and speedy suffocation if the congregated Matter be from Phlegm which refuses Repercussives And Humours extravasated sticking in the Flesh whilst thick cannot flow therefore they are to be made Fluxile with hot Remedies If one taken with a Quinsey do saith Wallaeus in the beginning of the Disease gargle with Spirit of Wine all Inflammations will cease in about three hours time XXIII There has been a great noise made in the World about the use of a Swallow's Nest but the Virtue truly lies in the Dung which is found in the Nest And because the Dung is full of nitrous Salt 't is possible it may have a specifick Virtue against this Disease and though it is sharp yet it is withal discutient and therefore may be proper where the Disease arises from thick Phlegm The Tincture of it may be made with Wine or Spirit of Wine and Water and a Gargarism made thereof to be used four five or six times a day hot XXIV Scultetus commends this highly in the beginning of any Quinsey whatsoever Take Plantane Water three Ounces sharp Wine-Vinegar one Ounce Sugar two Drams Saffron in Pouder half a Dram mix and make a Gargarism to be often used XXV Platerus commends the Juice of Tree Ivy swallowed slowly from three Drams to half an Ounce for that it both digests and repels Sennertus saith that the Decoction of the inner Rind of the Hazle or of the Barberry-wood is excellent So also a Decoction of Alder flowers and Leaves with Jews-Ears sweetned with Honey of Roses for a Gargarism An Infusion of Mustard-seed in Wine is also an approved thing XXVI Outwardly Things also ought to be applied to induce the ripening such as this Take of our Antidote one Ounce Hens Dung Turpentine Saffron ana one Dram mix them and apply it hot Or this Take a roasted or baked Turnep split in balves moisten it well with Balsam of Amber and apply them on both sides the Jaws warm But the old Remedy you know is Album Graecum dried poudered and mixed with Honey to be applied as a Cataplasm outwardly and to besmear the parts withal inwardly XXVII Some affirm that the Ashes of an Owl burne in an earthen Pot being blown into the Throat are a specifick against a Quinsie softning it to admiration and breaking of it Others commend as a great Secret this Take Nitre half an Ounce Cream of Tartar one Ounce white Sugar two Ounces make each into a fine Pouder and mix them which put upon the Part leisurely to dissolve there or make a Gargarism therewith with this following Water Take Juice of Housleek one Pound Sal Armoniack half an Ounce dissolve and filter through brown Paper XXVIII I commend this following as a thing I have had great Experience of Take Wine half a Pint Tinctura Stomachica a spoonful mix and give it for a draught It dissipates the Inflammation and by its heat it discusses the Tumor at three or four times using provided it be used at the beginning If used afterwards it does good either discussing the swelling or hastning the maturation it is certainly one of the best of Remedies in this kind but at first it seems to set on fire the whole Mouth and Throat afterwards it is more moderate XXIX Among the number of the rest of the Things which I cannot enough commend our Spiritus Anticolicus has place In Extremity the Parts ought to be smeared or moistened with it with a Rag alone or you may mix a spoonful of it with three four five or six spoonfuls of Wine and gargle with it often warm viz. five or six times a day XXX When a Quinsey is in beginning the only thing and truly the best of Remedies is to take about one ounce of our Spiritus Cosmeticus in a Glass of Sack this given two or three times is indeed an admirable Remedy for it not only discusses or dissipates the Tumor but it brings on a most necessary Diaphoresis by which not only the afflux of new Matter is prevented but the Disease and all its Relicks perfectly cast off CHAP. XVI Of Deafness I. YOu ought to consider whether there be a perfect deafness or a difficulty of hearing only If the deafness be perfect so that the Patient can hear nothing no not the very beating of Drums nor the noise of Guns or Cannon the Tympanum or Drum of the Ear may be supposed to be broken and therefore the Disease to be incurable In this case you ought to attempt nothing for you will reap nothing but Disgrace But if with much gaping hollowing or making a noise the Patient can hear you there is hopes and you may hopefully make a trial II. If Deafness is either attended or begun with Pain it is either through a sharp Vapour or Matter offending the Part In this case according to the Rule of Hippocrates Sect. 4. 〈◊〉 48. you ought to evacuate by vomit For Diseases as he saith in another place are to be discharged by the part next to them and to be drawn out by that part that has a passage nearest to them In Libro de Affectibus he advises That if pain arises in the Ears to wash in much hot water and apply a fomentation to the Ears that the Phlegm may be attenuated and the pain eased but if it cease not yet an emetick Potion is then best to be used III. There are many kinds of Vomits prescribed by Physicians as the Vinum Benedictum Vinum Antimoniale Aqua Benedict a Rulands and a great many more of that kind which without doubt may be profitably given But there is no Vomit which I ever met withal has out done nay scarcely equalled my Caetharticum Argenteum which may be given from two Scruples to a Dram in a little Posset-drink or Ale or in place thereof you may give from four to six Grains of our Impetus Mineralis in a little Conserve or Syrup taking a large quantity of warm Broth after it IV. Now this is to be understood when the seat of the Phlegm and cause of the Pain is above but if it lies lower or vomiting does no good cooling things must be dropt in and that actually cold as Juice of Plantane Fumitory and the like and a Potion or Pills must be given that purge downwards Our Vinum Catharticum is here of excellent use if you give a Potion but if the Sick loaths a Potion and you desire to use Pills our Pilulae Mirabiles are admirable given from twenty Grains to half a Dram If any thing can be said to exceed them it is the Pilula Lunaris given to six Grains which I have several times given with success even in this case See these Medicines in my Phylaxa Med. Lib. 2. Cap. 59 61 62. V. You ought also to consider whether the Pain and Deafness proceeds from a hot or cold cause though what proceeds only from those simple Intemperatures seldom lasts long yet you ought to have some respect to them because hot
keep the Mixture for use Dose from six Drams to an Ounce every Night going to Bed drinking after it three Ounces of the Essence of Speedwel in a Glass of Rhenish-wine and Sugar Salmon XXXII Beverovicius de Calculo Cap. 12. saith That when the ways are loosned I suppose he means with Oily and Mucilaginous things nothing is more effectual to remove the Stone than one Dram of Sal Prunellae to be given in Rhenish-wine warm by which Medicine alone saith he I have often brought away the Stone of the Bladder from Children Crabs-Eyes are of tenuious Parts and Diuretick they break the Stone and force it away by Urine especially the Liquor of them which prepared after this manner is best Take Crabs-Eyes finely poudred two Ounces Acetum Terebinthinatum four Ounces stop and digest for a Night in hot Ashes the next Day decant what is clear and pour on as much more repeating this work so often 'till all the Pouder is dissolved These Liquors filterate and evaporate to dryness and the Salt will remain at bottom which dissolve in a Cellar into Liquor per deliquium Dose gut ten or twelve in Horse Radish Water or some such like This Liquor is much more efficacious than the Crabs-Eyes in substance XXXIII Quercetan his Nephritick-water is of great account and it is thus made Take Juice of Horse-Radish of Limons ana one Pound and a half Waters of Betony Saxifrage Wild Tansey Vervain ana one Pound Hydromel Malmsey ana two Pound Juniper-berries three Ounces Seeds of Millet great Burdock Nettles Onions Anise Fennel ana one Ounoe and a half of the four greater cold Seeds Marsh-mallows ana six Drams burnt Egg-shells Cinnamon ana three Drams Cloves two Drams digest all four or five days in a gentle Balneo then strain out and distill in Ashes He says this Water does wonders in the Stone and against suppression of Urine Dose from two Drams to an Ounce He adds a Dram of two sorts of Lithontriptick Species to the Composition but the smalness of the proportion to the former large quantity signifies but little I am of Opinion the Juice of Limons alone depurated without that specious preparation or given in Malmsey-wine as Guarinonius advises may be as good it is found by experience effectually to purge and cleanse the Reins and to give help to many and that without any harm to the Stomach especially if sheathed with Honey or Sugar XXXIV Brannerus de Calculo commends the following Syrup as an excellent Remedy leaving no calculous Matter behind in the Kidnies if after Purging two Spoonfuls of it be taken at a time in the Morning Fasting Take Juice of Speedwell one Pound Juice of Ground Ivy six Ounces of Purslane three Ounces mix and make a Syrup with Honey one Pound and a half Both Helmont and Faber commend the Liquor of the Birch-Tree which we call Birch-wine as a Remedy that does not only expel the Stone and Gravel but also prevents the Bleeding thereof XXXV Riverius saith The Ashes of Egg-shells given from half a Dram to one Dram in White-wine powerfully expels the Stone lodged in the passages of the Urine So also the Salt of Bean-Cods and Stalks of which half a Dram in White-wine operates after a wonderful manner Also Tartar Vitriolate given in the same Dose Spirit of Salt is also praised some drops of it being taken in the Morning Fasting in Broth or some other Liquor as Wine Decoction of Eringo c. He commends this Potion not a little Take Strawberry and saxifrage-Saxifrage-waters ana two Ounces White wine six Ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds two Ounces Spirit of Vitriol one Dram mix for three Doses to be given six Hours one after another Take Sal Prunellae Crystals of Tartar Pouder of Ivy-berries and Leaves of Cresses ana partes equales with some proper Syrup make Pills of which take one Dram every Morning Fasting XXXVI AEtius Sextus Platonicus and Guarinonius do all of them commend a Hare baked in an Oven 'till it is dry then poudred but Poterius saith the Ashes of a Hare given from one to two Drams in Wine is profitable to expel the Stone some say to dissolve it as also to prevent its breeding for the future made into Pills with Turpentine it is indeed of good use The Pouder of Deers-blood given to one Dram is commended to expel the Stone as Hoferus affirms Motherwort and the Roots of Vervain in Pouder or the Essence of those Plants prepared as we have taught in Chap. 5. Sect. 35 and 37. and drank with White-wine or Mead a little warmed are incredible Remedies in removing all things that hinder the passage of the Urine as Hofman and Marquardus say XXXVII For Medicines given Clyster-wise Fontanus commends the Decoction of Millet given to half a Pint but without doubt it may be much more effectual if half an Ounce of Turpentine be added to it being first ground with the Yolk of an Egg to open its body XXXVIII Zecchius in his Consultations commends yea says nothing is better to bring away the Stone in the Kidnies than warm Water or Veal or Mutton or Chicken-broth five or six Ounces being drunk pretty warm Morning and Evening before Eating And the great heat of the Reins will be taken away which is the essicient cause of the pains of the Stone returning if boyled Water to the quantity of seven or eight Ounces be drank before Meals twice a day for nothing renders the Kidnies so free from Recrements and so temperate and their fiery heat is at length extinguished with the warm Water so that they can never after breed the Stone If to what our Author here says you add to each Draught half a Dram of Salt of Tartar or pure Nitre it will in my Opinion be much more effectual because those Salts do in some measure direct the Water to the parts afficted If also it be sweetned with Honey the Medicament will be still the better for that it will less disaffect the Stomach which in some People it will be apt to do Salmon XXXIX Saxonia in prescribing some familiar Purge for such as are troubled with the Stone mightily discommends the use of Cassia whether for Prevention or Revulsion Petrus Pigray Lib. 7. Cap. 4. says That Cassia agrees very ill with those that are troubled with the Stone Others say that Cassia has increased the Disease and that the heat of Urine always followed the taking of it Fabritius Hildanus tells us That two Ounces of Cassia being given one in a continual Fever it raised such a Flux of Urine that for three days together he made his Urine so hot every time that he thought a red hot Wire had been drawn through his Yard XL To all this we answer 1 That very famous Physicians no ways inferior to the former have constantly used Cassia with very good success Platerus scarcely gave any thing in the Stone without it and often gave it mixt with Manna And the learned
Medicines that break and expel the Stone they ought not to be used once or twice only but oftner 'till the obstruoted Passages be opened And while they are given the Reins and Bladder ought to be helped with Baths Fomentations Unctions c. that they may operate the better Liquors also that are of thin Parts such as White and Rhenish-Wines must be given now and then with internal Emollients and Laxatives and Things slippery to make the Passages easie and open and qualifie the Acrimony of other Medicines XLVII To a nephritick Person vomiting Blood Maebius durst not prescribe Things to force the Stone lest when the Vessels are unstopt they should open wider and by farther vomiting of Blood Life should be endangered He gave therefore 〈◊〉 Hartshorn for several days in fresh Broth and fomented the Part with Camomil-flowers c. so his vomiting ceased and the Stone fell into the Bladder and afterstuck in the neck of his Bladder Then he gave his Anodyn-salt in Decoction of Mallows fomented his Privities with mucilaginous Things and anointed the Part with Oil of white Line-Tree within six hours he voided a Stone as big as a Bean and was restored to perfect Health XLVIII Spirit of Turpentine is a good Thing against the Stone but before it be used Lenitive Purgers should precede at least before it be continually and daily used It is a great Medicine and has a dispersing Power penetrating deep purifying the Bowels and healing them dissolving coagulated or hardned Tartar and expelling it by Urine Yet in the use of Turpentine it self in substance purging before-hand is not needful because it has in it self a cathartick Virtue especially if mixt with Rheubarb in Pouder as Crato in Scholtzius Cons. 152. advises It helps by its temperate heat whereby it befriends the Parts destin'd to Concoction for which Reason it is good for those that are troubled with the Stone You may see in Amatus Lusitanus Cent. 1. Obser 63. the History of a Monk who every Morning for several Months swallowed a piece of Turpenttne as big as a Nut and so was cured both of Stone and Gout when all other Medicines would do no good XLIX When the Stone is voided though all danger is over yet you ought for two or three days following to use Abstersives and Cleansers and Healers that the Reins may be perfectly cleansed and healed for which purpose nothing can be better than a Bolus of Turpentine made after this manner Take Turpentine one Dram and half Rheubarb Nutmegs Liquorice all in Pouder ana half a Dram mix and make a Bolus After which an Emulsion of sweet Almonds in Barley-water or Broth or Decoction of Pease may be profitably drank L. How great a Medicine Turpentine is is not easie to be declared it being a volatile Alcaly mixt with a small quantity of a volatile Acid but the Alcaly very much over-powering It purifies and sweetens the whole mass of Blood and Humors after a most wonderful and admirable manner and after such a way as 't is possible no other Medicine except of the Family of Turpentine as all natural Balsams are upon Earth can do besides For it momentarily enters into the whose Mass of Blood purifies it sweetens it and dissolves all its Coagulums entring into its Substance with its whole and entire Body where by its resolutive Power it does that which neither Spirit of Wine can do by its subtilty nor Spirit of Nitre Vitriol or Sulphur can do by their Acidity nor other volatile Salts can do by their penetrability being indeed and intruth one of the most absolute Antissorbuticks Antiphthisictiks Antispasmadicks Antiarthriticks Antepilepticks and Antinephriticks yet to this day discovered to the World LI. So that if a Physician knows rightly how to prepare and use that alone Medicine he knows a Thing which will do more than a whole Apothecary's shop beside it It is a Medicament which is a natural piece of Chymistry being only a dissolution of sand rocks or gravelly Bodies by the mighty Power of the plastick Spirit of the Plant which destroys the antecedent petrifactive Spirit of the Matter of which it was made viz. Sand Gravel Stones Rocks c. and by a living Alembeck to wit the Body of the Tree and all its Limbs is digested raised exalted and subtilized purified and made volatile and lastly impregnated with a mighty Spirit in direct antipathy and opposition and vastly superiour to the petrifactive Spirit as being not only able to do but also undo that which the said petrifactive Power can never do or accomplish again LII Nature has done so much already towards the perfection of this Medicine that little remains to be done by Art yet something it wants to be fitted effectually for so universal an use as it is design'd for and without which it will not perfectly answer the desired End of which we may in some other place discourse more at large This we could not even for Piety sake avoid the speaking of here considering that some thousands of times in about twenty six or twenty seven years Practise we have made use of it with admirable success LIII If in the Stone in the Reins the Sick pisses much Blood and often the case is hazardous because two opposite Intentions occur and it is a difficult thing to find a Remedy in Art to perform opposite Intentions or Operations viz. to open and stop dissolve and bind break and consolidate at one and the same time In this case you must set aside all other Remedies and have recourse to vitriolick Bath-waters or Waters running from Iron Mines for that their Virtue is most excellent there being no safer or better Remedy to be thought of for such Waters expel violently and efficaciously and are therefore Lithontriptick and yet as being impregnated with Vitriol they eminently stanch Blood strengthen all the Viscera and cool the Liver Spleen and Reins LIV. But because every one has not the liberty or conveniency of going to the Wells at Tunbridge or other Springs coming off of Iron or vitriolick Mines we shall here shew a Way of making those Waters artificially to perform the same Intention which is thus done 1. Take fair Spring-water six Quarts Salt Vitriol or Crystals of Mars one Dram mix dissolve and filter through brown Paper so have you a Water in Virtue and Effects like that which runs off from the natural Iron-Mines 2. Or thus Take spring-Spring-water a Gallon Sal Armoniack one Dram Scales of Iron one Ounce mix and digest for some days in a gentle Sand-heat 'till the Water begins to colour then filter and keep it for use 3. Or thus Take spring-Spring-water a Gallon Spirit of Wine four Ounces Spirit of Vitriol two Drams or better mix them for use These artificial Waters may be taken from a Pint to two Quarts or more but by degrees and a little warm or made into Posset-drink using moderate exercise and fasting 'till the Water is out of the Body They purge
