft their corroding i.ro;jerty, which Salt hath intro- 
 verted the Silver, and drawn its bitiernefs forth, in- 
 fomuch that both Salts are converted into one bitter 
 and green Salt. This Salt muft be dillblved, filter- 
 ed, and purified by pouring Water thereon, and 
 again drawing it otf ; and being hereby renr'red 
 more pure, it refolves it lelf in the cold Air into a 
 green and bitter Liquor, one drop of which is able 
 to make a whole Cupfull of Wine bitter. And this 
 Wine being drunk is profitable to the Stomach, cau- 
 feth quiet Sleep, diHipates Windinefs, and keeps the 
 Belly Soluble. 
 
 N. B. This Salt guilds over Glafles, and other gla- 
 zed Veflels with Silver, nor does it vanifh away but 
 remains conftant. It likewife performs other confi- 
 derab'e etFedts in Alchymy, as may be feen in my 
 other Writings, but elpecially in the lecond part of 
 my Furnaces, of the laft Edition. And thus do I 
 leave the Guefts to their reft, that they may Sleep 
 even till broad Day-light. 
 
 The Sun being up, and fome of the Guefts being 
 very droughty or thirfty with their Yefternight Sur- 
 feiting, and being tormented with overmuch Heat ; 
 they endeavour to extinguilh this Inflammation cf 
 the Liver, with cold Fountain Water, or with fmall 
 Beer, or with hungry and iharpning Wine. Others 
 fend to the Apothecaries for (omc Syrup ol Roles, or 
 Violets, and mix that with Fountain Water, and fo 
 drink it off. But the burning hot Liver is prelently 
 fmitten with a fudden horrour, the Stomach is re- 
 frigerated, and belet with clammy Humours, and 
 moft an end the Limbs are debilitated, the Skin be- 
 comes Scabby and cold Feavers polfefs the Stomach. 
 
 Inftead 
 
5^2 
 
 T^he FoartI) ?nrt of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Inftead therefore of Ibch like drink, I will here fub- 
 ftitute a far better cooling Potion, which (hall noc 
 hinder the health, asthofedo, but be profitable to 
 the fame. 
 
 Take one pound of Spirit of Salt, not of that yel- ! 
 low, unreiftified Spirit that is fold in the Shops, but 
 of our well redifted Spirit ; wherein diUblve as much 
 Tartar as it will allbciate unto it felf in a gentle boi- 
 ling; filter the Solution through Cap-paper, that fo 
 all the FoectfJ*"vhich were in the Tartar, may abide 
 in the Paper,and the Spirit of Salt it felf together with 
 the [dilTolved] Tartar may pafs through, bright and 
 clear ; if the Solution ftands long in a cold place, part 
 of the Tartar will flicoc into Cryftals.and part there- 
 of will remain mixt with the Spirit of Salt, and give 
 it a gratefull vinous Acidity. If you ufe white Tar- 
 tar then the laid Spirit will remain white, red Tar- 
 tar tingeth the fame with the colour of a Ruby. 
 N. B. The Spirit of Salt is of luch a nature, as that 
 it makes all colours more fair. You may therefore 
 ufe red Tartar to make this Potion withall, becaufc 
 of the lovelinefs of the colour, wherewith it tingeth 
 the Spirit of Salt, for as to the virtues and efficacy 
 of them, there is no difference to be found between 
 them. 
 
 This Tartarized Spirit of Salt is very fweet, and 
 talis like an acid Wine, fome drops of which, being 
 drunk in cold Fountain Water, will not at all hurt 
 the Liver : nor will it onely allay the droughtinefs 
 and thirft, but alfb ftir up in the Stomach an Appe 
 tite to meat and drink. And therefore I do com- 
 mend this Tartarized Spirit of Salt, beyond all other 
 thirft-allaying Remedies, and it may be taken fafe!y 
 and plealantly, both Summer and Winter, becaufe 
 theunripeand acid Wines being drunk with Fountain 
 Water and Sugar, do refrigerate the Stomach, and 
 load it with tenacious humours, and weaken the Ap- 
 petite, and hinder digelf ion. 
 
 Mofi profitable therefore is this our Spirit unto 
 thofe, who daily drinking much Ale, may always 
 mix a little of the fame with their Ale For it makes 
 the Ale to taft like an acidifh Wine, it allays thirft, 
 lo that there will not need fuch a guzling in of fo 
 great a quantity of thick Ale, it difculleth Wind, ex- 
 pells Urine, hinders the generation of the Stone in 
 the Bladder and Reins, and if it be already genera- 
 ted it dillolves and coniijmcs the fame, aad by little 
 and little drives out the fame with the Urine. Being 
 adminiftred to fuch as are troubled with the Feaver, 
 Gout, Stone, and Scurvy, and that in all their 
 drink, it is a pleafant and profitable Remedy. Con- 
 cerning the> ufe of which, you may find more fpoken 
 in my Treatife, intituled. The Confolation of Sailors. 
 Now befides all this, there is yet one thing more 
 that I ftiall here admonitli you of; namely, that 
 by the Spirit of Salts help may a Remedy be admi- 
 niftred to many more hurt full diforders, but efpeci- 
 ally in the ftead of thofe fharpifh Waters, unto 
 which, Men are wont to come from far and under- 
 take long Journeys, lofing. their moft pretious time 
 and Money, negletfting their Calling, their Houfhold 
 Affairs, their Witeand Children, upon the bare hope 
 of recovering their former Health : Whereas not- 
 withflanding, the Spirit of Salt well prepared with 
 Tartar, and having a little Steel Powder put there- 
 into, will perform the very fame effed as the Cali- 
 beat Waters are wont to do, and lb they may avoid 
 thelofs offb muchexpences, and of their pretious 
 time ; and thus every one mav difcharge and follow 
 his own Calling and'Domeftick Affairs, and yet for 
 
 all that, be cured by the help of the Tartarized and 
 Chalibeat Spirit of Salt which openeth the Obftruc- 
 tionsofthe Liver and Spleen. 
 
 But what fhall I (ay much for .-' Some haply there 
 are that go the more willingly to thofe Waters every 
 year for other reafons. Such as have old chiding 
 Wives at Home, that take it very ill if their Huf- 
 bands do but ftir out of Doors, and are continually 
 a plaguing them with Scoldings and ill Words, have 
 not thefe think you great reafbn to (eek fome Di- 
 verllon ^ 
 
 Young Women alfo love to vifit thefe Waters and 
 Baths, who meeting not with fo much heat in their 
 feeble and aged Husbands, as to beget them with 
 Child, betake themfelves to thofe Waters and Baths, 
 where at a'l times they meet with a<fl:ive ftrong Com- 
 panions, full of ftrength and Metal, who without 
 doubt do frequent the faid places, for this very end, 
 namely, to apply warm fuppofitories to thole cold 
 Women, and uterine emplafters to make them Fruit- 
 ful!, and to take away Sterility. Such kind of Dames 
 being reftored to their former health, asd re- 
 turned Home, their Husbands find (after (bme few 
 Months) how effeclual the ufe of thofe Waters have 
 been upon their Wives. 
 
 Befides, it mofl: an end happens that the Mailer 
 and Miftrelsbeingabfent,the Houfhold Affairs are ve- 
 ry awkwardly adminiftred and managed by the Chil- 
 dren, the Mcn-fervants, and Maid fervants ; and 
 that common German Proverb doth ufually take 
 place; Ths Cat being out of the way^ The Alice upon 
 the Shelves do 'flay. The truth of this is fufficiently 
 teftified by frequent Examples. And therefore it is 
 much better to drink thefe acid Waters at Home, 
 whereby both Money and Time is fpared, and ma- 
 ny evils prevented. And thus much may fuffice to 
 have been (aid concerning a refrigerating Drink. 
 
 And now, feeing we have at hand good Cheefe 
 and Butter, good Sawces or Gates, and delicate 
 Drink,can we notbe herewith content.'' Verily in my 
 Judgment here's enough difht out for one Banquet. 
 But fome may (ay, in very good time I Glauber [in- 
 deed] does not onely teach us the preparation of 
 good Meats, but likewife of Cheefe, Butter, Sawces, 
 [or Junkets,] and pretious Wine, but yet tells us not 
 from whence the Miik to make the Cheefe and But- 
 withallis to be had, no>- whence the Sugar and 
 
 ter 
 
 Spices for the Cates, and the Grapes needful 1 to 
 make the Wine with, are to be gotten ^ What be- 
 nefit have we by knowing how to make Cheefe and 
 Butter, and yet want Cows to yield us Milk ? To 
 fatisfie thefe, we will demonftrate unto them, that 
 even both the Milk it (elf, and the precious Spices, 
 and moil: excellent Grapes are all attainable by the 
 lielpofSalt. 
 
 In my Treatife called Miraculum Mumli, as like- 
 wife in that caWed The cofititjuat ion of the fame, and in 
 that Book, of the nature of Salts, I have clearly en- 
 ough (hown, that all the faculty of the Growth and 
 Nourifhment of all growing and movable Creatures 
 doth take its rife and original 6ut of Salt alone, and 
 that the correftion or melioration, not one'y of Ve- 
 getables and Animals, but even of the Minerals too, 
 IS to be fought for from the lame. 
 
 But forafmuch as this bettering of the Metals 
 meets with but little credit and is very hardly belie- 
 ved and underftood,(nay 'tis plainly thought a thing 
 impoffible to be eftedcd, : 1 could not choofe but 
 manitefl and demonftrate the truth of the fame unto 
 the whole World ; namely, that like as the Metals- 
 are 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Frofperity ^/Germany. 
 
 vn 
 
 are in long proceft of time maturated by Salt in 
 the Bowels of the Earth: Even lb may the fame be 
 likevvife maturated, munditied, and amended out of 
 the Earth, by Salt, by the help and benefit of Art ; 
 not onely by the moift way, but alio by the dry, and 
 that with one Fire, in one Furnace, and with one 
 Servant, whom I will in this place call The Country- 
 man faying his yearly Rent. When his belly is con 
 tinualiy fill'd with Coles, his Plows never ceafe go- 
 ing, ib that weekly, monthly and yearly he is able 
 to pay his mafter the due hire, namely Gold and 
 Silver, wherewith all things neceflary for houfliold 
 expences may be gotten. 
 
 And although this Countryman, which I will here 
 defcribe, be not that [great] Country- Farmer, which 
 I have mentioned in the "third Part of the Projpenty of 
 Germany .- yet notwithl^anding he is a little one, and 
 one that will dilcover ib much unto the ignorant as 
 ro caufe them to believe that the thingswhich 1 fpeak 
 of are polTible to be done, and that there is a yet 
 richer and better Countryman. But this here is to 
 be accounted as a fmall Cow, and which will how- 
 ever fupply you with Milk, Butter and Cheele, for 
 necelTary ufes, if not with Sugar, Spices, and Wine 
 too, to be fet out upon the Table. If this Country 
 fellow be too little and linall for any one, he may 
 even provide himfelf of a better, and learn by the 
 confideration of this, by what means f'uch Country- 
 men are to be noui ifhed, that ib the Rent may be 
 gotten from him in its due time. 
 
 A. The little Country Tenant with one Flow. B. The 
 Countryman with three Plowu C. The Countryman s 
 Cap. D. His three Plows. E. The Regifiers to govern 
 the Fire by. F. The Glajs fet in with his Aitmbick and 
 Receiver. G. the Door to \hut the Crate. H.The Ajh- 
 hole. I. j4 Basket of Coals [See the Fig. before the 
 ^d. p. ofjlx Profperity of Germ, noted with pag 76.] 
 
 In the firft place you muft prepare you fbme 
 pounds of good Spirit of Salt, after the way which 
 1 prefcribed with Vitriol, without which it will ettiscl 
 nothing , for out of this [Vitriol] it doth in the pre- 
 paration carry over with it the fpiritual Gold, or 
 tinging Spirit, which faid [fpiritual Gold] is, in the 
 performing of the operation, fixed, together with that 
 fpiritual Gold, which lyes hidden in the inferior Me- 
 tals, and fb becomes manifeft. 
 
 Then (in the next place) you muft build you a 
 Furnace, which is called by the Chymilts the few 
 Henry, or dull Hnrry, but 1 call it The little Country 
 Farmer or yearly Renter : you may build it, I fay, of 
 what bignels you pleafe ; or for Example fake, the 
 Tower which holds the Coles may be about Man- 
 hcighth, and about one Cubit broad in the inlide, 
 but fb, that the top part and bottom part be nar- 
 rower, and the middle part wider. To this Tower 
 you muft adjoyn two or three Furnaces, which are 
 here called the Countryman's Plows , and in which 
 the Veiiels are to be placed, which hold the Me- 
 tals that are to be maturated by the Spirit of Salt, 
 and which have a continual heat, whereby the never- 
 ceafing coiftion is holpen from the Tower that con 
 tains the Coles Now fee that you make all things 
 cleverly and well proportioned, whereby that the 
 Fire may be well and commodioufly governed, and 
 may be conferved for twenty four hours at leaft,with- 
 out any looking too or medling with, as may be feen 
 by the nowdefcribed Figure. 
 
 The Vefl'el, in which the Spirit of Salt, with the 
 Metal, is to be exercifed (or laboured) with a daily 
 Coition, muft be made of fuch matter as doth not 
 
 Hie with the heat of the Fire, nor is nor eaten with 
 the fharpnefs of the Spirit, (but fuch as may be 
 feen in my Laboratory, and will for the moft pare 
 dure and hold the Spirit of Salt a whole year with- 
 out breaking. 
 
 All things being ready and fitted, the Country- 
 mans Belly is to be filled with Coals up to the Neck, 
 and his Head covered with a Cap, that the Fire 
 ■nay not find any out-let, fave by the lower holes, 
 through which, the heat may find an entrance into 
 the adjoined Furnaces ; and as fcrirthe Vellels, they 
 are to be filled with the Spirit of Salt, and with Me- 
 tals fitted for this Operation, and to be covered 
 with their Alembicks, that the Spirits which alcend 
 in the boiling may be received and conferved. When 
 all the Spirits of the Salt are come over, they are 
 to be again returned back upon the dried matter in 
 theCucurbif,andaie tobe ag'-n drawn off by diftilla- 
 tion. This operation and cohobation being often 
 repeated, doth ripen and fix the fpiritual Silver and 
 Gold, whereby it becomes Corporeal : But yet the 
 Spirit of Salt alone is not able to give Gold, but ri- 
 pens Silver onely, but by the addition of other Salts, 
 it will give Gold too. And even for the fixation of 
 Silver,common Salt may be alfo added to the Spirit of 
 Salt, that fo the Spirit of the Salt may be made Itrong 
 in the digeftion ; yea and in time fo very (trong, as 
 to fume even in the cold Air , and therefore a little 
 water may be alfo added befides the Salt 
 
 Hence it comes to pafs, that in one days digeftion 
 fix pounds of Spirit of Salt will give feven pounds of 
 the fame ; unto v/hich, if you again add one pound 
 of Water, and one pound of Salt, you fliall have 
 eight pound of Spirit of Salt : which by the addition 
 of another pound of Salt, and one pound of Water 
 more, it may be farther augmented ; infomuch that 
 the Spirit of Salt, by a continually-repeated addition 
 of Water and Salt, gets a perpetual encreafe, and the 
 Metal is fo far from being at all hindred in its matu- 
 ration, as that it is daily ripened more and more. 
 For the Agent and Patient ai e continually encreafed, 
 and become bettered both in quantity and quality^ 
 which verily is a moft excellent work, and never fo 
 manifeltly defcribed by any body as by my felf 
 
 But that I may be yet better underltood by every 
 one, I will here adjoyn a way which every one may 
 imitate, and which teacheth how, by the Spirit of 
 Salt alone affording not Gold but Silver, the faid 
 operation may be inftituted with Copper. 
 
 You mult take care to have a Vellel made either 
 bigger or lelTer, of fiach matter as the Spirit of Salt 
 cannot fpoil or prey upon ; And pour thereinto as 
 many pounds of the Spirit of Salt as it will well holdj 
 and as many pounds as there be [of Spirit,] fb ma- 
 ny ounces of Copper-plate muft you put in , and to 
 them add twice as many ounces of Salt, fo that to 
 one ounce of Copper there may be two ounces of 
 Salt. The Spirit of Salt being drawn off even till the 
 Copper and Salt be dry, it will be ftronger and more 
 in quantity, becaufe, from the adjoyned Salt, it hath 
 acquired to it felf an encreafe and greater Virtues. 
 Pour this Spirit agen upon the Chopper, which in the 
 firft diftillation was wholly dillolved up ; and boil 
 the Spirit of Salt over the fire, that the Copper, to- 
 gether with the Salt, which was not carried over by 
 the Spirit in the firft diftillation, may be again dil^ 
 fblved. 
 
 The Furnace being coold , Take the glafs out of 
 the Sand, and pafs the Spirit of Salt with the difTol- 
 ved Copper through Cap-paper, and wafh the white 
 
 1 1 i i i Calx 
 
394- 
 
 The Fourth Fart of 
 
 Part I 
 
 Calx that remains in the Paper with water, dry it, 
 and melt it with a fix Lixivial Salt, and you (hall find 
 as much pure Silver, nay, even fomewhat more than 
 the Copper had in it by its own nature. Put the 
 green filtred Solution agen into the Cucurbit, being 
 firft well wafh't ; of which, if there be fix pounds, 
 add thereunto one pound of Salt, and half a pound 
 of Water, that fo there may be (even pounds and 
 an half, provided the Cucurbit will contain fo many 
 pounds, if not, then put the lefs matter therein 
 Then being placthl in Sand, draw o(f the Spirit of 
 Salt from 'the added Salt, even to drynefs, and as 
 much increafe as you find it have above fix pounds, 
 lay it by, and add as much water to thefe remain- 
 ing fix pounds, which you muft again put upon the 
 dry matter in the Cucurbit, and then agen diftill it 
 otf till the (aid matter be dry, and repeat the (ame 
 Operation again by pouring on and diftiUing otF. If 
 the Spirit of Salt be augmented in quantity one 
 pound, then put more Salt into the Cucurbit, and 
 agen augment the fix pounds of Spirit of Salt by the 
 addition of Water, and repeat the pourings on, and 
 .drawings off after the afore(aid manner, always re-, 
 moving at each Diftillation, the increafe that is over 
 and above fix pound : and renewing the appofition 
 of more Salt, after that the former is drawn off, un- 
 till you (hall have gotten in the fifth, fixth, (eventh, 
 eighth, or tenth Diilillation as much Spirit as you at 
 (ir(t took, to begin your Diftillation, [which was fix 
 pound.] Now all the operation confifteth in this 
 knack, namely, that you (6 operate, as that nothing 
 flies away in fume, for all the encrea(e arifeth from 
 the Salt and Water which you added thereunto. 
 When you have gained thus much, you may (with- 
 out adding any more new Salt) pour on the Spirit 
 of Salt feveral times upon the Salt which is left re- 
 maining in the Cucurbit, and agen draw it off (b of- 
 ten thencefrom, untill it hath brought over with it 
 felf almoft all that Salt. Which [Salt] being almoft 
 wholly changed by the Spirit of Salt that was pour- 
 ed into the Cucurbit, Dilloh e up the remaining Mafs 
 of the Copper and Salt, and the Sand being cold, 
 take out your Cucurbit , Filter the Spirit through 
 Cap-paper, and wafh the white Powder left in the 
 Paper, and dry it, and melt it as afore with a Lixi- 
 vial Salt, and you fliall have as much pure Silver as 
 the Spirit of Salt was able to fix, of the Copper, in 
 luch a time. Then put this green Spirit of 6'alt into 
 the Cucurbit together with more new Salt, and re 
 peat the (aid labours ten or twelve times, and the 
 Spirit of Salt will be always encreafed and rendred 
 more ftrong, and the Copper will agen yield forth 
 Silver. 
 
 This Labour, you may at your pleafure, continue 
 as long as you lift, for you will always get fbme Sil- 
 ver, and have an encreafe of Spirit. Tor both the 
 Agent, -VIZ,, the Spirit of Saltj and the Patient, -vtz,. 
 the Copper doe encreafe both as to quantity and 
 quality. 
 
 But it may be demanded, Wlienee that Silver 
 comes •" That which gave forth it (elf the firft time 
 we impute not unto the Spirit of Salt, as if by it 
 made, no ! but we fay that it was in the Copper be 
 fore, and was melted out of the Oar, together with 
 the Copper, for this may well be. For there's no 
 Copper to be found which does not hold (bme Silver 
 hidden in its belly : and though the Refiners have as 
 accurately (eparated it as they could, yet neverthe- 
 lefs we doe conclude that that firft Silver (eparated 
 in the fir/t Operation, was what was left of the Oar 
 
 in the Copper, and remained unleparated by the 
 Mel ters [or Refiners] therefrom, and was not made i 
 by the Spirit of Salt, but oncly (eparated. And the 
 Spirit of Salt being in its nature an enemy to Silver, 
 docs not dilfolve it. But whence then did that come^ 
 which offered it felf unro us the (ecnnd, third, and 
 fourth time ; whereas in the fir(( Solution, all the 
 Silver was clearly taken out, and none at all left 
 therein, but was all of it (eparated by filtration? 
 What (hall we here fay, or indeed how (Tiall we dare 
 (ay otherwife, but that we believe and confefs, that 
 the Spirit of Salt did by its operation make the (ame 
 of the Copper. Nor is there any reafbn why this 
 fliould (eem (b very ftrange unto us, fora(much as 
 yearly, in the Earth, all Copper is naturally turned 
 by Salt into Silver, and not onely Copper, but all 
 the other Metals were at firft. Salts : not fuch in- 
 deed as we ufe about our Cookery in the Kitchins, 
 but (iich as are impregnated by the Sulphureous Stars 
 [or Conftellations.j 
 
 But fora(much as we doe at prefent treat onely of 
 Copper, we doe not therefore meddle with the reft 
 of the Metals : for very rarely is Copper digged out 
 of the Earth but it hath Vitriol therein, or, in defeft 
 of Vitriol, a Sulphur faked with a vitriolateSalt. For 
 any (brt of Sulphur being burnt , and its fatne(s fla- 
 ming, the (harp Salt is relea(ed, and pafleth away 
 in fume, refembling the taf}, of the fiery Oil of 
 Vitriol, and is captivated [or caught] in the great 
 Alembick under which the Sulphur is burnt. This 
 fharpOil fupplies the place of an Agent as to theMi- 
 nera's or Oars, in the Veins of the Earth ; and doth 
 more and more ripen the Minerals and Metals, but 
 exceeding flowly : for Nature doth (carce attain to 
 that limit in a thoufand Years, which Art doth in a 
 few Months time. For there are no impediments to 
 obftrucT; the operativenefs of our Agent, (uch as are 
 the Stones, Flints, Sands, and various Earths which 
 frequently occur, and are much abounding in the 
 bowels of the [Mctaliick] Veins : infbmuch that it 
 can di(charge its Operations freely, and without any 
 Impediment at all : and befides too, we u(e our ex- 
 ternal fire by which we help this our Agent, and 
 ftrengthen its virtues, and keep it in a continual 
 adion. 
 
 By all this difcourfe may every one fee, that when 
 we fpeak of ripening Silver out of Copper by the 
 Operations of the Spirit of Salt, it is not contrary to 
 nature, but altogether agreeable with the (ame. But 
 now we doe nor (ay that any one will (iiddenly be- 
 home rich by this Labour, done with the Spirit of 
 Salt and Copper, but we have defcribed this Opera- 
 tion in this place, for this end, namely, that hereby 
 the pofllbility of the thing may be learned, and that 
 there may be good ground to believe, that even this 
 too is moft true, viz,, when we write that by fuch 
 or fuch an Agent , corroborated or fortified with 
 fuch or (ijch Subjects, and placed in fuch-like Dige- 
 ftions. Gold may be extraded as well as Silver out 
 of the meaner Metals, which how little foevcr there 
 be of, may notwithftanding prove profitab'e. For 
 having once made onely (ome pounds of Spirit of 
 Salt, you will not need to make any more anew, 
 for in the digeftion and maturation of the Metals, 
 it will daily encreafe, and that in a plentiful! man- 
 ner, and that too without any confiderable cofts, (ee- 
 ing that the Salt it (elf, which is to be added, is likc- 
 wi(e cheap enough. If you make your Cucurbit of 
 pure Silver, (for the Spirit of Salt will not work up- 
 on that ) and digeft your matters therein, you need 
 
 not 
 
Van I. 
 
 1 
 
 'II 
 
 I 
 
 the ?r offer It) <?/' Germany. 
 
 39$ 
 
 not then itand in fear ot the breaking of Glalles : 
 Befiiles too, you may always let fuch a made Ve(- 
 fel lie in the l-urnace, and alloonas ever the Spirit is 
 drawn otf, you may prclently put it on agen, nor 
 is;there any need otyour waiting fb long, and cea- 
 fing from the work till the Velfel cool. It therefore 
 a 1 ower to put the Coals in (as afore) be added 
 to that Furnace, or Furnaces, then is it a trueCoun- 
 trcy Farmer, or Tenant, for the fiilfaining of whom, 
 there will need no other charge but that of Coals, 
 and yet notwithftanding he gives you a perpetual 
 gain without labour, colt, and trouble. May more, 
 it we do but rightly weigh the bulinets, we fhail 
 find that the daily encreale of the Spirit of Salt in 
 thefe labours, is ealily (old for more Money than the 
 Coals will colt, lb that all that Gold and Silver 
 which is gotten out of the Metals, doth offer it (elf 
 unto us tor nothing Betides, fuch kind ot Metals 
 may be taken tor this Operation as are wont to yield 
 more Silver and Gold than Copper, and the plenti- 
 fulnels thereof will be yet more, ifteveralliich kinds 
 of Metals are joyned together and lb dillolved, and 
 digelted, in which operation they better one another 
 by a mutual adion ; for one lupphes what another 
 wants, and likewile from anotlier, are thofe fuper- 
 fluities which it has in it, taken therefrom : fb that 
 (as we laid afore) the mutual melioration of thole 
 Metals may be let on foot and promoted, as it were 
 without any coft, and by a very little labour. 
 
 Wholbever he be therefore that has the know- 
 ledge and experience of the nature and property ot 
 the Metals, which they are, that have a correlpon- 
 dency with each other, and that love to better each 
 the other ; and is not ignorant what Agent is agree- 
 able to Gold ; liicti a one 1 fay as this is, will commit 
 unto his Countrey Tenant the care of Weekly and 
 Monthly paying the due Rent, and will be able 
 this means to lerve God his Creator without 
 wicked Ulury ; to do good unto his Neighbour, to 
 extricate himfelf out of that Diabolical Fellowlhip, 
 of the impious and the great crew of evil Men ; and 
 to lead his Life in Tranquillity and Quietude \ which 
 verily is a great and fingu^ar gift of God, unto any 
 one that can arrive unto liich a knowledge. 
 
 But yet no Man hath any realbn to perfwade 
 bimlelf, Ihould he be a Mafter of this Art and Sci- 
 ence [here IhewnJ that he fhall be able daily to fe- 
 parate great heaps of Gold out of the more imperfect 
 Metals, whereby he may be enabled to lead a vici 
 ous Life. No, lor my endeavour lliall (in the firft 
 place) be, not to make any wicked Man partaker 
 of this Art. 
 
 And fecondly, the whole bufinels confifteth in the 
 blefllng of God, as we rind it Written, i^aul bath 
 flanttii, and Apollo t'Vatcred, but God bath given hit 
 Blejjing : For without this Blelling, all our Labour is 
 but in vain: And this the Prophet David doth like- 
 wile teftiric, faying, In vain do ye rtfe up early, and 
 being loaJen with nrnny cures, go to Bed late, andeat 
 jour Bread w.t'i troubles : For unto them whom God 
 ts favourable doth he befioiv his gifts even while 
 they are Ajhep. Moreover St. Paul faith, It ts not 
 of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that 
 jhewetb mircy . And therefore a wicked Man, though 
 he Ihould pollels to great a thing, yet would he not 
 do any good upon ir, if he wanceth Gods Blelfing. 
 Beiides, 1 do not here bring forth my little Country- 
 man upon the Stage, as it he could help any one 
 unto huge Treafures ; no, but onelyas one thatcan 
 bellow lb much as may luffice, honertly to live. Un- 
 
 lets haply a Man Ihould light upon rich Veins and 
 metalline Oars, which Ihould abound with much 
 corporeal Gold, and 16 bv this means Ihould yield 
 great Treafures. Now fo much cannot be lookt for 
 Irorn luch Metals as have in them but a fpiritual Gold 
 onely, unlefs the true weight be found, and that 
 there be gotten the knowledge of thofe Metals which 
 have a great affinity with each other, and which 
 being joined together yield forth Gold - Otherwife 
 you muff not e.vped ought elle from this Operation 
 lave an honeft and moderate profit. 
 
 But now, as touching what Metals thev are that 
 have fiich affinity, and what the true proportion of 
 the weight is, no body hath any reafon to enquire of 
 me lor I do not as yet profefs my felf an expert 
 and abfolute Artift in this matter, for rometime<: I- 
 have a very gainfull fuccefs of my trials that 1 make 
 and lometimes agen I get lels. 
 
 I was willing therefore to fhew the way here of 
 ripening the meaner Metals by the help of Salt, and 
 that too ma manner without any colts .- which way 
 ol fo doing being by me laid open, may liiffice for 
 this time, nor did ever any reveal it before me (I 
 fpeakit without boalting) or produce it unto pub- 
 lick view in lo open a manifeltation as I have done 
 And now it this lepararion fhould be ufed about 
 the fixed Gold onely which lies hidden in the Oars 
 and Metals, yet mought great profit be therebv got- 
 ten in all places ; for there is no place in the World 
 m which there are not to be found luch Earth, Sand 
 and Stones as contain in them corporeal Gold which 
 may be extraded by the afore prefcribed way with- 
 out any cofts at all Bur here is to be obferved 
 that thofe things which I have written, and clearly 
 demonltrated concerning fuch feparatory Operations 
 in the third part of the Profperity of Germany, are to 
 be agen read over, and well lookt into. 
 
 Moreover, this is a;(b to be known, that this ma- 
 turation if inltituted bv the dry way, brings more 
 profit than if done by the nwift wav ; for in the dry 
 way the Agent is more holpen than in the moift 
 way, m which there is alwa\s plenty of moifture 
 But however, both ways name'lv the drv way and 
 the moift may be done with one and the fame Fire 
 nor will the coft be any more than if the moift way 
 were made ule of alone by it felf 
 
 For that Tower wherein the Coals are, and which 
 IS to keep the Spirit of Salt in. perpetual digefiion 
 and to heat the adjoined Furnaces, is always bright 
 hot at the Grate, upon which [gratel if a cemen- 
 ting Veliel filied with Salt and Metals be placed 
 there will then be even thence as much profit as by 
 an adjoined Furnace, and fo by the Fire of one Fur- 
 nace, and by the lelf lame labour and coft is a double 
 Operation performed, and a continual rent may be 
 expeited from the double Countryman. 
 
 You mult likewile note, that thereis a great diffe- 
 rence of Salts, and that one Salt is more fit for this 
 labour, and another for that ; but by how much 
 greater the Acrimony is, that the Salt abounds with- 
 all, fo much the more potent an /^gent it is : info- 
 much that it is of great concernment for a Man to 
 know how to concentrate the moift Fire or Agent, 
 concerning which Concentration there is no need of 
 mentioning any thing in this place; forafmuch as I 
 fuppoie that thei'e things which are at prefcnt fpoken 
 are liifficient enough. 
 
 Moreover I would have the Son of Art know 
 that the Salt of the Macrocofm or of the Ocean' 
 which we have taught the making the Spirit of, is 
 
 nothing 
 
39^ 
 
 The Fourth Fart of 
 
 Part L 
 
 nothing at all fo efficacious as that which is gotten 
 out of the Microcofm: For whatfoever things are 
 found to ba in the Microcofm or greater World, the 
 fame are likevvife in the Macrocofm or lefler World, 
 namely, Man. But it is not my purpofe to dilcourfe 
 farther of this thing in this place, but will (God fb 
 permitting) treat more at large of the fame, if I 
 come to write fbmewhat of the nature and fignature 
 of the grea»-i\ World. For hereby great myfteries 
 may be learnbd, which omitting to (pea i< more of, 
 I keep clofe to Salt and fay, that that Salt which 
 comes out of the Ocean or Sea of Man, or of fome 
 other Animal, that is, which is voided out of the 
 Bladder, is far more fit for the Tranfmutation of 
 Metals, than that which is gotten out of the Sea, as 
 being the Bladder of the great Animal. 
 
 The Ancients have called the World the great 
 Animal, and very rightly, for in its Center it hath 
 a fiery heart by which (as being the great Animal) 
 it moves it felf, and conferves its life, as fhall be 
 fpoken of in another place if God fhall permit, for 
 according to the common Proverb, Man fropofetb 
 and God difpojet/j. 
 
 Morien was not ignorant that Arcana s of great 
 moment lie hidden in Urine, but hath manifeftly fig- 
 nified it. For when he had prepared the Tinfture 
 for King Calid, he wrote upon the VeiTel in which 
 it was, thefe words. He that carries all things with 
 him, needs not any others help. And having fo done, 
 he filently betook himfelf unto his Cell. But he 
 had faid before unto the King, In thee O King I the 
 Medicine is, by which words, he meant Urine. For 
 out of Man's Urine may a fix Stone be made, which 
 (hall be manifefted in other places. 
 
 Furthermore this likewife is to be here known, 
 that it is a moft notable and a true experiment and 
 artifice in Alchymy, that is, in the true melting of 
 Salt, when the Agent of Salt, and the Patient, or 
 Metal, are fo thoroughly conjoined and mixed, as 
 that the Agent is difperft throughout the Patient, 
 that fo the Patient may fulFer the more, and confe- 
 quently that that Patient Metal may be the fboner 
 ripened and fixed. When a Flock of Sheep being 
 in the Fold, fee the Woolf coming, they are indeed 
 all terribly affrighted, but are not all bitten and 
 torn, and fo a part of them feel the hurt and the 
 other part remain free. But if the Woolf feizeth 
 upon the Sheep in th§ open Field, and that the Sheep 
 are fcattered far and wide fo that they cannot pof- 
 fibly flock together, they will certainly fuffer more 
 ■ grievoufly. 
 
 For Example fake, when I would meliorate Lead 
 by means of Salt, whether by the moift way by Spi- 
 rit of Salt or by the dry way by dry Salts, if now I 
 cannot radically conjoin the ftid Salts and Lead 
 together, I do but little to purpofe, becaufe Lead 
 and Silver, unlefs prepared by fingular Ingeny and 
 Skill, are not touched upon by Salt and its Spirit, 
 and (b (utfering but fuperficially onely they are able 
 to refill a long time. But being radically united un- 
 to Salt by the benefit of Art, fo as that they cannot 
 be diftinguifht from each other, then they (vitFer in all 
 their parts and die, which death is their melioration 
 and life. He that defires to arrive at this Goal, 
 muft rife betimes, and ufe a moft notable diligence, 
 for Qoathfulnefs hedgeth up the way of coming there- 
 unto : Even I my (elf am no perfect Artificer, but 
 wait upon the Omnipotent God, expecting what he 
 will pleafe to bcftow upon me for time to come, and 
 
 I live content with my prefent enjoyments. Thus 
 likewife let another do. 
 
 But if now Saturn is to be ufed after another way 
 and to (erve inftead of Earth to receive and multiply 
 the metallick Seed, there's no need of difiolving it in 
 Salts, but it will be better to have it onely (well or 
 puft up in them, and keep in fuch a pofiture as 
 Earth is, conferving the Seed fown therein, in a 
 moderate humidity and in the temperate heat of the 
 Sun, which way is alio a good one and commodious 
 for the produdtion of good metallick Fruits, and 
 that by the help of Salt, as the following Proce(s 
 (hews, under this title, namely. 
 
 The Fire attd Azoth wajl) Laton. 
 
 SO M E of the Philofophers have called their Pa- 
 tient Laton, and their Agent Az,oth. But what 
 fubjctt that is which they meant by the name of 
 Laton there are many Opinions of Authours con- 
 cerning it, in whole Writings may be feen, that the 
 greatelt part of them do intend thereby 5^?r«r», but 
 yet not the vulgar : and even fo is it too concerning 
 their Az,oth, or Vinegar, that being likewife diverf- 
 ly accepted. But be it as it will, yet this is certain, 
 that even in the common Saturn do many abltrufe 
 fecrets lie hidden, (to fay nothing of the more myf- 
 terious Saturn, did we but know how to get it 
 ou't.) 
 
 All Philofophers do fuppofe, that the Heart in 
 Saturn is better than that in Gold it felf, and for th^ 
 realbn do they call Lead a Leaprous Goid, and fay, 
 that if it could be mundified by a true wafhing, (bme 
 great matter would proceed thereout of. Many 
 Men have very much bufied themfelves about this 
 wafhing, but yet have not attained unto ought el(e, 
 fave that they have brought the Saturn into a white, 
 fugacious, and liquid Body, concerning which la- 
 bour 1 have made mention in this Treatile of metal- 
 lick Cates and Sawces, and alfb in the third Part of 
 the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 In my judgment, the common Saturn is a com- 
 modious Earth, for the reception of a metallick Seed, 
 and for bringing the fame unto multiplicaton ; Wit- 
 ne(s Faraceljiis himfelf who tells us, that Saturn may 
 be compared to the Earth, for all fuch things as it 
 feizeth on it makes like it (elf, and turns them into 
 Earth, 'viz,. in the common Fire, for Faracelfus here 
 intends that. 
 
 But now, if (bme metallick Seed be fbwn in 5*» 
 turn, as being a commodious metallick Earth, and 
 that fuch an Earth and fuch a Seed be rnoiffned with 
 a due metallick Water, and be expof'ed to the fruit 
 producing and vivifying Sun, the earth together with 
 the Seed, doth by reafonof themoiltning caufed by 
 the pouring on,or afFufion of the mineral Water,lwell 
 up, and become porous, and receives and conlerves 
 the Water, fo that the ripening Sun cannot dry up 
 the Earth, and confequently burn up the Seed. And 
 by how much the oftner the Earth is moiftned with 
 the mineral Water, and the Sun e.xpelleth the faid 
 humidity, fo much the fpeedier doth the Seed ripen, 
 and attain to his maturity. 
 
 For like as the Husband-man when he is about 
 to fbw this Corn, choofeth fuch a ground, as con- 
 tains a fat and tenacious mould, which may not be 
 wafht away with the Rain, nor fuffer the due nou- 
 rifhment to be withdrawn from the Seed ; for if the 
 Seed be fown in Sand, a little Rain can eaiily wa(h 
 away the Sand and Seed, and impede the faculty of 
 
 growth, 
 
Part I 
 
 the Profperitj of Geniiany. 
 
 391 
 
 growth, which in a farand tenacious Soil is not wont 
 to happen. For the Water or Rain (hould but onely 
 moiiten the Earth, that it may not be too clofely 
 compreft, but become porous and admit of the Rains 
 penetrating unto the Seed : which when fb, then is 
 there hopes of the Seeds fprouting, in fuch a fat 
 Earth which fwells up by means of ttie Water, and 
 of bringing forth its Fruit. 
 
 Even juft after the (ame manner are the metallick 
 Seeds to be fown, and ripened ; and for Example 
 tlike, let us take the vulgar and common S^uum, 
 (well mundified) for that Earth, into which we will 
 low fuch a Seed as having a great affinity with Sa- 
 turn, loves to be augmented therein, whereby it may 
 bring forth fruit. And like as the Seed of any Ani- 
 mal requires an Animal Matrix, as a Field or Earth 
 to be multiplied in, and hathrnotany affinity with 
 the common Earth : Even (b likewife doth a metal • 
 lick Seed require a metallick Earth, Matrix, or 
 Ground, wherein it may germinate and be multi- 
 plied. 
 
 Now" this multiplication is on fuch wile made, as 
 is done in the Animals, by the conjundion of Male 
 and Female, one performing the office of the Agent, 
 and the other of the Patient. So then, we will make 
 fome trial in this Proccfs which is here annexed, not 
 for the inrent of getting great Treafures thereby, but 
 for the fake of fearching into, and getting the know- 
 ledge of Nature ; we will take the Male in the room. 
 of tiic; Seed, and the Female inftead rtf the Ground 
 or Fick", and we will try whether or no the Seed 
 will admit of multiplication. 
 
 I et us therefore take the common Saturn for the 
 Feminine Matrix, and Antimony of the Male-like- 
 feed, which we wil! fow into its own Matrix, as 
 Hu'-ibandmen are wont to do. I do not gain-fey but 
 that there are other Seeds, and probably better to 
 be found to be implanted in Saturn, than Antimony 
 is : Bur yet here 1 content my lelf with this of An- 
 timony, as having an intention of onely (hewing at 
 this prtfent, by what way it may appear that a me- 
 tallick Seed may be brought to a faculty or polTibility 
 of growth in the Saturnine Earth. And upon this 
 account for Demonftrations lake of this Labour, was 
 I willing to ufe Antimony, it being a mafculine Seed 
 of a Saturnine kind. For common Saturn is ufually 
 accounted for the true firft Ens of Lwwe, and Anti- 
 mony for the tiue firft Ens of 5o/, and they are in 
 very deed found lo to be. For you (hall not find 
 any Lead without Silver, norany Antimony without 
 Gold ; (o that 1 (Irongly perfwade my felf that from 
 thofe two, there cannot arife ought elfe but what is 
 good and profitable, did we but know how legiti- 
 mately to compound and handle them. And although 
 I do not profels my fe'.f to know many things, yet 
 will I fimply tell you my opinion, concerning the 
 way which I luppofe fuch a' Commixtion and Ma- 
 turation may be efre(!l:fcd by. 
 
 A Philofopher faith thus. 
 
 By Gold and Silver you VJill nothiftg Jo, 
 Vnlefs you uje their fir ft Ens thereunto. 
 
 The firft Entities of both thefe are Lead and An- 
 timony, the latter of which, (w3i. Antimony,) is not 
 to be admitted in that impure ftate that we find it in, 
 unto the former, as unto its Bride or Spoufe, but 
 muft firit be wadied in a hot and (harp tixivial Bath, 
 that it may thereby attain to a delicate fllvery white- 
 
 nefs, and fliine like a Star in the Firmament ; which 
 Antimony thus purged, is called by Far^celjhs, the 
 figned Star. 
 
 But yet I would not have any one to think, that 
 I do here mean the commcm flellate Re^ulus of Mars 
 which would be diflblved in Spirit of Salt, arid would 
 feparate it felf from the Lead, which ought not to 
 be : But that figned Star muft be fo prepared, as 
 not toadmit of being diflblved in Spirit of Salt 'for 
 elfe it will not ferve for this Work, .^t muft be fo 
 concreted as if it were fb many thin Shells (one 
 within another,) and lb very hard as to be able to 
 cut Glals, and to ftrike Fire out of a Flint.' This 
 figned Star being fo wafht, is to be fown intoitsown 
 Matrix, and by the (blar Heat and fruitfull Rain 
 to be promoted and enforced unto growth. 
 
 Take of the thus prepared mafculine Seed, of 
 figned Star, [A] parts, and of the feminine kind, 
 LB] parts, melt the figned Star in a pure Crucible' 
 unto which being molten caft the Woman in, which 
 being caft in, there is prefently made a fweet Con- 
 junction and Commixtion of them both in that infer- 
 nal Heat, in which they familiarly couple together. 
 
 The Mais being commixt, is to be poured cur of 
 the Crucible through wet Brooms into cold water 
 and is to be reduced into Grains, and fo the mafcu- 
 line Seed or Husband will be le::;irimately and duely 
 mixt with its Earth or Grourni or Wife : which 
 Earth together with the Seed which it contains is to 
 be put into a firm Veflel, which fears nor the violent 
 corrofion of the Spirit of Salt, but in flich a quanti- 
 ty as that fcarcely a tenth part of the Veifel may be 
 filled therewithal! ; Then muft there be put thereon 
 as much mineral Water, namely pure Spirit of Salt 
 as the Cucurbit can bear, and Fire is to be put 
 thereunder, whereby the Spirit of Salt is to be again 
 drawn off, by which Operation, the Earth together 
 with the included Seed will day by day berefrefh- 
 ed, be moiftned and iwell up, by reafon of ihe Spi- 
 rit of Salr,no otherwife than as if you fhould moiften 
 fome dry and as it were parched Earth, with Wa- 
 ter. For the Saturn is not diflblved by the Spirit of 
 Salt, but onely fwells up, and becomes foliated, and 
 yet remains whole or entire, nor is it much unlike 
 unto lovely lookt Talk, which fhines with a delicate 
 whitenefs .- and therefore the Philofbphers fay, fow 
 your Gold in white foliated Earth. Without doubt 
 they meant not common Gold, for then they would 
 not have faid, our Gold, but would have fimply 
 faid onely Gold, had they not intended a peculiat 
 Gold, or firft Ens of Gold. 
 
 JV. B. I cannot by any means omit to give you 
 thus much notice, namely, He that cannot hit upon 
 the manner of preparing the faid figned Star, may 
 endeavour the making of common Saturn aureous, 
 particularly after this manner, as follows. Extraft 
 with Spirit of Salt out of the Oars or Veins and me- 
 tallick fugacious Earths, the fpiritual Gold thatlies 
 hidden therein, and extracT: or draw off this Spirit 
 thus impregnated with Gold from Saturn, which 
 Spirit may by this means be all agen had, and be 
 uled about new extractions. And as for the Gold 
 which the Spirit extracted, (hat the Saturn hath im- 
 bibed, and indues it felf thereby with a golden na- 
 ture; which if you imbue or moiften with many fijch 
 extractions, that goldennefs will, as I may (b term 
 it, grow up or increale in each cohobation, and the 
 Spirit of Salt it felf will become augmented. 
 
 K k k k k 
 
 If 
 
3^8 
 
 The Fourth F/irt of 
 
 Part I- 
 
 If now the Saturn be imbued with a fufficient Por- 
 tion of fpiritual Gold, it muft be reduced by X, or 
 Alkalies, that fo the fpiritual Gold hiay be made 
 corporeal, which will exhibit it felf pure unto you, 
 after that the Saturn (hall be driven away on the 
 Teft. But yet there is no need of doing this, feeing 
 it will be better to granulate the Saturn, and by 
 thofe repeated cohobations to draw off the Spirit of 
 Salt agen, being each time impregnated with that 
 fpiritual GoldJvnd fo by this means will you enrich 
 your Saturn with the greater plenty of Gold. And 
 being fo enriched it muft be reduced by a fixing X, 
 in my fecret Crucible, which neither fuffers any 
 thing to go away in fume, nor to run out ; in which 
 redudion the fpiritual Gold and the fugacious Saturn 
 it felf are fixed, fo that both Gold and Silver are 
 found on the Teft with great profit, this labour re- 
 quiring no other coftsfave thofe of the Fire. 
 
 This Operation which feparates fugacious and fix 
 Gold out of the Oars and Stones, is far better than 
 that which is made by the Solutions of Lune and Sa- 
 rj«>-«,defcribed at large in the third pare of the Profpe- 
 rity of Germany, for here, we do not need either 
 Ja. Fortis or Vinegar for the Solution of Saturn or 
 Lune, neither need we the fame to get the extradted 
 Gold' out of the Spirit of Salt, but being free from 
 thirt labour and cofts, we [onely] draw oft from 
 Saturn, that Spirit which hath extracted the Gold, 
 which [SaturnA^ attrafts and holds the volatile and 
 fix Gold that was in the extradion, infomuch that 
 there is not requifite to this labour of drawing off 
 the extradions from Saturn, any thing elfe fave onely 
 Coals and Fire. Add hereunto alfo, the gainful! en- 
 creafe which daily comes in by the addition of Salt 
 and Water, by which the Spirit of Salt is day by day 
 augmented without any cofts. 
 
 N. B . When the Spirit of Salt becomes too ftrong 
 by reafon of the Salt put thereto, that Water where- 
 with the Oar is wafht, after the firft extradion of 
 the Spirit of Salt, [or after it hath firft been extrac- 
 ted with Spirit of Salt] may be made ufe of [and 
 put thereto] inftead of common Water. For it is 
 fomewhat fourifti, and hath hkewife a golden na- 
 ture. 
 
 N. B. Praife God, and forget not the Poor, fee- 
 ing thou art fufficiently informed and taught by 
 what means thou maift get great Treafures. 
 
 for this end. 
 
 Sulphur, and that nothing is more inimicitious to 
 Silver than Salt, and nothing more difpleafing to 
 Mercury than a ftrong Lixivtum, and that amongft 
 thefe contraries there is a perpetual Antipathy (b long, 
 untill they are conftrained by Arc and Skill to be- 
 come friends and mutually to embrace each other : 
 yet notwithftanding, this will not be lo eafily fefi- 
 ble by every prating Boafter, and that makes a great 
 noife by his lofty vapouring fpeeches ; no, but for 
 the fake of thefe very Men, are fuch great Arcana s 
 juftly and defervedly wrapt up in darkneft, and in- 
 deed 'tis fit they fhould fo be. 
 
 Moreover if there be required a great fuffering, 
 'tis necelfary that both the Gold and Silver, as be- 
 ing Male and Female, fhould fuffer together and 
 not barely the one or the other apart : for hereby 
 this Regeneration will be made fo much the nobler 
 and the more magnificent. For Example, make a 
 Circle, and cut or divide it with Diameters crofs- 
 wi(e [or at right Angles through the Center] fo 
 that the extrcams of the Diameters which divide 
 themfelves in the middle or central point of the croft 
 may touch the Circle, and that of thofe four ex- 
 treams [or Semi-diameters] one may touch above, 
 and the other beneath, and the other twain may 
 reach, one to the right fide, and t'other to the left. 
 Place the Gold in the uppermoft extream marked 
 with the letter A, and his enemy, namely Sulphur, 
 in the lower extream, which the letter C, demon- 
 ftrates. In like manner place Silver on the left fide 
 of the Gold, at the letter B, and its enemy, viz,. 
 Salt on the right fide marked D, and you will fee 
 how averfly thefe enemies behold each the other. 
 The Sol lookiiig about him efpies his capital enemy. 
 Sulphur, diredly oppofite unto him, and hath Lune 
 at his left fide, and Salt at his right ; and very wil- 
 lingly would he enter into friendfliip with Lune, and 
 Salt which are joyned at his fide, if they but would, 
 or indeed could. , But he honours not his capital ene- 
 my Sulphur, with (b much as a look. The Lime 
 placed by the fide of the Sun, does not permit the 
 Salt to joyn it (elf with the Gold. For when the 
 Salt is with the Sol, it clearly hinders the Lune from 
 affociating it felf with the fame. Nor can it poili- 
 bly be that Salt, Lune and Gold fhould enter into a 
 thorough familiarity. Thus too is it with Lune^ 
 who hath her capital enemy diametrically oppofite 
 unto her, and very willingly would fhe enter into 
 friendfhip with both her neighbours, -u/ss. Sol and Sul- 
 
 The things I here write, are not 
 namely, to teach others how to make great heaps of • , u 
 
 Gold but onely to (hew them a way of attaining to phur, if they were not fuch great enemies (to each 
 ament, and withall, of knowing and other,) and refufed this flm)iliarity. For if Lune 
 
 a good Medicament 
 
 perceiving by the fame labour, that the melioration 
 
 of the Metals is altogether poffible and certain. 
 
 Whoever he be that could attain fb far as to bring 
 Antimony and Lead, as being the firft Ens of Gold 
 and Silver,into a certain Diflolvent,fo as that the one 
 would not precipitate the other ; then at length 
 would he have entrance upon the right way, which 
 leadcth unto great things, like as alfo Gold and Silver 
 being dilfolved in one and the fame Menfiruum gives 
 beginningto things of great moment. I dare affirm 
 therefore, that ha that can reduce Gold and Silver, 
 or Antimony and Lead, with Salt, into an agree- 
 ment, hath opened a moft ftrong Gate which leads 
 unto a great Treafure ; for then the Patient muft 
 luffer even unto death, and muft die, out of whofe 
 dead Body, new and living Bodies do afterwards 
 come forth. 
 
 Although I have often told you in my Writings 
 tljat Gold has no greater enemy than combuftible 
 
 affociates unto her felf the Sun, then Sulphur denies 
 to come into the fociety. If fhe admits the Sulphur 
 as her companion then, then Sol is excluded, as abo- 
 minating the friendfhip with his enemy Sulphur. 
 Much lefs therefore can Lune be the companion of 
 them both together. See the Fig. in the Book of Dialog, 
 But now if the Gods pleafe, that thefe four capi- 
 tal enemies, fhould unite in one fbciable amity, and 
 that wonderful! regenerations fhould arife from this 
 new familiarity, (then) do they command Vulcan to 
 heat in the Fire this Circle comprizing thofe four 
 capital enemies, thus conftitiited in the four afore- 
 faid extreams, and carting fuch hateful! looks upon 
 each other, and yet not knowing how to efcape out 
 of the Circle, and to prefs them together more and 
 more with his Hammer by little and little, untill all 
 four being driven into one mafs, do come together 
 into one bod^', which body doth then obtain a pow- 
 er of reconciling all enemies, and of effeding great 
 matters. 
 
 Bv 
 
Part I. 
 
 the ?rofperity ^/Germany. 
 
 i99 
 
 By this here fpoken may any one eafily conjec- 
 ture, what great lulfering there is in this Conjunc- 
 rion, and what great freights do afflift thefe ene- 
 inics, when each ofthemmuft thus againft their will 
 enter into friend (hip with his capital enemy. Veri- 
 ly we find them to be fuch futferingsas have not their 
 like again, and therefore do they produce to light, 
 llich great and fuch wonderfuU regenerations. Now 
 whatlocver it be that is exercifed in but a Imall fuf- 
 lering, the fame dotli admit of but fmal! emendation. 
 
 The greater the (iiJFering, the greater the meliora- 
 tion, fothat that afttiiftion which brings with it even 
 death it felf, brings with it alio (o much the more no- 
 ble and magnificent Regeneration and RefurreiTtion. 
 He that falters nut in this World, (hall not have the 
 Crown put upon him after his Reflirredlion. By 
 how much the greater and more innocent the fuf- 
 feringand affliction of this life is, fo much the grea- 
 ter, and fairer a Crown may be expeiled in the o- 
 ther World. 
 
 The Grape is preft fo long, till it be rid of all its 
 juice, this juice doth indeed bring a fweet and plea- 
 lant deiiglitfomnels unto mortal man, but the Grape 
 it lelf which the juice is preft out of, cealeth to be a 
 Grape, and periflieth through defei^ of juice, and 
 palleth into nothing. But unto the noble Vine, hath 
 God given this benefit, that it yearly bears not bare- 
 ly one but many Grapes together : All which being 
 pluckt oft", it doth neverthelels produce the following 
 year no fewer, but rather more Grapes ; and itill 
 remains a blelied and fruitfull Vine, becaufe it is fur- 
 nifht with roots and fertile Boughs. On the contra- 
 ry, they that have devoured the good and fweet 
 juice themlelves, remain always hungry and thirfty, 
 -and that for this reafbn, becaufe they guz!e down 
 the juice too new and frefti, whereby their Bellies 
 I'weil, and they receive no nutriment therefrom. 
 
 This is a thing certain and undoubted, that the 
 bodies of the Metals become by fuftering and dying 
 far more excellent and more noble. He therefore 
 that knows that the patient is to be fubjeded unto 
 its own agent, and doth alfo underftand by what 
 way they are to be conjoined, will never labour in 
 vain, but will reap the wifhed reward of his pains. 
 
 When the agent doth touch onely the fuperficies 
 of the patient, and penetrates not into its heart or 
 root, there will verily be but a very httle good done, 
 lave onely this, viz,. That the Agent being afore ren- 
 dred aureous, is able to give unto its patient alfo a 
 golden nature, and to bring the fame to an aureous 
 degree, and to beftow upon it the perfeftion of 
 Gold : but that melioration which is done onely by 
 it felf proceeds on very flowly. 
 
 As concerning the manner of enduing the Spirit of 
 •Salt with an aureous nature, that foit may thefoo- 
 ner render its patient a partaker of golden virtues, 
 we have fpoken of that already, and demonftrated 
 it clearly enough ; he that does not underftand, we 
 cannot help him any other way. 
 
 JV. B. When the Eagle, the Servant of Jufiter, 
 hath with his beak and talons pluckt out the coagu- 
 lated beams of the Sun out of the Cfttfs and Rocks, 
 and brings them unco Jumer, he is fb very bounti- 
 full, that he fends down the fame unto us by the 
 Rain, which is cffo much efficacy, as that all the 
 Herbs upon which it falls are bettered, and the mar- 
 tial, venereal, faturnine. Lunar 2S\Ci mercurial Herbs 
 do put on the golden nature of the Sun ; lb efficaci- 
 ous is the golden Rain of Jupiter, if the Eagle hath 
 firft brought unto him the coagulated rays of the Sun. 
 
 And that I may be the better underftood, and 
 that it may be known.that the Melioration of Metals 
 may be accompliihed by a dry Agent, full as well, 
 yea and better, and more profitably than by a moift 
 Agent ; I have judged it a thing worth while to ad- 
 joy n the following Procefs under the Title of tlie 
 Great Country Farmer. 
 
 And let the ftudious Artift know, that the amen- 
 ding of the Metals by the dry wav, by the opera- 
 tion of dry Salt, is tar more eafie, land may likewife 
 be difpatcht in a greater quantity, than is wont to 
 be done by the moift way : and that there is no- 
 thing required to this operation fave Salt and Coals, 
 be the Metals that arc to be fixed, even what they 
 will. 
 
 For Example , if a man be defirous to fix Saturn, 
 or to procure unto it a Silvery nature, there needs 
 not pure Lead be taken for this work, feeing he 
 may have the Oar or Vein thereof for much left 
 price ; and indeed there is fbme that is a wild and 
 fulphureous Oar, which yields not, in the melting, 
 any good Lead, and may be had in great plenty in 
 fome places of Germany that I know of, for a very 
 fmall price, or rather for none at all. Such a wild 
 Oar of Lead as this is, which yields neither good 
 Lead, nor is fit for the Potters to glaze their Pots 
 withall, bv reafbn of its hard fufion, doe I chufe for 
 my operation, not onely becaufe it cofts lefs than o- 
 ther fuch Oars of Lead doe, but for this reafbn too, 
 becaufe it hath ftore of Sulphur, and fit enough for 
 fixation. 
 
 This Vein or Oar doe I bring into fmall Powder, 
 and mix as much Salt thereto as need requires, then 
 caft it in upon the Coals, in fuch a Furnace as I have 
 defcribed to make ftore of Spirit of Salt in : The Salt 
 and the Sulphur exercifing their vehement or pow^ 
 erfull virtues upon the Lead,caufeth it to be afflided 
 with terrible dolours, infbmuch that part thereof 
 afcendeth on high [or fublimeth] with part of the 
 Salt, and betakes it felf into Receivers fitted on for 
 that purpofe. In which fublimation, the Salt and 
 the Lead afcend in a fpiritual manner, and contrary 
 to their will, fufFer fpiritually , and fo are conftrained 
 to enter into friendfliip, finding a place of quietude 
 in thofe cold Receivers, and there fetling together. 
 The refidue of the Oar, and part of the Salt being 
 burnt up, and emitting no more flores, but falling 
 down through the Grate like Afhes, more new or 
 frefh Coals muft be put into the Furnace, and new 
 matter muft be thrown thereupon, as afore ; and 
 this Labour is to be continued fo long, as it (hall 
 pleafe any one to follow it. Now by this, the Saturn 
 is far more vehemently afflided, than in the moift 
 way by the Spirit of Salt ; And if unto the Oven [or 
 Receiver] receiving the fume, and in which the flow- 
 ers of the Salt and Lead fettle, there (hall be applied 
 yet (Sveral Receivers, there will then be therein 
 caught ftore of Spirit of Salt, which being redtified, 
 may be agen made ufe of in the moift way. The 
 flowers beinp taken out of the Oven or Receiver in- 
 to which the fume goes, are to be agen thrown m 
 upon the live Coals in the Furnace, that they may 
 futer anew and be fublimed. After that they are all 
 fublimed again on this wife, they are to be agen ta- 
 ken out of the Oven, and be caft in upon the live 
 Coals ; and muft be atttiiHied with thefe Labours fo 
 often repeated, untill they become fix and afcend 
 no more, but fall down into the Afhes. Which be- 
 ing wa(ht, will yield a Salt profitable for many things, 
 and will quit all the cofts which have been laid out 
 
 upon 
 
4-00 
 
 The Fourth Vart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 upon Lead, Salt, and Coals ; fo that the Spirit of Salt 
 which is gotten , and that which is amended in the 
 Lead Oar by the Salt, coft nohing. The Afhes be- 
 ing wallit are to be reduced, in a Furnace, b\' blafl, 
 and be io often tormented, till a good portion of Sil- 
 ver be gotten by this operation, which the elabora- 
 ted matter, being purged by a due reparation upon 
 theTefts, will give. And ft (hall you have Gold 
 and Silver by the benefit ofthis operation, by which 
 £op= ration] we' ^ave manifcfied unto you the Great 
 Country Farmer ^^^yi^g ha yearly Rent. 
 
 Now like as Saturn is dealt withall in this operati- 
 on, even (b are the other Metals wont to be hand- 
 led too ; but yet you muft obferve the Regiment of 
 the iire, whicli , according to the diverfity of the 
 Metal?, muft al(o be diverfly adminiftred. And even 
 the Commixtion it felf requires good heeding, as be- 
 ing a bufi^efs of no (Inall moment. 
 
 Moreover, in this operation you muft alfo note, 
 That one Salt is more fit for this operation than ano- 
 ther is ; for by how the Iharper nature 'they have, 
 fn much the more commodious and profitable doe 
 they fliew themfelves to be. So Common Salt fubli- 
 med, as is done in this Labour, will operate far 
 lironger than Common Salt it felf unfublimed. Be- 
 (Ides, there are Salts to be found which work yet 
 far more powerfully, yea fo ftrongly, as that they 
 need not the help of an external fire, but doe pro- 
 duce their efFcLls even in the cold. The operation 
 of which, in the moift way, if any be deiirous to 
 promote and ftrengrhen by an external fire, he may 
 fo doe, in a Lamp-Furnace, ^nd free himfelf of the 
 charge of Coals, and be exempt from that frequent 
 Lab;)ur by which rhe Fire is to be maintained. 
 
 Some moift Fires are of fuch great virtues, as that 
 they need not any Lamp-fire, but a final I golden 
 thread or wire in burn-ng Spirit of Wine is capable 
 of adminiftring heat lufricienr. 
 
 And the burning Spirit, if made of Leaves, Grafs, 
 rotten Fruit, or Corn, and Grape-ftones or husl<s 
 will be but of fmall cofts, or in a manner none at all. 
 Now a pound of fuch Spirit being placed with a Gol 
 
 den wick in a convenient Lamp will fuffice for three 
 or four days, and give heat enough. But yet never- 
 thelefs, that moift fire doth ripen its Metal without 
 the help of any external fire at all, and yields its 
 profit, but then it requires a longer (pace of time. 
 
 Put cafe therefore, that I make my moift fire fo 
 ftrong as to be able to perform its office in the cold, 
 and that it needs not any external fire : And if I 
 were to make a fire, it would needs require one 
 Ducket's charge : If now, ftanding any-where, it 
 yields me two Golden Duckets out of the maturated 
 Metal, it wou'd doe well enough, and abundantly 
 recompence the labour and cofts expended. For 
 there's nothing wanting of the Metal [you took to 
 ripen] fave that which is changed into Gold and 
 Silver. 
 
 ■ And forafmuch as I can fet by many fuch Veflels, 
 and thofe great ones too, there's no doubt to be made, 
 but that my gain will be the greater, and that with 
 very little labour. For now, at firft, the labour of 
 preparing the moift fire, is in a manner no labour, at 
 all, for in three or four days may be fo much made 
 as is fufficient for the maturating of a great deal ot 
 Metal. For this fire may be compared to a Seed , 
 which being (own in the Earth afore Winter, doih 
 in the Summer-feafon produce ftore of Fruit, and fit 
 to be reaped. 
 
 And though this maturation proceeds on exceed 
 
 ing (lowly, and excludes all haft, yet it brings with 
 it this benefit, namely, that it requircth no other la- 
 bour in the Wintertime, but to be onelv once laid 
 by, and the perfedling thereof muft be committed to 
 God and Time 
 
 There are various and divers fuch cold Fires, that 
 promote the maturation of the Metals, and may be 
 gotten out of divers Subjefts, namely, out ofiTartar, 
 Urine, Hairs of Animals, Horns, Calx-vive, Soot, the 
 Blood of Animals , the Feathers of Birds, the Bones 
 of Horfes, Oxen, and other Beafts, out of which fuch 
 a fire is very difficultly prepared, one of them, here 
 reckoned up, excepted , out of which the faid fire 
 may by an eafie labour and bufinefs be made, and 
 without cofts. It is therefore a great gift of God, 
 and an efpecial grace from our.Crcator, if he maketh 
 us poireflors of fuch a Country Farmer, which be- 
 ing fuftained without any cofts, doth notwithftand- 
 ing very largely pay his yearly Rent. To God 
 therefore are uncelfant thanks to be returned for fo 
 great a benefit. 
 
 But we have faid enough of thefe moift and dry 
 Metal ripening Fires ; what way foever any one is 
 minded to chufe, that way may he follow, for it 
 lyes in his own free choice. If he chance to err, let 
 him not lay the blame upnn me, who out of a good 
 mind have undertaken thefe labours of writing, but 
 cannot thruft the chewed meat into any ones mouth. 
 I will by God's permiflion (how the wonders of God 
 to fome friends this next Summer, that (b fuch as 
 come after us may likewifc have occafion of praifing 
 God, and of giving him thanks. 
 
 But even as the common Earth, when it is moift- 
 ned with often (howers, and now and then freed of 
 them by the heat of the Sun, retains in it (elf a fruit- 
 full Salt, and doth necelTarily acquire a fertility : So 
 likewife our Earth doth not onely daily encreafe in 
 gcodnels, but in weight too, and becomes more pon- 
 derous : but you muft not think that this heavine(s 
 or weight proceeds from the Spirit of Salt's infinua- 
 ting it (elf into the porous Earth, no : For if the faid 
 Mafs fhould be but onely eight davs time in the di- 
 
 geftion, and the Spirit of Salt be [then] wafht off, 
 yet would it be encreafed a quarter part ; which 
 ponderofity comes indeed from the Spirit of Salt, out 
 of which the Saturn draws (bmething unto it (elf for 
 nutritious (ake, as the Common Earth does out of 
 the fhowres of Rain, and becomes more weighty. 
 
 For if there were no occult and nitrous virtue in 
 the Rain, it would conduce but little to fertility ;. and 
 if there were no fpiritual and aftral Gold, or fpiritual 
 and aftral Sun in Salt, the immature Metals could 
 not be ripened by the fame. By how much the 
 oftner therefore, a good Spirit of Salt is drawn otF 
 from the Saturnine Earth, and Saturnine Seed,fo much 
 the fooner alfo doth that Seed arrive unto its full 
 ripenefs. For at every turn [of drawing off] fome- 
 thing of the good part of the Spirit of Salt remains 
 behind, attraded by the Earth and Seed, from which 
 the melioration and augmentation dne arife : as may 
 be (een in the \ egetable Seeds which fprout forth 
 out of the EarA, and are encreaied by the help of 
 Rain. 
 
 The poUibility of the(e things I have feen, but 
 have not hitherto brought the (aid matters to a full 
 maturity, or to fpeak more rightly,! have not finilh- 
 ed the whole operation. He that is minded to make 
 a thorough trial, may (b doe : and if he milfeth the 
 I effed of his endeavours, let him not blame me, for 
 - ' I doe not aim at drilling on any one by my perfwa- 
 
 fions. 
 
Part I. 
 
 the ?rofpcritj ^/Germany. 
 
 fions. to bellow his charges on an uncertain tiling 
 But i mention thele things that \'o the nature of Me- 
 tals as alio of Salts ma}' be known, and that (bv the 
 he ' • ' ■^■■ 
 
 40t 
 
 ie"pofthis knowledge) the \\'ritings of thePhilolo- 
 p!;ers may be tlie better underftood. Tor the labour 
 here iJropf;(ed avoucheth the truth of thole Opera- 
 tions which the Philof()phers call their Calcination, 
 Deaibatinn, Incineration, Afceniion, Delcention, 
 C.'ohobation, Inccration, Diltillation, Subliiiiatiun, 
 Volatilization, Maturation, Fixation, and lay thacall 
 theleand the like ChymicalOi)crations may be made 
 in one Vcflel,wich one Fire, in one Furnace, without 
 any change ot the Labours, Vellels, or Fire. 
 
 For the Philolophers have delcnbed their greateft 
 
 fecrets and Arcm.Cs parabolically, and in Riddles, 
 
 but specially the Poets, asOvkI, ivgi!, and many 
 
 others, who are very hard to be underftood by thole 
 
 that have not the knowledgeof the nature of Metals, 
 
 which being once known and underftood, renders 
 
 the meaning of the PcKts ealie. For the Poets were 
 
 wont to inipofe one while fuch a name upon luch a 
 
 Metal, another time another name upon another 
 
 Metal, which cuftom of theirs, he that does not 
 
 heediully mark will ealily fall into an errour, and 
 
 mils theappreheniion of their meaning 
 
 For Example, in one place they call Copper I'e- 
 n-is, in another, the Wife of Mars, in another, the 
 Sifter and Wife of Jupiter. And lb deal they with 
 Silver too, one whi!e they call it Lutn, by and by 
 Diana or J'lna, another time refia. ApuIIo is by 
 them fti!ed one while Sol, than Phabns, then Latons, 
 li) that ir is exceeding nccellary, for thofe that are 
 defirous to learn ought out of their Writings, to be 
 well acquainted with thofe dilFerent names and Ap- 
 peliations. And although the Poets do account all 
 the Metals for the Sons of Saturn, yet do they 
 fub-diftinguifh them and ftile them, Saturn, Jupiter, 
 Ven.'n, 3iC. 
 The common Lead is Sattirn, and (b is Antimo 
 
 ny, Saturn, Hiimtite, Tutia, Lapis Lalamt7iaris, the 
 
 Aftiy Colour, Yellow, White, and red Magnefia 
 are termed by the name of Saturn -. The white Mar 
 cafite and Z:nk are deemed to be of the Family or 
 Pedegree of Jupmr : Onchalcum or 
 white and red Copper, are ftiled by the name o^ Ve- 
 nus But according as Venus is impregnated, and 
 according as the Copi^er is white or red, fo hath it 
 its name. The red Copper is as yet a Virgin. For- 
 afmuch therefore as the Peers have committed unto 
 Writing the Tranfhiutation of the Metals under the 
 Cover, and vail of Fable-, and have made mention 
 of Saturn, Jupiter, Aiars and Venus ; it can never 
 poffibly be, that he who knows not this different 
 diitinttion can underftand their meaning And for 
 an Example hereof, conlider but the Fable of Diana 
 and Apullo, brought forth at one Birth by Latona, 
 who was gotten with Child by lying with Jupiter, 
 and was driven into exile by jealous Juno, and ha- 
 ving a long time liilrered Perfecution by the biting 
 Serj<ent tjth.n, and being driven to fiye through 
 all the Countries of the World, did at laft after ma- 
 ny grievous labours and troubles pafs over the tem- 
 peftuous Sea into the Illand Ortjgia, and betook her 
 felf to her Sifter Ajt-~ri.i, by whom fhe was received, 
 anJ begat tliefe Twins, viz,. Duma ax\d Jpollo. 
 
 Who will be able to apprehend the meaning of 
 this Fable, fave he that well underftands the nature 
 of the Metals ^ Ven'y no body will lo much as dream 
 oforCnell out ought of thofe Myfteries, unlefs he 
 fliall meet with fuch like Hiftorics in his metalline la- 
 
 bours, and then at length will he underftand what 
 the meaning of the Philofophers is. But for E.xam- 
 ple fake, let us take two Metals which have an affi- 
 nity w;th each other, namely Jupiter and Vcn,;s, 
 chcle 1 joyn together, that (o the Woman may be 
 impregnated with the mafculine Seed. Latsna there- 
 fore being great with Child, I caft her forth into ex- 
 i.e, that fhe may be continual! v i;erlecuted by the 
 biting Serpent Pyt/jon, untill (he flies through d:c 
 ialt and ftormy Sea, into the Ifiand Cnj^:-a, to her 
 Sdlcv Aj?eri^, dwelling in the Illa^nd Onjgia, and 
 there bring forth the fair Diana ., J ^poU Now 
 tliele things are callly underftood, were but the ge- 
 nuine Appellations fubfiitured in the room of luch 
 ftrange terms, ot whicli thing I have onely iom^i 
 knowledge, but do not prote/s my /elf a perted: Jn- 
 terpreter. Yet methinks I cannot choole but fay 
 fomewhat. The venemous Serpent Pjtbon is a fir- 
 name of ^-ppoilo, for he is produced by the efficacy 
 of the Sun, and is that corrolive Salt which doth 
 10 long alflia: and torment the impregnated Laiona. 
 all over the dry part of the World, unnll (he betakes 
 her felf by the Sea, that is, by that ftrong Salt Wa- 
 ter, unto her Sifter, that is, unto pure Venus, and 
 precipitates her felf, and brings forth the fruits of 
 Jupiter, namely, Diana and Apollo together The 
 Poet doth here mind both the moift and the drv 
 way together, when the Metal is wrought with a 
 due Cement, and made tk it is [then J diflolved 
 with the Salt Water of the Sea, and pure Plates of 
 Ven,,s are put into it thus dilFolved, that lo the pure 
 Metal may draw unto it (elf her impregnated Sifter 
 who brings together with her Gold and Silver which 
 having been fo long hidden in its body doth now im- 
 nifelt It felf 
 
 It is indeed the better to fix the Metals by Ce- 
 ments, and fo to render their fugacious Gold and Sil- 
 ver compad, which may be as well done in the 
 moiltway by (liarp Waters and moift Fires But if 
 the Meta's legitimately impregnated, do firft pafs 
 through a dry and burning hot Fire, and are after- 
 wards yet once more tranliiiitted through the moift 
 and cold Fires, then Pluto fends the mundilied Soul 
 out of Purgatorj unto Neptune, by whom it is carri- 
 ed into Paradile, where it doth afterwards remain 
 lafe and free from all danger of the Serpent 
 
 Upon occaflon of the aforefaid Fable, and parti- 
 cular Tranfmutation of the inferiour Metals this is 
 robe yet more obferved, that every J^s^/^Hs not 
 ht to impregnate Laiona, but that onely which is 
 yet Jiving, -efficacious, young, and full of Seed is 
 able to impregnate Latona. For Latona carried with 
 her no more but the Seed onely of Jupucr into the 
 1 land Orijgia, and left behind her all the body of 
 
 Jupiter. 
 
 Moreover this is to be confidered, that Latona did 
 hung iovth Diana firft, in the Bofbm or Up of le- 
 nus, that IS, of the Midwife, but Diana, prefentlv 
 after fhe was Born, performed the office of a Mid 
 wife in receiving her Brother Apollo in her Lap 
 which thing is liifficiently manifeft unto thofe who 
 have laboured (though but little) in the Metals- 
 For (hould the Nativity of ^>//c* have preceeded ' 
 ^em.'s could not have receive! him, for which rea' 
 ton Diana ought to come forth firft, that fb (he miehc 
 the more commodioufly receive Apdlo from Latona- 
 I know not how by any means it n^ay be proDofer* 
 more clearly, ^ 
 
 L 1 1 1 I 
 
 E^erjr 
 
402 
 
 The Fourth Vart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Every one that does but know the nature of the 
 Metals doth well uiiderftand, that when Gold and 
 Silver are fpiiitiially dilTolved in one Water, and 
 that plates [of Mars probably] are put in to the 
 Solution of the Gold and Silver, neither of thofe 
 Metals will adhere to the Plates. But if the Plates 
 of Copper are put into that Bath, he Ihall prefently 
 fee that all the Silver that was in the Water will ad- 
 jo v n it (elf thereunto. A nd now, after that the Silver is 
 thus precipitated and flicks on to the Copper, the 
 Gold will likewj'e fall down out of the Solution, and 
 apply it (elf to crO'Silver ; which labour 1 have more 
 at large handled in the third part of the Pro(perity 
 oi Germany. It could not therefore otherwi(e be, 
 but that Latona mui'l hrft bring forth Diana, and Jpal- 
 /o afterwards, feeing that Fen/ts the S\iicr of Latona 
 could be helpfull onely in the bringing forth of Di- 
 ana. It was therefore necellary that Diana her 
 felf fliouldbeanadiftant in the Birth of her Brother 
 Apllo^ forotherwife he could not have been Born. 
 
 Mv time admits not of producing any more luch 
 fimilit'udes in this place We will del'^er them till (bme 
 other time, namely, for the Edition of the Work of 
 Satir,-,!, wherein fliall be taught how tlie mofi: vile, 
 and moft abjccl: Metals are to be maturated by the 
 benefit of Salts, whereby they may in a particular 
 way yield forth Gold and Silver. 
 
 But forafmuch as 1 cannot divine, what impedi- 
 ments may put a flop to the edition of the work 
 Di Saturn, and that in this very Treatife here is of- 
 ten mention made of Saturn. It cannot 1 think be 
 any ways hurtfull, if fomegood thing bcyerfarther 
 adjoyned. And lijch things as are here manifefted 
 at' Saturn, it will not be needfull agen to mention 
 them in other places, feeing there doth yet M] re- 
 main matter enough for to fill a whole Book of the 
 Secrets of Saturn. And there lie fijch wonderfull 
 Secrets under the vile and dirty Garment of Saturn, 
 as being manifelled, would exeeed all the belief of 
 unskiltull Men. For he is not onely an expert Fifli- 
 er in Fi filing Pearls out of the ^alt Sea, but is with- 
 all an e.\pert Hunter, in driving the Wild Beafl out 
 of his green Grove or Cops, ayd of catching hirn 
 in his Nets, as we have told you in the foregoing 
 third part of the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 Nay, he is a bathing Gentleman of fingular. skill, 
 who by his bathing and wafhing his Children, ador- 
 neth them with the comelinefs of Dww^and Apollo. 
 When lie is alone, he (erves onely for Apollo and Di- 
 ana to wafh oft their accidental impurities and defile- 
 ments, that fb they inay recover their natural fair- 
 nels. The other Metals can't brook his fo over 
 fharp and rigid bathing, but are rather (iiffocated 
 and killed therein, than become more fair and more 
 pure. But if Stuum fhall have lirft wafht himfelf 
 even unto the higheft whitcnefs, in a Bath of com- 
 mon Salt, he is not then fb auftere and (evere, but 
 prep-ares for his Children a far more tolerable Bath, 
 which being agreeable [or proportionable] to their 
 WcakncliJ and Sicknefs, renders them all fairer and 
 more pure. Fiis greateft virtue confiffs in his Water 
 which doth both particularly anduniverfally free the 
 Metals of all their defilements. 1 have often had a 
 particular experience^hereof,] and yet daily can 
 (God be prai(cd) flicw and teach the fame unto o- 
 rhtrrs. But I cannot do any fuch thing in an uni 
 verfal wa}-, and inform others as to that ; nor do I 
 vainly brag of fb great a matter, though I have my 
 rhoughr.<; as touching the manner how this thing 
 way beelt'eactl. Kay the morel conceived about 
 
 the leller would I boaft of thelame. 
 a great (hame to boaft of that thinf^, 
 
 that matter 
 
 Verily it is ^ 
 of which thou haYi not even the imallert knowled^., 
 or at leaft dolt not know anv thing el(e, but what 
 thou haft drawn in, by the reading of other Writers. 
 Tis a common proverb, ri>^? thoJeCows ii-hicb Bd- 
 lou-, or Lr,w wermuch, are fa U to yield the leajt Milk 
 and that this is a thing true, vea molt true, e.vperi- 
 ence it felf doth teftifie. 
 
 The Chymical Art is become at prefenc fo com- 
 mon, that almoft every bodv, after he hath but 
 viewed over one or two Chvmical Books", , though 
 he never moved his hands to the Work, nor under- 
 ftands fo much as the Chymical Terms them(elves) 
 IS neverthelefs wont impudently and lyingly to boaft 
 of the knowledge of the univerfal Medicine. Nay 
 thou fiialt (ee fome to proceed on to that heighth of 
 boldnefs, as even to write Books of fb great a Secret, 
 and to dare promife the Revelation of the (ame unto 
 others, and yet for all this know nothing at all, and 
 have n^t (b much as any the meaneft foundation, but 
 rely folely upon that knowledge, which (being as 
 we faid afore, drawn out of other Writers) cauleth 
 in them a moft uncertain hope, of a thing moft ex- 
 tieamly obfcure. 
 
 He that is not a ftranger unto, nor ignorant of 
 metallick affairs, can ea(ily dilcern the Lvers from 
 the true Writers, and can judge who are 'true, and 
 who falfe. Such as do know fomewhat are not 
 wont to make a bragging noife of their skill. On 
 the contrary, thofe Brt;thren of Ignorance do offer 
 unto every one that moft fecret miracle of Art and 
 Nature, namely, the univerfal Medicine, which 
 thing a true Philofopher neither ever did, nor ever 
 will do But as for the revealing of the particular 
 wafliings, purgations, and meliorations of the Me- 
 tals, whereby Gold and Silver are to beextraded, 
 if any one doth know thefe things and difclofeth 
 them, and defires not to bury his Talent in the 
 Earth, he does well. 
 
 Neither would any one be endammaged by fuch 
 a difcovery though thofe particu'ar Arcana's fhould 
 be known even unto all Men, and that every body 
 could eftedt (uch Operations ; for nothing could re- 
 dound from them but great gain throughout all the 
 World. 
 
 But thefe things here mentioned may fufRciently 
 ferve for an evident and manifeft admonition for 
 every one to beware of the Books of fuch Wri- 
 ters, (but why do I (ay Writers? they are rather 
 Collectors and Defcribers, who after the manner 
 of Botchers do patch up new Books out of old caft 
 GarmeRt;;) and to give no credit at all unto them 
 as containing nothing of truth in them, and to think 
 that thofe kind of Men l^etake themlelves to this 
 Book-patching Trade, meerly to get their Bread by. 
 
 Some fuch Men have I known, that provide not 
 either for their Food or Rayment any other way, 
 than by the fale of fuch falfe Philofophical Books, 
 which they have from the Printers to fell to others, 
 receiving a certain price for their labour, which 
 they belfow in profering them to Sale. Omiferablo 
 Philofopher .' Who doth not know fo much as to get 
 his Food at Home in his own Houfe, but is con- 
 ftraincd to fliift after it by the bare felling of (uch 
 kind of Books. Let this here fpoken be as a war- 
 ning. It need required, and occafion were, I would 
 not fear to divulge their names too ; who having 
 not any the leaft knowledge of nature, do never- 
 thelefs dare to clfer the Revelation and Confection 
 
Part I. 
 
 the ?r of per it J of Germany. 
 
 403 
 
 of the groat univerfal unco other?, and caft fuch a 
 gre.ic blemifh of reproach upon rhe moft noble Chy- 
 iiiical Art, as makes ic much contemned, whereas a 
 more noble and more e.xxellcnt Arr cannot be found. 
 1 ie not cenfure any, but yet it wnu!d become rhe 
 nia;.;iflratcto examine thole great Philofbphers, whe- 
 ther or no they were aclually and in very deed 
 skilld in that great univerfal, (which they boaft 
 (b wonderfully of, and write Books of fiich great 
 monxnr, and promife to teach others too, as if they 
 excelled even Hi^rmes himfclf in the knowledge of 
 the Art) and if in the pn.ol'or tryal they gave good 
 fatisfaiflion, and confirmed the truth of their Wri- 
 tings by a real ar.d tiue melioration (;f the Metals, 
 then to honour, defend, and protect them, as rare 
 and lingular Philolophers. Bur if they know nothing 
 nor could perform ought of their pretended Art, the 
 magiftrates would not do unjuftly if they punifhed 
 (iich men, and made them exemplary, feeing too that 
 they endeavour to alperfe and backbite other honeft 
 men, who are endued with the skill and knowledge 
 of fuch great things, with lyingreproaches. Agood 
 Gardener being wont to gather good Honey our of 
 the Bee hive which he has in his Garden, if he finds 
 a Ncii of Wafps or Hornets any where near,built in 
 fbme liollow Tree, and that they (feal away the 
 Honey from his tees, he right worthily deltroys 
 liach a Keft, and roots out of his Garden ihofe 
 Thieves and Robbers of his Honey, that lb for the 
 future they may not detriment them any more. 
 
 Were but one or two cjf thofe Fellows handled 
 in fuch a manner the reft would be deterred and 
 would not lb eafily promife others by their deceittull 
 Writings, the making of ths Philofophers Scone, 
 which they arc fb extreamly ignorant of. Certain 
 it is therefore, that no true Philofbpher, were he a 
 partaker of the great univerfal, will indifferently of- 
 fer the fiime unto all Men, and calumniate (with- 
 out any caufe given) thole that are fb innocent (and 
 who have fr rgotten more than others have learned) 
 and pub'ickly befpatter them with molt falfe Lyes 
 before the whole World, to the great detriment of 
 the Perfbns fo abufed. 
 
 But to return to my purpofe, and to (hew in this 
 place yet another very confiderable Aramtpn of Sa 
 turn, you muff know, that 1 have already publifhed 
 divers great lecrets in this fourth and third preceeding 
 parr, but curfbrily onely, becauie 1 have nor as yet 
 attained to the one half part of their molt great uti- 
 lity, and I was willing onely to fhew what things 
 moughc be done. 
 
 But foraliiiuch as I have fortified their ufe with 
 good and (liarp Weapons, and that one or other 
 Ibmetime lighting thereupon by chance, and reaping 
 great profit therefrom, may pofTibly judge that he is 
 no ways at all bound or beholding unto me for the 
 fame ; 1 was willing for the better information, and 
 inftrucTion flike, to adjoyn tliefe few things, which 
 are very weighty and confiderable. 
 
 in divers places of the foregoing third part, and 
 of this fourth part too, I have the preparation of the 
 fMtrciirj- of Saturn and Lune, that is, I have (hewn 
 now Sctitrn and Lufie may be reduced out of their 
 Solutions, by the help of Salt, into a Snow like, 
 fufile, fugacious, pure and dry Water ; which Wa- 
 ters are by n.e calkd ttie Mcrcurus ofS^tnrfi and 
 Lttne, by rcafrn of tfieir fufile and volatile nature : 
 They are merallick Waters not wetting the hands, 
 and ycc by reafon of their form do they bear the 
 name oi'Waccr, becaulc being put into a'Crucible, 
 
 and molten with a fmall Fire, they are pellucid and 
 trar;fparent like unto Fountain Water, infbmuch 
 that they may be feen through even to the very bot- 
 tom : But yet the Water of Saturn is of a more trah- 
 fparent clarity than the Water of Lune is. 
 
 But forafinuch as our main fcope in this place is 
 to make fome mention of the ufe of the Saturnine 
 Water, we will let pafs other matters, and declare 
 fbme of the virtues of the faid wondTfull Water in 
 the melioration of the Metals. ^" 
 
 let the lover of Art- therefore know, that the 
 Saturnine Water doth difplay its virtues in wafliing 
 the Metals that are to be amended. For if any 
 imperfeifl Metal, as Iron, or Tin, or Copper, be 
 adjoyned thereunto, and held in fuch a Velfel, as 
 in which, that Water cannot by means of its fuga- 
 cioufnefs vanifh away, nor through its fubtilc and 
 penetrating power run out, and that it be digefted 
 for a while in fuch a Velfel, this Saturnine Bath fei- 
 zeth upon, waflieth, and purgerh the Metal, and 
 tranfmuteth it into a better and more pure Metal, 
 but yet with no great profit, for it onely (hews the 
 poflibility. 
 
 But yet if fome tinging Species be adjoyned there- 
 unto, it does not onely make a pure wafhing, but 
 likewife e.xalteth and tingeth the fame, according 
 as the tendency of the adjoyned flibjedt is, either 
 unto a white or a red Tindture. But what thofe 
 Species are, there's no need of difclofing them to 
 every one. Tis fufficient that 1 have laid open the 
 Water, and the ufe thereof in the wafhing of the 
 Metals. 
 
 But that the Saturnine Bath may the 'fooner and 
 readier feize upon the Metals, and wa(h them, it is 
 the beft way, to add one third part of the Mercurial 
 Water of Ltme, to the Mercurial Water of Saturn .- 
 which Waters do very readily conjoyn, and each 
 help the other in the wafhing, and do alfb tinge, 
 according as the property of thacTindlure is, which 
 is adjoyned thereunto. I will for Example fake 
 adjoyn the manner, which (hall both (hew the po(^ 
 fibility of the thing, and adminifter occafion of far- 
 ther fearch. 
 
 Dillblvc one ounce of pure Silver in J'j. Forth, 
 and three ounces of common Lead, in more ^<y. 
 rortis, mix both the Solutions together, and preci- 
 pitate them, either with common Salt Water, or 
 with Spirit of Salt, which is all a cafe. Pour off 
 the Aq. Fortis from the Coagulum, after its being 
 fettled to the bottom, which faid Coagulum, you 
 need not wafh with Rain Water, for this Work, but 
 prefs the liquor onely through a thick Cloath and fb 
 free it of its humidity ; this done, dry this metallick 
 Chccfc by the Fire, and you fhall have a Bath very 
 fit to wafli l^tmts. Mars, and Jupter. And now 
 when you are minded to try whether or no the fuc- 
 cefs will fadge well, divide your Bath into three 
 parts, and wafh thofe three Metals on the following 
 manner. 
 
 iV. B. Let no Body take it in evil parr, that I 
 here filently pafs over my fecret bathing Laver, (er- 
 ving to wafh the Metals in, and not permitting the 
 Water it felf to go away in fume: He that is mind- 
 ed to try this Operation, may for the firlt time 
 make ufe of Crucibles, which, although they may 
 bring fbme lofs by letting go part of the Saturnine 
 Bath, yet notwlthftanding they will demonfl'rate 
 the fiiccefs of the bufinefs, and the lofs by them 
 caufed may afterwards be prevented by due Ahdi- 
 umu The manner of ufing the Bath afurefaid, isas 
 tblloweth. Tike 
 
404 
 
 The ¥ourtb ?arr. of 
 
 Part L 
 
 Take of the filings of pure Iron, Copper or Tin 
 one part, mix it with three parts of our dry Bath, 
 ai\d put the matter thus mixt into an earthen Vefiel, 
 which hath the compaanels of Glafs, fuch as thole 
 are, which are made at Siburz near Cdai, at Bam- 
 berg \n Frcnccnia, and at li'aldenbitrg, near Cajjifla 
 in Hajfia,and in other phccs of Germaitji. (xV. B. The 
 common Veflels and Crucibles cannot retam this 
 Water, but ip- -nenctrates through them hke Oil.) 
 Heat your Velld fo hot as to caufe the Water toge- 
 ther with the Metals to melt and flow we'.l, m 
 
 which liquefailion, part indeed of the water will 
 pafs away in fume, but this lofs may be eafily pre- 
 vented. 
 
 When therefore your Metal hath been thus boi.d 
 for about one quarter of an hour, part of the fame 
 will be found wafht and turned into good Silver : 
 nor muft you thus underftand me as if the Silver in 
 the faid Water were onelv precipitated by the Me 
 tal, and that no part of the Metal it (elf underwent 
 any Tranfinutation. For albeit that that Silver 
 which was added to the Saturnine Water be preci- 
 pitated bv the adjoyned Mcta!, and returns into its 
 former Body, yet n'evertlielefs there is more Silver 
 gotten than was added to the Water. For that Sa- 
 turnine Bath while it is occcupied about the dilfoiu- 
 tionofthe Metal, doth by the efficacy and Opera- 
 tion of the adjoyned Lune, e.xalt and tinge part of 
 the Metal to an higher degree. 
 
 But although this labour does not promife any 
 golden Mountains, it is here put for' this end onely, 
 namely, that the polRbility of the thing may Le 
 learned hereby : yet notwithft-anding, if any one did 
 but know how to adjoyn to this Saturnine Water, a 
 golden Ferment, initead of a filvery one, it could 
 not otherwile be but that he would get no contemp- 
 tible gain and profit : yet if the lame Operation be 
 fo inftitutcd with a white Ferment, as that not any 
 the leall part thereof may go away in fume, and be 
 loft of the Bath, it will bring no lofs. N. B. Nei- 
 ther is it always needfull that the Ferments of pure 
 Metals be adjoyned to this Saturnine Bath, tor 1 
 think that apt Minerals may be found, which may 
 be adhibited in the room of aureous and argenteous 
 Ferments. Nay more, 1 do likewile think that fuch 
 fubjeitsmay be adjoyned to this Saturnine Mercuri 
 al Water, as may be therein fixed into white and 
 red Tinctures ; the thing it I'elf 1 have not as yet 
 tried, nor do I profeLs my felf 16 great a Mafter, for 
 I propole to my felf this onely end in my Writing, 
 namely, to (hew unto fuch as are dellrous after 
 tianlmutations, the way of arriving unto the truth 
 ir le f. For it will be far eafier for every one that 
 (earcheth into the bulinefs more thoroughly, and 
 that maketh more accurate tryals, to find out far 
 greater things, yea much more than he could ever 
 believe. More fuch Woman like Walhings, and 
 more Boys Plays fliall (God willing) be manifefted 
 in my Work of Saturn. 
 
 But now this Saturnine dry Bath may be prepared 
 much eaCisr, on this wile l(jllowing ; choofe you out 
 fuch an 0.ir or Minera of Lead, which is very pure 
 and clean, and hath not either Iron, or Copper, or 
 any other Metal admixt therewithal! : {N. B. If 
 Silver be likewile in the Oar, it rather profits than 
 hinders, but the faid Oar muft not have much earth 
 mi.vt in ir, and that which is on to it mull be taken 
 from it by wafliing ort' the fame with fair Water.) 
 O ic, tw.i, three, or more pounds of this leaden 
 Oar thus wafhr, mufl be put into a ftrong Cucurbit, 
 
 and fo many pounds of Spirit of Salt m.uft be (put 
 on and) drawn olf thencetrom, which Spirit of Salt, 
 as being amoift and Philo(oph!calFire,will reduce the 
 pure Oar of Lead, which it toucheth every where 
 and in all p'aces ot the lame, into a bright, Snowy^ 
 ealilv Meltable, and fugacious Calx, which is to be 
 well walht with Water and be dried : This is that 
 metallick Bath, and that dry Water of the Ancients, 
 which wets not the hands, and which is able to per- 
 form admirable things in the Metals. 
 
 But that this -Philofophical and moift Calcination 
 of the Oar of Lead, may be accompliflied without 
 any cofts, Ibme Salt Water muft be poured upon the 
 Spirit of Salt, in the Cucurbit, that the Salt may af- 
 cend togethef with the Spirit, and may augment 
 the fame with fo great a quantity of Spirit, as may 
 quit the cofts of the Oar and Fire, and yield you the 
 dry Saturnine Bath for nothing, which faid Bath 
 may be employed various ways about the wafhings 
 and emendations of the Metals. For out of the 
 Oars which never underwent the burning by the 
 Fire, and were never as yet deprived of their grow- 
 ing faculty, this Bath thus prepared is to be prefer- 
 red tar afore that, which is made of the molten 
 Metal. 
 
 1 do here open to the fludious of Art, .the Gate 
 that leads unto moft great fecrets, which were never' 
 fo clearly manifefted by any Man. It muft necef- 
 farily therefore be, that either God muft put a ftop, 
 or that the Operator or Labourer himlelt muft be of 
 a ftupid and limple capacity, if he cannot learn from 
 thefe inftrudioris, as much as to live inquietude, and 
 lb furnifh himfelf with Food and Rayment. 
 
 If therefore God fhall vouchfafe his BlefUng un- 
 to thee in the ufe of this fecrer, then give unto him, 
 the beftower of all good things, thy utmoft thanks, 
 and be not unmindfull of the Poor. Suftain thy life 
 by the works of thy hands, and let thy light fhine 
 before the blind, neither bury the fame envioufly in 
 the Earth. Do good to every one, that it may be 
 dilcerned and appear what Tree thou art. Entertain 
 not too great an opinion of thy felf, but remember 
 that thou art a Man and mai'ft err and fail. Give 
 no body occafion of quarrelling and brawling. If 
 an unjuft confiicl be brought upon thee, commit 
 thy lelf wholly unto God, and he will fiiccour thee. 
 Give place to the greater, and fpare thelelier, God 
 will defend thee and fijpprels thine Enemies. 
 
 The Heathen Philolbphers accounted the Pro- 
 phet Ez^ekiel as a clownifh Philofbpher, becaufe 
 he wrote fo very clearly of the Divine Myfteries. 
 For they took it very untowardly, that he was not 
 fb envious, as to involve fuch great Myfteries in i^^- 
 lence, but wrote fb openly of the lame. 
 
 Fie that will novv-a days make ic hisdelignto 
 wind himfelf out of the crew of Sophifters, and 'uch 
 kind ot Philofophers that putteth together hurtfull 
 Books, conlifting of fine Spun, and leducing words 
 onely meerly for their own gain, and without any 
 profitable information at all in them ; he I fay that 
 would tree himfelf from fijch , overcome them, and 
 bear away the prize, mull imitate thatcountrey man, 
 who on a time entring into a Fencing School at No- 
 rimbcrg did behold the Fencers artificially combate to- 
 gether lb ftrongly and fb long, until! all the ottiers 
 being tired, and tbrfaking the Stage, there lemained 
 bur onely one aslble vittoc ; who, with a difdainfull 
 look, contemning all the reft, allured himfelf of the 
 victory. 
 
 Being 
 
the Frofpcritj of Germany. 
 
 Fart I. __ 
 
 B^inT^h^re^b^aking up thePrize-Money 
 there d'cpc.fiteJ, out fteps the Countryman faying, 
 voufhaU not have the Jcward, except you beat me 
 00 o^' he Stage : Fight therefore he muft wth the 
 roun rvnian or forlake the prize; but prom.fing 
 ^Sl'anured ViOory, he --ifeth^s .tk^ a. 
 nous and artificial pofturcs which h^ had learned 
 ,„ Che tencing School, thereby ^o "^^'^^^/Ji'f.^^y ^^I 
 uatch with the Countryman, fuppofmg that the 
 Countryman would be frighted, and laying down 
 Ws W ipons, quit the Stage. The Countrynrar, 
 bans no ways feared Itood very quiet (as confiding 
 fa KLwnllrength) fo long, nil the tencer approa- 
 ching nearer with his obhque Flounfhes, made as 
 ■rwere a Wheel afore his No(e, whom the Country- 
 man (truck all along, with fuch a fi^^^f^. ^low as 
 made the Hair of -his Head flye off, and the Bloud 
 run about his Ears. So artificial a Combatan as 
 th.s being or'ethrown, he was asked by that plain 
 Countrey Fellow, whether or no he would ye 
 once mofetry the fortune of the Play, but he would 
 no more prove the Countrey downright b.ows of a 
 Non-Cit.zcn, but left both the Money and Honour of 
 the Viftorv to the Country man,who being asked how 
 be durlt adventure upon (o artificial and experienced a 
 Fencer,and could (o oTecome him,he replied, that he 
 perceived the Fencer uled may oblique Skippingsbut 
 was no ftrong Man : and therefore I oppofed my 
 ftrength tohisartifical Flourifhes, and fo with one 
 blow llruck him down. By this Hiftory it is evident, 
 that that finely Spun, and Tophiftical prat.ng of the 
 Schools, makes nothing to the purpofe but a cer am 
 experience, and an infallible knowledge of things 
 both is and fo remains the ible Miftrels. _ 
 
 For the fake of thfe that are lovers of divine and 
 natural Miracles, "tis expedient that I yet farther 
 manifeft fome certain fecrets cf Salt, which are hither- 
 to altogether unknown, and (hall be ftewn unto 
 my Fnendsin mv Laboraory. Nor do I at all doubt, 
 but that fome few will be found who will eahly un- 
 derftand the(e things, and look on them as things 
 credible. But 1 matter not, whether they credit 
 roe who fpeak the very truth or not. It (uthcetn 
 me that lean not onely perform the things 1 lay, 
 but UKewile (hew them to Friends, whereby they 
 may be able to reap (bme benefit and profit there- 
 from, c- , 
 
 Salt mav be fo introverted by the Operation ofthe 
 
 Fire, as that it (hall lofe its (harp properties, and 
 
 acquire a Iweetnefs, and be brought by the help of 
 
 other Vegetables and of Water, unto Fermentation, 
 
 and fo yield a good and fweer burning Spirit, a 
 
 clear, fweet, and (trong white Ale, conferving nts 
 
 taft for many years ; various drinks, not unlike in 
 
 ta(t to the Wine made of Honey and Fruits of Trees, 
 
 ftrong and dear Vinegar, and white Tartar, fully 
 
 as profitable for fuch Operations, as the common 
 
 • and natural Tartar of Wine iswont to be ufed about, 
 
 and may be with thofe others [afore mentioned] 
 
 prepared with fmall charges. 
 
 The Air and Fire do in a fliort time tranfmute 
 Salt, into true r.atural Saltpeter, which is no fmall 
 
 profit. 
 
 The Fire dothlikewife very eafily endow common 
 Salt with fuch kind of properties, as render it capa- 
 ble of tatning and dunging barren Fields, Vines, 
 Fruit Trees, Hops, and all other Garden Herbs as 
 well as Sheeps or Beafts Dung. 
 
 Salt is alio fo changed by the Fire in few hours 
 time, as to put on a magnetick nature, and attract 
 
 4.05 
 
 the moifture and water out of the Air,and to retain it 
 with it (elf a longwhile,and therefore is not eafily dri- 
 ed up by the Sun. Corn,as Oats,Barley,Rye,Whear, 
 Peafe, Beans, and other Seeds being (teeped in fuch 
 a Salt for a Night, do by means thercot, grov^ up 
 the f'peedier out ofthe Earth. It is very profitable 
 therefore in the Summer Scafon, wherein there's 
 fcarcity of Rain, and efpecially in fandy Grounds, 
 becaule it holds the Rain Water a good while, (b 
 that it is not (0 eafily dried up by the Sun. Befides, 
 too, tijat Salt is of (iich attradtia;r virtues as that one 
 ounce thereof, being put in lonRc little Glafs to two 
 ounces of Water, hardens all this Water, in the like- 
 nefsofSalf, fo as that you may carry the fame a- 
 bout you in a Paper ; whereas there were two parts 
 of Water to one of Salt. 
 
 This Salt abounds with yet many other wonderfull 
 virtues, fome of which 1 have declared in my Trea- 
 tife, ofthe Nature of Salts, (tiling it by the name of 
 Sal Mirabilis, and that not without good caufe. Ic 
 is ofthe form of Salt- peter, and is void of all Acri- 
 mony, it is a little bittcrifh to the taft, and is of a 
 Balfamick Nature. For being rub'd on Beef or other 
 (Lich like Fle(h, it keeps the fame, though expofed 
 to the open Air, from being infefted with Magots, 
 and from being corrupted : And therefore it is an ef- 
 ficacious fubjeft, with which as being a moft efficaci- 
 ous BaKom, dead Bodies are conferved from cor- 
 ruption. It converts all things put into it, in long 
 proce(s of time, into an hard Stone, and abounds 
 with many other wondrous virtues, which (for cer- 
 tain caufes,) I pafs by in filence at this time. Tara- 
 celfrts calls it Sal Emxiim, but 1 Sal Mirabilis. 
 
 Nor ought it to (eem at all wonderfull, that com- 
 mon Salt doth fo eafily obtain by the Operation of 
 the Fire, a better andfweeter quality. 1 do in very- 
 deed affirm, that not onely the common Kitchin 
 Salt, but even thofe too, which are of a moft biting 
 corrofivity, as J qua Fortls, Aqua Regia, Oil of Salt, 
 of Sulphur, and of Vitriol, may by a certain fweec 
 Vegetable, (without the addition of any contrary- 
 Salt) be brought to fuch a pafs in three hours time, 
 as that a Man cannot perceive the lea(f Corrofion at 
 all in thein. Nay more, if this very Salt hath dif- 
 folved up any Metals, it dues not part with them, 
 but holds them (till : lb that the corrofive Solution of 
 Gold which is made with Oil of Salt, becomes a 
 (weet liquor, which likewife comes lb to pafs, with 
 the Solutions of Silver, and of the other Metals-, (b 
 that by this way excellent Medicaments may mo(t 
 eafily be made out of Metals. 
 
 New Wines being fermented with fuch a Salt, do 
 change their Tartar into fweet Wine, and become 
 clear in a months time, and (uddenly have both the 
 taft and odour as old Wines ufually have. Certainly 
 it is a (ecret of very great concernment, when by 
 reafon ofthe coldnefs of the Air, the Wines cannot 
 attain unto their due maturity. N. B. There ap- 
 pertains to this fermentation, a fingular and excel- 
 lent Artifice, by which the Wines and other drinks 
 are promoted to a fpeedy and (bong fermentation, 
 infbmuch that the Wine boils in the Veflel, though 
 the Veffel fhould be fet out to the Snow and Ice in 
 the coldcft time of Winter : whereby the Wines 
 muft needs be made better, ftronger, and fweeter. 
 It is a very artificial invention, hitherto concealed 
 by me, but now I am minded to reveal the fame un- 
 to my Friends. 
 
 M m m m m 
 
 By 
 
4-06 
 
 The Fourth Fart of 
 
 Part L 
 
 By the fame Salt too. Wine, Ale, Metheglin, j Fire and Air made equal unto Salt-peter, and per 
 and other drinks maybe infliort time turned into forming the fame etkil:s, it may then worthily be 
 good and {harp Vinegar without the help of the Sun, graced as Salt-peter is with the Title of Monarcy 
 
 or of a warm Stove 
 
 If therefore any one needs for his Operations any 
 diftilled Vinegar, he may even dinill it in wooden 
 Velfels, without any fparkle of Fire, onely in the 
 Air, by the proper efficacy of the liquors themlelves, 
 and by the help of the Air : and this in fuch wile, 
 as that a whole Barrel of diftilled Vinegar vvi'lnot 
 coft fo much as on Token, the Barrels or Yelie s 
 excepted, which veiily is. a moft Artificial Diitil- 
 
 lation. ^ 
 
 Thus likewife by the fame means may a Iweet 
 burning Spirit be diftilled out of Ale, Wine,and other 
 
 the like Liquors. , r n u 
 
 Any common Wine may be rendred fo ftrong by 
 the help of a certain fweet Salt and artificial fermen- 
 tation, as that it cannot be drunk becauleotits 
 ftrength. Some Pots full onely thereof, being pou- 
 red into a Barrel full of fmall Wine, will make the 
 fame fo ftrong, as to equalize it with generous 
 Wine. He that is fo minded may add lome fweet 
 Spices in the fermentation, and fo make it the miore 
 fweet, more efficacious, and more whoUome, and (o 
 a little quantity thereof being poured into another 
 Barrel will make all the Wine therein contained 
 become fweet and good. 
 
 Out of common Salt may eafily be made good Al- 
 lum and Vitriol, no lefs ufefuU for the Dyers than 
 the natural are. 
 
 It is likewife a thing eafily feafible, and that too 
 in few hours fpace, to turn the fame into a fiery 
 nature, and make it have the fame property as the 
 Salt made of Wood Afhes, and of the burnt Lees of 
 Wine and fuch like, and as Pot Afhes have, and 
 may ferve for the Soap Boilers and be applied to the 
 fame ufes that thofe Salts are ufed for. 
 
 Moreover, Itore of (weec Spirit of Salt may be 
 gotten vmh fmall charges out of common Salt, fer- 
 ving not onely for the preparation of many excel- 
 lent Medicaments, but alfo for the maturation of 
 the meaner and unripe Metals, as we (aid afore. 
 
 Thefe and the like wonderfull things, yea and 
 very many fuch effeds incredible to the unskiltuU 
 doth that contemptible and common Salt produce, 
 to the exceeding benefit and profit of mankind : 
 which excellent things I neither would nor could 
 (for the honour of God, the giver of all good things, 
 and for the fake and profit of mankind) any longer 
 conceal. But (bme or other may objed and fay, it 
 by the help of common Salt, fuch great things may 
 be effected, why do not you prefer the fame before 
 ■ Salt peter, which you have fo exceedingly praifed 
 in the third Part of the Profperity oiGermanj, and 
 have conflituted it the Monarch as it were of the 
 whole World: whereas qotwithftanding it islbve- 
 nemous a Dragon as is wont to devour all things. 
 Can't thefe two Salts I pray, namely the common 
 and Salt-peter, dividethe Governmentof the World 
 between them, and bear (way and command both 
 together. 
 
 To fucb I anfwer, that although that common 
 Salt be the producer of many wondertull etfedts, yet 
 muftic needs give place unto Salt- peter, which be- 
 ing inflamed and on Fire is wont to overturn huge 
 Mountains, and blow them up into the Air, vvhich 
 thing feeing common Salt cannot do, 'tis but fitting 
 and right that it (hould be dignified with fo great 
 a Title. However, being by the Operation of the 
 
 The effe^rts which I have attributed to common 
 Salt and Salt-peter, I can every hour (hew, in very 
 deed, to be moft true. Ill therefore do they do, 
 that bark againft me for faying that Salt-peter is a 
 univer(al Diliolvcnt, and that endeavour by their 
 tatling reproaches to obftruft the truth. 
 
 Why do they not produce fame better thing, fee- 
 ing they will not admit of this univerfal Diliblvent ? 
 jfuch Men as thele do nothing elfe but bewray their 
 own tbolifhnefs, and kick againft the Pricks. 
 
 Had they ever done ought, or fet their hands to 
 work, for the fake of fearching throughly into na- 
 ture, they would never fo boldly contemn, and re- 
 ject that, which they never as yet underffood. They 
 behave themfclves very bafely, and clearly difcover 
 unto all Men's view, that they have fuckt in their 
 uncertain and foolifh Opinions, by the bare reading 
 and hearing of uncertain and dubious Writers, whofe 
 meaning notwithftanding they underffand not ; for 
 my parti remain conffan tin my Opinion, and fay, 
 that Saltpeter is an univerfal DilTolvent, and is able 
 to dillblve all the things in the whole World, if it be 
 made ufe of in three forms or ffiapes. Whatfbever 
 the acid Spirit thereof, or the Eagle with its fharp 
 Claws cannot effect, its fixed Salt, or the fiery Lyon 
 will accomphfh : and whatfbever is impolTible to be 
 done by thefe two, the Griffon which hath its rife 
 from the Eagle and Lyon, will artificially perform. 
 JV. B. The acid Spirit of Niter doth not dillblve 
 fulphureous fiibjefts, but mercurials onely : Contra- 
 ry wife, the fix Niter doth not feize upon mercurial 
 fubjedts, but fulphureous ones ; but the flame of Salt- 
 peter performs both : which verily is wondertull, 
 that things fo unlike (hould in fome fbw hours time 
 be extracted out of one and the fame fijbjeft. For 
 the corrofive Spirit prepared out of Salt peter by 
 Diftillation, and likewife the fix Salt, are moft bitter 
 enemies to each other, which ruinating and flaying 
 one another, and being dead, return agen unto that 
 which they were atbre, and partakes of both na- 
 tures ; which the Ancient Philofopcrs do clearly 
 point out unto us by the Grifibn, which is headed 
 i\nd winged like an Eagle, and the hinder part of its 
 Body like a Lyon, as we have mentioned more at 
 large in the foregoing third part of the Profperity of 
 Germanj. 
 
 Upon him that rightly underftands this ancient Fa- 
 ble of the Griffon, Lion, and Eagle, doth the Sun 
 fhine, for he will get no fiiiall profit to himfelf thence- 
 from. Whatfbever the Corrofive Eagle diflblves and 
 tears a pieces, that the fix and fiery Lion precipitates. 
 And whatfbever the Lion devours, that the Eagle 
 doth agen fnatch from him : but they kill each the 
 other, of whole dead bodies the Grittbn exifts, which, 
 hath the body of the Eagle and Lion. By how much, 
 the oftner this labour is repeated, fb much the more 
 potent and Itronger doth the Griffon come to be, 
 [efpeciallyj if both the Eagle and the Lion have filled 
 themlelves with food and are grown fat ; or by how 
 much the bigger the Eagle and the Lion are grown, 
 by (lich Subjects as are agreeable unto them, a(bre 
 their mutual fighting ; the Griffon doth alfo become, 
 of magnitude proportionable. 
 
 Once every day therefore may fuch a confli<2:; 
 flaughter, revivification, and tranfiiiutation of thefe 
 two fighting and capital Enemies, viz.. the Eagle andi 
 
 Lion, 
 
Part I. 
 
 the ?rofperity ^/Germany. 
 
 407 
 
 Lion into the Gritfon be made. But if you would 
 have it profitable, then muft Vulcan fharpen Saturn's 
 Sythe.by which he may divide theGritfon [in twain,] 
 and may turn whatever proceeded from the Eagle, 
 into the Eagle again ; and may tranlmute that which 
 arofe from the Lion into the Lion agcn. When the 
 dominion of the Gritfon is divided, and that the Ea- 
 gle bears fway onely over his birds, and the Lion 
 onely over his beafts, like two Kings, then all is well, 
 and there's no war. But if once the Eagle endea- 
 vours to fnatch away from the Lion his prey, then 
 ari(eth a great war, and of (o long a continuance, till 
 they have flain each the other, of whofc bodies the 
 Gods doe make the Gritfon. But when the Gritfon 
 becomes too dildainfull, and affedeth Tyranny, and 
 defigns to bear rule over birds and beafts together, 
 he is agen divided by Vulcan, by the perfwafion of 
 old Saturn, that fo he may return by a reiterated 
 tranfmuration into the Eagle and Lion: which wheel 
 [or rotation ] of rcciprocaltranfmutation doth never 
 reft, but converts it felf [or turns it felf round] in 
 a perpetual couvle for Man's punifhment, as long as 
 it fliall pleafe the moft high God, who, at laft, will 
 put an end to all fightings, flaughter, and contention, 
 that atfli^l this world : at which time all the Eagles 
 and Lions which ever were in the world, fliall be 
 turned into the Great Gritfon , which will rend and 
 overthrow the whole Earth. 
 
 This time all pious Souls doe qx^qOl and wait for 
 with ardent defire, and many fighs, that they may 
 be at laft freed from the talons of the Eagles, which 
 rend all things a pieces, and from the claws of the 
 roaring Lions, and enjoy everlafting peace and quie- 
 tude. 
 
 Thus much may fuffice to have been fpoken of 
 Salt-peter at this time, which, how it may be pre- 
 pared very plentifully, and with great profit, out 
 of the Salts of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, I 
 have already declared in the foregoing third Part of 
 the Frofpeuty of Germavj. He now that dreams of fo 
 managing his affairs as to reap benefit and profit to 
 himfelf thencefrom, may inquire into the bulinefs by 
 a more accurate meditation and fearch. Yet let him 
 know, That Salt-peter may be very eafily made of 
 many vile Subjeils, which may be every where had : 
 of which Salt, if you have plenty, you cannot want 
 other things. For not onely moft excellent Medica- 
 ments againft all kinds of Difeales may be made with 
 Salt-peter, as Iikewife the growing faculty of Fruits 
 fpringing out of the Earth, be promoted, asofCorn, 
 Wine, and tuchlike things necelfary for the fultain- 
 ing of the life of Man ; but aUo pure good Gold may 
 very eafily, but with great profit, be gotten out of 
 the impert'ecT: Metals. 
 
 Seeing then, that by means thereof, a man may 
 be lupplied with firm health, food, and rayment, and 
 with Gold and Silver, what other thing is there, I 
 pray, that he can want .^ That which I have fo of- 
 ten faid, I doc here repeat and affirm. That there is 
 not in the whole World any fubjeA that can com- 
 pare with Saltpeter, much left be preferred before 
 it. 
 
 Such a noble, yea fo kingly a Subjedl therefore as 
 this is, well deferves to be moft highly honoured by 
 us, and to be (earcht into by the utraoft of our en- 
 deavours, becaufe of the fo great benefits it beftows 
 upon Mankind. We will therefore proclaim and 
 pronounce Salt-peter to be the Monarch of the whole 
 World, though all its and my enemies, who endea- 
 vour to befpacter our honour and repute with the 
 
 brands of infamy, doe even burft for malice- 
 O moft foolidi men , with how vain a hope doe 
 ye expe:! the Lion and Monarch from the North, as 
 the Jews doe their MefHah, who came above 1600 
 years ago. The Lion of the North, and the Mo- 
 narch of the World is even ar this time prcfent, and 
 hath always been, but yet hath been known but by 
 a few; the full and pertett revelation of which, God 
 alone knows. I doe verily think the time is now 
 at hand ; Thefe things which are kno\ fU unto us 
 concerning him, are all of them but particulars, and 
 very few too But if the faid Northern Lion fhall 
 find out and dig forth the trcafurcs which lye hidden 
 in the Mountains, then will he at laft exhibit his 
 power to be fcen , and fhew himfelf to be the Mo- 
 narch of the whole World. 
 
 Salt-peter is that great and firefpitting Dragon , 
 the keeper of the Golden Apples, and that venomous 
 Bafilisk which kills all things with his looks. If he 
 be but fi.xt and made conftant in the fire, then is he 
 that Salamander living in the fire, and that Phoenix 
 the bird of the Sun , which having gathered pure 
 Gold out of the Sand, ufeth it to the making of her 
 neft, and arriving to its utmoft old age, burns her 
 felf ; out of whofe Afhes other Phcenix's are produ- 
 ced. 
 
 He that defires to know more of the Griffon, 
 Phoenix, Dragon, Bafilisk, and Salamander, all which 
 doe exceedingly thirft after Gold, and dig it out of 
 the Earth and ke^ it, may read Pltnj, and other the 
 ancient Writers of natural things ; as alfo Ambrofius 
 Cdefines Didionary of eight Languages, and of the 
 laft Edition. 
 
 The Conclujlon. 
 
 THefe ( O friendly Reader ) are the things which 
 I was willing to publifh at this time for the 
 Countries good ; Had I had more time and oppor- 
 tunity, I would have added more profitable fecrets, 
 and fuch too as are of no finall moment. If I find 
 that thefe here written arc acceptable, I will in a 
 fiibjoyned Appendix make a clearer interpretation 
 of fijch obfcure places as may be herein met with. 
 
 N. B. I would have the friendly Reader here 
 know, that although I have written thefe Four Parts 
 of the Proj ferity of Germany clear enough, above my 
 other [Writings] [or more clear than the others] yet 
 notwithftanding I have referved for my felf and my 
 friends fomewhat amongft all the Proceffes , and 
 ways of operation, fo that I know how to qSqOl the 
 preparations of Salt-peter, and to makeufe of its va- 
 rious properties, in extracting Gold and Silver out 
 of the Oars, and in the melioration of the imperfedl 
 Metals, and tranfmuting them into Gold and Silver 
 much eafier, and far more compendioufly, and with 
 much lefs cofts. 
 
 The things which I have written, I have written 
 for every one. Friends and Foes together ; The o- 
 ther, and thofe better Secrets, I have referved to 
 my felf and my friends. This fhall now (God wil- 
 ling ) be my chiefeft care, that my Laboratory, in 
 which the truth of the whole bufinels fhall be Ihown 
 unto my friends, may be fitted up and made ready. 
 In the mean time, the Princes and Noble men, whofe 
 territories fiach metallick trcafures arc in, and cannot 
 be exrracled by the help of common fuflon, may con- 
 fider, whether or no it will be agreeable to their 
 minds to make ufe of thefe my Artificial, and nor 
 vulgar Operations in extra(fting the Gold and Silver 
 
 by 
 
4o8 
 
 The Voarth Vart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 by Salt and Salt-peter out of fuch-like auriferous Tub- 
 ieds. If it (hall leem unto them a thing worth while, 
 to inftitute fiich operations for the profit of their 
 Countries, they may fend unto me a fit perfon, and 
 one that knows how to deal in the fire, and one that 
 is of a filent difpofition, and of good education, who 
 may learn the very work it (elf in my Laboratory. 
 
 But they that are Lords of fuch places zs doe not 
 contain in them thofe auriferous Mincra's or Oars, 
 and can nciiusrthelefs get flore of them from the bor- 
 dering Countries, and are defirous of amending them, 
 and ufing them for their profit, we deny not to fliew 
 and difclofc the Art unto them too, ( the perfons 
 always confidered, ) namely that artificial and moift 
 Extradion of the volatile and fix Gold, not onely 
 out of Minerals, Stones, Sand, and Clay, but like- 
 wife out of the already-molten Metals themfelves, 
 as Lead, Tin, Iron, and Copper ; in which Metals, 
 there is often times hidden much Gold and Silver, 
 
 which admits not of being extracted by the common 
 melting Fire ; but is eafily drawn thereout of, by the 
 maturation and fepararion that is caufed by Salt and 
 Sak-petcr, and (b brought to common ufc. 
 
 All the.'e things we will not be loth to make 
 friends partakers of, as likewife of other rare and 
 artificial inventions, and fuch as are profitable to 
 all kinds of men , none excepted ; which are fuch 
 things as will bring much profit to my Country, and 
 fliall be fhewn in my Laboratory, publickly, and pri- 
 vately unto friends : but with this provifo, namely, 
 if the laid friends will faithfully promife unto me, 
 that they will with a faithfuil (Tlence conceal thofe 
 fecrets which they fhall fee and learn from me, and 
 improve the fame , onely to the honour of God, to 
 the comfort of the fick, to the help and fuccour of 
 poor Widows and Orphans, and to the defence df 
 the Truth ; and not ufe them to Diabolical difdain, 
 and deteltable pride, and other fooleries and vanities. 
 
 Tfo B-nd of the Toiirth fart of the Yrofperitj «/ Germany. 
 
 THE 
 
 FIFTH PA 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Profperity of GERMANY. 
 
 Clearly and Solidly demonftrating, and as it were fhevv- 
 
 ing with the Fingers, what Alchymy is, and what benefit may by the 
 help thereof, be gotten every where, and in moft places of Germa?iy. 
 Written and Publifhed to the Honour of God the giver of all good 
 things, primarily 5 and to the Honour of all the great ones of the Coun- 
 try 5 and for the Health, Profit, and Afilflancc againft Forreign Invali- 
 ons, of all their Inhabitants that are by due right and obedience fubjed 
 unto them. 
 
 LI KE as the weighty command of God injoyns 
 all Children to love their Parents, and tofub- 
 mit themfelves unto them, with a due obedi- 
 ence in all lawfuU and equitable things, and to yield 
 them due fidelity : Even folikewife doth he require 
 from every fubjedl a due obedience to their particu- 
 lar Magiftrates, that they moft willingly obey them 
 (with a faithfuil obfervance, as being the Fathers 
 of the Countrey, and to whom they are tied by all 
 right of Fidelity) in all fuch things as pafs not be 
 
 yond the boundaries of equity, and withall it be- 
 hoves each fuch fubjeCt to communicate any thing 
 whatfoever that is requifite for their fafety and de- 
 fence, and for the repelling and beating oft" the Ene- 
 mies. 
 
 The confiderationofthis dutifull fervice, which 
 binds every Subjecl; to his Magiffrate, ftirred me up 
 (feeing that greivous and fijdden Fire which almoft 
 deffroyed all the Kingdom of Poland, and therefore 
 fearing, left by dilating it felf it fhould alfo detri- 
 ment 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profpentj of Germany. 
 
 40^ 
 
 menc our Councrey) to take care in publifliingjfome 
 four )cars ago, a little Book intituled the firft Fart 
 ot the Profperity of Germany. I therein taught, by 
 what means the v-aft p'.entyof Corn and Wine might 
 be fo concentrated as to beeafily preferved and kept, 
 and fo be made (erviceable for the common good,and 
 of exceeding profit, in future calamitous times. 
 
 1 likewi(e (hewed the way and manner of fome 
 other Arts, and fuch as are moft ufefull for the com- 
 mon good of the Countrey, 'mongft which, that 
 difcovery of making Salt-peter out of old and rotten 
 Wood, (from which may a vaft quantity thereof be 
 had) is none of the meaneft. 
 
 I ha^'e alio bethought my felf of another way of 
 plealiiring my Countrey with no fiiiall benefit afore I 
 die, and thus I intend it. 
 
 Firlt of all, I would have the whole World know 
 by this Imall Work or Trcatiie, that I have a mind 
 to demonftrate the moft profitable and principal fe- 
 crets which I have treated of (partly openly or 
 plainly, and partly oblcurely or more darkly) in 
 thole four parts ot the Profperity oi'Gerfn.mj^ and 
 that both to the high and low in my publick and 
 private Laboratory, afore this year is run about. 
 To this end, I have already the chiefeft and moft 
 neceflary Utenfils at hand, and when all the necef 
 lary provilion is gotten together and made ready, 
 thofc laid Arcanums which will be fo exceedingly 
 profitable to the Countrey, fhall be vifibly demon- 
 ftrated to fuch as the chiefeft Magiftrates fhall make 
 choife of, and to other honeft Citizens and Men of 
 the Countrey. And amongft thefc Arcana's which 
 are of fuch great benefit, the three following ones 
 are the moft principal. 
 
 The firft is, the making of good Salt-peter out of 
 contemptible, and every where obvious fubjetts. 
 
 The lecond is, how by the help of this Salt-peter, 
 eafily and copioudy to extrad the fugitive, and the 
 fixtGold and Silver and Copper out of the Mmuds 
 or Oars, with a great deal of profit and mighty ad- 
 vantage, and that without any melting or fufion by 
 Fire. 
 
 The third is this, the truth and certainty of Al- 
 chymy fhall be fhown, and it fhall be proved, that 
 it is not any vain dream, deceitfull Phantafie or Fal- 
 lacy, as the greateft part and number of its haters and 
 Ignoramus i have hitherto flanderoufly reported; but 
 that it is a moft true Artifice, and of wondrous con- 
 fequence, by the help of which, (it making ufe of 
 Fire and Silt,j all contemptible Minerals and Me- 
 tals, and which are of no great gain, as Lead^ I- 
 ron, Tm^BiJmiithjCoboh, Ziiik, Lap Calaminaris, Mar- 
 chajitss, all Other fugacious Minerals may be fb fixed 
 and ripened, as that much and true and conftant 
 Gold and Silver may be extrafted out of them with 
 fmall cofts, but abundance of profit. 
 
 Thefe three (ecrets verily arc in my judgment of 
 great moment and therefore are worthy for the 
 great ones, and Princes, and other Fathers of the 
 common Weal to be made partakers thereof by re- 
 vealing the fame unto them. 
 
 1 have deemed it worth while, in a few words to 
 illuftrate the incredible utility thencefrom arifing, 
 that any one that hath but any realbn may perceive 
 it. 
 
 And firft, as concerning Salt-peter, the whole 
 World knows what profitable and needtuU a fubjeft 
 it is. There can never be fo great a quantity there- 
 of prepared, but it may not onely be applied tone- 
 
 cellary ufes but alfb to fiich as bring a great deal of 
 profit. I forbear to fpeak of its moft grc.« ufe and 
 exceeding profit in making Gun powder, which no 
 Kingdoms, no Common-wealths can want to defend 
 their Countrey withallj and drive off their Ene- 
 mies. 
 
 And if there were no need of it for this thing, yet 
 would it be of mighty moment, and bring in abun- 
 dance of j)ro fir by extrafting G'*'! and Silver out 
 of the poorer Oars which will not bear the charges 
 of melting, and now there will never be (b much 
 Gold and Silver, as that it will not be of any profit 
 to a Countrey. 
 
 Nay more, if there were no want of Gunpowderi 
 nor of Gold nor Silver, (which time when 'twill 
 come, and how it fliould come, for my 4)art I can- 
 not fee) yet (having Peter) we cannot be in want 
 of Bread ; and how great foever the plenty is of 
 Wine, and Corn, and Fruits, yet there is never 
 wont to be too much. Corn and Seeds being ma- 
 cerated with Salt peter afore they are fown, and the 
 Roots of Vines and Trees being moiftned with a 
 very little of its liquor, do not onely grow more 
 plenteoufly, but alfb produce more plenty of Fruits, 
 and fiich as ripen far fooner, and are of a Tweeter 
 Taft, than if they were dung'd with that ftinking 
 Beafts Dung liquor. If then. Salt-peter be a rubjett 
 Co excellent, as that we can by no means want it, 
 and that it may fo eafily be prepared out of Wood' 
 and Stones in plenty ; if above all other things it 
 makes the Earth fruitfull, if it can extrad plenty of 
 true Gold and Silver ouc of the contemptible Sand 
 and Flints, what can we defire more from ir, unlefs 
 it be a found and healthfuU Body, whereby we may 
 in fulnefs of health quietly and peaceably enjoy fuch 
 great benefits vouchfafed us by God .■' But now this 
 very fame Salt being juftly called the wonder of the 
 World can beftow upon us, this very health we 
 fpeak of. 
 
 I do affirm that Alchymy it felf, or the TraHflnii- 
 tation of the Idfcr, or meaner Metals into the grea- 
 ter or more noble, and into Gold and Silver, is not a 
 vain dreaming dotage, and an opinion void of reafon, 
 but is the very truth it (elf, and confirmed by many 
 experiments ; the demonftration of which, I do, 
 God willing, this Summer not ra(hly but advifedly 
 fet about (hewing it by publick and evident e.xperi- 
 ments, and its ufe for the good of the Country. 
 
 Now then, forafmuch as the Countrey is every 
 where fufficiently ftored with Iron, Lead, Salt and 
 other mineral matters, and fuch like contemptible 
 fubjeits, and yetnotwithftanding there isnotatpre- 
 fent any profit arifing thereby ; verily ir cannot be, 
 but that in a ^qw years time (if fuch melting Houfes 
 were in all places made) Men would be rendred 
 Mafters of great Treafures. Who knows what God 
 will do, and whether or no it may not fo come to 
 pafs, that it may befaid of the great ones of [our] 
 Countrey as is mentioned in Holy Writ concerning 
 Solomon. And he made Silver as plentiful] as the 
 Stones that lie in the Streets, &c. 
 
 But that I may yet more open the Eyes of the Stu- 
 dious after all, and fhow them, by what means all 
 thefe things may come to pafs, and fall out true, I 
 do hereby aflurehim, that there's no need of taking 
 thofe Metals for this Fufion, that are already pure 
 enough as Iron, Lead, Tin, and already fit to be 
 imployed about Mans ufe ; no, thofe common and 
 fulphureous leaden Mimra's or Oars which are found 
 to be uncapable of }ielding profitable and venal ot 
 N n n n n fellabi^ 
 
4-10 
 
 Th Fifth ?art of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 reliable Lead, are well enough for this Fufion and 
 
 operation we fpcak of; and fo likcwife thofo Irony 
 
 and Coppery Oars, out of which (feeing they admit 
 
 not by nature of any fufion or melting) mailable fu- 
 
 file Copper or Iron cannot be extra(fted. For this 
 
 Operation of ours needs not Copper, Iron or Lead 
 
 to work upon, as being content with thofe poor fort ; fo is it with this. 
 
 of Oars, and with the bare Salt which the Earth is The name therefore doth openly point out the 
 
 every w'here vvc"^replenifhedwithall,l"o tljat there's matter tranfrnuting the bafer Metals into the more 
 
 ' - - '^'' • '" u„ „ ..,.,^, „♦■ noble, 'VIZ,. Salt, which being as an univtrfal Agent 
 
 does not onely maturate and bring to due perfcciion 
 
 cular Tranfmutation of the viler Metals can he per- 
 fe'fted and accompHfhed. Therefore it was not an 
 unadvifed and rafh aftion that the Ancient Philolb- 
 phers did when they put the title of Alch3my on 
 the Tranfmutation of Meta!?, but as a Gold fn iih is 
 fo called from the Gold, which he is a Labourer 
 
 in. 
 
 no caufe to fear "that there will ever be a want of 
 any matter for fuch an Operation. 
 
 But what need 1 fpeak much of thefe unknown, 
 and fo very profoundly hidden fecrets of riaturc, 
 feeing I have openly enough taught already, in the 
 fecond part of the ////■/?«</«;« Mu»di, by what means, 
 pure and natural Gold may be gotten out of every 
 Herb. This very thing I publicKly demnnftrated in 
 niv Laboratory above a year ago, in the prefence of 
 moft learned Men, Profelfors, Dortours of Phyfick, 
 and othei: Men both noble and ignoble, as their 
 Teftimonies, which are [under] hand affirm. 
 
 But there's no need of that, forafmuch as the 
 mannet it felf of the Operation is publiflied m 
 Print, and manifefted to every one, and there can 
 hai-dly pafs ov^ one years fpace, but that even a 
 .thoufand Men or more may imitate the Operation 
 and fearch into the truth it fdf of the bufinefs. 
 
 But that the well minded Reader may have a lit- 
 tle more light, and may himfelf fee what foundations 
 the work I have undertaken is built upon, I have 
 judged it altogether necellary in a few words to fee 
 afore your Eyes, what Alchymy itfelfis, and whe- 
 ther or. no it has any foundation in Nature and Art. 
 For if fo be any ingenious Man gives an Htrb, an 
 Animal, or a Man any name, certainly he does it 
 not raflily and without 'any ground, but well knows 
 and undcrftands for what caule he intitles any thing 
 by fuch or fuch a name, and it is chiefly done on this 
 account that by fuch affumed names the na- 
 ture of the Herb, Animal, or Man, and its properties 
 might be known. A few Examples will illuibate it 
 the more. 
 
 What reafon have the Phyficians and Philofophers 
 of old to call the Herb St. Johnfwort, perforata ? 
 BeCaufe its leaves are full of fiViall holes, and it is fo 
 figned by nature, ,to flievv, that it has eminent vir- 
 tues [and peculiarly appointed] to take away and 
 cure external and internal ffabs and wounds of the 
 Body, and this is confirmed by experience. Why 
 are fbme Herbs called S,ixifragers ? becaiife their na- 
 ture is, to cleave alfunder and break through great 
 heaps of Stones in their growing up, and to pene- 
 trate through old Walls, by the growth of their hard 
 roots. Their Seeds likewi'fe are like unto thefmalleff 
 Sand and after a fort ftonyifh and do break the ftony 
 matter in the Reins and Bladder of Man s Body and 
 bring it forth. So a Serpent hath its denomination 
 from creeping, becaufe it wants Feet, and creeps 
 and crawls along on the.Earth. 
 
 A Shoemaker hath his tide from his making and 
 fc wing of Shoes. A Black fmith is not wont to be 
 called a Gold-fmich, becaufe he works not on Gold 
 but on Iron, and he hath his denomination from I- 
 ron, which he is occupied about. 
 
 The fame is to be underftood of the word Alchy- 
 my, which denoteth no other thing fave a Fufion 
 and liquefaftion of Salt, and fo it teacheth us, what 
 caufe it was for, that the Ancients called the Tranf 
 mutation of Metals Alchymy ; -viz, becaufe of the 
 lufing or noelting of Salt, without which, no parti- 
 
 the Metals generated in the Bowels of the Earth by 
 a natural Operation, but it alio dees the fan;e out of 
 the Earth by the Operation of Art, Salt alone, and 
 Fire alone are fufncient for the maturation ai^.d trani- 
 mutation of the unripe Metals. For Salt (as being 
 the Agent) is driven or forced as 'twere by the Fire 
 to difplay its virtues upon the Metals and by e.xerci- 
 fingits power, to render them better and more no- 
 ble, as Paracelfus openly witneilCth in his Caelum fhi- 
 lofirphorum, faying, chat the Corporal mixtion of me- 
 tals though commixt a long time and kept ib in Fufi- 
 on, is neither wont to give, (nor indeed can contri- 
 bute fo much as ought to their Tranlmutation. But 
 if fo be the metals are to be perfcfled'by any amend- 
 ing, they are to be con joy ned in afpiritua! ccmmixti- 
 on, and fo they come to their hoped for amendment; 
 and this is very agreeable to the truth, and evidently 
 fignifies, that without a faline agent and tire, there 
 is no way of attaining to a particular tranfinutation 
 and bettering in the ir.etals. El'ias the Prophet, 
 whofe oame inverted yieldstheword 5'/7//,e [or Salts,] 
 did not work his moft great miracles afore he came 
 into Zarpnl.\ or Sarefta, that is, into the meltir: 
 Houfe [or fufing Work-fhop] where he filled th- 
 poor Widows Oil Veilels, that fb (he might have 
 wherewith to live in a time of fcarcity. For as long 
 as the terrefirial Salts do lie hid in barren and fm- 
 ney Mountains, in which there grows nothing but 
 Juniper Buflies, and are [there] nourifhed by the 
 Stars, they cannot fhew forth their wonders, but 
 they are wont then to difdofe them when they come 
 into the melting Floufes. Even fb is it with Salt, 
 when it comes into the melting Shop, it doth effeft fb 
 much as not onely to fill the Oil Barrels but the Cel- 
 lars and Barns too, and that plentifully, butefpecial- 
 ly when the due [or fuitable] Salts Eiias and Elifa 
 do come together, and TMas is carried in his fiery 
 Chariot into Heaven, and flindred from Elifa and 
 doth fend down a double portion of his Spirit upon 
 Elifa his Co.mpanion ; by which, EUja being 
 firengchned and acquiring more ftrength than it had 
 afore, is made fit for greater and more powerfull 
 Operations. 
 
 But amongft thofe mofl great miracles, this was 
 an eminent one, that after the departure of Eltfa the 
 Prophet out of this litis, there was another dead 
 Man thrown into his Sepulchre who by the touch of 
 his Bones was reftored to life. 
 
 Therefore, like as this miracle did fupernaturally 
 happen by the divine power ; Even fb [doth it come 
 to pafs] naturally, by the virtues of our Sal Alira- 
 bdii corroborated with a double Spirit, which doth 
 not onely reftore a dead [body] and Wood turned 
 by the Fire into Charcoal, when it is caft into the 
 Sepulchre, that is into the Earthen Pot or Crijcible 
 to the white Bones of our Sal Mirabilis, and bring ic 
 (in the fpace of one quarter of an hour) unto its for- 
 mer viridity and life, and with this very green Li- 
 quor of the Wood may other half dead Trees, as al- 
 
Part I. 
 
 the ?rofperit]i of Germany. 
 
 411 
 
 fo other things be reftorcd to viridity, and increafc, 
 and their former fertility, more than by any thing 
 elle: But alio, even various dead infcLls, ifthey be 
 put to our Sal Mirabilis can recover life again. And 
 although thai this may feem a new unheard of, and 
 incredible thin^, yea a meer Paradox to any one, 
 yet is it as true as truth ic(elf;the true way of which 
 Operation I will (God willing) defcribe and fhew 
 dearly in the lirft Century of my general Appen 
 dix 
 
 But although that thefe wonderfull Operations of 
 my Sal Mtrabilis may feem fiich, as to be never ca- 
 pable of being eftected yet, to all fuch as know its 
 Compofition, 'tis a thing very ealily accompUfhed. 
 Nor can it be but that the divine wonders (hould be 
 ftill more and more laid open by the help of my Sal 
 Alirabilis, and be exceedingly Town abroad, and 
 made known to fuch as are ignorant. Which being 
 done, the World will conceive a far other gue(s 
 Opinion of A'chymy, and judge otherwile thereof 
 than hitherto it has done. 
 
 But that (iich as are admirers of the divine and .na- 
 tural wonders, may clearly fee how large an extent 
 thofe things I have hitherto difcovered,'are of, I 
 cannot omit the adding of the folar Work or Sma- 
 rafidinc Table of Hermes, the Father of all the Phi- 
 lolbphers, the which being in my judgment accom- 
 modated to this difcourfe of mine I will illuftrate. 
 
 But to (umm up all I will fay, I have here briefly 
 declared, that if a Spirit be elevated or fiiblimed 
 from a true Salt by the help of a ftrong Fire, or be 
 drawn from out of its Body, and be again returned 
 to the fame own fixed Body left behind and be refto- 
 rcd to it in a due manner ; that fix Salt, gets double 
 the ftrength and virtue it had, (as hath been fhown 
 concerning my Sal Mirabilu ) and does perform 
 things wonderfull ; which Hirvies and Ba/il yalemine 
 have hinted unto us in thefe next enfuing expref- 
 ijons. 
 
 Hitlierto belongs the fmall CireuJar Figure, note J Pag. 
 19. at tht beginning of the third Part of the Frojpert- 
 tj of Germany. 
 
 The Smaragdine Table of Hermes, is^c. 
 
 [See it at the end of the Firfl: Part of 
 Miraculum Mundi. ] 
 
 The <ty£mgma of Br it her Bafil Valentine. 
 
 T Here is a Stone, of ail others the leaft precious, 
 out of which is extradcd a fugitive [or vola- 
 tile] Fire, and out of this Fire is the Srone it felf 
 tnade, it is of colour white and red arui yet is it no 
 Scone. In this Srone doth nature operate, and pro- 
 duceth a Li.Tipid or clear Fountain, which choaketh 
 in the Waters and fwallows up his own fixed Father, 
 \]nti!l at length a Soul be given [or refforedj him, 
 and [his] fugitive Mother be made like [him] in 
 the Kingdom. Likewife this Stone brings power 
 and grcu firengrh, it exceeds the Sun in Age, [its] 
 lugitive Mother [is] prepared by Vulcan and [its] 
 Father [was] begotten by the Spirit. Likewife 
 the Soul, Body, and Spirit confift or abide in two, 
 out of which, all thingsare ; theferhings are of one, 
 and is one thing, conjoyning the fix and the fugi- 
 
 tive. They are two, and three, and one, and if 
 thou art ignorant of this, thou will be frilftrated and 
 deprived of the effcLt of the Art. 
 
 ^^/<7w is placed in a Bath, in which r«;/.'/ finds 
 her like, now this Bath was prepared by that old 
 Dragon, when he had loft his (Irength and power. 
 But now this is nothing elfe (faith a Philofopher) 
 but a duplicate Mercury. In this is its name hidden, 
 which is to be fought after with all diligence and 
 continual labour. 
 
 The Event proves the AUicns. 
 
 ITfeemcdunto me very expedient tofet down here 
 in this place, thefe few, but exceeding weighty 
 words of Hermes and Brother Bajil, becaule they do 
 fo notably fquare with this Work of mine which I 
 have here dcfcribed. And therefore I do here again 
 affirm what I have often faid, viz,. That he who 
 knows Saks well, but efpecially Niter and Vitriol, 
 and knows how to con joy n them, is well skilled in 
 Medicine and Alchymy,' and fufficiently enough 
 underltands that the Smaragdine Table o{ Hermes is 
 Vitriol, an excellent Smaragd or Emrald, and that 
 Niter is (according as P^jr^ce///// and tajil V.ilamne 
 have at large defcribed) the Kingly Infant of the 
 Sun, with whofe defcriptions we at prefent content 
 our (elves. I will make a more prolix mention of the 
 fapie in my Centuries, thofe things that I have ad- 
 joyned here I could not, for certain reafons let flip 
 and pafs by. 
 
 Now by thefe few words it is manifeft, what vir- 
 tues Salts are endowed withall, and what miracu- 
 lous effects they fhew, when they are caft into the 
 melting Fire, viz. Such Salts as are corroborated 
 with a double Spirit poured down from above. 
 Thefe Salts (I fiy) are wont not onelv to fill the 
 poor Widows Oil Velfels, but even the Cellars and 
 Barns with Wine and Corn. 
 
 But I would not that any fhould interpret it a- 
 mifs, in that I make fome kind ofComparifon 'twixt 
 the wonderfull virtues of Saks, and the miracles of 
 the Holy Prophets : For verily the thing it felf ad- 
 mits it, and by fuch Comparifbns, the natural light 
 is greatly ftrengthned, which thing we fhall fpeak 
 more at large of elfewhere. 
 
 Whofoever he be that well knows the nature and 
 properties of Salts, and is fomething skilled in the 
 management of the Fire, he will hereby eafily learn 
 thus much, as eafily to perceive that there is fuch a 
 thing, as a profitable tranfmution of the more vile 
 MeraJs into the more noble ones. 
 
 But there are requifire to this Operation manual 
 Arts, peculiar Furnaces, and fingular Commixtions 
 of Metals, the knowledge of all'which, hemufthave 
 that defircs beneficially to employ himfelf in thefe O- 
 perations. The whole Operation with all the ap- 
 purtenances requifite, and all the things thereto ap- 
 pertaining, fhall (if God pleafe) be expofed to be 
 feen in my Laboratory this Summer, .^s my Wri- 
 tings lately publifhed, and the Labours performed 
 in my Laboratory the lafl year,do fufficiently enough 
 tcftifie that I have both publickly and privately de- 
 monftrated and manifelfed the truth of the chiefeft 
 fecrets which I have mentioned in my Writings. And 
 as for what remaintd of being done the laft year, 
 this prefcnt Book promifeth the demonftration of, 
 this Summer. What Writer alive, did ever endea- 
 vour the demonff ration of the truth of his Writings 
 by moft evident experiments ? None at all fdve GlaubeVi 
 
 Thsrt^ 
 
412 
 
 The Fifth fart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 Therefore I doubt not but that feeing this little 
 Book olfei's the Countrey fuch great benefits and 
 Commodity, there will not onely be Ibme oftlie 
 Vulgar fort, but alfb many of the Noble ones [or 
 Magiftrates] be found, to whom the reading of the 
 fm\c will not be a tedious thing. 
 
 And now I return again to fpeak of Alchymy, 
 openly difclofing my Opinion concerning it, and 
 firmly averring, that Saks onely have power to 
 wa(h", maturate, and perfeft the unrips Metals. 
 
 But fnme of ther may here fay, it Alchymy be 
 the fufing of Salt, by what means can it polTibly 
 ever be, that Gold and Silver Ihould be gotten out 
 of Salt by meking i If there were Gold in it, cannot 
 it be gotten forth eafier than by melting in the Fire i 
 I anfwer, you are not foto underfland it, as if huge 
 heaps of Gold could begotten by a bare fuling and 
 melting of Salt. No 1 no fuch matter. But when 
 the Metals have Salts adjoyned to them in a due 
 manner, and fo undergo a melting Fire, they do 
 (in that fufing) difplay their virtues upon the Me- 
 tals and do to bri g them to a maturity as to yield 
 forth Gold and Silver. For Salts are the univerfal 
 ripening Agents, both in the dry and in the moiit 
 way, as is clearly evident from the third and fourth 
 part' of the Profperity of Germany, fo that there 
 needs no more to be fpoken as to this. 
 
 But yet, that thefe things may not feem new, or 
 altogether abfurd, 1 fay, that in all Salts there lies 
 hidden (piricual Gold, but yet it cannot be extracted 
 from them wkhout the addition of the Metals. For 
 all the things that are, are generated, encreafed, 
 andlullaincd by the Sun, (and amongft thete may be 
 reckoned up the flnallelt Vegetable) do contain the 
 fugacious beams of the Sun hidden in them, which 
 faid beams may by the benefit of Art be made cor- 
 poreal and fixt. This I taught and demonftrated 
 more prolixly in thefecond partofmy^^ir«<:«/«?« Mim- 
 dt. I will teach the fame in the firit Century of my 
 general Appendix, which taid Appendix (hall illul- 
 trate all my Writings with more cleat notes ; and I 
 will evidently fliow the way, by which true and 
 natural Gold is to be gottep (by the benefit of a 
 certain precipitating matter, out of Sea Salt, both 
 by the dry and by the moift way. This Operation 
 brings not anv cnnfiderablc profit, but doth in very 
 truth fliow the polFibility of the thing. But he who 
 knows the way of conjoyning true and due [or pro- 
 per] Metals vvith legitimate [orfuitable] Salts, and 
 of handling them in a due and true way of Fufion, 
 will get Gold and Silver out of all the imperfedl Me- 
 tals, and that with no fmall profit ; and this fhall be 
 demonftrated in my Laboratory thisprefent Summer 
 by Gods help. 
 
 And tor the more evident proof hereof, it feems 
 worth while to adjoyn a Story out of the Journal of 
 mllia7n Litgnu of Efrsland, [rather ScotLmd] who 
 journying through //<;'/), teitifies that hcfaw in Tra- 
 junilia', a City in Sialui, much Gold excoded or 
 drawn out of Sea Salt; which thing, feeing it agrees 
 vvith my Opinion, and confirms what I fay, I will 
 add the words of the Authour himfelfas they are in 
 Latw. 
 
 « 
 " The fourth City of 5i«//, is traf undia, {cm^iQ 
 *= in the Weft-fide, and oppolite to the City Btfena, 
 •' feated en the Fuirhanan Coaft of Africa, which 
 " yields pure Gold, which is exported by the Mer- 
 *■ chants into Italy, Venice, Dalmatia, and Greece. 
 " It is excofted in fome Artificially made Salt-pits 
 
 " by the more vehement beams of the Sun, which 
 ' Pits are filled and emptied every month. Now 
 ' the Salt here on the Sea fhore, has a colour like 
 " the rednefs of a Ruby, or Corral : The City is al- 
 " mofttheone half of it impluyed about working 
 " thereupon. The Gold it felf being purged is dil- 
 " tributcd throughout the whole Chr'iftian World. 
 
 Thefe are the words of the f^iid Authour, I know 
 nothing of the certainty of the thing it fcif, he that 
 isdefirous to find out the truth of this Relation may 
 eafily do it. As for my felf, I cafily credit this Re- 
 lation, becaufe of the Mount <i^tna which always 
 is burning in that Illand, and becaufe of the Sulphur 
 too, which all the Land of Sictlj abounds withall. 
 And verily it feems a thing altogether likely, that 
 when the Inhabitants of this Ifland upon the Sea- 
 fhore, make Salt of the Sea Water for their necefla- 
 ry ufe, by digging Pits in the Earth after the man- 
 ner of all thofe hot Countiies, and letting intheSea 
 Water, and that the warm beams of the Sun fepa- 
 rate [or any of] the unprofitable fweet [or infipidj 
 Water, in Vapour, and that that Water of Sak is 
 endued with a notable fharpnefs ; it extrads the 
 Sulphur out of the Earth which is there in plenty 
 every where, and it renders this [Sulphur] by the 
 help of the heat of the Sun, conftant, corporal and 
 fixt, foas that it can be afterwards molten in a mel- 
 ting Furnace into Gold. If now the moff hot beams 
 of the Sun, and Salt Water can change common 
 earthly Sulphur into Gold, why may not the fame 
 bedone alfb by the benefit of Fire, Salt, and Art. 
 
 That all Gold is at firft naturally generated of a 
 pure Sulphur in the Earth, no body will indeed de- 
 ny. That any Sulphur may by the help of Fire 
 and Salt be fixed and changed into natural Gold, 
 daily experience witneffeth, not onely in my own 
 Laboratory, but in my Difciples Laboratories too, 
 the which, vifibly demonftrates, and even by ma- 
 nual Operation confirms the truth of thofc things 
 which I have mentioned in the fecond part of my 
 Miracidum Aliindi, hereabouts. 
 
 That which is mentioned in the old Hymn of the 
 Ancient Church-Fathers, viz,, who made Gold of 
 Rods or Twigs, and Gems of Stones, feems to the ig- 
 norant altogether as Parado.xal, new, and incredible : 
 and from which 'tis gathered that St. John the E- 
 vangelift made Gold of Sticks of Wood, and Gems 
 of common Stones : I can in a iow words demon- 
 ftrate that both are true. 
 
 Diffolve common Sulphur, or any Vegetable in 
 common Salt, this Solution will make the Sulphur of 
 a red colour. Keep this Solution for at leaft one 
 hours fpace in the Fire, you fhall find a little of the 
 Sulphur changed intoGold ; to the red Salt, adjoyn 
 the Calx of Saturn, melt them by Fufion into one 
 Body, and reduce the Lead by a Cupel, you (hall 
 find a grain of Gold, it yields indeed no profit but 
 demonflratcs the certainty and poiTibility of Art. 
 But if any one (hall be skilled in managing this Ope- 
 ration in great quantity (as fhall be done this Sum- 
 mer in my Laboratory) he will not complain of lofs, 
 but will always get profit. 
 
 But let this futfice as to the making Gold out of 
 any Wood, or any Herb, bv the help of Fire and 
 Sak. 
 
 Let us now fee by what means Stones of manifold 
 colours may be made by the help of Salt, out of 
 Wood or any Herb. Adjoyn to the red Salt made 
 of Wood, a little Powder of white Fhnts, pur them 
 
 in 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Vrofperity of Germany; 
 
 413 
 
 >n a Crucible, and melt them in the Fire, that they 
 may become a red Glafs, refembling almofl: the co- 
 lour of a Ruby; if you keep them longer in the mel- 
 ting, the red colour will be changed into a green, 
 and 'have the likcnefs of an Emrald : After this, 
 comes a sky-colour, refembling a Saphir, then fol- 
 lows a yellow, not unlike a Jacynth: then in a long- 
 er continuance of Fire, it becomes black and like an 
 Agatb. Indeed thefe Stones are no harder than com- 
 mon Glafs, but as to their colours and beauty do 
 exactly refemble the precious natural Stones. 
 
 Thefe two Arcanum s indeed do as to the outfide 
 tiew ieem not very excellent, but yet I believe, the 
 well minded Reader, to whom I offer them as a 
 pledge or Love-token for to remember me by, will 
 not think them (feeing they teach the extraifting of 
 Gold out of any Wood or Vegetable, and how by 
 white Flints to make Stones of feveral colours) of lo 
 fniall a moment or value, as they appear here to be, 
 
 but will believe that he has a foundation laid open 
 for him, to arrive to greater fecrets. 
 
 As concerning thefe kind of wonderfull things, 
 and Tranfinutations hitherto unknown to the World, 
 and changing things into more noble and better 
 Species, I will treat more at large in the ten Cen- 
 turies, in which, my Writings (hall be declared vt^ith 
 more evident and clearer Explications, to which I 
 refer the well minded Reader, concluding this Book 
 with thofe Verfes of Ovid. 
 
 Jamque opts exegi, ejitod nee Jo^is ira, nee Ignis, 
 Nee fotertt ferntm, nee edax abolere vetufias. 
 
 And now, a work Ifini^it have, of ■which, Jowq's wrath, 
 
 or flame. 
 Or Sword, er all devouring time can mer raze out the 
 
 name. 
 
 An APPENDIX 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 FIFTH PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Profperity of GERMANY. 
 
 Clearly and perfpicuoufly revealing and declaring, (for the 
 
 benefit and profit's fake of the whole Countrey) by what means thofe three 
 Arcana s promifed in the faid fifth part are to be advantageoufly efFeded. 
 Together with an adjoyned Exphcation of fomc obfcurer places which are 
 not fo clearly difclofed in the third and fourth parts of the Profperity of 
 Qermajiy^ as likewife in the firft Century. 
 
 Friendly Reader, 
 
 douht not, hut it will feem a wonder to many, //;j^ Arcana's offo great moment and fo much 
 
 utility fhould he laid open hy me, in fo perfpicuous and evident 4 defer ipt ion, as for every 
 
 one i):oroughly to know them. 
 However, any Body may eafily perfwade bimfelf that I have not fo done ivithout weighty 
 
 caufes, which to reckon up here at prefent, I judge it not fo altogether neceffary, hut that 
 it will he more commodious to refer it to fome other convenient time. The chief efl and which is the 
 ntofi over-fwaying reafon amongft all the reft, is this, viz. the perverfenefs of fome ahufive Men^ 
 not onely endeavouring to make my Writings envied [ or hated] hy Men of common rank, hut alfo 
 hy the great ones, hy their lying reproachfull flaunders ; and efpe daily mofl falfely averring, that 
 thofe three Arcana's which J promifed in the Fifth Part of the Profperity of Q^xmzny ,are oj no profit, 
 
 O o o o o mA 
 
 I 
 
4H 
 
 An Appendix to the Fifth Fart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 oful therefore cannot k effe^ed with any advantage, aM^ that / my Jelf /ought after nothingelfe 
 by promifm?^ their difcovery, fave onely by impofing them upon \or felling them unto'] others to 
 fcrape fome Monies together. Now forafmuch as this is the property of Slanders , to be admitted 
 far eafilier and readilier than the truth it felf and that for this reafon many have diverted their 
 winds from the truth of this thing by bufyingthem about ihefe Calumnies, and fo have not known 
 how the cafe fl and s ; but Qon the contrary) feeing J am conjcious of mine own Innocency, and am 
 far wide of thofe Crimes fo falfely charged on me, I have judged it mojl jufl and mofl highly necef- 
 fary, not fofuffer thofe moft falfe Accufations to rejluponme, but to fhew the contrary to the Eyes 
 of the ivhole World, and by demonji rating and difclofing the very truth it felf, to recover my h'omur 
 jo perfidioufly ant" ;reacherouJly fnatcht from me • the which could not pofjilly be done by any better 
 
 tvay than this. 
 
 Necefity therefore required the Work it felf to f peak, and to defend its own felf, which indeed 
 is a true md genuine defence, and way of flopping the fhamelefs and lying Mouths of all reproachful! 
 Slanderers. God will in time ncompencefuch falfe Mens moll wicked Works, whereby they have ex- 
 ceedingly injured me. Mean while every one may apply thefe mofl profitable inventions to their ufe, 
 and undertake the doing one or other of the Operations whereby they may reap [ome benefit, which I 
 wifh them from my Soul. 
 
 Nor do I doubt, but that a very many Men will, by following the Do^rine by me prefcribed, and 
 infifling upon the foot-fleps of my Writings, ivhich are founded on the truth, as being a fure Founda- 
 tion, get themfelves no fmall profit; ivhilefi they quietly and peaceably enjoy the painfull prafli- 
 fingonmy Arcana's : And efpecially of that mofl eafie fecret, by ivhich, fugacious and volatile Gold 
 is extracted out of all kinds of Flints, (^every where plentifully offering themfelves, and fo by the 
 help of Lead, is rendred Corporeal. Which Work verily isfuch, as that one Man doth noways dam- 
 ftifie another by, but may rather help and profit him. Therefore do I at prefent affirm to every bo- 
 dy with that truth which God loves, and ivi II defend, that all the following Operations which I mani- 
 fefl in the publijhing this little Treatife, have been ivrought by me not once onely but often times^ 
 and have been fhown to many others, fo that no btdy has any reafon to doubt hereof, nor need he be 
 jollicitous about any other thing but how wifely to manage, the Operation, and to be diligent about 
 his labours. But if it fhould fo fall out as that a Man fhould commit an err our or tivo, which may 
 eafily happen, let him not afcribe the err ours he commits, to the Art it felf, and thereupon to accufe 
 it of falftty, but let him rather inquire into the occafions qndreafons of his own errours, and without 
 doubt byfuch enquiries will he attain his end, and get the hoped for fruit : in which thing, myfirfl 
 and fecond Century ivill bj an ea/ie Manudu^lion help him. 
 
 Thefe are the things which for the truths fake and to wi/ftefs it, was I willing to produce. And 
 I do hereby fignifie to every one that now my publick Laboratory is at an end, and fhall remain fhut 
 for time 19. come, which J was willingevery one fhould know. 
 
 \7'he firfl~\ Operation jhewing the "ivay of reducing any 
 Lead, or any Fern of Lead by the help of common Salt, 
 [jind^ bj Coals, into Ajhes, in the Furnace called 
 Stichofen, that fo the Gold n»d Silver may be extrac- 
 ted with profit. 
 
 TA K E of Lead or a Leaden Vein two parts, 
 and of common Sale one part. The Lead Oar 
 is to be ground in a Mill, and fo are they to be 
 cpmmixt, and by little and little thrown with a Sho- 
 vel upon the Coals in the Furnace, ferving to make 
 Afhes, and which has Pipes or Chimnyes fitted 
 thereunto to receive the fume and the afcending 
 Flores. That molten part of Metal and Salt which 
 falls through the Grate is to be again taken up with 
 your Shovel, and caft in upon the Coals untill the 
 whole Metal, or all that metallick Vein (hall be tur- 
 ned into Afhesu Then farther, all the burnt niatter, 
 is to be freed by divers wafliings from all the defile- 
 ments, and the remaining Alhes of the Metal or 
 Metallick Vein, is to be reduced into a Metal in a 
 Furnace which the Germans call Sttchofen. Thefe 
 incinerations and reductions are to befo often and fo 
 long repeated, untill you find (by making trial with 
 ibme little piece) that your Lead is now fitted to be 
 handled or wrought on in the Hearths or furnaces 
 by the Fire of Separation. For then in the Hearths 
 
 orTefts it is changed Into Litharge, whereby it may 
 the more commodioufly yield forth the Gold and 
 Silver, which by the Fire and Salt are therein matu- 
 rated. 
 
 N. B. But you are here to obferve that the lea- 
 den Oars can indeed bo commixed with the Salt, 
 and fo thrown in upon the Coals : But now Lead ad- 
 mits not of being fo dealt withall, for it is not mixa- 
 ble with the Salt, and therefore it requires that the 
 Salt be firft cad in upon the Coals, and then muft it 
 be thrown in afterwards at top of it. And this way 
 is to be obferved and fo often repeated and fo long, 
 always throwing in, firft the Salt then the Lead, till 
 the Lead being turned into allies, hath wholly loft its 
 metallick Fufion. The faid aflies are to be waftic 
 with Water and reduced in the Furnace, on fuch 
 wife as we fpake of but now. 
 
 N. 4. Other lelfer Metals 
 Lead or to the leaden Vein or 
 ced into Aftes together, as Tin, Iron or Copper. 
 But yet thele leaden O.irs aie more advantageous 
 and profitable if they are taken alone, as bcingm.orc 
 fit for this kind of labour, iceing they have already 
 in them Iron and Copper, and yield not any good 
 and vendible Lead, by reaibn of their wild nature, 
 and fo there's no need oi burning up Copper and 
 Tin which are alrea.iy vendible. 
 
 N. B. Whileft 
 
 may be added to the 
 Oar, aiid lo be redu- 
 
Pari: I. 
 
 the Profperitj <?/ Germany. 
 
 4^5 
 
 N. B. Whileft this Incineration is clone, many 
 Metallick Floras does afcend up into the Receptacles 
 appointed for the fume to go up in, and which are 
 adjoyned to the Furnace, which (if need be) may 
 be taken out, and by wafhings be freed from the 
 Salt which afcended together with them, and b}- 
 Redudion be reftored or reduced to their former bo- 
 dy : and will yield Lead which contains in it Silver, 
 and is to be converted into Litharge like other 
 Lead, that the Silver may be feparated therefrom. 
 
 This likcwife is heedfully to be obferved in the 
 other iV/;i»fr<?V or Oars tutned into Afhes, that afore 
 their Reduftion, they be thoroughly wafht from all 
 the Salt, and the light filths or defilements are to be 
 well feparated from the metalline body ; for if this 
 be neglected, the Salt being forced with the ftrong 
 Waft of the Bellows would carry off the Metal to 
 gether with it felf, and the Afhes of the Coals would 
 binder the Fufion of the Metal it (elf, and reduce 
 the lame into Scoria's. 
 
 ' As concerning the Redudion it felf, this is well 
 to be regarded, that the Fire muft be kindled in the 
 Furnace at leaft two hours afore the hikes of the 
 Oars that are to be reduced, are to be put in, that 
 lb the Furnace may be thoroughly bright-hot with- 
 in; for if it be not through fiery- hot,thc Cafiin Alim- 
 ra's melt not, and being not molten they lie in the 
 Fire, and hinder the blaft of the Bellows, and fpoil 
 the Operation it felf. 
 
 Thele labours therefore require a skilfull Artificer, 
 and one verfed in fuch Operations, for they are not 
 ft) very Facile as they fcem to many, to appear to 
 be. 
 
 Then farther, this is likewife to be noted, that if 
 the Alincra's or Oars that you take to this Operati- 
 on are full of Sulphur, and that that Sulphur is not 
 wholly taken away by terrifying [or calcining themj 
 it will by its fiercenefs reduce in the melting the bo- 
 dy of the good Metal into Scoria's, and inftead of 
 Metal prelent you with Drofs. And this is that In- 
 cineration and Redudion which I have Ihowed in 
 my Laboratory, both to Friends and Enemies ; But 
 yet I have (fince that time) found out a far eafier 
 way of doing this labour, by the help of which, one 
 Man will do more in one day, than he could other- 
 wife in eight days. But becaufe this way is not as 
 yet made common, it feems not convenient in my 
 Opinion to divulge it here ; for as much as I have 
 determined with my felf in this prefent Appendix to 
 difclofe onely thofe things which 1 cxpofed to befeen 
 in my Laboratory by others. 
 
 By "ivhat means Gold, Silver, yea and Copper too, may 
 with great profit be extracted out of the poor Metal- 
 lick Veins by tha moijt way, and which cannot quit 
 the cojis of doing n by Fire. 
 
 FIrftofall, the metallick Earths are to be made 
 red hot, and to be quenched in cold Water, that 
 fo being made brittle they may be ground in a Mill. 
 If Sulphur beadmixt inthem,thenmuft they by afore- 
 going fireing be freed from the lame, bccaufe the 
 Sulphur hinders the Aqua FortK, from duely dilTol- 
 ving thofe Oars, Being now thus prepared, they are 
 to be put into the ftronger Glalfes, or into Earthen 
 Cucurbits made of the beft Clay, and the following 
 Water is to be poured upon them, and is to cover 
 them over three fingers breadth. The Cucurbit 
 being filled with thele matters is to be fet in a Cale 
 tor Pot] fuUofSand, and prepared for this ufe, and 
 
 lall the Water is to be drawn therefrom by Diftilla- 
 tion: which is not onely all of it again recovered, but 
 withalldoth get it felf an encreale or augmentation 
 from the Salt-peter or the Salt, ih that there afcends 
 more Water by Diltillation than was poured on. 
 
 The Oars are to be taken out of rhc Cucurbit, (or 
 Cucurbits, if there were more Pots ufed) and being 
 taken forth you muft pour common Water thereup- 
 on to extrad the remaining Salt thereout r)f, in the 
 which Salt is found the Gold and the-' Silver that was 
 in the Oars. 
 
 N. B. This is to be obferved in this labour, that 
 all the Spirits are not to be drawn off from the Oars 
 even to the dry Salt ; and this not onely to fhunthe 
 dammage that might happen by breaking the Glalfes, 
 but alio for this realon, vtz,. that there may be left 
 behind with the Salt a little /.crimony, becaufe of 
 (bme Salts which cafily pafs into Salt-peter when fome 
 Aqua Fortts is drawn off them. And albeit that A- 
 ^jta Fortis will eafily turn the whole Body of Kitchin 
 Salt into Salt-peter, yet notwichltandin*^ "n'ongft all 
 tlie Salts one Salt admits of a fpeedier, another of a 
 !low Tranfmutation, according as it is more or lefsa- 
 kin in its nature unto Saltpeter. 
 
 And therefore to prevent this crrour, fome humi- 
 dity is to be left with the Oars, for when all die 
 Spirits are drawn off, and the Salt is turned into Salt- 
 peter, the Water would not be fliarp enough 'to 
 hold up the Gold that is extraded, when the Solu- 
 tion is made, for the Water would dillblve barely 
 the Salt-peter, and leave the Gold remaining behind 
 with the Oar. 
 
 If thiserrour fhould chance to be committed, the 
 Salt-peter is to be extraded out of the Oars with thes 
 Water, and more new Salt muft be poured on upon 
 the fame Oars together with the Aqu^ Z?e^« that was 
 drawn off by Diftillation ; that fo this Aqua R^gis 
 having been once abftraded may not afterwards 
 tranfmufe all the Salt thereto added into Salt-peter. 
 For by how much the oftner the Aqua Fortis is drawn 
 off from the Salt, fo much the Ids is the Salt turned 
 by it into Salt-peter, and at length, it will come to 
 liicha pafsas to remain juftas it was afore the abftrac- 
 tion [of the fo oft drawn off Spirit.] For this is the 
 nature of Aqua ForiM, 'viz,, to tranfmutc half its 
 weight of Salt into Saltpeter at the firft time ; the fe- 
 cond time it tranfmutes but a fourth part ; the third 
 time much lefs: and at length will traufinute none 
 at all ; but puts on the nature of Spirit of Salt : 
 which notwithftanding is moft fit to extrad Gold 
 and Copper withall out of the Oarsiw infinitum, if 
 Salt be thereto added, out of which, it is wont to 
 get it felf a perpetual encreale (and be) like other 
 Spirit of Salt. 
 
 Now then, to prevent this inconvenience, the Aqua 
 Fortis may be left off for altogether, and thole Mi- 
 nerals and Metallick Earths may be cxtraded with 
 the Spirit of Salt onely, and Salt added thereunto : 
 onely obferving this thing in the DilHlIation, 'viz,: 
 that fome of the humidity be left beliind with the 
 Oars whereby they may be the cafilier taken out of 
 the Glaffes. 
 
 Moreover this is to be likewife known, that Gold, 
 Silver, and Copper may be extracted out of the'u: 
 Oars or Earths even without Aqua Fortis or Spirit of 
 Salt, if onely Salt or Salt-petcr be but added. For 
 if fome Oil of Vitriol or of Sulphur be poured upon 
 the Water of Salt-peter, or that the Water of Salt be 
 acuated therewithall, it becomes ftrong enough to ex- 
 trad Gold, and after theextradion and diftillingthe 
 
 Phlegrn 
 
^16 
 
 The Fifth Fan of 
 
 Part I 
 
 Phlegm off, there follows by diftilling a pleafant Spi- 
 rit of Salt, or from Saltpeter a good ^>^Ha Fonts. 
 This labour therefore is more gainful! and lefs trou- 
 blefomc, than if Aqua Fortis or Spirit of Salt were 
 ufcd thereunto. 
 
 There are other eafier and more compendious 
 ways of extrafting Gold, Silver and Copper out of 
 their Earths, which, feeing they have not been as 
 yet fhown in^my Laboratory, I (hall filently pafs 
 them by at { ^:fent and that not without reafon. 
 But yet there is frequent mention made of the like 
 ([Operations] in my hrft Century, in which he who 
 has an earneft defire to know more of thofe kind of 
 ways, may make enquiry. 
 
 The Preparation offutable and proper Waters to extraB 
 Gold, Sil'ver and Copper out of poor Oars. 
 
 TAKE of Salt peter one part, of common A(^ua 
 Fortjs two parts ; thefc being joyned together, 
 extrad; Silver and alio Copper. But to extrad Gold 
 out of its Oars or Minerals, there muft be taken one 
 part of common Salt, and four parts of A^,t4a Fortts. 
 One pound of Salt, and four of A>jm Fortts, make 
 four pounds and ', of Acfua Regia, the other half 
 poundof Salt ftays behind with the Metallick Veins 
 or Oars in the bottom of the Cucurbit, and contains 
 the Gold that was in them, and is to be extradied 
 with common Water. 
 
 The way of gett'mg cut the Gold and Sil'ver out of the 
 -}vajl)t-cut Salts by precipitation, and of reducing them 
 to their peculiar bodies 7Vithout detriment or lofs. 
 
 IF it be Water of Salt-peter and hath Silver in it, 
 the Water of Salt being poured in, precipitates the 
 Silver to the bottom. But if Water of Salt, and has 
 Gold in it, the Gold is precipitated by pouring on 
 a Lixivium which hath in it a little liquour of Flints. 
 And now this Water it felf thus mixt by pouring 
 (other precipitating liquors on it) yields (by decoc- 
 tion) moft excellent Salt-peter. And the Ac^ua For- 
 tiszxA Ae]ua Regis, which afcended by Diftillation, 
 are fit to make new extradions of Gold, Silver, and 
 Copper out of their Earths; and by iterated extrac- 
 tions (by the Salts and Waters thereto added) (Jo 
 they get a perpetual encreafe, infomuch that inthefe 
 extractions of Gold, Silver, and Copper, there are 
 not required at all any other expences ikve thoie 
 few, beftowcd on firing. Therefore in the begin- 
 ning of this Work there is not required ought elfe but 
 one onely pound of Aejua Fortis, becaufe in the pro- 
 grelsof the Work it proceeds on to an infinite en- 
 creafe, yea, enough for the extradion of many thou- 
 fands of pounds. 
 
 (Hence is it that this Work is an unheard of Ope- 
 ration, and doth almoft e.xceed all belief, and from 
 which there muft an immenle gain of neceflity ac- 
 crew, becaufe Gold, Silver, and Copper may by 
 this means be extraded out of their poor Metallick 
 Earths without cofls. 
 
 There remains yet one thing which is to be heed- 
 fully regarded in the precipitation of the Gold and 
 Silver. A common Lixivium cannot precipitate all 
 the Gold out of the A<jua Regis, and therefore I bad 
 vou add to the Lixivium Ibme liquor of Flints, and 
 this will aUb appear in my firlt Century. 
 
 Therefore it behoves every one, clearly to fee 
 whether or no he makes ule of true and genuine Li- 
 quor of Flints in his Operation, that fo he may not 
 
 infteadofit, ufe a bare fimple Ltxivium onely, and 
 fb commit a great errour, as it hath happened to 
 (bme as 1 have been told. 
 
 But he that can't make true and good liquor of 
 Flints, or elfe has it not at hand, may fubftitutein 
 its freed, common Spirit of Urine prepared in a Cop- 
 per ftill, which together with the faid liquor preci- 
 pitates all the Gold out of the A(]ua Regis. 
 
 N. B. But this Gold thus precipitated by Spirit of 
 Urine, fulminates like Gunpowder, unlefs it be 
 burnt with commom Brimftone afore the Reduiflion, 
 and that this fulminating faculty be taken away frorti 
 it, which inconvenience the liquour of Flints is not 
 wont to bring. 
 
 N. R. If there fliould be much Zmk, Iron, or 
 Lapis Calaminaris in the Oars of Gold or Silver, the 
 Aejua Fortis or Aqua Regis would not all afcend by 
 the Diftillation, nor get increafe ; but fbme part 
 thereof would flay with thofe Metallick Earths, and 
 with the Lapis Calaminaris, c^c. and by adhering 
 thereunto be concentrated : but yet there would not 
 be any lofs by that , for by the pouring on a Lixivi- 
 um of Wood-afhes, may it be turned into good Salt- 
 peter, of as much value as may eafily recompenoe 
 the charges of the Aq. Fortis, or Aq. Regia. 
 
 Befides, you are likewife to obferve this, that if 
 there fhould be Copper admixt in the Oars of the 
 Gold and Silver, the Aq. Fortis would extract the 
 Copper too, as well as the Silver. 
 
 But now the nearefl: way of feparating thefe t\Vo 
 Metals from each other, is this, Let Spirit of Salt be- 
 poured to the Aq. Fortis, and it will precipitate all' 
 the Silver out of the Acj. Fortis, down to the bottom, 
 and the Copper will be left in the water ; which if 
 you put fbme Iron into, it will flick to the Iron, aiid 
 by this means be gotten out of the water. 
 
 This water now, after the Metals are withdrawn 
 from it, is fit to make new Saltpeter with, and by 
 addition of Vitriol to yield a new Aq. Fortis by diftil- 
 lation. 
 
 Alkali SdXxs do in the Fufing bring the precipita- 
 ted Silver to its former body, which otherwife is very 
 fugacious. 
 
 The Copper is turned into excellent Verdigreafe. 
 And fb the Oars of Copper, though never fb poor, 
 may be extracted , and that with no fmall benefif : 
 Becaufe the Verdigreafe made of the bare Copper is 
 twice the price of the molten Copper it felf. 
 
 The manner of making good Salt-peter in plenty, out ^ \ 
 Kitcbin-Salt and Cal.x-vive. j 
 
 TAke the Stones of Lime, which have been 
 thorowly changed or reduced into Powder by 
 the Air, four parts : of Kitchin Salt, or Common Salt, 
 one part, [by weight, and not by meafiare] whether 
 pure or' impure [it matters not: J and of this mixture 
 is a thickifh pafte to be 'made by moiftning it with 
 Urine, or, in want of that, with Water ; which is to 
 be made up into a Pile with Wood, and fo may it be 
 made Stratum fuper flratum , of what bignels you 
 pleafc : and it may be done in a Furnace made for 
 that purpofc, or elfe in the open Field abroad in the 
 Air. But you muft beware in the building up of this 
 Pile, that the mafs of Salt and Calx vive be not too 
 thick laid, and too much ; but it would be better to 
 make it up in balls or pellets, that fb they may be 
 well fired by the flame, which muft penetrate every- 
 where through the pervious heap or pile : which can- 
 not 
 
Pare 1. 
 
 the ?rofperity <?/Gjrmaiiy. 
 
 4^7 
 
 nor be, if the mafs be (i)rea(l too broad, and fb Itop 
 up the padiigcs of" the iiame. 
 
 T:ie heap being made as big as you are minded to 
 have it, tlie hie muft be put under, and lo king fed, 
 till all the wood is burnt, and the balls thcmfeivcs 
 havf been red-hot, a whole hour at leaft : that the 
 Acrimony of the Salt may in fo great a heat be 
 changed by ihi Calx-i^me. and get it fJi a milder 
 nature, and cotifequently be (o much the ealier traiil- 
 niuted into Suit-peter. 
 
 N. B. The Salt that is on this wife rranfmured, 
 is moft tit for dunging Lands, and to be ulcd initead 
 of the common beafts dung , as I have at large 
 taught long ago in many places of my Writings. 
 
 This is the preparation of turning Salt into Salt- 
 peter, which Artifice, if any be minded to work a- 
 bour, it is neceflary for him to order his Operation 
 this following way. 
 
 The manni.r of mahng Saitfettr on: of this prep.ireil 
 Salt. 
 
 FIrft of all, this introverted Salt muft beexpofed 
 to the opea Air, and beams of the Sun ; bur yet 
 fo, as that the heap may not be moiftncd by the 
 Rain, and it niurt lie in its heap the heighth of lome 
 three or four lect ; the which heap is to be wetted 
 cither with Man's pifs or Beafts ; or if there be not 
 enough of this to be had, then with bare watertinelv, 
 that lb the pellets or balls lying quietly for lume 
 days, may be dillolved and be mixed with the reft 
 of the matter. 
 
 Now when the warm Air hath confumed all the 
 humidity, and dried up the heap, the aforefaid moift- 
 ning is to be repeated ; which being again conl'u 
 med, and the heap dried, the labour of repeated 
 moiltnings and e.vdccacions is to be (b long continued, 
 as long as necefllty requiieth : For in long progrefs 
 of time is the Salt peter generated , which muft be 
 wafhed out with water, and by decoclion be redu- 
 ced into Stria's or Cryftals. 
 
 This generation of Salt-peter proceeds ifideed flow- 
 ly on, but yet it brings a great profit. For if once 
 the Salt peter be but generated in fuch an heap of 
 Salt, and the reliques left after the wafliing out of 
 tie Peter be again put to the fame heap, there will 
 n:w Salt perer be generated in procefs of time : fo 
 that new Salt peter will every year offer it fclf to be 
 wafht out of the heap : and this work may be con- 
 tinued without end. 
 
 But he that would have fome Salt-peter from this 
 inverted Salt in a fhorter tract of time, let him know, 
 that the Seed or Ferment of Salt-peter muft be added 
 unto the tiid heap, that 16 this fame Seed may get 
 augmentation from the Salt, and encreafe and grow, 
 like as an herb is wont to grow in a fat and laline 
 Earth. Forali things have their Seeds, and doe draw 
 their Fncreafe out of other Salts. The Seed of Salt- 
 peter is volati'e, as is its acid Spirit : its Root is fixed 
 Kitcr ; which fjeing implanted in all fharp Salts, doth 
 beget Sa't peter in a irioft plentifull manner, and (uch 
 as is very good, or even better than that which ari- 
 fcth out of fhofe acid Salts and Alcalies. 
 
 We d(!e not here fhow this propagation of fix 
 Sak-petci by acid ^alts, hecaufe it is deii.ribedin the 
 following Labour and Operation, 
 
 Therefore like as any Vegtab'e may be propaga- 
 ted and muUip'.ied not fMitly by the help of its Seed, 
 but even of its Root too ; Even jult fo is it with Salt- 
 dieter, tor it admfts of propagation and multiplication 
 
 by the means both of its Seed and of i;s Root, as o- 
 ther Herbs doe. 
 
 As concerning the Seed ofSa't parer, \r is vei\ ei- 
 lily preparable by thole who de^l in metallick iepa- 
 rarions and extraclmns by the moift wav For if (jold 
 be leparated from Silver by A-j. Fonts ;' or rhat Gold 
 and Silver be by^ e.vtracted out of their On-?, this 
 very operation n.ith nlreadv aiaindanrlv recf)mpen- 
 ced the charges laid out thereon, and fo it offers it 
 le!f without any cofts, and as itof tre Gr,itis 
 
 And now, if 1 pour this warer on, inftead of com- 
 mon Water, upon the inverted .Salt, ir does not one- 
 ly become grjod Salt peter , bur doth alio yie'd Cas 
 being the Seed of tftie Salt-i^eier) an hnn.lred fo'd 
 encreafe, after the manner of the Seed of all V'cgera- 
 b.'es,anddoth thefairie asthey do. And by hovvmuch 
 the more of this Nitrous Seed is town in the Farth, 
 fo much the more Salt perer, and t<) mucli the fbnner 
 too is generated. For when a Girdener doth fow 
 his ieed fparing'y, he mufr neceli'trily have but a 
 rhin harveff : and fo on rhe contrarv is it to l->e uii- 
 derftood of a plenrit'uil h uveff And rf now rhe"e 
 ffiould be any one that Ihould upbraid the Gardener 
 with the fl jwnefs f>f his Seed, becauie ir prodticern 
 not Buds, nor Stalks, nor Flowers, nor Fruits in a 
 few days -fpace, would nor he fay thnt he cannot 
 compell nature , for it referves to it le;f its due time, 
 and its natural coune ? 
 
 The very fame would I have you underffand hce ■ 
 concerning Saltpeter : if haply my Fnem'es, tho'ii 
 moft ignorant Sheepsheads, would obje:t asainft me, 
 that feeing the Saltpeter doth nor pretenrlv, in a few 
 days, grow or fpring forth fiom its feed fown, there- 
 fore that feed was nor true uov good , or that it is al- 
 together impoffible that Sa't peter fhould be^enera- 
 ted fo plenreouOy out of Common Salt : I anflver 
 fuch, as riie Gardener does, "Lis necellary to alow 
 Nature her own appointed time. 
 
 But that it may evidently appear, that this my 
 planting of Salt peer , and that this augmentation 
 may be far more evidently demon Itrared, than flat 
 of any Vegetable feed ; the b'jfinef.s mav be tried 
 for confirmation fake in a fmall Ex.enir.enr, atoie 
 I you let about a more laljorious and prolix exercile, 
 ;and to prevent your feais of aitcnipnng it in 
 vain. 
 
 j Take the Salt prepared with the Cj/x-ww three 
 I pound, and put each a-part in fever-ii Earrhen Vel- 
 iels. ^ Take Hkewi'.e of the Water ol Sa!t-perer alrea- 
 dy ufed ( as bciiig the Seed of .Salt-|'eier) one ounce, 
 two ounces, and tour f unces : with the one ounce 
 of that Jcf. Fortis commix as much Common water 
 as may lerve to moiften one pound of the aforelaid 
 inverted Salt : Then to the two ounces of the lame 
 Aej. Fortis, adjoyn likcwile as mucti water as may 
 lerve to moiften the other pound of Salt with : And 
 fo doe with the other four.ounces, and therewithal! 
 moiften rhe third pound : Set thofe rhiee Pots, con- 
 raining rhe three lev^ral pounds of the laid prepared 
 Salt, at the hear of the Sun, but f , a^ that the Rain 
 may not come, and wafh oft" all the Salt. All the 
 moifture being confumed by the Solar heat, moilten 
 your matters in your pots with R lin water onc.y, lo 
 often, as the drying needs tlie watering it. When 
 two or three months are over, take out each pound 
 (eparate'y by waiTiing it^ur ot the matters in each 
 pot, and you fhail find a vaft difference, and Ihall 
 fee that that one pound of Salt which had thole four 
 1 ounces of Nitrous feed in it will be all tranfmutcd 
 I into Salt- peter, liive a few feces.- but that pou id 
 ! P P P P P which 
 
An Appendix to the Fifth ?nrt of 
 
 Fart 1 
 
 which had two ounces of the faid Seed poured upon 
 ir, will contain a Idler portion of Saltpeter; and 
 the other which had but one ounce oncly will have 
 the leaft portion. Moreover, if you pour thole Salt- 
 waters you walht our, and which are not yet turn- 
 ed into Saltpeter, upon the feces again, and fo dry 
 it as afore, and beftow yet other throe months on 
 thefe exficcations and moiftnings ,vand then again 
 boil the Salt-peter out of the Salt, it will be much 
 cncreafed and b--ered ; and fb you will havefo 
 much the greater Lncreafe of Salt, by how much the 
 longer you faall have profecuted this Labour. Such 
 Experiments doe demondrate, thatby how much the 
 more Seed there is fcwn in a fet and lalt Earth, io 
 much the more plentifujl encreafe of the Seed is to 
 be expe^ed. 
 
 But thofe deriding mockers and perfecutors of Art 
 and Truth may here objed and fay, that the Salt- 
 peter arilech from the Salt peter water onely that 
 was put thereunto, and not from the Salt it felf : 
 But 1 anfwer, That that uled Acj. Fortn is indeed the 
 Seed of Salt peter, but can never recover the Nature 
 of Salt peter without the help of Tome fix body : Like 
 as the Seed of an herb cannot become an herb, un- 
 lefs it be caff into a moift and fait Earth, from thence 
 doth it get its body, and fo is encrealed. 
 
 Verily I willinglv conlefsj that the Spirit of Nitre 
 mav be reduced to'thc former nature of Salt peter, 
 •byaliuming it fclf a body out of all the fix Salts. 
 But yet, as far as I have hitherto known, by my 
 manifold inquiries and inveftigations a long time, I 
 could not find any other Salt ( fave the following) 
 by the help of which, thofe Waters uled about me- 
 ral'ine Wafliings m^Y ^c fooner and better tranlmu- 
 ted into Salt-peter, like as this, and the following 
 Salts doe : And therefore I doe commend it as of the 
 beft rank for the making of Salt peter. The man- 
 ner of preparing good fait Nitre out of the extrafted 
 Oars is already revealed in the firft Century, and 
 therefore needs no (iiperlluous repetition here. 
 
 Jim her Preparation of' Salt for the making of Salt- 
 peter. 
 
 TAke Common Salt one part, and of a fulphure- 
 ous Oar , whch the Germans call Scbewelkies, 
 two or three parts, if they contain lefs Sulphur: 
 But it they have Vitriol in them too, then muft you 
 take equal parts of both. Grind the fill phureou? Mi- 
 neral in a Mi!!, mix it with the Salt, and heat it red- 
 hot by well torrifying or calcining them for two 
 hours ( in Furnaces ferving for fuch a work,) either 
 upon a Grate, or elfe without a Grate, upon Hearths; 
 that.ff?, during this Candefadion, the Sulphur may 
 have'increfs into the Salt, and may alter it. This 
 Salt bein^g v/afl-it out of the fiilphureous Minera with 
 water, and boiled till a skin gathers at top of the 
 water, it (hoots into long Stna's or Cryltals, like 
 Salt-peeter, and tafts like it, but falls into Powder 
 in a warmifli Air. If it be burnt and prepared by 
 putting C.^/.v-j? ye thereto, after the way afore going, 
 it is convertible into good Salt-peter, but fooner and 
 in a fliortcr time. If the Mineras you ufe hav6 
 Copper in them , or any other xMetal , yet nevtr- 
 ihelefs may they be gotteiy^ut thence by fufion, for 
 there will'be nothing loft inithis operation but the 
 Sulphur ; and this muli have been driven away by 
 burning it, however, if you would have any of the 
 Metal out of the Minera. 
 
 y. B. The Caput mortuum out of which the Spi- 
 rit of Salt by the addition of the Vitriol is extrafted 
 yieds fuch a like Salt, and very (it to make Salt- 
 peter withall. There are alfo feveral other ways 
 which yield no fhiall plenty of fuch Salts, and that 
 in a manner without any coffs, efpecially if the help 
 of Stone coals be thereto ufed. Befides too ; this you 
 are to be advifed of, that ( feeing the Salt is to be 
 buVut with the Calx-'vi've ) one Calx is better than 
 another, for fbme Lime flones are more apt for tb.e 
 making of Salt-peter, . but primarily tho/e, which 
 when" you touch your tongue with, doe yield a fiery 
 taft ; with which fort, the Lime made of S-a-flielis 
 doth not compare as to goodaefs. 
 
 By what weans the Root of Saltpeter is to be impL^nied 
 in acid Salts , fo as to be thereby augmented, like 
 the Root of a Vegetable, being tranfplanted, gets an 
 creaje from the jaltnefs of the Earth. 
 
 at 
 in- 
 
 EVen as we have demonflrated in the foregoing 
 difcourle, that the acid Spirit of Nitre is the feed 
 of Salt peter, and doth encreafe ir felf out of yilkah 
 Salts like as an Herb doth out of the Earth : Even fb 
 by the fame reafbn, fix Salt-peter, which is the root 
 of Salt-peter, admits of tranfplantation, yet not by 
 fixed Salts, like as the fTiarp Spirit cjoes, but by fharp 
 Salts, iwherero it is to be united by implantation : 
 For, two Aciditie,s, and two Alkalies, cannot pro- 
 duce any new Elfence , but two Contraries dee al- 
 ways produce a third. The acid Salt, which is of 
 the irxaneft acidity, and which doth ealilieft admit 
 of being tranfmuted into Salt- peter, is the conjmon 
 Kitchin-Salt, which we taught the way but even now 
 of inverting by the Minera's of Sulphur. And if that 
 fiicb provillon, cannot be had to prepare it by, the 
 very Kitchinfalt it felf being taken both in the moift 
 and in the dry way, would perform the fime , as I 
 have already fhown in other places of my Writings. 
 And as tor the making of fix Nitre, you may meet 
 with the way of doing that too and agon in my o- 
 ther Writings , and efpecially in that place where I 
 have treated of the dry feparation of wafhing of Me- 
 tals, VIZ,, when fulphureous and Antimonial Metals 
 are wafbed by Nitre. 
 
 The vay of preparing Spirit of Salt , mcejfary for the 
 ExtraHmg of Gold and Copper out of their Oars ; as 
 Iihivife of making good Salt-peter of the matter left 
 after the diflillatwn is pnijhed. 
 
 MIX with two parrs of Vitriol or Allum, one part 
 of Kitchin-fa!t, and throw in this mixture up- 
 on hot burning Coals, the Spirits of which are to be 
 taken in great Leaden Cifterns inflead of Receivers. 
 This operation ( befides the fait Spirit it gives) yields 
 alfo fharp Flores. If any fhall provide himfelf with | 
 double Leaden Cilterns , and fhall make the Outer i 
 one to hold in it the lefler Ciflern , and lb fill this 
 outer one with cold water, he fhall obtain more plen- 
 ty of Spirits by reafbn of this better refrigeration. 
 But I'uch Cifterns requires a great deal of Lead ; for 
 verily even thofe three alone which I had in my La 
 bnratory contained a thoufand and forty pounds of 
 flicet Lead. 
 
 There may be other kinds of Receivers applied to 
 this ufe, which, to reckon up, would be too tedious 
 in this Book. 
 
 Tlie 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Profperitj' ^/Germany. 
 
 4^9 
 
 Tne matter remaining after the Dillillation may 
 
 be ground in a Mill, and one pare thereof mix.' with done in a twofold manner. The i'lvlt is, -when the 
 
 two parts of Calx-'vive ; and ib balls arc to be made 
 thereof, and to be put upon wood and burnt, as we 
 fhewed afure, that.Io they may be tranlinuied into 
 Salt- peter. 
 
 But befides all thefe, there hath been a far better 
 and more compcndif)Us incineration, and bettering of 
 the lelFer and more impertect Merals fliown and de- 
 monftrated to my friends, in my Laboratory, which 
 requires not ib many Circumftances and Labours, as 
 the foregoing niore prolix operatiotj, which is per- 
 formed by throwing Common Salt upon the Coals, 
 does: For it is to be don- in a peculiar Furnace, and 
 with purer Salts ; and being wrought about a grea- 
 ter work, yields very confiderable profit: 16 that it 
 impregnates Silver and Lead with Gold, with twen- 
 ty four hours ealie labour, and renders them worth 
 the labour of feparation. 
 
 * In like manner, Copper may by the help of fuch 
 
 Labours be very much amended , and gets no fiuall 
 
 portion of Silver, if it be added : fo that with a little 
 
 fire and a very few e.xpencesj^very fort oC Copper, 
 
 though it has endured the fife Icarce twenty four 
 
 hour?, is wont to be fo much bettered, as to fhew 
 
 in the Touchftone the marks of two, three, and fome- 
 
 times fix Lots, according as it has been diligently and 
 
 circumfpe^lly handled. Flence comes it to pals, that 
 
 by vi'c and cvery-where obvious Subjects any Silver 
 
 and Lead may be maturated by little and little into 
 
 Gold, and ib may Copper it (elt be ripened without 
 
 any detriment into good Silver, by a tew repeated 
 
 Labours. Now thele operations requiring but Irnall 
 
 cofts, and but a few labours to accomplilh it, may 
 
 Silver, and of Z,«w into Gold ; I fa>- that it is to be 
 
 Metals are deftroyed cither with cmmmor», or e!fe 
 with prepared and moift CbvmicalFircs, and con- 
 verted out of their own .NJerallick being into an 
 Earthv nature and Ehence, are imbibed with fpiri- 
 rual Salts, and burnt by a clofe Cementation, fo as 
 by -their murua' efficacy and aftings upon each other, 
 to amend thwnfelves, and afterwards bv redudion 
 and feparation to yield forth Silver and' Gold with 
 profit. And this Labour admits of being exercifcd in 
 as great a quantity and plenty as i.tv one pieateth 
 and is clearly void of tedious troublefomenefs, and' 
 great expences, for one onely pcrfon may difcharge 
 this Operation in one onelyChimny, and that with 
 no fmall quantity of matter too. Nay more, (and 
 which is of greater moment ) if any one fhall in this 
 operation make ufe of fiich Salts as they call Gradua- 
 ting Salts, which are eafie to be got, and colt al- 
 moft nothing, he will get far greater profit, efpecialiy 
 if he fiiall put Copper-plates to be -burnt with the 
 Metals reduced by the (aid C:ementation into aOies-, 
 which faid Plates, thofc Graduating Spirits will pene- 
 trate wholly and throughout, and in ihis penetration, 
 better them, and bring them unto a more noble de- 
 gree, fo as to give on the Teft, Silver impregnated 
 with Gold. Nor is it necellary that thofe Copper- 
 plates be feparated by Lead in the fecret Pot, ib to 
 get the Gold and Silver made in them, by the (aid 
 operation, though they have already gotten a mean- 
 ly-white -Colour. 'Tis better and more profitable to 
 put them )-er again in fbme new Cementations, and 
 urge them more with the violence of the Fire, and 
 they will be enriched with a greater accefs of Gold 
 
 be exercifed without intermillion, and bring valt pro and Silver, then afterwards are thev to be feparated 
 fit. Thefe inventions are luch as never were as yet I by adding a due [quantity of 1 Lead, which is fthus ] 
 thought on by any, and fb never at any time law the -' — — l-- • "■ • - -- - • _ . . l ^j 
 JLight. But now they that (aw and learned, in my 
 Laboratory, the great incineration, did not all of 
 
 them fee this Labour and Artifice, and apprehend its 
 ufe, but (Lich of them onely thatftayed out conftant, 
 even to the end of the whole Demonftration in my 
 Laboratory. And as for (uch as too fbon forfook 
 their Mailer and the School, they are ( and indeed 
 very defervedly ) altogether ignorant of this operati- 
 on. For fliouid they have been raafters of this Ar- 
 Ciinum too, they would veriiy have detrimented me 
 more, which God of his mercy prevented, and here- 
 by provided , that all [my Arcana'sl fliould not (all 
 
 done, when the Lead containing the Gold and Sil- 
 ver, together with the Copper, are melted together 
 into a great Cake, thefe are to be put in the Furnace, 
 which the Gerwavs call Stigerofhi, that fo the Lead' 
 melting may flow down, and in flowing or running 
 down may carry away with it all the Silver and 
 Gold that was in the Copper. Bv this Artifice is the 
 Copper conferved, and is to be' a-new made into 
 Plates, and to be ufed about new Labours, and be 
 again enriched with Gold and Silver by Cementa- 
 tion. 
 
 N. W. There is not at all any need of any peculiar 
 Lead for this feparation of the Copper, forafmuch 
 
 altogether into mine Enemies hands. The Furnace j as that Lead may be ufed thereabouts which is mol- 
 which I ufed about the (aid Incmeration and Melio- 1 ren out of the Powders of the Cement and already 
 ration ot Metals, is as yet m my Laboratory, and contains in it Gold and Silver, which Metals are con' 
 
 will haply there remain all this H'mter. But as for 
 mine qwn parr, I have determined with my felf to 
 leave off Chymical Labours, communicating them 
 CO others, with whom this more compendious bet- 
 tering of the Metals wi'l be yet longer to be feen. 
 Therefore all the whole Drove of my Enemies , 
 though never (b big, will not at all be able to opprels 
 the truth, what mad attempts (bever they make a- 
 gainft it. . For although one or another of them hath 
 thee\iihiy ftole from me my Secrets, yet prefently 
 the Divine goodnefs hath largely liipplied me with o- 
 thers. I have now laid a fure Foundation in Alchy- 
 niy, and have kindled a Light (or both Friends and 
 Enemies, which will very hardly be ext;ngui(ht as 
 long as the World endures. 
 
 But now, that (bme litde knowledge may be had 
 of this more compendious Incineration, and bettering 
 of iMetals, va,. of Iron, Copper, Tin and Lead into 
 
 ferved by one and the fame work in the labf)ur of 
 Separation, and are already gotten by the Gradato- 
 ry Cements our of-the Minerals, and the more im- 
 perfe'd Metals. ■ "■(■~1- ' ) 
 
 And this now is my more compendious Incinera- 
 tion and Cementation of the imperfett Metals, to 
 make them better and more perfed. This Opera- 
 tiori have I fhown tofbme Friends in my Laboratory, 
 which will moreover be in many places exercifed 
 with profit. And now any one may eafily forefee 
 and g-uefs, what (hamie mine Enemies, (who with 
 their Diabolical Clamours and Calumnies, I'ay my 
 Writings are unprofitable and all over full of L)-es,') 
 muflat length be confounded wirfiaH,- and howbafe- 
 :y they have behaved themfelves. Nor verily is it' . 
 to be doubted but that there v/i!l be (iieh frequent' 
 e.\ercifeand (b familiar a practice of Alchymy (which 
 iS an Art that produccth infinite benefits) through- 
 out 
 
420 
 
 An Appendix to the Fifth Fart of 
 
 Part I 
 
 ealily and in grear quanriry ; alfo. Water ot com- 
 mon Sair, Water of the Less of Wine, out of whit-h 
 aduft Wine (nv Brandy) or Spirit of Wine is prepa- 
 red, and which elle aie caft away. Thcle two lat- 
 ter are of the nieanelt prica, and may therefore 
 be eafieft of a'l ^ntrcn. The Operarion it (e'f isthis. 
 The Oars hemg reduced into P<;wder muii be put 
 into fmall and low (Copper) Pans, about the thick- 
 nefs of a Span, for if they fhou!d iie too thick or corn- 
 pad, they would more hardly be fiirrtd with a 
 wooden Stick : Upon them thus lying in the Pans, 
 pour that acid Water the heighth ofa Span or atlealt 
 a hands breadth above the martcis ; then put Fire 
 under the Pans, let it boil ftrongly, and let .the mat- 
 ter beunceliantly ftirred, that (o'the Water coming 
 to it in every part, it may extract all the Copper the 
 more eafily. When this Water has boiled one oi 
 
 inii ot tnoic uie^;i jioiia i^^.vlo, ...^ ■ r. -r - two hours, and fo gotten a nioft green colour, and 
 
 which here I judge ncedltfs. Some of them are of j that ircan diliolve no more Copper, it nmft be pi^u- 
 no finall concernment, which by the fame Siniiter or j red our, and more put on, and be on fuch wife bol- 
 unluckv mifliap tell into the hands of mine Enemies, , led fo long till it hath gotten the lame colour. Now 
 and will without all doubt be by them manifefted. j this pouring on is to be repeated with new Water lb 
 
 out all Eurcfe^ that even abundance ot Workmsn 
 [or Tradef men] will leave their Trades, and many; 
 Countreyir.en leave their Plows, and let tliemfelves 
 about Al'chy my, and by the AlTiftance of my Wri 
 tings get themlelves Fo<;d r.nd Rayment in an eafier 
 and pleafanier way, even (;ut of the contemptib'e 
 Sand, and abjeCt Stones. Whereupon it will ofne- 
 celFity follow, that in all thole places where now 
 poverty is rife, plenty ot Gold and Silver will again 
 come in fight. Thcle aie new fruits which God be- 
 ftoweth in this Age. And cvei y one that gets fo far 
 as to obtain their »i uits,Iet him \\^\ e regard to the poor 
 and needy, atid not torj:,et his BenefaJtours from 
 fuch things proceeded left he pull upon him- 
 
 w'hom 
 
 anger of God. 
 
 Icif the wrath and -.-,^- 
 
 Moreover, there were fome other Arcana's ocular- 
 ly demonftrated in my Laboratory, during the fhew- 
 ine offhoie meer irolix fecrcts, the reckoning up of 
 
 often and fo long till it imbibes ^ or extrads) no more 
 greennefs, which is a lign that all the Copper is ex- 
 traftcd out of the Oars. 
 
 N. H. It there fhould be but little Copper in the 
 Oars, the lirft Water will extract all the Copper, 
 and fb there will nor need the pouring on anv other 
 Water. Nay more, it Ibmetimes happens that eveo 
 the firft Water wou'd attract more Copper if the 
 Oars had had more of the fame. Therefore the 
 Copj.er is not to be precipitated out of that Water 
 which hath nor extracted Copper enough, but is to 
 be relervcd and poured upon new Oars, that it may 
 be thoroughly impregnated with Copper, and (6 the 
 precipitation with Iron may net be ufed in vain. 
 For by how much the more Copper, the Waters 
 (hall be extracted (or held up in them) lb much the 
 
 andio provide themfe'.vcs'Food and Rayment againlt I greater is the gain, and fb much the lefs Water is re- 
 
 a (hirp Winter, whereas otherwile they mulY live , quired to this Work. 
 
 niiferablv in want and poverty. The Operation it 
 
 For that very reafon will I my (elf reveal fbme, in 
 mv fccond Century (God perpiitting) that it may 
 not be "ci ncealcd from anyone, what excellent fe- 
 crets I havcdilclolediortheufeof n^i.nkind. 
 
 'Monglt other Arcana s. this is none of the mea- 
 neft, which, \'vtz.?\ teacheth to extract Copper, 
 (by Waters of'almofl no coll or charges, out of poor 
 Oars ot Copper which are every where obvious, and 
 are not rich ^nough to defray the charges neceliary 
 lor a melting Fiie.) and bring it to ule, and that in 
 great quantity, and fo ealily as that without quefti- 
 on the poor Countrey-men that can very hardly fuf- 
 tain ihem.felves, their Wives and Children, will tor 
 the time to come fet about fuch an Operation, and 
 get fuch Mir.eras or Oars, or even the Scurias of 
 them, to extract the Copper out of them and fell it. 
 
 felt is this. 
 
 H',^ Cofiper may eafilj and -uerj proftablj/beextratJed 
 and made corporeal [without any meUing or jufion) 
 by a certain U ater of very fmall expences. 
 
 THere are two forts of Oars or^ Veins of Copper 
 met withall, Umic are mixt with Sulphur, and 
 refufc e.vtrading with A'^jU'i Fortu ; infomuch that 
 you muft til It remove tlie Sulphur from them by ro- 
 ffint' as it were and buioing liiem, afore that Salts 
 or iharp Waters can difplay chcir virtues upon them. 
 Now tliat roafting (or calcining; then, is to be done 
 onlljarths by the tiamc of Wood, on which, that 
 metalline matter broken into Powdui-, is to be un- 
 celiantly ftirred with Iron Inftruments, fo long till 
 ic emits no more fulphurecus flinch ; This done, they 
 ad.iiitofextracflionwiih ^ejua t'ortn. 
 
 Other tVlintrus or Oars which have no Sulphur 
 adinixt with them, need not this calcining, for they 
 areto be onely heated red hotin theFireandqucnchr, 
 with Water and 1() broken to pieces, and then are 
 they m.>de fit }>;r extraction. 
 
 Bur all Iharp Waters which dillblve Coi>per may 
 be uied to extracl; the Copper out of poor coppery 
 Oars, and that with profit, when the Waters are 
 of no' great colls, but aie to be had tor a very little 
 charges. Such are an .^ct/w//? or Vinegar ol Corn, 
 yictium of Woods, which any Couniryman may get 
 
 It is a thing ea(ie to be underftood by him that 
 (hall thoroughly fearch into this Operation, and ma- 
 nage it with due diligence, (b as to commit no er- 
 rour. 
 
 AT. B. If you have (tore of thefe green Waters, 
 put in fome old Iron tor one or two nights, and you 
 (hall get out the Copper that will adheie unto it like 
 filed Copper, and twill leave the Water white and 
 clear, which (aid Water can be ufed no more about 
 this kind of extraction, but may be poured upon 
 Calx-vwe mixt with Wood-afhes, and (o be dried up, 
 by the Air or the Sun, under fome Roof to keep olf 
 Rain, and from this uled Water, and the Calx or 
 Lime is Salt peter generated in fuch a manner as I 
 taught afore 
 
 N. n. This Copper which (ticks on to the Iron, 
 is to be freed from all the Saltifhnefs by wafhing ic 
 with common Water, and is to be afterwards dried, 
 and fo may be ufed in the Head of pure Copper, for 
 ifmolten it nothing at all ditFers theretrom, if the 
 Operation be but well managed. Nav more, it has 
 in it a molt notable Commodity, as being more ten- 
 der and more pure, and more commodious for ma- 
 ny Operations than that grofs common Copper is. 
 'Tis a!l(j very fit to be converted into moft e.vcelient 
 Virdigreefe, if it be moiftned with (harp Vinegar anci 
 (et in the heat. 
 
 Moreover I havfe fliown in my publick Laborato- 
 ry, by what means Spirit of Salt, Aqua Fonts, Aijua- 
 Rega, and my Sal Mirabihs may be eafily gotten, 
 
 and 
 
Pare I. 
 
 the Frofpentj of Germ an \\ 
 
 421 
 
 and that in great quantity too, bv a Separarory Sul 
 pliur, which is nothing elfe but Oil of Sulphur or of 
 Vitriol, of which I have very clearly treated in the 
 fecond parr of the Miracultim Mumh. Likewife how 
 Gold may in one quarter of an hours fpace be con- 
 verted by the Sill AlirMlis (in a Crucible) into its 
 firft matter ; or, into a red, tranfparent, fulphure 
 ous, and Ibluble Stone, which fuffers it felf to bedi(- 
 folved by common Water into a moft excellent Me- 
 dicine. This golden Water being poured to the 
 roots of Herbs, makes them to have a goldfen pro- 
 perty, as concerning this thing you may confult 
 my Trcatile of the nature of Salts, and the (econd 
 
 part of my iMiractilnm Mumli. 
 
 Beficles, I have fhown to fome of my Friends, 
 how in the extraftion of Gold and Silver out of the 
 poor Oars a Gradatory and withall fixing Spirit may 
 be received, which is able by graduation to perfect 
 (or exalt) any Jrgent-vivc into Gold and Silver, 
 accordini: as the cxtravTtion has been made either of 
 Gold or Silver Oars. 
 
 This fb great a fecret hath as yet efcaped mine 
 enemies hands, and fo has that my fecret incineration 
 and cementation of Morals, of which they would 
 likewife have been Mafters had they waited but yet 
 two or three days longer ; for I prefently fhowed 
 fuch Operations to thule chat ftayed, and unto other 
 honcft Speiftators. 
 
 To thefemay bealfo added that notable Arcanum 
 of bringing Lead in one quarter of an hours fpacQ to 
 fuch a pals, by means of a graduating Fulmen, with- 
 out almoft any cofts, as to be fo impregnated with 
 Gold as to be worth the (eparating. 
 
 Thefe and fuch like Arcana i with many moft pro- 
 fitable difcourfes have been (een and heard in my 
 Laboratory, a tedious and ncedlefs Repetition of 
 which I willingly omit. 
 
 Finally, to mention fomewhat by way of addition, 
 'tis nccclfary that I fay onely thus much, that happi- 
 ly in fomc fliort time, the bufinels will fo come a- 
 bout that many Men will not for the time to come 
 take on them fuch a deal of care about the laborious, 
 coftly, and uncertain ordering of Mine pits, but will 
 rather lay hold on and manage (and that with grea- 
 ter profit) fuch as can be had and gotten better on 
 the outllde of the Earth. But efpecialy there will 
 not be a tew who will (et about thefe Cementations 
 of mine for gains (ake, for they have many times 
 many lying idle by them, and which yields them no 
 profit, which by this ailifting way they will aug- 
 ment, and without doubt it will be eftededtooby 
 many. 
 
 Verily I cannot at all fee (as far as I know) whe- 
 ther there can be found any honefter and certainer 
 way of fuftaining Life in the whole World, than 
 this true melioration of Metals,which brings with it fo 
 great a benefit. For even Merchandife it felf though 
 it be fo very gainfull, yet doth it (lick amidft Sins, 
 as firmly as a Nail does in a Wall. 
 
 The Services of Lords and great Men are labori- 
 ous and full of fervitude, which many have experi- 
 enced. And as for War, that fnatcheth away a- 
 bundance of Men by an immature death. 
 
 Far better therefore is it to live quietly with one's 
 Family in fome poor Cottage, and to feed on a piece 
 of Bread, than to hunt after uncertain Riches by 
 moft great dangers. Tiierefore 1 doubt not but there 
 vvi'l be many found for time to come, who being 
 holpeii by my Writings, will more comrnodioufly fu(- 
 tain themfelves together with their Wives and Chil- 
 
 dren, than hath been hitherto done. Nor do I at 
 all doubt, but that many will take it very untoward- 
 ly, that 1 have fo manifcftly and fo perfpicuouny re- 
 vealed all things. For this' is often done and daily is 
 it, that I am upon that account reprehended by o- 
 thers, as the following Letter may witnefs, the like 
 of which I could have hereadded more had I folifted. 
 
 There is no Body can (luislic all Even Jufiter is 
 not the lame (or alike acceptable) to ?.ll:' One is 
 troubled with heat, another is bur^hcncd with cold. 
 What things fbever I have writio,i, they are clear 
 and evident to fuch as are skilfuU in the Art, and 
 have underftanding in the bufincfs, and therefore 
 they had rather 1 had written more tlarklv. But the 
 unskilfull and ignorant do judge that I have plaid the 
 Sophifterin Writing, becaufe^hey hit not the mark. 
 
 But all their judgments and Ccnfures mought be 
 tolerated whatever they be that they pafs upon my 
 Writings, did they not'by reafon of their ignorance, 
 contemn the good things tliemfelves, and fay of fuch 
 things as are moft true, that they are Fallacies and 
 Lies: butthis needs notfeemftrange to any ,forafinuch 
 as fuch wicked contemnings proceed from thofe that 
 by reafon of ignorance and blockifhnefs do no better 
 underftand the bufinefs. But this is plainly diaboli- 
 cal, to be highly benefited by any one, and to be 
 made partaker of fuch grgat fecrets, and yet after- 
 wards impudently to deny the fame and fliy, that 
 they never had any good thing conferred upon them. 
 The deteftable malice and impiety of thefe Men hath 
 enforced, me to manifeft in this Appendix, fb many 
 excellent fecrets, which I would at no time have laid 
 open, had I not been fo treacheroufly deceived by 
 thofe perfidious Men. 
 
 This is the Letterivrittenu7itome,oftvbichlmai!e 
 fome mention tiim now. 
 
 " *TpHOU haft written too clearly, and again too 
 -I " manifeftly ; beware left God ftir not up 
 " againft thee another new Farnerian Devil,to punifh 
 " thy eafinefs [or forwardnefs] of publifhing fuch 
 " Myfteries. For they are not to be profaned by 
 " the ungodly, let not the prefent corruption of 
 " Men deceive thee, and that blindnefs [of theirs] 
 '* which for the moft part arifeth therefrom ; for all 
 " wicked Men are not blind, I know many Earners 
 " that are defiled with ail kinds of Evil, and yet 
 " are not all of them fo blinded as thy Earner is. 
 ■' Nay, their Wit is fb penetrative and fo clear-light- 
 ed, that fhould they but read the divine Books 
 that thou haft publifhed there would not be a fe- 
 cret in all nature, but they would know it ; nay 
 more, they would ina fhort time perfect that Phi- 
 lofbphick Work. Which fhould it fb come to pafs, 
 (the more's the grief) what a many Slaughters, 
 what Whoredoms, how many ruinings! And what 
 evils of all forts would break in upon mankind ; of 
 the which,thou thy felf (though innocent) would'ft 
 be the caufe. I know that the deteftable Calum- 
 nies of the impious Earner enforced thee to pub- 
 lifh them, for he every where reported and to all, 
 that thou wert ignorant of them. But my moft 
 dear Sir, what is your knowledge as a thing of no- 
 thing, unlefs another likewife knows that you 
 know it >. God knows that thou knowefl, for he 
 gave thee thy knowledge. Thine owncenfcience 
 alfo knows it. What.'' Cannot thefe two moftplenari- 
 ly blefs or make a Wife Man happy > The pleafiire 
 that depends on the Opinion of Men is unhappy. In 
 Q,q q q 9 " rain 
 
2-{-2 
 
 The Viftb Van of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
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 <i 
 ei 
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 C! 
 
 C( 
 
 <( 
 
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 « 
 
 vain do we feek after true Felicity without us, if 
 lo be its Iblid principle or foundation fhould be 
 within us. What matters it, if Men think thee to 
 belefs learned than thou art, as long as the very 
 light it felf of nature (hines unto thee ^ I vvould to 
 God that I could once accomplifli that, which, by 
 thy divine Books it is moft certainly manifeft unto 
 me, thou haft perfe^ed, and let all Men believe 
 me to be a moft ftupid Tcllow ; I wifh not thus, 
 as if I did at all- doubt of the truth of any Work. 
 For though Tvaould have perfected the whole 
 work an hundred rimes, I could fcarce be more 
 certain of the truth thereof [than now.] He that 
 knows the way of concentrating Fire, and of uni- 
 ting the terreftrial Sun to this concentrated Fire, 
 and the Arcana s of Fermentations doubts not, nor 
 feeks after any thing more. I may boldly fay, 
 that feeing nature doth perform whatever (he has 
 a mind unto, bv thefe three, it muft neceflarily 
 be, that it (houJd do lome moft eminent thing 
 But if I could but once have rtninied the Work it 
 felf amidft thnfe thoufand of bufinefles that have 
 hitherto withheld me, and kept me off from the 
 Operation, I fhould have been long ago able to 
 wind my ielfout of the intricacies of this prefent 
 Age, and wholly devoted mv felf unto God, and 
 to the moft holy Philofophy.'I befeech thee there 
 fore my [dear"! Malter, and entreat thee by God 
 and by the rnoft laudable charity thou oweft 
 thy Neighbours, to write more obicurcly for the 
 time to come, nay, and if it may be, to wrap 
 over the Books thou haft already publiflied with 
 (bme new cloudings, left that celeftial treafure 
 fall into the hands of the unworthy, and fo be- 
 come hurtfull to pious Men. Pardon Sir the li- 
 berty cf my complaint, for there is no other 
 caufe thereof' fave piety to God, and a Zeal to the 
 moft Learned, moft upright Man, and ore that 
 too well de(erves from ungratefull mankind. And 
 albeit thou knoweft not me, yet canft thou not be 
 unknown to the Curious, feeing thou halt Written 
 fuch wonderfuU things. Nor can there be any 
 one that (hall but once have read over thy Books, 
 but he will be highly obliged unto thee, if he has 
 but any light of Juftice [or Righteoufnefs] re- 
 maining in him, o^c 
 
 Many fuch like Letters as thefe, have been oft- 
 times lent me from learned and skilfull Men, ten- 
 ding to this end, to warn me not to publifh fuch ex- 
 cellent fecrets for the time ro come. Yet neverthe- 
 lefs, amongft thole that are rendred partaker offuch, 
 there are lome who (although the Operation it felf 
 has been fbmecimes manually (howed them very 
 perfpicuoufly and clearly,) are notwithftanding fo 
 fbttilh and ignorant, as that they cannot imitate the 
 aforefhown Operation. But fome therearealfb that 
 are come to fuch an height h of Treachery, as that 
 (being either feduced by their own falfe malice, or 
 diawn away with the defire of profit,) they deny 
 even the truth, certainty and inability of that very 
 thing themfclves have manually e.xperienced, and 
 dare to fay it is falfe, this verily is an aftonifhing and 
 deteftably malicious wickednefs, and juftly and de- 
 lervedly gives every one an occafion to fhun fuch 
 devilifli Men more than a Dog or Snake 
 
 1 Gldiilxr may juftly and defervedly be compared 
 with a burning Candle, by ferving others, am I con- 
 fumed ; have not I by the publifhing fuch very ex- 
 cellent Writings kindled a clear and new light to the 
 
 whole World, and added and confiimed mine own 
 peculiar Oil, and that in vain too, as reapingno re- 
 compence proceeding from a gratefull mind ! 
 
 Aji Explanation of fome obfcure places 
 which are to be met withall in the Third 
 and Fourth Part of the Profperity of 
 German}^, a7ic{ in the Jirfi Century. 
 
 In the Third Part of the Profperity of GenKanj. 
 
 IN the Operation -which teacheth to extraB Gold and 
 Stiver with frofit, out of all Oars or Aietallick 
 Earths , in Page 360, A. f'gmfits Lapis Calami- 
 naris. 
 
 Vage g6r. A. ts once met withall there, and figni^ts 
 the fame Lapis Calaminaris. 
 
 In Page 370, the jame Letter A, once put, fignifes the 
 fame Lapis Calaminaris. 
 
 In Page 370. b. where we treat of thelVatcrs ufed about 
 Wajhing or Edulcoration, and jhow their ufe, the Let- 
 ter B fignifies pieces of Cloth , and the Letter C. tlx 
 Jhells of Eggs, and all Cockle-jhells and Alufclc-fliellSf 
 [or Shellfjh^ of all kinds, m the water and out of 
 the water : hut the Letter D. denotes the Feces or Lees 
 of Wine. 
 
 In the fame Page, the Letter E. fliows or fgnifies Egg' 
 jhells, and the Shells of all Shell fjh. 
 
 The Letter F. fgnifies Stones and Lime. 
 
 In Page ;7I. a..the Letter G. fgnifies Oil of Vitriol. 
 
 In the Fourth Part of the Profperity oi Germany. 
 
 In Page ;97. b. the Letter A. fgnifies one fart, and B." 
 
 three parts. 
 In Page 598. a. by the firfi X. is underfiood Alkalies, and 
 
 by the other X. is meant a fixt Salt^ helping on Liejue- 
 
 faciton or Fufion, 
 
 Here follow fbme profitable Operations, and which 
 appertain to the Extradlion of Metallick Earths ; 
 they are indeed treated of, or publifhed in the firft 
 Century ; but becaufe of the omitting of f jme words, 
 they are hard to be underftood : which, forafinuch 
 as they comprife the things that primarily concern 
 the Extradtion of Gold and Silver , it feemed to me 
 a matter worth the while to infert the fame in this 
 Appendix, the which (as Ihope) will not be unac- 
 ceptable tothofethat fearch after fuch great Seaets. 
 
 31. By what means 'volatile Gold is to be compendioufiy 
 extraBed by the moifi way, out of coloured Fli?its, 
 red Talk, Granates, Sand, Clay, and fuch-like Oars 
 or Minerals, and made corporeal. 
 
 FIrft of all , fuch Minerals are to be heated red- 
 hot in the Fire, and be quenched, then ground 
 with Mill-ftones, and are to be put in Stone Pots, or 
 fValdenburg-Pots, or Co/f;«-Pots, that in them they 
 may be moiftned with pouring yi/jua Regta there- 
 upon. Thefe Pots you muft put Coals about, and 
 heat them well. The Minera's being together with 
 the Jcjua Regia well heated, there muft be poured 
 thereupon fo much Common warm water, as will 
 lijffice to wafh off the J qua Regta. Being on this 
 
 wife 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Frofperitj of Germany. 
 
 423 
 
 wife moiftned, they are to be put into great Pots 
 made of good Potters Earth, having a many little 
 holes in the bottom, over which is Ibme Cap j^aper 
 to be fpread , that nothing of the Oars tall out 
 through the hole?, but the water onely may diftill 
 down. After that all the rirft water is run out, ) ou 
 muft pour on more hot water, and thcfe pourings 
 on are to be fb often repeated , till the water tafts 
 on more faltifh, for then it has carried otF with it the 
 Ji]na Re^ia that contained the Gold in it. 
 
 N. B. The Pots arc to be fet upon a Bench or Dref 
 fer that hath holes in it, lb that the [Waters] may pafs 
 through the bottoms by the holes, and Vellelsmay be 
 (ct there-under. 
 
 N. B. The Minerals may alfb be put in Barrels, 
 having a double bottom, (iich as thofe Barrels are in 
 which they ufeto wafhout the Salt- peter with Com- 
 mon water out of the Earth And now after the 
 fame manner are the pourings on of Common water 
 to be fo long continued till there is no more (alrifh- 
 neft perceived. 
 
 N. B. Albeit that there is no more taft of falt- 
 nefs difcernable, jet neverthclefs Ibme of the Salt 
 doth as yet abide with them, [wx. with the Oars] 
 and which is to be turned into Salt peter, on this 
 wife following. 
 
 
 Hov good Salt-feter is to be made with profit evm 
 out of thejt Oars. 
 
 Ml X thefe Minera's that are thus deprived of 
 their Gold with an equal weight of Calx- 
 vive and Wood aflies, then heap them up in a heap 
 under fbme Shed or Pent-houfe, and moiften them 
 for half a year, or for an whole year by repeated 
 pourings on, of either Man's pifs or Beafts, as often 
 as ( alter the drying up of the moifture) need re- 
 quires In want of Pife you may ufe Common wa- 
 ter. By this means the ^I«^ita Regia, which was not 
 thoroughly wafiit off with the warm water, and (b 
 remained behind in the Oars, will, by the aHiftance 
 of Urine, or even of Rain-water, convert the Salt 
 in the Cah-'vi-ve into good Salt- peter, which is to be 
 wafht off like other Salt peters, and be reduced into 
 Stria's or Ccyftals. The remaining matter being 
 freed of the Salt peter by wafliing it off, may be a- 
 j gain put under the fame Shed or Roof, to keep off I half Ounces] of Gold in the water, there muft then 
 
 being conjoyned with Calxvtve and Wood afhes, 
 may Salt-pctcr be made, in a few days iyACQ, by 
 moiftning the matters with pouring on, even barely 
 Common water, and fb drying it up again : but 
 then there will not be fuch a quantity, as when 
 more continued and more Irequsnt pourings on of 
 Urine have preceded. 
 
 JV. B. It is likewife a thing pi^PlWe to be done, 
 to make good Salt peter even in oifb daysfjpace, uirh 
 the Waters ufed about the Edulcoration [or wafliing 
 of the Oars] if thev be poured upon Cilx-oi-ve lb 
 long till all the nolle [or tilTing ccalerh ] which is 
 made in the Solution. And thus out of the fharp 
 water of Saltpeter, and the lix Salt in the Calxi'ive 
 is prcfently generated Salt j^eier, Ihooting into long 
 and delicate Cryflals, after that the fupei iluous moi- 
 fture fliall have been thence drawn off in a Copper- 
 pan. The remaining Salt-peter water muft be again 
 boiled in a Copper even to the appearance of a thin 
 skin, and then be fet in the cold to (hoot more Salt- 
 peter ; thefe Labours are you to go on withall until! 
 all the Salt peter be boil'd out. 
 
 I think now that I have written and delivered all 
 things perfpicuoufly and clearly : He that cannot 
 comprehend them, mull even let them alone as an 
 Afs muft; the Harp. 
 
 As concerning the fliarp Waters which are ufed a- 
 bout the Extracting of Gold out of the Minerals or 
 Oars, fo as the Gold may not bp loft that is in them, 
 but be conferved, and that with profit, there are fe- 
 veral ways that offer rhemfelves , amongft which we 
 have thought good to produce thefe following. 
 
 ^ }. The ways of Reducing 'volatile and fixt Gold unto 
 a body ^ out of the Edulcorating Waters ( fo called) 
 with -which she Gold aforefaid hath been ExtraBed 
 out of the Oars ; and aljo of ufcfully or profit ably 
 impro'ving the faid already ujed IVaten themfelves. 
 
 HE that defireth to enter upon the beft way, may 
 pour into the Solution of the Gold, or into the 
 Water containing the diffolved Gold, a Solution of 
 Silver or Lead, and in fuch a quantity as he ftiall 
 guefs the Gold is of, that is diffolved in the Water. 
 As for Example. 
 Suppofe there be two or three Lots [Lotones or 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 the Rain, and be expofed to the Air and Solar heat 
 and be moiftned with Urine, and it will in its leafbn 
 again yield Saltpeter, and will even keep doing the 
 lame for many following years, if it be dealt with- 
 all on the like manner. And fo even the very Acjua 
 Fortii it felf , which remained behind in the Oars, 
 will bring its benefit. The rcafbn of this manner of 
 Salt peter making is this, bccaufe the Acfua Fortis, or 
 Spirit of Nitre, is as it were the feed of Saltpeter,and 
 is ofthisnature,x'/:i.. when it is put among other Salts, 
 (like as when fome Vegetable feed is Ibwn in the 
 Earth,) it augments it felf thereby, and is multiplied, 
 even as the Seeds of Herbs are wont to doe. And 
 haply, hence came that old Proberb, o(fou>ing Salt, 
 which the unskilfull and ignorant mock at, laying. 
 How can it be pofllbiy done , that Salt fhould be 
 fown and multiplied , feeing the Rain can dilfolve it 
 and wafli it away ? Thefe foolifh ones did not know 
 either what Salt was to be fown, ortiow. Evident 
 it is, that even this is the fentence and opinion of 
 the ancient Philofophers, that even Salt may be fown 
 and multiplied in the manner of Vegetables. 
 N. B. Out of the extracted Oars or Minerals 
 
 likewife be diffolved fo many Lots of Silver or Lead 
 in Acfua Fortis, or thereabouts; which Solution is to 
 be (be it more or lefs) put to the faid water, and 
 to be well mixt by a ftrong fhaking it to and fro, till 
 it becomes like Milk. When it ftiall have fettled, it 
 muft be fliaken again,and thofe ftrong agitations muft 
 be feveral times repeated in an hours Ipace. Then 
 all being well fettled, the clear water is to be poured 
 off, and the grofter matter is to be put in a Filter, 
 that fo all the humidity may by diftillation [or filtra- 
 tion] be removed from the diffolved Lune, or diffol- , 
 ved Lead, and the Metals ihemfelves may afterwards 
 by reduftion be reduced into their priftine body, by 
 fjjch an help as we will prefently teach 
 
 JV. B. If the Silver or the Lead ftiould not have 
 extraded all theGold out of the Water, or drawn ic 
 to themfelves, which may cafily happen, yet not- 
 withftanding there is not any lofs of the fame. For, 
 becaufe the A<jua Regia being debilitated by pouring 
 plenty of water thereupon is rendred unfit to ex- 
 tract any Oar anew, there may be poured into that 
 edulcorating Water our of which the Gold is already 
 drawn by the Solution of Silver or Lead, a fharp [or 
 
 ftrong] 
 
424 
 
 The Fifth Fart of 
 
 Part I. 
 
 ftrpng] L2.\7w«wmadeofWood-afhcsandC«/x-w-je,| If ( in the feparating) the matter be turned bv 
 iind lendred a little fliarpcr by a little Liquor of 1 the blaft of Bellows into Litharge, it is not needfuU 
 
 Flints. For the Flints doe precipitate all the Gold out 
 of the Solutions. And now the J^ita Rcgia being 
 kill'd by the Lixiv:t:m, lets fall every Metal that it 
 has in it, whether it be onely Gold, or Copper, or 
 Iron, in the form of a yellcrw Powder : This Pow- 
 der is to be dne(,l, and to be reduced after that man- 
 ner which I told«ftou but now, that I would teach. 
 
 The fame Gold may likewile be gotten out of the 
 Jcjtia- Rtgta C firft debilitated by Common water) 
 very commodioully by a Solution of Mercury or 
 Quickfilvcr put thereinto ; The Mercury abides in 
 the A<^,ua Reg!.}, and the Gold falls to the bottom 
 like a tender fine Powder, which being wafht and 
 made corporeal by rcduftion will be 14 Carradts 
 fine. And as fnr getting the Mercury out of the A- 
 cjua Rcgia, it is not to be better done than by pour- 
 ing thereinto a (harp Lmvitim, by which the Mer- 
 cury is conftrained to fall down to the bottom like a 
 yellow Powder, which is protirable for fiich-like pre- 
 cipitations. The J^ua Regia and the Lixivium lerve 
 for to make Salt peter withall. 
 
 The Edulcorating-water out of which all the Me- 
 tals are already reduced [or precipitated] being boil'd 
 in Coppers, till a skin appesr at top, and then pour- 
 ed out into other Coppers or wooden Velfels, yield 
 excellent Salt-peter, fit- for the diftillation of Jqua 
 Fortis for a new Operation. He that is skilTd in 
 managing this work' will get as much Salt-peter as 
 will pay thecofts of the ylejua Fortts ; infomuch, that 
 the Gold is extracted without any cofts. For five or fix 
 pound of A'^iia Fortis, which holds in it two or three 
 pound of dillblved Salt,and is precipitated with a fharp 
 Lixivium of Calx-njive yields about fome ten pounds 
 of Salt peter : and this will certainly anlwer the price 
 of the Water or Acjua Fortts ; and fo you will have 
 Gold extracted out of the Stones without expence 
 or charges. 
 
 5:|. Another and better "way of getting out the Gold that 
 IS Extracted vtit of the Oars, out of the AquaFortis. 
 
 MAke, by Calcination, (bme Afiies, of one part 
 of Tin, and four parts of Lead, and put them 
 in an Iron-pot, whereto pour the extrafted Gold, or 
 the Aqua Fcrtis containing the Gold, boil it and con- 
 tinually fi:ir the Calx with an Iron rod, that fo all 
 the fliarp Spirits may cleave to the Lead and Tin 
 afhes, and the Phlegm onely may exhale. After 
 that the faid Calx of the Metals hath concen- 
 trated all the Spirits, and is become wholly dry, let 
 it be taken out, and be caft upon Coals in a lecret 
 Melting-pot or Crucible, in which operation the fire 
 forcethout all the Spirits into the Recipient, which 
 aic to be again made ufe of for new Extradions. 
 The volatile Gold, and which is mixt with Iron, ad- 
 heres to the Calx of the Metals, and is to be reduced 
 in the Furnace which the Germans call Stichofen ; 
 whereby the Lead impregnated with the Gold, and 
 exalted by it, is gotten, which by Reparation yields 
 the Gold and Silver. 
 
 N. B. If that Lead fliould not contain Gold e- 
 nough as to_ be worth the while of feparating it on 
 the Cupel |_or TeftJ it is to be again commixt with 
 Tin, and be reduced into Aflies , and by this Calx 
 are new Fxtraiftions to be Concentrated, that (b by 
 the fo many repeated Labours, the Lead is at length 
 made rich enoui^h, and yields (by feparation) a good 
 portion of Gold and Silver. 
 
 to melt fuch a deal of Lead on the Tefts, which 
 would require fb much fire. But however, it is a 
 thing fealable for the Gold to be gotten out of [or 
 by] the Tefts without melting, which Ihall be taught 
 afterwards. 
 
 55. HovJ (7w Aqua Regia ix eafly acquired for the 
 Extrailien of Stones. 
 
 FOrafmuch as Spirit of Salt may be had in great 
 quantity, you need onely dilfolve fome Salt- 
 peter therein , and this Solution is to be ufed to ex- 
 tract the Minerals withall. For the Spirit of Salt 
 being made ftronger by the Salt peter, doth readily 
 and willingly leize upon the tender Gold that is in 
 the Stones. And as for the Spirit of Salt, it may 
 be u(ed as it comes over in the firft diftillation with- 
 out any rettification. 
 
 56. An eafer way of getting an Aqua Regia ufefuU 
 for extraction. 
 
 Becaufe that thefe Operations do always bring 
 forth Silver impregnated with Gold, and that 
 A>jua Fortts is requifite to make the Separation of 
 them; the Solution of Silver may be uled, and fo 
 the labour of the aforefaid incineration be omitted. 
 Into the Aqua. Regia wherewith you have extracted 
 the Gold, pour in a Solution of Silver, and it will 
 fifli out the greateft part of the Gold out of the y^^. 
 Reg. and is, [viz,, the Af.Reg?^ to be afterwards 
 made uleof to a new extraction, and be again diveP 
 ted of its extra<fted Gold by a Solution of Silver. In 
 want of a Solution of Silver, the extrad is to be con- 
 centrated with the Afhes of Lead, and you muftpro- 
 ceed (by driving off the Spirit out of the Afhes, and 
 by reducing the fame Afhes in a Furnace,) after the 
 fame manner as we taught you but now in our lore- 
 going direftions. 
 
 N. B. You are here to note, that the Aq. Fort. 
 which containeth in it the diflblved Silver, and is 
 poured into the Acj. Reg.ov nitrous Spirit of Salt, 
 doth add an encreafe unto thefe fame Waters. For 
 the Acf. Fort, doth corroborate the Spirit of Salt far 
 better than Salt-peter doth. 
 
 57. How the Silver (wherewith the Gold has been fcpa- 
 rated out of the Aq. Regia) is to be gotten [or redu- 
 ced^ cut of its Calx. 
 
 After that the Solution of the Silver being poured 
 into the Aqua Regia,hath extrafted the greateft part 
 of the Gold ; the Aqua Regia is to be poured off clear 
 from the Silver remaining in the bottom , and is to 
 be ufed about new ExtratHiions. But if fb be ic 
 fhould yet contain Iron in it, it muft be concentra- 
 ted by Lead-afhes. The white Calx of Silver is to 
 be put upon fbme Cloth over a gla(s or ftone Vef- j 
 fcl, and fb is to be freed from the remaining Aqua ■ 
 Regia, which will drop from it ; and by pouring on 
 of warm water, it mult be altogether rid of the ^qua 
 Regia, which as yet adheres thereunto. This done, 
 your Linnencloth being ftrong and three double , 
 the Common water ij to be fqueezed ftrongly there- 
 out of, and the Calx it felf laid by, to dry ; whrch 
 may afterwards be reduced in the Secret Crucible , 
 or be ufed about a Cementation of Lapis Calaminaris 
 into Gold and Silver. 
 
 ;8, How 
 
Part I. 
 
 the ?rofperit) ^/Germany. 
 
 425 
 
 38 How the fatd Calx of Silver is te be reduced 
 ■without any hfs of ns weight, and without any De- 
 triment. 
 
 Forafmudi as this white Calx of Silver is made fb 
 very volati'e by the Salts, as that it cannot be redu- 
 ced at all in the common melting Pots or Crucibles 
 without gicat Dcnimenr, there is no way of preven- 
 ting that lofs more coinmodiouny than this which 
 follows. 
 
 Mix this filvery Ci/.v with an equal weight of a 
 Sal Alkali, and caft it into the fecret red hot Cru- 
 cible, wider at bottom and narrower at the top, the 
 which you niuft cover with its Cover made of the 
 Lute of Wiledom. By this means will the Calx melt, 
 nor will it lofe any thing by fume, nor will it pene- 
 trate into the meltmg Pot or Crucible: and (b the 
 Silver impregnated with the Gold will be conferved 
 without hurt, which being granulated the Gold may 
 be feparated by A/]. Fortis : Now this very Solution 
 of the Silver by the Ae^. Fortu, may be again ulcd to 
 gather [orfeparatej m.ire new extracted Gold, and 
 io will afterwards produce the Silver to be reduced 
 the fame way we inftrutled thee, and ib give thee 
 a perpetual Separatory Operation of Gold and Sil- 
 ver, which may every where be exerciled with a 
 great deal of profit. 
 
 39 Another way teaching to reduce fugacious Silver with 
 greater frrft. 
 
 Put upon the Rudder of thy Silvery Ship, the lit- 
 tle Fifh called Remora, that (6 it may be freed from 
 its fpeedy flight, and abide quiet. Melt thy faid Ship 
 together wirh the Remura that fits on the Rudder in 
 the fecret four fquare melting Pot, in which melting 
 together, there is not onely recovered all the Silver 
 without any Derrimenr, bur it doth alfo get an in- 
 creafe of its weight, out of the white Briftles or Fins 
 of the little Fifh, and becomes enriched with Gold 
 by its Bloud : fo that this Additament yields (in the 
 Reduclion) a greater quantity of better Silver than 
 other Additamcnts do. But as concerning other 
 Commodities or Benefits that this fugacious Silver 
 beftows, it fhall (God willing; be taught after- 
 wards. 
 
 Thus much was I willing at prefent to teach and 
 reveal, concerning the extracting of volatile Gold 
 out ofStones and the poorer Oars, and of a fuccef 
 five graduating ot Silver into Gold. There (hall be 
 more taught ellcwhere. 
 
 40 A gainfull cxtra^icn out of the poor Oars or Mine- 
 ra's ofSilvir and Copper, by the moiji way. 
 
 Thefe Minerals or Oars are to be dealt with after 
 the lame way as we fhowed above about the Mine- 
 ra's of Gold, viz. they are to be heated red hot, 
 quenched, and ground with Millftone":, and be 
 raoiftned with Ai^na Foms, and to be extraded af- 
 ter the like manner as the Oars or Minera's of Gold 
 are, all the difference being onely in the Waters ; 
 for Atjua Regis is to be uled to extract: the Gold 
 with, and Afta Fonts for the extraction of the Sil- 
 ver. If theretore there be the Mineras of Gold and 
 Silver at hand, the Gold is to be extracted by A<]ua 
 Regis, and the Silver by A'^u-i Fortis ; and both the 
 Solutions are to be mixt together, in which mixion 
 the Silver precipitates to the bottom in the A'jna Re- 
 
 gis, and withall fifheth out the Gold out of the A^u.t 
 Regis. ' 
 
 Neither is it here any impediment if the Oar of 
 Silver fhould alfb contain Copper in it, which will be 
 extrarted together with the A^ua Fortis. For the 
 Silver and Gold fall down to the bottom, and the 
 Copper abides in the A^^ua Rcgia, which is again fit 
 to extracft more Gold withall, and mav indeed be 
 ufed as ir.any times as any one flial! pleafe. The 
 Copper it felf is extracted out of the Acjua Regis by 
 Iron Plates, but they tinge t\\(',r4']'i.'i Regis with a 
 vellow colour, and therefore nruke it altogether un- 
 fit for any farther labours of this kind. Better is it 
 therefore to concentrate it upon the Afhes of Lead, 
 that lb that fpiritual Lon in the A'^ua R^^ts, may 
 convert (ome of the Lead into Gold by Gradation, 
 and the Ai^ua Regu it felf having been fo often ufed 
 may be yet again ufed. 
 
 41 Another far eafier way of plentifully extraHingGold 
 and Silver out of the poor Mmera's or Oars, Sand and 
 Clay, and the like Minerals without the Fire of mel- 
 ting. 
 
 Fill a Glafs Cucurbit, or one made ofthebeft 
 Earth, and e.xcellently well luted a little more than 
 half full, with the Minera, Sand, or Stones con- 
 taining in them, fugitive and fix Gold, and hereup- 
 on -pour as much of the following Menjhnum as is 
 fufficient to moiften them ; then prefently put on an 
 Alembick (for alToon as ever the difTolving Water is 
 poured on the Oars or Minera's, it prefently works 
 and fumes) and draw off therefrom (in Sand) all 
 the humidity by Diflillation : that ib in the diftilling 
 the Gold it felf may be dillblved, and the Ac^ua Re- 
 gis It felf may by Diftillation be recovered ; which is 
 again profitable for a new Operation, as we fhall tell 
 you by and by. All the moifture being drawn off, 
 let the Cucurbit cool in the Sand, and then take it 
 out,and pur infbmeWater,thatthc xMincra'sand Salt 
 may befoftned. Now extract very carefully and dili- 
 gently, all theSaltoutof the Oar, in which faidSaltis 
 the Gold that is extracfted out of the Oars or Minera's 
 and boil it up into a red Salt, to which muft be ad- 
 ded fome Litharge, and fo muff be molten in fuch 
 Pots as will not break. The Litharge will imbibe all 
 the Gold, which how it is to be feparated from the 
 Lead, we will prefently teach in the following dif- 
 courfe. 
 
 4t The preparation of the IVater neceffary to tins ex- 
 trail ton. 
 
 For the extraction of Gold, Salt is to be diflblved 
 in A^ua Fortu, and for the extrac1:ion of Silver, you 
 muft dilTolve Salt-peter in Aciua Foms. With thefe 
 Waters, of which you may furnifli your felf with 
 plenty without any great labour, moilten the Oars 
 and then diftill them off again from the faid Oars, 
 and they will be always fit for fuch like Operations, 
 infbmuch that you need never to make new Waters. 
 Nay more, in all the feveral Operations and Extrac- 
 tions of the Oars, they will be more and more aug- 
 mented, fo that if thou ufeft but at firlt no more 
 than two pounds of the fame Waters, they may fuf- 
 fice thee for infinite extractions. 
 
 A^. R. By this means, all the Gold, how little Ib- 
 ever, may be extracted by thee out of all Flints 
 Sand, and other Minerals without any expcnces 
 the Fire onely excepted. 
 
 R r r r r This 
 
A?i Appendix to the Fifth Van of Part I. 
 
 Thisalfois expedient for nie here to fliow, that 
 (ometimes there are to be found fugacious Minera's 
 of Gold, and coloured flints which are fufficiently 
 rich with Gold, and are painted as •twere with deli- 
 cate colours, 'VIZ.. green, sky-Cf'loui:, and red : but 
 in the heating them red hot, tM'e colours vanifh, 
 and leave the Flints white. Such as thele admit not 
 of heating red hot, like as others do, which retain 
 their colours in a red hot Fire. Therefore fuch muft 
 be reduced into Powder without any previous hea- 
 ting red hot, and you muft extrad them [as they 
 are"] that fo the \. Vtile Gold may be attradled^by 
 the Acjua Regis, which ftid Gold being abftracled 
 [again] by the Aflies of Lead commits it felf to [or 
 imbibes it (elfin] the did Alhcs, which are to be re- 
 duced by the lielp of the lecret Crucible ; in which 
 Reduction, the Gold becomes corporeal and admits 
 of being feparated from the Lead with profit. 
 
 N. B. Such Stones may like wife be mixed with 
 the fharp coagulated Spirits, and thefe [Spirits] may 
 be forced over by a Retort: For ro,thc fugitive Spirits 
 of the Salts carry over with them the Volatile Gold, 
 and make a very excellent Gradatory-water, tranl- 
 muting fugitive Mercury into Gold, with greater pro- 
 fit than if this very volatile Gold had been made 
 Corporeal with Lead. 
 
 This fecret is none of the leaft of th jfe which teach 
 the Extradlion of Gold out of colour'd Flints or 
 Stones. 
 
 Such a volatile Gold may alio pafs into other Me- 
 tals by gentle Cementations, and lb become fix, and 
 will bring no fmail profit, nay rather^ a greater be- 
 nefit than if it were gotten out by fufion. In fuch 
 Cementations, the volatile Gold hath time of getting 
 a body with the other Metals, and of acquiring a 
 fixity, and is as it were a golden Seed, which aug- 
 n^.cnts it felf into Gold, in, or out of the Metallick 
 Earth. 
 
 4?- 
 
 Another Water to ExtraU Gold and Silver withall. 
 
 For Gold, let Salt ; for Silver, let Salt-peter be 
 diflbWed in the Water [or Aijua Fortis^ and let be 
 thereto added as much Oil of Vitriol as half the Salt 
 is you put. This Water extradeth Gold and Silver 
 out of the poor Minera's Sand and Stones, and re- 
 quireth the fame operation as the precedent ones doe. 
 It is likewife augmented even to infinity, infomuch, 
 that Gold and Silver may be extraded out of the 
 poor Mines without Colls, if you except but the fire. 
 
 N. B. Oil of Sulphur does the lame that Oil of 
 Vitriol doth, and therefore may it ferve inftead there- 
 of in fuch Extradions of Gold and Silver. 
 
 41. Another fur eaficr way of flentifuUy ExtracHng 
 Geld and Stiver out of the poor Mineras or Oars , 
 with very little or in a manner no Cofls at all. 
 
 M\^ the Oars of Mldera's with their due Waters, 
 and therevt'ithall fill fmal! Pots or Crucibles made of 
 the beft Earth, which put near one another in a great 
 Iron pot. Put an Alembick upon the Pot, and draw 
 clF the Spirits by diftillation, which [Spirits] will re- 
 quite all thy disburfements, and will lb give thee 
 Cold Gratis, which you are to wafli out of the Oars 
 with Water, and gee it [or corporifie] hy Saturn. 
 
 45. Another yet eajter way. 
 
 Moiften the Oars with their due Waters, call them 
 
 in by little and little upon the live Coals, and that 
 in (uch a manner as we taught thee about diftiiling | 
 Spirit of Salt. By this Diftillation the Spirits pals i 
 into the receiving Veffels, and the Gold and Silver 
 are dilfolved and flay behind with the Snl Mtrabdts^ 
 and is to be wallit out of the Oars with Water, antl 
 to be molten with Saturn. Thus is gotten the Gold 
 and Silver that was in the Mineras or Oars, withr 
 out any expences, and the Spirits quit all the Cofts. 
 
 46. Raw Gold and Silver may fkntiftdly be extracted 
 out of Fat Clay. 
 
 Although that the Extradion of Gold and Silver 
 by moift waters is a fordid operation, as was afore- 
 faid at the beginning, yet is it not done without pro- 
 fit ; becaufe the Gold and Silver may be gotten out 
 of the Waters by precipitation, and of the uled Wa- 
 ters may Salt-peter be made. But now the cafe is 
 far otherwife with fat Clay, for that, it being fat, the 
 Spirits hide themfelves therein, that the one half 
 thereof can hardly be recovered 'unlefs liich an F^rth 
 be freed of its fatnefs by heating it red-hot : and this 
 requires fbmc labour to effetl it. 
 
 But feeing that in all placesof the World, where- 
 fbever any Earth is, there is fiich a kind of Earth, 
 and that in no Imall quantity, that contains Gold 
 and Silver : and there hath not as yet been any bo- 
 dy that hath endeavour'd to reduce it to any profit, 
 and bring it into ufe, but efpecially when it contains 
 not in it fb much Gold and Silver as to defray the 
 charges of feparating it by Lead. But I have found 
 out a very eafie way of doing it with profit,' and I 
 think it my duty to difclofe that Artifice for the 
 publick good ; and it is thus : 
 
 Mix fuch an Earth as contains therein Gold and 
 Silver with the Water of Vitriol, which I have afore 
 defcribed, and make it up into balls fomewhat bigger 
 than ones fi(t, which throw orderly and by little and 
 little into my firft Furnace, or into my fecond difliU 
 latory Furnace, and draw otr the Spirit by Diftillati- 
 on. The diflblved Gold and Silver remaining in the 
 Sal-Mirabilis is to be extraded out of thofe balls bro- 
 ken fmall, with warm water, and to be reduced by 
 Lead, after the afore defcribed manner. 
 
 47. By what Artifice Gold may be plentifully and eafily 
 extracted out of Granates, Agates, Saphtres, Rubies, 
 Sandy or other hard Minerals ivhtch fuffer not them- 
 felves to be tamed neither with Lead, nor with jharp 
 Waters. 
 
 It is certain that all Granates, what Colour (bever 
 they are of, or what place Ibever you meet with them 
 in, whether you have them out of Rivers, or wafh 
 them out of Sand or fat Clay, or that you find them 
 in the high Mountains and Rocks ; they always con- 
 tain in them much Gold : but by reafcui of their 
 GlalTy nature, they cannot by any means be extrad- 
 ed with A^ua Fonts or ftrong Waters, nor can they 
 by reafbn of the hardnefs of their bodies fu/ion be 
 molten with Lead. Hence it is, that as hitherto they 
 have never been fo handled as to have their Gold ex- 
 traded out of them with profit, and therefore are 
 they negleded as unprofitable, unworthy, abjed, 
 and contemptible Minerals, whereas notwithftanding 
 it is a thing feafible for a man to enjoy their Gold 
 and Silver with a little labour, and as it were with- 
 out any trouble. But now what courfe muft we 
 cake to doe this, feeing they elude the fliarpeft 
 
 powers 
 
Part I. 
 
 the ?rofperit)' /;/^ Germany. 
 
 427 
 
 powers or efficacy of all ftrong or fhsrp Waters, 
 whereby their heart may be penetrated, and Gold 
 may be extraifted out of their bowels ^ I anfwer ; 
 Thev are to be overcome by Concentrated Spirits, 
 and which are reduced to the form of Salt, as al(o 
 by a fufile Salt of Lead, and be fo divefted of the 
 Gold they contain in them , and without this will 
 the victory over them hardly be obtained. Tor Spi- 
 rits being reduced to the form of Salt, doe abide the 
 fire moft patiently, and perform a double labour ; 
 one by their Acrimon}^ the other by a ftrong fire, 
 inlomuch that nothing can efcape their power , and 
 therefore all things are tamed and ILibdued by them, 
 and doe afterwards readily obey the virtues or power 
 of Saturnine Salt, and yield forth their Gold by in- 
 fion. 
 
 47. A Demonflratton, aboiie the reach of any Confuta- 
 tion , jhewing that more Gold and Silver may be got- 
 ten out of the Oars or Miner as of Gold and Silver, by 
 the hitherto prefcrib^d iiw/s, by jharp Waters or Salts, 
 and in a manner without Cofls, than is wont to be done 
 by many Expences^ and by the fire of Melting. 
 
 I believe it is not unknown to any one that is but 
 a little acquainted with the knowledge of the Mine- 
 ra's of Gold , that the Gold cannot be gotten out of 
 them without the addition of Lead, or the he!p of 
 fome matter rendring the fufion more eafie. And 
 now when fuch Oars contain bur little Gold , and 
 contrariwifc much Lead, or matters requifite to pro- 
 mote fufion are of necefllty to be thereto ufed, how 
 can it be, that that little portion of Gold or Silver 
 fliould i-ecompence or defray fijch great expences ? 
 Therefore fuch poorer Oars have hitherto lain as 
 caftaways, as being uncapable of bearing the Ex- 
 pences of feparation, and lb are not put to any ufe, 
 nor are at all profitable. 
 
 But admit that the Oars do contain as much Gold 
 and Silvei', as that the Cofts of melting may be re- 
 paid by them; yet fuch a fufion, compared with this 
 invention of mine of Extrading Gold and Silver with 
 Waters and Salt?, is as if you fhould compare Water 
 with Wine, or the night with the moft brightfome 
 day, which have no comparifon. 
 
 For, firft of all, the common melting of Metals is 
 accompanied with far greater Expences, than that 
 Extradion of mine with Salts, which verily needs 
 but a very little charge. Then farther, it can ne- 
 ver be, that all the Gold fhould be fo perfecftly Ex- 
 trafted out of the Oars, but that fome of the fame 
 will abide in the Scoria's ; befides, the volatile Go!d 
 and Silver, which muft nccellarily be blown off by 
 the vehement blaft of the bellows, and the acutenefs 
 of the fire, and fo be loft. 
 
 Now amongft all the conveniencies that arife from 
 the Extracting of Gold and Silver out of the poor 
 Mines, that is none of the meaneft, viz,, that not 
 onely all the fix Gold and Silver are conlerved by 
 the Salts, but alio the Volatile too, and this latter is 
 made fix and conftant in the fire, together with that 
 former fixt part, whereas by the Fufing fire it is all of 
 it loft. 
 
 -N". B. For the Waters of the Salts doe make the 
 volatile Spirits of Gold and Silver, and which other- 
 wile would vanifli away fix and conftant ; for by a 
 ftrong blaft and force of fire are they rendred yet 
 more fugacious. Hence comes it to pafs, that [there 
 is but the] one half part of that Gold extraded by 
 the fire of the ufual way of melting, that the Waters | 
 
 of Salts get out of the O.irs. Upon this account mv 
 Invention doth not onely yield this commodioufheis 
 as to get both the fix and volatile Gold and Silver to- 
 gether, without any detriment out of the Oars bur 
 alio gets not a little in fparin- Coals, (nor to menti- 
 on this, that one man does more in the Extraction 
 of Gold and Silver by Salts, than thiee men are wont 
 to doc in the coinmon way of Fjli'jn. 
 
 By what hath now been fald, it is evidently appa- 
 rent, what a deal of benefit and pr^ Tit this invention 
 will bring in all places of Germany}" For this Extrac- 
 tion may be ufed commodioufly and prohtab'v not 
 oncIy in all Minera's or Oars both 'rich and poor 
 ones, but alfb may be ufed in Extradting the Gold 
 and Silver out of all colour'd Flints, wherewith all 
 Rivers, Brooks and Fields do abound. 
 
 Bur fome or other may hajily fay here, by what 
 means can it poftibly be, that Gold and Silver fhould 
 be excradted out of the Stones that lie too and atJen 
 every where m the Streets .■' I anfwer fiich, thafiu- 
 decdit is very rare to find fix Gold and Silver in fuch 
 Stones, but yet they have in them a fpiritual, un- 
 ripe and volatile Gold, which is not onely made fix 
 and conftant in the extracti' n made by Salts, but 
 it doth likewifeturn f(;me of the Lead it felf that is 
 added in the fuling and feparating it into its own na- 
 ture by Graduation- Hence 'tis evident, that in all 
 places of the Terreftrial Globe wherefbever Stones 
 are, good Gold and Silver may be gotten with pro- 
 fir, by a little labour and finall cofts. Praife and 
 glory be eternally given to the moft bountifull Lord 
 God for fuch Inventions. Amen. 
 
 Thefc are the Secrets which I publickly demon- 
 ftrated and divulged [or communicated] in my La- 
 boratory, for the benefit of my Countrey. And I 
 do now again affirm and witnefs that if even the very- 
 bare Letter be obferved, no body can err. And if 
 fo be that arvy one fhould change this or that order 
 and fo think to better the Operations, and fhould' 
 err, let him not lay the fault upon me who have 
 Written the naked ttuth, but let him blame him- 
 felf 
 
 I had feveral other things ofno fmall moment, to 
 have fpoken to here at prefenr, the which I fhall 
 God v.;illing very fiiddenly difpatch in my fecond 
 Century, for the prefent time does not permit it. 
 
 And in the faid Century will I declare with a yet 
 clearer and eafier manifeftation, thofe Secrets here 
 difclofed, the which could not at prefent be done 
 becaufe of my too much haft. 
 
 And now I wifh to all the pious Students after 
 this fo great an Art, a large and plenteous blelling 
 from the mercifull Lord God, as to this fo very ex- 
 cellent a Work, that the poverty and want of abun- 
 dance of miferable People may be fupplied in many 
 places. Which if it be (as I hope it will) it will ex- 
 alt the honour and glory of the moft high, and will 
 encreafe the Profperity of the Countrey, and with- 
 all will check and keep under the moft bafe attempts 
 of mine Enemies. But ef[-)ecially if the counfel that 
 I have propofed in my firft Century, (viz.. that 
 every one may have liberty to exercife fuch Opera- 
 tions,) takes place This being granted, it cannot 
 be, but that Gold and Silver and Copper will every 
 where be gotten out of the Earth, with the help of 
 thefe my Writings, to the great profit and benefit cf 
 all the whole Countrey. 
 
 And 
 
^23 An - Append ix to the Fifth Fart of, &c. Part I . 
 
 And fo 1 conclude this (o much haftned Appendix, i time, I will cxprefs God willing in my fecond Cen- 
 wreSed from me occafionaliy by perverCe Men. turyw.th a dearer Explanation, and thither du 1 re- 
 Thofe things that I have not in Oich or fuch a place fer the well-minded Reader, 
 clearly and evidently enough exprefled for want of | 
 
 Vjc End of the Appendix. 
 
 -nc- 
 
 THE 
 
 SIXTH and Laft PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Profperity of GERMANY. 
 
 In which the Arcana s already revealed in the Fifth Part are 
 
 not oncly illuftrated with a clearer Elucidation 5 but alfo fuch are mani- 
 f efted as are moft highly neceflary to be known for the Defence of the 
 Country againll the T?irjis : Together with an evident Demonftration, 
 adjoyned [Ihewing] That both a particular and univerfal Tranfmutation of 
 the imperfed Metals into more perfedt ones by Salt and Fire is moft true 5 
 and withall, by what means any one that is endued with but a mean know- 
 ledge in managing the Fire, may experimentally try the truth hereof in 
 four and twenty hours fpace. 
 
 To the Friendly READER, Health. 
 
 Taught in the F'lrfl Tart how the over-alounding quantity of Wine and Corn is to he Concentra- 
 ted^ that it may abide uncorrupt for a very many years , and when necejfity requires it may be 
 an help to many in need. 
 
 hi the Second, Thirds Fourth and Fifth Parts I taught the Ext ration of hot h fix and unfix 
 Metals, to great profit, and almojl without any Cofis, out of the bodies of vile, poor Minerals and 
 Metallick Earths, which will not quit the Cofls of a Fufing-fire, and this to be done by no coflly Wa- 
 ters • and wit hall how to bring them into ufe, which no body afore-fne ever did. And did not I dif- 
 lurfe agreat deal of Monies in building a convenient Laboratory.^ in which I produced fuch mofl profi- 
 table things to the view of every one, and demonjlrated them to be true ? And what have I reaped 
 for thefe fc or eat benefits I have done, but a mo(i ungratefull cafling off their remembrance ? Have 
 not all the things I have taught been accufed of falftty and deceit both to the high and low^ by thofe 
 who havefo audacioufly dared to deny the Melioration of Metals by Fire and Salt ? Thefe have alfo 
 afferted, that the makinz^ of Salt-peter of Common Salt is altogether impojfthle j and they have affirm- 
 ed it to be a thing quite contrary unto nature, that Metals (houfl be gotten out of the poorer fort of 
 Ale tal lick Earths by the help of a Water made of Salt-peter j but yet that even this is mofl certainly 
 true, the Appendix of my Fifth Part, and my Second Century^ doe denwnflrate by indubitable Experi- 
 ments, Ana 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Vrofperitj ^/Germany, 
 
 42^ 
 
 And albeit that the three j aid Arcana's are evidently enough delivered and dejcrihed, fo as eve it 
 to he palpably felt by the hands of thofe that know how to manaze the Fire, yet notwithjiandini^ they 
 have brought but very little benefit as jyet, becaufe that although they are mofl true , yet are they 
 contemned and dlj regarded by unskllfull Men, out of meer Envy and mojl perverfe hatred, and doe 
 even yet Jluk In contempt. 
 
 However, not regarding thefe [hafe dealings'] and that I may mete them all things in full meafure 
 I have a mind yet farther to detetl fome fecrets, by which there may redound to the Country very no- 
 table fruits •• And that not onely by converting the many Mctalllck Earths that contain In them Gold 
 and Silver, and which have not hitherto been profitable to any unto a galnfull and a beneficial ufe • 
 lilt alfo by defending the Country agalnfl the mofl dangerous Invafion of the Turks, who are the Capi- 
 tal Enemies of the whole Chrlfl Ian World, and that by fojlrong and efficacious a defr--e, as never any 
 mortal man did yet contrive the like of. 
 
 As to what belongs to Mineral Treafures, I have exhibited a fufficiently clear and manlfefl defer Ip^ 
 tlun of them In the fecor,d, third, fourth and fifth Fart of the Profperlty of Germany, and alfo In 
 the Appendix to the fifth Part, and In the fecund Century. But yet there Is nothing fo perfect and 
 abfolute but that In procejs of time there may he added and adjoyned thereto fame new things and 
 fomewhat of perfection : VVltnefs my Inflrument which I mentioned In the fecond Century, by the help 
 of which, Gold, Silver and Copper are eafily and plentifully extracted out of their Metallick Earths 
 and that on fuch wife, iL> that there are requlfite no other Cofts hut the bare Charges of the fire. And 
 farther, this way would bring no fmall profit even from thofe Metallick Earths ivhlch are ranked a- 
 mongfl the poorejl fort of Oars ; If it were well known, and exerclfed In many places, there would flow 
 thence from mojl mighty profit throughout *?// Germany, and the Jald Inflrument would by Its affifiance 
 wonderfully promote the fame. 
 
 For although I have heretofore publlfht feveral ways of preparingfharpWaters, and of extracting 
 the Metals with them out of the poor Minerals-, ( and yet even thefe ways bring no defplcable gain) 
 yet they perform not that which is won't to he accomplljhed by the help of the f aid Inflrument. For this 
 Inflrument ferves not onely to extrad thofi fharp Waters in a greater quantity, but Is alfo far fitter 
 and more convenient for the Extraction even of the Metals themf elves out of their Earths, and for 
 the feparatlon of the Dlfftlving MenRruum from the Metals, than thofe Glafs Feffels are, which have 
 Been commonly ufed about this Operation. 
 
 Therefore it much concerns him that employs himfelf about thefe kind of Operations, well and tho^ 
 roughly to know its Vfe. I made indeed fome mention of the fame in my Second Century, but yet 
 not fo clearly as for any one thoroughly to underfland its ZJfe by what I there fpake. Therefore I 
 have thought It expedient to give here fomewhat a clearer and more perfplcuous defer Iption of the 
 fame, that fo I may not fee m to, he at all wanting in my diligence unto any one, but may be f aid to 
 have done all things with a due candour and opennefs. 
 
 "The Defcription of the Inflrument, ferving for the plen- 
 tifully fiefaring of Spirits, and for the eafie extraili- 
 on of Metals out of their Oars , without much 
 Coft. ■■■■ 
 
 THis Inflrument is to be made of good Earth, that 
 can fuftain both the Fire and the Spirits ; Me- 
 tal? are unprc^firabie to make it with, becaufe they 
 doe not long refifl the Corrofion of the Spirits : But 
 now, that the faid Inftrument may the longer abide 
 in the Fire, its ourfide fuperficies muft be fenced with 
 Iron bonds. This Earthen Velfel therefore muft be 
 made of fuch an Earth as abides the violence: of the 
 Fire, and refifteth the Corrofivity of the Spirits, fo 
 as that it breaks not nor chaps with too much heat, 
 nor be corroded and eaten thorough by the Corro- 
 ding Spirits. Such Earths there are enough of too 
 and agen in Germany. Moreover, this faid Inftru- 
 ment may be made greater or leller, according as 
 you are minded to prepare a greater or leller quan- 
 tity of Spirits ; But however, it muft not be made 
 too big, for then ( if it exceeds a due magnitude) it 
 will not abide the lire fo well. Therefore is it necef- 
 fary to have leveral of thefe Inftruments made, if a 
 man be minded to make at one and the fame time a 
 great quantity of Spirits. But if any be minded to 
 ftt about tlii? Operation fo as to have huge quantities 
 
 of Spirits, it will be his beft way to have his Inftru- 
 ment made of Iron plates, fuch as the Armourers ufe, 
 and to ftrengthen them with Iron rods,and fb fence it 
 both lin the infide and on the outfidg every-where 
 with Lute or ftrong Clay. For by this means 
 the Inftrument being made of a fufficient bignefs for 
 the work you would put it to,will in its inward fuper- 
 ficies hold the Corroding Spirits, and in its outward 
 fuperficies undergo the violence of the fire without 
 detriment, and be far more commodious than fo ma* 
 ny Uttle Inftruments that are made onely of Earth. 
 
 Of the Form and Figure of this Inftrument. 
 
 TH E matters out of which the fliarp Spirits are to 
 be drawn, are not to be put nakedly in [as I 
 may fay] into the Inftrument it fe!f, but are to be 
 put in fome ftrong Earthen-pots and fb put in, that 
 after the Spirits are diftilled off they may be again 
 taken forth, and other Pots filld with new matter 
 may be put in, in their room; and this to be fo often 
 done as need requires 
 
 And feeing the Salts that kVe to be diftilled are 
 not put naked into the Inftrument, but are put in, in 
 Earthen- pots ; the Inftrument muft necefTarily be fo 
 prepared, as that thofe Pots may be put in as often 
 as need is , and be again taken forth , when the 
 S r 1" f f Diftillatj- 
 
430 
 
 The Sixth and Laft Part of 
 
 Part I 
 
 Diftillation is done, and new ones be put in, in their 
 
 Head. 
 
 The Inftrument therefore muft be of a like big- 
 nefs both above and below, and 'tis no matter to 
 have it much exceed the heighth of your Pots you 
 
 One fide of it muft have a Door to put in the Pots 
 -at and to take them out again, the which Door 
 muft be made to fhut handfbmly after your putting 
 in and taking forth. 
 
 To the other fide muft be fitted a Pipe fomewhat 
 large by whic^ rhe Spirits may have a paflage forth 
 into the Receivei. And the Inftrument muft be on 
 iuch wife placed in the Furnace, as that the Door 
 and Pipe may lie without the faid Furnace. To 
 the Pipe muit be added another Leaden Pipe, twi- 
 ning round like a Serpent, and therefore is by the 
 Chymift-s called a Serpent [or a Worm:] the which 
 mu'ft be fet in a Velfel full ot Water, that fo the Spi- 
 rits pairing out may be cooled and be caught in the 
 Recipient. 
 
 of the ufe of the Inftrument. 
 
 Thus much may at prefent (iiffice to be fpoken 
 concerning the preparation of (harp Waters necdfuil 
 for the extracftion of Metals out of the Oars. The 
 preparation [or Operation] it felf follows. 
 
 Hovj Metals are to be extracted out of their Earthier 
 Oars, by the help of this Inftrument. 
 
 THE 
 ta 
 
 WHEN you will diftill your Spirits, you muft 
 put thereinto fo many Pots filled with your 
 prepared Salts as your Inftrument can hold, then 
 clofe the Door well, and put Fire in the Furnace. 
 This done, the Spirits will afcend out of the Pots 
 thus heated in the Inftrument, and finding no other 
 out-let but by the Pipe and Worm, they will enter 
 into them, and being there cooled will rundown in- 
 to the Receiver. You fhall know if all the Spirits 
 are forced out of the Salts or not, when they ceafe 
 xo flow out through the Worm into the Recipient. 
 Which when you fliall perceive, you muft open your 
 Door and take out the Pots in order, and then put 
 in new, that fo the Diftillation may be continued on 
 without any delaying. But now, thofe Pots that 
 are to be put a new into the Inftrument, muft be fet 
 nigh the Furnace a while, that they may grow hot : 
 for elle being put in cold, they would not brook 
 the fudden heat, but chap and break. When 
 all the Spirits are diftilled off, then you may put in 
 other new Pots in the room of them you took out, 
 and the Operation is to be fo long and fo often re- 
 peated as need ftiall require, or as any one has a 
 mind to do. The Salts that remain behind in the 
 Pots you take out, are to be moiftned and macera- 
 ted with fome Phlegm or weak Spirit, and they do 
 again, fometimes emit Spirits by Diftillation, but 
 yet not in fuch quantity as at firft they did. 
 
 This is that way of preparing (harp Waters ufe- 
 fuU for the extradlions of Copper and Gold. But as 
 for Jma Fonts requifite for the extrafting of Silver, 
 it cannot be prepared by this fame Inftrument, be- 
 caufe it will corrode the Worm or Leaden Pipe, if it 
 fhould pa(s through it, which the Spirit of Salt and 
 Jaua Regis do not do. 
 
 N. B. When therefore you would make an A<j. 
 Fortisy you muft make you another twining Pipe or 
 Worm of fome other Metal which will not be prey- 
 ed on by thiAe^ua Fort IS, or el(e fet fome other Stone 
 Vefl'cls to the Nofe of the Pipe that goes out of the 
 Furnace. 
 
 it is alfo a thing pofllble to be done, to make fuch 
 ftrong Acetum of Corn and Honey by the addition 
 of (bme Salts, as that it ftiall not onely extraft Gold 
 and Silver, but alio Copper and Lead out of metal- 
 lick Veins or Earths. 
 
 preparing or fitting of the Minera's or me- 
 tallick Earths for extra(n:ion, hath been defcri- 
 bed in the Appendix of the fifth part, and therefore 
 needs not be repeated here. 
 
 But as we there ftiowed, that the roafted [or cal- 
 cined] and powdered Oars were to be put'into Gla(s 
 or Stone Cucurbits, that (b they might be moiftned 
 with the (harp Waters, and be macerated [fetting 
 the Cucurbits] in warm Sand ; fo the very lame 
 thing is to be done here, this onely excepted, that 
 [w?,.] the earthen Pots flipply the place of GlaJs 
 and Stone Cucurbits, and the Inftrument it felf in 
 which the extraction is made, performs the office of 
 Sand : After the cxtradtion, the Water impregnated 
 with the extracted Metals is poured off, and the re- 
 maining matter it (elf is wafht by pouring common 
 Water thereupon, after fuch a manner as hath been 
 prefcribed in the Appendix of the fifth parr. 
 
 By What means the Metals extraEled by the dtft'olvmg 
 Water out of the Oars are to he fefarated from that 
 fame JJiarp IVater without any Detriment , nay rather 
 "With an at*gmentntion ofthefatd Water. 
 
 WE have taught in the Appendix of the fifth 
 part, that if a Man be not minded to preci- 
 pitate the Metals out of the Solution by the contra- 
 ries, 'VIZ.. by Alkalizate Liquors, then there is no 
 commodioufer and nearer way than that which fepa- 
 rates the diflblving Water from theextraded Metal, 
 by Diftillation in Glafs or earthen \'eircls. 
 
 If now any one is minded to encreafe his diflblving 
 Water in this (eparation he may be Mafter of his 
 defire by adding thereto common Salt, and drawing 
 off the Water from it, which faid Water will by this 
 means be encreafed and rendred ftronger. And 
 now there will come no inconvenience to the Metals 
 themfelves that are held up in that Water, in that 
 fome Salt remains with them, (no,) for in the redu- 
 cing them, the faid Salt gets them an eafier and rea- 
 dier Fufion and Flux. 
 
 But yet it is not neceflPary to leave the Salt with 
 the Metals, feeing it is better to (eparate it from the 
 Metals with common Water, and fo ufe it again to 
 the feme labours rather than let it be loft in the mel- 
 ting. 
 
 The ReduBion of the Metals from which the dijfolviag 
 Water is fefarated. ^ 
 
 ALbeit that that Redudion hath been already de- 
 fcribed in my lecond Century, yet I thought 
 it worth while here again to repeat the (ame in a 
 few words. 
 
 It is to be done two manner of ways, and that 
 partly in Crucibles, and partly in the melting Fur- 
 nace which the Germans call Sttchofen. The pure 
 Metals, as the Gold and Silver are wont to be molten 
 and reduced in Crucibles : the Copper may be re- 
 duced in the faid Furnace, and needs nothing to be 
 added about its Redudion. But for the reducing 
 of Gold and Silver, fix Salts, the Gla(s of Lead, Bo- 
 rax 
 
Part I. 
 
 the Vrofperity ^/Germany. 
 
 431 
 
 rax and other additions of that kind, (of which we 
 have made mention in the (econd Century) may be 
 made ule of And as touching the addition of thofe 
 matters which are wont to be ufed to promote the 
 ealier Fufion, this is primarily to be regarded, whe 
 ther or no the Vletals are pure and alone [by them- 
 felves] or elfc have other Metals mixt with them, 
 that (Jo acordingly) convenient additions may be 
 applied. For if the Gold (hould alfo have Copper 
 or Iron in it, then there cannot be any better thing 
 added than Antimony, which reduceth the Gold by 
 one and the lame labour [or OperatiotiJ and alio 
 Separates the Copper and Iron therefrom , which 
 thing, other (uch like matters that are ufed to make 
 the Fufion the eafier, do not j^erform. Therefore it 
 is necelFary that he who would fet himfelf about fuch 
 Operations, do well underftand the Artifice of a 
 metallick Fufion, and fo adminifter or order his la- 
 bours by adding or taking from, according as the 
 fubject requires and as is beft. It is impofllble to 
 prelcribe fuch things to any one in fuch a manner as 
 to make him prelently underftand, learn, and imi- 
 tate the fame. 
 
 Some other tfianual Operations which are needfull to be 
 known m the nfe of this Infirument and which ma) 
 be exercifed. 
 
 Flrft of all, it would be no Imall or mean Compen- 
 dium, [or good Contrivance] ifthis fame Inftru 
 ment were compofed of two or three parts, taking 
 for the lowermoft part a broad Iron Pot, and fo to 
 fet on the upper part with its Door and Pipe thereto 
 annexed. And becaufe the bottoms of the Iron Pots 
 do a little bow rounding, and that yet notwithftan- 
 ding the Pots you put therein may not ftand leaning 
 or awry, the bottom is to be made level with calci 
 ned AUum , that fo the Pots put in upon that 
 may ftand upright. From hence likewife arifeththis 
 Commodity too, that if your Pots fhould chance to 
 break, and the dilTolvent run out, it would not be 
 fo loft but would lodge it (elfin the burnt Allum, 
 and may eailly be recovered in the preparation of the 
 fharp Waters and be applied to ufe. 
 
 Secondly, the Inftrument may likewife be fo pre 
 pared, as that the Pots may be put thereinto by 
 taking off the upper part, and then the Pots being 
 put in, the upper part murt be adjoyned again to 
 the nether part, and [fo] be again covered with its 
 Cover ; for being thus, there needs not the Door in 
 the fide to put the Pots in by. 
 
 N. B. There muft be fome Notch or Channel like 
 wife fitted to the top of that upper part, which be- 
 ing filled with Sand may receive in it the Cover, and 
 fo prevent the outlet of the Spirits that way, by 
 means of its tight fhutting ; as we have taught in 
 the (econd part of the Furnaces. The Inftrument 
 prepared on this wi(e, will haply be more commodi- 
 ous to many Men, than if it had a Hole or Door in 
 the fide. But every Man may choo(e cither this or 
 the other way, which he pleafeth 
 
 Thus have I now taught, and opened the ufe of 
 my more fecret way of eafily preparing the (harp 
 Spirits of Salts in great quantity, and the manner of 
 dealing about the Extradlion of Metals out of the 
 poorer metallick Earths : Avvay (I (ay) moft eafie 
 to do fuch great things, and which was never as yet 
 known unto the World. 
 
 But yet I doubt not but that the Metals will for 
 the time to come be plentifully and very profitably 
 
 extraded (and fo applied to common ufe) by the 
 help of this Artifice and Inftrument, out of the poor- 
 er Minera's which contain in them Go'.d, Silver, and 
 Copper, and which will not quit the cofts of the 
 Fire ; and forafinuch as by the help of this Inftru- 
 ment, the (harp Spirits of Salts may be gotten eufily 
 and in large quantity, not onely for the Extrattion 
 of the Minerals, but al(b for the concentrating of 
 moift Fires, and feeing that wonderfull things may 
 be done by the help of tho(e Fires , I do therefore 
 commend it to the Studious '"*' Art, as a thing of 
 better efreem than ordinary, and have fufficicnt rea- 
 fon of(b doing. For to omit the faying, that thofe 
 cold Fires do give an excellent Magnet for Water or 
 Ice, they do alfo abound with fijch virtue as by 
 which they can ripen and better tlie Metal's ; the 
 which we will make a larger defcription of, in what 
 follows. 
 
 Befides too, there may haply be effeifted far grea- 
 ter matters with thofe cold Fires, as to the defence 
 of the Ccuntrey againft the Turk, that Capital and 
 Bloud-thirfty Tyrant and Enemy of the Chriftians, 
 in fome cafes than with Gun powder .- if fuch moift 
 Fires be caft into places a prety diftance oft by fuita- 
 ble Inftruments, or be forced out of thofe leller and 
 greater Guns and War-like Canes, they will bring 
 far greater Detriment to the Enemies than Gun-pow- 
 der is want to do. 
 
 By this means, one weak Woman will infbme ca- 
 (es be able to repel many armed Men ; but this is a 
 thing which fuch Men as are unskiKull in natural 
 affairs, will deny till it be made manifeft, and ufed 
 againft the Turk. Therefore I have a mind to (et 
 afide all other bufineftes, and 10 make thofe kinds of 
 admirable Fires to the utmoft of my power in great 
 quantity, forafmuch as I well and afluredly know 
 how great Detriment may be brought upon the 
 Turks by the help thereof. 
 
 Fires they are which any one may carry about 
 with him like Waters ; they will not burn or over- 
 throw Hor(e and Man (boner than any have a mind 
 they fhall. Nay yet more, if any has a mind to 
 fortifie their Virtues, he may by adding other 
 Fire-breathing matters, make them far more vehe- 
 ment and efficacious, and do far greater matters with 
 them as being much more hurtfull than with thole 
 fimple Fires. 
 
 And now feeing I have fo very much commended, 
 the concentrated Fires of Salts, to 
 
 I. Diligent and provident Mafters of Families, 
 thereby to take away the fuperfluous watrinefs from 
 their fmaller Wines, Ales, and other Drinks, and 
 fo to concentrate them, and carry them (in cafe of 
 necelTlty) into the ftrong and fenced Cities; 
 
 1. To the poor Chymifts, that they might by 
 them corredt and better the Metals and fo help their 
 own poverty and want; 
 
 ;. And to the 'Chriftian Chieftains of War, and 
 faithfuU Rulers of the Countrey, that they may 
 ftoudy refift the Turks, that are the (worn Enemies 
 of the Chriftians. 
 
 I judge it altogether necefTary to treat of them 
 fomewhar more clearly. 
 
 By what means and way this threefold ufe of cold Salts 
 may be mofi prof table to the Countrey. 
 
 Flrft of all, the concentrated Spirits of Salt may 
 bring moft great advantage, by concentrating 
 the poorer fort of Wines, the which they make bet- 
 ter, 
 
432 
 
 The Sixth and Lnft Part of 
 
 Part I 
 
 rer, as is (hown in the fecond Century : when the 
 fuperfluous Water is removed from them, infomuch 
 that ther do not onely keep their goodncfs conftant 
 and durable, but may likewife be tar more commo- 
 dioufly and eafily tranfported out of one place into 
 another, fo that neceJllty requiring, they may be 
 more eafily tranfported out of I'uch places as are 
 more remote from Cities and fenced places into the 
 ftronger holds and fenced Cities, and ib be conserved. 
 
 It is as yet frefh in every ones Memory how mi 
 ferably the cafe iiorj with Men in the foregoing 
 War, which lafted th'A^'tv years. If any Farmer had 
 his Cellars full of Wines, and the Soldiers break in 
 to the Countrey, did horribly abufe the gifts of God, 
 that which they could not confume by their detef- 
 table Gluttony, they wickedly fpilled upon the 
 ground ; the Soldiers! fay, and fuch Men as profeft 
 themfelves Chriftians, and durft boaft of the ChriiH- 
 an Religion. From hence may it eafily be conjec- 
 tured what it would be, if fuch a multitude of Turks 
 (hould over run our Countrey, which imminent evil, 
 God of his mercy turn away from us. 
 
 In the days of Nv^h, the Men then lived in all 
 fecurity, and not at all regarded the Preachings and 
 Admonititions of that godly xMan, by which he ex- 
 horted them unto Repentance for no years toge- 
 ther, they did Eat, they Drank, Married and gave 
 in Marriage, till the Fioud fweprthem all away,and 
 there was no more room for Repeutance left, as fa- 
 cred Writ teftifies. 
 
 We readc oi Sodoiyi and Gotnorra, that the Inhabi- 
 tants of tho(e Cities being even drown'd in Leachery, 
 did fo defpife the reproofs and warnings of the godly 
 Man Lot, until! a Fire was fenr upon them from the 
 wrath of God and confumcd them. 
 
 Who is there that in this Seafon feareth God, and 
 lives pioufly:* He that is the flrongeft opprelTeth the 
 weaker, nor does at all think on this, that there is 
 one far more powerfull than he himfelf is, who comes 
 when he pleafeth, and puniflicth fuch powerfull 
 Opprellours. But thele things, and fuch warnings 
 of this nature are plainly mocktat. 
 
 Did not God fiifficiently enough warn us the laft 
 year 1660, and fhewed unto us his wrath, by thofe 
 dreadtuU Tempefls and Storms, and Earthquakes, 
 wherewith almoft all Eurcfe trembled. Doth he not 
 alfo this very prefentycar (i66i) fhew us his felf- 
 fame difpleafure i" What portends that Comet that 
 was feen in the Heaven, any one may eafily guefs 
 what it means. Verily it threatens nothing elfe but 
 evil, ef(!cciallybecaufe it extended its Tail contrary 
 to the ufual wont of other Comets, towards the up- 
 per part of the Heaven, jufl: as if itfhould fay, I will 
 fhow unto the Men, that 'tis not this or that Coun- 
 trey, this or that Enemy that fhall chaftife you, but 
 'tis'the Kinghimfclf of all Kings, who is in Fleaven, 
 that hath purpofed to punifh you for your Wicked- 
 nefs ; whofe Rod ye may [yet] divert from you 
 that is Jfretcht out to punifh you, if you apply your 
 feives to him by ferious Prayers, true Repentance, 
 and unfeigned amendment of your Lives , now 
 whileft you have time allotted ye to repent in, if 
 fuch admonitions as thefe can but hnd entertainment 
 with you. And what 1 pray will this warm Winter 
 bring upon us, the which being deltitute of all cold 
 Ice and Snow hath permitted the Trees to flour in 
 the very month of February, and the Meuows to be 
 clad in Flowers, and ripe Cherries to be feen .'' With 
 out doubt, nothing eUc but all kinds of poyfonous 
 Difeafes and which will fpcedily kill Men, and with 
 
 which mankind will be afflidcd , and it fo be that 
 an intenfecold fliould yet follow, which may eafily 
 be, there would doubticfly follow a great Dearth of 
 Grain and Provilion by fpoiling the Wine and Corn, 
 whofe buddings are already come ib far forth, as 
 that the cold may eafily deltroy them. And now 
 are we not fufficiently enough admoniflie;! by thefe 
 fore-runners and figns of the wrath of God coming 
 on us, and hanging over our Heads .■* 
 
 Betides all this, let us conlider that great Conjunc- 
 tion of all the Planets in Sag'itarj, fuch as hath never 
 been fince that time in which all the Planets were 
 in Conjunflion in Acjuanus. And this Conjun.T:ion 
 [in A<iuar)^ preceded the deluge, which deftroyed 
 all mankind by the breakings in ot the Waters, Noalf, 
 and his onely excepted. But as concerning what 
 that great Conjunction in Sagttary the next year 
 1665 will fhow us, and bring upon us God knows. 
 Sagitarj is a martial fign, and deadly, and portends 
 nothing but Diffentions, Seditions, and uproars of 
 War ; and therefore propheileth unto us nothing but 
 bloudy Wars, infomuch that it is much to be feared 
 that this ungratefull World will be confumcd, and 
 blotted out as 'twere by Fire, and the Sword, and 
 the anger of God : which evil, God of his mercy 
 turn away from us. Certainly thefe Conjunctions 
 are not wont to fore-fignifie or bring along with them 
 any good. But I heartily wifh I may prove a Liar 
 in this cafe, though I fear me, that there is more 
 evil coming upon us than will be welcome unto us. 
 
 For when God fheweth us any thing with his 
 Finger, it fhould be of more concernment unto us 
 than all humane Writings, for they may err. But 
 God never does any thing in vain and without caufe. 
 Never did there at any time a Comet fhew it felf in 
 the Air but many Calamities fucceeded it. That old 
 Proverb may very likely prove true, which the An- 
 cients have pronounced, -viz,, that it will come to 
 pafs in the year 1660, that Alchymy will begin to 
 flourifh, but will bring along with it fijch changes 
 for [fome] years following, and fuch dreadful! 
 changes too, that the third part of Men will perifh 
 with Famine and Peftilence, the third part will pe- 
 rifh with Fire and Sword, and there will be but a 
 third part onely left. 
 
 But yet I would not that you fhould take or look 
 upon this my prognoftication on fuch wife as if all 
 thefe things fhould infallibly come to pafs as I have 
 predi.fled. No, 1 was willing onely to open to you 
 my Meditations upon the years to come. For all 
 things are feated in Gods power alone, in whofe 
 hands onely and alone we know our firm helps and 
 afTiflance to be ready tor us, and therefore do nor in 
 the leaft confide in our own l^rength and power, 
 which are more vain than are all fading things. 
 
 But forafmuch as there are natural means granted 
 us, of driving away our Enemies, we may well ufe 
 them as far as in us lies, for that it belongs unto every 
 Chriflian Man, to do his utmoft to repell with all his 
 power the common CapitalEnemy ofall Chriflendom, 
 
 And now therefore that I my felf may not be 
 found to be the leaft in defending my Countrey, 1 
 have determined to exhibit in this Book the help and 
 afliflance that I can atford, and this is not Money 
 and Wealth which I have not, but by offering fiich 
 artificial inventions, and difclofing them, whereby 
 the Enemies may be valiantly re/ifled. For in all 
 things we fee, that many times far greater things 
 may be done with Wifedom and Prudence, than 
 with Strength and Fortitude, and this is clearly evi- 
 dent 
 
Part L 
 
 the Vrofperity ^/Germany. 
 
 433 
 
 eriJent in the moft efficacious Operations ot Gun 
 powder, which produce far greater etFefts than 
 Mens hands, though never fo ftrong,could ever bring 
 forth. 
 
 Tis we!! known, that the ufe of Gun-powder was 
 n')t alwavs known, but was firft found our by a 
 certain Monk in Germany, in tlie year of our I,ord 
 15H-, who by chance lighted on the finding of its 
 dreadfull ftrength. Neither is there any one igno 
 rant, what great Vifftories they that well knew its 
 ufe, obr.iined over their Enemies afore it was made 
 manifeft. But when it became publickly known, 
 then it ferved both Parties, fb that neither part had 
 more advantage by it thaii the other, and then the 
 deciding the Controverfie confined (next the blef- 
 iing of God) in the multitude of the Men, of which 
 rheir power was compofed, and not in Art. And 
 like as it feemed a meerly incredible thing at firft 
 11 when it was heard of, that a Powder of fiich mighty 
 force could be made of fuch vile Subjecfts, •viz.. Brim 
 ftone, and Salt perer, and Charcoals: Even fo will it 
 at firft e.xceed all belief, when it fliall be heard fay 
 that Waters may be prepared out of fuch Subjecfts, 
 which fdid Waters can doe liich wonderful], and fo 
 many great things. 
 
 It is alfo reported [or Chronicled] that the ftid 
 li Monk did not fearch after Gun-powder purpofely, 
 but being addifted to Chymiftry, and occupied a- 
 bout Operations upon Salt-peter and Sulphur, endea- 
 voured to diftil! a Water from them. Now thefe be- 
 ll ing mixf, and by chance taking fire, he perceived 
 them to break every thing, and rend it into pieces : 
 And hence came that man to know the unheard-of 
 ■Virtues of Salt peter and Sulphur, which being (b 
 thoroughly contrary to each other, made fuch great 
 concufTions or fhakings. The fame thing hapned even 
 I unto my fcU", for purpofing to make (harp Waters 
 I out of Sulphur, Salt-peter, and other Salts fit for my 
 purpofe ; I perceived in fuch Operations, that far 
 greater things niought be brought to pafs by fuch 
 firey Waters than could be done by Gun-powder. 
 Neverthelefs, I buried thefe Secrets in great filence, 
 nor manifefted I them to any man , though I knew 
 them above thefe twenty years ; fearing this, that 
 fliou!d they be known, they might be as Inftruments 
 f in the hands of the Chriflians to torment one ano- 
 ther with. 
 
 But now feeing God hath vouchfafed to bcftow a 
 peace upon the whole Chriftian World, and that the 
 Turks doe begin more and more to perfecute and vex 
 the Chriltians by their Tyrannical Perfecutions, and 
 endeavour even thoroughly to root them out, as they 
 have already made a beginning in Hungary of their 
 deteihible attempts, I advifed with my friends whe- 
 ther or no it would not be expedient to deceLt and 
 lay open thofe Secrets to the Chriftians, that fo they 
 may be ufed againfl: the Turks, and I was advifed by 
 thel'e my friends to proceed on in the revealing of 
 rhem. Upon tiiis account (all other bufinefles laid a- 
 fide) I wholly betonk my felt to this very one thing, 
 to get great (lore of thofe kind of firey Waters in rea- 
 dinefs, which may be made ufe of as moft (iibffantial 
 bucklers or defence both otfenlively and detenfively 
 againft the Turks. Now 1 have done this the more 
 willingly and readily, becaufc they kill no man, but 
 doe onely fo far debilitate them, that they may be 
 overcome, and eafily taken and made Captives. For 
 were this invention cf mine fUch as would kill men, I 
 would never have at any time produced it in pub- 
 lick, and thus divulged it. And therefore I am even 
 
 yQt of this mind, that that Monk BanhoU did not 
 well in divulging the preparation and ufe of Gun- 
 powder, by which fuch a multitude of Men are de- 
 Itroyed and (lain. 
 
 But by this Invention of mine, no man is (lain, and 
 yet the vidlory wrefted out of the Enemies hands. 
 And the Enemies being taken alive and made Cap- 
 tives, may be conftrained to work, and in my opini- 
 on may bring more benefit than if they were (lain. 
 
 I doubt not but that the thiw -, I here propound 
 may fcem impofTible even to xhh wifcft [fort of] men 
 of this World ; nor indeed is it to be wondrcd at if 
 It be fo ; for they are unheard-of Secrets, and unfeen, 
 and ib e.\ceed all belief. I dare not here truft my 
 Pen too much, though I could difclofe them in a (qw 
 words, and fo, as to bring every one to acknowledge 
 the truth hereof, and to feel it as it were with his 
 hands. But I muft deal warily, le(t fuch (harp, and 
 yet not killing, weapons fall into the Enemies hands. 
 
 IS 
 
 But yet that I may in fome fort fatisfie the defirous 
 Reader, I doe fignifie unto him in brief, that all the 
 vyhole Art lyes coucht in this knack, that vaft quan- 
 tities of thofe artificial Waters may be gotten with- 
 out great Expenccs ; and being prepared, may be af- 
 terwards applied to ufe by fome certain fecret Inftru- 
 ments both otFenfively and defenfively. For thofe 
 watry Fires, or firey Waters which I fpeak of, are 
 of fuch a burning nature, that neither Men nor Hor- 
 fes whom they touch are able to refift [or endure] 
 them; And yet they doe not kill, unlefs one be 
 minded to flay others, and then they muft have a 
 more peculiar preparation. But as they are by them- 
 felves, they kill none, but doe extreamly difturb both 
 Horfe and Man, that it makes them even impati- 
 ent of the pains, and fo forceth them upon one ano- 
 ther, whereby their order being broken, they ruine 
 rhemfelves. This done, the vidory is as it were gi- 
 ven into the adverfe parties hands, whereby they 
 can without any labour vanquifh and take their Ene- 
 mies Captives I dare not to fay any more herea- 
 bouts, this onely I add by way of overplus, that 
 even Women (where Men are wanting) may not 
 onely (by this invention of mine) drive off the 
 Enemies from any fenced place, bur they may force 
 them out again out of the place , or o'erwhelm the 
 Company of them that are entred with Stones. 
 Though this Teems an incredible thing, yet is it moft' 
 true, and will without doubt, after it (hall come to 
 light, in a (hort time ferve as a moft notable defence 
 for the Countrey. 
 
 And as touching the eafie, and not at all coftlv pre- 
 paration of the moift Fires and their due ufe,'toge- 
 ther with the Inftruments hereto requifite ; all this 
 (hall be (hown and detefted to thofe onely who both 
 can and will ufe them againft ther«r/^y. But to others 
 not, and this we were willing to fignifie by way of 
 admonition or advice. 
 
 This little, but yet exceeding weighty Secret, and 
 which may be ufed againft our Countries Enemies 
 with moft notable benefit, I have revealed enough 
 of at this time. Mean while I hope , that even this 
 very year the Enemies of the Chriftian World will 
 be notably endamaged by it, which God of his grace 
 and mercy grant, that it may be a folace and help to 
 the Chriftian World fo dreadfully perfecuted by the 
 Turk, even for the honour and glory of his holy 
 Name. Amm. 
 
 Ttttt 
 
 Nooi^ 
 
434 
 
 The Sixth and Lafi Van of 
 
 Part L 
 
 2^0TV follows the third ufe^ and that confijls m the nselie- 
 ration of the Metals^ by which alfo great benefit mny 
 redound to the Count rey. 
 
 AS for fuch things as concern the true and indu- 
 bitable melioration of Metals by Salt and Fire, 
 I have already fufficiently enough demonftrated in 
 the fifth part of the Prol'perity of Germany, and in 
 the Appendix thereyito. 
 
 But feeing my true demonftration there made, 
 Teemed not fufficiently clear and evident to not a few, 
 and that therefore they have moft lyingly dared to 
 aver, that there is no (ijch thing as a true tranfmuta- 
 tion of Metals, and that fuch like Affirmations as 
 thefe are meer fables, meerfalfities, and meer dreams: 
 Therefore I could not choofe but (to flop the mouths 
 of iLich wicked Men, and (hame them,) to lay open 
 and publiffi an evident and palpable truth. 
 
 And this is no great task for me to do, for I was 
 many years ago certain of the truth hereof, and 
 therefore can eafily fet it afore the Eyes of others, 
 and that not onely particularly [or a particular tranf 
 mutation] but alfb univerfally, infomuch that even 
 the blind may (ee and palpably feel, that the tranf- 
 mutation of Metals is not an old Wives Fable, but is 
 a certain and firm Science, and what is rifen even 
 from the foundation of nature her. felf. If now I fhall 
 prove it to be thus, I have then I hope fecured my 
 affairs, and have not onely defended the Writings 
 my felf have fent abroad, but withall the moft true 
 aUertions of other honeft Men, and fo (hall have 
 evidently demonftrated thofe things which to the 
 greatefl: part of Men feems a thing impoffible to be 
 done. 
 
 Albeit that there are many who have left us the 
 truth in their Writings, yet are they fo involved in 
 obfcurity, that fuch as know not the Fundamentals 
 of the Art, can never learn ought of certainty from 
 them. Whence it comes to pafs, that io many Men 
 have vainly attempted the Art, and therefore the 
 Art it felf hath been mightily defpifed. 
 
 The Tranfmutation of Metals is not a thing of fo 
 fmall a moment fas that eminent Philofopher San- 
 dmogins witnelleth) in his Preface prefixed to his Wri- 
 tings ; where he alfo tells us, that he that obtains 
 the knowledge of the fame, fo as to tranfmute any 
 imperfed Metal into a more perfedt one, though it 
 be done without benefit, hath met with an open 
 Gate, and entrance leading to greater matters, and 
 this is alfo exceedingly agreeable with the truth. For 
 if any one fliall take fome imperfed Metal, and by 
 handling or dealing with it with fuch or fijch mat- 
 ters, fhall find that it is advanced to a golden or lil- 
 very nature, may more deeply look into the bufinefs 
 with fuller and more accurate Meditations, and [at 
 length] wholly fearch it out,wz.. whence that better- 
 ing proceeds, and by what means or in what man- 
 ner his labours are to be contrived. 
 
 And now when fiach an one doth make fix and 
 conftant, fuch or fuch a Metal by the benefit of the 
 Fire, and ufeth no other matter about the Operati- 
 on but Salt, and doth really find a true melioration 
 of the Metal, certainly he cannot alcribe it to any 
 other thing but the Fire and Salt: and now whereas 
 he aflurcdly knows, that the melioration of Metals 
 can be perfected by the help of no other thing but of 
 Fire and Salt, he will not need to fearch for any o- 
 ther, but will rather wholly apply himfelf thereunto, 
 whereby he may moft commodioufly deal with the 
 
 Nietals by the means of Fire and Salt, and better 
 them with profit. And if now he be once Mafier of 
 his defire, he will gain fufficiently thereby. But if 
 nor, he cannot blame the Art but himfelt, who in- 
 deed fees thepoflibility of the Art but harh not (yet) 
 enrrcd in by it, or through it to the great Treafures 
 ir dilclo(eth, fo as to take to himfelf a due or compe- 
 tent part. But forafmuch as (uch happy Men arc 
 very feldom found, who liiid the Key that opens the 
 Dfiors to filch Myfleries, I judged it a tiling worth 
 while if I did here dereCt this very Key, and (how 
 by what means the Gate (by which the clofelt of 
 Arts is made faft) is wont to be opened. And if now 
 it (hall pleafe the Studious Arcift to enter thereinto, 
 he may with all my heart, and fi) enjoy thofe Trca- 
 lijres. 1 will not pafs the bounds I have intended to 
 oblerve: it is fufficient for me to have (hown the 
 right and kingly way, wherein every one may go that 
 lifteth, that fo he may arrive to his vvifht tor end. 
 
 Bur as for the Key that unlocks the Clofet of Arc 
 in true Alchymy, I do confidently affirm, that Salts 
 are fiich Keys, and efpecially Salt peter, and alfb 
 common Salt and Vitriol, each of which is of it (elf 
 efficacious enough to open the Door which (huts 
 the Parlour or Clofet of Arts in Alchymy, But one 
 Salt joy ned with another as is expedient and incon- 
 venient wife as Art requires, does etieiH: more and 
 (how greater power than if it abode alone, and this 
 my Writings do too and agen largely (hew. But 
 thofe Salts are in an efjsecial manner more excellent 
 as to power and virtues than others are, thofe I fay 
 which being firft made volatile or fpiritual are after- 
 wards made corporeal, like as the following example 
 doth evidently d^monftrate. 
 
 An evident demovfiration of the pojjihility of tranfmutitig 
 the iiilen Aietals by Salt and Fire into more nobU 
 ones. 
 
 TAKE of Vitriol two parts, and of good Salt-pe- 
 ter one part, mix them well, and being mixt 
 diftillan A'^na fort is therefrom, with this Water, dif^ 
 Iblve Silver or Lead, and pour into the Solution 
 fbme Spirit of Salt, or elfe fome common Salt onely 
 diffolved in Water, that fb the dillblved Metals may 
 be turned into white Powder, and precipitate to the 
 bottom of the Vellbl. This done, v>/a(h otf the ^-^w/i 
 Fortfs from the Calx of Silver or Lead, with Rain- 
 water, and yryj (hall find it to be one quarter part: 
 encreafed, and this augmentation cannot be wafht 
 off with any Water. Now thefe I'aline Spirits do 
 make the I.tme and Saturn fovery volatile, fufile,and 
 flying, that they melt in a fmall heat and penetrate 
 all hard Bodies Upon this account 1 called thofe 
 fugacious and fufile Metals, by the nameofa A/cr- 
 cury, which faid Mercury ot Liive, or of .SV;;//r« hath 
 alfumed to it felt onely fb much of the Salts as it need- 
 ed, to amend it felf in the Fire, when they mutual- 
 ly adt upon each other, and the Salt maturates the 
 Metal. 
 
 But what courfe fhall we now take with thefe 
 Metals, feeing they are fb very volatile, that they 
 cannot reliff the indifferently ftrong force of Fire, and 
 therefore go away in fume :■ And forafmuch as they 
 abide not the Fire and do not die, by what means 
 can they be amended c" 
 
 There is no better way to be taken with them 
 here, tiian (for prevention of their volatility) to add 
 to them (bme metallick body, into which, the fu- 
 gacious exceeding fufile, and Sale Metal may bide 
 
 it 
 
Part i. 
 
 the ?rofperity of Germany. 
 
 4351 
 
 ir (elf, and fo brook the Fire. And araongft rhefe 
 fix metallick Bodies, I know not as yet of any better 
 than Tin reduced into Afhes, which is nioft fit for 
 this Operation, becaufe it is the mofl: unfit or hard 
 to melt of any the Calxs of the reft of the Me- 
 
 t^. 
 
 If therefore you will make experiment of this Ope- 
 ration, ddjoyn to one part of the Aitrc«rj of Lune 
 or Suturii two parts of the white Afhes of Tin, which 
 being w ell niixt and put into a Gla(s Cucurbit well 
 fenced with Lute, fet it into Sand, put Fire therein- 
 to bv iirtleand little untill the matter in theGlals be 
 vvc!l heated ; in this darkifh red hot heat,leave it fo 
 long untill fome part of the matter doth afcend by 
 liibiimation up into the Alembick placed at top, and 
 up the neck of the Cucurbit. Then you muft put 
 (»n another Alembick, and take out all the liiblimate 
 out of the former A'embick, and put it back upon 
 its matter in the Cucuibir, and it is to be again left 
 (o long in the Fire, untill there doth again alcend 
 fome parr by fublimation into the Head. This be- 
 ing taken out of the Head is to be again put into the 
 Cucurbit, and to be added to its own matter, (and 
 to be proceeded with) till again fome portion liablimes 
 up out of the matter into the Alembick. Now thefe 
 labours arc to be fb often repeated, untill there af- 
 cends no more matter up into the Head, and all the 
 matter abides behind in the bottom of the Cucurbit 
 fixt. This being done, a ftronger Fire is to be ad- 
 miniflred, that the Metals may be operated upon by 
 the Salts. For by how much the more and longer 
 they endure the violence of the Salts, lb much the 
 better do they grow, which being taken forth and 
 reduced by the adding unto them their due matters 
 and being feparated by a Cupel do yield forth a no- 
 table encreale of Gold and Silver. 
 
 This undoubted Experiment and evident Demon- 
 ftration, doth (by its evident Operation', clearly 
 and perfpicucufly teach and prove the melioration 
 and tranfmutation of the Metals into better and more 
 pure; but if this way feems to any very laborious 
 and full of troubles, I will fhow him a more compen- 
 dious way and fuch as is ot lels labour, for the fake 
 of re.irching out the truth. 
 
 Fi',1 a Haffiak Crucible (one of the beft make) 
 with the (elf fame mixture, vtz.. one part of the 
 Mercury of Sutiirn, and two parts of Tin-afhes, and 
 fijueeze in the matter theieinto with your Thumb 
 pretty hard, and fit at top of this Pot, another fome- 
 what leflcr, fb as that they may fliut clofe and tight 
 at their mouths, and one may not fall off from the 
 other, if they be turned (toplle turvy : ) Now in 
 this upper Pot, put fome Plates of Copper in, afore 
 you place it on the lower one, yet on fuch wile that 
 ip tie turning the Pots (up and down) they fall not 
 out of their places Each Put likewife is to be well 
 fpnced with Lute fuch as will ncjt chap when it is dri- 
 ed, and yet it may be mended if it (hould a little 
 cleave by dawbing fome more on, and this is done, 
 that no fume at all get our. The Lute being dried, 
 place this double Pot or Crucible in a circular Fire, 
 and augment the Fire more and more, and move it 
 nearer and nearer it untill it be well heated. Then 
 put thereto larger Coals, and cover the Pot all over 
 with them, that it may be every where red hot, in 
 which great heat of the Fire it is to be left fbme two 
 or three hours. Then being cool, take out and o- 
 pen yr.ur Pot, and you fhall find the Copper Plates 
 in fbme fort tinged with a vvhitp colour, bot yet this 
 colour is not fo conftant and fix as to abide in the Cu- 
 
 pel or on theTe;} with its Body. Therefore necef- 
 fity requires that ihofe Plates be diliblved in J^m 
 Fortts, and be precipitated by pouring thereon Salt 
 dili;-)lval in common Water, in which precipitation 
 the Silver Calx fettles to the bottom. This Calx be- 
 mg freed of its Saltncfs by pouring Water thereon, 
 and being dried, is to be wrapt up in a Plate of Lead, 
 or fome (heet Legd made as thin as Paper, and be 
 put on a red hot Teff, in which there muff be a little 
 Le^d in Flux, which may the mciej readily receive 
 the filvery lWx wrapt up in the leaden Paper, and 
 which is volatile, atid may hinder it from going a- 
 way in fume ; the Lead being confumed, there will 
 be a grain of Silver abiding on the Tefl", which being 
 dilioived in A<^ya Fvms, will let fall fome Gold to 
 the bottom. If any ot the remaining matter in the 
 Crucible be to be reduced, then boil it withLcad, 
 and let it be reduced into Scortas -. out of the Rezu- 
 Ins will there alfb remain on the TefV a grain of Sil- 
 ver containing Gold in it. But this way brings na 
 profit, as being here taught for this onely end to de« 
 monltrate the pofTibility of the thing. But if you 
 would get any profit by fiich an Operation, it will 
 be altogether neccflary to ufe fuch VeHels in which 
 nothing at all may go away in fume, butall the mat- 
 ter may abide together, and may fo get a fixity and 
 conftancy: and this cannot be done in Crucibles 
 but it will bring a profitable melioration by the faid' 
 way. 
 
 Some may now demand from whence that Gold 
 and Silver fhould come.'' whether out of the Lead or 
 out of the Tin ? doubtlefly it comes from both And 
 theretore feeing the Copper Plates in this e;ementa- 
 tion, as likewile the cementing powder it felf have 
 put on a golden and filvery nature, can any one 
 doubt that this is a true Tranfmutation by Fire and 
 Salt ? And this is efpecially manifgft even from the 
 Copperplates, which had nothingat alltouchtthem 
 fave the faline Spirits afcending up out of the Cemen- 
 tatory Powder, which in the heat of the Fire pene- 
 trated the Copper, and amended it in fo fhorta 
 time. Is there any one now fo blinded as that he 
 cannot here fee, that this bettering the Metals pro- 
 ceeded from Salt and Fire. Certainly no body will 
 be iible to heal him that is blinded with fuch a dark- 
 nefs of his fight, and therefore muft he even lie all 
 his lifes time m fiich obfcure mifts. For this Opera- 
 tion is fet down fo clearly and evidently that it may 
 beeven felt and perceived with the hands. 
 
 N B. If fb be any one is defirous of getting more 
 Gold and Silver by the help of this Operation, he 
 
 may ufe the Mercury of Lune inftead of the Mercury 
 of Lead, for it will yield far more than Satura 
 will. 
 
 I could exhibit ro fmall variety of thefe kind of 
 Experiments, but that the fhortnefs of time bids ma 
 flop, and forbear their defcription ; thofe that cannot 
 learn ought from thefe things, greater ones will not 
 be at all ufcfull unto them. Thus have 1 a-new evi- 
 dently demonftrated, that a particular melioration 
 of the Metals isdone by, and proceeds from Salt and 
 Fire alone. ' 
 
 An infallible demonfiration^ that a true tinSfure or mi- 
 verfal Medicine maf be made by Salt and Fire for 
 the melioration of Aletals. 
 
 REcipe one pound of the Mercury of Lead, or 
 rather of Lunefii the Afhes of Tin two pounds, 
 mix thefe matters together and put them into a Glafs 
 
 Retort 
 
The Sixth and Lafl Fart of 
 
 Part I 
 
 Retort coated, and put it in Sand, or rather in an 
 open Fire, and give a Fire by degrees. In this O- 
 peration, the Salts inhering in the Mercury of 5^- 
 turn or Lune^ do difplay or exercife their virtues up- 
 on Jupiter, and feize upon it and leave the Lune or 
 Lead, and afcend up into the neck of the Retort 
 like Mercury liiblimate, and are very heavy and 
 ponderous,and do very rarely fall down into the Re- 
 ceiver, becaufe they prefently fettle afllbon as ever 
 they feel any Rd^'geration. Therefore it is needfull 
 that the neck of the Retort be fomewhat wide, that 
 fo the Mercury fublimate may meet with fpace and 
 room enough, and may not by wanting room break 
 the Retort. Now when the Retort has been kept 
 three hours in a red hot hear, which time is requifite 
 for the Mercury fublimate to afcend in, then ceafe 
 from continuing or keeping on your Fire, that fo it 
 may cool- Then take out the fublimate out of the 
 neck of the Retort when cold, and you fhall find a- 
 bout fbme eight Lots 4 Ounces, and proceed with it 
 the way following, as we fhall by and by tell you. 
 
 Mix the Reliques or what is left, with two parts 
 bf Reguhis of Antimony made with Iron, and me't 
 it into a body : Wafh off the Reguhis and Tin from 
 the Silver with Salt-peter, and you fhall have your 
 Silver not onely encreafed by the Jupiter, but alfb 
 indued with fomewhat of a golden nature; as much 
 as the Salts could maturate in fo fhort a time, which 
 is indeed a fpeedy Tranfinutation. But if you ufe 
 Mercury of Saturn, there will not follow much a- 
 mendnient in fo fhort a time. Yet neverthelefs,that 
 even the truth it felf may even by this means be 
 fearcht out, there may be added a little Lead, and 
 be boiled and reduced into Scoria s, in which there 
 will remain a grain of Silver, which will give you 
 information, how much melioration the faline Spirits 
 are able to beftow in three or four hours fpace. 
 
 But this is not the right way of getting profit, for 
 as much as it fhows onely the pofTibility of the thing. 
 But if you would have any profit by f'uch an Ope- 
 ration, you muf^ get you a Cucurbit for this fiiblima- 
 tion made of good and vitreous or glazefying Earth ; 
 and the fublimed Mercury mult be taken forth of the 
 Alembick, and be again added to the dry matter ly- 
 ing in the bottom of the Cucurbit, and this Opera- 
 tion of lubliming it muft be fo often repeated, till 
 thereafcend up no more, and that all abides fix with 
 the Tin. Then is a ftronger Fire to be put thereto, 
 and the Jupiter and Saturn will be maturated by the 
 Salt as wc taught afore. And if now any be minded 
 to take that fame fiiblimated matter, as it afcended 
 in the firit fublimation, and would make it fix and 
 conltant {per [e) in a Glafs, he would get a Tinc- 
 ture that will in projection tinge with a white and 
 red colour, but yet I never have as yet tried the 
 latter of thefe. However I doubt not, but it may 
 be done. For feeing that this fublimed matter, doth 
 (though it be fb volatile) penetrate the Plates of 
 Copper, by three or four hours time cementation, 
 and turns fomewhat of the faid Plates into the nature 
 of Gold and Silver by graduation, how much more 
 would it do, if being brought to a due fixity and con- 
 ftancy, it fhould be projeiled into fomc molten and 
 flowing Metal? For that in liich a white fublimate 
 (principally in that which proceeds fxomLune) there 
 lies hid alio an occult rednels, and may be manifcfted 
 by the Fire, this I fay, mine Eyes have feen, and 
 mine hands have felt, but have not as yet brought 
 the Operation to its compleat end, by reafon of va- 
 rious lets and want of time. 
 
 Farther, by fuch a fiablimate Mercury may likcwife 
 be wrought various Tranfinutations, wh.ch I think 
 not fit to divulge. It is in its nature fugacious and 
 volatile, and yet notvvithftanding doth it in procefs 
 of time make all other volatile and fugacious matters, 
 fuch as are Arfenick, Auripigment, Cobolt, and 
 even the niofl: flying of all, 'vix,. common Mercury, 
 fix and conftant, which effed is to be attributed to 
 the Salt onely. He that knows rightly to manage 
 this Operation, will not labour in vain, but will be 
 rendred a partaker of great fecrets, which thing I 
 leave to the Sons of Art, as a Teflament or Will. 
 
 But yet that I may kindle fome little Torch for to 
 guide the defirous Reader, and may make him more 
 certain of a true Tindture, which this abjeft yW«rca- 
 ry fublimate fhowing it felf in a white colour hides in 
 it, I have thought good, yet farther to add this fol- 
 lowing way. 
 
 Extradt out of this fublimate a running Mercury^ 
 vivifying and feparating it by apt and niagnetick 
 fjbjeds ; and evaporate a little portion or particle 
 thereof, of about the bignels of a Pea, in a Silver 
 Spoon ; when 'tis all gone, you '..ill find a purple 
 Powder left in the Spoon If you caft this Powder 
 upon hot boiling Lead, you will find after its blow- 
 ing off, a grain of Gold on the Telf. The Spoon it 
 felf will bear the mark of a purple fpot in that place, 
 in which the Mercury went away in fume, and it 
 cannot be blotted or rubbed our, becaufe the Mercu- 
 ry hath deeply imprelTed the Tindure in the Spoon. 
 
 Now may fbme or other fay unto me, whence 
 did that little grain of Gold left on the Cupel, and 
 that purple fpot which tinged the Silver Spoon, pro- 
 ceed, came it from the Lead or from the Tin, or 
 from the Silver, or out of the faline Spirits i The 
 greatelt part of Men will fay it proceeded out of the 
 Lead, Tin, or Silver. But I fay, that it did indeed 
 come out of the Lead, Tin or Silver, but that the 
 Tindure adjoyned thereunto i.s for the moil part the 
 true Soul of Niter, which the Mercuij took unto it 
 felf, and again left it and forfbok it alfjon as ever it 
 was vexed or forced with the Fire. But I doubt not 
 but that if fuch a Mercury impregnated with the Soul 
 ot Niter, were fixed and made conltant in the Fire, 
 it would afford an univerfal Tinfture. 
 
 I confefs I have tried many a time this Operation 
 in fmall Experiments, which fcjmetimes anfwered not 
 my defires, what diligence foevcr I ufcd therea- 
 bouts ; but when I attempted it in a greater quanti- 
 ty it never fucceeded. This thing feems to be pofi-' 
 ted in the will and pleafQre onely ofthe Omnipotent 
 God, who will not have thofe his Co great Mylleries 
 and Gifts profaned. I have indeed i^hke unto Ah- 
 fes) feen the promifed Land, but yet 1 do not know 
 whether or no God will bring me thither in this Life, 
 that fb I may enjoy thofe moli precious Fruits. 
 
 And if God fhould not vouchfafe me that benefit, 
 yet do I willingly reft content with this, that I have 
 feen with mine Eyes, and ielt with mine hands the 
 truth of the Art more than orce, which Art fomany 
 thoufands of Men do fo greedily gape after, but yet 
 not with fuch good hap and fuccefs as to find ic out 
 or fee it. 
 
 I have I fay feen the truth, but not the Tindurc 
 brought to its end or perfection, but yet have I feen 
 its beginning which makes me certainly aflured fo 
 far, as that I dare to affirm, and confidently aver, 
 that there is in nature fuch a thing as a true Tinc- 
 ture, and that it may by Gods blefling be prepared 
 by an Artifts hand. 1 have not yet had fc much 
 
 quiet 
 
Pare I. 
 
 the Profperitj ^/Germany. 
 
 437 
 
 quiet and (b much time as to undertake this ff) weigh- 
 ty a Work.. Yet now I have a refblution to let afide 
 all worldly cares, fblicitudes and bullneires, and to 
 attempt and wait upon this kingly Work, and ox- 
 pe^il what the divine grace will beftf)w upon me. 
 For we are to look for ail good things from above, 
 for e'fe wc labour in vain, wlutloever diligence we 
 make ufc of 
 
 Thcle things I was willing to publifh for the Af- 
 fertion lake of the truth, and to prove that there was 
 in nature a true Tincture, that lo it may evidently 
 appear that Metals may be tranlinuted both univer- 
 fallyand particularly. And if by fbme defperare Men 
 or by a fudden and immature death (which chances 
 God of his mercy gracioufly keep from me) ail the 
 Mediums or means of perfefting fo great a Work, 
 and finifhing it fliould be cut off from me, yet not- 
 withftanding the truth it felf will be able to bear wit- 
 nefs to my (ayings when I am dead and gone. For 
 I I have by me even yet thole Silver Plates tinged 
 with Purple Spots, which can at all times witnels 
 the truth of thofe things I have here delivered. For 
 it is an impolllbie thing that Silver fhould be tinged 
 with a purple colour without a Tindure. If there- 
 fore there is to be found the truth in that white and 
 fugacious (iiblimate, what I pray would be found in 
 the fix and Fire-abiding red Tindure.-' Would it not 
 be, that etfeLls of far greater moment would be pro- 
 duced by (uch a Tindture. The Ancients therefore 
 that defired Hrmnefs of health and a long life, beftow- 
 ed (uch labours and fweats upon getting a true Me- 
 dicine for humane and metallick Bodies, and fome 
 of them arrived to their willitfor end, but tlie grea- 
 teft part of them were deceived with vain labours, 
 and frultrated of their conceived hopes. 
 
 If any \\m did certainly know that there were in 
 fbme places to be found mighty treafures of Gold, 
 t Pearls, and Precious Stones, and it were granted 
 every one to (earch after them for his own proper 
 advantage, what think you, he would be lazy and 
 flow, and would not fet himlelf to feek after them. 
 But if any fhould fo order his (earch that like a blind 
 Man, he neither knows nor (ees what it is he (eeks 
 after, or in what place it is to be fought by him, cer- 
 tainly fuch an one would labour in vain, and lofe 
 both histime, pains, and cofts ; and this u(ually be- 
 tides the greateft part of Men, for they fpend their 
 labours in vain in their fearch after this Work, be- 
 caule (like bliixl Men) they neither know what 
 they arc to feek, nor where. But yet 'tis credible that 
 there would not fiich a multitude of them have ftray'd 
 from the truth, had but any one (b clearly and per- 
 fpicuoufly fhown and pointed as it were with the 
 Fingers at the place where the Treafure lyeth hid- 
 den, as I have now done 
 
 And although the envious and lying Devil fhould 
 oppofe the truth even with his greateft power, and 
 (hould moll cruelly rage againft it, yet notwithftan- 
 ding he will not be able to (hew us any one Man 
 that hath produced and brought the truth forth to 
 the light with greater perfpicuity and evidence than 
 Glauber hath. 
 
 I have therefore yet once more at prefent fhown 
 by a mofi: evident dcmonltration even before the 
 whole World, and have aderred it for a truth, that 
 not onely the more impcrfed Metals do admit of be- 
 ing really tranlmuted by Salt and Fire into the more 
 perfect ones, but withall, that by them, [wi,. Fire 
 and Salt] a Tindlure may i)C made. 
 
 And now let all iTiine enemies vifible and invifible 
 
 ones, open and fccret ones, what name fbever failed 
 I by, come forth and publickly produce the true 
 jTranfmutation of Metals, with a clearer and more 
 jconfj-iciious manifeftation than I have here done. I 
 facquiefce with what I have hitherto fpoken ; if God 
 jrtiall pleafe I will divulge admirable things in my 
 ine.\t thiid Century. In this little Trcatife there are 
 I laid open onely four fecrers, but yet fb clearly and 
 Iconfpicuoufly that no body hath as yet mani^tefted 
 fuch and (b eminent things with clearer and more 
 perfpicuous expreflions. rf 
 
 For that rtrff Inftrument is clearly enough defcri- 
 bed, by the help of which, not onely a great plenty 
 of all fharp Spirits may be prepared with very little 
 colls and ealle labour, and the four fold ufe of thefe 
 Spirits is able to bring moft great profit to the 
 Countrey. 
 
 I. All Gold, Silver, and Copper are thereby ex- 
 traded out of the poorer fort of Oars which Germany 
 abounds with every where, and that in a far eafier 
 manner than by fufion, and are ib brought to a very 
 gainfull improvement, to the great benefit of all Ger-' 
 many, the which hath never been hitherto done. 
 
 i. Of the faid Spirits is made a Water-attrac- 
 ting Magnet, for the bettering of poorer Wines, that 
 fb they may keep good, and be theeafilier tranfpor- 
 ted out of one place into another, as I have fignified 
 in my fecond Century. It is a fecret which offers 
 gain both to the rich and poor, and may be prepa- 
 red in great plenty. 
 
 ;. The imperfed Metals arefundry ways better- 
 ed by thofe faline Spirits, of which may be madevafi; 
 quantifies as I have fhown in this Work or Book, and 
 this melioration my Writings do varioufly teach and 
 treat of. 
 
 4. By the help of thefe fiery Spirits of Salts, pre- 
 parable in mighty plenty, which is a thing commodi- 
 oufly to be done by the Inftrument defcribed in this 
 Book, may the Turks who are the Enemies of the 
 Chriftian World be refified without any Bloudfhed. 
 Concerning thefe fiery Waters, which being (uch a 
 notable deftrudion on the Enemies, this is here to 
 be noted, that immenfe quantities of them are cafily 
 gotten without any Diftillation and with very little 
 expences. 
 
 For if much be to be efFeded by them, it is necef^ 
 farily requiiite to have valt quantities of them in rea- 
 dinefs, without which, no great matters are in this 
 cafe to be accomplifht. But as concerning the man- 
 ner of fb greatly endammaging the Turks by thefe 
 moift Waters I cannot fb accurately defcribe the fame 
 here, as being a meer fkanger to, and ignorant in 
 military affairs. However 1 will briefly and in few 
 words (haddow out, what way I think it may be 
 done by, inz,. to relift and mightily endamage the 
 Enemies by them. 
 
 Firff of all, this is the nature and property of thefe 
 moift Waters. As to outward view they are like 
 Water, and may be handled or dealt with as other 
 common Waters, but their inward virtue is nothing 
 but a meer Fire And becaule thefe moift Waters 
 may be thrown not onely with the hands, but with 
 greater Warlike Engines or Guns a good way off, 
 by artificial Inflruments prepared for that purpofe ; 
 therefore is the ufe of them manifold, and as neceflity 
 requires may they be ufed feveral ways for the ex- 
 puHion and overcoming of the Enemies. We will 
 illuftrate our meaning by an example. Suppofe I 
 am in a City or Caffle befieged by the Enemies, and 
 that I have by me fbme of thofe kind of Inlbuments 
 U u u u u which 
 
438 
 
 The Sixth and Laft Yart of 
 
 Part 1. 
 
 which are accommodated to this ufe for the moift 
 Fires. If now the Enemy fiiould fee upon the Trench, 
 Wall, or aBulwark, and I were furniflied with that 
 defeiifive Water of mine, fhould (land behind the 
 Wall or Bul-wark in that place which the Enemy 
 (ets upon, he could not polTibly come acme ; forthofe 
 moift Fires may be caft by the faid Inftruments far 
 without the City, like a fiery (howr of Ram, or like 
 a Cloud, which Rain being forced out of but one 
 onely Inftrument would dilate it felf far and wide 
 upon many hu^e'reds of Men, and wharfoever u 
 touched it would hurt and burn like common natu- 
 ral Fire, and it would elpccially blind their fight fo 
 that the Men would not be able to look up or fee. 
 If now the Enemies Hiould make their attempt opon 
 any place, and there fhould be (houred down upon 
 them (uch a fiery Rain, and by hurting their Eye- 
 fight make them quite blind, how would they be 
 able being blinded to get over the Walls or Bul-warks? 
 I do believe that if they fhould have gotten over 
 the Walls or Forts, and be made thus blind, they 
 would be heartily glad if they could but get out a- 
 gain and recover their own party. But it would 
 be better to beat them olf, and blind them when 
 they come with their Ladders to fcale the Walls, 
 than to permit them to approach any nearer. But 
 yet if it fhould fo happen that the Enemies had got- 
 ten even into the City it (elf, and there were fome 
 Houfes in the principal places or ftreets in which the 
 defendants may rally themfelves and that fuch 
 Houfes were furniflit with fuch moift Fires, and that 
 fuch fiery fhowcrs were (hot out thence fo blinding 
 them that they durft riot open their Eyes, what I 
 prav would they be able to do,being blinded and clear- 
 ly deprived of the ufe of their fight? Would they 
 iiot throw away their Arms and folely mind the 
 petting the Fire out of their Eyes, and yet it would 
 hardly be fo done in half a days time, nay if it 
 (hould touch their Eyes in pretty quantity, it would 
 fcarfe be quencht in two days time, and if they 
 fhould go to wipe their Eyes with their hands, then 
 would they make their torments much more intol- 
 lerable and would add more Fire to their Eyes, be- 
 caufe their hands are likewife moiftned and plagued 
 with that continual fhour. And now may not fuch 
 unbidden Guefts be overwhelmed and flain with 
 Stones caft on them out of the adjoyning Houfes .■• 
 And may not one fingle Woman with fuch a 
 little Inftrument onely filled with thefe moift Fires 
 defbnd her Houfe againft an hundred Soldiers. Ve- 
 rily in my opinion there may be made a better de- 
 fence with fiich a little Inftrument that one may 
 carry about with him, than with tenor even an hun- 
 dred Mufquets. For loo Mulquets require too 
 Men all which when they have difcharged their 
 Guns' once, and have flain fome ten or twelve Men 
 (and yet it is not wont uliially to happen fo in fuch 
 cafes neither) they need fome time to load their Muf 
 quecs again, if they would keep on fhooting. But 
 thislnftrumentmay be uled even by Women, two 
 or three of whom will haply do more hurt to the 
 Enemy than twenty or thirty, yea haply one hun- 
 dred Men are able to do with their Mulguets. And 
 if the Women and other weak Men do but blind their 
 Enemies, the armed Men may take them thus blind- 
 ed Prifoners ; that fb not being killed but made 
 Slaves, they may be fet to Work and Till the Land, 
 and this would 'be far more profitable than the kil- 
 ling of them would be. So then, may not an hun- 
 dred Soldiers bv the help of my Inftruments defend 
 
 any Fortrefs with greater and more certain defence 
 than a thouiand Men could otherwife do. Verily I 
 believe they may. For thefe blinding Fires of mine, 
 or fiery Clouds and Rain being adjoyned to other 
 ufaal and cuftomary military Weapons, will moft 
 mightily endamage the Enemy, nor will there need 
 (b many Soldiers, for the Citizens themfelves may 
 ufe the other [cuftomary] Arms, and the Women 
 and Children may ufe the Inftruments, whereby 
 they would haply defend themfelves more ftrongly 
 than if they committed their defence to chofen and 
 regiftred Souldiers. 
 
 For thefe Inftruments, (by which the moift Fires 
 aredriven far offupon the Enemies like fiery (bowers 
 and Clouds of Rain, and that without intermillion, 
 and as oft as ever need requires) although they be 
 great, yet a few Men may govern or manage them, 
 fb that it will be impofTible for the Enemies to efFeft 
 any confiderable enterprize in befieging any City. 
 But it is needfullto place fuch Inftruments that thus 
 fquirt forth Fire, behind the Walls and Bul-warks, 
 that the Enemies great Ordinance may not hurt or 
 deftroy them. Verily I cannot fo very accurately 
 ond compleatly fhow what [the beft] way [is] of 
 endamaging the Enemies by the help thereof, for 
 this the praiftice it felf will better (hew us. I can 
 furnifh forth the Inftruments themfelves and the moift 
 Fires belonging thereunto. I commend the ufe of 
 them unto the Souldiers, who may learn to ufe them 
 as they fhall find good by experience I do again 
 repeat what I have hitherto fo often fpoken , 
 and I do affirm, that with one fuch Inftrument may 
 fome thoufands of Men be blinded in a moments 
 time, and being blinded what I pray can they then 
 do? Iffo be that others Ihall endeavour to come to 
 help them and fetch them off, they may likewife be 
 blinded, nor can they run away, and therefore muft 
 necefTarily be taken Prifoners. And this in my judg- 
 ment may be done in Hoftile Invafions and Sieges. 
 
