Venus as also in Vitriol and both Venus aâ—â— â—â—ars can be reduced into a most effectual Vitriol in which Metalline Vitriol afterward all the three principles as Merâ—ury Sulphur and Salt are found under one heaven and with â—â—tle pains and short time each can be taken out of it apart â—s you shall hear when I shall make further relation of the Mineral Vitriol which is digged in Hungary of a high graâ—ation Now if you have wit and understanding art inâ—lined and heartily desireth to conceive of the true meanâ—ng of my Keyes and of my other writings thereby to unâ—oâ—k the locks of Metals for our store then you should have â—aken notice and observed that in all these I have written â—ot onely of the Metal of Sol of its Sulphur and Salt but I â—ave interlined and mingled also and made uniformal other â—ed Metals from whence may be had the mystical Masterie â—herefore men ought to iterate often the reading of Philosophick books then a true sense and meaning may be drawn â—rom them which without divine illumination cannot be â—either c. But hoping that those who are fully and really resolved â—o incline their hearts unto wisdom will give more attenâ—ion thereunto than the other madd worldlings for whom â—hese my writings were not intended for I spoke as plainly â—s ever possibly I could and this kindled light shall further â—e purified so that true and sincere Novices may have a â—ull light without an eclipse from their beginning to their â—nding To which end I took these pains to disclose that which all the World was silent in and concealed it to their â—ast end and buried it in silence to their very graves The scope I aimed at in so doing was not to hunt after any â—ain glory but rather that Gods gracious provident goodnesse might be held forth unto posterity that the future â—â—ges might become seeing and some of the posterities eyes might be kept open and be helpfull unto their needy fellow Artist and make them partakers of Gods graces and gifts Though my minde be mightily perplexed when I think â—â—on what I have done because I write so plainly not knowâ—ng into whose hands after my departure these my writings may come However I hope let them be what they will that they will remember and lay to heart my faithfull warnings inserted in my former and these present writings thaâ— they deal with this book and use it so that they may givâ— good accompt for it to Almighty God Touching further the Vitriol I should make mention oâ— it in my Manuals where I treat and write generally of Minerals But it being such a singular Mineral whose felioâ— whole nature doth not produce besides Vitriol before aâ—â— others is of great affinity unto Metals and is next kiâ— unto them for out of all Metals there can be made a Vitriol or Chrystal Chrystal and Vitriol is taken for one therefore I would not bereave it of its own praise and put itâ— commendation too far off but rather preferre it as therâ— is just cause before other Minerals and the first place nexâ— to Metals should be given unto it for setting aside all Metals and Minerals this is sufficient to make the Philosopherâ— stone of it which no other in the World can do the like though some particulariter are a help to further that work and Antimony alone is a sufficient Master hereunto as iâ— its due place more shall be spoken of However none iâ— thus much dignified in its worthinesse that the said Philosophick stone could be made of it as this Vitriol is Therefore ancient Philosophers have concealed this Mineral aâ— much as ever they could and would not reveal the same tâ— their own Children that they should not divulge it in the World but be kept secret though they published thaâ— such preparation is made out of one thing and out of onâ— body which hath the nature of Sol and Lune and containeth also the Mercury wherein they said true enough because it is so But here I must admonish you that you maâ— turn this argument and settle your thoughts wholly upoâ— Metalline Vitriols because I intrusted you that out of Venus and Mars there can be made an excellent Vitriol where in are found the three principles for the generation of oâ—â— stone but you must further note also that neverthelessâ— these three Metals as Spiritus anima corpus are buried anâ— â—â—d in a Mineral Vitriol as in a Mineral it self Understand â—is according to the distinct natures of Vitriol For the â—est which according to my experience shewed it self most â—ffectual herein is that which is broken and digged in â—ungarie of a very deep degree of tincture not very unlike â—â—to a fair blue Saphir having very little of humidities and â—ther additionals or strange Oars the oftner it is dissolved â—â—d coagulated the more is it exalted in its deep tinging â—olour and is beheld with great admiration This high graduated Vitriol is found crude in those places â—here Gold Copper Iron is broken and digg'd and is â—bundantly transported from thence into forraign parts inâ— much that sometimes there is great scantnesse of it in those â—â—rts and elsewhere Though