Compounds you may see in our Phylaxa Medicinae Lib. 1. and 2. Salmon LXI In a hot Cause and Constitution Barbet gives this Take Roots of Al theae one Ounce Liquorice two Drams Mallow-Leaves M. ij Melon-seeds half an Ounce boyl them in Barley-water in a Quart of the Colature dissolve Syrup of Corn Poppies two Ounces raw Crabs-Eyes bruised one Dram mix them Dose two Ounces three or four times a Day Or thus Take Rose-water Strawberry and Purslane-water ana one Ounce Prophylactick-water Cinnamon water ana half an Ounce raw Crabs Eyes bruised one Scruple Laudanum Opiatum two Grains Fernelius his Syrupus de Altheae one Ounce mix them and let it be given by Spoonfuls LXII In a cold Cause and Constitution Take Roots of Rest harrow white Saxifrage ana one Ounce Liquorice half an Ounce Goats blood six Drams Crabs-Eyes bruised Nutmegs Cinnamon ana one Ounce Saffron three Drams Cloves two Drams Strasburgh Turpentine one Pound Spirit of Malmsey-wine five pound the Ingredients being cut and bruised digest fourteen days then distil in B. M. Dose one Ouuce Fasting and twice or thrice a day besides Barbet also saith That Cochinele being taken in fine Pouder in Rhenish-wine to one Scruple is a pleasant and sweet Medicine and of great efficacy LXIII Deckers advises the following Pouder Take Mustard-seed Tartar Vitriolate ana one Dram and a half Crabs-Eyes Salt of Bean-stalks of Broom of Rest-harrow of Pidgeons Dung ana one Dram mix and make a Pouder Dose from one Scruple to half a Dram in Parsly-water The Tincture of the Nephritick Stone is also very good but it is no where described but Moebius has this preparation Take Pouder of the Nephritick Stone put upon it rectified Spirit of Salt digest and there will be a green Tincture Dose from six Drops to twelve or twenty in Wine or proper Water Seeds of Violets are very convenient because they purge and expel the Stone especially if they be used in an Emulsion and is called by Schroder the Nephrocathartick Emulsion it is much commended both by Crato and Hartman and is a good thing against suppression of Urine LXIV Spiritus Acetosae Mineralis Take Tartar Vitriolate one Ounce Julep of Roses one Pound Cinnamon-water four Ounces mix them Dose two Ounces 't is an excellent thing Or Take Tartar Vitriolate one Ounce Radish-water one Pound Juice of Limons two Ounces Syrup of Corn-Poppies and de Altheae ana one Ounce Crabs-Eyes two Drams mix them Dose two Ounces Also Spirit of Juniper-berries affused upon Rob of Elder and Juniper and digested becomes of a pleasant red Colour and in Taste like Malmsey-wine and is truly a Medicine of great efficacy So also a Nephritick Liquor made of Nitre and Sal Gem calcin'd and dissolved per deliquium is a Nephritick of singular use LXV The Urinary Laudanum of Michael Take Spanish Juice of Liquorice dissolved in Winter-cherry-water one Ounce and a half Camphire one Dram Saffron four Scruples Winter-cherries half an Ounce Gum Tragacanth Mastick ana one Dram and a half Laudanum Opiatum two Drams mix them It is much commended for a peculiar Quality of provoking Urine opening Obstructions and expelling the same Michael his Nephritick Liquor Take Lynx-stone Jews-stone Nephritick-stone Sponge Crystal Crabs-Eyes ana q. v. dissolve them in rectified Spirit of Salt filtre the Solutions and distil to dryness so have you at bottom a coagulated Nephritick Liquor LXVI 〈◊〉 his Lithontriptick Pouder Take Crabs-Eyes prepared Goats-blood prepared ana one Dram and a half Jews-stone Nephritick-stone ana one Dram Pikes-Eyes Millet-seed ana two Scruples Crystals of Tartar half a Dram Salt of Tartar one Scruple mix and make a Pouder Dose from half a Dram to one Dram in any appropriate Water LXVII Forrestus his Decoction which some say exceeds all other things Take Red Tares three Ounces Barley hull'd two Drams Seeds of Marsh Mallows Mallows ana three Drams of the four greater cold Seeds ana one Dram fat Figgs nine Sebestens seven Liquorice scraped six Drams fair Water one Pound and a half boil 'till half be consumed then strain for an Apozem These Pills also are esteemed Take Pouder of Millepedes Crabs-Eyes Jews-stone ana one Dram Turpentine two Drams mix and make Pills Dose from half a Dram to one Dram every Morning Fasting Deckers his Apozem is yet better Take Spring-water three Pound red Vetches hull'd Barley ana two Drams Liquorice bruised Juniper-berries bruised ana one Ounce Seeds of Daucus Violets white Poppies Nettles Mallows ana half an Ounce fat Figgs nine Sebestens seven boil to a Quart strain and dissolve therein Syrups of Corn Poppies of the five opening Roots of Diacnicu ana one Ounce and a half Spirit of Sal Armoniack one Dram mix them Dose six Ounces twice or thrice a Day dropping into it at taking 2 or three Drops of the Juniperated Balsam of Sulphur LXVIII The same Deckers commends this Mixture Take parsly-Parsly-water two Ounces Fennel and treacle-Treacle-water ana one Ounce Spirit of Vinegar half an Ounce Crabs-Eyes one Dram Oyl of Juniper-berries six Drops Spirit of Nitre one Scruple Laudanum Opiatum two Grains Syrup of the five Roots or rather Syrup of Corn Poppies one Ounce mix them If the same be great this Emulsion may be given Take Hull'd Barley boil'd 'till it cracks two Ounces sweet Almonds blancht Violet-seeds ana half an Ounce white Poppy-seeds one Ounce with a sufficient quantity of Barley-water make an Emulsion to twenty four Ounces of which add Diacodium Syrup of Corn Poppies ana one Ounce mix them He also commends to all the Spirit of Sal Armoniack given in Rhenish-wine or some Diuretick Spirit or Water as a Specifick Medicine not only to prevent but to cure the Stone if brittle or easie to be broken Universals being given before-hand LXIX Junken Medicus Pars 2. Sect. 1. Cap. 18. prescribes this Take Strawberries fresh gathered a Gallon Winter-cherries half a Pound Horse-Radish Roots scraped two Pound Daucus-seeds half a Pound Juice of Birch or Birch-wine twenty four Pound mix and distil in B. M. Dose frome one Ounce to three with Syrup de Althaea half an Ounce sweet Spirit of Nitre ten or twelve Drops Or thus Take ripe Strawberries four Pound Winter-cherries two Pound Malaga-wine two Pound juniper-Juniper-water of Parsly-roots ana two Pound Ground-Ivy white Saxifrage-roots ana one Ounce Peach-kernels two Ounces digest in a Vessel close stopt for a Month then distil Dose from a Spoonful to four in the Morning Fasting it is said both to preserve from and cure the Stone Again Take Crabs-Eyes Sperma Coeti ana half a Scruple Volatile Salt of Amber six Grains mix for a Dose and to be often repeated Or thus Take Wild Bryar Seeds half an Ounce Crabs Eyes pure Nitre ana one Ounce mix them Dose one Dram. Or thus Take Crabs Eyes one Scruple Volatile Salt of Amber six Grains Laudanum Opiatum one Grain or two mix them for a Dose Again Take Malaga-Wine one Quart Opium in pouder Salt
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
Amicum four Ounces Pulvis ad Ulcera two Ounces mix and apply it and let it be drest at first twice a Day afterwards once a day Salmon XIII For that which the Vulgar call an Ague in the Brest viz. an Inflammation First Purge with our Family Powder then apply a Cataplasm of baked Turnips for twenty four Hours after bathe it with our Powers of Amber and in four or five Days it will be well Salmon XIV Another for an Inflammation of the Breasts Universals being first premised as Purging with the Family Powder c. Apply outwardly our Balsamum Amicum or if you please anoint with Balsamum de Chili Morning and Evening Salmon CHAP. VIII Of Abortion or Misearriage I. Abortion more dangerous then a Timely Birth IT is not only more dangerous but more painful by reason of the violent divulsion of the Immature Foetus whence it is that many Dye and such as escape it is not without dangerous Symptomes vehement Pains Fevers c. It is not unlike to unripe Fruit which is difficully pulled off the Tree whereas was it full ripe it would drop of its own accord whether it was ripe or no which is the true cause of a mature or timely Birth The danger is the more if the Foetus be in the sixth seventh or eighth Month and the Woman be of a weakly Constitution for that healthy Women never miscarry without eminent Danger II. Bleeding by the Womb not always a sign of Abortion This is evident for that some Women have their Terms all the time of their going with Child and I have known some that have had them from the third Month to the last after they had been stopt 3 Months without danger and therefore Midwifes ought to be very discreet in making Judgment For though a Woman with Child may void much Blood by the Womb yet it may be no Miscarriage but either be a natural Flux as it is to some Women or only foreshew a Danger which ought by proper Means to be prevented Therefore Midwifes ought diligently to examine the Matter excluded whether it be Blood or Flesh or Seed or Faetus which by washing it in Water will easily be discerned and Judgment may be made accordingly whether there be an Abortion or no. III. A History of a Woman that Miscarried A Woman gon with Child fourteen Weeks Miscarried First much Blood came away then the Membranes and Faetus Two days after the Woman fell into a high Feaver due means was used and sufficient Cleansers but the Placenta or After-burthen stuck so fast that it could by no means be removed all the while she voided a filthy Cadaverous stinking Matter and sometimes pieces of Flesh on the tenth Day she died IV. A Spirit to prevent Abortion Take Spirit of Wine one Gallon Balaustians Pomegranates Peels Oak-bark of each four Ounces Opium two Ounces mix dissolve the Opium digest all together for six or seven days then add to it a Gallon or five Quarts of fair Water Distil in an Alembick and draw off five Quarts of Liquor which Dulcifie with white Sugar and keep for use Dose four or five Spoonfulls two or three times a day Salmon V. Another for the same much stronger Take of the former distilled Spirit a Gallon Catechu Cortex Peruvianus both in Powder of each a Pound mix digest shaking it twice a day for ten or twelve days then keep it for use Dose from one Spoonfull to two or more Morning and Evening it will scarely ever fail Salmon VI. A Powder for the same Take Antimony Diaphoretick Pearl red Corral in fine Powder Levigated Powder of Crabs Eyes ana two Scruples Balaustians in Powder Nutmegs ana five Grains mix for a Dose to be given Morning and Evening Salmon VII Another Powder for the same Take Blood stone Mastick Olibanum ana fifteen Grains make all into a fine Powder for one Dose to be given Morning and Evening in a Glass of Tent. Salmon VIII An Emplaster for the same purpose Take Blood-stone in fine Powder half an Ounce Mastick Frankincense Olibanum of each an Ounce Sumach Balaustians in Powder ana two Drachms Galbanum two Ounces Pine Rosin Venice Turpentine enough to make a Cerecloth which apply to her Belly and continue the use of it 'till the seventh Month or time of Birth Let it be laid on the Belly and on the Loyns on each side the Back-bone being left bare and every ten or twelve Days it may be changed IX A most excellent mixture for the same Take of our Guttae Vitae one Ounce see it in our Phylaxa Lib. 1. Cap. 9. and our Tinctura ad Catarrhos four Ounces mix them Dose one Spoonfull every Night going to Bed in a Glass of Ale Tho' there be evident signs of Abortion yet this will prevent it I have proved it above a hundred times with success Salmon X. A Plaster from Riverius If the Child be not severed from the Cotyledous apply this Take Olibanum in Powder two Ounces the Whites of five Eggs stir them together over the Fire always keeping stirring that they may not run to a Lump adding also a little Turpentine that they may not stick too much Lay it upon Tow and apply it to the Navel as hot as it can be endured twice a day Morning and Evening for three or four days in the mean Season also let her wear an Eagle-stone or a Stone found in the Heart or Womb of a Hind under her Arm-pits XI A Cataplasm to comfort the Womb. Take Crumbs of Houshold Bread two Pound Camomil Flowers a handfull Mastick Olibanum of each half an Ounce in Powder Nutmegs Cloves in Powder of each an Ounce Rose-Vinegar two Ounces Tent or Malmsey-wine a sufficient quantity Boyl all over a gentle Fire to the consistence of a Pultice put it into a Bag or folded Cloth and apply it hot to the bottom of the Belly XII A Cataplasm to prevent Abortion Take of our Balsamum Amicum two Ounces of our New London Treacle one Ounce mix them and with Powder of Rue make it of a consistency apply it warm to the Belly Salmon XIII Prevention of Abortion A Woman who had miscarried four or five times and dispaired of ever having a live Child I Cured by the following Remedy Take Rheubarb four Ounces slice it thin Anniseeds Caraways bruised of each two Drachms put all into a large thin Rag with a stone in it and so tie it up which put in a Gallon of Ale in a Stone or Glass Bottle after it has stood three or four days drink of it This she drank of all the time of her going with Child and she went her whole time out chearfully and well I have prescribed the same to several other Women with the same Success Salmon XIV An Observation worth noting Consider whether there be a real Miscarriage or no viz. whether the Faetus be actually excluded or only fears of it If it be actually done you must abstain from Astringents and things
accompanied with a Feaver in which cases as also in an Inflamation of the Colon this Remedy never fails XXIX This is also to be noted That where there is occasion of using my volatile Laudan Guttoe Vitoe new London Treacle or any other of that kind that they ought to be used while there is yet strength For if they be used when the Forces are wasted and the sick consumed or near death they will not only do hurt but also hasten the Patient's death taking away Life and Sense together Nor ought they to be given by any means if the Pulses be low languid and weak Yet if they be at all used they ought to be applied externally or only used in a Clyster in a proper Vehicle and the Clyster being given the sick to lie on the pained side Salmon XXX They are also most effectual if taken after Universals as proper and fit Emeticks or Catharticks or both such as we have before described And without these Preparatives they ought not indeed to be taken Salmon XXXI Authors say Clysters should first be given as of Oils alone from six Ounces to a Pound which the sick is to keep all night If evacuation of Excrements follow not that then exhibit five Ounces of fat Manna dissolv'd in Broth aromatiz'd with Cinnamon or other Spices for that by its softness moistness and subtilty of parts loosens and penetrates and by softning expels the Excrements If this does not Oil may be given again from six or seven Ounces to a Pound When the Excrements are brought away purge with this Take Sena an Ounce Aniseeds bruised a Dram and half Salt of Tartar one Dram Juice of Liquorice half a Dram Spring-water a Pint make an Infusion over a gentle beat for twelve or sixteen hours and strain it out for four Doses This will effectually cleanse the Bowels and take away all the Excrements or remaining morbifick matter Or instead thereof you may use our Tinctura Aured from half an Ounce to a whole Ounce at a time till the whole Cause is removed Salmon XXXII Should the Disease yet return and the Cholick pains be violent there is a necessity of having recourse to Opiates You may give them from 2 to 4 or 6 grains of our Volatile Laudanum after which give this Take of our Spiritus Cosmeticus a spoonful or spoonful and half choice Canary six spoonfuls to eight mix them to be given immediately after and the whole Region the Abdomen is to be bathed with our Spiritus Anodinus And these things are so much the better if the Constitution be hot But if cold the morbifick matter is made thicker and the Disease becomes yet more stubborn XXXIII When the Bowels or their Tunicles are thus afflicted with a gross tough and cold matter heating things ought to be used whether they be Cathartick or Alterative only In this case you may purge with this Take of our Tinctura Aurea from half an Ounce to an ounce Powers of Anniseeds half an ounce mix them with a Glass of White-wine or Ale for a Dose An Alterative Essence of Garlick is an admirable thing for it exceedingly heats warms discusses Wind profoundly and withal prevents the breeding and increase of the cold flegmatick Humor XXXIV To make the Essentia Allii or Essence of Garlick of so great use in this case Take a large quantity of Garlick beat it well in a Marble Mortar and reduce it to an impalpable Pap as much as you can put it into a long-neck'd Matrass or large Bolt-head which seal up hermetically or otherwise well close it set it to digest in Horse-dung or a Sand-heat of equal strength for forty days Then open the Vessel take out the matter which will most of it be reduced into a slimy Liquor strain out the thinner part by pressing Digest again in a little Sand-heat or rather in B. M. that there may be a residence of the grosser parts The thinner separate by inclination which perfectly purifie by adding to every quart of the Liquor from half an Ounce to a whole Ounce of its own fixt Salt or for want of the same as much Salt of Tartar digest again for forty days then separate the pure from the impure and keep the Essence for use in a Glass close stopt It will keep a long time and be as it were incorruptible Dose from half a spoonful to one or two spoonfuls or more The Essences of Plants made after this manner will be transparent either of an Emrald green or of a red Oriental Granate according to the quality and quantity of Salt Sulphur and Mercury predominating in each Plant. Salmon XXXV To make the Essentia Apii or Essence of Smallage which is a specifick in this Disease Take a great quantity of Smallage when in Flower beat it well as aforesaid digest in a long-neck'd Matrass for forty days close stopt in a Sand-heat strain out the thin by pressing Digest again in a very gentle Sand-heat or B. M. to make a farther separation Separate the thinner by inclination which perfectly purifie by adding to each pint of Liquor from two Drachms to half an Ounce of its own fixt Salt or for want of it as much Salt of Tartar digest again for forty days then separate the purely clear and keep it close stopt for use Dose from a spoonful to two or three spoonfuls or more in a Glass of Wine This is a Medicament not enough to be valued Salmon XXXVI These Essences thus drawn from the whole Plant or its parts are purified and exalted until they arrive to the nature of their first Being which will eminently posses all the central Virtues of their mixt for here Art and Nature in this Preparation have preserved all the seminal Powers with which it was endowed and these Essences contain in themselves all the efficacy and Virtues of the Plants of which they are made The addition of the Salt of the Plant not only adds to its virtue but it also causes to separate all the heterogeneous and slimy matter which did hinder the exaltation and perfection of the Medicine and brings it to the highest clarity and purity imaginable If three or four Ounces of white Sugar be added to every Pint of the Essence it will not only help to its conservation but also be more pleasant to the Patient And withal if you put a little Spirit of Wine or instead of the Sugar five or six Ounces of our Syrupus Volatilis the Preparation will not be the worse for it Note also these Essences may be given in Wine Water Broth or Decoction as the sick best likes They restore decayed strength and bring Nature back again into its old path for the health and preservation of the Body Salmon XXXVII The Essence of Peach-leaves Take Peach-Leaves long before the Fruit is ripe so many as by supposition you may have six Quarts of juice from beat them well as before digest all according to the former method for forty days