 But now whether or no there may be any ufe of 
 fuch Inftruments in Battailes and Conflids with the 
 Enemies, I do not well know, but that a City, Caf- 
 tle, or Houfe may be defended by their means, and 
 fo drive off the AfTailants, is a thing evident and un- 
 doubted. Should there be a thoufand Enemies be- 
 fet the Houfe of fome particular Citizen, yet muft 
 they depart if onely fuch a fiery Cloud or Rain ( the 
 Doors and Windows being fhut) fhould be fhoured 
 down upon them. For fo they would be rendred 
 blind and not be able to fee or find the Door, as it 
 was in Lots time, when his Enemies environed his 
 Houfe to have out thofe two Strangers, they were 
 fmitten with fuch blindnefs that they were conftrai- 
 ned to leave the Houfe, and it was permitted Lot^ 
 and his, to pafs out of the fame without any impedi- 
 ment. And is it not lawful! for us to finite our Ca- 
 pital Enemies the Turks with blindnefs, and to de- 
 fend our felves, our Wives and Children ? 
 
 God himfelf faith, I will encompafs thofe that are 
 mine, with a Wall of Fire, and defend them againft 
 their Enemies. Briefly, this invention of mine, of 
 making fuch a fiery Mift or Rain, is an incomparable 
 defence and fafeguard, the like of which was never 
 as yet known in the World. And now may any 
 one cafily conjefture what may be done oftenlively 
 with this fame invention. For example, fuppofe 'tis 
 necelfary to take fuch or fuch a place from the Ene- 
 my, but now there is not time enough left, nor are 
 there Souldiers enough for the enterprize ; and there- 
 fore fome Stratagem muft be ufed to become Maftcrs 
 
 of 
 
Part I. 
 
 the ?rofperity of Germany. 
 
 43^ 
 
 of one of the Giitcs at leaft whereby the Souldiers 
 may be let in. 
 
 And now in my judgment fome Gate may be (ei 
 zed on and chut eafily by the help of thefe moift Fires 
 of mine, and 'tis thus, let fome Souidicr or other fit 
 for (uch a dellgn, be taught the ule of my Fire fpi- 
 ting Inftruments, and when he underftands it, he 
 may be c!ad in Countrey Habit, and (b let him goto 
 them upon the Guard, and in the Court of Guard- 
 houfes in which they be, let him fhour in upon them 
 a fiery, Eye-blinding, and forcibly hilling fhour. 
 [This done] how can the Guarders pofTibly refift 
 thofe that come to the Gate and are ready to enter 
 in? Nay more, the Souldier thus clad may have a 
 Granadoe given him to carry in a Sack, which being 
 filled with thole moifl Fires, may of its own accord 
 (without any benefit of Gun-powder) leap aflunder 
 and fill all the whole room with his blind making 
 Dew, he may throw intothnfe Watch houles where 
 they keep Guard, and lo make all that are there pre- 
 fent unfit to fight. And if fb be there fhould be 
 more of thofe Houfes than one, the fame Souldier 
 may likewile have more luch Granadoes given him, 
 one of which he may throw into' each Houfe. Nay 
 farther, if need be, and that you would have itfadge 
 better and have it more certainly fiicceed, there may 
 be fent feveral Souldiers with fuch Fire-breathing 
 Granadoes to feveral Gates,to o'rewhelm the Watch- 
 men and pofTefs them. For the Watch men fufpec- 
 ting no evil from one Countrey man onely, will not 
 cry out Arm, Arm, but let him in without any im- 
 pediment. Such Fire-breathing Balls or Granadoes 
 may be made of Iron, Copper or Earth, which how- 
 ever, properly are not Fires as long as they feel not 
 the Air, and they then become Fires onely, when 
 any one is fb minded to have them fuch, breaking 
 every thing in their reach like Gunpowder burning, 
 and depriving all fuch as are prefent of their fight, 
 and making them Sick. Granadoes made on this man- 
 ner, and of about the bignefs of a Mans Head, do not 
 of their own accord conceive a flame without Air, 
 nor do they flie alfunder, or at all operate. But if 
 you would that the Air be let in whereby they may 
 operate, there murt be a little Spicket or Tap to be 
 drawn out of the Granadoe, that fo the Air entring 
 in may vivifie the Fire that lies in the Ball or Grana- 
 doe. Such a Granadoe being thrown into any 
 Watch houfe, the Watch men will without doubt 
 prelently run and take it up and fee what it fhould 
 be, and what end it was thrown in there for ; then 
 as they all of them ftand round and contemplate 
 upon the novelty, if any of them hap to draw out 
 the Spicket, which without all queftion they would 
 do, the Air gets in, and the Fire enkindles and breaks 
 that Granadoe thus fluft with that venemous Fire 
 all to pieces, and fb will ftrike them all down toge- 
 ther. .And may not now the Souldiers in the mean 
 time haften and break in to that fenced place with- 
 out any let, and become Maimers of the Gate .■' Verily 
 methinks it fhould fiicceed very well. I tell you my 
 thoughts of the bufinefs, I never tried the thing it felf 
 nor do 1 ever dcfire to try. Such as have a defire to 
 try it, and have occafion and opportunity of doing it, 
 may more accurately contemplate thereupon, and 
 fo will they find what way they may moft conveni- 
 ently detriment their Enemies moft of all by. I 
 have laid the foundation, others muft valiantly pro- 
 ceed on and bring the thing to a moft ufefull Ilfuc. 
 However i do not doubt but that the moft part of 
 Men that fhall hear me fay, that there may be fuch 
 
 eife^fts produced by thcle fiery Waters, that may 
 equal the dreadful! Operations of Gtmpowder, will 
 mock at me, and judge it an impolTible thing ; nor 
 will it be any thing ftrangc they fhould, becaufe 
 they have not any knowledge of nature. 
 
 Before thofedreadfull virtues of Gun- powder were 
 known, certainly no body would have believed the 
 fame, had they heard it told, that it were a poflible 
 thing thing to hurry or throw fuch a great Ball of 
 Iron, into fb far a place with '- little Powder. And 
 now it is a thing fb very common, that he that will 
 not believe it will be laught at. Even fo, thofs things 
 I have here mentioned of moift Fires will feem ex- 
 traordinarily wonderful! and abfurd to the ignorant, 
 untill they fhall fee with their Eyes, and feel with 
 their hands, that thtTurks (hall even this very Sum- 
 mer feel it if God permit, and vouchfafe me health 
 fo long. If God (I lay) (hall permit, which I would 
 have you underftand,as thus, 'viz.. unlefs the wrath 
 of God fhall be fo enkindled againft the Chriftians, 
 and fhall therefore put a ftop, and pr-ivent the ac- 
 crewingofany benefit, by any help how great foe- 
 ver it be. For when God pleafeth to punilh any 
 Countrey with deferved afflidions, certainly no Iri- 
 fb-uments of defence will at all help or doought. 
 
 Thefe things was I willing to declare at prefenr, 
 to demonftrate in what manner the Enemies power 
 may by fuch Artificial moifl Fires, and a peculiar 
 kind of Granadoes, fuch things as never were as yec 
 known in the World be broken. There are verily o- 
 ther far greater etFe<.T:s,and which exceed Mans belief, 
 that may be efFcfted by thefe my newly found-out 
 Fires ; and fuch as are not to be written but to be 
 revealed onely unto thofe thatare truly well Willers 
 to the common Weal, and whoftudy how to deftroy 
 the Capital Enemyof allthc Chriftian World. But 
 thus much I add, that by jhefe Artificial, Secret, 
 and unknown burning and flame-conceiving Fires, 
 far greater things may in my judgment be efFedted at 
 any time whenfoever one is minded, than by Gun- 
 powder, for that it operates not afore it be enkind- 
 led with the Fire. But my Fires are enkindled and 
 inflamed by the Air, and therefore muft necefTarily 
 exeed Gunpowder in the produdion of greater ef- 
 fefts, and this time will manifeft. 
 
 Thofe common Granadoes being thrown into any 
 City may be covered with wet Hides or Cloathsan'd 
 be quenched, fo as not at all to operate, but it can- 
 not befb with my Inftruments. And therefore it is 
 not without caufe that I prefer them afore Gun- 
 powder. 
 
 'Tis not expedient to make any larger difcourfe 
 concerning thefe matters, and to take up any more 
 room by revealing more. I could verily in a few 
 words fodifclofe thefe things that every onemoughc 
 be able palpably to feel, and vifibly to fee them, and 
 fb as that he would afluredly know that far greater 
 things mought be effefted by thefe my Fires than by 
 Gun-powder.They may together with the Gun-pow- 
 der uf^ thefe my moift Fires as they think good and 
 as need requires. And I do not queftion but that 
 hereafter Wars will be waged after another manner 
 than hath hitherto been done, and force muft give 
 place to Art. For Art doth fometimes overcome 
 flrength. We will illuftrate the bufinefs by an ex-' 
 ample. 
 
 When any little weak Man Fights with a bigger 
 and ftronger than himfelf, and they have both of 
 them like skill in the ule of their Arms, the ftronger 
 over Mafters the weaker and Conquers him. But 
 
 no 
 
440 
 
 .. . ^ — ■ — ' — — 
 
 The Sixth and Laft Pan of, &c. 
 
 Part I. 
 
 now if the little Man be better skilled in the ufe of 
 Weapons than the greater and ftronger one is, he 
 beats him and becomes the ViLtour. And when two 
 are of equal Stature and Strength ; they fmite alike 
 forcibly, and beat one another alike, juft as your 
 Laundrelles that beat Cloaths with a wafh Beetle, fo 
 do thefc lay on blows on each other with likeniealure. 
 So among the Ancients did they fight Man to Man, 
 and the flrength of the blows prevailed. Bur when 
 Gun-powder was fo\jKl out, then a few could kill 
 and put to flight a greater number than themlelves. 
 And now again 'tis every where known, that 
 Men now a days do again fight with equal hand, 
 as 'twere, neither party having more help [by Artj 
 than the other party hath: (ave that the ftronger 
 party doth for the moft part get the Viilory, fo that 
 the Wars in our time confifl not in Art, but in the 
 multitude and company of Men. Mean while I firm- 
 ly hope that if theule of my moift Fires be but known, 
 there will be another kind of Warfare than now is, 
 bv fighting on equal Terms with blows as the Coun- 
 trey fellows do, and whereby the ftronger can over- 
 mailer and fubdue the weaker. . But now by the 
 help of Art, the weaker may overcome the ftronger. 
 And iffo be that Art and ftrength concur together 
 thev are wont to be moft efficacious. Da-vid with 
 his fling (hewed the skilfulnefs of his Art, and fubdu- 
 ed that great G'/hah, who little expected fuch a mif- 
 chance from fuch a little Shepherd. And like as 
 Gcltab mocked at D^vtd with his Sling , fo perhaps 
 will the 7'itrk have us in derifion, fhould we meet 
 him with fuch Water-throwing Inftruments. But 
 even as that great Golia/j was finittcn down by a 
 Stone of the Shepherd , fo may the Turk be eafily 
 burnt and radically rooted out by thofe moift Fires, 
 il the Chriftians will thenifelvcs. 
 
 But fome or other may here objeft and fay, fup- 
 poie fome perfidious Chriftian fhould happen to flie 
 to the fti>ks,zn(i put fuch Weapons into their hands, 
 to ufe againft the Chriftians agen, what fhall we do 
 then ? [I anfwer,] fuch [a mifchiefj may be pre- 
 vented by an accurate diligent warinefs, that thele 
 fecrets be'not revealed to every body, but to fuch 
 onely as are known, and that have polTefllons, Wives, 
 and Children : for liich will hardly be allured or cor- 
 rupted with any reward. Befides too, the vulgar 
 will not be fo eafily apprehenfive of all things hereto 
 requifite, feeing the Artconfifts not barely in one or 
 two, but in many things [or circumftances ] It 
 cannot therefore be that fuch inventions fhould fb 
 eafily fall into the Enemies hands, and that for feve- 
 ral cau(es which I forbear to reckon up here. Nay 
 more, if necelTity fhould require there mought (by 
 accurate medtiati(^n ) a farther inquifition be made, 
 whereby more fiich inventions mought befousd out. 
 For this may eafily be effeded by Men of a quick 
 piercing Wit, 'viz^. by their diligent Icarch to add 
 to what is found out and to better the fame, for 'twill 
 be a facile thing to do. For nature being ib moft ex- 
 ceedingly richly ftored can never at any time be 
 thoroughly found out. And therefore even I my 
 felfdo hope in fome (hort time greatly to augment 
 [or inelioratel the faid Inventions of mine. If God 
 vouchfafe me' life, there (hall be even yet produced 
 by me to light wonderfull things, which will mira- 
 culoully promote the fafety and happinefs of my 
 O'luntrey, and efpecially if I (hall but findamongft 
 Men a thankfull remembrance thereof. 
 
 Moreover,! doubt not but that abundance of Men 
 will wonder if they fhall fee theto my newly invented 
 Warhke Inftruments to be publifhed in Print, which 
 IS a thing that I would never do, for I have relblvcd 
 to make (iich onely partakers of the knowledge of 
 the fame, as ftand in need thereof. 
 
 But becaule I have conferred with one or two 
 (whom I thought to have born me a loving and friend- 
 ly mind) about thefe things, and (pake to them too 
 openly about the very bufinefs it (elf, they got fome 
 part of the Art it (elf, and (aw the very Inftruments 
 in the Workmens hands whom I had taken order 
 with about making them, and without doubt perfwa- 
 ded themfclves that they had the full knowledge of 
 the whole Art. Preiently upon this they were be- 
 come invifible and withdrew themfelves, infbmuch 
 that Ifulped that thole perfidious Men have repai- 
 red to the Courts of (bme great Men, to offer and 
 (ell thefe my inventions as if they were their own. 
 Now then to meet with (uch treacherous perfidiouf- 
 ne(s, I thought good to publi(h openly (bmewhat 
 concerning thefe matters, that fo every one may 
 know that whatever Men (hall fell fuch (ecrets as 
 their own, they were not invented by them but by 
 me, and they have fraudulently ftolen them from 
 me. But I except thole here, to whom I have re- 
 vealed them to this intent, that, viz,. they may 
 make ule of them againft the Turk. 
 
 And becaule I can methinks prophetically as it 
 were conjedure that thefe my newly invented mili- 
 tary Inftruments will be defired and (ought after by 
 a great many both high and low, I judged it a thing 
 worth the while, to take care for the getting (bme 
 of thofe fame Inftruments, and alfb thole moift Fires 
 thereunto appertaining to be prepared, and fent in- 
 to tho(e places, where they may detriment or annoy 
 the Turks. For without doubt there may be far 
 ftronger refiftance made with thefe newly invented 
 Inftruments againft thofe our Capital Enemies, than 
 can ever be done with Gun-powder. For Gun- 
 powder is never wont to operate afore it be kindled 
 with the Fire, which kindling and inflamation Wa- 
 ter will hinder, and now my moift Fires are not at 
 all impeded thereby. And upon this account it is 
 a thing altogether polTible that a fiery Globe [or 
 Granadoe] may be as well emitted [or be as forci- 
 ble] out of the deep Waters with [or by] them, as 
 it may with Gun-powder out of the Water, the 
 which (eems indeed incredible, but yet is very eafie 
 to him that is endued with the knowledge of thefe 
 things. 
 
 There yet reft a few admonitions to be given, viz.. 
 that no body pals his (entence upon the(e my fecrets 
 here difclofcd, with a prejudiced and foreftalled judg- 
 ment, unlefs he has a mind to (lur himfelf with an in- 
 famous mark, but . let him have patience, till he of 
 his own knowledge perceive the whole Bafis of the 
 bufinefs. Many things there be that lie as yet hid- 
 den, which (as Prophefies tell us ) muft be mani- 
 fefted before the Worlds end. This time draws 
 nearer and nearer, though (o few believe it. For 
 my part I am verily of this Opinion, that there is 
 fiich a wonderfull time at hand, the like ofwhich 
 hath neither been (een or heard of from the time of 
 the Floud even to thefe our days. 1 pray God to 
 Defend the Pious, and to Convert the Wicked, 
 Amen, 
 
 The End of the Firfi Vnrt. 
 
THE 
 
 SECOND PART 
 
 O F 
 
 GLAUBERS 
 
 W O R K S. 
 
 The Firft CENTURY, 
 
 O R 
 
 «ealtl)p ^to^e Hottf e of ^reafutes. 
 
 BEING 
 A General Appendix to all his hitherto-publifhed Writings. 
 The which doth not onely illuftrate all obfcure places, as 
 
 well in his Philofophical and Medicinal as Chymical Writings, and explain 
 thofe hard places to be undcrftood ; but alfo do fo abundantly fupply 
 thofe which are defecftivc, that the learned and the unlearned, the higheit 
 and the lowell:, and more, the meaneft Workmen and Husbandmen, 
 may fufficiently be able to comprehend that Glauber hath in all his Wri- 
 tings, written the pure and fimple Truth, and hath again brought to light 
 the moft noble Art of Alchymy which hath fo long lain hid in darknefs 
 hitherto 3 and hath difcovered it for the common good of Mankind. 
 
 LONDON, Printed in the Year MDCLXXXIX. 
 
■& 
 
 rrr 
 
 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE- 
 
 T 
 
 Courteous Reader, 
 
 HAT every promife becomes a deht^ is reported by a commoii Proverb 
 or By-word^ a?id therefore to Jia?id to ones word or promife^ is a timig 
 which procures a great Oriiamejit or grace no lefs to Juniors tha?i to 
 Seniors. , Since therefore in my Writings I have ingaged my Faith or 
 Credit through the promt fing of fome little Works, and yet have not been able^ by 
 reafon of the fcantinefs of time, hitherto to fatisjie the expectation and de fire of very 
 many, by publijhi?ig of the fame 5 yea fince greater Difcommodities and Impediments 
 being cafl in my way, do hinder me from day to day whereby I caniiot write more 
 thijigs, although 1 have nothing more in my de fires than that in flandijig to my 
 promife, I may acquit my credit, and fet forth the faid little Worlds 3 to wit, my 
 
 ' Vegetable Worl^, my Wor k^ of S2iiux:n, my Boo^of Dialogues or Difcourfe, the fourth 
 part of my SpagM'ical Pliarmacopaa or Chymical Difpenfatory, and my admirable 
 little Book^ of the coJicentring of the Heaven and Earth : truly they being Treaiifes 
 containing mofi excellent Arcanums or Secrets, and the mofi worthy ones whereof 
 Men can be inade partakers^ notwithfianding I am of neceffity defiitute of time for 
 the writing of any Treat ife peculiarly, and for that caufe I am conjirained to infifl 
 in a nearer path, and for the fake of promoting the publick.good, to fend forth the 
 faid Treatifes in public k, by a lefs labour and trouble. The prefent Treat ife 7wti- 
 fied with the Jitle of an univerfal Chefi or Cabi?iet full of Riches, or of a general 
 Appendix of all my Writi?/gs hitherto expofedto thepublick. view performs this, where- 
 
 I by all t hi figs which have been either the more briefly and obfcurely fpoken in them 
 are with a more clear or perfpicuousilluftration explained, or things that have been 
 
 I vpholly omitted are fupplied, and by the fhme endeavour the promifed Treatifes 
 are added ^ yet not in that order wherein they ought otherwife to be writien down 
 and the which order here to be obferved, would adminifter very muck trouble • but 
 
 I wherein all the fecrets have in procefs of time been made known u?ito me and com- 
 
 I piitted to Paper. But it is free for aiiy one to add accordiiig to his own Judgment, 
 Medicinal Secrets unto Medicinal ones. Mineral Secrets unto Mineral o?ies, Chy- 
 mical Secrets unto Chymical Ofies, if it fhall fo pleafe him, and time fhall alfo per- 
 mit the fame, which it in no wife permitteth unto me, every one that acquit fceth 
 and is content with thefe things may confider, if a certain Cook^fhould fet a Difh 
 ^nthe Table filled with the beft Meats, as being defiitute of time, to put every fort 
 of Meat in a feveral Dijh,whether he could of right be angry with him^orby wh/fpering- 
 ly pratingjje could dare to fay, he was to be blamed as beifig ?iot skjlfull in the a fairs 
 of the Kitchifi, becaufe collet ing fo many delicate and fuch dainty Meats into one 
 Dijh^ and daring to fet them on the Table ? / fuppofe not any one could of ri^ht 
 complain of fuch a deed of any Cook. 5 '^■'^ Cook, de firing to have it taken in good 
 part, fuch Meats as he had, fuch he fets before them j he that refufeth to take of them, 
 may ufe his own liberty, and may let thofe Meats alone, which he is not compelled to 
 receive, even as the Cook, ^^fo ^^i^y be confirained by none in preparing of the fame ac- 
 cording to his own will or judgment. A 2 Whatfo- 
 
the PREFACE. 
 
 Whatfoever Meat doth 7iot pleafe the Pallate of one^ yet will ?iot be ivgratefuU to 
 the Pallate of another^ but on the contrary gratefully feeing one food is iront to fa- 
 vour or relijh this Man^ ajid another the other ^ neither is he inordinately affe^eJ 
 irith the difdainof confufed Meais, who taketh of thofe which relijh hi??i^ and Ua- 
 ueth the reft for others. 
 
 Let every one that blarneth thefe Writings do the fame, not in hajiily takJ77g them 
 in evil part^ but in frie?idly and courteoujly excufing me that I have ?iot fe?it tbeiii 
 ahroud in a more ])arnionious order. - 
 
 They are like unto a certain true and great Cabi?iet or Chefi^filk4fwith very many 
 excelle?it Secrets^ being reduced into my kjiowledge through a fuccejfive diligent 
 fearch of thirty years arid fo colIeHed into one heap^ that they might either be confer^ 
 ved for 7ny own or at fome time be made of public k,ufe or fervice: out of this Cheft 
 every one jhall he able to exhauji thofe Arcanums and Secrets, which jh all pleafe him 
 
 orferve his ufes. - ■ 
 
 As to what concerns my felf becaufe I daily behold fometimes this Man^ fometimes 
 that Man bei?2gfnatched away by death, to be carried forth a7id C07?imitted to tJje 
 Earth, 1 7nay eafily conclude rationally with 77iy felf, that thofe cha7iges or chances 
 will in a jhort time happen alfo u7ito me ^ Ijhould C077imit a very grievous offence 
 orerrour, that fo tnany cofts, labours and troubles, of fo 7na7iy and fo great Seer eti 
 being confu7ned i7i vain, I jhould carry them away with 77ie under grou7id, a7id noi. 
 be flow them for a common good : I jhall here perform the office of a good Houfe-ho^ 
 der, or skjlfull Houfe-keeper or Steward, who after that he hath made abunJant 
 ofProvifion for Wiriter-cloatlmig for bi7?ifelf, his Wife, Children and whole Family^ 
 if he hath as yet ple7ity of hitmen a7id Woollen Cloth remaitiing, he doth 7iot caft. 
 them away, but rather cajls thern together into a Chefi, fo long to be kept, untill 
 he fhall obtain an occafion of ad7?iinijiri7ig them for the ufe of his Neighbour. In 
 the name of the Lord therefore, in making a beginning with the opetiing of my Chefi 
 of Trea fires, I will empty it out by little and little by degrees, and will offer it 
 for. a common ufe, that out of fo ma7iy Treafures, every 07ie may cotwert utito 
 bis own ufe, what things he jhall jtidge to be profitable tmto him 5 to wit^ 
 a Phyfician Medicinal things, and a Chymift Chymical things, even as every 
 one jhall difcern a7iy thing to be fit for his own ufe, every one of what rarJ^ 
 foever jhall find thofe tlmigs wherewith he migh be content, fo itideed that 
 whatfoever he jhall 7iot meet withall in the firft, feco7id, or third Century 
 may be found in the reft, for which things fake, if ten Centuries fhall not be fuff 
 ficent, I will ad joy n other ten or more, that fo 1 may remove from me all thofe carei^ 
 and carefulnejfes wherewith the cuftody of fo great Treafures bath importuned a7id af' 
 fe^ed 77ie for fo maiiy years. Like unto a travelling Wo7nan, who with the greatefi 
 define expe^eth the hour of her delivery, and who defiireth the beholding of her Fruity 
 do I define that time wherein all things fhall be printed in Letters. The Ah7iighty 
 God be flow on me fo much prefence of mind, health, a7id ftrength, and prolo7ig my 
 Life fo far, that 1 7nay finijh it to his Ho7iow\ and the Succour, Comfort a?id Pro- 
 fit of all Mankind. Amea 
 
 hi 
 
THE 
 
 FIRST CENTURY: 
 
 O R 
 
 <i. 
 
 GLAUBER'S Wealthy Store-Houfe of Treafures. 
 
 PART 11. 
 
 /;/ the Name of the mo ft Holy Trinity I he gin to write the Firft 
 
 Century of my General Appendix, or an Expofition 
 
 of all my Writings hitherto fet forth. 
 
 I. Concerning Fire and Salt^ and what Alcbymy is. 
 
 ALCHYMY is a Science, and Art of 
 deftroying , of purging immature or 
 unripe and impure Metals, by Fire 
 and Salt, and by a fingular Artifice, 
 of converting the more pure part into 
 a better form and kind, according to 
 the words of Tamcelj/ts, who faith, E-vcry SoMetbing 
 is to be convert eri into Nothing, and every Nothing hito 
 Sowethitig. Alfo Corruption renders that which is 
 good pei-fed, the which is to be equally underftood 
 of particular and univerlal Operations. 
 
 Neverthclcfs it is not of neceffity that Ifliould here 
 tedioufly treat of a particular Tranfmutation of Me- 
 tals by Fire and Salt, becaufe that hath been already 
 long ilnce performed in the lecond part of the Mi- 
 racle of the World, and alfo in the fifth part of. the 
 profpericy oi^ Germany. 
 
 A Square within a Circle. 
 
 lit the Sun 
 
 cifirl Salt are 
 all things. 
 
 ll. A Dc}7io7ifiration whereby a is proved th.it Fire and 
 ■ Salt are Jncft ncble Creatures of God, and that in Fire 
 there lies hid the purefi Salt, and in Salt a rmfi effica- 
 cious Fire. 
 
 THAT Fire and Salt arc moft noble Creatures of 
 God I have evidently enough demondratcd in 
 my little work concerning the nature of Salts. But 
 that there is a fubti'.e (alrilh fpirit in any fire, and 
 that between the heat of the Sun, and of our Kit- 
 chin tire, as to their laltidi (pirit, a great ditrercnce/ 
 
 doth interpofe is fufficiently and over fufficiently 
 known. But to comprehend or lay bold of, to con- 
 center fuch a pure faltifh (pirit of 5^.'', to render it 
 corporal , palpable or perceivable, and vifible, re- 
 mains hidden and unknown to us by reafon of' our 
 fins; becaufe God referves fo great my fteries for his 
 own alone, of whom he is honoured and feared ; 
 forGod himfelfufethno better fimilitude than the 
 fire, whereunto the Ancients e.xhibited divine ho- 
 nour, and by the help of the fame, perfeded all 
 their Sacrifices : So among the CaUkans, Fire and 
 God are called by one and the fame name of £/c/j - 
 and among the Heathens, the chief Phiiofophers, yea 
 Hermes himfelt thought the Sun to be a God and 
 worniipped It for a God. Thefe things are found 
 exprelled by Aiiitnfs concerning the nature of Gods, 
 and therefore thofe things are not neceffary which 
 rriay be here repeated Yet that is well to be noted, 
 that God hath always appeared to his Saints under 
 the fiiew of fire, and hath talked with them out of it. 
 It being that which is full of the greatefl myfteries, 
 yet oblerved but by a few, as in a peculiar little 
 work concerning the concentration of the Heaven 
 and the Earth I will more plainlrand fully declare. 
 I affirm therefore, that it can Ccakc be, that the ad- 
 mirable, yea incredible nature of fire fhould be de- 
 fcribed without the revelatian of the higbeft orgrea- 
 teft myfteries of God. ffherefore it is better thac 
 fuch Secrets are pafled by in fiJcnce, than that preci- 
 ous pearls fhould be caff before Swine, who are wont 
 to receive them with laughter, and proclaim that 
 they are nothing but the mere (bphifleris of triflers 
 even as is evidently manifeft from the defcription of 
 J. H. S. of the Phiiofophers Stone, wherein Nature 
 he faith, makes not ufe of Glafles, Vellels, Fire Salt' 
 Urine, and the like in the bowels of the Earth'; and' 
 the univerfal Elixir may very fitly be prepare'd by 
 him, who alfo hath not handled any Chymical La- 
 B bours. 
 
Tbe Firft Ccntiir)>. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 hours, or was never buficd about Fire or Salt : Let it 
 (hame the man of (iich ftinking lies, wherewith he 
 endeavours to cover his own ignorance, I on the 
 contrary affirm, that all thofc that know not how to 
 handle Fire and Salt, do in very deed know nothing, 
 but do give credit unto thofc things only which they 
 hear, or read in others writings, and alio for that 
 caufe' are unworthv of the name and title of true 
 Philofophers ; fora/uc Philolophy is to be thorough- 
 ly or perfedly learned bv the help of Fire and Salt 
 alone, the which God willing (hall be more evidently 
 demonftrated. 
 
 III. 
 
 It is moreover demonfl^rated, that in all Salts an ad- 
 ?mrable Fire doth lurk as being laid tip therein, through 
 the tndeavour whereof very many admirable things 
 may he perfected as well in Medicine as in Alchymy : 
 andalfo that it may be altogether performed, that out 
 of Vitriol the Stone of the ancient Wife men, out of 
 Salt Veter a fpirtlual Gold, and an excelltJit yelloiu 
 • TintUtre, and out of common Salt the true Ftarl of the 
 Thilofojihers may he prepared. 
 
 IN all Salts, that a moft potent Fire doth lurk as be- 
 ing laid up therein, thole have beft known who 
 have the labours of the fire thoroughly viewed and 
 certainly known. For through the efficacy and opera- 
 tion hereof, (alts are reduced unto a fiery force, or pow- 
 er or unto a mdift fire, out of which they before arofe, 
 after the laying down of their earthlinefs, yet one fait 
 draws out one fire far unlike to the fire of another, fo 
 that this is volatile, the other is fixed, and remaining 
 conftant in the fire ; another is partly volatile and 
 partly fi.xed, even as the operation (hall procure this 
 or the other property unto them, yet all fiich fiery 
 falts may by the benefit of Art be concentred, and 
 made more'efficacious than they were made by fome 
 one diftillation. For example lake. If any one be- 
 holdeth Vitriol, and confiders of the nature thereof, 
 he fhall in very deed certainly find that by the help 
 of a ftrong fire, there may be allured or extracted 
 out of it that which was in the beginning, to wit, a 
 fiery fpirit, which by the aid of external fire, being 
 reduced into a narrow Central room, or Con-centra- 
 tion, draws out that internal fire, uncloathing it lelf 
 of o'r difplaying fo great virtues, that it reduceth into 
 a Coal all things which it moifteneth or encompaf- 
 feth, even like as if it had been burnt up by common 
 Kitchin fire, or by GlalTes receiving the Sun-beams 
 and burning up all things that are objeded againft it. 
 Concerning thele fiery lalts, and the preparation and 
 ufe of them, I being hereto deliver a few things, I 
 will take my beginning from the fire of Vitriol, and 
 the preparation of the fame, the various and manifold 
 ufe whereof (hall be afterwards explained in its own 
 place. 
 
 IV. Of the Treparation of the Fire of Vitriol. 
 
 REtorts made of the beft earth do draw out the 
 fire of Vitriol by diftillation after this manner 
 
 following. 
 
 Common Vitriol is calcined in earthen pots unto a 
 rednefs, and reduced into a powder, it is put into 
 an earthen Retort, and placed in a Furnace, and a 
 great vefiel adjoyned to the neck of the Retort, 
 which is to receive the fpirits going forth ; the fire is 
 kindled by degrees, and lb gradually increafcd untill 
 the Retort be*" brightly red hot, in which degree of 
 fire it is fo long to be urged untill no white Clouds 
 
 or little vapoury Mif^sdo any longer appear. This 
 operation is perfected in 24 hours Ipace at the moft. 
 But if the Retort (hall be very large all the 0\ 1 can- 
 not be extracted in the (pace of 24 hours, but will 
 require a longer time for the operation, which expe- 
 rience it (elf will determine: after all the Spirits arc 
 di(\illed otf and fettled to thebotmmof the Receiver, 
 the clay luting which joyncd the Receiver to the 
 neck of the Rerort is to be mollified with a wet cloth 
 put round about it, and the Receiver taken off, and 
 the fpirits poured out of itintoa glafs body well coa- 
 ted with Clay, the which fhaving an Alembickpuc 
 on) is to be let in fand, that the volatile (pirit may 
 (lowly and gently be drawn off, and kept lor its ule 
 afterwards to be taught. Alfo afterwards the phlegm 
 is tobedrawnoff, and referved for its own u(cs, be- 
 caufe it hath its own peculiar virtues. At length al- 
 (o the laft fpirit is to be received in a peculiar velTel, 
 the which, after that it hathceafed, and fiery drops 
 do follow, the fire is ( by degrees to be removed, 
 and when the fand is cold, the gourd is to be taken 
 out, in which ('the Alcmbick or head being taken 
 away) thou (halt find a fiery Oyl of a black or (bme- 
 what reddifh colour, the which is again to be recftifi- 
 ed in an open fire in a Retort well coated, that ic 
 may be rendred more fiery and clear. 
 
 By this oyl admirable things, and thofe not only 
 profitable for Phyficians but alfb for Chymifts, and 
 other Artificers, are perfected as we fhall ftraitway 
 
 fee. 
 
 There are indeed other ways or means alio by 
 which this oyl is attained, but this afore taught is 
 the eafieft of all, although it require the more time. 
 But if any one ftand in need of a greater quantity of I 
 the fame, he may procure thofe greater Cans prepa- 
 red of the beft Earth, they being fo joyned to each 
 other, that the uppermoft being placed on the fire, 
 the reft might be placed without the fire, (b thac 
 the lowermo(t may receive the oyl going out by dc- 
 fcent. 
 
 V. A proof whether this Oyl of Vitriol be well prepared I 
 and firong, and fit enough for that operation of whuB 
 we here treat. 
 
 LET down a quill or (<)me finall piece of wood into 
 the Oyl, the which, when thou haft left in ic 
 for fome fhiall time, draw it out ; if it (hall be burnc 
 unto a Coal the oyl is well prepared, but if not, it is 
 a fign that (omewhat of moifture is as yet therein, 
 which is again to be expelled by fire. 
 
 VI. Another tryal or experiment. 
 
 D 
 
 I P in the oyl a piece of woollen, linnen, or 
 which is better a piece of cotton cloth extend- 
 ed to the breadth of a finger, and pour on the(dme 
 being taken out and laid down Come drops of the 
 fpirit or oyl of Turpentine, the which if being kind- 
 led they (hall conceive a flame it is a fign that the oy! 
 was well prepared. 
 
 VII. Another further Proof. 
 
 POur into fome little glafs fome fmall quantity of 
 fpirit of wine wanting all phlegm, and pour on 
 the famelbme drops of this oyl by little and little ; 
 and if the fpirit of vvine kindle and burn all away the 
 oyl is prepared after a due manner. 
 KB. I admonifti that every one doth warily han- 
 dle 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Fii'ft Centuij. 
 
 tile this operation ; for in theic two fires , to wir, 
 laltifli and fulplnircous ones, there is great virtue 
 hidden, the which (eems probable but to a few, if it 
 fhould be manitcltcd unto them, neither that have 1 
 lonlulted or decreed that it fhould be made known 
 to very mmiy. The(e few particulars do (liflicient- 
 Iv teach atrcr what (brt fuch fires aretobeufed in 
 Medicine, Akhymy and other Arts; but thefe expe- 
 liaients arefufficient. 
 
 VIII. Concerning the ufe of this Fire of Vitriol in Me- 
 Jictne. 
 
 THE ufe of this fire, asalfo of the volatile fpirit of 
 the fame, and of its fiegm, thou fhalt find de- 
 fcribed in the fecond p^ of my Furnaces, and a- 
 iTiong other Authours ; fo that the repetition there- 
 of is here fuperfluous, this is onely to be known that 
 this fire being onely befiDcared or anointed with a 
 feather on all uncurab'e and Cancerous or eating 
 Ulcers, kills the Poyibn, and caufeth that (uch Ul- 
 cers do very eafily admit of cure, if fobe the Efcharre 
 be but firfl removed by the applying fome ointment 
 or emplaifter which cures ailuliion or burning. For 
 this oyl burns up all wild or forreign flefh, and that 
 which (as proud) lifts up it Iclf with an abounding 
 poylon, like unto a certain bright burning Iron, and 
 feparates all evil and hurtful! flelh from the good and 
 found llefh. 
 
 IX. Of the general tife of this Ojl'm Alchymy. 
 
 BY this mineral fire, all k'nd of Tranfmutations of 
 things are perfected, but particularly it cxalteth 
 fome of the more bale metals into a higher degree, 
 and makes them more conftant, of which more fhalj 
 befdid in the following Chapters or Treatifes. 
 
 In the general, fome Vegetables, Animal and Mi- 
 neral fbbjecls, may by the operation of this Oyl be 
 reduced into fixt Medicines, and indeed far more 
 commodioufly than by the common fire of Wood or 
 Coals. And moreover which is a far greater tiling 
 in this very oyl a fiery Timfture is hidden, and is 
 manitefttd by' the benefit of Art, as Fryer Bafdnis, 
 and other Philofbphers do aBirra. 
 
 X. Of the ufe of this fire in other Arts. 
 
 BY the virtues of this invifible, and yet eflen- 
 tial fire, all forts of moft profitable matters 
 are performed , the which notwithftanding is not 
 here fafe for me to dcfcribe, but I am conftrai- 
 ned to refer it till another time, it onely in this place 
 feems worthy my labour, briefly to (hew that this 
 fire performs all thofe things which the fire of Coals 
 is othcrwilc wont to eft'ect. 
 
 Truly it is a fire, but it fhineth not like the fire of 
 Wood or Coals : But he that will have it to fhine, 
 he mufl needs add unto it a fubtile or fine Sulphur, 
 that he mav extradl or allure forth of it a vifible fire. 
 
 This fire being defended againft the entrance of the 
 Air, remains cccuk tor many thoufiinds of years, 
 and doth nqj maniteft it felt", unlets any one make it 
 manifeft. 
 
 Truly it is an admirable fire, and moft fir for the 
 efifeding of many incredible things, whereof we have 
 fpoken many things lutficient for this rime. 
 
 XI. An evident tlcmcnfhraticn of fuch a fire Ifing hid 
 even m the Salt of the Kitchin, and that knoivn to 
 every one. 
 
 AFter that fhno and many other Philofophers 
 took notice that nothing endowed with life did 
 Confift without Salr,and that dead Carcaircsthcmtelves 
 were preferved for a long time from putrc'i(ftion bv 
 the virtues of the fame ; they thought and wrote that 
 a certain divine thing lay hid in it. But after what 
 fort this divine and hidden thing is to be made vifi- 
 ble, they have not taught. But without doubt, thofe 
 moft wife Philofophers would by this word fhewand 
 denote fbmcthing of a fingular excellency. 
 
 Becaufe therefore God himlelf is a fire, and hath 
 never appeared to his Saints in any other fhapc but 
 that of fire, and bcfides alto all Salts are generated 
 in the moilt bowels of the earth from an Aftral fire, 
 and on the contrary, a true fire may by the operati- 
 on of Art be extradled and rendred palpable and 
 vifible out of all Salts, it being that which without 
 doubt lay not hid unto them, therefore it is alfbvery 
 likely that thofe Philofophers have not without a 
 caufe of great moment written that a certain Di- 
 vine or fiery Being did fccretly lurk in Salt. 
 
 But that they have intimated not any thing to be 
 better, or more noble than that fiery and faltifh Spi- 
 rit may be forefeen by an cafie conjedure ; for if a 
 certain divine thing fhall lie hid in Salt as they 
 write, it Ihall of neceflity follow that that divine 
 fpark being freed from all its earthly bonds fhould be 
 far fuperiour to all earthly things in beauty, virtues 
 efficacy and power ; and that next to the eternal God 
 himfelf it fhould remain the chiefcft and molt pre- 
 cious Pearl in the World. 
 
 But who fhall teach us the manner of feparating 
 ft) precious a Pearl out of the common and Kitchin 
 Salt > none but God alone, or fome good friend - 
 who can make his friend a partaker of the know- 
 ledge received from God i 
 
 But fince that very few mortals do feek, love, fear 
 and honour God with fincere hearts, but do much 
 rather cleave fait unto the frail and unjuft Mam- 
 mon , and attribute divine honour unto the fame ; 
 its no wonder that God doth referve thofe things to 
 himfelf, or at leaft doth fparingly beftow on us thofe 
 things which he abundantly fupplyed the Ancients 
 withall from his own bountifull hand : And moreo- 
 ver the lame omnipotent Creatour enlightning Ibmc 
 fit fubjed, with a certain Ipark of nature , grants 
 unto himalfo fomuch wit that he knows that by a 
 due filence he is to beware of this wicked dreg or 
 drofs of the World. Whence it is no wonder that 
 the light of nature is at this day made known to fo 
 few mortals. 
 
 But before I treat in many particulars of that pre- 
 cious Pearl of Salt, it leems altogether necellaryfor 
 me; firft to fhew the manner and realbn of extraft- 
 ing that fire out of Kitchin Salt; the fepariition 
 whereof can be perfected in no other refped than 
 through the violence of common fire, to wir, when- 
 as the Salt being niixt with a certain earthly matter 
 that it cannot How, is urged in a retort with a moft 
 Ifrong fire, that the more pure part of the' Salt, which 
 is nothing elfe but a Iharp fpirit , may depart into the 
 Receiver joyned to the Retort, in which Iharp and 
 Iweet fpirit a moft efficacious fire lurketh which in 
 manner following is to be extra<^ed and concentred. 
 
 XII. 0/ 
 
Th Firft Centiir 
 
 Part IL 
 
 XII. of tbe preparation of the fire cf Salt. 
 
 TAKE of this acid or fliarp fpirit of Salt, redliifie 
 it out of a Glafs Retort in fand ; the fiegm 
 will come over firft, which was put in the receiving 
 Veflel in the firft DiftiUation to condenfe orxoliett 
 the fpirits the more commodioufly. After that all 
 the flegn^is come otf, and acid drops begin to come, 
 remove or change your Receiver, and take your fpi- 
 rits therein ; continue the Diftillation fo long untill 
 all the fpirits become forth, it being indowed with 
 an acid ivveetnels, is an etfcvfler of very many opera- 
 tions, which doth bring much profit both in Medi- 
 cine 'and Alchymy, as is manifeft out of diverfe of 
 my writings, and efpecially our of the ad. part of 
 my Furnaces, and the comfort of Mariners. 
 
 In this fweet and fharp fpirit like Wine there is an 
 infernal fire hidden, which doth equally like Coals 
 burn up all things put into it, like as the fire of wood 
 and coals doth Vegetables and Animals, and itredu- 
 ceth all things which common fire doth, by calcining 
 them into afhes, luch as are immature metals, tin, 
 lead and the like, which when they are put into it, 
 it burns them up by calcining them into white afhes. 
 
 XIII. A Ccncetitrating the reclified Spirit of Salt into a 
 nwifi and cold Fire, 
 
 EVery Spirit of Saltconfifleth of two things, to wit. 
 Fire and Water, which water the fire doth fb 
 firmly co knit to it felf, that it cannot be wholly fe- 
 parated by any diftillation or redtifying; but it al- 
 ways adheres to the fire, how often focver it be rec- 
 tified or diftilled : if any one therefore defireth by 
 reflifying to feparate them he inuft of neceflity put 
 immature metal-like fubjetTts to the Spirit of Salt, the 
 which, by how much the more immature or unripe 
 they are, by fo much they render the fpirit of fait 
 the purer ; fuch are Lapis Calaminaris, Zink , and 
 IrcK, which by realhn of their moift and attrading 
 nature, do draw to them that invifible fire out of the 
 ipirit of fait, as it were that agent whereof (as to 
 their maturity or perfection ) they are necellarily 
 deftitute, and without which fiery agent, a metal- 
 lick kind of body is able to attain unto no perfefliion 
 , in the earth. 
 
 Such metallick fubjcfls therefore, the fpirit of fait, 
 they being put into it, aflaulteth, and as much as it 
 can dilfolves them. This fblution being diftilled out 
 of a glals retort by fand, with the more gentle fire, 
 {ends forth nothing but a meer and unfavoury phlegm, 
 the fiery elTence it (elf remaining with the mineral in 
 the Retort, the which if it be more and more urged, 
 and the fire more increafed, that it may become 
 plainly burning bright, thep that mineral cannot 
 longer retain the fire of the fait, but diliniflcth it, 
 which defcending into the receiving vellcl, is con- 
 dcnfed into a thick and fiery oyl, which is afterwards 
 to be kept in ftrong and well ftopt glalTes, becaufe it 
 fumes witliout intcrmilTion, and defires to return in- 
 to the air, as it were its Chaos from whence it came 
 forth. 
 
 This fire is the operator of great effeds in Alchymy 
 and Medicine, of which effeds very few have known 
 how to diicourfe. But it hath far dilferent proper- 
 ties and qualities from that which is e.xtradcd out of 
 Vitriol, whereof it fhall be afterwards treated. 
 
 And although through the help of this fir©' , in- 
 credible things may be performed as well by Cby- 
 
 miftsas Phyficians, and other Artificers ; yet it is a 
 confuming, deftroying, and alio a ripening fire ; nei- 
 ther hath it theleaft of the moft noble Pearl with it 
 whereof wc have made mention above, and tho 
 which in this preparation is converted into fucha fire. 
 
 That Pearl, if it fliould be e.xtradcd or allured out 
 of Salt, in my finiple opinion it were to be e.xtradcd 
 not by the benefit of the fire, but through the en- 
 deavour of metallick and attrading fubjeds. 
 
 But although I do not profefs my felf to be fo skil- 
 full a Mafter, and do not arrogate to my felf the 
 knowledge of fo precious a pearl, yet 1 cannot but 
 bewray thatfmall little fpark of Nature which God 
 hath granted unto me, that fo every one may have 
 a clear knowledge and fight of what admirable myf^ 
 teries Salt doth hide in its own vile body. 
 
 XIV. The manner whenby that mof precious Vearl of 
 Salt may at leaji vije infome rejpect be rcndred ccn- 
 jptcmus or apparent. 
 
 EVEN as I have admonifhed in my foregoing wri- 
 tings, that the powers, colours, and virtues of 
 all Vegetables, Animals,and Minerals are found con- 
 centred in Fire and Salt, fo alio I now affirm and af^ 
 fert the fame thing that by Salt through the benefit 
 of Fire, all Vegetables, Animals, and Metals, may 
 in their own fpecies, nature and properties be in- 
 creafed and propagated into an infinity. So that 
 we have the feeds of them. 
 
 For example fake. I prepare Kitchin Salt by the 
 fire, that its tartnefs being loft, it puts on the nature 
 ofan Alcali orLixivialSalt, I mix lome parts thereof 
 with fbme barren earth, or with naked fand , the 
 which I moiften with water, in thefe I fow the feeds 
 of vegetables, that they may be nourifhed by that 
 Salt and may grow, which in thus growing do ob- 
 tain their own proper figures, virtues and colours, 
 they appear green, } ellow and red, sky-coloured, 
 purple coloured, and white, &c. and have a fweet, 
 four, fharp, bitter, favour, even as God hath be- 
 ftowed on every particular kind its own proper na- 
 ture, which operation proceeds from this one onely 
 Salt, and the fiery beams of the Sun being tempered 
 with air. 
 
 When therefore Beafts are fed with thefe Herbs 
 growing, and receiving nourifhment from the Salt, 
 they are of neccftity alfb nourifhed and increafed by 
 the fame ; even as alfb the fame Herbs growing from 
 the fame Salt do fupply nourifliment and increafe 
 themfclves. * 
 
 But if any one could obtain the true feed of Gold, 
 and increafe that feed by the help of Salt and Fire ; 
 he might i without doubtj obtam great plenty of 
 Gold, but God will not have it that the tail of the 
 Goat fhould be as long as the Cows, the which being 
 lifted up with too much pride, would ftrikeouthcr 
 own eyes with her too long tail. 
 
 If therefore all things and Gold it felf, as alfb Sil- 
 ver, Pearls, and precious Stones, are after an invi- 
 fible and occult manner hidden in Salt, and may 
 by the help of art and nature be rendrcd palpable 
 and vifible ; why alfo might it not come to pafs that 
 the moft excellent Medicine and moft precious Pearl 
 of the wife men might be allured forth out of the 
 fame Salt .■' Truly common Pearls are bred out of 
 Salt waters, wherein if the firft matter of Pearls were 
 not, after what manner or fort fhould they bewray 
 themfeh es out of the fame .'' Therefore that it may 
 evidently be made manifeft, that by the ope- 
 ration 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Firft Century. 
 
 ration of art, alio Pearls may be cxtrafted out of 
 Salt which do far excell thofe Pearls, which by fi(h- 
 ing are drawn out of the depth of the Sea, in beauty, 
 virtue, efficacy and excellency ; I will prefcribe 
 as much indeed as hath been granted unto me, for 
 demonltrating the polli :ility of the thing, a certain 
 manner wherebv every one fhall be able to take to 
 him a firm and (Lire loundation of weighing or confi- 
 d.ringofthe matter more exaflly. 
 
 W. A» opcratioft of alluring fcrth aVhilofofJiicai Pearl 
 (lit of Salt. 
 
 Dlflblve thou in common water, as much of com- 
 mon Salt as thou wilt, by how much the grea- 
 ter plenty thou (halt take, by (b much the more thou 
 ihalt obtain. 
 
 In like manner dilTolve in a^. fort, one or two Oun- 
 ces of Silver, pour this (olution of L/mc on the diflbl- 
 ved Salt, and ftir both the diflblutions up and down 
 divers times , that it may become white and like un- 
 to Milk. For Silver cannot well indurs the Salt, but 
 departing from it is precipitated to the bottom, and 
 there re.^des, in the form of a fnow-likc Powder, 
 which by the effullon or pouring cff the water is to 
 be (eparated and dried. 
 
 This filvcr powder hath extracted a fpiritual and 
 phiiofophical gold, or the faid precious Pearl out of 
 the Salt Water. Becaute Diana hath known no lefs 
 how to fifh Pearls in the Salt Sea, than to hunt wild 
 Beafts in the green Woods : But that Pearl is made 
 corporal and vilible in manner following. 
 
 XVI. HjW the Pearl being attained is made vipble. 
 
 IT is to be noted that that filver powder being thus 
 by it felf, and without an admixture of other fi.x- 
 xed Salts, doth very hardly by fuficn return into its 
 former form of lilver, but that it flows like Salt, and 
 pierceth any vellel whatfocvcr, yea doth departin- 
 to a fmoak. For the Ipirits of the Salt do render the 
 filver fb fluid and volatile; that it is made altogether 
 mercurial ; and therefore its more tender and noble 
 part may be feparated from its more grofs part by 
 difliIIation,if this could be done by glaflen, or earth- 
 
 . en, or metallick veflels. 
 
 When this mercury of Lure is m.elted in an open 
 crucible, itvanilheth into fiiioak. it being put into 
 a Glals Retort, reiu'eth to yield to the fire, the 
 whicli being too much increafed makes the glafs 
 to melr, anddeflro}s theglals together with the fil- 
 ver. If earthen veflels be ufed, the fame mercury 
 pierceth the fiim.e unhurt like oyled Leather, when 
 k departs, the Salts alio depart 'into fmoak, and do 
 leave little grains of filver adhering to the veflel, 
 whereof in this refpecl there is made a lofs, which 
 renders the fublimation void. 
 Of Iron vellels alio here is no ufe, becaufe of the Salts 
 
 ■ that are admi.xed with the filver riling up againft the 
 Iron, they diliiiifs the filver reduced to its ancient bo- 
 dy, and bcfiues a little (pirit of fait they fend forth 
 nothing, lb that no leparacion is made, but the pure 
 and impure do remain co-mixt. 
 
 Forthefake of avoiding thole difcommoditiesi have 
 tried many ways and manners in vain.andat lengthl 
 took notice, that if luch a matter be added to the mofi: 
 penetrating mercury of /./.-w, which may fo hinder its 
 efficacy of (blving and co melting, that it may be 
 changed into a porous lump, than that, through the 
 benefit of fire thsre might be an eafie leparation 
 
 thereof, which without this help dothmoll dilFicuItly 
 exift. ^ 
 
 Inthenam.c of the Lord, therefore adjovn thou 
 unto thy fiffiing Net ; that is, unto the mercury of 
 Lime, fuch a matter in due weight and meafure 
 which admits not of melting, and which fufFers not 
 the mercury of Lune to conflux, or melt together. 
 Such are wooden Coals being reduced into a fine 
 powdcr.with the which being mix^hvith the mercury 
 of Lime, thou fhalt fill thy diflilling veflel, whether 
 it be earth, or iron, or glafs which is the beft of all^ 
 even unto the halfpart,and fhall (et it in the fire, the 
 which is to be gently increaled by degrees, untilj the 
 glafs become burning bright, keep the velfel folong 
 in this heat untill all the fpirits are departed, which 
 ceafing, thou flialt take away the vclfel being cold, 
 in which thou wilt find the remainder of the mercu- 
 ry which did notafcend, reduced into a corporal or 
 imbodyed filver , or at leaft wi:c fuch, to which ad- 
 ding a little borace is eafily reduced into filver, the 
 which doth contain fomewhac of gold ; but keep 
 thou that fubtile and pure matter which afcended iri 
 diftillation as a precious treafure, and meditate after 
 whatfbrt, or by what means thou may ft be able to fix 
 this precious Pearl, and convert ic into a fufible, or 
 flowabic, and piercing ftone. 
 
 But in what refpect, or in what manner this thing 
 is to be done, in very deed I cannot tell, becaufel 
 am he who have not hitherto had leifure , nor time 
 of perferting that thing, and therefore 1 have been 
 willing here to fhew onely thefe things which I have 
 (een with my eyes, and handled with my hands. 
 
 Another (hall be able by his own judgment to 
 make tryal, and to (ee what God will beftow upon 
 him, I have (hewn in (lead of the mercurial Statue or 
 Image, that which (hall fuffice at prelent. 
 
 XVII. A more eafie manner of obtaining a Phiiofophi- 
 cal Pearl. 
 
 IF thou (halt be defirous of obtaining a Philofo phi" 
 cal Pearl after a more eafie manner, thou mull 
 of necellity thus operate. 
 
 Unto half a Loton, /. e. two drams of the mercury 
 oi Lune, add a little of the powder of Coals, and put 
 the conjoyned matters into a finall glafs, the which 
 fct in a crucible encompafled with fand unto that 
 height which the matter in the glafs it (elf (hall deter- 
 mine. On the mouth of the glafs put a fmall piece of 
 fomeglafsthat it may be well covered, and lb place 
 thou a lefs crucible with the upfide downward upon 
 that little glafs, that its (top) utmoft and higheft 
 bound being overwhelm.ed with the faid fand may 
 drive away all air from that little glafs. 
 
 Set that crucible being in this manner co-fitted, and 
 containing the little glafs (hut up between them in 
 live Coals of Wood, and make them bright burning 
 hot, that that may remain fired for a quarter of an 
 hours fpace, then let them cool, and thou (halt find 
 a little lifted up by fublimation, the reft being mel- 
 ted by borace, will afford a filver impregnated with 
 gold, yet without gain, the which demonftrateth 
 onely in the fpace of half an hour, what may be 
 done: but: what gain may be obtainted by this very 
 operation (hall hereafter be (hewn. 
 
 Furthermore it is here to be (een how moft beau- 
 tifull a Pearl doth bewray it felf, although very little 
 of it come forth, becaufe in this labour no fmall part 
 thereof flies away into the air, and flieweth onely its 
 colours alone in the glafs, far more beautifall than 
 gold, filver, and precious ftones ; if any one (hall 
 C rightly 
 
The Firft Centii 
 
 ■J- 
 
 Part IL 
 
 rightly operate, neither (hall there be any Painter 
 who (hal! exprefs it by imitating and painting. 
 
 For this time take what hath been fpoken in right 
 and good part, and immediately weigh thou fo great 
 a thing the more exaftly, pray, labour, feek, and in 
 leeking thou (halt rtnd fuch things which thou couldft 
 neverbefore have believed. 
 
 The Brethren of ignorance, my enemies, will here 
 objecT: againft metlr.and fay, that thefe moft elegant 
 colours have drawn their original from the filvcr : un- 
 to thofe I briefly anfwer,That they were indeed ex- 
 traded out of the Salt by the help of the filver, but 
 that they do not {fer fe) or by themfclves pertain to 
 the rilver,for if they were of the filver they would al- 
 fo be folved by aq. fortis, the which, fince it is not 
 done, they are not filver, but the meer Amma or 
 Soul of the fait. That this thing may be confirmed 
 by a more evident argument, I bring the folution of 
 Saturn or Lead, the which it felf alfo can lifh out 
 the fame Pearl from Salt, without Silver. If any one 
 fhall operate after the fame manner which I but now 
 (hewed, I alfo add this, that 1 am hereafter to reach 
 a way whereby Saturn may be able to fifh pure fim- 
 ple gold out of all falts. 
 
 Let us now return unto the moift and cold lire of 
 the Philofophers, and fee what an admirable fire God 
 hath hidden in Salt Peter. 
 
 That a moft potent fire doth lurk in Salt Peter is 
 not worth our confirming by any argument. That 
 horrible Gunpowder which fhakes or rends all things 
 afunder proveth the thing moft manifeftly, and A(]. 
 Fonts, which diffolveth and deltroyeth all Metals, 
 yet another fire of far more powerful! virtue is hid- 
 den in the fame Salt, which very few have known 
 and beheld, and the which we will here make mani- 
 feftj for the honour of God, and the profit of all 
 mankind. 
 
 XVIII. Of the preparation of the moifi and cold fire of 
 Salt Peter. 
 
 TAke of Potters earth being without fand, and 
 burnt,! parts, and i part of SalcPeter very well 
 purified, with both thefe matters being reduced into 
 powder and well mi.xed together, fill a glafs retort 
 well coated with clay, put it in a Furnace for diff il- 
 lation, and joyn a Receiver to the Neck of the Re- 
 tort, into which put as many pints or pounds of wa- 
 fer as there were pounds of Salt Peter mixed with the 
 earth, that the Spirits going forth may fo much the 
 fboner be condenfcd inro moiftuie, after thou haft 
 exactly joyned and luted thy Receiver to the neck 
 of the Retort, with a due lute (or clay) kindle a 
 fire according to Art by degrees, and the fpirit of the 
 Salt Peter ( reprefenting a yellow or red mift in going 
 forth) will joyn it felf to the water placed in the Re- 
 ceiver. 
 
 All the Spirits being come forth, take off thy Re- 
 ceiver, and feparate them from the watet, put this 
 fharp fpirit of Niter into fomiC ftrong glafs: it being 
 by diftilation freed from its fuperfluous phlegm and 
 rectified, is applied unto Medicinal and Chymical 
 ufes : concerning the operations and virtues whereof 
 there is mention made in the fecondpart of my Fur- 
 naces, and in the Difpenfatory of Scbrodems. More- 
 over, the manner of extracting and concentring a fire 
 of this fpiritis this. 
 
 Pour this fpirit of Niter on the powder of Lap. Ca- 
 lammaris or Ztnk reduced into fmall little grains that 
 it may dilfolve as much as it can: and when ic will 
 
 didolve no more in the Cold, place the glafs in hoc 
 fand that it may dilfolve more of the matter, fikie 
 the folution and by fand draw off all the phlegm in 
 a glafs retort ; the phlegm being all come oft, change 
 thy Receiver, and increafe thy fire and drive out a 
 fiery oyl, which oyl thou flialt keep well flopt, be- 
 caufe it uncellantly fuming would wholly vanifh a- 
 wav in the Air. 
 
 This fiery fmokeof Salt Peter, as alfo that of Vi- 
 triol, and common Salt, burns up all Herbs, Grafs, 
 Leaves and Flowers, and whatfoever it toucheth', 
 juft as if they were burnt with a ftrong heat of the 
 Sun or Fire. 
 
 And this is the preparation of the moift and cold 
 fire of Salt Peter, of the u(e and efficacious operation 
 whereof in Medicine and Alchymy, it {hall be more 
 exactly and fully treated on in the following Chap- 
 ters. 
 
 XIX. Of the moifi fire of Allome. 
 
 A Llome alfo by the work of DiftillationandCon- 
 ZlL centration yields an efficacious fire moft like to 
 that of Vitriol, in efficacy and virtues, but the plen- 
 ty doth not anfwer by reafbn of too much earth 
 wherewith it abounds, yet if fb.Tiewhat of the other 
 Salts be added unto it, it rightly and orderly beftows 
 its fire. 
 
 XX. Of the moifi and cold fire of Sulphur. 
 
 ALthough Sulphur finds not a place in the order 
 of Salts, becaufe it refufeth the fblvingin water, 
 yet it contains a vitriolated fait laid up in it, which 
 doth not manifeft it felf before that the more fat fub- 
 ftance thereof (hall be withdrawn by inflaming, by 
 the operation whereof the fait is attenuated or made 
 thin, and is carried on high by theflam.e like a fharp 
 finoke, fb that thisfliarp fulphureous fpirit burns all 
 things which it toucheth, after themannerofall thofe 
 fires which are drawn out of falts. 
 
 For the attaining this viriiolated and fulphureous 
 fpirit the flaiiie of the fulphur is to be received, in a 
 certain Alcmbick made of glafs or earth, peculiarly 
 for this operation, wherein that vitriolated fpirit of 
 fait condenleth it felf, and iffues forth like a thick fat, 
 and fiery oyl, not unlike to that which is made of 
 Vitriol, whereof it is treated on in my Furnaces. 
 
 All thels things do very evidently confirm thofe 
 particulars, which I have many years agoe commit- 
 ted to memory : concerning Sulphur and Vitriol, to 
 wit, that Sulphur is the original of all metals, and 
 that no metal at all is digged out of the earth, which 
 hath not either Vitriol or Sulphur, or for the moft 
 part both adjoyned unto it, for no fulphur is defti- 
 tute of vitriol, nor vitriol of fulphur, fb that both of 
 them do challenge the rife or birth of any kind of 
 metals whatlbever unto themfelves. And every 
 fulphur is by its own proper agent or vitriolated fait, 
 which it hath in its polfellion by nature (whereto the 
 central fire of the earth is an affiftantj excoc^ed or 
 boiled up more and more into a metal; neither doth 
 this univerfal agent or vitriolated fait depart from the 
 fatnefs, or its patient, untill the fatnefs together with 
 the agent fhall depart into a malleable metal, or a 
 metal that undergoes the hammer. Lead, iron and 
 copper, do make this thing manifeft, which metals 
 do never appear without vitriol and fulphur, and 
 that for this caufe ; becaufe they being as yet unripe 
 and imperfed ones, doftand in need of their agent. 
 ^ A lefs 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Ftrjl Century. 
 
 A lefs plenty of Sulphur or Vitriol is found with filver, 
 than with Copper. 
 
 Go'd hath little of Vitriol or Sulphur, yea plainly 
 none at all, if it fhall attain to its higheit maturity, 
 becau!c it is then found to be pure and malleable, and 
 wants not a further fufion or melting, but by how 
 much the more of Copper, Gold, and Silver have, 
 by (b much the n.ore ol Vitriol or Sulphurthey have, 
 as ahb require the more time for their ex coition and 
 perfeding. 
 
 i-rom thcfe particulars, it manifeftly appears in 
 what refpeift metals may in a long time be generated 
 in the bowels of the earth by their firft principle, 
 namely Sulphur ; and may be ripened to perfection, 
 by its own Salt, oragent, which it hath in its poflfeflion. 
 
 If nature doth etfcft this in a long time, why alio 
 may it not come to pals, that art fhould perform the 
 fame in a (horter time? 
 
 But let thefe things that have been fpoken be fuf- 
 ficicnr, he that underftands not, nor alio perceiveth 
 'the fcope or mark, which I fo clearly (hew is blind , 
 and doth not admit of a remedy for his blindnefs. 
 
 Truly 1 judge thefe few things, ( but yet fuch as 
 Ihcw a moft long way with a molt fhining Torchj to 
 be fufficienr concerning the moift and cold fires of mi- 
 nerals, by which the ripening and perfeding of me- 
 tals, are to be perfefled as well by nature in the 
 bowe's of the earth, as by art above the earth. 
 
 N. B. If therefore a mineral may by the help and 
 impuKe of its own vitriolated Salt, wherewith it is 
 endowed , be ripened from its vile form and loweft 
 degree unto a better, and at length unto the belt of 
 al), that is, unto the pureft gold, it being that which 
 none (that is fealbned but with the leaft knowledge 
 of natural thingsj will deny. 
 
 Alfo if fuch a Sulphur is hidden in any vegetable, 
 which anfwers to a mineral Sulphur in its nature 
 and properties, why alio might it not come to pafs, 
 that this fame Sulphur might be perfedted into m% 
 luregold, alike equal to the other .'' from hence it 
 moft evidently appeareth that in any Herb, although 
 the moft abjcsH: one, which is promoted by the Sua 
 unto its maturity, a fparkof the immature beams of 
 Sol may be found, which through the operation of 
 art, are to be changed into pure gold. But after 
 what manner fLich a Sulphur may be extracted out 
 of any Herb or any Wood whatfoever, in all things 
 Uke to a mineral one, I have long fince delivered in 
 my little work concerning the nature of Salts, and 
 in the fecond part of ciie miraadum munJi^zud below 
 I willdemonftrate by a much more clear manifelta- 
 tion. 
 
 Let us proceed to Animals and Vegetables, and 
 confider whether in thcfc very things, (iich a ripen- 
 ing fire may be found, and may from thence alfo 
 be drawn and made vifible. 
 
 But we muft know that no fmall living creature or 
 fmall Herb can grow, live, and receive, increafe 
 without a certain fiery and Salt Agent ; the which 
 although it cannot be believed by any one that is 
 lifted up with pride, and of a ftupid brain, yet it in 
 very deed cxilreth, and can eafily be demonltrated 
 by the hand of the Artificer. 
 
 XXI. A tnofi powerfull manner of extraEiing a fre out 
 of any Wood, or any Herb whatfoever^ and of rende- 
 ring It palpable and 'viftble. 
 
 F 
 
 ILL fomc glafs, ftnny, or earthen diltilling vef- 
 ftl with any dried Wood or dried Herb, and 
 
 diftillcff the Vinegar or fliarp liquor from thence, and- 
 (eparate the Oyl from it ; and pour that fharp \\- 
 <.\UOV on Lapis Calaminaris , Zmk, or afhesof lead, 
 which matters do difmifs all the unfavoury moifture 
 in diftilling, and retain the whole fharpncfs with 
 themfelves, the which being dillillcd from thence af- 
 cends like unto meer fire, it being of great ufe as 
 well in Medicine as Alchymy, whereof mention 
 fhali be made hereafter. 
 
 But here it is to be noted thai this fire extracted by 
 diftillarion, is onely a part of that fire of the Wood 
 and Herbs, and that the other part remains in the 
 Coals thereof, which is far moue fixed than that 
 which afcended, and is that Sulphur which we fpokc 
 of but now, which wholly anfwers to the nature of 
 a mineral Sulphur, and which may be exr.ratted out 
 of the Coals being folved by Sal. Altrabdts, which 
 fliall be taught and manifcfted in the following Chap- 
 ter. 
 
 For if there were no fire in them, after what fort 
 fhould they burn and draw out heat > all Coals be- 
 ing converted into afhes, after that their hidden Sul- 
 phur hath done its office, the feces of the Wood re- 
 mains like dead aflies, wherein as yet lies hid a cer- 
 tain fingular vegetable fire, being altogether of ano- 
 ther nature, and wholly contrary to that which aP 
 cendethin Diftillation. This water being ex traded 
 out of the afhes prefents a Lixi'viuw, the which by 
 decoftion exhaleth all the moifturc, and leaves the 
 reft a fiery Salt, whereof in the fecond part of my 
 Difpenfatory. If it be made hot without fufion, or 
 melting, it becomes the more fiery, lb that it being 
 bound to the skin for Ibme hours in the bignefs of a 
 pea, it burns a fmall hole therein as if it had been 
 burnt with a bright burning iron. And tlierefore 
 Chyrurgeons make ufe of fuch fires that they may 
 open unripe Ulcers, or make IlTues. 
 
 It may be feen by thefe particulars that in any 
 Wood or any Herb, there are alfo fires of divers 
 kinds, the which alfb are found in living creatures, 
 they being partly volatile and Iharp, and partly fix- 
 ed, and obtaining the nature of jtUaltes or Lixt-vi- 
 al Salts. 
 
 Both Salts or Fires, after they are conjoyned they 
 lofe their fiery nature , and get unto themfelves a- 
 nother quality and property ; to wit, a middle one, 
 and thele two contrary fires become an eflential tar- 
 tarous Salt, and fweet in ufe, wherein no fire ap- 
 pears, although that fire being turned out and in 
 by art, may be again extracted and made vifible. 
 
 Concerning thefe wonderfuU changes cf nature, 
 and converfions out of one fpecies or particular kind 
 into another, many things are found up and down 
 in my writings. In the firft part of the continuation 
 of the miracle of the World, it is manifeftly defcribed 
 after what lort a plenty of fuch fire may be attained 
 out of Woods, but the concentring thereof is here de- 
 livered. In general it is here to be noted, that one 
 Wood or one Herb doth more abound with fuch a 
 fire than another. But by how much any Wood or 
 Herb is the elder , and by how much the longer 
 the Sun beams have operated on it, by fo much the 
 more of fire is in it, as is manifeft from the Vine; 
 which hath received plentifull Rays of that (brt, and 
 therefore excells all other vegetables in the greater 
 and ftronger fire, as appears not one'y by the bur- 
 ning fpirit, but alfo the tartar , or tartarous Sale 
 thereof, which is almoft all fire, and yet without 
 Diftillation and Calcination it cannot be manifefted. 
 
 That therefore it may be brought forth into open 
 
 view^ 
 
8 
 
 The Firft Century. 
 
 Part IL 
 
 view, and be rcndred vifible, 
 the following operation. 
 
 we muft make u(e of 
 
 XXII. The manner ofmanifefi'mgthe fire of the Vine. 
 
 FILL thou a Glafs Retort with common Tartar, 
 and diftill forth the volatile fpirit and oyl, the 
 which thou flialcfeparate after a due manner. Great 
 virtues ar^.in this oyl, whereof I have made menti- 
 on in the fecond part of my Furnaces. The fpirit is 
 to be redified in B. that the liery fubftance onely may 
 depart, and the unprofitable flegm remain behind ; 
 the rcdified fpirit-is to be poured on the fixed Salt, 
 (refiding in the Retort, which muft be firft calcined 
 by a ftrong fire and made fiery) and from thence a- 
 gain diftilled, that the fixed Salt may retain the reft 
 of the unprofitable flegm, and the fpirit attain the 
 greater fiery virtues for the performing of wonderfull 
 etTe-fls in 
 teach. 
 
 medicine , the which my writings do 
 
 XXIIL Another manner of exlraBing or drawing fmh 
 a far more fironger fire out of Tartar. 
 
 DTflblve thou that Alcalizated Salt from which 
 the fpirit was abftracted in redifying in a little 
 water, that it may become a very fharp Lixivium 
 or Lye; pour one pound of this Lixivium on two 
 pounds of white Tartar in a Gourd, and that being 
 reduced into powder, put on a head which being well 
 luted on with clay, fet it in fand and kindle a fire by 
 degrees, if thou (halt rightly work thou fhalt obtain a 
 moft fubtile fire , one drop whereof doth burn the 
 tongue, as ifithad been touched with a burning Iron. 
 How wonderfull things may be etFeded by this 
 fire, I have already (hown in other places of my 
 writings. 
 
 XXIV. A manner of drawing forth as jet a more vehe- 
 ment fire out of Tarter. 
 
 TAKE of crude Tartar and the Reguhis of Mars, 
 or the pureft metallick part of iron, thz fc or i a 
 being feparated, equal parts, the which thou (halt 
 mix by beating together, put them in a crucible 
 with a cover fo well fenced with clay that it may ad- 
 mit of no air, keep them in a bright burning fire for 
 thefpaceof an hour, then take them away. 
 
 From all .thefe particulars it is made known to 
 every one that a vehement fire lies hidden in vegeta- 
 bles readily (erving for the eftedting of many admira- 
 ble things in Medicine, Alchymy and other arts, 
 from the declaring whereof the fhortnefs of time and 
 this treatife, commands us at this time to ceafe. But 
 moreover we mult Ice whether living creatures alfo 
 are potent in the fame fire, and in what refpcift any 
 one may be made partakers of the fame. 
 
 XXV. The freparation and Con-centratton of fire out of 
 Animals. 
 
 AS the Vine is the moft noble of all vegetables, 
 fbman alfo isefteemed by all that are indow- 
 ed with judgment to be the moft noble of all Ani- 
 mals, or living Creatures; the truth whereof the 
 thing it fclf affirmeth by a plentiful! Teftimony. 
 
 Therefore we pais by all other Animals in filence, 
 and do here fliew ( by the following mannerj the 
 preparation of that fire onely that lies hid in Man. 
 The Ancient Philofophers have called the great 
 
 World, Macrcccjmns, and man asitv^'cre the Icfier 
 World, A-iicrocoJmtis, and a comparifon being made, 
 they have determined that what things are found 
 in the great World, the fiime a-re to be found in the 
 lefier World, that is in Man. 
 
 From whence alfo they unanimoufly believed, and 
 alfo committed to memory, that as well the lite of 
 the greater, as of the lelTer World , doth confift in a 
 faline and laltifh fpirit, and that this fpirit doth bear 
 rule in one place more, in another lefs. Neither is 
 there any one alfo who will or can deny, that the 
 whole earth is filled with Salt as it were its Balfam ; 
 and that minerals are alike equally bred thereby in 
 the very bowels of the earth, as vegetables are in 
 the Superficies. 
 
 Yet notwithftanding the Salt of the great World 
 is no where more plentifully found than in water, or 
 in the Seas; the which as it is a thing moft known, 
 it needs no confirmation. The fame thing is to be un- 
 derftood concerning the little World, viz,. Man,and 
 although* the whole body in all its parts abound with 
 their true Balfam, yet a greater plenty of this Sale 
 and Balfamick fpirit, is found in his flefh than in his 
 bones, a greater plenty likewile in his bloud than in 
 his flefh, but thegreatefr plenty in his Bhdder, orin 
 the Salt Sea of the leifer V'orld, the which is hidden 
 to none, but it is the cufiom not to feek neceiTary 
 things in remote places, but in place* nigh where 
 they are moft eafie to be found. 
 
 Hence becaufe a more plentifull Salt is no where 
 found in man than in his Urine, we of right lay hold 
 on an occafion of feeking and con centrating the fire 
 in the fame, and we make ufe of the following pre- 
 paration. 
 
 XXVI. The operation of preparing a fire out of mans 
 Urine. 
 
 I Have at large delivered this operation in the fecond 
 part of my Furnaces, whither I refer the Reader ; 
 where he fhall not onely fiud a manifold compofing 
 of this fire, but alfo its various ufe in Medicine. 
 But although it be needlefs to defcribe that opera- 
 tion there repeated, yet it feems meet to me (for a 
 more evident declaration's fake) here to adjoyn Tome 
 admonitions which concern it. 
 
 XXVII. Objervations which concern the preparation of 
 an Animal Fire. 
 
 SUCFI a fire is for the moft part drawn forth out of 
 man's Urine being putrificd by itfelf for thcfpace 
 of fome weeks, and is by re^Tiifying converted into a 
 moift and fiery effence as the fecond part of my Fur- 
 naces flieweth ; I have there taught a more eafy 
 manner of drawing forth the fame fire out of Sal- 
 Armoniack, which is prepared out of Urine, and by 
 the addition of a ftrong Lixivium it is diftilled and 
 redified. 
 
 I have alfo taught the manner of preparing the 
 fame fire out of Sal- armoniack by the Addition of La- 
 pis Calaminaris, by diftilling it through a Retort. 
 
 Spirits rightly prepared after thefe manners are 
 equally profitable in Medicine. Alchymy, and other 
 arts ; becaufe they are thofe which being well made 
 are all of them good, after what manner fbeverthey 
 may be prepared. 
 
 But although thefe volatile animal fir^s do readily 
 fjrve for the performing of famous and notable things 
 (and the fixed Salt of Urine it felf, may by Diftillation 
 
 and 
 
Part 11. 
 
 Tie Firfl Century. 
 
 .mJ reflirtcacion be concentrated into another kind 
 of tire) yet they are at a far diflance from that true 
 l*hi!olbphical fire which the Ancients have hidden 
 with fo great cire and diligence, becaufe that in 
 rhefe preparations the beft and chiefeft part of the tire 
 flies away and is loft. But this I (ay, that thefe fiery 
 Spirits of Urine being concentrated even qs I have 
 taught them to be, are indeed able to etfecfl all thofe 
 thin;4s which 1 have attributed to them, and fhall as 
 yet attribute. But indeed they do not coagulate the 
 con centratcd fire of the V^ine, which coagulation is 
 not the leaft key for the compofing of an univerfal 
 Medicine. 
 
 For when the Spirit of Urine attains this nature, 
 that by coagulating the moft fubtile Spirit of Wine, 
 (when poured on it) inroaSalt, this Sal te.xtratls the 
 (bul of Gold duely prepared ; the which alfo, if it 
 be changed by it lelf, and converted into a dry and 
 fweet Salt, and be fi.xed, poireflbthtthe virtues of a 
 Medicament of a moft famous and great ufe in Me- 
 dicine. 
 
 Every one that is illuftrated, but even with the 
 leaft light of nature, Oiall be able by an eafy bufi 
 
 1 nefs, to fmell out what may hiddenly lurk under this 
 Salt. 
 
 From the moft pure Vine is the fubftance of the 
 Spirit of Wine, which ftrengthens the heart of man 
 beyond all other things, as alfo his brain, and other 
 
 I members. 
 
 The Spirit of Urine is the pureft and moft fubtile 
 
 1 Mercurial Animal Salt, not having its like in penetra- 
 ting, opening, and refblving. 
 
 This fubtile Mercurial, Aniaial and piercing fire 
 therefore, being joyned to the moft pure vegetable, 
 that is, the Spirit of Wine, that it may be changed 
 together with it into a dry Medicine, any one fhall 
 be able by an eafy conjecture to forel'ee what it will 
 efFedt in Medicine. 
 
 But that 1 may make manifeft the errour, and de- 
 monftrate the caule wherefore a Spirit of Urine is fo 
 fcldom prepared, which will coagulate the Spirit of 
 
 IWine into a Salt, I admonifh that a refped be had 
 by every oncof the following particulars. 
 
 For firft it is to be taken notice of, that the moft 
 liibtileparc onelyof the Spirit of Urine, and not the 
 
 jurore grofs part, is fit for :he coagulation of the Spi- 
 rit of Wine : If therefore in the preparation of the 
 feme, the moft fubtile part fhall be loft, through the 
 
 (negligence or ignorance of the operator, it can in no 
 wile be brought to pafs, that the more grofs and 
 dreggy part Ihould caufe that coagulation. 
 
 But that moft fubtile Spirit doth not onely vanifh 
 away in didi'larion through an infufficiency of the 
 Luteing not being good, but alio a great part of the 
 fame is loft before diftilling, to wit, when the Urine 
 
 I being fucceflivcly gathered, is conftrained to ftand 
 and wait too long, lb that the Spirit by little and little 
 exhaleth and departs into the Air, elpecially when it 
 is gathered together in the Summer or Winter time, 
 
 I for that fire not being patient of any extreme, is ex- 
 pelled by a little heat or cold, and therefore the fic- 
 teft times for collecling the fame are the Months 
 called Ahrc'j and Alaj, or September and October, in 
 which Months the Air is temperate, neither too hot, 
 nor too cold, thofe Months therefore are the fitteft 
 for collefting and extradting of an Animal fire out 
 of it. 
 
 lurthcrmore, Culx-'vi'ue or u?ijl a ked Lime \stohQ 
 added to the Urine (when putrified) and diftilled, 
 that the infipid water may be lo much the more ea- 
 
 fily or readily feparated from that volatile fire, th* 
 which is not done if it be diftilled perfe. 
 
 I would not pafs by thefe few things in filence for 
 the fake of the Reader, and of him that is ftudious 
 of good Medicines : Bur after what manner Metals 
 may be amended by this Animal fire is not here 
 fhewn, but God willing (hall by and by in the fol- 
 lowing Chapters. But we pur an end to the pre- 
 paration and con centration of Xliimal and Vegetable 
 fires, with thefe fayings, whofe admirable virtues 
 and faculties in medicines, Alchimy and other pro- 
 fitable Arts, fhall here be manifefted in order, as 
 much as time will permit. 
 
 Look I pray you on the Elementary Sun, as alfb 
 on the fire of woods, and the virtues of light, and 
 the virtue of both, the which all creatures, and efpe- 
 cially mankind it felf, is conftrained to make ufe of 
 for their own fafety; could even the leaft grafs be- 
 wray it felf? or any (mail worm be bred and live 
 without the 5un? could any workmanfhip or arti- 
 fice be exercifed without the help of common fire ? 
 the which, if it were nor, we fhould be conftrained 
 to eat unboyled Herbs, and raw Flefti like wild 
 Beafts : yea, the whole converfation and negotiation 
 or traffique among men fhould be wholly taken a- 
 way, if earthly fire and light fhould be wanting un- 
 to us. 
 
 If there were fbme one man onely in fbme whole 
 City or Province, or in a whole Kingdom, who a- 
 lone could make others partakers of fire and light, 
 would there not be made thegreateft concourfe of all 
 men unto him ^ but becaufe it is known to every 
 one, and everyone hath known by an eafy manner, 
 how to ftrike it out of flints, it is had in no efteem, 
 for it is cuftomary not to efteem thofe things which 
 are made common , although they arc pretious. 
 The fame thing hath happened to the fire, the which 
 although it ought to be made of greateft account, 
 yet it is reckoned of no worth becaufe it is common 
 and vulgar. 
 
 But even as the common fire, and that known to 
 every one, doth by very many moft profitable ope- 
 rations brin'^ much good to mortals, who can leaft 
 of all want the ufe thereof; fb alfb I affirm that thofe 
 artificial and hidden fires are to be very much ac- 
 counted of, becaufe a Phifician can hardly be with- 
 out them, for the preparations of efficacious Medi- 
 cines, and a Chymift can never want for the tranf 
 mutation of the more bafe metals into better, either 
 of them without the aid of thofe fires (hall perform 
 nothing of any great moment in Chymical La- 
 bours. 
 
 He that works and is ignorant of fuch fires, what 
 will he efFeft in metallick operations.^ he being con- 
 verfant in cold and darknefsis afflidcd with the fame 
 difficulty, asa certain brewer or baker is, who wants 
 wood in the winter feafbn, or who is not able to ufe 
 water, it being congealed into ice, the one he cannot 
 bake although he hath the beft meal, and the other 
 brew drink although he have abundance of the belt 
 malt. 
 
 So alio goes the matter with Alchemical Affairs, the 
 want whereof caufeth that we handle not the moft 
 noble Alchimy with any profit, but rather receive 
 lofs from the fame, daily experience being witnefs, 
 that I GO arc wont to be fooner undone than that it 
 happens to any one man to get himlelf riches thereby. 
 The blame of which difcommodity is not to be tranf^ 
 ferrcd on an impofllbility of the art, but rather to 
 be imputed to the want of thofe moift, cold, and 
 
 D ripening 
 
10 
 
 The Tirft Century. 
 
 Part IT. 
 
 ripening fires extraded out of Salts, the which after 
 what fort they ought to beufed for the amendment of 
 metals, as alfo for medicine and other arts, (hall be 
 taught'partly in this,and partly in the other Centuries. 
 
 The e;eneral ufe of our concentred fiery atd 
 extratled out of Salts , m the a- 
 
 XXVIII 
 
 ripening 
 
 Spirits, 
 
 etals into more no- 
 
 m:nclmmt and converting:; of m. 
 ble ones ; alfo the-' preparation of many excellent medi- 
 caments, and the tncreafe and amendment of many o- 
 ther arts, are briefly here demonfirated ; the which, 
 God granting, jJiall more largely be declared in their 
 ■particular ujc. 
 
 THAT I may difcourfe in few words whether im- 
 perfed metals may by the operation of the more 
 common and grofs Salts, and of the fire be broken, 
 deftroyed, cleanfed, and reduced into a better form, 
 it being that which the fifth part of the profperity ot 
 Germany confirmeth by divers experiments. 
 
 I affirm that the pure Spirits of Salts, do with a 
 greater efficacy, and far better etfeft the fame, the 
 which, fincethofe fimple -Spirits are able, better and 
 more eafily to perform than grofs Salts, why (hould 
 not alio con-centrated Spirits after the beft and eafi- 
 eft manner of all perform the fame thing > 
 
 From a like realbn the ufe of Salts fliall not be of 
 fo great efficacy in the preparation of medicines, and 
 other arts, as the ufeing of common Spirits is ; the 
 which, notwithftanding being ftill for the moft part 
 clogged with much phlegm, do of neceflity not dif- 
 clofe (o great virtues, as thofe concentred fiery Spi- 
 rits do which are freed from all phlegm. 
 
 The Sunbeams are for an example which do not 
 fend forth fo great heat, when they are co-mixed 
 with a moift air, as alfo green and wet Woods do 
 not fo vehemently burn with heat, as withered and 
 dry ones are wont to do. 
 
 Yea if the hot beams of the Sun are con- centred 
 in or by fome hollow glafs increafing the fire, or the 
 fires of Coals by a ftrong blowing of the Bellows, and 
 are as it were conftrained into ftraights or narrow paf- 
 fages,they effect ten times, yea one hundred times more 
 than thofe which are not centred together after fuch 
 a fort. But by how much the more ftriLtly thofe 
 forces of the beams of the Sun, or of other fires are 
 con centred by lb much the greater, ftronger, and 
 {harper heat they draw out. 
 
 A burning glafs of one foot Diameter, onely en- 
 flames Wood ; but one of two foot Diameter will 
 melt Tin, Lead, and other metallick matters of that 
 fort, which are eafie to be melted, as Bifmiithum, or 
 the whiteft, lighteft, and baleft kind of Lead, Zink, 
 the non-fplendent metalHck dark matter Koboltum, 
 &c. But if you extend the Diameter to four foot, the 
 Sun-beams taking the ftronger increafe will melt fil- 
 ver and copper, and will render iron it felf fo bright 
 burning hot, that it may be wroughtwith a hammer, 
 as if it had been heated with Coals. This effefl; is to 
 be afcribed unto the con centring of the Sun-beams 
 by an inftrument, and to the conftraining of the heat 
 of Coals, by Bellcjws, or Wind. 
 
 The fame thing is to be underftood concerning our 
 con centred and moift fires,which ought to be compa- 
 red, not onely with the common beams of the Sun, 
 or with the heat of Kitchin fire, but alfo with thofe 
 Sun-beams which are con-centred by a glafs, and 
 with the fiery heat of Coals conftrained or forced by 
 windy blafts. Whence they muft of neceftlty be of 
 greater virtues than the common Salts, and watery 
 
 fpirits of them, the which ihe more quick fghted 
 will fulficiently comprehend anci believe Simple 
 Countrcy People do lee this thing with their eyes 
 and handle it witli their hands, as well knowing that 
 the fubtile, hot, fweet Spiritsof Wine and A!e, (and 
 thofe procuring ftrength to theheartj when they are 
 freed from all moifture by Difti'.larion, and concen- 
 tred bv Redification ; etTeiH; ten fold more than if 
 they had ftil! remained with their humidites. 
 
 That thou may eft underftand the thing more clear- 
 ly, well weigh thou Grapes, Bread-corn, or the 
 Fruits of Trees, which we cat in that fuLliance as 
 the trees bring them forth unto us : and they afford 
 us a nourifhment, but not fuch a one, as their juice 
 being prelfed out, and fcparated from its dreggs, anil 
 by fermentation reduced into a clear and fwcec 
 drink. 
 
 If neceflity compel!. Bread corn may be ufed for 
 nourifhment as it is, yet not fo well as when it is fe- 
 paratcd from its husks, being changed into meal, and 
 I reduced by water into a mals or lump, and Salt and 
 Leaven added, and by Fire concodted or digeded in- 
 to Bread of the beft Savour. By the fame reafbn 
 Bread-corn being boiled in fair water yields a potion 
 indeed fomewhat better than the water it felf, but if 
 it be artificially handled, and boyled up into Ale or 
 Bear, the husks are feparated from the more pure 
 juice, the which afterwards by fermentation , fepa- 
 rates many dreggs from it, and arrives to a more no- 
 ble nature, yielding a fweeter and better drink. But 
 if the fame juice be after that brought by diftillation 
 into a greater purity, and con-centred together by 
 rectifying, that the virtues thereof may come intr> 
 a narrow compafs, i bccaufe it is a meer firej it will 
 exercife far greater virtues, than grofs Bread corn 
 which wants a power of exercifing fo great virtues. 
 
 So alfo doth itfucceedwith con centrated Salts, to 
 wit, when the dreggs arc feparated from them by the 
 help of art, and the more pure parts converted, and 
 concentred into a fiery fubftance, performing eifeds 
 of great moment in Alchymy. But that Salts do 
 commonly deftroy metals,as well by a moift as a dry 
 way, is known to every Barber, and perfbns of no 
 reputation. But after what manner metals being 
 deftroyed may be reduced into more noble bodies than 
 they were before,there hath been none hitherto(vvho 
 being skilled in that artifice or craftj that have not 
 hid it with the greateft care. Hence it hath come to 
 pafs, that nothing of profit hath been perceived from 
 metallick tranfinutations, and Alchymy it felf hath 
 been made a mock of by the molt unskiltiill rout of 
 ignorant ones, as if it were moft falfe, and at the 
 fartheft diftance from truth. 
 
 That this doubt therefore may be taken away,and 
 the truth it felf maybe more evidently placed in our 
 view, I have refolved in my mind, by God's alli- 
 ftance, to place before the eyes of the whole world, 
 a true and profitable tranfinutation of metals, by a 
 clear defcription, and to affert the certainty of Co 
 many writings fet forth by fuch men, by the mofl 
 true experiments, fb that every one that is feafbned 
 but even with a light or finall knowledge of the fire, . 
 may by an eafy bufinefs hereafter obtain fbme profit 
 from them. But I will firft treat of common and crude 
 Salts, and then of the fimple Spiritsof thole, and at 
 length of their con-centred Spirits and Fires, which 
 we have taught to extract out of them. 
 
 But before I attempt to defcribe and afiert this 
 kingly and noble art, I have been led firft to fhew 
 the caufe why fome places do occur in the defcripti- 
 on 
 
Part II. 
 
 Tk Firfi Century 
 
 It 
 
 oil ot the (aine, wherein words are omitted, and ' 
 ligns or blanks repolcd inftead of the fame, 
 "indeed this was therefore done, that the art may 
 be concealed from the unworthy, and they in all re- 
 ipecls to be driven from the lame, and may be made 
 known onely to Adeptifts, and the Sons of Art. 
 
 BcKidcs alio that all fecrets may not in all places, 
 and without ditterence be divulged, but that the 
 ciiicf things thereof may be prclerved for friends, 
 leli: they be trodden under foot, and broken to pie- 
 ces by the unworthy, but that they may be left to 
 friends as It were a certain fecretffroak, and that an 
 unknown one to others, for to fight liiccefsfully. 
 
 1 therefore earneitly require of every one by a 
 friendly Petition that he be not fuddenly angry, if 
 he be not able clearly to perceive, by the fharpncfs 
 of his wit, all thole things which 1 propofe, but ra- 
 ther let him confider that they are not written for 
 him, but for others ; by whole capacity they can be 
 perceived. . Neither is it altogether neceflary that all 
 do know all things, neither alio would it be of con- 
 cernment if friends and enemies attain all thofe 
 things in their underftanding alike, without any dif- 
 ference, which 1 here openly produce by my delcrip- 
 tions ; it is liitficient that fome onely, and indeed 
 thole that arc worthy may clearly and knowingly 
 polltis the fame, and teftihe the truth. 
 
 XXIX. An infallible fraclice of changing the more im- 
 perfect Metals into m<jre ferfett ones by the heh of 
 crude Salts. 
 
 AS I have already a litde before, and alfo in other 
 places of my writings, evidently enough de- 
 mon Itrated that Salts, or the Ipirits of Salts, are in 
 the earth, or out of the earth a univerlal Agent, pro- 
 moting the maturation or ripening of metals : So 
 here 1 again firmly affirm the lame thing, and do 
 fay, that by Salts the grofs bodies of metals are de- 
 ftroyed, and tranl-changed into more noble metals, 
 and that indeed after divers manners, and that 
 more ealily or difficultly as any one Ihall be more or 
 lefs converlant in Chymical labours. 
 
 1 will hear God willing make manifeft all things, 
 yet not to every one, but to the worthy onely ; 
 and that indeed after the manner of a Clock or 
 Watth-maker, who taking Ibme Clock or Watch 
 in pieces,dolay upall the parts thereof in fbme place 
 without any order ; the which he that is unskiltuU 
 in the art, Ihall never again compole and reduce into 
 order, but another who before hath handled that 
 art, will by an ealle labour again conjoyn all thole 
 parts, and reduce them into the former body ofa 
 Clock or Watch. 
 
 All thole therefore who have e.vperienced the fore- 
 going labours to be perfected by the fire, fhall by 
 
 thele mydelcriptions ealily dilpatch or accommodate 
 themlelves in future things, not eafie to be under- 
 ftood by the rout of ignorant perlons which have 
 made no experiments in the fire ; who will in 
 vain look into thole things which I have written ; 
 nootherwile than as if any one being plainly unskil- 
 full in reading and writing, fhould behold written 
 letters, and knows not what they lignihe, or what 
 argument they may contain : Such a man it he would 
 be angry with the writer,(hould he not do him much 
 injury, becaule as being tar remote from the fault of 
 that ignorance which hinders him, whereby he can- 
 not read thele letters which he had never learned to 
 read. 
 
 Thefame thing muft be underftood concerning my 
 writings, which are openly publifhed, not for the 
 fake of any one, but onely of thole who have firlt 
 learned to underlland thole kind of writings. 
 
 But that I may let upon the thing it felf, and may- 
 teach the amendment of metals for the better, and 
 fhew the very foundation of the whole bufinefs, I 
 fay, that a true changingof them is attempted in vaiOi 
 unlels they are firlt deltroyed, and wholly ulain. A 
 grain of Wheat, as Chrift himfelf faith, will never 
 increafe or multiply, unlefs it firft putrifies in the 
 earth. If therefore metals ought to be deftroyed by 
 Putrefadion, that muft needs be done by the help of 
 Salts, according to the truth of the Philolbphers 
 Maxim : the corruption of- one thing, is the ge- 
 neration of another. The death of one thing, 
 is the life of another. Since therefore metals muft die, 
 it muft heeds be that death be brought on them by 
 enemies, or contrary things, becaule nothing in na- 
 tural or artificial things dieth, unlefs it be flain by 
 its own enemy. 
 
 Since metals therefore ought to be deftroyed, and 
 killed by their enemies; it isofnecelFity thatthey are 
 invadedjtortured, and lb long vexed by thefame, un- 
 ti!l the Agent astheftronger part,be overcome by the 
 Patient as the weaker part ; that it be flain by it, [or 
 rather the Patient be overcome by the Agent,] and 
 be tranflated into a better nature, in which afliori 
 the Patient ought not to 'depart from the Agent, but 
 to be tortured withanun-intermitting torment. 
 
 Whofoever feeing his enemy and conceives him- 
 felf of the weaker force, indeavours as much as in 
 him lies to decline him, by retreating, but all occa- 
 fions of running away and flipping afide being taken 
 away, he is conftrained to deliver his life to his ene- 
 my ,who handles the Patient or fuffering party accor- 
 ding to his own pleafure, and doth whatfoever he 
 will, therefore after the lame manner is the melio- 
 ration of metals, the which although they fhould be 
 melted together with Salts their enemies, yet would 
 they make little account of them, but would feparate 
 themfelves from the fame ; fo that every part of them 
 being unhurt, would keep its own nature and ellence. 
 But if the Salts do take away the occafion of flight 
 from metals, and do indole them in their Prifons, 
 that they have no way of efcaping, but remain, fuf- 
 fer, and die, then they obtain viftory over the Salt, 
 and of flain metals are made more pure and better. 
 
 This thing is done in the fire by the moift and dry 
 way, of which enough hath been (poken already. 
 
 This is the whole and intire art, and there needs 
 no other fuperfluous teachings ; yet he whom thefe 
 things doth not fuffice, let him read the following 
 operations thorough, wherein hefhallfind truth, and 
 fee with his eyes, and handle with his hand; thofe 
 things which have been heretofore impoffible to him, 
 and very many more. 
 
 XXX. After what manner Metals may be flain by their 
 enemies and be tranfmnted into better. 
 
 IX 
 
 NTO Metals not one but many enemies are 
 adverfe ; and part of thofe enemies are ene- 
 mies to fome and friends to others, but the other 
 part is friendly to fbme, and at enmity with 
 others. For example fake. 
 
 Nothing more prolccutes Gold with an hoftile ha- 
 tred than burning Sulphur and fulphurious Salts^ 
 liich as are Alcalies, and crude tartar ; the caule of 
 this hatred is, becaufeGold is nothing elle, but a fix- 
 ' cd 
 
12 
 
 The Firft Cent/irj, 
 
 Part 11. 
 
 td Sulphur, and therefore it difagrecth by a capital 
 hatred, with every burning Sulphur; Silver and 
 Lead do love every Stilfhur, and all fulfhareons Salts, 
 fiich as are rtrnd. Salt Peter, Salt Arrmniack^ and 
 the like, the which they ftand in need of for their 
 colour ; they have an hatred againft Kitchmg Salt, 
 becaufe it is of a mercurial nature, and therefore not 
 requiring its help, but onely deliring a Sulphur and 
 Tinfture, Coffer, Iron, and Argent vive, or Quick- 
 fllver do'poflefs both natures, to wit, a mercurial 
 and fulfhureoas one, and for that caufe they profecute 
 all Sulphurs, and any Salts with love. 
 
 Tin is an enemy of all Saks, whether they are 
 fulphureous or mercurial ones,when it is flain by Sul- 
 phur and Salt, and recalled unto life, it obtains a 
 more pure and thin or fine body, whether of Gold 
 or Silver, according as it fhall be handled. _ 
 
 Moreover, if any fhould defire to obtain as yet a 
 better elTence out of better metals, its necelfary that 
 he flay them by their enemies, and raife them up a- 
 gain by their friends; by how much the greater and 
 vehement the enemies are whereby metals are flain, 
 by fo much the more thofe metals do fufter, and 
 with fo much the more famous and better bodies do 
 they re arife. 
 
 The whole art therefore confifteth in this,that me- 
 tals are overwhelmed by their greatefl: enemies, are 
 flain by them,' and after death are Separated from 
 them, and that by their beft friends, are reftored un- 
 to a better life. 
 
 Thou haft the whole art , neither doth any other 
 thing rem.ain than that thou attempt the matter, and 
 fet to thine hand. 
 
 For example fake, I will add an operation. Slay 
 a light metallick matter by the fharp Spirits of ful- 
 phurious Salts, that it may become a white calx ; 
 free this from the Salt Spirits, by water being pour- 
 ed thereon, the which being freed, cannot be redu- 
 ced into a metallick body by any violence of fire. 
 LikewKeflay mercurial metals as are B. by mercuri- 
 al. Salts their enemies, and change them into white 
 calx's, the which being freed from their faltnefs, -ivill 
 he iK^md or flowable; mix thofe calx's, to wit, the mer- 
 curial and (iilphurious being flain, put them into a 
 double veliel of cement, cover the uppermoft with a 
 certain plenty of B. fence well thcjundure of the ce- 
 menting vefl'cl with clay, let them into a cementing 
 i\irnace,and at the beginning adminifter a gentle fire, 
 that the cal.x's may rile up againft or adult each other, 
 and the fixed fiilphurmay bind the fugitive fiowable 
 and mercurial calx's, D. for although in the cement 
 fbmething would depart into fmoak, yet that is in- 
 tercepted by E. and after a certain manner is thus 
 exalted into the degree of F. Too much fire is not 
 prefently to bejoyned to the cement or plaiftering 
 it felf, that fonie time may be granted to the matter 
 that is fvvift of flight, whereby it may adjoyn it felf 
 unto the fixed matter, and may alfb become fixed 
 and conftant with the fame for four hours fpace, 
 therefore the fire fhall be Ibmewhat the more flack, 
 and afterwards for the fpace of eight or ten hours, it 
 (hall be kept in a clear bright burning heat, that G. 
 may not m.elt: the faid time being ended, the fire is 
 to be extinguiflied, and the cementing veflel to be 
 taken away, in G. a black or brittle body fhall be 
 found containing Silver, the eafy feparation whereof 
 we (hall afterwards hear. 
 
 The calx of both metals being coagulated into a 
 hard ftone, if by grinding it be reduced into powder, 
 and be put into a furnace hz for this thing, a metallick 
 
 body will be attained, being impregnated, not with 
 a little Gold and Silver, cfpecially if the metals (hall 
 
 be flain, not by the Spirits of common Salts, but 
 with gradatory martial waters. In thiscem.ent, H. 
 is rendredaureal or golden, and I. is filvery, by one 
 and the fame endeavour. The profit alio it felf is 
 of no fmall moment, efpecially if this operation be 
 exercifed with the greater quantity, ami the bigger 
 inffruments alwaies to lupply or atiord Silver being 
 pregnant with Gold for feparation. 
 
 XXXI. A brief and compendiom manner of extraSiing 
 and rendrlng corf area!, a volatile Gold out of coloured 
 Flints, Red Talck, Granates or Red Marble Stone-s^ 
 Sand, White Clay and the like metallick earths. 
 
 AT the beginning, thefe mineral or metallick 
 earths are to be made bright burning hot, to 
 be quenched in cold water, and to be broken in a 
 mill, into meal or powder. 
 
 After that they are thus broken, thou (halt put 
 them into fome Waldenburge, or Cullcin Can, and 
 fhalr pour fo much of A/^; Regis on them, thac 
 they may nneiy Le rr.oiftened, and let them, toge- 
 ther with the Can, be placed in a tire of coals, and 
 incompafl'ed therewith, to be made hot ; after that 
 the minerals and Aty, Regis have waxed well hot te- 
 ther , ib much hot water is to be poujed on thofe ve- 
 ry minerals as fhall be necellary for the extra(fting of 
 the Af]; Regis. 
 
 Put the minerals thus moiftened with the water in- 
 to great pots, and thole made of the beft earth, ha- 
 ving many little holes in the bottom, on which lay 
 paper for fuftaining of the minerals that they may 
 not fall out through the holes, but may difmifs ths 
 water onely. After the firft water is gone forth, o- 
 ther hot water is again to be poured on, and thisef- 
 fullon of water is (6 long to be continued, untill ic 
 depart with the very lame Iweetnefs as when it was 
 poured on, and no longer offers any (harpnefs to the 
 tafl. So the common and hot water brings away 
 with it the Ac^. Regis, and the A/]. Regis Gold out 
 of the minerals. 
 
 The earthen pots may be placed in a bench bored 
 thorough with holes, through which their bottoms 
 may pals, that 16 the water may be received in 
 vellels let under them. 
 
 N. B. The minerals may alfo be put into barrels 
 or hogsheads having a double bottom, (iich as are u- 
 led for the cleanling of Salt-Peter, that lo water 
 may be lo long poured on them, untill all the acri- 
 mony be extracted by the water. 
 
 XXXII. After what manner out of Minerals being 
 extratled, a true Salt-Peter may as yet be gotten with 
 froft. 
 
 THE minerals being after the faid manner freed 
 by extradion, they are to be co mixed with an 
 equal weight of calx 'vi've and wood aflies, and ca(t 
 together into an heap under fome open gallery or 
 room, that now and then it may be moiftened with 
 Uring, or in want of that with Rain-water, as oft as 
 they fhall be dryed. 
 
 In this operation the Af]. Regis, which remained 
 in the minerals, and was not wholly extracted by 
 the hot vvater by the help of the Urine or Rain-wa- 
 tcr, changeth the Salt in the calx t-rje into the beft 
 Salt-Peter, the which may be wafliod off with 
 
 Rain- 
 
Pait 11. 
 
 The Firji Centurj. 
 
 13 
 
 Rain-water, and boiled up after the wonted manner. 
 
 Therefore after the Hiid miaer.ilshave been hand- 
 led for half or a whole year after the faid maiinar, 
 and are by rinceing deprived of the Salt it felf, 
 rticy may again be ('underan open Gallery or Root \ 
 lb e'xpofed to the air, that Rain come not at it) col- 
 lected into an heap and be handled after the former 
 manner, for the ftippiying (in their own time) new 
 Sa'.t Peter,- the which may be done for many years 
 rogerher. So a'f() from that Acj. Regis which could 
 not be drawn forth Irpm the minerals, a profit is 
 received. 
 
 The caufe of this Salt Peter, its being made, is this,, 
 bccaufe the ^7. fortts, or A^. Regis, or Spirit of 
 JV.vre in the fame. Waters, contains as it were the 
 feed of Salt Peter, it obtains that nature, that like 
 an Herb it may take an increafe from other Salts, 
 and be multiplied ; whence perhaps the old pro- 
 verb arofe. to fbw Salt, which thing the ignorant 
 have received with mock, faying after what fort 
 can Salt be fo\.vn and multiplied, when it is folved 
 and drawn from Rain water ? But it hath lain hid 
 
 and after what 
 we have here 
 
 After this manner the //<^ Regis is killed, and e- 
 very metal which it has yet retainerh, it difmiireth 
 like a yellow powder, whether it be gold alone, or 
 
 from thole, what kind of Salt it is, 
 manner it is ro be (own ; the which 
 
 demnnftrated, alio the faying of the Ancient Philo- 
 f()pher';, aflerting that Salt may be fown and multi- 
 plied like Vegetables. 
 
 As to what pertains to thofe fliarp waters, where- 
 by gold is e.vrra>5led out of minerals, by what skill 
 they are to be handled as alfo without lofs, yea that 
 they may render that gold with profit ; the follow- 
 ing operations are to be obferved. 
 
 XXXIII. A w.ty (Iteu'ing the extraBion of a 'volatile 
 and fixed Gold out of the f Plater, from which the Mi- 
 nerals are withdrawn, and the profit which may be re- 
 ceived hy that IVater. 
 
 THE bed way is this, into the folution of gold, or 
 into the water which containeth gold, pour 
 in the folution of Lune or Saturn more or lefs, even 
 as you fufpeft more or lefs of gold to be in that wa- 
 ter : As tor example 
 
 Let there be in the water two 
 or three half ounces of gold, dilfolve thou therefore 
 about two or three half ounces of filver, or lead, in 
 mtj. foriu, and pour this folution into the water con- 
 taining the gold, be it more or left, mix them well 
 together by fhaking or ftirring, that the water may 
 obtain the form ot milk ; after they have fettled 
 in quietnefs, fhake or fiir them again, and repeat 
 this motion for divers times the fpace of one hour, 
 and at length futfer all quietly to fettle rothe bottom. 
 Separate all the clear water from the fediment by 
 pouring it out, and ftrainthe (ediment it felf through 
 a filtre, that the water may be wholly feparated 
 from the filver. 
 
 Thislllver is to be dried, and reduced into its for- 
 mer body, after the manner which ftiall by and by 
 follow. 
 
 N. B. If the filver or lead had not extraded all 
 the gold, the which may eafily happen, yet that 
 gold is not loft, for becaufe fweet water whereby the 
 A<j. Regis is weakened is prefent, the which now 
 remains unfit for another ufe of extracting out of mi- 
 nerals; now by the folution of Lune or Saturn de- 
 prived of their gold, a fharp Lixivium made of wood- 
 afhes, and Calx -vive may be poured on the fame, 
 with which a little is to be added or 
 
 admixed. For do precipitate or fix 
 
 all gold in folutions. 
 
 mi.xed with copper or iron, which powder is to be 
 dried, and reduced after the manner which (hall 
 ftraicway be taught. 
 
 N. B. That the water after the total precipitating 
 of the metals, being exhaled in aCypper Kettle unto 
 a thin skin, and expofed in peculiar vellels unto the 
 cold, it will afford thee a beautifuU Salt-peter, con- 
 creted or grown together into drops or Iceacles, 
 whereof thou may'ft again make an Acj. fortis, to be 
 again made ufe of for the like operations. 
 
 He that fhall rightly operate fhall get fb much 
 Salt Peter as will recompence the charges of the Aq. 
 fortis, and Aej. Regis : So that he fhall extradl his 
 gold without cofts. For five or fix pounds of Ac^. 
 fvrtis, wherein two or three pounds of Salt is difi'ol- 
 ved, and the which hath at length been precipitated 
 by a fliarp Lixivium prepared with Calx-vivc, doth 
 render ten pound of Salt Peterj the which doth 
 anfwer the price of five pound of A^}. fortis, and 
 this is the manner of extracting gold out of minerals 
 without coft. 
 
 XXXIV. Another and hetter manner of extraBing gold 
 by A<{. Regis. 
 
 TAKE of by fortifying made into 
 
 aflies, pour the extradion into an iron Pot,and 
 ftir the Calx with an iron Spatula while it boileth. 
 All the fharp fpirits do ftick fait to the the 
 
 phlegm alone vanifheth by exhalation. When there- 
 tore the fpirits are wholly con-centred with the 
 and are dried, they are 
 
 to be put into a clofe Tigil or Crucible upon 
 i Coals in a fecret Crucible or melting Pot, then the 
 fire expels the concentred fpirits into a receiving 
 velTel ; the which fpirits may be ufed for a new ex- 
 traction. A fugacious gold mixt with iron, remain- 
 eth with the which Calx 
 
 being reduced in a Furnace fit for thofe operations, 
 which the Germans do call Stichofen, draws out a 
 lead mixt with gold, the which being expelled by a 
 Cupel enricheth the operators with the beft gold 
 and filver. 
 
 JV. B. But if fuch lead fliouldnot contain fo mnch 
 of gold and filver, as that it fliould defervea fepara- 
 tion by a Cupel, that is again to be mixt with 
 
 and to be reduced into afhes, and the operation 
 is fo long to be repeated, untill the lead being rich 
 enough in gold , may deferve that reparation. 
 
 The feparation is alfo to be perfeded with the 
 Bellows, left fo great a plenty of lead ftiould be mel- 
 ted out of the Tefts, which operation requires much 
 fire, yet the lead may be collected or conjoyned in 
 the Tefl: without a waftefuU melting, as fliall be 
 taught hereafter. 
 
 XXXV. An eafie making or com^ofing of Ar^. Regis ^ 
 for extracting of minerals. 
 
 BEcaufe a plenteous quantity of fpirit of Salt is 
 eafily prepared, the Salt Peter is onely to be dif- 
 folved therein, and with that folution minerals are 
 to be extrafted. For the Salt Peter ftrengthens the 
 fpirit of Salt, that it can fo much the more eafier 
 fet upon and fnatch to it the tender gold in thofe 
 minerals. 
 
 E The 
 
14 
 
 The Firfl Century. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 The fame fpiric of Salt, may alfo without any 
 redifyingbc adminiftred for this operation, to wit, 
 fuch as alccnds in the firft Diftillation. 
 
 XXXVI. Another as yet more eafier way ofp-eparwg 
 Aq. Regis for extractioti. 
 
 Ecaufe filver doth always in this operation be- 
 
 wray its b&^ig impregnated with go.d, which 
 is to be feparated by ylc;.fortis, the folution of filver 
 is alfo fitly ufcd to cxtraft after this manner. 
 
 Pour the laid folution into A^. Regis which hath 
 extracted gold, that the filver may artrad the grea- 
 teft part thereof to it felf. But the fame ^^- f<f' 
 may again extraa other gold, and be attracted by 
 the folution of filver. _ ,- ^, • 
 
 But if there fliould be no folution ot filver in rea- 
 dinefs, the gold e.xtrafted is con-centred with 
 and rhe operation is perfededby the means or after 
 the manner abovefaid, by driving the fpint out ot 
 j^e and by reducing 
 
 it in a Furnace, called by the Germans Stubofaj, as 
 was faid before. . 
 
 N. B. A'], fortis being dilTolved therein, or pou- 
 red on or mtoAq. Regis, or the nitrous fpiritof Salt, 
 it adds an increafe and ftrength to the A^. Regis, 
 becaufe A'^. fortis doth corroborate the fpirit of Salt 
 better than Salt Peter. 
 
 This filver thou (halt by fufion reduce into grains 
 and fhalt feparate the gold from the fame in .^>j. for- 
 tis. And thou fhalt again apply the filver thus re- 
 duced unto a new labour, in which labour thou pro- 
 ceeding without intermiflion (halt have a continual 
 feparatory operation of gold and il'vei ; anJ this 
 labour thou mayeft e.xercife with great profit in all 
 places. 
 
 XXXIX. Another manner of reducing a fugacious or 
 volatile filver, with greater proft. 
 
 PLace thou at the Stern of this little golden Ship, 
 a little fifh whofe name is Remora, that it may 
 
 It 
 
 XXXVII. How the Calx of filwr, which hath fjlied 
 out gold by Aq. Regis, is to be recovered. 
 
 HEN the folution of filver is poured into At^. 
 Regis, and the chiefeft part of the gold is ex- 
 
 w 
 
 be fpoiled of its fvviftnefs and may be at a ftand, caft 
 this filver little Ship with the little fifh Remora, fit- 
 ting at its Stern, into a dole and fquare Tigil or 
 Crucible, that by fufion they may depart into one 
 body. In this fufion not onely all the filver is re- 
 turned without any lofs into its former body, but 
 alfo is by the white Finns of the little fifh, augmented 
 with a certain increafe of its weight, and becomes 
 more golden ; fo that by this additament more of 
 better filver is gotten, than if bv the addition of 
 other things it had been reftored to its former body. 
 
 What other profits any one may be able to ob- 
 tain through the help of this volatile filver, we wilj 
 God willing hereafter teach. 
 
 Thefe are the things which I at this time have 
 been willing to teach, concerning the extradion of 
 a volatile gold out of Jtones, and the more poor mi- 
 nerals, as alfo of the extending or bringing forward 
 filver by fuccefTive degrees into gold ; of which mat- 
 ter more things (hall be fpoken in other places. 
 
 traded ; reft is fo long granted unto it, that the 
 Calx of the filver may fettle to the bottom, and af- 
 terwards the Ac]. Regis by pouring it forth is fepara- 
 • ted, cleared from the Calx of the filver, again tp be 
 ufedforanew extradion; unlefs perhaps as much 
 of iron had been admixed with it, in which cafe 
 the white Calx of the filver is put 
 into fome Cloath laid in an earthen or glafsTonnel, 
 and hot water is to be poured on it, to take away 
 with it the Aq. Regis, which is left in the Calx of the 
 filver. The remaining water is to be prefied out of 
 the Towel or Cloath, and the Calx dried, and re- 
 duced in the fecret Crucible, or is made ufe of in 
 the con centring of into filver or 
 
 gold, "viz.. gold and filver 
 
 XXXVIII. After what manner frecipitated fiver is to 
 be reduced without a lofs of its 7veight. 
 
 SEeing the greateft fugacity is procured unto this 
 Calx of filver, fo that its former body cannot 
 be rcftored unto it in common Crucibles without 
 great lofs, this difcommodity cannot after a more 
 convenient manner be prevented than by that 
 which follows. 
 
 Mix thou an equal weight of 
 
 with this volatile Calx, and caft 
 it into a clofc bright burning Crucible, that is nar- 
 row above, and broad beneath; the which after 
 thou haft covered with a Cover, and well fenced 
 with the lute of Wifedom, thou (hall melt the mat- 
 ter together, nothing whereof (hall depart into 
 fmoke, neither (hall ib much as the leaft of it pierce 
 through the Crucible, and all the filver which the 
 gold received is by this means attained without any 
 loCs, 
 
 XL. An operation, teaching to extraB Stones and Mi' 
 nerals, or Mines that are poor in Silver, and Copper 
 by a moifi way. 
 
 THefe matters being made bright burning hot,' 
 are to be quenched with water, then moiften- 
 ed and extraded with Aq. fortis ; after the fame 
 manner as was taught above concerning the mine- 
 rals of gold, and no difference is here met with but 
 in the waters extradirg, fince gold is extraded with 
 Aq. Regis, and filver with Aq. fortis. 
 
 If the minerals or mines of gold and filver are at 
 once in readinefs, the gold is extraded by Acj.Regis^ 
 and the filver by Aq. fortis, and the folutions are to 
 be united, in which difiblving, the filver being pre- 
 cipitated by the Aq. Regis, doth alfo fhatch with it 
 the gold from the Aq. Regis ; and although copper 
 fhall be prefent with the mine of filver, and it be 
 extraded together with the filver by Aq. fortis, yet 
 it is no impediment to the operation, for the filver 
 and gold do fink to the bottom, and the copper is 
 retained by the Aq. Regis to be afterwards adminif- 
 tred for a new operation, and that indeed as often 
 as any one fhall be willing. 
 
 The copper is recovered from the Aq. Regis by 
 thin plates of iron being put therein, which opera- 
 tion makes the Aq. Regis red, and wholly unfit for 
 the like labours. 
 
 Therefore the iron being then fpiritual, promotes 
 fomething out of the lead unto the degree of gold, 
 and ib the Aq. Regis being thus often ufed, itisa- 
 gain rendrfid profitable. 
 
 XLI.^ 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Firft Century. 
 
 15 
 
 XLI. A more vafy manner as jet by far, of plentifully 
 exivading Gold and Silver out of poor mines , as 
 Sand, IVhiteClay, and ether the like minerals, by 
 pre without fufion. 
 
 '"r^HE mine or mineral Argilla, or White-ClayjC^r . 
 
 X containing a volatile and rtxed Gold, being ro- 
 lled or calcined, and broken in pieces in a mill, till 
 thou a glals gourd therewith fenced with cla}'^, or 
 made of the Left: earth, half full, and pour io much 
 of the following mcnfrruum on that matter, as that 
 it may be well moiltened : but as fooa as that meft- 
 firiium is poured thereon, it prelently begins to give 
 a frnoak, wherefore it is altogether neccllary, that 
 thou prcfently put a head on the gourd or body, 
 which is to be icx^ in land, and all the moifture fepa- 
 rated by dillilling, and that while the diftillation is 
 performing the g!;ld may be diliblvcd, but the fol- 
 ving matter it lelf is to be colleded in a receiver by 
 it ielf, the which hath the virtues of Af]. Regis, and 
 may be again apply ed forulc, as (hall by and by be 
 fhevvn. 
 
 After that all the humidity is come forth, take 
 the gourd ( being coldj out of the fand, and pour 
 Ibme water on the matter that it may become loft, 
 and that a Salt may be extracted from it, wherein 
 the Guld lurketh, which was contained in the mine; 
 coagulate the Lixivium being full of Gold, into a 
 Red Salt, the which by adding Litharge, is to be 
 melted in luch Crucibles which are not broken. 
 
 The Litharge draws the Gold unto it out of the 
 Salt, which is to be feparated from the Lead, after 
 that manner which Ihall be fliewn in the following 
 Chapters or Treatifes. 
 
 XLII. The preparation of a Water neceffary for the ex- 
 traBing of Gold. 
 
 T 
 
 AKEof 
 
 this water of finall charges , which thou fhalt 
 prepare plentifully w.thout trouble, pour up- 
 on mines, and again feparate it by diftiliation, 
 to be again uled in new labours, that there may 
 be no need to prepare it again anew, becaufe this 
 doth not onely alwaies remain etfedtual, but alfb is 
 increafed in every operation .- So that thou mayeft 
 be able to extract mines and minerals ad mfmitum, 
 if fo be thou {halt prepare but one pound or pint at 
 the firft. 
 
 N. B. By this means all Gold how little foever it be, 
 is plentifully extracted out of flints, fand, and any 
 other minerals, without any coft excepting fire. 
 
 XLIIL Another ■water for extraSling fiver. 
 
 ^AKE 
 
 this water e.xtrafleth filver out of the poor mines of 
 filver, fand, and Itones ; the operation of the fame, 
 islike the former one, and itsincreafe is like the in- 
 creafe of the former water, fb that after this manner 
 filver may be plentifully extradled out of poor mi- 
 nerals, and no other coft is required befides fire. 
 
 N. E. Inftead of may 
 
 be taken lince it performs the fame thing in extrac- 
 ting, which the other performeth. 
 
 XLIV. Another eaf.e manner of plentifully extracting 
 gold and filver out of poor minerals, it heing of little 
 or no coji. 
 
 MIX thou the mine or minerals with the requi- 
 iite waters, fill with the fame 
 
 of good earth, fet them near each 
 other in a great put it in and 
 
 diftill the Ipirits, which pay all the Cifarges, and 
 which fljpply gold and filver without any colts, the 
 which is to be received by lead. 
 
 XLV. Another more eafie manner ofextrailing gold and 
 filver out of minerals. 
 
 MIX the mine or mineral with the requifite wa- 
 ters, and moiftcn it by degrees, caft the whole 
 into the fpirits depart into a 
 
 receiving veflel, and in the time of diftiliation, the 
 gold and filver are dillolved by that dilfolvanr, 
 the which being extracted, remain with or among 
 and are rinced by water ouc 
 of the mineral, fo that they are attained without 
 colts, and the fpirits being collected in the receiving 
 veflel, do recompence all charges. 
 
 XLVI. An eafie operation of pUnttfuU extracting gold 
 and filver out of fat white Clay or I'ottsrs-earth. 
 
 ALthough gold and filver be extraded out of 
 minerals by moift waters, by a troublefome 
 operation as we have taught in the beginning, yet 
 fuchan extradion brings no fmall profit, becaufe 
 they may be freed from thofe waters by precipita- 
 tion j and thofe very waters do readily ferve for the 
 making or preparing of Salt Peter. With a fat Ar- 
 gilla or white Clay, the matter goes otherwife, be- 
 caufe the fpirit hath crept into the fat earth, and 
 fcarce a half part is received, unlefs the earth be 
 firft deprived of its fatnefs by making burning bright^ 
 it being that which doth alfo require its own peculiar 
 labour. 
 
 Seeing that therefore in all places of the world, 
 whcrefoever earth is found, fiich fat white Clays 
 containing gold and filver do plentifully offer thera- 
 felves, and none hath been hitherto found, who 
 hath indeavoured to extraift and bring them to ufe, 
 efpecially whenas they contain but little of gold or 
 filver, not able to defray the charges of the lead be- 
 ftowed. 
 
 I could not but open a very eafie way of perfor- 
 ming that thing with no fmall profit, the which is 
 pertedted by the following labour. 
 
 Mix fuch an earth containing gold or filver, with 
 
 or of that greater one, and caft 
 
 it by degrees into my firft or fecond Diftillatory 
 
 Furnaces, and draw forth the fpirits by diftilling, 
 
 that the folvedgold or filver may remain in 
 
 From that which is broken by a Mill or grin- 
 ding is wafhed oft' with hot 
 water, and is reduced by lead as is fliewed before. 
 
 XLVII. After what manner by the help of art, gold 
 may be eafily and plenteoufiy extracted from the j'and 
 of Granates, Agaths, Saphyrs, <z»f/ Rubies, and 
 other fioney Mineral earths, which do neither admit 
 offtifion, nor Lead, norfiiarp IVaters. 
 
 rT is certain that all Granates or Marbles, the red, 
 black, afh-coloured, duskifli, alfo ofwhatfbever 
 
 eolouF 
 
 •fr 
 
I^ 
 
 The Firfl Ccnturj. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Colour they are, or whereloever they are found, 
 whether in Brooks or Rivers, or in Sand, or fat 
 Earth, or in high Rocks, do always contain much 
 of Gold, but that by reafon of their glally nature, 
 they cannot be tamed by A'j. fonu's, and by reafon 
 of their mof> difficult fufion cannot be wrought by 
 Saturn or Lead ; for that caufe they have made 
 none partakerof their gold,and they have been neg- 
 lefted as unprofitable earths, whenas notwithftan- 
 ding they being handled by little labour, they are 
 able to afford much g'-ld. 
 
 Some one therefore may a?k, becaufe they can- 
 not be fubducd either by lead ov Aefua fortn's, what 
 courfe muft be taken, that gold may be extratTicd 
 out of their bowels ? I anf'wer. 
 
 and alio by a Fufible 
 they may be fo overcome, that the gold which 
 they have may be withdrawn from them with profit, 
 for becuu'e they can bear 
 
 the fire, they are and perform by a 
 
 double labour, one through their fliarpnefs, and 
 another by reafon of a flrong fire, fo that nothing 
 is fafe from fb great forces, but all things are con 
 ftrained to yield unto fo great violence. Hence they 
 do willingly afterwards enter the Salt of Lead, and 
 in time of melting do readily draw out their gold. 
 
 XLVIIL A mojt firm demonfiratim, that Jharp Wa- 
 ters and 'ialts after the tn.inner of the ways hitherto 
 Jelcrihecl, do draw forth more Gold and Sil'ver as it 
 were without cofi, cut of Mines or Minerals con- 
 taining Gold and Silver, than fumptuoui er coflly 
 melting Fires, 
 
 ment blafts of Be!lovi'>, are rendred as yet tar more 
 volatile, fb that by the help of tu/ion fcarce half the 
 Gold is gotten which the extraction by the Waters 
 of Salt atFordeth. 
 
 Add to this, that not onely all the Silver and 
 Gold, as well the volatile as the fi.xt is gotrcn to- 
 gether without any lols, but alfo the charges of 
 Coals are far lefs, and one operatour may perform 
 as much of this extraftion of Gold and Silver, as 
 three in the lab')ur of fufion or melting. 
 
 From hence it is eafily to be feen, how much pro- 
 fit and fruit may be gained by this my molt excellent 
 invention in all places of Germany. For this extrac- 
 tion is not onely for extracting Gold and Silver as 
 well out of rich as poor Mines, but alfb fnatcheth out 
 all the Gold and Silver, in Flints tinged with any 
 colour, wherewith all Brocks, Rivers, and Fields 
 are fi.Icd 
 
 Now follow fome particular tranfmutations of the 
 imperfecft Metals into more perfect ones, by common 
 fire, and Crude Salt, and by the not common con- 
 centred moid fire of Salt. 
 
 XLIX. A fundamental and evident demonfiration, that 
 a true tranjmutation, or tranf-changing of Metalt 
 may be exercijtd m all places of the earth, wherejoe'ver 
 Mm may dwell, yea m the leafi Cottages of Ccuntrey 
 folks, and indeed by the fame matters and 've£els 
 ■which are found in them. 
 
 IT is not unknown to every one that is feafoned but 
 even with a mean knowledge of gold bearing 
 Mines, that without the addition of Lead or other 
 flowable things, Gold can in no wife be melted out 
 of them, whenas therefore there is little Gold in 
 thofe, and neverthelefs much of Lead or other mat- 
 ters is required to' be added for an eafie fufion or 
 melting lake, who fhall be fit for the undergoing of 
 fo great cofts .^ Hence it hath come to pais that fuch 
 poor minerals could bring nothing of profit in com- 
 mon. 
 
 It being alfb granted, that there is fo much of 
 Gold and Silver in Minerals, thatthey will defray 
 the charge? of fire and fufion, and afford Gold and 
 Silver wuh profit,- yet fuch operations are not com- 
 parable to my inventions ufing Waters and Salts, no 
 more than as Water to Wine, or Night to Day. 
 
 For firft, fufion or melting far exceeds in its cofts 
 the extraciion which is perfeflied by Salt and Wa- 
 ters. And then it can never be brought to pa(s 
 that fufion (hould expell all the Gold and Silver out 
 of Mines and Minerals, but leaves fbme thereof in 
 the drolles, next alfo there is made alofs of all the 
 volatile Gold and Silver, which are caft forth by 
 a moft ff rong fire, and driven away into the air ; on 
 the contrary, of the more ample and wealthy pro- 
 fits, which the extraftion of Gold and Silver out of 
 Minerals bringeth, this is not the leafi-, that not one- 
 ly all the Gold and Silver which is fi.xed, is drawn 
 out without any detriment or lofs, but alfo thofe 
 two metals being as yet volatile are extraded atonce 
 and made fixt and confiant in the fire, whenas not- 
 withltanding by the vehemence of a melting fire, 
 they are wholly difperfed and reduced into nothing. 
 For the Waters of Salts do fix the volatile fugative 
 
 IT is well known, that even the pooreft and v 
 or meaneft Countrey can want neither fire. 
 
 vileft 
 nor 
 fait, nor earthen veffels, nec-fi'ary for the boy ling 
 of Meats. Therefore being furnifiicd with Salt, a 
 pieceof Copper of fome old Kettle fhall eafily fup- 
 ply him, the which it fhall be free for him, by fire 
 and (alt to tranJ change into a better and more no- 
 ble body, but becaufe Man hath a far better and 
 commodious Salt for the tranfmutation of Metals in 
 his pollefTion, which excells common Salt in its good- 
 nefs, he may of right and worthily make ufe of his 
 own proper Salt before a flrange and foreign one, 
 and that after this manner. 
 
 Boil thy own, or the Urine of another man, to 
 the confiltancy of Honey, in which decoction, all 
 the unprofitab'e moifture of the Urine departs by 
 exhalation, and the Salt thereof remains in the Ket- 
 tle or earthen Pot; admix thou with this condenfed 
 Urine, fo much of cVr/.v-wt;e, or the afhes of burnt 
 Woods, that it may come into a thick or grofs lump. 
 Butthin plates of Copper cut in pieces, and purged 
 by making them bright burning hot ought to be in 
 readinefs, and alfo an earthen Pot having its Cover, 
 wherein let that mafs of Urine, and (.al.x-i'ive, to- 
 gether with the thin plates of Copper be put; when 
 thou hatt all thefe things in a readinefs, mix the U- 
 rine as abovefaid with the Calx or fiack-Iime or afhes, 
 and fill thy Pot to the height of three' or four fingers, 
 upon which put fome of the plates of Copper, and 
 fb jlratumjupsr-firatum till the Pot is full, then cover 
 it with its Cover, which thou fhalt well fence with 
 Lute made of Meal, Water, and Paper, that not 
 any vapour at all may come forth. For allbon as 
 the Calx-vi-ve is mi.ved with the condenfed or co- 
 thickned Urine, the fpirit of Urine begins to operate 
 by its own proper efficacy, and therefore it is ne- 
 celfary that the Cover be firaightway Lud on the 
 Pot, and be fenced with a due Lure or Clay ; the 
 Pot being thus filled and cover'd, fetitafide in fome 
 
 fpirits of Gold and Silver, the which by the vehe- certain place for the fpace of half a year, in which 
 
 umc 
 
 ^ 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Ftrft Century, 
 
 t1 
 
 time the (piric of Urine being ftirred up by the 
 Calx-iitw, difplays its virtues on the Copper, and 
 exalts it into a higher degree, as that it is tinged of 
 a skie and green colour mixed, and is rcndred fit 
 for the Painters Ave ; one pound whereof is more 
 worth than two or-tthree pounds of Copper, one 
 pound whereof doth for the moft part render one 
 pound with four or five ounces of this colour, and 
 and lb it atfords a profitable tranfmutation of Cop- 
 per. 
 
 L. yifter ivhat manner^ out of this partly Green, part- 
 ly Skie-coluur of Confer , Gold and Silifer is to he 
 feparateJ. 
 
 HE that defires to feparate Gold and Silver our 
 of this colour, whereof no great mafles are at- 
 tained, but onely and alone whereby it is demon- 
 liratcd that the thing may be done, he muft u(e the 
 follow ing operation. 
 
 Firrt, he muft take good heed in taking the co- 
 lour out of the earthen Pot, left any thing of the 
 ma(s of the Urine, and Ca/x be mi.xed with the beau- 
 tifuil colour, and render it impure. 
 
 The ihin plates being taken out, they are to be 
 often crookedly bowed, and moved upwards and 
 downwards, that the colour may fall otf from the 
 plates like (cales. The remaining Copper which is 
 not yet turned into colour, is relerved for a new 
 labour; to be repeated after the fame manner. Wine- 
 vinegar is poured on the colour, or the fharp wa- 
 ter of Tartar extracted after the Diftillation of aduft 
 Wine from its Lees, with water by decodtion, and 
 it is to be lb long boiled in a Copper Kettle^ or an 
 earthen Pot glazed, till all the colour (hall be folved; 
 the folution being calt into a Fikre, the Vinegar or 
 Water of Tartar onely palieth through, and a red- 
 difh powder is left in the Filtre, the which being 
 melted with Lead in a Cupel, after the exhalation 
 of the Lead, it leaves a grain of Gold. For the fpi- 
 rit ot Urine hath ripened lomewhat of the Copper 
 into Gold, which the Vinegar or Water of Tartar 
 d;d not dillolve but left, attracting onely the Copper 
 "by folution. And becaule fomewhat of Silver is ri- 
 pened in the Copper through this fame operation, 
 and is diliolvcd with the Copper, by the Vinegar 
 or Water of Tartar, Ibmething of common Salt is to 
 be added to the Water of Tartar or Vinegar, that 
 the Silver may not be folved by the lame, but may 
 remain with the Calx of Gold, and may be retained 
 with the ftme. 
 
 N. B. Pure and clear Vinegar ought to be taken 
 for this labour, if you would preierve the colour 
 unhurt, for after Ibme part of the Vinegar is evapo- 
 rated away, the green colour of the Copper grows 
 together mto fair green fmall ftones, one pound 
 whereof is more to be efteemed than five or iix 
 pounds of Verdi greale, which is fold in the Shops. 
 This artificial operation therefore atfords a beau- 
 tifull and chriltalline vitriol of Few;//, and Ibme fmall 
 quantity of Gold and. Silver ; whereof although 
 there be notfo great plenty that it may bring profit, 
 yet it {hews the pollibility of the thing, and teach- 
 eth that a tranfinutation of Metals, may be exerciled 
 in any fmall Cottage by any Countrey Man. 
 
 But if any one fhall coUedt Urine, and extrad 
 from thence the volatile fpirit of its Salt by Diftilla- 
 tion, he Ihall far more deeply pierce the heart of 
 the Copper, and Ihall obtain more of Gold and Sil- 
 ver than he can get by the but now mentioned 
 
 ruftical labour, of which matter more things are 
 found in other places of my Writings. 
 
 LL After what fort pure Gold may be extraSied out of 
 any Copptr. 
 
 IN all Copper a fpiritual occult Gold lies hid, the 
 which in the labour of feparation by Lead in A 
 Cupel or Teft, is not taken notice c^, or conlidered. 
 But this very Gold is nothing elle but the colour of 
 Copper, fo firmly adhering unto its body, that it 
 remaineth very difficult to be leparated from thence, 
 but the operation being rightly inftituted, although 
 it be nor gainful!, yet it demonftratesa pofllbility of 
 the thing, for the fake of experiencing whereof, to 
 wir, whether there be Gold in all Copper, thou 
 muft labour after the following manner. 
 
 Di(I(jlve Copper in Aq. Regis, and pour much 
 water on the folution, that by this water the diflbl- 
 ved Copper may be largely dilFuled.Into this folution 
 ditfufed by the water, pour Lead that is diffolved in 
 Aej. Fort IS, ib that one or two half ounces of Lead 
 may anfwer to one pound of Copper. But as often 
 as the Lead fhall fettle to the bottom, thou Ihaltfhake 
 or ftir it, that the Iblution may be well mixed, and 
 that the Lead may attraift fomething ofGold; and 
 may precipitate it with it felf to the bottom, the 
 which being dried and feparatcd in a Cupel, will 
 leave a fmall quantity of Gold, not for an argument 
 of profit, but a token of a pollibility, which teftifies 
 that there is Gold in all Copper. But if any thing 
 of profit were to be received, fuch Copper was to 
 be taken which was already changed into vitriol. 
 But among vitriols the Hungarian^ Cyprian, Indian j 
 Japanick, and other the likcdo excell, which do of- 
 fer themfelves in the Mines of Gold-bearing Copper, 
 and are handled after the following manner. 
 
 LIL The manner of extra^ing Gold out of natural vi- 
 triol. 
 
 Dlflblve thou vitriol in common water, and pour 
 on the vitriol diffolved, a littled of dilfolved 
 Lead, and iVir both fblutions by frequent motions, 
 that the Lead may attrad: the Gold out of the vitri- 
 ol, to be dried and feparated by a Cupel, which 
 will remain like a grain of greater or lefTer quantity, 
 as the vitriol fhall contain more or lefs of the fame. 
 
 Of the vitriolated water out of which the Gold 
 was extradled, thou fhalt again make vitriol by fo 
 long boiling, and evaporating till a thin skin appear, 
 which being then expofed to the cold will fhoot into 
 Cryftals. But this operation brings with it more pro- 
 fir, if it be not now boiled up into Cryftals, but 
 that vitriol onely be taken which is drawn out of 
 its Mineral into Water, and after the extradion of 
 the Gold, is at length boiled up into vitriol, 
 
 Butlcaft this fifhing of Gold out of vitriol fhould 
 feem wonderfull unto any, we will fhew a way, 
 whereby Gold may be extracted out of Sea Water, 
 or Sea Salt, the folution of Lead alfifting: The 
 manner is as followeth. 
 
 LIIL After -what manner Gold is to he extracted out 
 of Sea Salt, or Sea JVater, not indeed with profit, 
 but onely that n may be demonfirated, that Gold is hid- 
 den even in Sea Water or Sea Salt. 
 
 FILL a great Copper Kettle with Sea. Water, and 
 pour thereon a little diffolved Lead ; the which 
 F goe? 
 
i8 
 
 The ¥irft Centnrj. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 goes to the bottom becaufeit cannot indure Salt, and 
 is ftraightvvay precipitated into a white powder, 
 move and ftir the water in the Kettle often, that 
 the folution of Lead may every where touch the 
 Sea- Salt- Water. _ . ^ , , ,. 
 
 Through this aftion, a fpiritual Gold adheres to 
 the leaden powder, and finks to the bottom toge- 
 ther with it, which powder being freed from its 
 Salt bycommo5> Water, and dried, and melted ma 
 Cupel, leaves a Imall grain of Gold, as a remain- 
 
 k. B. For this filhing Silver is more fit than 
 Lead. 
 
 UV 
 
 no 
 
 How, out offoor Mines of Copper, from which 
 profit can he percei-veJ, Copper, as alfo Gold it 
 
 felfif It be prefent, is to be eaply and Without cojts, 
 
 extrathd and feparated. 
 
 THE fandy or fulphurous Mine or Mineral of 
 Copper is to be roafted or calcined, by bur- 
 ning even to the confuming of the Sulphur, becaufe 
 fharp waters do not aflault (iilphureous matters, the 
 Mineral being calcined and beaten into a powder , 
 fin a gourd, and pour our folving fecret on the fame, 
 the which I have taught above at the extracting of 
 
 Minerals. 
 
 The whole dilfolvent in abftrading or diftilhng 
 is recovered, and that indeed not without increafc. 
 But the Copper and Silver do flick faft in the dif 
 folved Salt, which remained in the Mineral after 
 the abftraction, and the which is to be waflied out 
 with water, out of which water, which drew out 
 that Salt, the Gold contained therein, may by the 
 folution of Lead or Silver, be drawn forth. 
 
 But if the fame water be boiled untill a thin skin 
 appear at the top, and cxpoled to the cold, it will 
 fhoot into a green vitriol, but for the extrafting the 
 Copper out of the Salt-Water, Rods of Iron are to 
 be put therein, which do attrad the Copper, the 
 which being withdrawn and waflied clean, and 
 melted into Copper by fufion, is adminiftred for 
 other ufes : For becaufe it is like to a tender and fi- 
 led powder, it is changed by an eafie bufinefs into 
 Verdi-greafe, atter the manner which ftiall by and 
 by be caught. 
 
 LV. After what matmer Gold may by an eafie bufinefs by 
 Fire and Salt, be feparated out of Copper. 
 
 IF Gold fliall be mi.xed with a mafs or lump of 
 Copper,all the Copper is to be reduced in a bright 
 burning Fire into Afties : and the Afhes are to be 
 infufed in our fecret Aceum or Vinegar, the which 
 diffolveth the Copper onely by dccoftion, and lea- 
 vech the Gold undillblved, like a fhining powder, 
 to be dried and melted with Borace, out of which 
 Gold of twenty three Caradts proceedeth. 
 
 That Vinegar, our fecret Acam, draws all the 
 Copper from the golden Calx. The Copper is fe- 
 parated from the Vinegar by Rods of Iron, being 
 laid therein as we have taught in the foregoing man- 
 ner. 
 
 the which being covered with its Cover well fenced 
 with Clay, are to be placed in Horfe dung, and to 
 be left therein tor a time, yet fo as that the heap of 
 Dung be fbmetimes renewed. All the Copper is in 
 a fhorc time changed into Verdi-greafe, and indeed 
 far more pure than that which is fet forth to Sale 
 [ in the Shops, and which is made in Spam^ by the 
 husks or prelfed out of cluflers of Grapes. 
 
 N. B. In extradting Copper out of Mines, regard 
 is to be had unto this thing, to wir, that with poor 
 and wild or courfe veins of Copper, Lapis Calam'ma- 
 ris, or Zink is lometimcs found to be admixed ; 
 which is no ways perceived to be in them. But if 
 thofe Minerals are extracted with A^. Regis, and 
 this be to be taken away by Diflillation, none of 
 the A^i- Regis goes forth, but onely a flegm without j 
 favour, becaufe ihe I.apis Calammaris or Zmk dothl 
 retain all the Acrimony with it, juft as if thofe two! 
 Minerals fhould fay to the Acj. Regis, we do not as 
 yet let thee go, becaufe as yet, we have need of 
 thy indeavour for our amendment, &c. 
 
 But it is certain that whatfbever Minerals and 
 Metals do retain with them fharp fpirits, are as yet 
 immature, and may be ripened by thofe fpirits, that 
 they may beftow Gold and Silver, as hath been al- 
 ready faid,and fhall as yet more largely be fpoken to. 
 
 LVII. Out of wild or courfe Aiinerals, or 'veins of 
 Lead, admitting of no melting, out of -which no good 
 Lead, much lejs Gold or Silver, can be drawn, bow to 
 extract not onely Lead, but aljo Gold and Stiver with 
 profit. 
 
 A 
 
 LVI. How Copper being 
 IVater, and adhering to 
 ged into Verdi-greafe. 
 
 extraBed cut of 
 Rods of Iron, 
 
 vitrtolated 
 IS to be chan- 
 
 THIS pure Copper may be moiftened with the 
 ftrongefl Vinegar, and put into earthen Pots, 
 
 S we have faid above, that fome Minerals or 
 Veins of Copper do appear in Mines, the 
 which by reafon of Lapis Calammaris or Zmk do 
 refute all melting, andean be by no fire reduced : So 
 alfo we here admonifh, that Minerals of Lead are 
 found,- the which do indeed contain much Lead, 
 but by reafon of the Lapis Calammaris, Zmk, and a 
 fulphureous Sand being admixed with them, they 
 cannot be overcome by any melting, forthefe mat- 
 ters do take away a ready flowing from the Lead, 
 and do caufe that tiich Minerals, which for the raoft 
 part together with Lead, do alfo hide not a little of 
 Gold and Silver, are caft away as altogether unfit, 
 and unprofitable, whenas notwithflanding very- 
 much profit might be received from them after thfs 
 manner. 
 
 Let the Mineral by pounding be broken in fmall 
 pieces, and in my little fecret Furnace which I have 
 fitted for the calcining of Minerals, let it be roafted 
 with bright burning Coals,that the grots Sulphur may 
 conceive a flame, and burn. If in time of operation the 
 matter ftiould gather it felf into heaps or knobs, and 
 in co-heaping fhould make round Pellets, it being 
 taken out of the Furnace, let it again be beaten, be 
 fet upon live Coals and roaffed, and thete labours 
 be fo often repeated, until! all the Sulphur fhall be 
 confumed, and the Mineral doth no longer co-heap 
 it felf into knobs, but being made bright burning hot 
 like dead afhes ; it no longer fends forth a fulphureous 
 ffink. At length out of thefe aflies being well wafh- 
 ed, a dead and unprofitable matter feparates its 
 felf from the good and metallick earth, the which 
 being melted by it felf in a Furnace called by the Ger- 
 mans Sttchofen, becomes a flowable Lead which con- 
 taineth Gold and Silver. 
 
 But if the Mineral be fo flubborn that it altoge- 
 ther refufing all melting, could not by it felf be re- 
 duced. 
 
II. 
 
 The Firft Century. 
 
 19 
 
 duced, and neverchelels contain Gold and Silver, 
 fbmechingof Litharge is to be added to that metallick 
 earth, which procures a flux unto it, and yields that 
 Gold and Silver bearing Lead, which by the com- 
 mon operation wholly refufeth to offer it felf. 
 
 LVIIL Another way teacbivg by the heh of Salt and 
 Fire to draw Stiver and Gold with great profit, out 
 of aU ftubborn or rude and untamed metallick earths, 
 in wboje Veins Lead , Copper, Gravel, or courfe 
 Sands, Iron, or l^^xs CaXdiminzTXS have for the mo fi 
 pai t co7ijoyned in Society, and which do deny all pro- 
 fit by ittlgar operations. 
 
 AS Fire burns up every grofs and combuftible 
 . Sulphur in Mines or Minerals, that thefe do 
 at length (ubjedt themfelves unto melting, and do 
 render Metals cafie to be hammered: (o aU6 Salt fix- 
 eth, and makes conftant whatlbever volatile body 
 endeavours to flie away into theair,that it may afford 
 a ripened, melted, and profitable Metal. For that 
 caule f'uch Minerals common Salt being added as 
 was abovefaid, are to be roafted in live Coals, that 
 that devouring grols Sulphur may vanifh by burning 
 with a flame, and that together alio the Metal it 
 felf may be promoted to maturity, and ib that by 
 this very thing, good Gold and Silver may be Sepa- 
 rated , whenas notwithftanding otherwife, not any 
 one fliould obtain lb much as the leaft thereof out of 
 thefe very Minerals. 
 
 Such an amendment and changing the more im- 
 perfedl Metals into the more perfed: ones, may be 
 ; attained by the help of Salt and Fire. 
 
 If therefore common Salt and grofs Fire are able 
 I to perform this in Minerals, what (hall not thefe, 
 i not common but fecret Fires of Salts effecfl, intranf 
 (changing Metals already pure, into more pure and 
 lliibtileoncs? 
 
 i LIX. After what manner Metals are to be amended by 
 pure Fire, or the fiery fpirits of Salts. 
 
 IT may eafily be perceived if a grofs Salt and Fire 
 do fome good to more grofs xMetals, thatalfb a 
 more pure Fire and Salt may do more good on purer 
 Metals. Inffruments whole edges are made very 
 iharp by whetting, are far more fit for operation 
 ban thofe tliat are dull, and will perform more. 
 iy how much the (harper an Auger or Wimble is, 
 by (b much the (boner it boareth thorough the 
 Wood, and on the contrary, by how much the more 
 blunt it is, by fb much the flower it pierceth tho- 
 ' rough. 
 
 He that is earncftly defirous to obtain any good 
 ! in the amendment of Metals, he muft of necelfity 
 [apply the lubtilc and ffrong fpirits of Salts, that he 
 may deftroy Metals with the fame, may kill them, 
 and reduce them unto their former life, and fo may 
 procure more noble bodies unto them. When their 
 former body is reltored to thofe moift and cold 
 Fires of Salts, to wit, that they may return unto 
 the form of Salt, but of a more noble and fubtile 
 , one, Metals may far more fpeedily be deftroyed ; 
 I a double Fire performs more than a llngle one, fince 
 therefore Salt is by it felf no other thing but a meer 
 and con centred Fire, and the Fire of Wood or 
 Coals joy ning it felf with the other a greater effica- 
 cy muft needs be expected from them than by com- 
 ' mon Fire alone, but we have hitherto made men- 
 tion of (uch operations, and therefore its needle(s 
 
 here to repeat thenv From what hath been hitherto 
 (aid , every Chymift may gather and learn ihofe 
 things which concern the amendment of .Metals, 
 wanting the help of Salt and Fire ; more God wil- 
 ling fhall follow. 
 
 LX. Let Hs now afcend higher, and demonftrate what 
 incredible miracles or wonders cur fecret Fires of 
 Salts may ejfeit nigh to that great ''ivcrk of Philo- 
 fophers. 
 
 AS in the foregoing Chapters it hath been fuf- 
 ficiently confirmed, that unripe Metals may 
 by the help of Fire and Salt, be particularly promo- 
 ted to a more perfecft maturity : So alfb in the mul- 
 tiplying of Animals and Vegetables, that thing evi- 
 dently appeareth ; to wit, if fufficient meat and 
 drink beadminiftredto any Infant, that he groweth 
 dayly in bignefs, and ftrength of body, untill he 
 come to the age and perfedtion of a Man. The 
 fame multiplying in Vegetables offers it felf to our 
 view, in that a (rnall (eed or root do fnatch to them 
 their nouri(hment from an earthly Salt ; and the 
 beams of the Sun, and do ri(e up into a perefeft, 
 great, and fruitfull Tree. This particular tranf^ 
 mutation is converfant before our eyes, and there- 
 fore is a thing mofl: known, but after what (ort the 
 moft noble part or purefl: eflcnce is to be extrafted 
 out of the bodies of Vegetables, Minerals, and Ani- 
 mals, that other more weak bodies may be ftrength- 
 ned and amended by the fame Philofbphers have 
 always hidden and covered with the greateft en- 
 deavour. Flence it is, that there hath been very kw, 
 and as yet are, who have had the knowledge of this 
 higheft Science. 
 
 As to what therefore belongs to the great work 
 of the Philofophers, all thePhilofophers do in their 
 writings with one accord affirm, the which I do al- 
 fb in all my writings affirm to be moft true, and do 
 as it were fhew with my Fingers, to wit, that 
 nothing in the nature of things doth effed a Tinc- 
 ture and Tinge with a moft gratefull colour, but 
 Sulphur alone, and that one onely, and that this 
 fame combuftible immature and volatile Sulphur 
 is fixed and changed by the operation and help of 
 Salts into a true Tindure, the which is as certain as 
 that which is moft certain, and yet laborious alfb, 
 and requiring a fpacc of time long enough, efpecial- 
 ly if any one doth infift in a moift way. The way 
 of coming unto the end of fiich a work as I think, 
 yet with the fafety of others judgment, this is the 
 beft, if any one bind or fix fuch a Sulphur, which 
 was already brought unto a perfeft maturity by na- 
 ture, they might bring this profit with it, that it 
 (hould not require a longer time for its maturity. ' 
 
 But fuch a fi.xed and tinged Sulphur, is no where 
 more nearly found than in Metals, and efpecially in 
 Copper and Iron, but the better and more pure in 
 Gold ; the finding out whereof notwithftanding (by 
 reafbn of its moft firm and intimate conjunction with 
 its body, as alfb its feparationj hath been always 
 efteemed almoft impoflible. For unto diligent 
 fearchers, a true feparator which might (eparate the 
 pure part from the impure, hath for the moft part 
 every where been wanting. 
 
 For as it is known (iich a hard or compared me- 
 tallick body, can very difficultly be feparated and 
 divided into its parts. 
 
 The folution of fharp waters, fups up indeed e- 
 very Metal, but it etfeds no feparation. For becauie 
 
 Metals 
 
20 
 
 The Firft Cc/iti/rj. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Merals are Homogeneal things, and the metalhck 
 Sulphur is fo ftricUy bound to its metallick mercury, 
 by the bond of the merallick Salt, it can never be 
 brought to pafs, that by (uch folutions, or by pre- 
 cipitatings, or by other ways, one part fliould be 
 feparated from the other. 
 
 If a Metal being dillolvcd by a water be precipi- 
 tated all its parts being fo mixed as they were before 
 its diflblutioJi'do fall down and fettle, and admit of 
 no reparation. But if any one would al(b render 
 Metals fpiritual, that fo the more pure parts might 
 be disjoyned from the more impure ones by diftilla- 
 tion, yet there is no feparation made, but the more 
 pure body it felfafcends, and again as before, itcon- 
 fifteth of three principles, performing indeed more 
 in Alchymy and in Medicine than the more grofs 
 bodies of Metals, but is unfit for a true Tinfture, 
 becaufe nothing operates in all bodies, but a lively 
 Soul, and that which vivifies or quickens other dead 
 bodies, for it is the fpirir, as Chrift faith, which 
 quickneth, the body is unprofitable. Let man, or any 
 other living creature be for an example, the which as 
 long as it lives, it moves it felf and operates as long 
 as the fpirit, the Authour of Life is prefent with it ; 
 but that vanifhing away the body wants all motion, 
 and remains a dead Carcafs. If now it could be 
 brought to pafs, that we could lay hold of luch 
 Animal Spirits, and could render them corporal 
 ones we might alfo perform incredible things by the 
 fame', and perhaps fafiiion or form a living creature 
 of a lump of earth, the which notwithftanding God 
 hath referred to his own felf But this that boun- 
 tifuU Father hath granted unto us, that outofun- 
 moveable lubjeds, or thofe wanting a moveable and 
 animal life, we may extrad their pure Souls or El- 
 fences, and render them corporal, and efFeet there- 
 by things of great moment in Medicine and Al- 
 chymy. 
 
 But the fouls of Merals do excell herein , as be- 
 ing more fixed and conflant than the eflences of 
 vegetables, but they are far more difficultly attained. 
 Fo° the fouls of vegetables do lutfer themfelves to be 
 eafily extracted, but the colours and fouls of Metals 
 do hardly admit of extraction, and for that caufe 
 are accounted of by the ignorant for a thing impof 
 lible to be done, nor indeed is it altogether without 
 fome caufe ; tor the feparation of the tinging foul 
 from the hard metallick body is a thing of great 
 moment : many are the ways that have been at- 
 tempted for the procuring of this Sulphur ; and 
 fome ignorant fellows have written Books, of the ac- 
 quiring or getting of the fame, whereas 'tis evident 
 that they never faw fuch a Sulphur. 
 
 The moft learned and moft witty Helmont wrote 
 egregioufly concerning this Sulphur; but yet not fb 
 clearly as that any one could out of thole his wri- 
 tings get a perfect knowledge of the lame. Nor in- 
 deed is it expedient that fuch kind of Pearls Ibould 
 be caft under the feet of fwinilh Men. There is no 
 Writer . as far as I know) that hath mentioned any 
 thing concerning this matter, clearer than IJaac Hol- 
 land in his Ch. De jMaiifis,wheTQ he teacheth,that he 
 who hath gotten the art of changing Metals into 
 tranfparent GlalTes with their peculiar colours, hath 
 purchaled a notable fecret in Metallick affairs. He al- 
 ludes , by way of likcnefs) to the bodies of Men 
 brought to a clarity or brightnefs after this life, and 
 thus declares his Dodrine and fays ; The fouls of 
 Metals do Ibine forth through their Amaufa's, or cla- 
 rified bodies, clad in their proper colours, even as the 
 
 Souls of Men (hall hereafter fhine in the other 
 World, from [or through] their c'arified bodies. 
 And further he faith, that when luch Am^ufa's [or 
 Glailcs] are reduced into their former bodies ; then 
 the Anjaufa's of Copper and Iron become fixt, that 
 of Silver becomes Gold, and that of Gold becomes 
 Tintfture. The faid Authour hath not clearly ex- 
 prelfed the manner of accomplifhing this , but 
 in my opinion ( without prefcribing ought fo 
 any one ) this is the neareft way of attaining to 
 fuch an operation, 'uix,. of getting the fouls, or the 
 pure Sulphurs of Metals, 'uiz.. If the Metals befirft 
 reduced into Amanja's or tranfparent Glafies, out of 
 which their fouls are ealler extraftable than out of 
 their grols bodies. But now, for fuch an extraction 
 here is (uch a mmftrmim required as doth not work 
 upon all the whole body, or dilfolve it, but doth 
 onely attrad there out of the colour and pureft 
 Sulphur, and leaves the body behind white. But 
 where fhall we find the defcription of fuch a menfiru- 
 urn? none fpeak of it openly, but many mention it 
 oblcurely ; nor indeed is it fo neceffary that fuch aa 
 Arcanum of fo great moment be manifefted to every 
 one. 
 
 But however, this in brief you are to be admo- 
 nifhed of, that like draws its like and extracts it. 
 If a mercuriality be to be extraded out of the me- 
 tallick mafles [or bodies,] then "tis expedient to ule 
 a mercurial menfimum, for like rejoyceth in its like. 
 So fulphureous elFcncesare extradable by fulphure- 
 ous menjtruums, and not by mercurial ones. For 
 Water doth willingly aflbciate it felf with Water, 
 and Oyl with Oyls. And forafmuch as all the Phi- 
 lofophers write that the Sulphur or tinging Soul in 
 Iron and Copper, doth as to goodnels and noblenels 
 equalize the Sulphur in Gold, it will be needlefs (in 
 my opinion) to take Gold, but to bring Iron and 
 Copper to that pals, that they may become tran- 
 fparent Glafles, from which their colours may be 
 extrafted. But if fo be that any one is minded to 
 prefer Gold before thefe, and to extract the tindture 
 hence from, he may do as he pleafes, and will find 
 in many places of my writngs a manududtion, [di- 
 reding him] to the tranfmutation of Gold, (and fb 
 of the other Metals too) into tranfparent bodies, 
 which thing is highly necelfary. For there is not 
 and cafier way of extracfting the tindture out of Me- 
 tals, than by firft reducing them into tranfparent 
 Amaufa's. Now the mmftrmim ferving for this ex- 
 trading of the Sulphurs out of the metallick bodies 
 is to be fo prepared, that it dilTolve not the body, 
 but extradt onely the Sulphur or pure Soul there 
 out of. Such menfiruiims i'arau'lf:/s himfelf makes 
 mention of, and aflfirms, that with them the skieco- 
 loured Saphyrs, the red Rubies, and the yellow 
 Jacynth may be fo deprived of their colours, as 
 that there remains no more of them lave onely the 
 white bodies. Belldes, that white Cryftals may 
 (by the help of tinging fulphureous fpirits) be died 
 with various colours. Verily 'tis a fecret of moft 
 mighty concernment, to have the skill how to pre- 
 pare fuch a matjhuttm as will penetrate the moft 
 hard Stones and mo/t compad Glalfes to extrad 
 them, and withall to communicate to otherfome 
 various colours, without the corrupting, breaking 
 and delfrudion of any of the bodies, the which thing 
 leems in my opinion very likely to be true, though 
 as yet I know not how to do it. That which I have 
 tryed by my operations I can write and teach, -uiz,. 
 how all the Metals may very eafily fyet one more 
 
 eafily 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Firfi Cenfury. 
 
 21 
 
 cafilv tlian another/' be changed into fair tranfpa- 
 renr'antl moft delicately coloured glafles, and how 
 cue of thefe glailcs the pure and tinging metallick 
 fouls may be extracted, 'vix... by (iich mmliruums as 
 arelu.phureous, fubtilc, not dilTolving, but onely 
 cxrniJmg 
 
 But for as much as the(e kinds of wcnfiruums are 
 not (as far as I know) defcribed byany one, and 
 yet arc theproducersof(uch notable effects ; 1 could 
 not emit the difcovcring of fomething concerning 
 them, for the fake of fucn as arc Students in true 
 Philolnpy, and after fome fort fliew that kind ot 
 extraction, which is to be accomplifhed by the 
 help of our concentrated Ipirits of fair, or of our 
 moift Phi'.ofophical lires. 
 
 LXI. Hini> a 'uegetahle fubtile fulphur is to be fo aBua- 
 till by the mtrous moifi fre, that it may extraSi the 
 fxtjulphurofmetalsj cr thtir f tire tinging foul. 
 
 Flrfl: of all, the oyls of the vegetables are to be 
 exulted by diftillations, and often repeated rcc- 
 tilicatinns to the higheft degree of purity and fub- 
 tilfv, and. afterwards to be once retliified by fome 
 con cciitrated nitrous fire, that fo being already of 
 thculclvcsflibtile, tliey may get a fiery vigour en- 
 dued with a faculty of feizing upon metallick ful- 
 phurs, and of extracting them out of the hard and 
 compait bodies. For any vegetable oyl how (iab- 
 tilly loever it be prepared, hath not any power of 
 cntring into the merals, and much lefs of having 
 any ingrefs into their glafles, nor can it extrad in 
 the leaft, though fiich bodies fhould be covered 
 with it for a long feafbn. But now if an artificial 
 operation fliall have fliarpned fuch an oyl with 
 thofe mod fubtilc fpirits of (alts, and have rendred 
 it more acute and penetrative than thofe concen- 
 trated fpirits of the (alt do lead in the fiilphur, and 
 beftow on'ir a power of attradingto it felf its like. 
 
 And albeit that fuch con centrated fpirits do when 
 pi- /c, and alone, wholly dilFolve metallick glafTes 
 and make no feparation at all, nn, nor do not ex- 
 tract the iealt particle of any fulphureous fubftance, 
 yet the calL' with them is vaftly altered,when fuch fiery 
 fpirtisareartiiicially united with moft pure fulphureous 
 oyls ; infbmuch that they beftow on them a faculty 
 of working upon metals, and of extracting from them 
 a moft pure fulphur ; nay farther, they purchafe 
 thefe oyls a capacity not onely of extrading the co- 
 lours out of metals, but alio out of other things 
 Now we have taught at large in our fecond part 
 of Furnaces, the manner of rendring the oy!s of ve- 
 getables fubtile ; and as for the nitrous fire requifite 
 to this operation, the way of con centrating it is to 
 be found in this Book a little before, fo that 'tis whol- 
 ly necdlefs to repeat the flime things over again 
 •which have been afore treated of And thus far is 
 my knowledge come, -viz.. how (by the help of 
 oyls animated and aftuated by the aforefaid means) 
 toextrad the moft pure foul out of metallick Amau- 
 fa's, or thofe hard and glafly fubjects : But how 
 fuch a fulphur is to be brought into a tinging me- 
 dicine, I (profcffing not my felf fo great a mafter) 
 do not as yet know. Neither is it at prefent need- 
 ful! to exceed the due bounds by i'o large a treating of 
 fuch worthy things ; for things wonderful! may be 
 elFe^ed by this nHnfiruum both in Medicine and 
 Alchymy, and in other art?, concerning which we 
 ihall- (God willing) prefently add fomewhat more. 
 And whereas 1 have made mention hereof clari- 
 
 fied bodies, and con centrated fpirits ; I judge it 
 worth while alfo to fhcw what difference there is 
 betwixt thole concentrated fpirits and clarified bo- 
 dies as the Chymifts call them. 
 
 The clarified bodies therefore are nothing elfe 
 fave bodies purged and mundified by the operation 
 of the fire. For the fire is the ultimate examiner of 
 all things, as being endued with fiich a power by 
 which it burns upallthings,reducerh them into aflies 
 and powder, and out of the af^'Js makes glafs ; thac 
 being the utmoft or ultimate thing whereunto 
 all things arc reduced. If therefore there be in any 
 thipg any good, which being burnt in the fire is by 
 fufion or melting, turned into tranfparent glafs, it 
 doth manifeft it felf in its utmoft or ultimate effence, 
 and fliine fr.rth in its brightnefs,infomuch that every 
 one may fee what lay hidden in its life afore thus 
 burning it. For example, Itake wood, an herb, 
 or an animal, I burn it and tranfmute it into afhes ; 
 thefe afhes I m.elt and turn into glafs Having thus 
 done, there appears no colour vifible, for the glafs 
 is white, and that becaufe the fulphur is confumed 
 in the burning ; and the mercury is fled away into 
 the air in frnoke, as being two principles which are 
 no ways able to refift the force of fire : But the fait, 
 as being a contemner of the fire remained in the 
 earth of no efficacy. 
 
 But now a metal being by the fire turned into 
 afhes, though part of the fulphur and mercury hath 
 in the combuftion and vitrification flown away into 
 the air, yet notwithftanding the befl part remains; 
 and this is the realbn why fuch metallick glafTes 
 are coloured according to the metals nature and pro- 
 perty, and which (afore thus burning it) was hid- 
 den. We will yet farther evidence it by an example. 
 
 If I burnt copper or iron, and reduce it into afhes, 
 and do by melting it turn it into glafs, then the 
 copper if /^er/f and no other thing added unto it, 
 yields a green glafs,and the iron yields a yellow colour- 
 ed glafs. But if there be made an addition, then are 
 produced glafles of other colours, as for example. 
 
 If I add to burn iron or crocas mart a the glafs of 
 lead, then the glafs made by melting will have the 
 yellovy colour of a Flyacinth. The fame croais mar- 
 tis being molten with common glafs, made of wood- 
 afhes and fait ; yields a greenifh coloured glafs which 
 is the natural and proper colour of the iron. For 
 the lead altered the colour of the former mentioned 
 glafs of the iron and made it yellow in the melting, 
 and fo hindrcd it from manifefting its true and 
 natural colour. The glafles of two feveral colours 
 being molten together do exhibit falfe colours, as 
 may be feen by co-melting a skie colour and a yel- 
 low glafs, the which being molten together yield a 
 green colour, and doth lb rcprefcnt it felf both in 
 the fire and out of it too. From hence tookl occa- 
 fion to write and teach the way of finding out (by 
 molten glaflesj what kind of metal is hidden in any- 
 mineral or metallick earth Which way of proving 
 mines or minerals is far better and fpeedier than thac 
 which is ufually done by a decocftion and exhalation 
 of lead in the Cupel. Thus may you mix five, fix^ 
 eight or ten grains of fome finely powdered mineral, 
 with one or two lots of Venice glafs being of eafis 
 fufion, and put the matter thus mi.xed in a well co- 
 vered crucible, and by melting it reduce it into glafs. 
 The colour which will be in the faid glafs, will fhew 
 what metal the minera contained : Lead will yield a 
 duskifli colour, tin, a white, copper, a Sea-green ; 
 iron a fomewhat greenifh, filver a yellow, and gold 
 G -^ skie. 
 
22 
 
 The Firft Centiirj. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 a skie coloured : each of which colours is the true 
 and internal colour of the reCpedive metal. Gold 
 doth alfo refemble a Ruby as to colour if other 
 colours be added thereunto. But jxt in the mean 
 time, the skie-colour is its proper and natural colour, 
 and fo is yellow of lilver : and this is notably agreea- 
 ble with 'the truth, though to fnch as are ignorant, 
 it feems a thing wonder full, for indeed fuch mens 
 knowledge ends in external things, but they are 
 wholly ignorant of lliternal ones. But now the co- 
 lours of gold and filver are better and more periecft- 
 ly known, if there be added unto them fome fix 
 and white fulphur, which prevents the gold and 
 filver from being thoroughly reduced into their pe- 
 culiar bodies by fufion. If the Calx of gold or filver 
 be molten with Borax, they both return into their 
 former bodies, and do not pafs into glafs any ways 
 coloured: But that fomc g'als ofeafie fufion be mixed 
 with thofe Calx's, together with a little powder 
 of flints and fo molten, then the flints will (by rea- 
 Ton of their fulphur) hold with themfelves the gold 
 and filver and fo keep them that they admitnot of 
 fufion [or reduftion] in their whole body, but do 
 remain in the glafs with fome part of the metalline 
 property which renders their internal colours vifible, 
 which elfe would not appear to fight. 
 
 N. B. If you have the minera's of gold and filver 
 at hand and mek them with glafs, their colours will 
 alfo appear, becaufe that in the minera's there al- 
 ways is fome fulphur that hinders the metal from 
 wholly returning into a body, (b that fome part of 
 it abides in the glafs and therein fhews its colour. 
 This alio is to be minded, that if haply fome minera 
 or metallick earth contains not one metal barely, but 
 a or ; more metals, then always that metal of 
 which the mofl quantity is in the faid minera doth 
 after fufing fhinc in the glafs beyond the reft. As 
 for example. 
 
 Suppofe 1 would make tryal in the red Granates 
 [ftonesj I powder feme eight or ten gr. and mix 
 them with one lot of white Venice glafs finely povv- 
 dered, and I melt them, and fbturn them into glials 
 Now in this tranfinutation the glafs doth not become 
 red, but of a delicate grafs colour, and fo teacheth 
 me what metals arc hidden in thofe Granates, vix.. 
 copper and iron, and alfo more of this, [yiz,. the 
 iron] than of the other. And though there (hould 
 be fome gold too, yet is it unperceiveable becaufe of 
 the predominancy of the iron over the copper and 
 over the gold : For ( in this operation ) that metal 
 onely manifefts it felf to fight, which is in greater 
 plenty therein than the relt be. 
 
 Ifaac Holland would by this vitrification fignifie un- 
 to us, that after this life, viz, when the world is 
 confumed with fire, there (hall arifc from the bodies 
 of men reduced into afhes other clarified bodies, 
 and offuch and fuch colours, according as their fouls 
 have (either good or bad) framed,or as it were made 
 unto themfelves in this life-time in their grofs bodies. 
 What other thing [1 pray] are fair colours, butthe 
 virtues of thofe lubjedts out of which they emit or 
 fend forth their fplendour. 
 
 Take a fimilitude hereof from the melting of mi- 
 nerals, wherein though a mineral of filver or copper 
 hath in it much filver or gold, yet if the fuperfluous 
 fulphur be not ( before the melting the faid mineral) 
 ftparated by a little as 'twere roafting fire; but be 
 (together with that grofs fulphur,) fet in a veheAient 
 melting fire, there will nor verily be any metal got- 
 ten hencefrom, but that ftinking fulphur would 
 
 tranfmute the good metal iuto bLck Scoria's. So 
 likewife, no fair and tranfparenr glafs can be bv 
 melting) made out of pure metals, if that kind of 
 grofs fulphur fhould adhere unto them. 
 
 Thele few things touching clarified bodies, I cou'd 
 not pafs over in filence, and much lets could I omit 
 this, "otz,. that the bodies of all things may be much 
 better tranfmuted into clarified bodies by our fecret 
 fire, than by the common fire. For the common 
 fire drives away the volatile parts, whereas on the 
 contrary, our fire doth preferve them and renders 
 them fixt and tranlparent as well as the other parts. 
 And therelore of nccefTity thefe bodies m.ufi: needs 
 (hine with fairer and brighter colours than thofe 
 others, in which the common fire hath expelled the 
 mercury and lulphur, and left remaining nothing elfe 
 but the fait. 
 
 But now as concerning fuch a tranfrnutation into 
 afhes by our moift and (ecret fires, any one may 
 eafily guefs the way. For whatioever is put in them 
 muft be necellarily burned into afhes, and they far 
 better afhes too than are made by burning in the 
 common fire For it the common fire burns any 
 herb or weed into afhes, the fulphur burns away 
 in a flarr.e, the rr.ercury betakes itfe'ftoits wings 
 and away flies it, and the fait abides behind in a 
 few afhes or a little earth. Now our Philofophical 
 calcination takes away nothing but conferves all 
 [the princip'es to called] together ; and doth in the 
 firft place produce to view a black coal, then after- 
 wards other various curious colours, and then a 
 white colour, and at lalt to compleat the operation, 
 it yields a red fufile and medicinal flone. 
 
 N. B. Here it is to be noted that for preparing a 
 pure medicine, a pure fiabje>fl is to be made ufe of ; 
 for if to be that any one would endeavour the tranf- 
 mutation of an herb, wood, or any animal into 
 a medicament by the help ot the fecret fires, then 
 all the afhes and feces which were in the herb would 
 alto adhere unto the medicament and would render 
 it impure, therefore necellicy requires that you do 
 not take the whole herb, or the whole animal, but 
 onely their elfential fait, the which being void offe- 
 ces confifts onely of the pure principles of the herb ; 
 and doth eafily admit of being tranfmuted into a 
 red tinging, and more foluble flone than the herb 
 it felt with its feces by it, doth. 
 
 I would not have you to account of thefe things 
 here delivered you as if they were of fmall moment. 
 No, for they are fuch things as cover over with this 
 their vile or bate covering, lijch matters as are of 
 great weight, and which will not come to every 
 bodies knowledge. Surely 'tis a confiderable thing 
 that a part of any vegetable, animal or mineral 
 body fhould (by conferving all the mott volatile 
 parts, and by rendringthem altogether conftant and 
 Itable, without the leaft lots of weight) be ripened 
 into a fixt fbluble and tinging red, and medicinal 
 ftone. This way of tranlinuting all things without 
 lots of the weight thereof into clarified bodies, is of 
 all others the beft. And thofe bodies on this wife 
 clarified are withoutdoubtofgreaterefllicacy than are 
 
 the grofs bodies themfelves of the animals, vegetables, 
 and minerals, which do as yet abound with their 
 grofs and impure feces. 
 
 But if fb be any one be not herewithall content 
 but panteth after higher things, he may advile with 
 himtelf about extrafting the Ibul out of this red and 
 fixed ftone, and reduce it again by a reiterated ope- 
 ration unto the form oi a ftone, whereby he will 
 
 without 
 
Part II 
 
 J he hirji Century. 
 
 23 
 
 vvirhout doubt make it } cc far ninre elfeftual. And 
 by how much the oftner any one fhal] repeat this 
 Umc operation, lo much the more effe:lual a medi- 
 cine vvill he obtain, for it will at every reiteration 
 notably augment its virtues, for by luch adtions the 
 erticacv and virtues of things are con centrated anjj 
 driven into a very Httlc compafs, wherewithal! won- 
 derfull things may be performed. 
 
 We are yet moreover to fee what fpirits are, but 
 principally what con centrated fpiricsare, and what 
 they arc able to do. 
 
 And becaufc the matter in hand gives occafion of 
 Treating thereof in this place, we will briefly give 
 you a declaration of the fame 
 
 LXII. jyhr.t fpiiils arey and by tvh.it meam t hay ope- 
 rate good or e-vtl. 
 
 IN the firft place, there are fpirits called vegetable 
 ones, viz^. When vegetables are beaten to pieces, 
 and being contufed are moiftened with water, 
 (provided they have not juicy nels enough of their 
 own, or do altogether want it; and fo fermented, 
 being fermented they are to be diftilled, which dif- 
 tillation brings forth (iibtile and efficacious fpirits, 
 and lijch as are the etleders of many profitable 
 things in Alchyniy and in other arts, belides the uie 
 thereof in medicine. 
 
 Secondly, fundry and divers fpirits are alfb made 
 out of animals by diflillation , as out of Blood, 
 Urine, Hairs, Horns, Hoofs, and fuch other parts 
 of animals, alfb which fpirits have their ufe in Me- 
 ^ dicine and Alchymy- 
 
 Thirdly, there are alfo fpirits which are expelled, 
 
 I or forced out of minerals and metals by the force of 
 
 tfire, bur principally out of Salts, as Vitriol, Allum, 
 
 Salt Peter, common Salt and fiich like ; of the pre- 
 
 I parations of which kind of fpirits, the Books of 
 
 Chymifts are full, and therefore flop us from the 
 
 I fuperfluous repetitions of the fame. But as for the 
 
 I concentrating of them and the utility of them, it hath 
 
 been already defcribed by us. 
 
 1 hereby givie occafion for all the diligent fearch- 
 
 |iers after true Medicine and Alchymy ; to contem- 
 
 I plate, what may be etfe^ted in Medicine and Al- 
 
 |lchymy, if thole fugitive fpints were, by our hxing 
 
 iand moift fires which feparate not any one part 
 
 Ifrom each other, but do hx all the parts together, 
 
 I deprived of their volatility and made fixt. Thefe 
 
 I lew things we were willing to mention concerning 
 
 I the fpirits which are fuDJetled to a Man's power and 
 
 tare within his reach, and ferviceable for the ufe of 
 
 mortal Men. 
 
 LXIII. The particular medicinal ufe of the con-centrated 
 
 fpir:ts Oj Jalts. 
 
 WE have heard that the con centrated fpirits 
 or moilt fires of falts do reduce all things in- 
 to a Calx, alter a Philofophical manner, without a 
 lorcing away of the mercurial part, and a burning 
 Up of the fulphureous : infomuch that (by confer- 
 I ving, altering and bettering') they fix the whole. Be- 
 I ing therefore compelled by a love to my neighbour, 
 I have a mind to fet down in this place fbme medi- 
 caments, as well univcrfal as particular ; but yet fb 
 as that they may not fall into the clutches of [myj 
 unworthy enemies, but may be referved onely for 
 friends. 
 And firft, here (hall be a medicine mentioned. 
 
 that amendeth the weak digeffion of the Stomach. 
 Take out the teeth of a Wolf or a Dog when he 
 is half dead, (being firft fbot with a Gun and pour 
 thereupon two or three parts of the con-ccntrated 
 fpirit of fait in a Cucurbit, (et the glafs upon (and 
 that it may be heated moderately, whereby the oyl 
 of flit may dillulvc them and bring them into a thick 
 pulfe or mafh. Upon this mafh pour warmed water 
 that fo all the Acrimony of the fpirit of fait may be 
 feparated therefrom, and that there remain oncly 
 the white pulfe, wherewith ("becaufe (or^o of the 
 oyl of the fait doth yet remain, and is not wafhable 
 otF wholly with water) a little Sugar Candy is to be 
 mixed, that fo that remaining Acrimony may be al- 
 layed, and the pulfe be the pleafanter for your ufes. 
 
 LXIV. An Antidote againfi Toyfon. 
 
 THE teeth of a mad Dog being prepared after 
 theafoiefaid manner, do yield an Antidote a- 
 gainfl Poyfon. And indeed fo do the teeth of all 
 Animals, but efpecially the teeth of Stags and their 
 Horns, do (after fuch a preparation; refill all 
 Poyfbns, 
 
 LXV. What Beafis they are -ivhofs Teeth and Horns doe 
 (^as to medicme) exceed the rejt. 
 
 THE teeth of all ravenous animals, as likewife 
 of Seamonfters, and their Horns, are of great 
 ufe in medicine ; as of ff'ol'ves. Bears. Lynxes, Tygers, 
 Lyons, Leonards ; and as to the watery animals, Cro- 
 codtlts, and fuch like ravening hfhes, whofe horn, 
 teeth, and fcales, and likewife the claws of Birds of 
 Prey, may be by the con centrated fpirit of fair, 
 converted fafter the aforefaid manner) into good 
 medicaments. 
 
 LXVI. An experimental difcovery of -what Vermine are 
 fit for the uje of medicine. 
 
 TAKE ftrong and well redified fpirit of fait, or 
 onely a firong Aq. Fortis, put thereinto your 
 Vermine, of what kind foever it be, and it will 
 prefently endeavour to get out alioon as e.er it feels 
 the faid moift fire. But being it cannot get out, it 
 will Ih-uggle till it dies. Now by how much the lon- 
 ger the worm or flie liveth in the A<j. F rtis, by fo 
 much are its virtues in medicine greater, and this 
 may ferve as advice to every one. As for the way 
 of preparing medicaments out of Bark of Trees and 
 Husks fhall be mentioned by and by. 
 
 LXVII. An exferimental dtfcovery, of what Herbs are 
 profitable for Medicine, er unprofitable. 
 
 YOU are to make ufe of the way but now men- 
 tioned concerning Vermine, and fiich Herbs as 
 thou knoweft not, or fuch whofe virtues are to thee 
 unknown, put (one after another) into the moift 
 fire ; and that Herb which is of a flower folution, ex- 
 cells that which is foonerdillolved, both in (frength 
 and virtues. For example, Lettice, Purflane, Mel- 
 lons. Cucumbers, and fiich like warerifh Herbs, (and 
 fb is it with fruits too,) have a moiil nature, and are 
 prefently turned into water by thofe fires. But 
 Rofemary, Sage, Thyme, Dodder, and other hot- 
 ter Herbs, require a longer time for their folution. 
 Ginger, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmegs, Cinamond, Car- 
 damoms, Zedoary, &c. do require a yet longer 
 
 tim« 
 
24 
 
 The Firfl Century ^ 
 
 Part II. 
 
 time as to their folution, afore they will thoroughly 
 pa(s into a water. From hence may any one know 
 the nature and properties of Herbs very eafiiy. This 
 alfo is to be oblerved, that the Medicine out of a 
 Vermine, or out of any Herb, is by fo much the 
 more efficacious, by how much the vehementer 
 venenofity it abounds withall. 
 
 LXVIII. The manner of ^re^ar'mg an ejfeBual medica- 
 ment out of "venemous Kermine and Inj'eih. 
 
 I have taught inthefecond part of my fpagyrica! 
 Phar7nacopcea, a way of corredling venemous in- 
 fers by thefixt Liquor of Niter, and of tranlinuring 
 their venome into an elfedual Medicine, which 
 ["way of preparation] he who is ftudious of gocd 
 medicaments will there find. But now in this place 
 is taught,by what means fuch like Vermine, and fuch 
 Herbs as abound with Venome are to be correLted 
 by the con centrated fire of fait, and to be turned 
 into e.xcellent and penetrative medicaments. The 
 operation whereof is thus. 
 
 Pour into fome glafs veflTel, one, two or three 
 ounces of our concentrated fire of fa't, then put 
 thereunto fuch Vermine as you would prepare your 
 Medicine of, one after another, provided that you 
 do not put more in, than the faid fire is able to dif 
 folve and confume. When all are diliblved and 
 converted into water, all the poyfonoulhefs is loft 
 [or gone] and they become good medicaments. 
 
 LXIX. The manner offcpararing the medicament made 
 cf Vermine dijjolvcd by the moifi fires. 
 
 THere is found to be a great difference amongft ' 
 Vermine and venemous inleds For fome of 
 them are of a dry nature and property, fome of a 
 moift, fome of a fat and oily nature, inlomuclT that 
 it is altogether needful! to make a due diftinJtion of 
 their natures. Such infefts as be of a dry nature as 
 Cantharides and fuch like, are to be ufed in the form 
 of a (alt. The aqueous Vermine, as Earthworms, 
 Spiders, and fuch like ; they exhibit their medici- 
 nality in the form of a Liquor : TheBallamick Ver- 
 mine, as the May-worms, andothersof that kind, 
 do (befide the medicament they atford) yield alio a 
 fat and BaUamick Oyl ; and indeed (both for exter- 
 nal and internal medicinal ule,J much more ef 
 fedual than the Liquor it (elf. 
 
 But that the thing may be the better underftood, 
 1 will here fet down an operation, which every one 
 ^may follow as a leading Star, 
 
 curing of di(ea(cs, but principallv in the Gout and 
 Stone. But yet thou vvilt get but little oil from 
 thefe Worms, and when you put them into your 
 dilTolving Liquor, you mi;ft have a care that you do 
 not touch them with your hands, but take or catch 
 t^em with a (iirall Forceps, and in put them into 
 your glafs. For they have in them this prnpertv 
 if you touch them with your hand?, they prciendy 
 colour them with their fat Baliom that they caft our 
 which (omewhat re(emb!es the finell cf Musk. As 
 if they fliould fay, Pray let us li-vr, for we give thee 
 all jvs have : Take this Baljom and make uje thereof 
 jvr the curing of incurable df cafes. 
 
 Some men ffudioufly carcfull in fuch affairs have 
 gathered this Balfom, and have found it to be far 
 more efficacious than the Worms themfelves, yea 
 indeed too flrong, becaufe they were ignorant of 
 the way of correcting it. 
 
 LXXL The feparaticn of the medicinal Li/^uor from the 
 mcijt fire^ after t he feparation of the Oil. 
 
 LXX How the operation 
 Vermine is to be ufed. 
 
 tn 
 
 dealing' -with all kinds 
 
 of 
 
 '"r^AKE fome ounces of May- worms, put them in 
 X a glafs, pour upon them (b much of the con- 
 centrated (pirit of (alt, that the Worms may be well 
 covered therewith and be by little and little dilfol- 
 ved ; after that they are wholly difTolved, put the 
 (blution into a feparating glafs, fhut the mouth of the 
 glafs with your finger jthen turn the glafsupfidedown, 
 keeping it \'o long fhut with your finger, till all the 
 fat oil fwim at top of the Liquour. Then take away 
 vour finger that the Liquour may run out, and when 
 the oil comes, fliut the mouth of the glafs again with 
 your finger, and let it run out into another glafs. 
 Keep this Oil or Balfitmas a precious treafure, with 
 the which thou wilt perform wonderfulletfci.T:sin the 
 
 AS concerning the Liquor from which the Bal- 
 fom is feparated, vtx.. the medicinal parts is 
 very hardly feparated without a mortifying of the 
 moift fire ; therefore the moift fire of the Salt is to 
 be killed with a contrary fire, that fo the feparaiion 
 that is required may be made ; and 'tis thus to be 
 efFefted. 
 
 Filter the Liquor confifting partly of thediflblved 
 Worms, and partly of the fire of (alt, that fb it may 
 be rendred clear, and free from the Coals or Husks 
 of the Worms, if haply there beany of them remai- 
 ning undilTolved. And if (by reafbn of the too 
 much fatnefs it be very difficult to filter, pourthere- 
 unto fb much common water as to make it thinner, 
 and more ready to pafs through the Cap Paper. In- 
 to this thus cleared Liquor, drop the Liquor of Sale 
 of Tartar, and it will kill the fharp fire of the fait ; 
 fo that there will arife from the fire of the fait 
 and from this Alkaly-fak a fait ofa middle nature, 
 and concreting into Cryftals, and will leave the 
 other part in a liquid form ; the which faid part 
 will be either white or yellow according as the fa- 
 line fire which you made ufe of, is. Now this Li- 
 quor is more virtuous than the concreted fait is, 
 as being that which contains the ellence of the> 
 Worms, which doth not congeal or fhoot with the 
 flUt, but abides in the form of a Liquor. E.xperi- 
 ence will teach the bufincfs more largely. 
 
 Now fuch qualities as thefe Worms had afore 
 their preparation and as yet not deprived of their 
 Venome ; the flimc do they obtain after their prepa- 
 ration, but with this provizo, thefe qualities are fafe- 
 ly ufed, which afore vvere hazardous. But nowthe 
 properties of thefe Worms are thefe, they do not 
 onely drav^ out of the body all podagrical humours, 
 but alfo expell the Stone out of the Reins and Blad- 
 der beyond all other medicaments ; and betides, do 
 cure other fiich like diteafes as are meerly unknown, 
 and are adjudged plainly incurable. More, it whol- 
 ly takes away that volatile Gout, which runs wan- 
 dring through the Members of the Body. But here 
 arifcth this Qusry. 
 
 LXXIL Whether or no every moijt fire of fait is alfo fit 
 for this labour ? 
 
 FOR anfwer I fay, that indeed this very labour 
 may be accompli (hed by any moift fire ; whe- 
 ther 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Firji Ccntur)'. 
 
 25 
 
 ther It be prepared out of vitriol or common (alt, or 
 lak peter. But withall I affirm, that there pro- 
 e€eds a great difference from.thofe falts. For the 
 con centnited fpirit of niter, doth ('after its being 
 mortified with a fix fait * (hoot into fait peter. Tti 
 concentred fpirit of fait, fhoots into fquare Qryi- 
 rals. The fame doth oil of vitriol and (alt of tartar. 
 But the lalt that is in this operation made of the com- 
 mon lalt exceeds the others, as to fweetnefs. That 
 which comesfrom vitriol,doih beget a naufeating by 
 rcaibn of its bitternefs ; and that which arifeth of 
 lalt peter is of a middle nature. But jet they do all 
 three of them enjoy a la.vative and purging faculty ; 
 and likewile provoke Urine cither Itronger or vvea 
 kcr according as the Vermine are, which thefe faid 
 fires have been ufcd in the diilolution of. 
 
 N. B. That the operation of the Liquor doth al- 
 ways exceed the virtues of the falts. When the 
 iharp fpints of (alt are not mortified with a Ltx-.'ui- 
 •viunt of Tartar, but with the (pifitsof Urine or of 
 Sal. ArrMr.;ack;t\\e. (alt and liquor become far ftron- 
 ger, than when the precipitation is done with Salt 
 of Tartar. For the fpirit of Srd. Arrftoniack doth 
 for the moft part precipitate the diflblved and cor- 
 reded Vermine into a Powder, which being wafhed 
 otf with common water, and freed from all Acrimo- 
 ny or (harpnels is u(ed in medicine, in a dry form. 
 But this, the Lixtvium will not do, but always con- 
 fcrves the Vermine in the form of a liquor. 
 
 LXXIII. Queftion. Whether or no there may be any 
 more or any ether ufefull things learned from this Jo- 
 itttiofj of 'vemmciis Vermine ? 
 
 FORAnrwer. Yes, for this operation doth not 
 onely teach the good and bad properties of all 
 Vermine, but doth withall evidently demonfirate, 
 that every animal of what kind (bever, (yea and 
 iVIen them(elves too ) when they are put mto fbch 
 an agony and perceive the approach of death, do 
 dilcover and clearly evidence the internal motions of 
 [thcirj nature, which they have (in their life time) 
 been indued withall. • 
 
 LXXlV. The way bow to know the internal nature of 
 every Worm in the earih, Fijii ifi the watef, Birds in 
 the air, yea even oj Man btrnjelf. 
 
 TAKE a Scarabans or Beetle, cither fuch a one 
 as lives in Horfedung, or cKe one that is of a 
 coppery colour, put him intoaglafs wherein isfbme 
 Acj. Fortis, and you fhall (ee that in the utmoft ne- 
 cefTity [or laft agony] of death, he will not en- 
 deavour to get from out of the ^^. Foms, but will 
 ftrive to hide himfelf in the earth according to his 
 innate property. But whereas the bottom of the 
 glafs is too hard for him to get thorough, he will be 
 fo long endeavouring to accomplifh his de(ire, and 
 in ftriving to get tfirough the bottom till he dies. 
 From hence may it be perceived what his ultimate 
 refuge [or fhiftj is : 'viz... to endeavour the fhunning 
 of his approachmg death, by fheltering himfelf with- 
 in the earth. 
 
 If you put a flie in the A<j. Fortis, (he will not go 
 to the bottom but will do her utmoft to get out at 
 top, becaufe herlivingis in theair, and fo all volatile 
 or flying things are wont to do. As for a fifh if it 
 be put to its (hifts, it endeavours to (hun the danger 
 by betaking it felftothe bottom. 
 
 In fuch a kind of manner doth the nature of men 
 
 become apparent, when they arc reduced to the 
 cxtrcameft of dilHcuitics. A godly man, whofc 
 thoughts are in this life time always upon God, 
 will conftantly adhere unto him in his Agony, and 
 being upon dying will betake himfelf to him' for his 
 refuge, in whom he hath at all times built his hope, 
 and waiting or looking tor help from thence, from 
 whence he hath always hoped for it. 
 
 But the ungodly Man who hath never in his life 
 time feared God, nor (et him btXOre his eyes, but 
 hath always yielded himfelf with his thoughts unto 
 the will of Satan, he will very hardly implore (in 
 his grcateft anguifh) the help of any other than of 
 him, to whom he hath (in this life rime) adhered 
 in all his thoughts and adions. 
 
 LXXV. T'hg preparation of good medicaments out of 
 ■venemous 'vegetahks, by the con-centrated fpirits of 
 
 J'i.ItS. 
 
 WE have hitherto taught, that cur moift fires 
 of falts do indeed deltroy all things, but do 
 not burn up, or force away ought of fuch things 
 as the common fires are wont to do. That this is 
 true, even the vegetables themfelves bear witne(s, 
 which being put into our moift fires are therein diG 
 (blved, ana pals into a water. But their oil which 
 is in them is (eparated, and fwimmeth at the top, 
 and fo may be (eparated thencefrom, as we have 
 mentioned above concerning the May-worms. Af- 
 ter the fame manner the elfence of the herb may be 
 fevered from the (pirits of the (alts, as we have there 
 declared. The oyls which by this operation are 
 drawn out of the herbs and other vegetables, do ob- 
 tain great and peculiar virtues, becaule they are ex- 
 cellently well correded by the efficacy of the moift 
 fires, and are amended, which correftion,and better- 
 ing they do not at all attain by their being diftilled 
 and exprelfed. 
 
 LXXVI. The correction of the too vehemently purging 
 fubjech by the muifi fires, whereby they may be Jafely 
 made uje of 
 
 Dlagriditim or Scammony, Hdkbor, Cataputia^ 
 Gambogia and other vehemently purging fub- 
 jeds may be difpoiled of their venemous faculty, by 
 the aforementioned way, and be rendred more fweec 
 and milder. 
 
 LXXVII. The ccrreclion of the too 'vehemently operative 
 Diiireticks, whereby they may be of fafe ufe in the 
 cure of the Stone. 
 
 DlfTolve Cantharides, May-worms', Earth-worms, 
 Millipides or Pig-lice, in our concentrated 
 fires, and tbllow rhofe ways of operation which we 
 have afore prelcribed, and you fhall acquire an ex- 
 cellent and fafe medicament, having a faculty of 
 healing the Stone of the Bladder and Reins. 
 
 LXXVIII. The amending of narcotick and fomniferous 
 
 fubjetls by our moift fires, that jo they may perform 
 or jhew their virtues wtthcut hurt or danger. 
 
 "TAKE Opium, Henbane feed, Mandrake, or the 
 -■- like fubjed that provokes to fleep, pour on it 
 the con centrated fpirit of fait, and it will melt [or 
 diflblve] therein ; if there be in it any oilynefs, as 
 in the Henbane (eed isul^ja!, it will feparate it felf, 
 H and 
 
126 
 
 The Firft Centurj. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 and fwim on the top of the liquor, the which is to 
 be fevered from the liquor, and to be warily kept ; 
 becaufe it being onely anointed on the Temples will 
 prefently cauie fleep. The liquor is to be ufed in- 
 ternally, as we have prefcribed in the precedent 
 preparations. 
 
 LXXIX. The amending of "jenemous fuhjeBs, that are 
 together furgattve, fudonfick, diuretick, and foir.m- 
 ferous, by our /loijt fires ; infomuch that they do nn 
 onely become fafe, but are the ejf'eciers of much good 
 in medicine. 
 
 volatile minerals may be inverted or turned in and 
 out by our moilt tire, and difpoiled oi their veneno- 
 fity and rendred lixr. 
 
 ^XXXII. The manner of travfmuting the fugacious tmi 
 C'^fly fu-^ible minerals by the moifi fires of I alts, f» 
 as that being fixed tkey hardly admit of fufion or 
 melting. 
 
 "TO exemplitie this, 
 ■*• which are recko 
 
 AMongft the number of fuch kind of rubje(fts,are 
 Staveracre,or the feed of the loufe ki'lmg herb, 
 Levant Berries, vomiting Nuts, and many others 
 of^iicha like faculty, which are to be proceeded 
 withall after the fame manner, and by the fiime ope- 
 rations as the former. 
 
 By this or the like way may all venemous, and 
 vehemently operative vegetables and animals be 
 correfted, fo as to befafely admitted to internal ufes, 
 and to be producers of fuch eifedts as are of great 
 moment in Phyfick ; whereas otherwile (though 
 they have in them excellent virtuesj they cannot 
 by reafon of their vehement operations be taken into 
 the body without danger. 
 
 LXXX Whether or no foijonous minerals may bs correc- 
 ted as well as the 'vegetables and animals, by our ft- 
 cret and moifi fire of Jalt, arid be turned into ■whole- 
 feme medicaments. 
 
 YOU are to know, that not onely venemous ani- 
 mals and vegetables but likewife all the mine- 
 rals that abound with poifon may be amended, and 
 their moft prcfent or fpeedily operative poifon be 
 converted into moft excellent medicines. For ex- 
 ample. 
 
 LXXXI. HuW the 'uenenate and 'volatile minerals are 
 fo to be inverted by our moifi fires, that the 'volatile 
 be rendred fix, and the poifon be made a medicine. 
 
 TAKE of white or red Arfnick one parr, pour 
 thereto two or three parts of the con centrated 
 fire of niter, the which [niter fpirit] you fhall dif 
 till thenceirom in a head and body in fand ; then 
 take the remaining matter out of the glafs, and wafh 
 it with common water ; which being done, you 
 fliall have the Arfnick, Diaphoretick, and fuch as 
 may with fafety be taken into the body ; but yet in 
 a fmall dofe, becaule it doth fometimes provoke vo- 
 mit, and principally when the nitrous tire is fbme- 
 thing of the wcakeft. But to prevent fuch vomi- 
 ting, the faid fire is to be twice or thrice drawn off 
 from the Arfnick, by an Alembick ; that fo the poi- 
 fon may the better be flain, and the volatility tranf 
 muted into a fixity ; and the fame Arlnick may be 
 afterwards molten and handled with the other me- 
 tals without all danger of poilbn, which was impof- 
 fible to be done afore. For the Arlnick whole poi- 
 fonoufnefs is not as yet removed from it, cannot be 
 admitted into the body without great danger. Nei- 
 ther do we here infert the preparation of fuch medi- 
 caments out of Arfnick,and the like venemous mine- 
 rals, for this caule that they fhould be introduced into 
 medicine ; no, for there are other fafer medicaments 
 to be had, our aim herein is onely this, to fliew 
 that even the moft poifonous, and moft fugacious or 
 
 let us confidcr of Tin or 2i»v5, 
 eckoned amongfi: the metals of moft 
 eafie melting, and are moft volatile. For the vulgar 
 know that Tin is molten with a very little fire, and 
 doth thereby vanifh in fume, if it be but kept in 
 continual flux But if it be calcined by continually 
 ftirring it into afhes, it becomerh fix, nor doth it ad- 
 mit of redudion to its former body by any violence 
 of fire, bur is turned into glafs. 
 
 So after the fame manner do we roaft or calcine 
 Tin, Zi?ik, and the other flying nietds with our 
 moift fires, and burn them into allies, and they fuch 
 ones too as do not return to their former body, and 
 thus 'tis done ; when we pour on them our fiery 
 liquors, fo as that they heat together, or do even 
 by abllraction [or diftillation,] again free the faid 
 metals from thole liquors ; for then thele metals re- 
 main in the bottom Irketo dead afhes, nor do they 
 fuif'er themfelves to be by any means reduced to their 
 former bodies. 
 
 N. B. But whoever he be that knows theufing of 
 fuch matters and powders thereunto, as can reduce 
 (uch afhes to their former and fufile bodies, fuch a 
 one will not fpend his labour in vain ; for he will 
 get a metal of a much more noble and better nature 
 than Tin, vvhofe greateft internal part is gold and 
 filver. 
 
 Butyet letno body imagine that he can perform 
 this redudion by the help of Borax or Salts ; no, in 
 no-wife. For there are metallick matters required to 
 this labour, to caufe a fluxing or melting, fiindry 
 preparations whereof I have taught to and again in 
 my writings, but not under fuch a title or name as 
 if thi^ pow^r or efficacy of thus doing were afcribable 
 unto them. For 1 have barely mentioned their ufe 
 in other metallick tranfinutations. ' 
 
 LXXXIII. How fljmg mercury is to be fo fixed as to 
 
 ad/nit of heating red hot. 
 
 Coagulate common mercury with common ful- 
 phur into a black afhes, and then mix this afh- 
 es with the concentrated fire of vitriol, cr rather 
 with fuch a fire as is extracted from fulphur it felf ; 
 fb as that there may arife from this mixture a thin 
 mafs ; of which mafs put one or two lots in linnen 
 or cottefi rags, and fb rowl them up that one fold 
 may come over another, and the mercury may be 
 in the middle. Then tie this ball firmly and flrong-' 
 ly with a thread, and let ic be environed all about 
 with the fire, that fb all thofe rags may be red hot 
 and changed into Coals 
 
 Take out all this red hot mafs, let it cool, fepa- 
 rate the burnt linnen rags, and you fhall find the 
 mercury turned into a red powder ; butyet it hath 
 no ingrels into the metals, nor performethit any 
 thing of much moment in medicine, becaufe it is 
 converted by the burning of our fire into a dead 
 earth. Neither have J here mentioned this coagula- 
 tion as if any gain were to be received thenccfrorn ; 
 but onely on this account, that the moft great vir- 
 tues 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Ftrfi Ce/iturj, 
 
 21 
 
 tucs u!vl p-)wcrs of our fires may by the opera- 
 tion thc!e(;t be deinonttrated. 
 
 LXXXIV. Jinother ex^crimcrt eafily (hm!.nflr.it'tng the 
 r>if/ibil;ty of rendruig mercury conjiant m tbefire,J}j 
 cur jecrct fires of Jalts, ivbich tb'mg the knovjn and 
 co>nmunfire can ?iever do. 
 
 MELT one part ofcommon and yellow fulphur 
 in a crucible or earchen Por, and being mol- 
 ten like oil ca.it thereinto two parts of common mer- 
 cur}-, and mix the matter well with a Spatula, that the 
 Julphur may allume the mercury, and may pafs 
 with it into a black mafs. To which mafs you muft 
 yet add (b much lulphur as the weight of the whole 
 nuls in the Pot is of. Then all is to be molten to- 
 gctlicr, and to be by well fiirring ib long mixt untill 
 it get an afliy colour. Then you are to dip in the 
 laid mals as it is in flu.v, pieces of linnen, (iichas they 
 •die wont to u(e about fuming their Darrels with a 
 brimltony odour, to prefervc them from fiinking. 
 Such rags being put on an Iron Crook may be kind- 
 led, by which kindling they are burnt up, theiul- 
 phur and part o{' the mercury vanilliing into the air, 
 but foine part being calcined with the flame of the 
 fulphur and fixr, iticks to the burnt linnen. But 
 what virtue-; this calcined mercury abounds withall 
 1 cannot tell, as having never experimented it, and 
 I have onely inferted here this operation, for this 
 end, that the power of our moift fires may be made 
 apparent. .Many more meditations and inquifitions 
 will be thereby laid oj en, which otherwife would 
 never have been (ought after nor found out. For 
 in this labour there oj^erateth a twofold, fire, 'viz,. 
 the vifible flame, and invifible moill fire which the 
 liilphur hideth, and by the burning up of its body, 
 maniiefleth, and renders vifible and efficacious. 
 
 i'or that heavy acid oil of (iilphur, which fticks 
 hidden in all liilphur, performeth moft great matters 
 in metalline things ; and becaufe the flame or external 
 tire exafperates and torceth on the internal, (harp 
 and moiii fire of the lulphur, that acid quality (ets 
 upon that fubjeJt that is adjoyned to it, and delkoy- 
 cth the lame, and advanceih unto a more fixed ftate. 
 
 But th.u I may in (bnie Ibrt latisfie the greedy 
 fearcher after truth in this thing, it (eems to me ex- 
 ^edient here to m.ention the occahon, which (with- 
 out Itudying thereafter, z'.-z, this coagulation of mer- 
 cury) did by chance bring me thereunto ; and did 
 chiefly fnew me an excellent Arcanum of bringing all 
 Wines, Vinegars, and other (lich like drinks eafily 
 ■and (pcedily to a clarity and tranfparency. Such a 
 lecret it is, as 1 believe never was known as yet to 
 any, and therefore worthy to be here (et down for 
 ihe common benefit of mankind. 
 
 LXXXV. An h'tficrlcal difcovery of the reduHkn and 
 reJhratUn of ttiiaciw.s and corrupt H'lne, to its former 
 clarity mid goodnefs. 
 
 I had fome Wine in a VelTel that became vifcid or 
 ropy and tenacious ; for the amending of which, 
 I fent for a Wine cooper, he pours it out . as is the 
 ufual cuftom)into another trefh veliel, and u(cd 
 thereunto all his arc, thatfo he might better it. He 
 palled it ot't times through along Pipe made of white 
 plates, and perforated with many (mail holes, and 
 many other means he u(ed, even whatever he had 
 knowledge of, but yet all he attempted was in vain, 
 then at iaft he put into the Wine no (mall portion of 
 
 fair, and fhook them both together very Urongly, 
 I but all in vain, infbmuch that he left my Wine cor- 
 rupt [as he found it] and out of all hope ofrefto- 
 ring it. 
 
 But becaufe there was too much fait thrown info 
 the Wine, yea fo much as that it might be perceived 
 even by the tall, the Wine was rendred unfit to 
 be drunk, though it (hould have [thereby] recove- 
 red its former clearnefs. So there ren.uined nothing 
 clfe to be done therewithall, (ave the extrading of 
 its fpirit by diftillation. Yet neverthelefs I had a 
 good mind yet to try whether or no it could poflibly 
 be freed from that tenacity : to this end therefore I 
 kindled (bmefiilphurized rags, being (prinkled over 
 with the mineral or oar of lead reduced into pow- 
 der, and with that fume imbued I my Wine, as is the 
 ufiial cufiom when Wines are through corruption 
 degenerated from their good ftate or condition. I 
 added thereto the oar of lead becaule that as the 
 fulphur was burning the fume of the lead might 
 penetrate the Wine and precipitate all the defile- 
 ments to the bottom. But this experiment did not 
 fadge. Then 1 took mercury and rnixt it with fiil- 
 phur after the aforefhown manner [in the forego- 
 ing Chapter] and diptfbme rags therein and kindled 
 them, hoping that the mercury being tranfmuted in- 
 to fume would have iiigre(s into the Wine. Buc 
 yet if appeared quite contrary in the ufe, the ful- 
 phur indeed was confumed by burning, but the 
 mercury would emit no fume, but was contrarily 
 turned into a red powder, and ftuck on to the burnt 
 rags. After thc(e burnings, ('uiz.. of this mercuriali- 
 zed fulphur) often reiterated, the Wine did not 
 fmell of the Brimftons, as it's ufual to do, but of 
 Musk or Ambergreale, and recovered its former 
 clarity; but yet not fit to be drunk becaufe of the 
 overmuch quantity of the fait thrown thereinto. 
 
 Thus it happened untome,the which thing others 
 may confider of with a more accurate meditation, 
 and may haply (from this hiftory apprehend fuch 
 things,as may in other matters be very profitable. For 
 it is not in vain that I mention thele things in this 
 place. Enough is faid to the wi(e. 'Tis fufficienc 
 that I have fhowed the way, if any one refufe to 
 go in the fam.e let him blame himfelf. 
 
 LXXXVI. Hgip our moijt fires of Salt are able after a 
 
 Jort to fix the yellow and common fulphur , fo that it 
 may be ujed with profit both m Medicme and Al- 
 chymy. 
 
 npAKE one part of yellow fulphur beaten into 
 -»■ powder, and four or five times fb much in 
 weight of the con centrated fire of fait peter, which 
 (pint pour upon the faid powder in a glals cucurbit, 
 and abftrad" it thencefrom feveral times by an A- 
 lembick ; this done, the fulphur in the cucurbit 
 will get a red colour and become pellucid or tranf- 
 parcnt. 
 
 Ifitrefolves in the air into a fat oil, the opera- 
 tion is well handled; if not the labour is to be re- 
 peated either with the felf fame fire or with more 
 new which is the better way. For the faid fires arc 
 to be fo often drawn off thencefrom untill it flow 
 Lcr refolve] into a fat oil : An oil I lay of fulphur 
 which is endued with great virtues, not oncly in 
 Alchymy and Medicine, but may hkewile be ufed 
 in other arts with a great deal of profit. But cfpe- 
 cially it is an egregious Ballom, rcfifting all the 
 licknefles of the Lungs, and other putrifying corrup- 
 tions. 
 
28 
 
 The Firft Centi/rj. 
 
 Part IL 
 
 tions, as Oiall be apparently evidcnceJ in the fol- 
 lowing Cencuries, more largely treating about thefe 
 things. 
 
 LXXXVII. J ■^•ay of turning Antimony into a fnow- 
 ■jvbiti: Tnetiicamtfit, by our moifi fires of (alts, and 
 ■which is of fafe and fmfitahle ufe againji the flague, 
 all Fc-j'/s, and other difeafes. 
 
 WHEN the Regains of Antimony made per fe 
 without iron, and beaten into a powder is 
 pert'ufed or throughly moillened with the con cen- 
 trated fire of fait peter, and is for a while kept in 
 warm fand ; the moift tire burns the Regulus of the 
 Antimnnv into a white powder. After that the 
 whole (hall be of a while colour, pour thereto com- 
 mon water, and it will imbibe or draw to it the fire 
 of the niter, which will again be fitting for other la- 
 bours, and perform the oriice of ipirir of niter. 
 
 The white powder being by many wafhings ren- 
 dred fwccr, and then dried, performs the office of 
 an excellent diaphoretick medicament and may with 
 lafety be ufed ; it ftrongly refiffs the Plague, all 
 Fevers and other difeafes, that are to be e.xpelled by 
 fweat. 
 
 LXXXVIII. By what means black and crude Antimony 
 is to be reduced by the nitrous fre into a white pow- 
 der^ aridthe combtiflible and yellow ftdpbur feparated 
 therefrom, that it may ftr've as a Vamc^ea for the 
 rtjifling of all difeafes, and may operate by the four 
 Entunclories , Vomit, Stool, Sweat, and Urine. 
 
 ANtimony is by fo much the better and nobler, 
 by how much the longer and fairer Rays or 
 Strias it appears to be of, and therefore fuchisof 
 greater efficacy in medicine than all other (brrs. To 
 this therefore being powdered, pour fo much of the 
 nitrous fire as may lerVe todillblveit ; the which fire 
 will prefentlv even in the cold, begin the work of its 
 diiiblving. When that is done, put the glafs in 
 warm (and that all the Antimony may be diliolved, 
 and its ye!low flilphur may fwim at top of the (blu- 
 fion like a yellow powder. Ihe folutioii being cold, 
 ftrain it thorough a pure linnen cloath, and the ful- 
 phur will fiay behind in the cloath, and hath its 
 peculiar ufe in Medicine and Alch} my. But to the 
 Iblution pour common water, thereby to quench and 
 weaken the nitrous fire, fb that the Antiinony may 
 fall down to the bottom, in the formof a tender and 
 Ihow- white powder; the which being well wafhed 
 and dried, may be madculeofas a Panacea to drive 
 away many difeafes : Tor it operateth with a fingu- 
 lar efficacy by all the Emunitories, but yet very 
 fafelv, unlefs any one doth too foolifhly and unskil- 
 fully abufc the adminiltratinn ; It is "alfb endued 
 with all thofe virtues thatl haveafcribed to my red 
 Vanaciva, 
 
 LXXXIX. By what sveans the ccn-centred fre of Kit- 
 chni fait drrjes over Antimony in a retort like But- 
 ter, and I'.ifordeth a matter of profit abU ufe in Me- 
 dicine and Alchymy. ^ 
 
 POUR upon the Regulus of Antimony beaten in- 
 to a powder, the heavy concentrated oil of 
 common fait , the which being again drawn otf 
 thencefrom in a retort by dilVillation, brings over 
 with it as much of the Regulus of the Antimony as it 
 can, and alcendeth like a thick Butter. It is a migh- 
 
 ty fire, and very fit for the ripening of fome imma- 
 ture mccals ; and wit hail is moff profitable in Surge- 
 ry, and lays a good Bafis and foundation for the cu- 
 ring of incurable and cancerous Ulcers. If you pour 
 water upon this oil, the Antimony precipitarerh out 
 of it, in the form of a white powder ; and is to be 
 afterwards well wafhed and dried ; fb that being 
 reduced into that white powder, it becomes a good 
 medicament to be ufed in all thofe difeifcs, wherein 
 the aforefaid m.edicaments are appliable ; but with 
 this caution, that it be given bur in a very fmall 
 dofe, bccaufe it is of a more powerfull operation 
 than the aforegoing medicaments prepared by the 
 help of the nitrous fire are of, and that for this rea- 
 fbn, becaufe the oil of common fair makes things 
 fugacious or flying, but the nitrous fires renders 
 them more conffant in the fire 
 
 XC. The way of turning mercu'^y into a red, and firono-- 
 ly purging medicament by the operation of the nitrous 
 fire. 
 
 ABflracfb two or three parts of our nitrous fire, 
 from one part of purged mercury, by diitilla- 
 tion in a glafs cucurbit ; and it will make the mer- 
 cury fc^r more fixt than if A']H(i Fi.r:is were many- 
 times drawn otf therefrom by diflillation. This red 
 mercury is to be freed from itsfaltinefs with common 
 water, and fb becomes a ffrong purge, and is to be 
 ufed in a fmall dore of one, two, three, or at the 
 molt four grains, and pffedeth the cure of Morbus 
 Galiicrts, and other fijch like loathfoms difeafes. 
 
 After the fame manner there may beeafily prepa- 
 red, not otiely lundry and excellent medicaments, 
 by the operation of our mnift fires, but there may 
 be likewife done thingsof great moment in Alchymy 
 and other arts ; concerning which time will not per- 
 mit me at this prelenr to make a more ample narra- 
 tion of, but I will remit it to the next following 
 Centuries. 
 
 Now forafmuch as I call in this Treatife the con- 
 centrated fpiritJ of (air, moift fires, and yet as to 
 their outward Ihape they reprelcnr nofhew of fire 
 at all ; I deem it necelfary to fhcw by a more firm 
 demonffration, that they abound not onely with 
 fiery virtues, but alfb are fafter their infide is turned 
 outwards, and their outfule inwards) true, vifiblc, 
 palpable, and (enfible fires, but efpecially the nitrous 
 fire, which beft of all confirms th;s our opinion and 
 faying, it being prepared by the Chymick Art and 
 operation out of a fiery fubjeJit. 
 
 XCI. The way of converting or turning the internal and 
 
 yullow colour of cur tnoifi and white nitrous fir* 
 Jrom the mmojt parts, outward, and making i: vi* 
 Jible. 
 
 THAT there is hidden a yellownefs and red- 
 nefs in niter, is not beyond the reach of any 
 ones capacity, bur it is very eafily likely, and cre- 
 dible. For feeing that fait peter is a folar child, ic 
 mult necellarily anfwer to [or refcmble] its father 
 theSiin in colour, form, virtue and efficacy, if ic 
 would purchafc belief with any one as to its original 
 and nativity. But fait peter fhines with a white 
 colour, but the Sun is dad with a yellow garment 
 and fhines like the fire ; infbmuch that there is no 
 correfpondencyor likenefs of colours, though other- 
 wife there is found thegreateft fimilitudcin burning, 
 and in ripening all things. This onely being the 
 
 dirference 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Ftrft Qenturj. 
 
 29 
 
 ilitFcrerice between fair pecer and the Sun, the one, 
 vix^: the peter dpth particularly onely augment, ri- 
 pen and -advance all things; but the Sun doth uni- 
 serially beftow on all things, life, increafe or growth, 
 and nutriment, bur yet the fait his companion is an 
 helping allifiant as fljall be evidently proved in the 
 end (,t this book 
 
 1 do vcrilv believe, that if it were an eafilyaccom- 
 pjiihable thing by us, wc. to extravert the internal 
 and innate rednefs in fait peter outwards, and to 
 (eparate the fame from its unclean and grofs body, 
 and knew we how to render it fix and conftant, 
 we (hould perform things of molt great mo- 
 menr, in an univerfal way. 
 
 But yet for the removing of this doubt, I will fhew 
 that (alt peter is the fon oiSol, though (as to its out- 
 ward Phyfiognomy, it relembles nor its Father. 1 
 do therefore (ay, that its Father is the yellow Sun, 
 from him it is generated, but yet by the help of the 
 white Moon, fhe is the Mother, and beftows on it 
 the white colour. But I fay, that the paternal 
 bloud and fiery virtues it hides in its inmoft bow- 
 els. So wifely is Salt Peter figned by its Parents, 
 wc.bv the Sun its Father ,and the Moon its Mother. 
 The Father beftows on this,hi5 Son a fiery heart ; the 
 Mother a white and cold body ; from hence 'tis that 
 it is clad with an Hermaphroditical nature, being 
 Male and Female together, hot and cold, red and 
 white, vivifying and killing. 
 
 XCII. Of the aiitnirable nature of Alagtietifm, at true- 
 ting to itfelf tts like. 
 
 According to my fimple and fmall judgment, the 
 red colour of fait peter is not ( by the opera- 
 tion of any other thing to be (eparated from its 
 white body, better and more commodioufly than by 
 the affinity and likenels of fbme certain magnet that 
 will touch it. 
 
 For example : Let us confider a little of common 
 gold and common quick-filver, they are (b jinked 
 with a tye of mutual love, and internal likencfs to 
 each other ; that the one draws the other unto it 
 felf. 
 
 For if in dealing withtnercury any portion thereof 
 
 (hould happen to fall on the ground, and dafhing it felf 
 
 • into a thouland Atoms, it cannot be by any kind of 
 
 way better gotten together again, than by the help 
 
 •of Inch a magnet, as will attrad to it felf the di(- 
 
 perled and dilated Atoms ; fuch a magnet metals are, 
 
 and efpecially gold, as being conjoyned to it in 
 
 ' the neareft affinity ; therefore I fwec:p together this 
 
 *fo widely difperfed mercury, together with the 
 
 earth and other defilements from which the faid 
 
 ■ mercury is (carcely dillinguifhable as being all over 
 
 covered therewithal! : and to thefe defilements do I 
 
 put a piece of copper, fiher or gold, which being 
 
 well fhaken to and agcn amongft thefe fi'thes, draws 
 
 toitielf the widely dilperfcd and' fmall Atoms of 
 
 the mercury, and fo recovers it by extracting it out 
 
 of all that rubbifh. 
 
 Now when the metal hath attratfled mercury 
 enough, and can attrad no more, the mercury is to 
 be wiped olf from the metal with a linnen cloath ; 
 which being again well Ihook amongft the trafh as 
 you did afore, draws to it felf the other Atoms ; 
 thefe labours are to be fo often repeated, rill it be all 
 extradted, and lb renders it thee the fame without 
 any lofs. 
 
 Juli fo and after the felf fame manner may the in- 
 
 moft foul, and which is largely difperfed throughout 
 the whole body of the fak peter, be exrraded thence- 
 from ; were onely fuch a magnet but known unto 
 us, as had a great affinity with the foul of the 
 niter. 
 
 I will yet fet down another, and a more evident 
 fimilitude , that fo the bufinefs may become the 
 more clear and nianifeft and be the better under- 
 ftood. 
 
 XCIII. A clear ani evident demonfiraiion, whereby is 
 Jhown that even the mofi hidden things may be mam- 
 fefied and rendred wjible by their magnets. 
 
 LET the admirable nature and property of the 
 common magnet be well confidered ; nature 
 havmg endowed it with two plainly contrary vir- 
 tues, one ofattradion, the other of expulfion. For 
 on one of its fides it draws iron to it felf, and on 
 the other of its fides it drives it off; and thus it does, 
 not onely in its- great pieces, but alfo when 'tis bro- 
 ken mto very fmall bits. For always on one fide it 
 draws to it felf the iron, and on the other fide drives 
 it from it felf, by this operation refpeding both poles 
 -VIZ,, the Northern and the Southern. * 
 
 But to return to my purpofe : I will demonflrate 
 by evident examples and operation, that the inmoft 
 and moft hidden nature and properties of things 
 are wont to be mofl evidently manifefled and ob- 
 tained, by attra(fting, and repelling magnets. For all 
 the things that are, have their enemies and their 
 friends, as fhall be proved in the following opera- 
 tions, '^ 
 
 XCIV. An operation Jemonfirating or affirming^ that 
 the internal and hidden natures and properties of things 
 may he majiifejted and obtained by attra^tve or re- 
 fulfi've magnets. 
 
 Dlflblve fomelots of lead, and fuch as is wholly 
 void of filver, in Aq. Fortis, and precipitate the 
 lead by pouring thereunto feme fait water, this [pre- 
 cipitated lead] wa(h with fair water and dry it. 
 Takefome three or four ounces of this C^/.vof lead, 
 and thereto admix a fifth part of pure gold, being 
 firft reduced into mofl pure and moft fubtile Atoms, 
 on fuch wife as hath been raught in other places of 
 my writings ; bur if you have not at hand fuch a 
 Calx, u(e another C^.^Arof gold prepared any kind of 
 way, but yet the firft Calx is the firteft for rhis ope- 
 rarion. Melr both the Calx's, -viz,, the leaden and 
 golden one in a crucible, that the lead may become 
 a fufile ftone ; but the gold Calx will ('by this ope- y 
 ration) be much heavier, and be white, this white- 
 nefs is nothing elfe fave pure and good filver, drawn 
 out of Satitrn by ^e/fympatheticallv, and made vifi- 
 ble, which (afore) lay hidden in the lead in a fpi- 
 ritual and invifible manner. 
 
 But fome may here demand ; forafmuch as there 
 is fo much filver hidden in all lead, whence comes ic 
 that none are found rhar ger it our from thence ? I 
 anfwer, that there are indeed a many that would 
 get out grear malTes of filver our of lead, did they 
 but underftand the art, and could fo bring it to ef- 
 feft. But feeing they are ignoranr of rhe natures 
 of metals and their properties, and know not how 
 to do any thing, they cannot become maflers of 
 their wifhes. Now in this extraction, there is a two- 
 fold caufe prefents is felf, 'viz. Sympathy, and An- 
 tipathy. The gold by reafon of the kin and amity 
 I ic 
 
3^ 
 
 it hath with the lead, draws thencefrom unto 
 
 tbeFirft Centiirj. 
 
 Part IL 
 
 it 1 that he accurately ponder thereupon in his mind, 
 (llflheToirituaT rirve7rand"'becaufc ofan inbred that fo he may thereby arr>ve_ tp things of great ' 
 
 to (alt, it drives away the fame from 
 gold therefore (in extracting the fpi 
 
 n 
 
 hatred it nas 
 
 itfelf. The „- - . - ■ ,• 
 
 itual filver out of the lead, hath an affiftant, aiding 
 it by a contrary operation, and (b bringing to pafs, 
 that there is ih much the more filver extracT:ed, be- 
 caufe the adt being added to the lead, doth by rea- 
 fbn of that inbred cmity and difference 'twixt it and 
 filver drive this, [yiz.. the filver] away from it as 
 
 its enemy. ' , . , j • u 
 
 And although that out of fuch lead prepared witH 
 fait may filver be always molten, yea without ad 
 ding any gold thereunto, meerly becaule ot the 
 inimicitioufnels that is between filver and (alt, where- 
 by is caufed that the filver is thruft out of the lead 
 "by the fame as by its enemy ; yet fo much lilver is 
 not gotten by that way, lio not by the half, as is 
 drawn out by the addition of gold 
 
 Fur when the gold attradts, and the fait expels, 
 there are made two adions together, the one by 
 Sympathy, the other by Antipathy, both aiming at 
 this mark, viz.. to extrad the hidden filver and gold 
 out of the lead. 
 
 Let there be evaporated in a cupel two fmall cen- 
 tenaries or hundreds weight, each of like weight ; 
 and to one of the centenaries add fome pounds (of 
 the proportionable fmall weight as the centenaries 
 are) of pure gold, and there will come from that 
 centenary more filver by the help of the gold, than 
 from the other, whereto was added no gold : But 
 the gain by this operation will not be much, or hap- 
 ly none at all ; but this is onely to (hew, that it is 
 verily pcflible, for gold being put upon the cupel 
 >A^ith lead, to get fbme filver thereout of, and to be 
 more in weight; which etfed is produced onely 
 by a fympathetical faculty. Be now if fait doth alio 
 lend to gold its afTiftance, then is there a twofold 
 operation of a double operator ; whilft in extrafting 
 of the filver out of the lead, the gold is occupied in 
 attradVing, and the lalt in expulfion. 
 "' Thefe things were of necedity to be laid open by 
 me, (orafiTiuch as they teach by what means the in- 
 nio'il and moft pure parts are to be feparated from 
 the more grofs ; fo that evfery one may know the 
 natures and properties of things themlelves, njiz.. 
 with what love they inibrace each other, or what 
 hatred there is betwixt them. 
 
 By this experiment then, may any wife and un- 
 deiflanding mancafily learn and believe, that even 
 out of fait peter or [any] other white body, the 
 red foul may beextrafted. Wholbever therefore (hall 
 know how to get thele helpers, -viz,. Sympathy atid 
 Antipathy fur his purpole, fhall never labour in 
 vain, but fliall atall times reap fruit by his labours. 
 And as we have ihewn that out of any lead, by 
 the help of gold, a good part of filver may be extrac- 
 ted ; (b likewile may the fame be clearly proved to 
 be done witii rhe other metals, and which may alio 
 beelTefted withoutthehelpof gold. Yet neverthelefs 
 rhe mcM e fixt metal doth more readily and willingly 
 atradthe more volatile and purer part of the other 
 impurer metals, than an unclean metal doth, and 
 even much more readily yet, when there is afore 
 adjoyned to that metal from which any thing is to 
 be cxtraded, an enemy of that thing which you 
 labour to extrad 
 
 Upon this account therefore was I willing to infert 
 an experiment, that fb none might account of the 
 thing irentiont'd as of fmall moment, but rather 
 
 moment by a well examining of the fame. 
 
 Now as it hath been> clearly and evidently taught 
 that fixt filver may be gotten out of any lead, as 
 well by Sympathy as by Antipathy, even fo may ic 
 eafily be proved, that the fpiritua! gold may be ex- 
 trailed out of other metals, partly by Antipathy, 
 and partly by Sympathy, but much eafier by An- 
 tipathy and Sympathy joyntly together, fo that 
 one matter may draw unto its li^lf the objcd it loves, 
 and the other may drive from it what it hates ; as 
 we have proved in lead. , If then this may be done 
 in meralSi why may ic not be likewifedone in other 
 lubjeds. 
 
 We will therefore proceed on and fee, whether or 
 no it can be fb brought to pafs, that the hidden 
 rednefs may be drawn out of laic peter by Sympathy 
 and Antipathy. 
 
 Having therefore underftood by the things alrea- 
 dy fpoken, that like draws to itfelf its like, and is 
 repelled from its unlike, there remains nothing elfe 
 for us to do but to know what that like is, by which 
 fait peter lullers itfelf to be extraded. 
 
 When we advifedly confider the rife or birth of 
 fait peter, it is not to us unknown that it draws its 
 originality Ji-om the excrements of animals, but eG 
 pecially from the dung of horned Beads, as Cows 
 and fhcep. And forafinuch as Sheep and Cows do 
 feed onely on Herbs and Grafs that grow in the 
 Fields, and that thofe vegetables do proceed from 
 the terreflrial fait by the help of the folar beams, it 
 is more clearly evident than the Noon day light, 
 that the hot Sun is the Father of fait peter and the 
 cold night the Mother, the earth t\\t Nurfe, and 
 Salt the Food, nutriment and encreale of the fame ; 
 the which is to be underftood as in reference to the 
 Macrocojm oxgitAt'^ov\A. But the vegetables, or all 
 fhrubs, herbs, and all grafs which arife out of the 
 earth in the Macrocofm, cannot be more aptly com- 
 pared with ought, than with the Hairs and Wool of 
 Men and Beafts, which are born out of the earth of 
 the Microcojm or out of the animal body, like as 
 the fhrubs and herbs, and grafs do fpring forth and 
 grow out of the Macrocojttucal Earth. Upon this 
 fcore, the hairs, hoofs, or claws, and horns of 
 Beafts ; likewile the feathers and claws of Birds, and 
 alfb the teeth and fcales of Fifhcs, do altogether 
 fquare as to their fimilitude with fait peter ; they be- 
 ing fuch things as whereout of , together with 
 other the fiiperflnous excrements of nature, true and 
 good fait- peter may be made with eafe. 
 
 And like as to t.he procreation of vegetables in" 
 the Murvcojm, and for their increafe or growth, 
 there is requifite a fat and fait earth, the warm fplen- 
 doroftheSun, and the fruitlu.l Rain, whereby all 
 kinds of fruits are born, and ripened; but contrari- 
 ly by the penury or want of fa^c (it being the onely 
 nutriinent,J and of the warm Sun beams, and of 
 the Rain which is the promoter of all fertility, evsry 
 thing that is vegetable mull: needs perilh and die; 
 even fi) is it in the body of Man : For as long as the 
 heart of Man is in a prol'perous healthfulnels, and 
 that the central fire, or vital fpirir, and radical moif^ 
 ture be not deledivc, all things are well and in good 
 equipage, and the whole body takes increafe or 
 growth, and the hairs grow plentifully -. But on the 
 contrary, when meat and drink fail, the whole bo- 
 dy (uliers lols, conlumes and withers away and the 
 
 hairs fall off. ^ 
 
 But 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Ftrfi Century. 
 
 31 
 
 But CO compnle all in brief, I fay, that all growths 
 and augnieiitations as well in the Macrococofrn as in 
 the Microcofm, muft of neceflity be at a ftand and 
 IcTen as loon as the warm folar beams, together 
 with the nutriment it felf cenfeth and is deticient. So 
 then iris a truth, that in Man as being a Microcofm 
 or little World, and in the other amimals, the hairs 
 may be compared with the Tree?, Shrubs, Herbs, and 
 Grafs of the great World, becaufe of the great like- 
 ne(s that is between them. 
 
 And therefore the hairs of animals and hoofs, 
 claws, feathers and fcales of them are very like to 
 fait perer, infomuch that one parr doth after a f}'m- 
 pathetical manner cxtrad from the other, the moft 
 great virtues and innioft foul, and fbone doth mani- 
 feft the other. 
 
 For example, when the skin, hairs, claws, hoofs, 
 or nails of a man or anv other animal, as likewifethe 
 feathers of Birds are fmeared with the fpirit of niter, 
 or anointed therewithall, they prefenrly become as 
 yellow as gold, and do as t'were put on a golden 
 fiue. It may now be demanded, from whence 
 ari!eth that colour .'' comes it from the hairs them- 
 ftlves, or from the nicer fpirit? If that golden colour 
 did arife from the hairs themfelves, then it would of 
 ne.elTity be, thatit fhould alfo difcover it felf, when 
 the hairs are moiftened with other (harp and ftrong 
 waters ; but thus 'twill never do, but onely when 
 thcv are fmeared vvith the fpint of niter, or elle 
 yn'xthAcj. Fcrr.-ijWhichcontaineth the niter fpirit. From 
 thele things therefore it is evident, that the fuperflui- 
 ties of the Microcofm have a molt notable affinity with 
 the fiiperfluicies of -the Macrocelm, vtz.. herbs, and 
 grafs. Hence comes it to pals, that one part draws 
 or fucks from the other part its beft virtues and 
 power, and renders them vifible, which afore lay 
 hidden invifibly and impalpably in tlieir grofs bodies. 
 
 XCV. The manner of extraBing out of niter its gold-like 
 fcul. 
 
 IF we wou'd go the neareft way to work with ni- 
 ter to extrad its li.'u!, then the grofs niter is firft 
 to be mundified by diftillation, then afterwards out 
 of this purged body is the molt pure part to be ex- 
 tra:l:ed by a convenient magnet, and the grofs forces 
 to be removed ;and this moftpure Ibulto be brought 
 by concentration and fixation to the utmoft degree of 
 perfection and dignity. 
 
 And albeit I could here fet down in more clear 
 cxprelTions, the manner ofextrafting it, yet I am 
 not lb mmded to do becaufe of the unworthy. Let 
 this manuduftion fuffice, whereby is Ihown what 
 means it is to be done by, -viz,, by fome magnet 
 atrracling to it felf its like by a magnetick operation. 
 J can at al! times exhibit fiich a yellow gold like loul 
 of niter, and ufe it inrhchckned'es of my neighbour. 
 But, enough as touching thele matters, we Ihall be 
 more large concerning them, in the following Cen- 
 turies. 
 
 XCVI. How the mcifi and cold fire of niter is to he fo 
 ordered as to yield Its 'vifible flame. 
 
 PUT fome ounces of our con centrated and moift 
 fire of niter in a glals, and pour thereupon 
 drop by drop a Iharp Lixivium made of Wood allies, 
 or rather of fi.xed niter, and keep pouring on folong, 
 till all the nolle, fuming, and ebullition ceale, and 
 that the moift fire it lelf be wholly allayed and flain. 
 
 This done, all the corroding faculty is taken away 
 from that fire, which faid fire doth by this operation 
 return co its former nature, and is changed into liich 
 a fait peter as it was afore its being converted into 
 a moift fire. Out of this fait peter, being now made 
 purer and better by fo many converlions and ope- 
 rations, may a new moift fire be extrafted by diltil' 
 lation and concentration, which is far better and 
 much ftronger than the former. 
 
 And now if this fecond moift fire tie again ex- 
 tinguifhed wirh a Uxi'vnim of fixt niter, and be 
 again turned into fa!tperer,and#his peter be by anew 
 diftillation and con tentracion turned into a moift 
 fire, this laid fire will be endued with far greater 
 virtues ; For in every mortification and vivification 
 It becomes one degree ftronger ,nobler, and more effi- 
 cacious; and lb is the fait peter It lelftoo by thofe con- 
 verfionsand reduftions exalted feveral degrees, and 
 is at length brought to that pafs, that it can do more 
 wonderfull things than the common is wont to do ; 
 for one pound of fuch a fait geter being exalted to 
 the utmoft degree of fiibtilty is far more efficacious 
 than many pounds of common fait peter, and ftron- 
 ger, and much excels it in virtue. But it is not ex- 
 pedient that every one fliould know, what may be 
 effected with fuch a moft fubtile and moft pure fait 
 peter. 
 
 The ancient Philolbphers hid the preparation and 
 ufc of common lalt peter ; and why Ihould not we 
 alfo hide fuch a fait peter e.xalted to the urmoir de- 
 gree offubtilty, wherewith the common peter is noe 
 atallcomparable,cfpecially in all fuch labours where- 
 unto the common fore is wont to be applied, this 
 operates much readiler, and far better and more 
 effectually. 
 
 But that the truth may be clearer than the noon- 
 day, I will add one operation of a metallick tranfinu- 
 tation, by which it Ihall be clearlv evidenced unto 
 every one what fuch a moft fubtile fait peter is able 
 to effed. 
 
 XCVII. An operation Jliewing the manner bow by the 
 help of fait peter promoted to the highefi degree offub- 
 tilty, tbejuperfluuus combiiftible (tdphur of the imper- 
 fect tnetals may be kindled and burnt up \ even as 
 common fire burns up wood, mfomuch as nothing will 
 be left remaining fave a little fixt fait and ajhes ; fo 
 Itkewife in this burning up of the impure metals by 
 our mofi pure fait peter, there remains alfo nothing 
 fave that fixt gold and filver which lay fpntually 
 hidden m the metal, and is [now^ left by the cunt- 
 hufiible Scoria's. 
 
 EVery one knows that out of the common Sale 
 Peter and Brimftone , may Gunpowder be 
 made \ but yet fhort in goodnefs, of that which is 
 made of purified fait peter. Bv how much the pu- 
 rer and fubriler the fait peter is,' fo much the better 
 and ftronger powder doth it make. The fame may- 
 be underltood as touching the other ufes of lalt 
 peter. 
 
 Further, every one knows that the common fait pe- 
 ter reduceth the common metals into a Scoria by bur- 
 ning them, and walheth gold and filver, and leaves 
 them pure, concerning which fiery walhing I have 
 hitherto mentioned leveral things. But that the 
 common fait peter doth perform this walhing better 
 than the pure, and this pure better and more effi- 
 cacioufly than the pureft, is no fuch matter in the 
 leaft, which thing experience will moft. manifeftly 
 
 open 
 
3-^ 
 
 The Virfl Century. 
 
 Part II 
 
 open to him who will try the fame. Verily a (inall \ 
 
 fire will not dn thofe things which a greater will do, i 
 
 nor will this greater etteci fuch things as the greate(t j 
 
 will, and this is fo evident and manifeft that there is ■ 
 
 none dares deny it. | 
 
 Take one part of the Reguhts of Antimony and 
 
 four parts of pure Tin ; melt them in a crucible and 
 
 pour them out, and let them cool ; this mafsmakes 
 
 all iron and fteel fufile, therefore when you would 
 
 melt iron' or fteel, fill a crucible with either of the 
 
 metals, fet it in a Wind Furnace, and leave it fo 
 
 long in the Coles till«Il the matter wax highly red 
 
 hot. Then take otf the cover and put into thecru 
 
 cible, half as much of the faid niixt mafs of Regulns 
 
 of Antimony and Tin, as the iron or fteel put in the 
 
 crucible weighed, then put on the cover, and cover 
 
 it over with the Coles, and urge the fire as ftrongly 
 
 as ever pofFibly you can, that lo themafs you put in, 
 
 may caufe the iron or fteel to melt. When 'tis all 
 
 well molten, pour it prelently forth, leaft the Tin 
 
 flying away in fume, leave the molten iron, and fo 
 
 it returned to its former hardnefs and not fuffer it 
 
 felf ro be fu(ed. 
 
 This matter confiftingof theRf_^«///f of Antimony, 
 Tin, and Iron, or Steel, is fo hard, that you may 
 ftrike fire thereout of with a flint. 
 
 Now then if you would experiment the abovefaid 
 combultion or burning up, take a good ftrong cru- 
 cible made of potters earth, and fill it with fait peter, 
 fet it on live Coals fo that the fait peter may melt, 
 then having calt your tin and iron in the form of 
 fmall rods, heat one end of the rods fb as not to 
 melt, hold the other end in a pair of Tongs, and put 
 it into the molten fait peter, that the iron together 
 with the tin and Regulns of Antimony may be burnt 
 up as if it were wood, and vanifh away with the 
 flame into a fume. For almoft all tin and iron are 
 a raeer fulphur, and being confumed by the flame, 
 leaY« nothing elfe in the crucible fave Scoria s, which 
 being waflied with water, and boiled on a cupel or 
 teft with lead and blown off, do leave behind, the 
 true gold and filver hidden in both metals. 
 
 Por when by the flame of (b pure a fiilt peter, the 
 impure fulphur of the iron and tin is burnt up, it 
 muft neceliarily be that what good loever was in the 
 metals do remain behind. 
 
 I do not therefore here fet down this operation, 
 as if I would thereby promife any one golden moun- 
 tains. No liach matter. For I onely manifeft thefe, 
 and fuch like labours meerly for this end, that every 
 one may know, that fait peter being brought to a 
 requifite purity, is wont to burn up imperfect metals 
 as one burns up wood ; and it may be cafily gather- 
 ed thencefrom, that fuch a pure fait peter doth as to 
 fts virtues much e.\'ceed the common peter. 
 
 As for fuch like labours of burning up the imper- 
 fed metals by fait peter purified in a due manner, 
 and of getting pure gold and filver with profit, they 
 fhall be taught in the following Century ( God wil- 
 ling) 
 
 For even as this firlt Oentury doth for the mofl 
 part treat of fire and (alt; ih the chiefeft part of the 
 following Century fhall treat of the wonderfull and 
 great efficacy of purified fait peter in deftroying, 
 and reducing metals, and that with great bettering 
 of them, and with no (mall profit. And albeit I was 
 defirous of inlerting in this firft Century, fuch like 
 profitable betterings of the metals, yet it could not 
 well be done ; principally becaufe that there are 
 many other things concerning the profitable ufe of 
 
 the con centra ted fpirits of fair, that 1 mull necef 
 farily pafs over here,becaufe the number of this Cen- 
 tury is already up, and therefore muif I refer them 
 to the following Centuries. 
 
 And forafmuch as there is frequent mention made 
 in this Century, of glafies and crucibles, which none 
 can be without in the preparing and u(e of the(e 
 moift fires, becaule of the many hazards and lolFes 
 wherewithal common inftruments are accompanied, 
 for they often break, or elfe eafily let out or (pill the 
 boiling matters ; it is altogether requifite that I fliould 
 here have manifeded this excellent invention of mine, 
 which preventeth all fuch difcommodities ; and which 
 I hinted at in the fecond part of my Aliraculum 
 Mrindi. 
 
 But whereas I have beflowed both thofe inven- 
 tions there on the poor, of meer gift, it would be an 
 unjuft thing; to take away from them what is theirs ; 
 nay rather they (hould have by good right more 
 beftowed on them. So then bein^^ not able to pro- 
 ceed any farther as to this cafe, this thing onely re- 
 mains, 'Viz.. an affirmation that neither Vledicine 
 nor Alchymy can want or be without fuch excellent 
 Inventions. But yet if any onedefires to have them, 
 he may write to thofe two men, to whom 1 have 
 given them, that they may trade for the poor ; what- 
 foever any one that is defirous of knowing thofe (e- 
 crets fliall bargain with them for, he will not be 
 repulfed but obtain his defjre, and purchafe from 
 them the (ecret ; the which procefs I will neverthe- 
 lefs defcribe, omitting the naming of the matters. 
 
 XCVIII. The way of fulling glajj'es in difiillatkn an4 
 (ligeft-'ion, and fo confervmg them, that the boiling 
 matter be not Jfilt. 
 
 npAKE 
 
 with this matter fence your.glafs, that the matters 
 you put into them run not our, or be fpilt, and you 
 fhall not lofe them. 
 
 XCIX. The manner of preparing fuch crucibles as ■will 
 hold metals in jinx a long time, and which can nei- 
 ther he broken nor melted. 
 
 R. 
 
 mix thefe matters, and moiften them with common 
 water, that they may be converted into a ma(s, of 
 which you fliall (by a crucible mold) frame (mall 
 and great crucibles, knocking them into your mold 
 with an heavy nullcr, according to the manner I 
 de(cribed in the fifth part of my Furnaces. Then 
 take them forth of the mold and dry them in the 
 air, and when they are dry ufe them ; for they need 
 not any burning in the Potters Furnace. They will 
 (being rightly handled) ftand a If^ng time in the 
 coals, and will not chap, neither will they melt with 
 the moft vehement fire. 
 
 C. An infallible demonftration, that in fait and fire 
 all things lie hidden ; or, that by the help of the Sua 
 and Salt all things are generated, arife, grow, anJ 
 encreafe. 
 
 FOrafmuch as I caufed to be (lamped at thebc- 
 ginning of thisfmall work, a circle with afquare 
 in its infide, and with thefe annexed words, In the 
 Sun, and tn Salt are all things; (the truth of which 
 
 figure 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Firji Century. 
 
 33 
 
 figure and infcription islufficientl\' enough evidenced 
 bv the lo many operations defcribed in this Centu- 
 ry;) it feemed worth while unro me, to make an 
 alTertion herein the end of this Treatife by a true 
 snd evident demonftration, that all things are pro- 
 created, conferved, and encreafed by the Sun and 
 Sa!r, as being the principal and moft nob!e creatures 
 of God ; but with this provizo, that there be prefent 
 the leeds of thole things that require multiplication. 
 For though the Sun and Salt were yet far excellenter 
 and nobler fabjeifts than they now be,yet notwithftan- 
 (ling could they not produce or generate fb much as 
 the lrn-.illeft herb or mcaneft worm (to fay nothing 
 of a Man,) without feed. If wehavebut feed, then 
 It is permitted us by God, to propagate the fame by 
 the Sun and Salt. The begetting of feeds, God 
 hath refer ved to himfclf alone. The feed therefore 
 is for us fufficient, which if we have, we are able ro 
 propagate and encreale it even to infinity, by the 
 efficacy (jf the Sun and Salt, (that univerfal nutri- 
 men: of all things.) 
 
 The univerfal medicament and nutriment that the 
 Ccunrrey men ufe about conferving their Vineyards, 
 Grounds, and Paftures, is the Dung of Cattle and 
 Sheep ; from the which Dung being laid to the 
 roots of the Vines and Trees, and thrown into the 
 Fields and Paftures, the Vegetables do attrad their 
 neceliary nutriment, do grow and bring forth fruits 
 needfull for the fupport and nourifhment of Men 
 and Beafts. 
 
 But forafiiiuch as thi? nutriment which all the Ve- 
 getables do e.xtraft our of the Dung of the Beafts is 
 nothing elfe but a urinous Salt, and that we know 
 how to prepare out of the common Salt, fuch a 
 urinous Salt which may be ufed about dunging and 
 farning the Earth inftead of Dung, therefore verily 
 we may be without that faid Dung, being but fur- 
 rilTied with fiich a Salt ; the which being Alkaliza- 
 ted by the fire doth extend it felf much wider, or 
 goes farther, and dures much longer in the Earth, 
 nourifhing and dunging it,than the Beafts Dung doth. 
 Befidesit gives to all Fruits and Corn, a far fwee- 
 ter favour, and finell, than Dung it felf doth, the 
 truth of which will eafily appear to him that will 
 make tryal of the fame Nay more, and what is of 
 far greater moment ; there may ('by the help of fuch 
 Salts be communicated to Fruits, efpecially tothofe 
 that grow on Trees, and to Grapes, a moft fra- 
 grant odour ; if inftead of Dung, fuch Salts be ufed 
 to the Fields and Gardens, and fbme fpices or other 
 things of a fragrant finell be mixed with thofe Salts, 
 and put to the roots of the Vegetables. An example 
 will illuftrate it more c'early. 
 
 Flow up fbme parr of fbme barren Ground, fuch 
 as is fo for want of Dung ; or, even fome meer Tan- 
 dy Ground, and throw upon it of the faid fair as 
 much as is (ufficienr, and by plowing mix it with the 
 Earth it felf, and fbw therein any kind of grain you 
 pleafe, and it willfpring up out of the lalted Earth 
 or Sand, and be encreafed, and recompence the 
 pains taken about it, with an hundred fold encreafc 
 of the feed, even juft as if you had dunged it, 
 nay better than with the common Dunging. 
 
 And now 1 pray, whence doth that faculty of 
 growing, encreafing, and multiplying arife, (ave 
 irom Salt alone, which you fowed your barren 
 Field withall >. For the feed cannot purchafe to it 
 lelf nutriment, and aliment, growth and encreale 
 from the barren Sand and Rain-water onely. And 
 this you may try the truth of very eafily, i'f ynu fill 
 
 two wooden Chefts or Boxes with common Sand, 
 and put to the Sand in one of them one, two, (,r 
 three pounds of that inverted Salt, ( according to the 
 bignefs or fmallnefs of your box) and in the other 
 box let there be onely Sand. If now youfow divers 
 feeds in each of the Sands, and fet them in the air, 
 moiftening them with Rain-water, thofe feeds will 
 indeed grow out of both the Sand boxes and get in- 
 creafe, but yet that which grows w.herc it has been 
 fprinkled with Salt is far fuller and perfeder, mfo- 
 much that it will hold on its growth till it comes to 
 its utmoft ripenefs, whenas the other feeds in the 
 other Sand box will by little and little perifh and 
 dye. 
 
 It evidently appears from hence that the faculty 
 of growing and increafing, in all things proceedeth 
 from Salt onely. If fb be therefore, that Peafe, 
 Beans, Oats, Barly, Rye, Wheat, Wine, and all 
 kinds of Fruits, do grow, and are increafed by the 
 benefit of Salt, it necefiarily follows, that Salt is the 
 fubjed and univerfal nutriment. 
 
 But that it may be underftood how the common 
 Salt ^ which otherwife is wont to corrupt or extin- 
 guifh all the faculty of growth in thofe things it is 
 mixed withall; is to be inverted or turned in and 
 out, that its hurtfull corroding property being put off 
 it may put on the nature of Alkalies or urinous Salts, 
 I do here covertly fet down the manner of the ope- 
 ration, fo that it may remain hidden to mine enemies 
 and be communicated onely to my friends. 
 
 Take common Salt, &c. [ See the Preparation in 
 Append 5. p. P.e/^. Qerm. ] 
 
 Let them be well heated red hot together at the 
 fire, this done, the fait will be difpoiled of its Acri- 
 mony and get an urinous property, and being uled 
 in a due quantity inftead of Dung, to barren Grounds, 
 caufeth that the feeds fbwn therein produce njuch 
 fruit. But this kind of dunging requireth frequen- 
 ter Rains than that which is done with Dung ; and 
 therefore it may be better and more commodious iri 
 moorifh places than Beafts Dung, if it may bedone, 
 which conjoyns the faid fait, and produceth the 
 moft wiftied efFecIs 
 
 But efi.ecially the faid fait is far better for Vines 
 and Fruit Trees than Dung is : for it gives to 
 Grapes, Apples, Pears and fuch like Tree-Fruirs, a 
 far better favour than Dung is wont to aftbrd .-Beiides, 
 this benefit accrues to Vines thereby, that being 
 fprinkled with that Salt, they have crtt times nutri- 
 ment enough for twenty years, and do every year 
 bring forth Fruit moft plentifully : whereas the nu- 
 triment of dunging will fcarce fuffice for five or fix 
 years. 
 
 Further, That Salt may be far eafier, and with 
 much lefs cofts carried and tranfporred into the high 
 Mountains than Dung can ; for a far greater quanti- 
 ty of Dung is required than of the faid Salt, which 
 faid Salt ditfufeth it felf far larger, or goes much far- 
 ther rhan the Dung, and dures longer. 
 
 1 did this very Ipring time laft paft, put fuch an 
 inverted fait to fbme half dead Vines, which being 
 planted in a lean ftndy ground could fcarce grow up 
 a fingers heighth, and they prefently began to flou- 
 rifh, and grew up fo faft that the growth was day by 
 day perceptible. When therefore on a certain day 
 1 was fhewing fbme Friends of mine the melioration 
 of metals, in my Laboratory, to be effefted by the 
 help of common fair, as they were wondring ^t the 
 thing, I fhewed them thofe Vines afore my Labora- 
 tory, that fprang up from the half dead Itocks, and 
 K tbev- 
 
34- 
 
 The Firft Centurj, 
 
 1 flit \\. 
 
 rhcv nieaiuring fome of the branches of the Vines, 
 found that in two or three months they were grown 
 fome 6, 7, \o, and ii foot long, and the ftocks or 
 ftalks whence thev grew were two or three times 
 thicker than at firft ; which great change or tranf- 
 mutation in the Vines , proceeding from the lak, 
 would be more admirable and profitable than that of 
 metals, if we did not look upon that tranfmutation 
 of gold with fuch covetous eyes. And forafmuch as 
 this tranlinutat*rin fpoken of, was obferved in the 
 month of July, and that there are almoftyet three 
 months for Vines to encrcafe and grow; any one 
 may eafily conjedure what an encreale the wood Lor 
 branches] ofthe Vines would have in the fpace of a 
 whole Summer. 
 
 But let this fuffice concerning the inverfion of the 
 common fair, being a mofl profitable promoter of 
 the growing fliculty in all things ; the which things I 
 was'neceflfitared to declare here in the end of this 
 fmall work, that fo I might demonftrate thofe things 
 which 1 afferted at the beginning of the fame, -jiz.. 
 that in fait lie all things hidden, and by the feeds of 
 things and the help ofthe Sun are readied vilible, 
 palpable and effential. 
 
 An Admonition to theftkndlj Reader, or a Tropofiticn 
 not frejcrlhmg or tying to any body, whereby ts jhevnt 
 how much benefit the Countrey may in general obtain 
 hy my not chargeable extraction of Gold and Silver 
 cut of the fugacious or flying Minerals. 
 
 THAT my inventions may be in many places 
 profitable for the whole Countrey, I judged it 
 worthwhile, briefly to declare my meditations or 
 conceptions thereabouts ; and to make a declaration 
 ofthe way or manner which I judge it may molt ex- 
 ceeding profitably be done by. 
 
 Firft of all, I fuppofe it is flifliiciently well known 
 that Princes and Noblemen are occupied or troubled 
 with othergucfs burdens and bufinefsthan to employ 
 or bulle themfelves with the care and enquiry after 
 the metalline mine-pits, that are here and there in 
 the Countries fubje<5l unto them. And if they fhould 
 commit the care of thcfe things to their fervants, 'tis 
 likely that they would rather pafs their time in feaft- 
 ings'or merry meetings, than in a painfull fearch of 
 Mines and metallick Veins in the woods and moun- 
 tains. And as for the fubjeds themfelves, feeing 
 they are altogether rude and ignorant of fuch arts, 
 by what means, and with what fiiccefs they can un- 
 dertake fuch kind of Labours, any one may eafily 
 guefs. Thefe are the Caufes why things of fuch 
 great moment are let Hip without any profit at all, 
 and are plainly negleited. But in my judgment, 
 though it be butflendcr, any Prince that hath many 
 Subjeds under his obedience, may every year ga- 
 ther ftore of gold and fiiver, and that without cofls, 
 if he would but onely caufe a finall Laboratory to be 
 erefted, wherein the poor Mines may be extrafted 
 with due waters; and leave given to fuch of his fub- 
 jeftsas breath after the knowledge of fuch Arts, to 
 frequent fuch a Laboratory, and there to learn fuch I culum Almdi. 
 
 Arts, with this Frovijo, that every one fhould bring 
 the gold, fiiver and copper boiled or gotten out of 
 the poor minerals by the help of thefdid extradion, 
 into the Mony-fhop or Coining houfe, at ii.;ch a rate 
 as they are every where efieemed or valued at, and 
 not tranfport it out ofthe Counrrey. Now by this 
 means, net only the chief Magistrate would without 
 any coft and labour get no fmall profit by the mony, 
 but likewife every body would to their urmofi, la- 
 bour in the inquifition after fiich poor J\ lines, that 
 he might get Gold and Silver, and other Metals, out 
 of thole poor metallick V^eins, and get gain for him 
 and his. But now if the Prince cr Aiagiftrate will 
 not permit his Subjeds the exercife of iLich a work, 
 but keep all to himfelf, any one may eafily conjec- 
 ture, that not fo much as a man will fet about Icar- 
 ching after fiich Mines, but will rather hide them, 
 efpecially if the Magiftrate (as is wont to be fome- 
 timcs done) would conftrain his Subjeds to fuch 
 kind of Labours. 
 
 This (according to my fimple opinion, no ways 
 prefcribing to any what to doe j would be the rcadi- 
 eft way, without hurting of any man (nay rather it 
 would help and affift many a manj of furnifhingour 
 Country with Gold and Silver Coin, which Foreign- 
 ers have made it bare of. But this will not be by 
 any way, unlefs the Magiftrates themfelves do make 
 a beginning, as to the inftitution of fuch a work, by 
 this means inviting and llirring up their Subjeds to 
 undertake fuch like Labours, which will bring great 
 Treafures even to the whole Country. By this 
 means may rich Mints be fet up in very many places, 
 inftead of thofe which at this time afford Adony or 
 Coin fo fparingly, and no finall portion of Copper 
 too, mixed with it. 
 
 Thefe few things was I willing to advife for the 
 fake of the good of the whole Country ; only lay- 
 ing down my fimple opinion without prefcribing a 
 rule to any, hoping, that no body of what rank or 
 condition foever they be, will take it otherwife than 
 well. 
 
 Secondly, Every prince and great man would 
 mightily promote the common welfare of his poorj 
 if he would but take the care of fhewing the way of 
 fo inverting common Salt by one hours heating it red 
 hot, and bringing it to that pals, that it may be 
 made ufe of inftead of Catties dung, for the fatning 
 and bettering of barren Vineyards, unfruitfull Gar- 
 dens, and otfier Fields that are backward or flow in 
 bearing Fruits : for verily, even from this very Art 
 would redound much profit to fome Countries. For« 
 many Vineyards here and there, and many Grounds 
 do want due tillage becaufe ofthe fcarcity of Dung, 
 whereas otherwife they would prove very profitable 
 both to the Subjeds and Magiftrates, it they could 
 be fatned and made fertile by this kind of way. 
 
 Befides too, all Wines would be had in much more 
 plenty, and be of a far fweeter and pleafanter tafle, 
 by fuch a medium, than if the Vineyards and Fields 
 vvcre dunged with Beafts dung. But as touching 
 this thing, fee more in the continuation of my Mtr*- 
 
 The end of the Firft Century. 
 
Part II. 
 
 35 
 
 The Second Century 
 
 O F 
 
 GLAUBER'S 
 
 IHealtlip ^to?e l)ottre of Cteafutes. 
 
 Which doth Il/ii(lrate his hitherto piiHifbed Writings, with a more 
 evident Explanation, and doth viore clearly demonftrate 
 the Truth hidden in them. 
 
 The Firft Arcanum or Secret of the Second Century, 
 
 SHEVVETH, 
 
 By ivbat mt-ans [uch Metals as are imperfect, wild, and in a manner unapt for nfe or 
 [ale, may be ripened or bettered by Common Salt and Fire, fo as to yield forth 
 Q old and -Silver with bene jit and advantage. 
 
 I have in the foregoing firft Century, as alfo in 
 the Appendix to the fifch part of the profperi- 
 ty of Germany, dcfcribed the incineration or 
 redudion into afhes, which is to be done with 
 Coals in a pccuHar Furnace, fie for torrefadion or 
 calcining. 
 
 Though this be a laborious way and tedious, yet 
 is it not without its benefit, provided that a great 
 quantity as I have already oft times faid) of the 
 not vendible minerals and metals be thereto ufed. 
 But that fuch an incineration may be done after a 
 more eafie and compendious manner, the following' 
 way may be made ufe of. 
 
 Build an Hearth of good and fitting earth upon a 
 firm foundation, put thereupon a Furnace [or an 
 Arch] of good ftones, adjoyn hereto an Oven, [or 
 iide Furnace] out of which the fire may play and 
 emit its flame over all the faid Hearth, and pals 
 therecut of by a Chimny made for that purpole. 
 Upon this Hearth put thofe rneraliine earths being 
 broi^cn in a Mill, and commix them with the Salt, 
 and Coals reduced into powder, and leave them for 
 twenty or twenry four hours, that they may be all 
 well fired and heated red hot: For by this means, 
 the fait makes the fugitive metal in Ibme lort con- 
 Hant and able to brook the fire ; and the wild IIjI- 
 phureoufhefs leaves the metalline mineral, and ad- 
 joyns it felf to the fair, and-converteth it into a vi- 
 triol or Sal. Mirabilis. This twenty or twenty four 
 hours hear, gets a conftancy and fiuxibility to thofe 
 
 wild metallick veins, and dothwithall by that labour 
 fo fit and prepare the fair, that it doth afterwards by 
 an eafie mutation pa(s into good fait peter. 
 
 After that the faid minerals have gotten themfelves 
 a better ftate by the faid Cementation, they are 
 to be drawn out of the Fire or Hearth, with irori 
 inftruments fit for fuch a purpofc, and new and 
 frefn minerals are to be put in, and to be dealt with- 
 all after the fame manner as we faid but now. 
 
 The minerals that are taken forth are to be bro- 
 k,en in a Mill, and then the fait to be wafhed off 
 with common water, and to be afterwards ufed a- 
 bout making fait peter, the which we have taught 
 in the Appendix. 
 
 The light Coals [or Scinders] and unprofitable 
 earth is to be feparated by water, from the metal- 
 line parr, and this metalline part, or heavier 7i»7«/, 
 being reduced and molten in the Furnace called Sti- 
 chofen, yields a beaurifullor pure and gainlull metal. 
 
 There are fbmetimes found in many p'aces of 
 Germany, wild, fugacious, and unmeltable minerals 
 of lead, which- for that they contain in them Su'- 
 phur. Antimony, or Lafis Calaminans, do not ad- 
 mit ofreduifiion in the Furnace caWtdSticbofeit,. bu; 
 do either go off in fume, or turn into droCs. But 
 being firit roafted after the aforefaid mannef, and 
 fitted for liquefaction, the lead, comprehending in it 
 filver too, may be thence gotten with profit, where- 
 asotherwii'e they are wontto be dealt withall with- 
 out any fru.t, and are therefore given over. This' 
 1 .''ncinerat?orf 
 
^6 
 
 The Second Century 
 
 Part II- 
 
 incincranon therefore is profitably ufed to luch de- 
 generate minerals 
 
 Now if fobe any would deal with vendible and 
 good metals, and would have profit from them by 
 incineration, he muft proceed this following way. 
 
 11. The manner of reducing lead into afiesy atidfo hand- 
 lino- it wtch the ffirits of fait ^ that gold and Jiiver 
 may be thence gotten with profit. 
 
 c, . 
 
 I have at large taught in my firft Century, that in 
 the ripening of metals and other chymical ope- 
 rations, a greater fire is endued with ftronger power 
 than a leller, which is eafie to be underftood by 
 thofe that have any wit. 
 
 I juft now taught the maturation and bettering 
 of unprofitable and wild metallick earths with crude 
 and grols fait 
 
 But forafmuch as the grofs fait and a weak fire 
 cannot of neceflity put forth fo much ftrength as a 
 ftronger fire is wont to doe, therefore for (uch as de 
 fire a ftronger fire than the common fait, the purer 
 part is to be (by the help of Artj drawn out of the 
 crude fait and to be (eparated from.its grofnefs and 
 impurity, the which is eafily brought to pafs by dif 
 tillation. And as for thefe fires of falts, and the 
 procuring them in great plenty, my writings, but 
 cfpecially the precedent firft Century, do clearly 
 and evidently treat of them, and thislecond Cen- 
 tury will yet treat of it more. 
 
 HI. The operation of incinerating the leady or reducing 
 it into aflies. 
 
 HAving built a Furnace fuch as is for Cementa- 
 tion, put therein a ftrong iron Pot, juft after 
 fuch a manner as the fand cupels [or pans] are 
 wont to be made, let there be a Grate to make a 
 fire on, let the Furnace be bigger or lefTer according 
 to thebignefs or littlenefsof the Pot you would put 
 in, or according to the quantity of leadafhes you 
 would make Put fire under the Porand heat it red 
 hot, and put thereinto fo much lead as is requifite for I 
 the covering of the bottom of the Pot ; the lead being | 
 molten, ftir it about in the Pot without ceafing, 
 with an iron fpoon having a long handle, the which 
 labour will turn the lead into aflies in the fpace of 
 about two hours. Take thefe afhes out, and put in 
 more lead into the Pot, and repeat this labour fo 
 often until! you have gotten enough aflies Thefe 
 afhes of lead are fitted to receive an amendment by 
 the fpirits of lalts, and afterwards to yield their goid 
 and filver by fufion, and that with profit. 
 
 IV. The manner of bettering the aflies of lead by the ffi- 
 rtts of falts, and of extracting thencefrom the gold 
 and filver with gain. 
 
 Firft of all, you muft have plenty of the fpiric of 
 (alt or ^cj^ Regis, as concerning the eafie getting 
 fuch fpirits, we have mentioned the way at large in 
 the foregoing Appendix, and will yet treat more of 
 them in this prefent fecond Century. 
 
 Befides, you muft alfo provide your felf nf red or 
 reddifh kind of flints, which (befides iron) do alio 
 contain in them a volatile gold. Out of thefe is the 
 tinifture to be extrafted by the fpiritoffak, or by 
 Ai- Reg:s ; after that manner I delivered at large 
 in the fir.t Century, and in the Appendix to the 
 fitch part of the profperity of Germany, and will yet 
 
 farther teach more clearly and more compendioufly 
 in this Ce itury. 
 
 Thefe extractions are to be poured upon the lead- 
 afhes, that they may be well moiltencd therewith- 
 all ; the unprofitable phlegm is to be evaporated by 
 a gentle heat, and the fire to be augmented that the 
 fpirits alfo may follow , of which more heavy fpirits 
 there will be enough remaining in the fecret Cemen- 
 tatory Pot, and as much as is tufficient lor the due 
 operation upon the lead, that fo being bettered it 
 may afterwards prove a gainfull emitter of its gold 
 and filver. 
 
 He that has adeflre of exercifing this labour with 
 greater profit, may latisfie his delire, if he will but 
 pour on fuch extractions twice or thrice upon the 
 faid lead afhes, that they may be concentrated by 
 them afore they are cemented in the Cementatory 
 VelTel, and may be reduced into the bettered lead. 
 For by this means, all the labours and cofts will be 
 more largely recompenced, and the more plenty of 
 gain gotten. 
 
 This now is the making the leadafhes, whether 
 you do either />fr/e, or by the help of the other 
 metals, convert it by Cementation into a better 
 metal. 
 
 V. A brief dcfcripticn of the fecret Cementatory Tot, 
 whiih admits not of any j filling, and which is jealed 
 with the Seal of Hermes, of which I made mention 
 in the fir jt Century. 
 
 Build with Stones or Clay or Potters earth fuch 
 a Furnace as that is, which I defcribed in the 
 firft part of my Furnaces, as necefTary for the ma- 
 king of Ipirit of fait. But let the lower part thereof 
 be a little broader that fo the Metals being ca/t upon 
 the Coals may not ftick to the walls of the Furnace 
 and fo be fomewhac loft, but may faH directly down 
 on the live Coals. It muft be made tour fquareand 
 of fuch a bignefs as may ferve the purpofe according 
 as you are minded to cement a greater or leller 
 quantity of metal therein. 
 
 VI. Of the Cover of the Cementatory-pot, what it ought 
 to be, that jo it may fufier noihingto gee away m fume. 
 
 THIS Cover of this Cementatory Box or Furnice 
 which I told you was to be made of the Lute 
 of Wifedom, is not properly a Cover but a Leaden 
 Ciftern, ferving for the reception of thc.fc fpirits 
 which are driven up by the fire out of the Lead-afhes. 
 This Lead receiver is tolie in another Leaden Cifrern, 
 which is to be filled with water, and 'tis to be fo fit- 
 ted to a pipe that is to come out of the Furnace, that 
 the afcending fpirits paffing thereinto may be the 
 better ri-frigerared by the water, and the fboner 
 condenfed, and faved for farther utes. 
 
 VII. Of the life and benefit of this fecret Cementing Vot. 
 
 WHEN any one has a mind to cement the 
 Lead afhes, from which the extractions of the 
 coloured Flints have been fonxtirr.es abftraifled in 
 the faid Cementatory Box, and to graduate them, or 
 fo bring to pafs that they may contain [or hoid thej 
 Gold and Silver, let hun firft of ail fill his i'urnace 
 with Charcoal, and let him fo order it that his fire 
 may kindle by little and little till the Furnace beuell 
 heated red hot ; till this is done, the Cover that is 
 at top is to be taken fo long oS, that fo neither c.'.e 
 
 heat 
 
Part I[. 
 
 The Second Qentary. 
 
 37 
 
 heat noi- Imoke may pals out at the llde through the 
 Pipe into the adjoyaed Leaden Ciftern. 
 
 When the Furnace is thoroughly heated, and that 
 "ri.vnovv time to begin the Cementation, the top of 
 the Furnace is to be fhut with its Cover , that the 
 heat may be forced to pafs through the Pipe into the 
 Receiver. Having fb done, you are to fill an Iron 
 Spoon or Ladle of your prepared Lead afhes, and 
 put them into tlie Furnace at the fore hole which 
 icrves for the throwing in your Coals, the which 
 aflies are to be lo put in as to cover the Coals over, 
 but not fo as to choke them but that they may have 
 iiir enough to burn, and that the fire be not put out, 
 butdoe juft in that manner as you are wont to diftil 
 tiie Spirit of Salt. By this means all the Spirits that 
 remained yet behind in the Lead-afhes, will betake 
 themfelves into the Receiver, and the Aflies of the 
 Lead will be bettered by the graduating and tinging 
 fpirits, and will part of them be reduced into a body, 
 and part will yet retain the form of aflies, and fall 
 down through the Grate to the bottom of the Fur- 
 nace. Then the Furnace is to be again filled with 
 Coals, and more Afhes are to be put thereon with 
 a Spoon as afore, and this labour is to be continued 
 fo long till all the Aflies are confumed. 
 
 All the labour being finiflied, take out your Aflies 
 together with the lead reduced into a body, melt 
 them in the Furnace which is called Stkhofen^ they 
 will melt wondrous eafie, then put fome fluall part 
 thereof to the Teft, thereby to try whether or no 
 they are enriched enough, to be turned into a Li- 
 tharge and undergoe the metallick leparation. 
 
 If they won'tas yet brook the trial, let the Lead be 
 again turned into Aflies in your Iron Pot, and repeat 
 the whole afore prelcribed labour, and that fb often 
 till at length the Lead be rendred rich enough in 
 Gold and Silver, the which may be converted into 
 Litharge after the ufual manner, and feparated from 
 the Gold and Silver. The Litharge being taken 
 away, and gathered together, and broken in a Mill, 
 fervcs for farther ufes in this operation. The Regu- 
 lui of the Gold and Silver that is left upon the hearth 
 is to be taken out and to be farther mundified in a 
 Cupel after the accuftomed way. 
 
 This is that more compendious incineration and 
 reduiftion of Lead, which kind of bettering it, en- 
 richeth the operators with Gold and Silver. 
 
 iV. B. That in this Cementation the fliarp fpirits 
 do carry over with them fome of the Volatile Lead 
 into the Receiver, and there it fettles to the bottom ; 
 the which powder being freed from all the Acrimo- 
 ny of the fpirits by due wafliings, and being then 
 dried, may be ufed to all fuch intents and operations 
 to which the Mercury of Saturn is wont to be ufed, 
 and which is made by diflblving the Lead in A<]. 
 fords, and precipitating it by Salt-water. 
 
 JV. B. This diflilled Mercury hath more hidden 
 under it than the other hath ; for it carries hidden 
 in it a Volatile Gold, which may be (eparated from 
 , it and improved about the gradation and Tindureof 
 other Metals, and that with no fiiiall profit, concer- 
 ning which we will (ay more afterwards. 
 
 Thus, friendly Reader, haft thou my more com- 
 pendious incineration and redudion into better Me- 
 tals,- the which I would not hide from thee, and 
 hereby fliall 1 iatisfie thofeto whom the way prefci^l- 
 bed in my Appendi.vis too tedious and laborious and 
 they may make uic of this way inltead of that other, 
 which withall is eaficr and will without all doubt 
 yield more Gold and Silver than that other wav. 
 
 VIII. Amther emendation or htterhig of Lead by the 
 graduating extraSiions of coloured Flints. 
 
 EXtraft either coloured Flints, fuch as have iri 
 them Volatile Gold or Sand or Clay, by thd 
 fpirit of Salt or Aq. Regis, and draw off the Liquor 
 by Diftillation. If you thereto add Salt afore their 
 extraction the diflblvent will rec«*ive encreafe from 
 the Salt, efpecially ifdonein fuch an inftrument, in 
 which a great quantity of e.xtraftcd matters I'lay 
 be abftradted in a few hours, without either Cucur- 
 bits or the other commonly known Oiftilling Vcf- 
 fels, and the fame operation may be continued a 
 long while. By this means, there is not onely the 
 lealt lo(s of yourdilTolvent, but it rather gets no 
 final! encreafe from the Salt. By this inftrument al- 
 fo, thou maift not onely prepare great ftore of fliarp 
 fpirits neceflary for thy operation at the beginning, 
 but like wife commodioiifly extra -t your Minerals^ 
 and feparate the difiblvent again i/om the Minerals 
 foe.xtraded, fb that you fliall noi lofe the lealt par- 
 ticle of your dilfolvent. 
 
 But forafmuch as all the Gold, Sil/er, and Cop- 
 per may much eafier be feparated from its Menfirn- 
 «w,by this fo unheard of and never feen inftrument, 
 than by the way of precipitation, 'tis altogether bet- 
 ter and fafer for a Man not to precipitate his extrac- 
 ted Metals, but rather draw ofFthe Mmftruum from 
 them, that fo he may have them dry. And thou?h 
 that all the fpirits go not wholly off, fo as that no- 
 thing of them abide with the Metals, yet they do 
 no hurt, but rather exalt the Litharge that is put 
 unto them into an higher degree,as it alfo does to the 
 Aflies themfelves of the Lead, when they are ce- 
 mented together in the afore defcri bed cementing 
 Furnace ; in which Cementation the Volatile Gold 
 is, together with the corporal Gold conferved, and 
 which otherwife would vanifli away in the common 
 melting Fire. 
 
 But if fb be that any one has a mind to precipitate 
 the Metals extracted out of poor Mines, after the 
 manner prelcribed in the Appendix, to the intenthe 
 may after the precipitation make Salt Peter of the 
 remaining Waters, he may reduce the cWa,'s of the 
 Metals, and principally of the Gold very eafily and 
 without any lofs, by this following way. 
 
 IX. The manner of reducing the frecifttated andwajhed 
 Calx o/Sol -without any lofs. 
 
 THE precipitation of Gold by Lixiviums, Liquor 
 of Flints, Spirit of Urine, Solution of Mercury, 
 hath been clearly enough defcribed in the Appendix 
 to the fifth part of the profperity of Germany ; but 
 yet the redudlion of the fame was paft over in filence, 
 becaufe of the too much haft of the faid Book. 
 Therefore it feemed unto me necefTary to infert the 
 fame here, for their fakes, who have but little know- 
 ledge, or in a manner none at all in thefe atfairs ; 
 for fhould I go to propound fuch a thing for the sldl- 
 full Chyniifts,I fhould but do what is already done, 
 efpecially becaufe he delerves not the name ofa 
 Chymift who is ignorant of the redudion of the 
 fblar Calx. 
 
 But forafmuch as it may fo happen, that even th<3 
 unskilfullmay fet about this extrading of the Mine- 
 rals, and yet be ignorant of the way of reducing the 
 Gold though they fhould have extracted it ; there- 
 fore have X judged it not amifs to illuftrate that re- 
 h dijdibn' 
 
38 
 
 The Second Centiivjr 
 
 Part IL 
 
 duclion by my defcribing thereof here, the which 
 being divers, according as the precipitation is made 
 by llich or (ijch a means, doth alfo require ditterent 
 operations. 
 
 X. Th$ reduction of the folar Calx precipitated by the 
 Licjucur of Flints. 
 
 ALbeitthatBf^-axrcduceth every G?/Aof5c/to its 
 former body, it it be therewith mixed and mel- 
 ted in a Crucible, yet that would prove too dear, if 
 • lomewhara greater quantity thereof be required for 
 thercduilion ; for there muft beof itac leaft twice or 
 thrice as much in weight as is of the Gold, if you 
 would have a due redudlion of the Gold made. 
 Ti)e realbn is this, becaufe the Flints precipitated to 
 the bottom together with the Gold, and lo fticking 
 on to the Gold impead its fufion fo that it cannot 
 rightly come together into its due body. Hereupon 
 is it necellary that there (hould be the double or tre- 
 ble weight of Borax added to the Gold if you would 
 have all your Gold return unto its former body with- 
 out detriment. 
 
 But whereas there are alfb other matters to be 
 found which make the Gold fufiblc and are not lb 
 dear as Borax is, the ufe of fuch things is to be ad- 
 mitted, but efpecially when a great quantity of 
 Gold is to be reduced. Otherwife if it be but little 
 Gold that is to be reduced, and you have not the 
 aforefaid matters at hand, one may for fuch a fmall 
 trial ufe Borax. But where there is a greater quanti- 
 ty to be reduced the following matter will be found 
 to be far more profitable and beneficial. 
 
 XI. How the Gold -which is precipitated by the Liquor of 
 Flints, is to be melted iviihont Borax, by the Glafs of 
 Lead only, which is of a far meaner price. 
 
 TAKE of your Gold precipitated by the Liquor 
 of Flints and dryed, one part, ot'Glalsmadeof 
 Lead and beaten into powder, three parts; the 
 which mix well with the Gold and put into a Cruci- 
 ble, which faid Crucible let be put into another big- 
 ger one (for which operation the Haflion pots are 
 moft fit) that ib if the Gold chance to flow outof the 
 inner pot, it may ftay in ehe outer and be conferved. 
 For the Glals of Lead is of luch a nature that it ufu- 
 ally perforates or runs through the pot. Having 
 thus done put your twofold Crucible containing 
 your commixed matters into a wind Furnace, fuch 
 an one as 1 have delcribed, and when you have co- 
 vered it, put Coals under it [or about it] and urge 
 your fire for one quarter of an hour, that all may 
 well flow, then pour it out, and feparate the Regukis 
 of Gold with a Itroke or two from the glals of the 
 Lead ; which faid Glafs hath attraded to it felf all the 
 flinty matter, and lutfers the pure and malleable Gold 
 to lettlc to the bottome into a Regidns. 
 
 N. B. If your glals of Lead be flill yellow as itwas 
 before the operation, 'tis a lign that all the Gold is 
 (eparated therefrom; but if it be of a green colour 
 'tis a fure llgn that it hasas yet fomeGold mixed with 
 it. For Gold being mixed with Glals fhews its being 
 there by yielding a skie-colour, the which skie co- 
 lour is necelfarily changed in the yellow glals of Lead 
 into a green ; becaute every yellow and skie colour 
 do in their commixtion beget a green. 
 
 Now then that you may get out the reliques of 
 the Gold out of the leaden Glafs you muft proceed 
 the following way. 
 
 XIL By what means the Glafs of Lead which as yet 
 contains in it feme rehques of Gold is to be dealt with- 
 all, that it may let them goe out of its body. 
 
 MELT that Glafsof Leadin a well covered pot, 
 that I mean in which you luppole lome Gold 
 to be, and being well molten calt in a little iron fi- 
 lings, and mix it well by ftirring it with an iron rod, 
 and leave it in the fire thus molten, for one quarter 
 of an hour, that the fulphur of the Glafs may be kil- 
 led by irs corroding of the iron, and may let fall a 
 leady Rtgtdns wherein the Gold will be, and which 
 1 in the firft melting) the Glals held up, will leparate 
 it by the Cupel from the Lead. 
 
 N. B. But here you are to obferve that the filings ' 
 of the iron arc to be ufed very Iparingly to this pre- 
 cipitation ; for by how much the more iron is added, 
 lb much the greater will the Reguhis of the lead be , 
 and confequendy require a greater Cupel, which is 
 not lb necelfary. 
 
 For put cale the Glafs of Lead in which the Gold 
 is lufpe'Hed to be is about one pound weight, and 
 there is but about a .^tinta, or certain fmall weight 
 of Gold ; now it is not neceflary to have any more 
 than one Lot of Lead or thereabouts, precipitated 
 thereout of into a Regul/ts, to which precipitation is 
 required no more than one Lot of the filings of Iron. 
 For the i^f!f///«i of Lead precipitated out of the Glals, 
 doth for the moft part aniuer in weight, to the- 
 weight of the Iron filings uled about the precipita- 
 tion, or to fpeak more clearly, you will get lb much 
 leaden Regnlus, as the Iron is you added. 
 
 The remaining Glafs becomes black and is unpro- 
 fitable for any farther melting with Gold, but yec 
 needs not be call: away, becaufe thofe Scoria's do yec 
 contain much Lead, and therefore lerve to be mixc 
 with fuch Pots as you have uled and broken about 
 Metals, or with other wild and hardly fufile me- 
 tallick Veins, to render them fulible, being I lay 
 commixt with thele, and put in the Furnace which 
 the Germans call Stichcfen, do not onely yield forth 
 all their Lead, but withall draw out the Metals out 
 of thofe matters which were mixed with them in the 
 melting But they are principally profitable for the 
 melting and reducing of thole Metals, which do not 
 onely very difficultly admit of fulion by themlelves, 
 but withall do, being mixed with the Afhes of Tin, 
 fo much the more difficultly futfcr themlelves to be 
 reduced by meltjng, unto their former bodies. But 
 in defed of fuch Metals and Minerals, as are not 
 but with much adoe tamed by Liquefa;tion, you 
 may put to that black Glals of Lead, one fourth pare 
 onely of filings, or Scoria's of Iron made into powder, 
 that lb both the matters thus commixt may be mol- 
 ten in the Furnace Stuhofen. So by the addition 
 and help of the Iron, all the Lead vvili be reduced to 
 its former body, and will withall extract outof the 
 Iron whatlbever of Gold and Silver lay therein hid- 
 den ; lb that by this means there may be reaped a 
 great benefit from this reduction of the Glafs of 
 Lead. But yet that Lead is to be tryed by a fore- 
 going tryal, whether or no it be rich enough in Gold 
 and Silver to quit the the cofts of reparation i For if 
 it be not, it muft be uled to the afofi defcribed in- 
 ''ftneration, that fo there may be no lofs either of the 
 Gold or the Lead. 
 
 XIII. the 
 
Part 11 
 
 The Second Century. 
 
 39 
 
 S.IU. Tos preparation of the Ginfs of Lead ^ fcr the re- 
 dmcin' (nth Gold as being precipitated by the Liqour 
 
 uf Ftims^ is cf difficult fujiun. 
 
 TAKE of whire and full'e Flints £or Pdbles] one 
 parr, and of Mmium^ or any other Allies of 
 Lead, or eUe even of Litharge it felf four parts, 
 each (f which being powdered apart, 3'ou are to 
 commix and melt them well in a Itrong double Pot, 
 then pour them out, and you will have a Hyacinth- 
 coloured Glafs, the which Glafs is to be powdered 
 and mixt with the Gold, and it makes the Gold 
 Powder which refiftcth melting fufible. 
 
 XI V. Another ivaj of reducing Gold precipitated by the 
 Liqour of Flints. 
 
 TO one part of this hardly-melting Gold which 
 is precipitated by the Liqour of Flints, admix 
 twoor three parts of Litharge, which matters put in 
 a flrong double Pot, and cover it well, and melt 
 them well down in a Wind Furnace, that the Li 
 charge mas'- draw unto it felf all the Flints, and all 
 the Gold may (eparate. Having feparated the Re- 
 gu'.iis from the.SVw7j's of the Lead, you muft preci- 
 pitate thele6Vo/M's,which do as yet hold in them (ome 
 imall portion of Gold into a fmall leaden Regulus, 
 with the filings of Iron, as we (hewed you but now, 
 that fo you may aI(o have even that refidue of Gold. 
 The Sana are conierved by being reduced in the 
 Furnace Stichofen, according to the operation alrea- 
 dy fpokcn of. 
 
 XV. Another w^y of rendring the Gold precipitated by 
 the Liqour cf Flints fujii/le. 
 
 TAKE of the faid Gold one parr, and the iixt 
 Salt made of Sale Peter and Tartar, by com- 
 Ibuftion or calcination, three parts; commix them 
 land melt them down in a crucible well covered. In 
 Ithis co-melting the Salt fvvallows up the Flints, and 
 Wje Gold being at liberty fettles to the bottom. Pour 
 [cut the molten mafs, and (eparate the Regnlns of the 
 IGold from the Salt, the which being dillolved with 
 smmon vvater gives you your Liqour of Flints, to 
 s again ufed to precipitate more extracted Gold. 
 This Sa't doth not fb eafily perforate the Cruci- 
 Ibles as rhofe Glafll-s of Lead do, and therefore is it 
 \xD be accounted of as the bell and eadeli of all thele 
 Ithree prelcribed ways. 
 
 I XV I. The -way of reducing Gold, precipitated by the fpi- 
 rit of Urine. 
 
 t'T'HE fpirit of Urine or of 5^/. Armoniack doth per- 
 ■■- fedly precipitate all the Gold out of the Acj. Re- 
 
 [gK ; the which being wafhed and c'ried, doth not 
 
 1 admit of redudVion alter the manner of the other 
 Gold, for it it be but onely heated a little before it 
 
 [becomes red hot, it prelently takes Hre, and fulmi- 
 nates with a far more dreadtull noife than any Gun- 
 powder. For if you put a Ihiall portion of the 
 fame, and no bigger than a Pea in a Silver, Iron, 
 or Copper Spoon, and put it on theCoais that it 
 may wax hot, it will give fuch an horrible crack, 
 that 'twill even dull the hearing, and make a dent 
 in the Spoon as if it had been beaten in with a Ham- 
 mer. From whence it may eafily be conjedured, 
 that if fomewhat a bigger quantity be put in a Pot on 
 
 the Fire, it would make Pot and Furnace flic, by itq 
 16 dreadtull thundring a flroak into moft (mall llii- 
 vers. 
 
 So then there is need of great warincfs, to prevent 
 the happening of fo great danger, which is eafily 
 prevented by the following manner of operating. 
 
 XVII. By what means the fulminating force of Gold 
 ' precipitattdby a Lixivium, or fpirit of Urine is to be 
 taken away. 
 
 MIX with this Gold precipitated by a Lixivium^ 
 or by the fpirit of Urine, half a part of Sul- 
 phur reduced into Powder, and let the faid Sulphur 
 be removed therefrom by burning amidft jiveCoals; 
 for fb being detpoiled of that fulminating force, it 
 may without danger be reduced by any kindof liich 
 matters as promote fufibiliry. 
 
 XVIII. By what means Gold that is defpoiled of its ful- 
 minating force, by means of Sulphur may be reduced. 
 
 FOrafmuch as this Gold is void of all impurity, 
 there needs [not] the addition of fuch matters 
 as promote fufion, leeing it is of it felf prone enough 
 to melt. But yet leaft Ibme grains of theGokl fhould 
 ftick on to the Pot, 'tis expedient to add fome por- 
 tion at leaft of fuch a kind of matter as accelerates 
 or hafteneth fution. And for this work. Borax, and 
 the dry Liqour of Flints are excellent, of which if 
 you add but one half part onely to (uch Gold, (or 
 if you take of the Flints prepared with Salt of Tar- 
 tar) it will by that means prefently melt, and the 
 Borax, or Liqour of Flints will not retain the leaft 
 doit of the Gold. 
 
 XIX. The manner of reducing the Metals that are not 
 gotten out of the Waters by precipitation, but are freed 
 jrom them by abfiraHing them. 
 
 "THE Metals which are extradled out of the Mines, 
 and freed from the waters by the abftrading of 
 the dilfolvent, cannot be fo pure as thole are which 
 Icttle to the bottom by precipitation. For it is very 
 rare for Gold and Silver to be found in metalline 
 Veins, Stones, or Clay, without being commixed 
 with other Metals ; becaufc for the moft parr. Cop- 
 per is mixt with Silver, and Copper or Iron with 
 Gold, the which being uiifeparated in the redudlion 
 makes the Gold and Silver impure. But now in the 
 precipitation one Metal is freed after another from 
 the Alenfruum, and are not mixed with each other. 
 But on the contrary, in the way of abftrading it, 
 all the metals remain mixt together without any 
 leparation, and require a new leparation and conle- 
 quently a double labour, and more e.xpenccs. 
 
 This inconveniency may be eafily remedied by 
 him who is verled in the knowledge of my dry le- 
 paration of Metals. I have mentioned it in divers 
 places of my writings, fo that it would be needlels 
 to trouble the Reader with a fijperfluous rehearfal 
 of the lame in this place. 
 
 But foralmuch as every one hath not by him all 
 my writings, I believed that it would be worth 
 while, if 1 fhould here let down that Laver or Bath 
 which wafheth off the Metals with the help of Salt 
 peter by the dry way. For, without the knowledge 
 of this Artifice of (isparating the extraded Metals 
 from each other, there would be yet requifire much 
 labour, and much cofts for the obtaining of the faid 
 
 Metals. 
 
40 
 
 The Second Century: 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Metals. But thef are very eafily, and with 'ittle 
 labour, and with fiDall cofts feparated the one from 
 theother by the way here by usdefcribed, and in 
 deed with more gain than is wont to be had by the 
 way of precipitation. 
 
 And even as in the precipitation of Metals there 
 . is always Ibme [portion] of the Waters, that puts 
 on the nature of Salt Peter, 'viz,, when the Waters 
 that have been ufed, which are as it were the Seeds 
 of Salt Peter,'^' are implanted in an Alkalifate Salt, 
 -and fo do multiply themfelves in a wonderful! 
 manner. 
 
 So likewife in the dry reparation of Metals, there 
 is in a manner, yet more Salt Peter gotten, tnz.. 
 thus when they are feparated in the melting Pots, 
 from each other by Salt Peter, and by an artificial 
 precipitation of one Metal after another, the Salt 
 Peter you ufed is rendred fixt and Alkalizated, 
 which Alcalizatcd niter is to be accounted of, as the 
 root of Salt Peter. This root being implanted in 
 acid Saks, is in like manner enriched with a plente- 
 ous encreafe, and reduced into natural and inflama- 
 ble Salt Peter ; for, by it do the fharp Waters get 
 to themfelves the nature of Salt Peter, from thofe 
 Alkalizate Salts. And if fo be you feek not after the 
 common Salt Peter, it is better to fow the Seed of 
 Salt Peter (that is, fome fpirit of niter which you 
 have ufedj into the appropriate root of Salt Peter, 
 that is, into fixt niter. For by that means you will 
 have (at the encreafe) a wonderful! Salt Peter, 
 which, in all operations, doth far more powerfully 
 ad than the common Salt Peter, what way foever 
 it be mundified by ; which is evidenced in my fore- 
 going firft Century. 
 
 Therefore forafmuch as in the feparation of Me- 
 tals by the dry way, there remains (after the ope- 
 ration is over] fo much fixt Salt Peter as there was 
 of nitrous Water in the moift extradtion, it always 
 abundantly fupplies both Seed and Root of Salt Pe- 
 ter, fo that they may be exceeding plentifully multi- 
 plied by other Salts, nor will you have any need of 
 buying any more new Salt Peter for the now fpo- 
 ken of Labour. Verily this is a moft compendious 
 way, not onely of feparating all Metals even in fu- 
 fion, butalfbof fomewhat bettering them, as fhall 
 be afterwards demonftrated. 
 
 XX. By -what means fuch Gold as is commixt with Iron' 
 or Confer, and from which (being extraBed out of 
 the Minerals) the dijjblwnt has been drawn off, is to 
 be reduced. 
 
 LET fuch unclean Gold be commixed with two 
 or three parts of its weight of the Glafsof Lead, 
 and melt them in a firong Crucible. If there hap- 
 pen to be much Iron, it will of its own accord yield 
 a leaden Regtdi^s, which being forced by the heat 
 of the Fire in a Cupel will leave your Gold pure, 
 becaufe the Glafsof Lead iswonttoattrad untoitfelf 
 Iron and Copper. But if fo be there is but little 
 Iron mixt with your Gold the Reguhis of Lead 
 will not feparate or precipitate in the melting, and 
 therefore as it melts fome filings of Iron are to be 
 added, and to be accurately flirred with a red hot 
 Iron, that fo a Res;uhis of Lead may fall to the bot- 
 tom, bigger or leircr according to the muchnefs or 
 littlenefs of the Iron you added. 
 XXI. Another firoper and fitting matter to reduce fuch 
 Gold as hath Iron in it. 
 
 TAKE of Salt Peter one part, and of Antimony 
 four parts, reduce them into a black Glafs, by 
 
 melting them. This Glafs being powdered and com- ' 
 mixt with a wild or raw and not fufi!e Gold and la 
 molten, precipitates the Rcgulm of the Gold to the ' 
 bottom, and brings the Iron irtto Scoria s. 
 
 XXII. The feparation of the Antimony from the Gold. 
 
 SUCH golden Reguh/s's do not admit of feparation 
 in the Cupel, like as thofe do which the Glafs 
 of Lead is ufed to. Therefore Salt Peter is to be 
 ufed in the melting Pots or Crucibles, to make the 
 feparation of them. 
 
 . Put this Antimonial Regulus in a melting Pot, melc 
 it down in a Wind Furnace, and being molten cafl in 
 by little and little fome dry Salt Peter, that fo it may 
 feize upon the Regulus and tranfm.ute it into Scoria's. 
 The Scoria flowing in the Pot like water, area fign 
 that the Gold is well cleaned, and that all the Anti- 
 mony is reduced into Scoria's. Then pour it forth 
 into a Cone that it may cool, and the pure and 
 malleable Gold will fettle into a Regulus at the bot- 
 tom. Now all the Salt Peter is rendred fixt in this 
 operation, then if you put your Scoria's again in the 
 Crucible, and put into it fome Coals and melt your 
 Scoria down, almoft all the Antimony being freed 
 from the Salt Peter will gather into a Reguluty and 
 will again ferve for reducing of more Gold; for it 
 will as readily reduce your extrafted Gold unto its 
 former body, as the [aforefaid] Glafs it felf wilL 
 But this labour requires a diligent Operator who 
 knows how to handle it with fingular skill, though 
 it be eafie, and requireth not any great Artifice, but 
 onely an accurate diligence, which ufe onely makes 
 a Man skilled in. 
 
 The Salt Peter ufed about this labour, gets the 
 nature of an Alkali Salt, and being put on the live 
 Coals doth no more burn, but being difiblved in 
 Water yields a fharp Lixivium, very proper for 
 many operations, and fervinginffead ofa Lye made 
 with Wood-afhes. But the chiefeft ufe thereof 
 is this, 'VIZ,, feeing it is the true root of Salt Peter, 
 it may be added to other Salts, out of which in pro- 
 cefsoftime, it will be notably augmented and pro- 
 duce new burning Salt Peter. He that has a defire 
 gainfully to augment this fixt Salt Peter with com- 
 mon Kitchin Salt, and again to tranfmute it into in- 
 flamable Salt peter, may accomplifh his defire if he 
 makes ufe of the following operation. 
 
 XXIII. The way of making mofl excellent and inflama- 
 ble Salt Peter in plenty, and with profit out of com- 
 mon Kitchin Salt and the Lixivium of Salt Peter 
 that has been ufed. 
 
 'Here is fo fmall a difference betwixt common 
 Kitchin Salt, and Salt Peter, that the Salt may 
 eafily be turned into Salt Peter, and that by feveral 
 operations, as well by the feed of Salt Peter as by 
 fharp fpirits, as we have taught above, or even by 
 fixt niter which operation we will here fhew. 
 
 We will ufe for an example, the baking of 
 Bread, and the brewing of Ale. If when the Meal 
 is with Water brought into Dough, there be added 
 unto it but a few grounds of Ale or Leven, the whole 
 mafs begins to heave it felf up, and becoming thin 
 for light] is rendred fit to be baked into Bread, the 
 which hath altogether the fame property as thofe 
 few Ale Grounds, or thatjittle Leven had. And fo 
 that very felf fame Dougli is hkewife fit to make o- 
 ther Meal ferment, even to infinity. The fame is 
 
 likewife 
 
 T 
 
Van II. 
 
 The Second Century. 
 
 41 
 
 ikeu'ifs ob(crvalV,e in the brewing of A!c, fo that 
 . e who hath but once nncly fo much Ale Grounds 
 orYeft,] or levened Dough as ferved his turn 
 ..nee. mav brew Ale and bake Bread even to infini- 
 iv. So likewile is the fame evidently manifclt by 
 ■liaencreafe of Vegetables, which may be infinitely 
 multiplied by the Alkalizated Salt of the Earth, if 
 I vnu have but once their Seeds and Roots In like 
 jnanner may the fame propagation be performed by 
 ..nother way, i:iz: by ingrafting of that which you 
 vould propagate into another of the fame kind, 
 i or example, I have in mv Garden excellent Apples, 
 Aars, Cherries, or fuch like Tree fruits, and 1 have 
 a mind to fee more of them in my Garden ; there- 
 fore do I cut off fbme branch, or perhaps even the 
 Tree it icl fro the trunk or body, offomewild, or 
 atleaft not (o noble a Fruit bearing Pear Tree or 
 Apple Tree, and therein, "jiz,. in that branch or 
 ftock, do I ingraft according to Art fbme little 
 boughs or cions of fbme other Tree that bears exxel- 
 lenr Fruit, and which I defire to encreafe, the which 
 Tree now doth no more produce the wild and de 
 generate or bad Fruits, it did according to its kind, 
 bur fuch Fruits as the Tree whence the cion was 
 taken, bears. 
 
 By thefe kind offimilitudcs may anyone that hath 
 underflanding eafily fee, that it is poflible by Art, 
 to tranlimite one nature into another, if, viz,, the 
 Seeds and Roots of things are applied to this tranf 
 mutation. But now if any one fhould plant a ftalk 
 or leaf in the digged earth, and would thereby en 
 creafe or propagate it, he will never fee any fuccefs 
 of his labour; for the ftalks and leaves would roc 
 and fo no new Herb would again bud out from them 
 as is wont to be out of the Seed and Roots. 
 
 Even on this wife is it with Salt Peter, which if it 
 be mixed with common Salt it would not verily 
 produce any encreafe, as 'tis wont to do out of its 
 Seed and Root, as we have already laid open. 
 
 Such likewile is the nature of Metals, touching 
 the propagation and encreafe of which their proper 
 feeds and roots are requilite. What I pray are thofe 
 Tinctures, (one onely parole of which and that no 
 bigger than a Pea, being caft on an whole pound of 
 Tin or Lead, tranfmuteth that fame Metal into pure 
 good Gold, and changeth and augmenteth it felf (as 
 being the true feed ot Meta's) a thoufand fold, out 
 of fogrofs and earthly a body into fo noble and fo 
 gr/idcn a nature in fb fhort a fpace of time, ' what I 
 . lay) are thofe Tiniftures, but the very feeds of Me- 
 tals, and the very metallick roots. But by what 
 means they are to be obtained, and to be brought 
 under a Man's power, for my part I do not know. 
 But yet I could not but deliver my flmple opinion 
 and conceptions concerning this thing, to the ftudi- 
 ous of Art. 
 
 Tis certain that all Metals have their rife out of one 
 and the fjmeSeed, but that they differ fo very much 
 amongft thcrnfcjves, and that one becomes more ri^ e 
 1^ than another, islo be imputed to the diverllty of 
 Wi accidents. In one and the fame Tree are produced 
 BloUbms, and fma'.l Fruits of an unpleafant taft ; 
 then afterwards bitter and immature ones, and at 
 length ripe and Iwcet ones, and are not alike dd^r 
 in form, odour, or favour, nor are they of likeeil^^ 
 and yet do thev al! aril'e out of one beginning, c;^, 
 out of their Seed and Root. So is it even with Me- 
 tals 
 
 For as touching their Seed I do verily believe, that 
 if from the raoft lolt and as yet moft immature Me- 
 
 tals, fuclir^-: Znik, Lead, Tin, Antimonv, Bifmutei 
 Cobolt, &c. thiir fti iking combuftible ^nd fii- 
 perfiuous iuiphur, could by lome Bath or other be 
 fo taken away, as that nothing may remain fave 
 onely a moft pure Mercury, that then I fay llith a 
 Mercury, or fuch a Seed 'of Metals may be eafily 
 tranfmuted by pure Gold, as being the moft pure 
 Root of Metals into a true Tinf"'-ure. 
 
 But to turr> common Salt into' Salt Peter, the o- 
 peration is thus. 
 
 Take one part of black or of any other common 
 Salt, and mix it with two or three parts ofCalx-zifve 
 being reduced into Powder by lying in the Air, 
 and lay it in fuch a place as lies open to the Air and 
 Sun-beams, but yet keeps off the Rain, as we have 
 taught in the Appendix. 
 
 Mciften this heap with the abovefaid Lixii'iiim of 
 Salt Peter, and being dried, repeat the moiftening 
 and drying fb long, unrill the ferment fhall have 
 ccmverted all the common Salt and turned it into 
 inflamable Salt Peter, the which doth either fboner 
 or later happen, according as the operation hath 
 been the more diligently or negligently handled. 
 All being turned into Salt Peter, let an exTaftion 
 be made with common Wafer, as the ufualcuftom 
 is, and lay the Reliques in the aforefaid place, and 
 again moiften them with the faid Lixivium as afore, 
 or in defect thereof fprinkle them with common 
 Water, ftill moiftening them after each drying, un- 
 til! there be a new encreafe of Salt Peter begotten, 
 the which you are to wafh off with common Water. 
 And fo this operation proceeds, or holds on even to 
 infinity. 
 
 XXIV. Another far more compendious way of conver- 
 ting common Salty by the help of fxt Salt Peter into 
 excdle}2t Salt Feter. 
 
 MIX fome certain weight of common Salt diflbl- 
 ved per Je in common Water, and as much of 
 fixt Salt Peter Jikewifc dilfolved in common Water, 
 mix them in a wooden VefTel ; in which Veflel the 
 tixt Salt Peter being as it were a ferment will (eize 
 upon the common Salt, and turn it by fermentation 
 into excellent Salt Peter. 
 
 He that defires a more mature Salt Peter may in- 
 ftcad of the fblution of common Salt, pour upon the 
 tixt Salt Peter LixtvitDn, thofe (harp waters of Salt 
 Peter, which have already been ufed about other 
 labours, and they will feize upon that Lixmium 
 with a more vehement operation, fo that of both the 
 fblutions as well the acid and fpiritual, as the fixt and 
 corporeal Peter, there will be gotten in a f.-w hours 
 fpace, the molt e.xcellent Salt Peter and fijch as can- 
 not be by any other way whatlcever purchafed. 
 
 N. B. If any one has a mind of getting a greater 
 quantity of Salt Peter, he may firft dillolve his com- 
 mon Salt in the fharp Water of Salt Peter, and 
 '^mix it] in that felf fame Lixivium, [viz,, of Peter,] 
 and after the mixing of thefe two contrary folutions 
 evaporate the common Water, that the Salt Peter 
 may ftiootinto Cryftals, of which there will indeed 
 be a greater quantity, but then it will not be fb good 
 as that which was made by the firft operation. 
 
 XXV. Another gainful! way of making good and hur' 
 ning Salt Peter out of common Salt) by the help of fixt 
 Salt Peter. 
 
 c 
 
 Ommix equal parts of the Scoria's of fixt Salt 
 Peter that you have ufed, and of the common 
 .M Kitchiri 
 
42 
 
 The Second Centiirj. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Kitchin Salt together, and add thereunto twice as 
 much Calx-vrSe tirft reduced into Powder by lying 
 in the Air, [as thev both weigh.] Of this mixture 
 make up round Balls, and fo pile or Itow them with 
 Wood, that it-may be a Stratum Superfiraiim, I or a 
 Bed of each orderly,] as the Chymifts call it. Kin- 
 dle your pile of Wood and let all your Balls be red 
 hot for an hour : And the fixt Salt Peter will by a 
 wonderfull inverfbu tranfmute the nature of the 
 common Salt, and turn it into Salt Peter, but yet 
 not inflamablc till the Saks have been moiftncd fome 
 due time, and fo atcraded a life out of the Air, and 
 made fit to conceive a flame, or to burn. 
 
 N. B. If inftead of Rain water you ufe fuch Wa- 
 ters as you have already ufed and extracted your 
 Minerals withall, to moiften your mafs with, then 
 will you thence get in feme few Weeks fpace, an in- 
 flamable Salt Peter. 
 
 But forafmuch as in the extraflion of Minerals 
 and reparation of Metals, there will be fuch a great 
 quanncv of fliarpnitrous Waters, and likewife of fixt 
 Salt Peter otfer themfelves for the accomplifliment of 
 this operation, and fo great a benefit and gain isgot- 
 ten bv that fo plentiful] an augmentation of your 
 Salt Peter (which hath already fufficiently profita- 
 bly paid your cofts) out of vile and common Salt ,- 
 hence clearly follows, that all thole hitherto defcri- 
 bed labours and operations are effeifted, in a manner 
 without any cofts or expences, which is indeed an 
 unheard of thing, but yet moft true, and exceeds 
 the belief of ignorant Men. 
 
 XXVI. "The reduBion of Silver extracted out of the Mi- 
 nerals, and freed from the Aq Fortis by abfiraBt07J, 
 [or drawing off the Jaid Aq. Fortis. ] 
 
 THE Silver from which J'j. Fortis has been 
 drawn by Diftillation, needs not any matter 
 to help on fufibility, for as much as it doth of its 
 own nature admit of a veryeafie Flux ; but that the 
 Fugitive Spirits that adhere unto it would carry 
 away fomewhat of the fame. So now, to prevent 
 this difcommodity, you may add unto fuch a Silver 
 a little of the fixt Salt feparated out of the Lixivium 
 [of fixt Peter,] the which Salt Alkaly will mortifie 
 the acid fpirits fo, that they fliall not be able to car- 
 ry off any thing at all in the melting. 
 
 XXVII. The reduBion of extraBed Copper. 
 
 IF the Copper be not mixt with any other Metals, 
 and be but little in quantity, it may be reduced 
 foin Crucibles by it (elf, but if it be in a plentlfuU 
 quantity it may be done by blafi:. 
 
 But where it contains Iron or Lapis Calaminaris, 
 fwhich two the Minerals [of Copper] do frequent- 
 ly abound withall) there it admits not of redudion 
 per fe without the help of other matters,becaufe of the 
 Iron,2;Kjfe,or Calammans ; which Minerals afibciating 
 themfelves with the Copper, in the melting are 
 wont to make it brittle. But this inconveniency may 
 be prevented the following way. 
 
 XXVIII. The way of making Copper, which hath Iron 
 in tt malleable by reduBion. 
 
 MIX fuch Copper as hath in it Lapis Calamina- 
 ris or Iron, with common ^Salt, and put it in 
 a Crucible and melt it, that fo the Salt may allbci- 
 ate or draw unto it (elf the Iron or Lapis Calamina- 
 
 ris out of the Copper, and turn them into Scoria\ 
 
 leaving the Copper, which will fettle to the bottom 
 and go into a Regidm. 
 
 XXIX. By what means Copper is to be feparated from 
 the Silver, if they are both together extraB^d out of 
 the Mines, and the Silver has not been precipitated 
 out of the johition by the ll':iter of Salt, but the dif' 
 folvmg Menftruum hath been abJlraBed from them 
 jo conjoyned both together. 
 
 I 
 
 F the Silver be more in quantity than the Cop- 
 per, then the Copper is eafily extracted out of 
 the other by the Water of Salt wherein a little Tar- 
 tar hath been dillolved. For Salt and Tartar do 
 readily diflblve Copper, and leave the Silver. 
 
 But if the Copper bear the Bell, and there be 
 more of that than the Silver, then will it be better 
 to precipitate the Silver firfV by the Water of Salt, 
 outofthefirft extraction of the Minerals; and af- 
 terwards the Copper will be likewife freed by ab- 
 ftrading the diliblving Mt-ifiruum, infbmuch that 
 each of thele two Metals are gotten apart. 
 
 XXX. If the extraBed Copper comprehends in it any 
 Gold, by what means the Gold may be therefrom ft- 
 parated. 
 
 ALbeit if a folution oi Saturn or Lune being pou- 
 red on the diflblved Copper, and well (hook 
 with the fame folution will fifh out (bme Gold, yet 
 it gets not all unlefs it be debilitated by Ibme Ltxivi- 
 urn. But now the Lixivium being poured there- 
 unto that fo the folvent being debilitated may the ea- 
 fier let go its Gold thereby, hath with it this incon- 
 veniency, viz,, that the folvent is made wholly un- 
 profitable to be ufed about any more cxtraftions. 
 Nay more, there's alfo this difcommodity, that if an 
 error be committed by pouring on a little more Lix- 
 ivium than is expedient, there will alfo precipitate 
 fome of the Copper together with the Gold. 
 
 To prevent therefore thefe inconveniencies, the 
 folution of the Copper w^}ich contains in it Gold, is 
 to be drawn off even unto drinefs, in my fecret and 
 by me invented diftilling VefTel, in which VelTcl it 
 may eafily and in great plenty be done ; and the 
 following Menjlruum which diffolveth onely Copper 
 and not Gold is to be poured upon the dried matter, 
 that the Copper may be dillolved, and the Gold I'be 
 it either much or little ) may remain in the bottom 
 undiflblved. The diffolvcd Copper may be preci- 
 pitated out of the Water with a Lixivium, whereto 
 is added fome of the Liqour of Flints, and bs wafhc 
 and dried, and with ftrong Vinegar be turned into 
 a moft delicate Verdigreace. The Water that is 
 thus made ufe of, if it be poured on Alkalizated 
 Salts yields good Salt Peter. 
 
 He that does not much regard that green colour 
 may feparate the diflblveiit from the Copper by Dif^ 
 tillation, and again ufe the fame for the like dilibl- 
 ving of new Copper. 
 
 But now there muft be in the Copper fo much 
 Gold as to quit the cofts of this labour, and to prove 
 g^mfull ; otherwife it is better to leave the Gold 
 ^?the Copper than to buy it at fo dear a rate. 
 
 XXXI. Tie 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Second Century, 
 
 4-3 
 
 XXXI. 7''Je making of fucb a Menftruum as MJfol- 
 ■Vilh the Coffer and drives from it jelf, or frecipi- 
 tdtes I he Gold. 
 
 THIS dinfolvent is no other than Acj. Fortis, 
 wherein a little Tartar is dillblved. For the 
 Tartar being an enemy to the Gold, is wont to pre- 
 cipitate che Gold out of the lolutions like as common 
 Saic doth Silverout of Aej. Fonts. By this way may 
 all the Copper be eafily feparated from the Gold, 
 Concerning which, more fhall be ipoken in its due 
 place. 
 
 XXXII. Another reduciion of Coffer that hath Gold in 
 it, and the ferfeit fefaration of the Coffer from the 
 Gold. 
 
 ADD to fuch Copper that hath Gold in ir, (brae 
 Silver, and melt it with fo much Regulus of 
 Antimony as is twice the weight of the faid Metals 
 thus together taken. Separate the faid Regulus to- 
 gether with the Copper from the Silver by the ad- 
 dition of Salt Peter, that fo the Silver may retain 
 with the Gold that was in the Copper, the which is 
 to be afterwards (eparated if it be worth the while. 
 Now it is not necclfary prefenrly to feparate ir, for- 
 afmuch as it is far better many times to abftract fuch 
 a Copper that has Gold therein fi^om fuch a Silver, 
 that lb the Silver may be enriched with a great quan- 
 tity of Gold by lb many abftraclions ; the which 
 abftradtions require but very little cofts befides the 
 charges of the Fire and Crucibles, 
 
 For all the Salt Peter ufed hereabouts, together 
 with all the Copper and all the i?fj^«//w of Antimony 
 may be thencefrom again recovered, by him who 
 rightly knows the precipitation. Belldes, there lies 
 bid under this operation, (bme great matter as con- 
 cerning the amending of the Metals. For it is a way 
 of arriving to the knowledge of impregnating all Sil- 
 ver by Copper, with Gold, and Copper it (elf with 
 Silver ; concerning which thing there are more in- 
 infrrurtions to be found in other places of my Wri- 
 ting";. 
 
 Thefe things may at prefent fuffice, touching the 
 reduiftion of the Metals extracTied out of the poor 
 Mines, and [concerning thofe things which by rea- 
 fon of the hafty Edition of the Appendix to the fifth 
 part of the profperity of Germany were omitted 
 therein ; J the which defers the well minded Reader 
 may from hence fupply. 
 
 XXXIII. A brief defcriftion of the above mentioned ar- 
 tificial Infirument, by the belf -ivhereof the fpirits 
 necejj'ary for the extrattion of the Metals out of the 
 foor Mines that contain in tlxm Gold, Silver and 
 Coffer, are flentifiiUy frefared, the Minerals them- 
 felzies extracted, and the dijjolving Menftruums, a- 
 
 • gam eaftly fefarated from the Metals. 
 
 THIS incomparable and by me newly found 
 out Inflrument, being moft profitable and com- 
 modious for the ealie extradtions of Metals, and pre- 
 parations of the dilfolving Menfiruums, is made of a 
 peculiar earth, and is almoft of the figure or like- 
 nefs of a Bakers Oven, and is either of a bigger or 
 lelTer fize, according to the quantity any one has a 
 mind to labour in ; In the forepart it hath a Door, 
 I and in the end [or top] or very near ir, it hath an 
 I Outlet. To the Cover (erving initead of an Alem- 
 
 bick, a great receiving VelFel is to be fitted, fit for 
 the reception of the outgoing fpirits. After that the 
 Furnace is heated, the prepared Salts being put in 
 peculiar Pots or Crucibles made of the beft earth are 
 to be put with a pair of Tongs prepared for this pe- 
 culiar ufe into the Inftrumenr, and all the fpirits will 
 be drawn off with a fpeedy Diftiliation. Now 
 there is no danger here of breaking the Inftrumenrs, 
 and the Diftillation may be done in the .fpace of one 
 or two hours, how great a quantity fbever ofSalc 
 was ufed to the Diftillation. When the Diftiliation 
 is over, the Pots that were put into that Inftrumcnc 
 or Furnace are to be again taken out with your 
 Tongs, and prefenrly other Pots filled with Salts are 
 to be put in the room of them you took out, and 
 the fpirits again driven out by a new DifWlarion. 
 This labour may be kept on as long as one pleafeth, 
 or as long as he hath any matter to diftill withall ; 
 becaufe the Vellel never cools as long as the Diftil- 
 iation is continued. This Furnace therefore is moft 
 notably fit for the Diftiliation of a great quantity of 
 Salts, and that by a labour which is fb exceedinc' 
 fpeedily finifhed.' 
 
 The fame way of Diftiliation is to be obferved in 
 the extraiStiun of Minerals or Metalline Earths, the 
 which can be tar Iboner extraded and far fpeedier 
 this way, than by that defcribed in the Appendix 
 which is to be done by heating the Glafles. 
 
 After the lame manner is the diflTolving Menfiruum 
 it lelf Ipeedily again abftrafted from the extracted 
 Metals, and being thereby preferved without any 
 lofs is to be applied to farther ufe. This Inftrument 
 therefore doth fo compendioufly and eafily difpatch 
 all thofe faid labours, that ( fet afide your Fire and 
 Salt) the plentiful! making your fpirits, the abundant 
 e.xtra(flion of the Minerals, and the reparation of 
 your Menfiruum"?, from the extrafled Metals and its 
 prefervation, are in a manner done without * any 
 cofts. 
 
 XXXIV. Nov/ folloivs an explication of fame fecrets 
 effecled by the help of my Sal. Mirabilis, concerning 
 which there is mention made m the fecond fart of Mi- 
 raculum Mundi. 
 
 IT is clearly evident from many places of my Wri- 
 tings, and principally in the fecond part of Aft- 
 raculum Mtmdi that my Sal. Mirabilis is diverfly 
 prepared ; hence it follows of courfe, that the ufe 
 thereof is different. For it hath one ufe when 
 fafter the fpirit is thencefrom diftilledj it is ta- 
 ken out of the Cucurbit, and hath as yet a corro- 
 five nature. Conrrarily, it hath another kind of ufe 
 when this corrofive Sale is diflblved in common Wa- 
 ter, and filtred, and fet in the cold, that fo the beft 
 part thereof may fhoot into long Cryftals, which 
 having no corrofive power, ferve for a peculiar ufe. 
 It hath hkewife another ufe when it is deprived of 
 all corrofivity and turned into a fweetnefs, as I have 
 fhown in many places of my Writings. This is to 
 be known by fuch as would ufe ir, for this or that 
 labour, that Co they may commit no error, but be 
 thereby rendred Mafters of their defires the more 
 eafily. 
 
 We will therefore make infpedtion into fome of 
 thofe principal fecrets which are declared in the fe- 
 cond part of Miraculum Mundi, and examine whether 
 or no they can be effefted after the fame manner I 
 prefcribed i 
 
 XXXV. Bj 
 
44- 
 
 The Second Century-. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 XXXV. By v.'hat means any Water ^ IVme, Ale, Fine- 
 gar and other Itcjours may he coagulated in a few 
 hottn (pace into hard pieces like Ice, by the Sal. Mira- ' 
 bills. 
 
 FOR fuch a "coagulation of all watery and moift 
 things , well edulcorated ( as the Chymifts 
 phrafe is) ^4. Mirabtlis is to be taken and fuch as 
 is fhot into long Cryftals, prepared of an equal 
 weight of Salt and good 0\\ of Vitriol, becaufe a 
 moft great drinets arifeth from the Oil of Vitriol. 
 
 Such an excellently well prepared Sd. Mirabtlis, 
 and which is fhot into long Cryftals, is toberedu- 
 ced (by calcination in the Sun) into a fine powder, 
 that fo it may lofe all its moiftnefs and yet not melt. 
 For if it melts, then it would need grinding again ; 
 one part of this calcined Sal. Mirabilis is able to co- 
 agulate three parts of Water, Wine, Ale, or any 
 other liqour which it is mixed withall, into a dry mat- 
 ter like to Ice, infomuch that it may be carried in a 
 Sack or a Sieve full of holes. 
 
 But what ufc fuch a coagulation may ferve for, 
 would be too tedious to declare in this place. Any 
 one will find what ufe is to be thereof made, if he 
 well meditates upon the thing. 
 
 XXXVI. "The feparatim of the IFater, Wine, cr Ale, 
 from the Sal. Mirabilis, 
 
 THE coagulated liquors may be commodioudy 
 feparated from the Sal. Mirabilis bv DiftilJati- 
 on ; but the aquofity of the coagulated Wine and 
 Ale are to be feparated onely by Diftillation, and 
 the groffer part remains behind in the Cucurbit 
 with the Salt. But the Sal. Alirabtlis is by calcina- 
 tion, again freed from all impurity, and again made 
 white and fit for any other fuch like new effedt. 
 
 N -S. I doubt not but that there are other ways 
 of coagulating watery liqours into Ice, concerning 
 which we ftiall fay fomcwhat in their due place. 
 
 XXXVII. How the fliarp fpirits of Salts, as Aq.For- 
 tis, Aq. Regis, Spirit of Salt, Spirit of Vitriol, of 
 AUiifV, and the like may be coagulated into hard Salts, 
 not unlike tofroz,en Water. 
 
 ■"pHIS coagulation of fharp Spirits out of Salts, is 
 -■- done the fame way as the coagulation of common 
 Water, and other fweet liqours is performed by ; but 
 the (eparation ought to be done in Veflels of the befi 
 Earth, or in Glafs, becaufe of their fharpnefs. And 
 certain it is, that with thefe coagulated Spirits of 
 Salts many things of great moment may be done, 
 the mentioning whereof we for brevity fake do 
 here pafs over. 
 
 For I have purpofed to demonftrate at this time, 
 fomc fecrets onely which are mentioned in the fecond 
 part of Miraculum Mundi, and to afi'ert the truth of 
 them. • 
 
 By thefe two defcribed coagulations any one may 
 eafily learn that the coagulation of other moift things 
 are poflible to be done. 
 
 XXXVIII. How the head of a fountain may be flopped 
 up by this Sal. Mirabilis. 
 
 IT fjmetimes happens that there breaks out a 
 Spring of Waters in fome places where it proves 
 offcnfive and hurtfull. And forafmuch as they are 
 
 fometimes very difficult to be ftopt up, J wi'.l fee 
 down a way in this place ot ftopping it by Sal Ah- 
 rabilis, but chietiy to this end, that the nature and 
 property of things may be throughly learned, and 
 befides, that even Arts and Sciences' themfelves do 
 fometime bring no fmall help, efpecialiv when no 
 counfel avails. Take therefore of your 6W Mirabtla 
 heated red hot as much asisfiifficienr, wrap it up in 
 a linnen cloth and thruft it into the hole of the Foun- 
 tain, and it will be turned with the Water into an 
 hard Stone, and thereby enforceth the Fountain to 
 feek it felf fome other paflage. 
 
 XXXIX. The way of feparating the Phlegm from fuhttk 
 Spirits. 
 
 BEcaufe the Volatile and fulphureous Spirits of 
 Salts are of great efficacy in Medicine, and prin- 
 cipallv when their Phlegm or aqueous humidities are 
 removed from them, the which thing every one cane 
 bring to pafs, I have therefore judged it worth 
 while, even for the fake of the Sick, to difcover an 
 eafie way of fo doing , by my Sal. Mirabilis as 
 follows. 
 
 Fill a Glafs Cucurbit half full with Sal. Mirabilis 
 pour thereupon the Volatile Spirit of Vitriol, Niter* 
 or common Salt, and dilhll thence by B. the moft 
 fubtile Spirit, the which will come otf, and leave 
 the unprofitable Phlegm behind with the Sal. Mira- 
 bilis, the which (by heating red hot) you may again 
 render fit for new operations. 
 
 XL. Another and eajier way, yea even almofi an in- 
 credible and miraculous one of freeing Wme, Ale 
 Vinegar, Brandy, and all other moijt liquors front 
 their unprofitable Phlegm in a moment of time, by mj 
 Sal. Mirabilis. 
 
 "THE precedent coagulation of moift liquors arifctli 
 -■• from that moft great drinefs which Jies hid in the 
 Sal. Mirabilts. But this way we now deliver, pro- 
 ceedeth from the con ccntrated cold of moifl Firc^' 
 which Fires we have treateii of in the firft Century, 
 and 'tis thus. 
 
 Take one pound of the abovefaid Sal. Mirabilis, 
 put it in a ftrong Glafs, and pour thereupon two 
 parts or pounds of the concentrated and cod fire of 
 fome Salts, whether it be of Vitrol, or common 
 Salt, or Salt Peter, whofe Fire excclls the Fires of 
 other Salts ; and let them lie quiet for fome hours, 
 and there will be made an Icy mafs of them both, 
 the which you fhall in the Winter time fet out in the 
 Snow or in fome cold place which by how much the 
 colder fb much the better; where the longer it 
 abides in the cold, the more will the cold Fire be 
 con centrated, and confequently fo much the greater 
 matters may by fuch a con centrated body be eliec- 
 ted. 
 
 XLI. The receiving or catching the breath of Men, at 
 they fit in fome warm Stove, and the changing tt ith 
 to the form of Ice. 
 
 IF thou haft a mind to create a kind of admiration 
 amongft thy Guefts or Friends when they are 
 with thee, and to give them fome profitable recrea- 
 tion, you may accomplifh your defire the following 
 way. 
 
 Carry with thee a Glafs full of the moift Fire of 
 Salt, and. which is coagulated by the Sal. Mtrabila, 
 and hath ftood fome hours in the cold, into the 
 warm Stove, and hang it up over the Table by a 
 
 thread 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Second Century. 
 
 45 
 
 l)ie;)d cs (n;all life, when your Guefts are fet at 
 rh;; Table, and when they ask you what this Jigni- 
 iks, you may tell them that you will for their Re- 
 creations fake, {hew them fome pleafant diverfion ; 
 .Iter they have made tm end of eating and drinking 
 Upon this they will all of them have a dellre to fee 
 t'lole tricks and ever now and then caft up their 
 Cjcs upon rhe Glafs. But after that the Glafs has 
 there hang'd a minute or half minutes fpace, the 
 l^reaih of the Men that fit about it will prefently 
 apply it felf to the Glafj, and ftick on to the outllde 
 (hereof like Sncw, and cover it all over ; and thick- 
 en n}ore and more, inlomuch that in a fhort time it 
 will have a thick and hoary beard, all about con- 
 lilHng of natural Ice ; and will io long keep on its 
 cncrealing as the con centrated coldlafls in the Glafs. 
 Then at length the Glafs growing a little hot, after 
 the internal cold of the con centrated Fire is confii- 
 med, that ley beard begins again to melt and being 
 refolved, to difti!) into a Water, for the receiving of 
 which diltilling drops fome Velfel is to be fet under. 
 This is a wonderfull Diftillation of Men's breath, 
 which coming out of their mouths in their difcour- 
 iing, is reduced by the con centrated Fire of Salt 
 into Ice, and at length, again into Water by the 
 heat of the Stove. 
 
 This 16 fpeedy an operation or tranfmutation of a 
 moift and watery vapour into natural Ice, feems irf* 
 deed at the outlide view to be but a vile and unpro- 
 fitable thing ; but if ic be but well minded by the 
 fight of the internal mind, it not onely begets a 
 molt great admiration, but withall opens the moft 
 e.xcellcnc knowledge of natural things. 
 
 Such as greedily hunger after Gold will fay, what 
 benefit comes from thcle tricks ? had Gold but dif- 
 tilled from the Glafs we would have faved it, what 
 need we any Water .^ or if ic had been noble or 
 generous Wine, we could have prized flich an inge- 
 nious knack, and drunk ic off. Take away that 
 filthy Water and bring us the gallant Wine. Such 
 difcourfe as this, let one of thy Friends purpofely 
 utter, being thereto firft fuborned by thee, that fo 
 thou maill the more delight the refl: of thy Friends 
 that are ignorant of thele things, by thy prefently 
 latisfying him that is fo defirous of Wine, faying, 
 that if thy Friends and Guefts do dcfire better Wine, 
 thou art ready to ilraw ic them. Upon this, thy 
 Guells will diligently hften and dellre to lee what 
 better Wine thou wilt draw them out of thy Celler. 
 The chicfeft of thefe will well know chat thou haft 
 not in thy Cellar fiich variety of Wines. 
 
 In the mean while, have ready fome finall GlafTes 
 vvhich contain fome Ounces, filled with the concen- 
 trated Fires of Salts, and well fhut and firings tied 
 ready unco them ; now when thou haft a mind to 
 give them a relifh of thy Art of bettering Wines, and 
 rendring them more generous, command a Cann of 
 common Wine to be brought thee, and give it to 
 thy Guefts to drink But now when chey fhall per- 
 ceive that it is the fame fort of Wine they had for- 
 merly, and that thou haft noc given them any bec- 
 ter, thou fhalc latisfie them by the following way. 
 
 XLII. A momentary operation of rendring any common 
 fklne more generous, and exceedingly bettered by the 
 cold Fires of Salts ; and that in the prejence of many 
 Men. ^ 
 
 ^Ommand one of thofe Glafles prepared for this 
 purpofe to be brought unco thee, and let it 
 
 down by the thread into the Glafs full of Wine, 
 which being done, the concentrated cold thac lies 
 in chy little G!afs, which thou hang-ft in the greater 
 one of Wine will draw to ic felf the watery and un- 
 profitable parts of the Wine, and change it into 
 an incipid Ice. And by how much the longer you 
 leave that little Glafs in your Wine, fo much the 
 more Water will be drawn there out of, and the 
 Wine will be made the more generous thereby. But 
 the fooner you take ic our, the lefs Water will be 
 feparated ; fi) that out oP'one Cann of Wine 
 you may by this means give your Guefts feveral forts 
 of Wine to drir)k, or rather may let them better the 
 Wine themfelv'ds even according to their pleafure. 
 For by this operation the unprofitable Water being 
 drawn out of the Wine and turned into Ice, is fepa- 
 rated and taken away ; part therefore of the Water 
 being taken away, the remainder muft necelfarily 
 be much more efficacious and more fweet than it was 
 afore, when it had Water conjoyned as yet with it. 
 
 A Mafter of a Family ufing this Artifice may- 
 make for himfelf and his Guefts, divers Wines though 
 drawn out of one Barrel. 
 
 Now fuch a fecret is not onely full of Curiofitv, 
 but alfo of profit, and may prove helpful! and do 
 much good feveral ways. I could if need required 
 declare a thoufand convcniencies, and Commodities 
 proceeding therefrom. But becaufe I judge it need- 
 lefs to fpend time in declaring them, I will at pre- 
 fent mention onely fome {cw, remiccing the reft to 
 the following Centuries, in which (hall be made men- 
 tion of them according as the [matter and] time re- 
 quires or permits. 
 
 XLIII. The amending of any midling or fmallijlj Ale 
 in the Winter Seajon, as -well at Home as Abroad. 
 
 IT fbmetimes happens that a Mafter of a Family 
 hath but onely one fort of Wine or of Ale in his 
 Cellar, the which he is accuftomed to drink, and 
 puts noc in his Cellar any beccer Wine or Ale eicher 
 by reafon of povercy, or elfe becaufe che Cellar lies 
 open CO every body, boch Menfervants and Maid- 
 fervancs, and chey will co the beft Tap, and fo he 
 fears it will be coo chargeable. 
 
 Buc forafmuch as old Men's Scomachs, when chey 
 fomecimes feed on Scock fifh dried, or on Martelmas 
 Beef, or Fifh, by reafon of its debility through old 
 Age, cannot perform its office of Concoftion : The 
 Ale or Wine may by che help of chis fecrec be pre- 
 fendy rendred ftronger, efpecially in the Winter 
 Seafbn, in which Seafbn a warmer and ftronger 
 draught of Ale and Wine is more beneficial than in 
 the former months, and then they can better brook 
 the want of the fame. But fome may objed and 
 iiy, where fhall I get fuch a concentrated cold as 
 may enable me to extrad the Water out of the 
 Wine ? hereunto I anfwer that there will be many 
 that will prepare icfor time to come and will fpare 
 it to others ; and yet no body needs fb great a quan- 
 tity thereof neither. If a Mafter of a Family hach 
 but one onely half pound of the fame, he may 
 ufe it his whole life time, if he but keep it fb as that 
 the Glafs break not and fpill it. For when he hath 
 taken away the Water of one or two Pots of Ale or 
 Wine, let him remove the Ice from the Glafs, and 
 fet it again in the cold till he needs it. For fuch a 
 cold concentrating Magnet always keeps its virtues, 
 and is never corrupted, but always fit for the elFeil- 
 ing of many wonderfull things. 
 