the vulgar people can afford no better name to 〈◊〉 calling it onely a Copper-water however ancient Philoâ—â—ers by reason of its unspeakable vertue and dignity exâ—ll'd it and call'd it Vitriolum for that reason because its â—iritual Oyl containeth all the three principles of all the â—iumphing qualities If you get such deep graduated and well prepared Mineâ—â— called Vitriol then pray to God for understanding and â—â—sdom for your intention and after you have calcined it â—t it into a well coated Retort drive it gently at first then â—â—rease the fire there comes in the form of a white spirit of â—â—riol in the manner of a horrid fume or winde cometh â—o the Receiver as long as it hath any such material in it â—d note that in this winde are invisibly hid all the three â—â—ciples and come together out of that dwelling therefore â—s not necessary to seek and search alwayes in precious â—â—ngs because by this means there is a nearer way open â—â—o nature's mysteries and is held forth to all such which 〈◊〉 able to conceive of Art and wisdom Now if you separate and free this expell'd spirit well and â—ely per modum distillation is from its earthly humidity â—n in the bottom of the glasse you will finde the treasure 〈◊〉 fundamentals of all the Philosophers and yet known to none which is a red Oyl as ponderous in weight as eveâ— any Lead or Gold may be as thick as bloud of a burning fiery quality which is that true fluid Gold of Philosophers which nature drove together from the three principles wherein is found a spirit soul and body and is that philosophick Gold saving one which is its dissolution during thâ— fire and not subject to any corruptiblenesse else it flieâ—â— away with body and Soul
â—nto us all a blessed resurrection Amen This high and mighty example having its foundation â—ot in humane thoughts wit or pride or in an ungrounded â—ating but in the great Creatour's true word which he â—ath revealed unto us through his servant and holy Prophet Moses doth inform you what you ought to do further with our new begotten Creature that you may get a perfect â—â—rth without any defect to the praise of the Highest the â—ather of lights and mercy from whom we receive all perâ—ect gifts which he graciously bestoweth on his Children â—or which we are not able to return sufficient thanks unto â—im Now if you will proceed well in your work then joyn â—he new body with his Soul which you formerly drew â—â—om that the compound in its vertue be compleat and â—here be apparent in the end a plusquam perfection of it â—hen is begotten the Red King of all glorie in a fiery subâ—tance and highly clarified body exalted above all powers â—pon earth from thence ariseth the golden fountain he that thinketh of it is renewed in all his Members and there is rised wholly a new life for the which God be praised for ever more The augmentation of this huge treasure together with the fermentation thereof for the transmutation of Metalls doubtlesse you have taken notice of exactly afore where I wrote of Gold how it must be handled and what direction I have given you thereunto the same you must observe for here is all one processe from the middle to the end the beginning onely asketh alteration by reason of the two distinct matters for the which God be praised whom we beseech to give us his grace and blessing that we may make good use of this treasure and after this life we may enter into the heavenly Kingdom The love to my Neighbour hath moved me to write of these things which in my long experience I found to be true following the steps of bountifull nature which made me a Sooth-sayer in natural things and I am assured that if these my writings are made publick after my death and my other books sharing in the same fortune that they must undergo many censures For some will extreamly condemâ— me delivering me unto Satan because I have written so plainly Others there will be which will quite overthrow my writings crying out to be Lies Superstition and Diabolical works the like censure other illuminated men before me have undergone which they feel to this day for men are so incredulous in these points that so mighty an operation should be found against all manner of infirmities besides the transmutation of Metals in so despicable a matâ—er over which the Iron Man with his espoused Wife Venus â—ogether with the deep glittering Sol is and must have the â—redominancie and with incredible profit it should by â—rt â—e brought to such perfection The Art being great and â—he matter so contemptible it procureth the more doubt â—nd unbelief these unbelieving men I let understand oneâ—y this notable example whereby the eyes of those that â—re going unto Emaus shall be opened and thereby shall â—â—owledge that I have written no untruth but disclosed 〈◊〉 a truth very plainly And note that the ancient Phiâ—â—phers endeavoured to describe the preparation of the â—â—e under a notion of distilling of wine and the spirit â—â—eof which in their work are almost like one to anâ—er For I they taught out of