Medicines in a hot Temperament influence the Body as cold Medicines in a cold Temperament chill it and so make the Disease worse VI. Though Opiates are accounted ill in a Deafness yet if the Pain attending be very acute or sharp there will be a necessity to dispense with the Ill for the Good that may ensue And this is an Observation worthy of remarking That though Opiates are apt if not to cause deafness yet to confirm or continue it those ill effects seldom last much longer than the taking of the Medicine I have known some Patients of mine who being a little deaf afore-hand upon liberally taking of Opiates have had their deafness seemingly very much augmented yet upon the giving over the use of the same have had their Hearing return again to satisfaction and that with the advantage of greater acuteness whereby it appears that Opiates do no essential injury to the Organs of Hearing VII If any Matter runs from the Ear looking like the Matter of an Ulcer you must be cautious how you use Repellers lest the Matter strikes inward or be driven to the Brain thereby endangering an Apoplexy or part of the Matter be dried and hardened in the cavity of the Ear whereby not only greater Dangers may ensue but at least the hazard of an incurable Deafness And the same thing is to be understood in a critical Evacuation or where the Matter is thick and tough or there be an Aposteme breeding VIII If the Pain and Deafness proceeds from a cold Cause you may inject Juice of Onions into the Ear or Goats or Sheeps Urine Or this Take Juice of Onions three Ounces Spirit of Wine one Ounce mix them and drop it into the Ear or inject it with a Syringe Or this Take Boys Urine new-made two Ounces Spirit of Wine one Ounce in which six Grains of Camphire is dissolved mix and inject it These are excellent Medicines in a cold Cause and seldom fail at least of giving ease IX But if a hot Cause be present though things absolutely cold may be given yet hot things must positively be forborn and things of an equal temperature are to be administred such as these following Take choice Canary four Ounces Spirit of Wine one Ounce Nitre in Pouder two Drams mix and drop it into the Ear. Or this Take Juice of Plantane two Ounces Juice of Purslane one Ounce Juice of Lettisce half an Ounce Spirit of Wine an Ounce and half mix them Or this Take Juice of Cucumbers two Ounces Spirit of Wine one Ounce mix them to be dropt into the Ear. X. If with the Deafness and Pain there seems to be an Apostemation Faventinus his Cataplasm of roasted or baked Onions are usual to be applied Or you may apply this Take Pulp of roasted Onions Mithridate ana an Ounce Saffron in Powder one Scruple Spirit of Wine Gut Thirty mix and apply it hot to the Ear. If it proceeds from a cold cause it will warm and comfort the part and hasten the Maturation of the Aposteme if any be If it proceeds from a hot Cause it will open the pores of the parts adjacent and cause a discussion of the Pain and thin Matter offending Or you may apply this Talk Pulp of roasted or baked Onions two Ounces our 〈◊〉 half an Ounce Powers of Amber forty drops mix and apply it XI In a Deafness accompanied with vehement Pain so as the Patient can take no rest it is good to carry off the Matter with proper Medicines I commonly give in this case some Doses of my Family-Pills But if the Pain be extream indeed then two or three Doses of my Pilulae Mirabiles and according as occasion requires repeat the Dose five or six times for they insensibly melt and dissolve the Matter causing the Pain or make it fluid and movable and then carry it off by stool But withal Topicks ought to be applied in the mean season to dispose the Matter in some measure to a Cure such as this Take Mithridate or our Antidote one Ounce Balsam of Sulphur half a Dram mix and apply it XII If the Ear once runs you must promote the running of it which may be done with Externals after this manner Take of our Antidote one Ounce Balsam de Chili two Drams Balsamum Arthriticum one Dram mix and apply it You may also inject this into it which very much promotes the Hearing Take Venice Turpentine half an Ounce Yelk of one Egg grind them together in a Brass Mortar very well then add new Canary eight Ounces Spirit of Wine two Ounces mix for an injection In the mean season let the sick be well purged with our Vinum Catharticum at least five or six times I have found it to be a Specifick in this case and does that which an hundred seeming greater Medicines will not touch or come near XIII I remember I had once a Patient who had a Deafness accompanied with so vehement Pain that ordinary Remedies whether inwards or Topicks would do no good and all Evacuations by internal means rather augmented the Pain I was at length forced to give a Dose of my Volatile Laudanum the sick began with three Grains and increased it gradually 'till it came to seven Grains This brought upon the Patient a large Diaphoresis upon which they had some ease in a day or two's time and in five or six days perfect ease but the Deafness seemed to be greater The Ear was washed with Spirit of Wine twice a day and in about a Weeks time after the giving over the Opiate the Hearing perfectly returned which had been in a manner lost for seven or eight Months before After all I purged the Patient with two or three Doses of Family Pills XIV I had a Patient a Woman about fifty years of Age who had been very deaf for above a year and at times very much afflicted with Pains in her Ears I cured her in about six Weeks time by continually droping into her Ears four or five times a day our Guttae Vitae and sometimes likewise giving her about fifty or sixty drops of it inwardly in a Glass of Wine at night going to bed XV. If an Inflammation be present it may be abated by putting into the Ear Vinegar mixt or ground with Oil And though Vinegar alone would put the Part especially nervous Parts to pain by its Acrimony yet mixt or ground with Oil and in a small quantity it becomes harmless and eases the Pain allaying the heat and fierceness of the bilious Humor XVI An ancient Gentlewoman having a noise and ringing in her Ears and sometimes a little pain was cured by dropping into them once or twice a day our Aqua Bezoartica and stopping them with Cotton dipt in the same it dissipated the flatulent Matter offending and comforted the weakned Nerves XVII Where Deafness is joined with vehement pain and no Internals nor Topicks have yet been able to do good there is a necessity to apply Visicatories for by this
of Tartar ana two Ounces mix digest a Week or longer filter and keep it for use Dose one Spoonful This has been used with good success Take Cypress Turpentine one Ounce Balsam of Peru one Dram Pouder of Florentine Orrice-Roots Crabs Eyes ana two Drams Extract of Liquorice one Dram Volatile Salt of Amber half a Dram mix and make Pills Dose from half a Dram to a Scruple LXX Syrup made of Juice of Pellitory of the Wall with Honey is a Specifick in this Disease it opens all the Passages provokes Urine and that without any straining of the parts or pain and expels Sand Gravel or other Matter which obstructs the Passages Take of this Syrup four spoonfuls White or Rhenish-wine a quarter of a Pint mix for a Dose to be given Morning and Evening LXXI Where the Disease is extream and the Sick has not made Water for many days this following Liquor may be given Take Rhenish-wine Malaga-wine ana one Pound and a half Onions and Garlick bruised ana twenty Horse-radish-roots bruised four Ounces Juniper-berries bruised two Ounces Salt of Potashes half an Ounce mix digest four or five days then decant the clear Dose three or four Spoonfuls several times a day CHAP. XX. Of the STONE in the BLADDER I. BEfore we come absolutely to the matter in hand it is necessary to discuss the Point VVhether the Stone in the Bladder can be broken by Medicines or not That it may be broken many Physicians do affirm and bring in proof thereof their Experiences The reason they render for it is That Medicines may do it acting by their tenuity acidity asperity and their diuretick force Or that there is a dissolving Salt as well as a coagulating One which Virtues are not to be denied to Herbs Plants Metals Stones and minerals AEtius Lib. 2. tells us how Philagarius cured the Stone in the Bladder with Goats-blood and a Hedge-Sparrow mixt together Laurembergius cured one of a great Stone by the use of Millepedes A Jesuite at Rome cured a Printer's Son of the Stone with Millepedes rightly prepared Turrianus in Iatro Lib. 4. Pag. 262 saith He broke a Stone which was design'd to be cut by giving a little Pouder of Crystial to drink or the dissoluble substance thereof viz Calcin'd in a Potter's Fornace at least nine times and quenched in Nettle-water to be reduced to a Calx then put into a Cellar to melt per deliquium Rhasis Lib. 9. saith He cured a Stone in the Bladder of long standing with his Pills Horatius Augenius and his Father with some others cured several with the same Medicine Johannes Prevotius saith the Stone in the Bladder is broken by a Plaster of white Onions boiled and applied to the bottom of the Belly Hippocrates Galen Avicenna Dioscorides and others are of the same Opinion And the Author of this Work knew one who was appointed to be cut of the Stone by taking Diureticks was perfectly cured of which Horse Raddish was chief was perfectly cured so that for more than twenty five years since he has not been troubled with it And it is possible that a thousand more of these Examples may be urged II. To all these Things we answer 1. That all these Examples and thousands more of the like can be no Rule to conclude the thing because all the same Things have been used with all care and circumspection to others where the success has not been answerable 2. That it is probable that the Stones dissolv'd by the aforesaid Medicaments and such other like might be only sandy gritty Concretions friable and easily broken whereas we say had the Stone been great and hard like a Flint the Event would not have succeeded 3. We can bring also the Opinion Experience of many great Physicians to the contrary Hartman is of Opinion the Stone in the Bladder if it be confirmed and already come to some magnitude is scarcely cured by any other way than by cutting Barbet saith a crumbling Stone is seldom a hard Stone can never be wasted away or cured by Medicines Guarinonius saith that scarce ever any one saw the Stone broken by Medicines I could name multitudes of others of this Opinion but these may suffice And truly daily Experience to our Grief and the wretchedness of miserable Patients are as demonstrable and irrefutable Arguments of the Impossibility of Cure by Medicines without cutting Though Wincleras in Misc. curios An. 76. Obser. 102. saith he broke the Stone in the Bladder of a Boy 12 old and brought it away peace-meal by this Medicine Take purple Violet = Seed half an Ounce Waters of Strawberries Restbarrow Winter = Cherries ana q. s. make an Emulsion to which add Goats Blood two pound Hog = Lice prepared one Dram Species Lithontriptice half a Dram Spirit of Turpentine one Scruple mix them Dose two spoonfulfs often given which made it come away in pieces Probably this might be such a soft crumbling Stone as Barbet speaks of I have made trial two or three several times and the Experiment succeeded not possibly the Stones might be of a flinty Substance and therefore the Experiment not to be despised The last I tried it upon without success was cut of the Stone which being extracted weighed three Ounces and some odd Grains and was of a hard and marble = like substance III. Moreover when it is to be considered that the distance of Place is far and the ways by which the Medicines pass many and that if they be strong they carry large quantities of Matter from the whole Body to the Bladder and do more hurt by their acrimony and tenuity in scowring off the Lenter Mucus or slimy Matter which usually sticks to the Stone and serves it for a Bed whereby the Stone is made sharper and harder and thereby raises more intense pains than before But if they be weak they lose their Virtue before they come at the urinary Passages and Bladder whereby they do little or no good at all I say all these things being considered they still confirm me in my Opinion That if a Stone be large and of a flinty or Marble-like hardness or substance there is no Cure for the same by Medicines but by the Hand only of the Operator IV. Sometimes also we are deceived and think there is a Stone when indeed there is none as is recorded concerning a Noble-Man who after he had been tormented with pain and difficulty in making Water the Physicians and Chyrurgions doubted whether there was a Stone or no having used Medicines to no purpose he was cut for the Stone as is usual and was eased of his pain yet they found no Stone but a fungous Flesh in the neck of the Bladder which by degrees was consumed by convenient Medicines A like Example to this I can relate of a Patient of mine viz. Mr. S not long since one of the Shreiffs of the City of London who having been for some Months troubled with Pain and Obstruction of
it would neither move nor work for which reason you must consider and understand that all Metals are compounded of Mercury and Sulphur Matter and Form Mercury is the Matter and Sulphur is the Form According to the pureness of Mercury and Sulphur such is the Influence they assume XVII Thus Sol is engendred of most pure fine Mercury and a pure red Sulphur by the Influence of the Sun and Luna is made of a pure fine Mercury and a pure white Sulphur by the Influence of the Moon XVIII Thence it is that Luna is more pure than the other five Metals which have need of cleansing being cleansed they need but onely the pure Sulphur with the help of Sol and Luna Sulphur is the Form of Sol and Luna and the other Metals their other parts are gross matters of Sulphur and Mercury XIX Husband-Men know many times more than we do They when they reap their Corn growing on the Earth gather it with the Straw and Ears The Straw and Ears are the Matter but the Corn or Grain is the Form or Soul XX. Now when they sow their Corn then they sow not the Matter which is the Straw and the Chaff but the Corn or Grain which is the Form or Soul So if we will reap Sol or Luna we must use their Form or Soul and not the Matter XXI The Form or Soul is made by Gods help after this manner You must make a good Sublimate that is seven times sublimed the last time of the seven you must fublime it with Cinnaber without Vitriol and it will be a certain Quintessence of the Sulphur of that Antimony XXII When this is done take of the finest Sol one Ounce or of the finest Luna as much file it very fine or else take leaf Gold or Silver then take of the aforesaid Sublimate four Ounces sublime them together for the space of Sixteen hours then let it cool again and mix them all together and sublime again Do this four times and the fourth time it will have a certain Rundle like unto the Matter of the White Rose transparent and most clear as any Orient Pearl weighing about five Ounces XXIII The sublimate will stick to the brims and sides of the Vessel and in the bottom it will be like good black Pitch which is the Corruption of Sol and Luna XXIV Take the Rundle aforesaid and dissolve it in most strong Spirit of Vinegar two or three times by puting it into an Urinal and seting it in B. M. for the space of three daies every time pouring it into new Spirit of Vinegar as at the first till it be quite dissolved Then distill it by a filter and save that which remains in the Pot for it is good to whiten Brass XXV That which passed the filter with the Vinegar set upon hot Ashes and evaporate the Moisture and Spirit of Vinegar with a soft fire and set it in the Sun and it will become most White like unto White Starch or Red if you work with Sol which are the Form or Soul or Sulphur of Luna and Sol and will weigh a quarter of an Ounce rather more than less save that well XXVI Take an Urinal half a foot high and take of the firm body five Ounces of the Soul or Sulphur of Sol or Luna a quarter of an Ounce and of the Spirit four Ounces Put all of them into the Urinal and put on its head or Cover with its Receiver well closed or Luted Distil the Water from it with a most soft Fire and there will come off the first time almost three Ounces XXVII Put the Water on again without moving the Urinal and distil it again until no more liquor will distil which do 6 or 7 times and then every thing will be firm Then set the same Urinal in Horse-dung seven days and by the virtue and subtilty of the heat it will be converted into water XXVIII Distil or filter this water with stripes or shreds of Woolen-cloth a gross part will remain in the bottom which is nothing worth All that which is passed the filter congeal which will be about 4 or 5 Ounces and save it When you have congealed it three times melt ten ounces of the most fine Sol or Luna and when it is red hot put upon it 4 Ounces one Coppy said 13 Ounces of this Medicine and it will be all true and good Medicine XXIX Likewise melt Borax and Wax ana one ounce to which put of the former Medicine 1 ounce Put all these upon Mercury or any other Metal 3 pound and it will be most fine Sol or Luna to all Judgments and Aslays Thus have I ended this process in which if you have any practise or judgment and know how to follow the Work you may finish it or compleat it in 40 days XXX An Appendix teaching how to make Aurum Potabile Take Sal Armoniack Sal Nitre ana 1 pound beat them together and make thereof an AR Then take of the most fine Sol q. v. in thin leaves and cut into very small pieces which roul into very thin Rowls and put them into an Urinal or like Glass to which put the AR so much as to overtop it the depth of an inch XXXI Then nip up the Glass and put it to putrefie in Sand with a gentle heat like that of the Sun for 3 or 4 days in which time it will come to dissolution then break the Glass off at the Neck and pouring off the AR. easily and leisurely leave the dissolved Sol in the bottom and repeat this work with fresh AR. 3 or 4 times and keep the first water then put on a Helme with Lute and distil off in Sand Being cold break the Glass and take the Sol and wash it 3 or 4 times in pure warm water XXXII When the Sol is clean from the AR take of it and put it into the like Glasses with rectified S. V. 2 or 3 inches above it put it into putrefaction as before in Sand stoping the mouth thereof very close for 3 or 4 days then put the S. V. out which will be all blood red If any thing remains in the Glass undissolved put in more S. V. and let it stand as before Do this as long as you find any Tincture therein This is Aurum Potabile XXXIII But if you would have the Tincture alone distil off the S. V. with a very gentle fire and you shall find the Tincture at the bottom of the Glass which you may project upon Luna Gebri Arabis Summa The Sum of GEBER ARABS Collected and Digested By WILLIAM SALMON Professor of Physick CHAP. XXXVII An Introduction into the whole Work I. PErfection and Imperfection of Metalline Bodies is the Subject of this present discourse and therefore we treat of things perfecting and corrupting or destroying because opposites set near to each other are the more manifest II. That which perfects Imperfect Minerals is a commixtion of Argent Vive and Sulphur
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
the Invention of Perfection sub calce where he has these Words Our Stone is no other than a Fruitful Spirit and Living Water which we have named the Dry Water Here he desists and gives over the Discourse and leaves it interrupted till he comes to the first Chapter of the Third Part of the Sum of Perfectian where he goes on and continues the Discourse in these words We now signifie to you that the Natural Principles in the Work of Nature are a Fruitful Spirit and Living Water which we have also named the Dry Water and so continues the Discourse of it These two Places or Discourses we have joyned or connected together in this our Translation Lib. 2. Cap. 37. Sect. 18. that you may see the full of what he intends concerning it 33. In his Sum of Perfection Lib. 2. Cap. 8. towards the end of the Chapter he speaks of the Separation of an Earthy Substance from its compound which in the root of Nature is united to a Metal which is done either by Elevation or Lavation The way of doing it he has not taught in the place cited But in a great many Chapters distant in the second Part of the said second Book of the Sum of Persection of the Preparation of Venus he orderly goes on and Explicates the Method saying The way of the Preparation of Venus is manifold one is by Elevation another is without Elevation the way by Elevation is that Tutia be taken with which Venus well agrees and that it be ingeniously united therewith These places in our Translation Lib. 2. Cap. 45. Sect. 11 12 13 14. we have laid together and united 34. These are a taste of the many scores if not hundreds of places which in Geber himself are designedly interrupted by which means the Mystery is hid and the Method of operating and understanding of the Secret so obscured that without a great deal of Study searching comparing of places and laying the ending and beginnings of things together it would be almost impossible to apprehend what he intends for this reason it was that we went on not in an orderly and succinct Translation but rather compendiously to common place him by which means you have all things relating to one subject or matter laid together and brought under one and the same head which in the Author himself are possibly dispersed asunder into more than ten fifteen or twenty places of this Book 35. These things being said we have only to inform you concerning this work that this our composition is really Geber himself without any addition whatsoever Here is every single and individual process contained in the whole book nor any thing diminished which concerned the knowledge and practice of the Art but that we have for brèvity sake left some things out 't is true as all his Prefaces and prefatory Discourses contentions and disputes about the reality of this Art tautologies and often repetitions of things which was necessary in his interrupted method which to have incerted as they would have been of no use or profit so they would needlesly have swelled this work to an unreasonabla bulk whereby it would have been not only more chargable to the buyer but more unpleasant and tedious to the Reader 36. In Geber also there were many cuts or figures of Furnaces which were holy omitted and left out in the afore-mentioned English Translation these to our work we have added curiously cut in Copper with quotations upon each figure or furnace shewing to what Place Book Chapter and Section they belong 37. Flammel we have also now translated and claused into Chapters and Sections to which we have added his summary of Philosophy which was never prented with him before in any Language To his work we have also added his Hieroglyphicks neatly cut in Copper with quotations also upon each Hieroglyphick shewing to what Book Chapter and Section they have a reference or belong 38. Artefius whom we have named Longaevus we also claused or composed into Chapters and Sections which it was never divided into before in any Language and because the Author is a Rarity to be met with we have withal added the Latin Version for the sakes of such ingenious Persons who are curious in things of this nature Next to Hermes he is the most celebrated or famed Author of whom and which work we have many things to say but that we are prevented by the Epistle of the most excellent John Pontanus prefixed before the Book and to which we refer you 39. The first book of Roger Bachon called Radix Mundi we had in manuscript out of the Library of a learned man and our particular friend a Doctor of Physick who set a great value upon it and not undeservedly his Speculum Alchymiae is a translation out of that Copy in the Theatrum Chymicum vol. 2. page 409. a discourse scarcely inferior to any thing extant and of great estimation among the Learned 40. Riply we have published from a Manuscript not from the printed Copy yet we carefully compared it with that which was printed and supplyed it out of that with some thing which the written one wanted as on the contrary our written Copy had some things in it which the printed one had not as in particular the first Chapter which is a Preface to the Arch-bishop of York so that by the help of both together we have published one compleat 41. And to this work we also added the last Chapter viz. Chap. 73. lib. 3. which is an Extract of Ripleys Philosophick Axioms in the Theatrum Chymicum Vol. 2. page 116. In our written Copy which without doubt was Ancient there were several Annotations in the Margent referring to several parts of the work the Additions of an unknown Author These because they seemed to be excellent and very pertinent to the Explication of our Author we have inserted in the body of the Work in the very place where they are to be read putting them into Sections and numbring them with rest but to distinguish them from the Authors own work we have caused them to be printed in a different character to wit in the Italick and every where included them between two Crochets 42. We have wrote an Appendix to our first book of Practical Physick containing a short practical method for the Cure of all Diseases it is but a small thing not above six or seven sheets of Paper and only design'd as an abstract to help the Memory this we had published now in this work had it not swelled so big but sinse the magnitude of this has prevented it we intend for the benefit it may be to the publick and the sakes of such as desire it to publish it alone by it self with all the speed that may be 43. These Things being said I shall now give the Reader an Account since several have desired it of me of my Books what are already published and what are now in hand in the Press to