 N N. B. If 
 
4^ 
 
 The Second Century. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 N. B. It you have not thole firesof Salts the hea- 
 vy Oil of Vitriol, Oil of Salt, or Ae;. Fortis may be 
 uied hereabout ; but yet thele Oils do not in any 
 comparifon perform what thofe concentrated Fires 
 of Salts are able to etFed. But however they dc 
 monftrate the thing it felf though they bring nogreat 
 ftore of prohr, and this any one may eafily under- 
 ihind. " ' 
 
 tor there is a great difference betwixt the watery 
 and not watery Firesof Salts, any common and fim ply 
 bare Water cannot b&ome fo cold as the Water of 
 any Salt, and this Salt-water cannot be (o cold as a 
 common Spirit of Salt, nor can th^ Spirit by any 
 means arrive to that degree of cold'^as a concentra- 
 ted Spirit ufually attains to. So a skin of Leather is 
 never (b cold as Wood, nor Wood as a Stone, nor 
 a Stone as an heavy Metal ; the difference proceeding 
 from the thicknels of the compaction, for verily any 
 thing will concentrate the more cold or heat and rtx 
 it with it felf, by how much the comparer and 
 thicker body it fhall be of For it is the property of 
 a concentrated cold to kill a thing and to make it 
 hard and ffitf. Contrary wife a concentrated heat 
 gives a fpeedy life, and corredlion, and emendation, 
 and this experience it (elf teacheth, 
 
 O happy Man is he that can make a Metalline 
 Salt as compa'fl and thick, and heavy as a Metal, 
 andean by conferving it a due time in the heat ofthe 
 Fire, that the heat may by little and little and gra- 
 dually be concentrated and hxed therein, make it 
 fufile. Without doubt fuch an one would get a 
 TinCliure that would cure the moft grievous Dif- 
 eafes, and change the imperfetft Metals into perfect. 
 For it is the Fire onely that begets a maturity to any 
 thing, and by how much the ftronger and greater 
 the Fire is fo much the fpeedier and better amending 
 of any thing may be expeded. 
 
 Thefe things which I have here briefly declared 
 are of greater moment, dignity, and weight than 
 any one can believe ; and befides there's no doubt 
 but that there will fhortly (bme ftep forth, who 
 will without any fear teftifie the verity of Art, by 
 changing imperfed Metals and turning them into 
 pure Gold ; fo common will Alchymy become in 
 this Age, which was neither heard of nor feen be- 
 fore in this World. Nay more, Men will make this 
 Art fo familiar unto them that they will not much 
 effecm even of particular Tiniftures, 
 
 But why God permits fijch things to be done, is 
 to us wholly unknown, thus much we fee onely, 
 that doubtlefs there will follow lome great change in 
 the World ; happy fhall they be who having the 
 fear of God before their eyes, and areof a pure mind, 
 cannot be hurt by the Devil nor Sin his Mother. 
 
 XLIV. Wherein this fecret is beneficial to thofe that tro 
 -vel m the Winter Seaj'on. 
 
 NEcelTity doth fometimes enforce old Men to un- 
 dertake a Journey in the Winter, which, if 
 no urgent haft forceth, may be fb ordered that at 
 Noon and Night quiet refl may be always taken in 
 fuch a place in which is plenty of Meat and Drink 
 But if fb be that an urgency of occafion requires 
 a going on forward, whether one ride on Horfe- 
 back, or in a Coach or Waggon, and that either 
 the Snow render the way difficult, or fome Wheel 
 of the Waggon be by chance broken, and fo the 
 journying Pcrfon hindred from coming to the place 
 aimed at in the appointed time, he is fometimes by 
 
 this means conffrained to turn afide to a poor Pea- 
 (ants lodging, or if his fortune be a little more favou- 
 rable, he is neffitatcd to Inn in fome poor Village, 
 where he can neiiher meet with Wine or good Ale • 
 he now that thus journieth may out ofthe poor 
 Wine or Ale make himfelf better Wine or Ale, and 
 the better provide for his health if he hath about 
 him, fuch a magnet in fome fiiiall Glafs that actrac- 
 teth Ice to it. 
 
 XLV. IFhat frofit thofe that fail in the Sea may have 
 
 by this Iter et. 
 
 IT may fo happen that a Man taking Ship 
 with hopes of arriving in a fhort fpace of time to 
 the end of his Voyage, though he has fome little of 
 good Wine or Ale, may be enforced if the Wind 
 prove contrary to flay longer upon the Sea ; his 
 good Wine therefore and his A'.e being fpent, he 
 may make that fmall Beer in the Ship which the 
 common Marriners drink of, better, and preterve 
 his own health. 
 
 XLVI. How by the hd^ of this fecret the unprofitable 
 Phlegm of Brandy tnade of Corn may be taken away^ 
 that fo It ma] become equal to the Jpirit that is made 
 of the lees of If'ine. 
 
 TO the effeding of this bufinefs there is required 
 a greater Magnet, which may remove that 
 Phlegm then needed to the Wine or Ale, becaufe 
 Brandy is of an hotter nature than Wine or Ale, 
 which do more willingly let go their waterinefe 
 than aduft Wine is wont to do. 
 
 XLVII. By what means the fuferfluotts waterijlmefs it 
 
 to be taken away from the "weaker or waterifixr Vi- 
 negar, that Jo it may be made flronger. 
 
 THE waterifhnefs ofthe weaker or more aqueous 
 fbrt of Vinegar doth fuffer it felf to be more ea- 
 fily extraded by the help of that Ice-attracting Mag- 
 net, and the rather becaufe ir, 'viz.. the Vinegar puts 
 on an Icy form much fboner tnan any other Drinks. 
 
 XLVIII. It may be ejuaried -ivhether or ne this bettering 
 of Wine, Ale, Vinegar, Brandy, and other Drinks, 
 and rendring them jironger and jtveeter, tnay be done 
 in great plenty, or whether it is to be accounted of at 
 a curiofity onely ? 
 
 FOR anfwer, verily it is a moft excellent fecret 
 mofi aptly fatisfying the curious inquiry of mor- 
 tal Men, which the World as yet never knew, and 
 yet itcaneffed fuch unheard of things, which it is 
 not necelfaiy that they fhould be divulged. 
 
 As touching the plentifull feparation of Water 
 from Wine, Ale, or other Drinks [in great quantity] 
 the fame may be done and that with profit, and in 
 fome places bring no fmall gain to him who knows 
 how rightly and artificially to accomplifh the fame. 
 I have done enough as to my affairs in laying ito- 
 pen ; we muft not boil meat for the flothfuli and 
 thrulf it into their mouths. Let them get it them- 
 felvcs if they will, and rightly take care of their own 
 matters. 
 
 XLIX. Whe- 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Second Century. 
 
 47 
 
 XLIX. If 'bet her or no likeivife a great (quantity of cold 
 Firci out of Salts tnaj be eafily prepared. 
 
 F)R anfwer, yes, Co great a quantity of them 
 may be prepared as a Man would wifh for, or 
 ashisnecclficy fhallenlorce him to dellre. But be- 
 caufc ilich cold Fires of Saks are the efFe(n;ers of 
 admirable and incredible things which the World 
 never knew of, therefore the copious preparing and 
 getting of them delcrves to be concealed. Let there- 
 fore cvcrv one be content with thoie things which 
 I have pub!inied in the firft Century : haply in pro- 
 ccCs of time more may follow, 
 
 L H'W mj S^l MitahiWs can free watery Oih of their 
 Juperfliut'.s htiMi/Jitj. 
 
 MIX one pound of this my Sal Alirahilis redu- 
 ced by warmth into a hne Powder, with ten 
 or twenty pounds of good Oil Olive, or new Lin- 
 feed Oil ; the S.il Mirabdis is to be commixt warm 
 with the Oil, and being well ihrred about with it, 
 draws to it felf all the Water, and fettles to jhe 
 bottom of the Vellel, from which the clear Oil is to 
 be leparared by pouring it otf; and all the Water 
 and impurity of the Oil is to be (evered from the 
 Sal Mi<Mii, that fo it may be recovered and be 
 again profitable for fiich like operations. 
 
 LI. The way of taking off the mtijlinefs or ftmkfrom a 
 Vefjel coniipted or grown mitjly by lying, that it may 
 he again fit to put more Wine into. 
 
 SMear over the infide hollownefs of fuch a VefTel 
 with the concentrated moift Fire of Salt, that it 
 may be every where wetted, and fprinkle thereupon 
 lb much of the Sal Alirabdts as will ftick thereunto. 
 For fb that cold Fire of concentrated Salt, with the 
 attraiHied Sal Mtrabilis will become hard and not 
 run, and Itick on to the \ cHel; and thatfaid Fire 
 will in a few days fpace burn up all the mouldinefs 
 and riinch, jult as if the common Fire of Wood had 
 been uled thereabouts. The VelTel being wafhed 
 with boiling Water is again rendred fit and conve- 
 nient to puc Wine into. 
 
 This operation is not here taught for fbme (link- 
 ing Velfels lake that is not worth the while, but to 
 this end, that other fccrets of greater moment, and 
 which are profitable, may be learned thereby and 
 known. For under thcfe operations lie hidden 
 many wonderful! things, and fiach as the greateft 
 part of the Readers will not confider. But to what 
 end is it to light up a Torch before fuch Men, that 
 are left by God in blindnefs and darknefs, and hath 
 not vouchlafed to beftowon ihem any Eyes. 
 
 LIL I'hi manner of preferi-ing aU kinds of Fruits, Eggs, 
 Onions, and other moifi Fruits of the ground a long 
 timejrom corrupting. 
 
 THE fweet or dulcified Sal Mirabdu is to be well 
 dried by the help of the Fire, and being put 
 in tome Vellel with Fruits, Eggs or fuch like, with a 
 thick and clofe laying [or bed of one upon the other] 
 doth by its drinels (b prefcrve all things, and by its 
 attrading virtue of all corrupting humidity, that for 
 a long time they feel not the leaft corruption. 
 
 LIIL ^efiion. Why doth the Sal Mirabilis, which 
 
 Corn has been macerated withall afore its f owing, 
 
 and fame whereof is mixed with the Earth, [or fawn'} 
 
 attract the Rain, coagulate it, and hold it with it 
 
 felf longer than other Salts ? 
 
 FOR anfwer, this is to be imputed to its moft 
 great drinefs which it abounds withall. 
 
 LIV. The preparation of the Sal Mirabilis, fo as that it 
 may become an untverfal Medicine for a3 Vegetables. 
 
 THE Sal Mirabilis as it is of it felf, is by reafbri 
 of its corroding virtues which it as yet retains 
 plainly unfit for the multiplication of the Vegetables, 
 for that being fo ufed would prove more hurtful! 
 than profitable. Upon this account it is necedary 
 that to one part of it be added two parts by weight, 
 I of the befl Calx-vive, vvhich being moiftened with 
 Water and made up into Balls, are to be well hea- 
 ted red hot for an hour, that lb all the corrofivity 
 being introverted tbe5^?/ Mirabdis may be Alkaliza- 
 red, and ufed to the Vegetables for an univerfal 
 Medicine; for it conferves its attra<^ing force, and 
 lofeth it not in the heating red hot. 
 
 LV. What^s the re a fen that Wood lying long in the Wa- 
 ter wherein Sal Mirabilis is dijjolved, is turned into 
 an hard Stone ? 
 
 FOR anfwer, this operation is to be afcribed to the 
 incredible affringent property and nature, that 
 the Sal Mirabilis is endued withall, 
 
 LVI. To reduce an half dead Tree to life again by the 
 help o/Sal Mirabilis, that it may revive and begin 
 again to fprout out. 
 
 * 
 
 MIX with the digged up Earth, with which the 
 Roots of the Trees are covered, one, two, 
 three or more pounds of the Sal Alirabdts, according 
 to the bignefs or littlenels of the Tree, and again, 
 cover over the Roots with the fame, and pour upon 
 the Earth it felf, fome Rain water, that being there- 
 by moiftned, the Roots may the better partake of 
 the Salt that is mixed with it. 
 
 By this means, the Tree will attraifl to it felf the 
 Medicine or good nutriment out of the Salt, and 
 will be cherifhed and refrefhed juft as a piece of 
 bread or other food being given to an hunger-ftarv'd 
 Man reftores him his ftrength again. 
 
 LVin. How by the hdp o/Sal Mirabilis mofi hard and 
 tnfoltible fubjecls may be very eafily dijfolved. 
 
 LET the nature and property of a Charcoal of 
 Wood be confidered, the which is fuch, as that 
 if it be kept in the greateft Fire for many years, and 
 all external air kept out from it ; it will neither ever 
 melt, nor ever lofe ought of its body, but will 
 come out again in the very lame form as it had ac 
 your putting it into the Fire. 
 
 So hkewife a Wood coal is able to endure an hun- 
 dred, yea a thoufand years in the Earth, Water, or 
 even the moft fharp corrofive Waters unhurt. This 
 fo moft fharp a tryal, neither Gold nor Silver though 
 they be the pureft and moft conftant are able to un- 
 dergo. And although a Coal be thus durable, yet 
 neverthelefs will I diflblve it in half an hours (pace, 
 
 and 
 
48 
 
 Th Second Century, 
 
 Part II. 
 
 and convert it into a red fufile Salt, which is diHolva- 
 ble wich Water, and yields a wonderfull liquor 
 which is the etTcder of incredible operations both in 
 Medicine and in Alchymy. 
 
 LIX. rrbat 
 
 Celts. 
 
 Sal Mirabilis is to he ufed to JiJJhhe 
 
 the 
 
 LXII. 
 
 pbur 
 
 Another way 
 
 lies 
 
 hiJcItn 
 
 Aemonfirntivg that a Mineral Sul- 
 
 in a. 
 
 II 
 
 Fetetables. 
 
 THE Sal Mirabilis is diverfly prepared, as ap- 
 pears in the fecond part of Miraailum A'lundi ; 
 but whatway foeverit be prepared by, it may be 
 commodio' (ly applied to the (olution of Char-coals, 
 nor necdeth it any farther preparation, but evun 
 juft fo as it is taken out of the Cucurbit and is as yet 
 corrofive is to be ufed to diffolve all things. 
 
 LX. The mamter of rcducirig any Char-coal in half an 
 hours fpace to Its firfi matter, that is, into r. juifhu- 
 reous Salt, by the Sal Mirabilis. 
 
 PUT this green or white juice of the Wood or 
 Coals exprelFed or fqucezed out by the Salt, in 
 a Gla(s Cucurbit upon fome Sal. Armonituk powder- 
 ed, put on an Alembick and draw off all the moif- 
 ture by Diftillation, in which Diftillation the fpirit 
 o^\\\^Sal. ArmomackW\\\ bring over the Helm, the 
 Vegetable Sulphur of a golden colour. It is a moft 
 penetrative Spirit and of wonderfull efficacy in Al- 
 chymy and Medicine, and this will ealily be credi- 
 ted bv him, who knows its penetrating and gradua- 
 ting virtue and property, in which it excels all other 
 penetrative Spirits, you muft keep it very warily 
 becauie it eafilv vaniflieth. 
 
 MELT two or three ounces of Sal Mirabilis m 
 fome Pot or Crucible, and throw in apeice 
 of Wood-coal or Charcoal, and cover the Pot with 
 its Cover, and let it flow for one half hour, thatfb 
 the Salt may difTolve as much of that Coal as it can, 
 and may leave the reft of it which it cannot dilTolve, 
 undilFolved. Then pour out your matter and you 
 fhall find a red Stone of Salt, which being tailed 
 upon the Tongue burns it like Fire, as all Al- 
 kaly Salts do. For the corrofive force is inverted 
 by the Vegetable Sulphur, and changed into an 
 Alkaly. 
 
 This red Carbuncle being dilTolved in Water 
 yields a green Solution, which being filtred, and let 
 ftand flillfor fome hours, appears of a white colour, 
 and being let alone quiet longer, acquireth a yel 
 low colour. One drop thereof gilds over an impe 
 rial as Sulphur does, if it be therein put. For the 
 Char-coal is no other thing but a Sulphur of the 
 fame nature as the Mineral Sulphur is of, and pene- 
 trating all the Metals, fuffers it felf to be fixed with 
 them, and doth after another manner perform all 
 thofe things that the Mineral Sulphur is wont to 
 do. 
 
 The very well skilled Sendivow in his Dialogue 
 concerning the Sulphur of the Wife Men, faith he is 
 ftrongly guarded, and fits Captive in a dark Prifon, 
 and is hot eafily freed ; but Salt gives him a deadly 
 wound. 
 
 A Sulphur therefore fits in this black Coal in a 
 dark and oblcure Prifon, fhut up with ftrong Bands, 
 and is a Captive, nor can', any one free him from 
 thofe Bands but onely Salt. But being once releafed 
 out of Prifon, he is wont to come in view, and not 
 before. 
 
 Thus now have we brought forth Sulphur out of 
 his obfcure Body. And now will we alio bring him 
 forth to publick view. 
 
 LXI. How the Vegetable Sulphur is to be made 'uijible. 
 
 IF you pour into the white Solution of the Coals 
 fome Acidity, as Vinegar, Spirt of Salt, of Vitri- 
 ol, or fome A<i. Portis, and that leifurely and by 
 little and little as much as is requifite for the killing of 
 the Sal Alkaly; theSulphur wilKettleto the bottom 
 like a white Powder, which being feparated from the 
 Salts, and wafht with fair Water, and dried, will 
 burn and exadlly anfwer to the virtues of the Mi- 
 neral Sulphur. 
 
 LXI 1 1. There is yet another way of making the fame 
 Sulphur of Coals vifibk. 
 
 WHEN you have poured out our Carbuncle 
 out of your melting Pot, beat it into Powder 
 and mix therewith half its weight of Sal. Ar?nomack 
 powdered, draw off by a Glafs Retort, both matters 
 exadly commixt by Diftillation, that the Sal Armoni- 
 ack may bring over with it that Sulphur. Wafh off 
 this red matter drawn out by Sublimation, with 
 common Water, the which being freed from the Sal. 
 Armoniack, is a Sulphur inclining from its reddilhnels 
 to a yellow colour, and is altogether like to the Mi- 
 neral Sulphur. 
 
 LXIV. There is likewife another way of extracting the 
 
 jame Sulphur cut of Coals. 
 
 plrft of all, cxadly melt the Coals by the Sal Mi- 
 rabilis in a melting Pot, that the Salt may be 
 accurately Alkalizated by the Coals, and burn the 
 Tongue like Fire. Then pour it forth and beat the 
 Coals into Powder and put them in a Glafs, and 
 pour upon them Spirit of Wine freed from all its 
 Phlegm. Thenfet the Glafs in warm Sand and ever 
 and anon take it out and fhake it well that the Spirit 
 of Wine may extracft the Sulphur, and leave the 
 Salt untoucht. Your Spirit being as red as bloud, 
 pour it out into another Glafs, and again, pour on 
 more Spirit of Wine upon the matter, and repeat 
 the former operation ; thefe pourings on, and cantings 
 off aretobefo often repeated, till the Spirit of Wine 
 when poured on will extracT; no more. Put all thefe 
 red cxtradions into a Glafs Cucurbit, and feparate 
 the Spirit of Wine by a B. and it will leave behind 
 in the Cucurbit a fweet Oil of the colour of bloud ; 
 a Medicine of fo great moment in all Chronical Dif- 
 eafes, as that none is to be preferred afore it. For 
 this Sulphur is far better than the Mineral Sulphur, 
 which for the moft part is mixt wich fome Arfenical 
 property, whereas this is extracfted out of the Coals 
 of Wood, and is therefore far purer and necelfarily 
 more conducive to Man's health. 
 
 y^nd as touching the whole operation of this pre- 
 cious balfamical Sulphur, which is but little inferiour 
 to potable Gold, the chief knack of duely making 
 it confilteth in this, viz,, that the Sal Mirabths be 
 well and accurately Alkalizated by the Coals. For 
 if not, the Spirit of Wine would dilfolve the Sal 
 Mirabilis, and Would not extract the Sulphur, nor 
 would it anfwer thy vvifhes, if it be not deprived or 
 defpoiled of all its humiditv. 
 
 ' He, 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Second Century. 
 
 4-9 
 
 ' He that ihall be well tkilled in the due handling 
 of this O^ieration, will obtain a moft excellent Me- 
 dicine not much inferiour to potable Gold, of a 
 fA'eet and p'ealantTaft, and of an jidmiiably grate- 
 ful! Odour and Colour. By fucli a meansas this, 
 IS extraded out of a dead Herb, or dead Wood, its 
 greennels in the firft Solution made bv Water; and 
 after the Extraction with Spirit ot Wine, the moft 
 'delicate red Colour thereof, with a moft fweet ve 
 getable Odour ; all which lay hidden in the black 
 Coal, and arc again brought forth to light. 
 
 The ule of this moft delicate Oil of Sulphur is not 
 fmall both as to the metalline Operations and other 
 Ans ; and this fo fpeedy a putrefa(n;ion and revivifi 
 cation of the dead Vegetab'es into a living medicine 
 carries in its Intrails a great myftery. 
 
 LXV. It maybe demandeti, -wbethtrorno the Coles them- 
 (elves are to he cnely made ufe offer this revivificati- 
 on of the dead Vegetables, and n;t the green or dry 
 JVovd thej are mads oj\ .and the Herhs too, may alj'o 
 he thm dealt Wilb. 
 
 COR anfwer, even the Herb it felf, ortheunburnt 
 *• Wood it felf may be changed in a Crucible into 
 I red Stone by the Sal Ahrai/Uis. For the operation 
 ends to the laire end be it Herb or Wood, green or 
 iry, or made into a Cole. 
 
 LXVI. It may be que) ted, what Wood or what Herb be- 
 tng changed after that fame manner by the Sal Mira- 
 bilis, yields the moft excellent Medicine. 
 
 pOR anfwer, the Woods that are weightieft do ex- 
 eel all others; for they are riper and have in rhem 
 1 better Sulphur, than thofe Woods or thofe Herbs 
 lave which are lighter, and grow up in half a years 
 •tme,the older thefrees are,the more fit for medicine 
 rhey are; fuch as are the Roots of Vines, Juniper, 
 Box, Beech, Oak, Cedar, and fuch like. 
 
 LXVII. A Demonftration, that out of dead Herbs and 
 Juch as are again reftored to life, may new H^rbs ht 
 produced wiiboitt the addition of the Seed of other 
 Herbs. 
 
 piLL fome Pots with fbme Fertile Earth or Clay, 
 
 void of all Herbs or Seeds, and moiften it with 
 
 he green or white Juic e ot the Coals. If now you 
 
 ;xpo(e thefe to the Sun and Rain, there will (pring 
 
 .jp thencefrom divers new and unknown Herbs. 
 
 LXVIII. How by the help o/Sal Mirabilis, Metals are 
 to be dijjolfed by the dry way, and to be converted into 
 moft excellent Medicaments, andfirft of Gold. 
 
 WHEN you would make your trial of Gold 
 take a piece of golden Money, and bow it, 
 and add thereunto fo much Sal Mirabilis as may be 
 5, 6, or 8 times the weight of the Gold. Melt it in 
 a Wind Furnace, and puur it out into a VefTel fit for 
 to receive molten Metals ; and you fhall find your 
 Salt to be of a purple Colour. If all the Gold fliould 
 not be diirolved but fome part thereof fhould fettle 
 ro the bottom, feparate that Regul.'v from the purple 
 Salt,and diflblve your remaining Gold in a Crucible 
 with new Sal Mirabdu, that lb all the Gold being 
 iilTolved may colour the Salt with a purple Colour. 
 With this purple Salt may be performed many very 
 profitable things, which appertain not to this place. 
 
 'Mongft which thofe are chiefeft which re(peft the 
 emendation or bettering of Metals , concerning 
 which, I will here add onely one Operation. 
 
 LXIX. The graduating of any Iron thfo Gold by this pur- 
 ple Salt. 
 
 p O R the due performing of this, you are to have 
 flone-like melting Pots, and the beft that can be, 
 fuch as by no means may drin|-^,in the Salt, or let it 
 run through, for that the Solution of the Gold with 
 the Salt is otherwife wont to hide it felf in luch Pots 
 as are not ftrong^nough. 
 
 Ifthoucanit nbt get fiich, 'tis better for thee to 
 abftain from this labour, than to lofe thy Gold, un- 
 lets haply thou haft a mind to try the polfibilitv of 
 the fame. 
 
 ^ If therefore thou defireft to encreafe the .^uinta, 
 Lor fmall weight] of thy Gold which thou haft added 
 fothySalt.withfome Augmentation; put two or three 
 ^mtas of Iron bits or pieces into a good Cruci'jle, 
 and having putthereto vour purple Salt, meltirvery 
 accurately for one half hour, in which tin;e, the 
 Gold will precipitate it felf out of the Salt into the 
 Iron, and graduate fome of it bv turning it into Gold, 
 For whilft the purple Salt doth eat upon the Iron 
 and confume it, it doth together rherewithall make 
 fome of It participant of a golden Nature bv gradua- 
 tion. ^ ° 
 
 I do not infert this Operation here, to the end 
 that by the hep thereof a Man fhould think of get- 
 tmg Malles of Gold, no ; for the fole end of my 
 propofing it was this, that I might confirm the pof- 
 fibihtyofthe thing by ocular Demonftration. 
 
 Now as here the Iron is graduated by the help 
 of the Gold or golden Ferment, into Gold ; fo like- 
 wife may Copper be graduated and exalted into 
 pure Silver ; by the application ofafilvery Ferment 
 asfoUoweth. 
 
 LXX. The manner of exalting Copper into Silver. 
 
 DlfTolve Silver in a Crucible by the Sal Mirabilis, 
 made of Salt-peterandOil of Vitriol ; in which 
 Solution you (hall get a green Salt, fit for the gradu- 
 ating of Copper into Silver, after the fame manner as 
 we taught but now of the Gold. 
 
 And albeit the Silver augmentation be notfogreat, 
 yet the pofTibility of the Art is thence apparent and 
 demonftrateth, that one Metal admits of being con- 
 verted into another. Bur yet he that has good skill 
 in handling this labour, will, if he be fraught with 
 good and apt Crucibles, which can hold the Sal Mi- 
 rabilis and not fwallow it up, receive no fmall be- 
 nefit by this fame Operation. TheScona which are 
 remaining in this, and the precedent Operation are 
 not to be thrown away, but to be mixed with Li- 
 tharge, that fo being reduced by blaft, they may- 
 graduate the Lead, and enrich it witli no contemp- 
 tible Portion of Gold and Silver. For great are the 
 Vertues of this Salt in graduations, which the Anci- 
 ent Philofophers have openlv enough hinted at, 
 faying that their Salt augments the rednefs of the 
 Gold and whitenefs of the Silver, and that this is a 
 thing moff true, he who fhall in a due manner per- 
 form the Operation will learn that fo it is, by his 
 own Experience. 
 
 But leaflan Errour fhould be committed and fbme 
 of your Gold and Silver loft, it is better that a Man 
 exercife himfelf in making his Experiments in the 
 lelfer Metals; and omit the dealing with Gold and 
 Silver fo long till thefe lefler Metals make him a 
 O fufiici- 
 
50 
 
 The Second Century. 
 
 Part 11. 
 
 Sufficiently experienced Mafter for the dealing with 
 the greater. 
 
 LXXI. How Iron may he exalted wto Copper in the 
 melii/Ji^ hy the help ofSd\ Mirabilis. 
 
 DKlolve one or two whole Lots of Copper in 
 melting it by Sal MtraMis, which Solution 
 will yield thee a Sa'p enclining from a green, to a 
 black colour. 
 
 Into the fame Pot which contains your Copper 
 dilToIved' by the Sal Mirabihs, pq^ three or four 
 Lots of bits of Iron, and adjoyn them to the Copper 
 diflblved in the Sal Mirabdis, and force it with the 
 Fire, fo that they may be kept in flux together for 
 one half hours fpace. By this means the dilTolved 
 Copper will adhear to the Iron by precipitation and 
 exalt fbme particles of the Iron into Copper. All 
 being well molten, pour it out into your Cone that 
 the Copper may fettle in a Reguhts. The Sal Mira- 
 hilis and Iron being turned into a Scoria, are ufefull 
 for the inriching of Litharge, in the ftrong melting 
 by blaft, with Gold and Silver. 
 
 N B. If the Mercury of Saturn be mixed with 
 thefe, or elle with thofe other Scoria's which were 
 left by the Gold and Silver and are far better, and 
 fo be melted together with a ftrong Fire, the Lead 
 will be bettered and that by an encreafe not to be 
 contemned, and will abundantly pay for the labour 
 and cofts. But yet I would not put any one upon 
 the undertaking of this work ; except he be well 
 verfed with meltings in Crucibles and without them, 
 by the Bellows upon Hearths For I write not thefe 
 things for young Beginners, but onely for fuch who 
 wellknow what belongs to the Art of melting. 
 
 But yet that he may have fome manududion into 
 thefe labours, I will declare the general ufe of the 
 Sal Mirabilis in the emendation of Metals. 
 
 LXXII "The unt-verfal ufe o/Sal Mirabilis in the emen- 
 dation of Metals. 
 
 T Hough the wonderfull Salt of Art diflblveth all 
 Metals, and conjoyneth them in a fpiritiial 
 manner as it were, and renders them efficacious to 
 better each the other in the Fire, yet is there a dif- 
 ference to be obferved in that thing, by him who 
 defires to follow the neareft way, and to decline all 
 diverfions, or goings about. For example. 
 
 FIc that has a mind to diflblve and conjoyn the 
 Metals, Gold, Silver, Lead, Copper, Tin, and I- 
 ron, by the Sal MirahiUs, that they may difplay 
 their virtues in operating to the perfedlion of each o- 
 ther, muft take for the Gold, Iron, Copper, and 
 Tin, fuch a Sal Mirabilis as being prepared of com- 
 mon Salt doth eafily dilTolve thole Metals. But now 
 the fame Salt ufed about Silver and Lead, would ef- 
 fed nothing as to their Solution, becaufe there is 
 no familiarity or friendfhip between common Salt, 
 and Lune, and Lead, for it is an enemy to thofe 
 Metals, kills them, and reduccch them to nothing. 
 
 N. B. But when thofe Metals are by the help of 
 Salt reduced into their Mercuries, then may it come 
 lb to pa(s,as that they may be conjoyned with Gold, 
 Iron, Copper, and Tin ; for without a foregoing 
 preparation, they enter not into the Salt, unlets the 
 Lune and Saturn be dilTolved in that Sal Mirabilis 
 which is prepared of Niter, and be adjoyned to the 
 Solution of Mars and Venus ; of which Solutions the 
 one dotli very willingly embrace the other, inlb- 
 
 much that one Metal doth eafily operate upon the 
 other, and confequently a profitable graduation 
 fixation, and emendation fucceeds. 
 
 But now if you would have your Merals, nr.t 
 conftant in the Fire, but volatile and made flying, 
 then, that Sal Alirabilis is to to be ufed, which is 
 made of Salt Peter or Kitchin Salt^ by the help of 
 Sulphur. 
 
 This is the univerfal ufe of Sal Mirabilis, ferving 
 for the Solution, Graduation, Fixation, and contra- 
 riwife Volatilifation, or the converfion of all Metals 
 into a volatile nature. But the (pecial Solutions, 
 fixations, or Graduations of them by the Salt of Art, 
 require an addition of fome Vegetable Sulphur, 
 which being adjoyned to the Metal, yields fcjme help 
 to the Sal Artis in the Graduation of a bafer Metal, 
 which help the conjundions of Metals that be of a 
 f'ulphureousnature,donor at all need; though indeed 
 'tis better if you help them with fbme Vegetable Sul- 
 phur For Sulphurand .sW Artis ivQ like Male and 
 Female, they bear a mutual love to each other, and 
 beget a rich OtFfpring ; when they lovingly court 
 each other in the Fire, even alone and without the 
 addition of any Metal, and are brought unto per- 
 fedtion. So then, thus by thefe operations may 
 gain and profit be divers ways, and in divers man- 
 ners gotten, as well particularly, as haply alfo uni- 
 verfally, (but this laft way I am not as yet acquain- 
 ted withj 
 
 All thefe things do fufficiently, yea abundantly 
 fhew one the way of arriving by the help of the Salt 
 of Art, to the attainment of fuch things as are of 
 fome moment. Enough to the wife. 
 
 Although that the Metals do admit of a mofteafie 
 Solution by the Sal Mirabilis in the dry way, yet 
 notwithftanding, that Solution may yet more com- 
 modioufly be perfected the following way, -viz, thus, 
 when the Metals are put into the Cucurbit or Re- 
 tort, in the diftil'ing otf the Spirit. For whilft the 
 Spirit is driven off, out of thofe diftilling Velfels, the 
 Metal is diflblved during the Diflillation, and re- 
 mains in the bottom with the Sal Mirabilis. But 
 whatever of the Metal remains undiffolved, is to be 
 removed ; but the golden Lunar, Venerial Salt, &c. 
 is to be kept for fuch ufes as ir isnecelTary for. 
 
 N. B. If fb be any be minded to pour on again 
 that diftiUed Spirit, upon the Metalline Salt abiding 
 in the bottom he may fo do, and 'tis profitable ; be- 
 caufe that Metalline Salt is by this means rendred 
 far more commodious and apter for Tranfmutation. 
 
 But that none may err from the right way, it is 
 necedary that we firfi: fliew how the Metals (out of 
 which being bettered. Gold and Silver are td be ex- 
 trafted) are to be afore prepared, that fo they may 
 admit of being the more eaiily exalted and amended. 
 For all things are to be done by the prefcribed me- 
 thod, and to be managed by [promoting them to] 
 their appointed limit and rcope,if any profit is thence 
 fought. 
 
 Lime and Saturn do not by any commixion aflbci- 
 ate themfelves to the Metalline Salt, unlefs thefe 
 fame metals be firft reduced into their Mercuries, 
 concerning which thing, we have treated at large in 
 the third and fourth part of the profperiry of Gcrw<?»/. 
 
 LXXIII. By -what means the imperfe^ Metals may (by 
 the Sal MirabilisJ be turned into prfe^ ones. 
 
 TpAKE of Sal Mirabilu four ounces, the filings of 
 ■■' rc««i half an ounce. Put this matter in a ftrong, 
 
 double,. 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Second Centtir)'. 
 
 51 
 
 clfuble, and well covered Hafliack Pot, fet it in a 
 wind Furnace, melt it llrongly for half an hour, 
 that the Sal Mirabdis may rightly dillblve the Cop- 
 per and make it fpiritual. To this Copper thus 
 Jiadefpirituat, add half a part in weight of rhc 
 .Mercury of Saturn, and melt together both metals 
 by a repeated melting, for an half or even an whole 
 hour. In this conjundion and operation, the fpiri- 
 tual Copper win get to the Saturn by graduation, 
 no fmall bettering and fixation. For by how much 
 the loni!;cr they are kept in flux, fo much the greater 
 amendment doth Saturn purchafe. But yet no Re- 
 £nl:.'s can thus^tj)' fe fettle to the bottom, unlefs (bme 
 Iron be added in ihc melting, concerning which, 
 no certain weight can be prefcribed. For when 
 fome fmall bits onely thereof, or fome litt'e particles 
 are put in the Crucible, the Salt is mortified by cor- 
 roding of the Iron, and lets fall the amended Lead 
 which in the Cupel leaves the Gold and Stiver. 
 
 This way fliews you the manner of ufing the Sal 
 Mirabdis for the amending of metals 
 
 N. B. Other metals may alfo be rendred fpiritual 
 by the Sal Mirabtlis, by which net onely Samrn but 
 likewiie Luna n^.ay be graduated, or exalted to a 
 golden degree. But yet Saturn is more commodious 
 and fitter for this operation than Luna is. For when 
 the Mercury of Saturn is graduated and reduced, 
 there needs no other labour than the (eparating of 
 that Rugulns on the Teff, where the Gold and Sil- 
 ver is left behind in the Cupel. But if tht Lunar 
 Mtrcury be amended by graduation, and precipita- 
 ted into a Rcji^uhis, it is firft to be feparated by Lead 
 in the Cupel, and afterwards the Gold and Silver 
 are to be fcjarated by Jq Forth ; Co that there is 
 requifire a twofold labour, which in the operation 
 by Saturn is but one ; and therefore it is to be pre- 
 ferred as to thefe operations before Lune. 
 
 N. B. Ail fuch lubjeds as have a graduating vir- 
 tue, as Lapis Calf.mmarisy Hematitts, Smtris, Gra- 
 «ate. Talk, &c. may be ufed to thefe labours. But 
 however Gold is the belt of all, which if fo be that 
 anv one is minded to u(e, it behoves him to be fur- 
 nifhed with fuch Pots and Crucibles, which do not 
 drink up the Gold, and fo rob you of more than 
 the produced gain amounts to. 
 
 Thus have we demonltrated the ufe of the fimple 
 [Sal Mirabdts, in the bettering of metals. 
 
 Iflbnie Sulphur be added to the Sal Mirabdis, it 
 exalts the metals with a far more profitable gradua- 
 tion, and brings more gain than that finglc operation, 
 which is inftituted by the Sal Alirabdis fimply and 
 alone ^er [e. 
 
 LXXIV. The manner cfccnjoyning Gold contrary to its 
 nature, with any burning and Volatile {Vegetable Sul- 
 phur, and of amending the other Metals^ all done by 
 the help of my Sal Mirabilis. 
 
 Every body full well knows that there is no affini- 
 ty or tiimiliarity betwixt burning Sulphur and 
 Gold, which is a fixt Sulphur ; forafmuch as they are 
 exceedingly inimicitious to each other, and yet this 
 enmity may be at length changed into the greateft 
 amity. 
 
 For 'tis ufual with all fijch as are wont to feparate 
 molten Gold from Silver by precipitation, to ufe 
 common Sulphur about that precipitation, which 
 by its innate Antipathy thrufts out the Gold from 
 the Silver ; the fame thing is likewife done in the 
 moift way, when the fame Gold is precipitated out 
 
 ofy^^./Jf^// or Spirit of Salt, by fulphureous Salts, 
 fuch as are Crude Tartar, Salt of Tartar, Spirit of 
 Urine, and other Alkali Salts. 
 
 Thefe are to fhew that Gold hateth and fhuns 
 Sulphur worfe than anything, as being its Capital 
 Enemy ; and yet thefe mnft bitter enemies doth the 
 Sal Mirabdis eafily reconcile and convert this fb great 
 an enmity into fweet friendfhip. This operation 
 hiding in its Bowels great Myfleries defervedly, and 
 by all right lies hidden to this ungrarefull World, if 
 thefe Myfferies could be excepted which fell into 
 the hands of mine enemies, in my Laboratory, un- 
 wittingly to me, who without any regard had to 
 the Writings given me by way of an Oath under 
 their Hands, do now make merchandiie of fuch fe- 
 crets, and fb bafely abufe my good Will. Although 
 the manifold ufe of this great Treafure h.ith efcaped 
 them, upon this account it hath feemed good unto 
 me to reveal uuto the whole World, rhofe things 
 that fell within their reach, thatfoir may be known 
 to all, that fuch great fecrers proceeded from ine 
 onely, and not from others, nor from thofe mine 
 enemies themfelves. 
 
 Take one ^<i>ita or fmall weight of Gold, more 
 or lefs, reduce it into thin leaves or plares, and bow 
 them in the fafhionof a Cilinder, and add thereunto 
 fix, eight or ten parts of Sal Mirabdu, which mairers 
 you muft melt in a Crucible with an accurate and 
 Itrong fufion : When they flow, throw in fome 
 pieces of Coals into the Sa't and Gold as thev are 
 melting in the Pot, that the Sal Mtrabdu may dif- 
 folve the Gold and Coals in the melting, which 
 ufually is done in half an hour or thereabouts. The 
 matter being poured out will fhew \ f>u whether or 
 no you have well operated for all the Gold, as Ukc- 
 w'lic the Sal Mirabdis and Coals will be dillc/ved 
 and changed into a red Stone, that bites the Tongue 
 as if it were Fire. 
 
 This Fire and red Stone, is the go'den Carbuncle 
 of the Ancients, for it fhines in the dark like a bur- 
 ning Coal, and produceth fuch wonderlull etfeas in 
 Medicine and in Alchymy, which we have no mind 
 at prefent to reveal. For this Gold being thus con. 
 joyned contrary to its nature with Sulphur and Salt, 
 is by that means unlockt, opened and prepared ; as 
 thatitmay by aneafie bufinefs [cr labour] be made 
 fpiritual, and that divers ways by divers Menjtruums, 
 either Acid or Urinous, arid be diflilled over the 
 Helms, and the pure feparated from the impure. 
 
 And albeit that I here make ufe of no 
 
 ^^; 
 
 ircum- 
 
 locution and fpeak no plainer, yet have I (poken 
 enough to the Wife, and have fhewed them (uch a 
 way to go in, as that whereby they may without 
 labour, as'twere arrive to the moft happy and wifh- 
 edend, unlefs God forfome fingu'ar cauies prohibit ir. 
 But that 1 may nor altrgether fhut the door of 
 Art upon the Son's of Art, I will teach them the 
 making of a molt excellent Medicine out of this Car- 
 buncle. 
 
 LXXV. The -way of making a mojt excellent Medicint 
 tut of the Carbuncle of Gold. 
 
 THIS Carbuncle is to be beaten into Powder, 
 and the beft Spirit of Wine is to be poured there- 
 upon, which may extradt the Tindure. This tin- 
 ged Liquour is to be poured off into another Glais, 
 and more frefh Spirit is to be again poured upon the 
 matter, that it may again extrad in the heat more 
 Tindure3 thefe Labours you muft repeat fb often 
 
 till 
 
;2 
 
 The Second Centiirj. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 till all the Tin-^ure is extrafted, and the Spirit will 
 be no more coloured. The Spirit being drawn oft 
 by diOillations in a Bath leaves behind a moft red 
 TmAarc in the bottom, in the form of a Liquour 
 named COS, for here are prefenr, Cckur, Odour, 
 Savour or Tafi ; the Colour and Odour from the 
 Gold, and Sulphur ; the Savour from the Salt. 1 he 
 remainder which is left after the Extrartion of the 
 Tindure is not to be thrown away as unprovable 
 but to be libnverted with new Sal MtrahiUs, and 
 0)als made of Vine wood into a red Stone by fufi- 
 on, and to be lo long extraded till all the Gold be 
 converted with the vegetable Sulphur mto a Medi- 
 cine For one onely labour (erves not to extradt 
 the whole Gold bv the Spirit of Wine ; but tne oft 
 repeated labours attain to the end propofed. 
 
 Thus haft chou friendly Reader a Medicine of 
 great moment and of great efficacy, in which the 
 moft pure parts of the Gold and of the Vine are 
 conjoyned, nor can they be other than a moft pro- 
 fitable Medicament for men and metals. 
 LXXVI. How bj the help of this Medicament, there may 
 be conferred on the Seeds of Vegetables, fuch an excel- 
 lent faculty of growth, that they may be as it were 
 feen grow, and may obtain a much nobler Nature, 
 Colours, s'avours, andVertues, than they are went to 
 get out of the mofi fi inking Dung. 
 
 MIX >vithonepartoffat Lome, Clay, or Earth 
 done into Powder, four parts of Sand, that 
 fo the fatnefs of the Earth may be fomewhat allayed. 
 With this mixture fill a Pot, luch a one as the Gar- 
 deners are wont to keep their Flowers in ; pour 
 thereupon fome Rainwater wherein is mixt [or dif 
 folvedj a little of that Medicament made of the 
 Carbuncle, and plant or fow in that Earth fome of 
 thole Herbs which abide unhurt bv the Winters cold. 
 Set the Pot with the implanted Herbs to the warm 
 Air, but fo, as that no Rain come at it, for the 
 Rain may wafli away that medicinal nutriment. 
 When the Earth becomes dry, you muft pour on 
 more r,f the Medicine prepared of the Carbuncle, 
 and that fo often as need requires. So will the Herbs 
 begin to grow, which if they meet with no other 
 nutriment befidcs the Rain-water, they cannot attrad 
 any other whereby their faculty of growing may 
 be promoted and encreafed. And for as much as 
 the Golden medicament was adjoyned to the Rain- 
 water, the Herbs muft ncceflarily draw it to them- 
 felves together with the Water, and obtain other 
 properties than if they grew from the ftinking Bealls 
 
 N. B. Under your Pot that contains your Herbs is 
 to be put a Di(h made of good and firm Earth, or 
 elfe of fome Metal, which may ferve to catch the 
 medicinal Water, that flows through the bottom of 
 the upper Pot, or diftills thence, and having received 
 it may not drink it up but conlerve it. Befides, it 
 would not be amifs if fome of that medicinal Water 
 were put in the under Platter, which might always 
 keep the bottom of the upper Potmoift, and fo may 
 fupply the Herbs with an unceffant nutriment It 
 would be better alio, if the Pot it (elf were made of 
 fome Metal and not of Earth, that ft it may not 
 drink in tharprecious Water, but rather conferve it. 
 
 LXXVII. Wljat is to be obfervedin this Operation, that 
 a good effeit may proceed from thence. 
 
 IN the firft place, diligent heed is to be taken, 
 that the Lome or Earth you take, partake not of 
 
 any fiilt taculrv, nor hath any other corrofive Pro- 
 perty, for manv (uch Earths there be wliich would, 
 hinder and fpoilthe faculty of growing. 
 
 Secondly, there muft regard be had to the moif- 
 tening of the Earth, left the Seed be choked with 
 too much humidity, or in defedl of fufficient moif 
 ture, dry up and wither. • ■^• 
 
 Thirdly, there muft be obferved a meafurc of the 
 Medicament it lelf, that neither too much, nor too 
 little of the fame be commixt with the Rain-water. 
 For an overmuch quantity thereof burns up the 
 Seed, and a more fparing Portion cannot yield nu- 
 triment enough to the Herbs. 
 
 Farther, fome Musk or other things that emit a 
 fragrant Odour may be therewith mixed, which 
 addition is wont to get to the Herbs a moft fragrant 
 Odour. If fo be a man fears to apply the aforefaid 
 precious Medicament to this Operation, becaufe of 
 the Cofts of the fame, he may ufe that Tinfture 
 which we taught a little afore, to prepare of Coles 
 onely without Gold; and which indeed will perform 
 all thole things, (as in reference to the growing fa- 
 culty ) which that Golden medicament is wont to 
 perform; this onely excepted, "jiz.. that the Herbs 
 will nor partake of that golden Property which they 
 obtain by that Golden nisdicament. 
 
 The things we have here written and publifhed 
 concerning the promoting the faculty of growth in 
 golden Herbs, though they feem not of any great 
 moment, yet hide they under them myfteries of great 
 moment, the which many Artifts will apprehend, 
 and convert unto their Ufe. 
 
 LXXVIII. How any Wood or any Wood-coal maj he fo 
 prepared by the Sal Mirabilis, tu to be capable of » 
 long while refiftmg the Fire. 
 
 DIflbve fome Sal Mirabilis in common Water, put 
 fome Wood or Wood coal therein, let it lye in 
 it for fome days, or ib long till it be well glutted 
 with the Liquor and become ponderous. Then 
 take it out and dry it very well at the fire, that all 
 the moifture vanifhing away may leave the Sal Mi' 
 rabilts in the Wood : Then put it in the faid Solution 
 yet again, and take it out and again dry it, which 
 labour will render the Wood fb much the folider by 
 how much the oftener it fhall be repeated. By 
 this means, all the Pores will be filled with the Salt 
 and the Air wU be (hut out, that it can penetrate it 
 no more ; without which Air no Wood can ever rake 
 fire or burn. If now you pur furh Wood or fuch 
 Coals with other Wood and Coals in the fire, thefe 
 [ un-imbibed Coals, &c. ] will be confumed by the 
 Fire in a fliort time and be reduced into Afhes, but 
 thofe others will remain untoucht, and may be ta- 
 ken out unhurt, though indeed even they too will 
 be burnt if they lye over long in the Fire. This is 
 certain concerning Coals, that thofe that are made 
 of more weighty Wood , and which abound with 
 a greater Quantity of Salt, fuch as are the Oak, 
 Beech, Juniper, Vines, and other Trees whofeWood 
 is ponderous dure far longer in the Fire than thofe 
 Coals do which are made of Firr, Pine, Alder, 
 Willows, and fuch like lighter Trees, and which 
 have a Icfler Quantity of Salt, and this now I do 
 not mention barely for' fafhions fake, but to this in- 
 tent, that occafion may be given from this kind of 
 knowledge of drawing fome profitable matter there- 
 from ; as for Example. 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Second Qentnrj. 
 
 5^ 
 
 i.XXlX. HovJ fttch kind of iVoods which are always 
 fa near the Fire, as that they are frill in danger of be- 
 f'-r bum:, and thcrehy threaten damage may be con- 
 . ,V'.dfr»m firing. 
 
 DllVoive fiime SalMirahihs in Warer, and with a 
 I'eiicil iirear over (uch Wood which by rcafon 
 
 .fitsncarnefstothc Fire is always in danger of being 
 '; uiiir Whsn the Water is dryed up, moiften it 
 
 ii^ain with the fame Water, and repeat this moiflen- 
 uig (o often, till it hath drunk in a flifficient Qiian- 
 litv of the Sal MiyabiUs, and become able to refift 
 the heat. By this n:cans might men be often freed 
 of many fears and cares, in fhips dawb'd with pitch 
 and in other places, whereby reafon of the too near- 
 nels of dry Timber there is danger of firing. 
 
 LXXX. How by the help of Sal Mirabilis any Wood may 
 be coni'ervedfoy as for a long time to remain unhurt 
 in the IVater. 
 
 HE that defires to preferve Wood, that it may 
 not bedetrimented by the Water nor rot in a 
 long time, may be- mafter of his wiflies, the follow- 
 ing way. Dry your wood very well, and being dry 
 moiften it with ftrong Oil of Vitriol very exadlly, 
 end being moiftened fprinkle it with the Sal Mira- 
 b':l:i beaten into Powder, that it may flick well on 
 to the Oil of the Vitriol. For the Oil of Vitriol 
 doth in its penetrating of the wood carry in the 
 Salt thereinto, and makes in the outllde thereof every 
 where about a black Cruft, juft as if that wood had 
 teen burnt by the Fire. Now becaufe Coals refift 
 putrefaction, it muft necelTarily follow that the wood 
 being in that wife ordered muft remain a long time 
 unhurt in the water. 
 
 LXXXl. The Frcparation of the Sal Mirabilis for this 
 U'crL 
 
 npHere arifcth no fiiiall difference amongft the Salts 
 -*■ themlelves from the ditferent way ufed in making 
 the Sal Mirahilts. 
 
 If the Oil of Vitriol wherewithal this Sal Mira- 
 bilis is prepared, be not by rcafcin of the fuperfluous 
 humidity ftrong enough, any one may eafily con- 
 jecture that a good Sr.l Mirabilis cannot be made 
 thereof, becaule the Kitchin Salt would receive 
 therefrom but little alteration. To prevent this in 
 convenience thefore, you arc to take equal weights 
 fjf Salt and Oil, that (b one may be allured that the 
 common Salt is well inverted, and made a good Sa[ 
 Mirabilis. 
 
 LXXXII. By what means trial may he made, if the 
 Sal Mirabilis be ditely p-epared, and how it may be 
 fitted for this and other \Jfs. 
 
 IT S Colour ought to be white and tranfparent ; 
 its figure is in long Stna'?, or Chryfials ; its taft 
 is like Ice melting upon the Tongue and yields fome 
 bitterifhnefs Being dryed in the Fire and all the 
 moilturegone ott", it will loofe^tliree parts of its own 
 Body, and retain a fourth Part onely ; being dillol- 
 ved in Water it will recover thole three Parts 
 cigain. 
 
 But on the contrary, if it fhoot into a fquare Fi- 
 gure, and hath as yet a (altifl\ taft, and being dryed 
 tofeth but little of its weight; it is notwortharufti, 
 
 and ftiews that either the Oil of Vitriol it felf wasnoc 
 good, or that there was not enough ufed to the 
 Operation. Thefe things we would not bury in 
 filcncc, that fb we might well advifo young begina^rs, 
 and withdraw them from their Errours. 
 
 LXXXIII. It may be queried, whether the Sal Mirabi- 
 lis ferves for the tife of Artificers and Craftsmen. 
 
 FO R anfweF, yes. For this Sal MiraMis is not 
 onely able to perform things of great moment, 
 and thofe too, fuch as are not common ; both in 
 Alchimy and in Medicine; fa rehearfal of which, 
 we fhall for brevities fake omit ,) but withall it may 
 be ufed in other Arts and Handycrafts with great 
 admiration and profit; and this we cannot neither 
 at this time demnnftrate becaule of the but now men- 
 tioned brevities lake. We vvil' one!y (hew here, that 
 even the pooreft Flusbandman, might ( if rhs} knew 
 its preparation ufe it to notable advantage and 
 profit. 
 
 LXXXIV. How every Countreyman may encreaCe any 
 ■ kindofCcrnor Seed vjith a thoiifand fold encreafe, 
 by the Sal Mirabilis if he can get it. 
 
 WE have aforetold you, that the Sal Mirabilii 
 being fo, as it is per fe, is plainly unapt for 
 the multiplication of the Vegetables, unlefs that 
 corrofive Faculty be taken therefrom by lime or other 
 Alkali Salts, [the which muft be done] if you would 
 e.xpe(ft therefrom any good concerning this multipli- 
 cation. Here now will I dilclofe a bufinefs of no 
 fmall moment; yet not to this end as if I would per- 
 fwade the Countreymen, to get for the future, or 
 afford to their Corn fb plentifull a faculty of encrea- 
 fing. No, no, I well know that they know not how 
 to make the Sal Mirabilis, and if they did, yet would 
 they not depart a Nails breadth from their Ancient 
 Cuftom. For 'tis a common Proverb, Old Dogs 
 are very difficultly tamed ; and this, the common 
 Courfe of mens Lives doth clearly reach ; wherein 
 you'lfind, that a man hardly unlearns that in his 
 eld Age which he learned in his Youth; fo that an 
 Old man doth very dijlicultly fuffer himfelf to be 
 withdrawn from thofe things whereto he hath been 
 accuftomed when young. Neither is it my purpofe 
 fb to do, tor as much a I infert the things here 
 mentioned by me, for this end onely, viz,, that the 
 pofTibility and wonderous Properties of the Sal Mi- 
 rabilis may be brought out of Darknefs unro Light, 
 and may be made evident to the whole World. 
 
 I would like wife be thus underftood as touching 
 other Workmen, for whom thcfe things are not de- 
 livered or treated of, that they (liou'd defift from 
 their old Cuftom, and obey my admonitions arid 
 inftruftions ; but for this end it is onely that I pub- 
 lifh thefe things, viz. that they every one may know 
 that my Sal Mirabilis can be an helper to men of all 
 ranks, and alio may bring even to the Craftsmen 
 themlelves and to the pooreft Flusbandmen, great 
 fruit and benefit. 
 
 Now when you hear it mentioned that fome 
 Grain of Corn is augmentable beyond the ufual 
 Cultom, by an unheard of multiplication, it muft of 
 neceftity be, that it emit more than one, two, or 
 three Stalks, for as much as fo few Stalks, cannot 
 yield fo great an Encreafe. But now if one Grain' 
 is to put forth fb many Stalks, it is wholly nccellary 
 that it be done by fome certain fingular and ftrong 
 t* eflicacy 
 
54- 
 
 Tfo Second Centurj. 
 
 Part 11. 
 
 efficacy of expulfion ; and that too, even prefently 
 and at the beginning when the grain is at hrft (own 
 in the earth. Foi" whatfoever is not here done even 
 at the beginning, will never be done afterwards 
 For airthe ftalks that fpring forth after are fmall, 
 and quite unfit to bring forth Corn. So then, (ee 
 ing that many ftalks j^re to break out at one and the 
 fame timeout of one grain, if an eminent multip'i 
 cation is expefted to follow, then verily 'tis even 
 neceflary that fome help be adminiftred to that fame 
 grain afore it be put in the earth, that (6 it may p!en 
 tifuUy grow and be (peedy, in prefently fending 
 forth even at the very beginning, good ftore ot 
 
 ftalks. , ^ . 
 
 The Countreymen know not any thing fervingto 
 fuch an operation but onely Dung ; but 1 do even 
 now again fay as I have often done afore, that thi.^ 
 effecl of the ufual and common multiplication arileth 
 not from the Dung it felf, (as being but the outfide 
 Husk) but from that fulphureous Salt that lies hid 
 den in the Dung. Hence it is, that by how much 
 the purer and better the Salt is fo much the fpeediei 
 and more efficacious an operation arifeth therefrom. 
 If then, that fuch a Salt can be made by Art, which 
 performs the fame that Dung does, it altogether fol 
 lows that we are able to do the fame without Dung, 
 and that far better than by Dung, in which the Salt 
 is fo much dilated, and which (by the benefit oi 
 Art; we contract into a narrow compafs. 
 
 I hope the well minded Reader will not be dif 
 pleafed that I ufe fo many words here, about the 
 linking Dung of Animals, becaufe I can't indeed ufe 
 in this place any other manner of fpeaking, feeing 
 I intended the laying open of this thing, and there- 
 fore am I even compelled to fpeak of the fame: For 
 he that minds the publication of any thing, cannot 
 do it, unlefs he fpeaks of the fame. And although 
 that Dung may feem to feme finical Men a very 
 contemptible thing, yet notwithftanding it is the 
 onely and principal aWz/w/, by the help whereby 
 our daily Bread and the neceflary fuftaining of our 
 Bodies is had. But as for the flinking Dung of Ani 
 mats, I even remit it to the Dunghill, and return to 
 my Sal Mirahllis. 
 
 LXXXV. whether or no a th'oitfandfold encreafe may 
 he had of Corn by the Sal Mirabilis. 
 
 MELT one or two pounds oiSal Mirabilis in a 
 Crucible, then throw in fome Coals and 
 difTolve them, and reduce them by Solution into 
 a red and fiery Stone ; which matter being com- 
 pounded by melting of them both, beat into Powder 
 and pour thereupon ccmmon Spirit of Wine, that it 
 may wax red by extradting out the Tindure. Pour 
 this' out into another Veifel, and pour on other Spirit 
 upon the aforefaid matter. And this pouring on 
 and canting otf, is to be repeated fo often till all the 
 rednefs is extraded. By this extraction you fhall 
 get a fulphureous Salt, fit to fteep or macerate Corn 
 withall ; becaule it agrees very well to the properties 
 of that Salt which flicks hidden in the Dung of Beafts : 
 Now I u(e Spirit ot Wine to the extraction for this 
 caufe, for that it haftens the germination or budding 
 of the Seeds even as well as the Salt doth, and en- 
 richeth it with an emifTion of many Stalks. But yet 
 your Spirit of Wine mufl not be over ftrong, for 
 then it would hinder the faculty of growing, the 
 which thing even the Salt will alfo do if too great a 
 quantity thereof be added to the weaker Spirit of 
 
 Wine, becaufe it would by burning up the Seed, be 
 an impediment tf) the faculty ot the Seeds growth. 
 It is therefore necellary that a good regard be had 
 (in thofe operations) to a due meafijre. For an 
 overmuch accel's of any thing is wont to be no le(s 
 hurtfu'I than a defect or cleaily wanting of the fame. 
 This is the preparation of the Sal Mtrabilts, ne- 
 cellary for the macerating of Corn, that fo it may 
 produce many Stalks ; now follows the. true and gc- 
 nuine'ufe thereof in macerating of the fame. 
 
 LXXXVI 
 
 in the Sal Mirabilis 
 
 The true and right 
 
 way of macerating Corn 
 
 TTHere are feveral kinds of Corn, and of thefe va- 
 rious and dilFcrent forts. Hence is it, that one 
 Seed is longer a macerating than another is ; and 
 chat becaufe one becomes foft fooner than doth ano- 
 ther, or atrracls humidities to it felf quicker than 
 another, fo that regard is to be well had to the dif- 
 ference thereof. Rye and Wheat are encompalled 
 ^/vith thin Skins, and therefore are the fooner mace- 
 rated, Oats require a longer rime, and fo doth Bar- 
 ley which has a yet harder Husk than the Oats hath, 
 and therefore requires a longer time for its macera- 
 tion. But as touching the(e things, every one may 
 find them out by his own undcrffanding and often 
 experience, becaufe it is impoffible to mention all 
 things fo clearly and perfpicuoufly. But this is a 
 general rule, your Corn is to be fo long left in fleep, 
 untill you may cafily bite it a pieces, for you muft 
 beware of foftning it too m.uch, for then it would 
 prefently putrific, and by that its putrefa<ftion cor- 
 rupt and fpoil all the growing faculty. But experi- 
 ence will inffrudt you far more commodioufly and 
 more perfedly herein, than a larger defcription 
 can. 
 
 LXXXVil, The true and right way of f owing your 
 macerated Corn in the Earth. 
 
 ANY one may eafily conjecture that if the Corn 
 macerated by the aforegoing way, be fown in 
 the Fields the ufual way and fb thick as the Husband- 
 men are wont to do, it will not fucceed becaufe of 
 the overmuch thronging and thicknefs by which the 
 Corn wou'd hinder each other and fo choak them- 
 felves. This incommodity therefore is to be preven- 
 ted, and liich macerated Grain to be thinly fbwn in 
 the Fields that they may have room for the freeneft 
 of Air, and fb may grow up and nor fpoil eacho- 
 ther by a mutual fuffocation. 
 
 Nay rather that the more accurate diligence may 
 be had or ufed about this fowing, a Man may make 
 him fome wooden Inftrument, whereby together 
 and at once many grains of Corn may be fown in 
 the earth in good order and at a certain diftancc ; 
 concerning which labour I have purpofed to fpeak 
 more at large in another place. For fb no grain will un- 
 profitably perifh, and with one Sack of Corn may 
 be fown more Ground than fix, eight or ten Sacks 
 are wont to do otherwifc ; mv too fhort time con- 
 flrainsme to break olf my dil'courfe concerning thefc 
 things. , 
 
 LXXXVIII By 
 
 bring pioft to 
 
 what means the Sal Mirabilis may 
 the Dn-jjers of Vines. 
 
 I 
 
 F there could be a good quantity had of Sal Mira- 
 bihs, and that without great colts, 'tis without 
 
 doubr 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Second Century. 
 
 55 
 
 iloLibt but the Vines might be made very fruitfull 
 rherewirhall. 
 
 i^jc becaule they are ignorant of the preparation 
 thcicdf, who drcfs Vines ; 'tis expedient for them to 
 acquiclcc in their Bealts Dung, or make ule of that 
 oncly tor the fattening and dunging of their Vines, 
 which is made ot" common or Kitchin Salt by inver- 
 ting and Alka'.izating it by Culx-'vive. Unlefs a man 
 lias Vines ab<iut his Houfe or in his Garden, and 
 Would make them fruitful!er than ordinary. For to 
 i»!ak~ rryal thereof in great Vineyards would be too 
 coftly. 
 
 But yet I will propound another way to the 
 Vine drcilers, by the help whereof they may get 
 p!cnty of Wine every year. 1 have at large taught 
 in my foregoing Writings, and that by various de- 
 Icriptions, by what means one may be Malfcr of 
 noble and ripe Wines every year, yea even in 
 thole times, in which by realon of the coldnefsand 
 unlcalonablenels of the Air, and the want of the 
 Solar-beams, the Grapes cannot attain their due ma 
 turity : and withall, how in thofe places where 
 they leldom or never grow ripe, [they may be ri- 
 pened] by Concentration by the help of the Fire, 
 > -T eJc by Icrmentatirin with ti.eir own vinous fpirit 
 dilhl!ed out ot the Lees, and added to the laid 
 Wine ; [having 1 lay already taught thisj there's no 
 need ot repeating it again. Yet nevertheless if 
 God lengthen my life out fb long, I have purpofed 
 to write a |:eculiar Book of the propagating and bet- 
 tering ot Wines. 
 
 But that I may ingratiate my felf with thofe who 
 not much caring tor poor thin Wines, defire to 
 have (bme noble Wine in their Cellars, I will here 
 reveal a certain fccret which may no: onely refrefli 
 the body and fpirit of many thoulands of Men, high 
 and low, rich and poor, throughout all Germany^ 
 yea and all Europe too ; but alio adminifter them no 
 iiiiall profit. 
 
 1 have taught a little afore, how by the help of 
 the Sal Alnah:lts, and of the concentrated and cold 
 lire of Salts, a Man may make his Guefts ditFerent 
 Wines out of one Cu p, and therewithal! refrefh them ; 
 ;;iid 1 have iikewile Ihewcd, that luch a bettering of 
 Wine may be e.vcrcilcd in moil places, with notable 
 profit. 
 
 The truth of which thing, it hath (eemed good 
 unto me to dcmonltrate divers ways, for the lake 
 of my Neighbour. 
 
 1 have frequently laid open in my Writings fbme 
 excellent lecrcts, and have withall made a dilcovery 
 of the moll great beneht which one may thereby re- 
 ceive. 
 
 But becaule I have not pointed out with my Fin- 
 gers where and whence fuch notable profit is to be 
 gotten, the molt pare could not apprehend or find 
 the lame, and have therefore rejected the thing it 
 lelf being it was not lo pert'picuoufly and clearly 
 laid open, as unprofitable and worth nothing. And 
 now lealr it thus happen to this lecrer, if 1 Ihould 
 not fhew and point as it were with my Fingers, the 
 benefit chereot, and if therefore luch fccrets lying in 
 the dark Ihould not come forth to the profit and ufe 
 of mankind, i which would be a grievous thing and 
 to be lamented, if it lliould not,j it hath teemed 
 good unto me to manifeft the utilities of the fame. 
 LXXXIX. By what tneam notable profit may be gotten 
 by my IVattr-aitraciino;^ Magnet. 
 
 FIrft of all, it is no linall benefit when the over- 
 much Water is taken away from the poorer fort 
 
 of Wines, with which Germany doth every where 
 almoft abound, and the Wines made nobler, ftrong- 
 er, more efficacious, and more durable, and do 
 get a far more acceptable favour. 
 
 For the unripe and watery Wines are not of any 
 long lafting,but do in a while lofe all their favour and 
 all their ftrength, and become mouldy, and corrupt 
 with lying, and 'tis not feldom that they grow te- 
 naciou;;, or ropy, thick and muddy, reildifh and 
 filthy : all which incommodities doth'my Magnet 
 cure in the fpace of one onely hour, by the drawing 
 away the overmuch waterilhnefs. 
 
 XC. The fecond benefit. 
 
 IF the plentiful! Vintage or large encreafe of the 
 Wine Ihould be more than you have Barrels to 
 fill, nothing can be more acceptable than that the 
 Wine may be concentrated by the Magnet, (which 
 draws to it lelf the Water and turns it into Ice) by 
 extracting the overinuchnefs of the Water, that lo 
 by this means the more contraifled Wines may be 
 laid up the more commodioufly, and may if not 
 very good, be rendred better. 
 
 XCI. The tktrd benefit., and which is ntofi acceptable to 
 
 all Mafiers of Families. 
 
 TF fo be that the Malter of the Houfe had a whole 
 -*- Cellar full of Wine, and every Veflel filled with 
 the like or felf lame nob'e Wine, without any dif- 
 ference ; then verily the Malter and Servant would 
 be of equal degree, nor Ihould the Matter have any 
 prerogative above the Servant. But now ufing the 
 help of the faid Magnet, he may have his Wines 
 bettered as he pleafeth, and have divers Wines in 
 his Cellar, as we taught a little above ; if, -viz,, he 
 Ihall draw from it the unprofitable watery part. 
 
 XCII. Another way of getting profit by the Magnet's 
 drawing the tVater out of Wtnes^ 
 
 "THE Anatomizing and examenofVVinedifcovers, 
 that in twelve mealiires thereof, there is about 
 one of more noble fpirit, and almoft one mealLire of 
 Tartar. The refidue are nought elfe but an infipid 
 water altogether like to common water. Now 
 when the Wines are to be tranfported out of the 
 Countries wherein they grow,into more remote places, 
 what need is there ofcarrying the water with it lb long 
 a Journey .'' would it not be better tofeparate fbme part 
 thereoffrom the Wine, and fotranfport the Wine, and 
 let the water alone, and thereby fhun a great deal of 
 charges disburft for the carriage of water into liich pla- 
 ces as have enough already .^ would there not re- 
 dound a great benefit hereby, both to the Buyers 
 and Sellers of Wines.'' yea verily, I believe that 
 there will not onely redound unto them a great 
 convenicncy, but withall a great deal of Treafure. 
 
 XCIII. There s yet another way of gettit}g notable profit 
 by the faid Alagnet, viz. tf the ill tafi and fetidnefs 
 be taken away from the Brandy; nftially made of Corn. 
 
 'T'Here is fome mention made in what went afore 
 concerning this amending ; but Vis not done lb 
 clearly and manifeltly. 1 will therefore open it 
 more clearly and more perfpicuoufly in this place. 
 
 Mix one part of your Brandy made of Com, with 
 two parts of common water poured thereunto, that 
 
 the 
 
\ 
 
 5^ 
 
 Tk Second Cmtmj. 
 
 Part IL 
 
 the ftench and ungratefull (avour may diftufe it felt 
 into the added water. Having fo done, you muft 
 again free this Brandy thus tempered with water 
 by putting your Magnet thereinto, and fo will you 
 draw therefrom all the ftink-ngnels, and 'tis juft as I 
 if you had walhed that Wine, and rinled otf all its 
 filth. 
 
 XCIV. The benefit pirchafed by fefaratmg the Water 
 from VmegSr. 
 
 TF you would have benefit by this liquor, the fame 
 J- may be done by the fame reafon ; in thofe places 
 out of which it is'tranfported into other Countries ; i 
 if, viz,, the unprofitable water be removed after thei 
 'fa'me manner as we taught to be feparated from the 
 Wine. 
 
 XCV. By ■what means good M'ine and Vinegar r,wy he 
 every year prepared by the help of this fame Magnet , 
 in thofe Countries m which the Grapes do not npen. 
 
 Although that in all the Coafts fcituated upon 
 the Rhine, as in Rb:ngovia, Moguntia^ iVorma- 
 tia, Algentoran , in AiO-.tti, the Palatinate, Franco- 
 ma, Auftria, and the Dukedom of Wurtenberg, ( in 
 which places, the Wines do for the moft part ar- 
 rive to their perfedion every year ) this Art beflor 
 Ha very neceffaiy; yet never thelefs 5^:>:o«i(?, Mifnia, 
 Thunngta, Sttevia, and Bavaria do ftand in need 
 thereof ; in which Countries the Wine doth for the 
 moft part remain acid, unlefs the Summer hath by 
 a fingular chance hapned to be very hot. For in 
 thefe places it is no lefs profitable than pleafant to 
 drink a fwceter and nobler Wine inftead of the 
 more acid Wine, if fo be one could get it by the help 
 of the faid Art. Befides, this fame Art yields no 
 fmall profit and benefit in thofe Countries, in which 
 though the Wine is ( as we faid but now ) wont to 
 be noble. For it may happen that fome unfeafona- 
 ble Weather may hinder the ripening of the Grapes, 
 and that the Vineyards wanting the due heat of the 
 Sun cannot arrive unto maturity. For oftentimes in 
 one and the fame Countrey, there are divers Wines 
 produced, fo that one fort exceeds another in nobi- 
 lity and goodnefs. Thofe therefore that are good 
 and generous need not the help of this Art, but 
 contrarily the fmaller and lei's noble Wines want it. 
 Hence I conclude that in all the Countries of the 
 World, whercfoever Wines are made, tliis Art may 
 be ferviceable and profitable to any -one. 
 
 XCVI. Hov> in thofe cold Countries ; as in Poland, 
 Denmark, Suedeland, Norway, &c. Which by 
 reafon of the Coldnefs of the Air admit not of making 
 Wine, there may veverthelefs good Wine aitd Vinegar 
 conducive to the health of Man be made. 
 
 T Hough the Cold may ^o hinder as that Vines 
 will not grow, nor Vineyards be, yet notwith- 
 ftanding thofe places fo obnoxious to the Cold, have 
 plenty of Apples, Pears, and fuch like Tree fruits ; 
 whofe Juice being preffed out, and fermented, and 
 after the Fermentation, freed of the greateft part 
 of the unprofitable water, will give a better and 
 more durable Drink, than that which is made the 
 ufual way of Apples and Pears. For this drink 
 cannot lall long becaufe of the muchnefs of the hu 
 midity, but becomes ropy, acid and muddy, and fo 
 corrupts. 
 
 So likewife may thoie Countries that abound with 
 Corn be rendered partakers of nvit excellent and 
 wine-like Drink, which may be ufed and drunk in- 
 ftead of Wine, to the great benefit and advance- 
 ment of the health of the Body ; and it is to be thus 
 done. 
 
 Firftofall, let very good Wheat be made to ger- 
 minate [or f^rout] by ftewing in (^>mc gentle heat; 
 [ as in making of Mault ] then after the (prouting 
 let it be put in fome warm Furnace, or in great 
 Coppers, and ftirred about with fome wooden thing 
 without ceafing till it be dryed. In this Operation 
 you muft have an efpecial care, that the Corn 
 fmatch not of the Fire, which is then brought bv 
 1 drying to a fufficient hardnefs, when it is not foft in 
 biting it with your Teeth, but leaps as "twere ia 
 pieces ; this is a fign that you have done your work 
 well. Having prepared it thus, let it be broken 
 [ or ground j and boi'ed afier the manner of other 
 Ale, without Hops ; and then after it has fermented 
 let it be freed from its fuperfluous moiiture by our 
 Magnet. So will you have remaining a fweet Drink 
 not much unlike to Wine; which Liquor if you 
 would yet have more near in its likenefs toVVine, 
 you mult put in for every Tun or every Butt about 
 a pound of Tartar in the Fermentation, that fo it 
 may ferment together with the Corn, and may give 
 unto this Drink a winy Taff. 
 
 After the fame manner may excellent A'letheglin 
 be made of Honey and Sugar, or fuch a kind of 
 Drink as but little differs from the Savour of Wine. 
 An Art, verily , moft profitable in thofe places . 
 which have no Wine, but have that defect fupplied' 
 by the great Quantity of Honey and Sugar. The' 
 manner of making fuch a kind of Drink is this. 
 
 Let there be added to the Honey fo much water 
 as is fufficient, for their boiling together in a Cop- 
 per, and let them being boiled be diligently fcum- 
 med fo long till the Honey becomes thick again, and 
 gets a duskifh or a reddifh Colour, which is a fign, 
 that the lefs fweet, and lefs honied Savour is re- 
 moved away, by the boiling 
 
 To this Honey reduced to tlie faid thicknefs, let 
 be again added as much water as is fufficient, that 
 they may be boiled together, and being boiled put 
 up in Barrels. Wbilft it is yet warm lome Ale yeft 
 muft be added, which being fermented, renders this 
 Liquor fo fweet ihat it is but little inferiour to Wine; 
 moreover it will come nearer to the Taft of Wme, 
 if a due part of dilfolved Tartar fhall be added 
 thereunto in the Fermentation, that fJ) being fer- 
 mented together herewith, it may acquire to it (elf 
 a winy Tait. _ • 
 
 N. B. But here good heed muft be had, that in 
 the laft Solution there be not taken too little water, 
 but rather more than is wont to be taken in the 
 making of common Mede. The reafon is this ; be- 
 caufe the Honey gets net it? due fermentation, biic 
 retains its ufiiai and a kind of nauceous Sweetncfs, 
 and cannot be made partaker of a winy Savour. 
 
 But now, water enough being added, promotes 
 the Fermentation, and cauleth that it gets its Purit)'' 
 and Clarity much fooner, and is of an excejlenc 
 fweet Savour. Alter that this Metheglin hath gotten- 
 the requifite Clarity, the fuperiiuous water is to be- 
 abftracted thenccfrom by your Magnet, which 
 water being removed , 'the remaining ungrate- 
 full Savour of the Honey going away together with 
 the water, vanifheth, and this Wine of the Floney, 
 gets its ftrong Spirits from the Honey, and has a 
 
 win/ 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Second Cenmrj. 
 
 57 
 
 winy Savour from tlie Tartar. It any one be (b 
 n-.inded, he may add to the Honey in the firft boil- 
 iti", TimeSpices, or which is better, may hang them 
 iii'a little Bag in at the Bung, that fo they may be 
 fermented with the Metheglm, and give it a ("weet 
 N.ivour. The Spices are thefe that follow : Carda- 
 moms one, Coriander two, Orris Roots three parts ; 
 the'which will give the Metheglin a fincTaft. The 
 1 lowers of Elder make it tafl: juit like Wine made 
 .,f the Apian or Mufcadel Grapes. Cinamon and 
 < loves aUb do give it a delicate Sweetnefs. But 
 every one may ule fuch Spices as he thinks beft-, ac- 
 Lording as he fancieth this or that Tad. Of fuch 
 Metheglin is made moft excellent Vinegar, which 
 karce is inferiour to wine Vinegar though of the very 
 Left Sort. 
 
 >iCVII Jf'hether or no, there be any other benefit, ■which 
 ctir Alagnet can bejtow. 
 
 HE that fhall onely diligently enquire by trials 
 made, will without doubt, find, that (uch a 
 Magnet as attradeth water, can be profitable many 
 ways; which to treat largely of here, the time wil 
 not permit. For becaule that this Magnet draws 
 Dut of all Liquors, their fupcrfiuous water, it doth 
 rcrtainly bring much Benefit, and manifold Fruits, 
 .cry many of which, we would here dclare it 
 i^cd required. But the time admits not of any Ion 
 ^jr dwellmg about thete things. But yet, however, 
 ' will reveal an Art tor the Poor's fake who have 
 .10 Wine growing, nor any money to buy it, and 
 ■.re therefore enforced ; but efpecially in the winter 
 cafbn ) to drink cold water after their hard La 
 jours; ) by the help of which faid Art they may 
 liave good Wine to drink all the year both in the 
 summerand Winter months; I mean in thote places 
 n which there s plenty of Wine made, and is in the 
 .\utumn Seafbn Iqueezed out with wine Prefles. 
 
 In all thole places in which ftore of Grapes are 
 ::!reft out with Prelfes, there is great ftore of the 
 ausks, the which is partly kept for the Beafis to nou 
 :iththemin the VV inter, and partly thrown away 
 is unprofitable, efpecially in thole Seafons which 
 ifford a ?reat Quantity of Wine. But if fb be that 
 lie Wine Harveft be fomewhat poor and not lo 
 plentifull, then they pour wateruponall the husksor 
 in tome part of them, and leave it (b for fomc- 
 iays, and again prefs them ; and thereby is made a 
 Drink that has fome kind of wine like Savour which 
 s given to the Servants,and other Labourers to drink 
 iiftead of bare water. 
 
 But now in (uch Years wherein they are thorough 
 y bufied in curing or making much Wine, they have 
 aot the time to beftow about making that Drinkthen 
 N?y ((imetimes they have lijch a deal of Wine that 
 :hey have not Cask to put it in, but are compelled to 
 give away their (inaller Wines to others, aud ftuff 
 rheir Cellars with the more noble. 
 
 If therefore the poorer lort would have now and 
 then a good Draught of Wine, they muft get them 
 ■)me large Vellels which they muft fill with the Of 
 Pal of the Grapes, and with water poured thereupon, 
 and leave them thus, tb long untill the rich People 
 bave done with their wine Prelles and ftowed their 
 Wines in their Cellars. Then may they alio prefs 
 ::)Ut their fecond Wines in the rich mens wine 
 Prelfcs, and by the oft-fpoken of Magnet feparate 
 ;he unprofitable water therefrom, and fblayup their 
 VVinCjthe which v/ill Lift and abidegood and durable 
 
 all the Year about, which it will norotherwife do. 
 For fuch kind of fecond Wines dure only ( for the" 
 moft part) but the Winter and Spring, and part of 
 the Summer, and the utmoft time they remain any 
 thing good is but till the Month of fulj, afterwards 
 they grow ropy or mu:ty. But now the unprofi- 
 table part of the water ijcing feparared, thev get a 
 fhorter or longer durabilitv according to the more- 
 nefs or lefnefs of their Concentrarion. Tins aHviee 
 and fecret was I willing to bellow upon the poor 
 that they may alfb drink good Wine 
 
 But they may demand where fhould we get us 
 fuch a Magnet, by the ufing of which we might make 
 our fecond Wines good .•> I anfw-r, they may bor- 
 row it of the Rich men who have Vineyards, for fb 
 long ; and when they have done with it may reftore 
 it them again ; for it is folafting that it never loleth 
 any thing of its Body nor of its Virtue, butaiways 
 remain^ good. The rich inen therefore will buy it 
 of the Chymifts, the preparation whereof is clearly 
 and perfpicuoufly delivered in my hrft Century. If 
 now this be done ( which I doubt nor of j theChy- 
 mift by preparing, and the Merchant by ufing of' 
 the fame will reap no finall Benefit and profit And 
 queftionlcfsjtherewilibefoundfbme men that are ftu- 
 dious of new things,who will make trial of this Con- 
 centration of Wines in fiiiall experiments; that fothey 
 may fifh out the pollibility of the thing. But I know 
 not whether tliey will exercifc this Operation in a 
 greater Quantity or no. For its neither here nor there 
 
 to me whetherthey will exercife this Artor let it alone. 
 For this is the natural difpolkion of moft men, they' 
 would very willingly get ftore of gam, provided it 
 could be done without great labour and much trou- 
 ble. From hence it is certain, that this Art of Con- 
 centrating Wines by cold Fires will not be fb fbon 
 common, efpecially bccaufe I have not here delive- 
 red how fuch a Magnet may be made in great Quan- 
 tity, and applied to ufe. . 
 
 But yet I think I have fufliciently done [or hin- 
 ted at] thofe things I have reveailed Let others 
 draw out of their own ftore too, if they have any 
 thing. More things I could not reveal, for many 
 weighty caiifes which I count it needlefs to mention 
 here. Very many men will commit many Errours, 
 e're they attain the right Scope. Verily it would be 
 much better if there were a greater Number of fuch 
 Perfons as readily underftood this Art ; efpecially in 
 thofe places of Germany in which the Wines are io 
 acid, that it will make ones Eyes run with water if 
 a bigger Draught than ordinary be drunk to quench 
 Fhirlt. And therefore in thofe places Ale is in the 
 moft eftecm, and indeed it is no contemptible drink, 
 if good, but yet it is not at all comparable to the 
 noble Wine, concerning which nob.'e Liquor thefe 
 Verfes may rightly be pronounced. 
 
 With what a lo'vely gift are all things bleji 
 By th' noble (■Vine from tender Fines exjfrejf, 
 Tq_/ickfnens pains it doth an eafement bring j 
 It joys the Counirey Feafani, makes him fing. 
 And you jhall fee that that ruan whom to day . 
 By means of IVme lies tumbling m the way^ •>• 
 IFill on the Morrow have his t'other •fay. --" <- 
 There are many Songs in the praife of Wine, buf. 
 Ale is not celebrated with any ditty, though it be'- 
 never lb good. Upon this account therefore the no- 
 ble Juice of Wine is not undefervedly preferred be- 
 fore all the reft, provided it has its due generoufnefs 
 and excelling goodnefs But if it be not good, 'tis 
 wholly, expedient to help it, left by keeping its Sou-'- 
 Qi, rifhnsfs 
 
 ;iii'i 
 
58 
 
 The Second Centary. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 riftinefs and wateriflinefs it perifh. But filthy cove- 
 toufneft bears too great a fway upon mortals, info- 
 much that there are too many to be found that 
 would rather pour water to their Wine and fpoilit, 
 than better it by abftraoting of the water. 
 
 I have often heard the complaints of Vineyard 
 Mafters in thofe Seafons, in which they have had 
 whole Cellars full of fmali and poor Wines, which 
 have not arrived to \o much ripenefs as to be able to 
 be fold and tranfported into other Countries. Hence 
 comes it to pafs, that if they lie along while and be 
 not drunk up, they degenerate more and more, and 
 become exceeding poor, and at length corrupt by 
 lying and fo perifh for altogether ; unlefs it happens 
 by chance that forac years of a more happy Vintage 
 do fucceed, with which more noble Wines they may 
 mix their fmall ones, and fo fell them off, but yet 
 with a poor profit, becaufe the Merchants are not 
 wont to buy midling Wines, but the very beft of all 
 But they may have noble Wine every year by that 
 means that I have (hewn. For if one eighth part 
 of water were extrafled from the Wine, it might 
 have the name of good Wine. But now if a fourth 
 part of that water fliould be taken away thence- 
 from it would become far more excellent, for a little 
 water is able to make a moft noble Wine fmaller and 
 more bafe, a tryal whereof you may make as fol- 
 lows. 
 
 A Hogfliead of rich Wine, containing (brae fix 
 Renilh Omas or Aulms, cofts an hundred imperials; 
 yea [fometimes] more, an hundred Duckets; Now 
 if you take thencefrom one eighth part of themea- 
 fure, and put in the room thereof one eighth part 
 of water, you will find by the talt, that its goodnefs 
 is fo much diminifhed, that that VelTel will be fcarce- 
 ly valued at fifty imperials. But if a quarter part 
 be taken away, and fo much water put in its room, 
 any one may eafily conjefture that liich a Veflel fil- 
 led with fuch Wine will be hardly judged worth 
 twenty imperials. 
 
 So then by this way that I have told, any Wine 
 might be brought to fuch a noblenefs by taking a- 
 way one fourth part onely of its water, that a Vefiel 
 which afore would have yielded but twelve imperi- 
 als, will afterwards yield three times the price. 
 
 By all this that hath been fpoken may any one 
 eafily conclude the truth of the true Alchy my, and 
 what incredible benefits may be reaped thencefrom. 
 From this ground 1 fay, that that delicate fup of 
 Wine which I have here taught the preparation of 
 will fo inflame many, even of the enemies of Alchy- 
 my, that they will for the future put their hands to 
 the Coals, and try to get thereby fuch a delicate 
 Magnet, and to have it by them. 
 
 This Magnet will alfo help not a few Alchymifts 
 themfelves that are in (traights and want, and afford 
 them a good Cup of Wine ; whofe Vineyards,Houfc, 
 and all their fubftance, the fmoak and hot fire hath 
 already driven up the Chimny, and [in lieu thereof] 
 this cold fire will recover them again with no con- 
 temptible increafe. For this Leap year 1660 is the 
 firft year fince the World's Creation, in which the 
 miferable Coal-blowers may arrive to a way of get- 
 ting their Bread, if they will but ftretch out their 
 hands. And that I may be here well underftood, I 
 don't onely mind the concentration of Wine, for 
 there are other moft profitable ufes to be found out 
 of thefe cold fires ; which time will manifeft. 
 
 It feems good unto me to add by way of an over- 
 plus (becaufe I have taught the making of a Cup of 
 
 good Wine, and there is a great familiarity 'twixt 
 Wine and Corn, ) the fhowing away how one may 
 get a moft delicate fort of Bread and of an excellent 
 favour, that fb he may be furnifhed with the choi- 
 ceft of Food and Drink. 
 
 Let (bme part ot the water be extrafted by the 
 cold Magnet out of new Milk, that ir may be made 
 better than the common Milk. This would be a 
 moft excellent nutriment for the fuftaining of Infants, 
 whofe Mothers die too fbon. For every Infant can- 
 not bear raw Cows Milk ; and if the fupcrfluity of 
 the Water be removed by boiling, the Milk fnoc 
 brooking much boiling^ doth eafily taft of the fire, 
 which would not be if it were freed of its water by 
 the oft mentioned Magnet, for it would remain 
 fweet, and be of an e.xcellent TafV. With this fat 
 Milk, moiften your Wheat Meal, (which muft be of 
 the beft) in the ftead of water ; and let the Bread 
 be baked, and without doubt the Bread will be of 
 an excellent Tali, which could not be by the com- 
 mon baking, although that Butter were added 
 thereunto. One may feed upon this Bread alone, 
 without Cheele and Butter, becaufe the Cheefe and 
 the Butter are with the Milk in which they lie hid- 
 den, added unto the Bread. Such Bread is ftrong 
 nourifhment and far better for filling and nourifhing 
 than the common ; and in eating thereof one may 
 eafily commit excefs, becaufe it notably pleafeth the 
 Pallat by the fweetnefs of its taft. For fo it happen- 
 ed on a time to me, for eating fuch Bread as was 
 made up with fat Sheeps Milk I exceeded a mediocri- 
 ty in my eating. But verily this is wont to happen 
 to fuch as in their eating and drinking, abule the de- 
 licate Meats and Drinks, and lb fall into the hands 
 of the Phyficians, becaufe indeed the molt Difeafcs 
 do arife from too much fulnefs and furfeiting. And 
 therefore good reafon is it that a moft fpecial regard 
 be had to a mediocrity and temperance in all things. 
 
 XCVIII. How the Water attraBivg Magnet may be 
 ferviceable to Fhjficians. 
 
 IN my opinion a Phyfician may very well examine 
 the Urine of the Sick, and Anotamize the fame, 
 and that more eafily than by an external bare afpedt 
 or lookingon onely jiff/z,. hefeparate and take away 
 therefrom a part of the water by the Magnet. For 
 by this means he will difcern a great difference be- 
 twixt the one and the other part, and know the cau- 
 fes and properties of Difeafes ; and that far better 
 and more certainly than by a bareoutfide view, af- 
 ter the Gallenical fafhion, or by the weight, and 
 by Diftillation according to the cuftom oi taracelfus 
 and Turnheifer ; But I leave it to every ones plca- 
 fure to enquire which of thefe three ways is to be 
 preferred. 
 
 And now follows by way of Corrolary or Surplu- 
 fage, a defcription of certain moft excellent Medi- 
 cines to be adminiftred, for the curing of moft grei- 
 vous Difeafes both in Men and Beafls. 
 
 XCIX. "The Cure of the Stone in the Reins and Bladder ^ 
 and likewtfe of the Gout. 
 
 THE Stone of the Reins and Bladder, and the 
 Gout,are judged to be the moft greivous Difea- 
 fes, and in very deed they are moft grievous Sick- 
 nelfes, but efpecially the Gout, which being various 
 and manifold afflifts the Body of Man with moft 
 grievous Pains. Now for the cure and removal of 
 
 thefe 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Second Cental')'. 
 
 59 
 
 tliefe Difeafes, I will prefcribe a certain and fafe Me- 
 dicament, eafily preparable, and of fmall charge. 
 
 Take one or two pounds of white Tartar, and 
 pour upon every pound beaten into Powder about 
 iome eight or ten pound of common water, which 
 let over the Coals in a well glazed earthen Pot, and 
 boil it fo long, till all the Tartar (hall be dillblved by 
 the water, which you may try if done orno with a 
 clean wooden Spoon, putting it to the bottom and 
 iceing if there be any left undilfolved. In the boiling 
 you muft very diligently take otF the Scum with a 
 wooden Scummcr, that fo there may remain no im- 
 purity. After that all the Tartar is diflblved and 
 that there appears no more Scum, evaporate the 
 water fo long till a thin skin appears at the top. 
 Then take off the Pot from the Coals, and fet it in 
 fbme cold place, and leave it there unftirred for a 
 da\', and there will ftick on to the fides of the Pot, 
 delicate Cryftals like a Dye, having a Cubical form 
 Paracelfus calls this mundified Tartar LuJut, and 
 that very properly, and without doubt he did fo, 
 becaule it gets (after its purification the fhape of 
 the fquare Dice. Out of this pure and Cube-like 
 Tartar is prepared an univerlal Medicine agamft all 
 tartarous Dileales, as follows. 
 
 If you have one pound of this pure and Cubical 
 Tartar, reduce one pound of Crude Tartar into a 
 white Salt by Calcination ; the which you are to 
 diifoive with fo much common water as is necellary 
 to its dillolution ; filter the diflTolved Salt through 
 Cap-Paper, that you may have your (harp Ltxivt- 
 um freed of all its Fccces Pour this Ltxi-vium into 
 the glazed Pot wherein your pound of the faid pu- 
 rified Tartar is, and boil it accurately therewithal! ; 
 in which boiling the Tartar will be eafily diflblved 
 by the Lixfvium, and be turned with the fame into 
 a ruddifh coloured juice ; though that your Ltxi'vi- 
 um and Tartar had each of them a white and clear 
 colour. The reafbn is this, becaufe the Tartar is as 
 yet defiled with many hidden and black Fsces, and 
 doth at length after its folution with the Lixt-vtum 
 render them vifible and manifeft. Pafsthis muddifh 
 folution through a filter, and it will be a yellow 
 liquor, and leave many Faeces in the Philter, good 
 for nothing but to be thrown away, for they are' of 
 no virtue more. Verily 'tis a thing worth the admi- 
 ring, that there (hould yet be fo many Faeces left in 
 fo well purified a Tartar. This liquor being thus 
 prepared is very profitable for the taking a^ay and 
 curing of all kinds of Tartarous Difeafes, by being 
 daily ufed, or however, it doth at leaft ftrongly 
 tame their violence, but you muft firft purge the 
 Body by Antimonial Medicaments, one of which 
 we will prefently fhew you. 
 
 N. B. This Medicament will be yet far more no- 
 ble, if all the humidity be vapoured away and the 
 reddilh Salt that is left be dilTolved in good fpiritof 
 Wine and filtered, and the faid fpirit ot Wine be 
 again (eparated therefrom by a gentle Diftillation. 
 For fo by this fecond folurion, there will be fevered 
 yet more Fjeces and the Salt it felf will get a yet 
 greater purity. 
 
 This Salt may be fafely ufed as a moft precious 
 Treafure againft all the abovelaid rartareous Difea- 
 fes ; For it expells Urine, and drives out all the im- 
 purities out of the Reins and Bladder, and hinders 
 the gathering together, and generation of Sand or 
 Stones in thofe Members. 
 
 But if there be already Stones generated , and 
 that they be not too hard, it confumes them by little 
 
 and little, and carrys them off; provided that \n- 
 timonial purges be (as we faid but now; afore ufed 
 to purge the Body with. 
 
 1 have in thefe few words taught thee how the 
 /W///,that is, the Dye like figured Tartar is changed 
 by its own proper liquor Alkaheft, or its own Alka- 
 lizate Sale into a Medicine refifting all Tartareous 
 Difeafes The Dofe thereof is a Scruple in Wine» 
 Ale, or other Vehicles, oftentimes _,;very dav, or 
 twice at the leaft, 'viz.. Morning and Evening, for 
 fuch as are fifteen or twenty years old and upwards, 
 and they muft faft after the taking of the medica- 
 ment, for fome due time. 
 
 Such as are younger, fromthre^ four, to ten, or 
 twelve may take at onetime, three, four, fix, eight, 
 or ten grains, according as they are older or youn- 
 ger. 
 
 This fo excellent a medicament have I defcribed 
 for the benefit of mankind, nor is there as far as I 
 know, a better, though it feems to arife of fo vile 
 a Parentage, and be fo mean. Suffer not thy felf to 
 be affrighted by any one, but ufe the fame boldly, 
 whenfbever necefTity requires; and firmly believe 
 me that thou wilt not find a better, I do not deceive 
 thee; and the truth hereof will be demonftrated by- 
 its u(e. 
 
 This is a quick and wonderful! purification of Tar- 
 tar, and a changing it into a fweet Salt, which is 
 neither fweet nor four, but a midling taft 'twixt both, 
 and it j^ets a middle nature, from the Acid and 
 the AlkaJizate Tartar. Now follows the Antimonial 
 Purge. 
 
 C. An univerfal Antimonial Purge to he ufed in all 
 grievous DtfeaJeSj ■ivith, a very haffy fuccefs. 
 
 TAKE of Crude Antimony, Tartar, and Niter, 
 of each alike. Powder them each apart, com- 
 mix the Powders, being mixt, put them in a melting 
 Pot or Crucible, and kindle them with a live Coal, 
 that by this kindling they may flame up, and gointo 
 a ruddifh kind of coloured raafs. Your Pot being 
 yet hot fet it into your Wind Furnace, and melt it, 
 that all your matter may flow in the Crucible like 
 water, then pour it out into your C>one, and being 
 cold take it out, and feparate the Regulus therefrom, 
 and lay it by for other ufes, becaufe 'tis not fervice- 
 able for the operation here minded. Now out of 
 one pound of Antimony, youl have eight Lots, or 
 four ounces of Reguhif, fo that of your one pound 
 you will get a Regulus of four ounces or the fourth 
 part of the pound. The Scoria s which will be of 
 a reddifh colour and of a fiery taft upon the Tongue 
 muft be again melted in the fame Pot they were 
 melted in, if it be whole, or in fome new Pot, and 
 when they flow, put a live Coal into the Pot. The 
 Salt peter will feize upon the Coal, and being occu- 
 pied about corroding the fame, will let fall the re- 
 mainder of the RegulmM as yet held up. Then the 
 matters being poured out into your C one, and cool, 
 ftrike off the Regulus at the bottom with the ftroke 
 of an hammer, and beat the Scoria's which will be 
 of a red colour and fiery taft, into Powder, and be- 
 ing thus poudered let the Salts be extraded [or dif- 
 folved] in the heat with common fair water ; the 
 which holding in them the moft pure Sulphur of 
 Antimony do turn the water into a red Uxtvium^ 
 in which is hidden the Medicine that we feck after; 
 and is to be gotten thence by the following way. 
 For after that the Sulphur is diflblved, by diffolving 
 
 all 
 
^o 
 
 The Second Centurj. 
 
 I'art 11. 
 
 all that will be feparated by the Salts or Lye, the 
 Reliques or Reoiainder are good for nochinfi. ^ | 
 
 Having (b done, diffolve white and purified Tar- 
 tar in fair water, in fome glazed Por, and thou fhak 
 have an acid Solution ; being thus hot as it is ( lor 
 when 'tis cold the Tartar will again (hoot in it ) 
 -pour it by little and little into the Antimonial Ltxivi- 
 uf>i and 'it will debilitate the lame, fo that the Sul- 
 phur of the A^icimony will fall down to the bottom 
 in the form of a yellr-wiih or reddifh Powder When 
 all the Sulphur is letled, feparate the clear Water of 
 die Sat, horn the Sulphur, by canting it off ; then 
 pour on fome warm Water and waft it (o often till 
 all the Salt be gone off. Then philter it, that all 
 rhe Water may be feparated and the Powder 
 ftay in the Philter, which you (hall put upon 
 new and dry Cap-paper thereby to remove all the 
 watennefs, and then dry it in the heat of the Sun. 
 This is that Univerfal purging Medicament which 
 drives out all malignant humours by all the Emunc- 
 tories •v;2.. by Vomit, Stool, Sweat, Urine, and 
 Spitt'e out of the whole Body ; and that very fafely 
 if warily adminiftred, and the Dofe thereof not too 
 much encrealed ; in which cafe even the Galenical 
 raedicines themielves do hurt, if their due Dofe be 
 exceeded Hereupon it is better that there be ufed at 
 the beginning rather a lelTer Dofe than too much,that 
 io no errour may be committed, and a fafe trial may 
 be made, how much the(trength of the Patient will 
 bear or not bear. And albeit that the Dofe of this 
 jnedicament fhould be given in fo (mail a Quantity 
 as not to work, or have any vifible Operation at 
 all, yet neverthelefs it well performs its Office, and 
 drives out the Diltempers, but yet more flowly than 
 when "tis adminifired in ^ due Dofe, luch as may 
 give about one, two, or three Stools. And to fuch 
 as are ftrong and youthfuU Perfons, the Dofe may 
 be given in fuch a Quantity as to caufe Vomit, in 
 fuch I fay as can brook vomiting. The ufual Dofe 
 for thofe that are above fifteen Years of Age is, one, 
 two, three, four, or five Grains, according as they 
 are older or younger. To Infants and fuch as are 
 ^. little elder an eighth parr, a quarter, or half a 
 Grain even to an whole Grain, may be adminiftred, 
 with regard had to the Age and the Difeafe. This 
 n^edicine is of good ufe in all kinds of Difeales, and 
 in all kinds of Men, [ and Women ] fave onely 
 Women with Child ; and to them you muft admi- 
 nifter either none at all, or at lealt wife b little as to 
 be fureit provokes not to any inclination of vomit- 
 ing. And the like is to be obfervcd by fiich Perlons 
 who are fo weak, as that they clearly want (trength 
 requifite for this Operation [ of vomiting.] But yet 
 it may be ufed even to new born Infants, 'viz,. for 
 ConVuKion Fits with which a great many of them 
 are wont to be fnatclrd away without any remedy. 
 The Dole muft not exceed the bignefs of a Rape- 
 feed, and it muftbeadminiliicd in the Mothersmilk. 
 But if the Infants are grown already up to be 
 fomewhat ftronger and are above half a Year old, 
 the Dofe of the (aid medicament is to be a little en- 
 creafed, that it may operate vifibly, and i'o caft forth 
 all the malignant humours out of their Bodies ; and 
 they themfelves may not be afterwards afflided with 
 the Small-ix)x, and other fuch like Difeafes as In- 
 fants are fubjecT; unto. Verily, all the Children 
 
 whom I have given this .medicine unto, have not 
 hitherto tailed of thofe Difeafes ; the which truth 
 the Parents of (uch Infants and others can confirm 
 by their Tedimonies, But efbccially this medica- 
 
 ment is a muft prefent remedy againft the Epilepfie 
 both in young and old, and a moft certain Secret in 
 the Plague and all Feavers ; and a mofl excellent 
 purge in the Gout, Leoprofie, French- pox and other 
 molt grievous Difeafes ; and like wife in external 
 new Wounds, in Fiftula's and old Ulcers, what 
 Name fbever they are called by, if it be but ufed 
 inwardly to purge them Briefly, this medicament 
 hath fcarce its fellow, fo that we have no reafbn at 
 all to regard fuch men as out of meer ignorance, 
 oppofe and flander Antimony in their learned baw- 
 lings, and fay that it is nothing elfe but Poifbn, and 
 therefore no ways profitable. But let no body be- 
 lieve their barking, but firft try the fame, and he 
 will clearly find the contrary. 
 
 This indeed I readily confcfs that Antimony is of 
 no ufe in the body of man, nor can it be, afore it is 
 prepared ; but after preparation 1 do boldly affirm it 
 to be a moft admirable medicine. 
 
 Concerning which, reade but the chiefeft of the 
 Ancient Philofbphers, c(^[^Q.c\d\\y BafUValentme, who 
 in the honour of Antimony wrote the Triumphant 
 Chariot [ thereof J Do but fee what Faracelfus, A- 
 lexamler Suchien, and feveral others have recorded 
 in writing, concerning the incomparable Vertues 
 and Power of Antimony; by all whole Writings is 
 clearly evinced, what things lie hidden in Antimony, 
 I forbear tofpeak of other Phyficians as well modem 
 as ancient. For it polleireth the Vertuesand Powers 
 of all Vertues and Powers concentrated. What 
 need many words ^ Let it be brought but to the 
 Teft, and it will moft apparantly teflifie by its trial, 
 what Treafures it carries in its bofbm. The things 
 that I (peak of here proceed out of meer pity and 
 love to my Neighbour, that I might help his ficknels 
 and miferies. A very fmall Portion of the faid me- 
 dicament may be able not onely to preferve a whole 
 Family for a whole Year free from all the Difeafes 
 that might befall them, but alfo to rid them of them. 
 So likewife it fends packing all the fickneffes of beafts 
 by its effeiftual Virtue. I was willing from a faith- 
 full and good mind to beftow this comfort and help 
 upon mankind, againft all incident Difeafes, whether 
 externa! or internal ; In the third following Century 
 fhall be defcribed more very excellent medicines a- 
 gainft all kinds of Difeafes, which may be made ufe 
 of by fuch as without caufe are afraid of Antimony. 
 
 And as touching that Salt which is made by the 
 mixfiorf of the acid Water of the Tartar, and the 
 Ltxivium made of the Tartar calcined ; it is not in- 
 feriour as to its excellency and eminency to the but 
 now fpoken of Sulphur of the Antimony it felf; 
 herein onely is the difference, that there is to be 
 adminiftred a bigger Dofe thereof And therefore 
 it muft not be thrown away, but after that the Sul- 
 phur is feparated, the infipid Water is to be evapora- 
 ted, and there will then remain a yellow Salt behind, 
 which has even yet in it no fmall Portion of the 
 Antimonial Sulphur; and therefore 'tis in a manner 
 better than the Sulphur it felf, becaufe of its own 
 peculiar Nature, which by the difcharging its own 
 office [or proper work,] may be even j>erfe reckoned 
 up amongft thofe moft excellent medicines which 
 ftrongly refift all Tartareous difeafes. 
 
 For that reafon therefore do 1 commend this Salt 
 moft highly to all fuch as are burdened with grie- 
 vous Difeafes. The preparation thereof is altogether 
 eafie, for it is not made of any chargeable matters, 
 but mean ones, and therefore not without caufe to 
 
 be higlily efteeraed of 
 
 The 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Second Century. 
 
 6i 
 
 The dofc of this (b excellent a Salr is tobe encrea- 
 fecl or dimiai/hed according to the Quality of the 
 Perlbns and the Difeales. To fuch as are of ripe 
 Age, one Scruple or fbmewhat more is fufficient. To 
 infants, and to fuch as are a little older, from one 
 to twdve Grains may be given, regard being had 
 to the ditference of their Years. It gently purgeth 
 the belly, without any kind of Danger, it draws 
 out all evil humours, and efpecially it helps the gouty 
 and ftony Pcrfbns with a nioft wiflit for Eafement. 
 
 The weight of thofe two contrary Salts, 'viz^. of 
 the fixt Salt of Tartar by which the Sulphur is ex- 
 rraiftedout of the Antimonv,and of the common and 
 acid Tartar dilFolved in Water, and which precipi- 
 tateth the Sulphur of the Antimony out of the Z,;.v;- 
 cannot be certainl}' defined and limited. For 
 according to the greater or leller Quantity of the Lixi- 
 vium, is required more or left of the Tartar water 
 to be poured upon the Lixivium, that fb being mor- 
 tified it may let go that Sulphur of Antimony it 
 holds up in it felf The Lixivwm it felf will fhew 
 you if you have not poured on Water enough of 
 the Tartar by its being not yet freed of all the Sul- 
 phur, and that there is more Water of Tartar requi- 
 red to allay all its Acrimony that all the whole Sul- 
 phur may be turned out. A bigger Quantity of the 
 Water of Tartar poured on the Lixmium [ than juft 
 
 . liiim, 
 ijkaccorc 
 ■ vtum, 
 ^to be 
 
 enough 1 doth not (poi! it; it takes in as much of the 
 dillblved Tartar as it can, and what is overplus re- 
 mains an acid Tartar, and is not changed in its Na- 
 ture But whatever of it is diliolved in the Lixi-vi- 
 urn is no more Tartar, becaufe it becomes a midling 
 Salt of the two, neither acid nor fweet, but parta- 
 king of both Natures, and dilltjlves in cold Water, 
 which the acid Tartar will not do. 
 
 This Salt therefore is able to per^prm great mlatters 
 in medicine, and notonely in medicine but in Alchi- 
 my too, and in other Arts can it exhibit abundance 
 of riches; concerning which thing, more fliall be 
 fpoken in another place. 
 
 Thus finifh I now this my fccond Century, where- 
 in I have not onely abundantly fupplied thofe things 
 which by reafon of the overmuch haft, I could not 
 infert in the appendix to the fifth Part of the Prof- 
 perity of Germany, but have withall laid open fome 
 part of the Ufe of my Sal Mirabdis, as much as the 
 (hortnefsof my time would give me leave to do. 
 
 If by the Grace of God I have a yet longer Life 
 vouchfafed me, I will about half a Year hence, bring 
 fo great a benefit not onely unto my own Coun- 
 trey,but perhaps even to the whole Chriftian World, 
 as ever they received from any man, in (b much 
 that the World fhall fecm as if 'twere new, and fb 
 for the prelent I reft and make an End. 
 
 i The Third Century 
 
 GLAUBER'S 
 
 «ealtti}) g>to?e lioufe of Creafutesf. 
 
 Wherein many Profitable Chymical Secrets are difcoveredi 
 
 Faithfullji tranjlated out of the High-Dutch of the Authour. 
 Courteous Reader^ 
 
 HAvingfome Tears fuice hegun id communicate to the V/orlJ my mamfoU profitaUe Inventions 
 in Centuries, hut of late been hindred hy ficknejs and other impediments from continuingthe 
 fame : yet now being follicited thereto by many Lovers of Art, I could do no lefs than to en- 
 deavour to give them fome fatisf^on by the publifhingof theje - and ivithall afuring them, that, in 
 cafe God be pie afed to continue my Life ( notwithJiandi»g that becaufe of great A<^e and Sicknefs 1 
 am fain to keep my bed ^ I intend to compleat the refi of my promifed Centuries, "defiring the kind 
 Reader in the mean time to accept of thefe three, and to pardon the confufed manner of writing, thern 
 having for want of leifure fet them down as I found them in my Notes, beingchieflythe occafional dif- 
 cover tes and inventions during my Chymical Labours. Neither ivouldl have the Reader offended that 
 tnfome places I break off fo abruptly, efpecially where I am fpeaking of the matter which Adam 
 brought with htm out of -Par ad if e for whatever may be wanting in thisfijth Century fhall God willing be 
 jupplied in the fixth .- I alfo defire the Reader not to be moved by the Calumnies of any Envious iz»o- 
 rant Perjons to think that the things here fet down {being mofi of hem new and unheard of inventions') 
 are mere Fables and invented matters, and no real experimented Truths, but rather remit the veri- 
 fication of them to time and his own Experience, which mil not fail to fat is fie him of the Truth of the 
 Particulars herein contained. Farewel. ■' 
 
 K THE 
 
62 
 
 Part II. 
 
 THE THIRD CENTURY. 
 
 I. '-pO wafti common Tartar Snow white in a 
 X few hours time, and reduce it to a pleafant 
 Salt which dillblves in cold Water, and where- 
 with of Sugar, Honey, or any fweet Fruits at all 
 times, yea all hours of the day, and in all places 
 Liquors may be prepared like to Wine inTaft, finell, 
 colour, ftrength and virtue, and of which afterwards 
 good Brandy and Vinegar may be made with great 
 profit. 
 
 2. To purifie common Salt in great quantity, 
 in one days time, fo as to become very white, pure 
 andtranfparentandofa pleaflintTaft, fhootinginto 
 cubical Cryftals fit for the Tables of great Perfons, 
 its taft being very agreeable, and the meat fca(bn'd 
 with it much more wholfome than that which is 
 dreft with the common Salt. See the freatife of the 
 nature of Salts. 
 
 ;. A fecret to preferve all forts of Wine, and 
 make them durable, whether of Grapes, Sugar, 
 Honey, Apples, Pears, Quinces , Figs , Plums , 
 Cheries, Malt, Wheat, &c. and is of great ufe to a 
 Houft keeper. 
 
 4. Any of the forementioned Wines may with eafe 
 te turned into very good Vinegar, not inferiour to 
 that which is made of French or RhenifliWine. See 
 my Vegetable JVork. 
 
 5. To make good Sal Armonlack of feveral con- 
 temptible matters which are trod under foot and caft 
 out on the Dunghill very eafily and in great quanti- 
 ties, fo as one Man every day may prepare one hun- 
 dred pound weight of it with ten {hillings charges. 
 See myTreatife of the Mineral Squill in order to long life. 
 
 6. A fecret water wherewith in an hours time the 
 yellow colour in Diamonds may be drawn from 
 thera, which makes them ten times more worth than 
 they were before. See my Treatife of the Divine Cba- 
 ratier. 
 
 7. In like manner may the dark red colour of 
 Granates be extradled, leaving them onely fo much 
 colour as makes them like Rubies. For Granates 
 and Rubies refemble each other in their bodies and 
 colour, the onely difference between them being, 
 that the Granates abound with too much colour, 
 which makes them lefs valued, when therefore fome 
 part of their colour is extrafted from them, they do 
 in virtue, hardnefs and beauty, equal Rubies, one 
 Karat of which is more worth than ten pound of 
 Granates, fo as this extradion muft be very gainfull 
 to him that is Mafter of it. See my third Appendix 
 to the feventh part of my Pharmacopcea Spagyrica. 
 
 8. In like manner alfo may be extrafted the co- 
 lours of blue Saphyrs, yellow Jacinths, Topaces, 
 and Purple Amethyfts, by which means they become 
 white as Diamonds, and when brought to the fame 
 degree of hardnefs are every whit as valuable as 
 they. See my third Appendix as before. 
 
 9. In a moments time to rob Sol of its colour and 
 make it white as Silver. See my Treatife of the Seal 
 of God. 
 
 10. To feparate from Mars andFenrnwhsa d'lf- 
 folved in Water as well as from any other Vitriol, 
 by means of an artificial Precipitation, their hidden 
 fpiritual Sol or Tintfture, and that in a moment; a 
 thing of great ufe in Phyfick, as well as in thetranf 
 mutation of Metals, See thefecond Appendix. 
 
 II. Toextra<T: Sol out of Sand and Stones with 
 great eafe and little charges, which by precipitation 
 is afterwards feparated from the diflblvenr, retaining 
 its former ftrength, and may be made ufe of again 
 for the like extradion. See the profpemy of GtvmZ' 
 ny the feventh part, or Novum Lumen Chymicum. 
 
 11. Toextrad5o/from Luna with a frnall quantity 
 of diflblvent, which, after precipitation ot the Sol, 
 remains in its full ftrength, and may Leufedasbe'- 
 fore to the great gain of the Artift. See Glauber's 
 Laboratory, and projperitji of Germany , -Jth.part. 
 
 13. In one days time to prepare a particular, 
 whereof one part will tinge three parts of Ven.'fs into 
 Lune. N. B. This Tindure is a white Stone which 
 being placed in a fit Furnace, and a due fire adminif- 
 tred, within few days the whitenefs will be changed 
 to a yellow colour, and that into a fix'd red, where- 
 of one part being caft upon four parts of L?<»e in 
 Flux, exalts it fofar thatin the feparation it givesa 
 fourth part of 5c/. Which fudden fixation is perfor- 
 med by the proper Agent of the matter which is 
 white of it felf, and yet affords a red Tindure,when 
 handled, as is here fet down. See my Treatife of the 
 fecret fire o/Artephius. 
 
 14. In a (horttimeto prepare a particular Tindure 
 ofared fubjeft, which exalts Silver to that degree, 
 as to yield much Sol in the feparation. See my expli- 
 cation upon Pontanus bis Letter. 
 
 1 5. A good graduating water which being digefied 
 with Z,«we, makes it yield much Sol in reparation. 
 See the Treatife concerning the mofi fecret natural Sal Av 
 moniack every ivhere to be found. 
 
 16. Another graduating water in which Mercury- 
 being digefted, becomes coagulated into Sol and Ltt- 
 na. See the fiery Alkahefi'. 
 
 1 7. Another fixing water, which being once or 
 twice abftraded from Mercury makes it lofe its pro- 
 perty of making Sol and Venus white, and on thecon- 
 trary gilds Luna when rub'd upon it. I have as yet 
 carried this experiment no further, but am of opini- 
 on that if Mercury were long enough digefted in 
 the fame, it would turn the Mercury into Tindure, 
 coagulating and fi.xing each common Mercury into 
 Sol. See Hajtecal. 
 
 18. A volatilizing Water which being abftraded 
 from Sol highly exalts its natural colour, and carries 
 it over the Helm, which done it is no more common 
 Sol, but may in a (hort time be fixed into a tranfpa- 
 rent red Carbuncle. See my third Appendix, &c. 
 concerning the Griffins Claws, and Eagles Wings. 
 
 19. A water of like nature that volatilizeth all 
 fixt matters, wherewith in one fingle Diftillation, 
 the Tindure or Soul may be extraded from Marsy 
 Venrn, and all coloured Stones, and carried over the 
 Helm; which Tindures afterwards with one rcdi- 
 fication are highly purified, and have their Medici- 
 nal and tinging virtue doubled, which exalted and 
 multiplied Tindures, notwithftanding their great 
 volatility may within twenty four hours time be con- 
 centrated, by means of a fecret Magnet, and fixed 
 into a Stone, penetrating all compad Bodies, with 
 which incredible things may be done in Alchymy 
 and Phyfick. Seemy third Appendix, &c. 
 
 20. To prepare a Salt in an hours time, and with- 
 out extraordinary charges, which makes all fixt mat- 
 ters 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Third Century. 
 
 ^3 
 
 ters volatile, and is of fuch virtue that when a little 
 of it is joyned with Spirit ofWine it makes it (bftrong 
 and fiery, that it dilTolves all Metals, Minerals, Ani- 
 mals and Vegetables, carrying their Q;Ellence over 
 the Helm,anci is the cftecfter of wonders in Phyfick und 
 Alchymy : To that he who knows how to prepare 
 and make u(e of this wonderfull Salt, needs ne- 
 ver want either bodily health, or a competent fup- 
 ply of maintenance. See my Treattfe o/'Elias Artifta 
 Quarto. 
 
 A wonderfull, to all Men known, but withall 
 
 ;« 
 
 contemptible matter, which every where may be 
 had for nothing, which whofoever knows, together 
 with the ule cf it, needs never want, becaufe there- 
 by he may effe-ft whatfoever is necellary for Soul or 
 Body. See my firfl, fecond and third Af^endtx 0/ Phar- 
 macopoea Spagyrica. 
 
 12. The manner of preparing a running Mercury 
 out of all Minerals and Metals, and that in one days 
 time, which joyn'd with Sol becomes fixed into Sol. 
 See my third Affendix. 
 
 23. How fuch a Mercury may be prepared in an 
 hours time of the martial i?f^«///i- of Antimony, with 
 out any charges to fpeak of, which is a trueTin'.5ture, 
 fixing the imperfeft Metals into Sol. See my Treatije 
 concerving the fecret Fire of the Magi. 
 
 14.. A water made of a particular fort of Chalk 
 ' which changeth a yellow or brown skin into white, 
 and which cannot be wafh'd off with water, of va- 
 luable ufc for Ladies Und Gentlewomen. See my 4//!) 
 Century tn Folio. 
 
 If. A water prepared of So/, which turns white 
 hairs into a yellow gold colour. See my Laboratory. 
 
 26. Another water made of Silver, which tinges 
 hair cole-black, good forfuch as are gray hair'd, and 
 endeavour to conceal their Age. See Glaub. Concentrate. 
 
 2,7. A water made oi Sol, which colours the hair 
 and skin of Man, as alfo the bones and horns of 
 Beaft, and feathers of Birds, of a fair lafting Purple. 
 See Glauber's Laboratory in Quarto. 
 
 18. A water into which when any Metal is put, 
 it begins to grow within twenty four hours time in the 
 form of Plants and Trees" each Metal according to its 
 inmoft colour and property, which Metalline Vegeta- 
 tions are called Philofbphical Trees, both pleafantto 
 the Eye and of good ufe. Vide m^ fourth Century. 
 
 19. A water made of Sand and Flints, having the 
 property of changing Wood that is laid in it, in a 
 ihort time into hard Stone of feveral colours accor- 
 ding to the pleafure of the Artift. 
 
 ;o. A dry water, or rather Stone, upon which 
 if any volatile faline Spirit be poured and fet in the 
 Sun, it prefently fucks in the volatile mineral Spirit 
 ' and in one days time makes it fo fixt that it may be 
 made red hot in the Fire, without any evaporation. 
 See my ttniverjal Coagulator. 
 
 ;i. By this means aUbmay the combuftible /link- 
 ing Sulphur, the greateft enemy of Metals be fixed, 
 which afterwards being cafl: upon the imperfed Me- 
 tals in Flux, doth meliorate them, and make them 
 afford Sol and Lima on the Cupel with profit. See 
 my fecond Apfendix. 
 
 52 In like mannermay Antimony without any lofs 
 of weight be fixed, fo as no more rocaufe vomiting, 
 but caHs all evil out of the Body infenfibly by 
 fweat, refroring health, and renewing youth. See 
 my prof/er Agent. 
 
 ;;. In the feme manner may Orpiment be fix- 
 ed, (b as no longer to be a Poifon, but a Meliora- 
 tor of imperfect Metals. 
 
 54 Likewifo alfb may Arfenick be fixed within 
 two or three days time, i'o as it may lafely be taken 
 inwardly, being an excellent Diaphoretick for the 
 cure of Difeales, and good to exalt Metals, lb that 
 in reparation they alford Gold and Lune. See my 
 proper Agent. 
 
 ;5. Much after the fame mannermay Mercury, 
 vvithoutany confiderablelofs of weight(though with 
 longer rime and more patience; be fixed, fb as to 
 lutfer himfelf to be melted and ha-Timer'd like any o- 
 ther Metal, and on the Cupel leaves Sol and Luna. 
 See my Ticatife of the uni'verfal Coagulator. 
 
 36. In like manner may the martial Regu I m of An- 
 timony be fixed into a tinging Stone, that meliorates 
 all imperfeft metals 
 
 37. A wonderfull Magnet which being put into 
 any watry Liquors or Oils, draws the water to it 
 felf leaving the Oils more pure, fubtile and penetra- 
 ting. 6ee Elias Artifta. 
 
 38. By means of this Magnet, we can (eparate 
 from the higheft redified Spirit of Wine, one half of 
 infipid water, which Spirt of Wine after this re- 
 paration is an cfTcder of wonders. 
 
 39. This Spirit of Wine when poured on pulveri- 
 fed Coral and thence abllracted, brings their red 
 Tindurc over the Helm, being a wonderfull Cordi- 
 al and purifier of the Blood. 
 
 40. By means of this Spirit of Wine, may the 
 Cordial Virtue of Pearls be brought over the Helm, 
 being of great efficacy for the recovery of fick and 
 weak Perfbns. 
 
 41. This Q. EfTence of Wine being poured upon 
 clean wafhed E^g (hells, difTolves them, and diftil- 
 led from them, brings over with it their Stone-brea- 
 king and difTolving virtue, and is a fingular remedy 
 in the Gout, and the Stone of Kidney or Bladder, 
 
 42. The fame alfb difTolves the Lapis Lyncis and 
 Judaic.'ts, as alfo Crabs Eyes fo called, and other 
 Scones found in Fifhes, carrying their virtues with 
 it over the Helm. See my fifth Century. 
 
 43. The fame Spirit of Wine difTolves, extrads 
 and brings over the Helm, the inmoft virtues of all 
 Animals and Vegetables carrying them over the 
 Helm, whence incomparable medicaments maybe 
 prepared. 
 
 44. Black Snails fuch as are found in May on the 
 Graft difTolved in the fame, and brought over the 
 Helm, and duely exhibited to thofe that have the 
 Gout or Stone, carries off all tartareous flimy matter 
 from the Kidneys, Bladder, and other parts of the 
 Body by Seige and Urine. 
 
 45;. Aloes,Safi:ron and Myrrh difTolved in the fame, 
 and their Tinctures carried over the Helm, af- 
 fords an excellent £/mr PropTOr<?/;j, very conducive 
 to long Life, See Paracelfus concerning Elixirs. 
 
 46. Cantharides difTolved therewith, and brought 
 over, are a powerfull Diaphoretick, above all others, 
 cleanfing the Kidneys and Bladder, but ought to be 
 heedfully ufed, becaufe it is a vehement Medicine, 
 which being overdosed will hurt the Kidneys,Bladder 
 and Ureters. 
 
 47. The Leaves of Hclleborafler, extraded and 
 brought over with the fame, affords an Excellent 
 At^ua Vita^ conducing to long Life. See Paraceljm. 
 
 48. Sea Squills being difTolved in this Spirit of 
 Wine, and fpiritualized by being brought over the 
 helm, is of great ufe for removing of Difeafes, and 
 maintaining of health. 
 
 49. Nux Vomica, being firft grated and then dif- 
 fblved therein, and their reftorating Vertue being 
 
 brought 
 
^4 
 
 Tfo Third Century. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 in 
 
 reftoring 
 but niuft 
 
 brnogbt over the He'.m, doth wonders 
 the decayed fivength and health of man, 
 be u(ed with imderftanding. 
 
 50. ConiP.mn Mercury diflolved and brought over 
 with the tfame, is the higheft Medicine againft the 
 French Pox and all venereal Difeafes. 
 
 51. Mercury of Antimony prepared after the 
 fame manner, atfords a Medicine againft all Difeafes 
 of mankind. 
 
 5X. Fixed Anti<i>ony thus extracted and brought 
 over is a Diaphorctick curing all Dileafes, and rello- 
 ring the highefl degree of health. 
 
 53. Inline manner may many excellent Remedies 
 be prepared, out of all Vegetables and Minerals,/or 
 reftoring and preferving of health. 
 
 5.^. A further ufe of our Water attrafting Mag- 
 net is this. Abftraift the Oil of Tartar, Hartshorn, 
 Amber, Soot, or that which is diftill'd from Smiths 
 Coals, and the Magnet will attra^; all the Water 
 and bad Smell to it felf, which remains with the Mag- 
 net, and the pure clear and fubtil Oil, onely comes 
 over, which Magnet being made red hot, lofech its 
 water and Itink and may be made ufe of as before. 
 
 55 In like manner may the Oil of Wax and 
 Bricks, commonly called the Oil of Philofophers, be 
 deprived of their bad Scents, and made exceeding 
 penetrative and pleafant. 
 
 56. So alfo may all Vegetable and Animal Oils 
 diftiird by retort, be purified and made pleafant. 
 
 57. Likewife all the Oils of Herbs, Seeds, Woods 
 and Spices, which with the addition of Water are 
 diftill'd by a common Still, may by diftilling them 
 from our Magnet be made much more fubtil, and 
 their fweet Smells much more ftrong and piercing ; 
 fo that a little of thefe Oils fet in an open Veirej, per- 
 fumes not onely the Room in which it is but alfo the 
 whole houfe, they being fo volatile that without any 
 Fire they vanifli in the Air. 
 
 58. And as by means of this volatalizing fiery 
 Spirit,the pleafant and well fcented Oils of Spices may 
 be greatly meliorated and exalted ; fo likewife may 
 all IVmking and poifbnous Vegetables, Animals or 
 Minerals, thereby be made much more blinking and 
 vcnemous, ib as their Smell alone will be fufficient 
 to kill men, doing it withlar greater expedition than 
 any Corporal poilons whatfocver. SecEluj Anifta. 
 
 59. All well fcented Oils, may by means of our 
 volatile faline Spirit, be purirted to the higheft De- 
 gree, and afterwards be reduced to a hard Body : 
 which Body then is no common grofsBodyCas being 
 a coagulated Spirit) but a clear, tranfparent fpiritual 
 pure Body. 
 
 60. This Labour may wiih profit be pracflis'd on 
 Amber, whofe Oil being by redification made clear 
 and tranfparent, and then digclted with our fiery 
 fait Spirit, becomes hard again as it was before di- 
 ftillation ; by which means we may make pieces of 
 Amber as big as wc plealc, and may mix with it 
 fome fmall Threds of 5o/, and fo (hall have the old 
 highly efteemed Stone called Chryfophoros ; or elle 
 we may put into it, whilft yet it is foft, litde Worms, 
 Flies, Spiders, Pifinires, or whatever elfc we pleafe, 
 which is a norcble Curiofity and fhews as if they 
 were grown there, to thofe that are ignorant of this 
 
 Art. 
 
 61. In the fame manner may the Oil of Turpen- 
 tine be reduced to a hard Gum, to very good ufe and 
 purpofe. 
 
 6i. All diftilled Oils of Seeds, Woods and Spices, 
 when by long ftanding, they turn yellow, red or 
 
 It Spirit be again 
 
 thick, may by means of this fiery I'al 
 made clear, thin and tranfparent, when fome of ti:e 
 (aid Spirit is poured on the laid Oils and fh didilled 
 Ibme part of the Oil comes over clear and tranfparent, 
 the other part remaining in the Glafs, in the form of 
 an hard Gum, in which linall Infeifts may beinclo(ed 
 as before (aid of the Amber. 
 
 6;. Amongft all Oils thefe following are apt to 
 grow thick and ropy, viz. x\\QO\\soi UgJiumRhodn, 
 Oranges, Limmons, Juniper-berries ; thofe of Cloves 
 and Cinamon are apt to grow red. The Oils of 
 Fennel-(eed, Annits, Coriander, Caiowav and Cu- 
 min-feed, and all other Oils diftill'd from Herbs and 
 Seeds, that have hollow Stalks, and arc umbellife- 
 rous, forafmuch as they aL- and with much volatile 
 Salt, are apt to turn thick: If any of thefe be recti- 
 fied with an acid (aline Spirit, it immediately de- 
 firoys the volatile Salt, and the Oil becomes c'ear 
 and tranfparent, and the remaining part of the Oil 
 becomes hard as a Gum, and is a (pecial inward and 
 outward Medicine. 
 
 64. And foialinuch as a fiery faline Spirit can 
 make old and red Oils clear, thin and tran(parenr, 
 we may conclude, that fuch a Spirit is able alfo to 
 volatilize and bring over by diltillation thofe Oils 
 which by length of time are become hard anddry iii 
 Seeds, Herbs and Woods, and cannot by macerati- 
 on in water be brought over, but muft by this more 
 powerful! means be made thin and vo!atiIe, that 
 they may afford their O.Is as cafily in diftiljation, as 
 green -Seeds and Woods are u(ed to do, 
 
 65. Now as thick and ropy diftill"d Oils may be 
 made thin, by means of faline Spirits ; (6 there are 
 (bme fait Spirits wherewith we can coagulate all thin 
 and fubtil Oils, in the form of a volatile plea(anc 
 (trong fcented Salt, of great ufe in Phyfick. 
 
 66. In this manner, wz, by pouring a ftrong (a.- 
 line Spirit upon them, we can diftill fubtil and pow- 
 erful! Oils from all rofins, gums and thick juices, 
 and afterwards reduce them again to the hardne(s 
 of Amber. 
 
 Thus Maftick, Frankincenle, Benzoin, Storax, 
 Camphir, &c. afford very pure clear and tranfpa- 
 rent Oils, which when hardned to the confidence 
 of Amber, draw ftraws and other light matters to 
 them like it. 
 
 67. In like manner alfo can all fulphureous Mine- 
 rals be purified to the highefl: degree, when diftill'd 
 with fuch a Spirit, and then may be reduced again 
 to hard tranfparent clarified Bodies: and amongft 
 the refl: Antimony and Orpiment do afford in this 
 way mofl: powerfull and fuperlatively penetrating 
 medicinal Stones. 
 
 68. And as the(e fiery faline Spirits do bring over 
 by diftillation all unfixt fulphureous Subjeds, and 
 purifie them;fo they do the fame in fixt Sulphureous 
 Metals, Eg. Mars and Vivus, which Metals being 
 thus purified may be fixed into tinging medicinal 
 Stones. 
 
 69. They who know the art of the metallick pu- 
 rification and fixation, are polfeffours of an incompa- 
 rable Treafijrc, fora(much as by this means in three 
 days time with the charge of one Crown, a true 
 univerfal Medicine may be prepared, for the Bodies 
 of men and metals, not in great quantity indeed but 
 fufficient to allure the Poffibility of it, and may after- 
 wards be tryed in greater quantity. 
 
 70. By means of (uch a fiery fait Spirit fixt Chry- 
 ftals. Flints, and other hard Stones may be made 
 volatile and fpiritual, and then may tinge them with 
 
 what 
 
 I 
 
L'art 
 
 11 
 
 J be Third Cciirurj. 
 
 6^ 
 
 what colours we pleafe, and coai;uIarc chcm agaiii^ 
 into hard tranlpareiit colourxl Stones, and that of 
 
 . vv'liji- form and faihion we pleale This is a very 
 V '.infull Art, becaufe ^air rranfparent colour'd Scones 
 ..:e alwavs prcferra'olc to Sal. 
 
 7 ( . And as -we have underfliood that by means of 
 v(jlatili^in!z, waters, nor onely Vegetables and Ani- 
 rnals, butalfo minerals and fixe metals may be made 
 volatile, and their piireft parts brought over the 
 He"!)-', and by tliis means do wonders as well in 
 Ph\lick as Althymv. Now though this feparation 
 of the pure part from the irnpirre, by means of Dif 
 tillacioii be hi^h'y to b3 va'ueJ, yet there is a 
 better, ealier ar.d le/s chargeable way to (eparate 
 the purer parts from all Merals, Minerals, Stones, 
 Sand, and coloured Earths containing 5o/and Tinc- 
 ture, by means of a Magiier, which being laid in 
 ihe Solutions of Morals, and extractions of Stones, 
 within a few hours time draws to it all the fpiritual 
 as w,'eU as fixt Sol and Tinfture contained in the faid 
 Solutions ; (b that after abftraution of the diflblvent 
 by Diftiliation, vve iindthe dil'-animateddead Body, 
 vvhich being put alide, we feparate the attraded Sol 
 .or rinfture from the Magnet, and thus obtain 
 
 , : whatioevar good was hid in tlieforefaid grofs Bodies. 
 
 i JV. B. Though indeed this extraction of Sol and 
 Tinftures be very ea'ie, as hath been (Itid, yet 1 
 Ihall here, forfurther information of the Header, let 
 
 ' down what ought to be obferved in the extracting 
 of 5o/ from each Metal, Mineral, Stone, or Earth. 
 And hrft of fixt Sol._ 
 
 71. When there is fixt Sol in Sand or Stones, we 
 
 Inecd onely to pulverize them, and pour upon them 
 
 \Acj- Regis wherein common Salt hath been diflblved, 
 and let them boil together a quarter of an hour, by 
 which means the ^7. Regis draws the Sol out of the 
 Sand and Stones, in which extraction if we then put 
 the Scl attracting Magnet, it will draw the Sol to 
 it felt, which being (eparated from the Magnet, is 
 
 , i melted down with fluxing Powder, the A/]. Regis 
 continuing good to be employed on the like oc- 
 cafion. 
 
 7;. But when in the Sand or Stones there is no 
 fixt but one! V a volatile unripe 5o/, then we mufl' 
 put the Sand or pulverized Stones into a Glafs Retort, 
 and pour upon them of our volatilizing fiery Alka- 
 heft-, and abftract the fame from the Sand or Stone, 
 by which means it carries the Sol over with it,which 
 hatli been attracted by the golden Magnet, which 
 being reduced will be found good and fix'd Sol. The 
 dilfolvent may again be uledto the fame purpofe. 
 ) 74. But if the Stones befides the 5o/, do aUo con- 
 tain Luve, then an yit^ Fonts muft firlt be poured 
 upon them to extract the Luiie, and afterwards pre- 
 cipitate it bv cafting fc)me common Salt into the So- 
 ' lotion, by which addition of Salt the A<]. Fortu is 
 turned into an Afj Regis, and being poured upon 
 the Stones, it extracts i.\\qSoI alfb. 
 
 75. For if at firlt we fliould pour an Aef. Regis 
 upon thefe Stones, it would indeed extrad the Sol, 
 but withall f<) alter the Lime, that it would be im- 
 poflible afterwards to extract it with Aq. Fonis, and 
 therefore we are to proceed in the manner above- 
 laid. 
 
 76 In like manner alio we are to proceed with 
 white, yellow and red Earths, for to extrad the 
 Lu7ie and Sol that is in them. And if it be a fat 
 Earth and contains fix'd Sol, it muft firft be made 
 .red hot to rob it of its farnels, becauleelfe it would 
 devour coo much Aq. Fortts. 
 
 -•]. Buc when the Earth cont>iir>s onely volatile 
 Sol, as thi: yehoA' Earth oCStUjU and the rcdTerra 
 Lemnia Sfgillara, it muit not be made red hot, buc 
 pour fome Alkahcft upon it, and io bring the Sol 
 over the Helm. 
 
 78. Yellow and red Earths do commonly contain 
 5i?/or Z,«w or both, and rheretbre we may boldly 
 make trial of them ; for oftei times a great trealij-rc is 
 fhut up in very contemptible Earth, liich as might 
 ferve to maintain many thoulands. 
 
 79. In the fame manner we may extrad the fixe 
 as well as immature 5o/ out of Ruddle, rcdjafper, 
 and red Blood-ftones, which in lome parts are found 
 in great quantities. 
 
 <5o. With our Sol attracting Magnet, we can ex- 
 cract; much Sol ouc of any common Vitriol, and 
 after the Sol is extracted, reduce the Solution to Vi- 
 triol again, which is as good for the Dyers ufe as ic 
 was before. 
 
 8r. With the fame Magnet, good Sol may be ex- 
 trafted (jut of thofc yellowifh, reddifh, andgreenifh 
 waters which flow from fome Mountains, which 
 waters being to be had for nothing, muft make this 
 work very gainfull. 
 
 81. And m cafe we fhould not be able to meet 
 with thislort of running waters, then we may take 
 the Copperas Stones which are often found in 
 Sand, buc for the moft part grow in fat Earth, which 
 when they arecxpos'd to the Air,, fall in pieces, and 
 having water poured upon them afford a good Vi- 
 triol, which ealily yields the fpiritual Sol it con- 
 tains to our Magnet. So thac an Artift can fcarcely 
 be cofeek for (ubjects, from whence unripe volatile 
 or fixe Sol may be had wich profit. 
 
 85. N. R. Buc when we have a mind co bring che 
 volacile Sol which is in red Sand, Stones and Clay, 
 with volatilizng waters by Di-ftillation over che 
 Helm, ic is good coadd to our Eagles Wings, or vo- 
 latilizing water, fome of our moft fecret 5^/ y^rwawi- 
 ack, by which che fame is excreamly ftrengthned 
 and animated, fo that like a Gnffin for ftrength, .ic 
 carries the Man on Horfeback away in the Air to 
 his Neft. 
 
 84. JV. B. T\\\sGrijp?t is the Artift, that prepares 
 this fiery watefr, wherewith he feizeth as with his 
 Talons the Man armed Cap a Pe ; that is, red 
 Stones, Sand and Earth, abounding with a martial 
 Tincture, extracts and carries them to the young 
 ones in his Neft, that is, provides a good mainte- 
 nance for his Family thereby. 
 
 85. But becaufe to thefe operations of excrad- 
 ing Sol volatile and fixt, and Tindures from thefub- 
 jects juft now mentioned, when we work them in 
 quantities, much Acj. Regis, or other like waters are 
 required, which every one hath not an oportunity 
 to prepare for himfelf, and therefore muft buy them, 
 which encreaieth the charges of the operation; 
 wherefore I am willing to teach a near way to pre- 
 pare thefe corrofive waters. 
 
 86. Forafmuch then as we know that Vitriol is an 
 univerfal acid, and the chief of all Salts, and the 
 Spirit ic yields by Diilillation, much more fiery than 
 chac which is forc"d from other Salts, therefore we 
 may make ule of the Oil of Vitriol, for a Bajis with 
 the help of others Salts, to prepare feveral forts of 
 faline Spirits, with finall labour and charges, in 
 manner as follows. 
 
 87. Recife 
 
66 
 
 The Third Centmy. 
 
 Part ir. 
 
 87. Recipe two parts of Niter difTolved in water 
 and one pare of Oil of Vitriol, diftiU them in an Al- 
 lembick, and you will obtain a good A(j. Fortis to 
 dillblve Lune, Saturn, and Mercury. This operati- 
 on fpends little Fire and comes over eafily. 
 
 b8. And if we didolve one pound of Salt, and as 
 much Niter in three pound of Water, adding there- 
 to one pound of Oilof/itriol, and diftill it in Sand, 
 bv Alembickor Retort we (liall gee fix pound of good 
 
 Here follows aft Explication of the Poetical Table, tea- 
 cbmg ui to make the Oil of Sulphur ir, (^nantitj. 
 95. We reade that Vtdcan, that is, a combudible 
 Sulphur, took l^'ams to Wife, by which is meant the 
 incombuitible Oil of Sulphur ; now whilfl Vulcan was 
 bufie at his work in the Caves of the Earth, for he 
 was a Miner and a Biack-fmith, Venas betakes her 
 (elf to Man, who lies with her ; now when Vulcan 
 found his Wife in the embraces of another Man. ha 
 
 andftrong^^. i?f^"todinolve6W, Venus, -^^'^'"^ and L^jjg ^n the Gods to his help, who appearing, 'caft 
 
 Jufitt. . 
 
 89. Bur when wc take two pound of Salt, and 
 diflblve it in three pound of Water adding one 
 pound of Oil of Vitriol, we get five pound otgsod 
 Spirit of Salt. The Salt that ftays behind is called 
 Sal AJtrahilis or wonderfull Salt, becaufe wonders 
 may be done with it, as appears from feveral parts 
 of my Writings, thefe Salts being of divers vertues 
 according to the nature of thofe Salts that are added j 
 to the Oil of Vitriol in Diftillation. 
 
 90. Thefe Saks are commonly added to metals, 
 and melted down with them in Crucibles, by which 
 means they become difTolved in the dry way, which 
 is much eafier and readier than the we: way of 
 dilTolving. 
 
 91. In particular by this way we can dilTolve Sul- 
 phur, which refifts all corrofive faline Spirits, and 
 remains undiflblved by them. 
 
 91. Now to obtain Oil of Vitriol with eafe and in 
 great quantity, we may proceed feveral ways, and 
 efpecially thus,by dilfolving Vitriol in water, adding 
 a contrary to it, which feparates all its impurities, 
 by which means the purified Vitriol may with a 
 fmall Fire be reduced to Oil, fb as one pound of Oil 
 of Vitriol will not require above ten pound of Coals. 
 
 9;. And becaufe Oil of Sulphur is of the fame na- 
 ture with Oa of Vitriol, yea is more proper for 
 fome operations than it, therefore we may makeule 
 of the lame Oil of Sulphur, to prepare ftrong faline 
 Spirits, efpecially becaufe the fame may be prepared 
 in. quantity and very compendioufly, according to 
 a particular way defcribed by the Ancient Philo- 
 fophers. 
 
 94. They have taught us the preparation of Oil 
 of Sulphur in their wittily devifcd Fables, giving to 
 this Oil the name of Venus, whom Vulcan when come 
 to Man's eflatc took to Wife : by the word Vulcan, 
 we are to underlland every combuftible Sulphur, 
 and by the word Venus, its incombufUble corrofive 
 Oil, which for this reafon probably they called Ve- 
 nus, becaufe when a drop of it falls on burning 
 Coals, it gives forth a red fmoak like to Venus, or 
 becaufe this acid Oil like a wicked Woman,has fharp 
 Teech,and a keen deceitfull Tongue, wherewith they 
 lay hold of Men, and lead them aftray in the fame 
 manner as this Oil cleaves to, and ciueis a League 
 with every metal to which it is joyned, forafrnuchas 
 all metals proceed from Sulphur, and have great af- 
 finiry with it, as the Woman hath with Man. 
 
 an Iron Net over Mars and Venm that they mighc 
 not efcape, but with great fhame be e.xpofed to the 
 derifion of the Gods. 
 
 96. When Vulcan is kindled in a Furnace made 
 for that purpofe, that is, labours in metals, the flame 
 carries Venus, i. e. the Oil of Sulphur into Mars his 
 lodging, that is, into the Recipient, which muft be 
 fill'd with Steel Wire, where fhe commits Adultery 
 with Mars, that is, begins to diflblve the fame, and 
 produceth a Vitriol, which when cxpofed to the 
 moilt Air, becomes refolvedinto a clear fweet water, 
 which from the Steel Wire runs into the Veffel ap- 
 pointed to recieve it, which fweet water is nothing 
 elfe but Arojlrtis the Son of Alars and Venus, or the 
 martial Oil of Sulphur, or to fpeak more plainly, 
 the Vitriol of Mars. 
 
 97. This Vitriol of Mars is called by the Philo- 
 fophers the juice or water of the Birch Tiee, and 
 of which they fay the Philofophers Stone may be 
 prepi.red, for many of them have writ concerning ir, 
 and pointed to this fweet Iron Juice, which they 
 have termed Birch Tree Waters, becaufe of the like- 
 nefsit has therewith, for when in the Springtime 
 we make a hole with a Piercer, reaching to the Pith 
 of the Tree, and thruft into it a Qyill or Faucet, 
 much fweet water proceeds from ir, which fbme 
 make ufe of to brew Beer, becaufe the fame is ac- 
 counted very good againlt the Stone in the Kidneys 
 and Bladder. 
 
 98. This Vitriol alfo is VirgH's Arbor Opacajar dark 
 Tree, whofe Branches he declares to be eafily flex- 
 ible ; now what is more flexible than Iron, or Cop- 
 per Wire, which are therefore compared to the 
 Birch, which is a very juicy Tree, and hath very 
 flexible branches. 
 
 99. That this fhady Tree is the fitteft, according 
 to Virgil's Doclrine, to break off one golden T'"ig 
 after another is alio certain, for I have tried it di- 
 vers ways and found it to be true, that it affords its 
 golden Twigs very freely to him that knows how 
 
 to handle Projerpina. 
 
 100. Butif the Artift be acquainted with the ufe 
 of our Sol attraifling Magnet, he may then with 
 eafe and more profit, without Diffillation or Fire* 
 break off the laid Twigs, than he could do with the 
 help of Proferpina. 
 
 And thus I conclude this third Century, the 
 fourth and fifth follows, which will be found of bet- 
 ter ufe than this. 
 
 I, 
 
 THE 
 
Part II. 
 
 The fourth Centurj. 
 
 6-t 
 
 THE FOURTH CENTURY. 
 
 r 
 
 To extract the Sol that is in Granates. 
 
 'V Granates be melted with Glaft, that contains 
 Lti'ie, the Lune containing Glaft will unite it 
 felf with the Sol that is in the Granates, which with 
 an J^. Regia may be afterwards (eparated. 
 
 To make a good Mercury of Wine. 
 
 i. Recife Crude Tartar and pour upon it a Lye of 
 Salt of Tartar, diftill in an Alembick, and you'l 
 have a ftrong Mercury of Wine, which is a much 
 Wronger and more fiery Spirit, than Spirit of Urine, 
 efpecially if feme Sal Armoniack be added to it. 
 
 To make a Mercury of Metals. 
 
 ;. And if before wedifliblvea Metal or Mineral 
 in the forefaid lye of Salt of Tartar, or in the Crude 
 Tartar, before that both thefe contraries be put to- 
 gether, then the volatile Spirit of Tartar will bring 
 over the Tintflure or Mercury of the faid metal or 
 
 : mineral in the form ofa fubtile Spirit. In this man- 
 ner we may drive the Mercury of all minerals and 
 
 I metals over the Helm. 
 
 What the Soul of the greater and lejfer World is. 
 
 4. Vlato call'd common Salt the Soul of the great 
 World, and iffb, then Salt of Tartar may very well 
 be accounted the Soul of the lelTer World : for what- 
 foeverisin the Macrocofm, the fame is alfb in the 
 Microcofm. 
 
 All juferfluities of Nature afford a 'volatile Salt. 
 
 5. For theSaltof ?Iartfhorn of Hair, Soot, Blood, 
 and of the Seeds of Muftard.CrefTcs and Scurvygrafs, 
 ci^-c. are much of the fame Nature as Salt of Tartar. 
 
 A Good Bath. 
 
 6. Common water fprinkled upon red hot Flints 
 or Pebbles that are found in running Streams, affords 
 an hot Vapour, which by realbn of the fubtil Sul- 
 phur of the Stones it carries up with it, is very pe- 
 netrating, Co that in this manner without any other 
 Fire we may prepare an hot dry Bath, very avail- 
 able to cure many Difeafes by fweating, the great 
 vertueof it chiefly proceeding from the liilphureous 
 Spirit of the Stones. 
 
 Tofeparate Sol from Luna hy fluxing in a Crucible. 
 
 7. When we have a mind to fcparate Sol from 
 Lu7>a by means of Sulphur we need not make ufe of 
 granulated or filed Saturn for precipitation, but in- 
 ftead thereof we may make ule of Antimony, be- 
 caufe the granulated or filed Saturn is made hard 
 and influ.xible by the Sulphur : neither (hall we make 
 ufe of common Vaius for precipitation, as £>-/^e>- tea- 
 ches, but fuch a Venus as hath been made friable with 
 ArfenickorOrpiment, by which means we fliall get 
 more Sol than without Arfenick, becaufe Arfe- 
 riick and Orpiment contain much volatile Sol, which 
 in this Operation becomes fixed with the Luna, 
 
 ; To recover the Sol and Luna which is got into the Peres 
 of the Crucible. 
 
 8. The Crucible muflbe beaten into fine Powder, 
 and put into a reverberatory fire,ftirrinj, it continual- 
 ly by which means the Antimony and Sulphur vapour 
 away, and the Sol and Luna remains with the Earth, 
 which, with ftrong Waters may be feparated. 
 
 Another ii'ay to perform the fame. 
 
 9. Or we may add filings ofSattfm to the powder 
 of the Crucibles, and give them a ftrong heat, by 
 which means the Saturn will take in the Sol and 
 Luna. N. B. But the Separation with ftrong Waters 
 is the more eafie way of ths two. 
 
 To extraB the Colour from Sol. 
 
 ro. Venus, Jupiter and Rcgulus Martis melted into a 
 ma(s with5o/,and Venus,thi Jupiter and Regulus Mar- 
 tis afterwards feparated from the Sol by Niter, then 
 melt other metals as before with the Sol, and feparate 
 them as before with Niter, which muft be continued 
 till the Sol have loft his Colour. 
 
 1 1. The drofs being afterwards melted in a Cru- 
 cible, and a fmall quantity of Coles made of Blood 
 caft upon it, the extracted Tintfture of Sol will fepa- 
 rate it felf from the drofs, falling to the bottom like 
 a Regulus. N. B. The metals Ventts^ Jupiter and the 
 martial Regulus may be feparated from the drofs onely 
 with common wood Coal. 
 
 ,.}^- '^^^F ^^^^ ^y ^^^ Regulus of Antimony, and 
 diftiird with Sal Armoniack, gives an excellent Mer- 
 cury of metals, which hath a fcent like musk. 
 
 To extraB Sol out of Stones. 
 
 i;. If we take Sand or Stones that contain Sol 
 and melt them with Lead afhes into Glafs, and re- 
 duce rhem again with fixed Salt, then by cupelling- 
 this Lead aftes.and the reduced Sand or Stones feve- 
 raltimes, we fhall have the 5o/ that was in the Stones. 
 
 To extract Sol from Stones. 
 
 14. The black or brown Pebbles found in Brooks, 
 and which break fmooth like Glafs, being mi.xed with 
 the beft Eagles wings and diftilled by retort, yield 
 much5o/. 
 
 A TinEture from Metals. 
 
 15. Jupiter IS the higheft Regent over the upper 
 Confteilations. Sol gives to all Stars their Light, Mars 
 rules upon Earth, and Saturn in the Earth, and of 
 thefe four an univerfal Tincflure may be prepared. 
 
 16. Mars and Saturn in particular yields great 
 riches, when being reduced to Glafs they are feveral 
 times driven through a Reverberatory. according to 
 that of the Ancient Philolophers ; by Saturn and 
 A/^/-/, fire and art, great wealth may befound. 
 
 That there is a renovating vertue hid in Spiders. 
 
 17. Spiders renew themfelves every month by 
 cafting their skins, wherefore a medicine prepared of 
 them by the Flame of Spirit of Wine renews man. 
 
 1 8. Ir 
 
^8 
 
 Tfe Fourth Century. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 i8. It is alfo to be obferved that all Birds, efpeci- 
 ally thofe that feed upon Flies and Worms, when 
 they are fick, cure themfelves by eating Spiders. 
 
 Secrets of Serpentt. 
 
 19. All forts of Serpents renovate themfelves once 
 a year by carting their skins, wherefore if we extraift 
 them withe Spirit of Wine, and corretT: them by 
 burning away the Spirit of Wine, they yield an af 
 fured medicine againft all Poyfon , and renews 
 
 man. , ,- j • u 
 
 JO. Regtilus of Antimony being duely fixed with 
 Sol, tingeth as well in the wet as dry way. 
 
 Sol and Sulphur yield a 7'inBure. 
 
 11. Common combuftible Sulphur cannot join 
 with the incombuftible Sulphur of Sol, without fuch 
 a medium as partakes of both their Natures, viz,. An- 
 timony : when by this means the combuftible Sul- 
 phur is fixed by the incombuftible Sulphur of ^o/, 
 the Sol gives it ingrefs into imperfed metals to tinge 
 
 them. 
 
 To make Sol red. 
 
 ai. If the Blood of the Lion be digefted with Tar- 
 tar and Aqua. Fortis, this purple Colour will be 
 changed into a red, and fcparate it felf from the 
 Salt, falling in form of red powder to the bottom, 
 and is a moft excellent Colour for Painters. 
 
 To make PurpurifTa, or a Taint to make the Face look 
 ruddy. 
 
 15. Dinblve Sol and Jupiter \n Aqua Regis, digeft 
 and edulcorate with Water, yields an excellent paint 
 for Women. N. B, But a little Oil of Talk ought 
 to be added to it. 
 
 An Experiment upon PurpurifTa or the Blood of the 
 Lyon. 
 
 14. When we digefl or boil the Blood of the Lion 
 fo long till the red Colour becomes as white as 
 milk, and then pour upon it as much Water, as has 
 been evaporated during the boiling, this milk will be 
 chang'd again to Blood. 
 
 15. Of the blue Paini: called Smalt, by means of 
 Salt of Tartar may a moft excellent Paint be made 
 for Limners, notinferiour to Ultramarine. 
 
 16. Of Mercury, Jupiter, Sulphur and Sal. Armoni 
 ack is made the Paint called Aurum Muficum. 
 
 A Cementation that graduates Venus into Sol. 
 
 17. 2?edpe Vitriol calcined to Rednefs, mix it with 
 Salt and Coal duft, -lay this with thin Copper Plates 
 ftratii:nfupe-r ftratum, put them into a Fire that may 
 keep the Plates of Kmo red hot for fix hours without 
 melting them, by which means the Sol in the Ferns 
 will be encreafed ; if we repeat this Cementation 
 feveral times till the Fcjius be of a golden colour, the 
 gain will be much greater. N. B. The caufe of this 
 melioration is, becaufe the Coal Duft hinders the 
 corrofive Spirits of the Vitriol and Salt from corro 
 ding the Fe»:.'s, and therefore wiely penetrates and 
 :zraduates the fame. 
 
 To make all Corrojtvcs fweet. 
 
 18. Vitriol diftilled with Salt yields a Corrofive 
 Spirit, but if Coal Duft be mixed with them, they 
 give a fweet Spirit, which graduates Lu?ie into Sol 
 when digefted therein. 
 
 29. Recipe, Calx of Jupiter mixed with Alercnry of 
 Lune, and therewith Cement plates of Voms, by 
 which means the faline Spirits introduce the white 
 Sulphur oi Jupiter into the Venus, and change it into 
 Luve containing much Sol. 
 
 A fweet graduating Spirit, ufefull to the Melioration of 
 
 Metals. 
 
 ;d. Recipe, Coal Duft, mix them with Sal Mir,t- 
 bills, and diftill by retort, and you will get a fweet 
 graduating Spirit, exalting (ome Metals to Sol. 
 
 The Philofophical IVork. 
 
 %i. The Father of all things is the warm Son.their 
 Mother is the moift Moon, the Earth is the Womb, 
 the Wind carries the Seed through the Suns driving 
 into the Womb the Earth, which foments, and at 
 laft brings forth the Child. 
 
 Sulphur is the Father of all Metals. 
 
 52. The Central Fire in the Earth mounts up- 
 ward continually into the hollow places of the Earth, 
 and meeting with water or moifture, cleaves to ic 
 and makes Stones, as alfo all Metals and Minerals of 
 different natures and properties, according as the 
 water is pure or impure. 
 
 Sulphur is the uniz'erfal Ccagulator. 
 
 ;;. Afulphureous vapour is that which coagulates 
 Mercury, as well in Vegetables and Animals as 
 Minerals. 
 
 Demogorgon the Grandfather of all things, 
 
 54. The Central Fire in the great World keeps 
 it in continual motion, and cauleth the growth ofall 
 things as well upon, asunder the Earth, being the 
 Governour of the great World. 
 
 The Vital Spirit, or radical moifiure, is the Life and 
 Growth uf all Men. 
 
 5^. As the great World is governed and maintai- 
 ned by the Demogorgon or Central Fire, fo Man 
 the little World is governed, and maintained in con- 
 tinual motion and growth, by the Vital Spirit feated 
 in his heart. 
 
 56. Fire is the Father of all things. Water the 
 Mother, the Earth is the Womb, the Wind or Air 
 drives the Fire, being the univerfal Agent, into the 
 Water, being the univerfal Patient, in order to 
 bring forth Fruit. See my Treatife of the divine Cha- 
 racter. 
 
 57. Man, Beaffs, Fifti and Fowl, and all that 
 lives and grows, draw their life from the Air, onely 
 the Salamander draws his life, and has his Body 
 trom the Fire, wherefore alfo in power and flrength 
 he excells all living Creatures. 
 
 5? The 
 
iPart 11. 
 
 The Fourth Cciitiirj. 
 
 69 
 
 f 
 
 ;8. The fecret Fire of the Chaldeans, which at all 
 times draws Fire out of the Air, wherewith the Jew- 
 ifh Priefts kindled their Sacrifice, as may be fcen in 
 xhQ Maccabees, is made of Steel, Niter and Sulphur. 
 
 59. When wc abftradl an A/^ua Regia wherein Sol 
 is dilfblved from the Butter of Antimony, the Soul 
 of Sol and Antimony comes Bloud-red over the helm, 
 which poured upon a Solution of Lune, the Lune 
 falls to the bottom, and draws the Tindlure of Sol 
 and Antimony to its felf out of the Water, and the 
 Lune by this means becomes red, and is a Tindure 
 jnd Univerlal medicine for humane and metallick 
 Bodies. N. B. The remainder of the Sol and Anti- 
 mony that did not come over is wholly fixt,and a good 
 Diaphoretick,thus the Soulsof the dead, i. e. of Sol and 
 Lune are brought up from Hell. See Nuifement de 
 jpiritu & fale Mtmdi. 
 
 40. When in the manner now faid with the Butter 
 of Antimony, we bring over the Soul of Mars we 
 get a much higher Tindture than from that of Sol, 
 and in coming over becomes wholly fi.xt See my 
 Treatije de 5 pr;ncipiis Metallorum. 
 
 41. In like manner may from the Batter of Arfe- 
 nick and Lune a white Tin(flure be brought over 
 the helm, tinging Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn 
 into Ltme. 2V. B. Thele Tinctures in coming over 
 are fixed by Plato's Stygian Water, fo as to need no 
 further fixation. 
 
 42. But if we precipitate thefe Tin(n:ures of Mars 
 and Antimony with the Solution of Sol, and then 
 edulcorate and dry the fame, we by this means do ob- 
 tain a dry graduating Water, which being molten 
 with any white or red metals makes them yield good 
 Gold, and Lune on the Cupel to the great profit of 
 the Artift. 
 
 4 J. Oil of Vitriol mixed wkh Sal Armoniack, is 
 alfo ofgoodufe to bring over Tindtures, but not in 
 that quantity as Butter of Antimony. 
 
 44. Our dry, fwect univerfal tinging water dif- 
 folves white Pebbles and Cryftals, and changeth the 
 lame into precious Stones of feveral colours, excep- 
 ting onely their hardnefs, which it cannot commu- 
 nicate. 
 
 45. The eafieft way to get the Sol or Lune that is 
 in Jupiter, is by calling it upon molten Venus, which 
 draws the Sol and Lime to it felf out of the Jupiter. 
 
 46. In like manner doth the Regulus of Antimony 
 when in flux readily draw to it the Sol and Luna 
 in Jupiter, and then wafliing the Regulus with Niter 
 we get the Sol and Luna contained in Jupiter. 
 
 47. But this operation ought not to be done in Cru- 
 cibles made of common Earth,which eafily break and 
 Ipill the metal,but inthofe that are made of afat cru- 
 cible Clay, mix'd with coal duft, as is taught in the 
 fifth part of my Furnaces. 
 
 48. As the Sulphur in Tartar coagulates a thin 
 water into a hard Hepar.or Liver fo called ,fo likewife 
 doth a fixt Sulphur coagulate Mercury into Sol and 
 Luna. 
 
 49. The often calcining of Salts and diflolving 
 them in Water, doth purihethem, and makes theni 
 eallly fluxible, and in particular Vitriol may by this 
 means be fo i Jiified, as to yield its Oil with a very 
 fmall heat. 
 
 50. The Solution of Saturn and Lune poured into 
 a volatile Spirit of Mars or Venus, draws the tinging 
 volacile Sulphur oat of the Water to it (elf, and makes 
 the iame Corporal and fixed. 
 
 51. Tartar contains a coagulating and tinging 
 Sulphur, for it coagulates Water into a Hepar, and 
 
 tinges red metals to a white Srone, which may be 
 pulverized ; this Sulphur is the caufe why Tartar 
 will not diflblve in cold Water as other Salts. 
 
 >)i. When therefore the Tartar is freed ofthisSul- 
 phur that coagulates all Water, then much good 
 may be done therewith as well in Phylick as Aichi- 
 my, and many other Arts befides. 
 
 5 J. Tartar by being boiled in a ftrong Lye, lets 
 go its coagulating Sulphur, and a aneutral Salt pro- 
 ceeds from them both ; but if we have a mind to (e- 
 parate the Lye from the purified Tartar we muft d() 
 it with an acid, that may mortifie the Lye, by which 
 means the purified Tartar will be left (now white. 
 
 54. If the Lye be kiird with a Spirit of Niter or 
 Aqua Fortis, then from both thele contraries proceeds 
 a good Niter. 
 
 f 5. But if we make ufe of a Spirit of Salt, then 
 there is made up of both a tartarized Spirit of Salt. 
 
 56. If we takediftiird Vinegar to mortifie the Lye, 
 then from the joyning of thole both proceeds a neu- 
 tral volatile Salt which is a good Diuretick in the 
 Gout and Stone. 
 
 57. This is the beft way of purifying Tartar, 
 which after this Operation is of far greater ule in 
 Phyfick and Alchimy than the common Tartar. 
 
 58. Tartar as hath been laid, contains a coagula- 
 ting and tinging Sulphur, coagulating all Water into 
 a thick Hepar, and exalting the Colours of metals. 
 Thus we fee that by boiling Golden or Silver Veflels 
 with Tartar, their ieveral Colours are e.\-a'ted. 
 
 59. And whofocver has the Art offeparating this 
 Sulphur from Tartar, may by means thereof etledt 
 great and wonderfull things. 
 
 60. A hke wonder working Sulphur is likewife 
 found in Animals, and more efpecially in man, who 
 brings it with him into the World. 
 
 61. Whence Tome Philofophers tell us, that Adam 
 brought the Philofophers Stone with him out of Pa- 
 radi(e,and after his death carried it with him into his 
 grave. 
 
 6a. Minerals alfo afford the fame coagulating 
 fixing and tinging Sulphur, for which reafon the Phi- 
 lofophers Stone is faid to be Animal, Vegetable and 
 Mineral, becaufe of each of theft three Kingdoms an 
 Univerfal medicine may be made for men and 
 metals. • 
 
 6;. But the eafieft way is, when we extrad the 
 beft i^art of all thefe three Kingdoms, and conjoyn 
 them according to Art for an Univerfal medicine. 
 
 64. Wine is the chief of Vegetables, Man of Ani- 
 mals, and Gold of Metals. 
 
 6 J. Spirit of Wine purges and purifies all things,, 
 with its purifying Flame ; as may be (een in my 
 Purgatory of the Philofophers. 
 
 66. The volatile Salt of Animals, and efpecially 
 of Man purifies all things by its volatilizing Virtue, 
 as appears in our moft fecret Sal Arwoniack. 
 
 67. The incombuftible Sulphur of metals tingeth 
 the Bodies of men and metals, to the higheft pitch 
 of Health, as may be leen in the third Appendix to 
 the feventh part of my I'barmacopaa Spagyrica. 
 
 68. Demogorgon with his RulTet mantle and green 
 Coat, is the Grandfather of all the Heatheti Gods 
 
 of all metals. 
 
 t. e. 
 
 6^. And like as in the Earth he doth generate and 
 bring to perfeftion all metals, fo alfo out of the lame, 
 if the Artift knows how to manage him, he perfe:1s 
 all unripe and imperfect metals, in a fhort time, with' 
 the help of Fire, to that degree that they fhall en- 
 dure theTsItas wellasSff/ or Luna. 
 
 T 70. Thi^ 
 
76 
 
 The Fourth Century, 
 
 Part II 
 
 70. This wonckrfull virtue of fixing all volatile 
 minerals, the Philofophers call their (ecret Fire or 
 proper Agent, wherewith not onely the imperfedt 
 metals, as Satum, Juptter, Venus ^ and Mars, but al- j 
 (b volatile Mercury, combuftible common Sulphur, 
 Antimony, Orpiment, and Ar/enick may be fixed, 
 fo as on the Cupel to leave Sol and Lime. 
 
 11. And as this Demogorgon, or invifible fecret 
 Fire of the wife 9Vlen, doth fix the unripe minerals 
 and metals into Lune and Sol ; Co likewile can it fix 
 the faid minerals and metals, and exalt them to an 
 higher degree than that oi Sol, even to the j/lufjuam 
 pertedionoftrue Tindures, whereby all imperfeft 
 metals may be changed into Sol. 
 
 71. This our Demogorgon hath the virtue even 
 as it comes raw and unprepared out of the Earth to 
 change and meliorate all metals as follows. 
 
 7;. It makes Saturn as hard and white as Lune, 
 when tinged with it, of which all maimer of VelTels 
 and Difhes may be made, it onely wants the found 
 oi Lune and enduring of the Teft. 
 
 74. If a little of this Tindure be caft upon fluxed 
 Venus it prefently becomes white and hard as Steel, 
 continues as fufible as before, and yet is fohard that 
 it cannot be filed, fo that feveral Veflelsmay be made 
 of it, not fubjed to bending or breaking. 
 
 75. When caft upon melted j'^«/)i/er, it makes it 
 hard as Lune, and founding like it, is of great ufe 
 to make all forts of VelTels of. 
 
 76. And amongft other things that may be made 
 of it with great profit, this is one, 'viz,. that Looking- 
 Glades may be made thereof, which being polifhed 
 continue a long time clear and fair, without being 
 obfcured in moift Weather, as other metalline GlafTes 
 are, and all this by reafon of the extraordinary hard- 
 nefs of the metal. See wj Treat ife of Looking-glaJJ'es. 
 
 77. This Tindure caft upon Lune, makes the 
 fame Coal-black throughout, fo that it is no more 
 like Lune, of which Bells and Clocks may be made 
 of a far better and clearer found than thofe that are 
 made oiVtmis and Juptter. 
 
 78. By this means alfo in times of War, or other 
 danger Lime may fobe difguifed as not to be known 
 for iuch, and fo may be a good way to prefer ve it 
 from being taken by the Enemy. 
 
 79.»In like manner it makes Sol fo hard that it 
 can no way be bent or deftroyed, and therefore 
 might be of good ufe in many of the following cafes 
 
 80. It would be very proper for fome great Em- 
 perour or King to make his Statue of, it being inde- 
 Itrudible, and not to be diminifhed or injur'd by any 
 way whatfoever. 
 
 81. Money coin'd of this Sol would be of good ufe 
 if a King or Prince had a mind that his Coin fhould 
 not be tranfported elfewhere, becaufe differing fo 
 much from common Sol it would not be pafTible in 
 other Countries. 
 
 8i. This golden Coin alfb would not be fubjed 
 to be dipt or fird. 
 
 8; Alcdals alfo might be made of this Sol, 
 and would be a great curioliry belidcs the indefec- 
 tiblenefsof them. 
 
 84. It would be excellent alfb to make Rings of, 
 efpecially fuch as are defigned for the remembrance 
 of Friends, as lafhng for ever. 
 
 85. It would be very proper to caft Seals of, or 
 the divine Character or other fecret Sigtls. See7r>y 
 I'reatije of the Divine Character and Seal ofGoa. 
 
 8 6 Or the faid Divine Charader being expreft 
 upon my Lapu Igms (which being but for a little 
 
 while carried in ones mouth, cures many grievous 
 Difeafes without any other Medicine) might be let 
 in this hard Sol, and fb without waiting be carried 
 conftantly about one. See my Treatile of the Mineral 
 Squilla m order to a long life. 
 
 87. Great Princes alfo might have Armour and 
 Arms made of this hardned Sd, which would be 
 much better than any of Iron or Steel, which eafily 
 take ruft, to which Sol is not Subjed. 
 
 88. Of this Sol might alfb very conveniently be 
 made Candlefticks and Lamps, with other VeiTels 
 for the ufe of the Church and Altar. 
 
 89. To many more ufes this Sol might be pur, ef- 
 pecially for that by reafon of its hardnefs, it futfers 
 it felf to be polifhed to that degree, as to caft 
 a great luftre from it, like the Sun. 
 
 90. As to the further ufe hereof, See my Treat ife 
 de tribus Lapidibus ignium fecretorm. 
 
 91. With the hardned Lune, Venus, Jupiter, Mars 
 and Saturn, many profitable and curious things 
 may be done, which tor breviriy fake are here o- 
 mitted. 
 
 91. The Sulphur of the Philofophers when fet 
 free from his dark Prifon, wherein he is detained by 
 his Brethren, by our Key that opens all Locks, 
 gives his Deliverer for reward, the pofTeflion ofthe 
 three Kingdoms in the World, 'uiz,. enabling him 
 to make all Vegetables grow fwiftly, and very fruit- 
 full, to cure the Difeafes of all Animals, and to me- 
 liorate and exalt all Metals. 
 
 9?. And when the Philofophers, faith Sendivogius, 
 fee this Sulphur reftor'd to liberty, fwimming in their 
 Sea, they worfhip it, and draw it out with a Silver 
 Line, though others do it with their Sol attrading 
 Magnet, and fix it into an univerfai Medicine, 
 wherewith they afterwards effed wonders : As may 
 be feen in my Elias Artifta, and Turgatery of Fhilo' 
 fophers. 
 
 94. The Philofophers fay, except firft you make 
 our Sol (that is, the redeemed Sulphur) and Mercu- 
 ry white, you'l never be able to make them red. 
 
 95. They fay alfo, our 5o/ tingeth not except it 
 be firft tinged it felf, that is exalted in its colour. 
 
 96. All things in the World have their rife from 
 Fire and Water, and derive their Purity or Impu- 
 rity, from the Purity or Impurity of their Parents. 
 
 97. The common Fire brings forth its Fruits very 
 flowly, whether they be Stones, Minerals, Ani- 
 mals, or Vegetables. 
 
 98. And fo do likewife the warm and dry Sun, 
 and moift Earth : but when we affift Nature with 
 Art, then fhe works much more fwiftly, and brings 
 her Fruits to maturity in much fhorter time. 
 
 99. The Meteors in the Firmament which are 
 made of Fire and Water, efpecially Thunder and 
 Lightning, produce fometimcs Scones, and caft them 
 to the Earth. 
 
 100. A common fulminating Powder made of Sul- 
 phur, Niter and Tartar gives a ftinking oifenllve 
 fmoak, corrupting fome things, and meliorating 0- 
 thers : whereas a Fulmen prepared of Niter, Ji^pt- 
 ffr and Adercury, yields a particular tinging mercurial 
 Water. The Fulmen of Venus tinges Alars into Cop- 
 per, that of Lune graduates Venus into Lune ; and 
 the Fulmen of Soi graduates and tinges Mars into 
 Sol. 
 
 The univerfai Fulmen of the great Tindure gra- 
 duates all Metals into Scl, which God of his mercy 
 grant unto us. Amen, 
 
 THE 
 
Part II. 
 
 It 
 
 THE FIFTH CENTURY. 
 
 i> 
 
 The beft particular and cheafefi Univerfal. 
 
 I . TT"7"HEN with the hel'^oi Semlivogi/ss his Cha- 
 W lybs, or Glauber's Magnet, we have ex- 
 trarted the colour from Sol, and again reftoied it 
 through Venui and Antimony, we may by oft repea- 
 ting thefaidextradlion and reftoration get great profit, 
 this being one of the bell particulars that can be. This 
 multiplication of SJ may very well be compared 
 with the generation of Man, for as a Man in gene- 
 rating, dm h with meat and drink reftore thelofsof 
 his Seed, by which means he continues the faid mul- 
 tiphcation for a lorg time, by turning the meat he 
 eats into Prohfick Seed ; fo likewile the Chymift 
 Changeth Venus, Mars, Jufiter, Saturn, Mercury and 
 Lune into Sol, by feeding the diffpirited Sd that has 
 loft its colour with them, reftoring it to its former 
 ftrength and vigour. 
 
 1. The Sperm of Man is not the Seed of Man, 
 but onely the Shell and receptacle thereof, as may 
 be (een in Old Men, whole Sperm is unfit for ge- 
 neration by reafon of the weaknefs of their vital 
 Spirit. 
 
 5. Solikewife the Seeds of Vegetables, are not all 
 pure Seed, buttheHoufe and Vehicle thereof, that 
 is, of the growing and multiplying virtue, which 
 appears in that when the Seeds have been kept fb 
 long till this vital virtue is exhaled from them, they 
 never bring forth any thing. 
 
 4. No more can Sol be faid to be the Seed of me- 
 tals, but onely the receptacle thereof, for the Seed 
 is not the whole Body, but onely the lively colour 
 of the Body, and the vegetative and multiplicative 
 virtue that is hid in it. 
 
 5 . Now as the Seed of Vegetables is more perfeft 
 and noble than the Vegetables, Co likewife is mature 
 fixt Sol, more perfect than Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, 
 Venus, Mars, though in the imperfect metals alfo a 
 Seed be hid, but not fb fixt and good as that in Gold. 
 
 6. The imperfeiT: metals may be compared to an 
 Herb, whofe Seed is not yet ripe, which being put 
 into the ground cannot grow or multiply^ but rots 
 in the Earth. 
 
 7. The virtue of Corals lies not in their whole 
 Bodies, but in their colour ; and therefore Paracel- 
 /«j bids us not to make ufe of Corals in fubflance, 
 but extrad their Tmdlure, and ufe that for Phyfick, 
 wherefore alfo he rejedls white Corals, as being an 
 unripe Fruit, from any ufein Phyfick. 
 
 8. For this reafon alfo the immature gray Pearls, 
 which are frequently found in Cockle Shells in frefh 
 running waters, are looked upon as ufelclsin Phyfick. 
 
 9 And this not without reafon, for as unripe 
 Grapes are the caufo of griping of the Guts, and hurt 
 the I3ody ; to ripe Grapes nourifh and ftrengthen 
 the fame, efpccially when by fermentation they 
 have quitted their 1-ieces. 
 
 10. All impcrte:t metals fubvert and trouble the 
 Stomach, and caufe vomiting and purging, and that 
 by reafim of their unripenels 
 
 11. Whereas on the contrary 5o/ taken into the 
 Body caufcrh not the Icaft alteration, but powerful- 
 ly Itrengthcns the fame when rcduc'd to Potabi- 
 lity. 
 
 II. Thus Sul may be compared ro ripe Grape.«, 
 which when eaten raw, do indeed no hurt to 'tht 
 Body, but rather afibrds fbme nourifhmenr, ^ec 
 cannot ftrengthen the Heart, Brain, and whole Bo- 
 dy, and make a chearfuU min^.-; but when by fer- 
 mentation they are delivered from their skins and 
 other impurities, they readily and as it were in a 
 moment perform all this. 
 
 i;. In like manner when Sol by fermentation 
 hath laid allde his grofs Body and become Spiritual, 
 if then made ufe of, it not onely nourifheth as ripe' 
 Grapes, but exerts its virtue like a Spirit or Q^Ef- 
 fence of Wine, penetrating the whole, and making 
 it lively, ftrong and vigorous throughout. 
 
 14. Neither do the other m;;rals dif'plav their hid- 
 den virtue, untill by fermentation .snd "difhllation, 
 they be fubtilized and their grofs Bodies laid afidc. 
 
 15. Thus when Ltme by fermentation and diftil- 
 lation is fubtilized, then it dravi^s away all Difeafes 
 of the Brain, and corroborates the fame exceedingly 
 even as Sd doth the Heart 
 
 16. Venus ib purified ftrengthens the Reins and 
 procreativc faculty. 
 
 17. The volatile fweet Spirit of Mars, removes 
 all obftrudions whatfbever, provokes the terms iri 
 Women, and opens thcHiemorroides in Men. 
 
 18. The fweet Spirit of 5/irK>-« cures all inward 
 and outward hot Diftempers. 
 
 19. The fweet Spirit of Jupiter cures all Difiem- 
 pers of the Lungs 
 
 ao The volaltile Spirit of Mercury cures the ve- 
 nereal Diftemper. 
 
 21. N.B. Thefe volatile fpirits of metals muft be 
 cautioufly ufcd, as being of very great force 
 
 ii.Themanner of preparing them, may be feeniri' 
 my Book of Fires, but moit plainly fet down in my 
 defcription of the moft fecret Sal Anmniack. 
 
 1%. All Spirits ad according to their nature and 
 property either good or ill, as the Bodies are good 
 or evil from whence they are taken. 
 
 24. The Spirit quickens, the Body or HeJJi profits no- 
 thing, faith Chri/l, John 6. 
 
 25. Thefe words are ill interpreted, when under- 
 ftood by fome, as if Spirits onely were of ul'e, and 
 Bodies not at all, which is a great miftake, as it 
 is applied by fbme. 
 
 16. Indeed in Metals, Vegetables and all Animals 
 without the ufe of reafon, who grow, move, and 
 live, by the driving of their in-born Spirit, it does 
 hold true, for when their Spirits are by Art fepara- 
 ted from their Bodies, the faid Bodies are thence- 
 forward of no ufe, as being upon the feparation of 
 their Spirit, dead and without all virtue. 
 
 27. But the cafe is different with Man, who being 
 created in the Image of God, and endowed belides 
 his Animal Spirit, with an immortal Soul, which 
 latter onely and immediately derives from God, and 
 not from nature, as the mortal Spirits of Ahimails 
 do. 
 
 i8. Wherefore Tythagoms was much miflaken, in 
 believing that the immortal Souls of Men, when de- 
 parted from their Bodies did immediately enter into 
 thofeof Bcafts. 
 
 29. Which miftake of his feems to have bcenr oc- 
 cafioned hence, becaufe he knew how by Art to 
 
72 
 
 The ¥ifth Century. 
 
 Part ll 
 
 take away the Soul, ;. e. Tinfture from Sol, and 1 
 transfer the fame to an imperfedl meral, thereby 
 making the fame in all things like to true natural 
 Sol. 
 
 50. Certain it is that this may be clone by art, 
 for the tixt Bodyof Sol may be deHroyed, its Soul 
 extradled, and by being joyn'd to another metal 
 make it good Sol. 
 
 ;i. When this difanimation of.Wis duely perfor- 
 med, the Body is lefv^vholly dead, and is in all things 
 like a volatile unmalleable mineral, and cannot en- 
 dure the teft, but fumes away like Arfenick with a 
 little Fire. 
 
 ;2. But in cafe this difanimating of Sol be not 
 rightly done, fo that the Body continues as white 
 as Lune, and malleable (' which is a fign that fome 
 life is ftill left in it ; then his Colour may be refto- 
 red again by means of imperfedl minerals, as well as 
 his former fixednefs in the Fire. 
 
 55. But when the Body of Sol will no longer en- 
 dure the tire, but goes away in (moak, then we can 
 fay it is truly dead and no more Sol. 
 
 '54. Ho that finds difficulty to believe this, let 
 him reade Varacelfus, Sendivogius and other Philo- 
 fophers. 
 
 55. SenJi'Vogius faith, Ot*r Steel,that is,our Magnet, 
 can draw from the Rajes of the Stw, what many ha've 
 fcmht for and fiot found ; tf this oar Magnet copulate 
 ele-ven times ivith Sol, the Sol becomes weakned alniofi 
 to death., and the Steel or Magnet {liall conceive and bring 
 forth a Son more iJlufirious than his Father. 
 
 ;6. From which words it appears that Sendivogim 
 had the Art to difanimate Sol, elle could never have 
 writ fo plainly concerning it. 
 
 %-]. It is certain alfo that there are (bme, that at 
 this time can do as much within a few hours, I ha- 
 ving lately been an Eyewitnefs of the fame, with 
 three other perfonsin company. 
 
 38. It is not necelfary to fay any more how this 
 cheap and fpeedy way of difanimating Sol is to be 
 performed ; forafmuch as all the Philofophers wri- 
 tings are full of it. 
 
 ;9. However to pleafure the unskilfull I will add 
 thus much, that this may be done four fevcral 
 ways. 
 
 40. But the eafieft and cheapeft way is by means 
 of Spirit of Wine, and a microcofmical faline Spirit ; 
 yea this extraction may be performed by a Spirit of 
 Wine alone, without any animal Spirit, or by an 
 animal (aline Spirit without the Spirit of Wine. 
 
 41. If this were not (b, we might have reafbn to 
 accufe both ancient and modern Philofophers of falf- 
 hood, who tells us that Adam brought the Philofo- 
 phers Stone with him out of Paradife, and after his 
 death took it with him into his Grave. 
 
 41. Which words may feem ftrangeto fome, foraf- 
 much as he was driven bare and naked out of Pa- 
 radife. 
 
 4;. Yet the Authority of thofe whoaflert this be- 
 ing (b great and inconteftable, it cannot well be cal- 
 led in queftion. 
 
 44. Whai therefore the Philofophers meant by 
 this Scone which Adam brought with him but of 
 Paradife, is well worthy our Enquiry. 
 
 45 The Philofophers commonly fay our ilone is a 
 ftoneand noftone,d^c. which implies thus much, that 
 ro outward view iris a ftone, but in deed and in ver- 
 tue, a Concentrate form o^ Sol. 
 
 46. Wherefore I'etrus £ow« faith, We do ?iot feek 
 Sni, but the form o/SoI. 
 
 47. What is then properly this form of 5o/ i 
 
 48. Anjw. It is a (ubftance which to outward 
 view looks like a contemptible ftone, and yet is of 
 fuch fuperlative Vcrtue, that when joyned with im- 
 perfeel metals on the Fire, it tranfmutes them iiuo 
 the higheft perfection of Sol. 
 
 49. It may further be demanded, whether Adam 
 brought fuch a matter with him out of Paradile, 
 whereby this tranfmutation of metals into Sol may be 
 performed > 
 
 50. Anf. Yes he did bring fuch a matter with 
 him out of Paradife, and after death took it with 
 him to his Grave, wherewith all Difeates of mankind 
 may be cured, and all metals changed into the fineft 
 Sol. 
 
 51. If this be Co, might fome fay, Adam mufl either 
 have been very blind, in not difcerning the Trea- 
 fijre ho was pofTeffed of ; or very envious in not com- 
 municating the fame to his Pofteriry. 
 
 52. I cannot believe that Adam, out of envy 
 withheld this fecret from his Children, but rather 
 fuppofe that the blindnefs into which his fall had caft 
 him, was the caufe of his not percieving the great 
 Jewel he had about him. 
 
 53. But how could he be blind, who was made 
 by God himfelf, and after his own Image ? 
 
 54. Adam was certainly blind, and his blindnefs 
 proceeded from his Pride, becaufe he afpired to be 
 like to God; he was not blind as to his outward Eyes, 
 but his heart was blinded, which is by far the worft 
 blindnefs of the two; For all lin and wickcdncfs 
 blinds the hearts of men, that they cannot percieve 
 the folly of their doings. 
 
 5 f . Thus Adam alfb by means of his difbbedience 
 to God, became fo blind, as not to percieve, or be 
 fenfibleof the Love that God had for him before his 
 Fall, and how richly he had endowed him. 
 
 56 Whence alfb his Children were fb wicked and 
 blind, that the one Brother flew the other; which 
 wickednefs hath ftill encreafed in their Pofterity, as 
 appears by the deluge, and the deflrudion of Sodom 
 and Gomorrah. 
 
 57. And thus the World from day to day ftill 
 grows worfe and worfe, notwithftanding the Exam- 
 ples of God's Vengeance againft Sinners. 
 
 58. And all this proceeds becaufe men are fo ge- 
 nerally blinded by the Devil in fin and wickednefs. 
 
 59. But to leave this, it may be further queftion'd; 
 that feeing all mankind is become lb blinded through 
 Adam's fall, as not to difcern the Jewel they carry 
 about them ; who then was the Perfon that firft dif- 
 covered, that man was the Polfellour of fo great a 
 Treafurc .-' 
 
 60. Anf. Who was the firft difcoverer of this Trea- 
 fijre I cannot tell, but thus much is certain, that ic 
 was an honeft man and fearing God ; becaufe God 
 doth not reveal his fecrets to the wicked ; wherefore 
 Tho. Acjitmas C^\t\\, Our Holy Art, either finds a man 
 holy, or makes him jo. 
 
 61. But (bme will fay, don"t we reade of Heathens 
 that have been Polieirours of the Philofophers ftone ; 
 and how can we imagine that thofe who have no 
 knowledge of God, and are blinded with (In, (hould 
 ever be able to find out fb great a Myftery ? 
 
 62. Anf. Thofe Heathens that have been Poflef- 
 f()urs of thisgreat fecret, were not uithout the know- 
 ledge of God ; for they lived according to the Law 
 of Nature, honouring God and loving their Neigh- 
 bour; wherefore alfo God accepted of them. They 
 learnt to know God from his Works of Wonder, 
 
 and 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Fifth Centiirj, 
 
 73 
 
 and according to their knowledge, loved, honou 
 red and feared him ; and fb were made Partakers of 
 his grace, light, and the knowledge of his lecrers. 
 
 6;. WeareaUo to know that the Ancient Philo 
 fophers know more than one way to attain the Phi- 
 lofbphcrs Stone ; though indeed the moft of them 
 fought it in minerals and metals, which is the longeft 
 way. 
 
 64 And that becaufe it is impodible to change the 
 metallick fpecies, without bringing metals back into 
 their firft matter. See my Treatife of the pnucip/es of 
 metals y and the fcuentb fart of my Pharmacopcea Spa- 
 gyrica. 
 
 6y. Butothers have taken a' nearer way to attain 
 this fecret ; and to fome Chriftians God hath been 
 pleated to difcover the fhorteft way of all, by revea- 
 ling unto them that lie made Adatn every way per- 
 fect, giving him all that was neceflary, either for his 
 Soul or Body. 
 
 66. Now that Adam could not difcern how richly 
 God had endowed him, was his own fault, becaule 
 he was dilbbedient to God, following the deceitfull 
 Serpents advice. 
 
 67. And after this manner doth the Devil yer 
 daily deceive Men, by perfwading them to do a- 
 gainft the commands of God, and that their difbbe- 
 dience fhall not bring any fuch mifchief upon them 
 as God's threatnings (eem to import. 
 
 68. This then is the reafon why Men do not un- 
 derhand the (ecrets of God, becaufe they give too 
 much way to Sin, whereby they become blinded, 
 that they can neither fee nor hear the good that 
 comes from above. 
 
 69. Now the reafon why moft of the Alchymifts 
 "have fought for this great gift of God in minerals 
 
 and metals, and efpecially in 5o/, is this, becaufe 
 their intention was to multiply 5o/, which they 
 fuppofed could no way better be done than* by fow- 
 ing it like other Seeds in the Earth, but could not 
 imagine that befides common Sol, there were other 
 fubjeifts, wherein the S'oZ-making virtue did refide. 
 
 70. Which opinion of theirs was probably groun- 
 ded upon that faying of the PhiloJbphers. ii hat you 
 joiv, that yoti will reap. 
 
 71. This feems at firft fight very rational, that 
 from filth or excrements no good, and fo no S<,1 can 
 come ; but let us hear the other fide alfo, and we 
 Ihall be otherwife informed. 
 
 71. For the Philofbphers ^^y that their Medicine 
 is Vegetable, Animal and Mineral ; fb that Vegeta- 
 bles and Animals are not excepted. 
 
 7;. Albertiis Magnus, writes that the greateft mi- 
 neral aurifving virtue is in Man, and efpecially in 
 his Head between the Teeth, and proves it ; becaufe 
 in dead Mens Skuls he had found grains of 5o/ftick- 
 ing between the Teeth. 
 
 74.. The Ume is alfo confirmed by Thomas Anjui- 
 9aSy Rhafts, Janus Lacinius, and others. 
 
 75 There is aUb an old l3ook, whofe Authour is 
 unknown, which treats at large of that ilibjetl which 
 Adam brought with him out of Par.idije, wherein 
 the Operator is warned to have a great care of the 
 fumesof the matter as he would avoid the Plague, 
 or the moft deadly Poyfbn. From this Authour 1 
 have alledged fome pafiages in my other Writings, 
 and (hewed that the Philolophers Stone may be 
 prepared of any fubjecl whofe Elements may be fe- 
 parated. 
 
 76 Now certain- it is that from all Animals and 
 Vegetables, the Elements may be feparated, and 
 
 ■ i confequently follows, that from all Vegctab'e and 
 ^ Animal Subje^s, the Phiiofophers Stone, or univer- 
 
 fal Medicine for the Bodies of Men, and Metals 
 
 may be prepared. 
 
 77. Moriefius Roman-.'s, who prepared this Medi- 
 cine for K\ngCal:d, declares that he took thefiibieCt 
 matter of it from Man. 
 
 78. For when the King asked Mirmim, in what 
 kind of (ubjecl the Philolbphr-s Stone was to be 
 lookc for ; he anfwered, the Medicine is in thy felf 
 O King ; wherefore alfo after th^t he had hnifhed 
 the Work, he wrote round about the Glafs, in which 
 the Medicine was, thefe words : He who carries all 
 about htm, needs not the help of another. 
 
 79- Thereby intimating, that he always carried 
 about with him, whatfoever was necefTary for the 
 preparing of tlie Medicine, and therefore did not 
 Itand in need of the Kings alliftance. 
 
 80. This fame honelt Monenns, writes plainly 
 concerning the preparation of this Medicine, and 
 doth as it were witli his finger point us to the matter 
 in thefe words of his, quoted by Armldus de ■villa 
 no'va ; Grind the Phlegmatick and Chderick with the 
 Sanguin, tmt'iU it become a tinging Heafen, ikc. 
 
 81. Arnoldus explains thefe words of Morienus 
 thus: J he PhUgmatick is cold,as Mercury ,f/jt Sanguin 
 IS war7n and moijf, as the Sal vr Gold, the Choleric k is 
 hot and dry, as Sal Armoniack : intimating that of 
 thefe three, Mercury, Sol, and Sal Armomac , the 
 Phiiofophers Stone is to be prepared. 
 
 82. But that he meant not this concerning com- 
 mon Mercury^ Sol, and Sal Armoniack is apparent 
 from this, that Morienus, as foon as he had prepared 
 the Medicine for the King, went away privately, 
 without expeding any reward from the King ; ic 
 alfo appears from the anfwer before mentioned 
 which he made to the King, that he fpoke of fuch a' 
 Adercury, Sol, and Sal Armoniack which every Man 
 carries about with him. 
 
 85. This is abundantly confirmed by all the Phi- 
 iofophers that went his way, forafhiuchas they de- 
 clare that no charges are required to the preparation 
 of It, that their fubjett is a contemptible matter caft 
 out upon Dunghills, and trod under {^qi, and that 
 the Poor have it as well as the Rich. 
 
 84. Morienus yet more clearly intimates this, in 
 telling us that the matter whilit it is preparing, ex- 
 hales a fmell like to that which comes from' the 
 Graves of the Dead, which is a verv olTenfive fme!!. 
 
 8f . Now like as Vegetables whil'ft they are putri- 
 fying give forth an ill fcent, and Animals a worfe, as 
 appears in the ftink of rotten Eggs, and the putre- 
 faction of Aian's Blood, efpecially when the fame 
 arc putrified in a clofe Glafs in warm Horfe Dung. 
 , 86. For without putrefaction, there can be no fe- 
 ■paration of the Elements by Diflilation, and if no 
 feparationbe made, neither can any melioration or 
 exaltation be expected. 
 
 87. We know that every Chaos, as it is a produdl 
 of the four Elements, contains many impurities 
 and in particular much dead Earth, and Water void 
 of all virtue ; and that the Element of Fire alone is 
 proper to heal and meliorate Men and Metals. 
 
 88. Wherefore feeing that no feparation of the 
 Elements can be without a foregoing putrefacTiionwe 
 muft conclude putrefaction to be the beginning of our 
 Work, without which nogoodend can be expelled. 
 
 89. Now he that knows our Horfe Dung, and how 
 to putrifie the well known and every where to be 
 found moft univerfal natural fubjeift by means of the 
 
 V famej 
 
74 
 
 The Fifth Ccnturj, 
 
 Part II 
 
 lame, he will eafily afterwards by DiftiHation fepa- 
 rate the moft pure and all things penetrating and 
 meliorating Element of Fire, from the grofs Chaos 
 to his great fatisfavflion, and make ufe of the fame to 
 the alVonifhment and wonder of the ignorant. 
 
 90 But in this ftate it is onely good for the health 
 of Man ; and therefore in order to its meliorating of 
 Metals, the pure Element of Fire muft be rirft fix^d 
 with Sol, by \vhich,,^eans it obtains ingrefs into im- 
 perfect Metals, reducing them to the perfection oiSol. 
 
 91. Now when the pure Element of Fire is (epa- 
 rated from the Chaos, and reduced to the higheft 
 degree of purity, then it ftinksno more, neither is 
 poilbnous as it was before purification, but is an An 
 tidote againft all poifons whatfoever , wherefore 
 alfo the Philofophers have called their Medicine The- 
 riaca. 
 
 <)x. But all this is to be undcrftood onely of that 
 fubjcot which every man carries about with him, 
 and brings with him out of his Mothers Womb. 
 
 95. If any one following the Letter oi Morknus, 
 (hould take for his fubjeft common Mercury, Sol and 
 Sal Armoniack, neither will he be miflaken, but if 
 he rightly proceeds will have a good Work, though 
 it be not at all neceflary to make ufe of common 5c/ 
 and Mercury, becaufe our natural fubjeCt contains 
 both a living 5.;/ and Mercury. 
 
 94. It is no prejudice to our Animal Subjecft, if 
 we join Minerals with it, becaufe our Sol joins it felf 
 with all fubjeds, and unites it felf readily with them. 
 But if we be ignorant of the due proportion and 
 compofition of 6"o/, Mercury, Sulphur, or any other 
 metal or mineral, then it is better to prepare our 
 Medicine out of this one fubjed onely, becaufe fb 
 there is lefs danger of erring, as I can witnefs by 
 experience. 
 
 95.1 havealfb found by experience that this Mi 
 crocofniical Subjed is alone fufficienr,without the ad- 
 
 dition of any minerals or metals, to meliorate all 
 imperfect metals. 
 
 96. As to a particular this of all others hath pleas'd 
 me beft, -viz.. Recife common 6'o/, and with the help 
 of our Magnet dilanimare it fb, that it may be no 
 longer Sol, as not enduring the Tefl;, and Imoaking 
 away with a fmall Fire like Arfenick. 
 
 97. Then take this Sol and conjoyn it with our 
 Microcofinical Subject, with which digeft a folutiori 
 of Lune, by which means the Lum will be meliora- 
 ted, and on the Cupel leave Sol to good profit. 
 
 98. But if we joyn common Mercury andcommoa 
 Sol with it, and cafl this mixture into a fblution of 
 Mars, and digeft it for Ibme days then the pure -Sol 
 and eafily flowing Mercury graduates a good part of 
 the grofs and difficultly flowing Mars into good 6W, 
 to the great fatisfadion of the Artift. 
 
 99. And if we unite Lune and Jufiter therewith, 
 and calt this mixture into a fblution oiVcnm, and di- 
 gelt it the moift way, then by means of our fecren 
 Salt thefe two white united metals change the red 
 Venus with little lols ot weight into good Lum that 
 will abide the Tefl. And it is indeed matter of 
 wonder, that our univerfal Salt, fhould be offo 
 great virtue, when fermented with white or red 
 metals, to change other imperfeCt metals into good 
 Sol and Lune on the Teft. 
 
 100. Wherefore this fhal! be my conclufion, that 
 in Man is hid the greateft virtue of changing all me- 
 tals, as well as the Bodies of Men, both univerfally, 
 and particularly ; which if intended for the melio- 
 ration of metals, the adding of fixt Sol and Lune for 
 a ferment will facilitate the ingrefs into other metals, 
 and further diffufeits tinging virtue. 
 
 N. B. I fhall not be fetisfied till I have given a 
 fuller and plainer defcription of this Royal Labour, 
 which I intend to do in the fixth Century, if God 
 permit. • 
 
 Novum 
 
Part 11. 75 
 
 - t- — - — ■ I I I ■■ .1 
 
 Novum Lumen Chy micum : 
 
 O R A 
 
 NEW CHYMICAL LIGHT. 
 
 Being a Revelation of a certain new invented fecret, never 
 before maiiifefted to the World. 
 
 Whereby a clear and unextinguifhable light is fct before the Eyes of the 
 blind World, and, as it were, palpably demonftrated, that good Gold may 
 he found and attained with profit, every where throughout the whole 
 World, as well in cold as in hot Regions, fo that in all thofe places, where 
 Sand and Stones are found, a Man cannot fct his Foot, where, not onely 
 Gold, but alfo the true matter of the Stone of Philofophers is afforded. 
 
 READER, 
 
 ItviH now addrefs my [elf to the difcove ring of the wonders of God, not hitherto heard of; 
 to ivit, that throughout the whole Earthy no lefs in cold than in hot Countries, where there are 
 Sand and Stones to he had, good Gold may he extracted from thence with profit. Becaufe a 
 Man cannot fet his foot in any place where Gold doth not exifl. Never thelefs Chalk, or Lime- 
 Stones, are to he thence excepted j hecaufe they onely feldom or never contain any thing of Gold, other- 
 wife all fandy and rocky Stones, all Flints of what colour foever, as alfo all Sand, fine andcourfe, 
 all fandy Stones upon high Mountains, in deep Valleys, in the howels of the Earth, in Ponds and 
 Rivers, and lajlly, all the Sand on the Sea-fhore, none excepted, although it hath as jet ohtained 
 no colour, hut he white and clear. The which indeed will feem incredihle to very many, hut is af- 
 ferted hyme as afincere truth, which I never found, hy reading or hear fay, hut have proved hy m.iny 
 and various experiments. Some of which I will here fet down for the confirming and demonflrating 
 the truth of my Writings, that hy thofe, all Men of a found mind may he ahle to difcern, that my 
 Ajfertion is no Dream, nor fahuloiis trifle, hut fufficiently founded upon experience in the light of 
 nature. 
 
 Therefore J would not have thee judge of thofe things which thou underflandefl not, nor canfl not at 
 prefent apprehend, hut rememher that the wonders of God triumph with magnificence and power. 
 But fearch out thofe things in every part hefore thou prefumefl to inter pofe thy immature judgment. 
 And although it the proof thou fhouldjl he mijlaken as may eafily happen to one making tryal, yet do 
 not impute the err our to my Writings, hut rather to thy own unready iVit. For I will here write 
 nothing hut what I have oftentimes performed, and can yet perform at any time. Confult other 
 fear c hers after this matter, among which I think all cannot err, in a matter fo eafie, that even a Boy 
 0ften years of Age may apprehend it, for what h.elongs to the pofihilily of it, hut it will he evident 
 to many of them with me. That there is Gold in all Sand and Stones, through all places of the 
 World. But there is no need that I fhould here fhew the way of extracting it from them, in a great 
 quantity or large ufe, hut rather I fhall heware, that I put not fo fharp a Dart into the hands of my 
 Adverfaries, to wound my felf, for I have puhlifhed this to gratifie candid Friends, not Count erfeitSy 
 but leafi of all the Compilers of notorious Lihels, in which opinion, I will remain and acquiefce. 
 
 We 
 
7^ 
 
 A New Li^ht ofCbpnflrj. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 WE will now proceetl to the Trial whether thofe 
 things which I have here written be true, and 
 are able to abide the Examenofihe Cupel, to wit, 
 that in all Sand, there is good Gold. 
 
 The fir Jt Specimen of Frobatio?}. 
 
 REcife one Ounce of white Sand or Flint, which 
 youcfteemto be altogether void of Gold, with 
 which mix three ^Ivts of Mimunif)X of any other Afhes 
 of Saturn. Put this mixture into a Wind Furnace, or 
 to tlie Bellows, let it flow well together for an hour, 
 and it will turn to a yellow glafs ; fuifer it not to 
 ftand too long left the glafs of Saturn perforate the 
 Crucible, and run out into the Afhes. Pour out the 
 glafs and powder it, and mix it with half its weight 
 of Sal Alcah or Pot aflies, put this mixture into an 
 Iron Crucible, into which you have firft put (bme 
 bits of Iron, or old Nails ; give tire and caufe the 
 matter to flow, and the glals of Saturn vvill be con- 
 tinually reduced by the Mars, and at length return 
 into Lead : Pour it out into a Cone, and the Rtgu- 
 lus of Saturn will fink to the bottom, and th.e Sand 
 or Flint will be uppermoft as a drols. After all is 
 cold, take out the Regulm of Saturn, which hath 
 drawn to it felf lb great a roughnels and blacknefs 
 from the Iron, that it cannot eafily be cupellated: 
 which you may remedy thus : put this black Regit- 
 iiti of Saturn into a Crucible in a Wind Furnace, 
 caufe it to flow well ; and if there be of that one 
 Ounce, caft upon it a Drachm or fomewhat more 
 of Salt- peter, and make them flow together, then the 
 Salt-peter will attract the roughnefs from the Saturn 
 and turn it into Scoria. Which being poured out and 
 the Regulas of Saturn feparated from the Scoria, it 
 will be white and tradtable, and eafily runneth upon 
 the Cupel. This I call wafliing. But if thou know- 
 eft not how to perform this Lotion, which yet in it 
 felf confiftcth in an eafie labour, put th> 'black and 
 rough Rtgnlus Qi S.^.turn'vMo fiich an Inftrument ( as 
 they call Ctreib %t\)tX\iZ)o\- ,z clnfe Cupel,under a 
 covering [or Muffle,] and (uffer it lb to be defecated 
 for the (pace of half or at leaft a quarter of an hour, 
 pour it out and fcparate the Scuria from the Regulus ; 
 which will be white and traftable. But the Lotion 
 by Salr-pcter is much the better 
 
 Of this Regulus of Suiirn, and of that fame Lead 
 of which the Afhes of S^f«>« were made,take equally 
 the fame weight, exa-ftly weighed with the lefler 
 weights, put e,'.ch of them apart upon a dephleg- 
 med Cupel, futt'er them to run ; compare one with 
 the other, and you (hall find, that Saturn which was 
 blown otf with the Sand or Flint to leave behind it 
 a grain of Gold, but on the contrar\', the common 
 Satttrn will onely leave a grain of Silver. Who now 
 candenVjbut that the grain of Gold proceedeth from 
 the white Sand or Flint ? For no Gold could come 
 from the Salts. This Specimen of Probation is a 
 palpable Argument, that Gold is contained in all 
 Sand and Flints of what Colour (never. But that 
 there is no ditference between one Sand or Flint, 
 and anotlier, fo that there is no more Gold in one 
 than another, I do not allert, for ( in that refpeft ) 
 they greatly ciitTer. Alfo that the Sand of hot Re- 
 gions containeth more Gold than that of cold Coun- 
 treys, is in no wile to be doubted, as every prudent 
 Man will eafily think. For we have (et down this 
 Specimen of Probation, onely to the end that you 
 may find Gold to be in all the Sand and Flints of 
 th$ whole World. 
 
 The fecond Specimtn of Trobation. , 
 
 REcife' one part of white Flint or Sand, with 
 which mix three or four times as much Salt of 
 Tartar, or of any other Alcaly, which mixture put 
 into a Crucible, lo that it be not above a third part 
 full, becaule this mixture in the melting might rife 
 up and run over the Crucible ; let it (iand half an 
 hour, that it may be well melted, and it will be 
 turned into a white tranlparent glafs. Pour it out 
 anddilfolveit in water, or rather in a Li.vm«w, and 
 the Sand or Flint will be dilfolved, and converted 
 into a thick Liquor. In this Liquor digeft for the 
 ("pace of an hour or two, half an Ounce of Filings or 
 Rafpings or rather thin (havings of Lead, and the 
 Lead will extrad: the l]^-iritual Gold from the Water 
 of Flints, and will thence grow yellow : Which be- 
 ing taken out of the VVater dry, cupel it, and 
 you fhall find a grain of Gold. Alio cupel another 
 half Ounce of the fame Lead, and you (hall find a 
 grain of Silver, as is commonly wont to be had from 
 all Lead, from which you may be certain that white 
 Flints and Sand, contain (piritual Gold, which be- 
 Cometh corporeal with Metals. 
 
 A Third Specimen of Trobation. 
 
 DlfTolve Saturn in Acfua Fortis, and pour into the 
 lolution Salt water, and all the Lead will fall 
 from the Water like a white Powder : mix three 
 parts of this edulcorated and dry ed C<*/.v of Saturn 
 with one part of Sand, to which add half fo much 
 of the Salt of a Lixivium or other Alcaly ; which 
 mixture put into an Iron Crucible, into which you 
 have firft put (bme bits of Iron, which being cove- 
 red, futfer It to melt fjr the fpaceof full half an hour, 
 untill the (harp Spirits of Salt which were in the 
 Lead be mortified by the Iron, for then the Saturn 
 is reduced and rendered corporeal, which being 
 poured out intoa C^one, theiRf^«/.v.f of5<»r«?-» falleth 
 to the bottom, which you may wa(h with Salt-peter 
 as we have taught above, or purge it from the Faeces 
 on the CrCib ^CijCrbCfor Muffle] weigh it exactly 
 by the leflbr Probatory Weights, weigh alio as much 
 of any other common Lead,which is not melted with 
 Sand, cupel each by it (elf, and that Lead which 
 was melted with the Sand, will leave a grain of 
 Gold in the Cupel, but the other common Lead lea- 
 veth onely a grain of Silver. Which fufficiently pro- 
 veththatthere is Gold in all Sand.noneexcepted. But 
 I do not alTert that all Sand containeth lb much Gold 
 as that it may be thence extraded with profit. Be- 
 caule fome Sand is poor, other rich, another richer. 
 Therefore wholbever intendeth any profit by this 
 ought before hand to know the difference of Sand 
 and Stones, that he may not lofe his labour. The 
 which may eafily be found out by experience, to 
 wit, if you do nothing in great Quantities, before 
 you have made trial in lefl^er, that is, (uch as may be 
 performed by the lefler Specimens of Probation. 
 
 J Legitimate and Infallible way and manner of finding 
 out and proving every Flint, Stone, and Sand, whe- 
 ther it containeth much or little Gold. 
 
 R^ 
 
 Ecipe four ounces of Sand, Flint, or other 
 Stones or Rocks, which you have a mind to 
 prove; heat them red hot in a Crucible, and caft 
 them fo into cold Water, where they will become 
 
 tractable, 
 
Part II. 
 
 A New Chymical Light, 
 
 11 
 
 tra^lable, and miy eaiii y be brought to fine Powder, 
 tochofe four ounces of powdered Flints, Sand or 
 Stones, put into a i'lnall Glafs Cucurbit, pour two 
 ounces of A'j. Regis, ihzt the Sand may be well moift- 
 ned ; fet the Cucurbit upon warm Sand for half an 
 hour, and the Jejua Regis will attracH: to it (elf the 
 Gold which is contained in the Sand or Flint To 
 which if two ounces of hot Water be poured into 
 the Cucurbit, and mixed by a ftrong (baking it to- 
 gether, and tiltred through a brown Paper, the Wa- 
 ter with the Gold goeth through the hirer, and the 
 Sand will remain in the Paper, to which if you 
 pour a little common Water, and let it run through 
 k will take out the refidue of the Go!d, which yet 
 adhcreth to the Sand, which is to be added to the 
 firft. Upon this Solution if you pour a Lixivium^ 
 but rather Spirit of Urine ; that Ltxivmrn or Spirit ot 
 Urine, mortitieth the Aqua Regis and precipitateth 
 the Gold which is in it in form of a yellow Powder, 
 from which the Water is to be poured otf, and the 
 Sol to be edulcorated with fieQi Water, and dryed, 
 and that very warily, becaufe Gold of this fort, 
 when itgroweth hot, fulminateth, fo that it is ftiat- 
 tered into minute parts. To this fulminating Gold 
 if you add a little common Sulphur, and make it red 
 hot in a Crucib'e, it doth not tulminate. If you 
 reduce fuch a Calx of Go'd mixed with Borax in a 
 clean Crucible, you will find how much Gold that 
 four Ounces of Sand or Flint contained. JV. B. Ex- 
 cept the Sand or Flint (hould happen alfb to be im- 
 pregnated with Iron, which would render the Sol 
 brittle and pale. For in that cafe, the Sol precipi- 
 tated from the Aqua Regia, and burned with Sul- 
 phur would not flow with Borax, becaufe the Iron 
 being mixed with it, would adulterate the Probati- 
 on : But if you cupel fuch Gold partaking of Iron, 
 v/'nh Satinn, the Iron may be feparated from the 
 Sol, and the proof will be void of errour. N. B. 
 That Sand and Flints, may indeed be proved ano- 
 ther way, but feeing this which we have here pre- 
 fcribed, is eafie to be pradifed, we will red: in that. 
 
 But this one thing is a"fb necefiary to be known, 
 viz.. It is indeed true, that in all Sand and Flints 
 there is Gold, as the above mentioned proofsdo wit- 
 nefs ; neverthelefs know that there is a difference 
 between native, corporeal,and folid Gold.and the vo- 
 latile f piritual firfl: Ens ot Gold For the corporeal Gold 
 is eafily cxtracHied by the help of corrofive Waters or 
 Salts; butthe fpiritualnotfo. And becaule corpore 
 a1 Gold is always elicited by the benefit of the above 
 mentioned Probation it may thence happen, that 
 although in white Sand there fhould plainly be no 
 corporeal Gold, neverthelefs by the help of the a 
 forefaid Probations it would be thenc^ elicited, in- 
 deed not much, nor no more than what the Lead 
 which was ufed for the proof, did contain of Silver: 
 becaufe the Lune in the melting or diflblving hath 
 attracted to it felf the fpiritual Gold, from the Fhnt 
 or Sand, fb that it is thence tindted and tranfmuted 
 into Gold. Which is manifeft in that the grain of 
 Sol doth not exceed the magnitude of the grain of Sil- 
 ver, which is gotten from other common Lead. But 
 if befides the fpiritual, there be alfb corporeal Gold 
 in the Sand, the grain of Sol will neceflarily exceed 
 that of Luna, for the Silver which was contained in 
 the Saturn doth not vanifh into Air but remaineth. 
 and becaufe it doth not remain the lame Silver, 
 but pafleth into Gold, that change is afcribed 
 to the notable Operation of the firlt Ens of Gold, 
 or fpiritual Gold in the Sand. Wherefore who- 
 
 foever inrendeth to extrad: Gold from Sand, Flint 
 or Stones with profit, ought to know certainly 
 before by fmaller experiments, that befides fpiritual 
 they alio contain corporal Gold. For I have writ- 
 ten this Book onely upon the account of extraftin^ 
 from them corporal Gold, leaving the fpiritual 
 Gold to Philofophers that of it they may make their 
 Stone. But neceflity required that I fhould lightly 
 touch at thofe few things. For if according to my 
 prefcribed Probations, any one in worki..g fhould 
 have found a grain of Gold of equal quantity with 
 the grain of Silver, he might wonder in his mind, 
 which way the Silver had made its efcape, feeing' 
 that he had found Gold inf^ead of Silver. Where- 
 fore I thought it necellary to fhew the reafbnof that, 
 for the taking away all fcruple from every ignorant 
 mind. Wherefore whofoever feeketh Gold from 
 Sand or Stones, let him chufe fiich, from which 
 corporal Gold may be extrafted with profit. For 
 they will afford him fuch profitable fruit, as the 
 white Sand denieth. But that for the performing 
 my Specimens of Probation, I have taught to take 
 white Sand, I have done it for this reafon, that I 
 might make it evident to every one that there is 
 Gold in all Sand, but that it cannot be extracted 
 from all with gain. For white Sand or Flint is 
 very often void of corporal Gold, but never of fpiri- 
 tual, by which Silver may be converted into good 
 Gold. I might have palled by this admonition with 
 filence, feeing that thofe things are not necelTary 
 to ba known by the vulgar, in afmuch as corporal 
 Gold will abundantly facisfy their defire ; but a Phi- 
 lofopher neither wanteth , nor feeketh corporal 
 Gold, but onely fpiritual, to prepareofitaTindture. 
 Add, that to him it is fufficiently known, in what 
 fubjccts the firfl Ens of Gold is plentifully contained. 
 Hence, although the firft Ens of Gold be alfo ia 
 white Sand, as is manifeft by the foregoing proofs 
 he ufeth not that, but rather feeketh fiich Stones 
 for his work, as contain much Tinfture. Neither 
 alfo doth any true Philofopher ib tie himfclf to this 
 or that fubjed onely, that he will not elicit his Tinc- 
 ture from any other, inafmuch as it is evident to 
 him that the firfl Ens of Gold may be found in all 
 things in the whole World. For wherefoever there 
 is Sulphur, there may alfo be had the firft Ens of 
 Gold, whence a Tiudure may be prepared. But 
 it is evident that in all Vegetables, Animals and 
 Minerals there is Sulphur. For the matter of the 
 Stone of Philofophers, every where olFereth it felf, 
 fb that the poor as well as the rich may attain it 
 without coft, according to that faying of the Phi- 
 lofopher ; That their matter is eziery where obvious^ 
 and ^re fared without money, trod under foot and thrown 
 to Dunghils. So the true Philofophers fpeak and 
 write. But Sophifters, who falfly alTume the name 
 of Philofophers, wandring up and down from Court 
 to Court, where they ®tfer their fervice for the ac- 
 quiring the Philofophers Stone, by their lying Fa- 
 bles, perfwade credulous Noble men, that the mat- 
 ter of the Stone is to be fought in this or that place 
 or mountain, as in Hwigary, Tranjyhantiz, the For- 
 reft of Hercynia, Thuringia or Bohemia, or in the 
 Rocks of Stteden or Norway, and elfcwhere. Others 
 again perfwade credulous Perfons, that the Stone of 
 Philofophers, can be made of nothing but common 
 Gold, and therefore require of their Patrons not 
 onely fom.e ounces, but fbme pounds of Gold, for 
 their own greater profit. One of thofe Pfeudophi- 
 lofbphers was lately here at Amfierdam, who by per- 
 ^ fwading 
 
78 
 
 A AVn? Li^htofCbjmi.ft?y. 
 
 Part 11 
 
 fwading certain Merchants, trickt them out of two 
 and twenty Marks of Gold, thence to make the 
 Philofophers Stone. He indeed put the Gold into 
 the Veiiel according to his own manner, before thofe 
 Merchants, giving to it a continuall Fire But after 
 much rime being elapfed, when they expe>lted to 
 reap the Fruit, he, who had plaid the Philofopher, 
 privately withdrew himletf into I know not what 
 Countrcy, and would not return to take out the 
 two ancf'twenty marks of gold. Therefore the 
 Merchants themfelves being about to take them out, 
 found thofe folar Birds were flown, and had left 
 onely the empty neft. Which empty neft as yet 
 lies in a place in this City, nor doth any one know 
 how to convert it to his own ufe. But if the Mer- 
 chant had given to that impoftor in hand, onely 
 two, or at the moft three ounces of gold, thev had 
 not received fo great a lofs. But as they unadvifed- 
 ly credited ^lis fine Clothes, and his finer words, lb 
 they were intolierably deceived 
 
 A true Philofopher wanteth not fo much gold for 
 his Medicine, inafmuch as if he bringeth but one 
 half ounce to perfection, it may fuffice for his whole 
 life, and may be in his own power to do the feme 
 again as often as necellity fliall require, ib that he 
 will have no need to run up and down from one to 
 another who are greedy of gold, to blemifh the no- 
 ble art of Chyniiftry, and bring it into hatred with 
 the whole World. 
 
 Some years fince, when I had written of theProf- 
 perity of Germany, and from a good intention had 
 taught how Wine and Corn might be concentrated, and in 
 cafe of neccflity, might he commodioufy carried from one 
 Countrey to another, and there jafAy kept m Garrifons 
 or Fortrejjes for future ufe ; fearing that at fometime 
 while the Shepherd flept, that moft ravenous Wolf 
 the Turk might break into the German Fold, and cut 
 the throats of what Sheep he could not carry away. 
 Againft which, Farner with his accomplices, hath 
 fet forth notorious Libels, and hath every where 
 traduced me for a falfe Prophet : Whofe Calumnies 
 I have not oppofed, becaufe he hath fheltred him 
 felf under the protection of Princes. Moreovtr, 
 this Farner, with a confort of ruiners of fame, or 
 good name, have reproachfully wounded my Ho- 
 nour, by falfely accufing my Wriring.s, and tradu- 
 cing them for Lyes : And feeing that almoft all of 
 them abide in great Men's Courts, and have not put 
 their names to ther invedive Papers, I have not 
 indeed been able tp reach them. But yet at length 
 thofe Men of darknefi, who have concealed their 
 names, that they might give the greater reputation 
 to their flanderous Papers, do come to be more and 
 more known to me. Befidcs at laft the event hath 
 (hewed thofe things to be true, which I had predic- 
 ted fhould happen ; to wit, that the depraved ChriP 
 tians fhould be chaftifed by the Turks and Tartars. 
 But it is to be pitied that alio Men of better note, 
 fhould beenfnared and captivated by the common 
 judgment, by reafon of that Company of the De- 
 vils attendants. For the unerring truth declareth, 
 that the righteous fcourge oi" God, will not be taken 
 away from us, before Itich fpoils of a Man's good 
 name be retrained by the Maglfirate. 
 
 Now, to return to our purpofe, to demonftrare, 
 that not onely Gold, but alio Ibmewhat more rare; 
 to wir, a true Tincture is hidden in Stones, and by 
 the help ot Art may be extrailtcd from them, which 
 the Ancients have hinted at m thefe words: Auro 
 5« d M4iHs ? Jaffa, &c. And that there is much 
 
 Tindture contained in thejalper, I have long fince 
 inculcated in other places of my Writings. I'araal- 
 (us highly commencleth Red Talck, Granates, Ami- 
 mony, and Laps Laz^iili, adding that Tin(ftures cr 
 the firft Ensof Gold, may be gotten from them by 
 the help of fijblimation. Moreover the firft Ens of 
 Gold, may alio be found in other Stones, elpecially 
 in the Hematitis, Scythis , Mngnefa of Piedmont^ 
 Smiris, and others of that kind, in which it is fo 
 fixed, that there is nothing wanting to obtain it but 
 onely the way of extrafting, and giving it ingrefs by 
 Sol. On the contrary, the firft Ens of Gold is in- 
 deed in Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral Sulphur, 
 Vlarcafites, and Antimony, and that abundantly, 
 but in volatile that Stones are to Lc prelerred to 
 them. 
 
 And although my intention in this Book extendeth 
 no farther than the extrafting of Gold out ot Stones, 
 Sand, and Flints, yet nothing hinders but that in a 
 few words, I may alio fhew, that in Stones, there 
 is not oncIy fixed Gold, but alio volatile, whence a 
 true Tinfture may be perfected. Which Tinfture 
 I have not as yet made, but neverthelels I am cer- 
 tainly perfwaded that it is in no wile impoflible to 
 be done. For wholbever can render the firft Ens of 
 Gold, in Stones, volatile, and draw it out by Dif- 
 tillation, he will continually obtain a gradatory wa- 
 ter, whereby he may coagulate every running Mer- 
 cury into good Gold. But he that knoweth how to 
 joyn this volatile Gold with corporal Sol, to unite 
 them and procure ingrefs, may thence expedl a far 
 greater good. For the firft Ensof Gold is morecon- 
 ducible for the preparing Tinftures, than corporal 
 Gold, as oneof the Philolbphers hath fignified in the 
 following words : Thou canjl not make Gold or Sil'ver, 
 except thuu Jhalt obtain their firji Ens. The firft Ens 
 of Gold, which is hidden in all Vegetables and Ani- 
 mals, coagulateth Mercury alio into a yellownefs, 
 but notconftant ; but if it fhall befixed, it alio coa- 
 gulateth and fixeth with conftancy, but not before. 
 1 herefore it is moft certainly true, that where Sul- 
 phur is, there is alfo the firft Ens of Gold; and 
 where there is the firft Ens of Gold, there is a'lb 
 Tincture Therefore feeing that Sulphur may be 
 found, m all things in the World, even in thelinall- 
 eft Herbjit foUoweth that alio from every Herb,Wood, 
 Stone, or Bone, a true Tinfture may be prepared. 
 Wholoever will believe, let him, it matters little to me 
 whether it be believed or not,l think my lelf latisfied 
 in that I have not put that light which I have re- 
 ceived under a Bulhel, bur have exhibited it to the 
 World for information For the light conduceth no- 
 thing to him who is blind, and relblveth to remain lb. 
 You (hall find more in my third Centurj', as alfo in 
 the fixth part of my Pharmacopxa Spagyrtca. 
 
 How it may he known whether Sand, Flints, and the 
 like Stones, being pregnant with Gold, contain much 
 Gold, or but little. 
 
 WHite Sand and Flint, contain the leaft Gold 
 of all ; which Sand indeed is never without 
 Gold, although it cannot be extracted from it with 
 profit. In the white and red , there is more 
 Gold than in the white, neverthelels not always 
 fb much as will pay the coft. In the yellow, 
 brown, or black, there is commonly much Gold 
 contained, whenfoever veins of white or yel- 
 low Sand run through them, and efpecially when 
 fuch Sand fhineth with abundance of mrall 
 
 golden 
 
Part II. 
 
 A New Light ofCbymiflrj 
 
 19 
 
 golden (parks, clofely adhering to each other. In 
 like manner that Sand is rich in Sol, which is like to 
 Talck, or when Scones are found in ir, in which 
 there is red or brown Talck, even as Sol is contai- 
 ned almolt in every Talck, neverthe'efs in fbme 
 more, in other left. 
 
 All River Pebbles, 'which although outwardly they 
 appear white, yet when heated red hot and broken, 
 are ftained with yellownels, and contain Sol) are in 
 extradling (ufficiently rich in Gold. 
 
 Green, yellow, or blue Stones, being tranfparent 
 like born [called in the Gerw<!» Tongue Hornfiet?j'] 
 are alfo for the moft part fruitfull in Gold. Alfo 
 all red, dark coloured and black Flints contain Geld, 
 with which iron is frequently admixed, which in 
 the e.xtradion is drawn out with the 5o/,and weakneth 
 the M(njhHu}n, and rendereth it unprofitable. 
 
 All Quarries or rocky Stones, whether they be 
 found in the E^rth after the manner of Dudls, or 
 whether they lie in the open Air, when they are 
 coloured , contain Gold. Every Ha:matttes, and 
 that which is a kin to it, the Smms, the Granare, 
 and Lapis Laz,ult, all contain Gold, neverthelijfs 
 always one more than another, fo that feme of them 
 aie rich in Gold. 
 
 All Granates contain Gold, and befides Gold, 
 alfo the hrlt Ens of gold ; but they are endowed 
 with fo hard a body, that J<^ua Fortis cannot ex- 
 ercife its power upon them. But there may be 
 a remedy found, by whole help their extraftion 
 may be inftituted. 
 
 In every golden Stone called ChryfocoUa, Saphjr, 
 Rub), ^»mb)f, and Htannth, there is gold, but 
 difficult to be e.^traded. All Fluors or things flux- 
 ing, which are applied to the Mines of Sol and 
 Lune, for the bringing their Oars to a flux or mel- 
 ting, whether they be of a violet colour, or purple, 
 yellow, red, or greenj are all endowed with unripe 
 and volatile gold. Which if you fhall make red hot, 
 the colour cvaporateth like a green, yellow, or 
 red fmoke, leaving the Stones white. But if any 
 Man fhall know how to intercept, and detain fuch 
 fugacious Sol, he may therewith coagulate Mercury 
 into gold. In like manner from all Stones, in 
 which is the firft Ens of gold, a green-water may 
 be extracted by the help of Difiiliation, in which 
 Mercury coagulaceth it felf into gold. The Anci- 
 ent Philolophers have called liich a green water, 
 their Green Ljon, which devoureth gold, and of it 
 preparech a Tinfture for Lune and Mercury. 
 
 Concerning this matter, I could indeed fay fome- 
 ■what more, did not the avarice and improbity of 
 Men, who feek nothing but the damage of their 
 Neighbour, reftrain me. Hence all thole in which 
 any light of God fhall arife, ought diligently to be- 
 ware that they communicate nothing of re to wicked 
 Men, although they put on the fhapeofan Angel. 
 For Faith is now no where kept among Men, as 
 thefe following words of a golden Alphabet do 
 wicnefs. 
 
 Soli Deo tu X^onfidas, 
 PromiJJis homtnum diffdas, 
 Deus jolus firkm fer^jut 
 ji mundo jides exulat. 
 
 In God alone repofe thy truft, 
 With Mens pretence be not beguil'd ; 
 God onely keepeth Faith, is Juft, 
 Which from the World is quite exil'd. 
 
 If many years ago, I had known thole th_gs 
 which I now do, it would have pro.fited me^ >iuch 
 in being aware of the dillembled (anclity t-/..'impoi- 
 tours. But what is part cannot be rec;/j<ed : Let 
 thefe things at this time fuffice to be fp^.7en of the 
 knowledge of Sand and Stones,every ^yn may look 
 further for himfelf, and fearch out aris learn more. 
 If any Man findeth any good fijphC what I have 
 written in this Book, let him give God thanks, and 
 be mindfull of the Poor ; if nor, let him look upon 
 himfelf as unworthy to be partaker of it. For I have 
 here written more perfpicuoufly, than any Philofo- 
 pher hath done before me, in which 1 reft. It now 
 remains that we fhould fay fomething concerning 
 the eafie way, and incomparable invention , by 
 whofe benefit Scl may be extraded from Sand and 
 Stones, in great quantity and with a conliderable 
 gain. Which invention hath been hitherto unknown 
 to the World, and it is almoft impoffible that a bet- 
 ter fhould be found. But that the fearcher into Art 
 may fee that this new invention of mine, is of all 
 the molt eafie for the excradting of Gold from Sand 
 or Flints,and that the World hath never known the 
 like, I have thought fit to fhew in what this Com- 
 pendium confifts, and it is thus. It is fulliciently 
 know^n with what labour and cofts the ancient Wor- 
 kers in Metals, and even thofe at this day, have ex- 
 tracted, and do cxtrad Gold from Sand and Stones, 
 "VIZ,, when firft they burn the Oars or Stones, then 
 grind it in peculiar Mills accommodated to that 
 purpofe, with Argent-vi've and water, where the 
 Argem-'vt've draweth to it felf the Sol, and the Stone 
 goeth away in the wafhing, and the greatelt part of 
 the Argent-'vive is ftrain'd from the gold through 
 Leather, which may again ferve for the fame ufe. 
 Then in Iron Retorts they drive out the refidue of 
 the Argent-vive, which yet adhered to the 5o/, 
 which is faved ; then they melt the Sol. In which 
 operation they lofe much of the Argent-'vive, which 
 in the grinding and wafhing goeth away: lb that of- 
 ten times the charge of the Mercury is no lefs than 
 the gain of the gold. Therefore by this way nothing 
 can be gotten from a poor Mine. But this is the 
 ealicft way they have to feparate Sol from its Oar 
 or Stones. 
 
 Another way is, when they mix the wafhed Oar 
 (which the Germans Call Schlicht) with its weight 
 of Litharge, and -melt it with Bellows, then cupel 
 the Regulus of Saturn, and fb they obtain the Sol 
 which was in the Oar. Which way of melting, is 
 alfo dear, becaufe much of the Lead is loft : But 
 yet they are obliged to follow this way, who know 
 no better. Now I will compare my way with this, 
 that it may be evident which of them is the moft eafie 
 and profitable. As for my method of extracting, it 
 chiefly depends upon four fingular Compendtums, by 
 which the operation is rendred eafie. The firft of 
 which is a water of finall coft, which maybe copi- 
 oufly prepared, without Diftillaticn. 
 
 The fecond is a fingular Metal, of which the 
 Kettles or Pans are made, in which the Stones or 
 Sand is boiled with the water of fmali coft, and ycc 
 are not corroded nor confumed. And when the 
 water fhall have dillblved and imbibed the Sol in the 
 Sand, the Oar, Sand, or Scones, with the water are 
 to be taken out of the boiling VefTe!, and put into 
 another V^eflel adapted to this ufe, with a bottom 
 all over perforated with finall holes Hike a Colen- 
 der] and firft covered with infide, with a thin Matt, 
 then the water will drop down through the Sand 
 
 an4 
 
8o 
 
 A New Cbymical Light. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 .furl Matt into anochcr Veflel placed under it ; more- 
 ovi/j more hot water is to be poured upon the fame 
 Sani>)fo'P.d let to run through it, which water will 
 alfo ex^■jt^d1 the gold which as yet remained in the 
 Sand, /ififl after this Eiixiviation, theSand, (which 
 is now of ^ T ule) is to be taken out of the filtering 
 V^ellel, an(>ithis labour to be continued fo long, un- 
 til! no niorwi^and is to be extraifted 
 
 The third CAr.fevdium is this, when the Lixivium 
 of Gold, iscollcv-Tied to a jufl: quantity, a fingular 
 Water of finall coft, is poured into the Solution 
 of Gold, whence all the Sol is precipitated from the 
 Solvent, the Solvent by inclination is decanted from 
 the Calx of Sol, and may again be ufed for the like 
 extradion, feeing that it ftill reraineth its ftrength, 
 being nothing weakened by the precipitation. There 
 fore'we may u(e this Solvent a long time. And that 
 which is loft by pouring too and again.is of final] charge, 
 becaufe it may be recruited again by the like cheap 
 Water. But if one (hould mortifie that diflblvent 
 with other contrary Ltxivmms, to precipitate the 
 Sol, as otherwife is wont to be done, and I have 
 taught above, about the proving of Sand, what a 
 lofs fhould we undergo, if at every time we fliould 
 deftroy our Solvent .'' Befidcs fuch an extrraiflion is 
 coftly and laborious, when made in glafs or earthen 
 Cucurbits. 
 
 But this extradion is almoft of no charge, feeing 
 that it may be perfeded in great Kettles, and the 
 Gold thence precipitated without lofs of the Water. 
 This extradion of Gold is like the extradion of 
 Salt-peter from Earth, where the Workmen alio 
 elixiviate one part of the Earth, by the help of 
 Water, which Earth they then throw away, and 
 in room of that put other Earth into the VefTel, 
 which they alfo elixiviate or wafh, and that fo often 
 till they have elixiviated all their Earth impregna- 
 ted with Salt peter. And by the fame reafon we 
 elicit our Gold from Sand, as they make their 
 Saltpeter. 
 
 The fourth Compendium is this, that the precipi- 
 tated Calx of Sol, after the Water is fihred from it, 
 is taken out of the filter and dried, and by the bene- 
 fit of a certain fingular good flux, not at all coflly, 
 IS reduced, fo that in the melting nothing of the 
 Gold is loft 
 
 In thofefour Ccmpendiums the whole work of our 
 extradion confifteth, as a building ftanding upon 
 four Pillars, one of which failing, the whole ftruc- 
 fure is ruined. He that knoweth thofe four Com- 
 vendiums may boldly enter upon the work, to ex- 
 trad Sol frofrj Sand and Stones : for then it will be a 
 work of profit to him, other wile not, which I have 
 declared for the information of every man. 
 
 But that I have made none of thofe four Compe/i- 
 diums manifeft, let no man wonder, becaufe I have 
 been fufficientiy hurt by the Ibnderous Forgeries of 
 cavelling Dctradours. For when by reafon of their 
 dull apprehenfion, they could not underftand nor 
 perform thofe things which I had written openly 
 and plain enough, they falfly traduced my Writings, 
 as abounding with lies. 
 
 Let thefe things fuffice to be written at this time, 
 concerning the extradion of Gold out of Stones, 
 Sand or Flints : which 1 doubt not but will be of 
 ufc hereafter to many indigent Perfons. For al 
 though all men (hould apply themfclves to that 
 extradion, yet they would in no wife incommode 
 one another, feeing there are Sand and Stones every 
 where obvious to all. And alfo the Salts lor extrac- 
 
 ting are fo plentifully afforded, that nothing is wan- 
 ting but a man to put his hand to the work But 
 fome one may here objed and (ay : I do indeed be- 
 lieve Glauber, that in the Sand and Stones of the 
 Eaft and Welt Indies, Africa, Spain, Italy, France, 
 and other hot Countries, much Gold may be found, 
 but who will remove his dwelling thither to extrad 
 it .'' There is no need that any (hould go dwell in 
 Africa, or either Indies, thence to fetch us Gold, 
 feeing that it may be had fufficiently in Europe, and 
 may be found in all cold places. It is well known, 
 that in many parts of Germany, Gold is elicited from 
 the Sand as well of fmall, as great Rivers and Lakes. 
 But that more Gold may not be had in Germa»j, 
 which is temperate, than in cold Neru'/?/, or Swede», 
 and lefs in Germany than in France or Spain, I will 
 not deny. Therefore we need no Commerce with 
 thirfty Africa, or America, as that with great peril of 
 body and mind, we (hould feek Gold thence, feeing 
 that we have it in every Countrey of Europe, and 
 that not onely under ground in the Veins of the 
 Earth, whence it is to be digged out with great trou- 
 ble, coft and labour ; but it is al(b every where ma- 
 nifeft upon the Earth, where it is much more large- 
 ly and eafily acquired. The moft famous Monarch 
 of Philofophers, Paracelf/s, in his Book of the Vexa- 
 tions of Alchymifts (aith: That more Gold and Silver 
 may be found above the Earth, than in its frofundity^ 
 and that oftentsmes a Countreyman throweth a Stone at 
 a Cow, which is cf greater value than the Price of the 
 
 Cow. Which thing indeed is certainly true, ne- 
 verthelefs whofoever will not with Glauber believe 
 it, let him remain in his unbelief In Efdrasy 
 we reade thele words: There is much Earth of 
 
 which Fetters make 
 tity of Powder 
 
 or 
 
 IS 
 
 their VefJ'els, but a fmall e^uan- 
 Duj} of which Gold is wade. 
 Which words are commonly thus interpreted, 
 that, by the words powder or duft of which Gold is 
 made, the Writer hath underftood the Stone of 
 Philofophers. The which is very agreeable to truth, 
 but yet no Earth is found void of metals, neverthe- 
 lefs all are not fb rich, as to atford any profit in the 
 extrading. On the contrary all Stones and Sand 
 (although every of them doth not contain corporal 
 Sol (b largely, as to be thence extraded with gain ) 
 rejoyce in the firft Ens of Gold, or fuch a Calx by 
 whofe benefit Gold may be made. Which powder, 
 if we know ho\/ to extrad from them, we may- 
 make it better than Gold it felf But feeing fuch an 
 Aurifick Calx is very largely diffufed in Sand or 
 Stones, and cannot be thence hammered out, but is 
 extraded by Art alone, therefore the blind Cove- 
 tours of Gold, with the Ignorant, will not believe 
 it, becaufe they know not how to perfed it. Hence 
 an Art of this kind was by the Philofophers kept 
 moft fccret, where Faracelfus (peaking of the firft 
 Ens of Gold, faith that it may be elicited by fubli- 
 mation. Bafilms writeth that the preparation of the 
 univerfal Tindure, may be compared to thediltilla- 
 tion of a burning Spirit from the Lees of Wine. A 
 comparifon (ufficiently perfpicuous I For even as in 
 a great quantity of Wine or Beer, there is hidden but 
 a (rnall quantity of good Spirit, and the refidue is 
 nothing but an unprofitable mud, but neverthele(s 
 that little Spirit, by the help of diftillation is always 
 extraded from the great quantity of unprofitable 
 mud, with gain, and is concentrated into a very 
 fubtile penetrating Spirit, of which one fpoonfull is 
 more to be efteemed than a whole pail full of Lees. 
 By fuch means the Philofophers would have us ex- 
 trad 
 
Part 11. 
 
 A New Chjjjiicnl Li(rbt. 
 
 8i 
 
 rracfl by Arr, thar firft Ens or form of Gold being 
 very far diCperfed in Sand and Srones, and concen- 
 trate or brina; it into a fmall compafs, of which, 
 butasmiich as the magnitude of a Peafe, is of grea- 
 ter worth than a huge Mountain of unprofitable 
 liarth. Moreover, this i v/ill not conceal, that 
 throughout all Qtrmany, in and about the Rivers 
 may be found Srones, which are fufficiently rich in 
 Gold and Silver, and moreover if you break them 
 into pieces, you fhall find within them little Holes 
 and Caverns, which abound with a yellow or brown 
 Powder, which if any one fliall take out, and melt 
 k together with Borax, he will acquire Sol mixed 
 Mtirh Silver. But as \ er, I never (aw any man, who 
 knew this fort of flones, and much lefs that golden 
 Calx which is hidden in them. Which thing with- 
 out doubt they have pafled by, by reafbn of their 
 iiegligence,tint loving or (eeking to know the phyfical 
 Magnalta of God. I have found many the like 
 ftones in the Tandy Hills about Utrecht, and in other 
 Sand pits of this Bclgick Nation, but moreabout the 
 Banks of the Rhine, and the Ifle, as alfb the Coaft 
 of the Southern Sea, fbme of which ftones I have 
 yet by me. Alfoin the rough places of M^'aU'via you 
 may find much Sand and Stone^ which contain con- 
 tain corporal Gold. But there is no man knoweth 
 any thing of them. And this might be of great u(c 
 to Children, if they were placed for a time in the 
 Shop or Workhoufe of fome Artift, of whom they 
 might learn, whence in any cafe of neceflity they 
 might be able to fuflain themfelves. But the rich, 
 relying upon their own fortunes, think thar they 
 have Wealth enough for their Children, but if any 
 adyerfe fortune fhall chance to befall them, as their 
 Houfes to be burnt, or their Ships robbed by Py- 
 lares of their rich Merchandizes, or be caflaway by 
 Tempcfts, or their Debtours break and run away 
 in their Debts, then they know not which way to 
 turn themfelves ; and becaufe they have learned no 
 Art, whereby to get their living,they commonly dege- 
 nerate into men of adefperate lite. For one leavethhis 
 Wife and Children, and goeth into the Indies, where 
 not a few have become a Prey to wild Beafts or 
 Cannibals. Another, for a fmall ftipendor pay, fel- 
 kth his Freedom to fight by Sea and_ Land, untill 
 like a mad Dog he is miferably flain. [_ / have heard 
 
 thnt It IS aCufiom in Germany, that a man may tilay 
 awciy, pawn, or fell his Liberty or Freedom, u-hich he- 
 tng oncegofte, he becomes a FaJJal cr Sla-ve to the public k 
 Service of the Prince or Statejm-iv^ his Life.'] Others, 
 ( after they have confumed and wafted all their fub- 
 ftance, and have learned nothing that is gainful! in 
 their youth, whence they might honef^ly maintain 
 themfelves and Families ) betake themfelves to a vi- 
 tious kind of life, till they perifli in it. To have 
 truely learned Mechanick Arts, ind^.;d hdpeth 
 much in .fortunate times ; but when the times happen 
 to be troublefbme and difficult, and many men in 
 the fame City exercife one and the fame Art, one 
 often hurts another, by eating the Bread out of his 
 mouth, and reducerh hira to ftraits. But if a Phyfi- 
 cian knoweth fbmewhat bcfides the Profefllon ofPhy- 
 fick, by which he may Obtain a Living, he will have 
 no need to make (omany Vifits to the Sick out of a 
 prelTing defire and expe^ftation of getting mony for his 
 diligent attendance. Therefore Hermetick Philofo- 
 phy and Medicine, with their Coufen German natu- 
 ral Alchymy, are the moft excellent of all Arts, and- 
 will fo remain to the End of the World. 
 
 Seeing therefoje that flich great Treafures fas 
 we have heard j are hidden in the defpifed Earth 
 and in fuch fubjeds as are every where trampled' 
 under foot, wherefore fliould we not extracft them, 
 for an honeft maintenance, and defence againft the 
 injury of the times.^ Why (hould we not leave India to 
 the Indians, and have regard to our own E«ro/>e,which 
 abundantly affordeth whatfcever we need for the 
 fuftcntation of Life. ^ I cannot but % again and a- 
 gain, that were I but ten years younger than 1 am, 
 I would not ceafe, but for the good of the publick, 
 would publickly teach, and demonftrate to the Eye' 
 true Philofophy, Medicine, and Alchymy. But my 
 glafs being almofV run, I mult commit the care of 
 this labour to others who are younger and have 
 greater ftrength of Body. Therefore in the mean 
 time, whatfoever good I can do my Neighbour by 
 wholfome Writings, I will not omit. I intend fhort- 
 ly ( God favouring my defign ) to publifh many fe- 
 crets, hitherto unheard of Nothing now remains 
 but to dole this little Treatife with. 
 The End. 
 Glory he to God alone. 
 
 An Admonition to the READER. 
 
 WHatfoever I have written in this little Book of the compendious extracting of Gold, out of 
 Sand and Stones, is fo true, that nothing at all is to he doubted concerning it: Never- 
 thelefs after this Treatife was gone to the Prefs, another ivay, and that much better came 
 into my mind, by the benefit of which, Gold may be extracted with a much greater expedition, than 
 hy the help of the former. Becaufe for the operation of this lafl way, there is no need of any Kettles 
 •r Pans made of a certain fingular Metal, but the extraflion may be made in quantity ivithout any 
 loyling, in fuch Feffels as are every where in hand, and may be had, fo that one man in one day, may 
 lyaneafie bufinefs perform the extraction of athoujand Pounds weight of Sand. Which metlwd is 
 indeed much to be preferred to the former. Wherefore 1 could not but alfo notifie this way of extrac- 
 tion. What feekejt thou > If I fhall find that thofe my profitable inventions are gratefully received, I 
 mill not negleit ofiicioujly to ferve the publick, in this prefent evil Age, and in the worfer to come, hy 
 publifhingthe fame. With which, benevolent Reader, I commit thee to the Divine Care and Protec- 
 tion. Dated at Aoiderdam the x6th. Day of July 1664. 
 
 A Spa- 
 
82 Pai^t II. 
 
 Spagyrical Phaimacopoea : 
 
 O R 
 
 DISPENSATORY. 
 
 Being an exaft defcription by what means, profitable, ef^ 
 ficacions, and penetrating Medicines may be made, and 
 prepared out of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals ^ af- 
 ter an unwonted and eafie method. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 To the well minded Reader. 
 
 SOME cr ether -ivill ferhaps -wonder at, and fain know what the reafon jhould be of my defcrihing this 
 Pharmacopoea Spagyrica, or Chymkal Dtf}>enJatory, efpeciaUj when they confider that there are not onely 
 found 'various preparations of divers Chymical Remedies in my Books that I have fublijhed, but alfo many 
 fuch innumerable Writings offuch kind of bujinejfes, are publick even from the dap of old down to this very 
 day^ both profitable ones (jof which the number is very [mall) and alfo unprofitable ones (of which there are a great 
 multitude^ infomucb that it might feem altogether needlefs to commit to the Treft any more matters of that kind. 
 To fatisfie fuch a one that thus entjiiires, J judge it well worth my while to demonjirate in this place, that it is not 
 cnely very profitable, but alfo highly necejjary, well to dijlinguijl] between good and tried Medicines, and juch as 
 *re not proved ones, not becaufe you jhould neglect, corrctl, rejeSl, and fupprefs other Mens Writings, and to 
 tfieem highly of mine. No fuch matter, for I well know that none can give mere than he pojfejfeth, and if any one 
 doth (out of a candid mind) bring to light any thing for the profit and benefit of his Neighbour, how vile foever, 
 and mean the thing be, yet is it to be moji thankfully accepted of; and therefore let no body be fo proud, as to pre- 
 fiime upon the rejeiling of the indujtry and labour of another Man, but rather extoll it with praifes, though he 
 htmftlf could have done better. And fo by what is here fpoken, I would hint unto you that the very reafon why I 
 have pttbliflied this fmall Treattfe, is this, viz that my inventions may reach out an helpmg hand to poor affltHed 
 mankind, and that I may affi^ them in a Chrifiian manner, according to the will and command of the moft high. 
 And although I have already defcribed the preparation of many profitable Medicines, as well out of Vegetables an J 
 Animals, as out of Minerals, in my Philojophical Furnaces, by the ufe of which in cafe of neceffity, every curable 
 Difeafe my be fufiiciently enough driven out and carried off ; yet neverthelefs it hath feemed expedient unto me, to 
 jtt forth this little Work under three Tarts, each of which parts fliall contain fingular Medicaments as for example. 
 The fir fi Part pall comprehend fuch Medicines, as proceed from Vegetables, the fecond Part, fuch as proceed from 
 Animals, and the third Part, fuch as may be had out of Minerals. And this alfo is a primary reafon 
 why I have ccmprifed each kind of Medicaments in a fingular Work or Treatife, becaufe of the envious 
 know-littles, and fooltfli deridsrs, anddefpifers of Art, who rejeil all Mineral Medicaments, ( but they know not 
 their properties) as unfa fe at all times, becaufe not taken forfooth out of the wholjome Vegetables, (whofe ufe and 
 vir'iie \_fay they'\ hath been approved for many Ages) but out of the poifonous Minerals and Metals, whereto no 
 Truft is to be given, and the ufe of them too is to this day very rare, aud their operation too vehement. Now that I 
 may fiop the mouths of thefe kind of Men, and that they may fee and know, that I likewife am well verfed in the 
 virtues of Vegetables, and their true preparations, together with their purification avd fundamental Anatomy, and 
 ivith their reduction into mofi wholfome and mofl fafe Afedicamenls, I have purpofed with my felf inmy firjt fart 
 of my Spagyrical Difpenfatory , to treat of no other things fave onely fuch Medicaments as are made out of known 
 Vegetable Simples, vnthout the addition of any other things, (either Animal or Mineral) as for infiance^ out of 
 Herbs, Flowers, Roots, Fruits, and Seeds, their feparation by Art, and their reduBion into a better form- In the 
 fecond part, we will treat of fuch things onely as proceed from, and are prepared out of Man, and other Creatures^ 
 and fuch as live in the Air, and alfo fuch as live in the Waters. But in the third Part I fiiall not defifi from de- 
 fending thofe Medicaments of mine, which I publiped (ome years fine e, and were prepared of Minerals, and jhall de- 
 THonfirate uJito you, that they are not at any rate to he ^limned or negleBed, if rightly prepared and applied, but are 
 to be preferred far before thofe Medicaments that are prepared out of Vegetables avd Animals. To them I will al- 
 fo adjojn the ufe and preparations of fever al other things, which I never as yet made mention of. Nor do I doubt 
 but that the eyes of the blind will fometime or other be opened, fo as to fee the truth, and confefs it and love it, to 
 the doing whereof, I pray God, that Eternal, Immutable, and durable Light, the Father and defender of the truth 
 to help »s. Amen. 
 
 THE 
 
Part ir. 
 
 83 
 
 THE "^ 
 
 SPAGYRICAL PH A R M ACO POE„A : 
 
 'v 
 
 DISPENSATORY. 
 
 Wba( Vegetables are, or what is meant hy the name of 
 Vegetables ? 
 
 YOU are in the firfl: place to note, that un- 
 der the name Vegetable, comes all that 
 which hath its Food out of the Earth, 
 which grows or is encreafed, be they Herbs, Shrubs, 
 or tall Trees with what appertains unto them, as the 
 Root, Stalk, Leaves, Flowers, Seeds, and Fruitsof 
 them, as well cultivated as wild, both of our own 
 Countrey, and Forreign, as well the known whol- 
 fbmes one, as the unknown and hurtfull, whatfoever 
 name they are called by, the kinds, fliape, form, 
 property, virtue, and power ; of which, may be 
 found defcribed by many ancient and later Philo- 
 fophers and Phyficians, fo that 'tis needlefs to make 
 any farther rehearfal of them. 
 
 My purpofe is onely to tell by what means, and 
 by what moft excelling way that innate virtue, ope- 
 ration, and efficacy, which God hath implanted in- 
 to them, may, and indeed ought, by the dexterity 
 and induftry of Man, to be feparated from their 
 dead Faeces and Husks, and be concentrated and ap- 
 plied in a convenient form to Difeafes, and be redu- 
 ced into a moft pleafant and acceptable Ellence. 
 But feme may objeit and fay, what good is here in 
 bellowing fuch a deal of labour and care to extradt 
 the virtues out of Herbs, and concentrate them, 
 and fo at laft adminifter them to the Sick ? Will it not 
 be all one,if any one know their natures,virtues and 
 properties, (the which may abundantly enough be 
 known by the large defcription given of them, in 
 the Books both of the Ancient and Modern Phyfici- 
 ans) and fo make ufe of them, green and dryed, 
 according as they are at hand, or elfe firfl fteepthem 
 in Wine, Ale, Water, or any other drink ufed at 
 Meals, or elfe boil them therein, or omit the decoc- 
 tion, jSn** drink the infufion, and fo adminifler help. 
 Will il j.that perform the very fame etFedl, that the 
 well pi-cpared, pure, fubtile, fweet, and efficacious 
 ellence will .■' I anfwer that without queftion, there 
 
 like 
 
 into rhe B'idy, and etfeds no fmall things, ifitmeets 
 not with'too much matter that is to be turned out. 
 But yet no body will deny but that their virtues be- 
 ing extracted and concentrated, and taken in a 
 fpoonfull ot Wine or Ale, will operate more fpeedi- 
 ly, and be taken in more pleafantly, and difplay its 
 virtues more etfeclually than the boiled Herbs, or 
 its infufion ; wherein by reafbn of the virtue oflbme 
 few drops as it were lying hid in a whole bandfull 
 
 of Herbs, we are conftrained to drink down toge- 
 ther herewith fuch a deal of Wine or Ale, which 
 too is rendred very unpleafant and ungratefull by 
 the Herbs : This the Ancient Phyficians well obfer- 
 ved, and made an accurate fearch many Ages ago, 
 by what means thoy might belt of all prepare Herbs 
 fundry ways, fo as to be taken inwardly with de- 
 light, and be encrealed in their virtues. Thence 
 it came topafsthatfo many preparations arc brought 
 into the Difpenfatories, which abide in ufe even to 
 this very day : amongft which there are diltilled 
 Waters, Oils, Balfbms, Ointments, Juices, Eledlu- 
 aries, Conferves, and fuch like ; the which 1 do 
 not by any mans rejeft, but onely mention how the 
 virtues of Herbs may be adrainiftred to the Sick 
 in a far more pleafant form. It is all one to me if 
 the aforefaid and ufual preparation of Herbs be ftill 
 in beft repute and fo continue, for I neither fow 
 there, norexped to reap thence. And fliould I 
 need their help (which God forbid; and that I had 
 no better to fupply my neceffity, I would give God 
 thanks, for his vouchfafing me a part of thofe pre- 
 pared Herbs,left I be conftrained to make ufe of raw 
 Herbs, in that manner that the Cows eat graft, but 
 yet that I have better, no Body can blame me, if I 
 rather ufe them, and am willing to communicate 
 them out of love and duty to my Neighbour. Veri- 
 ly no Body is compelled to do otherwi/e than as 
 pleafeth him, one ufeth Herbs in an infufion of 
 Wine, another eats them with Vinegar, Salt, and 
 Oil, another takes them green as they are, and cuts 
 them frnall, mixeth them with Sugar, and afibon as 
 they are come to a drynefs, brings them into Pow- 
 der, and takes them in fbme Broth ; Another may 
 thicken them with Honey, and Sugar, fqueeze them 
 in a Prefs, and fo ufe them. And pfainly 'tis no 
 matter what way a Man takes in ufing them. Some 
 there are that can't abide any Powders, becaufe 
 they ftick to their Gullet and will not pafs 
 down into the Stomach, others can't endure Pills, 
 and fome you will meet with to whom all fweet 
 things as Honey and Sugar are diflaftfull. And you 
 will find many too that cant endure Wine or Ale, 
 
 is extracted fame kind of virtue out of the Herbs, by 
 
 fuch a kmd of infufion in Wine, Ale, or fuch other wherein Herbs have been (leeped but all night. Up' 
 drinks, and is together with the Wine carried 1 on this account venerable Antiquity confidered of 
 
 ntiquity confidered of 
 fo many preparations of Herbs, that if haply one 
 way did not like them in adminiflring rherri, the 
 Phyficianmight make ufe of another wa\-,andfoMen 
 did year after year attempt more and more the pre- 
 paration of fweet Medicaments, andlbtrimmed and 
 adorned their tharmuccfxa's daily by little and little 
 and brought it to a better Hate : And that is thus 
 evident (I will now fpeak onely of the Vegetables,) 
 ■VIZ.. there are to be found almoft in all well confli- 
 
 tuted 
 
84 
 
 Vje Firfl Fart of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 'itcd fbarmacorixa!, biirnin;:; S^jirics, which arc 
 pi. -luced (by diftillation) out of fermented Herbs, 
 as Ir ■(■wiri Salts, which areexrraded out of calcined 
 Herbs nd again coagulated ; alfo extrafts, and (by 
 the meJ. --inn of the Spirit of Wine ' thickned Juices 
 are extract ^1 ; aUb diftiHed Oils, and feme coagula- 
 ted inrn B>-fbms. And many more preparations of 
 this kind, i. d better forts there are, which have not 
 been of any v(.y long ftanding, but have been by 
 lirtle and litt'e added by good and faithfull Phydci- 
 an?, all wiiich things do perform as much as they 
 ought ( or may be expelled in the rank in which 
 they are nor ought any one to throvv them 
 clear otf. But now if any one knows how ingeni 
 oudy toextraltthe virtue of an Herb, and to con- 
 centrate it in fuch a manner, as that oneonely drop 
 fli.ill be of as much efficacy as a whole cupfull of 
 diftilloJ Warei-, or as a fpnonfiU of Powder, Juice, 
 Syrrup, or Conlerve. Wiiy I pray, fliould not one 
 drop be in all likclyhood more willingly taken than 
 a full Cup, or a fpoonfull ? That which may be 
 dnne by a few> needs not be done by a great many. 
 But haply fome other will fay, how can I be certain 
 that there is a greater virtue in fome drops of fome 
 good Ellence, than in a whole fpoonfull of dryed 
 and hne'y powdered Herbs, or of green Herbs con- 
 dited and beaten with Sugar, or than a Potfull of 
 - diftilled waters ; now this may be known by the 
 virtue, odour, and taft, and that on this wife. If a few 
 drops be put into a potfullof purefountain water,and 
 be ftirred with a Spaiula, the (iiid water doth then ex- 
 actly refemble the odour of the Herb when whole, 
 and doth as to its tafi: agree with that water which 
 is drawn out of the green Herb by difiillation. If 
 therefore the odour and taft be there, the virtue 
 cannot be far off, bcfides the ufe wilieafily fhew it, 
 if both of them are in the proof compared together. 
 And this now cannot be coniradided by any pro- 
 bable argument, for it is clearly evident to every 
 one, thatflich a kindof ElTenceisan hundred thou- 
 fcind times more efficacious rcfped being had to the 
 quality and quantity of the (amej than the Herb 
 cither green or drytd : Befides there alfb arifeth this 
 btnefit, that fuch a kind of Eifence doth not at all 
 lofe any thir<g of its virtues though kept a great 
 rnany ye;ars, whereas the other preparations and 
 cfpecially the diftiUed waters will grow mufiy and 
 putrifie. Bur an Ellence will (if warily pre(erved) 
 eudure as efficacious above ten, yea an hundred 
 years, as it was the very firft day that it was made. 
 Forallnuch therefore as thele things are without con- 
 troveriie thif^, we fhould rather mind the chufing 
 of fuch things which being but (iiiall in quantity, 
 are plcafanter and more etficacious than thofe that 
 are of Id great a bulk, which indeed are of little or no 
 efficacy at all. There is no body will deny, but 
 that the virtues of Herbs are widely difperfed and 
 hidden in themfelves, and for which virtues fake 
 we are forced to take the whole Herb, that is, the 
 dead body for that little virtue that lies hidden 
 therein, juftas if a N4an inOcad of Bread fhould eat 
 the crude wheat together with the (talk whereon it 
 grows, which certainly would prove very hurtfull 
 to the Stomach, and would together with its allaying 
 ourhunger corrupt the Stomach, and make it unht 
 for digcltion. It therefore the Countrey-men who 
 are the moft flugjifh and unapteft Men of all others, 
 have by a long courfe of time arrived unto and expe- 
 rimented this Wilcdom and Dexterity, viz, that 
 the Corn is not jult as it comes out of the ground 
 
 in its husk and Ifalk, at all ht for the ufe of Man, 
 and do hkewife well know that it is far more profi- 
 table (if the grain be firfl threfhed out of the Eare, 
 then ground (mall in a \4ill, the husky Bran be fe- 
 paratcd, and then the pure Meal mixed with a little 
 water and Salt, or ferment Leaven, and fo the Palt 
 (uffcrei! to ferment, and afterwards be baked ) than 
 to ufe the crude Coin juft as it grows, why fhould 
 we not ufe alio the utmoft of our endeavours to ex- 
 trad the molt pure Ellence out of medical Herbs, 
 and fo to adminiffer themto the Sick ; than to ufe 
 the crude Herb as it comes out of the Earth .'' And 
 this I inftancc onely for example fake, that it may 
 appear that a legitimal preparation exalteth a thing 
 into a far better (fate than it was before. And this 
 may be demonftrated by fundry examples, if need 
 required, but lure here is no body that is fuch an 
 unwife Tatler «s to dare to oppofe it. Forafmuch 
 then as the cafe.flands thus, that an extra(fted, pure, 
 and fiibtile Medicine, operates far more Ipeedily 
 and fafely, than when prepared after the common 
 manner, I judgeit much amifs to conceal the way 
 that leadeth thereunto, and not to give diredions 
 for the ufe and profit of ones Neighbour. Nor in- 
 deed can I fay that this invention of preparing Eflen- 
 ces of Herbs did proceed firll: of all from my lelf, for 
 'tis unknown to me what another may either have 
 done, or is able to do. But this I know, that nobody 
 hath hitherto mentioned the fame either in Writings 
 or otherwife, and that this preparation is no where 
 known or in u(e. Well be it as it will, whether or 
 no others know it as well as I, or have known it be- 
 fore me, yet it ought to be accompted a good thing, 
 that I bring it forth to light for the fake of fo many 
 fick People. And it would have been much more 
 acceptable unto me, if any body clfe had publifhed 
 it before me, and had eafed me of this labour. But 
 that I may return to my purpofe ; I will begin a 
 brief but very clear defcription of the way where- 
 by the virtue of Herbs is to be extracted and con- 
 centrated, that (b by this means they may be more 
 eifeiftually operative in Difeafes, and be more com- 
 modioufly adminiftred than the crude and unprepa- 
 red Herb, and it is to be done as followeth. 
 
 The Preparation of the Effemes of Vegdables. 
 
 TA K E of an Elerb cleanfed from the Earth, 
 and its withered and putrified Leave?, both 
 Root, Stalk, Leaves, Seed if they may be had, as 
 much as you liff,but however let it be at the leaft fbme 
 fifty pounds weight, for the Fermentation will not 
 fijcceed fo well in a lefler quantity, as if taken in a 
 due meafure and plenty. Cut the Herb, d^r. finall, 
 pour Water hereupon as much as is fufficient to fill 
 your Copper Still, within an hands breadth-'of the 
 top, urge your fire fomewhat ftrong, and y^^e, will 
 diftill forth a clear and well fmelling Watery toge- 
 ther with a little Oi', which you muff feparate from 
 the Water by a tritory or feparating glafs, and re- 
 ferve it apart : then take out the Herbs reniaining 
 in the Still, put more of your Herbs in, and diftil the 
 Water and Oil as before, this repeat fb long, until 
 you have diftilled all the Herbs, always feparating 
 the Oil from the Water, and keeping it apart. Now 
 then all the Herbs being thus diftilled, pour water 
 on them again, and put thereto a fpoonfull of good 
 new Ale yeaft, and let them ferment together in a 
 woodden Vellel covered over for fome three or four 
 Days: Then when the Herb begins to leave otf 
 
 working, 
 
Part il. 
 
 the Spdgyncal Vharmacopxa. 
 
 85 
 
 '■1 
 
 working, 'tis enough, and is fitted to fend forth in a 
 volatile manner by difti!larion its moft pure parts, x/i-i. 
 Salt and Su'phur. Stir the matter well with a ftick, 
 that fo both thick and thin may be well mixed toge- 
 ther ; fil! yoiir Still hcrewithal, give a fire by degrees, 
 that the Hei bs burn not too, and the Spirit taft ot an 
 Empvreunie Dillill it with a Re: igatory fb long as 
 the vvater hath any favour, the which you may ea 
 iily find by tafting it often, when the water comes 
 forth inlipid ceafe from the Difti.lation, kerp what 
 is diftilied forth in glalFes: Then empty your Still 
 and fill it again with more fermented Herbs, even 
 within an hands breadth of the top, diftil thence the 
 Spirit, the which fb long repeat until there remains 
 nothing of the Herb undiftilied. Then havingclean- 
 ed the Still and Refrigatory, pour hereinto all your 
 dif>il!ed Spirits, and ledifie them, take onely the 
 ftrong Spirits, pour out the infipid water left in the 
 Still ; redifie the Spirit again in an Alembick in ti. 
 jkf. and it will again putott an infipid water; and if 
 need be repeat this redification vet once more in a 
 glafs Alembick, that fb the Spirit being exalted by a 
 ferther operation may become very ftrong and fiib 
 til, and its internal Verti.e may be concentrated 
 So then, now take the Herb from which the Oil 
 and Spirits proceeded, make thereof fmall Balls 
 .which dry in the Sun or at the Fire, burn them un 
 to Afhcs, from which Afhes extrad the Salt with 
 the infipid water eft in rectifying your Spirit, and 
 coagulate it : This Salt you muft again dillolve with 
 more new water and filter, and coagulate it and 
 then it is enough. To one part of this Salt, pour 
 two parts of the reflified Spirit, and gently abftracft 
 it in a R. M.. and fo the Spirit will receive into it 
 fcif afmuchasit needeth of the fixed Salt, and bring 
 it over with it (elf by the Alembick : But the fixed 
 Salt holds back the Phlegm, which as >et lurked in 
 the Spirit. But now the Salt thus moift, if it be a- 
 gain fired ( or calcined ) is as good as it was 1 efore 
 To this Spirit thus concentrated even to the utmof>, 
 pour an ha!f or a third part of the Oil you diltilled 
 before out of the laid Herb, mix them tngerher b\ 
 fliakng them we!I, and the *. oncentrated and A ka 
 fizat d Spirit wi'l in a moment devour his (aid pro 
 per Oil, and will all of it be converted into a clear 
 eftiCdCious uod piealaiit Elience. In which Ellencc 
 the volari'e Salt and Sulphur of that Herb are united 
 with the fixed Salt, and aieto be accompted of, as a 
 p'eafant, penetrati\e, efficacious Elience, and friend- 
 ly to nature ; the which may be mixed and profita 
 Wy taken with any Liquor: A few drops of which 
 have more Vertue than a whole handlull ofthe crude 
 Herb. And this Ellbnce being taken into the Body, 
 doth not onely operate mtre efficacioufly in thole 
 kinds ()» Difeafes which the Herb lerved for before 
 its beii g thus j^repared, but dcth a'fb (by reafon of 
 its fubtil purity; more Ij eediiy difp'ay its Vertues, 
 and being externally applied, doth ( by its Odour ) 
 corroborate the Heart and Brain beyond all other, 
 hnw fwcet and odoriferous fbever thickened Oi's, 
 prepaitu with Ci\ct, Musk and Ambergrefe; all 
 v^hich it compared with this Effence, are to be ef 
 teemed of as a de^d Body : For in thisFflVnce, the 
 Volatile Silt which is conjoyned with the Oil, doth 
 prefently introduce ( or lead it inwards / and make 
 it fubtii, even to Admiration. And fo this Medi- 
 cine fe. vcb as well for inward, as for outward Utes. 
 And certain it is, that thelweet Odour of any Herb, 
 fuch an one as by which the Heart might be com- 
 forted, as it were in a moment, docb fometimes ef- 
 
 fect more than another comforting Medicine taken 
 into the Body For the Heart of a Man lives ofthe 
 Air, as a Fifh doth in the Water, the which being 
 pure, the Heart becomes alfo well rhereby, and foon 
 the contrary ill. Why (hould a .Man love to fmell a 
 Flower, did not the fweet Odour tomfort his Heart 
 and Brain, and were not his spirits refrefhed there- 
 by. If then the Flower and Herb etfeCleth thus 
 much, where the (weet and comforting Spf its are 
 as yet encompallcd, involved, wildly diftiifed, and 
 tied to their dead Body ; what will the Spirit do 
 being feparated from the B<idy, highiy depurated 
 and again concenrrared. Befides tht- daily, and (to 
 all) well known experience, that a pleafant Air 
 refrefheth the Heart, but a corrupt and infedlied Air 
 ( as IS evident iii the time of the Piague, doth ( on 
 the other hand ) debilitate it, and p'ainly fulfocate 
 it ; It might be an eafle matter to produce Hiffories 
 to prove and verifie the fame, but that it would be 
 too tedious tiut yet I muft needs fet down here 
 one or two memorable ones, for the better confirma- 
 tions lake of my Opinion. Jojefhus de Acofia an a-r 
 cute and very expert Philofopher, of the Order of 
 the Jeluits, wrote a Book ofthe Condition and Pro- 
 perty of the Ides ofthe ^t^ Indies newly found our 
 and amongft other things in the third Book, and 
 ninth Chapter, fpeaks ot things no lefs incredible 
 than true, concerning the nature of fome Winds 
 which (in fome Provinces fcituate beyond C16///) leap 
 down as it were from the Tops of Niountains ana 
 Oelarts, and faith of them, that thel'e Winds, do (by 
 reaton of the notable piercing cold j not oneiy caft or 
 throw down for dead, the Pallengers palling that 
 way, who not dreaming of any fuch thing aie not 
 well proVidedagainftit, but doth alio wholly kill fbme 
 nceiiy from that molt fubtile Cold, fo contrary and 
 extremely inimicitious to the Spirits and Life of Man. 
 For c\ en as a pleafant and temperate Air doth prcferve 
 and cheufli our vita Spirit, and nourifheth it; fo 
 on the contrary an intemperate and cold Air, doth 
 futtocare and kill it: The which thing is wont to 
 happen to fuch as fail at Sea, for there the Air is 
 infected by the monon of the fait Sea, and doth io 
 alrect: and debilitate thofe that are unaccuftomed 
 thereunto, and elpecially their Brain, Heart, and 
 Ventric'e(as we faid above concerning the cold Wind, 
 in the Defarts about Lhih) that it caufeth men to' 
 vomit, their Head and Heart pains them, they loath 
 both Meat and Drink, until they are accuftomed to 
 the Air, and can well brook it. Befides this ftory 
 I will yet add another, to fhew that an infected Air 
 can bring more detriment to the life of a man, than 
 any corporal Poyfon. For a corporal Povfon in- 
 vades the ftomach onely, which by the help of Na- 
 ture doth eafily expel the fame again, which is fuffi- 
 ciently wunefled by all well known Hiftories, viz.. 
 that a man cafts out by vomit a Poyfon that is 
 drunk down inwardly, but that fpiritual Poyfons do 
 haffen to the Heart, to fuffocate the vital Spirit, un- 
 lels a man be well armed, and this (hall be inltan- 
 ced unto you by the following Hiftory. 
 
 About Ibme ;o years ago, there w6re two Moun- 
 tebanks at i^aris, that had their ftations not much di- 
 (tant from one another, and they did each of them to 
 their utmoft commend their own Treacle which they 
 fold to the I nhabitants,thereby to difparage each other 
 and each to allure the men to himfelf onely. But 
 at laft they came to a bargain betwixt themfelvcs, 
 which was this, each of them ftiould defend himfelf 
 with his own Treacle, againft the Poyfon the one 
 Z (hould 
 
8^ 
 
 The Firjl I'art of 
 
 Pait il. 
 
 (hould give unto the other, and thereby detend the 
 exceilencv of his Medicine. Well.one oftheni takes 
 a huge Todd, fwallnvvs down one half, gives the o- 
 ther'halftohis Jompaninn to devour, the whici he 
 alio ("vva'lowed and neither ot them hurt The next 
 day following, the other invites his Adverfary ana 
 u(ed this Stratagem. He took a Viper, together 
 with a Toad anJ put them into a Drum, adding 
 hereto ap hand.'ull of Salt, and ordered the Dium 
 to b- beaten a while with Drum-fticks, with which 
 unwonted noife both the Serpent and Toad being 
 enraged, breathed forth their fpiritual Venome, and 
 filled all the Drum herewith : This done, he bid his 
 gueft put hisnnfe to the hole of the Drum, which 
 is ufual.y about the middle of it, for the letting forth 
 of the lound, who as (oon as ever he had drawn in 
 the fpiritual Venome, fell backwards and died pre 
 fently, nor dreaming any (uch matter, nor under- 
 ftanding that the fpirits either good (4- bad have as 
 eftedual operation upon the body, as a corporal 
 Poyfon hath. 
 
 Itiavenot inferted thefe two flories, to fill the 
 Paper up with words, but to (hew, that Spirits be 
 ing feparated and freed from their bodies, are in 
 there virtue and operation an hundred times l^ron 
 ger than the bodies themlclves are, though conjoined 
 with their Spirits. The which thing doth a^ well take 
 place in (ijch fubjefls that are w hollon e and friendly 
 to Man's nature,as in theic here reheaifed It is ai^un 
 dantly known how many good ard lubti c Spiiits 1 
 have defcnbed for the luke ot the Sick, in my lecond 
 part of Philofophical Furnat es ;• ) et few ai e here to 
 be found that let about the preparation ot them 
 Amongft which Spirits, that ot Sal ^rmvmackxsnf t 
 them-eancft, which becaufe of its penetrating and 
 temperate heat) doth exhibit amofl: prelenr opera 
 tion, and isaSpirit worth all Mens knowledge, and 
 worthy e^ery where to be had at the Apothecaries 
 Shops. Yet I have not as yet (een it any where to 
 behad,though Idelcribed a fhort eaiie way of prepa 
 ring of it: But of this (if God will more (hall be 
 Iboken in the next part, where wc treat of fuch Me- 
 clicaments as are prepared out of Animals. Such as 
 are their volatile Salts,and lixed ones,v.' herein a great 
 virtue lieth hidden, and are (in fom.e cafes to be 
 far preferred before tho(e Medicaments that are 
 made out of Vegetables. But yet though it be thus, 
 I cannot but admonilh here that good and fubtie 
 Medicines are to be circumrpe-.'tly u(ed, and not to 
 be adminiftred to the Sick in a greater quantity than 
 their nature will bear. Good and lound Wine is 
 ab'e to comfort, and conferve in health, the Heart, 
 Brain, and who'e Body ot hini that u'.eth it aright. 
 Whereas another that uleth it immoderately, e\ en 
 the fame W.nc is able toinflame and inted his Lungs 
 and li\er, toprilelshis Head, to bring a trembling 
 into his Hands, and a Gout into his beer, to wca 
 ken his >ight, and to fill his Reins and Bladder with 
 the Stone ; and for this end it was never given by 
 God, nor gotten with i'o much labour, but was cre- 
 ated onely to lerve for the health of Man. O what 
 curious fecrets do lie hidden in the Wine onely (not 
 to (peak of Corn and other Fruits) all which the 
 World neither knows nor cares to know, and I have 
 determined with my felf to pub'.ilh, in my Vegera 
 ble Work, but yet it is at the pieaHjie of Gnd, whe- 
 ther he will permit Co to do or not. It is ILifficiently 
 manifeft: by Wine alone, that the abufe of a thing 
 hurts nor the abufed fubjeifl;, and the lame may be 
 faid ofother penetrating Medicines, whole operation 
 
 is according as you ule them Wc d'^ ii(,t lulicr a 
 Child or a Fool ^ neith(.r ot whichaie < mvoi r,„.n:ii^ 
 to meddle with a fharp Knife, tor tear eft they 
 (hould hurt both themle.ves and others too ; but 
 now a Wile Vlan ulcth it aright, and kmw s hf^w to 
 employ it both to his own and the ufe ot other Men. 
 if then one hurts another with aKniie, the fault 
 lies not in the Smith that made it, bccaule he gave 
 it luch a keen edge, but in him rather that ulcd it 
 amils. 
 
 Thus much I judged it worth the while to advife 
 you ot, letl haplv lomeof.theEITences which J have 
 uelcnbed, Ihou d undergo a wrong cenfure, as if 
 they were too hot, but if they Ihouid, it may be 
 known what anlwer to give. For 1 C(-niers that tf:io 
 much htat doth as well extinguifh the Vital Spirit 
 (leeing it is ,a ternperate warmth that is its hie and 
 nuuiDient) as the cold, which is an enemy to na- 
 ture: and thereiore you are here taught not to 
 di lak down thelc fiery Elicnces as if they wereyour 
 ordinary drink, but they muft be wifely adminiltred, 
 z7i. 1,2, 3, or 4 drops at a time according as 
 the Patient is, in a fpoonfull of Ale, Wine, or other 
 liq (Jts And lb the A'ledicine penetrateth through 
 tlie whole body, and performeth that etfed: which 
 Cjod hath given it. But this is to be known, that 
 the lorce andelFence of all good and whollome Herbs 
 confriteih of heat, the which by how much the 
 moie It is dilated and dittuled throughout the body 
 oi that Herb, io much the lefs oblervable is it ; and 
 by how much it is contra:!ed, by fo much the more 
 vifibly and lenlibly is it apprehended. Whatloever 
 yiCids a tem^.crate heat, is acce, table and whol/ome 
 to nature \ and conrrarily, whatloever refrigerateth 
 too much, all that is iiiimicitious and deadly, and 
 this c\eii every one, to whom nature is in any fmall 
 mealuic kncmn, is enforced to acknoweiedge. 
 
 1 he death and deftiu.tion of the life ot Man, is 
 no other thing laving a dilflmutude and contrariety, 
 whereb-' thdt which is alike and temperate is deftroy- 
 and dillipated, whether it be done by too much 
 heat or too much cold, tis both on the lame manner. 
 Foo much heaf doth exhault the ftrength out of a 
 Alan's body, jult as a great fire draws to its felf a 
 lelicr. But a tnighty cold drives the i'pirt and life of 
 a Man to the heart, and is worle than the heat, but 
 yet more inienlibie, and this is clear! v evident in 
 Wine, which being fet in a Veliel at the Fire, the 
 Sun, or tome warm place, the heat draws to it lelf 
 the ipirit' and liie of the Wine, and leaves behind 
 an inlipid or unlavory matter, becaufc like co\ ets 
 its ike, but if a Velie. filled with Wine,be(et in an in- 
 tenle cold, that cold doth not attract the Spirit as 
 the Fire did , but hates it as being unlike it, drives 
 it into a itfie room into the center of the Veilel, fo 
 that having broken the Vclfel and leparated the ice, 
 the r, iiit will be tound whole by it lelf, which other- 
 wile.and in thehedtdid alcend and might be caught 
 in a Receiver let hereto So then, the Spirit is con- 
 ftrained as well by too much Co d, as by too much 
 heat to torldke its Soul and Habitation and leave it 
 to the power of Death. I 
 
 And many things might be fpoken both of the i 
 nature of h^at and cold which are underftood but I 
 by few. There lies hidden therein great /ircanums 
 which is not at all fit for the contemners to be ac- 
 quainted withall. An hot and temperate Air, 
 and the light ot the day being difperled widely or a 
 tar of, are the graces and virtue of God. But the 
 contencrated hot Air and Liti,ht cl the Day, what 
 
 can 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Sfagjncal Vharmacoposa. 
 
 87 
 
 can they be cile bur God himlelf, rhe Habitation 
 of pure Spirits. The dark(ome and cold night is 
 nothing tile, but the emitted and widely difperled 
 or dilated curie and wrath of God. But the con 
 centrated and dark night is nothing el(e but the e 
 ternally mortifving power and center of all evil, and 
 Habitation of evil Spirits, where is howling and 
 giiafhing of Teeth. Do but a little confider, what 
 is it that a little concentrated handfull as it were of 
 the Sun will not do ? will not the heat kindleWood, 
 as it were in a moment, and melt Lead and Tin r 
 what would not the Sun do if intercepted the 
 breadth of three or four paces > without doubt it 
 would fufficc ro n e!t Iron and Copper. But it ex 
 ceeds all underftanding to guefs if the fhining Sun 
 were concentrated a miles breadth what would it 
 then do But yet it is likely that it would burn up 
 the whole World in a moment, and m'ake it vanifh 
 awav in (rnoak, (hould the Sun (hine on it in this 
 wife. This may be demonftrated by the contad 
 and union of the Sun's beams in Concave one a bur- 
 ning Glafs. And if we are unable ro behold the 
 light of the Sun, when a little collected by fome in 
 flrument becaufe the brightnefs thereof is fuch, as to 
 hurt the Sight ; who is able to Hand before the Sun 
 it lelf, (and ) et he is but as an egrefs or out-gone 
 virtue of God) much lefs before God himfelf who is 
 the Center of light. And could thedarknels befocon 
 centrated as the light is, what an incomprehenfible 
 and dreadfull monfter (fuch as Death, the Devi', 
 and the infernal Pit are fhould we fee, which God 
 in mercy prevent. For by how much the fairer, e.x 
 cellenter, and more unutterable the concentrated 
 light is, as being the divine prelence and clarity 
 by fb much muff the concentrued darknefs be the 
 more horrible and more dreadfull, for theletwo are 
 contraries. 1 may haply have made too wide a di 
 greirion, but yet rhcle things are well worth your 
 conlideration, that lb it r^iay even from hence appear 
 how little the nature of man is able ro abide the ex- 
 treams and centers of either heat or cold, for either 
 of thefe is a death and poifim, but their temperature 
 is the life of a man. Forafinuch therefore as a 
 Phylician ought to be a Philolopher and Spagyrift, 
 and fuch an one who hath nature in his hand and 
 power, it is no^ difficult for him to find out a true 
 temperature, which may give to nature that which fhe 
 delires and Itands in need of Thus now it is hereby 
 proved, that my Vegerab'e Eliences are not to be 
 therefore Ihunned, becaule they are in themfelves 
 hot, tor then we might upon the fame account fhun 
 God too, who in himlclt is a confuming Fire ; but 
 it lies in the Phyficians hands to temperate and mode 
 rate thefe kinds of Eliences with proper and (uitable 
 vehicles, according as beft conduceth to the help of 
 the Sick. 
 
 \4oreover the external ufe of thofe Eflences is very 
 notable in the cold aifecbcf the members, in which 
 cafe they area prefl-nt h ip : for the volatile Spirit 
 is as it were a leading vehicle to the Oil and volatile 
 Salt, and the uie of them is pleafant, if a little Cot 
 ton be herevvirh impregnated, and (0 put to the 
 Noflrils and Imelt ro. It doth molt notably vivitic 
 ('in time of in*eded Air) and comfort the Spirits, 
 pre'ei^ves the rie^rt from the corrupt Air and conra 
 geous Vapours. It doth alio correct and refrefh the 
 pent up /\.ir in Parlors and Chambers, &c. if the 
 G a(s wherein they be,be opened and expoled to the 
 Ar.', rdin whence the fiibti'e Ellence may be with- 
 out cealingUiituied into the Air, and make the room 
 
 finell fweet. So that who(()ever is already in rhe 
 room, or goerh hereinto will be refrefhed v^ith rhs 
 fricndlinefsof the Odour Nor are the*; 'very dear 
 neither to him that knows howrightU' '^'ro prepare 
 them, and is not to feakin manual o,5r,^ations. 
 
 But now this method (which I hS't fpnken of) 
 ferves for (iich Herbs onely as m.'y be had frefh 
 and plenty, and not ih well for f -reign Herbs, dri- 
 ed Spices, Woods, Seeds, and Roots,. tor they re- 
 quire another way which is as followeth. 
 
 Trocefs for Spices, &c. 
 
 FOrafmuch as that extraneeus well fmelling Ve- 
 getables are not every where to be had, as our 
 homegrown Herbs are, weniuftdeal morefparingly 
 with them, and that on this wife. They muft be 
 powdered, and to every pound muft be put five 
 or fix pounds of common water, and be macerated 
 (ome three or four days in a warm place (whether 
 it be Root, Wood, Herb, Seed, or the like; then 
 put them into a Still and by Diftillation draw accor- 
 ding to Art fome parr of the water, and there will 
 come forth together herewithall an Oil of that 
 Herb or Fruit, which you muft feparate from the 
 watersand keep by it felf, untill you get the Spirit 
 and volatile Salt alfo, the which are to be joyned 
 with the Oil and be converted into a fweet EflTence. 
 Then take out the water that remains together with 
 the Vegetable out of the Still,put it in a wooden Vef^ 
 fel, and add hereto the water you diftilled and put 
 thereto fo many pounds of Sugar as the Vegetable 
 weighed. When your Sugar is dilTolved in the Wa- 
 ter, mix therewith new Aleyeft, and let it ftand in 
 a warmifh place, and the Spice will ferment as if it 
 were a new Herb ; when it hath done working, put 
 it into your Still, and it will yield a Spirir, like as 
 the new frefh Herbs did.and fuch an one as will both 
 taft and Imell ftrong of that Seed or Wood you diftil- 
 led, the which you ought ro rectifie as is fiiid before: 
 the refidue is to be burnt into afhes, the Salt is to be 
 extraded, and the Spirit to be thence diftilled, with 
 which the Oil is to be conjoyned according to the 
 before prefcribed weight. 
 
 N. B. Now forafmuch as the out landifh Spices 
 can fcarce be diftilled in quantity enough at one 
 time onely, fo as to yield Salt enough out of the re- 
 mainder thereof, it will be well enough, to ufe the 
 Salt of another Flerb, inftead of its own, or in de- 
 ted of that too. you may ufe highly depurated Salt 
 of Tartar as a fubfliture, but yet it is better to ufe its 
 own proper Salt, provided it may be had. 
 
 This is the true and genuine defcription, how the 
 Eliences both of our own home-grown Vegerables,and 
 ikewife of forreign and dry Vegetables are to be pre- 
 pared. Now remains that wc defcribe the virtue 
 and efficacy of the prepared Eliences ; and this I 
 could do, would it not be too tedious, -viz,, to de- 
 fcribe the virtues and efficacy of thefeveral Herbs. 
 But feeing there are already Books that are full there- 
 of, 1 look upon it as fliperfluous to repeat the fame, 
 but refer the well minded Retdcr, to thofe kind of 
 Herbals which treat of the virtues of the laid Flerbs. 
 For whatfoever virrues the Herb either green or drv 
 abounds withall, its EfTence pofleffeth the fame much 
 more excellently ,ss being vt^hat is brought into a fmall 
 compafs, and fb multiplied : whereas otherwife a 
 good part of the Herb goes to the faid contained 
 vertues ; etpecially of our Herbs here in Germafiy, in 
 which the vertueis widely difperfed, and it is there- 
 fore* 
 
•88 
 
 The Firft ['art of 
 
 Part 11 
 
 fore far more advKedly done to collcci them into a 
 nai ToCJ.jr room,that rhey may be the more cnmiiiodi 
 oufly adn.'niftred. This moreover is weL worth the 
 noting ; 1/) ^ that we can (earch out the Vertues ot 
 all VegetabltS;^ by their Signature, far better than by 
 rctdiiig fho(e'3ooks that are compofed of (craps tron. 
 one, and Icrafs from another &c. Neither is it 1<> 
 well always to ac^uiefce in the Writings of the Anci 
 ents, wh<) alio rernaiiied ignorant of fuch things as 
 God taught them not, by nature. Pray what iVla 
 fter is there of knowledge that never erred from the 
 truth ? and who is it that you can in all things lately 
 truft > 
 
 O ! I could wi(h, that we could bur reade, and 
 underftand the Wntingsand Signs of the laid Heibs, 
 by which it fpeakcth with us, we flmuld not need 
 fo many fcducing Books. Who I pray exalted Mojts, 
 Daniel^ Joleph, Solomon, and manv other Hhilofo 
 phers, to fuch an height of Wifedom and Arti" It 
 was oncly God, who yet live« and can t any time 
 eafily dcie whatever he formerly cou d : who can 
 doubt as touching him, when Gnd minds the enliglit 
 ning or blelTing ot any one with his Gifts, he makes 
 no ufeol any Books, for this purpofe, and foinftruct 
 put of them, nor doth he difpute or controvert with 
 him We ftiou'd feek unto this Mafter and learn 
 from him, and not out of the elegantly written Ara- 
 bian , Gractan and Latme Books. But now the 
 world is come to luch an height of pride and errour, 
 that It can neither believe nor compiehend that any 
 one can learn ought but in the Schoos, and \er the 
 moft expert and moft famous men th t ever lived in 
 the world, arrived to that famous light ot nature 
 without making ufc of tl'e Scliools, and the things 
 that they wrote, they did not pubiilli them in a 
 ftrange Language, but in their own Mother Tongue, 
 as is (ijffiuently evident And this is the faying to 
 Whence hath this man his un- 
 
 need of troubling ones Brains with fo many forreign 
 ,ind dom.cftick Writings, where you llial' find oiie 
 gHinfiying another, and fo le:ue thev asd-iubtiuU 
 what party we were befl addicft our ic \ es unto and 
 be ieve ; but now we niav eaii y find cut the cer- 
 tainty and truth by their lignarure, and difMiiguifh 
 what is erroneous, and proceed on vi ith more f<itery 
 in iill the praftile, yea and in time too ( by God's 
 permiinnn ; cone into a far better State. And he-^e 
 V"U are to remember, that the fignarureof Herbs, 
 do fhew a Phyfician their Vertues as well as Books 
 do, for indeed they rather trace by paths, than 
 walk in the way of truth And here would i e a 
 very cr>nvenient place to treat of the fignaturesof 
 Vegetab'es, but forasmuch as 1 have written a pe- 
 culiar Book concerning them ( which God wi ling) 
 ni<ill fuddenly come abroad, let the friendly Reader 
 have a little patience and expect it, wherein he fhall 
 hnd things wonderful! and unheard of 
 
 But that there may appear fome footfteps thereof 
 in this firff part, ftz,. by what means you are to 
 meet with Dileafes by the ElTences which I have 
 defcribed above, 1 could not omit the reckoning up 
 of fome fpecifical ones, which I have proved by moft 
 certain experience to be good againft fome principal 
 and well known Difeafes : That is to fay, in the 
 Gout, there is Hellebore but efpecially Helleborafl^er 
 (which is a kind of Eilebore) the German's To- 
 bacco, and the Tobacco ot the Weft hidics are a fin- 
 gular Ipecihck and mot notable afTwager and helper 
 in all Podagrica! griefs. Now the Phyfician fhould 
 know and underftand, what the reafbn is thatElle- 
 bore and Tobacco ought to be ufed in flich kinds of 
 Difeafes. Thi n lor the fione, 1 commend the Ef^ 
 fence of the Iced nt the Afh [ or Afh keys ] before 
 all other fl-ne breaking Diurerick Medicines. For 
 veriy very many men have (by that fame Medicine) 
 been freed and reflored to health, who have lain 
 
 i 
 
 th s very day, viz^. wtience nat 
 
 derttanding, and was never bred up in the Schools > • fick (jf it many years, infomuch that after their death 
 I knew hira from his youth, and ti.at he had nothing there hath n^t been found (in anatomizing them^ 
 in him. Alas good Sii, you are very wiie. Brought | not lo much as the leafl footftep thereof either in 
 
 you with you mto the World more than I did < 
 Were not you born a naked Infant as ueii as i,and 
 that skill which any one hath, received it he from his 
 Parents.hereditary f Is it not tfie gift ot God, whether 
 it be much or little > Art doth notconlift in the van 
 ety of ftrant^e Languages, but in expciience. It is 
 one Art to underftand and fpeak feveral Tongues, it 
 is another Art to calculate the ( ourfe ot tfie bun, 
 Moon and Stars, and to predict from them the 
 Changes of Times and Seafons. Again, it is another 
 Art to prepare and purifie the Nature, Pro^^erties, 
 Vertue and Efficacy of all the Vegetables, partly 
 for the confervation of the Life of Man, and partly 
 for diverting accidental Difeafes, and to know how 
 to ulie them as need requires. Befides it is another 
 Art, to get out of the Earth thofe many rare kinds 
 of the wonderfull Creatures of God, and thole Fruits 
 of the Ear.h as the Minerals and Metals, for Mans 
 ufe, ( which is the End they were created for, and 
 which we cannot want ) and to depurate them by 
 the tire, to tranfmute them our of one form into a 
 nother better \"vm, and to have the knowledge, 
 underllanding and experience of them all. 
 
 As concerning the lignaturc of Herbs, by which 
 God teacheth us their hidden Vertues many things 
 might be laid, and ir were to be wiflid, that luch u 
 knowledge were earneflly defncd, and fought afte. 
 
 by all thofe that deal in Ph\ lick, and dothcncefron \ _ _ 
 
 get their food, there would not then be fo much'iue, coagulate (like Chteie or CowsMiJt ; in the 
 
 manner 
 
 leafl 
 the:r Reins or Bladder : And yet before they ufed 
 this Medicine, they were almoft every day jiaincd 
 with the (dWQ. This fpecitick is made of the leedof 
 Ain, which is ufually ripe in Autumn, the feed 
 you are hrlf of all to bruife well, and then mixing 
 Water therewith difti! it into your Still, and feparate 
 the Oil from the Water, and reduce it into finall 
 Morlels or Tn-ches with Sugar, for your daily ufe. 
 But a whole fack full, and as much as a man can 
 carry, will fcarce yield you an Ounce or two of Oil : 
 and one Ounce ot this Oil will fufficc for two pounds 
 of Sugar, for a greater quantity makes the Sugar too 
 unp'eafant ; for the On of the Afh keys is very un- 
 pleafant and naufeous, iMomULh that it will provoke 
 to vomit, if too much of it be taken, otherwife ic 
 performs wonderfull etfeils in this cafe. But now 
 if out of what remains behind, you do ( by the 
 means of fermentation ) diftil its Spirit, and after its 
 concentration cxtratf the fixed Salt out of the Afhes, 
 and unite it with theOil,then will you have a perfedl 
 Medicine, and moff high fpecifickin the ffone. And 
 feeing that ue treat onely of Vegetables in this parr. 
 It will not be expedient to mix herewith the Animal 
 and Mineral medicaments, but in the fecond part 
 (omewhat fhall be mentioned of Animals, which doth 
 ctficaciouflv bring forth ftf;ny and gouty Humours. 
 Infomuch that the Urine of fuch a fick Perfon, doth 
 after the ufe of this Medicine ) being heatdd at the 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spngyricd i^harmacopxn. 
 
 8^ 
 
 manner of natural Calx 'vive that is made out ot 
 ftoncs. There is likewife amongft the Minerals, one 
 of them that etficacioully drives out the ftone and gou- 
 ty Humours, which alfo we (hall fpcak of, in its due 
 p!acc,x'/z-. in the third parr. In fome internal atfecls of 
 the Liver and Spleen, and in all concreted Blood be 
 it from a blow, fall, or any other accident, the Ef- 
 fence of St. Johi's wort bears the chielcft note ; For 
 it banifhetli away all pains, rciblvcth congeal'd 
 Blood, and healeth an hurt ( or wounded ) aftedt 
 provided the evil be not too inveterate. As for the 
 Uterine affedls of Women, when the Womb hath ta- 
 ken Cold and is moved out of its place, or othcrwile 
 hurt, the which produceth to Women many diffi 
 cult and chronical Difeafes ; the Effenccs of Tobac- 
 co, Henbane, f of alHorts) being applied by means 
 of a Spunge in a Uterinelnftrument, are a nioft cer 
 tain lenative and fure Medicine: they reftore the 
 Mntnx to its place and quietude, and heal all other 
 infirmities. In weak decrepid and decayed men, 
 what will not the trueEIFence of Rofes and Cinamon 
 do i if often taken, it comforts the Heart and Brain 
 above all other Medicaments: But this Ellence muft 
 be prepared, and concentrated into a narrow room, 
 that fooneor twodrops,whether put on the Tongue, 
 or put to the No(e,may corroborate the whole Body 
 'by its vertue,and theftander by may have enough to 
 do to admire its fweet Odour. 
 
 N. B. If any one hath a mind to make fuch an 
 ElTence, it behoves him that he firft gets the true 
 Oil of Rofes, which is diftilled out of the yellow 
 Thrums on which the Rofes grow, and not out of 
 Lignum Rhorltum, and is gotten out by the mediation 
 of water (but you muft not ferment them before 
 you have gotten their Oil ) then afterwards ferment 
 them with new Yeaft, whereby you may get their 
 Spirit, for if you obferve not this method, you will 
 effect nothing, the reafon is this: becaufe if 3'ou fet 
 them a fermenting firft, the Oil ( as being the beft 
 and moft efficacious part) is mixed and united with 
 the Spirit, and fo widely dilated, that it will be a 
 hard matter again to concentrate it. Well, what 
 fliall I need fay more of the vertue and efficacy of 
 the vegetable Effences, feeing that the Nature and 
 Vertue of them is enough known already : But yet 
 thus much I muft needs confefs, that I have not in 
 all my life time (ctn any thing done, which was 
 more fweet, friendly and efficacious, than thefe Ef- 
 fenfes of Vegetables For if the Elfences are but 
 prepared according to this defcription of mine, we 
 can hardly be fatisfied with their Odour, efpecially 
 if made out of well fmelling Herbs, as Rofes, Violets, 
 Clove-gilli-flowers, Bawm, Camomile, Pennyroyal, 
 and other iuch like. Befides fuch kind of Ellences 
 may be made out of Gums, when their Oil is driven 
 forth by the Spirit of Salt, ( left elfe they favour of 
 an Empyreum, and become unplealant ; but with 
 this Provifo that you ufethe Alcalizared well (welling 
 Spirit of of fome other Herb, whofe Odour is not 
 much unlike, for the Gums do not afford a Spirit. 
 Now there's ^Z/^jFar^i^^/, orBenzoin,Storax, Maftick, 
 Camphire, Amber, and the like, nay even Civet, 
 Musk, and Ambergrefe may be reduced into very 
 fair and pellucid Ellences, by an Alcolizated Spirit, 
 and be rendered far more pleafant than the common 
 Musk, Ambergrefe, and Civet : For the volatile Salt 
 contained in the Spirit, makes the Body volatile and 
 fpiritual, fo that at the opening of the Glafs, where- 
 in fuch an Ellence is, the whole room will be filled 
 with the fweetnefsof the Odour.- But more of this 
 
 in the (econd and next following part, wherein ihull 
 be taught, by what means a ("wcet Odour may be 
 extracted out of our (mall Animals in Ge/w^?;), not 
 unlike to Civet. What (hall 1 lay more, methinks I 
 have done enough, he that underftands not th s, 
 would much lels uiiderftand the things that are more 
 (ubtil, fhould they be defcribed. And though I 
 could (hew a far more compendious way of prepa- 
 rmg Ellences, yet haply the ingratitude of the World 
 being conlidered, this that 1 have airc.'dy dc^ne is 
 too much, and it any is minded to carp at the(e here, 
 let him firft give us better than thelc, but Uiey will 
 have a care how they attempt that. For he iliat is 
 endowed with underftanding, even he alio under- 
 ftands that the labour and diligence of another 
 man is not in the leaft to bedileftecnicd, for the truth 
 will remain truth though never lo much expoled to 
 injuries. And as we have laid, that good and effi- 
 cacious Ellences, may be prepared out of plcalant 
 and well (melling Herbs : Even \h by the lame rule 
 may ill (melling ones be made out of bad (ir.elling 
 Vegetables and Animals, which alio have their u!e 
 and are profitable, as in the futlocation ot the Ma- 
 trix, where, ( tor the moft part fuch things that 
 egregioufly ftink are applied to Womens Noftnls, 
 that ( by their grievous Imell ) they may im^ead 
 and reprels the nling up of the Womb: And this 
 doth lometimes fucceed very profperoufly ; thele are 
 Aj]a Ftetida, Cafioreuw, burnt Rags, burnt 1 eathcrs 
 and (lich like, which yield a moft filthy Odour • 
 And if now the unprepared Bociy, in which the O- 
 dour lies largely dilated doth neverthelds perform 
 notable Operations, what wou.d it be th nk vnu if 
 the Oil of (uch bad fmelling things were coniovned 
 with the volatile Alco;izatedi)piru!r . lay it would do 
 more than the crude Body, not oiicv ten, but twen- 
 ty or thirty times more. Butamo'ngit al the fetid 
 and ill fmelling things, whicn aie not immicitious to 
 Nature, thele I find the ftrongeft, xnz, the black 
 Oil of Tartar, which is drawn lorth by diftillation 
 and that too which is diftiiled out of Goats horns' 
 Hogs hoofs, Birds feathers, and the Hairs of all Ani- 
 mals, all which do ftink extreamly, and yet are not 
 hurtfuU unto man, as thole ftinks are which proceed 
 from rottennels, as from dead Beafts, Fifhe-; rotten 
 Eggs, and liich like, whofe ftink is wholly inimicitious 
 to the Spirit of Lite, do threaten its deftrudion and 
 are (as much as polTible can be) to be (hunned 
 For the Heart, Brain, and whole Body is therewith 
 inteifled, and debilitated. But why fuch ftrong 
 fmelling Oils as thofe are, that come from Beafts horns. 
 Hairs, and Hoofs, do not perform the fame, (hall be' 
 told in the following fecond part, where we will 
 treat of Animals and of fuch parts of them, as may 
 be made ufe of for Medicine. 
 
 And thus will I put an end to the firft part of my 
 Spagj/rtcal Pkarmacopza, and would have the Rea- 
 
 der admonithed that (if he would ule this mv De- 
 fcription of Eflences ) he would have a war'chfull 
 Eye by whom they are prepared, and not truft e- 
 very Body that hath (carce faluted even the very 
 firft entrance of Art, and yet dares to make Medica- 
 ments, and adminilter them to others For under 
 this covering will be exercifed great deceit for 
 lome will not for their gain lake, beftow fo much 
 Labour and Cofts, as to make Lliences out of good 
 and new Herbs, butlcrape upa.iy thing, that there- 
 by they might onely bring forth loir,cwhat or other 
 that may refemble the Odour 
 Herb. 
 
 . , , , . . ana bavour of the 
 
 And although Iuch Ellences (hould be pre- 
 pared 
 
 Aa 
 
T/je-FirjlFdrf: of 
 
 90 
 
 paretl of fbmeot the bell Vegetables, yet the covctoul- 
 ncfsof profit may caule that the Spirit be in too 
 great a quantity mixed with the Oils, which may 
 eafiiy be done, if to one part of Oil, five, eight, 
 ten, or twelve parts of Spirit be taken, becaufe 
 the Spirit is eafier to be had than the Oil, (whereas 
 according to my prefcription two or three parts 
 are to be taken onely) and therefore may you ea- 
 filv conjefture, that (ijch Ellenccs are far lels effica- 
 cious ; forvhe greateft virtue conlifts in the Oil, the 
 which being by the Alcalizated Spirit, made volatile 
 and penetrable, is introduced (or carried more 
 inwards. ) And befides this is not all, but there may 
 be another abufe too, as when a Man willmg to 
 fpare his own labour, doth not himfelf make the 
 Oils, but buys them cheap from fome fweet Pow- 
 der makers, 'which Oils may (and fometimes 'tis fo) 
 have in length of time loft their moft flibtile part, 
 and are become rank and clammy, and fo makes 
 ufe of fuch, from whence no laudable matter can be 
 etfefted, as is manileft to every Body. But admit 
 it be fo, that new Oils can neither be had nor 
 prepared with your own hand, becaufe of the de- 
 fed of the Commodity, yet may fuch Oils as are 
 never fo old and never ib much clammy be rendred 
 ufefull,if they are firftdiftillcd and then rectified in a 
 Retort, by Spirit of Salt : For then they come over 
 clear, and become (it for an A'.kalizated Spirit to 
 difFolvc them, which fuch Oils as are old will not do. 
 This I thought good to advife, left haply he that 
 thinks he enjoys a good Medicine, fhould impute 
 the blame to me, or lay the fault to the Eflence, 
 when the effe<ft anfwers not his expe(flation : For 
 thus it hath hitherto hapned to my Medicaments, 
 and doth even to this day faTl out fb, 'Viz,. that 
 very many (in fundry places) do faKely pretend as 
 if they knew my fecrets, but 'tis untrue, and ameer 
 diabolical couzenage, for they adminifler their own 
 unprofitable Medicaments, felling them for mine, ' 
 and efpecially my Vanacen and Tinfture of Anti- 
 mony, which notwithftanding hath no affinity with 
 mine, and what is more too they fear not to affirm 
 that fuch Medicaments are made by my univerfal 
 Men(triiMm (which they neither underftand nor 
 know how to u(e.) And becaufe here falls in fbnie 
 mention of this Menftruum, \will be expedient tt) 
 (ay fbmewhat of it, viz.. what is to be underftood 
 concerning it, feeing there are fo many various opi- 
 nions of the fame. Moft People think that the Al- 
 kaheftisa fiibtile water, whether drawn out of the 
 Air by certain inftruments, or prepared by fubtile 
 Dif^illations, but in this opinion, they err. But yet 
 I will not deny but an efficacious water may be 
 drawn, not oncly out of the Air, but alfb out of the 
 mofl: intenfe light of the Sun, and thus I my felfhave 
 fometime done But this moift dry Mcnjtruum which 
 1 call by the name Alkaheft, is nothing elfe but the 
 Salt of the Earth, and may be ufed both in a moift 
 and a dry form, and thus much the very Etimolo- 
 gyofthe word fignifies, if rightly lookt into and 
 read, "oiz.. Alkali eft, for the word Alkaheft is com- 
 pounded of twowordSjOf y4/^rf/' and eft, where the / 
 and i, by a tranfverfe line are made one letttef, -viz,. 
 h, and is then read Alkaheft, but take away the 
 tranfverfe line, and then 'tis read Jlkali eft. Flence 
 'tis maniteft to every body, that I have not rafhly 
 impoled that name upon this Menftrtium, but have 
 thereby openly named the fubjedt. For this very 
 reatbn it will be very expedient to fiifpend your judg- 
 ment, and not to be fo halty in uttering your opi- 
 
 Part 11, 
 
 nion and cer.fure of fuch a thing as you do not at all 
 know, but rather think thus, who knows if I under- 
 ftand what I fay or not : 1 may happen to fay fome- 
 what unadvifedly which may eafily be refuted, the 
 which we fee here ro be done. For theie have been 
 various difcourfes of this Menftrmtm, asif 1 had given 
 it a name fb famous without any ground, feeing it 
 anfeth from Salt onely, when as the Alkaheft is a 
 fubtile water. But by what 1 have abovefaid it ap- 
 pears that 1 have not given it an improper name, 
 but have called it by its peculiar Title ; the which 
 I did for the fakes of fuch as contend, topreventany 
 future controverfie about the name thereof, but 
 how it is to be ufed as to thofe fecrets contained in 
 A'liraculum Mnridi^\s not to be fpoken of here. Let it 
 fuifice the well minded Reader that 1 do again, and 
 again allure him, that all and every of the things I 
 have there fpoken, may without controverfie be done 
 by this one onely lubjedt, "vtz,. the Salt of the Earth. 
 And fb that Treatile doth rightly deferve the Title 
 of Miraculiim A'lundi. But ) fit 1 do again by way of 
 Summary as 'twere, Admonifh, if any one (hould 
 u(c this my Eflence, and have it not rightly prepa- 
 red, he throw not the blair.e on me, as that I had 
 written unprofitable things, but rather let him that 
 has not rightly prepared it, bear the blame. 
 
 But yet 'tis not to be doubted but that men of all 
 flates or conditions will in procefs of time endea- 
 votir the preparing of thofe Eflences, not onely be- 
 caufe they are a pleafant and efficacious Medica- 
 ment, but withall becaufe of their comforting, pe- 
 netrating, and highly gratefull Odour. For the 
 crude and cold Air in pent in rooms may not onely 
 be tempered and rendred acceptable and friendly to 
 nature, but it may alfo be happily and fafely made 
 ufe of in externalcafcsand Dileafes, as need requires. 
 It will therefore behoove everyone what way he 
 may moft profitably attain them by. The prepa- 
 ration is eafie, io he ufe but diligence, and then may 
 a good quantity of thofe kinds of Efiences of all the 
 Vegetables and Spices which are in ufe in the Shops, 
 be eafily gotten. Now flich an one that hath con- 
 veniencies to prepare them himfelf, he verily beft 
 knows what he has, and may fafely truft thereto. 
 There is alfb great difference in the Effences accor- 
 ding as they are prepared ; one will happily pre- 
 pare them very neatly, another but rudely, but the 
 difference will eafily appear as well by its efficacy 
 as by its fweet frnell ; as for inflance. That Eflence 
 which is rightly prepared according to the aforefaid 
 weight and proportion, mult neceflarily be very 
 fiibtile, fweet, efficacious, and of a firong Odour 
 and Savour. But if it be otherwife 'tis a fign that 
 the Oil was two fparingly added, and it can't be 
 accounted of as a rightly prepared Elfcnce. 
 
 N. B. The things which 1 have here fpoken, of 
 Odour and Savour which the Eflences ought to have, 
 are to be underftood onely of well-fwelling Vegeta- 
 bles, fijch as are Rofes, Marjoram, Rofemary, Vi- 
 olets, Camomil, for the Eflences that are prepared 
 out of thefe, mult needs be wellfmelling and efficaci- 
 ous. But as for thole Eflences which are prepared out 
 of thofe kind of Vegetables that have no fiJch notable 
 Odour,it can't be expeded that the ElTences prepared 
 from them can afford more Odour than the Vegeta- 
 ble had, but yet do they excite a more prefent effi- 
 cacy, as for example. The Effence of Wine which 
 doth eafily e.xceed all other comforratives 16 notwith- 
 ftanding void of any eminent Odour, nor haply doth 
 it relemble any other than the flower of the Vine in 
 
 Spring- 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spa^jrical ^harmacopoca. 
 
 91 
 
 Spring-time: and therefore being taken into the bo- 
 dy, it difplays its Virtues, but not by its Odour ; 
 even (0, n^rither doth the Wine it felt' being taken 
 into the body operate by its Odour. 
 
 And hitherto belongs the teaching how to come 
 ro get (ijch an ElTence, feeing that it is nor prepared 
 after fuch a manner as I have delivered for the ge- 
 neral dealing with Vegetables, and that, becanfethe 
 pleafant Oil of Wine (without which [oilincfs] no 
 Ellcnce can be prepared ) is hard to come by. I 
 will therefore teach the way of preparing it, but 
 what I now write is onely for the lake of weak and 
 decrepid old Men, and alfb the poor, but not for 
 the wi/elines and unworthy Deriders. For I very 
 well know that fbme or other after be hath read 
 this Book, will out of the good conceit he has of 
 him(elf fay, this is no news to me, I knew this many 
 years ago, Glauber doth not publifh this of himfelf, 
 but hath gotten it elfewhere out of fome old Book 
 or other : He that thus judgeth of me doth, for no 
 other caufe fay lb, but out of envy and hatred to 
 detrail from my Writings : And the anfwer I make 
 to fuch envious men is this. That I do not know 
 whether any one heretofore either had, or at pre- 
 lent hath either fuch or fuch a (ecret which I have 
 made mention of in my Writings, or no .- It may be 
 for ought I know that fuch (ecrets were e.xtant a- 
 bove an hundred years ago, and may be even at 
 prefent in ufe with fome, that I know not : how- 
 ever that's nothing to me : For it is aflliredly falfe, if 
 any fay that I have borrowed from any one, or elfe 
 out of any old Books, fo much as one, much left moft 
 of, or all the (ecrets ( according as the envious fay ■ 
 which 1 have publifhed in my Miraculum Mundi, or 
 in any of my other Writings: But I obtained them 
 through the Grace of God by the many Trials 1 
 made, (earching after them with my Cofts and La- 
 bour. And forasmuch as fuch envy me, therefore 
 do they privily fcatter abroad their lies concerning 
 me, which wiii in (hort time (God permitting) be de 
 raonftrated. But put cafe that I did take whatfb- 
 ever I have written out of others, and out of anci- 
 ent Books, will they I pray be either more or lefs 
 profitable becaufe of that, than if they were my 
 own : Is it not one and the fame for any notable 
 thing to be emitted, who writes it, of whom it pro- 
 ceeds from, fo that it be, and may be exceeding pro 
 fitable to very many. But becaufe of this envy and 
 calumny which I undergo from wicked men, I do 
 keep within my breaft many things, which other- 
 wife I would have communicated for the common 
 good. And if fo be that they cannot believe nor 
 comprehend what is mentioned in my Miraculum 
 Mundt, ( and yet is not of fuch deep fearch as the 
 unskilfull imagine ) how will they believe, that J 
 (hould (et before them far higher things > Wei) there- 
 fore may the old Proverb take place. Secret things 
 are fcr jtcret Men^ and fool tpi things for foohjh Men. 
 
 Now iblloweth the procefs of preparing a com- 
 fortable and pleafant Elfence out of the Oil of Wine, 
 and its fixt and volatile Salt. I think there's no bo- 
 dy will deny, but that hitherto there hath not been 
 made any mention by thofe that are wont to diftil 
 Wine of any fuch thing as an Oil ; fave that by thofe 
 that havo-written, that the Oil of Wine is to be fought 
 f(k in Tartar and in the Faeces, and that a black Oil 
 may be diflilled both out of the dried Faeces of Wine 
 and alfo out ot Tartar, I think is fufficiently known 
 to all Chymilts : But fuch an Oil doth purchafe to 
 it felf (by this way of proceeding) fiach an ungrate- 
 
 full Odour, that it is merely on that fcore, ufed 
 neither mwardly nor outwardlv, though it b: en- 
 dued with good Vertues. For verily I do not yet 
 know whether there can be found (amon-',!! all o- 
 ther things ' any thing that ftinks worfe than that 
 Oil that IS prepared out of Tartar, andrherewithall 
 may 'ft thou drive away both Men and Beafls, be- 
 caufe the Odour that it emits, is in a manner i'ntol- 
 lerable. Whereas this which I he. j mention, is a 
 pleafant, friendly, clear and bright Oil, and is made 
 thus. In the Vintage time, when the Grape.-; are 
 prelfed forth, take fbme pure Mult, let it ferment in 
 a Barrel, until it becomes white, and the greateft 
 part of the F^ccs fettle to the bottom, which done 
 begin your diflillation, and draw out the Spirit, ei 
 ther out of a Copper Still tinnedin the inridc,or Ibme 
 other diff illatory Veffel ; of the Spirit will be no great 
 quantity. After it hath ceafed, take oft" the head, 
 and pour that which remains into clean Glalfcs, Ice 
 it Hand for fome days, and there will fwim at' the 
 Top a white Oil, and fbmetimes it will fett'e to the 
 bottom, the which is to be feparated from the Muft-, 
 and will ferve for the making the abovefaid Effence. 
 But the Muft, from which the Spirit and Oil are 
 taken, may be mixed vvith your other Muft, and it 
 will ■ " 
 
 again ferment and become Wine, but if you 
 can't do thus for want of skill, make thereof a Vine- 
 gar. This is a moft cornpendiousand the moft eaf^ 
 way of preparing the Oil of Wine, and although I 
 know another way befides this, and how fuch ari 
 Oil may be had even our of the Autumn Seafon, yet 
 doth it feem to me not fo well to publifh all things 
 together, and at once : This way of preparation 
 that I have now taught will to many be hard enough 
 toefFedl, though it be clear enough defcribcd. And 
 yoij are to obferve, that in this work the due time of 
 diflillation is to be regarded, 'viz,. When the Muft 
 is fo far fermented, as that its taft is neither plainly 
 fweet, nor plainly vinous, but a midling between 
 both ; which if neglefted the fault is none of mine, 
 for'I have advifed you of all things to a tittle If 
 you begin your diflillation too foon before the Mufl 
 IS fufficiently diflblved, it affords no Oil ; if you 
 tarry too long, the Oil precipitates with the Fices, 
 nor wilt thou get ought, and therefore all things are 
 to be done in their due time. But how this Oil is to 
 be redihred, with his own Spirit, and his fixt and vo- 
 latile Salt, into an Elfence, is mentioned before, what 
 ufb this Elfence fervesfor needs no defcription For 
 every body well knows what a vivifying and com- 
 forting vertue there is in Wine, and yet the Wine is 
 endued but with little Oil ( though the Oil as we 
 faid before is the befl part of the Vegetable ; and be- 
 fides, it is united with a great quantity ofinflpid Wa- 
 ter, and crude Tartar, but the Effence is freed from 
 thofe Crudities of Water and Tartar, and is compoun- 
 ded of a due proportion of the molt pure parts, or of 
 the three Principles,Salt,Sulphur,and Mercury, and 
 may defervedly be called the Quinteffence or Soul of 
 the Wine. 
 
 Whofoeverhe be that hath it, willfe^ what good 
 it is endued with, and how to be ufed. To me it 
 feems to be an Antidote againfl Poifons ; for feeing it 
 is w'ritten of old, that a Serpent or other venemous 
 Animal, cannot abide in the Vineyards at fuch time 
 as the Vine flowreth, therefore the Oil and Efience 
 of the Wine refemblingthis very Odour, the Effence 
 may nor unfidy be thought to be good in healing cori- 
 tagious Difeafes. 
 
 But this is to be noted concerning EfTences, that 
 
 tjfiey 
 
^2 
 
 ■ The Firft ?art of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 they muft not be ftopt with fuch things that will be 
 melted by the Eiience, but be rather llopt in with a 
 doubJe Bladder, left the volatile Spirit fhould tty a- 
 way. For fhould this fb be, the Oil would again be 
 debilitate ' and let go its Spirit,and the EfTence would 
 be corruptul. 
 
 And beca jfe my purpofe was to fpeak of the pre- 
 paration of Vegetable Ell'ences, but not make a de- 
 Icription of their, moft ample ul'e, 1 will now put a 
 period to this bufinels, leaving every one to be wi- 
 fcr as his own capacity is. But yer, would the pre- 
 fcnr time have permitted, I would have mentioned 
 jbme fpecificks, which may haply be elfewhere done 
 But thus much I fay, that in Wine, lies hidden very 
 much which but icw know, and which if one would 
 reckon up, would ftir up admiration. But it apper- 
 tains not to this place, but to the Vegetable Work, 
 which ( if God permit^ fhall foon follow. But fee- 
 ing I have made mention of Wine, I cannot omit 
 to add in this place one thing, 'viz.. what yet far- 
 ther ufe the Eflences of Herbs might be of, if al- 
 ways to be had ready prepared in the Apothecaries 
 Shops : For one, two, three, or more drops of Ef- 
 fences, being put in a Cup of Wine at pleafure and 
 ftirred about, that the Wine may be united with 
 the EfTence, do prefently make the Wine clear and 
 pleafent, refembling the kind and nature of the Ef- 
 fence you put in ; and by this means divers kinds 
 of Wines may prefently be made out of one and the 
 lame Veflel, to refrelh and pleafe your guefls : 
 And this way far exceeds the ufing of extrafts, 
 which make the Wine troubled, but this leaves 
 
 it clear. It will be necdlefs therefore to put dif- 
 ferent forts of Wines in leveral Veflels in Cel- 
 lars, where rhey will all of thferri by degrees wax 
 weaker and weaker, un'cis they are kept always 
 full ; but one onely Velid, is fufficient for to make 
 various kinds of Wines at your pleafure ; and this 
 is a very profitable fecret for great Men and others, 
 who fbmetimes muft have various Wines. Ir is a 
 ulijal thing with many to drink a draught of Ph\''- 
 fical Wine in a morning on a faffing Stomach, 
 to ftrengthen the weak Stomach, and to preferveit 
 from hurtfull Air, if they can but get it, and if they 
 ufe that which is ufually made of the Relique? of 
 the Wine, and fijch decayed ftutf, fuch is void of 
 virtue, and brings more hurt than benefit. But 
 now, having thefe ElTences of Herbs, you may ea- 
 fily impregnate generous Wine therewith and make 
 it Medicinal, and by this way maift thou be certain 
 that thou hafl good Wine, and not fuch as is made 
 out of the droppings and refufe, which is ufually 
 employed to make Medicinal Wines of, and from 
 whence gripings and other incommodities do frequent- 
 ly exifl : But that which is compoled of generous 
 Wine, and a well prepared EfTence deferves the 
 name of wholfbme Phyfical Wine. Thefe things I 
 was willing to add to this firft part of my Sfagyruk 
 Pbarmacopcea by way of Ornament, and do requefl 
 the well minded Reader, that he think well ot my 
 Labour^ Diligence, and Intention. There (half 
 follow (God permitting) in the two next parts, 
 more good Medicines. 
 
 The End of the Firft Part. 
 
 THE 
 
Part II. 
 
 93 
 
 THE 
 
 SECOND PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Spagyrical Difpenfatory. 
 
 Concerning the preparation of Animals, Vegetables, and 
 Minerals, by an Univerfal Diflblvent. 
 
 Wherein is clcarlv demonftrated and exadlly defcribed, that Niter is the 
 true Univerfal DilTolvent, and how all Vegetables, Animals, and Mine- 
 rals, are therewithall diflblved, corred:ed, and their venemous and ob- 
 noxious property changed into wholfome Medicaments, contrary to the 
 opinion of many ignorant Men. 
 
 what Animals are^ ani what is underfiood or meant hj 
 them. 
 
 I do here underftand by the name of Animals all 
 fuch things as have life, and a vital motion, as 
 Men, all kinds of Boafts, Worms, and Infers, 
 cither in the Earth or above the Earch, the Fifhes 
 in the Water, the Birds in the Air, and all the 
 Creatures that can move themfelves, and that do 
 partake of a vifible life. Amongftthefe living Crea- 
 tures, there is this ditFerence to be obferved, o/t..that 
 fome of them ferve for the ufe of Medicine ; other 
 fome of them are not fit for Medicine ; for all 
 thofe x\nimals which noiirifh mankind and fuftain 
 his body, have not a medical bur nutritive power, 
 fo that out of them can't be prepared Medicaments 
 refifting Difeafes. For although that out of fome 
 Anima's (as Oxen, Sheep, Goats, Hens, Birds, 
 and fuch like) a good EITence may (by the benefit 
 of Art) be extracted, fbasto reftore and ftrengthen 
 a body that is debilitated by ficknefs (as you may 
 fee in my Book of the Kitchin Art) yet that labour 
 doth appertain to the Kitchin, and Cooks, rather 
 than to the Apothecaries. Therefore in this Trea- 
 tifc nothing c'(e (hall be mentioned, but concerning 
 filch Anima'.s onely as do not nourifh the body of 
 Man, but (being eaten or any ways entring into 
 Man's Bellv, or other parts of his body ! do by 
 their venomc moft greatly hurt : But being inverted 
 or turned in and nut bv the Spagyrical Art do be- 
 come excellent Medicines, and (without that bet- 
 tering them) would remain venemous and hurtfull : 
 fuch as thcfe are Vipers, Serpents, Toads, Scorpi- 
 ons, Spiders, and other venemous Inledis ; the 
 which being fpoiled of their venome or changed by 
 Art, do become Medicines of a penetrative efficacy. 
 Indeed a Serpent, a Toad, and other like venemous 
 Creatures being onely boiled in common water, are 
 
 barred of their Poifon, and may be eaten without 
 any hurt, feeing that their Poilbnconfifts not in the 
 Flefh, but in the Spirt, and vanifheth by a bare de- 
 codtion. Many examples do confirm this thing, and 
 "tis evidently known that Serpents have been often- 
 times boiled and eaten inftead of Eels. It is no new 
 thing in India, that that People do feed on great 
 Serpents boiled, inftead of Food, and contrariwife 
 other Animals there are which do not depofite or 
 lay afide their venome by a bare boiling, but do re- 
 tain it, fuch as are Scorpions, Tarantula's and fueh 
 like. But now, if to fuch kind of \'ermine thatare 
 endued with fb hurtfull a Poifon, a water or liquor 
 of a Wronger efficacy be added, wherein they mav 
 be digeffed, their venome is turned into a wholfome 
 Antidote, and is a relifier of Poifon, as fhall be pro- 
 ved anon. This is certain, that the omnipotent 
 God hath not created lb much as the leaft Worm in 
 vain, which cannot bring fome profit, though by 
 the under fort of Men, it be contemned and plainly 
 negleded. But forafmuch as almoft all fuch Vermine 
 and Infeifls, are (by reafon of their Poifon) rare- 
 ly u(ed in Medicine, and fcarce any one knows 
 their occult virtues, from that fignature God hath 
 given them, or cares to know, the ufe of them re- 
 mains unknown and in the dark. Nay it is well 
 done, that (feeing the way of correfling fuch Poi- 
 ibn?., or turning them into Medicine, hath lain hid 
 from the greateft part of the J.earned ones; their 
 ufe was thrown out of the Apothecaries Shops. But 
 yet in procefs of time, fome of thofe kind of Vermine 
 were admitted by the Phyficians, as the Scorpions, 
 Cantharides, and fuch like. The Scorpions being 
 futfocated in Oil Olive do tame their own proper 
 Poifon; Cantharides, great Worms, and Millipedes, 
 or Pigs lice, are ufed to provoke Urine. But vcc 
 net without danger, becaufc of the venome they 
 abound with. Neverihelels Men have dared to u'e 
 them, and many times they havs; proved verv pro- 
 B b fitable. 
 
9V 
 
 The Second Fart of 
 
 Part 11. 
 
 firable But had their bettering been known ; and 
 hdd tliev ( bein?, thus CDtreifted been made ufe of, 
 thev would i without all tear of danger ; have pro- 
 cured a greater honour to thofe. that ufed them. 
 Now the uftial way of all fuch as know not the 
 nuuincr of correcting them, fuch little Animals are 
 dried, and ( crude as they arc ) beaten into a pow- 
 der, and fo adminiftred to the fick, and do (ome 
 times ( tliough with mighty hazard ) perform great 
 cures. Were the fignature of fuch Vermine well 
 examined, and their u(e in Medicine well known, 
 and they were afterwards tranfinutcd and changed 
 ( by the help of an univerlal Diflblvent ) into a (afe 
 Medicament, tliey do then become fuch fafe and 
 eifeaual remedies as to take away moft grievous, 
 ( and in the accompt of lome plainly incurable ) 
 Difeafes, and do in many Degrees exceed the weak 
 operations of Vegetables, For the Animals which 
 God Irath gifted with life, are of a far greater effi 
 cacy than the Vegetables, and this any one will not 
 be over hard in believing of. You will find many 
 wondcrfull things in my Book of the fignature of 
 Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals ( which fhall 
 fliortly come forth to light ) nay and befides their 
 fignatures, as well their unknown and occult Ver 
 tues as theif known Vertues fhall be herein decla- 
 red. But in this Treatife, fhall onely be mentioned 
 fijme of the principal f mail Animals of ufe in Medi- 
 cine viz,, by what means they may be reduced into 
 moft e.xcellcnt and mofl: (afe Medicines, by the help 
 of the univerfal Dilfolvent As for their Vertues, 
 and Efficacy, the well minded Reader may fearch 
 for tlieni in my other Writings. And although I 
 have met with admirable Vertues in (bme hitherto 
 neglected Vermine, and would have alio defcribed 
 them for the profit of my Neighbour, and fo purpo- 
 sed to have made a large difcourfe concerning them ; 
 vet the love to my Neighbour ( whom I would not 
 willingly lead about in many erroneous Turnings ' 
 hindred me from performing it. For all the Vertues 
 that are apart difperfed amongft all the Vegetables 
 and Animals, are all of them concentrated in one 
 Mineral, and found perfeftly united, fo that there's 
 no need of ufing (o many diftintl Medicines of Ve- 
 getables, Animals, and Minerals, and therefore I 
 refer the Reader thereunto. But yet for fatisfafli- 
 ons fake of fuch who abhor fuch Medicines as are 
 made of Minerals, and dread them as ifthey werea 
 Poifon, I will detect the Vertue and Power offome 
 of the moft principal ones in Medicine, 
 
 Of the Signature, Frperty, and Medicinal Vertues of 
 the Euli-lth and Hormd Scarabffus or Beetle. 
 
 I Have known fome of the biggeft and flying Sca- 
 rab^euis that have weighed half an Ounce, or a 
 whole Ounce, and of a Cheftnut Colour, and they 
 will firmly ftick to any thing byreafon of their fiiarp 
 Feet, and are furnifhed with double Wings, the 
 upper ones are hard and finooth like an horn, the 
 under ones are ver V thin and tranfparent, and fiiew 
 like the dried leaves of Poppy. The Maleis for the 
 moft part bigger than the Female, and is armed with 
 two horns, vvhich in their branchings refem.ble the 
 Figure of Stags horns, hard and (mooth like horn, 
 and hollow on the infide, without any marrow, 
 with thefc he defends himlelf U you put one of 
 them on a Table, and (inite him often with (bme 
 finall twigs, and enrage and provoke him to anger, 
 he doth not run away like as other Animals do, but 
 
 fets upon his Enemy, with his upright and varioudy 
 branched horns, as if he would revenge him(clf for 
 the mjury done him ; and whatlueveryou reach out 
 to him, he prefently (hatcheth with his horns, and 
 holds it (b faif, that 'tis a hard matter to get it from 
 him: If the tiling be too heavy, he then leaves 
 it, and goes his way without it: But if it be light, 
 he carries it away with him, and afterwards un- 
 loofeth his horns from it and lets it fall. The Fe- 
 males two horns are leiTer and crooked, which open 
 and fhur like Pincers ; whatfbever they feize on, 
 they hold it moft firmly, and if you expofe to its 
 horns any thing that is not hard fhe doth gripe it fo 
 long, till the tops of her horns touch each other. 
 Being hanged at a Cats or a Dogs Ear flie pre(cntly 
 pierceth it through, and fo holds that the Dog can't 
 caft her off with her Feet, but ( not knowing what 
 is happened to him j runs to and fro, howling and 
 crying our, as if he implored help from (bme body 
 e'fe, (uch is the innate anger and malice of this 
 (inall Creature. They feed not upon Grafs and the 
 Leaves of Trees as other Scarab^uss do, but are 
 nourifhed with the Juice of the thin foft reafinouf- 
 nefs which is in Summer Flowers out of thofe Trees 
 that bears fruit with ftones in them, fuch as Nuts, 
 Cherries, Plums, Pruens, Peaches, and fuch like. 
 Thefe Trees they flicking faft on, do by fucking out 
 the Rofin thence flowing, fupport their lives withaL 
 Thefe finall Creatures are truely Martial, and as if 
 they were endued purpofely by nature with Wea- 
 pons, and armed. Some men do break off their 
 horns, and carry them about them, as ifthey were 
 a faf'eguard againfl: the invafions and being (et upon 
 by wild Beafts, but I count this as fuperftitious. 
 Some ( I know ) do reduce them with their Wings 
 into pouder, and make ufe thereof, and have healed 
 the inward pains and prickings of the Body : And 
 have cured Quartanes, yea have in all Feavers han- 
 ged it about the Neck ; but yet I believe it would 
 bring more profit, if it be duely prepared and (b ta- 
 ken into the Body. But v;hat eftet^ts they will per- 
 form in the other parts of the Body I know not, nor 
 have I hitherto tried or known them to have been 
 ufed to any other intent than before mentioned. 
 But I am certainly afiured, that there is a moft 
 wholfbme Vertue in this infed:, becaufe of his thus 
 hving on, and being nourifhed by thofe refinous 
 Juices which flow out of fuch Trees as bear thofe 
 kinds of Fruits that have Stones in their infide : 
 Wherefore I think that their whole Body is of a 
 balfamick Nature, and I do judge by their fignature, 
 that they may be profitably ufed in curing ail in- 
 ward and outward hurts arifing from beating, 
 wounding, ftabbing, and fhooting, if they are firft 
 reduced into an Elience according to my method. 
 The horns and thofe hard wings, may be reduced 
 into a Magiftery, apart by the univerfal Dillolvenr, 
 andferve for inward Ufe. And the body being on like 
 manner prepared, may be applied and made ufe of 
 for the allaying of all griefs, or pains both external- 
 ly and internally. Withoutdoubtitaboundeth with 
 rnany other hidden Vertues which are unknown 
 both to my felf and other men. 
 
