where he speaks of it after this manner Take the Stone and no Stone or that which is not a Stone neither of the nature of a Stone it is a Stone whose Mine is in the top of the Mountains X. By which the Philosopher understands Animals or living Creatures whereupon he said Son go to the Mountains of India and to its Caves and take thence precious Stones which will melt in the water when they are put into it XI This Water is that which is taken from other Mountains and hollow places they are Stones and no Stones but we call them so for the resemblance they have to Stones XII And you must know that the Roots of their Mines are in the Air and their Tops in the Earth and they make a noise when they are taken out of their places and the noise is very great Make use of them very suddenly for otherwise they will quickly vanish away CHAP. XXX Of the Commixtion of the Elements which were separated I. NOW you must begin to commix the Elements which is the compass of the whole Work there can be no commixti on without a Marriage and putrefaction The Marriage is to mingle the thin with the thick and Putrefaction is to rost grind water or imbibe so long till all be mixt together and become one so that there be no diversity in them nor separation as in water mixed with water II. Then will the thick strive to retain the thin and the Soul shall strive with the fire and endeavour to sustain it then shall the Spirit suffer it self to be swallowed up by the Bodies and be poured forth into them which must needs be because the dissolved body when it is commixed with the Soul is also commixed with every part thereof III. And other things enter into other things according to their similitude and likeness and both are changed into one and the same thing For this cause the Soul must partake with the conveniency propensity durability hardness corporcity and permanency which the body had in its commixtion IV. The like also must happen to the spirit in this state or condition of the Soul and Body For when the Spirit shall be commixt with the Soul by alaborious operation and all its parts with all the parts of the other two viz. of the Soul and Body then shall the Spirit and the said two be changed into an inseparable substance whose natures are preserved and their Particles agreed and conjoyned perfectly together V. Whereby it comes to pass that when this Compositum has met with a body dissolved and that heat has got hold of it and that the moisture which was in it is swallowed up in the dissolved body and has passed into it into its most inward parts and united or conjoyned it self with that which was of the nature of moisture it becomes inflamed and the fire defends it self with it VI. Then when the fire would enflame it it will not suffer the said fire to take hold of it to wit to cleave to it i. e. to the Spirit commixt with the water The fire will not abide by it until it be pure VII And in like manner does the Water naturally fly from the Fire of which when the fire takes hold it does by little and little evaporate VIII And thus is the Body the means to retain the Water and the Water to retain the Oyl that it might not burn and consume away and the Oyl to retain the Tincture which is the absolute matter and cause to make the colours appear in that wherein otherwise there would be neither light nor life IX This then is the true life and perfection of this great Work even the work of our Magistery which we seek after Be wise and understand search diligently and through the goodness and permission of God you shall find what you look for CHAP. XXXI Of the Solution of the Stone compounded and Coagulation of the Stone dissolved I. THE Philosophers take great pains in dissolving that the Body and Soul might the better be incorporated and united for all those things which are together in Contrition Assation and Rigation have a certain affinity and Alliance between themselves II. So that the fire may hurt or spoil the weaker principle in nature till it be utterly destroyed and vanish away and then it turns it self also upon the stronger parts till it divests the Body of the Soul and so spoils all III. But when they are thus dissolved and congealed they take one anothers parts striving in each others mutual defence as well the great as the small and they incorporate and joyn them well together till they be converted and changed into one and the same thing IV. When this is done the fire takes as much from the Soul as it does from the Body nor can it hurt the one more than the other neither more nor less which is a cause of perfection V. For this reason it is necessary in teaching the composition of the Elixir to afford one place for expounding the solution of simple Bodies and Souls because Bodies do not enter into Souls but do rather prevent and hinder them from Sublimation Fixation Retention Commixtion and the like Operations except purification go before VI. Now understand that Solution is done by one of these two ways either by extracting the inward parts of things unto their Superficies an Example whereof we have in Silver which seems cold and dry but being dissolved so that the inward parts appear outward it is hot and moist VII 〈◊〉 to reduce it to an accidental moisture which it had not before to be added to its own natural humidity by which means its parts are dissolved and this is likewise called Solution VIII But as to Congelation the Philosophers have said Congeal in a Bath with a good Congelation This I tell you is Sulphur shining in Darkness a Red Hyacinth a fiery and deadly 〈◊〉 the Elixir the which there is nothing better a Lyon a Conqueror a Malefactor a cutting Sword a healing Antidote which cures all Infirmities and Diseases IX And Geber the Son of Hayen said That all the Operations of this Magistery are comprehended under these six things 1. To make fly ascend or sublime 2. To melt or liquify 3. To incerate 4. To make white as Marble 5. To dissolve 6. To congeal X. To make fly is to drive away and remove blackness and foulness from the Spirit and Soul to melt is to make the Body liqnid To incerate is properly to subtilize the Body To whiten is to melt speedily To dissolve is to separate the parts And to congeal is to mix joyn and fix the Body with the Soul already prepared XI Again To fly of ascend appertains both to Body and Soul To melt to incerate to whiten and to dissolve are accidents belonging to the Body But congelation or fixation only belongs to and is the property of the Soul Be wise understand and learn CHAP. XXXII That Our Stone
or fifth Day Salmon V. Shortness of Breath cured by Vomiting Experience shews That when a great quantity of impacted Matter lies in the Lappets of the Lungs especially if there be a Sickness at Stomach also that then I say Vomits are of great use and sometimes the Paroxysm is taken off with this Remedy alone Salt of Vitriol may be given from half a Drachm to a Drachm Aqua Benedicta from three to four Drachms or one Ounce to an Ounce and a half if to very strong Persons My Catharticum Argenteum given from one to two Drachms is one of the best of Remedies Salmon VI. Shortness of Breathing Cured by reiterated Clysters Take Mutton-Broth eight Ounces Tincture of Colocynthis half an Ounce Infusion of Croous Metallorum Elixir Proprietatis of each an Ounce mix and give it warm In this case Clysters ought to be given in small quantity lest the Guts too much distended should press upon the Diaphragma and make the Paroxism more vehement and dangerous and they ought also often to be repeated Salmon VII For a vehement shortness of Breath I have often given with great Success my Syrupus Nephriticus see it in my Phylaxa Lib. I. Cap. 34. Sect. I. for that causes the Matter contained in the Cavity of the Breast to be avoided with the Urine through the Bladder the Urine for the most part being much thick and troubled by which the peccant Humours are carried not only from the Breast and places of Respiration but also from the head Veins and other parts I have done wonders in this case by the assiduous use of Spirit of Sulphur per Camp given in pectoral Drinks Salmon VIII A Pectoral Drink Take Raisins of the Sun stoned Figs slit ana Liquorice bruised two Ounces Elecampane Roots bruised one Ounce Spring water a Gallon Boyl all to two Quarts and strain it for use Dose half a Pint three or four times a Day Salmon IX Of the use of Opiates If Rest has been long wanting and there be withal a vehement Flux of Rhoum and Cough though the stopping of the Catarrh cannot be without sensible danger yet you must immediately give an Opiate such as my Laudanum Volatile cum Aloe for otherwise the Obstruction will so increase with the Catarrh that before you are aware the Breath will be stopt which there is no great fear of by giving the Opiates for that all Opiates stop the Flux by no other way than by thickning the Matter whereby it cannot so easily flow to the part the Humour then being thus thickned through the whole Man and not flowing to the Bronchia of the Lungs as formerly it at length finds a vent by other ways and that for the most part by Sweat Urine or Stool either of which ways you must endeavour to promote according as you see the disposition of the Body is inclinable Salmon X. An Inveterate Asthma I Cured an Inveterate Asthma that had been of fifteen or sixteen Years standing by giving my Piluloe Mirabiles twice and then my Family Pills as they are now prepared by me not as Hollier pretends to make them once letting a Day or two be between each and so reiterating this Course two or three times as you see occasion Salmon XI Shortness of Breath in a Woman with Child Truly because I saw the peril of her Life was not small by reason of her being with Child I could not pursue the usual methods of Cure I took the following course I gave her my Volatile Laudanum at Night going to Bed and the Spiritus Antiasthmaticus in all her Drink and by this course in about a Months time she was freed perfectly from her Disease Salmon CHAP. VII Diseases of the Breast I. A Pultess for a Sore Breast Take new Milk and grate white Bread into it then take Mallows and red Rose Leaves I handful of each then chop them small and boyl them together till it be thick then put in Honey and Turpentine of each two ounces white Lead six ounces mix them spread it on a Cloth and apply it II. For an Ague in the Breast Take good Aqua-vitae and Linseed Oyl and warm them together on a Chafing-Dish of Coles dip therein two Cloths made fit for the Breasts and lay them thereon as hot as may be suffered Morning and Evening III. To heal an Inflammation or Ague in the Breast Take the Whites of two Eggs and Housleek two handfuls let the Whites be first well beaten then pound them with the Housleek and three handfuls of Barley Meal and apply it very hot IV. To heal Ulcers in the Breast tho inveterate Take Oyl of Sulphur and touch them with it then apply this following Oyntment Take Yelks of two or three new laid Eggs Turpentine Butter Honey of Roses Barley-Flower ana half an Ounce Grind them all in a leaden Mortar and dress them therewith till they be whole V. Against Pain and Swilling of the Breasts If it proceeds from Gold taken or from a Blow Bath the Place very well Morning and Evening with Powers of Amber for three or four or five Days and the Pain and Swelling will go away Salmon VI. For a Sore Breast If the Sore be recent it may be Cured with our Balsamum Vulnerarium two Ounces Mercurius Dulcis Levigated half an Ounce mix them well and apply it Salmon VII For an Inveterate Ulcer in the Breast Take our Balsamum Ami. cum two Ounces Angelus Mineralis half an Ounce mix and apply it dressing the Sore Morning and Evening It will Cure it in a Short time Salmon VIII For a Painful Swelling in the Breast Take our Balsam of Amber and Anoint therewith Morning and Evening and keep the part warm If it proceeds from Cold or a Blow it Cures Salmon IX For hard Tumors of the Brest Take Gum Ammoniacum strained and made up into a Plaister it cures them to a Miracle much more if it be made up with Juice of Hemlock Or you may use Emplastrum de Ammoniaco cum Cicuta it is a Remedy that hardly ever fails Salmon X. A Cancerated Breast not broken I Cured two Cancerated Brests with the following Take Diapalma six Ounces Oyl an Ounce of our Hercules 3 Ounces mix them over a gentle heat spread it upon soft Leather or Cloth and apply it The Cancers that which was oldest was not above six Months standing The assiduous use of this Medicine eased the Pain in five or six Days time and in the space of four Months time or thereabouts prefectly dissolved the Tumour Salmon XI Soreness of the Nipples cured Take Bees-wax 1 Ounce Fresh Butter two Ounces Venice Turpentine half an Ounce mix melt and anoint with it it will be so much the better if you add to it two Drachms of Oyl of Wax Salmon XII A Tumour of the Breast broken Let the Patient Purge every day or every other day with Elixir Proprietatis according to their Strength and outwardly let it be drest with this Take of our Balsamum
the Red Elixir and the true Body made spiritual II. Gold is a metalick body citrine ponderous mute fulgid equally digested in the Bowels of the Earth and very long washed with mineral water under the Hammer extensible fusible and sustaining the tryal of the Cupel and Cement III. From this definition you may conclude That nothing is true Gold unless it has all the Causes and Differences of the definition of Gold Yet whatever Metal is radically Citrine and brings to equality and cleanses it makes Gold of it from whence we discern that Copper may be transmuted into Gold by Artisice For we see in Copper Mines a certain water which flows out and carries with it thin scales of Copper which by a long continued course it washes and cleanses But after such water ceases to flow we find these thin scales with the dry Sand in 3 years time to be digested with the heat of the Sun and among those Scales the purest Gold is found Therefore we judge that those Scales were cleansed by the help of the water but equally digested by the heat of the Sun in the dryness of the Sand and so brought to perfection IV. Also Gold is of Metals the most pretious and it is the Tincture of Redness because it tinges and transforms every Body It is calcined and dissolved without profit and is a Medicine rejoycing and conserving the Body in Youthfulness It is most easily broken with Mercury and by the Odour of Lead There is not any Body that in Act more agrees with it in their substance than Luna and Jupiter but in weight deafness and putrescibility Saturn and in colour Venus But indeed Venus in Potency is nearer Luna than either Jupiter or Saturn then Saturn lastly Mars Spirits are also commixed with it viz. Sol and by it fixed but not without great ingenuity and industry which the sloathful Artist shall never attain to the knowledge of V. Of the Nature of Sol. It is created of the most subtil substance of Argent Vive and of most absolute fixedness and of a most small quantity of Sulphur clean and of pure redness fixed clear and changed from its own nature tinging that And because there happens a diversity in colours of that Sulphur the Citrinity or Yellowness of Gold must needs have a like Density VI. That Gold is of the most subtil substance of Argent Vive is most evident because Argent Vive easily retains it for Argent Vive retains not any thing which is not of its own Nature And that it has the clear and clean substance of that is manifest by its splendid and Radiant brightness manifesting it self not only in the Day but also in the Night And that it has a fixed substance void of all burning Sulphureity is evident by every Operation in the Fire for it is neither diminished nor inflamed VII And that it is tinging Sulphur is manifest for being mixt with Argent Vive it transforms the same into a Red color And being sublimed with strong Ignition from Bodies so that the substance of them ascends with them it creates a most Yellow color and that it is yellow is evident even to the sence it self VIII Therefore the most subtil substance of Argent Vive brought to Fixation and the purity of the same and the most subtil matter of Sulpur fixed and not burning is the whole Essential matter of Gold IX But in it is found a greater quantity of Argent Vive than of Sulphur Therefore Argent Vive has greater ingress into it For this cause whatsoever body you would alter alter them according to this Exemplar that you may deduce them to the equality thereof For Gold having a subtil and fixt part those parts would in its Creation be much condensed and this was the cause of its great weight Now by great decoction made by nature a leisurely and gradual resolution of it was made together with good inspissation and its ultimate mixtion that it might melt in the fire X. From what has been said it is evident that a large quantity of Argent Vive is the cause of perfection but much of Sulphur is the cause of Corruption And uniformity of substance which through the mixtion is made by a natural decoction is cause of perfection but diversity of substance is the cause of imperfection Also Induration and Inspissation which is made by a long and temperate decoction is a cause of perfection but the contrary of corruption and imperfection Therefore if Sulphur shall not duly fall upon Argent Vive divers Corruptions must necessarily be inferred according to the diversity of it as if it be all or part of it fixed or not fixed all or part of it adustible or not adustible all clean or half unclean or it be much or little in quantity exceeding or being diminished in proportion neither overcoming nor overcome White or Red or between both From all which Diversities divers Bodies were generated in Nature XI A Solar Medicine of the Third Order It is made by the Additament of Sulphur not burning by way of fixation and calcination prudently and perfectly administred and by manifold repetition of solution until it be rendered clean For by the perfect doing of these things its cleansing by sublimation will be compleated Thus. Reiterate the sublimation of the not fixed part of the Stone with this said Sulphur conjoyning them according to Art till they be first elevated together and then fixed so as to abide in the heat of the fire without ascension The oftner this Order of compleating the Exuberancy shall be repeated the more will the Exuberancy of this Medicine be multiplied and the more its goodness augmented and the augmentation of the perfection thereof highly multiplyed also XII The whole compleatment of the Magistery is thus By the way of sublimation the Stone and its Additament may most perfectly be cleansed and then by the Laws of Art the fugitive must be fixed in them And in this order is compleated the most pretious Arcanum which is above every secret of the Sciences of this World and a Treasure inestimable Dispose your self by exercise to it with great industry and labor and a continued Depth of Meditation for by these you will find it and not otherwise And indeed in the preparation of the Stone the reiteration of the Goodness of Administration upon this Medicine may with industrious wariness be so far a vailable as to enable it to change Argent Vive into an infinite true Solifick and Lunifick without the help of any thing more than its Multiplication XIII The most high God the maker of all things blessed and Glorious be praised who has revealed to us the series and order of all Medicines with the Experience of them which through his goodness and our incessant Labor we have searched out which we have seen with our Eyes and handled with our Hands even the whole compleatment of the Magistery But if we have concealed any thing ye
Medicine of this Order is not diverse in Essence from the Medicines of the second Order but only in respect of Degrees as being more subtilized and exalted to a much higher degree of Purity Tincture and Fixity in the making and preparation thereof with a long continued course of Labour XIX All which degrees in their proper place are declared with fincerity of Speech and the way of preparation Exactly with its Causes and manifest Verity as also the many degrees by which it is brought to Perfection XX. For the Lunar Medicine needs one way of preparation but the Solar another for the perfect preparation of its Tincture with the Administration of Sulphur Tinging it of which we have abundantly Spoken Chap. 46. Sect. 11 12 13. Chap. 47. Sect. 11 12 14. and Chap. 48. Sect. 43 44. aforegoing CHAP. LXI How Ingression is procured I. BEcause it happens that a Medicine will sometimes mix and sometime not therefore we shall here declare the way of permixing i. e. how every thing or each particular Medicine not entering may most profoundly acquire Ingress into a Body II. The way is by dissolution of that which Enters and by dissolution of that which Enters not and by commixing both Solutions for it makes every thing to be Ingressive of what kind soever it be and to be corjoyned through its least parts III. Yet this is compleated by Sublution And Fusion is also accomplished by the same in things not otherwise Fusible whereby they are more apt to have Ingress and to transmute IV. This is the cause why we Calcine some things which are not of the nature of these to wit that they may be the better dissolved and they are dissolved that they may the better receive Impression from them and from them likewise by these be prepared and cleansed V. Or We give Ingress to these which are not suffered to enter by reason of their Spissitude or Thickness with a manifold Repetition of the Sublimation of Spirits not Inflamable upon them to wit of Arsenick and Argent Vive not fixed or with manifold Reiteration of the Solution of that which has not Ingress VI. Yet this is a good Caution concerning things Impermixable viz. That the Body be dissolved which you would have to be changed and altered by these and the things likewise Dissolved which you would have both to enter and to alter VII Nevertheless Solution cannot be made of all parts but of some with which this or that Body not another must be imbibed time after time VIII For by this means it has Ingress only into this or that necessarily but this does not necessarily happen into any other Body IX Every thing then must needs have Ingress by these ways by the benefit whereof it depends on the nature of that to have Ingress as we said before and to Transmute with the Commixtion found out X. By this precedent Discourse is compleated our said number of Ten Medicines with a sufficient Production of them in order to the Great Work it self CHAP. LXII Of the Cineritium I. THE Solar and Lunar substance is on ly permanent in the Tryal by the Cineritium Therefore searching out the true Differences of the Substances of these perfect Bodies and likewise the Causes of the Cineritium we shall make tryal which of the Imperfect Bodies do more and which do less endure or abide in the Examen of this Magistery II. But we have already sufficiently declared the Secret of these two Bodies in the profundity of their substance viz. That their Radix or first Principle of being was a large quantity of Argent Vive and the purest substance of it at first more Subtil but afterwards Inspissate till it could admit Fusion with Ignition III. Therefore whatsoever Bodies diminished from Perfection have more of Earthiness the less abide or endure in this Examen but what have less Earthiness do more endure it IV. Because these do indeed more adhere by reason of the Subtilty of their Parts closely Permixing and Uniting them So likewise Bodies that are of greater Tenuity or on the contrary of greater Spissitude than those which are in Perfection must necessarily be wholly separated from the Commixtion V. For being not of the same Fusion they are for that cause sake separated And indeed Bodies which partake of a lesser quantity of Argent Vive are more easily separated from the said Commixtion VI. 'T is evident then that seeing Saturn is of much Earthiness and contains but a small quantity of Argent Vive and of an easie Tenuity for Liquefaction which are mostly opposite to a Cineritious Examen therefore of all Bodies by the Artifice of the Cineritum it least endures in the Commixtion yea it is separated and vanishes most speedily VII Seeing therefore of all imperfect Bodies it most gives way and receeds by that it is more fit for the Examen of our Magistery and the reason is because it sooner takes its flight and sooner draws every of the imperfect Bodies with its self from the mixture VIII Also by reason of this the greater quantity of the perfect Bodies is preserved for the strong Combustion or mighty devouring force of the Fire of the Examen and therefore by the tryal of Lead it is less burnt and more easily purified IX And because the substance of Jupiter consists more of Argent Vive and partakes of a lesser quantity of Earthiness whereby it is of greater purity and of a more subtil substance therefore it is more safe in the Mixtion than Saturn and Venus because it more adheres in the profundity thereof X. And for this cause a larger quantity of the perfect Body is absumed before Jupiter conjoyned can be separated from the Commixion Venus gives Fusion with Ignition but because its Fusion is slower of a perfect Body therefore it is separated from the Commixtion yet more slowly than Saturn by reason of the Ignition of its fusible Substance XI But because it contains less of Argent Vive and has more of Earthiness and a more thick Substance therefore it is more easily separated from the Mixtion than Jupiter because Jupi ter more adheres in the profundity than Venus XII Mars has not Fusion and therefore is not permixed which is caused for want of Humidity but if it happens that it is permixed with vehemency of Fire then because it has not Humidity enough of its own by imbibing the Humidity of Sol or Luna it is united thereto in its least parts XIII Therefore Tho' it has much Earth and little Argent Vive and wants Fusion yet it can by no slight Artifice be separated from them By this Artifice i. e. of the Cineritium you come to the true rectification of every Body if you understand perfectly what we have writ XIV There are two Bodies perfect abiding this tryal to wit Sol and Luna by reason of their good Composition which results from their good Mixtion and the pure Substance of them XV. The way