Aposteme apparently manifested it self they were then consulted about opening of it but none of them was willing to do it they all fearing her immediate death At length I was sent for to view it it was a great and wonderful Tumor and not without apparent hazard and danger yet it was my Opinion it should be opened for as the Proverb is While there is Life there may be hope the Patient consented to it and I did it There was near two Quarts of digested Matter gathered together for the timerousness of the Physicians and Chyrurgions had kept it too long from being opened this Matter I evacuated by degrees I took out almost a Pint at the first giving the Sick immediately a Dram or two of my Aqua Bezoartica to support her Spirits and in about five or six Days time the whole substance of the Pus was evacuated And finding that it had made no inroads into the cavity of the Abdomen I soon cleansed the Ulcer and in less than six Weeks time left the Patient perfectly well XXI Hence it is to be observed That though an Aposteme may sometimes happen to be in a dangerous place and withal through either the neglect timerousness or unskilfulness of the Artist the Apertion has been too long deferr'd whereby apparent danger is imminent yet the learned Physician should prudently put on so much Courage as to leave nothing unattempted towards the saving of the Sick so long as there is Life and the case only doubtful XXII Some Authors say That Abscesses or Apostemes may be discussed after they are suppurated two Exmaples of which 〈◊〉 brings Observat. 473 474. Where one Pomeret cured a suppurated Aposteme in his Daughter about eight years of Age. The Aposteme was saith he on the out-side of her nether law on the right-side of her Face and suppurated He from the Authority of Guido who saith That suppurated Apostemes are sometimes eured by discussion and from the Experiment of Paraens who also averrs that he had cured a suppurated Aposteme with crude Mercury mix'd with Diapalma Emplaster which discussed the same he I say in imitation of them mixed a Dram of Mercury with an Ounco of Diapalma and applied it to the said suppurated Tumor and within four days he affirms it was perfectly discussed He also saith that he did the same thing again on the same Daughter who having an Oedematous or Flegmatick Tumor suppurated upon the Region of her Lions as big as the palm of one's Hand it was discust within a few days by the same Plaister But in order to the performance of this it is required 1. That the suppurated Matter be small in quantity 2. That it be thin and serous 3. That it be near the Skin and not in any deep part 4. That it be in a soft-fleshed strong and youthful Body 5. That it also be in the Summer season of the year XXIII These are great Authorities and so much as they may do upon their own score may force a kind of belief But a Mind exercised with Reason and desirous of Truth can hardly entertain them besides the hazard and danger that may follow after such an Operation for where think you must that mass of Putrefaction go if it be discust The whole substance of it cannot pass through the pores of the Skin if any thing only the thin and watery part can pass The thick putrified Matter if it dissolves must revert either into the Blood or solid Substance of the Flesh or both which cannot but corrupt the Body and fill it full of ill Humors springing from such a corrupt Seed of Diseases whence Tettars Ringworms Morphew Scruf Leprosie King 's Evil Scurvy Pains Aches Lameness even an Army of attendent Diseases will possibly succeed So that if the thing may be possible I scarce think it prudent to attempt such a Work Nor does it yet appear by all that these Men have said that any such thing has been done for the Tumors not being opened their Judgments might deceive them and they may take that for granted which never was A very admirable Example of this kind I could instance of a pretty large Aposteme as it was thought by several Physicians and Chyrurgions my self being present there also The Man had been in much pain but now was pretty easie The Chyrurgeons were for opening of it as judging it to be suppurated but the Patient 's being easie would not permit it he only kept it covered with a Diapalma Plaster and in a Months time the Tumor was discust and the Sick well Now I am of Opinion that here was no suppurated Aposteme However from the aforesaid Observations of those learned Men this may be noted 1. That a Mercurial Emplaster applied to several sorts of Tumors may be exceeding useful more especially if they be not suppurated 2. That it is possible the wisest Artist may be deceived by appearances in Diseases of this kind where the insides of Things are not seen into though many times they may judge right Salmon XXIV Moreover The declension of the Fibres are heedfully to be observed in opening an Aposteme that you may not cut cross them For as Rolfincius observed an ignorant Barber opening an Aposteme on the forehead did it cross-ways 'T is true the Ulcer was cured but the Patient was ever after deprived of the benefit of his Eyes except when he pasted up his Eyebrows with Plasters XXV If pain seize any part of the Body and you fear that Matter is gathered there if the Sick sweats and the pain continue 't is positively to be concluded and though the colour of the part be not changed yet it must be opened to let out the Matter which if it be but little it may well enough and without any prejudice run all out at once which is ready to run without pressing and pressing indeed is to be avoided because it many times does hurt unless the Pus or Matter be lodg'd in some remote place from the Orifice XXVI In opening of an Aposteme upon the Buttocks you must be careful not to cut the great Nerve which lies under or lay it bare lest it be hurt by cold for thereby it will leave the Thigh for ever after benumbed XXVII Sylvius saith that among all things which move or promote the excretion of Matter antimonial Medicines are most to be commended For saith he I have often observed that they have a Virtue to correct all Evils brought on the Body by Matter and to hinder the production of new Because Antimony is not less serviceable to the purification of Man's Body than it is to that of Gold if it be rightfully prepared and administred Antimonium Diaphoreticum more especially Bezoar Minerale stop the continual generation of Matter from corrupt Blood and any other alterative Medicine made of Antimony especially the Balsam made according to Art out of its Flowers Balsamum Sulphuris Anisatum is also good for the same XXVIII And to this purpose
Urine with most other symptoms of the Stone it was believed not only by my self but by some others to be the Stone He also for a long time pissed Blood and made bloody Urine which sometimes I helpt him of though it often returned again He was a strong lusty and well-look'd Man and for all that could be seen might have lived many years Being at his Country-House at T he was afresh taken ill as himself and we all thought with the Stone He immediately came home for London and sent for me as soon as ever I came into his Company I saw Death in his face he took me by the hand held me engaged my Company for that day or 'till night and withal as one sensible his End was near told me he knew he had not long to be here and therefore pray'd me to stay with him as long as he lived I could not deny the Request of so worthy and good a Man however after four or five hours stay with him he dismist me and prayed me I would come to him the next day and sit with him which I did five or six hours He pray'd me I would not leave him for that it was the last trouble he should put me to yet being late dismist me again of his own accord engaging my Company again Going to see him the next day he was insensible and knew me not lying as we supposed by his great groaning in dreadful pain and under the Agony of Death by the force of which Paroxysm he surrendred his vital Breath He was immediately opened by An excellent Chyrurgion of this City nothing was found amiss in his whole Body save the Lungs on his lest side grew to his Ribs all the Viscera were sound and firm nor was there any Stone in either Reins or Bladder At last opening the Bladder we found a Fungus or Polypus of Flesh growing to the bottom of the Bladder and hanging down to the Neck being as near as I could guess about six Inches long and an Inch and half Diameter which gave a total suppression of Urine at time of Death It was this Polypus or Fungus which bled and almost continually made him make bloody Urine by which at length he was something emaciated and withal it had begun or was in part mortified whereupon Death ensued I relate this to shew how easie it is for the best and wisest Men for there was several skilful learned and worthy Persons in Consultation about this Gentleman to be deceived and how easie it is for us notwithstanding all our Knowledge Skill and Experience to err and be mistaken and when we think we do for the better even then to do for the worse Though I must conclude concerning this Person That if we had truly known what his malady had been it had been absolutely impossible for the most skilful Artist or wisest Physician to have cured him or saved his Life V. Some are against the using of Lapis Spongiae Lyncis calcin'd Egg-shells and such-like because 't is thought they may hurt the intermediate Parts But this is not so for as Sennertus urges their Efficacy does much depend upon their saline Spirits which get into the Stone and dissolve it into Atoms just as Metals and Minerals are dissolved in Aqua-fortis and Coral Pearl and the like in Vinegar For which Reason the use of such Medicines are not to be neglected VI. Universals having been premised we must come to the use of Diureticks whatsoever some Physicians have said to the contrary and such Things are to be used which may be able to cleanse and open the Reins but to extend their force to the Bladder also that so if the Stone is too big to be avoided of its own accord the natural way it may be directed to the neck of the Bladder and so be either forced out or taken out by the help of Instruments and the Hand of a skilful Artist 'T is true that some Physians as Avicenna for one forbid the use of Diureticks by reason they take away the skinny Coat from off the Stone thereby causing more vehement pain yet if we respect the Cure viz. of expelling a Stone which is but small and possibly may come forth of its own accord by the help of Diureticks through the natural passage Diureticks must be used and those which are of the strongest kind also not only to prevent its future growth but in order to the expelling of it through the neck of the Bladder and Urethra VII Horatius Augenius commends this as an excellent thing for this purpose even to break the Stone Take Millepedes prepared one ounce common Spirit of Wine four Ounces Red Chick-Pease-Broth five Pound mix them for eight Doses One or two of which as you see need requires may be taken in a day But the Potestates or Powers made of them as we have taught in the making the Cantharides in Lib. 1. Cap. 〈◊〉 Sect. 1. of our Phylaxa Medicinae will be much more effectual to the same purpose and may be given from ten to twenty or thirty Drops in a Glass of Ale Mead or Wine You may also give the Potestates Lithontripticae in the place quoted for the same intention and in the same Dose and manner they are a Medicine not enough to be valued for this Disease For these Powers being of thin pricking and volatile Parts they open Obstructions and resolve all tartarous Matter which breeds the Stone and Gravel but also dissolves a soft and porus Stone if bred and then brings it away VIII Goats Blood is said to be a Specifick against the Stone being taken in substance dried and in pouder from half a Dram to a whole Dram in White or Rhenish-Wine or in our Syrupus Nephriticus There is something more than ordinary in it as to this matter being generated of a food taken from stony rocky Mountains and Herbs proper against this Disease Besides it absorbs the acid Juice and encounters the petrefactive Agent in its Root But it will be much more powerful if you prepare it with our Spiritus Universalis which will in eight or twelve hours time resolve it and extract its Essence this you may give to half a Dram But if by reason of the unpleasantness thereof the Sick cannot take it affuse upon this Essence the best rectified Spirit of Wine so much as may over-top it about four Inohes and this will extract all the Tincture of Blood leaving the Spirit behind which may serve again for the like occasion Or thus Take rectified Spirit of Nitre eight Ounces put it into a large well-glazed Earthen vessel or into a large Glass Vesica put into it Gradatim Goats Blood dried eight Ounces so will it dissolve digest twenty four hours and you will have a glorious red Essence Put to it twenty four Ounces of the best rectified Spirit of Wine by degrees mix well digest a Week then filter and keep it for Use close stopt It is a volatile Acid
joined with a volatile Alcalie and such are the Spirit of Wine and Essence of the Blood Dose from ten to twenty or thirty or forty Drops in any convenient Liquor It opens all manner of Obstructions in any part of the Body provokes Urine powerfully and is an admirable good thing against the Disury and Ischury viz. where the Water comes scalding and by drops or where it is totally supprest IX I have found much good in this following for bringing away Sand Gravel or any mucous Matter obstructing the Urine Take Strasburg Turpentine two Ounces Oleum Petroleum one Ounce Oleum Anisii Baccarum Juniperi ana half an Ounce Millepedes prepared Earth-worms prepared pure Salt of Tartar volatile Sal-Armoniack ana three Drams mix them Dose from six Drops to twelve or more in a Glass of Ale Wine or Mead. Sometimes I prepared it thus Take Strasburg Turpentine two Ounces Oleum Petroleum one Ounce Oil of Limons Caraways sweet Fen nel-seed ana half an Ounce Crabs Eyes Goats Blood prepared volatile Sal-Armoniack volatile Salt of Amber ana three Drams strong Tincture of Thebian Opium made with the best rectified Spirit of Wine an ounce and half mix them Dose from ten Drops to twenty thirty or more according to age and strength in any proper Vehicle X. This is a thing I have often experienced with good success Take of our Spiritus Universalis two Pound brui sed Onions eight Ounces Parsley bruised four Ounces digest twenty four hours strain out by pressing then pass it through a Filter Dose from half a spoonful to a spoonful or more in a Glass of Ale Mead Wine or Parsley or Arsmart-water Or thus Take common Spirit of Wine a Quart bruised Onions Aniseeds Parsley roots ana six Ounces mix digest three days strain filter and keep it for Use Dose three or four spoonsuls in any fit Vehicle XI Laurenbergius Riverius and others mightily commend this as a thing almost infallible Take pure Salt of Tartar one Ounce Parsley-water a Quart mix dissolve and filter it two or three times through brown Paper that it may become clear then put into it the fresh outward Rind of Orange peels so much as to colour it of a Citron-colour viz. about two Ounces after three days decant the clear and keep it for Use The Dose is a spoonfull or more in half a Pint of White or Rhenish-Wine or Wine in which Mustard-seed or Horse-Radish-root has been infused XII This is commended by some for to expel the Stone in the Bladder Take Millepedes prepared Bedugar or Sponge of the Briar bush seeds of purple Violets ana one Ounce Species Lithontripticae two Drams mix them make a Pouder Dose two Drams in ten Ounces of a Diuretick Decoction mixt with two Drams of Spirit of Juniper It was given at five in the Morning for some time and a little after a great quantity of reddish Urine came away with flakes like Scales of Fishes which was the Coat or Crust loosned from a larger Stone and by the continual use thereof the Sick was freed from his Disease XIII This has been approved of Take a Hare with young calcine it to Ashes these Ashes mix with an equal quantity of Sugar Dose two Drams in any convenient Vehicle as Syrupus Nephriticus mixt with a Glass of White or Rhenish-Wine But Arnoldus de Villa nova took a Hare and fill'd the Bolly with the skin Saxafrage Millet Lapis Lyncis Lapis Judaicus Lapis Spongiae Cinkfoil and golden Rod and then calcin'd it of which he gave a spoonful in a Glass of Wine every day it broke says he and forced away the Stone in the Reins and Bladder XIV I have often given this following Medicine with incredible success Take Strasburg Turpentine two Ounces Hercules noster half an Ounce Bezoar Minerale Crabs Eyes Millepedes prepared ana q. s. mix and make Pills Dose two Drams twice a day drinking after it the following mixture Take Rbenish-Wine eight Ounces Syrupus Nephriticus an Ounce Potestates Litbontripticae fifteen Drops mix for a Draught This I have also proved with good Success Take Balsam of Peru half a Dram Oils of Nard and Mastich ana ten Drops Oil of Juniper six Drops Lapis Judaicus prepared Crabs Eyes fifteen Grains mix and give it in White or Rhenish-Wine or a Decoction of Millet XV. If by these or some of the Medicines mentioned in the former Chapter the Sick receives no benefit you must come to manual operation how that is to be performed whether by the Apparatus minor or major we have taught in our Synopsis Medicinae Lib. 3. Cap. 16. Sect. 7. 8. to which we shall refer you But there is another way of taking out the Stone which is thus The Artist puts his Finger up the Anus and moves the Stone to the fore-part of the Belly and then by a hole cut in the Musculus Rectus according to the Duct of the Fibres above the Os Pubis he takes out the Stone by the help of the Lapidillium or a pair of Forceps The Operation being performed this way a dripping of the Urine need never be feared and besides a larger space is allowed to take out the Stone in However this Operations is not without its danger besides the trouble for if the Lips of the Wound made in the Bladder be not united to the Muscles of the Abdomen an Exulceration of the Bladder follows which both makes much pain and creates an Ulcer more incurable than the Stone it self Roussetus commends cutting in the Groin especially for Children and is approved by Hildanus in larger Stones which cannot be brought to the Perinaeum it being there taken out with less pain and danger of an Hemorrhage The healing of the Bladder is not extraordinary because it has fleshy Fibres by the help whereof and the innate heat the Wound is the more easily cured XVI Some inject by a Catheter into the Bladder thinking thereby to break the Stone for that the Medicines are not altered in their passage nor lose any thing of their Virtue as those do which are given by the mouth but reach the Stone immediately I have injected Opiates with good success for giving ease If the Liquors be sharp they ought to be such that breaking the Stone they may not hurt the Bladder as Waters made of the Ashes of Scorpions Parsley-roots Kneeholm Crabs Eyes Pellitory of the Wall Pigeons dung c. Baverius injects Petroleum in which Lapis Lyncis has been boiled and strained forth embrocating at the same time with a Decoction of Mallows He says it wonderfully breaks the Stone in the Bladder Or you may inject with this Take a small Lixivium of Pot-Ashes one Pound crude Opium two Drams mix digest twenty four hours then strain out the Liquor for use CHAP. XXI Precipiolum The Universal Medicine of PARACELSUS WHat we have aenigmatically delivered in our Doron Medicum Lib. 1. Cap. 27. concerning the universal Medicine of Paracelsus by reason of