 Of the Vtlular or Globular Scarabsus. 
 
 THERE zvQoxhev Scarabans's ufed in Medicine, 
 'VIZ.. the black and globular ones, ufually abii- 
 ding in Horfe dung, and ai(o thofe that live in Oaks, 
 and be of an afhy Colour, and are pleafant food to 
 
 Poultry, 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spagjrical Bifpcnfatory. 
 
 9^ 
 
 Poultrv, who by feeding on rhemdo lay abundance 
 of Eggs, but the black ones they abftain from, and 
 do not eat tliem. I know not whether or no thele 
 lafi: mentioned ( fiz,. the Oak ones ) arc any thing 
 at all helptull in Medicine. But yet thus much they 
 do, if they are bruifed and applied to the bare skin 
 thev caufe Pultles, and fo do thofe too that are cal 
 led go'den Scarah^us'j that are ufuallv on Rofes, 
 and £Idcr-flowers. Both thefe lorts have this pro 
 perty internally and externally, and fo have the 
 Cantharides or thofe green Flies called Spanilli Flies, 
 and do moft vehemently provoke Urine, if now thefc 
 are by Art changed, and their vencmous quality 
 taken away, they are profitably ufed, and lately, in 
 curing the Gout, Stone, and other grievous Dileafes 
 and bring a great deal of benefit. The black and 
 globular ones are martial, and are not much unlike 
 to the horned Scarabaus's ; the a(hy ones are of a 
 Saturnine nature, the green ones of a venereal Qua- 
 lity, and the red and little ones are of a folar proper- 
 ry. Thele laft mentioned, are by the Gomavs cal 
 led Golden and God Almighties Birds, and (ome do 
 boaft that they have gotten out from them good 
 Gold, and put it to theTeft, which to me dothleem 
 unlikely. 1 will not deny but that there lieth hid- 
 den in them a (irengrhening Cordial ( as they call 
 it,) pro;:erly for corroborating a man's heart if a 
 preparation or correction preceed, I (hould be un- 
 willing to moke ufe of them crude and unmended. 
 Befides the aforefaid reckoned up Scaraba^us's, there 
 is vet another kind of black ones which creep along 
 the Grafs in the Months of May and June, and can- 
 not flie as the above mentioned ones can, and yet 
 have little Wings. Thefe are exceeding (low creepers, 
 and being put upon ones hand, do turn outaftrong 
 finelling Liquor, and are called A'hy Birds, and the 
 Worms of Far by the Germans ; the Lannes call them 
 the undteous Scarabeeuas. They operate moft effica- 
 cioufly, and are ufed by many for curing thofe moll 
 grievous Difeafes of the Gout, Stone, Leprofie, 
 French-pox, and Dropfie, one two or three Grains 
 of them being reduced into powder, are ufuallyad- 
 miniilred, in fome proper Vehicle. They do moft 
 vehemently expel Defilements, by vomit, ftool, and 
 Urine, infomuch that the Urine of the Gouty, Leo- 
 prous, or thole that are affli^ed with the Stone will 
 be coagulated like Milk, or will become tenacious, 
 and uax hard like a ftone, the which event may 
 well altonlfh any one to confider of. I know very 
 many that have had the Gout, and been cured ©fit 
 thereby, though I confefs it is a Medicine fbmewhat 
 hazardous becaufe of the force of its operation. Bur 
 if it be firft corrected by the Univerlal Salt, it may 
 be mofk lafely afterwards uled in the curing of the 
 faid Difeafes. Wierus, a very learned Phyfician, did 
 heretofore publifh aTreatife of the wandring Gout, 
 and highly commended this May Worm,fo called by 
 fome: Andlikewife the great common Earth-worms, 
 for curing it. Neither is it without ground that this 
 Worm [ or Scarabaus ~\ we mention, far exceed all 
 the reft of them that are endued with Virtues, hea- 
 ling Difeafes. The CanthartJes come far fhort of it, 
 and the sky coloured Flies, which are formed onely 
 in Carkalies, are far fhort of the Canthandes. In 
 the next place follow thofe greater Flies, that 
 uliialiy ftay in men's houfes, and keep buzzing a- 
 bout till they can find fome raw Flefh, whereon they 
 caft their filch mthelikenefs of fmall Eggsor Knits, 
 which become Worms in a days time. And I do 
 believe that there is fcarce any Creature endued 
 
 with a fmelling fb acute and fubti'e as this Flie, an<l 
 upon that account I do not quefton, but that it 
 would fhew its Virtues in hidden Difeafes. Yet I 
 would not be any man's Authour or encour.iger to 
 make ufe of him, becaufe nature her (elf cannor by 
 any means endure ( whenaman bv chance ear? the 
 flefh that is defiled with their Excren-ents ) their 
 fiith in the Stomach, but doth prclenrlv caft it forth 
 by vomit as that it were a Poifon. A afcrioe to thefe 
 Mies a mercurial Nature, and I likewile affirm that 
 there are in the common Worms medicinal Virtues. 
 For they do ftrongly expel by Urine and Swear, and 
 being made ufe of, crude as they are, thev provoke 
 to ftool, and caufe vomiting. But I verily believe, 
 that being corrected by the univerfal dilfolvent and 
 tranfmuted into a fweet Elfence, they will become 
 an excellent Specifick againft Impotency, and a no- 
 table corroborative to fuch that are tired with the 
 venereal Sport. Their fignature is teftimony enough , 
 and the Figure of their Bodies, for they will fbme- 
 times ftrerch out themfelves at length,' otherwhile 
 contrad themfelves into a ftiortnefs, one while be- 
 come thicker, then prefently, and as often as they 
 p'eale can they extenuate themlches or become 
 fmaller, nor can any Animal do thus befides them- 
 felves. Nor know 1 any Animal that doth ( in Co- 
 ition) more firmly adhere to the Female, than this 
 Worm, whom 1 have many a rime feen, in the Spring 
 Seafbn when the Cold is allwaged and the Earth a- 
 gain open, to join himfelf to the Female ("not un- 
 der the Earth ) but to creep out of the Earth with 
 half his Body, andfoappy himfelf to the half part 
 of the Female, who like wife creeps out of the Earth, 
 and he fo long labours with her, till there is made a 
 thorough conjoining of both their Bodies. And 
 thefe two Worms are fo pertinacious or earneftly 
 bent on this atftion, that they will rather fiiffer 
 themfelves to be flain than be feparated. This ve- 
 nereal Labour being finifhed, they do each of them 
 betake themfelves , into their Caverns or Holes. 
 Such Hens as feed on them do plentifully lay Eggs 
 daily, and fometimes two on a day, the which thmg 
 no fort of Corn will make them do. That Earth- 
 worm is endued therefore with a venereal Nature 
 and Property. There are befides thefe, other frnal' 
 Vermine that are far more prone ( and approach 
 nigber-j to a venereal Nature, and they are a fort 
 that have fix Feet and run mofl- nimbly, and have 
 wings but do not make ufe of them They are final 1 
 and broad, and are in great companies in old Walls, 
 and old rotten Boards of Stables, and lay their Eggs 
 in the Walls and Wood. They come abroad onelV 
 in curious Weather, and in a rainy and cold Seafbn 
 do betake themfelves to their Holes, and in fair 
 weather out come they again, and obferve no order 
 in their coupling. The Female going, carries the 
 Male along with her fitting on her back, another 
 Male being ftronger throws him off, and himfelf 
 gets up upon the Female, and he again being thrown 
 off in his room comes a new trader, and thus fpend 
 they the day in this riding kind of Sport, and the 
 Female is exercifed with an uncelTant Change of 
 Males. They are not feen to eat any Food. Some 
 of them I fliut up in a Glafs fb that they could not 
 get away, yet Cin thi.s captivity^ they betook 
 themfelves to this venereal Act, and at length fetting 
 upon each other, would rather perifh with Famine 
 than be feparated. They are fo fmall that an hun- 
 dred of them will but weigh an Ounce : Their 
 wings are red and fpottcd with black. Thev run e.x- 
 
 ceeding 
 
96 
 
 The Second Fart of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 ceeding fwiftly, I never could find any thing writ- 
 rcn of them. ' I gave rhcm to Cats and Dngs to ear 
 with their meat", and I found wonderfull things. 
 
 Will not eat them , haply 
 b-ook the too vehement 
 They muft needs be en- 
 he that 
 
 Hens and pther Birds 
 becaufc they cannot 
 operation of them. 
 
 dued with fingular gifts, he that will make trial, 
 may fo do, but yet (b as not to ufe them but 
 corVeAed, beca^fe i amongft all the Vermine that 
 I know of they do moft excell, and abound with the 
 greatelt venereal Venome. There are >et befides 
 ihefe, other Worms , or Vermine J that are profita- 
 ble to make Medicine of. The fond and nutriment 
 of the Jfclti or Pig lice is rotten Wood ; if ) oj touch 
 theni they rowl up themfelves into a round 
 Ball. Thev are for the moft part ufed for repreffing 
 of the Stone The Cimexes, or Knats, or Flies, 
 are of a red colour, and do vex and dilquiet a Man 
 at ni^ht, they fuck his bloud, and ufually quarter in 
 old Pine-wood, and in ancient Chambers, and are 
 deteftable things becaufe of the ftinch they emit. 
 And befides them, there is another kind of fuch 
 Vermine that are of a green colour, and more vene- 
 mous, aud yield a more filthy ftinch than the red 
 Worms do. This Infecl haswings, and is four times 
 bigger than the Cimcx, and live in the Grals ; but 
 when the cold Winter approacheth, they then live 
 in hollow Trees, or hide in the Chinks that be in 
 Walls If an Ox or Cow do by chance in eating 
 Grafs fwvallow down fuch a kind of Vermine, they 
 fwellup, and Ibmetimes die of it ; but yet they do 
 fo well know how to fhun them, that the Beallsfel- 
 dom fwallow them. I do from hence guels, that 
 there lies hidden in this kind of Animal, fbme ilngii- 
 lar matter, becaufe of its wonderfull difpolltion it 
 hath : For I have tried by certain experiments that it 
 can either retain, or emit its ftinch as it plcafeth. 
 It is a notable fubtile and fallacious Creature, and 
 this I could confirm by wonderfull ftories. It doth 
 exadly imitate the perverfedifpofition of all Turn- 
 Coats, Luftfull, Venereal, and Beftial Men. It 
 doth prefently depofite or lofe its flinch intheuni- 
 verfal Menft-nmm, but what it will (being thus pre- 
 pared) perform, I having as yet omitted farther in- 
 quifition, cannot tell. Infinite is the number of thefe 
 and fuch like Infects, and without doubt they were 
 not created in vain, they profecute each other with 
 a mutual and deadly hatred, and do by laying fnares 
 endeavour to deftroy each the other. I have known 
 one little (mall Worm or Infed, that by fucking out 
 the juice and ftrength of the great Earth-Worms 
 do wax far, and is in all places his Superiour or 
 Mafter. In the Spring time he is a fmall lean Worm, 
 and is not fo big as the Blatta, that live upon Meal, 
 but in Summer time he doth fo fatten himfelf with 
 the Earth worms, and becomes fo unwieldy that he 
 can hardly creep : He is black as a Coal, and moves 
 himfelf by the many fhort feet he has, is about the 
 thicknefs'of a Quill, and about a fingers length, and 
 under the earth fhrcwdly bites the poor Earth- 
 worm, and (urks from him his bcft juice, which (aid 
 Earthworm being no ways able to defend himfelf, 
 doth out of meer pain creep out of the Earth, and 
 brings out his faft adhering Enemy : he flicks on to 
 him lb clofe, that he can't be driven oft", and (b long 
 fucks, untiil being well latiated and full, he at length 
 falls olfofhis own accord. I haveo^ten(eentheleEarth- 
 wn^lns f) long vexed wi;h them and twined them- 
 frlves to and tro till this little Vermine hath pierced 
 the Worm rhrough, and divided him in twam, but 
 
 yetclo(ab!e together again, if he can but onely get 
 into the Earth. You may fee evident figns of the 
 malice of this finall Vermine, upon fomeof the (jldtr 
 Worms, that have had (everal iuch bitings, and yet 
 clofed together again. For 1 know no enemies the 
 great Earth wornis have, fave onely the Mole, and 
 this fame Worm. This black and martial Worm 
 having done with one, prelently lets upon another 
 Worm, and fo lucks out the beft juice, and leaves 
 the body of the laid great Worm deftiture of any 
 ftrength. He is of great virtue and as to his excel- 
 lency is to be preferred far before all other Worms 
 if but well prepared: As lor Spiders, there are many 
 talks of them as if they were poifonous, but I could 
 never as yet find any (uch thing in thofe that grow 
 in the (pace of one year, and then vanifh away a- 
 gain ; they are (uch that make their Webs on Trees, 
 Bufhes, and the like to catch Flies in, and are crolf-bea - 
 ring Spiders, becaufe they have on their backs the fi- 
 gure of a Crofs. Every month they pur otf their oldskin^ 
 and fo do tho(e too that make their Webs in the cor- 
 ners and holes in Houfes, and will live three months 
 without either meat or drink befor they die. Thefe 
 are fomewhat worfcr than the former, and yet not 
 lb poifbnous as the report goes, and as is believed. 
 All the green fort of Spiders, that live in the Grals 
 and among Leaves are void of all Poifon, ('and all 
 others) (ave thole which abide in cold places, as 
 Cellars, and moift Vaults, and nourifh themlelves 
 with Infedts, and are covered over with a black 
 and roughifh skin like black Silk or Velvet, are flow 
 paced, and as being the Kings of ail Spiders, do 
 kill the others by their biting, and devour them it 
 they can but get them within their power. Jf one 
 Spider be thrown into the Neft of another, the 
 ftronger drives out the weaker, but they cannot 
 any of them abide thefe black Spiders, abhorring 
 their prefence, and running away as faft as they 
 can. Nay more, neither the Black-bird, nor other 
 Birds fwhofe food's the other Spiders are wont to be ' 
 will eat them. They grow old very flowly,and live in 
 a Cellar many a year, as being patient endurers of 
 the cold, and do not renew their skin as the reft 
 do. Thole likewife that devour the Flies in ftores 
 in the Winter, or at leaft-wife are nourifhed with the 
 fweet fume or vapour of Hony, Sugar, and fuch 
 like things, and arrive to an old Age, are alio venc- 
 mous. All thefe are rarely ufed in Medicine, there 
 being indeed no need of them amongft fuch plenty 
 as there is of good Medicaments. This one benefit 
 I have obferved in them that they fb purge fick 
 Hens, as that they recover their former health, and 
 do prelendy after get ftrength and wax fat. Em- 
 mets that live by the juices and Rofins of Trees, 
 arc alio ufed in Medicine, but yet do no great mat- 
 ters. Locufts,Grylli (a kind of Grafs-hopper) and fuch 
 hke Infedts,(though they are endued with hidden vir- 
 tues) are notwithftanding neglected, foralmuch as 
 there is one onely Mineral that can etfedl more then 
 all the bigger or leller Animals, Worms.and Infeds,and 
 therefore well may they be defpifcd. There are al- 
 io fbmc things that are taken from the bodies of the 
 bigger Ibrt of Animals that are ufed in Medicine, as 
 the Stomach, Inteftines, and Teeth of the Woolf ; 
 the Lungs of the Fox : The Gall, the Hair, the 
 Skin, the Excrement, the Horns, &c. of other Ani- 
 mals ; but yet no great matters have been hitherto 
 done by all this ado, becaufe they are parts or 
 Members of fuch Animals, as being altogether void 
 of Poitc.n, are ufually Mans Food, or may fo be. 
 
 Whereas 
 
Fait 11. 
 
 the Spagyrical Difpenfntory, 
 
 91 
 
 Whereas were they the parts ot Animals that would 
 alter our nature, or were they the Teeth, Bones, 
 Horns, or other parrs of venemous Creatures, and 
 then changed and reduced into good Medicaments, 
 fomewhat might be done by them. By (iich as al- 
 ter nature I mean, the Teeth of Dogs, Wolves, 
 Bear?, Lions, and luch ravenous Creatures ; the 
 Bones and Horns of the Elfe, Goats, Kids, Does, 
 Stags, Elejihants, and the Hairs of Men and other 
 Animals. Amongfl: the venemous Animals, the 
 Teeth and Skins of Vipers, Serpents, Toads, Sala 
 manders, c^c. In the third degree are the Teeth of 
 the Sea-dog, and Whale, and of the horned b'ilhes, 
 and thofc which the Dutch Vlarriners call Wa'rullen, 
 and others the Unicorn : the Horns of them, and of 
 other fuch like Sea Monfters, whofe Fleni is vene- 
 mous, and therefore their Teeth muft necelfarily be 
 endued with medicinal Vertues, provided they be 
 changed and converted into a convenient Ellence. 
 Befides in the Excrements of all Animals, lies hid a 
 lingular medicinal Vertue, nor is the volatile Salt 
 ( but efpccially of thofe that are poifonous ) to be 
 contemned. The fixed Salt being the fubduer of 
 many Difeafcs, doth not a little help to the making 
 of Medicine. But I am not minded to treatof thefe 
 at prefent, tut will onely demonftrate by what 
 means all Animals are to be dilTolved by the univer- 
 fal Mtnjhuun;^ and Poiftn to be converted into moft 
 wholfome Medicine. The Vertues of them are al- 
 ready known, nor is ought more required fave a 
 due preparation, the knowledge of which I am 
 minded to manifeft in thisTreatilc. It is apparently 
 evident that the Teeth, Horns, Skin, Hairs, and 
 Claws or Hoofs, are by fb much the better and more 
 efficacious Antidote, by how much the greater and 
 more prefent Poifon their Flefh is endued withal, 
 and this we fee by experience. Such as defire to 
 know more, of fuch like venemous Animals, may 
 read my Book, of the llgnature of things, wherein 
 they will find many profitable things and worthy of 
 confiJcration. 
 
 The f reparation and changing of all venemous Animals 
 and fVorms, &C. ?>;:<? fafe and efficacious Me die a- 
 m^nts. 
 
 AS touching wh.at belongs to their preparation, 
 it doth not confifV in the way that hath been 
 hitherto ufed as to the preparing of Animals for 
 I medicinal life, the which have hitherto been either 
 reduced into Powder, or elfe have been converted 
 into Spirits, Waters, and Oils, by decoftion rn a B, 
 or elfe turned ( by Calcination ) into Afhcs, that 
 lb their fixt Salt, may be extrafted, or ( by fubli- 
 mation ) pafs into a volatile Salt. I do no wife con- 
 temn thefe, and other hitherto ufed ways and me- 
 thods of preparing Animals for the ufe of medicine, 
 for in very deed they are good and profitable. But 
 forafinuch as 1 have the knowledge of a better and 
 more compendious way. of doing all thele things, 
 1 neither would nor could any longer hide the (ame, 
 but communicate it for the good of mankind, and 
 lor the help and comfort of the fick. And now that 
 the uell minded Reader, may percieve a difference 
 between the old way of preparing thefe Medica- 
 ments and my way, I will briefly declare and de 
 mondrate the fame. I have not hitherto heard or y 
 read of any other way than this which foUoweth ' 
 
 -jtz,. The Animals arc either wholly or elfe fome 
 part of them, dried in the Air, then powdered and 
 adminiftred in Powder in (bmc appropriate Vehicle, 
 or elfe fome Honey or Sugar is added to the Powder, 
 thereby to make it into an Eleftuary ; or elfe the 
 Animals arc digefted ( whilft new or frefh ) in Oil, 
 then prcfled out, and changed into a ^^alfam, that 
 fb they may lervc either lor inward or outward 
 Ufes as necefHty requires. Or elfe they are made 
 up into other Medicines, and lb confeded and kept 
 for ufe Or, being new, arc diftilled by a B. in 
 water, the refldue is by Calcination burnt into 
 Afhes, and the fixed Salt, is ( by the benefit of di- 
 Oilled water) cxtracTied out of the Afhcs. Some do 
 diftil the bodies of Animals, dry, or moift, in a Re- 
 tort, and do get a ftinking Spirit, Oil, and volatile 
 Salt, which parts they Sever from each other, rcfti- 
 rie them, and keep them to ufe in time of need. O- 
 thcrs do put the venemous Animals alive into Oil^ 
 or into fome other Oil drawn out of an Aromatical 
 Vegetable by diftillation, and lb fuffocate them here- 
 in ; and do afterwards ufe that Oil for outward 
 and inward Ufes, as is evident in the Oil of Scorpi- 
 ons. Thefe arc the ways hitherto made ufe of for 
 the preparation of medicaments out of Animals, nor 
 have they been fruitlefly ufed. But whereas I (aw, 
 that the Aiiimals being prepared the aforementioned 
 ways are venemous and crude, but efpccially when 
 they are but onely dried and powdered, and fnufed, 
 aiid that the adminiliring them to the fick is not 
 without danger, becaufe they fet upon nature with 
 too much vehemency, if any (nay the finalleftj cr- 
 rour be committed in the Dofe : and befi'des, they 
 do ( by their ungratefull and loathfbme favour ) 
 beget a naufeate, and withal confidering, that the 
 Spirits, Oils, and Waters drawn out of Animals by 
 diftillation, do for the moft part fmcll of an Ewpy- 
 reum, and are extremely diftatefull to nature; and 
 that though the volatile Salt, and the fixt, which 
 contain the grcareft Vertues of the Animals, and 
 may more commodioufly be taken into the body 
 than the Oil, which is plainly intolerable to fick 
 Perfons becaufe of its ftinch; yet forafmuch as in fuch 
 an Operation the chiefeft Virtue is burnt up, -and 
 corrupted, and that therefore the Medicament fo 
 diftilled is lefs profitable than the crude Body of the 
 Animal; this way and method cannot at all be ac- 
 compted of as worthy the being ranked amongft the 
 beft fort of Medicines. Seeing then and well per- 
 cievingall thefe Circumftances, I counted it wholly 
 neceflary to bethink my felf of a more profitable and 
 better way, and firch a way too, as by the help 
 whereof, every Animal, or at leaft fuch a part of it 
 according as is requifite, may ( without any fepa- 
 rating of the whole body into divers parts) be difibl- 
 ^'etl, and changed in its whole fubftancc by a cer- 
 tain diflblving and correcting VJ^ater poured upon it, 
 and fb its venome be converted into Medicine. Now 
 the difTolving Water, and the dilfolved Medicine 
 Hand in fuch a pofture, as that it may be again ab- 
 ftradled and feparated from the dilfolved and cor- 
 rected body after its dilTolution and correction, and . 
 this (b correfted or purged body may be adminiftred 
 in fome convenient Vehicle to the fick, or elfe alone 
 by its felf, as (hall be more clearly manifcfted in the 
 following difcourfe. 
 
 Cc 
 
 }i 
 
?8 
 
 The Second ?art of 
 
 Part 11. 
 
 fo into a Volatile, Acid and fiery Spirit ; we have al- 
 ready taught in other places ot our writings, lb chat 
 it is a meer needlefs thing, here again, to repeat the 
 fame But becaufe it is profitable to the lover of 
 Arts, that he find both the preparations here con- 
 joined, 1 have deemed it neceflary to fet them down 
 both to your view. 
 
 The Trccefs of tttrfjing Sah-peter imo a ftry Li^fuor. 
 
 TAKE of pure Salt-peter, and fuch as is free from 
 all common Salt one pound, put it into a ftrong 
 and well burned Pot or Crucible, with a Cover to 
 it, put it into a Wind Furnace, urge it (b long with 
 Coals till it be a bright red hot, and all the Niter 
 flow ; which being molten and in flux, caftin a little 
 fubftance' But the manner how this is done j Powder of good Charcoals, that fo it (wimming at 
 
 J uni'vcrfal Menftruum hy the help of -which all Ve- 
 oetables, Annnals, and Minerals are dijj'olved, cor- 
 reeled, and reduced into a mofi ftire and mofi fafe 
 Medicdtnent. 
 
 Ihavc in my Miraculum Mundi, taught and told 
 you thaV Niter is the true univerfal dilfolvent, 
 and is operated withall three manner of ways. 
 I. As it is in its own proper nature and form. 
 a When it is changed into a fixt and fiery Li- 
 
 ; When (by the benefit of the fire) it is diftilled 
 into an Acid Spirit. With thefe three inftruments 
 are dillohed all whatfoever is in the nature of things, 
 are amended, and tranfinuted into a better and pu 
 
 rer -^ , , • 
 
 (hall clearly be taught in this Treatife, and explai- 
 ned, inlomuch that all fuch as have either out of 
 grofs Ignorance, or conceited Pride, or meer dia- 
 bolical hatred and envy, hitherto contemned, defpi 
 led and traduced it as a thing impolfible to be done 
 (asVrtr7/e;«i for one) may be confounded with fhame, 
 and be driven to confefs, that their meer ignorance, 
 pride, and envy, caufed them to oppol'e the Noon- 
 day light, and attempt the extinguifhing, blotting 
 our, and obfcuring the fame. And although that 1 
 have delcribed the preparation and ufe of the uni- 
 verfal AlLnfifuum, both in my Aliracnlum AJundi,-ind 
 in its explication, as likewKe in my Apology againft 
 Farnerus ; yet notwithftanding many perfwade them- 
 felves that that delcription is too much clad over 
 with darknefs, and that without a more accurate 
 and plainer declaration or explication, it cannot be 
 underftood, and confequently not made ufe of 
 Therefore that fuch Men may have their food ready 
 chewed, and thruft into their mouths, and may 
 have no farther caufeof labour and confideration, 1 
 will give a plainer declaration and make fin God's 
 
 top of the Salt- peter may burn up. This Coal Pow- 
 der being confumed, throw in ibme more of the 
 fame, and proceed on thus with cafting on Coal Pow- 
 der fb long till the Coal Powder you caft in will not 
 rake Fire any more, and the Salt-peter appear of a 
 greenifh and sky-co!our. Then pour it out thus 
 molten into a warmed Mortar or Bafcn, (for if you 
 throw it into a cold Vellel, it will leap up into your 
 Face) and there letic lie till it be cold. If you touch 
 your tongue with (bme ofthis Salt, you fhall find it 
 fiery like the Salt of Tartar. Beat this Salt into a 
 Powder and pur it into a Glafs, or elfe fet it in fome 
 moiff or cold Cellar, and in few days, nay, or hours, 
 it will be dilfolvedinto a clear and fiery liquor,which 
 firain through Cap Paper or a Filter (as they call it) 
 and fet it up for ufe. 
 
 The ufe thereof in the preparation of fuch Medicaments 
 as are made out of Animals, ajid alfo Vegetables. 
 
 FOrafinuch as the ufe of this Menfruum is already 
 demonftrated in my firft Apology againft tarne- 
 name', for whofe honour, and for the benefit of all | r/«,and in the firfl part oit\\\$Spagjrical Fharmacopxa, 
 mankind, I have thus purpofed to do ' an initiation, wherein the Elfenccs of Herbs are taught. But in this 
 and perle^Jlly demonftrate, that Niter is (by the! Treatife fhall mention be made onely of fuch Medi- 
 three afore|^:entioned ways) able to diflolve, andjcaments as are preparable out of Animals. I will 
 aher all whatfoever is in the nature of things, and here fet down the way and manner of operation. 
 
 to reduce them into a better fubflance. Thefe are 
 the weapons wherewith I enter the lift with all de- 
 riders and haters of the truth, and do demand, if 
 they have any better and more powerfull thing, 
 than this univerfal dillblvent out of Niter, if fo, to 
 produce it ; if nor, then to let this alone Every man 
 has his hberty, (if he hath better) to publifh it for 
 the common good ; but if he can't produce a bet- 
 ter, he may well fubmit himfelfro the truth. Ve- 
 rily would any man dilcover a better univerfal dif- 
 fblvenr, he would do me an acceptable thing, and 
 I wou'd moft readily acknowledge any errors I have 
 committed in this matter, and would refufe my own 
 proper writings. But that fome fuch will arife and 
 do this thing, I do not in the leaft fear. If fuch an 
 one Ihou'.d come, we will hear and fee him, and re- 
 ceve him with a decent reply In the mean while 
 we will addrefs our felves, to the preparation of good 
 Medicines, to the honour of God, and benefit of 
 our Neighbour. The b-ttering and correcting me- 
 tals, which is to be accomplifhed by the faid Niter, 
 is ex.iftly dcfcribed and demonftrated in the fecond, 
 third, and fourth part of the Treatile of the profperi- 
 ty of my Countrey ; in this place we have purpofed 
 to trcit oncly of medicines. But as for the way of 
 reducing Niter into a fixt and fiery Liquor, and al- 
 
 whereby not onely Animals, but aUb Vegetables 
 my be correfted and tranfinuted into fafe Medica- 
 ments. And here it is to be noted, that the ufe of 
 this MenflruuTK, takes p'ace onely in correding fuch 
 Herbs and Animals as are ftrongly operative and as 
 
 It were venemous, whofe malice is to be necellarily 
 removed. For thofe Herbs that are good, and ufed 
 in the Kitchin, and without any hurt in them, need 
 not any correiftion^ except one will make out ofthem, 
 an extraift by Spirit of Wine, or make ofthem a 
 burning Spirit, and Oil, as alfo a fixed Salt, and 
 conjoin them by the benefit of Art, and make them 
 into fweet Elfences, which labour is accurately de- 
 fcribed in the firfl: part of my Spagjrical Vharmacopira. 
 In this place wetre at onely of turning Animals>Vege- 
 tables, and Minerals into fwecc Medicaments, by. 
 the benefit of Salt-peter: And in other places of^ 
 my Writings is fufficiently enough taught by what 
 other ways, and thofe various ones too, feveral Me- 
 dicaments may be prepared, and that without the 
 help of this univerfal dilfolvent, whereto 1 refer the 
 well minded Reader, and proceed on here to teach 
 the preparation of the faid Medicaments by that hi- 
 therto often named fiery diflblvcnt, which (without 
 any additions; is of notable effedl. 
 
 The 
 
rare n. 
 
 the Spngjrical Difpenfatoij. 
 
 99 
 
 ' Thi 'Preparation ■of Animals and Vegetahles by the fiery 
 Liquor of Niter, their Dtjfoluticn, Corretlion^ and 
 Tray.fmiitation into wholfome Aiecltcines. 
 
 TAKE any Animal or Herb, what youpleafe, if 
 it be new, cut it fmall ; itthe Animal orHerb 
 be dry, beat it into Powder, and pour thereto the 
 liquor of fixt Niter, that it may well moiften the 
 Animal or the Herb, and may cover it all over ; fet 
 the Glafs in a B. and digeft the vencmoiis Animal or 
 Herb for one day and night, in which time the li- 
 c]uor of Niter will ripen the v?nemous Animal or 
 Hci b, and tranfimttc ir, and make a Medicine of 
 the Poi(bn. After the Cucurbit is cooled in the Bal- 
 iico, take it out and pour forth the liquor, together 
 with the correifted Animal or Herb into another 
 Glals having a long Neck, and pour thereon the 
 befl Spirit of Wine, or burning Spirit of Corn, and 
 fiich as is well purged from all Phlegm, that it may 
 ivvimonthe lulution the height of two fingers. Nore 
 vve!!, that the liquor of Niter, and likcwife the bur- 
 ning Spirit, mult be well freed from all Phlegm, fo 
 that tlie Spirit may not conjoin it (elf with the Ni- 
 ter, but fvvim on the top of ir. For if both of them 
 be watery or phlegmy, there would be a conjunc- 
 tion or commixion of them both, and your labour 
 would mifs the event hoped for, and this is well to 
 be obfcrved. Therefore feeing that fuch a commix- 
 tion, is prevented by removing of the aquofity, the 
 byrning Spirit will attrad to it felf, the true and 
 correfted Elience of the Herb or Animal, and leave 
 the fixt liquor together with the unprofitable Faeces 
 of the Herb or Animal. Separate the burning Spi- 
 rit thus impregnated with the Eflence, and fo much 
 that it can attrad no more, by pouring it off from 
 the liquor, and pour more Spirit thereupon, repea- 
 ting this labour lo long and lb often, untiil all the 
 Elience fhall be extracted out of the liquor of the 
 Nicer. Then take all thefe extrartions which con 
 tain the tranlmuredor corrected vcnomeof the Herb 
 or Animal, and put them together in a Cucurbit, 
 in a B. M and draw off the burning Spirit with a 
 gcnrle heat, that (o at length the remaining liquor, 
 may be of a thick and dark coloured reddiflinefs 
 Ncite well that the belt part of the burning Spirit 
 may be alfo feparared in a B. and referved for farther 
 tj^, but its remaining, and weaker part may beta- 
 ken cut wirh the cxtracljoutofthe B. M.and be eva- 
 porated in a G!a(s Vellel, over a vaporous B. to the 
 thickncfs of Honey For in fo doing, there's no 
 fear ot burning the extradt in the Cucurbit, if the 
 13 fhould be over hot ; and this you are to have an 
 elpccial regard unto. But if the evaporation can- 
 not be done in Glafs Veilels, by a vaporous B. then 
 when the Elience is brought to fuch apafs in a little 
 Cucurbit, pnur thereto (ome of that burning Spirit, 
 that came firflover,and prefently fhakc it well about, 
 and mix it well, and this will again forthwith ex- 
 tract the pureft part of the Elience, and leave behind 
 a few Fjece?, with a little of the fixt Niter Liquor, 
 from the which, the burning Spirit together with the 
 Elience, is to be forthwith (eparated, by pouring it 
 <il'r', left it ihtui'd (by any longer flay on the Fences) 
 draw -alio to it fe!f the Salt, and fo not get the fweet 
 Sa^'ourand Odour of, the Ellbnce But ifany one 
 doih yet dcfire to make the ElFence more pure and 
 ir.orc fvvcer, he may extracT: it yet a third time after 
 the aioreldid manner, and after this third labour 
 there will remain again romemoreSaIt,and thcEllence 
 
 will become Tweeter. If a diligent regard t>e 
 nor had hereunto, there wiil ; for the moft party 
 fbme of the fixed Salt abide with the Eflence, and 
 render it of an unpleafant favour : this admonition 
 therefore is not to be negle^^ed, but fiich a one that 
 covets the obtaining of any good muft beftow his 
 labour with all kind of diligence. 
 
 This is an exadl defcription of the Tianner of pre- 
 paring moft efficacious Medicines, out of the moff 
 venemous Herbs and Animals. Furthermore this is 
 to be noted, that when the EfTence is extraded by 
 the burning Spirit, out of the Alkalizated Herb or 
 Animal, the remainder is to be boiled in an earthen 
 or glazed Pot even to drinefs, and afterwards to be 
 made red hot, that all the impurity may be confu- 
 med by calcination, and the pure fixt Niter may re- 
 main alone, which if you fet in a Cellar, and do 
 again let it diflblve into a liquor, it will be of the 
 fame virtues as before, and thus will it be many a 
 time, and fo may the Spirit of the Wine be ufed for 
 the like operation. 
 
 Now although this fixed Niter doth change as 
 well venemous Minerals, as Animals and Vegetables 
 and reduce their vencnofity into wholfome Medicine • 
 yet is ir more fit for the fulphureous Vegetables, A- 
 nimals, and Minerals, than for mercurial ones ; and 
 for (iich the Acid Spirit of Niter is more fir, though 
 it doth alfo diffolve, corretT:, and rranfmure Vege- 
 tables, Animals, and Minerals ; the which is chief- 
 ly obfervab!e in the Minerals, for therein may be 
 learned the wonderful! property, and the all things- 
 changing efficacy of this Fire. For Niter crude as 
 It IS in its body, being mixed with combuftible Ani- 
 mals and Vegetables, and enkindled, bums up all 
 things, and drives them with theflarte up into the 
 Air, infomuch that nothing fave the fixt Salt onely 
 is left remaining : And therefore this crude Niter 
 is altogether unfit for Vegetables and Animals, if you 
 would have any good from them. But in the vene- 
 mous Minerals itperformeth its office better than the 
 fixt Niter, or than the volatile corrofivc or Acid Spi- 
 rit, as fhall be afterwards fhown where we treat of 
 Minerals This I thought expedient to advife you 
 of, and have thus done to this end, that rhofe that 
 are defirous of the Art may learn the divers opera- 
 tions of Niter. The crude Niter doth ('by its flame, 
 difplay its virtues upon the venemous Animals, and 
 changcth them in few hours fpace into fafe Medica- 
 ments ) Being reduced into a fixt liquor,it diflblveth 
 all fulphureous Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals, 
 the which thing the common or crude Niter, as alfo 
 the acid and corrofive Spirit will never do : As this 
 fixt liquor of Niter alfo diflblveth wholly the fulphu- 
 reous Minerals, and leaves nothing behind fave the 
 onely Faeces. So the aci'd Spirit of Niter diflblveth 
 all mercurial Minerals, that nothing remains undif^ 
 folved. From whence 'tis evident, that every nature 
 doth lovingly embrace its like, and is willingly con- 
 joyned therewithal!, and efpecially if fuch natures 
 are pure and clean, and not mi.xed with any other 
 things. But that you may yet better underftand 
 thefe things, hearken a little farther. There is no 
 Herb, no Animal, no Mineral, that confifteth not 
 of its three firft principles, 'viz.. Salt, Sulphur, and 
 Mercury, but yet arc thefe very unequal : for in 
 one fubjetft:, the Salt is moft powerful!, in another.' 
 the Sulphur, in a third, the Mercury : But whcri 
 in fuch fubjefts confifting of the three principles,' 
 there is not too much inequality, and that no prin- 
 ciple bears fway over another, then either the addf' 
 
 Spirit/ 
 
100 
 
 The Second ?art of 
 
 Part IT 
 
 Si)irit, or the fixed Salt of the Niter will alike dif 
 folve them, as is evident in many Vegetables, Mi- 
 nerals, and Animals, which being compounded of 
 well tem.pered Principles, do admit of Solution and 
 Correction, both by the fixt Liquor, as al(b by the 
 volatile acid Spirit : For example. 1 take fome Herb, 
 be it Napellus, or Mandragora, or Ofiiim, or (bme 
 Animal, as a Spider, Scorpion, or Golden ^c^rrt^rf///, 
 I deal on this^ubjedl now with fixt Niter ( as I a- 
 fore taught ) and the whole will be dillblved, chan- 
 ged, and become a fafe Medicament, ( for they con- 
 fift of well tempered Principles. ) If now I pour up- 
 on either Subjea the acid Spirit of Niter, it will be 
 dilTolved therein, changed,and correfled, and put on 
 the nature of an whoKome Medicine, as well as 
 when dilfolved in the aforefaid Liquor. Now 
 though both Liquors , viz,, the fixt Liquor and 
 the acid Spirit do arife out of one Root, yet do they 
 exceedingly ditfer in their nature, and do profecute 
 as it were each the other with a deadly hatred : And 
 that becaufe the fixt Liquor, as well as the acid Spi- 
 rit, are in fome fort as yet adverfaries, and do not 
 abfolutely bear fuch (way as if they were in one 
 Nature For they are from one fubje(ft, and are 
 by the fire drawn out of common Salt-peter, and 
 reduced into two contrary parts and into Enemies 
 oppofing each other. But they are again conjoined, 
 that they may mutually fet upon each other, with 
 that enmity they have received from the fire, and 
 may overcome and kill each other, then neither the 
 fiery Liquor, nor the acid Spirit is any moredilcer- 
 ned, but they return unto that which they were 
 before, and from which they were born, 'viz,, un- 
 to Niter or common Salt- peter. Excellently well 
 therefore fay the Philofophers, make the fixt Vola- 
 tile, and the Volatile fixt. Hermes alfo faith, that 
 our Dragon dieth not without his Brother and Sifter, 
 many things might be fpoken of this matter, but 
 they belong not to this place, but to the fourth part 
 of the Profperity of Germany, in which is treaeed 
 of the Concentration of Gold and Silver into Tinc- 
 tures, but if fo be that one of the aforenamed Princi- 
 ples,whether it be Sulphur or Mercury (for the Salt 
 is not to be here confidered; do bear overmuch fway 
 in any fubjedl:, then both the dillblvents cannot a- 
 like tlifiblve that body, but that difiblvent onely 
 which is appropriated to the nature of that Subjedl : 
 As for example. The feed of any Herb ( though ic 
 hath a mercurial Salt ) yet the Sulphur hath the 
 predominancy, and therefore admits of dilTolution 
 by the fixt Liquor rather than by the acid Spirit. 
 But if the Oil be feparated from the mercurial Salt, 
 either by exprefling itor diftilling ic our of the Seed, 
 then the fixt Dquor hath a greater efficacy of ope- 
 ration upon its like, and dilFolves all the Oil, with- 
 out leaving any part thereof behind. But contrari- 
 wife, the Oil being levered from its iMercurial Salt, 
 which admitteth of the acid Spirit onely, the acid 
 Spirit hath no power at all to diflblve it, though he 
 be arifen from the very fame Subjeft, as his brother 
 the fixt Liquor is. So then the Silter anfwers not 
 the brother in the like operation, and 'tis impoffible 
 for the Sifter to accomplilh thofe things that the Bro- 
 ther doth. But when both brother and fifter are 
 mi.xed together, they do again beget Children 
 like to their Parents, viz,. H.rmapbroMtes, from 
 whence themfclves had their Original, returning to 
 fiiiiple and crude Niter, out of which there do a- 
 gain proceed rhe like Procreations and Generations] 
 of the mafculinc and feminine Sex. And (0 one birth 
 
 tranlmutes it felf into another, augmentethandbec- 
 i tereth each other and that even to infinity, if it do 
 but get itsown conjugal bed, and be dealt withal in a 
 I Philolbphical manner. And what we have faid of 
 rhe vegetable Sulphur, the fame may likewile be un- 
 derftood of the Animal and Mineral. For (uch a 
 Sulphur as is fevered from its Salt and Mercury, the 
 acid Spirit of Niter will not dillolvc, but its (ulphu- 
 reous Liquor doth readily perform it, and this doth 
 wholly dilTolve the common mineral Sulphur, 
 whereas the acid Spirit leaves ic untouched. But 
 fuch a Subjeft as participates of both Natures, 'viz,. 
 of the I'ulphureous and mercurial one, doth admit of 
 dillblution both by the fixt Liquor, and bv the acid 
 Spirit, whether it be a Vegetable, Animal, or Mi- 
 neral. Therefore the extreams, "viz.. the beginning 
 and the end, the firft Ens and laft Eflentialitv, the 
 volatile and combuftible, and the fixt and incom- 
 buftible, are to be compared with each other, ( as 
 thus. ) Lee the common combuftible Sulphur and 
 which adheres to Minerals and Veins of Metals be 
 accompted of as the beginning, and let Go!d be ac- 
 compted the end. The fixt Liquor now dillblves the 
 Sulphur wholly, but cannot do fo with the ripe 
 Gold ; but the acid Spirit diflblves that, and cannot 
 at all dilTolve the Sulphur. But now fuch as are 
 middle Subjedls and do partake of both natures, z>iz,. 
 ofafulphureous and a mercurial, fuch as are Sat:o-», 
 yiipiter. Mars, Venus, Mercury, Lutie ; for they are 
 difiolveable by both, 'viz,. by the fixt Liquor, and 
 alfo by the acid Spirit. But by how much the more 
 either of them partake of combuftible Sulphur, by 
 fo much the eafier doth it admit Solution by the 
 fi.xt Liquor. So this Liquor doth eafilydifiblvc thefe. 
 I Minerals, 'viz,. Antimony, Auripigment, common 
 Sulphur, red Arfenick, &c. and of metals thefe. 
 Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, difficultly ; Lune more 
 difficultly ; Mercury moft difficultly ; but for Sol, 
 which is the laft and beft of all, it doth in no wife 
 diflblve, becaufe it is plainly freed by nature from 
 its fuperfluous, extraneous, and burning Sulphur, 
 and is wafhed, purified, and maturated into a molt 
 pure mercurial Subftance. Contrariwife the acid 
 Spirit ( ifit beftrongenough) doth difTolve all, even 
 from the fupreamcft metal, to the loweft Mineral, 
 Sulphur cnely excepted, which it can't diflblve. Yet 
 doth it more ealily dilfolve one Subject than another 
 according as it is of more affinity with, or remote, 
 from its own Nature. And therefore every Chymift 
 may eafily know the Nature and Properties of eve- 
 ry metal and mineral by the diflblving them, with 
 thefe two, t'lz,. Liquor and acid Spirit. Note well, 
 I have (by this means) found out what Metals 
 and Minerals are of neareft Affinity with Gold, and 
 this kind of enquiry is far more certain and fafer 
 than the reading of many Books ; nor will it be 
 hurtfull to him if he did underftand the fignature of 
 metals and minerals, and thereby know how to learn 
 their Nature and Property ; but my intent is not to 
 treat of that, in this place, but will refer my labour 
 to the fecond part of my Treatife of the Profperity 
 o{ Germany, where we will fpeak of the Concentra- 
 tion of Metals and Minerals. But that I may trifle 
 out no more time in the difcourfing of the difference 
 of metals and minerals, I will go on and defcribe how 
 the venemous Subjects of Animals and Vegetables 
 are to be dillblved by the acid Spirit of Niter, to be 
 tranfmuted and ripened thereby, and converted in- 
 to fafe Medicaments. 
 
 The 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagjrical Difpe?ifatory. 
 
 lot 
 
 The Trocefs and Freparation is as follows. 
 
 "Tp A K E either Nux Vomica, or venomous party- 
 •*• coloured Toads, Scorpions, Cantharides, or fuch 
 like venomous Vegetables or Animals. Cut your 
 Vegetables, but take your Animals whole as they 
 are, that (b dying ( in the Menfinnim ) they become 
 greater and fafer Medicaments, put them in (ome 
 glaft: Asfor example. Take oneOunce or two Oun- 
 ces of the Spirit of Niter ; put it in a glafswitha 
 narrow neck, that fi) it may be ftopped, and put 
 into that Spirit fuch Vegetables as you would di(- 
 lolve ; which being diflblved into a Liquor, then put 
 vet more Herbs, thus doing fo long till the Spirit 
 grows thickifh, and can difTolve no more. After the 
 lame manner may you proceed with the Animals if 
 dead ; but if alive, then to the Spirit add fome water 
 before you put the Vermine thereinto ; for the too 
 too vehement force of the Spirit, is to be fb allayed, 
 that the Vermine being put in alive may not pre- 
 fently die, but may kill himfelfwith his own proper 
 Poi(()n. For if the Spirit be too ftrong, fuch kind 
 of Animals will die in lefs than a moment, and not 
 know what hath happened unto them. But now 
 they live longer in the milder Spirit, and when they 
 fee that they muft needs die, they are extreamly 
 enraged, do prick, and bite, and kill themfelves with 
 their own PoiUm, infomuch that the venome is in- 
 creafed, and the Medicine acquires the greater Vir- 
 tues. So then thofe which thou haft put in being 
 di(l(:)lved, add more until] the Spirit becoming thick, 
 can diflblve no more ; ftrain this Solution through a 
 thinLinnen Cloath into another glafs.and pour there- 
 on by little and little, or drop by drop, the fixt Li 
 quor of Niter, that it may kill the acid Spirit, and 
 they both having loft their ftrengths return into Salt- 
 peter as they were before, and the corrected Vege- 
 table or Animal may be precipitated to the bottom 
 in the form of a Powder When you have fo done 
 pour on fome more frefh Water, or Rain-water, that 
 the Salt-peter may be the better dilTolved. Then 
 pour out all the Solution, through a thin Linnen 
 Cloth placed in a glafs Funnel, into another glals, 
 that fo the Saltpeter, which before was partly an 
 acid Spirit, and partly a Hxt Liquor, and is again 
 become Niter, may (^ being dilTolved with the water 
 poured thereon ,) run through the Cloth, and that 
 correded Vegetable or Animal may ftay behind in 
 the fame, the which by pouring on ftore of fair wa- 
 ter, is to b3 freed of all Saltiflinefs, and afterwards 
 to be put together with the Cloth upon Cap-paper 
 feveral times doubled. This Paper will drink up all 
 the moifture, and the remaining Animal or Vegeta- 
 ble Powder will ftay behind : which being thusdried 
 is to be lay'dup for ufe, and may afterwards be ufed 
 either per fe in the form of a Powder or be reduced in- 
 to Pills, which before this preparation could not be 
 fefely ufcd, nor without much danger. There is 
 befides, another way of turning Animals and Vege- 
 tables by the acid Spirit of Niter, or by the fixt Li- 
 quor into whoUome Medicaments : and the manner 
 thereof is thus. 
 
 Thofe Subjects which refule to be dilTolved by the 
 fixt Liquor, are dilTolved by the acid Spirit, and 
 precipitated with the fixt Liquor, or contrariwife 
 thofe which are not diffolveable by the acid Spirit, 
 are dillolved by the fixe Liquor, and precipitated 
 by the acid Spirit. All being precipitated, and the 
 Diflblvent fufficiently flain, let fome more of the fixt 
 
 Liquor be poured thereupon, fb that it may mich 
 exceed in quantity the acid Spirit. This done, let 
 the Phlegm be drawn ofF in a vaporous B, ;md to 
 the remaininging Liquor, let be poured as much bur- 
 ning Spirit as is lufficienc, that fb it may by extrac- 
 tion extrad all that is to be extracted This burnii g 
 Spirit operates upon, and attradeth to it fel', no o- 
 ther thing fave the onely ElTence of the Herb or A- 
 nimal alone, and leaves the DilTolventt untouchr. 
 But this Ellence is no ways inferiour neither in vir- 
 tue or efficacy, to that which was prepared after 
 the before dcfcribed manner. And thus much let 
 fiitfice to have been faid of the preparation of Vege- 
 table and Animal Medicaments. And now we will 
 betake our felves ( in God's Name ) to fpeak like- 
 wife of Mineral and Metalline Medicaments, and 
 fee what good thing the Omnipotent God beftoweth 
 on us by the benefit of thefe things. 
 
 The preparation of Metalline Medicaments is al- 
 moft a-kin, and like to the precedent preparation of 
 Vegetable and Animal ones, and doth herein onely 
 dirt"er,that the moft part of Minerals and Metals, are 
 didblved, correfted, and converted into fafe iVledi- 
 caments by crude and purified Niter, as the follow- 
 ing manner demonltrates. 
 
 Take of powdered Antimony and purged Niter 
 each alike, mix thefe equal parts in a covered Pot 
 leaft the Mafs leap out, ca'cine it, after Calcination 
 pour it forth, and reduce the Mafs into a Powder, 
 and wafli otF the Salt peter with Water and dry the 
 Antimony, which hath now loft its black Co'our, 
 and is become white. Mix it again with an equal 
 part of Saltpeter, calcine it, and wafh it, and re- 
 peat this Labour a third time. This done, the An- 
 timony hath laid afide all its vcnomofity and black- 
 nefs, and become white, and fuch a medicament, as 
 may be moft fafely adminiftred in expelling all Di- 
 feafes by Sweat, the Do(e from two, three, four, 
 even to i\x Grains. Note well, if you ufe the Regw 
 Ins inftead of the Crude Antimony, it will prefemly, 
 in the firft operation become a white Diaphore- 
 tick, and to be adhibited in the fame Dofe. Even 
 after the fame manner may you deprive poifonous 
 Arfenick, Auripigmenr, and fiach like Poifons of all 
 their venomoufrieis, and tranfinute them into moft 
 fafe Diaphoretick Powders. But forafmuch as the 
 preparations of them do not correfpond with every 
 ones mind, yea and may eafily injure the ignorant 
 and unskilfuU, my advice to fuch men is this, that 
 they abftain from medling with them and betake 
 themfelves to Antimony onely, and to fix him well, 
 for that they may ufe him with far more fafety. But 
 that I fpeak here of thofe moft highly venomous 
 Objects, I did it for this end, that every one might 
 know, that even the chiefeft Poifons may be correc- 
 ted and tranfmuted into Medicines, merely by the 
 help of Niter alone. But he that defires yet farther 
 to render Antimony fafer and better, let him ufe the 
 following preparation : Take the aforefaid Diapho- 
 retick Antimony, fixed by the help of Niter, dillolve 
 it up in ftrong Ac^ua Fonts : and being difTolved, 
 precipitate it with the fixt Liquor of Niter, that it 
 may fettle to the bottom like a fhowy Powder .- Pour 
 off the moifture, vapour away fome part of the hu- 
 midity, and fet by the remainder that the Salt may 
 fhoot, and fo will you have your Niter again. As 
 for the Powder, dry it and wafh it well with water, 
 and it may well beftyled a Bez,oarJicnm Mineral, be- 
 ing a moft excellent Medicine to expel all Difeales by 
 Sweat, the Dofe of which i8 one, two, three, four. 
 
 Dd 
 
 fixr- 
 
102 
 
 Tbe Second Fart of 
 
 Part IL 
 
 fix, even to twelve Grains, according as the Difeafc 
 and Patient is. But I have fufficiently enough trea- 
 ted of this Medicine at large in my other Writings, 
 and therefore needs not to be repeated in this place. 
 So then all, Metals, Minerals, Stones, and whatfo- 
 ever is in the World, may by thefe three ways be 
 dillblved and correrted bv Niter, either crude, 
 fixed, or acid, and be tranfmuted into Medicines 
 void of ai:- kind of danger. Thou maift dillolve 
 all the Metals (Gold onely excepted ' with the 
 acid Spirit of Niter, and if thou put thereto a lit- 
 tle Sal Armomack, or re-flifie it with common Salt, 
 then it will likewife dilfolve common Gold. But 
 the Minerals are dilTolved with the fixe Liquor of 
 Niter, and precipitated, and then wafhed with 
 common water, and being wafhed are ufed to 
 make Medicine with. They yield fubtile Powders, 
 according to the nature and property of their Me 
 tals and Minerals. The Powder of Gold is yellow, 
 and is called Aurum Fulminans^ of Silver, Adiy, of 
 Copper, Green, of Iron, Red, of Tin, and Lead, 
 White, of Antimony, white ; of Lafis Calammans, 
 Tuua, 'and Cadmta, Afhy : But the common Sul 
 phur,' and all the precious and common Stones, 
 it (-VIZ,, the acid Spirit) cannot diflTolve, but leaves 
 them for her Brother, tbe fixed Liquor to dilFolve. 
 So then what the Sifter cannot do, that the 
 Brother can perform with eafe, and that which the 
 Brother can't efFecl, that the Sifter undertakes the ac- 
 complilhment of; and what neither of them can 
 pofllbly perform, we fee it poflible to be done, by 
 their Father and Mother, w^. the crude Niter, in- 
 fomuch that to this fubjeift is a power given of doing 
 what you pleafe. But that I may perfeftly demon- 
 ffrate, that Niter is able to difliolve all the things 
 that are in the World, and may withall fhew, how 
 thofe fubjects, which yields not to a Solution by the 
 acid Spirit may come under the power of the fixt 
 Niter, I will proceed on, and begin with the com- 
 mon Sulphur. 
 
 Take Sulphur reduced into Powder, one parr, of 
 fixt Niter two parts, put them in a Cucurbit, pour 
 thereon twice as much water as they both of them 
 weigh, njiz,. fix parts. Boil them about one hour 
 in Sand, in which boiling the Liquor of the fixt Ni 
 ter, will diflolve the Sulphur into a red Solution. 
 Strain it through Cap Paper, and precipitate it by 
 the acid Spirit, then wa(h it, and you (hall have a 
 white and liibtile Powder, profitable in the Dilcales 
 of the Lungs. And now it remains that I (hew you 
 Flints, Sand, Cryftal, all kinds of Stones both pre- 
 cious ones and common, ( which the acid Spirit is 
 not capable of dilfolving) may be diflblved by the fixt 
 Niter, and di(play their Virtues, the which is thus 
 done. Make the Flint, Cryftal, Marble, or any 
 other Stonethat is meltable in the Fire into a Glals, 
 very red hot, and prefently (quench it in cold Wa- 
 ter, and dry it, that it may be powdered with eale. 
 Take one part of this Powder, and three or four 
 parts of fixt Niter, mix them well, put them into a 
 Crucible, and cover the Pot, and melt them with a 
 ftrong Fire in a Wind Furnace, that it may become 
 a tranfparent Gla(s. Then turn it out, Powder it, 
 and (et it in a Glafs Velfel in a moift Cellar, that the 
 Stone may be turned into a Liquor ; or el(e having 
 powdered the laid molten Glafs, pour common Wa- 
 ter thereupon, which will dillolve the Powder. l\ 
 now you pour the faid acid Spirit of Niter on the 
 clear Solution, then the fixt Nicer being deprived of 
 its fiery virtue and force, will let fall the dilTolved 
 
 Stone in the form of a Powder, which is to be wafh- 
 ed with ftore ofWater, and be dried, and it will be 
 the Magiftcry of that Stone, which this operation is 
 beftowed on. Thefe Stones may likewife be digef- 
 ted anddifiblved in a fhong Glafs feton Sand, with 
 the fixt Niter Liquor, but this moift way is more 
 flow and tedious than the former dry way which is 
 done by melting. And befides, the Glaffes them- 
 felvcs cannot long endure this liquor, but are there- 
 with alfodilfolved. Now thefe Magifteries or Stones 
 thus prepared are profitable in the Stone, the which 
 they do not onely expel out of the Reins, but like- 
 wile out of the Bladder, if it be not too much hard- 
 ned. Ifyoudefire to make this Medicine yet bet- 
 ter, then do thus. Take the Liquor of the Flints or 
 Cryftals, that are diflolved in a Cellar after their 
 having been melted, put it in a Vial having a long 
 Neck, whereon pour twice as much Spirit of Wine, 
 but fee that the Belly of your Glafs be but half full ; 
 then let fome body or other (hake the Glafs in their 
 hands ftrongly up and down, and commix the Li- 
 quor and Spirit of Wine well, then will the Spirit 
 penetrate, dillblvc and render it fweer. Note well, 
 this agitation is necefTary, becaufe if it be not thus 
 tolled to and fro, the Spirit of Wine will ftand at 
 the top of the Liquor, and not attract the fixt Niter 
 toitfelf Now when the Spirit of Wine that you 
 poured firft on, is (liarp enough, pour thatout and 
 pour on more, and when that is (harp enough, de- 
 cant that alio, and pour on more, repeat this operati- 
 on (b often, untill the Liquor of the Stones be rendred 
 (weet. Note well, the Spirit of Wine muft be void of 
 all Phlegm, for if there be in it any water, the Liquor 
 of the Stones would be precipitated into a Powder. 
 But he that proceeds well and rightly will obtain a no- 
 ble Medicine againft the Stone of the Microcofm. 
 
 N. B. After that the Liquor of the Stones is 
 brought to a (iA'eetnefs, it is to be covered over with 
 the Spirit of Wine, in the Glafs you keep it in, that 
 lb the Liquor may abide in its Liquidity, othcrwife it 
 will in a tew days (pace be turned into a Stone in 
 the Glafs When you would ufe the Liquor, ftop 
 the mouth of the Glafs with your Thumb, and turn 
 down the Glals that the Spirit of Wine may (as be- 
 ing lighter ) give place for the Liquor to flow out by 
 your Thumb, and thus may you take out as much 
 Liquor as you pleale. 1 have been the more curi- 
 ous in delcribing this preparation in this place, that 
 (b no error may be committed, feeing this labour re- 
 quires an expert Man, and not fuch a rude and in- 
 lipid Sot as Farnow/s IS. Experience teftifies that the 
 Liquor, and the Magiftery of Sand, Flints, Cryftals, 
 and fuch like Stones, are endued with one and the 
 fame virtues Any one may chufe which in his opi- 
 nion is beft. I commend the common white Flints, 
 that are in the Sands of Rivers. The Magiftery 
 of thefe are notably conducive to weak Stomachs, 
 nor is any thing corrupted by the fame, whatfbever 
 Dilcafes they be ufed unto. The Dole of the Pow- 
 der is 4, 8, 11, 10, 50 Grains, of the Liquor, i, 
 I, ?, 4, even to 10 Grains. This Liquor, whereftj- 
 ever it comes, adheres toevery matter it meets with, 
 if it be kept in a dry place, it becomes a natural and 
 tranlparent Stone. In Man's Body, it attracts to it (elf 
 its like, and carries it off with it feif. There lie hid in 
 it many other (ecrets, which fora(much as they per- 
 tain not to this place, are to be (ound in my other 
 Writings. Moreover there are Stones found which 
 do nor admit of Solution either by the fixt Liquor 
 or acid Spirit, and they are to be thus tamed. Take 
 
 that 
 
Part. II. 
 
 the Spagjricnl Bifpcnfatory. 
 
 103 
 
 chat Stone which yields not to a Solution by the fixt 
 Kirer Liquor, nor by the acid Spirit, beat it into 
 Powder, then mix it with three times as much of 
 the Po»vder of pure and well dried Niter Then 
 With this mixture fi!) a Crucible half full, take up a 
 Coal with your Tongs, and put it into the matter, 
 and hold it hard on, leaft the flame throw it clear 
 out again. So the Niter being kindled by the Coal 
 doth I together with the Stone) flame and burn up, 
 and caule luch a fpeedy and vehement Fire, that 
 the Stone is thereby penetrated and opened, and 
 may (after this operation) be dillblved with common 
 Water. This done, the Solution which hath imbi- 
 bed I or which contains) the dilTnlved Stone, is to 
 be purified by palling it through Cap Paper, and to 
 be precipitated by pouring in of the acid Spirit, that 
 fo the Stone may fettle down in the form of a Pow 
 der, the which is to be wafhed with Water, to be 
 dried and kept forufe. Thus now have we diflblved 
 all the Metals, all Stones, all Vegetables, and Ani- 
 mals, and tranlmuted them into Medicaments. And 
 were there yet any other thing in nature befidesthefe 
 liibjeds, or could there be found any thing elfe, J 
 would have taught its Solution by this my univerlal 
 Mcnfiriiun. But forafinuch as I find nothing elfe befides 
 Vegetables, Animals,and Minerals.aslikewife all kinds 
 of Stones, yea and Glafs it felf, nor can find ought be- 
 fides, it will delervedly remain an univcrfal Menjlru 
 ttw, and Dillblvent (though the moamifli deriders, 
 and brethren ofignorance,and haters of the truth, fplit 
 for anger) conftanr, unconquered, and incompara- 
 ble, as long as the World ftands. As to its efficacy 
 in bettering and correding Metals, the fecond, third, 
 and fourth Parts of my Treatile of the Profperity 01 
 German;! will teftifie, for therein we treat of the con 
 centration of Metals. But as for fuch other myfteries 
 as concern true Hermetick Philofophy , and that 
 lie hid in this wonderfull fubjed, they are accurate- 
 ly and fliccindly defcribed in my Treatife of the Na- 
 ture of Gold, and of the concentration of the Ele 
 ments, in which Book the ftudious Reader may de- 
 light himfelf with divine and humane Miracles. So 
 now we have proved and demonftrated, that Niter 
 is an univerfal Menjlruunmrid Diflblvent, feeing there 
 is nothing in the nature of things that is able to re 
 fift its dillolving virtues; nor can its like be found 
 out. Well therefore may it moft defervedly remain, 
 as in very deed it is, and as 'tis accounted of both 
 bymylelf and all skillfull Chymifts. But now it 
 any one (hall objeit and fay, that the before produ 
 ced proofs are no ways fatisfacflory to him, neither 
 dodemonftrate that this dillolvent is alio profitable 
 as to the Philofophick Work, I do not intend to 
 anfwer him, nor will I fo open my Bofbm to lijch 
 Adventerers as ArnoUns did to LuUy, but leave fe 
 cret things in a fecret place. I have fpoken enough, 
 and do alfb fpeak much in my Treatife of the con 
 centration of Heaven and Earth. He that under- 
 ftands not my fayings, and doth as yet defpife them, 
 has no reafon to reckon himlelf amongft the Adep- 
 tifts and Sons oi Hermes, but rather is of the rank of 
 the Farneriam fodality, andmuft remain at the Hogs 
 Trough. 
 
 Ih Ufe, Totver, and Virtues, of the Medicaments cut 
 of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals : The Com- 
 f oft ion whereof we taught above. 
 
 A 
 
 diflblvent. For fuch things as are in their own na" 
 ture whole and (bund, need not any Medicament- 
 For Rofemary, Fether-fcw, fweet Marjoram, Sage, 
 Thym.e, and fuch like Herbs needs no correL^ion, 
 but may be reduced into their fweet Eflences, accor- 
 ding to the ways that I have prefcribed in the firft 
 part ; but ihofe Herbs that are more flrongly opera- 
 tive, and ufed in medicinal affairs, are not without 
 danger, fuch as are Henbane, Hemlock, Mandrake, 
 Opium, Tobacco, NapcHus, Levant-Herries, Nux Vo- 
 mica, 8ic. thefe ir.uff be amended by a good correc- 
 tion, or elfe can they not be lately taken into the bo- 
 dy. If they bedifTolved by the fiery operative .'V/fw- 
 fruum and corrected thereby, (as wc (hewed in the 
 foregoing di(courfe) then may they be taken into 
 the Body tnoft fafely, and without any danger, and 
 will perform things wonderfull in Medicine. And 
 uharloever was a Poifbn before is afterwards ren- 
 dred a Poifon fubduing Antidote For Example, 
 Henbane, Mandrake, Opium, have by their nature 
 a (fupefadtive power, and do (ijpprefs the vital Spi- 
 rit, do infeft, or deJ^roy, the HumUum Radtcale, do 
 procure overmuch Sleep, yea, do clofe up the Life 
 in perpetual Sleep But now thnfe Herbs being 
 correfled by the force of the fiery Water, and being 
 diflolved of their Poilbn, do no morehurr, but allay 
 all inward and outward pains, do pacilie the vital 
 Spirits being provoked and enraged, do compofe all 
 difquietudes with a fweet plea(ant reff, do expell 
 venemous humours out of the Body by Sweat, and 
 do by reducing all things into a'quiet State,' heal 
 niany Difeafes. The Cuuta or Hemlock, Napellus^ 
 Levant berries, ISlux Vomica, &c. do not onely caufe a 
 moft deadly Sleep,butdoalfbprovokemoft vehement 
 vomitings, and make moft accute prickings in the 
 body, and deprive Men of their Scences and under-, 
 (landings, and do atlaft bring on Death, if they be 
 admitted into the Body in too great a quantity, and 
 arenot drawn out from thence again by ftrong vo- 
 mitings. But fuch Herbs being corrected, and chan- 
 ging the Poifon into wholfome Medicaments, do no 
 morecaufefuch horrible and dreadfully painfull Symp- 
 toms, but by penetrating the whole Body in a 
 harmlefs and infenfible manner, do takeaway allob- 
 ffrudlions, and caft forth all hurtfull things out of 
 the Body, by fweat, urine, and (fool, and frees the 
 inward bowels by purging them from all impure hu- 
 mours, and do happily take away occult Difeafes. 
 And now if they did before load the head with a very 
 great heavinefs and render it mad and unlbund, it 
 doth now mundifie it, and purge it, and free it from 
 grievous and obnoxious Vapours, and do ccm'ort the 
 Brain and make Ingenuity or Memory better So 
 that what they did corrupt (before their corredion) 
 they do now (after their being bettered amendand 
 refre(h it. But however you are 10 have good re- 
 gard, that you be carefully provident in the ufe of 
 thefe Medicaments, that you excetd not a due mea- 
 fure, and lb commit an errour, for it is not lawruU 
 to play with fuch kind of penetrative Medicaments. 
 The ftrongeft purgative Medicaments, as £ «/<7, 
 Cataputia, Stavejacre, Gummt Gutta, and fuch like, 
 being dillblved in this Menfiruum, and precipitated, 
 do lofe their vehement, and as it were venemous 
 quality ,and become fate and gentle purges. N. B. 
 You are here to obferve (as concerning this So- 
 lution) that forafmuch as the Seed of £/m/^, Caia- 
 putta, Stavejacre, as likewife Gutta Gambogia, and 
 S concerning Vegetables, fome few of x\\Qn\\Scammonj, are ofa fat andrefinous nature,arc notto 
 there are that need corretling by the univerlal be diflblved with the acid Spirit of Niter, but with its 
 
 fixe 
 
104 
 
 Tte Second Vart of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 fixe Liquor, or better with the Spirit of Wine cor- 
 roborated and alkalizated by fixt Niter, and to be 
 precipitated with the acid Spirit. And fo with the 
 lame Spirit of Wine, being made more ftrong by the 
 addition of the fixt Niter, all Gums that have a fat 
 quality ( may be thus dealt with j and contrariwife 
 (uch as are not fat may be difTolved with the acid 
 Spirit, and precioitated with its contrary Liquor. 
 Solikewife all biti?er Juices, as Aloes, Myrrh, and the 
 like, being therewith dilTolved and correfted do ac- 
 quire a more fweerer and more gratefull Savour. 
 It is alfo very fitting, for the grievoutly fmelling 
 Gums, as Alj'a Fxuda is, and for correfting other 
 fuch like ftinking things arifing from Animals or Ve- 
 getables, and fo fpoil them of their grievous Odour, 
 and for correcting them into a gratefull fmell. In- 
 fomuch that fome things that emit even almoft an un- 
 gratetuU ftinch may be fo tranfmuted as that they 
 may afterwards yield a pleafant fmell. And although 
 that I made fome mention of this Work or Operati- 
 on fome vears ago in the firft Book of my Philofo- 
 phical Furnaces, where mention is made of the Spi- 
 rit of Salt, yet will I not leave it ofFfo, but defcribe 
 more, yea and compendioufer ways too in my third 
 part of the Spagpical Fharmacopcea , for efteding 
 fuch matters, and thereto refer the ftudious for the 
 preparing of pleafant and efficacious Medicines. 
 
 As for fuch Animals as ferve for the Kitchin, as 
 Beef, Mutton, Pork, Hens, Geefe, and fuch like, 
 alfo Fifties and Birds, they need not much correcti- 
 on. Thofe of them that are a year old or more may 
 be boiled with Water, Salt, Spice, Wine, and Vine- 
 gar, &c. the younger may be roafted on a Spit. 
 Thefe are not hurtful! to fuch men as are in health, 
 if they feed on them and drink after it a good draught 
 of good Wine or Ale, that fo they may thereby wafti 
 down into the Stomach any fuch matters as might 
 (lay by the way in the Throat, &c. 
 
 If now any one would make ufe of venomous 
 Worms, and Infedts in Medicines ( for fometimes 
 they perform far more in Medicine than Vegetables 
 can, as experience witnefTeih) they are not to be 
 adhibited without correction. But I do not here 
 underftand the Kitchin correction, which is done by 
 Wine, Sugar, and Spices ; but fuch an one as in 
 which all the parts remain together, and are correc- 
 ted and amended by the fiery Menfiruum, and that 
 without the addition of any other thing as we taught 
 before. And being on this wife corrected, they do 
 not onely lafely conduce to a Medicinal help in 
 defperate DifeaVes, but do alfo become of greater 
 affiliance and comfort to many a fick Perfon, and 
 purchafe to their Authours a greater honour. It is 
 well known even to blind Bayards and Barbars what 
 etfeCts fometimes the great Earthworms, Scaraba- 
 vss, Canthartdes, Afelli ov Pigs-lice, andfuck like U- 
 rine provoking InfeCts do etFeCt, being adminiftred 
 to the fick, crude, dried onely and fb powdered ; 
 he that defires to procure a good quantity of Earth- 
 worms, let him but thruft a ftick into the Earth, 
 and ftir it to and fro thereby to difquiet the Worms, 
 for they will prefently guefs that the devouring 
 Mole is at hand, and will for fear creep by heaps 
 out of the Earth, fo as you may then cafily take 
 them. If any one loaths the Worms themfelves, let 
 him take that Earth which the Worms do caft out to 
 the top of the ground, after a warm Rain in the 
 Springtime, and is like fmall bunches; as if they 
 (hould fay, give us our lives for this Earth's fake ; 
 and from thence you may extraCt an ElTence, which 
 
 will be as profitable to ycu as if you took us : N.B. 
 The Meruit or Blackbirds feeks after this Earth and 
 carries it to her young ones lying in theNeft, which 
 thing they would not do, did it contain no good 
 in it, but would rather take the Worms themfelves 
 and carry them. A Dog which hath devoured ma- 
 ny bones feeks out for fome clean place to dung in, 
 either on a fmooth fione, or on the grafs, as that he 
 (hould fay, This do I give you by way of thankful- 
 nefs for the food which you have beftowed on me, 
 keep it and ufe it according to your knowledge. 
 N. B. The greateft Vertues of Animals are placed 
 in their Excrements, and not in their f^efh. Next 
 the Excrements are the fuperfluities of the bodies, 
 which ( in men ) are, the Hair, Teeth, and Nails: 
 In Beafts, the Hairs, Teeth, Hoofs, and Horns.- In 
 Birds, the Claws, and Feathers, &c. And that the 
 May Worm frees from the Gout and Stone, See 
 DoCtour IVierus, he hath written a peculiar Treatife 
 of the Gout, and of the wandering or moveable 
 pains of the Joints, and of the jntrinfecal and hidden 
 Scurvy, and other fuch like Difeafes, and which 
 are commonly accompted of as uncurable ; all 
 which he teacheth the removal of, by the means of 
 the Alay worms, or unCtious Scarabaus's. Nor in- 
 deed is it without ground, that there is fometimes 
 more effected by fuch abjeCt and contemptible Ver- 
 mine, than by the moft precious and highly elteem- 
 ed Compofitions and Vegetables: This now they do 
 crude as they are, and uncorrected. But if the great 
 Earthworms, and principally their Enemies, viz,. 
 thofe black, fmooth, and many footed Verminc, 
 that fuck from the Worms their Juice and Strength ; 
 and like wife thofe broad, and party-coloured, ve- 
 nereous fmall Vermine, which we have before men- 
 tioned (if all thefe I fay J be corrected by the fiery 
 Menfiruiim, they would not onely drive forth Urine, 
 and the Stone, fkfely and without hurt, but would 
 withal moft notably fbengthen the nature of Man, 
 and be a great comfort to many debilitated Gallants. 
 The green Scarab^m's, the Cantbarides, and green 
 Flies, being all of a venereal Nature, do ( being 
 corrected ) not onely drive forth the Stone and 
 Urine, but do alfo wonderfully ftiew their efficacy 
 in the Feet Gour, wandring Gout, and other grie- 
 vous Difeafes which have already gotten deep root- 
 ing : But that black and flow creeping May worm, 
 or unCtious Scarabans doth operate the moft effica- 
 cious of them an,and may be plentifully enough had 
 in the Months of May and June. The whole knack 
 of the bufinefs doth confift in this, that fuch Ver- 
 mine be well corrected with the Liquor Alkaheft, 
 and fo prepared before they be made ufe of. As 
 for thofe great and horned Scarabauss, that live up- 
 on the Juice and Rofins of Nuts, Cherries, and 
 Plums, and are wholly of a Balfamick Nature, if 
 they be corrected, I do highly encourage the ufe 
 of them both inwardly and outwardly, 'viz,. when 
 the internal and external Members are tormented 
 with moft vehement pricking Pains and Torments. 
 As for Emmets or Ants they have a wholfbme 
 and efficacious Balfam, and are healers both of in- 
 ward and outward Dolours But the chiefeft of 
 them are thofe that live in Woods wherein arc ftore 
 of Pines, and Fir-trees, and do there feed upon the 
 Rofins of the Trees, and do not as the others do, 
 live upon leaves and grafs, but do in the Summer 
 Months ftore their little Holes with the fmall Grains 
 of thofe Rofins for their Winter food. And this the 
 Inhabitants of thofe Woods know full well, and do 
 
 feek 
 
 1. 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spagjncal Difpenfatoij. 
 
 105 
 
 feek after it and fell ic the Druggifts inflead of Mal- 
 tick. For ic anfwers to the Maftick that comes out of 
 India in efficacy, vertues, form, and odour, and hap- 
 ly we might not need that Gum, knew we but 
 how to get and ufe this. There is great variety and 
 plenty of fuch hke Infefls as thefe, wliich without 
 all quefiion may be of great ufe in medicine ; but 
 feeing they can't be gotten in (Lich plenty as the Ve- 
 getables and Minerals may be, the u(e of them is 
 forbornj and rarely are they fought after. Nor in- 
 deed is it nsceflary to feek after and fetch from far, 
 fuch things as we have prelent before our Eyes. 
 The drift of my writing is this primarily, that I may 
 demonftrate, that there are in the univerfal Men- 
 firutim, fuch vertues as are able to correiTt all vene- 
 mous Animals, and deprive them of their Poilons, 
 and to convert them into whoHbme medicaments, 
 for the honour and renown of it, was 1 even con- 
 ftrained to write thefe things. And as to its ener- 
 getical Operation on venemous Minerals, it is fuffi- 
 ciently enough known, and doth mod clearly appear 
 even in its etFedl: upon Antimony alcne, the which 
 being burnt twice or thrice with common Niter, is 
 wholly deprived of its blacknefs, and cloaths it lelf 
 with a moft white colour, and becomes a Diapho- 
 retick and an all-evilrefifting Powder. So is it to 
 with Arfenick and Auripigmenr, thefe moft vehe- 
 ment Poifons, which may be (b changed in a few 
 hours fpace, as that they may be taken afterwards 
 into the Body without any hurt or danger, and will 
 fubdue and e.xpel the greateft Poifons, though indeed 
 there's no necellicy of making ufe of thofe venemous 
 Subjeds, feeing there is plenty enough of other 
 means. 'Tis fufficienc that we have fhown, that 
 Nicer hath fuch notable vertues, as to be able to in- 
 vert the venemous Nature of every Vegecable, A- 
 nimal, and Mineral, and of tranfmuting the Poifcin 
 into a wholfome Medicament. Now becaufe the 
 Animal vertues are more efficacious than the Vege- 
 tables, and that the Minerals exceed them both, 
 therefore by good right are thofe Minerals of great- 
 eft ufe in medicine, which be moft efficacious, moft 
 fweet, and moft fafe. But yet we would willingly 
 have the Animals and Vegetables to retain their own 
 dignity and ftacion : And for the better difcovery of 
 the difference betwixt thefe, and that my Neigh- 
 bour may be the beccer and more fincerely ferved, 
 necefliry doth even require a larger explanation. 
 This therefore is generally to be obferved, that by 
 how much the riper the Minerals be (and fo "tis 
 with the Animals and Vegetables ) by fo much the 
 nearer they are to the Sun, and abide therein, fo 
 much the fafer and fecurcr may they be taken into 
 the Body. All Herbs, Vermine, and Animals, that 
 delight in a warm Air, and love to abide therein, are 
 never infefted or impregnated with fb great a Poifbn 
 as thofe are that delight rather in obfcure, fhady, 
 and darktbme places. For Napllui, Mandragoa, 
 Cicuta, and fuch like Herbs are never, or at leaft 
 moft rarely, to be found in other than dark places 
 that are (haded over. And fo the moft venemous 
 Animals and Vermine, do moft willingly take up 
 their abode in holes of the Earth, in cold and dark- 
 ^)me Dens ; and by realbn of the want of the warm 
 Air remain venemous, aud do neceflarily hurt man- 
 kind. But being digefted by the Liquor of fixe Ni- 
 ter, they depofic their venemous quality and become 
 wholfome Medicaments. So then all the maturati- 
 on of things confiftethin heat, but Poifon confiftech 
 in cold, wicnefs Wine and the Fruits of Trees, th? 
 
 which being ripened by the folar hear, men may 
 'CQ<X on them without hurt, but if they be eaten raw 
 and unripe they corrupt their Stomachs. Now as 
 we have faid of Animals and Vegetables, the fame is 
 alfo to be underftood of the unripe minerals and 
 metals. By how much the unriper and cruder they 
 be, (b much the more do they hurt, and are unfit 
 for the making of medicine. And as for metals, 
 they do by little and little, and ftep by ftep go on 
 towards their perfecLion, and end : Like as an In- 
 fant doth by little and little arrive to its higheft 
 degreee of age. And as there is more to be found 
 in a man that is arrived to man's Eftate than there 
 is in an Infant, fo is there in minerals and metals 
 that have in long fliccefs of time attained to their 
 maturity. And forafmuch as in them may be found, 
 moll fate, fweet, and efficacious Medicines, I have 
 deemed it necelTary briefly to deteift their dignity 
 and degrees, and fhew the Ladder as it were, or 
 Scale, wherein the metals ftand in order, and how 
 by their fignature that perfedion which they have 
 gradually arrived unto, may be known. I do re- 
 femblc the mines of metals to a Tree, thus, Saturn 
 is the Root, Mars the trunk or body, Jupiter ths 
 bark that covers the Tree over. Mercury the Juice 
 chat fticks between the bark and the trunk, ^cnas 
 the green leaves, Lune the fiower, and Svl the fruit. 
 The ancient PhyHcians or Naturalifts, compared the 
 feven principal metals with the feven Planets, the 
 which comparifbn fquares notably well with chem. 
 For the Planets and Metals have a mutual corre- 
 fpondency with each other. The Chymifts afcribe 
 Lead to Saturn: Tin to Jupiter : Iron to Mars : Cop- 
 per to Ffw«.f : Quick-fllver to Mercury- Silver CO 
 Ltwe : and Gold co Soh. And even as the Planecs 
 do excel one che other in brightnefs, vertues, and 
 other things ; even fb do the metals, and this their 
 nature informs us of, and their diiferenc flgnarure 
 demonftrates. Verily when the ancients would 
 mark out to us a perfed thing, they defcribed it un- 
 der the form of a round Circle : And by how much 
 imperfedter the thing was, by fb much the lels ro- 
 tundity did they give unto it. The Chara(fl;er of 
 the Sun is Sol, viz^ a Circle with a point in the 
 midft : The Circle denotes the Golds perfevftion, the 
 point in the middle of the Circle fignifies the Ori- 
 ginal of perfeilion. The fign of Silver or the Moon 
 was this Luna: which confiftech of cwo half Circles, 
 and cells us of ics half perfedion : So is ic wich the 
 other figns, and fignatures of the other metals. 
 How much che nearer they approach to aroundnefs, 
 fo much che nearer are chey co perfection, and fbon 
 checoncrary. The Sun being che nobleft amongft 
 all che Scars, doch alfo yield and make che nobleft 
 metal, 'vtz,. Gold, the which is hkewife co be obfer- 
 ved of che ocher mcrals. Buc by how much perfec- 
 cer the metals be, fb much excellencer are che mc- 
 dicamencs chac proceed chcrefrom. Saturn or Lead, 
 is not much profitable for the inward ufe of the 
 body, except it be in the Plague, and in other molt 
 hot Difeafes. Being outwardly applied it dries up 
 the moift atfefts of the body , and moift Ulcers, 
 and healeth heat and all the external aftefts ariflng 
 thencefrom. Jupiter or 'Tin is fbmewhac hoccer 
 than Saturn, but yet is withal very dry. Adars or 
 Iron is hot and dry. Venus or Copper is hot and 
 moift. Mercury or Argent vtve is hotter and moifter. 
 Lune or Silver is of a midling heat and moifture. Soi 
 or Gold is at length of temperate heat and moifture. 
 If now any good thing be made our ofGold,it corro- 
 E« borates 
 
10^ 
 
 The Second Vart of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 borates the heart as being the moft noble memberof 
 th^ body of man. And fb in like manner, Silver 
 doth the brain: Argent 'vive the Liver: Tin the 
 Lung'?: Iron the Gail: Lead the Milt or Spleen : and 
 Copper the Reins. Thus have the ancient Philolo- 
 phers and Phyficians difti ibuted the metals and di- 
 llinguiflud them, the which 1 le.ive as I find it, 
 thou;;h perhaps fbme of them may yet admit of ano- 
 ther diftincT:i(j:A. But (b long may they remain ( as 
 they are ) until Elias the Artift, (hall by his com- 
 ing'relcafe usof our Errours. Amongft the Mine 
 rals Antimony is the chiefeftjin whom the Vertues of 
 all the Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, are co!- 
 leifled and concentrated into one, as its fignature 
 declarcth. For the Philofophers have figned it with a 
 round Sphere by which the Earth is deciphered)and 
 on it a crofs put, and is without doubt for this rea- 
 (bn, bccaufe the Earth never produced any fitter 
 SubjecT: for medicine, and this is attefted by all true 
 Chymifts, as may be read in thiir Writings ; but e- 
 fijecially in Bujil Valenimes triumphant Chariot of 
 Antimony, being aTreatife he wrote in honour of 
 this Mineral The fame thing doth that Philofo- 
 pher teffifie, faying, common Gold and Silver doc 
 not ctle.T: it, but their firft Ens does it Now that 
 Antimony is the firft and true genuine Ens of Gold, 
 is not oncly teftified by all the Philofophers, but al- 
 fb daily experience it felf witnefleth the fame, from 
 whence it is as clear as Noon day, that Antimony 
 is rarely to be found in any other places but in Gold 
 Mine«, nor is there ( befidcs ) any Antimony but 
 what is pregnant with Gold, but yet fome Antimo- 
 ny contains more Gold and other fome lefs. Nay 
 farther, amongfi: the very Veins of Gold it felf is 
 Antimonyofren met with, and may therefore unde 
 (ervedly be ftiled an unripe Gold. I my felf have feen 
 a piece of golden Vein, which was digged our of 
 the Go'd Mmes, and contained fome pounds weight, 
 in one fide tliere was pure Gold, mixt with the 
 hard Flint, on the other fide was a black Vein of 
 Antimony. There is a place in Germany called Gold 
 Granack, nigh which in the Smktis Mountains cal- 
 led Ficbttlher^ by the Germans, was found hereto- 
 fore much Gold, but now at this day is there digged 
 out onely Antimony, cleaving on to the hard Flints 
 and Rocks. And herewithal is immixed a golden 
 Marquefice, which being leparated therefrom, and 
 prepared after a due manner, becomes a moft excel- 
 lent Medicament, of which we fhall hereafter make 
 mention. Further, had we not this teftimony of a 
 daily experience, yet have we the witncfsof the true 
 Alchvmy, which doth moft alfuredly affirm, that 
 true Gold may by the help of Art be extra(n:ed out 
 of Antimony. Nay more, this incomparable Art, 
 doth not onely perform this, 'viz,. of bringing Anti- 
 mony to the true ripenels of Gold, but doth alfo fo 
 change the Gold , by extracting its Soul ) that it is 
 no more Gold, but is plainly indiftinguifhable from 
 any R.-'ri<!ns of Antimony both as to the form, volati- 
 lity, nature, and properties of the fame. And al- 
 though an infinite number of men will contradicl 
 thefc layings of mine, yet (hall they never draw me 
 from this my opinicn, for 1 believe bur what my 
 Eyes have feen. One Eye witnefs is of more value 
 than ten hear-ftiy ones. Such as do gainfay the(e 
 things, do build on no other foundations fave fuch 
 as they have gotten by reading or hearlay, and what 
 will nor at all coVrefpond with experience. Well, 1 
 will remain ftable in my opinion and in very truth 
 demonfrra;c, that there is no fubjed to be found in 
 
 the nature of things, that may be pieferred in Medi- 
 cine, before AntimonVjfb thatit beburduely brought 
 into its true Elfence. 1 confefs that whilft it is crude 
 and as yet unprepared, it is a mere Poifon, and the 
 ufe thereof is accompanied with a great deal of dan- 
 ger. And fuch as do ufe the common glafs of Anti- 
 mony, and other Medicaments made thereof after a 
 rude manner, and fo hurt the lick, muft impute the 
 blame to themlelves and not the Antimony. 
 
 I have mentioned in my Miracuhim Mimdi^ and 
 in my firft part of my S^agyrkal Fharmacofa-a^ the 
 preparation of a Medicine out of Antimony,andhave 
 called if a lumacam. This now out ftrips the capa- 
 city of very many rude and ignorant men, to whom 
 it feems unlikely and impofFible, that a Medicine of 
 lijch wonderful! efficacy fhould lie hidden in fb con- 
 temptible and bafe a thing as to deferve fuch a Ti- 
 tle as a Panru-ita : but cfpecially feeing fbme unskil- 
 full men, have inilead of it, adminiftrcd to the lick 
 crude Antimony, and by faying it is my Panacaa 
 have with a wicked boldnefs deceived men, and 
 have hereby brought an Odium and conrempt a- 
 mongft very many men, upon this true Medicine of 
 mine Amongff thefe is that faithlels Rr, turns none 
 of theleaft, yea rather is more eminent or Irandard- 
 bearcr to the left, and flich a one as may rightly 
 be termed the blot and fcandal too of other men. 
 For my part, he that lifts may perfccute Antimony 
 with as much hatred as he pleafeth. But whereas I 
 have already praifed it, and the thing doth withal 
 concern my Neighbours profit, 1 could not omit 
 yet farther to niagnifie and exalt it with greater 
 praifes, and in very deed confirm this truth, 'viz,. 
 that fuch a Medicine may be made thereout of as I 
 have defcribed, and therefore every one that judgeth 
 of the truth without prejudice muft confe/s, that 
 there is not a better, an elfef^ualler, or a more harm- 
 lefs medicament, and purchafable by a meaner price, 
 infbmuch that both rich and poor may enjoy the 
 fame, if fo be it be but prepared and ufed as it 
 ought. But that he who is ftudious after good me- 
 dicaments may withal fee, that I have not fpent 
 my labour altogether on Antimony, but on other 
 Subjeds too, I will adjoin the defcription of the pre- 
 paration, ufe and efficacy of other Subjedts, and will 
 take care for the preparation of thofe medicaments 
 for the benefit of mankind, and of the fick, and 
 for the diftiibution of them amongft the needv. 
 For by this means (hall I latisfie my confcience and 
 fliall not be accufed thereby of burying the Talent 
 given me, out of envy and hatred to my Neighbour. 
 And whoever he be that hath any good thing, let him 
 make it common, and being moved with pity and 
 coramiferation become ferviceable unto his Neigh- 
 bour. But if he neither hath, nor knoweth ought 
 better, let him defift from contemning this, and o- 
 mit defpifing the things he is ignorant of And let 
 him not deprive the miferab!e poor fick people of 
 fuch things as himfelf cannot give, that fo he may 
 remain an honefi: and pious man. But as touching 
 the Medicaments,^ which are here treated of, they 
 are indeed but few, however they are liich as may 
 next God be (afely confided in. 
 
 I have formerly written of preparing a Fanacaa of 
 common Antimony, and taught its way of making. I 
 But whereas the defcription is difperfed in divers i 
 traifts, and is obfcurer thereby, and haply one man I 
 may not have all thole Treatifes, I have judged it 
 expedient to repeat that defcription in this place, and i 
 to mention it in this Treatifc. ' 
 
 The 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagyricnl Difpenfhtorj. 
 
 lO' 
 
 The prepariition doth tor the niuft part conlilt m 
 the Calcination by Niter, which corrcds and chan- 
 geth the venome and immature Quality of the Anti- 
 mony. Then afterwards the pure part is extraiited 
 by Spirit of Wine, and becomes a tender and fpadi 
 cious(or hg,hr red)Powdcr,and can etfc:t thole things, 
 which I do here alcribe unto it. It mav be taken in 
 a morning before you eat, either in Wine, Ale, or 
 l()me hot 13rofh, or in a fbft poached Egg, orroafted 
 Apple, and fafting lome hours after it untill its ope 
 ration be finiflicd. The Dole is ^ or I of a Grain, or 
 .1,1, ;,or4, Grains at mofl for one time, regard 
 being had to the Age and Difeafe, concerning which, 
 the vvei! minded Reader will tind more written, in 
 the firft part of this Spagyrical PbarmacopXii, and in 
 my Aiiraculurn MunJi, but yet I Will here likewile 
 annex ic for the benefit of the fick. 
 
 Cf the common ufe of this MeMcine. 
 
 THIS Univerfal Medicine may fafely and with 
 out any kind of danger be uled in all the natu- 
 ral Difeafes ot new born Infants, as we 1 as in thofe 
 of years, and ftrong people, and may be ufedl fay 
 without any danger, and in (o (inall a dofe as may 
 not move in any one either a loathing or a naufeate, 
 as thefe large i. up-fu;ls of the common Potions are 
 wont to do when they are drank dcwn. For that 
 dofe exceeds not i, i, ;, or 4 Grains at the moft,and 
 may molt eafily be taken down in a fpoonfull of warm 
 Broath, Wine, Ale, Water, or Milk, as the necefli 
 ty of the lick requires For if this prefcribeddofebe 
 obferved, it operates after an invifible manner, and 
 ftrengthens the radical Moiiture , and purgeth and 
 expellcth out after a wonderfull manner, every 
 hurtfull thing ; by little and little) outofthewhole 
 body, if it be daily ufed, ( or every I'econd or third 
 day once each day according as the condition, or 
 necelTityof any one requireth. It defendeth every 
 body from all hurtfull Caufes and Difeafes, and ad- 
 mits not the lead venomous Air, but if the Dofe be 
 augmented, it doth alfo difplay its vertues, by a vi- 
 fible operation, and drives out by Sweat and Urine, 
 or Spittle, fometimes upwards and downwards, eve- 
 ry noxious thing, and operareth even as you will 
 have it, according as your dofe is either more or 
 left, and as your Difeafe needeth. A dofe that is 
 very fmall and void of any vifible operation, is wont 
 to heal many Difeafes, yea and the grcateft part of 
 them. But ff)me Dilisafes there be which have deep 
 rooting, and do therefore require a viilble operation, 
 forallnuch as they cannot be expelled with a fmall 
 and invifib'.e operating Dofe. Evay one therefore 
 that prepareth and adminiflreth this Medicine, muft 
 accurately obferve this direction, that fo ( having 
 regard to the Difeafe ) he neither exceed nor come 
 ftiort in the adminiftration of this Medicament, but 
 by a right ufing of the fame, he may obtain praile 
 and glory. 
 
 But that the whole matter maybe the better and 
 more clearly apprehended,! will fet down the ufe of 
 the faid Medicine, according asmy felf have experien- 
 ced it, in the moft grievous Difeafes, that fb tho fick 
 may be inflruifted and helped, and the left Errours 
 committed. 
 
 In the Plague and other raging burning Difea- 
 fes, and contagious Fe-^"<urs, this Medicament doth 
 ( next Gods he p ) preferve every one that takes it 
 daily, in this proportion, viz.. to Infants 5 a Grain, 
 to thofe of a m idling Age, i, 1, or 3, at moft. But 
 
 if any one be infl-atd by either of thofe Dileales, 
 then the dole is to be doubled according to the par- 
 ties age, or trebled, that t!ie fick being well covered 
 may fweat. If one time fufficeth not to free him of 
 this Difeafe, the dofe of the faid Medicine may be 
 repeated the day following, or the third day, and 
 fbis it to be proceeded on with, tih the Difeafe being 
 weakened is caft forth. 
 
 This way of prefervation and curing is not onely 
 to be obferved in the Plague, but ii.'a!! contagious 
 Difeafes that alfaults 'with heat or cold, and in all 
 kind of Feavers whatfoever. The fick need not a- 
 ny other Medicaments, f(;r this is powerful: and ef- 
 fectual enough ; provided you pray ferioufly there- 
 withal, that It may ( by the help of God) drive a- 
 way that abominable and deteftab'e Dileafe the 
 Plague, and the pricking paining Pleurifie, with the 
 other Feavers. Nay farther, there is no Medica- 
 ment, no not of the bcft that performs what this 
 can. 
 
 In the Epilepfie, or Convulilons of Children, of 
 whom a great Number defiirure of fuch help die, 
 this Fanacaa is a mofl experienced and certain reme- 
 dy for them, and is to be adminiflred to a little In- 
 fant prefently after its Birth,thc quantity of the I part 
 or i part of a grain, in a little Milk, or elfe in fome 
 Warmed frefh Butter, and is to be repeated again the 
 third and eighth day following. But it it fhould be 
 fb, that after fbme days, weeks, or months, the fits 
 do again come, then let your Dole be lomewhat 
 ftronger if the Child needs it, and be fb often reitera- 
 ted untill the Difeafe be wholly fubdued and carried 
 off. I do moft highly commend this Medicine to all 
 Mothers, for that abundance of Infants ( otherwife 
 healthfull and found enough are without any help, 
 fhatched away b)- the violence of Death. And here 
 the error of fbme Phyficians delerves to be raxed, 
 who adminifter to the poor little Babes, whole Glaft- 
 fulls of the Water of Pearls void of all kind of Virtue. 
 Alfb the Powder of Bezjoar Stone either with, or 
 without the Water, together with the infufion of 
 fnch like unprofitable things. 
 
 Such Men as are of riper years, may daily ufe 
 the Dofe of one, two, or three grains, and it will 
 profit them. If not daily then may they repeat ic 
 every third or fourth day at leaft, and fb continue 
 untill the Difeafe being fubdued pafs away : 'Tis 
 needlefs for them to ufe any other kind of thing, 
 onely to obferve this direftion, 'uiz,, that day that 
 they do ufe this Medicament, let them (hun the cold 
 Air. and abftain from Food three or four hours at 
 leaft. 
 
 In the Leprofie, and other like dereftable Difea- 
 fes of whatfbever name they are called by, and in 
 every kind of Scabbineft, there is not to be found 
 any Remedy, whereby thofe atftifts are more eafily 
 and without any trouble or labour, taken away bet- 
 ter than this, which never fails your hoped event, 
 provided the fick be fo ftrong as to brook the Cure. 
 
 In that deteflableand venemous Difeafe of Whore- 
 dom uflially called the French Pox, there is nothing 
 can beadminiflred fafer and fecurer than this Medi- 
 cament, if the Dofe be but fb much augmented, as 
 not onely to caule Sweat ftrongly, bur alfo to pro- 
 voke Vomits and Stools ; and you are fo long to go 
 on with ufing this Medicine every other day, unt'U 
 the Sick be well, which may be in Ibme eight or 
 fourteen days. 
 
 Mn 
 
io8 
 
 The Second fart of 
 
 Part II 
 
 He thar is overwhelmed with the Dropfie, may 
 rake one Dofe every Day, and forbear eating (for 
 fome hours after the ufe of this Medicine, (the 
 which is nccefFary to be done in other Difeafes alfo) 
 but let him that takes it ih as to work ftrongly, 
 proceed gradually from one grain to two, &c. 
 untill it caufeth a kind of nauleatc (but without 
 vomiting) in as big a Dofe as isneedfull, and as the 
 Patient can well bear. Which being thus done, the 
 Dofe is afterwards to be lellened one or two grains, 
 and the leliening to be continued untill all the Wa- 
 ter be caft forth by Sweat, Urine, and Stool, and 
 the Sick become as healthy as he was before. Nor 
 is there any reafbn why any one fliould doubt of 
 radicaliv taking away this Difeafe, ('except it be 
 plainly deplorable or defperate) by this my Panacaa 
 onely, forafmuch as experience demonftrateth it more 
 clear than the Noon-day Light. 
 
 In the Gout (a Difeafe accounted by the common 
 Phylicians fir incurable, as well as the Leprofie and 
 Dropfie) doth this N4edicament perform wonderful! 
 things, and doth eiFeft more in a fliort fpace of time 
 than any one would either imagine or believe, pro- 
 vided it be rightly adminiftred. For it doth in a 
 fliort time draw back the affluence of noxious hu- 
 mours, and brings them forth out of the Body after 
 an invifible manner ; fo that, Day after Day, the 
 pains do by little and little remit and abate, the tu- 
 mours lelien, and the Fit becomes more tolerable, 
 comes the flower, and at length vanifheth for alto- 
 gether. As for the Dofe, you are to obfervc the 
 fame inftruiftions that we gave you but now for the 
 Dropfie, VIZ, that you daily make the fame additi- 
 on unto one grain fo long till you caufe a naufeate 
 (but no vomit) and then mult you again lelien it 
 one or two grains. The Patient muft do thus daily 
 on a fafting Stomach, (and keep himfelf warm and 
 abffain from Food four houfs,aftertheufe of this Me- 
 dicament • as long as need fhall require. Haply 
 the things which I here mention, will meet with 
 many incredulous Men, and fiich as will not believe 
 it poflible, for fuch a Difeafe as hath been hitherto 
 elteemed incurable by almoft all Men, to be rooted 
 out by the aforefaid Medicament ; the Opinion of 
 fuch Men I confefs that I cannot take in bad part, 
 foralinuch as even 1 my felf was but a few years 
 fince (before I had experienced the wonderfull effi 
 cacy of this Medicament^ of the very fame Opinion 
 But after my experience had taught me to judge o- 
 therwife I do truly and faithfully affirm, that this 
 Difeafe is in no wife incurable, but may (provided 
 it be not too inveterate, and that the ftrength 
 of the Sick, either through old Age, or Debilities, 
 hinder not the Medicines operation, or that God 
 himfelf withdraws not his own bleffing) by a good 
 and futable Medicament, be, if not radically rooted 
 out, yet for the grearefl of it expelled. Now it is 
 not to be thought, that he who ufeth this Fanacaa 
 may be at his choife to live as he lift, viz. either fo- 
 berly, or to ftuif his Stomach daily with hurtfuU and 
 forbidden Food, and to fwallow in Wine as he plea- 
 feth. No fuch matter, fuch Men err moft hugely, 
 for even the Philofbphcrs Stone it felf, that is, the fo 
 much famed rooter out of Difeafes would not help 
 there. For whatfoever thofe mofl excellent Medi 
 cines do mend in the Fore-noon, and correft, the Af 
 rernoons Surfeiting and Gluttony, and the fo large 
 excefs of Meat and Drink, will again deftroy and 
 corrupt. Nor is there any room for the Opinion of 
 rhofe Men that think to be freed of thif Difeafe, by 
 
 a bare Abfiin^nce from Wine : No, this Difeafe 
 comes not always from drinking of Wine, for it is 
 mofl: evidently known, that fometimcs even the poor- 
 eft of Men that never drank Wine are afflicfted with 
 this Difeafe. And therefore the fault is not wholly 
 robe imputed to the Wine. Every kind of repleti- 
 on or overfilling whether with too much Wine or 
 Ale, may procreate and encreale a Difeafe, but that 
 is not the onely or fole caufe. For there are many 
 other caufes, from whence this Difeafe is wont to 
 arife Verily, often being wrathfull doth moft ve- 
 hemently difturb the Family, as it were, of the inter- 
 nal Bowels. Luft, and an often ufe of Venery 
 (which is the ufual attender and follower of Drunk- 
 ennefs ' doth vehemently enervate and debilitate the 
 iirength of the body. From hence nature being e- 
 nervated and debilitated, is not able to expell out of 
 the bod v the copious relicfts and excrements, remai- 
 ning of the too much abundance of meat and drink, 
 and therefore thofe excrements abiding in the body 
 and exercifing their powers without control], do 
 produce moll: grievous Difeafes For that part which 
 nature is weakeft in, there doth the Enemy make his 
 firft attempt, according to the ufual Gtrman Pro- 
 verb, every one climbs over the Hedge in that place 
 where it is loweft The fame doth for the moft part 
 fall out in the procreation of this Difeafe, vtz,. when 
 the body is loaden and filled with overmuch 
 Food and Drink, for the body being overwhelmed 
 with overmuch Wine, and then an immoderate co- 
 ition or aft of venery prefently following thereon, 
 doth moft exceedingly weaken the body. For na- 
 ture being by this meansweakned, hath not ftrength 
 enough to expel thofe remaining excrements, which 
 foon get Head, to the great hurt and detriment of 
 the whole body, and do make themfelves a fixed 
 feat, the which is to be well heeded in this Difeafe. 
 
 Befides this Medicament doth rcfift all the ob- 
 ftrudions of the Miltand Liver, (which corrupt the 
 Blood, and ftir up moft grievous Dileafes, as the 
 Scurvy, Joynr- Aches, Erilipelas, continued Head- 
 achs, weaknefs of the Limbs, a Stinking Breath ; and 
 in Women a fijtFocatinn of the Matri.v, a fuppreffion 
 of the Months, panting of the Heart, Swounings, ' 
 the Lipothimy, and many fuch known, and un- 
 known Difeafes) far more efficacioufly than all other 
 Medicaments do. All thele afore.mentionqd Difea- 
 fes are healed by the faid Medicine, being taken oft- 
 ner or feldomer every Week according as the Dif- 
 eafe is, and you ivill fee wonderfull effedts pro- 
 duced. 
 
 I commend alfb this Medicament to all thofe that 
 employ themfelves in Surgery, that they refpefl: it 
 as the chiefeft Remedy that they can get. For be- 
 ing daily given in a fmall f ofe to thofe that are 
 wounded, it heals all new wounds in the Flefh, with- 
 out the aflifting help of any vulnerary potions, and 
 external applications of Emplaifters thar are com- 
 pounded of fb very many fimples. For it witbbokls 
 all Symptoms, anSadvanceth healing even from the 
 very bottom, and fo to the external parts, and doth 
 alfb confblidate ; but this is to be underftood of thofe 
 wounds in which are no hurt or broken bones,fbrasfor 
 thefethe manual Art is requifite, which may again fet 
 the Bones in their due order and place. Like wife deep 
 Stabs are to have Tents ufcd to them according as 
 the Chirurgeons order is to apply them. But no 
 external thing need to be ufcd belides, fave onely the 
 Patients own Urine and SaltWater, wherewithal! 
 the wounds are to be wafhed, and after wafhing, to 
 
 be 
 
Part II, 
 
 the Spngjr'ical Difpcnfatorj. 
 
 10^ 
 
 be covered with pure or clean Linnen, that thecold- 
 nefs of the Air hurt them not. 
 
 But if wounds be dangerous and over great, then 
 may alio be applved lome vulnerary BaUam, and 
 Plaifters made of the Flores of Minerals and Metals, 
 and done up with Wax, Turpentine, and Oil : (Such 
 Emplailkrs I have taught the compofition of in my 
 other Writings.) So that there's no' need of ib many 
 Oils, Unguents, Emplaifiers, and fuch like, to be 
 applyed to new wounds, if this medicament of mine 
 be daily adminiftred to the wounded Patient. 
 
 This medicine doth operate even to admiration 
 in open Fiftulaes, rotten and ftinking Ulcers, nor is 
 there any need of outward remedies, (ave haply 
 .fime Mineral BaHam to keep the Ulcer clean, and 
 lome Plairtcr made of common Wax and Turpen- 
 tine to keep off the cold Air. For this Medicament 
 doth begin its healing even from the very bottom, 
 and carries it on very fuccefsfully even to the outer 
 Skin, and doth thrcughly conlblidare and perfeiftly 
 cure all Ulcers, without any other external remedies 
 than aforefaid. 
 
 Having then well confidcred thefe things, and that 
 every one cannot prepare the prefcribed Medicine, 
 and yet very many may be found that would wil- 
 lingly partake of the fame ; It feemed good unto me 
 to adjoin this admonition, that they that know how 
 to prepare it, be entreated not to count it burthen- 
 fbme, but rather being moved by a Chriftian com- 
 padion, readily make fuch as arc ignorant of the 
 manner of preparing it, partakers of the fame ; And 
 not to mind wholly their own profit, according to 
 the cuftome of this perverfe world, and the fcraping 
 up of Aore of wealth, but to be well content with 
 an honeft and jufl: reward for their charges and la- 
 bour which they have beftowed. And forafmuch 
 as the often fpoken of Medicament, if fent abroad 
 either in a Liquid form, or in the io\m of Powder, 
 into other parts, cannot be in due manner ufed by 
 every body, becaufe an Error may eafily be com- 
 mitted in ti.e mealbring of Drops, and in weighing 
 of Grains, and ffj more or left be given I have 
 therefore deemed it very necelFary to reduce it into 
 Pills, that ti) the leis Errors may be committed iii its 
 adminiltration ; and one Pill weighs one Grain, and 
 two Pills two Grains, and to on ; fb that the Patient 
 needs neither to rr.ealiare or weigii, but onely to ufe 
 them as the difeale requires, and as I have before 
 prefciibed, i, a, ;, 4, or more Pills at one time. 
 
 Thele now are the principal Vertues of my Pana- 
 oca made of Ai<t:mony. As tor the reft that are be 
 fides thefe, and are ( for brevity fake ) omitted , 
 thcv may be eafily underflood and known by every 
 Jutlicious man, from the before defcribed circumftan- 
 ces. I do therefore yet again teftihe, that all the 
 things that I have afcribed to this Medicament, yea 
 far more than they,can be done and effected thereby, 
 if it be rightly prepared and adminiffred ; And prin- 
 cipally, if the Name of God be ferioufly invoked. 
 Tor prayers and a truft in God do firengthen every 
 Medicine, and nia';c it happy by his benedidion , 
 ■ though the wicked will neither believe it, nor hearken 
 thereunto. Indeed fbme Medicament may, by God's 
 pcrmil'ion, reflorc one (without prayers) to his for- 
 mer health ; And fo may Bread allay hunger with- 
 out giving thanks, and this we fee daily done amongft 
 the unreafbnable Creatures: But this enjoving'ot' 
 ■ the gifts of God is l:ie[iial, and nor humane. But this 
 now is truely Chriliian-like when (in our difeafes) 
 the he'p of God is invoked, and then after that, the 
 
 Medicine ufed. And this way of tifing of Medica- 
 ments is necelfarily accompanied with an happy event. 
 But if thou ivouidefl: per!>,v-Je thy felf, that every 
 Difeafe, how inveteratt; focver, may, bv the help of 
 this Medicine, be certainly removed without any dif- 
 ference, thou exaeamly eireft. For wc fpeak here 
 of thofe Dilcafcs, natural Pvcmedies are able (by- 
 God's help) to heal. For fometimes Man's inward 
 bowe's or part,', arc fo Itutfed and o^Xlruoled with 
 grots humours, that thev cannot be freed by even 
 the moft efficacious Medicaments. Sometimes the 
 Lungs and Live*- are almoft wholly corrupted, e'er 
 the true place of healing is fought after. And who, 
 I pray, is able to reftore the things that are loft ? 
 For Man's inward bowels and principal members do 
 nor again grow, being once loff, as the Crab's fliells 
 and Spiders feet that are broken off" and loft, doe. 
 Farther, fomcrimesGod inflifts adifcafe upon a Man, 
 whom he will not futFcr to be cured • Such like Dif^ 
 e ifes as thefe cannot be taken away wi.'- natural re- 
 medics. With God all things are poflible ; * ho alone 
 is able to bring help and remedy in fiich kind of dif- 
 eafes, whenfoever pleafeth him.^ but befides him a- 
 lonenonecin help. Tr;ere are therefore fbme in- 
 curable difeafes, which cannot be cured by any Va- 
 ndfiCii, yet aot the Quartane, Leprofie, Gout, Epi- 
 lepfie, and Dropfie, as moft men think, though Ex- 
 perience ( or the being put on trial ) fhould witnefs 
 the contrary. And although that all humane dif^ 
 eafes be, in procels of Years and Ages become worfe, 
 and more troublefbme , and doe, together with the 
 augmentation of fins, encreafe ; Yet the moft boun- 
 teous God hath alfo beflowed thus much, that there 
 are more and more efficacious and natural Remedies 
 to be found out (by the Divine initincft) by diligent 
 men. 
 
 It happened Comt few years ago, that an honeft 
 man's child, of about foine ten years old, had its 
 Tongue perforated with many Exulcerations, which 
 pained it very much day and night. To cure which, 
 the Parents fpared for no colts nor pains, and con- 
 fulted with divers of their neighbouring Phyficians, 
 but they ufed all their Labour and Skill to no pur- 
 pole, for the Exulcerations daily encreafcd with mucji 
 pain, and grew worfe and wcrte ; and the poor child, 
 being defbtuie of all help,wafled away. Then.atlafl, 
 they called n,e to advif-.- with them, and having told 
 me how manv, and other wife famous Phyficians,. 
 could not by all the labour and pains they beftowed 
 for full two years do any thing to the purpofcj, but 
 had at laft left the poor child deftitute of help and " 
 luccour. I feeing the effeit, confidered that this was 
 nothing elfe bur a Corrolne Catarrh arifing from in- 
 fcded blouci, which did (o pollels the Tongue, and 
 perforate it, and was the caufe of'-this burning, eating, 
 and cancrous eifeLl-,and fo hitherto refuted any kind 
 of healing, tmd gave the Parents fiich an anlwer, that 
 in my opinion there was no better way to meet with 
 this evil, than by fbme purging Minerals , which 
 were capabl-e of working, upon even the fix'd hu- 
 mours, and of bringing them away, and that to be 
 done principally by an Antimonial Vomit. The Pa- 
 rents allcnted to my opinion, and requjfled me to 
 begin the cure, the which I did , and hrft I gave a 
 finall Dole of my Antimonial Ptf««e^<7,not doubting 
 but that it would ifir up one Vomit at the leaft ; but 
 yet it fell out otherwite, (or there fuccecJed no fenfi- 
 JdIc operation at all : Fhe following day I gave a- 
 gain the fame Dote, but without any fenfible opera- 
 tion too, but yet neverthelefs all the pain vaniilied, 
 
 F f and 
 
no 
 
 The Second Part of 
 
 Part 11. 
 
 and the Child could again move its Tongue, and u(b 
 it, and alfo ask't for Meat , which it had not done 
 in a year before, but was forced to be content with 
 Broths, becaufe its Tongue could not brook any (o- 
 lid food. The third day I adminiftred the (lime Dofe 
 again, and fo the Exulcerations began to be confbli- 
 dated, and all the whole Tongue was throughly 
 healed in eight days fpace, infomuch that there fcarce 
 appeared anyii place where it had been ulcerated ; 
 and the Child daily grew better and better, its na- 
 tural Colour returned, the which drew all that kiiew 
 it into admiration as well as my felf By this Cure 
 that 1 have told you of, the vertue and efficacy of my 
 tamccea did farther manifeft unto me what 1 knew 
 not before to be in it, nor fhould ever have believed 
 it, (had I not perceived a manifeft operation) I'lz,. 
 that the Bloud ftiould, by the help of fb little Medi- 
 cine, which was not in all above fix grains, be able 
 in filch a fhort fpace ei rime to effect lb much ; And 
 afterwards I perceived the fame ertetts in other Dif- 
 eafes Jikewile, and found that the daily ufe of this 
 Medicine did not onely fhew its operation upon the 
 Tartar in the Reins and Bladder not as yet coagu- 
 lated, but did by little and little lelfen the already 
 hardned Sand and Stone, and in length of time ex- 
 pell it ; And did alfo in fuccefs of time refolve and 
 root out even Podagrical inveterate humours. 
 
 But thus much may fuffice to have been fpoken 
 of the common Antimonial Tanacaa. This name 
 Tanacaa hath made fome envious men ftare,and fuch 
 as judge this Medicament unworthy fuch a name , 
 feeing it is prepared out of fb vile a fubjedt, and doth 
 withall fometimes ( when too unskilfully handled ; 
 ftir up vehement Vomitings, which is not the pro- 
 perty of a Tanacaa to do. That I may anfvver fbch, 
 I fay, that the name Fanacaa denoteth fuch a Medi- 
 cament as may profitably be adminiftred in all Dif 
 cafes, the which thing the Panacea of Antimony is 
 alfo wont to doe as daily experience tef^ifies. But 
 as for its being taken out of fiich a vile and (by ma- 
 ny brethren in ignorance) defpifed fubject, that doth 
 not at all derogate from its Name, provided that the 
 Medicine thence drawn performs thofe things that 
 are fpoken of it. Pray what brought David, that 
 contemptible Shepherd, unto a Kingdom ? was not 
 he of a low name, and low birth : the fame is to be 
 underftood of this Medicament. It is its moft noble 
 ■efficacy and operation hath given it this name, and 
 not its vile birth, nor contemptible nativity and ab- 
 jed form. Neither is this any lett thereunto, 'viz,. 
 that it is prepared out of a mean fubjeifl:, and fuch 
 a one as the ignorant contemn and delpife , and 
 which (before its preparation) was a Poi(bn ; for the 
 Poilbn is now tranliiiuted by the help of Art, and 
 of the fire, into a wholfcmc Medicament, and the 
 more ftrong operation thereof, fuch as to caufe vehe- 
 ment Vomits, is not to be imputed to the Medicine 
 it felf, but unto the abufe of it. For fb the belt Wine 
 and molt fragrant Spices, are a poifbn to fuch as do 
 abufe them. Abufe may turn the beft Medicine into 
 Poifbn ; and Art and Fire, both can and ulually are 
 wont to turn Poilbn into a Medicament. That which 
 I have often fpoken, 1 do here again repeat, and call 
 God and the Truth to witnefs, that I never met with 
 any fubjccT:, that might with more profit be tranfmu- 
 ted into a wholefome Medicine, than the vile and 
 contemptible .\ntimony ; The which I will take care 
 to fee it prepaied ready for the Poors ule : And as, 
 for the Rich, to them 1 commend the Golden Purple- 
 coloured Panacea, which hath the lame efficacy as 
 
 the former has, but herein difFcis from it, -viz,, it 
 operates more gently, and is lefs fenfible in the ope- 
 ration, and may be far more fafely adminidred unto 
 Infants and old Men, and mav be doubled in the 
 Dofe. Some few years (luce, many men of high and 
 low degree have by the help of this Medicine been 
 freed, not onely from the Gout, but from other 
 grievous and inveterate Dii'eafes : Nor have I ever 
 heard lince the time I have prepared it, for my 
 Neighbours benefit, that the ule of it wanted Ionic 
 good cllcift : Nor is there any caufe to fear offending 
 by the abufe or excefs thereof, as is in the vulgar An- 
 timonial Medicament. But this Golden Medicine 
 will rarely flir up Vomiting in the fick, unlef^ a due 
 meafijre be by a wanton abufe exceeded , or the 
 Dofe too too much enlarged. For this realbn I will 
 hereafter have by me, for fuch as need the fame, this 
 Golden Medicine, in the form of a Purp!e Powder, 
 and the com.mon Antimonial (becaufe that it being 
 like a red Powder may be eafily counterfeited, and 
 fb ill-prepared Antimony may chance ro be fold to the 
 flck infttad of a Panacaa) fliall be ready made up 
 in Pills, and in that form onely, each (jf which fhall 
 contain one Grain , that lb being ready weighed 
 the lick that ufe them may receive no detriment by 
 weighing and ih taking them. Thefe now may be 
 uled by fuch men as are of a midling age, or elder ; 
 but to thole that are Infants, and aged, and weak 
 perfbns I commend the Golden, as operating more 
 gently and (afely. The Antimonial Fafiacaa made 
 up in a Pillular form, mav be moft exceedingly pro- 
 fitable in thole long Eafi and JVeli-lndia Navigations, 
 in which the Souldiers and Mariners are lb extream- 
 ly troubled with the Scurvy, and debilitated there- 
 by, and yet have lb little benefit or lielp from the 
 Medicaments which they carry with them. Novir 
 this Medicine is able lb far to help them, as that they 
 may make their Navigations with a more courageous 
 and more cheerlull mind. For I have not hitherto 
 met with any lubjed in the whole nature of things, 
 that can oppole it felf wirii greater efficacy againftall 
 the corruption of the bloud, and oppilations ot the 
 inward members, than this Medicine ; the which 
 both Souldiers and Marriners may have with them, 
 it being not very dear, nor ealily corruptible, and ib 
 make ule thereof in ncceliitous Cafes. There is not 
 to be found in the whole World a more commodious 
 and more whollome Medicine, as well for the Mar- 
 riners that fail for many Months in the valt Ocean, 
 as for the Souldiers lying in Camps, that undergo 
 troubles and dilcommodiries of ail forts, and lead a 
 dilorderly life. And therefore if Chyrurgions that 
 be in Ships and Camps were furnifhed with this Me- 
 dicament, they would verily prefcrve the lives of 
 many Marriners and Souldiers, and would with one 
 onely Ounce, which is of no great price, out of which 
 may fbm.e Hundreds of Doles be made, eafily elfedt 
 far more than with a whole Cheft full of fuch Me- 
 dicaments as are but of lir.all virtue. If a Phyfician 
 or Chyrurgion, that follows the Camp, had by him 
 fome Ounces, he would preferve the Lives of many 
 Thoufands of men, which would otherwife miferably 
 perifh. It is a Medicine of ealie carriage, and as eafi- 
 ly kept, which is a thing delcrvedly to be accounted 
 of, feeing it much concerneth him who is a Com- 
 mander, to have at hand fome prefent remedy for 
 his Souldiers that are ufualiy opprefied with the 
 Plague, Scurvy, Dyfentery, malignant Feavers, and 
 other fuch like dileafes, with which whole heaps of 
 them perilli, as flies do in a cold feafon This in- 
 comparable 
 
Tart. IL 
 
 the Spagyrical Difpenfatory. 
 
 Ill 
 
 comparable Medicine doth eafily refift all thofe dilea- 
 fes. Upon this account I will have ready by me for 
 rime to come, good (tore of this Medicament, and 
 llich as need the fame may feek it from me, and be 
 made partakers thereof. I will perform the office 
 of a good Chriftian, who being not born onely for 
 himfelf, but for his Neighbours too , ought to be 
 helpfull unto them, even as rhe hand helps the hand, 
 and one member he'ps another , the which thing 
 verily every one fliouid neceflarily ( and well wor- 
 thy is it to be ) obferve more carefully. 
 
 Next this Ancimonial Medicine, in the form of 
 Pills, and the Golden Panacea ( of a Purple Co 
 lour) follows, my Nepenthes, or Anodine medica- 
 ment, allaying all Pains, and is made of corrected 
 OpturK, extraifi: of Saffron, and the Volatile Sulphur 
 of Vitriol.. Every one knows that Opium is ftupefac 
 live and foporiferous, becaufe fo much mention is 
 made of the corrcifling and preparing it, and the 
 way, defcribed by many, of fo doing ; For they well 
 perceived, that it being fbmetimes imprudently ad- 
 miniftred, did not onely caufe fleep, but brought 
 alio the brother of Sleep too, viz.. Death, infomuch 
 that the fick being caft into an everlafting fleep, could 
 not be awakened any more, ( for it is a praile-wor 
 thy Medicament, and fuch an one as will beget cre- 
 dit enough;) and therefore they not knowing how 
 to take away this Poifon, did bend their Itudies there 
 abouts more and more, to corredt the Opium, and to 
 tame the venomous force it had. Therefore they 
 dried it throughly, and reduced it into Powder, and 
 diflblved it with Spirit of Wine or Vinegar, and ex 
 traded it, and by diftillation abftraded thefe AJen- 
 firuums, and brought the extrafted Opium to the con- 
 fiftcncy of Honey, and thereto admixed a certain 
 portion of the beft Saffron, wherewith they endea- 
 voured to tame and correcT; the venomous quality 
 of the Opium. Others mi.xed that Powder with Oil 
 of Annifeeds, Liquid Storax, or extract of Saffron, 
 ( which are Simples that will procure Sleep without 
 Opium ) and made it up in a Mafs, and accounted 
 it a moft excellent confedion, as being everywhere 
 hitherto in the Apothecaries (hops , and ufed by the 
 Phyficians with goodfuccefs, (ometimes in many de 
 plorable difeafes : And is even to this day (and de- 
 fer vcdly too) in ufe, for there could not be found 
 a better and more fafe one. But now forafinuch as 
 a better and lafer way is found out, 'tis but juft to 
 admit of this, and omit the other which is not lo 
 good Since the time that I knew the ule of the 
 Univerflil Dilfolvent, or moilt and cold Fire, I found 
 out and corrected many Subjects by the help of the 
 lame. And amongft others, I diflblved Opium in the 
 Liquor of Niter after my way, and prepared it, and 
 perceived wonderfuU effects therein , but efpecially 
 when I adjoined to it the Volatile Sulphur ot Vitriol, 
 . which is of it fclf an excellent and incomparable 
 Somniferous Anodine, allaying all Pains with a won- 
 derful! fijccefs, I alio hereunto added the Effence 
 ot Saffron, a wonderful! (trengthener of the Heart. 
 Opium being uncorreded, is a vehement Saturnine 
 » Itupefier, which doth by its immoderate ftupefying 
 property conftringe as it were and choak the Vital 
 faculties, infbmuch that the often ufing thefam.e make 
 men pale, and to fleep ( for the moit part ) with 
 their mourhs and eyes open, and they can hardly 
 be awakened before the operation thereof be over : 
 And therefore many do detcrvedly abhor the ufe of 
 the fam.e. The adding of the Oil of Annifeed and 
 Saffron, may in forae fort reftrain the cruel rage of 
 
 it, but cannot throughly fubdue it ; But yet even 
 this may be done with eale, when being reduced un- 
 to Powder, it be dilTo'ved with the Volatile Spirit of 
 Vitriol, inffead of rhe Spirit of Wine or Vinegar, 
 and fo Ihained through a Paper, and precipitated 
 with the contrary ( or different nature ) Liquor of 
 Niter, and be wafhed with common Water, be dri- 
 ed and prepared into a Mats with 'the Ellence of 
 Saffron, in which operation the Narcotick Sulphur 
 of the Vitriol adjoins it felf to the Opium, and this is 
 far better, and corrects it by its fiilphureous and acid 
 Spirit. But that the Spirit of Vitnol is moft fit for 
 this etfed, I will (hew rhe well-minded Reader. 
 The common Vitriol doth, for the moft part, conflft 
 of a Sulphureous Salt, and of an Earth containing 
 Iron or Copper. Bur when it is diftilled by the Fire, 
 the Spirit of the Salt carrieth up with it a Volatile 
 and Sulphureous Spirit out of the Mars ; the which 
 b'eing precipitated with fomewhat that is of a con- 
 trary nature, affords you a fubtile Narcotick Sulphur, 
 very little in quantity, but of a moft wonderful! effi- 
 cacy, the which I have made mention of in the Se- 
 cond Part of my Furnaces. But if now there be ad- 
 ded to the Calcined Vitriol an equal weight of Iroa 
 filings or Iron cinders, fuch as are fmitten off from 
 the red-hot Iron on an Anvil, and half a pound of 
 Salt-peter, and a water be diftilled out of thefe mat- 
 ters thus conjoined, the Spirit of Niter will bring 
 over a great portion of the Spirit of Mars. This Vo- 
 latile Sulphureous Spirit is to be feparated from the 
 Corroflve Spirit by redtification, and to be diftilled 
 into a Receiver that has in it a little fair water. This 
 Volatile redified Spirit, and not that corrofivc one 
 that was left behind in the rectification, is to be ufed 
 for the diflblving and correding of the Opium. And 
 although that many diligent (jhvmifts have before 
 now underftood fomewhat of this Narcotick Vitriol, 
 as I my felf did, yet we have done but little as to 
 the preparation thereof But at length when on a 
 certain time I had added Filings of Iron to Calcined 
 Vitriol, to diffill thence from an ..-le]. Foriu,my Retort 
 being very red hot, did by chance break, fo that the 
 matter fell out into the fire, out of which proceeded 
 fo fulphureous a fume, and f j much, and fb tilled all 
 the Laboratory that 1 cou!d not ftay in the Room ; 
 therefore I took the live Coals out of the Furnace, 
 as fpeedily as poflible I could, becaufe of rhe fup- 
 preflions and difficulties ( of breathing ) which that 
 Spirit overwhelmed me as it were withall, and hard- 
 ly got my felf out of the Laboratory-door, but ha- 
 ving got a little frefh Air, I prelently came to my 
 feit again, and perceived that the whole Houfe was 
 filled with the fume, and therefore to let it out , I 
 opened all the windows and doors of the Houfe. 
 When I had thus done, prefently hapned another 
 danger, for the burning Coals that I had pulled out 
 of the Furnace, had kindled the other Coals that 
 were ne.xt them ; There being danger of fire, and 
 that I might prevent it ( being deftitute of water, 
 and in the night-time hapning) I ran to the reft that 
 were fleeping in the Chamber, to get them to arife 
 and fetcli water, and to help me quench the fire. 
 But they flept fo exceeding fbundly, that though I 
 called and did my beft to awaken them about quen- 
 ching the fire, yet was I forced to go about it my 
 felt, and do it as well as I could. Having quenched 
 it, away go I into the Chamber to fee what they 
 were doing of, and I found them all oppretled with 
 a moft heavy (leep, yea and the fweat dropped from 
 all their faces, though it was Winter-feafon. Whsni 
 
 K 
 
112 
 
 The Second Vart of 
 
 Part 
 
 11. 
 
 it was light they awoke and arole, to whom 1 to'.tl the ; 
 danger I was in, and that.I could not awaken them. 
 They all of them confelied that they dreamed that 
 they were opprelled with fome heavy thing, (o that 
 thev could notltir themfelves. From this miichance, 
 learned 1 two things, the firft is this, -viz. that in 
 Vitriol and Iroii lay hid an highly NaiCotick Sul 
 phur : The otlTer was this, wh.-.r the caule is that 
 Ibme Men but efpecially melancholy Men do in the 
 Night Dream, that they are \h opprelled with fome 
 thing, and yet cannot be awakncd. For the Sul- 
 phureous martial and faturnine Vapours which caft 
 the Brain and Heart into fijch ftrairs, and do bind as 
 'twere the vital Spirits with a Cord, do cau(c luch 
 Dreams. This breaking therefore of my Retort, dil 
 covered to me an excellent Medicine.ynd the Dileale 
 \hh\tSi to the fame, ih th3t there is nothing fb evil 
 out of which iome good doth not (bmeriires (pring 
 lip. I judged it worth my labour, to gratifie thole 
 that are ftudiousin Medicine by adding to the atore 
 going things, this f^orv, hoping it will not be a thing 
 tedious to "any. Be/ides this is worthy ot confidera- 
 tion, that hapned to'one of the Childien fleeping in 
 the (ame cale, whofe head was much troubled with 
 phlcgmuiels, but the Catarrs were fo dillblvtdand 
 loofened by the efficacy of this fume, that it wase 
 ver after of a found head. From htnce did I crmjec- 
 ture that there was more to be foufid in the Sulpfiui 
 of Vicriol than can be believed, and this did 1 con- 
 joyn with the corrected Op'.um, by the often ufe of 
 which Medicine, 1 have freed many Children from 
 the Epi'epfie or Convu.fions, and found belidesthat 
 it was m.oft exceedingly profitable for old Men, and 
 fuch as were oi riper years ; But with this provifb, 
 that my Antimonial Panacea be fiift a>:.'minifired, 
 to thofe of a ruiuiing Age, and nu' golden tm^acau 
 TO Infants and old Men, which being premifed or 
 firft ufed, this mcft exec lent lupar.tk,, can bv fo 
 much the bectei and more commodK ufly di' .ay its 
 virtues. By this Medicine all internal ' , a dil- 
 quiet mind, and light headednefs in Fevtij, are al- 
 laved, a quiet iiid gentle flcep procu;ed, the Winds 
 and Gripes of Infants and elder Men, that bfRicft their 
 Bellies and Inteflines are driven awav, a good inge- 
 n) and cheartull mirti is procured, all wild and un- 
 quiet Spirits that moleft the Heart and Brain are re-, 
 ftrained and laid aflcep.- Theviia! Spirit being over- 
 come and fiipprelled with corrupt humour? i."- redu- 
 ced to its former liberty, and the lofi ffrengih and 
 vigour of the Body fo happily refiored, that a moft, 
 evident help is prefently perceived, and principally 
 if the 0/>///w be well correcT^ed by the hep of the 
 volatile Spiiit of Vitriol. It may likewife be pn^ri- 
 tably corredted by the fixd liquor of Niter, extrac- 
 ted with Spirit of Wine, and be reduced into an Ef- 
 fence. But if this correiftion be made by the acid 
 Spirit, it is better and more prr.fitab'e, than that 
 made by fixt Niter. For in correding it by the fixt 
 Niter, the correcT:ed EOence is to be extracted by 
 Spirit of Wine, which makes the powers of the Op(- 
 um tod volatile and penetrative, the which thing 
 we feck not after in this place, being it is far betrer, 
 that the Qputm lets ujic.i his enemy leafurcly and not 
 too ftrongly ; and this experience fiifticiently teftihes 
 the nectfllty of. This molt excellent medicine is 
 one of the four Cardinal P;llars, whereon the whole 
 fabrick of medicine is built. The Antimonial I'ar.acx.i 
 is a moft excellent and fafe purge, moft fit to drive 
 out all the evil humours out of the whole Body. 
 The golden fanaaea is the belt and molt excellent 
 
 Diaphoietick and budonhck. iUir (f.e cnrefttd 
 Op'.uin and virriolate Sulpbur is rb.e moft eminent 
 Anodine and Somniferous Medicament. 
 
 A Diuretkk and NepLritick, cxtraclcd bj the help of a 
 certain proper Vegetable Spirn, ahd tiidued iv it h ex- 
 cellent Vmucs. 
 
 TAKE of Canrharides one ounce, ^fel'i or Hcg- 
 Lice two ounces, put into a G'afs, and pour 
 upon them three ounces of the Spirit of Nirer, and 
 diliblve the Vtrmine in a gentle hear, that they may 
 be reduced into Water, which will be in few hours, 
 or elfe leave them in a Cellar for ibm.e davs and 
 nights, and they will be dillolved as well as in the 
 hear. Afterwards add to thi.s io.utir.n three ounces 
 of Earth-worms and leave them yet forfomie davs 
 more in the Ce''lar. When they are all diflblved 
 Itrain them through a fine Linren Coth, put in a 
 Funnel of Glai's, that the Solution may be feparated 
 irom the F.-pces,which if many, fquetfe well the Cloth 
 with your Fingers, that the whole Sfjlution may he 
 feparated from the Faeces, then throw away the faid 
 remaining Faeces And to tlie Solution that you ftrai- 
 ned through 'he Funnel into the Glafs,pour the Liquor 
 of fi.\t Niter by little and little, and fo long untill all 
 the ebullitirn (hail have ceafed, and a thorough pre- 
 cipitation be m.ade All things thus done, feparate 
 the Liquor by pouring them rfi" from the Verminc, 
 and coagulate it, that it nay Le again m<:de Salt Pe- 
 ter, and be nfetuU for more occafions. Wafli your 
 precipitated Vermine vvcll with comm-on Water, 
 r'eieby freeing ihem from a 1 faltifhnefs, and dry 
 rhcm in a gentle heat, that they may be reduced in- 
 to a pillular form, or intoan Eeetuary : The which 
 medicament miay be moftlalely and without all dan- 
 ger ufed in the Stone, of the Bladder and Reins, 
 being given from one, two, four, fix, eig,ht, and 
 twelve grains at moft, according to the condition oP 
 the Sick : F^-r it brings forth the Urine and the San- 
 dinefs and Tartar ; that is, as yet uncongealed, and 
 ni-it lumped together in the Rein? and Bladder. If 
 any one dcfire to have them fhew their Virtues more 
 ftrongly, he may then extrad the dillolved, preci- 
 pitated, waflied, dryed, and correded Vermine 
 with f( me burning Spirit of Saxifrage, Parfly, Juni- ■ 
 pier berries, A(h, or fijch like Stone expelling Herbs, 
 th.t ib there mav be vet again a (eparation of Fa?ces, 
 and the Spirit may draw unto it felf the pureft El- 
 fence. This Spirit being feparated by a gentle heat 
 in a B leaves in the bottom an Elicnce like a red 
 Balfam, which is far fwcerer, profitablcr, and plca- 
 lantcr in rhcfoienamed Difeaies, than it was before 
 the extradion, vi;hen in the form of Powder, Pills, 
 or Eleduarv. N. B. If a venereal Medicine be to 
 be prepared out of the Earthworms, thcntheCan- 
 tharides and A(etH are to be omitted, and an half 
 part of thofe venereal Vermine, which are in the 
 Summer Months in Gardens, and adhere to old 
 Seats, and o'd Walls in abundance, to be added to 
 the Worms, and to thefc is to be added one fourth 
 part of a Stags Pizz'e and all ro be prepared after 
 that manner we have taught and prelcribed. The 
 Worms are to be gathered at fuch a time as the 
 Earth firft opens it felf after the cold Seafon, and 
 may bedig'd out, that fo \ou may have the Worms 
 before they creep forth out of the Larih, and have 
 enervated each other by their coition, tor when 
 they are thus gotten thev ?re endued with wonder- 
 fullvirtues, and are far more eflicacicus than thev 
 
 Le 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Sfagjrical Difpe?ifatorj. 
 
 be afterwards. Thete Worms being dillolved, picci 
 pirated, and well wafhed with common Water; if 
 they are yet once extracted by the burning Spirit of 
 Saiyrion, Hop, or Sparagus ronrs, and reduced into 
 a fweet EUcnce, do become a prefent and elfetlual 
 Medicament againft impotency. 
 
 All Diurerick and principally Ecrth-worms being 
 maturated and corred:ed,have a power to ftrengtheri 
 the venereal tacu'ry. But the corre(fting of them 
 muft nor be after the ufual Kitchen way of Women, 
 where Wine, Sugar, Spices, andiuch like thingsare 
 added to correct any fubjeft by. No, but it is to 
 be done by the benefit ot Fire, after a Phiiofophical 
 manner, without the addition of any other things, 
 not with the Kitchen Fire, but with that Phiiofophi- 
 cal, nioifr, vaporous, digeffing, altermg, penetrating, 
 ripening, amending, conferving, and in one degree 
 alwa\'s abiding Fire, the which is to be fought after 
 in Niter. Great is the errour that is committed in 
 the decoctions of Vegetables, when Herbs, Flowers, 
 Seeds and the like are boiled in fome Liquors, as 
 Water, Wine, Ale, and the like, and being boiled 
 the deco(ftion is given the Sick to drink, as if it had 
 e-xtraded all the virtues of the Herbs ; nor is it in the 
 mean time conlidered that in fuch decoctions, the 
 penetrating and effectual Spirit, and fweer Oil va- 
 poured away with the water into the Air, and yet 
 may this be eafily fmelr, for the Vapour that goes 
 out in fuch boilings is always endued with a fweeter 
 Odour than the remainder left behind is, and which 
 they ule in Medicine, and this can be denied by 
 none. Why 1 pray are the Waters in the Shops, 
 where abundance of them are ufed, and fold, wont 
 to be diftilled now, not any more in a B. pr fe, 
 but for the moit part, in a Copper Still with com- 
 mon water added, to prevent burning too ; of which 
 waters it is iikewife faid, that they are as good as 
 thofe that be diftilled in a B. fer Je, without Water, 
 and this is agreeable to truth: For in the diftillation, 
 the moft lubtil moifture of the herb onely rifing up, 
 and the common Water as being the heavier) ftays 
 behind in the bottom of the Still, and therefore 
 they have a certain fign in the diftillation of the faid 
 waters, 'viz,. when the alcending water, tafts no 
 more of the diftilled herb : Then do they defift from 
 farther operating, and caft away the remaining herb 
 with the water in the bottom. But fuch whofe 
 ftudy it is to make fweeter and more efficacious 
 Waters, do rake the water which came off in the 
 diftillation, and pour it upon more of the frefh 
 herb, and do again diftil it, and draw otF the moft 
 pure part of the herb, and make their Water more 
 efficacious, which way of preparing the Waters of 
 Herbs, is good and profitable. Befides every one 
 knows, that the Spirit and Oils of Vegetables, are 
 to be diftilled by a Copper Still by the apportion ot 
 a great deal of Water, as we have taught in the firlt 
 part of this Thr.rmacopuea : It is theretore manifeft, 
 that the common decodting of herbs in water is of 
 no value, and that the heft part vanifheth away into 
 the Air in boiiing, and that the lefs fweer, and moft 
 efficacious parr alcne remains behind. Some skilfull 
 Cooks know this full well, and never put in the Spi- 
 ces into the Pot to boil, but let the flefh be firft boil 
 ed, and already fet at theTable, by which they take 
 care of lofing the beft Odour of the Spices by 
 boiling them. If you go by the Ale Brewers when 
 they are boiling the Hop, and the 'Houfcs of the 
 Apothecaries, you fhall meet with a far fweercr 
 fragrancy, and what doth more comfort the heart, 
 
 Il3t 
 
 than what remains leliind, and is gi'-en men td 
 dnnk :" And this cannot be orherwife, by the fore 
 alledged reafons, for the chicfeft and bcft part go 
 away in boiiing. Therefore I do here again repeat 
 what I (aid before, and do affirm,that that Decoitiod 
 which is done in the Cold by the univerfal fiery 
 Water, is ro be preferred far before that othcrway. 
 Now it is (ufficicntly enough known that the greatefl 
 parr of the food we car, whether Ficfh, Fifh, or 
 Pulfe, are wont to be boiled in the Kitchen by.'thd 
 help of Water to prcferve them from burning, 'chat 
 thereby thev may be the better digefted and con- 
 codied by the Stomach. And why arc not medica- 
 ments prepared after the fame manner? Nowthovi^h 
 in the decoction of Flefh, Fifh, and Pulfe, there goes 
 ott fome of the vertues of the fame, yet that is a mat- 
 ter of no great moment, for the remainder is what 
 ftufFs the Stomach from whence the body may get 
 its nouriflimenr. Bur in medicinal decoctions, no 
 filch great quantity is to be adminiftred, but a' lit- 
 tle of them given to the Sick to drink of; ar.d there- 
 fore they muft neccllarily have their vertues left ia 
 them, and not be deprived of them by decodion 
 and yet this Curtation of theirs cannot 'be fhunned 
 when the decoctions are done over the fire with 
 common water in open VefTels. This way therefore 
 of mine, by the fiery Water is far to be preferred 
 
 i-.-..-<= 
 
 before that other way. For in this decodtion t.-^c 
 can'r be loft fo much as the leafl vcrrues of the herb 
 or Animal, feeing it is done in the Cold. But all a- 
 bide together, in the watery or fiery Water, are ri- 
 pened, bettered, and changed into medxi'r.e, and 
 muft neceflarily be tranfinured, whether they will 
 ornot. There is no way for the vertues to go civ as 
 is in that other decoction, where the molt noble 
 vertues vanifli away in the Air. Therefore ihh di- 
 gefting, conferving, ripening, and amending Fire 
 and Water ought to be highly efteomed by the Phv- 
 ficians, wherewith they may prepare their medica- 
 ments, or at leaft for the preparing of fome \'eMv good 
 ones which cannot elfc be gotten, as is apparent in 
 Diurericks, which being fo inverted by this Phiiofo- 
 phical water, do not onely afterwards expel Urine, 
 and the Stone, and all things pcrraini.ig thereunto; 
 but do alfb corroborate, even as all things that have 
 a hot fiibtil and penetrating Nature whether lim- 
 ples or compounds are wont to do : Infomuch that 
 they do not any more caufe torments and pains by 
 a forceable expuliion of Urine and the Stone, bur do 
 gently and fweetly itir up to a caflmg them our, and 
 do withal ftrengthen and conferve the virile Nature: 
 But conrrarily thofe immature and crude Simples, 
 do by their Crudity and Wildncfs hurt, and not 
 onely expel Urine, but even ftir up pains. This dif- 
 courfe and propofed matter, concerning the watery 
 Fire and fiery Water ( by the benefit of which ve- 
 nomous V^egetables, Animals and Minerals may be 
 f as I have taught ) turned into wholfome medica- 
 ments)will haply create in many fomedifugreeaL!eCo- 
 gitations,and may (eem to them as it it were a Itrangc 
 thing, that I fhould call rhe Liquor of ti.<t Niter, 
 and the Spirit of corrofive Niter, fiery Water?, and 
 watery Fires, whereas there is in them no apparent 
 vilible Fire. Well, to remove this SCuple from their 
 minds, I do in the firft place judge it expedient to" 
 demonftrate that Niter is no other than a mere Fire; 
 For put but Niter on a live Coal, and 'twill all fl:e 
 up and burn away in the Air ; this now is evidently 
 feen in Gun-powder, in which the Salt-^erer is Toge- 
 ther with thole other added matters difcharged all of 
 
 G g ie 
 
114 
 
 The Second Fart of 
 
 Part 11- 
 
 it into the Air. Niter being brought by Calcination 
 to a fixity or conftancv in the Fire, or elfe by diftil- 
 lation to a corrolive Water, bath not for all this loft 
 its fire, but hath it as yet perfedly with it felf. And 
 that this is true is hereby cleared, viz,, that both 
 thofe Liquors the fixt and the corrofive volatile one 
 being mixt together, do depofit thatnature they got 
 from the Fire, and do return to their form, or Salt 
 peter nature. Hence may it be manifeftly proved 
 that both thefe Liquors as well the fixt one as the ' 
 acid Spirit may and ought to be called fiery Waters, 
 feeing that they do in very deed demonftrate their 
 fiery vertues. For they do yet retain their Fire, and 
 do melt all things and reduce them into Water, what- 
 foever you put into them. This demonftration I 
 hope is a fufficicnt fatisfadory teftimony to fuch as 
 have any underftanding though not ib well skilled in 
 the light of nature. But that I may yet meet with 
 the moft unskilful) of men, who are for the moft 
 part wont to meafiire by their moft unskilful! fancy, 
 fuch things as are to them wholly unknown, and 
 that I mav ict it moft clearly before their Eyes, that 
 the faid Waters are mere true Fires ; I would per- 
 fwade them that for trial of the truth they would 
 put one little drop onely or one fmall piece of a 
 Grain upon their Tongues, and fee whether or no 
 they will not in lefs than a moment of time find, and 
 fay' that that Fire is hidden in the Water, and is juft 
 as if their Tongue had been touched with a Coal ot 
 Fire. But if they would fee the very flame it felf, 
 they may coagulate or concenter either both or ei 
 ther Liquor, either by Antimony or Lapis Calami- 
 varis, by which all Corrofives do chiefly love to be 
 concentred, and to put off their adjoined Waters. 
 Therefore when you have a mind to fee a flame 
 pour upon your concentrated acid Spirit, or on your 
 fixt Liquor of Niter, the pure Spirit of Wine, and 
 what is feparated from all Phlegm : By which pou- 
 ring on, the hidden Fire of the concentrated Niter, 
 will forthwith manifeft it felf, and will kindle and 
 burn up the Spirit of Wine. If he would yet farther 
 try the truth of this thing, let him fix Niter by Regu- 
 lus Martis, and coagulate it into a fiery Mafs, and 
 keep it in a ftrong earthen VeflTcl well fliut, that (6 
 the Air enter not therein, and that the Fire may 
 remain (b long hidden as he pleafeth. Now if he 
 would have it grow hot, let him pour in a litt'e 
 water into the VelTel, which done the hidden Fire 
 will become prefently manifeft, and make the Velfel 
 fa hot, that it cannot be held in ones hand : By 
 how much the more the Water is that is poured 
 thereupon, fb much the hotter the Vefl^el becomes, 
 (b that by the too much eftufion of water, there is 
 danger of the Vefliels breaking into Pieces. A mean 
 therefore is to be obferved in the pouring water on, 
 if you would have your VelTel endure the longer, 
 and give a lafting heat. This fecret doth not onely 
 teach the Miracles of Nature, but is likewife profi- 
 table for fuch as journey in the Winter Seafon, whe- 
 ther in a Wagon, or a Ship, day and night, in excec 
 ding cold Weather, for by the help of luch a Velfel 
 may they heat themlelves. For if they have a Vef 
 fel containing about one or two Pounds of this con- 
 centrated Fire, it will keep heat for 24 hours : And 
 fb in cafe of necelTuy fuch as Journey may have 
 with them greater and more Veflels, and not be 
 fcantied of this Fire. And if in the extremity of 
 cold they want water, they may heat the Veliel by 
 ftirring up the fame Fire with their own Urine. 
 How vil« fbever this fecret appears, yet lies there 
 
 in it a great myf^ery, ;ind what is ferving to true 
 Philofbphy, and in which fuch a Fire lies hid as was 
 buried by the Priefts, mentioned in the Alaccubees, 
 and after fonie hundreds of years again digged out 
 and found. For fuch a kind of Fire being fenced 
 againft the accefs of the Air, remains uncorrupt for 
 100, yea a thoufand years, and this verily is a thing 
 moft worthy of diligent conlideration. We have 
 by what has been faid fijfficiently demonftrated that 
 fixt Niter is a mere Fire, and that it maiiitefts it lelf 
 fb to be whenfcever any one is fo minded as to try. 
 The acid Liquor doth the fame, and hath a far dif- 
 ferent nature and property from the fixt Niter, the 
 which neverthelels doth alfo produce to light its 
 occult Fire according as the Artift pleafeth, and is 
 on this wife done. Dillblve in it Iron or Lapu Ca- 
 lamiThirts, and draw off the moilture by Fire, N. B. 
 You fhall have nothing elfe come over or e\faporate 
 fave onely a fvvect water void of all taft, and the 
 fiery part will concenter it felf in the Iron or in the 
 Lafis Calaminaris , and become a fiery and dry 
 Earth, the which being prcfcrved againft the ingiefs 
 of the Air, will remain dry, nor wiil it ever change 
 it felf into water. This fiery Spirit thus concentra- 
 ted in this Earth isfo burning hot, that if it be put to 
 the Tongue in no bigger a piece than a Hempfeed, 
 it will burn it juft as if you had touched it with 
 an hot Iron. And if you wouid have fire thereout 
 of, pour in fbme Spirit of Wine, and you fhall fee 
 the flame break out : But if you would warm your 
 felf with that heat, as we before fpake of in the fixe 
 Niter, then put in a few drops of water, which 
 done, the hidden and concentrated Fire will be- 
 come manifefted ( as in the fixt Niter ) and continue 
 a long while, if tfiere be not too much water pou- 
 red thereupon. If you would quench your Fire 
 and have the Veflel cool, then fliut it, and if you 
 I would have it again hot, then open it and pour on a 
 little water. Thus therefore fhalt thou have this 
 Fire moft ready for thy ufe whenfbeverthou haft a 
 mind to employ it. So then all thefe things do moft 
 I abundantly confirm that the acid Spirit of Niter is 
 la cold and hidden Fire, for if you pur into it a lit- 
 ! tie piece of Iron or Laps Calaminaris^ it will make the 
 glafs fo hot, that you cannot hold it in your hand. 
 '. We hereby learn that from this Original do the 
 Baths arife, and is thus. When an acid mineral Spi- 
 rit joins it felf in the Mountains to fbme Fountain of 
 fwcet Water, and doth together therewithal pafs 
 through fbme Mines of Laps Calaminay'is, or Iron, 
 it becometh fo hot that it breaks out like water hea- 
 ted in a Copper. Nor are Baths any vi/'here to be 
 found fave in Mountains, and in places that abound 
 with Laps Calaminaris or \ eins of Iron, as may be 
 feen in many places, but efpecially in that of ^ejuu 
 Gramm, where the moft curious or braveft Baths of 
 all Europe are found to be, and the Mountains that 
 lie round it do abound with Iron, and Lapis CaU- 
 mmaris. But as concerning thofe other profitable 
 and gallant Secrets, that lie hidden in this concen- 
 trated Fire, 'tis not expedient to fpeak of them here. 
 We have revealed to you enough already, and he 
 that learns nothing hencefrom, ihal! have nothing, 
 nor is it given him of God to know the unfearchable 
 properties of this Fire, and to open the Gate of true 
 Philofophy and Hermctical Medicine. Here then 
 the Son of Art fees what a concentrated Fire i.<! able 
 to etfeifl, and how its many vertues are as yet im- 
 peded by reafbn of the Earth, ( confifting of tHe 
 Iron Calamtndrti, and Antimony ) wherein it is in- 
 cluded 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spagj'rical Difpenfatory. 
 
 lis 
 
 eluded and hindered from anfvvering the event that 
 may be hoped for from it. For an impure body is 
 able even to make a pure Soul inhabiting in ic, igno- 
 ble and impure,, yea and plainly so kill it; and this 
 may beunderftood as well of Men as Minerals. Now 
 it may be eafily conjeilurcd what fuch a pure Soul, 
 and which is leparated from all Fa?ces is able to do. 
 Things incredible and almoft Divine may be etfected 
 by fiich a Fire. The Fire of common Wood and 
 Coals, if concentred will perform things wonderfull. 
 But I pray what then will the concentred Fire of 
 the Sun do, which is a thouland times purer than 
 that. Next after God, is the Sun, next the Sun the 
 Fire of Coals and Wood, is of all things in the whole 
 World, the moft noble. Were it lawful! openly 
 for me to declare my opinion of the Fire for the rude 
 and unskilful! to underftand, I (hould enlighten 
 many a dark Corner. For the Elementary Sun, which 
 beftows upon the whole World all Light,and all Life, 
 is nothing e!(e but the Garment and Covering as it 
 were of the omnipotent God. If then the Garment 
 and Covering be lb noble, fo efficacious, and (b po- 
 tent, in its Effence, how great then is and ever will 
 be the Majefty of God, that Eternal Light and Cen 
 ter of all Lights .'* We cannot fo much as look upon 
 that Garment, viz,, the Sun without hurting our 
 fight, nor fearch out its wonderful! virtues and pro- 
 perties by all our fpeculations, and as I may lay, 
 Philofophations. Why then are Men fo foolifh to 
 ipeak, and think fo lightly of God, and yet know 
 nothing of him ? Hence is it tliat almoft every 
 one feigns to himfelf a peculiar God, andworfliip- 
 peth and adoreth him, which horrid impiety, tlie 
 true and onely God abominates. The Ancient 
 Phyficians attributed the round fiery Sphere that 
 bath its rife from God, unto the Sun, and figured 
 it out by the fign of perfedion, wJi. a Circle with 
 a pnck in the middle, whereby the Center is deci- 
 phered. But feeing that in all things, the Center is 
 fer more noble and excellent than the circumference 
 it fe!f, which hath its birth from the Center, but 
 the circumference it fe!f doth by fo much the more 
 ditfer Irom the Center, and is more unequal to it, 
 by how much the farther ofFit is from it: And con- 
 trariwile, is to be judged fo much t!ie equaller to it, 
 by how much the nearer it approacheth thereunto: 
 What then (hail the prick in the Sun be, leemg that 
 the Sun it icK being but as the circumference to that 
 point, be fuch a moft nob'e and excellent Elfence P 
 What name fhall we call that point by :" To whom 
 is it lawful! thus to do, (viz,, to defcribe that name ' 
 in this perverle World '. I even conftrained, though 
 againft my will, to forbear farther difcourfing there- 
 abouts, and to refer it to my Treatile of the concen- ] 
 trating of the Heaven and the Earth. But thus 
 much I fay, that our Terreftrial Fire which we daily 
 make ufe of, is the firft degree of that Ladder where- 
 by we afcend to God, fo as to comprehend for lay 
 hold on) this omnipotency, to perceive and (earch 
 into it, to Love, Fear, Worfhip, and at laft to fee 
 andberendred (thiough Divine Grace J partaker 
 of the Divine Majefty: Seeing then that the com- 
 mon Fire and which every body knows is as I will 
 yet again fay, the tirft degree in that Scale or Lad- 
 der, whereby we may afcend to God and hisMyfte- 
 ries, an J yet the property thereof is fo much un- 
 known unto us : What I pray lliall we think then of 
 the fecond and tliird degree, the which we know 
 nothmg of, though we think our felves to know fo 
 much. 1 do therefore affirm here, and that boldly, 
 
 that our knowledge is as nothing, and there is not 
 one amongft many thoufariJs that knows the fecond, 
 (much lels rhe third) degree. But haply hereafter 
 I fhall fpeak and demonftrate more things of this 
 nature. 
 
 A Cordial and Comfortative to be ufsd m great and con- 
 tinual Difeafes. 
 
 TAKE the Flowers of Marjoram, S%e, Rofemary, 
 Mace, two ounces. Nutmegs, Cardamoms, 
 Zedoary, Galaogall, one ounce, chofen Cinamon 
 eight ounces, extract the Tin(ftiure with Spirit of 
 Wine, then difiblve in redified Spirit of Salt, and 
 which is acuated by an addition of Niter, one ounce 
 of Gold ; Pour this Solution to the Spirit of Wine, 
 which is impregnated with the Tindure of the 
 faid fimples, and put them to diftill in a Glafs Retort 
 in a dry B. There will firft come over the Aromati- 
 cal Spirit of Wine, not onely fweet but withall clear, 
 which when it begins to come white and troubled, 
 takeoff the Glafs that you received your Spirit in, 
 and put on another, and draw off all the moifture 
 in a gentle heat, till there comes out no more Spirit 
 of Wine, and an acid Water of an unpleafant Taft 
 follows. Then take out all the Fire from under your 
 Retort, that it may cool. In which ('when all is 
 cool) and t!ie Solution taken forth, you fhall find 
 the Oil of the Spices fwimming on the top, which is 
 as red as blood and is impregnated with the Tinc- 
 ture of tlie Gold : The which being leparated by a 
 feparating Glafs from the Spirit of the Salt, you 
 muft add to the Aromatiled Wine that came firft 
 over, which will prefently imbibe the faid Oil, and 
 be tinged with a moft curious red. As for the re- 
 maining Gold, which the Oil of the Spices harh not 
 attraded to it felf, you may precipitate into a tender 
 and bright Calx, and wafli it well with water and 
 add it to the Arcmatifed Spirit, and Oil with a fuffi- 
 cient quantity of Sugar Candy, that the Spirit may 
 be rendred fweet and pleafant. So fhall you have a 
 moft efficacious Atjua Vitte^ the which doth wonder- 
 fully corroborate and retrefh the Sick, in all kinds 
 of wcaknefles But this precipitation is not to be 
 made like as rhe common is, in which the Powders 
 that are precipitated do lole their Metalline form 
 as Gold, which being changed into a yellow Powder 
 is called fulminating Gold, and being put upon a 
 Plate, and heated, gives a noife like a Gun, the 
 found itgives isvery loud, and the blow ftrikcs down- 
 wards, fo that the bignefs of a fmall Pea being kind- 
 led in a filver Spoon will make a little hole But you 
 are to precipitate the Gold on fuch wife as that it may 
 retain a Metalline form, but fo tender and fine that 
 it may be well brooked even in the Eyes. Neither 
 muft all the Gold be precipirured, but onely the 
 moft noble part, and as it were its Soul, which as to 
 its colour is much fairer and fublimer than onrimon 
 Gold is. But the more vile part is to be feparated 
 by a peculiar precipitation, and to be reduced by 
 fulion. To this paic part is its former colour to be 
 reftored by Antimony, fo that no lofs may be made. 
 If then the former part being precipitated, is better 
 than pure common Gold, the latter part muft necef^ 
 farily be (being reduced by fufionj more vile, or 
 thus, if the latter be bafer than common pure Gold 
 the former fhall be better than it is, and will there- 
 fore be more profitable in Medicine, fbrafmuch as 
 it will (being digefted and confumed in the Sro- 
 machj dilplay its virtues, which the common filed 
 
 Gold. 
 
11^ 
 
 The Second Vnrt of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Gold, or yet the Leafc Gold will not do. I pur- 
 polely tried this matter, and found the things 
 1 tell you of, to be true. But if lb be as any doubt 
 ;is vet of this thing, concerning the firft precipita- 
 ted Gold as being the beft part thereof, and which 
 we bid you to add to the Aromatized Spirit, he may 
 melt it down with lome Borax, and compare it with 
 the latter precipitated Gold, and then he will eafily 
 perceixe the wide ditterence that is betwixt them. 
 The firft will as to its C(;lour, far exceed the Gold 
 of the beft Duckats or R')(e Noble, but the latter 
 will be far worfe. That firft being again dilTolved 
 and precipitated after a Philofbphical manner, that 
 half of it may again fettle down, it willbccomx more 
 noble, and again leave behind it a particle of pale 
 Gold. Which operation is verily moft worthy ad 
 miration, by the help whereof. Gold certainly may 
 te at length haply ib concentrated, as to be able 
 ( when reduced to the higheft nobility, colour, effi 
 cacy and vertue ) to give colour to the other metals, 
 and amend them. But this is not what I have hi 
 therto, for want of time, tried : But I hope { God 
 permitting me ) fhortly to (hew fuch a Gold to the 
 itudious of Art, (eeking after it merely for this caufe, 
 that I might thereof make an excellent medicine. 1 
 will treat more plainly and more fully in my fourth 
 part of the Profperity of Germa»y, concerning the 
 Artificial and Philofophical Concentration of Gold 
 and Silver into good Medicaments ; but that I may 
 here give the Lovers of Art lome Imall Teftimonv 
 howiucha precipitation may be etFected, take with 
 you thele few things. The precipitation may be 
 done as well in the dry as moift way, but there the j 
 moift way is ufed, which is requifite in the making j 
 of this Medicine, but yet it is troublefome and ha-i 
 zardoiis, becaule that fometimes the glafles break, 
 and the Gold falls amongft the Afhes. But the dry 
 wav and which is void of any danger, belongs not 
 to this place but to the fourth part of the Protperity 
 of my Countrey. 1 mention it for this end onelv, 
 that it may be feen and confidered, that it is poflible , 
 to make lome Separation in Gold as well as in the , 
 meaner metals. For he that knows how by the be •■ 
 ncfit of Art to make a Separation in fome metals of: 
 th.e bell part from the worft, hath a profitable j 
 amendment of the metal. We teach in the fecond 
 part of the Profperifv of Germany, how the volatile 
 and unripe Minerals,' may by Niter be reduced into I 
 malleable Meta's. In the third part we fhew thei 
 way of turning the common and imperfedt Metals' 
 into pcrfed Gold and Silver. Then at laft in the' 
 fourth part we Ihew by what means Gold and Silver 
 may be avanced into more than perfed Bodies and 
 appertaining to medicine; concerning which Sepa-l 
 ration more fha'l be fpoken in what next follows 
 Nor hath any one reafon to make any Scruple and 
 imagine that I contradivH; my felf, feeing that in the 
 aforefaid medicament 1 make ufe of precipitation and 
 tendtr Gold, and yet have openly in many places 
 fpoken the contrary, viz,, that corporeal Gold can 
 not be concocted and digcfted in the Stomach, and 
 this I have molt often tried. For the Gold which 
 we teach the precipitation of here is much better 
 and more noble than the common Gold, and upon 
 that accompt is not to be accompted of as corporeal, 
 but for the very Kernel, and Soul thereof as it were, 
 which being digefied in the Stomach of a man, dotli 
 produce its vertues into open light. N.B. That tht 
 laid golden .4(f. Vita being to be uled, you muff firli 
 Ihakc the glafs a little wherein it is kept, that lb the 
 
 moft lijbtil Attom-es of the Geld n ay ccnmix them- 
 felves with the Acf. Vita \ then afterwards feme few 
 drops of the lame according as the Perlbn and Di- 
 leale is, are to be adminiftred in Icme convenient 
 Vehicle. If you make trial with one or two fmall 
 drops, you Ihall experience its wonderfull heart 
 llrengthening Vertues, and its molt profitable ule in 
 all weaknelles. 
 
 Another Metallick Medicament f re fared by the help of 
 Nitre, out of a Vein of Lead containing Silver , and 
 mcjl profitable in all the Sicknejjes or Dijlempers of 
 tbii Brain. 
 
 TAke a Vein of Lead that is rich in Silver, nof 
 hath either Copper or Iron mi.xed with it, but 
 by how much the richer it is with Silver, lb much 
 the better and more beneficial is it for this work Se- 
 parate from this Vein all the Sulphureity or Brimfto- 
 nv ftinch by Nirer, according to the Spagyrical Art, 
 that lb the moft pure, moft fubtile, and moft highly 
 Volatile and fluid Mercurial part may remain. Walh 
 off the Niter as carefully as you can, and feparate it, 
 that a bright Ihow coloured heavy Powder may re- 
 main. This moft e.xceeding fluid and Volatile Pow- 
 der is the Macnry of Saturn, I, a, ;, 4, 5, even to 
 iz grains thereof, being adniiniftred in convenient 
 Vehicles, doth exceeding quickly yield help in all 
 grievous affects of the Brain, in the Pkgue, Pains of 
 Children that are troubled with Worms ; itquench- 
 eth all internal heat, and withholds the grofs Va- 
 pours from alcending up into the Brain, it opens all 
 the obftru(ftions of the Liver, exhilerates the melan- 
 choly, reftores the Lunatick, foolifh and phantaftick 
 Ingeny, efpecially if their Bodies be firft prepared 
 by my Antimonial Panacea. Nay more, thisCe- 
 phalick medicament will operate yet better, if after 
 the firft preparation by Niter it be again wafhed, 
 and made more lijbtil, yea and plainly fixed, that lb 
 it may exercile its vertues and power with the grea- 
 ter efficacy. Laft of all, it is yet rendered moft ef- 
 ficacious, if this Mercury of Sati^rn be in the laft 
 Operation driven over in a Retort and lo converted 
 into a Iweet Milk, demonftrating the truth of that 
 Philofbphica! faying. The Fire and Azoth do wajh 
 the Laton. Niter is the true Azoth of the Philolb- 
 phers, and befides it, is no other to be found : It is 
 the Scope of the wife men, the univcrfal Bath of 
 Metals ; The laid fvveet Milk may be coagulated, 
 and fi.xed into a tranfparenr and fluid Stone, which 
 again coagulateth and fixeth common purged Mer- 
 cury. But I have not as yet lo brought it to fuch 
 pals as to undergo Saturn's trial in the Cupel as they 
 call it; yet am I doing it, and hope to bring it to 
 pafs. But although the Stone is yet volatile, yec 
 doth it penetrate the imperfeil Metals as Man and 
 Venui, and makes them eafily fiuxible and volatile ; 
 but feeing it does lb now, what would it do were ic 
 reduced to a fixity, this any one may eafily conjec- 
 fure what effefts it would have. Haply this work 
 is not much different from the work of the little 
 Countreyman. But leeing that purification is not 
 different from this matter, we think it worth while 
 briefly to teach, whatit is, and in what it confifteth: 
 But principally becaule all my writings tend to this 
 end, VIZ,, the feparating of the pure from the im- 
 pure, from which ground have we given this Book 
 Its name. Few are they that know the way and 
 manner of Separations, and therefore we deem'd ic 
 highly necefl'ary to Ipeak lomewhat thereof in this 
 
 place.- 
 
part. 11. 
 
 the Spagj'rical Difpenfatoij 
 
 117 
 
 place. For all the Philofbphcrs do cry out with one 
 voice, make rhe fixe volatile, and the volatile fixt. 
 An hard and fixt thing doth by laying down its 
 Earth become fluid and volatiIe,and thisisaPhilolbphi 
 cal fcparation and operation ; after it comes fijblima- 
 lion and difhllation, by which a thing is yet again 
 made more pure,being feparatcd from itsgrofs Fseces 
 For by how much the oftner any thing is diftilled 
 orfublimed, (b much the purer doth it become, and 
 by how much the purer it is, lb much the more effi- 
 cacious and penetrative it is found to be. Now 
 again if the moft pure part of that thing be brought 
 to fuch a pafs as that it will refift the moft violent 
 and all things consuming forces of the Fire,every one 
 will eafily conjeifture what may be obtained by liich 
 like operations as thefe. Thefe things we have fpo 
 ken do (hew the metallick purification, ette(fted by 
 the benefit of the Spagyrical Art. The ablution 
 of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals is threefold ; 
 The firft wafhing carries olF by the help of Water 
 the adhering impurities , as Sand, Powder, and 
 Earth. The fecond (eparates the thin and watery 
 parts from the earthy ones, by dilhllation, and doth 
 the fame thing as fijblimation is known to do in the 
 lepararion of Metals. The third feparation is per 
 formed by the Fire, 'vtz, when the fubjed: that i.' 
 to be purified is made red hot in the Fire, that fo 
 thecombuftible Sulphur being inflamed may be con 
 fumed, the Mercury may go away in fume, and 
 the fixt Earth one'y with the Salt ftay behind, the 
 which is to beunderitood of Vegetables and Animals. 
 The cafe flands otherwife with the Metals, whofc 
 three principles are fb knit by nature with fb ftraighr 
 and radical a tie, into fuch an homogenial matter 
 andfo hard, that they very hardly admit of fepara 
 tion, but do either very flowly and by little and lit 
 tleafcend together by Cohobation, orelfe abide con 
 ilantly together in the bottom And albeit thatfome 
 black Aletal, be either by lublimation elevated into 
 Flores, or by calcination reduced into white Afhes, 
 yet after reduction the Metal is found to be as before 
 of the feme form, and endued with the fame pro- 
 perties, which it had before calcination, (b that thefe 
 operations do no ways defer ve the name of Philofo 
 phical Purgations. How many have deceived them 
 ielves, by thinking if they turned Mars into a red 
 Crccus they (hould therewithal make Lme fixt, not 
 confidering that that Crocus returns by redudlion to 
 its own former nature and Iron fhape. Common 
 Mercury is precipitated into a moft fair and moft red 
 Powder, and returncth by redudion to its firft run- 
 ning nature Saturn being calcined by common 
 Salt becomes red Powder, ut a Mmium, which being 
 reduced is the fame Black lead as it was before. Here 
 upon m.ay fuch an one be deservedly faid to wafh the 
 Black-moor that beftows his labour on this work. 
 The fame Saturv being waflied with Vinegar or any 
 other con ofive liquor, gives indeed a white Cerulc, 
 but it is but a borrowed colour, and he covers his 
 black body over with a white Robe, but yet for all 
 that is prefently difrobcd of the fame by Vulcmt -. 
 The true Philolbphers do nothing eft'eem of this fo- 
 phifiical Purification Sutton is by all the Philofo- 
 phers accounted for a black and leprous Gold, for 
 they openly fay, that there is in Saturn what the 
 Philofbphcrs feck : Read but Paracelftts his Book of the 
 ve.xation of the Alchvmifts, and there he mentions 
 more. Nor is it without caule that that old Symbol 
 or Proverb is uled amongft the Chymifts. The Fire 
 <?W Azoth ^ff 3iv;j/j Laton. Ax,!;t/} is Niter, and L<?- 
 
 rowfignifies the matterof the Stone. SomedoafcribeL<T- 
 ton to Saturn, I will forbear, onely thus much is 
 to beobferved,that the word Luton fignifies the matter 
 oftheStone,whichis to be wafliedby Az.oth or the yl- 
 Ci7M/wof the Philofbphers that is Niter. Verily I well 
 knowthatbefides the common 5ijn<r» and Antimony, 
 tliere is another, more eafily wafhed by Niter ; but be- 
 caufe we here treat of the Vulgar, or the firft Ens of 
 /.«OT,and thereducing it into a good Medicament by 
 Niter.wewillacquifcein what is already fpokcn,& put 
 off the explication of the faid matter to another place. 
 
 ^ Uterine afp-oi'ed Medicament. 
 
 FOrafmuchas I have hitherto taught the preparati- 
 on of fbme notably eliicacious Medicines by the 
 help of Niter, and yet have not in the mean while 
 made any mention of the Sicknelles familiar to the 
 Feminine Sex. 1 judged it wholly necelTary to help 
 this weak and infirm Sex (which is appointed for 
 the propagation of mankind) with lume fingular 
 Medicament : For fbefides thofe Difeales whereto 
 the Women are fubjed; as well as the Male Se-^) 
 they are yet atflided with many SickneOes that do 
 arife out of the Matrix, wherewith all as well Maids 
 as married Women, and thefe lalt alfc) are troubled 
 not onely before Child-bearing, but afterwards, ■viz.. 
 when the Matrix is not well purged after Child birth, 
 and fo begets various Sickneffes, Pains, Winds, In- 
 flammations, Suffocations, the afcendingof evil Va- 
 lours unto the Fleart, or elfe by obftruilion of the 
 Vlenftrues, do caufe a fwelling Belly, Weaknefs, 
 Debilitation of the Strength, a ftraightning of the 
 Heart and Brain, moft vehement Griefs, and laftly 
 Death it felf : Or elfe the Matrix may be moved out 
 of its place, in Childbirth, its Bonds broken, and 
 the Matrix it felf fo much repleated and debilitated 
 with overmuch moifture, that it has not fo much 
 power as to be put and retained firm in its due place, 
 butfomeare conftrained to leave it hanging out, to 
 their great detriment, and are extreamly tormented 
 with this fb great a detriment, the Matrix prefently 
 flips down out of the Body by either vehemently 
 walking, or any other violent motions, and are ne- 
 ceditated always to carry about them a peffary fra- 
 med to the intent of keeping the faid Matrix up in 
 their bodies, and that to their exceeding great trou- 
 ble. Now then for the meeting with, and refifting 
 thefe aforenamed and other fiich like difcommodites, 
 but efpecially fuch as are overwhelmed , as it were) 
 with them, I willfet down the way and manner of 
 fo doing. As concerning the Matrix and its Difeafes 
 which do arife after Childbirth, if fb be that the 
 Matrix be not rightly cleanfed, even the Women 
 themfelves know their own Remedies, and do for 
 that reafon plant thofe Herbs that are ufefull there- 
 unto in their own Gardens, or gather them in 
 a fitfeafbn and fb keep them by them, till they have 
 need to ufc them in expelling the remains and trafli 
 left after Childbirth : Such as thefe are Fulegium, or, 
 Penny-royal, iMother wort. Mug- wort. Savin, and 
 the like Herbs, which have a powerfuU expulfive 
 virtue, and there arc waters too in the Apothecaries 
 Shops diftilled to this intent, concerning which it is 
 needlefs to write any more in this place : Thus much 
 onely we would advife, that fiich Herbs and Species 
 as are ufed for fuch etfedts, are to be rendred firft 
 more f'ubtile by feparating the pure from the impure,, 
 that they may afterwards operate more fpeedily and 
 better. The which thing may be moft commodiouf- 
 ly done on fuch wife and manner as I have taught; 
 
 H h -and' 
 
ii8 
 
 Tbe Second ?nrt of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 and prefcriLeJ in the tirft Part of this Spagjrknl 
 Fhar-^acopiea concerning the Edences of Herbs. But 
 the obftruLTions of the Matrix, and ftoppage of the 
 Ahtil^rms are not [h eaflly unlocked by bare Medica- 
 ments thus barelv taken in, for they penetrate not 
 i;)far with their' Verrues, bur rather, as experience 
 teacheth, is effefled by fuch Medicaments as are ap- 
 plied beneath, and that more eafily, and Which we 
 have already mentioned in the Second Part ot the 
 Furnaces in the Ch of Spirit of Urine, where I have 
 inanilelled a peculiar inftrument by which (uch ne 
 cedary Medicaments may be intromitted into the 
 Matrix. I have thercwithall hitherto performed many 
 happy Cure?. Bur forafmuch as I have fince that 
 time found out a far fitter inftrument for fuch dileales, 
 I will clearly defcribe it for the fake, comfort, and 
 help, of (iich Women as are obedient to their Hus- 
 bands, and chaftly obferve the bands of Wedlock, 
 ^iz,. both how to prepare and how to apply the 
 fame. You are to get an Indrument made of good 
 Silver ( not of Copper) its figure to be round, and 
 like a fiiiall Cane, and fliut in the fore part, and to 
 be a litttle longer than a mans finger, and about that 
 bignefs ; You are likewife to get another a Uttle 
 fmaller (b as to go in:o the oehcr, which other or 
 bigger one mult have three little edges on its infide 
 all the length of it, thereby to keep the fmaller in 
 iirument about the back of a knifes breadth from each 
 lide of the bigger one, that fo it may not touch it. 
 In the hinder part let be a Cover made which may 
 fhut tlie Inftrument tight when the Medicine is pur 
 in, left the fpirirual vertue of the fame fly back out 
 of the body, and fb order it that it may perform its 
 operation on the Matrix through the Inftrument, 
 which is to be perforated (towards the top) with 
 holes. To the hinder part of this Inftrument let a 
 Thread be tied whereby it may be plucked out when 
 its operation is over : Therefore like as the difeafe is, 
 fo ftiall a fuicable Medicament ( and what is made 
 exceeding Spiritual) be applied : On this wife let a 
 Imall piece of fine Sponge be embibed therewithal), 
 and let the inner fmall Pipe be filled therewith, and 
 be (o put up to the Matrix. If the Menjirues be 
 obftrudced, then the moft approved remedy is the 
 concentrated Spirit of Urine, which by its liibtile, 
 penetrating, warming, mollifying, and opening ver- 
 tue opens the little Veins of the Matrix, and gives 
 an Exit to tiie obftrufted Mtnltme. But if the Ma- 
 trix labour not with thisdileafe, but is onely befieged 
 as it were with cold and tenacious humours, then 
 the hot and penetrating Oil of Tiles or Wax, redified 
 moft fubfilly, is to be applied , which being fineared 
 on (bme Sponge, is to be conveyed in by the Initru- 
 ment into the cold and watry Matrix, the which will 
 thereby be warmed, dried, and freed from the great- 
 ne(s of its moifture. But if fo be the Matrix fliall 
 be moved out of its place, or its cords broken, or 
 too much relaxed, or any other way atfeded, and (b 
 not be capable ot retaining the Matrix, and keeping 
 it from Hiding ("orch out ot the body ; Then muft a- 
 ftringent things be ufed, which may conftringe the 
 too much loolened bands , and may heal and tie the 
 Matrix again in its due place, and ftrengthen it. Such 
 as x\\<i\Q arc the d.ftilled Oils out of mens hair, out of 
 t4ie Wool of Sheep, and lijch-like Animals, out of the 
 Horns of Goats, C!aws of wild Beafts, and Feathers 
 of wild anu ravenous Birds, and (iich-like things, 
 which beiiv-^ laid upon the Coa's, do draw themtelvcs 
 up together, and do by that contradlion (hew to us 
 as it Were their ufe. Bat the manner of diftilling and 
 
 redtifying thefe Oils we have already taught in the 
 Second Part of our Furnaces, (b that it is plainly 
 needlefs to repeat the (ame in this place. I fay, and 
 that truely, that if fb be that theie three kinds of 
 Medicaments be rightly applied in thole three attecls 
 of the Matrix, that they will perform things even 
 wonderfull, and many pious Mothers might be pie- 
 ferved (bund, a longer time amongft their poor Chil- 
 dren, were they but helpd by fuch remedies. Fot 
 it cannot be that much help fliould be brought to 
 the fick and hurt Matrix by the Potions that are 
 drunk of, or the hylterial watry Medidncs that are 
 injedled by a Syringe For fuch Medicaments as are 
 taken in at the mouth cannot penetrate with their 
 Vertues home to the Matrix, fi) as to help it, to open, 
 to purge, and to heal it, or to heal the diliblved and 
 relaxed bands And as for Waters and Decodlions 
 that are applied beneath, and there injcftcd, they 
 prefently Aide out again, and do help the Matrix but 
 little, or nothing at all. But now thefe Oils of mine 
 and Spirits are commodioufly applied by means of 
 the Inflrument, and dilcharge their office moft effi- 
 cacioufly. But there is yet one thing necellary here 
 to advile you of, 'viz,. that fuch as defire to ufe the 
 Spirit of Urine, OilofTi'es, or Wax, or Oils out of 
 Horns, Hairs, or Feathers, for curing of the laid de- 
 fedts of the Matrix, do prepare them themfelves, or 
 commit them to fuch to prepare them, as are skilled 
 in the Art of diftillation, and verled in redlitying 
 (uch Spirits and Oils, thereby exalting them to the 
 higheft fubtilty. For if fb be that any would buy 
 in tome Apothecaries fliop , thofe things that he 
 knows not how they are prepared, and hap'y fuch 
 as are corrupted already , and not fit lor u(e , 
 will be grofly miftaken. For it is not fuflficient 
 ( if a thing is to be made u(e of) that it hath a 
 bare name onely, and be deftitute of the Vertues 
 themfelves, and which are no ways effedT:ual ) for 
 the (aid Sicknelies of the Matrix are here taught to 
 be cured not with corporeal, but with fpiritual and 
 efficacious Medicaments. It is therefore necefTarily 
 rcquilire, that the Medicines we have fpoken of, 'viz.. 
 thole Oils and Spirits, be excellently well prepared, 
 and fb as to exercile their Vertues by emitting or e- 
 jedling their invifible odour and vigour onely. The 
 Spirit of Urine is to be fb volatile and very fubtile, 
 as that it will vanifh away out of an opened glafs, 
 and therefore there needs a greater diligence in pre- 
 (erving and keeping it ; It is to be we!! pre(erved in 
 glalies dole ftopr,for if the Spirit vanifhethaway,there 
 remains onely an unprofitable Water void of all kind 
 of Vertues. I have therefore taught the making of 
 peculiar Glafles, which will not let go the Spirits, 
 the fhape of them are defcribed in the Second Part 
 of my C>hymiical Furnaces, in that place where I 
 treat of the Spirit of Urine. In like manner the (aid 
 Oils are to be well redlified, and to be made exceed- 
 ingly volatile, fo that being expofed fbme few hours 
 to the warm Air, they will vanifh away ; which if 
 they will not doe, neither will they eftedt ought I 
 muft needs confefs that all the time in which I 
 have lived, I never found a good Spirit of Urine , 
 nor well redtified Oil of Wax or Tiles. I will 
 fay nothing of the Spirits of Hairs, Horns, Fea- 
 thers or Quills ( for there's no u(e of them ) I 
 have indeed found amongft many, a bare worrhle(s, 
 faltifli Phlegm, but the very true Spirit of Urine it 
 felf I havenot met withall. The Oils of Tiles and 
 Wax are indeed found in all Apothecaries fhops, but 
 are for the molt part corrupted by their long lying, 
 
 and 
 
Part If. 
 
 the Spagjricnl Difpcnfaturj. 
 
 119 
 
 and arc old, rhickifli, red, tenacious, and deprived 
 of their due odour, are ftinking, and fpoilcd of all 
 their vertues. For 'tis very rare that luch Oils are 
 reftihed , but arc f()ld, fuch as they be, when they 
 come Krit our (.f'rhe Retort, with a faltifh kind of A- 
 crimony adjoined unto them, which in the reftifica- 
 tion abides in the bottom, and is at laft feparatcd 
 from thu' Oil Such Oils are rif no value, and apper- 
 tain not to this curing, fr.r they will do juft nothing ; 
 and thus much 1 could not omit advifing you of. Tor 
 haply when fbme (ick pcrfbn or other readeth here 
 in this my book, that fuch Oils do moft highly con- 
 duce to expell the faid defaults of the Matrix, and 
 \cz perceive no comfort or help by the ufe of them, 
 without doubt the fault will be laid on me, as that I 
 had wiitren a lie, and not upon the ill prepared Oils. 
 This therefore do I affirm, that except your Oils be 
 good, you wi'l never have from them the hoped for 
 event. And how ( indeed ) fhall the fick man know 
 if the Oils be good or not. The Merchant or Seller 
 of them won't confefs them to be old, ill prepared, 
 and deprived of their odour. So oft times the fault 
 is laid upon the Authour, and he's condemned for 
 writing unprofitable things, and which are not a- 
 greeab'e to the truth. But the fault verily can light 
 on none fave upon the Magiftrates, who (by wink- 
 ing at fuch things) do permit it. And when any 
 one goes to be furniflied with thefe things which are 
 requiiire, in fbme Apothecaries fhop, and the Apo 
 thecary haply fells but lew Wares, and all the refi 
 wax old as they lie, and are corrupted ; and if hap'y 
 Ibmetimes one or two fuch and fuch Simples or Me- 
 dicaments be fought for but once or twice,it may be, 
 in a whole year, lie delivers the things he has by him, 
 which if helplefs as to the fick buyer, yet are hel^ full 
 to the Apothecaries purfe But yet this is an unjuft 
 thing, and a thing contrary to the love that is due 
 unto our Neighbour , and what will burthen the 
 Confcience The fick man thirfting for help, puts 
 the hope of his he'p and comfort in the Medicine ex- 
 hibited him, which if not good the difeafe prevailing, 
 the lick man dyes, but had good and profitable Me 
 dicamcnts been ufed, inftcad of the unprofitable and 
 evil ones, he might have recovered. He therefore- 
 that is guilty of fuch evils, let him look to it, what 
 account he will at laft give unto God for his tranf 
 grelfion ; That which 1 have aforefaid, doe I again 
 repeat, and do yet firmly alledge, that the before- 
 mentioned Spirit of Urine, as likewife the Oils of 
 Tiles and Wax, and tin fe other Oils of Horns,Hairs, 
 and Feathers, and their moft efficacious Spirits may 
 be made ufe f)f in the expulfion of the atteits of the 
 Matrix u\ what kind fb'cver, both in the younger 
 Maids or Women, and in rhofe that are of riper 
 years, and that with moft high admiration. It is 
 therefore a juft and right thing that they fhou'd be 
 found in all the Apothecaries fliops, and that they 
 fhou'd all of them be prepared after a due manner. 
 For tliey are^ not onely good in thofe difeafes that 
 affliLl the Womb, but do likewiJe operate miracu- 
 loufly and doe things incredible in many other dif 
 eafes and aifetls of the Body if well antl rightly pre- 
 pared and duelv adminiftred inwardly and outward- 
 ly ; Concerning wh'ch we have written more at 
 large in the Second Part of the Furnaces, 'viz,, how 
 they are to be prepared and made ute of. Any one 
 that ii) endued with underltanding will perceive eafily 
 that a living Spirit is tar more efficacious than a 
 dead body and e.xanimated Carkafs. Forafmuch 
 therefore as you have here heard that fuch grievous 
 
 and incurable ( fo accounted at Icaft bv almoft all 
 Men ) dilcafes of the Matrix , by which fb many 
 Women arc (wept away without any help, are to 
 be cured by the alone application of fubti'e Spirits, 
 and fo few know the picparation of them, I will 
 teach for the fake of that weaker Sex a better and 
 more etfcdual .Medicine, and withall will prove it 
 by an e.vample, that all (ubtile Spajyrical Spirits 
 may be concentrated and augmented in their Ver- 
 tues by the help of Art, and that one Spirit hath the 
 power of concentrating another. And becaufe this 
 Treatife, ai^d all ihe Medicaments therein propotcd, 
 aim onely at this end, to ihtvj the wonderfull Ver- 
 tues of Niter ; Anil it hath been befides fhown, how 
 all the faid Medicaments ought, bv the help thereof, 
 to be prepared ; the lame ffiall likewife be done in 
 the demonftration of this Medicine. 
 
 I taught in the Second Part of my Furnaces to 
 prepare a Spirit of Urine and S,d Artmniack bv the 
 addition of Calcined Tartar ; But yet the already 
 concentrated Urine or Sd Armuniack may be mixed 
 with doub'e the quantity as its own weight is, of 
 fixed Niicr, and fo be diffilled, fbr fb rholc Spirits 
 will be more ftrong and more efficacious than if Tar- 
 tar were added unto them. And if the Oil of Tiles 
 or of Wax, which is made by the addition of Earth 
 fb heated as to imbibe the Oil or Wax, be yet 
 once more diftillcd by the concentrated 'Spirit of 
 Niter, It will be brought to the higheff fubtilty 
 and 'tis to be done after this following manner. 
 
 Diffblve in one pound of the Spirit of Niter, four 
 ounces of Ujus Calamwans : Put the Solution in a 
 Glafs-Vio! upon a vaporous or dry B, that the 
 Phlegm may evaporate by little and little ( for the 
 Lapu Cdawmaru holds all the Spirits, and permits 
 the Phlegm to go off) and the Spirit of Niter will 
 remain behind in the Vio] like Oil. Take one part 
 of this concentiated Spirit of Niter, and half a part 
 of Oil of Tiles or Wax, put thein both in a g'afs 
 Retort well luted, and force them out ( by a diftil- 
 lation in Sand) from the concentrated Spirit into a 
 great Receiver ; and by this operation it will be tar 
 more penetrative than ir was before For the Spi- 
 rit of Niter being by concentration bv the Cdarnina- 
 ris freed from all its Phlegm , and feeing it is there- 
 by become the more artraclive, and can find no- 
 thing elfe that it might attrart, it affociates to its felf 
 all the humidity that lies hidden in the Oil, and 
 which could not be feparated by the former diflilla- 
 tion , and hereby brings to pals that the Oil doth 
 neceiTarily become more fubtile and efficacious, vea 
 fo penetrative, as ihat it performeth wonderfull 
 things, efpccially in the elfeib of the Matrix , the 
 which nought but very fubtile Spirits can heal, and 
 which thofc concentrated Spirits are wont to do far 
 more certainly and fecurely than all the other Me- 
 dicaments in the whole world : After the fame 
 manner is the concentration and purification of the 
 other Oils to be performed. And now that none 
 might fcruple as to Waters being n^ixed with the 
 faid Oil or Wax, which have no affinitv with Wa- 
 ter, the reparation of which from the Oils, 1 have 
 here taught ; I would have fach an one to know, 
 that much f"atnefs,as the exprelied Oils of Vegetables 
 are iiever without an aqueous moifiure, though it be 
 invifible, and cannot be perceived. 1-or the fire can 
 make it manitcfi; by difiiilation : As for inffance ; 
 There's Oil olive, one pound. of which is wont to' 
 yield Ck or fevcn Lots of Acid Water bv diftiliation; 
 and thus do all O.ls, Wa.x,Turpenrine,'Rofin,Gums, 
 
 Pitch, 
 
120 
 
 The Second Van of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Pitch, Amber, and nil combuftiblefatnefTcs. Yea even ing third Treatife of this Spagjrtcal Pbartnacopaa 
 the very burning Spirit of Wine it felf, and fiich o- 1 more and eniinentcr Metallick Medicines, and 
 thers as are prepared of Vegetables, can never be | which are preparable by Niter : and this is done to 
 through! V rid of their Phlegm, unlels they be poured ' 
 on feme Calcined Salt , and (b rectified , they leave 
 their humidity therein, and become more fubtile. 
 
 But this is to be noted, that Ly how much the drier 
 and more attradlive that Salt fliall be, lb much the 
 readier will \i attradt the moiflure out of the winy 
 Spirit and hold it. Therefore the Salts of Vegeta- 
 bles, C:alcined Tartar, and principally fixed Niter, 
 Terve for fuch a redification. The other Corrofive 
 ■ Salts, as fixt Sal Armoniack, Calcined Vitriol, and 
 fuch like, do rather love to hold and retain the 
 Phlegm of their own peculiar Volatile Spirit than of 
 the Spirit of Wine. And thus much let fuffice as to 
 making lubti'e Oils more fubtile, that they may per- 
 form vvonderfuU things in Medicine. And now ha- 
 ving delcribtd in this my Second Part of jhe Sjagy 
 
 the intent, that every one may know, how wonder- 
 full and excellent a fubjed Niter is, the which is no- 
 tably hidden by the Antients , and never wont to 
 be called by its true name, bur by Enigmatical Rid- 
 dles. From hence has fprung up even inhnite names, 
 as, a dry water, a water not wetting the hands, an 
 Hermaphroditical Mercury, a Balneum Regnttn , the 
 Soap of the Wife men, the flying Dragon, the Urine 
 of Boys, a Dunghill, Azoth, the waflicr of Laton, 
 a moft fharp Vinegar, the Stygian-water, the Death 
 of the Living, the t.ife of the Dead, the Purgatory 
 oi' the imperfecl: Bodies, the Bafilisk, the forked Ser- 
 pent, the moft great Venome, the Venome of Herbs, 
 the Mettflriie of Women, and fuch like infinite names, 
 whereby thty have wrapped over its true hidden 
 name in Cimmerian darknelTes, but is now by me 
 
 rkal Pharmacopxa, fome of the moft neceffary Medi- j revealed, and is fer before the eyes of the whole 
 caments, that are preparable by Niter, and have i world, and it (hall farther be revealed and derecled 
 fhewed the way of ufing them, and which may fafe- lin the three remaining Treatifes of the Profperity of 
 ly be given in chief difeafes as well for prefervation 'Germany, which (hall very fhortly follow, and io its 
 
 ^ '' ^'' ' wonderfull power and moft efficacious vertues. 
 
 as cure : I coilkl to thefe add many more, and fo 
 encreafe the number of them But becaufe there are 
 not a few of fuch good kind of Medicaments in the 
 writing 1 have hitherto publifhed , viz,, in .the firft, 
 fecond, third, fourth, and fifth Part of the Furnaces, 
 in the Miraculum Miifitli; and in the Mineral-Book, 
 and there (hall yet follow more in the following third 
 Part in this Thannaccfaa Sfagyrica, in the Vegetable 
 work , as alfo in the fecond, ihird, and fourth Parts 
 of the Profperity of my Country, I judged it need- 
 lefs any longer to dwell on thefe here, but will onely 
 by way of conclufion, and for (as it were) orna- 
 ments fake, yet add one onely Medicament of Niter, 
 which will be none of the meaneft. But forafmuch 
 as this is not a common preparation , but compre- 
 hends in it great Myfteries, it ieems not good unto 
 me to fct down its preparation before the eyes of the 
 perveffe world. Let it therefore fuffice to give onely 
 ibme hint, that the Common Niter, which to our 
 Eyes appears moft white, doth contain in it a Soul 
 of a deep red Colour, which by the benefit of the 
 Vulcanick Art may be thence educed. For when 
 Ftdcan hath reduced that old Dragon, bound in 
 Chains, unto a moft high ftreight by his Iron and 
 fiery Mallet, and yet cannot plainly kill him ; Nep- 
 tune coming in to help, meets t!ie Bafiiisk with a clear 
 Looking-glals, and turns on him his own peculiar 
 poifon, and lb Hays him. As fbon as he begins to 
 die, and cealerh to vomit forth fire , Neptune laying 
 alide all fear, approachcth boldly near him, and puts 
 a Sheepsskin over his Jaws, and receives his Bloud 
 and Soul, and precipitates it into the Saltfea, where- 
 in being drowned and choakcd, he lays otf all his 
 venome and all his filth, and is converted into a moft 
 fair and moft red Medicin.;. One onely drop of this 
 Soul of Niter can tinge an ordinary glafs full of Com- 
 mon water with a golden Colour. But he that can 
 turn this Bloud of the Dragon by the help of fire 
 into a firc-refifting Salamander, he may defervedly 
 be compared with the happy Jafon, and obtain moft 
 great Honours, Treafures, and Riches. From all 
 theie things may a thidious Artift cafily fee what 
 Myfteries lie hid in Niter. The things which I have 
 hitherto defcribed are onely as it were flnall fpark- 
 hngs of thofe kinds of Myfteries that lie hidden in 
 Niter. There fhall he defcribed in the fourth Part 
 pf the Prol]>eriry of my Country, and in the follow- 
 
 which it performeth in the bettering of Metals , 
 and in preparing Aletalline Medicaments may be 
 manitefted and laid open before the whole world. 
 I will not onely declare this in writing, but alfo will 
 ( God permitting ) very fhortly (hew, even manu- 
 ally and in very deed in a convenient Laboratory, 
 the making and ufe of all my Furnaces, hitherto 
 publifhed in my writings, and the preparation of 
 many excellent Medicines, as alfo the truth of the 
 metalick Tranfmutation. Nor will I do thus to the 
 end that I may advance my own profit, but will ra- 
 ther do it for this intent, vtz. that the health and 
 fafety of many thoufands may be provided for that 
 are afflicfled with various ficknefies, and that the 
 whole World may fee, believe and confefs, that the 
 Tranfinutation of Metals by the abject Niter may 
 be effected. But becaufe in fuch a like demonftrari- 
 on, if the Laboratory be frequented but for one 
 years fpace onely, and daily laboured in, and the 
 confeding of lb many Medicaments be fhown, fuch 
 a great quantity of various Medicaments as I (hall 
 have by me, cannot be all ufed by my felf, nor can 
 thev be of any ufe if laid up, and therefore they 
 (hail be fold to any one for a fmall and vile price, 
 that fo they may each that needs them ufe them in 
 their neceflity. It is not Covetoufhefs that driveth 
 us thus to doe, thinking thereby to get great riches, 
 but onely to get juft as much as may ferve to pay 
 for all the necelFary matters, as Coals, Glalfes, and 
 other things. So then by this fo good and laudable 
 a work, there will not onely be laid open to the 
 whole vv-orld, the occult Myfteries of Nature, to the 
 honour of God : But withall,the moft miferab!e poor 
 Sick will eafily obtain good Medicaments, and reco- 
 ver their former health. Nay farther, not a few of 
 fuch as have been in want will be able by the moft 
 profitable ufe of Niter in tranfinuting the inferiour 
 Metals into better, be able to fuftain thcmfelves bet- 
 ter and more quietly. But that the whole world 
 may fee and confider that my own peculiar profit 
 and gain is not fought, but that my Neighbours pro- 
 lit is out of a Chriftian alfedion onely aimed at, there" 
 fliall be adjoined at the end of the following third 
 Fart, the price of every Medicament ; from whence 
 every one may eafily conjedure, that there is not 
 cxpeded any gain or large profit, tut onely the re- 
 
 covering 
 
Part il. 
 
 the Spagyncal Difpenfhtorj. 
 
 121 
 
 recovering of mvd'isburfements; feeineno one is to be 
 found who, bellowing great cofts in teaching others, 
 would willingly lofe both his Expences and Labour 
 too. 1 will with a willing mind teach others, but I 
 will not lay out my Money and run the hazard. 
 The World is wile enough, and great is the number 
 of thole fick peop'e that need help : And therefore 
 this publick Laboratory will ( by God's help ) be 
 able to bring abundance of profit to "all mankind ; 
 In this Laboratory there (hall be all the Furnaces 
 and all the Inftruments whereof I have made men- 
 tion in the Writings by me publifhed, but the refem- 
 blances of them not piiflured, becaule there's no oc- 
 cafion for that to be added ; And withall, thole Fur- 
 naces, Prclfes, and Inftrumcnts which we have men- 
 tioned or fhall mention in the hrft, fecond, third, and 
 fourth Part of the Prolperity of my Country, and in 
 
 the Vegetable work , and my other Writings iTiall 
 be there to be feen, the which certainly will be ex- 
 ceedingly he'pfull to moll men that abhor not to la- 
 bour, to procure them food and fuftenance in their 
 necefficy. 
 
 Furthermore, forafmucli as all my Writings hither- 
 to publifhed, are very negligently and faultily prin- 
 ted here and there by other men, ag^inff my know- 
 ledge. I will again lend them forth corrcT-ed, a- 
 mended, adorned, and encreafed with the hgurea 
 hitherto omitted. And this I was unVvilling to con- 
 ceal from the Lovers and Students of Arts. Here- 
 withall will I conclude this Second Part of my Sfa- 
 gyrtcal Difpenfatory, and fliortly add the Third Parr, 
 onely wifhing that this Work of mine may (erve for 
 the comfort and afliftance of very many fick per- 
 fbns. Amen. 
 
 The End of the Second Fart. 
 
 THE 
 
 THIRD PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Spagyrical Pharmacopoea. 
 
 Wherein is taught, how by Salt and Fire, the Vegetables, 
 
 Animals and Minerals may by a Spagpical w2Ly and method be Mandified, 
 and how from them , Medicaments wonderfully penetrating and moft 
 fpeedily operating may be prepared. 
 
 Sfor the manner of reducing Vegetables, A- 
 nimals, and Minerals, by Diftillation into 
 good and pure Medicaments, by the help 
 of the Spirits of Salt, thus flands the cafe : The 
 manner and way of diftilling Vegetables, Animals, 
 or Minerals per fe, after the common manner or 
 way into Oil, Spirit, and Volatile Salt either in a B. 
 Sand, or naked Fire, which hath been long ago, and 
 alfo is at this day in much ufe, I cannot in all re- 
 fpeds commend, becaufe that fuch Spirits, Oils, and 
 Volatile Salts, ( whether from Animals, or Vegeta- 
 bles) do all of them flink, and though they be often 
 retlified, yet do they not totally lofe that innate 
 ilink gotten in their Diftillation , but do always re 
 tain a kind of an ungratefull Empireum, and are 
 tnereby loathfome to the Sick (and that not without 
 caufe too) whereas othcrwife they have abuncjance 
 of virtues ; but being redified with Spirit of Salt (as 
 I have taught in the fecond Pare of my Furnaces) 
 
 they become pure, and loling their ftinch are grate- 
 full and acceptable, but not at all fo without that rec- 
 tification. Now all Men know, efpecially the Spagy- 
 rifts, that the chief virtues of Vegetables and Animals 
 are placed in their Oils and Volatile Salts, (for you 
 muff note that in Minerals the contrary is found, 
 for their mercurial parts are moft virtuous) but both 
 Oil and Salt do in diftilling by a Retort pals over 
 aduft or burnt, and therefore are not made ufe of, 
 and (the mores the pity) are ferviceable to none. 
 For all fuch as diftill the'Oils of Vegetables, by the 
 appolition of common water, in Copper Stills, do 
 know how very little a Porrion is obtained by fuch 
 a procefs, and that the greateff part of them (Oils ) 
 do abide in the Still, and are of no profit, becaufe 
 common water can't be made hot enough, tQ^drive 
 out the fatnefs, but it gives onely fome little portion, 
 the refidueis made thick and tenacious by the boi- 
 ling, and remaineth in the Herbs : Hereupon Ibme 
 
 I J Men 
 
122 
 
 The Second F/irt of 
 
 Van II. 
 
 Men knowing this thmy, do add to tlie Herbs com- 
 iTinn Salt, and Tartar of Wine, whereby the water 
 being rcndteJ 
 
 Oil 
 
 one degree hotter, gives more 
 This is a wav that I do indeed approve of, but yet 
 the one half part of the Oil will not afcend,and there- 
 fore diftilled Oils are commonly very dear, efpeci- 
 ally if made out of dear things. Whereas if the 
 Oils were dillilled by this method of mine, they 
 would have much more Oil, whereby the poor 
 might alfo buy them. I will inftance in one fimilitude 
 whereby it flii^ii appear, what great profit may be 
 made by diftilling of Oils according to my method, 
 and what a vaft difference there is betwixt my me- 
 thod here defcribed, and the common uliial way. 
 Suppcfe therefore that I fcek after an excellent Me- 
 dicine for the Stone, and that 1 do certainly know 
 that it lies in the Afli, (as I have clearly enough di(- 
 covered in the firft and fecond part of this Sfngjncal 
 Vharmacopoen, certainly knowing, that the Oil diftil- 
 led out of its Seed doth (by manifold experience) 
 far exceed all other Medicaments sg^inft the Stone,; 
 This A(h indeed yields a prety quantity of Seed, but 
 much of that Seed yields but very little Oil, becaule 
 'tis rcfmous, and doth not diftill over with the wa- 
 ter, and upon that account is prepared but by a 
 few, and fuch poor Men as are fick, can't partake 
 of it becaufe of its dearnefs, and this is much to be 
 bewailed, that the Omnipotent God fliould fet be- 
 fore our Eyes this Medicine in fuch plenty and yet 
 no body enioy it. Belldes this is to be obferved, 
 that if Ibme diligent Phyfician fhould diltill fuch an 
 Oil, and yet not know how to corretl it according 
 to my method, he may fometimes do more hurt 
 than good, becaufe that Oil brings over with it a 
 certain volatile Salt, which (infefts or works on) the 
 Copper VelTel it is dillilled in, and the Copper re- 
 frigeratory which it paflTeth through, and is ufually 
 thereby rendred yellowifh, or green, and hath been 
 by many difcreet 'Men made u(e of without any re- 
 gard thereunto, and (by realon of the Copper) hath 
 put a naulcate and debility of Stomach upon the 
 Sick, and hath been more hurtfull than beneficial. 
 But now if they had redified it with Spirit of Salt 
 once, or at Icait well fliook it in a Glafs with the 
 (aid Salt Spirit, that fo the Copper might have been 
 extraded bv the Spirit of Salt, and lb have adminil 
 tred it, they had done well, and would have gotten 
 a mof> excellent Medicine, though 1 confeft fome- 
 what dciu", (proceeding this way) becaufe that a 
 Sacktull of the Seed, and as much as a Porter can 
 carry at once, will fcarce give two ounces of Oil, 
 and this is too dear for the Poor Man's Purfe. 
 
 For the lake therefore of all fick People as well 
 Poor as Rich, I will difcover my way that I ufe in 
 getting the Oils, Spirits, and Volatile Salts out of all 
 the Vegetables, and that in good quantity, and with 
 very (mall Cofts, that fo all Men may partake of 
 the gifts of God, and may all have occafion of gi- 
 ving thanks to the Creator of all good things. 
 
 Take therefore in Gods name whatfoever Vegeta- 
 ble you lift, and fill a great Glafs Retort therewith- 
 all, and by degrees diftill over all that will come. 
 Separate the Oil from the Spirit, and the Spirit by 
 reftification from the Volatile Salt ; rectilie alfo this 
 Volatile Salt, and the Spirit upon its own Caput 
 Mart, or upon fome other Salt of Afhes being firft 
 fired and calcined, and fb they will become pure 
 and lote that fetid iVmch that they got in the Diftil- 
 lation : If one rectification is not enough, add a fe 
 
 ion the fixed Salt of tliat Herb out of which you 
 drew the Spirit. Now though the Oil be alio depu- 
 ; rated by a reiftification upon the Cafut Men. yet 
 ' that depuration antl reiftification is not comparable 
 1 to this of mine which i mention here, and therefore 
 well do we prefer this way, and 'tis thus. 
 
 Take your black diftilled Oil, put it in a Glafs 
 Retort with fix or feven times as much rectified 
 Spirit of tSalr, and give firft a gentle Fire, then a 
 greater as the thing requires, fo the Oil will pafs 
 over pure with the Spirit of Salt, and the ftinch to- 
 gether with the blacknefs, will ftay behind with a 
 part of the Spirit of Salt. If now you will have that 
 Oil yet purer, then redifie it again with new Spi- 
 rit of Salt until] both the Odour and Colour thereof 
 pleafe you. As for the Oil that Hayed behind and 
 did not afcend, fcparate it from the Spirit of Salt, 
 and 'twill be fbmewhat thickifli like to a black Bal- 
 fam, and hath great virtue both inwardly and out- 
 wardlv, but its inward ufe we need not, for we 
 have enough of the pure Oil for that purpofe. But 
 that I may be yet farther ferviceablc to my Neigh- 
 Lour, and that he may underftand me more there- 
 by, 1 will make u(e of this fimilitude or example. 
 Put cafe, that I have fome four, five, or fix pounds 
 of the Seed of the Afh, which falls from the Trees 
 in the Month o^ Seft ember or October, I do fill a Re- 
 tort with the fame and by it diftill the faid Seeds, 
 and I ufually have about one or two, fometimes 
 three, four, five, or fix drams of black Oil, fome 
 ounces of Volatile Salt, and fome pounds of Acid 
 Spirit : Now forafmuch as I feck for the Oil onely, 
 I feparate this from the Spirit, and re(ftifie it with 
 Spirit of Salt untill it becomes pure, and this I keep 
 for my ufe ; and I make of the Spirit cither a certain 
 EfTence, as I have taught in the firft part of my 
 Tharmacofcca, or fugercd Tablets, (or Lozenges) or 
 what I pleafe : And by this way do I get more Oil 
 out of five or fix pound of the Seed of the Trees, 
 than otherwife by the I'ejlca or common hot Still, 
 out of loo pound, and that which remaineth after 
 reiftifying is profitable tor external ufes, if it be pre- 
 pared as follows, "jiz,. Separate this thick Oil from 
 the Spirit of Salt and mix it with Wax, that i'o ic 
 may be made fomewhat thicker, fb as to be fpread 
 like an Emplaifter, the which put upon the Reins, 
 and ufe the diftilled Oil invvardly, and thus this 
 Emplaifter will perform as much outwardly as the 
 diftilled Oil operates inwardly, and fo the Patient is 
 thereby doubly repaired and helped Andifyoudefire 
 yet a third way of healing, then reCtifie the acid Spi- 
 rit well, and dillblve the V'^olatile Salt by fubliming ic 
 with the Spirit, and ufe this Spirit every day i befides 
 the inward ule of the diftilled Oil) on this wife: Heat 
 it. a li:tle,anddip initfbmeLinnen Cloathsand there- 
 with wafh or bath the Back and Reins putting on the 
 Emplaifter afterwards, and hereby the Sick Perfbn 
 will in a fhort time (unlefs God doth in a fingular 
 manner put a flop thereto) certainly recover. 
 
 Note well, after this manner may you diftill all 
 other Vegetables into Oils, Spirits, and Emplaifters, 
 and make ufe of them in this Difeafe, fuch as are 
 Saxifrage, Parfly, Cumin, Carraways, and fuch 
 like other Herbs and Roots : Neither is it always 
 neceflary to have the Afh Seed, unlefs you pleafe : 
 For that this Tree is not to be had in all places, and 
 it yields alfb at fome Sealbns but little Seed .■' N. B. 
 Here fome may demand and fay, you have taught 
 us the manner of preparing Oils, Spirits, and Bal- 
 
 cond or a third, always provided that it be done ; fams out of the Seeds, but now if fuch 
 
 a Medicine 
 could 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagjrical Difpenfatory. 
 
 123 
 
 could be made ouc of the Herbs it would be fbnie- 
 thing, for whence fhalllbmuch Seed be had .-' I An 
 fwer. It'thou ha:t not fb much Seed, thou may'lt 
 make the Medicine out of the whole Plane, as the 
 Root, Stalk, Flowers, and Leaves : And the reafbn 
 why I mentioned onely Seed, was this, becaufethe 
 chiefvirtue ofall the VegetableSjis occultly placed and 
 concentrated in the Seed, elfe the whole Plant may 
 (as atorefaid) be made ufe of, which although it 
 yi-ld not fo much Oil as the Seed does, yet may we 
 even this way receive a good quantity : And if we 
 iliould neither take Seed, Herb, Leaves, or Stalks, 
 3'et would the Root alone afford much Oil ; bis t in 
 Trees, as in Afh, Linden, Nut, Cherry, Peach, 
 and the like, the very bare Wood itfelf will abun- 
 dantly fupply, if diftilled per Jefcenfitm,or by a Fire of 
 fuppreffion fof which afore,) fo that a little Afh if 
 rightly handled may atford you fbme pounds. 
 
 Nor are you to fuppofe that this way of plentiful- 
 ly preparing the Oils of Vegetables and clarifying 
 them by Spirit of Salt, ferves onely for fuch Vegeta- 
 bles as are good againft the Stone, becaufe I have 
 onely inftanced them as examples; No, but even 
 all Vegetables, ferving for every Difeafe, may be 
 by this aforefhown way reduced into moft fweet 
 Medicaments. Nay not onely Vegetables may, but 
 alio Animals and Minerals too, but with fome dif 
 ference and difliniflion, which we fhall mention in 
 what follows. 
 
 I'here remains yet one thing more to be menti- 
 oned about the Oils of Vegetables," and the DilHlla- 
 rion of them, and 'tis this. Some or other may re- 
 ply and (ay, that haply fuch Oils as are prepared 
 firft by a Retort and per defcenfum, and then redified 
 and clarified by Spirit of Salt, are not equivalent in 
 their virtues to thofe which are diftilleJ in a Copper 
 by the help of Water. For prevention of this Quse- 
 ry, and the removal of fuch needlefs cares, we do 
 in the firft place demand, in what the virtues of the 
 Animals and Vegetables do confift, whether or no 
 in their connate and occult property, or in the O- 
 dour. Savour, and Taft. For anfwer, the greareft 
 virtue of moft Herbs, and living Creatures doth for 
 the moft and greateft part confift in their Co-nate or 
 Coborn nature and property, and not in the Odour 
 or Savour, as is fufficiently evident in fome Plants, 
 which have fcarce any Odour or Savour, and yet 
 are found notably efficacious in Medicine, and Ibme 
 there are both of a fweet Odour and Savour, which 
 have no Medicinal ufe, and fbme that have an un- 
 gratefull Odour and Savour, and yet have no mean 
 Medicinal Virtues. And many there be of things 
 which both finell and taft fweet, and are alfb profi- 
 table in medicine, becaufe God hath created them 
 fo or to that intent. I muft needs confefs that fbme- 
 times an Odour or Savour of fuch an Herb as hath 
 but little virtue is notably refrefhing and comforta 
 ble to the Vital Spirit, nay more, the very feeing of 
 a fair and comely thing is capable of comforting the 
 Heart, and an ugly thing of debilitating it ; a nota- 
 ble example hereof we have in a friendly man, and 
 in Gold, as being things which by the very beho! 
 ding of t .eni do refreih the Heart, whereas contra 
 riwife, an angry man, and a venemous Creature do 
 terrifie it, ^--jiz.. the Heart) and as 'twere make it 
 Sick, yea and fbmetimes kill outright. Belides, 'not 
 onely the feeing of fuch and fuch objedls do profit 
 or hurt, but even the very voice of a man, or 0* a 
 living Creature do hurt, weaken, and kill, if pro- 
 ceeding from a malignity. Farther, the bare ima- 
 
 gination can elFecT: good or evil, heal or hurt ; but 
 this belongs not to this place, but fuch things are 
 treated of in my fliort Trearife of things narura"! and 
 fupernatural. That which I have here fpoken is to 
 this end, that the unskilfull might know, that the 
 virtues of Vcvctables do ccjnlift more in their Co be r.T 
 Nature than in the Savour orOdour,and that this Dif- 
 iillation by a Retort, and redlificaron bv Spirit of 
 Salt, can neitiier add to or diminifh from their vir- 
 tues, becaufe their virtue remains always unhurt, in 
 what manner fbcver the Diftillation be made, provi- 
 ded that that which is diitilled be diligently depura- 
 ted, and all the ungratefulnefs removed therefrom 
 which it got in the operation, that is to fay, when 
 Oils are aduft (ov Savour of burning) by their 
 beingdiftilled in a Retort, then that accident may 
 be taken away from them by rc»ftification with Spi- 
 rit of Salt, and this now I add for the fake of the 
 Ignorant. 
 
 Moreover as it is with Vegetables, fo likewife muft 
 you order your diftillation of the Oil, Salt, and Spi- 
 rit of Animals.- Neither need you to proceed farther 
 or otherwife. As for the Vertues of both Animals 
 and Vegetables, the Phyfician ought to know them 
 by their Signature, and not by the books of Writers, 
 becaufe the Signature doth (hew us the Vertues of 
 all things much clearer and righter than many Wri- 
 ters, who write many things meerly from hear fay, 
 whenas themfelves do in truth know very little or 
 nothing at al'. And thus for this time I omit te fay 
 any more, for that the prefent occafion will not ad- 
 mit of a more prolix difcourfe hereabouts. What I 
 have done is for the Sick that are poor, that they 
 might know my method of purifying the Spirits of 
 the Acid Salts from Vegetables or Animals, by Sj)iric 
 of Salt, and oi' bringing them into wholfome Medi- 
 caments : And this cannot be accomplifhed fb plen- 
 tifully without this Medium ; and now this way be- 
 ing fhown, the Poor may alfo enjoy the benefit of 
 them , and be able to pay the Apothecary, whenas 
 before even the Rich could hardly have any of the 
 good ( in them ) Note well, you are yet farther to 
 obferve, that indeed the Animals are firft to be di- 
 ftilled by a Retort (as we fpake before concerning 
 the Vegetables) that fo their Oil, Spirit, and Vola- 
 tile Salt, may pafs over together ; and their Spirit 
 and Volatile Salt may be rectified and purified the 
 aforefaid way. But the Oil will not come over by a 
 bare Spirit of Common Salt, or of Niter, but that Spi- 
 rit muft be firft concentrated with CaUrmnaris, and 
 then it brings over the Oils of Animals, dfe not. 
 But as touching the Concentration of the Acid Spi- 
 rit for this rectification, we (hall fpeak of it anon, 
 and will therefore firft fet down ( tor better inftruc- 
 tions fake) one certain proceft'of diftillation and 
 rectification, left any might err, and that all might 
 rightly apprehend my meaning ; and "tis this : Take 
 fbme pounds of Turpentine, diftill thence an Oil, 
 and the Fa?ces of the Turpentine will ftay behind. 
 This Oil though it be rendred by Diftillation purer 
 than 'twas before, yet it hath put on another nature 
 by means of the Fire, 'viz.. an hotter nature, and 
 therefore fervcth not (or every etfeft which the Tur- 
 pentine before ferved for, becaufe the Turpentine is 
 not very thick nor very thin, nor too hot or too 
 cold, nor too fubtile or too thick or grofs, but is of 
 
 a temperate eflence and property, which now by 
 
 Diftillation it poifeireth no longer, but, becaufe of its 
 
 ^heat and fubtilty, it is unufeful!. Well, what of all 
 
 'this .■■ Why fome or other might have objected tome 
 
 that 
 
124 
 
 The Third Vnrt of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 that indeed things are by diftillation rendred more 
 pureanJ (iibtile, but doe thereby get an hotter na- 
 tvire and vertuc , and tlierefore chat way of purify- 
 ing dorh not doe well in al! fubjeds. Well, to pre 
 vent this objeition , and that the diftilled Oils may 
 after their purification be reftored to the fame de- 
 gree of thicknefs, rarity or.thinnefs, colour or frigi 
 ditv, that they Frad before, and yet retain the purity 
 they got by 'diftilling •. the method is ealie, and is 
 thus done. ' Suppofe that Turpentine be ( as it is 
 Turpentine ) hot and fubtile in the firft degree, but 
 being diftilled it arrives to the third degree, and be- 
 ing reaiiied to the fourth. I muft now needs con- 
 fefs that that fubtile Oil is to be ufed onely in cold 
 atfefls, and in no others, whereas it might before 
 have been employed about other accidents. To this 
 I fay, and yield, that if it be proceeded with after 
 the common and known way, 'tis fo : But my way 
 is far otherwife to be reckoned of: For though here- 
 by the things diltilled doe, together with a purity, 
 get a rubti;e heat, and doe in feme operations become 
 too tliin and hot, yet in reclifying by the Acid Spirit, 
 fuch qualities are broken, divided and dilfipated, fo 
 that it is in part rendered of a like thicknefs and 
 tenacity as it was ac firft, and a part of it re 
 mains fiabtile. So that you may have out of one 
 (ijbjed, both thin, hot, thick and temperate parts to- 
 gether, bur both of thofe parts pure, as (hall be e- 
 vinced by this Example. 
 
 The Spirit of Salt, or of Niter is indeed inwardly 
 a mere Fire, but externally a mere Cold, by which 
 all thin things do ftift'en and wax hard. Therefore 
 as the dirtillation doth induce heat, expels and exte- 
 nuates, fo the reftification doth by the acid Spirit 
 compel or drive the flime inward, thickncth it, and 
 reduceth it into an equal temperature : For the Oil 
 in the firft diftillation is plainly hotter and fubtiller 
 both within and without, than 'twas before, but by 
 reclifying it with the acid Spirit, the moft fubtil part 
 comes over firft, then the middle part, and the thic- 
 keft refides in the bottom, which is of an equal de- 
 gree of heat and thicknefs as the Turpentine is, and 
 is as utefull both inwardly and outwardly as the 
 Turpentine it lelfis. And 1 have over and above 
 that middle Oil, and that moft fubtil Spirit burning 
 and penetrative, the which I can make ufe of for 
 thofe elfects, vvhicii require fuch fubtilty, orifUift, 
 thicken it with what 1 left remaining of it felf behind, 
 which is thick, but yet purified, or elfe thicken it 
 with fome other convenient thing. And thus may I 
 reduce one Subje>fl into as many Degrees as Ipleafe, 
 whereas the Turpentine had before but onely one 
 Degree : From hence may the friendly Reader fee 
 what B^fts this my diftillation and reiftification by an 
 acid Spirit hath: Whereby not onely a great deal, 
 yea ;, 4, or 5 times more Oil comes over than 
 by the common hot Still ; but alfb the Volatile Salts 
 and the Spirits, and (harp Vinegars may be hereby 
 gotten out of Vegetables and Animals, and befides a 
 pretty quantity of thick Oil to be externally ufed, 
 and which otherwife in diftillation by v/ater in a 
 Vefica or hot Still, would remain wholly behind. The 
 benefit therefore of this diftillation and rectification, 
 doth not onely confift in the getting a far greater 
 quantity of the pure Oil, but alfo in getting the 
 Volatile Salt, 1 which as to its ufe is equivalent in 
 vertue to the Oil j and withal, an acid Spirit which 
 abundantly fufiiceth both inwardly and outwardly 
 according to its Office. 1 do therefore earncftly 
 demand of all skilful! Spagyrifts ( for 'tis in vain to 
 
 appeal to fiich as are yet ignorant what the Art of 
 Fire is) whether or no this diftillation is not-to be 
 preferred before the others, and to be made ufe of 
 tor the benefit of mankind. I hope that the well 
 minded Reader will follow this rule, and will appre- 
 hend from this one procefs onely, fo much as to be 
 afterwards eafily able to reduce every diftilled Oil 
 into its former hardnets, by the help of an acid Spi- 
 rit. Let us confider Amber onely, "tis indeed a fine 
 tranfparent kind of ftonc, which was before ( or ac 
 firft) foft and fluid as Turpentine was, an Oil or a 
 kintl of thin Bitumen, but now ib hardened by the 
 fait Water that it may be beaten to a Powder, yet 
 may it be diftilled and fo feparated and cleanfed 
 from its earthly Nature : And the pure Oil may be 
 reduced into its former hardnefs, by the help of Spi- 
 rit of Salt onelv : For it became at firft hardened by 
 Salt, when it flowed thin out of the Rock : But of this 
 enough, we fhall fay more of it in another place. 
 
 Now follows [he Procefs of purifying Minerals 
 by diftillation or fublimation, and of depurating them 
 even to the utmoft, by rectifying them by an Acid 
 Spirit. To exemplifie which, I will inftance in Com- 
 mon Sulphur, according to which rule the other 
 purification of Minerals may be inftituted. 
 
 Take common Brimftone, fliblime it the ufual w?y 
 into Flowers, or by it felf in a Coated glafs retort, 
 or let it be mixt with decrepitated Salt, for fb will it 
 be treed from its moft crude terreftreity, and be ren- 
 dered fit for a farther Mundification by an Acid Spi- 
 rit. Take one pound of thefe Flowers of Sulphur, 
 and put it into a ftrong Glafs Body coated , then 
 pour in one or two pounds of the Spirit of Niter, or 
 of common Salt, and place it in an Earthen-veflel in 
 Sand : Put there under a Fire, encreafing it gradu- 
 ally untill the Spirit of Salt boils in the Retort, and 
 the Sulphur melts, and there will fwim fomewhat 
 like Oil on the top of the Water : N. B. An Alem- 
 bick is to be put on the Body, left the Spirit of Sale 
 afcending up, goes away in funic; but in the Alera- 
 bick it will be refrigerated, condenfed, and may be 
 faved. This boiling is finifhed in fome five or fix 
 hours, and fb the Sulphur is mundified, and becomes 
 as clear and tranfparent as Glafs. For the Spirit of 
 Salt attradeth the Metalline Parts, which are in the 
 Sulphur, v/hether it be Copper, Arfenick, Auripig- 
 ment, Vitri,ol, or fuch-like impurities which are com- 
 monly adherent, and ftickers on to the Sulphur, and 
 would otherwife have remained in it, and done more 
 hurt in Medicine ; And this Pamceif/.'s knew, and 
 advifeth to beware of; For certain it is there lye 
 hidden in Sulphur incredible Vertues, and fuch as its 
 common Flowers do not fhew or difcover, as being 
 yet infeded with Mineral venenate Spirits, which 
 may be taken thencefiom by the 5'pirit of Salt. And 
 if then either the Flowers be fublimed out qi' it, or 
 that it be diflblved in a Balneum with Spirit of Juni- 
 per, or of Turpentine, or be by any other way re- 
 duced into a Liquid form, it doth much good in Me- 
 dicine, nor is there any more fear of its venomous 
 nature, for the Spirit of Salt hath took that away, 
 I could indeed iiere mention fome preparations of 
 Comn)on Sulphur, into efficacious Medicaments, but 
 that I have intended to proceed no farther with it 
 here, than onely as touching its purification by the 
 Spirit of Salt: the reft we will leave to another time. 
 
 As Sulphur may be proceeded with, fo likewite 
 may you deal with the other Minerals, and firfb 
 m.undifie them by a Retort, and diftill them into 
 black Oils, then may the Oils be clarified with Spi- 
 rit 
 
Part. II. 
 
 the Sfagjrical Difpenfatoij, 
 
 125 
 
 ric of Salr, and be reduced into fweet Oils and Bal- 
 fams. Nor will any man eafily believe what nota- 
 ble Vertiies there are hidden in the mountainous 
 and terreftrial Minerals, and yet not ufcfull at all 
 inwardly, becau(e of their Arsenical nature, which 
 may with ea(c be taken away from them by Spirit 
 of Salt, and be thereby more (ccurely ufed as to 
 Medicine. And had I not purpolely tried it, I would 
 not at all have written of it. For information there- 
 fore of the unexperienced , I will tell you a ftory, 
 whereby it will appear, that thofe Minerals do ulu- 
 ally lodge in them evil and venomous Arfenical Spi- 
 rits. 
 
 In the County or Province of Erhach, fcituate 
 between the Mene and Neker in Franconia, is found 
 plenty of a Sand knit as it veere together by a fluid 
 •Mineral, and grown together into huge heaps like 
 little Mountains of a duskifh colour ; which if you 
 lay on burning Coals, emits a fweet odour altoge- 
 ther like Amber. When I faw it, I put (bnie into 
 a Retort, and diflilled an Oil thencefrom, wholly 
 like the Oil of Amber both in colour and fmell, and 
 had u(ed it in its ftead, had I not fhortly after tried 
 another knack : For ordering the Chambers to be 
 • fumed with the Sand, becaufe it yielded (uch a fra- 
 grant odour , I very feafonably obfcrved that that 
 fume was unwhnlfome and venomous, for it caufed 
 pains of the Head, and a kind of liaufeate, 'twas alfo 
 ofFenfive to the Stomach, and this made me leave otf 
 my Fumigations, and fet about reftifying the Oil 
 thence diftilled, by the Spirit of Salt, aod by this 
 means I got a clear and pure Oil , and the Spirit of 
 Salt attracted to it felf the Arfenical Ellence, which 
 being purged and rectified, yielded me at the bot- 
 tom real Arfenick, whence 1 perceived that all thofe 
 Minerals are very Arfenical , and no ways fit 
 for internal ufe, unlefs they be firft mundified by 
 the Spirit of Salt. Many fuch kinds of Minerals are 
 to be found, which we neither care for, nor know: 
 fome of which are as hard as a Stone, fome thin,f6me ' 
 fluid like Oil ; fuch an one is that Fountain about 
 Baccharach that boils up in the middle of the Rh'me, 
 and fills the whole Rhine for about three miles fpace 
 and an half with its fatnefs, and yields a molt fra- 
 grant odour, is of a duskifh colour. For as I was 
 lerrying by it, I took xip iome of the water in my 
 hand, and queftionlefs the Fountain of it rnuft needs 
 flow very plentifully, forafmuch as the whole River 
 Rhine is filled therewith as far as you can fee, and 
 yet fcrarce one Man amongft a hundred or a thoufand 
 doe in their failing by it take notice thereof Doubt- 
 lefs this Fountain hath its efHux and rife out of the 
 Mountains which border on each fide the River. 
 Did it break out at the top of the Earth, it would 
 be worth Gold and Cedar, but lying fo deep, 'tis of 
 no ufe. Were curious Men inhabitants there, they 
 would doubtlefs find out this Fountain ; For on this 
 part of the Rhine, where the City BaccharachWes, 
 is a high Mountain, where grows pretious Wine, and 
 is in Foreign parts fold at a dear rate, becaufe of its 
 moft fweet favour and odour, and by the Inhabi- 
 tants is called Mufcadel, and 'tis a fort of Wine pro- 
 duced onely in this Mountain ; nor can the neigh- 
 bouring adjacent places make the like. Hence I prc- 
 fiime that this Fountain at Ltjccharach arifeth from a 
 Mineral Oil, flowing out from this Mountain into 
 the Rbme, and that hence alfo arifeth the goodnefs 
 of the Wine. And whereas this Mountain affords 
 not fuch a quantity of Wine as the Inhabitants 
 wifh, they bethought themfelves of a remedy for 
 
 this fcarcity, cafling in Ilerb-fcarlct into tlie common 
 Wine, from which it got the fame kind of tafle, and 
 became almoft Mufcadel. Nor It-t it fecm ftrange 
 to any one for the Wine to attra-fl a favour from the 
 Earth lying about it, for 'tis very certain, and I my 
 fclf have tried it ; And fince it is fo that this matter 
 affords mc opportunity of fpeaking of thefe things, 
 I will give you my opinion more clearly in what 
 follows. 
 
 Below Fmnkfurd, ff)me four miles from the River 
 Mxne, there lies a Village called '\hhenhenne under 
 the Moguntia Elciltor, and there's a Mountain which 
 yields very good Wine, though not of Id delicate a 
 favour as that of Baccbarach, vet 'tis of a fweet fmell, 
 whereby it exceeds all the Rhcnifh Wine , and is 
 therefore dear ; The caule of this, I attribute to the 
 Soil, in which the Vines grow, which Soil brings 
 fi^rth Stone Coals, and were heretofore digged hence, 
 and are now again fought after, which Coals have 
 in them a fweet Mineral Oil, as I (hall fliew you. 
 Farther, there lies a iiigh Mountain at the River 
 Mxne about the Cadle Kimgtnberg, fcituate between 
 OJenwall and SpeJJarc, where that Earth is found 
 too, fuch as I above mentioned , which yields a 
 fweet Oil in diftillation. And this Mountain doth 
 likewife produce fweet and good Wine, fo that it 
 yields not a whit ( in its kind ) to that of Baccharach 
 or Hohc77heime. But now whether or no the Mineral 
 Oil that is not far off to be here found, be wholly the 
 caufe, I doe not affirm, bur I believe it, for my part, 
 fo to be, let another follow his own opinion. There 
 is alfo a great Mountain at Herb/poUs, at the Steine fo 
 called, that yields pretious Wine, but not of a favour 
 like thefe three. Hence arofe that Proverb : At 
 Baccharach on the Rbeim , Herbifolis on the Stane , 
 Klingenberg on the Adoim , and Hocbheime on the 
 Rehn, are the four beft Wines. 
 
 I confefs there grows good Wine every-where on 
 the River Mocne, but yet thefe fcur do far exceed all 
 the others, and that haply becaufe of that fweet 
 favour which. they attract out of the Earth where 
 they grow. For it is certain that the Vine doth 
 draw an odour and favour ( more than all other 
 Plants do ) out of the Earth, whence it hath its nu- 
 triment : So that it is not very difficult for a good 
 Phyfician to communicate to the Vine any favour 
 that he lifteth ( which will be ) according to the 
 nutriment which is put to the Root. I make no 
 doubt but that there wi!l be fome Zoilifts that will 
 make a mock of thele Reafons of mine, as concern- 
 ing the ground and rife of the tafte of the Wine at 
 Bacchamch , Herbipolis , Klingenberg and Hocbheime^ 
 and will not attribute the caufe to the Soil, but fay 
 that my Reafons are invalid (hallow ones, the which 
 derifion 1 fhall patiently undergo : fuch kind of Men 
 will rather drink the good Wine even to e.xccfs, than 
 produce any reafons whence the favour proceeds.But 
 I (peak experimentally, and (ay that the Vines do at- 
 tract a (avour from the Soil whence they are planted, 
 the which 1 have many a time tried and found (b to 
 be. Verily the Gardiners know, that Man's dung 
 will give a nutriment or encrcafe to Flowers, but yec 
 will put an odd (iiiell upon them ; And therefore 
 do they carefully (hun the putting it to the Roots of 
 (weet-fmelling Flowers, but ufe ic rather to fuch as 
 are void of odour, as Tulips and fuch like, that (b 
 they may grow the fooner. 'Tis alfo evidently ob- 
 ferved, that if the Root of the Vine be planted in 
 (ijch a place where Man's dung lieth, it acquires an 
 unpleafant odour, and the Grapes are thereby rcn- 
 
 K k dered 
 
126 
 
 The Third Fart of 
 
 Part IL 
 
 tiered unfit to be eaten. Befides, the moft curious 
 Vine-dreliers have long ago attained to this experi- 
 ence, that if the Scarlca or any other odoriferous 
 Herb be apphed to the Root of the Vine, it will be- 
 llow its OJour on the Grapes, ( but it ferves for no 
 more years than that onely) whereas if they pour 
 upon the Root an Oil of a fweet and ftrong Odour, 
 that Vine will produce Mufcadel for ten years and 
 more, the which 1 have handled at large in the Ve 
 gerable work, and do mention it herein briefly upon 
 this account ; Becaufe that a Mineral Oil lies hid in 
 the Earth in abundance, the which being incorpo- 
 rated in Plants, but in Vines efpecialjy, pioduceth 
 excellent Fruits, whereof but a few Men have the 
 knowledge. 
 
 But now that I may yet demon Urate this more 
 clearly to the unskilfull, and confequently incredu- 
 lous, VIZ,, that there is a moft great (weetnefs in the 
 Minerals, which may here be extracted by diftillati- 
 on and rcdification with Spirit of Salt, I will inftance 
 this example : 'Tis weil known to all Men that the 
 Stone Coals which are in many places digged out of 
 the Earth, doe (being burnt) emit an ungratefull 
 Odour, and are hence ufiially efteemed of as veno- 
 mous ; but in rhofe places where they are plentifully 
 digged, they are daily ufed in codlion, nor doth any 
 hurt arile therefrom : So that it muft needs be ac- 
 knowledged, that they do not ftink of themfelves, 
 but that the Fire onely is the caufe of the ftink, and 
 that their innate fatnefs is of a favoury and fweet- 
 (melling nature, yea fo fweet as any Vegetable, as I 
 can ealily evidence. You have an Example in Rofes, 
 or any other Vegetable , which if diftilled by a Re- 
 tort, lofeth its fweet odour, and puts on a linell of 
 burning too : What hinders from being fo in Mine- 
 rals, as in Pit-Coals, and the like > I grant indeed, 
 that if enough Oil would come over out of the Ve- 
 getables by an hot Still , there would be no need of 
 this diftilling by a Retort, and reftifying by Spirit 
 of Salt, becaufe it requires a great deal of labour ; 
 but forafmuch as there doth not diftill enough over, 
 'twill behove us to acquiefcc in this method. Nor fear 
 I to affirm, that if it were poflible to diftill an Oil 
 out of fuch Coals by a hot Still, it would give place 
 to noAromatical Oil whatfi)ever in the fweetnefs of 
 the fmell. From whence, I pray, fhould fo many 
 kinds of Herbs draw fuch various Odours and Sa- 
 vours, were there not lying hid in the Earth an Uni- 
 verfal Sulphur or Ballam ? 
 
 But to put an end to this difcourfe, and that I may 
 fliew that the Pit Coals do contain in them an Oil 
 or pretious and wholfome Balfam, no whit inferiour 
 as to its Vertues to any of the moft pretious Oils or 
 Balfams brought us out of the Indies obferve but 
 this procefs. 
 
 Fill a Retort with Coals, and diftill a black Oil , 
 the which feparate from the Acid-water that came 
 over the Helm with it, and rcillifie it by Spirit of Salt, 
 and ib there will firft of all come the clear and pure 
 Oil, then a yellow Oil, not fo fweet as the former, 
 and the thick and black Oil remains behind, and 
 ferves for to be mixt with Emplaiflers ; for 'tis a 
 wonderfuU healer, by reafon of its innate ficcity ; 
 now the yellow Oil may be yet- farther reftified once 
 more by Spirit of Salt, that it may become pure, 
 white, and fair : But if you are yet farther minded 
 to make a ditference betwixt thefe pure Oils, and 
 will again reftifie them with new Spirit, then fhall 
 you take the moft pure part by it (elf, which as to 
 heat, fubtilty, and fweetneft, is fully equal to the 
 
 true Oil of Peter ; and which being kept apart, and 
 ufed for cold accidents, both inwardly and outward- 
 ly, will do the lame, yea and much more than is at- 
 tributed to the Oil of Peter. Nor is there any fear 
 at all of thefe Oils being Arfenical, for the Spirit uf 
 Salt hath took off all the Arfenick in the reftification, 
 and if you pleafe vou may ufe the Oil which comes 
 next after the molf fubtile Oil in mixing it with Bal- 
 fams, or it may be fafcly ufed by it felf, either in- 
 wardly or outwardly, and 'twill perform wonder- 
 full things, and fuch as exceed belief, forafmuch as 
 in Pit-Coals lieth a moft great BaUamick vertue ; If 
 the depurated Sulphur which we fpake of afore be 
 diliblved with this Oil, and reduced into a Balfam, 
 thou fhalt have a Medicament , which may dcler- 
 vedly be ftyled an Univerfal terreftrial Mineral Bal- 
 fam, and doth both as to inward and outward ufes 
 far exceed all other Balfams : And therefore "tis in 
 my mind to prepare this Balfam in great quantity, 
 for the benefit of Mankind : The moft notable Ver- 
 tues thereof fhould I defcribe, the very defcription 
 would amount to a particular Treatife, but that be- 
 longs not to this place , but it fufhceth me to have 
 at this time explained the manner of the preparation. 
 I may haply (if God p'eafe) more largely teach- 
 concerning its Vertuer, another time, as likevvila 
 the Vertues of the reft of my Medicines. 
 
 And thus will I put an end to the Third Part of . 
 my Pbarmacopcsa Sfagyrica, in which I have ( in my 
 opinion ) mentioned Ibfficient enough ; and although 
 it be but a (mall Book to fight, yet do great things 
 lie hidden under it, which one amongft a rhoufaod 
 will fcarce comprehend. But that the well-minded 
 Reader may underftand, what reality there is lies 
 hidden in this Treatife, I will here teach by way of 
 an Appendix one Procefs onely, whereby it ihall e- 
 vidently appear how noble the Art of Purging things 
 by diftillation is. This operation is well enough 
 known in the Vegetables and Animals, inz.. that al- 
 ways from the thing you diftill, the purer part comes 
 over (irft, then the more vi'e part, but the unprofi- 
 table earthine(s abides in the bottom with the fixed 
 Salt. Now in Metals this Procefs is not fb well 
 known, nor will it be fb fbon made publick and 
 common, nor indeed is it expedient, for this world 
 is not worthy the knowledge thereof. But that li 
 may fatisfie my promife, and fhew, that Metals may 
 by diftillation be made Spirits, and purged in the 
 higheft degree. I will make ufc of this following 
 Example : 'Tis known to every one, that it any 
 dry thing is to be diftilled by the fire, (ome moifture 
 muft be mingled therewithall, which may attraft to 
 it felf the grofs and heavy part, as you may fee in 
 the common diftillation of Herbs, to which Herbs 
 ( when dry ) Water is added , with which their fa- 
 vour and vertue diftilleth over : And to every dry 
 thing there is requifire its proper humidity, which 
 muft of neceffity have a Communion or Affinity 
 with the dry, if it be to bring over the dry with it 
 felf Now common Water is able to carry over (in 
 diftilling) the odour and favour of Flerbs, yea and 
 of Salts, but not of hard Sulphureous or Mercurial 
 Minerals, much lefs of the fixed Metals. But for- 
 afmuch as Metals are Homogeneal, and cannot be 
 purged by any force of Fire, nor (eparated from the 
 impure part, unlefs they be dilfolved by agreeable 
 and convenient Menjlrmmi, and be rendered apt by 
 diftillation, for always that which is brought into 
 Flores doth ( if reduced ; yield fuch a Metallick 
 
 body 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagjrical Difpenfatorj. 
 
 127 
 
 body as it at firft came from. Thence arofe an opi- 
 nion of an impoffibility of (eparating the pure part 
 from the impure. Indeed to the blockifh and un- 
 skilful! all things (eem impfiffible, and therefore from 
 them is no: to be lookt tor any judging of g^od fe- 
 crets. 
 
 But to return to my purpofe, and fhew that a 
 Golden Ellence may bediftilled and (eparatcd out of 
 the crude Metals by Diftillations, 1 will make ufe 
 of a common Example. Diflblve in a Common Ac^. 
 Fonts, made the ufual way of Niter and Vitriol, one 
 Ounce of pure Silver ; which being wholly dillblved 
 and reduced into pure Water, pour out the Solution 
 gently into another G'.afs, that fo if haplv any Gold 
 were mi.vt with your Siher it might fiay behind, and 
 not be diflolved, or mi.xed together, left the Experi- 
 ment prove fallacious. Then fbme common Salt is 
 to be diHbhed in common Water, the Salt to be in 
 weight equal to your Silver ; and this Water is to 
 be added to the diflolved Silver, aud to be (b long 
 poured out of oneGlafs into another' unriil it be well 
 mixt, then let it fettle, and let the pure Water be 
 poured off, and a white Powder of the Silver will 
 remain, which is again to be macerated with pure 
 Water fevcra! times, until! the Calx of the Silveifbe 
 freed from all Saltnels and Corrofivity ; Then dry 
 it, and you fhall have a white and tender Powder, 
 and very fufile, fo that it will melt even with the 
 flame of a Candle, and is not unlike to a Mercury, 
 but may well be called the Mercurj of Ltwe, but the 
 Chvmifts ufually call it the horned Adoon, for being 
 molten it relcmbles the fliape of an Horn, and with 
 this may be wonderful I things effected both in Medi- 
 cine and Alchymy ; but belongs not to this place to 
 fpeak of, and therefore are to be but juft hinted. 
 And like as we have fpoken of Lune, Co likewife muft 
 we proceed with Saturn ; and he will alfo yield you 
 a white Volatile and fufile Powder, as eafily melting, 
 yea ealler than the Mercury of Silver, and is deler- 
 vedly called the Mercury of Saturn. Thefe two are 
 willingly alFociated to a third, viz,, to Common Mer- 
 cury, and do fix him , and fo is that Axiome of the 
 Philofophers fulfilled , Nature rejoyceth with Nature, 
 Nature ci-ercomes Nature , Nature retains Nature. 
 Farther, thefe Mercuries do admit of difWlation and 
 a feparation of the pure part from the impure , no 
 otherwile than as doth a Vegetable. But the way 
 of doing this is not to be fo haftily written, I fpent 
 a whole year in fcarching after it, till I found it, and 
 fo let another feek ; and if God grants it him, he may 
 enjoy it ; And if God vouchfafeth him fomucb,he will 
 alfo give him the knowledge how to ufe it : If the 
 Mercury, which in it felf is white, volatile and fufile, 
 is rendered more white by diftillation ; 'tis alfo a ne- 
 ceirary confequence that it will become likewife more 
 volatile, more fufile, and more pure: but of this 
 enough. 
 
 But to come yet nearer to the matter, and to 
 fhew that Merals may be So feparated by diftillation 
 as to become golden, take this Example : Take two 
 Ounces of the aforefaid horny Lune, and reduce it 
 into Corporeal or pliable Silver, and feparate it by a 
 Cupel, for then thou art allured that no other thmg 
 is in it but Silver : Dillolve this Cupellaced Silver 
 again in common Aq. Fortis, and it will leave a good 
 part of Golden Calx. Now it may be demanded, 
 whence comes this Golden Calx ? Comes it from 
 the Silver, or the Acj. Fortts, or from the Salt- water , 
 all which three were in ufe in the precipitation ? I 
 anfwer, that the Spirit cf Niter brought over with 
 
 it felf, in the diftinarinn, a certain Goldeniflinefs from 
 the Iron and Copper which were in the Vitriol, and 
 tliat in the form of a Spirit, and aliumed its Body 
 from the Lune. Now if any other Body concludes 
 it to be othervvife, 'viz,. that the aforefaid Gold 
 comes from the Lufie onely, and not from the yjcf. 
 Fvrtis , I do but ask him this Query, Why the very 
 fame fort of Silver, being dilfolved and precipitated 
 out of the ^^. Fortis with Salt of Tartar, or by Cop- 
 per Plates, be not equally as golden as this is which 
 is precipitated with Salt water .•> Bul fbme may vet 
 urge farther, that this Gold proceeds onely from the 
 Salt with which the Silver is precipitated , and not 
 from the Jr]. Fortis or Silver, becaufe the Silver being 
 difTolved in Ai^. Fortts, and precipated with Brafs 
 Plates, or the Liquor of Salt of Tartar, yields no 
 Gold ; but that oneiy gives Gold which is precipi- 
 tated with Salt-water. To anfwer this Objedlion, 
 and clearly to dcmonftrate that this Gold owes its 
 Original to them both, 'viz.. the Tin>flure to the 
 Acj. Fortis, but the Body to the Silver, and not to 
 the common Salt, ( for though there lies hidden in 
 all common Salt a certain Golden power, which 
 may be thence drawn by Art, yet that is not to 
 be done this kind of way, but by another, which 
 we mention in our Book called the ConfoUtion of 
 Sailours ) I do certainly know, that this Gold pro- 
 ceeding from the precipitated Silver, doth arife from 
 the Vitriol and Silver onely, and not from the Salt: 
 And this may be clearly obferved thus ; If you add 
 to the Vitriol and Niter a Verdigreafe prepared 
 with Sulphur and Salt, the J<j. Fortes will be twice 
 more Golden than if 'twere made of onely Vitriol ; 
 the reafon is this, becaufe the Iron and the Copper 
 are fixed in the Vitriol, and do not eafily yield Gold ; 
 but if the Copper be firft reduced with Salt and 
 Sulphur into a Volatile Calx, and be added to the 
 Vitriol and Niter, then is this kind of Labour done 
 to profit, elfe not : This which I write is onely to 
 demonftrate the pofTibility. And fhould you add to 
 the Vitriol and Niter, or to AllUm and Niter, other 
 Species containing Volatile Gold , as Calaminaris , 
 Zmck , and fuch like, the Water will be rendered 
 fb much the more Golden : But if you add to the 
 Niter and Vitriol fuch Species as contain in them 
 Volatile Silver, fuch as are Cobolt, Bifmuih, Arfemck, 
 then the Aej. Fortis is rendered more Silvery, and 
 makes pare of the Copper in the Solution purely- 
 Silvery, like as the Goldcnifh water when 'tis in the 
 Solution makes part of the Silver Golden. By which 
 it is demonftrated, that crude Metals are depurated 
 by diftillation, and may be made Volatile , and that 
 by that means of Solution, Corporal Gold and Sil- 
 ver may be precipitated out of the Metals, according 
 as the DifTolvent is prepared out of Golden or Silve- 
 ry Subjeds. 
 
 This Example I account fufficient to evidence, 
 that the crude Metals may be purged by Diftillation 
 fb as to become golden. If then "it be' fo with the 
 crude and impure Metals, what then may be done 
 with the pure ones if they be made by Diftillation, 
 yet more pure ; without all queftion a moft excel- 
 lent medicine might be fron^ thence prepared, and 
 far to be preferred to Gold or Silver. This difcourfe do 
 I here make uCe of to the intent that it may be feen 
 j that even fixt metals being after a due manner open- 
 ! ed and made volatile, arc capable of fending out 
 : their beft part, and of being feparated by Diftillati- 
 : on from tlie more crude part. IBut this Treatife ap- 
 j pertains not to Alchymy but to Medicine, and yet I 
 
 thought 
 
128 
 
 The Third Fan of 
 
 Part 11. 
 
 thought gnod to induce this argument, viz,, (thatj 
 out of crude Vitriol, may a volatile Gold be drawn 
 by Diftillation and be incorporated with Gold and 
 Silver) to this end that all men might know of a 
 certainty, how much good may be done in metals 
 b'v DiftilUition, and what a pure f'ublbnce may be 
 thence drawn. Nor doth B^Jil Valentme that Ger- 
 wan Philofophcr, doubt cxprefly to write that the 
 Philnfophers Stone is full as eafic, yea eafier to be 
 prcpan-d out of Vitriol than Gold, li therefore the 
 highcft univerfal medicine both for man and metals 
 may be prepaTcd out of common Vitriol, why may 
 not the fame be poflible to be done out of the purer 
 metals if they were reduced into Vitriol, and fo as to 
 admit of Diftillation, whereby the pure maybefe- 
 parated from the impure. 
 
 If now the common Vitriol of Copper and Iron, 
 do in Diftillation yield volatile Gold, why {hould 
 not the Vitriol of Lum do it much more and yield 
 it nobler, as being indeed the true and onely metal- 
 lick Vitriol of the Phi.olbphers, which lUjVum ap- 
 points to be taken for his Work, and doth tr^iely de 
 lerve the name of Vitriol. For if you would have 
 your common Vitriol tinge, yf>u muft add Galls 
 thereto l)ut this Vitriol doth truely blacken all things 
 without Ga'Is. But you muft not imagine that I 
 do here intend fuch a Vitriol of L«wf, as is by iblu- 
 tion (in Ae]. Fortu reduced into a white Cryftal, or 
 luch as is precipitated by the water of Salt out of 
 the Solution (in ^4^ . Fortis ) no (ijch matter > For 
 this rcfembles not Vitriol, becaufe it may be again 
 reduced (into Silver.; But the true Vitriol of the 
 Philofophers is prepared out of Lune without J^. 
 Fortis or fuch likeCorrofives, and is not reduceable 
 in the ftrongeft Fire, but remains a Vitriol, tingeth 
 the Tonge, is allringenr, and yields a golden Wa- 
 ter which diflblveth Gold and h.\eth it therewith. 
 Such a'Vitriol will we make u(e of in medicine and 
 Alchymy, and leave the common Vitriol for the 
 Dyers. The Ancients called their Salt Vitriol, on 
 this account, becaule that it did as to its external 
 Figure refemble Vitriol, but though they lb called it, 
 yet they took not the common Vitriol, which every 
 wife man may be eafily perfwaded to believe. So 
 then let the Lujie be the Earth, Gold the Seed, and 
 Mercury the (Water, but not the common Mercury) 
 with which it is to be watered, and let the reft be 
 committed to God and Art Thus far have I decla- 
 red to you my opinion, let every man follow hisown. 
 But thus is confirmed the aiiertion of that excellent 
 Philofophcr B.ifil Vi!le?itint',who nihvms,that even out 
 of common Vitriol may be extracted a certain golden 
 
 ifhneft ; how much more credible then is it, that a 
 
 Vitriol prepared out of the more pure metals may 
 yield a better goldenne(s. Every one may believe 
 what I here write for 1 have oft times tried it,but yet 
 I have received more Gold Ihmctimts than at other 
 fbme according as I ordered my proccls, and redu- 
 ced my precipitated Silver; for you are to know, 
 that fuch a kind of Silver as is precipitated out of 
 Af^. Fortis, by the Water of Salt is wholly volatile, 
 nor melteth it like to a Calx of Lune, but goes away 
 partly in fume, and part is reduced into an horny 
 Stone, and yet by a peculiar Diftillation doth all 
 come over, but enough of this. Hereupon is Salt of 
 Tartar to be added to this volatile Calx, left being 
 molten it vanifheth away in fume, for Borax doth 
 not prevent it. But it melteth better if it be help 
 by that notable fluxing Powder, madeof Miter, Tar- 
 ter, and Sulphur, and it be kindled by a little Coal 
 and burnt up, but then all the Silver doth not melt, 
 but part of it goes away in fume. N. B. If you 
 catch this fume which is a thing eafily done, it re- 
 fembles the form of a red Powder, and will abun- 
 dantly recompence your pains, nor may that faying 
 of Paracelfus be unlicly applied hereunto, tvz, to 
 corrupt is totally to perfett, becaufe thcfe Flores of 
 Siker are not loft, but are of a greater price than 
 the Silver was. He that well knows this labour (for 
 indeed experience is the beft mafter ) will not labour 
 in vain. And if he learns nothing from this little 
 here-taught, neither will he find our ought from a 
 greater. For I have in thefe few words revealed 
 much, yea haply more than 1 ought to have done. 
 All which we do in the hrft and chiefeft place attri- 
 bute to God, next him to Niter, which renders Me- 
 tals fb fluxible. From hence may the well minded 
 Reader percieve that there is in Nicer, not onely a 
 power to fix all volatile Minerals and Metals fof 
 which I have treated in my fecond part of the ProG 
 per'ny of Germnnj ) but alto of making them wholly 
 volatile, fb that they may be difhlled and purged, 
 as is fufficiently evident in the aforegoing example : 
 Befides, there is another way of making Metals vola- 
 tile,as well as by Niter,but fb as that they be not whol- 
 ly dillolved, but are by a moift nitrous Fire reduced 
 fo far as to retain the form which they put upon 
 themfelves in the faid moift Fire, and yet they be- 
 come fo volatile, as to futfer themfelves to be wholly 
 diftilled and fublimed, and will in the Froba give 
 Gold, the which the gradatory Water hath made in 
 them. But of thefe things m.ore at large in the-" 
 fourth part of the Profperity of Germany -. Thus with 
 what hath been faid, will I finifli the third part of 
 my Fharmaco^xa Spagjrica. 
 
 7 he End of the Third Part. 
 
 THE 
 
Part II. 
 
 129 
 
 THE 
 
 FOURTH PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Spagyiical Pharmacopoea. 
 
 Treating of the four principal Pillars of Medicine, vi^. 
 
 Sulphur, Vitriol, Antimony, and Mercury, but chiefly of the great 
 harmony between the Superiour Elementary Sun and Moon, and the 
 Inferiour and Terreflrial Gold and Silver,and the magnetick way of attrac- 
 ting the Virtues of Sol and Lune by the Air , and of rendring them pal- 
 pable and vifible. 
 
 READER, ^ 
 
 AFter that I had tntencled to puhlijh m the Fourth Part of this my Spagyrical Pharma- 
 copcea, Jome Jirtgular and excellent Medicines, andjuch as might much exceed all others 
 andfo mufl confequently he prepared of choice and excellent fuhjetls and matters ; / ac- 
 counted it my task in the firjl place to fhewyou out of what fubjeds fuch efficacious Medicines may he 
 drawn and extraded, viz. out of Gold^ Wine, and Antimoxy, aslikeivife out of Vitriol and Mer- 
 cury, hut not the vulgar Mercury. 
 
 Now although moft Men are blinded with a thick darknefs, hut principally thofe that pro fecute 
 the truth with a deadly hatred, and do prate much, and hy reafon of their hlindnefs and ignorance 
 do affirm, that Gold being a thick and compact body is not at all ft to admit of fuch a preparation 
 as thereby to difplay its moft efficacious virtues in Mans Body : And as for Antimony and Mercu- 
 ry^ that they are moft prefent Poifons, and cant ferve as Medicines without great danger ; hut as 
 for Wine, that it is indeed fit to be drunk, but is of no validity in Medicine, not knowing how to 
 imploy it about any Medicinal ufe, hut are rather ready and skilfull Artifls at fwallowing it down 
 in full draughts ; however though they thus chat yet thefe ohjedions are frivolous, and do proceed 
 from their ignorance which is wrapped about with moft thick Clouds, and which I refute by this 
 brief and ftrong Reply. But 1 do not at all deny, that Gold reduced even to the fmalleft Powder^ 
 and fo made ufe of Qas 'twas wont of old to be hy the Ancient, yea and latter Galenifls, and is 
 even too at this day') by mixingit with fuch Medicines as are fur the comforting andftrengtbning 
 the Heart and Vitals of Men, cannot contribute fo much as the leaft Iota to the health and pre- 
 fervation of the bod) of Man : Andfo I fay of Antimony and Mercury, that they are not at all 
 falutiferous to Mans Body, but contrariwife are deadly and deftruciive Medicaments, untill {by a 
 due preparation) they are deprived of all their Venenofity, and thereby rendred fit tobefafely 
 made ufe of. So Wine it felf being taken per fe as it is, is a reftoring and refreft^ing Drink for 
 Man, provided it be moderately ufed ; But contrarily is a caufer of many Difeafes if it be fre- 
 quently and in large quantities fwallowed in, and doth operate in Mans Body more hurt than goody 
 this daily experience doth fufficiently teftifie, and renders it evident, that being fo immoderately 
 taken, it fills all the Members of the whole Body with tartar, and makes obft ructions and flirs 
 up intolerable Pains, and principally in the Bladder, Reins, and other parts of the Body, viz. 
 if coagulated in the Hands, Knees, and Feet, whereupon it doth not eaftly fuffer it felf to he 
 exterminated, unlefs by fuch Artifts as well know the properties and nature of Tartar, but of fuch 
 Men there is at this day a great fear city, and therefore that proverbial Verfe ft ill takes place. 
 
 Solvere Nodofam Nefcit Medicina Podagram. 
 
 The Art of Phyfick can't root out 
 CThy dire Difeale) the Knotty Gout, 
 
 L \ 
 
 But 
 
The Yoiirtb Part of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 130 
 
 But he who hfo well skilled as to feparate the fiery ^ penetrative^ wholjome, ,ind true Medi- 
 cinal Spirit of Wine ; Tea its true Balfam from its Faces, he willeafily expel out oj the Body of 
 Man all tartarous impurities and defilements, and will perform things wonder jull in the Stone 
 and Gout. But nowforafmuch as the educing fo wholfome a Medicine out of grofs crude Tartar 
 i^ known hut to a very few, no wonder that there hath been fo little or rather nothing at all perfor- 
 med hy Phyficians in fuch like moji grievous tartarous Difeafes that have gotten deep rooting in 
 the Body of Man. But the way how you may he rendred rojjefors of fuch a Spirit of Wine fhall he 
 fpoken of afterwards. Tet I would not that 'any one jhould perfwade him f elf that my meaning and 
 intention in l^uis place is about the common Spirit of Wine, or either that which is gotten out of 
 Tartar hy the ufual known way of DiJIillation. No, there s a vajl difference betwixt that Spirit 
 which I here make mention of and the other. For in this Spirit the crude Tartar isfirji to he 
 wajhed hy common Water from all its Defilements, and that without the addition of any other 
 thinzs, fo as to fhine like Snow, then to he afterwards made black by putrefaciion, and out of that 
 hlacknefs thefaid Balfam is to he drawn off] of which we /hall hereafter make a more ample Declara- 
 tion. This now is that Spirit which doth Anatomically refolve the compatled Body, of Gold, and 
 converteth the venemoufnefs of Antimony into a wholforr\e Medicine, and doth perform things wonderfull 
 in all tartaro-is Difeafes. 'Tts the true Wine of Health, and the -very Aq. Ynx of the Philo- 
 fophers, and hath a great familiarity with Gold and Man, and may he excellently compared with the 
 
 coagulated folar beams. , ^,, , „>■ i , 
 
 Therefore as it is evidently known to every body, that Gold and Wine are advanced on to ma' 
 turity hy the heat of the Sun, and that Men do notably love and defite both of them. So may 
 any one conje^ure what Gold and Wine would do if a Man could hut have them reduced to a f pi- 
 ritual effence. Hence now it feems neceffary unto me, that before 1 pafs on to the preparation of 
 the faid Medicine, I do in a few words defcrihe the harmonial love that is hetween the fuperiour 
 and infer iour Sun and Man, that fo it may appear, what a bond or tie of love and neccjjity there 
 is betwixt thefe three mofi noble Creatures of God, to one another. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Of the Harmony and Agreeahknefs between the Superior 
 Elementary, and Infericur Earthly Sun, -iuith [fine 
 and Alan. 
 
 ,'-p I S well known even to the blind Bayards and 
 1 Barbars, that the Sun in the heavenly Firma- 
 ment, is the moft noble and moft eminent Creature 
 God made. For it is that onely light which makes 
 all the Stars partakers of its Splendour, Light and 
 Brightnefs. Tis alio the onely Fountain and as it 
 were Father otall the Creatures, becaufc if they are 
 deprived of ir, they are in the dark and die : Nay 
 even man himfelf cannot live without the help of the 
 Sun, and all things would perifh, fhould the Sun be 
 but one moment withdrawn from them. For all 
 things that arc do receive their Life and Augmentati 
 on from the Sun ; and he was ( according to Mufes 
 his Dodirine ) the firft and chiefeft that did proceed 
 forth by Gods creating, and will doubtlefs be the 
 ]aft when all things (hall be diflblved, and pafs into a 
 better State at the final Deftruftion of this worldly 
 Fabrick. The Sun fupplies the place of a heart in 
 the wonderfull Strudure of the Macrocofm : And in 
 like manner the heart it felf in man's Body is aptly 
 compared to the Sun, as being the firft liver, and laft 
 dier in the humane Fabrick ; and this is known to 
 every body. And therefore amongft all the Crea- 
 tures indued with life and motion, man doth in no- 
 bility and magniticence excel them all, as having 
 gotten his body from the earth, his Spirit and Life 
 from the Sun, and his Soul from God. 
 
 Euc as to the infenfibls Creatures the higheft De- 
 gree of Nobleneis is attributed unto Gold, the which 
 
 is likewife generated by the Sun. Thefe three ad- 
 mirable Creatures, wr, the Sun, Man, and Gold 
 are coupled with a bond of wonderfull NecefTity and 
 Friendfhip, and are conjoined by the infiinttof Na- 
 ture her leir Men do deiire the Light of the Sun, 
 as alfo its heat in a dark and cold Seafon, for thence- 
 from proceeds all life, and all the encreafe of life, 
 becaule the Suns beams do perform the office of the 
 univerlal Spirit, and Life in the Confervation of the 
 Life of Man. But now as touching Gold, men do 
 partake of that in a particular way onely, and one 
 man is ufually ftored with a bigger Portion, another 
 with a lefler, not by the inflind of nature, for ftic 
 beftoweth it on us onely for our ufe, but by reafon 
 of the abufive malice, avarice and the unfotiable 
 Covetoulhefs of men; but yet this way is not the 
 right manner of loving Gold, nor genuine, but falfe 
 and oft times very hazardous. We (hould rather 
 love it becaufe of its wonderfull Vertues which ic 
 poiTefleth, hidden in its body, and mayaflbrd a moft 
 notable Comfort to man's (Icknefs and infirmities. 
 Verily the Ancient Philolbphers were not ignorant 
 of the incredible Vertues, which the Gold hides in 
 it felf, it being truely no other thing than a body 
 confiftingand compared of the coagulated and fixed 
 Beamsof the Sun, and this was well known to thofe 
 men who were mo(f skilfull in the nature of all 
 things. Seeing then that the Sun's beams beii^gas 
 yet unfi.xed can beftow on all things life and en- 
 creafe, why may not the fame be accomplifhed by 
 them when fixed, and made conftanr, if fo be they 
 be rendred fpiritual, and thereby be capable of dif- 
 playing their Vertues in a vifible and palpable effi- 
 cacy, which thing they could not do if they retain 
 their corporal Coagulation, nor can difplay their 
 occult Vertues. 
 
 Many 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spagjrlcnl Difpenfatoij. 
 
 131 
 
 jVIany men have induftrioufly attempted with 
 great Labour, artificially to open Gold, and to re- 
 duce it to a fpiritual Nature, and to render it living 
 and efficacious, but few there have been that have 
 been Malters of their defires, but f'uch as at length 
 had thereto attained, did perform th ngs wonderfull 
 in the ficknefles of mankind, and this iswitnelFcd by 
 many moft true Hiftories, as for inftance, by the 
 Twbii of the Philolophers, and by the Theauum 
 Chymicum The which Books do indeed dcfcribe 
 fuch a notable fecret, but (b obfcurely and intricately, 
 as that no body can therefrom learn its preparation, 
 unlefs God reveals it to them, or it be manifefted 
 by fbme good friend or other that knows the Art. 
 'Tis no wonder that amongft many thousands of 
 Searchers, fb very few do arrive to the knowledge 
 of the fame. For God hath barred up thisfbgreat 
 a fecret with fuch firm bolts,jfhat all wicked and 
 malicious men are eafily excluded frdm the know- 
 ledge of finding it out Verily 1 muft needs fay 
 ( but I boafi: not of it ) that I fee by what means 
 thofe bonds are to be loofed, and that preci(jus Pearl 
 may by removal of thofe bolts be taken forth 'But 
 yet I profels not my fclf to be a perfeel and abfolutc 
 Malfer, and luch an one as perfectly knows its 
 preparation, and would make it publick by defcri 
 bing it. No I the Crumbs ferves my turn, and the 
 Fragments of the Bread, with which hunger may be 
 allayed as well as with the Bread it felf. 
 
 I have I confcfs tafiied fbmewhatof the Crumbs 
 of what pertains to fb worthy a Medicament, and 
 with what great Venues they abound. And fuch 
 things a.<: my experience have adminiftred unto me 
 I have here purpofed to reveal them, for the com- 
 fort and fake of my Neighbour, as far as the time 
 and occafion will permit ; but yet with this Sal'vo, 
 that I caft not Pearl before Swine, and fb incur the 
 Philofbphers Curfe. To whomfbever the things 
 that I fpeak fhall be more obfcure, let him wrefHe 
 earneftly by h;s Prayers to God for light, and refrain 
 from troubling me with multiplicity of entreaties, for 
 1 have firmly refolved with my felf not to reveal for 
 the time to come more than what 1 have opened in 
 the prefent defcription. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Of GoU, and the Cemparifon betwixt it when living, 
 and whtn dead. 
 
 IT is fo well known as that nothing can be more 
 known ^ that Gold being fo compact and corpo- 
 real and without any opening, doth not when u(ed 
 inwardly to man's Body emit any Vertues at all. I 
 will inltance in one Example of Mercury; This be- 
 ing living and unbroken and undilTolved, doth not, 
 though uled inwardly in a great weight, bring any 
 hurt, but pafTeth out again as "twas before taken in 
 without any alteration of the Body. But if it be 
 ■ fublimed with Salt, or fhall be dillblved by fbme 
 other corrofive Water, and be adminiftred to a man 
 to drink the quantity of i, a, or ; Grains it will 
 Ihrewdly hazard his Life, becaufe the Salts have 
 made its hidden lurking Poyfon manifeft. Thus 
 Hands the cafe with Gold, which cannot fhew forth 
 its hidden force and vertues as long as it remains 
 bound and tied with thetettersof its own compaction, 
 but (on the other hand) dilplays them, alloon as 
 ever it fhall be releafed from its bonds, be vivified by 
 Salts, and rendred efficacious. You fee in a black 
 
 Coal, whiles it is not fired, there is nor any heat at 
 all perceived, but being kindled, and being by the 
 Air rendred living, it dilcovers the fire and heat 
 being therein hidden, the which vou may likewife 
 conlider of concerning Gold. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Of the Preparation of GoU, and its Di^cluticn into moft 
 tender Atorm apt for -vivif cation and profitable ap- 
 plication to Medicinal ufe. 
 
 GOLD doth nor by any way more eafily admit 
 of being turned into moft tender and moftfub- 
 til Attomes than by this following 
 
 Diliolve pure Gold in Ac] Reg;ia, and being dif- 
 folved ;pour thereto as much of the Water of Tartar 
 as IS fiitficient : So the clear Gold, and clothed too 
 With a golden Colour, will precipitate it felf to the 
 bottom of theVefTel, nor will it be adarkifh Powder, 
 as'tiswonr to be if precipitated by Lixivmrns or by' 
 the Spirit of Uiine: But it is light and tender, and 
 fhews in brighmefs like little golden Stars, yea be- 
 comes fo very tender and fubril, that it fwims as 
 'twere in the Water and fettles to the bottom excee- 
 ding Jeafurcly, and is thereby fb much worthier 
 than all other Calxes of Gold how fubtil foever they 
 be.that they may beaccompted of, if compared with 
 this) butonely asagrofsEurth; whereas thefe fhi- 
 ning golden little Stars are made fo tender and fo 
 fubtil, as that they may eafily difcover and demon- 
 ftrate their Vertues in medicinal ufe very notably, 
 by the help of other things, and by being dilfolved 
 fundry ways. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 By what means this moft pure Calx of Gold is to be 
 farther opened , whereby it may be inverted , made 
 'volatile, and rendred like to a l"e<retabU. 
 
 THIS tender Sol or Calx may be brought to fuch 
 a pals, without any corrofive in 14 hours Ipace, 
 as that it Ihall not remain a fixed metalline Body, but 
 become wholly volati'e as it was at its beginning. 
 Now this is efferted by the help of the Salt of 
 Nature onely, which is to be found Qstxy where, 
 and may be gotten by the poor as well as by the 
 rich. Yea foeafie as that it is fcarce credible, fhould 
 it be manifefted openly and clea^^y, and which thofe 
 Brethren of ignorance and proud Court like Flatte- 
 rers would entertain with fcorn and derifion, and 
 accompt the truth it felf to be a lie, as hath been 
 oft tim.es done hitherto. 'Tis better therefore to pafs 
 over fuch things in filence, than by benefitting others 
 to injure ones felf. For fuch Arcana's are to be 
 wrapt up in filence, and not to be cafl before fuch 
 Hogs. Eut yet to the Adept fhall be revealed fuch 
 things in the end of this writing or treatife, as they 
 have been hitherto ignorant of 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Qusery, Whether or no thefemoji fubtil Atoms of Gold are 
 capable of performing any thing in Medicine, and of 
 dijplaying their hidden Vertues like Vegetablts, with- 
 out any other unlocking of them. 
 
 FO R anfwer, I fay no. For the Stomach is too 
 weak to diflolve and get thence that efficacy as it 
 
 doth 
 
13 
 
 The Voiirth Vnrt of 
 
 Part IL 
 
 doth from Vegetables, though it be thus reduced 
 in a moft tender and fubtile fubftance. In vain 
 therefore is it adminiftred to the Tick, becaufe it paf- 
 feth out again with the Excrements fo as 'twas taken 
 in, and that without any remarkable efficacy. 
 
 , CHAP. VI. 
 
 e> 
 
 QUc-ery, Whether or no the Stomach may not be fo helfd 
 as that it may be able to dij]hlve and confttme Gold 
 as well as Iron and Coffer'. 
 
 FO R anfwer I fay, yes. And forafmuch as the 
 moft thin filings of Iron and Copper, being gi- 
 ven any one to drink, arc digefted and confumed 
 by the natural acidity of the Stomach, or are by 
 difTolution there turned into Vitriol, which (faid Vi- 
 triol) doth vehemently ftir up the Body by Vomit, 
 and by Stool ( according to the quantity of the ex- 
 hibited Metals) and killeth the Worms both in old 
 and young folks, and cafteth them forth, and co- 
 loureth the very Excrements as black as a Coal ; 
 hereby evidently demonltrating, that being difTolved 
 and confumed by the Stomach, it hath brouf'it out, 
 together with it felf, the flain Worms ; A.iy body 
 may eafily conje(n:ure that the Acidity of the Sto- 
 mach was fufficiently ftrong to fet upon the two a- 
 forefaid Metals, being of a Salt nature, and of an 
 eafie Solution, and to reduce them fb far as to caufe 
 them to difplay their hidden Vertues, But now the 
 Stomach is not endued with fo ftrong an Acidity, as 
 to be able to fet upon and diirolve Gold and Silver, 
 being Metals as 'twere void of Salt, and admitting 
 no Solution there. Hereupon it ufually happens, 
 that they being u(ed inwardly in Medicine, do come 
 away with the Excrements in fuch form as they were 
 adminiftred in. Thence do the unskilful! conclude 
 ( but falfly ) that there are no Vertues in Gold and 
 Silver, becaufe that being brought into a moft fubtile 
 Powder, and adminiftred to the fick, they are not- 
 Withftanding deftitute of any kind of Vertues. The 
 reafon why they do not operate at all is, becaufe the 
 Acidity of the Stomach is not (iifficient enough to 
 work upon them, and to ftir them up to operation. 
 But being diffolved by Acid Spirits, "jtz^. the Gold by 
 Spirit of Salt, and the Silver by Spirit of Niter, they 
 doe evidently Ihew their Vertues in Medicine, being 
 inwardly taken, and do purge the Body no left than 
 Copper and Iron doe, and do withall colour the 
 Excrements black, and kill the Worms both in old 
 and young : Neither indeed will any find a more 
 prefent remedy for killing the Worms, which do oft- 
 times deltroy many Infants and Children deftitute 
 of any kind of help, than the Vitriol of Gold and 
 Silver, about which (hall be written a peculiar 
 Chapter anon. 
 
 But forafmuch as the diffolved Metals, but efpe- 
 cially Gold and Silver, do by their ungratefull fa- 
 vour ctfend the Palate, and dye the Tongue and 
 Lips of a black Colour ; Men do abhor to ule them, 
 although they might be very heipfull in Medicine : 
 But however thefe di (com modi ties may be preven- 
 ted, by rendring the laid Metals acceptable to the 
 Palate, and fo ordering them as that they fhall no 
 more Colour the Lips, but evidently fhew forth 
 their Vertues, and perform great matters in Medi- 
 cine. This now may be done divers ways , Ibme 
 •whereof fhall be here defcribed and declared. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 By what means Gold may be brought to fuch a fafs as 
 that (being inwardly made ufe of in Medicine') it 
 may dij flay its virtues and be jlirred uf to operation 
 by a giiider (or leading Card as 'twere) added there- 
 unto. 
 
 GOLD being reduced by the way now fpoken 
 of into moft tender ( Atoms, may be ftirred 
 up divers ways, fb as that being inwardly adminif^ 
 tred, it may manifeft its virtues and that notably and 
 efficacioufly. 
 
 As firft when fuch Salts are thereunto added as 
 do corroborate the Stomach, and augment its acidi- 
 ty, fo as to make it ftrong enough to work upon the 
 tender Gold and diflblve it, and to turn it into Vi- 
 triol in the Stomach, in which cafe my Sal Mirabi' 
 lis is very excellent, but yet other Salts are not to be 
 defpifed, to each of which I give the honour due 
 unt6 them. 
 
 Then farther, the fame may be done when fuch 
 Mineral Species are added to the faid Golden Calx 
 as do by their natural propriety expell by Sweat and 
 Urine : For a Mineral Medicine, as fbon as ever it 
 begins its operation in the Body, whether by Sweat 
 or by expulfion by Urine, doth alfo ftir up the Gold 
 to operate, fo that it works too after the fame man- 
 ner as the Medicament adjoyned to it is wont to ope- 
 rate , juft as 'tis ufually wont to be in fome kind of 
 Fraternity or Confortfhip ; If one begins to fing, to 
 dance, to be enamoured with a Virgin, to brawl, or 
 to play, he prefently ftirs up others to do the fame, 
 who would otherwife have abode ftill. Now as to 
 the Minerals, amongft the many inciters there. An- 
 timony obtainetb the firft place, and doth ftir up to 
 operate with himfelf any fuch things as are thereun- 
 to adjoined, whether they be Gold or Silver, yea 
 though they be dead. And fb a Mineral being pur- 
 gative, or Diuretick, being mixt with Gold, doth per- 
 form its operation much more fafely and efficacioufly 
 than if it were alone and ufed fer fe, inwardly, with- 
 out any addition of Gold thereunto. For the ten- 
 der Gold is ftirred up and driven as 'twere to Co- 
 operate together with the operation of the Mineral 
 Medicament, which otherwife, and without fuch an 
 impuUion and incitement would have remained as 
 dead , and void of any kind of operation , and fb 
 pafTed forth together with the Excrements, 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 A better way of making Gold and Silver living and 
 efficactoas. 
 
 GOLD and Silver may be made living and effi- 
 cacious after another and better way and man- 
 ner, thus. If they be diflblved in fijitable Waters, 
 and made Spiritual, and fo ufed in Medicine, for 
 they are by this means fitted to operate and difplay 
 their Vertues after their manner, and according to 
 their preparation. 
 
 The manner of making fuch well opened and un- 
 locked Golden Water, 1 taught fbme years fince, and 
 publifhed it under the title of Auntm FotabiU. For 
 I then knew a way of reducing Gold into a white 
 Water by fbme certain Medicinal Salts, and have it 
 
 now 
 
Part. II. 
 
 the Spagjrical Difpenfatory. 
 
 133 
 
 now by me ac all times, as being better and far more 
 excellent than that former Aurum Fot<:bile, and may 
 fupply the place of an Univerfal Medicine ; and th.it 
 on this account, bccaufe it doth operate univerfaliy 
 in all curable difeales, and doth withall exccll all the 
 other Medicaments that I know of in its whoITomc 
 dperarion, inr it doth by little and little expell every 
 obnoxious thing out of the whole body. I confeis 
 that the fame things are performed hv my Golden 
 Pavaca:^, or my Purging Gold, and Diaphoretick 
 Gold, but in fbme cafes I prefer this white Aurum 
 Totabile of mine, as I now prepare it, before them, 
 for it hath an invifible and contrary or different ope 
 ration from my Purging Gold, or Golden I'anacaa, 
 which do, for the moft part, work vifibly. And 
 whereas I have formerly divulged thofe Medicaments 
 .in my Treatifes, I will omit their fupcrHuous delcrip 
 rion here, and onely add thus much. That thele 
 tlh'e'e Medicaments of mine, "jiz, the Golden Pana- 
 aea, my Diaphoretick Gold, and my white Aurum 
 'Potdbtle are lb abundantly (ufficient both for the pre 
 fcrving from, and curing of all difeafes, that whofb- 
 ever will onely ufe them, need not at all any other 
 Medicaments. 
 
 . But forafinuch as Men are delighted with variety, 
 and that fbmetimes flich or fuch a coloured Medi 
 cine, or fuch an Odour or Savour is far more accep 
 table, I have judged it worth whi'e to add for the 
 feJce of the lick yet two or three e.\ce'lent Medicines 
 more, and fiich, as to the beft of my knowledge , 
 were as yet never divulged. 'Tis at every ones li 
 berty to make ufe of fijch an one as beft likes him, 
 or now and then to try this Medicine or that, and 
 io to make u(e of that which beft pleafeth him. 
 
 The incomparable Paracdfas^ the Monarch of Phi 
 lofcphers and Phyficians, fuppofcd, that thefe four 
 Minerals, viz,. Sulphur, Mercury, Antimony, and /'V- 
 trtol, did prop up the whole Medicinal Art, like (o 
 inany Capital Pillars, and that by them mought all 
 things be prepared, as were neceffarily requilite for 
 anykind of cure. And indeed the thing it felf ( or 
 the etfe.'t ) fiifficiently proves the truth of this opi- 
 nion, and Co doe thofe four Minerals themfelves too, 
 if. they be but diffcfled, purged, and prepared accor 
 ding to Art, elle they are of no worth, but doe more 
 hurt than good, becaufe if they be not duely prepa 
 red, they are not deprived of their Venenoficy, and 
 are not turned into whoHbme Medicines. But as tor 
 fuch as are let to fale in our days in the Apotheca- 
 ries (hops, they are verily but of fmall moment For 
 the Antimony which ( being turned intoGlafs) they 
 fell, hath never as yet admitted of any feparation of 
 the good from the evil. 
 
 And as for Mercurj,they turn him into a Sublimate, 
 abounding with Venom, and likewife into a red Pre 
 dpitate, both of which are fufficiendy hazardous 
 both in e.xternal and internal Medicinal ufes ; For 
 tho vulgar Mercury never defiftcth from his malice, 
 unlels it be exalted by a fafer and better preparation. 
 It is iLifficient (to fay ) that being prepared after the 
 aforelaid ufual ways, it ought to be wholly lliunned, 
 and fo it will not create any danger. 
 •. As tor Common Sulphur, although it be exalted 
 into Flores, and thofe exceeding fubtile too, (ijch as 
 are at this day in ufe, yet (hews it no wonderfull 
 matters ; for there is not as yet made any (eparation 
 qi the pure paic from the impure, neither is it tho 
 roughly opened by Sublimation, or rendered fubtile 
 or He, to operate upon the Body of Man ; for as it 
 vras taken in, lb it palleth out with the Excrements : 
 
 For the Acidity of the Stomach cannot dilUiIveit; 
 in far is it from yielding to the Stomach any effi- 
 cacy, for a ftrong A<f. Fortis cannot dillblvc it. 
 
 As for Vitriut, it yields the V/orkmen an au(tere 
 or foivr Oil, and a fliarp Spirit, little availing to 
 Medicinal ufcs, this onely excepted, viz,, the mixing 
 it with cooling Syrups and Conlcrvcs, gives them a 
 gratefull Ib.wrifhnef.s ; the which Spirit of Salt well 
 reditied, would perform much Letter. Mence it 
 conies to pa!5!, that thefe (bur Minerals, according 
 as they are at this day ufed, and fold by the Apothe- 
 caries, cannot be accounted for the four Pillars of 
 the who'e Body of Medicine, and poflefs that title, 
 which Paracclf:.'s exalterh them bv, unlefs they are 
 prepared after another manner than they have hi- 
 therto been 
 
 As for Sulphur, I bring it to the higheft purity 
 by a due wafhing, and do by fliitable and proper 
 Salts turn the fame, together with Gold, into a clear 
 water, that Cn our Nature may atrume it to it Iclf, as 
 is to be (een in my Aurum FotabiU. 
 
 I draw from Antimony its purer parr, and I im- 
 plant it in exceedingly well prepared Gold, that it 
 ma\' make the Gold etlicacious, witnels my Purging 
 Gold. 
 
 Inftead of the common Vitrhl, I ufe the Vhriol 
 made of Gold, the which is wont to perform fuch 
 efFe(fts in Medicine as the common Vitriol never will, 
 as (hall be taught by and by. 
 
 Inftead of the common and poyfbnous Mercury, 
 I make ufe of a Mercury prepared out of a good Me- 
 tal, or artificially extracted by a certain Magnet from 
 the beams of Sul and Lunc, as fliall be taught anon. 
 And t\\\$ Mercury is rightly cal'ed the Univerfal Mer- 
 -ury of the Philofbphers, bccaulc being as yet an in- 
 vifible thing, is extraifted out of the Air, and made 
 vifible and palpable, and is the effetftor of wonder- 
 full things in Medicine and Alchymy, as we (hall 
 hear anon. 
 
 But before I proceed fo Vitriol and Mercury, I 
 count it fit, firft to fet down a good Medicine prepa- 
 red out of Silver by the help of Antimony, that (b 
 every body may klJow", that even Gold and Silver 
 f how thick and coriipad foever they;be) may, by 
 rhe addition of other Medicinal Subje'!ls, be quick- 
 ned and ftined up, arid be brought to fuch a pafs as 
 to emit their Vertues, as we have afore mentioned 
 more at large The preparation of this Medicine 
 out of Silver and Antimony is as followeth. 
 
 G II A P. IX. 
 
 The mafjijer pf preparing a good Medicarnent out of 
 Silver and Antimbfiy, '•' 
 
 TN the firft place prcpari^ out of the Mineral or 
 Oar of Antimony an Acetmn by difiillation, ac- 
 cording to Art : Then take one part of the beft .A.n- 
 timony, and two partsof the Calx of Silver ; which 
 being well wafhed, mix it with the .^.ntimony, by 
 grinding them very well together, that they may be 
 changed into a gra\'i(li or f'omcwhat a blackilli Pow- 
 der. Put this Powder into a finall Glafs, Cucurbit 
 or little Retort, and pour thereupon (b much of the 
 Antimonial Vinegar as may ferve to bring the (aid 
 Powder into a thin Pultis or Pap. Put the Glafs in 
 Sand, and diftill off. the (aid Vinegar, this pouring 
 on, and drawing off let be Co often i'epeated untill 
 the Antimony (hall have loft its blackneli;, and the 
 
 M m Silver 
 
134 
 
 The Fourth Fart of 
 
 Part il. 
 
 Silver its whirenefs^ and be both of them turned in 
 to a red Stone, like to Ctnaber, which is ulually done 
 in the third or fourth Cohobation. 
 
 Note well, if fuch an errour fhould be committed 
 as that your fire being too ftrong fhould when you 
 draw otf the Acttum melt the ma(s in the Gla(s, it 
 would be rendred wholly uncapable of admitting or 
 drinking up the Acetum, and then you muft ot ne- 
 
 cefllty break the O'^^s ^n<^ ^^^^ °^^ ^^^ "^'^^^ ^^^ ^^' 
 
 duce it again into (inall Powder by grinding, and 
 
 repeat the operations according to the aforefaid way. 
 
 This Medicament being turned into a red Stone,and 
 
 ground upon a Marble into a moft fubtile Powder, 
 
 is called by me purging L«»f, and may be made ule 
 
 of in ail Difeafcsas a kind of Tanacaa, (like as my 
 
 purging Gold may be) with great fruit and good 
 
 fuccefs. _For this Medicine of Silver doth operate 
 
 very gently, expelling all evil humours out of all the 
 
 Members of the whole Body of Man, and this icarce 
 
 anv other Medicine will do fave my golden Panacea 
 
 F(jV ic leaveth no impurity in the Body, (but expels 
 
 it) not onely by purgation, but aUb by Sweat and 
 
 Urine. If you fnould chance to errand take too big 
 
 a Dofe, it will alfo cau(e vomiting, but elpecially 
 
 with (ijch as abounding with Choler are prone to 
 
 Vomit. To Infants under four Weeks old may a 
 
 Dofe be given of about the bignefs of a Rape Seed, 
 
 and be mixtin a Spoon with a little of its Mothers 
 
 Milk, and fo given them It conferves them free 
 
 from 'the invafion of the Epilepfie, and trees them. 
 
 If you find that they are infedted with the Small pox 
 
 or thehke, within a years fpace, the Dole is to be 
 
 augmented, and a fourth or eighth part of a grain 
 
 may be adminiftred to them, the which will bring 
 
 out of the Infants all the impurities by Stool, and 
 
 preferve the Face untouched. Thofe that are from 
 
 fine to two, or twelve years of age, and being trou 
 
 bled with the Worms, do fall into acute Feavers, 
 
 tenring our felves with having fhewn the th;ngs that 
 appertains to the ule of Medicine. Furthermore it 
 is likewife notably efficacious in curing ot external 
 Wounds and Ulcers, provided it be dii(:reetly admi- 
 niflied inwardly, and the external defeds of the 
 body be kept fwcetand clean. Tiiere will in a fhorc 
 time be much more benefit received therefrom, thaa 
 from fuch a deal of Ointments and Emplaifters as are 
 frequently ufed. Praile God and give him thanks 
 for fuch great benefits. 
 
 C FI A P. X. 
 
 The preparation of the Vitriol of Gold and iu ufe in Me* 
 dicifie. 
 
 D' 
 
 Illiilve Gold in fome acid fulphureous Sal Mira- 
 bihs, and not alkalizated, 'viz,, by the moift 
 way, pafs the fblution through a Philter, andabftradt 
 the unprofitable Phlegm (b far untiU there appear a 
 chin skin at the top, which appearing, (et the re- 
 mainder in the cold, and you Ihall get a green Stone 
 like to an Emrald. That part of the Liquor which 
 is not fliot, evaporate again even fo long till a skin 
 appears, that fo you may get the reft of your Vitri^ 
 ol : So all the Gold will together with the Sal Mira^ 
 />//« flioot into a Vitriol, relembling the green nefs 06 
 Grafs, (and (() green) as nature never produced the 
 like. In this Smaragdine Table are found written 
 (or engraven) many wonderful! things, which will 
 neither be read nor underftood by every body. I 
 wi'.l hint fbme few things concerning it, and (iach as 
 appertain to Medicine .- And in the firft place, what 
 kind of Vitriol this ought to be, and what notes and 
 marks it is to be diitinguifhed by, (as thusj a little 
 of it being rubbed with your thumb, on pure or 
 cleanfed Iron, doth guild it of a golden colour. 
 
 (and hereby a great many perifhdeftitute of all help) , whereas the common Vitriol makes the Iron look of 
 may have the Dole augmented if need be, and that , a coppery colour. This is a fign of this golden Vitri- 
 as their age is, from \ a grain to two grains, for lb jol's being prepared after a due manner, which faid 
 the Worms will be killed, and the Feaver lent pack- 1 Vitriol will etfed thofe things in Medicine which I 
 ing. Nay farther, if the Feavers in Children, be j am about to afcribe to it. Befides, it makes Copper 
 they Boys or Girls, do not proceed from the Worms ; and Brals fhew of a golden colour and performs won- 
 but from other caules, yet may fo much of this Me- derfull things with Mercury, if digefted with it, in 
 
 dicine be adminiflred to them as may be requiUte to 
 purge and fweat them, and by this means will they 
 
 the moift way, 
 things. For it 
 
 be (without any hazard of their livesj reftored to forth golden Sprouts 
 
 but for brevity fake I omit thefe^ 
 grows like a little Tree, and fends- 
 
 their former health. There can fcarce be found a 
 
 As touching its Medicinal Virtues fuch ofthena 
 
 more profitable and more prefent remedy againfl: the; as I have found out, are here briefly defcribsd ; 
 
 Plague and other Feavers in young men, middle 
 aged men, and old men than my golden Panacea 
 or purging Gold, and this fame purging Lum here 
 defcribed, the Dofe is from one grain to five or fix 
 grains with reference to the age and Dileafe. Such 
 
 without queftion there lie hid in ityet more and' 
 more excellent Virtues, which as yet are unknown' 
 unto me, but will come to light in procefs of time. 
 
 But the chief efficacy and virtue of this golden Vi- 
 triol as far as I know, doth confift in purging and 
 a Dyet is to be oblerved as 1 have prclcribed in the! bringing out all evil and noxious humours out of the 
 
 ufe of my Panacica, viz.. that the Sick (after the 
 taking of this purging Silver) do abftain from Sleep 
 and all kind of Food for three or four hours at lealt, 
 and beware of the cold Air, and have an efpecial 
 regard to keep a good Dyet. This Medicine of mine, 
 together with my I'anacaa Aurea (or golden uni 
 verlal Medicine) may be fafely, and without any 
 fear of danger made ufe of in the French Pox, Drop- 
 fie, Leprofie, Stone, Gout, and other fiich Difeales, 
 whatever name they are called by ; infomuch that 
 men may (next their truft in God) fafely confide 
 therein. And befides by this Vledicament may very 
 many things be performed in metalline affairs, the 
 
 whole body of Man, and wichall in corroborating 
 and ftrengthening him. And as to this office itout- 
 ftripsall other Medicines whatfoevcr. Nay more, 
 it performs its operation fjieedily, yea m.orefpeedily. 
 than any other purge doth. For asfoon as everic; 
 fiiall be taken into the body it doth prefently begin 
 to work, becaule the Salt is foluble, and therefore 
 fuch bodies as are not opened, can't at all compare 
 with it, for they muft necelVarily lie in the Stomach 
 at leaft half an hour, or a whole hour before they^ 
 begin their operation. And becaufe every common' 
 Vitriol is a capital enemy to all the Wftrms of theBel-i 
 \ly, and the teavers ariling therefrom, wherewith a' 
 
 difcovering «f which we fhall at this time omit, con- ' very many Infants both boys and Girls do die, void ' 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagjrical Difpenfato: 
 
 J 
 
 135 
 
 of all kind of help, I do moft highly commend this 
 Vitriol of Gold to all fuch Fathers and Mothers of 
 Families, whofe Children are dear unto them, that 
 they at all times have it in a readinefs, to be made ule 
 of in cafes of necellity. For verily I never found any 
 better or certainer Remedy againft the Worms than 
 this very fame, becaufe it not onely kills them, but 
 alio calts them our, and doth by Itrengthening the 
 Sick, take away all the Feavers both of old and 
 young. It is alfb a moft great fecret in the Piague, 
 in which Difeafc verily, a longer delay or abiding 
 of a iMedicine in the Body (without working) is 
 hurtful!. Befides, it is not onely a certain and lafe 
 curative Medicine, but likewile a prefervative too 
 in the Plague, and in all acute and contageous Fea 
 vers, as well of young as old, the like to which is 
 fcarce, yea very rare to be found. For this Vitriol 
 doth (peedily and fwiftly draw back from the heart 
 every Poifon, and every burning heat, and being 
 drawn back from all theMembers of the whole Bo 
 dy, doth drive it forth by all the Emundories of the 
 whole Body, but principally by Stool and Sweat. 
 Furthermore, if the Difeafe require it, and the Pati- 
 ents ftrength permit it, it may be adminiftred in a 
 bigger Dofe, and then 'twill provoke to Vomit, and 
 powerfully e.'cpel Choler. It doth in the Lues Vene- 
 rea fhew it le!f moft efficacioufly virtuous, and pow- 
 erfully cafts out Tartarous Fluxes and acute hu- 
 mours out of all the whole B'^dy: By which opera- 
 tion it likewife brings much help and comfort to fuch 
 as are troubled with the Stone and Gout, it removes 
 the Epilepfie both from young and old, and frees the 
 Hydropical of the Water betwi.xt the Skin. And 
 that I may comprife all as 'twere in one word, 'tis 
 fuch an univerfal purge as that it roots out of the whole 
 Body whatfoever is found to be hurtfuU and offen- 
 five therein. It hath not its fellow as to Remedy the 
 Feavers of Children whether proceeding from vVornis 
 or from a corrupted Stomach, the which kill fuch 
 abundance of Infants of both Sexes, without any 
 help left. Nor do I think that there can be found 
 a- better Remedy in the Plague, and in all other a- 
 cute Feavers v/hich ufually kill Men fuddenly, than 
 tills Vitriol of Gold, if it be but rightly madeufeof. 
 The Dole is fmall, and is eafily made pleafant to 
 Childrens Palats, by putting a little Sugar thereunto, 
 orfome fuch like fweet things. To infants newly 
 born, you may give fcarce an eighth part of a grain, 
 again ft (or to prevent) the Epilepfie, or Convu'.fi 
 ons. To fuch as are from one year old, to lo or 
 II years of age, the Dole may be one, two, or three'' 
 grains, according as their age is, the which Dole 
 may be augmented in fuch as are older, according 
 as the age and condition of the Sick requires. Where 
 the Difeafe is Worms, there the Dole muft be fb 
 ftrong as not onely by well purging to kill them, 
 but alfb to calt them forth when killed. For from 
 thole flaiii Worms, if they abide in the Bowels, 
 other new Worms ufually breed. I hope that by 
 my thus revealing this Medicament, I (hall fb bring it 
 to pafs, as that for the time to come, fb many In- 
 fants both Boys and Girls will not be deflroyed by 
 Feavers arifing from Worms, but very many will be 
 fafely prelervcd from fb immature a death 
 
 But here, fome or other may fay or at leaft think 
 within himlelf, what is the rea'fon that I have fuch 
 an efpecial regard to Infants and Children, and am 
 fo very folicitous o^eferving them from an untime- 
 ly end. 1 anfvver hereunto, that nothing is more ' 
 necellary than to atford fome comfortable due help to ; 
 
 Intants, and poor innocent Babes, who do evil to 
 , none, and whofe M, their Parents do fadly brook 
 For It IS certain and widu ur all kind of doubt! 
 that (amrmgft Difcafcs) the Epilepfie or Convul- 
 fion IS th^ nrft that lets upon new born Infants 
 and fvvecps them away. Then prefently follows 
 Meafcls, Nnall Po.v, and fuch like, and thelc k.ll not 
 a few. Ihen comes the Worms, and th.v caufe 
 Feavers which ahHidt them with a cont lual burnin? 
 whereby they lolc all their Appetite to eating, and 
 covet nothing but drink, and the Parents u(e no re- 
 medy to fupprds them, being ignorant that fuch 
 guefts are lodged there, and do not perceive them 
 when the poor fick Babes Bellies do not fwell But 
 further, when by the fwclling of their Bellies, they 
 do know that they have th-,; Worms, and thouph 
 rhey dedic to ule fbme Remedies, vet can they 
 hardly make their litt'e ones to take them as beine 
 
 l!'! /" 'a'"" ^'^ "^"•"^' though fbmetimel 
 they do adminifter common Worm feed, or f^.me o- 
 ther Vegetable Powders good againft the Worms, 
 yet there's fcarce one in ten that is helped and the 
 poor fick Children grow worfe and worfe • And at 
 laft vvhen the Difeafe hath gotten fuch head as thac 
 the Parents ice thut death is at hand, then is the 
 Phyfician lent lor, who ,ifhe knows the Difeafe 
 toanlelrom Worms, and be furnifhed with agood 
 Medicine) doth prefently help the Sick, and free 
 him of the Difeafe. But if he be defliture'of a good 
 Medicine, and attempts to refrefh or cherifh the 
 Sick with his fweet byrups, c^c. he widely crreth 
 for by fuch kind of fweet Juices he gives Nutriment 
 to the Worms^ Neither doth it at all avail to pu 
 Linnen Cloaths, dipped in Rofe water, to the Head 
 thereby to allay its burning heat,and to I.ttlepurpofe 
 are the gentle purging drinks prefcribed For as 
 loon as ever the Worms do perceive any thing .iven 
 o the Sick, which is contrary to them, they p'e^ent 
 y hide themfelves , or run to holes) and do wre'"L 
 themlelvesirrtoakihd of Ring, and pafs out w1 h 
 the Excrements. But if ihev perceive any fweet 
 rhing which ,s pleafant to them to be given^o the 
 iicK, ttiey do receive their nourifhment thencefrom 
 
 dothTrr''" K ^'^■'^ '^■^>- '^^"^^ haporoth rk 
 doth fo chance that one or more is hurried away 
 with the Excrements, yet the reft cf them remain 
 unhurt, and the Difeafe is not taken awav, but pre- 
 vai eh more and more, and at laft deprives the Sick 
 oi uie. He therefore that endeavoureth after the 
 happy curing of fuch Feavers as arife bv reafnn of 
 Worms mult of neceffity (in defed of this golden 
 Vitriol) give his Patient fuch things to drink for 
 three oi tour days as do caufe a bitternefs in the Sto- 
 mach. And although bitter things are unplcafant 
 to the Palate of poor Sick Infants, yet are they ene- 
 niies to the Worms, and do kill them. Such bitter 
 things therefore being drunk for three or four dav^ 
 the Worms do fbmetinxs in fome Sick Children die 
 the hrft or fecond day, but in other fbme 'tis the 
 fourth day e're they die. 
 
 Now then as concerning fuch bitter Medicament^ 
 which 1 here write of, that they may not b^ bitter in 
 the Mouth but be made fo in the Stomach, I fay- 
 that the Metals are fuch. and efpeciallv Iron, Cop- 
 per, Gold and Silver, the which being diOb'ved do 
 obtain a very bitter and ungratetuirSavour But 
 the reafon why Gold and Silver being taken into the 
 body, when they are filed and ground moft exceed- 
 ing imall, do not operate any thing at all, comes 
 from thence, t-r^. becaufe the Acidity of the Sto- 
 mach 
 
13^ 
 
 The Fourth ?art of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 m ich is too weak to fee upon them : And therefore 
 "tis necefliiry that they be hrft converted into Vitri- 
 ols, if you would have them operative in the Sto- 
 maclij'as I have taught you concerning Gold. But 
 foralmuch as every Body cannot be Mafters of fuch 
 a golden or filver Vitriol, it feenied expedient to me 
 toreveal to the poor, a certain and never failing Se- 
 cret, by the help whereof the Worms both in old 
 People and young are killed. 
 
 It is not Criknown to Phyficians that every com- 
 mon Vitriol wherewith Dyers ufe to dye their black 
 Colour, doth { being adminiftred to young People) 
 kill the Worms and caft them out too. But becaufc 
 of its unpleafant and odd taft 'tis a hard matter to 
 make Chi'dren take it. But now if you do a little 
 more accuratelv examine the properties of common 
 Vitriol, you will fipd it to be nothing elfe but a mere 
 acid Salt, by which Iron or Copper, or both togc 
 ther are diliolved in the Earth, by nature. If now 
 we are fo minded, we can alfo make a Vitriol in the 
 Stomach, which wi'l be equally as operative as that 
 which is made by nature and taken in at the mouth, 
 and 'tis done thus. If we give moll final! filings ot 
 Iron or Copper to little Infants in a due weight, ihefc 
 now may be eafily adminiftred unto them, as con 
 raining no ungratefull tall. For, being reduced into 
 thin or curious filings, and being a metal eah'ly ad 
 mitting of Solution, as foon as ever it comes into the 
 Stomach, the Acidity of the Stomach doth meet with 
 it, by which 'tis ealily dillblved, and turned into a 
 Vitriol, and fb endued with the very fame operation 
 as that is, which is prepared in the Earth by Na 
 ture. 
 
 But you are here to obferve the difference that is 
 betwixt the filings of Copper and Iron, and that is 
 this, the Copper works ftrongly, and the Iron much 
 milder. Belides the Copper makes the Stomach 
 vomit, but the Iron cauieth no Vomits, and doth 
 very rarely difturb the Stomach, and when it doth, 
 'tis onely in this cafe, viz,, when 'tis adminiftred in 
 too great a Dole. Therefore amongft all (uch Me 
 dicaments. Iron is the befi:, the fafelf, and the leaf! 
 coi\, though to proud men it may appear fufficicnt 
 ly vile and bafe. Nor is it to be queftioned but that 
 the brethren of ignorance will entertain it with d-e 
 rilion, and liiy ; if Glauber knows no better remedy 
 for the Worms than this, which confifts of the groft, 
 filings of Iron, he had done a great deal better to 
 have kept it oncly to himfelf: And if Iron abound,'^ 
 with fuch Venues there's no reafbn for him lo to 
 praile his pretious Vitriol of Gold with fuch a deal 
 of commendations. To this I anfwer, that my aim 
 in teaching the preparation of the Vitriol of Gold is 
 not direded for the Worms in Children fo much. But 
 1 have added this remedy of Iron to the defcription 
 1 have made of the vertues of the golden Vitriol, to 
 this end. 
 excellent 
 
 raoval of thofeFeavers as are caufed by them. But 
 becaufe .their cure can be more eafily perfedled ( as 
 we juft now fpake about the filings of Iron ) 'tis 
 worth th^ while to have regyrd to the way that is 
 nioft compendious. He that pleafeth may admini 
 fter of the Vitriol of Gold, but I commend Iron to 
 fiich as are poor, for they may have that even every 
 where. There is no Village (o fmall but hath a Smith 
 living in it, who can when your necelTity requires 
 flipply you with fome filings of Iron 
 
 But that my mind may be fully underftood, I jucjg 
 it necellary yet more clearly to give you a Dcclara 
 
 tion of this thing,'u/'i. in what manner and with what 
 convcniency the filings of Iron may be adminiftred 
 to the lick Infants. And 'tis thus done. Whilff the 
 Infants arc unweaned, fonie Grains cjf the faid filings 
 from a, to 6 or 8 Grains, may be mixt with a little 
 Sugar and put into their mouths, and then prefently 
 give them luck, that fb thofe filings may be luckc 
 down together with the Milk into the Stomach. Do 
 this three days together and the Wortiis will be de- 
 ftroyed, and the Feavcr vanifh. But if any body- 
 will make ulc of any other Vehicle than what is the 
 Child's ordinary food, he may do fo if he pleafe. 
 But as for fuch as do not fuck, but do drink out of a 
 fucking Bottle according as the ufijal cuftom is, you 
 may ealily give it the.n, on this wife ; Put a little 
 into the Bottle and flop the hole of the Bottle with 
 your fitiger, and iii turn it upfide down that the fi- 
 lings may Hide down to the hole, and lb let the In- 
 fant fuck it down, and 'twill pals with the drink 
 into the Stomach. To fuch Boys and Girls as are 
 bigger, and have more underlt.inding, it may be 
 given eafily and any way you pleafe, onely telling 
 them that they will bereftored to their former health. 
 To fuch as are lo or ti years o'.d a quarter parr, or 
 an half of the weight which we ufually call Quint- 
 
 lein i_troiTi lo to lo grains] may be given fafely, ' 
 for ; or 4 days. But in the mean while let not the 
 meats they ufe be of hard Concodion, but made of 
 Pottage, Prunes, and fuch like mollifying and loofe- 
 ning things, which may help forward the operation 
 of the Iron, and fo the fick will become the fooner 
 well. I could not refrain from highly commending 
 to all tender Mothers that love their Children, this 
 moff Tafe and not at all coffly Medicine againff all 
 the Feavers proceeding from Worms, which do kill 
 fb many poor little ones deffitute of all kind of help. 
 Let no body matter its vilenefs, but rather think 
 with himfelf, that God hath alio endowed vile and 
 contemptible things with great vertues. Verily ' 
 this Cure, and thus taking away the Worms, and 
 the Difeales arifing there from, is flrongly founded on 
 natural reaibns, or arguments For feeing that the 
 common V^itriol is a Poyfon to Worms, but becaule 
 of its bitter and naufeous raff 'tis exceeding unplea- 
 fant to the Palate, they do very well, that flibftitutc 
 Iron as being void of all Savour, in the room of the 
 common Vitriol, that fo being given to their Chil- 
 dren it may be converted to Vitriol in their Sto- 
 machs, and fo kill and drive out the W(;rms. I my 
 felf have tryed many experiments aboutfhe Cure of i 
 the Worms in my Children, but never found any 
 thing lafer and better than contemptible Iron. 
 
 that I may demonftrate it felfalfb is fo 
 a remedy againfl: Worms, and. for the re 
 
 I 
 
 A Story of a Child thdt had Wcrms. 
 
 Will tell you an infirudir.g Story, concerning a 
 great and eminent man's Child in fiich a Difeafe 
 proceeding from the Worms, in which my felf was 
 concerned A certain rich man did on a time confiilt 
 with me, ( or ask my advife ) about this Child's Di- • 
 feafe. I gave him as much filing of Iron as was fuffi- 
 C'.ent for one Dole, for his Child to drink. It 
 feemed an abfurd thing to the good man, to give an 
 Infant filings of Iron, upon this conceit he omitted 
 to ufe it, and having called two Phyficians he fhews 
 them the filings, and askt them whether they would 
 advife him toadminifter it to hi.'Afdnr. They ear- 
 neftly dilTwaded him from uliiig ft^ faying that if he 
 ufed it his Child would be killed, and that it was a 
 
 Medicine 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagj'rical Bifpenfarorj. 
 
 137 
 
 Medicine onely fit for curing of Horfes, and that 
 they vvould prclcribe a far fafer and better one. They 
 faid there was nodangerin the Child of Worms, and 
 therefore they prefcribed ic a cooling and purging 
 Syrup, thereby to take away the Feaver, and they 
 alfb added confeftions of Pearls, with other cooling 
 Waters. Death defpifed thefe kind of Potions, and 
 I fnatcht away the Infant: The Child being dead, 
 'there crept out of his mouth great Worms, and 
 clearly teftified to the Parents their unfeafonable re- 
 jetfting my advife, haply becaufe the Medicine I 
 prefcribed was not coftly, but prepared out of a 
 vile Subject. But it repented the Parents too late : 
 The Mother coming afterwards into the Houfe of a 
 certain Neighbour, gave that filings which I had de- 
 livered them, unto an Infant troubled with a Feaver 
 and the Worms, who upon the taking of that one 
 dofe onely became better, and by little and little 
 tetnrned to its former ftate of health, I was willing 
 to (5t down this hiftory to the end that I might de- 
 monftratc, that vile and abject things are many 
 times capable of performing more than Pearls and 
 precious Stones can. 
 
 And To I conclude this fo very neceflary a difcourfe 
 concerning Worms, and the Feavers arifing from 
 them, whereby great multitudes of poor Infants are 
 deftroyed. I hope that no body will take it amifs 
 that I have made lb long a difcourfe concerning 
 Worms, For I judged it neceflary to (hew the caufe 
 from whence fo many little ones do dye in the flower 
 of their Age. He that refufeth to believe what I lay, 
 let him try the thing by his own loft. 
 
 C H A P. XI. 
 
 t)f Mercury and its excellent Vertues, both Medicinal and 
 Chymicaly I mean not the common and -well known 
 Mercury, but the Mercury of the Fhilofofhers, the 
 ivhich IS extracted by the Vulgar and -well known Gold 
 andSil-ver, ( but they are to be firfi rendered Magne- 
 tical) but of the Beams of the fuperiour Sun and 
 Moon, by the help and ajfiflance of the Air. 
 
 IT is well known to thofe that have looked over 
 the manifold Writings which are extant at this 
 day, how many and how great fearches have been 
 made, and how various and many opinions there 
 have been abroad for many Ages, concerning the 
 Philofophers Mercury; as many men fo many minds, 
 one man concludes with himlelf to prepare it out of 
 fuch a matter, another out of fuch a thing, and 'tis 
 hereby come to fuch a pafs as that, there's no more 
 faith left for any luch Mercury, and 'tis lookt on as if 
 there were no lijch thing in nature, nor is at prelenc 
 any where extant : Becaufe fo many thoufands of 
 men have been occupied in the fearch thereof, and fo 
 moft exceedingly Imall a number have been mafters 
 thereof. 
 
 Others have opinionated, that the moft pure fub- 
 ftance is to be extraded out of Gold and Silver, but 
 not in the form of a running Mercury, but in a wa- 
 tery form, and to be coagulated and fixed by the help 
 of the Fire into a medicinal Stone. 
 
 Otherfome have perlwaded themfelves that Gold 
 and Silver being ripe and fixt, are no v/aysfit for fo 
 great a work, but 'tis rather to be fought for in fuch 
 Subjects as never alfumed to themfelves any fhape, 
 but do as yet lie hidden in that great and univerfal 
 Chaos the Air, becaufe they faw that the life of all 
 
 things lay hidden in the Air, and that out of it eve- 
 ry Creature of God doth daily and without inter 
 mifllon attrart it unto it fcif after a niagnetical man- 
 ner, both tor its own life and augmentation, and 
 that it is fo too with the feeds, abundance of them 
 ( and they mofi: dilYercnt forts too ) being Ibwn in 
 the lame Earth, do each of them ( according as its 
 natureand property is) acquire tojt (elf both lifeand 
 augmentatiotTthencefrom, viz. tlTe Air. 
 
 So likewife may it be brought to pafs, that even 
 the Metals may according to their nature and pro- 
 priety extraLt their encrealeout of the Earth or Air, ' 
 knew we but \\ow to get the true Seed, or true Mag- 
 net which might get out that augmentation. For 
 why fhould not God have as well given a Seed to 
 thefe his Creatures for their encreafing, as well as to 
 the other Creatures ? So then there are very many 
 fundry Opinions fprung up, concerning the Mercury 
 of the Philofophers, and very many men have to 
 their uttermoft fearched after it, yet but a very few 
 have obtained the fame. Though it be thus, yet the 
 fault is not to be imputed either to Nature or Art, 
 but to the fearcher after it, becaufe he errs and feeks 
 not in the due place. Verily I did very many years 
 ago exceeding iludioufly apply my felf to the fearch 
 of fuch a fpiritual and Gold and Silver attraiiting 
 Magnet, but I could not hitherto attain to the true 
 Scope, until I at length by chance found that a true 
 living and running Mercury might, by the benefit 
 of Art, without any Addition of Mercurial things, 
 be extraded out of the fugacious and imperfeft 
 Metals, fuch as are Lead, Tin, Bizmuth, Zink, and 
 Antimony. And although I had read many Philo- 
 fophers affirming this thing, yet did I always doubt 
 of the lame, and indeed not without caufe; for ia 
 my youthfuU days, ferving a man of great note in 
 Chymical Labours, I tried in two years Ipace two 
 hundred ways of making the Mercury o{ Saturn, and 
 not fo much as one of them liicceeded. Now my 
 l^id Mafter was flirred up to the fearch of this Sa- 
 turnine Mercury upon this occalion as follows. He 
 had feme familiarity with many noble Perfonages 
 that were alfo addided to the ftudy of Alchimy : 
 One of them knew how to make running Mercury 
 out of Lead, and to turn it into the beft Gold, and 
 he fent unto my Matter one lot or fomewhat bet- 
 ter of that ftid Mercury, together with the way of 
 turning it and fixing it into Gold. We let about the 
 work and it fucceeded to our defires, and yielded us 
 as much Gold as there was Mercury fent us. This 
 hoped for fuccefs did Co edge on my Mafler, that he 
 could not refl: till he had obtained froin him that 
 knew it, the manner of making this Saturnine Spi- 
 rit. But as often as ever we tried the operatioh 
 according to the way prefcribed us, both our hopes 
 and labour were in vain. And then my laid Mafter 
 readily granted, that we could not elled it. Here- 
 upon it was that he fought all abroad with thegrea- 
 teft diligence, and had got luch abundance of pro- 
 cefles and operations, that two years did Icarce fuf- 
 fice me to try them all ; though there was not lb 
 much as one amongft them all that anfwered our 
 wifhes, but all our Labours were in vain. Upon this 
 Icore, I could believe neither Bafilius or Paraceljits 
 when I read in them, that Gold and Silver might 
 be refolved into true and running Ahrcury^ lecing 
 that the bare turning of unripe Lead into Alercury, 
 did coft me and others lb great Labour and Pains, 
 
 I and yet we could not obtain it neither. Wliereiipon 
 
 I I fell into this opinion, that the Philofophers jpointed 
 
 Nn at 
 
138 
 
 The Fourth Fart of 
 
 Part 11. 
 
 at fome other thing, by their running Mercury : And 
 I did fb long adhere to this opinion of mine, untill I 
 chanced to light on the making of a running Mercury 
 out of I -cad, and I have feveral times repeated the 
 operation with the fame fucceft. 
 
 I \\Ave hkcwife revealed it to others, who have alfo 
 done the fame, but onely in fmall quantities hither- 
 to. But fome of --hem have beftowed much pains a- 
 bout it, and to prepare it in a greater quantity ; and 
 that principally, becaufe 'tis certainly manifeft that 
 no finall benefit lies herein hidden. Nay if it were 
 ' no othcrwife profitable than barely thus, that it may 
 be turned into Gold, and of this I am certain, ('twere 
 worth while ) For if the faid Mercury be but rubbed 
 upon a piece of Gold, it makes it white , and being 
 then put upon the Coals, it leparates indeed from it, 
 but yet leaves it tinged of a higher and deeper Colour. 
 If this Labour be ought repeated, the Gold will be 
 cbme weightier. And hence may eafily be conjeftu- 
 fed, that if it were adjoyned to a pure Golden Calx, 
 it would in a fhort fpace of time eafily pafs into good 
 Gold. Neither is there any doubt, bur that if any 
 nne did but know the manner of rightly handling 
 fuch a Mercury, he would obtain fome notable thing 
 out of it, becaufe all the Philolbphers do in their 
 Writings promife fo much good of Saturn. They 
 generally affirm that Lead is (inwardly) far beyond 
 Gold. How many Philofophers are there that teach 
 the preparation of the univerfal Work from thence .'' 
 See the Univerfal Work of Jjaac HoUand, Paracelfm 
 his Heaven of Philofophers, The great and fmall 
 Countryman, &c. Many do exprefly write, that 
 all things which the Philofophers do feek for, are to 
 be found in Lead ; Hereupon they called itLeaprous 
 Gold. And fome Philofophers do write, that in Mer- 
 cury are all things that are fought for, haply they 
 mean not the Common, but fuch an one as is drawn 
 out of Metals. But well even let pafs this Mercury 
 of Saturn, and fee whether or no we cannot find a 
 better Aiercurf, and fijch a one as is of greater mo- 
 ment. In the mean time the faid Mercury of Saturn 
 will fly about, and bring good news to the Lovers of 
 Truth, VIZ.. that GLAUBER is now in the way, to 
 triumph, by the help of God, over all his Enemies. 
 
 We will therefore go on to fearch out, whether 
 or no there is not another and better running Mer- 
 cury than that to be found, which comes out of Lead. 
 When I did fomewhat more accurately fearch into 
 Nature's fccrets, I clearly faw, that all things which 
 live and doe in growing take an encreafe, do pro- 
 ceed or come forth by the Sun's operation, infbmuch 
 that fuch fruits as are nearer hereunto are the more 
 excellent, and by how much the farther off any are 
 from it, by fo much the vilder be they. As for ex- 
 ample in Wine ; by how much the nearer it is to 
 the Sun, fb much the nobler is it ; and by how much 
 the farther it is from it, fo much the vilder is it. 
 
 The fame may be obferved in the generation of 
 Metals, vtz>. that in the hotter regions there is a 
 greater quantity of Gold, and of Silver, than in the 
 colder Countries. This is well known, and out of 
 all difpute : So then when I faw that the hot beams 
 of the Sun, together with the cold and refrefhing 
 light of the Moon, did not onely ripen Gold, but 
 alfo thofe excellent Wines, and the belt tafted Fruits, 
 yea and the moft contemptible Herbs, and that it 
 gave to all things their mofi acceptable Savour ; well 
 did I conclude, that if a convenient Matrix, or fiiit- 
 able Magnet were expofed to the hot Sun-beams, 
 
 and night receive their Operations ; Ic could not pof^ 
 fibly be, but that the Seeds ot thofe ( t;/&. of Sol 
 and Liive ) infinuating themfelves into fuch a Mag- 
 net, will pafs into mort excellent Fruit, and obtain 
 a perfed maturation. I did once make trial to fee 
 whether it Would be fb or no, and having artificially 
 prepared Gold and .Silver, opened them, and brought 
 them tra a Magnetical attractive vertue ; and being 
 well mi.xed, I expofed them to the Sun and Moon, to 
 (ee and try what would proceed thencefrom. Then 
 afterwards, fuppofing them to have flood long e- 
 nough at the Sun and Mooti, I put them into a fmall 
 Glafi Retort, and placed it in Sand, and feparated 
 ( by diftillation ) all the moifture from the Golden 
 and Silver Magnet, that it had attrafted from the 
 Air. I got indeed a Iweet Water, but yet not with- 
 out Vertues. But having adminiflred a ftronger fire 
 to this Magnet, I drew therefrom an aflringcnt Li- 
 quor, relembling a golden yellow Colour, and like 
 to Gold. I again expofed the faid dried Magnet to 
 the beams of the Stoi and Aloon, that it might by 
 them be impregnated, and that 1 might fee whether 
 or no a Second, and more Births would be produced, 
 anfwering in all refpeds to the former. I doe not 
 doubt of them, I confefs but that they will be of a 
 like property and nature as their Father and Mother 
 are, or indeed be moie fair and excellent than they 
 be : For that firft- begotten off fpring brought with it 
 felf into the World a far more excellent fairnefs than 
 its Father had. 
 
 Farther, bringing this Birth of Sol and Lune to a 
 more accurate trial, that fb.I might find our its ver- 
 tues and efficacy, I firfl of all perceived, that there 
 lay hidden therein (though as yet fo Volatile) a 
 Medicine of great moment. And dealing with id 
 upon a certain time, and putting a little of it by- 
 chance upon Gold, I found that it made the Gold 
 white ; and rubbing the faid Liquor many times up- 
 on the Gold, it did at length produce (or fhow forth) 
 the live Mercury that lay hidden therein, which faid 
 Mercury th.ns living and vifible, I extracted out of 
 this fame Liquor ; but it is better not to vivifie it, but 
 to take it as 'tis born , and (b fix it and make it con- 
 ftant. And now, I fuppofe, that fuch a Mercury as 
 is extraiflcd out of the Air, by Gold and Silver, being 
 not fb much corporeal as fpiritual, is to be accounted 
 of as the true Mercury of the Philofophers. 
 
 But if now any will objec!!; and fay, that this Mer- 
 cury doth not proceed forth from the Air, or that ic 
 is not extrad:ed out of the beams of Sol or Lune by 
 the Magnerick Gold and Silver ; fiich a one may 
 even fay what he pleafeth, but in the mean time he 
 will not get the things he fifheth for. Befides, I do 
 not matter it fo much, 'viz,. whence it arifeth, pro- 
 vided I can obtain the fame ; If it did proceed out 
 of the Gold and Silver, ic were not theretbre to be 
 rejected, but it would be altogether better than that 
 which is made out of grois Lead, nay haply it might 
 become a Tinfture, did but any one know how right- I 
 ly to handle it. 
 
 It is a ufual Proverb, that the Jpple falls not far \ 
 from the Tree, and each thing follows the Seeds of its 
 proper and peculiar nature. By hoiv much the fwbler 
 the Tree is, by fo much the more "u-' or thy is the Hood there- 
 of. The younger fort fing over the fame Song as the old 
 ones doe. Now thefe Proverbs do declare, that the 
 Fruits are fb much the more excellent, by how much' 
 a better nature the Tree is of, and this is a fure 
 rule : And therefore it necefl'ariiy follows, that fuch 
 
 and to the cold light of the Moon, that might day a Mercury as is drawn by Gold and Silver out of the 
 
 Air, 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spagjrical Difpenf^tory, 
 
 139 
 
 Air, or doth proceed barely from Gold and Silver, 
 muft needs be far betrer than that which hath its rile 
 from Lead : And herein I acquiefce. Let every one 
 take from thence what beft likes him, I was willing 
 to leave to fuch as come after me, thofe things which 
 I met vvithall of fo great moment. 
 
 And as concerning the Medicinal Vertucs of this 
 Golden Mercury, I doe give this caution about it, 
 that if it be ufed as it came over at firft in the dilVilla- 
 tion in Medicine, becaufe 'tis as yet immature, and 
 but newly born, it may work too Itrongly upon the 
 Body of Man. It is therefore better that it be fixed 
 with fome corporal well-opened Gold , and Co 'twill 
 efFcLt thofe things which a Univerfal Medicine is one- 
 ly able to perform. I confefs that hitherto I have 
 not brought it to any conftancy or fixity, becaufe I 
 have not had time of rightly handling it : In the 
 mean while there are others that will fet about this 
 labour, and will in due time manifeft more things 
 concerning it. Let every one be content therefore 
 with this prefent difcovery, viz,, that a tiuely live 
 ind running Mercury may be extraded, not onely 
 out of the foft and volatile Metals, and confequent- 
 ly unripe ones, but alfo out of the ripe Metals. And 
 feeing that nioft Men doubt much of the truth of 
 fuch a thing, I could not omit the affirmation of the 
 feme, as being a moft true thing : He that lifteth 
 may make trial of the fame. 'Tis enough for me 
 to have (hown you the way. Let others likewife 
 publifh fomething, that fo the truth which hath been 
 fo long fuppreft hitherto, may at length fpring forth 
 out of the darknefs into light. 
 
 And now, at laft, lets come to treat of Wine, and 
 examine what an harmony and familiarity there is 
 in it with Gold and Man. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Sheweth how great harmony , familiarity ^ and love j there 
 is in PFine, vjith Mankind and Gold. 
 
 IT is evident, even from the Writings of all the Phi- 
 lofophers, that Wine and Gold is a wholfome re- 
 medy for Mankind, but yet not in fuch a grofs ftate, 
 and without any preparation, as they come forth 
 out of the Earth, but they are to bedeftroyed, and 
 their moft pure parts to be extraded, and again con- 
 joy ned. To obtain this knack, there have been ufed 
 many Menfiruums, and one more excellent than ano- 
 ther. The common Spirit of Wine hath no familia- 
 rity at all with Gold, becaufe of its unripe and com- 
 buftible Sulphur, from which Gold is wholly averfe, 
 as being its enemy. This thing I have in feveral 
 places of my Writings made mention of, and have 
 alfo taught it in this very Treatife , that Gold being 
 diflblved in .^7. Regia , and precipitated with the 
 Water of Tartar, yields moft curious fine Atoms, 
 which cannot be done any other kind of way. For 
 the common grofs Wine, and the common fulphure- 
 ous and unripe Tartar are enemies to the Gold, the 
 which is evidently manifeft by this preparation of 
 the moft fubtile Calx of Gold, caufed by the pour- 
 ing of the Water of Tartar thereunto, whereby 'tis 
 precipitated unto the bottom. 
 
 The certainty of the truth of this thing may be 
 thus tried, if a little Gold being diflblved in Ati. Re- 
 gis be put into a glafs full of RhenitTi, or any other 
 (harpifh Wine : The Gold will be prefently precipi- 
 tated, by the Tartar which is in the Wine, into a 
 
 tender and fhinlnt^ Powder, but it will not in a mo- 
 ment of time fettle to the bottom, but by little and 
 little. And yet if you put the Wine in a Veliel over 
 a fire of Coals, and boil it, then will it bo fpeedily 
 precipitated. From whence tis evidently apparent, 
 that Wine being as yet not at all feparated from its 
 impurities, doth as it were differ from Gold, with a 
 deadly hatred, and yet carries hidden in its bowels 
 a fubftance moft friendly to the Gold , the which 
 will, in the end, manifeft it felf fo to be, when the 
 more grofs parts are feparated from the more fub- 
 tile. 
 
 BaJiliiK reacheih its preparation by a peculiar pro- 
 per inftrumenr, wherein ("as 1 judge) the Spirit of 
 Wine is to be kindled and burnt, that fb by the 
 burning up of the Sulphurcity, the Mercurial Salt 
 may be feparated and caught in a cold Receiver. 
 And with this very Salt ( faith he) may a Tinfture 
 be extraded out of Gold, which ftems very proba- 
 ble to be fo, if one could but j^et or catch that faid 
 Mercurial Salt. Many indeed have attempted this 
 labour, but perhaps not a man hath found an an- 
 fwer to his expectation, where the defed lies, God 
 knows. 
 
 Others have mixed Gold with Alkalies, and have 
 taught the extra!^ing of a Tindure by an Alkaliza- 
 ted Spirit of Wine , which way, though they may 
 doe fbmewhar, yet it is not the genuine way. 
 
 Alfo fome have by difHilation gotten a certain fie- 
 ry Spirit out of Tartar, and therewith endeavoured 
 to conquer Gold. Here indeed is an appearance of 
 fome kind of pofTibility, but yet this Spirit is not to 
 be attempted for that, which unlocketh all the bow- 
 els of the Gold ; and that for this reafbn, becaufe it 
 doth as yet abound with combuftible Sulphur, to 
 which Gold is a bitter enemy. But now if you would 
 duely joyn Gold with Wine, then muft all the com- 
 buftible Sulphur (of the Wine) be firft feparated from 
 its Mercurial part, and the Mercury of the Wine is 
 to be brought by diftillation into a notable fiery Spi- 
 rit ; if this be not done, there will be no great mat- 
 ters efFeded with it. 
 
 CHAP. xin. 
 
 By -what means fuch a Spirit of Wine as doth afociate 
 It felf to the Cold may he prepared. 
 
 Without doubt many fuch as perceive that there 
 is a pofTibility of preparing fuch a Spirit will 
 be moft vehemently defirous to know the operation, 
 how 'tis to be done. But it is even a wickednefs to 
 caft fuch a great Secret before the unworthy and im- 
 pure Swine. It therefore will be fufficicnt to fhew 
 both that it may be dene, and after what manner ; 
 the reft to be left to God. 
 
 But that the ftudious Artift may not be wholly af- 
 frighted or kept back, I will here declare, fo much 
 as may be fiafficient to any one that is verfed in the 
 Labours of the Fire, for the acquifinon of fb great a 
 Spirit : But yet with this provilb, that -he make ufe 
 of Patience in his operation, for this work is not to 
 be difpatched in a day, like as that labour which in 
 one days diftillation affords a Spirit out of the Lees 
 of Wine, or out of Tartar. No '. But the manner 
 of the work is thus : 
 
 Take white or red Tartar ( for both of them be- 
 ing well mundified, are as good one as the other) 
 dilfolve it in Water, and feparate all its grofs Sulphur 
 
 by 
 
140 
 
 The Fourth Fnrt of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 by a certain precipitating matter. This impurity a- 
 biding in the Water, is to befeparated from the pre- 
 cipitated Tartar, by pouring out the Water, the 
 which (Tartar ) remains in the bottom like a fnowy 
 Sand, and is to be well purged by reiterated wafh- 
 ings with Water, lb long untill ( all the impurities 
 beint; well feparated ) the Powder it felf becomes 
 like to the white Snow. Now although that this 
 Tartar be molt 'exceeding white, yet doth it contain 
 as yet many Sulphureous Fsces; which being black, 
 do never fuffer themfejves to be feparated by any 
 Solutions and Coagulations, but it is neceffary that 
 they be precipitated by a certain precipitating mat- 
 ter. Therefore let that Tartar be again diflblved in 
 pure Water, and be precipitated , the which Soluti- 
 ons and Precipitations let be fo often and fo long re 
 peated, untill there appear no more black Pieces 
 This moft pure and moft acceptable Tartar melteth 
 in the mouth, and doth almoft in the manner of o 
 ther Salts eafily admit of Solution in cold water. 
 Being brought to this pafs, it is rendred fit to be dealt 
 withall in the following manner. 
 