Chap. 18. Of the Cachexia 110 Chap. 19. Of the Stone in the Reins 118 Chap. 20. Of the Stone in the Bladder 153 Chap. 21. Praecipiolum The Universal Medicine of Paracelsus 163 The Key of Helmont and Lully 175 The opening of Sol and Lunae 176 The Contents of the Second BOOK or Clavis Alchymiae I. The Golden work of Hermes Trismegistus CHap. 1. The Preface Explicating in part the Prima Materia 179 Chap. 2. The first Exposition of the Matter 184 Chap. 3. The Names and first Operation Explicated 190 Chap. 4. A Continuation of the Explication of the first Operation 193 Chap. 5. A Dialogue between Hermes and his Son 199 Chap. 6. The several Operations by and Various Matters of which the Stone is Composed 206 Chap. 7. The Operations of Nature in the Aqua Philosophica as in a Seed 213 Chap. 8. The Philosophick Riddle laid down after a new Manner 223 Chap. 9. The last Act or Conclusion of the Theory of the Philosophers Tincture 227 Chap. 10. The Practical part of the Philosophick Work 233 Chap. 11. The Practical part farther Explicated 240 Chap. 12. The Praxis Exemplified from the Nature of Leven and Paste 246 Chap. 13. The Nature of the Ferment farther Explicated 252 Chap. 14. The Smaragdine Table of Hermes 258 The Second Book of Hermes Trismegistus Chap. 15. The Entrance into the Work beginning with Argent Vive 268 Chap. 16. The Nature of the Medicine and Government of the Metals 270 Chap. 17. The Difference of the Ferments and Quality of the Spirit 271 Chap. 18. Of Argent Vive Tincture Order of the Operation and of the Fire 273 Chap. 19. That the beginning of this Work is in the Blackness and Darkness and of the Conjoyning the Body with the Soul 276 Chap. 20. The Order of the Practical part of the Operation 278 Chap. 21. The remaininging Operations and Conclusion of this Work 281 II. The Alchymick Secrets of Kalid Persicus Chap. 22. Of the Difficulties of this Art 284 Chap. 23. Of the four Principal Operations Solution Congelation Albification and Rubification 288 Chap. 24. Of the Latter two Operations viz. Albification and Rubification 291 Chap. 25. Of the Nature of things appertaining to this Work of Decoction and its Effects 293 Chap. 26. Of Subtilization Solution Coagulation and Commixion 295 Chap. 27. Of Fixation of the Spirit Decoction Trituration and Washing 297 Chap. 28. Of the Fire fit for this Work 299 Chap. 29. Of the Separation of the Elements 300 Chap. 30. Of the Commixion of the Elements which were Separated 302 Chap. 31. Of the Solution of the Stone compounded and Coagulation of the Stone Dissolved 304 Chap. 32. That Our Stone is but One and of the Nature thereof 306 Chap. 33. How to make the Stone both White and Red 307 Chap. 34. Kalid's Secret of Secrets or Stone of the Philosophers Explicated 310 Chap. 35. A farther Explication of this Matter 315 Chap. 36 The Key which opens the Mystery of this Grand Elixir 327 To make Aurum Potabile 333 III. The Summ of Geber Arabs Chap. 37. An Introduction into the whole Work 335 Chap. 38. Of the Alchymy of Sulphur 340 Chap. 39. Of the Alchymy of Arsenick 343 Chap. 40. Of the Alchymy of the Marchasite 346 Chap. 41. Of the Alchymy of Magnesia Tutia and other Minerals 349 Chap. 42. Of the Alchymy of Saturn 352 Chap. 43. Of the Alchymy of Jupiter 359 Chap. 44. Of the Alchymy of Mars 366 Chap. 45. Of the Alchymy of Venus 372 Chap. 46. Of the Alchymy of Luna 383 Chap. 47. Of the Alchymy of Sol 391 Chap. 48. Of the Alchymy of Mercury 397 The Second Book of Geber Arabs Chap. 49. The Introduction to this Second Book 413 Chap. 50. Of Sublimation Vessels Fornaces 415 Chap. 51. Of Descention and Purifying by Pastils 424 Chap. 52. Of Distillation Causes Kinds and Fornaces 426 Chap. 53. Of Calcination of Bodies and Spirits Causes Methods 430 Chap. 54. Of Solution and its Causes 436 Chap. 55. Of Coagulation and its Causes 440 Chap. 56. Of Fixation and its Causes 442 Chap. 57. Of Ceration and its Causes 443 Chap. 58. That our Medicine is two fold one for the White and one for the Red yet that we have one only Medicine for both 446 Chap. 59. Of the Medicine Tincture Elixir or Stone of the Philosophers in General 449 Chap. 60. Of the three Orders of the Medicine 454 Chap. 61. How Ingression is procured 458 Chap. 62. Of the Cineritium 460 Chap. 63. Of Cementation and its Causes 463 Chap. 64. Of the Examen by Ignition 466 Chap. 65. The Examen by fusion or Melting 467 Chap. 66. The Examen by the Vapors of Acute things 469 Chap. 67. The Examen by the Extinction of Bodies Red Hot 470 Chap. 68. A Recapitulation of the whole Art 471 The Contents of the Third BOOK I. The Secret Book of Artefius Longaevus CHap 1. The Preface to the Reader 433 Chap. 2. The Epistle of Johannes Pontanus of the Secret Fire 437 Chap. 3. Of the Composition of our Antimonial Vinegar or the Secret Water 444 Chap. 4. Of the Operations of our Antimonial Vinegar or Mineral Water 447 Chap. 5. Of other Operations of our Secret Mineral Water and its Tincture 450 Chap. 6. Of what substance Metals are to Consist in order to this Work 455 Chap. 7. Of the Wonderful things done by our Water in altering and changing Bodies 458 Chap. 8. Of the Affinity of our Water and other wonderful things done by it 461 Chap. 9. Of Sublimation or the separating of the Pure from the Impure by the Water 467 Chap. 10. Of the Separation of the Pure parts from the Impure 472 Chap. 11. Of the Soul which is extracted by our Water and made to Ascend 475 Chap. 12. Of Digestion and how the Spirt is made thereby 480 Chap. 13. Of the beginning of the Work and a Summary of what is to be done 484 Chap. 14. Of the Easiness and Simplicity of this Work and of our Philosophick Fire 489 Chap. 15. Of the three kinds of Fires of the Philosophers in particular 492 Chap. 16. Of the Colors of our Philosophick Tincture or Stone 495 Chap. 17. Of the Perfect Bodies their Putrefaction Corruptions Digestion and Tincture 498 Chap. 18. Of the Multiplication of the Philosophick Tincture 504 Chap. 19. Of Sublimation in particular and Separation of the Pure from the Impure 508 Chap. 20. Of Digestion Sublimation and Separation of the Bodies for the perfection of the Work 512 Chap. 21. Of the Secret Operation of the Water and Spirit on the Body 515 Chap. 22. Of the Signs of the end of the Work and the perfection thereof 518 II. The Hieroglyphicks of Flammel Chap. 23. The beginning of Flammels Book which is the peroration of the whole 521 Chap. 24. The Explication of the Hieroglyphick Figures and of the Book of Abraham the Jew 522 Chap. 25. Of his Pilgrimage into Spain and meeting with a Jewish Priest who in part interpreted the said
if not inveterate Trembling Gout or any weakness of the Nerves and Joynts coming of a cold and moist cause by anointing the afflicted parts therewith and taking of it inwardly as shall be immediately directed for it does gently and by degrees as it were carry off the morbifick Cause and matter almost to a Miracel 9. This marvellous Balsam opens all obstructions of the Liver and Spleen being taken Morning and Evening for a Month together in a little Syrup or other convenient Vehicle It is held for a great Treasure and has many other singular Virtues not here necessary to be named lest we should prejudice its worth and Excellency 10. The way and manner of taking it In diseases of the Head Brain and Nerves give it in Rosemary or Juniper-water or in Canary For the Stone and other Diseases of the Reins and Bladder you may give in Rhenish-wine For the Colick and Diseases of the Bowels you may give it in Juniper or Cardamum-water For Palsies and weaknesses of the Nerves and Joynts you may give it in some Antiparalitick Wine First grind or mix it with a little of the yolk of an Egg to open its body and then mix it with the Liquor you would give it in 11. If the sick cannot take it so it may be made up into Pills with some fit Powder as of Zedoary Nutmeg Cinnamon Bay-berries Cubebs Winter-cherries or what the Physician shall think more fit and so gilded for by this means it will be taken without nauseating you may give the Balsam from half a Dram to two Drams according to Age and Strength and it may be given Morning and Night for a Month two or three together 12. And it is certain that this Balsam is one of the greatest specificks in the cure of the Palsie Scurvy and Gout that is transcending all other Medicaments but it ought to be constantly given in a due Dose and with those Advantages that it may not loath the Stomach so taken it performs more than any other Balsam It cleanses the whole body of all Impurities mundifies the whole mass of Blood heals all inward Bruises Wounds Ulcers or Excoriations whether in the Bowels or Lungs restoring decayed Nature and carrying off all its Faeculencies by Urine and Stool It is only Sold by the Author of this Work at his House at the Blue-Ball by the Ditch-side near Holborn-bridge and at Mr. John Harris's at the Harrow in the Poultry London Price 24 s. the Pound or 18 d. the Ounce AT the sign of the Archimedes and Spectacles in Ludgate-street near the West-end of St. Paul's lives John Marshall who both turns and grinds makes and sell's all sorts of Glass Instruments as Perspective Glasses Telescopes Microscopes Horoscopes Sky-Opticks Reading Glasses from the smallest size to 20 Inches Diametre Microscopes according to Mr. Leewenhoeck Also Microscopes of the said Marshall's Designing a singular Invention for the advantage of Light the like of which were never yet done before Also Spectacles for all Ages Cristal Prisms Speaking Trumpets and all other sorts of Optick Glasses for brevity sake not here named SALMON'S Practical Physick The First BOOK CHAP. I. Of ACHES of all sorts I. For an Ach proceedings of Cold in any part of the Body TAke Oyl Olives Venice Turpentine ana two Ounces Oyl of Amber four Ounces Volatile Salt of Amber six Drachms melt and mix them together for a Balsam and anoint the place well there with Morning and Evening for eight or ten days more or less as occasion requires Salmon II. For an Ach in the Joints Take Palm Oyl Turpentine ana one Ounce Oyl of Wormwood three Ounces Volatile Salt Armonicak two Ounces melt mix and make a Balsam It is excellent being anointed with all Salmon III. For Aches in the lower parts of the Body Take Palm Oyl Turpentine Oyl of Amber and Anniseeds of each one Ounce mix melt and make a Balsam Salmon IV. For an Ach in the Bones Take Palm Oyl Turpentine ana two Ounces Oyl of Amber and Juniper Berries of each two Ounces and two Drachms Camphier two Ounces melt mix and make a Balsam Salmon V. An approved Searcloth for all Aches Take Burgundy Pitch one pound Oyl Olive six Ounces Wax four Ounces white Frankincense two Ounces powdered melt them in a Pipken stirring all well together and Boil to a Consistency then pour out all into a Bason or Pan of Water then anoint your Hands with Butter and make the Plaster into Rolls VI. An Excellent Ointment for the same Take the Gall of an Ox White-wine Vinegar Palm Oyl Aqua Vitae of each a like quantity boyl them gently on a Fire keeping it scum'd till it grow clammy and with this bathe well the part by rubbing it in before a Fire with a warm Hand Morning and Evening still laying a Linnen Cloth upon it VII For Ach in the Bones and the Gout Take of the best Aqua Vitae and Oyl of Amber of each a like quantity mix them well together and anoint the part well with a warm Hand before the Fire and bind on it a Linnen Cloth Morning and Evening VIII For the Joynt Ach and the Gout most Excellent Take the Juice of Sage Aqua Vitae the Oyl of Bays Vinegar Mustard and of an Oxes Gall of each a like quantity put them all together in a large Ox Bladder Tye it fast and chafe it up and down with your Hand during one hour and half then keep it for your Use and anoint the griev'd part Morning and Evening IX A Process against all Aches in the Back Hips Sides Knees or any part of the Body Take first Pil. Mirabile one Scruple to Purge now and then and take them in Syrup of Roses after Purging procure Sweat thus Take Guaiacum one Ounce and a half the Root of Enulacampane one Ounce boyl them in a Pottle of small Ale till half be consumed then drink thereof a quart in a Hot-house and Sweat often Then in the House bathe all the Body with this Oleaginous Balsame Take Oyl of Amber Oyl of Turpentine of Foxes of Excester and of Chamomil of each a like quantity and mix it well with some Brandy And if the Pains and Aches fall out to be most painful in the Night as many times they do Then at Night let him take this Potion Syrup of Poppy three Drachms Syrup of Betony one drachm and a half Waters of Bugloss and Sage of each an Ounce mix them well together X. This Cured a Man perfectly when he was Lame over all his Body Take the Gall of an Heifer for a Man and the Gall of a Steer for a Woman Brandy of each a like quantity then bath it well upon the Wrist a little before the Fit cometh and let it lie till the Fit be gone XI Aches from a hot Cause Take Spring Water two quarts Sal Armoniack Nitre of each four Ounces mix dissolve and keep it for Use Bathe the part with it then anoint with Oyl of Poppy Seed
Salmon XII Another for the same Take Camphire two Ounces Spirit of Wine a pint mix and dissolve there with bathe the parts Afflicted Salmon XIII Another for the same There is nothing better in the World than to bathe the place afflicted two or three times a day which our Guttae Vitae mentioned in one Phalyxa lib. 1. chap. 9. sest 1. Salmon XIV For an Ach in the Shoulder Take Bole Armoniack Chalk ana one Ounce Spanish Oyl one Ounce Vinegar six Drachms Camphir half an Ounce or better Saffron 2 Drachms Mix and apply it hot with Tow twice a day Salmon XV. An Ach from a Vehement hot Cause Take Comfry Roots fresh gathered beat them till they are soft or a perfect Cataplasm then spread upon Leather and apply it 'T is an excellent thing Salmon XVI Another against Aches Take Balsam of Amber and anoint with it twice a day How this Balsam is made see in our Phylaxa lib. 2. now in the Press XVII Another for the same Take Oyl of Earth-worms one Ounce Oyl of Amber one Ounce mix them If this increases the Pain it proceeds from an hot Cause Anoint then with this Receipt Unguentum Populneum two Ounces Oyl of Poppies six Ounces in which dissolve Camphire two Ounces mix them for an Ointment Salmon XVIII For an Ach by a Fall There is nothing better then that you anoint the place hurt with Balsam de Chili twice a day rubbing it well in and keeping warm for that helps to disipate the Congregation of Humours Salmon XIX For an Old Ach. I have scarcely found any thing more effectual than first well to anoint for three or four daies with Balsam de Chili and then afterwards to apply Balsamum Amicum plaister-wise for a month together See them in my Phylaxa Salmon XX. Anothor for this purpose Make a Plaister of Tacamahaca and apply it Salmon XXI Aches from vehement hot Causes Take Oyle of the Yelks of Eggs one Ounce dissolve in it Camphire two Ounces and mix all with Oyl of Earth Worms one Ounce and anoint with it Salmon XXII To heal and strengthen weak Limbs of Children and those which cannot stand nor go Most wonderful and excellent to cure the Rickets Take juices of Sage sweet Marjoram Rosemary Time Chamomil Hysop Feverfew Lavender Balm Mint Wormwood Rue Winter-Savory and Bays of each Three Ounces put it in a double Glass the which stop well and paste it all over with Dough and set it in an Oven with Houshold-Bread and when it is drawn break off all the Paste and if the juice be thick break the Glass and put it into a Gally-Pot and when you use it take the quantity of Two Spoonfulls of it and put to it as much of the Marrow of an Ox Leg melt them together stir them well and add to it a little Brandy and Morning and Evening anoint well before a Fire the Child's Arms Sides Thighs Leggs Knees Feet and Joynts bathing it well in with a warm Hand Then give it some Syrnp of Rheubarb to open the Obstructions of the Liver and mingle it with Two Ounces of Mint-water mix it well and give it the Child fasting This will mightily strengthen the Limbs and make the Child to stand and go Probat XXIII For all Aches or Pains in the Nervous Parts arising from a Cold Cause Contusions c. There is nothing can take away the Preheminence from Balsam de Chili which may always be had at the Author's House at the Blue Balcony by the Ditch-side near Holbourn Bridge London because of its amicable and peculiar Faculty in strengthning the Nerves and dissolving or dissipating any inherent Matter I could give you I believe an Hundred Histories of Cures of this kind performed by this Medicine I have cured with it an Ach in the Hip or the Sciatica Anoint with it twice a day at least Viz. Morning and Evening and apply 〈◊〉 dipt in it over the part in the mean season Salmon CHAP. II. Of the Apoplexy 1. TAke of the best Aqua-vitae well rectified from Phlegm one Pint Oyl of Vitriol one Spoonful mix them and let him drink thereof one Spoonful first in the Morning and another last at Night Then let him Sweat in a Stove twice a Week and every time thereafter bathe him with Balsam de Chili This is Excellent II. For the Joint-ach and Numbness after an Apoplexy Take Six Spoonfuls of Dragon-water dissolve in it one drachm of Mithridate drink the same draught Three Mornings together fasting and sweat Two Hours after it This Cures III. For an Apoplexy or other like Fits Take a large quantity of Earth-worms gathered in the Mornings in May when they Generate put them into a Pail of Water for twenty four Hours that they may perfectly cleanse themselves This done take them out and dry them carefully upon a Marble Tile before a clear Fire being thoroughly dryed keep them in a dry place for use When you have Occasion to use them beat them into Powder in a large Brass or Iron Mortar and of this Powder take a Spoonful at a time Morning and Evening in a Glass of Wine four days before and four days after the Full and Change of the Moon it will perfectly Cure I lately cured one of an Apoplexy therewith and I know several others cured some Years since Salmon IV. An Errhine against an Apoplexy in the Fit I can propose no better than that of Deckers which exceeds all others and it is thus made Take Turbith Mineral one Ounce powder of Liquorice three ounces Flowers of Rosemary one ounce and a half mix into a most subtile Powder Of this Powder you may blow up from six to ten or twelve grains at a time Viz. from three to five or six up each Nostril It brings out of the Fit and used in the Intervals prevents it I have proved it in two or three several Persons Deck ers saith multumque pituitae viscidae educit cum successu praescribitur hic Pulvis in Apo plexia Epilepsia Lethargo Ca pitisquè affectibus soporosus omnibus nec non quibusdam capitis affectibus recentibus inveteratis vertigine gravedine c. Exec. med pag. 20. Salmon V. Strong Purging in an Apoplexy Authors commend purgeing but it must be with very strong Medicines as Troches Alhandal Scammony with Castor or Pil. Cochie one ounce as Rondeletius prescribes But in my Opinion nothing is better than my Pil. Mirabiles taken from a scruple to half a drachm See it in my Philaxa Med. Lib. 2. Now in the Press If Purgatives do nothing the Patient commonly dies Salmon VI. Strong Emeticks to be given Celsus saith Many things ought or may well be done in a dangerous Case which otherwise should be omitted Therefore it is Lawful to give Antimoniates in a large dose as Aqua Benedicta Vinum Antimoniale Infusion of Regulus Sal Emeticum Mynsichti and such like which evacuate great quantities of Phlegm and other Humours not only from the Stomach and
Bowels but even from the Brain it self Salmon VII Alterative Remedies for the same Nothing is better than our Powers of Rosemary Amber and Spir. Antiasthmaticus given as directed in our Phylaxa Salmon CHAP. III. Of AGVES I. A rare Secret to Cure all Agues whatsoever TAke Venice Turpentine half an ounce incorporate it with as much Camphire and Mastick beaten into fine Powder as will make it into a Plaister then take of it and spread it on a piece of Sheeps Leather cut round and lay it on the Stomach and Navel pretty warm a day before the Fit cometh Probat II. Against an Ague Take Posset-drink a pint and half put into it nine heads of Carduus boyl it 'till half be wasted to every quarter of a Pint put in a quarter of a Spoonful of gross Pepper stir it well and take half a Pint an Hour before the Fit cometh and be sure to Sweat him in his Bed upon the taking of it III. A Plaister against an Ague Take a piece of Leather pricked full of Holes spread it over with Venice-Turpent and on that spread all over Rue and Frankincense beaten into Powder of each a like quantity then bind it to the Wrist a little before the Fit cometh and let it lie 'till the Fit be gone IV. Against a Tertian Ague Take at the coming of the cold Fit half a Pint of expressed Juice of Germander for Germander is styled by Physicians the Scourge of a Fever V. Against all burning and pestilential Fevers Take of the Herb Fluellin cut small and infuse it twenty four Hours in White Wine then Distil it and drink of this Distilla ion with three four five or six Drops of Oyl of Vituol in every Draught when Thirsty This hath cured Old and Young that took it VI. An Excellent Process to Cure all Quotidian Tertiane Pestilential and Burning Fevers and Agues Take Aloes three drachms Myrrh one drachm Saffron half a drachm Sugar three drachms beat them well together then infuse them in a pint of White Wine over Night and give it two several Mornings half a pint at a time to purge with And for ordinary Drink when-thirsty use this Take White-Wine-Vinegar half a pint Rose-water Conduit or Fountain Water ana one Pint seeth them together with a Pound of Sugar VII Sleep to procure in an Ague If he want Sleep Take Syrup of white Poppy one ounce distilled Water of Lettice Sal Prunella 15. grains mix them and take it at Night for Sleep cools the Body and prevents motion and Motion is one of the principal Causes of heat VIII An Ague with a sore Mouth to Heal. If the Mouth be sore take of red Sage grosly cut one handful of French Barley beaten Roach Allom ana one ounce Boyl all these together in a pint and a half of Spring-water then duleifie it before it be cold with Honey and therewith wash the Mouth and gargle the Throat IX Against a new Ague Take one drachm of pine Tobacco in the Leaf infuse it all Night in half a pint of White-Wine then strain it and drink it fasting two Hours after it This will purge Phlegm and Choler throughly X. Against a burning Feaver Take Water distilled from Wall-nuts a Week or two before Mid-Summer and give of that Water one ounce and a half at a time an Hour before the Fit It Cures XI An Excellent Julep in all Fevers Take Poppy-water four ounces of Prune-water Juice of Oranges Syrup of Gilly-flowers two ounces a few drops of Spirit of Vitriol mix them and let the Patient drink two or three spoonfuls at a time often XII A Specifick against all manner of Agues Take Quin-quina or Jesuits Bark two Drachms beat it into Powder just about the time of using it Infuse it in a good Draught of Claret or other Generous Wine for the space of two Hours then give the Patient both Liquor and Powder at once as they lye in Bed Some advise to give it as the Fit is coming others as the Fit is going off the latter way is best if the Sick be very weak Salmon XIII Another Remedy for the same If you give my Catharticum Argenteum to forty fifty sixty or one hundred Drops according as the Patient is in Age and strength as I have directed in my Phylaxa Medicinae Lib. 1. Cap. 3. and continue it for five or six times taking it will go near to Cure any Ague whatsoever more especially if after such universal Purging you give either my Guttae Vitae or my Volatile Laudanum in such due Dose as in my said Phylaxa is prescribed about three Hours before the coming of the Fit so as the Sick may be in a good Sweat about the coming of the cold Fit by this means used five or six times the Ague goes off and comes no more I scarce ever fail of Curing an Ague by this method Salmon XIV Agues Cured by another Medicine I have Cured hundreds of Agues exactly by the former method except only that instead of the Catharticum Argenteum I have used either my Tabulae Emeticae or Vomiting Lozenges Or my Vinum Emeticum and sometimes some other proper Emeticks and Catharticks alternately But before either Quin-quina or Opiates be given if you would do like an Artist you ought to premise Universal Cleansers Salmon XV. A violent burning Feaver with Vomiting and Bloody Flux Where the Disease has been long the Patient wasted and brought as it were to Death's door there is nothing in the World better than our Pulvis Antifebriticus mentioned in Phylaxa Medic. Lib. 1. Cap. 45. You may give it to half a drachm or a drachm in any convenient Vehicle an Hour and half before the coming of the Fit Salmon XVI Agues chiefly Quartans Cured by the following Arcanum Rolfinc Lib. 5. Sect. 6. Cap. 12. Take Leaf-gold a drachm dissolve it in Aqua Regis Glass of Antimony a drachm dissolve it in Aqua Fortis Quick-silver six Drachms dissolve it in Aqua Fortis mix these Solutions together and Distil them by an Alembick cohobating twelve times at last to the Powder left in the bottom put Spirit of Wine which abstract from it six times then Calcine it upon a Tile or in a Hascican Crucible in a Circulary Fire so have you one of the best Remedies for an Ague chiefly a Quartane yet commonly known Take of this Powder six Grains Scammony twelve Grains mix for a Dose give it in the Morning the day before the Fit or in the Morning the same day if the Fit falls towards Night Salmon XVII Riverius his Ague Frighter Take Flowers of Antimony thrice sublimed with Sal Armoniack and Dulcified Perlucid Hyacinth Glass of Antimony ana half an Ounce Aqua Fortis made of Nitre and Alum 4 Ounces Praecipitate the said Antimony in the said Water Again Take Quicksilver revived from Cinabar six Ounces Aqua Fortis made of Nitre Alum and Vitriol q. s. in which dissolve and praecipitate the Mercury Take also fine Leaf-Gold one