the Gold Take the Gold which you have scraped out of the Retort and pouder it very small in your Glass Mortar with which mingle your Mercury by degrees or by little and little your Mercury will hardly mix with your Gold the reason is the Gold is full of the Praecipiolum and then it is time to separate the Praecipiolum from the Gold and Mercury which is a Womans work when her Cloths are foul she washes them from their foulness The same way you must cleanse or separate the Praecipiolum from the Gold and Mercury as followeth XI When you have the sign that your Mercury will hardly amalgamate or mix with your Gold or that the Gold will not enter into the Mercury then pour on it the fairest Water distilled Water is best three Fingers breadth above the Sol or Luna and Mercury which wash together in the Mortar with a Pestel very well till the Water is blewish black then it is a sign that the Gold le ts fall its Tartar or Praecipiolum into the Water Pour off this Water into a Glass but be careful that not any of the Mercury goes off with it for this Mercury will no more mix with common fair Water than Oil and Water will mix Put more fresh Water upon your Gold and Mercury and wash it again 'till the Water is blew again pour it off as aforesaid Thus continue washing 'till your Water remains white Put this last Water to the other Waters in the Glass and cover the Glass very close that not any foulness may fall into the Glass XII The Praecipiolum being thus washed away the Mercury will again amalgamate with the Gold as Oil will dissolve Wax Take the Amalgama dry it upon warm Ashes very softly with a Sponge or on Paper and by a little heat that the Amalgama may be dry which put again into the Retort and distil it as aforesaid by Sect. 8. 9. so long 'till the Gold will hardly Amalgamate with the Mercury then separate the Praecipiolum as aforesaid by Sect. 10. 11. XIII Now observe I gave you a charge that you should keep your Glass close wherein you put your blewest Water which will be clear and a Pouder at bottom which is some of the Praecipiolum The clear Water pour off without disturbing it as soon as you can into another Glass Now when you see that your Gold will hardly mit with your Mercury or not without great trouble pour the same Water which you poured off from the Praecipiolum upon your Amalgama and wash it again 'till the Water is blewish as aforesaid which pour off and continue so doing 'till the Water is colourless by Sect. 11. XIV Then take the Amalgama again and dry it and repeat the same Work again by Sect. 12. 'till you have the sign which wash again with the aforesaid Water by Sect. 13. and you will find that your Praecipiolum will 〈◊〉 daily This distillation and washing you shall continue 'till the Mercury is freed from the Mercurium coagulatum or Praecipiolum XV. Observe that as the Water grows less you add to it as need requires fresh Water Now the sign when the Mercury has lost all its Sperm or its Tartar or Coagulum or Praecipiolum is That that Mercury will Eternally Amalgamate with the Gold so that they will always mix well together And if you should a thousand times Amalgamate that Gold and Mercury and as often distil the one from the other yet they will still Amalgamate again or mix And if you should wash them a thousand times with fresh Water the Water will be clear and not blewish As long as any Salt or Praecipiolum is in the Mercury you cannot distil two three or four times the Mercury from the Sol but it will be difficult to Amalgamate or mit the one with the other and when you will have it to mix you must wash it and then it will Amalgamate well again But when that the Salt or Praecipiolum is all separated from the Mercury it will Amalgamate or mit after a thousand distillations as aforesaid And if it be wash'd a thousand times the Water will always be clear XVI To prepare the Praecipiolum to a Medicine Pour the clear Waters from the Pouder which lies at the bottom in the Glass that no Water may be left on the Pouder put the Glass on a little warm Ashes that the Pouder may dry which will look blewish Yellow Put this Pouder into a little Cucurbit Glass or Bolt-head and distil off from it the Water of Eggs five or six times or so long 'till the Pouder becomes Red and distil off from it five or six times Spirit of Wine so is it fitted for Medicine Dostwo or almost three Grains XVII To make the Water of Eggs. Take a good quantity of Eggs boyl them very hard take the Whites and cut them very small and distil them in an Alembick per Cineres very softly 'till you have got all the Water from the Whites then take the Egg-shells calcine them put them into a Retort put upon them the former that is their own Water and distil per Arenam with a strong Fire put this Water upon Ashes again and distil it again Thus continue it five or six times so the Water will be fitted for the Praecipiolum XVIII The Philosophers Key which is the Sal Prae cipioli or Salt of the Mercury coagulate You may remember that I gave you Instruction that you should pour off the clear VVater from the Praecipiolum and you should make dry the Praecipiolum and bring it into a Medicinal red Pouder Or you should bring it into its first Matter which shall bring all Mettals principally its own Body into its first Matter which cannot be done without the Sal Praecipioli which is hidden in the VVater you pour off from the Praecipiolum That same VVater filtre through brown Paper and set the VVater to evaporate in a round Glass very softly in Ashes VVhen the VVater is evaporated away you will find at the bottom of the Glass a yellow whitish Salt which is Sal Praecipioli and the Clavis Philosophorum wherewith they do unlock the Lock of the Praecipiolum which brings the same into its first Matter If you know not this Salt you know nothing of the true Chymistry This Salt does decrease in the decrease of the Moon and increase in the full One Grain will purge very safely all Podagra's Struma's venerial and hydropical Humors with two Grains of the Praecipiolum prepared XIX To bring the Praecipiolum into its first Matter or slippery Water Take of the Salt p. 1. of the Praecipiolum p. 2. being dry first dissolve the Salt in warm Water and put it upon the Praecipiolum and evaporate it away very gently in warm Ashes with a very gentle fire then is the Praecipiolum with its own Salt put it into a little Retort nip up the neck of the Retort very close put it into Balneum
Vaporosum and let it stand 〈◊〉 Weeks in digestion or to putrifie and it will become a slimy Water Take the Retort open its neck and lay the Retort in a Sand-furnace and cover it with an earthen Pan fixing to it a Receiver well luted give first a slow fire then a stronger which continue till the Spirits be well resolved into water First the Spirits will come forth in white Clouds or in smoak and at last in red Clouds or smoak give fire so long till all the Spirits are come over in a clear white water and when you have this sign take the Receiver from the Retort stopping the said Receiver very well with Wax that no Spirits may fly away then let the Fire go out XX. The Matter which remains in the Retort take out and put it into a Bolt-head and stop it well and set it in a warm place then rectifie once the Spirits which are in the Receiver and keep them carefully Now observe this you remember that when the Mercury hath lost its Praecipiolum that the same Mercury will be as bright as a Venice Looking-glass Take of this bright Mercury one part of the Spirit aforesaid two parts put them into a Bolt head stop it very close and let it stand in a little warmth and the Mercury will mix with the Spirit then distil all through a Retort in Sand. Take again of the aforesaid Mercury which is clear as a Venice Looking-Glass p. i. of the Spirit p. ij put them into a Bolt-head and set it in a warm place and the Mercury will mix with the Spirit and dissolve then distil again in a Retort in Sand ut supra and it will come over in form of VVater this continue so long 'till all the one half part of the might Mercury is brought to a clear thin VVater which keep very close stopped with VVax Take the Pouder which I ordered to be kept in a Bolt-head and place it very deep in a sand Capel and give a strong Fire for twenty four Hours then let the Fire go out and take the Bolt-head forth and stir the Pouder with a wooden Stick and put it upon the half part of the clear Mercurial Water closing the Glass with Hermes Seal shake it and let it stand in digestion in a warm place for three or four days then pour off this into another Glass and pour upon the remainder of the Pouder the other half of the VVater sealing the Glass again and letting it stand ut supra for three or four days then put it to the former VVater and Seal up the Glass Hermetically letting it stand in Balneo Vaporoso eight Days after distil it through a Retort and if any thing remain in the Retort which will be very little pour upon it the Spirit again and distil it 'till all is come over Now is the Salt with its own Spirit and brought into its first Matter keep it well stopped XXI This is the VVater which the Philosophers have given divers Names to as their Horse-dung Balneum Mariae and Calx Viva and in Sum this is the Philosophers true Fire without which no true work can be done in Chymistry XXII The Philosopher has brought forth this Salamander which will never wast in the Fire the longer the stronger This Water will increase and multiply per Infinitum that is to say if all the Sea were Mercury it would turn the same into its first Matter First you must wash your Mercury with Salt and Vinegar divers times and at last with Water to wash away the Salt Then mix this Mercury with Calx Vive and Calcin'd Tartar and by Sect. 8. aforegoing distil it in a Retort in a sand Furnace and fix to it a Receiver fill'd almost half full of Water that the Mercury may fall into it and coagulate which dry and squeeze eight or ten times through Leather so will your Mercury be well purged and cleansed from all its filth and uncleanness XXIII This is the Mercury which you must use in the multiplying your Spirit or Astrum Mercurij Take of this Mercury p. i. of the Astrum Mercurij p. ij put them into a Bolt-head stop it close and let it stand in a warm place one Night so will the Mercury melt in the Spirit or Astrum Mercurij and turn into Water then distil it through a Retort Thus may you do by repeating the Spirit with fresh Mercury as long as you please XXIV This Water will dissolve Gold and Silver and all sorts of Stones and bring them over with it through a Retort Gold and Silver thus dissolved can never be separated one from another The reason is because they and all other Mettals are of the same Nature and have beginning from the same Water there is nothing in the World but has its beginning from it XXV Medicina Universalis the Universal Medicine Take of your fine Gold in Powder viz. the same which did remain when you made the Praecipiolum one part of your finest Silver two parts in fine Powder put each by it self into a Glass pour upon each the Astrum Mercurij so much as may overtop them a Fingers breadth stop each Glass very close and let them stand in a warm place for eight days and the Gold and Silver will be almost all dissolved into Water pour off this Water each by it self into a Glass and put more Water to the Gold and Silver which yet remains let it stand again eight days in a warm place and then pour off these Waters to the former Waters so will the Gold and Silver be dissolved into Water but there will remain some Foeces XXVI Take of both these Waters a quarter part and put them together into a Bolt-head so as three quarters may be empty seal it Hermetically digest it in an Athanor in a continual warm heat 'till it comes to a fixed red Stone or Pouder Before it becomes a red Pouder there will appear many Colours as Black then Green then Yellow lastly Red When it is very Red and a Pouder take the Bolt head and bury it in a sand Capel very deep and give Fire by degrees and at last a very strong Fire and it will melt like Wax Let it stand one whole Week but the longer the better then take it out and let it cool after break up your Glass and you will find a fird Stone or Pouder and Red as Scarlet XXVII Now you may remember that I bid you keep three parts of your Gold and Silver which were dissolved into Water put both these Waters together into a Retort distil them and both the Gold and Silver will go over with the Water through the Retort with which Water you shall multiply your Medicine Now take of your Medicine p. i. in fine Pouder and put it into a little Bolt head putting upon it twice as much of your Waters as of Gold and Silver Seal it again and digest it in an Athanor 'till it comes to a Red Pouder
and then put it again into the Sand Capell for to give Fixation and that it may melt as Wax as at Sect. 26. thus may you multiply your Medicine ad Infinitum and the Pouder will dissolve in any Liquor XXVIII To make the Astrum Horizontale or Aurum Horizontale viz. the Golden fix'd Praecipitate Take the most fine Gold to wit that which remains over in the working of the Praecipiolum dissolve it in your Astrum Mercurij as much as you will distil it through a Retort once or twice and your Gold will go over along with your VVater and will never be separated one from another for they are both of one nature XXIX Now take the Praecipiolum which is made dry not that which is made already into a Medicine put into a little Glass Cucurbit and put upon it your Golden Astrum Mercurii and distil from it three or four times very slowly but at last very strongly so will your Praecipiolum be a red and fired Stone as some call it or Pouder XXX The same may be done with Mercury purged it will fix the same into a red Pouder The same work may be done with Silver and with your Praecipiolum or with Quicksilver only cleansed No man can find out all the Secrets which are hid in this Philosophick Menstruum the true ALKAHEST of the Immortal Paracelsus The KEY of HELMONT and LULLY 31. TAke Quicksilver purified fix Ounces fine Gold purified with Antimony one Ounce make an Amalgama then distil the Mercury from the Gold mix the same Mercury again with the Gold and thus continue 'till your Gold will no more Amalgama with your Mercury but continue separate XXXII Then take the Gold grind it and put it into a clean Crucible and calcine it 'till it be almost red hot and then quench it in the best rectified Spirit of Vinegar when it is extinguished decant the Spirit from the Gold make the Gold dry heat it again and extinguish in the former Vinegar which work repeat six or seven times XXXIII Then dry your Gold and Amalgama it again with the former Mercury and distil again as at first and this do so long 'till the Gold will not Amalgama with the Mercury then calcine the Gold again and extinguish it in the former Spirit of Vinegar which work repeat as before six or seven times and as your Spirit decays or wastes add to it fresh Spirit of Vinegar-All these Operations you must so long continue 'till all the Semen Salt or Mercury coagulate is extracted out of the Quicksilver XXXIV Take then fresh Quicksilver and work in all things as before by Amalgagamating Distilling Calcining and Extinguishing in the said Spirit of Vinegar and continuing still with other fresh Quicksilver so long 'till you think you have enough from the Gold XXXV Then take this Spirit of Vinegar impregnated with the whole Essence of Gold evaporate it or distil it very softly off so will the Essentia Auri lye at the bottom like a yellow Salt which dissolve in fair rain-Rain-water distilled filtre and evaporate again softly then put it into a small Retort in a Sand-heat with an indifferent large Receiver give Fire by degrees and it will come over in a white Spirit like Smoak and Red like Saffron Being resolved into a red Liquor let the Fire go out and keep the Essence for use It is one of the greatest Medicines under the Sun three or four Drops of it are able to extinguish any Sickness curable The OPENING of SOL and LUNA XXXVI TAke of the Red Lyon twelve parts pulverize it well and grind it with one part of the Calx of fine Gold or Silver Put all into a small Bolt-head set it in Sand to the Neck which Neck must be very well Luted give the first degree of Fire for a Week the next Week the second degree the third Week the third degree and the fourth Week the fourth and last degree to a hissing so that if a drop of Water fall upon the Sand it may hiss XXXVII Then let the Fire go out and cut the Glass with a Ring take the Crystalline Matter like a Ring near the Neck of the Glass pulverize and grind it with its weight of the Calx of fine Sol or Luna as aforesaid pass the afore-mentioned four degrees in eight Hours to a hissing open the Glass as before and take the starry Crown which is the living Gold or Silver XXXVIII This Living Gold or Silver augment by digestion with a twelfth part of fine Sol or Luna at a time as often as you please or till you have a sufficient quantity of the same Take of this Living Sol or Luna a small quantity digest it in Ashes till it changes Colours viz. towards Red or White Earth Take then this Red or White Earth Amalgamate it with Living Gold or Silver and Calx digest again in a Glass Hermitically Sealed till it comes to a perfect Redness or Whiteness LIBRI PRIMI FINIS Clavis Alchymiae OR HERMES TRISMEGISTVS KALID PERSICVS AND GEBER ARABS All Translated out of the best Latin Editions into English and Claused for the sakes of the Lovers of Learning To which is Added A Singular Comment upon the First Book of HERMES the most Ancient of Philosophers By WILLIAM SALMON Professor of Physick The Second BOOK LONDON Printed for J. Harris and T. Howkins 1692. Clavis Alchymiae OR HERMES TRISMEGISTVS KALID ARABS AND GEBER ARABS All Translated out of the best Latin Editions into English and Claused for the sakes of the Lovers of Learning To which is added a singular Comment upon the First Book of Hermes the most Ancient of Philosophers BY WILLIAM SALMON Professor of PHYSICK The Second BOOK LONDON Printed for John Harris and Thomas Howkins 1691. Hermetis Trismegisti Tractatus Aureus The Golden Work of Hermes Trismegistus Translated out of Hebrew into Arabick then into Greek afterwards into Latin and now done out of Latin into English Claused and largely Commented upon By WILLIAM SALMON CHAP. I. The Preface Explicating in part the Prima Materia I. HERMES Even Hermes himself saith I have not in a very long Age ceased to try Experiments nor have I spared any Labour of mind But I obtained the knowledge of this Art by the Inspiration of the Living God only who esteeming me his Servant worthy did reveal and open the Secret to me Salmon There are three things which are certainly most necessary to the attainment of this knowledge I. An Unwearied Study 2. A Continued Experience 3. And the Divine Blessing going along with all Without these it is not probable any Man can attain the knowledge of this Secret There must be a diligent Study and a serious Meditation in the Soul concerning this thing Then these things thus meditated on must by experience be brought to ocular demonstration nor if you miss many times must you be weary with trying Lastly you must all along attend the Blessing of God for his assistance 'T is that Eternal