the best wine to make a â—it without any strange phlegme which to this day â—â—ng vulgar Artists must be and is called the right and â—e mystical spirit of wine whereas it may soon be proved â—r this supposed spirit of wine containeth much invisible â—midity or phlegme in an insensible manner which is â—hing else but its vegetable Mercury for the fiery spirit wine is the true fire and soul of the wine Every Sulphur â—â—taineth secretly its original and principal Mercury Veâ—ables in their kinde the Animals in their kinde and 〈◊〉 Minerals also after their kinde 2. They taught how â—s spirit of wine must be separated in two distinct parts â—mely this spirit of wine be poured upon white calcined â—â—ar and be drawn over in a gentle distillation In this â—â—illation is separated the secret and true spirit of wine â—m his Vegetable Mercury as I faithfully informed you 〈◊〉 my Manuals From the remainng earth they taught a â—t be drawn to be added to the rectified spirit whereby 〈◊〉 is fortified and strengthned in his substance and at last â—e Philosopher stone should be generated It is mightily â—ainst Gods ordinance that a Vegetable should produce 〈◊〉 Animal or an Animal produce a Mineral By way of â—parable the practice part is held forth under the notion 〈◊〉 this preparation Now as they taught of the wine so in â—â—e manner also through a short way our Gold can be preâ—red not the usual and common Gold and may be disâ—lved divided separated and brought into its first prinâ—ple But you must note that this dissolution and separation â—as never described plainly by any of the ancient Philosoâ—hers which lived before me and knew the Magisterium â—hy I do it the love to my Neighbour hath moved me thereunto which I bear from the Center of my heart to those which overcome this mystery without falshood 〈◊〉 mingling vices with a faithfull heart in a sincere knâ—â—ledge and real piety In the first place be inform'd 〈◊〉 our Gold so much spoken of hitherto must never be â—â—ken for such Gold by any of our Disciples which hath bâ— melted and fully digested by nature for herein such â—rour is committed that men dilapidate all what they hâ—â— and loose both the beginning and end of all their woâ—â—â— Although not onely from Gold but from other Metals 〈◊〉 this Clenodium and Jewel may be had in the preparaâ—â—â—â— of it particulariter much profit and advantage may be â—â—ten in that which concerneth mans health as hath be formerly told however without the spirit of Mercury 〈◊〉 Universal of the World to be gotten meerly from the bâ—â— of Sol is impossible and will be impossible unlesse Creatour of all things produce another ordinance to chaâ—â— and alter his Creature after his own will But as that impossible so it is impossible also to deal against Gâ—â— Creature in that kinde as to finde out that wholesom pâ—â—fit which to your longing desire you expect You mâ—â— believe it for a truth as Christ himself is that the Philoâ—â—pher's stone would not be so strange rare and unknoâ—â— a thing it would be common to Kings and Potentates 〈◊〉 God would permit to be made of Gold alone and the thâ—â— Jewels of infinite fixed vertues hid therein could be 〈◊〉 out of it My intent is not in this present Treatise to use any pâ—â—lixity in writing those that are not quite blinde and haâ—â— their eyes open have enough already to attain unto 〈◊〉 knowledge and command both his minde and hands â—o to passe by the weightiest and esteem high
and knowing herein him I judge to deserve the name of a Miner For there are but few of them which are rightly informed herein or hath any fundamental knowledge of it though they are dayly imployed about it though some might say they could not but bee knowing in their profession yet it is not so really if so what right use can they make of them They put wrong names upon them are ignorant of their utility and this is the reason why they many times run them waste upon heaps where after some time they turne to goodnesse and the longer they lye there the better they are this instruction deserves no hatred but rather a gratefull aknowledgment Why should Philosophers be beleeved to know any â—hing But where is it written that men should seeke find mercury of the body in a subterranean fume stone glasse â—ut in their books Where are learned artificial finings inâ—liginations incinerations nutritions but from them The â—ed of metals as it is perfect so is its Ferch or life invisible Where do those men stay which will work according to naâ—re and know none of these neither do they know where 〈◊〉 get it yet fall upon Artists exclaiming upon them to be â—se all such as are imployed in their ways but we see and hear how ignorance runs on It is impossible to get a body without seed it were as much as to say a seed is without fertility Therefore peruse it exactly in its dissolution the reduction of it will afford its body work cheerfully But it is none of the meanest work as some of the most antient Philosophers have said which called it a double work for thus they say the