be praised But if the Patient be Young or Weak you must proportionably lessen the Dose You may give it in the Morning Fasting and let the Sick beware of taking Cold. Salmon V. The Cholick with a vehement Catarrb and Cough Where the Griping of the Bowels is with Costiveness of Body which is for the most part accompanied with a great Cough and Catarrh there is no better Remedy upon Earth than our Spiritus Anticolicus of which the Sick may take half a Spoonful every Morning and Evening in a Glass of Ale or Wine and if it be vehement in all the Drink they take Salmon VI. The Cholick with a violent Flux of the Belly downwards and a vehement Catarrb upwards I have several times seen this preternatural Flux though it be not common Once I remember I had a Patient afflicted therewith and in a most deplorable Condition I Cured him by giving a Spoonful or Spoonful and half of my Tinctura ad Catarrhos Morning and Evening in a Glass of Ale and in a Weeks time he was perfectly well See it in my Phylaxa Med. Lib. 2. Cap. 9. Sect. 1. Salmon VII One Purge saith Rolfincius given with Judgment in the Cholick does that alone which ten Clysters will scarcely reach especially in the Cholick pain from Obstruction of the Excrements above the value It was observed when a Patient had thirty Clysters given him without any benefit that another Physician gave him an Ounce and half of Manna with two Ounces of Oyl of sweet Almonds in fat Chicken Broth and eased the Patient of his pain We in the West-India's in this case where the Constipation is great give a strong Decoction of the bitter Gourd or bitter Squash made in Water which effectually does the Cure at once if given in the beginning of the Disease Pulp of Colocynthis here will do the same In the West-India's where Peach-Trees are plentlful the Disease is Cured by taking three or four times Syrup of Peaches or by taking a very strong Decoction made of the bruised Leaves of the Peach-Tree Salmon VIII Sometimes when Clysters are given they come not away but almost suffocate by reason of their ascension be ing stopt by much Wind in this case if one two or more Clysters do not come away you must either put up a very sharp Supository or recall them with a small Clyster made of a strong Tincture or Decoction of Pulp of Colloquintida IX Where the Cholick proceeds from a kind of Glassy Phlegm weak Clysters may not be given made of Oyl Hiera and the like these though in a gentle Cholick may do some good yet in a violent one can do nothing rather mischief In this case nothing less than a strong Clyster made with our Tinctura Aurea see Phylaxa Lib. 2. Cap. 5. will do any good After the Clyster has been taken and is come away let the Patient be three or four times Purged with our Pilula Mirabiles see Phylaxa Lib. 2. Cap. 59. and he will be so perfectly Cured that the Disease will no more recur from that numerick Cause Salmon X. In a vehement Cholick with Obstruction of the Courses I gave the following things 1. I Purged the Sick well with my Pilulae Mirabiles thrice 2. I gave the following Powder Take Livers and Galls of Eeles dry them and make them into Powder Dose from one Drachm to two in white Wine Salmon XI A Venereal Cholick There is no better Medicine upon Earth then to give every day for a Week together if it has been of long continuance our Vinum Herculeanum a Sack Glass full at a time three or four times a day The way of making it see in Phylaxa Med. Lib. 1. Cap. 47. Sect. 15. It is much beyond all the the Spicy and Aromatick Things in the World Salmon XII A Clyster against the Cholick Take Decoction of Juniper Berries a Pint Spiritus Aureus one Ounce Aqua Benedicta four Ounces Oyl of Olive two Ounces mix them this works in a small time but which is admirable even before it works the pain ceases Salmon XIII Another Clyster for the same Take Decoction of Dates made in Mutton-Broth a Pint Vinum Emeticum five Ounces mix for a Clyster it gives ease almost in an Instant and brings away the morbifick Cause or Matter after a wonderful manner Salmon XIV Rondeletius saith that Castoreum and Euphorbium are of good use if the pain be constant and stir not from its place yea he estimates them not only as a present but as the ultimate Remedy If you take six eight or ten Grains of Castor in Wine and drink a little after it it will quickly Cure And five or six Gr. of Emphorbium may be Infused and taken the clear Infusion in the same quantity and manner XV. If the pain be in the upper part of the Belly above the Navel Clysters seldom do any good for they never reach the Morbifick or offending Matter yet sometimes even in these cases when the pain is very violent and the Humours crude Clysters may be given but they ought to be made of strong Attractives such as the afore-mentioned XVI This Clyster has done much good Take fat Broth a Pint Aloes dissolved two Drachms Turpentine one Ounce and a half or two Ounces Truly it is a Medicament not to be despised I remember once above all the rest of the times I used it I recovered a young Lady even from the Jaws of Death with it The Sick had been three daies and three Nights tortured with incessant Pain Clysters of most kinds had been given by an Apothecary by the Prescript of a Physitian moreover there had been given previous to those Aromatick Bolus's bitter Decoctions and lastly Opiates but all in vain nor could the Opiates do any good for that they constipated the Bowels much more which were before costive and so rendered the disease to all appearance uncurable so void of true Medical Sense or Knowledge were those Men of great names which had been before concern'd with her In short they neither gave her any Ease nor made her go to Stool so that what with the Anguish and Pain she was given over and lay for dead In this state and Condition a Gentlewoman then present moved that I might be sent for which was accordingly done when I came thither I viewed my Patient no appearance of Life could be discerned so that I had but small encouragement to act however being entreated by her grieved Parents I was perswaded even for their satisfaction The Apothecary was sent for and gave me an account of all that was done I could not forbear blaming the Physitians for acting so preposterously against the rules of Art as to prescribe Opiates in a Cholick with a strong constipation of the Bowels The Apothecary could no waies take their part but was of my Opinion But the business was now what was most fit to be done nothing could be given by the Mouth for her Teeth seemed to be set
Mesentery where sharp Salt join'd with an acid Phlegm being dissolved and put into a fermentation upon the hysterick Paroxism causes this vehement pain For by reason of the Collision of the neurotick Spirits justling one another in their passages and the acid Sals pricking the most sensible Fibres of the Nerves with their vitriolick Particles causing a vehement anguish and the distention of the Nerves and musculous Passages where the said acid Juices are lodged this almost invincible Cholick is exeited which Proteus-like is so various in its appearances that we cannot here in few words describe it IX The remote cause is to be known from the consideration of the six Non naturals and other Accidents of Nature intervening the which we shall here pass over and leave to the more exquisite Consideration of philosophick Minds X. As to the Progno sticks this we have to say That if the Disease has been of long continuance and in ancient People it will be of difficult cure the older and the longer the Disease has been so much the more difficult If the Limbs have lost their use 't is very seldom that the Sick recovers If a Palsie be induced the Sick is incurable so if any contraction of the Nerves with loss of the use of any Limb The same also if the Patient is become foolish or there be a very great alienation of Mind more especially if it be not recent but of long continuance But if there be no loss of the use of Limbs or it only returns by long intervals if it be recent the Patient young strong vigorous and lively If they can eat freely and sleep well there is all the possible signs of recovery and so much the better and easier if in a Woman not with Child or in a Body not scorbutick XI The Indicationes Curativae are these Obstructions must be opened hysterick Vapours or Fumes must be quieted the acid Salts and Juices must be altred the peccant or offending Mater must be evacuated or removed And lastly the parts weakned must be corroborated and strengthened and the scorbutick Taint if any be destroyed XII In respect to opening of Obstrucrtions we must consider whether the Constitution be hot or cold for accordingly different Medicines must be used Those things which open Obstructions in hot Bodies create them in cold e contrario If therefore by the exuberant symptoms you perceive the Constitution to be hot these following things are fit to be used viz. Spirits of Sulphur and Nitre Spiritus Aperiens Antiasthmaticus Spirttus Anticolicus Sal nitri Tartari nitratum Nitri Vitriolatum Sal Armoniacum Volatile Syrupus Nephriticus being given in a convenient Vehicle and in a proper Dose all which you may see in my Phylaxa Medicinae XIII But if it be in a cold habit of Body then you will find these following things good Take Juice of Smallage two Pound Sugar as much make it into a Syrup by boiling which strain through Hippocrates his Sleeve Dose three spoonfuls every morning fasting and at night going to bed Or this Take Juices of Fennel Germander Agrimony Brooklime Watercresses ana four Ounces Sugar twenty Pound make it into a Syrup which clarifie with Whites of Eggs Give it in the same manner and Dose with the former Or these Juices may be mixt with new Ale botled up with a little white Sugar and a Clove slit put into each Bottle and so drank In this case also Tinctura Martis given in clarified Juice of Plantin mixt with an equal quantity of Conary is of good use Also Potestates Carui Juniperi Lithontriptici Pulegii may be daily given in all their drink XIV To quiet the irregular and turbulent motion of the Spirit and hysterick fumes these following things are fit to be done First the Stomach and whole Region of the Abdomen are to be bathed with Powers of Amber or Pennyroyal or both and a hot Flannel dipt in the same laid over them Secondly the Nostrils are to be often touched with Postestates Cornu Cervi and the Sick should keep a Bottle always about them to swell to or at least a Bottle of Volatile Sal Armoniack mixt with some few drops of Oil of Pennyroyal or Savin Moreover our Tinctura Hysterica should be at convenient times given in a little Wine or Ale Or this Take Tinctura Hysterica one Ounce Guttae Vitae half au Ounce mix them of which sixty drops may be given at a time every night going to bed and if extremity require it every morning fasting But if the Sick be troubled with a costiveness of Body this following is of more excellent use Take of our Extract of Aloes one Scruple Castor in Powder half a Scruple of our Volatile Laudanum three or four Grains mix them for one Dose to be given every night going to bed These things thus used will not fail you expectations XV. The third intention of Cure is to sweeten the acid Salts and Juices of the Body for which purpose there is certainly nothing more powerful and admirable than our Spiritus Universalis which see in our Phyl. Medic. Lib. 2. cap. 22. given twice a day or as often as the Sick drinks in all their Ale or Beer Or instead of this Volatile Sal Armoniack add six or eight Grains in all their Liquor aforesaid Some possibly may prescribe Preparations of Pearl Coral Amber Crabs Eyes c. but these things though after a very long using may do some good yet being fixt Alcalies do not so immediately enter into the Mass of Blood and are therefore to be laid aside where the other things can be had forasmuch as this Disease possesses the whole Mass of Blood and Humours and the wholy habit of the body XVI But more effectually to answer both the first Indication of Cure at Sect. 12. and 13. aforegoing and this third present this following Composition is most excellent Take Venice or Strasburgh Turpentine two Ounces Angelis Mineralis Bezoarticum Minerale ana enough to make the Turpentine up into Pills Dose one Dram or a Dram and half and in some cases two Drams It is a most effectual Medicament for the Purposes intended and not enough to be valued and so much the more especially if it be given in a scorbutick habit of Body and where the Sick has lost the use of their Limbs XVII The fourth Indication is to evacuate the morbisick Cause or peccant Humour which you may most compleatly accomplish with my Pilulae Mirabiles for they given from one Scruple to half a Dram wounderfully carry off the offending matter and draw it away even from the most remote parts of the Body Or instead of them you may use my Family Pills those which are made according to my last designation by which they are much improved in their Virtues and Goodness which can be only had of me and such as have them from my hand not from Hollier or his Accomplices for that he knows
peccant Matter XII In order to this the Extract of Colocynthis made with Water by long boyling is of most note You may give it from five Grains to twelve or fifteen in strong Bodies It Purges admirably and carries off the morbifick Cause to a wonder Or this Take of the said Extract eight Grains Extract of Aloes made with Water one Scruple mix for a Dose It diverts excellently and derives the Blood to the lower parts Or this Take of the Extract of Aloes one Scruple of Colocynthis eight Grains of Turbethum Minerale four Grains mix for a Dose This ought to be given only to strong Bodies but where it may be given or does prevail it does wonders XIII If any should Object That by reason of the Turbith Mineral the Humors would flow to the Throat the more where they already are too much and so augment the Disease we answer No. The briskness of the Catharticks would make its whole Effects downwards while that by its melting Property it dissolves the near or conjoin'd Cause of the Disease and so carry all off by stool But suppose it should be otherwise it would yet put the Sick out of peril for if its effects were upwards so as to cause a Flux it must needs open the mouths of the salivatick Vessels and so take away the Disease that way which is as rational as can be proposed XIV I care not greatly if I relate a History of this kind done by a Mountebank in this City A young Man having an exquisite Quinsey sent for this Man who coming to view him and looking upon his Throat and not knowing or apprehending what his Disease was but mistaking in his Judgment and thinking it to be the Pox gave him a lusty Dose of Turbith Mineral in a Dram of Mithridate This the Humours being beforehand in Flux and filling those parts in fifteen or sixteen hours time put him into a severe Flux and in less than twenty four hours put him out of the peril of Death for he spit out the Cause of the Disease and fluxing twenty two or twenty 〈◊〉 was perfectly cured without any more to do Had he truly known the Disease it must have been accounted a very bold and rash attempt and not with safety to be adventured but as as it fell out it proved very fortunate and succesful for though the Sick had a great deal of trouble and pain yet he did very well at last You know what the Proverb is There is no Carrion will kill a Crow XV. Seeing therefore that a Quinsey is a most acute Disease that sometimes it takes away a man in one day the great remedies are to be used with mighty care and diligence Riverius advises immediately to let Bloud and that to twenty twenty four or thirty Ounces but by degrees on that side most afflicted Saxonia and Rolfincius advises to have it done under the tongue 〈◊〉 in a desparate Quinsie opens the Jugular Veins In these things you must exercise your Reason Some are for bleeding in the Leg or lower parts others for the Arm because they say it makes better Revulsion and causes less weakness XVI In giving inward Remedies you ought to let them be in the form of a Potion not of a Pill or Bolus because of the difficulty of swallowing and if the Sick should be provoked to vomiting by reason of the force the straitned Passage and solid Matter of the Medicine it might hazard strangling XVII If you bleed the Patient you may purge him the day following net waiting for the Coction of Humors because the Disease admits of no Truoe yea if it be very violent you ought to purge even the same day Sydenham saith with gentle Medicines but it is like a great many more of that Gentleman's Mistakes I say it must be with strong and such as may divert powerfully downwards for this Experience has taught me and I have saved many Lives by it whereas had I trifled with gentle Things my sick Patients had been infallibly lost To these Things you may add emollient and cathartick Clysters which very much derive and promote the Cure XVIII When the Aposteme is come to ripeness it would be well that Nature would break it alone if not to save Life it ought to be opened Barbet tells us of a Quinsey which he cured by opening the Aposteme It was a Woman her Tonsils were so swelled that she could not swallow at all but threw whatever she took out at her Nostrils He let her Blood used Cataplasms and Gargarisms and the fourth day as he was searching the part with a Probe saw that the Abscess was ripe he resolved to treat her somewhat roughly without giving her any warning he brake it with the same Probe upon which when she was cured she laugh'd and commended his Industry XIX If the Aposteme be in no hopes of sudden breaking to save Life opening the Throat may be attempted which is called Laryngotomy It is seldom put in practise for fear of Disgrace if the Patient should die soon after the Operation is ended For if in a dangerous Quinsey where the Lungs are obstructed with Humors or the Pleura is afflicted or those Parts be any way inflamed in these cases it is for the most part done in vain and only gives occation of Reproach XX. The Operation is thus performed Put the Patient into a Chair with his head leaning back as much as he well can let a Servant standing behind him take up the Skin on each side of the sorepart of the Neck then let the Artist cut the Skin lengthways with the Muscles under it just against the Aspera Arteria not far from the pit of the Throat and with a broad Lancet let him make a Section in the middle space between the third and fourth Cartilaginous Ring taking diligent care that the Cartilages themselves be not hurt And having made a hole he must put in a Silver Pipe not over long nor to touch the back part of the Wind-Pipe for then it would cause continual coughing By this way the Breath goes and comes to the Lungs 'till the Inflammation is either dispersed or comes to Suppuration and a passage for breathing by the mouth be restored which usually comes to pass in three or four days Then the Pipe may be taken away and the Wound cured after the ordinary way which will quickly be healed XXI When the Aposteme comes to Suppuration that it either breaks of its own accord or is opened by Instrument you must take care that the Corruption fall not upon the Lungs nor into the Stomach for fear of some other Disease but it must carefully be cast up at the mouth and then a Gargarism of Hydromel or Wine and Honey of Roses must be used to cleanse the parts XXII Galen and his Sectators use cold and astringent Gargarisms in all sorts of Quinseys contrary to the Precepts of Hippocrates who prescribes Gargarisms actually hot The former causes certain
distinguished from it because in the Stone the pain continues 〈◊〉 in one place and in the beginning the Urine is clear but afterwards of a troubled Substance bringing forth with it at length Gravel Stones and such-like whereas in the Colick the Pain is different or in different Parts afflicting for the most part the Colon and in the beginning the Urine is of a troubled Substance afterwards more clear III. How Gravel which is the Progenerator of the Stone is bred there is various Opinions Spigelius by his Discourse seems to believe it to be bred in the Veins for he saith That he has found the Blood in the Veins full of small Gravel and if so it is natural for it to descend with the Substance of the Blood into the emulgent Arteries and from thence with the Serum to the Reins and Bladder IV. But by what Artifice Gravel is generated is another Question II care not greatly if I relate to you a singular Observation which I made whilst I was in the West-Indies In those Countries for clearing of Ground the People commonly lay all the Wood on heaps and burn it I did the like of Wood growing upon a very sandy piece of Land the Substance of the Earth under its upper Crust being a pure white Sand. I had very white and soft Ashes not inferiour in softness to our finest Wheat-flour or white Starch in which not the least appearance of Gravel or Sand could be discerned by any means Of these Ashes I had occasion to make a Lixivium sometimes for Expedition sake by boiling The Lixivum being decanted and the Ashes cast away I had the curiosity to view and by an exact scrutiny found them to be nothing but pure white Sand without any of the small and soft particles of Ashes which before the elixiviating of them made them feel like pure fine and soft Wheat-flour This I did 't is possible an hundred times and always produced the same Sand From whence I deduced these things 1. That those Trees which in those Countries are mostly of a mighty bigness chiefly Pine Oaks Hickeries and such-like Herbs Plants and the like growing upon such sandy ground have all their Nourishment and Substance from that Sand whether white red yellow or of what Colour soever 2. That by the plastick Virtue of the Plant the Substance of the said Sand is dissolved and fitted for the Norishment of the same Plant. 3. That the said Sand is dissolved into a moist Humor and it may be resinous or glutinous or aqucous consonant to the Nature of the same Vegetable the same kind of Sand which produces an Oak makes also a Pine Hickery Ash or other Plant growing upon the same For if they were not generated or produced of Sand the Earth being scarcely any thing else ten or twenry Foot deep in those Places Of what other Matter can they be made 4. That an Analysis being made by burning and elixiviation the whole Substance of the Plant in a manner resumes its prima Materia or first Matter again converting its Body into Sand and not into any other Principle 5. That the Extremity and Violence of the Fire has not power to destroy the Idea of the prime Cause but it still retains the same through all Vicissitudes and Changes even of the strongest Fire it self V. I. made also another Observation of the same kind of Trees Herbs and Plants growing upon the same kind of Land from their rotting Great Pine-Trees four or five Foot in Diametre and others being rotted upon the Ground although the rotten Wood at first become only light and chaffie then a Slime and Mud yet that Slime or Mud and Rottenness gra dually converted from that brown dark or black Colour and soft clammy mucillaginous and rotten Substance into a pure white Sand no ways unlike to the first Substance or that of which they were primarily generated all which things might clearly be discerned in many of them according to the differing Degrees and Times of Rotting or Putrifying as Nature had been several Years in performing that Work and Operation Those which were produced of white Sand reverted into white Sand again those of red Sand into red Sand c. VI. Out of what has been said it clearly appears that Things by resolution naturally return into the Matter of which they were first generated so that according to the Food and the Place or Matter that Food was generated from being again resolved in Man's Body is the Production of Juices Humors Blood Flesh and other Substances of the same So true and faithful is the Work of GOD in the Universe that as He cannot deny Himself so neither can the Things He causes to be produced lose their first Ideas and Potentialities though they never so often change their Forms and Appearances but will after a long race or course of Vicissitudes and Alterations return to their first Matter again VII And thus the first Cause of the Stone is to be sought into farther than the Parts in which it is generated or the natural Spirits possessing the same though I do not deny what Riverius says upon the point but that there may be a petrifactive Spirit which may be assisting in that Generation Both which considered may be the Reason that some People may be troubled with this Disease and some not VIII Gravel subsiding does not nocessarily indicate the Stone but sometimes the material Cause only thereof for multitudes of People that are perpetually free from the Stone do many times make much Gravel yet possibly it may signifie a Disposition to that Disease For if Gravel which used constantly to come away is afterwards suppressed and Pain is felt the Urine being clear and thin there is great danger that the Gravel may concrete into a Stone and when it is made again with Pain and Stranguary it is a sign there is a Stone generated IX Gravel which is bred in the Veins comes away with the Urine and is mixt with the Sediment but what is bred in the Kidneys Ureters and Bladder presently resides as the Urine is made Authors say it proceeds from adustion of the Humors bred in the Liver and Veins and sticks to the sides of the Pot nor does it sink to the bottom as that which comes from the Reins it also breaks by rubbing with ones Fingers and appears of a more saline Substance whereas the other neither yields to the Fingers nor can it easily be dissolved This Gravel of a saline Substance is dissolved in warm Urine and appears not whilst it is yet hot but the Urine being cold it coagulates and sticks to the sides of the Chamber-pot or Urinal not much unlike Tartar in a Cask of Wine or which is dissolved in hot Water which cooling again sticks to the sides of a Vessel so that the very Nature of this Gravel and Tartar seem to be much alike X. And this possibly may in a great measure proceed from the same Cause viz.