 Dilfolve fome pounds of this pure Tartar in cold 
 water, fo as to make it fufficiently acid. Put this 
 Solution in fome warm place, or rather in Horfe- 
 dung, or in a warm Balneo, that the Tartar may 
 begin to putrefie and lofe its acidity, and get a kind 
 of fweetiflinefs , which before it will come to be, 
 there is required the time of fome months. After 
 it hath thus putrefied, and loft its acidity, all the 
 unprofitable Water is to be evaporated by a Balne- 
 um, untill it become a thick and black Juice like Ho- 
 ney ; the which being fet in the Glafs in Sand, and 
 being urged with a ftronger fire than was made in 
 the Balneo, will yield a fiery Spirit, and fuch an 
 one as will mix it (elf with Gold diflblved in Spirit of 
 Salt, and will feparate the purer parts by digeftion, 
 and draw them to it felf, from the more grofs parts, 
 and fb will perform its office in Medicine even to 
 moft high admiration. For any one may eafily con- 
 jedtuie that the moft pure parts of Wine, Salt, and 
 Gold will operate no evil effect. 
 
 What it will perform in Metalline affairs, I doe 
 not as yet know ; But, without queftion, if it be right 
 ly adminiftrcd, and duely made iifc of, it will play 
 its part very notably. 
 
 This operation before fet down, feems eafie to be 
 done, if barely looked on outwardly, but there's 
 more labour and trouble in it than one would ima- 
 gine. Such as have not the gift of patience, and 
 knows not what belnngs to patient working, may 
 fi^rbe.r this labour. For the putrefaftion proceeds 
 on very flowly,and there is required the knowledge 
 of a matter precipitating Tartar, without which it 
 will never fuffer it felf to be precipitated and purged, 
 'tis an hard thing to find, but he that knows it, it 
 renders him all his labour facile and eafie. Any im- 
 pure Tartar, whether it be white or red, may be (o 
 wafhed in one or two hours fpace, and fo purged, 
 that ( lofing nothing fave its F.-Eces) it will become 
 moft white, and much more apt for many operati- 
 ons. But my time will not admit of treating farther 
 of thefc affairs, it may ( God willing ) be done after- 
 wards in another place. 
 
 However, thus much I will yet add more ; That 
 if Spirit of Wine brought to the higheft purity, fo as 
 to retain no filthy favour or odour, be in a due 
 quantity conjoyned by the help of common Water 
 with this excellently we'll depurated Tartar,there will 
 refult from them two a drink of a moft excellent fa- 
 
 vour, like to natural Wine, and may be uled mflead 
 of wholfome Wine. This would be a mcft profita- 
 ble thing for thole that travel, had thev but that 
 Spirit of Wine, and that fb e.xcellently well prepared 
 Tartar. For there is Water to be had in all places, 
 and fo they may at all times and e\ ery whei e make 
 themfelves good Wine, yea fo good and fo flrong as 
 they pleafe, according as they add more or lels of 
 that Spirit and Tartar. 
 
 N. B. This Art would be very profitable for the 
 cold Countries, in which Countries, in the want of 
 Spirit of Wine, becaufe no Wine grows there, the 
 Spirit of Corn will perform the fame. The chiefeft 
 knack is, to be furnifted with that Tartar, which 
 by an eafie Solution enters into ( or is difiolved in) 
 the Water. But this is a bufinefs of a greater mo- 
 ment than to be divulged. I have already opened 
 to fome the manner of preparing fuch a Tartar, who 
 make it in plenty, and fo any one may eafily 
 from them as much as they fhall need 
 Befides the ufe of that kind of Tartar 
 
 get 
 
 -, conduceth 
 
 to the accomplifhing of many other things, but not 
 to be fpoken of, left it fhould prove a detriment to 
 fuch as know it. But I doe here truely and fincere- 
 !y affirm, that whofoever he be that can without 
 waft and colt fo prepare the common vulgar Tartar, 
 he will be hereby able to get his food and ray- 
 ment, and other neceffaries for life, wherefoever and 
 in what Country foever he fhall abide. This thing 
 will in procefs of time have a farther progrefs, and 
 many will by the benefit thereof live more happily, 
 and perform things .incredible. I have made a be- 
 ginning, and the Mice fhall never gnaw off what I 
 have here written, but contrarily my Succello.rs fhatl 
 enjoy the fame to Gods glory, even to the Worlds 
 end, and will in the fiift place thank God, and next 
 him, me, as being the Authour and Revpaler of the 
 fame. I could reveal many moft profitable things 
 that might be done by fuch a Tartar, were it not 
 for injuring fuch as get their living by ir, and which 
 for certain caufes are not at prefent to be mentio- 
 ned. I have faid enough to Wile men, and as for 
 deriders and mockers, I have faid too much, for they 
 will fay all are Lies, becaufe they know not how to 
 doe thus. 
 
 As to what appertains to the ufe of this here 
 defcribed Liquor, conjoyned of Gold, Tartar, and 
 Salt, it may lerve inftead of Ait-rum Potabik, in all 
 SickneflTes, and may be profitably adminiftred, in 
 corroborating the vital Spirits ; for it doth not dif^ 
 cover its Venues by a remarkable and vifible ope- 
 ration, but it ftrengthens the Body, and doth very 
 gently drive out Urine and Sweat, and feldom is it 
 that it provokes to ftooi, uniefs it be given in a 
 ftrong Dofe. The Dofe is from one, two, three, 
 fix, nine Drops, even to a Scruple, according as the 
 Sick is, in Water, Wine, or Aic, or other Liquors, 
 in a Morning upon a fafting Stomach, and at Even- 
 ing after Supper, for (ome days together. It keeps 
 the Body open, and ftrengthens the Brain, and all 
 the -Members. But principally ( before the ute of 
 this Liquor ) the Body be well purged with good 
 purging Remedies, (uch as are my purging Gold, 
 and purging Lime , becaufe then this Medicine of 
 the faid Golden Liquor operates far better, and 
 more profitably. In ufing it, yoa are to obferve 
 whether or no the Excrements ^become black, if nor, 
 the Dofe is fo long to be augmented cr continued 
 untill the Excrements that come away be of a black 
 Colour. Moreovtr , the Dilcalc decreafing , the 
 
 Dofe 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spagjrical Difpenfatory. 
 
 141 
 
 Dofe is ro be leffened by little and little, according 
 as neceflTuy or the difeafe requires. 
 
 Thefe things I thought good, at this time, to 
 publifh in the Fourth Part of my Sfagyrical Pbar- 
 macofxa. I entreat that every one would take in 
 
 good part thefe few Medicinal Secrets, but of very 
 wide and large extent. And , God willing , my 
 Third Century will fhortly come abroad and pre- 
 (ent you with a Manifeftation of more excellent Me- 
 dicines, and other profitable Secrets. 
 
 J he End of the Fourth Fart, 
 
 THE 
 
 FIFTH PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Spagyrical Difpenfatory. 
 
 Difcourfing of the true Univerfal Medicine, and of thofe 
 
 moft Eminent Arcana s^ as well Univerfal as Particular, which are hither- 
 to unknown unto the World 5 by the help of wliich unheard-of and 
 almoft incredible Operations may be eifected- not onclv' in Medicine, 
 but alfo in Alchymy. Propofed by way of Queftion and Anfrrer. 
 
 Queftion i. 
 
 WHether or no it is a thing fojjlble in nature 
 for luch a Tinilure, or fo Uni'verfal a Me- 
 Aicameiit to be fretareJ, as by the help of 
 which, both the Bodies of Men and Metals may be pro- 
 moted unto an higher, better, and more noble Degree or 
 Ejjence ? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 It is not at all to be doubted of, for, as well the 
 Authority of fb many and (b great Men ( who con- 
 feft by their Writings which they have publifhed that 
 they have made the fame) as daily experience de- 
 monftrates the fame to be a truth , void of any 
 doubt. 
 
 Queftion 2. 
 
 If thofe things which fo many illuminated Thilofophers 
 ba-ve -written of this Uni'verfal Medicine be true ; how 
 comes it to pafs, that though almofi the whole World 
 ftarcb after the fame, yet fcarce one of fo many thoufands 
 is mafler of the fame, and that the greatejl fart of the 
 inquifttors after it, waft their Ejtates in the fearch to no 
 furpofe ? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 The Art is not to be blamed, becaufe of the fruic- 
 lefs endeavours of (b very many men that ib greedily 
 gape after fo great a treafiire ; but the fault is to be 
 imputed to their own felves, for they are hereto dri- 
 ven and ftirred up by their infatiable covetoufneft 
 and unjuft intentions, to make their (earch after fo 
 divine a gift, and their defign is to fcrape up to them- 
 felves,by the help thereof, great Riches and Honours, 
 little thinking that God always hath and fhll doth 
 beftow his gifts upon fuch as are upright and fincere, 
 and who doe not oncly daily pray unto him for the 
 fame, but do alfb fearch after them with uncelTant 
 Labours. This the Apoftle himfelf doth witnefs in 
 exprefs words, faying. It is not of him that wills, nor 
 of him that runs, but of God that jl:ews mercy. And 
 yet the extreamly blinded World believes it not, nor 
 propofeth unto it felf any other Scope than the fcra- 
 ping together of Gold and Silver right or wrong, and 
 fain would as it were wreft this fb great a trealure 
 out of the hands of God ; and having gotten it, add 
 fewel to their malice, pride, and impiety ; And fb 
 by this means, more nearly approach ( even in this 
 life j to the Devil the Father of all wickednefs, and 
 be at laft plainly like him. And this now is the pri- 
 mary and principal caufe, why fb sexy many as are 
 
 O o bufied 
 
14 
 
 Tfo Fifth ?art of 
 
 Part IT. 
 
 bufied about the fearch of fo great a treafure, do 
 lofe both their labour and expence. 
 
 Queftion ;. 
 
 But are there no ether impediments that prefttit them- 
 [elves, and which may be an hindrance and bar even a 
 gainfl- piotis men too, and fuch as lead a blamelejs life 
 before God and Man, -whireby they cannot have admifjivn 
 to the knowledge of^b great a AJedicainan ? 
 
 Anfi 
 
 ■wer. 
 
 and curfbriiy running over the Writings of the Phi- 
 loibphers without any (erious rr.editatinn upon the 
 thing they read,or without underft.inding of the fame, 
 do think themfelves maflers of a great deal of Wife- 
 dnm, and rirmly perlwade themfclvfs, that if they 
 have a httle fmatch of Learning, and have but the 
 knowledge of a Tongue or two, and have but by 
 fbme Anagrams pleafantly tingling in the Ears offbmc 
 ^rear Men, fboth'd their minds a little, and wip'd 
 them of fbme of their Silver, the finding out of fo 
 great a myftcry cannot poffibly efcape rheir profound 
 Scho!arfhip, but they muft needs catcli it. But yet 
 ( by their leave) they are quite out, and full well are 
 they known unto God, who with-holds from thoTe 
 proud dcriders, and envious contemners of the truth, 
 his benediction, and leaves them wallowing in their 
 courtly paftimes (b long, untill at length (_ after their 
 turning and applying themfelves from one foolifh de- 
 ceived man to another, and fo on) they doe them- 
 felves lay open their own grofs ignorance and moft 
 filthy fhifts, which they have wrapt over with fuch 
 a deteftable babling, and by the fruitlefhefs of the e- 
 vent (hew thas their large promifes of golden Moun- 
 tains are moft vain and idle. And hereupon their 
 hopes of having the Philofopher's Stone (which they 
 feek for meerly to advance their pride, and the more 
 eafily to fupprefs the truth ) vanifhing away with the 
 fmoak, they lo(e all their credit and their good report, 
 and can find no more fuch credulous perfons that 
 will fufter themfelves to be foothed by their moft vain 
 promifes. And this is another kind of thole that be- 
 llow their labour in vain about this fo great a work, 
 who doe thereby add a great load to their wicked- 
 nefs, by wafting other mens goods, and deceiving 
 the too credulous, and ruining others as well as 
 themfelves. There are yet a third kind of erroneous 
 learchers, and who deceive themfelves with their 
 vain labour, and they are fuch as being a little too 
 credulous and fimple when they have lighted upoa 
 fome of the Philofbplxrs Writings, and read what 
 
 Yes verily, there are exceeding many, or almoft 
 innumerable impediments that lie in the way, and 
 fhut up the padage even againft the approaches of 
 pious men to Co great a work, though they attempt 
 the feme too with a good intention, and do fue unto 
 God by their daily prayers, and make their fearch 
 with a moft diligent meditation, and continual La- 
 bours thereabout. 
 
 Queftion 4. 
 
 JFhat are thofe impediments, I p-ay ? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 To reckon up all thofe impediments apart, and to 
 fet down each of them fo clearly as for every one to 
 underftand and apprehend the fame, cannot at pre- 
 Tent be done ; neither is it neceflTary to mention all, 
 for it would not onely amount to a great Volume, 
 but would alfo be a burthen to the Reader, and be 
 rather an hindrance than an imitation and encou- 
 ragement unto him concerning the attainment of the 
 knowledge of fo great a work. 
 
 But yet that I may fatisfie in fome fort, the deflres 
 of fome or other, I will recount fome of the chicfeft 
 of thofe impediments, by the knowledge of which, 
 
 every one niay know the reafons that are wont to j vaft treafures are to be gotten by Chymical Labours, 
 ftave off even pious men from fo great a Secret. doe prefcntly feel an itching defire after Gold, and 
 
 A'^. B. Firft of all therefore, there are a many | being inflamed with the covetous dellre of fuch hun- 
 that have not means necelTary or requifite to begin gry treafures, doe apply themfelves with unwaftien 
 
 and perfecl: the Work withall, though they have a 
 good Judgment, and are inflamed with an ardent de- 
 fire of (earching after nature and its miraculous effedts, 
 and doe not at all fear, nor are difcouraged at the 
 
 hands ( as we may fo fay ) to the reading of the 
 fame, and then follow the bare letter in their opera- 
 tions. From whence it comes to pafs, that (all things 
 ■being obfcure and dark to them, being ignorant and 
 
 hard labours that are neceftarily requifite to Chymij unskilful!, and the light of nature not ftiining upon 
 cal Operations. Such men therefore as thefe are! them) they wander from the right path, and immerfe 
 (' being ftirr'd up by a fingular candour and fincerity' themfelves in the fruitlefs atteirpts of vain Labours, 
 
 of mind to a love of honefty) doe not thruft them 
 lelves forvvard after the manner of impious and de- 
 ccitfull Inipeftors and flanderous Vagrants that thirft 
 after nothing but Gold, and pretend to fome greed\' 
 Mifer, that they will teach him the making of the 
 Philofopher's Stone ( the knowledge of which them- 
 felves are clearly deftitute of. ) No I but they even 
 loath foch vain acquaintance, and difdain that defpi 
 cable name of Gold makers, and content themfelves 
 rather to fet at home, and enjoy thofe few things 
 which God hath vouchfafed to beftow upon them, 
 than to turn Parafyres, and live in the Courts 0/ 
 Princes and great Men, where they muft ftrive by a 
 Fox like fubtilty to pleafe every one, and to bow the 
 head to each (houlder, and to fcrape with his feet. 
 This now is the firft impediment , which keeps oti 
 not a few good Men from the pofTelFion of fo greai 
 a Secret. 
 
 Some there are that have indeed (ome kind of know- 
 ledge of managing the Fire, and who doe very dili- 
 gently read over the Writings of the Philofbphers, 
 but yet are quite confounded by their reading them, 
 feeing that they cannot find out the true Fire, and 
 true matter of the Stone, which the Philofophers have 
 fo obfcurely and fb varioufly vviittcn of. For fbme of 
 them teach the making of the Stone out of fixt Gold 
 and Silver, and not out of the ether iinmature and 
 volatile Minerals, becaufe what a Man fbwes, that 
 he reaps ; others tell us the quite contrary, and fay 
 that there cannot be any better thing made of fixe 
 Gold and Silver, feeing they are already brought by 
 nature unto that pericetion as not to be reduceable 
 into their firlt matter, out of which (faid firft matter) 
 they affirm that their Univerf.il Medicine is to be 
 made, and not of fixt Gold and Silver : And there- 
 I fore rejcLting fi.\t Gu!d and Silver, they fay that the 
 
 Befides, there are not a few of this fort, that briefly ' firft Entities (of the faid Sol and Lnne) being yet Vo. 
 
 latile. 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagp'ical Difpenfatory. 
 
 143 
 
 lari'e, are the true tirft matter of the Philofbphers 
 S:f>ne, becaiife they are as yet immature (as they 
 |)hrafe it) and tender, and fit for the making of thofe 
 things which we are dcfirous to accomplifh, which 
 (thev tell us) cannot be poflibly made out of thofe 
 two fixed bodies. And to help forward yet more 
 confufion, the multiplicity and variety of names, 
 which tlie matter ot the Philofbphers is ftiled, is 
 no mean impediment to the underltanding. One 
 bids us ieek it in Vitriol, another in Mercury, fbmc in 
 Satur?!, others in Magmfta-. And thus is that 
 matter deciphered by various and innumerable 
 namei, infomuch that it is impofTible but that 
 he who is ignorant, and not well verfed in thefe 
 alYairs fliould be hurried into various doubts and 
 perplexities , being clearly ignorant whether or 
 no the Philofophers mean the common Vitriol, or a 
 Vitriol extraded out of the fixed Metals, efpecially 
 feeing they too and agen affirm, that their Vi 
 triol Mercury and Saturn are not thofb vulgar Metals 
 of Gold, Quicklilver, and Lead. Who therefore I 
 pray could be(b wife and prudent as to rid himfclf 
 out of the f() many confuled and intricate windings of 
 this Labyrinth? Even hence it is that the moft learned 
 and diligent fearchers have been wound into fo many 
 erroneous Labours, nor could by any means get 
 clear of thofe hedg'dup turnings. 
 
 Nay yet more, the inconflancy of fuch as labour 
 is no fmali impediment, who (fhould they have the 
 matter ) would not perfed the fame by rea- 
 Ion of thcfr fickle inconftantnefs. For if the Stone 
 does not prefently come forth, and make them maf 
 ters of what they defire,away they throw their Books 
 and tread upon them, and load the Authours with 
 curfes and imprecations, accufing them of wicked 
 deceit, in that they have not written clear enough 
 for every one to underftaiid fb great an Art at the 
 very firft dafh, and to become a mafter of fuch a no- 
 table treafiire without any labour at all. 
 
 You fhall likewife meet with fome that arefo very 
 wife as that it feems no ways likely unto them, that 
 fo divine a gift can be prepared out of fo vile abjedl, 
 and contemptible things, whenas though (by their 
 leave) every good thing (for the moft part) is wont 
 to be abjedl and mean, and not precious, witnefs 
 Sattdivow, who tells us that he had declared the 
 whole Work to not a few, even from the beginning 
 to the end, but (by rcafon of the meannefs of the 
 lame) they judged it to be butof fmall moment, belie- 
 ving that no good could poflibly proceed thencefrom 
 
 Befides too, it oft times happens that even many 
 of thofe who by their reading and diligent fcrutiny 
 have attained the knowledge of the true matter, arc 
 notwithftanding that ignorant of the true Fire that 
 gives Tindure unto that true matter, and therefore 
 cannot be maflcrs of their wifhes and defires. Infi 
 nire is the number of thefe and fuch like obflacles 
 which impead, and retard the deflrous fearchers af- 
 ter fb great a Work. For many there be that feek, 
 but few are they that find. 
 
 Queftion 5. 
 
 Wbtther or no the Thilofofhers do fo much differ a- 
 mofgfi each other, as that one hath prepared that Uni- 
 1-erJal Medicament of this matter, and another of that ? 
 
 Anf'u^er. 
 
 Yea, verily they feemmuch to differ amongftrhem- 
 
 felves, nor onclv a<; to the external Letter, but their 
 Opinions alfb chat concern the very matter it felfare 
 very various and ditcrepanr, but yet afi to the Bafis 
 and Fundamentals of the truth, there they are of 
 one mind, though one hath prepared his univerfal 
 Medicament of one matter, and another of another 
 matter, and have each (after the finifhing of their 
 Work ' defcribed the operation agreeable to theit 
 own way of proceeding. 
 
 Queflion 6. 
 
 Whether or no there are more univerfal matters than 
 one, out of which the univerfal tmciure is prepared .? 
 
 Anfiver. 
 
 As far forth as we can gather from the Writings, 
 both of the Ancient and Modern Philofophers, they 
 have not onely ufed divers matters, biit alfo 'differ- 
 ent ways of operation, in the preparing of their 
 Tiniflures: But the Tinfture being acquired, each 
 had an univerfal Medicine, and was therewithal! 
 content, though (I confefs) one Medicine was more 
 virtuous and efficacious than another. 
 
 Queftion 7. 
 
 Which of the Metals and Minerals are to he accounted 
 of as the true matter of the Stone ? 
 
 Anfwer, 
 
 If you fhould onely mind the literal fence, the 
 Philofophers then feem to know a way of preparing 
 their Tinfture, not onely out of all the Metals, but 
 even out of the Minerals too ; For they have impo- 
 fed fo many names upon their matter, calling it one 
 while Gold, another while Silver, or Man, or Sa- 
 turn, yea and Magnefia, Arfenick, Sulphur, Soot, 
 Urine,Blood,Sperm,Mf«j-7r««w, and I know not how 
 many abfurd names, which have feduced the unskil- 
 ful! Searchers into various errours, whereby they 
 have beftowed their Labours, and fpent their Eftates 
 upon unprofitable matters, and fb loft both their 
 Pains and Charges. 
 
 Queftion 8. 
 
 Whether ot not the Tincture may not he extracted as 
 iveU out offixt Gold and Stiver as out of the other imper- 
 fetl Metals, and immature and volatile Minerals, fee- 
 ing that the Fhtlofof hers fay, that all the Minerals and Me- 
 tals have their original out of one and the fame root, and 
 do agree as to their inward Ejfence, the difference that ts 
 between them conftfiing onely in the purity or impurity, 
 and m the fixity or volatility of them. If therefore the 
 pure be but Jeparated from the impure, and Shell from the 
 Kernel, that feparated purity of the imperfeH Metals 
 will give the jame that the 'moft pure Gold and Silver 
 will. Nay more, if it were neceffary it mought eafily 
 be demovjhated, that a true Tintture, and wholjome 
 for both the bodies of Men and Metals, may not onely be 
 prepared out of any Metal and Afineral, but even 
 out of the Vegetables and Animals them/elves too and 
 and that by reajon of their included Sulphur, which is 
 the Father and Original of all the Metals ? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 But what need is there of feeking that in far re- 
 mote 
 
144- 
 
 The Fifth Fan of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 mote places, which offers it I'elf nearer at hand ? 
 wifely therefore did the Philofophers reje(ft all the 
 Vegetables and Animals, and other the like unproh 
 table things, as to the making the univerfal Tin^fture, 
 thev exprcfly adviled us, thatfuch things as you de- 
 fire to reap, youmuftfow; and that he that thinks permanent Ftreh 
 with hinifelt of beftowing his labours about (uch ope- 
 rations, niuft begin with thofe things that nature 
 hath left off ar,.and could not advance to a farther 
 perfedion. And what eKe I pray do ArtilTis (eek 
 for but Gold and Silver? if fb, then (as the Philofo- 
 phers do feriouflv admonifh us) we muft take their 
 Seeds and Sow them, if we would Reap a much aug 
 mented and exalted Crop of Gold and Silver. 
 
 do 
 mojt 
 
 hidden an abundance of colour not cnely in yeilo-w Go, 
 but aljo in white Silver it jtlf too, injivjiuh that I 
 iijjurcdly ferpvade my fe/f, that a conjhmt and 
 high Tmciure may tafily be prepared out of Geld und Sil- 
 ver, and that it is a very dijficult matter to prepare a 
 eking 'Tmdnre out of the tmperf eel- 
 Metals and immature Almerals (though they alfo hide 
 ■wit bin their infide bowels mojFexi^uifte colours) by reajon 
 of ilm imperfection and unripefiejs which they he under. 
 
 Queftion 9. 
 
 If the cafe jtands thus with thefe labours, as that thofe 
 things which are foivn^ are again reaped in a multiplied 
 encreafe, why is not the moJt noble Seed of Gold onely 
 fovj-jt ? IFhat need is there of adding Silver thereunto 
 which there's no appearance (as to the out fide view) of 
 anji colour. 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 Although there be not any apparent colour in the 
 Silver, vet is it certain that there lies abundance of 
 colour therein hidden, which notwithftanding does 
 not dilVolve it felf before it is unlockt and inverted 
 by the labour and help of the true Chymick Art, 
 and that its external whitenefs be hidden, and its in- 
 ternal rednefs be brought forth to light. For veri- 
 ly a true Tintfture necelTary for the tranfmutation of 
 the Metals can never be prepared out of bare fimple 
 Gold, without an addition of Silver thereunto : For 
 Silver is the Matrix of Gold, in which, this (asbeing 
 the mafculine Seed) germinates, grows and multi- 
 plies its colour. 
 
 Queftion 10. 
 
 This feettjsto every body a wonder that a red colour 
 jJiould alfo lie hidden in white Stiver, feeing that there 
 are not a jew who think that even Gold it felf does not 
 contain more of colour than it needs for its own felf. How 
 therefore mufi this be under jiood ? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 As to this, you muft not at all mind the external 
 fhape, but that which lies occultly hidden. The inter- 
 nal parts of any Seed are not vilible tothefight,as for 
 example. A Vegetable Seed prefents you not with 
 the fight of any various colours, but when it is com- 
 mitted to the Earth as to its Matrix, it then fends 
 forth firft green Sprouts, then Stalks, then Leaves, 
 after which fuccecd moft curioufly painted colours, 
 that at laft the Seed comes forth with an incredible 
 augmentation, all which were not vifible in the bare 
 Seed. 
 
 Confider alfo the Egg of any Bird, in which no 
 body can difcern any Bird, confifting of fuch 'divers 
 and various Members, and adorned with fuch deli- 
 cate Feathers afore the faid Bird is hatcht, the Egg 
 being ripened by an external cberilhing heat. 
 
 Queftion 1 1. 
 
 This fimditude oftheSeedofaVegetable,andofa Bird, 
 dotb not a little enlightenmy mind ami give tne encourage- 
 ment to believe : I do therefore firmly believe that there is 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 Your judgment and opinion is true. For although 
 the leller Metals, as alfo the Minerals themfclves too 
 do hide within their bowels, the moft hi"h colours 
 
 and though thofe very colours may eafily be fepara- 
 ted from their unprohtable bodies, yet notwithftan- 
 ding there is requifite to fiich operations a long fpace 
 of time, great expencc, and hard labour, viz,, to 
 make fuch Tindures conftant, permanent and 
 fixt by the common Fire of Wood and Coals. But 
 yet he that knows the fecret Fire of the Philofophers, 
 will eafily give unto fuchTinflures that conftancy in 
 the Fire that is requifite, which other wife, and by the 
 common Fire, will very difficultly and hardly ever 
 be ctleded. For example, common water will al- 
 ways remain water, and therefore will never be 
 brought into aftony or metallick nature by the Fire 
 of Wood or Coals. But a thing may be eafily redu- 
 ced unto that which it was before: If an hard Stone 
 be turned into pure water, it may be reduced feven 
 by the help of the common Fire) out of that fame 
 Water into a more pure Stone, and fo is it likewife 
 with a Metal, if treated with the lame operation. 
 
 But yet I do not deny but that even an^- com- 
 mon water, or any Stone may be changed into a 
 Metal, but then 1 fay, it muft be done by the help, 
 not of the common Fire, but of the Fire of the Wife 
 Men, by which Fire, even the Waters are wont to 
 be changed into Metals in the I'arth : For all Metals 
 and all Stones have their rife out of the Water, and 
 were at firft Water. Whofoever therefore doth well 
 and throughly know this fecret Fire, which the 
 Philofophers have always with their utmoft diigence 
 and care concealed, he may work upon all the firft 
 beings of Gold and Silver, as common Sulphur 
 Mercury, Antimony, Arfenick, Auripigmenr, Co- 
 bolt, and others of that kind, and tranfmutc them 
 into red and white Tindtures. But if he has no- 
 knowledge at all of the fame, let him in God's name 
 apply himfelf onely to fixt Gold and Silver, and ha- 
 ving volatilized them, turn them into Water, and 
 again turn this fame Water into a fi.xed Stone, which 
 if he brings but to pafs, he enters upon the neareft 
 way, and will be a mailer of that which he beftows 
 his labour in the fearch of 
 
 Quefl:ion 12. 
 
 If this be the moft compendious way of (rettin<r the 
 Philofophers Tmclure, viz. out of thofe known Metals^ 
 as fixt Gold and Silver; Jf'hy do fame of the Philofophers 
 write that their Sol and Lune is not that common and 
 well known Gold and Silver, and that as well the Poor 
 as the Rich have that Sol and Lune as is theirs, ant 
 may eafily prepare the TivElure it felf there out of; fo 
 that (it Jeems) all fuchas bufe themfelves in thefearcb- 
 mg after that mojl eminent Medicine in the common Gold 
 and Silver, do extreafnly err ? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
VciYt II. 
 
 tk Spagjncal Difpenfatory. 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 Thefe PhiIof()phers that reject the common and 
 Vv-ell known Gold and Silver, were clearly ignorant 
 of the knowledge of making of the TinLture out of 
 rhcm, which had they but known and well under- 
 fro-^d, they would not (o confidently have affirmed 
 /iich a thing in their Writings. But forafmuch as 
 they knew but that one way of making theTintlure 
 out of the volariic Minerals, and that that way of 
 making it with fixt Gold and Silver was unkown 
 unto them, they could not mention unto us any o- 
 ther way than their own ; whereas though there are 
 not a few of the Philolophers,thaton the other hand 
 commend unto us the comm.on Gold and Silver, and 
 reject all the other Metals. Nor is the number too 
 I'ery fmall, of fijch as do confels, that the Tinrture 
 may be made of the more imperfect Metals, and vo- 
 Jatile Minerals, but yet with this caution, that one 
 fubjeit is much eaficr, fpeedier, and better to operate 
 upon than another is. 
 
 No Man can all at once clearly know and appro 
 hond every thing, and therefore it would be much 
 better for a mun to judge onely of the things he 
 inows, and not cenfure the things he is ignorant of, 
 that fo the World may not by this means be fiuft 
 with (b many Writings which thwart one another. 
 Some there arc who perfwade themfelves, that (when 
 they do at long run arrive by many turnings and 
 windings unto the wifht for placed there is no cer- 
 rainer, nor more compendious way than that which 
 they took in making their Journey. Hence it is, that 
 the Writings of the Philofophers are fo involved 
 with intricate opinions, outofwhxh no body can 
 well free himfelf, unlets the whole knowledge of na- 
 ture be opened unto him : But feeing the number of 
 fuch is very Imall, therefore it muft of necelTity fol- 
 low, that they who err are very many, and that 
 they who become mafters of the truth, are but a 
 Tcry few. 
 
 Queftion 1 5. 
 
 What therefore is it that is TtecujJ'arj for us to knoiv, 
 or v'hat things muft vh be Jurnijlied VJithall^ when -we 
 epfly our minds to the fear ch of Jo great a fecret ? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 Forafmuch as the univerfal Medicine is the gift 
 of God, and not of Man, it is but juft, that the fame 
 be fought for at the hands of God, and not of Men, 
 who (in one night and by a Dream) can reveal 
 thofe things, which a Man will not get all his life 
 long by hjs reading of the many intricate Books ex- 
 tant ; And thus much doth David teach us, faying. 
 In 'vaiti do yoH rije tip early, and go to Bed loaden with 
 cares, for God bejhws bis gifts upon thofe that love him, 
 men whilfi they Sluf. 
 
 Queftion 14, 
 
 By -what means may a gift fo divine he obtained from 
 God? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 By daily praying unto him, and by accompany- 
 ing your Prayers with daily and d+ligent Labour. 
 For Prayers alone wont lerve turn, unlels the rea- 
 
 145 
 
 ding of good Autliours, and continued Labour be 
 aWo adjoyned thereunto God reveals his good 
 things to mortal Men, by their lerious Prayers, and 
 and continual Labours. 
 
 Queftion 15. 
 
 Are all Men fit to hegfo great a gift at God's hands, 
 wnaoHt any diffirencz at all, or doth fo great a fecret 
 recfutre or.ely fame particular MeVs Supplications, and 
 not admit every one, as if all were fitted thereunto ? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 Verily every body is not fit or worthy to be a 
 mailer of the ilime For fhould it be granted everv 
 one, thisfbexquilite an Art, and of fo great a con- 
 cernment, would become as common as the baking 
 of Bread, and brewing of Ale, but this is contrary 
 to the command of God, who wills not, that the 
 f3oat fliould have (o long a Tail as the Cow, for fo 
 m Pride ihs may fmite out her own Eyes. God well 
 knows when, and where to give, and who it is that 
 merits fijch great favours. But however this is an 
 undoubted truth that the proud fhall never obtain 
 any good thing at the hands of God. 
 
 Whofocvcr therefore has-adefire after great things, 
 let him throughly fearch liis heart, and fee ifit be 
 upright and fincere towards God, or no, and it is ne- 
 ceflarily expedient for him well to examine himfelf 
 (before he fets about the Labours of fo great an Ar- 
 canum) for this reafon, left it fliould happen to him, 
 a.s it did to that ambitious and proud Gueft, who (as 
 Chrift teacheth) fate himfelf down in the chiefefl 
 place of the Feaft, which he was not worthy of, and 
 was afterwards conftramed (to his great fliame and 
 reproach) to yield the fame to a worthier aqdhonef- 
 ter Man than himfelf. 
 
 Queftion 16. 
 
 How muft fuch a Man be o^ualificd, that defires to 
 obtain from God by his Prayers, fo great a fecret, and 
 by his Labours to bring tt to a final end ? 
 
 Anf7 
 
 wer. 
 
 Firftofallan yiV^<?»w»» offo great an importance 
 requires a free Man, and fuch an one as is not bound 
 to any other, nor intangled with any other humane 
 affairs, that fo being in a quiet and filent pofliture, 
 he may by his daily Prayers fue unto God for his 
 Blefling, and may be at leifure continually to read 
 good Authours, and to let no time flip wherein his 
 Labours are required. Then farther, fuch a Man 
 muft likewife be pious and liberal, and forward in 
 helping of the Poor : he muft alio be noTatler, he 
 muft have a good and found mind, and be given to 
 temperance and fobriety. He muft not do as the 
 roving Alouniebank doth, iniinuating himfelf one 
 while into this Man's Acquaintance, another whi.'e 
 into that Mans : He muft not be over credulous, 
 prefently to believe every ones pretenfion : He mufl 
 not mind his fole benefit nor be prone to covetouf^ 
 nefs, and aim at grafping all unto himfelf He muft 
 not be of an unconftant mind,bufexpe<ftand wait for 
 (with a patient and conftant Refblution)thc end of that 
 which his defire inclines him to, and therefore he 
 muft not be prefently enraged, or be afFe<^ed with 
 a wearifomnefi ifit (hould fb happen unto him as noc 
 
 P p to' 
 
14^ 
 
 Tbe Fifth Fart of 
 
 Part if 
 
 to have every thing prefently anfwering his expec- ing that the Writings which their Parents left thtm 
 ration. He does not propo'fe unto himfelf the get- were fully as hard to be underftocd as thole written 
 ting of great honours in the World, and of having in by other Authours, and which were not penned and 
 his'hands power and authority, butrather aims at the ! publifhed for the fake of their Children, but for the 
 honour of God, and the helping and fuccouring the j lake of all others in general. 
 
 poor lick anddiftrelfed ones. Farther yet, he muft be 
 furnifhed with necelfary means, left he be conftrained 
 through the want of Coals, Materials, and other necef- 
 faries, to leave off the Work he has begun. But he 
 muft efpecially hiVdGod always before his Eyes, and 
 e.\pe(fl the happy eventfrom him alone, and attribute 
 nothing at all to his own peculiar Wifedom, and be 
 daily at his Prayers, and labour without ceafing, 
 and with a patient mind wait on the Lord for a fuc- 
 cefsfull end. 
 
 Briefly he that is ftudious after fuch a fccret, muft 
 fo lead his life, as to walk unblamably both before 
 God and Man. 
 
 Queftion. 17. 
 
 Tf'Jjicb ofthefe two ways is mofi fafe and moft eafie 
 for the attainment of this divine gift, that which makes 
 ufe of the common Gold -and Sil-ver, or that which ufeth 
 the unknown , and as yet volatile Gold of the Phi- 
 lofoph 
 
 bers ; 
 
 Jnfi, 
 
 wer. 
 
 You muft know that both ways are good, and 
 lead you on to your wifhed end, if they be but 
 rightly and orderly according to Art proceeded 
 vvithall. 
 
 Queftion 18. 
 
 Bj what means jhall an unskilftdl beginner, and one 
 'who ts Ignorant of Jo great an Art, enter upon the right 
 way, atid not err, whenas he hath not any one to guide 
 hf'» as it were along by the hand? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 Who Ihewed the way unto the other Philofophers 
 that were before us > were not all of them ffome few 
 excepted who confefs that they learned the Art from 
 good Friends) conftrained to learn the fame out of 
 the Books of the Ancients, and by the divine Re- 
 velation ? 
 
 Queftion 19. 
 
 Where may a Man find fuch good and well difpofed 
 Friends who will flicw the way to him that is un- 
 skilftdl ? 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 Such men are wondrous rare, and indeed good 
 reafon have they fo to be, and to deal warily and 
 wifely in revealing fuch notable fecrets. It is not en- 
 gravi^n on each Man's Forehead, whether he be 
 good or evil ; we rarely meet with any example, 
 whereby it hath appeared, that even a Father hath 
 difclofed to his Son lb great a fecret before his death. 
 Nay more, if Parents have left ought written for 
 their Children at their death; yet hath it been fo 
 intricate as that they could not do any good on it 
 without divine Revelation. And upon this very ac- 
 
 count have divers f-ch defifted from the work, find- ! fmall Fire be adminiftred thereunto. 
 
 Queftion ao. 
 
 What ufe are fuch intricate and ohfcure Writings of? 
 would it not have been better that they had not Written 
 at all ? If they had but onely difclofed the true matter, it 
 would have afforded the fearching inquirers more light, 
 and thty would have been able more eafily to have appre: 
 hended the truth ? 
 
 Anfiver. 
 
 No furely, it Would not have been better, if thev 
 hadpalfed over fo weighty a thing in filence. Whence 
 I pray (hould we their Succeffours have known, that 
 there is fiich an excellent Medicament in nature? 
 The Books they have written do remove from us 
 even every Scruple of doubt, and caufe us to believe, 
 that there hath been, is, and may be made fuch an 
 univerlal Medicament, if God permits. The reafbii 
 why they have not jumpt together in difclofing the 
 matter of the Stone with one unanimous confent, Is 
 this, becaufe one ufed this matter, another that, for 
 the making of their univerfal Tincflure, and foeach 
 of them have defcribed the way of making the feme 
 after his own way. Hence it is, that one hath de- 
 livered this manner, but another that hath proceeded 
 another way could not give us the felf fame accompc 
 of making it juft as the other did, but hath hinted 
 unto us onely, the way which he himlelf ufed. 
 
 The greateft difference is about the matter onely 
 of the >Stone ; one part of them faith that the com- 
 mon and fixt Sol and Luna is the matter of the Stone, 
 and lays by or rejeft? all other Subjects. Another 
 part affirms that a volatile and an unripe Gold is the 
 Mafler of the fame, and that the common Sol and 
 Luna ate to be wholly waved as being unprofitable 
 for the matter of the Stone. Moreover the Philofo- 
 phers in their defcription of making the Stone menti- 
 on a dry way and a moift way, a long way and a 
 fhort way, a common Fire and a fecret Fire, which 
 they ufed in the ripening of their Tin(ftures. And 
 now ( on this accompt ) it could not otherwife be; 
 but that they fhould publifh fuch unlike, dubious, 
 and thwarting Writings, which have rendred the 
 way of finding out the truth fo difficult and intri- 
 cate, and have led the Lovers of the Art into fuch 
 abundance of Errours, and fruitlels Labours. The 
 common tire 1 wifh, is deftitute of the power of ri- 
 pening volari'e Gold, and reducingitintoa Tindure, 
 which that fecret Fire, continually burning with its 
 flame in tlie glafs upon the matter of the Stone, is 
 able to cited. Now befides the common Fire, there 
 muft necellarily be the alTiftance of the moift Fire, 
 which being kindled by the Fire of Coals and made 
 efficacious, doth radically conjoin the fixt Gold and 
 Silver, brings them unto a volatility, and makes 
 them again conftant in the Fire. This way ; in my 
 judgment ) is the fhorteft, eafieft and fafeft of all ; 
 for it makes the fixt Sol and Luna fpiritual and vola- 
 tile in three days time, and turns them into the 
 Mercury of the Philofophers, which white A4ercury 
 of the Philofc)^ hers doth afterwards pafs in one days 
 fpace, into the black Lead of the wile men, if a 
 
 This Lead be- 
 ing 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spagjrical Difpenfatory. 
 
 HI 
 
 mg put inro its requifire glafs, may ( by the help of 
 common Fire ) be reduced ( after its changing of 
 Colours ) inro a conftant Tindure. 
 
 And now though the ripe and fixt Gold cofi: and 
 be far dearer than the immature Sol is, yec that's no 
 matter, for there needs not a pound of Gold to be 
 ufed about the complearing of this work, but haif a 
 pound oncly, or cKe bur two or three ounces, that 
 lb the operation may be the (ooner ended. Nor 
 will he that fhallonce have brought one half Ounce 
 unto a due perfedion, need (iich a deal of Gold, for 
 he vvanrs nor Gold any more, wherewith to begin 
 the operation a new. And although on the other 
 hand the maturation of the immature Gold by the 
 fecret Fire doth not require fo much expence as the 
 common Gold doth, yet it requires more time for 
 its perfedion. Befides too, the moift way is always 
 lubjeLl to more Cafiialty and Hazard, and requires 
 a much longer time to bring it to the dellred per- 
 feftion. It is therefore at every mans pleafure, to 
 choofe which of thefe two ways pleaferh him, onely 
 he muft proceed warily and prudently. And if he 
 fhould chance to commit fbme Errour once or twice, 
 yet will nor (iich Errours be of any great detriment 
 unto him, if he can but at lad arrive unto the wifht 
 for end, and reap the multiplied and manifold Fruits 
 of his Crop. Thus much was I willing ( and in- 
 deed ought y to communicate of my opinion (con- 
 cerning the univerfal Medicine ) unto the Difciples 
 of Hermes, but yet without prefcribing (orobtru 
 ding my thoughts J upon any one, but leaving every 
 one to his own Conceptions. 
 
 Mean while I would advife every one not to at- 
 tempt a thing of fo great a moment, rafhly and in- 
 confideratcly, but in the lirft place accurately to 
 liveigh all things in his mind, as to what may bedone, 
 and what may not, left he repent him at laft and 
 fee quite tired with his fruitlefs Labours. For it is no 
 mean flight bufinefs to prepare the true Tinfture of 
 thePhilofophers, neither is it given unto every man 
 to have the knowledge and poUelTion of fo great a 
 Work. 
 
 Queftion ir. 
 
 Would it not be a very conveitlent thing for two or 
 three Friends to joyn their hands together, and help each 
 ether by their mutual Labour and Expences, and fo eafe 
 that trouble which otherwife one alone mufi undergo ? Or 
 if any one be fo minded as to attempt the work alone, 
 ivould it not be better for him to get him (ome faithfull 
 and diligent Cperatour, whoje help he might make ujeof, 
 in the promoting attd forwarding of his Operations. 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 For my part, I would hot advife any ox\6 to do 
 thus. For when a work of fo great a moment is to 
 be undertaken, and to be accoinplifhed by the com- 
 mon mutual Expence and Labour of others, the 
 Affairs are then obnoxious to no (inall hazard, and 
 for the moft part come fhort of the hop'd for event, 
 by reafon of the moft different Opinions amongff 
 tnen,concerning which the Comoedian laid very right, 
 fo many heads lb many opinions, every one hath a 
 peculiar fancy. 
 
 Now then, from one defiring this thing another 
 that, there can't arife ought elfe but confuted acti- 
 ons and operations, which are io far from forward- 
 ing the work, as that they retard and obftruft the 
 
 fame. Many Work-men difagreeing amongft them- 
 felves, can never build an Houfe agreeable to the 
 right dimcnfions of building. And therefore it is far 
 better for every one to apply himfelf fingle and a- 
 loneto the performing of fo great a work, and quietly 
 to attend upon the fame, and invoke God's help 
 alone, and leave off his expedations from man, a- 
 m.ongft whom fidelity and love, are like the rare Bird 
 in the Earth, and as fcarce as a black Swan ! Nay 
 even the friendfnip of brethren is wondrous rare, 
 and ( which is worfl of all; the borid offriendftiip 
 is too often broken afunder betwixt Parents and 
 Chi'dren. The golden Alphabet doth likewife in its 
 beginning teach us the very fame, faying, truft in 
 God onely, and in him place thv hope, givenotany 
 credit to the promifl-s of man, God onely is faithfull, 
 fidelity isbanifhedoutofthe World. 
 
 'Tis fufficiently evident, what kind of doings 
 there is in the Courts of great men,you'l there find 2, 
 3,4, ormore ChymicalOperatours bufily imployed 
 about making the Philofophers Stone, tor they feek 
 after nothing lefs, but yet by reafon of their igno- 
 rance, they efFeft but very 'little or nothing at all, 
 for the main thing that they mind is to ftrut ic 
 bravely out in their Silks and gay Apparel, and to 
 have their Tables furnifhed with plenty of various 
 Difhes, and generous Wines and Drinks, whereby 
 they may ftutf their Bellies; and this is clearly tefti- 
 fied by daily experience : and as for taking to ones 
 felfan Operatcur, that is more hazardous than the 
 other, where the work is attempted by a confede- 
 racy, at their common mutual Expences and Labour. 
 For feeing you cannot make an infpedion into any 
 man's heart, whereby to know what Monfter he 
 there cherifherh, and what good or evil he has hid- 
 den in the infide of his heart, you cannot poflibly 
 promife your felf any certainty of his taciturnity or 
 fidelity, and therefore plainly ignorant muft you 
 needs be whether the man you would take to aflift 
 you be faithfull and no tatler. Verily even the 
 common Labour cannot be committed to fuch men 
 without hurt and damage, but great Arcana's can- 
 not be left to their care without afTured lofs of all. 
 'Tis wondrous rare to find a Servant fi^ faithfull, who 
 ( after he hath flily gotten the knowledge of one 
 or two Secrets though but trifiing ones too ) does 
 not prefently perfwade himfelf, that now he's a 
 skilfull Artift enough, and no longer needs the in- 
 Urudions and manudutflions of any other. Thefe 
 kind of pcrverfe men being by thus (evilly perfwa- 
 ding themfelves ) feduced, are prefendy wont fe- 
 cretly to withdraw themfelves, or if haply they do 
 ftay yet longer with their Mafter, they behave 
 themfelves fo malepertly and unmannerly , as that they 
 fpoil the things committed to rheir Charge merely 
 to accomplifh this end that their Mafter may difmifs 
 them. If therefore you will not wink at and fufFer 
 them to fpoil and deftroy, by their faucy regardlcfs 
 Labours the things they have under their hands, 
 but are conftrained to put away thefe moft ungrate- 
 full and plainly unmindfuU men of the benefits they 
 have received, yet will they not acquiefce here witli 
 an honeft difmilTionand parting, but will every where 
 gnaw and wound thy good name by abundance of 
 reproachfull Stories, as being now thus opiniatcd 
 that they far excel you, their Mafter in Wifdom, 
 Skill and Knowledge, tut yet I except in this place 
 thofe Servants that are honelt, pious and dili?enr 
 and that love verrue, and make a confcience of dieir 
 wavs. For the Devil has not got the poireffion of 
 
 air 
 
I4S 
 
 Th Fifth Van of 
 
 Part IL 
 
 all men's heart?, for there are fome Chvmical Ope- 
 ratours to be found who are fo taithfiiU unto their 
 Mafters, as that could they of a farthing make a 
 Florin for their Mafters, they would moft cheerfully 
 do it. But vet thefe men are in very rare, that 
 fcarcc one in ten can be found that you may give credit 
 to, and truR:. And mv own thirty years experience 
 hath taught me, and therefore I tell you no more 
 than what mv felf have to my own detriment expe 
 rienced. Read but what Faracdfus hath written of 
 thefc perfidious'Xnaves,amongft other things he con- 
 fe(reth, that thirteen of his Servants came under the 
 Hangman's lafn, and that of them all he found but 
 one faithful, (and that was Ofennus) and yet he 
 (after Faracelfus his death) did manifeftly enough 
 bewray his difiimu'.ation and unfaithfulnefs ; for he 
 did not onely load him with reproaches, but alfo 
 publiflicd flanderous Writings of him. This is the 
 thankfulnefs the World is wont to repay for the 
 good that is done it, (hun therefore fuch as thele 
 the moft you can, for they neither fearing God nor 
 reverencing men, make no matter at all of either 
 pppofing the moft apparent truths, or of defending 
 it by moft manifeftand evident Lies. And although 
 the malicious wickednefs of a man, be not prefently 
 known, yet notwjthftanding it bewrays it (elt by 
 the flanderous reproachfuU lies, with which it re- 
 quites the good turns done him by his Neighbour. 
 
 Thus much I judgd worth while to communicate 
 to all the Difciples of the Hermetick Art, that fo 
 they may learn to beware of thefe kind of Harpies. 
 
 Queftion 12. 
 
 See'inz, it is net good to enter into frUndJlnp or con fort- 
 fliip with ethers, in order to the attempting fo great a 
 ■work : Andfeetng a man runs a greater haz,ard in taking 
 to hitnfelf an unknown Opcratcur, haply it would be the 
 belt way to feck after fome particular Medicament which 
 may be ferviceahle for the benefit of both high and low, 
 and which may net onely prove helpfull' unto the poor, but 
 alfo by which a necejjary Suftenance may be found even 
 amongft the rich, and fo bj this means may a man lead 
 a cjuict life. 
 
 Anfwer. 
 
 This advice or determination I confefs feems far 
 better and more fafe than the tv/o former, but even 
 this too needs a provident warineft, viz,, if a man 
 fhould haply ( by his fedulous fearch ) acquire the 
 knowledge of fome eminent and excellent Medica- 
 ments, he muft take heed left by prefently making 
 every one partaker of the fame, he pulls damage 
 on his own head. For 'tis an ufual cuftom amongft 
 wicked men to endeavour ( alloon as they find any 
 one gifted by God with fuch a blefllng ) to gee it 
 out oi the brcaft of the Pofleflbur of the fame, by 
 moft cunning Subtilties, and promilc even golden 
 Mountains, and fuch as they are never able to per- 
 form. And if once thou let'ft the Art pafs but out 
 of thy hands and come within the Clutches of other 
 men, thou may'ft well fear in the firft place left it 
 (hould be made publick, and fo thy lelf be deprived 
 of the beneht of the fame, though they whom thou 
 haft truftcd with the fame have bound their credit 
 with the firmeft obligations imaginable, and this 
 now is to be underftood of fuch men from whom 
 fiich bonds as they call them may be demanded. 
 But as for the great ones that are wont to give onely 
 
 their words ( andftand upon that) when they have 
 got any Arcanum, they are unnt to deliver it to 
 their Chymical Operatours to make, for themfelves 
 arc partly ignorant of Chymical Operations, and 
 pardy fet not their own hands to work ; if their 
 Operatours be skilfull in Chymical Operations and 
 bring the fame to the expected end, you ftiall be 
 prefcnted with fome fmall reward, and even of this 
 too will he { whofe charge the prefenting of it is 
 committed unto ) keep to himfclf the better half. 
 This now is done unwittingly to their Mafters, and 
 who dares inform them of fuch deceitfull Servants, 
 and purchafe to himfclf the envy and hatred of the 
 Courtiers.'' And fo thofe who are commanded to 
 bring thee good fweet Milk, do themfelves firft take 
 away the fweet fat Cream, and then bring thee the 
 four Whey. But if for the more (iirety, thou lendeft 
 any Servant that may be there at the perfeding of ' 
 the Operations, he will ( if faithfull fatisfie thee ; if 
 nor, he will prefentthee with as much of the reward 
 as himfelf pleafeth. Thus hath it hapned unto me, 
 for 'mongft other Servants I have had fuch, that in 
 rheir Cups have impudently boafted of fuch kind of 
 theft, and have prevented me of a prefent or two 
 that belonged unto me, and have made themfelves 
 merry therewithall. 
 
 Thefe and other fuch like inconvencies are wont 
 to happen upon the revealing of Arcanums, though 
 they (hould fully anfwer the expetlation of thofe 
 whom they are revealed unto. But if it fhould hap- 
 pen that thofe Chymical Operatours fhould by rea- 
 Ibn of their ignorance commit fome Errour in their 
 Labour, or ihould have no mind to the work as be- 
 ing a little more troublefome than ordinary, fearing 
 left the Sparks of the Coals fhould light upon their 
 Silken Garments, and that their hands fhould be 
 defiled with the blacknefs of the Coals, they pre- 
 fently perfwade their Lords, that the Arcant'.mw^\\\z\\ 
 was thus revealed is falfe, and that you are a cheac 
 and a mere vapour, and lo they do not onely rob 
 thee of thy good name, but do likewise by their 
 fraudulent and lying tricks deceive their Mafters af- 
 firming thofe things to be falfe, which notwithftan- 
 ding are moft certainly true. Several Letters I have 
 by me,written unto me from fuch Court Operatours, 
 in which theyconfels that they have wrought up (or , 
 made) thofe Arcanums ( which were lent them) not 
 without good Succefs, and that therefbrethey would 
 defire yet greater ones than thofe : but \ec they 
 have afterwards fpread obroad a falfe report, and - 
 faid that they never could receive any benefit by 
 them at all. And that fruit or reward which was due 
 unto me for my difcovery, themfelves intercepted, 
 fbme got them fat Offices, others were gifted with 
 Nobility and Money. And fo indeed is it an ufual 
 thing for thofe that drefs the Vines, and prefs the 
 Grapes and make the Wine, to be ( by a forc'tput) 
 content with the Husks, whilft the idle and fuch as 
 work not, drink up the Wine. Far better is it there- 
 fore, for every one to prefs out his own Grapes. 
 By this means will a man know what is his, what 
 he has, and what he does, whereby he may ufc his 
 own things as beft likes him. Now then well may 
 the man that knows many Secrets be deterred by the 
 fb many and fuch adverfe Chances, from making 
 others partakers alfo of the fame, and u ell may he 
 efteem it much better to enjoy the few things God 
 hath beftowed on him, with a quiet mind, than to 
 expe<ft many things ( but with a great deal of danger ) 
 
 from others. 
 
 And 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagyrical Difpcnfator)', 
 
 I45> 
 
 And thus much (hall fuffice to have been premifed 
 by way oi ^icjlwns and Anfu-as. Now follows the 
 ufe of (bme eminent Arcanums and incomparable Me- 
 dicaments, which have been mentioned in the Books 
 1 laft publifhcd, one of which treats of occult Fires, 
 and tlie other contains three Dialogues. 
 
 Of the Lyon, or of the Bleu J of the Ljon^ or Gold, how 
 it is to be prepared, afiJ to he mofl profitably ufeel as 
 well in Medicine as in other Arts. 
 
 AS concerning the way of preparing this Bloud 
 of Gold, it is already defcribed in the firft Dia- 
 logue, and its adjoyned Corollary, infomuch that 
 there needs no fuller declaration in this place. But 
 yet you are to know that I have met with , fince the 
 , writing the fu 11 Dialogue) a far eafier and more com 
 pendious way of converting or turning any Gold, 
 even in a moment, into Bloud , by the help of our 
 occult Sal Armoniack. But this Bloud is not to be 
 uled in Medicine, as it is per fe, becaufe of the Sal 
 Armoniack, which tranfmutes the Gold and changeth 
 it into Bloud. For thcfe fharp Saline and Corrollve 
 Spirits are unprofitable, and hurtfull in Medicine, 
 and are therefore to be feparated from the Gold , 
 which is done by the pouring on of common Water 
 or Rain water, which imbibes the Spirits of the Salts, 
 and precipitates the moft red Powder of the Gold to 
 the bottom of the Veilel. This Powder muft be well 
 wafh't by (everal waters, and be well freed from all 
 its faltirimefs ; which being fo freed, may (by the 
 addition of fbme Cordial Water) be reduced to the 
 confiftence of a Syrup, and fo kept ; the Dofe where- 
 of may be augmented or diminifhed according to the 
 condition of the fick, and the difeafe. But common- 
 ly fb much of this Golden Bloud is fufficient as ftrves 
 to tinge a fpoonfuU of Wine, Ale, or other Vehicle, 
 with a red Colour. It is ulefuU in all dileafes in which 
 the Heart needs ftrengthening. But efpecially it al- 
 lays the immoderate Flux of Bloud both in Men and 
 Women, and cures the Gonorrhea, Leprofie, and 
 French Po.v, if the Body fhall be purged with due 
 Purging and Sudorifick Medicaments. It heals thofe 
 Puilules in the Skin, the Nofc, and other places of 
 the Face if outwardly anointed with a Feather feve- 
 ral times a day. For it drys vehemently, and makes 
 the Skin it felf fair and fmooth. And therefore upor^, 
 this account it is exceeding profitable for Women 
 that have naturally pale Faces and Lips , for being 
 laid on, it changeth the palenefs into a comely and 
 natural Colour, efpecially if a little white Oil made 
 of Talk be thereto admixed, to temper and allay that 
 mofl red Colour of the Gold, and it likewife is a moft 
 delicate Fucus for fuch Women whofe Faces are not 
 onely pale, bur alfo dyed with a dusl^yifh or yellow 
 Colour, and by means of this Cofmetick or Fucus 
 mav they jiaint their Faces of a natural Colour. For 
 no Fucus may compare with this, for it is fo commo 
 dious and durable that it cannot be diftinguifhed or 
 known, nor be corrupted as others are, which being 
 done with Vinegar, Ibwre Wine, Lemon-juyce and 
 filch like things do prefently,by a breathing on them, 
 turn into a filthy Colour, and bewray a painted Face. 
 For this Golden Bloud is (o very conftant, and doth 
 fo keep its moft curious Gilour, as that it remains fafe 
 from all injury of the Elements. 
 
 Furthermore, this Bloud ( before it is freed fron 
 its Saline Spirits) tingeth the Hair,Skin,Wool, Bbnet\ 
 of Beafts, and Feathers of Birds, with a moft delicate' 
 
 purple Colour ; which pafling into a rednefs, is fo 
 conftant, as that no (harp Waters can corrupt ir, and 
 therefore it is tar beyond all other purple Colours, 
 what name (bever called by, and worthily may it 
 be accounted for a kingly Colour. 
 
 It would be too long to reckon up in this place 
 its various other ufes : Ir ferves in Medicine for the 
 tingmg of divers Confedions and Cordial Waters, 
 which Colour is much nobler, and more profitabl s 
 than thofe wherewith Confeetio Alkermes andCrd 
 dial Waters are wont to be tinged. 'Tis evident tP.bt 
 the Colour of Gold doth rather benefit than hurt the 
 Sick, which if the faid ConfecYions or Cordial Wa- 
 ters are coloured withall, they become the fairer, and 
 tliey are rendred yet more delicate, if the Atoms of 
 Gold, being thereunto adjoyned, fly about in the 
 Wme or Water like fo many very fmall Stars. For 
 if to an Acj. Vita, which is already tinged with the 
 Bloud of Gold, a little of the faid Atoms be admixt, 
 they will fiiine out of that delicate purple Colour, 
 like the moft bright ^^kw^ f or daybreak) in the 
 Heavens.^ This is a moft cvcellent way of making 
 A<^. Vitas, for the Atoms of the Gold- are fo very 
 fubtile, as that they eafily admit of concodion and 
 digeftion by the heat of the Stomach, and emit their 
 Virtues, which thofe common Gold leaves which are 
 mixt with Confeclio Alkermes, A']. Vita, and fuch 
 like compofitions onely for ornaments fake, doe not 
 doe: And therefore they are no ways comparable 
 to thofe Atoms of ours. 'Tis no fmall trivial matter 
 that I difclofe unto you, and verily it would be well 
 worth the while for the Apothecaries (hops of noble 
 men to efteem highly of the fame : And as for what 
 and how great things may farther be done with this 
 fame Tindlure of Gold, as to the Mctallick matter 
 may be found in the firft Dialogue. ' 
 
 An eajiejway of making and preparing the Atoms of 
 Gold. •* 
 
 DTITolve an Ounce and an half of Gold in ftrong 
 Spirit of Salt, or if you are not furnifhed with 
 this Spirit, then difiblve the, fame in common Aej, 
 Reg. and pour upon the Solution one pound or two 
 of Rain water, whereto is admixt about one pound 
 of Rhenifli Wine, mix them altogether in a glafs, and 
 (hake them well, and (hut the glafs clofe that no duft: 
 fall therein, fct it by for fome days in a warm place 
 that fo the Gold may precipitate out of the Water, 
 and fettle to the bottom of the Veilel in the likenefs 
 of moft curious fmall Stars. But if all die Gold (hall 
 not be precipitated in this time, fee then the Glafs in 
 a B, and let the Solution boil a while; then when ic 
 is again cool, fet by the VelTel (bme-where that the 
 Gold may fettle, which being diflolved into Atoms, 
 ( and the Water and Wine poured neatly off) is to 
 be taken out of the Glafs, and to be often wafh'c 
 with pure water : So (hall you have the Atoms of 
 Gold, which you may fafely make ufe of in Medi- 
 cine. 
 
 N. B. But you are to note, that it is impoflible 
 for the Gold to be by thus proceeding fb diflolved as 
 for nothing at all thereof -to remain in the dilTolving 
 water. And therefore 'tis neceflary that you fepa- 
 rate the refidue of the Gold out of the water by pre- 
 cipitation. And in my other Writings will you meet 
 with feveral wa)'s of feparating the fame. Thefe 
 moft fine and fubtile Atoms of Gold may votf 
 alfo make ufe of with moft notable profit even in o- 
 
 Q. <t ther 
 
I^o 
 
 The Fifth Part of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 ther Chymical operations, concerning which you 
 will find clear inftrudtions in other places of my 
 Writings 
 
 And forafmuch as I here make mention of a molt 
 exce'lenc .-,^. Tir^, it feems in my Judgment necella- 
 ry and profitable to add here a full dclcription of the 
 fame, together with the ufe thereof. 
 
 Vfte 5W/ of making a Golden Aq. Vita?, and frich as 
 •^fr£'ver as yet hath been dejcrtbed and pnblijhed unto 
 its by any Fhyjician. 
 
 TAke of the beft and pureft Salr-petre,and of white 
 and pure Tartar, each one pound, of yellow 
 Sulphur half a pound, make thefe matters into Pow- 
 der, and having well mixt them, put them into a 
 Crufible, and by putting thereunto a live Wood coal, 
 kind:e them, that they may take fire and burn up, 
 and leave a yellow mafs behind in the Crufible 
 which being molten in the fire, and turned forth into 
 a Mortar, "will give you a fiery fulphureous Stone, 
 hiring the tongua by reafon of its (harpnefs. Now 
 whillt it is yec warm, powder it, for it prefently at- 
 tracts ( when cool) humidity out of the Air, and 
 admits not of pulverization. Being powdered, pour 
 thereupon two or three pounds of the beft Spirit of 
 Wine, and fct it by in a cold place for foms days, 
 but with this provifo, that you daily fhake or Itir 
 your matter in the VefTel with the Spirit of Wine : 
 Bv this means will the Spirit of Wine attrad a red 
 Tincture out of the Sulphur, and will withal) acuate 
 fcif with the Salt, by the Calcined Tartar, then 
 
 where 'tis ufed, the Excrements are generally black, 
 which could not be if the Gold paft forth again un- 
 digefl:ed. Seeing therefore it is an undoubted truth, 
 that it is thus overcome and fubdued by the Sto- 
 mach's digeftion, it cannot be but that by its moft 
 wholfome operation it muft needs prove helpfull to 
 the fick body. Befides too, I think it not amifs to 
 tell you, that the very Excrements ( fave your pre- 
 fence) of thofe fick Patients that daily make ufe of 
 this Jtj. Vita, are not to be thrown away, for they 
 will even yet atford (bme fmall benefit, if they are 
 laid to the roots of Vines to dung them with, for it 
 will make the Vines produce fuch Grapes as have 
 their Stones fpeckled with little Golden Stars, as my 
 felf have tried. And perhaps fomething of greater 
 moment may be effedled in the Mctallick trade by 
 fuch kind of Excrements, though I contefs 'tis need- 
 lefs, feeing good may be done upon them by other 
 ways. 
 
 It 
 
 filter this Spirit of Wine by Cap paper or a Filter, as 
 
 they call it, and draw off two third parts by diffilla- 
 
 tion in a B, that fo you may have your Spirit again, 
 
 but of a very pleafing taft and firell , which it gets 
 
 out of the Sulphur, as out of the Center of all 
 
 odour. 
 
 This Spirit of Wjne, having the following Spices 
 and Flowers fteeped therein,and being again diltilled 
 off in a B, will give thee an efficacious Cordial Spirit 
 of Wine, which faid Spirit you may colour red, with 
 the Tindure of the Gold, and by the appofition of 
 as much of the Atoms of the Gold as is fufficienr, 
 make it Auienus. Now as much as there fhall be 
 in quantity of this fame Spirit, you may thereto af 
 terwards add fb much fweet volatile Spirit of Gold, 
 as will allay the overmuch heat of the faid Vinous 
 Spirit. But that this yet overmuch heat may be yet 
 more allayed, and that the ftrong odour it felf of 
 the Aureous Spirit may be corrected , you may 
 therein dilfnlve about fome four ounces of Sugar- 
 candy beaten into fine Powder, and this will make 
 this ti uely Aureous ylef Vita mofl fweet. This moft 
 incomparable A(]. Vita may be ufed in all the Sick- 
 nefles of. the Body moft fafely and moft profitably 
 where the Vital Spirits the Heart and Brain need 
 ftrengthening. For the Aromatical Spirit of Wine 
 doth even fa- fe corroborate the Vital Spirits, and 
 now the Spirit of (jo!d makes it more potent and ef- 
 feftual, and the Atoms of the Gold too, doth ren- 
 der it yet more vertuous, inff)much that this Ae], 
 Vita bears away the Bell from all others , nor can a 
 better and more powertull be prepared. For not 
 onely the red Tincture of the Gold, but likewife 
 even the Gold it lelf being thus turned into Atoms, 
 is conltrained to undergo the concoction and digefti- 
 on of the Stomach of Mankind ; And therefore 
 
 The Spices and Flowers which are to be ex- 
 tradred by the aforefatd Alcolizated Spi- 
 rit of Wine, and to be ufed in the Aqua 
 Vitce. 
 
 TAke the Flowers of the Lilly of the Valley three ounces. 
 Of Red Rofes, Cinamon, Mace, Cardamoms, Bo- 
 rage, Rofemary, Sage, La'u<!ndtr, two ounces, of Am- 
 bergreafe. Mink, a Jcritfle. All thefe Flowers frejh 
 gathered are to be pit, with the dry Spices, into the Spirit 
 of fVtne, and are to be therein macerated, and then di- 
 fiilled. If you can-t get frejl] Flowers, you mufi even 
 content your felf with dried ones, but yet the frejh-gathe- 
 red are better tf they can be had. 
 
 The Ufe of thi Univerfal Aiedicament defer ibed in my 
 fecond Dialogue. 
 
 TH E vertuc and efficacy of this Medicament is 
 of fuch a large extent, as cannot be comprehen- 
 ded nor apprehended by humane underftanding. It 
 is prepared of the iinmature, and as yet volatile, and 
 not fire brooking Mineral, called by the Philolbphers 
 the Magnefia of Saturn. 
 
 When this black Mineral is purged from all grofs 
 impurity, and reduced into a moft white and delicate 
 Colour, and is in the form of a moft delicate, fine, 
 bright, and very ponderous Powder, it may be ufed 
 with notable benefit about the curing of the moft 
 grievous difeafcs. It cafts forth out of the Body of 
 Man all hurtfuU things, and that both by a vifible 
 and invifible o^jcration, freeing and purging it of all 
 hurtfull and ill humours, beyond all other Medica- 
 ments, what name foever diftinguifh't by. It fhews 
 incredible Vertues in a very litt'e Dofe, infomuch 
 that there hath not been found hitherto any Medi- 
 cament, which being exhibited in fb fmall a quan- 
 tity, hath fhown fiich incredible efficacy. And al- 
 though Antimonial Medicines are notably vertuous, 
 and caufe every one to wonder at them, as appears 
 by my Golden Panacaa, and my Panacaa of Anti- 
 mony , which for this twenty years fpace have 
 been famous all over Europe, yet can they not be 
 in any cafe compared to this Univerfal Medica- 
 ment. 
 
 I. For 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spagjrical DifpeJifatorj. 
 
 151 
 
 1. For Hrft of all, they are far inferiour in 
 virrues ro this, for one grain- of this will do more 
 than two, three, or four grains of the other can 
 ctfed 
 
 2. Secondly, this is heavier and more ponderous 
 than the others, for one ounce of this will lie in 
 ieis room than three, four, or five times as much of 
 my Antimcnial, or of my golden Panacea, and 
 therefore is it much eafier and more commodious 
 to be taken by the Sick. 
 
 ;. Thirdly, this is aifo to be preferred before the 
 others if you confider them as to taft and fmell, for 
 this hath neither odour ncr taft, whereas that Anti- 
 nionial and the golden P^vac^a have always fome 
 odour and taft of the Salts, and for thatreafbndo 
 breed a naufeate and loathing in the Sick if often 
 ufed. 
 
 Therefore I have determined with my felf to fub- 
 •ftitute this univerlal Medicament, in the room of 
 nay P^nacA:a made of Antimony, and the rather for 
 this reafon, becaufe Deceivers and Cheaters have 
 made a red Powder of Antimony, and perfidioufly 
 fold the fame for my I'anacaa ; but now this de- 
 ceit of theirs muft end, for they will never be 
 able by all their deceitfull imitations to counterfeit 
 this ponderous Medicament void both of finell and 
 talt. 
 
 As for the Dofe of this Medicament, there muft 
 care be had that Icarce one quarter part fo much of 
 it, beadminiftred as is v/ont to be of my Panacea 
 of Antimony There mufl fcarce be given the tench 
 or twelfth part of one grain atone time, to fuch In 
 fants as are under fix Months o!d, and which are 
 afflicted with the Epilepficor Convulfions, theSma!) 
 Pox or Meafels, the t'eavers or (ijch like Difeafes 
 Tofijch as are upw/ards of fix Months, even to 12, 
 i^, or 24 Months old, an 8th. 6th. or 4th. part of 
 a grain may be adminiftred, to fuch as are 2, 5, 6, 
 8, or 10 Years old, | or | part of a grain may be 
 given. To ftich as are upwards of 10, even to 20 
 years old,| a grainjOr^orat urmnftbut i whole grain 
 may be adminiftred. Thole thar are between the 
 20th. or 50th. Years of their age,mayu(e i grain or i 
 gr. and 5, nor muft they exceed i grains at moft From 
 the 50th year, all the reft of their age even to their 
 .lives end, the Dole of this univerlal Medicament is 
 10 be again lell'ened, for oM age is not able to brook 
 fb much as youth, and as a Man in the prime of his 
 years can. But however you may adminifter this 
 ■fo notable an univerfal Medicament to every age, 
 pleafantl}', fafcly, and without any danger at all, it 
 a due Dofb be but oblerved : Infomuch that you 
 need not fear to adminifter the fame even to Women 
 ■with ChiM. But yet the lefler half part of the Dofe 
 which other Men ufe is enough for them. In Fea- 
 Ters it muft be given afore the Fit, in the Plague as 
 *ibon as it's fe!t and afterwards too, in the Dropfie 
 once(or if that one Dole be notfufficient)fwiceevcry 
 month ; in the Gcut and Stone twice a Week ; in 
 the Leprofie, French Pox, and fuch like Dileafes as 
 - arife from the impurity of the Bloud, thrice a Week, 
 in obftruiTtions of the Milt, Liver, Melentery, once 
 a Week ; in the Epileplie, Madnels, and other pre- 
 ternatural aftefts ofthetlead, let it be given twice 
 a Week, and this folong till the evil be quite remo 
 vcd. Theaftecls of the Chollick will need a Dofe 
 every day before they ceafe. This is the manner of 
 curing the atorelaid Dileafes of the Body and all o- 
 thers, by the help of this univerlal Medicament. 
 Which being ufed inwardly performs things incredi- 
 
 ble, and doth likewife work admirably in all dange- 
 rous wounds, open or running Sores, as well old as 
 new, the Cancer, Fiftula, and the like. 
 
 Being inwardly taken once in eight days it con- 
 fumes all untoward Salt Humours, and hindersthem 
 from running to the WoundsorSores,andmakingthem 
 by that means worfc and more dangerous. But yec 
 you muft likewife apply externally excellent Balfams 
 and Emplaifters, fuch as are mentioned in my third 
 Century, that fothe Woundsand Ulcers being duely 
 purged, -may admit of help by the applied Remedies 
 and be the more eafily cured. 
 
 This alfo is to be confidered in the ufing of this 
 Medicament, the Sick is to lie in his Bed four or five 
 hours at leaf! after he hath taken it, nor muft he ei- 
 ther eat or drink all that time, and he muft abide all 
 that day in Bed, or at leaft in his Chamber, for the 
 avoiding of the Air, nor muft he fleep afore the Me- 
 dicament hath finifht its operation. 
 
 The Vehicles which it is to be mixt with, and to 
 be taken in, are Wine, Ale, the warm Broath of 
 Flefh, Syrups, Conferves ofRofes, frefh Butter, roaf- 
 ted Apples, and fuch like. Neither is it amifs to 
 make alight Supper, and feed upon eafily digeftable 
 Food, and which may ma^e the Stomach more apt 
 and fit for purging, the night afore you are to take 
 the Medicine the next morning : And thole are 
 Prunes, Raylbns, and other fuch like Food, as by 
 their laxative property make the tough and vifcous 
 humours flippery andfofter; when the operation is 
 over, the fick Patient is to avoid hard meats and 
 ftrong drinks, nor muft he prefently fluff his Sto- 
 mach therewichall, but rather ufe much temperance 
 the next day after his purgation, and feed onely upon 
 the Broaths of Herbs, as Chervil, Fennel, Spinach, 
 and the like, whereby the Medicament may operate 
 the more eafily, but it will yet more readily perform 
 its operation, if juft at your adminiftring it you add 
 a Drachm of pure white powdered Tartar, and boil 
 it with a Drachm of Sugar, or (which is better) 
 fome Marina, in fome pure clean Water, and fo 
 drink it warm, which faid potion following after 
 your Medicament firft taken, is wont well to purge 
 and cleanfe the Stomach and Inteftines. 
 
 And this is the ufe of our Mineral Medicament, 
 which if you do but accurately regard, there will no 
 erjour be committed, and the faid Medicament will 
 (by its laudable operation) abundantly farisfie every 
 ones defires. But we have now faid enough of this 
 incomparable Medicament in the form of a Powder. 
 But if this Powder be reduced, by melting it into 
 fmall Stones of the colour of Milk, it then requires 
 another way of ufing it. If therefore you would ufe 
 one of the faid Stones, inftcad of the aforefaid Pow- 
 der, and purge and free the Body hereby from all 
 hurtfuU humours, you muft then put it for fome 
 hours in a fpoonfull of Wine, and fb drink off the 
 Wine, and it will efFecT; the fame operation, that the 
 Powder is wont to do. But yet you muft be wary 
 in the ufe of thcfe Stones, that you do not waft and 
 fpend the ftrength of the Sick fomuch, but that there 
 may be but juft as much as is requifite for them, and 
 as they can bear. But when their ftrength is fpenr, 
 you muft put in a greater or lellcr Stone into the 
 Wine to be imbibed ; but an Infant is notfo ftrong, 
 nor can bear fo much as a ftrong Man can, whofe 
 ftrength is far greater. It is therefore necelTary that 
 thofe, who defire happily to cure the Difeafes of 
 mankind by the help of thefe Stones do (for the firft 
 time) leave one of thefe Stones one, two, or three 
 
 hours 
 
152 
 
 The Fifth Van of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 hours in the Wine, and then heedfully mind the o- j 
 peration of the (aid Wine when drunk otF. It the 
 operation be to his mind, he may always obferve 
 that length of time, as it lay in the faid Wine. If 
 the operation be leis than what you would have it 
 be, it may lie longer ; if ftronger and greater than 
 what you would have it, it mufl lie lefs while in 
 the Wine , and thus by this provident forecait 
 may you (b order ir, as to have it juft to your 
 mind. 
 
 Now, although 'the ufe of this Medicament in the 
 form of a Stone be far better than ufing it in the 
 form ofa Powder as being more pleafant, and more 
 grateful], yet notwithftanding it is better for him 
 that cannot fo accurately obferve the ufe of the fame, 
 to make ufe of the Powder it (elf, that fo they may 
 be the furer of what they do. But they that do 
 know the way of ufing the (aid Stones, they need 
 not ufe the body of the Powder, forafmuch as they 
 who drink that Wine wherein the Stones are mace- 
 rated, may have the fruition of the virtues alone, 
 without the corporeity. Thcjfe very Stones too,though 
 they are feveral times fteeped in the Wine, do not 
 (1 confcfs) lofe their virtues, but yet they grow lets 
 efpecially if (for the flronger purgations fake) they 
 are boiled in the Wine which is poured upon them, 
 for the boiling diminifheth its little body, and lellens 
 the Stone And thefe are the dired;ions which con- 
 cerns the ufe both of the Stones, and of the Powder 
 it feif, in the taking away and purging out all the 
 hurtfuU and evil humours in Man's Body, both in 
 young and old. 
 
 The body therefore being fufficiently purged by 
 our faid univerfal Medicament, it will be expedient 
 (for the prevention of a relapfe) to obferve a due 
 Dyer, and to hold fuch a Stone in their mouths a 
 quarter or half an hour every day, which will at- 
 tradt unto it felf not a little vicious tough moiflure, 
 out of the Brain and Stomach, which vou are to 
 fpit out fo often, and fo long, untill there flows no 
 more plenty of waterifhnefs into the mouth. This 
 attraiftion will much eafe the Brain and Stomach, 
 and free it from no.xious obf^ruetions, and will take 
 away the preternatural Appetite and Thirft-, and 
 (b may a Man expeft his Dinner without any pre 
 ternatural Appetite. For when the internal Velfels 
 of the Body of Man, as the Spleen, the Liver, the 
 Melcntery, are obftrufted with tough humours, and 
 the Stomach it felf is ftuft with thefe obliruftions, 
 intbmuch that for f'ime hours after his rifing out ot 
 his Bed, he js ufually troubled with a preternatural 
 Hunger and Third-, and with a debility and faint- 
 nefs of his Members ; many think that thefe incon- 
 veniencies can be averted by Food and Drink, but 
 they are out. For experience tcacheth that the weak- 
 refs of fuch Men is increafed by eating and drinking 
 a little, fo far is it from being capable of being re- 
 moved and taken away by fiich means. 
 
 From whence it is clearly manifeft that that 
 weaknefs is not to be imputed to the want of meat 
 and drink, but rather to the obftruclions of thofe 
 inwOTd Vellels, which hindring the pallage of the 
 Vital Spirit to the Nerves, which it ought to 
 ftrengthen, doth of necelTity caufe fuch a debility 
 and weakningof the Members, and begets in the 
 Stomach a preternatural Appetite. If therefore 
 fuch obftrudlions be by little and little taken away 
 by the daily ufe of thele Stones, fb that thofe tough 
 humours cannot encrcafe, it muft necedarily follow, 
 ;hat the Difeafe mult give place by little and little 
 
 too, and be diminifhed and . confequentiy the former 
 good health muft follow with a prolongation of the 
 Life. 
 
 The Stomach therefore being befet with fuch 
 tough and Melancholy humours, it cannot polFibly 
 be that they fhould fb very ealily be expelled, buc 
 'tis behcovefull, that the Wine wherein the Stone 
 bath been boiled be drunk, and fo caft them forth : 
 And that Stone may be afterwards held in the mouth 
 (according to the aforementioned way) for conferva- 
 tion fake of health. But if it fliould happen that 
 thofe tough humours of the naufeate and weak Sto- 
 mach, and thofe clammy obftrudions of the VefTels, 
 and that preternatural Hunger and Thirft fliould 
 not be taken away by this way of healing ; 'tisafign 
 that all thefe inconveniencies have a deeper rooting 
 and cannot be thoroughly removed by the faid Me- 
 dicaments. And therefore fuch Remedies as arc 
 ftronger and more powerfull are to be made ufe of, 
 which may foften thofe tenacious humours of the 
 Stomach, may incide them, and cafl them our, and 
 may unlock all the obftruiftions of the body, and 
 open the paflages of the Vital Spirit, to enter unto 
 all the Members, and may ftrengthen the weakned 
 Stomachjwhereby it may be capable ofconcofting the 
 meats it takes, with a laudable digeftion, and gene- 
 rate good and laudable bloud. 
 
 Forafrnuch therefore as fuch an efficacious Me- 
 dicament as is fit to take away all the obftrudlions of 
 the inward Bowels, and VefTels, and to corroborate 
 a weak Stomach, is to be found but with a very 
 few, it hath feem.ed good unto me, to reveal at pre- 
 fent fuch a Medicament (for the fake of mankind^ 
 and which is fo efficacious a Remedy, as I dare 
 boldly affirm the like thereof hath not for above 
 thefe hundred years laft paft been in the hands 
 of any Phyfician, but was found out by my felf by 
 divine inftinft, and which I here publifh with a 
 willing mind. 
 
 T' 
 
 The Preparation thereof is as follows. 
 
 AKE of new and ftrong fmelling Af/rr^, and 
 of the pureft and cleareft Aloes, and of the 
 beft Englifh Saffron, of each one, two, or three oun- 
 ces. Beat them all into Powder, and pour there- 
 upon the ftrong, operative, and 'volatile Spirit of 
 Mars, (of which I have made mention in my Book 
 of Fires) anddiffolve as much thereof as will diffolve, 
 to the Solution add a little of my fecret Ferment^ 
 which will prefently caufe it to ferment. Now be- 
 fore the putting your ferment thereunto, you muft 
 have an Alembeck or Head ready at hand, and 
 Paper and Paft wherewith the Alembeck being put 
 upon ihe Body, may be well luted, and futfer no- ■ 
 thing to pafs out. 
 
 For alfoon as ever the Ferment, fliall be added to the 
 Solution, it prefently begins to ferment, and the glafs 
 being placed in Bal. and feeling the heat, that volatile 
 Spirit of the Iron will afcend readily and nimbly like 
 the Spirit of Wine, much inferiour thereunto as to its 
 heat I confefs, but yet ofa far more penetrating efficacy. 
 The Spirit being all afcended the remaining humidi- 
 ty is to be drawn off even to the confiftence of ho- 
 ney, but yet fb gently, that the remaining Juice may 
 nor at all fmell of burning. This done, rake out 
 the glafs and let it cool, and pour on upon the Juice 
 after its refrigeration the fame volatile Spirit oi Aiars 
 which you feparated from the matter by diflillation ; 
 which Spirit will diffolve that thick Juice, which be- 
 ing 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagjncai Difpenfntorj. 
 
 1 53 
 
 ing dilTolvcd will become a Balfam of a ftrong O- 
 dour, a pcnctnting Efficacy, and a red Colour like 
 blond; which ( by reafon of its penetrative Effica 
 cy ) is to be kept well fhut, and may be accompted 
 ot as a Ballani of Life ; for it takes away the ob- 
 itru^tions ot tl'.e whole body, and doth mightily 
 fcorroborare and ftrengthen all the internal Veflels 
 and Members, and prclerves them fafe from all cor- 
 ruptions. Nor is there any Balfam whatever, being 
 brought whencefbever it will, that is comparable unto 
 this. For it does not onely defend the living bodies 
 of men from all Dileafes, but likewife performs tlie 
 ian:e effefts in the prefervation of the dead bodies 
 from putrcfjiftion, as other Balfams do, but far more 
 efficacioullv : For it penetrates all things, and by its 
 la admirable vertue keeps them from putrifying, in 
 •fbmuch that no body can enough admire thefe fo 
 great and wonderfull works of God. Now to try 
 •rhe truth of this, any man may make proof thereof 
 with a Frog, Moufe, or fjch like fmall Creature. 
 
 Theufe of this fame Balfam as to the taking away 
 of all the obftrudions of the internal Veflels, and 
 corroboratiirg the weak Stomach, is this, -viz,. The 
 body is firlt of all to be well purged, and then i, i, 
 i;, 4, even to lo or i a drops thereof (according to 
 the Age ot the Patient J is to be adminiftred to a 
 fafting Stomach, in that Water, which was drawn 
 over after the volatile Spirit was all come, as afore- 
 said. 
 
 After the taking of the Medicament, you mull 
 faft an hour or two, this Balfam penetrates all the 
 Members of the whole Body, and ftrengthens the 
 SiTomach, Brain, Heart, and all the internal Veflels, 
 takes awav all obftruftions, makes good blood, ex- 
 cites a good appetite to meat and drink, and aug- 
 ments the radical humidity, and (o conferves rhe 
 bodv of man ( by God's Grace and Blefling) even 
 unto old Age. 
 
 Bur let if not feem to any one a ftrange thing , nor 
 let them fuffer any (iich thoughts to come into their 
 minds, as if others have already had this Balfam, 
 becauH; Taracdftirs' made his £.//.%»• Proprietatis of 
 Myrrh, Aloes, and Sattron, and fo others too in- 
 lifting on or tracing his footfteps have made the 
 lame, and which hitherto hath been in great efteem 
 amongft all skilful! Phyficians ; no, no. That Elixir 
 of Paracelfiis, being as yet in its corporeal form, 
 and being . nothing clfe but the meer body, is far 
 fhort of the Vertucs of my BaKam ; for my Balfam 
 of Life excels, by reafon of its moft efficacious Spi- 
 rits, which' penetrate the whole body of man, and 
 ■ fills all his Spirits, and even the whole body it 
 felf with its molt pure vertues, corroborating the 
 idms, and driving away all corruption and rotten- 
 • nets. 
 
 Farther, if any one be minded to make this Bal- 
 fem of Life yet far more eflficacious and powerful!, 
 he may inflead of the aperitive Spirit of Adars, u(e 
 the Spirit "of Gold, which tiucftionlels will enrich 
 the faid Baltum with far greater vertues, but then 
 the coft will be the more, fo that this Medicament 
 will be fit for the rich onely. A man may alfo in 
 the preparation of this Medicament, preferve the 
 volatile Spirit apart, and u(e the fame as a fpiritual 
 Balfam, or Elixir of Subtilty, for the conferving of 
 the inward parts of the body, and fo thou wilt moft 
 potently dilTolve ; by its more penetrative, more 
 potent, and more efficacious vertues, ail hurtful! 
 obltrudions, and all the moft clammy and te- 
 nacious humours. And after the fame manner 
 
 may you referve the fimple Balfam apart for its 
 proper ufe. 
 
 Now by this way which I have here delivered 
 may be made likewife othr, efficacious and pener- 
 ting Spirits and Balfams of great worth, out r yb- 
 thcr Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, whe- \vith 
 a man may perform wonderful! effefts in JvWicine. 
 I have here laid a foundation, whereupon ^Iryone 
 may as he thinks good build a ftrong Ed^ j. No- 
 thing verily would be more defirable, ana more to 
 he wiflu for, than to fubftitute, and introduce fuch 
 (ubti! and penetrating Medicaments, in the room of 
 (b many unprofitable compofitions made by their 
 boilings and ftcwings, &c. It would be far better for 
 the health of mankind, nor would fb many men die, 
 rcmedilefs, of fiich fmall and contemptible Difeafes' 
 as arife meerly from the tenacious and pituitous 
 humours of the Stomach: What vertues I pray can 
 there be in the common diftilled waters of herbs? 
 Verily fcarce any at a!!. But if they be prepa- 
 red according ro the way by me prefcribed, they 
 would be (both in odour, raft, and vertues) much 
 better and' more profitable 
 
 If to fome common Wine, which hath already- 
 undergone its natural and accuftomed fermentation, 
 there be another fermentation given it by the help 
 of my fecret ferment, and then the Spirit thence ex- 
 traded, it will be of lb ftrong and efficacious a favour 
 and odour ( efjiecially if lome Spices, and other 
 fweet fmelling fragrant Herbs, be fermented toge- 
 ther therewith ) as that other Wines may be thereby 
 rendered favoury and well tafted, and odoriferous 
 too. Upon this account I dare boldly and conftant- 
 ly aver, that the Spirits of Metals deferve the chief- 
 eft place in Medicine above all other things whatfb- 
 ever : But I do not as yet know what may be done 
 with them in metallick matters, onely thus much, 
 'uix,. they are wont to coagulate the common and 
 running Quickfilver. Did v\e but know the Art of 
 fixing them ( Spirits ) and making them conftant, 
 without queftion we fhould not onely obtain an ex- 
 cellent univcrfal Medicament in medicine for the 
 confervatfon of the health of mankind, bur alfb a 
 moft abfblute Tindture for the tinging of the bodies of 
 the metals. Thatthis is poflible, the Writings of the 
 Ancient Philofophers do too and again hint fb much, 
 but yet I have not as hitherto etfected the fame. 
 However I am content, and moft heartily thank my 
 God, in that he hath honoured me with fo excellent 
 a Medicament, which haply nobody for this hun- 
 dred years laft paft hath been rendered a partaker 
 of: For had it fb been, it would long fince have 
 been revealed and difclofed. 'Tis not a Boys play 
 nor fb ver)' mean a thing, to bring nor onely Vege- 
 tables and Minerals, but even tlie moft fixed metals 
 themfelves, in (as it were.) a moments time, to fiich 
 a pafs, as to undergo a fermentation, and to yield 
 (by diftillation and re(n;ification ^ fo ftrong and pe- 
 netrative a Spirit ; believe it or not believe it, all's a 
 cafe. 'Tis enough for me that I can pcrtcirm the 
 fame whensoever I pleafe; which thing the incredu- 
 lous fhallvery fhortly, (God willing) find to bemoft 
 true, and fee it with their Eyes, and feel it with their 
 hands. But however, by the fame way, as the a- 
 forefaid Balfam is ordered to be prepared, may va- 
 rious and unknown efteilual Medicaments be made 
 out of other matters. 
 
 A Preparation of Opium would yield fuch a Spirit, 
 as (by its odour ) would procure relt, and lay the 
 extcriour Senfes afleep. 
 
 R r The 
 
154 
 
 The Fifth ?art of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 The like would Tobacco, or Henbane, and other 
 fiich like Herbs efFe.T;, and fo would the other in- 
 ebriating Herbs, whofe Spirit being mixt (even in 
 \ tiff leaft Dofe) with Wine, or Ale, and fo drunk 
 <!nbe would prefently make a Man drunk. By the 
 help ii*' (uch kind of Spirits might many waggifh tricks 
 be dot}^, as for example. If Barley, Pea(e, Beans, 
 or othii'i Seed and dry Fruits were moiftened or ftee- 
 ped invou fame, and thrown to Fiflis, Birds, and 
 other wild Animals, and they eat of the fame, they 
 would be made fo drunk, as that you may take them 
 with your hands. In like manner, by liich kind of 
 Spirits emitting fuch a ftrong odour, may all mifchie- 
 vous wild Beafts, as Bears, Wolves, Foxes, and o- 
 ther fuch ravenous Creatures be driven away ; and 
 on the contrary, may FiOies difperft in the Waters 
 be gathered together into one place. For ihtyQuiz,. 
 the Beafts) fhun all ftrong odours and ftinks, but 
 thefe {'VIZ.. the Fifties; are wont to follow after them 
 in the Water. 
 
 Briefly, and in a word, thofe aforefaid Spirits 
 would be fit for the efFefting of fuch wonderfull 
 conclufions, as is no ways fit fo much as once to 
 mention, much lefs to reveal and make known the 
 lame. And for this reafon I have determined with 
 my (elf to bury this fo great a Secret of Fermenta- 
 tion with me in my Grave, and not to difclofe it to 
 any one. In the mean while I will take care to 
 provide a fufficient plenty of the beft Medicaments, 
 whereby I may be ferviceable unto my Neighbour. 
 And 1 will omit taking care about other needlefs 
 affairs, unleft it ftiould chance to happen, that that 
 Turkifti Tyrant thirfting after nothing but Bloud, 
 fhould approach too near unto us ( which God for- 
 bid ) againft whom my wonderfull and hitherto un- 
 known Artificial Fires, and other new inventions 
 of mine, arifing from my unwearied Labours, will 
 be of fuch refiftance, as that I am confident his nu- 
 merous hoft will be rid of the care of again return- 
 ing back. For it is beyond all kind of doubt, that 
 fuch fiery Globes [or Granadoes] may be made, 
 as for one pound thereof to exceed the violence even 
 of twenty pounds of Gunpowder. And who knows 
 for what caufe God hath vouchfafed the revealment 
 of fuch great Secrets, at this nick of time ? Per- 
 haps to (hew his Omnipotency, he will effeft fome 
 lingular and admirable work for the freeing of the 
 Chriftian World by this ultimate and extream defen- 
 five way, out of the moft prefent and imminent 
 dangers : And though it ( 'viz.. the Chriftian World ) 
 be immerft and even drowned in the Labyrinths of 
 various Errors, and is gone greatly aftray from a 
 true Chriftian like life, yet notwithftanding it doth 
 yet contain many a pious Soul. Never did God 
 
 make, or vouchfafe ought without a cau(e ; And 
 therefore it is altogether credible , that thefe new 
 inventions did not light into the hands of men in 
 vain, the which time will manifeft. • 
 
 The Exflication of the two Circular Fi- 
 gures of the Quintejfence at the begi?i- 
 ?iif!g of this Fifth Part of the Pharm. 
 Spagyr. 
 
 A Bout the Circle of the firft Figure. The ^««. 
 tejj'ence of the Minerals, is a Umverfal Medi- 
 cine. 
 
 Without fide the Square in the Circle. Separate the 
 pire from the impure. 
 
 Within fide the fame Square. The four Elements. 
 
 In the four Angles of the Square. Fire, Air, Wa- 
 ter, Earth. 
 
 Without fide the Triangle. The three Trinciples. 
 
 Within the three Angles. Salt, Sulphur, Mercury. 
 Make the fixt Volatile. 
 
 Within the Circle, in the Triangle. Two Contra- 
 ries. 
 
 Within the Central Circle. The firfi Ens. 
 
 Which if you begin to read in the Center, the (enle 
 will be thus. From the firfi Ens, proceed two Con- 
 traries ; from thence the three Principles ; from them 
 the four Elements ; from which, if you feparate the 
 pure from the impure, you obtain the ^mtefjence y 
 "which is an JJniverfal Medicine. 
 
 About the Circle of the fecond Figure. The Salt 
 of Metals, is the Stone of the Fhilofophers. 
 
 Without fide the Square in the Circle. A^id bring it; 
 
 unto A'laturity. 
 
 Within fide the fame Square. The four Elements. 
 
 In the four Angles of the Square. Fire, Air, Wa- 
 ter, Earth. 
 
 Without fide the Triangle. The three Trinciples, 
 
 Within the three Angles. Salt, Sulphur, Mercury. 
 And the Volatile, make fixt. 
 
 Within the Circle of the Triangle. Difohe , Co- 
 agulate. 
 
 Within the Central Circle. The primum Mobile. 
 
 To underftand the Scope of thofe two Figures, 
 you are to begin with the firft, in the Center, and 
 next read the Center of the fecond, for they anfwer 
 one another in all their Parts. As in the Center of 
 the firft Figure are thefe words : The firfi Ens. Which 
 in the Center of the fecond is , The primum Mobile. 
 And fo on to all the other parts. 
 
 The End of the Fifth Fart. 
 
 THE 
 
! 
 
 h 
 
 Life 
 
 fill 
 
 mil 
 
 m 
 
Part II. 155 
 
 THE 
 
 SIXTH PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Spagyrical Pharmacopoea. 
 
 Or a Light lately rifen, and a ftrong Key for openino- 
 
 Philofophick Verity, treating of the moft fecret Fire of Philofophers, 
 viz. How it is to be ufed profitably and commodioufly for the prepara- 
 tion of many Royal Medicaments 5 and how, by the benefit of it. Vege- 
 tables, Animals, and Minerals 5 veneirous, foetid, noxious, and wholly 
 adverfe to Humane Nature, may be converted into a gratefull and moil 
 falubrious Medicine, Mineral-Salts, and the Corrofive Spirits of them dul- 
 cified ; and fixed Metallick j Bodies tranfmuted into Volatile Spirits, ks 
 alfo how thefe Volatile Spirits may again be changed into Bodies fixed, 
 tinging, and penetrating through every Metal and Glafs, and other rare 
 things of that kind may be performed. 
 
 READER, 
 
 IdiJ fome time fince, fencer ely difcover to certain of my Friends^ fame of the hefi of the Ar= 
 canums (Jefcrihed now publickly') in this Treatife, with fuch condition as they themfelves 
 P^culd prepare the fame : but they have not as yet fet about the Work, and perhaps for no 
 9ther reafon, than btcaufe they thought it a matter not of great but offmall moment. Hence it 
 V>aSy that they could not believe fo great a Medicine could be prepared in fo few days. It is mani- 
 fefl by the Writings of Philofophers, that Maria the Prophetefs, Sifier o/Mofes, coul^ ripen the 
 Stone of Philojophers in three Days. Likewife, fome Philofophers have abfolved their Work in a 
 Week. Others have confumed fome Months labour upon the fame. But now, thofe erroneous Fel- 
 lows ^who run from one to another, and although themfelves be rude and ignorant of all things, prof- 
 fer their labour for reward to make the Stone of Philofophers) require to themfelves for digejlion 
 the fpace of one^ two or three whole years. But what a vajl difference is there between three days 
 and three years. As for my f elf, I indeed as yet have never elaborated fo great a Work, but have 
 feen with my Eyes fo great a poffibility thereof, and with my hands handled things fo, as {if time 
 \ and place be given, and God grant fuccefs) I am confident I fhall prepare this fupr earn Medicine in 
 \ A very jhortjpace of time. But I can truly affirm, that in all my life I never afpired to things fo- 
 high ; yet what hath been conferred on me by God, I now make common. Wherefore, he (^whom 
 Cod p:'all favour) may there begin, where I have ended, and happily confummate the Work : but if 
 I le {ivbom God favours not) fhall attempt any thing therein, let him not difc^uietme with trouble- 
 ; fome Interrogatories ; for I know not how to anfwer more, than are here dijcovered by ' me. let 
 QfGod pleafe) after fome Jhort fpace of time, I will clearly expofe to publtck view, whatfoever I 
 have found and (een in the particular Melioration of Metals. Which indeed will contribute great 
 Light to this later Age of the darkened World. 
 
 CHAR 
 
The Sixth fart of 
 
 Part IT 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Defcrihin^ that artificial Thilofofhick Diftillatory Fur- 
 nace {of -which the little Bock of Fires treats) by the 
 ■help of which m the fpace of one hour, all Chjmical 
 Operations at onetime, the fecret Fire meJtat!?tg, may 
 he demonfirated fo, as v,'as never yet defcribed by any 
 Man. 
 
 GET a Furnace made of good Earth (which in 
 burning will be rendred as compaft and folid 
 as Glafs ; fuch you may find about Colen, Sibburg, 
 Freichiem, or Waheiibiirg) in its Diameter, at leaft 
 two Foot broad, but rather (if that well may be) 
 three. Prepare aVeffel like the Hemifphere or lialf- 
 Globe, having three or four handles, to be hanged 
 up by, fill that with cold Water, and your Recipient 
 or Blind-head will be perfedl. Then fit to it a plain 
 Pan of good Earth, the breadth of three or four 
 Thumbs, and a Thumbs breadth high. This Pan 
 fill with common Sulphur, mixt with fome other 
 Mineral Subjed, as Mercury, Aunpigment, Jrfcnick, 
 ' or Antimony ; which you defire to hx, either parti- 
 cularly into Sol, or univerfally into Medicine. Kin- 
 dle the Sulphur that it may burn, then this Sulphur 
 will calcine and fix that fubjedl (in the Fire conti- 
 nually burning,) which was put in to be fixed. If 
 in burning the Sulphur be deficient, it muft be fup- 
 plied with other Sulphur. If the Sulphur fhould 
 happen to be extinguifhed, you muft kindle it again, 
 that it may conltantly burn and never go out. It 
 will neteafily go out, if you prevent the extintftion, 
 by putting a httle Cotton in the midft of the Pan. 
 When, the burning Sulphur, with its penetrating and 
 ripening Fire, penetrates the fubjc^ added, then the 
 volatile Mineral at firft cannot bear patiently the 
 vchemency of the Fire, but a part of the (ame is ele 
 vated upwards with the fiery Oil (fixing all Mine- 
 ral liibjeds) wliich concretes round about to the 
 Veiiel, and again diftills down upon the burning 
 Sulphur into the Pan, fo as it excites no fmall admi- 
 
 ration in the Beholders. The motion of this Oil, 
 which is fb often and long driven upwards and down- 
 wards ; Philolbphers have named their Diftillation, 
 Afcent, and Defcent, alfo Cohobation and Circula- 
 tion : but the Sulphur continually burning, they 
 called Calcination and Solution. For, in this opera- 
 tion, two very potent Fires aft. The flame of Sul- 
 phur is a ftrong fixing Fire, but ftronger yet is that 
 fiery Oil continually diftilling. By the help of both 
 which Stygian Fires, the volatile fubjei-T; in the Pan, 
 is in a fhort fpace of time (unlcfs it was very impure 
 before) without any diminution of its weight fixed 
 into a fixed Medicine. It is to be admired, with 
 how great virtue, either Fire is endewed, for fixing 
 volatile Metals ; alfo it is pleafant to behold, how 
 (when any drop of that Oil of Sulphur driven up- 
 wards diftills down again upon the burning Sulphur) 
 the flame that afcends then, will be red as bloud, 
 which otherwife from Sulphur onely afcends yel- 
 lowifli. The repeated Diftillation of that into the 
 under let Veflel was by Philofophers called Incera- 
 tion ; But when the whole refided in the bottom 
 without any afcending fume, that was by tbem cal- 
 led Fixation. 
 
 Thefe operations I have performed with my own 
 Hand?, and (een with my own Eyes. More at 
 this time I dare not publifh ;: for more than enough' 
 is already fpoken to impious Men. Which indeed I 
 fliould not have done, if this excellent Philofbphick 
 Work had not been made too common already, or 
 (to e.xprefs my meaning more plainly) if it had not 
 fallen into the hands of unworthy Perfbns, to me 
 mofi: ungratefull. For indeed I permitted onely fome 
 few of my Friends to fee this Philofophick fixing Fur- 
 nace ; yec the knowledge of jt was by them fo far 
 divulged, as I repented I had ever communicated it. 
 Neverthelels, inftead of that, not long after by God 
 was given to me a certain other, far better and 
 more elegant gift, for he fhewed me liich an In- 
 ftrument, as would far more commodioufly than the 
 former, receive the afcending fulphureous fume, fb 
 as none of it fhould be loft. Therefore this divine 
 gift fhall by me be more warily kept than the former. 
 
 THE 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagjrical Vha'rmacopxa. 
 
 157 
 
 lat 
 
 Vl' 
 
 j) 
 .ir 
 nu 
 
 The Explanation of the CUT. 
 
 A Is the fianiing part of the Furnace. 
 
 B The lower Hemtjphere or half Glohe^ which is to 
 
 contain the Sulphur, or what you intend to make 
 
 into Oils or Spirits. 
 
 C. The upper Hemtfphere with its Fife to draw the Oils 
 or Spirits by. 
 
 D. The body that holds the Water. 
 
 £. The Cavity or top of the body to put in the Water. 
 FFF. The handles by which it is hanged up, which are 
 
 made of the fame Earth that the Body is made of. 
 G. The Cock to let out the Water, that you may put 
 
 in more cold. 
 H. The Hemifphere to work the Minerals and hath no Ptpe. 
 I. The body to hold the Water to keep it Cool. ■ 
 K. The Cavity of the Body to put in the Water. 
 LLL. The handles to hang it by. 
 
 M. The Cock to let out the Water that you may put lu 
 more cold. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The way of preparing another Medicine of Sulphur 
 onely. 
 
 FILL an earthen Pan full of Sulphur, and fet it 
 under the Blind head. Kindle the Sulphur and 
 keep it continually burning for eight or fourteen 
 days And when the burning Sulphur cauleth its 
 Oil toafcend, and the fame again defcends upon ir, 
 and this afcent and defcent hath fb long been made, 
 as untill the Oil is fixed, and no more afcent is per- 
 ceived, then let the Fire go out, and that which 
 you find in the bottom, looking black as a Coal, 
 take out, pour clear Water upon it, and make them 
 boil together. In this boiling the Water extracts 
 the fixed Oil of Sulphur, which pafled into Salt, 
 from the black Ixcts. This extrailed Salt diftill 
 through a Filter, and permit the Water to exhale in 
 Balneo ; (o the Relidue will remain in the bottom 
 fweet, in the form of a (bwerifh gratefull yellow 
 Salt. Which take out, and put into a clean Cruci- 
 ble, where keep it hot, but not red hot ; then the 
 Salt will wax red. This dilfolve againr and Filter, 
 -and it will leave fomo Faeces. You mav reiterate 
 this operation if you will, and the Salt will be (b 
 
 much the more pure. This Salt is of a middle taft 
 between fower and fw&Qt -. Of which five or fix 
 grains being taken inwardly will penetrate the bodv 
 and ftrongly provoke fwear. But a larger Dofe will 
 provoke gentle Seidges, efpcciallv if the operation 
 be made in fome Iron Pan, yet it contrads from the 
 Iron a fweetifii tafi-, but that is not at all to be feared, 
 becaufe the Salt plainly depofits this taft, efpecially 
 if you heat it hot and difTjlve if,coaguIate and heat "ic 
 hot again, unto the third time. For then it lofeth 
 thattaft, and becomes a fweet red Salt, which is a 
 fafe remedy againft all Difeafes, where there is need 
 of fweating and purging. 
 
 Note, here is need of caution, that in making ic 
 hot, your Fire be not too frrong, and (b the virtues 
 of your Salt diminiflied, which is a thing accurately 
 to be minded. Ancient Philofophers likened this 
 operation to fuch a Fire vomiting fJragon, as devours 
 his own Tail, and converts it into a Talutary Medi- 
 cine. The Dragon is burning Sulphur, his Tail is 
 its fiery Oil, which Aides down Ut;on the burning 
 Sulphur, and in it converts it (elf into an efficacious 
 Medicine. 
 
 Note, I would have you give credit to me, inthefe 
 
 Works, which I here have opened in few words, are 
 
 many things of great worth contained. Therefore, 
 
 It you be Wife, \ou will more diligently fearch into 
 
 S f ' the 
 

 =::8 
 
 The Sixth Part of 
 
 Part IL 
 
 rhe matter, and find out much more than is here d\(\ 
 clofcd by mc. 
 
 De 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 which all 'vene- 
 /, and Mineral 
 ared into a -/noft 
 
 AmO^f fecret Fire of Philofophers, hy 
 maift and ftstid Vegetable, Anima, 
 Stmy'''s, may be changed atid prep, 
 e§ci^"V- Medicine. 
 
 REaifie Spirit of Wine fb perfedly well from all 
 Phlegm, as it will all burn away. For this 
 way you will have a fecret Fire, by help of which 
 you will be able to etfc^ wonders in Medicine. 
 
 Philofbphick purgation, then it afcends into irs Hea- 
 ven, that is, into the Alembick with(iUt ftink. Al- 
 fb by help of this purgation, all other foetid, bitter 
 and unfavoury Vcgccable, Mineral, and Animal 
 Subjcfts, may be purged, rendred Iweet, pleafant, 
 uefull, as the following examples will prove. 
 
 and gn 
 
 R' 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 Where firfl is txhihited an efficacious 
 VeTCtable Fire it [elf. 
 
 Medicine from this 
 
 PRepare youof ftony Earth polifhable in Fire, or 
 of Metal, a Furnace in fuch wife, as under 
 it a flaming Fire may burn, and yet none of the fume 
 fly away, but in it condenle either into Water or 
 Oil, and thence defcend into fome fit Receiver. 
 Under fuch a Furnace, in fome earthen Pan kindle 
 an ounce or two of this fubtile Fire, and let it burn. 
 The Spirit of Wine being burnt, the volatile Salt as 
 incombufhble(yet the volatile Mercury of the Wine) 
 comes forth, is cooled in the Receiver, and fo pre- 
 
 ferved. 
 
 Note, when the firft Spirit of Wine is burned, 
 more muft be put in. Of how great profit it will be 
 in Medicine, you may eafily judge, becaufe it is the 
 immortal and incombuftible Soul of Wine. How 
 much it is able to efFeft in Alchymy, is not very 
 well known to me, I not having laboured much in 
 it as yet. Bafilius touching this Mercury,thus Writes: 
 Whofoever can obtain it, will be a principal Mailer 
 in Chymiflry. He, as I judge, well knew how 
 from Gold its Tinfture was to be extrafted by the 
 help of this. But of thefe enough at this time. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Eiipe of common Sulphur, Tartar, and Niter, 
 of each one pound, pulverife, mix and decre- 
 pitate them in a Crucible, kindling them on the top, 
 otherwife they will fulminate. When decrepitated, 
 melt and pour out the mixture, reduce it to Powder, 
 and extraft thence the Tindiare with Spirit of Wine. 
 Burn away the Spirit of Wine under the Philofo- 
 phick Alembick, and what afcends referve for your 
 ute in Medicine What remains in the bottom will 
 be fweet and void of all evil favour, becaufe the Spi- 
 rit of Wine hath burnt up all the ftink. This Medi- 
 cine is a mofl: e.xcellent Diaphoretick. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 How by the benefit of this fecret Vegetable Fire, the Me- 
 crccofmick Mcrcurj may be correBed, freed from Us 
 r.au'^eous fiink, and converted into a fweet Medicine. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 How the "TinElure 'or Soul of Antimony may be purified 
 by the benefit of this Vegetable Fire. 
 
 R£c//?s of Antimony, Tartar, and Niter, of each 
 alike; decrepitate, melt, pulverife,- and ex- 
 tra(ft the Tintture, which caufe to pais through this 
 Purgatory Fire, and you wHl have a fafe Medicine 
 againft all Difeafes. But if you would render it yec 
 more excellent, to this Antimony (which hiith al- 
 ready once fuftained that Purgation) again add its 
 own weight of Tartar and Niter ; decrepitate, melt, 
 extra(fi-, and caufe it to burn as before, and you will 
 have your Medicine more excellent. And if you 
 fhall repeat this labour the third time, you will have 
 it far more excellent, for everv time there are fome 
 Fsces depofited, whence the Medicine becomes more 
 efficacious. 
 
 As is faid of Sulphur and Antimony, fb alfb all o- 
 ther {linking and bitter Subjefts; yea the ffinking 
 Dungs of Animals may be fb purified as to become 
 fweet. Buttherc is no neceflity to fpeak hereabout 
 in this place. For whofoever ftudiouflv fearcheth 
 for fome famous Medicine, will ealily find fome ex- 
 cellent thing, ^o as be may attain both Riches and 
 Honour according tohis wifh. 
 
 REftifie Spirit of Urine as highly as you can, ac- 
 cording to my Prefcripts, largely defcribed 
 in the Book of Furnaces. To this Animal A^ercury 
 add five fold or fix fold its weight of our Vegetable 
 Fire, with which till a Pan, and kindle this Fire 
 under our Philofbphick Alembick; then will our 
 Fire burn up all the naufeous ftink of the Animal 
 Mercury, fb as it will afcend with a gratefull odour 
 and raft! If it be-not to your mind the firft time, 
 commit the fame to this purgation a fecond time, 
 and make it pafs over; then you will find your A- 
 nimal Mercury fweet, by virtue of which you will 
 be able to do great things in Medicine, becaufe it 
 forcibly penetrates. Therefore a diligent Phyfician 
 ihould not be ignorant of the ufe of this. It is known 
 that Spirit of Urine doth much good in Medicine, 
 yet it is commonly abhorred by reaf(;n of its unplea- 
 iint taft. Bur when it hath fuftained the trial of our 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 How by help of the Vegetable Fire, Mineral Fires. may 
 be extingtiijhed, and the corrcf:-ve fiery difpojiticn of 
 them cctiverted into fveetnels. 
 
 IT is very well known, th.at the greater common 
 Fire doth always (as often as one is fet near the 
 other) either extinguifh the Idler, or caufe it to 
 languifh, the fame alio happens to Philofophick 
 Fires. As for exan)p!e. Put into a Stone difh or Pan, 
 Spirit of Salt, Vitriol, Niter, or Sulphur, or fome 
 other acid Spirit, and three, four, or fix parts of the 
 beft Spirit of Wine which kindle, and the Spirit of 
 Wine will burn away, bur the acid Spirit through 
 the fabtilty of the fijme becomes fweet. Which 
 fweer Spirits, efpecially that of Sulphur and Salt, 
 
 manifeft 
 
Part IL 
 
 the Spagj'rical ?l)armacopcca. 
 
 i%9 
 
 manifeft great Vermes in Medicine. Bajil Faletnine 
 fpeaks of tiie dulcitied Spirit of Salt, that it extradls 
 from Go'd its Tincture ; and that he, who knows 
 how to dulcifie ir, will be honoured by Philofophers. 
 He in like manner teacheth, that Spirit of Wine is 
 levcii tinKS to bo abftra-.Tied thence : Yet undoubted- 
 ly he intended not the vulgar Abftraclion, but this 
 l^cret Abftraiftion rather, of which we now fpeik. 
 Becaiile fuch Spirits are not dulcified at one time, 
 but Spirit of Wine is often to be abftrarted thence by 
 the help of Fire, before they will be lutficiently dul- 
 cified. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 ^nether way, by help of other Fires, to cleanfe ^nd 
 fiveetcn Vegetable, Animal and Mineral Subjeih. 
 
 EVery man knows, that the Nature and Property 
 of common Fire is, to abfume every ftinking Sul- 
 phur, to drive away Mercury, and leave nothing but 
 "dead Afhes, with a little fixed Salt; which is noCor- 
 retftion, but a vio'ent Deftrutlion and Corruption of 
 good things. Therefore, in preparing famous medi- 
 cines, we fhould ufea better Fire, 'viz^. fuch, asnei- 
 ,ther confumes Sulphur, nor drives away Mercury, 
 but onely ripens, cleanfeth and fwetens them; as will 
 be proved by thefe following E.xamples. 
 
 Firft^ let us make trial with the (to us abominable ) 
 Dung of men, and fee, whether its Stink can be to 
 tally taken away, and of it an Univerfal medicine be 
 prepared. 
 
 It is very manifeft, that the Dungs of Animals 
 crude and not prepared, areof (bmeufe in medicine, 
 and we know they have been long in ufe with Ga- 
 lenifts and Apothecaries : For they prefume to cure 
 the Jaundies with Goofe dung; Feavers with Horfe- 
 dung ; Inflammations of the Bowels with the diftil- 
 led Water of Cow-dung, which they call the Water 
 of all Flowers ; and the Quinfey, with the white 
 .Dung of a Dog, which they call Album Gracum. 
 ,Pertinent to the purpofc, Hiflory makes mention of 
 3 certain Countryman labouring with a Quinfey. 
 To this man a Phyfician gives a Bill, by which he 
 ,was to go to an Apothecaries Shop, and buy Album 
 ^Qracum. The Bill he gave to a Boy in the Shop, 
 .jivho having read it, looked into the Box in which 
 Alb:im Gr.'vaim was wont to be kept ; and finding 
 .^he Box empty, bid the Countryman ftay a little, 
 aod he would lerve him prefently. But the Boy not 
 wife enough to conceal the Secret, runs prefcntly 
 into the Church Yard, where he gathered fome of 
 the white Dung of Dogs, which he brought home, 
 and put into his Mortar to pulverife. The Country- 
 man (ceirg this, ('pake to the Boy thus .- I pray thee 
 lay afide thofe things, and give me what I have need 
 of; for I can iky no longer. To which the Boy 
 anfwercd: This is that the Phyfician prefcribed you; 
 therefore flay but a little while, for it will be beat 
 .enough prefently. Then the Countryman angerly 
 ,iraid: ^hat do you fay, you Whelp .'' Mufti buy 
 Dogsturd of you for Silver? I have enough of that 
 at home : Therefore you and your Doftour fhall 
 eat it your felves for me. And having Ipoken thus, 
 he went out of the .^.pothecaries Shop in a great rage. 
 Many fuch Hiftories are varioufly commemorated : 
 by w; ich you may clearly fee, that the Dungs of 
 Animals, although crude and not at all prepared, 
 have been ufed by Apothecaries All which had 
 
 they nor been ufefull in Medicine, would long fince 
 have been abrogated. But humane Dung, which 
 dcfervedlv is to be preferred before all other, is not 
 ufed medicinally ; and that onely becaufe of its evil 
 fmcll. Yet I have known fbme old Women give that 
 to be taken inwardly by fuch as laboured with 
 Feavers ( but without their knowledge^ and lb have 
 expelled thole leavers. There are lome Chirurge- 
 ons fo skilfull as to know, that the Salt of humane 
 Dung onely generates Purrefa(ftion, but on the con- 
 trary all other Salts preferve from it. Wherefore 
 they ufe that for putrifying fuch e.xcrcfcent Carun- 
 cles, as they fear to cut olf~, by reafbn of the inter- 
 mi.vcd Veins. Yet, that humane Dung ( if inwardly- 
 taken ; wants not its effefts, no man doubts : but 
 becaufe of its great Stink, its ufe is to be abftained 
 from, and not to be admitted in medicine. Never- 
 the.'efs, if it can be freed from its abominable Odour, 
 it may be ufed in medicine, otherwife not. Where- 
 fore, Paracclfiis fb highly efleemed it, as he faid : 
 From him Heaven and Earth is hid, to whom hu- 
 mane Dung is not' known. An Iliftory, which 
 fhews what happened in Cafafs Court, between 
 him and the Court Phyficians, plainly fheweth this. 
 For when thofe Phyficians asked him to leave behind 
 him fbme medicinal Fxpsriment unto them, Faracel- 
 ftis ordered humane Dung to be brought and laid 
 before them. They feeing that, went away in a 
 rage and reviled him. But i'aracelfus anfwered. You 
 indeed run away, thereby provir.g your felves un- 
 worthy of the Secret I purpofed to have difcovered 
 to you. Whence it is very nnnifeft, that Paracelfus 
 knew how to render ftinking Excrements fit for ufe. 
 For undoubtedly, he never adminiftred them to any 
 man, before they were prepared ; becaufe he had 
 other Medicaments always in readinefs. Now, that 
 it may be known to be pofFible to take away the 
 Stink of Dungs, I will prove the fame by ^he fol- 
 lowing. 
 
 To a found and healthful! Man for two days to- 
 gether give nothing to ear, but a little well baked 
 Wheat-bread ; or to drink, but good Wine. His 
 E.xcremenrs U>v thefe two d.iys cii\ away. On the 
 third day let him eat a' peculiar Bread, with which 
 is mixed before it is baked about an Ounce and half, 
 or one Ounce of my Blood niSol ; alfo let him have' 
 an Ounce and half, or one Ounce of the fame Blood 
 of6'fc/ mixed with his Drink, that it may thereby be 
 tinged with a red Colour. And all the third day lee 
 him eat nothing but this Bread, in which the Blood 
 of Sol, or Gold rendered irreducible hath been ba- 
 ked, and ufe that Wine onely, which the Tinfcure 
 of Gold hath coloured. Then on the fourth day, 
 let his Excrements ( which will be tinged with black- 
 ncfs like a Coal ) be pur inro a glazed Pan or Difh, 
 yet with this Caution, that no Urine be mixed there- 
 with ; becaufe that will be injurious. Indeed thefe 
 Excrements will have a very evil Odour, but that 
 you may take away their Ifink, and convert them 
 into an Univerfal Medicine, proceed thus. 
 
 If thefe Excrements be in weight one pound, or 
 fbmewhat above, paur on tliem two Ounces of well 
 dephlegmated Oil of Sulphur, or in defect of that, 
 as much flrongand well reilified Oilof Vitriol; mix 
 the whole weil ftirring it with a wooden Spatula, 
 that the Oil may afl upon the Excrements: Expofe 
 the whole to the Air for one Night ; and that mine- 
 ral Fire will calcine the Dung JPhilofophically, and 
 deprive it of all its ftink, without any diminution of 
 which is very ftrange. And if any part 
 
 of 
 
 Its Weight; 
 
I^O 
 
 The Sixth ¥art of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 ot the evil Odour {hou!d be left remaining, add to ic 
 again one Ounce and half of the Mineral Fire, and 
 futi-'er them roftand together for one Day and Nighr. 
 Then mull: \o\\ ah'b have in readinefs the Animal 
 Fire, viz.. Spirit of Urine exaffly rcdlitied, of which 
 pour leifurcly and by degrees upon the Dung, lb 
 much, as until both thole contrary Spirits ccale to 
 a<fl each upon other, and are ft ill ; For then thole 
 two contending Fires have mortified each other, 
 whence a middle Salt is generated. Upon this mix- 
 ture put into a Glals do you alfo pour fo much of 
 the Vegetable Fire, ( that is, of the bcft Spirit of 
 Wine) "as may rife in height above it two fingers 
 breadth. Set this glafs in Baheo, and digeft the 
 whole for twentv four hours : For in that time the 
 Spirit of Wine dillblveth that Salt, which proceeded 
 from both the contrary Fires, together with the Mi- 
 crocolinick Salt, Sulphur and Mercury ; and from 
 that Gold, now the lecond time inverted, extradts 
 the Tincture, which it hath, and is thereby tinged 
 red as Blood. This Tinfture pour off, and re pour 
 on other Spirit of Wine, and let that alfo ftand twen- 
 ty four hours in Baheo for extrading what remains : 
 but this will have but little Tinfture, becaule the 
 firft extradion drew forth almoft all. Add both ex- 
 tractions together, and in Balneo, with very gentle 
 heat, by Alembick abftraft the Spirit of Wine from 
 the Tindure ; then will remain in the bottom of 
 theVeiiel a very red and pleafant Salt ; upon which 
 rnuft be poured lb much Aromatick Spirit of Wine, 
 as will iuffice to diffolve all the Salt. Which Solution 
 pour out from the Glafs it was diHolved in, into a 
 ftrong and very clean Glafsbottx, and keep it by 
 you as a moft pretious Treafure. 
 
 The Dole of it is very fmall : for if you give, at 
 onetime, i, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 drops, it will provoke 
 Urine, expel Sweat, and the Stone alfo powerfully. 
 Bur if the dofe be augmented, it purgeth the Belly, 
 and that without any moleftation. In a word, this 
 Univerfal Medicine may fafely be ufed in all Difealcs 
 Yet becaufe I intend brevity, I forbear to write more 
 touching tliis Medicine. 
 
 The Excrements or F^ces, from which this Tinc- 
 ture is extraded, are not to be call away, but muft 
 be Calcined with Fire till they are red hot, and (af- 
 ter a Itrong Ac]iia Rcgia hath been poured upon them^ 
 the remaining Gold, which was not before extraded, 
 mult be dillolved. Yet you (hall have very little of 
 that ; becaule the Man's Stomach did a lecond time 
 invert that Gold., (which was once before inverted ) 
 and made it reducible, fo as it could be extraded 
 with Spirit of Wine by help of the Mineral and Ani- 
 mal Mercury. !t is hard for me to beheve, that a 
 more excellent Diuretick and Diaphoretick Medi- 
 cine can be found, than this Microcolmick Salt, 
 which is tinged with Sol For you will know of 
 how great vertue this Diuretick and Diaphoretick 
 Salt is, when you fliall precipitate the acid Oil of Sul- 
 phur (or in dcfed of that, redified Oil of Vitriol ) 
 with go' d Spirit of Urine, and reduce it into Salt 
 And will not I'uch a Salt as this be far more excellent, 
 when Sulphur the (Philolbphically calcined) Salt and 
 Mercury of the humane Body, together with the 
 Tindure of Gold have Accefsi* 
 
 1 have not writ any thing here of this Univerfal 
 Medicine, to the end it fhould be preferred before 
 others, becaule I very well know, we can of other 
 Subjeds prepare famous Medicines, and eafily be 
 without humane Dung ; but whatlbever I delivered 
 
 (av, it 
 
 any one hath no mind to proceed in this 
 Operation, let him forbear. It lufficcth me, that I 
 have fignilied to the World, how by the help of 
 Art, all venomous and linking Subjeds may bea- 
 mended and cleanfed. 
 
 Thus may the induftrious Phyfician, by the bene- 
 fit of the three Principal Fires prepare many excel- 
 lent Medicines, and before all fluggifh and careleft 
 Phylicians be had in great honour by the Sick, and 
 obtain the favour of GOD and Men. For he may 
 invert the Venom of Vipers, Serpents and Scorpions, 
 and convert the fame into an Antidote powerfull a- 
 gainft the Peftilence, and other Venoms. He alfo 
 underllands how to prepare a Medicament of Toads 
 (afe to be given to dropfical Perfons: of Spiders a 
 Medicine healing the Leprous ; of Cantharides and 
 May Woms, a certain Salt good againft the Stone of 
 the Reins and Bladder; of Earth- Worms, or Rain- 
 Worms, a venereal Experiment ; of Opium, Tobacco 
 and Henbane, a famous Somniferous Medicine ; of 
 Wormwood a Stomachal and Antifebrile; of Helle- 
 bore, Agarick, Spurge, Afarabacca, Squill, and the 
 like, an Univerlal Purging Salt ; of Pearch Stones, 
 and Crabs-Eyes, a Nephritick Medicine againft the 
 Stone of the Reins and Bladder ; and of Napcllus, 
 Stavefacre, and Wake Robbin, a famous Antipoda- 
 grick. Thefe, and other fuch molt excellent and 
 prelently medicinal Salts may after the lame manner 
 be prepared : Thele, for the health of infirm Man- 
 kind I could not content my felf to conceal. Indeed 
 1 could have writ more at large touching this matter; 
 but brevity, which I now Itudy, forbids a more ani- 
 ple Declaration. 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Of the Nature and Frcferty of that Fire, -ivhich lies 
 Tartar, or the Stciiy Faces of Wine. 
 
 hid 
 
 m 
 
 here, I did it 
 
 for the good of 
 
 all. For 
 
 my part, 
 
 TArtar is a Salt, which in Fermentation fepara- 
 ting it lelf from the Wine, adheres partly to the 
 fides of Wine Cask, and partly refides with the 
 Dregs in the Bottom. This Salt or Tartar, although 
 it is numbred among Salts, yet it is of another dil^ 
 pofition than all other Salts ; becaule they may be 
 dilTolved in cold Water, but this Tartar cannot be 
 dilTolved, except in boiling Water onely. No Man 
 hitherto was willing to open the Caufe of this hard 
 Tye. But I, feeing Death daily approaching nearer 
 and nearer, was not willing to carry it with m.e to 
 my long Home, therefore I chofe rather to leave k 
 behind me for Mankinds fake. And thus it is with 
 Tartar. Tartar contains in it lelfa peculiar Sulphur 
 by which the Salt is lb bound or fi.xed, as it cannot 
 like other Salt be dilTolved in cold Water. For if the 
 Sulphur be feparared from it, it is eafily dilfolved in 
 cold Water, like other Salts. Yet lb loon as fuch 
 Sulphur is taken fromir, thefecret Fire which lay hid 
 in if, is alio taken away: and thTnceforth it can no 
 more lerve inftead of a lecrec Fire, by which Metals 
 are ripened into Tindures ; but is rendred onely fit 
 to perform its Office in medicine Touching which, 
 for brevity lake we fhall here make no mention. 
 
 The method of depriving Tartar of its tinging 
 Sulphur, that it may be diliblved in cold, is thus : 
 By burning two Pound of Tartar, reduce it into a 
 white Salt, upon which, if you pour Water to dil- 
 folve it, it will become a Lixtvsum. Which Lixmi- 
 nm pour upon one Pound of Tartar., and boil them 
 
 together 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spngyrical Pharmacopxa. 
 
 i6i 
 
 to'!;cther in an Earthen gbzcd Pot : Then the Ltxt- 
 fiHfn diflTolvcs the Tartar, and feparares the binding 
 or fixing Sulphur from the Salt. Then pour on one 
 part of co(nmf)n Tartar, boil them together yet once, 
 filter the boiled Liquour through Paper; then in the 
 bottom will remain the Sulphureous Fsces, and the 
 Water ot Tartar pafs through yellowirti ; upon which 
 Water pour diftillcd Vinegar to mortifie the Ltxivi- 
 This being done, the Vinegar will alfo be coa- 
 
 u>» 
 
 gu'ated with both Salts, and be changed into one 
 Sale ; which Salt in Medicine and Alchymy is of 
 great ufe and benefit ; touching which if I fhould 
 nere write more I fhould be too tedious : but (GOD 
 willing) the manifold u(e of it fhall be fhewed in my 
 Third Century. For here my purpofe is not more 
 at large ro fpeak of the matter. {^'uideHdm.'Sdi. iSj. 
 and hajilius p. 240. 3 
 
 That feculent Slime, which adheres to the fides 
 of the Filter you fhould not caft away, but endea- 
 vour to fix. For then you will find fbme admirable 
 thing, and more than here Idaredifcover. Becaufe 
 that is the genuine Coagularor of running Waters, 
 which it hardens, and is joined in a fingular famili- 
 arity with metals, and efpecially with 6"(// ; as 1 with 
 admiration have experienced. For in a few hours it 
 tinged Sol with whitenels,. and turned it into brittle 
 Glals ; whereas otherwife Sol is an Enemy to every 
 volatile Sulphur. I do not believe there is any o- 
 ther thing in Nature fecond to this wonderfull Sul- 
 phur ; which is endev/ed with a potency coagulating 
 and hardning running Subjecls. For nothing, ex- 
 cept Sulphur oncly, can be found, which coagulates 
 and tingeth. Mercury and Salt tinge not : but Sul- 
 phur doth that. Confider I pray, how great power 
 common Sulphur hath over Mercury, fince four 
 Dunces of it can coagulate a Pound of running 
 Mercury into hard and red Cinnabar. Alfb four 
 Ounces of common Sulphur can coagulate two or 
 three Pounds of Oil into a Liver-hke Mafs: and one 
 Pound of Oil reduce ten Pounds of Lixi'vium into 
 hard Soap. Likewile one or two half Ounces of the 
 volatile Vapour of Sulphur in fubterranean Veins, 
 can coagulate fcrene Water into hard Rocks &nd 
 Stones, as a'.fb all Ibrts of minerals and metals. So, 
 that little Sulphur whichis found in Tartar, canren- 
 .der much fower Wine or Water hard as a Liver- 
 as is known to thofe that labour in Wine and Vi- 
 negar. 
 
 I once purpofed and endeavoured to extrad from 
 Gold its Tintture by. the benefit of Salts, among 
 which Salrs Tartar alfb was; whence my Gold 
 came out white and altogether brittle asG'afs. But 
 I, being willing to prove whether my Gold was 
 conftandy whue or no, cupellated that with Saturn; 
 and then I found my God not to remain white, but 
 to have received its priftine yellow Colour That 
 .whitcnefs proceeded from nothing eUe, than the 
 tinging Sulphur of Tartar, and becaufe the Colour 
 was not fixed, therefore in cupellating it vanifhed 
 -away: 
 
 Note : Hence, when I had broken fmall a little of 
 this tinged white and brittle 5c/, and caft it upon a 
 little vulgar Mercury made hot in a Crucible, it pre- 
 fently had ingrefs, and coagulated the Mercury into 
 an heavy white Body, which when I expofed to a 
 cinentious Examen, all the Mercury vanifhed, and 
 the Sol o\\e.\y remained in its Colour. The Reafoh 
 hereof was becaufe the aforefaid Sulphur of Tartar 
 ' was not fixed. Yet thence I obterved, that it might 
 be fixed with Sol into a conftant Rednefs. If any 
 
 one hath convenient time and place, he may md% 
 profoundly fearch into this Work, becaufe in if" cj a 
 gieat Arcanurr}. But how otherwife from Cs,M its 
 Tincture is to be extrailed, flvall afterward b'^'caughr. 
 Enough 6f that at this time. . f 
 
 But there remains this one thing to be fi Sken, viz^. 
 tliat whofoevcr knows how to conjoiri-ers; Sulphur 
 of Tartar with the Sulphur of Metals, hind to fix ic 
 with them, may certainly obtain the Tindluie : As 
 Riflcy clearly intimated, when he faid. He faw a 
 red Toadfo long and fi) often drinking of the Juice 
 of Grapes, as until his Bowels burff. If you do 
 more ferioufly ttiink of this ( and GOD judge you 
 worthy of his Grace ) you will experience wonde- 
 rous things; if not, tlien conclude thou waf^ not 
 worthy of thofe Secrets. So much may fuflfice for 
 this time to be fpoken touching the admirable Sul- 
 phur of Tartar. More elfewhere of it, if G O D 
 will. 
 
 CHAP. xr. 
 
 PrcceeJing mw to MetaUick fixed Salts, Mercurial vo- 
 latile ancTmoJl fuhtil Spirits, let us fee what they are 
 able to ejf'ctl in Medicine. And fir fi let us fpeak of 
 Antimony, as the Radical Juice of all Metals. 
 
 REcipe of the Minera of Antimony finely pulveri- 
 fed one Pound, of our fecret Sal Armomack 
 fix, or eight half Ounces; which diligently mixed put 
 into a coated Glafs Retort, which fet into a Diftilla- 
 tory Furnace, and apply a Receiver thereto, mini- 
 ftring Fire leifurely according to Art, that the Glafs 
 be not broken'. In difiilling firff of all afcends a 
 little fowrifh Water, then ( the Retort being hot ) 
 a thick Oil fat and yellow, inuhichis contained the 
 mofl excellent. xMercury of Antimony, which you 
 may" thence thus feparate. 
 
 Upon the yellow Oil diftilled, pour common Wa- 
 ter, which Wdter will draw to it felf the Salts, and 
 precipitate the Mercury, like a yellow ponderous and 
 fhining Calx, which being edulcorated and dried, 
 will be an Univerfal Purger Its dofe is very fmall! 
 I ufe no more than a quarter of a Grain, which 
 ( favingyour Reverence ) gives me ;, 4, or 5 Stools: 
 but to a robuft man I give half a Grain, a whole 
 Grain, and fometimes two Grains. Note: If a larger 
 dofe be given, this Mercury excites vomiting alfbj 
 though very gently. If you would render ic Dia- 
 phoretick, you muft thence abftrad redified Oil of 
 Vitriol. Then this Mtrcury of Antimony, which 
 before was liquable as Wax, becomes altogether 
 fixed and unm.eltable; and then you may give of ic 
 from I, a, ;, to 8, or 10 Grains, which indeed move 
 not Seidges, but provoke Sweat without wearinefs to 
 the Patient, and performs the Oihce of a blefTed Me- 
 dicine againft all Difeafes, where Sweat is needfull. 
 Reduce the Cafut Mortuum taken out of the Retort 
 to Powder (' the finer the Powder is the better your 
 Wor"k will fucceed) and having put it into a Phial 
 pour Spirit of Wine upon it, mix them by a continu- 
 ed ftirrir^and fhaking of the Glafs ( for otherwife ic 
 turns it felf into an hard flony Mafs ) and in Balneo 
 digeft it for a natural Day. Thence the Spirit of Wine 
 will acquire a red Colour, wliich pour off, and re- 
 pour on frefh Spirit, which alfb f ermit to extrad as 
 much as it can. Then with gcnde heat of Balneo, 
 labfirad the Spiiic of Wine from the Tindure, which 
 will refidein the bottom Ukea red Salt, Which Sale is 
 Tr 16 
 
\62 
 
 0{ 
 
 fo^j|;-.at a Treafure in Medicine, as exceeds all efti- 
 maf[ ^ For it paflTeth through the whole Body like 
 Fire, i"d confumes Difeafes, asFire burns up Wood. 
 For ace?, ling as it finds any defeft in the Body fo it 
 operates, ''xpelling-Sweat and Urine, purging out all 
 malignant^' nd noxious Humours of the whole Body, 
 and highlV"?. irifying the Blood, fo as I believe no 
 more noble 1 mfture and Salt than this can be ex- 
 tracfted out of Antimony. Its dole indeed is very 
 fmall, but of great efficacy, infomuch as ufing but 
 half a Grain of it you will find a moft evident Ope- 
 ration Therefore, if a Mafter of a Family provide 
 for himfcU but one Drachm of this Medicine, he may 
 by the help of that for the fpace of one whole year 
 not onely preferve himfelf and family from many 
 Difeafes, but alio defend himfelf and them from all 
 other AtFeds every where prevailing. Therefore 
 let GOD have the Praife of it. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 That this iihiy alfo may be prepared from Attripigment 
 and 4rjenick a Mercurial Otl, and a fixed Ttniiure. 
 
 REape of Auripigment one Pound of our (ecret 
 Sal Armoniack four Ounces, which reduced to 
 Powder mix, and diftil in a Retort by degrees a vo- 
 latile yellow corrofive Oil. At laft, in the neck of 
 the Retort will afcend a fublimate Red as Blood, 
 tranfparent and as beautiful! as an Oriental Ruby ; 
 the external ufe of which is famoufly medicinal a- 
 gainft Ulcers and gangrenous AfFeds. And the 
 yellow Oil is a moft prefent Remedy for mortifying 
 all gangrenous Ulcers, and laying a folid Foundation 
 for their Cure, if the part atFefted be onely anoin- 
 ted with a Feather dipt therein. If any one pour 
 Water upon the aforefaid Oil, that corrofive, which 
 afcended with the Auripigment, will be feparated 
 and precipited into a yellow Calx, which edulcora- 
 ted and dried, becomes fo ftrong and vomitive, as it 
 cannot fafely be given inwardly : but outwardly 
 fprinkled upon Wounds, it lays a good foundation 
 for healing. But if from the aforefaid yellow Pow- 
 der, Oil of Vitriol be abftraded, it then becomes fb 
 fixed, as it will bear the force of a moft violent Fire, 
 without any exhalation of fume ; and then lofeth all 
 its venome, and may be moft fafely ufed from i, ^, 
 ;, 4,to 6, or 8 Grains, againfi: the Peftilence, all Fea- 
 vers, and fiich Difeafes where Sweat is needfull. It 
 is to be admired, that this Subjedl fo very volatile 
 and venomous, fliould by one onely abftracftion of 
 Oil of Vitriol, become fo fixed and conliant in Fire. 
 Alfo it is no lefs admirable, that this Oil like any 
 other Oil of Minerals, doth not afcend in the form 
 of a Liquor, but like and in the form of fbme fat 
 Vegetable Oil, whereas in it is not any fatnefs at all, 
 becaufe all proceeds from the Auripigment. 
 
 Moreover, it will be profitable alio to teach, that 
 the aforefaid fixed Auripigment ( whenfocver unto 
 it, by the help of Mercury of Luna, ingrefs is procu- 
 red ) projefted upon a Red-hot Plate of Copper, 
 renders the fame totally white and as tradable as 
 Silver. Which things being known, although of 
 Rttle ufe, do notwithftanding favour of a pleafing 
 Curiofiry, by which you will find, that of red Cop- 
 per, white Silver may be made Alfo, after the 
 lame manner of white and red Arfenick, fuch a me- 
 dicinal Oil and Tindure may be prepared for Ve- 
 mis. Note : Whofbever is defirous to labour herein, 
 
 the Sixth Fart of 
 
 Part 11. 
 
 For 
 
 muft ftudinufly avoid the venomous fume : 
 Arfenick cannot well be handled withuut peril. 
 
 I might here alio fay fomething of the running 
 Mercuries of Metals ; but fince they rather appertain 
 to the Tranfinutation of Metals, than unto Medi- 
 cine, 1 thought it beft to pafs over the mentioning 
 of thefe in this frnall Treatile, and to publifh them 
 in the following Centuries. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Of the fiibtil and moft penetrating Medicinal Spirits of 
 Metals. 
 
 IK my little Book of Fires, and alfo in my fifth 
 Part of the Spagjrick Fharmacopxa, I have indeed 
 made fome mention of volatile Spirits, but for bre- 
 vity fake concealed the method of preparing. When 
 I confidered, that fuch Works were judged by ma- 
 ny impofTible, I thought it would be worth while 
 here to infer t the Preparation of them ; and that 
 onely from one Metal, that every Man may fee the 
 Verity of all the other. For whofoever is defirous to 
 operate in Metals, he may be able by this one Pro- 
 cefs fufficiently to learn lb much Skill, as it will not 
 be difficult for him to extrad fuch volatile Spirits from 
 other Metals alfo. 
 
 The way of preparing the volatile Spirits of Metals. 
 
 Recipe of the Steel Wyars, which the Needlemakers 
 cannot ufe, one Pound, which fb heat in the Fire, as 
 all fquallidnefs and filth may be burned away Af- 
 terward put them into a glafs Body, and pour on 
 them of the hereafter defcribed difTolving Water 4, 
 or 5, Pound. Place the VefTel in Balneo or in Sand, 
 and adminifter Fire fo to it, as the Water in the 
 Glafs furrounding the Steel may wax hot and not 
 boil ; then the Water preys upon the Iron to be d'lC- 
 folved. For in this Operation the Steel is dilTolved, 
 and fermented like new Beer or Wine. In this Fer- 
 mentation a certain moft fubtil Spirit of Mars afcends, 
 without any corrofive , breathing a very ftrong 
 Odour, and endued with a Tafte vehemently pene- 
 trating. For fuch a Spirit fo penetrates the Tongue, 
 as the tafte long remains, although a Man wafh his 
 mouth, yet this tafte is not unpleafant. By penetra- 
 ting the Body of him that takes it down, it provokes 
 Sweat copioufly, opens obftrudions of the Liver, 
 Spleen and Lungs, and comforts the vital Spirits and 
 Stomach. Alfo it is admirably conducent to the 
 Health of thofe, who are accuftomed to drink Wine 
 mixt with Water ; becaufe it gives the Wine a grate- 
 full Tafte, and that far better, than the beft of fowrifh 
 Springs are able to perform. If any one knows how 
 to fortifie, or concentrate this Spirit by Redification, 
 he will be able to eff'ed wonders by the benefit of it ; 
 which indeed yields not to be fo readily concentra- 
 ted, as Spirit of Wine: as you fhall hear anon, ycc 
 it is polTible. 
 
 The Water is prepared in this maftner. 
 
 Recipe of common Salt one Pound, which difToIve 
 in 4, or 5 Pound of common Water, and pour upon 
 it half a Pound of Oil of Vitriol, to which fu- 
 peradd fome Sreel-wyar, and thence by diftilling 
 feparate the Water ; then no fharp Spirits will 
 afcend with the Water, but all the corrofive will 
 
 remain 
 
 ii 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagjrical VharmacopKa. 
 
 l6i 
 
 remain with the Mars, and nothing afcend but a 
 lubtil Spirit void of Corrofion. This moveth admi- 
 ration, that of (uch an hard and fixed Metal, with 
 the help of To 5;ent!e heat, fhould afcend fuch a flying 
 and penetrating Spirit. But it is more to be admired, 
 that this white, volatile and penetrating Spirit, in a 
 few hours fpace, is able to turn it felf into a fixed red 
 Tin;T:ure : yet you vfill find this incredible Miracle 
 verified, thus. 
 
 Fill a glafs Body above half full with our Spirit of 
 Mars, yet take no more of it than 5 or 6 Pound, 
 becaufe that would be more than is needfull for 
 Probation. Place the Body, with its Head luted well 
 in Sand, and diftil off almoft the Water by Afcent, 
 fc) as onely half a Pound may be left remaining 
 in the bottom. Take what afcends out of the Re- 
 ceiver, and you will find it endewed with little more 
 tafte than Rain-water ; and that becaule the volatile 
 Spirit in this Abftradion or Decodtion is feparated 
 from the Water, and again converted into a fixed 
 Body, -VIZ.. A moft red Powder. Which red Pow- 
 der is indeed a true Tincture, yet it hath no ingreft 
 into Metals, unle(s that be procured to it by the help 
 of Gold. Hence is fulfilled the Precept of Philolo- 
 phers thus teaching : Make the fixed volatile, and 
 render the volatile fixed. What, I pray, is more 
 fixed than Iron? What more volatile than its Spi 
 tit? Andlaftly, what more conftant in Fire, thantho 
 Spirit again fixed into a red Tindlure.-' 
 
 Note: Whenfoever the Glafs with the remaining 
 Water, in which the red Powder is, (hall by motion 
 be difturbed, the Water will feem to be blew, which 
 blew colour arifeth onely from the Tinfture, which 
 by that agitation is difllpated into moft fmall Atoms. 
 For when the Tindure red as Blood is again fetled 
 in the bottom, the Water ftands above it white as 
 before. Touching this flaming Sulphur Cofmcfolita 
 thus fpeaks : IVhen fhilofofhers have freed their Sul- 
 fhur from his tembroiis Prifon, and Jet him fwimming 
 in bis owM Sea, t bey adore bim,that is, are delighted ivtth 
 his Beauty. But whofoever would operate any thing 
 to purpofe, it will be expedient for him to provide in 
 readinefs a good quantity of this Water, becaufe 
 from ten pound of this Water, there is no more than 
 one Scruple of our Sulphur to be expected. Which 
 Avicen, in his advice to his Son obfer\ed, faying, 
 he had need to procure to himfelf fixty pounds of 
 that Water before he began his Work. Touching 
 which alfo Bracefcus hath excellently difcourfed, al 
 though he was [teemingly] refuted by Tauladanus, 
 who (by reafon of the great fubtilty of his Wit) 
 could not conceive, that any good could lie hid in 
 defpicable grofs Iron. But that good Man Taulada- 
 n:,'s no more underftood the meaning of Bracefcus 
 than he knew the nature of Iron. If any one be 
 feifed with the defire of operating in this Subject:, let 
 him reade Bracefcus, by whom he will be fufficiently 
 informed. But many by his Writings have erred, 
 through their miftake of what he mentions in the 
 latter end of his Book, viz,, that he fpake not of 
 vulgar Iron, which by ftrong Fire might be again 
 reduced into Iron ; but that fuch Iron was to be 
 chofen, as by the force of ftrong Fire, could turn it 
 felf into a green or blewifh Glafs. Where the Am- 
 ple Readers following the bare letter, fought their 
 Tin<fture in common Scales of Iron, but to no pur- 
 pofe. Here 1 fpeak of a blew or green Scona, which 
 can no more be reduced into Iron For whenfoever 
 any one (hall melt our fixed Sulphur mixt with Bo- 
 raXf although with moft vehement Fire, yet he (hall 
 
 never reduce it into Iron, but into a grecnifli Glafs- 
 This Crocus Martts cannot do, nor any other de- 
 (troyed Iron ; but in Redurtion it will always yield 
 Tome fmall Grains of Iron, wherefore thence no 
 Tincture can be made. For whatlbever is endewed 
 with a tinging Vertue muft not be Metal, according 
 to the Universal Confent of all Philofophers. If any 
 one would find out fbme excellent thing, let him 
 learn the Art of concentrating that, by vvhich Con- 
 centration it will be multiplied in vertiie. 
 
 Thefe few things I was willing at this time to 
 communicate touching the volatile Spirit, and fixed 
 Sulphur of Mars, for publick good. The whole 
 work is neither difficult nor chargeable, becaufe we 
 may ufe one and the fame Menfiruum always again 
 and again, nor is there need of new Expences, which 
 are now eafily acquirable. Thefe are things accu- 
 rately to be noted, according as that nloft ingenious 
 1 oet Virgil hath perfpicuoufly hinted in thefe 
 Verfes. 
 
 Conjider firfl-, what here is to he done: 
 A Golden Branch, -with Leaves of Gold therton^ 
 Upon a Tree concealed groweth : This 
 To the Infernal Juno j acred is. 
 But the ivhdt Grove, with dtfmal fliaJes of Nighty 
 Oh f cure and keep this Tree from humane Sight • 
 And till fame one jliall take down from the Tree 
 This Golden Branch, there can no Entrance be 
 Into Earths Caverns. Beauteous Proferpine 
 Ordained hath that this rare Gift divine 
 Shall brought be unto her. No fooner is 
 Thefirfi Branch croft, but in the face of this 
 A Jecond fprouts ; and that moft pure and fine ^ 
 As did the fir jt, with golden Leaves will jJune. 
 Therefsre dijiinguijlj Right ; when rightly known 
 This Branch is unto thee, then with thy own 
 Hands crop the fame: for it will follow Thee, 
 If thou, ^7 Fates, for this IVork chofen be ; 
 If otherwife, no humane Violence 
 Norfirength of Iron force it can from thence. 
 
 By thefe it evidently appears, that when one gol- 
 den Bough IS cropped off that Tree, another follows; 
 and not onely one and another, but as often as you 
 will crop one, another follows : Provided the Hea- 
 vens favour our Enterprize; otherwife all endeavour 
 will be vain. Yea, it- will be impoflible with hard 
 Iron, or from hard Iron (as theGnld-bearingTree) 
 to acquire or crop one Branch. Confider thefe things 
 in your Mind. For here are words plain and clear 
 enough to every man, whofe Ears and Eyes GOD 
 fhall open. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Of the Preparation of the volatile and fuhtil Spirits of 
 other Metals, and of their Ufe. 
 
 NOTE : This labour of preparing fubtil Spirits of 
 fixed Metals, and of reducing volatile Spirits, 
 into fixed Bodies, fo fully explains the Table of Her- 
 mes, as even Children may underftand it. Alfo it 
 proves the verity of that Aphorifm unanimoufly ufed 
 by all Philofophers : The fixed make volatile, and 
 the volatile fixed. He, whom GOD favours, will 
 eafily underftand this ; but to all others it will remain 
 moft firmly locked, although it be defcribed ro them 
 with great clearnefs. I doubt not, but that this 
 
 Work 
 
1^4 
 
 Tbe Sixth Vart of 
 
 Part II 
 
 ^^' ork ( when thefe my Writings in time to come 
 ^all fall into the hands of moft diligent Searchers ) 
 Will be more throughly fought into, and a nearer 
 Way fourid, than this here delcribed by me, by the 
 benefit of which, the Sulphur of Phil olbphers may 
 be releafed out of that dark Prifon, in which he is 
 
 kept bound with mofl ftrong Iron Chains. It would 
 amaze a man to think, that from fuch a tenebrous and 
 (hadowed black Tree, fuch fair golden Branches 
 ftiould be cropped. Although they ( who are not 
 Philofophers, but would be accounted fuch, whilft 
 they walk- magnificently adorned with fplendid cloa- 
 thing ; by reafon of their blind Pride cannot fee what 
 I have here clearly written ; yet thofe Artificers, 
 who wearing Linnen Frocks, labour in their fimpli- 
 city, will fee ; becaufe to their Endeavours GOD 
 gives his Benediction. 
 
 As I have here taught the way of extrading pene- 
 trating volatile Spirits from contemptible old Iron, 
 and of reducing thofe Spirits into fixed tinging Bodies; 
 fo alfo from other Metals the fame may be prepared. 
 Indeed one Metal is more apt for fuch an Operation 
 than another, and one gives forth its Spirits more rea- 
 dily than another: yet fiich Spirits may be extraded 
 from all Metals, but with the help of divers Solutions. 
 For that Water which dillblves Gold, leaves Silver 
 undifTolved, and what will dilTolve Silver, dilFolves 
 notGo'd. Common Salt, and Salt Niter, with the 
 Water and Oil of Vitriol, (but rather of Sulphur ) 
 didblve Sol, Mars, Venus and Jupiter. Niter the 
 Water and Oil of Sulphur dilTolve Lu»e and Venus. 
 Molt fharp Wine Vinegar diflblveth Saturn. The 
 Spirit of Gold coagulates Mercury into Sol, the Spi- 
 rit of Silver coagulates ic into Lme. Both thefe 
 Spirits are Medicinal. The Spirits of Venus and Ju- 
 fireraTQ of a loathfomeTafte and Odour, and there- 
 fore unfit for Medicine. Spirit of Saturn is a mere 
 penetrating Vcnome, or a Water, which by its O- 
 dour fuftbcates the vital Spirit, wherefore every man 
 fhould ftudioufly avoid it, fince its ufe cannot be 
 without Peril; otherwife that Spirit in metallick 
 Works excels all. Nor do I believe we can eafily 
 prepare a Tincture, whereby to coagulate Mercury, 
 unlefs by the help of Saturn cold and killing all living 
 things, yet it mult be warily handled. 
 
 With thefe I clofe up my difcourfe of thefe Spirits; 
 becaufe, although of them much more might be fpo- 
 ken, yet it will not be the part of a confiderate man . 
 to calt Pearls before Swine. Befides, I judge I have 
 already divulged more than is fir. But it is worthy 
 of all obfervation, that GOD is a faithfull Defender 
 and Governour of all molt fubtil Arts and Things 
 
 the whole Ait confifls in this Corxcntiation. There- 
 fore, fince by the Grace of GOD, unto me alfb is 
 (bmething known touching a like Concentration of 
 the Univerfal Macrocolmick Spirit cf Life, 1 was not 
 willing ;' like feme envious or covetous man) to keep 
 fo great a Gift of GOD to my felf onely, and futter 
 the fame to be buried with me ; but chofe rather 
 ( for the health of mankind, for the profit of my. 
 Neighbour, and for the Honour and Glory of GOD) 
 to impart fomething thereabout ; yet no more than is 
 fit or convenient.. 
 
 If any one defireth to extract fome good thing from 
 the Air, he multfirlt well underftand what will be a 
 good Magner, and how to make choice of an opor- 
 tune place and time. For in a moift Seafon, you 
 fliall extracft nothing but an unprofitable Water from 
 the Air. Wherefore no man fhould undertake this 
 labour of extraifting, unlefs in the height or midft of 
 Summer, when the. Air is very ferene, void of 
 Clouds, and hot with the Solar Rays. Becaufe, at 
 fuch a time, the Magnet, which you (hall hang up 
 in the Sun, immediately (from the hot Rays of the 
 Sun ) extrads a medicinal Water, which every one 
 may nle acccording to his Capacity. Alfo, I would 
 have you to know, that various Magnets are found, 
 by help of which Water may be extraifted from thp 
 hot Air, bur all fiich Waters make not for our Uni- 
 yerfal Medicine. Yet I am willing here to fiabjoin 
 fome of thofe vulgar Magnets. 
 
 The FiTJr Magnet. 
 
 With ;, 4, or 6 Pound of Mercury^ or more or 
 lefs fill fmall Stone Jugs, or Itrong Glafles, which 
 Glafies firmly doled let down into a deep cold Well, 
 where the Mercury in it felf will concentrate the 
 Cold. Now, if you would extracft Water from the 
 Air, hang up fuch a cold Glafsor Jugful! oi Mercury 
 in the Air, where it will prefently draw Water to 
 it felf Therefore under the Glafs or Jug mufl be 
 fee a Glafs Tunnel with a long Pipe; by which the 
 diftilling Water may be received, and conveighed 
 through the Pipe, from the hot Sun into a cold 
 Cellar. If this be not done, the Sun will again draw 
 to it felf the diltilled Spirit. You may leave the 
 Magnet hanging as long as it remains cold and Wa- 
 ter diftils from it : But aflbon as no more water will 
 diftil, you muft immerge it again in a Cold Well, 
 that it may recover its Coldnefs. In the mean while, 
 inftead of it hang up another ; and repeat the labour 
 fb often as until you have gathered water enough. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 Ho-iv by the Benefit of a Magnet from the Air may be 
 exi railed an Univerfal Medicine. 
 
 IT is fufficiently known, that the Life of all things 
 is reconded in the Air, without which Spirit, or 
 Soul of the World, nothing in this Univerfality of 
 things can live or grow. But the Ancient Philofo 
 phers Ibught out various ways, by which that Spirit 
 might be brought from a far off nigh unto us, be re 
 ceived and exhibited palpable, and at length they 
 found the way, and by the benefit of it performed 
 great things both in Medicine and in Alchymy, and 
 that more or lefs, according as one knew better than 
 another how to intercept and concentrate ir. For 
 
 Another Magnet. 
 
 Hang up in the hot Sun Jugs or GlafTes full of fuch 
 water ; which of their own accord will their con- 
 tract fb great Coldnefs, as you can fcarcely endure to 
 touch them with your hand To them, as is above- 
 laid, water will adhere, and diftil into the Tunnels 
 let under them. 
 
 A Cold water is thus prepared. In common wa- 
 ter, or Spirit of Vitriol, dillblveof 5<?/. Armoniackznd 
 Salt-peter equal parts, as much as can be dillolved. 
 W^ith this water fill your Glalfes, and with them, 
 as is above fhewed, extraft water from the Air ; and 
 that will be equal in vertue to the former. If you 
 be defirous to extradt fomething more excellent from 
 the Air, you muft alfb expole to it more excellent 
 Magnets. For as is the Magnet fb it extracts. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
hirt 11. 
 
 the Spa-gjricnl Vbarmacopxn. 
 
 16 
 
 C II A P. XVI. 
 
 Proceed in jour Work thus. 
 
 PRcpare ; or 4 Pound of Oil of Sulphurper Cam- 
 pane, which redihe, that it may become very 
 tiery : Then provide a large Trough likeaCheft or 
 Bo.v, which you may cover with linnen Cloath fo, 
 as through it no Duft, but the Air oncly may pene- 
 trate, in this Cheft let your rectified Oil of Sul- 
 phur, poured into divers fmall Pans or Dirties fo 
 as they be not above half full. Leave thefe there 
 three or four Days, or fo long Day and Night expofe 
 them to the Air, as" until the Oil of Sulphur hath 
 drawn to it felf fo much Water a^ it (elf was, and 
 filled the Difhes. This being done, empty out all 
 the Dirties into one Glafs Body, and in Balneo with 
 gentle heat abftracft thence all the humidity. The 
 Oil remaining in the Bottome again e.\'po(e to the Air 
 in thole Difhes, as before, fb long as until they be 
 tilled. That water again abrtratt thence, and pro- 
 ceed in extracting fb long, as until you have got wa 
 rer enough. This water parteth through all Tinc- 
 tures; but 1 have not as yet compleated this Work. 
 
 Note : Ail the beft of that, which this Magnet 
 draws from the Air, remains with the Magnet it fell 
 or Oil of Sulphur, as its true Matrix, in which it is 
 nourifhed and ripened ; as the moft Ancient Hermes, 
 or the Father of all Philofophers, in his Smaragdine 
 Table, hath defcribed in thefe words. Here the 
 Soul of the World Ipeaks. My Father is Sol ; my 
 Mother is Luva ; the Wind or Air fecretly bears 
 me in its Belly : the Earth conceived and brought 
 me forth, and is my Nurfe, &c. The Spirit of the 
 VVorld can bring forth no Fruits, unlefs it be firft 
 feminated in a fit Matrix ; becaufe nothing in the 
 VVorld can be progenited without a Womb. This 
 our Magnet is of all Magnets moft gratefull to the 
 Soul of the VVorld, and a molt natural Friend to 
 the Spirit of the VVorld. 
 
 Much might be fpoken touching this , but it is not 
 neceflary to thrurt pulfe ready chewed into a Aug 
 gi(h Crows mouth, let him fly out and feek for him- 
 felf. Here, in this Work are verified thofe fayings of 
 Philofophers : Nature rejoyceth in Nature, Nature 
 ■ overcomes Nature, Nature retains Nature. Here it is 
 proper alio toobfcrve, what Hermes, at theendofhis 
 Ta4)!e faith ; f/c. My power is not intire, or perfeft, 
 before I am turned into Earth. But how this is to be 
 done,l leave to the conflderation of every Man. For 
 theunworthinefsof the prefent wicked World forbids 
 -me to difcourfe m.ore amply thereof. To all men, 
 whom GOD fhall favour, thefe will be clear enough. 
 Yet elfewhere touching this matter ( if GOD will ) 
 ere long fhall be taught. 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 
 How from Geld its Tmciure may be extraBed hy help of 
 a Magnet. 
 
 REcipe of moft pure Gold an ounce and a half, 
 andof the Stellate Regulus of Antimony made 
 with Steel, one ounce, both which melt together in a 
 covered Cruciblejandwhilfi: in flux caft at times a lit- 
 tle Salt-peter, until the Niter fhall have extracted all 
 the Regains of Antimony from the Gold, and turned 
 
 It into Scoria's. Permit the whole to flow welidht 
 fome time, that the Go!d may well fettle to rK rijot- 
 torn from the Scoria, uhicli will flow likM'Wa'-er. 
 Then pour all out into a Cone, wherni the Gold 
 becomes a Regulw^ which muft be fepaaared from 
 the Scorsas This Regulns of Sol come.<morth nuch 
 paler than it was beibre. If this pallis r,ol be again 
 melted with the aforefaid Martial kvgulus, and the 
 Regains thence abflrafted by the help of fait Niter, 
 the Gold will come forth a little paler than it did 
 the firft time. If you repeat this Operation 8,10, 
 or 12 times, you will find your Gold at length al- 
 moft totally white, and that its Tindure is extra(n:ed 
 from it b)' the help of that Reguhts. The Tindure 
 oiSol is abfconded in theScorias; this, by the benefit 
 of a certain Antipathetick Salt, will be precipitated 
 from the Fsces liquified, like a Res-ulus highly tin- 
 ged. 
 
 Note : Yet in thefe Cafes, the Precipitation niuft 
 be wanly handled, left you alfo precipitate the Re- 
 gains [ of Antimony ] together with it, and fb viti- 
 ate the Tindiure. For this Extradlion no vulgar 
 RegH.'us is conducent, but fiich onely, as is made of 
 good Steel, and hath fijch a property, as when a 
 Flint is ftrook upon it, it yields fiery Sparks, no o- 
 therwife, than as from hardned Steel. Which ver- 
 tue, if it harh not, it cannot rightly draw to it felf 
 theTincfturcofGold, but all endeavour will be in 
 vain. This Extraction, Cofmopohta, in Ms new Chy- 
 mical Light, hath very well defcribed and difcovered 
 m thefe words. Such cUih muft be taken, as is 
 endewed with power of extracfling that from the 
 Rays of the Sun, which many have fought, but few 
 found. But further he faith : There is found yet 
 another Cl:)al>l;s, which from Gold extrads its Seed 
 (if It be united or copulate with it iz times) and 
 thence is impregnated ; but the Gold is infirmcd even 
 to death. But the ajaljl;s or Magnet brings fbrtha 
 Son, which will be more excellent than his Father, 
 ■VIZ.. Gold, whence he proceeded, whofoever knows 
 this Magnet (of whkh Cofmopolna makes mention, 
 and an hint of the preparation whereof I have here' 
 rtiewed ) and underftands how to ufe the fame, in 
 two or three Days hf will behold and find fo great 
 things, as with the joy thereof his heart will be 
 fatisfied. For, if any one hath Philofophick Eyes, 
 he will fee what is moft pleafing, if not, he will be 
 no more delighted than a Swine, who among the 
 Sweepings of Vineyards hath f wallowed an ineftma- 
 ble Pearl or Jewel, but knows not the difference be- 
 tween a Pearl and that Dung. 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 H01V from Gold its TtnBure may be extracled by ano' 
 ther Method, or by the benefit of a certain other Chdi- 
 lybs. 
 
 FIrft, prepare the Green Lyon of Ancient Philofc- 
 phers (by helpof my mineral Salt)offu!phureous 
 Subjects. To this Green Lyon caft Sol, that is, pure 
 Gold ; which he, through his greedy defire of devou- 
 ring always, will fi^^allow, and thereby acquire to 
 himfelf notable Strength, Power and Beauty. For his 
 whole Body will be thence renewed His head, with 
 the fore part of his Body will rtiine with a Grayirti 
 Hair, very like a Crows Head ; but his Tail wich'the 
 hinder part of his Body will acquire many various 
 and beautifull Colours, refembling the genuine form 
 
 V"\r of 
 
'^6 
 
 The Sixth Fart t/f 
 
 Part ]L 
 
 of" *:g Rain Bow, or the Tail of a Peacock 
 
 ,411 » 
 
 And a? j 
 foorf'^ ' the. Green Lion hath fufficicntlv concofted 
 and Ui'^^ ^ed the yellow Lion or Sol in his Stomach, 
 he by SeV.''',c expells the Refidue, which will be void 
 of Colour^'r Bloud. Then the Lion, proud and a 
 domed witi^ various and beautifuU Colours, walks to 
 theWaters^P ^>vhich he immergeth himrelf,and wa(h- 
 eth away altTiFi Colours, and becomes totally white 
 like a Swan , which white Swan the Cook roafleth 
 at the Fire : where that white Swan firft waxeth 
 yellow, then more and more Red, unrill he is able 
 at length to bear the Fire, and, like a Salamander, 
 live in it without any peril or hurt. This Red Sala- 
 mander is one of the moft noble Medicaments that 
 can be prepared by Art. This Operation I perfor- 
 med but once ; and then unto me appeared all thofe 
 Colours one after another, untill 1 obtained a Red 
 Salamander, which is a moft prefent Remedy againlt 
 all Difeafes. But what it is able to effed in Chy- 
 miftry, as yet I have not known, being onely con- 
 tent with a Medicine for Health. 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 2~et another way ofextraBtng the Ttnciure from Gold. 
 
 REape of our dried Red Bloud of Sol , in the 
 form of Powder irreducible one ounce, or an 
 ounce an half of our Sulphureous fixed Snl mirahtle, 
 five, fix or feven ounces Both which mixt together, 
 put into a ftrong Crucible ; which covered, let into 
 a Wind-Furnace, giving Fire fo, as they may flow 
 together like Water for the (pace of half an hour : 
 afterward pour them our into fome Iron VeiTcl, or 
 Cone, when the Sal-mirah'tk hath drawn from the 
 Tinfture of Gold a Bloudy Colour. The Mixture 
 cooled, feparate the Red Scorias from the Re^ulus, 
 which will be white as Lune. Pulverile the Red Sco- 
 ria, or tinged Sal-wirabtle, upon which pour common 
 Water ; this Water diffolves the Sal-mirabile, not in- 
 deed tinged with a Red, but greenifh Colour. Filter 
 the Solution, and evaporate the unprofitable Water 
 in a Glals difli. Then in the bottom will remain a 
 Red Salt, which fortified with the Seal of Hermes or 
 Luting of Sapience, keep for a fufficient time in a 
 continual Fire of Coals : for then the Sulphur, as yet 
 immature, will fix it felf with the Sol, and become 
 condanc in Fire. From that Lute of Sapience, you 
 may afterward ( by the help of a proper Magnet) 
 abftracl a fixed Tin:l:ure, and convert the fame to 
 Medicinal ufe. 
 
 Nt'te : That green Saline Water, in which the 
 Rednefs is latent, coagulates Mercury into Sol, not 
 indeed for wealthy profit, but onely by the benefit 
 of that to know the pofDbility of fiich a Work. The 
 Red (lime, whence the Salt is extracted by the bene- 
 fit of common Water, muft be taken out of the Fil- 
 ter, mixed with new Sal-mirabtle, and in a ftrong 
 Crucible be made to flow well for half an hour. Then 
 alfo more Tindture will be extradied, and a white 
 Regtil/.'s of Sol again fettle to the bottom. If this la- 
 bour be a third time repeated, the Tintlure will be 
 good, and a white Regulns will again fettle, yet not 
 ft much, as was the firft and fecond time. 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 How by the benefit of a certain Metallick Salt, from 
 Venus her Son Cupid, or rather the true Mercury 
 
 of I'hilojophcrs, may he prepared in the /pace of One 
 Day, fo, as to fujtain the Trial of a Cupel : and in- 
 deed, it is neither Sol nor Lune, but a Tintlure mojl 
 ample for certain iirbite StibicHs. 
 
 AS for the Method ofProceeding, I have willing- 
 ly offered to the Sons of Art occafion of un- 
 der/l'anding That : but the thing it felf is of fo eafie 
 Operation, as even the Forgers of infamous Libels, 
 and all the Brethren of Ignorance, would underftand 
 and perform the fame, if any One in defcribing it 
 fhould give them but a very little Light. It would 
 be an unadvifed thing to caft fb noble a Pearl before 
 Swine. Wherefore I muft forbear tcrvvritc funda- 
 mentally of it. Neveithelefs, that the World may- 
 know fuch a Tintlure is in the Nature of things, 
 and may be prepared of Ihings of fmall value ; I 
 confels I thought it worth while to difcover fbme- 
 thing thereof. 
 
 Recipe of irreducible fixed Arfenick, and of Mer- 
 cury oi Luna, of each eight ounces Both which Spe- 
 cies being diligently mixed, you will have a famous 
 Cementing Powder, by help of which you may per- 
 feft this Arcanum, thus : 
 
 Recipe of Plates of Venus beat thin and cut fmall 
 four ounces, which, with the Cementing Powder 
 above mentioned, ( making Lay upon Lay, as the 
 manner is) into a Cementing'Box glazed within, the 
 Cover of which you muft luce very well, and place 
 that in a Cemencatory Furnace ; or ( if you have 
 not fuch a Furnace ) upon a Chimney Hearth, put- 
 ting fb many Coals round about, as the Box may be 
 covered well. Kindle the Fire above, and heat the 
 Box leifurely, and keep it there red hot among the 
 Coals ten or twelve hours. Then jet your Fire go 
 out, and the Box cool -. out of which, if you take 
 your Cement, you will find, that the Volatile Spi- 
 rits of Luna, taking the fixed Arjenick to themfelves, 
 have introduced the fame into the Copper Plates, 
 and procured to it the whirenefs of Silver. This 
 Cement, together with the Copper Plates mixed 
 with fait Aicali or burnt Tartar, melt in a ftrong 
 Crucible in a Wind Furnace, and pour out the Mi.x- 
 ture into a Cone. When cold, feparate the Scorias- 
 from the Regulr.'s, which will be white as Lune. Cu- 
 pellate this whk&Ven.'is with Saturn ; then fhat,which 
 is not Lune, will enter with Saturn into the Cupel , 
 but the fixed Mercury remain above upon the Cupel. 
 Granulate that, and diflblve it by the he'p of Aejua- 
 fortis ; then indeed the Luna will difl'olve, but the 
 Philofophick Sul, or rather Mercury of Philofophers, 
 will remain in the bottom, undiflblved, like an Afh- 
 coloured Calx. This edulcorated and reduced, paf- 
 feth into an heavy Metallick Body ; in Face, Colour, 
 and Hardnefs very like common and known Lead, 
 which by Spagyrifh is called the Black Lead of Philo- 
 fophers. This Black Lead hath fuftained the Examen 
 of the Cupel, yet it is neither Sol nor Lune. For if 
 it had been Lum, the Acfuafurt:s would have dilfol- 
 ved it ; and if it had been vulgar S&l, it would have 
 been infected with no Lead colour. Nor can it be 
 Copper or Arfenick ; becaufe if it had been fo, it 
 could not have fuftained the Trial of the Cupel. 
 Therefore, according to the Fables of Pi.ets, it mufl 
 be Cupid, or the Son of Venm. When the Gods faW 
 that Vulcan, or the Son of Jufiter and Juno, was 
 born fo very black and deformed, they took care to 
 have him carried into the Ifle of Lenm.s, that there 
 being waftied by Apes ( that is, by Men or Philofo- 
 phers imitating Naturej he might obtain a better 
 
 Form, 
 
Van 11. 
 
 tbe Spngjricnl ?lmrviacopxa. 
 
 i6l 
 
 Form, be nourifhcd and brought up to Man's eftare. 
 Who afterward married Fen-is, nf whom he begat 
 ^p.l!'. Whofoever dcfires farther Informarion touch- 
 ing this matter, let him read that Ingenious Treatile 
 of 'folj» Brace fctis, of the Tree of Life ; where many 
 great Aratmir/is are revealed, and the obfcure Wri 
 ting<5 of Poets and /Ancient Philofophers explained 
 
 Here I have in few words divulged one of the 
 prcateft of Arcanums. I have not mv felf, as yet, by 
 trial adhibited this Mtrcnry of Philolbphers, for the 
 Tranfinutation of Metals. Neverthelefs, as I have 
 written, it is a very far extended Tinfture for white 
 Bodies, and this I have fevcral times experienced ; 
 vet onely in white Glafs : where one part of the 
 Tindure tingeth one thoufand parts with the red- 
 nels of a Ruby, but the Glafs keeps its own hard- 
 ne(s. Now, if it could obtain the hardnefs of a Ru- 
 by, as well as its fair Colour, fuch a Tinifture wou'd 
 be full as good, as if it could tinge Lune it (elf, or 
 Atet-rury into Sol. For a good Ruby weighing but 
 ene ounce, is more efteemcd than fixteen ounces or 
 a pound of Gold. But this Glaft, with how great 
 Beauty fbever it is tinged, ftill remains Glafs, and 
 cannot otherwiie be u(ed than to adorn certain Pic- 
 tures and Images. 
 
 N^te : If any one knows how to cxtraft the Tine 
 ture from this coloured G!a(s, they will obtain a moft 
 excellent Llniverfal Medicine.. For, although this Mer- 
 cury of Philofophers hath once pafTed the Trial of 
 the Cupel, yet this happened onely by help of the 
 Silver, which defended it from devouring Saturn ; 
 otherwife it had been confumed by it. But now it 
 is feparatcd by,help of Aquafortis from the Lmta, it 
 is deflitute of a Defender, and is conftrained to en- 
 ter again into its Mothers Womb, that it may there 
 te ripened, and afterward new born. For all Sand 
 or Flint, of which Glafs is made, is the Matrix or 
 Mother of all Metals. Glafs is the Philofophers 
 Lute of Sapience^ or Seal of Hermes, with which all 
 Volatile Mineral Subjects are fb bound and fixed, as 
 they can abide fixed, fuftaining the force of Fire. 
 
 CHAP. XXI. 
 
 How, hy the bcnef.t of the Common Lute of Sapience, 
 Sulphur, Antimony, Arfenick, Auiipigment, aHd 
 the Sulphur ofVegetablesy may in a JIktI time be fixed 
 into f.xc/l Medicaments. 
 
 REcipe any one of thofe Subjcds, which you 
 will ; which if you diflblve either by the dry 
 or humid way, in a fharp Lixivium , the Lixivium 
 to far conftringeth the Volatile Subjedl, as it will not, 
 when heat red hot continually evaporate. Such a 
 Lixivium coagulate into Salt : If of this Salt you mix 
 four or five parts, with one part of a liquable Flint 
 or Sand, and put the Mixture into a Cementing Box 
 well luted ; fet that into a Furnace of Cementation 
 or Fixation to be fixed, the Sal-Alcali preys upon 
 the Flint, and with it is converted into Glafs. But 
 the Volatile Mineral hides it felf in this Glafs, and 
 is not driven thence by the violence of Fire, but 
 liiffers it (elf to be ti.xed into a fixed Tindure. After 
 that, which was put in, (hall be fi.xed, take your 
 Box out of the Furnace or Fixation, and make the 
 G'.afs flow well in a Wind-Furnace. This Glafs, 
 when poured out, will be Red in Colour. If you 
 reduce this Glafs to Powder, and by the help of 
 Spirit of Wine extratT; the fixed Tinfliure, from this 
 
 fi.vcd Subject, you will have a moft efficacious Medi- 
 cine againft a!) grievous Difeafes, efpecial!}', if the 
 Tinifture hath been extrarted from Antimony, or 
 Common Mineral ( not Vegetable Sulphur. The 
 Tinrtures of Arfenick and Auripigmenr, are not fo 
 fafe to be ufcd in Medicme , but in Chymiltry they 
 arc more profitable. For flich Subjects cannot be 
 hxed by any more eafic Method, than is here difco- 
 vcred by me And I'aracd'jtis , Bafilins and other 
 Philofiiphers judge, that a Tindure drawn from 
 fixed Sulphur or Antimony, will be admirably effi- 
 cacious in Medicine and ChjTniftry. 
 
 But that I (b abruptly break off this di(cour(c, it 
 is not without Rcafbn , for I am confident I have 
 writ plain enough to him whom GOD favours. 
 
 Note : If to your Hermes Seal, you add fuch Sand 
 or Flints, as per je abound with the hrlt Ens of Gold^ 
 you will acquire the more noble Tindurcs. 
 
 CHAP. XXIL 
 
 Ho'31' to prepare af'.motts Univerfal Medicine of Gold, 
 
 REcipe three or four Ounces of the coagulated 
 and irreducible Bloud of the Lion ; of which 
 the little Book of Dialogues treats. Dilfolve them, 
 in the dry way, by the help of Sa! mirabile, into a 
 Red Stone ; from which reduced to Powder, exrradt 
 its Tindure, by the helpofAlcoIizate Spirit of Wine. 
 This Tindure is a famous Aunnyi PotabiU againft ma- 
 ny Difeafes. Alfb it coagulates living M^r.un into 
 Sol. I purpofed to have prepared no finall quantity 
 of this Aurtim Potabde, that I might therewith help 
 and fuccour the Diftrels of the D.feafcJ. But I was 
 hindred for two years, fb as 1 could not attend this 
 Operation. Now I have found an eafier Method 
 of preparing it, and by help of that, do hope here- 
 after I fhall do more than I could doe before. 
 Touching its falutary ufe in Medicme, and its Coa- 
 gulation of Mercury, fhall ( if GOD will) be trea- 
 ted of hereafter, before it be long. Here the De- 
 fcription of that would be too tedious. 
 
 CHAP. 5^XIIL 
 
 Hoiv a Medicinal Water may be Dijt tiled from /upiter 
 and Mercury, by the btmft of Fulmination, or a 
 fudden Flaming Fire. 
 
 MAkc an Amalgama of Tin and Mercurv in e- 
 qual weights : Mix this Amalgama with Sul- 
 phur, Tartar and Nitre mixt in equal parts, and 
 Grind them c.xaftly upon a Stone, and then your 
 Matter, with its Fulmcn, is fie for Diftillation. There- 
 fore, when you purpofe to diftill a Medicinal Water 
 from Jupiter and Mercury^ begin your Operation 
 thus. 
 
 Againft (bme Wall, fet up five or fix Glafs Cucur- 
 bits, [or Subliming- Pots of Earth glazed within] one 
 above another, (o as they may exactly fhut in one 
 into another, and let the Junctures be firmly clofed 
 with Paper and Starch , as I taught to be done in 
 preparing Spirit of Salt. The lowelt Glafs muff have 
 an Orifice in the lide, into which the neck of the Di- 
 ftillatory Veliel may be inferred. Which Vellel muft 
 be made in form of a Box or Cabinet round, a fpan 
 broad and high ; in the upper part thereof, which is 
 to be filled wich Sand, the Cover may be included 
 
l6S 
 
 Tbe Sixth Van of 
 
 Par: IT. 
 
 in (uch wife, as I taught in the Second Part of my 
 Philofophical Furnaces ; yet below it muft not be 
 round, but i3lain ; fo as ftanding out from fomc 
 Bench it may be fitted to the Receivers. When all 
 Jundtures of the Receivers fliall be clofed cxaftly, 
 your Furnace is compleat. Then, at one time put 
 in no more of the Mixture into a Crucible lee in 
 that Furnace, than one Ounce. From this (when 
 you have kindled it with a live Coal, and nimbly | 
 pUt on the Cover again) will be excited a Fulmina- 
 tion, and flame fuddenly penetrating, and with great 
 noife feparating the Mercury from the Tin ; in which 
 reparation, part of the Jupiter and Mercury alcends 
 in the form of a fowerifh Water, but another part in 
 the Species of a fubtile yellow Powder. When this 
 Fulmination ceafcth to fume, take out that Crucible, 
 and put another in his place : fet fire of the Mixture 
 in that, and let it burn as before ; and continue the 
 fame labour, taking out and putting in, as long as 
 einy of the Mixture is left. Then take the Water 
 difiilled, together with the Flores, out of the Recipi- 
 ents. That Water (when digefted with gentle heat 
 for a fufficient time) is coagulated into a Medicinal 
 Red Salt. The Flores muft be dried and fixed with 
 frefh fulminating Matter, and as before fublimed. 
 Then again will afcend Water and Flores. All the 
 other Flores remain fixed in the Crucibles, which 
 ( reduced by force of Fire and diligent Fufion ) pro 
 duce an hard Tin, which may be cupellared by the 
 help of Saturn, but vulgar Tin cannot bear this Exa- 
 men. This leaves fomewhat behind it in the Cruci- 
 ble ; yet not fo much Gold as covetous Men defire ; 
 but fo much as renders the Medicinal Red Salt ac- 
 quirable without charge. 
 
 Ancient Poets, fabulizing touching this Work, have 
 writ, that Jufitcr and Mercury fought entertainment 
 of fhllemon and his Wife Baucis, as Perfons conten- 
 ted with little, that from them they might receive 
 Meat and Drink liberally. Let him, who defires a 
 more ample Information of thefe things, perufe fuch 
 Philofbphers, that he may fee how highly this Work 
 was efteemed by them For, as we now faid, Ju- 
 filer and Mercury turn not into rich and proud Men, 
 ( who regard not Art, but thirft after heaps of Gold, 
 by which they may long continue their Pride of life) 
 but to the Lovers of Frugality onely, and into their 
 Houfe bring their own BlelRng with them. 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 
 The -way of extraBing an Uni'verfal Medicine from 
 common and well- known Lead. 
 
 BY Calcining reduce four pound of Common Lead 
 to Afhes. With which four pound of Calx of 
 Lead, inix four pound of thofe Stones or Sand, in 
 which is contained the firft Ens of Gold. Melt this 
 Mixture in a ftrong Crucible into Glafs : which re- 
 duced to Powder, mix with a fourth part of Salt of 
 Tartar, and in an Iron Crucible reduce it, fo you 
 will recover almoft all your Lead. This Lead again 
 reduce to Afhes, and mix with it a fourth part of 
 choice Sand and Flints, and m.elt the Mixture into 
 Glafs. Which again reduce by help of Salt of Tar- 
 tar and Iron : again Calcine it, with Flints turn it 
 into Glafs, and reduce it as before ; the oftner the 
 better. For in every Operation the Lead extrafts 
 fomething of the firft Ens of Gold from the Sand or 
 Hints, and at length becomes very rich with it. That 
 
 afterward mult, by the help ot a certain Magnet, be 
 e.vtrafted from the Lead, and converted to Medici- 
 
 nal u(c ; as every Man, accnrdin;; to his capacity, 
 is belt able to ule the fame. I judge it not conveni- 
 
 ent to make a farther difcovery touching this matter. 
 Indeed the external face of this Procefs is fimple ; be- 
 caufe in (b fhort a time, with fo little charge, and 
 tiom fo vile fubjeils, an Univerfal Medicine may be 
 extracted. Although Saturn is covered with a de- 
 formed AHi-coloured Coat; yet within in his interior 
 penetrals is reconded a golden Crown, which is not 
 perceived before that grey Flabit is taken off from 
 him. As oft as any one hopes for, or thinks to ob- 
 tain fuch a thing, let him read what Bafih.-rs, Fara- 
 cclfm, and other Philofophers have writ touching 
 Lead. Blefibd is that Man, who knows how to ad- 
 hibit to thia Operation the Secret Lead of Philolo- 
 phcrs inftead of Common Lead : for then undoubt- 
 edly he will find a moft excellent Medicine ; accor- 
 ding as Ancient Philolbphers, b}' the following 
 Words have exprefled ; 
 
 ArBtis eft HominiSf ijui conjhat VI. Ehmenta, 
 Cui P. // addiderts, S. in M. mtitare bene fcis, 
 Hoc ertt z/Es noflruw, confians Lams ?hilojofhortim. 
 
 That Arclus is LXJ M BUS, hdovQ which word, if 
 you fet the Letter P, and change the laft Letter S, in- 
 to M, it will hsFLUMBUxM. Therefore if by the 
 help of Common Lead, ( which notwithftanding is 
 very impure, and as it were Leprous ) the polTibility 
 of Tranfmutation may be demonftrated and verified, 
 as is manifeft by my New Chymical Light, what 
 may not the Secret Lead of Philofophers effed:, which 
 is j)er fe pure, and more excellent than Gold :* Cof- 
 mopolita fpeaks thus : Although unto him, to whom 
 GOD hath fhewed the poflibility of that, the Gain 
 be not fb great as the Lois, yet unto him is opened 
 an Entrance to the knowledge and finding of all o- 
 ther high things. More of thefe at this time I for- 
 bear to fpeak. Wholbever is fo grofs and ftupid, 
 as he knows not how to enter through this Gate fee 
 wide open, how fhall he be able to enter through a 
 narrower pallage ? Him, to whom this clear Light 
 cannot fhew the way, neither the Light of Sun or 
 Moon will profit any thing. Yet I doubt not, but 
 that even Mechanick Artihcers, ib foon as that my 
 Light begins to fhine, will iearch out the Truth, 
 unto every of whom I wifh the help of G O D. 
 
 CHAP. XXV. 
 
 How Gold may be rendred Folatile, fo as to he fublimed 
 into a falutary Medicine. 
 
 DTdblve as much Common Salt in Ac}. Forth as you 
 can, in this Aej. Rtgta difiblve Sd, which pre- 
 cipitate with Spirit of Urine. In Sand abftraft all the 
 Phlegm to a dry Salt ; if afterward you augment the 
 Fire, the Coagulated Spirit of Urine will carry up 
 with it (elf part of the purefl: Sol in the form of a 
 Red Salt. This Salt will yield very profitable Fruit 
 in Medicine. The Dofe is from three, fix, eight, to 
 twelve Grains ; endued with power of expelling 
 Sweat and Urine, and famoufly conducent againft 
 the Stone and Gout. Alfo fince this Salt is void of 
 anv loathfome Tafte, it may fecurely and commodi- 
 oufly be adminiflred as a Cathartick to Infants, 
 
 and Women with Child. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Parr IL 
 
 the Spagyrical ?harmacopxa. 
 
 i6^ 
 
 CHAP. XXVI. 
 
 The ff ay of preparing jfet another famous Medicifje Uni- 
 'verfal of Gold. 
 
 DlfTolve one part of Nitre, in four parts of Spi- 
 rit of Salt, diligently reftified. In this Wa- 
 ter diflTolve as much Gold as you will. Upon this 
 Solution leifurely at times, and drop after drop, pour 
 on of Oil of Tartar fo long, as untill both thole con- 
 trary Natures of the Jcj. Kcgia, and Oil of Tartar, 
 fliall be united and quiet. Then, if you abftrartall the 
 Phlegm, with the Sol will remain a Salt. This Salt, 
 with the Goid, put into a little coated glafs Body; yet 
 firft mi.x with them of burnt Bone as much in weight, 
 as the Salt and .W did weigh. The Bones are one- 
 ly added, that the Gold may not be feparated from 
 the Salt, or be precipitated into a Maft and flow 
 Place the Glafs, with this mixture, in Sand, aug- 
 menting the Fire gradually, untill the Glafs in the 
 Sand be obfcurcly Red ; in which degree of Fire, if 
 you detain it the fpace of li.x hours, the fufible Salt 
 will penetrate the hard Gold, and from it extraft its 
 beft ftrength, and thence wax Red. Which, when 
 all is cold, take out of the Glafs, and by the help of 
 Spirit of Wine extraft from that Red Salt all its 
 Tincture ; which you may adminifter in grievous 
 Difeafes, according as your Judgment fliall inform. 
 If you reduce the exrracfted Gold by the help of Bo- 
 rax, you will find your Gold pale. 
 
 The Way of Est ra cling a yellow TinBure from white 
 
 NiP-e. 
 
 By Retort diftill a ftrong Spirit from pure fait Ni- 
 tre, mixt with burned Earth. Which Spirit, left it 
 fhould not be lining enough, deph!egmate. This Spi- 
 rit in Diftiilation afcends Red, but when cold ap- 
 peareth White ; yet in it is abfconded a Rednefs, 
 which will be revealed the following way. We fee 
 that if any thing fall from thole, who labour about 
 u4ejiia Fort IS, into it (whether that fallen in be a piece 
 of Skin, Hair,or any part of the Nails of the Fingers) 
 the fame is tinged thereby with a golden Colour. 
 The reafbn of this Colouring is this : All fupcrflui- 
 ties of Nature (as the Skin, Nails of the Hands and 
 Feet, all Hairs and Hoofs of Animals, and Feathers 
 of Birds ; which being old, fall off, and new fucceed 
 in their place ) are endued with power of cleanfing 
 the Humane Body, whenfoever ihey are prepared 
 for Medicinal u(e ; and that by reafon of the abun- 
 dance of Volatile Salt contained in them, and other 
 liich like Entities. For Volatile Salt is of fuch a Na- 
 ture, as Salt of Urine, by which all corrolive Spirits 
 are mortified and edulcorated. Hence it is, that 
 when nnedrop of a Nitrous Spirit falls upon the Skin, 
 or a Nail of the Finger, it is mortified and difcovered 
 by fuch a V^olatile Salt as lay hid in it ; which o- 
 therwife happens not in all other Subje<^s, v/hich 
 are void of fuch a Volatile Salt. 
 
 Nciy follows the Trocefs. 
 
 Recipe of the Hairs either of a found Man, or of 
 any Animal, very well waftied and cleanfed from all 
 filth, four ounces. Upon thefe pour of moft ftrong 
 
 and well redified Spirit of Nitre, one pound , and 
 the Spirit will totally diifolve the Hairs. Upon' that 
 Solution pour by degrees lb mucli Oil of Tartar, as 
 untill all the Spirits of Nitre be mortified and total!' 
 deprived of their Corrolive power. But you fho'C a 
 not ceafe to pour on Oil of Tartar, Untill the '^^^iric 
 hath well acquired a Golden Colour. Thi' Tj'einT 
 feen, filter the Solution through brown P;'-\)er, in 
 which the Farces will remain, which notwit' ;tanding 
 will fcarcely weigh half a dram ; becau)*"i<)te Spirit 
 of Nitre hath almoft dilTolved all. If /^om this Li- 
 quor in a Glafs-body let in Balneo, you abftra^ft all 
 the unprofitable Phlegm, in the bottom will remain 
 a Red Salt ; on whicji, if you pour good Spirit of 
 Wine, fome Fsces will again be left in the bottom, 
 which you may caft away as unprofitable. More- 
 over, if one half of that Spirit of Wine be abfJraded 
 from the Tincfture, a yellow Oil is acquired ; which 
 if you rub upon good Silver, that will look as yellow 
 as if it were good Gold. If you fliall take of this 
 Tincture, although it is fu Volatile, from three, fix, 
 nine, to twelve drops, it ftrongly expells Sweat and 
 Urine, cures the Jaundies, yields relief in the Drop- 
 (JQ ; in Feavers it provokes Sweat, and in the Pefti- 
 lence or other Difeafes,where Sweating is needfull. I 
 attempted to fix this Tinflure ; but it was an Opera- 
 tion of no finall time ; therefore I was weary of pro- 
 ceeding, and abfolving the Work begun. If any one 
 be fo patient as to fix this Tincture, he, after his 
 Work is ended , will have whereof to rejoyce. 
 Touching this Operation, Philolbphers feigned the 
 venomous Dragon to be a watchfull Keeper of the 
 Golden Fleece ; and that the fame could not be ta- 
 ken away before the Dragon was brought to fleep 
 by a So poriferous Medicine, by which he (hould be 
 rendred infenfible and fixed. But undoubtedly fome 
 opinionative Men will fay, that this yellow Tinc- 
 ture is acquired from the Hairs, Wool, or Feathers, 
 rather than from the Nitre. The Opinion of fuch 
 Men I thus refell. If any one difTolve Hairs, Wool, 
 or Feathers, by the help of Spirits of Salt, Sulphur 
 or Vitriol, he will acquire a white Solution : and if 
 he mortifies the Spirit of Salt or Vitriol with Oil of 
 Tartar, yet fhall no yellownefs appear, but all re- 
 main white. And fuch white Salt, which comes from 
 the Spirits of Salt and Vitriol, hath alfo its ufe in 
 Medicine. The reafon of that is efpecially, becaufe 
 Hairs in themfelves contain a very Medicinal Salt, 
 which cannot pcffibly any other way be obtained, 
 than by diflolving with the help oi ylcjua Fortis,ov of 
 their re-mortification and reduction into Salt by the 
 benefit of ylkali's. 
 
 After this manner from many Animals, by the help 
 of Spirit of Nitre, may be extracted yellow Tin(ftures 
 or Salts, which are very efficacious in Aledicine. 
 
 Such Caft- skins of Serpents, as are commonly 
 found in Fields, and among heaps of Stones, are fa- 
 moufly Medicinal againft Poylons, the Peftilence, 
 and all other venomous Dileafes. 
 
 The Teeth of Serpents, and Teeth of Mad Dogs 
 and Wolves, have a Medicinal Efficacy againft all 
 venomous Bitings of Animals. Alio they help the 
 Stomach againft all Feavers. 
 
 Scorpions, May-IVorms, Cantharides, and fuch like 
 venomous Infeds, do all minilter yellow TinAures, 
 or fuch Salts as may moft profitably be adminilired 
 in all grievous and venomous Difeafes. 
 
 X X 
 
 C H A f». 
 
I70 
 
 ■^'^^'v Jb Sixth ?nrt of 
 
 Part II 
 
 CHAP. XXVII. 
 
 ^unc/jat is to he judged of the Tmciure of Corals. 
 "U 
 
 W'ien Yaracelfus writ of the admirable Virtues 
 'p-if Tinciure of Corals, which it manifelts in 
 the Exf ^■^'ion of all grievous Difeafes, he faid, that 
 very maitjieamous Men endeavoured to perfed that 
 Tincture ; but an happy event or profperous fuccefs 
 of the fame happened to few. Even fo hath it hap- 
 ned unto me, who have been a fearcher of that 
 Tiniflure above forty years. As to the external face, 
 I could indeed varioufly extrafl; a Tinfture of Co- 
 rals, but in Medicine it proved not as it feemed. 
 Hence I conjeilured that was not the true Tincture 
 of Corals, but that Tintfture came from the Mett- 
 firuiim. Yet at length GOO {hewed me fome par- 
 ticular Feathers of' Birds, which might be adapted 
 to fixed Tindtures latent in Stones and ftony Sub- 
 jects, and by help of them the fame be extrac'ted 
 from' their grofs Bodies, and expofed to publick 
 view ; yet among them all, three forts of Feathers 
 onely hold the Principal place. 
 
 The hlack Feathers of Cro7vs, 
 which are endued with power to elevate fuch Tinc- 
 tures as love to afcend. 
 
 II. 
 
 The white Feathers of Vidgeons, 
 which, in a fort, contain in themfelves the pureft , 
 and before ( by their natural virtue) lightly volatile 
 Tindures, invade and carry them upwards with 
 
 them. 
 
 III. 
 
 Eagles Feathers, 
 which rowfe even the moft fixed and heavieft. Bodies, 
 and thence extraft the inmoft or nobleft part of them, 
 and carry it upwards with themfelves. 
 
 Yet thefe Eagle-Feathers are moft commodioufly 
 ufed for extrafting of fixed Tinftures from fixed Me- 
 tals and Stones. For if they be applied to other ve- 
 ry Volatile Subjefts, they will carry up with them- 
 felves the whole mortified Body together with the 
 Tiniture. Therefore, whofoever would by the be- 
 nefit of the Salt of thefe Feathers, or of the Salts of 
 other Volatiles, perform fome excellent Work, let 
 him exadtly learn the difference between one and 
 the other. But fince here I onely intend the Extrac- 
 tion of the Tinfture from Red Corals , there is no 
 need of any other Feathers for that purpofe, but of 
 Pidgeons Feathers onely, becaufe they will be fuffi- 
 cient for this Operation. 
 
 The Feathers or l-Vings are thus found and acquired. 
 
 DilTolve one pound of pure Silver in AcjuaFortn. If 
 to this Solution you pour good Spirit of Salt, in which 
 Common Salt is difiblved, all the Luna will be preci- 
 pitated from the Aej. Forth in the form of a white Calx 
 In which Precipitation the Silver acquires the afore- 
 faid white Pidgeons Feathers from the Salt-water, 
 and fubmergeth them, together with it felf, in the bot- 
 tom of the Veffel. In this Precipitation aUb the A- 
 <jtta Fortis perifheth not, but pafleth into good A<]tia 
 Regta. This white Calx of Lune , which I have o- 
 wife called Mercm-y of Lune, if it be diligently edul- 
 
 corated and dried ; then are' the Feathers prepared , 
 by help of which I here teach how the Tinciure of 
 Corals is to be extrafted. 
 
 Recl^ one pound of Red Corals, grind them upon 
 a Stone to a moft fiibtile Powder ; to which add as 
 much of this white Silver Calx, alfb pulverized. Put 
 thefe together into a GlafsRetort, adminiftring Fire 
 by degrees, untill the Retort be red , whence ( be- 
 fore it is red-hot ) will alcend a reddifh Water plea- 
 santly fweet ; out of one pound of Corals, about 
 four or five ounces Let this Water be dephlegma- 
 ted in a fmali Glafs-body, by gentle heat of Balneo^ 
 and the unprofitable Water (eparated from the Tinc- 
 ture ; which every Man may (afely ufe in Medicine 
 according to his capacity and skill ; becaulc by vir- 
 tue of it the Bloud is egregioufly purged. Almoll: 
 after the (ame manner, by help of thefe Feathers, a 
 moft efficacious Water of Pearls may be dillilled from 
 fragments of Pearls, or in defcd of" them from Mo- 
 ther of Pearls. 
 
 Likewife, by their help, from a certain peculiar 
 kind of white Talk, may be extra(n:ed a famous Cof- 
 menck for whitening the black Skin. 
 
 Alfo otherwile by the help of thefe, from Vegeta- 
 ble and Animal, as well as from Mineral SubjedSj 
 many famous Medicaments may be extraded ; all 
 the Preparations of which, if any Man fliould take 
 upon him to defcribe, he would above meafure en- 
 creafe the Volume of his Book : which is not my pur- 
 pofe now to do. Therefore with thefe already com- 
 memorated every well-meaning Man will hold him- 
 felf content. Hereafter (^ if GO D pleafe ) we may 
 difcover more. 
 
 That which remains in the Retort take out, mix it 
 with an equal weight of burned Tartar, and then by 
 ftrong fire melt the Mixture. Then the Lum will 
 precipitate it felf into a i?f^«/«x,and the Corals,Pearls, 
 or whatfbever you diftilled by the help of that, will 
 pafs into Scorias. If you rightly know how to ope- 
 rate this, you will lofe none of the Silver. But if you 
 granulate the fame, difiblve it in Aejuafortis, and a- 
 gain precipitate it with Spirit of Salt, edulcorate and 
 dry the Calx, you will have new Feathers, by the 
 benefit of which you may fublime fubtile Tindtures 
 from Bodies. The reafbn why thefe Tindtures af- 
 cend fb fweet, is, becaufe tlic fharp Spirits of Salt, 
 which the Lune detains with it felf, adhere to the 
 Corals and Pearls,and mortifie themfelves with them, 
 and upwards onely drive a fweet Ellence. 
 
 Since I have faid fbmething of White Pidgeons 
 Feathers, and alfb made mention, that many other 
 fuch Feathers may be had, by which heavy Subjedts 
 may in like manner be elevated, and carried upward 
 with them ; among which the Dark-coloured Fea- 
 thers of the Eagle do eafily obtain the priority ; I 
 thought it would be worth while to fiiew the way of 
 Acquiring them here alfo ; which thus take. 
 
 C H A P. XXVIII. 
 
 How a Medicine may be prepared of Sol and Luna to- 
 gether. 
 
 REcipe of Gold one ounce, and of Silver two oun- 
 ces. Dilfolve the Sol in A<^ua Regi'^, and the 
 Lu?ie in Acjua Fortis. If you mix both Solutions toge- 
 ther, one Metal will precipitate the other, and both 
 fettle to the bottom in the form of a Dark or Alh- 
 coloured Calx. This Precipitate edulcorate and dry, 
 
 and 
 
the Spngyrical ?harmacopa'ii 
 
 7. 
 
 lit 
 
 and mix vvirh the (air.e ha'.f its own weight of our 
 Eagles I-eatheis Diftil thcle in a Gla(s Retort 
 with ftrong Fire :. then will the Eagles Featherstake 
 up vvirh it le!f a white Water ; in which, notwith- 
 ftandidg, is latent a red Tincture ; but of an unplea- 
 ling Talk, and therefore not to be adminiftred in 
 medicinal Praiflice. Yet, if this fierce and horrible 
 Water be mortified b^ the help of a Lixivium of 
 Tartar, and afterward fome wliite Glafs broke 
 fmall be melted in a Crucible with Ibme (uch Salt, 
 the Glafs will be tinged by the Salt, with an emi- 
 nent yellownefs anlwcrablc to the Colour of Gold. 
 Thar ydlow Tiniture may 'be extracted from the 
 Glafs, and ufed in Medicine ; becaufe it arifeth both 
 from Sol and Luna, and therefore neceflarily muft be 
 medicinal. 
 
 Note : That during the Diftillation, the Glafs vef- 
 ftl contra(fts divers Colours, partly red, and partly 
 yellovvjwzi. as long as itftands in the Fire and is hot; 
 but the Neck remaining out in the Air, continues 
 white. Here is caufe indeed of admiration, that by 
 that mi.xture of divers Colours many and various 
 Figures are reprefented, as Mountains and Valleys, 
 adorned with Rocks and Trees, Co artificially, as 
 they feem to be the Work of a Painter. Some fuch 
 Glaflcs painted, both by Art and Nature, I gave to 
 fome of my curious and ingenious Friends ; who 1 
 believe have them yet to (how. Thefe Glafles are 
 tinged well and throughly ; fbmetimes through their 
 whole Body, and that fb firmly, as even the ftrongeft 
 ulqiia Fortis or Jejua Rtgia, or any Corrofives cannot 
 take off thofe Colours. Which indeed is a moft 
 ftrange and admirable thing, that even vulgar and 
 corporeal fixed Sol and Luna fhould be rendred fb 
 volatile, as to be able to enter into the compact 
 Glafs, and tinge the fame. Spirits have great power, 
 are void of ponderofity, and when they tinge, the 
 vertue of thera is difcerned far : even as the Spirits 
 of men and other Animals are void of all heavinefs 
 or weight; which we clearly difcern by this, viz.. 
 that a man living, is much lighter than when he is 
 
 dead. 
 
 Moreover, Spirits cannot onely render fi.xed Lu- 
 na, volatile, and reduce it into red Bodies as Sol and 
 Ven/tSy which without any hurt of their form, and 
 'without increafe or diminution of their weight, they 
 can totally tinge with whitenefs ; but alio Spirits 
 'can render the moft fi.xt and moft compaft Gold 
 
 • volatile, and induce it into compaft Lune, whereby 
 that (hall be tinged with yellownefs, which isa thing 
 very wonderful!. But that Spirits can induce Tine 
 turc into Glafs, without hurt or augmentation of its 
 weight, deferves greater admiration ; efpecially be- 
 caufe it is the common Opinion of putatitious Phiio- 
 fophers, that in Glafs are no pores, yet the contrary 
 of their fuppofition is true. For if it werefo, as they 
 perfwadethemfelves, which way I pray could Tinc- 
 tures be introduced into them .-" 
 
 Note : That Spirits do not onely induce Metallick 
 iubtile Tinctures into compact Metals and Glalles; in- 
 fbmuch, as by the help of white Spirits, yellow Sol, 
 without dcftruftion of its form or fpecies may to- 
 tally be tmged with whitenefs ; and white Lune 
 by the mediation of red Spirits, be totally 
 tinged with yellownefs , and white Glafs with 
 various Colours refcmbling the Beauty of Jems : but 
 they alfb extract fixed Bodies from other fixed Metal- 
 lick Bodies. As we fee, as often as we cafl any 
 mixture of Sol, Lun^z and Venus, ( melted into a 
 
 • Mafsj into thofe Spirits; the fanie.S^^irits extract 
 
 fchc Luna and I'tTius Worn the Sol, uitliout corrupti- 
 on or deftruction of its form, fb as the Sd, although 
 this (cparation is made, dnrh notwithftanding reJ^ 
 main com pa fl and malTy. We have fuch Spirits as 
 theJe in our PoirefOon, and can render the fame fit 
 for our purpofc. 
 
 As tor all other Spirit.<;, which are various ; viz,. 
 r. Are Coeleflial and Divine. 2 Terreftrial and Dia- 
 bolick. ;. The Spirits of the four Elements; thefe 
 excel the former in power: for they cannot onely 
 pafs through Doors that are (hut, but alfo through 
 the hardcft Stones and Rocks, and there at plea- 
 iLire fporc and perpetrate wonderous things. As- 
 you may learn from thofe that labour in Mines of 
 Metals, where fiich Spirits inhabit, and ftoutly de- 
 fend their Treafures of Gold and Silver, from fuch 
 as come to fpoil them of the fame ; wherefore they 
 invade the Miners, ftrike them, pault them with 
 Stones or Dirt, blaft them with venomous Vapours^ 
 and oftentimes kill many of them at once. What' 
 wonderful! things they in thefe fubterranean Man- 
 fions are able to etfeft, is more than fufficiently^ 
 known. In the Mansfieldick Mountains of /4««i or 
 Copper, the Spirits paint all kind of Figures, efpe- 
 cially of Fifhes ; fome of vyhich I my felf have feen. 
 About 100 years fince there was dug up a certain 
 Image of Venus upon a b'.ack Fiffile Stone, wherein 
 Luther and the Electour of S^jxowy were fb evidently 
 exprelTed, as either of them might be feen knteling 
 before the Image of Chrift crucified. A'fb another 
 fuch Fiinie Stgne was thence dug up, in which was 
 exadtly figured John Bafujl baptizing Chrift in for- 
 4an. But if our Spirits of Salt can induce Tincftures 
 into the compaft Bodies of Metals; and Elemen- 
 tary Spirits in their fubterranean Habitations, can 
 imprefs many and various Figures on Stones ; what 
 is that good Coe'.eftia! Spirits (hall not be able to ef- 
 fect i* Did not thele preierve the three Children in 
 the Bab)loniait Fiery Furnace .■' Did not thev bring 
 Peter ontoi Prifon ; and the Prophet Habacuck to 
 Daniel into the L^ ons Den :" Are not they able to 
 bring in, and lead out ? Cannot thev render fixed 
 palpable Bodies volatile, fpiritua! and invifible, and 
 on the contrary render invifible Bodies vifible and 
 tangible .-' 
 
 Many things might here be fpoken touching the 
 Nature, Property and Difference of Spirits, but that 
 they are not pertinent to our prefent purpofe. If 
 GOD permit, according as I ha\e purpofed, 1 (hall 
 ere long fet forth a peculiar Treatife of Spirits. Here 
 we have heard how Spirits can bring through fhuc 
 Doors hard Bodies, andth;-re render them corporeal 
 and vifible. Which may ferve for Information to 
 every Searcher into the Light of Nature. 
 
 CHAP. XXIX. 
 
 Yet one other Specimen of Probation bjf the help of Eagles 
 Feathers. 
 
 THAT Artificer Laz,arut E'f/^fr, moft famous 
 for finding out the Veins of Metals, in his Book 
 of Probations (or of finding out Veinsj relates, that 
 the Venetians hired certain men for wages, and tent 
 them into Germany to gather of the glalfy dark co- 
 loured Grains of Sand of the Rivers running by the 
 Mountains, and to tranfport it to J'emce. The fame 
 is done at this very day. And although this Expor- 
 tation is prohibited by Law, yet they defift not, but 
 
 clan. 
 
172 
 
 The Sixth Van of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 clandeftinely proceed. The common Pewple of , 
 thofe parts perfwade themfelves, that Grains ot Gold 
 are contained in thofe Sands, and therefore by Edid 
 every man is forbid, either to remove it thence, or 
 to convert the fame to his own ufe. 
 
 Indeed Lazarr/s Ercker added, that he had fubje- 
 cied ilich Grains of Sand to various Trials, but ne- 
 ver found Gold in them ; yet that healfo underftood, 
 that the l^emtia?t Artificers prepared of that Sand fuch 
 beautifull Colours, as with them were in more e- 
 fteem, than Gold it felf But I affirm, that Erckerns 
 did not rigthly know thofe Grains of Sand. For in- 
 deed there is little corporal Gold in them, but much 
 fpiritual Gold. If to thofe Sands the Eagles Feathers 
 be added, they will carry upwards with themlelves 
 much (piritual Gold, which will be very conducent 
 in Medicine. Such Grains are found mall the Sands 
 of Rivers in all Regions of the World, and in the 
 Gravel on the Shores of common Navigable 
 Rivers: whence much good may be gained 
 Now theic may fuffice to be fpoken touching the 
 Eagles Feathers, for it is not convenient to divulge 
 more. 
 
 CHAP. XXX. 
 
 Tet one Royal Medicine of Vulgar Gold. 
 
 MAke one Ounce of Gold more or lefs, irreduci- 
 ble by the benefit of Salts Then to fuch irre 
 ducible or unmet tab'e Gold, add as much by weight 
 of the fi.xed Salt of the Eag'es Feathers burnt. Put 
 thefe into a firmly coated Glaft, and place the Glals 
 in an Earthen Pan full of Sand ; which Panfet in the 
 Fire that it may be red hot. But after it hath ftood 
 in (uch a Degree of heat, for four or five hours, let 
 it cool. Then take your fixed Sd out of the Glafs, 
 and it will be like white Chalk. This white Sol ta- 
 ken out of the Glals put into a good Crucible, upon 
 which lute another, and then let it in a Wind Fur- 
 nace, where having ftood four or five hours, with- 
 out any extream heat, let it cool. Then your Gold 
 wi'l be tranfmuted into a Tindure intenfly red. 
 Grind this red Sa't to a moft (ubtil Powder, and 
 pour on Spirit of Wine to extraft hisTindture. The 
 tinged Spirit pour otF, and pour on other, that it 
 may alio cxtraft. Abftradl the Spirit of Wine from 
 the Tindure, and in- the bottom a red Saline Liquor 
 will remain, which is to be accounted a true Aumm 
 Fctabtlc: becaufe it is not polhble by any way what- 
 fbever to extradt any Gold from thence. This Ope 
 ration begun, I once abfolved without Errour ; but 
 many times afterward trying my Work, did notfuc 
 ceed fo profperoufly as at the firft time. Yet I ra- 
 ther afcribe the Errour to my lelf, than to Art, plain 
 ly judging, that no other way more fwift, more eafie 
 or more preparable, can be obtained a moft readily 
 profitable Tindure fordifealed, humane and metal- 
 lick Bodies. Yet 1 add this. Jf thou futfereft the 
 common and now dudile Sol to be and remain 
 Gold ; and (paring labour and charge for making it 
 irreducible, do onely make choice of fuch Stones for 
 your Operation, fiich as without Charges you may 
 get, and by nature partake of irreducible Gold. 
 Then indeed you may much more eafily find what 
 you intend. For whatfbever Tindures of a golden 
 Dilpoiirinn are incited in thofe Stones, they notwith- 
 ftanding in this o oration lole it, altogether wax 
 white, and at length totally red again. Which be- 
 ing beheld by me, 1 never law in all my Life a more 
 
 wonderfull Sight. Hence Philofophers have always 
 faid : Wholbever can fo deftroy vulgar Sol, as it can 
 never be again reduced into Sol, he hath attained 
 to a very great Myftery. Alfo they further fay: 
 Whofoever knows not how to make our Sol ( which 
 is vulgar Sol rendred irreducible, or fuch as hath not 
 vet felt the force ot Fire, and in Stones is by Nature 
 irreducible ) white, he alio cannot make it red. Buc 
 now that is done this way. Therefore you need not 
 doubt that befides medicinal Remedies, fiime other 
 Eminent Works may thence be made. Which 1 leave 
 more deeply to be (earched into by thofe, who are 
 yet ftrong and able to endure labour. As for my 
 own part, I efteem the Pleafiires and Riches of this 
 World to beworfe than nothing ; and leek onely In- 
 corruptibles, which can neither be ftolen by Thieves, 
 nor gnawn by Moths and other Vermine, Jior be^ie- 
 itroyed by any force of the Elements. 
 
 An Admonition. 
 
 TN this little Book, candid Reader, I have treated 
 of many rare Arcanums, or Secrets not vulgar ; 
 and that very briefly. AH 1 here write, I write from 
 certain Experience, as to Medicine : far be it, that 
 I fliould profefs my felf a Mafter in tbe Melioration 
 of Metals, I had rather fay with Socrates, This one. 
 •hmg I know, viz that I know nothing. Indeed 
 had I been a younger Man, I fhould fcarcely have 
 forborn to exercife my felf in fuch an Operation ; 
 but my great Age having rendred me unfit for all 
 Labours, and unable to do any thing, I may eafily 
 be excufed, for I am as it were compelled to abftain 
 from fo great 'a Work. 
 
 Here in this Book I have treated of divers fecret 
 Fires, yet not of all to me known, but of many of 
 them : touching the beft of them all (if GOD per- 
 mit ) thefeventh Part of my Spagyrical Fharmacopaa 
 (hall treat. The wonderfull Vertues of which fe- 
 cret Fires is fo far beyond belief, as they exceed all 
 the Fires in this Enchyridion commemorated. 
 
 ^antum Lenta folent inter Fthurna Cufrejji. 
 
 I am amazed, as often as I call to mind, how im- 
 menfly vertuous fuch fiery truly Stygian Spirits are, 
 which are endued with a faculty of mortifying all 
 Metals (although they be Bodies of greateftftrength) 
 and of carrying with them their immortal Souls, 
 wherefbever they can. For they are endued with 
 10 great power, as nothing is able to defend it felf 
 from them. Yet befides thefe there are alio other 
 horrid Spirits made by Art, which do not onely af- 
 ter Mortification take from metallick Bodies their 
 Soul ; but alfo arc endued with fo great power, as 
 they take away the Body with the Soul. Spirits of 
 this kind are not ufefuU for our neceflities, but thofe 
 Spirits which do onely mortifie the Body, and draw^ 
 forth from it its Soul, leaving the grofs Body. If 
 thefe Bodies were as conducible to us as Spirits, 
 there would be no need to ex trad from them their 
 moft pure Spirits or Souls, to prepare our Medicine 
 of them. Wherefore we, not without good reafon, 
 by the help of Artificial Diftillation) extrad the moft 
 clean Souls of Metals from their rude Bodies. For, 
 by the benefit of Diftillation, all Bodies of Vegetables, 
 Animals and Minerals, are purified and (ijbtilized. 
 Which clean and fubtil Spirits (when they are again 
 reduced into fixed Bodies) muft needs be better 
 
 Bodies 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagjricnl Fbarmacopcea. 
 
 173- 
 
 Bodies than all other vulgar Bodies, which never yet 
 were Spirits. Therefore, the more fixed tliole Bo- 
 die? are lendred, and the more thole Spirits are llib- 
 tilized, the more pure and further powerfull Tinc- 
 tures will bs obtained from them. The like we un- 
 derihnd by Elementary Spirits. Thefe Spirits, by 
 their proper Virtue, can (6 fcW extend themfelvesj as 
 to become whr^lly Invifible, aMd (if I may fo fpeak) 
 altogether perviiible : on the contrary, they can a- 
 gain concentrate themfelvcs, and conflringe them 
 fclves into a very narrow compafs, and in fuch wife 
 alfume vifib'e Bodies, palpable and hard, as they 
 pleafe themfelvcs. Although fuch Objects, in the 
 Judgment of the Eyes, arc accounted Bodies, yet in 
 very deed they are not true Bodies, but are one 
 ly concentrated^ Spirits, which enjoy a perpetual 
 power of extending themfelvcs again into latitude, 
 and (if leaving their corporeal Form and Shape, 
 and reafiunring their Spiritual Figure But it is 
 impoflible that theft extended Spirits fhould pofTefs 
 io great power, as they had before Extenfion. For 
 Spirits extended arc no other than Air and Wind. 
 On the contrary^ concentrated Spirits have incredi- 
 ble Fortitude, penetrate more fwiftly, and are Bo- 
 dies of very great potency. A common Body can- 
 not penetrate into another, without hurt to it lelf ; 
 nor in that e-xtend it felf, becaufe of its grofs and 
 hard Mafs. Yet fuch a Body, as is made of a certain 
 Spirit, can penetrate other Bodies, and amend the 
 fetiie without ddtrudion of their Form and Spe- 
 cies. '• As for Example : If any one turns a fixed 
 Metal into a fijbtiie Spirit, and this Spirit again redu- 
 ceth into a fixed Body ; this Body will not be a com- 
 mon, compact, grofs or mortified Body, like all o- 
 ther Metallick Bodies; but is a Body fpiritual, living, 
 penetrating and vivifying mortified Bodies; or is (as 
 I may callit)^ Corporeal Spirit, which can extend 
 it felf in Amplitude, and (hew its potency an hun- 
 dred or a thoufand ways ; according as all true Phi- 
 lofophers alcribe to their Univerfal Medicine or Tinc- 
 ture^ that it, in a very finall quantity, is able to tinge 
 or meliorate a gre:^t quantity of the more vile Bodies 
 into Bodies mofi noble. Which admirable Correfti- 
 on is not as yet known to me ; yet I certainly be- 
 lieve and judge, that fuch a Tranfmutatipn, or fa- 
 mous Em--ndation of Metals may be made, by the 
 benefit of concentrated and fixed nob!e MetalHck 
 Spirits. Whofcever hath Time and PIac6 conveni- 
 ent to fer atouf th's Work, may try what is poUible 
 to be performed by the help of Art. Convert fixed 
 Bodies into (ubtile Spirits, and reduce volatile Spirits 
 into fixed Bodies , then fhali you obtain whatfuever 
 you can dcfire or wifh for. 
 
 Indeed I have Reafcns enough to reftrain ray Quill 
 from a farther promulgation of fuch high- K-larters ; 
 
 yet fince I have proceeded farther m this difcovery, 
 than any Man before me ever did ; what hinders 
 but that I may to the Florfe man, to whom I have '' 
 given rf Nijaanlor excellent] Horfe, give the Bridlr^/" 
 aho.-^ Therefore it pleafeth me to reveal yet o'w' 
 kind of Spirits , which very lovingly receive/oA;e 
 Souls of Metals < after their Bodies are mof^i'ied ) 
 and carry them up into t^e Philofophick '^eaven, 
 that is, into the AUmbkk. Which good S- irits are 
 not horrible and cruel as the former, bur ^-eet and 
 amicable. Indeed, fuch good Spirits d'/^. jt willing- 
 ly afTociato themfelves with the Souls of all Metals 
 promifcUouHy, but onely with fuch molt pure Souls, 
 as arc in Sot and Lu7ia. But if they be compelled to 
 be concerned in the Mortification of foetid grofs Me- 
 tals, as Mars aixdi Genu's, or of venomods, and as'yet 
 immature and vQlatile Metals, as J u^t^iy Saturn and 
 Mercury, and to receive the out pafling Souls cithern ; 
 they refufe not this ofl^ce, yet from fuch fcet'id Souls 
 they contrad a ftink to themfelves, and therefore 
 can fcarcdy afterward 'be rMedicinal. -■^erefor©,! 
 It is better not to ufe thefe good and pijre Spirits, un- 
 lefs for deceiving theSouis of clean Mei^';'.for then 
 they remain good, and cannot be adminifn'cd in Me- 
 dicine without admiration,: and, oh t'he contrary, 
 the Souls of venomous Metals may be fo much the 
 more happily ufed for the Ernendation^f Metals. 
 
 Now, as touching thefe good Sprits, know, 
 they are nothing elfe 'but a puie-Spi/it'of Wme[ 
 when it is-^flbciated wi):h Sd and Luna, at t6at very 
 time, wherein their fixed Bocjies are invaded and 
 mortified by' their Enemies, and their pure Souls fet 
 at liberty ; then they are received and carried up- 
 wards by thefe pure Spirjrs ; and a Royal M.edicine_ 
 is obtained, which every- Man may adminifter ac- 
 cording to his underftanding. There ^ft alto many- 
 other Spirits which attend Metals deftr^yed and mor^ 
 tified, that they may take to themfelves their pure 
 Souls and carry them away. But of thefe enough 
 at this time. Ere long (GOD willing) { f^iall 
 fpeak more at large of thefe in the Seventh Part of 
 my SfagyrtckFb'armac'jf!e». - 
 
 O mofi High GOD, the One ovelj Begmning anMnJ 
 of all tbijigs, I making fitpplic/itiofi from the bottom of 
 wy heArt depe, that (•Jvhc7t. that gencr.il Defiroyer of 
 Humane Bodies jiiuH came and dcftroy my lean a;jd dried 
 Earthen M^fi^ according to thy di-z'tne irtllj andfet my 
 Soul at liberty from the^ondiofthc Body ) thou wilt be 
 ^leafed in that 'very hour to takrcom-faffiononme , and 
 lend thy Mwifiring Spir-its the Holy Ange's (by re^fon ■ 
 of thy Qrace and Fatherly Mercy J- to me i{t the hour of 
 Death, that receiving my departing Soid, may httmblj 
 profirate it at the feet'bfthy'mofl Holy Maiefij. Jixmi. '" 
 
 Ihe End of the Sixth Fart, 
 
 A 
 
 Yy 
 
 THE 
 
174 
 
 are 
 
 THE 
 
 SEVENTH PART ' 
 
 OIOL 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Spagyrical Pharmacopoea. 
 
 In which is farther treated , how of Man s Urine may be 
 
 prepared the Secret Sal-Armoniack. of Philofophers , and what incredible 
 Works may be performed by the benefit of it , both in Medicine and in 
 Alchymy : With an Inftrud:ion annexed how an Univerfal Medicine and 
 true Tindture for Humane and Metallick Bodies may be acquired 5 and 
 that no way more eafie, more expeditious and lefs chargeable, than by 
 the help of good Spirit of Wine, or inftead of that a burning Spirit ex- 
 tracted from Corn, or other Vegetables. 
 
 The PR E F A C E to the RE A D E R. 
 
 Well-meaning Reader, 
 
 THE principal Reafon which tnoveth me here in this fmall Treatife (ivithout any refpe^ 
 or regard oj Perfons worthy or unworthy } fo evidently to reveal and pullijh to the a«- 
 gratefull World the Secret Sal-Armoniack of Philofophers, is this : namely, hecauje, by 
 reafon of my old Age, I have now one foot in the Grave, and am ready to depart this 
 World and do patiently expetl afar more excellent Manjion prepared by God. J, who now difco- 
 ver this Secret Sal-Armoniack, do alfo here intimate thofe uafi benefits, which ( by the help of 
 that^ may accrew to Mankind, accounting great Works of Mercy may be done by it ; becaufe it is 
 that, by the benefit of which, all things neceffary for Life may be acquired by all Men, whether 
 young or old, poor or rich, as in the following Praxis fhaU largely be demonfi rated. 
 
 That Men ( // they themfelves will ) may gain much, yea as much as they pleafe, by the benefit 
 of this my free and ample Revelation of fuch an inejlimalle Salt, I am eafily able to prove : efpeci- 
 ally^ fo foon as I, in the following Praxis, (hall exhibit a Specimen of thoje Suhjetls, the abundance 
 of which IS in all parts of the World, every-where offered, no lefs to the Poor, than to the Rich, 
 ivithout any ex pence of Money, or other Charges ; but it is known by very few, privily hated by that 
 proud Srep-Dame the World, trod under foot, and for its exterior vilenefs cafi out upon the Dung- 
 hill, and thrown away in the corners of Streets. 
 
 But, fome One may ask, how thofe needy People can from Vrine onely, acquire things neceffary for 
 Life, although they ffould know, that in it is contained a Treafure ? To fuch an One I thus anfwer z 
 It may very well be e^etled, becaufe in this little Book I have explained, not onely that in it is an 
 ahftrufe Treafure, but alfo how it may eafily be extraded. Infomuch as I doubt not, but that fome 
 of the Lovers of the Poor will do their endeavour to extra^ that Treafure from the fame. Which 
 being done, if the World ( which will believe nothing but what it fees ) take notice of it, and 
 finds the verity of our jffertion proved in Fad, then many more will ufe a like endeavour to get 
 their living from fuch a Suhjecl, every-where to be had, and preparable for little or no charge. If 
 fuch Operators jhall need more Vrine^ than they themfelves make, they mufl neceffarily buy it of poor 
 
 Families^ 
 
Part 11. The Preface to the Reader. 175 
 
 FamlieSy abundance of which you will every-where find^ readily dc firing tn gather the Jamejor their 
 dhily Breads and to bring it to the Artijl : that way one hand cherijheth and helpeth another. For 
 hy this means every Re-puhlick might he brought to a flourifl)ingJ}ate., fo cs no Alan ( unlefs he will 
 himfelf^ needs to want Bread in what part of the World foever he lives. I indeed have not bw 
 Tied in the Earth my five Talents gratioufly granted to me by God, but have put them into the pub- 
 lick Bank. What if the mad and blind World ivill neither fee nor hear, it may for all me follow 
 its own defperate humour. It is fnficient for me that I have divulged fuch Myfleries for the fafe- 
 ty and well-being of Mankind, as no other Philofopher before me hath ever difcovered the like. 
 For fince the Subje^ is fo very vile, vulgar and obnoxious to vafi contempt and hatred among proud 
 Fools, many of them did involve its genuine Name in the fecret Cabinet of Silence. But, that I 
 may fpeak my mind freely, I openly confefs and aver, that in Vrine is contained a Mercury, by 
 the help of which very much may be effe^ed in Chymifiry and in Medicine ; and which is efpecially 
 very conducent to deduce Metals to their fir fl Matter ; and thence may be reaped a notable Fruit 
 ofVtility, as well univerfally as particularly. For what foever I have now writ, I compofed the 
 fame in the extremity of my difcompofure and ficknefs, that this admirable Secret might not be 
 buried with me in the Earth, where even all the highefi Arts of the mojl excellent Artijls feem 
 to putrefie together with them, not being by them ( before their Death } communicated to Mankind 
 remaining; that fo I may fay with the Vulgar Qnot rightly underflanding^ All Habits of 
 Underllanding are not fo much hofpited in the mortal Body, as retained m the immortal 
 Mind. 
 
 If all things here anfwer not the deftre of the diligent Searcher of Art, or be not clearly and 
 plainly eno.gh difcovered, let him look into the following Treat if e, which is intituled, A Treatife 
 of the Mercury o\ Philofophers, where perhaps he will find fo many defirahle things, as will com- 
 fleatly fatifie the hunger of his Mind covetoiu of learning. But for the fake of the benevolent 
 Reader, I cannot chuje but communicate to him this Information, viz. that the very Infcription of 
 this Treat ife dif covers a Secret Sal- Armoniack , and in divers places of the Sixth Part of my 
 Spagyrick Pharmacopcea, mention is alfo made of a Secret Sal-Armoniack ; wherefore I would 
 have you to underfiand, that the Sal-Armoniack mentioned in my former Book, is of a property 
 varioujly different from this, of ivhich I purpofe here to write. For this u prepared of Vrine, but 
 in the preparation of that, no Vrine is to he ufed ; hecaufe that is no other than pure Silver dif- 
 folved in Aquafortis, and precipitated by the help of a fharp Salt-water. Where it is to be obfer- 
 ved, that the Silver, in fuch a Precipitation, attracts to it felf fo many Spirits of the Salt, as by 
 reafon of them it is no more iufihle, like other Luna into a Metallick Form, but becomes penetrable 
 as Oil into a Skin. That, in my Writings, is called the Mercury of Luna. 
 
 Note. Of Saturn alfo, after this manner fuch a Mercury may be prepared, which is almofl of 
 the fame efficacy as the Mercury ofLnxw-, but in fame Chymical Labours it may not fo fafely he 
 ufed as the Mercur\- of Luna. This mufi be neceffarily minded by thofe ivho are unwilling to err 
 in their Labours. Moreover, touching this Secret Sal-Armoniack, I think it needfull farther to 
 advife, that either Sal-Armoniack {^although both are diverjly prepared^ being added to Metals 
 or Minerals, takes to it felf and carries upward the pureji part of that Metal or Mineral, let it 
 is to he underfiood, that this is effected thus, viz. that the Metal is corroded by the fharp Spirits 
 exijlant in the Sal-Armoniack, and fo is carried upward hy difl illation ; or volatilized, no other- 
 wife than as if you fhould add Sublimate Mercury to any Metal or Mineral for extracting Butter 
 thence. Alfo it is to be minded, that whatfoever fhall he prepared hy the help of eitfier Sal- 
 Armoniack ( made with Luna, or with Vrine ~) all that rifeth much more pure than any fuhlimate 
 Mercury or common Sal-Armoniack can cauje to afcend. Thefe few things I thought neceffary to 
 he premifed, touching the difference of either Secret Sal-Armoniack, that no Man may err through 
 miflake. 
 
 Altfjough much more fhould be fpoken here, touching our Sal-Armoniack, which is madeof Vrine ^ 
 y^t Time, and my prefent Condition, prohibit my infijling more at large thereabout. 
 
 But that every unskilfull Man may he rendred more skilfull in the Knowledge of this Definition^ 
 it is good for him to learn, that Vrine is no other than the volatile Salt of thofe Meats and Drinks, 
 ivhich we receive for the nourifhment and fuflentation of the Body j and which are fo digejled and 
 feparated by the Stomach, viz. that the Sulphur, as a fuperfluity, is by l^ature difcharged hy the 
 Bowels ; but the Vrine, as a volatile Mercurial Salt, feeks and finds for it felf an Exit through 
 tlje Bladder. Now, it is more that fujfficiently manifefl, that the greatefl part of Men live of 
 Vegetables, as of Bread, Beer and Wine j alfo for Nutriments they ufe Flefh, Fifh, Butter and 
 Cheefe : which kinds of Meat and Drink, fo foon as put down into the Stomach by a certain natural 
 Cotlion and Fermentation are fo inverted, as fome natural Mercury is thence progenited. Whence, 
 k is clearly enough apparent, that the before mentioned Mercury ( which we with the affiflance of 
 Art know how to extra£l out of Vrine _) mufl neceffarily have been an invifihle Mercury in Vegeta- 
 
i7(D, The Preface to the Reader. Part II. 
 
 Ues^ before'it pajled into Vrine^ and ivhen it \v .^ not inverted in our Body. Which is a things 
 rnoji furely trite, and is confirmed to us hy experience^ viz. that in a/I Vegetables (^no one of them 
 excluded^ ivhether IV ine or Grain, Honey or Sugar, or other fat Fruits, in which, our vegetable 
 Mercury is mojl copioujly abundant j alfo by what natnefocver thofe Fruits of Vegetables are called^ 
 the fan', e Mercury is hofpited ; yea, it may be extracted from all Fruits, Frees., IJerhs, or any com- 
 mon Grafs of tit Fields or Meadows, and from all Boughs and Leaves of wild and manured FreeSy 
 if after ytiu have cut them f mall, you pour on them hot water, and then ferment the Jame. 
 
 jfndeedlean Herbs, according to quantity, give not forth fo much burningSpirit, as Corn, WinCy 
 or Sugar : Rut note ; Grafs is prepared with much lefs coft than Corn, Wine, or the Faces of 
 J fine or Beer.'' Alfo a good burning Spirit may he made of Grape-Stones, or the preffings of Grapes; 
 yet as for the fweetnefs of that, you need not to take any care ; becaufe in operating itu fo amen- 
 ded., as it is rend red full as good as the bejl Spirit of Wine that is mo ft rich. 
 ' This Arcanum of preparing a true Vniverfal Medicine of all Vegetables , for thofe three 
 hipwii Kingdoms of ours, I take to be as great a Secret as was e,ver known to Fhilofophers, or for 
 the future can be known. For it is that, of ivhich many h.roe notably writ, yet in fuch a Style, as 
 they have ohfcured, involved and hid the whole Work in fo many Parabolical , Allegorical and 
 Enigmatical Phrafes, as it is almojl plainly impoffible for any one profitably to learn any thing 
 out of their Writings, unlefs his Eyes he fingularly illuflrated by God. But among others, Al- 
 bcrius Magnus, Thomas Aquinas, Arnold, Lully, Braccfcus, and efpecially Bafilius, have writ 
 of it evidently enough to fuch as can fee ; hut all they writ in ohfcure words : And as Paracelfus 
 knew the fame, fo it feems that wjs alfo known to Helmont : yet they were afraid to write of it 
 for their own fakes. But I now freely and openly divulging aU things, do that chiefly for this Reafotty 
 viz. hecaiife the mofl wife God ( to whom I give Immortal Thanks ) revealed this Secret to me not 
 many weeks fince ; and I, according to the weaknefs of my Age, could labour but little therein, and 
 that very dificultly ; therefore keeping my Bed, by reafon of my Jllnefs, I caufed fome Proofs to 
 he made of the fame : whence I fo found the verity of the matter, as I am now ablefajely to confirm 
 the fame to others, and can aver, that the true Mercury of Philofophcrs is reconded in them. 
 Although that hath hitherto been unknown to mofl Men , yet hy me (^ becaufe in Philofophy, Me- 
 dicine and Chymiflry, never any thing more magnificent than it, e after to be elaborated, or prepa- 
 rable with fefs coft, at any time before came into my hands ^ it is fo publifhed, as I doubt noty 
 hit- that many well-difpofed Perfons will confidently, readily and happily fet their hands to the 
 Work. For it is eafie to acquire burning or di/lilledWine in abundance, without any great charge ; 
 cilfo an Indriiment rnade of Copper, fit for feparaiing the Mercury from //'^Sulphur, will not cofi 
 much : And laflly, the Fixation of the Mercury will cofl little or nothing, becaufe it may eafily 
 ie abfolved^ in a very ^ort time, by One well skilled in the method of fixing.. The Burning Spirit 
 may he prepared, and the feparation of its Mercury //"ow the Sulpiiur be compleated in the f pace 
 of one day : hut yet it is to he underflood, that this is fpoken onely to thofe who defire but a f mall 
 quantity to experience the pnffibility of Art. If any one would have a larger quantity of Tinilure, he 
 mdeed will have need of a longer time to prepare it in, as every one may eafily conjeclure. 
 
 Whilft I lay difeafed in my Bed., and afflicted with a grievous Difea/e (^ after I had hy a long 
 and fe nous f peculation day and night fundamentally fearched the power ef Art") in the f pace of one 
 Week, hy the hands onely of my little Sons Qfor I could not trufi fuch a Work with the unworthy 
 Sons of this World ) 1 nade three fmall trials or proof s onely in a very f mall quantity, becaufe, hy 
 my Bed fide., there was m, place for doing any great Work. Ne'verthelefs, I am fatisfied that I could 
 do much more in eight or ten Days, and a far greater quantity, if God will he pleafed to grant me 
 firength for fo many Days. 
 
 Indeed to an ignorant Hearer, what Wife men have afferted will feem incredible to he believed ; 
 namely, that in every Herb and Grafs, the true Stone of Philofophers lyes hid. For the ignorant of 
 Nature wonder at this. But Spagyrick Philofophers have, now for many years pafl, publifhed their 
 Books touching the fame, and affirmed, that of all things, from which the Elements may be feparateefy 
 the Stone (?/ Philofophers may he extracted and made ; of the fame I alfo, if need were, could al- 
 ledge many Teftimonies. May ive not hy Diftillation and Rectification much more eafi-ly feparate the 
 Elements from Vegetables, than from rude and hard Metals ? And may we not mofl purely and mofl 
 fubtilly clean fe their Element of Fire from them ? That indeed is impoffible to be extracted from 
 Metals. But if we can, hy the help of Arty turn the mofl pure Fire again into Earth, may not 
 of this new Earth ( ivhen it is by the benefit of Art fixed, and rendred conflant in Fire^ he made 
 a Matter purer, than all things in Nafiire ? Every Alan knows, that in Spirit of Wine is contained 
 a great virtue comforting the Heart, hut hy reafon of the burning heat, which it manifefls in thofe 
 that immoderately ufe it, the fame is avoided not without Reafon. 
 
 NOWy 
 
I 
 
 Part 11. The Preface to the Reader. 177 
 
 Now, if you jhall feparate the Burning Sulphur /row the Mercury, in the bottom will remaZ 
 onely a temperate, and to all Conjtitutions (^ which are vulgarly called Complexions ) grate full t^ e 
 Mercury, in the form of a clear fweet Water, which Philolophers call their Water of LitQtf,j«</ 
 that not imprudently. For the Alimonies of Life are included in it, and this Mercurial \Vi zer, or 
 true Aqua-vitx, may he fafely adhibited in all Difeafes -, always, provided that ths Spirit le pre- 
 pared of Wine, Corn, or of Herbs not ft inking and venomous. But for Metallick Traiifmutation, 
 every diftilled Wine is conducent, of whatjoever matter it full he prepared. Tet t^at, tn the 
 form of Water, is able to exercife no power over Metals, hut mufl firfl he reduc("' nto a Red 
 fixed Powder, called hy Philofophers Gold of I'hilofophers, Horizontal Gold, Tinging Gold, 
 and Living Gold- And, in a word, I fay you cannot find any thing pertinent to Medicine and 
 Chymifiry, more excellent than our Red fixed Mercury of Wine : jor it is the true Phcenix or 
 Bird of Titan, feeding its Toung with its own Blood ,• alfo a true Salamander, which dyes not, hut 
 js nourifljed and augmented in Fire : and more briefly. It is all in all things. Moreover, Philofo- 
 phers confejs that all things lye ahfconded in all, and in good Aqua- vita: all Metals are f pint ually 
 found ; which I my fe If have in very deed experienced, being other wife unable to verifie the fame. 
 
 noble Her me tick Art, and Queen of all Sciences ! how hafely and unworthily art thou cafi 
 down, trod wider foot by flinking Swine, and contemned by ignorant proud Fools ! Neverthelejs 
 
 1 doubt not but that this little Book of mine will open the Eyes of many blinded with Ignorance 
 and diretl many Readers unto the path of Verity ; m my Treatife lately puhlijhed, intituled^ 
 Of the Salt of Philofophers, hath already been the Authour of much good to many. For mure 
 than one of many, who have flighted Chymifiry , -having perufed that Enchiridion, according 
 to my Information, have again fallen in love with Chymiflrv, fet about the Work ( renewing their 
 omitted labour ) and prepared the Salt of Philofophers , gave good proofs thereof^ and having 
 tsr ought in it for certain Days, at length gloried of their fucceffes in Iranfmutatton of Metals. 
 Which Stone noiwithjlanding is not to be compared with that which is made of Wine or Corn ; hut 
 in comparifon of that is to he reputed as a Clod of Earth to a mo(t heautifull Pearl. 
 
 Wherefore as I before faid, and always fh all fay, I believe that a Medicine and Tincture more 
 fublime than the fixed and red Mercury of Wine, hath never been known by Philofophers. In the 
 mean while, let every other Man believe as he lifieth, it fufficeth me that I have written the 
 Truth, and refufed to carry hence with me into the Khgdom of Darknefs the great ejl Secret of 
 the whole World. But the Reafons why I here over-ha(lily break off the Thread of my difcourfe 
 begun, and in no- wife d if cover the Method hy ivhich the Burning Spirit may be prepared, and the 
 Mercury latent therein he Separated from the fame , and reduced into a fixed TinSlure , are 
 weighty and con fider able. For the whole Work, from the beginning to the end., is fo very vile 
 and eafte to he performed, as every Cory don or rude Shepherd (^ignorant af all Chymical Arts') 
 vbould underfland and imitate that Method of preparing the fame. Wherefore it is befl to defifl 
 from any further explanation. Becaufe, to whomfoever God will give it, he will fo eafily find tt 
 out, a\ the e will be no neceffity of fpeaking one word more than I have already fpoke. BefideSy 
 for fuch inconlideratenefs, I fhould he able to give no jufi Account bejore God, the Judge of the 
 Living and of the Dead, if this mnfl fecret Secret of Secrets fhould as a Grain of Salt he f owed 
 among the ungratefull and unworthy People. But the World is too well known to me already : yet 
 I will openly fay this, viz. that the poor ef I Man, as well as him that is wealthy, may attain to 
 this fupreme M'ork ; becaufe, for preparation of that incomparable Medicine, no chargeable Mate- 
 rials, nor any loyig time are required. 
 
 Truly, unto me are known divers famous particulars, by the help of ivhich, not onely Silver, hut 
 alfo all other Metals are converted into Gold and Silver with great profit , yet are more difficult 
 to be ilaborated than that great Vniverfal Work. Wherefore this alfo, among all other fruitfull 
 Chymical Secrets defervedly doth, and undoubted always will obtain the Priority. 
 
 Mow, Son of Art, candidly accept this my Fatherly Inflru^ion, and Friendly Admonition., and 
 do not at all conpmit any thing to Faithlefs Men, of which thou maifi have occafion to repent after- 
 ward. Accordingly, to all the Difciples of Hermetick Philofophy and Medicine, I wijh the ample 
 B'ejfing of God, here Temporal, and in the life to come Eternal ; heartily praying, that the mojl 
 clear unext'nguifhable Light of God., may perfeflly enlighten them, a; it did me at the firfl: 
 Amen. 
 
 Z z Of 
 
178 
 
 The Seventh Fart of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Hi 
 
 IT) 
 
 Of the Secret Sal-Armoniack. 
 
 "^Ouching this our Secret Sal-Armoniack , I 
 9 Mvc made mention in clivers of my written 
 i^ By-oks ; but the way of Preparing it I have 
 left to be t, ,;;ilged in this place. For after I was af- 
 fured, that'i^^'iy had laboured much to find out its 
 Preparation and Fruitful] u(e in Medicine and Chy- 
 miftry ; I refblved no longer to conceal the Prepara- 
 tion and prr^fitable ufe in Chymiftry, of our Salmt- 
 ack, from the Lovers of our ProfelTion ; but chiefly 
 for the lake of the Sick (to whom it may be a very 
 great comfort and folace ) I chofe rather openly to 
 divulge it, without any privy concealment, in thefe 
 my Writings ; hoping that by the publication of 
 this, I (hall do good to many thoufands of Men, and 
 for a fign of triumphal Joy crown the Head (as with 
 Laurel ) of the vidorious Queen of the Spagyrick 
 Art. 
 
 Firft of all, it is to be obferved, that this Name is 
 impnled upon this Subjedt, becaufe it in many things 
 agrees wirh common SalArmontack. It pleafed us 
 to add the Epithet of Secret , becaufe this Salt is 
 known to very few in the whole World ; and they 
 who acquired it to themfelves, neither publifhed it, 
 nor e.vpoied the fame to common ufe, but kept it to 
 themlelves as a great Secret ; and as often as they 
 made mention of that Salt in their Writings, they 
 named it their Salmlack ; for proof of which, if need 
 were, I could produce many Examples. 
 
 Ccfmopulita, being about to <peak of this our Sal- 
 miack, crves out thus : O our Sea .' O our Sal-Armo- 
 niack .' His Sea was Oil of Vitriol, and his Salmiack 
 the Volatile Spirit of Urine. When thefe two are 
 joyned together, they give forth from themfelves our 
 Secret Salmiack ; by the help of which, fo many won- 
 derfull Works are performed in Medicine and Chy- 
 miftry, as you (hall here following hear. 
 
 Paraceljfis and Helmcat called this Salt, Alcahe(t ; 
 being that, of which the former writ little, but the 
 latter very many things ; and yet both kept the fame 
 (ecrct to themfelves onely, infomuch as Helmont dis- 
 covered it not, even to his own Son ; and other 
 Men, his intimates, requiring it of him, he put off, 
 faying, h is an Ens very difficult to be ac(jiiired : and 
 thus he freed himfelf from the importunate Inrrea- 
 ties of many. And how little others could get out 
 of him, is manifcft by the following Saying, which 
 is thought to be his. Jhe Licjuor Alcaheft is made of 
 Blood and Urine. It is credible that he might make 
 fuch an Alcahefi of thole Subjefts. But the reafon 
 why that kind of Alcaheft may be prepared of Blood 
 and Urine, as well as of Oil of Vitriol and Spirit ot 
 Urine, is this : There is a great affinity and fimili- 
 tude between the Macrocofin and Microcofm, 'viz,. 
 Man ; infomuch as whatfoever may be had in the 
 Alacrocofm, may alfo be found in the lefler World 
 Man. For as in the great World an Univerfal Aci 
 dity, viz.. Vitriol, commonly is generated in Subter- 
 ranean Fibres, Beu> or Veins, and is there kept in 
 perpecual Digeftion by the Central F'ire of the Earth, 
 and at length ripened into Mineral and Metallick 
 Bodies ; fb alfn, in the Body of every Man, the 
 .Blood of the Veins (as an Univerfal Microcofmick 
 Acidity) is generated, and by long Digeftion of the 
 central Fire of the Heart augmented , meliorated, 
 and at length tranfmuted into Flefh, Skin, and Bones 
 Therefore, in the Blood of Men or Animals you may 
 
 find an Acidity, like to that which is found in the 
 great World : Hence it may be faid, that our Secret 
 Salmiack may as well be prepared of the Biood and 
 Urine of Animals, as of Oil of Vitriol and Spirit of 
 Urine. Neverthelefs, I fay there is a vaft difference 
 between thefe two ; for Oil of Vitriol may be amen- 
 ded and rendred more fiibtile by Reiftification, which 
 Subtiliation cannot be effected with the Vitriolate 
 Acidity of the Blood of Animals. Therefore we defer- 
 vedly give the Priority to this redified Oil of Vitriol, 
 as being that, which in every Chymical Labour is 
 found far more efficacious than that of Blood. For 
 this caufe leaving that Blood, let us fet about tha 
 Preparation of our Secret Salmiack, with cleanfed 
 Oil ot Vitriol and Spirit of Urine fubtily redified. 
 
 The way of making our Secret Sal-Armoniack. 
 
 REape of Oil of Vitriol excellently well defleg- 
 mated and redified, one pound ; upon which 
 Oil of Vitriol, leifurely pour on fo much highly rec- 
 tified Spirit of Urine, as untill there is no more adi- 
 on each upon other, but they be mortified and flill. 
 In that Conjundion, from two Contraries, arileth 
 a middle Salt. This Operation being rightly per- 
 formed, you will find a fharp penetrating Liquor, in 
 which is a power of carrying upwards with itfelfthe 
 pureft Eflences from Animals, Vegetables, and Me- 
 tals : which is what no other Entity in Nature is 
 able to perform, as we purpofe to fhew. There- 
 fore if any one, defirous to make of this Salt 
 Liquor a dry Salmiack, do in gentle heat of Balnea 
 abftrad the unfavoury Water thence, in the bottom 
 will remain a fair white Salt, which is our Secret 
 Sal-Armoniack ; by the benefit of which wonderous 
 Works, may be performed in Medicine and Chymi- 
 ftry, as hereafter you fhall hear. Now follows 
 
 The Ufe of our Salmiack, hj the help of which, from 
 Vegetables may be extratled very efficacious ^ and 
 indeed incomparable Ejjences. 
 
 HO W or which way the Ancient and Modern 
 Spagyrijh prepared their Ellences of Vegetables, 
 is now long fince well known throughout the World, 
 viz,, by Spirit of Wine. VVhich way of Extrading is 
 indeed of it felf a Work very chargeable ; yet Spirit 
 of Wine readily extraoT;s the Ellences of Vegetables 
 and Animals, leaving the unprofitable Pieces behind. 
 Alio, it is not unknown to us, that Spirit of Wine in 
 cxtradion fo notably changeth the Virtues of things 
 extradcd by it, as the Extrad is of lefs force than 
 ihe Simple whence it was made, 'and that moft ma- 
 nifeftly in Catharttcks or Purging Simples, infomuch 
 as commonly the Dofe of the Extract muft be greater 
 than of the Simple it felf The reafon is, becaufe all 
 Purgers acquire the greateft part of their Cathartick 
 faculty from that crude and immature >ubflance, 
 w;th which they oppofe the Stomach, and therefore 
 are not entertained by it, but jrefently expelled, 
 during which Expulfion the Excrements alfo are call 
 our. Therefore the ftronger Crudity is predominant 
 in Purging things, the ir^ore impetuoufly do they 
 move the Stomach ; and the more firongly the Sto- 
 mach cafts out and expells that, fo much the more 
 vehemently alfo are the noxious Humours of the 
 Body caft up. If a Cathartick be too crude, rough 
 
 and 
 
Part IL 
 
 the Spagyrital ?harmacopwa. 
 
 119 
 
 anJ immature, the Stomach rejeds it much more 
 
 ftroiigly , becaufc the whole of Nature is thereby 
 
 difturbed, and with all its might endeavours wholly 
 
 ro txpell fuch a rude i^ueft. In which violent ex- 
 
 pulfion, the Radical Humours are expelled out of 
 
 the Body, together with the Excrements, that the 
 
 Body may be totally freed and disburthened of the 
 
 pernicious filth of them. 
 
 The Stomach fo abhors (bme Vegetables, and is 
 
 ih impatient of giving them any time to abide there, 
 that they may by little and little be expelled down- 
 ward by Seidge, as it (enraged with fo great naufe- 
 ating and loathing J violently cafts them up. In 
 which Excretion a tenacious vifcous Choler, always 
 hurtfull to the Stomach, is expelled, which would, 
 ditficulfly other wife be caft out by gentle Purgati- 
 ons , as is feen in Afarabacca and Hellebore. For as 
 often as thev are taken by a fick Man, without any 
 previous Preparation, they continually excite Vomi 
 miting ; but if extra(n:ed with Spirit of Wine, they 
 vomit not, but onely work downward. 
 
 By all which it appears, that Spirit of Wine, m 
 extraifting the Elfences of Vegetables ( by its natural 
 power ) lo notably changeth the Virtues of Herbs, 
 as it is not fit to be ufed for all kinds of Exrracl ions ; 
 and that by reafon of its Nature varying or altering 
 the property of things. Nor can you, in fome Dif 
 eafes, fafely ufe thole Extrads which are made by 
 Spirit of Wine, becaule Extrads are heightncd in 
 their Heat by the Spirit of Wine , and therefore 
 Ihould be avoided in acute or burning Dileafes. On 
 the contrary, our Adenjhuum, viz. our Secret Sal- 
 Armumack, in Extradion, alters not the Virtues of 
 Species for which it is ufed, but extrads from them i— v~. 
 
 onely what is moft pure, and carries over with it j fron. I took of that mixture 8 Locones, 4 Ounce?, 
 by Alembeck, a certain moft fweer ElTence, which which I put into a Phial, and upon the fame poured 
 
 in the generation of them. But we come now to' 
 the Protels, ( omitting their beginning , of which 
 we fpake before ) which runs thus. 
 
 " Recipe of Myrrh, Epatick Allocs, and SatiTon, 
 " of each one Part, which digeft together in a Pelli- 
 " can placed in Sand, for two Months with gentle 
 " heat. Then by Alembeck feparate the Oil from 
 " the Ftcces without Aduftion. This Oil digeff to- 
 " gcthc-r with an equal Weight of the Circulate for 
 " one Month, afterward keep it. 
 
 " In this are all the natural Vertues of a Balfam, 
 " and a greater confervative Vertue for thofe that 
 
 are aged, than is lawfull for a man to utter : 
 " becaute from it proceeds not one Age onely, but 
 •' 4, 7 or 10, &c. \t is (carcely pofllble to exprefs the 
 " Vertues and Natures of it : But as we iudge, 
 " enough is dilcovered by us already,which we think 
 " needs no, further Interpretation.' 
 
 Here Paraceljus defcribes his Elixir in words fb 
 obfcure, and likely to caufe Errour, as no man un- 
 til! this day could ever prepare any thing that was 
 excellent, according to the tenour of his Words : 
 Helmotit among others complaining, that he concea- 
 led the ufe of the Alcahefl in defcribing the manner 
 of that Preparation, For whofbever uferh that, in 
 fuch a Preparation, he obtains a .Medicineoffo great 
 vertue, as it is able to do whatfcever Puracelfusdi- 
 fcribes to his Elixir Propnetatis. 
 
 But if any man be not fatisfied in what is here 
 publiihed by me, let him confijit Helrrmn difcourfing 
 thereof more at large. 
 
 Now behold here prefented to thee my Procefs 
 for preparing a Medicine of thefe three Species re- 
 duced to Powder, I'lz,. of Myrrh, Alloes and Saf- 
 
 Spirit of Wine can in no wile perform. Therefore 
 we defervedly give Priority to our Liquor Alcaheji 
 in extrading the ElTences of Vegetables and Animals. 
 Yet we would by no means labour to bring Spirit of 
 Wine into contempt, fince it, in fbme fubjeds, fb 
 excellently e.xercifeth its power, as it gives place to 
 no other thing. But the Water of our Secret Sal 
 Armcniack perfeds its Extradion in a far differing 
 manner ; becaufe, by the help of Art, that conjund 
 of two (harp penetrating Entities ( viz. Acid Oil of 
 Vitriol, and Alcalijiite spirit of Urine ) is reduced into 
 one temperate middle Salt, which Salt is almoft of 
 the fanx difpofition as common Sahniack , except 
 that in all its Operations it is found to be more fharp, 
 more penetrating and more efficacious than it. 
 
 Now let us come to the matter it felf, that wc 
 may fee of how great ufe our Alcalifate yitriJ, or 
 Vitriolate Alc.ili, is for preparmg fome famous Me 
 dicine. I fuppofe it will be worth my while, if I 
 firfl of all begin with that Medicine which Paracdjns 
 taught to be made of Aloes, Mjrrh, and Saff'ron, and 
 is by venerable Antiquity, and by all Authours 
 of long life highly commended , and named Elixir 
 Yroprietatis. And fince Paraceljus in defcribing fo 
 noble a Medicine, ufed few words, but enlarged 
 them much in extolling his Elixir Propnetatis, it will 
 not be amifs for us, in this place, to tranfcribe his 
 own Words following, thus : 
 
 " So alfo Nature llieweth us an Elixir, is that 
 " which of Natural things may be made comp'eatly 
 " perfed in its proper Ellencc. Such is the Elixir of 
 " Myrrh, Saffron , and yellow Epatick- Aloes. But 
 
 " whence they have this power, we have (hewed 
 
 one Pound and half of our good Alcaheflick Liquor, 
 thefe I fet into a warm Bath to be digeffed for two 
 or three Days. During this digeftion our fliarp Li- 
 quor dilfolved thefe Species, and vtry well united it 
 felf to them. This being done, I poured the whole 
 mixture out of the Phial into a low Cucurbit of 
 Glafs, and well luted the Head to the Receiver, and 
 by gentle heat of Bahen caufed whatfbcver would 
 afcend, to be gathered apart in feveral Recipients 
 
 I. A white penetrating Aromatick Spirit, ofamofl 
 fragrant Odour according to Helmom's words. 
 
 a. A yellow and red Spirit, and both indeed 
 very efficacious. Yet each of thcle fhould be recei- 
 ved apart. 
 
 ;. Laftly toward the end ( after all the moifture 
 is afcended, and the Fire is a little fbmewhat encrea- 
 fcd ) a ftrong fcented red cleaginous alkalifate Li- 
 quor ; which is fuch as ferves initead of a Balfam, 
 moft e.xcellent, prcfently helping or very falutary in 
 all green Wounds and hftulous Lllcers. The fubtile 
 Spirit fliould be adminiftred inwardly, for comfort- 
 ing or fuppling the Bcdy with all its internal Mem- 
 bers, and for preferving the fame magiftrally from 
 all vitious afFeds. Such a moft prefenr Remedy is 
 earneftly defired, by tlie aged and weak. The In- 
 gredients are of a Balfamick Difpofition, and the 
 preparation of them is artificial and fubtil, \o as a 
 famous Medicine cannot choofe bur be made of them. 
 For our Salmtack is of fijch a Nature, as by it all 
 Vertues of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals are ex- 
 alted, amplified and meliorated, and that by reafon 
 of the Exaltation by it interred on the Subjeds in 
 elaborating ; as may more exadly be learned, wheri 
 any one goes about to prepare the fame, and fhall 
 
 as 
 
i8o 
 
 The Seventh Fart of 
 
 Part IT 
 
 as it were with his hand, palpably touch the vertue, 
 and dilcern the verity thereof. Therefore here is 
 inllituted a Procefs of preparing Satfron, Aloes and 
 Mvrrh, by which you may know how to work 
 with other Vegetable and Animal Subjeds, Co as we 
 have no necelTlty of prefcnbing a peculiar Procels 
 for every Medicine. Here onely it is to be noted, 
 that an accurate Regard is to be had of weight and 
 meafure in mixing the Subjeds with the Liquor Al- 
 caheft. For if lefs of the Armoniack Liquor than 
 is fit be added to a dry matter, all the Liquor fo 
 includes it (blf in the dry matter, as little of the Spi- 
 rit can afcend in diftilling. But if more of the Li- 
 quor be poured on than is fit, the afcending Spirit 
 will not be efficacious enough, becaufe the vertue of 
 that Subjed dilfufeth it (elt too largely into that a- 
 boundance of Spirit. Wherefore in all things mea- 
 fiire and weight arc to be obferved. Dry Species, 
 fuch are Herbs, Roots, Seeds and Flowers, drink up 
 much Water ; but Woods not fo much. Stones and 
 their like, much lefs than they. Therefore, if any 
 one, in labours of this kind would do fomething to 
 pur'pofe, he had need to be wary, that he do neither 
 too much, nor too little, but in all things oblerve a 
 mean : fo doing, he (hall fuffer no lofs, nor ever la- 
 bour in vain. For it is almoft impolTible to defcribe 
 all Arcdmimi fo evidently, as every Clown may com- 
 prehend the fame without any fearch. 
 
 I have here laid Foundations with reafbn fufficient, 
 every one may build, or not build upon them as he 
 pleafeth. Alfo he may read Relmont, who did in- 
 deed of this matter write largely enough, yet he is 
 not always to bo underftood according to the Let- 
 ter ; for in moft places of his Books, he concealed his 
 manual Operations, efpecially in his Book of the 
 Trdeof Life, where he treats of the Cedar Wood. 
 The preparation of the lame requires no tedious 
 long fpacc of time, but it may be performed in a 
 fevv hours Indeed it would be the part of good 
 Phyficianstointnduce this Preparatidn of more no- 
 ble Medicines into their Apothecaries {hops, and 
 thence to exclude (ome part of their corrupted Reme- 
 dies. For this being done, fo many men would not 
 be bafely ncg'efted, nor untimely hurried out of this 
 Life, by the u(e of unprofitable Medicaments, as too 
 too often now are 
 
 It is not enough for you to have a Name from 
 Galen, and in the mean while not at all tread the 
 Footfteps of Gak'n's vertues. Gale7t was an honefi: 
 Heathen, and whatfoever he had gathered with 
 much and long ftudy, he left to us accurately writ- 
 ten before his Death. 
 
 Flow experienced a man in Medicine Hippocrates 
 was, his Writings do clearly fhew. 
 
 Alfo that Avicen was an induflrious Phyfician, by 
 his remaining Litterary Monuments, is very mani 
 feft, and efpecially by that Epiftle, which lie writ to 
 his Son Aboali ; for in that he commands him firft 
 to furnifh himfclf with fixty Pound of moft pure 
 Mercurial Water ( whence he (hould make the uni- 
 verftl Medicine ) before he preliimed to proceed to 
 Coagulation of the Stone. 
 
 Tliefe indeed were men adorned with high Expe- 
 rience and a good Confcience, who gloried not in^ 
 the bare Name of Chief Phyficians, but proved 
 themlelves fuch indeed, fhew.ng, that they were 
 not idle Adorers of the Goddels Vc.ctta, but men 
 moft laborious, as becomes ever}' confcientious Phy 
 fician to be. 
 Touching that Mercurial Water, which A'vicen 
 
 commended fo much to his Son, for making ( of it ) 
 the Univerlal Medicine, we fliall here following 
 ( Jehovah aflifting ) (omewhat more largely (peak, 
 wci. how ir, by our Suhmack may be extracTied from 
 Vletals, and then be coagulated into an Univer(al 
 Medicine. 
 
 Indeed, particular Medicaments are not to be . 
 co.'uemned but to be efteemed as good things, to 
 them that make a good u(c of them. Bur Univer- 
 fals arc fought by Phyficians, being fuch, as by 
 which they can get more Honour and Riches, than 
 by Particulars, becaufe they are known even to 
 every old Woman. Llniverfals are not to be ufed 
 after the manner of Particulars, particularly toferve 
 for this or that Member of the Body, or to refift and 
 heal this or that Difeafe onely: but they feck out 
 every Chac'hexy f which lies privily difperfed through 
 all parts of the Body, impairing Health; and having 
 fought it our, caft it forth of the Body, as well vifi- 
 fibly as invifibly through all Emundtoi ics, as (hall 
 feem good to Nature, and will be moft conducenc 
 to health. Llniverfals confume occult Dii'eafes hid- 
 den in the Body of man, as Fire confumes Wood. 
 Alio Llniverfals tinge every vitious Habit of the Bo- 
 dy ( which Qtherwife can be expelled by no parti- 
 cular Medicine) and tranfinute it into a better State, 
 fo as the Evil of the Diftemper is inverted and con- 
 verted into good, in the place where it is hofplted, 
 no further expulfion being required. Of like Llni- 
 verfals, we will afterwards God giving leave ) 
 fpeak more at large. Now the time admonifheth us 
 to return to owx Sal Armoniack, to contcm plate whac 
 farther fruit of Utility it is able to etfed in Medicine. 
 
 Helmont, in his Treatife of the Stone makes men- 
 tion of a certain Medicine, which by his Alcaheft he 
 prepared of Payacelfta his Ludtis, which would re- 
 folve the Stone in the B'adder, and expel ir in four- 
 teen Days. FaracelJHi afcribes to his Ludiis wonder- 
 full Vertues, which it exercifeth in breaking and ex- 
 pelling the Stone of the Reins and Bladder In 
 which Hdmunt polits his Foundation, fhewing where 
 fuch a Liidus may be found, and how by his Alca- 
 heft it may be prepared into a Medicine fb admira- 
 ble, as it becomes the fupream Remedy againft the 
 Stone. 
 
 As touching the Ludm it fclf, Helm'mt faith of ir, 
 that it may be copioufly found in the Scald fhores 
 at Antwerp, and that it for the moft part confifts of 
 a certain volatile Macrocofinick Llrinous Salt: and I 
 making fearch into the fame, have found it juft as 
 he delcribed. Like wife, I aKo, according to his 
 prefcribed Rule, endeavoured to make fiich an ex- 
 cellent Medicine, and then found the Liquor of the 
 Ludtis to be fiich as he affirms he himfelf made by 
 his Acaheff, viz,, this way. 
 
 I took one Pound of that Ludus beaten to Powder, 
 and mixed it with one Pound of our Sccrst Salmiack, 
 and thence drew oif the volatile i lumidiry with gentle 
 Fire in a coated Retort ; and then augmenting the 
 Pire until the Retort was very hot all over. When 
 all was cold, I found the Lnd:rs with the more fixed 
 part of our Salmiack melted together into a yellow- 
 ifh dark coloured Stone, which (according to his 
 Dodrine) I laid in a moift Cellar to be diiiolved, 
 and that Stone in ^\ hours was reftjlvcd into a 
 greenifh Liquor, and it had a burning Talfe upon 
 the Tongue, yet it is not loathfbme to be taken into 
 the Body, with Wine, Eeer, or other fiiirable Vehi- 
 cles of Water. I my felf alio have given this Liquor 
 ' to fbme troubled with the Stone, who by taking it 
 
 were 
 
Part If. 
 
 the Spagjrical Vharniacopxa. 
 
 J.8i 
 
 were greatly eafed. But that the whole Stone (hould 
 by help of that be rcfo'ved and caft our, in (b fhort 
 a ("pace of time, I have not yet found. Hence here 
 it leems to me, that Helmont ( as did Paracelfnt in 
 the Preparation of his EHxir Friprier<Jiis, and the in- 
 credible Verruc thereof ' hath extolled his Remedies 
 with a too much elated Style. They are allbredly 
 admirable Medicament?, but that they are able to 
 elicd (b much ( in all m,en without diftindion ' as 
 are afcriLed to them, I cannot alfentingly witnefs, 
 although 1 was at great e.xpences, and not a little 
 turmoiled about them, yet in the mean while I found 
 out many excellent things, the Declaration of all 
 which would be to.i tedious to be here inferred. But 
 I muft needs, in this place, infert fome few of thole 
 many things I then found out. 
 
 If any one apply to the Seeds or Roots of thofe 
 Herbs, which are commonly wont tobeadminif^red, 
 ff)r expelling Uiine and the Stone, ( the Seeds or 
 Roots being tirlt reduced to Powder ) a little of our 
 Salniiacal Water, and digcf^ it in gentle heat of Bal- 
 neo for 14 hours, and afterward diltil it, a mofl 
 efficacious Spirit will afccnd ; which Spirit I have 
 found to be more excellent in e.xpelling the Stone, 
 than ihe Ludm. In like manner thofe infCwts, which 
 ftrongly provoke Urine and the Stone, I have alfo 
 digeited and dilVilled with our Liquor of Sal Armo- 
 mack, and got a Spirit more ftrongly expelling Urine, 
 than any Spirit prepared of Herbs. Wherefore this 
 is to be warily uled, and fuch forcibly expelling things 
 well obferved, among which more forcible than all 
 other are the fat evilly flnelling black Worms oi Mnj, 
 and Cantharides. 
 
 After the fame manner, as we have taught to be 
 here done, may alfb be inftituted an Operation for 
 cxtraifting ( by diflil'ation) from all Vegetable and 
 Animal Subjefts their mofl potent Vertues and purefl 
 Elfences, by our Vitriolate Alcalick Water; 'viz,. 
 from Aromaticks, egregious Cordials ; from Woods 
 and Roots of Sudorifick Herbs, famous Diaphore- 
 ticks; from foporiferous Simples, admirable Ano- 
 dines; from purging things moft excellent Cathar- 
 ticks, &c. But there is no realon 1 fhould longer 
 tnfift on thefe things of lefs value, fince every skiifull 
 man can prepare himfelf fuch medicinal Spirits as he 
 hath need of Here he cannot eafily commit error, 
 fince for all Herbs, Seed<;, Roots, Flowers, and 
 Woods, there is but one onely way of preparing 
 them into moft efficacious Ellences, by our vitriolate 
 Alcalv. But a better way than any other, yet to 
 be difcovered, how by our Urinous Liquor, yet more 
 efficacious Ellences may be extracted from Vegetables 
 and Animals, is this : 
 
 We are not- ignorant, that Spirit of Wincj which 
 is for the molt part generally ufcd for Extraction of 
 Vegetab'es, doth nt)t (ufficicntly extract them, nor 
 carrv upwards with it felf what is extracted ; but per 
 fe one.v afcends, and leaves the Extrasfl in the Bot- 
 tom of the Veliel. On the contrary, cur vitriolate 
 Spirit of Urine much more fharp than Spirit of 
 Wine) d )th not onely powerfully invade Vegera 
 bles, and attra:!: to it lelf their EflTences, but alfb in 
 diftillation carries them up with it felf, which is im 
 polFible for Spirit of Wine to do. For although the 
 Spirit of Urine (according to • the external Face) 
 dorh as it were mqrtifie the corrofive Oil of Vitriol, 
 and change it into a vo'atile Salt, and the Oil of 
 Vitriol coagulates the fubtile Spirit of Urine into a 
 volatile Salt, inlbmuch as of two unlike Entities is 
 made a middle Salt; yet both thole unlike parts are 
 
 not wholly changed in their former Nature Fc^*^ 
 the Acidity of Vitriol remains yet acid, and the L"^\'-' 
 noufnefs of the Urine urinous ; and both alfb b"'.'he 
 help of Art may again be feparated each from 'i'tner 
 fo as either of them may perfcdtlv recover its own' 
 priHine qualities, and nothing of 'them be found to 
 beloff. As for example, fuppofe 
 
 it be required, that I fhould recov^ mv Spirit 
 of ^ Urine, as pure and fubtile as it irE'wh'en pou- 
 red on the Oil of Vitriol .- Then I add to our SJ- 
 mmck (according to juft meafure and weight) 
 onely fo much L,x,viu,» as of the Acidity is morti- 
 fied, and the Sj)irit of Urine afcends fubtillv pure 
 again, and full as good as it was before its conjunc- 
 tion with the Oil of Vitriol. But the Oil of Vitriol 
 isatered, and by the Salt of Tartar reduced into a 
 midd.e Salt, which alfb wants not its Fruit of Utility 
 m Medicine and Chymiftry. If you would from 
 this mixture recover our Acidity with the Spirit of 
 Urine, add to our Salrr^tack a Subjed eafily diliblva- 
 blc ; mix and give a gentle Fire, fbr then the Acidi- 
 ty fets upon that Subjedl eaf]e to be diflolvcd, and 
 dilfolves the fiime, and makes abundance of its con- 
 comitant Spirit of Urine roafcend, which in its aicenc 
 takes up with it k'( the purefl EfTence of the Sub- 
 ject added, loofed by the Acidity in Solution, and 
 thenceforth may be ufed for Medicine and Chvmi- 
 ftry, accoiding as the Subject was. For Example, 
 If 1 add red Corals beaten to Powder to my Alca- 
 hefhck Liquor, the /\cidi.ty corrodes thofe Corals 
 without any delay, and lets go the Spirit of Urine 
 which brings over the helm with it fcJ the Ellence 
 ff Corals. But the Acidir.v, when you pleafe may 
 by diflillation be feparated from the Corals If to 
 our Liquor be added Pearls, the Spirit carries the 
 vert ue of them upward with it felf And if you add 
 btones Minerals and Metals, the Spirit of Urine doth 
 l.kewifecarry upw.th it felf the Ellences of them, 
 but the Acidity remains in the bottom with the 
 btone or Metal, and may afterward diverfly be a- 
 gain feparated from the Scone or Metal, and applied 
 to this or another ufe. ^^ 
 
 of 
 
 Having already heard how the molt pure EfTences 
 V egetab.es and Animals, by our fecret Sal ^rmo- 
 mack are to be diftilled by afcent, let usnow a'fo fee. 
 how Metals and Minerals may be highly purged by 
 rhe fame,and reduced to their firft matter • which firft 
 matter is jio other than a molt fiibtil Mercurial Wa- 
 ter, in which the pureft part of the Metal is latent 
 in the form of running Mercury, which Mercun 
 IS hf for preparing whatfbever Work you will of it 
 either 5o/ or L««^ particularly, or a true Univerfal 
 linture vaflly tinging. Nature, in the Bowels of 
 the Earth did primordially generate all Metals of 
 fuch a volatile Mercury. For when the Alhums 
 through the Air, feminate their merallick Seed that 
 Seed IS from the Air introduced into the Earth 
 where that, as matter clean or unclean offers it felf 
 produceth Metals either pure or impure. Wherefore 
 Philolbphers rightly determine theRo(K of Metals to 
 be fited in the Air, but their ftem and branches in 
 the Earth. Daiiy experience teacheth us to give 
 credit to this, as often as in digging we come to the 
 deepeft fcituanon of Metals, great Experiments of 
 this matter difcover themJclves to us, biit becaufe 
 touching this enough hath been faid already we 
 forbear to proceed further in fuch a Difcourfe Here 
 enough IS faid, namely, that we know the Original 
 and beginning of all Metals to be no other than an 
 Airy fubtile Spirit, in which are reconded the Sul^ 
 
l82 
 
 Tbe Seventh Part of 
 
 Van IL 
 
 ^^hur and A/er<:«7 of Metals. * Therefore, fince here 
 
 "W^*- purpofe is to give fo great Information to every 
 
 md'^-'inskilfull man, and as it were to put that in 
 
 his fi?^ds, which may be done by the help of our 
 
 fecret Salmiack, I think not amifs openly to dilco 
 
 ver certain Examples of ProcelTes, evincing the 
 
 power of '•he fame. Wherefore I here offer a Pol- 
 
 fible '^'. 
 nixii 
 
 Way of preparing a fubtih Mercurial fVater (fromwhiclj 
 a running Mercury, called by A«cient Ihilojofhen, 
 the Mercury of Philofophers, may by the help of Art he 
 ripened into a mofi potent TtnBure ) cut of all MetaL 
 by the benefit of cur fecret Sal Armoniack. 
 
 LET the Searcher of Art know, that the Prepa 
 ration of the Mercury of Metals and Minerals, is 
 of a diverfe kind. 
 
 But generally, a Mercurial Water may be prepa 
 red of all Metals, yet of one more eafily, than of 
 another. 
 
 Recipe the filings orrafpings of a Metal, as Mars, 
 Jupiter oT f^em/s, one Pound, with which mix half a 
 pound of our dry Salmiack. If thefe be well mixed 
 and by Retort diftilled, the metal will be corroded 
 by the Acidity, and the Mercury thereof be freed 
 from its bonds, or feparated by Diftillation, becaufe 
 the Spirit of Urine carries that up with it felf invifi 
 bly ; but when the Spirit is extrafted from it, it be 
 comes vifible, as alterward (hall be taught. 
 
 If you pulverife the Remanency or Relidue of the 
 Metal, and boil it with Water, you will have the 
 Vitriol of that Metal you ufed, -lvz, of vV/^n green, 
 of Ff WW blew, oi 'Jupiter, Saturn and Luna, white, 
 of Sol yellow. The caufe of fuch Vitriol is this : 
 fince the Acidity of our Salmiack adheres to the Me- 
 tal , it in fome Yort dilToIves that, and in fuch wife 
 prepares it, as by the help of common Water, the 
 fame may eafily be difTolved. 
 
 Note: If the Metal ( which (hall remain in the 
 bottom of the Veliel, after the Vitriol is extracted 
 from the fame by the help of Water ) be mi.xed with 
 frefh Salmiack, that will again be conducible, but 
 not yield you fo much Mercury as you got the firft 
 time. And if you make the fame trial a third time, 
 a little Mercury will afcend, but not fo much as did 
 the fecond time. 
 
 Which cropping of golden Branches from the 
 fhaded Tree Virgd excellently difcovered when he 
 fd'id : One being pulled off, another fucceeds, if the 
 Fates call thee, otherwife by no ftrength, nor any 
 Iron, canft thou pull off that Branch Of which 
 cropped or pulled off Branches, the hrfl is greateff , 
 and moft rich with Gold ; the fecond is lefs and 
 more poor ; the third much lefs and moft poor. 
 Therefore it will be no profit to you to pluck off 
 more than one Branch, but it is better in proceeding 
 further, always to take new matter. 
 
 Out of that Vitriol in another certain manner. 
 Mercury may again be extracted, which AIercuryW\\\ 
 be far moreYioblc than the firft, as fhall be fhewed 
 more at large here following. 
 
 In the mean while, to the Lovers of this moft no- 
 ble Art, I cannot choofe but demonftrate a wonder- 
 full thing, which is this : Whenfoever you fhall 
 pour Spirit of Jupiter ( prepared in the above com- 
 memorated manner, and moft fubtily rectified) up- 
 on the Spirit of Alars, the Mercury s both of the Mars 
 and Jupiter will fUddenly embrace each other, and 
 be connexed in fuch a bond of Love, as leaving the 
 
 Water, they will conjundively fettle to the bottom 
 in the form of very fmall golden Atoms ; which 
 Atoms of Gold, in that moment in which they are 
 formed of bf)th the Mcrcurys, you fhall fee conver- 
 ted into conftant and fi.xed Go'ld. Which I take to 
 be one of the greateft Wonders, whichever came to 
 my hand in ah my Chymical Labours. If I had tried 
 this Experiment but once, I might my felf have 
 doubted the truth of the fame. Indeed I have found 
 out thecaule of this fwift fixation of Mercury ; but I 
 fhould do very inconfiderately to divulge the fame. 
 Faraceljl's writes in his Heaven of Philofbphers, that 
 no melioration of Metals is to be expected, unlcfs 
 they be firft fpiritually mixed. Other Philofbphers 
 likewife fay, Metals are firft to be reduced to their 
 firft matter, that is, into a fubtile Spirit, before they 
 can be nobilitared and bettered : which I know to 
 be confentaneous to verity, according to the Teftimo- 
 ny of the following Example ; which is another 
 wonderfuU Experiment, to be performed ( by the 
 Spirit of Jupiter ) thus. 
 
 Diffolve a little Gold in common Ji^ua Regia, into 
 which Solution pour a little of our mercurial Water, 
 mix it by ftirring or fhaking the VefTel well : then 
 the Mercury of Jupiter in a magnctick way, conti- 
 nually attrads the Gold to it felf from the Acju* 
 Regis, and tingeth the Water with a Blood Red Co- 
 lour, at length the Gold, with the Mercurj of Jupiter 
 conjunctively will be precipitated to the bottom of 
 the Veflel, in the form of a purple Powder : which 
 being edulcorated and reduced with Borax, the grea- 
 teft part of the Mercury vanifheth, but a little of it 
 will remain with the fixed Gold, and render that 
 fhow like and friable. By which wc may fee in 
 how great Love Gold anfwers to Tin. 
 
 Yet this is not the true way of preparing any 
 thing eminent, and to purpofe of both. Therefore, 
 if any one experts a noble produdl from both, he 
 ! muft with gentle Fire fix this purple Gold, that the 
 Mercury of Jupiter may not fume away, but remain 
 with the Gold. 
 
 In both thefe recited Experiments to our fight is 
 expofed fb fwift a Fixation of Mercury, as every 
 man, although but of weak Apprehenfion, may 
 eafily fee, that the Tranfinutation of Metals is truly 
 true, and that the fame ( by the help of the fixed 
 I Mercury of Metals ) may be done by projedion in a 
 moment. For Mercury fixeth Mercury, being joyned 
 in a juft proportion. Therefore if volatile Mercury 
 can do that, how much more will the fame, when 
 fixed perform, being that, which bears about it felf 
 its own Sulphur. 
 
 Athough 1 could as well difcover other ways of 
 'preparing a good Mercurial Water of a Metal, by 
 our fecret Sal Armimtack, yet I conlider, fuch a 
 Libertyof publickly imparting things, would rather 
 be injurious, than profitable ; becaule Pearls would 
 be without diftinftion, caft before every fordid Swine. 
 But more than enough being already publifhed. 
 Time admoniftieth us to defift, efpecially becaufe 
 there is an intire Treatife of the Mercurys of Metals 
 written and publifhed. Yet I muft confcfs, that this 
 Mercury, prepared by the hd^ of om Salmiack, is of 
 another nature and property than the other prepa- 
 red in another manner. There is little e'.fe now re- 
 maining, unlefs, tofliew the way of extracting Mer- 
 cury frsm Minerals, by help of our fecret Sal Armo- 
 niack ; which Mercury is able to effecft as much in 
 Medicine and Alchym)-, as the other extrafted out 
 of Metals. Here follows 
 
 The 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Procefs. 
 
 REcipe of Antimony pulverifed one Pound, of 
 our Salmiack, 5 a Pound, thefe well mixed, 
 diftil by Retort, and our Salmiack will all come otF, 
 and by the Alembick carries with it felf the moft pure 
 Mercury and Sulphur of the Antimony, of a Black 
 Afli Colour, which Sublimate is named the Head of 
 the Crow. For ifyoucaft a little of it into pure 
 Water, the Salrmack will melt, and the Mercury and 
 Sulphur will remain in the Vclfellike a gray Powder, 
 which if you dry, and then touch it, you will find it 
 like to thin light Feathers, whence it acquires to it 
 felf the Name of the Crows Head. Therefore, when 
 you fhall make it hot in a Crucible, it melts into a 
 red Stone, which indeed is nothing conducent to our 
 purpofe. Yet if you would thence make fbmewhat 
 that is excellent, you muft observe fuch a Procels as 
 this, here following. Put your gray fublimate or 
 Crows Head, which did afccnd (being firft reduced 
 to Powder) into a Glafs Body, and upon it pour lb 
 much of my Tartar, as fhall be needfull for morti- 
 fying the Oil of Vitriol, then lute an Head thereon, 
 fitting a Receiver thereto, and fubminifter Fire in 
 Sand, untill all the Humidity (hall afcend. This be- 
 ing done the Acidity remains with the Salt of Tar- 
 tar, and the Spirit of Urine ufcends alone, carrying 
 upwards with it felf the molt pure invifible Mercury 
 cf Antimony, which afterward by the help of Sol 
 or Luna ( as above we taught of Adercury ) becomes 
 fixed and vifible. But a very fmall quantity of A/^r- 
 cury alcends, which doth much difpleafe the unfatia- 
 ble Slaves of ylvarice ; becaufe they rather take de- 
 light in immenfe MafTes of Gold, equal in magni 
 tude to the Head of an Ox. Yet no good man de- 
 fires that, but is content with that little, which God 
 is plcafed to give him. Neverthe.efs, if any one 
 would have a great quantity of that, he may obtain 
 the fame. For the Subjeds, whence it is extradted 
 are preparable for no great charge, being fuch, as 
 enough of them may always be had. From one 
 Pound of this mercurial Water, fcarcely three or 
 four Grains of corporal A^trcury will afcend. For 
 the greateft part of it remains in the bottom with the 
 Sulphur and Sa't, which are fixed apart, as here- 
 after fhall be taught But in that fb little Mercury 
 lies hid in the mercurial Water, other Philofophers 
 alfo knew, unanimoufly teaching, that Avtcen is to 
 be followed, admonifhing ( in a certain Epiftle to 
 his Son Aboah) all that he had need of 60 Pound 
 of moft pure mercurial Water. For if the whole 
 Water were Mircurj, there would not need have 
 been fo much. Philofophers call this not Aquarius, 
 but Atjua Vtta;; becaufe the Aiercury in it is moft 
 fpacioufly diflipated, as afterward (God willing ) 
 fhall be difcourfedmore at large. 
 
 Now returning to our Crows-head, let us fee whe- 
 ther it may be made white, hy a lotion of a fharp 
 Lixivium. If you take the Glafs out of the Sand, 
 after you have once abflradled thence the Mercurial 
 Water, you will find your black Crow turned into 
 a white Swan : for in the Glafs you will find a Snow- 
 like Salt, which if you take out, and put into ano 
 ther round Glafs, or Philofophick Egg, and fet that 
 into a Fixatory Furnace to be fixed , the white Co- 
 ""lour in twenty fours hours wa.xeth yellow, and a 
 
 the Spagyrical ?hnrmncopxa. 
 
 i8g 
 
 little after puts on a Blood-like Colour. "vet it i^ not 
 thenfo well fixed, as that it mav be take, nut but 
 muft be fuffered to ftand for fome time in . ji'ning 
 Coals ; yet with this Caution always, that the Fire 
 be no ftronger, than by which the Red Stone may 
 be iquified, and remain liquid in, like Oil For it 
 will melt as eafily as Wax, and neither the Mercury 
 nor the Sulphur, nor the Salt evaporate ; which is 
 that which afFeds the mind with admiration I have 
 made trial of this in a Glafs with a long neck ftanding 
 out of the heat, where I could fee not fo much as 
 one Grain to afcend ; whence I conclude the fame 
 Operation may be done, and fuch Fixation made in 
 an open Fire in a covered Crucible made of good 
 and fit Earth well burnt. For the Salt of Tartar 
 ""'^^'^. with the Acidity of Vitriol, doth fb embrace 
 the who e Mercury and Sulphur, and as it were hold 
 It concluded in it felf, that the fame is compelled to 
 abide m the Fire, and permit it felf to be ripened 
 1 hus this volatile Salt to our Mercury is the Luting 
 of Sapience, and Seal of Hermes, with which it is fo 
 bound, as it is conftrained to abide in Fire untill 'tis 
 fixed. After it (tiall be fixed, it may be ufed with 
 admirable profit in Medicine and Chvmiftry But 
 you muft rightly make trial, whether it be well fixed 
 or no, thus ; Put an Iron Wvar into the liquified 
 Mafs, and with that take up a fmall quantity for 
 proof. Wafh away the Salt from it, and calt the Red 
 Powder upon a Silver Plate heat red hot : if it fume 
 not, but enters and tingeth the Silver, not with a 
 black, but with a yellow Colour, then the Mercury 
 with ns Sulphur, is fixed. Whofbever hath but once 
 fixed this Stone, hath done a very great and profi- 
 table Work, although he hath fpent many Weeks in 
 preparing the fame. For fo foon as the Mercurial 
 Sulphur oi Antimony fiiall be fixed, fome of it mav 
 prefently be applied to necelfary ufe, and infiead of 
 that as much volanle and immature Mercury added • 
 then the hxed Mercury willingly admits into it felf 
 Its Brother not fi.xed, that together with it felf it ma\r 
 alfo become fi.xed. Therefore as many Months as 
 the firft Fixation required for its perfedion, in fo 
 many Weeks may the fecond be abfolved. Alfo the 
 fecond Fixation being compleated , another part of 
 the Medicine may again be taken out, and other not 
 fixed Mercury again be put in, and fo forwards to 
 infinity, or as long as the Artifl fhall think fit 
 
 Although this fixed Tindureof Antimony be an 
 Univerfal Medicine, healing all curable Difeafes • yet 
 for Metals it is onely a particular Tindure, by'help 
 of which you may indeed convert Silver, bv gradua- 
 ting, and at times, into Cold ; but yet at'one time 
 you cannot tinge the whole Body. For God hath 
 not endowed it with fo great power, yet he hath 
 liberally beftowed that on it which is worth while • 
 inlomuch as we owe as great -praifes to God mofl 
 high for the fame, as they are obliged to render to 
 him, who are partakers of the great Stone of Philo- 
 fophers. 
 
 As we have hitherto taught the way of Pre- 
 paring a particular Tincture for Metals, and an Uni- 
 verfiil Medicine for humane Bodies of defpicable An- 
 timony ; fo alfo may a Tindure be made oi Aunptg. 
 ment , immature Mineral Elecirum, Cmnabarine Sul- 
 phur, and all other fuch like, by the help of our Sz- 
 CTQt Sal- Armoniack. Wherefore, by this one onely 
 Procefs is fufficiently explained, how from othcr'like 
 Subjeds ( where Sulphur and Mercury are conioyn- 
 ed; fuch a Medicine may alfo be prepared. 
 
 Whofo- 
 
iM 
 
 The Seventh Fart of 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Whofbever well underftands this way of fixing 
 Mercuries prefcribed by nie, will find more Secrets 
 than he can ever think of, imagine or feign to him- 
 felf. For fince fuch a Fixation may be performed 
 in open Earthen Veffels, you have not onely this 
 conveniency, that as often as you pleafe you may 
 take out fome of it, and make trial untill you come 
 to a perfect Fixation ; but alio you have this prero- 
 gative, that your Mercury, with its Sulphur, is fixed 
 with a flaming Fire, which always immediately* 
 toucheth our Sulphur and Mercury, and exalts the 
 fame in its own congenited Tindure, which is what 
 a clofe Fire cannot do. Every Fire, by its own na- 
 ture and property, infers a Tindure in Mineral Sub- 
 jeds, efpecially when the Flame can immediately 
 touch the Subjeift neither doled nor open , as above 
 you heard, where we treat of Rubefying the fixed 
 white Sulphur. We difcern the fame in Crucibles 
 made of white Earth, and fet one within another, 
 that the outmoft, which is expofed to the touch of 
 the Flame becomes Red ; but thofe which llood with 
 in it ( being free from the contad of the fame ) re 
 main white. 
 
 Alfo we are not ignorant, that thole who make 
 Tobacco Pipes, ; that they may have them pure y 
 white ) do burn them in a large Pot, that they may 
 not be touched by the Flame, and fo be tinged with 
 Rednefs. Whence it is fufficiently underltood, that 
 even in Fire is a Tincture, by which white Bodies 
 are tinged with Rednefs. Flence I, not without rea- 
 fbn, fay : He is not ill advifed who ripens his Tinc- 
 tures under a certain Covering in open Veliels, be 
 caule they that way are not onely fooner fi.\ed, but 
 alfi) exalted in their Colour ; yet with this Rule al- 
 ways obferved, viz.. That the Tindurcs be always 
 feafed with H^-mcs Seal, or PhiIoff)phically lurroun 
 tied or luted with the Lurmg of Sdpunce. Where note, 
 that the Luting of Sapience, of which I here treat, is 
 not to be ufed'for fixing a 1 Suljcfts, and prelerving 
 them Irom iiight , but it is an emolument and help 
 to thole Subjeds onely, wiiich are as well Sulphure 
 ous as Mercurial, and de'ight i^i the Communion ot 
 Gonftrint^in'j, themfclves by thele Salts, and without 
 departure conftantlv remain vvirh them in Fire, and 
 prelerve them aUo from rlv mg away. That by luch 
 a way, vlx,. by the benefit of Hermes Seal, Mineral 
 Sulphurs may be fixed into Tindures, ancient Philo 
 fbphers clolcly concealed as a principal Arcanum^ 
 and Icarcelv any ot them hath ever made mention of 
 an Artificial Fire, except that very ancient Philofo 
 pher Artcphins, who moft excellently Ipeaks much 
 after this manner : Our Fire djjj'ol'ves all things, pcm 
 trates all thtn<^s, ikfiroys all thmgs, participates of Sul 
 fhur, is eaitat, cciittnual ; yields no jmoak, tmlefs it he 
 exciied, fir Matter it is taken from elfewhere , &c 
 Now accurately mind, whether here is not notified 
 fuch a Fire [as I Ipeak of ] Vontanns in his Epittle 
 Oith, he travelled almoft all the World over, that 
 he might find fome true Philofophcr, of whom b) 
 Converle he might be taught Ibmewhat of the Secret 
 of Secrets : and th.it he met with fome Philolophers, 
 but they were onclv erroneous Vagabonds and great 
 Impoftnrs ; alfo that at length ( after he had erred 
 an hundred times, altho gh he wrought in and with 
 a true \1atter ; he peruled Artephi//.<, and out of that 
 Book le.uiied the :'^ecret Fire ; which if he had not 
 done, he had remained perpetually ignorant. 
 
 From all which it is (utficiently clear, how much 
 it concerns an Artifr to have knowledge of the Secet 
 Ftre, Lilting of Sapiense, or Hermes Seal. Our Fire 
 
 is indeed infignized with three Names, yet it is no 
 other than one Being, -viz. Oil of Vitriol, hy the fixed 
 Sulphur of Tartar, coagulated into the form of a Stone. 
 
 But why I here fo clearly defcribe an Arcanum of 
 lb great Magnificence, and alfo publifli the lame , I 
 hc'.ve (everal weighty Reafbns. Yet, in the mean 
 while, I am not at all folicitous or caretull therea- 
 bout, for fear it fliould become too common, becaule 
 of an hundred Readers that read and perufe the 
 lame, fcarce one of them hating labour will give cre- 
 dit to the Prelcripts thereof ; and Ibme others (who 
 loving labour would credit what is here written) yet 
 perhaps will want the acutencis ot a Philofophick In- 
 geny, by the dexterity of which to inftitute and ah- 
 lolve luch a fixation. Wherefore I rcjoycing in that, 
 do confidently and fecure'y acquiefce, that the Arc 
 will not fo eafily be rendred tami'iar to every Son of 
 the Earth promilcuoufly without diftindion ; but 
 Art will ftill be and remain Art. Some years ago I 
 did demonlfrate to the light of Ibme of my intimate 
 Friends the way qf Preparing the Mercury of Anti- 
 mony, and commended to them the Fixation of the 
 fame by our Secret Fire ; but they unto this very day 
 have never let their hand to the Work to elaborate 
 if ; und that perhaps becaule it feemed to them to 
 be too vile a thing, and not luch as was likely ot that 
 it could be prepared, a Medicine of lo great Excel- 
 lency 
 
 Here in this Treatife T have taught the way of 
 Preparing, by the help of Oil of Vitriol, a particular 
 and famous Salmiack, by the benefit of which, from 
 Metals and Minerals may be prepared, not onely an 
 Univerfal Medicine healing all the Dileales of Mor- 
 tals, but alio a particular Tinduie for meliorating 
 imperfed'Metals I have indeed Ipoken many things, 
 but not all as yet ; becaule 1 there had no other 
 intention, but onely to dilcover our Secret Salmiack, 
 If 1 would proceed farther, I could certainly fay, 
 that in the nvft defpicable Urine of Men a moft pre- 
 tious Treafure lye? hid, although the greateft pare 
 of the Poiiellbrs of it know noihing of the lame ; 
 becaule God, by realbn of their Sins, will not im- 
 part this Secret to them. In the Urine of every xMan 
 is latent a certain living Metallick Mercury, which 
 may thence moft eafily be cxtraded by the heip of 
 a certain pure Metal, ick Body, or by the Afliftance 
 of Art be prepared into a Findure, orUniverlal Me- 
 dicine ; according as we above taught, where we 
 
 treated of Mercury. 
 
 Wherefore writing, I write and will write, that 
 no Man in very deed c>.n call himfelf poor, 'becaule 
 God hath conferred on every Man from his firli Na- 
 tivity fo great a Gift, as being brought forth into 
 the Light of this World, he may have lufficient where- 
 with to live, provided he undcrltands, and is able 
 to perform what are to be performed. Philolophers 
 affirm, that Adam and E've brought their Stone with 
 them out oi'Paradije. But to US it is lufficiently mani- 
 teft, that they were caft out naked, without all help 
 and comfort. Therefore you infer they bore luch a 
 Treafure in their Bodies, as is leen by that of Alorte- 
 n.'ifj who being asked by King Calid, In what Sub- 
 j:d that famous St(jne ot Philofophers lay hid .■' An- 
 (Ivered ; In thee, O King, it is hidden. And farther, 
 lo foon as he had prepared the Medicine, he writ a- 
 bout the Velfel.in which it was ; He that carries all 
 things with him, needs not the help of another : Signify- 
 ing^that he needed not the help of any King, becaule 
 he had all things in himlelf. Having done this, he 
 
 returned 
 
 I 
 
Part 11 
 
 the Spagjncal VbarmacopKa. 
 
 \%^ 
 
 reranied to his Hermitage, and there blelfedly palfed 
 tlie relidue of his Life in the ftudy of Temperance, 
 Pra3'er and Fafring, alwaj^s glorifying the Name of 
 God. For if M-'run.'.-s had not known that he had 
 about him an ineftimable Treafure, without doubt 
 he would not have left the King fb fecretly, byt per- 
 haps have waited in hope of iome Magnificent En- 
 tertainment : yet he thirfled not after this, but go- 
 ing away acquiefced in that onely, which contained 
 in himfelf, God had long before conferred on him 
 when he entred this World. It is fufficicnt for me 
 
 of > 
 
 that I have not buried my five Talents ( lent me b\' 
 God ) in the Earth, but have reftored them to my 
 Lord , and have alfo ib improved the fame , as I 
 have gained other five Talents. 
 
 Before I conclude, I am willing to fay this : I 
 have indeed received of God other five Talents alfo, 
 but as yet have not gained five other Talents by the 
 iKurv of them ; and that not becaufe I fear the feve- 
 jity of my Mafters Law againft his idle Servants ; 
 but I fearing Evil from Men, duril not make any 
 Improvement thereof, becaufe I fiilpe:! that thence 
 a great and incurable, abufe would be fpread far and 
 nigh among the great number of vpicked Men. Ne- 
 verthelefs, I now purpolc to proceed in them, and 
 that for certain Caufes ; and ( with the afliltance of 
 God ) as (oon as I can to publilh the Magnalui of 
 the Almighty. Accordingly I hope this will prove 
 a great comfort and prefcnc help to the whole Chri- 
 flian Common-wealth againft the Turk, the heredi- 
 tary Enemy of the Christian Name , [yul. Vrofper. 
 Ge,-m. p. 5.] But the fumme of things to be com- 
 municated, chiefly confifts in that, which certain ar- 
 tificial Inventions difcover to me, by help of which 
 many wonderful) things may be performed ; and (if 
 GodYo pleafe) all the Neds of thole Tyrannical Ha- 
 ^■arens be laid wafte, and fb the Chriftian People be 
 fully and plainly freed from their intollerable fervi 
 tude. For if it fhal! be pleafing and grateful! to the 
 inoft wife God, that fuch noble Inventions, hitherto 
 unknown, may be divulged and put in pradice ; he 
 alone hath power of procuring occafions and means 
 for making them publick : but if it difpleafe his glo- 
 rious Wifedom, in his Name the Art fhall be buried 
 with me, or rather be returned to Him, as to the 
 Fountain of Fountains, from whence it flowed to 
 me. 
 
 In the mean while, I could nor chufe but leave to 
 Pofterity, for a Remembrance of my Benevolence, 
 tbmerhing worth the minding , touching fuch un 
 heard-of, heroick, efficacious Inventions. But thefe 
 are written as in a Parenthefis, and by the way. 
 Proceeding, let us difcourfe a little farther of defpi- 
 cable Urine. 
 
 All Men and Beafls live of the Dungs of Animals ; 
 alfo no Corn, Wine, Apples, &c. would be produ 
 ced, if not dunged with the Dungs of Animals. But 
 fome one may objeft and fay. Wild Herbs, Trees, 
 Shrubs and Reeds are not dunged with the Dungs of 
 Animals, as Vineyards and Corn-fields. 1 anfwer. 
 Thole Plants enjoy and have another Dunging, i-iz. 
 Celeffial or Rain water, by the benefit of which in 
 Autumn and Winter, Branches and Leaves falling off 
 from the Trees, do putrefie, and become Dung ; 
 which kind of Dunging, in the Spring time betakes 
 it felf to the Roots of Trees, that a penetrative Dung- 
 ■ ing and procuration of increafb may there be made, 
 fines the Leaves are to be effeemed the Excrements 
 of Trees, with which they arc refrefhed and renew- 
 
 ed. Why then may not the Excrements 
 ferve for the Renovation of Man alfo > 
 
 No Man can deny, but that the Dungs o'" many 
 Animals have been uled in the Galenical Shops of A- 
 pothecaries, for the Compofition of various Remedies, 
 and are ufed at this very day That in Urine is in- 
 cited a fingular comforting Virtue, they beft of all 
 can witnels, who Shipwrackt in the-t j', have lived 
 for certain days without Meat or DimK, and in the 
 mean while have fuftained their li(e with the ufe of 
 Urine onely. 
 
 Alfo, that Urine is an egregious Prefervativc a- 
 gainft the Peflilence , the Mailers of Hofpitals 
 can witnefs this bv all Men labouring with the 
 Pelf. 
 
 No\v if grofs Urine, with which fb much impurity 
 is iiii.vtjbe of fo great efficacy, what may not its Spirit 
 purified, and its volatile Salt etfefl:, elpecially, if 
 before Diftillation, the famous EUences of Vegetables 
 be artificially added, becaufe flich Virtues of Herbs, 
 Flowers and Seeds, Woods, &c. by the help of the 
 volatile Salt of Urine , are e.xcited through their 
 whole Body, to exercife there their Virtues effica- 
 cioufly. 
 
 Wholcever knows how rightly to prepare, and 
 duely to ule Spirit of Urine, may eafily thence get 
 ample Riches, and reap no lefs profit in Medicine 
 than in the Tranfmutation of Metals. Wherefore I 
 here openly confels, that in this little Treatile I have 
 pofited certain Procelles, which (as to their external 
 face ) feem to be of fmall moment, yet to Men skilled 
 in the Theory and Pradice of them, they will find 
 (6 gainful! a Work , as no Handicrafts man whatfbe- 
 ver can gain fb much by his Craft. So much gain 
 may be hoped for from Urine onely, if rightly and 
 knowingly handled according to the Spagyrick Art. 
 Becaufe every one Man may gain not one, but fe- 
 veral Imperials by that Art : the ProcefTes of which 
 are diverfe, and that by the onely help of defpicable 
 Urine Hence are thofe frequent complaints of An- 
 cient Philolophers, that their Matter of the Stone is 
 caft away by Fools among Dung trod under foot and 
 contemned, which notwithflanding ought to be ho- 
 noured by every Man. I fay, by Every Man, be- 
 caufe from it the Philofopher extrads his Univerfal 
 Medicine, and the Phyfician his particular Reme- 
 dies. For the Chymift tranfinutes vile Metals into 
 better, and fo confequently every Mechanick Ope- 
 lator may exped fome Fruit from the fame Where- 
 fore Urine is not to be defpifed, but to be taken into 
 ufe ; infomuch , as every drop of it that is fpilt 
 fhould be bewailed. Yet I proteft I would not dif^ 
 cover this, but for the lake of thofe that have Ears 
 ro hear ; becaufe other Men naturally deaf to fuch 
 things, can reap no profit by this my Doftrine , be- 
 caufe Hippocraies forbids to give Medicine to thofe 
 that are paff hope. 
 
 Whatlbever are here related touching Urine, may 
 be faid of the black fhining Soot of Chimnies, of the 
 Hairs and Horns of Animals, of Egg-fhells, and the 
 like, and efpecially of the Faeces of Wine, which ar6 
 caft away after the Spirit is extracted. 
 
 But perhaps fome Alan may here fay. Our Secret 
 Sal-Armbniack is too coftly to be ufed for the prefcri- 
 bed Operation. To him I anfwer. No Man can 
 gain fbmething for nothing. But whofoever is defi- 
 rous to reap fome Eminent Benefit, he muft firft low 
 fome pretious thing. 
 
 Indeed I confefs, one pound of our Salmiack (if a 
 Man onely follow the literal Senfe, or bare letter of 
 
 B b b tlK> 
 
i8^ 
 
 The Seventh Tart of 
 
 Part IL 
 
 \K 
 
 ..^ Defcription ) will coft feveral Imperials, becaufe 
 forrne pound of Oil of Vitriol prepared, four or fix 
 pounCTT-^f Spirit of Urine are required for coagulaung 
 the Oir.vith the fame, which notwithftanding, in 
 refpeft of tho(e famous things which are acquired by 
 the benefit of it, it is not to be judged coftly. If a 
 Man cannot prepare his Spirit of Urine, and Oil of 
 Vitriol himfc'*' but muft buy them of another, he 
 then indeed i.'.'"] complain of Dearncfs. But to one 
 perfe(flly well skilled, the Sal-JrmcniackwiW coft him 
 little more than his manual Labour, infomuch as no 
 Man haih any juft caufe to complain of charges. 
 
 If the divine Grace (hall be pleafed to prorogue 
 my Life a little longer, I purpofe to publifh greater 
 Arcamims. Therefore let God do as he pleafeth, 
 his Will is always beft, and better than the belt 
 Wills of all Men. Amen. 
 
 A Corollary. 
 
 Well-meaning Reader, 
 
 IN thts [mall Treat'tfe I have in few -words revealed 
 great Secrets, fuch as were known to no Man before 
 me, except Paracelfus, who very briefly ffeaks of the 
 chief of them. And Heimont, touching the great Vir- 
 tues of that, hath writ many things. And fince my 
 Sal-Armoniack performs the fame in all Operations , 
 which Heimont nfcrtbes to his Alcaheft , I am able to 
 afcribe fomewhat more to my Sal-Armoniack, than he 
 afcribed to his Alcaheft, yea, many things, which may 
 profitably be performed by the benefit thereof, among 
 which the chief is this, viz. that by help of tt all Metals 
 and Minerals may be reduced to their firjt Matter, that 
 is, into a Spiritual Mercury, which is the highejt Magi- 
 fiery in Chymifiry. 
 
 J, in this little Book, have onely prefcribed a few ways 
 of preparing Medicaments, and that m a Laconick-Style, 
 becauje I writ thefe things m my Sick-bed. Indeed I 
 could willingly and gladly forbear Writing, both now 
 and heretofore ; for by all that ever I writ, I never gam- 
 ed one halfpeny. But Chrifiian Charity infiamed me to 
 confecrate this great Arcanum , and the fruitfuU life 
 thereof, [ before I dye, knowing in the Grave nothing 
 can be done ) and to publtjh thejamefor the good of Man- 
 kind remaining in the Earth ; being full of great Hope, 
 there will not want fome Religious Spagyrifis confcious of 
 "Piety, that will prove tbemjelves faithfull difpofers of 
 this bet^tteathcd Gift, and heal the DiJ'eafes of the Poor 
 gratis. But if the great troop of Malignant Spirits pre- 
 fume to ahufe the Pratticers of this mofi noble Art, they 
 may find NemefiS ready fwiftly to ptinifi) them. 
 
 Every one, as be pleafeth, may prepare mofi prefent 
 Medicaments. For all Herbs, the way is almofi one. Alfo 
 in refpeU of Animals, Minerals, Metals and Stones, you 
 
 will find but little difference. Every Man may himfelf 
 more profoundly fearch into the Art. For my own part, 
 I am at prefent fo weak, as Strength fadeth tne to proceed 
 farther m this difcourfe. Therefore, by every good Man, 
 I jhall be readily exctijcd, becaufe I have given jufficient 
 occafion of fearching into other high Secrets. If this my 
 benevolent Communication fuffice not any Man, he may 
 himfelf fearch farther elfewhere. For tt is eafier to add 
 to tlomgs already found out, than to become the firfi Au- 
 thour of new Inventions. 
 
 I had purpofed in this little Book to fignifie the mofi 
 fruitfuU ufe of my Secret Alcalifate Spirit of Wine ; 
 which IS fo great a Secret, as no Man before me did ever 
 difcover to thi World ; but my Sicknefs hath prevented 
 and hindred the doing of that. If God prolong my Life^ 
 that may be done in another fmall peculiar Book. 
 I Truly, I highly prize my Jecret Sal-Armoniack, yet 
 I mere efieem the ufe of my Spirit of Wine Alkalizate ; 
 that being a Spirit of fo great potency, as from all Mine- 
 rals, Metals and Stones, it extracls a mofi pure Tinc- 
 ture, and by Alembeck brings the fame over the Helm 
 with It Jelf. What jhall I fay ? Even fixed Gold it felf 
 cannot rejlfi it, but fuffers it felf without a Corrofive 
 {like fweet Water coloured yellow with Saffron) to he 
 drawn upwards. In a word, this Alkaliz,ate Spirit of 
 Wine is an adtnirable Infirument for a Phyfician, of it 
 to prepare efficacious {yea incomparable) Medicaments; 
 and he may eajily acquire abundance of it, and that for 
 no more charges, than after the common manner any o- 
 ther common Spirit is prepared. He that feeks {liall find. 
 Wherefore rife from your foft Pillows, and with Jmuttcd 
 Hands touch black Coals, and accurately give heed to 
 the infiitutions of Art. For with IdUnefs, Eatings 
 Drinking, and playing on Mufick, you [liall never ap- 
 proach to great Myfieries. I would have you always 
 think of this that is now oncefpcken. It is indeed impof- 
 fible for a mofi unskilfull Man to believe or comprehend, 
 how great things may be prepared by help of this burning 
 Spirit. 
 
 About the end of the Preface of this Treatife, I men- 
 tioned fome few things touching the fame ; viz. that of 
 good burning Spirit, with little labour and no great cofi, 
 in a very eafie way a true univerfal Medicine for hu- 
 mane and met a Hick Bodies might be made. This I 
 would have no Man to doubt of, but to account of at 
 mofi true. For I now ready to be laid in my Grave, 
 have great need to be very carefull how I divulge any 
 thing, unlefs fuch pure verity as experience hath taught 
 me. If the mofi wife God will prolong my Life untill 
 the next'Summer, and enable me to write out of Bed, my 
 purpofe is to publifii feme other new wonderfull Works j 
 but if in the mean while I be taken away from the num- 
 ber of the living, then {candid Reader^ kindly accept of 
 thefe few things here written. 
 
 This being thus imparted to all diligent Chymical Ope- 
 rators (whom I here falute and bid farewell) I wifi) tt 
 Divine Benediilion in this Life, and Eternal Glorifica- 
 tion hereafter. Amen. 
 
 Glory to G O D onely. 
 
 T^he End of the Seventh Tan, 
 
 TH£ 
 
Part II. 
 
 187. 
 
 THE 
 
 FIRST APPENDIX 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 SEVENTH PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Spagyrical Pharmacopoea. 
 
 In which is contained, how many, yet greater, Secrets may 
 
 be prepared by the Alcabeft^ or Secret Sal-Armoniack,, than thofe which 
 arc mentioned in the Seventh Part of the Spagyrical Pharmacopoea^ viz. 
 how Vulgar Mercury may be firmly fixed, and rendred totally conftant 
 in Fire, within the fpace of three Days. Alfo an Explanation, how by 
 the benefit of it may eafily be acquired the Mercury of Wme, as the 
 higheft Medicine of the World. Likewife, that the Secret Fire of the 
 Wife, othcrwife called the Fire of Artephim is the fupreme Secret of Secrets : 
 Together with a Revelation of other admirable Secrets, of which the 
 Authour hitherto hath made no mention to any Man. 
 
 I 
 
 To the Well-meaning READER. 
 
 Could not forbear to fignifie to the Lover of divine and admlrahle Works, the Reafon of my 
 former omijfion or filence ; namely, why in a little Treatife of mine lately puhlijhed {which 
 js intituled The Seventh Fart of my Spagyrical Pharmacopcea ) in which J treat of my Se- 
 cret Sal-Armoniack or Liquor Alcahell, I fo fuddenly broke off the Thread of my Writing 
 legun, before I had any thing largely difcourfed of the eminently excellent Vertues thereof, which it 
 manifefis not onely in Medicine^ hut alfo in Tranjmutation of Metals. Therefore, the Reafon of my 
 abrupt Ceffation was- a'i follows. 
 
 Before I had compleaily finifhed the afore-mentioned fmall Treatife, J wm affaulted with a grie- 
 "vous Dije.ife, which incredibly prevailed more and more daily, infomuch as J totally def paired of 
 recovering my Health, and therefore thought it neceffary, that what foever was then written (^how 
 imperfe.ily foever^ Jhould for the fake oj the Poor and Difeafed be committed to the Prefs. But 
 fofot.i as by the mercy of God, I was in jome fmall meafure recovered, I perufed that little Book^ 
 and prejently difcerned, that the mofl powerfull faculties and virtues which that laudable Liquor 
 is able to exercife and manifefl both in Medicine and Chymijlry, werejcarcely in any- wife treated of, 
 but almofl wholly omitted in the fame Book. Hence many conceited Men perfwade themf elves, that 
 my Secret Sal-Armoniack cannot be of fo great Energy or Virtue, as Helmont afcribes to his Liquor 
 Alcalieft ; efpecially becaufe He, in the Coagulation 0/ Mercury, faith, that the fame Qwhen his 
 Liquor Alcahell hath been but once abjiracled from it ) n fo fixed, as a pound of it being tried by 
 Cupell, leaves behind, after Trial, fourteen Lotones of good Silver ; which indeed is not to be 
 
 efleemed 
 
ii88^^ ThiFirft Appendix to the Seventh Fart of Part 11. 
 
 elleemed a vile Experiment, viz. that hy fo very little Labour ( ns is one onely aljiraSlion of the 
 ' Alcahell which may he done in a few hours^ fuch a uoUtile^ and that the fole Deluder of all 
 A\c\\\ ^\^s pould be tranf muted and nobilitated into a fixed Metal^ tractable and perf ever ingly 
 ft4flainin(L every Ex amen of Fire ; and that hy mediation of fuch a fuhflame, as the Liquor Alca- 
 lied which per fe « no other than a volatile Salt. Neverthelefs, it is found, that the fame may 
 he done, and that not onely common Mercury, hy our Secret Sal-Armoniack ( which otherwife r'en- 
 dreth all fixed Metals volatile, and fe par ate s the mojt pure Souls or Tintlures of them from their 
 arofs Bodies, and carries the fame over the Helm with it f elf) ts tranfmuted into Silver ; but alfo 
 the fame is endued with a Faculty of tranf muting other imperfetl Metals into good and conjlant Gold. 
 Jhe Truth of which Ajfertion I have not gathered out of the Writings of other Aut hours, but have 
 learned the fame by the continual Indu(lry and Experience of my proper Inquifition ,• and therefore 
 ablefo much the more confidently to affert fomewhat my f elf, touching the fame, to every inge- 
 
 am 
 
 nioics Man. 
 
 But that you may know the Reafon why Volatile Mercury, hy my Secret Sal-Arnlonlack alfo vo- 
 latile, IS rendred fixed and conjlant in Fire • you are to underjland, that this onsly js eff'eiled by 
 the clep.nfing power and virtue of our Salmiack : for in Vulgar Mercury is fomewhat ingenited hy 
 iJature which makes the whole Body of it volatile. Now if any one doth well under fland how to 
 feparate that therefrom hy an Artificial cleanfing, the flying Mercury no longer remains volatile, hue 
 alfumes to it f elf an hard fixed, tradable and Metallick Body ; in which kind of Furification to he 
 made our Salmiack performs the ofice of a Mafler. Whence happens fuch a fpeedy fixation of 
 Mercury • touching which we, in the following Praxis, fl:all more amply treat and demon]} rate the 
 fame viz. that jo fvitt a Coagulation of volatile Mercury into Gold and Silver conflant and abiding 
 in Fire is not to be accounted a vile work of fmall value, hut to he efleemed as one of the principal 
 Arcanums of Nature. This needs no proof, hecaufe by the fentence of all experienced Men it is 
 long fince notorioufly known, that this noxious Deluder Mercury, hy its volatility, hath deprived 
 fame thoufands oj unwary Alchymifls, not onely of their Gold and Silver, hut alfo of their HoujeSy 
 Lands Towns, Vineyards, Fields, Meadows, Gardens, and all their other Goods, carrying the fame 
 with it f elf up the Chimney, and leaving them nothing but an heap of broken Pots, Cucurbits, GlajfeSy 
 Soot Dujl and Afhes, injiead of the wealthy Spoils and rich Reward they thirfled after with vain 
 hope. But as he hath evilly intreated the unskilfull and unwary Slaves and Drudges of Chymiflry^ 
 fo he hath dealt well with experienced and wary PhilofopherSy who Q after they had obferved his 
 Inconjlancy, and learned to amend the fame ) were fuch af he was conflrained to obey, infomuch as 
 they could fubdue, hind and fix him. This is no Fidion or fabulous Tale, hut a Truth which may 
 he proved by many hundred true Hiflories, declaring, that in various parts of the World have 
 lived thofe who were able to jix^ Mercury into a conjlant permanency. 
 
 Of the more ample Vfi of our Salmiack. 
 
 I~8'Aving in the precedent Treatife omitted the 
 — i beft and nioft worthy ufe of our Salmiack.^ 
 B ( ij'.x.. that by the benefit of it Mercury 
 might be fb purified, as to be very eafily fixed into 
 a Red Body fixt and conftanr in Fire) I was incited 
 and moved thereby to commit this Appendix to the 
 Prefs ; efpecially bccaufe in doing the fame, I could 
 alfo upon every ojjportune occafion notifie feveral 
 other profitable Secrets, which may be perfeifted by 
 help of that ; as here following you fhall perceive, 
 they being infcrted one after another. 
 
 Therefore incline your Ear to hear what admira- 
 ble Hffccls our Scilmiack is able to manifeft both in 
 Medicine and Alchymy. 
 
 Firft, Our Secret Salmiack not onely purifies Me- 
 tals, and feparates the pure part from the unprofi- 
 table grofs Bodies of them, but the Volatile parts it 
 carries upward with it felf ; and afterward fuffers it 
 fclfto be again fixed [with them J into fixed Tinc- 
 tures, as already in the precedent Seventh Part of 
 our Sfagyrical Pimrmacofxa, we have very f'ufficient- 
 ly proved, as well as in our Treatife of the Three 
 Vrmciples of Mttals ; but alfo it is endued with a 
 power of carrying over the Helm the moft fixed 
 Gold, without any Corrofive, like to a yellow fweet 
 
 Spirit, and of converting the fiimc into true Aurum 
 Votabde : for fuch Aurum Votabile, without a Corro- 
 five adhering is found to be, not onely an efficacious, 
 fweet and famous Medicine for humane Bodies, but 
 alfo a true Tindture for tranfmuting imperfect Me- 
 tals into better. 
 
 It is indeed a very great Queflion how fuch Gold 
 can be a Tindture for other more vile Metals , lince 
 common Gold ( according to the Opinion of many 
 Philofbphers, and the experienced truth of the mat- 
 tery' per Je contains in it felf no more Tincture than 
 is fufficient for it felf, and without prejudice to its 
 own virtue or nobility is able to communicate no 
 good to other Metals. Neverthelefs, Philofophers 
 more acute, narrowly fifting the matter, have found 
 that vulgar Gold, by the ailiitance of Art, may be 
 deftroyed, and its infide turned outward, but its out- 
 fide inward : for fuch deftrudtion Philofbphers have 
 called Exaltation, intimating, that the Exaltation or 
 Melioration of Gold muff be made in the Sign Aries ; 
 to which alfertion I could never allent, but always 
 believed and urged the contrary, inveighing earneft- 
 ly againft Toletamis , who writ Anlmad-verjions upon 
 that good Philofophcr of ancient Repute Bracefcas, 
 as if he had been a dull and obftinate Man, teach- 
 ing in his Treatife of the Tree of Life, that the Uni- 
 verfal Medicine might be prepared of vulgar Mars ; 
 for It not a little troubled me ( after by a previous 
 
 and 
 
Part 11. 
 
 ths" Spflgjtical VfiarmacofKa. 
 
 1 8^ 
 
 and continued ftudy of reading and peruling the 
 beft Authours, I at length by the Grace of God, in 
 . my fearch found and learned the way of making 
 (ilch a Tinfture and Medicine ) that the (aid TvUta- 
 nus did fn unhandfbmely heighten his Style againft 
 the laudable Rracefcus, and conceomed the famous 
 Induftry of that man, infomcuh as 1 have, in fbme 
 of my Writings ( although with a certain Z^al, 
 which I ingenioufly confefs was unfeafonable ) cha- 
 ftized this Zoi!hs, becaule he uith an impertinent 
 Prefumption did fo rafhly and arrogantly attempt to 
 oppofe and contradifl that, which he himfelf had 
 not fiifficient. Experience of. But it happened, that 
 afterward fuch an Exaltation of Gold fell into my 
 hand unfix pciftedly. Whence, (eeing fuch an Exal- 
 tation of Gold to be true, I repented my own folly. 
 Wherefore now I openly confefs, that by the help 
 of our fecret Sahmack 1 have verv often elaborated 
 fuch an Exaltaticjn of Gold in the mineral Aries ; 
 although in a very fmall Quantity, finding that to be 
 fufficiently imbibed with the Colour of Gold, when- 
 foever onely two or three Grains of (uch exalted 
 Gold were mixed with a whole Pound of common 
 Water. But in metallick Tranfmutation, during 
 thefedaysof my indifpo(ednefs, I could never yet 
 try any thing further. If the molt wife God, (hall 
 be pleated to reftore and raife me out of my fick 
 Bed (as I hope this next Summer he wi'.l) I will nor 
 omit to try what the aforefaid exalted Gold is able to 
 efFeft irt the Tranfmutation of Metals. In the mean 
 whi'e 1 am perfwaded, that it will prove an amply 
 potent Tin(flure for Mercury and Ltwa, and thence I 
 divine becaufe two or three Grains of fuch exalted 
 Gold do tinge a whole Pound of VVater with a golden 
 Colour that the fame muft be done with Mercury 
 and Luna. Therefore no man hath caufe further to 
 doubt, that common Gold, by the help of our Sal- 
 miack-'m Aries, may be reduced into fome one true 
 and fixed Tinfture ; as here following (God willing^ 
 fhall be fhewed more at large. 
 
 Of the more largely f run full ufe of cur Sal Armoniack 
 in Medicine and Alcbymy. 
 
 M 
 
 Y Preface to the feventh Book of my Spagyri- 
 cal Pharmacopcsa, mentioneth how the Mer- 
 cury of Wine may be feparated from any pure bur- 
 ning Spirit, and perform the Office of an univerfal 
 Medicine healing men and metals. But fince in fuch 
 a manner of preparing the Medicine as I there pre- 
 scribed, very little Mercury of Wine will be gotten, 
 not enough to fatisfie thofe, that defire more abun- 
 dance, becaufe from one Pound of Spirit of Wine, 
 ftarcely three, four or five Grains of mofl pure Coe- 
 leftial Salt are extrafted ; which neverthelefs is not 
 to be efleemed (6 exceeding fmall a quantity, if any 
 one fhall with a more accurate fearch of his mind 
 well weigh the incredible medicinal Vertues thereof, 
 which it nranitdls and exercifeth againft humane and 
 metallick Difeafes ; inforauch as ( in either Faculty ) 
 in the whole nature of things you fhill find no Me- 
 dicament like unto it. Certainly it is a true Coele- 
 ftial Medicine, in the form of a certain white fweet 
 Salt, for if one onely Grain of it be taken into the 
 Body of a Man dileafed, he will thereby be notably 
 comforted in all his Members, and amend and find 
 
 hiiiife'f better in a moment. I muft needs confefs, j by Chymilts is vulgarly called Oil of Sulphur, and 
 that I have not lonj; fince found our the Preparation ; is received in Glafs Campanes ; neverthelefs that Oil 
 of the fame ( during the long continuance of my is by Philofbphers named the Mercury of Philofo- 
 Difeafe) by various Speculations ; and when by rca- 1 phers, becaufe fach Oil is eafily tranfmuted into a 
 
 C c c fweat- 
 
 Ton of my Sicknefs I could not rife out of my Bedy 
 to prepare this nnb!c Medicine mv felf, I commitc*" 
 ted the fame to the hands of my faithfull and trufly 
 Fri-nds to be by them prepared, but in a very 
 fmall quantity • For [caufed not above two or three 
 Pound of Spirit of Wine to be burned, and thence 
 could not acquire much Mercury •, neverthelefs I 
 found fo much therein, as fufficiently to content and 
 fatisfie my mind as well in Medicine a.s.e Alchymy ; 
 believing, as I have above mentioned; char no Me- 
 dicine more^.xcellent than this can be found in the 
 whole nature of things Moreover, every one may 
 confider with himfelf, how great Salubrity (ijch a 
 Cceleflial Medicine may beftow and confer on the 
 fick Bodies of Men, as often as he accurately weighs 
 with himfelf the Subjeft ( 'viz, WineJ of which this 
 Medicine is prepared. For it is known through all 
 parts of the World far and nigh, that under the Sun 
 is not given a more excellent Cordial Subjecl, than 
 good and pure Wine ; although that abound with 
 many inefficacious Humidities, and other Tartarous 
 Feculeneies, vi/hereas on the contrary the Mercury 
 thereof is moft pure, or a fweet Coeleftial Salt is ex- 
 tracted from good Spirit of Wine deduced to the 
 higheft purity. But Ibme one may fav, what Spirit 
 of Wine I If in that fiich a i\Qh\Q, Mercury be latent, 
 and the fame as it is in it felf be given for comfor- 
 ting the Sick, what need is there, that it being kind- 
 led fhould be burnt ; and why may not ( without 
 that labour and charge) its volatile Salt be received 
 in a Refrigeratory ? In anfwer hereunto let him 
 know, that Spirit of Wine is almoft all a mere Sul- 
 phur, and therefore is eafily inflamed and devoured 
 with the Flame, as is common to every Sulphur, wz,. 
 that fo foon as it is fet on Fire, it contiames it felf,- 
 and leaves behind it no other than Afhes and a fixed 
 Salt j but the Mercury which adhered to the Sul- 
 phur, is diflipated in the Air with the Flame, unlefs 
 it be taken in a Cold Receptory, in which it may 
 cool, and, condenfe it felf Indeed we for certain 
 know that no one of all the three Principles of Ve- 
 getables, Animals and Minerals is totally pure, but 
 it always invifibly bears about it felf fbme fmall part 
 of the other two Principles, as may beft of all be 
 feen in combultible Entities, fuch are Wood and 
 other Vegetables ; for they being kindled and fit on 
 fire, the Sulphur is onely burnt, but the other two 
 parts, 'vii. the fixed Salt, and the volatile A/f rear/ 
 remain free from Combuftion. As for E.xample, ,if 
 you burn Wood, an Herb, or any other kind of 
 Vegetable , the Sulphur onely, perifheth, but the 
 Mercury adheres to the fides and walls of the Chim- 
 ny. If you thence feparate the Afhes and other 
 Filths, which fly together upwards, you will obtain 
 a white volatile Salt, altogether like the Animal 
 volatile Salt of Urine, except in this onely, that this 
 volatile Salt favours of Aduilion. The fixed Salt is 
 extraded out of the Afhes by Elixiviation of com- 
 mon Water Moreover Animal Entities being 
 burnt, i-iz,. the Bones of any Animals ; the Sulphur 
 is onely burnt, but the volatile Sale flies away, and 
 almoft no fixed Salt remains in the Afhes. Laftly, 
 common mineral Sulphur being burnt, almoft all the 
 Sulphur vanilheth into Air like a Flame, and toge- 
 ther with the Flame an unburnable Ma-curj af- 
 cends, in form of an heavy Corrofive Oil, which 
 
i^o 
 
 The Virfi Appendix to the Seventh Vart of Part IT. 
 
 fweec Fufile Stone, of which my lately publiflied 
 Treatife of the Salt of Philofophers makes fomc 
 •nention. From all which you may clearly gather, 
 that there is no Sulphur found fo pure, but that it is 
 
 extracted with Spirit of Wine, do in burning give 
 forth from thcmlelves a volatile mercurial Salt, which 
 may profitably tc adminiftred, as well in Medicine 
 as in Chvmillrv. For the Salt of Sau-ni is a moft 
 
 impregnated with Ibms fmall part of Salt and Mer- prefent Peftilential Remedy ; the Salt of Venus an 
 cury •' alfo you can find no Mercury, in which is not eflficacious Venereal Medicament, the Salt of Lmta, 
 incited fome part of Salt and Sulphur; and in like " " --■•• • "• ---.. 
 
 manner no Salt, to which a little Sulphur and Mer- 
 cury adheres nor. Which being thus, why may 
 
 there not V- ntly be in Spirit of Wine an incombuf- 
 tible Salt -Arn'Mercury > And as Spirit of Wine duely 
 rectified according to the Precepts of Art, is found 
 to be the pureft of all other Sulphurs, and endued 
 with no Feculencies; (b alfo necellarily, when that 
 Sulphur is kindled and burnt, with the Flame muft 
 needs afcend as it were an unburnable Subftance, 
 which may be received in a Reti igeratory for a 
 mending humane and metallick Bodies. Whofoever 
 cannot comprehend and believe thefe, he truely and 
 condignly may be called a Blockhead, although by 
 his Flatterers ( men very indifcrete ) he be ac- 
 counted even the Eighth of the Wife wen, or a fe- 
 cond i'araceljus. 
 
 I purpofedin mymind to communicate this fupream 
 Medicine to fome candid Friends, that fome prefent 
 Medicine may thence be made, by the falutary help 
 of which, I alfo in this my declining Age, and in 
 the Diuturnity of my Dileafe, may be made parta- 
 ker of fome Relief, fince I my (elf now fick in Bed, 
 am able to prepare nothing. 
 