metal must first passe through the Mâ—lters hand afterward it must come into the hands of the Alchymist if so be the seed shall be known in the artificial work they meane or in imate by this saying thus much that there is a twofold dissolution the one is when the expert Melter brings the frangible body ex naturali conductione into a malleablenesse whereby its impurity is gotten off Then comes the Alchymist reduceth the body into cinders calxes glasses colours fumes subterranean in which the seed of metals resteth and the Ferch or life is found fertile in the body and is reducible into a spiritual water or prima materia according as the quality and propertie of the metall is and is divided artificially into its natural principles according to the processe of the Chymick art of which more in another place shall be spoken when I shall treat of the Minerals CHAP. III. Of the Metalline Nutriment ALthough it belongeth not to this place how mineralia fossilia are made under ground however I will give a hint of it how nature maketh them out of subterranean moist liquors and Myne-crescencies which afterward serve to be a food to metals not such liquors which are decocted above ground therefore if you should adde here above ground decocted ones to metals undissolved in theiâ— corporeal form your work would be in vain and where there are such mineralia fossilia there are Myne-works also if not with it yet are they not farre off as is seen in many Mynes As in Hungarie are digged the fairest and best sulphur-alloms and Mineral or Myne Victriol And about Harcynta are digged salt Victriol About Goslar Mansfeld Zellerfeld and at Etshland in Helvetia is digged Mine-salt and at Hall there is great store of it where there is found also very curious sulphur But you must note that these minerals are not used thus grossly but are prepared first which is a curious work to bring a mineral thus high by subliming into flores which are halfe metalline especially if made with metal the metal being reduced into a mineral from that the flowers are made thus you see natures forwardnesse and how she is reducible to her first water sulphur and salt Many make these flowers without metal which are not so good though as the former way For an oleum made of vitriol or copper and is distilled is more effâ—ctual yea a thousand times more pretious in its operation than that is which is made of common vitriol whom nature hath not yet exalted It s true the Hungarian Vitriol in its efficacie â—nd vertue is found wonderfull and sufficient enough because Nature hath graduated it to a greater siccitie and â—rought it to a ripenesse more than others were and is more â—xcellent than the rest By this preparation they can make â—se of the minerals strengthen and encrease their pleasure â—hereby If any thing is to be made meet for metalls then it â—ust be done out of metals with metals and through or by â—etals which is the real only manual whereby may be hit â—he hardness of the mineral flowers always take from them 〈◊〉 adde nothing to them this is the Art which asketh great â—ondering deep meditation Thus you must learn to go to â—ork for these flowers are found often closely compacted â—hich Myners very seldome know especially in Hungarie â—nd Wallachia they are as faire as ever any red glowing oar â—ay be they are of a crystaline transparent rednesse are â—od gold and silver according as they are ting'd this is a rare knowledge an art worthy the best consideration which is to make glasse of a hardnesse from thence it is that the subterranean glasses make up the metall thereby they come to their forme The preparation of these flowers have their great utility in physical wayes if their excrements be taken from them and their ordours these excrements are the feces of minerals are nought for metals stirring up evil sediments which bring damage unto metals a twofold evil comes from the mistaking of mineralls for decocted ones are a dangerous poison and corrosive unto metals as we see above ground when aquafortis is made of them which corrodeth teareth divideth and parteth metals and the other which are faire to look on sticking unto metals and their worst poison for as soone as these approach they kindle and cause the dangerous sediments all availeth nothing unto them though they have and keep their form As an infected man hath still the form and face of a man though hee bee infected and infecteth others also and in case it turne all to one metal yet it is but an empty one and nothing in it This is a very necessary observation for Miners and Laborators for if they regard it not they obstruct not only their work but endanger themselves also because the metal is not only turned into a volatilitie if any feces or excrements be added thereunto and that also which stayeth comes to be unmalleable and suffers continually diminution as long as it is under the hammer Those that works them have cause to look to it if they fall on them with any fire their reward surely is some mine disease which experimentally is known how their poison doth stick and hang on the top of the furnace and in