Marrow which is Auripigment Of the same kind also is the Cats or Lyons Claw which is Sirezt The Fat of the White Bodies and the Fat of the two Oriental Argent Vives which Sulphurs are caught hold of and retained by the Bodies Salmon All these are only Various Names by which the Philosophers call the one thing and under which they Cloud it But the most Acute Ripley saith it is Argent Vive but not the Vulgar that without which nothing that exists is able to be If therefore there be nothing under the Sun in which this Argent Vive is not Our Hermes has not done absurdly to call it by these Names tho' possibly there may be some one thing which may contain more of it that which is more pure also generous and more ripe or perfectly digested than all the other things besides Authors say it is chieflly found in the Roots of Metals which Roots are in the Air and the Tops of the Mountains It behoves you therefore to have a perfect and solid knowledge of this Argent Vive before you attempt any thing in this Art And this is to be Communicated only to the Faithful Disciples of this Science Be diligent with your whole mind consider think ruminate volve and revolve meditate and reason with your self concerning it and through the Divine Assistance you will certainly attain to the knowledge there of II. Hermes I say more that this Sulphur does Tinge and Fix and is contained and held by the Conjunctions of the Tinctures Fat 's also Tinge but withal they fly away in the Body which is contained which is a Conjunction of Fugitives only with Sulphurs and Aluminous Bodies which also contain and hold the Fugitive Matter Salmon He distinguisheth here between the true and Philosophick Tincture and the Fictitious or Sophisticate The true is made of a Fixt and Incombustible Sulphur for which Cause also the Bodies are rendred fixt and Incombustible for every Transmutation is made subject to the nature of the thing Transmuting and not of the thing to be Transmuted it is needful therefore that you make choice of the best Sulphur for this Work The Vulgar is Forreign for that it is deficient Blackens and Corrupts having also a double superfluity viz. an Inflamable substance and an Earthly Faeculency Therefore you must find out another which is a simple Fire and Living and is able to Revivifie Dead Bodies to bring them to the highest perfection and to perfect them with the ultimate maturity Such a Sulphur saith Avieenna is not to be found upon Earth except in the Bodies of Sol and Luna In Sol indeeed is the highest of Perfection because it is more digested and decocted when therefore the Tincture is prepared with this Sulphur down below in the Bottom of Obscurity it is carried Gradatim up for the highest Glory with the greatest splendor of spirituality so that any Body whatsoever being melted with the Fire it Tinges and so firmly adheres to it that it cannot for ever be any more separated therefrom But the Sophisticate Tincture which is made from the middle Minerals from burning Sulphur Arsenical Aluminous and such like are not able to defend either Bodies upon which they are projected nor yet their own proper substance from the violence of Fire but together with the Bodies they flie away and by the force of Fire Vanish into Air. III. Hermes The order method managment and dis position of the Matter sought after by the Philosophers is but one in Our Egg. Now this in the Hens Egg is in no wise to be found But lest so much of the Divine Wisdom as is seen in a Hens Egg should be distinguished we make in imitation thereof a Compositum from the four Elements joyntly fitted and compacted together Salmon The Description of the Philosophick Egg is various which the Philosophers divide into four parts according to the number of the four Elements 1. Putamen the Shell which they make the Earth 2. Albumen the White which is Water 3. Pellicula the Skin which is Air. 4. Vitellus the Yolk which is Fire Some make only three parts thereof 1. Vitellus the Sulphur 2. Albumen the Mercury 3. Putamen the Salt Some again will have the Yolk to signifie Mars Sol and Venus and the White Saturn Jupiter Mercury and Luna and the Shell the Firmament and Earth or Combustible Ashes but to speak plainly the Shell represents the Philosophick Glass wherein the Skin the White the Tread and the Yolk answer to the four Elements Fire Air Water and Earth Or rather the Tread Yolk and White to the three pure principles Salt Sulphur and Mercury or Spirit Soul and Body that is Fixity Tincture and Subsistence IV. Hermes Now in a Hens Egg there is the greatest help that may be for herein is a nearness of the Matters in their Natures a spirituality and gathering and joyning together of the Elements and the Earth which is Gold in its Nature Salmon The Ovum Philosophorum or our Mercury has in it self whatever is necessary thereto We call it Our Mercury because it is reduced into one pure Homogene Body where is 1. A Propinquity of Natures as Earth Water Air and Fire or Salt Sulphur and Mercury 2. A Spirituality which is the formative faculty the hidden Work-Master which brings the Stone to perfection 3. A gathering together of the Elements for that the Earth is made Water and Air and Fire by Sublimation and they are made Earth again which Earth is Gold in its inward principle or Nature V. Hermes The Son saith to him the Sulphurs which are convenient or fit for Our Work are they Coelestial or Terrestial Heavenly or Earthly To whom Hermes answers some of them are Heavenly and some are from the Earth Salmon This is a short Dialogue between the Father and the Son Hermes makes answer to his Son concerning the Sulphurs that they are not of one or the same kind but that some are of a Heavenly and some are of an Earthly Nature yet he confesses both to be Sulphurs by the Heavenly is meant the Solar Sulphur and by the Earthly the Sulphur of Luna For Sol is a Body Masculine hot fixt red and incombustible which perfects Luna who is Feminine Cold Volatile White and Combustible exalting her to his own Glory and Splendor VI. Hermes The Son saith Father I think the Heart in the Superiors to prenote Heaven in the Inferiors the Earth To whom Hermes saith It is not so the Masculine truly is the Heaven of the Feminine and the Feminine the Earth of the Masculine Salmon The Heaven is the Masculine of the Earth and Earth is the Feminine of the Heaven Heaven or Sol which is pure fixt and incombustible Sulphur is the generating Seed and Mercury which is the Magical Earth is the Womb or Feminine principle receiving the Seed in which the Seed is keept nourished digested and brought to the Birth or Perfection Even that in which it obtains Spirit
their own Body and this Work must be so often reiterated till no more Clouds arise viz. till the Dragon is wholly Slain This done he must be restored to Life again and made to live and then killed again as aforesaid and then it does live as we have demonstrated in the Explication of the former Paragraph even in Putrefaction from which it must at length by the order and course of the Operations be freed and brought to its Ultimate Perfection VI. Hermes In the Life and Death thereof the Spirits Work For as it is Killed by taking away of the Spirit so that being restored it is again made Alive and rejoyces therein Salmon The Spirit is used both in the Killing of it and in the making of it Alive again but this is by some doubtfully understood whether it be meant of the innate or indwelling Spirit only or of that Spirit joyned with another Metallick Spirit because he uses Spirits in the Plural number However this is certain that as Death is induced by taking away the Spirit so Life is retrieved by restoring it again VII Hermes But coming to this that which ye seek by affirmation ye shall see I declare also to you the signs of joy and rejoycing even that thing which does fix its Body Salmon That is he declares the cause of life and death to be in the Spirits to wit in the natural Spirits whether Animal Vegetable or Mineral He who knows how to revive dead Minerals and to purify them knows how to exert their powers and is in the High-way to the greatest of Secrets 'T is this Spirit joyned with its Philosophick Earth which has power to fix both perfect and imperfect bodies and to tinge them into the highest perfection of Silver and Gold which he calls the signs of joy and rejoycing VIII Hermes Now these things our Ancestors gave us only in Figures and Types how they attained to the knowledge of this Secret but behold they are dead I have now opened the Riddle I have demonstrated the proposition so much desired so much aimed at I have opened the Book of Secrets to the Skilful and Learned yet I have also a little concealed the hidden Mystery Salmon He declares that the ancient Philosophers delivered the Matter and Process of the Philosophick Tincture in AEnigma's and Types Shadows only they left no footsteps of the true thing behind them but what every one might think of at pleasure therefore from them our Hermes could receive nothing and he professes Ch. 1. Sect. 1. That he obtained the knowledge of this Art by the inspiration of the Living God only God it was who did reveal and open the Secret to him This Secret he has opened in this Work and made so plain that the skilful and learned may understand it 'T is true he has not unfolded every particular but yet he has made things so plain that he who can read him with a Philosophick mind may at length haply find out the truth notwithstanding what he has revealed he declares he has a little concealed the hidden Mistery IX Hermes I have kept the things which ought to be put a part within their own bounds I conjoyned the various and divers figures and forms of its appearance in the operation and I have confederated or joyned together with them the Spirit Receive you this as the gift of God Salmon The meaning of which is that he has first separated what ought to be separated viz. the pure from the impure and the Spirit from the Body which is the first work in order to putrefaction corruption and death Then secondly he has joyned again what ought to be conjoyned to wit the various and divers figures and forms the Soul with the Body that it may again be enformed with Tincture and Substance Thirdly he has confederated or joyned together with them the Spirit which ties the Particles of the Body and Tincture so firmly together that they can never be separated and unites them in a perpetual conjunction with a fixity which will endure for ever CHAP. XI The Practical part farther Explicated I. HERMES It behoves you therefore to give thanks to God who has largely given of his bounty to all the Wise who delivers us out of the Snares and Clutches of Misery and Poverty Salmon For this inestimable Gift of God it is but gratitude to return him the Tributes of Humility and Thanksgiving to abase our selves before his Divine Majesty with all humbleness and submission who thus raises you out of the Dust to sit among Princes making you to despise the Glories of Crowns and Scepters as insignificant Baubles and to rest with infinite content in the meanness of a despicable Cottage for that you carry within your Brests the true Treasure more valuable than all the whole World besides II. Hermes I am proved and tried with the fulness of his Riches and Goodness with his probable miracles and I humbly pray God that whilst I live I may pass the whole Course of my life so as I may attain him Salmon When a Man becomes Master of this Arcanum he is then tried and proved indeed how in the midst of such a fulness of Riches and Happiness he can humble himself and sink in to the deep Abyss of nothingness abstracting himself from all the goodly things of this life In this humble state God is only to be met with for the proud he beholds afar off and in this abjection and self-denial in this mortification of the first life and birth a second is to be found a being brought forth in the love of God the birth of the new Man formed after the Image of the second Adam a new Spirit a new Life joyned and United to the Life of God which can never Perish or Decay a Fountain of Eternal Delights an inexhaustible Treasure infinitely exceeding that which we have all this while thus earnestly been seeking after and pursuing III. Hermes Take then from thence the Fat 's or Sulphurous Matter which we take from Suets Grease Hair Verdigrease Tragacanth and Bones which things are written in the Books of the Ancients Salmon By the Fat 's or Sulphurous Matter understand the Sulphurs of all kinds educed by the Alchymick Art out of Natural things of which Sulphurs one only is fixed and incombustible and it is a thing which is both in the Earth and in the Heavens it is in Act Animal Vegetable and Mineral found every where known but by a few and expressed by its proper Name by no Body shadowed forth under Various Figures and AEnigmaes This fixed Sulphur the Philosophers understand to be nothing else but the true Balsam of Nature with which the Dead Bodies of the Metals are imbibed and as it were throughly moistned to preserve them perpetually from Corruption The more any thing abounds with this Balsam the longer it lives and is preserved from perishing From things therefore abounding with a Balsam of this kind is this Our
Animal Vegetable and Mineral the like of which is not found in the World besides II. It has power both Active and Passive in it and has also in it a substance dead and living Spirit and Soul which among the ignorant the Philosophers call the most vile thing It contains in it self the four Elements which are found in its Skirts and may commonly be bought for a small price III. It ascends by it self it waxes black it descends and waxes white increases and decreases of it self It is a matter which the Earth brings forth and descends from Heaven grows pale and red is born dieth rises again and afterwards lives for ever IV. By many ways it is brought to its end but its proper decoction is upon a fire soft mean strong by various degrees augmented until you are certain it is quietly fixed with the Red in the fire This is the Philosophers Stone V. Read and Read again so will all things become more clear to you But if hereby you understand not the matter you are withheld by the Chains of Ignorance for you shall never otherwise know or learn this Art VI. Hermes saith The Dragon is not killed but by his Brother and his Sister not by one of them alone but by both together Note these things There are three Heads yet but one Body one Nature and one Mineral This is sufficient for you if you have a disposition to understand this Art VII The Dragon is not mortified nor made fixed but with Sol and Luna and by no other In the Mountains of Bodies in the Plains of Mercury look for it there this Water is created and by concourse of these two and is called by the Philosophers their permanent or fixed Water VIII Our Sublimation is to decoct the Bodies with Golden Water to dissolve to liquifie and to sublime them Our Calcination is to purifie and digest in four ways and not otherwise by which many have been deceived in Sublimation IX Know also that our Brass or Latten is the Philosophers Gold is the true Gold But you strive to expel the Greenness thinking that our Latten or Brass is a Leprous Body because of that Greenness but I tell you that that Greenness is all that is perfect therein and all that is perfect is in that Greenness only which is in our Latten or Brass X. For that Greenness by our Magistery is in a very little time transmuted into the most fine Gold And of this thing we have experience which you may try by the following Directions XI Take burnt or calcined Brass and perfectly rubified Grind it and decoct it with Water seaven times as much every time as it is able to drink in all the ways of Rubifying and Assating it again XII Then make it to discend and its green color will be made Red and as clear as a Hyacinth and so much redness will descend with it that it will be able to tinge Argent Vive in some measure with the very color of Gold all which we have done and perfected and is indeed a very great Work XIII Yet you cannot prepare the Stone by any means with any green and moist liquor which is found and brought forth in our Minerals this blessed might power or virtue which generates all things will not yet cause a vegetation springing budding forth or fruitfulness unless there be a Green color XIV Wherefore the Philosophers call it their Bud and their Water of Purification or Putrefaction and they say truth herein for with its water it is putrefied and purified and washed from its blackness and made White XV. And afterwards it is made the higheft Red whereby you may learn and understand that no true Tincture is made but with our Brass or Latten XVI Decoct it therefore with its Soul till the Spirit be joyned with its Body and be made one so shall you have your desire XVII The Philosophers have spoken of this under many Names but know certainly that it is but one matter which does cleave or joyn it self to Argent Vive and to Bodies which you shall have the true signs of Now you must know what Argent Vive will cleave or perfectly joyn and unite it self unto XVIII That the Argent Vive will cleave joyn or unite it self to Bodies is false And they err who think that they understand that place in Geber of Argent Vive where he saith When in searching among other things you shall not find by our Invention any matter to be more agreeable to Nature than Argent Vive of the Bodies XIX By Argent Vive in this place is understood Argent Vive Philosophical and it is that Argent Vive only which sticks to and is fixed in and with the Bodies The old Philosophers could find no other matter nor can the Philosophers now invent any other matter or thing which will abide with the Bodies but this Philosophick Argent Vive only XX. That common Argent Vive does not stick or cleave to the Bodies is evident by Experience for if common Argent Vive be joyned to the Bodies it abides in its proper nature or flys away not being able to transmute the Body into its own nature and substance and therefore does not cleave unto them XXI For this cause many are deceived in working with the vulgar Quicksilver For our Stone that is to say our Argent Vive accidental does exalt it self far above the most fine Gold and does overcome it and kill it and then make it alive again XXII And this Argent Vive is the Father of all the Wonderful things of this our Magistery and is congealed and is both Spirit and Body This is the Argent Vive which Geher speaks of the consideration of which is of moment for that it is the very matter which does make perfect XXIII It is a chosen pure substance of Argent Vive but out of what matter it is chiefly to be drawn is a thing to be enquired into To which we say That it can only be drawn out of that matter in which it is Consider therefore my Son and see from whence that Substance is taking that and nothing else By no other Principle can you obtain this Magistery XXIV Nor could the Philosophers ever find any other matter which would continually abide the fire but this only which is of an Unctuous substance perfect and incombustible XXV And this matter when it is prepared as it ought will transmute or change all Bodies of a Metallick substance which it is rightly projected upon into the most perfect Sol or the most pure fine Gold but most easily and above all other Bodies Luna XXVI Decoct first with Wind or Air and afterwards without Wind until you have drawn forth the Venom or Virtue which is called the Soul out of your matter this is that which you seek the everlasting Aqua vitae which cures all Diseases Now the whole Magistery is in the Vapour XXVII Let the Body be put into a
the pure body to descend that descending by means of a vehement heat the pure body may be reduced III. Calcine it again with pure Sal Armoniack as you do Jupiter and most subtily grind and dissolve it by the way aforesaid for this is the water of Argent Vive and Sulphur proportionally made which we use in the Composition of the Red Elixir IV. Lead is a Metalick Body livid earthy ponderous mute partaking of a little Whiteness with much paleness refusing the Cineritium and Cement easily extensible in all its dimensions with small Compression and very fusible without Ignition Yet some Men say that Lead in its own Nature is much approximated to Gold these judge of things not as they are in themselves but according to sense being void of Reason and not conceiving the Truth V. It has much of an Earthy substance and therefore is washed and by a Lavament converted into Tin by which it appears that Tin is more assimilated to the perfect It is also by Calcination made Minium and by hanging over the Vapour of Vinegar it is made Ceruse And tho it is not near to perfection yet by our Art we easily convert it into Silver not keeping its Weight in transmutation but acquiring a new Weight which it obtains by our Magistry It is also the Tryal of Silver in the Cupel as we shall hereafter shew VI. It differs not from Tin after repeating its Calcination to the reduction thereof save that it has a more uncleansubstance commixed of a more grose Sulphur and Argent Vive the Sulphur being more burning and adhaesive to the Argent Vive It has a greater Earthy 〈◊〉 than Jupiter which appears by washing of it with Argent Vive and more Faeculency comes from it by washing than from Jupiter and its first Calcination is easier performed than in Tin because of its Earthiness and because its foulness is not rectified as in Jupiter by repeated Calcinations it is a sign of greater impurity in its principles and in its own Nature VII It s Sulphur is not separated from it in fume but is of a Citrine Colour of much Yellowness the like of which is remaining below at the bottom which shews that it has much of a Combustible Sulphur in it and because the Odour of Sulphureity is not removed from it in a short time it shews that it approaches to the Nature of fixed Sulphur and is Uniformly commixed with the substance of Argent Vive Therefore when the fume ascends it ascends with the Sulphur not burning whose property is to create Citrinity VIII And that the quantity of its not burning Sulphur is more than in Tin appears for that its whole Colour is changed into Citrinity in Calcination but of Tin into White Whence the cause appear why Jupiter in Calcination is more easily changed into a hard Body than Saturn the burning Sulphureity being more easily removed from Jupiter than Saturn one of the causes of its softness is removed whence being Calcined it necessarily follows it must be hardened but Saturn because it has both the causes of softness strongly conjoyned viz. much burning Sulphur and much Argent Vive it is not easily hardened IX Bodies having much Argent Vive have much of Extension but such as have little Argent Vive have little Extension Thus Jupiter is more easily and subtily extended than Saturn Saturn more easily than Venus Venus more easily than Mars Luna more subtily than Jupiter And Sol more subtily than Luna X. The Cause of Induration or hardening is fixed Argent Vive or fixed Sulphur but the cause of softness is Opposite The cause of Fusion is also twofold to wit of Sulphur not fixed and Argent Vive of what kind soever Sulphur not fixed is necessarily a cause of Fusion without Ignition This is evident in Arsenick for projected on Bodies difficult to be Fused it makes them of easie Fufion without Ignition and the cause of Fusion with Ignition is fixed Argent Vive But the Impediment of Fusion is fixed Sulphur XI From hence it appears That seeing Bodies of greatest perfection con tain the greatest quantity of Argent Vive Those Imperfect Bodies holding more of Argent Vive must needs be more approximate to the perfect whence it follows that Bodies of much Sulphureity are Bodies of much Corruption XII From hence it is e vident that Jupiter is near to the perfect seeing it participates more of Perfection but Saturn less Venus yet less and Mars least of all And as to the Medicines compleating them it is clear that Venus is the most perfective of Medicine Mars less Jupiter yet less and Saturn least of all XIII Thus according to the diversity of Bodies diversity of Medicines are found out A hard Body that can endure Ignition re quires one Medicine but the soft that abides not Ignition another that one may be softned and attenuated in its profundity and equalized in its substance but the other hardned and its occult parts inspissated XIV There are three degrees which the Imperfect Bodies chiefly Saturn and Jupiter must obtain in order to perfection First Cleanness or Brightness Secondly Hardness or Densness with Ignition in fusion Thirdly Fixation by taking away their fugitive substance XV. They are cleansed viz. Saturn and Jupiter in a threefold manner 1. By Mundifying 2. By Calcination and Reduction 5. By Solution First By things purifying they are cleansed two ways either by reducing them into a Calx or into the Nature of Bodies reducing into a Calx they are purified either by Salts or Alum or Glass Thus when the Body is Calcin'd put upon its Calx water of Alums or Salts or Glass mixed with it and reduce it to a Body which so often reiterate till they look purely clean For seeing Alums Salts and Glass are fused with another kind of fusion than Bodies therefore they are separated from them retaining with themselves the earthy substance the purity of the Bodies being only left XVI Or thus Let Saturn or Jupiter be filed and mix therewith Alums Salts and Glass and then reduced into a body and this so often to be repeated till they be well cleansed They are also cleansed by way of Lavement with Argent Vive of which we have spoken before XVII The second way of cleansing Saturn and Jupiter by Calcination and Reduction with sufficient fire whereby they are freed from a twofold corrupting substance 1. One inflamable and fugitive 2. Another earthy and faeculent because the Fire elevates and consumes every fugitive substance And by reduction the same fire divides every substance of earth with its proportion See Sect. 1 2 3. above XVIII The third way of cleansing Saturn and Jupiter by Solution of their substance and by reduction of that likewise which is dissolved from them for that solution reduced makes them more clean than any other way or kind of preparation whatsoever except that by Sublimation to which this is equivalent XIX Induration or hardning of their
take out the Matter grind it on a stone and dry it very well Imbibe again with rectified Oyl of Eggs or with Sal Alkali or Oyl of Salt of Pot-Ashes or of Nitre or Tartar until it will flow with Ingress Project one part upon five parts of Tin prepared and it will be perfect Luna of the second Order without Error XVII Another White Medicine for Jupiter and Saturn prepared Take Talk Calcined and grind it with as much as it self of Sal Armoniack sublime it three or four times dissolve into Water and therewith Imbibe Luna calcined as you did in the former so often as until it has drunk in as much as its own weight is and give ingress to it with the Oyls aforesaid and project one part upon 10 parts of Jupiter prepared and it will be all fine Luna XVIII Another White Medicine for Saturn and Jupiter prepared Take Luna 1 pound dissolved in its own water made of Nitre and Vitriol to which add Talck calcined and dissolved 1 pound Distil off the Water cohobating 3 or 4 times congeal and incerate with Arsenick sublimed until it flow and have Ingress project 1 part upon 8 parts of Jupiter prepared and 't will be all fine Luna These three Medicines you may project upon Saturn prepared for the White but then the Saturn must be prepared and calcined for three days by Sect. 21. of the former Chapter XIX A Solar Medicine for Jupiter and Saturn prepared Calcine Sol amalgating first with Mercury as in Luna express the Mercury through a Cloth then grind it with twice so much as it self of common Salt prepared set the whole over a gentle fire that the remaining Mercury may receed Extract the Salt with sweet water dry the Calx from which sublime as much Sal Armoniack reverting the sublimed Salt four times dissolve it in A. F. made of Vitriol Nitre and Alum dissolve also Crocus Martis made by calcination or Copper calcined red joyn these Waters in equal parts draw off the Water by distillation and cohobate four times then dry the matter and imbibe it with Oyl of Tartar rectified as heretofore is taught until it flows as Wax and by projection will tinge four parts of Saturn or Jupiter into Gold Obrizon XX. Another Solar Medicine for Saturn and Jupiter prepared It is made with Sol dissolved as in the former and a like quantity of Verdigrise calcin'd and dissolved being both mixed and incerated by distilling and incerating with Sulphur prepared until it flow like Wax and tinge 8 parts of Saturn or Jupiter prepared splendidly XXI A third Solar Medicine for Saturn and Jupiter prepared for the Red. It is made of Sol dissolved Sulphur dissolved and Verdigrise dissolved mixt and prepared as in the last Sect and then increated with Oyl of Hair prepared or of Eggs for both are one one part of this projects upon 10 parts of Saturn or Jupiter prepared for the red and it will be most fine Gold according to its degree these Medicines only altering in the second Order XXII There is also another preparation of Jupiter by Sect. 22. of the former Chapter XXIII And in Sect. 23. of the former Chapter you have the Regimen of Jupiter for the White which generates or produces fine Luna such as being tryed upon the Test produces a Body perfect in Whiteness and perpetually generating its life CHAP. XLIV Of the Alchemy of Mars I. TO prepare Mars or Iron Calcine it as Venus with common Salt cleansed and let it he washed with pure Vinegar Being washed dry it in the Sun and when dried grind and imbibe it with new Salt and Vinegar and put it into the same Fornace as we shall direct in Venus for 3 days Esteem and value this Solution viz. The water of fixed Sulphur wonderfully augmenting the color of the Elixir II. The whole Secret of Mars is from the Work of Nature because it is a Metalick body very livid a little Red partaking of Whiteness not pure sustaining Ignition fusible with violent fire extensive under the Hammer and sounding much III. It is hard to be managed by reason of its impotency of fusion which if it be made to flow by a Medicine changing its nature is so conjoyned to Sol and Luna that it cannot be separated by examen without great Industry but if prepared it is conjoyned and cannot be separated by any Artisice if the nature of that fixation be not changed by it the defilement of the Mars being only removed Therefore it is easily a Tincture of Redness but difficultly of Whiteness And when it is conjoyned it is not altred nor does it change the colour of the commixtion but augments it in quantity IV. Among all Bodies Jupiter is more splendidly more clearly more brightly and more perfectly transmuted into a Solar or Lunar Body than other Bodies but the Work is of long labour though easie to be handled Next to Jupiter is Venus chosen of more difficult handling but of shorter labour than Jupiter Next after Venus comes Saturn which has a diminished perfection in Transmutation and is easie to be hand led but of most tedious labour Lastly Mars among all the Bodies of least perfection is in transmutation most difficult to be handled and of exceeding long labour V. And the more difficult any Bodies are of fusion the more difficult they are in handling in the Work of Transmutation the easier to be fused the easier to be handled and what diversity of perfections are found in any particular in the lesser or middle Works yet in the Great Work all Bodies are of one perfection but not all of a like easie handling or labour VI. Hence it appears that Mars or Iron is a commixture of fixed Earthy Sulphur with fixed earthy Argent Vive of a livid whiteness the highly fixed Sulphur predominating which prohibits fusion Whence it is evident that fixed Sulphur hinders fusion more than fixed Argent Vive But Sulphur not fixed hastens fusion more than unfixed Argent Vive By which the cause of speedy or slow fusion in every body is seen VII What has more of a fixed Sulphur is harder to fuse than what partakes of a burning fugitive Sulphur which appears because Sulphur cannot be fixed without Calcination and no Calx gives fusion therefore in all things it viz. fixt Sulphur must impede the same VIII The causes of the corruption of the Metals by fire are 1. The inclusion of a burning Sulphur in the profundity of their substance diminishing them by Inflammation and exterminating into Fume whatever fixed Argent Vive was in them 2. A Vehemency of the Exterior flame penetrating and resolving them with it self into Fume and the most fixed matter in them 3. The rarefaction of them by calcination the flame or fire penetrating into and exterminating them Where all these causes of Corruption concur those Bodies must be exceedingly corrupted Where they all concur not they are by so much the less corrupted IX The causes of the