 Indeed I did formerly reveal this fo very great 
 Myftery to fome of my old Friends, and that to the 
 end that they being' found and in health might la- 
 bour therein , and after thein Work was ended 
 ( which might be compleated in Eight days ) com- 
 municate to mjC, as an Offering of thanks, fome fmall 
 part of that Medicine, that my bid infirm Body 
 might be comforted ; but their intent was far other- 
 wile : For thefe rude men would not fuffer me to 
 participate of one Grain of the Medicine revealed, 
 nor ever came within my Doors {b much as once, 
 after they were fully and plainly inftrufted in the 
 Art by me taught ; but palled by as if I had been a 
 man wholly unknown and never (een by them. But 
 this was to me a very juft and truely deferved Re- 
 compence, becaufe I being too credulous, did fo 
 vilelv caft into the Mire the moft noble Pearl of all 
 Medicine, not confidering the faithful! admonition 
 of the fupream Mafter: Beware of Men. 
 
 .1 muft needs confefs that it is not a Work for cove- 
 tous men ; becaule fuch thirft after nothing elfe, but 
 a great Mafs of Golt>, and think this moft- noble Art 
 to be no other than a rotten Thread. In like man- 
 ner I do alfo confels, that common Spirit of Wine 
 gives forth from it felf but a very fmall quantity of 
 fuch Coe'.eftial Salt; yet a great quantity of the 
 fame no man hath need of, becaufe the power 
 and efficacy thereof (hews it felf far and nigh. If 
 any one be defirous to acquire to himfelf a greater 
 quantity of this our Coeleftial Mcrcniy, he may ob- 
 tain his defire, if he make ufe of a good medicinal 
 Reftorative Subjeift, as Sulphur or Antimony fixed 
 to a Rednefs, alfo Gold, Pearls, red Corals, caft 
 Skins of Serpents, Boletus or Fungus Cervinus. If 
 thefc and the like reftoring or renovating things be 
 extrarted with Spirit of Wine and the fame Wine 
 burnt : becaufe in doing that, with the Flame will 
 afcend a moft pure mjercurial Salt, which muft be 
 received in a cold Recipient. 
 In like manner all Metals, when they are duely 
 
 a moft excellent Cephalick, the Salt of Gold a fa- 
 mous Cordial, and the Salt of Mars an admirable 
 Stomach Remedy, and a true Tinfture, by the help 
 of which vulgar Mercury and Li/na may be tinged 
 into Gold. But it cannot profitably be adhibited in 
 metallick Labours, unlefs it be firft reduced to a red 
 Fixednefs by the benefit of common Gold, being 
 fuch, as after the firft Preparation may be very eafily 
 fixed and rubified; although it all afcends in a white 
 Flame, and the Preparation be from a red Subject. 
 For it is fixed and waxeth red, if any one do from 
 it but once abftradt the Water of Saltaberis, as Fa^ 
 racelfus Calls it. But if you ask what Pt^racelfus his 
 Water of Sahabens is, it is not my purpofc at this 
 time to publifh and divulge that kind of Water. 
 Helmcnt vaftly erred, when he thought it to be the 
 Water of Whites of Eggs, which it is not, but it is a 
 Water preparable for a very fmall Price, as much as 
 is fufficient. 
 
 In the mean while, no unskilful! Man is able to 
 believe, with how great a property of purging, ele- 
 vating and fixing the Flame of good Spirit of Wine 
 is endued. Therefore, whofoever is defirous of 
 knowing this, by putting his hand to the Work lee 
 him make Trial. The Flame of this burning Spi^ 
 rit renders all corrofive and bitter metallick Subjects 
 fweet and pleafant; therefore Lullj rightly (aid; 
 Tf>e immature Bitternefs is to be dulcified, that the ivbola 
 Magifiery may be obtained. Briefly I fay, by the be- 
 nefit thereof, fb great good may be performed^s is 
 difficult to be believed, unlefs any one before he (ets 
 about the Work hath beheld the Event. In which 
 at prefent we acquiefce, yet out of an abundance 
 (hewing this, viz.. that, whenfbever any man hath a 
 mind to fubtilize metallick Subjetts by a burning 
 Spirit ( diftilling or fubliming them into fweet Salts 
 or Tinctures ) he is obliged by no necefiity at all, 
 to ufe no other than Spirit of Wine onely ; becaufe 
 a burning Spirit of Corn, or extradled out of other 
 Vegetables, will do the fame. But whofoever would 
 without Metals acquire a fweet medicinal Mercury 
 per fe, he muft prepare that of the Spirit of fweec 
 Wine ; becaufe other Vegetables afford not (b muc!i 
 mercurial Salt as may be had from Wine ; which is to 
 be kept in mind as a thing worthy of Obfervation, 
 
 Thus have I here clearly revealed as high a Me- 
 dicine as ever was or can be found in the Nature of 
 things ; which no one of the Philofophers before me 
 did ever prefume to do. Indeed Albcrtus Magnus^ 
 and his Difciple Tho?Mas AoiUi.:as have written of it 
 fomewhat more clearly than others, yet io, as few 
 Readers can follow the mind of them. For they do 
 indeed make mention of Spirit of Wine, yet tlie 
 Inftrumenc under which it is. to be burned, they did 
 not in any wife exprefs, or hint at. Bafilius taught 
 that the inftrument was to be made of Copper ; yec 
 this kind of Inftrument is not every way conducible, 
 but there is fome dcfe'.5t in it. As for my felf, I long 
 fought with earneftnefs, before I could find a fit In- 
 ftrument, in which I might receive this Coeleftial 
 Salt and Mercury. Let others after mealfb make the 
 like fearch, till they find. It is not my bulinefsac 
 all times, to caft all things at the Feet of the unwor- 
 thy. Fori am forbid by the Fates, having already 
 
 divulged 
 
Part IJ. 
 
 the Spagjricnl Fharmacopcsa. 
 
 Ici 
 
 divulged more than enough. But whofoever is de- 
 sirous of learning more touching this kind of labour, 
 let him perufe Bracefcus in his Treatife of the Tree 
 of Life, touching our mercurial Water, where he 
 may find things enough worthy of note to yield him 
 content. AiJicen indeed writes aUo excellently, but 
 very briefly. Cofmopolua and Neufementms have writ 
 fbmewhat more clearly in their JBooks, yet with fo 
 Philofophick a Charader, as fcarcely one among a 
 thoufand Readers (hall there find what he leeks. 
 More at this time touching this it is not lawfull for 
 me to difcourfe ; but of other things here to be treated 
 of, let every one comment and meditate what he 
 thinks good. 
 
 Of the further ufe of our Salmiack. 
 
 IN my lately publiOied Treatife of the three Prin- 
 ciples of Metals, I (hewed how by the help of 
 Froferpina theWifeof P/«fo, a tinging Oil of afangui- 
 iieous Colour might be diftilled from the Vitriol of 
 Mars, and thence be coagulated into a fwect Fufile 
 Stone, by the benefit of which great things may be 
 eticifled in the Tranfmutation of Metals and Gems. 
 But what is underfiood by Vroferpna I conliderately 
 concealed from the Reader, as we 1 as the Coagula- 
 tion of the red and white corrofive Oil of Vitriol 
 into a fweet Stone, becaufe at that time I purpofed 
 not to publifh any thing more thereabout. After 
 that Publication, certain Rivals of our Art came to 
 me very earneftly intreating, that I would alfo re- 
 veal to t\\QmFroferfina and my Coagulation of Vitri- 
 ol : Thefe men by their perlwafive Intreaties (b foft- 
 ned my mind, as I wasfreely willing togratifiethem, 
 but with this Condition, 'viz,. that fo loon as they 
 had elaborated the whole Work, they Ihould impart 
 to me fome fmall Portion of that Medicine, yet this 
 promifcof a thankfull acknowledgment hath not un- 
 till this day been fulfilled, wherefore I on the other 
 hand fearing that (b great a Secret ( viz.. how by the 
 help of Projerpma the tinging Oil of Vitriol of a lan- 
 guineous Colour, tinging Z.mm« into Gold, might af- 
 terward be coagulated into a Fufile Stone ) Ihould 
 be expoled to publick view by thole, that were fo 
 ungrateful! to me, was refblved I would my felf be 
 the Publifher of fo great an Arcanum, knowing al- 
 ways, that the Mafter is better able to difcourle of 
 his own Work, than the Difciple ; not in the leaft 
 doubting, but that by this Revelation or way of dif- 
 covery, many Alchymifts, reduced almoft to the 
 extream necelTity cf hiu, and ready to perifh, will 
 be able to recover themlelves, and obtain their pri- 
 ftine repute among men. Therefore touching the 
 Difcovery of this Arcanum thus take it. 
 
 By Proferpma in the afore mentioned Treatife is 
 underftood the corrofive Oil of Antimony, or in 
 defed of that Butter of Antimony, which ( when 
 added to Vitriol of Mars in like Proportion, and di- 
 ftilled by Retort ) carries over with it lelf the Gold 
 of Philolbphers or Tindure of Alars, in form of a 
 thick Oil of a languine Rednels ; which red Oil, 
 when coagulated into a fweet Fufile Stone, will be 
 very available in the Emendation of Metals, efpeci- 
 ally in tinging L^w^nnto good Gold, as a little after 
 you fhall hear. Thele are briefly fpoken touching 
 the Antimonial Froferpina : Here following it (hall 
 be fhewedby us, how our Secret Sal Armomack may 
 profitably be uled inftead of the Antimonial Projer- 
 pma, after we have premiled the way of coagulating 
 the red Oil of Vitriol into a Stone not corrofive, by 
 
 help of .which Metals may be amended varinufly. 
 As to the Coagulation of the red and white Oil of 
 Vitriol, and alio of other corrofive Liquor.«, that in- 
 deed is very eafie to accomplifli, but hard to find 
 out. For all Philolbphers have very oblcurely writ 
 of this kind of operating, infuchi Laconick manner: 
 DilFolve and Coagulate. The Solution of Ad.irs into 
 Vitriol is made by the help ot common Oil of Vitri- 
 ol, or elfe by Spirit of Salt. But the Coagulation 
 into a tinging Stone not corrofive is made by the help 
 of old, cold and dry Saturn, becaufe he it is, that 
 underftands how with his own moft intent Coldnels 
 and Drynefs to extinguifli all humid coldifli Fire?, 
 and to change them into hard Stones. 
 
 No one of the Philolbphers hath writ more clear- 
 ly touching the Coagulation of mineral Spirits, than 
 Paraceljus, in that Treatife which is intituled the 
 Heaven of Philofophers, being that in which he 
 treats of the NatUre and Properties of the feven 
 Metals,- and in the Fifth Chapter oi Saturn, he thus 
 fpeaks. 
 
 Canon the Fifth, touching the Nature and Properties of 
 Saturn . 
 
 SATURN of his own proper Nature thus fpcak- 
 eth. 
 
 The fix other Metals have cajl me out for their Exa- 
 minator, and have thrnfl me from themfel-vei cut of the 
 Spiritual Place : They have given into my Manfion a 
 corruptible Body, that I might he ivhat they neither are 
 nor defire to have. My fix Brethren are fpiritual, 
 thence it is, that they penetrate my Body as often as I 
 am burned in the Fire ; and together "With me they perifh 
 in Fire. Sol and Luna cnely excepted, oi-hich are clean- 
 fed with my Water and wax proud. My Spirit is a 
 IVater foftnmg the rtgird and congealed Bodies of my 
 Brethren. Tet my Body tends to the Earth ; -whatfoever 
 is received tnto me, becomes alfo conformable to ut and 
 by us is converted into one Body. It would net be frofi- 
 table for 'the World, if ftfimddknowor could believe what 
 are latent in me, and what I am able to effeEl. It would 
 be more profitable for the World if it underfiood that, 
 with me, which I am able to do : Then leaving all Art's 
 of Alchymtfis, it would ufe this onely, which in me is 
 and by me can he done. The Coldnefs of a Stone is in 
 me; this ts the Water, by which I caufe the Spirits of the 
 fix Metals to be covgealed into one corporeal Being of the 
 feventh, that is, to augment Sol JZ'/VALuna. 
 
 Thefe I have tranfcribed word for word out of 
 Paracelfus, that by them it might be fufficiently ma- 
 nifeft, that he knew how to peVform the Coagti'lation 
 of (harp mineral Spirits by cold and dry Saturn, be- 
 caufe touching that he fo evidently writes, as he 
 that writes moft plainly cannot delcribe the fame 
 more clearly, although there have been very few 
 men, who did rightly underftand this Prince of Phi- 
 lolbphers, and could by his words learn the Coagu- 
 lation of fliarp mineral Spirits there touched, although 
 in a particular Tranfmutation of Metals no method 
 more eafie can be given than by our Salt of Philc- 
 fophers, which from red Oil of Vitriol is coagulated 
 by cold Saturn. I will not pals over in filence, what 
 Fruit may othcrwife be reaped by the Benefit of this 
 in the Emendation of ignoble and verv prerious 
 Stones ; becaufe by that kind of labour rnore profit 
 may be gained by ten Fold, than in the Graduation 
 of Metals into iW and Luna\ for our red Stone e.v- 
 alts ail Gems in their Colours, and tingeth white 
 Cryftals into all kind of Colours ; in which Work, 
 
 there 
 
L9'2 
 
 The Fir ft Appendix to the Seventh ?art of Part IT. 
 
 J — - - 
 
 there is not any ct" the 0(f fprings of the Earth able 
 to do the like. Wherefore the Ancient Philofophers 
 more efteemed this Coloration of Stones, than the 
 Art of tinging Silver into Gold ; For fuch a Stone 
 not oncly amends Metals, but alfo graduates fmall 
 Stones noble and ignoble, and tingech them into 
 better (hapes and colours. For more excellency and 
 good lies hid in defpicablc Lead, than any unskilfuU 
 man is able to imagine or can periwade himfelf to 
 believe ; becaufe the Infide of it is no other than 
 mere Gold, inlomuch as Philofophers have called it 
 Leprous Gold. 
 
 56 foon as this impure Gold (hall be impregnated 
 with the Antimonial Oil of Vitriol, and both con- 
 iundively coagulated together into a red Stone, 
 thence muft neceliarily be made a Tincture for Me- 
 tals, as well as for Stones. Much more (hould here 
 be fpoken touching our coagulated red Oil of Vitri 
 ol : But to what purpofe is it to bring a fainple of 
 beautifull Colours before the Eyes of a blind man, 
 being luch as he cannot fee, nor is able to judge any 
 thing of. [ See this Procefs plain in Proftrpma. J 
 
 In the fevcnth Part of the Profperity of Gtrmany, 
 mention is made of a like Coagulation of (harp Spirits, 
 wherefore I would refer every ftudious Lover of cu- 
 rious Arts to the perufal of that parr. For what are here 
 briefiy treated of, are there more copioufly handled, 
 asevery Reader may find, and apply to his proper 
 Benefit. Time now admits not a more ample Dif- 
 courle in this place, touching luch (harp Spirits of 
 Salt. 
 
 A Furthur Ufe of our Salmiack. 
 
 FIrft, vulgar Mercury, by the help of our Secret 
 Halmuick, may be lb purified in thefpaceof one 
 Day, as the day following by one onely abftradion 
 of the Water o\'Saltabens, it may be coagulated into 
 a red fixed Medicine. Which fwift Mortification, 
 
 ■ Coagulation or Fixation, was highly efteemed by 
 Taracelfus and Helmont. This Mercury, Faracelfiis 
 infignized with the Title of Coralline Mercury, and 
 celebrated the fame with this illuftrious Praife, 'uiz,. 
 that in the whole Nature of things, there was not 
 any Remedy more excellent for yielding relief in the 
 Gout and French Dileafe ; adding, that it recreates 
 the mind of the Artift, becaufe it hath entrance into 
 Gold, and with the fame is converted intoGold, and 
 fo not a few impoveriflied Alchymifts may again be 
 ftorcd with Riches. But fince the Death of this 
 Philofopher, you (hall not find that there hath been 
 one or other of the ProfeUburs of Chymiftry unto 
 this day, who could prepare fuch a red fixed Mer- 
 cury ; the Reaibn hereof is, becaufe none of the 
 Sons of Art could comprehend the Water of Salta- 
 kris, by which Mercury is to be brought to a fixed 
 Rednels, none I fay, untill Helmont, that moft lear- 
 
 . ned Philolbpher ot our Age difcovered himfelf, wit- 
 nelTing that he alfo could prepare fuch Mercury, 
 which he infignized with the Name of Horizontal 
 Gold, affirming it would liitficiently lupply whatfo- 
 ever the Phyfician and Chyrurgeon (hould need. 
 
 In like manner, that molt expert Philofopher Nuy- 
 rtw£wf/wdid write of luch a Mercury, teftitying, that 
 two or three Grains of it onely being taken in Ibme 
 Confortative , would purge out all Impurities from 
 the humane Body. Indeed Helmont exprefleth this 
 in other words, yet by them intimates, that it pur- 
 geth out all Filths from the Veins. Behold three fa 
 
 of all Hermetick Philofophy and Medicine ; fcr they 
 have excellently writ of this Mercury ; yet to the 
 Inventions of thefe, none of their Succeflnurs have 
 added any thing, but have been ftill and quiet, fhun- 
 ning the labour of preparing an Univerfal Medicine. 
 During the eight Months 1 was detained in my fick 
 Bed, by reafon of my Infirmity, occafion wasoifcred 
 me of a more fcriouSfMeditation of luch abflrufe 
 things, inlomuch as I at length found the Water of 
 Saltaheru, by the help of which I totally fixed Mer- 
 cury, not indeed as Helmont laith into conftant good 
 Silver, but into very good Gold. Whofcever is lei- 
 zed with a defire of fuccouring the milery of th« fick, 
 he will do better for publick good, in ufing luch a 
 fixed Mercury rather for expelling the Cruelty of a 
 Tyrannical Gout, and the French Difeale, than for 
 Gold making, unlels fo far as he hath need to ul'c 
 the lame for neceliary Aliments. 
 
 Wholbever defires to know more of this Coralline 
 Mercury , or ( according to Helmont ) Horizontal 
 Gold ; let him perufe our little Treatife intituled the 
 Seventh Part of theSpagyrical Pharmacopoea, where 
 hemay find not onely many Mercmys, which are net 
 inferiour to this, but in many things excel it. Alio 
 there you are taught how a burning Spirit may be 
 diftilled from all Vegetables, and with fuch a Spirit, 
 by kindling and burning it, the Mercury of Wine be 
 feparated from the Sulphur in flame, and that as a 
 pure Coekftial Salt be gathered in a fit Recipient, and 
 admini.ftred againft all Difeales, as alupream Univer- 
 fal Medicine. Alio there is taught the way of puri- 
 fying Mercury, and depriving the fame of every 
 loathlbme Tafte and Odour, in lijch wife, as it is 
 rendred fweet and plealanr, like to Fire conliiming 
 Dileafes, and for correcting every Cachexy of the 
 whole Body. In like manner the lame teachcth the 
 way of preparing A/(?rf«r)' fo, as it ofters it felf to be 
 ripened by the Secret Fire of Atre^hms into the high- 
 eft Medicine, and that in a fhort time with little la- 
 bour and charge. 
 
 ■ Hitherto I have varioufly treated of the manifold 
 Ufe of our Alcaheft ; but fince this kind of Dodrine 
 may profit Junior Phyficians, Apothecaries, Chy- 
 milts, and other learned men more than Mechanick 
 Artificers ; I purpofe here to fubjoin fome other 
 Secrets allb, which may be of ule to the People, that 
 fb our Alcaheft- may become Onefimus the common 
 Servant of many, and in this manner be verified 
 what in the liiperior or precedent Treatife is mentio- 
 ned, 'utz.. that of defpicable Urine all men of all Or- 
 ders, when they will may reap profit, and fufficienc 
 Aliments. But, althoughSpiritof Urine alone, with- 
 out the help of Oil of Vitriol , or fome other Acid 
 Spirit, cannot effed all that is to be performed, yec 
 the labour of making OilofViriol is notitobe efchew- 
 ed, fince it is that which may be prepared in abun- 
 dance with little charge, and almoft no trouble. If 
 any one be but a little more skilfull, than a common 
 Chymirt, then indeed he may prepare at leaft four 
 pound for the charge of one Imperial. If you can- 
 not perform this work. Oil of Sulphur ofters it lelf, 
 which is more conducible for preparation of the Li- 
 quor Alcaheft, than Oil of Vitriol, and in a peculiar 
 Furnace, of an hundred pounds of Sulphur, without 
 any great trouble, you may eafily prepare ten or 
 twelve pounds of Oil, and that lor a Imall charge. 
 
 Wherefore, wholbever would by the benefit of the 
 
 Alcaheft elaborate any thing to profit, he muft firft 
 
 \ be provided of, and furnilhed with Spirit of Urine, 
 
 mous men, Icrvinginfteadof the iW^r/)e/w» Columns ' and that Ibme quantity, and alfo not a little Oil of 
 
 Vitriol 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagyrual Pbarmacopcea. 
 
 103 
 
 Vitriol or Sulphur, ready for future ufe, that with- 
 out any delay or hindrance he may happily proceed 
 in his work begun, which without thefe he cannot 
 abfolve. If Spirit of Urine and Oil of Vitriol be to 
 ■ be bought by any one, \\\s Alcahtfi will be too dear, 
 <)f it to prepare much to profit, as by the following 
 fhalJ appear. 
 
 What is that which Vontanns faith to this ? The 
 whole body of Mercury, uithout any previous Sepa- 
 ration of the pure from the impure, may by the help 
 of the Secret Fire of Anefhms be totally ripened into 
 a fixed Medicine or Tincture, without any diminu- 
 tion of its weight. Touching which wonderfull fixa- 
 tion, I in my Sickbed made a fmall trial, infbmuch 
 as now I am obliged to believe what Fontanm affirm- 
 ed touching fuch a Secret Fire ; openly confefling, 
 that the fame Secret Fire is more to be efteemed in 
 Medicine and Alchymy, than all other great Secret.s, 
 which have ever been obferved by Philofophers. 
 Wherefore now, nothing grieves me fo much, as that 
 by reafon of my great indifpofednefs, being always 
 conftrained to keep my Bed, I am able to make no 
 further trial of the fame. 
 
 This Fire converts all venomous Subjeifb into fa- 
 lutiferous Medicaments ; fixeth all things that are 
 volatile ; renders all fharp and bitter things fweet 
 and pleafant. In a word, this Secret Fire cannot 
 more properly be compared to any thing, than to 
 ititan or the Sun, whence all things draw their Life 
 and Increafe. For that Fire, firfl of Earth, Water 
 and Air, produceth grofs, bitter and harfh Fruits, 
 then ripens them being unripe, and changeth them 
 into Cw^et and pleafant Fruits, imitating the Sun pro- 
 ducing fbwer Grapes, which it fweetens after its va- 
 rious Operations upon them. The fame may be fpo- 
 ken of the maturation of vulgar Mercury, being fuch 
 as fer fe ( vvhilft it is as yet volatile^ is to be efteemed 
 an immature and bitter Fruit : but as foon as by our 
 Secret Fire its Bitternefs and noxious Venome fhall 
 be taken away, and it becomes fixed and able to 
 abide the Examen of Fire, it is no longer a bitter 
 Venome, but pafi'eth into a falutiferous Medicament. 
 Hence the worthy Lullj cried out ; If you dulcifie the 
 hitter, you will have the whole Magtjhry. Which Dul- 
 cification our Secret Fire is able to compleat as per- 
 fedly as the Sun of all acid and harfh products of 
 Trees, makes fvveer, pleafant and faiubrious Fruits 
 Fonrati.'.'s witneQ'eth , that he had laboured in the 
 true* matter of the Stone, yet that he erred more 
 than an hundred times, and that he fhould never 
 have returned into the Royal way of Infallible Ope- 
 ration, if he had not read Artephins, and of him 
 karned the Fire of the Wile. This indeed is a thing 
 to be admired, that almoft no Chymilt imploys his 
 Care, Study, Meditation and Counfel to feek out 
 and find our Secret Fire, although to it there is 
 fcarcely given another like and fecond in all the 
 things of Nature. Artephms did lb clearly defcribe 
 that Fire, as you would wonder that fb few Search- 
 ers have ever comprehended his Mind. All other 
 Philofophers, who were partakers of fuch a Fire, do 
 with Artephms expredy write, that it burns continu- 
 ally in their Glafs, and not fo extrinfecally, in one 
 degree. Whence indeed it is fufficiently manifeft, 
 that the fam.e is not common Fire made of Wood and 
 Coals. "Therefore I do pofitively fay, that our Secret 
 Fire, in a (hort time, is able to tranfinute the whole 
 of Mercury into a red, fweet and pleafant Tinfture, 
 and alfb to change both humane and metallick Bo- 
 dies. 
 
 ret further, Tcuchmg th: wo/? fruitfidl Ufe of cur Al- 
 cahef^, brtngtng great Gam in Metallick Labours. 
 
 AS we have heard that volatile common Mercury 
 is fixed and rendred conftant in Fire, by the 
 help of our Alcakf ; fo it alfo in fuch wife fixeth o- 
 ther Minerals, and volatile Metp' as the fame in 
 Cupellating, leave behind both Sol and Lune , not 
 without notable utility. But thence efpecially'may 
 you reap vaft profit, if volatile Sol and Luna, extrac- 
 ted by Aefua Fortis out of Sand and Earth, be again 
 totally fixed by help of that, in fuch a manner, as 
 they in Fire fly not ; but yielding, permit themfelves 
 to be melted as any other Sol and Lune. Metals, 
 whenfoevcr wrought upon by the help of A^ua For- 
 tis, although they were fixt before, degenerate into 
 another Nature, and are volatilized, fb as with a 
 ^rong Fire of Fufion they fly away to the Owners 
 great lofs. As for Example : If you diffohe Lune 
 in A^ua Regia , and upon the fiime So'ution pour 
 common Saltwater, the Lune will be precipired from 
 the Water in the form cf a white Powder, which if 
 with other Water you well edulcorate and dry, you 
 will have a Calx of Lune much more ponderous than 
 the Lune was before Which kind of increafe aii- 
 feth onely from the fharp Spirits of the Salt, which 
 the Silver hath drawn into it felf fo firmly, .as by the 
 benefit of Water they could not be totally feparated 
 but remain in it, not onely whilft it is heated red- 
 hot, but alfb in a ftrong Fire of Fufion, infbmuch as 
 the Lune fhews it felf not tra-ftable in Fire, as any o- 
 ther Silver, but remains like a Stone in that vehe- 
 ment Fire, fo as whilft it is flowing, thofe Spirits of 
 the Salt carry away much of the Silver with them in 
 fume ; and part of it alfb penetrates into the Cruci- 
 ble. Wherefore fuch L«we precipitated with Salt, can- 
 not be melted again and made ductile Silver without 
 great lofs and detriment, but appears intractable 
 like a tranfparent Horn , whence alfo it is by Chy- 
 mifts called the Horn of the Moon ; but I in my Wri- 
 tings name this Silver ( as being that which is alto- 
 gether volatile and fufible) the Mercury of Luna. 
 
 In the fame manner alfb Saturn may be converted 
 into a Liquable and volatile Mercury, touching the 
 admirable and profitable ufe of which, I have writ 
 but not publifhed , a whole Treatife, which is inti- 
 tuled, The IVork of Saturn : but of this no more here. 
 The Evening of the Day now approaching, admo- 
 nifheth us to return to fpeak of our volatile Lune , 
 and to (hew the way of reducing that into fixed and 
 foft or tradable Silver ; which indeed by unskilfull 
 Men is fuppofed to be a difficult Art, but by skilfull 
 Men it is known to be eafily effected with the great 
 Utility of the Operator. 
 
 But fome one may fay, what need we about that 
 imploy our principal Cares and Meditations, to ren- 
 der fuch precipitated volatile Lune into fixed and 
 good Silver, fince there are other ways of precipi- 
 tating Silver from Aciua Fortis, viz by the help of 
 thin plates of Venus '•( To fuch a Man, I thus 
 anfvver : They who commonly feparate Sol from 
 Luna, are in a great meafure abufed by that way of 
 precipitation with Venus Plates ; but they Would 
 never ule that chargeable Precipitation, if they en- 
 joyed the knowledge of any other more profitable. 
 Chargeable, I fay, is fuch a Precipitation to thofe 
 that ufe it, becaufe much Water muft be poured into 
 the Solution, for wafhing away or weakening the 
 force of the Aqua Fort if, that the Lune may the more 
 D c) d readily 
 
L94 Tf^^ F^^'fi Appendix to the Seventh Fart of Part 11. 
 
 rl^Sily be precipitated by the Fenuf , and the 
 j4<^ua Fonts alfo not dilfolve too much of the Kt- 
 n.'is. By this feparation the A^ua Fort/s is loft, be- 
 caufe it becomes Coppery, und untie for a new ufe 
 of (eparating. For one \4ark of Silver cofts in Aijua 
 Fortts one'y C not reckoning Labour and Workman- 
 fhip) almoft half an Imperial : wherefore our Bd- 
 g:.:ri Refiners t^^'^k it worth their while, if for repa- 
 ration of every iviark of Guilt Silver, they fpend but 
 two Holland Florens, or \ of one Imperial , for o- 
 tberwife they cannot gain much : Yet fome of them 
 will not precipitate their Lme with the help of Ve- 
 nus Plates, and (b lofe their Aejua Fonts, but by di 
 ftiljation abftracl the Af^ua Fortis, and afterward ule 
 it again. But this abftradion is difficultly performed, 
 and is not void of danger. For the Glafs breaking, 
 the Silver is fpilt amongft the Sand , fo as the whole 
 cannot be recovered again without fomc damage, 
 and (ometimes there is great lofs. Wherefore fuch a^ 
 way of feparating, although you can fave part o" 
 the Acjua Foitis, yet it is chargeable and alfo dange- 
 rous ( when Aijua Fortis is to be prepared in a great 
 quantity, as is wont to be done in metallick Mines 
 of Gold and Silver, and alfo in Goldfiniths Shops 
 becaufc it requires a filthy toil, fordid labour, great 
 expence, and a continual rirefiMiie and perillous trou 
 ble. I add perillous, and th^t defervedly ; becaufe 
 thofe Operators, who frequently feparate with A/^ua 
 Fortis, do very often become Penpncumomck, and 
 difcafed in their Lungs , by attrading with their 
 breath the Acrimony ot thofe Spirits into their Lungs, 
 with which fharp Spirits the Lungs being touched, 
 are hurt, and rendred obnoxious to Putrefaltion, 
 infornuch as among thofe Separators you fhall very 
 rarely ever find an old Gray-hair d Mafter. For fuch 
 Companions, even in their flounfhing Age, are un 
 timely hurried out of this life. But what are thefe 
 feeble wretches able to doe, in withftanding the 
 great Power of Deftiny .-' Of Golden Silver, Moni- 
 ers know not how to make Ndoney before they have 
 Separated the Gold from it, how great coft fbever 
 they be at for feparating the fame. About two 
 years fince I writ touching a certain Artificial me 
 thod of feparating Gold from Silver in abundance ; 
 but becaufe I was taken fick a little after, and have 
 continued difcompofld almoli ever flnce, I could 
 not bring that laudable and moft profitable Work of 
 Separation to ctfeft. 
 
 But afterward this my Infirmity continuing long, 
 and I neceflltated to keep my Bed, although trou- 
 bled with no confiderab!e fenle of pain, could do 
 nothing, but onely bend and incline my ferious 
 thoughts and meditations upon Nature and Art ; 
 then God and Fortune fhewed mc the way, by 
 which every common Mercury may be fixed and 
 rendred conftant in Fire. Which ludden fixation of 
 volatile Mercury, the Deluder of all Alchymifts, gave 
 me farther occafion of fixing other volatile Subjeds 
 alfo. But among others, I ordered trial and proof 
 to be made of a volatile Calx of Lurte precipitated 
 with fait Water, that I might experimentally fee, 
 whether fuch volatile Silver might not be fo bound 
 up, as to futlerit fe'.f, like any other Lune to be mel- 
 ted without detriment or lofs; the etfed of which 
 Trial or Proof fijcceeded according to my expeda- 
 tion. That indeed is a great Reward of a great In- 
 vention, infornuch as it fiipplies me with lutficient 
 rhatter of allerting with Archimedes, It is an Inven- 
 tion worth the Milk of an hundred Kine. For this 
 Fixation of volatile Silver will atford a famous Fruit 
 
 of Utility in Alchymy, and efpecially in the Separa- 
 tion of Gold from Silver ; becaufe fuch a way the Se- 
 paration of Gold from Silver may eafily he made;i';3i. 
 there being no need of the Solution of Silver by 
 Acfua Fortts, but it is fufficient if the Silver be onely 
 granulated, and the Sol which is in it extradled by 
 Acina Rcgia ; becaufe that being done, you will fee 
 all the Silver refiding in the bottom. And although 
 there fhould be half an Ounce of Gold in every 
 Mark of Silver, yet you will need no more Acjna Re- 
 gia, than onely fo much as is required tor the Solu- 
 tion of fiich a quantity of Gold ; fb as a diligent 
 ■Man, in the fpace of one day, may very well fepa- 
 rate an hundred Marks of Golden-Silver, for the 
 charge of three Duckets. And this artifical method 
 of Separating may not onely be ufei^. by the Separa- 
 tors of Gold from Lune, but you may thence alfo 
 reap greater profit, whenfoever you are dcfirous by 
 the help of A']tta Fortts to extrad Silver from Stones, 
 Sand and C!ay, and to precipitate the fame with 
 Salt : for this way all the Acfua Regis will be faved, 
 that Aejua Fortts by the addition of Salt being tur- 
 ned into A<^i<a Regis, which will be moft power- 
 fully conducent for extracYing Gold out of Sand and 
 Stones, and for precipitating by a Mercurial Preci- 
 pitation of the Gold from the ^j(^na Rtgia, and after- 
 ward that Aijua Regia may again be ufed with no- 
 table profit for extradting like Gold. Touching 
 which gainfull Extradion , the Seventh Part of the 
 Projpertty of our Country largely treateth. Here my 
 intent was onely to publifh an Artificial, and not 
 charg'-able way of feparating Gold from Silver ; 
 which is fuch a method, as 1 believe the World ne- 
 ver knew before. 
 
 Thus this new-invented Work of Separation is 
 a moft profitable C'ompendium , by the benefit of 
 which every skilfull Man hereafter may with a good 
 courage labour, and increafe his Goods and Fortunes 
 honefl:Iy : for I believe there cannot be invented 
 any new Work more compendious than this we have 
 here alledged, for the feparatif>n of Gold from Sil- 
 ver : wherefore we acquiefce in that. But if any 
 one would be more prolixly inftrucled in this Arti- 
 ficial Separation , let him perufe the above-recited 
 Seventh Part of the Frofperity of Germany, where 
 he may fatisfie the hunger of his defires. Here you 
 have the Ftrfi Appendix on the Seventh Van of^ my 
 Spagyrtcal Pharmacopsea : but in the following Second 
 .ippendix ( God willing) I wi!l dilcover yet greater 
 Secrets, which may be perfefted by our Alcaheft^ 
 but were never yet manitefted to the World. But 
 at this time, courteous Reader, take in good pare 
 thefe few things here premifed, and whatfbever ex- 
 cellent thing fhall hereafter offer it felf, the fame 
 fhall be prefenred to thy Confideration. 
 
 Therefore, fince ( as is above declared and (hew- 
 ed) our Secret Ahahejr is able to enrich Mortals 
 with many kinds of gainfull Emolument, he is in 
 no-wifc to be reprehended, that afpires to the know- 
 ledge of elaborating fb excellent a Work, -viz,, how 
 he fhould prepare for himfclt Oil of Vitriol or Sul- 
 phur, and that in abundance for a very finall charge: 
 for nothing hinders, but that four or five pounds 
 thereof may be prepared for the charge of one Im- 
 perial. I need not mention how Spirit of Urine may 
 eafily be had and prepared in abundance, viz.. fo 
 toon as one fhall caufe Urine mixt with Quicklime 
 to afcend in a large diftillatory Vefica. For if any one 
 fhal] fb prepare his Akaheji, eight or ten pounds 
 
 thereof. 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spagjricnl Fbarmacopoda. 
 
 19^ 
 
 there >t, after his work is done, will fcarcely coft 
 him one Imperial : wherefore he muft needs gain 
 much more, than it he fhould buy the lame ot others 
 that (ell it, tor a great Price. In the mean while I 
 doubt not, but that luch a moft ealie Coagulation 
 
 or Fixation ot Mercury, as is made by help of this 
 Aktrbelt, will excite not a tew of the more unskil- 
 full Readers, to the love of Learning from expert 
 Artifts, the Art of preparing the Alcahefi in abun- 
 dance. 
 
 A Recapitulation , 
 
 O R 
 
 More ample Declaration of the precedent Secrets revealed. 
 
 Well meaning Reader, 
 
 HEre in this Affenilx I do indeed treat of very 
 feiv Secrets, hut tbofe are 'very ([^reat, ( -which 
 may be actjuired by our Alcaheft, ) the like of 
 ^hich no other Man before me did ever impart to the 
 World. Now contemplate, and well conjider with thy 
 felf this fwift and Plot chargeable Fixation 0/ Mercury, 
 ivhtch fo many famous and indufiriotu Searchers have 
 laborioujly fought fur ma?iy hundreds of Tears now paj]ed, 
 as IS known to the whole World. But the greatejl part 
 of them have fought in vain, and with a fruitlefs and 
 unlucky endeavour mijerably lojl all their Tatrtmotty and 
 Fortunes, and become the Laughing- [lock of 'other ^ttore 
 happy Fci-jons, being themfelves (Vagabonds , which cafl 
 an alperjion of Ignominy on the noble Art of Chymifir]/ , 
 and bavt rendred the fame fo oditius foery-where among 
 the common fcrt, as no good 'Alan ( although he hath 
 by tnofi diligent jearch obtained (owe famous Medicine ) 
 dares to profefs him felf the Pojjejjor of any Eminent 
 Arcanum in Chjmijhy, left he flioidd give any occafion 
 to Arifiarchical Cenjurers if dtfamwg btm^. and call- 
 ing him a Gold making Animal. Ajjurediy it: is very 
 manifefl, that m all Regions of Europe, and in every 
 Age, have lived fuch Men mofl experienced , as have 
 not oncly tranfmuled Mercury, but other vile 'Aletalf, 
 alfo into good Gold, fuflaining- tvtry Examin of Pire.- 
 But this Wits done very fecretly, left the Artifls them- 
 J elves fiiotdd fall into the hands of Tyrants. Paracel- 
 fus, that moft famous Monarch of all Philofophers, Vhy- 
 ficians and Chymrfts, did indeed openly write of the Fixa- 
 tion o/" Mercury, but in a Character fo abftrufe, as in 
 all my life I never faw one Man who could fix his Co- 
 ralline Mercury, or prejent it to the fight of fufflcient 
 and certain Witnefjes, except Helmont writing, that he 
 could prepare fuch Mercury, as m Atedicine would per- 
 form all whatjoever the thyfician fliould have need of. 
 But that the fame Mercury j as Paracel fus teftifes of 
 it from bis own Experience ) enters into Gold and aug- 
 mivti fhat, and exbilerates many impoverijhed Alchv- 
 milts, tejiorrng them to a more fortunate /late ; touch- 
 ing thefe Effects of the fame , the worthy Helmont 
 made no mention ; yet he writ, that he did himfelf fix 
 
 Mercurj(, hy one emly ahfiraUion of his Alcaheft, m 
 fuch Wife., as of one poitnd he bad left in the CupcUa 
 feven ounces of good Silver, which mdeed is a famous 
 Work m Chymifi^y, and "worth wlnle ; but Gold ts bet- 
 ter. Truly I muft needs confefs, that I have often tedi- 
 oufly laboured to no purpnfe in this Work, and never 
 could wttk any profit extratt good Lune thence, onely I 
 always had a littlg .good Silver. Ne uerthclefs after- 
 ■ward, when J lay Bed-rid, and hy reafon of my four 
 years Jkknefs , had confumed all my Ggods gotten by 
 Medicine f it pleafedthe moft wife God to confer en me 
 fe great a IJgbt, as. by the Splendor of that I found tbt 
 Royal way of operating rightly ; and now I am able m 
 a 'peryftw dap (6 fix any commom Mercury into a fixed 
 red^ofl^der, which fixed, Mercury will undoubtedly per- 
 form Wonders tn Aledicme. For Paracelfus writes , 
 that tM dolorous Gout May. he radically expelled by the 
 benefit of the fame. HQlmoni fubfcr the s, that the fame 
 ^Ml-feifform all a Vhyfician can defire and wifh for. 
 l-lherefire, if the fame be of fo great efficacy ( for I 
 doubt iiot.Jke truth of. ins Affertion ) no thyfuian batb 
 need of any other thing than this ; becaufe tn what part 
 joever of the World he refides, it will fupply him with 
 Aliments fhffictent, , 4nd be will have no need to expofe 
 himfelf '/() the igytobir fervitude and arbitrement of anc' 
 ther^ as the great efi part of other Alercenary Phyficians 
 are wont to proflitule themfelves for hire. For by this 
 Mercury onely he may ac<juire to himfelf Honour and 
 Wealth enough, although he otherwife perform no great 
 matter in Cbymifiry. In all Nations are found Ahn 
 affttcled with grievous D-ifeafes : of which no doubt is to 
 be made^ as a little after we jliall hear. Wherefore it 
 fhould be the oiely care, fludy and endeavour of an hf 
 nefl and candid Phyfia.:n to obtain fuch a fixed Mer- 
 cury, m the mean while omitting all needle fs and vain 
 Operations, together with all fruitlefs Difputes, without 
 any Foundation , touching other unprofit.ible Remedies. 
 Whenfoever this it, there will be no need of Galenical 
 Medicines, nor of the vain Pomp of fo many wi' 
 thered , unprofitable and inefficacious Herbs , or fo 
 mayiy painted Boxes , Pets and Glafi'es , with other 
 
 fri volous 
 
1^6 The Fir ft Appendix to the Seventh I-' art oj l^art 11. 
 
 frivolous Ex^ences orderly flaced in Apothecaries 
 Shops. 
 
 Now let Tis bear -what admirable Effects our fixed 
 Mercury is able to mamfefi m Metalltcks. Paracel- 
 fus -writes, that it exhilerates every Alchymift reduced 
 to a poor Efiate, and hath tvgrefs into Gold, and aug- 
 ments the fame. My own Experience of this I am wil- 
 ling to impart to the Candid Reader, as far as I have 
 proceeded hitherto. Therefore let the well meaning Rea- 
 der know, that I found out this Art of Fixing Mercury 
 no longer fmce than in March laft of this Year 1667, 
 a7id began to make proof thereof in the following Month 
 c/ April ; and fo foon as I had found the Truth of it, I 
 thought good to publifl] fo great an Invention to the 
 whole IVorlJ. Tet in fo jhort a fpace of Time, I could 
 not fearch out all that was to be found, becaufe by 
 reafoH of my diuturnal Illnefs I was conjhained to keep 
 in my Bed ; therefore I haflntd the publication of fo ex- 
 cellent an Invention, becaufe I feared it wculd happen 
 that the mjalubrious Air of March or April fliould be 
 my Death^ and fo all hope of divulging fuch a Secret be 
 totally fru[lrated. Whatfoever I found in the fame 
 within that fmall fpace of time, I have here commu- 
 nicated 
 
 I three feveral times perfeBed the Fixation of Mer- 
 cury in a fmall tjuantity, and always found it, every 
 time higher and higher, and more and more beautifuU. 
 This fixed Mercury" / cupeUated with Saturn, but my 
 Mercury remained fixed, without any Ingrefs made 
 into the Leixd, infomuch as from it felf could give no 
 Cold. Afterward I made another Trial, and then to 
 my fixed Mercury / added a little common Gold, 
 melting them into one Mafs, I found that this Gold 
 from the Mercury had increafed it felf more than half; 
 the remaindtr of my Mercury had made no Ingrefs, but 
 remained lying like a Red fixed Calx. Which kind of 
 f roof fully fitisfied my mind, becaufe the refidue of my 
 Mercury, which had not entred into the Gold, was not 
 loft, hut converted into an excellent Medicine. If it 
 fleafe the mofi wife God to refiore me to my prifitne 
 health, as I hope he will in the next Summers heat, I 
 fjall not acquiefce in this proof onely, but further try 
 ■whether I can of this Mercury yet make feme further 
 improvement. In the mean while I fing Praifes to the 
 Immortal God for fo noble a Medicine againfi the dolo- 
 rous Gout. 
 
 Thus, Reader, ycu have my Experience touching the 
 Fixed Coralline Mercury. If I find any other more 
 excellent Experiment of this ( as I doubt not but I JhaU ) 
 
 I will ere it be long make thee partaktr thereof m a 
 following Second Appendix. 
 
 IVhat foever I have above prefcribed touching the Mer- 
 cury of Wine, as being an excellent Salt, and Supreme 
 Medicine, I did fufficiently explain, except the Injlru- 
 ment to be made for burning the Spirit of Wine, which 
 is not yet fufficiently expreffed. 
 
 But here it is to be obferved, that a burning Spirit 
 extracted from Corn or other Vegetables, in no-wife yields 
 fo much Mercury, as Spirit of liine doth, and efpect- 
 ally tf difi tiled from rich Rhenifli Wine. In like man- 
 ner aljo fo much Mercury cannot be had from any fweet 
 French or Spanifh Wine, as from Rhenijh Wine. So 
 foon as by fearch I found the reafon of this difference, I 
 could from any burning Spirit made of Corn, extrail as 
 much Mercury, as from Rhenifl) Wine , infomuch as I 
 now ( praife and thanks be given to God ' can eafily he 
 without Rhenifl) Wine and any other. The fupreme Gi- 
 ver of all good Gifts, from his inexhaufled Fountain of 
 Grace, hath abundantly refrefJied me with good things ; 
 let him yet inflill more into me, that I may again dijtill 
 the fame into other of his needy and officious Servants^ 
 who with me endeavour to publiflj the Magnalia of God. 
 Amen. 
 
 But proceeding yet further, we will briefly ffeak of 
 the Secret Fire of ancient Philofophers, being that by 
 which they ripened their TmBures. Therefore, for a 
 Conclupon, let the Lover of divine and natural Wife- 
 dom know, that fuch a Fire ts not made of Wood or Coals^ 
 but IS a Firey-water, fuch as gives forth from it felf 
 neither fmoak nor flame. The fame is not hindred or 
 excited by external Fire, but in the Glafs, (about the 
 SubfeB'you intend to fix and dulcifie ) it always burns 
 m an ec^ual degree, and converts the immature and barfit 
 into fweet and pie af ant, fixed and mature ; and alfo 
 converts bitter Venome into falutary Medicine and Trea- 
 cle. 
 
 Therefore, wbomfoever God illuminates with fo great 
 Light, as to know fuch a Secret Fire, he will no more 
 need tofeek or defire any thing m Philofophy and Her me- 
 tick Medicine, but will offer up inceffant Fraifes to GoJ^ 
 as to the Fountain of all Good , becaufe he will continu- 
 ally be mmdfull of helping the Difireffes of the Poor, and 
 largely beftow on thofe Indigent Perfons, out of the a- 
 bundance to him accruing by the benefit of that moft no- 
 ble Gift granted to hirnfelf. 
 
 To the Supreme GOD alone be Praifc and 
 
 Glory for ever. 
 
 The End of the Firft Appendix, 
 
 THE 
 
I 
 
 Part II. I9JJ 
 
 THE 
 
 SECOND APPENDIX 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 SEVENTH PART 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Spagyrical Pharmacopoea. 
 
 Wherein is treated of the further ufe of our fecret Sal-Ar^ 
 
 moniac^, for the meliorating of the meaner Metals, and more particular- 
 ly of the profitable extracting or feparating So/ and Lune from Jupiter. 
 With a fubjoyned information how by means of the Mercurial Water of 
 Jupiter^ Tinctures may be extraded in quantity not onely froju So/^ but 
 alfo from Mars and Veni^^ and all precious, as well as common Stones 5 
 and that (as it were^ in a moment, without Fire or any confiderable charge. 
 
 Faithfully Tranjlated out of the High-Dutch. 
 
 Kind READER, 
 
 It^myforegoirt^firflApperidixofmy Pharmacopcea Spagvrica, I promifed a fecond concerning 
 the further ufe ofourjecret Sa!-Armoniack, that the ignorant as well as douhtfull might be 
 full) jatifed of the truth. The reafon why I rather choefe to add two Appendixes to the [aid 
 feventh Part, than to publijh the fecret s therein contained., under the title of the eighth Party 
 is hecaufe I have refolved not to go beyond the number 7 (i« which fomethinz, extraordinary lies hid) 
 in any of my Writings. And forajmuch as I have already publifhed fix Parts of the welfare of my 
 own Countrev ; I intend fkortly to add the feventh Part., which fh all contain clear and jull in- 
 ftruUions, without concealing the leafl circumjlance or manual operation how every one who is bit a 
 little skilfd in Fire, may with great profit extrad from Sand and Stones, So\ and Lune, and there- 
 by get a plentiful! lively hood in any part of the World. I have alfo at prefent in hand, the two lajl 
 parts of my Treatije of Furnaces, five of them being already in Print, that I may in that Piece 
 alfo compleat the number feven : which tivo lad Furnaces are extraordinary ufefuU , for in treating 
 of the fixth Furnace I defer ibe that Artificial Refrigeratory Infirwrent or Alembick, whereby the 
 Mercury or Cceleflial'^iiC'C of all l^'egetables. Animals and Minerals is caught by kindling Spirit 
 of Wine upon them, by which means the f aid Mercury is feparated from its'grofs Body, andunpro- 
 jitahle part, and becomes highly exalted and purified. Which inflrument the I'hilofophers have 
 always carefully concealed. The feventh Fart of my Furnaces fhall contain the defer ipt ion of a little 
 Furnace in which ivith a very inconfiderable quantity of Coals and in a few hours, difliUation may be 
 performed by Retort, being fuch a Compendium at has never yet been publifhed to the World. In 
 which Furnace alfo the 7 intlures of Metals may with the fecret Fire <y^ Artephius, or by the proper 
 Agent of the matter of the Stone, in a fhort time be fixed and maturated. And if it fhall pleafe 
 Cod to continue my Life a while longer, I intend to carry on thefe my followingWorks, viz. The 
 Mineral Work, tlie wonder o\ the World, my Centuries, with other of my Writings, to the fe- 
 venth number ; but before I publifh tkefe I intend to Print fame other Treatifes, viz. Ot the fecond 
 Terreltnaljand third CxleUial ^ux^^oxy , and another concerning God and good and evil Spirits. 
 
 E e e M^jv 
 
io8 The Second Appendix to the Seventh Vart of Part IL 
 
 '^Noiv asto the fecond Appendix^ 1 intend therein briefly, hitt fundamentally to declare the true 
 gainfull particular as well as univerfal tranfmutation of Metals ; yet not fo, as that every lazy 
 proud Lublerrnay become Mafter of thefe fecrets, and thereby ftrengthen himfelj in his F ride and 
 Debauchery^ by no means ; but tbej Jhall be fo laid down, that thofe who have attained to fame skill 
 of managing Fire, may eajily comprehend the fame ; yea the whole World will, I hope, have caufe 
 to rejoyce for this my fait hfull Communication. And in cafe there be any that might not find clear 
 and full fat i'^ "^ ion in this my Appendix they may read my other Writings, particularly thofe yet 
 to be publifhek, wherein they will meet with ajurther Elucidation of theje Jecrets. 
 
 And as for thofe my good old Friends who never bafely complied tvith the Enemies of Art and 
 Truth, to them I am {^as J always was^ ready to communicate a fhorter and nearer way than it is 
 fitting here to expofe to every Man. 
 
 Of the further profitable ufe of our fecret Sal-Armoniack 
 for the Melioration of Metals. 
 
 IN the feventh part of my Fharmacoposa Spagyrica, 
 I have at large declared how our (ecret Sal- Arm 
 jiLtck is to be made together with the ufe of it in the 
 preparation of many excellent Medicines, hitherto 
 unknown. And betaufe therein 1 did not difcover 
 all, I added to it an Appendix, treating concerning 
 the ufe of the faid S H- Armoninck and other profira 
 ble fecrets. But forafmuch as the virtues of the faid 
 Sal- Arfnojjiack -die great and unfathomable, 1 have 
 thought good to add the fecond Appendix, which 
 fpeaks of irs ufe in meliorating the meaner metals 
 I intend therefore in this writing to difcover great 
 things, neither fhall the Worlds ingratitude deter 
 rae from lo doing. I {hall begin with Saturn and 
 Jupiter, and afterwards treat of the melioration of 
 other meaner metals, ^'<z.. Mars and Fenm, how 
 by Art their corruptible and combuftible Sulphur 
 may be feparated from them, and their purer part, 
 {yiz,. Sol and Lune which arc hid in themj extrac- 
 ted and made vifible. 
 
 Lead and Tin, to outward afpeifl do much refera- 
 ble one another, fave onely that Jupiter is whiter, 
 for which reafon the Philofophers have called it white 
 Lead, Antmmy black Lead, and Bijmuth gray 
 Lead ; becaufe all of them like Lead, eafily melt in 
 the Fire. 
 
 Concerning Saturn and Jupiter (being the higheft 
 Planets in the Firmament) the Heathen Philofophers 
 have writ much in their Fables : as amongft other 
 things, that Jupmr drove his Father Saturn from his 
 Kingdom, and made himfelf Mafter of it and other 
 like Stories ; in all which they obfcurely hinted to 
 us the tranfmutation of Metals. For thefe Poetical 
 Fables though they fee m trifling and foolifh to thofe 
 who have not attained to any confiderable experi 
 ence in Fire, fo that of one thoufand Readers fcarce 
 one reaches the true ground of them, (though 'tis 
 Known they were writ by men of great learning 
 and experience) yet they whole underftanding God 
 enlightens find in them an hidden Treafiire. 
 
 Now to the end I may not bury the Talent God 
 has been pleafcd to beflow upon me, but improve it 
 for the good of the World, 1 fliall here difcover the 
 melioration of Jupiter and Satur-a to the glory of God 
 the Author of all good, and for the ule ot all man 
 kind, without refpedl of Perfons, vi^hether they be 
 Friends or Enemies ; thegood and virtuous will with- 
 out doubt thankfully accept this my communication, 
 and to the ungratet'ull and unworthy, this my well- 
 meaning difcovery of lijch profitable fecrets will but 
 heap Coals on their Heads. Wherefore it fhall not 
 repent me though it (hould come to the hands of my 
 
 worft Enemies, as being fjfficiently contented in this 
 that I am any way infrrumental in making known 
 the wonders of God and nature to the World. 
 
 Thus in the name of Gnd without envy or repi- 
 ling I proceed according to hiscommand, todogood 
 o Friends and Enemies, good and bad : if the wick- 
 ed abule any of thefe fecrets, God in his due time 
 will meet with them, and pay them in their own 
 Coin. Follows now the nature and property of 
 f.fiter and Saturn, according as they have beendif- 
 covered to me by Fire. 
 
 of the nature and property of Lead. 
 
 SAturn is an immature Metal, made up of much 
 grofs Mercury and little Sulphur which is impure. 
 Its Salt much reicmbles Sak-peter, which is the caufe 
 ')f its coldnefs and eafie fufibility. When its .iV/er- 
 cury is purged from the impure Sulphur, it becomes 
 like Gold in weight, and may by Art be reduced 
 to the colour and fi.xednefs of Gold. When its fu- 
 perffuous combuftible Sulphur and nitrous Salt from 
 whence proceed its ready fluxibility, and piercing 
 and devouring nature are feparated from it, all true 
 Philofophers witnefs that there the Mercury of Lead 
 may be turned toGo!d, for they call Lead their le- 
 prous Gold. Now as the Leprofie in Man proceeds 
 from a cold moifl and over Salt Confiitution of Blood, 
 which corroding the Skin and Flefh produces fiich 
 an abominable Scab upon the Body, efpecially in 
 thofe parts where moifture moft abounds, -viz. about 
 the Nofe, Ears, Eyes, &c. but where the whole 
 mafs of the Blood is become corrofive, there it fpreads 
 over all the Body fparingno parr, but filling it with 
 Sores and Ulcers; lb as at length where no potent 
 Remedies are ufed to mortifie this malign corrofive 
 humour, it deflroys the Body and Death fo lows. 
 To cure which formidable Malady, the Ancients 
 made choife of fixed Gold, as not being fubjedt to 
 any corruption, which wife intention of theirs is 
 very prepofteroufly imitated by our Galemfis, who 
 when they find that their helplels and unprofitable 
 Medicaments want ihe defired fuccefs about their 
 Patients, and that fmall hope of faving them is left, 
 betake themfelves to Gold, Silver and Precious 
 Stones, for to help at this dead lift. But let fijch as 
 rtiefe remember that they will find it hard to anfwer 
 thefe their proceedings one day,by which they onely 
 poft their patients out of the Wrrld : for what can 
 the flomach of any man,butefpecialIvofthe weak and 
 fick do with the filings or leaves of Gold iuid Silver, 
 or the Powder of Precious Stones .-' can we fuppofe 
 that the Stomach can draw any virtue from thofe 
 things, that the moft corrofive Waters will fcarce 
 touch ? But this hath been fo often inculcated by o- 
 thers, that it is matter of wonder, that fuch foolifh 
 
 and 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spagyrical Vharmacopcca. 
 
 l^:> 
 
 and fruitlefs ingredients have not been long fince ex- 
 ploded and laid fide, being indeed nothing eUe but 
 the (hame and reproach of Phyficians ; and all that 
 can be faid for them i?, that they muft be well paid 
 for, and fo help to make the Pot boil ; without doubt 
 when the promifed Elms Artifia ftiall come, he will 
 put an end to all this unprofitable ftuff , and inftead 
 therefore reflore true powerPjU Medicaments ; to 
 which good end I hope my Tmgatory of the Phtloft- 
 phers, with the Sixth and Seventh Part of my Furnaces 
 will not a little contribute Thus it feems Truth 
 muft yet for a while be defpis'd and opprefs'd, till 
 God, the truth it felf, be pleafcd to raife up a mighty 
 Hero to deliver it from Contempt, and Crown it 
 with glory and honour. 
 
 It cannot be denied, but fbme experienc'd Philo- 
 Ibphers, as Paraciljus and others have declar'd, that 
 with Gold and precious Stones wonders may be done 
 in PhyUck , when firft they be reduced to potabili- 
 ty ; but have always condemnd the u(e of their 
 €ompa(fl and fixt Bodies, which are infuperable by 
 Fire it fclf, and therefore much more by the gentle 
 heat of tl'.e Stomach. And indeed if thofe Phyfici 
 ans, who ignorantly make u(e of (iich gro(s and 
 compad Bodies, did know the living Gold, Silver 
 and precious Stones of the Philofophers, and the 
 due application of them to the fick, they would by 
 this means get more honour, and not be fo injurious 
 ro their Neighbour, as they are, by exhibiting fuch 
 unprofitable and hurtfull things for Remedies. 
 
 I cannot but on this occafion fpeak a word of the 
 Leprofic and Its cure; which being confelTedh a 
 Saturnine dife'afe, may eafily be cured by Saturnine 
 Medicaments, fuch as are Black Lead, the Amim.n) 
 of Wife men, or Alagntfia of Saturn, being ducly 
 prepared. But to return to our Lead or Leprous 
 Gold, and enquire how we may beft rid him of his 
 Melancholy Leprofie, and inftead thereof reftore to 
 him a healthy fanguine complexion , which can no 
 way better be done than by evacuating his fharp 
 corrofive blood , or dulcifying of it For, as has 
 been laid , Lead contains a fharp fal-nitrous Spirit, 
 which corrodes and devours all hard things, which 
 the Ancients have intimated by their portraying him 
 with a (harp Sythe in one hand, and in rhe> other 
 holding a young Child, which he devours ; where 
 tore ai(b he is called a devourer of Infants, and a 
 ravtnnus Wolf. Which ravenous property he ex 
 prelics to the life, when on the Cupel he devours 
 whatfoever is added to him, and therefore is called 
 an unmercifull Father to his Children , becaufe he 
 devours and deftroys them. According to all Phi- 
 lofophers and Aftronc'mers he is the higheft and firft 
 of all the Planets in the Firmament, upon which 
 account the other Planets and Metals, 'vtz,. Sol, 
 Liinti, [fupner. Mart, Vtntts and Mercury are call'd 
 his Children, though improperly, for they are his 
 Brethren, which he devours, fwallows and deftroys 
 on the fiery Cupel, except Sol and Luna, which 
 though he fwallows as well as his other Brethren, 
 yet can he nor concod; or digeft them, but is fain 
 to vomit them up again, and they are (b far from 
 receiving any hurt in the Stomach of that ravenous 
 Wolf, that they come forth much purer than before, 
 leaving all their filth behind them. So that this de- 
 vouring Glutton, notv/ithftanding the corrofive aci- 
 dity ol his Stomach cannot confume Gold or Silver, 
 but robs them onely of their fuperfluous Sulphur, 
 which is the corrupter of th« Mercury in Metals , 
 
 of which Paracelfifs excellently writes in his Calum 
 Philofcfborum, which I have quoted in my firft Ap- 
 pendix concerning the ufe of the Alcahcft. 
 
 Now chat there is a great acidity in Lead, ap- 
 pears from this inftance ; becaufe when it is melted. 
 It pierces the Crucible, and runs through ; and there- 
 fore Cupels have been invented, made of Bone-aflics, 
 which he cannot cat through , but finks like water 
 into them. Yet there are alfb Ciucibles made of 
 Coal-duft and good Earth proportionably temper"d 
 together, which can hold Satt, n in Flux for a year 
 together, without ever piercing them : of which 
 more may be feen in my other Writings. 
 
 This then is the Nature and Property of Saturn, 
 he contains much, but impure Mercury, and a fharp 
 corrofive Salt-peter Spirit ; when he is rid of thefe, 
 he atFords good Gold and Silver, yet not alone and' 
 of himfelf, but with help of his Brother Juvtter, 
 whole liiperfluous Sulphur kindles the Nitrous Spi- 
 rtt in Lead, and confumes it ; fo that by this enkind- 
 ling, not onely the hurtfull Saltpeter in Lead, but 
 a!fo the fuperfluous Sulphur in Tin are both confu- 
 med and defboyed This being done, if the Tin 
 thus mixed with Lead be driven oiF on the Cupel 
 they will yield Gold and Silver enough for a compe- 
 tent livelihood. 
 
 If thou would'ft be further afTured that Lead con- 
 tains a fharp Salt-peter Spirit, which by no other 
 way can be taken from him, than h\- hi? enemy Sul- 
 phur, by whofe means it is kindled and confiimed, 
 the following Experiment will give thee full fatis- 
 fadion. Onely by the way note, that this confu- 
 niing of the Nitre in Lead, does very much alter its 
 Nature, making it hard, and of difficult fufion iike 
 Iron, fo that great Guns mav be made of ir Now 
 the Experiment is this : Take of the fi'ings of Lead 
 three parts, of Brimftone in Powder one part, put 
 them into a Crucible, furrounded with Charcoal, 
 fo as it may heat leifurely and by degrees ; by this 
 means the Brimftone will penetrate the Lead, and 
 mortifie its Nitrous Spirit, which is the caufe of its 
 eafie fluxibility, and at the fame time the Sulphur 
 becomes mortified alfo, whch before was more ffuxi- 
 ble than the Lead, but now by its union with the 
 Lead, is very ha-^d to be fluxed. This mortification 
 or induration of Lead, with common Brimftone, af- 
 fords no Melioration, and is onely here inftanced, 
 to demonftrate there is a Salt-peter in Lead, and 
 that Salt-peter and Lead, which both are fb very 
 fluxible, do harden and mortifie one another. But 
 now when the Salr-peter that is in Lead is kindled 
 and confumcd by the Sulphur that is in Tin, then 
 one Metal meliorates the other, and the hurtfull lu- 
 perfluity of both is deftroyed, -jiz.. the Nitre that 
 is in Lead, and the Combuftible Sulphur in Tin, 
 from whence necelTarily a melioration mufl en- 
 fue. 
 
 That Sulphur kills the Nitre in Lead, and makes 
 it hard, thou mayft yet be (atisfied another way, 
 "VIZ.. Take fomc ounces of Lead , melt them in a 
 Crucible, and ever and anon caft in a little piece of 
 Brimftone into it ; continue this till thy Lead be be- 
 come hard and influxible, b\ which means thou 
 wilt be allured that there is Nitre in Lead. And 
 that there is Sulphur in Tin, appears in that when 
 it is joined with Lead, they kindle and conlume one 
 another. 
 
 If thou defireft yet further to be confirmed, that 
 there is Ni:re in Lead, which makes it melt fo rea- 
 dily, and free through every thing ; then do thus : 
 
 Take 
 
H 
 
 ;oo 
 
 The Second Appendix to the Seventh Fart of Part II. 
 
 Take Lead and melt him red-hot in a Crucible, and 
 immediately he will pierce the Crucible and run out \ 
 take another Crucible and put Lead into it alfo, 
 calling, as loon as it is melted, finall bits of Brim- 
 ftone upon it, which will fo mortitie the fretting 
 Nitrous Spirit in Lead, that he will be no more a- 
 b!e to pierce the Crucible, but will for a long time 
 continue red-hot in the fame. 
 
 If this demofiftration neither will fatisfie thee, 
 that the fretting nature of Lead proceeds from a 
 Iharp Mineral Salr-peter Spirit, thou may ft further 
 prove it thus : Abllracl from two ounces of filings 
 cf Lead an ounce and an half of Oil of Vitriol or 
 Spirit of Salt in a fmall Retort , in which operation 
 
 hot, 
 
 but their Brotherly love is changed to enmity, 
 not being able to endure one another in a ftrong 
 fire, but each ftriving to get loole from the other, 
 which yet cannot be without the lofs of one or both 
 of their lives ; (o that this their combat may well 
 be compared to the fighting of the Peafents in Lap- 
 land, whofe cuftonie is when two of them are highly 
 incenfed againft each other, to fuffer themfelves to 
 be tied faft together, in as they cannot fly back or 
 run away, and then fall to cutting and llafliingone 
 another fo long with their knives, till the Death of 
 one or both of them follows. 
 
 But to return from whence we have digrelled. 
 That Saturn and Jupner are Brothers, the Heathen 
 
 the dry Lead will draw to it the fharp Saline Spiiit, Hiflory informs us, relating that the four Brothers, 
 
 and that which comes over will be mcer infipid 
 Phlegm, retaining nothing of its former corrofive- 
 nels. The diffillation performed, take thy Lead 
 out of the Retort, and try whether it be become 
 more fharp by the addition of the faid Corrofive Spi- 
 rit, but thou wilt find that the Lead has taken in 
 the fharp Saline Spirit, coagulated it, and changed 
 it into a fweet Stone, in which no manner of cor- 
 rofivenefs can be talted or perceived. Now if this 
 be true, that Lead can turn fuch a Itrong corrofive 
 Oil into a fweet Stone , we need not wonder that 
 he has a power to coagulate, hide, and make invifible 
 hisown in born Saline Spirit. Concerning which mat- 
 ter thou may ft read more in a fmall Treatife of mine 
 of the Principles of Metals, wherein fpeaking of the 
 Coagulation of Saline Spirits, I obferve that Lead 
 has the nature and property of Coagulating all fharp 
 and corrofive Saline Spirits. If this inffance have 
 not fufficicntly inftrudlcd thee, thou mayft make a- 
 nother proof thus : Take the fore-mentioned Lead, 
 acuated with Saline Spirits, and melt it in a tripple 
 Crucible with a fire of Tufion , let it be red-hot in 
 Flux, and thou wilt find that in a moment it will 
 run through thy three Crucibles , which common 
 Lead would never do, from whence it is clear as the 
 Sun that the piercing, fretting quality which is in 
 Lead, proceeds from the Saline Spirits coagulated in 
 or with it. Confider well of how great ufe fiich a 
 Lead, whofe natural devouring Faculty or Sythe is 
 fo highly acuated by Art, might be in the wcjrk of 
 Tranfmuration, if we knew to make good ufe of it. 
 The Philofbphers writing of Saturn's fharp Sythe, 
 exprels themfelves in thefe words, Falx ejus inordax 
 e/^, His Sythe is jharp or biting : which how it may 
 be made much fharper by Saline Spirits, has now 
 been faid. A further enlargement might here be 
 made concerning Saturn's Sythe ; but it fhall fiiffice 
 at prefent to have demonffrated, that his eafie fluxi- 
 biliry, and fretting devouring nature, proceeds onely 
 from a fharp Nitrous Spirit ; which when Sulphur 
 has confumed and burnt away, much Gold and Sil- 
 ver may be leparated from him. 
 
 Of the Nature and Property o/Jupiter, what he wants, 
 and what he hath too much of, and how bis 7ioxiom 
 fuperjluities may be removed, jo as on the Cupel he may 
 yield his hidden Gold and Silver. 
 
 TI N by the Heathen Philofbphers has been ap- 
 propriated to the Heathen God ( or rather 
 Planet) Jupitur, who has ithe next place in the Fir 
 mament to Saturn ; is by the Miners called White 
 Lead, and like it melts with a fmall heat, and eafily 
 unites with his Brother Saturn, continuing together 
 in a moderate heat j but they no fooner become red- 
 
 Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto, their chief Gods, 
 fell into diicord amongfl themfelves which of them 
 fhould be the greateft ; which c<5nteft of theirs was 
 at laft by the mediation of the other Gods compofed, 
 they agreeing to divide the Empire of the World be- 
 tween them. .And though Saturn were older than 
 his Brother Jupiter, yet was he fain to content him- 
 felf with the command of the Earth, whilft Jupiter 
 took upon him that of Heaven, Neptune that of^ the 
 Sea, and tluto the Dominion of Hell. Which Di- 
 vifion will not at all feem ftrange to thofe that un- 
 derlfand Nature, who find that each Brothers lot 
 was very correfpondent and comporting with their 
 nature. The Nature of Saturn much refembles the 
 Earth, and he makes all things that he takes to him 
 like the Earth ; as appears from the fore-mentioned 
 conteft with his Brother Jupiter. But Jupiter, be- 
 caufe inwardly he is very fulphureous and fiery, 
 therefore is the Government of the fiery Heaven 
 properly deputed to him , leaving Saturn to dig and 
 moil in the Earth : Wherefore alfo the Ancients 
 have reprefented him with a Spade in his hand , 
 thereby intimating his Property of digging through 
 or piercing all things ■. whereas they figured Jupiter 
 with Thunder bolts, and fiery Lightning flafhes in 
 his hand, whence came that Proverb, Frocul d Jove, 
 prncul a Fulmme ; Far from Jupiter , far from his 
 Thunder-bolts. 
 
 Now that Tin contains much Sulphur, may be 
 thus experimented : Take the filings of Tin and 
 powder'd Nitre, mix and put them into a Crucible 
 over the fire, and they will kindle and confume one 
 another, fb as nothing will be left in the Crucible. 
 Or it may be tried thus : Melt fome Tin in a Cruce, 
 and when 'tis red-hot, caft in fome Nitre upon it, 
 which kindles the Tin, the flame carrying part of 
 it away, and the reft is burnt to drofs or tk'ces. 
 But not to infift on this, it being very notorious that 
 the greateft part of Tin is nothing elfe but combufti- 
 ble Sulphur, the remaining part being a fblar pure 
 Mercury : fb that when this Sulphur is by art whol- 
 ly feparared from its pure Mercury, the fame is ea- 
 fily ripened to Gold, by being joined with cold Sa- 
 turn, which the following Praxis will abundantly 
 make out. 
 
 ' Fis worth our noting here, that this Sulphur of 
 Tin doth not burn away, when the Tin without any 
 addition is put to the fire, but doth then in the heat 
 feize and lay hold of its own Mercury, burning and 
 reducing the fame to Afhes, which are very hardly to 
 be reduced to a Metal without fome addition : nei- 
 ther will Lead join with thefe Afhes, but thrufts 
 them out from him, turning them to a white G'aft ; 
 which is the realbn why lb few are found, who with 
 profit can feparate the Gold and Silver which is in 
 
 it. 
 
Pare II. 
 
 the Spagyrical Pbarmacopxa. 
 
 201 
 
 ir. Paracelfus in his Cxhim Philofophorum fd'nh ex- 
 prefly that much Gold and Silver lies hid in Tin. 
 We read alfo of others that have had the Arc of it, 
 and have thence extraded-great treafures of Gold 
 and Silver ; amongft others Brufdmis in his Defcrip- 
 iion of Fichtelberg, gwcs US the Hiftory of a Citizen 
 of Eger, on the Borders of Bohemia, (bme few miles 
 diftant from the City Nurnbnj, who had the skill 
 of fepararing the So/and Lune which is in Tin to great 
 advantage , having been enabled thereby not 
 onely to build an Hofpital and Church in the faid 
 place, but alfo richly to endow the fame for the 
 maintenance of twelve old Men and three Priefts in 
 the faid Hofpital. This Perfon, whofe name was 
 Sigifmund Wan , fufFer'd this Art to die with him, 
 but withall left a Prophefie behind him that the (aid 
 Art 2O0 years after (hould ri(e again, and be made 
 known to the World. Which Prophefie though 
 Brufchnis in his forefaid defcription make no menti- 
 on of, yet is undoubtedly true : and there is a 
 Book in Manufcipt, which is very common amongft 
 the Miners and other Artificers belonging to the 
 faid Fichtelbcrg, which I have (een, and read in it 
 the (aid Prophefie, though at that time being young 
 and unexperienced in the nature of Tin,I little mind- 
 ed it. But fince God has been picafed in this my 
 far advanced old Age, without any thing of my 
 feeking, out of his meer grace and mercy to reveal 
 the faid Art unto me, it hath given me occafion to 
 call to mind what formerly 1 had read, and put me 
 upon reading the faid Book over again,whcre 1 found 
 that his Prophefie was exadly fulfilled, for this Si- 
 gifmund Han died in the year 1467, from whence 
 to this prefent year 1667, are juft 200 years. This 
 Prophefie being thus precifely accomplifhed , I 
 thought fit to (et down fome part, of the faid Bnif- 
 chilis his Relation, from whence it appears that God 
 doth often impart fuch skill and knowledge to good 
 and honefl Peo, le, whereby they are enabled not 
 oncly to fupply themfelves, but alfo to make liberal 
 Provifion for the Poor. The words of Bn<Jchiiis 
 are thefe, Wohnftedd has no extraordinary Buildings, 
 befides a ftately and richly endowed Hofpital, which 
 was built in the year 1467, by a Citizen of the place 
 named Sigtfmtmd Wan, though at the time of his 
 building the faid Hofpital, he was a Citizen of Eger. 
 He had to Wile a Venetian Woman called Barbara, 
 who had great skill in Alchymv, and in particular 
 the Art of feparating Gold andSilver from Tin, by 
 which means he became very rich, and having no 
 Children, built the faid Hofpital, conftituting the 
 MagiOrates of £^t>- Guardians of the fame, left them 
 a great Summ of Money, with the Intereft of which 
 they maintain twelve old Men, and three Priefts. 
 Near the faid Hofpital, is a very fair Church built 
 by the faid SigsfmuvJ, wheie to this day a Pifture is 
 to be feen, containing the Pourdtratures of the Foun- 
 der and Fcundrefs of the Church and Hofpital, with 
 the time and hour of their Deaths. This Sigifmund 
 lived at Eger the latter part of his life ; and wrought 
 his gainfuilWorkin the fame Houfe, wherein at pre- 
 fent dwells Andrew Grifftn. 
 
 Thus far Brufchius, from whofe Relation it ap 
 pears that there have been thofe who from the mea- 
 ner Metals, and particularly Tin, have been able 
 to feparate Gold and Silver with great gain, fo astf 
 procure great riches thereby. We find alfo that in 
 thofe times charity was more exercifed than at pre 
 fent, when men inftead of building Hofpital?, are 
 rather ready to convert them, with their Revenues 
 
 to their own ufe. For which wickednefsof this Age, 
 God feems to withdraw his blelllng from the Earth, 
 fb that Mines do not fo much abound, nor are fb 
 rich by far as formerly. How many places in Ger- 
 many have we known blcff with Gold and Silver 
 Mines, as alfo with Lead and Tin Mines, contai- 
 ning much Gold and Silver, of which nothing is to 
 be found now .■' And this fame Tin Mine from 
 whence Sigifmund E'van extradled^'l^buch Gold and 
 Silver, has now for near 200 years yielded no Oar 
 at all. About the fame time aUo there was a very 
 rich Gold Mine, in an adjacent little C iry called 
 Gold Granacb ; which is in like manner whollv ex- 
 haufted and loft In the fame Gold Mine, Anti- 
 mony, alfo which is the Root of Gold, was found 
 in that quantity, as from thence it was tranfported 
 to all parts of Eurofe, but now very little of it is to 
 be found there, and that which is found, contains 
 no Gold at al!, whereas that which was digged there 
 before did abound with it. In like manner the Hun- 
 garian and Tran/ilvjnian Mines of Antimony fo rich 
 in Gold, which tlourifhed about 200 years fince, are 
 now quite fpent fb as no more Antimony is to be 
 found there Since which time the rich Silver Mines 
 in Jochems that have been difcoverd, which yiel* 
 ded an incredible quantity of Silver, but did noC 
 continue long fo, God, for the ingratitude and 
 wickedneft of men fuiFering ir to fink away; of 
 which many more inftances might be given but thefc 
 fhall fuffice. 
 
 But to return to our interrupted difcourfe. 'Tis 
 well known that all unripe Meta's, when by the 
 violence of Fire they are melted and feparated fiom 
 their Oar, do fend forth a poifonous Arfenical Exha- 
 lation ; yea even after they are wholly feparated 
 from their Oar, they ceafe not to exhale poifonous 
 fumes, though not comparable with thofe they fend 
 forth when they are firft melted from their Oar: as 
 appears particularly in Tin, for if Wine be over 
 night put into a new Tin Pot, it will give a Vomic 
 [the next morning. Copper alfb docs the like ; but 
 Lead not fb much, or rather nothing at all .■ whereas 
 Iron gently purges downward, is wholfome and o- 
 pens obftruttions; for Iron is onely endowed with a 
 fix Sulphur, and contains no Arfcnick, as Tin doth. 
 Gold and Silver contain neither Sulphur nor Arfe- 
 nick, and therefore the Wine that is put into them is 
 not at all changed. 
 
 , Seeing then that Tin has forr.c Arfenick joyn'd 
 with ir, which caufeth the forelaid alteration in the 
 Wine, whereas in Gold and Silver it is not changed 
 at all, becaufe they arc free from all foetid cumbufti- 
 ble Sulphur and Arfenick ; if we defire to rid Tin of 
 its poifonous quality, and make it like Gold and Sil- 
 ver by removing its fuperf^uities, we muft do it by 
 Art. We fee that Mercury of itfelf is no Poyfon, but 
 becomes fb when fublimb'd with Salts or otherwife 
 joyn'd with them, by vvhich means it becomes poi- 
 fonous and volatile. This is notorious, and all Chy- 
 mifts believe and acknowledge it, and we have as 
 much reafbn to believe, that the fame is the cafe of 
 Arfenick and Cobalt, -viz,, that Arfenick would be 
 no Poyfon of it felf, but by reafon of feme ^iline Spi- 
 rit joyn'd with it in the Earth. We find alfo that 
 Arfenick when it comes firlt out of the Earth of a 
 grayifh colour is nothing near fb poiff)nous, as it be- 
 comes afterwards by being fublimed with Saks, for 
 to make it white and tranfparenr. For though Salts 
 I in themfelves be not poifonous, yet when Minerals 
 are in certain ways prepared with them they turn 
 F f f thera 
 
202 
 
 -fO- 
 
 The Second Appendix to the Seventh Vart of i^art II. 
 
 then! to Poifons, for every volatile Mineral that is 
 joyn'd with faline Spirits is poifonous, but when the 
 lame Minerals are fixed, they lofe their poifonous 
 quality and become good Medicines, as may be 
 feen in Arfenick, Cobalt, Orpiment and other 
 poifonous volatile Minerals, which being fixed, 
 by running them down with Salt peter, may fafe- 
 ly be exbibi:ed againfl: feveral Difeafes. Which 
 being fo it wl' iif^e eafie to infer, that if we can 
 fix the volatile Sulphur and Arlcnick which is 
 in Tin, we (hall not onely take away its Poyfon 
 and make it medicinal, but alfo make it like Gold and 
 Silver. 
 
 Let this then be laid as a fure foundation, that 
 corrofive faline Spirits are the caufes of all Poyfon, 
 making fix matters to become volatile and poifonous, 
 and confequently that volatile immature metals, as 
 lead and Tin,when their corrofive Spirits are mortifi- 
 ed or driven away, become fixed. It is well known 
 that the combuftible noxious Sulphur of Metals, is 
 the fole caufe of their imperfeilion, and that this 
 combuftible Sulphur has no greater enemy than 
 Saltpeter, by which it is kill'd anddeftroyed, and 
 yet no better Friend neither, which though at firft 
 fight it may feem contradictorioy, yet is very true ; 
 for when the Niter does confume the cumbuftible Sul- 
 phur, it is indeed its enemy, but when by this Con- 
 fumption of the naughty Sulphur, the incombuftible 
 folar Sulphur of Tin becomes purged from its hete- 
 rogeneous mixtures, we fhall find that indeed Niter 
 is the friend of Tin, as letting the (blar Sulphur of 
 Tin free from the captivity of its noxious Sulphur, 
 Co as now it can unite with Gold and Silver, and 
 become fuch it lelf, which before was inipoflible. 
 Thus we fee that the confuming and mortifying of 
 the fuperfluous Sulphur, is the life and deliverance 
 of the incombufiible Sulphur, and the corruption of 
 the one, the regeneration of the other. To which 
 purpofe Paracelfm fpeaks excellently, faying that 
 Corruption makes things perfecl-lj gooJ, for bj means of 
 it the evil that hides and ahfconds the good, being taken 
 away, the good manifefis it felf; Which is very true 
 of Tin whole folar Sulphur being hid and held by its 
 noxious Sulphur, the fame mult be taken away, be 
 fore Gold and Silver can be extracted from it. Which 
 reparation of the combuftible from the incombuftible 
 Sulphur, muft not be done with common Niter, 
 which is too vehement for the nature of Tin, and 
 would- deilroy the good with the bad, but a more 
 mild and proper Saltpeter muft be taken, I'i-z,. that 
 which is hid in Lead, which is powerfull enough to 
 kind'e and coiilijme tlie fijperfiuous Sulphur of Tin, 
 and let its fclar Sulphur free, as will appear from 
 the following Procefs. 
 
 When therefore thou art minded to fet upon this 
 gainfuU particular, and together univerfal Work, I 
 would not have thee to be too covetous nor to begin 
 with too great a quantity of Tin in hopes thereby 
 to become rich of a fudden; bat advife thee to begin 
 with oncIy two or three pound of Tin, and try 
 whether the Art be true or no, and if true what gain 
 may thence be cxjiccfled. And if thou find'ft- it to 
 anfwer thy expe'ftacions,thou mayft then work in as 
 great quantities as thou plcafeft,but if tliou lindft that 
 thou canft not bring it to the defircd end, thou 
 mull be content to go to School a little longer, and 
 learn to be more a mailer of Fire; or elfe leave it off 
 altogether concluding thou art not predeftinated to 
 this Work. It is not enough to think thou canft do 
 it, thou muft have the Art of it, elle thy thinking 
 
 will little avail thee. What 1 write here, is no o- 
 other than the truth, of which the Reader may af- 
 liire himlelf. 
 
 A Vrocefs for to feparate Gold and Sil-ver ■with great 
 profit f rent fin. 
 
 SET on a Cupel under a MufTel one, two, three 
 pound more or Icls of Lead, let it l.e red hot, 
 then caft into it half an ounce, one ounce or ati 
 ounce an half of Tin, and you'l (te the Tin mount 
 above the Lead, and the Sulphur of the jupiur^Wi 
 kindle the Sali-peter of the Lead, and turn to yel- 
 low Afhcs, which ftill n)uft be taken away with an 
 Iron Iiiltrument for that purpole, as long as any of 
 the laid Afhes, mount or appear on the lurlace of 
 the Lead. When no more Allies appear, then call: 
 in a freOi quantity of Tin as before, turning the 
 lame to Allies till no more rile. Continue fo long 
 with the incineration of frefiiTin, untill all the Lead 
 and Tin be turned to Allies. I'lien mix chele Aflies 
 with half as much of our fecret Sal-^rmumack, and 
 by Retort diftill the Sal-Armoniack from it, which 
 may ferve again for the fame Work. In this Diftil- 
 lation the Sal-Armoniack, draws to it the Sulphur of 
 the Tin, and turns it to Fsces, and the pure part of 
 the Lead and Tin are left in a Regulus at the bot- 
 tom, which after Diftillation may be beat from the 
 Scoria: and becaufe the Regiil."s of Lead in thiso- 
 peration proves fomewhat flat and platy,we may lay 
 it crofs on an Anvil, and ftrike it crooked with an 
 Hammer, and fo the Scana wi'l fall from it,which are 
 carefully to be kept, as being ofgoodufe, which 
 will appear hereafter. If we defire to make a bet- 
 ter feparation of the Scoria: Irom the laid Regulus of 
 Lead, we may put the laid Regulus with its Fsces 
 into a Crucible, and having given it a Fire of Fufion, 
 pour out the Regulus into a Cone, and the Scoria 
 will abide in the Cruce, as Lein?, of more difficult 
 fufion than the Re^td/n. This Ri'iuhis of Lead, mult 
 again be in upon the Cupel, and when red hot, 
 we muft put Tin to it as before, incinerate the lame 
 and gather the Afhcs, then mix them with Sal-Ar- 
 rmniack, diftill and fcparate the Sconce frcjm the Re-- 
 gidns as before. This labour muft bcfooft repeated 
 till all the Lead and Tin be turn'd to Aflics, which 
 will be in three or four times, after which onely a 
 finall i?fff/.'///j will be left, which we muft refine on 
 the Cupel li(<e other Lead, and thus the Gold and 
 Silver which was in the Tin, will be left en the 
 Cupel, which muft be granulated, and the Gold 
 and Silver leparated from each other with Aqua 
 Fortis. 
 
 The 5cc!i<^ proceeding from this Work n^u ft not 
 be defpiled, being more worth than the Gold and 
 Silver which are lel't on the Cupel. This work be- 
 ing well performed, every pound of Tin will yield 
 fome Crowns in Gold and Silver, which richly pays 
 both coft and pains. And he that has the skill to 
 prepare the faid Sd-Armomack by a compendious 
 way, may expeft the greater profit from tliis Work. 
 The Sal- Armomack which comes over by Diftilla- 
 tion, will ferve for the lame purpole again, nothing 
 of it being diminifhed, but what abides with the 
 Scoria^ which by making a Lye of the 6Vo>7,e may 
 alfo be faved, by which means a wonderluU Salt is 
 obtained, which abounds with n)any and great vir- 
 tues ; concerning which we intend (God willing) 
 to treat at large in our third Appendix, I had inten- 
 ded indeed to fpeak of it here, but 1 lind this Appen- 
 dix 
 
Part 11. 
 
 the Spngjrual ?ban?mcop(£a. 
 
 203 
 
 dix is grown too big under my hands ; and there- 
 fore (htill refer the fuperlative great virtues of the 
 faid wonderfull Salt to my Third Book Yet to the 
 end, that the Lover of Art in the mean time, till my 
 Third Appendix be pubiifhcd , may nor altogether 
 be ignorant of what great things may be performed 
 by it, I have thought good to inform him, that 1 
 have often in my other Writings made mention of 
 this Secret Sal-Armomack, yet concealing its prepa- 
 ration, 'VIZ.. in my Book of Dttilo^ms, (peaking of 
 the Preparation of the Lions Blood. In my Trea- 
 rife of £//.'.'• Artiiia 1 have called this Salt, Salt of 
 Art, as aifo the Bifhop aud High Prieft of Metals, 
 and there at large informed the Curious, how by 
 means thereof thev mar infeparabiy conjoin Gold 
 and Silver. In other of my Writings I have given 
 u other names. This wonderfull Salt of which I 
 have treated in my Book of the Three Principles, 
 fhcwing itto be that wherewith Jw/iMer changed him 
 telf into a golden fhower, and got entrance through 
 the Tiles into the ftrong Tower where Dunae was 
 fhut up, thus beguiling her, and begetting on her 
 ferft:ts the Delkoyer of the Sea-Monfter, and De 
 liverer of the Beaurifull AvilrcmeJa, whom he took 
 to Wife ; and afterward vanquifhed the Gnrgnnes, 
 keepers of the Golden App'e bearing Orchard, &c. 
 This our Salt of Art is the Secret Chalybs of Sen- 
 dviogifis, wherewith he extrads theTindture of Gold, 
 and uf it prepares the tinging Stone of the Philofb- 
 phers. This our Salt of Art is alfb that Juvc, to 
 whom ( as K/r^»/ relates ) the Golden Bough broke 
 off by Proftrfnia from the Dark tree is confecrated : 
 of which I have elfewhere treated more at large. 
 This Salt alfo is our Proferpna the Goddefs of Hell 
 and Wife of hluto, and is much more ready and 
 
 ; which PJ?-. 
 next Appen- 
 
 charge and trouble than Lead and Tin 
 ce(s I intend to communicate in mv 
 dix. 
 
 If any find the trouble and charges of Preparing 
 our Sal-Armr.nuuk too great, he may attempt the 
 Work with common Sal- Arm mack fublirntd ; and 
 if that do not fully anfwer his defire, he may af- 
 terward prepare oursj or get it of chofe that make 
 it in quantity. If it p!ea(e God that i live over next 
 Summer, I intend my (elf to wor'y this proHtabie 
 Procefs of extracting Sal from Tin ; as h (o to exrratl: 
 the Tintftures of Copper and Iron with our /Azaheft 
 in great quantity, and to give the over plus of Pro- 
 fit to the Poor tor a Memorial to the World In 
 the mean time I have liere at large declared how the 
 fuperfluitics of Lead arid Tin are to be removed, in 
 order to the feparating of the Gold and Silver con- 
 tained in them ; and this without concealing any of 
 the Manual Operations thereto belonging : though 
 I quelfion not but many who may attempt the lame, 
 will by miftaking fome Point or other tail of their 
 end. Above all, great care muft be had that the 
 Tin be not mixed with Copper or Regulns of Anti- 
 mony, which will make the Athes hard and irredu- 
 cible; the Sal-Armoniack alto niuff be well prepared 
 fharp and penetrative, that ic may work upon the 
 Tin athes, and make them fluxible and reducible to 
 Metal. Neither muft the Tin alhes be tutfer'd to lye 
 too long on the Lead, bur continually Le taken awaV 
 for otherwile they will become hard and in.Huxible! 
 In a word, "tis pradile onclv and experience can 
 make a man Mafter of this Work, it beng impolfible 
 to fet down all particulars to clear and dilfi net as 
 that the unexperienced may not eatily miflake. In 
 cafe therefore this my Appendix fhould (eem too 
 
 UIHJ ....v.. w. .1,,..,-, „..>^ .„ ...v.„.. .ww.w .^^^j t..,»j ^«.w ..^.w. w.v.-.'w I...., ,,,j jj|y|yv,iiui,\ lllUUJU ICClll [OO 
 
 handy in breaking otf the faid Golden Bough, than (.dark to any one, let him have patience till my Third 
 
 that Proferfitia which by Diftillation ( with great 
 toil and labour ) breaks otf her Golden Branches : 
 for this our Proferpna performs it without fire, or 
 any troub'e to fpeak of, and offers it up to the God 
 deis June. Which ingenious and profitable Work 
 I intend ( God willing ) to (et down in my Third 
 Appendix ; wherein I fha'l communicate to the 
 World a perpetual Minera of Gold and Silver , 
 which every ore without any great pains may in 
 liilliv;fs work in his own houfe : For there is no ea- 
 fier way to extract the hidden Gold from all Metals 
 in quanritv and without fire, than by means of this 
 our Goddef*; /kw, or Jovial Frojerfina. 
 
 Let the Reader who defires to know further of 
 thete Poetical Fables, read the ingenious Ovtd, and 
 others who make it their bulinefs to treat of them ; 
 and in reading he will obterve, that Jufhcr is by 
 them reprefented to be the God of Fire and Light 
 ning, and Ju-no his Wife and Sifter the Goddets of 
 the Air ; whence we may gather, that by the word 
 yttfio is to be underftood a fpiritual volatile moifture 
 and watrv Jupiter. Now the Artitt who has Jimo 
 for his Friend and Advocate, may eatily obtain from 
 Phxbiis great Treafures, as well for the health of the 
 Bodv, as of outward Riches ; and this is (6 eafie to 
 be done, and uith \'o little charges, that I dare not 
 be to bold to write more of it, left the wicked and 
 unworthy fhould tmell out the reft. 
 
 Now forafhiuch as this Appendix is fwoln to a big- 
 ger bulk than I had intended, I fhall refer the melio- 
 ration of Iron and Chopper, by means of our Secret 
 S-al-.-iimomack to our Third Appendix. And fhall 
 onely lay thus much at prelent, that thete two de- 
 fpilisd Metals, do altbrd more profit, and with lefs 
 
 Appendix be publithed , in which I inrend to com- 
 municate a much more eaiie Procets tor extracting 
 Gold and Silver out of Lead , Tin, Iron and Cop- 
 per. 
 
 There is altb a way of turning fine Tin alone by- 
 it felf into Afhes, by ftirririg it continually in an 
 Iron Pot over the fire,which Afhes muft be reduced 
 with our SA-Arm:,niack, and then turn'd to Athes 
 again and reduced , which mutt be repeated till the 
 greater part of the Tin be turned to Scuri,c, and the 
 Gold and Silver melt down to a Re-j;nh/f, which be- 
 ing tefled, leaves behind the Gold and Silver which 
 was in the Tin, and the remaining Scon^re, or Drots, 
 are of greater value than the Gold and Silver it felt! 
 For he who knows to m.ike ute of thete F.eces as a 
 Magnet to attract: the Gold from metalline Solutions, 
 will get great profit thereby ; the taid Faeces being 
 a main caufe of my publithing this Treatite, becaute 
 of their great and protirable ule both in Phytick and 
 Alchymy ; forafhiuch as with their help nor onely 
 Gold and Silver, but alfo true Univerfal TinCtures 
 may be extracted from Stones and .Vletals : So that 
 he who knows the ute of thete Jovial Faeces may 
 not onely richly maintain themteJves, but alfo libe- 
 rally commAmicate to the Poor. If God continue 
 my li^e, I intend to undertake this profitable Work 
 my felf, and thence make tome provition for the 
 Poor ; for I have already taken my leave of this 
 wicked World, e-xpeifting with patience an heavenly 
 Guide to condu(n: me to hte eternal , which 1 ear- 
 neftly pant after. 
 
 A Gorol- 
 
.204 
 
 The Second Appendix to the Seventh ?art of Part II. 
 
 ■,ti. 
 
 A Corollary, or Supplement to 
 
 the foregoing Appendix. 
 
 WE have feen in the foregoing Treatife, 
 how with the help of Lead, the Gold 
 and Silver which is hid in Tin may be 
 extraded with''our Secret Sal-Armoniack ; which af- 
 ter it has (eparated the faid Gold and Silver, doth 
 ftill retain great virtues , as being become a true na 
 tural Magnet, able without much trouble or fire, 
 to excraift not onely from Gold, but alfo from the 
 grofs bodies of Iron and Copper their pureft Tinc- 
 tures, which in them are better, and in greater quan- 
 tity than in Gold it felf Which Solar Magnet few 
 Philofophers have known, or the ufe of it. Our 
 Co'ruopolita writes moft clearly of the fame in the 
 following words : There is a Steel which can extraSi 
 from the Rays of the Sun, that which many have fought 
 found. And again. If our Steel copulate ele 
 
 and not found. And again , , 
 
 •ven times with Gold, the Gold thereby becomes weakned 
 almojl to death, and the Steel will conceive and bring 
 forth a Son more famous than his Father. Nuyfement 
 alfo fpeaks of this Magnet, but fparingly and dark- 
 ly, and Paracelfm yet more obfcurely. Others who 
 had the knowledge of it, make no mention thereof 
 at all ; fearing, 'tis like, left the Art might grow too 
 common, and be proftituted thereby : but without 
 caufe ; for though a Man be able to extraft the 
 Tindtures of Metals, yet hath he not therefore the 
 whole Art . for though the faid Tiniftures be of great 
 ufe for the cure of all difeafes, yet can they not dif 
 play their virtues upon Metals, till they be fixed 
 with Gold , and have obtained metallick ingrefs : 
 but in Phvfick, as was now faid,' they are very ufe 
 full, before their fixation, and efpecially thofe which 
 by our Magnet arc extracted from Mars and Fenus, 
 for they purge all that is hurtful! out of the Body, 
 not weakning as common Purges do, but ftrengthen- 
 ing it. They alfo purge by Sweat and Urine, and 
 ftill all inward and outward Pains procure fweet 
 reft, by reafijn of the Anodynous quality hid in 
 Mars and Fenus. So that thefe Tindures of Mars 
 and l^en/rs before fixation may be ufed againft all dif- 
 eafes with alfurance of good fuccefs ; and when fix- 
 ed, they turn Silver into Gold. For our Magnet 
 robs the Dragon ( viz,. A^ua Fortu, vvhcrdn Mars 
 
 that of others, and publifh the wonderfull works of 
 God throughout the whole World. And forafmuch 
 as God of his free Grace has been pleas'd to blels 
 me with the knowledge of this beft and moft power- 
 full of Medicines, though by reafon of my weaknefs 
 I am forc'd to keep my bed, and muft patiently wait, 
 till it fhall pleafe God to put me into a cqndirion of 
 preparing the fame ; yea though Death fliould pre- 
 vent me from ever doing it, yet (hall this be my fa- 
 tisfadion, that I have here informed the Lovers of 
 Art , what wonder-working Tinctures lye hid in 
 thefe defpifcd Metals of Copper and Iron , and 
 which may fo eafily with our Jovial Magnet be ex- 
 tracted. 
 
 But let him that undertakes to work with our 
 fecret Magnet, take heed that he do not make it 
 too ftrong, left inftcad of a TincT:ure, he draw the 
 grofs Bodies ; for it often happens when the Mag- 
 net is too ftroog, that, together with the Tincture, 
 it draws the grofs Body, and efpecially of the Ho- 
 mogeneal Metals, in which the Tindure is fo clofe- 
 ly united with the Body, that it is very hard to 
 I fbparare them. A common Magnet draws Iron , 
 together with its Tindure, but without fcparating 
 the one from the other ; but our (ecret Magnet 
 draws from Iron (its Body being firft opened ) the 
 Tindure onely, leaving the grofs Body behind, be- 
 caufe Iron and Copper are Heterogeneous Metals, 
 in which the Tindure is eafily feparablc from its 
 Body, whereas Gold, which is Homogeneal, doth 
 not readily part with his Tindure, the Body fol- 
 lowing its Soul or Tindure. Yea a common Mag- 
 net draws the whole Body of Iron, without fepa- 
 rating the Tindure, even then when by Nature it 
 is made Homogeneal and fi.xed like Gold : as we 
 fee in Granat (tones , which are rich in Iron (as 
 thofe are which are brought to us from Amcrua, 
 and efpecially from New-France , fome in great pie- 
 ces and others fmall like Sand) that they are gree- 
 dily attraded by the common Magnet : and yet no 
 Iron can be melted from them , forafinuch as nei- 
 ther Fire will flux, nor corrofive Spirits dillblve 
 them ; but their Tindure may eafily be drawn from 
 them according to the way I have fet down in my 
 Book of the Three Principles. In America are found 
 great Mountains of fuch finall Granats, which be- 
 ing Homogeneal, will not yield to Fire or Stygian- 
 waters. And now lately I have fctn fome Mine- 
 ral Earths and Stones brought from New found- 1 and ^ 
 of which there are whole Mountains there, which 
 
 and Venits are dilTolved ) of the Golden Fleece he never any Man that 1 know could make any profit 
 
 is keeper of, and, like another Jafon, brings home Lf, though it be certain that every pound weight of 
 
 the fame, and with it reftores his aged Father to jthem contains half a Crowns worth of Gold and 
 
 youth again, and procures to himfelf vaft and un- 
 meafiirable Riches. For thefe Tindures do great 
 wonders in both faculties. It is not long ago fince 
 I took fome grains ( which 1 had left of a former 
 preparation) of one of thefe Tindures, to fee if 
 thereby I might.be fomewhat refreftied, which in- 
 deed did perform all that could be expeded from it, 
 but having no more of it could not perfed my cure. 
 Since which time I have had a great longing with 
 the firit occafion to prepare ibme more of it, becaufe 
 I found that upon taking that finall quantity, my 
 bald head began to be cover'd with black curl'd 
 hairs , from whence I am verily perfwaded , that 
 had I had more of the like Tindure, it would have 
 wholly renewed me ; and therefore fhall not be 
 wanting to make ufe of the firft opportunity to 
 prepare more of it, both for my own health and 
 
 Silver. But we need nor trouble our felves to feek 
 
 for Treafures in other Countries. God having fur- 
 
 nifhed all parts of the World (none; excepted) with 
 
 Subjeds that afford good ancl abundant Tindure, 
 
 onely the Art of drawing them forth is wanting. 
 
 We do not (tand in need of Gold for to extrad its 
 
 Tindure, becaufe we may have one as good from 
 
 Mars or Venus, and with much more eafe. 
 < 
 
 But if any Man has a mind to.draw the Gold from 
 fuch Waters, wherein it is imperceptibly (catter'd 
 and difpers'd, let him put a fmall quantity of our 
 fecret Magnet into the faid Water, and he will fee 
 all the fdid Gold prefently gathered to it, and re- 
 duc'd to Vifibility and Corporality, with great pro- 
 fit to the Artift. And becaufe many fuch Waters 
 abounding with Gold and Tindure, are found pre- 
 pared 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagjrical Fharmacopxa. 
 
 205 
 
 pared by Nature to our hands, without charges or 
 trouble, this fhort information here may to the 
 skilful! open a door to great Trealiires. 
 
 T5ut to proceed and (hew that there are Tuch 
 Magnets wherewith Tinftures may be extraded ; 
 and here lirft of all 1 will inftance in my Jovial 
 Sal-Armomack here defcribed j whereby the Tin 
 turn'd to Afhes is reduced ; for when the (ame Sal- 
 Armomack, impregnated with Tin, is dillolved in 
 Spirit of Salt, it becomes fuch a Solar Magnet, which 
 can and does extraift the Tindures Irom the Solu- 
 tion of Metals. Tor when a little of this Sd-Armo- 
 niack Water is poured upon the Solution of any 
 Metal, fhakcn together, and fet alide, the Magnet, 
 as in a moment, attracls all that's good in the ld;d 
 Solution, whether it be Go:d or Tindlure, to the 
 bottom of the Glafs of a purple or blood-red Co- 
 lour, and the Solution becomes white. And yet 
 there are many Magnets which are better than this 
 oi SalArmo?iiack impregnated with Tin, e.\traLT:ing 
 the Tindures from Metals with more ea(e, and bet- 
 ter than that. The realbn why I onely make men- 
 tion of this, is, becaulc it is the produ:l;of the Work 
 here defcnbed , -viz,. the extracting Gold and Silver 
 from Tin. And to the end I may evidence to all, 
 that the faid Magnet is of greater value than the 
 Gold and biiver, which is got from the Tin ; I (hall 
 (ay thus much, that it is impoflible tor the ignorant 
 to believe of what great advantage this Magnet is 
 to thofe that underitand the ufe of it : for not one- 
 ly may Univerfal Tiniftures be extracted therewith 
 for curing the Bodies of Men and Metals, out ot 
 Metals and Stones, and that eafily and without 
 charge ; but it can aUb cxtraft much Gold from 
 thofe Metals and Stones, in which much volatile 
 and (piritual Gold is hid, -urz,. Iron, Copper, Eaji- 
 Indian Zink, &c. and amongft Stones the red and 
 j-ellovV Pebbles, which are almoft every- where to 
 be found. Concerning which extraction of 5c;/ from 
 Sand and Stone?, i have treated at large in my Se- 
 venth Part of the Projperttjf of Germany , Now that 
 our Magnet draws to it all Colours and Tinctures, 
 not onely from Stones and Metals, but from Vege 
 tables and Animals, and doth highly exalt the fame, 
 may thus be proved : Diirolve one ounce of Gold 
 in A<^u.i Reg}s,pour the yellow Solution into a pound 
 of common Water, and this yellow Colour will no 
 more be perceived , then pour alfo (bme of our 
 Magnet into the (aid Water , and all the Water will 
 become blood-red, and being (et alide, the Gold, 
 which the Magnet hath attracled , tails to the bot- 
 tom, highly exalted in Colour, and the Water re- 
 mains white, having loft all its Gold, and may be 
 uled again for the like extracT:ion of Gold or Tinc- 
 ture out of Stones and Metals m mfimtum, without 
 any impairing of its flrength ; ib that I may well 
 (ay, that never hath a more profuable invention 
 been communicated to mankind. 
 
 Dolt thou defire to experience what our Magnet 
 can doe in extracting the Colours of Vegetables and 
 Animals :* then proceed thus : Boil Brafile wood , 
 Turmcrick, or any like Vegetables in Water till it 
 be coloured, filter it, and pour a little of our Mag 
 net into the colour'd Water -, (hake it together, and 
 the Magnet will draw all the colour from the Water 
 to it (elt, which tails to the bottom in form of a very 
 (ubtil Powder ; the Water being decanted, and the 
 Powder dried, affords an e.\cc!icnt colour for Pain- 
 ters ; Bralile wood a brown red, Farnabock a light 
 
 red , Dragons-blood a bright ruby colour, Turme- 
 rick a yellow, and Indigo a curious Skyblew. .■!, ani- 
 mals, as Cochenille, c~'<r. may be proceeded with 
 in like manner, and will airord far better Colours 
 than they- can of themfelvcs, becaufe our Mygnec 
 (as hath been faid) exalts all Colours wliatrr)ever. 
 To try this thy (elf, thou maylt according to my 
 foregoing initrudion prepare it , and f.) find by ex- 
 perience the wcmders it will perform in exira-fling 
 the Tinctures of Metals, Stonei^^^ Vegetables and 
 Animals ; which if thou dofl, tuuu wilt find more 
 than I have here fee down. And if thou haft no 
 time to prepare the Magnet thy lelf, thou mayft 
 have it of thofe who prepare it in great quantities : 
 For becaufe this wonder-working Magnet can do 
 (ijch great things, I have communicated the pre- 
 paration of it to a very honeft friend, to the end 
 he might make it in quantity, and vend it for the 
 good of the World, at a Ri.x-do!lar per Pound. With 
 this iMagnet Wool, Linnen, Silk, Bones, Feathers, c^r. 
 may be dyed or painted far more fair and lafting 
 than any other way now known ; Chymical Phy- 
 ficians, with the help of it, may prepare the true 
 (.^intefience ui Metals and Stories for the cure of 
 all difeafes : and it will affift the PhilofT^phers co ex- 
 traA Univerfal Tinctures trom all coloured Srones 
 and Metals, with which they may throughly and 
 lalfingly tinge white metals to Gold, and Cryl^ 
 tal to Rubies, Saphircs, Jacinths, Emralds, &c. ac- 
 cording to their pleafure. 
 
 In a word, he who has this .Magnet and knows 
 the ufe of it, needs not to read any ^.hymical Books 
 for all in all is comprehended in ir, as in a fnorc time 
 will be manifefted. This A4agnet is fb great a Trea- 
 fure that the vaftcff Volumes cannot contain all its 
 virtues, it is ferviceable to all men ; yea no liibjeit 
 can be found in nature, that can produce (uch won- 
 derfull and ufefull efFefts as this our fecret Sal Armo- 
 niack. Great Bioks have been written concerning 
 the common Magnet which onely draws Iron, 
 though indeed its nature and properties be alfo very 
 wondcrtull ; for without it there could be no failing 
 by Sea in the Night time, whereas now it is all one 
 to Marriners whether they Sail by Day or by Night : 
 bur how much more highly is our magnet to be e(^ 
 teemed, which not onely points out to Philofophers, 
 Phyficiansand Chymifts, the right way through the 
 vaft and wild Sea of Chymical Operations, to their 
 defired Port, richly laden with the belt of Commo- 
 dities Gold and Tinctures, but alio diredts Mecha- 
 n;cks to new wa)'s and inventions of obtaining 
 wealth, never before known. 
 
 Indeed as there is a great difference between Mars 
 and JtipitirJiO alfo between thele Magnets which par- 
 take ot their natures. The common martial Mag- 
 net guided Chrifiofhorus Coluxbus to America, that 
 new World abounding with Gold and Silver, befides 
 many other profitable Commodites, but all this iri 
 a way hazardous and full ofdanger, many thoufands 
 having loft their lives as well by Sea as by Land in 
 endeavouring to obtain thefc riches. For Mars with 
 his Magnet onely loads and periwades to War and 
 Blood Ihed, whereas the ti-iendly and peace-loving 
 Jupiter, with his benign Magnet ftirs up none to 
 evil but onely to good, and dire<fts us to a Land 
 miuch more abounding with Gold than America, 
 whence we may fetch the fame in peace and quicc 
 without fear of War or Blood fhed, and to the glo- 
 ry of God make known his Works of wonder torhs 
 ignorant. 
 
 G g g And 
 
20^ Th Second Appendix to the Seventh Fart of Part IT. 
 
 ' Aud thus much (hall fuffice to have ipoken con- 
 cert, i the extrading or ieparating of Gold and Sil- 
 ver from Tin, and the eafie extradion of Tinctures 
 from Scones and Metals, by means of our fecret Sal- 
 Arrrr.mnck. Now for a Surplus, and to pleafure the 
 Sons of Art, I'll take one turn more in the Philolb- 
 phick Garden and gather fome fair Flowers, to make 
 a Garland in honour of the Adepts, that they may 
 wear it in remembrance of me. The firfl: of thefe 
 flowers is the w)v^e Lilly, thefecond the blew Vio- 
 let, and the thiru che deep Purple Amaranibns^ be- 
 ing the chief that grow in our Garden, of which I 
 intend to tuift my Garland. 
 
 The firft, 'viz,. the white Lilly appears in the be- 
 ginnirg of our Work ; the blew Violet in themidft, 
 and the deep red Amaravthas in the end of it. That 
 I compare the beginning of our Work to a Lilly, is 
 Hot without reafon, foralmuch as our mercurial Wa- 
 ter is uhiier than white, being called of Philofophers i 
 a white, whiter than white, becaufe though it be a 
 white colour, yet it e>;cells all other whites, with its 
 gliftring brightnefs fo far,that other white colours com- 
 pared with ic look very dim and dark And becaufe 
 God hath bellowed upon the Lilly fuch atairgliftring 
 white, as no Flower can compare with it, therefore 
 we compare our mercurial Water (the beginning ot 
 our Work; for its unparallel'd whitenefs to the Lilly 
 of the Field: of uhich our Saviour himicli laith. 
 That Salomon in all his glory ^ivas not arrayed like vnt v~ 
 then;. For this caufe alio the Philofophers always 
 termed the beginning of their Work a white slower, 
 as appears (among other inftances) from an infcrip- 
 tion engraven on two Candiellicks, belonging to a 
 Cloilter in iVeftfhalia, made bv dL.Munk and dedica 
 ted to the ufe of the Altar there in thele words, 
 JV"o» ex Am-c, nee Argento fed ex p-imo Art is flore jum 
 fatUwJ. I am not made of Gold nor Siher, but of the 
 ■firjt Flower of Art. Thefe Candlefticks are white as 
 Silver, but heavy as Gold ; which may pafs for a 
 proof that the white in our work is termed a Lilly 
 or flower. 
 
 And that this our bright white Lilly doth far fur- 
 pals ail other white Flowers whatfoever, the Philo- 
 lophers in Turba witncls when they fay, our Salt ex- 
 alts the whitenefs in Silver and the red in Gold ; which 
 indeed is the very truth, though it be not believed 
 by the unexperienced, becaule at hrft fight ic feems 
 againft nature, that one colour Ihould die both red 
 and white : yet that it is (o, I here witnels unto with 
 my Pen, and hope Hiortly to make an ocular de- 
 nionftration of it to all that are lovers of the won- 
 dcrfull Works of God. In the mean time we may 
 prove it thus, dillblve in Acjua Fortis Ibmc line cu- 
 pelld Silver, and in another Veflcl in A^ua Regis 
 Ibme find Gold, pour a little of our mercurial Water 
 into eachof the Solutions, and the Silver will fall to 
 the bottom Vv^hiteasSnow ; yea rather will be whiter 
 than that or any other thing in the World : and the 
 Gold will be precipitated red like blood, and the 
 Stygian Waters are rob'd of all the Gold and Silver 
 that was in them, by the addition of our fecret Sal- 
 Armoniack Water, lo as not the leafl: grain remains 
 with them. Thus Perfcus, viz. the exalted Gold, 
 has delivered Andromeda, viz. the white exalted Sil- 
 ver, from the Sea-iVIonfter, I'lz,. the ^^ua Fortis, 
 and taken the fame to his Wife, that is, radically 
 united with it. And that our jovial Sal-Armoniack 
 will do this, 1 hope e're long to demon ftrate to the 
 lovers of Art. 
 
 The Blind World may learn from hence, it was 
 
 not without reafon the Philolbphers affirm that their 
 fecret Salt, exalts the red in Gold and the white in 
 Silver. And that their Salt is a Sal-Armomack, ap- 
 pears from their crying, O our Sal-Armoniack .' O our 
 Sea : for had it been the common, how could they 
 have call'd ic theirs ? Turba faith. If the Almighty had 
 not created this Salt, it were impojfble to compleat our 
 Elixir: Which words are alledged by Amoidusde Vil- 
 la Neva, who faith that Almiz,adir (a name the 
 Philofophers give their fecret Salt) is a Sal-Armoni- 
 ack, as appears from his own words taken out of his 
 Breviary of Alchymical Books, being a Letter of his 
 to a Pope of Rome. 
 
 " To the nioft holy Father, e're I acquaint thee 
 that firft of all the bodies muft be reduced to their 
 firlt matter. To under/land which, thou muft 
 know, that the matter of all Metals, and their 
 Sperm is a white fume decoiled and thickned in 
 the Bowels of the Earth, by a fiilphurnus heat ; 
 and according to the varieties of this "^ulphur, and 
 its quantity in the earth, divers Metals are pro- 
 duced ; the matter of them all being the fame ef- 
 Icntialiy, and differs onely accidently. Above all 
 things It is certain, that the Workman can do no- 
 thing Ifere without Salt, no more than an Archer 
 can (hoot without a firing to his Bow. Monema 
 expr.eiTes this more clearly, when he faith. Take 
 ■ the Fblegmatick andChslerick,a»d ^rind the Sa^iguine 
 ' with It, untill it become a tinging Heaven, &C. The 
 ' Phlegmatick is cold and moift, i//z.. Mercury, the 
 ' Choierick is hot and dry, ■viz,. Sal-Armoniack^ 
 ' and the (anguine is hot and moift, viz,. Gold. . 
 ' Obferve that Sal-Armoniack doth not give Co- 
 ' jour, but Ingrefs, and prepares the matter and 
 ' purgech it, and thea the Spirit being united with 
 ' the Body, ic hath ingrefs, and having conjoin'd 
 ' the.'c, ic goes olF. For this Salt is an unctuous 
 ' fatnefs coagulated by the drynefs of the fire, of 
 ' a hot and fubtil dry nature, which penetrating 
 ' through all parts , diflfolves Bodies , and is the 
 ■' conjoiner of oppolites, and of all Spirits with their 
 " Bodies. For this Salt is a volatile Spirit, a gene- 
 •• rating Stone, and a helper towards the produfti- 
 " on of the E'ixir.; becaufe if this Salt were not, 
 " the Elixir could never be diliblved, nor have in- 
 " grefs, neither would one thing be join'd to ano- 
 " ther, or have ingrefs into another. It is volacile, 
 " and yec join'd with Bodies, ic is a Body which is 
 " hid in ic. And therefore Avicenna faich , If you 
 " put it, VIZ,, this Salt, in/lead of Fire, Air, or Su'l- 
 " fhur, you will fict err in your work, becauje it inclines 
 " It felf to every nature and Almizadir -jthcii is,Sal-Ar- 
 " momackwill alone do thy lyfinefs. And in the Book 
 " of Aloms and Salts 'ds Hiid, that if Cod had not 
 " created this Salt, the Elixir could 7iever be perfected, 
 " and the ftudy of Alchymy would be m vein. He 
 " therefore that works without Salt ( as the Allegc- 
 '• ry of the Wife Men hath it) does not attenuate the 
 " dead Bodies in their Graves, and therefore can never 
 " exfeti a refurrcHion, &c. 
 
 From this Letter of Amoldas it appears fully, 
 that their fecret Salt is a Sal-Armojtiack, though not 
 the common. Concerning which Salt the Philolb- 
 phers exprefs themfelves very differently. Our 
 Cojmopolita cries out , O our Sal-Armoniack ! O our 
 Sea ! and teaches alfo the preparation of it, though 
 very darklv, where he fpeaks of the little hfh Re- 
 mora, of which we are told, that it is able co ftop 
 
 a great 
 
i^art U. 
 
 the Spagjrical Vbarmacopaea. 
 
 20'; 
 
 a gre-ic Siiip untier Sail ia her court'e; and we know 
 our ictrer ^al-Aimotuack has the force to ftop the 
 Si.ips richly laden , vviih Go!J and Silver, (ailing in 
 the Sea of i.'/^.a^ Waters, and to lead them whither 
 it iilis ; from whenceir appears that our Jovial Sal- 
 yirmoviack is the true Rcmora of the Philolophers. 
 
 I proceed now to rl:e fecond Flower, 'v:z,. the 
 b!ew Violet, which ielikewife luund in our Garden. 
 We have heard how by means of our Jovial Sal-Ar- 
 moTi'dck, the colour of Gold and Silver is exalted, 
 after ic hath attracted tl.em outof the fait Sea,where- 
 in they were dilTolved. But if the Solutions of both 
 Gold and Silver be pour'd together in one Glafs, 
 and (ome of our Magnet be put to them for to at- 
 tract the fime, then the Gold wh-ch before was 
 Blood-red, and the Silver which was fo white, do 
 together conftitute a Violet colour, which is the fe- 
 cond Flower growing in our Garden. 
 
 The third and moft beautiful! Flower of all that 
 grow in our Garden, is the fair Flower Amaranthns, 
 which of all other doth longell: keep its colour : the 
 white Lillies (hed their Leaves as foon as they are 
 ripe, and Violets in a fhort time wither and lofe their 
 colour ; but the ^maranthns keeps her colour 
 Winter and Sunimcr. And the fame may be faid 
 of our metdiliiic Tlowers, the Silver attra(n;ed by 
 our Magnet is the white Lilly, which when joyn'd 
 with our blood-red G /id, produces our blew Violet, 
 and our of this Violet, by rr.eans of the Fire, is af 
 ter wards ^ roduced the fix and permanent Amaran- 
 thus. When a Ph-lof^jpher knov/s where to find, 
 and how to pluck thefe three Flowers, he may well 
 wear them as a Garland of Honour. Thus much 
 I have added to point out thefe Flowers to the Sons 
 of Arr, aodto ftu- up adelire in them to pluck them 
 for themlelve^- At the prelenr, time doth not per- 
 mit to add any more, wherefore I hope the Cour- 
 teous Reader will afccept of what he finds here, m- 
 tendii.g in my third .\ppendi.v, God willing, to fpeak 
 more lully of other like Flowers, which with the 
 help of (iur fecret Sal-Armoviack, may with more 
 ea'.e and in greater abundance be gathered than 
 thole now mentioned. I intend alio therein to treat 
 ofa far more profitable ufe of our ^czxqz Sal-Anno- 
 ntack. For although our fecret Sal-Armoniack, which 
 by manual labour is prepared of two Contraries, w;:-. 
 Oil of Vitriol, Spirit of Salt or other corrofive acid 
 Spirits, and urinous Spirits, be of great ufe for the 
 meliorating of Metals, and the preparing of many ' 
 
 good Medicines, yet is all this but Children's play, 
 if compared with what may be done with our moft 
 fecret Sal-Art»oniack, which is not prepared by Art, 
 but created of God, and may be had every where 
 in abundance without money. Yea, the Philolo- 
 phers fay that all men have it, that Ad,im brought 
 it with him out of Paradife, and after death took it 
 with him to his Grave ; which is the conftant af- 
 (ertion not onely of Heathen, bur,.alfb of Chriflian 
 Philofophers, who have aflerted the fame with 
 many arguments, amongft whom are Albertm Mag- 
 n;;s and his Dilciple Thomas Aqumas, who were holy 
 and religious men, and therefore very far from ob- 
 truding lies upon the World. There are alfb many- 
 Writings of unknown Philofophers, who afiert, that 
 all both rich and poor, always carry the matter of 
 the Stone about with them, yea, that they bring it 
 with them , from their Mothers Womb : which 
 though it may found ftrange to the ignorant, becaufe 
 Man doth not appear in a mineral form, but in Flefh 
 and Blood, \et flue it is that the mineral virtue is 
 hid in him, for if it were not lb Albntus could never 
 have found Gold between the Teeth of dead Mens 
 Skulls. 
 
 And for a conclufion, I Glauber do here proteft, 
 that this moll: univerfal Sal-Armoniack is able to 
 change common Mercury in two or three days time, 
 that it fhall be no longer Quickfilvcr, nor whiten Sol 
 Ltine or Copper, but rather exalt them in their co- 
 lours, and change them into true Tiniftures. This 
 Sal-Arnioniack alfo has the pcfwer to fix (though ic 
 be unfixt itfelf) all volatiie Minerals, viz.. common 
 Sulphur, Mercury, Antimony, Auripigment, Zink, 
 Bilmuth, Arfenick, Cobalt, Galmey , and other luch 
 like in twenty four hours, fb as afterwards they will 
 fuffer themfelvesto be melted, without fending forth 
 any fmoak, and may be taken inwardly for the cure 
 of many Difeafcs, concerning which 1 intend fud- 
 denly to give a fuller and further account. And 
 therewith conclude this fmall Treatife of the won- 
 derful! Powers and Virtues of our fecret Artificial, 
 and moft fecret natural Sal-Arrfio7tiack. The godly 
 and upright will eafily apprehend what is here 
 written, but the ungodly never. In our third Ap- 
 pendix we intend to enlarge on thefe and the like 
 high Secrets, and declare the further profitable ufe of 
 our Mercury of Tin, as being the onely means, 
 without troublefome or chargeable labour to obtain 
 to an univerfal Medicine. 
 
 The End of the Second Appendix^ 
 
 THE 
 
V2o8 PartJI 
 
 THE 
 
 THIRD APPENDIX 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SEVENTH PART 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Spagyrical Pharmacopoea. 
 
 Wherein is Treated of the Further Ufe of our Wonder- 
 working Alcaheft or moft fecret Sal-Armoniack, And more particularly, 
 of the way to Extract the Tindlurcs of Gold, Iron and Copper 3 as well 
 as of all precious and common Stones ; and to introduce the faid Tindlures 
 again into other white Metals and Stones, fo as permanently to colour 
 and meliorate the fame. 
 
 Faithfully Tranjlated out of the High-Dutch Original. 
 
 Courteous READER, 
 
 IN the fore-going Sece»d Appendix to my Pharmacopcea Spagyrica, / promisd the pMlliJhing 
 of a Ih'ird Appendix, wherein I intended to communicate to the Lovers of Art^ the remain- 
 ing Vertues of our Secret Sal-Armoniack ; hut finding that my Candid publication of fo many 
 great and ufeful Secrets are fo coldly and carelejiy received by an ungrateful I World y I have 
 thought good to cover the fame infilence. However that I may not he wanting to contribute what I 
 can in this my Third Appendix, for the fatisfaBion ef the ingenious Seekers and Lovers of Arty I 
 dejign to conclude my Spagyrical Phamacopa'a with the Difcovery of a Wonder-working new-found- 
 Alcahcft, which by itsfurpaftng Virtues does far excell all thofe beftre- mentioned. Which newDfJcc 
 very will without doubt he more acceptable to the Lovers of thefe Secrets^ than to Treat further con- 
 cerning the already Communicated Sal-Armoniack ; which ivhofoever [haS take the pains to prepare^ 
 ivill find much more than I have fet down concerning it ; and therefore think it not needfull to en- 
 large any further en that Subject, in the mean time negletling things of greater and better concern. 
 I fay better things ^ becaufe the difcovering of this New-found Alcaheft ivill afford mere light by 
 far to Seeker Sy than the former could : for which reafon I have thought good to fet all other things 
 afidcy for to Treat of the Alcaheft which hoi not its like in the Vniverfcy as I hope by God's afiftance 
 in tha Difcourje to make out and demonjlrate. 
 
 Now 
 
Fart II. 
 
 the Spagyrical Vharmacopcca. 
 
 2.051 
 
 ^JOw becaule I here write of an Ahahefi or IVon- 
 H Jer -working Sdl-Armcniack, I think it not impro- 
 per to explain the word Alcabefl., and tomakeknown 
 the meaning and importance thereof, which may help 
 us to difcover the true tile and Vertues of the lame. 
 Some tell us that the word Akakefi, is .a Corruption 
 of the German Word Algcijt, that is to fay, All-Sprit, 
 from its very fpiritual nature, and becaufe it reduces 
 grols Bodies to Spirit. Otliers by tranfpofing of its 
 Letters, make a D«rf/j word of ir, importing /fe<»/^ or 
 /uv^r riinving, flying, &C. 
 
 Now we know that among all Salts that are in the 
 World, there is none to be found, which in Diltilla- 
 tion or Sublimation doth (boner volatilize the molf 
 fubtil part of Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals, 
 and carry them over the helm, than a good Sal-Ar- 
 moniack: Wherefore the faid Name may well be gi- 
 ven to it, by reafbn of its volatilizing all things, and 
 carrying them fwiftly over the helm. 
 
 And foraliruch as 1 have already fpoken cconcern- 
 ing feveral of thefe volatilizing Salts, calling thehrlt 
 Common Sal- Arwcniiick, thefecond fecret Sal-.drmom- 
 ack, andthethkd moBfecret Sal- Armoniack, I hnd my 
 lelf deflitnte of a Name by which I might cail this 
 my New found Sd-Armoniack, except 1 fhonld give it 
 the name of Eagles IVmgs, which I am the rather in^ 
 clined to do, bccaufe in fbme of my former Writings, 
 I have b}' way of Allufion exprefled the ikid Volatili- 
 zing Salts by the Name of ;f'«w^x, comparing the Hrlt 
 and weakeft- of them to the wings of a Dove, the fe- 
 cond to thofc of a Raven, and the ftrongeft of all to 
 Eagles wings. And feeing the Sal-Armont^ck of which 
 I am now to Treat, is far more powerful than any of 
 them all, I may well give it that name, and the ra- 
 ther, becaufe Antient as well as Modern Philofophers 
 have given the name of Eagles wings to common 5^/- 
 Armoniaek ; fbme of them, 'tis like, not knowing of 
 any better. Thus Paracelfus fets down the way of 
 volatilizing his unripe Aimeral EleBrum by means of 
 the Spread Eagles -wings ; and in many other places of 
 his Writings, he calls Sal-Armoniack an Eagle, becaufe 
 this Salt, of all Salts, as the Eagle of all Birds, takes 
 the highcft flight, and therefore alfb is called the King 
 of Salts. 
 
 The Heathens attributed a Flying Eagle to their 
 cheifeft God Jupiter ; and the Holy ApoiHe and Even- 
 gelift St. John, becaufe in his Gofpel he takes a higher 
 flight than any of the other Evangelifts, is reprefent- 
 ed with an Eagle Itanding by him, as being his pro- 
 per Embleme. We alio find in the Writings of Phi- 
 lofophers, the word Eagle is made ufe of by them to 
 fignihe any thing which by Art is exalted to the higheft 
 degree it is capable of-, and therefore this Sal-Armo- 
 viack which in its flight excells all thofe before fpoke 
 of, exalting things to the higheft top of Perfedion, 
 may well be ftyled the Eagles Wing. Tliny makes 
 mention of a great and inonltroul Bird called a Grif- 
 fon, found in the Eaflern parts of the World, and of 
 that Itrength, as to be able to carry away an Armed 
 Man on Horfeback,Horfeand all, to his Neft; which 
 firong Bird is a good Embleme of the furpafTing force 
 of this our Eagles -wing, which like the Griffon is alfb 
 provided with Itrong Talons, with which it lays hold 
 on heavy things, and carries them away with it, as 
 we fhaH hear by and by. For every good Sal-Armo- 
 niack bath thefe two Vertues, of being fliarp and pier- 
 cing as wellas vohtile; the fharpnefs are its Talons, 
 whereby it feizeth and lays hold of things ; and its 
 volatility, are the Wings with which it carries them 
 away. Now the Itronger thefe talons, and the larger 
 
 thefe wings of Sal-Armomack are, the more will there- 
 by be etredled : 1 he Common Sal-Armoniack is the 
 weakeltof all, our Secret 5^/- ^rwowwc/i is as itrong 
 again, and our moft Secret Sal-Armoniack fir excells 
 them both ; but this we treat of here, is bymucfe the 
 ' ftrongeft and molt adive of them all, and therefore 
 may well be compared to the King of Birds. 
 
 1h\s iame Sal-Armoniack mzy i\\{b w'nh great rea- 
 fon be called Luciftr, as aforal.^ a bright-fhining 
 Light to Chymifts, whereby thev may difcover great 
 Secrets : For as the bright Morning Star in the Firma- 
 ment, does go before the Sun, and gives notice of his 
 rifing, and therefore is called Lucifer, that is the Har- 
 binger or Bringer of Light. And is --he faid Star doth 
 not only Ufher in tlic Day, but alfo fhut the fame, 
 and bring on the Night, being therefore alfo called 
 Vefperus ; we fhall find a fit refemblance of all this in 
 our Philolbphick Lucifer, forafmuch as the fame makes 
 known and difcovers to us, the rifing as well as fet- 
 ting of our Spiritual Sun, and is a double Key which 
 fhuts as well as opens. 
 
 But to fhew more particularly that my New found 
 Alcahefi or Spiritual Sal-Armomack, hath this refem- 
 blance with the Morning-Star, Lucifer ; I fay, that, as 
 the faid Star nfhers in the Suns rifing ; fo likewife our 
 Sophick Lucifer goes before our Spiritual S««,-anci 
 ufhers the fame over the Helm. And as the Firma- 
 mental Sun, when it rifeth above the Horizon, doth by 
 its Light, and Vital heat quicken, vigorate andrefrefh 
 every thing ; in like manner our irhilolophical Sun, 
 or Spiritual Gold, when by means of our Lucifer, it 
 is brought from under its earth or dark C/j<»w, quick- 
 ens and rejoices whatfoever is contained within che 
 compafs of our Sophick Heaven. 
 
 And as in the Heavens the Suns rifing follows fbon 
 after the appearing of the Morning-Star, following 
 the fame, as it were, at the heels; 1^ likewife our L«- 
 ctfer, when by the Artift?, She is joyned with the 
 dark Chaos, in Which the Sophick Gold lies hid, and 
 begins to feel the Fire, fwiftly comes over ( for fuch 
 is the nature o( a.n Akaheft) and brings ridings of 
 the Philofbphick Suns rifing, which indeed follows it 
 at the heels. Again, As the Sun of the Firmament, 
 leifurely follows the Morning Star, not leaping forth 
 all at once ; fb our Sophick Lucifer brings over Gold, 
 not all at once, but gently and by degrees, at firjt 
 appearing very littl», and afterwards difcovering it 
 felf more and more, till at laft it fhine forth in its full 
 Meridian Glory. 
 
 Neither ought it to be thought ftrange, that 1 com- 
 pare our Alcahefi to Lucifer, our Gold to the Sun, 
 and our Alembeck or VeOel to Heaven ; feeing that 
 others have done the fame before me, and particular- 
 ly Hermes Trifmegiffus the Father of all Philofophers, 
 has made ufe of this Allegorical way of expreffing 
 himfelf in thedefcription of his Univerfal Tintlure, as 
 may be feen in his Smaragdine Table at the latter end 
 of Mirac. Munii. 
 
 Thus the Reader may fee how the Philofophers of 
 old took pleafure to reprefent their high Secrets in 
 Parabolical exprelTions; which may further be traced 
 in Morienus his Defcription of the UniverlalTmtlure, 
 in Paracelfus his Book entitled Calum Vkilclofhorum, 
 which contains great Secrets concerning the Tranf- 
 mutation of Metals, but much in Symbolical, and 
 Allegorical exprefiions. 
 
 But to return to our Alcaheff, tvhofe name imports 
 a ftrong Spirit which lays hold of^ Heavy and fix things 
 carrying them upwards with it felf, thar is Volatili- 
 zing them. The Eagle, as a King of Birds, feizeth 
 
 H h h Hens, 
 
2 ro The Third Apfe?idLx to the Seventh Van of Part II. 
 
 Hens, Gees, Hares, c-c. with his Talons, and car- 
 ries them lip to his Nelt i but as for what Plmy writes 
 of the Griffon, (eems rather an Allegory than a true 
 Hiltory, becaiile P/.-w/ among other things rel.ues of 
 this Biril, that with her itrong Talons Ihe digs up 
 Gold fVom out of the high Mountains and Rocks, and 
 makes her Nelt with it: Now how improper this is 
 for a Bird to make her Neft with Gold, and not rather 
 with Feathers and ...her foft materials, is apparent 
 enough at firft fight. Wherefore we may fafely con- 
 clnde, that the Ancie<usbv this great and ftrong Bird, 
 have denoted to us a violent and liigh volatil Alcaheft, 
 liich as ours is, which lays hold not only of the Spiri- 
 tual, but alio of the Corporal Gold which is in Me 
 tals, Stones and Rocks, and plucks up the fame with 
 its (liarp Talons, and with its ftrong Wings carries up 
 the fame to the tops of Mountains, there to make her 
 Neft.Thus we fee how ihis Srory may be verified ; For 
 indeed the Talons of our AlcaheH are much fliarper, 
 and her \Vin2,s much Itronger, than thofe of the Eagle 
 or Griffon ; for when we pour the fame upon any co- 
 lour'd Metals or Stones in a Glals placed in a beat of 
 Sand, it prefently lays hold of them, and digs up not 
 onlv the tix Gold that is in them, bur alfo all their fix 
 and volatile Tindure, and carries it to the top of an 
 high Mountain,that is the head of the Alembeck. Nor 
 doth it only exert its power upon imperfect Metals, 
 or upon Sand and Flints, which are of a DilTimilar 
 and Heterogeneous nature, and therefore more eafily 
 reparable, but fhews forth alio its furpafling Itrcngth, 
 upon fix Gold and hard precious Stones, which are 
 Homogeneous and of very difficult Separation, pene= 
 trating their compacft and fhut-up Bodies, drawing 
 from them their fixed Tindures or Souls, and carry- 
 ing them up to the tops of Olympus. Neither doth it 
 only extradtTinftures fromdillolved Metals and pow= 
 dred Stones, but alfo from thofe that are whole and 
 entire, robbing them of their Tinctures without de- 
 ftroying the frame and figure of their Bodies, which 
 indeed is wonderful. And as it thus extracfls thefe 
 Tinftures, fo it can wonderfully introduce the fame 
 again into other hard and compacft Bodies : All which 
 it performs by reafbn of its furpafling fubtile and 
 piercing nature ; as biiing neither Earth, Water, nor 
 Air, but a nieer Fire, penetrating all things, and which 
 nothing can wichltandor refill. 
 
 Take this inftance of it-, Fill a Glafs-body with 
 Earth, Water, or Air, and you'll find that none of 
 them will be able to penetrate the Glafs, but put Fire 
 into it, and it will pierce the fame without the leaft 
 refiftance. Wherefore the Philofbphers fpeaking of 
 our Secret Fire, fay : Our Fire isfironger than the Com' 
 mon, hecaujc it turns Gold that is moft fix into a meer 
 Sfirit, ivbich common Fire can no way perform. All men 
 know that Gold cannot be dellroyed by any common 
 Fire, whereas our fccret Fire carries over Gold in 
 form of a Spirit, as if it were a volatile Mercury : 
 Judge then whether this be not a wonderful Fire, 
 which as it were in a moment, makes fix Gold fpiri- 
 tual and potable. 
 
 We read in the Scriptures, that the Ifraelites forced 
 Aaron, in iV/o/fi's ablence, to make them a Golden 
 Calf for to Worfhip ; and that when Mofes was come 
 down from the Mount, and faw the Children of Ifrael 
 dancing about the Golden Calf, hts anger was kindled 
 againjl them, and burning the Calf with fire, he ground 
 it to powder and Jlrew'ed It upon the water, end made the 
 Children of Ifrael to drink of it, Exod. }2. 19,20. 
 Now whether it was by Art, or by the immediate 
 power of God that Mojcs fo burnt the Golden Calf, 
 
 that the Ifraelites could drink it down, we will not 
 now difpute ; thus much we know, that it could ne- 
 ver be done with common vVood or Coal fire. Be- 
 fides, we know that Mcfes was not defediive in any 
 thing of Art or Knowledge, as having been educa- 
 ted and inltrudted in the Royal School of Pharaoh, in 
 which true Philofophy, Aftronomy, Magick, Aichi- 
 my, and fhyfick at that time greatly flourifhed. We 
 read of the Holy Apoftle and Evangelilt St. John, a 
 thing no lefs furprizng and W'onderful, 'viz,. that he 
 turn d Rods to Gold, and common Stones into Gems, 
 which he diitributed to the Poor ; as is expreft in the 
 Latm H}'mn the Roman Church fings in honour of 
 that Evangelilt, on the Feftival-day appropriate to 
 him, I am not ignorant that fbmeare of opinion that 
 St. John could never do this by art, becaufe he did 
 not make ufe of the proper matter for Tranfmutation, 
 but by the immediate power of God, which I will not 
 now determine ; only this 1 can fay, and if need were, 
 make an Ocular .demonftration of it, that out of 
 Wood, and other Vegetable and Anim.al fubjeds, none 
 excepted, good Gold, abiding all proofs may be made, 
 though with more eafe out of one Subject than ano- 
 ther. For indeed the Principles of Metals are as well 
 to be foundin Vegetables and Animals asin Minerals, 
 though fomewhat more remote and invilible, than in 
 thefe. That Wood contains a Sulphur like to that 
 which is found in Metals, none can deny, and I have 
 demonltrated in many places of my Books ; neither is 
 it deftitute of Mercury and Salt. Wherefore I here 
 openly profefs, by an impulfe from God and Truth, 
 that it is no hard thing for me, out of all Vegetable 
 and Mineral Subjeds to make good Gold, by means 
 of our fiery maturating Spirit, to which in this Trea- 
 tife I have given the names of AlcaheH, Eagles yvingsy 
 Griffons talons, and Lucifer. 
 
 The Ancient Philofbpifier Artephtus, has not fpecified 
 the time, in which his Secret fire can maturate the 
 true fubjed of the Stone, and bring it to perfe(n:ion. 
 Vontanus faith it may be done in a fhort time, and 
 with frnall charges. 'Tis probable that Mofes fcarce 
 fpent one day in burning the Golden Calf with the So- 
 phick fire ; neither is it likely that St. John made any 
 long work, of changing Wood into Gold, and com- 
 mon into precious Stones. If Miriam, Aaron s Sifter, 
 could in three days time compleat the Philofbphers 
 Stone from beginning to end, ( according totheTefti- 
 mony of Philofbphers ) why may not there fuch en- 
 ligbtned Perfbns be found at this day among good 
 Chriftians that can do the fame ? The fame God who 
 gave this knowledge to Mofes and Miriam, as alfo to 
 the Evangelilt St. John, he lives ftill, and ceafeth not 
 by his Holy Spirit, to enlighten his Eled, without 
 any Verbal Dilputes, reading of Books, Labour, Wea- 
 rinefs, or Charges, in all Divine and Eternal, as well 
 as Temporal and Natural things, and to lead and 
 conduift them to their defired end. Wherefore all 
 ought in the firft place to beg of God his Light, Un- 
 derltanding.and VVifdom, as Salomon did, and not to 
 feek after vain and perifhable Riches, by which means 
 they would obtain much more than they ever can by 
 their own willing and running- I JohnGlanber affirm 
 it boldly, that with our fecretFire, I can in the fpace 
 of three hours, make pure natural fix Gold to be as 
 volatile as any Spirit of Wine can be; and again in 
 twenty four hours-time, turn the faid fpiritualized and 
 exalted Gold, inte a fix tranfparent, fpiritual, fweer, 
 tinging Carbuncle : and this in the way of Nature, to 
 the wonder and aftonilhment of the ignorant Cove- 
 I tous Children of this world, that walk in darknefs; 
 
 and 
 
Part IL 
 
 the Spagyrical Fharmacopxa. 
 
 211 
 
 and yet ( as Chrifi faith ) are v/ifor in their Genera= 
 tion than the Children of Light. 
 
 Lee this fiiffice what we have here fpoken concern- 
 ing the power and great vertiie of our Ahahefi, in 
 preparing of Medicines and Univerfiil Tindtures, -viz,. 
 that whatever Metals, common or precious Stones, 
 are put into it, it immediately docs volatilize the fame, 
 and brings them over the helm, carrying them up- 
 wards, to Ivhat height we pleafe ; for fure it is that 
 the higher Metals mount in diinllation or fublimation 
 the purer they are. When now fiich pure and cethe. 
 rial Spirits, are again fixed, then they are no more 
 grofs Metallick Bodies as before, but Spiritual Bodies, 
 and Bodily Spirits ; to the Eye Clarified Bodies, but 
 indeed and in truth Concentred Spirits, which pene- 
 trate all hard things whatfoever, pafs through locked 
 Gates,and take away what pleafeth them ; and as they 
 can without opening the door take out any thing, fb 
 can they in like manner bring in the fame again. As 
 for inftance, 1 draw the Colour from Gold, and in- 
 troduce the faid Tindture into Silver, being a fix pure 
 and white Body, in which this Metalline Spirit takes 
 up its abode ; and the pure body of Silver greedily 
 attrads the Ti'nfture, becaufe flie (lands in need of it ; 
 neither indeed can the porous body of Silver, refilt 
 or keep out this piercing Spirit, but paflbth through 
 warming and tindluring her throughout, and filling 
 her pores with Solar Tindlu re, communicates to her 
 not only the colour and weight, but alfo the nature 
 and property of Gold. 
 
 Take another Example : Extraft with our Alcaheft 
 
 by Diftillation the fix Tindure out ot Granates (not 
 
 pulverized, but whole as they come to hand, and that 
 
 for reafbns hereafter mentioned) which exrratftion may 
 
 be performed in half an hours-time, becaufe our Lu= 
 
 cifer can pafs through fhut gates. When now thou 
 
 haft caught this Tinfture in our Hellifh Spirit, then 
 
 thou halt it at command, and it rnuft obey riiee. If 
 
 then our fiery Magnet be able to extradt the Tindture 
 
 from hard Stones, without breaking, or deffroying 
 
 tiieir bodies, it can as eafily introduce the fame again 
 
 into any hard, white ftony body, and colour the fame, 
 
 light or deep, as pleafeth thee beft. For inftance thou 
 
 draweft the colour from Granates, which indeed do 
 
 fuperabound with tindture, which renders them opa- 
 
 cous, and therefore lefs elf eemed ; for we find that a 
 
 Ruby being of a lighter colour, that is left abounding 
 
 with Tindture than a Granate, is much more valued, 
 
 whofe Bodies neverthelefs do in all things exadtly re. 
 
 femble one another, differing only by realbn of more 
 
 or lefs Tindtnre. Indeed where the bodies differ in 
 
 hardnefsand clearnefs, there the cafe is alter'd; but 
 
 when the body is fixe, and can endure the fire,onely 
 
 "tis darkened by too much Tindture, this may eafily 
 
 be mended by art, onely by extradting or taking a- 
 
 way fbme part of its Tindture, which will render it 
 
 of a brighter colour. Which extradtion ofTindtures, 
 
 and the introducing of them again into pale or white 
 
 bodies, may be pradtis"d upon all precious Stones, 
 
 and to very great profit. For example, I draw, by 
 
 means of our fecret fire, the Tindture out of Gold or 
 
 Granates, and Introduce the fame into another white 
 
 Stone, which muft be fix, that is, fuch an one, which 
 
 when made red hot, doth not become foft or fall to 
 
 fhivers, but retains its former hardnefs, as all thofe 
 
 do which are called precious, becaufe the fire can 
 
 neither confume nor feparate their parts, fiich as ~j 
 Diamonds, Rubies, Granates, Saphires, Hyacinths, 
 Emralds, Topafes, Chryfblites, Amethifls, &c. All 
 which are coagulated of one and the dune Vv'ater, and 
 tindlured with the fame colour ; for though their co- 
 loujs ditt'er, that proceeds only from the greater or 
 lelFer quantity or purity of their Tindtures, their co- 
 lours, as well as their bodies proceeding from one 
 principle. And the fame mult,be underltood of all 
 Metals ; for Gold has no better ori^'fial than Iron or 
 Copper, faye only that by long diftillation in the 
 Earth, it is better purified and ripened. Obferveonly 
 that in tliis operation you do not takeCri(taIs,Beryls, 
 or any other' Stones which grow fbft and crumble 
 to pieces when they are made red hot. 
 
 Some Jewellers know with the help of Fire, to 
 mend fome precious Stones whofe colours are not 
 bright and clear enough .- thus they burn away the 
 colour that is in Saphires and Amethiits,makingthem 
 white like Diamonds, their colours being volatile, and 
 therefore may be taken away by Fire, but they can 
 not introduce other colours inftead of thofe they have 
 rob'd them of Neither are they able to burn yellow 
 Diamonds to a whitenefs, notwithftanding that Arc 
 has been much fought after : But our /Jcaheft can 
 eafily perform this Mafterpiece, for as much as it, 
 like a fubtil piercing fire, can pafs and repafs through 
 fhut doors without impediment, whereas all grofs, 
 corporal things are fain to ftand without. For which 
 reafbn I have given our fecret Fiery Spirit, the name 
 of Lucifer, of which Artcfhius fpeaks thus : Our Fire 
 is moifi avd dry, it pierces all things, tlijjolves, volatilijetk, 
 and alfo jixeth them ; it is natural, unnatural, and fuper- 
 natural: For though Nature make Gold and Precious 
 Stones in the Earth, yet doth it not afford us fnch a 
 fupernatural Fiery Spirit or Stone with which we at 
 our pleafure can make Gold and Precious itones of 
 Earth. Therefore it is Art that brings things higher 
 and further than Nature can, and yettheArtift cans 
 not go beyond Nature, except he have fint learnt to 
 know Nature and taken his Principles from her. Now 
 we know that Spirits, whether they be hot or cold, 
 light or dark, good or evil, are of more power and 
 efficacy than grofs Bodies , for which reafon God,who 
 is Light and Life, and his Adverfary Satan, who is 
 Death and Darknefs, have fo great power .- Though 
 indeed the Darknefs hath no more power than the 
 Light allows or permits it to have .- For the Light rules 
 over the Darknefs, fo as the Darknefs can do nothing 
 againft tue Light, of which matter I intend, Gcd w\h 
 ling, to Treat further in ray fecond and third Purga- 
 tory. 
 
 In the mean time we have here fhewed, how by 
 Art fuch powerful Spirits may be prepared, as can 
 etfedl things fupernatural ; for which reafbn, amongft 
 I others, I hare given our Alcahefi the name of Lucifer: 
 ] for Lucifer was in the beginning with Gcd, an Angel 
 • of Light, whereas now he iscalt into utter Darknefsj 
 fb likewifeour Incomparable Wonder-working Alca- 
 hefi in its firft preparation, is a bright Fiery Spirit of 
 Light, but after its coagulation, it becomes a fpiritof 
 Cold and Darknefs, binding all volatile Spirits, whereas 
 before it made all fix things volatile and fpiritual. 
 Which thatl may more fully evidence to the Ignorant 
 and Incredulous, I (hall give an Inftance thereof firft 
 in Gold, and then in Precious Stones. 
 
 A PRO- 
 
21 2 The Third Appendix to the Seventh Van of Part II. 
 
 A PROCESS, 
 
 lAke of the filings of Gold, or beaten Gold 
 an ounce and half, or an ounce and quarter, 
 put it into a little, but ftrong Glafs body, 
 pour upon it two or three ounces of our 
 Left Alcahcfi, fit a head to it, clofing it well with a 
 paper dipt in Oyl, apply a great Recipient, and lute 
 it very carefully, for when the Spirit comes over, it 
 pafTetii with great violence, and fearehes every where 
 for vent, being the molt fubtil of Spirits, and very 
 fiery withall -. Wherefore take great care that your 
 Lute be good, or elfe you will never be able to re- 
 rain this Corrofive fiery fpirit. The Veffel muft ftand 
 in Sand, and a very gentle Fire adminilfred at firtt, 
 that our fecret fpirit may by degrees grow warm in 
 the Glaf?, and not be too fuddenly heated, for in that 
 cafe it would be apt to fly away without its prey : 
 But if you proceed, as is direiled, then our moift 
 fire will la\' hold of the Gold, and carry it ovtr in 
 form of a' Spirit, but leifurely and by degrees, at 
 firft only of a yellow colour, which afterwards comes 
 higher and higher. Towards the latter end the fire 
 mult be encrenfed, till the bottom of the Glafs be red 
 •hot, at which time the heavy fpirits will come over, 
 bringing the heavy Corporal Gold over with ihem, a 
 red fix fait (laying behind, which is of great ufe in 
 Phyfick and Alchimv, as we (hall fee hereafter. The 
 yellow fpirit, as well as the red fait, may, without 
 any furtlier preparation be ufed outwardly and in- 
 wardly ( the ftrength of them being qualified with 
 Water, or other Liquors) and by realbn of their 
 altring'ent property, corroborate the Stomach of fuch 
 as are old and cold, procure Appetite, confume 
 tough Phlegm and (limy Matter in the ftomach, help 
 Concoftion and (trengthen the Heart, Brain, and all 
 outward and inward parts of the Body ; open all 
 Ob(truL"Lions, by reafon of the fiery fubtil faline fpi- 
 rit joyn'd with them, penetrating and cleanfing the 
 whole Body, and perform all that can be expeded 
 from a true Potable Gold. 
 
 But in order to our Metallick Tranfmutation, this 
 Solar fpirit muft be reduced to a fix, fweet, tranfpa- 
 rent, and all penetrating Stone ; the way and man- 
 ner of doing which, we (hall declare hereafter. Now 
 in cafe we would have this our Golden fpirit, to pro- 
 duce more wonderful eftedts in Phyfick, as well as in 
 the Tranfmutation of Metals , then proceed thus : 
 Take of Gold one part, of the Martial Regulus of 
 Antimony two parts, melt them together, pour them 
 forth, and die Gold will be white and brittle ; pulve- 
 rize the Mafs, and put it into a fmall Glafs body, and 
 pour upon it three times as much of our fiery Aha- 
 hefl, and by degrees abftrail the lame, and you'll 
 have a higher and better Tindure than from the Gold 
 alone. For Annwon) is the Arm of the Chymifts, 
 ivherein Sol hath its exaltation. This red Oyl of Gold 
 and Antimony, may eafily be changed into an Uni- 
 verfal Medicine or Tindure, by means of our Ca- 
 tholic k Coagulator- 
 And as we have here taught, how Gold, either 
 
 alone, or with Antimony, may be brought over, the 
 fame may be (aid of the Tindures of Iron and Cop- 
 per, which have fiirpalTing Vertuesin Phyfick as well 
 as Alchimy. 
 
 We proceed now to ftiew how with our Alcabefi, 
 the Tindures of Common and Precious Stones may be 
 extraded to great advantage. It may be of good profit 
 al(b from hard fix Stones, fuch as Granates, which 
 have too much Tindure, toextrad part of the fame, 
 by which means of Granates, Rubies may be made, 
 one ounce of which is more worth than loo/. of 
 dark Granates : which extraded Tindure of Granates 
 may afterwards be made ule of to exalt the colour of 
 Pale Hyacinths, and other white Precious (tones. 
 
 In a word, this art of extrading the colour from 
 Granats, and introducing the (ame into other (tones, 
 is an excellent, profitable ( I had almoft laid Royal) 
 art, which notwithftanding is (b little pradis'dj by 
 reafon of the General negligence and flothfulnefs of 
 men, undervaluing this excellent art of Fire, tho' 
 more may be gain'd by it than by Merchandize or 
 any handicraft whatlbever. Let him who is a lover 
 of art, (et upon the work, and try what God will 
 fend him. It is impoiTible to (et down all particular 
 circumltances of the work (b exadly, but that the 
 unexperienced may after all miltake. It fufticeth me 
 that I have faithfully pointed out the right way to; 
 wards the Land of Promile, leaving the reft to the 
 defirous and adive Traveller. 
 
 Thus I have in fliort words acquainted the 
 Reader, with the way of extrading 'iindures out 
 of Metals and Stones, by means of my New-found 
 Infernal Fire, and that to very great and good 
 purpofes, both in Phyfick and Alchimy ; and will 
 now in favour of Chymical Phyfirians communicate 
 an eafy way of bringing the purelt Souls and Tindures 
 of imperfed Metals, over the helm, with our fiery 
 (aline Spirit, for the eft'eding of wonders in both fa- 
 culties. But before I proceed to the Pradife of thole 
 (ecrets, I fuppofe it will not be ami(s if I endeavour 
 to place our Sal-Armoniack in a greater Light ; for 
 feeing by it, all mult be performed, which is here 
 fpoken of, it will be needful to know what properly 
 this word imports. 
 
 Of the Nature ajid Property of our New-found GnSons- 
 Claws , and Eagles-Wings,(?H^/ ivhat incredible things 
 may thereby be performed, in Phyfick, Alcbimy, and 
 other Arts. 
 
 A Good Sal-Armoniack muft have thele following 
 properties , viz,, to diliblve, extrad, and to 
 carry that which it hath extraded in diitillation 
 or (iiblimation over with it ; and the better it 
 performs thefe, the better is it to be efteemed. 
 Now whereas common Sal-Arwoniack , does on- 
 ly lay hold of, and carry over with it, the molt vo- 
 latile Sulphur of \'egetab!es. Animals and Minerals ; 
 our fecret SaUArmcniack does not only feizs the 
 
 light 
 
Van 11. 
 
 the Spagyricdl Flmrm/icopact, 
 
 213 
 
 only 
 
 (i-ize the light Siilpliur,but alio the ponderousMer= 
 airy, and therefore is far more to be eikemed than 
 the common. But my molt (ecret natural Sal-Armo- 
 vir.ck, extratis and carries over from all Metals 
 and Stones their pure parts to admiration : and yet 
 o'lr Griffons TaLtn &n6 Eagles wing;s are much more 
 ];ou'erful, as not only feizing tlieir prey with greater 
 inength, but aI(o carrying it away vvitli them more 
 Iwiftly, and even fuch jiondrous things, which the 
 Ibrefaid cannot elevate, or takeaway with them. 
 
 Moreover this New-found Sal-Armcwack carries 
 over t!ie faid Tiniftures not coagulated in the forrtj of 
 Siil-Armomack, but all Spirit, as being it lelf no coa- 
 y.ulate, but a fpiritual Sal- Arwomack, and meer tiery 
 
 doubtful! as yet whether it would fucceed or no, I 
 prepared fbme poundsof Martial Spirit of Wine; and 
 though I knew that from (ucha fpiritof Wine impreg- 
 nated with Mars, little good could be expec::ed, 
 before the fpirit of Wine were leparated from tlie 
 Tincture ; and that this reparation could not be made 
 by any diftillation or reditication, for that the fpirit 
 of Wine always carried the "f icture over with it, as 
 Experience the Miltrefs of Fools taught mc- There- 
 fore! caft in my mind to burn away the fpiritof Wine, 
 which when I had done, I found all my fpiritof Wine 
 burnt away, and nothing remaining in the Porringer, 
 only I perceived, that as far as the fpirit of Wine had 
 reached, it was tinged of a golden colour, higher 
 
 opirit, wherefore alio it is able to perform fuch great | than that of Ducat Gold. With which Experiment 
 things. We will now proceed to the Fra^tickparc, and ; not being fully fatisfied ( though I faw that this wav 
 
 lee whether there be fuch a wonderful Sal-Armomack 
 \n Nature which can perform all thefe Ifupendous 
 etFeLls. 
 
 A PROCESS, 
 
 To prepare the highejt Medicine., or Upi-verfal lltiBure 
 for Humane and MesaUick Bodies, bj means of our 
 firy Alcaheft. 
 
 Ecipe, one or two pound more or lefs of clean 
 Filings of Steel, fuch as may be had of the Nee-- 
 dlemakers, put them into a glafs body, (b as 
 they may but take up a twelfth part of if, then pour 
 upon them a well reiflified Spirit of Wine, t-iTj. to 
 every pound of Filings four or fix pound of Spirit of 
 Wine. Care mu ft be taken that the glafs body br 
 capacious enough, elfe, when the Spirit of Wine be- 
 gins to work on the Steel Filings, it will run over. The 
 Body then being placed in Sand, and the Recipient 
 ready at hand, add for each pound of Spirit of Wine 
 in the Glafs, one ounce of our Aicahest, which w-ill 
 acuate the fpirit of Wine fb, as to dillolve the Steel, 
 in which fijlution, the Sulphur of the Philofophers, or 
 purefl Tin>5turc of Mars is fet loofe, and immediately 
 received by the fpiritof Wine, and with it carried up 
 to the Philofophick Heaven. But btcaufe this Soul of 
 Mitrs has not vet obtained to that height of purity 
 which the Philolbpher defires, therefore it muft enter 
 his Purgatory, there to put otf all Impurities it has 
 brought over with it : that is, the fpirit of Wine muit 
 under a large refrigeratory head be burnt away, in 
 which flame the Amma, Mars, or foul of Iron , becomes 
 purified to the higheit degree, the flame carrying the 
 Tinging Medicine over in form of a pellucid clear 
 Water, \rhich is the true Water of life of the Philo- 
 fophers, healing all Curable Difeales, if daily taken 
 in a fmall quantity. For this Medicine renews the 
 Body of Man, and makes old Age young and bloom- 
 ing again ; neither do 1 believe that a better Medicine 
 can be fi^und in the W'orld than this is : and that be- 
 caufe the fix Mars with the help of our Alcahefi, is 
 brought ta the liigheft degree of fubtilty, and is after- 
 wards by the pureft of Fires, yet further purged and 
 exalted. Wherefore alio like Lightning it pierceth all 
 parts of the Body, opens all ObltruiHiions, which are 
 the caufe of Death: And befidesall this, tinges Lune, 
 and coagulates Common Mercury into fix So/,asl ha\'e 
 often tried and experimented my felf ; for I fhould 
 be very loath now I am on my 13eath=Bed, and as it 
 were dying, to expofe any thing to the World, be- 
 fides what Experience has verified to me. 
 
 N.B. When firft I made this Experiment, and was 
 
 it waspollible to make a true Tincture for Metals) I 
 went further in my fearch, that I might at laft be 
 Mailer of fb great and profitable a W ork. I difp^ifed 
 therefore a great glafs head fb, as that conveniently 
 1 could under the fame burn away a little difli or cup- 
 full of fpirit ol Wine, but the Glafs head fbon broke 
 with the flame of the fpirit of Wine, which ftill pup 
 me upon a further trial, 1 took a large, broad and 
 deep Pewter difh, placed it with the brim on three 
 ifones of an equall height, fb that 1 could convenient- 
 ly fet under it a little cup with fpirit of Wine : I filled 
 my Pewter difh with Water, and then kindled my 
 fpiritof Wine, to fee whether any thing incumbulti- 
 ble would come over with the ilamc, and by that 
 time I had burnt away about two or three ounces of 
 Martial fpirit of Wine, I found that the bottom of 
 my difh began to drop down a clear liquor, the T\n- 
 ^iture of Mars and the incumbuftible Mtrcury and Salt, 
 together with the Phlegm remaining in the fpirit of 
 W ine, being all condenfed in the form of Common 
 Water. After I had removed the Difh, and poured 
 out the Water, I found the bottom of the uifh, the 
 Cup in whfch the fpirit of Wine was, and the Silver 
 fpoon I had fet under the Difh, to catch the Water 
 dropping down from it, were all thick gilt. 
 
 Having perceivd all this, it w^s eafic for me to in- 
 fer, that for as much as Silver and Tin had been gild- 
 ed thereby, that I was in the ready -way of obtain> 
 inga true UniverfalTinifture for Men and Metals; 
 wherefore 1 ceafed not to contrive night, and day, 
 fbme convenient Inftrument, for catching of the Tin- 
 cture, afcending in the flame of the (jirirof Wine.- 
 And fo at lalt after long fearch, I had mv delire, be- 
 ing now confirm'd by Experience, that nuny pounds 
 of fpirit of Wine impregnate with Tin-ture, may in 
 one days time be eafiiy burnt away, under a Copper- 
 tin'd Head, by which means the Souls, or incombaltii 
 ble Tinftures of Metals and Stones are obtained ; 
 which Head, or Refrigeratory Inftrument, I intend 
 (God wilhng ) to communicate in the SLvthpart of 
 my Furnaces. 
 
 I can allure the Lovers of Art, that no eafier or 
 lefs chargable way can be found than this is, for to 
 attain an Univerfal Medicine or Tinduire, for that ac- 
 cording to this Proce(s,anLlniverfel Medicament may 
 be had in three days time, and with very inconfider- 
 able charges. 
 
 I (hall add one or two ProcefTes more, to fhew hoiv 
 jby means of our fiery SaUArmomack, high and noble 
 ' Tindures may be extracted, out of other Met.i!s and 
 Stones, and (hall begin with Venus. 
 
 Copper inwardly is very like Iron, and l;keit, is 
 dignified with a very glorious Tincture, and by the 
 help 6f our fiery Alcaheft ( proceeding as was faid 
 
 I i i before 
 
:7 I ± 
 
 The J'hird Appendix to the Seventh Fart of Part II. 
 
 before of Alars) in three days time a true Tinftiire 
 may be prepared from it for Men and Metals, thus: 
 Recipe of tlie tin;[> lilings of Femis, one, two or three 
 pounds, put them into a Glafs-body, and for every 
 pound of Filinj^s pour on three or four pound of Al- 
 colized fpiricof Wine, lute the Helm and Recipient, 
 diltill in Sand, and the Al.coliled fpirit of Wine will dif- 
 foWe the Venus, vivifie h'./: tinging Spirit, and carry 
 it over the helm, yet not vilibly ; but as foon as the 
 fpirit of Wine is kindled and burnt away under the 
 refrigeratory, then the Tincture of Fenus appears in 
 the form of a deep red Salt .- which Tin.lure performs 
 vvhatfbever 1 have before attributed to the Tindture of 
 Mars. And in the fame way a fix Tindure may be had 
 from common Combuftible Sulphur in three days 
 time, as here follows. 
 
 Tdfix the Common, Combuftible, Tellow Sulphur m three 
 days time into a red and fix tinging Stone. 
 
 THe whole Art of this Royal Work confifts only in 
 uniting the faid Sulphur witli fpirit of Wine, and 
 then burning it away under a helm, to catch the in- 
 combu.tible Heavenly Salt, or Water of Life per- 
 manent, which with Gold becomes coagulated and 
 fixed to a TingingStone.Which heavenly Salt as (bon as 
 by the flame it is feparated from the Sulphur,is a true 
 Univerfal Medicine againft all the Difeafes of Man- 
 kind : but when joined with Gold, it obtains ingrefs 
 and tingeth Lttne, and coagulates Mercury into Sol. 
 Now to unite Sulphur with fpirit of Wine ( wherein 
 the whole Art and Maftery confilts) without any Cor- 
 rofive or Alcalt, is an eafie thing, and which I have 
 declared in my late publifh'd Writings, and therefore 
 do not think it needful to repeat the fame here. I do 
 not deny, but fince that time I Iiave found nearer 
 ways to the Bufh, but do not think my felf obliged 
 to proftitute thofe Difcoveries to all promifcuoufly, it 
 being well if I have not faid too much already, and 
 told Tales out of the Scliool. 
 
 As to the foregoing Operation, it is obvious to con- 
 c'-'ive that Common Sulphur joined with a dephleg- 
 mate fpirit of Wine, burns much ftronger, and con- 
 fequently with its Hame will have a greater force to 
 in than a Common fpirit of Wine can. We know 
 tliat God in the beginning made the whole World of 
 Fire and Water, from whence alfb all other things 
 have their Original: For when Fire and Water, as 
 contraries, work on one another, they always gene- 
 rate a third thing. The Fire, as the Agent, works 
 upon its Patient Water, which adion cannot be per- 
 lormed without the Air, nor can the Water without 
 Earth have any Confirtence or ftability to abide the 
 Fires adion. For which reafon it is that we find no 
 Metalline Oare, but only in the Earth, and efpecially 
 in (iich Clefts and pafl'ages of the Rocks and Earth, 
 where a conftant moilhire trickles down, and whither 
 the Central Fire can have free accefs, to work upon 
 its proper Patient : From which union of Male and 
 Female Seeds, a third thing muft necellarily be pro- 
 duced. Now if the Sulphur which is the Male, and 
 the Water which is the Female-Seed, be pure, a pure 
 birtl) proceeds from them, and by the rule of contra- 
 ries if impure, the produdion muit be fo likewife. 
 Thus it appears that the moift Caverns, Holes, and 
 Clefts of the Earth, arethe fittefl Wombs for Minerals 
 and Metals. 1 am not ignorant that Metals may alfo 
 be generated in Sand or fat Earth, efpecially where 
 the fame lye moift ; for when the Demogorgon, or 
 Central Fire, Spirit afcendsfrom the Center, and meets 
 
 with a moift Sand or Clay, he )oins with it, whence 
 it is that oftentimes in Sand and Clay Metals are found, 
 but not in great pieces as in the Clefts of the Earth,but 
 only in lefs and greater Grains, according as the diC 
 pofition of the place permits, it being notorious that 
 Grains of Metal are oft found in Sand, and wafh d 
 from it. 
 
 That the Subliming Sulphurous Vapor , when it 
 meets with a flimy Matter in the Earth, doth unite 
 with, and turns to a Metal, no Man needs doubt of : 
 For 1 have feen many things in the Earth changed in- 
 to Metalline Sulpnurous Fhnt- (tones. Thus we ffee 
 that this Sulphurous Vapour readily cleaves to Snails 
 in the Earth, turning them to Flint, of which I have 
 feen many ,and have Ibme with me at prefent. Amongft 
 other things I have feen a Leather Purfe tnm'd to 
 Flint, as d(b the Privy Member of a Man, the reafon 
 of which will be obvious to him that confiders of it. 
 We know «lfb that fonictimes though rarely Metals 
 are produc'd in the Air, and from thence fall down to 
 the Earth, efpecially Iron in form of fmall drops, be- 
 caufe the Air is not the proper place for the generation 
 of Metals, for as much as they find no refting place 
 there. Stones alfo are at times generated in the Air^ 
 and from thence are caft down upon the Earth. Thus 
 in the Summer time, when the attraded Sulphur if 
 kindled by the fcorching beams of the Sun, and works 
 on the moift Cloud, in a moment Stones are generated, 
 which with Lightning are caft down thence : Thefe 
 are fometimes of flrange Figures, but commonly are 
 fhaped like Wedges. I have feen one of them that 
 was three-corner'd,and which way fbever it wasturn'd 
 reprelented the figure of a Mans Heart, and had, 
 amongft other, this Virtue, that it preferves all thofe 
 that are in the Houfe where it is, from being any whic 
 terrified with Thunder or Lightning. But of thefe 
 matters I have treated elfewhere, being only men- 
 tion'd here to demonftrate that Fire and Water are 
 the Principles of all things ; which being granted me, 
 it will not be found ftrange, that by burning away 
 fpirit of i^^ine, a Stone of the greateft Virtue and 
 Power, viz.. that of the Philofophers, (hould be ge- 
 nerated : which I have not only experimented my 
 felf, but recommended it to others, who have like- 
 wife performed the fame. Now if fb weak a Fire, 
 as that of Common fpirit of Wine is, has the Power, 
 by working upon its Patient, as it were, in a moment 
 to generate an Heavenly Salt or Stone ; why may 
 not we then fuppofe, that when fpirit of Wine by the 
 union of a pure Sulphur, is made to burn much 
 ftrongeri that this duplicate fpirit of Wine, will pro- 
 duce a Duplicate Mercury or Caleftial Salt? Yea, 
 furely it cannot be doubted but that fuch a fpirit of 
 Wine acuated with the pure fpirit of Sulphur,will not 
 only in burning away afford a better Mercury,b\.\t alfb 
 in greater quantity than any fpirit of Wine alone can, 
 becaufethe incombuftible A/frcMr/ and Salt in 5«/- 
 phur, becomes meliorated by the flame of the fpirit of 
 Wine, and highly exalted in Vertue. 
 
 When Sulphur is kindled under a Bell, or other 
 convenient Inftrument, the incombuftible fait of the 
 Sulphur, mounts with the flame, in the form of a 
 Gorrolive Oyl, and is caught and ufed tofeveral pur- 
 pofes. But this fbwr Oyl, may well be compared 
 to unripe Grapes, which being eaten, are hurtful! to 
 the Stomach -, but if thefe fowr unripe Grapes be 
 fuifered to hang on the V^ine till the heat of the Sun 
 hath ripened them to a perfed Sweetnefs, then they 
 will caufenogripings or flatuofities, as unripe Grapes 
 do, but afford good nourifhment to the Body : and 
 
 when 
 
Part II. 
 
 the Spagyncal Fharmacopoca. 
 
 215 
 
 when the juice of them is by fermentation turrv'd to 
 pleafant Wine, it not only Itrengthensa weak Stomach, 
 but revives the Spirits, comforts the Heart, Itrengthens 
 the Brain and all other parts of the Body, makes Men 
 chearfuUand courageous, and drives away Sorrow 
 and MelanchoUy, and in a word, is a eaufeof much 
 good to the fick as well as found. 
 
 Now if Common Wine can do all this, what won- 
 ders, think we, may then be expefted from the fix 
 foul of itspureftSpirit.whenby itsown proper Agents 
 flames, iris in the highelt degree purified, andbelides 
 this, united with thefweet foul of Sulphur, and there- 
 by ftrengthened in all its powers. 
 
 That Sulphur in its innermoft is as good as Gold, 
 rone that are knowing in Nature will deny, but 
 this doth not appear till by the flames of fpirit of 
 Wine it be reduced to a fweet, pleafant, fix, red ting- 
 ing Salt, and then you are Mafter of as powerfull a 
 Medicine, as any is in the World. LuUy, tells us 
 plainly, Make that which is bitter, fweet, and ym 
 will have the whole An. Bafil Valentine feith, That he 
 who in the Chymical Art, can with fpirit of Wine 
 d 'Jcifiea fowre fpirit of Salt, defcrves to be Knighted 
 for it, as baring done a moft Heroical aftion ; and 
 adds, That with this dulcified fpirit of Salt, the Tin- 
 dtureot Sol may be extraded,which is the very Truth. 
 Hermes concludes his Smaragdine Table with thefe 
 words; Here ends what I had to fay concerning the Solar 
 Work ; and fo fay I too. 1 have fpoke plain enough, 
 and now catch who catch can: For I don't think my ftlf 
 obliged not only to catch the Bird for others, but alfo 
 to pluck, roaft, chew and thruft it into their mouths. 
 
 In like manner, as has beenherefaidof Sulpiuir,we 
 may proceed with Antimony and Orpiment, for to 
 obtain their Quinteflences, as alfo with all Vegetables 
 and Animals; with which pure ElFences great wonders 
 may be performed in Phyfick. Time will not fuffer 
 me to enlarge on the fubjedt, but I intend ( God wil, 
 ling ) fliortly to publifh a fmall Treatifeof theDm»e 
 CharaBer, or Seal of the Deity, by which the World 
 and all that is in it was at firft created, and yet daily 
 the Stone of the Philofophers and many other wonder; 
 fnl things are made, and brought forth a-new from 
 the conjundlion of Fire and Water, that is, Sulphur and 
 Mercury ; in which Writing, the true ground of many 
 New Generations, which far furpaft Nature, and are 
 produced by a due combination of thefe two contra- 
 ries, will be declar'd and laid open. 
 
 After the fame Method, as before mention'd, the 
 Tindures of other red Metals, Minerals and Stones 
 may be extraded. Only we are to take notice, that 
 when we work upon Stones, 'tis beft only to make ufe 
 of our AlcaheH, without the addition of (pirit of Wine, 
 for the obtaining of tbeip Tinctures, becaufe ftones 
 are not of fo eafie foktion as Adars and Venus. We 
 may alfo with our fiery Jlcaheft extract red Tinftures 
 from White Sand-ftonesand Flints, though not in fuch 
 quantity as from thofe that are colour'd, which may 
 eafily be guefs'd. Many, 'tis like, will wonder to 
 hear that a red coloar may be extracted from white 
 ftones ; but this difficulty will be removed if they 
 confider, that all Sand-ftones and Flints are nothing 
 elfe, but an Earthly grofi Sulphur without any Mer- 
 cury. Now we know that Sulphur is a Father of all 
 Metals, and that when Mercury and Salt in a due pro^ 
 portion is join'd with him, then he makes a Metal. We 
 alfo know that all Sulphur inwardly is red, though 
 it do not appear fo outwardly till it be joined with 
 Salts. We have an inftance of this in Lead, in which 
 no redneft appears at all, but when the fame is cal- 
 
 cined with Salt, its blacknefs is turn d to a lively red ^ 
 as may be feen in Red Lead. For Fire and Sale have 
 the power to exalt all Sulpliurs. Forafmuch then as 
 the White Flint or Cryftal has Sulphur in it, as ap- 
 pears from their giving forth fparks of Fire, when 
 they are ftruck hard together, in like manner as when 
 thfc} are ftruck with Steel, which is nothing elfe but a 
 li.x Sulphur, that by its proper Agent, whicli is natu- 
 rally in ir, viz,, a Vitriolate Salt, with the aid only 
 of outward Fire, may be ripened inti>. a True Tin- 
 <^iire. And here I refer my Reader to what Artephius 
 and Pomanus writes concerning their fecret Fire, for 
 further fatisfac^ion. 
 
 I have prepared a particular Tindure from a white 
 Sulphur, whereof one part tinged three or four parts 
 of red Venus into Lime ; but when I commit this white 
 Sulphur for fome time to the Fire, its whitenefs be- 
 comes by degrees changed to redneft, which then 
 being projeded on Copper, gives it the colour of 
 Gold. And if the Tinfture be wholly fix, it turns 
 the Venui throughout to fix Sol, but if it be not yet fix, 
 it can never make fix Sol, though it have attained a 
 red colour in the Fire. Forafmuch then as white 
 Flints are nothing elfc but Sulphur, why may not our 
 Hellifli Fire Spirit be'fuppofedableto make the fame 
 Red, as well as the White Metalline Sulphur. I de- 
 clare it therefore as a certain truth, that all white 
 Sulphurs by means of Salt may be made fix and red ; 
 and he who is fo far advanced in the knowledge of 
 Nature and Art, as to know how to apply to every 
 Agent its proper Patient, will eafily obtain hisdefires 
 without any extraordinary charge or trouble, and in 
 a ftiort time, for without the joining Adives with 
 Paffives nnderftandingly in weight and meafure, no 
 good can be done. 
 
 A PROCESS. 
 
 To ExtraB a Red TinBure cut cf all White Flints, and 
 bring it over the Helm by means of our Fire Spirit, 
 and afterwards to fix tht fame. 
 
 REcipe one, two, or three pounds of finely pow=: 
 dred White Flints, and pour upon them half as 
 much of our Helli(h-fire- fpirit, abftrad the 
 fame in Sand by retort, and it will carry the pureft 
 fulphur of the Flints over with it, which may after- 
 wards be fixed with our Catholick Coagulator. And 
 if inftead of Flints you take a Gold Spar, which be- 
 fides fome fix Gold, contains much that is Volatile, 
 your pains will be better beftowed. And in cafe you 
 cannot get any of thefe, then take the terra SigiUata, 
 or fealed Earth of Silefia, in which much volatile Gold 
 is hid ; but if you can get the Red Turkifh Terra Si= 
 gtUata of Lemncs, you will have a much richer Tin- 
 dure, as abounding with a greater quantity of Spi- 
 ritual Gold, than any of the foremeniioned. But 
 take heed you be not deceived, for much of that 
 which is fold for Terra SigtUata of Lemnos, is nothing 
 elfe but Bolus Armenus. 
 
 Ovid and others have in their Fables made men- 
 tion of this Earth, which is fo rich in Gold under the 
 name of Vulcan, whom his Mother after fhe had 
 brought him fonh in Heaven, finding him to be de- 
 formed, flung down to the Ifland Lewnoi, where fome 
 Apes, that is Philofophers, who imitate Nature, took 
 and wafhed him, that is, by their fiery Water, took a- 
 way his ugly and deformed outfide,feparating the pure 
 Tinduf e from the grofs Body, as I have here taugi" 
 
/ 
 
 \. 2 1 6 The Third Appendix to the Seventh Vart of Part II. 
 
 ine Curious Vv'hodefii'e to know more of thefe mat- 
 ters, let them read the experienced and ingenious Brti- 
 cefcus his Book of the Tree of Life, who will give them 
 full fatisfaiflion. But if none of all thefe foremen- 
 tioned can be bad, we may make ule of Blood- ftone, 
 Ruddle, or any other Red Earth that abounds with 
 volatile Gold, of which there is great plenty in moft 
 parts of Germany. The Red Jafper-ftoiie, Granates, 
 and Yellow Jag""v:hs do alfo much abound with Tin- 
 
 Cane. But thefe and other fuch-like, I leave to others 
 to find out, for it is impofllble for me to mention all. 
 I conclude this little Treatife with this Solemn Affir- 
 mation, that it is a very eafie thing in a fhort rime, 
 and without any charges, to fpeak of, to prepare 
 fix Tinftures, from common Metals and Stones. Be- 
 lieve and fet upon the Work, and thou wilt find it io 
 indeed. 
 
 The End of the Seventh Vart, 
 
 ELLUSIGNIUM, 
 
 O R, 
 
 ook of F 
 
 In which is Treated of ftrange and hitherto unknown 
 
 FIRES, to what end they ferve, and what great Profit may by them 
 accrue to Mankind. 
 
 Tranflated out of the High-Dutch, 
 
 Beloved READER, 
 
 iH.-it which hath moved me to write this fma/l Treatife of Secret Fires, tvith their great 
 Operations, hath been only this, viz. Becaufe God Almighty hath commanded us not to 
 hide cur Talent in the Earth, ( like the 7JnproJitahle Servant ) hut to improve it to the 
 glory of God, and the good of our t^eighhour. To improve and augment it, as we may 
 fee in the 1 6. Qha^. of St. Luke. Seeing therefore that the mojl merciful God, hath revealed 
 thofe high Secrets to me, in this m\ great Age, makes me judge that fuch great gifts of God, hale 
 not been difcovered for my fake only, who hy reafon of my great Age have, at it were one foot al- 
 ready in the Grave ; but that I might make known juch wonder full Works to the World. 
 
 Of the firfi Fire, and its Profitable ufe. 
 
 HOw to make a Lamp, which being clofed up in 
 a Glafs, may be made to burn continually by 
 its own vertue, and give light without any other help. 
 
 of the benefit of this Latnf. 
 
 SUch a Lamp may (erve all thofe who love to fee 
 - light, as the Image of God ; and may alfb be very 
 available to thofe who by reafon of continual Weak- 
 nefs are forced to lie much upon their Beds ; which 
 they may keep continually burning in their Bed- 
 chamber, nctonly becauleof its clear fliining light, 
 
 which doth neither fmoak nor fcent, like all other 
 CombulVible Lights, which (cent is very prejudicial 
 not only to the Sick, but alfo to the Healthy, becaufe 
 fuch (moaks otfend the Heart and Brain. On the con- 
 trary, this Royal Fire is pleafant, ftrengthening, and 
 refrefliing to the Heart and Brain, and its Cotton or 
 Wick is made of incombuftible matter, and caftg a 
 fwtet fiavour all over the Room. This fecret Fire 
 might alfo ferve the Hermetick Phyficians to prepare 
 a Univerfal Medicine ; efpecially if the fweet refrefli- 
 ing Odour, which proceeds from it in Barning, be 
 received in a Philolophick Receiver, and adminiftred 
 to their Patients, as a great Cordial, renovating, and 
 reftorative Medicine. 
 Although this iecret Fire, be of far greater advan- 
 tage 
 
Part II. 
 
 The Bffffk of Fires. 
 
 217 
 
 tage than what hath been mentioned , yet for cer- 
 tain reafbns its further ufc muft be concealed. This 
 Fire is appropriated to the Elemental Air, feeing it 
 hath its own Air in it fe!f, by realon of which it 
 burneth in a Glafs well clcfed, and if touched by the 
 leaft Air, it extinguifheth and goeth out, of which 
 you may fee more in the Fiftli Pare of my iharmaco- 
 fxa S^agyrica. 
 
 There is another unknown Fire, which is appro- 
 priated to the Earth, becaufe it refemblerh a black 
 • Earth, and bsing fliut up in a clofe VelJel of GlaC«, 
 will keep its Fire perhaps to the end of the World, 
 provided there corlieth no Air into the Veflel ; but 
 if one would have it a vifible Fire, the Glafs muft be 
 broken that the Air may come to it, lb the matter 
 will prefcntly enkindle it felf by the Air, and in a 
 Ihort time burneth to a coal , yet without flame or 
 fmoak, and at length is confumed, and leaves heavy 
 Afhes behind, 
 
 of the Ufe of this Earthy Fire. 
 
 ALthough it may feem to many, that this Fire is 
 not fit for any thing, yet 1 affirm it to be fit 
 for great and weighty matters, which are not fit to 
 mention, much Icfs to make known, by reafon of the 
 abulc which may be made of it ; this Fire being ten 
 times more forcible than Gun-powder. Moreover, 
 it ahb plavs its part in the Melioration of Metals, for 
 when this black Earth-fire is fluxed in a Crucible, 
 then poured out, and expofed to the Air, it begins to 
 move, and grow as it were living , fb that one may 
 fee how forcibly it attraL^eth the Air,, fills it felf With 
 puffing Bladders like an incenfed Toad, continuing 
 fuch a motion for the fpace of three or four days, 
 then the matter falleth aflindero and there flowcth 
 out of it a red firey juice, the remainder is dead and 
 unprofitable. 
 
 With this red juice, wonderfull things are to be 
 <Jone in Alchymy, not necefTary to be mentioned in 
 this place, becaufe it is my defire onely to make 
 known the Wonders of God. But he that will know 
 more of it, let him read the Fifth Part of my Phar- 
 macnpa:ii Spagjrica, treating of the Stone of the Wife, 
 where he will find how the blood of this Toad doth 
 in kw hours draw the Colour of Gold , fb that the 
 Body remains white, therefore it may be fuppofed 
 to be the Chalybs o{ SentUt'ogias. 
 ■ This Fire is alfb made of Steel, for when it is touch- 
 ed with a wet finger, f|-)arks fly from it, as from a 
 red-h.it Iron which a Smith Is forging upon an An- 
 vil. But enough at this time of this wonderfull 
 Earth-fire till another opportunity. Ri-^Uy feems to 
 have known this Fire, and of it to have prepared his 
 Univerfal Tir.Jlure : his Dream founds thus, I have 
 ftcn a red Toad drink fb much and fo long of the 
 juice of the Grape, till his inwards did burft afun- 
 der, c^'-. 
 
 The third Secret Fire is appropriated to the Ele- 
 mentary water, becaufe it fbfteneth and diffolvcth all 
 hard Suhjcfls ; it alfb radically joyneth the dillerent 
 nature of Metals, into wonderfull tinging Stones. 
 Seeing that this Water-fire is of great vertuc to the 
 Metals, both particularly and univerfally, I am re 
 lolved ( for brevity fake) to make known its vertue 
 in a tew cales, the reft will be known by the diligent. 
 Firft, this wet Fire hath fuch great vertue, that it 
 can dinbive radically the molt fixed Gold, within the 
 Ipace of twelve hours, as alfb to unite it with Lune., 
 to volacilile and render it irreducible. Which vola- 
 
 tile Sol and Lum is no more like unto 5r./ and Tune 
 but m colour, eafie flux, form and weight, appeareth 
 Hke unto black S^tHm ; therefore the ancient Philo- 
 i^'phers, becaufe of its form and fimilitude, have call- 
 ed it the black Lead of the Wife, and becaufe of its 
 volatility the Mercury of Philofbphers ; which ^ler- 
 cnry or black Lead of thf Wile may be alfo per /?, 
 brought into a true Tindiure. 
 
 Therefore they have all erred, who have taken 
 Ayttimony for the true black Lead of the Wife. He 
 that will know my failings in this matter, let him 
 read the Third Part of mv Tbarmacovcea Sp^iryric^ 
 where he will find Wonders, efpecially how fhave 
 cleanfed it to the higheft degree, and concentrated 
 It into a white Mercurial fulible Stone, which dorh 
 fliew fuch vertues in Medicine as are to be admired. 
 This white Stone hath fuch vertue, that it cureth all 
 difeafes, if it be held every morning (.nely a while in 
 the mouth ; of which I have treated more clearly in 
 the Fifth Part of mv Pharmacol va Spr.gyrica. This 
 
 true black Lead, which by this humid Fire, is made 
 of Common Sol and Ltwe , hath no equality with 
 Antimony nor other common Lead. 
 
 What elfe is to be done in the particular Meliora- 
 tion of Metals, doth not belong to this place, but 
 fhall, by the help of God, be declared elfewhere. 
 
 This moift Fire hath power to extradl all Sol and 
 ^ev/is out of Lune, in few hours, if the Ltine be firft 
 granulated, and then put into it, without difTolving 
 the Lmc, lb that the Lune remaineth almoft as fine 
 as from the Teft. The extrafled Sol and ren.'.-s may 
 eafily be feparated from the Water, each by it felf, 
 by precipitation, infomuch that the Water retains its' 
 vertue, and there is no lofs either of the Sol, Lune, or 
 Fem.-s. In like manner the allay of .W and Lune, by 
 Vemrs, may be extra(^ed with eafe, in great plenty, 
 and for little charge. Which Secret would be of 
 great ufe to Refiners, or fuch as have much Gold and 
 Silver to be parted, as in Mines, &c. 
 
 It is fufl^iciently known what great labour and 
 charge is required by the common way of parting 
 Gold, and Silver, and Copper, &c. therefore need- 
 eth not to be repeated. 
 
 Here follo-iveth a Jliorter and eafter way. 
 
 FIrff, if my impure Gold be in great lumps, Igran- 
 nulate it ; but if it be Jewels, Rings, or Chains, 
 I onely neal them, and therewith fill a parting glafs 
 to the third part, then I pour thereon of my cheap 
 and new invented Menftruum, fo much as mav fwim 
 above it a fingers breadth, put a Limbick upon it 
 and let it in a Sand furnace, give fire by degrees till 
 the Liquor boil, and be all gone over the Helm, to a 
 dry Salt. So hath the Aojua. Fort is in the time of di- 
 gefting drawn to it felf all the allay of Lttm, Venus, 
 or other impurity, out of the Gold, in form of a green 
 Powder, which remains with the Gold in the Glafs. 
 When it is cold, I take it out of the Sand, and put in 
 warm Salt water, to dillblve the extrafted Lum and 
 Venus, that it may be poured out of the Glafs: which 
 done, I boil it in a Copper Kettle, fo the Salt-water 
 extrads the Lune and Venus from the Sd, and ma- 
 keth it fine. I decant the green and thick water 
 from the Sol, and put to it in the Kettle frefh Salt- 
 water, and boil it to extract the reft of the Lunt and 
 Venus from the Sol. But if this fecond Water fhoiild 
 yet be green and thick, that is a fign that there yet 
 
 K k k remains 
 
2l8 
 
 The Book of Tires. 
 
 Part II 
 
 remains more Lum and Kew.-w wicli the Sol ; therefore 
 more frefh Salt-water is to be added to the Sol, as be- 
 fore. After boiling, put all the greenWaters together, 
 and at laft pour upon the Gold onely common fweet 
 
 al(b a volatile Spirit, which may be very much fub- 
 tilized by reftification , but it hath no comparifon at 
 all, nor likenefs with my new-invented volatile hu- 
 mid Spirit of Metals ; becaufe the above mentioned 
 
 water,withwhich'boil theGoldto extrad the remain- volatile Spirit of Vitriol, confifteth onely of a (iibtile 
 
 ing faltncfs from it, which will leave it fine and (hi 
 ning in the Kettle, as fine Gold ufeth to be, which is 
 to be fet upon a fmall fiii^o dry, then to be kept as 
 fine Gold. The green Water is to be filtred, ib the 
 Lu»e will remain behind in the filter, which is to be 
 dried, and mixed with the common fluxing Powder 
 of Sulphur and Nure, and being melted will be redu- 
 ced to the ftneft Lunc Boil the green filtred Water 
 in an Iron Pot, fo all the P'enns will fettle to the Pot 
 bottom, which is to be edulcorated with Water, and 
 being mixed with the above-named fluxing Powder, 
 and reduced becometh the finelt Tew/w that can be 
 (een with eyes. By this means I doe not onely find 
 all my Sol, Lum, and Ven:is, but alfo an increafe of 
 the Sol, the rcafbn of which increafe proceeds from 
 my Aqua Fonts, which is a graduating Water, and 
 of a meliorating nature and property : which en- 
 creafe indeed is not over-great, yet it pays for all 
 the charge of Coals and Labour. This work may 
 be performed in the fpace of twelve hours without 
 any lofs of 5^/ or Lune ; which differs greatly from 
 the tedious vu'gar way of reparation, which is very 
 laborious and coftly , befides the great lofs of the Sol 
 and Lufje. So that ten Marks may be eafier feparated 
 by my way, than one Mark by the common way. 
 
 One great Secret more, above others, which for 
 iM-evity lake cannot be all inferred here, is this. It 
 is well known to all Chymifts, that all Vegetables, as 
 alfi) Animals, by addition of common Water, may 
 be brought to fermentation, and according to every 
 fubjed, a Sp/nf/// Jrdens, oigvc3.t ufe in Phyfick, may 
 be diftilled. But how to make fuch a fubtile Spirit 
 out of Metals, I never read in any Authour, nor 
 heard of. But I have found out a way by which 
 great matters may be done, which cannot be menti- 
 ofied here, let others fearch after it as I have done, 
 it is not good to caft Pearls before Swine. Yet that 
 the defirous may know fomewhat of an Artificial Me- 
 tallick Fermentation ; I fay that out of certain Salts 
 a Water may be prepared, which when it is put up- 
 on a compact Metal, that the fame by a certain pro- 
 perty in the Water, begins to fwell up and ferment, 
 like to the fermentation of Wine, Beer, or other ve- 
 getable Drinks ; and after fermentation, by diftilling 
 in Balneo yields an exceeding fubtile penetrating Spi- 
 rit, ftrong, fweet, and volatile, according to the na- 
 ture and property of the Metal ; which may alfo by 
 red-ification be concentrated and (iibtilized, like that 
 which is drawn from Wine or other Vegetables, with 
 out any Corrofion ; fo that fuch a Spirit may be put 
 into the eye without the leaft hurt, or fence of fharp- 
 nefs. [See the Sixth Part of the Pharmaco-paa Spagy- 
 rica.'} Therefore it may eafily be concluded, that 
 fuch a Metallick Spirit may effedually be ufed in the 
 moft difficult difeafes. But thofe Spirits are not.onely 
 highly profitable in Medicine, but cannot alfo fail to 
 {hew their effeds upon Metals ; for I have already 
 experienced thus much, that the Spirit of Sol doth in 
 few days graduate Common Mercury into Sol, in liKe 
 manner doth the Spirit of Lum and Jupiter graduate 
 Mtrcitry into Lune ; other Spirits of Metals I have not 
 yet tried. And although many may think to force 
 fuch a Spirit out of Metals as is drawn out of Vitriol, 
 yet they err, becaufe every Vitriol dillilled per fe be- 
 fides the Phlegm, acid Spirit, and heavy Oil, yields 
 
 fait Spirit and fpiritual Sulphur , which may fuffici- 
 ently be demonftrated. For when fuch a (ubtile (alt 
 Spirit of Vitriol ftands a while in a Glafs clofe flop- 
 ped, the volatile Sulphur of the Vitriol (iablimeth it 
 (elf to the top of the Glafs, and congeals it (elf in the 
 form of common yellow Sulphur, and the humidity 
 remains in the Glals like an infijiid Water, without 
 (mell or taft. Therefore the volatile Spirit of Vitriol 
 now a days prepared, is to be efteemcil for nothing 
 el(e but a volatile Spirit of Sulphur In oppofition 
 to which my Metallick Spirits , efpecialiy th6(t; of 
 Sol or Lune have no combuftible matter in them. 
 Alio the Spirit of Vitriol is yet corrofive, which the 
 Metallick Spirits are not. Therefore let no nian 
 rhink that my invented Spirits of Metals are of the 
 fame nature with the (ijlphureous Spirit of Vitriol, 
 AUom, or common Salt, or the like, but let it be e- 
 (teemed as a new-invented high Secret, the like of 
 which was never yet known to the World. He to 
 whom God (hall plea(e to reveal how thefe Spirits of 
 Metals may again be brought into fixed bodies, fijch 
 a one may well efteem himfelf happy. Seeing that 
 fuch a Spirit being yet fugitive, can niortifie running 
 Mercury, and tranlinute it into Sol. Alfo know, that 
 our (ecret Salt water hath power to bring other Sub- 
 jeds into fermentation : As for example ; if I was 
 williqg to bring Tartar again into fermentation, to 
 try what Spirit it v/ould yield , I diflblve it onely in 
 fair water, and put to it a little of our llniver(al fer- 
 ment, fo will the Tartar pre(ently begin to ferment 
 and work, and yields a wonderfull volatile Spirit , 
 which is not to be had by any other way. Here I 
 will add one'y one thing by way of hiltory ; name- 
 ly, what happened unto me once, when I joined a 
 little of this ferment with fome Urine : that the fame 
 did pre(ently begin to ferment, and yielded a moft 
 dreadfull (cent, (o that I was neceflitated to carry the 
 Urine out of the room, the (rnell was fo offcnfive, 
 that it enfeebled m,y Heart and Brain ; and in the 
 diftilling, yielded a fcent far worfe than the putrefy- 
 ing of any dead carcalfes of beafts, at lalt I forced 
 over all the unplea(ant Phlegm, took the diput mart. 
 out of the Gla(s, and diflilled out of it a ftrong Cor- 
 rofive Spirit, with which I did diflblve Scl and Lune. 
 But what is further to be expeded from it, time will 
 ftiew me. There came alfo with the ftrong fait Spi- 
 rit, a red Oil of Urine, not ftrong. 
 
 To enlighten the former difcourfe, there remains 
 yet fomething to be faid, namely this : That the be- 
 fore mentioned Spirit of Metals may be handled ia 
 all refpeds like the burning Spirit of Vegetables , 
 which is diftilled from Vegetables fermented ; in rec- 
 tifying, the moft fubtile Spirit Cometh over firft, and 
 the unprofitable Phlegm remains behind ; and the 
 oftener this redification is performed, it is the more 
 pure, fubtile, ftrong and pleafant, fo that the vertues 
 of all other Vegetables, fbme of this Spirit being pour- 
 ed upon them and digefted, may be extradcd, and 
 feparated from their grofs feces, by feparating the 
 Spirit of Wine in Balneo, fo the vertue of the Herb, 
 Root, or Flower, will remain in the Gla(s ; of which 
 one onely drop hath more vertue in Medicine, than 
 a whole handfull of the herb from which it was ex- 
 traded ; yet the Spirit remains good, and is always 
 
 proper 
 
Part 11. 
 
 The Book of Fires. 
 
 215) 
 
 proper for the like occafions. But if one defireth no 
 Extrafb, but onely a Spirit of Ve/,crables, ftroiig and 
 forcible in its operation, then muft the Spirit be put 
 upon frefli well-fcenred cordial Herbs, Roots, Flow- 
 ers or Fruits, digefting them together>then abftraift- 
 ing the Spirit again, fo will it be much ftronger, (ub- 
 tiller, and of a more refrefhing (inell than before. 
 Thus in like manner can we doe with our Spirit of 
 Metals, and make it as ftrong as we will, by putting 
 the (amc upon frcfh Metals, and letting them fer- 
 ment together, then abftrading, and fo fermenting 
 and abltracfling , whereby it always grows ftronger 
 and ftronger, fo that afterwards greater things may 
 be done with it both in Medicine and Alchymy. 
 If then the fimple Spirit of Metals doth wonders in 
 Medicine and Alchymy, what will not this doe, that 
 hath three or four times its ftrength > Confider of it, 
 enough to the wife. The Spirit of Metals thus made 
 we efteem for the true Atjna^vita or Vinnm falutu 
 of the Ancients, and no other made of Vegetables 
 Take notice alfu by the way, that our Ferment doth 
 not lofe its vertue in diftilling, but ferveth always 
 for the like Works, to wit, the Fermentation of Me- 
 tals. 
 
 Seeing that our Ferment is a volatile Salt, after 
 Fermentation the fubtile Spirit isabftracted, and the 
 Phlegm received by it felf , fo at laft rifeth our Fer- 
 ment with a ftronger Fire, and leaves ihe mortified 
 Metal as unprofitable feces. So that the Ferment 
 being once had, it may be often ufed, }et it is (bme- 
 what diminifhed every time by flicking to the glalFcs, 
 yet not being coftly, the lofs may be eafily born, fo 
 that there needs never be no want of it. This is in- 
 deed a wonderfull fubtile metallick Wine, of which 
 I had once a Vifion about thirty years ago ( with 
 thefe words : Ex fece, de fccc, debes carpere I'inum 
 mum, ' yet I knew not the fignification to this time. 
 I have had much thoughtfulnefs about it, yet all in 
 vain, untill God was lately pleafed to (hew me the 
 way of preparing fuch Wine. 
 
 If I (hould write all things which may be done 
 with my new-invented Fermentation out of Vegeta- 
 bles, Animals and Metals , I fliould have work e- 
 nough for a great Volume , and as it were bring 
 forth a new World : but let this liiffice at this time. 
 
 Next folloivetb the fourth Secret Fire of the TFtfe, to 
 perfect an Univerfal Medicine both for Men and 
 Metals. 
 
 THat the ancient Philofophers did make their 
 Univerfal Medicine, not out of one Subject 
 onely, is clearly to be feen out of their Writings. 
 And as their Siibjefl: was divers, fo have they alfo 
 ufed feveral Fires to decod their Subjed; for fome 
 Subjedts, as fixed Sol and Lune, they have made vo- 
 latile by their humid Fire, and again made the vola- 
 tile fixed by means of the known fire of Wood and 
 Coals. Therefore have they fo pofitively affirmed, 
 that without common Gold and Silver, no true Me- 
 dicine for the Metals can be made. And this, by 
 reafon that other Subjeds were yet unknown to 
 them ; and they knowing no better, thought theirs 
 to be the onely way by which the Univerfal Medi- 
 cine could be inade. But others have wholly reject- 
 ed Sol and Lu7ie, faying they are dead, and that 
 one fhould beware of them ; but that their Sol and 
 
 Lunewtvc living, and that no commonly known fire 
 could ripen them, that a far other fire is required 
 tor that purpofe ; thefe and the like contrary Wri- 
 tmgs ( although thev are both true ) have conff)un- 
 ded the Searchers, fo that one efteemeth one Wri- 
 ter and another, another, and yet are always doubt- 
 full after which Authour they fhould work, honta- 
 niis confefieth that he erred two hundred times al- 
 though he wrought in the true matter, and fhould 
 never have underftood if he had nc ead the old 
 Philofopher A.-tep/j,.',s, arid of him learnt the Secret 
 Fire. He defcribes alfo the Secret Fire in the fime 
 manner, which Artephms doth, to wjt, thus : Our 
 Fire IS no Common Fire, it u Artificial to find cut, it 
 dijjolves, defiroys and penetrates all things ; it is ctjtia', 
 continual, a?jd confi-ant, burning ivith our G.'aG, and ml 
 ovithout, &c Our Subjea: is alfo no common Sol or 
 Lune, but as yet an unripe Mineral, on which Na- 
 ture hath but begin to operate. All thev who have 
 wrought in fuch unripe Sol and L„ne have alfo of nc- 
 ceUity known this Secret Fire, or elfe thev have fail- 
 ed, and could accomplifh nothing Some have 
 known the volatile Gold, as alfo the Fire belonging 
 to It, and yet could not come to work with it ;''thc 
 reafon was, bccaufe they as yet wanted the ir'iffru- 
 ment belonging to it, becaufe if a volatile matter Le 
 to .be ripened in an open Glafs with a flaming fi.re. 
 It IS impoflible but that the volatile Mercioy fhould' 
 fly away ; and if a Receiver were applied to receive 
 the volatile Spirit, then by that means the Fire would 
 be ftifled and go out. Here is good counfcl at a dear 
 rate, but the difcovery of the fecret Vellel maketh 
 all cheap again ; for without the knowledge of this 
 Veliel, little is to be done. Is it to be an Univerfal 
 Work, fo muft it alfo agree with the Univerfal Work 
 of this world .'' We fee daily how that the warm 
 Sun caufing its beams to defcend downwards upon 
 the Globe of the Earth, caufeth all Vegitables to 
 grow and multiply , and not onely Vegetables , but 
 ^H^r ^"'"^^'* ^"'^ Minerals, as Plato witnelleth in 
 t..ere words : The Sun and Man generate Man So 
 that the oftener the beams of the Sun doth draw 
 up the moifture of the Earth, and let it fall down 
 again in Rain, by fo much the more it maketh the 
 dry Earth fruitfull , by which means the Fruits of 
 the Earth fpiout forth fafter, ripen, and multiply • 
 becaufe the moifture when drawn up in the day- 
 time by the Sun beams, always leaveth behind it its 
 fruitfull Salt, which it had attrarted from the Air 
 in the bowels of the Earth, and is ftill again impreg- 
 nated with the influences of the Heavens ; for with- 
 out the Air, nothing can live, encreafe, or multiply, 
 the which Hermes Trifmegijlus hath very well given' 
 to underftand, when he faith all which is above, is 
 alfo below, by which wonderfull things are brought 
 forth ; the Sun is its Father, the Moon its Mother 
 the Wind carrieth it in its belly, the Earth hath con- 
 ceived it and brought it forth, and is its nurfc, by 
 continual afcending and defending it hath obta'ine'd 
 its force, and its vertue is compleat, when it is 
 tranfchanged into Earth, &c. Here H,:rmes gives 
 fufficiently to underftand, that the volatile matter 
 of the Stone is elevated from the bottom of the Vef- 
 fel to the middle region of the Air, and muft again 
 defcend to the Earth, that by its continual afcend- 
 ing and defcending it may be made to live and en- 
 creafe, as it is in the great World. But how ro 
 make this afcention and defcention as it is and ought 
 to be done in the Philfophick work, is not permit- 
 ted 
 
220 
 
 The Book of Vires. 
 
 Part II. 
 
 ted to be divulged -. but it is more than enough to 
 '■'"diicover and allure that in fuch a iecrut Furnace and 
 hidden Fire, the volati'e Gold of the Wile may be 
 ripened into a living Medicine. Amm. 
 
 [Here IhoLild come in a fmall Treatife, 
 cntitl.led , The Explicatio?i of Solo- 
 mon'^ Words : Viz. 
 
 IN Words, Herbs and Stones, there is great vertue. 
 But vjho this Solomon ivas^ u altogether uncertain \ 
 and the Tre.xufe it felf confifiing of nothing but fahnlous 
 Stories of divers Events, -which followed upon thefpeak- 
 inT of certain words at divers times, and upon divers 
 occaftcns, and containing nothing ( af I conceive ) that 
 will be ujefuH eithtr fur a Chriftian, or an Artijt, I 
 think fit to leave it out ; and more efpeciallj, becaufe 
 this "frcalife is wholly foreign to the Authours know- 
 ledge and experience, but taken upon trufi ( as to matter 
 of facl ) at random , and from others , which is dija- 
 vreeable from all the other fVritmgs of the Authour. 
 All that I think worth the Tranflatmg is fomewhat re- 
 
 lating to the Colouring of Glafi ; which lake as fol- 
 lows. 
 
 With one pound of pure Glafs, mix about a dram 
 of the Aflies of Copper, | or Crocus Veneris ] and 
 meltthem together in a ftrong Fire, and you'll find 
 a green Glafs, refembling the Onyx-flojic. In like 
 manner alfo a whole pound of Glafs is made like to 
 the faireft Saphire, if a dram of Cobolt or Bifmuth, 
 melted, be added to the Sconce or Drofs. Likewile 
 one dram of the Ruft of Iron changetb a whole 
 pound of Glafs into a yellow Stone, emulating an 
 Hyacinth. If one fhall melt a dram of the Tindture 
 of Gold, or of the Philofophers Mercury, extrafted 
 from Gold and Silver, with a pound of Glafs, that 
 Glafs becometh very red, like a Ruby in colour, as I 
 my felf have found. But if any (hall be fb fortunate 
 as to make this Glafs hard, as well as of a beautifuU 
 colour, he will need to take but litc'e pains for his 
 living. 
 
 There is a [liort Difcourfe adjoyned to this, called. The 
 QuintelTence of Metals ; but whatjoever is mentioned 
 in that, is contained in the Fifth Fart of the Phar- 
 macopoea Spagyrica , Book of Fires , Book ot Dia- 
 logues, d^c.] 
 
 The End of the Second fart. 
 
THE THIRD PART, 
 
 O F 
 
 Glaubers WORKS. 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 [The Sulphur, Mercury i and Salt of Philofophers 3 
 
 HOW, 
 
 They may jpi-ofitably be ufed in Medicine^ Alchymj^ and other Arts. 
 
 Of SULPHUR. 
 
 7 hat Sulphur if one of the Prwcipal Columnt of Medicine^ and al/o a Primary Part of the Tlnet 
 Principlet ofMetals^if more thanfufficientlj/ mamfefi 5 alfo^that in it is reconded much good^ fever at 
 Books left Unto us (fHblifbed by Ancient and Modern Authors) do clearly xpitneft. But thofe Bookfy 
 for the moji party all of them are obfcurely written^ and e^ery notable and moji remarkable thing 
 if by them both concealed and manifejied. Hence it was moji ufual^ of it to prey ate certain Fnlgar 
 Medicaments^ as, Yellow Flowers, a White Magiftery, a Red Balfom, and an Acid Oyl 
 per Carapan, &c. But among all other, Paracelfus in Writing hath mofi clearly nnveiled the 
 famej yetfovparily, as few could perform the like, although many diligently fearehed. 
 
 Therefore^ Jtnce the Writings of this mofi highly illuminated Man are able to give a good Tejiimonyof 
 Truth to this my Work., 1 thought it very convenient, to infer t apart of the beji of his Writings in 
 this fmali Treatife of minej whence it will apt/ear, howour Art is carried on and AugmentedYearly. 
 
 [ The Words of Paracelfus are thefe which follow. 
 
 Of SVLPHVR. 
 
 GO D hath created Bitumen, endued with 
 many rare and admirable Virtues, not 
 only conducent for the neceflary ufe of a 
 Tbyjiciatt, willing and ready to heal the 
 Sick, but alfb for the vaft Phantafy and Operation of 
 Chymiftry. Befidcs, in it are many other Virtues, 
 which wonderfully diftover themfelves by Sulphur, 
 bccaufc it is the true Bitumen. Wherefore I thought 
 
 it worth my while, not only to defcribe the Medicinal 
 Virtues of Sulphur, but alfo the Chymical, and many 
 other afibciated Virtues of the fame, in every other 
 Profeflion and Bufinefs. 
 
 It is to be owned, that many things have been writ 
 of Sulphur i but the true Foundation of the true Vir- 
 tues thereof, hath fcarcely yet by any Man been ex- 
 aftly enough touched or propofed. But thofe Wri- 
 ters are to be blamed, who would defcribe all things, 
 of which they have no Underft^nding i becaufe, in fo 
 
 A doing. 
 
Zi 
 
 Of the ^hrce Principles 
 
 Part III. 
 
 doing, they did indeed compofe and preicribe fotne- 
 what^ but nothing fundaitientally, or according to 
 its genuine Difpofirion and Property, as in Writing 
 and Difcrib ng is requifite. For in truth, they them- 
 felves undcrUood not, yet (through their ambitions 
 Haughtinefs; they would compofe books, confifting of 
 Letters only, without Soul or Spirit, but 1,-as One 
 experienced, preltnc you my Experience oi'S^iIplm- 
 in ail things, ■z'iz,. What Stflphm- is with relpeft to 
 Medicine^ Jlchymy^ and all Other alFociated Artifices. 
 Therefore know ye, xh^xmSulfhur (but it is in GOD 
 only to hinder J are wonderful, and thole fo admirably 
 famous, Things, as thence the natural Light of Man 
 may derive Caufc enough for Wonder: Or elfc, (if 
 GOD prohibit not) the Fault is in the Artilt's hand- 
 ling Ml, which is a thing very probable. For,,,when 
 every bablingSophilter thinks himfeif a Phyficiari, and 
 every Finical Fellow will be accounted a.-Chymill ;, 
 tl\en it comes to pals, that Arts can never be rightly 
 cxpofed to publick view. But howlbever the Matter is, 
 the Foundation lyes here: In Sulfl.nir_ (for either Fa-^ 
 culty) are infiied fo great Arcimtims and PoWerk^ ass 
 almoli: ro Man can throughly exhauft them ; and alfo 
 fo great Virtues, as will caufe admiration in every Man 
 For, in very cfctid, according to the Experience of all 
 Men, (inoitherfaculty) there are fo many things wor- 
 thy of Note-, becaufe in 5w//»/)«r is fuch an Efficacy, as 
 few like unto it are given, noixnChymifirysxi^Medi- 
 cine can its fecood be found. Yet Arifiotle defames 
 that , faying, Tranfmutat'K^n gf Species cimmt he. ^ But 
 
 Sulphur fuffops Tranfmutation : Which is iiifficigit to 
 prove, th^iAr'/forie (if he were now living) might be 
 convinced of his Folly, even by Women. 
 
 No Phyfician or Chymift (hould convert Sulphur to 
 his Ufes, according as it is found in itfelf:, butfepa- 
 rated into its Atc^nim, and purely freed and cleaiilcd 
 from all Impurities, until it is fo purely clean, as its 
 Virtue exceeds the whitenefs of Snow. Hyffopm^ that 
 is, the^'rf of Stf orating, <loth this j it was anciently 
 called HjJJopaica^ in Alchymy and every Separation. 
 Yet Sulphur is of admirable ufe for its vulgarBufindles, 
 or common Artifices. Now, that I may more. accu- 
 rately explain ^ to your Comprehenfion, I will firlt 
 diltinguifh it according to its Nature. For it is not 
 produced from one M^rm-, but from many. Where- 
 fore alfo, it acquires divers Operations, that is, hath 
 in it lelf various affc(!lions, not one difpofition only, 
 but peculiar peculiarly. And that the Phyfician may 
 rot err, I will here prefent to him the Nature of that 
 Sulphur, which is beft for his ufe in IVledicirie i alfo to 
 the Chymift,! will exhibit the difpofition of that,which 
 is profitable in Alchymy •, and laftly, I will fliew,how 
 far it is conducent for every common Bufinefs. -There- 
 fore the InftruLtion being firft preraifed, its ufe ihall be 
 fuperadded, not only in Medicine and Akhymy, but 
 alfo in other common Vocations j that every Man in 
 his own Operation may knovsr,hovv to ufe gnd apply ,the 
 fame, without miftakc orError. *' * 'U^vmjI. '.\ 
 
 Touching the Embryonate Sulfhur of Metals , 'VIZ,. 
 what is invifibly contained in It, thus take it : That ^ 
 in Difeafes doth fo admirably conferve apd reftore its 
 own Member, as it manifefts the Members to Hand in 
 need of a Mineral Medicament only, and no other. 
 Hence the f^ of © is conducent for the Heart, of J) 
 for the Brain^ of ? for the Reins, of T? for the Sphc?}, 
 of <J for the G<z//, of a. tor the Liver^ and ^ for the 
 
 LtO'gS. 
 
 Alio there is found a kind of EmWyomte Sulphur in 
 Wood : But that ^ is Fire only, which no Man can 
 preferve in its Life and Eifence otherwife than in the 
 
 Woodj^ ujthvvhich it paileth away, and dyes. Such 
 is the 'ht t)f a^ things vvj^ichjact \\ ^ody, or whatfo- 
 evcr it be; that is plainly reduced H^-Fire into AOks. 
 This ■^ is \ cgctable, but not iixcd :, nor is it condu- 
 ciblc for any thing at all, except thole things, which 
 are to be prepared by Firo. Now be it known to you 
 all„t-iiatthat ^ indicates the Virtues of othte^Snipjiurs, 
 this way : As Fire devt^iietU all things-, li every -^ is 
 an iuvilible Fire, whi(|i cloth inviliblyvabliJnTt Difeales 
 fo, as Fire vifibly confunus WooJ. Wherefore the 
 FJcmeat o{ Firi; is a lingular Anamim in all Difeales. 
 Fie that wants this Element of Fire among ¥is Secret* 
 JVIedicines, ought not in any wifeafcribe to himlelf the 
 'Name of a P/jj/ZaVw;, nor can he Ihevv himfclf an Expert 
 Phyfician, but is ratiicr an Erroneous Operator, and a 
 Robber of the Sick. ^Further I fay, ^ is the Element.^' 
 of iv;r, and if any one would have it exercife thefa- 
 cukics of a Medicine, let him take cire to volatilize 
 it fo, 2s it rnay vanifh like a Flame •, jjhat is, let it be 
 fo fubtilized, as it may recede from its own Body, and 
 the Body be feparated from it: For the Body is not 
 the El'wW of Fire. Sulphur ^ rendred thus Subtile 
 and Volatile, is the Confuraer of what is to be con- 
 fumed., that is, what is net fixed in N^iwe, loDif. 
 calcs-afe not" fi.\'c;d, but the Body is fixedR^aiaft the 
 Element.' Atid the -E^ment of Fire is oniyadverfe to 
 that, which is not fixed againlt it , that is, adverfe to 
 Difeafes. Now WOuld Vfeuchphyficians lo order the 
 matter, as our Philofophy might find place, and re- 
 ceive Encreafe in the Schools of Vbjficians.^ the Trifles^ 
 and Impiertinencies of Humonfts ( wLo,grope in Me- 
 dicine as a Blind Man, that knows pot which way he 
 goes) being totally rejefted, many Homicides, daily 
 perpetrated by their Rafhnefs, would be prevented. 
 In the mean whilc,^nce they are Men oi j. ". Confcience, 
 what can you do, but leave them to thcK Crti^pet- 
 verfenefs ? He that is defrrous to ad as a true Phyficiany 
 let him feek the Virtues of Elements in Natural things \ 
 tlicre he will both find a;c Truth, and a Remedy' 
 lagainfl; the Difeafes of the Sick. 
 
 There is » twofold kind of Enita;yonate ^ •, one 
 fixed, bilt notwithflandiug made Volatile ^ the other, 
 puce Fire-, that is, one is Living Fire^-'the other Infen- 
 fible Fire i yet both the Senfible and Infenfible are exer- 
 cifed in like Confummation j I'i^.. one in Wood, the 
 other in Difeales. Every Man, affeding nhe tiealth of 
 others, might by thele few words be . fiifficiently in- 
 fl-rudcd, if GOD withftand not Ws Endeavours j 
 but 1 judge every Man ihall not be made Wealthy, 
 becaufe GOD well knows, why he hathgiyea the 
 Goat lb fliort a Tayl. For fince Riches do very often 
 feduce Poor Men, caufc them to put off the Habit of 
 Humility and Modefty,and transform ihcm into proud 
 and infolent Animals, therefore it is more fefe to keep 
 filence, and leave every , one to his own poor. eftate.;;j;| 
 
 Now know ye , touching Sulphur and its Species ; 
 what the Nature, Property and EfTence,. of the fame 
 is. Whofoever ftall attempt to deftrite Sulphur 'p. a 
 moft accurate manner, ( as is fit, ttioBgh not expe- 
 dient) will have need of abundance of Paper. Buc 
 for handhng ^, a judicious Cbymical Operator and 
 Experienced Artift is required ; fuch a one fliould be 
 very expert and folidly grounded io his, Art, no Airy 
 Talkative Perfon, whole Art condlls in Lip-labour 
 only ^ but one, that proves himfelfafi A^t'lt by the 
 Labour of his hands : For fuch a Man, will \c able to 
 extract from ^ more wonderful Arcamtws, than any 
 Man can defcribe with his Pen. _.^u'c, lie tliat knowj 
 I nothing of 5W/)/;«?-, knows nothing /at all, nor isvi| 
 ! convenient, he IhouW fay any thiiig, cither in Medir 
 
 cine. 
 
Part HI. 
 
 Of <Shd E TA L S. 
 
 ? 
 
 cine, or in Philofopliy, touching any of the Scctcts 
 of Nature. 
 
 Of the Vfc of this Element of Tire , which Pa- 
 - racellus huth fo ear^jcjlljf commended to all 
 
 i'hjflcij/js. 
 
 Flrft, this Tiriifliire of ^ may be exhibited in all 
 Difeales, fcr comforting the Brain, Heart, and 
 all the Internal Members of the Body, bccanfe it is 
 famuudy fubtil, lavoury, and fweet:, and is a Medi- 
 cine mofl excellent, el'pecially in Aflcftsof the Lungs. 
 Alio,ic is the mofl penetrating of (aintiferous Ballbms, 
 for curing every Cody internally hurt, and for relto- 
 ring all vitiated Mcmbefs to their priftine Sanity ; in 
 ib much, as, in this rcfpeft, you can Icarcely find any 
 other RcweJ)., fecond to this in Virtue. Therefore it 
 may very well ferve inRead of Aunon foi abilc \ but in 
 firey Dileafes, it mufl be v^arily adminiftred. This 
 Eftence of ^ ftrengthens weak Stomachs, and gets a 
 good Digeftion. In a word, in all Diflempers what- 
 foever, except Burning Feavcrs, it may be lafely 
 nfed. 
 
 Note : If any one (liall extrafl a red Tinrture from 
 fixed f^ rubifyed,he will enjoy a moft prefent Remedy, 
 not only for Men, but alfo for fome Metals ; namely, 
 for tinging d and ^ into o. This is that, which ?<i- 
 racdfus commended to all the Rivals or Sons of Art 
 lb highly, that I thought I fhould do very well here 
 to fubjoyn his own Words, as they are written. 
 
 Morttpcatlon of Sulfhur is made, when its combuf- 
 tible and fetid Humidity is taken away from it, and 
 the ^ reduced to a fixed Subftance, which is done 
 thus. 
 
 5i. Common yellow ^, which reduce to a fine 
 Powder, and from it three times abftraft a moft Itrong 
 ylfia Fonts \ then the ^ remaining in the bottom, will 
 be of a black Colour. This edulcorate with fweet 
 Water, and fo oft diftil the Water thence, as until 
 the Water come off wholly fweet, and fmells not at 
 all of Sulphur. Then take that Sulphur, and rever- 
 berate it in a clofc Reverberatory , like Anthnovy. 
 In Reverberating, it will fhew it felf, Firlt, White ^ 
 Secondly , Yellow ; and Thirdly, Red ; as Clnrahcr'. 
 Having brought it to this pafs, thou mayft rejoyce; 
 for that is the beginning of thy Riches. For this Re- 
 verberated Sulphur in Tinging, renders every Silver 
 into the belt Gold, and the Humane Body into perfert 
 Health, more excellently than can be defcribed. Of 
 fo great Virtue is this reverberated and fixed Sul- 
 phur, &c. 
 
 Elfcwhere, Varaalfus writes of the Tranfmutation 
 of Metals and Oems, thus : As you now have feen a 
 very brief way of fome peculiar Tranfmutations of 
 Metals i fo here further know ye, touching the Trapf^ 
 mutations of Gems, that is, of fmall Stones, that of 
 Tuch Tranfmutations alfo there are various ways, fome 
 of which notwithftanding feem in no wife adverfe to 
 others. For you fee how potent aTranfmutation of 
 Gems lyes in the Oyl of Sulphur. Every Cryllal, 
 that is left in that Oyl for fome time, is tinged and 
 tranfmuted, and may by graduation with diftjn>!l Co- 
 lours be lb exalted, as to exceed a Natural Jacytkb^ 
 GiuiTtate, or Ruby, &"€. 
 
 " Paracelpis here teacheth the fixation of ^ , if a moft 
 ifharp Afia Fortts be feveral times abltraded from the 
 lame,reduced to a fine Powder. But that way of pro- 
 ceeding will profit nothing, becaufe the Aqua Fotxis is 
 
 not capable of any Ingrels into the ^ , becaufe that is 
 fii ft to be procured by Salts , as we 3<jove taught. For 
 tiicnthe Artift's Endeavour will fuccccd well, and the 
 '4"^ in AbRracItionof x.\\z Af^^ua Fort is be fixed, and alio 
 wax white : But llednels iS afterward given to it in an 
 open Fire, or Fire of Reverbcr.uion. And it will ne- 
 ver wax red in a dole Vcflel, how ion:^ fbeVer it ftands 
 in the Fire. And when it is thus Red, every common 
 Spirit of Wine extratls not its Tindurc, becaufe it 
 hath not ingrels into ir. But the fixed red ^ muft 
 firft be melted with fixed Salt of Tartar in a very 
 ftrong Fire. That way is given to it fuch an Ingrels, 
 as any Spirit of V\''inccan extrad fromit itsTinfture. 
 For other wife you fhali labour in- vain. Varaceljus in- 
 tended rather to keep this Experiment to himfelfonly^ 
 than to cxpofe it to the ufe of the ungrateful Vulgar 
 Sort, But no Man hath caufc to wonder, why I now 
 am defirous to dilcover the fame openly, fincelhave 
 peculiar Realbns of this Publication, an account of 
 which 1 am not bound to render to any iMan. It is 
 fufiicient to any grateful- minded Man , that I am wil- 
 ling publickly to difcover that Secret. ,. J 6 
 
 This fixed Tindureof ^ is in Medicine much more 
 efficacious, than the Element of Fire, defcribed by 
 Par,jce!jf/f. For That is only extrafted from a Volatile 
 Sulphur ; but This h fixed ; and is alfo of power fuffi- 
 cient to cure the fixed Difeafes of Men, as well as Me- 
 tals. The Volatile Tinfture, or Element of Fire, as 
 it is called by Parecelfus, is otherwife alio famoully con- 
 ducent for External Ufes. All affetls of the Skin, as 
 Scabs, and the like, are cured by the help of that. Alfo 
 to every Wine it is a prefent Medicine. For if anyone 
 put a little of it into a Cask of Wine, the Wine ac- 
 quires a grateful Tall and Odour, and will be io com- 
 forted, as not eafily to admit of changing or periflimg, 
 as otherwife is wont to happen to common Rheniih 
 Wine. I did indeed, for tryal fake, pour Ibme of this 
 into divers Wines, and found it fo in very deed. For I 
 put one or two drops 6f our Element of Fire into feve- 
 ral open Cups filled with Wine ^ and I daily obferved 
 them, until Pfound, that that Wine, in which none 
 of the Element of Fire was put, did in tvvo or three 
 days contract a ffirayjiels :, but thole, in which a little 
 of the Element of Fire-had been mixed, flood almofb 
 three Weeks, before tliey began to contraft the like. 
 Which lytifinefs of Wine , if any Man well confider, 
 he rfl&y fiiid out the vvay, how, by the benefit of this 
 Art ortly-, far more eafily to acquire fulficijent Gain 
 for daily-Suftenance, than otherwife by the periilous 
 ways of Merchandife. Wherefore , whofbever is 
 delirous of enjoying Profit in Winesy Jet liim always 
 take care continually to have ready prei«ied by him 
 a good Saltnirabile^ and reduce Sulphpr loto a red 
 firey Stone i otherwife he will lofe his Labour and 
 Coft, which, by way of Admonition, 1 was not wil- 
 ling to pafs over in nience. Therefore 1 jnnft lay,with 
 Paracelfm, that all thofe Phyficians and Ghymiliis are 
 not of the belt Fame, who have the Gift of Glorious 
 Eloquence^ but thofe. only, who have learned tiieir 
 Underftanding by long ufe of Fire^ and vvhihl elabo- 
 rating Subjects, to be prepared, do well know, what 
 fliould be added and fubftractcd,according as the Ope- 
 ration of every thing requires.. - • - 
 
 Since wcnow know, iKhzt P.iracelihs taught touching 
 the fi.vation of ^ , and'alfb the profitable ufe thereof 
 in Medicine and Alchymy v it will in no wile be im- 
 pertinent in this place to infert, what Bafili/:s halh 
 written touching the fame ^ that by his Words every 
 Man may the better difcern, that my fixation of ^, 
 which 1 have defcribed to be' made b.y the help of Sahf 
 
 Nitre, 
 
Of the 'Three Fr'mciples 
 
 Part III. 
 
 Nin-e^ differs not from the Writings of other Philo- 
 fopher<:, (peaking of Salt Nkre. 1 he atorclaid Buji- 
 /;w, (who, in many places of his Writings, mentioned 
 the fixation of $ by help of Sale vV/r-f, but obfcurely 
 enough) among other things, thus writes. 
 
 [^H(.re Salt Nitre is introditced ^ fpeaking of himfelf 
 and to ln>*ijdf onlj: J 
 
 ^itlfhuy indeed is my moll mortal Enemy, and he is 
 alfo my bell Friend : For when we both are joyned 
 together in Wedlock, and our Marriage celebrated in 
 Helljfo, as we both J'wcac well together ^ thenwefnall 
 io put off all Impurities from us, as in our dead Bodies 
 miy be found the greatell Treafures, and of us be pro- 
 genited wealthy Children, t^-c. By which words, 
 B';filii4s intimates , that Salt Nitre^ by the Contaift of 
 ^, is inflamed, and, as by an Enemy, wholly burnt up 
 and reduced to nothings and therefore is accounted 
 its greatell Enemy. But if Salt Nitre, in form of an 
 J'jM F.irtis, be allbciated to ^, and render it fised 
 and conftant in Fire \ they then become the greatell 
 Friends, and from them both are procreated Rich 
 Children. Therefore whofoever is defirous to obtain 
 fuch Children, let him bend all his thoughts to the 
 matter it felf, and diligently fearch ^ for he may find, 
 if GOD be plcafed to indulge him and permit the 
 lanK. 
 
 Whatfoever Paracelfus hath here writ of ^, he 
 hath undoubtedly writ plain enough, lb as Credit 
 ■ may fafely be given to his Writings. For that what 
 he faith is not from the purpofc , Ezery Man may be 
 infm-ytiedby thtfefewwords^&c. Certainly he, had he 
 not dreaded the impiety of the World, would much 
 nore evidently have explained this, and by that means 
 he would have helped the N'eceflity of many ^ but 
 the notorious Ingratitude of the World deterred the 
 Man. 
 
 Alfo' Faracdftis admirably difconrfeth of the Ele- 
 ment of Fire, how excellent a Medicine it is, as I my 
 fclf have e.vperienced , and fhall further in time to 
 come (if GOD permit). In like manner, the fame 
 Man makes mention of the nobJe HyJJopaick Art^ by 
 the help of which, ancient Philolbphers did, with 
 <heir own hands, make black $ white asSnovir, fix it, 
 and by the benefit thereof, do great Miracles in Medi- 
 cine aiid Alchymy. This Art, (with Grief beiefpo- 
 ken) by the negligence and injury of former times, was 
 gradually loft-, which notwithftanding , from the 
 ("avTs of Silence, and, as it were, lying in Darknefs, 
 this my fmail Treatife will again bring to Light. 
 
 The Prophet Da'-ctd feems to have forae knowledge 
 rf this Royal Art-, for when he faw his Sins before 
 GOD, had (as it were) contraLled the falacknefs of 
 a Coal, he thus implores the Divine Mercy: Sprinkle 
 we, O LORD, ■with HyJJlp , that I rnny i>e white : for, 
 by thy Well-wapnng of me ^ I (hall hetome whiter than 
 
 Srmr. Whence it is fufficiently manifell, that BaTj-d 
 rravcd not the well known Kitchin-Herb, Hfjlvf, to 
 be waflied with , becaufe that could not help him i 
 but he fpake Metaphorically, and requeued that his 
 Sins (by the great blacknefs of which , he believed 
 his Soul to be infecfted before GOD) might be par- 
 doned, and he received into Divine Favour, and never 
 be driven from the face of G O D to Eternity. 
 
 Likewife, there is no Community between the 
 black, grofs, and combuftible ^ of U'ood, and the 
 pure, fixed and incombuftible ^ of Gold: For as long 
 as black ^ keeps ics combuftiblcdifpolition, it is re 
 fufed by the other, as abhorring the familiar Society 
 
 of fo Itinking and fordid a Guel}. But as foon as 
 that Lthiofian^ by affiltance of the moft noMe Hyjlb- 
 p.iick Art, fhall be waflied white as Snow, and ren. 
 drcd conflant in Fire, then it is readily received into 
 Communion by the g, and of l)Oth is made one Tinc- 
 ture, by help of which, other .Metals are reduced to 
 the Perfedion of Gold ; as a little alter Ihall be 
 fliewcd more at large. Yet I will firft briefly note the 
 difTerenceof ^, according to my Experience; which 
 is indeed not very neccllary, becaufe Faraceljus hath 
 done it. Nevcrthelefs, lam vay wilhilg to fubjoya 
 thefe few things. ■ , • . . 
 
 Ancient Philofophers, as often as they in tfieir Wri- 
 tings treated of the Original and Beginning of Metals, 
 placed the Foundation of their Allertion in Demogor- 
 gon-^ fix,. That he was the Grand-father of all Metals 
 and Minerals, who, dwelfing in the Center of the 
 Earth, was cloathed with a bright-red Cloak. But 
 properly, Demogorgo^i is the Central Fire continually 
 burning, and a Subtile Spirit of ^, diftilling it ftlfj 
 through the pafTages of the Earth. \\. this fir ey Spirit 
 in its afcent finds a Commodious Cavern, of Humid 
 Place, in which it may abide •, it is immediately thcra 
 coagulated into a Mercurial Water, and by the Cen-' 
 tral Fire's continual Cottion, inlen; tii of time,ripene(I 
 into Metals and Minerals. But tiie a'ceuding Spirit 
 of $ , which finds no Seat for its Abode, afcends 
 higher and higher, until it comes to th; Superficies 
 of the Earth i into which, when moyftened with Rain, 
 it thruftsitfelf; and aom trie Ground grows upward 
 into the Air, in the form of vafl Bufhes and Trees j in 
 which Plants and green Trees, is found fuch a ^ as is 
 in Minerals , (yet this is not found fb fixed, as that in 
 Metals,) becaufe all things in the Bowels of the Earth 
 are generated according to the Influence of the Stars,' 
 and there coagulated according to the nature of the 
 place into thele or thofe Metals. Let him, who is de- 
 firous to be taught more at large touching theft, con- 
 fult thofe Philofophers, by whom the fame are plainly 
 enough defcribed. If the pleafure of Operating in- 
 duce any one to fet about this Work, he may make 
 choice of the ^ he judgeth moft futable to his In- 
 tention. 
 
 Now behold the Method, in which, by the benefit 
 of the moft ancient Ryjjbfalck Art , black $ is by a 
 dexterous wafhing turned into white, rendred fixed 
 and conftant in Fire, and by Reverberation tranf- 
 muted into Rednefs, and thenceforth ufed as a Medi- 
 cine of Humane and Metallick Bodies wanting melio- 
 ration, and that with notable profit. 
 
 Here is prefetitedy flrji^ the Method of Wafhing 
 i'/rff^Sulphur^^, as it becomes very White. 
 
 THe worthy Paracelfus doth briefly indeed defcribc 
 the method of whitening and rubifying ^, but 
 what was moft conduccnt thereunto , he conceal- 
 ed , liz. that way of Preparation , without which 
 no Asjua Fortis can have ingrefs for Wafhing and 
 Fixing. My purpofc is in this place, for the fake 
 of the Searchers of Art, to publifh this Secret ia 
 plain Words. This may be done many ways, as will 
 appear by the following, 
 
 IJi. One part of the Terrcftrial Sulphur of Pit- 
 coals, or ot the Vegetable Sulphur of Wood-coals ^ 
 with which, reduced to Powder, mix two or three 
 parts of our 5^/ Mirabile, prepared of Oyl of.Vitriol 
 and Common Salt. Which mixture put into a Crucible, 
 
 and 
 
Pare III. 
 
 Of ^iETALS. 
 
 5 
 
 and fee the Crucible covered in a Wind-Furnace for 
 melting. Tlicie tiie S,d AlhabiU^ by its Acrimony, 
 preys upon the rj^, and dillolvcs it ^ and thence makes 
 a Redstone, which, by pouring Water on, you may 
 diflblve, Filtre, and again Coagulate, into a Red Salt 
 or Stone. And thus the ^, by help of tiie S,il Mi>:/bile, 
 through one only abftradtion of a flrarp j^/^u/i Fvrtu^ 
 will be 16 habile, as it may eafily be made white with 
 wadiing, and alfobcfi.xed fo, astolbltainthefori:eof 
 Fire, acccrding to this following 
 
 Frocefs. 
 
 5e. Of this Red Sulphiireous Salt, it^ j. and upon it, 
 ia a ftrong Body of Glals, pour th iij. of mofl fliarp 
 yidita Fortrs: Yet not all at once, but leifurely, and at 
 times i becaufc the v, ,' MirabiU with the ;^ lol'eth 
 its Acidity, and becomes Alcaliiate, and therefore 16 
 inimical to the ^ii^ua Porta, as it impecuoufly refills 
 the fame. Therefore let him, that is ignorant of 
 this, be very wary, left all that is contained in the 
 Vefl'el fly away, or the Glals, through too much heat, 
 burft in fundcr. For this caufe, proceed leifurely, 
 and operate according to the Rules of Art, that your 
 Endeavour may be fortunate. For, in a way contrary 
 to this, you can find nothing, but Damage and Trou- 
 ble. As often as you put in any ^cfua F6r;/j-,prefently 
 put on the Head, becaule it will fuddenly and haftily 
 fiime, and fo caufe damage ^ to prevent which, after 
 I had fuftained feveral Lofles, I at length, againft fuch 
 Exhalations, found this Remedy. 
 
 IQ the Top of the Alembick I caufed a finall hole to 
 be made, through which I put a little Tunnel o( Glals, 
 and luted it on. So loon as 1 had put the prepared f^ 
 into the Body, and luted the Head and Receiver to it 
 
 aptly , I through that little Tunnel 
 * Half Ounces, pouied at one time two or three Lo 
 
 tones of AejUii Fonts, and prefently 
 flopped the Pipe with Papery then immediately af- 
 ter great Ebullition, (by its own Virtue, without any 
 txternal Fire) the fubtil Soul of ^ afcended in a red 
 form. Soon after, 1 poured on more ^^k^? Farm, and 
 left it to its own operation. This I did fo long, and 
 fo often,as until I had put in ib iij. of Acjua Fartis, upon 
 it> j. of the prepared ^. When you have thus done, 
 you may adminifter Fire externally to your Matter 
 in the Glafs Body placed in Sand, for fo the A^jmi 
 Fortis will the more virtually aft upon the $ , and 
 will all afcend red in Colour \, but the ^ will remain 
 with the Sal Mirahile in the bottom of the Vtflel fixed, 
 white, and able to fuftain the force of Fire fo, as it 
 feems almoft incredible, that fuch a Subftance, eafie 
 to be enfiaraed and burnt, fhould in a few hours fpace 
 be exalted to 16 great Fixation and Conltancy. The 
 Diftillation ended, and Glades cooled, take up the 
 Body out of the Sand, and thence take out the Salt 
 with the fixed :^ ; and to difTolve the Sal A-iirabik 
 from it, pour on as much Common Water as fhall be 
 fufficient. After extraft ion of the Salt,the fixed white 
 ^ muft be dryed, and kept fufficiently hot in a Cru- 
 cible In an open Fire, until the $ remains fixed, totally 
 white, and able to abide the Examen of Fire. Then 
 is it fit to be referved for fuch Ufcs, as you fhall learn 
 by the following 
 
 Note : If the Sal Mirabile, together with the A^ua 
 Fortis, fliall be purified, then the fixed :^, after Edul- 
 coration, will be white as Snow. But on the contrary, 
 if you do not well filtre the ^ with the ScdMirabik, 
 and alfo cleanfe not the Aijua Fortis, the ^ will not 
 come forth of a Snow-like Colour, as you may eafily 
 
 conjefturc. Wherefore, whofocvcr would have a 
 Snow-white $, he muft warily proceed, and purely 
 operate, in all parts of his Work. In Medicine, and 
 the Tranfmutation of Metals, ^ dcftitute of whitc- 
 nefs, will ferve wellenoui'h ■, but if you would apply 
 it to fuch IKcs, as noccnarily require a Snow-white 
 Colour, you had need to proceed warily, according 
 to the Prefcripts of Art. For it is o'^ great Concern 
 in every Work, to know, whether the fixed $ fhonlj 
 have a White or an Afli Colour, as in the following 
 Ihall be Ihewcd more at large. 
 
 Moreover, it is highly nccclTary to be known, that 
 that Afta Fortis, which was poured upon the prepared 
 ^, and feparated from it by Diftillation, U no more 
 to be reputed Comnion^^,7,r Fortis. For although it 
 afcends Red, yet that Redncfs difappears in a day or 
 two, and the A^ua Fartis flicws it felf limpid and clear 
 agam ; in fo much, as it can fbarcely be thought by 
 any Man, that any eminent Virtue is latent in that red 
 A^iia Fo>tis changing again into whitenefs. Which 
 kmd of Ignorance did notably hurt me, whilft 1 per- 
 fuaded my felf, that fuch an Ao^t4a Fortis could not be 
 effeftual for any other ufe, or for the fame, again. 
 But afterward, \vhen I was feized with a defire of 
 Icarching, whence that Rednefs fhould proceed, and 
 why it again difappeared ; 1 reftified a pound of fuch 
 AfiaFrtis, in a cki.n Glals Body, to know, whether 
 that Rednefs would remain behind, and no other than 
 t\\t Ae^ua Fortis fm\)\^ afcend j and, by tryal, I found, 
 that no Rednefs would afcend, but inthatReftification 
 it feparated it felf from the A>ji(a Fortis, and refidedin 
 the boctom in the form of Powder, white as Snow. 
 Havmg done this, I crycd, Whether the fame White 
 Powder were fixed, and I found it to be as fixed, asGold 
 it felf ^ yet had no ingrei^ into Metals, but remained 
 like a white Earth conftant in Fire. Hence I was 
 feized with ihedelighcofthinkm?, what eminent Vir- 
 tue might be latent in this Snow-like Powder. Where- 
 fore I again and again made like Trvals, and ftill found 
 the fame. V\ hence a great Light difcovercd it felf to 
 me, by which I perceived, that in the vehement Aftion 
 of the Acjua Fortis, in diffblving the prepared ^, the 
 mofl clean Soul of the ^ afcended with the Aa^ua Fortis^ 
 yet in a very fmall quantity : For out of lb j. of fuch 
 $, I had not above eight or ten Grains of this Soal of 
 i^ left behind. Which thing, at firfl, did not pleafe 
 me very well, becaule the fmalnefs of its weight feemed 
 of no value with me. But having made a more exaft 
 Tryal, I found this Snow-like Powder to be a molt 
 excellent Medicine in feveral Curable Difeafes of the 
 Humane Body , and a true Tinfture for Correfting 
 Metals i and therefore afterward I efteemed it far 
 more than before i and this fo noble white Tinfture, 
 I, by the help of Art, united with Gold, (which is a 
 thmg not difficult to be done by a skilful man) and fo 
 found, that this laudable Tinfture, although fo very 
 white, might, with o, in a fmall Fire, be exalted unto 
 Rednefs, and be of more value than all the ^ remain- 
 ing ^ although that is an hundred-fold more ponde- 
 rous, than this that afcended. Yet the life and Fruit 
 ,of Both, we will a little after (hew more at large, 
 i Thefe may fuffice to be offered here, touching the 
 iway of Whitening, Exalting and Fixing, common, 
 I black, filthy, fugitive, and combuflible Sulphur, till it 
 ' is able to fuftain the torture of Fire. But before we 
 proceed to the Ufe of this whitened and fixed ^, we . 
 will here fhcw ccrrnin other ways of whitening and 
 fixing every combuflible Sulphur. 
 
 B 
 
 
Of the ^hrce Principles 
 
 Part III. 
 
 * 
 
 Amth-fv vay of Fixing Sulphur. 
 
 Ti/i Uje of our Fixed Sulphur, and^firfi^ in Medici fie. 
 
 ^. One, two, or three fr. of common yellow ^ 
 reduced to Powder :, upon this, in a glazed Earthen 
 ^ot, pour four, fix, or nine Ife. of a ftrong Lixivium^ 
 made of Lime or VVood-Afhes, in which, you mult lo 
 long boyi the ^ with conimualftirnng of it, as until 
 the Lixivium hach diflolvtd as much of the ^, as is 
 poffible. Then decant it off, and pour on freft Lm- 
 iww, that the fame may alfo didolve as much as it 
 can:, repeating the fame Labour till all the ^ fiiall be 
 didblved. Which Solutions, if you filtre and coagu- 
 late into a Red Srone or Salt, the Sulphur will be lb 
 habile, as it may, by the help of y^fu Furris^hz walhcd 
 and fixed. 
 
 Anotk r way of Fixing Sulphur. 
 
 Dillolve ^ in a Lixivium^ and put that Solution in 
 aGlafs Body, upon which kt an Alembick, with an 
 hole on the Top to put a Tunnel through, as before 
 faid, and adjoyn and luie a Receiver thereto. Then 
 through the Funnel pour in leifurely and by degrees fo 
 much Oyl of Vitriol, as until the moitificarion of 
 both is perceived, no more ebullition is caufed, but 
 all amnion each upon other ceafeth. This being done, 
 adininifter Fire by degrees, and a fubtile Spirit of Vi- 
 triol will afcend, which performs wonders in A-Iedidne 
 and Akhjmy •, becaufe it contains Spiritual © in it felf, 
 qnd may be very much fubtilized by RciHiification. In 
 Talte, it differs little from the Tafte of Spirit of 
 Urine-, only that it is more grateful to the Palate, 
 and for every Ufe more efficacious than Spirit of 6"/?/ 
 Armonijck or Urmc : Alfo from it the Tindure may 
 be fcparatcd, as we will fhew here following. 
 
 The Salt, remaining in the bottom of che Glafs, 
 muff be taken out, and by fufion in a Crucible turned 
 into a Red Stone, which fuffers it lelf, ]>er fe^ to be 
 fixed in the Crucible in a Ihort time. By the bene- 
 fit of this Sulphur, all Metals may particularly be 
 amended with great profit. If any one purpofeth to 
 ufe the fame Univerfally, let hini^pulverize this fixed 
 Red ^, and from itextrafla blood-red Tindure with 
 Spirit of Wine : For this Tindure is eafilyextraded, 
 and by Taracdfris is called, The Element of Fire, and 
 vas by him highly efteemed. Undoubtedly the chief 
 Kcafcn why this Philofopher called it The Element of 
 Fire , was , becaufe in the Operation he vifibly dii- 
 cerned four Elements. For, the Extradion ended , 
 (which may be abfblved in 24 Hours) on the top is a 
 beautiful Red Ruby-like Tindure, under which is a 
 white Liquor, and in the bottom an A(h-like Earth. 
 The little Skin feparating the Tindure trom the white 
 Water, is taken for the Air. Therefore this way al- 
 ternately, the four Elements prelent themlelves to 
 light in the Glafs without confuHon j lo as although 
 you fl'.ake them together an hundred times in an hour, 
 yet they will never be mixed, but after that agitation, 
 every of them recovers its priftine Station. The 
 fruitful Ufe of this Element of Fire., Ihall be further 
 Ipoken of afterward. 
 
 Note: As we have here now taught the way of 
 wafliingand fixing common Yellow ^, and the black 
 ^ of Pit-coals and Wood; even fo may the ^ of 
 Antimony, Vitriol, Auripigment , and Other Minerals, 
 be whitened and fixed. 
 
 But the method, by which ^ isextradcd from Me- 
 tals and Stones, fliall (GOD willing) be fhewcd in a 
 peculiar Chapter. In the mean while, here is declared. 
 
 Firft, this ^ whitened by Lotions and fixed , is a 
 molt excellent Bezjoardick^ and moch more fa e in its 
 Ufe, than the Oriental Bcx,o,rr, which is Ibid indeed 
 for a greater price, yec never dilcovcrs any vilible and 
 fcnfible EfFcd On the contrary, our Btz^o^u- defcr- 
 vedly is preferred before it, elpeciaUy in the Fcfti- 
 lence, and all other Dileafes, v\hvre Sweating is need- 
 ful 
 
 Alfo, in all AfFcds of the Lungs, it jields more 
 Comfort and Relief, than all other Medicaments, which 
 are prepared of ^ not coded nor fixed , but only 
 crude. Likewiie, to A-'cnor every Age, whole weak 
 Stomachs are proitrattd by an heap of aqueous and 
 villous Humors, itisa prcfent Remedy ^ betaulc by its 
 drynefs it totally abliimes all Phlegmatick fuperfluous 
 Humidities, and perfedly reftor s the Stomach. What 
 fhall I lay ? It may ma Ipecial manner be commended, 
 as a Cordial and excellent Confortative againlt the im- 
 becillity of Age. And outwardly, it may lerve for a 
 molt e.xxeUent Cofmctick^ and, in like manner, by the 
 Spagyrick Art, be reduced into an admirable Iweet 
 Oyl, by the benefit of which, the yellow and blackilh 
 Skin of Women may be tinged with a beautiful white 
 Colour: Not like any other vulgar Cofmetick, which 
 doth indeed whiten the Skin, but that may again be 
 wafhed off with Water 5 not 10, 1 fay, but m fuch 
 a manner,as the Skin, thus elegantly tinged, can in no 
 wile be wafhed off again. Vet in length of time, that 
 whitenefs of the Tindure will wear away, and the 
 Skin recover its native blackifh Yellownefs : Wherefore 
 it mult be tinged again, at often as fhaii be needful 
 Whence it is maniicft, that fuch a Tindure is admi- 
 rably ufeful in beautifying rich Virgins, and curious 
 Matrons. 
 
 Moreover, this Oyl of Talk is efficacioufly preva- 
 lent in curing fuch AfFeds of the Skin, as are called. 
 Impetigo's, Serpigoes, and Lichenes; alio Scrophulous 
 Tumors rifing about the Nofe, or in a.iy part of the 
 Face, and proceeding from an Inflacumation of the 
 Liver. This Oyl takes away all fuch cutaneous Vices, 
 and beautifies and heals the deformed Skin, reftoring ic 
 to its native Colour. 
 
 iTie Ufe of the fame in Chymifry. 
 
 Fixed ^, as well in the humid, as in thedry way, 
 tranfmutes imperfed Metals into g and ,'. Molt rea- 
 dily I? and?, in the humid wayi and moft eafily(Jand 
 J], in the dry way. From every D it feparates .^ by 
 fermentation. If it be added to prepare (! Metals, the 
 fame Metals diftilled by Retort give forth from thera- 
 felves living Mercury, which permits it felf to be fixed 
 with into a tinging Stone. Whenfoever old Demo- 
 gorgon.,, or the Grandfather of Metals , through his 
 extrcam Age, decays in ffrength, and waxeth bald, 
 he devours his youngell Son, whereby he is fo greatly 
 comforted, as he is able to give to ail his Sons and 
 Servants golden Crowns. 
 
 Note: You are to underltand the devouring of the 
 Son to be, when old fixed f^ fwallows and devours 
 crude and not fixed ^, and thereby acquires to it felf 
 Flux and Ingrefs, by the help of a certain Minifter, 
 who moft diligently watcheth his Sepulchre lb long, 
 as until Father and Son ( or the fixed and fufible) be 
 mortified, and rife together renovated. 
 
 Alfo 
 
Part III. 
 
 0/" <i9\l ETA L S. 
 
 7 
 
 Alfo from our Hoary headed De?»cgorgon, of exat^l 
 Age, by the addition of other Matters, is made 
 
 'fAmiS. a molt white * Jmaujitw, in tlie acquifition of 
 which, GoUjmitbs do greatly dchght j becaufe 
 
 they can adorn their Artifices therewith. 
 
 Behold Iprefeiitycu the way of Ofenhiv ami Cor^ftituUng 
 a perpefUiil Metallurgy of O and 1). 
 
 We above taught, that ^ (after it is wafhed into 
 ia Snowy whitcnefs, and alfb lo fixed, as it is able to 
 fullain the Examen of Fire ) was endued with power 
 of amending all Metals. For the whitened $, by 
 Gradation, turns them into », and tlie Rubifyed into 
 G. But here a great Obflacle is wont to intervene, fo 
 as this Work of fo yreat profit, cannot eafily obtain 
 its Efre>.T:, anfwerabje to the Willi of every operating 
 Chymift^ I'iz.. becaufe by Fixation the ^ is lb totally 
 deprived of its Fatneft, penetrating Power, and eafy 
 Flux, as it degenerates (as it were) into a dead Earth, 
 which, per /f, alone loves not lo enter mto any Metal, 
 but choofeth fi.M to have Ingrefs duly prepared for it 
 by the help of other Fufibles, fuch are vulgar, imma- 
 ture, and combuftible Sulphur, or Antimony, which 
 do indeed penetrate the dead f^, and render it lb fu- 
 lible, as it is capable of Ingrefs into Metals. 
 
 But fince fuch combuftible ^ or j,is fo very noxious 
 to Metals, as it makes them black, volatile, and 
 brittle, and fo commonly doth as much hurt as good ; 
 therefore we, not approving of liich an Ingrels, en- 
 deavoured to find out a better. Indeed, although 
 every ^ may another way be fo fixed, and rubifyed, 
 without the help of Acjuci Purtu^ as to retain its own 
 Ingrefs j yet fuch a fixation ("though eafily done, and 
 requires little Charge) cannot be compleated without 
 a very long time. I intend to defcribe this way of 
 Fixing ^ but firft lliall be Ihewed the method of pro- 
 curing a fafe Ingrefs to this fi-xed ^ by a whitenmg 
 Aqtia Fortis. 
 
 Firft, we taught, the $ was to be reduced by our 
 Sal AUrahik^ then that a moft fharp Jtjua Ferns was 
 to be abftraded from it, and after Abftrartion the 
 Sal Mirabile to be feparated from the white fixed ^ 
 by common Water, that the $ might be dulcifyed and 
 rendred fit for Medicinal Ufes. Now I teach, that 
 the ^ fixed by yf^/w i^orf/i is not to be edulcorated, 
 but the Sal MirabiU to be left with it^ being that, 
 which prepares Flux and Ingrefs for its penetration 
 into Metals, inlbmuch as Necefllty now urgeth us to 
 fcek a better Ingrefs, viz,, thrs way \ 
 
 The ivay of adding to Fixed ^ a Ferment^ by the benefit 
 cf wbich^ is aci^ttired Ingrefs into Aietals , fenetra' 
 tivCy and amending the fame. 
 
 Above, where wc treated of the way of fixing Sul- 
 phur , we taught , that after it was reduced by Sal 
 Mtrabile, a moft fharp Aijiia Fonts was to be poured 
 upon it, and thence to be abftraiflcd, and that in the 
 time of Abftratftion, a little Volatile ^ would alfo 
 afcend with the Jtjua Fortis, whence the r^'^ua Fonts 
 waxed Red, and that fuch a Rednefs might be fepa- 
 rated from the Acjua Fortis, in form of a fixed Powder 
 white as Snow, which might be ufed in Medicine and 
 Alchynty with great profit. Yea, liich a fixed ^ white 
 as Snow, doth not only fervefor an admirable Cofme- 
 tick; but alio this fmall Quantity of t^ deferves to be 
 highly commended by Phyficians, as a moft excellent 
 Diaphoretick, the like of which you can no where find. 
 For indeed, Oriental Bezoar is not comparable t© this 
 
 of ours. Our BeTUuir is the true Unicorn's Horn of 
 the ancient Philofophers, This our Philofophitk Uni- 
 corn, is that molt potent, hoary, and aged, King of 
 the World, who, as foon as he hath devoured his young 
 Son, encreafeth in llrength fo admirably, ashetranl- 
 forms his Gray Hairs into Red, and triumphs in his 
 being able to give to all his Servants golden Crowns, 
 and alfb to make them Kings, For he is no more 
 fuch as he was, i-iz, Venom,ov Black blacker than Black. 
 or a wild and horrible Beafl in the IKod^bnt is changed 
 into our Oriental Bez,car^ IFJ.nte whiter than fVljire, 
 Univerfal Treacle, &c. So great a power doth he pol^ 
 fefs, after he hath been prepared according to the 
 Method above prefcnbed. 
 
 If any one be defirous to exalt the Faculties of this 
 ^, he will not lolb his Labour, if before fixation he 
 diflblve o in Acfua Regis^ and pour this Solution of o 
 upon the ^, inftead of another ^^«.? Fort;s; and ab- 
 ftraift it from thence again. For lb doing, not only 
 the o remains fixed with the ^ , and gives Ingrefs 
 unto it i but alio theAt^ua Regis^ or Spirit and Salt of 
 the World, with the Snow-like Soul of ^, will carry 
 with themfelves over the Helm the clean Soul of ©, 
 and fo produce a far more excellent Medicine, than if 
 only the Soul of ^ did afcend alone ; as every Maa 
 may eafily conjefture. But if any one is defirous to 
 operate better, he may, if he will, diilblve the Gold 
 alfb in a Crucible, together with the Sulphureous Sal 
 Alirabile ^ and prefently after abftraft from it a mofl: 
 fharp Atjua Fortts ■■, which way the o is i^o much the 
 better united with the ^. Although I could dilco- 
 vermuch more touching this way of Operating, yet 
 fince (becaufe I have publifhed already as much as is 
 fit) no Neceffity obligeth me to fuch a publication, I 
 will forbear to fpcakfuither hereabout. 
 
 The way of bringing this fixed Snow-like ^ to 
 Rednefs, the Laudable P^;r,»a^/f here teacheth; x-it. 
 that it muft be made Red by a flaming Fire. Yet it 
 muft not be covered ( as he mentions ) but open: 
 For this way it will wax Red, otherwire it would remain 
 White. Now that qij, to which you add o, needs no 
 Reverberac-oii^ btcaufe by the it is turned into a 
 purple Colour, and the it felf, by help of the fixed 
 ^ , becomes irreducible, and pafFeth into Tin(flure, 
 and fo needs no further Exaltation. Therefore to 
 whomfocvcr GOD fliall be fb propitious, as to give 
 him this Salt of Metals, together with the knowledge 
 of conjoyning it with the Red Soul of ^ and which 
 afcends, he will fhew himfelf both in Alcdicine and 
 Chymiftry a principal Mafter : But whofbever is fo blind, 
 ignorant, and witlefs, as he cannot difcern what I have 
 here fo largely treated of, f uch a Man affuredly labours 
 with an uncurable Blindnefs, ib as you cannor recover 
 his Health, although you fhould put double Spetltacles 
 on his Nofe. Now to defcribe the methdQ of fixing 
 ^ fo, as it may retain its Ingrefs, wherewith to pe- 
 netrate into Metals , I purpofe not in this place ■, bu:: 
 it fhall (GOD willing) be defcribed, where we treat 
 of our Secret Sal Armomack. Here follows, 
 
 The way df "Preparing a perpetual Metallurgy of O and 
 D, by the help cf Fixed Sulphur, 
 
 Let the Benevolent Reader know, I do not affirm, 
 that all whatfoever I fhall here write touching the per- 
 petual Metallurgy, I my felf have tryed, or took care 
 to fee elaborated. For the fixation of ^ hath not been 
 known to me above two or three Years, during which 
 time, I have been for the moft part diftempered in 
 my Body fo far, as I had fcarcely ftrength enough to 
 
 pro« 
 
8 
 
 Of the Three Frinciplcs 
 
 PartllL 
 
 profecute my more fccrct Arcanum' s^vihich are far more 
 dear to me, than any fixed ^ can be. Yet, in tiie 
 mean vviiilc, I could not clioofe but employ my 
 Thoughts ui;on fuch a Method, which being found, 
 any one might, by the help ot fixed ^, reap a gain- 
 ful Crop of Fruit from the tranlmutation of iMetals. 
 Toaccomplilhthis, I could find no way morcealy, 
 than for a Man, of Elixiviat Allies (not of Bones, but; 
 of Wood, well lifted, to make large Cineritiums OX 
 Tells, in Iron Molds fit for the purpafe, and with that 
 Wood-Alh, jnix a final! pare of the fixed ^ •, and 
 then take care to eupellate 'Silver mixt with Copper, 
 (with the due addition of Lead) according to the 
 common method or Art, upon fuch Tefts. For thus, 
 fhe D will be purifyed , and the 2 and 1? pafs into the 
 Tclt, as is ctherwife wont to happen in all other jjuri- 
 fyings of Silver. Thefe Tefts, (which you may keep 
 by you, until you have a fiifficient Qiiantity) in the 
 ylLal manner put into a melting Fornace, that in a 
 ftrong Fire the 9 and \ , which palled into the Teft, 
 may co-unite with the fixed ^ , and fo attrail it to 
 themfelves, fis thev may come forth impregnated with 
 D and <?. Now if this Coppery h be cupellated on 
 ■fuch a Teft prepared with $, the © and D will remain 
 upon the Teft, and the T? and ?, as happened before, 
 ivili pafs into the Teft. And if you again proceed 
 with them as before, infallibly (by fuch a way of Cu 
 pellating) you will, with the help of fixed ^, from T? 
 and $ acquire gradually a Quantity of o and d not to 
 be contemned. By this way of Operating, in all thofe 
 Regions, where Coals are cheap, a Man may get a 
 competent Livelyhood. For although in C'lpellating 
 there is fome lofs of the T? and 2, they turning into 
 Scoria'' s-^ yet this fmall iofs, in thefe poor Metals, is 
 nothing, incomparilbn of the great Gain, which may 
 be expeded from the more Rich. I reckon,this Ope- 
 ration of Cupcllating cofts no more than the price of 
 the Coals ^ for the damage made in T? and J is richly 
 recompenfed by the o and D acquired. I was willing 
 to communicate this to the Lovers of Art. Therefore, 
 if there be any Curious Refiners, to whom this Pro- 
 eels is pleafing, let them put it to the Tryal •, if they 
 will not, 'tis all one to me : For I will make no Tryal 
 jn fuch Works, as require a Man ftrong and patient 
 to labour in the Fire. In the mean while, I doubt 
 jiot, but there will be fome, who will amply encreafe 
 their Fortunes thereby i upon whole Endeavours, I 
 pray for the Divine BleflTing, and offer to their Confi- 
 deration this ancient Proverb , By Satuni and Man ^ by 
 p'ire urn! Art^ a Treafure ts found Mars is fixed Sulphur : 
 
 Much might be faid for Satmt alfo ; but that is not fo 
 conducent as fixed $, which is much purer than rude 
 Iron, as Experience teacheth. 
 
 Touching the further ufe of fixed ^ in the Emen- 
 dation of Metals, and that in an humid way, by fixing 
 and graduating Afia Furtts'^s, the Acrimony or Cor- 
 rofive Power of which, is firft fo broken by the help 
 of fixed 1^, as they do not dillolve, but only pene- 
 trate them, and deduce them to an higher degree, and, 
 according to the nature of the $, tinge the fame into 
 whitenefs or rednefs. 
 
 It is known tons, that nothing tingeth but ^ only ^ 
 and that, according to its Nature, into rednefs or 
 whitenefs, both in the humid and dry way. In the dry 
 way, the ^ muft of necelFity be fo fixed and fufiblc, 
 as being call upon the Metal in flux, it may penetrate 
 into it, as Oyl into a dry Skin. You have already 
 heard, that in fixation by AfjHa Fortis^ from the ^ is 
 lb taken away its Ingrefs, eafy Fufion and Metallick 
 Fatncfs, as it rather leeraeth like a dry Earth, than a 
 
 Metallick Sibflance; in fo much, as unto it cannot be 
 procured a ready Ingrefs into A'ecais, unlcfs by fome 
 lingular Art and Indiillry. Such an Ingrefs cannot be 
 given to fixed i^ in a better way, than by Meicurial 
 mundifyed Metals, i^iz,. by g; and ^, and indeed .-i 
 unto Rednefs, but }j unto Wliitenefs. It you would 
 proceed more dexieroully, you mult legitimately unice 
 fixed ^ with the Salt of Metals ^ then w.ll be acquired 
 Ingrels into all Metals, asherca terin the Dcfcriptiou 
 of the Salt of FhHoJopht-rs fliall be icen. But if For- 
 tune fhall fo favour any Man, as he can find out fuch a 
 Water, as is endued with the power of dillblving fixed 
 ^, he will enjoy fo potent a Gradatory U acer, as 
 will convert black Leprous f, into moll white pure i) : 
 And not only I? , but alfo u , i, and J ^ yet I? mofc 
 readily. Touching liich a Gradatory Water, (as far 
 asl have learned by Experience) thus take it: Every 
 ■^ whitened and fixed by wafhing amends Metals^ but 
 how it lliould have and acquire Ingrefs into them, is not 
 known. Therefore, as it is the part of Art and In- 
 duftry to procure to fixed f^ a dry Ingrefs; fo alfo it 
 is no lels the Work of Art and Induftry to convert 
 fixed ^ into a Water, by wnich, vile Metals may be 
 exalted to a more excellent degree of Gold and Silver. 
 Therefore, let him, who intends to convert fixed ^ 
 into Water, obferve, that this Waaler muft not be fo 
 ftrong as to dillolve Metals,but favour only of fo much 
 Acrimony as will be lufficient to penetrate them, aad 
 deduce ^ into an humid form. 'viz,. fucb as it is tinged 
 with, either white or red, according as theCradatory 
 Water fhajl be made, either ot red or white ^. 
 Whofoever well underltauds how to change fixed ^ 
 into Water, unto him will be opened a f .ompendious 
 way of Graduating vile Mcials into add . . Which 
 Operation is, or all, the moft commotJious for I?, be- 
 czuCc Ai^ua Fords more readily preys upon, and dif^ 
 folves, other Metals than I? For it is prejudicial to 
 dillolve any, becaufe in Graduation MetaL are not to 
 be dillblved, but only to be penetrat-d, with confer- 
 vation of their forms, as they were when put in, and, 
 without any diminution, to be tranlmuted into better 
 Metals ^ which in I? is moft eafy to be done. Yet any 
 Afta Fortis^ although you add to it thrice fo much 
 common Water, will prey upon and diffolve T:, u , 2, 
 and (J , which is a thing to be fludioufly avoided. 
 Into the aforefaid Gradatory Water, in which the 
 fixed ^ is, caft a little common Salt, then the y^^«« 
 Fords becomes Enemy to the Lead, and afPaults it, but 
 indeed only to penetrate, (not to diflblve the fame) 
 and to introduce the fixed ^. After the Lead hath 
 lain in Inch Water about 1 4 Days , it will fwell and 
 wax white, leaving one half of it felf upon the Cu- 
 pel. But the longer it ftiall lye in the Gradatory Wa- 
 ter, fo much the more amended will it be. 
 
 If fixed ^ could as eafily be turned into Gradatory 
 Waters, the fame may eafily be fixed i afiiiredly inthe 
 whole NAi'Dtld there would be no one particular more 
 defirable than this, by the help of which, great Riches 
 might be acquired. For this fame humid Graduation 
 requires almoft no trouble or labour, more than put- 
 ting filed or rafped Lead for fome time into the Grada- 
 tory Water, and after Gradation, to take it out and 
 eupellate it i being fuch a kind of Work, as by Chy- 
 mrfts is accounted a Childilh Labour, 
 
 But to know and be able to convert fixed ^ into 3 
 Gradatory Water, is the principal Artifice-, and to 
 participateof that, all diligence muft be ufcd byhira, 
 whofoever he be, that is dcliroustoreappleafantand 
 profitable Fruits from Chymiltry. What do you de- 
 lire ? All things needful to be Ipoken, cannot clearly 
 
 be 
 
Part III. 
 
 Of ^A E TA L S. 
 
 be explained with a Pen j yet if any one fliall ac- 
 quire file Sa.'t vi Merals. he may ealily fo far intro- 
 duce fixed -^ into Mctali by that, as thty fhall be 
 amended tlicreby. Hitherto I have plainly cnoiigli dc 
 
 which remains in the bottom, is cf greater Virtue in 
 Medicine^ than the other of 
 
 _. common i. For by 
 
 now much the morc.pernicious Venome it was before 
 
 Fixation fo much the mere Efficacious Mcd.ans doth 
 
 frribcd the fixation of i^, and prolixly dcmonlfratcd, it become, after the Vcnomc is inverted by Fixation, 
 
 1 : r. u„ „.„.., .„j 11 L.. .!.„ u.. aj^j converted or prepared into an Antidote or Treacle.' 
 
 Such i^ may alfo another way,more commodious, than 
 by Sal A'lirabiU^ be prepared for eafle Solution : Which 
 indeed is a thing of great moment, and worthy to be 
 obicrved. 
 
 This fhort, but nccelTary, Admonition l thought 
 good to fubjoyn for the fake of the Searchers of Art \ 
 to the end it might be known, that one $ is better 
 fhan another for preparing the aforefaid Gradatory 
 Water. Ncverthelefs, the known common Sidphur, 
 as well as that of Wood, is fufficiently a.ndueibic to 
 be wafTicd and fixed. More at this time I have not 
 to advifc. In the mean while, if any one be dc(7rous 
 to Labour , he may ingeniouJly fearch out all things 
 fit for his Invention, and earneftly ffrive for Riche°. 
 For I, without Envy , or clofe Concealment, have 
 fo openly fpoke my mind, as the leaft blame cannot 
 jiif^Iy be imputed to me. But fo prevent the Infeli- 
 city of thy Error, my Reader, I could not do better, 
 than I have here done by Writing. Let it not be te- 
 dious to Thee to tread in our Footfteps, and in the 
 Foot/leps of others, fo long, as until you can attain 
 to a fortunate and defirable End j which will Crown 
 your Work : Which Work, by Idlenefs and floath, 
 together with fupine Ignorance, can never be accom- 
 pliftied. 
 
 Having communicated thef« Gratis, every Man may 
 hence fatisfie his Delircs fo, as not to trouble me fur- 
 ther with his Inquiries. 
 
 how irgrcfs mav be procured to it, as well by the Hu 
 mid, as by the Dry way. Wherefore, whofoever fliall 
 think himfclf concerned herein, let him follow thcfe 
 Prcfcripts, until he find fo Uiuch Good, as the favour 
 of G O D will grant to l^im- For the All of our hope 
 depends on the blcdlng of G O D. 
 
 In the mean while, 1 am not willing to conceal from 
 the Searcher of Art, tHis one only Artificial Manual 
 Compendium, of converting ^ eafily into a Gradato- 
 ry Water. We above faid, y-j'(/«j F art i s coiM find no 
 ingrefs for it felf to the fixing of -^ , before it was 
 procured to it by the help of Sal Mirabile. Therefore, 
 . iince the way of preparing Sal Mirabile is various, 
 and one Salt is always more conflant than another i 
 great Caution muf\ be ufed, that the Sulphur be fo 
 bandied and accommodated, as it may be fuddenly 
 oifToIved by the (harp Aqua Fortii, and fo not be pre- 
 cipitated into a white Powder. For if this be not done, 
 it will indeed be fixed by the Aqua FortU^ but become 
 very difficult to be difTolved. If it be well diffolved 
 ihe tirli time, after Fixation it will be caiily difToJvcd. 
 W hich is a thing worthy and profitable to be obfer- 
 ved : For the whole hinge of Art conlilts here. 
 Therefore, if any one be well Skilled in Spagyrick 
 Labours of Fire, he will ealily bring this Frefcript to 
 a good EfTed •, but if he be not fuch, he will Labour 
 in vain, and lofc his Charges ■-, and that not without 
 the good Pleafiare of G Q D, who Wills not, that e- 
 very Man fliould be made Rich. Nevcrthelcfs, if any 
 one, with an indefatigable ftudy and patience of Search, 
 (hall hit the Mark, he will give thanks to G O D and 
 to me : If not, let him impute the Error to his own 
 unhappincfs , Iince I have writ fo openly and clearly, 
 as no Man before me ever did. My purpofe is in this 
 .place to difcover one moft excellent Secret ^ by the 
 benefit of which, fixed ^ may eafily be changed in- 
 to a Gradatory Water, and that the following way. 
 
 Choofe fuch ^^ as unto which Nature hath given 
 greater Efficacy, than to the conunon ■^ ■, fuch, I 
 lay, as is in a fort Mercurial, and in which fuch begin- 
 nings of the Operation of Nature difcover themfelves, 
 as thence may be made a Metal of a Golden Difpoti- 
 tion. Such a Mercurial ;^ you fhall fcarcely find in 
 all the Metallurgy of Gold \ and that naturally Red, 
 both internally and externally •> and is otherwife called 
 by Puracelfus Embryonate Sulphur., or Cinnabarine Sul- 
 phur ^ or immature mineral tlecirum •, but by Miners 
 vulgarly called the Flower of Gold : Alfo you may per- 
 ceive it to have a great Commainion and fimilitude 
 with Auripigment and Antimony. This Sulphur is Mer- 
 curial, and toucheth Metals with a more near Affini- 
 ty, than vulgar (inple :^ , becaufe after Fixation it 
 is ealie to be diifulved, and before Fixation better to 
 be wrought upon than common 1^ , which partakes 
 of no Mercury. And this ;^ in the abfiradion of 
 Aqua Furtli gives forth more of a beautilul Tintfture. 
 than any other comrrion ^. Alfo this pure Soul may 
 ii.iich better be ufed in Mtdicin' and in Alhymy , be- 
 
 J CO%OLLARJ. 
 
 WE, in this fmall Treatife, have plainly (hewed 
 the Way or Method, by which, every black 
 Volatile and Combuffible -^ may in the fpacc of one 
 day be converted, by wafhing, into a Snow-hkc Can- 
 dor, fixed and rcndred conftant in Fire. 
 
 Alfo how, in Fixation, the Atfua F rtrr, being ab- 
 ffradted from the Sulphur.^ carries with it felf the mofl 
 pure Soul of the Sulphur., renders it fixed at d dura- 
 bly pcrnament in Fire i and befides, that it is not 
 only a prefent Remedy for expelling Difcafcs moft 
 grievous in the humane Body :, but al(b, that it is 
 endued with the Power of tranfmuting imperfedl Me- 
 tals into G and D, yet particularly only, being deffi- 
 ture of fuch c, as can fufficiently extend it felf in 
 Efficacy. 
 
 Likewife we have taught, how to the moregrofs 
 part of the ^, which remains in the bottom, ingrefs 
 may be procured for the amending of Metals with 
 Prctir, both in the humid and the dry way. 
 
 ialily, we fliewcd, how much one -^ excels ano- 
 ther, and fuch t:^ was to be accounted more excellent 
 which contained in it felf pure c •, and tl^at efpecially 
 
 caulc it is botii Mercurial and of greater Efficacy, than | to be the moll excellent , which belore-Fixation was 
 the Soul of any common ^. ' judged mofl venenious s and that for this Reafbn. viz. 
 
 Note: Cominon ■^:: is not fo eafily prepared for So- becaufe every Supream Venome, after Preparation, will 
 lution, as this :, becaufe it i > Mercurial, and therefore, , become the highclf Medicament j and that the Mc- 
 luth more Communion with ^-^qua Futtis., to be dif , liorationof fuch Sulphur is much more Eilicacious, than 
 lulved by help of it. And after it is dilToIved, in the j common Sulphur. Wherefore in this place, lam 
 DilUlladon it gives forth more Scul, and the fixed ^, uiliirig, aj^ain and again, earnelily tocon.mtnd to the 
 
 C Lovers 
 
lO 
 
 Of the ^brce Principles 
 
 Part III. 
 
 Lovers of Au Antimo»y^ Red Arfaxick^, Yellow Ann- 
 figment , Afli-colourcd Cobaltum. Calqmia and Zixch-, 
 with Bifmnih ; bccaufc all thefe arc more excellent 
 than common Sulphur. But he, that elaborates fuch 
 Subjcfts, fo vencmous, nnuft fiudioufly beware of tiie 
 evil Fumes arifing from them. For as fuch a Subjctt 
 before Preparation is mere Venomc, fo, in preparing, 
 its venomous Difpolition is more and more incrcafed ;, 
 but after Preparation , that which was deadly, now 
 becomes a moft Salubrious Antidote or Treacle, and 
 prefent Remedy againll all kinds of Toifons. 
 
 Note: Whofocver is defirous to be fecurely freed 
 from all Peril, him I would advife, to learn the way 
 of fixing fome common ^, before he radily attempts 
 to invade the Fort of fuch noxious Venoms. 
 
 Therefore, whatfoever we have hitherto taught are 
 not vulgar Matters, or Arts well known before , but 
 merely great Arcanum^s^ and thofe very lately inven- 
 ted. For, who could believe, that common _^ , a 
 Subftance eafily inflameable and burnable, fliould in one 
 day be fo fixed, as to be able to remain unhurt againft 
 all the force of Vulcan / Who could have perfuaded 
 himfclf, that the moft venemous Venoms , as Cobalt^ 
 Arfcnic\ and the like, may in one day be Artificially 
 inverted, and their mortal Venoms converted into Sa- 
 lubrious Antidotes ? Laftly, who could ever have 
 thought, that of the moft Volatile Mineral Subjeds, this Pudden Correction or Fixation of all Volatile and 
 
 acquires to it felf a Vijpbjraick^ and 'DiurethX Pro- 
 perty. 
 
 Common Tjrr^jr, taken into the Body, performs thd 
 Office of a Cathartick^: But the fame, uhtn the ripe- 
 ning Heat of the Sun, in tlie more hot Regions of the 
 World, hath took from it, its Acidity, and it,in the Fer- 
 mentation of Wine, becomes a fiery Spirit, it no more 
 excrcifeth a purging Properly, but rather hinders Pur- 
 gers, and fo amends them, as ihey cannot Purge with 
 fo great vehemence, as they were wont to manifcll, 
 before Correction -^ as is already demonfhatcd by Us, 
 where we treat of the Extradion of purging Vegeta- 
 bles. Therefore if the common Fire of Coals, and 
 Spirit of Wine, corredt Vegetables and Animals immo- 
 derately purging i why (hould not the moft Itrong Fire 
 of Salt, fuch as Aqui FortU is, corred the moft veno- 
 mous Mineral Subjeds, and be able to tranfmute the 
 fame (depofing their noxious Qualities) into an An- 
 tidote or Treacle? 
 
 From all which, it is fufficiently manifeft , that in 
 correcting even the moft venomous Subjeds , Mineral 
 Spirits of Silt are fufficient -, being fuch, as can deprive 
 them of all their pernicious Venome, and change them 
 into falutary Medicament?. Wherefore, 1 doubt not> 
 but that the ingenious Reader, by thefe few things de- 
 monllrated , will fufficiently underftand the caufe of 
 
 as i^. Antimony , Arfenick^-, Anripigment and others of 
 that kind, in the fpace of one day may be prepared a 
 Tinttuie ( conftant in Fire ) for humane and Metallick 
 Bodies ? No Man , if we had not in this fmall Trea- 
 tife fo evidently demonftrated that, as it may be 
 plainly underftood. Wherefore, as I have formerly 
 laid, fo I am now ready to aftirm, that 1, in this fmall 
 Treatife, have revealed fo great and admirable Arca- 
 num's., as no Man ( as far as the Memory of Man can 
 tell ) hath publifli'd any thing more clearly than I , 
 touching fuch Secrets. 
 
 If any one is defirous to Learn, whence fo fwift a 
 Fixation of combuftible Sulphur, or fo fudden Meta- 
 morphofu of mofl deadly Venoms, arifeth \ to him, I will 
 now difcover the Caufe. It is fufficiently manifeft, 
 that Spirit of Nitre , as well as Aqua Forta diftillcd 
 from r//r/fl/and Salt Nitre., pofTefs fuch a fiery Difpo- 
 lition, by which all combuftible and Volatile Minerals 
 are ripened. And being ripened, they are alfo fixed ^ 
 as if fixed things muft of necelfity be Mature, and 
 confequently no more noxious or deadly to Mortals. 
 For whatfoever is rough , crude and immature, the 
 Stomach of Man cannot digeft, but rejeds and cafts 
 out that, (by which it may be injured) as Venome: 
 According as is eafily difcerned in all Cathjrtickj, ei- 
 ther Vegetable, Animal or Mineral, which, by reafon of 
 their Crudity, are fo great an offence to the Stomach 
 of Man, as it frees it felf from them, either by Vo- 
 mit or Seidge. And the more crude and immature 
 Purgcrs be, the moreftrongly do they Operate. Hence 
 ufual y (by the Prcfcript of Phyficians ) Purgcrs that 
 are too violent, before they be taken into the Body, 
 are amended by Fire. As for Example. SqaiUs and 
 Vuzridium, which too vehemently Purge, are cover- 
 ed over with Dough and baked in an Oven, for cor- 
 rcding the exceflive Purging property in them, that 
 they may caufe Evacuations more moderafe and more 
 fafe. Antimony imn.odeiatcly Purging, is excodcd , 
 or melted in an open Fire with com.mon Nitre 
 and 'lartzr , by which it is fo far correded , as 
 it Purgeth without vchemency. The fame alfo is 
 Co correded by fpirit of Nitre., as it lofeth its 
 purging Pxopeity-and inftcadof itsCathartick Virtue, 
 
 venomous Mineral Subjeds. When Ancient Philofo- 
 phets, by Poetical Parables, defcribed the laborious 
 Navigation of Jafon to the llland Cokhos, where re- 
 fided an huge Dragon vomiting Fire, which, with Eyes 
 never clofed, diligently watched the Golden Fleece ; 
 they added this, viz: that Jafon wzs taught by his 
 Wife MedcJ, to caft to this waking Vrj^on an edible 
 Medicine to be fwallowed, whereby he fhould be kill- 
 ed andburfti and that yj/;« fliould prefently take the 
 Dragon ( thus llain ) and totally fubmerge him in the 
 Stygian Lake. J'^fon., in this ingenious Fable, Hiero- 
 glyphically reprefents the Philofophers ^ Medea, accu- 
 rate Meditations j the laborious and perillous Navi- 
 gation , fignifies manifold Chymical Labours > the 
 watching Dragon vomiting Fire, denotes Salt Nitre and 
 Sulphur •, and the Golden Fleece is the Tindure or 
 Soul of Sulphur, by the help of which, Jafon reftored 
 Health to his Aged Father, and acquired to himfelf 
 immenfe Riches. By the Pills of Medea is under- 
 ftood the Preparation of Sulphur and Sal Mirabile. By 
 the total fubmerflon of the Dragon in the Stygian Lake, 
 is intimated the Fixation of Sulphur by Stygian Wa- 
 ter, that is. Aqua Fortij. Whence, it is fufficiently 
 clear, how obfcurely the Ancient Philofophers did de- 
 fcribe their Fixation of ^ by Nitre., and how fecretly 
 they hid it from the Eyes of the unworthy. But, 
 fince 1, in this Treatife, do as clearly as is poflible dif- 
 cover all things, know, that I do it not without Rea- 
 fon. It will be enough for any one, if he rightly un- 
 derftand the Method of performing fuch a Fixation. 
 
 After any combuftible f^ hath been fixed by Aqits 
 Fort'n, or Aqua Regi^, and O and B added to it in 
 Fixation, then will that no more be vulgar P or 5, be- 
 ing fuch as cannot again be diflblvcd in Aqua Fertif^ 
 or Aqua Kegw, nor upon a Cupel have Ingrcfs into tj, 
 but pafTeth as it were into a dry Earth , which can 
 neither be reduced by Boriix , nor any other common 
 fluxing Powders into a dudile Body. It any one be 
 defirous to know this by Experience, let him difTolve 
 5 1^' of o in Aqua Kegu, and pour this Solution up* 
 on a Pound of Aqua Kegii ., and alfo put this Aqua 
 Regit upon 5iiij of Butter oC Antimony ^ and abftrad 
 the Aqua liegii thence, Then he will find , that 
 
 Gold, 
 
Part III. 
 
 Of ^iETAl S. 
 
 1 1 
 
 bold, which was in the ^qujKegif, to have mixed it 
 fclf Radically with the Sulphur and A-f^rcwy of Anii- 
 w/ns fo as not only the Butter of Aniimony becomes 
 fixed and irreducible, but it alfo renders the Gold fo 
 irreducible, as thenceforth it can no more be feparated 
 from tlie ^///t/mj«^, but remains adhering to it in every 
 Examen : And can only be fubduccd by our Secret 
 Salt of Metals, volatilized, or rcndrcd fuHlc, and fo 
 be introduced into other Metals for their Amendment. 
 Therefore, if fuch a dcftrudion of CO can be made 
 by Antimony^ Icfs than the half of which is ;j^, but the 
 grcatcllpart g ■, how ftiould the fame not be better per- 
 formed by common ■^, which is void of all Mircury} 
 I, in all thofe places where I have taught the Fixati- 
 on of Sulphur^ did always advife, that Aqua Kegis to 
 be carefully kept, which was abftra(fled from the 5«/- 
 phnr ^ but efpccially what contained Gold •■, becaufe 
 together with the Aqua Fortify the moft pure Soul of 
 Gold and Sulphur afcendi , and is as much fixed, ( I 
 might fay, more ) as that which remains in the bot- 
 tom, wherefore, if what I have here imparted be 
 obferved by any Reader, or by none, it fhall not trou- 
 ble me, but 1 (hall remain well contented, that I have 
 done my Part, and performed fo much, as no Man be- 
 fore m.e ever did i becaufe I have openly taught the 
 Method of cxtrading in a few hours ( by the help of 
 DilHllation) from O and ;^, or from and Anti- 
 mony^ a fixed Tindturc. And thefe 1 do willingly com- 
 iriunicate to the Searchers of Art. 
 
 Some write, that Miriam the Prophetcfs, and Sifter 
 of tiiofes^ knew the Art of elaborating the Tindure 
 in three days, which feems incredible to many Skilful 
 Writers. But what will envious Perfons judge, when 
 they fliall hear, that CLAVBER, by a publick Writing, 
 without any manner of Concealment, hath taught the 
 Method of cxtrading a fixed TincT:ure out of and 
 Antimony;, fit to expel all defperate Difeafes out of the 
 
 humane Body \ and this woi-k to be complcatcd in one 
 day ? Undoubtedly they wi!I exclaim and fay ; All are- 
 Lyff, and fuch things an impofible to be dan;. The 
 ignorance and wickcdnefs of thefe Men M>cre much 
 more tolerable, if, to their Calumnies, they fJiould al- 
 fo add, Our ignorant Br.unr perfuade amijs. Fordid 
 they rightly know themfelves they never would Co 
 bafely condemn and reprove the Experience of Orhers. 
 But whatfhal! I write again/l fuch? Notin'ng, but the 
 Old Proverb, Iftminatg Men^ Effeminate fPirds j ac- 
 cording to the Verfe, 
 
 Ejch Bird f) ftngs, at formed is bis Bill; 
 And fuch as it the Man^ fo fpeak. he will. 
 
 Indeed I would willingly have publiflicd rKore Ex- 
 amples, of the Method of fwiftly fixing Sulphur^ but 
 I am kept back by very weighty Reafons. Yet I cannot 
 chufe, but Commemorate thefe few things thereabout i 
 '^'z. that every :^, without the help of external Fire, 
 by a Secret invifible Fire only, which is added to the 
 combuftible i^, and left with it for a fmall fpace of 
 Time, in a cold place, becomes as white and fixed, 
 Tulfaining all force of Fire, as well as that Fixation^ 
 which is made by Aqua Fertu^ or his abrtrafl'ion from 
 the $. Wherefore this cold Fixation of Sulphur, 
 by our Secret cold, and humid Fire ( becaufe it needs 
 no common Fire, no Body, and Head, no Retort with 
 its Receiver^ and the like) is to be preferred before the 
 other Fixation by Aqua Fortis. Therefore for this, we 
 give Immortal Praifes and Thanks to the moft wife 
 GOD. 
 
 If any Reader thinks, I have been too brief, or too 
 obfcure in this Treatife , he may more amply fatisfie 
 his Dcfires from the two following Tracffs where we 
 treat of the Mercury and Salt of Philofophers i whereunto 
 we refer every one, that is a ftudious Inquifiior of Art. 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 MERCURY of Philofophers 
 
 *M 
 
 'ERCVRT may eafiiy be extraded not on- 
 ly from all Metals and Minerals , but alfo 
 from Animals, and Vegetable Subjeds, and 
 of the fame ( by the help of Gold ) be pre- 
 pared a true Tinfture for all the three Kingdoms. 
 
 We, from the Confent of all true Philofophers, do 
 certainly know, that V is the mod pure part of the 
 three Principles of MetalS, and therefore doth fponta- 
 neoufly adhere to moft pure Metals, and always em- 
 bracetli them with greater affed^ion, than the impure 
 Metals. As for Example, A/ifrc»r)r moft willingly ad- 
 heres to its own like o -^ next to (? i then to i) :, after- 
 wards to ^4 , and b ^ and laftly to i; but to S moft 
 unwillingly, only becaufe it choofeth rather to mix it 
 ftlf with its like, than with its unlike. For it is wholly 
 Homogcneal, void of all Heterogcneal parts ^ fuch alfo 
 are & and P. The grcateft part of ail other Metals is 
 Hcterogeneal, although there is found noimperfcd Me- 
 tal, which hath not in it feif fom.e part Homogeneali 
 yet fo, as the Metal participates rrore of the onc,than 
 of the other ■, according to the Writings of Philofo- 
 
 phers. Wherefore , a true Philofopher will fcarcely 
 affirm, that, by the benefit of the Tindure,the whole 
 Body of imperfed Metals can be tranfmuted into O 
 orD, fincefo great Virtue is not infited, even in the 
 Philofophers Stone it fdf For the immature, foul, 
 ftmking, combuftible and fuperfluous $ of j^ , <J or 
 ?, cannot, in fo ftiort time, as Projeiftion is wont to be 
 made in, be converted into 0, although you caft in 
 more than enough of the Tincture • But as much as 
 the Metal hath of Homogeneity, t.'iat is, of A/er-wy, 
 in it felf, fo much only is tinged and fixed into GolJ, 
 the Refidue not fo. Becaufe the Stone feparates the 
 Hcterogeneal parts, that is, the fijperfluo&s f^ burning 
 it felf ( in the form of S:orij) from the Mercury^ which 
 it only tingeth into Coll ^ becaufe it hath no Commu- 
 nion with thofc Heterogeneities i as I have daily found, 
 and in the following Part, where we treat of the 5j/r 
 of Philofophers, I purpofe to demonftrate more at 
 large. 
 
 Now let us fee the Method, by which Metallick 
 may with little Labour be extrail-ed, not only from 
 
 iN'ctals 
 
11 
 
 Of the ^fhrcc Fi incipla 
 
 Part III. 
 
 Metals and Minerals, but alfo from all Animals anJ I Now it is necc/Tary to be known, by what Method 
 Vegetables. Ifaid, ff^ith little Labour, in rcfpedt of | the I of Philofophcrs may molt commodioully be tx- 
 expericnced Men. For in refpcdt of the llnskiltul-, it I trd<ffcJ from Metal'; and Minerals, and by the help of 
 is not a Work of fmali Labour i but in the Memory O, be duly fixed by Art, intu a lindlure tor Jiu- 
 of all Ages it hath bceft accounted (by all the molt mane and mctallick Bodies. 
 
 experienced Lovers of our Art ) the Secret of Serreu., Firlt, we arc not ignorant, that the pureft part of 
 and the neareft way to come to the Attaintment of tlic j Metals , viz: Homogeneal Mercury^ is tyrannically 
 true Vniverfal Alcdkine. Nnr will it ever be ot lefs \ held Captive in a ccrtairj obfcure Prifbn, by his niolt 
 Elteem, fince in the whole Nature of things, a more ; inveterate Enemy, fuperflLious burning; V;<///j.<r. There- 
 pure matter cannot be found, ( whereof to make the lore, it any one would unbolt his Chains, and let him 
 Stone of Philofophers) than this only Mfrcwr)/. of Mc- *"— '"•--->- ^■ 
 
 tals. In the mean while, it is ealie to judge, that the 
 Mercuries of Metals differ in themfelves notably, and 
 that one of them is better, and more condilcible than 
 another, for preparing thence a Tindure for Humane 
 and Metalline Bodies. For one is always better in Co- 
 lour and Tindure than another. Indeed, by the ex- 
 ternal Face, almoft no Man is able certainly to know, 
 from what Metal or Mineral the beft Mercury may be 
 had : Yet according to the general Opinion of Philo- 
 fophers, the molt excellent ^ is wont to be prepared 
 of the Vitriol of <? and i\ becaufe thefe two Metals 
 do moll abound with Tindures. I, being taught by 
 Experience, am afllired, that out of black A(h-coIour- 
 ed \i may be acquired a 5, as excellently tinged, as 
 from both thofe Red Metals, $ and "i. Yet in the 
 mean while I do not deny, that the y of 6 and V, is 
 impregnated with $, tinging in the higheft degree \ 
 
 free, he hath neccllity to mortitie and annihilate his 
 Enemies, by which he is fofalt bound and imprisoned, ■ 
 before he breaks down the Prifon Walls, and delivers 
 Mercury irom Captivity : Which will alfo bring forth 
 with him his natural Brother, r/z. tinging ::^. Thefe 
 being at Liberty, nothing wiil be wanting to fix them 
 into a Tindture, but the help of vulgar e. But if 
 any one be not fatisfied witii this fhort Paraphrafe, let 
 him read either Sj»divogi:ts, vvho hath writ an intirc 
 Treatife of fuch a freeing of Captives i oxVaracelfm^ 
 who, no lefs eminently than pUinly, hath difcovcred his 
 mind touching the lame. 
 
 Now follows my own Experience^ Way a7id MetLoJ., by 
 7vhich I hii've fevend Times freed the foremenlioned 
 
 '. fe'ueral tin/es freed 
 Capli-ve, and fet him at Liberty. 
 
 Although I have try felf extraded tht Mercury of 
 as'^Ancient Philofophers," in" thefe few words, have Philofophcrs from Metals, by fuch divers Methods, as 
 
 VITRJO- 
 LVM. 
 
 compendioully exprelTed. Vifitarif Interio- 
 rs Lerrs^ Reilificandu Invetties Occttltum La- 
 pidem^ Veram Medicinam. By which Words, 
 VrTRIOLVM [or Vitriol'] is exprclTcd i which proccfs 
 is no other, than a Solution of Mjtj and Venus pre- 
 pared by the Labour of Nature. But Vitriol prepared 
 thus by Nature, is never found fo pure and clean, as 
 that which is prepared of good Steel, and pure i', by 
 the help of O^l of Sulphur, or inllead of that, Oyl 
 oi Vitriol: Becaufe the Native contains more Earthi- 
 nefs, than that which is made by Art. Now let us re- 
 turn to our Afercury. 
 
 I think good here, to advife all the Lovers of our 
 Art, not to bend their thoughts fo much upon vulgar 
 G and i), as to endeavour out of them to cxtraft their 
 y and ^. Becaufe common O and ]) are altogether 
 Homogeneal, and have nothing of Heterogeneity in 
 them i and tiierefore diflicult to be wrought on. And 
 although they were as catie to be wrought on as S and 
 "i •, yet if would be no Profit to ufe them :, becaufe of 
 their greater Price, and alfo becaufe there is much 
 more I'indure conlained in vile and contemptible c?, 
 than in © it fclf It is true, this Tindlure is not yet 
 Hxed, but is volatile, and may eafily be fixed. Where- 
 fore I advife every one to feck 9 in 1?, and ^ in S. 
 ilpon 0, in times palt, through my Ignorance, I con 
 fumed much without any Profit, and laboured Fruit- 
 lelly, until I had confumed fome 'Pounds of it, to find 
 out for others a more fafe Way i which if any one 
 had (hewed me, I would never have laboured in vain. 
 But I was hard to believe, that they, who were un- 
 willing to ufe common :;and )), could prepare an apt 
 Tindturc, for tinging itnperfed Metals into Gold. 
 Yet lince vulgir -' and )>, do not only give cafie In- 
 grefs to thofe 1 infturcs, which draw their Original 
 horn the r^ and ot Philofophers ^ but do alio fur- 
 ther the Fixation of volatile Mercury., therefore we 
 cannot well be without them, in the Compolition of 
 the Stone of i hilofopheis. Let the Lovers of Art take 
 Cognizance of thefe few things for their Informa- 
 tion. 
 
 I mean hereto difcover i yet I alwavs found fome bet- 
 ter than other fome. Therefore out of fuch Procclfes, 
 fome of which we here fubjoyn, every Man may, as 
 beft pleafeth him, take which he thinks moft con- 
 ducible, and proceed in Operating according to that, 
 until he finds, what GOD fhall be plcafcd to beftow 
 on him. 
 
 Mercury is never to be extraded from hard Metals, 
 before they be dilfolved and unlocked. Unlockcci 
 more commodioully they cannot be, than by theCor- 
 rofive Spirits of Salt. Yet iince all Corrolivcs are 
 molt iniiTiical to «, they have no Power of making 
 either Living or Running /^fr«<r)'. Therefore, after 
 Solution, the Corrofives muft be mortified by contrary 
 Salts j fuch are, Salt of Tartar , Spirit of Vrine, Sal 
 Armoniack^, dec. This being done, the Cotr(jfives chang- 
 ing their Nature wax gentle, and in Diliillation per- 
 mit the c to afccnd : \N hich otherwife, without Mor- 
 tification ot the Corrofivc, would not happen, as you 
 will learn by the following Proccffes. JL 
 
 Therefore, fince it is moll certain, that Metals are 
 to be diffolved, before 'j ( by the help of Refufcitatinjj 
 Salts ) can be diltilled thence j we will Hrit exhibit the 
 Method, by which 5 may be extraded from fuch Me- 
 tals, as Nature prefents to us already dilfolved :, viz. 
 Vitrio., which is no other then Mars or Venus, or li 
 and i together, difTulved by the Univcrfal Acidity. 
 Hence, whofoevcr will ufe ( in his intended Work ) 
 fuch Vnriot^ in which both thofe Metals are found 
 highly tinged and dilfolved by Nature •, he will not 
 need by tedious Labours to feek out a new Method of 
 difrt)lving Mcta's, but niay fparc both his Time and 
 Charges. Therefore, now it will be expedient to teach, 
 how AJercKry nay be prepared ot any coiniuon ( i~ 
 tnol. 
 
 The Vrccrfs fellows. 
 
 DiHil from comiT.nn Vitriol, in the ufial manner, 
 an Acid Spirit, and fiery 0',1, with Itni.g tire, a^cor- 
 din." to Art. For in the 'piiit is latent the ^ oi £ 
 
 jjid 
 
Part 111. 
 
 Of zSMETALS. 
 
 n 
 
 ?nd g , vvhicli by Mortif.ihg the Coi-rofivc, may be 
 brought to lig^'.t, and made Vifible as follows. 
 
 l}i. Of Tartar calcined unto Whitcncfs lb i, or ij, 
 which reduced to Powder, put into a Glifs Body, on 
 which fet an Plead with its Hole and Tunnel in it, well 
 luted i then apply a R.ecelvcr, and !i;te the junftures 
 cxaflly. W'hen the Body and Head is placed in warm 
 Sand, through the T unnel, at one time pour on about 
 one or two L'tonci of the (harp Spirit of I'ltriol, upon 
 the Tartar calcined i whence will be caufed fo great 
 Ebullition, asby its own proper Power the Spirit will 
 afcend trom iu- This Duel or Fermentation being 
 ended, again pour in fomc Ounces of that Spirit •, 
 which alfo leave, till all the Ebullition ceafcth. After- 
 ward reiterate the like injedion, until that Acidity 
 contends no more with theT<»r/jr : V\hich will be an 
 Argument, that the Salt ef Tar/jr is fufliciently mor- 
 tined. When you fee this, adminiHer Fire, and by 
 Degrees draw forth all Humidities, unill the Vcffel and 
 Matter is Red hot. The Water thatafcended (which 
 in Talie will be almoft like Spirit of Vrine ) muft be 
 rediried ■■, in which Redificition the 9 of the Vitrial 
 afcending, is rendred more fubtile and more pure. 
 This pure Mecurial Water bears in it ftif invilibly con- 
 tained, a living Mctallick Mfrcwry, which is madecon- 
 fpicuous thus, 
 
 Tie ConjunBion of Philojophick Mercury ■withGoU. 
 
 Diffolve common © in a (harp ^iqua Regii, and fepa- 
 rate the difTolved from theundiffolved. Then leifurely, 
 and at times , drop after drop, pour of your fubtile 
 Mercurial Water upon the Solution of ?", fo long, as 
 until the Spirit of the Mtrcury hath no more Action 
 upon the Solution of Gold, but ceafeth, and all the 
 G fliall be precipitated from the Water. In which Pre- 
 cipitation, the 3 attrads to its felf the Murcttry of the 
 Vitriol, from the Mercurial Water, in fuch a manner, 
 as it fettles to the bottom of the Vcfftl, in the form of 
 Slime, or a yellow Powder. Let the Precipitate be 
 filtred through brown Paper, that the 5*»//«e Water 
 may pafs through i and the precipitate remain in the 
 Filter mixt with the Gold > which muft be very well 
 wafted with fweet Water, and, being edulcorated, dry- 
 ed. This being done, you will have the of Vitriol 
 united with the O : Both which will fuffer them- 
 felves to be fixed into a true Tini^ure, for Humane 
 and Metallick Bodies, as follows. 
 
 The Fixation of Mercury with GoU. 
 
 Note : Before the Mercury is put in to be fixed with 
 the Gold, it mull be proved, whether it be duly pre- 
 pared, or not. For if the Mercurial Water was right- 
 ly prepared, it will contribute Mercury enough to the 
 Goldi by which 2 the precipitated Gold is fo augmen- 
 ted, as tis no more common 0. But if the Mercu- 
 rial Water was not legitimately prepared, and confc- 
 quently could not contribute much g to the ©, the 
 Gold will remain poor, and, as foon as it is fenfible of 
 any heat, will fulminate, like any other fulminating 
 Gold, and fo be altogether unfit for Fixation, being 
 dcltitute of a tinging 2, which fliould have converted 
 the whole Body of c) into Tinfture. Wherefore, af- 
 ter Precipitation cf the O and 0, you muli make a fmall 
 part of the Precipitate hot, in a very (mall Crucible, 
 for Tryal, whether it be fit to be fixed. For if it ful- 
 min3tes,l:ke fulminating G, it is a fign your Mercurial 
 \\'a{er was not perfciTt, and could not give unto the 
 Gold enough. But if after it (hall be Red hot in 
 
 the Fire, it comes forth with, a delicate purple Colour} 
 it is to be fjppofed the Iiath imbibed . enough, and 
 chcy both be fi.ved together into one Tinflurf. 
 
 Mote : Beware of too llrong a Fire. For this way 
 the Merciiry will leave the Gold untouched, and fly 
 away •, fo as, thence you can have no certain Tryal. 
 1 hcrcfore, in all parts of the Work proceed Warily, 
 and Prudently. The Fixation cf y wilh O is thus 
 made ; 
 
 The Fixation cf the Mcrcury of $ anJ J, into cm 
 Tin£lure. 
 
 ; ^f- So much as you have ready prepared of this our 
 hhrcury impregnated with Gold, although there be no 
 more of it, than half a Loton : For hereto great quan- 
 tity is dpfired. Put it into a fmall Glafs Fhial, which 
 place in hot Sand \ yet take heed, you give no (Ironger 
 Fire, than your Volatile Bird can bear. IhisFireyoii 
 mud continue in a moderate degree for.fome Weeks : 
 For by that means,your Mfcwry will by little and little, 
 be able tobrook'the Fire, adhere to the Gold, and con- 
 vert the fame into Tinfture. Bat if any one, contra- 
 ry to theferiouslnterdiftion of all Philofophets, make 
 too much halte, and perfuade himfelf, he may in a 
 (horter fpace of time acquire the Tinfture \ his Mercury 
 will fly away, and leave the Gold pale behind it i be- 
 caufe the 5 in its flight fubfira(fls the Colour of the O,. 
 and carries it away with it felf. Therefore, in fixing 
 there is need of Patience. Hence all Philofophersadvife, 
 not to be hafty. For Feftination proceeds from the 
 Devil. Wherefore, let every one fo far fludy his own 
 Good, as to be obedient to this Admonition. 
 
 Note : There are alfo other ways , or Methods, of 
 fixing 5 with i but he doth very fooli(hly, who,^ 
 when no neceiTity urgeth, will proflrate all things to- 
 gether and at once, at the feet of Swine. Whomfb- 
 evcr GOD will be pkafed to airi(t, he may triumph 
 in the higheft helpi but whom GOD doth not affift, 
 even the moft plainly prefcribed Method cannot help 
 him. For all our help depends on the divine Blefling. 
 
 Hotv to frove^ whether Mercury be Legitimately pre-, 
 pare J, and whether it can give forth the Tmitun of 
 Metals. 
 
 R. Of the Mercurial Water above defcribed , and 
 mortifie it by a contrary Acidity, as Oyl of Vitriol^ or 
 Spirit of Salt. Then the Mercury will precipitate it felf^ 
 in the form of an Afli-colourcd Powder, which if you 
 edulcorate, and grind with Oyl of Tartar, you will vi- 
 vifie. If any one be minded, he may alfo diftil the 
 fame by Retort, and fo examine it. 
 
 y4 Tryal., or Proof whether the Mercury of Metals ht 
 fo well prepared.^ as of it with may be made a 
 Tmiiure. 
 
 ^. A little of that, viz. the quantity of a Pea, and 
 put it upon a Silver Plate, then over the Fire permit 
 k\\z Mercury Ko be evaporated. If it tinge the Silver 
 well with a purple Colour, it is fit for the Work, o- 
 therwife it will be of no Value. Alfo, this 5 may be 
 digefted with the filings of 0, in a due meafure or 
 proportion mixed, and fo fixed. But this Fixation, 
 as well as the former, require along time, and (b much 
 Patience, as all Feflination muft be laid afide. Who- 
 focver is fo covetous, as he cannot wait till the Fruits 
 arc Ripe \ he would be better advifcd, if he abftained 
 from fo great a Work, than to fet about it to his own 
 
 D D3ma£*, 
 
14- 
 
 Of the ^hrce Principles 
 
 Part III, 
 
 Damage. I have often prepared this Mfrrwry, and put 
 it to be fixed :, but bccaufc I could not look to it my 
 ftlf with my own Eyes, I was confrrained to commit 
 the GovernanLC of the Fire, to the Indulhy of ano- 
 ther, and then it fuccecded unhappily. And when by 
 reafon of my Age, and imbccillity of Body, I was 
 wholly uncapable to take in hand a Work of fo great 
 moment, I communicated the Method to fome of my 
 intimate Friends, with this Condition, viz. that they 
 ftiould elaborate it thcmfelvf s. But becaufe in that Ope- 
 ration, they could not acquire fo much o as they de- 
 flred, they defifted , and would not proceed to the 
 Compleatmcnt of the Work. Hence I was moved ra- 
 ther, by Printing, to divulge fo Royal a Work, than to 
 let it be buried with me: Although I was diflkultly 
 brought to an hearty Aflent, to yeild to the Revelati- 
 on of Arcanum's^ of fo great moment, to this Malig- 
 nant and unfaithful World. 
 
 7$e way of Preparing a tinging Mercury cut cf An- 
 timony. 
 
 Va. Of Antimony, Saltpeter^ 3nA T<»r/ar, of each ife j. 
 Which, firft pulverized and mixed, put into a Cruci- 
 ble, and kindle the Mixture with a Coal i when the 
 Fulmination ceafeth, melt if, and pour it out into a 
 Cone. After it is cooled, feparate the Regnlus from 
 the Scoria's ", which reduce to Powder, and diflblve by 
 boyling in Water. So doing, you will have a Red 
 Lixivium s upon which if you add (about half its 
 own weight of ) Salarmoniack. pulverized, and put the 
 Mixture into a Ghfs Body, (which muft not be above 
 half full, becaufe it rifeth eafily) with it's Head 
 and Receiver well luted, and then fubminifter Fire for 
 DiOillation •, a certain moft fubtile volatile Spirit will 
 afcend, in which the t^of Antinwy is latent: Which, 
 in a Solution of P may be precipitated, edulcorated, 
 dryed,and then proved and fixed, as above we taught 
 of the Mercury of Vitriol. Anumony^dXds much iBore 
 tr, than Vitriol j and it is alfo made more eafily than 
 it •, and therefore to be preferred far before it •, but 
 efpecially , becaufe the Ancient Philofophers did for 
 the moft part ufe this 5 of Antimony, for preparing 
 their Tinfture. 
 
 Note : If any one defire a more excellent of Vitrid, 
 thin That above defcribed by Usi he, inftead of the 
 Lixivium of Amimony., may ufe a Lixivium of Salt of 
 Tartar^ and thence extrad Mercury by the help of Oyl 
 of Vitriol s (o he will have fome thing more excellent, 
 than can be made of a Common Liximum. 
 
 TIh -way of Preparing out of i and 2 a tinging Mer- 
 cury, h ihe help of Refufcitative Salts ottly, with- 
 cut any Corrcfves. 
 
 Among all Refufcitative Salts, Tartar obtains the 
 principal place ;, the next to which is Salt of Vrine., 
 which is no other, than fuch a Volatile 7art3r as paf- 
 fcth into this kind of Salt, from Wine, Beer, Bread 
 and other Foods taken into the humane Body. Almoft 
 of rhe fame kind, is the Soot of Chimneys, being the 
 Volatile Salt of Wood. Alfo a like \'olatile Salt you 
 fhall find in Blood, Hairs, Horns and Hoofs of Ani- 
 mals. Even fo, almoft a like Salarmoniack^ is prepa- 
 red of Blood, Urine ^.nd Soot. In like manner, in 
 Eggftids is infitcd an efficacious Refufcitative Salt. 
 Thefe and the like Sa'(s are endued with a Virtue con- 
 verting Metals into Aicrcury ^ after they are diffolvcd. 
 For volatile Saits arc rot fo eflicacious, as to diflblve 
 Metals : Yet Tartar is endued with fo great rowcr,as 
 
 it can difTolve fome Metals eafie to be diflblved, as S, 
 V and I , and thence may the M(rc»ry be extraded by 
 DilHllation , efpecially if a little Kitchin Salt be added, 
 or ( which is more conducent ) Salarmoniack^, to com- 
 fort it. Alfo inftead of S and ^, common I'itrid on- 
 ly may be ufcd ; and thence Mercnry diftilled by the 
 help of volatile Salts. 
 
 Novj follows the Procefs. 
 
 Kf lb vj. Of Vitriol, to which, dilTolVed in Urine, 
 add of Salarmoniack^ lb j. Crude Tartar iLsij. Salt of 
 Tartar 11, iiij. Diftil from thefe, in a ftrong Glafs 
 Body, a fubtile Mercurial Water i which, according to 
 the Method prefcribed, may be made Corporeal, and 
 with Gold be fixed into a Tini^urc. This way of 
 proceeding is very eafie, and of little Charge ; fo as 
 it will fully fatisfie the defire of thofe, who are con- 
 tented with fo much only, as may be acquired by the 
 benefit of Glafs Bodies. But thofe, whofe greedy de- 
 fire cannot be fatisfied with little , may diflill this 
 Mixture in a Brafs or Copper Vefica, untill they have 
 quantity enough to fuffice them ; Yet w-ith this Cau- 
 tion, that they ufe no Alembick^, or Kefrii^eratory made 
 of Copper, butofLead,or ( which is better) of Tim; 
 and that becaufe our Mercurial Water eafily corrodes 
 the Copper,and thence contrads to it felf a Greennefs : 
 But in 1? or 21 doth not fo. But if any one refufeth 
 to be at the Charge of a Tin Kefrigeratury, he may ufe 
 his Copper VefTels. For although the Spirit corrodes 
 the Copper, and contrads a blewifti Colour, yet this 
 Colour in Rectifying abides in the bottom, and the 
 is nothing the worfe. Indeed,this way a greater quan- 
 tity is acquired, than needs i unlefs the Operator be 
 more greedy than a Wolf. But it is net the part of a 
 good Philofopher, to covet more than is needful. If 
 any one be defirous to prepare an abundance of Mer- 
 curial Water, either by fome fuch way as this, or by 
 another certain Mixture of Salts, him we have now, as 
 it were, led by the hand, through Proceffes more diffi- 
 cult, to proceed in thefe. For Tartar alone will be 
 fufficient for fuch an Ufe. What feek you ? The Feces 
 of Wine burnt will do the fame j fo as the Lover of 
 Art, with almoft no other Trouble and Charge,may ex- 
 traft the Mercury of Metals by Refufcitative Salts. 
 
 Tlje way of Preparing Mercury out of Metals and Mi- 
 verals, by the benefit of Tartar only , without any 
 other Salts, 
 
 Vi . Filings of Steel ft j. Tartar ft ij. Common Wa- 
 ter ft XX. If by ftrong boyling by yilembick^ in Sand, 
 you diftil thence all the Water •, the Tartar in that 
 boyling diflblvcs the $ , and fo will Volatilize the 
 Mercury fet at Liberty, in fuch wife, as it will afcend 
 with the Water, like a fubtile Spirit i which, (concen- 
 trated and made fit by Redification ) either by a So- 
 lution of ^^, or by fome other contrary Acidity, is 
 rendrcd Corporeal , according to the Method above 
 fhewed. If any one, to as much 3 ar/jr as he hath, 
 take half fo much Salarmoniack^^ the Tartar fo much the 
 more readily preys upon the t, alfo much more Mer- 
 cury iflueih thence, than by Tartar oxily. 
 
 Note : But fince this way, in one Diftillation, but 
 little Mercury afcends, fuch an Operation may be per- 
 formed in a large Vefica; yet with this Caution, viz. 
 that the Alemhck, znd Refrigeratory be not made of 
 Copper, but of Tin or Lead. This way of Operating 
 by a Vefwa will be of great ufe, efpecially for fiich co- 
 vetous Men, as cannot be content with few things •, 
 
 but 
 
Part Hi. 
 
 Of <^IETA L S. 
 
 '5 
 
 but always labour with tlic perpetual Poverty of an 
 unfatiable Spirit i although , they more than ri.ffici 
 ently abound with the fulncfs of all dcfreable things, 
 for he ]« only Rich, who is always content with his 
 prcfent fortune. 
 
 7l)e way of Pn^arhg Mercury of Saturn, ly Tar- 
 tar only. 
 
 Rt. One or two i^. of the Rafplngs or Filings of 
 Saturn , upon which pour Hf'tccn, or twenty 11% of 
 flrong Vinegar ot Wine, and mix therewith a little 
 pulverized 7 jrfjr. But the Vincgat per fc fl"ould be im- 
 pregnated with no fmall quantity of lariar. Which 
 T.irt.ir, if you diltil with the Mixture, the Phlegm in 
 Dillillation carries over with it felf a fubtilc Mercu- 
 rial Spirit ■■, which nnuft bcfeparated from the Fhlegm, 
 in manner as we above taught. The Solution ot I. 
 will remain in the bottom. 1 hence alfo, by the help 
 of Salt of 7'/<)-rjr, b may be extradted by Retort ^ yet 
 it is not fogood as the other, which afccnded in the 
 form of a fnbtile Spirk. 
 
 The way of Vrefar'tvg Merciiry of Antitr.ony, hy the 
 help (f Tartar only, 
 
 Vt. Some Pounds of ftrong Antimon'ial Red Lixivi- 
 um^ (made of yintimony duly, decrepitate and melted 
 withTjr/jr and Nitre^ which put into a Glafs Body 
 fet in Sand, as we above taught, in treating of the 
 Fixation of t^ : Afterward, through the Tunnel, Ici- 
 fiirely and at times, pour upon the Liiixiam moft 
 Itrong Wine Vinegar, until both ( viz. the Lixivium 
 and Vinegar ) ccafe to Aft upon each other. This 
 being done, if by Diftillation you feparatc all the Hu- 
 midity, the Sulphureous Spirit of Antimon)\ will afcend 
 in the form of a fubtil Spirit, fmelling like Sulphur : 
 Which after Redification, cither with a Solution of 
 K or o, becomes Corporeal, and fo habile, as it may 
 be converted into a fixed Tindure. 
 
 The Akthod of DifliUing a tinging Mercurial Spirit 
 from Metals another way. 
 
 We above (bewed , that from Metals moft firmly 
 compad, a tinging ^ and ^ could not be extraded, 
 unlefs the Metals be firlt diifolved, or mortified •, and 
 that in fuch Mortification, there is a Spirit fo apt to 
 be affociated, as, in the very hour of Mortification, it 
 lays hold oU and carries up vsith it fcif, the afccnding 
 Spirit, or Soul of Metals. Yet among all, pure Spi- 
 rit of Wine well dephlegmated, I judge beft •■, becaufe 
 in abftradion it carries over with it felf the moft pure 
 $, and 9 of Metals, and leaves the Grofs dead Body 
 behind in the bottom i fo as, fuch Mercury^ as you 
 fliall draw forth in diftilling by Spirit of W'inc, will be 
 much purer, and more Virtuous in Tinging, than the 
 other, which you diftil off by common Water onlyj 
 and that for this "efpecially, viz. bccaufc this Spirit, 
 vphich is extraded by Spirit of Wine, from more 
 pure is rendred moft pure by Redification. Which is 
 a thing impollible to be cffKled, where the Sulphu- 
 reous D of Metals fliall afcend by the help of common 
 Water •, becaufe then the Water only, in Redification, 
 is diftiilcd off, but the ^ remains in the bottom, in 
 form of a Red PoM'dcr : And the other, which is fub- 
 Jimed by Spirit of Wine, and afterward by Redifi- 
 cation fub:ili7ed to an higher degree, apd meliorated in 
 its tinging Virtue, is not only in Medicine^hut alfo in 
 j) the Mv-lioration of Mttals, Gems, and the more igno- 
 
 ble pretious Stones, an hundred fold more cfiicacioufly 
 conduccnt to tinge them to a Conftancy, than the for- 
 mer, which,indi(Hlling,afcends by Water only i and 
 by Redification cannot be exalted, or niultiplyed in 
 its Virtue, fo well as the other, made by Spirit of Wine. 
 That Sulphureous <:■> which afcends by help of Spirit 
 of Wine, is endued with fo fubtil and penetrative 
 Power, as to it in the Veftll is given fuch Ingrefs, by 
 which Metals and Gems are tinged with a more con» 
 ftant and durable Red, or Yellow Colour, than can be 
 annihilated or impaired by any Corrofive Waters, or 
 by the violence of Fire :, efpecially if it be diftilled 
 from apt tinging Subjeds, as the Vitriol of £ and ?, 
 or from Antimony. Of v\'hich I fuppofe enough is 
 now fpoken. 
 
 Therefore, if any one be defirous of knowing more 
 touching this Matter, him ( for his further and more 
 clear Information of the fame) 1 refer to the Seventh 
 ."'art ot our Spagyrick^ Pharmacopcej -^ where he will find, 
 we have prolixly taught, touching the extradion of 
 Tindures, from Red Corals , and other tinging Sub- 
 jeds. 
 
 The way of making good Mercury of Satum and 
 Luna. 
 
 5j. Of 1?, bt D, ft), which, diflblved in ^^ua 
 Fer/i/, precipitate with Salt-water, edulcorate the Calx 
 with Sweet water, and dry it. When dryed, mix with 
 1 it a fourth part of our $ fixed unto Whitenefs. Di- 
 ftil from the Mixture in a coated Retort its 9 with 
 ftrong Fire , which notwithftanding will not be living 
 I t?, but, in the form of a Subliinate, will adhere to the 
 I Neck of the Retort, in weight heavy, and to the Tafte 
 of the Tongue very fharp. Indeed there will not 
 I be fo great a quantity of it, as fome may defire, yet it 
 I is worthy of the higheft Eftimation- For in a Cold 
 Cellar it is eafily diftblvcd, and becomes a ftrong Mer- 
 curial Water, which diflblves all Metals. This Water 
 prepared of 1? joyns it felf ( with an incredible Love ) 
 with the Soul of $ ^ and fuffers it felf to be fixed 
 with it into Tindure j This Water prepared of D 
 readily diflblves Gold, and with it pafleth into Tin- 
 dure. The Reafon, why, I in Diftillation, mix fixed 
 ^ with the I; or 1), is this : Since both thefe Sub- 
 jeds, precipitated, as we above mention with Salt- 
 water, are very fufile and penetrating> eafily melt to- 
 gether into one, and in Diftillation yeild no 0. Not 
 can Sand or Earth prevent this Fluxion. Wherefore, 
 I could find nothing more conducible, than our white 
 fixed Sulphur. 
 
 The way of Preparing Mercury of Jupiter. 
 
 Jupiter gives forth from it felf, a moft excellent 
 Mercury^ in form of a fubtil Spirit ^ which, above alt 
 other Mercuries^ is moft earneftly beloved and attraded 
 by Gold For if but a very fmall quantity of it be put 
 into any Solution of Gold, it in a moment draws to 
 it felf all the Gold from the fl«arp y4qua Regit., and to- 
 gether with it fettles to the bottom,Iike a purple Pow- 
 der. This is the bell Precipitation of , when you 
 ftiall extrad it with Aqua Regis from Sand and Stones : 
 Becaufe, by this Precipitation, the Aqua Regis may be 
 uftd again for extrading v from Sand and Stones, as 
 \ou may more amply read in our Seventh Part of the 
 Profperity of Germany , where we have plainly writ 
 touching this kind of Extradion. But in another man- 
 ner, may be prepared as powerful a Mercurial Watej 
 from all Metals, by the help of my Secret Sal Jrmo.. 
 
1(5 
 
 Of the ^hree Principles 
 
 Part III 
 
 Kijck^, which, by faracelfui and Helmont^ is called the 
 Liquor Alcahep touching which, I have largely trea- 
 ted in the Seventh Part cf n.y S pagyrick^Fharnucof^a^ 
 where he who loves fo great Gitts of G O D, may 
 fatisfie his Appetite to the full. 
 
 BehoU^ 1 p-cfent thee micther way^ hy -whlch^ iintlont 
 any Charge or Exjefife tf Aluney^ you rnay tiifily 
 prepare as much of the FhHofophkk 0, as you -will. 
 
 t would not have you to fuppofe, I hrec infcrt this fo 
 ftinking a Proctfs, to the end you Hiould follow this, 
 rather than the before- mentioned i but I add this, that 
 the common fort cf Men, fimpk and poor, may fee, 
 that they may, by fuch a Method as this, fupprefs their 
 Poverty, and attain to the Acquiljtion of fo noble an 
 univeifal Medicine^ as well as any other of the great 
 and mighty Men of the World, by their ample For- 
 tunes. 
 
 Whofoeveris but a little Skilled in chymi[hy^ well 
 knows, that every $ and o arife from one only Ori- 
 ginal > and that the Sulphur in Herbs, and alfo that in 
 Animals, is of no lefs Virtue, than the other in Me- 
 tals, Fixation only excepted. For as this in Metals is 
 found more fixed than that in Minerals, fo the Mine- 
 ral ^ is more fixed than the Animal, and Vegetable. 
 The fame is to be judged of Mercury. But that we 
 may wander no further, but return again to our Pur- 
 pofe, and clearly prefcribe the Method of Preparing 
 an tt»iverfjl Medicine^ cf Humane Vrine and Dttng^ I 
 will very briefly difcover the Procefs in thefe follow- 
 ing Words. 
 
 Bj. A good quantity of humane Dung and Urine, 
 colleded in foiTie capacious VcfTcl, and C after they 
 have flood together about a Month , and when the 
 Salt fliatl be exadlly united with the Sulphur ^zu^ Mer- 
 cury by Fermentation ) from thence, by an Akmbkk^ in 
 Bahieo^ diftil the Mercurial Sulphureous Spirit v which 
 indeed will be very fubtil, but fmell ftrong. Yet af- 
 ter Redification, as we have taught, it may be con- 
 joyned with a Solution of Gold, and, by moderate 
 heat, be gradually fixed into an univerfal Medicine^ for 
 Humane and Metallick Bodies. 
 
 TSlote : The aforefaid Stink vaniflieth fo foon as the 
 'A(]ua Regis hath Accefs. Wherefore, thofe Philofo- 
 phers, who have laboured in Matters of evil andlirong 
 Smells, did always fpeak of fuftbcating their venc- 
 mous Dragon in Stygian Waters. But among all Phi- 
 lofophers, that ever I read, I find no Man more eic- 
 ccllently to have writ, touching this matter, than the 
 Thilofopher Nfufementittt^ in a certain fmall Treatife of 
 his 1 intituled, Of the Salt and Spirit of the Iforld v 
 where he fo explains the Table oi Hermes, as he ren- 
 ders it mofi: worthy to be Read i bccaufe he hath fo very 
 prolixly, and largely, with cxquifit ftudy and diligence, 
 explained all things whatfoever, the laudable Hermes, 
 in very few Words, left to Polterity in his Smaragdine 
 Table. 
 
 A C0%0LLAR7. 
 
 A Lthouph I have, in this fmall Tradt, fo largely 
 j\. and clearly treated of Preparing the Mercury ot 
 Philofophers, as it fcems altogether needlefs to trou- 
 ble the Reader, with a further Paraphrafe i lince from 
 him, I have not concealed any Methods of manual 
 
 Operation, but have fo revealed all things ncccfTary 
 to be known, as he ( who, only feeking the bare Let- 
 ter of the prefciibed Method, knows not how to ela- 
 borate his own intended Work ) may rather be ac- 
 counted a Man of a dull Capacity, than a Chymical 
 Operator: Yet lince unto all infatiable Sons of Avarice, 
 according to this my Dfecription. there feems to be 
 too fmall a part of M(rcitr\' exrraded, I (for the fake 
 of thofe alfo ) will demonlirate yet another Method, 
 by which they may obtain a larger quantity of good 
 tinging 5, than from Metals can be gained. But firll 
 it is required, that every one, who will exercife him- 
 felf in this kind of Labour, fliould fhew himfclf a di- 
 ligent Operator, fnunning no Pains; Know, that Vul- 
 gar AUnury may eafily be fo prepared by Art, as to 
 be as much conducent for Tinging, as the Mercury 
 of Metals. Yet they muft firfl procure Tindure to 
 it, by tinging Metalsi as by <? , V and Antimony. For, 
 of its own proper Nature, it hath no Tindture at all 
 in it felt j but it muft neceffarily receive the fame 
 from other Metals, (in which GOD and Nature co- 
 operating have infited it) before it, can exercife 
 the Power and Faculty of Tinging. But which way 
 fuch a Tindture may commodioufly be taken^and acqui- 
 red from certain Stones tinged byNature,or from certain 
 Metallick, and Mineral Subjeds, hath been by me, in 
 various places of my Writings, fo frequently mentio- 
 ned, as I judge it not neceffary to Difcourfe further 
 thereabout in this place. But here, I will freely ex- 
 pofe to publick view the way of Preparing vulgar § 
 fo, as it may be able to cxtradt Tin(2ures from Me- 
 tals, Minerals and Stones. 
 
 R. Common Mercury ftj. Which as fbon as you 
 have diffolved in Aqm Fortis^ mortifie the Aqua For- ■ 
 tis by pouring nn Spirit of Vrine, and when you 
 fliall by'Rctort, in hot Sand, have abfUadi^ed thence 
 all the unprofitable Water, and adminiflred aflronger 
 Fire, the Mercury will fublime it fclf in the Neck of 
 the Retort, white in Colour, but difcovering no An- 
 gular Acrimony upon the Tongue. Such a fublimate 
 as this, is eafily diffolved by help of common Water. 
 This Adercurial Water is endued with a power of 
 cxtrading Tinrtures from Metals, Gems, and other 
 more ignoble Stones. In which very Work, even 
 Proflrpina, the Wife of Pluto., will fcarce elaborate any 
 thing more excellent : Therefore, when this 5 hath 
 drawn fo much Blood from the Ked Lyon, as it no 
 longer remains white, but become^ totally Red ^ then 
 indeed it hath acquired the Melioration of one higher 
 degree ; but as yet, it is able to work no Miracles in 
 Tinging. Now, that it may be exalted to fo great 
 Perfei.'lion, as to be admirably efficacious in Tranfmu- 
 tation ■, this Red Mercury mufi again be vivified, and 
 again ( as we taught above) mortified i and if this 
 Labour be repeated feven, nine, or twelve times, it 
 will be fufficiently impregnated with Tindure. This 
 being done, you have nothing clfe fo do, but to fix 
 this tinging Mercury into a fufile Red Stone, which 
 will thenceforth perform the fame (yea perhaps more ) 
 in theTranfmutation of Metals, than the Mercury of 
 Metals it felf. 
 
 Although, I have here revealed the Melioration of 
 common Mercury ; yet, I am fully per("uaded,ino Man 
 will readily fet himfelf about its Preparation, nor ad- 
 venture, by Tryal, to experience the truth ot this. 
 For com.monly, every good thing is difeiteemcd, if it 
 want external Splendor. Some years ago, I did car- 
 neflly, and highly commend to fotne of niy melt loving 
 Friends, the Exaltation of common Mtrcury , yet no 
 one of them took fo much notice thereof, as ever to 
 
 fet 
 
Part III. 
 
 Of ^dETALS. 
 
 17 
 
 fit his hand to the Work. Wherefore no Man needs 
 to fear, that Art will be made too common, although 
 1 had publifiicd the fame , dcfcribed even with a 
 CoLr Ray. Indeed, I intcr.dtd to have divulged 
 more, touching fuch fublimate Mercury^ as may be 
 diiTolveil with common Water, viz. how many other 
 lamous Works may be performed with it, befidcsthe 
 Tranfmutatinn of Metals :, but for brevity fake, I here 
 dcfill at preftnt: Yet after a little while, (if GOD 
 
 permit ) I will elfewhere treat of the fame. In the 
 mean time, let the loving Reader kindly accept of 
 thefe : For hence he may beaffurcd of the poffibility 
 of exalting common 5 Co far, as to be equal in Vir- 
 tue to the Mercury of Metals : In which AfRrtion 
 every ftudious Artift may fafely confide, and perfuade 
 himfclf, that 1 here give no other Teftimony, than 
 I have learned by my own Experience often- 
 times. 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Salt of PHILOSOPHERS, 
 
 How, and ^vhence^ That is Trepared, and of li^hat ufe It is in Medicine 
 and Chymiliry, 
 
 THofe our venerable Anceftors, the ancient 
 PhiloTophers, have indeed copioully writ- 
 ten many things , touching this Third 
 Part of the Principle of Metals, viz. Salt: 
 Yet fo very obfcurcly, as it is almoft impolllble for 
 a Man to learn thence, Fundamentally, any thing of 
 moment : Yea, I might fay, it hath happened to 
 very few -, to know how , to prepare the Salt of 
 Thilifipherj , but on the contrary, fix hundred have 
 ruined themfelves , and loft all their Fortunes in la- 
 bouring thereabout After, I alfo had, for fome years 
 together, expended great Labour and Coit , belidts 
 what I fpent in acquiring both the other Principles, 
 ziz. Sulpbw and Mtrcurvj ( which were underllood by 
 me, about two years fince ) it plcafed the moft wife 
 G O D at length, alfb to reveal to me this moft fa- 
 mous Salt. Wherefore, I could not refrain from com- 
 municating fome thing of it to Pofterity,for the Glory 
 of my GOD, and for divulging his wonderous 
 Works, not doubting, but that this my Revelation 
 may be of great Concern , to open the Eyes of this 
 blind World. Becaufe, they may be helped by fuch 
 a Salt, of which, fo incredible Works may be prepa- 
 red, as I am now about to write, and are already 
 fufficiently known to me. 
 