fountain of life of mercie and righteousnesse which the Lord God made apparent on the Tree of the holy Crosse where out of the side of his dearest Son did run bloud and water to which the Lord in the Revelation of St. John addeth fire smoak and fumes this union according to the Divine Word is grown at the beginning in all creatures and what ever God the Holy Trinity hath ever created consisteth in a Trinity even as the Deity is in an eternal Trinity As the Deity is indivisible in the Humanity α ω in the water and blood for an eternal remembrance that is the fiâ—st and the last letter as in the Heavenly even so in the earthly the perfect Alphabet must not be cut asunder all must stand from the beginning to the end and Christ Jesus purgeth his dear friends still unto eternal life through water and blood saying to their hearts all thy sins are forgiven thee thy faith doth save thee No man is saved unlesse he be fiâ—st born again that is through water blood which throughly purgeth not only men and the sons of men but also the whole Limbus upon earth for it is not the metalline blood and water neither is it Mercery and Sulphur that doth it neither in the body under ground is any goldish silver wrought to any blood red oar the blood out of Christ side shed for the good of man is that great evidence for thus all Mineral stones that are in the plain element of earth and the spirit of all oars and marbles and stones come from the divine essence as also the heavenly spirits for the throne of God with the heavenly Angels and Spâ—rits are furnished for rhe praise of God thus the earth also is created is her stones oars veâ—ns passages for the honour of God and the welfare of man which imitateth Gods wisdome filled with infiâ—ite and uncessant forth-bringing of fruits Whence should be the decay of metals surely even as the eyes of the holy Apostles and Disciples were held that they could not know the Lord in his clarified spiritual body and essence no more can men see these things in metals Why doth Saint John in his Revelation speak of smoak and of fume Surely he did not mean the fire smoak and fume of Bakers ovens or Kitchin-chimneys but there was revealed unto him the heavenly fire the mist vapour and fume which is exhaled from the moisture of earth and â—â—ated to the clouds so in the subterranean works the â—â—e and spoil or outside of the oar are sublimed and the 〈◊〉 of the frost which rouzeth the effectual powers vaâ—rs and spirits maketh them come to a perfect unity in â—â—alline bodies Now if there were not a fire vaporous â—â—e in the earth how could they produce their fruits â—ich are the minerals and metals under ground As the fiery element is covered with the airie and the â—ven with clouds and the earth is filled by them and â—ether with the fire was inclosed as one element with 〈◊〉 other two In like manner at the first Creation the â—erranean passages and veins were laden with oars as â—s were with fruit which the Lord God in Paradise 〈◊〉 implanted into them This effectual fire vapour and â—e is likened unto Mercury Sulphur Salt and Sea-waâ— wherein earth lieth inclosed and hidden even as the â—eamest throne of God is encompassed by other thrones 〈◊〉 heavenly habitations â—s the four Evangelists are witnesses of the New Testaâ—â—t and Covenant so they are a type and sure testimony â—he four elements that the earth is created after the hoâ—â—eaven thus are we taught in the Lords prayer as it is â—eaven so in the earth in which and beneath and under 〈◊〉 is every where This is in action still King David â—d confesse that he could not hide himself from the 〈◊〉 any where â—eeing the holy and blessed God hath laid the creatures â—â—e earth with the four elementall qualities therefore â—ational Miners open their eyes and learn judicially to â—w the passages and clifts of oars metals and minerals 〈◊〉 they will get a lasting name with great praise and will â—ke the noble gold which in a glory and beauty appeaâ—â— when it comes from the Quart and can be then reduâ—â— into an oil which preserveth man in a lasting health â—nd any balsom and is become a vegetable which is â—ble It is feaseable that of gold may be prepared a singulâ—â— Medicine for the good of man-kinde because man is creâ—ted of God from Limus terrae and the whole earth is 〈◊〉 Limus such another Medicine all the Doctors are not ablâ— produce which is of a curious sweet fragrancy standiâ—â— distinct in two lights and must needs be in rerum naturâ— because it was brought on God his Altar for an offering bâ— mans art prepared and suffer'd it to be extinguished None knoweth what it is neither we literated Doctoâ— know the preparation of it who when their Confectioâ— Syrups Herbs and Potions will do no good and are in dâ—spair then they might willingly run to Metals which fâ—â—merly they made conscience to make use of them in the Oyntmenis and Plaisters of this I make mention in a râ—verend remembrance for true rational myners Out