goodness of Bodies is their abounding with Argent Vive For seeing Argent Vive for no cause of Extermination will be divided into parts in its composition because it either with its whole substance flies from the fire or with its whole substance remains permanent in it it is necessarily concluded to be a cause of Perfection X. Therefore Praised and Blessed be the most Glorious and High God who created it and gave it a Substance and Properties which nothing else in the World does possess besides that this perfection might be found in it by the help of Art as we have found therein with great power For it is that which overcomes Fire and by Fire cannot be overcome but in it amicably rests and rejoyces therein XI Mars is prepared either with sublimation or without sublimation with sublimation we endeavour to unite it with Arsenick not fixed as profoundly as we can that in fusion it may melt with the same but afterwards it is sublimed in a proper Vessel of sublimation the which is the best and most perfect of all other Preparations Mars is also prepared by Arsenick oftentimes sublimed from it until some quantity of the Arsenick it self remain For if this be reduced it will flow out white clean fusible and well prepared Mars is also prepared by fusion of it with Lead and Tutia for from these it flows clean and white XII To Indurate or harden soft Bodies Argent Vive precipitated must be dissolved and the calcin'd Body which you have a design to harden dissolved likewise mix both these solutions together and the calcin'd body mixed with them by frequent imbibitions c. continually grinding imbibing calcining and reducing until it be made hard and fusible with Ignition The very same may also be compleatly effected with the Calx of Bodies and Tutia and Marchasite calcined dissolved and imbibed The more clean these are the more perfectly do they change XIII To soften hard Bodies as Mars c. They must be conjoyned and sublimed often with Arsenick and after sublimation of the Arsenick assated or calcined with their due proportion of fire the measure of which we shall declare in our Discourse of Fornaces Lastly They must be reduced with the force of their proper fire until in fusion they grow soft according to the degree of the hardness of their Bodies All these alterations are of the first Order without which our Magistery is not perfected XIV Medicines dealbating Mars of the first Order That which dealbates it of the first Order is that which makes it to flow The special fusive of it is Arsenick of every kind But with whatsoever it is deal bated and fused it is necessary it be conjoyned and washed with Argent Vive until all its impurity be removed and it be white and fusible Or else let it be red hot with vehement ignition and upon it Arsenick projected and when it shall be in flux cast a quantity of Luna thereon for when that is united with it it is not separated therefrom by any easie Artifice XV. Or thus Calcine Mars and wash away from it all its soluble Aluminosity inferring corruption by the way of solution but now mentioned with Argent Vive then let cleansed Arsenick be sublimed from it and reiterate that sublimation many times until some part of the Arsenick be fixed therewith Then with a solution of Litharge mix imbibe grind and moderately calcine several times And lastly reduce it with the Fire we mentioned in the Reduction of Jupiter from its Calx so will it come forth white clean and fusible XVI Or Only with sublimed Arsenick in its Calx let it be reduced and it will flow out white clean and fusible But here observe the Caution we shall give in the Chapter of Venus concerning the reiteration of the sublimation of Arsenick fixing it self in its profundity from it Mars is likewise whitened after the same manner with Marchasite and Tutia XVII To prepare Mars Grind one pound of the filings thereof with half a pound of Arsenick sublimed imbibe the mixture with the water of Salt Peter and Sal Alcali reiterating this Imbibition thrice then make it flow with a violent fire so will it be white Repeat this so long till it flow sufficiently with a good whiteness XVIII The first White Medicine for Mars and Venus Take Silver calcined 1 pound Arsenick prepared 2 pound Mercury precipitate 1 pound grind them together and imbibe the whole with water of Salt Nitre Litharge and Sal Armoniack in equal parts I suppose there is meant Aqua Regis till it has drunk in its own weight of that water Then dry and incerate with white Oyl as in others until it flow and one part full upon 4 parts of Mars or Venus prepared XIX The second White Medicine for Mars and Venus Take Luna calcined Jupiter calcined and dissolved ana mix dry and increase with double their quantity of Arsenick sublimed until the Medicine flows well XX. The third White Medicine for Mars and Venus Take Luna calcined Arsenick and Sulphur sublimed and ground with it and then sublimed with a like quantity of Sal Armoniack This sublimation repeat thrice and then project 1 pound upon 4 pound of Mars or Venus prepared XXI A Red or Solar Medicine for Mars and Venus Take Tutia 1 pound Calcine or dissolve it in AF then with that water imbibe the Calx of Sol that it may drink in double its own weight of the same water Afterwards by distillation draw off the same water from it cohobating four times Lastly incerate with Oyl of Hair or Bulls Gall and Verdigrise prepared and it will be excellent But be sure to pursue the Operation according to our Directions otherwise you will labour in vain and in your heart understand our Intentions expressed in our Volumes so will you know truth from falsehood XXII To Calcine Mars Mars being filed is calcined in our Calcinatory Fornace until it is very well rubified and becomes a pouder impalpable without grinding And this is called Crocus Martis XXIII The Regimen of Mars Take of the Paste of Mars 2 pound of the Pastes of Venus and of Saturn ana 3 pound mix these without Ferment and decoct the mixture for seven days and you will find the whole dry Fix it and add to it half its weight of Litharge in powder which put into a Reductory Fornace so will you have a Mineral substance very profitable if you be wise CHAP. XLV Of the Alchymie of Venus I. THE Preparation of Venus Lay thin Copper Plates stratum superstratum with Common Salt prepared till the Vessel be full which cover firmly Lute and calcine in a fit Fornace for 24 hours Then take it out scrape off what is calcined and repeat the calcination of the Plates with new Salt as before repeating the Calcination so often till all the Plates are consumed For the Salt corrodes the superfluous humidity and combustible sulphureity and the fire elevates the fugitive
some Lead others Copper and others Tin which happened to them through negligence in the Preparation sometimes of it alone sometimes of Sulphur or of its Compeer Arsenick mix with it But if you shall by Subliming directly cleanse and perfect this Subject it will be a firm and perfect Tincture of Whiteness the like of which is not in being besides VIII Of the Coagulation of Mercury Coagulation is the reducing a Liquid body to a solid Substance by privation of the humidity and is of Service 1. For Indurating Argent Vive which needs one kind of Coagulation 2. For freeing dissolved Medicines from their watriness which requires another Argent Vive is coagulated two ways One by washing away its whole innate humidity from it the other by Inspissation till it be hardned which is a laborious work Some thought the Art of its Coagulation was to keep it long in a temperate Fire who when they thought they had coagulated it after removal of it from the Fire found it to flow as before whence they judged the work Impossible IX Others from natural principles supposing that every humidity must necessarily by heat of Fire be converted into Dryness indeavored by Constancy and perseverance to continue the Conservation of it in the Fire till some of them converted it into a White-Stone others into a Red others into a Citrine which neither had Fusion nor Ingress for which cause they also cast it a way X. Others endeavoured to coagulate it with Medicines but effected it not and so were deluded for that 1. They either coagulated it not 2. Or else it was insensibly extenuated 3. Or the Coagulation was not in the form of a body the reason of which things they knew not XI Others compounding Artificial Medicines coagulated it in projection but that was not profitable because they converted it into an imperfect Body the cause of which they could not see The reason and causes of these things therefore we think fit to declare that the Artificer may come to the knowledg of his Art XII Now as the substance of Argent Vive is Uniform so it is not possible in a short time by keeping it constantly in a continued Fire to remove its Aquosity so that too much haste was the cause of the first Error And being of a subtile substance it receeds from the Fire therefore excessive Fire is the cause of the Error of those Men from whom it flies XIII It is easily mixed with Sulphur Arsenick and Marchasite by reason of Community in their Natures therefore it appears to be Coagulated by them not into the form of a Body but of Argent Vive mixed with Lead for these being fugitive cannot retain it in the Contest of Fire until it can attain to the nature of a Body but through the Impression of the Fire they fly with it and this is the cause of the Error of them who so Coaagulate XIV Also Argent Vive has much humidity joyned to it which cannot possibly be separated from it but by Violence of Fire warily adhibited with conservation of it in its own Fire and they by augmenting this its own Fire as far as it can bear take a way the humidity of Ar gent Vive leaving no part sufficient for Metalick Fusion which being taken away it cannot be Melted which is the cause of their Error who coagulate it into a Stone not fusible XV. In like manner Argent Vive has Sulphureous parts naturally mixt with it yet some Argent Vive has more some less which to remove by Artifice is impossible Now seeing it is the property of Sulphur mixt with Argent Vive to create a Red or Citrine Color according to its measure the ablation of that being Made the property of Argent Vive is by Fire to give a white Color This is the cause of the variety of Colors after its Coagulation into a Stone Likewise it has the Earthiness of Sulphur mixt with it by which all its Coagulations must necessarily be infected And this the cause of the Error of those who coagulate it into an imperfect Body XVI Therefore it happens from the diversity of the Medicines of its Coagulation that divers bodies are Created in its Coagulation and from the Diversity of that likewise what is to be coagulated For if either the Medicine or that has a Sulphur not fixed the body created of it must needs be soft but if fixed the body must necessarily be hard Also if White White and if Red Red and if the Sulphur be remiss from White or Red the Body likewise must be remiss and if Earthy the body must be imperfect if not not so Also every not fixed Sulphur creates a Livid body but the fixed as much as in it lies the Contrary and the pure substance of it creates a pure body the not pure not so XVII Also the same di versity doth in like manner happen in Argent Vive alone without the Commixtion of Sulphur by reason of the diversity of Purifications and preparations of it in Medicines Therefore an Illusion happens from the part of the Diversity of the Medicines so that sometimes in the Coagulation of it it is made Lead sometimes Tin sometimes Copper sometimes Iron which happens by reason of Impurity And sometimes Silver or Gold is made thence which must needs proceed from Purity with conside ration of the Colors XVIII But Argent Vive is Coagulated by the frequent precipitation of it with Violence by the force able heat of strong Fire For the Asperity of Fire easily removes its Aquosity and this Work is best done by a Vessel of a great length in the sides of which it may finde place to Coole and Adhere and by reason of the Length of the Vessel to abide and not fly till it can again be precipitated to the Fiery hottom of the same which must always stand very hot with great Ignition and the same precipitation be continued till it be totally fixed XIX It is also Coagulated with long and constant retention in the Fire in a Glass Vessell with a very long Neck and round belly the Orifice of the Neck being kept open that the humidity may vanish thereby Also it is coagulated by a Medicine convenient for it which we will shew anon which Medicine is of it and is that which most nearly adheres to it in its profundity and is commixed throughly in its least parts before it can fly away Therefore there is a necessity of collecting that from things convenient to it or agreeing with the same Of this kind are all Bodies also Sulphur and Arsenick XX. But because we see not any of the Bodies in its nature to coagulate it but that it flys from them how neerly soever they agree together we have therefore considered that no Body adheres to it in its inmost parts Wherefore that Medicine must needs be of a more subtil substance and more liquid fusion than Metals themselves are Also by Spirits remaining in
their nature we see not a Coagulation of it to be made which is firm and stable but fugitive and of much infection Which indeed happens by reason of the flight of the Spirits but the other from the commixtion of the Adustible and Earthy substance of them XXI Hence then it is manifestly evident that from whatsoever thing the Medicine thereof is extracted that must necessarily be of a most subtil and most pure substance of its own nature adhereing to it and of liquefaction most easie and thin as water and also be fixed against the violence of fire For this will coagulate it and convert the same either into a Solar or Lunar nature Studiously exercise your self upon what we have spoken and you will find the Mystery out XXII But that you may not blame us as if we had not sufficiently spoken thereof we say that this Medicine is extracted from Metalick Bodies themselves with their Sulphur or Arsenick prepared Likewise from Sulphur alone or Arsenick prepared and it may be extracted from Bodies only But from Argent Vive alone it is more easily and more nearly and more perfectly found because nature more amicably embraceth its proper nature and in it more rejoyces than in any extraneous nature and in it is a facility of extraction of the substance thereof seeing it already hath a substance subtil in Act. Now the ways of acquiring this Medicine are by sublimation as is by us sufficiently declared And the way of fixing it follows But the way of Coagulating things dissolved is by a Glass in Sand with a temperate fire until their aquosity vanish XXIII The way of fixing Argent Vive is the same with the way of fixing Sulphur and Arsenick and these waies differ not unless that Sulphur and Arsnick cannot be fixed if their most thin inflamable parts be not separated from them with the subtil Artifice of dividing by this ultimate way of fixation But Argent Vive has not this confideration therefore in this method they need a greater heat than Argent Vive In like manner they are diversified because these Sulphur and Arsenick must be elevated higher by reason of their slowness than Argent Vive and also because they require a longer time to be fixt in and a longer Vessel for their fixation XXIV Of the Medicine Coagulating of Argent Vive It is taken from such matter as the matter it self is viz. as we have before declared and that is because Argent Vive seeing it is easily made to fly without any Inflamation may suddenly adhere to it in its profundity and be conjoyned with it in its least parts and likewise inspissate and conserve it in the fire by its own fixation until it be better able to sustain the force of Fire consuming its humidity and convert it by the benefit of this in a moment into true Solifick and Lunifick according to that for which the Medicine was prepared XXV But seeing we find not any thiug more to agree with it then That which is of its own nature therefore by reason of this we judged that with That the Medicine thereof might be compleated and we endeavoured by Art to make the Form of the Medicine agreeable to the same viz. That it be prepared in the method and way now mentioned with the instance of long continued labour by which all the subtil and most pure substance of it may be rendred perfectly White in Luna but intensly Citrine in Sol. XXVI Now this cannot be compleated so as to create a Citrine Color without the mixtion of a Thing tinging it which is of its own nature But with this most pure substance of Argent Vive the Medicine is perfected by this our Art which most nearly adheres to Argent Vive and is most easily fluxed and coagulates it for it converts it into a true Solifick and Lunifick with Preparation of that always preceeding XXVII The grand Question is from what things this substance of Argent Vive may best be extracted To which we Answer It must be taken from those things in which it is But according to Nature it is as well in Bodies as in Argent Vive it self seeing they are found to be of one Nature In Bodies more difficultly in Argent Vive more nigh or easily but not more perfectly Therefore of what kind soever the Medicine is to be the Medicine of this Pretious Stone must be as well sought in Bodies as in the substance of Argent Vive XXVIII But as to the Fixing of Argent Vive you must know that it may be done without being turned into Earth and likewise fixed with conversion of it into Earth For by hastening to its fixation which is made by precipitation it is fixed and turned into Earth Also by the successive sublimation of it often repeated it is fixed likewise and not changed into Earth but gives Metallick fusion This is manifest to and proved by him who has experienced both fixations thereof even to the Consummation of the Work both by the hasty precipitation and also by the slow with continually repeated sublimations XXIX This therefore is because it has a viscous and dense substance the sign of which is the grinding of it by Imbibition and mixtion with other things For Viscosity is manifestly perceived in it by the much adherency thereof That it has a dense substance he that has but one Eye may manifestly see by its aspect and by poising the vast Weight thereof For while it is in its own Nature it exceeds Gold in weight being of a most strong Composition Whence it is manifest that it may be fixed without consumption of its humidity and without conversion of it into Earth XXX For by reason of the good adherency of parts and the strength of its mixtion if the parts of it be any wise inspissate by Fire it permits it self no farther to be corrupted nor suffers it self by the Ingress of a furious flame into it to be elevated into fume because it admits not of Rarefaction of its self by reason of its density and want of Adustion which is made by combustible sulphureity which it hath not XXXI Hence is seen First The Causes of the Corruption of every of the Metals by fire which is 〈◊〉 From the Inclusion of a burning sulphureity in the profundity of their substance diminishing them by Inflamation and exterminating them also into fume with extream consumption of whatever Argent Vive is in them of good Fixation 2. From a multiplication upon them of an exterior flame penetrating and resolving them with it self into fume of how great fixation soever that which is in them is 3. From the Rarefaction of them by Calcination for that the flame or fire does then penetrate into and exterminate them Therefore if all Causes of Corruption concur such Bodies must needs be exceedingly corrupt But if not all the corruption is according to the number and proportion of the Causes which remain XXXII Secondly The Causes of
of the substance of Argent Vive But to unlock the Closure of Art you must study to resolve Luna or Sol into their own dry water which the vulgar call Mercury And it is so that a duodenary proportion of the solutive water may contain only one part of the perfect body For if with gentle fire you well govern these you will find in the space of 40 days the body converted into mere water and the sign of its perfect dissolution is blackness appearing on its Superfices XLIV But if you endeavour to perfect both Works the White and the Red dissolve each of the ferments by themselves and keep them This is Our Argent Vive extracted from Argent Vive which we intend for Ferment But the Paste to be fermented we extract in the usual man ner from imperfect bodies And of this we give you a general Rule which is That the White Paste is extracted from Jupiter and Saturn but the Red from Venus and Saturn But every Body must be dissolved by its self in the Ferment XLV Sulphur we have proved is corruptive of every kind of Perfection But Argent Vive is perfective in the Works of Nature with compleat Regiment So we not changing but imitating Nature in Works possible do likewise assume Argent Vive in the Magistery of this Work for a Medicine of each kind of Perfection viz. both Lunar and Solar as well of Imperfect Bodies as of Argent Vive Coagulable And seeing there is a twofold difference of Medicines one of Bodies but the other of Argent Vive truly coagulable we shall here discourse it XLVI The matter per se of this Medicine of every kind is one only already sufficiently known Take therefore that and if you will work according to the Lunar Order learn to be expert in Operating and prepare that with the known ways of this Magistery The intention of which is That you should divide the pure substance from it and fixt part thereof but leave a part for cerating and so proceeding through the whole Magistery till you compleat its desired fusion If it suddenly flows in hard Bodies it is perfect but in soft Bodies the contrary For this Medicine projected upon any of the Imperfect Bodies changes it into a perfect Lunar Body if the known Preparations have been first given to this Medicine But if not it leaves the same diminished yet in one only difference of Perfection it perfects as much as depends on the Administration of the Order of a Medicine of this kind But this due Administration not preceeding according to the third Order it perfects in projection only XLVII A Solar Medicine of the Second Order of every of the imperfect Bodies is the same matter and participates of the same Regiment of Preparation Yet in this it differs viz. in the greater subtilization of parts by proper ways of digestion and in the commixtion of subtil Sulphur under the Regimen of Preparation administred with the addition of the matter now known XLVIII The Regiment of it is the fixation of pure Sulphur and the solution thereof For with this the Medicine is tinged and with it projected upon every of the Bodies diminished from perfection it compleats the same in a Solar Complement as much as depends upon a Medicine of the Second Order the known and certain preparation of the imperfect body preceeding Also the same projected upon Luna perfects it much in a peculiar Solar compleatment THE SECOND BOOK OF GEBER ARABS CHAP. XLIX The Introduction to this Second Book I. THERE are two things to be determined viz. the Principles of this Magistery and the perfection of the same The Principles of this Art are the Ways or Methods of its Operations to which the Artist applys himself in the Work of this Magistery These ways are divers in themselves As 1. Sublimation 2. Descension 3. Distillation 4. Calcination 5. Solution 6. Coagulation 7. Fixation 8. Ceration All which we shall with much plainness declare II. The perfection consists 1. Of those things and from the consideration of those things by which it is attained 2. From the consideration of things helping 3. From the consideration of that thing which lastly perfects 4. And from that by which it is known whether the Magistery was in perfection or not III. The consideration of those things by which we attain to the Compleatment of the Work is the consideration of the Substance manifest and of manifest Colors and of the weight in every of the Bodies to be changed and of those Bodies that are not changed from the Radix of their Nature without that Artifice and the consideration of those likewise that are changed in the Radix of their Nature by Artifice with the consideration of the Principles of Bodies according as they are profound occult or manifest and according to their Natures with or without Artifice IV. For if Bodies and their Principles be not known in the profound or manifest properties of their Natures both with and without Artifice what is superfluous and what is wanting or defective in them cannot be known and our not knowing those would of necessity hinder us from ever attaining to the perfection of their Transmutation V. The consideration of things helping Perfection is the consideration of the Nature of those things which we see adhere to Bodies without Artifice and to make Mutation And these are Marchasite Magnesia Tutia Antimony and Lapis Lazuli And the consideration of those which without adherency cleanse Bodies such are Salts Allums Nitre Borax Vitriol and other things of like nature And the consideration of Glass of all sorts and things cleansing by a like nature VI. But the consideration of the thing that perfects is the consideration of chusing the pure Substance of Argent Vive and it is the Matter which from the Substance of that took beginning and of which it was created This Matter is not Argent Vive in its Nature nor in its whole Substance but it is part of it nor is it now but when the Stone is made for that illustrates and conserves from Adustion which is a signification of Perfection VII Lastly The consideration of the thing or certain Tryal and Examination by which it is known whether the Magistery be in Perfection or not arises from the consideration of 1. The Cupel 2. Cement 3. Ignition 4. Exposing it to the Vapours of Acid Things 5. Extinction 6. Commixtion of Sulphur burning Bodies 7. Reduction after Calcination 8. Susception of Argent Vive All which with the former we declare with their Causes from Experiences by which you may certainly know we have not erred CHAP. L. Of Sublimation Vessels Furnaces I. THe cause of the Invention of Sublimation was to unite Bodies with Spirits since nothing can possibly be united with a Body but a Spirit Or to find something that can contain in its self the nature both of Body and Spirit which being cast upon bodies without being first purified either give not
perfect Colors or else totally corrupt blacken defile and burn them and this according to the diversitie of the same Spirit II. For Sulphur Arsenick and Marchasite are burnings and wholly corrupt Tutia of every kind burns not yet gives an imperfect Color 1. Because its adustive Sulphureity which is easily inflamed and blackens is not removed 2. Because its Earthmess is not separated for Adustion may create a Livid Color and Earthiness may form it III. These things therefore we are constrained to cleanse from their burning Sulphuriety or Unctuosity and Earthy superfluity and this can be done by no Artifice but by Sublimation for when Fire elvevates it makes ascend always the more subtile parts leaving behind the more Gross IV. Hence it is manifest that Spirits are cleansed from their Earthiness by Sublimation which Earthiness impeded Ingress and gave an impure or diminished Color from which being separated they are freed from their Impurity and are made more splendid more pervious and more easily to enter and penetrate the density of bodies with a pure and perfect Tincture V. Adustion is also taken away by Sublimation for Arsenick which before Sublimation was apt to adustion after Sublimation will not be Inflamed but receeds without Inflamation the same you may find in Sulphur And because in no other things than in Spirits we saw an adherency to Bodies with Alteration we were necessitated to make choice of them and to purifie them by Sublimation VI. Sublimation then is the Elevation of a Dry thing by Fire with adherency to its Vessel but is done diversly according to the diversity of Spirits to be sublimed for some are Sublimed with strong Ignition others with moderate and some again with a remiss heat of Fire VII Arsenick and Sulphur are Sublimed with a remiss Fire for otherwise having their most subtil parts uniformly mixt and conjoyned with the Gross their whole substance would ascend black or burnt without any Purification therefore you must find out the proportion of the Fire and the Purification with commixtion of the Feces or Gosser parts that they may be kept deprest and not suffered to ascend VIII In Sublimation a threefold degree of Fire is to be observed 1. One so proportioned as to make to ascend only the Altered more pure and Livid parts till you manifestly see they are cleansed from their Earthly feculency 2. Another degree is that what is of the pure Essence remaining in the Feces may be sublimed with greater force of Fire viz. with Ignition of the bottom of the Vessel and of the Feces therein which you may see with your Eye 3. The other degree is a most weak Fire which is to be given to the Sublimate without the Feces so that scarcely any thing of it may ascend but that only which is the most subtil part thereof and which in our work is of no value for that it is a thing by help of which Adustion is made in Sulphurs IX The whole intention therefore of Sublimation is That 1. The Earthiness being removed by a due proportion of Fire 2. And the most subtil and fumous part which brings Adustion with Corruption being cast away we may have the pure Substance consisting in Equality of simple Fusion upon the Fire and without any Adustion or flying from the Fire or Inflamation thereof X. Now that that which is most subtil is adustive is evident for that Fire converts to its own nature all those things which are of affinity to it it is of affinity to every adustible thing and every thing the more subtil the more adustible therefore Fire is of most affinity to what is most subtle XI The same is proved by Experience for Sulphur or Arsnick not sublimed are most easily inflamed and of the two Sulphur the more easily but either being sublimed are not directly inflamed but fly away and are extenuated without Inflamation yet with a preceeding Fusion XII Now the proof in the administration of 〈◊〉 with their proportion is that such Matter be chosen with which the Spirits to be sublimed may best agree and wherewith they may be the more intimately mixed for that Matter with which they are or may be most united will be more potent in the retention of the Faeces of the Matter to be sublimed the reason of which is evident XIII But the addition of Foeces is necessary because Sulphur or Arsenick to be sublimed if they be not conjoyned with the Foeces of some fixed thing would necessarily ascend with their whole substance not cleansed which thing we know by experience to be truth this is proved because if the Foeces be not permixed with them thro' their least parts then the same happens as if they had not Faeces for their whole Essence will ascend without any cleansing XIV Experience also proves this to be true because when we sublime from a thing forraign to the nature of Bodies we sublime in vain so that they are found in no wise purified after the ascension but subliming with the Calx of any Body the sublimation is well and with facility it is perfectly cleansed XV. The intention of Faeces then is that they be administred or taken from the Calxes of Metals for in them the work of sublimation is easie but in other things most difficult for which cause there is nothing that can be instituted in their stead for that without the Calxes of Bodies the Labor will be long tedious and most difficult almost to desparation XVI But in this there is some benefit for what is sublimed without Faeces or the Calces of Bodies is of greater quantity but with Faeces of lesser So also what is calcined with the Calces of Bodies is of least quantity but of easiest and most speedy Labor XVII However every kind of Salt prepared and things of like nature to it excuses us from using the Foeces of Bodies for that with them we make sublimation in a greater quantity for separation of things to be sublimed from the Foeces is easily made by solution of the Salts which happens not in other things XVIII But the proportion of Faeces is that it be equal to the quantity of the matter to be sublimed in which you cannot easily err Yet if the Foeces be but half the weight it may serve with care to an experienced Man For the less the Foeces are the greater will be the Exuberation of the sublimate provided that according to the Subtraction of the Foeces an abatement of the Fire be in proportion thereto For in a small quantity a small fire serves for perfection in a great a great and in a greater quantity a greater fire is required XIX Now because fire is a thing which cannot be measured therefore it is that error is often committed in it when the Artist is unskilful as well in respect to the variety of Fornaces as Woods and Vessels to be used and their due joyning XX. Therefore in things to be sublimed you must remove their