help of Vulgar Argent Vive And the Crow is the Infancy of the Work wherein the said Philosophick Mercury is United with its Solar Ferment The blackness of the Night is the Putrefaction thereof and the clearness of the Day its Resurrection into a State of Purity It flies without Wings being Born or carried by the fixt Nature and the bitterness in the Throat is the Death of the first Life whence is Educed the Soul which is the Red and Living Tincture taken from the Body And the Water is the Viscous Humidity made of the Philosophers Argent Vive which radically dissolves all Metals and reduces them into their first Ens or Water and also reduces common Quick-Silver into the same by a Simple Imbibition for ever VI. Hermes Understand and accept of this gift of God which is hidden from Ignorant and Foolish Men. This hidden Secret which is the Venerable Stone splendid in Color a sublime Spirit an Open Sea is hid in theCaverns of the Metals Behold I have exposed it to you and give thanks to the Almighty God who teaches you this knowledge If you be grateful be will return you the Tribute of your Love Salmon Fools and unlearned are excluded from the knowledge of this Mystery viz. Such as are unacquainted with the gift of God which is a measure of his Holy Spirit He calls it a Stone yet says it is a Spirit for was it not a Spirit it could not Penetrate and Tinge other Bodies by an absolute Unity and Conjunction Bodies and Matter cannot do this the most that they can do is but to touch one another in their Superficies for all matter is Dead and no Dead thing can penetrate into the property of another but only at most lie side by side with it And to make the matter the more sensible to your understanding he compares it to an open Sea for that this Spirit peirces Bodies and is joyned to them even as Water is joyned to Water or as the Salt Body thereof is joyned with its Aqueous parts It is hidden in the Caverns of the Metals that is if you seek for it in any thing that is not Metalline you stumble at the Threshold VII Hermes You must put the matter into a moist fire and make it to Boil which Augments the Heat of the Humour or Matter and destroys the Dryness of the incombustible Sulphur continue Boiling till the Radix may appear then Extract the Redness and the light parts till only about a third remains Salmon There are said to be three Species of Decoction 1. An external Fiery heat in Humido and is called Elixation 2. An external heat in Sicco which is called Assation 3. An internal natural heat in Humido called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Maturity or the Ripening and perfecting heat Now which of these it is that Hermes speaks of is the question The first and the third differ in this The first is an external Fiery Heat The latter an Internal Natural Heat In my Opinion both are to be admitted The Natural Heat Internal is the Cause of Generation and without that the External Heat can do nothing Hence we conclude the Heat to be twofold 1. External to excite 2. Internal to perfect both which ought to be made in humido for all Generation is naturally made in Calido Humido in a moist Heat which Hermes calls Ignem Humidum as if he should say the Fire is twofold which you must use viz. External and Internal He seems to make his Coction double 1. In the time of Augmentation 2. In the Ultimate perfection or Maturity and so long this Fire is to be continued till the Radix does appear i. e. the Seed of Metals The same method that Nature takes in Generating Herbs and Plants she takes in Generating Metals whose Seed is extracted by the help of Art which Seed is only and truly the Philosophers Mercury in which all the Metals are resolved into their first principles and in which is imprest the Character or Power of Transmutation They all err who think to reduce Metals only into Crude Mercury and not into their Radix as Hermes speaks viz. into their Seeds which is the first Matter living in Metals and from thence Nature ever goes forward never back-ward till she comes to perfection VIII Hermes For this Cause-sake the Philosophers are said to be Envious or Obscure not for that they Grudged the thing to the honest or just Man to the Religious or Wise or to the Legitimate Sons of Art but to the Ignorant the Vitious the Dishonest lest evil Persons should be made powerful to perpetrate sinful things for such a fault the Philosophers must render an account to God Evil Men are not worthy of this Wisdom Salmon It appears that neither Hermes nor any of the other Philosophers did Envy or Grutch the true knowledge of the matter to the Pious Just and good Man but only to the Profane and Wicked they did not think it fit to give the Childrens Bread to Dogs for which Cause-sake they always keep the Prima Materia Secret and left it as a Legacy to the Legitimate Sons of Art but the manner and way of working it through all its various Operations they have faithfully and plainly declared to the least Iota or Tittle CHAP. III. The Names and First Operation Explicated I. HERMES Now this Matter I call by the Name of the Stone the Feminine of the Magnesia the Hen the White Spittle or Froth the Volatile Milk the Incombustible Ashes so that it might be hidden from the simple and unwise who want understanding honesty and goodness which notwithstanding they signified it to the Wise and Prudent by one only Name which is the Stone of the Wise or the Philosophers Stone Salmon There are various Names by which the Philosophers call it as Sol Gold Brass of the Philosophers Magnesia the pure Body clear Ferment Elixir Masculine Fixt Argent Vive Incombustible Sulphur Red fixed Sulphur the Rubin Kibrick Green Vitriol the Greenness Redness burnt Brass Red Earth the Water of Sulphur Aqua Mundi Spittle of Luna Shaddow of the Sun Eyes of Fishes Sulphur sharp Wine Urin Light of Lights Father of Minerals Fruitful Tree Living Spirit Venom most strange Vinegar White Gum Everlasting Water Aqua Vitae a Woman Man Masculine Feminine a Vile thing Azot FirstMatter Principium Mundi and therefore Argent Vive Mercury Azot Plentlunam Hypostasis White Lead Red Lead Water the Crow Iron Silver Lime Jupiter Vermilion Whiteness all signifie but one thing Our Stone but in diver times and degrees of Operation So also White Earth White Sulphur Ethel Auripigmentum Arsenick Chaos a Dragon Serpent Toad Green-Lyon Red-Lyon Camelion Quintessence Virgins Milk Radical Humidity Unctuous Moisture Sperm Sal Armoniack Hair Urine Antimony Philosophers Lead Salt a Bird Microcosmus Cinnaber do all signifie but one and the same thing II. Hermes Conserve therefore in this the Sea the Fire and the
the Regions above but truly by forbearing to Flie. Salmon In this our Art are two Principles which spring from one Root and which are the subject of our Stone viz. Argent Vive and Sulphur of which the one is Volatile and superior the other fixt and below from the Conjunction of which often repeated is made the true and Philosophical sublimation and fixation And that is the fixation when the Body receives the Tinging Spirit and takes from it its Volatility this is done by frequent Reiterations till a Calx of perpetual duration is produced and will remain for ever in the Fire But in the very beginning of this work the substance of the Stone which in it self is most fixed by a Spirit not fixed or Volatile as Sea Water acetum radicatum and such like is to be made Volatile And by this means it will be more fit to be cleansed of its Filth or Rust which in metals is a most certain sign of Imperfection V. Hermes If therefore you shall deliver it out of its Imprisonment or Cage or Straights then afterwards you shall Order and Govern it according to the number of days I shall note to you according to Reason and then it shall be a Companion to thee and by it thou shalt be made great and powerful Salmon That is the fixed Body is to be lifted up by sublimation and to be so often repeated till the Volatile is made fixed or fixed with it But this is not to be done hastily or all at once but by little and little and by degrees Lest by too great a haste you break the Vessel or come to some other hurt God himself made all things in Number Weight and Measure that is in due and just proportion as well in respect of Time as Matter If you proceed wisely in this Case you will receive the fulness of your expectations VI. Hermes Extract from the Sun Beams the shadow and the sordid Matter by that which makes the Clouds hang over it and Corrupts it and keeps it from the Light because by its Torture and Red Fiery Heat or Redness it is Burned Salmon The shadow always goes along with the Body walking in the Sun Now that a clearer Light may appear through the Body without any shadow the Body must be opened made thin and dissolved which is the Patient by the Spirit or Sun-Beams which are the Agent the living Fire by whose Power it is brought to a Calx and the Corruptible part is Burnt up and destroyed or made fit to be separated VII Hermes Take this Redness Corrupted with the Water which resembles the Matter holding the Fire as in a live Coal from it As often as you take this Redness Corrupted in Water away from it so often you have the Redness Purified then will it Associate it self viz. become fixed and Tinged in which 〈◊〉 it will rest for ever Salmon That is Our Magnesia which is sown in our Philosophick Earth is to be Corrupted or Putrefied and then to be Digested Coagulated Sublimated Incerated and Fixed This Magnesia or Redness is thus made pure by separation and then it becomes Dissolved Digested Coagulated Sublimed Incerated and Fixed and Tinged being first lift up into the highest Heavens and then Buried again in the deepest Earth that therewith it may arise and in the same have a Habitation and be fixt for ever The Water is the Spirit the Redness is the Soul or Tincture and the Earth is the Body Now the Spirit is the Life of the Soul as the Body is the Clothing or Habitation thereof so that the Body is a substance fixed dry and containing both the Spirit and the Soul The Spirit Penetrates the Body the Body fixes the Spirit the Soul conjoyned Tinges of its own Color whether it is White or Red. VIII Hermes Return the Coal being extinct in its life to the Water in the thirty days I note to thee so will you have a Crowned King resting upon the Fountain or Well but drawing it from the Auripigment and wanting the Humour or Moisture Now have I made the Hearts of the attentive who hope in thee glad and their Eyes beholding thee in the hope of that which thou possessest Salmon The Life of the Coal is Fire which being removed from it is like a Dead Body nor in a Coal only but in all other things it is Fire that excites or stirs up the Life comforts it and conserves it Yea the Essence of Life is nothing else than Pure Naked Unmixed Fire not that which is Corrupting and Elementary but that which is Subtil Coelestial and Generating all things This in Metals is the Aqua Philosophica Oleaginosa Sulphurea and in this the Earth is to be raised up in the space of 30 days which is a certain Number for an uncertain By the Crowned King is meant the perfection of the Tincture The Well is the Fountain of the Philosophers inexhaustible out of which it draws the Auripigment or eternal Tincture but wanting indeed its moisture or Running-Water which is for so long time to be Digested and Boiled with Fires c. IX Hermes Now the Water was first in the Air then in the Earth restore thou it then to the superior places through its own meanders or passages and not foolishly or indiscreetly change or alter it and then to the former Spirit gathered in its Redness you must carefully and leisurly joyn it Salmon Convert the Elements and you shall have what you seek The Earth which is Cold and Dry agrees with the Water in one quality which is cold The Air which is Hot and Moist participates with the Fire which is Hot and dry and consequently the Earth with the Fire because of its Driness The Earth is the only true and first Element of the Stone which by a Philosophical Calcination is to be Burnt up and Rarified afterwards to be Dissolved in a Moist place into a Ponderous Water This by Sublimation is made more subtil and converted into Fire This Oyl by a most strong Fire into Ashes or a Red Rubicund Earth Thus the Dragon devours his own Tail and the Pelican with her own Blood nourishes her Young ones The Blood of the Pelican is this Red Spirit Now nothing is joyned together with it but that which before was separated from it This Mixtion of the Elements is not Corporeal but Spiritual not with Hands done but the work of the Metalline Archeus or Spirit which you ought well to know and then you will not long err from the Truth CHAP. V. A Dialogue between Hermes and his Son I. HERMES Know thou my Son that the fat of our Earth is Sulphur that Sulphur is Auripigment Siretz or Colcothar of which Auripigment Sulphurs and such like some are more vile or mean than others in which there is a difference or diversity Of this kind also is the Fat of Glewy substances to wit of Hair Nails Hoofs and Sulphur it self Oyl of Peter and the Brain or
Blood and Flesh viz. Fixity Tincture and Substance The Earth or Mercury is the subject or receptacle of all the Coelestial Radiations VII Hermes The Son saith Father which of these is more worthy one than another whether is the Heaven or the Earth The Father answers Both want the help of one another but a Medium is proposed by precepts But if thou shalt say that Wisdom or the Wise Man does Rule or Command among all Mankind to this Hermes The indifferent or ordinary things are better with them because every Nature delights or desires to be joyned in Society with its own kind We find even in Wisdom it self that equal things are joyned together Salmon If by a Magical Matrimony the Heavens and the Earth are Conjoyned neither seems to be more worthy for as the Earth cannot Generate without the Heavens so neither can the Heavenly Influences multiply themselves without the Earth But there is a mean proposed which he explicates in the following Paragraph which is the making the one equal with the other viz. by bringing forth a new Off-spring out of both which shall excede Sol himself in perfection because it is more than perfect and able to make the imperfect Bodies or Metals perfect which Sol himself cannot do and is also able to make the most imperfect Bodies more than perfect by multiplying their Tincture a thousand times more than what they had Originally by Nature which is performed by Precepts saith Hermes that is by Art And since every Nature Delights to be joyned with its own kind you must be sure to joyn Metalline Bodies only with Metalline Principles for Water joyned with Water cannot be separated no more can Silver being joyned with Silver or Gold with Gold that is to say their Seed VIII Hermes The Son saith But what is the mean among them To whom Hermes answers To every thing in Nature there are three things from two 1. The Beginning 2. The Middle 3. The End viz. First the profitable and necessary Water Secondly the Fat or Oyl Thirdl'y the Foeces or Earth which remains below Salmon By the Beginning he me ans the Deundation of the first Principles for the Prima Materia must be prepared and made fit for the Operation the Middle which are the Operations of the Work from the Beginning to the End the End which is the Perfection or consummation of the matter these are the three things from the two Principles Sulphur and Mercury Or possibly by the three things from the two he may mean the Spirit Soul and Body i. e. Fixity Tincture and Substance from the two Principles Sulphur and Mercury being in Conjunction Other Interpret it thus by the two things he means Heaven and Earth which cannot be Conjoyned without a Medium which is the Air no otherwise than Soul and Body which cannot be Conjoyned in one Body without the Spirit to Unite them The Spirit then is the Legitimate Mediator of the true and perfect Conjunction whether Natural or Supernatural By the Heaven is understood the Soul By the Earth the Body By the Spirit the Uniting Principles these indeed are the three things from the two i. e. the two Principles Sulphur and Mercury the Spirit being Latent in them both But however Our Hermes lest he should not be understood has explicated them himself viz. the profitable Water the Fat Oyl the Foeces or Earth By the Water is meant the Mercury by the Fat or Oyl the Sulphur which by the Mediation of the Internal or Latent Spirit are United into one Body and make the Foeces or Earth IX Hermes But the Dragon dwells in or Inhabits in all these things And his Houses are the darkness and blackness in them and by them he Ascends into the Air from his rising which is their Heaven But while the Fume or Vapour remains in them they are not perpetual Permanant remaining or fixt Take but away the Fume or Vapor from the Water and the blackness from the Fat or Sulphur and Death from the Foeces and by Dissolution you shall possess a Tryumphant Gift even that in and by which the Possessors Live Salmon We have spoken now concerning the Heavens and the Earth and their Matrimonial Conjunction by a Medium viz. the Air or Water which we also call the Spirit for the Water is nothing but the Air Coagulated and the Air is the Vital Spirit running through and peircing all beings giving Life and Consistency to every thing the very Agent which Ties the Particles of all Matter and Bodies together and without which every Body and Metal would fall to pieces and become nothing but Dust and Ashes even the smallest of Atoms And this Spirit is that which moves and sills all things It is the Philosophick Heaven which in its prime Resolution or putrefaction is wonderfully defiled so that like the most Poisonous Dragon or Serpent it destroys all things it touches from whence it is said to have its House in Darkness and Blackness and to possess Blackness and Clouds and defilements and Death it self So long therefore as the Heaven shall be thus infected it is impossible for it to return to its Pristine Nature Simplicity Purity Fixity and Permanency By the Dragon then is signified this Black Matter Ascending into Air which is difficultly done by Reason of its thick glutinous and Ponderous Body which would not tend upwards unless it be first resolved by Force and Power of the Fire in a Philosophick Glass into an Aereal and Vaporous substance being thus Dissolved by a frequent Ventilation of the Air or Spirit it will be perfectly purged and recover its Primaeval Nature of Heaven which is the thing sought after CHAP. VI. The Several Operations by and Various Matters of which the Stone is Composed I. HERMES Now the temperate Fat or Sulphur which is the Fire is the Medium or Middle Nature between the Foeces and the Water and the through Searcher of the Water The Fat 's are called Sulphurs for between Fire Oyl and Sulphur there is so little difference that there is a propinquity or nearness because as the Fire does Burn so also does the Sulphur Salmon He here makes the Fire to be the Medium between the Sulphur and the Mercury which Fire we have before declared to be both Internal and External The first is Innate in the Principles and Essential the latter Elemental and Accidental it is the through Searcher of the Water that is the stirer up of Internal Life and Efficacy so that the Internal Fire may properly be called the Spirit of the Matter which disposes the Particles of it to their Change But the difference between this Fire or Spirit and Oyl or Sulphur is so little that we want fit Words to express it but it is like the Spirit to the Soul which are inseparable But this is to be understood that of Sulphurs such only are to be chosen which are the more near in their principles the Sulphurs of Minerals are
the Water and the Fire dwelling therein which does contain its own Water drawn from the Four Elements and their Waters This is not Water in its form but Fire containing in a strong and pure Vessel the Ascending Waters lest the Spirits should flie away from the Bodies for by this means are they made Tinging and Permanent or Fixed Salmon That is the Mercury and the Sulphur dwelling in the Salt or the Spirit and the Soul dwelling in the Body which is our Stone The Fire saith he contains its own Water drawn from the Four Elements That is the Sulphur contains the Mercury drawn from its Original Fountains This is not Water in Form but Fire Nor is it Quick-Silver in form but Sulphur nor Spirit in form but Oyl or Tincture containing the Clouds and Ascending Waters which are of a dry consistency or Body sticking to the sides of the Glass lest they should flie away in sublimation from the Bodies by this means being often iterated at least three times but if it be six or seven times it is yet better the Spirit enters into and peirces and penetrates the Body in Order to its Fixation which at length is perfected which the highest Fixation and Tincture by the Fixing Oyl or Sulphur VII Hermes O Blessed Water in the form of Sea which Element thou dissolvest Now it behoves us with this watery Soul to possess a Sulphurous Form and to mix or joyn the same with our Vinegar Salmon Great is the Virtue and Power which dwells in the Aqua Philosophica from whence it is caled Blessed For as common Water washes away the Filth from things and cleanses them outwardiy so this our Elementated Water not only Dissolves Bodies but also Washes away and Cleanses them inwardly from all manner of Defilemens and Impurities and being joyned with the Philosophick Vinegar brings forth from them their incombustible Sulphur which by projection tinges and transmutes all imperfect Metals into most pure fine Gold and Silver This Water is the Key of the Art by which the Bodies are oftentimes to be opened that is they are to be Dissolved and by the same to be again Coagulated to be made more noble pure and perfect So that no Foot-steps of Death Blackness Corruption or Imperfection may any more remain in them The preparation of this Water is known but to a few nor do many attain to it because the Well is Deep out of which it is drawn nor do the Vulgar Chymists understand it But whatever you do you can do no great Matter without the help of Nature and tho' Aqua Fortis and Aqua Regis and such-like are usefull in their places to dissolve and Tear Bodies into Atoms yet are they Alien and far from the true Aqua Philosophica which has the Power to enter into the insides of Metals whereas they only divide them into many Superficies And therefore say the Philosophers the preparation of this Water is not to be Learned of Masters but it must be taught by the Dictates of Nature her self VIII Hermes For when by the Power of the Water the Compositum also is Dissolved you have the Key of the Restauration then Death and Blackness flie away and Wisdom proceeds on to the Finishing of the Work Salmon This Water does not Tear or Gnaw Bodies into Pieces and Bits but it Radically Dissolves them and reduces them into their Prima Materia as they were in their Original Generation Of this Nature are those Fountains Springs in Hungaria which have a Faculty of Transmuting what Iron soever is cast into them into good Coper and those other Fountains into which if any Wood be cast so as it remains but some certain time by the Lapidescent Virtue of the Water it is transmuted through its whole substance into Stone which Memorable and well known Powers and Operations of Nature in these particular things are in part a demonstration or at least an Argument to persuade one to the belief of other Operations and Transmutations in the Metalline Kingdom Ignis Azoth say the Philosophers are enough for the whole Work Learn therefore from Nature the preparation of this Azoth or Water of the Philosophers which Water being prepared does with a simple Operation through the help of Nature gently boyling in a soft Fire bring the work to a conclusion and perfect the same This Operation indeed or simple Coction is that which opens the Door into the Chambers of Life making Putrefaction and Death and blackness and darkness to vanish and flie away This Water and this Fire tho' simple and simple in their Operation yet are they hid and known but to a few for that they lead into the most recluse and abscondite recesses of Nature CHAP. VII The Operations of Nature in the Aqua Philosophica as in a Seed I. HERMES Now know my Son that the Philosophers chain up the Matter with a strong chain or band when they make it to contend with the fire because the Spirits in the washed Bodies desire to dwell therein and to rejoyce there In these habitations they vivifie themselves and dwell therein and the Bodies hold or contain them nor from them can they ever be separated Salmon The Bodies before they can be 〈◊〉 united with the Spirit and joyned one to another in a strong Confederation must first be purified and washed with Azoth and 〈◊〉 for the washing is that which puts an end to the blackness and the purification is made and continued till the White Elixir is made perfectly white and till the red is made perfectly red being thus cleansed and purified the Spirit out of a natural propension is drawn to the Bodies in which being ardently inflamed it immediately commixes with them and they are conjoyned with an indissoluble conjunction under the Chains of which they remain inseparable for ever Now this conjunction is not made by chance but from the meer affinity which is between the Bodies and Spirit for they both proceed from one fountain and principle though of the two the spirit by reason it vivifies and holds the Particles of the Bodies together is much the more noble the more excellent and most powerful Agent II. Hermes Then the dead Elements are revived and the Compositum or 〈◊〉 Bodies are tinged and altered and by wonderful operations they are made permanent or fixed as the Philosopher saith Salmon The Domicils of themselves remain dead but the Inhabitants in them are alive Now the Bodies of the Metals are the Domicils of their Spirits which when they are received by the Bodies their terrestrial substance is by little and little made thin extended and Purified and by their Vivifying Power the Life and Fire hitherto lying Dormant is excited and stirred up For the Life which dwells in the Metals is laid as it were asleep nor can it exert its Power or shew it self unless the Bodies be first Dissolved Exalted and turned into Spirit for that the Spirit does only Vivifie being brought to this