 I can unto every Man fafely, furely and truly affirm, 
 that whatfoever I here write, are not the idle Dreams 
 of a vain Man , nor patched together out of other 
 Books, but true and folid Experiments, which 1 my 
 felf,with the help of thefe my hands, have found out. 
 Indeed, I do not here fay, that I could give no cre- 
 dit at all to him, who no long time before difcovered 
 fomeching to me , touching fuch Arc.inn/n''s i but I 
 thought his Words intimated Paradoxts and Impoiri- 
 bilities i although I had read Fliilofcphcrs, who wjit : 
 he that bath //'.- S^ilt of M-.tjIs^ baih the Stone of Vbi- 
 lofipherf. I alfo well know, that the Salts of A'letah^ 
 according as they been hitherto every where frau 
 dulently prefcntcd by Fftudj-Chymifis., having no folid 
 Foundation, do not indeed deferve the name of Salts, 
 being no otiier, than fuch Ziiriolt ^ as by the fliarp 
 Spirits of Salts., are prepared of Metals i and are rot 
 at all trticacions to meliorate any of the more vile 
 Metals. On the contrary , we certainly know, th*t 
 
 our more true Salts do fo amend all imperfed Me- 
 tals, as great and gainful Fruit may be reaped thence, 
 as by the following fliall be clearly made appear. But 
 before we write any thing of the Ufe, of this Royal 
 Salt, it will be worth while to premifc fomething 
 briefly,and truly, touching the Preparation of the fame. 
 
 Of the Preparation of the Salt of Philofophers. 
 
 Now, that I may, without any wandring Ambages, 
 defcribe the Method of Preparing this 3»lt, which is 
 incomparable and Royal, know in very deed, that 
 this Salt is no other, than common (but rightly pre- 
 pared ) Oyl of yitrio!. Coagulated by white fufible 
 Sulphur into a fweet Salt, which impreJleth not on 
 the Tongue, the leaft Saline favour i but rather feems 
 to be a Stone than Salt, although fufible, like any other 
 liquid Salt. But how that Oyl of Vitriol, or Univer- 
 fal Acidity, may be changed into fuch a wonderful 
 Stone, not Corrofive, I purpofe not to divulge. It 
 is enough for me pofitivcly to affirm, it may be done. 
 
 Whofoever defircs to know more of it, let him im- 
 plore the help of GOD, and perufe the Writings of 
 Philofophers, that if he be worthy of this divine Gift, 
 he may be helped ; if he be not worthy , I cannot 
 help him. For as I acquired that, not without pray- 
 ing and reeking i foalfo, mufl; every other Man refolve 
 to do : Becaufe, no Man fliall ever get more out of 
 me, than what 1 here have willingly difcovered for 
 publick Good. Now follows 
 
 72e incredihle Virtue and Efficacy, which this wonder- 
 ful Salt maviffis in Preparation of 77?tSlures, for 
 exaliing all Metals and Minerals to the perfetlion 
 of Gold. 
 
 Although it is before faid, that Salt, or the Stone 
 of Philofophers, is only prepared of Acid Vitricl; yet 
 I thought it ncceffary alfo, here to publilh, that Oyl 
 of Vitriol a\3y be prepared divers ways,fo as one oraH- 
 other may prepare it this way or that way, as he plea- 
 fcth. for the common and vulgarly known Oyl of 
 Vitriol, fuifcrs it felf (by the help of Sulphur) to be 
 tafily tranfniHted into a Sweet Stone : Becaufe Sul- 
 
 E /^"'■j 
 
i8 
 
 Of the 'Three Principles 
 
 art 
 
 TTT 
 111. 
 
 .phiir alone is endued with Power of edulcorating all 
 Corrofives, and of Coaf^ulating them into fuch a 
 Stone, or Salt, by the btnefic of which, \^ ondcrs may 
 be done, both in Medicine and /.IJiymy. Fhilcfophers 
 do indeed pcrfuade us, that, out of Vitriol^ an Oyl of 
 a Blood- Red-Colour may be cxtradcd by Art, with 
 which, White Metals may be tinged into Red ; tut 
 the way of Preparing this, they defcribed rot. 
 This is that, which is moft ftudiouily fought by the 
 Adorers of the Chymical Art, but hath hitherto been 
 found by very few i and therefore is generally thought, 
 by almoft all Inquilitors, to be impoifible, whatfoever 
 Pliilofophers have wiit thereabout, and how clearly, 
 and plainly foever defcribed it. Bjfil Valentine doth, 
 with Pjj-jcf//«/, call this our Oyl of Vitriol tinged with 
 a Red Colour, the Blood of the Green Lyon ^ but ^rJ- 
 cf/;//, the Wood, or Tree of Life j ^''r?//, a Bough, 
 or Branch, plucked by rrcfirpina's help from the concea- 
 led Tree : Alfo, Ovid ufcth divers other Exprellions, 
 in the Defcription of this Tindure. 
 
 This Red Oyl fuffersit ftif to be Coagulated into a 
 Stone, not Corrofive, as well as the Common Oyl : But 
 this Coagulate is totally Red, and the other is White 
 Only. Therefore, there is a neceffity, that the diffe- 
 rence of both be known. For of beth thcfe, what the 
 White is able to do, the Red cannot do j and what the 
 Red can cffcd, is itrpoffible to be performed by the 
 "White. That Red Oyl tingeth white Mctallick Bo- 
 dies into Gold, and fo tingeth white Chryflals into 
 Gems of all kind of Colours, ( according to the Ope- 
 rators Fleafure) as, in Elegancy, they become alto- 
 gether like to the Native. But the White tingeth not, 
 becaufe it fclf wantcth Tinflure, which notwithftan- 
 ding may be procured to it ; Yet it extrads the Tin- 
 ftures from all precious, and more ignoble Stones, and 
 by thein is fo tinged, as it is, thenceforth able to tinge 
 white Metals into Gold, and white ChryftalinJo beau- 
 tiful Stones of every Colour, and that with as excellent 
 Splendor, as their Brother, the Ruby, enjoys. In a 
 Word, our Salt of Metals, or Stone of Philofophers 
 alone, and per fe^ is fo great a particular Ruler through- 
 out the whole Kingdom of C/yi)»;7?ry,as, by amending,it 
 tranfmutcs all imperfed Metals into Gold, and com- 
 mon Stone- into precious : Yet unto it, is denied In- 
 .grels into Vulgar S*. But the fixed § of Metals will 
 abundantly perform that j as is before abovemen- 
 tioned. Now, as touching this Mercury, which thofe 
 imperfe(ft Metals, viz. 1; ^ £ and ?, contain in them 
 felves, our Sulphur is fo Very fit for tinging that, as, for 
 that purpofe, there is no need of other help. There- 
 fore it is moft certain, that the Salt of Metals obtains 
 Priority in the Chyn ical Ljbort.tory. One thing I am 
 freely willing to difcover, viz. this : If any one would 
 take away the fixed Tin(Sure, or tinging Soul from 
 precious Stones, as Graitales, Kubiej., S.tphires, Lazure 
 Stones, and other common Stones, and add to them 
 alfo, a fmali part of pure Silver, our Magnetick Salt 
 will extradt the Tincfturc from the Stone, and at the 
 fame moment, in whivh it extradts the fame, incorpo- 
 rate the abided Silver, vvith the Tinflurc, and tinge 
 tiic fame into Gold : So, as it will atletl a Man with 
 admiration to fee, that in one and the fame Subjtd, 
 fliould be both an attia.live and expullive Virtue. 
 Perhaps hence, that mod ancient Philofopher Pythago- 
 TJ! dreiv his Opinion, for he believed fuch a Tranf- 
 migration,and taugl t,tiiat the Soul, as foon as it parted 
 out of the n:ortal Body of Man, it entred into feme 
 other near adjoyiiingSub)e(il,;ind there intiabit'd. Indeed 
 they, that labour in Metals and Stones, do find fuch 
 aProctfs i but with the Soul breathing out of the Bo- 
 
 dy of Man, tiie matter is far otherwife. For I, ere 
 Bodies are not required , but Spirits, which at the 
 hour of Death receive the Souls of dying Men, and 
 convey them to PIace=- bv GOD appointed. Accor- 
 ding as the Man hath lived, either Well or 111, fb 
 thofe Spirits will aft at the end of Life, each accor- 
 ding to their Office :, fo as, the Souls of pious Men 
 fhall be received by Spirits of Light \ but impious 
 Souls, by the Spirits of infernal darknefs. In the 
 Mortification of Metals and N-linerals, Philofophers 
 alfo want not their peculiar Spirits, which receive 
 and tranfpott the flying Souls of Metals and Mine- 
 rals. Touching which Tranfportation of Souls, we 
 ^ r made fome mention above , where we 
 dnfinri' ttcatcd of thc Fixation of Metals. Alfo 
 this Traduclion was highly efteemcd 
 by ancient Philofophers, efpecially by Neujimentitts., 
 who faid : By this Power, viz. By th: Spirit and Salt 
 of the IVcrld., tvc deliver the Souls of the Dead front 
 the Prifiin of Hell. Therefore, whofoevcr (hall be well 
 Skilled in this kind of operating, he will be able to 
 do wonders in this Chymical Kingdom of Metals. 
 For if you add the Spirit and Salt of the World to 
 any Metal diffolved, and by Retort dillil the Mixture, 
 they will carry over with themfelves, the mod pure 
 part of the Metal, viz- its tinging Soul, and leave no- 
 thing behind in Hell with Pluto, but the grofs and 
 unprofitable Body. Wherefore, whofoever can^right- 
 ly feparate that tranfduced tinging Spirit of Metals, 
 from the Spirit of the World , he will abfolutely be 
 poffeffed of a fixed Tinfture : Becaufe, that ftrong 
 tranfporting Spirit doth alfo fix the volatile Soul of 
 Metals, and render it conftant in Fire. And, although 
 that Suhjed was rcoft volatile, from which the Tin- 
 dture was diftilled by the Salt of theW'orld, as by one 
 only Diflillation from common Sulphur, Auripigment^ 
 Cimiabarine Sulphur, and thc like i yet you will ac- 
 quire a Tindture , conftant in all Fire , not only for 
 Humane and Metallick Bodies, but alfo for Gems; 
 So very potent Virtue is latent, in thefe sb)tCt Sub- 
 jedls, and in the Spirit and Salt of the World, rejedl- 
 ed by the great Troop of proud Men. But the Me- 
 thod of ufing fuch Pearls legitimately, for the Tranf- 
 dudion of Metals, had need to be Sealed up with the 
 Seal of the laudable Philofopher Hirpnrratei., left fo 
 great a Treafure be caft under the Feet ot fordid 
 Swine. Touching a like Compendium of fixing Vo- 
 latile Metals, and Minerals, we (GOD willing) 
 purpofe hereafter to teach more at large. 
 
 Now, we having generally underftood, what oujf 
 Salt of Philofophers is able to perform in the Tranf- 
 mutation of Metals, I judge it not amifs, to difcover ; 
 how great, profitable and powerful Faculties, it is alfo 
 endued with, even befides the Tranfmutation of Me- 
 tals. But here, by the way it is to be underftood, that 
 our Salt of Philofophers is infignized vvith many other 
 Names , which ancient Philofophers impofed on it, 
 not without pregnant Reafons. For, according as they 
 beheld the various Wonders they were able to per- 
 form by the help of that i fo they alfo gave Names 
 unto it i fomeCimeSjthey called it the Soap of the U'ife ^ 
 another time, Hercules . or the Herculean Key \ fome- 
 tiinesi the Key of the Philofophers; Sec. and all this bf 
 reafon of its exceeding great Potency and Virtuc,where- 
 by it always rendred it fclf worthy of one or other 
 of thcfe Names. IFhy did they call it., the Sn.tr> of the 
 JVife .<■ Becaufe it renders thofe Metallick Bodies , 
 which are uafhed with it, moft purely white. Indeed 
 Waflier women have their Soap made of Oyl and 
 Lixivtum^ with which they wafh filthy Garments unto 
 
 White- 
 
Part III. 
 
 Of ^1 E TA L S. 
 
 Whitcncfs. LfJther-Dref rs ufc a kind of Soap to 
 clcanfe their Skins from all In purities. Alfo. t idltrs 
 have their cicanliiig F.arth, with which they well know, 
 how to puritic their fullitd Cloaths. Nor do Afuthr- 
 cciries life their Herbs for Medicaments, before they 
 have waflicd tiitm in clean Water. So alfo, common 
 Chymiits lb long wafli impure Metals , by dulciried 
 Corrolives, til! they pafs ir.to ■ and J\ But moli ex- 
 perienced Philofophers wafli Gold , until it becomes 
 Tindure. Hence is that Kind of Soap, which they 
 ufc for washing, called the Sojpef th.- lyiff. 
 
 i.ut fome may objed, faying : I contradidt my felf > 
 bccaufe a liitle before, I faid Gold and Silver were 
 Homogeneal.anddid not at all participate ot Hetcrogc- 
 niety. To whom I anfwer. I confefs, I did fay fo, yet 
 1 would be nnderllood, to fpeak fo with reference to 
 thofc common and known \\ a ters, with which, other- 
 wife ChymiOs do generally work upon their Metals, 
 difTolve them, feparate them one from another, and 
 wafh them. Becaufe on Gold and Silver no change 
 fails, but they always remain in one and the farce 
 Eflence , according as they are progcnited by Na 
 ture, therefore, I faid fo. And the Reafon, why it 
 is thus, is, bcczuCe Aqua Kegis^ vi(^«:.' Foriw, Spirit of 
 ^iiriol, or other Corrofive Waters, are not irue Kfys, 
 -endued with the Virtue of penetrating into the heart of 
 Gold, or of opening the n.oft firm Clofure cf the 
 King. For although they do very much corrode Me- 
 tals, and diflblve them, yet every Metal renains in 
 its Eflence, without any Separation of parts. But on ; 
 the contrary, our Mctt/fruum is a fvveet Key, far more 
 conducible , and better than Corrofive Spirits , and 
 therefore, by Philofophers is r.ot undefervedly called, 
 the Key of Ihilofophcrs. For there is nothing fo clo- 
 fed, but this can open it. Our Koyjl or Capital Key 
 is a Corporeal Spirit^ or a Spiritual Body, which, with- 
 out any injury to it felf, pafleth not only through Me- 
 tals, but alfo thiough the hardeft Gems, and extrads 
 the fixed Tindlure of them, leaving their Bodies 
 white > which exceeded my comprehenfion, the firft 
 lime I beheld it with my Eyes. 
 
 Therefore* as this Spirit is endued with Power of 
 extrading Tindure , even from any of the hardeft 
 adamantine StoncS:, fo, it is alfo able to introduce 
 Tindures into the m.oft hard Stones^ and that by rea 
 fon of its penetrative Power. Our principal Key is 
 that HercuUty which cut off the fcven Heads of the 
 immenfe H)idra. By fuch an Herculean fortitude, Per- 
 jeusy the Son of beautiful Vanae, fuffocated the ftrong 
 unfatiable Whale or Sea Beaft, and freed fair yindro- 
 meda, whom he took to Wife. Whofoever dcfircs to 
 know more of thefc, let him perufe Ovid^ in whofe 
 Mctamorphofis he may find our Key of Philofophers 
 accurately defcribed. Yet his Words can be underllood 
 only by thofe , to whom the Art is already known : 
 Otherwife, it will be imipollible, from Fables, to extradl 
 the fuflncient knowledge thereof. It is GOD only, 
 that gives light to undcrftand ablhufe things v namely, 
 to thofe, who fear, love and adore him : More of 
 which, you may find among pious Heathens, than a- 
 mong the Slanderous Malignant, falfe, Chriftians of 
 this time. 
 
 This Fable of OwV, I explained before fome of my 
 intimate Friends ;, and belldcs, before them fliewed 
 the Impregnation of T>a>ije^ byjupiters Golden Sboreer : 
 Yet they gave no credit to this Demonftration, be- 
 caufe the thing feemcd (b vile. V\'ould you hear it ? 
 I fet a narrow-mouthed Glafs Body, with a flat bot- 
 tom, upon a Table, and from above through the fmall 
 mouthj I poured Pauae-, King ^-iaif.ut his beautiful 
 
 19 
 
 Daughter, ir.to the Glafs or Tower \ tljcn, by the 
 Cour.fel and hcip of Joi'.'-, I formed a Golden fiiowcr, 
 which (through the Rnof that is, through tlic fmall 
 mouth of the Glafs ) I in/tillcd down, into the B-ifoin 
 oi the aforefaid Var.ae ^ which flic fpontancouily re- 
 ceived, and was thereby impregnated, and quickly 
 brought forth her Son Perf-us ^ who afterward, car- 
 ried upon the winged Horfe Fegafus^ fuddcniy helped 
 the fair u-^/idmoieda. and, freeing her from the faws of 
 ; the Sea Mcrliir, trek her to \\ ife. Afterward, he flev/ 
 I the liiong and unconqucrcd Gorgons, and got the 
 t Golden Gardens. If any one looks upon 
 this Fable, with the right Eye of his under- t ^.''''* 
 ftanding, he will find, that C: iJ hath fo clear- '^ "'^' 
 ly and perfpicuoufly defcribed our Hercules, or Fhi- 
 i lofophcrs Key o[ Keys\ that every one, leaving know- 
 j ledge of our Work, in reading this muit ncccffarily 
 j be amazed, to fee the whole Art fo evidently detecl- 
 ^ cd, and as it were expofed to fight. But its being 
 Idifcerned and underHood by fo few, m.uft be afcribed 
 to the defect of their internal Siglit, and the darknefs 
 of their Sins, in which they have involved themf-Ives, 
 and are ftill refolved to abide in. Therefore GOD, 
 according to his Ji.i(iice,dcfervcdly permits fuch Slaves 
 of Avarice and Pride to fiick in perpetual Blindnefs, 
 to grt pe for, and in vain fcek, the way of efcaping 
 fhofc Evils. For here, the hard is Softned, the foft 
 is Hardned, the fixed Volatilized, the Volatile fixed, 
 the Bitter Corrofive dulcified , but the fweet Con- 
 verted into a Key, opening all compad Enclofures. 
 More touching fo great a A.yftery, I fhall not at this 
 time relate. But,to whomfoever GOD (ball grant this 
 principal Univerfal Key, he n ay, according to his Hearts 
 defire, go whither he will, nothing can be able to re- 
 fifi him : For which fo great h'enefic we owe thanks 
 and Praife to the m.oll wife GOD, for ever, Amen. 
 
 Alfo Virgil, in a few Heroick Hoards ^ evidently e- 
 nough defcribes the way of preparing our Red Oyl 
 oi Vitriol. Therefore I thought it worth while to in- 
 fert his Words alfo, that he, to whom GOD (hall 
 give the BlelFing, may the better underftand the occult 
 meaning of the Poet. 
 
 Confidcr firii^n'hat hire is to he done. 
 
 A Golden Branch, tviih Leaves of Gold thtreon^ 
 
 Vpon a Tree concealed gmwelh. Ibis 
 
 lo the infernal Juno facred if : 
 
 But the rrhole Grove^ n>iih d'fnal fhades of Nighty 
 
 Objcure and l^eep the fame from Humane f^ght. 
 
 And till fume one (hall take deppn from the 'free 
 
 Ihii Golden Branch, thtre can no Entrance be 
 
 Into Earths Caverns. Beauteous Proferpine 
 
 Ordained hath, that this rare Gift divine 
 
 Shall broHg^ht be unto her. No foomr ii 
 
 Thefirji Branch cropt, but in the place cf thli 
 
 A fecond Sprouts, and that moli pure and fine, 
 
 As did the firji, xoitb Golden leaves willfhine. 
 
 Therefore firii vistv it vocUs when rightly hnoxvn 
 
 Thu Branch ii unto Thee, th;n tvitb thy own 
 
 Hand crop the fame : For it trill foUatv Ibee., 
 
 If Ihoii by Fates /iT tha IP'orl{_chofen be. 
 
 If othermfe., no Humane violence, 
 
 Nor \irength of Iron, face it can from thence. 
 
 rir^;/ here calls F/>w.', a concealed, that is, a(hadow- 
 ed Tree j adding, that by the help of Vroferpina, Flu- 
 ti>'s Wife, but one Branch can be cropped by him, 
 whom Fortune (hall tjvour ; and that it is willing to 
 be plucked off byjany Skilful Man delirous of the fame. 
 Such a Branch 15 coul'ccratcd to Juno-, occ. We knovjr 
 
 Jtfnj 
 
20 
 
 Of the n^hree Prmciplcs 
 
 Part IIL 
 
 great hardnefs, as although it may eafily be reduced 
 to f owdcr, yet it can never be corroded even by the 
 (harpeft Jqua FortU^ nor diflTolvcd, nor can it be A- 
 natomizcd. Wherefore , although thcfe Ccrrolives, 
 vulgarly known , prevail not againft this txccllenc 
 Stone, (which vilibly in it fclf contains a noble Tin- 
 dure ofCold,and alfo is not a little impregnated with 
 invilible Corporeal Gold , as plainly appears by its 
 weight: For it is much more ponderous than all other 
 precious Stones, or the more vile fmall S'ones) but 
 are judged as unprofitable lor this kind of Labour j 
 yet our Swset Salt poffeffeth fo potent a Faculty, as it 
 can calily open the fame and take from it all its 
 Treafurei in fo much, as if there were but this only 
 ufe of it, ( and no other like, better or more excellent 
 were known) it would abundantly fatisfie every ho- 
 neft Man, to live amply therewith, and to maintain 
 his Family with great franquillity. 
 
 Behold 1 prefent to yott, ytt another Koycl Experiment^ 
 rvbich I have not long fmce ejfeSed^ by the help of 
 our Red Stone, in the following manner. 
 
 One day Icaft our Red Stone upon Gold, in Flux, 
 only for a Tryal, whether by the help ol that, tha 
 Gold would be tinged with an higher Colour ^ be- 
 caufe I found, that Silver had took a yellow Colour 
 from the fame. But after I had poured out the Mix- 
 ture, I found what was contrary to irjy Hope. For 
 it was fo far from exalting my Gold in Colour,ason the 
 contrary, it took from the fame almcft all its Colour, 
 fo as it was white like Silver. At fiift, I was not a 
 little troubled , that, contrary to my Expeftation, I 
 fliould work fo unhappily. But returning to ny felf, 
 1 begun to think, whether this my Red Stone ( be- 
 ing, perhaps made of Steel) was not that CAj/)i^/, [or 
 Steel 3 which Sandivo^iut fo highly extolled in his 
 Writings, and faid,it could extrad from Gold its Tin- 
 dure. But fince, by reafon of other Bufinefs interve- 
 ning, I had no leifure to proced further in the Work 
 begun, I was conftrair.ed to leave the whole for fome 
 higher Experience to another time. Yet 1 cannot but 
 wonder, that our Key of Keys ttiould fo readily un- 
 a fweet Ripening Stone. Therefore they add, that i lock every Clofure of Gold, and be able to fpoil it of 
 before Coagulation it is Fire, but after Coagulation i its Royal Soul .' Whereas othcrwife. Gold according 
 rot fo. Aptly with this agrees that Writing of an- ; to the Sayings of all Philofophers, ( as in very deed it is 
 cicnt Philofophers. Vtfitabis Interiors lerr£ , ReCiifi- true) and according to the common Opinion of 
 cando lnvenia Occultttm Lapidem Veram Medtanam. all other Men, experienced in Chymical Labours, is ac- 
 To which Monument of ancient Philofophers , we counted to confilt of fuch Homogeneal parts, as are 
 may fitly fubjoyn this futable Poelie, making for our , difficultly fcparablc. If the moft wife GOD prolong 
 prefent Purpofe, and exprtffing the fame in few 'my Life ^ and^alfo grant Time and Opportunity of ma- 
 Words. 
 
 Jitm, according to Poetical Fidions was the Wife and 
 Silkrof Jupiter, but Pnfrpina the Daughter of Jupi- 
 ff"- and Ceret, or (as foine fay) of /M, whom ['It'o 
 the God of Hell liole away from her Parents and mar- 
 ried her. From all which it clearly appeareth, that this 
 Golden Branch fprouting in the green Tree of Fi/m/, 
 could not be cropped, or obtained without Prnferpina s 
 help. Therefore if any one would crop fuch Golden 
 Boughs from like fliacowed Trees, he muli learn to 
 know Proferpinj, and confult with her :, becaufe flie 
 only can profit him, and prevail with her Husband, to 
 vax the more hot in his infernal Sweating ftove , that 
 thence into another place may afcend a Spirit or Oyl 
 of a B'ood Red- Colour. 
 
 Edt this is to be confidered accurately , left this 
 Work, Ike n any other of our Undertakings , be 
 fruftratcd. Therefore GOD is to be prayed to for 
 his BIciVmg: for if the Bcnedidion of G O D be not 
 prefent, all endeavour will be vain i as 1 have more 
 than once experienced. Although 1 did demonflrate 
 our lulpcr I'ruf'rp/nj, to fome of my loving Friends, 
 and taught them how to obtain and rightly ufe her ^ 
 yet they were all dcfiitute of fo good F« rtune, as to ela- 
 borate it as it (hould be elaborated : Yet at length more 
 accurately hitting the Mark, their work fucceeded l)ap- 
 pily twice or thrice, but never afterward. 
 
 From which, being fo evident, it is plain enough, 
 that fuch Jrcanuni's are fopreferved by the All-feeing 
 Eye of the Divine Providence, as it is never permitted 
 to all Operators promifcuoufly , that every of them 
 fh.ould attain to the highcft Science, and thenceforth 
 the Good given be pernicioufly abufed. Wherefore, 
 although one Man communicate any famous Secret to 
 another i yet, if G O D be not favourable, he can ne- 
 ver prepare the fame, but fhail lofe his Labour and 
 Charges, fpend his time unproHtably, and inflead of a 
 Golden Harveft, reap nothing but Trouble and Grief 
 
 Hence they drew their Original, who writ of the 
 Secret ripening Fire. Our Fire, bef re Coagulation, al- 
 Tvays burn! in our Glafs, but externally not. It is fuffir 
 ciently manifeft, that Philofophers, by their Secret Fire, 
 underltood Oyl oH'nriol, and that their Fire, is only 
 Fire before Coagulation •, after that, no more fo, but 
 
 ViJJohe the Fixt, and mahe the Fixfd fly, 
 lbs Flying fix, iind then live happily. 
 
 Tn thcfe few Words are compendioufly contained, 
 all whatfbever I have largely written in this Treatife. 
 
 Mojcovcr, our Salt of Philofophers, belidcs its be- 
 ing a A'/edi.:ine, and fit for Tranfmutation of AUtals, is 
 alfu endued with other famous Virtues, of which at 
 this time 1 cai:not forbear to write. Philofophers have 
 written, that their Key of Key? doth indifferently 
 opui all duftd Bodies, and that it is endued with a 
 Virtue , breaking moll hard and Adamantine Stones, 
 and taking from them their inclofed Treafure ^ for 
 acquirinj^ vvh ch, there is nothing at all in the whole 
 Nature of things given, except this our Key, by help 
 of whi.h the ir.olt firmly Icckcd Inclofure may be un- 
 locked. As lor ExaiT.ple. A Grj«j/f is a Stone of fo 
 
 king further Tryal, I will fpare no Labour or Cofi to 
 find out that Arcanum, until by the gracious help of 
 GO D'S aiTiHance, I fliall becoine the Mafter of that 
 Art of Arts. For now unto me the Gate of the Royal 
 Clofet is opened (I would not be envied for what I 
 now fay ) by our Herculean Key in fuch a manner, 
 as, I doubt not, but in afhort time ( unlefs the fu- 
 pream Deity, whic'i I have no caufe to fear, notably 
 refift ire ) to obtain the Kings Cro'vn made of a Car- 
 bunc'e, and be able to diliribute the fame among the 
 needy, to relieve their nccelfity. To which my hope, 
 let the moll wife GOD give a BlclTing, fo, as the 
 Event may anfwer my Dc fires, A>y:en. 
 
 Moreover, Philofophers fay, that vvhofoever ob- 
 tains their Stone, can fo qualifie G!afS; as, if it fall, it 
 fhail not break, but be found lying unbroke, like Me- 
 tal. Which indeed I have often read, but could ne- 
 ver believe, it was fo to be underrtood according to 
 the Letter. Yet after GOD, by his Grace, had con- 
 ferred 
 
Pare 11 L 
 
 Of ^JMETALS. 
 
 21 
 
 fared on Me our Wonderful Salt, for CuricHty fake, j dine to Ivs VVlfli- if ,,th"r,..;r> j r ■ 
 
 ¥ ij r I- 1 w- • 1 wiii^ m ij.-, Willi, ir otiicrw Ic, advetle and cr^ntfarV 
 
 I could not forbear to make an Expenaicnt, to know. For G O H U nr.r «„.^^ , • ,,'•"'■ ^ ^ ^'^"f^fX 
 
 . • • - '^-^ ' - ' ^"^ '■•'^ ^ '5not wont gracKUilIy torc^',ard liie words 
 
 whether what was written thereof was confciuarc 
 
 oil? to Truth. Tlicrefore, I took a little hroken G'afs,' 
 
 nitited it in a Crucible, and then call upon it oi ly a 
 
 very little of our SJt, which it continuaily took m, | cxpenti rime" tliercibout 
 
 and thence received a while Colour. I pou 
 
 an. mcnce received a whUe Colour. I poma out Uh, fc Eyes foever G O D fh,»! op,„, he uiii un cv 
 
 tl>e .Mxture, ^nd trying, whether it had pafjed ui.o ry lid. fte fo many thi.gs fui»..r,t for him, as n, 
 
 anodnr than ns hHt Na-urc, I fo^und ny G afs ad '• ro need any further Inf.rn.ation. All d ingT reck. 
 
 tece.v d a new D.fpolu.on and became flexible l.ke ; to the ckar-lighted . which appear dark to^he Oind 
 
 rardned steel N\yer, and after flexion cameto Its hrft GO D • ■ ■ - ^^ 
 
 of the deceitful, but the H.-arrs of cand'id Men". 
 
 _ Many other fuch things might be piodueed. touc'i- 
 
 i ing cur Tinging tone: Eut'ro ucccHiry pe.fuadcsto 
 
 E'!'Oiigh is fpokcn. For 
 e- 
 ct 
 ar 
 
 form : But after many bending?, to and again, it at 
 length broke Whence I learned^ that it was no Fa- 
 blu , but plainly poHib'c bv Art to prepare Gfafs fo, 
 as i: may be no lefs flexible, like Metal, than it is 
 tcanfparent. But lipce I have not had Opportunity to 
 make turther Tryal, and cannot yet abfolutely profcfs 
 my fclf an Artifl in that kind of Work ■-, yet, I can 
 fty, that what others have aflirmed thereof, is not 
 cHranged from Verity. Therefore I muft wait,till Time 
 (with the favour of GOD) give me further Expc 
 riencc thereof. 
 
 ' AHb, touching the Stone it fetf, Philofophcrs write, 
 that it qualifies its Pofltffoi fo, with Lightnefs and 
 Checrfulnefs, that he can, like a Bird, fly up on high 
 from the ground :, which is a thing fo much repug- 
 nant to Nature, as no Credit can be gi pen to it, unlcfs 
 it be interpreted HierogUphically, Allegorically, or E- 
 nigmatically. But that it greatly exhilarates hiiii, who 
 by the benefit thereof can efFtft the aforefaid Wonders, 
 is very tafie to be believed. For in my fclf i have 
 found the like Exhilaration, when I ha-e, with thcle 
 my Eyes, made certain very great Proofs and Experi- 
 ments by the help of that. When I lay, for four years, 
 continually fick, and during that time, exercifed my 
 mind with various Speculations, making fome Proofs, 
 I at length found the Truth, and underfbood that 
 this wonderful Salt, being tryed upon A'ttals ana 
 Stones, did mofi: cxadly agree wirh the Philofophers 
 Defcription ofit: Then, I fay, my whole Nature, be 
 caufe of that, was aftonifhed, and daily fo notablv re 
 duced to a better Conflitution, as I can never fullici- 
 ently admire the Grace of G O D, and return due 
 Praifes to him for fo great Gifts. For I, who by rea- 
 fon of m\ Sickncfs, could never rife out of Bed before 
 Noon , could afterward rife betimes in the Morning, 
 and go in o my Laboratory. Alfo for a long time be- 
 fore, I could digcft neither FIcfh nor Fifli, but was 
 conlirained to live with Bread and Wine only •, yet 
 now, ( thanks be fo G O D > I am able to cat fome 
 fmall Portion of FIcfh and Fifh, together with other 
 Meats. Likcwife for above a whole Year, through 
 weakncfs of Body , I could fcaicely write a Line or 
 two, fo as in two Years fpace 1 committed noticing 
 to the Prcfs : But now, GOD, the Giver of all good 
 Gift, iiath made my hands fo ready for Motion, as I 
 fing to him incefl'ant Praifes. Without that new re 
 frelhing of Strength, this prefent Treatife could never 
 have been publifhed. And this fo great Good befclme 
 from no other Caufc» than from GOD, and this pre- 
 cious Stone. 
 
 only is the Light, and all who are near to 
 GOD, are by him fo illuiT.inarcd, as thev can fee. 
 But the Hiorc remote an^ Man is fron, G .:: D, ihc 
 nearer will he be to the contraiy of Light, which is 
 Datkncfs. "therefore, wlu-foevcr defir.s to be illumi- 
 nated with the brightn.fs if Divine Liglif, jri.lr fly 
 from Darkncfs, which is m be (hunned. For Dark- 
 nefs and Light arc inconHacnt in one and the (j.ne 
 SubjecT; ^ which is a thing accurately to be obfervcd 
 by every Reader. 
 
 A CO%OLLAR^, 
 
 WE have, in this little Treatife taught , that 
 the Salt of Metals is prtpar^-d of/ ,/w/, and 
 that there is a difference to be obfervcd, V.z. this. 
 
 Common Cyl of VittDl doth indeed fufilr it felt- 
 to be Coagulated into a fweec Sak or St^if, A-here- 
 with (particularly) vulgar MetaJs arc amendecl; and 
 Tindurcs extraeted from Gems, akhcuj-h it wanes a 
 tinging Virtue : But Metals may alfo be tinged by the 
 Coagulated Red Oyl, 
 
 We likewifc fhcwed, that you cannot get this Red 
 Oyl .without the help of that Goddefs Frofrpnu. Yet by 
 the way, it is to be noted •, that the aforefaid I'roJ}r. 
 pi»i is no other, than a wliite ^uIphu^eous Sak, which 
 added to the Vitriol caufcrh the Tindlurecf Fww/ to 
 afcend in Diflillation That, after it fhall be du- 
 ly Coagulated iato a Stone not Corrollvc, ipanifJis 
 fuch Effeels, as we have afcribed to it. I alfo thought 
 good to advife, that our Oyl of Viinol in its f'vcpara- 
 tion requires great Care and Induflry, that the Tin- 
 (ffurc may be made Pvich enough ; For otherwife, it 
 difcovers but little Viitue in Ttanfmutation. Alfo you 
 fhnll never get fo great a quantity of that Red Oyl, 
 as will fatisfie the Common iort of covetous Men : 
 Becaufc that comes not till at laft, after all the White 
 is afcendcd. But he, that can get a large quantity 
 of the V\!iite, will not trouble himfclt to get the 
 Red : Eecaufe the White alfo, by the help of Profi-r- 
 pi'ta, may be converted into Red. Which if it were 
 not (o, the Saying of F?r(j;/ could fcarcely be found 
 true, V'Z. that with the hand is readily to be cut off, 
 not one Branch only, but many other, if Fortune flull 
 fo far favour any Artift. Therefore, I forbear to write 
 inore at this time. Let him , who cannot content 
 himfelf with thefc here written, fearch the Monu- 
 ments of Philofophers, writing, that there is fnch an 
 
 Art, by the benefit of which , with one only Pound 
 of Coals , a whole Pound of Oyl of Vitriil may be di- 
 Thcrcfore, whofoever is dcfirous to partake of this i (Idled. Yet fuch an Artifice muff notfo foon be fpread 
 great Blelling of GOD, let him not come to Me, un- i among the People. To whom foever GOD reveals the 
 t^o whom is given no leave to Communicate ■■, but let fame, he may prepare it, according to his own defire ^ 
 
 him come to the Love of G O D, and draw that lau- 
 dable Good from him. as from the moft limpid and 
 living Fountain ; Becaufe , it is to icund with him 
 only, not with Men. If a Man humble in Heart, and 
 void of Hypocritlc, hearing this, will follow my Coun- 
 fcl, he may perhaps find a profpctous Event accoi- 
 
 if it be otherwife, let him comfort himfelf with this 
 Meditation of Patience, j-zz. that he vvas not worthy of 
 fo great Gifts. With thefc, Reader , I bid you Fare- 
 wcl, and commend to you the Ptotedion of GOD. 
 
 THE 
 
 E 
 f 
 
 /V D. 
 
21 
 
 Short BOOK 
 
 O F 
 
 DIALOGUES, 
 
 O R, 
 
 ^ Certain ) Colloquies of fome Studious Searchers after the 
 Hermetick Medicine and Univerfal Tindure. 
 
 Written for the Sake of the Lowers of HermeticJ^ Fhilojofhy, 
 
 THE 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 Well-minded READER. 
 
 I Was formerly mindedmver to have fuhHjhed thefe Three Dialogues^ but only to have made fome 
 cfmy good Friends, and fuch as had well dtftrved at my hands, here and there^ partakers of the 
 fame. And upon this Account I permitted Jome \_ of them J to Copy them out , hut they 
 ehiifino- that Curtcfe [ of mine ] whereby they received them^ did make others of their own Friends 
 too, en'joyers of the fame^ contrary to my Will and Intention ; and fo it happened^ that they be- 
 came Common f and being on this wife often Coppied out, there crept in amongji them ( as indeed 
 vfitally falls out in fuch Cafes ) abundance of Faults or Errors, and the fenfe [ and true meaning ] 
 of my Words were con ft rued in the worfer Fart. Which thing when 1 perceived, thit it would 
 more difadvantage than profit me (" efpccially feeing , that fuch a work [ thus Copied amifs ] 
 did mverthtifs pafs under my Name, and was adjudged by others, as really mine ) I detmed tt^ 
 expedient, of two Evils to chufe theltajl^ and to have regard to mine own good repute^ and to 
 ft'hl'fJiit in mine own Name. But yet, not with an intent of getting my ft If fome eminent Fame, 
 as if I were wifcr than othtrs, and to have it thought, that 1 had more knowledge and experi- 
 ef:ce than many othtrs have ; but rather, that the incredible Works of the omnipotent Godj and 
 his great Wondtrs.^ might be laid open and made known, to the infinite Glory of his Name. In 
 the fttiMiT down of whicb^ I do prcd'ice only fuch things, as my ft If have wrought with mine 
 own hands, and can even ya demonjirate by a certain and undoubted Operation, (by Gods help _) at 
 Any time. 
 
 But yet, 1 would hot have any one thus to underjland me, as if I had already wholly and com- 
 
 pleady 
 
TartJIZ.bcfcrc jiaa: z ^ 
 
 sitPoTvia: '7' "f 
 
—■ r- — — . 1; 
 
 T^he^ool^ of Tiinlogucs, 22 
 
 fkatly fiftijbed the rvholt Operation^ and hid adv.v/iced it to adite^ a>id throughly vtr feci ^ end. No! 
 1 cannot arrogate to my fdf by any tJipans, any fiuh mrJter. Thus much 1 only affirm^ that if any 
 one jJjall ( tn his Operation) follow tl^ bare, literal Defer ip ion of thefe Labojirs^ he null with- 
 out any Error arrive, fo far as Imy ftlf am already comCy but yet with this Provifo, that he 
 knorvs the true Salt of the Philofophers^ and the nfe thtrecf; Jnd as for vehat ronains, [ unfmfjjt j 
 I commit unto God to bcjlow a profptrous Succefs : And this one thing I entreaty that every Body 
 accept of the things I have here written, with the fame mind I wrote them , and that ht take irt 
 good part my fincire Endeavours of deferving well at his hands. 
 
 The Explication of the annexed Figure belonging to this Trea- 
 tife, noted with thefe Words : Inde T>idogus. 
 
 IN the four principal Points of the Circle (f"pp(^fing two tranfverfe lines were drawn, through 
 the Center , to the outward Circumference J are placed the CharaCfcrs of Sol, Sulpliur, 
 Lune, Salt. 
 Round the outmoji Circle, are placed thefe H'crds : Con joy n in one, Sol, Salt, Sulphur, Lune. 
 Abaa the next Circle : And thou haft as great a Treafure, as Heaven can give thee. 
 Within the Third Circle : The Philofophers Funftion, is of Contraries, the Conjunction. 
 About the next Circle : The Concentration of Homogenealsj is tlie Separation of Hetero- 
 
 geneals. 
 Within the inmojt Circle: Sol, Salt, Sulphur, Lune. 
 
 A 
 
 The Firjl Dialogue, or Conference, t?etmxt tivo Lovers of Herme- 
 tick^ <i5Kfedicme, deciphered bj the Letters, A, and B. the laft of 
 Kfhich hath had aprojperoas Succefs on his Labours, the other noti 
 and therefore craves of this laft ( viz. B.') a Manuduction to the 
 Work^, ivherebj he is rendred Maflcr of his defire, 
 
 Bi A Good health to you, my Friend ! U'hat's ifome good Friend, who may lead poor t>ie oUt of fuch a 
 the matter with you now, that you are notable Labyrinth, I will throw aU my Bookj, all my In- 
 fo fad, and even loaden with Cogitati- jiruments, and all fucb matters rvhich I have befiowed 
 ons , and mumble to your tlf about I fo much time about, h vairi, and lefi fo much by, into the 
 know not what ? Fire, and Sairifice them unto Vulcan, that fo Imty be 
 
 A. Oh^ my Friend '. I wi{h you the likf very heartily; rid of the tedioufnefs of my fruit I e[s Labours, and un- 
 and am glad that you come fa -i cry feafunably , and at profitable Cool^ery. But yet if you would bi hut fo plea- 
 fucb a time, at I w(it juji thinking on you, and >n.,fi Jed, 1 m ways doubt , but that you might by a ftr» 
 earnefily jviJhiHg your approach i Wit nefs your own IVri- words ^ and VireUiont'] reduce me out of the fnares of 
 tings, which t do here turn over with my lands and my yl many Erroneous paths, and hedged up ways, into the 
 mind, but yet they are fo very obfcure, that I cannot worm \right path : For I veil kj'ow, that you have bejiewed your 
 *"} f^^f I "f i ^'^y f-'y ] <'** "f *bem, I or underjiand , whJe Age, your whole Study, ar.d all your Labours aud 
 them \ though I apply the utmofi of my Endtavoun to' Endeavours, about fuch great Secrets, and have by the 
 underliand them. I have lil^ewije read over and over Divine ajfiflence obtained the very Truth it fetf. And 
 a^ain, the TFritings of other eminent and belief deferving therefore I do mof humbly beg at ynur hinds, that you 
 Fbihfphtrs ; ft ill hoping, that JJhould yet at length attain , would not leave me deftititte of your help, but that, accor- 
 to the k,nowIedge of the Truth: But alas, ( the more's my \ding to your inbred Goodnefs and Courtefie, you would 
 grief ) all that 1 find is only this, vh. that 1 hold in my hands fuccour tne, your Friend, with fame brotherly injlruSion^ 
 the flippery Tail cf aflippery fmooth Serpent, [ or Ele J j and ManudttElion. Which if you either will not er can- 
 nhich ever now and then ftps out of my hands, and do: h: rot do, I mu{i even conclude, not only upon throughly, 
 tnorf and more defile me. I have therefore refolutely deter-; doubling of the Iruth and pvfihility of this Art., but 
 mined with myfelf, that, UnUfs God doth fliortly fnd me . withal, on a frm perfuadmi my felf, that thofelVrititigs.^ 
 
 which 
 
^4 
 
 The "Boo.^ of DLilogtics, 
 
 Part IIL 
 
 nhi:h are fo liuft rv::h t'os Prutnifes of g'JtU'H hioun- 
 tains-, are ncibingdfe b:tt mere OldJVivis'lulfs^ and 
 jrotiyy Speculations of idle W.-«, and vain 'Dreams, though 
 proceeding from Mm of f grest tjleem. 
 
 B Whats this, T hear thee inter ? I cculd never 
 have believed \ou, to liavcf" been of fuch a broken 
 and dcje-'ed mind. What ? Would you contenin the 
 Writings of the nnlnfophers, and llijj,ht them, bccaufe 
 they are above ycur Capacity, and too hard for your 
 underiia-nding? Tjs a wicked thing, to entertain dich 
 a thought, much more to utter it. I would have you, 
 rather to periliade your Rlf, tliat you are not as yet 
 worthy ot the Secrets and Giits nf To great worth : 
 For though a Man (hould torment himfeif with abun- 
 dance ot hard Labours in this \V(uld, and llioulJ a- 
 flid his body with uncefTaut Sweating pains, yet 
 would he not efftd orght without the llelVing of 
 G(3d. Do you not know that faying of Paul., lis 
 nn of hirts that fFtils^mr of him tbji KunSy hut vf (Jod 
 dlo>te thjt Ihexvs mtr-y. Yoii fliould therefore reckon 
 your felt amongft the number of thofe, that- have run 
 in vain, nor hath God injured you at all. What ! does 
 not Chrift fay. Not all that fay unto wf, Lord^ Lord, 
 fhall e liter into the Kingdom of heaven, but they only who 
 do the JViU of my Father. Examine now your fclf, 
 and fee how the Ofe Hands 'twixt God and you. The 
 b'tlJowing of fuch great things muft proceed from 
 God, arid not from the Philofophers. The Philofc- 
 pher may indeed write down the Truth, but yet it is 
 not in his Power, to beltow upon thee the Divine 
 Blefling, which is the very hinge on which all good 
 things depend. Secrets of fuch great rrioment arc 
 not the Gifts of Men, but of God, who beftows them 
 on whomfoevcr he pleafeth. 
 
 A. I>t good time .' Is this the Comfort and Injiru&ion., 
 ri>bich I hedged at your hands ? I did not retjueji, you to 
 he my Father Conflffor , to hear my Co^f.-fian of my 
 Deeds, hut rather that jott would help mf, being ignorant 
 and uHs/.tlftil., by fome good and profitable ManuduUion 
 and In{iriiition : For I rpell enough k«<^tt>^ 'hut wicked 
 Men are n^ver Majhrs of fuch great Secrets, nor wtU 
 1 rank my felf amot;g{l them. Be pledjl'd but to regard 
 niyfitit., and only fljew me an entrance., whereby I may 
 enter into the right itad Kms^ly w.y : And as fir praying 
 to God, and Labouring rvithont ceafing, leave the Care of 
 that to me : I hope, that God ivill not[deny his Btejfing up- 
 on my Prayers and Labours. 
 
 B. Well ! fincc I perceive you to be fo throughly 
 bent, with your utcnoff Itudy and unwearied prelfing 
 on, after fuch an eminent thing as this i?, 1 cannot but 
 fliew you that way, which 1 my felf have walked in, 
 and that too, home to the very place which my felf 
 am come unto. Verily, I fee the promifed Land a- 
 lorc my Eyes, and do daily view its Coafis, nor do I 
 doubt, bat that I fliail fliortly enter thereinto, and 
 have t!ie Fruition of its molf pleafant Fruits, if no im- 
 pediment debar me of Co preat an happinefs. Aiid as 
 concerning your felf, feeing that you are nimbler of 
 your Feet than lam, there's no doubt but that you 
 will arrive thereunto, even aiToon as I my fclf. But 
 yet, pray firft declare unto mc, about what things it is, 
 that you have fpent \our Monies, your Labours, and 
 your Pncious time.and all to no purpoi'e :, that fo I miay 
 (asinuch as in me lies) the more conveniently reclaim 
 you from vour VVandrings and Errors into the right 
 way. Tis in vain for him that is lick, to cxpedhelp 
 and fuccour from the Phylician, if he does not fliew 
 jhe place of his D(jIour and Grief. ConfeflTion is a 
 ML-cicinc to hitn that goes altray. Conkfs thereiorc 
 the Truth, that 1 may hear, Ly what things thoii haff 
 
 been rr.if led into fo many Errors. 
 
 A. [_ Alas, Sir, ^ I couud not retlijn iif' all^ hiCrder.^ 
 though jfi:uiilu have rime enongh rf (o daniz,- But jmii' 
 OTvn tiif-.e, which is far more preti'jirf-,dn?s nn permit , thot 
 it fhimld he fpent in h'earin^rry ftmiijh i aloms. Bej.d,t 
 to'j, the remembrance of fa mjuy Labours rit laui, and of 
 the Irjt I'f not only jo much '1 im: but Expencts tan, caitj^tk 
 a loathing in mt, the v:ry remtinbrance of which I ab- 
 hdr, much more to mal'^e a long rehearfd of the fain>-. 'foil 
 may tberefure trafly gutfs, that by niy mfjTing upon thfi 
 bare Letter only of the Philofiphers nrit,ngs , and not 
 underjianding the Jenfe and meaning, I have erred from 
 the right iraj, and have headlong htirritd my felf i.ito fb 
 many Intricacies at d Errors. I have fearJ.'cd into Vegeta- 
 bles, yinimals, and Minerals, becuufe the Fkilofjphers 
 wrrte, that their Stone is Vegetable, Animal, and Mine- 
 ral ; but I fee, that I have not had und,r my hands the 
 true Matter. For if there does appear in any [_ of thefe 
 Matters ] the Crotvs head, yet the other Colours whub 
 the Fbilfftfhert make a dejcripiion of (as ihelyrae.ns 
 Blood, the Peaccckj 'Tail, Virgins W//;^, Coagulum, tr 
 Curdti;!^, arid principally that Ked and Fire-abiding Sa- 
 lamander) did never appear [ to my view.'] Or, if theft 
 [_ Signs ~\ of Sanguis Draconis, cr Lac virginis appear 
 to fght, in feme other Matter, yet Hotwith^j»d,tig the o- 
 ther Colours, <rnd other Sijins, which the Thilofophers ma^e 
 mention of, did never d/Jcover themfeives \_ tj my view. 1 
 IFhat Labours foefer I have ufed, and what f 'ever mattert 
 I have dealt in, I have even Laboured in vsin., and luji 
 both my pains and Expence, and never have received any 
 good from my laborious Operations. Hereupon I did at 
 laji even almuj} throughly perfuade my felf, that it tval 
 an impcjjible thi}ig,that, out of one Matter, and by one and 
 the fame Labour, one Colmr jhould orderly fuiceed ano- 
 ther, and become vifible to the foht, by the bare help of an 
 external Fire , as for example, fir(t if all., in the puire- 
 f action. ;the Crows head; then the Peacocks Taifthen the J)ra- 
 gons Blood,LdiC virginis, Coaguluin orCheiflike Curdling, 
 and at laji thefixt S3Um3n(i>:.t.But forafmuchas it appears 
 to me, by the reading of ytur ll'ritings, that you have or- 
 derly met with the fght of all thvfe Colours m your La- 
 bours, in fuch manner as the PhiLfophers have defcribed 
 thejame, J do prmly believe, and eive Credit unto yiur 
 Sayings, as unto a Man that makes Confience of his ways^ 
 fuppofing, that you would mt write fuch things unlefs ym 
 had wrought ihtni with your own hands, and could ei en 
 yet perfrm them at a^iy time. I only beg your help in 
 
 Jhfwing me the true matter, and the Key thereof, tbut I 
 may jo order the Bujinefs, as to cauje the Viftbly appea- 
 ring rf one Colour after another, in one Glafs , and b^ 
 the bare help of one only Fire ; if ynu do but thus muib 
 for me, you may be confident that I jhall be the mojl con- 
 tented KlaH [_alive,~] Nur do I doubt, bui that as tou.h- 
 ing the remain,jer, as Afultiplication^Frt^eSion, and Inch 
 likf, I fJ.'all fnd out thofe Operations well enough after- 
 wards, by mine own \\udwus Search, if I can but once 
 hit on the entrance of the right, true and Kingly iwn'. 
 
 B. ["Hold alittlc,and J do not affume fo much ur- 
 to your felf, and think that the things which arc (o 
 eaiily faid, are with as much Facility done. Flavc 
 you not Head in lUmhard Irevij'an, that a certain 
 f Friend of his ] had that great Secret as well as him- 
 feif, only he knew not how tomuhiply it, nor would 
 Bernhard reveal the lame Unto hitii, as having the felf 
 fame b'ools, out of which the fiid Ber'thard got the 
 knowledge of Multiplication, himjfclf. Eut be it as 
 you delirc, and feeing you rtquelt no more from my 
 hands at this timie, but only the matter and fome Key > 
 I will fatisfie your rtqutll, as far forth, as the time 
 and occation will at prcfent permit. 
 
 Attcntf 
 
Fart Hi. 
 
 ri:o 
 
 l^col^ of \Dialogiics. 
 
 25 
 
 Atrencl tlieiefore with diligence to thofc things 
 uliicti Idiall fay unto you and flich things thcv fiiall (jc 
 ton, as unto which ycni tnay boldly ^'ivc (Credence. I 
 will not (according to the Cultom ot many ) fcducc 
 you, nor will I reveal unto you ourIu elfe, but what 
 I have experienced by the Labours of mine own 
 hands: And if you follow tlie guidance of the barr 
 Letter it fcU, \ou will not err, unlcfs God will not 
 permit you to proceed, [bat] throw fomc peculiar im- 
 pediment and lett in your way. 
 
 As touching the naatter, which the Phiiolbphers have 
 made that llniverfal Medicament of, I find that it is 
 not merely Owf , but Divers, and this is clearly evi- 
 dent from the VVritines of the Phitofophers, who o- 
 penly hint unto us, that one of them ufed this way 
 and matter » another ,that,and yet at length became Ma- 
 ilers of their defire notwithftanding. From whence 
 it neceffarily follows , that the difiercnt matters, of 
 which is made one and the fame thing, are not unlike 
 in their more inward parts, but alike, though they 
 do not appear fo to be, as to their external hue. For 
 it is a thing pofiible for two, three, or more things 
 to differ much, [ from each other ~\ as to the outward 
 form and dupe, whereas notwithllanding in their in- 
 ward parts, they are fo agreeable to each other, as 
 that the felf fame thing may be produced from the one 
 as from the other. Take, for an example of this thing, 
 the Seeds and Roots of fome Herb, the which, as to 
 the outfide form, have no iikenefs to each other, and 
 5'et for all that, do they produce one and the faihe 
 Herb, il they arc implanted apart in the Earth. Jull 
 thus is ft with the Metallick Buds and Stocks which 
 are wont to fprout forth, as well from the Metallick 
 Htftts^ as from the Metallick Seeds, in fo much, that 
 a Tree grows up of the fame Nature and Form from 
 the Metallick Km, as Springs from the very Seed it 
 fcIf Now 'tis evident, that in the Metallick King- 
 dom, 1? or Lead fupplies the place of the Root i <? or 
 Iron, of the Truhck or Stock •• Jupiter or Tin, of the 
 Bark, c or ardent z'ive, of the juice betwixt the Trunck 
 and the Bark i $ or Copper , of the green Leaves ^ 
 Lrtne or Silver, of the white Flowers :, and or Gold 
 of the ripe Fruit and Seeds. If therefore the Metal- 
 lick plant is to be multiplyed, that Multiplication can- 
 rot be more comtnodicudy effedltd then by f^ and 1?, 
 that is, by the Seed, or by the Root of the faid Tree. 
 Whofoever therefore defires to perform ought in this 
 kind, he will not find any convenientcr matters, then 
 © or T? , that is. Gold or Lead. But yet I do not 
 mean thofe vulgar Metals, but fjch, in which the 
 Gold lyes as yet immature and invilible, and which is 
 to be made viilble, fixt, mature and conliant by the 
 help of Art. So then, the felf fame thing which may 
 
 be difcerned, above, in S>!, and appears vifible to the 
 fight, is in like manner found beneath in Saturn, in an 
 inviiible manner. And thus experience it felf (hews, 
 that, out of two things unlike, as to the outward 
 (hape, one and the fame thing like them may be made, 
 becaufe their internal parts are of one and the fame 
 Nature, and this outllde dilTcrence or unlikencfs pro- 
 ceeds only from the impurity, and defedl of Matura- 
 tion. Out of Saturn therefore, as out of an unripe 
 and in-pure Gold, fome gocJ may be produced : Bur 
 it mulf of neceility be well waQit, and out of it be'ng 
 Well wafhed, may the firft Eits of Gold be exrracf^cd, 
 and be fixed. Liut now, if oct of mature Gold, you 
 would yet educe fomcthing , it mull then again firft 
 putrefic and be reduced into nothings afort any more 
 ncble thing can proceed there out of. For it is like 
 
 to the Seed of the Vegetables, which do's not adnnit form your Pion;ift.9. by which you bind vour Ciedij , 
 
 G ' bi^t 
 
 of any Multiplicarirn of it felf, ctilefsthcy are firOput 
 in the Earth and confumed by Pufrcfacftion : And 
 this is proved, and alljrted by the Teltimony of our Lord 
 Chrilt himfelf, who fays, that except a grain cc 
 Wheat rot in the Earth, it cannot bring forth any 
 Fruit. Certain it is therefore, and firmly true, that 
 Gold cannot be tranflatcd into a better dc!:',ree, nnlcf? 
 it be again deftroycd, and rcductd into fuch a Body, 
 as out of which it cannot be reduced into its former 
 Golden Body [ or Form. ] 
 
 A. ffhjt is It that yon fjy^ can it ever be pfftble, that 
 a Metal f^ coujiant in the fire jhonld be on }w:h ttrife de^ 
 flroyed, as not to be reducible unto its former Body? Ve- 
 rily I have but fmaU reajon to boaji of any freat maftcrs 
 done by me : For I have for fame years paji tirment.d 
 my felf hitherto, abmt decnCling and cooking of Cold : I 
 have diffulved it in fMiidry fljisrp \_a>idCerrufrje'^ Waters^ 
 and have beheld its afcending with its yeUore Coir.ur^ by 
 a Retort and throusJ> an Alembich,^ but yet I never got 
 ottgln elfe in the Precipitation of the fame, but common 
 Gold, and rvbich was not in the leaji bettered therebv. 
 And therefore I did at lajl conchtde rpith my felf^ as 
 Many others have done, that the common Gold could not 
 be the matter of the PhilofophicJ^ Stone, and it h'lds hid' 
 den within its Body, no more 1inUnre tha't it flands in 
 need of, it felf-^ and that therefore it has not the Faculty 
 of tinging other white Metallick Bodies, 
 
 B. I do not at all wonder at your falling into this 
 Opinion. There arc many others befides you , that 
 arc of the fame mind ■■, Nay, I my felf doubted much 
 about this very thing, I'/'s. whether or no, Gold hides 
 within its inward parts any more of Colour,, than it 
 fhews unto us in its outfide fliape. But then on the 
 other hand, it could not fccm at all likely, that fiich 
 eminent Men fbould publifh fuch great Fallacies and 
 fo many Lyes, merely to feduce Men, by. And whilft 
 I was thus wavering in this kind of donbtin* , the 
 Truth did at laft (after fundry and many inquifitions ) 
 by a mere chance prefent it felf unto mev in fomuch, 
 that I am now clearly convinced of my Error, and am 
 even conflrained to believe , that a true Tindure, 
 tinging the imperfed MetalS, may be extrafted out of 
 Gold. For well may that be believed, which the Eyes 
 fee, and the hands feel. 
 
 A. I rejoyce exceedingly to hear you fay, that yon have 
 feen the Iruth, and I hope that in time you :r'ili refrcjh 
 me with afifiht thereof too, 
 
 B. Whatfoever lyes in my Power to ftrve yo'J by,I will 
 not in any Cafe deny unto you : But thus much I would 
 you fhould know, that the Splendor or brightncfs of the 
 Truth it felf hath fhcne upon ine, but 1 have never as 
 yet brought the work it ftlf unto an end, by rcafon of 
 the want of time : But yet however, I am confident and 
 firmly perfuaded, that if no impediment chance to hap- 
 pen, I fball bring it to its wiflied end. And now fee- 
 ing you are by fome years younger than my f-lf and 
 that you have fiore of time and all other Convenien- 
 cies, 1 dare be confident, that vou would finifii that 
 Operation much fooncr, fhculd I but reveal unto you 
 thofe things, which I am already arrived to the know- 
 ledge of, by the Labours of mine own hands. 
 
 A. Proceed on, I pray, in this yoiir Liberality, and mak^ 
 me, as b:ing a Man fillo-.viitg after Flnnetly, partaker of 
 yuur H.ippintfs, and Ijhall be evcrhjtin^h fb iged tj y.» 
 and yoiiri, Jind nhjtfever Labour cr laik, is to he 
 undergone fir yen ; I rwiU nith a ready and witimg mind 
 undertake it , and in ^U things rejpdifuliy regard your 
 wholfme InjiruUions. 
 
 I>. Well ' 1 tiuft you, and believe, that you will per- 
 
26 
 
 ^he "BoQ^ of Dialogues, 
 
 Part III. 
 
 but howeveryou flull give me your hand.anJ Promile , 
 me, that you will conceal the Art in itioll profound 
 
 filtnce. 
 
 A. In-ill, hfre'j my ri-iht hj»d, andCredn upon it. 
 
 B. Hearken th.en, with your utmoft diligence, and 
 with an accurate intention, receive the things whidi I 
 fliall fpeaii unto you, 
 
 A. Ida, and I ill- 6)1 attentively. 
 
 B. In the firO place then, you are to know, that, if 
 you would make any good thing out of the coinmon 
 Gold, you muft perfecUy "ft out of your mind that 
 Opinion, wliich hath hurried not a few into no fmall 
 difficulties, imagining, that (by the help of fome Men- 
 fimum or other ; the Colour of the Gold is to be eX- 
 trafted cut of it, and that Silver is to be tinged, with 
 that fame Golden Tinrture thus extrafted, and that, 
 to the remaining white Gold, its Colour may be again 
 reftored by the other lefler Metals,as S or Antmonj^Cop- 
 ptr, or Iron: Such thoughts as thefe you mull clearly 
 remove out of your mind, as being thofe which rob 
 a many of their precious Time and Eftates. There 
 are feveral ways, by which I know how to extrad: the 
 Colour from Gold, but tis needlefs to reckon them up ( 
 here by a tedious repeating of them, feeing they are 
 rot any ways profitable, but rather caufe lofs of Time 
 and Goods. The main thing you are to mind is this, 
 viz. to meditate [and enquire] by an accurate and 
 unceffant ftudious Search, by what means you mayde- 
 ftroy Gold, kill it, and fo compel it by Putrefataion 
 to produce to view its internal and invifible Colour, 
 and (on the contrary J to introvert (and hide) its 
 external and vilible.Yellownefs. For Gold it felf is 
 no other thing fave a mere Tindure, to the acquiring 
 of which, there needs not any other thing fave the 
 true Key, which unlocks Gold, introverts it, and ren- 
 ders the invifible Colour, viiible. Befides, neither are 
 thofe to be hearkned unto, who boaft of reducing Gold 
 into its three Principles, viz.. Salt., Sulphur, and Mer- 
 cury -, and of freeing thofe three from all their impuri- 
 ties, and then, of conjoyning them again, being thus 
 Purged, and of Fixing them into an Univerfal Tin- 
 <^ure ■, and fuch like moft impertinent trifling Pro- 
 ceffcs, as thefe. For they are mere idle Dreams, and 
 can never be accompliflied, but come to juft nothing, 
 and clearly delude the Covetous Thirfters after Gain, 
 by their vain dependence thereupon. Nor are there 
 in Gold any of thofe Feces, which they prate of its 
 being defiled with, neither doth it admit of being fe- 
 vered and dilTolved into thofe three Principles. But 
 put Cafe it were polFible fo to be, what profit, I pray, 
 could we hope fhould accrue to the faid Gold by fuch 
 a fruitlefs Labour, whereas we fee, that it is not in the 
 Icaft meafure bettered by fuch a Separation. It re- 
 mains therefore fur an undoubted Truth, that Gold nei- 
 ther contains any Fects,nor admits it of a refolution into 
 Three Principles, but that it rather requires to be Ra- 
 dically diiTolvcd by a due Putrefaftion, and to be fo 
 opened or unlockt. And farther, the Labour of fuch 
 Men is likewife vain, who Endeavour bv the help of 
 Saline, Cementations to cxtradt from Gold, its Soul : 
 For though fuch Cementations may fometimics fuccced 
 fo well, as that the Gold when taken nut is plainly 
 white, yet nevcrthtkfs fuch a white Gold doth as 
 yet contain in it its own peculiar Colour, the which, 
 a little Sahptter caft in upon it in Flux, doth tafily re- 
 ftore unto it : For then that whitenefs vanilhcth, and 
 the Truth appears, and fliews you, that it neither loft 
 its yellow Colour, nor its weight, but retained them 
 both, in the Cementation. Nay, we have been ma- 
 ny times deceived our felves by thefe kind of Opera- 
 
 tions, and have perfuaded our ftlvcs, that we had di- 
 fpoiled the Gold of his Colour or Tindlure by the 
 Salts, whereas it had but only attravfted a certain Sul- 
 phur out of the Salts, by which it was made White. 
 You may give Credit unto me, for I fpeak experimen- 
 tally, and do not tell you dreaming Stories. I will 
 inilance it unto you, by an Example. Diftblve a little 
 Gold in fome Aqua ^'^eg^., and pour the Solution up- 
 on powdered Tartar^ that fo being poured upon the 
 faid lartar-powdcT, it may be hid and covered over: 
 Put this Jartar thus moiftened with the Solution of 
 the Gold, in a ftrong Crucible, the which you mull 
 cover well with a Cover, and lute it : Or rather, put 
 it in aCementary Pot or Veffcl, which will be better. 
 The VefTcl being placed in the Cementary fire, the 
 Gold will extract a peculiar Sulphur, and become 
 White and Brittle, after its Separation from the.Vj///, 
 by being melted. And now who is it, but would be- 
 lieve, that the Salts had extraded the Colour of the 
 Gold from it, whereas it is no fuch matter. For a lit- 
 tle Saltpeter^ or elfe the Cineritium, or Cupel can drive 
 away all this white Colour, and reftore it to its for- 
 mer Yellownefs again ^ and this is, what my felf have 
 feveral times done and experienced with mine own 
 hands. 
 
 A. Norv again, here's a new Story 1 nev.r heard of 
 afere., n>ho rvould ever have believed, but, that when they 
 had taken their Gold ( tinged with a whiter Colour than 
 Silver ) out of the Cementary Vejfel, it had been clearly 
 d/^eiled of its lintiure ? But now feeing it it not fo, 
 there muji of neceftty lye hidden under fuch an Adion at 
 this, fome other Secret and Wonder. Verily it is no tri- 
 fling Matter thuf to mak,e Gold white., without the help 
 of the white Metals > and it '» the more wonderful too, be- 
 caufe it is not kjtown, from whence that while Colour re- 
 ceiveth its Kife : It could not get it from the Aqua Regis, 
 nor could it have it from the Tartar, and thu mak^es n.e 
 ft ill wonder the more. And therefore, pray, rid me of this 
 doubt., and unriddle the bufinefs unto me , for 'tis not 
 without caufe, that Ifuppofe fome great Secret m.ty lye 
 thereunder hidden. 
 
 B. Attend diligently to what I fay, therefore, for 
 its impofliible for you to apprehend all things at one 
 very da(h [ as I may fay, and at firft. ] We will firlt 
 of all treat about the Gold only, and of other Secrets 
 afterwards in due time. But yet [by the by 3 I 
 would have you obferve in this place, this one thing i 
 that as touching that Sulphur., which made the Gold 
 white and brittle, there muft needs be a notable Fricnd- 
 linefs betwixt them, becaufe it was fo eafily cxtra- 
 ded out of the tartar by the Gold. And upon this 
 Account there may be ground to fuppole, that if the 
 Gold were left lying longer in that clofe Cementation, 
 that Sulphur which rendered the Gold fo white, might 
 haply be rendred Red, and fix in the Gold. For eve- 
 ry Sulphur is a Tindture, when it is made fixed, and 
 gets an Ingrefs, from the other Metals. Do not un- 
 dervalue this Secret, but fi(h out the Property of this 
 thing, by a more accurate Meditation, for you will 
 draw from thence much Good. 
 
 A. Verily, lean tuethinkj cenjeUnre , that this very 
 l^iach^ hath more in it than itjhews fur ; I will fear J? 
 thereinto more accurately ; perhaps this very way is a 
 nearer one, than that which requires the inverfion of the 
 Gold. I remember that I h.ivs read smixgll the Sayings 
 of the Thilifopbtrs , thU Exprejjion ; That their Gold 
 does not tinge, unlefs it be firrt tinged, nor receivcth 
 it a Red Colour, link fs it be made firft White. / 
 perceive, that Nature is more abtindantly floredwith in- 
 jinite Ki.hes, and that it cannot be fo eafily Searcht out 
 
 to 
 
•Part III. 
 
 ^he Bool^ of Dialogues, 
 
 to the bottom., and tbs longer a M.:» f^kj-, ih; more he 
 finds and meets with ;, h'j'ooiuch thjt at Ijjt^ there K pth 
 fient\< if g^ood things I'jf-rmg themjilvei to fiich 5«i^-r/, 
 thjt itm.l^s tb:m puzifld ivhi.h to cboofe., j'vfing tbsy 
 ju commend each vthers Benejit and Prpjil. Brfides, your 
 rrords are very hard to be under jioody and hard to he 
 horn, t or it jtems a thinjr exceeding all helitf^ that the 
 mjji confiant F ire-during- Met jl^ Gold. fhonU he fo chan- 
 ged^ as to bs no more Cold, and very hardly, yea, not at 
 all reducible by the help of Art into its former Body. I 
 do fiften meet tvith that Opinion and Decree of the Fbilo- 
 fopb<rs in my frequent reading of their Bookj, viz. that 
 CJd mttji be putrefied, if any better and nobUr tbing^ is 
 to be generated thereout vf: But tvbereas it feemed unto 
 me a thing bey o, id the Porver of Nature, and altogether 
 impofjible, for fu:h a cmiant Matttr to undergo any 
 Putr.^faciion , I Jwipofed that the Philofophers pointed at 
 fame other thing by that Putrefaiiion of theirs. Mean 
 rvbile, I earneiily exped from you a Demonjiration of the 
 puffibility and 7rutb of this thing. 
 
 B. Come then, on God's Name, a little nearer me, 
 and heed well the things which (hall be (hewn unto 
 you. 
 
 We will here take half an Ounce of common 
 Gold, and put it into this Aqua Fortis, made of Vi- 
 triol and Saltpeter, whereto we will, add the fame 
 weight as the Gold is of , or a little more, of our 
 SalturnMiiack^, without which, the Aqua Fortis alone, 
 and by it ftlt, is not able to difTolve the Gold. 
 
 A. Pfay, Sir, why do you fay. Our Salarmoniack ? 
 Are there feveral end different kjnds of it f For my p^art, 
 when I d:ffolve God, J put into the Aqua Fortis, that 
 \_common ]] Salarmrniack, ivhich is every where to be had 
 tn the Merchants IVarehonfes , and is very fit to diffolve 
 Gold inro a IcUotv water, 
 
 B. You fpeak very well after your own way j And 
 confcfs, that every Saljrmoniack^iXi\xx. with Aqua 
 
 L c'tu is very good to diffolve Gold i not is thij any 
 uc ■ 'iy. for 'tis in very much ufe amongll all the Chy' 
 n. ..) , who are wont on this wife to diffolve their 
 Gold, but yet that which is thus diffolved , (till re- 
 mains Gold, and doth eafily admit of being again 
 precipitated out of the Aqua Fortis, and of being redu- 
 ced by Fulion into the former Body, it had afore its So- 
 lution. But if fo be, that the Solution (hall be made 
 by the help of our Sal yir-noniack^, then is the Cafe 
 vartly altered , and your attempting its Redufti- 
 on again will be in vain. For if Gold be but diffol- 
 ved barely once with our Saltarmoniack^, it admits not 
 any more of melting, nor doth it of it fclf return 
 again into a malleable Metallick Body, but gets a Rcd- 
 difh Scarlet kind of Colour in the Tryal [] or Cruci- 
 ble 3 and remains an unfufil Powder. And if you 
 add fome Borax thereunto, and fet it in the Fire then 
 to melt, it will pafs into a Red Glafs, which is afign , 
 of its being plainly defho^ed, and of its being tranf- | 
 muted into another Body. And therefore I dare aver, 
 that there is feated in our Salt Armoniack^ a power 
 of inverting, and tranfmuting Gold, and of making 
 it fit for the Philofophical putrefadion , which thing 
 is impoifible to be dose by any other Salts whatever 
 they be, and what Name focevcr called by. 
 
 A. Certainly, this is a Divine miraculous tiing, to fub- 
 jeB Gold,f) mightily conjtant in the Fire, unto Putrefa- 
 Ciion, and to reduce it by PutrefaCtion, into a nothing : 
 For I have read ti:o and again, amonzli the Philofophers 
 iVriti'igs, that it is an eafier thing to mah^e Gvld by Art, 
 than to deliroy Cold made by Nature, And therefore this 
 Salt mujl needs be a very wonderful one, nbicb U able 
 to effect tbefe and other, the liks alnuji incredible things. 
 
 27 
 
 B. Well miy you term it a wonderful Salt, for fo 
 It Js, tl.c like of which, no Man- will find in the 
 whole World i though to fuch as know it, it is fo 
 vik and mean a thing ; infbmuch that fcarce any one 
 would think it likJy, that fuch things could be done 
 thereby, as are wont to be, fhould it be but named 
 by its own proper Title. Does not, I pray, that Phi- 
 lofopl^.er, Cofmopolita [or Sandnoiv~\ confefs, that 
 he hjih oftentimes declared the Art, and Secret of the 
 wliole Philofophick work, word for word, f^metimes 
 to one, foretimes fo another, and yet they would not 
 at all believe him, by reafon of the meannefs, or vile- 
 nefs of the Work? And does not he make frequent men- 
 tion of his own, and not the common Sal Armoniach ? 
 But that you may yet give more belief and credit to our 
 Salt, I would have you read the Turba of the Philo- 
 fophers, wherein you will find all thofe things which 
 they have publiflicd concerning their Salt : And a- 
 mongft others, hearken to thofe few words, which 
 the Rofary mentions : Our Salt d' fives Gold into a red 
 Colour, and Silver into a white Colour, and tranfmutet 
 them out of their Corporeity into a Spirituality, and with 
 Ota Salt, are their Bodies calcined. And for this rea- 
 fon. Lumen Lumimwi, alfo fays, Ihat if the Omnipo- 
 tent God had not created this Salt, the Elixir could not 
 have been perfe^ed, and the Study ofChymi(lry would 
 have been in vain. Avicen faith, If thou haji a defire 
 of getting Kiches, prepare Salts, that ih'y may be chan- 
 ged mo a dear Water, for by the Fire are Salts changed 
 into Spirits .- Salts are the Keott of thy worl{. Hermes 
 faith : All Salts are Enemies to our Worl{^ and to our 
 Art, fave the Salt of our Lune : Arneldus (aith. Every 
 Salt that is well and rightly prepared, is of the Nature 
 o/Salt Armoniack, and the whde Myilery of our Art 
 confijls in the Preparation of common Salt : He therefore 
 that kjtows Salt, and its Solution., to him is the Myftery 
 of the ancient wife Men k^nowff. And therefore bend the 
 utmoji Meditations of thy IVit upon the Nature of that 
 Salt only, in which the IVifdom of the ancient wife Men, 
 and every My/fery, is foutid hidden and concealed. The 
 Writings of the Philofophers are full of thofe and 
 fuch like Sayings, and they do every where mightily 
 infia upon Salt. And now, what think you of thefe 
 Teftimonies i what ^ do the things I have fpoken, yet 
 find any belief in your Breaft ? 
 
 A. Tes Veriy, and now 1 am on your fide ; but yet 
 I do as yet dtfire, and heartily wifh for this one thing, 
 that you would for once let me fee your Labour, whereby 
 I may convince other incredulottsPerfons, and mak^e them 
 believe too. 
 
 B. Well, I am content i and come let us go to 
 work, and let us put the Gold in its requifite Afen. 
 liruum, and place it in warm Sand, thereby to haften 
 
 j forward the Solution of the fame ; though there is 
 
 j ftrength fufficient in our Menjiruum, to diffolve the 
 
 j Gold in the Cold without Fire. We (hall in a (hort 
 
 time fee it of a yellow Colour : And behold that 
 
 very Colour, and the Gold it felf is fo changed, as it is 
 
 never more reducible into its former golden Body. 
 
 Thus have you now the entrance and beginning, which 
 
 as yet is vaftly dillant from the wi(ht for end : And 
 
 I when you now fee the beginning, know, that is the 
 
 firft day of our Philofophick Labour. Next, let us 
 
 'proceed to the Putrefa(ftion of the diffolved Gold, 
 
 ^without which, no Colours prefent themfelves to our 
 
 view. Behold in this very moment, Sol begins to 
 
 wax black, and in a little while after it will conceive 
 
 fuch a thorough b'ackncfs, that it will be like to Ink, 
 
 and may ferve to write withal on Paper. This black- 
 
 nefs, the Philofophers call the Head of the Crow, by 
 
 that 
 
28 
 
 The Boo{ cf 'Dtalogiics, 
 
 Part HI. 
 
 chat Name pointing out unto us their PutrtfaiSion •, 
 by which, the fccond day of our Philofupliical La 
 bour is finiftied. 
 
 Our Ground [or Earth] therefore, hcing fuffici- 
 cntly enough tnoiftncd, we mult btCeccIi God to be- 
 ftow upon us the hot fliinc of the Sun ■, (or without 
 the Suns heat which ftirs up the Life in all things, 
 there cannot polVibly be any increafe and growth. 
 Lend me therefore your bell attention. Alfoon as the 
 putrefied Body of our Sol (hall feel the warming heat 
 of the Sun, its blackncfs, which was the true Sign of 
 its Putrefadion.wili vanKhaway by little andlittle,and 
 give place to the accels and approach of many moft 
 delicate Colours, tlie which, the Philofophers have 
 named the Peacocks Tail, and this finiflieth the third 
 day of our Philofophical Labour. And now, when 
 the Fruit-producing Sun fliall have thus illulirated our 
 Field, or Ground with its warmei; Rays, but for one 
 day as yet, we may eallly fee, what is farther likely to 
 come to pafs heiea(ter. 
 
 A. Huy dj ! ivhjt a wonderful thing U tb'n^ that I 
 fee here ? in hou-Jhort a time^ and horv fpeedily hath the 
 
 PeacockjTail changed it felf into a thick. Blood ? ff^^o 
 could ever believe it., unlejs he had feen and beheld it 
 jgith hU own Eyes ? 
 
 B. i confefs it is fuch a thing as may well caufe in 
 any one moll exceeding admiration, feeing that there 
 proceed from Art and Nature , Operations cf fuch 
 great moments : God hath made all things very well, 
 and (hould he not permit fuch an admirable changing 
 of Colour, to appear in the Operation, verily the Phi- 
 lofopher would be in doubt, whether or no he might 
 fiope for an happy Succefs of all his Labour : And 
 now upon the occalion of this Blood-like Colour, is 
 arifen the Name of Dragons Blood amongft the Phi- 
 lofophers , who fay, that when this Colour appears 
 in view, the fourth day of the Philofophical work or 
 Labour is finiihed. 
 
 A. Good God I how great , and how wonderful are thy 
 tponderous JP^erkj , who can find them out by his own 
 Search and Indupy ? i:here do daily happen (greater and 
 greater encreaftngs of our Faith., f^"»g ^^•'* ^ behold with 
 mine own Eyes, fuch things as heretofore exceeded all my 
 belief. And I entreat you to tell me this one thing., whe- 
 ther or no, there lies in this Shod., as 'tis now prepared, 
 a moil exceVenc Power of healing Vfeafes or no, and if 
 it may fafely be made ufe of, for the healing of Sickjiejpj 
 without any farther Preparation ? 
 
 B. Yes verily, there does lye therein hidden, an in- 
 credible healing Faculty, and this, its very Signature 
 doth openly witnefs. For God doth not (ignormark 
 all the Herbs, all Animals, all Stones in vain, by the 
 external Signature of all which, it is an eafie matter 
 to know, what ufe they are of for Mankind. Forafmuch 
 thcrefcrc, as our Gold is turned into a thick Blood, 
 it is a mo ft certain Teftimony, that it is Serviceable 
 for the curing and amending of Man's Blood. For, 
 if the moft ancient Phyficians have made ufe of Gold, 
 reduced either by filing into a moft fubtile Powder, 
 or by beating into mo(f thin Leaves , in the Cure of 
 the moft defperate Difeafcs, yea, and of the Lcpro- 
 fie it fdf too, and this not without Fruit, and Succtfs ; 
 how much greater commerce then will this Gold of 
 ours thus changed into a Red Blood, have with the 
 Blood of Mankind. Would it not [think you] abound 
 with a greater Power of freeing it from all falfc and 
 fupcifiuous Aqucity, and other evil Humours and Im- 
 purities, and of reducing it into its former State ot 
 Good health ? For the occult Virtues of the Gold are 
 no trtore flmt up now , like as when the Corporal 
 
 hied, or leafe Gold held them lock'd up, that tiicy 
 arc unloofcd, and releafcd Ironi their Fetters, and Co 
 perform their work by moft free and uncloggd Ope- 
 rations. And feeing tliat Gold is, by Ancient and 
 Alodern Phvficians, attributed to the Heart, and _'to the 
 whole blood ol Man's Body, and feeing that experi- 
 ence it felf hath demonftraicd, that it takes away tiie 
 prcter-natural affeds of the Heart, and heals the cor- 
 rupted Blood i why (hould not this our Blood of Gold 
 efted the fame with greater Efficacy , and a more 
 happy Succefs. With this very Blood, have 1 al- 
 ready performed wonderful things in the moft grie- 
 vous Difeafes in the Bodies of Men, after they have 
 been firft purged with fome Panacea. 1 have tiiere- 
 withal healed the Leapro'JS in a (hoit fpacc of time, 
 and fuch as have to no purpofe made ufe of the aflTift- 
 ence of the moft eminent Phyficians for ten or twelve 
 years continually, to their great Cofts and Charges, 
 and this I can evidence by moft clear Teftimonies , 
 which 1 keep by me. Nay farther, even at this very 
 day in very many places, into which 1 have fent of 
 this Blood, the deteftable Leprolie, the French PoXy 
 and other moft grievous Difeales of the Heart and. 
 Blood ( to the Cure whereof, Gold is in an cfpecial 
 manner ordained by God ) are taken away by an ad- 
 mirable way of healing ; For feeing* that ( as we faid 
 afore) itftrengthens the Heart, and mundifics the de- 
 filement of corrupt and polluted Blood, and purgeth 
 them away, it muft ot necelfity likewife expel, as well 
 the open or vifible, as the occult and hidden Difeafes 
 of the Body of Man. For if Nature be but corrobora- 
 ted, it doth cafily fubduc and expel Difeafes, by the 
 help of othervery fmall Medicaments , the which thing 
 I have by my manifold experiences found to be molt 
 true, when I have adjoyned this Aureous Blood to 
 other futable Medicaments. For it cannot be 
 expreft, what, and how much I have done, both in 
 young and old, with this very Blood fo exhibi- 
 ted, in the Stone, Gout, Vropfie, Leprefte., Epilepfiej 
 and other Chronical Difeafes, which have taken deep 
 Rooting in the Body. Therefore if God fliall pleafc 
 to lengthen out my days, I will very fuddenly publiOi 
 the ufe therfof, that fo it may be brought mto com- 
 mon Ufe in all Difeafes. For this Golden Blood may 
 [ probably ] be the potable Gold of the Ancients, 
 which never more fuffcis it felf to be reduced into its 
 former malleable Body. I have fundry ways attemp- 
 ted to reduce it , but never could eifed the fame/ 
 But yet this one Cafe I except, viz. a little of this 
 dry Blood, being put upon molten Gold, hath ingrcfs 
 into the fame, and the refidue fwims at the top there- 
 of like an Earth; but yet that little which adjoyned 
 it fcif to the Gold, is of fo great a Power as to make 
 all that whole Body of Gold which it entred into, 
 brittle, yea fo brittle, as that it fuftcrs it felf to be 
 beaten in aMorter intomoft fine Powder. 
 
 A, I Marrj, Sir! tbefe are Miracles indeed, which I 
 fee and hear; who will make any ftrth.r doubt, bnt that 
 the Vniierfil TmBitre .whub heals the Sicknejfes, or Vi- 
 ftempers bjih of A/en and Metals, may he prepared, OHt 
 of thU Gulden Blood / For all the Philofophers do with 
 one Conjent cotiffs, that their TinUure, when quite per- 
 fet'led and caji in upon molten Gild, d.'th render thi 
 fume brittle. And now feeing this Golden Blocd cf ours., 
 being us yet immature, and not prepared, doth effeEl the 
 fame, would it not, 1 pray, perform the fame much better, if 
 it hjdbut hi^r,fs given unu it, by in:er.iti}n, tvhenby it 
 might flaw the eafier, and enter the mire readily. Idix 
 nit now at all doubt, but that this aureous blood both can 
 and in tim.^ ivili become an nniverjat TinUnre fnll cf Me-. 
 didfialViitnes. B. A!- 
 
Part ill. 
 
 "Tte ^00 1<^ of T)ialogucs. 
 
 2|. 
 
 B- Although I am not minded publickly to difclofc 
 an Arcajium ot fuch prcat moment, and fo freaf a 
 a Myftery, and to throw fucli a precious Pearl atore 
 Swine i yet 1 am of the mind to prepare fume quan- 
 itity thereof, and to part with fo much unto the Sick 
 that need it, and that fhall dclirc the fame from me, 
 as is requifite for their life. And not only to the Sick, 
 but to others too, that are willing to apply it toother 
 Ufes and Experiments^ but efpccially unto thofe who 
 would fain try, whether or no. even this very Elood 
 vvill turn it ftif ( according to my Dcfcription ) into a 
 white Milk, and then into a Red Stone, and, by a 
 new Reiteration of the work, pafs through all Co- 
 lours. This dcfireoufnefs, or inquiry after the Truth 
 cannot at all prove any ways difadvantageous to me, 
 or mine. For the Art it felf w ill always remain an 
 -^rf, unlefs it chance to happen, that fome one or 
 other Searcher, which is of a more fubtile Ingenuity, 
 fliould, by his diligent and ferious inquiry, fearch cut 
 the very Foundation of the Art it felf. Which if it 
 fhould fo come to pafs, he muft then think, that God 
 liath vouchfafed this Gift unto him, and that he now 
 confiders, and well knows, what efieem he ought to 
 Tct upon it» and by -what means he ought to hide it. 
 However, this is moft certain, and indubitably true, 
 that this Dodtrine, and inftiudion of mine own pre- 
 fcribed in my Writings, will be afpurring encourage- 
 ment to abundance of Men ( that have hitherto ex- 
 ceedingly doubted of the Truth of this fo great a 
 Myftery, and (ball now come to know it, laid open 
 by me with fuch evident Demonftrations, ) and*caufe 
 them to fearch with a greater and more ferious ftudy, 
 and to cad off all other unprofitable Codiions what- 
 foever. For to what purpofe is it toufe many things, 
 about that which may be done by fewer and more ealie. 
 All things have their time, and fo has this Arcanum 
 too its own proper time. But we fiiall fpeak more of 
 thefe things in the following Defcription of the fecond 
 univerfal Medicine. All thefe things which thou haft 
 Iiitherto feen,are indeed very good :, but we are as yet 
 far off from the end. Have yoq| not likewife read in 
 the Philofophers Writings, that the white Swan doth 
 alfo (hew it felf in the Work > Now, if by but as yet 
 One days (hining, the Sun fkall have illumnated by 
 its brightnefs the Dragons Blood , you (hall fee it 
 turned into a white Milk, which Milk the Philofo- 
 phers have written off, and which at length goes into 
 a Coagulttm^ or Cheeflike Curdling. Look therefore 
 now upon that Milk, which you fee to admit of Coagu- 
 tion and Condenfation, by little and little : And thus 
 with this golden Cheefe do we fini(h the Philofo- 
 phical Labour of the tifth day. 
 
 A. God be thanked-, that this days Labour hath a/fj 
 fucceeded^ as xve could rvifh. But fotafmucb as ibofe 
 things irbicb yon mentioned^ but noxt> come in my tnind^ 
 viz that ire are far off from the end of the rvork^ "^ yet., 
 and yet too morrow is the Sixth and laji day cf this our 
 Fhiloftphical tveek,:, and farther, feeing you faid prcfntly 
 after the beginning of this our Conference.^ that the whole 
 JJ^or]{_wm!d be finiCoedinftx Days fpace., and thjt rn the 
 feventh Day we may ceafe from all cur JFork^ and Ljb:'urs., 
 and find.-fis it., cr k^ep it holy., and give God due thanl'^i 
 for alliheff his Benefits bejiowed on its :' Seeing (I fay) that 
 till thefe thim^s come now in my mind., ^tis no wonder ^jf they 
 tilietvife create in me a great deal of Care and Ft!zz!i>:g., 
 to tbink^^how tbii can be.,ihjt alltbfe things th.it remain 
 yet behind may be pnfecled., and brought to a fitk end 
 in one day, 
 
 B. Cfafe yout Care [ my Friend ! ~\ nor do ^ cu 
 ought d "e ihis Sixth Day, but hourly encreafe rhc Fae 
 
 I by Decrees, and lV\i ir up niorc and mote, that r> 
 ycii m,av fee, by wliat nscans cur whi.c Cotitil t H 
 Milk W'ill by little and little pafs into avtllow Co-i 
 lour, and vvill at length be thoroughly R?d,' and abide 
 tnoir cor.Qant in the Fire. This fixed Redn:('T, the 
 Philofoplurs call their S-ibi/unJer : Tlie Potts t' lis 
 us a lale, cf a certain Worm tiiat lives in the F'rci 
 which cannot be burnt or confumed thereby. There- 
 fore, after the Pliilofjphcrs have brought tho'r v.orkf 
 fliroug!) all ttic Colours, and have ac length aftaincJ 
 fo far, as that there appears no other, but a mere 
 fixed Rednefs, they named it their Salanunder, with 
 which (if yoa except only Inceration and Multipli- 
 cation) they ended their work, and fo do we a!:o 
 finifli thefe our prelcnt Labours. 
 
 A Praife and Glory be to GoH., by wh^fe Divine help, 
 we have ( by fj happy and depred a Srtccefs ) promoted 
 our n>orl{_ to its moji deftred end. 
 
 B. Amen. And thus wi!! we now put an end to 
 our work, that fo we may fandlifie to morrow, which 
 is the feventh Day, to the Honour and Glory of the 
 Divine Bounty. 
 
 A. Ah^ my deareft Friend-., let me intreat you not to 
 involve me by your immature departure, in greater trou- 
 bles and difficulties. There are divers fcruples and doztbrs., 
 andthafe weighty ones too,thjt perplex my mind,which un- 
 hfs ynu remove afore^your going jway( br:t I hop: .yoit' i {Idy') 
 IJhjU of a certain Truth be tormented all this enfiiirg 
 Night with the moji bitter fill of Vif quiet and Anxiety, and 
 then you may well guffs rrith rebut mind I am I'kjly to 
 celebrate the to morrow Sabbath. For I am yet as pl.iinly 
 ignorant., what ufe to put that Salamander to. As cau- 
 cerniitjT thofe things., which yon ha-je faithfully dif.Lfd 
 unto me hitherto., J truji^ I jhall not err intheir Opera- 
 tion, but as touching Inceration and Multiplication , in 
 which, ai in two Cardinal main Points., the very [_ Pillar 
 cr'2 hinge of the ivhole Operation lyes., as you f aid, I mull 
 needs confefs my felf more Blind, as to them, than Tire- 
 fias was : I mu,i needs fay, th.it I bfbjld the promifed 
 Land fituate afore mine Eyes., hut the rray'ti}af Ladcth 
 thereunto is hedged in with fitch lhicl{fts , and fo many 
 Br ambles .,that I do not fee which vr ay 1 (hall extricate my 
 felf out of them. Vnlefs the mercy if Gcd., and your help 
 come in to my affifiance, I fee that all my Lahours nill 
 be in vain. 
 
 B. 'Tis no fmall trouble you bring me, by your rm- 
 portunity, don't you fee the approaching Evening. 
 You A(ft jufi: according to the Cultom of importunate 
 Men, who having once gotten ones out-held Finger, 
 do fnatch in the whole hand. At fir(\, you only en- 
 treated mx to difcover unto you the Matter and Kef 
 of the Alt, and faid, that you would ea{ilv find out 
 the reft your felf. Why then do you not feck thcrc- 
 after,and let me go? 
 
 A. Good Sir., be not difpleafed ivith this my importunity, 
 proceeding from the too earneji defre, I have, of knowinfr 
 jo great a Secret: And Chriji himjelf faith, if ye fl>ai 
 k>iocl{_., the Gate Jhall be opened unto you, 
 
 B. Well, Once I fee, that I mu(\ expe(5l no quicc 
 from you, till you do likewife learn fomething from 
 mic, concerning Inceration and Multiplication, I will 
 in a few words fet afore your Eyes, things of great 
 moment. Look to it, that you liften very Attentively. 
 
 A. Ida. 
 
 B. Have you not read in the Philofophers,whcn they 
 fpcak of Inceration, tiat the out-driven Soul is to be 
 rcHoifcd fo the dcsd King, that the dead Body nay 
 be recalled back to Life, and that it, arifiog with a 
 more glorious Body , and a more excellent Crdwn, 
 Cray prove a.T helper to its meaner Brethren. The 
 
 H Philofophers 
 
9' 
 
 ^he ^ooI{ of Dialogues. 
 
 Part III. 
 
 Philoropheis words are, as follows. Here tlie Soul lets 
 it ftlf down, and refreflicth the dead Body. For it is 
 not rufficient, that the King be deprived of Life and 
 fo left dead : No, no, for nccciTity requires, that its 
 Soul be refiored unto it, which may rcllore its Moti- 
 on, and loft Life, to the dead Body. Now, by how 
 much the oftner, the Soul and Life is taken away 
 from the King, and that which is taken away he again 
 rcftored thereunto, which fo much the ftronger and 
 more adive Body, and fo much the Magnificentcr a 
 Crown will he arife withal. By thefe few words 
 have I laid open unto \ou, Fnceration and Multipli- 
 cation. But yet there are other ways of increafing 
 our fixt Salamander , and rendring it fufible, viz.. by 
 the addition of Mercurial things, which, by their fpee- 
 dy Flux and penetratfngProperty, do pierce into this 
 our deftroyed Gold, diflblve it, and fo bring to pafs, 
 that there is made of them both ( viz. of the deftroy- 
 ed Gold, and which admits not of any redudiion, and 
 of the Volatile Mercury ) a certain fufiie mid ling Body, 
 which faid Body, thus conjoyned of the two, is to be 
 maturated by the bare Regiment of the Fire. And by 
 this Maturation, is this univerfal Medicament rendred 
 fo fulible, as to have Ingrefs into all the Metals, and 
 to penetrate them. 
 
 A. \_But fray Sir, ] It not this way of giving a more 
 eafie Ingreft and Flux to our defiroyed^ and irredmible^ 
 Gold, by the Mecury of Metals., more facile., and a 
 nearer one than that above/aid tvay, which requires a great 
 many Operations, by the reiteratingoflnceration audAful- 
 tiplication i 
 
 B. Yes Verily, it is a fliorter and eafier way, as be- 
 ing void of many tedious Labours, for it needs no- 
 thing elfe, but that the Mercury of fome Metals be put 
 into fonne good ftrong Glafs with the inverted Gold, 
 and be fo brought unto Fixation. But yet thisMedi- 
 camentjthat is on this wife wrought up with the § to a 
 conftancy in the Fire, cannot extend its Colour fo 
 largely, as that, which is rcndred fufible by fo many 
 leiterated Operations, becaufe, in every reiteration, the 
 Tind^ure is exalted and multiplied. And now, have 
 you any other demands ? if fo, be brief, for the Even- 
 ing approrcheth. 
 
 A. Tes, Sir, there are many things, that I would ask. 
 about, but feeing that my importunity is troublefome, I 
 J will at prefent re^ conteia with thofe things, I have 
 heard. Only, this one thing more would I gladly kjtow, viz 
 where I ought to feek^for the Soul of the King. 
 
 B. You muft look, whither you have driven it, and 
 there muft you feek it, and, having found it, you muft 
 reftore it to the c?ead King, and fo you will again be- 
 gin your Work, and you ftiall again bring it through 
 all the Variety of Colours, like as you did at thefirft 
 time. For when the Soul is reftored to the Body, 
 there is made a new Solution, which is to be again 
 putrefied, that it may turn back;, and then proceeding 
 farther on according to the fame way, as was done in 
 the hrft Operation, there will appear all the Colours, 
 and they too far more delicate than in the foregoing 
 Labour. The Crows head will be Blacker, the Dra- 
 gons Blood Redder ; The Lacvirginis Whiter, and the 
 Salamander more fufiie, than it was in the firft Ope- 
 ration- For by how much the oftner you fiiall repeat 
 this Mortification and Vivification of the King , fo 
 much the more -Magnificent, more precious, aod more 
 efficacious a TinOurc,will yon obtain. Believe it, and 
 give God t'le thanks, and be mindful of the Poor, 
 afToon f- - vcr you are Mafter of your Dcfires. Come 
 to me agJin upOn Munday, that I may alfo teach you 
 ( accoidmg to my Ptomifc ) the way of making ano- 
 
 ther Philofophical work out of the Polfonous, Vola- 
 tile, and black Saturnine Magntfa : Ai:d fo farevvd. 
 
 A. Ingoing away [pake thus with hi..jllf, I'raij'e and 
 Glory be unto God^who hath thus, by ths help of one .".-fan- 
 bfjiowed on me fo great a Grace. I novc go home with i 
 cheerfttl mind , and there will I mojl defroufy wait for 
 Mundays approach, that fa I may liken'tfe ^er, from mf 
 Friend fent me by God, that other worl^, l made ] o.vJ of 
 the Volatile and Philofophical Gold. But this Operatiun, 
 done with fixed Gold, doth pkafe metvondrouJJy wtll,efpe- 
 ciaSyfor this reafon^ becaufe, in every Reiteration, there do 
 always appear the fame Colours, which prefeiited themfthei 
 to view in the fir(i Operation. Who would ever have be- 
 lieved,that fo many, and fuch excellent Colours lay bid in 
 coihmon Gold .<* And now,iftbis can be demonjlratedin the 
 common Gold, what may be expeUed from the fecret Gold 
 of the Philofophers, in trhich ( they fay ) many more Co- 
 lours lye hid than do in common Gold. 'T// 4 common 
 ProverS,\_l confefs'] that he who fetkj from another comet 
 to know many things, but [^ufually ] renders himf elf un- 
 grateful : But yet however, I cannot chufe but prnpofe un- 
 to the Man one §ueftion more, perhaps fome fweet refrefh- 
 ing Solar Kay witlfhine upon me. My Friend I I am come 
 again unto you. 
 
 B. Well, tell me, what more you have to fay unto 
 me? 
 
 A. yij touchitig thofe things which I have fee n^ Ideftre 
 no farther Information concerning them. But, it will mofi 
 thoroughly ferve my turn, if you will be but pUafed to an- 
 fwer but unto one ^ejlion, which I pall propofe untoyeu: 
 And that is this, Forafmuch as almojl all the Philofophers, 
 in the defcription of their Stone, do tell us. That the King 
 is to be conjoyned, and Radically mixed,with the ^een in 
 a peculiar Mercurial Bath, that fo from them anOff-fpring 
 more noble than the Father may arife : And feeing likewife., 
 that the fame Philofophers do at large celebrate the Coition 
 of Mars and Venus ; Ady defire is very great., to under- 
 jiandyeur Opinion concerning this bufinefs, ' For if there 
 could happen, or proceed, any good effe^ from this Conjun- 
 Sion of Gold with Silver , or Mars with Venus , what 
 need would there be of fo many repeated Coclioni of the 
 Gold? _ * 
 
 B, This way, which you make mention of, is not 
 unprofitable ; and, to tell you the Truth, there are yet 
 nearer ways, the which 'whofoever enters into, will 
 equally become a Mafter of great Arcana's. I was 
 willing fo ftiew unto you the work upon bare Gold 
 only, for this reafon, viz. that you may fee with your 
 Eyes, and as it were feel with your hands, that thofe 
 moft eminent Colours do lye hid even in bare Gold 
 too ; which is a thing, that fcarce one of a thoufand 
 would have believed. And now being certainly affu- 
 red, about the lying hid of fo great a Tindure in Gold, 
 you may with the greater confidence fet about your 
 Operations. 
 
 A. Still more and more doth a brighter light fl;ine upon 
 me. Nor can I enough admire, when / lock, upon the Ro- 
 fey Colour of the Lyon, that out of fo fmall a Lyon, there 
 (huuld proceed fo great a quantity of Blood, coloured with 
 fo excellent and delicate a Colour, when as noiwithjiand- 
 ing, our of other much greater Animals, there is fcarce 
 extraSibte fo much Blood,as to anfwcr to the huH'drtth part 
 of this Blood. • 
 
 B. What > do not you underftand, by what means, 
 fuch an incredible quantity of Blood can flow forth out 
 of fo fmall a Lyon i What, do you not know, that the 
 whole Body of the Lyon, which is the King of all 
 Beatis, is nothihng elfe but the meie concentrated 
 Blood of the heart, one half Ounce flf which, being 
 boiled in ir.any hundred Ounces of water, doth turn all 
 
 that 
 
Part III. 
 
 "the Book of 
 
 Dia/co'Hes. 
 
 31 
 
 that water into Blood , as you your fdf have now 
 feen with your own Ey:s. 
 
 A. I co»ffJ'sy that tb.r; have nstv been JJuren to the 
 vitiv cf rK/'.'ff .'sv; Eyej^ ftich and fi gredt th^a^s^ the Itk^ 
 'of which I »ei;r heard fi much as one word of, from any 
 oiijers, N'> B <dy fvonld believe me, and ( »■/;/, h is tvurfe J 
 vtiite tliieniifs., nh-j are moji vile Civnpilert of infamous 
 LibelSy would ft upon mewithfioreofr,projches and lyes^ 
 and cjU me 'Joj>hi^\:r a'>dCh:iter^ and would fa;-^ thjt / 
 boyl fimt- Braille rrfcd, or other Red colouring Stuff in 
 Tpater^ and fo fell it for thi Kofey Blood rf the Lyon. ^'Ind 
 therefor e.,1 have no reafon to make JhtTp of any kjtowledge 
 if this Jo gr;fjt a Secret. 
 
 B. How? what will you be afiaid to be a reporter 
 bf the Truth ^ and to manifefl thefe great wonders of 
 God and Nature. That very way by which 1 fliew- 
 cd unto you, that that moft high Colour arifeth out of 
 Gold, by the felf fame way may you be able to fhiu 
 the detiltd mouths of ^our Enemies. And if they 
 will not believe, that there lyes hidden fuch a Colour 
 in Gold, they will be convinced by the (aid Lyons 
 Blood, which , being made bright hot in a Itrong 
 
 • Fire, and afterwards boiled again in other water, will 
 convert the fame, as it did the former, into Plood, and 
 this you mav even do, as often as you plea(e. By this 
 it is manifcftly evident, that the Blood of our Lyon is 
 incombuiHblc. And in our being bufied about thofe La- 
 bours of ours,there preftnt thcmfelves to our view,three 
 molt delicate Flowers ; The firll is, a Violet., dyed with 
 a mixt red and Sky Colour; Then, the White Li//y j 
 and at lalt, the immortal Antarartthms fiiining with a 
 Scarlet dye. But why, immortal;' For this icafon, be- 
 caufe neither the Itrongeft Fire, noi the IhtmgeftCor- 
 rofive waters can at all hurt it, or change its Colours. 
 The Amaranthus is tinged with the higheft and mort 
 conliant Colour, beyond all other Herbs and Flowers, 
 the which docs not (b foon vaniOi after the manner 
 of other Colours, which other Flowers have , but a- 
 bides conftant for many years, infomuch, that fuch an 
 Herb is kept both Winter arui Summer, tomakeOar- 
 land and Polies, or fuch like, withal. 
 
 A- If now any one tvttid b« fo h*ppj at la/}, as to en- 
 jnv that Amaranthus, be might prefeut many pious Vir- 
 gins ^ with Pofies and Garlands made thereof. 
 
 B. If you are dellrous of uiing the Lyons Blood in 
 your Operations, then follow Paracelfus his Dodrine, 
 in his Tifiunre of the Philofophers, where he feacheth, 
 that the Rofey Blood is to beconjoyned andfixt with 
 the white Clew of the Eagle-, which way feemsthe 
 nearert for the obtaining of the univerfa! Tinflure. 
 
 A. 1 am delighted with he.iring of this : Ihe Rofey 
 Blood of the Lvnt I have, but yet Iwant the white Glew 
 of the Ea^le •, which if I could but get inti tny paw- 
 f r , I would coMJnyn them both together without any 
 more delay ^ and bring them to Fixation. But I cannot 
 fu^dently enough admire at this, vii. that Paracelfus 
 hath made no mention, rf cnnjoyning the Virgins Milk^ »f 
 Diana with the Kings Blood. 
 
 B. Paracelfus has not therefore injured any, in bis 
 not manifefling all things fo clearly and openly, feeing 
 it is the Cuftoni with other Phiiofopheis to do the 
 like : If you are defirous to ufe Gold and Silver con- 
 joyned together, in your working, then deal with the 
 Silver, juft as 1 taught you to do with the Gold, and 
 make thereof an incombuftible LacVirginis., and fuch 
 as admits not of any Redudion ■■, the which is to be 
 conjoyi^ed with the incorrbuftibic Biood of the Lyon, 
 and to be put into a Vcffcl, that fo thefe two Bodies, 
 being conjoyned, may be n^oft conllantly [[ or firmly "] 
 united, and may never be fcparated from each other 
 
 I by any kind of disjcvyning. But, that you may yet 
 better un'icilland the whole bulincfs, I will fuojoyn 
 a few words more. Cur white Eagle being pur in 
 con:;mon V\ater, ma^<ts the fame, wherein it.is dilTl- 
 vcd, fo tenacious aud glutinous, as that, it can glew 
 Paper Or otlicr thn:j.'S together i and, therefore it is 
 not without caufe, that this our fecrct Salt is ter-ned 
 by Philofophcrs, the Glew of the Eagle. For thefe 
 things, which this Glew joyns together pan never more 
 be fcparated from each other, anJ fhis is one mutuil 
 Bond, by which the Husband and . e Wife are fo 
 linked together, that they cannot f parate from one 
 another. It doth nor n.uch differ frum the tye of 
 Marriage, by which, the Husband and the Wife, or 
 the young Man and N'a'd, are by Gods Command fo 
 knit and bound to f xh other by the ordinary Minifler 
 of God , tfat nothing lut Death ^an feparate them. 
 If now a Man and Woman joyn thcmfelves together 
 without the legitimate and publick Bond of Matri- 
 mony, thev beget illegitimate CI.ildren,and can ( when 
 they pleafe) break that Conjundion of theirs, and 
 depart the one from the other, btcaufc they are not 
 coupled with thai Marriage, that proceeds fro-r, the 
 Command andj Will of God j which faid coupling 
 or Matrimony is in repute, and is generally obftrved 
 for a common Cuftoiii , and as bei;;g the Will and 
 Command of God, not only amongft us Chnjhans, 
 but likewifc amongft Jews, 'tttrkj , and Heathens, 
 throughout the whole World. And for this reafon, 
 the Fhilofophers were pkafed to introduce the like 
 coupHngor Marriage in their woik, and that not on- 
 ly of Sol with Lune , but likewife of Mars v/ith Vim 
 nits : Which Copulation, if wanting in thefe two laft 
 V_vlz. $ and i •.~\ their conjoyning cannot have any 
 good and happy Succefs, as daily experience witneffeth. 
 But now if Mars and Venus be coupled by aPrieft in 
 the lawful Bond of Matrimony, they likewife bring 
 forth legitimate Children, and fuch as may be promo- 
 ted_unto Kingly Dignities. I could yet kindle more ' 
 light unto you here, concerning this our Philofophical 
 Copulation, viz. by what means the moft inconftant, 
 and moll highly Vi)latile, things may ( by the Opera- 
 tion of the fame ) be fo conjoyned, as th^t they can 
 never afterwards be loofened from their infeparable 
 knitting together. But at the prefent you arc not ca- 
 pable of bearing any more. Whatfoever hath been 
 now omitted, by reafon of the (hortnefs of time, fliall 
 be made up at our next meeting and Conference. But, 
 one thing more comes in mind, which I would have 
 you to know ; and 'tis this. When you would make 
 any good thing of Mars and Venus, you mult in an 
 cfpecial manner beware of their grofs Bodies, which 
 are Leprous and unfit for our work. 'Tis their Blood 
 you mult feek after, the Blood, 1 fay, of their inmoft 
 Heart, and the true Soul that lyes hidden in that 
 Biood, which is fo very near a kin to the Royal Blood, 
 And now,that you may enjoy fuch a moft noble Blood, 
 you muft not imitate the Country fellows, who,thrulling 
 a knife into the Hogs necks, do fave that Blood that 
 flows out from thence, to make Puddings withal, and 
 take both good and bad Blood together. No ! You muft 
 therefore in the firft place, know for a certain Truth, 
 that you mult feparate out of that grolTer Blood of 
 $ and I, that moft fubtil Arterial Blood of (he Heart, 
 without which Separation, you may not expeH: any 
 good fucceeding Event. W'hich faid Separation, fee- 
 ing, 1 know, that you are ignorant of, 1 have thought 
 good to fet it afore your Eyes, which more clear and 
 more perfpicuous Expreflions. [ Know then J that 
 that moft pure Blood is never gotten by any other 
 
 means 
 
32 
 
 The Bgo{ of 'Dialogues, 
 
 Part III. 
 
 mean?, but by the Corruption and Deflrudion of the 
 Venereal and ^^artial BoHy i By which helps, thtfe, 
 fo grofs and hard Bodies are in fuch wife opened, that 
 thciiitroft and molt fubtil blood may be drawn our of 
 them. Bi;t yet, thcr's no need of deliio^ing their Bo- 
 dies by Jqn^ Fortis, feeing that Nature her felt exhi- 
 bits iir.to us their Bodies already opened, in Vitriol, 
 and hath left no more for us to do, but (lie Labour ot 
 ^xtradi-ing the moft pure part thereout of. I'or even 
 i.i the common Vtmet, Nhn and Vemi are found con- 
 loyned bv Nature. And now, when we would draw 
 thereout of the moft pure Blood, fuch zVitrioJ is to 
 be chofen. which never hath been as yet in the Fire, 
 tliis, Vitrial is to be diffblved in water, and to be 
 'filtered and feparatcd from all its Feces. This green 
 Vitriol contains hidden in its felf, the Blood of that 
 oreen Lyon, out of which, the faid Blood is to be ex- 
 Traced by the help of a certain Magi et, that fo the 
 unproJitableand grofs Body may remain bchind._ For 
 'tis the Spirit that viviHes, the Bidy is unprohtable. 
 But now in your cxtradling this Blood thus pure, you 
 muft not be ion greedy, but have a Care, that you ex- 
 traft no more than a little of the beft Blood : W'hich 
 •if you do not heedfuUy n.ind, you will alfo extrad to- 
 igctli^r with the pure Blood, the more giofs and more 
 'impure, and foyourwo'rk will be fpoil'd. For ^ou 
 need only the beft and' moft fubtil white Blood ot 
 Ji'Lnf and Venus. For, like as the fubtileft and no- 
 bleft Blood of all the Animials is riot Red, but White, 
 Ti'/i. the Sperm:] Even fo, the B ood of Mjn and 
 /'>>;«/, which com.prehends the Virtues of the whole 
 Body,' and the true propagating Seed, is tinned with 
 a white Colour, in the fearchot which, 'tis expedient 
 Tve beftow our Labour. Therefore, after that we have 
 extraded, V, the help of our Magnet, fome two or 
 three half Ounces of white Blood, out of twenty 
 Founds of Vitriol diffolved in water, we then take it 
 • ' out, left it fliould alfo extr»d the moft grofs Blood 
 ,too' when it can find no more of the white Blood un- 
 ext'taeled. You had therefore need be cautelous in the 
 cxtraflion of that Tindurc,and be circumfped in the 
 ■ Accompliflimentof the fame. ' For we are taught by 
 Nature and Experience, that, in the Coition of Male 
 "and Female there doth naturally concur a white Blood 
 to the Propagation of their Off-fpring, and in defedt 
 of that, Nature is conftrained to fend forth a vile and 
 led Blood. Therefore, we muft here endeavour, with 
 our utm-oft Care and Indurtry,to purchafe byourex- 
 tradion the ir.oft pure Whitenefs, and not the moft 
 grcfs Rednefs. for in- that white Virgins Milk he 
 hidden all Colours, and the higheft Rednefs.^ This 
 white Virgins Milk, you rnay promote to a Fixity and 
 Ccnftancy, in a pure clean Glafs, without the Additi- 
 on of any other thing, the which, after its being dry- 
 cd, will become black, and will be tranllatcd out of 
 the black Colour into fevcral others, and at length' 
 fliines with the higheft Rednefs, which puts an end to 
 the Operation. . 
 
 But as c6nccrr.ing our Magnet, feeing you know it 
 already, you will no? need any farther inftrudion a- 
 bnut it. You have thus heard my Opinion about Mirs 
 and V^atu , and have undcrfiood , by what means 
 fome good thing may be. thence had. Nci-her muft 
 ^ou perfuad'e your felf, that there is any other way of 
 having any Benefit out of them i how great is the num- 
 ber of thofe, who by their vain Labours have migh- 
 [f?fy endamaged thcmfJves, following the Writings 
 "ef B'filfHr, 'in whicfThc teacheth to make a Red Oyl 
 out of r''"'r//>i. ''-hich he calls Gold Philofophical _ The 
 Bare litcrar-Sei.fe is not ahvays. and evciy where in his 
 
 Writings to be taken. There is no doubt, but that 
 no fmali benefits are to be had out of Vitriol. For the 
 Philofophers themfelvcs do hint forth unto us, the 
 benefit therein hidden, in thefe words ; Vifiti-.bis., In- 
 ttriora, 'fern^ ReUihcjndo, Iitveniu, OccttltHm., Lapi- 
 dem, Veram^ Msdicinam •, To« {hall Vifit the i»vard 
 piTts of the Earth, and by KeElificatioH yottfliaU pud an 
 hidden Stone, a true Medicine. And now at !aft, to clofe 
 up this our Conference with fome profitable Admoni- 
 tion, know, that I would have thee forbear from the 
 
 troublefome Codlion of the imperfecfl Metals, by rea 
 fon of the too many imptmfks, which create many 
 Moleftations in the Separation of them, and eaufe 
 much lof; of time. 'Tis better, that you take in hand 
 Sol and D to perfe;fl; the Work withal , which Metals 
 do mioft abundantly contain in them, the Red and 
 White Tinfture, and are already freed by Nature from 
 moft of their impurities. And although, I have not as 
 yet made the univerfal Tindlurc out of J and D, yet 
 there hath appeared unto m.e fo much, from fo many, 
 and fuch various Operations, that I do not in the 
 leaft doubt, but that the immortal yimaranthus may . 
 be made out of them i whereunto you may boldly 
 give Credence, without doubting at all. 
 
 The COROLLARY, 
 
 Or J T^rcfcnt over and above. 
 
 IN this Dialogue, the Dragons Blood is fo defcribed, 
 as if it needed full fix whole days Operations, to 
 be perfefled and brought to its full end, nor did I 
 then know any nearer way. But afterwards, there 
 became known unto me a nearer and mere compen- 
 dious Procefs, whereby I can now (Praife and Glory 
 be to God for the fame ) in a few hours time intro- 
 vert and tranfmute the diffolved Gold, and reduce it 
 into a Red Blood, and that by the help 
 ?"/]','■ f"^' of one only certain White Vrimus fub- 
 p. yi.jp. 49. jjj^^jg ^ concerning which, I have trea- 
 ted more at large in the fifth Part of my Pharmacopea 
 Spa^yrica. And upon the fame Account have I like- 
 wife written, that the faid of Blood of Gold muft 
 [ needs] at length get an eafie Fluxibility and In- 
 gre'fs by the frequent Iteration, or Abftra^tion of the 
 moift Spirits from the dry Gold. But forafmuch aS 
 the Multiplicity of fuch AbHradions is not only full 
 of laborious Operations, but alfo chargeable and re- 
 quires much time ^ and that the ftudiou? Searcher after 
 fo great a Secret, may not by being aff'edled with the 
 Tedioufnefsof fomany toylfome Operations, be quite 
 weary, and at laft throw cft^ all hopes: I do therefore 
 commend unto every one, that other and nearer way 
 of getting it a Fufibility and Ingrefs, t\z. the inccrat- 
 ing it by Mercury, by the benefit whereof, he will far 
 fooner and cafier arrive unto his purpofe and final Scope. 
 And although I have hitherto been hindred through 
 j want of time, befidcs (many other impediments) from 
 ' having coa plcatly finiftied the Operation of ihe faid 
 Tindture. Yet notwithftanding, I do with an affurcd 
 and undoubted confidence affirm unto every one, that 
 there is given a moft certain occafion [ or Capability] 
 of the making and finiOiingit, and that by the hither- 
 to defcribed way. I bequeath to fuch- of our Pofteri- 
 ty, as are of a Good, Sincere, and faithful mind, thofe 
 things which 1 have wrought with m.ine' own hands', 
 
 and' 
 
Part HI. 
 
 'The T^ook^ of T^ialomes. 
 
 33 
 
 and withal to what iflue I haVe brought all my Ope- plentifully and abundantly preparing the Lyons Bloo(i» 
 rations. It is free for every one (as time and occalion | and of performing no (mail matttrs therewith in si 
 ferves) to make Tryal about attaining onto the | Phyfical way: And therefore I fliall be well content^ 
 wirt-,t for end. For my part, I do heartily thank though I never arrive unto the difircd end of finifn- 
 God, that he hath vouchfafed unto mc the Ability of ing the Operation of the univerfal Tindf ute. 
 
 The Second Dialogue ^ or Conference^ Or a Continuation of the prece^ 
 dent Qolloquy or Dialogue, treating of the Preparation of an uriiDer-* 
 fal dSMedicament out of the blacky venemom and Volatile , Saturnine 
 
 Magnefia. 
 
 B 
 
 LeJJeJ be the tismt of the Lord, who haih 
 caufed another Day to jJ)ine upon me. I vfiU 
 prefently hafie to m\ faithful Majier^ and 
 mil beg from him the Docirine of the fecond 
 univerfal Medicament^ that he pramifed unto me. 
 
 AU hayt t''yee, my dearefi of Friends .' God Grant that 
 this Day may prove happy and lucky to me and you : I 
 am come hither to hear from you., if it /land mith your 
 Canveniency, to makf good your Courteous Fromifes at thU 
 frefent^ and to teach me the making and Preparation of 
 your fecond univerfal Adedicamenf.For / have an exceeding 
 ardent defire^ to kjtow the manner of Preparing it-, out of 
 that Volatile and poyfbnous Mineral. 
 
 B, I thank you for yoiir good Wiflies, and wiftj un- 
 to you the fame you wifht mc. Look here, here's a 
 piece of our venemous Saturaine Magnrfu., which is 
 the true Matter , that the Philofophers Stone is pre- 
 pared out of. 
 
 A. I pray, is this blach^ ftone the true Matter^ out nf 
 which is jvont to he made the univerfal TinEiure, and 
 Stine of the voife Men ? Verily I much tfonder, that this 
 Jhould be the Gold of the PhiUfophers, I am extraordi- 
 narily deftrous of feeing., by tchjt means Jo excellent a 
 Medicament, and fo noble aliMllure can arife out of fa 
 bafe and venemous a Body. I jhould rather adhere to that 
 old and common Proverb, and fay, IVha can rvap the 
 Blackmoore white, rvbich Nature hath generated Blacl<^? 
 7 his HOW feems unto me more ejiranged from the Truth, 
 tbsn thjt which you propounded laft week^ of the common 
 Gold. For bow could it feem at all likfly to any ones 
 tare reafon, that fuch a Body could be brought into a no- 
 thing, and again reduced unto a certain Body : But time 
 will mflruli, whether this be peffible or not. I will there- 
 fore very patiently W'ait for the Event of thofe things ywhicb 
 youJI}j!lfljew unto me. 
 
 B. W hat ? Still more incredulity, and do you a- 
 new produce [and Pradife 3 the Faith of unbelie- 
 ving Thomas ([ visi,. to fee and led afore you believe ? J 
 What do you think, I would go about to pcrfuade 
 you, that you have a wooden Nofe flicking on to your 
 Face? Alas, Sir! my time is a little more precious 
 than fo, to fpend it in an unprofitable Tattling. And 
 that time which I now beHow upon this our Confe- 
 rence, is fpcnt to this end, to free you from your un- 
 belief, and to bring you unto a (rue and evident Cre- 
 dency, to the performance of which, I am flirred up 
 by the Authority of the Sacred Writ, which Com- 
 mands, that we reclaim fuch as err, into the right 
 way, and that we fhall receive from God this re- 
 ward for our Labour, viz. our Star fliall (hine in Hea- 
 ven blighter tlian others. Btfides Chrillian love re- 
 quires the fame at our hands, that we do good to o- 
 thers. And forafmuch as I have well known your 
 
 Chrinidn like Converfatlon, and Godly way of living 
 thefe many years part, why fliould I deny you the 
 things you demand, or wind you into the Intricacies 
 of a greater Labyrinth, feeing you have but too long 
 ftuck in them already ? The things which you can- 
 not at firA underftand or believe, the end will at lad 
 conftrain you thereunto. Your part is to li(\en very 
 attentively to all the words, I am about to fpcak. For 
 I can ealily take away from you all incredulity, and 
 remove out of your mind every Scruple of doubting. 
 How fourely you look upon this black Mineral, wcU, 
 but you fliall prefently find, that all the moft delicate 
 Colours of the whole World are moft abundantly found 
 therein i and by the help of an Art dcfcribed by the 
 Philofophers, they will appear one after the other in 
 Operation, even from the Black head of theCrfln», to 
 the Red Salamander. 
 
 A. Blefs me, what an ardent aifirs have 1 to fee thejt 
 things ? 
 
 B. Have you not read in the Philofophers, that th^ 
 pure is to be feparated from the impure, and the pu- 
 rer part is to be ripened? Separate, fay they, the pure 
 from the impure, and bring it to Maturity. And they 
 call Separation, the wafhing away of the Blacknefs, 
 which being wafht off, the Whitencfs prefents it felf 
 to\iew? The Fire (fay they) and Azoth waftiLj- 
 tun j Laton fignifics our black Mineral : Aioth figni- 
 fies their ftrong Acetum, which wetteth not the hands. 
 This Acetum, as well as our Salarmoniack^ Qafore men- 
 tioned J hath its Rife from common Salt. Both of 
 them, as to the external fhape , and tafte too, and 
 Efficacy and Virtue are in a manner juft alike. With 
 fuch an Acetum is our black Matter diffolved into a 
 Snowy- white, pellucid and very clear, water, as you 
 may here fee. This water have the Philofophers called 
 their Mercury ^ In it, are hidden all the Colours that 
 arc in the vrholc World, but yet not vifibly evident, 
 afore that this water, or this Mercury be pwt upon the 
 water, Q I believe he means, upon the Fire] and be 
 cheriflied by little and little, like Hens Eggs, which 
 cherifliing drys up the water by little and little, irito 
 Earth , and , renders the Colours vifiblc one after 
 another, as you fliall prefently fee. 
 
 A. [_ Good lack, ] who would ever have believed, tht 
 things wkich I at prefent See ? Our Mercurial water hath 
 been fcarce three Days in digefiion, yet begins to change 
 it felf into a White Milk^ And now it is [_ but ] the 
 eighth djy, and this fa-.d Milk, goes into a Coagulum or 
 Curd, and within in the CLfs about the Edges | of the 
 Matter 2 there P>ints a delicate Rednefs, but yet I believe 
 It is not fixt or ConflaMt. 
 
 B. Pray, how can it be conflant, feeing it does but 
 reprefent the Dragons Blood and will pteftntly bcgcne. 
 
 I But 
 
5+ 
 
 ^he ^oq}{ of Dialogues, 
 
 Part III. 
 
 But, proceed you but on with this firft Degree of Fire 
 only, and that little and little, until the whole water 
 be turned into an afhy Colour'd earth ; When this is 
 done, we will encreafe the Fire by little and little, one 
 Degree more, which willleifutely turn the afliy Colour 
 into a Black one. 
 
 A. I ttPitl life my utmofl diligence and ohfervancj. 
 
 B. Do you fee now that lleeke and fhining Black- 
 ncfs like the Head of the Crorp, covered over with 
 abundance of black and very fmall Feathers : And 
 upon this Account, the Philofophers have called this 
 thus appearing Colour, the Crows head. To this black 
 Crorps head, admini(kr the third Degree of Fire, 
 which will tranfnnute this black head into various, 
 moft delicate Colours , flilning like and » : Then 
 continue on this degree of Fire, that all the faid un- 
 ftable Colours may vaniOi, and may prefent to view 
 the white Colour. After Whitenefs, follows Yellow- 
 nefs, which at laft will be covered over with the 
 conftant and pernnanent Rednefs : Which appearing, 
 the fourth Degree of Fire is to be adminiftred, that 
 that Rednefs may be more and more exalted, and 
 waxing Redder may attain unto its due Fixity and 
 Conrtancy i the which,by way of fimilitude, the Phi- 
 lofophers call, a Salamander , arid is the end of our 
 whole Work. 
 
 A. I fljould never have fo much as dreamt, that Jo 
 hhc'k a Body could in fo fioort a [pace of time have been 
 tranfmuted into a moft pure Whitenefs , and that this 
 fame Whitenefs could-, by an admirable pajfing through 
 all Colours, pifs into amoji ddicate Rednefs, but Ipray-) 
 rvhentbis Matter hath obtained this Kednefs^ is it to bf 
 accompted </, as an Vniverfal Medicine ? 
 
 B, Yes, Verily, bqtaufe all the curable Difeafes of 
 Men, may (by that fame Matter) be reftored to for- 
 mer Health •, and thatfafer, better and perfcdliier than 
 can be done with any Herbs, or any other known Me- 
 dicaments. I except that Medicament, which is ex- 
 traded out of this, and concentrated into a much 
 nobler Nature. But, as concerning the Tranfmuta- 
 tion of Metals, it yields not any Protit,afore it be made 
 fixt and conftant in the Fire i to the effecaing of 
 which theie is required a fufficiently great fpace of time. 
 
 A. As far as lean underji and., there may' be a yet 
 better and profitabler Medicament prepared, than this is. 
 
 B. Yes, Verily, that there may, a much better and 
 more ufeful, becaufe. that with this, there arc as yet 
 admixt many unprofitable Feces , which ought to be 
 feparatcd therefrom : And the Cafe is far otherwife 
 in the perfcfting of this Work out of this Mineral, 
 then in that which is done with Gold, for this is all 
 over defiled with many impurities: For every one 
 muft needs think, that there are abundance of Feces 
 1^ that are to be] feparated from that Mineral, and 
 by how much the more impunities are feparated, fo 
 much the more efficacious muft the Medicament it 
 felf of neceility be. Now in this prefent Degree and 
 State it is brought unto by us, it would be fufficient 
 for all kind of Difeafes i which if we would yet have 
 to be far more efficacious and ftror.ger, it would be 
 expedient, that We feparate yet tlie more unprofitable 
 and ufciefs Feces,and concentrate the more pur£ EflTence 
 into a more narrow Room and lelTcr Body. For 'tis 
 the Soul only orQuinteffencc of things, that heals 
 Difcafts. The (lulls or husks bring no Profit at all, 
 and this the Husbandmen well know ; for they fepa- 
 rate the husks and chalf from the Corn , afore they 
 bake Bread. The Medicinal Virtues of Herbs and 
 Minerals are but of a frrall weight, afore they arc 
 hud from th'e" Bonds and Fetters of their Bodies: 
 
 But now, after that they are feparated from their Bo- 
 dies, they can perform incredible cfFc(5^s even in a 
 moft fmall quantity, and fuch as the great weight of 
 that Body, whence they are cxtradcd, will never tifcdt. 
 Look but on a living Man that is in good Health, with 
 how ready and nimble aMotioncan he ftir hisLirribs, 
 and what ftrength he can put forth : But as foon as 
 ever the Soul ftiall have feparated it ftif from the Body, 
 how infeniiblc and immoveable the Body lies, and 
 not ferviceable for any life ? It is therefore a ccrtaio 
 and undoubted Truth, that the Life of all things 
 wanteth weight, and this (hall be more clearly, and 
 more evidently demonftrated by the Concentration 
 of this univerfal Medicament. For that which one 
 Ounce, now, does, of this thus prepared Medicament •■, 
 half an Ounce, when concentrated, will perform the 
 fame : And that which half an Ounce of this Medi- 
 cament once concentred will effed: ;, one quarter part of 
 an Ounce, or a Dram of the fame twice concentra- 
 ted, will effedf the fame. And according to this com- 
 pute, may you proceed on farther. For by how much 
 the oftner the prepared Medicament is concentrated, 
 fo much the more Feces are feparatcd therefrom: And 
 by how much narrowlier the Virtues are contradcd, 
 fo much the greater effcds do they produce. And 
 thus there needs not in a manner any weight in Medi- 
 cinal ufe. That which ten Grains of an unconccntrated 
 Medicament is wont to accomplifh, you will eifedthe 
 fame with one Grain of the Medicine,when concentred, 
 to be put either in Ale or Wine for fome hours, if need 
 be, or elfc held in the Mouth. For foe it will no lefs 
 difplay its occult Virtues and Powers, than if the 
 Powder of the not concentrated Medicament had been 
 otherwife drunk down. Befidcs too, fuch a Medica- 
 ment may be a long time ufed without lofing of its 
 Virtues, and that not only inwardly, but outwardly 
 alfo in all Wounds, Ulcers, and fuch like external 
 afFeds. For all new Wounds , as alfo old Ulcers 
 whatfoever they be, are happily cured by the laying 
 on of thofc Medicaments, if the fame Medicines be 
 likewife ufed inwardly. Nor needs there here many 
 Emplaffers, Cataplsfmes, and Ointments ; Concerning 
 which thing, fee more in the Fifth Part of my Phar- 
 macopan Spagyrica, where the ufe of this Medicament 
 is treated of. 
 
 Read alfo thofe things, which that mofl cxcell-nt 
 Fhilofopher VanHelmont declares of another certairl 
 Philofophf r, Butler by Name, viz. that he had a cer- 
 tain Stone, at London in EnglaHd,wh\c\\ being fweld a 
 very little in Oyl Olive, rendred the fame exceeding- 
 ly Viituous, that fom.e few drops thereof taken into 
 the Body, would drive away the moft grievous Df- 
 fcafcs, and being outwardly applyed to Wounds []or 
 Sores J would fpeedily heal them. Thefe things Hf/- 
 mont teftifixs to be true, as being an Eye witnefs of 
 the fame. But I do not attribute fuch incredible Vir- 
 tues unto my Medicament, for as much as 1 my felf 
 doubted of this Story of Butler, and could not believe* 
 that any Medicament could be promoted to this fo 
 high a Degree of powerful Efficacy : But now, feeing 
 I perceive that it is polBble to Art, for the Virtues of 
 things to be contraded into a narrow Room, and be 
 concentrated ; 1 do upon good ground caft this doub- 
 ting off from my mind, and adhere to thofe things 
 which I fee with mine Eyes, and touch with my Hands. 
 Certain, and fiimly undoubted it therefore is, that not 
 only the Medicinal Virtues and Powers of this our 
 Matter may be contraded into fuch a narrow Com- 
 pafs, as to cffedl an hundred fold more in Medicine, 
 than that more grofs Body could do: But alfo this 
 
 may 
 
Part III. 
 
 Tk 
 
 Bool^ of 
 
 Dialooues. 
 
 iTiay be acquired or effe(ned too, viz. that hidden Co- 
 lour or 1 infturc in our black Ma^nsfta may like- 
 wife be concentrated, together with that Multiplica- 
 tion of Virtues-, infomuch, that in. the fcvcral Con- 
 centrations, the Colour of the concentrated Body may 
 be exalrcd, the which, moli high Colour, or exalted 
 Tindture can never at any fine be gotten, without 
 our fecret Concentration: iFor othcrwife, if there 
 were no need o\ that Concentration, it would necef- 
 farily follow, that that Mj_?,ftejia of oms would be no 
 other than a moft pure Body, not at all needing any 
 ablurion of its grofs , and unproHtable,' and black 
 impurity : But this is not fo, as we faid afore about 
 the Gold, which is pure in its own Nature, and of 
 it felf void of all Derilements, and being a ripe Body 
 and mere Tinfture, needs no other thing, than this, 
 that its inward Parts be turned outwards , and its 
 outward Parts inward, by that Philofophical intro- 
 verlion, and that fo its external Ycllownefs may be- 
 take it ftlf inwards, and the internal Rednefs may 
 come forth outwards, or ( to fpcak the more clearly } 
 that the manifeft Ycllownefs may be hidden, and the 
 hidden Rednefs may be mariifcfled. But now, the 
 Cafe is not thus with this our black Earth, and im- 
 pure Saturnine Mineral ;, in the which , both good 
 and evil, pure and impure, Poifon and Medicine lye 
 mixt togethtl : Infomuch, that it is altogether ne- 
 ceflary to fcparate the black and grofs impurity, from 
 that noble and tender Medicinal Pearl, and to reduce 
 it unto Fixity. 
 
 A. Jf^ith gaping Mouthy and open Ejei , do I even 
 fipalloiv down your Vifcotirfe^ and yet I cannot pierce into 
 the Foundation of the whole bi/fwefr , »or underhand it. 
 Tot* fpeak^ of fitch an artificial CorKer.tration, and which 
 is beyond all my apprehenfuns^ for I never in all my whole 
 Life time heard any thing of it, as far as 1 remember^ 
 much lefs read ought concerning it. 
 
 B. I will fct before you then a Similitude, that fo 
 you may the readilcr underftand the knack. Examine 
 well, and confider. Wine, Ale, or the Lees of Wine > 
 and by your fcarching you (hall find, that there is in 
 them but very little of the Corroborating Spirit, or 
 Soul, the remainder is nothing clfe but mere impu- 
 rities, denitute of all Virtues. Now if fomc Phyfi- 
 cian or other (hould adminifter to his Patient a large 
 Cupful of Lees, to cheer and comfort his heart withal, 
 would you not accufe him of ignorance, and Folly > 
 For though there is fomthing of comforting Virtues 
 in the troubled Lees, yet it is impeded, or clogged, 
 by the great quantity of the dreggy Lees, from right- 
 ly performing its proper Office. But put Cafe, that 
 it could difplay its own Virtues, yet neverthelefs, even 
 the admixt impurity would alfo exercife its own ac- 
 cuflomed Evil, and fo the Good would be confounded 
 with the Evil, or rather be quite over powred by the 
 fame. For this reafon , there is nothing more ne- 
 cefTiry , than that the good be feparated from the 
 evil, before any thing be uftd about making Medi- 
 cine. Therefore even as there are Workmen to be 
 found, who, by the vulgar Di'Hllation and Reiftirica- 
 tion, do fcparate the Heart-rtfrcfhing Spirit out of the 
 fordid Lees of Wine and Ale, and bring it unto ufe, 
 give the remaining filthy dreggs and ufelels Feces to 
 the Hogs to eat : Even fo do we ( the Lovers of the 
 5/'jfyr/ijl^ Art) fcparate the pure Virtues and Powers 
 of things from the grofs, fordid, and noxious impu- 
 i:ities, afore we adminilkr them to our Patients 
 
 A. As ioiicenitng thefe Sayings of yours^ lam clear- 
 ly of your Opinion.^ and ivithal do flici^ clfe to that cotn- 
 mrn Frcverb^ which faitb^ Speak^ that which is Trmb., 
 
 55 
 
 eat that, which is hj^fd, and dnnk^ that nhi h is clear^ 
 if yon be defirous of a Img Lije. For my pan^ 1 de- 
 light to have the Kernels., and pureed or cleanfed Fruits^ 
 and willingly le.;ve the buskj and (hells to the St»ine, 
 that are delighted with Bran and Chaff, and thnr own 
 DuHg. 
 
 B. I am extreamly fatisfied, that I have already 
 (thanks be to God ) fecn the whole Work, and have 
 a fufficient thorough underflanding of the whole Balis 
 of the fame, v/z. that the purer and fubtilcr part is 
 to be feparated from the more impure and grofTer 
 parr, and, by an often repeated Separation, and artifi- 
 cial Concentration, to be advanced into a mofl fub- 
 tile, moft pure, and mtfl noble Quinteffence, if any 
 one has a mind to produce effefts of fome great 
 moment, or to do more than common things. And 
 now, as you have leart^ed, from the words of our 
 precedent Conference , the way of making an uni- 
 verfal Medicine out of common Gold : So have you 
 likewife again received, from this our prefent difcour- 
 fing together, the Confecflion of the univerfal Medi- 
 cament, out of our Saturnine Magnefxa., which is the 
 toot of the vulgar Gold. But, although both of thefe 
 Medicaments are, as per fe and lingly alone, very ex- 
 cellent and effed^ual enough, yet notwithftanding it 
 plainly, and clearly appears unto our ken, that the 
 power and Virtues of both the univdrfal Medicines 
 admit of being promoted unto a far higher Degree * 
 the which thing we fee is poffible to be done by the 
 means of Conjundtion, and is to be thus underftood. 
 When a Seed is implanted into its own growing 
 Root, it attrads out of fuch a Root, which is of its 
 own kind, or Nature afar better, and more nourifhing 
 Alimentary juice, than out of the gfbfs Earth. For 
 example, The Seed of a Kape Root being put in the 
 Earth, produceth Rapes of the fame bigncfs that the 
 Rapes were of, from whence the Seed came : And as 
 often as you fliall commit that Seed ( by fowing) to 
 the Earth, you fhall, notwithfianding, never have 
 greater and better Rapes than thofe, from whence the 
 Seed was taken. But now, if the Seed of fome Rape 
 be fown into fome other Rape which is in the Earth, 
 and which hath grown unto the half of its bignefs al- 
 ready ^ that Seed will fprout forth, and grow up like as 
 the other Seeds planted in the Earth will do, but yet 
 fooner, becaufe it finds a better Nutriment in its own 
 Mother, than that docs, which is planted in the bare 
 Earth ; And hereupon, it muff neccffarily produce a 
 greater Rape Root, and from the greater Root will pro- 
 ceed a greater Seed. And this is the reafon, that 
 there are fuch great grown Rapes, which make every 
 Body wonder at them : Some fuch I have feen, that 
 weighed ten, twelve, yea and twenty Pound weight. 
 If you have a mind to try, fow a few Rape Seeds, 
 throwing them into the Earth, which when they fhall 
 have grown to the bignefs of an Egg, take a wooden 
 ftarp ffick, and make therewith a fmali hole, even 
 into the middle of the faid Kjpc',and then put there- 
 into your Rape Seed, and ffop up the hole with foft 
 [clammy] Potters clay, that fo the Rain may not get 
 in and rot the Root. Thus now, that Seed will alfo 
 ( as being in its own Root ) grow up out of this Rape., 
 exiffing and growing in ihe Earth, and will dilate that 
 its Root, and advance it to a greater bignefs. The 
 Reafon's this, becaufe it can attract unto it felf a 
 better and more convenient Nourifhment from a Root 
 of its own kind, than out of the bare Earth. And 
 if you fhall pradfife thus with other Seeds likewife, 
 you will e/re(ft the fame, as with this. N.B. From 
 the Seeds of fmall Radijhes , implanted into gre« 
 
 Rape 
 
36 
 
 ne Bool<^ of '^Dialogues, 
 
 Part III. 
 
 F.ape Koots, there grow huge Radijbes. Tliis kind of 
 Propagation may not unfitly be likened to a Mothers 
 fuckling her Infant, which attradlcth and draws its 
 Nourifliment from the Mothers Breads : But the Mo- 
 ther it felf receives her Noiirifhmcnt from the Fruits 
 of the Earth , and that, being changed into a fweet 
 Milk, fupplies the Infant, whereby it is fufiained and 
 nourifh'd. But that I may lay the whole bufinefs afore 
 your Eyes, by a more full Declaration, I will yet far- 
 ther add one Similitude more. Take you fome wild 
 and not yet ripe Stock of a Pear , y1pj>le. Cherry, or 
 fome other Fruit-bearing Trees, fuch, I fay, as is not 
 yet full grown, but is as yet conftituted in its firft ten- 
 der Age, take off from it all its Boughs, which bear 
 [but] a wild and fower Fruit, and Cut it all erf 
 even unto the bottom, and to the Stock ftanding out 
 of the Earth plant a Cw«, pluckt off from another 
 Tree that does not bear wild Fruit, into this Stock, 
 betwixt the Bark and the Wood of the fame, where 
 'tis cut off with the Saw, and fence it well with 
 Wax , or tenacious Clay, &c. againft the Rain : If 
 now you fliall thus do , and do your work Gardner- 
 like, that fruitful Cw« will draw unto it felf the wild 
 Juice, out of that wild Tree or Stock, and make it 
 better, fo that it will no more bear any wild Fruit, 
 but fuch as that Tree did bear, from which the Cion 
 was pluckt. Ifnow, fo fmall a Cw« of fome culti- 
 vated and fruitful Tree can fo change the wild Juice 
 of a wild Stock, that it becomes far better, and more 
 noble : Why, ftiould not Gtsld do the fame in our 
 JMetallick Tree, when ingrafted in Lead as in its pro- 
 per Root? Verily in my Opinion, there is not abet- 
 ter Earth C from which that golden Seed may attrad 
 unto it felf an Alimentary Nourirtiroent,and fo multiply 
 it felf even to infinity ) to be had, than its own pro- 
 per Root. BMt yet, with this Provifo, that all the 
 grofs and degenerate Boughs be firft cut oft from that 
 fame grofs Root, for fo, it will the eafilicr and readi- 
 lier change its wild and degenerate Juice, C when joy- 
 red to the golden Seed or Cion, ) and fo will be chan- 
 ged into afarnobler, and produce Fruits a thoufand 
 .fold. "Y^u fee, my Friend ! what good Will I bear to 
 you, in that I have fo faithfully opened unto you all 
 thofe things which 1 thought neceffary to be known, 
 for the perfecting of fo great a Work. Ponder well 
 in your mind, upon the Similitudes of the Kape and 
 CioH^ and believe, that what I have here fpoken is 
 not cafually and at Random. For they have more 
 hidden under them, than they feem to ftiew for, and 
 than you would imagine. Length of time will open 
 your Eyes, which are as yet blinded, as to abundance 
 of things, < if God permit.) 
 
 A. Surely^ Sir^ I cannot chufe hut rvonder anere^ when 
 I jcurjtely confider the things you have declared unto 
 me^ of changing the n-ild Nature^ of the wild Vegetative 
 Frltiis into a tame, mild. Property : And that fuch a 
 7ranfmutation of the igmbkr Nature^ ir.to a more noble 
 One, tjhes place alfo ' in AfctJick Affairs. Ihey are 
 verity fu. h things^ as are of n-eighty Concernment, and 
 nioli worthy a moii accurate Confideralion. But, indeed, 
 nho can fi<fficiently enough confuler of all the Vivine Mt- 
 r.iclej ? Bhfd be his mcji holy Name fur evermore. 
 
 B. Amen. . « „• ^ 
 A. I^iiie u^lo you,f'r your courteous irltrunion, mojt 
 
 hariy thj>?kj^ and remiin obliged unto you all my a>h U 
 Life. And thus rv>th rrhjt kith been faid^ I commit 
 huh y'Ut and m\ felf to Gods protection. 
 
 B. My dcarcft Friend, I have now performed the 
 Promifc I made unto v^u, an"^ a^" "Ot meanly de- 
 lighted, in that you have undcrllood the meaning of 
 
 thofe things, which 1 have faid unto you : But yet I 
 cannot but admire, that you are not Covetoufly de- 
 lirous of knowing yet more, and that you do not 
 Crave an yet more prolix unfolding of more mat- 
 ters. For you well know, that you cannot every day 
 have the Enjoyment of my Company. 
 
 A. For thofe things., tvhich I at prefent received from 
 yout do I return you rnnji hearty thankj , another timt 
 God will vouihfafe more : The greatefi deji're I have at 
 prefent., is toft about Jo gnat a IFork^, and to have the 
 Fruition of the hoped for Fruit. If you are fo minded^ 
 and bent upon doing Friendly Favours, I do requtji yott^ 
 that you would oblige my Brother by your good turns-, if 
 he Jhall hap to come unto you, and Petition fur ought at 
 your hands-) for yon may ofifi him in fome fmall., yet good% 
 Arcanum: For he hath been jiupid, or unapprehenfwe 
 enough hitherto, and much needs fome accurate inftruQion. 
 But what (1)jV t fay ? Ihe fick^ look/ after the Phyfcidn, 
 he that is thorough Well has no need of him. Such 
 things as are hard to be underftood, exceed his Capacity: 
 The more eafie things are more commodious. And fi 
 again-, Farewel. 
 
 The C0%0LLA%1, 
 
 I Have taught in this Dialogue, that the White Lac 
 virginis ( after its being extraiTted, by Diftijlation, 
 out of the Black Magnefia, and after its Exaltation, 
 in Virtue and Efficacy , by Redification and Concen- 
 tration,) is to be freed from its fuperfluous Humidity^ 
 and yet the dry Matter is to be made permanent in the 
 Fire., by the gradual Operation of the Fire. Now for 
 the more accurate Declaration fake^ thefe thing? 
 which follow (hall be yet farther fubjoyned. 
 
 That Fixation, if it be to be pcrfedted by the 
 [bare 3 help of the common Fire, requires along and 
 tedious time, fo that there's no reafon for a Man to 
 pcrfuade himfelf, that he can finiih the fame in one 
 years fpace. I fpeak by my own experience, for t 
 my ftif have trycd, and find that it cannot be, that 
 one year fhould fuffice for the finiihing of this 
 fixation, for indeed it requires a much longer time. 
 For after that, 1 had fofar advanced the Matter, that 
 it had paffed through all the Colours, as to flow when 
 put upon a Red hot Plate, and to infini'ate it felf 
 thereinto, like Oyls penetrating into a dry Hide, yet 
 was it not fixt enough ncr conftant, nor ferved it for 
 the tinging of the Metals, but when a vehement Fire 
 was applyed thereunto, away it went in fume ; but 
 yet not without an evident Demonftration of the 
 polfibility of the fame. For as much therefore, as it 
 does not yield that fatisfadtory Fruit, [ and SuccefsJ 
 and feeing that fuch great Labours arc not undertaken, 
 without the expe(9^ation of fome Profit, and that the 
 hoped for Fruits cannot however be gathered, afore that 
 the faid matter is promoted to aperfed Maturity, and 
 confequcntly dreads not any the moft vehement Storms 
 of the Fire any more ; any one may eafily conjecture, 
 that there needs ( as 1 faid afore ) a more tedious fpace 
 of time for this Fixation, if it be to be done and per- 
 fedted by the common Fire of Coals. But now, he 
 that has the knowledge of the fecret Fire, of the An- 
 cient Philofophcrs, fuch an one will much eafier, and 
 fpeedier, arrive unto the wifhed end of the Operation. 
 The Nature of the vulgar and fugacious Minerals doth 
 verv difficultly and fiowly admit of that fixation, 
 
 ' ' which 
 
Part III. 
 
 The 'BgoJ^ of T)ialogiics, 
 
 37 
 
 which is made with the Fire of Coals : And tliis I 
 was unwilling to conceal from the dilif,ent Searcher 
 after the Secrets of Natures yet farther adjoyning this 
 Admonition, [wa;. ] that a very profitable Medica- 
 ment may neverthelcis be prepared in alhorter fpace of 
 time, and an appearance made of the admirable, and 
 highly delightful Variation of abundance of moll de- 
 licate Colours. For the Hrll Colour that appears is 
 like the black head of aCrun?, prefenting it ftU to view 
 like the Colour of black Glafs. This blacknefs going 
 off bv little and little, gives place to the White, and 
 pondrous Mafs ^ which is called by the Philofophers, 
 the jyhite StvjH, and not without reafon, becaufc that 
 felf fame white Matter is not fo compalt and Stone- 
 like, as that black Cr.m-i Head, but is porous, and not 
 much unlike unto a kind of heap made of abundance 
 of fmall and white Feathers. \\ hen this Whitenefs 
 is turned into a Yellow, thofe Feathers vanifli, and 
 the Mafs returns to its former Compaiitnefs, and re- 
 femblcs the form of a yellow Stone : Of which if you 
 put a little piece upon fome Red hot Silver,or Copper- 
 plate, it >vill at rirlt Hand like a Red blood, and after- 
 wards penetrate the Copper-plate, and tinge it both 
 within and without with a white Colour ^ but yet, 
 fomewhat brittle as yet, and yields in the Cineritium^ 
 or Cupd, fome Silver, and operates in Medicine fome- 
 what effcdfually, like the white Stone, but yet weaker. 
 k likcwife pierceth into a Silver-plate, like as Oyl in- 
 to a S<in, and tingeth it with a yellow Colour, which 
 being feparated by the Cupel, and diffulved in Aqua 
 
 Forth^ leaves excellent Gold in the bottom. I have 
 not as yec made any farther Progrefs on the Opera- 
 tion, being quite tired, and weary of fpcnding any 
 longer, and more tedious time thereabouts , which 
 however was neceffatily requifitc to the perfeding of 
 this Tindurc with the Fire of Coals. But yet I have 
 by me all the Colours as they follow on after each oth« 
 which I can fliew unto any one i whereby they may fee 
 with their Eyes the moft evident polfibility of Nature : 
 To which end alfo I am minded to preferve thofe 
 Tiniftures by me, that they may be an everlaUing Me- 
 morial of fo great arhing, unto my Pollerity : But 
 for m-y part, I will commend [ to every one ] that 
 fhorter way of bringing the work to the wiflied end, 
 by the Mediation of the fecret Fire of the Philofo- 
 phers : Concerning which, the following Dialogue, 
 and the little Book^ of Firet^ treats. For the imma- 
 ture Firft Ens of Gold, cannot be excoded [ or di- 
 gefted 3 into the defired TintSfure by any thing more 
 eafily, than in its own proper fecret Firei and not by a 
 Coal Fire. 
 
 And that it may clearly appear, that I have written 
 the Truth •> I will fend unto fome of my Friends 
 (God willing) fomeof thofe white and yellow Stones, 
 to be ufed not only in Medicine, but in Alchymy tooj 
 that fo they may make tryal and experimentally find, 
 that Tindurcs have a Power of bettering, and amen- 
 ding Metals , afore they have arrived unto the half 
 part of their Fixation. 
 
 The Third Dialogue, or Conference^ betwixt B. and C, treating of the 
 true Vnlvcrfal and particular Medicine of the ancient Philofophers, 
 ( extracted^ out of fuch Gold tis is yet fugacious^ or Volatile^ and im 
 mature ; ( arid w ) to be ripened by their fecret Fire ; '\y>hich Ope^ 
 ration is by themflyled, the ya^ork^ of IVomeny and play of Children, 
 
 G 
 
 C. ^^ ^ OD marrow heartily^ my Friend: I mjh 
 you a good and projperous Day. 
 
 B! I wiQi you the fame, whence come 
 you to us fo early ? 
 
 C. / hjve very earnejlly for thefe fcveral days waited 
 for this hour, that I might fee yo«, and have the Fruition 
 of the mojl fweet Fruits of your Courteous injlrtUions. 
 My Brother A.fent me hither, and told me, that you had 
 given him leave to fend tne unto ygu this day. I do there- 
 fore Friendly retjuell you, that you TPoutd put a good 
 ConjiruUion upon this my Bnldnefs. 
 
 B- [ My Friend ! 3 I do not in the Icaft take it ill, 
 your Brother told me, that you were as yet ignorant 
 and unskilled, in the more fubtil jircanaes znA Secrets-, 
 and that you therefore needed not ought el(e, but 
 fome pretty ealie Secret, which might be eafily under- 
 wood, and performed with fmall Expences, and yet 
 be profitable and beneficial unto you. 
 
 C. Indeed, Sir, to till you the plain "Tcuih^ fuch Arca- 
 nums at are profound oiej, and to be penetrated into by 
 a fubtil Meditation, and nhich are cf great moment, do 
 fur outreach my duller apprthenjion : And thercfire I do 
 itoi at thu time dc fire any thing, more than this, viz. that I 
 mjy obtain fmething that n not cotily, and yet may efftS 
 fo much in A^iedicine and Alchinty^ ''•'' way ferve me to 
 live a little more co'ninodi«nfly and plentifully^ as to Food 
 
 andKaiment. And that you would be pleafed, to render 
 me a Majier of this my defire^ it my humble requefi unto 
 you, a^ain and again. 
 
 B. You do very prudently meafureout yourrcquefls, 
 according to your own Capacity. And indeed, fome- 
 times, thofe things which are not Coftly, nor arc 
 difficult in their Operation, are more profitable to a 
 Man, than thofe things are, which they would fain 
 get by the expence of a great deal of Charge, of a 
 long time, and liard Labours ; I will grant you your 
 Requelf, and therefore hearken. 
 
 C. \^ Sir-, I thank^jou,'] (tnd do li(ien. 
 
 B. Have you never read, or elfe heard frotn others, 
 that thofe moft ancient Philofophers, tell us that their 
 univerfal Work , is not only moft eafie to be done, 
 but withal no ways Chargeable. For they do openly 
 Confcfs, that to the perfecting of their Work, a Man 
 needs be at no more Expences, than two F/ori«/, and 
 that the Labour it felf, even from the beginning to the 
 end, is nothing elfe but mere VVomens work, and 
 Boys play. 
 
 C. Tou are pleafed to offer me delicate Dainties^ eaft 
 to be prepared, for 1 have not fo much Money as is to be 
 laid otrt upon thofe kjnd of chargeable and cojily Labours : 
 Neither will my Family Affairs admit thereof, v'n. to 
 fpend my days in fmb fumptuous and chargeable Cookeries., 
 
 K end 
 
38 
 
 ^he "Boo^ of Dialogues, 
 
 Part III. 
 
 atfd vhich are fo fuU of moji great Labours, and xvhofe 
 event too vi nfieiitimrs very uHcertam. tor 1 have heard 
 fomefaj^ tlut the fitialleji Errour mjy dejlroy the whole 
 Work, and (juite j'poil it, and fo grievonfly apa fuchas 
 operate about fuch great Secrets, with a very ^reat loji of 
 long time, and great Expences. yind therefore fitch a 
 JFork,, as I can attend upon tvithout letting my taking 
 Care of my Family, and rrhuh irill need the disburfment 
 of hut a few Expences, ml! pleafe me better than tlnfe 
 other Cojily ones would. 
 
 B. I readily believe, that this very thing you de- 
 fire, will not only be exceedingly plcafing unto your 
 felf, but alfo unto many others belides. The Expen- 
 ces 'are but very fnall, and the Labours thereupon but 
 little, fothat each days Fire, which the Matter is to 
 be fet upon , may be taken Care for, in half an hours 
 fpace. But now, though the Philofophers have made 
 mention of very fmall Expences, and have comprifcd 
 
 to be boyld well, then ?alt water is requifite ; and as 
 for all the other Additions of Herbs, and odoriferous 
 Spices , they only fervc to give it a good pkafant 
 Talle, and make it acceptable to the Palat, and to 
 the Smelling. For theflefhand Fifli when boyl'd or 
 itewcd, do by their Magnttick Virtue attradt fo much 
 Salt and grateful Savour, ar;d Virtue, as they need ; 
 And that which remainS) liays in the V\ ater. No^v 
 the curious Dames do (hut the tops of their Pots very 
 well with their Covers, lelt the efficacious Vapours 
 fhould be forced away in tume by the Eoyling, and 
 not ftay with the Flefh or other Meats. But the cart- 
 lefs Houfewites do not much regard the covering of 
 their Pots, (torn whence it comes to pafs, that they 
 lofe thefe good and fwcet Spirits, and then they fil 
 up their Pots with new \A ater, by which doings, 
 the Fltfli, or Fifli, do not get fo fvveet a Savour, as 
 they would have, if that efficacious Water had been 
 
 them in the cot-npafs of a couple of Florins , yet is j kept in and confcrved. Some Women that are yet 
 that faying to be otherwife underftood. Thofe An- more curious, and diligent about their Cookery, do 
 cients made ufe of the greatdt Florins, viz. the Rhe- put upon their Pots, wherein they boyi their Meats, 
 7tijh ones, and alfo the Hungarian Crowns, each ofj fuch a Cover as hath a told in it, by which the Col- 
 which is of the value of five of o\xr Florins. And ifj ledled fweet and odoriferous Vapours may diftildown 
 you thus underftand it after this compute, I can cafily' into an under- put Veflel, which being thus gotten, 
 (hew unto you the Truth of their Affertion. they keep by them, to refre(h and cherifli with them, 
 
 C. I do even thinks as you fay : Sure n>e mu\l not ex-\ inch as are weak and fick , when need requires 
 
 pea any \_fuch'] things for nothing i I am content, [and 
 therefore, pray 2 /« us proceed. 
 
 B. If our Work be called the labour of Women, 
 and Boys play, it is expedient, that it be like unto 
 Womens work, and Boys play : For elfe the Philofo- 
 phers would have ufcd an unfit fimilitude. You well 
 know, what Labours your Wife is chiefly bufied about, 
 and what her daily Labour is (he in.ploys her felf 
 
 in. 
 
 C. Kes, verily 1 daily fee, thaijhe doth boyl Food «f- 
 cejfaryfor the Vfe of the whole Family,, and being boyl'd 
 fts it upon the IMe to be eaten. Ihis Labour Jhe per- 
 forms, at lealltmce every day ; when Dinner and Supper 
 is ended, (he doth wafli the Vtjhes, Pots, Goblets, and 
 ether Vefils, and cleans them, and makes tlyem ft to put 
 other new Food in, and to be jerved out to the Table. 
 Befides too, this is her Ofrce and Care;, if haply a Pet 
 he broken, or crack*, ivhtrtby it is made unfit to hold moi- 
 fture any more , to fttb(htute ( in difeli of Iron Pots ) 
 a new Pnt m.ide of Potters Clay, in the ftead thereof: 
 Such and the li\e Labours, as thefe, are iu our Country 
 called the Womens rvorl{. 
 
 B. Well, be it fo : I will likewife fhew unto thee, 
 fuch a Labour in Chjmual Operations,as refembks this. 
 Therefore, like as the Female Sex do firli wa(h the 
 Flejh, Fi[h, Rapes, Pot-lrerhs, hoots. Apples, Pears, or 
 other things with pure Water, which they mean to 
 boy], and then put them into the Pot, and pour there- 
 unto as much V\ ater as is requifite, and place it over 
 
 Others, to free themfelves from this kind of Labour, 
 do add as much Water as need is, together with Salt 
 and Spices, to their Flefh, and fo boyl it by little and 
 little, (butting in the Vapours with a Cover, which 
 elfe would go away, and the I^'eat taftc of burning? 
 And by doing thus, they are not necellitated to pour 
 on any new Water, though this flow boyling takes up 
 more time than that, which is done by altrong and 
 unctlTant Ebullition : I would have you well to obferve 
 thefe things, for 'tis not without caufe that 1 utter 
 them. And now let us examine the other fimilitude, 
 and fee what thofe Boys Plays arc, that fo we may 
 afterwards accommodate even them too, to our Philo* 
 fophical work. What therefore do you fee concer- 
 ning the Boys Plays, with what things, and after what 
 manner do they Play ? 
 
 C. How can I tell ? They play as their Parents p.'eafc 
 to let them, or as they can get opportuv.ity of Plajing : 
 As for my felf I do net grant my Children fo much Li' 
 berty, to play when, and how they tiji thtmjc/ves. I fend 
 them to the School and to the Church, and fmetimes I 
 allow them one hours Play for Recreations fake, ttor do I 
 allow them any other Play but at Bowls, £tr Knickers ]J 
 b\ which they moderately fiir their Bodies, and exercije 
 themfelves, and Concoct their Meat, and this is far mart 
 proptable for them , than if they were conjirained 
 to fit always at home, without any exercife at all ; 
 Other play than this, I allow them not. Cards and Vict 
 are unfit Plays for Boyf, they are m.i\-y times very hurt*' 
 
 the Fire, and boyl it fo long, till all the crudity, or '/«/ to thfe of riper years, efpeciaJly when by the toomuch 
 rawnefs being vaniflu , the Meats become grateful ^ abufe of them, tbfy do fo unproftably wjjie their precious 
 to thePaht, and pleafant, and catily d'geflible by the time, end cannot tell how to ufe a mean. 1 have inaeed 
 Stomach. [ So do wcj They do likewife iomtumcs otherwife f}:n Boys, that meeting with fame Sand get 
 pour Wine upon Fkfh and Fifli, inflcad of Water, \[_thereout ofl^ bright Stones, and play with them, but 
 and add as much S>ilt as is convenient, together with yet this is not ufuai. However , there is no play more 
 'fon.e Spices, or odoriferous Herbs, by which they frequent amongfi Cbildren,thtn that of Bowls, [or Knic-^ 
 give the Fifli and Hcfh a moil excellent Tafle- But ^''•J'] which play they daily ufe, what foever time th.v ran 
 yet we mtill hot forget Sah, above all the other Spices, )teal, to that purpofe. lea both at thtir g.urg tn S-.hool^ 
 or Seafonings, and odoriferous Herbs, for it Correds ani returning from School, you may fee them prejently bw 
 and maturates the Flefh, Fifh, and other hard Meats, \fted about thnr Rubbers, or Knickers-play. Ihty 
 
 art 
 
 more than other Spices. , For we can well enough 
 want thefe if they arc not at hand, but as for Salt, 
 need of t1lat, about the boyling of Ficfh, 
 If therefore Flefh,. or Fiih are 
 
 there is always 
 FifH, and ether Food. 
 
 very hirdly reji rained tb:refrom. If they want Aoney 
 to buy the Bowls, or Knickers, they get a little piece of 
 Potters Clay anJ moiilen it with IVuter, and make up their 
 hide Bowls, or .Pektj m their hands, and harden them 
 
 iU 
 
Part III. 
 
 1 DC 
 
 BooJ^ of 
 
 Dialogues. 
 
 in the Fire ; Trhich I remember^ n-ken I was a Bj)-, I of- 
 tfit did. And befider thu Boys pijy, no aher is kjtoTvn 
 unto me, 
 
 B. Very good, you have hit the nail on tl-,e head : 
 And now Ictus (cc, whether or r.o the ancient Pbilo- 
 fuplicrs have (after the nnannerof Bo\s ) played with 
 fmall Bowls, or Knickers •* and whether, or no, they 
 hace boyl'd their work in Pots, with as calie a La- 
 bour, as VNonen do. For of nccciruy they mud have 
 hit on doing atter this wife, clfe could ihcy not have 
 compared their work to the Labour of Women, and 
 play of Children. So tiicn, if we are to imitate Wo- 
 iren and Boys m our Operation, what Matters arc 
 we to make ufc of, tor our boyling, in the Ikad of 
 FIcfh, Fifli, and other Meals:, and what Water is it, 
 that is to be poured thereupon, for if wc are mind- 
 ed to do any good effed, 'tis expedient, that wc like- 
 wife kno v,what thofe Mattersare, which admit of be- 
 ing boy led unto a Maturity in our Hety Water, and 
 thefe verily mull be fuch, (feeing they are tober>mn- 
 rjted by boyliiig ) as have a great Affinity with the 
 Taid Water : Forafmuch therefore, as our Water is of 
 a Met.iUick^ Nature, and yet all the Metals do in a 
 manner arife, or proceed ( in tli£ Earth ) therefrom, 
 and are even at this very day advanced, by the very 
 fame ( by the help of the Terrellial and Central fire ) 
 by little and little unto perfection : All that we have 
 to do is, to imitate the fimplicity of Nature, which 
 will never feduce us, for fo without queftion, thofe 
 inort ancient Philofophers did do, who having borrow- 
 ed their wonderful Work from Nature her fe]f, doad- 
 vife us to do no more, but to follow Nature, and to 
 begin there, where Nature left off, and to afcend 
 higher and to make that perfecT:, which is as yet im- 
 pcrfcd: God hath prefixed unto Nature her bounds, 
 which fhe cannot tranfgrcfs [ or go beyond : ]] But Art, 
 doth much excel Nature, and performs thofe things 
 which Nature cannot accomplifli : Yea more, that 
 which (he can hardly do in the Earth in athoufand 
 years time, Art efFel^s in one year, and this is eafily 
 confirmed by many Teliimonies. Now as to the Ge- 
 neration and Maturation of the Metals, Nature ufeth 
 a moft fimplc or plain way, a very (low one, but yet 
 fafe. From thence arifeth the Errour of many a Man, 
 who do not follow Nature, but the guidance of their 
 own phantaftick Brains, never effeding ought of good, 
 but remain always Novcllilis in the fame, what La- 
 bours foever they undertake, and what Expences fo- 
 evcr they arc at : Althougli the ancient Philofophers 
 do by their many Admonitions fet afore us, that moll 
 limpleCourfe of Nature for us to imitate-, and they 
 
 59 
 
 have efpecially hinted to us, that their Work is fo 
 fimplc, that fliould they but openly and clearly have 
 treated of the fame, even the Women would deride it 
 and fay, that the Male kind had learned their Art 
 from them. Yea, it is fo very vile a Work, that no 
 Body would be able to believe it, and upon this Ac- 
 count, the Piiilofophers have done their utmoft, to 
 hide and obfcure the Art the moll they could, lead 
 they (liould be contemned by the proud dcriders, (who 
 Soaring aloft feek after things too high for them, >nd be 
 'accoun'ted for Cheats and falfc Writers. And tliis is 
 the main and chiefell Reafon, why this Art being fo 
 ■wrapt up in darkncfs of a moll profound Silence, lyes 
 hitherto hid from the whole Troop of Sophillers,and 
 fuch deriding Fellows. Scidiroiv (as wc have alrea 
 dy fevcral times hinted ) doth cxprcfly fay, that he 
 had oftentiirics- declared the whole Art, to not a few 
 \vcrd fcir word, unto whom, that Art did neverthelefs 
 fecni fo very vik and mean, that they could not at 
 
 all believe any likelihood of Truth in his moft true 
 words, and fo left the Work unatrcn.ptcd. The fame 
 Se„diwn> doth aTo fay. That had the moll skUlul 
 Htrmes^ the moft quick witted Gei-.r, and moft illu- 
 minated LuLy been again alive, and beheld our Labo- 
 ratories ftored with I'o many, and fuch various In/lru- 
 mcnts of Glafs, Earth, Iron, and other Vattcrs, and 
 luch feveral Fornaces, they would be raviflicd into a 
 moll high Admiration, like fo many Boys, and would 
 be but as it were our Scholars, as concerning thofe 
 Velfels and Fornaces, all which however, wc have 
 learned from their Writings, but yet we are deftitute 
 ot that moll excellent Work which was wrought by 
 them in fo fimple a Way, and it hitherto ili.s our fub- 
 tile and acute Wits. And,my dear Friend he alfo tells 
 us, that we fhould fly aloft into the lofty Air with 
 our Wings, for the Work is fimple, vile and abjeft, 
 the which, you may fooner comprehend [ or feel '] 
 with your hands, than apprehend by the fubtilty of 
 your Wit or Cogitations. 
 
 C. All thefe things may very fufficiently ferve to 
 rid Its put of fj great a Labyrinih ., bt.t / pray ^ Sir^ 
 harp comer it about^ that we dofottiflAy perfuade otirfelves 
 that thpfe things are fa very difficulty which mttvithftand- 
 ing are fo veryftrnple, vile^and abjett. 
 
 B. It is indeed, to him that has knowledge of the 
 fame, an eafic, vile, and fimple thing : But very diffi- 
 cult and intricate to him, that laying afide the way of 
 Nature, thinks himfelf able to learn fo great an Art 
 out of Books, which ( by their leave ) though, feems 
 a thing almoft impoilible to be done. For the Philo- 
 fophers have fo prolixly, intricately, and obfcurcly 
 defcribed the whole Myflery, that their fo prolix and 
 dark Writings would fooner lead a Man from the 
 true and right way, fo far off are they from reducing 
 him thereinto. 
 
 C. / myfeiffind, that thit is mojl certainly true., ftr 
 I never heard as yet of any Man., or read of any., that 
 learned the Art out of Boo^s: But that almo\i all of them 
 rvha were skilled tn the fame., do Confefs, that they became 
 Majlers of the fame., either by Divine Infpiration or Reve- 
 lation, or by the help of fame Friend. Jhere^s no Body 
 can contradict thofe things which you have here induced., 
 for the Confirmation of your Opinion. And now.. Sir., let 
 us fet upon the tVork^it felf and diligently pray unto God 
 and wait for his Blejftn^. 
 
 B. Content, hearken therefore attentively. 
 
 C. So I do. 
 
 B. Did you never find in the reading of the Phi- 
 lofophers, that all the imperfeft Metals may in 3 Par- 
 ticular way be promoted to the perfed Maturity of 
 Gold or Silver, by their dry Water which wetteth not 
 the hands: But being not content with this effe(fl,they 
 have promoted the fivll Ens of Metals (by the help 
 of their occult, fiery, and ripening Water) to a more 
 than perfed Conllancy, and Fixity in the Fire, and 
 have concentrated it to the form ot Gold. 
 
 C. / remember., thjt I have r.-ad of fuch thingt as 
 thefe., though by reajon of my itnsl^ilfulnef and ignorance^ 
 I could not underftand the leajt tarticie of their meaning', 
 tor I am altogether igmru,it of tbat k^nd vf wondtrfuly 
 attdyet., to every Body well kjiown Wattr : And Jo fiall 
 [iill remain until it be Phw» ( and pointed at ) with the 
 Fingers. 
 
 B. Look here, here's a piece of admirable WatcK 
 which is every where in all places eafie to be found, 
 yca, in the poorefl Country-mens Houfes, nor doth 
 it deny any Man, the PofTtlfion and having it. 
 
 C IVhotvould ever have believed^or thought, that therf 
 was atiy good bidden i» fo vile and abjeU a Body .<' 
 
40 
 
 97;^ Bool{^ of ''Dialogue 
 
 i. 
 
 Part III. 
 
 I 
 
 5. f I wonder] wherefore [ it is] that no Body 
 can think of this Matter, feeing it is evident, rhat in 
 our Water the firrt Entities of all the Metals are abun- 
 dantly hidden, as in their own proper Seed, out of 
 which they are generated in the Earth, and ripened 
 unto perfeiflion. Thofe hrft Entities are but cxtra- 
 dcd out of this our Water, by [peculiar] Magnets. 
 And now, like as every Metal hath its own Magnet, 
 even fo every one [ of them ] hath its proper Mag- 
 rcr, by which it is concentrated into a narrow Pvoom. 
 I will declare unto you the Truth of this bufinefs, by 
 an example taken from the Metals. If you have a 
 Water fully impregnated with Copper, and ^ou defire 
 to have Copper out of the faid V\ater, you will ea- 
 fily bring this to pafs, if you fl«all but put in to that 
 Water, which holds in it the Copper, a piece of clean 
 Iron, the which Iron, (as being the true Magnet of 
 the Copper,) will attrad unto it felf, all the invifi- 
 ble Copper out of the Water, and gather it into a vi- 
 able and palpable Metal. If Silver be dilTo'v'd in any 
 W'ater and made invifible, and you would again have 
 it, put into the Solution a Plate of pure \_ or clean ] 
 Copper, which (after a Magnetick manner) will ga- 
 ther together [or draw out] all the Silver in his 
 own [Silvery] Body, and make it vifible and pal- 
 pable. Now when Gold is di/Tolved in feme Water, 
 and largely difpcrfed, [as I may fay] and you would 
 again have it [in the form of Gold > ] then put in 
 fome c or Ar. vive in that Water, and boyl it a little 
 therewithal, (as was done above, with the Copper and 
 Silver) and you fliall prefcntly fee all the Gold to be 
 attiaded, and gathered together by the Mercury, in- 
 fomuch that there will not remain ought of the Gold 
 in the Water, becaufe it follows the Attraftion of its 
 own Magnet, Mercury. Thefc MHnUick^ and M<ig»e- 
 th\ Operations, are a fufficiently manifeft Informa- 
 tion unto us, and do point our unto us (as with a 
 Finger) the way,, of the extrading, not only good 
 Metals in a Particular manner, but alfo far better 
 things than Metals, ( x/z. the TiniHiure, or form of 
 Gold ) out of our fiinking Water , in an Vnivtrfal 
 way, by fuch Magnets, as are fit and apt in Nature 
 for this Extradion. Another fimilitude we have from 
 the Earth, and Rain water, with which the Fruits of 
 the Earth are moillned : Put you in fuch an Earth 
 moiftned with that Water, as many Seeds as you 
 pleafe ^ each of them, will ( by its M-igteuc]:^ Virtue) 
 attract unto its felf, its own like, for its Multiplica- 
 tion, and will leave to the other Seeds, toattradl each 
 of them its like alfo. If now, by this fimilitude, the 
 Scope or end I aim at, may be made manifell un:o 
 you, there is yet hopes you may be holpen : If not4 
 1 do not fee, by what means you can be fuccoured, 
 forafmuch as it would be too tedious here to ufe ma- 
 ny other Circumrtances. For when we arc certainly 
 aflured, that the firii £«/, or the very Form ot Gold 
 is plcntifu'ly hidden in our Water, we do by very good 
 right fcek after that bell part, wz. the form of Gold, 
 and leave the other hrft Entities of the xdl of the 
 Metals, in the Water. And now He fliew thee ano- 
 ^ther fimilitude : DifTolve in one and the fame Water, 
 ©>?, $\ 2i,9, that fo you may have all thcfe Me- 
 tals commixt together in the fame .' If now you de- 
 lire to extra*-! the bell of them, viz.. the Gold there 
 out of, what hurt will the other bring \oh, if they 
 remain in the Water. Such therefore as the Magnet 
 is, which you put into that fame Water, fuch is the 
 NIetal too, that you fliaU cxtrad. If therefore we 
 particularly feek © and 1) in our Water, it will be ex- 
 pedient; that we put unto this fpiritual G and J) their 
 
 proper Magnet, unto which Magnets, they (being pre- 
 cipitated) do liick on, and are by little and little fix- 
 ed [ on thereunto. ] And now if we feck after fomc- 
 thing better than ^ and D, viz. the form and 1 in- 
 durc of Gold, it will be neceflary, that we alfo apply 
 fuch a f fuitablc] Magnet, which may draw out no- 
 thing clfe but the Tindure or Form of Gold, which 
 being precipitated [thereout of] may be fixed. And 
 thus have I here told you all thofe things that are 
 neceiTary to be known. If you are minded to extradt 
 in i? articular way, Sol and Ltine out of the Univer- 
 fal Mineral water, you muft then put unto them their 
 Magnet, vi^. an Amalgama of Copper, and Ardent 
 vive : For the Copper draws to it felf the fpiritual Sil- 
 ver, and the o the fpiritual Gold, out of the faid Wa- 
 ter, and brings it unto a Fixation [^ or Corporeity ] 
 with it felf, [or, as it felf is.] But if you are minded, 
 or deiirous, of getting fome better thing, than the 
 Gold it felf, or Silver, is, viz. a Tindute, you mult 
 then needs adjoyn thereto its own peculiar Magnet, 
 for, without it, you cannot cffeel any thing at all : 
 But that you may know, what the true Magnet of 
 the Tindure is, I fay unto you, Ibat is ths Compeere, 
 or Companion of uur ff^ater, and not of the Metals : For 
 like feeks its like, as the Philofophers fay. Nature re- 
 joyceth with Nature, Nature overcomes Nature, Na- 
 ture retains Nature : More than thefe things I have 
 told you, it is not needful for you to know : Confi- 
 der therefore very accurately what I have faid, and 
 beg of God by your Prayers a blefling, which if you 
 do, you fliall not eir, but yet you will not be all of a 
 fudden Mafter of what you defire. All thefe things 
 have their determinate times, like as a Grain of Wheat 
 fown in the Earth, the which recjuircs a time to ripen 
 in, nor doth it wax ripe afore the time appointed for 
 Maturation be come about. Follow you the Advice 
 left by Cehr, and do not haften on your Work, by 
 any the Jeaft hafty fpeed : For he tells us exprel]y» 
 that all haftning in our Work is of the Devil. And 
 as concerning what is to be known, and what a one the 
 Student of fo noble an Art ought to be, you will find 
 defcribed in the Fifth Part of my Spagyrical Pbarma- 
 copjta. And what think you now ? Can you thorough- 
 ly underhand me? 
 
 C. Tf/, Verily., I do resllenoKgh uHder{i and thofe things 
 which I have hitherto heard from you \ But yet this IVo-' 
 mens rvork^, rvhich you began a Declaration of is not 
 fufficiently clear unto me, nor is that Boys- play, rvbicb is 
 done ivithfmall Bowls cr Knickers, I da not thoroughly un- 
 dfrjiand that neither., viz. how it may be compared rvith 
 the reork^nf the Philofophers. IVere but thefe things made 
 clear'and evident unto me, I would Ranck^my felf amongji 
 the number of the Majieri if the Art. 
 
 B. WcTl then, come let us go on and fee, by what 
 means the Philofophers are wont to make their little 
 Bowls. [ Note ! ] Like as the Boys make ufe of Earth 
 and Water, for the making of their Pellets or Knic- 
 kers: So likcwife will we ufe our Earth, and our 
 Water to the making of our fmall Bowls or Pellets : 
 Ours, I fay, not the vulgar and common Earth and 
 Water, lor they are unprofitable as to our \\ ork. But 
 tis indifferent, and all one, whether we take Yellow, 
 Red, or white Earth, becaufe all of them arc of one 
 and the fame Nature. According to theColour of the 
 Earth which we ufe, will the Colour of the fmall Balls 
 we make, be : We have here at hand a threefold 
 Earth, a yellow Earth of Gold, a white of Silver and. 
 a Red of Copper. This threefold Earth will we moi« 
 Hen with our Water or Mercury, and fo make up a 
 Parte or Mafs of th« two, which i\\tChymiiis call an 
 
 /imalgjmj. 
 
Pari III. 
 
 "The ^BgoJ<^ cf_ T>ialcgv.cs. 
 
 41 
 
 j'lmali(ir>:j. This "alie will we \va(h with pure Wa- 
 ter, grinding it fo long 'twix: ouriiigtis, till rlicrc 
 be RO appearance nt any f>.rther impurity, and that 
 it admits of being eilily wafl^t, or broken with the 
 Fingers. Being thus well vvallit, we will put it in a 
 Skin, or Cotton, and tye it hrnrdy in > out of which, 
 we will Iqu-'cz forth all the with our hands, and 
 feparate it fiom the faid Earth, juU in fucli a manner 
 as Argent zhc iS feparatcd in Ainalgjinut'ions^ or Mer 
 «'ji'/.i^ Malic s. The Wmwr)' being feparatcd , we will 
 lake out our (hick Amjfgam.^^ and nuke fmail bowls, 
 or Knickers thereof, and of a'laiort the fair.e bigncfs, 
 rhat the Boys Knickers are of. Thefe Bowls we will 
 cxpofe to the Air, for about fome twenty four hours, 
 a'nd by this time they will be grown fo hard, as to 
 refcmble Stones, in liardncfs. And row, being thus 
 
 one to another, and running into one Mafs, and re- 
 turning into fuch aPaltcas they were in, bttore their 
 being made up into Pellet* ; Whereas, now each of 
 thciti may be kept in its own Form, and beencom- 
 paffed all round with the Water, and be advanced un- 
 to a Vfaturity, or readinefs. by a due fecthing : And 
 now, when you have feen this ''Jpcration ot .our U ives 
 Cookery, I do not quertion,but that you will be well 
 enougii skilled in this Cooking Art. 
 
 C. . My diji t:[l Friend^ I do friettdiy rer,uejl yoii not to 
 takf it amifs, in that I canri't abjiatH any longer from 
 dvrvn rhht hitghing^ when I hear that our w 'C^ hutb 
 jiicb a cQfrefponding Itk^ntfs-, with the Art of Cookery : 
 lour fo faithful InjiruSlions have already abundantly fa- 
 tisfied me : I have vtry often fteu my Wife bufied about 
 the Cooking offuch Balls, and my felf have alfo delightfully 
 
 rnadc ready for boyling, wc will put them imo out fed upuftthffe i^tnd of Vumplins^made both of Veal, Eggs 
 
 Water to fceth : But ycc in the fcething, there inuU bt 
 an accurate regard had to fonie skilful handling the 
 iClatter, if ' ou would have it perform its Operation 
 without Errour. This Art will I faithfully open un- 
 to thee, left youcrr, and fo bring damage upon your 
 felf: Thefe Pellets, or little Bowls thus made of our 
 Mafs, are not to be thrown into the Pot filled with 
 V^ater, ?fore the faid Water boy Is ; Which boyling, 
 you rtii 1; throw them in one atter another, and they 
 will prefently harden themfclves, and cover themfclves 
 over with an hard CrufUnefs or Skin j by which they 
 will be prevented from Iticking to one another, and 
 From coming altogether into one Mafs. For it you 
 rirfl of all put your little Balls into the Pot, and then 
 afterwards pour cold Water upon them, and fo fee 
 them on the Fire, that they may be boylcd unto their 
 Maturity, you will fpoil your whole Work. For be- 
 Fore the Water in the Pot be hot, all the Pellets be- 
 ing dilTolved, would run together in one Mais, and 
 fo would not admit the Humetying, or moillning cf 
 their inflde Parts, and fo you would turn all your Pel- 
 lets by your (eething into a mere Poufe or Pottage, 
 whereas they (hould remain whole in all their Parts, 
 as well internal, as external, for fear of drawing the 
 Water in. But that you may have an accurate Ac- 
 count of all thefe things which I have faid unto you, 
 I hope you will fet about the Work, [_ox thus, ] I 
 hope you will do your beft, heedtuily to regard all 
 thefe things which I have laid unto you J and I fup- 
 pofe, that you have fufficienily underhood the things 
 which I have already fpoken : But if fo be? you do 
 not yet apprehend the meaning of thefe things, I will 
 Counlei you, by .what means you may learn this Ope- 
 ration at homiC from your Wife. When you are come 
 home, bid your Wife to nuke you fome little Balls, 
 Cr Dumplins with Mower and Veal. And hcedtiiUy 
 obfervCjWhat Courfe fhetakes,about making fuch Balls, 
 that fo you may by the fame way leain to deal with 
 your M«.2iVc/^ Pellets. Fitit of all, you fliall fee, that 
 fhe puts fome pure Flower into a deep Di(h or Platter, 
 and iiaving put it in, flie wo^l^s it into a Pa(fe, or 
 Mafs with Cream, or tlie purefc Milk. Then flie 
 admixeth fome green Herbs fmally minced, and fome 
 Spice medled anjong, and Iptiiikling fome Salt there- 
 upon, flie mixcth them with the Palfe made asafore- 
 faid, to give it the fwecter Smell, and Tafte. Of this 
 Palie, file will atterwards make little Balls, of what 
 bignefs (he plcafetii, which Balls the docs not put in 
 the Water atore it boyh V\ lien tiicrcfote the Water 
 (eeths, fhe throws in, one Ball after another, each 
 
 and Spices, and alfo of plvn-er^ Alilh^^ and green Herbs. 
 But I fear ;»f, that when my IVife (fjall fe me making 
 thefe Balls or Petlets^ and boyling them in a little Pot, (he 
 Will laugh at me^ and fay ^ that I learned my Shjl from 
 her. 
 
 B. 'Tis no Matter, you have noreafbn to regard 
 either the. tatling of your Wife, or of all Men what- 
 ever : For they know not what they do, it is enough 
 for you, that your felf know what end it is, you do 
 any thing for : Think you, that if other Wifclings 
 and Know-littles fhould fee you working with fuch 
 little Balls, they would not deride and mock you. 
 But don't you at all mind their unprofitable Prating, 
 leave; the (hril-foundingGctfe to their own loud Chat- 
 lingiand follow you my Dodrine, and wrap up this out 
 Cookery Art in the darknefs of Silence : Which if you 
 do, you need not fear of being mockt, or laught at 
 by either Women, orWomanifli Men. 
 
 C. I have now ( praifcd be God ) learned enough: 
 But yet, there is one thing I am ignorant of, and that is 
 this, hy what fign I may come to l{now., when my Pellets 
 are well enmgh boy led, and what Vire they are to he boyl- 
 ed in. 7 he Fire of Wood and Coals, I k^mv is ufed by 
 the feminine Sex for to boyl withal, but whether or no, 
 the fame be neceffary and conducive to our Operation-, I 
 requeH you to inform me, 
 
 B. Have you never feen, what proof Women have 
 to know, when their Dumplings are well boyled? 
 They are wont to take one out, and cut it in twain, 
 that they may fee, whether or no the infide, as well 
 as the outfide of the fame be fo well feethed, as that 
 the Flower is not any more tenacious or Clammy : 
 Do you even the fame, and fometimes put a piece of 
 one of your Pellets you take out, in the Cinentium 
 or Cupel, and that will fliew unto you , how much 
 increafe of Sol and Lune hath particularly added its 
 felf to your Balls, in that time of the boyling, and 
 how long they are, as yet, to be boyled. Now you 
 know, that all thefe things are to be fearcht into, by 
 your own Meditation and Tryal, becaufe it can not 
 pollibly be, that all things can be fo very clearly fet 
 afore ones Eyes, as to need no farther meditating 
 thereupon, and inquifition thereinto. After this man- 
 ner may you boyl in one Pot, with one and the 
 fame Water, two, three, or more little Bowls, of dif- 
 ferent kinds, as, fome made of Flower, green Herbs, 
 Spices, FIcfh, Eggs, Fi(h, and other things, and fo, 
 after the fcething of them, you make take forth one 
 kind after another, and Particularly zp^'^ them to your 
 Ufc. For thefe things are to be under (food concer- 
 
 of which, as foon as ever it fctis the fervent hear of jning Particulars. But if jou have a mind defitous af- 
 the boyling Water, will prefently cover it fJf over | ter x^hcVinverJal Medicine, then muff you enter up- 
 with a Skin, whereby they will be kept from nicking on a certain way of almofl an whole entire year, 
 
 L which 
 
ij,2 
 
 ^hc ^00 { of Dialogues. 
 
 Part IlL 
 
 which is neceffarily rcquilKC to the finlMngof its O- 
 peration. For our Majinet, whofe Task ic is to ex'- 
 trad the Form of the Gold out of our Waters, doth 
 as yet groan under its imtnaturiry,and therefore needs 
 no fmall fpace of time, for the extrading the Tinciure 
 out of our fugacious and combuilible Waters, and fix- 
 ing it with it fclf. 
 
 C. Thefe Words of \ourj,hy which you mention fo long 
 a time, do not a little ajfrighten me. Our Wives can bnyl 
 their Vumpliiis enough in one hottrs fpace •, what ipiUfuch 
 a continued boyling 'co/l ? I roouU he glad to redeem it, 
 [] or, to be excafed^ fir the price of trvo Golden pieces of 
 Money { or Vncl^ets- 3 
 
 B. I fiiould tcllyou, that you are of the Off-fpring 
 of unbelieving Thomas, for you heap upon your felt, 
 by your needlefs incredulity, fuch heaps and Loads ot 
 Cares. Don't you remember, that I told you at firft, 
 that the Charges of the whole work, from the begin- 
 ning to the very end, do not exceed two Golden 
 pieces of Money, which they call Duckets. And that 
 1 do not at all tell you an untruth, I will expound it 
 unto you by an evident Demonftration. When you 
 fliall heat your well covered Pot, that fo your Water 
 may not vanifh away in fume, with the fmall fire of 
 a Lamp, how much 1 pray will fuch a Labour coll 
 you ? Put Cafe, that fome Pounds of water coft you 
 fome A^a or Stivers, and the Magnet doth alfo coft 
 you fome Stivers, [ ten /)jps are a l<.oman Peny, which 
 is Seven pence halt Peny of our Money j and now how 
 nianv Pounds of Oyl will there need to nourifli that fo 
 little a Fire ? And though you (hould fpend forty, fifty, 
 or more Pounds of Oyl, may not you well fay, that 
 you fhall finifli the whole work, for the Charge of 
 two Golden Duckets. Well! what fay jou? Are you 
 yet Content ? 
 
 C. Ton do notv ao^ain fomeirhji encourage my mind, 
 rehich had almoft faulted, by telling tne, that the Mat- 
 ters neceffary for our lForl{ tire fid at f) mean a Price. 
 Eat there'' s one thing jiiU that doth not a little trouble me, 
 and that is, that fo mitcb time is required to the Fixation. 
 AH the other things are as well as I could nvfi : But, 
 I would fain have had that (horter work^ of three hours, 
 or feven djys. 
 
 B. O thou Dreamer, what have I to do with thee ? 
 What ? doth that fpacc of time, wherein fuch excel- 
 lent and mod profitable Fruits are to be hoped for 
 by thee, feem too long"? What doft thou think toget 
 without length of time ? Good things are not wont to 
 offer themfeivcs without Proctfs of time, as the com- 
 mon Proverb tells us. Mean while you may follow 
 your Vocation, nor needs there any other Labour , 
 than that you look to your Lamp Morning and Eve- 
 ring, and fee how the Fire is. And I pray, are not 
 the Country men conftrained to wait their time, 
 wherein to reap, and again to receive the Fruits which 
 they coniinitted to the Earth ? And though they have 
 fown their Seeds afore the approach of the W inter, 
 \et they cannot reap them again fiom the Earth, 
 fooner than the next following y^'uguli, which then re- 
 wards and rccompcnfcth all their hard Labours. But 
 now, the waiting fo long a time does not tire them-, 
 for they patiently cxpcft the tirrie of Harveth Thus 
 liktuifc arc vou to do, but if you are greedily defi 
 rousof fooncr making ready \our Pellets, or Balls, by 
 the boyling, you iT;ay I Confefs, have a fooncr end- 
 ing of your cxpeelation, and that on this wife, viz.. 
 by a ftronger Fire, which may mai^e your Water boyl 
 without 3i:y ce:fing, but yet in chis fame way of Ope- 
 rating fhoe do:h again happen this trouble, from that 
 flxong and unccfl'ant ftethir.g, viz. that your Water 
 
 being without any intermiilion rcfolvcd into Fume and 
 Vapour, is always lefTened, and you muft of nectffity 
 be always pouring in more new. life wiiich of 
 thefe two ways you pleafe, for you are e'en importu- 
 nate and troublefome enough unto me. I will not, 
 for the time to come, take on me to infirudt any 
 more fuch Difciplesas you are. What do you think, 
 that if that fhort work of three days, or of feven 
 hours were known unto me, i would prefently reveal 
 it unto you ? No ! But yet I am not gotten to fo high 
 a Degree of knowledge, as to profefs my felf a N'a- 
 fter of fo great an Art. I do believe though, that 
 fuch things are poiTible to be done, but I deny, that I 
 my felf am able to do fuch notable things. And now, 
 go home in God's Name, and diligently and ferioufly 
 meditate upon all thcfe things : You have heard e- 
 nough, and my time will no longer permit me to con- 
 fer with you. If perhaps, one or two Errours (hould 
 put a flop to your proceedings, you may again come 
 unto me, and ask me thereabouts. Mean while t 
 commend you unto God, and pray him to beflow his 
 Elelling upon your felf, and your Labours. 
 
 C. Now am I contented, nor kjiow what farther 1 
 [hould ask^: lam firry, that I have fo much troubled you 
 by my dull Brains^ and beetle Head , and been fo im- 
 portunate : Nor h^iow I, how to requite your deferts i God 
 will reward you with Life eternal, IJhall go home full of 
 joy, and bear a glad Mejfage, and lidings unto my Fa- 
 mily, And I pray God to be at all times prefent with ut^ 
 to cur Help and Succour^ 
 
 B. Amen. 
 
 I 
 
 The CO%OLLARJ. 
 
 Have, in this Third Dialogue, made mention of a 
 certain fccret fiery W acer, which can ripen the 
 Volatile and immature Minerals, and Metals: And 
 herein I have principally regarded a Particular Trans- 
 mutation. But forafmuch as a Particular Meliora- 
 tion of the Metals requires as much time, and no 
 fewer Expences, than the Vniverfal it felf docs, I 
 would here commend to the Sons of Art the Vniver- 
 fal work, which is to be preferred before a Particu- 
 lar one. Such things as we have perhaps omitted in 
 this Dialogue, the Defcription of my fourth fccret 
 Fire will fufhciently fupply the defedt •, to which, I 
 refer the friendly Reader. He will there fee and un- 
 derfland, that the greateft part of the whole Work, 
 and the very hinge of the faid Operation, confiffs 
 chiefly in the true Vefftl, in which our Matter is to be 
 ripened i and without the knowledge of which, there 
 can never be any thing done to purpofe. Which 
 VefTel, feeing that all the Philofophers have covered 
 over, and hidden with fo great a Care and Diligence, 
 and iiave involved it with fuch obfcure Clouds of 
 darkncfs, I fhould do amifs, yea, moll: cxtrcamly a- 
 mifs. fhould I lay it open, and bring it from out of 
 thofc dark inwrapments, into the Light. Thus much 
 only I fay, that it ought to be fuch a Fornace, and 
 the VcfTel it fclf fuch a one too, as in which, all the 
 Chymical Operations, -viz. Solution, Putrefaction, Di- 
 ftillation, Sublimation, Cohobation, Afcenfion, Def- 
 cenfion. Circulation, Inceration, and Fixation may be 
 perfedly (hewn unto an Hermetick^ Difciple, or Lear- 
 ner, in one hours time, in one little Fornace, in one 
 Glafsj and in one Fire, all which muft not coft rr.ore 
 
 than 
 
Part IJI. 
 
 The Goddcfs of %iches. 
 
 than the value of one quarter part cf a Doller, and '■ 
 is all done vvithniit any changng of the GlaJfes, or' 
 putting to, of the hands of the Operator. Thefe are j 
 indeed fuch things as exceed all the belief of the whole ; 
 World, but yet they do not exceed GUiibir's faith » | 
 nor fufficcth it him only to believe, but he can alfo 
 effe<ft the fame, that fo other incredulous people may 
 believe likcwife. f 
 
 N. B. On a certain time, as I was familiarly dif- 
 courfing with a learned Man, concerning fuch great 
 
 4^ 
 
 and incredible things, he prcfented mc with thffc fol- 
 lowing Vcrfes, aptly agreeing to this Matter in hand. 
 
 Thy * S!r>tame ( Glauber ! ) given n-as, <,/, 
 
 unto Faith, relating ' * John. 
 
 ret by good right it JIjohU have fqttar'd unto thv 
 Operatinfr, 
 
 FaitSPs Objects are invifible, but yet, fuch things, di 
 
 you. 
 As would at frft be fcarce believ'd, produce by ^n 
 
 to vierp. 
 
 A Short Expojition upon the HcIIj/J? goddcfs Pros ekvik a, the Wife 
 of Pluto, viz. what the Hcathemjh Philofophic/^ Poets, as Ovid 
 and Virgil under flood by it, 
 
 'And Imy, by the help of this Proferpina, the Animas, or Souls, of the 
 cSM'ortifed MetallicJc Bodies are carried out of the Qhymical Hell 
 into the Philofophicl^ Heaven, Tranflatedout of the High -Dutch. 
 
 READER, that we may fee, if and how 
 the inferiour Metals, by true Art, may be 
 tranfmuted into good and conftant Gold 
 and Silver ; I find,that it is firft necefTary to 
 declare whence, and by what means the Melioration 
 of the imperfcft Metals muft proceed by Art, and by 
 what means only by Nature, without the hand of 
 the Artifi, the clean and fixed Gold and Silver hath 
 arrived to fuch a Purity, and Perfedtion. 
 
 It being then, that this knowledge is the only Foun- 
 dation, upon which AUhymy is built, I find it ne- 
 ceffary to difcover it to thofe, who are ignorant of 
 it, and to fhew a fure way, in which they may go 
 without hinderance, and happily arrive to the defired 
 End. 
 
 The Reafon, why Nature generates all Metals in 
 the Mountains, and brings fome of them to Perfedi- 
 on,and leaves others imperfedt, feveral Philofophers of 
 our An:eftors have very plainly defcribed, and there- 
 fore needs not here to be repeated. He that knows it 
 rot may enquire after it, in the Writings of thefe 
 Philofophers, where he may learn their Grounds, or 
 Reafons , only this little I think neceflary here to 
 (hew, viz. that at! Metals and Minerals have but one 
 Original, or beginning, to wit, the four Elements, 
 Fire, Air, Earth and Water. But that one Metal in 
 the Earth, in which is its Matrix, becomes to be 
 more noble than another, this is but accidental, ac- 
 cording as one Metal by the Central Fire is more, or 
 left cofted , and chiefly from thence, according as 
 the Univerfal Spirit of the World, or firft Matter of 
 Metals , lights of a Matrix in the Earth, more clean 
 or unclean But palTmg this by, becaufe the Books 
 of Philo(i:>phers are filled with them, although obfcr- 
 ved by a very fmall number of Men. For almoin all 
 who read Chymical Books, read only to the end , 
 that they may fee thofe ProcefTcs, which teach how 
 to make Gold and Silver out of the inferiour Metals, 
 but do not at all mind the Original, and difference of 
 Metals, although that ought to be the firfl, for where 
 the Philofophers write of the Generation and diffe- 
 rence of Metals, there they publifh the whole Ground 
 
 of Alchymy : But where they write their Receipts ^ and 
 Procejjes, their they obfcure the Art, and lead the 
 ealie Believers into Errour. Among all the Philofo- 
 phers, I have found none which hath dealt more 
 plainly and open!y in this Matter, than Faracelfus in 
 his Heaveu of Philofophers, who writes, that every Me- 
 tal is an hider or concealer of the other Six, or that 
 every vifible Metal contains in it fclf invifibU and fpi- 
 ritually the other fix Metals, and that to bring forth 
 and make vifible, the invifible, and more noble Me- 
 tal, and on the contrary, to tranfplant the vifible and 
 ignobler Metal in the fame place, where the more no- 
 ble and invifible was, is very pollible, which is indeed 
 the very Truth. For I my felf have pcrform'd this 
 Tranfplantation, not only once, but fome hundred 
 tiiTies. ^ If any hath a mind to perform any notable 
 thing ill Alchymy, he can find no Book, which will 
 teach him more than the Book above cited. But yec 
 I will not defpife the Books of other good \\ riters. 
 And if this were not true, that every vifible Metal 
 hides in it felf the others, invifibly, how could it be 
 pofTible to tranfmute any inferiour Metal, either uni- 
 verfally or particularly, into good and conllant Gold > 
 But that it is pofTiblc , daily ocular infpeftion prove? 
 to be true, in feveral places of the World. Now if this 
 be fo.as no man needs to doubt it, it will not be diffi- 
 cult to teach any underffanding Man, if he will but 
 learn a little how to handle the Fire, how to bring 
 forth fixed and corporeal Gold, out of thofe grofs and 
 vifible Metals, in which lyes hidden a great deal of 
 pure and fpiritual Gold. But yet you muft know.^ 
 that one clean Metal hath more invifible and fpiritual 
 Gold in it, than another. Jupiter hath in it much fpi- 
 ritual Gold, but Venus more, and Mars the moft : Ycft 
 Antimony dnih not give place to A/jr/,for the quantity 
 of fpiritual Gold. Now whofoevcr is minded to un- 
 dertake this fort of Labour with Profit, let him take 
 care what Metal he handles, and how he handles i', 
 that inftcad of Profit, he may not reap difcourage- 
 ment and damage, but may have reafon to thank 
 Cod, Nature and Art ; in which, this following Pro-, 
 cefs willfufficienily help Iiim, in which, the true and 
 
 mofl 
 
44 
 
 F ROSE%riK.E- (^ 
 
 r 
 
 Part HI. 
 
 moft certain way is openly (hewn. Yet with this 
 ProvKo, that he fu lives, that God may be pkafcd 
 with hisConverfation.and not have it in Abomination. 
 For Gods bleiling is all in all. There mutt be toge- 
 ther earncft Prayers, diligent Confidcration, and un- 
 wearied Labour, or clfe one may eatliy fail, altliough 
 the Art be plainly and clearly fet before his Eyes, 
 without any refervc, which a good Chriitan ought cer 
 tainly to believe. Yet I have often heard the contra- 
 ry, trom impious Men, fuch are the adherents and 
 Conforts of Fanwcr, as it God had nothing to do 
 with fuch Arts, and that Art alone was Mailer in 
 thefe Cafes, which certainly is very impious, feeing 
 that fuch Blafphemics, take away from God hisOmni- 
 potency, his Goodnefs and Mercy, and give them on- 
 ly to Nature, leeing that God hath not his beginning 
 from Nature, but Nature from God. Have not the 
 wife Heathens believed, that God could give his bkf- 
 ling to Mens endeavours, and take it away again at 
 his Plcafure ? What faith rirpl,thzt famous Philofj- 
 pher? when he teacheth hew to pluck the Golden 
 branch from the Opake Tree : 
 
 Tene manu^ facikque fetjuefur, & ttno avaljo^ 
 
 NoH deficit alter, fi te fata vacant, aliter mUiS vh'thus 
 
 Nee dura ferro avellere potes. 
 
 One Branch being plucked and born away. 
 Another follows s itnlefs the Fatei fay nay .• 
 Without whofe Smile, no force of hardefi Steel 
 la crop the fmate\\ I'wig, can ought prevail. 
 
 It is faid , Ora & Labura, Pray and Labour, accor- 
 ding to which, let every Man live. Now you (hall 
 hear how the imperfed A^etals, in a particular way, 
 may be tranfmuted with great Profit , into perted, 
 and that very plainly without any rcferve, for I have 
 obtain'd it at length by much Conlideration. And 
 becaufe my great Age, and (Iveral long SicknelTes 
 keep me continually in Bed, and both Feet are as 
 in the Grave, where I (land certainly expecling^ no- 
 thing elfe, but a happv departure out of this tranlitory 
 Life, into a better, which palTcth not away. So that 
 I would by no means intermit to (ing with the Swan 
 before my end, a pleafant Song' which may rejoyce 
 all the Lovers of ALhjmy^ if they will make them.- 
 felves (harers of this Melody. For thofe who read 
 what I here write, and yet give no Credit to it, nor 
 put their hand to the Work, and fini(h it with dili- 
 gence, they will reap no Proht by this my inftrud-ion. 
 But thofe who underdand my Writing, and work 
 plainly after the Letter, provided they have but a 
 Ii;tle underftandingin the Fire, will reap great Profit i 
 yea. even great Riches by it.For I am plain without any 
 lefc'rve, fothat if any fliould fail, the fault will not 
 be mine, but muli be imputed to the Workmans want 
 cf Skil i for I never in my Life fought to gain any 
 thing by my Writing, neither will I now doit, 
 but it fulficeth me if I do good to mv Neighbour, 
 out of Love, with that Talent which God hath given 
 ir.e. Whofoever is on Gluubn's iidc, and will parti- 
 cipate of my good intention, he niay, or let it alone, 
 'tis all one to me, for they arc not all good Cooks that 
 wear long Knives ; the Arc coniiftcth inexperience, 
 and I)e that is but any thing skiikd in Chymical Ope- 
 lations will do well enough, for all is laid plainly 
 down before his Eyes, f'ut on the contrary, the Co- 
 vetous, Proud, and La^y, who ftck to be rich with- 
 out labour and pains, will find every thing dark, and 
 
 never attain to any thing ptofitablc. For Gcd will Dcfs. 
 
 have it fo, that not every Eodv dial! be Rich, zsTa- 
 racdfus very well exprelTcth it in his Book of Sul- 
 fh:tr. when he faith. Many might be h:ij>'J wuh afi\\-> 
 If^ords, if It war not againji the W.U of God, for God 
 tv ill not have theGoitS-taii equal the Cows m leirgtb^ for 
 elfe out of Pride he might with it heat out bis own Eyfs, 
 and thn-efors it is bitter to be filetit, that thsy may re- 
 main Poor, Thus Paracelfus. But I dlaub^r fay, fhac 
 it is better to lay down the Art in irutli, without dif- 
 ference before all Men, for God keeps full his hand 
 over it, and to whom he Wills it, he w;ll give ir, 
 and to whom he will not give it, he knoweth how 
 to cad a Mift before his Eyes, that he may not fee the 
 good, nor have power to apprehend it-, but may wan- 
 der about in darknefs, with his proud and dull Head, 
 till at length he fall into the Pit of the impious, and 
 there perifh without help. But that I may no lon- 
 ger detain the Lover of Art with my Difcourfes, but 
 come at length to thcPradice, 1 will in the Name of 
 God here fet down the whole Proccfs as it is in it felf, 
 without any Refervation, and the whole bufinefs is 
 thus. 
 
 Now followeth the true, and often pradifed Pro*- 
 cefs, how to tranfmute Silver (as being yet not a 
 perfedly mature Metal ) by degrees, without any lofs, 
 totally into the higheft pcrfcdion, thar is to fay, in- 
 to good Gold abiding all Tryals. After the revealing 
 of this Procefs, we (hall alfo hear, how all the imper- 
 fed Metals, viz. 1?, it, (J, and . may after the fame 
 manner ( but yet not totally, but only fo far as they 
 contain an incombuftible Alercury, ) he tranfmuted 
 into good Gold and Silver. And after this Revelati- 
 on, we will not omit to (hew alfo, which way c the 
 moft immature of all the Metals, may be tranfmuted, 
 not only Particularly, but alfo Univerfally, into the 
 higheft Medicine , and the beft Gold. But the later 
 mult thus beundeiftood, that we may not caft Pearl 
 before Swine, but that they may remain only among 
 honeft hearts, and not come into the hands of double- 
 minded Men. 
 
 But now, to come to the Melioration of Silver^ 
 the ingenious muft know, that ."jilver is naturally fixed- 
 in the Earth, and endures the Fire, and therefore needs 
 no Art to fix it ; for it bears the Tryal of the Tclt, , 
 as well as Gold, wanting only Colour and Weight, , 
 which Nature hath not bellowed upon it, but may be 
 procured by Art. As for the Colour, the fecret Fire 
 of the Wife can only make it perfc'Tl, for all Colours 
 are abfconded in the common Fire of Wood, and the 
 Sun, as we daily fee , that the Univerfally ripening 
 Sun, brings all the Fruits of the Earth, from a Green • 
 and white, by its conftant Beams, to Rediiefs and 
 Maturity. And we alfo (ce, that the common Fire, 
 of Wood and Coals, makes Earths and Minerals 
 which are White, become Red, as wc fee Crocus Mar- 
 tis, Mrniiiw, and Other Colours which are produced 
 out of Black, Gray, and White Metals and Minerals^ 
 as the higlily illuminated Paracelfus hath fufficiently 
 taught us, -.'c. that the common Fire of Coals, by 
 its own power and innate Nature, without any addi- 
 tion of other things, is perfcdly able to graduate the 
 white Metals, into Red, or yeilow Gold, as you may 
 fee in his Book^ of Cements. If the comtnon Wood-fire of 
 it felf doth this, what canno: the Fire of the wifceffed, 
 which was always kept in thegreate-ft Secrecy ? Efpe- 
 cially, if one know Jiow to add a graduating MetaLicI^ 
 Species, as Mars^Venus, and Afitunony^ and the like, 
 after a fpiritual manner, to the fecret Fire ; which is 
 the way to give to white Silver, a ccnfiant Red- 
 
 As 
 
Part III. 
 
 'The Goddcfs of 'Rjches. 
 
 4^ 
 
 As for the weight of Silver, it may, in like man- 
 ner as the Colour be given to Silver by Art,ro that it 
 fhail be ccjual with Gold in weight : Which iiitrcdu- 
 ^tion of Colour and wcij-iit into }), the Fhilofophers 
 have called doling of its Fores For this is certain, 
 that if any light iMetals are inclred together, that one 
 HUeth up the Peres of the other, and both come out 
 of the Fire more compact and heavy, than th'.y were 
 bctort. For example : Take half an Cuncc of Red 
 Copper, and as tnvch of good Tin, melt thcfe toge- 
 ther, and pour them out into a Bullct-mould, and 
 you will fee, that they will not be much m.orcin Mag- 
 nitude than one of them was before ;, for one Bullet 
 of ^ and one of v may alm.oft be put into the fame 
 Mould : From whence it appears, that one Metal hath 
 an ingrefs into the other, and mends, and augments it 
 in \{$ weight and Colour i but what thofe Metals are 
 which give weight and colour to Silver, you may eafi- 
 lyguefs. Nothing can tinge, but what is naturally 
 Coloured,and nothingcan better give wcight,than what 
 is naturally heavy : In which, and ! have the Prehc- 
 iT/incncy, but in introducing Colour, Mjrj, />/;?</, and 
 Antimony excel. But vvhich way this introdu(ffion of 
 co'our and weight, info light and white Silver, is to 
 be done, the following Proccfs will teach. 
 But this the Ingenious ought to know, that it is no 
 Art at all, that if the Iron made Red, and c and 1? 
 made White, be mixed with i), yet they will not 
 tender it durable, red and heavy : But the Corroding 
 "F will quite take away the Redncfs and Whitenefs 
 npon the Cupel : For what is not purged from all 
 combuftiblc Sulphtr^ connot fuJtain the Cupel^ but will 
 vanifh with SJiurn^ and turn into Scoris : And feeing 
 that we know, that $ and v contain abundance of 
 fuperfluous combuftible Sulphur ^ and alfo that their 
 incombuftible Sutthur is not yet fixed enough, to re- 
 fill the Corroding T? upon the Citpe/, and therefore 
 with him mult vaniHi and come to nothing, for all 
 that is able to abide the Cupel mnft be feparated from 
 all combuftible Sulphur. Now we know, that <J and 
 5 are not fo, and therefore cannot abide the Cupel. 
 For i if he be made Red, and cali upon Silver, he 
 doth not remain Red with it, but fo much as enters 
 the Silver, again becomes black Iron, and therefore can 
 give no Colour to the Silver > and alfo t Hies away, 
 and fo leaves no weight to the Silver : Which ?ara- 
 celfns hath fufficicntly defcribed in his Cxlwn Philofo- 
 phnrum. So that if Cne melt unfixed Metals with 
 Gold and Silver, and keep them together never fo 
 long in the Fire, yet notwithftanding the unfixed Me- 
 tals, cannot be made fixed by the Gold and Silver, 
 but every of them would again be found in the Exj- 
 vjot-i as they were before. But if one Metal ftiould 
 make the other batter, they ought to be fpiritually 
 conjpyned, and fo the Spirit of one Metal will im- 
 prove the other. For all Philofophcrs teftifie, that the 
 Aletals mult firft be reduced to their firft Matter, that 
 is, they muft be brought into a fpiritual being, be- 
 fore they can be tranfmuted into more Noble, by Art. 
 But which way all Metals are to be fpiritualized, and 
 brought to their firft Matter, is taught in my Trca- 
 tife of the Ihree Principles of Metals, lately publifhcd, 
 as alfo in the Seventh part of my Pharnucnpij Spjgy- 
 rica, and its Appendix. Now if one would Melio- 
 rate, or improve, the im.pctfcot Metals, the imperfect 
 combuftible Sulphur nnuft firft be feparated ftom 
 them, that onlv the puteft and incoinbuiiible part, tiz. 
 the incombuf.ible Sulphur may remain i which may 
 be done by fcveral ways •, as by Diftillation, and Re- 
 iUricition, and alfo by AduJlion, and Combuftion. in 
 
 which tioth.Irig perifhctM, bnt the combullibic and ud- 
 profitablc part : But tiie incbmbuftible Cy! ftill re- 
 mains, and doth nor jicrifh by rlic Fire, and alfo by 
 S'ohifions, Diftillatiehs and Rc<aifications,.al! flie un- 
 profitsble Feces of the Metals are feparated, and t' ere 
 remains only the clean QuintciTcnce of the Metals, 
 whic!; arc feparated and advanced into a concentra- 
 ted Medicine. This Separation of the unpiofitabfe 
 and combuftible Sulphur., from the incombuftibic, ai| 
 Old Philofopher hath notably cxpre/Ted in thefc Vctki. 
 
 Fll tmpoff\biU\ Sulphur fine Flamma deUre, 
 Cjlcis adujtihile^ quod ptafiat fojja Mtmrjsj 
 
 Sulphur impure., rvecafPt h let out., 
 'ItU Circling Flames play round ahout 
 Otir Oars and Cakes :, for then they 
 2 his Jubtil Fire forthwith obey. 
 
 Here the Philofopher tells us, that every cambu- 
 buftible Sulphur., may be burnt, and reduced into no- 
 thing, but no othcrwife, than by a kindled and com^ 
 buftible Fire,by whofe Flame nothing that is good,but 
 only the fuperfluous and noxious Sulphur by which all 
 the ihferiour Metals are dcftroycd , is taken avvaj'. 
 And therefore ^uftly reputed imperfedt, as long, and 
 as often, until this unprofitable Sulphur is taken away 
 from them, either Particularly, by Diffolving and Co- 
 agulating, Diftilling and RecSifing, or elfe by an Uni- 
 verfal fixed Mercury by projedtion, by which means 
 the hurtful combuftible Sulph.ir is fixed, and, without 
 Combuftion, tranfmuted into a nobler Metal. For this 
 is very poffible, that any combuftible Sulphur, by aa 
 eafic way and fmall Charge, and in a fliort time, viz. 
 in one day, Particularly, may be fo fixed, and made 
 conftant in the Fire, that, without being burnt, it may 
 be able to endure the ftrongeft Fire, the which is hand- 
 led more at large, in my Three Principles of Metals. 
 From hence it follows, that no impcrfed Metal can 
 be tranfmuted, with Profit, into a Perfcd, before it 
 be free'd from its combuftible 5n//'/'«r, which may be 
 done feveral ways. Now, he who hath a mind to 
 get any good out of the imperfedt Metals, maft learn 
 how to feparaie their unprofitable Sulphur, either by 
 one means or other, as 1 have fuftkicntly taught. For 
 in this, viz. in the Separation %f the combuftible Sul- 
 phur, from the incombuftible, confifts the whole Art; 
 which every one ought to attend without other 
 : thoughts. Now after we have underftood out of this 
 Theory, in what the Melioration of the Metals con- 
 1 fifts, or how it muft be effeded, it is neccflary to 
 I know the exail Praftice, or Procefs, as the Operati- 
 ! tions fucceed one another : For tx> this work belongs, 
 I not only Diftillation and Reflification, to feparate the 
 pure from the impure, but alfo the moft fubtil and 
 clean parts, after they are feparated from their Feces, 
 i muft be made fixed, fubtilcr, and conftant , viz, fo 
 j conftant, that the Corroding ^:, may not overcome 
 I them, but againft his Will, leave thein conftant upon 
 the Ctipel. This is one of the greateft Secrets in At. 
 j chymy, yet taken notice of but bv few, and therefore 
 ! few there are who reap any Profit, for the greateft 
 j part of Operators are periuadod, that it they had but 
 I Red Metallick Tindturcs, that they couW immediate- 
 ly tinge with them, but in the end they have under- 
 ftood, that more than unfixed Tin'ftures are required. 
 It is an cafie Matter, to make Pved Tin<Sures out of 
 Stones and Metals : But thcfe arc not permanent on 
 the Cupel, without true Fixation, which the Fhilofo- 
 phers call Perpetuation in the Fire. Nothing in the 
 
 M Woiki 
 
TROSEFINE: Oi 
 
 Part 
 
 li. 
 
 World can tinge, fo that the tinged ^letal can cnc urc 
 the Cupel, as long as the Tinaure is llill Metallick. 
 For whatfoever is made out of Metals, and by aftrong 
 Fire may again be reduced into a Metal, cannot be 
 called a true Tindture, for whatfoever yet contanis a 
 combulUble Sulpht^r, periflieth upon the C«pel with 
 Saturn, and nothing abides> but what is totally de- 
 prived of that. For even the Saturn contains much 
 tfombuliiblc Sulphur, therefore he fo readily afts upon 
 Sulphureous Metals, and draws them with himfelt in 
 to the Cupel, which he cannot do to Gold and Silver. 
 But becaufe we alfo know this, that when by the help 
 of common fixed Gold, a combuftible and fugacious 
 Sulphur is well united and fixed, that the combulhblc 
 Sulphur adheres fo clofely to the fixed Gold, that it 
 alfo remains fixed with it, and can never be feparated 
 from it. Now, if the weight and proportion be well 
 adiufted, then the fixed Sttlphnr enters with the Gold 
 into Lune, and Tingeth it into connant Gold. But 
 if the conjundion of the Sulphur and Gold, be not 
 ucll made, or too much of the Sulphur be put to the 
 Gold, it takes away the Ingrefs of the Gold, fo that 
 it remains with the Saturn, and cannot enter the bi\ 
 vcr. It is alfo to be obferved, that if the Sulphur ot 
 ^ , 2 or ?^ be legitimately united with O, and yet be 
 not kept long enough together, it will produce no 
 good :, and therefore the Tranfmutation of Wetals is 
 •rot fo eafic a thing, as many imagine :, it is not enough 
 to make a Tindure •, to fix it, is more v and to give 
 an Ingrefs, is hardeft of all. And thefe three things 
 ought to be well known, if one would effed any good 
 in the Tranfmutation of Metals. 
 
 Now that we may farther hear,which way 7 injures 
 may be drawn out of the Red Metals, fixed, and made 
 confiant in the Fire, and how to give them an Ingrefs, 
 I have undertaken to Reveal to the Lovers of Art. 
 And none needs to doubt, but what I here Write arc 
 my own Inventions, which I have not only once or 
 twice, but many times experimented, and always 
 found good, although in fmall quantities, provided no 
 'accident hath hindered mc. If a Glafs break in the 
 labour, or a Crucible runs out, by which one fuffers 
 fofs; that is not to be accounted a lofs, becaufe it comes 
 by accident and not from the Art, and therefore not 
 to be imputed to the Art. If an Art be never fo well 
 defcribed, and an ifnskilful Workman intejmcddle 
 with it, the Work may be eafily fpoiled, and there- 
 fore the fault cannot juilly be charged upon the Art> 
 as it is too often done. 1 fliall here acquit my felt of 
 this unjua charge, if out of a good Intention I here 
 ^ifcover the Art, as I have often done, without con- 
 cealing any Manual Operation, and hereafter (hall not 
 care what 111 Men fay or judge of it,if any one, through 
 bis want of Skill, ihould lofe his labour. I here 
 Write nothing, but what I have often done my felf, 
 and found good •, for what fhokild move me to pub- 
 li(h any falfe thing, that might feduce others to la- 
 bour in vain, even when I am ready to dye ? I never 
 'fought any Profit by any of my Writings, no, not 
 when I was young, and might have occafion for it. 
 And now, when both my Feet are in a manner in the 
 Grave, and I am certain not to live much longer , al- 
 though I am heart-whole, nor find 1 any dolour about 
 me, yet my Limbs being weak, I am forced to keep in 
 my Bed, where I Wiite this. I fay. Why fliould I, 
 fo near my end, write any thing hurtfiil to my Soul > 
 I write this for my farewel, to do good to the World, 
 even as the Swan, when (he is near her death, fings 
 a plcafant Song, and fuch 1 would that every one 
 (hoKld take thcfe my lalt Writings to be. But if it 
 
 (lull plcafe God, I hope this will not be the I.Ui ; 
 which is only a fmall VVork, to (liew the probability 
 and verity of the Tranfmutation of Metals, and to 
 help Skiltul Chymifls to great Riclics. l)ut it God 
 (lull yet fpare my Life, I (liall write of higher matters, 
 and (hew fuch a light to the blind World, as hat!i not 
 yet been revealed by any Man. In the mean time, I 
 dtlirc the Ingenious very well to confidcr this parti- 
 cular, and to try his Fortune, every thing is ealic to 
 be done, and needs no beating of the Brain, tor all 
 the labour is clearly laid down, without any refervc, 
 therefore I would have none be fo arrogant, as to im- 
 pute the fault to me, if he mifs his Intention, but ra- 
 ther to himfclf, through his own unskiltulnefs or neg- 
 ligence. Yetthis is alfo to be confidered. That fome- 
 times a true skillul and diligent Operator cannot imi- 
 tate an ealie thing, being hindered by the Almighty, 
 who for certain Rcafons keeps his Hand over it, and 
 will not let every Man grow Rich. 
 
 Nozv fuUorps the Fundamental Vrocefs, hoiv to makf good 
 Cold out (f Silver, with profit , lutd horv to Jeparate, 
 lifter a particular manner, gout! Gold and Silver^ out 
 of Iron, Copper, Jin and Lead. 
 
 9'. A pound of Steel Wier, more or lefs, according 
 as you will begin your Work in a greater or ieffer 
 quantity, difToIve it in Spirit of Salt> filter the DifTo- 
 hition, and abllraiTl the Phlegm from the Solution, in 
 Sand, for in the Abffradlion there will come over no 
 acidity, ( becaufe the Mars holds it after a Magnetick 
 manner j but yet this is not witiiout virtue, for it 
 carries over with it felf a very fubtle Martial Spirit, 
 of which a little put into ones Mouth, penetrates the 
 Tongue, fo that the tafte thereof remains long after. 
 And this penetrating taffe and fmell, is nothing elfc 
 but the molt fubtle Narcotick Sulphur of Mars, which 
 is fet at liberty in the Solution, and carried over with 
 the fweet Water, in the dtflegming. It doth won- 
 ders in Internal Obliruiftions :, and Externally it eaf- 
 eth all Pains, becaufe it is Narcotick and Stupefadlive ; 
 It ferveth for Phyllcians and Chyrurgeons in many 
 cafcs, but becaufe I have already written of this, I 
 need not here repeat it. And this you ought to note, 
 that you draw not off the Phlegm to dryneCs, but the 
 Solution of 6 mutt remain in form of an Oyl. This 
 fweet Oyl of <S is the Upak^Tree of Virgil, from which 
 he hath taught us to pluck its Golden Branches, and 
 how this is to be done, he hath alfo obfcurely hinted, 
 but I here publifli it plainly. Virgil faith, that thofe 
 Golden Branches are the gift of troferpim, but what 
 was to be underftood by this Pmjerpina, which the 
 Heathens have faid to be the Wife of Pluto, is not 
 here expreffed, but only this, that this Golden Branch 
 was Confecrated to the Goddefs Junn. He that will 
 have the foundation of thofe Heathenith Gods, cannot 
 better accomplith his Defire, than by Reading the laft 
 Edition of the DiL^ionary of Eight Languages, writ- 
 ten by AmyrofiM Callepine, for there he will rind many 
 curious fecretsof the Ancient Poets illutlrated. Now 
 concerning Proferpina, many Philofophers and Chy- 
 mills underftand the Corrolive Oyl or Butter of An- 
 t/w«w^, of which I have already made mention, although 
 obfcurely, in my Treatife De Sale Fhilofophnrum, but 
 fliall here give it you more plainly. Now, it accord- 
 ing to a due weight, you put fome of this Vroferpina 
 to the Solution of Mm-i, and unite them well toge- 
 ther, and then diftil this mixture by a Glafs Retort 
 well Coaled, there firft comes over a certain unprofi- 
 table Biimidity, then a whiteOyl of ^i«/iwa»y, which 
 
 is 
 
Part III 
 
 The Goddcfs of %ches. 
 
 is to be kept by it felf, and when you fee yellow drops 
 begin to fall, you mull then change your Receiver, 
 then give a llronger Fire, and the Pr.'/erpMa brings 
 over with it feJJ the TiniTture of Alan, as red as 
 Blood. This l-lood-red Oyl of Afars and Antimony 
 is the GoUcn Branch, plucked from the obfcure Tree, 
 vvJiich may ealily be fixed into a particular Tindture, 
 as we fliall hear anon. Now when you have pulled 
 One Golden Branch, you may alfo pluck a fccond and 
 third, for they will callly follow. As for the manner 
 of plucking more fuch Golden Branches, it is thus : 
 You mufl: diiTolve the remaining S with Spirit of Salt, 
 and there will remain many Feces, but the Solution 
 will be clearer and better than the firft, althougli lefs 
 in quantity : Now, after (as I told you before) you 
 have put to it the due quantity of Butter of AnttmoKy, 
 for which purpofc that which came over in thefirft 
 DiiHlIation will well fervc, and when you have driven 
 this over by a Retort as before, the Proferpbta again 
 brings over more of the Tinfture in a Blood-red Oyl, 
 which may as the firft, be fixed into a Tinfluie. Af- 
 ter this manner you may pluck many Branches, one 
 after another, but it is not convenient, becaufe the 
 Solution of Mart is diminifhed by every Diftillation, 
 and at length your Branches would be very fmall ■■, 
 therefore it is better when you have plucked the firft 
 Branch, to go to another Tree, and there to pluck a 
 Golden Branch, for the Tree is not fo precious, and 
 you may colleit the Trees from which you have pulled 
 the Branches, and diflblve them in Spirit of Salt, and 
 then pluck from them more Branches. Proferpinj Iiath 
 learned this fpoiling and bearing away, of her Huf- 
 band Pluto^ for he ftole Proferpitta from her Parents, 
 and carried her with him into Hell, and made her his 
 Wife. N. B. FlHto carried Proferpina into Hell, but 
 Proferpina doth the contrary, carrying the dead Bodies 
 and Souls out of Hell. For (he hath her Original only 
 from the Spirit and .Salt of the World, which Spirit 
 and Salt of the World have power to carry the .Souls 
 of the dead Bodies out of Hell, as you may fee in the 
 Books of Philofophers which fay. 
 
 Sal cfr Spiritus Mundi^ ducitm Anima Mortuorum ex 
 Oreo. 
 
 The Salt and Spirit of the World, bring the Souls 
 of the Dead out of Hell. 
 
 Let this fuffice concerning the bringing over the Me- 
 tallick Souls or Tinctures, which is done by Profer- 
 pina. But there is yet other ways to draw out the 
 Tindfures of Metals out of Red Bodies, and they are 
 chiifly to be had by means of our fecret iSj/ ^rwu- 
 «hil{_ in a far greater quantity, than by the help of 
 Proferpina, which is fomewhat troublefome, but yet 
 thefe are more eafily and perfecftly acquired by our Al- 
 caheff. Now, after we have heard how to draw 
 Tinctures out of Metals and Minerals by the help of 
 Praferpim^ it is further neceffary to know how to fix 
 thofe Volatile Tintftures, fo that they may not onjy 
 endure the flrongefl Fire, to which they may ealily be 
 brought, but that is not enough, they mufl be made 
 -(o fixed, that the Corroding S'lturn may not have 
 power to injure them upon the Cnpel \ if thai be not 
 done, thefe Tindures can profit nothing to Metals. I 
 have fecn very many who very well know, how to Ex- 
 traft Tindturcs out of Aiarj^ I'enw-, Vitriol and An- 
 timony, but they wanted the Fixation, the perpetua- 
 tion upon the Cttpel^ and alfo Ingrcfs, and therefore 
 they could do nothing with them- Thefe following 
 
 47 
 
 ancient Vcrfls are read by many, but undcrrtood by 
 icw^ viz. 
 
 Fiy.itm fi fohes, fidifque voljre folntknt 
 & velncrtin figej, facie t te vi-vere tntitm. 
 
 I If thou dilTolve that which is fixed, and render It Vo- 
 I larile. 
 And again fix the Volatile, thou fhalt not want. 
 
 We have proceeded according fo this Verfc, in ma- 
 king the fixed Iron Volatile, although we have not 
 yet again rendered the Volatile fixed and conilant up•^ 
 on the Cupel. The Fixation requires but little Art, fo 
 that it may abide the Fire, but to make it abide the 
 C'ipel is a great Art, and cannot be done by idle talk- 
 ing, but by a fundamental knowledge, without which 
 all is in vain. 
 
 Now concerning the Fixation of thofe Volatile 
 Tin<ftures, fo as to abide the Cupel, I have ( thaniw 
 to God ) often experimented, and have already com.- 
 municated to fome who are Curious, out of kindncfs 
 whofe fuccefs I do net yet know. This Fixation 
 cannot be effefted without Common Gold, for when 
 Gold in a liquid form according to a due proportion 
 is mixed and radically conjoyned with the Tintfture' 
 and cart inte Hell to Pluto., and Pinto finds his dear 
 Confort deeply in love with the Animti of Nltrs, or 
 this Beautiful Hermaphroditical Youth, he burns with 
 Jealoufie, fo that he bends them fo clofe together, as 
 they can never afterwards be parted by Saturn. But 
 wherefoever one of thefe three goeth, draweth the 
 other two with it. And becaufe they arc alfo con- 
 flantly together, as if it were one Spirit and Tin-fture 
 united to the fixed Body of Gold, therefore they have 
 an eafie admittance into the Chamber of the Queen 
 Diana i for Diana doih by no means fhut out her dear- 
 ed Kiog y^pollo., but willingly admits him, and there- 
 fore fhe is rccompenfcd with all the Treafures which he 
 hath received from his true and Warlike Servant, Mars : 
 And of this, by Neptunet help, fhe hath made her felf 
 a glorious and conftant Red Garment, which neither 
 Water nor Fire, nor the old and envious Saturn can 
 fp»il her of Here I have Fundamentally defcribed the 
 Fixation of the Martial and Antimonial Tindure, 
 clearly without any refervation, yet fomewhat enig- 
 matically, according to the manner of the Poets. He 
 that doth but a little confider, cannot fail, but muli 
 comprehend it, if he hath but a moderate Capacity, 
 except God fhall prohibite him. 
 
 Now let us further fee, what may be further done 
 with our Red Oyl of <J , and j, in Phyfick and Al- 
 chymy. When we powr upon this Oyl our Akaheji:, 
 and again draw off the Liquor by a Retort with a 
 gentle heat, and at length give a flronger Fire, the 
 molt fubtle and cleanefl part of the Tindture wilj 
 come over, and the groffcft part will remain behind, 
 v^hich is an Univcrfal Purge. The fubtic part, may 
 yet be made purer and nobler by Redihcation, and 
 this you may afterwards dulcify from its Salt, and dry 
 the Anima Martis and Antimonij, then put it into a 
 Glafs, and with an eafic Sand-Fire melt it into a Red 
 Stone, for this Stone melts as ealily as Wax, and hath 
 as eafie Ingrefs into all Metals, as Oyl hath into dry 
 Leather. This Stone hath not its equal, for it is better 
 than the Firc-Stone of Baftlm, it is better than But- 
 lers Stone, to which Helmant hath afcribed fuch Won- 
 ders. Of this Stone and its incredible Virtues, whicfj 
 it fliews in Phyfick, I (hall treat at large in the fol- 
 lowing Treatife. This Treatife (hall Difcourfe of 
 
 tbree 
 
^8 
 
 PROSE%FIJsCE: Or, 
 
 Pare 111, 
 
 three unknown Fires, and Stones: Frft of rhe fccret 
 Fire of the ancient Philnf^^phcrs, whieli is called tiie 
 Fi.-e of ArtephiiiJ, by Virtue of which fecrtt Fire, is 
 generated tlie vegetable, Animal and Mineral (ionc uJ 
 i'hilofopiicrs , and alli) particularly out of all Vege- 
 tables, Animals, and Minerals, their QuintelTcnce, 
 or highcU Power, without the help of any comtnon 
 Fire, without Furnace, GlalTts, or any ether known 
 Chymical Inftruments , is to be obtained in a few 
 hours, without any Labour or Coil : And aMb things 
 incredible and unheard of are by it brought to pafs ; 
 of which great Secrft, no Philofopher hath hitherto 
 made the lealt mention •, as the before cited Treatifc 
 will fulnciently teftirie. The fecond Fire is like to it, 
 -7^. the fame with which the Ifrtelites in old time 
 did fct Fire to their SacriHccs, which their Pticfts, 
 when they were to go into the Babytonijh Captivity, 
 did hide in a dry hole in the Earth v and many years 
 after, when they were releafed from their Captivity, 
 and returned, they found not a Fire, but inllead of it a 
 I'ljlous water, which the-^ poured upon their Sacri- 
 fice, and it kindled it, as well as if it had been done 
 by the fccret heavenly Fire, of which you may read 
 more in the Aldccakus. This fccret Fire ot the An- 
 cient Caldeans is alfo comparable to the JEthereal 
 Fire, of which Meteors, Thunder and Lightning are 
 generated, and alfo the Thunderbolts (hemfelves, which 
 are cail down upon the Earth, tp the great allonifh- 
 ment of Mankind. Hermes hath very vcell faid, that 
 what is above is alfo below, which is proved by the 
 fccret Fire of the Caldeam. For by a light, plain and 
 cheap Art, one may ealily produce the fame Light- 
 ning hre,together with the Tiiunder, here upon Earth i 
 cf which the fcllowing Book fliall treat more fully. 
 And therefore to that I refer the Reader. I could 
 not but here touch a little at thcfe three Principal 
 Fires, by which are generated the three chief Jewels 
 of the Wurld, that the Enquirer after the Wifdom of 
 God may know, what great Mj fterics of God are to be 
 imparted hereafter to the ungrateful World, before I 
 publifb this Book of Fires and Stones. Now to return 
 to our particular,, and fee by what means our Red Oyl 
 oi Man and Antimnny may be Coagulated, after a 
 nearer way, in^o a tinging Stone, with which Silver 
 
 Fire. It h true, fuch an InTpiduion oi vegetable 
 Juices is ealily done in this manner ^ but Mincrjl 
 dillilltd Spiiit":, and Conoiive 0\ls, cannot be thus 
 diycd, (or they will endure heat, but if you give too 
 great a heat, they will fly away and not be thickncd, 
 as you may fee in Oyl of Vitriil^ %vhich by it feifcan 
 never be dryed, although it be wever fo long kept, in 
 heat. But if you will have it dry, you mult add 
 fomething to it which is more than dry, and hath al- 
 fo power to exGccate moilture. We lee in the ba- 
 king of Bread, when we put water to the Hour, and 
 triix them rogeUier to make Dough, and of that bake 
 Bread, that the Hour, although it be dry, yet it can- 
 not retain with it ftlf the Water, in a hot Oven, for 
 that pcrfedly flies away from the Meal by the hear, 
 and it the Fire be cncreafed, all the moilture would 
 be gone, and only the Meal remain in form of a dry 
 Earth, having quite lolt the form of Bread, bccaufe 
 the Meal was not radically united with the water, 
 and therefore they could not endure the heat toge- 
 ther. If one take a dry Earth, Sand or Powder of a 
 Stone, and put water to it, the dry Earth will im- 
 bibe the water, and to the Eye reduce it into Earth, 
 but this is not conftant. For if yon diftil this Earth 
 by a Retort, all the added water will again come over, 
 and leave the Earth alone, but this is to be under- 
 liood of common water. But fuppofe, one fhould add 
 a heavy Mineral water as ol.Vitrioli (o a dry Earth, 
 and (hould commit this mixture to the Fire, in hopes, 
 that the dry Earth fliould retain with it felf the Cor- 
 roiive Oyl of Vitriol^ ar.d alfo reduce it into a dry 
 Earth, it would prove a miltake, fcr the Oyl of Vi- 
 triol., in a fufhcient heat, would wholly forfake the 
 Earth, bccaufe the Earth is dead, and hath no Sym- 
 pathetick, or Magnetick power, to conjoyn it felf ra- 
 dically with the Oyl oi Vitriol, fo as to remain toge- 
 ther conftant in the Fire j but fuch an Earth, which 
 by an innate l ove draws the Oyl of Vitriol to it felf, 
 and endures with it in heat, or cold without Separa?- 
 tion, mutt proceed from the fame Original with if, 
 for every thing loves its like, and hateth what is un- 
 like to it. Now, becaufe the Oyl of Vitriol proceeds 
 from a Mineral kind, therefore it loves the Mefals, 
 but no comirjon Earth or Stones, for it hath no affini- 
 
 i\Ieliorated, that out of them may be had good Gold 
 and Silver with prctit. And alfo, how by it the Tin 
 dures of Stones, both noble and ignoble, may be 
 drawn out of them, and after the Tindure i; drawn 
 cut, to incorporate it with Silver, and Colour it. And 
 alfo, all precious Stones exalted in their natural Co- 
 lour, and if their Colour be too high, it may be di- 
 minithed, and the Stone rcndrcd more precious, and 
 how this is to be done, the tollowing Pradice will 
 reveal. The fecond and eaiicr way, how to bring our 
 .tinging Red Oyl of A/.""/ and Antimony into an hard, 
 fwcet, and not Corrofive Stone, is this. 
 
 In the foregoing Appendix, I have faid fomewhat 
 of the Coagulation of the llurp Spirits, of Metals 
 and Minerals, and have proved, that fuch Coagula- 
 tion is to be made by the help of Old, cold and dry 
 Saturn, but becaufe I did not there declare, how it is 
 to be effei^ed, I think fit to do it htre, and it is thus. 
 All Liquors or moiit ihing^s, if they are to be dryed, 
 then the moilVure mufi be drawn off from the thicker 
 part by an eafie heat, and then the thicker part re- 
 main? by it ftlf, and is ufcd according to its Appro- 
 priation, ss wc know, that Aloes, Afyrrb, Opium, and 
 all other Gnmn and Juices vverc thin at the tiilt, and 
 were infpilTited i'Uoconcvetc Juices, by the Sun or 
 
 carticularlv, with all other inferiour Metals, may be ty with them. Now if the Oyl of Vitriol be to be 
 
 converted into an hard Mineral ftone, it mud be done 
 by its like, to wit, by Metals, and by fuch Metals as 
 are moft nearly related to it, viz. the MctaJs that are 
 yet impeifeft, for all Metals and Minerals proceed 
 from the fame Root, and therefore they all love one 
 another, yet one Metal loves Oyl of Vitriil more than 
 another, and the immature Metals, better than the 
 ripe ones. For although Gold and Silver alfo love 
 Oyl of Vitriol, yet they do it by ComfJulfion, and not 
 out of true Love, tor they are very difficultly diffolv'd 
 by it, becaufe they have put off their vitriolick Na- 
 ture in their Fixation : On the contrary, Mjrs and 
 Venus have not yet fo done, and therefore they ea- 
 fily affume the Oy] oi Vitriol., and are diffjlved by it, 
 becaufe it was driven out of their Body by the force 
 of Fire, therefore one might fay, that Mars and Ve- 
 nus were the true Metals, and eaficll to Coagulate the 
 Oyl of Vitriol and .Antimony, and to fix them into a 
 Stone, yet this is not fo, for Marr and Venus are of 
 a grofs Nature , and have too much unprofitable 
 Earth, which nnay ealily be feen by their difficult 
 melting in the Fire. 1 hen what is to be done i* Shall 
 Sjturn or Jupiter do it, both which arc of an eafie 
 Fuiion .'' Or, fiiall Mercury do it, which is aKvays Li- 
 quid ? I anfwer, that Mercury cannot Coagwlate, nor 
 
 make 
 
Part III. 
 
 77;? Goddefs of %iche^. 
 
 make fixed, bccaure he Himfelf is not rixed, nor Coa- 
 gulated. Neither can Jupiter do it, for althoiigh he 
 is fliixible and dry, yet he is calily tranfnHitable by a 
 fmall Fire, into an influxible Earth, which cannot 
 again be reduced intoafluxible Meta]lick2>oAv : What 
 then,lhall defpifed Saturndo'it^ C niay one ask ) who 
 Is unfixed himfelf? and which way is it then poflible 
 Jor him to fix a Body, which is more fluid than him- 
 felf"? To this I anfwer, that the fixity is not the 
 only caufc of the Coagulation of the Oyl of Vitrioly 
 for then this Coagulation might be caficlt performed, 
 by Gold and Silver, which, yet is not done, and 
 therefore this Coagulation of Corrofive Spirits muft 
 be done by dry MetaBick, Subjeds. Now wc know 
 very well , that among all the Metals Saturn is the 
 drieft > of which Paracelfut writes very well in his 
 Book of Vexations, which I have already alledged, 
 and confirmed in the foregoing Appendix, [^ viz Pbar- 
 tncaap^a Spagyr, Pars 7.3 It is alfo true, that a better 
 Coagulator, of all Corrofive Mineral Spirits cannot be 
 I found, than old, cold, find dry Saturft-^ for by his great 
 ■ diyncfs he Coagulatcfh the m6i(l Mineral Spirits > by 
 H his great innate fweetnefs, he dulcifies all Corrolives :, 
 and by his fiuxible Sulphur^ he renders all influxible 
 Afetallick^ Subjeds , fiuxible. Now we need nothing 
 more to our Red Oyl of Vitriol^ A-fJ^s and Antimony, 
 but that it be Coagulated into a hard, fwect and fu- 
 filc Stone, which Coagulation can only be done by 
 Sstttrn, and by no other Metal or Mineral, which I 
 have fufficiently proved in the before mention'd Appen - 
 dix, and alfo in my Book of the Ihree Trinciples of 
 Metjlf. Now we have fufliciently underfiood, that 
 the Coagulation and Dulcification of our Red Corro- 
 five Oyl of 6 and j into a fufile Red Stone, can on- 
 ly be done by the help of the Old, Cold, and, of all 
 Fools, defpifed Saturn. Concerning the Nature and 
 Property of Saturn, it would not be here aaiifs, to 
 fay fomewhat of it : But becaufc Faracelfus hath al- 
 ready fufliciently done it, in his Ccclum Fbihfophorum, 
 and I have already confirmed it in the forementioned 
 Appendix , I think it here unceceflary to add any 
 more. Yet I cannot forbear to fay this, that Saturn 
 naturally contains yet a good quantity of the Corro- 
 five Oyl of Vitriol^ which doth not vanifh in melting, 
 tior Cannot be eafier perceived, than when other Metals 
 are added to him upon the Cupel, how foon he fwal- 
 lows them, and draws them with himfelf into the 
 CK/>ir/, except Gold and Silver, which he cannot touch, 
 bccauft hey nave no radical Communion with him, 
 but are clcanfed by Nature from their fuperfluous Oul- 
 fhur, for this devouring Wolf Saturn, can confume 
 nothing, but the combufiiblc Sulphur of Metals, but 
 the incombuflible fixed Sulphur and Mercury, he can- 
 not touch, as appears in Gold and Silver. The an- 
 cient Philofophers painted Saturn, as an Old Man, 
 with one foot on a Wooden (i\\t, having in one hand 
 a Sythe or Sickle, and in his other hand a Child, which 
 he puts to his mouth to devour it. By this thty would 
 intimate the devouring Nature of Saturn, which they 
 have alfo exprcfled in thefc Words, Falx ejut Mor- 
 dax e\i, he hath a fharp Sickle, beware of him, for 
 he hath no mercy, which I have found to be true, 
 rot only by the Cupel , that he Corrodes and ears 
 through thctn, for he Corrodes Sand and Stones, and 
 reduceth them into a tranfparent Glafs ; if he doth 
 this by his own Nature, what will he not do, when 
 his Sythe is whetted by the Corrofive 0\\ of Vitriol > 
 Certainly he can do ten times more ; I have experi- 
 mented it, he that will know it, may alfo do the fame : 
 By him- we wafh and ckanfe common Gold and Sil- 
 
 40 
 
 ver on the Cuprl. bur that Gold and Silver, which is 
 ftill hid in the impcrfcd: Metals, as M in, Venus, and 
 Jupiter^ as alfo in the vile Minerals and Stones, 'vhicKi 
 is (tiil clofcly tyed to the combufiible Sulphur, hetc the 
 common Saturn is too weak and can make no Separa- 
 tion.. On the contrary, ours-can effcdl it very well, 
 and therefore 1 commend him , for after his Sythe 
 is whetted by the Corrofive Oyl of F/'/r/W if then 
 oneliandle any Metal, or Mineral with him In ^ Cru- 
 cible, he will in a moment eat a hole through it, andl 
 run out 1 Nay, if one fhould put two or three Cru-^ 
 cibles one into another, he would do the fame, but if 
 one calf fomewhat before him, to fatiatc his Wolf- 
 like Appetite, then he leaves the Crucibles whole, but 
 doth what the Artift would have him, and is ufed as 
 a tame Wolf, devours the Sheep no more, but keeps 
 them from other devouring W. Ives. 
 
 Before 1 could bring him to that pafs, to prevent 
 his biting, Itryed.many fort? of VefTcls to hold him, 
 nay I have put him upon a reft made of boae Afhes. 
 'Tis true, he did not cat ir, but remained fixt upon 
 the Cw/if/ like Silver, and would not Coppel, by 
 which I perceived, that any eommon Lead, by help 
 of the Red Oyl oi Mars and Antimony, may tn a ve- 
 ry (hort time, not only be reduced info Gold and 
 Silver, but alio be fixed into a true Tinfture, which 
 I have fufliciently fliewn in the foregoing Appendix, 
 that fome of the ancient Philofophers have made 
 their tinging Stone out of Saturn. But fetting this 
 afide, becaufe I yet never went fo far, but I fhould 
 not think it at all diflicult, to make an univerfal Tin- 
 (Tture, to tranfmute all the Metals into perfeiT; Gold 
 and Silver out of Sj««r», with the Red Oyl of $ and 
 J, if my vveaknefs of Body would permit. But t 
 concern not my felf about that, but leave it to thofe 
 that are younger, for I can eafier come to an univer- 
 fal Tiniflure, by the help of the fecret Fire of Philo- 
 phers, than by Saturn ; but in the particular Tranf- 
 mutation of Metals , I have performed many things 
 with the Stone of b^as the following PraiHiice fheweth. 
 
 NoTP foOoTvetb the eajie Coagulation af our Red Oyl 0/ 
 Mars and Antimony, into a Ktdj Sipeet, and flgxi' 
 ble Stone. 
 
 5j . Some Pounds of common Lead, melt it, and 
 pour it out into a long Ingot , and rafp as much 
 thereof as need fliall require-, take of this a Pound ojj 
 more , and put it into a Glafs Retort well coaccd, 
 pour to it half the quantity of the Red Oyl of £ and 
 J, fel it in a Sand Cupel, and give Fire gently by de- 
 grees, and there will come over no Red Oyl, but on- 
 ly a dear and infipid Water, and all the fliarpnefi;, 
 with the Red Tincture, will remain with the Y. If 
 you break the Retort, you will find no Saturn, but thi^ 
 Red, Tinging, and eafie melting Stone, of fuch Vir- 
 tues as I have told you before. Now if you will 
 make ufe of this Stone for the particular Meliorating 
 of the inferiour Metals, as alfo for noble and ignoble 
 Stones, you mufi powder it, and mix it with the 
 'letaUick^ Afhes, and melt them, and you will find 
 the good Metal to be fcparated from the reft, the un- 
 profitable part, and fuperfluous Sulphur, will turn into 
 drofs, and the purer prt will fettle into a Regulus, 
 which you muft blow olf upon a Cuppic, and yoU 
 will find the Silver and Gold, which our Stone hath 
 feparated out of that Metal ■, for our Stone hath this 
 Nature, to feparate in the Fire the good from the 
 bad, to turn the Good into aWetalline Kegulus, and 
 the infciiour into Drofs. For Example, I have a iT>ix- 
 
 N tuit 
 
o 
 
 TROSERPINE: Or, 
 
 J 
 
 U^( Metals containing Gold, Silver, Vemi, Mars 
 and 7«fi;/fr together, I t^ranulatc this mixture, and 
 »ix tlicm with CAT Stone, n.elt them together in a 
 Crucible, our Stone only fpoils the interiour Metals 
 as ^, vand li-, which it confumcs into a Drols, but 
 the purer as and !) it (Iparates hom this Diols, 
 and precipitates thcm-1ntoa^Kf(j«/«/. l^ut it tins /vf- 
 ?«/«/ ftould not be rinc cnmmh at the hrft meltirg, 
 'vou mud Cupel it with Lead, neither doth all the © 
 and . come out of this mixture at one melting, but 
 f)me remains with the D.-fs, therefore you mult 
 aoain put tliis into a Crucible, and put to it lome 
 filing's of Iron, and lb melt them together, then the 
 xvild ^:dphir will be ddlroyM h. the d, and fo let 
 the Gold and Silver fall by Cupcllation. Tiic Drols 
 you mufirefefve, till you Iiavc enough to triclt in a 
 fmall Wind Furnace,. and it will be again reduced in- 
 to t.cad, which you may again ule for the lame La- 
 bours for (he Redudion of this, I have invented a 
 peculiar fmall Furnace.which may be carried Iron . p'acc 
 To place, and alfo you inay pour (^ut the Drols after it is 
 melted, without breaking any thing ot tnc Furnace, 
 fo that you may ufe it very often, before the Ekartii 
 will need mendinsr. What is here faid of the Sepa- 
 rating c>( Mct^l!c\ mixtures, the fame may alfo be 
 undcdiood of thofc Mixtures, which arc yet in the 
 Oar, for the Oars are as eaiily feparated by our Stone, 
 as the Metals. This i5 the ufc of our Stone, before 
 its Tin.Uiie is yet fixed, and thcrctorc not able to 
 rranfa.ufc d into O- Prcfcntly you lliall alio liear, 
 how it may be rendred capable to trantn.ute any Sil- 
 ver, by Degrees, into good Gold. I think it tit, 
 firft to fay fonicwiiat, how by the help of our Scone 
 one may attain rreat Profit from Gems. For the 
 Gems have in thtui iixcd Tinflures, which our Nip- 
 tune can fpoil them cff. and fo incorporate them with 
 the naked WA-j , to n.akc her a Golden Veil, which 
 is done ilius; ipv The fragments of coloured Gems, 
 viz. ofGranarcs Rubtb. Sapfui^, nyacmiiis, ]alpis, 
 &c. put a little bfthclc into a good Cruable- £;id put 
 to it three times as n.uch of our Stone, cover it well, 
 dnd ii.ch it upon tl-otc Stories, and our Stone draws 
 out the Gl ur of ihcGetTTS, and Colours it Iclf yet 
 deeper With this Red Stone, it any Hlid- y be mix- 
 ed will-, it, and melted, it diaws the Hxcd Tindurc 
 to it and becomes Golden, l^^that in the SfparatK.u 
 it yulds much G,W, N.!?. The Htteli Sflvei for this 
 work is, that whidi is prccipittsred by - otit of .^iqiu 
 TortU, yet\ou may alii) ulc that, which is precipi- 
 tated by Sa't water. If the work be wdl done, the 
 Geiris v;ill be white which yotJ nray ufe inftead ot 
 fii.all bian uncts, foV' the Fjre doth not take away 
 ■Ihcir harclnefS^ 'N. K. ' ^P a M^^^ '^^''^ Skill enough to 
 takeaway thcCMour frohV the great Gems, as Gra- 
 natcs,andriyacintls, Ire 11;!^ acquire Riches malllbrt 
 time s for afterwards vou may tinge otlu-r white Scones 
 into Rubies, by the Iltlpof this Colour, but tliis La- 
 bour requires an experienced Artilt , but no Pratler : 
 And tins is fufileicnt for this lime, he that delighteth 
 in thcfe' Arts may Tratlifcrtheip , and try how God 
 will profptr him in it. . If lie tan but obtain the Ex- 
 tradinq (,f the Gems, he needs no more, tor one Gem, 
 ef a Dram, is wonh more than llveral Ounces ot 
 pold». ; J^fter we have briel!y ' underllood , how to 
 p-iakrc gbo'd Profit with our Red coagulated Oyl ot 
 ylmlinjvvznd.A/jri, bef< re it is yet fixed, with the 
 impel fciaK'etals and Gems lYou (hall alfo hear what 
 It will do, 'when t^Acd. And this ycu iiiUtl know, 
 tluT if a Tii.dVure very well prepared, can endure 
 auelting iii the Fife, yet for all that, it n^ay not be 
 
 Part III. 
 
 accounted lixed -^ for inafmuch as they are made out 
 ot unfivcd Metals, they cannot themfelves he lixed i 
 it one ihould object, and fay, that the Tindure was 
 drawn out of Hxed Iron, and therefore it mutt alfo 
 be lixed, althougii the ArtiimMy was m^t fixed : 1 an- 
 Iwer, th.at Iron cannot be called lixed, altliough it doth 
 ntjt tly in the Fire, for Satttn: can Hill devour it, but 
 this only is to be reputed fixed, which endures the 
 Cupel, wiiich neither S nor X doth. Iherefore the 
 Tindures whicli are extraded out of them, cannot 
 endure the Cupel before they arc made fixed. For 
 which realon the highly experienced Phil(;fopher Pa- 
 racelfiis tells us, that we n,ull not take common Iron 
 to draw our Tinflure, but luch as cannot be again re- 
 duced into Iron, which we mult feck in tiic green 
 and blue Sccri£^ out of whicii Iron hath been iTiclted 
 by the lirength of Fire, and arc call away. Eecaufe 
 the Iron, and alio every imperfcd: Metal, containcth 
 two lurts of Sulphur^ vi^. a combufiiblc, and incom- 
 bufiible ■■> the combufiible is melted by a lirong Fire, 
 into adead Glafs, but the incombufiible remains un- 
 hurt, hidden in tlie faid Glafs, and may he drawn 
 out of it by Art, and brought into a Tindure, that 
 will endure the Cupel. I could cite Fanxelfits for fe- 
 vera! other things, becaufe he writes very honellly, 
 but it is not here convenient. It would be very well, 
 if fome one would reprint this Tre>,tife, for it is out 
 of Print, that the way to the Truth might be fliewn 
 to them that err. And if none will d^) it, I thai! do 
 it my lelf, tor it is commcndallc to prcferve alighted 
 Candle, and not lulfer it to go out. This is enough 
 ot the Fixation of Parac'elfus, which is done by the 
 great lirength of common Fire. Now we will alio 
 ii(.ar,hovv this Fixation may be effeded by an artifici-tl 
 moili: Fire, n uch ealier than by the former. In my 
 Treatili; lately publilhed if the Three Prinaplcs of 
 Mitjls^ I have taught how any combufiiblc Su^hur 
 may be fixed in a very fev,- hours, fo that no Fire czn 
 any niore hurt it. Now it fuch a quick Fixation of 
 combultiblc Sulphur^ can be done with a n oili Fire, as I 
 have llievvn it may in tlie laid Trcatifc, wliat may not 
 be done, by the fame Fire in the more fixed Metals, 
 fuch as Iron ? I have alfo Ihewn in the fame place, that 
 ■;;, as well as common q^, may be made fix'ed in few 
 hofuS; lliavealfo faid tliat Z and common ^, fo fixed 
 have' no ingrcls into Metals. After that, 1 have alfo 
 taurhf, i.ow to procure this ingrels by comir.oD Gold, 
 if the Gold and the Sulphur be united, and then a 
 a fixing ^^jiii hortis drawn from them, that then it 
 can never be ftparated from the Gold, but that the 
 Gold fo prclervcs it upon the Cw/if/, that 5 j«Kr^' can- 
 not enter it : NoW if this njay be done with com- 
 mon Sulphur and A,tumon\., why not alfo with Ahn^ 
 which in its Nature approacheth Fixity .'' Therefore 
 it btlu/vcth, that we Ihould fix cur Tinfture of cf an* 
 t, after tlie f'.me manner being united with C^, by the 
 Humid fire, that both may be permanent upr.n the 
 ttipel. for without this Fixation nothing of moirienC 
 can be done. For if thcfe Tinctures be added to Sil- 
 ver, and are not conlbnt in the Fire, .they with the 
 Silver, bccoine Metals again, vanitlr upon ihe Cupel 
 with I?, ajid leave the D nothing bettered. Thcre- 
 t()rc nothing die is to be obfctved, but to bring into 
 Perpetuation the prepared Tinctures of <? and r, by 
 the addition of Gold, and the due Abltradiun of the 
 fixing Watcrsi and then the Tindurcs remain witli 
 the Silver unfeparablc, and the devouring .Vj/ni-'; can- 
 not hurt then, upon the Cupel. Let this (v&ct con- 
 cerning the particular Fixation of our Red Oyl of S 
 and Ar-.tiim,-): Now f(tllow£th,how to make antuiiver- 
 fal Coagulation and Fixation of this Oyl. "J/-* 
 
Pare I J I. 
 
 The Gocldcfs of %ichcs. 
 
 51 
 
 The PROCESS. 
 
 R:.'~B~Hree or four Ounces of our Coagulated Oyl 
 i. of Mars and Antimnny, into a Red Stone by 
 the help of ',', grinde it into an impalpable Powder, 
 and draw from it ten or twelve Ounces of lironi^ 
 j^quj Fortis , which hath been iirft abltraded from 
 decrepitated Salt, and in which is dilfolved half an 
 Ounce of Gold : Secondly, and Tiiirdly, abftraft from 
 it again frcfh Atjui Kc(^/j, but without Gold i then 
 the Gold will radically unite it felf with the Tin- 
 cture of Mars and Antimony^ and they will be con- 
 ihntly rixcd together, by means oi Aqna Ke^tJ. When 
 this is done, pour upon it a good quantify ot common 
 Water, let it bo^l tor fome hours, and it will draw 
 out the fharp Spirits, which remained with the Tin- 
 (fture, this may be once or twice repeated, then dry 
 it, and it is fit to tinge Silver into Gold. This Tin- 
 <Sure melts as eafily as Wax \ tlie Sjtttrn which k 
 mixed with it, doth not hinder it, it is true, he goes 
 into the Silver with the Tindure, but is eaiily fcpa- 
 rated by the Cupel. 1 could fet down many more 
 Dexterities, in the Preparation of this Tin(fture , but 
 it would fwell too much, it being already greater than 
 I expefted, for I only thought to have annexed this 
 
 to the Appendix, as a Corollary, but it is grown big*" 
 ger than tiie Appendix it iclf. Here Ihould have 
 been added, Iiow tliis Tindure oi ylrtiminy and M'lrs. 
 by the help of our Ak.ibt{^^ might be made into a 
 corJbnt Tin^ure, callly and in great quantity, with- 
 out Co(t •, focnnipcndiouily, that in three or f'oi'r days 
 tinie, ag(H)d quantity of Tin.lure n;ay be iradc fit 
 to graduate a great part of Silver into Gold ; But 
 the time will not allow me here to inlilf any farther on 
 it, but mull defer it the fccond Appendix, where the 
 Keadcr will find greater Contcntnicnt. Fur thiswprft 
 is fo eaiily done with the ^Icabcji without great Coll , 
 that the tr.oft ordinary Mcchjitick^ tray imitate it, and 
 profit by it. There will come another World, when 
 Art will flourifli, and Pratlcrs pcrifh. Take notice of 
 this, for the time is at hand, Elias the Artijl will foon 
 appear, of this Read Paraceljits in liis Cook of Vhrlol 
 At fuch a time there will be great changes in Europe, 
 and chiefly in the Gcrmjn Empire., France and Sived- 
 land. For E//jjthe .^JrtJff, it may be, when becomes, 
 will bring with him fimc Military' inventions, and 
 by his great Power cflablifh the fifth Monarchy. That 
 in thefe times great Clianf',cs will be in T:iirjj)e, isn'cic 
 to be doubted, for the Heavers do forctcl it. God 
 fend us wiiat is good, there being now nothin.'> of 
 good left, how then is it pollible, if fhould remain 
 longer in Peace? 
 
 O F 
 
 ELIAS the ARTIST: 
 
 O R, 
 
 What we are to underftand by Elias the Artift, and 
 what he is to reform in the VVorld at his coming. 
 
 VIZ. 
 
 T'he true Sfagyrical Mcdicin of the Ancient Egyptian Thilofcphersl 
 ivhich has been lojl for ahoue looo Years, and mil be rejlored by him, 
 and illuflrated mth many ne)V Inventions, by rejecting much ufWrcfi" 
 table Smut. M^ork^ , and pointing out a nearer and better mij. to obtain 
 good Medicines J ivith little Trouble or Charges ; yvhich true Mcdi^ 
 dicine he will bring along mth him, and declare the fame to the pre- 
 fent deceived World* Tranjlatedout of the High-Dutch. 
 
 Kcader., and embrace that which is good : As likewife, thaC 
 
 many great changes will happen in divers Kingdoms, 
 
 Owards the end of my laft publidicd Trea- ; and efpecially in the Komait Empire, where one Po- 
 tife concerning tiie Infernal GoddcJ] Fn- ' tentate will overcome the other, and make himfelf 
 J'erpifij., I took cccafion to mention, that ■ Mafter of his Dominions. I there alfo fliewed what, 
 probably foon after my Death, the long- [ Parjcelfuf hath declared concerning E//'.« Artifla, and 
 fince fore-fold Elias Jrtilh would appear, fundamentally confuted the groundless Opinion of 
 
 along with him a great Light, to enlighten fome Pcrfuns concerning the lame in my Fourth Part 
 
 World, enabling them to rejed the Evil, ! of the Profperity of Germany .^ (liewing that thatPro- 
 
 ' phec/ 
 
 and bring 
 the dark 
 
52 
 
 Of ELIAS the AlCriST. Part HI. 
 
 phccy is not to be underftood according to the Letter, I 
 and to be meant of feme great Man in the World, but 
 Magically ^ for the word £//.« by tranfpofition of Let- 
 ters, makes out Salia, and fo likewife doth the word 
 hlijha^ as I have formerly explained thefe words in my 
 Trcatife nf the Nature of Salt r. Etias Artifta therefore 
 according to the (lyle of Philofophers, ligniries extra- 
 ordinary and unknown Salts, by which great and in- 
 credible things may be performed, and accordingly 
 when manifcfled, will be the caufe of great changes 
 in the World. 
 
 Thcfc Salts were known to the Philofophers of old, 
 who yet did not think fit any further to open them- 
 ftlvcs concerning them, than in declaiing, that the 
 rhilofophcrs Stone ir.uft be prepared by them. Twr- 
 ha Pbilojopbortim fpeaking concerning this tnatter, faith, 
 Ubii our Salt encreafes the Kednefs in 0, and whitenejt tn 
 D, and further, if Cod bad not created thU Salt // rpere 
 impo^tble to make the Elixir. It is probable, that the 
 Philofophers who wrote concerning this wonderful 
 Salt, had no knowledge of any other, fuppofing that 
 this Salt only was proper to extradt and prepare Tin- 
 dutcs. I muft acknowledge there is no Salt in the 
 World, that hath fuch virtue to encreafeand exalt the 
 Tinduie in common as well as Philofophical and », 
 and that as it were in a moment, as foon as the Mo- 
 rarch of Salts is added to them. Neither doth our 
 Salt only exalt, but it alfo joyns the King of Metals 
 £ii indiflblubly with his Queen, that no Art can fepa- 
 fate them. A thing worth our wonder, that a Vola- 
 tile white Salt (hould have the power to meliorate 
 and I), and to exalt the fame permanently. For to 
 give fome furthe» light to the matter, I declare, that 
 this Salt of which the Tttrba fpcaks, doth fublime 
 white, and being diffolved in Water, gives a white 
 Solution : It is white, and continues white both in and 
 cut of the Fire, and is altogether Volatile, for which 
 reafon I have called it my Secret Salt Armomack^-^ but 
 as foon as it is join'd with O or 5) it becomes fix, and 
 makes the and B fixer than they were before, af- 
 fording them a kind of plttfqiiam perfcdion, and in- 
 feparable Conjundion. Let none think that this Salt 
 of which I here fpeak, is like, or the fame with that, 
 which is made of Oyl of Vitriol and Spirit of Urine, 
 of which I have treated in the Seventh Part of my 
 Pharmacop£j Sparryrica ^ for th.S our Sovereign Salt 
 
 Water finds no ingrefs into them, the Air cannot 
 pierce them, and Earth much 'efs, yea, the firongeft 
 of all Elements, the Fire hath no power over them, 
 but, like a Married Couple, abide together in all con- 
 trariety and advcrlity, and according to their Kind di 
 multiply in infinitum^ being fupported with due Food 
 and Nourifhment ■•, for we know, that except we ht 
 refreflied and fircngfhencd with Meat and Drink, we 
 can neither live nor multiply ; the multiplying virtue 
 in many and all Creatures proceeding from the Nou- 
 rilhment they take in. And the fame we arc to un- 
 derltand alfo concerning the Metallick Multipli- 
 cation, for when and i) are permanently conjoined, 
 by means of the Metallick High Prieft, this alone is 
 not fufficient in order to their multiplication, but they 
 moreover muft be fupported with convenient Meat 
 aud Drink. And as Man at his firft coming into the 
 World is nourifh'd with his Mothers Milk, in like 
 manner the Philofophers do feed their and i) with 
 their Mothers Milk, that is, with their firrt Effence, 
 from whence they deriv'd their Original. Now we 
 know that in contemptible Antimonj^\.\\tf\i^ E«/of O, 
 is copioufly to be found, and may with eafe be drawn 
 thence, in the appearance of Milk, with which ©and 
 B are to be nourifhed in order to their Multiplication 
 and Increafe. The Nourifliment then wherewith out 
 conjoined and D are to be refreflied, and difpofcd to 
 a Multiplication in infinitum, is our Lac VirginiSy Vir- 
 gin Milk and Mercurial Water, which ftrengthens and 
 incrcafeth the Procreative Seed in O and D both in 
 quantity and quality. Wherefore alfo this feeding or 
 inceration has always been recommended by the Phi- 
 lofophers, as a mo(t neceflary thing, whereby, as it 
 were, a new life, and multiplying virtue is commu- 
 nicated to the infeparably uni^d and p. 
 
 Furtherm.ore we are to know, ^hat after common 
 O and D by means of the Salt of Art, are infeparably 
 conjoined and exalted in their colours i yet nothing 
 can be performed with them, becaufe they want an 
 ingrefs into other Metals, which they have loft by their 
 Conjunction, which therefore muft be reftored tothern 
 by means of our mercurial Water, which not only com- 
 municates Ingrefs, but alfo eafie Fluxibility and Mul- 
 tiplication to the deftroyed Bodies of O and J). For 
 when our 5 Water is fixed in Conjun(Sion with the 
 fixt and D, then it is no longer a Volatile y, but is 
 
 has no affinity with that, for as much as that 5j/< changed by the exalted •; and a to a fixt Tindure. 
 makes all things Volatile, and feparatcs their purer part | This done, if we would muUiply this Tindure, we 
 by Sublimation from the grofs faces 
 
 but this our 
 white Salt^ though it be unfixt it felf, yet has the 
 power to fix unfixt Metals, fi) as to endure the Teft, 
 provided always that the virtue of this unfixt 5<»/f, be 
 firft fixed by its conjiinflion with and B. For the 
 whole fubftancc, of this Salt (which the Philofophers 
 have called a BiO.op or High Prieft) when and y 
 as King and Qjeen are infeparably join'd by it, doth 
 not abide with the and w, but only by its hidden 
 Tindureand Virtue, whereby it exalts all colours, the 
 unprofitable oody of the Sslt feparatingfrom them, as 
 foon as the Conjundion is made, even as a Prieft, 
 when he has join'd two Pcrfons in Wedlock goes his 
 way, having performed his Office. And indeed this 
 infLparable Conjunction of - and 9, may well \>c com- 
 pared with the Conjun(ftion in Marriage performed 
 bv a Prieft i for as when the Prieft has join'd two 
 Parties together in Wedlock, they muft infeparably 
 continue fo till death , fo likewife when the Metal- 
 Ii.;k v^opuhtion of and )^ is performed by means of 
 ot r Metallick High Prieft, confccrated by Jupiter^ 
 then are their Bodies thence forward infcperable ■> the 
 
 muft add to it fome of our Mercurial Water, and fjx 
 them together as before, which Multiplication we may 
 repeat as oft as we pleafe. For when once and i) arc 
 made irreducible and more than pcrfeil, by means of 
 our Salt of Art, we need never after to begin our 
 Work a-new, but only mingle the fixt with the volatile 
 in Older to their Fixation \ feeing that our Mercurial 
 Water is in its infide better than ©, for which reafon 
 alfo it turns the and » when fixed with them into 
 mere Tin^Tture. Let no Man wonder why in this O- 
 peration we join and )) together, and not rather 
 make ufe of alone, forafmuch as this i) hath no co- 
 lour at all outwardly, though in its infide it be higher 
 of colour than c it felf, bolh which Metals neverthe- 
 lefs, except their colours be exalted by the S ilt of 
 Art, and Inceration, without our Mercurial Water can 
 never be changed into a true Timfture, becaufe © and 
 have no mere Tindures than is fufficient for them- 
 fdves, but being exalted by the tinging Salt of Art, 
 they are capable of colouring white Metals, but not 
 before. Indeed O alone without the addition of » 
 may be exalted by our Salt of Art, and hhTcurial Wa- 
 ter 
 
Part III. 
 
 Of ELIAS the A %TI S T, 
 
 tcr into a Red Tin^iire. In like mmner alfo may D 
 alone be exalted in its wliitencfs by our Suit o!" Art, 
 and y, one part of which exalted i; tiiigcth iiuny 
 parts of i into good and fixt 1>, for our s} wherewith 
 we incerafe and multiply, may be Hxed into a Red or 
 ■VVhife Tin<fture, according to the ferment we jo- n 
 with it, with :■:• it makes a red, and with l' a white 
 Tiiidure. However the bcft way is to pat i.- and y 
 together in due weight and proportion, exalting them 
 with the Salt of -Art, by which means the whitcnefs 
 in » when join'd with 0, becomes changed into Rcd- 
 nefs, of which mine tyesare Witnefs. Of this Ex- 
 altation of o into a hi^h purple colour, and of D in- 
 to the highed whitcnefs, I gave an Ocular Demon 
 ftration to fome of my Friends, before my Sickncfs, 
 but none of them have (ince undertaken the Work, 
 and my fclf by Sicknefs have been hindered hitherto. 
 
 Ovid excellently defcribes the preparation of this 
 Tinclure , where he tells us, that Jupiter^ having 
 changed himfeif into a Golden Rain, fell through the 
 Tiles into the Lap of D.inac^ (fliut up by her Father 
 Acrifuif King of the Ar<^ives in a lirong Tower) and 
 got her with Child, oi whom alterwards Perfeiu was 
 born, who in procefs of time being mounted on the 
 Winged Horfe Pegafus^ killed the Sea-Monfter, deli- 
 vering the fair Andromeda^ whom he took to Wife^ 
 and afterwards vanqui(hed the Gordons, and made 
 himfeif Ma/ter of the Golden-fruit-bearing-Orchard. 
 In which Fable the whole Work is clearly and punftu- 
 ally defcribed, but the reafon why it is fo little under- 
 ftood, is, becaufe fo few makes it their bufinefs toccn- 
 fider thereof, or put their hands to the Work. For 
 attentively confidering the matter, we find that the 
 King of the Argives, in the fenfeof the Philofophers, 
 is our Black Lead , whence we prepare our Snow- 
 white yirgin Miil{_ or Mercurial Water, which is the 
 Beautiful Danae-, that becomes inpregnate by J«;i/tfr»'s 
 Golden Rain. Archivum fignifies a Treafury of fecret 
 and important Records, and no Subjedls contains mors 
 fecrets, than doth our Black Mafniefid. What is more 
 lovely to behold than Jupiter^s Golden Rain, whereby 
 the fair Vanac becomes impregnate ? And from whence 
 does this Rain proceed, but from our SAt of Art, 
 without which it were impofllble for 2i to change the 
 O into fuch a defirable Rain ? What is the Beautiful 
 Andromeda clfe, but D/jmj the Coniort of Apollo, who 
 is expofcd to the Sea-Monfter to be devoured, and is 
 delivered by Perfem. And, in a word, the whole 
 Work of preparing a TintSure from the forefaid Sub- 
 je(3s is fo clearly fet down by Ovid, as it could not 
 well be fet down more clearly > and yet how little is ic 
 underftood, by reafon of the general Stupidity and 
 inadvertency of the Readers. I liave here difcovered 
 all the ingredients belonging to this Tindure, fo' as 
 nothing remains, except putting hand to the Work, 
 and begging God's BlcHing upon it : For no good 
 thing was ever the cffed of idlcntfs : But Fraying, 
 Seeking, and unwearied Labour, are the Well- Springs 
 of all ufeful Arts. 
 
 And herewith I (hall conclude theufeofthe SjU 
 of Art, in preparing the univcrlal Tindure upon all 
 Metals, tranfmuting the fame into 0and )). 1 fuppofe it 
 hath been fufficiently m.ade out, that the foretold hli- 
 as Anijia is nothing clfe, but this our Salt of Art, 
 whereby the Rednefs in 0, and Whitencfs in I ate 
 exalted into Tindure. Wherefore alfo this Salt, by 
 thofe who know its ufe, has been called the Monarch 
 of Salts : For eveiy Species of things hath its Mo- 
 narch, excelling all the refl of the {amc kind :, upon 
 which account, Pjr,;cf//«j-, v;ho in his Litc-ti:i.c liad 
 
 5? 
 
 nor his Peer, ob ain'd the Title of Pl)ilornphers, Phy- 
 licians and ft'onarch of Cliymift?. forafmucn thercfl^re, 
 as our SjIc of Art Iiaui not its like in the World, for 
 vvorkinf.5 \\ ondcrs in Alchimy^ it may wcllbscall'd the 
 King of Salts : Tho' indeed there be one only Sal: 
 which excels him, as far as hlus cxccll'd his Ser- 
 vant EUPu: For as Eliai went up to Heaven in a 
 riuy Chariot, leaving his Wniule to EIiOjj, fo this 
 Salt may more proptily be compared to Elifha than 
 F./iJS^ becaufe hlijh.i Itaid here beneath, and did not 
 afccnd to Heaven, as Llus did. Now the Chymifts 
 generally prefer that, which afcends by the force of 
 the Fire, before that which ftays behind, tho' this Rule 
 be not vvithout Exceptions > tor that which remains 
 is not always to be rejcded, becaufe fomctimes much 
 good lies hid in it : As we may perceive in tlias his 
 Afeendon to Heaven, who kit his Mantle behind, 
 which was not without Virtue, as appeared when 
 klijha with it divided the River J>rdjn^ Roing ^'vcr 
 dry-fliod. The Chymills commonly call that which 
 remains after Diltillation, or Sublimation, Caput Mjr- 
 tui:m, but without good ground, becaufe in that which 
 (lays behind, often a great vivifying Virtue lies hid. 
 This we may gather from the Virtue (as has been 
 faid ) remaining in the Mantle of Elias, and in the 
 dead bones of hlilJjj, which as foon as it touch'd the 
 dead Body, raifed it again to Life ; If Elias his Mantle 
 had been a dead thing, El/Jha could never have di- 
 vided y«r^j« therewith, nor could Eljh^'s bones have 
 raifed the dead to Life, if they had been dead and 
 without Power. Confider well what I have faid, and 
 you will find more in it, than I dare more plainly de- 
 clare i remembring always, that Jordan is nothing elfe, 
 but our 5 Water. 
 
 Camerning the Salt of Art. 
 
 Having already heard, how by means of the fi.va- 
 tive Salt of Art, common i) and y may be prepared 
 into aTindure, for the cure of Men and Metals ■■, • 
 now remains to be declared, how, by means of the 
 Volatilizing Salt of Art, moff excellent Medicines may 
 with eafe, and frail Charges, in a very fliort time be 
 prepared, out of all Vegetables, Animals and Mine- 
 rals. We are here to take Notice, as has been alrea- 
 dy hinted, that the Property of our Salt of Art, is, 
 to make the volatile Mc/jWc/; Subjeds fiX't •, of which 
 fixative Property, notwithfianding it may in a few 
 hours, eafily and without Charges be dcvcOed, and' 
 a Power of Volatilizing all things introduced into it. in- 
 ftead thereof, by which, incredible th ngs may then 
 be performedj both in Phyfick and Alchimy. Of which 
 Wonder-working Salt, the prefent World knows no- 
 thing at all, and probably nothing will be known of 
 it, till God fliall permit it to be revealed by Eliis the 
 ^-.rtili. What I know of it, I am willing to commu- 
 nicate for common Good, not doubting, but that 
 God in his due time by means of Good men will re- 
 veal the reft. To volatile this fixative Salt of Art, 
 is an callc thing to the Wife, but to the Ignorant al- 
 together incrediule i though it be no difficult thing to 
 me, to make it credible and apparent, which if thou 
 wouldeftdolikcwifc, proceed thus : Pour upon our Salt 
 of Art, in due proportion g(5od Spirit of Wine, which 
 draw off by Difiillation, and you will have a wcn- 
 derful Spirit, of great Virtue •, but you will find vour 
 Salt of Art fo weakened, as it cannot be ufed agiin : 
 But the Spirit of Wine, impregnated with the Virtue 
 of the Suit, pcrforirs Wonders, that, were never yet 
 madt knc'.vn !o the WOildxf which wefhal! hear mors 
 
 O hereattei 
 
54- 
 
 Of ELl^JS the ARTIST, .Part liL 
 
 liereafter. For the Spirit of V/ine in this abllraLaion 
 hath its Virtue rr.ultiplica ten fold, fo as it not only 
 extrafls the Effcnceot Vc£>ctabks, Animals and Mine- 
 rals, both cafily and fuddcnly, carrying them over 
 the Helm , but alfo extradts tlie Tindhires from (^ and 
 5), and all precious and common Stones, and h\w^^ 
 them over. Of which Extraftion and Scparatu-.n ot 
 the tinging Soul from fixt and unfixt Bodies, no Philo- 
 fopher hitherto hath divu'ged any thing. Let us now 
 take a view of the great Secrets, which may be ob- 
 tained by means of our Alcolizcd Spirit of Wine /•*- 
 racelftis had an Alcolizcd Spirit ot Wine, wnich he 
 called JUohd zhi, with which he did great things :, 
 ■but it is not likely, that his Alcohol r/«/_ was ol the 
 fame Virtue, as mine here defcribcd i for if io, it 
 could not have been fo long concealed. However it 
 be, we cannot deny Paraceljus the Title of Monarch 
 of Phyficians and Alchymifts, though he may have 
 been ignorant of our Salt of Art, with which our 
 Alcohol vini is prepared , for no Body knows all 
 things i and God beltows his Gifts, as beft pleafeth 
 
 him. 
 
 But to our return to our Alcohol vim^and the man- 
 ner of ufing it. Firft wc are to take Notice, that as 
 tor Vegetables and Animals, they are to be reduced 
 to Powder, if they be dry, but if frefli, they need 
 only to be a liitle bruifed or chopt, and then pour up- 
 on them our Alcohol vim \ if the Subjeds be dry, we 
 may digcft a while before abftraflion, but in Cafe they 
 be trioill, we may dil^il the Spirit immediately, which 
 carries over with it all the Virtue of the faid Ve- 
 getables and Animals, together with the Tafk and 
 Smell, and poured upon Flowers, and diftill'd, fomc- 
 times brings over thtir Colours alfo, which hitherto 
 hath been looked upon as very difiicult, if not impof- 
 fiblc. But before we make ufe of it upon Minerals, 
 we mud prepare them, for our Alcohol ziiu is not 
 firong enough to lay hold on hard Minerals, and corn- 
 pad- Metals, fo as to extrad their Effenccs, and there- 
 fore they muR be firil: opened with Waters, that are 
 not Corrofive, and afterwards be digeded with our 
 alcohol vim and then diltillcd •, which being perfor- 
 med in this Order, the Alcohol will carry their Kflen- 
 ces with it over the Helm. This is the true Prepa- 
 ration of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, in order 
 to the extradting of your Eficnccs, by means of our 
 Alcohol villi. But licrc we nnili obferve , that this 
 Preparation of tixt Metals, by openingof their Bodies, 
 mud be done with rixt Liquors, and not Volatile-, for 
 if ihe di/Iblvent were Volatile, it would come over in 
 Diftillation with the Spirit of Wine, and fpoil all > 
 bfcaufe alter Diftillation, the Spirit of Wine mufi: be 
 fparated from the Effcncc it hath brought over with 
 it :, now if the diffolvent, by being Volatile, fhould 
 cotre over the Helm, it would remain with the Me- 
 dicine, and conftquentlv I'poil if. We are therefore 
 to remember, that ihis difTolvent muft be Firey, not 
 Corrofive, without any Smell or bad Tafie : The 
 difTolvent being as ncccffary to our Work, as is the 
 Spirit of Wine it felf : Wherefore he who intends to 
 plant good Fruit, in this Gnld-bcaring Orchard, mufi 
 be provided with both thcfc Kcvs, v:z. with a 
 ^7r•;;ffr««>w , not Corrofive, to difTolve Metals and 
 Minerals, and with a well prepared Alcolizcd Spirit 
 of Wine, without which, he cannot obtain the Tin- 
 durc of Mttals. 
 
 Hiving thus fpokcn of the foregoing Preparation 
 of Vcgetabl-s, Animals and Minerals, in general : I 
 flull now proceed to ff;ew in particu'ar, how out of 
 them molt fuTpalling, and e.Vcclleiic Medicines may be 
 prepared. 
 
 And firft to begin with Vegetables ; their Effenccs 
 are to be diffillcd \n Baheo^ with a moderate hear, 
 changing the Recipient when it is needful : For tli?t 
 which comes over, firlf is of another Nature, than thst 
 which diftils next, and that again diifcrs from that 
 which comes lafL There are fome Vegetables, that 
 fiifi give their bcft part, and the word lalf, whereas 
 in others, the word comes fird, and the bed days till 
 the lad. For the red, it is cailly apprehended, that 
 the Virtue of Flowers and Herbsi cfpecially when 
 green and tender, doth more eafily yield to Didilla- 
 tion, and come over fooner than the EfTence of 
 hard Wood, which is more clofely fliut up in its Bo- 
 dy. He that proceeds aright in this Work, will meet 
 with great delight and Satisfailion, and blefs God for 
 the Communication of this Light. For our Alcolizcd 
 Spirit of Wine brings over Vegetable Effences, of a 
 mod fragrant Odour, which common Spirit of Wine 
 can never do : We may indeed cxtrad Vegetables, 
 and Minerals with common Spirit ot Wine, but can- 
 not carry the faid extracted Effences over the Helm : 
 Which extrac'ls made with common Spirit of Wine, 
 are not to be compared with thofe, which our Alcohol 
 vini brings over with it, differing as much as the diell 
 from the kernel. For our Effences, as foon as they 
 are taken into the Body, penetrate it throughout, paf- 
 fing every whereto find out their Enemies, and when 
 found Attack, and put them to flight, which grofs Medi- 
 cines cannot perform. The like Virtue is alfo in thofc 
 5 Salts-, Tinilures or Souls of Metals, that come over 
 in the flame of the diffilled Spirit of Wine, which al- 
 fo penetrate the Body throughout, chafing their Ene- 
 mies before them i and the TintSures of Stones in the 
 fame m.anner prepared do the like. Which we 
 mud not fo underffand, as if the Alcolizcd Spirit of 
 Wine were to be taken into th-e Body, together with 
 the Tindture, for indeed it triud be feparated from ir. 
 As for indance, when I have brought over the Quint- 
 effence of Flints or Crydals, with our Alcohol zin/y 
 and have a mind to make ufe of it againd the Stone 
 in the Bladder or Kidneys, or Stones that are grown 
 in the joynts, I mud not exhibit this Effence, as it is 
 mixed with the Spirit of Wine, for if fo, the good 
 cfftdf, that might be looked for from the EfTence, 
 would be fpoiled by the great heat of the Spirit of 
 Wine, which is the reafon the fame mult be fepara- 
 ted from the EfTence, before it can be given inward- 
 ly. Now this Separation cannot be done by Didilla- 
 tion, bccaufc both would come over together. Nei- 
 ther can the Tindure, or EfTence of the Stone, be fe- 
 parated from the Spirit of Wine, by Precipitation. 
 What is to be done therefore in this Cafe ? The only 
 way to attain our deilre is, to kindle the burning Spi- 
 rit, and let it flame away under a large and capacious 
 Helm or Head, made for that purpofe ^by which means 
 the Spirit of Wine is confumed in the flame, and the 
 incombufiible EfTence of Cr\flal remains in form of 
 a fweet and pkafant Oyl. We are alfo to note, that 
 in this burning away ot the Spirit of Wine, the Sul- 
 phitr of Wine only is confumed, and the incombudi- 
 ble of Wine, being condenfed in the Head, falls in- 
 to the Receiver, in the appearance of a fweet VV'atcr. 
 [ fee more of this injlrHment in the Sixth Fart of Phur, 
 Spa^yr.~\ 
 
 N. B. Wc are to obferve, that the mofl highly re- 
 dliticd Spirit of Wine, is much about half water, 
 which water afccnds with the fkme, and is caught in 
 the Recipient. Yet is not this V any common v, 
 but indeed a powerful V of Life, efpecially when 
 the Spirit of Wine hath been red^iflcd from Aroma-- 
 
 tlCal, 
 
Part 111. Of ELLA S the A R TIS'I 
 
 55 
 
 tical, or Medicinal Subjects, but even without tl.is, [ beir^ dilToIvcd in Spirif of Fair, but rather ir-de 
 iris of very good ufc. becaufe the ircombullible c of j worfci bccaufc by thi^ means, there is m Scpara- 
 \Vine lies hid in it, and rr.ay be fcparatcd from if, by j ticn of the pure from the iir.pure. But if ai'^y M-,ti 
 abllracling the fiid v in a very gentle vaporous Bath, i will take the pains to reduce thtfc Stones into ttTcn- 
 uhich done, the ; of V\'inc (ta\s behind, in the torm I ccs, in t!ie way before fpccificd he wjij (i-.c! tl.tiii 
 
 (if a white lovely Sj//, full of heavtnly Powers and 
 Virtues: For which caufe this S jIi ot i of Wine, 
 h.^th been always termed by the Philofophcrs, Hea- 
 venly Salt. 
 
 It is likewife to be noted, tliat after the v i? ab- 
 ftraded fio;n the Spirit of Wine, tiie faid v is i-iot 
 
 nmch n.ort available in all [oils ot laruroifj Dillem- 
 pcr?. 
 
 There are alfo fcvcral kinds of Lime-(lcnc, which 
 cannot be mdtcd with Addition of Alkjliej^ or the 
 Aflies of Lead, but by a flroiik; Fire are burnt into 
 Lime. Amongft which Lime, Stones, we may reckon 
 
 devoid of all Virtue, as invilibly containing fomepart the Ludi<t of l^'an Hflmont, which like other Limc- 
 of the forefaid Heavenly Salt, efpccially if the Spirit | Hones, may be ftiblimed with curiirong X,nnd aftcr- 
 of Wine in its RcLlitication, hath been impregnated j wards reduced into a Liquor, of which I have trea- 
 with Spices, or other good Subjcds: For according to i xed clfewhcre, and particulailv in the Seventh Part of 
 the different impregnation ot the %\x\t ot VNine, the j my Fhjrmacopx.t Sp.i^yrica. Out of thtfe Stones, after 
 Heavenly S'lt, or L of Wine, will be ij^ore or lefs | tliey have been firft burnt into Lime, a mo/f cxcei- 
 powerful. Thus we have feen in what manner the j lent Medicine may be prepared againft all kinds of 
 Effcnces of Flints and Chryftals are to be prepared, ^ " " " " " 
 
 witn the help of our Akobnl vhii. 
 
 ^^'hen this Spirit of Wine Cryftallized is kindled 
 and burnt avvay under a large Head, the greateit part 
 of the EflTcncc of Crvftais rcmaini behind, in the form 
 ot a pkAfaif ck:) (liquor, which is the moft Sove 
 leign Medicine agai; ll all Difiafes proceeding from 
 
 lartjr^ v.z. Stone iathc Blad.-ler, Kidneys and other 
 
 farts of the Bo:! . which it dilTolves, and carries off" 
 
 But the n . •- pure part of the Cryftals mounts with 
 
 <he flame into tiie Helm, in form ot a clear Water, 
 wliich when abftraded in a vaporous Bath the ^ of 
 
 Cryltals ftays behind, in form of a lovely white SjU, 
 
 which is of far greater power in the Stone, Gout, and 
 
 like Difeafes, than the tixt Oyl or Liquor, which re- 
 mains in the VetTci after the Spirit of Wine is burnt 
 
 aw^y. In like manner, we may proceed with ether 
 
 Stones. Yet we are to underliand, that all Stones 
 
 have not the fame Nature or Property : Thus we 
 
 find feveral forts of Cryiial, viz. fome White, Tranf- 
 
 parent and clear, others Vv hite, but Opakf and dark, 
 
 alfo Green, Blew, Yellow, Red, and Black Cryflals, 
 
 all which by the help of Salts, are melted into 
 
 Glafs of feveral Colours. Amongft thefe Cryflals are 
 
 alfo reckoned. Flints, Pebbles, Gravel and Sand, 
 
 which likewife fuffcr themfclves with Sain to be mel- 
 ted into Glafs. All thefe foremcntioned Stones, may 
 
 with Alkjlkk^ Salts be melted, and afterwards by T>e- 
 
 liqttium be rcfolvcd into a Liquor, concern. ng vvhich 
 
 Liquors, I have treated at large in the Second Part of 
 
 my Furnaces. 
 
 Thtfe Stones that fuffer themfclves to be melted, 
 
 with the Addition of ^//^.i//f/, may alfo, with Lcad- 
 
 afhcs, be reduced to tranfparent Glafs. \\ hereas pre- 
 cious Stones, liz. Diamonds , Rubies. Saphirs, Ja- 
 cinths, Granates, &c. are of a quite difftrent Nature, 
 
 wliich neither by Alkjilhs , nor Lead , can be run 
 
 down into Glafs : Wherefore alfo none have been 
 
 Found hitherto, that have been able from them to pre- 
 pare any good Medicine, as not yielding to the moft 
 
 Corroiive Waters whatfoever. 
 
 N.B. And tlwugh indeed, I Ivnow a way to dif- 
 
 folve them without any Corrofive, yet do not I think it 
 
 proper,toC.ommi;nicate the fame in this publick manner. 
 There is anotiicr fort of StoncS, which are com- 
 monly found in Rich and fat Earth, and fi^mciimes 
 
 alfo in Rivers or Brooks, fuch as t'-pif judjuuj^^ 
 
 Lynch and others, vvhich being not very hard, rr.ay 
 
 be diflTolvcd in iiood Spirit of .Salt, which S;lutions 
 
 are by iome of our conmon Cbymilis ufcd againft 
 
 the Stone, but witliout any good Succefs, forafir.uch 
 
 as the Body of ciie Stone is nor at ail melicrstcd by 
 
 the Gout: />.//?/ f/jlentme afTuring us, that he with 
 EfTence of quick Lime, cured the Chancellor of the 
 Empcrour of Germany of the Gout : U hich we may 
 the rather believe, bccaufe Bafil I'jUnime knew the 
 way of feparating the from the Spirit cf Wine, by 
 enkindling it i and hath alfo dtfcribed an infirumenc 
 of Copper, for performing that Operation : And 
 knowing all this, he could not be unacquainted, that 
 the Effence cf Qiiick-lime, being united with Spirit 
 of Wine, and afterwards melioiated, and putriticd 
 by burning it away, was fcparable from ir, whicli 
 he having reduced to Pr^^tice, obtained this excel- 
 lent Medicine for curing of tli'- Gout. 
 
 We are further to know, that there Be other, and 
 better Stones, to prepare an univerfal A'cdicine againft 
 the Gout and Stone, by means of our ^.Lnlol vhii 
 after they have been firft burnt into Lim.e, viz. Oy- 
 Ifer fllelis, which, being burnt afford a Lime that is 
 very Caufiick ; and of alike Nature are all Sca-pro- 
 dud>ions, VIZ. the Stones that ate found in Spunees 
 all forts of Coral, Pearl, and Mother of Pearl, all 
 which may be reduced by Fire, into a*Lime of great 
 and excellent ufe. 
 
 But above all other Stones, I c/leem thofe that are 
 lound in Kcafls, Birds, Fifhes or Man, which bcinz 
 reduced into a Calx, and their Effencescxtraded with 
 our Alcohol rm, rray then be brought into a pleafant 
 Liquor of great Ufe. 
 
 Amongft Fifhes, the beft Stones are found in Flad- 
 docks and Whitings, Crabs Eyes alfo are very good, 
 but mud be calcined before they can be of any good 
 ufc in rhyfick i for without that,they are more proper 
 to generate the Stone, than to cxptl it. 
 
 Having thus declared.how, from fome Stones, good 
 Mcdicjments may be prepared asainft the Gout and 
 Stone both of the Bladder and Kidney ; we will next 
 fliew, what kind of Stones are proper to be extradcd 
 with our Alcohol Vi,u^ in order to the obtaining of 
 true Tindiures for Men and Metals. For all Stones 
 that have good fixt colours, are not therefore fit to 
 have their Tin^urcs extraflcd i bccaufe fume of the 
 Precious Stones are too coflly, though we Oould on- 
 Fy m.ake ufc of their Fragments. Some will not fub- 
 mit lo any Operation, viz. Granates, Saphires, Ru- 
 bies, Jacinths, Emralds, Turkoifes, e-c. though they 
 abound with much fixt Tindure ^ whereas all rl.ofe 
 Stones which are high of colour, and fuffer thenlclves 
 to be diiTolvcd, are proper for this work, becaufe 
 without preceding Solution, it is impoffible to cxtraift 
 the Tindlure from hard and compad Bodies: Where- 
 fore we miifi make choice of Stones that are folublc, 
 and abound with .^xt Tin.lure, viz. Green and Red 
 
 Jafpti 
 
^^6 
 
 Of ELI AS the A%TIS T. Pan HI. 
 
 into (he Stones, yet bccaufc of the great heat will r.ot 
 lon^'j continue there, but afLtiid and carry over tlie Me- 
 talline Spirit with it \ which done, pour upon them 
 another fpoonful of Spirit, which when corne over, 
 pour on another, repeating this as oft as null be need- 
 ful. After that the Marcalitcs or Metalline Stones are 
 grovvn cold, they nuiil be made red Iiot again, and 
 ! proceeded wiih as before, till a fufficjcnt quantity of 
 the Metallick Spirit be obtained. Then burn away the 
 Spirit of Wine, and there will remain a glorious Ef- 
 fence of Metals, which thou mayeft make ufcof, ac- 
 cording to thy beft knowledge. One thing I can affure 
 thee, that this is the eafiefl way to obtain Metallick 
 Spirits in quantity. And though the Procefs appears 
 plain and lirrpie, yet more may be difcovered and 
 attained thereby than many would imagine. I know 
 what I write, though it may be every Man will fcarcely 
 underftand me i which is very fitting, to the end 
 thefe great Arcana may not be proftituted to the Un- 
 worthy. He, who cannot irake Metallick Spirits ac- 
 cording to this way, may diflblve the Metals them- 
 felves in proper DifTolvents, pour Spirit of Wine upon 
 Magnefia, pulverize the fame, and diflblve it ; them, and diflil their Eflcnces, which he may then 
 in our Univerfa! Stone Water, wherewith all hard ' make ufe of, as his underltanding (hall guide him. 
 Stones may be difTolved, and thou wilt have a Solu- j I have already declared, that Metallick Spirits, when 
 tion of a Grafs-green-colour, filter it, and in cafe thou pour d together, do Meliorate one another. I (liall 
 haft proceeded aright, the undiffuIved/iCirfJ will be of add no more at prefent, having already declared too 
 
 Jafper Stones, Lj/jj L^izuli^ and the Black Magnefii 
 which contain abundance of Sobr Tinuure. All 
 Stones likvWife that are high coloured, and break 
 fmooth likeGlaf:, whether found on Mountains or in 
 Brooks, are good fur this purpofe. 
 
 It was becaufeof thisSolar Tindure abounding in the 
 Jafper Stone, that the Ancients prelcrr'd it before \ 
 as containing a n:oft high and excellent Tindure. A 
 very rich Tindure may alfo be cxtradcd from the 
 Lapii Lazuli i and from the Black Magntfu^ ( which 
 is not coftly ) a richer. Let us therefore take this de- 
 fpifcd Stone in hand, and fee how cafily its Tindure, 
 by means of our Alcohol Vim may be cxtradcd, and 
 what ufcs it ferves for, as well inPhyfickas Alchimy. 
 
 The P'KOCESS. 
 
 T^'. /T"^ N E pound or two of black and ponderous 
 
 fmall quantity 
 
 Now is thy Solution ready to have our Alcohol Vim 
 pour'd upon it, in order to the extrading of its Tin- 
 &are, and carrying it over the Helm. 
 
 N. B. That notwithftanding the Solution be at 
 firfl of a green colour, yet the Spirit of Wine in Di- 
 ftillation comes over yellow as Sol. And when the 
 Spirit of Wine is kindled under a large head, the pure 
 Alercury of the Mj;!n(fa afcends with the flame, 
 which is of great ufe in Phyfick v and a Blood- red 
 Liquor ftays behind, being not only a Tindure for 
 
 much to the Unworthy, and for thofe that fear God, 
 they will be further aififted from above, and led to 
 the defired end. 
 
 In like manner may the EfTences of all common 
 Stones, Pebbles, Metalline Stones, colour'd Earths, ci^c 
 be extrafted without any foregoing preparation j for 
 which God be praifed for evermore. Amen. 
 
 In the fame way wc can obtain the EfTences of 
 many other Mineral Subjeifts, without any preceding 
 preparation, efpecially of fuch as are Volatile, viz. 
 Kobolt, Arfenlck, Orpiment, Bifmuth, Zink, Lafii 
 
 the Bodies of Men and Metals, but alfo by means of C-ilaminarU., and the like Realgars, from which wc may 
 the fame ma\»Cr\rtals be tinged with fcveral fair co- diftil very poifonou?, but withal admirable. Spirits, in 
 louis, fo as to refcnible Precious Stones in all things, \ order to the Melioration of Metals. We may alfo 
 except hardnefs. I dare not fet down here the man- ; take the fame courfe with compaeT: Metals themfelves, 
 ner of applying this Tinflurc to white M<tals, he to j and diftil their Spirits without any foregoing Solution, 
 whom God vouchfafes this Tindure, will cafily find viz. we muff file them fmall, make them red-hot, and 
 
 out the ufe of it 
 
 As to the Phyfical ufe, this Tindure opens Obflru- 
 tftions of the Liver, Spleen and Lungs : The white 
 Mercury come over with the Flame is an excellent Me- 
 dicine, ftrengthening the Heart, Stomach, Head and 
 Eeins, and a great Remedy againft the Gout. In a 
 word, he that is Mailer of this Tindure will find much 
 tr.ore in it than I have here hinted. 
 
 In like manner, as hath been faid of the Magntfta., 
 we may proceed with other Stones, to extrad their 
 Tindures, all which have different properties, ac- 
 cording to the nature of the Stones from whence they 
 arc prepared. 
 
 We proceed now to (hew, how by means of our Al- 
 cohol Vini the Tindures or EfTences of N'inerals and 
 Metals, without any preceding Solution, or other pre- 
 paration, may be eafily brought over. The way is 
 thus : 
 
 Iv. what quantity you pleafe of any Sulphurous 
 Marcalite, whether of <?, 5f, V , T? , » or o, make 
 them red-hot in a Crucible in a Wind Furnace, and 
 then pur them red hot as they are, into irjy ftcond Di- 
 ftilling Furnace, fitting a large Recipient thereto, and 
 pour upon them to the quantity t f about an Ounce of 
 our /tlcohjl l''ii:i, doling the Furnace again immedi- 
 ately ) by this means the Spirit of ^^ ine v;ill enter 
 
 put them into the Diftillatory, and then proceed as 
 before hath been faid with the Marcafites, and the 
 Metalline Spirit will come over with its natural fmell, 
 tafte and colour, in which Spirits great wonders lie 
 hid, but are of greateff ufe in Meliorating of Metals. 
 Read what Paracetfm writes to this purpofe in his Book 
 called Vexatio Alchymijiarum., where you'l meet with 
 what will fatisfie you in this matter. Confider well 
 of what I have faid, and thou wilt find more than I 
 dare fet down •, for it is no fmall or common thing to 
 obtain the pure Souls of Compad Metals, without any 
 foregoiEg Solution of their Bodies. 
 
 N. B. Thofe Metals which arc molten with Mine- 
 rals, being filed, and proceeding with them as afore- 
 faid, aPord a Spirit higher in colour, and of a ffrongcr 
 fm.e'd than fimple Metals. Take an inflancefromBrafs, 
 of which if you lay a piece upon a red-hot Coal, it 
 will fend forth a bad Iknch, or put Coals into a f'lafs 
 Chafing- DiOi, and you'l perceive the fame i which 
 bad fmell proceeds from the Lapii CalamiiiarU which 
 is joyned ^^ith the Copper, the faid Lapii CaLnmarit 
 being a volatile and Ilinking Mineral. So likewife 
 when V is made white by the addition of Arfcnick, 
 it llinks naxh worfe than when it is join'd w'\ih Lapii 
 CjLiniiiarij, as being much more poifonlul. This 
 fiinkiPg fume which proceeds from Brafs, thuiigh it 
 
 be 
 
Part ill. 
 
 Of ELI AS the A%TIST, 
 
 57 
 
 be a Spifit, yet is not witliout a Bocfy , and may be 
 {.allcd a fpiricual Body , or Bodily Spin: TlicfL' fumes 
 are iuirtiu! to the Brain and Heart i and thcrciure a 
 livifc Man cnt^'kavour'; to catch tiiis Volatile Spirit, and 
 \o turn it to a true Hxt Tindure, fixing white Metals 
 into aptiniancnt Yellow i as the liinkin^^ ftiine of 
 VV'hite J, made fo by /^rfenifk^^ may be reduced to a 
 Tinfturc, \vi.ii.h wii! tinge Red '-i into White. 
 
 1 have faid enough here, he that hath cars to Iiear, 
 Jet htm hear. He, who defires to know more con- 
 cerning thofc A/:fvi'/cl;^ Odours, may read Brr.ccfus -^ 
 where he will find, tiat from them the Philofophers 
 Stone, or highell Medicine againft all Difeafts of Men, 
 and Metals n)ay be prepared : Of uIulIi, ellcwherc I 
 may have occafion to treat further. 
 
 If remains now to difcover, in what manner the Me- 
 dicinal tinging Spirits, or Souls of Stones, are to be 
 extracted, wherewith great Honour and Riches m,ay 
 be obtained in the Practice of Ph'fick. TheProcefs 
 is the very fame, as with the Alarcafics ., for when 
 white Pebbles and Chryllats, or coloured Stones, as 
 J/jZ/ffr Stones, Ljpis Lazuli and the like, being firft 
 made red hot, have our Alcohol Vini poured upon 
 them in a convenient DiRillatory, the Spirit of Wine 
 carries over their fcveral Colours, which Tinftures are 
 of gieatufe in Phyfick. In this way, we may get a 
 Spirit from Lime ftones, which is moft fubtil, and 
 Urong of any other whatfoevcr. 
 
 As for Corals and Pearls, they are not to be made 
 red iiot ( becaufe their Virtue is defrroycd by (trong 
 Fire ) but only heated, and pour Spirit of Wine up- 
 on them, by which means the Spirit of Wine will bring 
 over the EfTence of Corals of a curious red Colour, 
 and that of Pearls white as Milk. 
 
 The Stones that are found in Fifhes, Crabs eyes, fo 
 called, need only to be pulverized, without heating 
 them , and in abitradting the Spirit t)f Wine from 
 them, we obtain all their Virtues , which Spirit of 
 Wine beinga!terwards fcparated there from, as I have 
 taught, or according to my new invention burntawsy, 
 we fliall get the true Magiliery of thcfe Sioncs , be- 
 ing apleafant 5.*//, full of Virtues, and without any 
 thing of Corroli^'entCs. This SAt is the true Magi- 
 fiery of thefe Fifli-lfones. The like true Magifieries 
 may, without the aflllknce of any Corrofivc, be pre- 
 pared of Coral , Pearls, Mother of Pearl, Cockle- 
 iTiells, and the Egg-(hells of fotne particular Birds, as 
 alfo of foft Stones, fuch as i-apis Lyncis^ Jitdalctis^ 
 &-C. Let no Bod V think fkange, that I make menti- 
 on here of Egg (hells, amongli the reft-, fec;ng it is 
 certain, that they have their Original from Stones, 
 as Experience teachcth us, for when Hens arc coop'd 
 up in the Winter time, in places where they cannot 
 meet with Sand, or fmall Stones, they lay Eggs with- 
 out (bells. Wherefore Egg fli ells are not to be con- 
 teTined,for whin according to my Inflrudiions they are 
 rcduc'd to Msgilferics, they are of great ufe in curing 
 the Stone and Gout ; And are uieJ with extraordi- 
 nary Succcfs, to halien th,c Birth in Women, (trength- 
 ring both Mother and Child, and helping to expel the 
 Aftcr-Eirth. 
 
 Swallows Egg-fliells mav cafily be had, forafmuch 
 as after they have hatch'd their ^oung, they caft them 
 out of their Nclis, and afford an excellent Medicine 
 againd the Falling Sicknefs. The Egg- (hells of the 
 V\ ag-tail would be yet more tScC\ud.\ to this purpofe, 
 if they could be got, for no Bird is fubjed: to the Fal- 
 ling Sicknefs, but it: For being caught, and running 
 about witii other Birds in the Winter, it's oft feiz'd 
 
 and Tail tremble, and at laif falls on his Back, but 
 confir:ues not fo long, for rifing again, he plucks out 
 fomeofhis Feathers, and thereupon immediately re- 
 covers, and runs about, cats and diinks as before: Of 
 whofc feathers, fince their Egg-flicUs are not to be 
 got, a iiiagiilery may be prepared againii that Diltcm- 
 per. 
 
 They who know, that great Virtues are contained 
 even in natural fupcrfluities, will not wonder at my 
 treating here of Egg-fiulls and Feathers. Some great 
 Philofophers have fet down the way of making the 
 Philofophers Stone of them ^ air.ongO the relf, a cer- 
 tain Author, writing concerning Mans hair and Egg- 
 inells, concludes thus : 'Ibnugh thejt nuiieri may fee m 
 tabs vtry Jirjiine and abfnrd^yet rvho is tb;re that knows 
 ah things^ g^c ? 
 
 Many other Subjects might be hinted, from whence 
 Magifleries may be prepared, but I think it ncedleCs, 
 he who fcts upon the work will calily find many more, 
 than I have mentioned. I fiiall only, by the way, take 
 notice, that the comiTionMagiftcriesofthe Apoihecar>es 
 Shops, are no Magillcries, but mere dead, unprofita- 
 ble Powders. 
 
 We jiow proceed to the Preparation of Vegetables 
 and Animals, which being of different Natures, muff 
 alfo differently be prepared. As for Inflance, Opium 
 (which is a tough Juice, and cannot be. pulverized ) 
 mua be cut in thin flices, and laid on a Tin Plate be- 
 fore the Fire, or any other convenient way , to be 
 dried, and then powdred :, which done, we tnufi pour 
 upon it fome of our ^Ucuhol of Wine , and after a 
 fliort digedion diftil it, by which means we (hall get 
 it's moil fubtil EfTence i and, if afterwards we burn 
 away the Spirit of V.'ine, part of this EfTence will a- 
 fcend with the Mercurial Water, and other part (lay 
 behind. The former of thcfe, viz. the Volatile Mer- 
 cury of Opiuvi is fo powerful, that when only (melt to, 
 it is of better effed than the common Laudanum Opia- 
 tum taken in fubfiancc. The Red liqucr, which re- 
 mains behind in the Cup or DiOi after the Spirit ot 
 Wine is burnt away, may be tikcn inward 'y. That 
 which remains in the Glafs Body after Diilillation is of 
 no great ufe, and may be call: away i yet if any one 
 will take the pains to diffolve it in common v, filter, 
 and after reduce it to the conliftcncc of Pills, perhaps 
 he will not find it much inferior to the common Lj«- 
 dAmim Oputum. The Oyl wnich remains in the Cup 
 is of very excellent Virtue, as having pa(t the Purga- 
 tory Fire of the Spirit of Wine, whereby it is much 
 correded: Wherefore alfo we find, that this Oyl is 
 wholly devefted of that loathfome Smell that is inO;i- 
 «;«. But yet the Mercurial Virtue , which afcends to- 
 ge.her with the Flame, is far better than that which 
 itays behind, not only in Virtue, but becaufe being in 
 the form of a clear v without Talk or Smell, it may 
 with the more cafe be taken bv the Sick. The faid 
 Oyl may alfo with .Saffron, and the Narcotick f^ of 
 the Vitriol of ? be thickned and reduced to the Con- 
 fidence of Pills. 
 
 This Medicine is of great ufe, for fuch as are in 
 pain, and want their due Red, re novjng the one, and 
 procuring the other : And no Body can be ignorant, 
 how ncctlTary Sleep and i\bdincnce are, to preferve 
 Health, as well as to remove Difeafcs. 
 
 According to this way, we may extract the Virtues 
 of all vegetable Subjeds, and greatly exalt, as well as 
 corrcdf them, where need is. 
 
 A^. B. thnbjKe and 7oZ'jfco,this way prcpared,afford 
 N-rcotickj not inferior to Opium. Ahei., Myrrb, and 
 
 wi;h the Fallini^ Sicknefs, his Feet dagger, his Head ^ S^forn handled in tiiis manner, make an Elixir Pr. 
 
 P fnetJtiSj 
 
5^' 
 
 Of EH AS the ART'IST. 
 
 frktatis^ ten times better than that dffcrihcd by Tj- 
 rac.^lfiij^ or Helmnnt : For our /Ikoho! Vnii brings over 
 only their purcft Eitcnce, which is afterwards yet fur- 
 ther exalted through the Flan-cs of the Spirit of 
 "Wine. Accorc!ing to this method, a Man may pre- 
 pare from Vegetables excellent Cordials, C(phjhckj^ 
 llrengthcnCrsof the Swm^ch.Nephriiickj &c. which in 
 their crtcds will far exceed the Comir.on. Only we 
 are to cbferve •, that when we have a mind to pre- 
 pare an univerfal Medicine, we need nor to meddle 
 with Vegetables or Animals, which are Grandfather 
 
 Qur Spirit of Wine AhuH/jtirs, withr.ut which, thC' 
 Elfence of thefe Minerals cannot be brought over norj 
 be made perfedly fwect and fine, without cnduvine 
 the Purgatory of its refining Flames : Wiierefore, afl 
 Co our EliJs /Iri/ji J, or Sjit of Art, wherewith we 
 acuatc our burning Spirit, and make fuch a wonderful 
 Meitjiritum of it, may well be called the -Monarch of 
 SiJtj. And to demonllrate, that fuch a Medicine pre- 
 pared of Metals or Arimals/, with the help of our 
 S'a/t of Art joyncd with Spirit of Wine, is not only 
 able to cuie all the the Difeafes of Men and Metals, 
 
 Demrgor^ons green Cloak, forafmuch as a little piece but alfoof Vegetables, appears hrft from hence, that 
 
 of his Heart, is far fnore valuable than his whole 
 Cloak •, wherefore he that would prepare an univerfal 
 Medicine, of greater Virtues than all Vegetables and 
 Animals contain, let him take to Task a part of this 
 Vemsn^or^ons Heart. Concerning which, it the Rea- 
 der dctlre further to be fatified, let him perufe a Trca- 
 life of the incomparable Philofopher7»"'««<'-f Brjcefus, 
 cf ths Iree of Life •, where he may be informed, who 
 this VnrognrgoH is, what his clothes, aad what the 
 inmoft Blood of iiis Heart are. 
 
 Now by the way, to fpeak a little of this Vemo- 
 gorgon, we are to underlland, that the Ancients always 
 defcribed their univerfal Work, not plainly fo, as to 
 be apprehended by every one, but wrapt up in Rid- 
 dles and Allegories :, all of them pointing to this Ve- 
 mogorgon-, who has his Seat in the Center of the Earth, 
 liaving a rufty Colour'd, and green Cloak caft about 
 him •, which in plain terms, is nothing elfe but the Cen- 
 tral Fire, which God, when he created the World, 
 placed there as an evcrlafting vivifyng Fire •, by means 
 of which quickening Fire, not only Metals and Mine- 
 rals are produced, but alfo all Herbs, Plants and Trees; 
 "Upon which Account, the ancient Philofophers have 
 defcribed this Vemognrgon, to be the Grandfather of 
 al! the Heathen Gods, that is MetjUuk^ Subjeds, and 
 •an Upholder of, and Provider for all things that are 
 within, as well as without the Earth •, for all things 
 proceed from one Original, viz., this Vemogorgon. 
 Concerning which, Ste the Trveljtb Ireutife of Sendi- 
 vogius. 
 
 Metals and Minerals, are as it were the Shirt, or 
 inmoft covering of VemogorzoM, whereas Vegetables 
 and Animals, are but his Cloak, or upper Garment- 
 The Ancients have writ much concerning this Demo- 
 goTji^on, attributing to him, not only the Generation 
 and growth of Stones and Metals, but declaring him 
 to be the Father of thofc living Spirits, which are of- 
 ten found in the Mountains, where Mines are, efpeci- 
 ally of <.^! or P, about which, if the Reader defire to 
 be further fatistied , let him read George Agricola 
 bis IrcatiC: concerning Subterraneous living Creaturet. 
 
 To return then to our Vemogorgoit, I fay, there are 
 found fome contemptible MiiKral's, in which all the 
 Virtues of Vegetables and Animals lye concentred, 
 which Minerals take their Original from the purelt 
 Heart-blood of Demogorgni : Such Minerals as thefe 
 vve are to rake in hand, if we would prepare an uni- 
 verfal Medicine againft all Difeafes, as well as a Tin- 
 £\urc, to meliorate all white Metals with great Gain 
 and Profit. \Vc are alfo to ohfcrve, that fuch an uni- 
 verfal Medicine, may tafily, with little Charges, and 
 in few days, be prepared : For the Minerals themfclves 
 coft little or nothing, the Diffolvent is very cheap, and 
 the burning Spirit is not Chargeable, fo that an Uni- 
 verfal Medicine, to meliorate .Vegetables , Animals 
 and Minerals, may be made with tiie Charge of an An- 
 which, certainly , is a firangc and wonderful 
 
 CcvpendiHii:. 
 
 an univerfal Medicine can fcarccly, or at all be pre- 
 pared without the Concurrence of Vegetables and 
 Animals : For which reafon the Philofophers fay, that 
 their Stone is Vegetable, Animal and Mineral i if then 
 the univerfal Medicine be made up of thefe three, we 
 muft conclude alfo, that it is Mafter and Commander 
 over them. The ufe of this Medicine in the feveral 
 three Kingdoms, is as follows. When by means of 
 our Tartariz.ed Spirit of Wine, thou haft brought over 
 the pure Eflence of a Metal or Mineral, and fepara- 
 ted the Spirit of Wine from the MetaSick^ Effence, 
 by burning it away, then the faid Effence ftays be- 
 hind in the Cup or Difli, wherein the Spirit of Wine 
 was burnt away, and tnay without any other Prepa- 
 ration be made ufe of, for the Cure of all curable 
 Difeafes. But when we have a mind to make ufe of 
 this Eflence, for the meliorating of Metals, we muft 
 firft ferment it with common © or 1), for without this, 
 the Soul or Quinteffence of Metals can have no in- 
 grefs into Metals, fo as to unite with them in a Fire 
 of Fufion. We are alfo to note, that when this Me- 
 taVick^EtCcnce is fermented with Sol^ it becomes a 
 Solar Tindure, but when with P, it only affords a 
 white Tindlure. It is alfo to be obferved, that when 
 we take two parts of e, and one of D for our ferment, 
 we ihall have a RedTindure, and fo on the contrary, 
 if we make ufe of two or three parts of i), to one of 
 ?, it will only be a white Tindure, becaufe the pre- 
 dominant Metal determines the Tindure. But he 
 who hath once obtained a well prepared Quintefl'ence 
 of Metals, will eafily know the ferment and way of 
 applying it, for a due application is of great moment 
 in this matter. I have known fome, who had ex- 
 traded good Tindures from <J and j, but under- 
 llood not the way of fermenting them, that isof joyn- 
 ing their ferment without their Tindures ;, neither did 
 they undcrftand the Inceration, that is, the way to give 
 toyourTindures[eafie Fluxibiliry and Ingrefs,fo could 
 not arrive at their defired End. Were the W^orld 
 worthy of it, I could fet down an eatie, cheap and 
 fhort way, to extrad much o out of +, by which 
 means every one that is fomewhat skilled in Diftilling, 
 Melting and Cupelling, might have a Rich and inex- 
 haufted Mine in his own Houfc, but it is much better 
 to be filent, than to ftrengthen Men in their Pride and 
 wickednefs. 
 
 But to return to the Medicinal ufe of our Tinftures, 
 we are to take Notice, that the Red Oyl, which re- 
 mains after the burning away of the .Spirit of Wine 
 in the Cup, is fitteft to make a Metallick^ Tindure of: 
 But the 5 or Celeftial Vitriol., which mounts with 
 the Flame of the Spirit of Wine, is the moil proper 
 Medicine for human Bodies: For this pure Mercurial V 
 is the true and beft V of Life, wherewith, not alone 
 Men, but alfo other Animals, yea and Vegerabks 
 too, may be cured of all Difeafes, and Evils incidmt 
 And forafmuch, as the highcli: Medicine of 
 
 to them. 
 All this may be done with the help of Vegetables is the Nourilhment they draw from the 
 
 Earth, 
 
Of ELI^ S the ^RTIS T, 
 
 Earth, the warmth.of the Sun, and fruitful Rain, and 
 that on the contrary a dry and barren Soil, and want 
 of the chcridiing heat of th.e Sun and Rain, arc the 
 Death of all Vegetables, it is apparent that there can 
 be no better Remedy to keep o/i" the Death of. Vege- 
 tables, than this our fwcet cherifliing, and vivifying v 
 of Life, or Celeiiial SjIc ; For when any Seeds of 
 Vegetables are lleeped therein, and fet only in Sand, 
 they iirmediately ihoot up and grow : And having 
 this effcdf upon Vegetables, vvc have the Itfs reafon 
 to doubt of its cherifliing, and viufying Virtue on 
 hurran Eodies, as indeed there cannot be a better 
 Medicine to rid the Body of Man, of all manner of 
 Difeafcs than this Univerfal ElefTcd v of Life, or 
 heavenly Rain v. When we attentively confider Na- 
 ture, we hnd, that the Life and growth of all Vege- 
 tables, Animals and Minerals, is Originally from the 
 Air, or an Airy volatile Spirit. Thus we can make 
 all hard Stones and Metals grow as it were in a 
 moment, by means of fuch a volatile Spirit, concer- 
 ning which, I have fpoken in the Second Part of my 
 Furnaces. 
 
 This fudden growth of Stones and Metals, I have 
 many years fince (hewed to feme of my Friends, who 
 greatly admired the fame, but could not comprehend 
 thv reafon thereof. Now therefore-, to fatisrie the 
 Searchers after truth, I declare, that all growth, whe- 
 ther in the Murocofme , or Macrocnfme proceeds from 
 a Spirit, or Volatile Salty arifing from two contraries, 
 viz. an 'icid and an Alkali ■, for when an yilk^ali^ and 
 an Acid Spirit meet, they caufe an Effervefcence, du- 
 ring which, there proceeds from them both a very 
 fubtil Spirit, which has the Nature and Property to 
 make all things grow. If a Man takes this Spirit in- 
 wardly i it procures and preferves health i if it be 
 joyn'd to an Herb, it makes it to grow and flioot up 
 fuddenly. With this Spirit we can make an Herb 
 grow from its Seed in the midft of Winter, ( but it 
 muft be in a warm Room,)fo as it may be feen to grow -^ 
 which my felf have performed more than once. And 
 to make it appear, that this fwift growth only pro- 
 ceeds from a volatile Spirit, produced by the (irife of 
 two contraries, I'Je give this inftance » pour one 
 Pound of Oyl of Vitriol^ upon one or tvvo Pound of 
 calcined Tartar, not at once, but by degrees, and at fe- 
 vcral times, and it will caufe a great ftrife and Effer- 
 vefcence, cover the Cucurbit with its Head, and give 
 Fire in a Sand Furnace, by which means a very fub- 
 til volatile Spirit comes into the Receiver. If before 
 this Work be undertaken, a Stone hath been diffol- 
 ved by the calcined Tartar , and a Metal in the Oyl 
 of Vitriol^ then the Spirit, which proceeds from them, 
 will be much more powerful ■-, becaufe the Virtue both 
 of the Stone and Metal comes over with the Spirit. 
 In this manner may a volatile Spirit be had from all 
 Acids and Alkjlif. 
 
 To demonftrate this further, that the growth of all 
 things proceeds from the flrife of two contraries, take 
 this inftance: Diflblve fome Iron or Copper in Spirit of 
 Salty or Oyl of Vitriol^ draw off the Flegm, in which 
 Diftillation none of the /^c/^ Spirit will come over i be- 
 caufe it is jovn'd and concentred with the Metal, ani- 
 mating and difpollng it to fhootupandto grow fwiftly, 
 fb as the eye may perceive it grow, like a Tree with a 
 Body, Boughs, Branches, and Twigs. Take this Spi- 
 rit of Suit or Vitrioly concentred by the $ , as foon as 
 you have taken it out of the Furnace, whillt it is yet 
 warm, and break it into little Bitts, about thebigncfs 
 of large Pcafs ( if you fliould fuffer it to grow cold, 
 it would by attra;l:ing the Air, fuddenly run into an 
 
 Cyl />fr </f//'<7///«w.)Thefe pieces of animated (J,tra; : 
 bejn^ntd with its contrary, for which you can choofc 
 noihing better than a Liquor of Flints prepared in 
 the fair.e manner, which I have taught in the fc» 
 cond pjitot ny Furnaces. The Glafs, wherein yow 
 put this Liquor of FlintSj muli be of the faniC wide- 
 ntfs at the top, as at the bottom, and about an hand- 
 breadth f.igh , and hll'd with the faid Alk^tlioHs 
 Liquor, to which, put your Aud concentred by tiie 
 d" , Uyii.g the pieces orderly a thunibs breadth from 
 one another, and place the Glafs, where it may not 
 be fhakcn or jogg'd. As foon as thcle contraries are 
 thus joyned, they begin to a.l upon one another \ but 
 forafmuch, as the one of thcfc contraries is concen- 
 tred by the $ , and become hard, it cannot mingle it 
 Mi with its advcifary, oi dtHroy it, fo thi.y only 
 vex and anguirti one another , in doing which, a 
 warrnth arifcth between them, and th« one contrary 
 puflieth the other to flioot and grow ^ the hard and 
 dry part, viz. the animated 6 drawing fo much moi- 
 fiure from its contrary, the Liquor of Flints, as makes 
 it heave and begin to grow in form of a Plant, with 
 Root, Stock, Branches, and Twigs, very pleafant to 
 behold, the growth being very fwift, fo as within an 
 hour and an half, or two hours at the moft, the whole 
 Glafs is hll'd with little iron Trees, which grow har- 
 der and harder, and when they arc hard enough,' 
 (which will be in the fpace of twenty four hours) 
 then the Liquor of Flints muft be let out from it 
 through a hole, left on purpofe in the bottom of the 
 Glafs, and the Plant, or little Tree, remains. If we 
 defire to make a more pleafant fight of it, we may 
 take feveral Metals, and make them grow up like a 
 Tree-, <? aftbrds a dark brown, J^f««j a green , 1? 2t 
 and 2 a White and Grey, 5) a Blcw,and e a Yellow Co- 
 lour. Minerals alfo give different Colours from Me- 
 tals •> Lapis Caljrr.inaris grows not into Trees, but 
 into the refemblance of Mountains and Rocks of a White 
 and Greyifli Colour. 
 
 If wc have a mind (o make Stones to grow, we pro- 
 ceed thus, fiift we melt the Stone, whether White or 
 Coloured, into atranfparent Glafs, and pour it forth in"- 
 to a Copper Bafon, where it will flow broad and thin, 
 and will be the iittct to be broke into as fmall pieces 
 as we defire. Which peices we place as before in a flat 
 bottom'd Glafs before defcribed, which mulf be fuIT 
 of an Acid Spirit mixed with water, fo as it may nei- 
 ther be too fliarp, nor too weak > for if it be weak- 
 ncd with too much water, it will not retain flrength 
 enough to make itgrow^ and if the Acid be too fl^arp, 
 it will diflblve the Alk^li^ed Stone, wherefore great 
 care mufl be taken , as to this particular. 
 
 N. B. The Alignifia gives a Blood-red Tree, and 
 much more beautiful than any of the Metals; Only 
 cbfcrve, that Metals may be made to grow with left 
 trouble than Stones. 
 
 From what hath been faid, it appears beyond dif- 
 pute, that the growth of Vegetables, Animals and Mi- 
 nerals ( Stones not excepted ) proceeds from t«o con- 
 traries. I could eafily make this out more amply and 
 fully, but having treated of the fame in other pait$ 
 of my Writings, I fliall let it refl here. 
 
 An 
 
6o Of the Three FI^E-STO ^A^E S, Part 1 IL 
 
 An Appendix or 
 
 COROLLARY. 
 
 I Have in tiie f redoing Trcatife declared the iifc 
 of the Salt of Art, both in Phylkk and Alchinny, 
 and have fct down norhing, but what my ftlf have 
 experienced. What I have writ concerning our Alca- 
 lizfd Spirit of Wine, is alfo the very truth : And tho' 
 what I have here fct down triight feem to fufficc^ yet 
 1 cannot, before I conclude this fmall Book, but men- 
 tion a much greater Gift of God-, than that of which I 
 have fpoken here, i/z. that God hath vouchfafed Man- 
 kind, for prcferving (heir Health, a Subjcrt, wherein 
 the Powers and Virtues of all Vegetables, Animals 
 and Minerals, arc fnmm'd up and united together i 
 which Subjeel may be had in all places for nothing, 
 and however contemptible it may fccm to the ignorant, 
 yet it is the matter of the highcft Medicine in the 
 World. Every Man can have enough of it from 
 himfelf, needs therefore not to go to another for it. 
 
 Adjin and Ev: our firft Parents brought this matter 
 with them out of Paradife i yea, cvuy one brings it 
 along with him from his Mothers womb. 
 
 Let no Man imagin, that Ifpeak heicof Urine, or 
 Mans Dung, it is fomething elfc, and n:orc dcfpifcd 
 than cither of them, fo that a proud Man will fcarcc- 
 ly light upon it. I fay, if a Man know tliis SubjeCl^- 
 and how to make ufc of it in Piiyfick, he may well 
 account himfelf happy, as needing nothing of ail that 
 is in the World belides, in Cafe he hath only lirength, 
 place, and convenience to prepare the fame. The 
 Subjed' cods nothing,3nd the Preparation requires nei- 
 ther GlaiTes, Coals nor Furnace. I commend this Sub- 
 ject to Phylicians above any other in the World, the 
 Preparation being eal7e, and without Charges, and njay 
 be hni(hed in few davs : So that the knowledge of 
 this Subject, and its ealie Preparation, ought not to be 
 look'd upon, as an invention of Man, but as a wonder- 
 ful, and undeferved Gift of God, refervcd only (or 
 thofe, whodefpife the World with all its Vanities, re- 
 nounce the Devi] and all his Works, and avoid the 
 Company of wicked Men, his adherents. 
 