of goâ—â— and silver are joyned not onely gold and silver monies aâ— other plates for mans use but they serve for mans use in mâ—ny other things and after the first metals vertue there coâ—â— others also more and more very effectual even to the lâ—â— of metals Such vertues there are in minerals also as in vitriol aâ—timony allom salt and the like All these are a nourisâ—ment unto metals even as Manna was to the Israelites 〈◊〉 the desart As they are easily withdrawn and taken froâ— metals so it hapned to them also Heathens and Christiaâ— received that Manna together with Mines and Kingdomâ— they are set and shot at the heap of rubbish where theâ— still worship the Calf of this I have spoken more in thâ—â— book where I treated of Fossilia CHAP. XII How precious Stones and Jewels are wrought and how God hath bestowed blessings upon those that work the Mynes â—Ewels are wrought out of the substance of the most perfect transparent and noblest earthlinesse with mixture of the noblest Mercury Sulphur and Salt â—â—thout any fume or moist matter are of a dry coagulaâ—â—n and commonly are engendred in a round form in â—eir dwellings lodgings stocks and passages fixedly â—und together some are of a transparent lustre oâ—ers are more dark and they have their several coâ—â—rs Not many oars are found in which these noble generaâ—â—d bodies are brought to any perfectnesse neither are 〈◊〉 it strikings along in a way of passage here and there â—ey have their Centers unto which are joyned tender and â—â—aculous accrescencies where they are guttatim lapidaâ—d falling into the hardest purest stones concavities â—â—wing in several cuticles as we see the animal stones do â—ow The more precious the Jewels are the fewer there â—e
Metals volatile opening them into a true quick Mercury according to the Tenor of my Manuals The Salt of Tartar per sâ— fixeth mightily especially if the heat of Calx vive be incorporated with it for both are of a high degree for fixation The Vegetable Salt of wine hath this fixing quality and according to a special preparation bringeth fixed thingâ— to a volatility which is a mystery in Nature and a miraclâ— in the Philosophick Art If there be a Salt made of Mans Urine which drinks nothing but wine this Salt being volatile brings fix'd thingâ— also to a volatility brings them over but doth not fix them Though that party had drunk nothing but wine out oâ— whose Urine the Salt is made yet that Salt differs much from that which is made of Tartar for man made in his body one transmutation namely he turned the Vâ—getablâ— Salt into an Animal spirit of Salt making flesh fatnesse c as horses and other beasts do feeding on grasse hay c. Item Bees make Honey of the best flowers and Herbs so it is with the rest The reason of this Key lieth in putrefaction from whence this separation and transmutatioâ— hath its Original Ordinary spirit of Salâ— being driven over in a special manner maketh Gold and Silver volatile if a small quantity oâ— Dragons spirit be added thereunto dissolveth them bringeth them over through the Helmet the like doth the Eaglâ— with the Dragon spirit which creepeth in and out at thâ— stone clifts but if any thing be melted with Salt before iâ— spirit be separated from the body then it fixeth rather than it maketh volatile I say thus also if the spirit of common Salt be uniteâ— with spirit of wine and both are drawn over a third time then he loseth its tartnesse and groweth sweet This prepared spâ—â—â—â— doth not corrode the Solar body but beinâ— poured on a subtile prepared Gold Calx it extracteth iâ— highest red tincture which being made right can brinâ— white Lune into that colour as its former body was from â—hich it was first taken the former body can recover iâ—s â—olour if the inticing Venus be moved as being born from â—hat sanguinity and descent it is needlesse to speak of this â—ny further Note further that Salt-spirit destroyeth Lune also bringâ—th her into a spiritual substance according to my instruâ—â—ion after it is prepared out of which afterward potable â—une is made which spirit is appropriated unto the spirit â—f Lune and Sol as man and wife by means of the conjunâ—tion of the Mercurial spirit or his Oyl The spirit sticketh in Mercury seek for the tincture in â—ulphur and for the coagulation in Salt then you have the â—â—ree principles which can beget a perfect body that is â—â—e spirit in the Gold fermented with his own Oyl Sulphur â—ound abundantly in the noble Venereal quality inflameth â—â—e fixed bloud gotten of her the spirit of the Philosoâ—hers Salt affords victory unto coagulation it is true the â—pirit of Tartar and the spirit of wine and the true acetum â—â—e able to effect much for the spirit of acetum is of a cold â—uality and the spirit of Calx vive is very hot these are of â—ontrary dispositions Now I spoke according to Philosoâ—hers custom it is not fit for me to be more plain and to how to the world how the doors of wisdom are bolted For a fare-well take this in sincerity seek fâ—r your matâ—er in Metalline