tho' most Vehement and Fusory or in the strongest reverberation without the least Diminution Detriment or Corruption But the Mercury is fixed by the Spirit of the Sulphur not by its Corporeity the Corpo real Particles only give form and convey the Spirit to the Mercury which could not be brought to it in or by any other Vehicle By the Fire all the Heterogene or impure parts of the Mercury are destroyed the pure left behind and held fast by the Power of the fixing Spirit which otherwise without the assistance and help of that Spirit would have vanished also This Volatile substance it seizes upon changes or trans mutes and fixes that is brings over into its own property This tho' a Spirit contains in it the highest fixity and its Body being Opened is the Sulphur or Seed which must be sown in the Philosophick Earth or Mercury as we have often said that it may there Die and resume a new Body a thousand fold more in quantity than its own which by the enforming Power of the Energetick Spirit will be made to live spring up and grow to be a Tree of the first Magnitude bearing Golden Apples whose Seed will be and remain in its self for ever and bring forth a new to infinity of Generations It s perpetual new Substance or Body being made out of the Substance of the Mercurial Earth by the Power of the transmuting or Vegetating Spirit and Soul VI. Hermes And that which rests or remains upon a strong Fire is fixed and is also a strong Fire it self And that which in the heat of a strong or boyling Fire is corrupted or destroyed or made to sly is Cambar Salmon By Cambar also he means the self same thing to wit our Volatile Mercury in its Corruptible State or rather the Corrubtible and impure part thereof which must be corrupted or destroyed and made to fly away that that which is pure and will not fly may appear and remain but the purifying Fire must be known in which the great Secret of the Operation lies and without which nothing can be done which Fire as we have formerly said is two fold viz. Internal and External the latter being used only to excite the former VII Hermes And know ye that Our AEs Brass or Laton is Gold which is the Art of the premanent or fixed Water and the Coloration of its Tincture and Blackness is then turned or changed into Redness Salmon That is Our Gold or Stone or Tincture is the product of the permanent or fixed Water by which he means the Philosophick Mercury impregnated with the Spirit of the fixed and incombustible Sulphur And by this you may perceive he puts a difference between the AEs Brass or Laton which is made by this permanent Water and the Corpus aeris or Body of common Brass Now the Aqua permanens is that which contains in it self the Tinctures of all Colors Black only excepted which is taken away from it for that it is a sign-of imperfection and impurity By this Water alone Mercury is turned or changed into the true Red that is into the Tincture of Sol. But to take away its Corruption and to reduce it into the incorruptible and fixt Nature of Sol that must be done by Sol alone and not by any corruptible and Forreign Matter or Substance for that Sol contains in himself the Seeds of fixity and Tincture which no other Body in the World does besides But to make Sol do or perform these things its Body must be opened prepared and made fit for this purpose by Virtue of the Aqua permanens or Aqua Philosophica VIII Hermes I confess that through the help of God I have spoken nothing but the Truth That which is destroyed must be restored and renewed and from thence Corruption is seen in the Matter to be Renovated and from thence the Renovation appears And on both or either side it is the sign of Art Salmon He has 〈◊〉 erto been teaching you the first part of the Work which is the Destruction of the first Birth and Life concerning which he assures us he has spoken nothing but the Truth Our Mercury must be undone and unmade that is corrupted and destroyed and brought through Putrefaction into a pure and Limpid Water that it may be able to peirce the Metalline Bodies from which State by Conjunction with a pure fixt and incombustible Sulphur and by Virtue of a subtle living and fixing Spirit invisible without length breadth or thickness which Spirit is the Philosophick Fire it is to be renewed and regenerated the Water is to be dryed up the spiritual is to be made corporeal the thin to be made thick the Volatile to be made fixt and the changeable Colors reduced to a Unity and Permanency either White or Red according to the Order and Root of the Operation one and the same Mercury does corrupt and destroy the Bodies and again exalt perfect and fix them The Matter of Our Stone is but one and therefore nothing can be more Alien from the Art than to fetch it from many things Nature is not mended or made better but by a Nature of its own kind as Vinegar makes Vinegar so Our Art begins with Mercury and with the same Mercury it is Finished It is a kind of Proteus which creeping upon the Earth assumes the Nature of a Serpent but being Immersed in Water it represents a Fish presently taking to it self Wings it ascends a loft and flies like a Bird yet notwithstanding it is but one and the same Mercury with this the Artist does Work and with it he transacts all the necessary Operations of our Stone being fit and proper for them all viz. for Putrefying Distilling Coagulating Mortifying Vivifying Subliming and Tinging without which seven Operations you labour wholly in vain Till you have Putrefied the Matter you have not made one step in the true way but that being done you have accomplished the first sign of the Art as Hermes testifies CHAP. X. The Practical part of the Philosophick Work I. HERMES My Son that which is born of the Crow is the beginning of this Art Salmon The Crow is the Blackness and Darkness of the Matter being Corrupted Now nothing was ever Generated or brought to light which had not its beginning from blackness and darkness ex nocte Orphei i. e. from principles Invisible for so it is said concerning the Creation of the great World In the beginning when God Created the Heavens and the Earth the Earth was empty and void and darkness was upon the Face of the Deep and God said let there be Light and it was so From whence we may gather that Darkness was Prior to Light And so it is in this our Philosophick Work and altho' it is commonly thought that the darkness or Dark principle is taken for the true Seed of things yet it is no such thing but only certain Rudiments or rather the Domicil wherein the true Seeds of things
dwell Nor is the Spirit by it self the Seed of things nor yet the Corporeal Particles by themselves but a certain portion of Spirit joyned with a fit proportion of Idoneous Matter conjoyned with an Eternal Soul which in the beginning of our Work is to be Putrefied and made blackness and darkness that the whole Corporeal form may be made spiritual and the Seed which before was Corporeal and Visible or a Spirit joyned with a Soul and a Body may become wholly spiritual From this third Immixt Incorporeal and Invisible Seed as from the Crow in the blackness and darkness of the Night is our Stone the true Seed brought forth which saith Our Hermes is the beginning of this Art II. Hermes See here how I have obscured the matter spoken of to you by a kind of Circumlocution and I have deprived you of seeing the light by giving you too much light And 1. This dissolved 2. This joyned 3. This nearest and longest I have named to you Salmon He tells us he has not nakedly demonstrated the whole thing to us but he has Indigitated the Matter with what fincerity he could Circumscribendo by a certain going about or Circumlocution which the Sons of Art by thinking and Meditating upon may at length happily find out The Philosophers say there are three several Birds which from the Name of Hermes they call Aves Hermeticae which fly by Night without Wings The first is Corvus the Crow or Raven which from its blackness is said to be the beginning of the Art and is of the Nature of the Element of the Earth Another is the Swan and is so called from the Whiteness in the middle and answers to the Element of the Water in which the Swan is Conversant The third is the Eagle which is the Oleum seu Sulphur Philosophorum and answers to the Air for that it flys longest in the Air and nearest to the Sun But that you may not be deceived by Names these Birds answer to so many Spirits or rather to one only Spirit under that threefold appearance or manifestation III. Hermes Roast them therefore then boyl them in that which proceeds from the Horse Belly for 7 14 or 21 days that it may eat its own Wings and kill or destroy it self This done let it be put in Petta Panni and in the fire of a Fornace which dili gently lute and take care of that none of the Spirit may go forth And observe that the times of the Earth are in the Water which let be as long as you put the same upon it Salmon Hitherto he has for the most part delivered the Art Theorically now he comes to the Practical part ordering the matter before demonstrated in divers manners to be roasted and to boil it in Horse-dung for a certain number of days There is a time of digestion which is the prime or first Assation or Decoction with a fire weak and soft like that of horse-dung which is sufficient for the first degree of Digestion This being done the Dragon will eat his own Wings and kill or destroy himself that is the matter will begin in the Terra Philosophica to be dissolved and corrupted Then after the time of the solution is absolved or compleated the heat of the fire is by little and little to be augmented and the matter to be decocted in a Philosophick Fornace or 〈◊〉 with a continual fire But the Vessel which must hold the matter must be exactly sealed lest the Mineral Spirits which have a most vehement and penetrating fire should transpire or go forth and leave the dead Body This may be done with Lutum Sapientiae which you may prepare after this manner Take Glue dried into powder one ounce Barly flower two ounces green Wood Ashes Salt Calx Vive Sand Crocus martis or Caput mort of Vitriol ana one ounce all being in fine powder let them be mixed with juice of Comfrey and Whites of Eggs to the just consistency of Lute with this the Mouths and junctures of the Vessels must be stopt and closed so that the least Spirit or Vapour may not go forth IV. Hermes The mat ter then being melted or dissolved and burnt take the brain thereof and grind it in most sharp Vinegar or Childrens Urine till it be obscured or hid this done it does live in putrefaction Salmon Our Stone contains secretly or hiddenly in its self all the Colors of the World which are not manifested unless it be first melted or dissolved As often therefore as it is melted in the fire so often a new color arises from it till all the colours are vanished and the whole matter is reduced to ashes And in these Philosophick Ashes is the Phoenix hidden and out of them will it arise with glory and splendour at first weak like a Worm which in success of time will become a Bird even the most glorious Phoenix By the Brain thereof he means the Spirit But here he calls the Ashes the Brain Metaphorically for as the Brain is the Seat of the most pure and subtil Animal Spirit in an Animal so these Ashes are the place of the most subtil Mineral or Metallick Spirit and the matter in which the said Spirit is hidden even the most noble and most pretious Spirit of this whole greater World By the most sharp Vinegar or Childrens Urine he means the Acidity or Spiritual juices of the Metals or Metalick bodies And by grinding the Ashes therewith he means dissolving them therein which is the Philosophick way of speaking And this dissolution must be so long till it putrefies and the first color of the operation appears which is blackness which color must twice appear The Stone must become Black twice twice White and twice Red the cause of which is but one only for that the putrefaction is twice repeated and therefore it is said the second time to live in Putrefaction that is being once corrupted and putrefied the second time it does putrefie By the Brain as I have said is understood the Spirit or the most subtil Mineral substance dissolved in the Radicated Vinegar of the Philosophers if you know not the preparation or rectification of this Radicated Vinegar you know nothing of the true Philosophick Menstruum or dissolvent there is no other Aqua Vitae Metalica Aqua Vitae Mercurialis Aqua Lapidis but this Acetum Radicatum for that it contains in it self all things necessary for this Work V. Hermes The Dark Clouds will be in it before it is Kill'd let them be converted into its own Body and this to be reiterated as I have described Again let it be Killed as aforesaid and then it does Live Salmon That is to say while the Matter is in Dissolution and Putrefaction in Killing but not Killed the Clouds like a Tempest will arise which is an effervescence caused from the contest of the contending principles as is evident in all sorts of Fermentations These Clouds must revert again and be converted into
Body these three Vapor Blackness and Death are latent which three are also one The Caput mortuum must be dissolved for except the Body be dissolved there can be no Coagulation of the Spirits for the Solution of the impure and vaporous Body induces and brings forth more pure and Noble Spirits indued with a mighty Strength and Power And by means of this Solution a more perfect mixtion is made as of Water with Water which cannot be separated not like that of Sand with Sand whose Superficies only touch one another which is indeed no true mixtion And thus by making a dissolution of the Metalline Principle that which is not Metalline nor will dissolve nor mix with the dissolved Matter as the Vapor the Blackness and the Death or Putrefaction comes to be separated and removed whereby the Dead comes to Live and that which was in Captivity and Chains comes to be made free delivered and set at Liberty IX Hermes It behoves us therefore to chase or drive away and expel the Superexistent Fume or Vapor from the Water the Blackness from the Fat And the Death from the Foeces and this by Dissolution By which means we attain to the knowledge of the greatest Philosophy and the sublime Secret of all Secrets Salmon In these three that is in the One Composed of the three lie these other three the Fume the Blackness and the Death that is the want of Ponderosity of Tincture and of Fixity both which threes in their own principles are also but one thing to wit the Caput mortuum which is depurated and revived by Dissolution only And except the Body is Dissolved there can be no Coagulation of the Spirits as we have said before And therefore if you would remove the Fumes you must dissolve the Fumous or imperfect Body that it may mix with the Ponderating Spirit The Fat or Sulphur is cleared from the blackness by manifold Sublimations bringing forth the pure Philosophick White and Red Flowers which are the Tincture And the Death is expelled by the Mercurial or Metallick Spirit which gives the Eternal fixity CHAP. XII The Praxis exemplified from the Nature of Leven and Paste I. HERMES Now there are seven Bodies of which the first is Gold the most perfect the King and the Head of them which the Water cannot alter nor the Earth Corrupt nor Fire Devastate because its Complexion is Temperate or in a mean and its Nature direct in respect of Heat Cold Moisture or Dryness nor is any thing that is in it Superfluous Salmon The seven Bodies are the seven Metals the first of which is Gold and the most perfect of them Now tho' it be all that can be or is requisite to be in a Body truly perfect yet something more than perfect is designed by our Tincture For Sol of him self cannot tinge nor melio rate any other Body nor bring it to his own perfection therefore he is to be made more than perfect by Virtue of this Philosophick Tincture which opening his Body shall exalt it a thousand fold beyond the degree of its perfection making him able to transmute other Bodies into his own form fixity and likeness The other six Bodies are Silver Tin Copper Iron Lead and Quick Silver which last is also among the number of Spirits Now there is a difference between the Common and Vulgar Gold and our Gold say the Philosophers Ours 〈◊〉 the AEs or Electrum Minerale whose Composition comprehends in it self all the Metals according to this saying Omne Aurum est AEs sed non omne AEs est Aurum This AEs or Aurum is rightly compared to Sol who by the Testimony of Hermes next after God governs the World and Illuminates all things both Animate and Inanimate of whom well Sung Palingenius O Sol qui tempora mutas Et cum temporibus quicquid generatur in Orbe And as the Stars and all the other Planets receive their Light and Virtues from the Sun so also do all the other six Metals and Minerals receive theirs from Our Gold almost in like manner by the Emission of its Rays or Beams which is indeed its tinging Sulphur and multiplying and fixing Spirit All that is perfect 〈◊〉 Sol is its Viridity 〈◊〉 eternally generates 〈◊〉 multiplying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ferment of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the Elixir saith the Rosary the compleat Medicine the most depurated and digested Substance more than perfect and perfecting all other bodies whether perfect or imperfect making those that are perfect much more than perfect This is the true Philosophick Gold i. e. Gold in a mean or Gold after a manner more worthy more Noble and more Pretious than Vulgar Silver or Gold or any Gem or Pretious Stone Many have sought this AEris Viriditatem in Vitriol and Copper or Vulgar Brass but they erred and were deceived following the literal Discourse of the Philosophers and not their Sense For they ought not to have contemplated the Metals as they are Bodies but as they are redu-Ced into a most Subtil Spirituous and Celestial Substance II. Hermes Therefore the Philosophers bear up and magnifie themselves in it saying that such Gold in Bodies is like the Sun among the Stars most Light and Splendid And as by the Power of God every Vegetable and all the Fruits of the Earth are perfected so by the same Power the Gold and the Seed thereof which contains all these seven Bodies makes them to spring to be ripened and brought to perfection and without which this Work can in no wise be performed Salmon As Sol is among the Stars and other Planets and Vulgar Gold among the other Vulgar Metals and Minerals so also is our Gold which is the true Philosophick Tincture among the other Metals or Bodys reduced to a Spirituality and pure Tincture And as Sol in the Heavens is the Medium that perfects all Sublunary or Inferior things by his Beams Light and Heat So also Our Sol the true Seed of Gold and the Seminal Power of the Aurifick Principle is also the Medium which makes all the other seven Bodies not only perfect but more than perfect that they thereby may perfect other quantities of their own kind yet lying in imperfection viz. wanting Purity Tincture and Fixation All which is done by Virtue of its subtle Spirit Tincture and Fire Therefore say the Philosophers Our Gold is not Corporeal but a depurated substance in the highest degree and brought to an Astral or Heavenly Nature This is the Ixir Elixir or Fermentum the true Tincture and Spirit tinging and fixing all other Bodies and without which they cannot be perfected III. Hermes And like as Paste or Dough is impossible to be Fermented or Levened without Leven so is it in this case without the proper Ferment you can do nothing When you sublime the Bodies and Purifie them separating the filthiness and uncleanness from them or from the Foeces you must conjoyn and mix them to gether and put in the Ferment making up the Earth