be two equal holes one in each so made that a Hens Feather may conveniently be put in XXXVIII The intention of this Concha is That its Cover may be moved at pleasure and that the juncture might be ingenious so that through it though without any luting the Spirits might not pass But if you can better contrive this Vessel you may do so notwithstanding this our description XXXIX Yet in this we have a special intention that the interiour Concha with its sides should enter half way within its Cover for seeing it is the property of Fumes to ascend not to descend by this means they are kept from vanishing Also that the Head of the Aludel should be often emptied left part of what is sublimed being over much should fall down to the bottom again XL. Another intention is that what ascends up in the form of pouder near the hole of the head of the Aludel be always kept apart from that which is found to have ascended fused and dense in small lumps porous and clear at bottom thereof with adherency to the sides of the Vessel for that it is known to have less of Adustion than what is found to ascend nigh to the hole of the Head Now the sublimation is well performed if it be found clear and lucid and not burnt with inflammation This is the perfection of the subliming of Sulphur and Arsenick And if it be not so found the Work must so often be repeated till it is so CHAP. LI. Of Descension and the way of Purifying by Pastils I. THERE is a threefold Cause of its invention 1. That when any matter is included in that Vessel which is called a Chymical Descensory that after its fusion it may descend through the Holes thereof by which descent we are assured it has admitted a fluxing II. 2. That weak Bodies may by it be preserved from Combustion after reduction from their Calces For when we reduce weak Bodies from their Calces we cannot reduce all their whole substance at one time If then that part which is first reduced into a body should lie while the whole is reduced a great quantity would vanish by the force of the Fire so that it was neeessarily devised that one part so soon as it is reduced may fall from the Fire through this descensory III. 3. That the Depuration of Bodies might be so excellently performed as to be freed from every extraneous thing For the body descends in a Flux clean and leaves every thing which is alien thereto in the Concavity thereof IV. Therefore as to the way or method thereof we say that the form of it must be such as its bottom may be pointed and the sides of it without roughness equally terminating in the aforesaid Acuity or point of the bottom And its cover if any be needful must be made in the like ness of a plain or flat Dish and well fitted to it and the Vessel with its Cover must be made of good firm Earth not easie to break or crack in the fire V. Then put in the matter which you would have to descend upon round Rods or Bars made of like Earth and so placed as they may be more nigh the top than bottom of the Vessel Then covering the Vessel and luting the juncture set it into the fire and blow it until it is in Flux and the whole matterdescend into a subjacent Vessel VI. But if the matter be of difficult fusion it may be put upon a Table plain or of small Concavity from which it may easily descend by inclining the head of the Descensory when it is in Flux for by this means Bodies are purified VII But they are yet better purified by Pastils which method of Purification is of the same force with the way of purifying by descension For it holds the foeces of Bodies as well as a Descensory and better the way of which is thus VIII Take the body which you intend to cleanse and granulate it or file it or reduce it into a Calx which is yet better and more perfect Mix it with some other Calx which is not to be melted and then make the body to flow IX By this method often repeated Bodies are cleansed but not with a perfect Mundification which is to perfection yet it is a profitable purifying that Bodies capable of perfection may the better and more perfectly be transmuted X. For there is an Administration always to go before and to proceed such a Transmutation all which shall be declared in its proper place XI The Descensory Fornace is made as before described and is wonderfully useful to the melting of Metals by Cineritiums and Cements For all Calcined Combust Dissolved and Coagulated Bodies are reduced by this Fornace into a solid Mass or Metal XII Cineritiums also and Cements and Tests or Crucibles in which Silver is often melted are put into this Fornace for the recovering the Metal imbibed CHAP. LII Of Distillation Causes Kinds and Fornaces I. DIstillation is the elevating of Aqueous Vapours in their proper Vessel and is of divers kinds 1. Either with fire or without fire Those made by fire is also twofold 1. Ascending by an Alembick 2. Descending by a Descensory II. The Cause why Distillation was invented was the purification of a liquid matter from its filth and conservation of it from putrefaction For we see things distilled by what kinds soever of Distillation are made more pure and more pure to be preserved from putrefaction III. But the special cause of Distillation by Ascent or an Alembick is the separating of a pure Water without Earth or Foecs for water so distilled has no feculency And the Cause of the invention of such pure water was for the Imbibition of Spirits and of clean Medicines lest by the fe culency of the Water our Medicines or Spirits might be defiled or currupted IV. But the cause of the Invention which is made by Descent or a Descensory was the extracting its Oyl pure in its Nature because by Ascent Oyls are not so easily had in their combustible Nature V. And the Distillation which is made without fire or by Filter was invented for this cause sake to clear water whether distilled or not distilled from all manner of Impurities whatsoever VI. Distillation by Ascent is two-fold 1. In Ashes or Sand. 2. In Balneo without Hay or Wool in its proper Vessel so disposed that the Cucurbit or Vesica may not be broken before the Work is finished VII Distillation by Ashes or Sand is done with a greater stronger and more acute fire But that by Balneo with a mild soft or gentle and equal fire for Water admits not the Acuity of Ignition as Ashes or Sand do VIII Therefore by that Distillation which is made in Ashes colours and the more gross parts of the Earth are elevated but by that in Balneo the parts more subtil and without color and more approaching to the nature of simple Water only arise So that a
more subtil separation is made by distillation in Balneo than by a Distillation in Ashes or Sand. IX This is evident for Oyl distilled by Ashes is gross thick and foetid But that being rectified in Balneo the Oyl is separated into its Elemental parts so that from a most Red Oyl you have another most limpid white and serene the whole redness remaining in the bottom of the Vessel X. By this Operation we come to the determinate separation of all the Elements of every Vegetable and of that which from Vegetables proceeds to a Being and of every like thing But by that which is made by Descent we at tain the Oyl of every thing Vegetable determinately and of their like and by Filteration we accomplish the clearness of every liquid thing XI To Distil in Ashes You must have a strong earthen Pan and fitted to the Fornace like to the aforesaid Fornace of Sublimation with the same distance from the sides of the Fornace and with like Vent-holes upon the bottom of which Pan sifted Ashes must be put to the thickness of one Fingers breadth length almost and upon the Ashes the Retort or Distillatory must be set and covered round about with the same Ashes almost as high as to the neck of the Alembick Retort or Distillatory XII This done put in the matter to be distilled cover the Vessel with its Alembick the neck of which must inclose the neck of the Cucurbit or Vesica lest what is to be distilled should fly away Then lute the juncture and begin the Distillatiou But the Vesica Cucurbit Retort or Distillatory with the Alembick Head or Recipient must be both of Glass and the fire must be of strength according to the exigency or nature of the matter to be distilled and to be continued till all that should be distilled is come off XIII To distil in Balneo is like the former in a Cucurbit and Alembick save that you must have an Iron or Brass Pot fitted to the Fornace Upon the bottom of the pot within must be laid a Bed of Hay or Wooll or other like matter to the thickness of 3 Inches that the Cucurbit may not be broken and with the same the Cucurbit must be covered round about almost as high as the neck of the Alembick upon which lay sticks cross and upon them stones to hold the Cucurbit to the bottom of the Pot and keep it firm and steady that it be not raised by the Water nor be broken by its moving up and down Lastly Put in Water till the Pot be full which done kindle the fire and distil off the matter XIV To Distil by Descent You must have a Glass Descensory with its Cover and that put in which is to be Distilled and then the Cover luted on and fire made on the top or over it that the Liquor may descend XV. To Distil by Filtre Put the Liquor to be Distilled into an Earthen Stone or Glass Concha under which set another Vessel to receive the Distillation The larger part of the Filter put into the Liquor even to the bottom of the Concha leting the narrower part hang over the side thereof and over the under Vessel so will the Liquor fall down through the Filter in the lower Vessel without ceasing to the last drop Where note That if the Liquor be not clear enough the first time it must be so often repeated till it is as you desire it XVI The Distillatory Fornace is the same with the Sublimatory But Fire must be administred according to the exigency of things to be Distilled The way of doing which we have just now taught CHAP. LIII Of Calcination of Bodies and Spirits with their Causes and Methods I. CAlcination is the bringing a thing to Dust by Fire through an abstraction of its humidity holding the particles of the Body together II. The cause of the invention thereof is that the Adustive corrupting and defiling sulphureity may be abolished by Fire and it is 〈◊〉 according to the diversity of the things to be calcined for Bodies are calcined and Spirits are calcined as also other things foreign to these but with a divers intention III. And seeing there are imperfect Bodies of two kinds viz. Hard as Venus and Mars and Soft as Saturn and Jupiter all which are calcined there was a necessity of calcining them with a several intention viz. General and Special IV. They are calcined with one general Intention when that their corrupting and defiling Sulphureity may be abolished by Fire for every adustive Sulphureity which could not be removed without Calcination is thereby abolished from every thing whatsoever V. And because the Body it self is solid and by reason of that solidity the internal Sulphureity concealed within the continuity of the substance of Argent Vive is defended from Adustion therefore it was necessary to separate the Continuity thereof that the Fire coming freely to every its least parts might burn the Sulphureity from it and that the Continuity of Argent Vive might not defend it VI. The common inten tion also of Calcination is Depuration of the Earthiness for it is found that Bodies are cleansed by reiterated Calcination and Reduction as we shall hereafter shew VII Special Calcination is of Soft Bodies and with these two intentions that through it there may be an intention of Hardning and Fixing which is accomplished by an Ignitious repition of Calcination upon them and this is found true by Experience VIII But why the Calcination of Spirits was invented is that they may the better be fixed and the more easily dissolved in to Water for that every kind of thing Calcined is more fixed then the not Calcined and of easier solution and because the Particles of the Calcinated more subtilized by Fire are more easily mixed with Water and turned into Water IX The Calcination of other things is subservient to the Exigency of the Preparation of Spirits and Bodies of which Preparation we shall speak more at large in the following but these are not of Perfection X. The way of Calcination is divers by reason of the diversity of things to be Calcined for Bodies are otherwise Calcined than Spirits or other things And Bodies divers from each other are diversly Calcined Soft Bodies have one general way according to the intention viz. That both may be Calcined by Fire only and by the acuity of Salt prepared or unprepared XI The first Calcination by Fire is thus Have a Vessel of Iron or Earth formed like a Porringer which let be very strong and firm and fitted to the Fornace of Calcination so that underit the Coles may be cast in and blowed XII Then cast in your Lead or Tin the vessel being firmly set upon a Trivet of Iron or Stone and fastned to the Walls of the Fornace with 3 or 4 Stones being thrust in stiff between the Fornace sides and the Vessel that it may not move the form of the Fornace must be the same with the Form of
the Fornace of Great Ignition of which we have spoken and shall speak more in the following XIII And the Fire being kindled sufficient for the fusion of the Body to be calcined a skin will arise on the Top which con tinually rake together and take off with a Slice or other fit Iron or Stone instument so long till the whole body is converted into Pouder XIV If it be Saturn there must be a greater fire till the Calx be changed into a compleat whiteness XV. Now understand that Saturn is easily reduced again into a Body from its Calx but Jupiter with most difficulty therefore be carefull that you err not in exposing Saturn after its first Pulverization to too great a Fire and so reduce the Calx into a Body before it is perfected in this you must use temperance of Fire and that leisurly augmented by degrees with Caution till it be confirmed in its Calx and is not so easily reducible but that a gentle fire must be given to the last compleating of the Calx XVI Likewise be careful that you err not in Jupiter by reason of its difficult Reduction for that intending to reduce it you find it not reduced but a Calx still or turned into Glass and so then conclude its reduction impossible XVII Now we say that if a great Fire be not given in the reduction of Jupiter it reduceth not and if a great Fire be given sometimes it reduces not but Possibly may be converted into Glass the reason of which is because Jupiter in the profundity of its nature has the fugitive substance of Argent Vive included which if long kept in the Fire flies away and leaves the Body deprived of humidity so that it is found more apt to Vitrifie than to be reduced again into a metallick Body XVIII For every thing deprived of its proper Humidity gives no other than a Vitrifying fusion whence it naturally follows that you must hasten to reduce it with the speedy force of a Violent Fire for otherwise it will not be reduced XIX The Calcination of these Bodies by the Acuity of Salt is the quantity after quantity of Salt be very often cast upon them in their fusion and permixed by much agitation with an Iron Rod while in fusion till by the mixtion of the Salt they be turned into Ashes and afterwards by the same way of perfection the Calces of them are perfected with their considerations XX. But herein also is a difference in the Calces of these two Bodies for Lead in the first work of Calcination is more easily converted into Pouder or Ashes than Tin and yet the Calx is not more easily perfected than that of Tin The cause of which diversity is that Saturn has a more fixed humidity than Jupiter XXI The Calcination of Venus and Mars is one yet divers from the former by reason of the dificulty of their Liquefaction Make either of these Bodies into thin Plates heat them red hot but not to Melting for by reason of their great Earthiness and large quantity of Adustive flying Sulphur they are easily thus reduced into Calx for the much Earthiness being mixed with the substance of Argent Vive the due Continuity of the said Argent Vive is frustrated XXII And thence comes their porosity through which the flying Sulphur passes away and the Fire by that means having access to it Burns and Elevates the same whence it comes to pass that the parts are made more rare and through discontinuity converted into Ashes XXIII This is manifest for that plates of Copper exposed to Ignition yeild a Sulphurous Flame and make pulverizable Scales in their Superfices which is done because from the parts more nigh a more easy combustion of the Sulphur must be made XXIV The form of this Calcinatory Fornace is the same with the form of the Distillatory Fornace save only that this must have one great hole in the Crown of it to free it self from Fumosities and the place of the things to be Calcined must be in the midst of the Fornace that the Fire may have free access to them round about but the Vessel must be of Earth such as are Crucibles XXV The Calcination of Spirits You must give Fire to them gradually and leisurly increase it that they may not fly till they be able to sustain the greatest Fire and approach to Fixation their Vessel must be round every way closed and the Fornace the same with the last mentioned But you need not use greater Labour than what is to prevent their flight XXVI Or thus As to the form of the Fornace Let it be made square in length four Feet and in breadth three Feet Luna Venus and Mars or other things must be Calcined in strong Dishes or Pans made of Clay such as that of which Crucibles are made that they may endure the strongest force of the Fire to the total combustion of the matter to be Calcined XXVII Calcination is the Treasure of the thing Be not weary therefore for imperfect Bodies are cleansed by it and by reduction of the Calcinate into a solid Body or Mass of Metal again then is our Medicine projected upon them which is matter of Joy and Rejoycing XXVIII The Ablutions of the Calces Have a large Earthen Vessel full of pure hot fresh Water with this wash the Calx stirring it often that all the Salt and Allom may be dissolved with which they have been Calcined then being setled decant the Water gently put the Calx again into hot Water and do as before till it be perfectly washed then dry and keep it for inceration XXIX The Inceration of Calces washed Take the former Calx dissolve it in Spirit of Vinegar 2 pounds of Common Salt Roch Allom Sal gem ana 2 Ounces in this water imbibe 4 Ounces of of the aforesaid dryed Calx till it has drank in all the said Water then dry it and keep it for use XXX The Reduction of Calces into a solid Mass. Take the former incerated Calx wash it with distilled Urine till you have extracted all the Salts and Alums with the filth of the Calcined Body which being dryed imbibe 4 pounds of this Calx with Oyl of Tarter 1 pound in 1 pound of which dissolve Sal armoniack 2 Ounces Salt-Peter 1 Ounce This Imbibition do at several times drying and imbibing Lastly dry it and make it descend through a great descensory and reduce it into a solid Mass being purged from its Combustible Sulphureity by Calcination and from its Terrestreity by its Reduction so have you it purified from all accidental Impirities and defements which happned to it in its Minera XXXI But it s innate foulness which dwels in the Root of its Generation must be obliterated or done away with our Medicine the greater part of which contains in it self the substance of Argent Vive according as the necessity of the Art requires XXXII Again you must note that Bodies are found to be
dissolved is by a Glass placed in Ashes up to its Neck and an equal Fire not too hot put under it and to be continued till the whole Aquosity is Vanished III. Now seeing it is not possible to remove the true Essence of any thing in nature the thing it self remaining therefore it is said to be impossible to separate these corrupt things from them for this cause some Philosophers have thought this Art not possible to be attained and We and indeed other Searchers in this Science have been brought to this very State of belief IV. By reason of this we as well as they were driven to Amazement and for a long space of time lay under the shade of Desparation yet returning to our selves and being perplexed with the immense trouble of dispairing thoughts and meditations we considered Bodies diminished from Perfection to be foul in the profundity of their Nature and nothing pure or clean to be found in them because it was not in them according to Nature for that which is not in a thing cannot be found there V. Seeing then nothing of perfection is found in them therefore necessarily also in the same nothing superfluous remains to be found in separation of the divers substances in them and in the profundity of their Nature therefore by this we found somewhat to be diminished in them which must necessarily be compleated by matter fit for it and repairing the defect VI. Diminution in them is the Paucity of Argent Vive and not right Spissation or Coagulation of the same therefore to compleat them you must sufficiently augment the Argent Vive then rightly Inspissate or Coagulate and lastly induce a permanent fixion of which we shall speak in the next Chapter VII But this is performed by a Medicine created of that And this Medicine when brought forth into being from Argent Vive by the benefit of its brightness and splendor it hides and covers their Cloudiness draws forth their Lucidity and converts the same into Splendor Brightness and Glory VIII For which Argent Vive is prepared into a Medicine and cleansed by our Artifice it is reduced to a most pure and bright Substance which being projected upon Bodies wanting of perfection will illustrate or Tinge them and by its fixing power perfect them which Medicine we declare in its due time and place CHAP. LVI Of Fixation and its Causes I. Fixation is right disposing a Volatile or Fugitive thing to abide and endure in the fire The cause of the invention thereof is that every Tincture and every Alterati on may be perpetuated in the thing altered and not vanish II. It is manifold accord ing to the diversity of things to be fixed which are all the Bodies diminished from perfection as Saturn Jupiter Mars and Venus and according to the diversity of Spirits also which are Sulphur and Arsenick in one degree and Argent Vive in another Also Marchasite Magnesia Tutia and such like in the Third III. Therefore those Bodies diminished from perfection are fixed by their Calcination because thereby they are freed from their volatile and corrupting Sulphureity the which we have sufficiently declared in the Chapter of Calcination Also the manifold repititions of sublimation more swiftly and better do abbreviate the time of Fixation IV. For this cause there was a second way of fixation found out which is by precipitating of it sublimed into heat that it may constantly abide therein until it be fixed V. And this is done by a long glass Vessel the bottom of which made of Earth not of Glass for that it would crack must be artificially connexed with good luting and the ascending matter when it adheres to the sides of the Vessel must with a Spatula of Iron or Stone be thrust down to the heat at bottom and this precipitation reapted till the whole matter be fixed How Sulphur Arsenick Argent Tive Marchasite Magnesia and Tutia are to be fixed we have taught in their proper Chapters aforegoing VI. The Fixatory Fornace or Athanor It must be made after the manner of the Fornace of Calcination and in it must be set a deep Pan full of Ashes But the Vessel with the matter to be fixed being firmly sealed must be placed in the middle of the Ashes so that the thickness of the Ashes underneath and above in the compass of the Vessel may be about four Inches or according to that which you desire to fix Because in fixing One a greater fire is required than in fixing another VII By this Fornace and this way the Ancient Philosophers attained to the Work of the Magistery which to Men truly Philosophizing may be easily known from what we have more than enough demonstrated in these our Books And by those especially who are real searchers out of the Truth we have given you the Figure of the Athanor yet let not this stop your farther invention if you can possibly find out any thing more fit and ingenious CHAP. LVII Of Ceration and its Cause I. CEration is the mollification or softening of an hard thing not fusible unto Liquefaction Whence it is evident that the cause of the Invention of it was That the matter which had not ingress into the Body for Alteration by reason of Privation of its Liquefaction might be softned so as to flow and have Ingress II. Wherefore some thought Ceration was to be made with liquid Oyls and Waters but that is error and wholly remote from the Principles of this Natural Magistery and denied by the manifest Operations of Nature III. For we find not in those Metalick Bodies that Nature has placed an humidity soon or easie to be taken away but rather one of long duration for the necessity of their Fusion and Mollification For had they been replenished with an humidity easie or soon to be removed it would necessarily follow that the Bodies would be totally deprived of it in one only Ignition so that none of the Bodies could afterwards be either hammered or melted IV. Therefore imitating the Operations of Nature we follow her way in Cerating Nature Cerates in the Radix of fusible things with an humidity which is above all humidities and able to endure the heat of fire Therefore it is necessary for us also to Cerate with the like humidity V. But this Cerative Humidity is in nothing better more possibly or more nearly found than in these viz. in Sulphur and in Arsenick nearly but more nearly in Argent Vive Whose humidity we see not to leave their Earth by reason of the strong union which they have and which nature has bestowed upon them in the Work of their Mixture VI. But in all other things having humidity you may find by experience that the same is separated in Resolution from their Earthy substance and after separation thereof that they are deprived of all humidity In Spirits aforesaid it is not so so that we cannot omit taking them into the Work of Ceration VII The way of Ceration by