 Of the Three moft noble STONES generated 
 
 by Three Secret FIRES. 
 
 AND 
 
 Firfl^ Of the Stone of Fhilofophers^ ivhich is prepared by the Secret 
 
 Fire of the JViJc. 
 Secondly^ of the upper and lovper ^hmder^ftone , hovp they are gcne^ 
 
 rated ahoye, hy the Meteorological Fire ; and below ^ by the Jecrct 
 
 Artificial Frc. jndy 
 Thirdly, Bojp the Lapis Ignis, or Fire-jlone of Bafilius, is to be pre^ 
 
 pared out of Antimony by Art, 
 Jndhowihcfe Three inoji 7wble Stones of the World, are to be t fed 
 
 inPhyfc{and Alchymy. Tranfated out of the Bigh^Dntch 
 
 "Resdi 
 
 er. 
 
 "N the end of the Appendix to the Seventh 
 Part of my Fbarmacopd-a Spazyrica, 1 have made 
 mention of Thiee Fires, which arc not Common, 
 .^ but unknown to the World. By which are ge- 
 nerated three wonderful Stones, which I did intend 
 to puUidi. Firll:, of the fecret Fire of Philofophers, 
 commonly called the Fjre of Artepbius^ becaufc Arte- 
 pkiHs averv ancient Philofophcr did Hrrt write of it, 
 who was alfo envious like others, and would write 
 nothing of it , till he came to be nine hundred 
 Years old wliich way the Philofophers Stone was 
 to be made by this Fire. Tlicfc U ritings have been 
 long tolled up and down the World, before any could 
 be certain, whether or no this miraculous Fire could 
 be found in Nature. At length fome Philofophers at- 
 
 tain'd its knowledge, and pnblifhed it for the good 
 of the World. But becaufe, thofe Philofophers were 
 very obfcure in their Writings, the Art could not be 
 made common, but remaineth fecret to this hour : So 
 that one of a Thoufand among the now reputed Phi- 
 lofophers, (who have iilPd the whole World with 
 their unexperienced Writings ) fcarccly one is to be 
 found, who know any thing of it. And becaufe this 
 fecret Fire was called by the true Philofophers, l^mt 
 Philofpboriim^ it would have bccomed them, to know 
 fomewhat of it. Iklmont the inoll experienced and 
 learned Philofophcr of his time, a'.tliough he had 
 ftudied long in the Univertities, yet he dotli not Glo- 
 ry in any Arts he there learned : But on the contra- 
 ry, he faith^ that Phyfickjas it is taught in the Schools, 
 
 is 
 
0^ 
 
 f t/jeTbrceF I-ljE ^ S TO ^X £ ^^ 
 
 61 
 
 tcfknce may be drawn nut of ;^/j:/j,but tiiar will nof ; fi^^ cr eiii>.roiii:ir.g^ containing bnt "f 
 
 effert, what the Red Element of the incon\bu/Hbl£ [ t/ji of livi>i<iiyj]er rvhich z^^'h A 
 
 Sulphur can- P irjceljit', in his Book o( Sulphur^ wiitts, 
 
 that an excellent Eltnintiim Ignis nay be made 
 
 out of common Sulphur, which he Co highly com- 
 
 riicnds, that he dares to fay, that except a Phylician 
 
 hath this Element of Fire, ( that is the tixed Qijin- 
 
 tclTence of S:it^hiir^ among his Arcjrumt^ he caunot 
 
 rightly be reputed a Phyfician, but a Moncv Catcher, 
 
 and Robber of phe Sick. In my lately pubhfhed Trea- 
 
 tife of Sulphur^ I have alfo dcfcribed an Ehm ntn/n 
 
 Ignis, which is certainly a very excellent Medicine 
 
 againft all Cold Diftempers, but this is not yet tixed, 
 
 l^itrniniy tompjf- 
 "«(", ai:d It IS thef.iiin-^ 
 ifig iyjter ipbtche^oeth al/:nit jud coiitjiuith the 
 pljcf, n-hen th: Hmz anl Ojeen hjih tbimfercu. 
 
 Tliis is Art::phim''s Ddcription of the Fire of Phi- 
 lofuphers. F,»ttj„iif harh alfo wrote of this Fire, to 
 wiiofe EpiHlc I rtkr the Reader for the more cali^ in- 
 truduiflion to it. 
 
 ArtephiH, hath here plainly enough dtfcribcd the 
 Matter, and the M.^rcmi.il Water, and Poiitjiiw hatiV 
 con^rmcd it, rie to vvhoni God will give it, v.ifl 
 caiily comprehend it i but Artephms arid hnfjaus 
 teach nothing, but how to ripen tlie Stone of rhilofo- 
 phers conipounded of Gold, Silver, and Anrimmv^ 
 
 but combufiible, but the Element ot Fire ought to be j by this fccrct Fire. But bcc;»ufc (Iveral others as well 
 incombulliblc. For as long as a Medicine made out j univerfal as particular are to be ealily prepared by tlrs 
 of Sulphur is Aill comburtible, and fubjeit to blacken our Fire, I think fit to fay fomewhat of it. Our Fire 
 • Silver when touched with it, it cannot be reputed the | maturates whatfoever is put to it, whether Vegetables ' 
 true E.kmentwn Ignis Sulpburis. For the true Elc- j Animals, or Minerals, and therefore our Fire as air] 
 nient of Fire of Sulpbur doth not make Silver black, the Matter of the Philofophcrs Stone it fe fi is cal- 
 but tingeth it with a conlhnt Golden Colour, which led Vegetable, Animal, and Mineral ; as alfo a natu- 
 cannot be waflicd olf. As alfo, the Element of Fire | tural, non-natural, and fupernatural Fire. He who 
 
 is not fatisfied with this may read Artcphins himfclf 
 where he will find more of this our (ccrct Fire. 
 
 Now having undcrliood^ what Artfphius and Por^ 
 t'>t!is have written of our'lccrct Fire, I could not 
 but defcribe it fomewhat more openly, to fiiew the 
 Artift a nearer and ealier way to obtain it. iCbttbir 
 can truly affirm this. That in my youn^^'days I have 
 travelled many Countries, and diligenth/'fearched for 
 an Experienced Philofbpher, that might teach me 
 icme good. But I no where found my defirc, but I 
 often found fome dihgent Phyfrcian, v. ho following 
 
 ['' ought to be of this Nature, to enter a Red hot I lace 
 of Silver without fume, as Oyl finks into dry Lea- 
 ther •, and to tinge it Yellow. Alfo, it ought ro tinge 
 common v into Gold, when added to it in a due 
 licat. This Qiiin'tflTence of Sulphur^ alfo mult not 
 be burnt by the Fire as other Oyl, but remain incom 
 bufiible. Therefore, the Philofophcrs have called it 
 an incombufiible Oyl, a permanent Water, Aurum po- 
 tahile^ &c. When it hath thofeX irtues, then it can 
 perform what P ivjcelfits attributes to it, viz. Won- 
 ders both in Phylick and Alchymy s and by this, Anfto 
 
 purert and incombudible part remains, by which fuch 
 great things in Medicine and Alchymy arc perform- 
 ed, that it refutcth all thofc who fpcak againft it j al- 
 though many Impoftors by their cheats, from place to 
 place, have given occafion tofpeak evil of the Noblcd 
 of Arts V which hath had an ill cffcd heretofore upon 
 my felf. 
 
 An Iliftory of the Poifonous "faylof Common Al- 
 chymy. 
 
 Here foLws a hr^e Hi,foricjl Vi^refun of ftne 
 great A buff t Vtfhicb tbs Author fame tinu undir- 
 went, but pertaining nothing to the fcope uf this 
 Treat! f^ I iviU njt trouble the Reader rvith it. 
 
 Now concerning our fecrct Fire, it is not made of 
 Cbals cr Wood, or other combuliible Matter, but 
 
 tJIIIS 
 
 «/f and his followers ( who alTert, that the Species of ' Croi'm, tiartmaM^ Beg/tirius, and other Experienced 
 Metals cannot be tranfmuted ) are quite out of Doors. I Phyllcians, prepared thcit own Medicines, by Which 
 It is true, AriflutU alfo faith, that the M<tals cannot j they gained Honour and Wealth, and were' therewith 
 be tranfmuted, if they be not fiift reduced to their content. Some of them had indeed read Artephii, 
 firft matter, of which I have fufficienily treated, and Pontanus, but had not light enough to under 
 This our fixed Oyl of Sw/z-Zf-tr tranfmutes the Metals ^ ' ' •• ■- ■ 
 
 without any precedent redudion of them to their firft 
 matter. For cur fecret Fire. hath taken away what- 
 (bevcr was pernicious or combuliible > lo that only the 
 
 ftand them, I have alfo endeavoured to frequent tl;e 
 elaboraories of Princes, to learn fomething there. In- 
 deed I found ProceflTcs enough there, which were fcnc 
 from great Men. By followiog of which, and work- 
 ing in Arfenick,, Orpiment, Cobalt^ Ciuabar, M-rcury ^nd 
 the like Minerals, I drew a great deal f?f Poifi^n into 
 my Body, till at length I grew weary of it, and there- 
 fore fct my mind upon SpJg)ricl{_ Medicines, by which 
 I have found many curious Secrets,, and gain'd a fuf- 
 ficient Livelyhood. But yet at the fatr.e time, I at-, 
 tentively read the Writings of the Philofophcrs, and 
 cut of them learned many good things, chiefly Bafdt- 
 ui^ Bracejcus^ Neufemeniius ^ and the like good Aifr 
 thors i but the fecret Fire ol Artcphms^ or the pro? 
 per Agent, I could not Learn, I have often Difcour- 
 fcd of it with Learned men, but always found, that 
 they undcrltood lefs of it than niy filf. For they had 
 not read the Ancient Philofphcrs, but had ipcnc 
 their time in getting of Money, and fending their 
 Receipts to the Apothecareis Shops. But after a light 
 was enkindled in mc frpm above, and I began to 
 know this fcrct Fire, I began to luvc an avciiion 
 
 compounded of ccitiin Fiery Waters, which burn, • to the tedious, and troublefome work with Gbfle ' 
 
 L 1.1 1.,. r.- I .u» ^!,r. L .. ., therefore I fet it all alide, and now find my fclf moic 
 
 at eale, by this Capital work, for I make no further 
 
 but nor like other Fires v%iihout the Glafs out always 
 v/ithin theGhfs > wherefore Artepluut, as the firli Au- 
 thor of the fecrct Fi:e 
 
 uieth thsfe woicJs. Our Vin '' ufi of Fwinaces, GLlfes, or Ccals, b.it can now d© 
 
 Q. Hiorc 
 
-J^ ^f the Three F l%E'SrO HE S. Part 1 JI: 
 
 md greater tbing? in half aNiitnull or Egg- 
 :han IcculJ bdore, with all my Furnaces , 
 
 inctiTint thanks 
 
 more a 
 
 (hell, than 
 
 Glaffcs and Coals, for which 1 give 
 
 to God, who is the giver of all Good Th,s I was 
 willing to add,-./^. that our Fire is hard to be found, 
 but callc to he made, when known. Concerning the 
 Matter, it is not always the fame, but n.ay be taken 
 after fevcial ways, yet according to the true propor- 
 cionof the Fire, for this is all in all, the proper A- 
 gcnt irma be only excited by our Fire, and carried on 
 fo the promoting cf the Maturation of our Matter •, 
 for the proper Ajlent is here as much concenud, asthe 
 iirc it ftlf, for that alone could not work fufticicntly o 
 prepare an unripe Mineral by it felf, without the help 
 of the proper Agent, in fo fiiort atime,into a Tint ure 
 conllant in the Fire, or univcrfal Mcdiane. Now 
 whoever hath a mind to do any thing with our lecret 
 Fire mull have conllancy of mind, tarry at home, and 
 beg'alliliance of God, whofc Blefling he muft wait 
 for with Patience. ^ _ - _. 
 
 Now concerning the farther ufe of our fecret Fire, 
 it is thus, that all Vegetables, as Herbs, Koots, Seeds, 
 Woods &:. and all Animals, none excepted, together 
 with afl Minerals and Metals, may without Coll, be 
 eafily b^o^igh't'into excellent Medicaments, particularly. 
 For oiir Fire bUturates the purell Aninu, or Quint- 
 cffence of all things. Poyfonous Subjeds are con- 
 verted into Medicine, fowr and bitter into pleafant 
 and fweet. The immature is ripened :, and oiir Fire 
 can be better compared with nothing, than with the 
 Sun, which gives Life to all Vegetables, Animals, 
 and Minerals, and makes the imperk<a, pcrfed, no- 
 thing excepted. In fine. Our Fire is the greateft and 
 tnolt noble in the Woild, the Sun excepted: But God 
 is abovo all, the Lord of the Creation. But what 
 reed I fay much of the Melioration of Vegetables, A- 
 nimals and Minerals, by our fecret Fire, 1 have faid 
 enough, if I fhould fay more, it would render it too 
 
 Common. , , ■ t 
 
 But thus much it will beneccffary to add. viz. what 
 the Subjeds are, which are tiie mod eahly wrought 
 upon by our Fire. Among Vegetables, Wine, and what 
 pertains to it is the bett i Among Minerals, AnUmony 
 and Mcrct^y, which is our living Gold , Among Ani- 
 inals, Man, and what appertains to him. You iiave 
 yourown choice to chufe, which you will, you Iiave 
 fufiicient Advice, and want nothing more, but the 
 BlclVingof God, without which all is in vain. 
 
 IJere fol'ctveth the CowpnCam, or Trcpirauott of our fc- 
 ci\t Fire, 
 
 Three Hcathenifli Deities command this our fecret 
 Fire viz. A[>o>\Di'>i.' 3ni PI"'"' A poUo affords the 
 warm Sun-fliine. Viaaa gives the cooling and rctrefli- 
 int' Nirht. And P/«/« gives his Fiery Htllifli Ram. 
 Th?t you mav better underrtand it, ^;>^//<^ gives Wine 
 three times, Viana Milk twice, and Phto his Hclhfh 
 Fire once. Out of thcfc three Gifcs, our Fire is pre- 
 pared. This is the true Preparation of our wondcr- 
 lul Fire. To fpcak of this more amply, is not con 
 vcn^ent ; we mull rtot caft Pears before Swinc, which 
 way thi^ Fire is to be ufcd to any Subjedt, is fuflici- 
 enilydifcoveredto aMan thereunto eleded by God. 
 BurtlKvtsrc many, who having no dependency up 
 on Grd^ Blelung. proceed after an evil and cheating 
 ifianncr, fo that thofc /?/<.-V»jf/, or Gold- makers, are 
 b-comc a fcorn to tiic Country, and no Man cares to 
 
 without reafon. For in making Oyt of Vitriol aftcr!| 
 the common way, a Fire is kept crdinaiil)' for forty 
 Or fifty hours, which is a very tedious Work •, but the 
 Adepts can force over a Pound of Oyl of l':iriol iti 
 an hours time, with very few Coals, which thing I 
 have already touched in my Writings, and (hall fay 
 more of it in my Second Appendix I have rccomm.en- 
 ded this compendious way of making Oyl of Vitriol 
 and Sulphur.^ to fonc Men •, but they adhered fo dofe 
 to their old lingring way, that they were regardlefs of 
 a better, notwithlianding that the Oyl oi Vitriol, and 
 the Acidum of Sulphur.^ are the Bafis or Foundation' 
 of all the common Hermeticl{ Medicine, for all other 
 Mineral Spirits are by them acquired eafily and plenti- 
 fully. That Mineral ^aV/ which is plentifully found 
 in Vitriol and Sulphur, is the only Agent whereby j 
 Nature Muttirates the yet volatile and unripe Mine-' 
 rab in the Earth. And alfo all Tiniflures, which arc 
 fixed and conflant in the Fire, are by the hand of the 
 Artiji prepared by this, yet with the Addition of its 
 Compeer , the external Fire. This .univerfal Aaduni 
 is our Horfe-dung, and the Stygian water, in which 
 Jj/m drowned his Dragon and made him fi.ved ; But 
 when I here mention Jjfon's Dragon, it comes into 
 my mind what happened tome, when I once attemp- 
 ted to make fuch a Dragon, which vomited out Fire, 
 and a black poylonous Smoke, out cf Sulphur and Salt- 
 peter : And becaufe this Hiftory, may ferve as a warn- 
 ing to many, who may incur much danger oftentimes 
 by the common Akhymy, I will here infert it. A little 
 before 1 became Bed-ridden, I had undertaken tofteal 
 from the ever watchful Dragon, that Golden Fleece 
 which he hath in his keeping, and becaufe this fierce 
 Dragon will part with nothing before he be half flain, 
 or at leaft, laid to fleep, therefore I was bufied in this 
 work, and had made a mixture of Sulphur., Niter and 
 Tartar, and alfo another of Salter-pcter, Antimony and 
 'lartar, each apart in an Earthen Pot, in order to Fire 
 them for Detonation. And although I had ordered, 
 that one Pot (hould firft be detonated, and then the 
 other, that the Smoke might not be tco great, yet thisi 
 was not done, but they were fired both together, which 
 caufed fuch a great, black and (linking Smoke to af- 
 ccnd the Chimney, that when the Neighbours faw it^ 
 they thought the Honfe had been on fire,and cryed out. 
 Fire, knocked at my Door, to come in to quench it» 
 when there was none, notwithflanding this was not 
 done in my dwelling Houfe,but in a Houfc remote from 
 all others, fo that it could have done no hurt to any 
 clfc, if it had been burnt down, but they not being 
 fati'^fied got Ladders and looked down the Chimney, 
 and feeing no Fire there, they then faid, it was Witch- 
 craft. Out of this Hillory, one may fee what a dan- 
 gerous Toyl the common Akhymy hath. This work' 
 to kill the Dragoon, and to fpoyl him of his Golden 
 Fleece, is one of the pleafantelt that ever I did in Al- 
 chjmy, except the fecret Fire, for when the Sulphur., 
 Salt-pctir, Antimony and 'I'artar, are dcnotated toge- 
 ther, and fublimcd with Sal Armoniach^, the Golden 
 Fleece rifeth in a curious Golden Colour, and tingeth 
 the Head, and Fvcceiver with all forts of Colours, like 
 unto the Kain-bow, or a Peacocks Tail, and alfo one 
 fees the Foot-freps of the fcaly Dragon moll glotioully 
 in the Head i which Neufementuis hath excellently 
 dcfcribe'd, in a few French Verfcs. and hath omitted' 
 almoll nothing which belongs to this Work : And be- 
 caufe Ihtrc write of this fort of Work, it will nor be 
 ainifs, to add thufc Verfcs. Concerning this, Medea 
 
 dwell bv thc(j), Itfl their great an 
 
 flioulJ Itinidaiiusc to his Neighbours, and this not 
 
 d continual Fires thus exhorts Jafin in Oi'id; 
 
 tervigif 
 
Pai-t III. 0/ the Three FlRE^STONES. 
 
 6; 
 
 Tervigil ccce Draco^ fqujmii crepitantibus kjrreHS^ 
 Sibiht & tarto pfliort verrit bHmuin. 
 
 Which Ntiifewentiits hath thus rcndred into French. 
 
 Voy ic Dragon veillant de fureur forcene 
 Qui d'cfcaillc bruyantc a le corps cntournb 
 Dont Ic golIcT firtlant fumce 6c teu dcferrc 
 Et qui par rcplis torS va baliant la tcire 
 De fa large pbitrJTie en lapoudrc imprimant 
 Lcs iinueux llllons, qu'il trace inccllan'eiit. 
 
 And may thus again be put into Latine. 
 
 Adfpice fquamoftim tHmidumf, furore Draconem 
 Semper in exchbist aures frontemque mittjcem 
 Vtbrjutem, & nuHa cUndentem lamina jomno 
 ^hii cr'ijia Unguifq-^ tribus pr^figHis , & uncit 
 Deniibiis horrendit, patulo de gutture Flamnut 
 Sibiht, & fHtnis atratis inficit JHras. 
 ^Jjpice multiplices Gyros quos fonJere Cjudx 
 JnfiiiuJt Jem, cum loUga volumtKJ dncit 
 Ferque fuperficiem reptjtj cum petiore lata 
 Verrit bttraum , rtlegens eadem vejiigia femjer. 
 
 And in Englifh may found thus , 
 
 iehJd this fcalj Dragon fweVd tviih he-, 
 Hit Creji doth bratid/Jh., with a dre.idful Brow j 
 "Here clofeth Eyes,, mr Ejrs, tier yet retires 
 From difmjl noife, and horid Teeth to Jhew : 
 From bis broad Throat fames i(fue cut 
 Black fumes in/cD the Air about. 
 Behold the Rings, which his encircled Tail 
 Caffs OH the Earth, nhiljl be doth form his Ceils 
 With his broad Breafi he creeps upon its Face 
 Sweeping the ground, alr»ays in the fame Irace, 
 
 Here in few words the Philofopher defciibcs the 
 ivhole Work, how to fpoyl the Dragon of his Golden 
 fleece. But only to thofc, who eafijy underftand 
 thefe Verfes, whofe eyes God hath opened, and are 
 already pretty \yell skilled in this Art. But to the unex- 
 pert all remains dark. Reading only will not do it, but 
 you muft put your hand to the Work, if you will 
 attain to any thing. I have, for feveral years together, 
 read, fought, and laboured in vajn, before I found 
 rhe right way of obtaining this Golden Fleece. And 
 when at length I became Mafler of this Art, I could 
 rot but admire that it was fo eafie a thing, and yet fo 
 difficult to be learned out of Books. Paracejfus and 
 lieufemeiums write the plaineft of this, of which two 
 expert Men, I firft learned this Art, but afterwards I 
 found a more Compendious way, fo that I can now 
 perform the whole Work , with the Charge nf one 
 Ducat [[ or ten Shillings 3 in a very fliort time. But 
 i murt leave it to others to do, being yet detained in 
 my Bed by my fickncfs : So that lean do no more, 
 than to (hew toothers by my Writings and Inftrudi- 
 6ns, the ready way to the Land of Promife. 
 
 Of the Second Fire, and its marvellous Fire-Jtone^ rvhicb 
 is generated bj it. 
 
 Wc know, that Fire generates Stones , every one 
 according to its Nature. The fccrer Fire of the Phi- 
 lofophcrs, engenders the Philofophcrs Stone, which is 
 a univeifal Medicine for Men and Metals, as we have 
 already hcaid. That the Mctebrical tire, from whence 
 
 proceeds Lightening and Thunder, generates aifo 
 Atones, IS known co ail, h;r the Air procrcitcf the 
 lame things, wl.jch arc found upon the Earth. Tiicrc- 
 fore Hermts in his Smtr.igdiue Table hath very well 
 faid, That whatfotvcr is' beneath is alfo above, and 
 vviut IS above, is alfo beneath, by which, marvellous 
 things are done. We know, that Frogs and Grafhop- 
 pirs and the like, which are procreated in the Air, 
 have fallen down with the Kain. I have read in a cer- 
 tain Hiiloiian, that once a Caif tell down with the 
 Kain. 
 
 ^■'naxagoras,zhmo\x% Philof^ipher, p-ognoai;:atcd in 
 hisLi(etime,thataft<.rhe wasdcad.agKatSfonclhouIJ 
 fall down from the Air, to the Earth, which alfo came 
 topafs. We alio know, that fomctimes great pieces 
 of Iron have fallen down, not compad, but liicking 
 one part to another like drops. And alfo, every Bo- 
 dy knows, that Stones are caft down by Thunder 
 and Lightening, which Stones arc formed and con- 
 centrated by the Lightening, and fo have affuired the 
 Nature of a Stone ; for in the Lightening is hid a 
 very miraculous Property :, feeing that Lightening is 
 a fire of quite another Nature, than our common 
 Fire, which breaks in pieces all hard things which re- 
 lift, but toucheth not what maketh no rcliltance. It 
 hath very often happened, that the Lightening iiath 
 broken a Mans Bones, without hurting his flcfh. We 
 have alfo known, that it hath melted the Sword in 
 the Scabbard, and left the Scabbard whole. This 
 Stone generated by Lightening, hath quite another Na- 
 ture than common £toncs,forit is not tranfparentlikea 
 Pebble or Sand-Aone, which melt in the Fire. Nei- 
 ther iath it the Nature of tranfparent and hard Gems, 
 which do not melt in thchre, and yet keep their Lu- 
 lire, neither can the lire reduce it info Lime, as i: 
 doth a Chalk-ftone. In a word , it can be compa- 
 red with no Stone in the World. Its fliape is alfo 
 wonderful, for it is generally fiiarp at both endf, but 
 yet they are not all of one Figure or fhape, they 
 are generally fmooth en the outlide, and of a milky 
 Colour, and reddifti within. 1 have one which is 
 Triangular like a Star, and if you turn it, 'tis Ukc a 
 Heart, of which I never faw the like. I have alfo 
 one which is Cole-black, which is rough both within 
 and without, it is a wonder to me, that this Stone 
 will not firike fire with Steel, notwithllanding it is 
 generated by fire. We ma^ alfo by Art make Lighten- 
 ing out of Iron or Steel , in which alfo is generated 
 a lirangc Stone. The Thunderbolts love ail things 
 which are combudible, efpccially Gun- powder, for 
 the Lightening it felf proceeds from Jj///>fr<T and 
 Sulphur, and that is the rcafon, why it fo often flrikes 
 into Towers, where Gunpowder is kept, and alfo it 
 ufcth to llrike Old Oak Trees, which contain Sul- 
 phur znd Saltpeter, alfo upon Church Steeples, but fcl- 
 domer in the open Fields. I once faw in Germany, 
 where the Thunder had ftroke a Tower of Gi:n- 
 powder, and although it was fuur fquare, yet it run 
 fo about it, and took out apiece of Stonework all 
 round, as it it had been cut out with Tools, becaufe 
 it could no where find entrance. Strange things are 
 done by Lightning, it fometimcs killing the Horfe, 
 and not hurting his Rider, and again killing the Ri- 
 der, and not hurting the f^orfe, becaufe it is r,o com- 
 mon Fire , but a concentrated Metcorical fire : It hath 
 no rcfcmblance of the fire of the Sun, much ids of 
 our com,mon Fire, but our fccret Fire of the Chalde- 
 ans hath fome Agreement with it, becaufe it is made 
 of Iron or Steel, and Saltpeter : Therefore it canno: 
 be much uplikc the fire of Lightening, for that is alfo 
 
 general£<{ 
 
6^ 
 
 Of the fbree FIAE-STO^E S. 
 
 generated out of Sjllpfter concentrated, afiJ Sulphur. 
 Steel is concentrated Sulphur^ that hath alfo Power to 
 concentrate Saltpeter^ and Co to generate this n-.arvel- 
 lous Fire. The Mctcorical Thund'r-hie is a terrible 
 one, but mir Steel- fire is more wonderhil in its EfTencc 
 and Operation, as vvc fhall hccr by and by, for incre- 
 dible things are wrought by it, fo that even the Stone 
 of Philofophcrs, never fo well prepared, is not to be 
 compared wiih it. ,^ery, whether tiiis Thunderbolt 
 which is cad down by the Lightening be o* any Virtue, 
 or whether it be a dead and unprofitable Stone? lan- 
 fwcr : It hath been always reputed, that if a Thun- 
 derbolt be kept in any houfe or place, the Thunder 
 and Lightening will never ftrike into it. Whether this 
 be true, 1 cannot tell, yet this I know, that thofe who 
 Jiecp them clieem them highly , I my felf have one, 
 wliich I much elkem for its marvellous Figure, for 
 turn it which way you will, it always reprefcnts a Star 
 or a Heart. Many firange things are performed by 
 this Thunderbolt. 1 have feen feveral Forellers break 
 it into pieces of the bignefs of a Fea, which they put 
 into a Bullet-mold, hll'd up the ftlold with melted Lead, 
 and did believe, that they could not mifs any wild 
 Beaft at which they (hould fhoot if. I have alfo feen 
 fcme Souldiers make fuch Bullets, and formerly be- 
 lieved, that they could pierce any thing with them, 
 that otherwife they could not fhoot through. 1 have 
 alfo feen others, who have put pieces of this Stone 
 into the pummels of their Swords, and believed, that 
 this took away their Adverfaries Courage when they 
 ftiould encounter them, arid fo they might calily Con- 
 quer them. Thefe and the like things, I have feen 
 done with it. But whether this be fo or no, it is 
 probable that there fhould be ;\fome bcult Virtues 
 in thofe Stones. For feeing that all Stones, 
 are good for fomewhat , why fliould this marvel- 
 lous Thunderbolt only be good for nothing ?, Some 
 caufe Won.en in Labour to hold theFc Stones in 
 their hands, to facilitate their Labour ;, they alfo fay, 
 that it cncrcafeth Womens milk, if it be put into their 
 diink. Others put them into the hand to itop Blood. 
 If one could do any good with it, one might eafily, by 
 the help of a certain Magnet, attract a great nriany of 
 them from the Air, as you fhall hear anon. Nfow again, 
 to return fo our Fire and Fire-ftone, I affirm for truth, 
 that our fccrct Fire and Fireflonc, in its Eflence and 
 tfficacy, is more wonderful than the Metcorick Light- 
 ning and Thunderbolt. For our Fire doth not burn 
 or Flame, but when we wilt have it, otherwife it is 
 iike a dead Elack-flone, if you only keep the Air from 
 it, it will remain a Stone as long as you pleafe. If you 
 put it into a Glafs and flop it very clofe, and keep it 
 underwater never fo many years, it will flill remain 
 Fire, and not be hurt. For cur Chaldjkk^ Fire, when 
 once prepared, will not burn, but remain good for ever, 
 if you keep it from Air and Water. It is fuffidicntly 
 known, that the ancient Heathens put burning Lamps 
 into their \ auks, of whicii Lamps I have feen ma- 
 ny, that were digged out of Mines in Colen. Some 
 of thefe Lamps were found in fomc busying Vaults 
 burning, when thty we"^re firli opened, but as fbon as 
 the Air touched them went out. But our Cbjfdaicl{_ 
 Fire nmaii s dead, when kept clofc, and is kindled 
 by the Air I call it dead, but it is rather a dormant 
 Fire. This ourfecret Fire hath fo (Irangc a Property,, 
 that it is able at all times to atiradl:' Fire out of the 
 Air, not only in the hot Summer, but alfo in the cold 
 Winter Nii.\hts, when the Sun is fartheil off. By the 
 lulp of tliis lire, I believe, I could at certain times 
 lia,hc aCandlCj cither under or above tht Earth, The 
 
 Macrjbees fct their Sacrifice on Fire by this, and not 
 with common Wood, .or Coal, fire, as the Veibl Vir- 
 gins in Rome wtre forced to feed it.wFth Wood conti- 
 nually that it Hiight not go out i if by chance ornegledt 
 it went out, thofd Virgins were buried alive i in fo 
 great eik'cm, had the Jars and the Heathens, ti eir 
 Fires. 
 
 Now as for the ufe of our fecrct Fire, no Man rhay 
 be fo bold as to drfcovcr the Power thereof to the 
 World, for things incredible arc to be done by it, 
 which are better to be concealed, than made publitk: 
 Yet I willalirile touch at it. The fecret hire of it 
 felt is of no ufe in Phytick, but great Secrets may 
 be prepared by it, both in Medicine and A'.cbimy. 
 Fir/f, out of our h'cry Mafs may be drivm a living 
 Mercury of M.irs., which is the moft noble Subjedf to 
 prepare an extcnfive Tiniflure, both for Alcnand Pe- 
 tals, for of all Merctirics of Metals, this is the befL 
 When our Fire is melted into a thick water, atid this 
 fiery iVater poured upon a fubtil Calx of Gold, and 
 digefled with it, it will attract the yellow Colour from 
 the Gold, and leave it white, yet the Tinfture is not 
 yellow, but as green as Grafs, out of which an excel- 
 lent Medicine may be madei it is alfo profitable in 
 ^-llchimy.. For it is alfo of this Nature, that if you 
 put a Solution of Gold and Silver into it, they will be 
 joyned together without Ptecipitation, which is not 
 ufual to be done. One may alfo fquirt this fiery wa- 
 tei, by peculiar Springs, to a greatdifiance, and there- 
 by fire any Combuftible matter. If you will , you 
 may alfo fhoot this our Fire in a dry form, out of great 
 and fmall Guns, to fire any thing with it. I Believe, 
 that by the help of this, one might fire a great Canon 
 under water, by which you may fright Fifli up to the 
 Surface of the water in deep Ponds, fo that you may 
 catch them with (jnall Nets. One may alfo drive a- 
 way all hurtful wild Beatls, as Bears, Wolves, Foxes, 
 nay even Lyons, Tygei's and Dragons, out of the Wil- 
 dernefs. One may alfo drive away High-way-Men, 
 Murthcrcrsout of their Ambufcades, and catch them. 
 In a word, tnany firange things may be done with it, 
 which for certain Reafons I dare not mention. The 
 grcatefland the beli thing that may be done by this 
 fccrct Fire, is the preparing of the Mercury of Marty 
 as alfo after a Magnetical manner to draw the Lightn- 
 ing which way one pleafe. I have had this Fire now 
 for above twenty years, and durft not oWn that Iliad 
 fuch a thing, now I am near my end, I was willing 
 to let it be known, that there is fuch a Fire in Na- 
 ture- If I did not fear, that m.alicious Men would 
 abufe this fecret Wonder-fire, I would have been 
 plainer, but the time is not yet come for the doin^j 
 thofe great things, but when Elias the Jrii(i fliall 
 come, he. will not fear to make great Alterations frl 
 the World, by the help of this Fire. He will efla- 
 blifli much good, and abolifh all that is evil, but I 
 have faid enough of this at this time. I have indeed 
 told ycu here that it will be done, I do not dcfiri-, 
 neither (hall I live till it (hall come to pafs, for fuch 
 great Changes will not be made with cafe, but witli 
 great Zeal. God preferve the Pious, and fhcw tlier.i 
 a way over the Mountains, where they may live fe- 
 cure from this Ssdomitif}} Fire, /lme>i. 
 
 Of the Third fecret Fire., and the rvonderful Stano that 
 is engendered by it. 
 
 That pious Philofophcr Bafl Valentine, in his 
 Triumphant Chariot of ^ntiiiiony , teacheth, how t3 
 prepare aSrone by Diliillation a.nd*Rc<Sificaticn cuV 
 
Part IJI. 0/ the Three FI^E^STO 3\(^E S. 
 
 6< 
 
 of the piircft part of y^«//w;o>?y,and calls it t; e Sians cf 
 fire becaiifc this Sror.c is prepared by Fiit cut rf.fieiy 
 Subjefls: And alfo bccaufe it expelled) all Diftafes from 
 the Body of Man, and confumeth them as common 
 Fire doth Wood. He alfo faith, that this Fire-Hone 
 can tranfmute Silver into Gold, alihoigh in a fmall 
 quantity. The highly experienced Philofophcr llel- 
 »>/:)«/, makes mention of al i oil fuch a Stone, which 
 he faith, he faw in Kngtrnd with one Btitler, and 
 tells of wonderful things that the faid Bmler did with 
 it. Now by rcafon ot rr^y diligent fcarch into Na- 
 ture and the I'ltifing of God, fuch a Stone hath fallen 
 into my hands, with which lean do the fame things 
 in Phylickand Alchimy, which Bj/il Valentine afcribcs 
 .to his Fire ilone, and Hflmcnt to Butlers Stone: I 
 could not but leave to pofterity, that it is poilible to 
 prepare this Stone out of ^^ntimntiy. 1 he Art con- 
 lifts in this, that you firft bring the Antimony by Sub- 
 limation , Diftillation and Redification to the great 
 
 the Vices of the Throat, Mouth and Tongue, and faf- 
 ft-rs no uncleanncfs or fouinefs to abide thee. It is a 
 pitty to fee that no Phyfician hath a Remedy for the 
 Toothach,but cither pulling them out, or (lopping them 
 when hollow with A'->rM/ir/ij- or hot Oyls, which are in- 
 deed no CLirc : Now iorafmuch as this Difeafe troubled 
 Pcop.'eofall Ages, and few know any Remedy for it, I 
 think it neceffary to fet down a never failing Caie.'Yis 
 true, moli Toothachs may be put ort^by Purging, and 
 need not fo painful a Cure, as drawing. Out of Pity to 
 ihcfe, who are troubled with the Toothach from their 
 infancy, I here declare the Remedy. ly. Of our fire- 
 Uor)c,as much as a Pca,and put it into your Mouth, with 
 half a Spoonful of Wine, keep it in your Mouth as 
 long as you can, or fo long ti.l the Stone hath drawn 
 your Mouth full of Rheume, then fpit it out, and agaia 
 put the Stone into your Mouth, with as much Wine as 
 before, and keep it there till your Mouth is again 
 
 •> " ••" - f— • 1 ^"''^ with Rhume, then again fpit it out, and con- 
 
 eft Subtilty, and afterwards again concentrate this Hibtil tinue doing this fo long, till you have fpit out half a 
 Spirit into a hard Stone, which Stone when it is not Pint of Rhuemy Spittle, not reckoning the Wine. The 
 Hxed(beirig thenufeful in Medicinc)isofa reddilhCo- next day again draw out the fame quantity ^ do this 
 lour, and eahly melted, and penetrates all Bodies. But every Morning falling fo long, till no flimy rcatter> 
 if by it ynu would graduate Silver into Gold, you but onlv a clear inlipid water comes our, which is a 
 
 ; .. , ..„ .. j^ .._.« „...> „ _„._, J — - 
 
 muft firlt rix it, to abide the Cttpel^ but being once 
 fixed, it will not then perform in Medicine what it 
 would before. It is worth much more, when unfix- 
 ed to be ufed in Phyllck, than when it is iixed for 
 the tinging of Silver. For the health of Men is more 
 precious than Gold or Silver. And with an univerfal 
 Medicine, that will Cure all internal and external Di- 
 feafes, you may get Gold and Silver enough. 1 have 
 at this prefent time, but a very little of this Stone 
 left, but am refolvcd in a little time to make a good 
 quantity of it, that I may therewith ferve my fick 
 Neighbours. For it works firange things as you (hall 
 hereafter hear- This our Stone is fo powerful in its 
 working, that we dare not give it in fubftance, for one 
 Grain of it ferves for twenty Dofts or more, and each 
 cfthem hath power to expel from the Body whatfo- 
 cver is hurtful. This Medicine opens all ObftrutSi- 
 ons, and you (hall hardly find any other comparable 
 to it. Thebcft way to ufe it is to keep it whole, and 
 not to powder it, and then it is fit to be ufed both 
 inwardly and outwardly. If you will ufe it inwardly, 
 then put a few bits of it into a Glafs, and pour Spirit 
 of Wine upon it, in which a little Sugar is diifolvcd, 
 and fo let it iVand till you have occafion for it. If 
 you will purge any Body with it, you muft put a few 
 drops of it into a fpoonful of Wine or Beer, or any 
 other Liquor, and give it to the Patient, and order 
 him to be kept wann, then the Medicine w;ll work 
 in his Body, like fire upon Wood, and confume what- 
 ever impeded his health, and drive it out by all the 
 Emundories, I'/z. by Vcmit, Stool, Sweat, Urine and 
 Spitting, and leaves no impurity in the Body, and fo 
 it expels all Fevers and Agues, however diftinguiflied. 
 It alfo cures the Plague, Lcprofie, Gout the falling 
 Sickncfs in young and old. It takes away all obfiru- 
 dions of the Body, viz. of the Liver, Spleen, and 
 Lungs, it expels all ill Humours, contained in the Ca- 
 vity of the Ihorax and all other parts of the Body. 
 T his our Stone alio opens theObftruftions of the Me- 
 fcntety"', carries off all Slime, and Salt watry Humi- 
 difits. It cicanfeth the Stomach and Guts from all 
 pituitous and bilious S.'ime. It alfo draws all hurtful 
 Humours out of the Brain, takes away roifc in the 
 Fears, Comforts the hearing and fight, takes away 
 cvciy Toothach in a monnent , faftcns luofe 
 Teeth, and hinders their fouling- !t takes away all 
 
 certain fign that your Head and Brain is freed from 
 all fuperfluous Moillure. When this is done, for agreaf 
 while you will be free from all noxious Rhumes, ot 
 Saltdcfluxions, which fall from the Head to the Teeth, 
 and there caufe pain. This our Fire-ftone doth not 
 Only draw all noxious Humours from the Head, but 
 a'fo out of the Stomack, Lungs , Liver and Spleen, 
 and carries them out of the Body, by the Mouth, a^ 
 well or better than any common Purge. But if 'the 
 Body ftould be too full of ill Humours, fo that our 
 Fire-ftone, flhould not be able to draw them all out 
 that way, then you mufr take fome of it inwardly ex- 
 traded as before mentioned. But becaufe this cur 
 Stone is yet unfixed, and therefore fometime caufeth 
 Vomits, and fome are not able to bear Vomiting, there- 
 fore you may prevent it, by putting diftiUed Vinegar 
 with Sugar upon the Stone, iniiead of Brandy, and fo 
 extradit, and this Extraft will caufe no Vomits, but 
 only work by Stool : This is enough to be faid for the 
 Cure of the Toothach. But if Parents were fuffici- 
 ently knowing, and careful of their Children, they 
 might in their Childhood prevent the grcatcft part of 
 this Mifchef , by caufing them daily to wafh their 
 Mouths, and behind their Ears, with cold water. But 
 in thofe who are come to Maturity, our Fire-flone is 
 the beft of Remedies and never fails. It alfo cures 
 the Scurvy in the Mouth, when little hot Pimples ap- 
 pear, and the decay or waihing of the Gums. This 
 Stone being held in the Mouth with Wine, alfo pre- 
 fcrvcs Old Men from Apoplexies, Catarrhs, and the 
 like. Let this fuflke to be fpoken concerning the Vir- 
 tues of our Fire-fionc, in the curing of internal Di- 
 feafcs. But becaufe the Variety of Diftempers is great, 
 I will there fct down the true way of uling it, that 
 none may err in its Application. 
 
 Of the true ufe of this Medicine in Vifejfi, 
 
 In al? Fevers or Agues, let them be Quotidians, 
 Tertans orQtiartians, you muft always give our Me- 
 dicine two hours before the fit, and keep the Patient 
 from the cold Air. In the Plague, Fleurifie and other 
 hot_ Fevers, you muft not delay the ufing of this Me- 
 dicine, but as foon the Patient is taken, give him a 
 Dofe of our Medicine, let Jt work with him in a 
 warm Room. And if the Difeafe abate not, give him 
 
 R ths 
 
66 
 
 ~0f the Three FIRE-STONES. 
 
 tlie next day another Dcfe more or kfs, according to the I 
 condition of the Difeafe and the Patient. And you 
 muft beware of Bleeding, if the Patient be ihong e- 
 jiough to endure a Purge, but if the Patient (hould 
 not have fufficient firength, and yet the heat en- 
 creafe-, then you may abate the heat by taking away a 
 little Blood, but not too much, that the llrcngth may j 
 not be exhaulied with the Blood, and the evil yet re- 
 ffiain in his Body, 'for by Purging, only that which is 
 hurtful is expelled, and the good remains. 
 
 In the Epilcplic, you muft ufe this Medicine only 
 tverv other , or every Third day , as long as there 
 fliall be occaJTon. 
 
 In the Stone of the Kidneys and Bladder, once in 
 a Fortnight. 
 
 in the Dropllc, once a Week. 
 In the Cholick, once after you have ufed a Clyfter. 
 In the Lcproiie, once a Week. 
 In the Gout of all forts, once in three or four Days, 
 iinnl the pain is gone. 
 
 In Obftruiftions of the Lungs, Liver, Spleen and 
 Afefentcry^oncc or twice one alter another. 
 
 In the Venerea! Difeaff,you muft ufe it every Third 
 day, and Sweat between whiles, till the Difeafe is gone. 
 .In the Hyrocondrijcl^ Melancholy, Scurvy and the 
 like Ditlempers, which proceed from Salt and Chole- 
 rick Blood, you muft take a Dofe every Third day, 
 till the Difeafe is gone. 
 
 In all forts of Scabs and impurity of the Skin, which 
 proceed from wateiy B!ood, you muft take it once or 
 twice, and apply outwardly a fixed white Sulphur. 
 
 In the Dyfentery or Bloody Hux, ule it but once 
 and it flays the Flux. 
 
 Of the outivjrJ Vfc of our t'ire-Stone. 
 
 If our Antimonial Fire-ftone be boyled for fome 
 hours in Sallad-oyl, it draws out of it many Virtue?, 
 fo th?t being only outwardly applyed, it doth much 
 good inPhyfick. The Oyl becomes red in the boyl- 
 ing, and if it dcth not fo, it is a lign, that it hath 
 nyc been well boyled, but if it be well donc^ it will 
 
 do what I here fay. Firft, this Oyl is good to heal 
 all frefti Wounds, and old Sores, if you dip Pledgets 
 in it, and lav them thereon, and fo keep it from the 
 Air with a f'laifter of Wax. It alfo cures all Bruifes, 
 being anointed with it, or a Cloth dipt in it, and 
 laid over the Bruife. A little Cotton being dipt in it, 
 and applyed to the Navel with a Nutftiel, purgeth 
 thofe, who arc eafily moved, as well, as it they had 
 taken it inwardly : And if being fo applyed, it fhould 
 not work with Men, that are not ealily moved, you 
 may injeeT; a Dram of it Clyfterwife by a Syringe, and 
 then it will open the Body, and carry all flime and 
 filth from the Guts, and is certainly the beft Remedy 
 in the.World againft the Cholick. For it doth not on- 
 ly draw what is bad out of the thick Guts, as Cjy- 
 ftcrs do, but alfo out of the fmall Guts, yea even out of 
 the Stomach, to the ea.fe and admiration of the Patient. 
 This Oyl alfo applied to the Navel and Clyfterwife, im- 
 mediately helpsWomen,whoare troubled with theSuffo- 
 cation of the Matrix,for which Difeafe the World cannot 
 afford a betterRemedy.And without doubt thisOyI hath 
 many more Virtues than I yet know,but time will difco- 
 ver them ^ for I have not had it long, but am refolved 
 to have a good quantity of it made to ferve the Sick : 
 And no doubt, but in a(hort time this high Medicine 
 of the Stone and Oyl, will be known to all Europe. 
 For it will far outdoe the whole Galenkk^ Apparatus of 
 Medicine. Certainly thofe Phyficians, who ferve in 
 Armies, fliould not be without this incomparable Me- 
 dicine, which is of fo fmall Carriage, and doth fo great 
 things. For one Ounce of this will make at the 
 leaft a Toufand Dofcs, and fo by confequence many 
 may be cured by it. If every Chymrgian in an Army, 
 ftiould have but half an Ounce of this Stone, for in- 
 ward ufe, and fome Ounces of the Red Ealfome, for 
 outward ufe, the Lives of many Souldiers would be 
 faved, which for want of it muft dye. The threatning 
 of Armies is already over our Heads. God fend us 
 what is good for our Souls, and preferve the Pious 
 from evil. And fo we end this Book of the FirC' 
 ^ones. If it pleafe God, the Seventh part of the Pro- 
 fperity of Germany ftiall ftioitly follow. 
 
 De 
 
67 
 
 De Purgatono Pliilofophorum : 
 
 o R, 
 
 A TREATISE concerning the Purifying Fire 
 
 of the Wife Men. 
 
 ]f^itb "which, the PJjilofophcrs clean fe their Mineral*^ Animal, and Ve- 
 
 p-etable Suhjelhy and exalt them to the higbefl degree of Purity^ iH 
 ' order to prepare Llniverfal Medicaments from them, for the Bo^ 
 
 dies of Men and Metals, 
 Winch purgatory Fire is Called Yfopaica, hy the ancient Philofophers, 
 
 that is, to fiy, the Art of \vafloing with Fire. 
 ^07cther, mth a fuhjoyned inflruBion , Imv, by means of the Salt of 
 
 the JVorld, out of all Metals and Minerals, a living Mercury may 
 
 in miantity be prepared. 
 
 From the High-Dutch faithfully Tranflated into Englifh. 
 
 IF any wonder at the Title of this little Book, 
 let them know, it agrees very well with the 
 Matter it treats of, forafmuch as all things that 
 are cleanfed with Fire, may truly be faid to be 
 purified by means of a Purgatory. There aie indeed 
 bcfidcs this, many other ways of deanfing as by Wa- 
 ter, Lye, Soap, and other moid things i but that way 
 cannot properly be called a Purgatory, nor any other, 
 but what is done by Fire. I intend in this Book to 
 treat of three forts of Purgatories, viz.. Firft, of the 
 fecret flaming Purgatory, orcleanling Fire of the Phi- 
 lofophers, made of AkolUed Spirit ot Wine, where- 
 with they purifie the Souls of Vegetables, Animals and 
 Minerals, dignifying them thereby to enter their Hea- 
 ven. 
 
 The other Purgatory God makes ufe of, to purihe 
 bis dear Children here in this Vale of Mifery, to make 
 them abhor fin, and fit them, after many affliilions, 
 and torments endured, for a Tranflation with all 
 Saints, into his heavenly Kingdom, there to behold 
 his Face to all Eternity. 
 
 The Third Purgatory is,that of which the Chrijiijuj 
 of old have Writ, and is to this day fiill believed by the 
 Church of Ko;wr, viz. that the Souls of the deccafed, 
 whfn by the guilt of deadly fins, they are not im- 
 mediately funk down into the eteinal Hellifli Pams, 
 are in this Purgatory cleanfed of the pardonable fins 
 rhey have comn itted in this Life, and arc made wor- 
 thy to enter into eternal ]oy and Salvation. 
 
 Now what this Purgatory is, which no Perfon li- 
 ving' is able to give an experimental and true groun- 
 ded Account of, we will, ii it pkafcCod,a little en- 
 
 quire into, after that we have firft expofed to view,' 
 and unanfwerably afferted the truth of the two fore- 
 going Purgatories, which our eyes have feen, and our 
 hands have handled. 
 
 Concerning the Tirjt Purgatory, 
 
 The Firfi Pujgatory, or deanfing Fire of the Philo- 
 fophers, with which they prepare their Univcrfal and 
 particular Medicines for Cure of all Subjeds of the 
 the three Kingdoms of the World, hath been m.ofl care- 
 fully concealed by them. I have indeed formerly, of 
 Friendfliip and Goodwill, revealed this Fire, with its 
 mofi profitable life, to fome Perfons, by which means 
 others unworthy have began to perceive fbmething of 
 it, and ufed their utmofi endeavours to attain the full 
 knowledge of thi'? high Secret , and have fo far 
 fuccccdctJ, as tounderftand it in part, viz. the Ufe of 
 common Spirit of Wine, wiiich is a confidcrable in- 
 gredient of the faid Philofophick Purgatory Fire. 
 
 But after all their ferching, they never attained the 
 knowledge of the5j// of Art, by which the Spirit of 
 Wine is Alcolizfd.^ which is the beli and chief ingre- 
 dient of this Fire. Forafmuch then, as the Spirit of 
 V\ ine is thus known, and will probably yet further be 
 divulged i 1 have thought good to publiih it my felf, 
 and to communicate the Secret to all. But as for the 
 fecret Salt of Art, whereby the Spirit of Wine isacua- 
 .ted and fortified, and is the proper Agent for Meliora- 
 ting of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, and where- 
 by they are brought to the highcft degree of Purity, 
 none hitherto have been able to entice it from roe, 
 
 anj 
 
68 
 
 ^hc Purgatory of Philofoijt 
 
 )crs. 
 
 Part ilL^ 
 
 and 1 tiuftthat for time tn come 1 fliall b.^ n.urc cau- 
 tious of communicating ought to tallc and wi.ked 
 
 Men. . . „ ... f. .... , 
 
 Let no Man therefore imagine Spirit of W uie to be 
 the ftcret Fire cf Anephm, whereby fome Minerals 
 and Metals, without any foregoing ieparution ot the 
 pure from tiie impure,may without any dimmution of 
 their weight be changed into a mere pure Tindbare. 
 No in no wife, for no Spirit of Wine hath any fuch 
 power. But as for what llmple Spirit ot Wine is able 
 to perform, that we 'will here declare, and no more 
 at this time. I doubt not but many will pcrfuade 
 thcmfelvcs, that in having the Spirit of Wine, they 
 arc Mailers of the whole Secret ^ but that's a great 
 milbke, he that quellions it, kt W\m iczA ylrtefhiM, 
 ^ontnu'.i. and foine few others who write of it, and 
 lie will find that a fimple Spirit of Wine hath no re- 
 femblancc with the fire of Artephiiu. 
 
 For the Philofophers who write of it tell us, that 
 their Fire ails .« a proper Agent en its Patient^ ipith an 
 tirjifible Flame, owt inn A'^ equaHy in one and the jame 
 drrree, and at la{l changa h nito p»re Imcuire. Which 
 things cannot be faid of Spirit of Wine, which doth 
 Bot burn continually, equally, or invilibly, from 
 whence it is apparent, that Spirit of Wine is not the 
 Fire of Artephim-, nor can be compared with it. 
 
 Now what this Fire oi ^rtephm is, has bcenfuffi- 
 ciently declared by me, in my Treatifc of the Vneefo'd 
 Fire, and therefore unneceffary to write more of it 
 here. It remains only for me to declare, how Vege- 
 tables, Animals, and Minerals with the help of any 
 turning Spirit, not only that of W ine, but of Corn, 
 Honev Fruits, Leaves or Gra s may be moft highly 
 purified, and rednc'd to the Higheft Medicines 
 
 In my little Trcatife of t/AW the ^rtiji, I have 
 tnight at large how to bring tiie ElTences ct Metals, 
 Stones, Vegetables and Animals over the Helm, by 
 means of an Aleolifed Spirit of Wine, and to prepare 
 univerfai Medicaments from them, to which therefore 
 1 refer the Lover ot Art. 
 
 And will now proceed to declare, to how good pur- 
 pofe Spirit of Wine may be made ufe of in Phylick^ 
 We all know that in general there are but two ways of 
 
 viz-. IVater and Fire. Now 
 
 CI 
 
 Fi 
 
 The fecond thing which is conttanf, pcrmantnt, in* 
 corruptible and invincible is Truth, which cannot be 
 fuppr(.fs'd by any Lies or oppolition whatfocver , Op* 
 prtflcd (he may be, but not totally luppfclLcd ^ for 
 God himfclf is the Truth, and as God cannot be 
 overcome, fo neither can Truth. 
 
 The third and hft incorruptible fubjcd in the 
 World, is the Immortal Soul of Man; tor whaifoever 
 Aifliflions or Pcrfecutions a good Man fufftrs tVom 
 wicked Men, can not in tht leaft hurt liis Soul, but, 
 icrve oiily to purifie, exalt, and enoble it. The more'l 
 Gold fuffers in the Fire, the better and purer it be-' 
 comes, and as true it is, that the Soul by the adverfi- ' 
 ties of time, becomes refined and graduated to the 
 height of Purity, being by this Earthly Purgatory dig- ] 
 nihed and prepared for Eternal Glory. 
 
 But to return to our purpofe, which is to fhewthatj 
 the cleanHng of Vegetables, Animals and Minerals, 
 mult be performed by their own Purgatory, I'iz. a com- 
 mon burning Spirit. We will begin with Wine, as 
 being a very noble Creature, and fee what good thing 
 may be had from it, by means of its own Purgatory or 
 C leanfing Fire, which without it could never have 
 been brought to Light. 
 
 Now to fpcak fundamentally of this matter, we 
 muft firft of all know, that feveral different Spirits lie 
 hid in Wine, which alfo may feparately be diltill'd 
 from it. As in the firft place the known burning Spi- 
 rit •, next that Spirit which is diltill'd from Crude 
 Tartar., which is of a quite different nature from that 
 I which is diftill'd from Wine, or its Lees, which be- 
 ing kindled burns away in Flame, confuming all the 
 Sulphur., leaving nothing but theincombuftible Mercury 
 or EfTential Salt behind, and that in a very fmall quan- 
 tity, but of great Virtue ^ whereas the Spirit oilartar 
 which is dilHIl'd by Retort., rliough it be much more 
 fubtil and penetrative than the burning Spirit, yet will 
 not fuffcr it felf to be kindled or burnt away, being 
 othcrwife of great ufe in all Tattarcous Difeafes,and 
 obftruiftions of the Body. 
 
 There is alfo an Antinephrltical Spirit diflili'd from 
 the fixed Salt oi Tartar with dilUlPd Vinegar, which 
 afterwards fuffers it felf to be rublimed,and being di- 
 liilled yield a very ftrong Spirit, of which time doth 
 
 We will only, poin^ 
 
 clcanluig impure thirtgs, •»..»*, n, . 
 
 Water can only take away thofe defilements that are not permit to treat at prefent 
 
 outward and fuperficial, not being able to pierce to the out to you, by what means the moH^Xouou, Mercury 
 Center- whereas Fire docs not only purge the out- ! and EffentiahW/ of Winc, may moft eafily be obtained, 
 IkIc, but even that which is in-molt, feparating the ; and vi'hat great things may be perform'd by it in Phy- 
 impure for the pure, as Irath alread y been mention d. 
 We know alfo, that the Flame ot Fire can confur 
 
 ikk. 
 
 lume 
 iiothing but its like, wz- the Combuflible Sulphur, but 
 cannot confume the incombulhbk Mercury, nor de- 
 firoy burn, or annihilate it, the Flames lervingunly 
 to meliorate and exalt it. For the Mercury ot all things 
 can no way better be purged than by Fire, by which 
 though it he driven away, yet may always be found 
 again, as being incomburtible. , ^ , , 
 
 For Mercury is the belt and purcrt of the three 
 Principles, fcrafmuch as it cannot be hurtby any Ele 
 ments, not by the molV violent Fire, mucK lets de- 
 llroved, becaufc it is throughout Hemogcneal. _ 
 
 There are three things in the VNorld which be in- 
 corruDtible, the fitll ot which is the Mercury o Vc- 
 getabics, Animals and Minerals, which, when by its 
 Fnemy the Fire, it is tormented, and driven from its 
 Body..'lofeth none of its Virtues, but is only purified 
 thereby. This incombullible Soul of Vegetables, Ani- 
 . nuls and Minerals, 's one of thof'c three things in the 
 Woild, which are fixed, ccnllant, and unperilhable in 
 all- trials and conflids whatfoevcr. 
 
 5j. Of white Tartar well pulverifcd i /. Spirit of 
 Salt I /. and halt", mix thefe well together, and fill there- 
 with the fourth part o{ a Glafs Body, and pour on 5 /. 
 of Spirit of Wine, lute the head on imm.ediately, for 
 when thefe two Antagonifts, the Acid Crude 2<ir>jr, 
 and Urinous Salt of lartar meet, they furioufly attack 
 each other, and in their Conflict fend forth a very fub- 
 til Spirit, and a glorious EfTential Salt., which Mer- 
 cury the. Spirit of Wine when diftillcd carries over with 
 it. When now this Spirit of Wine being kindled burns, 
 away, the Mercury or moll pure Effential^.W/ isthcre-. 
 by bofened, and with the Flame goes over into the 
 Receiver, where it is caught of the Plilcf-m, from 
 which being fcparated by diliillation in a Vaporous 
 Bath 'tis fit for ufe. This C^eleaial Salt of Wine is 
 of wonderful Virtue, concerning which I have given a 
 full account in fome of my laO pub'ifhed Writings, 
 
 Its yirtucs are chiefly thefe i It has the Pr.remi- 
 nence of all Medicaments whatfocver, in curing the 
 Stone, Gout, and the 1 kc Tattarous Difcafes. More- 
 over 
 
Part III. 
 
 ~7.r thk tlcavctily Salt penetrat:? the wholt Body, 
 "''"MOb^nJlon,^ ftr.ngther.. the Heart, lirau,, 
 
 ? .Ik Indeed any ore may eaf.ly i r.ag.ne, that 
 aQ..mte(r.ne ot W.ne p^^_^^^ ,ft,dts, and 
 
 KrgS.d-'"t^ndsoraski..u,.hyiidan, 
 ct which more hereafter. _ 
 
 • -^;^ PuKgntorj of Fhilofcfhcrs, 
 
 6.0 
 
 , In this way we mdy calily, and in si Wafihcr'wfthoiiC 
 labour or any conJidcrabletharv'/s, prdcljrc a rufinlH^ 
 Afentiry troiti all Minerals end Mttals ■, which Wtv- 
 cur^ of Morals fiifRrs it ftlt altcrwards to be fixed info 
 a true Tincture tor Men and .Vctals, by hicans of its 
 proper Agent aiid Secret ever-burning Fire, and this 
 caliiy without any lufs of weight, which cannot be 
 cxpccifed troTi a common Mercury^ and fhcrctorc wc 
 
 b 
 S 
 w 
 
 \ which more """""•. ^^ ^^3^5 of its own I mu(t be provided of a Metallick Mercury if we woufcl 
 
 Furthermore ,''°'" Separated an excellent Volatile do this feat. A/.^/, Vo.w, and M.r<-«rv are the he(i 
 
 lUtning J^piii^ ^ > Din'olve the Oyl of Wine, amongli the meaner Metals for this piirpofe, as yicld- 
 
 1 j/f, alter this manner. A,r.ntT ina the UpW Merrur„. Unt fhp Mr.urii nf Sol and /.a^J 
 
 f 'uf "^•r>!L'fion"ireot cuVof the Lees in a ftrong ing the belt Mercury, but the M:rc„rhi of Sol and A«/»^ 
 
 huh by d ihllatu."^^ 
 
 tVurrm^ok kiidle ihe Spirit of SVinc 
 
 £r^-Scrs;^t^SY?F^ 
 
 verv powerful. Volatile Sail may be obtained, by burn- 
 ^ -^ ^Iv rl& fiid Oyl with a burning Spirit, which 
 vi ik si ^' hof' Purging Flames lofeth its loath- 
 
 fom tell, an'd may be -^^f^^i,^/'^^''"'^ '' 
 that before mentioned prepared tt6m Wine 
 
 According to this method ot obtaining the Mtcury 
 
 are the bell of all.' And it is a thins; that dcferves our 
 wonder, that from fuch Compadf Bodies, as thofe 
 Homogeneal Metals arc, 'vhich arc accounted indivi- 
 lible, a Volatile Mer<ury (liould be fcparatcd. Indeed 
 had 1 not done it my iclf, I fliould hardly have beela 
 peifuadcd of its polFibility. Refufcitative Satis afe 
 the only means to effect this Wonder, and whofievdr 
 knows in due manner to appiv them to Metals, to'hini 
 it is an ealie thing, yea, Childrens play, in one days 
 time, without toil or labour, to fcparare a running 
 Mercury from all Metals and Minerals. There is one 
 only Salt in the World , which has a power above 
 others to revivitie Metals, cofls nothing, and is every 
 where to be had in abundance : Tliis contemptible 
 
 r. ,. .1 - ni_:T-r„_u.^. I ^i •.' 'i ^J r,.,:_l 
 
 According to this rretnoam^^^^^ ^^^5^ ^^^^^^^^^j^y^ ,he -Philofophers have always concealed, faying. 
 t)f Wine, we may p jj-combuitible Mercury, by that // U caji out upon Vunghih, and m muzh btUied of 
 Wnmg away their Oy s, wttn i _ , , _ . . _ . 
 
 S^^tlb; which means the volatile ^r^rv 
 
 ''?"is^to te obfervM, that all OyU diaillM from 
 
 Herbs whofe flowets tefemble Stars, do Y'^ld more 
 
 ■VrT \ ^Jt than the diftill'd Oyl of other Herbs. 
 
 iThef the? Vlcb cannot be had fre(h and green ^e 
 
 mav take their Seeds, which yield more 0^1 and Vo- 
 
 f ^y c /, than tht Herbs themfelves. In like manner 
 
 ,! n udiftiU'd from Seeds, afford more Volatile Suit 
 
 all Oyls, ^'fi^"^j^';°^forc'd frbmRoots, Stalks, Leaves 
 
 '^'V I The Seed a ways abounding with more Vo- 
 
 TTsalt than any othe/patt of the Vegetable •, and 
 
 rh bfcauf^^God hath placed the growing and rr^ultt- 
 tha became uo r ^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ 
 
 p ymg ^'"^"^^ t^^';Sv feparable for the ufe and fer- 
 ^Ifo the Gime ts ^^ ;^^^^^^ Seeds of Annis, Fen- 
 
 ^ Difcarway! Cumin,' CrefTes, Scurvy graft and 
 ^irU^S XLcrlme^^^^^^^^^^^ Superfl.ou. Ege- 
 
 ^''.of Bfafls n^Birds, as alfo their Feather., do 
 
 "f A Tth Voktile Salt. Amongft thefe we may 
 abound with volatile ^^^ ^^^.^g,^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 f " a"kin.o?of any of thefe is burnt away, the re- 
 
 t^intgElSlI^''-^ 
 
 , ^ onri the Patient s help and eafe. 
 
 ,ow«r'"i. ■ fo H-^-* ^o.^.. di«mM o,U;f sp. 
 
 In this Salt greater fccrets lie hid, than in the SaU 
 of Art before mentioned, which cannot be had with- 
 out toil and labour •, but this our more fccret Refufci- 
 tative Salt of Ar-t doih far eXctll that, for it not only 
 exalts and tfiultiplies the colours of .W and hum as 
 Well as that, but alfo radically opens all Metalline Sub- 
 je<fts whatfoever, fcparating their pureft Mercury from 
 the gxoisf^cef, and brings it over with it felf, whidi 
 no other Salt in the World can do. There are indeed 
 fome other Saltr to be found, which in fome degree dp 
 refufcitate Metals, and feparate a running Mercury, as 
 Salt of 7artar,Vrine,3nd the like, but are not compa- 
 rable with our refufcitative 5.i/* of Ait, which, for all 
 them, continues the nndoubted Monarch over all S<7.'</. 
 There are very few to be found, whoafc able witH fo 
 much eafe and little charge to feparate a running Mer- 
 cury in quantity from Metals, and fix the fame into a 
 triie Tindl.dre. W herefore we fliould make it our bu- 
 Hnefs fo crtquire into the nature of Salts, and learn to 
 know their feveral ufes , becaufe in Salts great good 
 lies hid', which few believe or apprehend. Plato ii]- 
 deed was' of opinion, that fomething Divine was con- 
 tain'd in our common Salt; and other.Philofophcis 
 have not iluck to fay, that in the Sun and Salt is Al'. 
 He that doth not know what Fire and 5j// arc,. kncv\9 
 nothing, arid defervesjiot the name of i Philcfp- 
 
 pher. •.•.>. 
 
 And thns much fhair fufficc cortcefrimg Fire arid 
 Salt, and the great things that niay beperforrhed by 
 them. He therefore who dJlrcs to apprpikrc himftlf 
 
 ces> as well as thofe made ^V E-P'^«^°^" ^^^^^anTt^f la^ood Ph^fici'afi or Chymift, let h\tu ftudV the naturc 
 excWt volatile 5-./J being bu.r^.ta,vay,^ by m^^^^^^^ J^ ^^^^ ^^^V^^^^ ^^ diftingu,fh,;hcm, for 
 
 a burning Sp.rK,J_Jted^^^»J^^^^^^ 
 
 1 ■rl^^l-otherSu^cOs^^.u^c^^sn.^^ ^^^ ^^ ,^.^ ^ , Pa^^.tbty, a^ 
 
 and yet yield a better Salt tl^n any Sp. as whgo | ^^^^ phii.fophers by means th,!re^r j>crfoxm- 
 
 for Minerals and Metals w|ien ^..fj^ ' ^T^^ thctr greateft Arcana. y.r.a.r/r«r alone. 'ihe Mo- 
 
 Ihey are brought into a 1 rong Spin of n e, V^ld a 1 d t^ . g ^ ,^.^^ , ^^ ^ ^^.^, ^^^,^^^ 
 
 much better ^^-«••>■^^'^"^';JV^c^,l ' e^^^^^^^ when, treating of the Element of Tire, in hi. 
 
 gaab'cs are concentred , ^'^J,'^°^^^,?g"' ,\, Ij fcalcj ' L'Ook of Sulphur, he faith, That if a Phy fTcian have 
 Efficacious than any Vegetable 5.'/ a£au^,« all U.tqlc, l;^^^^";^^^^^,/,..^ ^^^^^^^ ^,^ J ^,^^^,^j ^f j i,, f,,^ S«/- 
 
 whethcr of Men or Metals. ■ •^ c */,-. 
 
 fbrir^ 
 
70 
 
 ne Purgatory of Philofophers. 
 
 fhur^ he is not a Phyfician , but a- 
 
 .^■^S^^^he 
 
 O my 
 
 dear Paracelfus, thou art not to be blamed for thy Ita- 
 Jous inveighing againft thofe Lazy Lubbards, and if 
 thy words be Authentick, 'tis to be feared that fcafce 
 one good Phyfician will be found in all Cermany^ for- 
 afmuch as the Element of hire oi Sulphur is utterly 
 unknown. But this cannot be faid, for that befides 
 this Element of Fire, there be feveral other good Me- 
 dicaments a thyiician tnay prepare. Yet forafmuch as 
 I have writ fomewhat of it here, I hope it may ftir 
 up fome to fearch after it, and fo learn to prepare theit 
 Medicines by Fire i becaufe whatfoevcr can without 
 hurt or lofs abide the Fire, the fame mnrt needs be 
 very pure and good. | 
 
 'David to this purpofe gives us a fimilitude of !.««-*> 
 ivhich muft fometimes pafs the Fire, before it attain 
 its utmoft purity. This art of cleanfing things with 
 Fire, was by the Philofophers of old termed tfofaka, 
 of which fee Psracelfm. 
 
 It is to admired, that how black or fmutty foever 
 any thing be, after it is wafli'd by Fire, it becomes 
 fnow white j which the MercnryAtx^tn by Fire from 
 black Sulphur and Mart^ is alone a fufficient proof of, 
 in which whitenefs the faireft Red lies hid. That 
 Tfopaica^ cr the Art of Waihing with Fire, and there- 
 by changing Black to White, was in ufe amongAthe 
 Ancients, feems probable from David's words, when 
 he cries to God » Purge me rvitb Hyfop, and I jhaU he 
 ctean^ wajh me., and I JhaU be whiter thenfnoTp: David 
 here defircs nothing elfe, than to have his Soul, which 
 le black by Sin, wafhed and purged by the Fire 
 
 the Holy Ghoft, and therefore by wayof Compa- 
 rifon he mentions Tfopaica^ or the Art of Walhing 
 black things white by Fire. In a word, this Art of 
 Waihing things fnow-white by a Philofophical Purga- 
 tory Flame, appears to be th^ head skill of Philofophy, 
 Phyfick and Alchimy. 
 
 And forafmuch as I have here made mention of 
 7fopaica^ I hope I (ball not be thought tedious, if I 
 fct down fome more indances of cleaniing black and 
 Impure things by Fire. For feeing this excellent and 
 incomparable Art has for fome hundred years been in 
 a manner wholly loft, Paracelfut being the fiift that 
 hath renewed the knowledge of It, 1 have thought 
 good at prcfent to reftore this Royal Art to its former 
 luftre and glory, wherewith it flione forth in the 
 Schools of the Kings of Egypt^ where thofe of the 
 Blood Royal were taught and inftrufted in the fame. 
 In which Schools Mofet alfo ( as being the Adopted 
 Son of Pharaoh's Daughter ; had his Education, be- 
 ing there inftru(aed in all the Wifdom and Skill of the 
 Egyptian/. 
 
 Jn thofe times this Tfopaica^ or Art of Wafting with 
 Fire was in great cfteem and flouriftied, which was 
 the caufe of the great Riches and PuiiTance of the 
 Egyptians, <vhich continued till the Monarchy was 
 madefubjed to the Romans ^ and yet even then, be- 
 ing Poffefl^ors of Tfopaica and Chryfopeia^ they foon 
 put themfelves into a condition again of difputing 
 their Liberty with the Romans^ and rebelled againft 
 them i and though by the prevailing Power of the 
 Romans they were ftill overcome, yet did they often 
 reiterate their Revolt \ until at laft the Emperor Dio- 
 detian being informed that their Art of Chymiftry 
 was their inexhauftible Treafure, which ftill encou- 
 raged them to rebell, fcnt a great Army amongft 
 them, with Orders to Ranfack all Places for Books 
 treating of that Art, and commit them to the Flames i 
 which done, they quietly afterwards endured the Ro- 
 man Toak, which before, on every occalion, they were 
 
 ready to fiiakc off. By the fafne means alfo. the faid 
 Art has been as it were totally loli. which I am not 
 without hopes to reftore again, and if Death fhould 
 chance to prevent me, yet will it affuredly be done 
 after my Death by EI'm the Artifi. I have indeed al- 
 ready in fome of my hli Treatifes fo plainly writ of 
 this Art, that any one, who is any thing skilful in the 
 Fire, may become Mafter of the Art. 
 
 To return then to Ijopjica, I fay, I have already 
 communicated the ufe of a Burning Spirit, by means 
 whereof all liinking, impure. Vegetable, Animal, and 
 eafiiy inflamable Mineral Subjeds, may be wafhed to 
 the higheft degree of Purity, with which great things 
 may be performed, efpeclally in Phyfick, and fuch as 
 are impoiUble to be done by any known way. Indeed 
 by this alone moft profitable difcovery, I have difco- 
 vered a new World of Art, which for fo many hun- 
 dred years has been unknown ; and I doubt not, but 
 this way of wafhing with Fire will (erve for a flilning 
 Light to lead Phyficians to the true Spagyrical Phy- 
 fick. 
 
 Thus much fliall fuflfice to have fpoken concerning 
 the moiA fiery wafliingby means of a Burning Spirit ^ 
 it remains now to declare in vihat manner the Com- 
 pa^eft Metals,and Precious as well as Common Stones, 
 may by a dry cleanfing Fire be meliorated. For a 
 Spirit of Wine is much too weak to pieitc the Bodies 
 of Compadl Metals, and to wafti them to a pcrfeft 
 cleannefs j wherefore we are to look out for a ftrongec 
 Wafli-Fire, which may be aBIc to Mafter the fixt as 
 well as unfixt Metals. Now Art hands to us a certain 
 dry Waih-FIre, wherewith the Ancients meliorated 
 all Metals and Stones -, but this dry Fire has' never been 
 publifhed, neithet know I any Author that hath writ 
 plainly of it, fave only Paracelpu in his Ccelum Fhila- 
 jfhpborMm, where fpeaking of Mercury, he defct'ibes this 
 flaming Wa(h-Fire,w«.9^.0fT'jr<<ir part 'yiSutpkttr p.ij. 
 Nitre p. ilj. being well mixed together, ufe them. 
 Paracelfm calls this Compofition a good fluxing Pow- 
 der ■■> but hints at other things, as appears by thofe 
 words he places before the t)e(ctlptlon of the (aid Ful- 
 minating Powder, 2«z.. Pttlvis adole Verbenat, which 
 words conceal a great Myflcry, as Will prcfently ap- 
 pear. 
 
 The Compofition of Taraetlfm may be meliorated 
 by taking only one part of Sulphur^ Tartar ij. and 
 Nitre iij. and is a very good Wafii-Fire. There be 
 alfo many more and better Wafli-Fires for to Purific 
 and exalt A^etals, of which we (hall hear anon. FoK 
 lows now the ufe of the forefaid Wa(h-Flre. 
 
 And firft it is to be obfcrved, that to the end this 
 Fire may have the better effeft, the Ingredients muft 
 be pure, dry, and very well poudred, for by how 
 much purer the Ingredients be, the ftronger is the 
 Fire. When therefore we have a mind to wa(h any 
 Metal therewith , fuppofe impure Sol or Lttna , we 
 muft file the fame very fmall, and then mixing three or 
 four parts of the faid Powder with if in a Crucible, 
 kindle the mixture with a red-hot Coal, and the 
 Flame thence arifing will confume all the impurities 
 of the Metal, or feparate them as drofs, the pure Me- 
 tals finking as a Regulus to the bottom. And If the 
 Operation be duly performed, the Regulm will be as 
 fine as if it had pafs'd the Cupel. 
 
 If we defire yet further to increafe the ftrcngth of 
 this Fulmen or Wa(h-Fire, we may take inftead of 
 Tartar half the quantity of the Saw-duft of dry Lime- 
 tree, which affords a much ftrongcr Flame than Tartar^ 
 and confequently better purges im.pure Metals. With 
 this ftrofig Fire we may in a moment puritie a fmall 
 
 quantity 
 
77;^ Purgatory of Philojophers, 
 
 71 
 
 quantity of Sol or Luna if we pleafc, in a Nutfhcl •, 
 which I do'nt mention hetc as a thing of Protit, but 
 only of Curiofity, and to fliew the force of this Fire. 
 
 N. B. If we defiie tomakeufeof this VVa(h-Firc to 
 Profit, we muft not take a Common Niire or Sulphur^ 
 but fuch a Sulpbur as burns falter than the Common, 
 and the Nitre ttiuft be puriHed, whctcbf tnore here- 
 after. 
 
 A Good Fulmen or pewerful clean/ing Fire for to fi$- 
 rijie the Commtn Mercui^y, fo m after^^ardt it may 
 be eafily fixed. 
 
 Wc are to know, that the Common Mercury con- 
 tains in it felf an extraordinary fiery Spirit, which 
 hinders it from being a Compad Metal, and Jteeps it 
 in continual Flux like a Molten Metal, and makes it fo 
 difficult a work to fix it : Now if we can but extin- 
 gui(h this Fire in him, he'l be caHIy reducible to a 
 Compart Metallick Body. 
 
 It is notorious, that always a greater Flame over- 
 comes and fwallows up the leflcr ^ to extinguifli there- 
 fore this Fire in Mercury^ we cannot do better, than 
 make ufe of a ftrong Fulmen,which/'<»rjff/y»f hints with 
 thofe words, fulvii Adole VerbtHM, as if he had fald, 
 Go Fulmen and burn the Wings of thdt Volatil Bird, 
 that he may flic no more. But the Fulmen he there 
 defcribes will not do it, a Wronger muft be made ufe 
 of in that cafe. ,Tq this purpofe I have ftiade many 
 (trials in my Youth, but have found none bettet than 
 the Fulmen of Jupiter^ Vihkh takes as follows. 
 
 ^f. Of Crude Mercftry and fine Jupiter each j 1. 
 tnelt the Jupiter in a Crucible, and \yhen it begins to 
 cool, pour the Merely upon it, and the heated Ju' 
 pittr will take to it felf the Mercury^ ahd become an 
 Amalgama, which Amalgama muft with dry and pu- 
 lified Nitre be ground upon a Stone. This donegi. 
 of the ftrong Fluxing Powder abovefaid, the fa<ne 
 quantity as the Amalgam* and Nitre^ and grind them 
 well together, and then the Mixture is ready for 
 kindling. But the Operation muft be performed In the 
 open Air, where the Wind may carry away the poifo- 
 rous Fumes. The Mixture may be put into a ftrong 
 Earthen Pot, and after Detonation, there will remain 
 a Mafs difGcult to Flux, which being Cupell'd, and 
 feparated by -^q. Fort, affords a cenflderable quantity of 
 Sol and Lnna^ abundantly recompenflng the coft and 
 labour of the Operation. After that the Mixture is 
 kindled, the Matter muft be often ftirred with a red- 
 hot Iron, to the end that no part may remain unkindlcd, 
 but that the whole Mafs may be red-hot throughout. 
 
 Another Fulmen to graduate Venus into Lona. 
 
 5i. Of the f6refaid Fluxing Powder o( Sulphur, lat 
 ^jrand Nifrf,and grind with it iv OunieS ofMercuryof 
 Luna, and lay the fame weight of thin Plates of Veniu 
 SSS. with your foi'cfaid Compofition, kindle the Mais, 
 and the proceedingFlames will graduate fome part of the 
 Venui into good and fix Luna with confiderabie profit, 
 the Operation being rightly perfofn-ed. With the 
 fame Fulmen, S tnay be graduated into o, and for- 
 afmuch as it doth not melt, it's better than Veuus for this 
 way of working j Needles are beft for this purpofe. 
 
 Another Rapid Fulmen ebtnging Iron and Steel intt 
 Caod Gold. 
 
 IJj. Ofthe abovefaid Fluxing Powder, iv or V ^,. mix 
 with it j ^, or half an Ouhcc of Aurum Fulminans pre- 
 cipitated from the Aqua Regia, not with Sa/t of Tartar, 
 but tvith Salt of Vrine ^ with this Fulmen and Steel 
 Needles make SSS. in a Crucible. Let not the Needles 
 be above j § weight, clfe the Fulmen will not be able 
 to graduate them wholly into Sol. This Procefs well 
 managed affords a good increafc of Sol. It is alfo no 
 contemptible Curiofity to fee Needles chang'd to5o/, 
 their priftine form remditiing. I took once 20 or 30 
 Needles, which I put with their points up to the midft 
 in the faid Fulmen, their upper hilves remaining un- 
 touch'd by it » and after Fulmination took out the 
 Needles, the lower part of which was pure Sol, the 
 upper continuing Iron, which I diftributed amongft 
 my Friends and Lovers of Art fcr a femembrancc 
 The fame may be petformed with Nails. 
 
 Now though ill this Gradation of <J there be no 
 very great Profit, yet ileither is there any lofi i and bc- 
 Gdes the Curiofity of it, is a convincing demonftra- 
 tion that (J without dc^ofing any Ttneftreity, may 
 have it^s whole Body changed into Sol, 
 
 N. B. The remaining Fulmen may with a little Nitre 
 be melted down to a Kegulm,^ by which means the 
 Sol is recover'd, and fo we have our graduated Needles 
 for nothing. 
 
 N. 6. When we have a mind to make ufe of the 
 Fulmen of 0, w^e had beft place the Crucible, in 
 which the Fulmen and Mars is, in a large glafed Ear- 
 then Veffel, and as fboh as it is Rindled cover the 
 Crucible, that the Fulmen may not fly abroad, or if 
 any does, it may ftick to the fides of the Pot, whicH 
 being wiped off with a Feather, may be reduced with 
 the remaii}ing Fulmtn in the Crucible, that there may 
 be no lofs. 
 
 N. B. It happens fometimes , when too great a 
 quantity of $ is taken to be graduated to o, and 
 the Flame too fttong, thit the Needles melt into one, 
 efpecially if they be laid too clofe together. 
 
 N. B. In Cafe, the Needles fkould not in the firft 
 Fulmination be wholly changed to 0, the Work may 
 be repeated with freOi fluxing Powder. And if any 
 one defires more Profit frond this Operation, let him 
 mix fome of tht Amalgatnaoi n. and 5 with the Gol- 
 den Fulmen , and Fulmina'te with the fame Needle*, 
 or thin Iron Wier, by which means the 5 will better 
 diffufethe graduating o, or Spirit throughout the ^1 
 and fo more of it becomes changed iiito o. 
 
 N. B. He that would draw confiderabie Profit 
 ffom this Operation) had beft perform it in a clofe 
 earthen Veffel, with a large Recipient fitted to it, for 
 to catch the 5, which may be ufed again, by which 
 means that gain will be more. 
 
 N. B. For to make this Work yet more gainful, 
 we may inftead of the mix with the Fulmen of i^ 
 and 5, fome fine powdred Red, Brown, or black Peb- 
 bles, which are found in running Water, and break 
 as fmooth as Glafs, and contain much Volatile ©, 
 grinding thetn well together. This Fulmen when kind, 
 led, drives the Volatile © out of the Pebbles, and be- 
 ing received by 2; and 5 is fixed by them, by which 
 means much o and D maybe had out of i;- J and 6. 
 Out of thcfe Pebbles with AquaKegis much O itiay 
 be extrafted, and tho' the O in them be Volatile, yet 
 partly by means of the Aqua Regis, and partly by 
 being precipitated with the Mercwial v out of u i 
 and by Rcdu(^ion it is fiscd : Conciining which f 
 
 ha\fc 
 
/ 
 
 ^e PargatGry of Philofophcrs, 
 
 Part lit. 
 
 lave largely treated in the Seventh Part of the Pro- 
 ffcrity of Geniufty. 
 
 N. B. To work on tlicfc Pcl)h!es with more Proht, 
 we may vvhcn rcduad lo fine Powder, extraift them 
 with V in which conmion Salt has been ui(rolvcd,to 
 which Extxaflion (which will be ot a very high Co- 
 lour) we mu(\ add feme of the Refufciiative Salt of 
 tlic WotlJ, every where to be found, and then ab- 
 Urad the Solvent from the Extrad, by which means 
 the Rcfufoitative Salt will make O inore Volatile, and 
 fcparating it from the fixer Part, bring it over the 
 Helm, in form of a yellow Liquor, which when mor- 
 tified hv[^lixiiiiim, and reduced to a dry,0, if then 
 it be driven through a Retort, you will find arunning 
 V Sol in the Recipient, in fmall quantity indeed, but 
 of great Virtuei which Ly the Fire of Artefhms may 
 eafily be fixed into an Univeifal Tindure for Men 
 and Metals. A Lixivium may afterwards be poured 
 on the remaining Extradf, lor to mortific the Cnrro- 
 llve Spirits, and then dialed by Retort, it will yield 
 fomc more Mercurial o . As for the fixt © which was 
 in the Pebbles, the fame ma.y bc; eafily rcduced,and will 
 he good O,' tbo' fomewhat pale Coloured, the Salt ot 
 the World having carried fome part of the Colour 
 
 over with the t^. v , , • 
 
 N. B. Oi^r ,|lefufcitativc Salt o£ the World is a 
 very wonderful 6'j//. for when joyned with the dif 
 folved 0, it not only brings over arunning^, but 
 part of the Colour of O wit|i it, wherefore alfo the faid 
 MercHrhl affprds a raoft glorious Medicine, when 
 duely fixei. In the fame manner you may get a tinging 
 ^ from .}), bu't rpuch bcttcr^snd caficr from a D, which 
 lies Volatile in its own Mairijc, and has never tou- 
 ched the Fire. 
 
 Af. B. Buuhis Mfrcrttij/ Sdoth not tinge into o,but 
 only into l'. In the fame way'^^/i may be driven from 
 all Metals, and in confiderable quantity. They ot S 
 and ^ are the beft ; thof^of V, H- and l>,are good 
 alfo, but not fo high coloux'd as that of <? which is 
 the bcli. Now to make 9 of S , we need not dif- 
 folve common <? , and thence with Salto( the World 
 drive a y •, but it is better tq.takelron-ftoncs, which 
 have ncvey touch'd the Fire , and having extradted 
 them, add- to them fome.of the, Refufciutive 5^// of 
 the World,, which then tliitill'il will yield more 9 
 than commori 5 • In Jrke manner much more 9 may 
 be had froa> ^, J^ and/^Vf^n/tben from the Metals 
 
 themfches. . ,/.; i,.- ...•.,■ , 
 
 I reaicmbcic, that, in noy..youthful years,^ I laboured 
 two years coiKJnualiy witii aP^.rfon oi high quality, 
 to obtain a ^;af .b, we try ed all manner ot ways but 
 got nothing.; VVhether.itj was;for want of Experi- 
 ence, or that the Procefsi given us was not true, or 
 bccaufe Ood did riot fee it fit for us, I know not : But 
 this I know, that we had _n0i knowledge of the uni- 
 verfal Refufcitative Salt of the. World, makiqg ufe on- 
 ly of common S. Armon^ and its Volatile Spirit. 
 
 I have, in the. Seventh Partof ttiy Pharmjcepxij Spj- 
 ^■yrica^ taught a vi^y to di;aw a running y, from Me- 
 Vals, .hur.jfl fmall quantity, >yhcrcasby means of this 
 S4t of iUi(e World, mueh more is obtained. I lay 
 therefore ^.that if from my laft publillied Writings, 
 Men. canni.t .difcover the v\^3y of making; the Mercu- 
 ries ai Metals in good quantity,, it will be align tome, 
 that. Gcdw.iil not pcriiiit it, hawing plainly tct down 
 CAJXty tlung;, ;cxccpt the Refufcitative Salt of the 
 
 "Wprld-.i;^ L-r. j-. ••' *■ i ■ .■•.:.": '., • 
 
 ' An<iiT:g§\^riy again,-thajj tl?efaid.^j/«,i?,-np; where 
 
 te befil4,^<fi?<!? enough may be had tor not.hing'v God 
 ,rriuUiie7C3J h^ for Men will hardly do it- I'c is a 
 
 mere Gift of God to know this Salt and irs Ufe. 
 lurba faith concerriing it : JfGadtud >iot created this 
 Salt , // were impnfjible to perfccl our h/mr. From 
 whence we may fee, it is no Salt prepared by Art, 
 nor made with hands, but created ol God of nothing. 
 Confidcr v.'cU what is here faid, and you'l rind Won- 
 ders. CJmopolitj fpeaks after this manner of this 
 Salt, viz. Nature affords US a Chalybs , xvhich can 
 from the Rajs of the Sun extract that^ which many have 
 foui^ht and rot foitud. 
 
 Other Philofophers fpeak of this Salt In thefe 
 Words: 'Ihs Spirit and Salt of the IVorld^ bring the 
 Souls of the dead out of Hell. What is this Hell, but 
 a Stygian Water, wherein we diflblve Metals, and af- 
 ter draw forth their Souls with the Salt of the World. 
 Of which Spirit and Salt of the World, Nuifement 
 hath writ a curious Treatife. I fay therefore, that he 
 who underftands the due jway of applying this Salt^ 
 for drawing the y of Metals, has obtained the greateft 
 Secret in the World,the faid 5 being eafily fixable into a 
 true Tinfture. 
 
 I have known feveral, who could fix the 5 of ^' 
 and I prepared by others into Tindlures, but could 
 not prepare the Mercuries themfelves : And to tliis 
 day, I do not know one Man that can bring a rnn- 
 ning 5 from Metals, tho' I have communicated the 
 way of making the faid 5 to many, as it Is fet down 
 in the Seventh Part of my Fbarmacopxia Spagirica : But 
 feeing fo fmall a quantity prepared that way , they 
 Itt it drop. It had been well, they could have been 
 fatisfied with that : But Men generally are of fugh a 
 Humour •, that if they cannot have dll without Toy! 
 or Labour, they prefently defpond and give over j but 
 they that perfevere to the end fliall obtain the Crown 
 of Honour. 
 
 Thus much (hall fuffice, by way of Parenthpfis^ 
 concerning preparing the Mercuries of Metals in great 
 quantity, by meanS of our Refufcitative 5^/* of the 
 World. 
 
 Let us now return to our dry-wafli-Fire, and feif, 
 what further may be done with it. We know, that 
 with a Rapid and violent Flame, the Volatile part of 
 Metals is driven away, the fixt and grofTer flaying be- 
 hind : As for Example. If 1 diflblve a Metal, or Mi- 
 neral in j^qua Fortis, and afterwards add to the So- 
 lution (bme good Nitety by this means the Metal a- 
 bides with the Nitre and (hoots with it info Cry- 
 ftals, which from <? are Red, from 2 Green, from 5 
 and u White, from o Yellow. When now this Ni- 
 tre is kindled, the Vblatilc part of the Metal fublimes 
 from the grolter, and is better for Medicinal ufe. 
 than the grofs Body of the Metal. ',''"'.' 'T 
 
 N. B. But if to this Niter impregnated With a M^- 
 tal, we joyn fome Salt of the World » and then deto- 
 nate it, the faid Salt through the Flames carries the 
 immortal Soul of Metals out from Hell, that is the 5 
 of them, which afterwards may be fixed into Tin- 
 durc. The faid Nitre impregnate with Metai, and 
 the Salt of the World, doth alio, by means of a 
 fwift Flame draw the Colours from precious and com- 
 mon Stones, and introduceth others, and better into 
 them again i which is a thing of great Profit to him 
 that hath Skill of it. This is the fpeedieli wav of 
 meliorating Metals, when by means of a Rapid Fitl' 
 men., as it were in amomcnr, we feparatc the ptirj 
 Soul, or incombuftible -^ from the grofs Metal : Hi 
 in this quick Flame the fuperfluous $ of the MewH 
 isconfufued, which ties the pure o to the Mcisi, ami 
 majies the fame difficultly ftparabl? from its* gfoft 
 Body.' ' 
 
 In 
 
Part IIL 
 
 The Furgntoryof Philofofhcrs, 
 
 79 
 
 In this manner a pure X> may in quantify be drawn 
 From all Tvlctals , and as much o as is got this 
 way, fo much T indure, for every o of Metals is fixa- 
 ble into Tindure, which cannot be faid of the com- 
 mon. And yet amongfl thtic MnjiHick^f.hrcuries^ono. 
 yields a better Tincture than another, tlic t; cf <? as 
 hath been faid being the be'}, tho' that of I: be good 
 alfo. He who is conic fo far as to be able to make 
 the of any one Wetal, with the help of the Salt of 
 the World , may cafily do the fame with all the 
 reft, and then try which g is the beft. I have tryed 
 feveral, but icund none better then that of £. For 
 which Reafon alio fomctime before my tailing Sick, I 
 bought up a great quantity of Steel Needles unfit for 
 common ufe, with intention to make a great quan- 
 tity of 5 of c? , but being feized with Sickncfs not 
 long after, and continuing Bed-rid till now \ my de- 
 sign was hindred. Now whetiier God will be plcafed 
 to raife me, that I tr.ay prepare a good quantity of the 
 faid , for thofe that come after , I know not ■, 
 for at prefent by reafon of my WeakncG, I have no 
 hope to do any thing. And therefore have determi- 
 ned with m-y felf, to manifeft thefe and the like great 
 Secrets to the World , as far as my Weaknefs will 
 permit ■■, that they who are Lovers of Art may know, 
 and work them, or let them alone as they pleafe; 
 For it (hall fuffice me, to have difcovered the wonder- 
 ful Works of God to mankind, not at all concerning 
 my felf with the reft. 
 
 'Tis here to be noted, that the u which by means 
 of the Salt of the World, in the moift way is drawn 
 forth from Aqitj Fortij^ or other like corrolive Li- 
 quors, is purer than that which, in the dry way is 
 lorced over with a ftrong Fire, yet both are good, and 
 iixable into Tindture. It is alfo lefs trouble to bring 
 over the "o of Metals in the moift way, than by a 
 ftrong Flame. For when a Metal is diflblved in Atjua 
 Fortify and Salt of the World added to the Solution, 
 then if by Alembkk, you feparate the A:^enj}rHum^ part 
 of the Q will come over with it, which, as before-men- 
 tioned, is to be feparated from it : Afterwards drive 
 what remains in the Alembic'^ through a Retort, and 
 the Salt of the World will carry more of the o over, 
 by which means a good quantity of t; will be obtai- 
 ned. For which God be praifcd, who hath (hewed 
 us his poor necetlitous Children fo near and ftrait a 
 way to the Land of Pnmife. For I ftill fay ( as 1 
 always did ) that nothing more excellent can be found, 
 cither in Phyfick or Alchimy, than the « of Metals, 
 all other Works being mere trifles in Comparifon of 
 it : Becaufe'fuch a o well fixed, is not only the high- 
 eft Medicine, but befides Tinges » and v inte 3. I 
 have clearly and fully defcribed the manner of it , 
 Preparation, fave only, that I have not named the 
 Salt of the World, becaufc it is f^ich a vile and con- 
 temptible thing, and caft out upon Dunghils : And 
 yet nothing in the World lives without it. No living 
 Creature in or upon the Earth, Bird in the Air, nor 
 Fifti in the Water is fuliained witiiout this Univcr- 
 fal S-tlt of the World. Concerning this Salt of 
 the World, or true matter of the .Univetfal great 
 Stone of the Philofophers, an unknown Author in the 
 Thirty fifth Chapter of his Book writes thus, 
 
 JJ)at the frjl lFo)\ of the Elixir, is evny rabere to be 
 found. 
 
 Concerning the true making of the Elixir, as to 
 its Hrft Work, the Philofophers fay , that the true 
 Matter is evciy where to be found i btcaufe it is in 
 
 ! every Man, and found with every Man. ^ij« brought 
 ■ It with him out of Paradife, and when he died took it 
 along with him to his Grave. And therefore an Alle- 
 gory of the Wife men faith,'that the faid Matter is fub- 
 tili^ed c>, that is a advanced to the highcft pitch of 
 mineral Virtue. Concerning this O it is faid : With 
 our Gum and little O, xpe can b:iy much. And Alber- 
 ts in his Book of Minerals faith, and proves it, that 
 O IS every n^hcre to be found : Becaufc there is nothing 
 made of the four Elements, in which, after its higheft 
 refining, © is not to be found, and therefore they fay 
 K IS every where to be found. The fame Albertus al- 
 io alTerjs, that a great Mineral Virtue is in every Man^ 
 efpecially in his Head between his Teeth : For that in 
 Jus time, in old Graves was found in little longiOi 
 <jrains, between the Teeth of dead Men Skuls, which 
 could not be , except the faid mineral Virtue were 
 in Man, which mineral Virtue is in the Matter of out 
 tlixir. And therefore it is faid, that the Stone is in 
 every Man, and that Adam brought it with him out 
 of Paradife, &c. 
 
 The Philofopher tells us here, proving it by feveral 
 Authors, that the true Matter of the Elixir, as to the 
 firfilVVorkjis to be found with every one : Concerning 
 which Matter, much might be faid, but it is better be 
 filent for fear of the abufe of wicked Men. Yet I 
 cannot but hint here, how it may be made out, that 
 O can grow in the Skuls of dead Men, as before-men- 
 tioned. It feems probable then, that thefe were the 
 ^kuls cf fuch Men, who in their Life-time much ufed 
 tj, either taking it inwardly, or much handling it in 
 their Trades. Now it being the Property of o , to 
 mount upwards to the Head, and fettle between the 
 Teeth, we may fippofe, that by length of time the 
 Mtcrocofmical ^ did Coagulate it into . Let no Man 
 think this impofllble, for the ^ of Mans Dung hath 
 a very great affinity with the Mineral ^, which no 
 Body can better witnefs, than he to whom God hath 
 revealed it, and who hath found it true by Experi- 
 ence. 
 
 The Reader by this time hath fu/ficiently perceived, 
 how the Mercuries of all Metals may with eafe be 
 brought over, by means of the Sd/« of the World • as 
 alfo, how the fame may be had with the help of a 
 Fulmen^ or ftrong Flame of Fire. 
 
 Now he that is Mafter of thefe Mercuries, will not 
 be far to feek, for the way of fixing them ; for which 
 there is no nearer way, than to maturate them to a 
 Tinfture, by noeans of Ariephius his Fire, for all other 
 ways are very tedious, concerning which Fi.vation by 
 the faid fecret Fire, the Reader will find more in o- 
 ther Parts of my Writings. 
 
 Herewith , then I conclude this Firft Part of my 
 Purgatory, or cleanfing Fire, with which all unclean 
 black Subjeds may be waflied to the higheft degree 
 of Purity and Whitenefs. If by chance, 1 fhould here 
 have omitted one or other Circumftantial of the Work, 
 (as I hope not) I fhall, as it comes to mind, fet it 
 down in my following Writings. In the mean time 
 Farewel, and remember the 5^// of the World, learn 
 to know it, and its Ufe, for fo thou wilt be able to 
 make the Mercuries of all Metals, which in vake ex- 
 ceed all O and precious Stones. 
 
 Ja 
 
^4. 
 
 ne purgatory of Philofopbers. 
 
 An Advertifement to the Conrtconf 
 REAVER. 
 
 FOrafmuch as in this liitle Trcatife, I have revealed 
 many Secrets, and particularly, the eallc Ptcpara- 
 lion of a running c from all Metals, and thac a true 
 Tinfture cannot more readily be obtained, tlian from 
 fuch a c, which xvith becomes fixed to a Red, and 
 and with T.to a white Tindure, and that this Fixati- 
 on is moflcalliy performed by thefecret Fire of'/Irtephi- 
 MS. And have alfo taught, how from all Vegetables 
 and Animals, a mcft excellent '^ of great Virtue may 
 be prepared, by means of a burning Spirit-, in all which 
 I have urit nothing, but what I have wrought with 
 my own hands. 1 know there will not be wanting 
 fome envious and ignorant Men, who will pretend it 
 impoflTible to get a running c from Metals : But it is 
 ro wonder, that this is counted impolTible by thofe, 
 that have nor attained to great Skill and Ei^perience 
 in the Fire, vpho may wtll be compared to little Chil 
 dren, who when they hear any Body talk of the Great 
 World, can form no other Notion of it, than of the 
 place, or Houle where they have been educated i nei- 
 ther can fuch ignorant conceited Perfons believe any 
 thing, but what they have feen themfelves. It is enough 
 for me, that I know it to be true. 
 
 Now forafmuch as I have before declared, that this 
 y of Metals is the neareft way to attain an univerfal 
 Tindlure, for Men and Metals, and that out of Vege- 
 tables, Animals, and all other things, that admit a Se- 
 paration of Elements, a c may be had, as well as from 
 IVIinerals and Metals, and from that ^aTindVure: I 
 intend here for further Confirmation, to add the Tefli- 
 mory of an old Book, which with many words con- 
 firms what: I have writ, concerning the c of Minerals, 
 Animals and Vegetables, and therefore have thought 
 fit, to fubjoyn the Concluiion of the faid Book, as an 
 Appendix to thisTreatirc,by which,tho(e, who under- 
 hand, will perceive that 1 iiave writ the Truth, con- 
 cerning the 2 of Vegetables and Animals. The Au- 
 thor is unknown to me, but that he was an experi- 
 enced Philofopher appears from his Writings, which 
 contain great Truths : Thefe as they were gladly re- 
 ceived by us, fo we highly recommend them to all 
 Learners, and Lovers of Art : Here follow the two 
 lart Chapters of the laid Philofopher. 
 
 A ^ca[^itnlatioii : Or, Siwimary ^pe- 
 tition. 
 
 WEl.avc fufficiently explained to thee the thing, 
 if thou halt rightly underflood our words. 
 And obfcrve, Son, that the Operations we deliver in 
 this Book, concerning the Compofition of the Great 
 flone, are more fubtil than thofe, that Ceber has deli- 
 vered in his Summ : For he faith, that indifferent in- 
 tervals of time, it ish'.a fublimed, next hxcd, after- 
 wards calcined and then d flolvcd, and fo of the reft. 
 But as tn this our Book, know, that the Difiillation 
 by ^/mtJ/cl^we call Sublimation, and the Solution of 
 Bodies, ivclikewife call Sublimation, bccaufe by this 
 tncans the Earthly Pody is lifted up into the Air, which 
 
 is Heaven. Wherefore know, that when we dilTolve, 
 we at tlie fame tiir.e do Sublime, Calcine, PuiiHe, 
 Wafli, cor.joyn and fcparate. To this puipcfe, Huly 
 in Iiis Secret of Secrtts tells us, that between the Solu- 
 tion and Conjundion, or the Matrimony and Union 
 of Body and Spirit :, thtre is no diiiance of timei be- 
 caufe when the Body is difTolvcd, it is by that Solu- 
 tion joyn'd with the Spirit, and therefore he faith, 
 that Solution and Conjunftion are at the fame time. 
 This therefore is the Order of our Operation, which 
 is done at once in one hour : When our Body is put 
 to diffolve in Water, then prefcntly it is folvcd and fu- 
 blimed, and by being difTolv'd and fublim'd, the Body 
 becomes united to the Spirit;, and if any thing of an 
 extraneous Nature be mix'd with the Body, the fame 
 will not be diflblved, but will remain in the bottom 
 of the VelTtl for to dilTolve, and thus the Body be- 
 comes clcanfed of the extraneous Matter, if any be in 
 it V yet is it in fome fort fullied, nor is itfo clean and 
 clear as it ought- Wherefore our Operations in ma- 
 king the Gteat flone, are more fubtil than thofe con- 
 tained in Geher's Summ, becaufe what he fays is done 
 at feveral times, is here done at once, and of a fub- 
 tiler Matter •, and after a fubtiler manner. And when 
 thou fhalt fee cur work, deareft Son, then wilt thou 
 know, that we have fpoken the Truth, tho' not be- 
 fore : And indeed, except thou flialt give good heed 
 to it, and (harply confider of it, thou wilt fcarcciy 
 perceive it to be fo, becaufe of the quick, fubtil and 
 ftiort Operation. But be fure to avoid the fumes in 
 this, as well as other ways of making the Stone, aS 
 far as is pofllble, which if thou fhouldfi: take in, would 
 greatly hurt thee, either at the very inftant, or not 
 long after, except thou haft Remedies at hand to op- 
 pofe their Malignity, which thou oughteft always to 
 be provided with, that as foon as any fuch thing is 
 perceived, a proper Antidote may betaken. 
 
 CHAP. LVI. 
 
 FRom all that hath been faid from the beginning 
 hitherto, may be gathered by a piercing eye, that 
 in our Operation our Bodies do not abide in the top 
 of the .^lembick,., as the Bodies of Fools do.- Of which 
 Aros faith : The Bodies of the unrvife^do only jiick^to the 
 Cover or Head of the Ve^el^ and therefore they cannot ef- 
 feii any thing that is trite. Hence al(b may be gather- 
 ed, that Sulphurs 3re retain'dby ^, Bodies by Bodies, 
 and Spirits by Spirits ■■) and every imperfe(ft thing is 
 perledled by one thing, that is by y alone, that is, by 
 a fubltance, which is produced by ourforcfaid famous, 
 excellent and glorious Magiftery. Wherefore for afinal 
 Conclufion we fay, that the Blefled ftone is one,the Me- 
 dicine one, to which nothing extraneous is added, nor 
 taken from it, only its fupetfluities removed, llnder- 
 ftand this, as Hortulamts faith : That, That is not ex- 
 traneous^ into ivhich it mtifl be changed^ that is fixed, 
 viz. e and 1). Therefore this ifonc is Mineral, be- 
 caufe it is produced from all Mineral things. But be- 
 caufe HntuUnus faith, that Hermes the Father of all 
 yikhimifts, was PofTtfror of the three parts of Philo- 
 fophy, ot the whole World, v:z. Mineral, Vegetable 
 and Animal : The true knowledge of which three 
 Kingdoms, the faid Hermes had joyntly, or feverally 
 in the work of the Sun', which parts are contained in 
 one only Stone, viz. in 2, that is under the name of 5, 
 becaufe every thing of which the Stone is made, whe- 
 ther it be Animal, Vegetable or Mineral, is called by 
 the name of c. We have alfo before (hewed, how 
 this Philofophy, or Science is compleatcd in the work 
 
 of 
 
^rtc Purgatory of Philojopbcr 
 
 J. 
 
 '5- 
 
 of the Sun, bv means of a Mineral t*. Now to tlic 
 end that this Science, or moll erjcdlcnt Point of Fhi- 
 lof()phyT may be pcrfert in every Point, we rr.uii fee 
 how tiiis Stone may be had, by means of a Vegetable 
 t^ from V'cpctables, and by an Animal ;, prepared from 
 Animals. And firif we will fhcw how the Stone may 
 be made, with a Vegetable \ : For except the Great 
 ftone might be made from many other things, belides 
 thofe mentioned in the former part of my Difcourfc, 
 that faying of Alphidiut woulJ not be true : That 
 there be many other SuhjeUs-, vihkh folve and congeal. 
 And llortnlaniis faith, the PhUnfophers have calied every 
 thing, theCtone^ frjm wkmce the fviir Ehmcnti may be 
 feparated^ by our Chymical Artifiee : Now this may be 
 done, from every Vegetable and Animal ■■, wherefore 
 from every Vegetable or Animal, may the Great ftone 
 of the Philofophers be prepared. 
 
 The two laft Chapters of this Anonymous Philcfo- 
 pher, contain a fhort Repetition of the Matters hand- 
 led in his whole Book, wherein he aflerts, that the 
 Preparation of the gnat Elixir, he fcts down, is far 
 more fubtil, excellent and Skilful, than that o^Geber: 
 Becaufe the Operations which Geber doth fucceflively, 
 one after another, he fliews, how they may be done 
 all at once ) for that when he difToIves, heat the fame 
 time , in the fame VefTel, with the fame degree of 
 Fire, and in the fame Furnace, doihalfo Sublime, Cal- 
 cine, Cleanfe, Wa(h, feparate and conjoyn : Becaufe, 
 when the hard Body is put into the dilTolvent, to be 
 difToived, it prefently turns Black, and is throughly 
 diffolved, calcined, fublimed and joyned with the Spi- 
 rit. And I leave it to every judicious. Peifbn to judge, 
 whether this way muft not be very ingenious and 
 Artificial, which at once, fo ealily and fuddenly finifli- 
 ethall thefe Operations, belonging to the work of the 
 Stone. Neither was it without Reafon, that the Au- 
 thor affirms, that the poffibility of this Accurtation 
 cannot well be believed, or apprehended by any, but 
 thofe who have feen it, j 
 
 N. B. Now that all thefe Operations may be done 
 at once, m\ felf can witncfs,as having before my Sick- 
 nefs performed the fame with mine own hands. And 
 however this may found very flrange to thofe, whofe 
 Experience never reached fo far, vet is it an undoubt- 
 ed Truth with all thofe, whom God hath been pleafed 
 to illuminate, giving them the underftanding and per- 
 formance of this great ( I had almolt faid. Holy ) work. 
 
 Our Author in his lafl Chapter concludes, that of 
 all things from whence the Elements can be feparated, 
 the Stone of the Philofophers may be made i to the 
 Truth of which, alfo I can fet my Seal. For when 
 about half a year fince, I ^^'^ recommended to an old 
 Friend of mine, the manner of preparing the o of 
 Wine, and that the faid Friend by reafon of his bufi- 
 
 ntfs could not come to me, tooverlook the VV-nkhim- 
 fclr", becaufe he lived in another City, and I by rcall'ii 
 of my Sicknefs kept my Bed: It was concluded by 
 lis, that a third Fiicnd fhoLiId come to my Houfe, and 
 carrv on the V\ ork, from the beginning to the end, 
 wliich accordingly was done in three or four Days. But 
 forafmuch, as in fo fh.ort atiinc, we could not pre- 
 pare any great quantity of the Spirit of Wine, we had 
 bnt little to burn away, and coiifcquently could not 
 get much 9, or Cxleftial c\ Now it happened, when 
 we were ftparating the fT, We had caught, from the 
 Phlcgme, that the Fire, by millake was too ftrong, fo 
 that after the Phlcgme was come over, we found the 
 remaining Heavenly Sj//, or i? of Wine in the bottom 
 of the Cllats molten to a Red flonc, which could not 
 be diffolved with common W ater. Whereupon I or- 
 dered fome A(jua Hec^is to be poured into the Glafs, 
 to difTolve the tj, which prefently fuccccded, the So- 
 lution being Blood- ted. But the 5 being by this means 
 fpoylcd, as to any Medicinal ufe, I rcfolved to try 
 what it would do on Wctals, and accordingly put a 
 little piece of fine )) into the Red Solution, left it there 
 two days, and then taking it out, found it changed 
 into as far as could be judged by the Eye, or Touch- 
 Oone. But becaufe I could hardly believe, that D 
 could be fo eafily turned to 0, I put it into a ftrong 
 Aqtia Regis, to fee whether it would be dilTolved in the 
 fame, as other common 0, and put apiece of com- 
 mon ©with it, to try which of both would be firft 
 difToived : Whereupon I found, that the ^'lqna Kegif 
 rather laid hold on the common 0, than my tranfmu- 
 ted D, the half of which was only difToived, and I 
 have the other Part flill to fhevv. Which tryal made me 
 fo defirous of proceeding to another, that I got anevir 
 inftrument prepared, for to make the 5 of Vegetables 
 and Animals, but have as yet been unable to under- 
 take the Work, by reafon of Bodily weaknefs, and 
 for want of fome faithful alTiUant. Yet am not without 
 hopes, but that with the lirft I may make fome further 
 Tryals, all things being in a rcadinefs for the Work, 
 to which God be pleafed to afford his Elefling, 
 u4men. 
 
 From this Relation it is evident, that a Vegetable 
 9 is able to meliorate Metals : That it excels for Fhy- 
 fick cannot be doubted^ and therefore the faid 5 may 
 be called a Mafter in both Faculties. Now if a Ve- 
 getable ^ will do this, what may be expeded from a 
 MetaUick. drawn from pure Metals, and brought over 
 by the Spirit of Wine ? Without doubt, much more 
 than the y of Wine alone, without any Metalline ad- 
 dition. If it pleafe God, I intend to fecond this 
 Treatife with another larger, concerning the 5 of Me- 
 tals. In the mean time, I here make an End. 
 
 O F 
 
^^ 
 
 Part III: 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Secret Fire of 
 
 "Bj which J They 7m only brought to Maturity their Vm-vcrfal Me- 
 dicine, ' hut alfo fixed particularly all the inferior Metals , into 
 good gold and Siher, mth great Profit. 
 
 Written for the Sa^es of ad the Lovers of Divine and Natural 
 Wfdom, 
 
 Faithfully Tranflated out of the High-Dutch. 
 
 'Reader^ 
 
 SEEING that in fcvcral of my Writings, I 
 have made mention of the fecrct Fire of Arte- 
 phids., which Vontanus very well called Vropri- 
 urn Agens-, for no better name can be given it. I 
 thought it convenient to publifli this fmall Explication 
 of it, that it may be known to thofe, who have not 
 yet heard of it, not doubting, but by this difcovery 
 a great Light will be opened to all the Lovers of Me- 
 tallkk, improvements : For almoft all Philofophcrs, in 
 their Writings, are dark concerning this ^ and yet 
 without this, no great Matter is to be efFeded in Chy- 
 mifiry : Which daily Experience fufficiently teftifies. 
 Therefore I am refolved briefly to explain, yet fun- 
 damentally and plainly, by Gods help, this thing which 
 hath been fo long hid from the World. 
 
 Of the Secret Fire of Pbilofophers, by which they have 
 niitwated their Tincliires. 
 
 Fitft you muft know, that no Philofopher hath 
 made any mention of it, but hath palTed it over in 
 
 only Gods blefUng. Obfcrve this well, and thou wilt 
 not err. If our eyes and hearts were not blinded by 
 the Pride of the Devil, we (hould eafily fee and*knovir, 
 what Fire nature ufeth in the Ea<h, to bring Metals 
 to Maturity: By which we might eafily learn, what 
 Agent the Artift "wants to maturate and bring to per- 
 fedtion all imperfeft Metals into Gold and Silver, 
 as good as if Nature had done it in the Earth. Now 
 when we open our eyes and look about us, we find 
 nothing elfe, but an Acidum or Univerfal Agent, that 
 is, the Sulphurous Salt of Vitriol^ by which all Metals 
 in the Earth are generated, fo that fome, by a long 
 time are fixed, and fome by a lefs time, partly remain 
 unfixed, according as the Oars contain more or lefs 
 of this Agent. And if by a firong Fire, one fliould 
 melt this Metal out of the Oar, the greatest part of 
 the Actdum^ together with the Rocky part would 
 come info a Cinder or Slate, but in the Metal, although 
 it be melted and hammered, there yet remains fome 
 of the Agent, which the Fire, in the rirll melting, 
 could not feparate from it, efpecially when the Mc- 
 
 filcnce only tliat ancient Philofopher Artephius hath j tals are yet crude i as if the Agent ihould fay, I will 
 
 taken fome notice of it, but fo obfcurely, that very | not be feparated from my Patient, for he cannot 
 
 few of his Readers, have bcefi able to learn any thing 
 
 from him. Tie faith, that himfclf, like others, had been 
 
 covetous and envious, fo as to write nothing of it •, 
 
 but after he was nine hundred years old, he firll began 
 
 to write of it. N. B. It is not crediljlc, that he iliould 
 
 have lived to that Age, but perhaps fome Body hath 
 
 added a Cipher to it. 'Tis like he was ninety years ot 
 
 Aj',c, for tlie Ancients have often miliaken an hundred 
 
 for ten. But be it as it will, he was the firdithat faid any 
 
 thing of this Fire. Fontunus writes in his EpiOlc, 
 
 that although he knew the true Matter, yet he erred 
 
 two bundled times, an^i Hiould never have obtained 
 »t, if he liad not learntd the (ccrct from iiis Writings. 
 
 The rcafon of hiding this Secret fo long, hath been 
 
 orly the wickcdnefs of Men, who feck not aitcr thcfe 
 
 great thinjis, that they might Iionour God, and fu*- 
 
 cour the Poor, but rather, that by 5?,rcat Riches they 
 
 might be able to enllave their Neighbours. But when 
 
 fuch Men , who have foifukcn tiie Vanities of the 
 
 World, feck afi:r them, God puts it into their hands, 
 
 (q that ftiiving nor running in this helps nothing, but 
 
 yet fubfift without me, and alfo faith the Patient, I 
 cannot yet fuffcr my Husband, or Agent to be fepa- 
 rated from me, for we have not been long enough 
 together. But when the melting Fire comes to it 
 again, then no excufe will ferve, but the flronger 
 overcomes the weaker, and the Agent and Patient 
 muft part by force. Now what in this violent Se- 
 paration, the one can carry away with itot the other, it 
 leaves not behind, as we fee when the Oar of Iron 
 is melted, that the violent Fire, forceth away the 
 Agent from the Patient, and converts it into Cinders, 
 but yet thcfe are not purely Cindcis, for they have 
 attrad:ed a great quantity of the Mercurial Patient, 
 vi^. Iron, whicii is not turned into Cinders, for if tlicy 
 he melted again, \ou will have a good quantity of 
 Iron out of the Cinders, and this may he done for 
 fcveral limes. If the Agent and Patient had not a 
 a great Agreement, they would certainly have been 
 more nearly parted in the tirft melting, arid there 
 would be no need of a Second or Third lire, and if 
 the Agent (hould be f.paiatcd from its fatient, by 
 
 the 
 
Part III. 
 
 Of the Secret Fire of Phjiofopherso 
 
 77 
 
 the force of Fire againft its Will, ycc.it cannot be ex- 
 ailly and wholly fcparatcd, but the Patient as the Fe- 
 male Afercury, doth its endeavour to retain as much 
 as it can of its Agent, or dear Sulphurous Husband 
 with it fcir, as we have fufficiently feen, that no mel- 
 ted Iron is found without its Agent or Acidum. Which 
 appears , it upon a Plate of Iron, you pour a little 
 Water, it prefcntly Rufts, which could not be. if there 
 were no Acidum in the Iron ■■, for the Jcid adhering 
 fo clofe to the Patient, the melting could not force it 
 away. Now when Rain water falls upon it, the Aci- 
 dum out of Love attra<fls it to it felf, and works to its 
 ufmoii Power, upon the Patient, fo that it becomes 
 Pxufty. 
 
 Which doth not fo happen to fuch Metals, as are al- 
 ready brouglit to fufficient Maturity, and therefore have 
 no more need of the Agent, as Gold and Silver, for 
 after they are melted, they do not Ru/t by Wet, for 
 their Prop-intn ^-Igens^ or Viiriolick Salt^ has done its 
 Office, bringing ifs Patient to Maturity, and therefore 
 is ealiiy feparatcd from its Patient in melting. Cop- 
 per alfo, in melting, ftill retains fomewhat of its Agent, 
 and therefore eafily iRults,yet not fo eafily as the Iron, 
 becaufe it retains not fo much of the /hid in melting, 
 as Iron doth. Lead and Tin retain Icfs of it, than 
 Copper and Iron, and therefore do not fo eafily at- 
 tract the moift Air and Rain , but only lofe their 
 Splendour by it. Gold and Silver retain but a very 
 little of it, and therefore they cannot ealiiy Ruft, but 
 being moilkned with Ihong Corrofives , lofc their 
 glorious Lufter : Mercury retaineth all its Propriitm A- 
 gem, having loft nothing of it. It is alfo to be ob- 
 ferved, that although Sulphur (which contains in it 
 felf 3 pure vitriolated Acid Salt) be an Univerfal Agent, 
 by which Nature in the Earth generates and matu- 
 rates all the Metals, yet notwithflanding every Metal 
 hath befides Sulphur^ a particular Frovrium Agsns^ 
 which affifts the Univerfal Agent in its Adion. Gold 
 hath, befides the Univerfal Agent, fomewhat of com- 
 mon Suit. Silver and SJtum have befides the 5k/- 
 pbur^ and Viiriolick^ Salt^ fomewhat of Saltpetre. Mer- 
 cury hath properly for its Agent, a fubtil, fiery and 
 concentrated Spirit of Sjltpetre-, which keeps him al- 
 ways fluid and current. And this is tiie rcafon, that 
 Salts or Spirit o( Salts, ( as Spirit oiVitriol, common 
 Salt., Saltpetre, &c. ) dom.orc ealiiy diffolve fuch Me- 
 tals as participate of their own Salts i for example. 
 Silver, Saturn and Mercury participate ( befides Vitri- 
 ol) of a nitrous Salt, and therefore Spirit of Nitre 
 doth eafily work upon thofe three Metals, and diflblve 
 them : For becaufe thcfe three Metals have a nitrous 
 Salt in them, therefore the Spirit of Nitre hath a good 
 Friend in them, which opens the Gates to it, and lets 
 it in, for the Friend within correfponds with him 
 which is without, as for Example : If an Enemy fet 
 down before a Town to take it, and hath good 
 Friends within, that open him the Gates, he may ea- 
 liiy enter, but if his Enemies that are within defend 
 themfelvCf, and refift him, be can do notliing, but 
 muft march off without it. Seeing that an Aqua For- 
 tis made of Vitriol and Saltpetre, doth readily touch 
 and dilTolve only Silver, Saturn and Mercury, it conies 
 to pafs from their near Relation^ but the reafon why 
 they touch not Gold, is,becaufe it hath no affinity with 
 them, for ^old hath no Spirit of Nitre, but of com- 
 mon Saltia|it, but if you put a little common Salt to 
 the Spirit'Sf N/'i-f, it then ealiiy difToIves Gold, be- 
 comes to be of another Nature, and then will not 
 dilfolve Silver, but Copper, Iron and Tin, becaufe 
 tliefe Metals contain much fpiritual Gold, and there- 
 
 fore are eafily difTolved by this Spirit of Salt. Nowr 
 becaufe I have here fhewn the reafon, wliy an ylqua 
 Fortis made of Vitriol and Saltpetre dilTolvcs only Sil- 
 ver, Lead, and Mercury, zx\d not Gold, and when com- 
 mon Salt is added to it, that it dilToIves Gold and not 
 Silver, it is for the fame reafon, that Salts dilTolvcd in 
 Water, and impregnated with the Univerfal A. id or 
 Oyl of Vitriol, will as well dirtblvc the Metals, which 
 arc boyldin them, as their Spirits will. For Exam- 
 ple; Suppofe 1 had no Aqu.i Fortis, and yet would 
 diffolve Silver ; I could do it as well by diffolvirg 
 Sdlpstre in common Water, acuated with the true Oyl 
 of Vitriol, but \ci not fo ealiiy as A:;ua Funis., and it" 
 you fliould add a little coinmon %\t to it, it would 
 not touch Silver, but diffolve Gold. And fuppofe, \ 
 had no Oyl of /7/r/W, and yet would diffolve Gold, I 
 might do it by diffolving Saltpetre and common Sale 
 with Allnm in Water ; yet not fo well as by Aqujt 
 Ke^is. This is not faid to that end, that I would ad- 
 vifeyou to diffolve Metals by Salts and Oyl of /V.'r/«/. 
 ( for the diliilled Waters are better than the undift.IIed 
 Corporeal Salts)but that you may the better undcrltard 
 and comprehend witli what Salt each Metal hath an A- 
 greement to unite eafily, that you may the better learn 
 to know the Propnum ASCIIS cf each Metal, for if you 
 will do any excellent tiling, in the Mctais by thcr 
 Propriiiin Ageitj, you nuift firfl know them well, by 
 which you will know, what every Metal Loves, and 
 how it will be treated ; Now we cannot learn this bet- 
 ter, than when wc confider, what Spirit, or Natural 
 Agent was driven from the xMetal by the m.elting Fire, 
 which if it had remained longer in it, in the Earth, the 
 Metal would have been maturated by it Wc find, that 
 in all Oars of Silver, Lead and A'fercury, is found a 
 nitrous Salt, which is driven from it by the ftrongFire, 
 now if fuch a Metal being immiature, and not'only taken 
 too foon cut of its Matrix, but alfo by the ir.elting Fire 
 deprived of its Fecundative Spirit, is to be made grow 
 again to be meliorated , you mufl of neceflity reflore that 
 to it, which the Fire hath taken away. Now becaufe 
 from Lead theie is taken away a nitrous Spirit, be- 
 fides Common Sulphur, you mull refiore n rAiious S alt^ 
 for its Agent. And becaufe from Afars and Vchus, & 
 Vitriolick^ Sulphur was taken away, that mufi be refro- 
 red to them again. And becaufe from Jupiter, in mel- 
 ting, an Arfcnical Sulphur and Spirit was taken away, 
 you muft reflore it again to the dead Body, to revive 
 if, and to make it grow. If from Gold its Sulphu- 
 reous Salt be taken away by melting, which the Gold 
 eafily lets go for the reafon already allcdgcd, and ycc 
 you would maturate this Gold farther,' and make it 
 yet better than Nature hath done, you muft put it 
 into its Alatrix again, uniting it with the Sulphureous 
 Spirit of Salt, and fo let it generate or grow afrcfli, 
 and you will receive m.ore than Nature hath given : 
 For Nature can give no more, but a perfeft Body, 
 which if you will have yet m,ore perfed, you n\v.[\ 
 put it again into its Matrix, with its natural Agent, 
 and by the help of external Fiic, awaken or excite 
 the inward natural Fire, that its Body maybe matura- 
 ted into a more than perfed Tindure. For Nature 
 can give no more than perfed Bodies, viz. Silver and 
 Gold ; But if Art begins again where Nature left, it 
 can make the perfed Bodies miore than perfed, with 
 this m.orc than perfed Tin^lure, you may in a mo- 
 ment bring to perlcdicn the impcrfed Metals, if you 
 put it to them in melting : To which perfedion, a 
 great m.any years would have been requi-cd. before their 
 Propriuni Agens could have brought iheiu. for if you 
 would maturate (he imperfed: Metals into Gold and 
 
 W Silvef^ 
 
7 
 
 8 
 
 Of the Secret Fire of Tbilofophers, Part I IL 
 
 Silver, by their proper Agents, it would require a 
 long time, but yet it might be done with very great 
 proHt, for no other coAs arc- required, but outward 
 Fire, to keep the inward Secret Fire in continual 
 Aaion •, and tliis work of maturating the inferior 
 Metals may be done in as great a quantity as you pleafe, 
 which makes the profit fo much the greater, and this 
 fixation requires no great Colt, for Mjr/, Vcmif, Ju- 
 piter and SatHr» coll but little, and the Agent may 
 alfo callly be had, fo that all the Expence is only the 
 Fire, which yet will not be very chargeable neither, 
 fo that this Fixation may every year bring in great 
 profit fo him that well underiiands it. If I was 
 younger I fliould not forbear to go about this parti- 
 cular Melioration of Metals in the whole, to do good 
 with it to many thoufaiid poor People, but my time 
 is 
 
 them, and make the increafe. For this you muft know, 
 that Silver hath this Nature and property, if it be dif- 
 folved in ylqua Fortis, and precipitated with Salt it 
 attradts much Spirit from the Aqua Vortis and Salt, 
 which Water cannot wafn from it •, but Gold attrads 
 not fo much as Silver, for the Gold attrads Nitre, 
 and the Silver Common Salt. I could eallK (hew the 
 reafon of this, but that it would be too tedious. Sa- 
 turn attracts more Common Salt than Silver, and thefe 
 Spirits of Salts arc alfo a Proprium A^eni to Mars and 
 Saturn^ as they are to Silver and Gold, and work up- 
 on Saturn and Mars^ altogether in the fame manner 
 as on Gold and Silver, the only difference is, thit the 
 Tindure of Saturn and Mars is not of that extent as 
 that of Gold and Silver, although both of them in 
 this work have one and the fame Agent : Now this 
 
 now pad. God hath been plcafed not to (hew me Agent which is Spirits of .Salts Coagulated, as well 
 
 'n which I hava jin Gold and Silver, as in Saturn and Mars, mufl firfl 
 
 be brought into a Mercurial Water, before they can 
 rightly adl upon Mctallick Bodies, by penetrating, 
 maturating and meliorating them i to bring them to 
 which, you mufl proceed thus : If the four Ounces of 
 Gold and Silver have Coagulated two Ounces of Spi- 
 rits of Salts, you mufl add to it two Ounces of very 
 clean and well puIveriTed Keguliti of Antimnny^ grind 
 them very well together, put this Mi.vture into a 
 Coated Ketnrt ^ and diUil the Mercurial, Antimonial 
 Water, which will alfo carry over with it x\\£ Anim^ 
 of the Gold and Silver, in form of Butter of Anti- 
 mony, yet of a high colour, for the Anima of Gold 
 is highly exalted by the Antimony^ or Mineral Aries. 
 This red Solar Butter is the Secret Fire of y^rrf/;te«-, 
 or the Proprium Agens of Pontanus, to bring the Gold 
 and Silver into a Fixed Tindure , which Artephiiu 
 hath ufed for Gold and Silver, but Pontanus (as ap- 
 pears by his Epiflle) did not make his Tinflure out 
 of Gold, but out of Mars; for he calls God to Wit- 
 
 this light till within this three years, ir 
 lien in Bed, and fo I can cxpeiit no great benefit by it, 
 as having no Children who are fit to carry it on. But 
 becaufe I can do nothing more my fdf, I commit it to 
 others, to whom I have already given a good infight-, 
 but to difcovcr it more clearly and indifcriminately to 
 the good and bad, being rellrain'd by fevcral Reafons 
 I dare not do it. Now it yet remains to give a hint, 
 how the perfeft Metals, as Gold and Silver, mult be 
 ripened into a more than perfed Tin(rture, to make 
 the imperfed Metals pcrfcdt by Projedtion. 
 
 Non? here foUomth a Fundamental Procefs, without 
 any Legerdemain, hotv to bring Gold and Silver into 
 a linciure, 
 
 T^. Of Gold j ^, of Silver iij i', diffolve the Gold 
 in Anua Re^u, and the Silver in /Iqua Fortis, pour 
 thefe' two Solutions together, and the Silver will at- 
 trad the Gold, and they will both precipitate into a 
 gray Powder, but if for want of Salt they fliould not 
 eafily precipitate, pour into them fome Salt Water, 
 for the Silver will not fall except there be Salt enough. 
 When nothing more will precipitate, it is a fign that 
 thefe two Bodies, like Husband and Wife, have em- 
 braced each other, and are united :, then fet the Glafs 
 in wiiich they are in Sand, that the Liquor may boil, 
 and thofc two Bodies will be the better united , f^ir it 
 often, andlctit Hand fo warm for 24 hours, then let it 
 cool,' and thefe two Bodies will grow up together like 
 Herbs or Flowers, filter the Liquor from the Calx, and 
 fweeten the Calx with Common Water, dry it and 
 powder it well, then it is ready to be fixed into a 
 Tin-lure with the Froprium yigens or Secret Fire. 
 Now concerning the proper Agent of Gold and Silver, 
 I fay that it is a Mercurial Antimonial Water, which 
 alfo ArtiphiM Confeffcth •, To obtain which, proceed 
 thus : Firft put the Conjundtion of Gold and Silver 
 into a dean Crucible, wliich put into a Coal Fire, fo 
 that the Gold and Silver may become warm in the 
 Crucible, and yet not be red-hot nor melt, and the 
 fliarp Spirits which remained after Edulcoration will 
 pafs away in Smoak ; when it Smoaks no longer, take 
 it out of the Fire and let it cool, and weigh the Gold 
 Mid Silver, and fo you will perceive how much hea- 
 vier they are than they were before, for fo much have 
 they taken from the Spirits of the Salts, which dried 
 Salt Spirits mult prepare the Antiimny, our Secret Fire, 
 or Proprium Agens to fix the Gold and Silver into a 
 Tinelure. For E.vample : We have diffolved and pre- 
 cipitated j 5 of Gold, and iij Z "^ Silver, and after 
 the cxficc-tion of the Calx, it weighs vi ^, and fo 
 j) ^ of the Spirits of the Salts are Coagulated with 
 
 nefs, that the matter of his Stone, out of which he 
 prepared his Tindure, contained many Terreflreities 
 and Superfluities, which he did not feparate from it, 
 and yet the Proprium ^gens, together with what was 
 good in it, viz. Iron, came to be a Tincture. Out 
 of this fufficiently appears, that he did prepare an im- 
 pure Metal, as Mars, into a Tincture. 
 
 And this is very credible, for fuch a fiery Agent 
 which I have taught here to prepare, is as well a true 
 Tindure it fdf, as the Antma of Sol and Lane, and 
 that fo high that it is fufticiently powerful to penetrate, 
 meliorate, and tranfmute hard, grofs, and impure 
 Metals and Bodies, by its tender, dean, Golden, Mer- 
 curial Power, and to reduce them into Tindtures. 
 N. B. I would have none to doubt, but that fuch a 
 clean, fiery, and Golden Agent, when it is ufed for 
 the exaltingand iTielioratingof clean Gold and Silver, 
 will give a much higher TiniTture than with grofs and 
 unclean Metals ■■> for if Gold is inwardly fo exalted 
 and meliorated by this Antimonial Mercurial Water, it 
 mufr needs give a far more cxtenlive Tindturc. Now 
 how this our Mercurial, Antimonial, Saturnine Water, 
 is to be applied to fine Gold and Silver, to exalt their 
 Colours, and tranfmute them into Tindfure, I fhall 
 here flicvv to the belt of my knowledge, and it is thus. 
 The two Ounces of Spirit of Salts, which were coa- 
 gulated by the' four Ounces of Gold and Silver, and 
 by the addition of two Ounces ofRegulusc^ Antimnny, 
 did again leave the Gold and Silver, by waking upon 
 and dilTolvingthe Antimony, and did in the diltillation 
 carry over the molt pure and tender Mercury oi' An'i- 
 moyiy, together with the Tincture of Gold, in form of 
 a Red Butter, for Antimony is cf this nature, that it 
 
 draws 
 
Part III. 
 
 Of the Secret Fire of Fhilofophcrs 
 
 79 
 
 draws the colour out of Gold, and carries it up with 
 it felf in Difiillation, which the Ancients called car- 
 rying the Souls of the Dead out of Hell. This Red 
 Butter impregnated with the Anima of Gold, Arte- 
 fhius called his Secret Fire, and is the Proprium y^.gens 
 of Potttjim, which doth not only maturate Gold and 
 Silver into perfcd Tindurcs, but alfo Mars and Sa- 
 t»rn, in their vvhole fubftancc, without fcparating the 
 pure from the impure. From the remaining Gold and 
 Silver you muft wafh your Kegulus oi Antimoyiyby the 
 help of Salt Petre, then feparate your Gold and Silver 
 by Aqui Fortis, and you will have no k)fs but only of 
 the Tindure of Gold, which the Oyl of Antimony 
 hath carried over with it. Ntufement'iM calls this 
 his Solar Red Oyl or Butter of ^atimoyiy, but 1 call it 
 my Mercurial Antimonial Aurirtck \,\ ater, which name 
 doth properly belong to it, which I thus prove. Take 
 of this diiiiiled Golden Mercurial Water, of Leaves 
 of Gold and Silver, each equal parts, put them together 
 in a fixing Glafs, and fct it in a Sand Cuppel, which is 
 heated equally by a dull liany, and kept in the fame 
 degree of Fire, and the Mercurial Water will difTolve 
 the Gold and Silver, and they will turn together into a 
 Sfone. The Spirits of Salts after they have diflblved 
 the Gold and Silver, together with the Mercury of 
 y^Htimony^ will feparate thcnrifelves by degrees from the 
 Mercury^ becaufe they are not of the fame matter, 
 therefore they cannot become a Tindlure with the 
 Gold, Silver, and Mercury^ which Pontamts very 
 well hints. This feparation of the Salt Spirit from the 
 Tincture requires its time, and will not be hadened. 
 N. B. But if you know how to feparate the fuper- 
 fluity of the Spirit of Salt from the Golden Butter, by 
 a fubtile Art, and then diffolve your Gold and Silver 
 in it, you will gain a great deal of time in your fixa- 
 tion, for the lupcrfluous moifture very much hinders, 
 ■which the Ancients have hinted under a Fable, as the 
 Learned BracefcM fufficiently admoniflieth in his Trea- 
 life de Ligno Vitji. This Salt Water is called by the 
 Poets Minerva, concerning this you may read the Phi- 
 lofophers, and chiefly Brace/cm-, what he faith Minerva 
 was, and you will Hnd which way it muft be feparated 
 from the Tindure. N. B. Be not in doubt, becaufe 
 Bracefcut teacheth how to prepare his Tinifture, not of 
 Gold and Silver, but of Mars^ for it may as well be 
 rriade of A/jrr, only that is not fo extenfive as the 
 Tindlure made of Gold, otherwifc the labour is the 
 fame, and differs not at all. I repeat this once more, 
 that if you will Ifhorten your labour, you muft fend 
 away Minerva in peace, becaufe (he hinders the fixa- 
 tion. Some perhaps may wonder, what the Silver can 
 contribute to this Tinfture, becaufe it is white, and 
 hath no colour : 1 anfwer, that the inward parts of 
 Silver are not white but red, and therefore may be- 
 come a Tinrture. After the fame manner Saturn is 
 not red outwardly, and yet with Mars becomes a red 
 Tindture, as Silver doth with Gold. This I thought 
 fit to fay here concerning the Secret Fire of jirtephius: 
 If you will know more of it read Artephiiu^ Poittjaus^ 
 Paracclfus^ Bracefcus^ Neufementius^ CofmopoUta, and 
 others, ;vho have made mention of it, and you will 
 there find larger Inftru(3ions. 
 
 Now as it is poffible to tranfmute not only Gold 
 and Silver, but alfo the other inferior Metals into 
 Tindtures, by the Proprium A^tns of Metals, fo you 
 may alfo fix into Gold and Silver, the inferior Metals 
 particularly, with an incredible profit, for the inferior 
 Metals may be put in in great quantity, with a cheap 
 Agent, and fo be maturated into Gold and Silver, 
 ^'hich hithtito hath been known to very few in the 
 
 World , but I do not doubt but hereafter it will be 
 better known, by which many honeft Men will be de- 
 livered from Slavery. For as you have already heard, 
 the Proprium Agens of the inferior Metals is cheap, fo 
 that the impcrfcd Metals may be with fmall colls,' by 
 the addition of their Natural Proprium yigens, vjhkh 
 was driven away in their melting, by the help of Ex- 
 ternal Fire, maturated into the perfection of Gold and 
 Silver. N. B. If you can have Metals yet in their 
 Oar, that have not been in the Fire, and add to each 
 of them their Proprium Agens, and put them in clofe 
 VefTels info a fixing Furnace, and maturate them 
 with a requilite heat, then the fixation will the fooner 
 be done, than with thofe Metals which have been al- 
 ready mtlrcd ; yet thofe Oars mult be well wafhci 
 and feparated from their Mine- Earth, before you put 
 them with their Proprium Agens to be fixed. N. B» 
 This fixation of the unripe Metals into Silver and 
 Gold, as alfo of Gold and Silver into a TinTure, by 
 their Proprium Agens, may alfo be done by the hiimiJ 
 way, if you diffolve your Metals in their proper Mcn- 
 firuums, and then digell them for a fufficient timc.- 
 N. B. For fuch a moill digeftion or fixation Vegetables 
 arc more fit than Minerals, and Animals fitter than 
 both, yet all of them be made ufe of to fix both the 
 common, and Metallick iWfrf^r/f/, as well unlverfally 
 into Tindturcs, as particularly into Gold and Silver. 
 But for the courfe Metals and their Oars, the univcrfal 
 Agent, v,z. Sulphur, Arfnicl^^ with their Compeers, as 
 Cobolt and Orpiment are the fittcf>. Gold and Silver 
 have alfo their peculiar Agents, by which they are 
 maturated into Tindiures, of which the Animal Agent 
 is found to be the befl, for it is of this nature, that it 
 turns the inward hidden colours of Gold and Silver 
 outwards, and renders them vifible, which no other 
 univerfal fubjedt can do like it. For if you cannot 
 bring outwards the inward colour of Gold and Silver, 
 it is impollible to make Tinftures of them. For Gold 
 and .Silver, as nature hath produced them in the Earth, 
 have no abounding colour to tinge other Metals withal!, 
 but no more than is required for their own pcrfeflion I 
 but when they are exalted in their Colours by Art' 
 they are able plentifully to communicate their Colours 
 to other Metals, but elfe not. Now what kind of 
 Animal Agent this is, by which the Exaltation of Co- 
 louts may be made, I dare not m.ake common :, ha 
 that will know more of it, mu?f enquire of Adam, 
 vsho brought fuch an Effcnce with him out of Para- 
 dife. You may alfo read my fifth Century together tviih 
 the Explication, where this Subjeift is treated of. Now 
 as the Proprium Agent of the Metals, which is their 
 Spirits, vi^. Sulphur, Ar}nic\, Cobalt^ Orpment, and 
 the like Metallick Spirits, are fixed with the Metalline 
 Bodies, and with them become fixed Metals, becaufe 
 they are half Metals already, fo on the contrary, Salts 
 which alfo are good Agents to Maturate Wetals, yet 
 become not Metals themfclves, as Sulphur, Arfnicli, 
 yintimony , 0,pmevt, Cobolt, Zinc\, Btfmuih, Lapis 
 Cahminaris, and other Realgars or Metallick Spirits i 
 for Salts do not participate of a Metallick Nature, 
 therefore they cannot become Metals ; but* when ihcy 
 touch, diffolve, volatilife, and again fix Metals, it is 
 only done by their Acidity, which is a kind of that 
 A^ty which is naturally in Metals, and this is to be 
 underflood of Common N'ineral Salts, as Common' 
 Salt, Salt Gem, Salnitre, Allome, Vitriol, and the like, 
 which naturally grow in the Earth, in Stones, in Ri^ 
 vers, and alfo out of the Earth, which are dug out 
 by Men and purified, and fo imploy'd for feveral ufes.. 
 Thcfe Salts Ijave a great afFnity with the Metals, but 
 
 Q 2 cahticft 
 
>o 
 
 Of the Secret Fire of Philofophers, 
 
 Part III. 
 
 or Stones, than out of Metals^ but he that will not 
 believe it, may remain in the dark. It is enough for 
 me, that I have plainly dedar'd the truth to the un- 
 grateful World, without any refervation. But our 
 Sal Armonijck^ ( I do not mean the Common J is a 
 good Proferpina^ which eafily carries over the Tindure 
 ot Srones and Minerals. And he that will pluck thefe 
 ciently (hewn. 1 lie Salts of Vegetables are altered in Golden Apple bearing Branches with profit, mutt 
 the Fire, and become fixt Alcalies, which are alfo of very well confider after what manner to prepare his 
 
 cannot become Metals. But the Vegetable and Ani- 
 mal .Salts are of another nature and property, they 
 afTociate themfclves with Metals , becaufc they fome- 
 wiiat participate, though but little, of the Metailick 
 nature. The Animal Salts are principally Volatile, and 
 make a good SjI Armoniack^, which hath a great affi- 
 nity with the Metals, as I have in my Writings fuffi 
 
 good ufe to Metals, as you may fee in my Writings 
 But the Volatile Salt of Animals far exceeds al! other 
 Salts, in its virtue j for it makes not only all Metals, 
 how rixed foever they are, wholly volatile, and fepa- 
 ratcs the cleaneft Tindure of Metals, Minerals, Pre- 
 
 PraferpiKi, that fhe may touch and carry over only the 
 cleaned Tindures, and leave the grofs Bodies behind. 
 The Artiit muft alfo be fufficiently experienced, how 
 to fcparate Profrpina or Minerva from the Extrai-led 
 Tincture, for Minerva is a hinderance to the fixation 
 
 cious and ignoble Stones, that is, it fcparates their ' of the Tindture. And this is the principal fecret in 
 immortal Anima from their grofs and unprofitable j this IMyftery. For all Tini-lures of Metals and Stones, 
 Bodies, with which you may perforn incredible lifter tliey are feparated from their grofs Bodies, by 
 things, both in Phylick and Alchymy ^ But this won- jour Prnfr.-piy.a, they are volatile, and fo remain till 
 derful Salt alfo makes the mofi fubtile,as well good as ; t'ley are feparated from our FroferpUa, Although 
 
 bad Spirits, incredible quick, furmounting Human 
 Underfianding, vifible, tangible. Corporeal and fixt, 
 which concentrated and fixed Spirits, have ingvefs and 
 egrtfs through Doors lockt up, by which Ihangeand 
 incredible things may be done. So great a power 
 fiath the Almighty bellowed upon the Animal (chiefly 
 theMicrocofiuical Salt J above all other Salts, which is 
 known to few. For the Microcofmical Salt, and for 
 want of that, the Volatile Salt of other Animals, 
 Birds, Fidies, as alfo of Herbs and Woods have power 
 to volatilifc all fixed things, and again to fix the vola- 
 tile. In wliich vo'atililing, the purer parts are fepa- 
 rated from the groffcr, the which being tixt again, you 
 have a Tinduie, and there is no nearer, eaiicr, or 
 cheaper way in the World to attain to true Metailick 
 Tcncturep, than by the means of Volatilifing Salts. 
 Take a llmilitude from the Spirit of Corn or Wine, (b 
 long as it is yet in thc/icr/ of the Corner Wine it is 
 little effeemed, but when it is driven out by Diffilla- 
 tion, and cleanfed by Reifiification, and fo exalted in 
 its Virtue, then it is Elieemcd, bccaufe much good 
 may be done with it. So and no otherwife you muft 
 cfteem of Metals , in which fuch rare Tinuures are 
 hidden, which then are not clicemed , becaufe few 
 know what great things may be ef^edted by them. 
 The like great treafuies are alfo hidden in great quan- 
 tities, which by the Ignorant are not clleemed or fought 
 a(:er, notwithltarMing that the Ancient Philofophers 
 J;ave highly recommended to us the Extradtions, Di- 
 ilillations and Separations of the noblelt Tindures to 
 be drawn out of grofs defpifed Metals and Stones, 
 yet their profitable DoJiiines and Adinonitions have 
 taken wi;h very few. 
 
 Bjfd i'.ilcKthie confciTeth in his Manuals, that tlie 
 Work of the Philofopiicrs can be compared to nothing 
 better than to the known labour of making Spirit of 
 Wine, which preparation is known even to lluflicks. 
 The difiiilation and fcparation of theTinftureof Phi- 
 lofiiphers is ?s eafie as to make Brandy, and yet it is 
 done but by very few 
 
 troferpina is a two- fold Key, which both opens and 
 (huts, makes volatile and fixed, yet this is to be ob- 
 ferved, that there are but very few who know how 
 to ufe this Volatilifing and fixing Salt i and therefore 
 I advife to feparate it from your Tindture, and then 
 fix your Tindture. But if God fliall fo favour you, 
 as to fhew you how to fix this Froferpinj^ Or , to 
 fpeak plainer, our fecret Sal Arm>mh\, with this 
 Tindture which it hath drawn out of Metals and 
 Stones, both together without any feparation into a 
 fufile, red, penetrating, and tinging Stone, then you 
 may for that blefs God all your life, for you may have 
 always plenty, without any want, for there is no 
 richer particular, nor univerfal Tindture in the World. 
 For what can be a greater Art than by the help of 
 our Sal ^Irmoniack,, in a few hours, to draw a pure 
 Tiniiture out of grofs Metals and Stones, to bring it 
 over by DifMlIation, topurifieit to the higheff by Re- 
 flifications, and then again to render thofe Volatile 
 Tindurcs in a few hours, fixt andconftant in the Fire, 
 fo that by them you may immediately tinge the inferior 
 .V'etals, particularly into good Gold ? I Gbuber truly 
 fay this, that this highly profitable Labour, to draw 
 the Tindtures out of Metals and Stones, by the help of 
 our Sal Armonia k^, to exalt them, and again to fix 
 them, requires hardly twenty four hours time from the 
 beginning to the end. Which to the unskilful will 
 fccm incredible, but whether it be believ'd or no, is 
 all one to trie. It is the Will of God, that his great 
 Gifts fliall notco.Tie among the impious, but only re- 
 main among thofe, whom he eftcems worthy of[thofe 
 high Secrets, and them who alfo will make good ufe 
 of them. Virgil at fiift gave but a hint of it in few 
 Words. Afterwards Cofympolita did explain this great 
 Work at length. Then /Vc«/^»2f«fi«x publilhed it yet 
 plainer, but the Work is moft clearly and largely def- 
 cribcd in all its Circumdarccs, by the pious BrafeCcKS, 
 in his L'ijlngue de Ligno Vit.e, but it is received by ve- 
 ry few, bccaufe the proud 'loktamts defpifed this cheap 
 Martial Labour, a? \{ Mars contained no good at all. 
 
 Farjceljjtf in his C'Vlift Pbil.ipipborum, fpeaking of; but that it was only to be found in Gold and Silver 
 the Spirits of M-^tals, faith plainly, that it is fo eafie I ingenioufly confels, that i am acquainted with fcvc- 
 to luake Gold and Silver, that it is not worth while ral good Secrets, by which one may reap Profit out of 
 fo write of it. F/c^/Valfo (lieweth, how eafie a ihing Metals, yet none of them is cheaper and eaficr, than 
 it is to pluck the Golden i'nnches from the QUh^Jte ; the WorK of Vtriiil upon Vitriol, or the Opaks Tree, 
 Tree tff Vitno/^ and how cafiiy they will lollolPone : to break off the Golden Branches one after another, by 
 anotlwr, if you but hold forth, your Hand, and when the help of his Proferpina^ or Eagles Wings, or Cnffins 
 you have cropt one, he bids you alfo take a fecond. , Claws. But if one would reap good- Profit by this La- 
 What could be faid plainer ? But yet I tell you, that bour, he muft be furniflied with a good quantity of 
 thefe Golden Branches are much more eafil/, and in ', Gri^iis Claws and Eagles Wings, which alfo is cafie 
 greater quantity to be obtained out of the Red Earth to be had in great quantity , for I have fufficiently 
 
 taught 
 
, ■ . t 
 
 T art III. 91J^'^ Secret Fire of Philojophers. 
 
 8i 
 
 taughf how to prepare them, Furtlicr, it is needful 
 to know, after we have drawn the Tindturcs, cut of 
 Red Metals and Stones, by out Alcjh:-;^^ how lo per- 
 fect them, bccaufc they arc yet Volatile, no Mital 
 can be meliorated by them, iheretorc they muft be 
 fixed befote t'^ey can be ufcd. This Fixation may be 
 made in the fpaccof fix honrs, fo tiiat thcfj Tindtures 
 retain their ingrcfs and fufibility, fo that it they are 
 put upon ared hot Plate, they rficlt in amoment, en- 
 ter and tinge as readily, as Oyl dmh diy Leather, 
 which all Tinfturcs do not, but it,uI' be brought to it 
 by Art, but our Tinsfture only which is made by Vo- 
 latile Spirits, doth it : Thercafon is this, all grofs and 
 and hxed Bodies are naturally ir.Huxile, on the con- 
 trary, all Volatile Spirits again Coagulated into fixed 
 Bodies, mud of necellity be fluxible and penetrating 
 Obferve this well, for it is plainly enough fpoken. Con- 
 cerning this, fee the EpijUe ofArnoldni to the Pope, and 
 there you will find this Obfervation. Without this 
 Secret Sal /4rmoni3c\, ro good can be done in r.Lhy- 
 my. Thus I end my Explication of the Secret Fire, 
 by which all Metals particularly and Univcrfally, are 
 inatutated, with incredible Profit, to the pertedion of 
 Gold and Silver. Now it remains to give fomc hint, 
 how thefe Secret Fires or Agents, feparately by each 
 Froprium ^gens^ may be after a peculiar manner, ma- 
 turated into Tindures. You have heard that coni- 
 mon Sulphur is the Proprium /igens of Saturn^ which 
 becomes fixed with the Lead, and in this Fixation it 
 alfo fixeth and tingeth its Patient the Lead into ') 
 and D. You have alfo heard, that ,'irfenick^ or Cobalt 
 is the Proprium .-i^.'tis of Tin, and that Arfeniik^ the 
 Agent is eafily fixed by its Patient, Tin, and with the 
 Tin becomes and . And alfo. that the common 
 § is fixed into good Silver «vith Lead. And all Vo- 
 latile Realgars, as Orpiment and its Compeers, maybe 
 fixed into good CJold with $ and :, which is the 
 naked Truth, of which I wouTd have none to doubt, 
 for 1 mv feU have ftveral times performed thefe cheap 
 Fixations, and becaufe 1 am fufficiently fatisfied in it, 
 I dare fatisfie others. 
 
 I have thought it unneceflary to defcribe, at large, 
 all the Manuals which belong to this cheap Fixation of 
 the inferior Metals, and alfo to the Coagulation of the 
 Volatile mineral Spirits, intoconftant Gold and Silver. 
 I have therefore publiflied it as fliort , yet comprehcn- 
 five enough ) as I could, that you may fpeculate into 
 it your lelves , and then you caiinot fail, except 
 God prohibit you, which often happens to evil Men, 
 whicii fee eafie things done before their Eyes, which 
 yet they cannot imitate. Now to put an end to this 
 bufinefs, and to prove that the llniverfal Agent, the 
 common Sulphur^ which is the Grandfather or Dema- 
 gergon of all Minerals and Metals, hath alfo its Propri- 
 um Agens^ by which it may be maturated into a llni- 
 verfal Medicine or Tindure, I have thought fit to ac- 
 quaint the \\ orld with this eafie and cheap Fixation 
 ci' Sulphur-^ chiefly, becaufe I have already, fome years 
 fince, treated of this eafie Fixation of Sulphur^ but I 
 have not there difcovered every thing fo plainly, that 
 every one may prepare it. But now I intend, God 
 willing, to publifK it fo clearand compreheni'ive, that 
 even any Mechankk^ may not only undLrfiaRd, but ea- 
 fly imitate it. I pray God to'allili me in it, Amen. 
 Some years ago I taught, how, by the help of my Sal 
 filirjliU\{ohx any coir.mon 5«/;i/.7«r, but chicHy, fixh 
 as is yet bound up in Wood or Sea- Coals, and doth 
 rot fo cafily fly in the Fire, but is eafier to be handled 
 with a red hot heat, than the open Fluxile common 
 Snlphnr. This cuiicus Work 1 have (hewed to fon.e 
 
 Friends with my own hands, and highly recommen- 
 ded it to them, to take it in hand, and bring it to a 
 good end, becaufe I was certain, that it inult become 
 a rich, and far extending Tincture. But feeing th- Sut- 
 phnr would not prtfently be fi.Ved. they left the Work.- 
 Whereupon I farther divulged this Work by vvrit.ng. 
 and made it common. Notwithflanding which, as yet 
 very little hath been attempted about it, becaufe every 
 one is in halle, and hath not Patience to wait for a good 
 end, not confidering that every thing muft have its 
 time, and that hafte makes wafte. A'uft not the Plow- 
 man, when he fowshis Corn Into the Earth, to have 
 an hundred fold encreafe, wait the due time before he 
 can have this Multiplication ? Why fliould nor then 
 alfj a Chymiji wait his time, for this profitable Fixa- 
 tion, that will iccompenfe him a thoufand fold ? Now 
 to return again to our bufinefs, to fhew that any com- 
 mon Combultiblc Sulphur^ which otherwifcis an uni- 
 vetfal Agent for all Metals, to maturate them into GoI<i 
 and Silver, hath alfo its own Proprium Jgem, by which 
 it is rot only maturated into 0and l),butalfointoa true 
 univerfal Tmdure ^ and this is done only by certala 
 Salts^ that have Power to fix the Sulphur^ and make 
 it conftant in the Fire. Cofmopnlita minds us of this 
 very well, when he faith, that Salt, in the conflid with 
 Sulphur., gave him a deadly Wound , which is very 
 true, and befides Salt or ftrong Spirit oi Salt hath 
 Power to fix it, if they be feveral times drawn off from 
 it. How this is to be done, I have taught in my i:bree 
 Principles of Metals. But fech a Sulphur as iS fixed by 
 .4qua. Fortis., is alfo quite killed, and its ingrefs into 
 Metals is taken away, but may be reflored to it again, 
 fo that iteaCly enters Mctals,and tingeth them through- 
 ly. Parjcclfus faith, you muft reverberate the fixed 
 f^, till it comes to be Red, and then draw out the 
 Tinrture, with Spirit of Wijie, and then fix D or § 
 with it into Gold. 'NeufementiMS ttzchah toArovin 
 the Dragon in the Stygian Waters, that is to fix him, 
 and when he is come to the higheft degree of fixity, 
 that then you muft revive, or Volatize him again, and 
 then fix him the fecond time, and then he hath a 
 better ingrefs into Metals to tinge them. Bracejius 
 teacheth alfo, to extrad his fixed Sulphur, out of the 
 fixed Scales of Iron, and to fix them into a Fluxile 
 and penetrating Tindure. Cofmopolita teacheth it af- 
 ter this manner, viz. how to deliver Sulphur out of 
 his Prifon, and that he will give to his Redeemer a 
 Crown of Three Kingdoms fdr a Recompence. Ont 
 of thefe, the true Fixation of Sulphur is fufficiently to 
 be learned, and needs no farther inftrudion, but yet I 
 cannot forbear here to fet dov9n my way, how to f^■& 
 it, that the Artilt may fo much the ealkr attain his 
 End. And this Fixation of Sw/^W may be done after 
 feveral manners. 
 
 And Firlt in this : I have taught, how Sulphur may 
 be fixed into a Red Carbuncle, perfifting in the Fire, 
 where I have treated of my Sal Mirabi.it : It is true, 
 this way of fixing is done without any coft, yet it re- 
 quires a certain , tho no very long, time , which is 
 the reafun, that hitherto few have tryed any thing in if, 
 and yet it is very diflicult to come eafier and chea- 
 per to the Fixation of Sulphur ; and befides, there is 
 this advantage in fixing the Sulphur with' the 5j/M/- 
 rabile, that it retains its eafie Flux and Ingrefs into 
 Metals, which that fi.ved by Atjua Fortij doth not, 
 but into an unmeltabic Earth, which hath no ingreft 
 into Metals except it be procured by Art, which every 
 one cannot do. Yet Neufementiut hath clearly defcribed 
 it in thefe Words ; When thou haft brought thv Sub- 
 jc.'^ to its higheft Fixation, to wit, by the Abftradi- 
 
 X on 
 
82 
 
 Of the Secret Ftre of Thilofopbers, 
 
 Part ill. 
 
 7'T !,-,,,;/ (which Fixation he a^fo dearly by Salts, muft have its due time, before you can ir.akc 
 '" J .„ 1,- faith 'that vou mufc drown thclit conlbntly rixed in the lire, which length of iime 
 
 ten only fupervscaneoufly, 
 but bv few: 1 IHII add even to fupeifluity, one way 
 more how to fix any Su'phur wharfocver to do won- 
 ders in Phyfick. 1^. S.'a-Coals,or in dcfcftof them. 
 Wood Coals powdered, good .fj//;.'/fr, Common Salt, 
 and Ovl of '-'«/r/^/s of each alike quantity, put thefc 
 four things into a Glafs Retort well coate'^^fi>^ ^ ^f 
 ceiver to it, and in an open F.re d.Ihl off all the Humi- 
 dity, urge it at length with the ftrongell F'/e, and 
 a Green Liquor of Sulphur will come over, which the 
 Ancients called the Green Lyon, which diffolves .?, 
 and when they aredigcfted a good while, or the Green 
 Liquor is often abflraded from the O, then they are 
 fi^cd together, and the Liquor of Sulphur, together 
 with the (^, turns into a Red tinging Stone. N H. U 
 you will that the Sw/ffcwr fliall not come over, but re- 
 train fixed behind, you may inftead of the common 
 Salt, which makes the S«//)/;«r Volatile, put Saltpetre^ 
 which is of this Nature, as well as Oyl of Vimol, to 
 make any Sidphm fixed, but common Salt makes it 
 Volatile >/«« killed or fixed the alwa'jS watching 
 Dragon with a ftrong Water of Saltpetre. Bracefcus, 
 BatiliMT, Paracelfitf, Nettfemetftius and others have done 
 the like', he that will truh follow them :, cannot err, but 
 it is impoffible to explain to the ignorant any thing, 
 
 CombulHble Fugitive Sulphur can be fixed. The lear- 
 ned Ancients have taught us, that Patience is the Root 
 ot all Sciences and Arts, wherefore then are Fools fo 
 hady in their Undertakings ? When all Philofuphers 
 llnanimouily tt(iifie,that all Fedination proceeds from 
 the Devil. ParjcfZ/w/ hath taught how to fix Sulphur, 
 by the help of a firong Aqn.i Fortis, by abftradting it 
 from it four or five times. But 1 liave taught, how to 
 fix it by the abftrading of a ftrong Aquafortis, but 
 once, in my Book of the Three Principles : *Tis true, 
 by this way it lofeth its Fluxibiliiy and Ingrefs, but 
 this may be reftored to it again, which for certain Rea- 
 fons, I did not think fit to make known. Now be- 
 ing we know, that nothing fixcth but Sulphur, and 
 that aCombuftible Sulphur fpoils the Metals, and 
 makes them black, and a fixed one hath no Ingrefs, 
 but when that is given to it, it is fit to tinge the Me- 
 tals, for whatever tingerh the Metals conftantly, muft 
 it felf be fixed, or elfe it would not endure the Cupel. 
 'Tis true, out of Mirs and Venus, you may eafily ex- 
 tract a Tindure, which yet doth not tinge conftantly, 
 except they be firft truly fixed. Very many have 
 thought, that if they could but incorporate a Crucwy 
 /i/<jrwwithSiIver,thatofneceffity it muft become Gold, 
 
 fo that he may prefently imitate it. You muft your- | but they found themfelves to be miftaken, for if Cro- 
 fdf take the thing in hand, an^l proceed diligently, ; c»-f Martis fliould be put upjin Silver, it doth not^ti^nge 
 
 clfe nothing can be done : Let this fuffice to be faid 
 concerning coriimon Sulphur, which is an Umverfal 
 Aetnt, to maturate all Metals, and it felf is fixed with 
 Metals, into and i) i and alfo by Sdtpetre and Vt- 
 iTiol is fixed into a true Tinfturc, as is here demon- 
 ftrated. Here I put an end to the Explanation ot the 
 Agent, and Patient of Metals, how to fix them par- 
 ticularly into Gold and Silver, and Univerfally mto 
 Tind-ures. It yet remains to give a fmall L.xpUca- 
 tion of the Fixation of Sulphur. 
 
 A RECAPITULATION 
 
 'B-suder, 
 
 I 
 
 Have taught in this Book, what the Proprium A- 
 gens of Metals is, by which they are naturally ma- 
 
 it at all, but again becomes Iron, and makes the Silver 
 bHttle. IV. B. But if you know how to prepare a Red 
 Sulphur of Iron, conftant upon the Cupel, without 
 returning to Iron again, and then drawoutof this Red 
 fixed Sulphur, hs pureft Anima or Tincture, you have 
 a Colour to tinge all the Metals in the World. Tbis 
 is the Reafon, that the Old Philofophers have fo often 
 inculcated, to deftroy theGold : So that it cannot be 
 reduced into Gold again, and that then you would 
 have the greatcft of Secrets. But I could do nothing 
 more with fuch a dcfrroyed Gold, till 1 learned to give 
 it ingrefs, for when it is dtftroyed it enters no Me- 
 tal, but if you give it ingrefs, then it tingeth, fo alfo 
 neither Nhrs, nor common Sulphur can tinge, if they 
 have no ingrefs which you may cafily believe. 
 
 Therefore the whole Art to make Tindures con- 
 fifis, firft in making of the red Metals as Gold, Iron, 
 and Copper, irreducible, then to extraft their Tin- 
 diure, and to give an Ingrefs. This labour is a very 
 eafie thing to the knowing, but incredible to the un- 
 skilful ; for 1 have fome years fince, fiiewn to fome 
 Friends out of kindnefs the dcftruftion and fixation 
 of fuch Metals, together with the E.X'traiftion and In- 
 
 turatcd in the Earth, wz. That the Veimgnrgon or Sul- 
 phur., is not only the Father of all Metals, but alfo j grefs, very plainly, and highly recommended to them 
 their llniv^crfal Agent, or Maturating Fire, by this univerfal work i they have performed the fixation, 
 which all the Metals naturally in the Farth, and by i but the Extiadion and Inccration thty have not done. 
 Art out of the Earth are brougiu to ptittdion, and although it is fo caiic that a. Child of Ten years old 
 that alfo bcfides Sulphur, '^5 the Univcrfal Agent, the may calily perform it. My hopes were, that when 
 
 Metals have their particular, or proper Agents, which 
 help to bring the Metals to pcrfedion, as well as the 
 Univcrfal Agent. I have alfo taai?,ht, tl»t the Vola- 
 tile Spirits of Metals, or their proper Agents, do not 
 only maturate their Metals, but alfo become good Bo- 
 dies themfelves with the Metals. I have alfo taught, 
 how Sulphur, as a Univcifal Agent chiefly by Salts, 
 may be maturated into a Tindture , which Fixation 
 
 they had pcrfcdfcd it, they fhould give m.e fome of 
 the Tin(Sure, but in ftead of a rccompencc, they 
 told me they could not do it, which was becaute 
 God kept his hand over it. After the way that is 
 here fhewn, Tiidures may be caficft prepared cut of 
 red Sulphureous Metals and Stones, and I have a 
 fmall quantity of it by me, which will tinge red, I 
 made it before my Sickntfs, and keep it as a memo- 
 rial 
 
Part J II. 
 
 Of the Secret Fire of Fhilofopbers, 
 
 83 
 
 tial to my PoOerity. Some perhaps may ask, whether 
 ihere be not a nearer way to prepare Tindi^urts for 
 Mcfals, tban by ExrraLlioiis and fixations, which 
 require much time and Cofts. I iTifwer, 'tis certain 
 there are nearer ways to iix Sulphun in their whole 
 l"iib(bnce without lofs of weight, without any addi- 
 tion of Sahs or Spirits of Salts, v;;Ty ealie and cheap. 
 VIZ. by the Univerfal Coa^ulator into a Tin(iturc, 
 and by their particular Coaguiators into Gold and Sil- 
 ver. Concerning the Coaf^ulators I have already made 
 them known , v/z tliat Lead is the Coagulator of 
 Common Sulphur , and Vulgar Mn-cury^ Tin is the 
 Coagulator of /irfii:\ and Cubjlt ^ Iron and Copper 
 are the Coaguiators of Orpiment^ Sa»darjch, and all 
 other Realgars, and that Gold and Silver are the Coa- 
 guiators of tiie Mercury of Antimony into a Tindfure. 
 Now concerning the Univerfal Coagulator, 'tis not a 
 Malleable or fulible Meral, but only an immature Vo- 
 latile Mineral, not, much unlike to Lead Oar, and 
 therefore the Philofophers have called it the Sj- 
 turnme Ma^nefja , and this is not all one and the 
 fame, for it is found in different colours and figures, 
 fo that he who will ufc them muff well underftand 
 their difference, that he may not take the wrong for 
 his work, and fo lofe his labour. The Ancients have 
 not revealed this Volatile Mineral, but kept it as a Uni- 
 verfal Coagulator in the greatell fecrecy, and that not 
 without reafon, hecaufe they maturated their Volatile 
 Metallick Spirits and Tindlures by it. Yet the Vo- 
 latile Tinfturcs may alfo be fixed, without this Uni- 
 verfal Coagulator, but that requires much time •, there- 
 fore they have ufed this Coagulator for an help, and fo 
 they could maturate the moll Volatile Metallick Spirits 
 info fixed Tindfures, in a fhort time, and this Com- 
 pendium is the chiefeft thing in the Chymical Art, fee 
 ihc Treatife of the Three Pmiciples of Metals. Now 
 to return again to Su'phnr^ and to demonfirate^ that it 
 may be ealily made fixed in the Fire, which is thus : 
 Take one part of Common Sitlpbttr^ mix it with three 
 or four parts of Lead Afhes, put this mixture into a 
 Itrong Earthen Cementing Box, lute it well with a 
 good Ifrong Lute that will not crack, when the Lute 
 is dry, put it into a Cementing Furnace, or into fuch 
 a Fire, that in the beginning will only mtit the 5k/- 
 ■phtir^ fo that it may penetrate the Lead Albes, and 
 hide it felf in them, and fo be initiated to the Fire, then 
 by degrees increafe your Fire from day to day, till at 
 length the Crucible become to be of a dark brown, 
 then increafe your Fire ftill more, and continue this 
 fb long till the Sulphur becomes quite fixed with the 
 Lead Afhes, and confrant in the Fire-, and this will 
 require eight or ten months time, during which time 
 the Sulphur becometh fixed, and hath tinged and 
 fixed its Body, the Lead as much as it could, for it is 
 not poiUble for it to fix all the Lead after this manner 
 into Gold and Silver, but only part of it, yet fo that 
 an hundredfold profit i? made of it, if you proceed 
 rightly in the matter. The icafon of the melioration 
 of the Lead is this ; If Sitnrn hath power to make a 
 Combudibk Sulphur^ incombufiible and fixed in the 
 Fire, fo that it neither fumes nor burns, then it is 
 certainly as good and fit for tinging as another Sw/^iW, 
 which is made fixed by much labour of ablfradfing 
 Aqua FortU from it. . In this Fixation the Sulphur re- 
 tains its Ingrcfs, and therefore needs not to be given 
 to it afterwards, for it had an Ingrcfs when it was not 
 fixed, and when it is made fixed it flill retains it. 
 This makes good that common faying of the Philofo- 
 phers ; If Sulphur fnall firft penetrate S.iturn., and Sa- 
 
 turn attrails it ivillJngly by reafon of Us great dryncfs, 
 and unites it Mi with it, then it is faid that Nature 
 rejnyceth in Nature. When it can be made red-hot 
 with the Lead, then it is faid, Nature ovsrcomeih Na- 
 ture, but when the fixed J'.v/f/^i^r remains conflant with 
 the Lead upon the Cupel^ then it is faid. Nature retaint 
 Nature. This which 1 here declare fo plainly, all Phi- 
 fophers before me have kept very fecret, but that I 
 here reveal fuch great fccrets, I have a reafon for it, 
 which is not neceffary for every one to know. Novy 
 as we have here taught the fixation of Sulphurhy Lead, 
 after the fame manner the fixation of y^rfnkk^ is to be 
 done by Tin,which becomes fixed with it in the Fire, to 
 the great profit of the Artift, it recompenfeth him with 
 Gold and Silver upon the Cupel ;, and this Work the 
 Philofophers always kept very fecret. Cofm^politu 
 writes, that there is a fmall Fi(h in the Sea named 
 Kemorj, which hath fuch power, that if it fits upon 
 the Stern of the Ship, i^^caufeth it to fhnd Hill, fo 
 that although the Wind fills the Sails, yet it cannot 
 move. In another place, he calls this Fi(h Echineis^ 
 which if you read backwards , founds Tin Afhes. 
 Other Philofophers alfo write of this work of Fix- 
 ing, that there are always two forts of Birds in the 
 Neff, or two forts of Dragons in the Dcn, that one 
 of them would willingly flay, which is the Body, but 
 the other which hath Wings, would always fly away, 
 yet at length it is by degrees fo overcome by that 
 which hath no Wings, that at laft it endeavours no 
 longer to fly. The fame happens here to our Volatile 
 ArPikl^, that is, with the fixed Tin Afhes, the Vola- 
 tile part Arfnick^ is always flriving to fly away, but 
 the Tin Allies binds and keeps it, that it is forced to 
 fiay againfl its will, and alfo become fi.ved with its 
 Compaqion. Now as we have here proceeded with 
 Arfnick^ and T/«, and with Sulphur and Lead^ after 
 the fame manner muff be done with Orfiment, and 
 Aiars or Venus., but with Sulphur and the Mercury of 
 Anthmny, together with Gold and Silver, the fixa- 
 tion is performed after a peculiar manner, which fixa- 
 tion I have already declared, and therefore need not 
 repeat it. This I would have noted concerning the 
 Agents and Patients of Metals, but I am very well 
 affurcd, although this fixation is very mean and eafic 
 in it fcif, that yet it will not eafily be imitated, and 
 that becaufe I have made known fo great a Secret in 
 fo fimpleand mean a Style, ^he World is full of 
 Pride, and cannot give credit to fuch mean things, 
 but rather looketh after high, tedious, and fophifti- 
 cate things, which are worth nothing, if they are 
 but fet off with fine words •, God will have it fo, that 
 thefe great Secrets may not fall into the hands of the 
 Impious. Here, in the fixation of the Common Sul- 
 phur with Lead, and Arfnkli^ with Jupiter, Orpiment 
 with M.V)-/ and Vetm, I have fpoken openly, and hid 
 nothing, yet I am certain it will not betaken in hand, 
 partly becaufe of the length of time required in the 
 fixation, which will deter many from this work, many 
 who fliall read it will not be able to believe, that fo 
 cade a fixation hath been done, becaufe none hath 
 hitherto written of the like cheap way of Meliorating 
 Metals, nor fpoke fo plainly as I have done. Many 
 will take Exceptions at my Pcrfon, and fay, if it was ■ 
 .true what Glauber writes' of the cafie fixation of the ' 
 inferior Metals, totranfmute them into Gold and Sil- 
 ver, he would Jo it himfelf, and thereby make himfelf 
 rich, and not publifli things of fo great a concern. 
 To this I anfwer, that my great Age, and many weak- 
 ncffcs will not permit me to take fuch things m hand, 
 
 by 
 
84 
 
 Of the Secret Fire of Phi!ofopbers» 
 
 Fart III. 
 
 by which nothing but Worldly Riches are acquired, 
 which fometimes do Men more harm than good, which 
 I never did nor ever will feck after. If others will 
 doit, they may. I trouble not nyfclf about the Mam- 
 mon, but prepare my felf for a happy paffagc into a 
 more peaceabk' Life, where there is no llrite nor mi- 
 fery , but evcilafling Peace, and evcrlarting Light 
 reigns perpetually. But in that I have diftoveted 
 thefe great Secrets, by which thofc who feek after 
 them , may become very rich , I have done It out 
 of a good meaning, viz. that if many by this fliall 
 attain good means, that fome of them at leaft may 
 affift the poor out of their abundance. To this end 
 only have I difcovered thefe Lucriferous Secrets, and 
 
 not at all to pleafc the Proud and Covetous. But yet 
 although 1 have dcfcribed all plainly without any re- 
 fcrve of the Manuals thereunto belonging, I am very 
 Well futisfied, that God will keep his hand over it, and 
 will not indifferently give his Blclfing to all in it, but 
 will fo difpofe it, that his gifts may not be mifufed. 
 And therefore I am very well fatisfied, that Art will 
 remain Art, although it be never fo clearly laid down 
 before the Eyes of all Men. To whom God will 
 give it, him I envy not, but wifh him GodsBleffing 
 with it, and earncftly exhort him, that when God 
 hath blelTed him, that he by no means forget the Poor. 
 /imea. 
 
 A 
 
 TREATISE 
 
 CONCERNING 
 
 The Animal-Stone 
 
 4 
 
 OR, 
 
 Of that Animal Matter or SuhjeB v?hich (jod ingrafted into Adam 
 and Eve, as a Divine Portion or Patrimony in Taradife, and vphich 
 he ftill retained after his Fall and ^aniflment out of Paradife^ 
 brought it mth him thence y and after Death tooh^ it along mth him 
 to hu Grayey or to the Earth fropt vphence he vpos taken and made ; 
 What kind of Matter properly it «, and in 'what manner a true 
 ^niverfal Medicin may be made of it. Faithfully Tranjlated out of 
 the Hi^h'Dutch. 
 
 The PREFACE. 
 
 Curteous READER, 
 
 'AviH^ in fome of my /.iff Pttblilfjed IFrliiHgi, 
 and efpecially in my Fifth Century., treated of 
 a certain Matter., called by the Ancient and 
 Modtrn philofophers , The Philofophers 
 Stone, nhich Matter they fiy^ Gcd implanted in the jirjt.. 
 Man Adam, and rvhich after hii Fall and BiniJImient., he 
 brought mth h.r.i out of Paradife, and a^ter hu Death., 
 too\it aloii:^ with hm to his Crate, rvithout revealing 
 this Divine i'jtnmoUy and Portion to any of his Tofterity :, 
 fo that this great Jreafure contintted for jhme time hidden 
 
 from the rpicked World, until at length it pleafcd God t9 
 open the Eyes of fome hanefi Men to kjtot* and difcern this 
 great Gift of God, n-hich they alfo made k*ton>n to other Sy 
 though this communication of theirs rvM of little ufe to 
 proud IForldlings, rvhofe Eyes are only ftyed upo outward 
 Vifthles., not minding the irnvard Invifibles. (Fh-refre 
 'mine of them could hdieve, that fo ^re.it a Ireafiire wM 
 hid in Sntful Man, as accounting nothing rvorthy their 
 ejieem., hut Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones, and caffing 
 our upon the Dttngbill as loathfm and coKtct^ltibh r>hat 
 is far better th.itt Cold or Silver. 
 
 A'd 
 
) art III. 
 
 Of the JnimaLStonc, 
 
 S5 
 
 And becjuf- fame of my Enemies have jlandcred fr.me 
 ef my (Vritntgs , ai if they coxtaiiicd abfurd and iti:- 
 p/^ftbfe things ^ to the end thjt none by their Lief and 
 Siiiiders tr^jv be led afide from the way of truth ^ I am 
 rtfoved to jit the Truths J have nrittcn in a greater 
 Licjjt^ and pj/pably to evidence before the tvhile IForld^ 
 thjt rv'hjt I hive /j.'.'7/)/, viz. thjt a Miners! Aunfyhig 
 Virtue lies hid in Ve(>^etj'jles and Animals as ivell at in 
 Metals^ is no abfurdiiy^ hut a great truth, to the Jhame 
 
 and confuJi»t <f my eminus Adver furies. 
 . ihju. Eternal Light^ rvithoHt the lejji mixture ef dark- 
 »efs, Creator and Civerncr of Heavelt and Earib ^ 
 fend doivii upon me thy holy Spirit, beam into my Soul a 
 ^ay of thy Heavenly Light, that it may enlighten my 
 Hearty Brain ^ and Vnderjlandin^-, that I may xvrite 
 nothiniT but irhji may ferve to thy Glory^ the falvjti n of 
 my Sou! , and the enligh'.ning of many thiufjnds that 
 wander in the dark^efs cf Error. Amen. 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 ANIMAL-STONE 
 
 IN the Name of the moft Holy Trinity, I under- 
 take to communicate and declare to the dark 
 wicKcd World , the great Wonder- works of 
 God, and Mylterics of Nature, and that with 
 fo much clearnefs and evidence as never hitherto hath 
 been done by any ; fo as not only the good, aind fuch 
 as are taught of God, but alfo the perverfe Worldly 
 Learned, or the moft ignorant Ruftick may compre- 
 liend, undcrftand, and even handle with their Hands, 
 that I have fundamentally declared and manifefted the 
 Myftcries of God and Nature, to the glory of God, 
 and good, of Mankind. 
 
 In order to perform the great Work I have under- 
 taken, it is needful that we know iirft, what the 
 thing is, we are to feek, and next, where we are to 
 feek for it. The thing we feck for, is the Philofo- 
 phers Stone, which affords the PofTcfTor thereof health 
 of Body, and an honeft plentiful Maintenance. Now 
 forafmtich as moft of the Ancient and Modern Philo- 
 fophers, a few only excepted, point us to'Metals, and 
 efpecially to fixt Sol and Luna, thence to procure for 
 our felves this great Treafure, tiiough they handle this 
 tnatter with fo much obfcurity, that amongit an hun 
 dred thoufand Seekers, fcarcely one is found that at- 
 tains to his delired End, moft of them btfidesfpcnd- 
 ing their Goods and Eftates in the fruitlcfs purfuit of 
 this hid Treafure ; whereof thofe in a great meafure 
 are guilty who perfuadc Men thatiV is the Subject of 
 the Philofophers, and that all other matters are impro- 
 per and unfit for their Work i But others again in- 
 form us, that this great Treafure may be obtained a 
 rearer, cafier, and cheaper way, without Sol or any 
 other coftly Subje>^ls \ Concerning which cheap, and 
 every where to be found, Subjedts, I have made men- 
 tion in fome of my lace piib!i(licd W ritings, and par- 
 ticularly in my Fifth Century, yet not fo plainly as 
 wholly to expole thefe Pearls to fwine. for rhcm to 
 tread them under their fcef. And torafniuch as fe- 
 veral ignorant and envious PerH^ns have taken occa- 
 fion to appear and contradict thcT' rry Writings, as if 
 it were inipoifible to rind Mineral Virtiics in V'tgttjblcs 
 6r Animah, I am moved to ftop the Mouths of thefe 
 envious and ignorant Back bircis, and to cxf ofe them 
 to the Publitk ftiame of the Wcrkl 1 anirtTs I do 
 not think thtfe Slanderers woithy that 1 flu'uld take any 
 pains to contute or convince them oi their Error, be- 
 caufe I am not to mind what fuch as they, but what 
 lioneft Men, and what truth it fcif, (peaks. But bc- 
 Cdufe this deriionltratie'u may be uf ufe to undeceive 
 
 and inform many Seekers after this Treafure, I fjppofe 
 I (hall do a good work, in giving this evident tefti- 
 mony to Truth, whereby not only the Mouths of Slan- 
 derers may be ftopp'd, but the Eyes of the Deceived 
 may be opened to difcern the Truth. 
 
 We proceed then to hear the Verdidl of Truth in this 
 Matter, whether indeed fuch a Mineral Virtue be hid 
 in Vegetables and Animals, as that the Philofophers 
 Stone may be prepared of them. And firft we will 
 fpeak of Man, as being the Noblefl of all Gods Crea- 
 tures, and then proceed to the four-footed Beafts of the; 
 Earth, the Fowls of the Air, Fiihes in the Sea, and all 
 Creeping Things, and laft of all to Trees, Plants and 
 Herbs, to fee what the Almighty Power of God hath 
 laid up and hid in thefe for the ufe and welfare of Man- 
 kind. 
 
 As to Man, the moft Excellent part of Gods Crea- 
 tion, whom God made a Ruler and Governor over all 
 his Creatures in Paradife, we know that he was made 
 very good, without the want of any thing that might 
 conduce to his happinefsor perfedion, which goodnefs 
 continued in him after his Fall, though much clouded 
 and veiled. Forafmuch then as God hath beenplcafect 
 to lay up in Man this great Treafure, to the end he 
 might make ufe of it for his good and perfedion, we 
 murt conclude, that the Divine Wifdom hath placed it 
 fo, that Man may always have recourfe to if, and take, 
 thereof, (without any hurt to fcis Body ) fothegloryof 
 Cod, and his own good. For had God placed this 
 Treafure in theFlcfh or BlOod of Man, he would have 
 been obhged to hurt and weaken his Body by cutting a 
 piece of his own Flcfli, or letting out his Blood, ia 
 order to prepare this great Medicin, which by this 
 mear.s would prove too dear, fo that moft Seekers 
 would rather want the Medicin, than attain it this way.. 
 But God, who is the Eternal Wifdom it (elf, hath not 
 been guilty of any fuch ovcrlijiht in his Works, which 
 are all perted, and no fault to be found with them ■, 
 and it Nature in any of her productions prove defe-fiive, 
 t!;at is not to be attributed to God, but toSatan, who 
 i whilft Man flcpt fowed the Tares amongft the good 
 j Seed, which the Maftcr of the Houftiold had fowed in 
 ! his Field. 
 
 I If it be fo then, that God hath not laid up this great 
 
 j Treafure in theFlcfh or Blood of Man, we may further 
 
 I enquire, where then we are to look for it ? Certain it 
 
 is, that God, cur Heavenly and Wife Father, hath laid 
 
 up this great Treafure in Man, where at all times, 
 
 without any let, pains or trouble, he may come at it, 
 
 Y an ./ 
 
S6 
 
 Of the An'maLStone. 
 
 Part III. 
 
 and have it for nothing, zit. in the Superfluities of 
 Nature, as Uti le, Dung, Hair, Sweat, and Spittle. \ 
 fay that in thefe dcfpicable Lxcremcnts and Supcrllui- 
 ties of Niture, God iiath laid up a great Portion for 
 Man, which he by rtafcn of his Pride, blindnefsand 
 hardncfs of Heart, cannot fee or perceive. 
 
 Another Q2<-'liion that may b.. hercdf iiianded,is, In 
 which cf thtfe Excrements tiiis Trcaiare is molt co- 
 pioully to be found ? To which I anfwcr, that it may 
 be had fiom any of them, but in the one more pknti- 
 iully than in the other, but which is the mofl fit and 
 proper for this Work, I dare not plainly fet down at 
 prcfent, for fear of expofing and proftituting this Pearl 
 to the Wicked and Unworthy, which all honeft Philo- 
 fophers have fo highly forbidden. But this I will do, 
 viz. moil clearly demonftrate, by many inftances, that 
 out of all the Natural Excrements and Superfluities, 
 whether offour-footcd Beafts, Fiflies, Creeping Things 
 and all Vegetables, a Mineral Aurifying Virtue, that is 
 the Matter of the Philofophers Stone, may be had, and 
 that without cort and charges inallpartsof the World, 
 fothat no body,how meanfo ever he be, but may have 
 enough of the matter for nothing, and needs not by 
 his Poverty be deterred from undertaking this great 
 Work, that affords Health and Riches to him that can 
 bring it to an happy end. 
 
 I proceed now to thofe Proofs and Experiments 
 that evidently make out, that in all things ( befides 
 Metals) a Mineral Virtue and Power is found, where 
 by the Philofophers Stone may be prepared. I fhall 
 begin firft with four-footed Beafts, becaufe I do think 
 it fitting for feveral weighty Reafons, at this time to 
 pafs by the Myfteries that lie hid in Man, that they 
 may not be expofed to the Wicked and Unworthy. 
 Now thefe Excrements and Superfluities of four-footed 
 Eeafts as well as of Man are different, according to 
 their diverfe Paffages and Places of Produdion, as 
 Urine which makes its pafTage through the Bladder, 
 Dang through the Guts, Sweat through the Pores of 
 the Skin, Spittle through the Mouth, and the Hair or 
 Wooll of Beafts, alfo through their Skin or Hide, and 
 accordingly arc of different Virtues and Powers. Up- 
 on this account we muft conclude, that in the Sweat 
 of Men or Beafts, there is not {a great virtue as there 
 is in Urine, the former being a fuddain and almoft in- 
 ftantancousGeneration,whcreas the later requires fome 
 hours time before it can pafs through its feveral Cha- 
 nels and be made fit for Natures feparation. So like- 
 wife is Mans Dung a long while a paffing through the 
 Guts, which in Man and Mfcalrs arc much longer than 
 in Birds or Fifhcs, to the end that the Dung might be 
 the better putrihcd and digefted i Thus we find by 
 Experience, that the Dung of a Stork which paffeth 
 only through one fnort Ciiu,when it falls upon the Grafs 
 doth prefently burn and fcorch it, whereas the Dung of 
 Men and Beafts laid to the Fxoots of Vegetables, or any 
 way conveyed to the fame, do ftrcngtiicn and invigo- 
 rate them, and are indeed the higheft Medicin of Vege- 
 tables ■■, as Country Farmers well know, who with the 
 help of the Dung of Men and other Animals are ufed 
 to cure their lick, barren, and overwrought Fields, 
 Vineyards and Orchard.;, rcftoring them to their for- 
 mer rtrength and fertility. But though fimple Ru- 
 fticks be very well acquainted with the great virtue 
 and ufe of Dung, vet our great Learned Men cannot 
 bJicve, that in fuch a dcfprcahk Sucijcft fiiould be 
 lodged fuch an Excdlent Univcrfal Medicin, capable 
 to cure the Difeafcs of Men and Meta's •, and the rea- 
 fon is, becaufe they lovt Pride and Idlcncfstoo well, 
 will not put their hands to the work, contenting them- 
 
 fclves with what they know already, without fearch- 
 ing into cndlcfs Secrets of Nature. For thiscaufc it is, 
 that true Medicin and Alchimy are advanced to no high- 
 er degree of Perfedfion. HeliK'>nt complains of tiiis 
 negligence in Phylicians, who leave the preparation of 
 their Medicins to Apothecaries, declaring, that every 
 Phylician who dcfircs to have good and rightly pre- 
 pared Medicine mnft be both Mailer and Servant, that 
 is, he muft truft the Preparing of his Remedies to none 
 but him.felf. 
 
 Theprefent Subjedl: I ^mupon, viz. the Excrements 
 of Men and Animals puts me in mind ofa Story relating 
 to taraceljui, which take as follows. 
 
 A Relation of what happened at Vienna betrveenVata- 
 ce\Cus and fame of the Imperiat-Court Phyftcians. 
 
 Paracelfits being on a time fent for by the Emperor to 
 Vienna, tocurefome Perfonsof high Quality,whom the 
 Imperial Phyficians could not help, having fuccefsfully 
 performed the Cures he was fent for, went to take his 
 Leave of the Phyficians, who earneftly intreated him 
 to leave fome of his noble Medicaments with them for 
 a remembrancer whereupon /'<ar<zcf//J<^anfwer'd, that 
 he would fetch fomething for them i The Phyficians, 
 fuppofing he intended to beftow fome part of hisprc~ 
 pared Medicins upon them, with impatience expefted 
 his return, who foon after came to them, and fet down 
 on the Table before them a Silver Difb cover'd with 
 another Difh. The Phvficians were very defirous to 
 fee what Par.icelfu had brought for them ; at laft one 
 of them faking off the Cover, found a great Turd in 
 the Difti, at which being exceedingly enraged, taking 
 for granted that Paracelfm had done this to affront 
 them, they ah departed, and when fome call'd them 
 back. Paracelfitf faid. Let the Affes go, they do not 
 deferve this great Secret, which I intended to com- 
 municate to them \ And then added, He who doth not 
 know what Mans Dung is, knows nothing, and Hea- 
 ven and Earth are equally hid from him. With which 
 words he fufficiently intimated, that a great virtue is 
 hid in Mans Dung. Thus much fiiall fuffice, by way 
 of Parenthefis, to have fpoken concerning Parjcelfus 
 his Opinion concerning the Superfluities of Nature, 
 and particularly the Excrements of Man, we proceed 
 nowtofpeak of the Excrements of other Animals, and 
 in particular of Sheeps Wooll. 
 
 An Experimental Vemonfiration, that a Mineral Virtue 
 is hid in the Hair nf Beaiii. 
 
 5!. of clean Sheeps Wooll iv Ounces, and pour up- 
 on it a like quantity of ftrong ylqita Fortii^ abftradlthis 
 ./Iqaa Porta wholly in Balneo, and the Aqua lortif will 
 diffolve theW^ooll, and when abftra<ikd, will leave be- 
 hind a ftinking Stone ofa dark brown colour i afterwards 
 dilTolve in another Glafs Body of M.rcury j Ounce, and 
 of the fincft Sol iij Ounces, pour thefe Solutions of Soi 
 and Mercury into the Glafs wherein thediffolvcd Wool 
 is, then abftrad the Menftruum from the Metals, till 
 nothing remain but a dry Stone in the bottom of the 
 Glafs, take this Stone and put it into a Glafs Retort, and 
 diftill the Mercury from the Sol in a ftrong heat. N. 
 B. The Mercury will not come over quick, but in the 
 form of a Butter of Mercury^ 'of great ufe for the heal- 
 ing of incurable Venereal Ulccts. If you pour fome 
 Water upon the faid Butter, it will precipitate the 
 Mercury in fonn of a white Powder, which being edul- 
 corated and dried, is a good Purge in Venereal Diftem- 
 pcis. But if you rcclific this Butter, and then pcur it 
 
 upon 
 
I 
 
 Part HI. 
 
 Of the Animal-Stone. 
 
 87 
 
 upon a pure Calx of Sol^. the Butter will difiblve 
 the 5ff/, and being afterward? digclled for fomc time, 
 the Mirairy by means of the Saline Spirits ot the V\'col 
 will be fixed with the Sol into a Stone, with it make 
 a trial upon Metals, to fee what it can do, and thou 
 wilt find thy Labour richly rewarded •, but if thou 
 cand not hit it, thentliink, that it i-; not tlie will of 
 God thou fliouidft have it, and do not blame me, who 
 have ftt down nothing but what I have performed 
 n^y felf. Now let us iee what courfe we mult take to 
 xccovcr our Sol \ break the Retort, and take what was 
 left at the bottom of if, which thou wilt find black as 
 a Coal, in which black matter thou muft look for thy 
 iij Ounces of So!^ forafmuch as the Butter has carried 
 but very little of the Sol over with it, which thou 
 may 'ft fcparate from the black matter, as folIow5. 
 
 Melt good Nitre in a ftrong Crucible, and when it is 
 in Flux, caft into it one piece of your black Matter 
 after another, and ihzNitre will burn avvay the Sulphur 
 contained in the faid Coals or black Matter, and the 
 Sol melts down into a Body, pour forth the Nitre to- 
 gether with the Golden hegulus out of the Crucible 
 into a Cone, and the Sol will fettle at the bottom in 
 form of a R.'5«/»*,which,whcn fcparated from the/ccf/, 
 appears fnow-white and brittle, much refemblingaKe- 
 gulus of Antim>my ^ the fsas are of a red colour, and 
 contain much good. This white Sol being cxpos'd 
 upon the Cupel with Saturn to a fiery trial, a third part 
 only of the Sol will be found remaining of the colour 
 of good 5o.', two parts being vapour'd away. The 
 Qu^eftion is now. What that white colour was, which 
 evaporated ontheTeft? If thou fay 11, that the Coals 
 of the Wool, with the help of the Nitre^ have rob'd 
 the Sol of its colour, thou art not altogether out of 
 the way, nor wholly in the right. If tbou fay'fr, 
 that there is no Mineral Virtue in the Wool, but that 
 the Sol became white by the addition of Mercury^ 
 thou art not wholly out of the way neither j but this 
 is not to be underftoodof the Common Aff^iwr)/ added 
 to the Sol-t but of the Mercury contained in the Wool, 
 •which has joined it felf with the Sol ; for Common 
 Mercury cannot abide with Sol in a ftrong melting 
 Fire, but flies away, leaving the 5./ alone, as is well 
 known to Lhymifts. If thou fay'ft, that there is a 
 Mercurial Virtue in the Wool, which within a few 
 hours fo changeth the Conmon Mercury^ that it is 
 able to abide a melting Fire with 5o/, then it will fol- 
 low, that by means of the Salt which is in Wool any 
 Common Mercury may in a fliort time be made capable 
 of enduring not only a melting Fire, but the Cupel alfo. 
 This I fuppofe is a plain and evident demonftration, 
 that there is a Mineral Virtuein Animals, and efpecially 
 in the Superfluities of Nature, which we will now pro- 
 ceed to demonftrate with another Experiment. Now 
 if the Superfluities of Animals are able todo this, have 
 we not reafon to conclude, that the right Superfluity 
 of the Microcofmc will dothe fame much better } 
 
 / 
 
 with Goats or Harts-Horn. DIlTolvc ij Onrces or iii 
 
 aaftraacdfromdecrep,tated5./», into this -.oluwon put 
 , Ounce of Sol, ablira.^ in a Ghfs Body the Anl 
 
 tortn from the Horn, in which abftradion the Sol be- 
 comes d.nolved, and a brown Stone is left behind 
 wh,ch muft be mdtcd down in a cover'd and we 1 b ej 
 Crucible with a b afl, by which means the Horn w U 
 the bnn '"^" ^.'^f /^^^-'^'?nd theS./ will fall white to 
 he bottom brittle as a linguhn of Antimony ; f,om 
 whence It follows, fince this britclenefs and whitened 
 ot the Sol could not be caufcd by the Aqua Fort:s, that 
 the fame mull be attributed to the white Mercury and 
 Sulphur drawn from the Horns. Whereby it clearlv 
 appears, that a Mineral force and virtue is hid in the 
 Horns of Animals. What I have faid concerning the 
 covering of the Crucible with another, and well luting 
 
 wl^'^^'l^fW "°' ""'''^°"' '"^°"' <or if the Cru- 
 able ftiouldbefetopenin the Fire, and continue there 
 
 kmdied and confumed, and the Mercury would be re- 
 
 vrvified and fly away, and the 5./ would ren.ain un- 
 
 l,i' /?', "■ "r°^ "°"'^' '"^^ '^' ^"^^^"^"1 Mercury 
 
 and the S.lphur of the Horns are very tender and vola- 
 
 formed, as before hmted,in a clofel itcd Crucible Thi? 
 Experiment may bedoneinliken>-a.ner, with it e Su- 
 perfluities of Fifl,es, .;^. their Skales. Teeth, and the 
 btones or Bones that are found in fcv<'raIof them, and 
 the effeft will be found the fame as before mentioned 
 
 The fame may alfo be performed, with the Feathers 
 and Lgg-fliells of tame and wild Fowl. N B Eee 
 
 %f'l'' ^')^t'i 7}'^ "'°'' ''^' ^han Feathers. |. 
 The Egg-fliells of Hens, Geefe, or other Fowl, wafti 
 them clean, taking out the inward skin or film, then 
 dr _ them, and abftrad from them, a Solution of P, 
 
 2^7" 'n'^'Tti" '" a dofe covered Cruciblel 
 and you will find the fame effeft, as before. 
 
 If you have a mind to make the fame Tryal with 
 
 Vegetables,then take Tartar which is fitter for this pur- 
 
 pofe, than either the Wine it /elf, or the Wood of the 
 
 V.ne mftcad of T<,rr.r of Wine,\ ou may take the 7m^r 
 that cleaves to theX^e/Tels, wherein the juice of Crabs hath 
 been keep^or the juices of any other fowr Fruit, or 
 mftead ot Tartar vt,c may take the Grounds of W,nc,firft 
 dried. 5=. Anyoneofthefe, and abftrad from it a 
 Solution of P, melt the remainder as before in a clofe 
 luted Crucible, and the o will be found white and 
 brittle, like to a A'r^«/«, of ^ at the bottom. 
 
 trom thcfe E.vperiments it appears, as clear as the 
 day, that a Mineral Virtue is hid in all things : Yet 
 tor more abundant Confirmation of this Truth Ifliall 
 add lome further Inftances. The fame proof may be 
 done with dry or moift Herbs, or Wood, proceeding in 
 the lame manner as before hath been taught, with Wool, 
 and we fliaH find the fame effecl. In particular, ail fort 
 ot Corn, Rye, Uheat &e. alTord a verv good Tin- 
 ture, they muft be diftblved, and proceeded with as 
 before mentioned, concerning the fuperfluities of Ani- 
 mals. If therefore Mineral Powers ma\ be found in 
 all Vegetables and Animals, on whicti Man feeds, and 
 hath his growth and Suftenance, how can it be denied, 
 but that the fame Power muft needs be in Man alfo ? 
 Wherefore it is beyond all doubt, that every Man car- 
 ries the ma;ter of the Philof.)phcr3-Stone ( tho' raw 
 and unprepaied ) about with him. 
 
 To make this Truth to appear, with fuller and 
 .....f,,,.. , „.,....... ^ clearer Evidence, I am minded to give the ignorant 3 
 
 the Expenu.ent may be performed i fcnlible Demonftration, that (without mentioning the 
 
 right 
 
 Another Experiment ti) demcn^rate^ that a Mineral 
 Mercury and Sulphur // contained in the Super- 
 fluities of Animals. 
 
 Rj. Of filed or rafped Horns of Sheep, Oxen, Goats 
 and Deer, but Harts and Goats Horns are the bcft, and 
 the Horns of V\ild Goats, and the Tusks of Wild 
 Swine yet better \ and the Horns of Fifhes, which are 
 ftommonly called Unicorns Horns, and the Elephants 
 Teeth are ti.e heft of all for this purpofe , but where 
 thtfc cannot be had > ^ • 
 
ss 
 
 Of the AnimaLStbne. 
 
 Part 111. 
 
 right Subjc:T of Jhc rhiiofophers-(lone) an iiniverfal 
 rvledi;;ine for Men and Metab. nay be had alone from 
 thedcfpicable and abonninable Subj^a- of !Mans-dung. 
 
 R. Six, eight or ten ft of fome healthy Mans-dung, 
 (h mull be gathered witliout any mixture oi Urin) and 
 put it into a Glafs-body, and pour upon it about the 
 fame quantity nf redified Spirit of Wine, i\\x them 
 with a IHck together, fet the Glafs, with a head Ht- 
 ted to it in Bjtneo^ and abltrad the Spirit ot Wine, 
 which has cxtraded the Mineral $ and ^ that was 
 in the Dung, and brings" it over the Helm : Which 
 Aincking Spirit of Wine mud be burnt away under a 
 large Refrigeratory Helm, by which means the ftinck- 
 ing ^ of the Dung is confumed in the Flames of the 
 Spirit of wine, and the incombuttible Mercurial Salt 
 mounts up in the Flames to the top of the Helm, where 
 it is caught, and is a great Jewel in Phylick and AI 
 chimy. If we have amind rather to have Qur Cc- 
 Icftial Stlt in a dry Form, then we mull abihad the 
 Phlegm from it; Tho' if wc intend it for a Medi 
 cinal, it is better not to abltrad the Phlegm ( which 
 Is not wholly without fome Virtue) but ufc them to- 
 gether But if our intent be to make ufe oi this in- 
 combuftiblc Mercurial i'^/f, in order to Mf/j/Z/c/^Tranf- 
 mutation, then we mult feparatc its Moifture, and mix 
 the faid Microcofmical Salt with © , and maturate 
 the fame to a Metalliac Tindure. Irt a Liquid Form, 
 the faid Ccleftial Salt is ar\ excellent Medicine for fick 
 and weak People, as having great Sympathy with the 
 Vital Spirit of Man, wonderfully ftrengthening the 
 fame, and in all Difeafes performs whatfoever can be 
 expeded from an Univcrfal Medicine;, and is not in 
 the leaft loathfome, being purged from all Stinck and 
 ill Tafte, by the Flames of the Spirit of Wine. 
 
 Thii yl(]ua Vit£ of the Philofophcrs performs alfo 
 very wonderful things in the Vegetable Kingdom, for 
 if the Seeds of any Herb be fteeped for an hour in the 
 fame, and then laid upon a Trencher, or any board at 
 fome dillance from one another,aiid covered over a Fin- 
 gers breadth with Eartli or Sand, being then expofcd 
 to the warm Sun, the Seeds immediately will begin 
 to (hoot and grow, even villbly to the Eye, which is 
 very pleafant and curious. But thofe Seeds which are 
 foft, are tnorc proper for their fpeedy growth, than 
 thofe tiiat are hard : The Seeds of Parlley, Crcfles, 
 Fennel and Annis, which abound with much Volatile 
 Salty are the belt for this Purpofe. So that we fee, 
 that this Medicine prepared of Mans-dung is truly Uni- 
 vcrfal, as CLiring the Difeafes of all the three King- 
 doms, viz. of Animals , Vegetables and Minerals. 
 Wherefore if an^ one can find in his heart, to work up- 
 on this loathfome Subjcd, he will need no other, tor 
 that all lies hid in it, which gave one of the Ancients 
 occafion to fay, 
 
 Lattdit Prxferitem quilib,t Herba Vettm. 
 
 Each HfrbfrotH Earth its bead duth fjifc, 
 'Ttt prefcnt glorious Cad tj praije, 
 
 I cannot, but repeat this great Truth once more, 
 that the higheft Medicine i:i the World is molt com- 
 monly to be lound in the moll dcfpicable Subjects, God 
 having ordered it fo, for to make known his Almigh- 
 ty Power ■■, and that he regards tlic Welfare ot the 
 Poor, as wcH as of the Rich, \VilJing that all fl.iould 
 be helped and relieved, who do not by their own 
 Pride, Lazincfs and Wickednefs withliand fo great 
 Love and Mercy. Had Gods Will been to cominu- 
 liicats this Treafure only to the Proud, Rich and Co- 
 
 vetous, he would have laid up the fame in .^ and pre- 
 cious Stones, which the Poor cannot go to the Price 
 ot^, but behold we find to the contrary, that God hath 
 been pleafed to hide this Treafure in fuch dcfpicable 
 and loathfome Subjcds, as the Rich do fcorn to med- 
 dle with, by which means a Door is opened to the 
 Poor, to obtain that which, they rtjed and defpife. 
 
 But to return to our Subjcd, and yet further to 
 Evidence, that a MffiJ^/ic/;^ Virtue is hid in Mans dung, 
 (tho' it be not the true Subjcd, which the Philoibphers 
 point at in Man ) and that much good may be done 
 with it, as containing a very glorious i)^ and :, I will 
 add this Experiment, lay a Piece of Silver into a 
 Chamber-Fot, wherein is Dung and Urine, let it lye 
 there for fome time, and the ):> will attrad the -^ or 
 Animal Gold, that is in the Dung and Urine, and be- 
 come colcur'd like '-^ which is a fufficient Demonftra- 
 tion, that the matter of the Stone is hid in thofe Sub- 
 jcds. And forafmuch as iC is notorious, that ::^ is 
 the Agent and ; the Patient : And that the n^ alone 
 tingeth, and that c is only tinged : Wherefore it be- 
 hoves us to fix the 1^, whereby it is fitted to tinge 
 the t;, bind and fix it : Which to bring about, much 
 fcarching has been in the World, and Itill is, tho' for 
 the niolt part all in vain, very few Seekers going the 
 right way, and therefore mill of their End, tho' in 
 their Search they have found many Arts, fome good 
 and others as bad. So we read, tliat one Bartkoldut 
 Scbtvartz, a Benedidin Fryar having found in an old 
 Book, that i^, the Father of Tincture, may be fixed 
 with Saltpetre^ wasrefolved to make a Tryalof it, but 
 to no purpofe, for the ^ and Kitre being kindled by 
 the Fire, broke his Vtflels, Furnace and all to pieces, 
 whence he took occafion to conlider further of the 
 Matter , and invented that mifchievous thing called 
 Gun-powder, tho' he fail'd of his fixing of '^. The 
 Ancient Philofophcrs, many Ages ago, were not igno- 
 rant of that Compofition, but would not Communicate 
 the fame for Fear of the abufe thereof: And called it 
 a Bafilisk^^ becaufe it kills all things it looks upon. 
 Others have fet forth Nitre and ■^ under the Notion of 
 a watchful, never fleeping, and Fire-fpitting Dragon, 
 j that guarded the Golden f'/ffce, which Jafon by Mede- 
 : at diredion and Counfel caft into a deep Sleep, and fo 
 iodk away the Golden Fleece. Mfr/fj fignifies diligent 
 Study and Meditation, Jafon the Artift, or Laborator, 
 I the Soporifetous Medicine given to the Dragon, the 
 due Fixation of the Matter. Another Benedidin Fry- 
 ar, Bafil Valentine^ had better Succefs in fixing ■^ with 
 I the help of Nitre:, which Fixation he hath recorded 
 I in his Writings, where he makes Saltpetre to fpeak 
 thus : i^ ;'/ my bejr Friend^ and iiuihal my greatefl Ei:e- 
 ' w;y, but n-heit rre are duely conjoyned^ and made oirr 
 Marriage Bed in Hell, lifter ive have well fiveat toQ^ether, 
 jve cafi c§ all our I'l/ipurities^ for to bea^ct Children if 
 IFealth and Kiches \ and in our dead Bodies is found the 
 ^,-e.ite[{ 'ireafure., ivhich n-e benue th by our laji Will. 
 Thefe are the Words of Bafil Valentine^ wherein he 
 cxadly and plainly dcfcribes the true Fixation of :$, 
 fdve only that he hath not nanxd the Medicine where- 
 with the watchful Dragon is to be call into a dead 
 Sleep, and that for good Rcalon, becaufe tlie whole 
 Art and Mailer piece of fixing :^ with N//rf conlilis 
 therein. And Paractlfus writing concerning tt~ l^ith: 
 Here trith ferv words maii\ may be helped^ ivire n not 
 a^jinii God, for God nvl't not that aHfjouldbt h-hh^and 
 therefore doth not give the Goat as long a Tail, as to a 
 Corf., for fear he (Ijould out of Pride beat nut his otvn 
 \ Eyes theren-ith : Forrvhcn a poor Man grows Rich-, it com- 
 ' monly makes him Proud-, and as jlurp as a }\azor to others. 
 
 Thefc 
 
Part ill. 
 
 Of the JnimaUStone. 
 
 89 
 
 Thcfe are the Words- of P^rjcelfiff^ wherein he de-| 
 clarc? a j^rcat Truth, for God will not lave all ^'en 
 to be Rich,bccaufc of the great abufe of Riches, which 
 IS too too common in tlie World. But to thofe, wIio 
 are dead to the World, and look upon Riches, Money 
 and G(;ods, as Dull and Smoak, and are Enemies to 
 all fin and wickcdncfs, to tlufe God t^ivcs more than 
 thrtrfelvc? dclire or wifii ior, becaufe he knows they 
 will not abufc his Gifts. And fo much fhall fuffice at 
 this time, for niy difign is not at prefcnt to treat 
 of the lixation of f^, which 1 have clfewhcre done 
 at large, but only to prove and make out, that the 
 Matter of the Philofophcrs-ftone is to be found in all 
 things in the World, which I think I have done alrea- 
 dy. Will any makeaTrval, and undertake the Work, 
 'tis free for him fo to do, I have in this Difcourfc 
 poinced out the right way, tho' I have not revealed 
 the right Matter : But if what I have here fctdown 
 be wtll conlidcred of, by the ingenious Seeker, it can- 
 not be long hid from him : f arewcl. 
 
 A Corollary : Or^ /Appendix 
 going Vifconrfe. 
 
 to 
 
 the fore- 
 
 I Have in this (hort Treatifc abundantly fhewed and 
 verified, that in all Vegetables and Animals, a mi- 
 neral Virtue lies hid, which is able to Coagulate V in 
 Conjunftion with &■, into a Metal : And that I may 
 be further helpful to the Lovers of Aft, I intend here 
 to deliver the whole manner, andProcefsof fixing fp, 
 by Excrements and natural Superfluities, to the end 
 that every one, who reads and conliders of it, may 
 with eafe attain to a true Tintfture. In order to which, 
 I am firlt to put the Reader in mind, what 1 have al- 
 ready hinted, that as thefe Superfluities of Nature, are 
 different and various, fo fome of them arc better for 
 the fixing of y than others : The beft of all being, 
 that which j4dam brought out of Paradife, as a Childs 
 Portion God had beftowed upon him, which I dare 
 not name openly, but fliall only fet down here, how 
 this Fixation of u may be performed by means of the 
 Superfluities of Animals. 
 
 I have, in the foregoing Difcourfc,declared the man- 
 ner of Coagulating Q with the Wool, or Hair of Ani- 
 mals, fo as to fuffer himfelf to be fluxed with in a 
 ftrong Fire, without evaporating, only to (hew the 
 polTibility of it. But now (hall fet down, how the 
 (aid Fixation may with Profit be performed, by means 
 of an Animal Salt Armtmack^ For certain it is, that 
 in Man and all Animals, fuch a Secret Sal Armomackj^ 
 to be found, efpccially in Urine, Hair, Claws, Horns, 
 Skins, &c. as alfo in the Blood, fweat and fpittle of 
 Man, which is of force to coagulate and fix Mer- 
 cury. 
 
 N. B. The fafting Spittle of Man Coagulates run- 
 ning 9, being ftirred about %vith a Pcille in a Glafs, 
 or Stone Mortar, and fo is made fit with Hogs-greafe 
 to be made into a Salve. Now after that common o 
 is thus Coagulated with fafiing Spittle, if we mix it 
 with Oyl or Butter, to make a Salve of it, we (hall 
 find that the 9 will not unite with the fame, but runs 
 together., and becomes quick as before, and only fuf- 
 fers it felf to be joyned with melted Hogs-greafe, but 
 with the fat of no other Animal whatfoever j theRea- 
 fon without doubt is, becaufe Swine have a great alii- 
 
 nity with Man and Mctais. Thus we find, that Mans 
 and Swincs tlood have this Property, that MthtCdx 
 of Ij be for fome time boylcd in either of them, the 
 T? becotTics white and hard like )) ^ the Rcafon of 
 which tiie Reader may be pleafed further to enquire 
 into. Mans Urine alfo has this Nature and Property, 
 that at one only Sublimation it T:) Coagulates p, that 
 when i is rubbed over with it,it looks as well as ifit were 
 Silvered over. And the fweatof Man is partaker of the 
 fame Property, of Coagulating and Metallizing 9, fo 
 likewife the Excrements of Alan and Bcafts, &c But 
 nothing does it more readily than Mans fafting Spittle, 
 wherefore alfo A/bertut Mai^nns faith, that the highe(l 
 Mineral Power hath its Seat in the Head of Man, 
 and efpecially between his Teeth, he himfelf having 
 found, oblong Grains of 0, between the Teeth of a 
 dead Mans Skull -^ 'tis very probable, that the Perfon, 
 to whom the fame belonged, had taken ? inwardly, 
 which naturally tending to the Mouth and Teeth, had 
 been fixed there by the Mineral Virtue of the Micro- 
 cofm into good 0. Now if we fee this happen thas 
 in the Body of Man, what rea(bn have we to doubt, 
 but that the fame Mineral Virtue may, without the 
 Body of Man, not only fix t} into good e, but alfo 
 reduce it to a true and pcrfeft Tin^ure. Forafmuch 
 then, as this is not only poffible, but certain and un- 
 queftionable,! having wrought it with mine own hands, 
 and knowing many other cafie ways, by means of the 
 natural Superfluities of Animals, to Coagulate and fix 
 I, I am the rather inclined to Communicate the fame 
 to the World. 
 
 1 wi'l therefore in the name of God, for the good 
 of Mankind, Communicate the way and Procefi, I my 
 felf at firft made ufe of to Coagulate y, and that 
 entirely from the Beginning to the End, and very plain- 
 ly, not concealing any the leaft manual Operations. If 
 any one from this Procefs here fet down, chances, to 
 find out a nearer and better way, I (hall be glad of it, 
 we know it is much eafier, to correft and meliorate % 
 thing already invented, than to invent it. What I 
 here fet down my own hands have wrought, what I 
 have never done ortryed I cannot Write, but leave ic 
 to thofe,who are further advanced herein than my felf. 
 
 A 9 %0 C E S S. 
 
 To fix ?, by means of natural Superfluities into 11 
 True Tindture. {Jj. Eight Ounces of Wool, Goats 
 hair, filed Goats or Harts-horn, &c. difToIve any of 
 thefe in a ftrong Aqua Fortis^ at the fame time diffolvc, 
 in an Aqua For^/,that has been abftraded from decrepi- 
 tated Salt^zn Ounce of fine o ,and two Ounces of y in 
 common Aqua Fortis^ pour all thefe three Solutions to- 
 gether into a Glafs Body, and abftrad all the Aqua 
 Forth from the O and 5 i this abftratfled (lincking Wa- 
 ter pour again upon that, which remains in the Glafs, 
 and diftil it off, repeat this Cohobation fix or feven 
 times, and the ? by this means will become united, 
 and joyned to the O. This Conjun(ftion put into a 
 Glafs Retort, and with a ftrong Fire drive the ^ from 
 the ', which will come over in the form of a thick 
 red Butter, for the y being fo far ixed with the ®, 
 will not without great force be feparated from it, efpe- 
 cially when the Operatof hath made ufe of a (Irong 
 fixing Water, or MenflruHm : However, by the vio- 
 lence of the Fire, he is at length forced to quit the O, 
 
 ^ in 
 
90 
 
 Of the Jn'maLStone. 
 
 Part III. 
 
 l-n which Separation he carries the Soul of over with thy Coals vvith, and confume them, to which purpofe, 
 him, which makes the Mercurial Butter to be of thou triayft put three times as much Af//rf, as the quan- 
 a red Colour :, which Mercurial Butter, or Water be- tity of thy Coals is. When thou feeft that the Nare 
 ing re-tilied doth difTolve ©, and with it may be fix- is red hot and in Flux, then catt in upon the Nitre a 
 ed into a true TintSurc. : pi"C of thy Coals as big as a Hafle! Nut, and the Ni- 
 
 N. B. This SoUr Butter may be ahothcr way with- j trs will immediatclv kindle the t^ and confume it, and 
 out' G be fixed into a Tindure, notncceffary to be fet by this means fet the i; free ■-, for in the burning away 
 down here. He that hath a Lift to the work maybe- 1 ot the fj^, the is forced to leave the ■ , as net be- 
 gin with the Fixation, that is performed with the help ing able to endure fo (hong a Fulmination : And ha- 
 of 0. ■ The G and 5 that remains in the Rctoit, may | ving by means of the Animal f^, fo intimately united 
 be recovered, as follows hereafter i for certain it is, that ' with the ';, as to be very hardly feparable,but yet by 
 piucii of the in this Operation continues with theo, the force of the fnlmen being fain to leave it, he in 
 the Violence of the Fire having been unable to fcparate he in his flight takes the Heart of © along with him^ 
 it, tho' it may indeed be done another wa , vvhereby and brings it over in the form of a purple Sublimate, 
 
 we are experimentally afTured , that Animals have 
 power foto'bind the winged Youngflcr, as to Jiv him 
 Vkith into perfeiS: Tinv^ture, which Fixation would 
 be eafte, if the Horns and Haif of Animals did not 
 for the mod part turn to Coals which do much hin- 
 der Fixation : For when the SoUr Butter is by the 
 force of Fire drivei> from the ©,the Coals of the Hair 
 flay -behind with the Fire of G and c : Which Coals 
 may either, like other Coals, by means of our wonder- 
 ful 5 j/t be fixed' into Tindure, fur the G and half 
 ri.\ed t; do not hinder, but rather further and help 
 f.i.\atinn : Or clfe, we may joyn to thefe Coals, a due 
 I'roportion of gocvd' IVtrc, and fo make of them the 
 always watclrtulj and Fire-fpitting Dragon, and with 
 the help of \\\fNjrmtck f:f? of $ and ¥ caft him in 
 to a dead Sleep, kill and fix him into Tindure. For we 
 imifl know, that this Animal -^ is incomparably better, 
 tlvan any Vinerai-or"'VcgefabI{: ^" of Stone, or Wcod- 
 Cijal. 6» clfe with the help of a fulminating Pow- 
 der , we may feparate the half lixt <_, from the half 
 diftnimated G, by v»hich means the Ni/rf kindles the 
 A^nimal f^and'^onfumcs it, and then the; being freed 
 tVom the Bands of' t^'miiA ■com,e_over, carrying over 
 wfh it the yet remaining' Soul or Tineture of G, 
 which the V ihtW Preparation of the Sohr Butter 
 
 which with the Oyl of Vitriol ( but much better by 
 means of the univcrfal Coagulator) nrjay cahly be fix-, 
 cd into a Tindure. This throwing of the Animal 
 Coals upon the Kitre^ thou mull continue till a'l thy 
 Coals be confumed, and fo thou wilt obtain a im- 
 pregnate, and tinged with the Soul of •', and the 
 •• remains of a white Colour, being difanimated by 
 \.\\t Nitre, 
 
 N. B. As oft as yon caft a piece of your Coals into 
 the X'efTcI where the Nitre in Flux is, you mulf im- 
 '"lediattly clap on the Head again, that the g may not 
 fly away, but be caught therein. For the faid c is a 
 great Trcafure, and may eafily be fixed into a fufible 
 Tindure. Thus you have the whole Procefs, how 
 by means of Animal fupeifluitics I have handled y with 
 , and what hath been the Succefs of it : He who 
 fhall venture to fet upon this Work and finifh it, will 
 find much more than I durff fet down here. 
 
 The neareft and eafiefl way to fix thefe Solar, 
 Aferairial Animal Coals into a Tinfture, according to 
 my Judgment is, Firfi to fix the faid Coals, by means 
 of a Fixative Sal Mirabile : Or clfe, fornix them with 
 a Volatilizing Sal Mirabile, and by Retort diffil from 
 them a good graduating Water \ we miay alfo add to 
 thefe Animal Coals fuch a Fixative water, as is em- 
 
 di'd not bring over : T+ius the ^ becomes more difa- ployed to kill and fix the watchful Dragon or Baftluk^ 
 rimattd ar.dUte^ ( whieh:ccmcs over of a fair Pur-| Every one may choofe of thefe fevcral ways, what 
 cle Colour) becoh'its the more'richly animated, which ' pleaftth beft : And if any thing by reafon of thefhort- 
 Purple coloured ^ impregnate with the Soul of •, rnay ' nefs of time hath been omitted here, the fame will 
 either by it fdf, be fixed into Tindure, or we may ho. difcovered to the Laborator in Iws Work, if God 
 extrad the Tindure wjth the Spirit of V\'ine, and does not hindcrit, whofeBlciring is all in all. Ihomas 
 make ufe of it as an ineftiniable Trcafure in Vhijdck.l^qainas had the Art in twenty four hours time, to 
 But the bcft way is, with our wonderful Salt^ to fix prepare an univcrfal Medicine from natural Supcrflui- 
 thefe Animal Goals impregnate with and ^ like : tics alone, without any Addition of '' ort, without 
 other Wood-Coals into a tinging Carbuncle. i Charges, Labourer Trouble, without, breaking of 
 
 N. B. This wou^derful Sxlt muft be prepared of Glaffts, and without taking in any loathfome Smells. 
 Ovl of Vitriol and Nitft. This is the way I have fol- So likewife Avicemta, Albertus- Magnus^ Khafis-, Petrut 
 lowed to CQagdate ^^ with G,. by means of Animal '.Bokhs^ Joannes Lancittins Rupefcifa, had a much nca- 
 Supcrtluitjes. 1' rnliit own thbf it 'is a troiiblcfome 'rer and fliorter way, than here we have defcribed, as 
 \\'ork, efpccially f/e'caufc of the'Stincks, one isobli- 
 eed to'take in. Some Philofophcrs indeed make men- 
 tion of a nearer and calicr way'lo obtain an Univcr- 
 fal Medicine from Animals : Wherefore he that doth 
 not like the Ptocefs, may feek'for a better, which if 
 he chanccth to lieliton, he has reafon to blcfs God 
 
 therefore, whofeGift alone it is. 
 
 appears abundantly by their Writings. Thcfc Au- 
 thors took their SubjeA and putrified it in Horfe- 
 dung, and then with the Element of Fire, they fixed 
 the o with the G into a Tindure, in which Labour 
 they were much troubled with the loathfome fmcil 
 of the Matter. Morienus fells us , that the Matter 
 when in Putrefadion, fends forth a flinck like to that 
 which proceeds from Graves, for indeed there is no- 
 thing in Man, which doth not ftink extreamly, when 
 brought to Solution or Putrefadion. When we dif- 
 folve thefe Animal Matters with Oyl of Vitriol, this 
 fUnk is not fo great, as when they are diffolved with 
 ^qua Fortis, the fame alfo may b? faid of Spirit of 
 Salty when G, c and Wool are diffolved in the fame , 
 and betides doth more Volatilize the in order to Sub- 
 
 DiUC 
 
 ^ PK b.C lis 5, To Suhlimejhe Coals of Sol, Mer- 
 cury and Animal Sulphur into Purple coloured tlo- 
 tperSj ^itb ilpebclp.cf^ a fitlminaPing Powder. 
 
 'ET 3 well hited Glafs, or earthen Body, in a fub- 
 
 )--liming Furnace till it be red hot, then caft in fo r • j . if 
 
 h Nitre as you think will be futfir.ient to kindle limation, ot fulmination than Aq»^ tortii doth, it 
 
 * inftead 
 
Part III. 
 
 Of the AnunaUStorie, 
 
 -^ 
 
 91 
 
 ■ inftead of the Common t» we take a d of ?; for this 
 Work, it will in Fulmination carry more of the Tin- 
 (flure of C over, and the purple Flowers proceeding 
 thence, are much more readily rixcd by thciiniperfal 
 Coagulator, than thofc that arc made with the Com- 
 mon K.. 
 
 what this univcrfal Coagulator is, 1 have elfewhere 
 declared, the great ufe of it is very evident, in that 
 volatile Tindures can hardly be fixed without if : For 
 this Coagubtor makes all volatile Corrofive MetaL'i/ie 
 Spirits Hx fo as to be able to endure the Fire, which 
 without it require a long time. And therefore, he 
 who doth not know it, or the ufe of it, mud needs 
 find the fixing of volatile Spirits very tedious and 
 troubkfome, whereas thofe that know the ufe of it, 
 may perform more as to the fixing of 1 intS'urcs in 
 three days time, than others without it can do in a 
 whole Year. For there is nothing in Nature fo Vo 
 latile, which this Coagulator doth not fix, as Turhj 
 tel^ifics, faying that if God had not created our SjI 
 Armonijck,-, aJl Chymical Labour would be in vain. 
 Which indeed is the very Truth : For without a good 
 Sal Armoniack^ it is iinportible to extradt the Tin- 
 ^ures from Metals and Stones, or topuiificand fub 
 tili2e them to the highell Degree > and without pre- 
 ceeding Subtilizing, there can be no ingrefs into com- 
 padl Bodies : F"or the more that any T in<3ure is Sub- 
 tilized and Volatiliz'd, the more readily, after Fixati- 
 on, doth it enter all hard and compa<fl Bodies. Where- 
 fore if God had fnot created this Coagulator, thcfe 
 volatile Tincfl'ures, how high focver they might be in 
 Colour, would be of no ufe for the Tranfmutation of 
 Wetals. Thus we find, that in Jikhimy thefe two 
 principal Keys are extremely neceflfary : The firfl opens, 
 makes Volatile, and Furirics and gives Ingrefs i the 
 other binds and fixcth the Volatile, fo as to make it 
 endure the Fire, without which Fixation all Volatiliza- 
 tion is in vain. O the Pains that I have formerly ta- 
 ken for to fix '^t O, ^ and other fuch like X'olatile 
 Metalline Spirits, whereas now it is moll calle for me 
 to do all this,and much more, vvith the help of my uni- 
 vcrfal Coagulator , the knowledge and difcovery of 
 which muft be fetched from the Principal Agent, or 
 fecret Fire of the Wife Men. 
 
 I cannot upon this occafion pafs by difcovcring ano- 
 ther Property that is found in our Animal Subjedt, ://?;. 
 that it can in one diftillation refolve all Metals, none 
 excepted, into a running Mtrcary, which is a thing 
 very wonderfuI,that fixt Gold and Silver fhould be fo 
 eafily reducible to Volatile Mercury^ feeing their Bo- 
 dies are by nature kept in fuch Ihong bands. Of 
 which Pveduuion of I^letals to quick Mercury^ no 
 Perfon hath writ more clearly than Bafd Valentine. 
 The Ancient Philofophers have indeed writ much con- 
 cerning the volatilizing of fixt Metals, but did never 
 declare, that, by this Volatilization, they underftood 
 a reduction of them to running Mercury^ for which 
 reafon this Art alfo hath been fo little known. The 
 Ancient Philofophers have recommended this volati- 
 lizing and fixing of Metals to us in thcfe following 
 Verfes. 
 
 Fixum ft folvJS-,fjciaf^ue volare folntum., 
 Et volttcrem fgJS, faciei te vivere tuium, 
 
 Diflblve the fixt,and make it then fo fly. 
 
 And hx the Fledge, and thou (halt dwell on high. 
 
 With thefe few words the Philofophers have de- 
 slarcd their whole Work, but without any further 
 
 explaining of them ^ fo that the manner of cdmpcti- 
 dioufly volatilizing and fixing of fvletals has been left 
 in the dark. But becaufe the end of tliis wicked 
 World draws nigh, God is pleafcd to reveal thcfe Se- 
 crets to fome of his Chofen, which Talent mcrcitnlly 
 beAowed upon me, that I might not be guilty of con- 
 cealing, I have in the Seventh' Part of my Profpnity nf 
 Gtrmaiy at large Li down the way to Meliorate the 
 meaner Metals, with the help of Animal Salt Spirits, 
 and that fo plainly, that every one mavunderftand it, 
 and the Poor ( if they will put their hands to the 
 Work ) may have abundantly wherewith to maintain 
 thernftlvcs. 
 
 Moreover thefe Superfluities of Nature are endued 
 with this po'.'.er and pioptny, that in one days time 
 they can delhoy fixt Gold, that refills all the Elemeng;, 
 fo as to be no m.orc Sol, but will fuffcr it fclf to be 
 melted into a green fufible Stone, which is uf xvon- 
 dcrful force and virtue in all Metallick Operations, of 
 which it is not needful to fpcak more at prcf.nt. If 
 God thinks fit to bedow this Green Stone upon :hcc, 
 he will not fufter thee to be ignorant what ufe may ba 
 made of it. I cannot, upon this occafion, but com- 
 municate fomcthing that is very wonderful. As I wa9 
 on a time mching fome of thi? Green Stone in a Cru- 
 cible, it happened to run through the Crucible into the 
 Furnace, where fome Silver was run out a littiie be- 
 fore, with which the Green Lion joyn'd himfdf V: 
 and wheal came by fufion to fcparatc my Luna tiotn 
 the Green Sol Stone, or my deltroycd,.W- i found: 
 that my Green Stone had never been throughly unitfi 
 with my Lioia-, the Stone continuing ftill green with- 
 out any the leaf! alteration, but my Luuj was become- 
 black and brittle like Antimony^ and went away upon' 
 the Cupel. Now, what more wonderful change can 
 be imagin'd than to fee white fixt Luna changed into 
 black volatile Lead ? Upon occafion of this wonderful 
 Tranfmutation one of the Philofophers cries out, as. 
 Ihuck with admiration. i Nunqtud Nitura Retragfada ?' 
 What is Nature then turn d Fvctrograde ? Mind well- 
 this point, confider of it, and you will difcovcr won-- 
 ders i for when Sol is fo far dciiroyed ss to be no- 
 longer S>!, then the greateft wonders msy be accom-i 
 pJilh'd by it. Yet know, that it is no eafie matter fo- 
 to deflroy Sol, that it (hall be Sol no more •, the An- 
 cient Philofophers unanimoufly declaring, than it is 
 eafier to make Gold, than to defhoy it. 
 
 N. B. This Green Gold-Stone being kept for fome 
 time in the Fire,becomeschangc'd to a red coIour,which 
 is alfo of great ufe, he who defires to know m.ore of 
 if, may feck for it, as my felf and others'have been fain 
 to do. 
 
 N.E. TheSd/fof the greater World (I mean Com- 
 mon Salt) changeth the Metals that lie in it for a 
 long time, into a hard Stone, as appears from this in- 
 ffance ^ Some Fifhcrmen here in HoLofid, lately r«ok 
 up from the bottom of the Sea fome Blocks of 
 En^lijh Tin, whofe outfide was turn'd to perfcdt 
 Stone, the inmoft part of them ftill remaining Tin i 
 Who knows, how many hundred years this Tin had 
 lain at the bottom of the Sea, before this change was 
 made i but if the Sea Salt of the greater Wdrld can 
 perform this in a long time, the Sea Salt of the lefl'cr 
 World can deflroy Metals in a very (hort time, for our 
 Animal SjIi can do more in a few hours time, than the 
 Sea Salt of the Macrocofme can do in an ico years. 
 
 Wherefore I recommend to the Lovers of this Art 
 to fiudy the nature of Salit and their ufe, if thcf in- 
 tend to perform any thing Extraordinary either in 
 Phyfick or Akhimy. 
 
 K. B. The 
 
Q2 
 
 A- /^. The Salt of the Microcofme hath alfo this 
 property, that '.vhcn it is piit into /Jriua Forth if not 
 ony di/ToIves S^i but Lw;a alfo, and is an eyctHuit 
 way to cxrrad the GolJ and Silver that is in Sand and 
 fifones, concerning which Extradion I treat at lar^e 
 in the Seventh Part of the Profperity of Germany. 
 
 M. /.'. Another virtue of rhisMjcrocofmical A'/// is, 
 that It extra.'^s the Tinrture of Gold, and leaves the 
 i^ocy thereof white. And if <ve afterwards take this 
 inipregnare Sa/t, and cxtraiT: the Tincture of Gold 
 trom If with Spirit of Wine, and burn away the faid 
 5pmt under a Refrigeratory Helm or Head, then tht 
 '-eleltial Salt, or the Wafer of Lite of the Philofo- 
 phers, will be conveyed into the GJafs Receivers, and 
 IS very fwcet and pleafant, but withal fo fubtil and 
 volatile, that the Air attradsand fnatcheth it away, ff 
 n be not immediately pourM out of the recipients, 
 . an d carefullr kept in a clofe ftopt Glafs. 
 ff, ^' - r^ ^^'^ bottom of the Cup or Dilh wherein 
 tne^pirit of \\ me, impregnate with the Tinfture of 
 Jjoid bath been kindled and burnt away, you will 
 ftnd the Tindture of Gold in the form of a Blood-red 
 pleafant, fragrant, Aromatical Oil, which is true li- 
 ving Sol, and never ftands /till, but is in continual 
 rnotion perpetually changing from one form to ano- 
 ther. In a word, it is the true living Sol of the Phi- 
 lofophers, which by Art is made of Common Gold, 
 that IS dead, which Living Philofophick Gold, fra- 
 p!l?L,^^?f .^'°''^' Incombuflible Oil, and true 
 mable Gold IS without doubt the higheft Medicin 
 that IS in the World. 
 
 th^-r-^:ci '" ?^ ^""^'^''^ "'■=»""^' "'e may alfo extradt 
 the Tinctures from Mars and VeMUf, as alfo from ^«- 
 t>>no.y^nd Sulphur, and with the ailiftance of the flame 
 oi ^pIrIt of VVine maturate them intomoft lovelv, fra- 
 grant, incombuftible Tinftures. For by means of our 
 Jlicrocofmical Salt all Metals and Minerals may be re- 
 ducd to Potability, without the help of any Corro- 
 live, in which ftate they are the mof^ powerful Medi- 
 catjients imaginable, to which the very beft Remedies 
 ot the Galenifts are not in the leaff to be compared. 
 But no Man ever attained thefe Secrets that was afraid 
 jolmuthis Hands with Coals, or that was not earnefl 
 In his Prayers to God for the difcovery of thefe won- 
 
 r/nV T ■^'"' ^'°^''"' V^'^" Coats, Artificial 
 ^ant, and vain Ariftotelical Philofophy, cannot pro- 
 
 0/ the AnimciLStonc. 
 
 1- art III. 
 
 duce any Hxh effe^s, but the FirT abi^Twhich is th"e 
 cffcdler and d.fplayer of Wonders. Wherefore no 
 Man can come to be a true Ph.lo(^,pher fave olZ 
 F.re which alone h.th the power to remo ve that wiCli 
 
 o,K '^Tr '^""m 'f ^"^ ^^"S to light the inward 
 concca.c,] Good, vvhieh .s true in an Earth! v as well S 
 Heavenly fcnfe. I repeat it onee more, th t he who 
 ^oth not know F.re. and its hidden Di-ine Virtue^nd 
 
 Jifdr;\h:f^.^;fLr;ilefe-:^i^r'''T^ 
 
 and confe,uently ^ Z^: l^^^^^^Z IS 
 
 Bcfidcs all that hath been faid alr/>,j„ . 
 
 great, yea incredible, things may be ^^ 
 the help of Animal Excret^enHnd^Su^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^J 
 m particular the extradion of Silver and God "ut of 
 i>and. Stone and Poor Oar that ic n^, . , , 
 melting, as fhall beat larg* declared in rh?."'' '^t 
 Part of my Profper.ty of cfLZ!^''^ '" '^' ^^^^"'^^ 
 
 It may be laid with mifh tU^t „„ .. . 
 
 Man find out all theT ut " ha ar " ^ ^''S ^ "'^ 
 Superfluities of Nature thybn'T.^rd '" '''^^° 
 
 than can be believed, whVh7the3o:ttS^^ 
 lolopneis wou d never r;>ir #t,.n. '"'jy "cmi- 
 
 loatLmSubjeasby^^Liri?.^^^ 
 
 not be proflitutelto the ProudTn wont "w J,^ ^^^^ 
 do intend God willing, with the Hrft oc d^on to 
 Tk T5 ^; '«8^ concerning the nature and ufe of 
 thefe Animal Superfluities in the Seventh Part of the 
 frofperny of Germany^ where I fhall, amongft other 
 h ngs demonftrate, that thefe Superfluities of Nature 
 are not only able to exalt Sol and Lnna in their colours 
 but alfo to augment them to infinity in quantkv aTd 
 quahty , I fliall alfo plainly difcover the warhZVom 
 Sand and Stone and the meaneft of Metals Gold and 
 Silver may be cxtradted, fo thatevery one that i/buf 
 |tc e acquainted with the managing of Fke mav w^rl 
 
 Jttle charges in his own Houfe,Urtaba;dkSp^^^^ 
 ng a profitable and rich Mine of Gold and Silver^ for 
 
 which SS?f''l^PS°" '^f'™'"^"" »"d famiv, ta 
 wh^h God be pleafed to grant his Grace and Bleffing 
 
THE 
 
 INDEX- 
 
 Tn which P with the Addition of i, 2, or 3, fignifies the 
 
 firft fccond or third Part ; « the firft Column of the Page, 4 the fecond 
 Column • and where neither a nor h occurs to the number of the page, 
 Ae matter is obvious in that page by the Contents, or otherwife by the 
 matter being treated of in all, or the greateft part of the page. 
 
 'A' 
 
 return of Tbdofo^bers, Uke to their Sal-Armo- 
 niack, both having thetr ufe from Common 
 
 cu^of Parad^fe and agam carrudn to hs Grave 
 V X ir. b. D^vers)art.cular tranmutmons of 
 Meials, by the belf of thts Mcrocofm;cal fubjeif, 
 
 AJrunl'Fulrainans to prepare, P. l. a?- b. Bemg fi- 
 red upon a Plate of Metal, ungethttfothat^tml 
 Mettle Touch-fioni 75- b- Ho^ ^ojake a^ay U, 
 fulminating cjuality, ^l(>- *>• ^ • ^ *^; n j ^r 
 
 Aurum Dia?horeticum to prepare, P. i. ;85. ^'^ UJe 
 
 Airi!.SV'L^« of any fubjeB by the fire, P. X. 
 AlchyVy -^^^ ^^s ^Sents are F.e and Salt, P. l. 
 k^M^oneBs all poyfonous Vegetables, Anmals, and 
 
 ms are made, V. %. lOi- b 
 
 An^mi fvegaabUs commended to ^jfiaafu. Pi. 
 iTi a ' bemg conjoyned v^nbtbe Anim^ of Minerals 
 Jean^xcelknt Medumc, ibid. Jhey are the Rays of 
 
 it a TinBure, P. ^. 69- a. 
 
 Umvtrlal Menftruum, P. i- 9/- lo^- 
 AnniotcagamfiPoyfonJ.i.^l^ ^^. 
 
 ■ :/ .hid ' Jr. r«per/f«ww Sulphur to feparate 78. 
 43 b! -^i'i'"^ Wine .r Beer r. pr.p.r. of ex- 
 
 cellent Vertues, P. 141. b. 4? a. ^«f ;w70«w/ Cup, ;;f 
 Preparation and Ufe, 51, 9?- Antlmonial Flowers, 
 Emetick and Diaphoretick to prepare, 8. a. 1 05. ^ 
 Univerfal Medicine prepared of them, 106. Its Ver- 
 tues, Ufe and Dofe, 107. Antimenml Flowers how re- 
 duced into Regulus -wtth its Ufes, 1 10, 1 1 1. Antt-- 
 monial Clyflus to prepare, 19^. Regulus of Antt- 
 mom to prepare, 78. a. Antimony reduced into a red 
 Oyl or Panacaea without dif illation, 44. a. ^wr;wo- 
 wy or Sulphur fo to ripen fA^f they may accjutre O- 
 dours like Fegitables, 51. Antimony contains much 
 fpiritual Gold, P. ;. 4;- b- ^ ^, . 
 
 Antimonial Sulphur to feparate from its Mercury, and 
 to make its Mercury into a Panacaea for the curing of 
 all difeafes, P. 2. z8. Antimonial Purge m all grie- 
 vous difeafes, to prepare, i^. Antimonial Vamcdea, 
 its Preparation and Ufe, 1 07. a. Hifiory of a won- 
 derful! Cure wrought by it upon a Child, 109. b. It ti 
 a true Remedy againji the Scurvy both by Sea and. 
 Land, 1 1 o. b. A Chy rurgeon on Ship-board or m 
 a Camp may cure and preserve more Men with one 
 fingle Ounce of tlr.s Panacaea than with a large Che fi 
 of Common Medicines, ibid. Golden Panacsa of An- 
 timony how prepared, I??, b. Of Antimony and 
 Stiver, a good Medicine to prepare, ibid. Antimony, 
 Arfnick, «»</Orpimenf, as alfo the Sulphur of Fegi- 
 tables to fix by Lutum Sapientiae, 167. Ar^timcnial. 
 Emeticks, to make work downwards onely, i . 3. 
 
 Apoplexy cured by the volatile Spirit of Vitriol, P. r. 
 
 1*7 b 
 
 Aurum Potabile, its Preparation,Fertues, and Ufe, P. I/' 
 q^ 98 99. The Authoufs white Aurum Potabile 
 exceeds'the former, P. a. I??- a. How prepared,ihi± 
 b Pr 1I9- H;;De/€»"o//»wt/-«(r Aurum Pota- 
 bile P I 143, 144- ^^^ Nature, Form, Properties, 
 and admirable Vertues, lo8. Experiment of its power 
 in premotmz the growth ofVegttables, 109. Defcrip- 
 uon of Its outward form, zil. b. It tranlmutes C.;«- 
 mon Mercury, and other Metals, into Gold both by the 
 dry and wet way, 111,111. /t tingeth 5^»i mto 
 Cold 1 1 6. b Its Vertues and Ufe tn Medicine, 1 1 3 , 
 Ii8 'b It Gildeth Silver by the help of Argentuive 
 24c a It changeth Mercury fubhmate mto^ Red 
 Powder, gently purgative and Diaphoretick, 24;. b. 
 ' * ^ * /^ a • How 
 
The INDEX. 
 
 How with Aurum Potabile to mah a Ruby or Hja- 
 amb, P. I. a 17.' b. How to change the Colour of 
 this AuTum VoiahWe from white to red, aio. 
 
 Another k\iV\im^otz\i\\c to pcf are, P. 1. 167. 
 
 Aqua Foitis to prepare, P. 1. 19- a- I^ ^^^''^ "'"' "'' 
 mthing from Spirit of JSIitcr, 29. b. 
 
 Aqua Rcgia to prepare, 23. b. Aqua Fords and Aqua 
 Regis to prepare in plenty for the dijfolvmg of Metals, 
 
 P. 1. r?, 14. 66. a. P. i. 4"-5>4^6. AquaFortis 
 (It one dijlilldtion tranjmutes half its weight of Com- 
 mon Salt into Salt-piter, P. I. 415. b. 
 
 A Golden Aqua Vitce to prepare, the like never defcri- 
 bedbyanj/, P. 2. 1 50. t ; /- 7 ;; 
 
 Aqufe Saltabcris of Paracelfus fix:th a7id rtibefieth all 
 white Mercuries, 190. b. Udmont erred in taking 
 n to be the water of IVhites of Eggs y ibid. 
 
 Arcanums to dtfio'ver ts very injurious, 148, 1 90. 
 
 Arfnick and Orfiment to fix, 162. When fixed they 
 tin<re Copper white like Silver, ibid. Arfnick its ni- 
 trous Spirit to prepare, P. I. 30. It gradiiateth Cop- 
 per white as Silver, and malleable, ibid. Arfenical 
 quality taken away from Mineral Oyls by Spirit of 
 Salt, P. 2. 152. a. 
 
 Arms and kvmonv to prejervefrom Ruft, P. I. 182. 
 
 0/ Arfnick, 319, ;io. 
 
 Artificers, as Engravers, Tainters, Dyers, Statuaries, 
 and many others, may be benefited by the Aut hour's 
 Labours, 165- ^. 
 
 The Aftral Beams penetrate to the Center of the Earth, 
 and what they operate, 1 17. How they beget the Cen- 
 tral Fire of the Earth, 1 19. b, Aftrums of the Me- 
 tals, on hat, 367. b. 
 
 The Authour 7yas fo renovated in his old Age, as to 
 have new black curPd Hair, by the taking a fmall 
 o^uaniity of a certain TinBure, P. 2. 204. a. He 
 complains that his Writings and Secrets brought him 
 many troubles, P. I. 170. b. 1 7 2. b. He never gain- 
 ed one halfpetiy by his Writings, P. 1. 186. a. He 
 hath borrowed mthing from other Writers, but hath 
 attained all bis Secrets by his own Labours, 71.3. 
 He wafied fome pounds of Gold unprofitably in his 
 younger years, mfeeking for a Tm^ure, and finding a 
 fafier way for others, P. 3. II. a. He was wronged 
 by his Servants and Courtiers, P. 2. 148. b. 
 
 The Authour'i opinion that the Stone of Philofophers may 
 be made of Common Salt, P. I. 269. a. He fowed 
 Gram in bare Sand, ajtd had it fooner ripe, than the 
 fame fowed in good Earth, 388. a. He had a Patent 
 from the States of Holland /or the improving of bar- 
 ren Land, ibid. He laments his being too liberal in 
 the communicating of Secrets, 223. a. His bei?tg Ca- 
 lumniated, bath been the occafion of his more open pub- 
 lifiti/ig of his Secrets, 210. b. 
 
 The Authour'^ account m what order he publifiied many 
 of his Works, 248. a. 
 
 0/ Azoth and Laton, or the Agent and Patient of Phi- 
 lofophers, P. i. 396. The K\\\:\\OM.V attaining to the 
 knowledge of this Agent or Secret Fire of the Wife, 
 latd afide Furnaces, Glajfes, and Coals ^ P. 3. 61? 
 a. 62. 
 
 B 
 
 BAkers or Brewers, how they may fupply the want of 
 Tefi or Barm, P. I. 182. 
 A Mineral Balfam of Sulphur of exceeding great Vertues, 
 
 p. 2. 126. b. 
 Balfam of Rofes, and other Vegitables, confifting of their 
 three Prniciples purified and again conjoyned, P. I. 
 60,61. a. 
 
 Barrenness m Men or Women to cure, P. 1.266. a. 267 .b. 
 
 Baths of Common water 63. Of Sulphur 65. Of the Dry 
 Bath orSvHatmg Chair, ibid. Whence the heat ofna- 
 tural /.>cZ^ Baths arifeth, P. 2. II4. b. 
 
 An efficacious Bath for the curing of many difeafes, P. I, 
 189. b. 
 
 Of the Beetle »r Scarabaeus, the homed and Bull-like, al' 
 fo the round or Globular, their Signature, Properties, 
 and Medicinal Vertues, 94. Hens feeding on the gray 
 Beetles lay fafier than tbofe which are fed with Corn, 
 P. 2. 95. b. 
 
 Bezoardicum Minerals to prepare, with its Vertues, 
 P. I. 8. b. 
 
 Beer, Ale, Wine, or Metheglin, to firengthen, 159. 
 Being fowr to recover them, and render them drink- 
 able, 159, 182. To preferve them in Summer from 
 the fret, 286. a. Beer to make with Honey, which 
 will keep ten or twenty years, 286. a. Beer or Ale 
 may be made in the hot tefi Climates, or Weather, of 
 Concentrated Corn, where Water and Hops are at hand, 
 P. I. 305. a. The Excellency of ViQQVfo brewed, be- 
 yond the Common, ibid. b. 
 
 Birds fo to intoxicate that they may he takeft with ones 
 hand, P. 2. 154. a. 
 
 Birdlime fo to prepare, as not to be altered by beat or 
 cold, P. X. 182. 
 
 Bleeding immoderate of any kind, to flop, P. 2. 149. a. 
 
 Blood-letting not available in curing of rooted and fiub- 
 horn difeajes, P. I. 245. a. 
 
 Borax, its Water turns Lead into ^ick-filver, P. I. 
 236. a. 
 
 A Delicate Bread to prepare, P. 2. 5 8. b. 
 
 Butter to make by the help of Spirit of Salt, vhich will 
 keep long good, P. i. 3^0. a. 
 
 Brandy to difiill from the Lees of Wine, 292. b. To 
 make Brandy of all forts of Corn, and to give it a re- 
 Ijfi) like that made of the Lees of Wine, 158, 159, 
 166. b. 
 
 CAbinet-makers may make Pear-tree or Cherry-trtt 
 to be like Ebony, P. I. 180. 
 
 Excellent Cheefc like Parmafan to make by the belt of 
 the Spirit of Salt, P. I. 364. b. 379. b. 
 
 To kill Worms, and prevent holes in Cheefe, 380. a. 
 
 Childrens being gauled with their Urine, to help, 13.3. 
 
 Chry ftal to tinge with various Colours like pretious Stones, 
 P. 2. 65. a. P. 3. 56. a. 
 
 Chryftals to dijfolvein a certain Menfiruum, with their 
 Vertues, P. i. 248 a. P. 3. 55. b. 
 
 Chryftals or Cream of Tartar to prepare, 38. b. 
 
 An Elegant Cinabcr graduating Lune into Sol, P. i. 
 374. b. N. B. 
 
 Collick to eafe, 40. b. 54. 
 
 To Colour fjair. Bones, Feathers, &C. brown or black, 
 40. a. 
 
 Colours/or Painters, as Ultramarine, blue Smalt, Scar- 
 let Lace a, Venice Lerufs, dec. to prepare, 1 7 9. Smalc 
 to make, as beautifull as Ultramarine, P. 2. 68. a. 
 
 Coals afford a Jweet MineralOyl, P.2. 125. b. 126. a. 
 How it IS to be difiilled and reilified, ibid. It is equal 
 to the Oyl of Peter, ibid. 
 
 The four Complexions defcribed, P. i. 388. a, 
 
 Confedlion of Ale her me s Mineral, to prepare, 584J 
 
 Copper to extrail and render Corporeal., from puh poor 
 Oars as will fiot defray the charge of melting, P. r, 
 326, 327. P. 2. 18. P. I. 293,420,425. Copper 
 to tranfmutc into Verdigr eafe, P. 2. 1 8. Into other 
 Colours for Painting, 16, 77. a, Cold and Silver i9 
 
 feparate 
 
 1 
 
The I N D E X. 
 
 feparate from thofe Colours, 1 7. Copper dtjj'ol'ved in 
 Aqua Fortis mixt with Silver, Iron, or Lapis Cala- 
 minaris, to reduce and render malleable, 41. 
 
 Copper to make white as Silver, and ^radtt.ite into Sil- 
 ver, yielding Gold, P. a. 68. b. P. I. 419. To gra- 
 duate into Gold by a Cement, P.l. 68. P. 5. 71. 
 
 A Cordial to prepare, to be ufed in great and continual 
 difeafes, XI 5. 
 
 Covn of all forts, how to be prepared, before its Spirit be 
 dijhlled, P. I. 57. 
 
 Corn to cojicentrate for the making both Bread and 
 Drink on Shipboard in cafes of necejfuy, 177, 17 8, 
 ^96, 30;. 
 
 Corns of the feet to take away, P. i. 181, l88. a. 
 
 Corrofives, as Oyl of Vitriol, Aqua Fortis, &c. to dul- 
 cife, 405. b. P. 1. 68. 
 
 Crocus Marcis to prepare, with its w/e, ;i8. a. 
 
 Crucibles to make, which will long efidnrc the fire, with 
 Lead, 69. a. 199. b. P. i. 90. 
 
 D 
 
 DAy and ISlight, Light and Darkmfs^ what, P. 1. 
 86. b. 87.3. 
 
 Death, what it is, 86. b. 
 
 Decovflions of Herbs of no value in Fhyjick, 1 1 5. a. 
 Their DecoBions in the Alcaheji, or firey water, much 
 to he ejleemed, ibid. b. 
 
 Demogorgon perfeBs all Metals, both within and with- 
 out the Earth, and is the fecrtt Fire or proper Agent 
 of P/jilofophers, 69. b. It makes Saturn hard, and 
 v^hite as Lune, as it becomes crude out of the Earth, 
 ibid. It makes Copper white, and bard as Steel, ibid. 
 It makes Lune through black, and Sol exceeding hard, 
 ibid. It makes excellent Looking-glaJJes, ibid. De- 
 mogorgon defer ibed, P. ;. 58.3. 
 
 JiuW Dyers may give fuch a ground to their Cloth, that 
 the Colours pall not be cc-rrapted by Air, Sun, Vinegar, 
 Urine, &c. P. I. l8o. 
 
 Dioclefian could not overcome the Egyptians till he had 
 caiffed all their Books to be burnt, 185. b. 
 
 EWas the Artifi, what, P.i. iii. a. 5J0 a. P. ^.^i.a. 
 
 Elixir Proprietatis to prepare, with the volatile Spirit of 
 Mars, P. 2. 151. b. Its ufe and manifold venues, i^'^. 
 It preferves both cjiiick and dead, ibid. Elixir Pro- 
 prietatis roprc/j/jrfw/r/j Sefrer Sal-Armoniack, 1 79. b. 
 Elixir Proprietatis far tranfcending that o/Paraccl- 
 fus or Helmont, P. ;. 57 b. 
 
 Embroiderers, huw they may put durable Colours upon 
 their Silk, P. I. 179. 
 
 Enamels or Colours for Glafs, to prepare, ibid. 
 
 Enemies to repell or take Captive 7vithout jliedding of 
 blood, ^11. b. 437. b. 459. 
 
 Engravers and Statuaries Tools to harden, ibid. 
 
 Epilepfie or Falling-ficknefs, to cure, 16. b. 17. b. 11. a, 
 50. b 5;. a. 6;. a. 165. b. The caufe of the Epilep- 
 fie not known, 2:58. b. 
 
 Epiftle to the Authour complaining of his writing too 
 openly, P. i. 411. 
 
 Eyes inflamed, the cure, P. t. I %. a. 39. b. 237. a. 
 
 Eryfipelas, the cure, 50. a. 288. a. 
 
 Eflences ofFegitables to prepare, P. 2. 84. ElTenCC of 
 A(li-keys, an excellent Medicine to dijjolve the Stone, 
 88. b. Elience of St. John'^ Wort, cures Wounds, 
 Bruifes, ObJhuBiotts of Liver and Spleen, ihid. EG 
 fences of Tobacco and Henbane, heal dijeajes of the 
 Womb, ibid. Efience of Rojes andCinamon, a great 
 refrejher of a languiping nature, ibid. Elfence of 
 Wine, 91. a. Efience of V earls. Corals, and Stones^ 
 P. J. 57. a. 
 
 Extradion of Pearls, Corals, Crabs-eyes, ^c. P. i. 44, 
 
 Extraft Vomitive, 6r. Purging, 6l. Diaphoretick, ibid^i 
 Diiiretick,\h\A. Somniferous, ib'id. Cordial, 61. Odo- 
 riferotis, ibid. 
 
 An Extraft of Corn of light Carriage, which may at any 
 time be made into Beer, or ufed mjhad of Bread, 184.- 
 
 FArner'i Obligations to the Authour, for the keeping 
 of Secrets communicated, P. I. 149. 
 Fevers not to be cured by cooling Remedies, 167 a. 
 
 ToDiftill Spices, Seeds, Roots, Herbs, Flowers, SiC. by Feathers to dye of any Colour, confam and durable,lSo. 
 
 the thirdFurnace, 59. 
 Diftilling Injlvument defcribed for the plentifull making 
 of acid Spirits, and the eafte extraclion of Metals 
 from their Oars, 419, 430, 4; I. 
 A Diuretick and Nephretick extraB, of excellent Vertues, 
 
 P. II. 112. 
 Drink very like to Wine, to make of Grain and Fruits, 
 
 p. I. 167. a. 
 Drnpfie cured by the irreducible Blood of Gold, P. 3. 
 
 286. 
 'A Dream may bring a man knowUdge, P. 2. 145. a. 
 Men made Drunk with a very jmall quantity of the Spi- 
 rit of Tobacco or Henbane, 1 54. a. 
 Drunkenneft to prevent, and its Evils to cure, P. I. 
 
 289. b. v..^ 
 
 Dungs of various ufe'in Vhyfick, P. I. 248. b. Dung 
 fattens the Earth ohely by its nitrous Salt, 169. a. 
 Humane Dung mai^s Floivers grow, but gives them 
 15. b. Humane Dung to re?tder 
 i59-b. 
 
 EAnhcn Vefelst^fGlaz.e, P. i.pag. 92. 
 Eledtuary compounded with Spirit of Salt, its ma- 
 nifold venues, 287. a. 
 Separation of the Elements /row the Chaos defcribed, 
 »55. a. 
 
 P. 2. 149. a. 
 
 Tht Feathers of Eagles and Doves to prepare, for volati- 
 lizing Menjhuums, P. 2. 170. 
 
 Fermentation of the Authour s new, P. 2. 219. a. Of 
 his Secret Ferment, ibid. 
 
 Fire common, its Excellency, 1 15. a. Its knowledge thi 
 firf Jtep to the underfiandmg of many Arcamons, ibid. 
 Fire to extraB out of any Wood or Hab whatfoever^ 
 and render it palf able and vifible, P. 2.7. Fire to 
 kindle into a flame from two clear Li<juors, 2, Firfl 
 of the Vine to extraB, 8. Fire to extraB and concen-' 
 trate out of Animals, ibid. Fires of Salts concentra- 
 ted effeB wonders, 1 9. Their particular Medicinal 
 ufes, 23, 24. They can doe more mifchief m War than 
 Gun-powder, 217. P. I. 43 1, b. 437. b. Secret Fire 
 or Agent-riptning Metals, 400. P.3.77. 
 
 Fires vnrious ai^d unheard-of, with their Ufes, P. 2. 2 1 6, 
 217, t^8. P: 3. 64. 
 
 The Secret Fire \of the Chaldeans, of wba^ prepared, 
 
 P. 2. 69.3. j 
 Fire of the MSfcqabees, what, 114. b. It joyns Gold and 
 
 Silver, P. ;. 64. 8. 
 The Secret Fire oi Philofbphers,P.2. 144 b. 219. It is 
 called by three Names , hut is either Oyl of Vitriol, 
 P. 3. 20. a. or Oyl of Vitriol coagulated, P. 2. 184. b. 
 It totally fixeth Mercury into a Red Jweet TmBure 
 without any diminution of its weight, 193.3. 
 The Fire of Artephius drawah out the htghefl- power or 
 
The INDEX. 
 
 m 
 
 ^linteffence of Animals, Vegttahles, and Minerals, | 
 yuithcut conttmn Fire, Furnaces, or GlaJJes, and TVith- 
 rtu Labour and Coft, P. ;. 48. a. lis Preparation, 6l. 
 
 *4 Purgatory Fire x^htch [weetens and purifies all Vegt- 
 table. Animal, and Mineral StibjeHs, P.l. 159- 
 
 ri'e three Principal Fires enable a Thyfician to prepare va- 
 riety of Excellent Medicines agam^ all difeafes,l6o.h. 
 
 Mineral Fires to extinguijh by the Vegitable, and their 
 corrcfivenefs converted into fweetnejs, 15b. 
 
 GAlenifts err in their admimfiring Gold and pretmts 
 Stones, P. 1. 198. b. 1 99. a. 
 Gangrene cured by Spirit o/Sal-Armoniack, P. ^5°-.^; 
 Gardens, or Orchards to kee^ out Deer, Swrne or -wild 
 Beafis, 191. a. To rid them of IVorms and other In- 
 fects, 181. To prevent Spiders and other Infeits from 
 creeping up Fruit-trees, 9. b. 191. a. 
 Gems or pretmis Stones to amend their Colours, P. 5. 
 
 50. a. 
 
 Gems or Artificial Stones to make of various Colours, 
 P. I. 82, 8;. 411, 41?. a. A Ruby or Emerald, 
 a48. b. or Hyacinth ,111. h. Granats fo change 
 into Rubies and pale Hyacinths, and other white Stones 
 to exalt in their Colour, P. 1. ail. b. 
 GlafTy Colour to prepare like the Indian Torcellan^ P. i. 
 
 180. 
 Gla(s of Copper- red, fit for the tinging or painting of 
 
 Glafs,l^$. 
 Glafs of Antimony to prepare eafily, 14. a. Glafs of 
 Lead for the fluxing of Tin A^es, to prepare, %<)■ IM. 
 Glafs is the Thilofophers Lutum Sapientis, P. 2. 
 167. a. 
 Glafles to gild durably with the Colour of Silver^ P. i. 
 ^91. b. Glafles to hold volatile and fubtile Sptrits^Sf. 
 The way of grinding Glafs-fi^oppers, ibid. 
 Gold living, how it differs from the dead, P. j. iji. 
 Of tts preparation and dijjolutton into tender Atoms, 
 ft for Vivification and Medicinal ufe, ibid. 139, 140; 
 How thofe Atoms are to be further opened and made 
 volatile like 4 Vegitable, I ; I . How the Stomach may 
 he affified fo that it may diffolve Gold, I}2. Gold 
 when exanimated, flies the fire like Arfnick, 71. a. 
 . The Medicinal Carbuncle o/Gold to prepare, f i. The 
 ThtBure of it fwiftly promotes the growth of Vegita- 
 ble Seeds, ^ X. Gold to be exalted in the Mineral Aries 
 by the Secret Sal-Armoniack, 189. a. 
 Gold no! to be reduced into three Principles, P. 5. 1.6. a. 
 mr to have its Colour extracted by Salts, for the Ting- 
 2^ of Lune ; but to be refolved by putref action, and 
 tnade irreducible, ibid. How this is to be done, VJ. a. 
 nficr a Total blacknefs, 27. a. arifetb the Peacock's 
 tail, and Dragon's blood, 18. a. 
 ,, (jold it^mHure, with its Ufe, P. I. 26. a. Another 
 Tincture o/Gold, cr Aurum Potabile, with its Ver- 
 iites, 265. ..//■/«"« a Needle or pure Iron Wire into 
 fine Gold, by dige fling in it, 267. b. Gold with Sil- 
 'ver to prepare- into^a Jufile purple Stonl, ^84. ^Tofub- 
 lime mto a Red Medir.nal Salt, P. 2/ 16 j. 
 Gold may be gotten out of every UerP, P.'t. 374. b. 
 Demonjtrntcd by the Autbour m the prefjmce of many 
 learned Men, P. 410.3. 412. b. t^gra diffolved in 
 a Ccrrcflve, and the Corroflve diiicify'd, becomes a 
 Litjuor, which may ferve for an Aurum Potabile, 
 afid gilds ^uickfilver, and other Metals, with a Gol- 
 den Colour, 586. b. Gold to generate jwSaturn,397.b. 
 To co7ijoyn with its Capital enemy Sulphur, and with 
 Lune, 598, 599. Gold volatile m fome Oars and 
 cut oared Flints, mrybedsfiilkdimo a gradatorj Wa- 
 
 ter, tranjmuting Mercury into Gold, /P. irf^^6t' 
 Gold and Stiver to purifie, and feparate from each other, 
 P. I. 147. a. 531. b. by Melting onely, 175. Gold 
 to feparate from the imperfect Metals and Minerals 
 onely by melting in a Crucible, 177. Gold to fepa- 
 rate froyn the imferfeit Metals, 145,146. a. Gold and 
 Silver to get out of old Tin or Pewter Veffels, the Tin 
 or Pewter being prefer ved and amended, 176. Gold 
 impure to feparate and purge by Antimony, 104. 
 I Gold to extratt with profit from Flints, Sand,Clay,c^c. 
 P. r. lOl. %-,l, 426. P. 2. 76. An infallible way 
 of provingwbether they hold much or UttJx Gold, ibid. 
 As alfo out of Gva.naxs, Agaths, Saphires, Rubies, 
 Red Talk, &c. which will not yield either to Lead, 
 or jliarp Waters, and to reduce it to a body, P. 1.422, 
 423, 426. P. 2. 12, 15. Gold to extract out of any 
 Copper, 17, 18. Out of vatural Vitriol, ibid. 65. b. 
 Out of Sea- fait, l%. Oat of poor Lead Oar, \h\i. Out 
 of all rude and fiubborn Metallick Earths, 19. •67. 
 Gold and Silver Marchafnes, how to get ynote Metal 
 from them, than by the common way of Melting, P. i. 
 172. How to fix them in three hours fpace., fo thft 
 they fhall jield a double quantity of Metal to wlfat the/ 
 would have done before, 175. 
 Gold to make out of Silver with profit, and Gold ani 
 Silver to feparate after a peculiar manner frorrrlron^ 
 jCopper, Tin and Lead, P. 5. 46. Gold ro/f]p^r^;e, 
 from Iron or Copper bj the Glafs of Lead, P. 2. 40#»?] 
 From 'R.QguXviS of Antimony without locjing theKegii-y. 
 lus, ibid. From Copper, /^^. From Arpnck,P.i,i^ti. 
 Gold, Silver, and Copper to extraB from poor Oars^ 
 hy Aqua Forris or Spirit of Salt, P. i. 360,415,415', 
 426, 427. The fame may be done with the Water of 
 Salt, or Salt-peter,acaated with the Oyi' of Vitriol jibid. 
 How to precipitate, and reduce the extrafted Metals, 
 416. Gold to augment by the impcrfeSt Metals, P.i. 
 178, 361, 362. Gold and Silver to feparate from 
 each other, by a cheaper way than the common, V.l.\<)±, 
 and both from Copper, 11"]. , .^ 
 
 Gout Pains, fuddenly to'eafe, P. i. 37. a. JgiBB, t} ^• 
 
 Knots to diffolve, 50. - 
 
 Gout to cure, 265, b. P. 2. 24. b, 58, 59. "P. %. iS. b. 
 Many Gouty perfom cured in a few years by theGoldhi 
 Panacea 0/ Antimony, no. b. 
 Gonorrhea to cure, P. 2. 149. a. 
 Gravel to expell, P. 1. 37. a. 
 
 Grapes to have ripefooner than ordinary^ 183, Grapes 
 dried, or Raifons how to recover their fweetriefs^ as 
 whAt pliukt freJJ) from the Vine, 28.|,. b. 
 Griffin Phylofophick generated of the Lion and Sag'e, 
 
 356.3. 406. b. 407. a. 
 Gunpowder/o«Wo«r ^;^Monk, Anns 1380. 433. a. 
 The Autbour thinketh the Monk did ill to divulge it^ 
 ibid. b. He fpeaks of another way to captivatiEne* 
 mies without killing them, ibid. 
 
 H 
 
 , fmol, Bo> 
 
 <ynh 
 
 HAir to Dye, as alfo Skins, IHcol, Bones, "ivtth apttr- 
 pie er red CoUntti eonftknp m , P. 2- 
 
 Hens delight in Salt, which mi^^^hem lay) 
 Eggs, P. I. 169. a. Theyde'i 'o»^andandf 
 bles for the matter of Egg-^ehS r%\.'3t. 
 
 ^ick Hedges to caufe to grow tffjn half the ujual timeji^ 
 
 191. b. 
 Herbs ro make grow up in a few hours fpace,V .1. zoo )}, 
 P. 3. 59. a. To communicate to them the nature of an/ 
 Metal, 2 10. a. Herbs various and unk7iown, to pr.o^ 
 duce without Seed, 257. b. 289.3. P. l. 49. :?^« 
 
 ^reat 
 
The 1 N D E X. 
 
 areat errw/v o/Galcnifts, in attributing the fame -ver- 
 iirs to Hcvbi in thnfe Northern Climates, as vjcre 
 aCcribed to them in the Southern, zif.a. The Herbs 
 o'f cold Countries may be rendred ecjital m vtrttte to 
 thofe of hot, by the Terreflnd Sun and Art, 217. b. 
 Herbs to dtfcover by an experiment, whether they are 
 yrlfitable or unprofitable in Medicine, P 1. 2;. 
 
 Hiftory of Gold made out of Sea-Silt, P. I. 411. a 
 Hiftory of an Infant pre ferved from Corruption many 
 years in a certain Water, and at length turnd into a 
 Stone, 160. a. Hiftory of a Mountebank at Paris, 
 \ill'd'by the Odoitr of a fpirttuoas or wlattle Poyjon, 
 P 1 8<. a. Hiftory of a Country-man to whom a 
 Doiior bad'prefcribed Album Gr.-ecum, 159. a. Hi 
 llory of Sigifi-nund Wan, who built a Church a?id 
 Hofpital by V/eahh obtained from fepar at mg the Gold 
 and Siher from Tin, 10 1 a P. I . %1 1 . b. 
 
 Hony to Ferment before the dijnllation of its burning 
 Spirit, P. r. 58. To take away its ungratefullTafi, 
 and vur'^'e It f''-^ ''-f ^'''^''" ^»/>«'■'''■^'> f° "^^"^ "" ^•^'■ 
 cellait %ink may be made of it, for [mail charge, 
 fervmg inftead of PVine, 186 a. P. 2. 56- Or a Me 
 thefrlin with Spices, 57-3. ^ /- , 
 
 Hops « produce in plenty, P. T. 19I ■ b. To preferve the 
 Hoptoles in the Earth, long from rotting, ibid 
 
 Horns to [often, fo that an) Image may be printed upon 
 
 them, l8l. , . r 
 
 Hovels of Grain, to keep Rats and Mice from running 
 
 UP thePoJh, I9ita. 
 
 I Ron to graduate into Gold by a Fulmen , P. ?• 
 71. N. B. By Sal-mirabils, P. 2. 49- ^0 
 exalt 'it into Copper by the Jame, 50. All Iron con 
 tains Gold, both fixt and volatile, P. I. ?75- ^» 
 eifhth part o/lron changed into Gold, P. I. a;o. a. 
 ifon to change into Gold, Sil-ver, or Copper, by a Ful- 
 men 2 30 b. Iron to change into Copper according 
 to Paracdfus, 24°- ^- *9?- b. Iwn Tools changed 
 mo Copper, by length of time, in Mines of Vitriol 
 2^9 a 124. b. Iron to fepar ate from Copper, ;26.b 
 Iron made as fujlle and malleable as Copper, P. i. 
 
 Jupiter r«./ Venus beget Apollo and Diana, 401. b. 
 Itch, or Scab, to cure, 564. b. 
 
 I And poor and barren, to enrich without Dung, 
 ^ P.' I. 1S7, 189, 191, i9Vb 2oo.b 4o5.a 
 417 a P. 2. :^1,. Tl^'i Manure holds good twenty 
 years, "ibid. ' The manner of preparing this Manure 
 of Common Salt and Lime, V. I. 4f\(>. 
 
 Lead Oar, Courfe and not meltable, how to extra^ the 
 Lead from it, P. 2. 18. Lead, or any Lead Oar, to 
 reduce into Jjhes, and thence to extract Gold and Sil- 
 ver, P. I. 399a. 414. P.x;6. 
 
 Lead eafly feparated from its Oar, by adding Iron in 
 
 the melting, P. 1. 74- ^- ^, r i j 
 
 Lead to amend by the graduating ExtraBions of coloured 
 Flints P 2. 57. How to reduce the Calx of Gold 
 precipitated from the Lead, and wa\hed, without any 
 lofs 28 29. Of the nature and property of Lead, 
 198 it ccntatm a jharp Sal-mtrofts Spirit, 199 
 Lead to r,7.:ke hard like Iron, fo that great Guns may 
 be made ofit, I99- b. Tbe inward puce of Lead is 
 fweeter than any Sugar, P. I. ?8l. b. A white pre- 
 fi3;,'.:;c 0/ Lead /oprc;p;»T, 382.3. 
 N, k. Lead h»:h the power of dulcifying Corrofivesy 
 
 and thence grows Jo pinttrant, that tt ofi/l prejenilf 
 run through three Crucibles one in another, P. z- 
 200. a. To make it hard and white like Silver, P. 5. 
 89. b. • _ 
 
 A red Stone o/SatUl'n and Mars to prepare, with its ma- 
 nifold Vertues in Vbyfick and Chyrurgery, P. i. ^Sl.b. 
 It is the true Lapis Hs^matitis of the ancient Phy/ici- 
 ans, 383. a. The red Sublimate afcendmg in this 
 operation , is able by Sympathy, to cure at a difiancc, 
 any Flux of blood whatfoever, ibid. A white Stone 
 to prepare (//'Saturn and Lune, 38;. 
 
 Rlack Lead of Phdofophers, what, P. 2. 217. b. 
 
 Leprofie, to cure, P. i. 265. b. 
 
 Leather fo make black, 180. 364. b. 
 
 Linnen Threads tomake fo foft,as to emulate Silk, iSo. 
 
 Looking- G/<sr//a and Bar?iing-Glafjes, to make, P. i. 7g[_ 
 The Metfillick mixture for the fame, 80. The man. 
 ner of fmocthing and poUjhing them, 8 1. 
 
 The Ludus of Paraceifus prepared by the AuthcUr » 
 with bis Alcaheft or fetrct Sal-Armoniack, for thi 
 Stone, p. 2. 180. 6. 
 
 Lune to graduate into Sol by a fmgnlar Spirit, 68. b. 
 
 hutes for tife building of Furnaces, joyning of Receivers^ 
 and for brokatGlaJJes, p. 1. 86. 
 
 Of the Lion or Lions blood,' how to be prepared, and «- 
 fed in Medicine and other Arts, p. %. I.|9. It cures 
 the Leprofie and Pox, Ibid. 
 
 M 
 
 MAdnefs and Melancholy hypocondriack, the cure, 
 P. IJ 176. 
 
 Magiftery of Pf^A-/, Coral, Sec. to prepare, 18. b. The 
 abufe ufed in thofe Preparations, ibid. Of Egg-jhellsy 
 with its vertues, P. 3. 57- ^•* 
 
 Magnefia is rich in a Ahtallick Tinclure , P. I. 353- 
 How to prepare its TinBure with Alcohol of WinCy 
 P. 3. 56. An Univerfal Medicine of it to prepare^ 
 with Its life, P. 2.0156. P. 3. 33. IVith the Secret 
 Fire of Phdofophers, 39. b. 
 
 Magnetifm, its admirable Tower in attracting its lihe^ 
 P. 2. 29. 
 
 Magnetifm of Metal f. Salts, and Stones, P. 1. 342. 
 P. 3. 40. a. 
 
 Magnet to attraB a Univtrfal Medicine or Mercury 
 from the Air, P. 2. 1 37. 164, 165. a. 
 
 Another Magnet to attraB the Aftral, and vivifying 
 Rays of the Sun, and to render them corporeal, pal' 
 pable, and confiant in the Fire, P. I. 390. 
 
 Magnet attraBmg Water, its manifold uj'es, P. 2. 64. 
 Magnet to attraB from Gold, its TinBure, 165. 
 
 Malting, the differences, P. I. 57. Malt, its Fermenta- 
 tion, m order to dift ill from it a burning Spirit, 58. 
 
 Mars or Iron to purifie by Saturn and Salts, 133. a. 
 Mars and Venus to conjoyn infeparably, and their 
 Tm^inr blood to prepare, P. 3 . 3 1 . b. 
 
 A Medicine to remove all ObflruBions of the Bowels 
 and Vejfels, and ftrcngthen the Stomach, to prepare^ 
 P. 2. 15 2. b. An Univerfal Medicine may be pre- 
 pared in a few days for Ten finlimgs charge , P. 3. 
 
 58. a. 
 Megrim, cured by Spirit o/Sal-Armoniack, P. l.jo. a. 
 Mcclicines L'^wiwr/rt/, their excellency above particular, 
 
 P. 2. 180. b. 
 Menftruum to cxtraB the fixt Sulphur or tingmgAnima 
 
 of Metals, 21. Menftruum dtffolving Copper mixt 
 
 with Gold, and precipitating the Gold, 43. 
 Mercurius Vitie, to prepare, P. 1.8. 
 Mercury not cold, as the vulgar think, hut hot ar,A 
 
 fiery, 1 37. b. 142. ■ 
 
The INDEX. 
 
 Mercury p-eciptate red, to prepare, P. I. 28. a. Telloiv 
 precipitate of Mercury, kills Lice, 19. a. Mercury 
 Hbujedm Phyjick, 18. b. Mercury to Coagulate in- 
 to a hard Hody, 1^1. a. Mercury to fix with the 
 moifi fires of Salts, jo as conjiantly to abide the fire, 
 P. 2. 26, 27. To prepare into a Red Voivder ftrong- 
 ly purging, 28. Mercury Coagulated into a fixt 
 v.'htte Body, 1 6 1 . a. To ptirifie by a Ftilmen, fo as 
 after it may he e a fly fixt, P. 3. 7 1. Common Mer- 
 cury purified and fixt into a Red Foivder in two or 
 three days, 192. a. It ejtters Gold and augments it, 
 196. a. Common Mercury hath m it [elf no TmBure, 
 V. 5. 16. How it may accjtiire Ttntiure, and by pre- 
 far at ion become the Mercury of Philofophers^xh'id . How 
 to fix it by Animal fuperfluittes, P. 5. 89. b. 
 
 Mercury 'of Antimony to prepare, either Purgative or ' 
 phoretick,with its excellent ufe in FhyJtckyV.Z.lClfi^i.l 
 
 Mercury 0/ Saturn, atid of Lune, to prepare, 127.3. 
 P. 3. 15, They fix Common Mercury, ibid. Mer- 
 cury e/" Saturn may be difiiUedinto a fweet Milk, 
 and then coagulated into a Stone, which Coagulates 
 Argent vive, P. 2. 116. Mercury c/ Saturn fixed 
 
 into Gold, I 37. 
 The Mercury of Metals is the Mercury of Philofb- 
 phers, P. 3. 12. a. 69. b. Divers ways of extratt- 
 mg It, r 2, I ;. P. 2. 67. per fe 158. Advife to feel 
 Mercury m Saturn, and Sulphur in Mars, rather 
 than in Gold and Silver, P. 5. 12. a. A Tino-in? J 
 Alercury to prepare out of Antimony, 14. Antimony 
 yields more Mercury than Vitriol, ibid. A Tinging 
 Mercury to prepare out of Mars and Venus, ibid. 
 P. ;. 72. a. Out o/Jupiter, 15. Mercury to prepare 
 out of Metals and Minerals, by the help of Tartar 
 onely, 14,15. 77je Mercury of Metals to prepare 
 by the Salt of the World, P. ;. 7;. a. 
 "the Mercury of Philofophers to prepare by the help of 
 Secret Sal-Armoniack, P. 2. 182. The Mercuries of 
 Jupiter and Mars, being conjoyned, are together in- 
 fiantly converted into fixed Gold, ibid. A Philofe- 
 phick Mercury to prepare in great quantity, without 
 charge, P. 3. 16. The Mercury of Philofophers 
 being jet at liberty, carries with it j elf its own Tins' ing 
 Sulphur, 12. b. How to prove whether the Mercury 
 of Metals be well prepared or not to give a TinBure 
 J 3. The conjuntlion and fixation of the Philofophick 
 yicxcuxy with Gold, ibid. 
 Of the Mercury of lime, P. ;. 55. a. Its Preparation, 
 P. 2. 67. its admirable Vertues, 189. P. ;. 68. b. 
 Experiment of turning it into a red Stone, which ting- 
 ed Silver into Gold, 75. b. 
 Metals, hoou generated, P. I. 115. b. Mctallick Mines 
 difcovered bf various accidents, 1 20. How to find 
 them by Art, ibid. The Haz,k rod fallacious, ibid. 
 Metals and Minerals have their birth from one Com- 
 mon Seed, 121. a. Metalline Seed as capable of 
 Multiplication, as the Vegetable and Animal, ;6;. a. 
 Metals, how tofeparate, P. i. 70. From each other by 
 precipitation, ^l<^.b. M.B. 354. a. To feparate the 
 courjer MetAh from each other, 72. Metalline Oars, 
 how to prove what Aletal they hold, 172. Metals 
 7t7ay be purified m two or three hours time, 357. a. 
 Metals to amend, and concentrate by Nitre, 20 1. 
 Metals imperfeit, changed into more perfeB, by the help 
 of Salts, P. I. 177, 178. P. 2. II. Howtobefiain 
 by their Enemies, and tranj'muted into better, ibid. 
 Metals fugacious and of no worth, to ripen by Com- 
 mon Salt and Fire,fo as to yield Gold and Silver with 
 profit, 55. 
 Metals, how purified, P. 1 , 1 17. a. Their Reduction in. 
 toCalxes, <7j Crocus Martis, Minium, Red Precipi 
 
 tate, &c. no true purification, ibid. How to make 
 Metals grow up like Vegetables, before the Eye, to the 
 length of a finger or more m the j pace of two or three 
 hours, P. I. 178. P. ;. 59. a. MetalUck Tree, with 
 its parts, P. 2. 105. b. Magnefia grows up mto a. 
 blood-red Tree, P. 3. 59. a. 
 Metals not to be fpiritxaliz^ed with Corrofive Waters, by 
 dtfi illation, 15 2. a. Mctals, notwithfianding, may 
 be depurated, and made volatile by dijtillation, P. 2. 
 127. b. Metalline Spirits coagulate and fix Mercury, 
 153. b. Metals are fo definycd by the Fulmen of 
 Jove, that they cannot be again reduced wio Metal- 
 lick Bodies by melting, but pafs into Glafs of diver i 
 Colours, which Glafs being again reduced by Art, yields 
 much better Metals than before, P. I. 201. b. Ik\q. 
 tals not to be amended but by Sulphur, P. j, 27?. a 
 Metals to diflinguijh,by the colour of their Fumes and, 
 figure of their Motion, m the fire, P. I. 272. b. 27-» 
 The Metals have divers names impofed upon them bv 
 the Poets, 401. a. ^ 
 
 Metallick Tindiure to prepare, P. i. 204. a. 
 A Metallick Medicament to prepare, profitable in all di- 
 Jlempers of the Brain, P. 2. X 1 6. What ts to be held 
 concerning the perfection 0/ Metals, P. i. 72. 
 Minerals, of their kinds and difference, P.i. 218. How 
 to be tried, P. I. 69. 322. P. 2. 22. a. Whether they 
 may be tranfmuted into Metals, and into what P. r 
 77. Minerals poyfomus, how to be correBed by the 
 moift fire of Salt, and to be coipverted into good Me- 
 dicine, P. 2. 26. Minerals after they have been ex- 
 traBed with Aqua Regia will f ,11 afford Salt-peter 
 with profit, P. 2. 12. 
 Mines and Stones, that are poor in Silver and Copper to 
 extraB by a moifi way, P. 2. 14, 15. Minerals ft uh- 
 born and glaffy , are fubdued m the fire with fixed 
 Salts, P. I. 332. b. 
 Mice delight m Salt, P. I. 169. a. 
 Money, how to improve it without putting it to XJfury bf 
 a Metallick work, 1 94. Gold more profitable to be 
 ufed inthis work than Silver, 197. b. 
 Mountains burning, net Hell, as fome thmk P i 
 118, 119. ' 
 
 / 
 
 N 
 
 Niter or Salt-peter, its generation, P. r. 309, ;j6. 
 Of its uje and benefit, 200, 359,409. a.' i/ a 
 a meer Fire, whether it be m the form of a fixed Salt 
 or of a volatile Spirit, P. 2. 114. a. How to makl 
 its fire appear vifibly in a flame, ibid. Its cold and 
 moift fire to prepare, P. 2. b. Niter agrees with all 
 the marks of the Philofophers Mercury, P. i. 167. b. 
 
 The River Nile aboundeth with Niter, by which it en- 
 richeth the adjacent Country without Dung, i8c. b. 
 The plenty of Niter in Egypt was the cauj'e of their 
 tranfmutation of Metals, ibid. The Niter or Salt- 
 peter of the Ancients was extraBed out of Rocks and 
 Stones, as the word Sah-peter fignifieth, P.i. 342.b. 
 That Art is now wholly loft in Europe, ibid. Niter 
 yet extraBed out of Rocks in the Eajhbidies, ibid. 
 
 Niter wonderfully promoteth the growth and encreafe of 
 Corn, P. 1.224. b. 359-b. Fixt Niter hath no equal, 
 m pro7noting the growth of Vegetables, Animals, and 
 Minerals, 199. b. It giveth a better Odour to Fruits, 
 than Dwjg, P. 2. 33. Niter is capable of affording 
 all things both for health arid wealth, 407. a. Niter 
 brought m^ fpeaking of it felf, 3 6 3 . b. Its ufe m pre- 
 paring of Medicines of Vegetables and Animals, 
 P. 2 . 99. 
 
 Niter aBing in three forms, viz. the Lion, Eagle, or 
 
 Griffin, 
 
The INDEX. 
 
 Griffin^ dtjj'ol'vcs all things in the Pf'orUy P. I. 406. b. 
 
 Niterous Fountains tn Franconia poceeding from a 
 Mountain of Stones containing Niter, cure many dij- 
 eafes, 545. b. 
 
 Kiter the omly Medium of making the Metals Aflral, 
 g 57. a. Niter to prepare by Art of an extraordinary 
 ftrevgth, 357. b. 
 
 The Anima or Tinfturc of Niter Enigmatically defen- 
 ded, P. 2. no. a. One drop of it is able to tinge a 
 whole Glafs of Water with a golden Colour, ibid. P. I . 
 3 1 5. b. N. B. ; 16. a. Its Preparation is more openly 
 taught, P. z. 169. Its Vertues, P. i. 588. b. P. 2. 
 5 r . How to exalt it to the highejt power and purity, 
 31. 40, a. 
 
 Niter to prepare of Dung of divers forts, of Leaves of 
 Trees, &c. P. I. ?;8. Out of Lime and fFood, ^j^g. 
 out of rotten Wood, 409. a. Out of Rocks and Stones, 
 ^40, ^74. a. Experiment to try wh^t Stones contain 
 moji 'Niter, ibid. b. Difference of Stones containing 
 Niter, and how they a^e to he known, P. i. 341, 
 344. b. 
 
 Niter to prepare in plenty out of Common Salt and Lime, 
 344. b. 416. "tikei: or Sa.\t-^eKV to make with lit- 
 tle or no cofi My its own Seed, P. i. 317, 335, 370, 
 417. b. 418. By its own Root, 420. b. 423. P. 2. 
 40, 4r. ' 
 
 Niter how to extract and boil up, 345. Tloe way of 
 augmenting the crude Lixivium before boiling, 357. b. 
 
 Niter, when purified, jkoots into long fmooth Cryjlals of 
 a fexangular Figure, and how it is to be brought to 
 th'at purity, 274. b. 275. a. 
 
 Niter to fix, and thence to prepare a fiery Liquor or Men- 
 ftruum, P. 2. 98. Ten pounds of Niter may be extrac- 
 ted cut of a hundred weight of Bones of Beafis, Birds, 
 and FiJJies, P. I. 310. a. Niter may be made in great 
 quantities out of the Flejli and Bones of Whales, En- 
 trails of Stock-fifll, d^c. which are cafi- away, 513.3. 
 Experiment of making Niter out of Bullock's Blood, 
 ibid. Neceffary admonitions about the making of Ni- 
 ter or Salt -peter, ibid. 314. N. B, 315. 
 
 O 
 
 OYIs of Vegetables to obtain in greater ejuantity than 
 by a Common Still, P. I. J a. P. 2. 1 22. a. One 
 general Procefs for the Oyls of Vegetables, fiiewn by 
 dift tiling the Oyl of Turpentine, 1 2 3 . b. Efiential Oyls 
 to exalt to a great fubtilty, 119. b. Oyls foetid, to 
 make fweet and clear, P. I. 6. a. Oyls warm, fetch 
 Pitch and Rofin out of Cloth, 376. Oyls, how to he 
 Coagulated into Bal(ams, 60. 
 
 Oyl of hmhtv to prepare, with its Vertues, P. i. 52. 
 Oyl 0/ Arfnick and Orpimcnt, 9. 3 5 . Oyl 0/ Afli- 
 keys, afure Remedy againfi the Stone, P. 2. 122. a. 
 Oyl or Butter of Antimony, 3«5, 36. Its external ufe, 
 8. b. Oyl o/Harts-horn, 51. 
 
 Oyl 0/ Lapis Calarainaris, with its njes, P. f. 9. Oyl 
 of Wine made by its help, ibid. Oyl or Liquor of 
 Go\^ Corrofive, 7. a. Oyl 0/ Lune, 51. Oyl 0/ 
 Mars, ibid. Oyl of Regulus Martis, 34. Its mani- 
 fold vertues and ufes, 34, 35. Oyl of Maftick, 
 Frankincenfe a?id other Gums, 5. b. Oyl 0/ Mer- 
 cury, 7. Oyl of Metals and Minerals, red and 
 fweet, 6. b. 
 
 Oyl-olive to difiill, commonly called the Philofopber^s 
 Oyl of Bricks, P. i. 53, Its Vertues and Ufe, ibid. 
 54. Oyl (-/ Saturn, rtw^o/Jupiter, 7. 36, Oyl of 
 Soot, 52. Oyl of Sulphur, fiy led the Mercury of Phi- 
 lofophers, because it may eafily be tranfmuted into a 
 fweet ftifile Stone, P. 2. 191. 
 
 OyJ of I alk, with Niter, P. r. 3;. Oyl o/Tartar,3'?. 
 Oyl ofTm, It exalts Colours, 33. Oyl 0/" Venus, 7. 
 Oyl of Ym\Q\, fweet, to prepare, 21. Its Ufe andDofe, 
 22. Bloodred, with Spirit ofUrme, 50. Oyl of Vl-. 
 triol corrcfive, to prepare, 17. Oyl of Vitriol whtte^ 
 and red, to Coagulate into a fweet fafile Stone, ha- 
 ving power in the tranfmutatton of Metals, and Gems, 
 P. 2. 191. Oyl cf Vitriol or Sulphur « the Agent 
 of PhiUfophers, P. 3. 62. b. 
 
 Oyl«/Zink, P. ,.56. 
 
 Opium maj/ be Jo prepaied, that its very Odour will lay 
 the outward fenfes afiecp, P 2. 153 b. Op'mm, Htn- 
 bane and Tobacco to prepare into excellent Medu 
 P. 3. 57- b. 
 
 Hemes, 
 
 PAnaCcTa of Antimony, its preparation and general 
 ufe, P. I. 163. * 
 
 ParaceKus caufcd humane Dung to be fct before the Em- 
 pcrour's Phyfuians* who retjuired ofhmfome Medici- 
 nal Experiment, P. 2. 159. b. 
 Paracelfus'j Abbreviation of the Procefs of the Ancievtt 
 m preparing the Tinilure of Naturalifis, P. i. 233. 
 ProjeHimi of the faid Tmciure upon Metals, 234." 
 Paracelfus with it cured the worfi ofdtfeafes, 235.3". 
 His Prophecy, 351. His Epitaph, 352. His Lioti of 
 the North is Niter, 350. a. Partncrfijip pernicioits in 
 the Philofophickwork, P. 2. 147. And trufiy Servants 
 very rare to get, ibid. Paracelfus had thirteen Ser- 
 vants came under the Hangman's Lajb, and but one 
 that he thought was honefl, 148. a. 
 Pearls to prepare into a Magifiery,or white finning Pow- 
 der, and to make the fame of Mother of Pearl, or other 
 Shells, p. r. 18. b. Pearl Philofophick, to take with 
 the Net o/Saturn, 265. b. To draw it forth ofCom-^ 
 mon Salt, P. 2. 5. 
 The Philofopher's Stone not to be attained by the mofb 
 acute Powers of humane reafon, without the a(fifianc& 
 of divine mfpiration, P. i. 185. b. 5«c^ Philofophers 
 rare to be found, as will mfiruit others in their work 
 P. 2. 146. ' 
 
 The Philofophers have prepared their TmBure of feve- 
 ral Subjects, ^and by divers Methods, 144, 145. a. 
 The Authours op:nton which way is the befl, 146'. h. 
 147. a. How a man ou;rht to be qualified'that will 
 undertake the Philofophick Work, 145. b. Pride 
 hinders a man from knowledge, ibid. 
 
 Poyfon confifis in the excefs of Cold, P. 2. 105. a. 
 
 Poyfbnous Animals and Vegetables refide and grow in 
 cold and jhady places, ibid. 
 
 Prefs defer tbed for extraBing the juice or fap of Wood, 
 for the making 0/ Salt- peter, or the enriching of bar- 
 ren Land, P. i. 188. How to convert the J owr juice 
 of Wood into Salt-peter, ibid. 
 
 Printer's Ink, to render very fair and good, 179. 
 
 Proferpine, what, P. 2. 191. a. 
 
 Purges work onely by their crudity and averfion to the 
 ff.'mach, p. 2. 17. a. b. 
 
 Purges of Vegetables not fo fafe as fhofe of Metals, P. i. 
 385. a,. T urging Vegetables much corrected by' Spirit 
 of Wim. P. 2. 179.3. 
 
 Vuige for firong people of Copper, p. i. 41.3. Of Iron, 
 for weaker, ibid. A puvge prepared of Saturn, with 
 Its ufe and doje, 585. A purge of Lune or Silver, 
 ibid. A purging Gold, ibid. 
 
 Putrcfadtions are made much fooner by Art than Nature 
 p. I. 225. a. ' 
 
 Putrefadtion of Vegetables is prefently made in the fto- 
 machs of Mm, 214. b. 
 
 Pytha- 
 
The INDEX. 
 
 Pvrhaaoras'i ermir .concerTttm the Tranffrngratrnt of ' Secret Sal-Armoniack, of 'vamm f reparations, P. - 
 .'a . . . '^. . ,, , : .n . I 209. a. 
 
 A ■iuonderfull Sa!-Armoniack to be prepared ffom'^the 
 faces of "Tin, 102. b. It infeparably coniQjmth Gold 
 
 humaiK Souls, ts true of the Metallick, 358.3. 
 
 Q!- 
 
 \x\mc{^cncecfVegetahhi, to -prepare, p. I.6.b. 
 
 Qiiinteflcnce of ail Ahtds and Minerals, ibid. 
 V. ". 58. b. Hdw to. fix them tnto Twctnyes with 
 Sol and tunc, \h\d. -Their Medicinal life, ibid, yl 
 ■i^^niiderfuU Quinccflence of Wine, which diljol-ueth 
 all things and bringeth their ivertues. over the helm, 
 
 P.a.6;,64. 
 
 R 
 
 R Apes, Radi files, and dher things to make grow far 
 larger and fairer 'than ufual by planting their 
 Seeds in their Roots, P. ;. %<). b. 
 Ripley'/ Tcad, mentioned in bis Dream, what, P. a- 
 
 117. a. • 
 
 Rivers afford Stones rich in Gold afid Silver, 8 1, a. 
 
 THE Salt of the Ocean ( as a. Vniverfal Agent ) 
 gives fJDurifhmejtt to all things which grow on the 
 Earth, P. I. ^\%,^Jt% iS5>iS6- P-?- ?5- 
 The Sea-water abates of its Jallnejs the nearer it ts to the 
 North, ibid. 0/ the Frecipitation of the Salt from 
 Sea-water, and rcndrwg it drinkable, 184. b. 285.3. 
 Co7nmon Salt cant ameih fpiritual Gold, which may be 
 rendred vifiblc by Art, 18 5. a. It prejerveth both the 
 'living and the dead front Corruption, ibid. It condu- 
 ' ceth %iuch to the fatning of Hogs, and other'Beafts, 
 ibid. Cofiimon Salt kills Vegetables, as it u , but 
 rnrnd into a Lixivial Salt , promotes Vegetation , 
 
 !'• I- 89. 
 
 Common Salf, when throughly purified, always hath the 
 fiape of a Cube cr Scjitare, P. 1. 274- a. How it m to 
 be fo purified, ibid. b. Salt advanceth and conduBeth 
 the Vertues or Vices of what it is conjoynedwith, 7vhe- 
 thergoodor e-vil, ^(i^.h. Examples proving the fame 
 in Mercury and Orpiment, ibid. Salt feigned to de- 
 clare its own Vertues, 154. a. 174. a. 
 Common Salt may be trajifmuted into a burning Spirit, 
 into true Salt-peter, P. I. 19?- b. 405. a. It may in 
 a few hcurs obtain the Nature of Pot-Aflies, and 
 jerve for all ufes to which they are put, as for Soap- 
 boylers, Glals makers, &c. 406. a. Salt is able to 
 draw out the Anima of Gold, and have its Body of the 
 colour of Lead, and brittle and fugacious like Anti- 
 mony, 158. a. Salt js the Symbol of Eternity, 254. b. 
 It corroborateth the Heart more than I Vine, 256 b. 
 The fruit full nature o/Salt appears from the Multiplica- 
 tior: of Fi^ies, beyond Birds and Animals, P. 1 . 257. b. 
 Salt and Fire tranfmute the vile Metals, into more 
 . Noble. An evident dcmonfiration, 434. ^he Salt of 
 the Microccfmick Sea, far more potent in ]the ripdimg 
 of Metals, t'^an the Salt of the Ocean, ■^'^6. a, The 
 Spirit and Salt of the World being addej^. ^ any d'lj- 
 folved Metal, and difiilled, carries over\^,e Tmgmg 
 'Anima of the Metal, P. %. 18. b. Salts fmple and 
 compound, their excellency in Alchjmy, 4H''^- N.B. 
 Secret' Sal-Armoniack, its defcnption, preparation, and 
 u',e, p. 2. 178. hs life in the amending of Metal s,i<)%. 
 It performs more than Helmont hath attributed 10 his 
 Alcahcft, 186. a. Divers Medicines for the Stone to 
 prepare with it; ibid. Volatile Salt off-Vim or Tartar, 
 TO prepare, P. 5. 69. a. 
 
 and Silver, 203. a. N. B. It is a Mlagnet to drew 
 Tinclures, 204. b. Being dijjolved in Spirit of Salt, 
 it attraBs Gold or TinBures from Metallick Solutions^ 
 and precipitates them in form -of a purple or blood-red 
 Fowder, 205.3. It extraBs and exalts the Colours 
 of Vegetables and Animals, ibid. He that hath it, and 
 knsws Its ufe, needs no Books, ibid. 
 A Spiritual Sal-Armoniack or Alcahefl: defcribed, which 
 can extraB the TinBures of all red Bodies, and again 
 introduce them into white Bodies, without altering the 
 figure of either, 209, 2 10. a. It maketh Gold as vo- 
 latile as Spirit of Wine, in three hours fp ace, 210. b. 
 And again changeth it into a tranfparciit, fixt, tin''-- 
 ing Carbuncle, 2 1 2. 
 Sal-Mirabilis, its Original, P. i. 223. Of its Name and 
 Vertues, lij^. Its Freparation, 11^, l6l. pfitsout- 
 WJrd Figure and T aft, 261. Enigmatical defcription 
 of its Ufe, 254. Its ufe in Fhjfick, Alchymy, and Mc- 
 chanick Arts, 226, 227, 228, 262. 0/ its wonde full 
 power m the kingdom of Vegetables, 224. How it is 
 to be prepared for that ufe, P. 2. 47. It refioresTrees 
 andlnfBs, half dead, to life, P. I. 410. b P; 2. 47. 
 The ufe of Sal-iVlirabilis in dtjjolving of Metals, and 
 preparing of Medicines, P. I. 264. P. 2. 48. Its Uni- 
 verfal ufe in the emendation of Ale t a Is, P. 2. 50. How 
 by it the imperfeB Metals may be made perfeB, ibid. 
 The Author by its help hath often tinged one end of an 
 Iron IVyer, into Copper, and the other into Gold, P. i. 
 129. b. 
 Sal-Mirabilis to ftre'ngthen by its own Spirit,!*. I.41 1. a. 
 A graduating Spirit of Sal-Mirabilis, P. 2 68. b. 
 How to know if the Sal-Mirabilis be well prepared, ^■:^- 
 How by it any Grain or Seed may be encreafed a Thou, 
 fandfold, 54. How it is profitable for Vineyards, 54, 
 55. Divers profitable ufes of it about Wincs /zWBran- 
 
 „ ,'-'y>.S5,56- 
 
 Sal.Mirabilis turns Water, Wine, Ale, and other Liejuors 
 into bard pieces, like Ice, in a few hours (pace, P. 2. 
 44. It Coagulates all acid corrofive Spirits in liks 
 manner, ibid. It flops the head of a Fountain, ibid. 
 Separates the phlegm from fubtile Spirits, ibid. Con- 
 gealeth the breath of Men into Ice, with other Opera- 
 tions, ibid. It betters all Wines as it were in a mo- 
 ment, 45. How it may benefit tbofe who travel ijt 
 Wttiter, or fail on the Seas, P. 1. 46. How it mends 
 Brandy made of Corn, fo as to become equal to that 
 made of the Lees of J Vine, ibid. The fame by Vinegar, 
 ibid. /; amends Qyls, 47. It takes away Mufi or 
 Stink from all Vejfels, ibid. It prefer ves all kind cf 
 Fruits, Eggs, Onions, &c. a long time from corrupt- 
 ing, ibid. It turneth Wood into a Stone, ibid. How it 
 dtjjolveth all hard SubjeBs, ibid. 
 
 Sal-mirabilis reduceth a Charcoal into its firft matter /« 
 the fpace of half an hour, 48. How it renders the Ve- 
 getable Sulphur vifible, ibid, yields a Medicine but 
 little inferiour to Aurum Potabile, ibid, . 
 
 Salt of humane Dung among all Salts, onely getia^c: 
 putrefaBion, P. 2. 159 b. -W 
 
 Salt- peter, fee Niter. 
 
 Siilt graduating Silver, to prepare, P. I. 54. a. 
 
 Salt of Tartar to punfie by 'Flints, 15; b. 
 
 Salt-water takes the Salt out ofjaltijb Ficjh, or Fijlj, 
 
 11- b- 
 Of the Salt of Philofophers, its preparation, ufe, and 
 
 efficacy in Fhyfick and Chymifiry, P. 3. 17. It tranf- 
 
 ' mutes all imperfeB M(tals into Cold, and common 
 
 Stones 
 
The INDEX. 
 
 Stones into precious ones ; but hath no ingrefs into com- 
 mon Mercury^ l8. a. It draws the Ttniluresfrom red 
 Subjects, and leaves the body whtte, 19.3. Expert- 
 mentofthered Salt or Stone of V'\\\\ok^\iQVS draw- 
 ing the TmSlure from Gold, p. ;. ^o. It gave to Glafs 
 ftuh a Tougbnefs, as it might be bowed like Steel- 
 ■ivycr, without breaking. Ibid. The Author rejtored by 
 it from two years continual Sicknefs, to Health, ibid. 
 The Secret Salt of Philofophers, (or their white Eagle) 
 being diJJ'olved in Common IVater, renders the jame 
 able to glew Paper together, and makes infef arable 
 Conjunilions, 5 1 . b. 51. 
 The Salt of Art exalts both Sol and Lune into Tin^ures, 
 
 P. 3. 55. a. It both maketh fixt and volatile, ibid. 
 Sanguis Draconis and Salamander of the Philofophers, 
 how produced, i8, 19. Its hiceration and Multiplica- 
 tion, 29. b. Sanguis Draconis to unite and fix, with 
 Lac Virginis, P. j. ;i.a. 
 Sarur waJJied to the highefi Whitenefs, with Common 
 Salt, ts then a Bath for Metals, P. i. 401. a. The 
 manner of preparing and ufng that Bath, 405, 404. 
 Seeds of Vegetables confifl in a Lixivial Salt and Sul- 
 phur, P. I. 89. b. 
 Silver to txtra£l from poor Oars, by the moifi way, P. 1. 
 • 415. Silver Calxes to reduce into a bod) without lofs, 
 ibid. P. 2.14, 42. Silver to feparate from Bifmuth, 
 and the Bifmuth preferved, P. i. 176. From old Cop- 
 per, and the Copper preferved, ibid. Silver to exalt 
 into Gold, in z few hours, 177. P. 2. 49. Silver ro 
 Tranfmttte ivto Gold, P. 3. 44. b. 
 Silvers inwardly full ofTtnilure, P. 2. 144,3. 
 Silver, its Cryfials to prepare, with their ufe^ P. I. 26. Its 
 TinBure, ibid. Its green Oyl, with its ufe in Phyjick, 
 Alchymy, and Mechanicks, 27, 391. b. The Silver 
 Tree, 334. b. 
 Smiths Files, and ether Toolsy to make as hard as the 
 
 befi Steel, P. i. 180. 
 Spots or Stains to take out of Cloaths, ibid. 
 Spiders under a year old, not poyjonous, P. 2. 96 b. They 
 . will live three months without fujtenance, ibid. 
 Spirits Terrejtrial and Elementary, their great Power, 
 
 P. 2. 171. 
 Spirits, what they are, and by what means they operate 
 
 good or evil, P. 2. 23. 
 Spirit of Salt to difiill without Retorts, with its ufe,V.i. 
 3. 418. 183. b. Spirit of Salt, Salt- peter, or Aqua 
 Regia to acquire eafily, Jo that one pound of it may be 
 made with two or three pound of Coals, and needs uo 
 reUif cation, 225,374.3. Spirit of Salt /eri/e/ y^r 
 Kitchen ujes better thanVinegar, 5, ro, 378,' 379. Its 
 -i great Vertues irt Phyfick, 287. Spirit of Salt Tartari 
 . zed, to prepare, 392. a. It allays Thirfi byond all other 
 remedies, and is of many good ufes in Phyfick, ibid. 
 Spirit of Salt, and Allom, volatile to prepare, P.i. 22. 
 The ufe 0/ Spirit of Salt in Ships agawJlThirtt, and 
 the Scurvy, 284. The Spirit of Salt m Apothecaries 
 Shops, of little worth, 283.3. 
 Spirit of Antimony, Tartarized, P. i. 30. a. 41. Spirit 
 of Corals end Sugar, red, to prepare, 53. Spirit of 
 Salt of Tartar, and other fixed Salts, 1 1. Spirit of 
 Salt of Tartar, if/r/j crude Tartar to difiill, 44. 
 Spirit of Salt- peter, -white and acid, and red and vola- 
 tile, to prepare, with their ufe, P. i. 23. Sp'"' "' 
 ^liter Sulphurated, 29. a. Tartarized. i<J. a. 
 Acid Spirit, or Vinegar to difit^J Jrom all Vegetables, 
 
 P. I . I o. b. From Wood, i*- great /quantity, 1 88 , 1 89. 
 Spirit of Stone-Coala, i-*.!. 30. b. It cures Scald Heads 
 
 and all running Ulcers, ibid. 
 Spirit of Grape-ftones , a Specifick for the Stone and 
 Gout, 54 a. Spirit of Gun-powder, 32. Spirit of 
 
 Harr, and Horns, ir. O/Man'sHa'ir, {i. It diffoU 
 yeth Sulphur into a Milk, and may befiy.t into a Ruby, 
 ibid. Of ll^ns-hovn, with its Vertues, 51,52. Spirit 
 of Honey, to prepare, 11, 52. Spirit of Sal-Armo- 
 niack, or Urine, topnpapc, P. t. 49. Its Vertues and 
 Ufe,^o. . .. ■ 
 
 Spirits and Salts of Minerals, V. i. n. 
 
 Spirits o/" Metals .;«<;/ Minerals volatile, P. r. 22. P. 2. 
 71. b. 162,218.^. Spirit ofZinck,?o;)rf/)<jre, P.I. 
 23. Of the Drofs c/Regulus Martis,/^/^. Spirit of 
 Saturn, 36. It is a meer poyfon, but of great power 
 m Alchymy, P. 2. 164.3. Spirit of Jupiter, P. i. 33. 
 Spirit of Mars, with its Vertues, P. 3. 46. b. Spirit 
 of Gold, <rW Silver, Tartarized, P. i. 41. Spirit of 
 Mercury Tartarized, ibid. 
 
 Spirit of Muft, or new PVine, to prepare, P. i, 5 3. Spi- 
 rit of Paper, and Linnen Cloth, il. Spirit of Silk, 
 ibid SpiritofSugar,u';V/j/rjO)7, 53. Spirit of Tar- 
 tar, 36. Its UJe, 37. Spirit and Oyl 0/ Tartar /o/w- 
 ed with Metals and Minerals, 38. Spirit of Vinegar, 
 Honey, W Sugar, 11. Spirit of Sulphur, 54. Spi- 
 rit of Vitriol volatile, with its vertues and ufe, P. i. 
 17. P. 2. 237, 238. a. Sulphur of Vitriol iV«/(ro;;ei6,* 
 ufe and dofe, ibid. 
 
 A Spirit to be drawn from Wine (by the help of a fecret 
 Ferment) by which other Wines may be amended, P. 2. 
 153. b. From Tartar, by the fame Ferment, 1 1 8. h. 
 Spirit of Wine, to prepare, that will draw cut the 
 Tinthtre of Gold, 1 39. Spirit of Wine, by its flume, 
 dulcifies all fowr and bitter things, 190. b. Spirit of 
 Wine Alcolizate extrails the Ttnilures of all things, 
 and carries them over the Helm, is rf admirable ufe 
 for Vhyficians, and may be acquired as cheap as ether 
 good Spirit of Wine, 186. b. Spirit of Wine Alcoli- 
 zed with the Salt of Art, carries over the Helm the 
 E£ences of Vegetables, Animals, and Minerals P 2 
 54, 56. 3. > 
 
 Springs, whether fait or fwect, their Original, P. j, 
 248. b. 249. The reafon why fome Springs arefrejij 
 and others fait, and why fome art more fait than e- 
 thers, P. I. 256. ' 
 
 Steel or Iron to Solder without Fire or Brafs, cnely h a 
 Liquor, P. I. 180. Stone of the Reins and Bladder 
 the cure, P. 2. 24. b. 58,88. b. 95. a. I02. b. 122 b' 
 
 P ;• 55- 
 
 Stone of Fire of Bafil Valentine, P. 3. 65. Its great 
 power dnd vertues, ibid. Stones prepared by the Au- 
 thor, Tinging Metals, P. 3. 37. 
 
 Sulphur, burning, is the fymbol of Death, P. j. 154. b. 
 Sulphurs kill all Corroftves, and reduce them to a 
 fweetnefs, 386. b. Vegetable Sulphurs perform it in 
 one hours fpace, either in the dry or moift way, ibid. 
 Sulphur ts the Original of all Metals, P. 2. 6. b* 
 Every Sulphur // brought to a Metallick ftate, by its 
 own Agent, or Vitriolale Salt, ibid. Sulphur, its 
 cold and moijl Fire, to prepare, ibid. Sulphur to fix, 
 by the mofi: Fires of Salts, 27. Common Sulphur t\ 
 purifie l>y an acid Spirit, 1 24. b. L3C Sn'f ^'"''S to 
 prepare, xo2. a. Sulphur '^'"-'^'"''nony, Eraetick, 
 to prepare, P. i. 7- ^- Comrr>on Sulphur to fix, in 
 three dav-'"^, '"t° '^ red tinging Stone, P. 2. 214. 
 'Tic power of Sulphur m Coagulating and Tinging, 
 161. a. Sulphur of Tartar, of admirable vertue, 
 ibid. It makes Gold white and brittle, P.3 z6. h. 
 
 The Excellency o/Sulphur, when truly prepared, in Phy- 
 fick, Alchymy, and other Arts, P. 3. 2. b. Sulphur 
 to wajl) and purge to afnow-like whitenefs, and fix, to 
 abide the fire, 4, 5, 6. Its uJe, 7. S\i]phuT fixed, ts 
 the Unicorn's Horn, cr true Bezrar of Philofophers, 
 7. b. Nothing tmgeth but Sulphur, 8. a. It hath in- 
 C C grefs 
 
■•^k<U 
 
 The INDEX. 
 
 grefs into Metals, and amends them, by the help of the 
 Salt of Metals, 9. a. Of the Element of Fire of Sul- 
 phur, rt«^ «^ «/e, ?, 6. a. Its (jualtfications, 61. a. 
 Sulphur to convert into a gradatory Water, P ?• 9. 
 J'he danger of operating upon fome Sulphurs to fix 
 them, -With the Jut hour'') advice to the Operatour, 10 a. 
 Sulphurs in fixing, jojned with Gold and Silver, make 
 them irreducible, but have both flux and mgrefs refic 
 red by the Salt of Metals, 10, 1 1. Sulphur may be 
 fixt -without the help of any external Fire, by the tnvi- 
 fihle Fire of Niter, 1 1, b. The Sulphur of Philofo- 
 phcrs held Captive in an obfcure Coal, P. 1. 190- b. 
 
 The Sun (by the Medium of the Air) is the principal In- 
 firument of lift, P. I. 389. a. Experiments to prove 
 the fame, ibid. 
 
 Sun Celefital and Terrefirial^ their harmony with Wine 
 and Man, P. i. 130, 
 
 A true Tinifture may be made by Salt and Fire, for 
 the Melioration of Metals, 455, N. B. 
 
 Tin(fture of crude Tartar, P. i. 50. Tindures of Vege- 
 tables, to prepare, ibid. Of Sulphur, V.-^.'ii.h. N.B. 
 
 Toad, Serpent, and jome other poyjonoits Animals, are 
 fiript of their poyfon, by a bare decoction, jo that their 
 flefl) may fafely be eaten, P. 1. 9;. 
 
 Toochach, eafed by Spirit o/Sal-Armonlack, P. i. 50. 
 An infallible remedy for the Toothach,P. ;. 6j. b. 
 
 Travellers and others who are much in the (leather, may 
 be kept dry by Cloth dipt in a certain Farnijh, P.l.lSl, 
 Travellers to keep warm in cold weather, m Coaches 
 or Waggons, by the help of an Artificial Fire, which 
 may be kindled or put out at pleafure, P. i. 1 14, 
 
 Trees made to grow up fpeedily out of Metals, by the Li- 
 quor of Sand, P. I. 48, 178. 
 
 Tobacco rightly prepared and adminifireJ, effeBeth 
 great Cures, P. I. 181. a. 
 Tapeftry, its faded Colours to refi-ore, 1 8 1. 
 Tartar to extract from the Lees ofWtne, 191. a. Tar- 
 tar afforded by other Vegetables be fides Wtne, j;. b. 
 It caufeth not the Gout or Stone, ibid. Tartar to pit- 
 rifie after divers manners, P. 1. 69. b. Tartar tru- 
 ly purified, and conjoyned with Common Water, and 
 fure Spirit of Wme, make good Wine, like the natural, 
 140. a. 
 Thriifli and other fore Mouths in Children, to cure, P. I. 
 
 187. b. 
 Tin to purge from its fuperfiuous Sulphur divers ways, 
 P. I . I ?o. a. To make Tin hard and white, like Sil- 
 'ver, 180. Tin may fervefor the writing of Letters, 
 in cafe of fecrecy, 17;, a. Tin, its nature and pro- 
 fertj, how it may he wafhed, fo as to yield Gold and 
 Silver on the Cupel, P. l. loo. Tin yields its Gold 
 and Silver to Copper, or Regulus of Antimony, 69. a. 
 A Procefs to feparate Gold and Silver from Txnwtth 
 gain, lol. The feces which are feparated, are of more 
 worth than the Gold and Silver, loj.b. Tin is fixed 
 hy Aqua Fortis, P. I. ;i;- b. 
 Tincture of Antimony, P. 1.51. Tinifture or Anima 
 6f Antimony, to purifie, P. a. 158. Tindure 0/ Arf 
 nick rtW Lunc, 69. a. Tindlure 0/" Corals, to pre- 
 fare, 170 Tindures fo cxtraB from Gems, and 
 with them to tinge Silver into Gold, P 5.50.3. Tinc- 
 tures introduced into Glafs, V 1- 171. a. Tindure 
 of Flints, to bring It over the helm and fix it, 'P.z.ll^. 
 Tindure of Gold to prepare divers ways, 165, 166, 
 169. Tindure of Gold and Antimony, P. i. 78. 
 0/ Gold per fe, 79. Tinfture of Go\A, to prepare, 
 with the Oyl of Salt, its ufe and dofe, 288. b. With 
 the Licjuor of Flints or Vebbles, 47. 
 Tindure of Gun-powder, its preparation and ufe, P. i. 
 31,;;. Tindurc o/Lapis Calaminaris, it is perma- 
 nent in the fire, 34. a. Tindure ofFebl^-fiones, to 
 frepart, ^ , 7,^ fffg i„ Fhyfiik, ibid. b. It abides the 
 ftrongeft fire, 46. a. 'Tf'itifture of Metals, to pre- 
 fare, P.a. 67. Tindure oj Mars/. ..^^ gr,. a. Tinc- 
 tures 0/ Metals to bring over the him wni "rofer- 
 pina, P. ;. 46, 47. And to Coagulate them into a 
 fweet fill file Stone, 49. To fix thofe TitiBures, 51.3 
 A Tindure or Univerfal Medicine to prepare for 
 humane afid metallick Bodies by the help of a fiery Al- 
 cahcft, P. 1. 21 ;. Tindure or Anima of Lommo?, 
 Sulphur, diaphoretick, to prepare, P. I. J I. P. 2. 1 58. 
 No TifiHure without Sulphur, nor no Sulphur fixt, 
 withctit Salt, both thofe arc found in Vitriol, P. I . }7 5. a. 
 
 VEgetable Sieis contain much Volatile Salt, P '.j 
 69 a. N.B. ■*■ 
 
 Vegetables venomons, to correB, and convert into good 
 Medicines, by the moifi Fires of Salts, P. 2. 25. Bj 
 Spirit of Niter, loi. 
 Vegetable Eflences to prepare, 84. Their great Vertues, 
 85, 103, 104. Ellence o/"Spices, 87. A Vegetable 
 may be converted into a Metal, P. i. 248. a. Vege- 
 tables afford a common yellow Sulphur, in all things 
 like to the Mineral, ibid. Vegetables, their Concen- 
 tration, ;o6. Of the different Salts of Vegetables, 
 ;©8. b. 
 Vermin to difcover hy an Experiment, which are of moft. 
 
 ufe in Medicine, P. 2. 23. 
 Vertues of things to difcover hy their Signature and 
 
 Chara^ers, P. i. 270, 271. 
 Impotency o/Venus, to help, P.l. 266. a. P-2.55. b. 
 Veflel of Wood ferving for Boy ling, Difiilling, &C. as 
 well as Copper, Iron, or Tin Veffels , P. I. 57. Veflet 
 of Wood for Bathing and Sweating, which may be 
 kept hot at pleafure, ibid. Their ufes, m Boy ling, Di- 
 fiilling, Bathing, Sweating, &C. ibid. 
 The Vine draweth an odour and favour from the Earth, 
 beyond all other Plants, fo that any favour may be 
 communicated to it at pleafure by the skilfull, P. i. 
 125. b. An Oyl of a fweet and firong odour, being 
 put to the Roots of Vines, will caufe them to bring forth 
 Mufcadel Grapes /or ten years, 126.3. To caufe 
 Vines to grow in hard Rocks without Earth or Dung, 
 P. 1 . 192. a. Vines, and other Fruit-trees, to caufe to 
 bear much Fruit, 189. a. 
 Vinegar, the manner of making it, P. I. 291. b. Vine- 
 gar to make of Grain, 166. b. Of Honey, 314.3. Vi- 
 negar of Wood, 188. It breaks Rocks and Stones, 
 192. b. Vinegar of Wme and Beer, how to difiin- 
 guij}} them from each other, although they be of equal 
 firength, 1 59. b. Vinegar to make of Wme, Beer, 
 Mctheglm, &C. by the help of Sal-mirabilis, without 
 the heat of the Sun, P. 1. 406. 3. Vinegar aud Bran- 
 dy to difiill without fire, ibid. 
 Vitriol, Its great Vertues, when duly prepared, both in 
 Medicine and Alchymy, P. I. 235, 236. Of the Spe- 
 cies 0/ Vitriol, and how to prove its goodnefs, both for 
 Alchymy and Phyfick, ibid. The ufe of the Colcothar, 
 and K/y\ ^f y\lj:io\ tn C/:>yrurgery, 236. b. Errours 
 and Abufes in pf<.ftri7!g of Vitriol, 237. Of the red 
 Oyl cf Vitriol, 23. a. It cures the Scab, Scald-heads, 
 Tetters, Ringworms, Ulcers, <^c. 139. a. Of ths 
 white and green Oyl of Vitriol, ibid. Vitriol and Al- 
 lom may be made out of Common Salt, P. i. 406. a. 
 Vitriol ^/Copper to prepare with Spirit o/Sal-Armo- 
 
 niack 
 
The INDEX. 
 
 niack, 50. Vitriol o/"Gold, to prepare, with ks ufe, 
 P. 1. r;4. Vitriol o/Lune, P. i. 18, 51. Vitriol of 
 Lune u the Vitnol of Philojophers, -which Bafilius ap- 
 points to he taken for his work, P. i. 118. a. Vitriol 
 0/ Mars <iW Venus fo prfpixrf, P. i. 18. Vitriol ts 
 the Smaragdine Table of Htrmes, P. i. 41 1. b. Vitriol 
 afforJeth the Stone of the M'lfe, P.1.2. The preparation 
 of its Fire, ibid. Divers ways of pro-ving its goodnefs, 
 ibid. Its ufe in Medicine, Alchymy , and other Arts, 1. 
 Volatile Spirit of Vitriol, to prepare, for the extract- 
 ing and correBing Opium, 1 1 r. b. Hiftory of the 
 great power of the Sulphur of Vitriol, ibid. 
 Ulcers, f/je cure, P. I. zi.a. 40. b. 50. b. ;8i, j8;. Of 
 
 the Month and Throat, 165. a. 
 Urine may affordgreat profit, P. 2. 185. b. Jts fire or fie- 
 ry Spirit to prepare, 8. Spirit of Urine to prepare in a- 
 iundancel>ythehelpofCah-\\ve, I94.b. Four, five, 
 or fix Found of Spirit of Urine required to Coagulate 
 one Pound of prepared Oyl of Vktiolfor the Secret 
 Sal-Armoniack, i86. a, 
 
 W 
 
 WArts to take away, P. 1 . 188. a. 
 Wafliballs, or fine Soap to make, far exceeding 
 that of Venice, 181. 
 
 Waters Chalybeat to make at home of the fame nature 
 and -vertues as Tunbridge or the Spaw-water, 
 286. b. 
 
 Water to concentrate, to tjuench thirfi, and rtfifi difea- 
 fes, 282. b. 
 
 Water to prefer ve from fitnk and corruption on Ship- 
 board, 284. a. 
 
 Water corrupted, and muddy, made fweet and clear, 
 28J. a. 
 
 Wax, yellow, to make white, P. I. 179. 
 
 Wine, its 'vertues and "vices, P. I. 298- b. It is preju- 
 dicial to be drank by Touth, ibid. It hath a great fa- 
 mtharity with Man, and Gold, P, i. 1^9. 
 
 New Vi\nes being fermented with SdXrnnihiXis, become 
 fine in a months time, and ha-ve the taft and fmell of 
 Old Wines, N. B. P. I. 405. b. Wine to make of an 
 incredible firergth by Fermentation, 406. a. The Spi- 
 rit in Wine, P.eer, or other Licfuors, is their preferver, 
 1 59. a. Wines fo pre ferve from fretting in Summer, 
 286. a. Wines grownhrown or red by keeping, again 
 
 made clear, 285. a. Wines poor and eager, to amend^ 
 157, 158. To amend and firengthen jmall Wines in 
 Jticb years as the Grapes are not fufficimly ripe for 
 want of Sun, 299. a. P. 2. i < ? . b. 2 1 8. b. The -ver- 
 tue of the Quintellencc of Wme m bettering of all 
 H'mes, P r ;oo. b. Wine, Tenacioits, or roapy and 
 corrupt, how brought to its former fiate and purity, 
 P. 1. 27. Wines to preferve and amend by the Ele- 
 ment of Fire of Sulphur,]?. %. 5 b. 
 To give to French Wines the Smell, Tafi, and Colour of 
 Rhemjh, and make it keep many years good, F. 1.286 a 
 Rhenifli Wine to change mto Mufcadel 'by a certain 
 Herb, P. 2. 1 2 5. a. The difference of Wines, P. r. 
 299- a Spanifli Wines contain no Tartar, ibid, but 
 afford a double cjuantity of Spirit, to what Rhenijii IVtne 
 doth, ibid. Wine to concentrate, or bring into a nar- 
 row compafs, ft that it may be carried from place to 
 place withfmall charge, 299. b. 300. Wines may 
 be made of the juice of Apples or Pears, -having the 
 reltjh of the natural, and but little tnferiour to ft m 
 firength and durability, P. I. l66.b. 181, 181. Of 
 Wine-Lees to make Brandy, Vinegar, Tartar, and 
 Pot-ajbes, 1^1, 1<)^. 
 Wood to preferve long from rotting, P.r. 189. Wood 
 its Sap or Juice to prefs out, for the making of Salt- 
 peter, and other ujej, 188, 189. Wood to prepare by 
 Salmirabilis, that it may long refifi the Fire and War 
 ter, P. 2. 52,5;. 
 V7otnens Skins to make of a beautifullwhitenefs,V. I .i8r*" 
 Womb, an excellent Medicine to prepare for it, P. 2. 117, 
 An Infirument to convey Medicines into the Womb 
 with its ufe, 118. a. 
 Worms, the cure, P. i. 2r. a. 41. a. 50. b. 364.5. A 
 certain Remedy againji Worms, and the Fevers thence 
 proceeding, P. 2. 1 34. b. Another of no charge, 1 36; a. 
 An Hifiory of a Child that had Worms, I g6. Hov* 
 to make Worms creep cut of the Earth of their own 
 accord, 104. a. Worms to convert into good Medi- 
 cine, by the Univerfal Diffolvent, 97. May-worms 
 prepared by the Alcaheft or Ltquour offixt letter, are. 
 a P^emedy againfi the Gout and Stone, alfo againfi 
 the Impotency of Venus, 10^. b. 
 
 o 
 
 F Zink, P. I. 319. 
 
 Advertifement of BO KS Vdlijhed hy the Authour. 
 
 I 
 
 D^ 
 
 E Succo Pancreatico : or, A Phyfical and Anatomical Difcourfe of the Juice of the 
 Pancreatkk Juice ; fhevving its generation in the Body, what Difeafes arifc from its 
 Vitiation; from whence in particular, by plain and familiar Examples, is accurately demon- 
 ftrated theCaufes and Cures of Agues or intermitting Feavers hitherto fo difficult and uncertain. 
 Sold by John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey. Price bound z j. 6 d. 
 
 1 1. Praxis Catholica : or, the Country-man's Univerfal Remedy : wherein is briefly and 
 plainly laid down the Nature, Matter, Manner, Place, and Cure of mod Difeafes incident to the 
 Body of Man ; not hitherto difcovered. Whereby any one of an ordinary capacity, may ap- 
 prehend the true Caufe of his diftempers, wherein his Cure confifts, and the means to effedt 
 it ; together with Rules how to order Children in that moll violent difeafe of Vomiting and 
 Loofenefs, (Sc UfefuU likewife for Seamen and Travellers. Alfo an account of an incomparable 
 Powder for Wounds, or Bruifes, which cures any ordinary ones at once drefling. Sold alfo by 
 John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey. Price bound is. 6d. 
 
 Iir. Cbymical Apbortfms : briefly containing vvhatfoever belongs to the Chyniical Scierice* 
 Sold by IV. Cooper at the Pelican in Little Britain , and D. Newman at the Kings Arm in ths 
 Poultrey. Price bound 6<i. 
 
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