substances make of them a Mercurie ferâ—ent with Mercury one Sulphur ferment that with its â—wn Sulphur bring that into an order with Salt drive â—hem over joyntly joyn all proportionably all will become â—ne which at first came from one coagulate and fix it in â—ontinued heat augment and ferment a third time acâ—ording to the Tenor of my two last Keyes then you will â—inde the end you look for how this tincture is to be used â—et the twelfth Key satisfie you with its certain processe Thanks be to God FOr a final upshut be certified that our of black Satâ—â—â— and bountifull Jupiter there can be driven over a spiâ—iâ— which is afterward brought into a sweet Oyl as the noblesâ— part of it which in particular taketh away the running quality in Mercury making him fix and bringing him into a melioration of this I told you in my other wriâ—â—ngs Additionals HAving thus your matter then look well to the fire and govern it artificially for that is of the greatesâ— concernment at the end of the work Our fire is not a common fire and our Furnace is not a common Furnace Though Philosophers before me have written that our fâ—â—â— is no common fire however I tell to thee in good earnest that according to their custom they kept secret all mysteries because the matter is conâ—emptible and the worlâ— is of a facility which by a government of fire is furthereâ— and accomplished therefore they forbore to tell the plaiâ— truth Lamp-fire made of spirit of wine availeth nothing thâ— expâ—â—ces â—â—â—reof would mounâ—â—xceedingly Hoâ—s dung iâ— buâ— a spoyling which cannot finish the work by any perfect or certain degrees Furnaces of several sorts are uselesse for in our three fold Furnace are observed certain degrees let Praters noâ— prâ—vail of thee with such Fâ—rnaces for our Furnace is 〈◊〉 plain one our fire is â—plâ—â—â— fire and our matter is a plaiâ— matter the glâ—sse is likened to the circumference of thâ— earâ—â—ly Globe you need not to look any further for more informaâ—â—on concerning the fire its government and thâ— Furnace For he that hath the mattâ—r will soon finde a Furnace 〈◊〉 that hath Meal wilâ— soon meet with an Oven needs not 〈◊〉 take further care for baking of bread There is no need to write more books of it onely look â—ell to the government of the fire learn to distinguish beâ—ween cold and warm if you are expert and exact herein â—hen your work will be well finish'd and the Art brought â—o its end The Creator of naâ—ure be praised for ever â—men Of Mercurie THere are several sorts of Mercurie Meâ—cury of Animals and Vegetables is meerly a fume of an incompreâ—ensible being unlesse it be caught and reduced to an Oyl then is it for use But Mercu y of Metals is of another â—oncition as that also of Minerals though the same also â—ay be compared wiâ—h a â—uâ—e yet is it comprehensible â—nd running One Mercury is better and nobler than the other for the Solar Mercury is the best of them all next unto that is the Lunar Mercury and so forth There is a difference also among Salts and Sulphurs among the Mineâ—al Salts that carrieth away the Bell which is made of Antimony and that Sulphur which is drawn from Vitriol is preferred before all others Mercuâ—y of Metals is hot and dry cold and moist it containeth the four qualities There are Medicaments prepared of it of a wonderfull efficacy of several sorts and forms which is the reason why there is such a variety
â—eans of Mars is turn'd into quick Mercury This Antiâ—â—onial Mercury hath been sought of many but few have â—â—otten it which is the reason why its praise is not divulg'd â—uch lesse is it's operative quantity known if you know â—â—w to precipitate it well then your Arrow will hit the â—ark to perform strange matters it's qualities ought not 〈◊〉 be made common It is needlesse to describe it's combustible Sulphur how that is made of Antimony it is easie and known but that which is fix'd is a secret and hidden from many If an Oyl be made of it in which it 's own Sulphur is dissolv'd and these be fix'd together then you have a Medicine of rare qualities in vertue operation and ability far beyond Vegetables Quick silver being imbibed with quick Sulphur melted with Antimony for some hours in a Wind-oven the Salt of the remainder being extracted with distill'd Vinegar then you have the Philosophers Salt which cureth all manner of Agues There is an acetum made of Antimony of an acidity as other acetums are if it 's own Salt be dissolv'd in this acetum and distill'd over then this acetum is sharpned which is an excellent cooler in hot swellings and other inflamed Symptoms about wounds especially if there be made an Unguent of it together with anima of Saturn The Quintessence of Antimony is the highest Medicinâ— the noblest and subtilest found in it and is the fourth pâ—â— of an Universal Medicine Let the preparation of it 〈◊〉 still a mystery its quantity or Dose is three Grains the 〈◊〉 belong four instruments to the making of it the Furnace the fifth in which Vulcan dwelleth the Manuals and thâ— government