them is thus You must sublime them so often upon the thing to be Cerated until remaining with their humidity in it they give good Fusion But this cannot be effected before the perfect cleansing of them from every Corrupting thing VIII And it seems better to me that these should be first fixed by Oyl of Tartar and every Ceration fit and necessary in this Art be made with them IX Our Philosophick Cerative Water is thus made Take Oyl Distilled from the Whites of Eggs Grind it with half so much of Sal Nitre and Sal Armoniack ana and it will be very good Or Mix it with Sal Alkoli and distil as before And the more you reiterate this labour the better it Incerates Or Conjoyn the aforesaid Oyl with Oyl of Tartar and thence Distil a White Incerative Oyl X. A Red Incerative Oyl is thus made Take Oyl of Yolks of Eggs or of Humans Hair to which adjoyn as much Sal Armoniack mix and distil Repeat this Distillation three times and you will have a most Red Incerative Oyl XI Oyl of Verdigrise is thus made Dissolve Verdigrise in Water of Sal Armoniack with the same coagulated mix Oyl of Eggs and distil the mixture which Distillation repeat thrice so shall you have Oyl of Verdigrise fit and profitable for Inceration XII Oyl of Gall it is made by Distilling an Oyl from the Gall as from human Hair doing in all things as in the former XIII I do not say that these Oyls can give a Radical Mineral Humidity as in Sulphur and Arsenick But they preserve the Tincture from Combustion until it enters or makes an Ingress and afterwards they fly in the Augmentation of the fire XIV After the Matter is Incerated it may be necessary to melt it which you must do in a Fusory or Melting Fornace This Fornace is that in which all Bodies are easily melted by themselves It is a Fornace much in use among Melters of Metals Also Aurichalcum is melted in this Fornace and Tinged with Tutia or Calaminaris as is known to such as have made Tryal CHAP. LVIII That Our Medicine is two-fold One for the White and One for the Red. Yet that we have One only Medicine for both which is most perfect I. WE Demonstrate that Spirits are more assinuated to Bodies than any other thing in nature for that they are more United and more friendly to Bodies than all other things so that we affirm that these alterations of Bodies in the first Invention are their true Medicines II. And as we have been exercised in all kinds in the tranformation of imperfec Bodies with firmutation into a perfect Lunar and Solar Body so we find that the Medicine for them must be divers according to the intention of the Bodies to be transmuted III. And since Metals to be transmuted are of a twofold kind viz. Argent Vive Coagulable in Perfection and Bodies diminished from Perfection and these again manifold some being hard sustaining Ignition as Mars and Venus others soft not enduring it as Saturn and Jupiter the Medicine perfective must also be necessarily manifold IV. And altho Mars and Venus be of one kind yet they differ in a certain special property the one being not Fusible the other fusible therefore Mars is perfected with one Medicine and Venus with another The first indeed is totally unclean but the other not the former has a Dull whiteness the latter that of Redness and Greenness all which force a necessity of a Diversity in the Medicine V. Also the soft Bodies Saturn and Jupiter seeing they less 〈◊〉 do necessarily require also a Divers Medicine the first of them is indeed Unclean the latter Clean and they are all rendered more Mutable now made Lunar than Solar Bodies therefore the Medicine for each of them must be two-fold One White changeing into a White Lunar Body and one Citrine changeing into a Citrine Solar Body VI. Since then in every of the Imperfect Bodies is found a two fold Matter Solar and Lunar the Medicines perfecting all Bodies will be in number Eight VII So also Argent Vive is perfected into a Lunar and Solar Body therefore of the Medicine altering or perfecting it there is a twofold difference so that all the Medicines which we have invented for the Compleat alteration of every imperfect Body will be in number Ten. VIII-However with constant and continued Labor and great search and invention we have been desirous to exclude the Use of these Ten Medicenes by the Invention and advantage of One Only Medicine and with our long and very Laborious search by certain Experience we have found One Medicine by which the hard was softned the soft Body hardned the fugitive fixed and the Soul illustrated with Splendor or Brightness ineffable and beyond Nature IX Notwithstanding it is here expedient that we should particularly speak of all these Medicines with their Causes and the evident experiences of their probations We will first then declare the series of the Ten Medicines fitted to all the Bodies then to Argent Vive and lastly proceed to the Medicine of the Magistery perfecting all Bodies yet with the preparation imperfect Bodies need X. And least we should be carped at by the Envious as Writing an insufficient Treatise of Art We here first of all present the preparation of all the imperfect Bodies assigning the Causes of the necessity thereof by which in Our artifice they are made apt to receive the Medicine of Perfection in every degree of Whiteness and Redness and to be perfected by the same and after these a Narration of all the Medicines before mentioned themselves The Preparations of Saturn Jupiter Mars Venus and Argent Vive here mentioned See Chap. 42. Sect. 14. ad 20. Chap. 43. Sect. 11. Chap. 44. Sect 12 13 14. Chap. 45. Sect. 12 13. Chap. 48. Sect. 33. The preparation of the Medicines see Chap. 44. Sect. 15 16 17. Chap. 45. Sect 18. ad 23. Chap. 46. Scte. 6. Chap. 48. Sect. 33. c. XI From what has been said 't is evident that what Nature left Superfluous or deficient in every of those Bodies that are imperfect has been in part declared and since it happens that the mutable Bodies of Imperfection are of a twofold kind viz soft and Ignible as Saturn and Jupiter and hard and not fusible with Ignition as Mars and Venus the first indeed not fusible but the other fusible with Ignition Nature has taught us That according to the diversity of Essences in the Radix of their Nature divers Preparations according to their Wants must be administred to them XII There are two Bodies of Imperfection of one kind viz. Lead which is Black or Saturn and Tin which is White or Jupiter which from the innate Root of their nature are divers each from other in the profundity of their hidden parts as well as in those which are outward XIII For Saturn is cloudy livid ponderous black without stridor or crashing totally mute But Jupiter
is white a little livid crashing much a little sounding and something bright Of the Differences of which we have already spoken in their particular Chapters aforegoing XIV From which Causes of Difference according to more and less you must collect the order of the Preparations wherein we have shewed first The Preparation of Bodies afterwards of Argent Vive coagulable Now in the preparation of Bodies nothing of Superfluity is to be removed from their profound or inward Parts but rather from their manifest or outward CHAP. LIX Of the Medicine Tincture Elixir or Stone of the Philosophers in General 1. The five different Properties constituting this Medicine I. UNless every thing superfluous be taken away either by Medicine or preparation from imperfect Bodies viz. Every superfluous Sulphureity and every unclean Earthiness they cannot be purified so as that in Fusion they be not separated from the Commixtion after prolection of the Medicine altering them when you have formed this you have found one of the five differences of perfection II. Also if the Medicine do not illustrate and alter and alter into a White or Citrine Color according to what your intention is inducing a splendent brightness and admirable Lucidity Bodies diminished from perfection are not perfected to the utmost III. So also if it abides not Lunar or Solar Fusion it is not changed into perfection because it abides not in the Tryal but is altogether separated and receeds from the Commixtion which you may more amply determine by the Cineritium of which we shall speak hereafter IV. If likewise the Medicine be not perpetuated with 〈◊〉 firm alteration so that the Impression of Tincture and Finity is not permanent but vanishes in the Fire upon probation V. If it attains not to the weight of Perfection having the true ponderosity of Luna and Sol it is not firmly changed to a perfect compleatment of Nature for this weight is one of the signs of perfection Seeing therefore these differences of perfection are five there is a necessity that our Medicine should exhibit these Differences in Projection Also it is evident from hence That this Medicine must be prepared from Things having Affinity to Bodies readily altering and amicably adhering to them in their profundity But searching through Universal Nature we have found nothing which can do all this so well as Argent Vive prepared according to our Directions of which the true Medicine is made to the highest Perfection 2. The Preparations of the Medicine that it may give the aforesaid different Properties VI. Now since it changes not without the alteration of its Nature therefore it ought necessarily to be prepared that it may be mixed even in the profundity of Bodies viz. That its substance may be made such that it may be mixed even in the profundity of the Body alterable without separation for ever VII But this cannot be done without it be very much subtilized with certain and determinate sublimations as we have taught in Chap. 48. Sect. 3 4 5 6 7. aforegoing Likewise its Impression cannot be permanent unless it be fixed nor can it illustrate unless its most splendid substance be extracted from it according to Art with a fit fire VIII Nor can this Medicine have perfect Fusion unless great Caution be used in its fixation that it may soften hard Bodies and harden the soft And it can only do that when a sufficiency of its humidity is preserved proportionate to the necessity of the 〈◊〉 desired IX Whence it is evident that it should have such a Preparation as may make it a most fulgent and purely clean substance and fixed also but these things must be done with such great Caution in respect to the regulation of the fire and way of fixing that in removing its Humidity so much may be still left for compleat and perfect Fufion X. If by this Medicine you would soften Bodies hard of Fusion in the beginning of its Preparation a gentle sire must be adhibited For a soft fire is Conservative of Humidity and Perfective of Fusion XI There is also many other Considerations of the Weight with their Causes and Order The Cause of great weight is the subtiltv of the substance of Bodies and uniformity in their Essence By which the parts of them may be so condensed that nothing can come between And the Density of Parts is the encrease of weight and the Perfection thereof 3. The Six Properties of things from which the Medicine is extracted XII First They have in themselves an Earth most subtil and incombustible altogether fixed with its own proper Radical Humidity and apt for fixing XIII Secondly They have an airy and fiery Humidity so uniformly conjoyned to that Earth that if one be Volatile so is the residue And this same Humidity abides the fire beyond all Humidities even to the compleat termination of its own Inspissation without Evaporation inse parable from the Earth annexed to it with a compleat permanency XIV Thirdly The Disposition of their Natural Humidity is such that by help of its own Oleaginity in all differences of its Properties it contemperates the Earth annexed to it with such an Unctuosity and with such a Homogene and equal Union and bond of inseparable Conjunction that after the degree of final Preparation it gives a good Fusion XV. Fourthly The Oleaginous Property is of so great purity of Essence and so artificially cleansed from all Combustible matter that it burns not any Bodies with which it is conjoyned through their least parts but preserves them from Combustion Hermes Chap. 12. Sect. 5. aforegoing XVI Fifthly It has a Tincture in it self so clear and splendid White or Red clean and incombustible stable and fixed that the fire cannot prevail against it to change it Nor can Sulphurous Adustive or Sharp Corroding Bodies Corrupt and Defile the same XVII Sixthly The whole Compositum incerated with its final Compleatment is of so great Subtilty and Tenuity of Matter that after the end of its Decoction it remains in Projection of most thin Fusion like water andis is of profound Penetration to the greatest perfection of the Body to be Transmuted how Fixed soever it be adhering thereto with an inseparable Unity or Conjunction against the force of the strongest Fire and in that very hour by virtue of its own Spirituality reducing Bodies to Volatility 4. The Seven Properties of the Medicine it self XVIII First Oleaginity Giving in Projection Universal Fusion and Diffusion of the Matter For the first thing after Projection of the Tincture is the sudden and due Diffusion of the Medicine it self which is perfected and rendered Viscous with a Mineral Oleaginity XIX Secondly Tenuity of Matter or the Spiritual substance thereof flowing very thin in its Fusion like Water Penetrating to the Profundity of the Body to be Transmuted for that immediately after Fusion the Ingression thereof is necessary XX. Thirdly Affinity or Vicinity between the Elixir or Tincture and the Body to be Transmuted giving
adherency in Obviation and Retention of its like because immediately after Ingress of the Medicine Adherency is convenient and necessary XXI Fourthly Radical Humidity Fiery Congealing and Consolidating the Parts retained with adherence to what is Homogene to it and the union of all it s said Homogene parts inseparably for ever Because after Adherency Consolidation of the parts by a Radical and Viscous Humidity is necessary XXII Fifthly Purity and Clearness giving a manifest Splendor in the Fire but not burning for after consolidation of the purified parts it is left to the actual Fire to burn up or consume all extraneous Superfluities not consolidated wherefore purification is necessary XXIII Sixthly A Fixing Earth temperate thin subtil fixed and incombustible giving permanency of Fixation in the solution of the Body adherring to it standing and persevering against the force of the strongest Fire for immediately after Purification fixation necessarily follows of course XXIV Seventhly Tincture White or Red giving a splendid or perfect Color White or intenfly Citrine viz. the Lunification or Solification of the Bodies to be transmuted for that after fixation a pure Tincture or Color tinging another Bady Or a Tinsture tinging the Matter to be transmuted into true Silver or Gold is absolutely necessary CHAP. LX. Of the three Orders of the Medicine I. Of Medicines of the first Order I. SUbtilty of the matter is necessarily required as well in the preparation of Bodies as in the perfecting of the Medicine because of how much the greater weight Bodies to be transmuted are so much greater is the perfection they are brought to by Art for which reason we shall here declare the differences of all Medicines which is three fold according to three Orders II. A Medicine of the first Order is every preparation of Minerals which projected upon the imperfect Bodies impresses upon them an Alteration but induces not a sufficient Compleatment yet the altered Body is thereby changed and Corrupted with the total evanishing of the Medicine and all its Impressions III. Of this kind is every Sublimation dealbative of Mars or Venus which receives not Fixation and of this kind is every additament of the Color of Sol and Luna or of Venus commixed and Zyniar and the like set in a Fornace of Cementation IV. This Order changes with a mutation not durable by diminishing it self by Exhalation or Evaporation And of this kind are these described Chap. 44. Sect. 15 16 17. Chap. 45. Sect. 18 19 20 21 12 23. and Chap. 46. Sect. 6 7 8 9. aforegoing And the Work of this first Order is called the lesser Work 2. Of Medicines of the second Order V. A Medicine of the second Order I call every preparation which being projected upon Bodies diminished from perfection alters them to some certain degrees of perfection wholly leaving other degrees of Corruption as is the Calcination of Bodies by which all that is fugitive is burnt away and Consumed VI. And of this Order are the Medicines Tinging Luna perpetually yellow or perpetually dealbating Venus leaving other differences of Corruption in them VII Now seeing the Medicine of Bodies to be cleansed is one but of Argent Vive perfectly Coagulable another we will first of all declare the Medicines for Bodies and then afterwards the Medicine of the same Argent Vive coagulable into a true Solifick and Lunifick Body VIII A Medicine of the second Order is that which does indeed perfect imperfect Bodies but with one only difference of perfection But seeing there are many causes of Corruption in every of the imperfect Bodies as in Saturn a Volatile Sulphureity fugitive Argent Vive by both which Corruption must necessarily be induced and its Ter restreity therefore Medicines of this second Order are such as can only remove one of them or covering it adorn the same leaving behind it all the other causes of Imperfection IX Since then in Bodies there is somewhat impermutable which is innate to them in their Radix and which cannot be taken away by a Medicine of this Order that Medicine which totally removes that from the mixtion must be a Medicine of the third and Greater Order X. And because we find the Superfluities of things Volatile to be removed by way of Calcination and the Earthiness not innate abolished by repeated Reductions therefore there was a necessity of inventing of a Medicine of this second Order which might indeed palliate the innate soften the hard and harden the soft Bodies according to the perfection of their Natures and not Sophistically but perfectly constitute a true Lunifick or Solifick of imperfect Bodies XI Since then it is manifest that in Bodies only Soft the hastiness of Melting cannot be taken away by the Artifices of this Work nor the innate impurity in the Radix of their principles be removed the Invention of this Medicine was necessary which in projection might Inspissate their Tenuity and Inspissating harden them to a sufficiency of Ignition with their Melting XII So also in hard Bodies attenuating their Spissitude to deduce them to a sufficient Velocity Liquefaction or Melting with their own property of Ignition and palliating them to adorn the Clowdiness of Bodies of either kind transmuting the one into White the other into Red most perfect XIII This Medicine is differenced from a Medicine of the third Order only by Imperfection of a lesser or meaner preparation But the Medicine Inspissating the Tenuity of soft Bodies requires one kind of preparation with a Consumptive Fire and that Attenuating the Spissitude of hard Bodies another with conservation of their Humidity of which kind are those in Chap. 43. Sect. 16 17 18 19 20 21. and Chap. 44. Sect. 19 20 21 22. aforegoing which are in a mean or middle Order 3. Of Medicines of the third Order XIV This is every preparation which when it is projected upon Bodies takes away all Corruption and perfects them with all the differences or signs of perfection But this is one only and therefore by reason of it we are not obliged to the use of the ten Medicines of the second Order XV. Of this Order there is a twofold Medicine viz. Solar and Lunar yet but one in Essence and which have but one way in Operating and therefore by our Ancestors whose writings we have read it is called One only Medicine XVI However there is an addition of a Citrine Color made of the most clean substance of fixed Sulphur which constitutes the difference between the one for the white and the other for the yellow viz. the Lunar and Solar Medicine the latter containing that Color in it self but the other not XVII This is called the third Order or Order of the Greater Work and that because greater Care Prudence and Industry is required in the Administration thereof and the preparation thereof to perfecti on than in any of the former and also for that it needs greater Labor and longer time to compleat it for the highest Purity XVIII Therefore the
of working this Tryal is thus Take sifted Ashes or Calx or Pouder der of the Bones of Animals Calcined or a Commixtion of all or some of them moisten with Water and make the mixture firm and solid with your hands and in the midst of it work it into a round flatish lump make a round and smooth hollowness and upon the bottom of it strew a small quantity of Glass beaten to Pouder which lay to dry XVI When dry Put your Metal into the Hollowness thereof which you would try or prove put Coals of Fire upon it and then blow with Bellows upon the Surface till the Metal flows upon which being in flux cast part after part of Lead and blow with a flame of strong Ignition XVII Whilst you see it agitated with a strong Concusssion it is not pure cast wait till all the Lead be Exhaled when that is gon off and the Motion yet ceases not it is not yet pure cast Lead then again upon it and blow as before until the Lead vanish If it do not yet rest repeat the casting in of more Lead and blowing upon it till it be still or quiet and you see it clean and clear in its Su perfices XVIII This done take away the Coals scatter the Fire and put Water upon the Test for you will find it throughly proved and if while you are blowing this proof you cast in Glass the Bodies will be the better and more perfectly purified because that takes away the Impurities and separates them XIX Or Instead of Glass you may cast in Salt Borax or a little Alum This Examen of the Cineritium or Test may in like manner be made in a Crucible of Earth if the fire round about it be blowed and upon the surface also of the Crucible that the Body to be proved may the sooner flow and be perfected CHAP. LXIII Of Cementation and its Causes I. WE now come to the Examen of Cement And whereas some Bodies are more and others less burned by the Calcination of fire i. e. they which contain a greater quantity of burning Sulphur more but they which contain less less Therefore seeing Sol has a lesser quantity of Sulphur than other Metallick Bodies it is not in the midst of all Mineral Bodies burnt by the force of fire II. And seeing Luna also next to Sol partakes of a less quantity of Sulphur than the other four Bodies yet has more Sulphur than Sol therefore it can less bear the strong Ignition of a violent Fire for a long space of time than Sol can And by consequence less bear things burning by a like nature but Venus less than it because it consists of more Sulphur still and of greater Earthiness than Luna and so can less bear the violent force of Fire III. Jupiter also less than Sol or Luna because it partakes of greater Sulphureity and Earthiness than either of them yet it is less burnt by violence of Fire than Venus but more than Sol or Luna IV. Saturn in its Commixtion by nature holds more of Earthiness and Sulphureity than either of these before named and therefore is more burnt by Inflamation or violence of Fire and is sooner and more easily inflamed than all the said Bodies because it has Sulphureity more nearly conjoyned and more fixed than Jupiter V. Mars is not burnt by it self but by Accident for when it is mixed with Bodies of much humidity it imbibes that Humidity by reason of its own want of the same and therefore being conjoyned it is neither inflamed nor burned if the Bodies with which it is joyned or united be neither Inflamable nor Combustible VI. But if Combustible Bodies be mixed with it it necessarily happens according to the nature of the Combustion that Mars is burnt and inflamed Seeing therefore that Cement is made of Inflamable things the necessary cause of its Invention is manifest viz. that all Combustible things might be burned VII And since there is but one only body incombustible that alone or what is prepared according to the nature of it is kept safe in Cement But which abide more and which less are known with their Causes Luna abides more but Mars less Jupiter yet less and Venus less than Jupiter but Saturn least of all VIII The way of Examination by Cement is thus You must compound it of Infla mable things of which kind are all blackening flying penetrating things viz. Vitriol Sal Armoniack Verdigrise Alum or Plumous Alum and a very small quantity of Sulphur with Humane Urine and other like acute and penetrating things All which are made into a Paste with the Urine aforesaid and spread upon thin plates of that Body which you intend to examine by this way of Probation IX Then the said plates must be laid upon a Grate of Iron included in an Earthen Vessel but so as not to touch one another that the power of the Fire may have free and equal access to them Thus the whole must be kept in Fire in a strong Earthen Vessel for the space of 3 days but with this Caution That the plates may be kept Red Fire hot but not melt X. After the third day you will find the Plates cleansed from all impurity if the Body of them was perfect if not they will be wholly corrupted and burnt in the Calcination XI Some expose Plates of Metal to Calcination without a Composition of Cement and they are purified in like manner if the Body be perfect If not they are totally consumed But in this kind of Examen they must have a longer space of time for that they are purified by the only force of Fire than if they were Examined by the help of Cement XII And for that the nature of Luna differs not much from the nature of Sol therefore of necessity it rests with it in the Tryal by Cement and there is no separation of Bodies one from another in these two kinds of Tryal unless that be caused by reason of the Diversity of the Composition of their substances XIII For from thence results the Diversity of Fusion and Thickness or Thinness or Rarity which are indeed the causes of Separation for that by reason of the strong Composition of some their substance is not corrupted by the substance of the Extraneous Body in as much as a mixtion of them cannot be made through their least parts XIV Therefore in such a commixture they must necessarily be separated each from other without the total corruption of their Essences And the perfecting of imperfect Bodies is discerned when they are by Ingenuity of preparation found to be of the same Fusion Ignition and Solidity CHAP. LXIV The Examen by Ignition I. SInce Bodies of greatest Perfection with determinate Ignition are found to receive the Fire before fusion of them therefore we say if our design is to find out the com pleat alteration of them there is a necessity to bring such Bodies to their Fusion II. And before these
be dissolved and converted into a viscous Water or white Oil as aforesaid IV. Thus it mollifies the Body and prepares it for fusion and liquesaction yea it makes all things fusible viz. Stones and Metals and afterwards gives them Spirit and Life V. And it dissolves all things with an admirable solution transmuting the perfect Body into a sufible Medicine melting or liquifying moreover fixing and augmenting the weight and colour VI. Work therefore with it and you shall obtain from it what you desire for it is the Spirit and Soul of Sol and Luna it is the Oyl the dissolving Water the Fountain the Balneum Mariae the praeternatural Fire the moist Fire the secret hidden and invisible Fire VII It is also the most acrid Vinegar concerning which an ancient Philosopher saith I bosought the Lord and He shewed me a pure clear Water which I knew to be the pure Vinegar altering penetrating and digesting VIII I say a penetrating Vinegar and the moving Instrument for putrifying resolving and reducing Gold or Silver into their Prima materia or first matter IX And it is the only agent in the Universe which in this Art is able to reincrudate Metallick Bodies with the conservation of their Species X. It is therefore the only apt and natural medium by which we ought to resolve the perfect Bodies of Sol and Luna by a wonderful and solemn dissolution with the conservation of the species and without any destruction unless it be to a new more noble and better form or generation viz. into the perfect Philosophers Stone which is their wonderful Secret and Arcanum XI Now this Water is a certain middle substance clear as fine Silver which ought to receive the Tinctures of Sol and Luna so as they may be congealed and changed into a white and living Earth XII For this water needs the perfect bodies that with them after the dissolution it may be congealed fixed and coagulated into a white Earth XIII But their solution is also their coagulation for they have one and the same operation because one is not dissolved but the other is congealed Nor is there any other water which can dissolve the Bodies but that which abideth with them in the matter and the form XIV It cannot be permanent unless it be of the nature of the other Bodies that they may be made one XV. When therefore you see the water coagulate it self with the Bodies that be dissolved therein be assured that thy knowledge way of working and the work it self are true and Philosophick and that you have done rightly according to art CHAP. VI. Of what Substance Metalls are to consist in order to this work I. ERgo natura emendatur in sua consimili natura id est aurum argen tum in nostra aqua emendantur aqua etiam cum ipsis corporibus quae etiam dicitur medium animae sine quo nihil agere possumus in arte ista II. Et est ignis vegetabilis animabilis mineralis conservativus spiritus fixi Solis Lunae destructor corporum ac victor quia destruit diruit atque mutat corpora formas metallicas facitque illas non esse corpora sed spiritum fixum III. Illasque convertit in substantiam humidam mollem fluidam habentem ingressum virtutem intrandi in alia corpora imperfecta misceri cum cis per minima illa tingere perficere IV. Quod quidem non poterant cum essent corpora metallica sicca dura quae nonhabent ingressum neque virtutem tingendi perficiendi imperfecta V. Benè igitur corpora convertimus in substantiam fluidam quia unaquaeque tinctura plus in millesima parte tingit in liquida substantia molli quam in sicca ut patet de creco VI. Ergo transmutatio metallorum imperfectorum est impossibilis fieri per corpora perfecta sicca nisi prius reducantur in primam materiam mollem fluidam VII Ex his oportet quod reventatur humidum reveletur absconditum Et hoc est reincrudare corpora id est decoquere mollire donec priventur corporalitate durâ siccâ VIII Quia siccum non ingreditur nec tingit nisi seipsum Corpus igitur siccum terreum non tingit nisi tingatur quia ut dictum spissum terreum non ingreditur nec tingit quia non intrat ergo non alterat IX Non idcirco tingit aurum donec spiritus ejus occultus extrahatur à ventre ejus per aquam nostram albam fiat omnino spiritualis albus fumus albus spiritus anima mirabilis I. THus you see that Nature is to be amended by its own like Nature that is Gold and Silver are to be exalted in our water as our water also with those Bodies which water is called the medium of the Soul without which nothing is to be done in this Art II. It is a Vegetable Mineral and Animal fire which conserves the fixed Spirits of Sol and Luna but destroys and conquers their Bodies For it destroys overturns and changes Bodies and metallick forms making them to be no Bodies but a fixed Spirit III. And it turns them into a humid substance soft and fluid which hath ingression and power to enter into other imperfect bodies and to mix with them in their smallest parts and to tinge them and make them perfect IV. But this they could not do while they remained in their metallick Forms or Bodies which were dry and hard whereby they could have no entrance into other things so as to tinge make perfect what was before imperfect V. It is necessary therefore to convert the Bodies of Metals into a fluid substance for that every tincture will tinge a thousand times more in a soft and liquid substance than when it is in a dry one as is plainly apparent in Saffron VI. Therefore the transmutation of imperfect Metals is impossible to be done by perfect Bodies while they are dry and hard for which cause sake they must be brought back into their first matter which is soft and fluid VII It appears therefore that the moisture must be reverted that the hidden treasure may be revealed And this is called the reincrudation of Bodies which is the decocting softning them till they lose their hard and dry substance or form because that which is dry does not enter into nor tinge any thing besides it self VIII Therefore the dry terrene Body doth not enter into nor tinge except its own body nor can it tinge except it be tinged because as I said before a thick drie earthy matter does not penetrate nor tinge and therefore because it cannot enter or penetrate it can make no alteration in the matter to be altered IX For this reason it is that Gold coloureth not until its internal or hidden spirit be drawn forth out of it bowels by this our white water and that it be made altogether a spiritual substance a
there is a mixture made of contrary Natures viz. of cold with hot and moist with dry even a most admirable Unity between Enemies CHAP. IX Of Sublimation Or the separating of the Pure from the Impure by this Water I. NOstra ergo dissolutio Corporum quae fit in tali prima Aqua non est nisi mortificatio humidi cum sicco humidum verò coagulatur per siccum II. Quia humiditas tantum siccitate continetur terminatur ac coagulatur in Corpus sive in terram III. Corpora igitur dura sicca ponantur in nostra prima Aqua in vase bene clauso ubi maneant donec solventur ascendant in altum quae tunc dici possunt novum Corpus aurum album Alchimiae Lapis albus Sulphur album non urens Lapis Paradisi hoc est convertens Metalla imperfecta in Argentum album finum IV. Tunc etiam habemus simul Corpus Animam Spiritum de quo Spiritu Anima dictum est quod non possunt extrahi à Corporibus perfectis nisi per conjunctionem nostrae Aquae dissolutivae V. Quia certum est quod res fixa non potest elevari nisi per conjunctionem rei volatilis VI. Spiritus igitur mediante Aqua Anima ab ipsis Corporibus extrahitur redditur Corpus non Corpus quia statim Spiritus cum Anima Corporum sursum ascendit in superiori parte quae est perfectio Lapidis vocatur sublimatio VII Haec sublimatio in quit Florentius Cathalanus fit per res accidas Spirituales Volatiles quae sunt de natura Sulphurea viscosa quae dissolvunt faciunt elevari Corpora in Aeram in Spiritum VIII Et in hac Sublimatione pars quaedam dictae Aquae primae ascendit cum Corporibus simul se jungendo ascendo sublimando in unam mediam substantiam quae tenet de natura duorum scilicet Corporum Aquae IX Proinde dicitur Corporale Spirituale Compositum Corjufle Cambar Ethelia Zandarith Duenech bonus sed proprie tantum nominatur Aqua permanens quia non fugit in igne X. Perpetuò adhaerens Corporibus commixtis id est Soli Lunae illisque communicans Tincturam vivam incombustibilem ac firmissimam praecedenti nobilicrum pretiosiorem XI Quia potest currere debinc haec Tinctura sicut Oleum omnia perforando penetrando cum fixione mirabili quoniam haee Tinctura est Spi ritus Spiritus est Anima Anima Corpus XII Quia in hac operatione Corpus efficitur Spiritus de natura subtilissima pariter Spiritus incorporatur fit de natura Corporis cum Corporibus sic Lapis noster 〈◊〉 Corpus Animam Spiritum XIII O Natura quomodo vertis Corpus in Spiritum quod non fieret si Spiritus non incorporaretur cum Corporibus Corpora cum Spiritu fierent volatilia postea permanentia XIV Transivit igitur unus in alterum sese invicem conversi sunt per Sapientiam O Sapientia quomodo facis Aurum esse volatile ac fugitivum etiamsi naturaliter fixissimum esset XV. Oportet igitur dissolvere liquefacere Corpora ista per Aquam nostram illa facere Aquam permanentem Aquam auream sublimatam relinquendo in fundo grossum terrestreum superfluum siccum XVI Et in ista Sublimatione ignis debet esse lentus quia si per hanc Sublimationem in Igne lento Corpora purificata non fuerint 〈◊〉 ejus partes nota bene terrestres seperatae à Mortui immunditia impedieris quominus ex his possis perficere Opus XVII Non indiges enim nisi tenui subtili naturâ Corporum dissolutorum quam tibi dabit Aqua nostra silento Igne procedis separando beterogenea ab homogeneis I. OUR Dissolution then of Bodies which is made such in this first Water is nothing else but a destroying or overcoming of the moist with the dry for the moist is coagulated with the dry II. For the moisture is contained under terminated with and coagulated in the dry Body to wit in that which is Earthy III. Let therefore the hard and the dry Bodies be put into our first Water in a Vessel which close well and there let them abide till they be dissolved and ascend to the top then may they be called a new Body the white Gold made by Art the white Stone the white Sulphur not inflamable the Paradisical Stone viz. the Stone Transmuting imperfect Metals into fine white Silver IV. Then have we also the Body Soul and Spirit altogether of which Spirit and Soul it is said That they cannot be extracted from the perfect Bodies but by the help or conjunction of our dissolving Water V. Because it is certain That the thing fixed cannot be lifted up or made to ascend but by the conjunction or help of that which is volatile VI. The Spirit therefore by the help of the Water and the Soul is drawn forth from the Bodies themselves and the Body thereby is made Spiritual for that at the same instant of time the Spirit with the Soul of the Bodies ascend on high to the superiour part which is the perfection of the Stone and is called Sublimation VII This Sublimation saith Florentius Cathalanus is made by things Acid Spiritual Volatile and which are in their own nature Sulphurous and Viscous which dissolve Bodies and make them to ascend and be changed into Air and Spirit VIII And in this Sublimation a certain part of our said first Water ascends with the Bodies joyning it self with them ascending and subliming into one neutral or complex Substance which contains the nature of the two viz. the nature of the two Bodies and of the Water IX And therefore it is called the Corporeal and Spiritual 〈◊〉 Cor jufle Cambar Ethelia Zandarith Dueneck the Good but properly it is called the permanent or fixed Water only because it flies not in the Fire X. But it perpetually adheres to the commixed or compounded Bodies that is to Sol and Luna and communicates to them the Living Tincture incombustible and most fixed much more noble and precious than the former which those Bodies had XI Because from henceforth this Tincture runs like Oil running through and penetrating the Bodies and giving to them its wonderful Fixity and this Tincture is the Spirit and the Spirit is the Soul and the Soul is the Body XII For in this operation the Body is made a Spirit of a most subtile nature and again the Spirit is corporified and changed into the nature of the Body with the Bodies whereby our Stone consists of a Body a Soul and a Spirit XIII O God how thro' Nature dost thou change a Body into a Spirit Which could not be done if the Spirit were not incorporated with the Bodies and the Bodies made volatile with the Spirit and afterwards permanent or fixed XIV For this Cause sake they have passed over into
powder in the bottom of the vessel and the water which is called the black Ashes This is the Corruption of the Body which is called by Philosophers or Wise Men Saturnus AEs Plumbum Philosophorum Pulvis discontinuatus viz. Saturn Latten or Brass the lead of the Philosophers the disguised powder II. And in this putrefaction and resolution of the body three signs appear viz. a black color a discontinuity of parts and a stinking smell not much unlike to the smell of a Vault where dead Bodies are buried III. These Ashes then are those of which the Philosophers have spoken so much which remained in the lower part of the Vessel which we ought not to undervalue or despise IV. In them is the Royal Diadem and the black and unclean Argent Vive which ought to be cleansed from its blackness by a continual digestion in our water till it be elevated above in a white Colour which is called the Gander and the Bird of Hermes V. He therefore that maketh the red Earth black and then renders it white has obtained the Magistery so also he who kills the living and revives the dead VI. Therefore make the black white and the white black and you perfect the Work VII And when you see the true whiteness appear which shineth like a bright Sword or polished Silver know that in that whiteness there is redness hidden VIII But then beware that you take not that whiteness out of the Vessel but only digest it to the end that with heat and dryness it may assume a Citrine colour and a most beatiful redness IX Which when you see with great fear and trembling render Praises and Thanksgiving to the most great and good God who gives Wisdom and Riches to whom soever he pleases And according to the wickedness of a person takes them away and withdraws them for ever again depressing him even to the bottom of Hell To him I say the most Wise and Almighty God be Glory to the Ages of Ages Amen The End of Artephius Longaevus Nicholai Flammel Hieroglyphica The Hieroglyphicks of Nicholas Flammel newly Translated into English and Claused By William Salmon Professor of Physick CHAP. XXIII The beginning of Flammel's Book which is the Peroration of the Whole I. THe Lord God of my Life who exalts the humble in Spirit out of the most abject dust and makes the hearts of such as hope in him to rejoyce be Eternally praised II. Who of his own Grace reveals to the believing Soul the springs of his bounty and subjugates under their foot the Crowns of all Earthly Felicities and Glories III. In him I say let us always put our Confidence in his fear let us place Our happiness and in his mercy the hope and Glory of the restoration of our fallen state IV. And in our Supplications to him let us demonstrate or shew forth a faith unfeigned and stable an assurance that shall not for ever be shaken V. And thou O Lord God Almighty as thou out of thy infinite and most desirable Goodness hast condescended to open the Earth and unlock thy Treasures unto me thy poor and unworthy Servant and hast given into my possession the Fountains and Well-Springs of all the Treasures and Riches of this World VI. So O Lord God out of thine abundant kindness extend thy mercies unto me that when I shall cease to be any longer in the Land of the Living thou maist open unto me the Coelestial Riches the Divine Treasures and give me a part or portion in the Heavenly Inheritance for ever VII Where I may behold thy Divine Glory and the fulness of thy Heavenly Majesty a Pleasure so Ineffable and a Joy so Ravishing which no Mortal Man can express or conceive VIII This I entreat of thee O Lord for our Lord Jesus Christ thy well-beloved Son's sake who in the Unity of the Holy Spirit liveth with thee World without end Amen CHAP. XXIV The Explication of the Hieroglyphick Figures placed by me Nicholas Flammel Scrivener in the Church-yard of the Innocents in the fourth Arch entring by the Great Gate of Dennis-street on the right hand And of the Book of Abraham the Jew I. I Nicholas Flammel Scrivener living in Paris Anno 1399 in the Notarystreet near S. James of the Bouchery though I learned not much Latin because of the poorness and meanness of my Parents who notwithstanding were by them that envie me most accounted honest and good People II. Yet by the Blessing of God I have not wanted an understanding of the Books of the Philosophers but learned them and attained to a certain kind of knowledge even of their hidden Secrets III. For which cause sake there shall not any moment of my life pass wherein remembring this so vast a good I will not upon my bare Knees if the place will permit or otherwise in my heart with all the intireness of my Affections render thanks to this my most Good and Gracious God IV. Who never forsakes the Righteous Generation or suffers the Children of the Just to beg their Bread nor deceives their Expectations but supports them with Blessings who put their whole trust in him V. After the Decease of my Parents I Nicholas Flammel got my living by the Art of Writing Ingrossing Inventories making up Accounts keeping of Books and the like VI. In this course of living there fell by chance into my hands a Guilded Book very old and large which cost me only the Sum of two Florens which was about 6 s. 8 d. formerly now 10 s. English VII It was not made of Paper or Parchment as other Books be but of admirable Rindes as it seemed to me of young Trees The Cover of it was of Brass it was well bound and graven all over with strange kind of Letters which I take to be Greek Characters or some such like VIII This I know that I could not read them nor were they either Latin or French Letters or Words of which I understand something IX But as to the matter which was written within it was engraven as I suppose with an Iron Pencil or Graver upon the said Barke Leaves done admirably well and in fair and neat Latin Letters and curiously coloured X. It contained thrice seven Leaves for so they were numbred in the top of each Folio and every seventh leaf was without any writing but in place thereof there were several Ima ges or Figures painted XI Upon the first seventh Leaf was depicted 1. A Virgin 2. Serpents swallowing her up On the second seventh A Serpent Crucified And on the last seventh A Desart or Wilderness in midst whereof was seen many fair Fountains from whence issued out a number of Serpents here and there XII Upon the first of the Leaves was written in Capital Letters of Gold Abraham the Jew Prince Priest Levite Astrologer and Philosophor to the Nation of the Jews dispersed by the Wrath of God in France wisheth Health XIII After which words it was filled with many
which by a continual fire are adorned with Royal 〈◊〉 which being united and afterwards changed into a quintessence may overcome all Metallick Bodies how hard and solid soever they be IV. These are the Dragons and Serpents which the Ancient AEgyptians depicted in a Circle the Head devouring the Tail thereby signifying that they proceeded from one and the same thing and that it alone was sufficient and that in its revolving and circulation it made it self perfect V. These are the Dragons which the ancient Poets feigned did watch without sleeping the Golden Apples of the Hesperidian Gardens These are they on whom Jason in his adventure for the Golden Fleece cast or poured the liquor prepared by the Inchantress Medea VI. Of the discourse of whom the Books of the Philosophers are so full that not any of them that ever wrote but has declared something concerning the same even from the times of the most faithful Hermes Trismegistus Orpheus Pythagoras Artephius Morienus and others following them even to my self VII These are the two Serpents given and sent by Juno viz. the metallick nature which Hercules viz. the strong and wise man must strangle in his Cradle to wit overcome and kill them and to make them putrifie corrupt and generate at the beginning of his work VIII These are the two Serpents twined and twisted round about the Caduceus or Rod of Mercury by which he exercises his great power and transforms himself into all shapes as he pleases IX He saith Haly who shall kill the one shall also kill the other because the one cannot die without the other X. These two are those which Avicen calls the Armenian Dog and the Corassere Bitch which being put together into the Vessel of the Sepulchre do cruelly bite one another and by their furious rage and mighty poison never cease to contend from the very moment that they seize on one another if the cold hinder not till both of them become all over bloody in every part XI And then killing one another they be decocted and digested in their proper Venom or poison which after their death changes them into a living and permanent or fixed water XII Before which time they by their Corruption and putrefaction lose their first natural forms to assume afterwards another new one better more noble and excellent XIII These are the two Seeds Masculine and Feminine which generate says Rhasis Avicen and Abrabam the Jew within the Bowels or Womb of the four Elements and compleat all their Operations XIV These are the Radical moisture of the Metals to wit Sulphur and Mercury or Argent Vive not the Vulgar which are sold by Merchants and Druggists but Ours which give us these two beautiful Bodies we so much desire XV. These two Seeds saith Democritus are not found upon the pure and uncorrupted Earth But as Avicen saith they are gathered from the Dung Ordure and Putrefaction of Sol and Luna XVI Happy are they who know how to gather this fruit for of it an Antidote may be made which has strength and power to conquer all Infirmities Weaknesses and Diseases and even to contend with Death it self lengthening Life by the permission of God even to the determined or appointed time and withal making him to triumph over the poorness and wretchedness of this Life giving him an Infinity of Treasure and Riches XVII These two Dragons or Metallick Principles will strive each to inflame the other by its heat Then if you be not careful you will see a stinking and poisonous Vapour or Fume to arise exceeding in Poyson the biting of the most Venomous Serpent XVIII 〈◊〉 why I depicted these two Seeds in the forms of Dragons and of those colours is because of their virulent or poysonous smell and the Vapours or Fumes rising up in the Glass or Philosophick Egg being also of the same colours with the Painted Serpents viz. black blue and yellow XIX The power of which and of the Bodies dissolved is so venomous that truly in the whole World there is not a more malignant poyson for it is able by its own strength and foetid odour to mortifie or kill every thing living XX. The Artist is never sensible of this ill smell unless his Vessels break but hejudges when it begins to be by the sight and changing of colours proceeding from the putrefaction of the matter in Digestion XXI These colours as they signifie Corruption and Putrefaction so they also presage to us Generation by the gnawing and dissolving of the perfect Bodies which dissolution proceeds from external heat joyned with the watery fire and the subtil poyson of our Mercury which resolves into a meer Cloud viz. into impalpable powder whatever resists it XXII Thus the heat working upon and against the Radical Metallick Viscous or Oleaginous Moisture of Metals causes the subject matter to generate blackness XXIII For at the same time the matter is dissolved it grows black and generates for all Curruption is Generation therefore blackness is much to be desired XXIV This is the black Sail with which Thesus's Ship came back with triumph from Crete which was the cause of his Fathers Death And so must this Father also die that from the Ashes of this Phoenix another may spring or arise which Son must be King XXV This is certain that if this blackness be not at the beginning of your operation during the days of the Stone let what other colour soever arise you will wholly fail of the Magistery nor from that Chaos will you ever produce any thing XXVI You cannot work well unless you putrefie your Matter first nor can you generate unless you first meet with Corruption and by consequence with out a fit Womb warmth heat and nourishment the Stone cannot take a Vegetative Life so as to encrease and multiply XXVII And truly I must tell you that though you work upon the true matter yet if at the begining after you have put your Confection Prima materia or first Agents into the Philosophers Egg if I say sometime after the fire has stirred them up you see not the black head of the Crow this black of the blackest black you must begin again for your fault is irreparable and not to be amended XXVIII But especially the Orange colour or half red is much to be feared For if at the beginning you see that appearance within your Egg without doubt you have burnt the Matter and so will lose the verdure and life of the Stone XXIX The colour which you ought to have must intirely be perfected in blackness like to that of these Dragons in the space of forty days XXX If therefore you have not these essential marks retire your self in good time from your work that you may rescue yourself from assured and certain loss XXXI And note this also in particular that it is even next to nothing to attain this blackness there is nothing more easie to come by for from almost all things in the World mixed
Essential appearing in the Work I. WE have now taught you what the exquisite matter of the Stone is and also the true manner of working by what method and with what order the decoction of the Stone is to be performed whence oftentimes arises divers and various colours in the Philosophick matter II. Concerning which Colours a certain Wise Man saith Quot colores tot nomina so many Colours as it has so many Names According to the diversity of Colours appearing in the operation the Philosophers have given it several Names III. For which Reason in the first operation of this our Stone it is called Putrefaction and our Stone is made black For which reason saith a Philosopher When thou findest that black know that in that blackness whiteness is hidden and now it behoves us to extract that whiteness from its most subtil blackness IV. Now after the Putrefaction or blackness it grows red but not with the true redness of which one of the Philosophers saith It often grows red and it often grows Citrine or Yellow and it oftentimes melts or grows liquid and it is oftentimes coagulated before the true whiteness appears to perfection V. Also it dissolves its self coagulates it self putrefies its self tinges or colours its self mortifies it self vivifies its self denigrates or blackens it self dealbates or whitens it self and adorns it self in the red with the white VI. It is also made green for which reason another saith Decoct it till you see the birth of the Greenness or till the greenness is brought forth which is the Soul thereof And another Know that the Soul doth rule in the Greenness VII Also the colour of the Peacock appears before the Whiteness for which cause saith one Know that all the Colours which are in the World or are possible so be thought of appear before the Whiteness and then the true Whiteness follows VIII Of which a certain Philosopher saith But when the pure Stone is decocted so long till the Eye of the Fish as it were grows very bright a profit or good may be expected from it and then our Stone will be congealed into its roundness IX Another also saith When you shall find the Whiteness supereminent in the Vessel be certain that in that Whiteness the Redness is hidden and then it behoves thee to extract it X. Notwithstanding decoct till the whole Redness be brought forth and perfected XI For it is between the true Whiteness and the true Redness that a certain Ash-colour appears of which we have spoken after the Whiteness appears you cannot err for by augmenting the fire you come to the Ash-colour XII Of which another saith Slight or undervalue not the Ashes for God will return them to thee liquid and then at last the King shall be crowned with his red Diadem Nutu Dei by the good pleasure of God CHAP. LIX Of the manner of projection upon any of the Imperfect Metals I. I Have perfectly compleated the end of the promised Work viz. of our great Magistery for the making the most excellent Elixir as well Red as White It now remains that we shew the method or way of Projection which is the compleatment of the work the long expected and much desired cause of rejoycing II. Now the true Red Elixir tinges a pure and deep Citrine or Yellow to infinity of parts and it transmutes all Metals into most fine Gold III. The true White Elixir also whitens to Infinity likewise and it makes or tinges every Metal into a perfect Whiteness But you must know that one kind of Metal is much more remote or far distant from perfection than some others are and that some are much nearer to the said perfection than others IV. And although every Metal may be brought to perfection by the Elixir yet those which are nearer to perfection are easier sooner and better reduced to that perfection or transmuted into perfect Bodies than those that are more remote V. And when we have found a Metal which is as it were a kin or nearer to perfection we are excused in some measure from making use of or projecting upon those Metals which are more remote therefrom VI. Now what Metals are remote from and near to perfection and what are yet more near and as it were a kin to the perfect Bodies we have taught in these Chapters in which if you be indeed wise you may plainly see and truly determine which they be VII And without doubt he who is lawfully initiated into the Mysteries of this our Art may be able through his own Ingenuity and Industry by studying in this my Speculum 〈◊〉 to find out and know the true matter of our Stone And he will know and understand well upon what Body the Medicine or Magistery ought to be projected for perfection VIII For the Masters of this Art who have invented or found out the Prima Materia and the whole Mystery they have I say plainly demonstrated and as it were indigitated the direct way of working and made all things naked and plain to us when they say IX Nature contains Nature Nature exceeds Nature and Nature overcoming Nature does rejoyce and is transmuted or changed into another Nature And in another place every like doth rejoyce in its like for that the likeness between things is said to be the cause of Sympathy or Friendship of which many Philosophers have written notable things X. Know then that the Soul doth soon enter into its own Body but with a Forreign or Strange Body it can never be joyned or United In another place If you shall endeavour to joyn it with a Forreign or Heterogene Body you shall wholly Labour in Vain Also The nearness of the Body to perfection makes a Transmutation the more Glorious XI For the Corporeal by the Power of the Operation of Nature is made Incorporeal and contrariwise the Incorporeal is made Corporeal and in the compleatment the spiritual Body is made wholly fixed XII And because it is Evidently manifest that the Elixir is Spiritual and so very much exalted beyond its own Nature as well for the White as for the Red It is no wonder that it is not to be mixed with Bodies XIII The Method or way of Projection then is that the Body of the Metal to be transmuted beliquified or melted and then that the Medicine or Elixir be projected or cast upon the melted Metal XIV Moreover you must Note that this our Elixir is of a mighty strong Power and of great Force for one part being projected upon a Million or Ten Hundred Thousand parts and more of the prepared Body it does incontinently penetrate it transfuse it self through the whole and transmute it XV. Wherefore I deliver to you a great and hidden Secret Mix one part of this our Elixir with a Thousand parts of a body near to perfection put all into a proper Vessel inclosing it firmly and then put it into a Furnace of Fixation first with a very gentle fire
the water begins to whiten the whole Mass. XXVII A temperate heat working in moist Bodies brings forth blackness which having obtained there is nothing that you need fear for in the same way the Germination of our Stone does follow and forthwith to wit in the space of thirty or Forty days you have Gas or Adrop which is our Uzifer or Cinnabar and our Red Lead XXVIII Takeheed to defend your Glass from a Violent Heat and a sudden Cold make use of a moderate Fire and beware of Vitrification Beware how you bind up your matter mix it not with Salts Sulphurs nor the middle Minerals let Sophisters prate what they will Our Sulphur and our Mercury are found in Metals only XXIX 7. De Coagulatione Coagulation or Congelation is the induration or hardning of things in Calore Candido and the fixing of the Volatile Spirit The Elements are forthwith converted but the Congelation is no way impeded for those things which are Congealed in the Air melt or soften not in the Water for if so Our work would be destroyed and come to nothing XXX When the Compositum is brought to Whiteness then the Spirit is United and Congealed with the Body but it will be a good length of time before such a Congelation will appear in the likeness or Beauty of Pearls The cause of all these things is the most temperate heat continually working and moving the Matter Believe me also that your whole Labour is lost except you revivifie your Earth with the Water without that you shall never see a true Congelation XXXI This Water is a Secret drawn from the Life of all things existing in Nature for from Water all things in the World have their first beginning as you may easily perceive in many things The substance or Matter is nourished with its proper Menstruum which the Water and the Earth only produce whose proper Colour is Greenness XXXII Understand also that our fiery Water thus acuated is called the Menstrual Water in which Our Earth is dissolved and naturally Calcined by Conge lation when you have made seven Imbibitions then by a Circumvolution putrifie again all the Matter without addition beholding in the first place the blackness then the Whiteness of the Congealed Matters XXXIII Thus your Water is divided into two parts with the first part the Bodies are purified the second part is reserved for Imbibitions with which afterwards the Matter is made black and presently after with a gentle fire made White then reduce to Redness XXXIV 8. De Cibatione Cibation is the Feeding or Nourishing of our dry Matter with Milk and Meat being both administred moderately till it is reduced to the third Order you must never give so much as to cause a suffocation or that the Aqueous humour should exceed the Blood if it drinks too much the work will be hurt XXXV Three times must you turn about the Philosophick Wheel observing the Rule of the said Cibation and then in a little time it will feel the Fire so as to melt presently like Wax XXXVI 9. De Sublimatione Sublime not the matter to the top of the Vessel for without Violence you cannot bring it down to the bottom again by a temperate heat below in the space of 40 days it will become black and obscure When the Bodies are purified let them be sublimed by degrees more and more till they shall be all elevated or converted into Water XXXVII We use Sublimation for three Causes First that the Body may be made spiritual Secondly that the the Spirit may be made Corporeal aud fixed with it and become Consubstantial with it Thirdly that it may be purified from its Original Impurities and its Sulphurous Salt may be diminished with which it is infected subliming it to the Top as White as Snow XXXVIII 10. De Fermentatione Fermentations are made after divers manners by which our Medi cine is perpetuated Some dissolve Sol and Luna into a certain clear Water and with the Medicine of them they make the same to Coagulate or be Coagulated but such a Fermentation we propose not XXXIX This only is our Intention that first you must Break or Tear or Grind the matter to Atoms before you Ferment it Mix then presently your Water and Earth together and when the Medicine shall flow like Wax then see the above mentioned Amalgamation and put forth the same and when all that is mixed together above or on the top of the Glass being well closed make a Fire till the whole be Fluxed then make projection as you shall think fit because it is a Medicine wholly perfect Thus have you made the Ferment both for the Red and the White XL. The true Fermentation is the Incorporation of the Soul with the Body restoring to the same the Natural Odour Consistency and Colour by a Natural Inspissation of the separated things And as the Magnet draws Iron to it self so our Earth by Nature draws down its Soul to it self Elevated with Wind For without doubt the Earth is the Ferment of the Water and by Course or Turns the Water is the Ferment of the Earth XLI We make the Water most Odoriferous with which we reduce all the Bodies into Oyl with which Oyl we make our Medicine flow We call this Water a Quintessence or the Powers and it Heals or Cures all humane Diseases Make therefore this Oyl of Sol and Luna which is a Ferment most fragrant in smell XLII 11. De Exaltatione Exaltation differs a little from Sublimation if you understand aright the words of the Philosophers If therefore you would Exalt your Bodies sublime them first with Spiritus Vitae then let the Earth be subtiliated by a Natural rectification of all the Elements so shall it be more pretious than Gold because of the Quintessence or Powers which they contain XLIII When the Cold does overcome the Heat then the Air is converted into water so two contraries are made by the way till they kindly conjoyn and rest together after this manner you must work them that they may be Circulated that they one with another may speedily be Exalted together In one Glass well Sealed all this Operation is to be done and not with hands XLIV Convert the Water into Earth which will quickly be the Nest of the other Elements for the Earth is in the Fire which rests in the Air. Begin this Circulation in the West then continue it till past the Meridian so will they be exalted XLV 12. De Multiplicatione Multiplication is the thing which makes the augmentation of the Medicine in Color Smell Vertue and Quantity for it is a Fire which being Excited never dies but always dwells with you one spark of which is able to make more Fire by the Virtue of Multiplication XLVI He is rich which has but one Particle or Grain of this our Elixir because that Grain is possible to be augmented by one way to Infinity if you dissolve this our dry Pouder and make a