of fire afford the ordering of it You Physicians if you be wise seek out this Medicine iâ— that subject where it lieth in and may be found best anâ— most effectual I forbear to speak further of Antimony lâ— Justinian judge of the rest Of Copper-water IF I could prevail with Apollo to be mercifull and to givâ— liberty to his Muse to be my assistance in the describing of Art and wisdom then would I bring in an offering unto Minerva whereby the Gods of wisdom might take notice of a gratefull minde for their gifts they had bestowed and I would write of a mineral whose Salt is set forth in the highest manner whose great and good qualities are of that transcendency that reason is not able to comprehend or to conceive of them It went generally by the name of Copper-water to make the meaning and sense of it plain let men know and be thus informed of it that Vitriol containeth two spirits a white and a red one the white spirit is the white Sulphur upon white the red spirit is the red Sulphur upon red He that hath ears let him hear Observe it diligently and remember every word for they are of a large extent every word is as ponderous as a Centner stone The white spirit is sowr causeth an appetite and a good digestion in a mans stomach The red spirit is yet sowrer and is more ponderous than the white in its distilling a longer fire must be continued because it is fixer in its degree Of the white by distilling of Sulphur of Lune is made argentum potabile In the like manner the â—ld being destroyed in the spirit of common Salt and â—de spiritual by distilling and its Sulphur taken from it â—â—d joyned with a red spirit in a due Dose that it may be â—â—ssolved and then for a time putrified in spirit of wine to 〈◊〉 further digested and often abstracted that nothing â—main in the bottom then you have made an aurum poâ—bile of which great volumes have been written but very â—w of their processes were right Note that the red spirit â—ust be rectified from its acidity and be brought into a â—eetnesse subtilly penetrating of a pleasant taste and sweet â—agrancy I have told you now great matters which slipp'd from â—e against my intention the sweet spirit is made of Sulâ—hur of Vitriol which is combustible like other Sulphur â—efore it is destroyed for the Sulphur of Philosophers â—â—ote it well is not combustible its preparation needs â—ot to be set down being easie requireth no great pains or great expences to get a combustible Sulphur out of â—itriol This sweet Oyl is the essence of Vitriol and is sucâ— a â—edicine which is worthy the name of the third pillar of â—he universal Medicine The Salt is drawn from Colchotar â—nd is dissolved in the red or white Oyl or in both and is â—istill'd again if it be fermented with Venus it performâ—â— its office very well for it affords such a Medicine â—hich at the melting tingeth pure Iron into pure Copper Colchotar of Sulphur affords true fundamentals unto â—ealing of perish'd wounds which otherwise are hardly â—â—ought to any healing and such sores which by reason of 〈◊〉 long continued white rednesse will admit of no healing â—olchotar affords an ingresse thereunto setting a new founâ—ation that quality and vertue is not in the Colchotar but â—he spirit together with the Salt are the Masters which â—well therein There is made of Copper and Vâ—rdigreece a Vitriol of a â—igh degree and is far spread in its tincture There is a Vitriol made of Iron also which is of a strange quality Iron and Copper are very nigh kind one to another belâ— together as man and wife this mystery should have bâ— concealed but being it is of great concernment I could forbear but to speak of it Vitriol corroded with Salmiac in it's sublimation thâ— ariseth a combustible Sulphur together with it's Mercuâ—â— of which there is but little because it hath most of Sâ—phur If the same Sulphur be set at liberty again by 〈◊〉 Eagle with spirit of wine there can be made a Medicine it as I told you formerly of it Though there be a neaâ— way to make a combustible Sulphur out of Vitriol as of precipitation upon a precedent dissolution by the Salt liquor of Tartar as also by a common lixivium made Beech-ashes yet this is the best reason because the bâ—â— of Vitriol is better more opened with the Key of the Eagâ—â— There are other mysteries hidden in Vitriol which in yâ— operative quality are excellent and are known apparent as Venus and Mars bear real record in their spirits the saâ—dâ—th knowledge Sol and Lune but I do not intend at tâ— time to write a perfect book of Chirurgerie and to maâ—â— relaâ—â—oâ—â— of particulars in commendation of Vitriol I haâ— already written too much of it you are to learn and searâ— also you will finde that Vitriol needs no Proctor to speâ— for it and it will sufficiently inform you of an absoluâ— Chirurgick book contained in its nature as a third part 〈◊〉 the universal against all manner of diseases In the closing hereof I tell you thus much that there not found in its nature neither cold nor moist quality bâ— is of a hot and dry substantial