And Gold is our Earth of all which we make Sericum which is our Ferment or Ixir Salmon He here divides the great Work into two parts viz. Vegetable and Animal which is a Philosophical fiction But the true Work is but one consisting of an equal and temperate mixtion of the Elements to a perfect fixity The Foundation 〈◊〉 this Work is laid in the Earth of the Gold of which 〈◊〉 Ixir Elixir or Ferment is made which is two fold 1. For Luna 2. For Sol. By the Ferment of Sol is understood the Seed of the Male and by that of Luna the Seed of the Female of these there must be made 1. A Conjunction 2. A Generation The Ferment of Sol is from Sol as Leaven is made of the substance of the Bread and as a little Leaven Ferments or Leavens a great quantity of Paste at least 〈◊〉 times its quantity so likewise a little Portion of this our Earth suffices to nourish and perfect the whole Stone The Ferment saith Avicenna reduces the Matter to its own Nature Color Sapor and Form reducing Power into Act. For it Whitens the Confection Multipies it makes it Spiritual Strengthens it makes it resist the Fire makes it contain the Tincture that it shall not fly away opens the Bodies and makes them with it to enter one into another and to be perfectly 〈◊〉 as Water with Water which cannot be 〈◊〉 and is the end of the Work Without this Ferment no Elixir can be made no more than Paste or Dough can be Levened without Leven And this Elixir is the Ferment of Ferments and the Coagulum of the Coagulum For it not only Ferments the Inferior and imperfect Bodies but also Gold it self making it from a perfect Body much more than perfect It is the most 〈◊〉 Mother which by how much the 〈◊〉 it is impregnated by so much the more it conveives and brings forth propagating its Off-Spring to an 〈◊〉 of Generations It is the only Key which opens and shuts the Gates leading to the Kingdom of the Mineral Treasure the Golden Mountain the Gardens of the Hespenides where all the Trees perpetually bear Golden Fruit. Without this Key it is not possible for any Man to attain to the perfection of this Art CHAP. XIV The Smaragdine Table of Hermes I. HERMES This is true and far distant from a Lie whatsoever is below is like that which is above and that which is above is like that which is below By this are acquired and perfected the Miracles of the One Thing Salmon That is to say the truth of this our Art is confirmed by Experience we know it to be truth by very matter of Fact and notwithstanding all the Sophisms and Logomachia of the Schools there is no Argument can stand against Experience The Waters of the Cataracts of Heaven above are like to the Waters below when the great Fountain of the deep is broken up and the Waters below are like to the Waters above There are two parts in our Stone a Superior part that ascends up and an Inferior part which remains beneath and yet these two parts agree in One. The inferior Part or Earth is called the Body or Ferment The superior part or Spirit is called the Soul or Life which quickens the Stone and raises it up The first must be dissolved and made Water like the Superior and the Superior must be coagulated and made Earth like the Lower that they may be united and become the Miracle of the one Thing then will it be evidently demonstrated that whatsoever is below is like that which is above and contrarywise Nor do they differ one from another but by Accident as Corruptible and Incorruptble Pure and Impure Heavy and Light Clear and Opake Agent and Patient Masculine and Feminine c. all which are Accidents not Substances Heaven or that which is above is Incorruptible where the pure Elements are made from a Corruptible matter elevated or lifted up in the Concavity of which Firmament the Body or Substance of Luna is Graduared Hence it is apparent that this our Medicine must resemble Heaven it self in Activity Penetrativeness and Incorruptibility nor must it work as the Elements in Natural Bodies which are as it were Dead and destitute of any Power or Action II. Hermes Also as all things were made from One by the help of One So all things are made from One thing by Conjunction Salm. That is as all things were made or came from One Confused Chaos by the help of One Omnipotent or Almighty God so Our Stone is born or brought fourth out of one Confused Mass by the help of one particular Matter or Thing which contains in it four Elements Created by the determination of God Here Hermes points forth the Universal Medicine in imitation of the Worlds Creation which is performed by one Universal Spirit and so by a Supernatural Experiment points forth this Our Natural Work It is the Opinion of many Philosophers that the Spirit of Natural things or the Spirit of Nature is the Medium between the Soul and the Body as being that which makes the absolute and firm Conjunction But the Opinion of some is though the Spirit may be said to be the more subtile Subsistance yet it can be no more separated from the Soul than Light from the Sun III. Hermes The Father thereof is the Sun and the Mother thereof is the Moon the Wind carries it in its Belly and the Nurse thereof is the Earth Salmon As living Creatures beget their Like or Kind so Gold generates Gold by the Virtue of Our Stone The Sun is its Father that is Our Philoso phical or Living Gold And as in every natural Generation there must be a fit and convenient receptacle with a certain likeness of kind to the Father so likewise in this Our Artificial Generation it is requisite that the Sun or Our Living Gold should have a fit and agreeable Receptacle or Womb for its Seed or Tincture and this is Our Philosophical or Living Silver i. e. Mercury which is the Mother thereof What Sol and Luna are in the Heavens above the same are Our Gold and Silver in Our Heavens below The Universal Masculine Seed is the Sulphur Nature the first and most Potent cause of all Generation And if Sol does Live it is necessary as Paracelsus saith to live in some things viz. in its own Radical Humidity and most pure and simple Air which contemperates the heat there of by its Humidity The Wind is the Air and the Air is the Life and the Life is the Soul which quickens the whole Stone And therefore the Wind Air Life or Soul must carry the Stone viz. bring forth Our Magistery which being brought forth it must be nourished by its Nurse which is the Earth for The Earth saith Hermes is its Nurse The Wind Carries it in its Belly by which the Universal Inferior and Feminine Seed is dilated through the Air and joyned to the Universal
Now that Water in or by which the blackness is washed away is the Sweat or Moisture of the Sun and Childrens Urine i. e. the Virgins Water The thing which I tell you is sufficient for you to know V. In like manner take the Water of the Water Mercury of Mercury and with it cleanse and purifie the Wind Fume or Vapor and Abolish the blackness Understand what this signifies and rejoyce therein VI. Also in the same manner take the blackness and Conjoyn it then have respect to the White and Conjoyn the Red so will you go through the thing desired and come to the end of the Work VII It is also to be noted that it is the Fire-Stone which Governs the Matter or Work by the good pleasure of God Boyl it therefore with a gentle Fire Night and Day lest the Water should be separated from it even till it becomes of a Golden Color Understand well what I say VIII That also which Congeals does Dissolve and that which does Whiten does in like manner make Red. IX I have made plain to you the nearest way that you may be easie and satisfied Understand therefore these things and Meditate upon them and you shall certainly attain to the perfection of the Work X. It is also to be noted that as Sol is among the Stars so is Gold among the other Metalline Bodies For as the Light of the Sun is joyned to the Lights and contains the Fruit of this Operation so in like manner Gold Meditate upon these Words and by the Permission of God you may find it out CHAP. XVI The Nature of the Medicine and Government of the Metals I. HERMES Moreover saith he that outwardly takes in this Medicine it Kills him but he that inwardly drinks it in it makes him to Live and rejoyce Understand what this means II. And as for this cause sake this Water is said to be Divine so it is said to be the greatest Poyson and it is preferred before all other things by so much as that without it nothing of the Work can be done III. It is also called Divine for that it cannot be mixed or joyned with any filth or defiled thing and this Water of our Stone purifies and cleanses the Natures of the Metals and washes away their defoedations or defilements IV. And as Sol Acts upon Bodies so also does this Water upon the Philosophick Stone Yea it penetates and sinks through it and is constant fixed and perfect V. This indeed is seen in Sol but it is to be understood that the Work may be made through all the seven Planets as first from Saturn then from Jupiter Mars Venus Mercury and lastly from Luna VI. The first is the government of Saturn to wit to cause Sol to putrefie or bring the Body to putrefaction which is done in the space of 40 days and nights The second is the government of Jupiter which is to grind or break the matter and in 12 days and nights to Imbue or moisten it which is called the Regiment of Tin VII The third is the government of Mars which is to induce Death or blackness or to separate the Spirit from the Body by which it is said to be changed The fourth is the government of Sol which is to Work away the Blackness and Poyson and is indeed to make it White VIII The fifth is the government of Venus which is to joyn the moist to the dry and the hot to the cold and to Unite them together in one This is the Dominion of Brass or Copper or the the making of the matter of a changeable Yellow The sixth is the government of Mercury which is to burn and is called the Dominion of Argent Vive IX The seventh is the government of Luna which is to Decoct or Boyl and make Hot and so to perfect the matter with the fixed Citrine Tincture in 25 days and this is the Dominion of Silver See here I have gone with you through the whole Work take heed therefore lest you err CHAP. XVII The Difference of the Ferments and Quality of the Spirit I. AND know that the White Body is made with the Whiteness and its Ferment is that which you already know Whiten therefore the Body and understand what I say II. Also in like manner you are to note that the Stone sought after has not its like or equal in the whole Earth It is both outwardly and inwardly of a Citrine Golden Color but when it is altered or changed it is made a Body dark and black like burnt Coals III. Now the Color of the Spirit taken from it is White and the substance thereof is Liquid as Water but the Color of the Soul thereof is Red. IV. But the Soul and the Spirit thereof is returned to it again and it doth Live and Rejoyce and its Light and Glory returns again and you shall see it overcome and Triumph And that which was even now Dead shall have Conquered Death and then it shall Live and arise from the Dead and Live as it were for ever V. Happy and Blessed therefore is he in whose Power the disposition of this Matter is who Kills and makes Alive and is Omnipotent over all for ever VI. I therefore advise you not to do any thing in this work till you get an understanding thereof For if you be Ignorant and void of true Knowledge you will err in whatsoever you do you will wholly Labour in Vain and your work will Perish VII So that thus mistaking in your Operation you blame presently your instructors the Philosophers and think that they have erred or taught you wrong when it is only your Ignorance and none understanding of their words VIII This then know and understand that the Day is the Nativity or bringing forth of the Light but the Night the Nativity or bringing forth of the Darkness IX Sol also is the Light of the Day and Luna the Light of the Night which God Created to govern the World X. But Luna does receive her Light of the Sun by Combustion and is dilated or enlarged therewith and by so much as she receives of the Light of the Sun or does contain in her of his Light by so much does the Nature of Sol bear Rule over the Nature of Luna XI If therefore you contemplate what I say and Meditate upon my Words you will find that I have spoken the Truth and you will understand the signification of all that I have said and the demonstration of the whole Matter XII Know then that the Spirit is enfolded or circumscribed within as it were its Marble House or Walls Open therefore the Passages that the Dead Spirit may go out and be cast forth from our Bodies then it will become beautiful which is only a Work or undertaking of Wisdom XIII Sow therefore O God thy Wisdom in our Hearts and Root out the corrupt Principles which lodge therein and leads us in the way of thy Saints by which our Spirits
and Souls may be Purified Thou art Omnipotent O Lord God Almighty and canst do whatever thou pleasest CHAP. XVIII Of Argent Vive Tincture Order of the Operation and of the Fire I. THere is one thing which is to be wondered at viz. after what manner Carmine to wit Grana Nostra doth tinge or Dye Silk which is of a contrary Natue and tinges not a Dead thing and after what manner Uzifur to wit Our Vermilion doth tinge Vestem which is of a contrary Nature and tinges not Live or growing things II. For it is not Natural for any thing to tinge other substances not agreeable to their Natures If therefore you put into your Composition Red Gold you shall find in the Tincture a pure and perfect Red and if you put into it White Gold the most passive Red will vanish or go forth There is nothing indeed does tinge any thing but what is Consimilar to or like it self III. And I testifie to you by the Living God maker of Heaven and Earth that the Stone which I have described you have permanent or fixed nor are you kept from it by the Earth or the Sea or any other matter IV. Keep then your congealed Quick-Silver many parts of which are lost because of its subtilty Also the Mountain in which is the Tabernacle which crys out I am the Black of the White and the White of the Black I speak the Truth indeed and I lye not V. Now know that the Root of the Matter is the Head of the Crow flying without Wings in the dark and black of the Night and in the appearance of the Day from the Throat the fixing Spirit from its Gall the Coloring or Tinging Matter is taken from its Tail the desication or drying of the matter from its Wings the liquid Water and from its Body the Redness VI. Understand the meaning of the words for hereby is understood our venerable Stone and the Fume or Vapour thereof which is exalted lifted up or sublimed and the Sea eradicated and a Light shining VII You are also to note what Alums and Salts are which flow from Bodies if you put the Medicines or Matters of the Medicine in a just or true proportion you shall not fear to err but if you mistake the proportion you must add or diminish according as you see it tends to the emendation or performing of the Work lest a Deluge should come and overflow all drowning the Regions and overturning the Trees by the Roots VIII And tho the Matter be unknown yet consider these things how or after what manner these two Colors are distinguished or diversified by their Vapours look into the sweetness of Sugar which is one kind of sweet Juice and into the sweetness of Honey which is yet more intense or inward IX Except you make the Bodies spiritual and impalpable you know not how to putrefie Ixir or proceed on in the Work nor how the three Volatile Matters or Principles fight one against another and how they fail not each in their turns to devour one another till of two being left one only remains X. Be careful also how you increase your Fire tho it is not to be very small when you dry up the Water and take heed that you burn not the Matter because if the Vessel breaks it will be with a mighty impetus or force XI And unless the Matter of the Stone prove inimical one to another or contend and fight with and strive to destroy one another you shall never attain to the thing you seek after XII If you mix your Calx with Auripigment and not in a mean or due proportion the splendor and glory of the Operation will not succeed but if you interpose a medium the effect will immediately follow XIII Now know that it is our Water which extracts the hidden Tincture Behold the Example and understand it if you have once brought the Body into Ashes you have operated rightly XIV And the blood which is in the Philosophick Water of the animated Body is the Earth of the Wise to wit the permanent or enduring perfection CHAP. XIX That the Beginning of this Work is in the Blackness and Darkness and of conjoyning the Body with the Soul I. NOW it is that which is dead which you ought to vivisie or make alive and that which is sick which ought to be cured It is the White which is to be rubified the Black which is to be purified and the Cold which is to be made hot II. It is God himself who does create and inspire or give life and replenishes Nature with his Power that it might follow and imitate his Wisdom and act as an Instrument subservient to him III. Iron is our Gold and Brass or Copper is our Tincture Argent Vive is our Glory Tin is our Silver Blackness is our Whiteness and the Whitness is our Redness IV. From hence it appears necessary that we should have a Body purifying Bodies and a Water subliming Water Our Stone which is a Vessel of Fire is made of Fire and is converted into the same again V. And if you would walk in the true way you must persue it in the evident or visible Blackness for saith our Stone it is that which is hidden within which does make me white and the same thing which makes me White makes me also Red. VI. Conceal this thing from Men like as a word which is yet in thy Mouth which no Man understands and as the Fire Light or Sight which is in thine Eye I will not tell it plainly to thee thy self left by thy words thou conveyest my Breath to another to thine own damage This is the caution I give thee VII Now know that this our Work is made or compounded of two Figures or Substances the one of which wants the White Rust Ceruse and the other the Redish Rust Crocus Our Matters also are searsed thro our Sieves or Searses made of pure or clean Rinds and a most blessed Wood. VIII You are also to take notice that the Fire-stone of the Philosophers sought after wants Extention but it has quantity It behoves you therefore to support and nourish it on every side and to continue it as in the middle IX You must also conoyn the Body with the Soul 〈◊〉 beating and grinding it 〈◊〉 the Sun and imbuing it with the Stone then puting it into the Fire so long till all its Stains and Defilements are taken away let it be a gentle Fire for about seven hours space thus will you get that which will make you to live X. I also tell you that its habitation or dwelling place is posited in the Bowels of the Earth for without Earth it cannot be perfected Also its habitation is posited in the Bowels of the Fire nor without Fire can it be perfected which is the perfection of our Art XI Again Except you mix with the White the Red and presently bring or reduce the same into a perfect Water it
Work will be spoiled and you will not find that which you seek after nor shall you bring your Work to perfection XIV For where the cause of Generation is wanting or the root of the matter and heat it self your labour will be lost and the Work come to nothing The same also will happen if you mistake in the proportion or weight for if that be not right to wit the proportion of the parts compounding the matter compounded missing of its just temperature will be destroyed and so you shall reap no fruit the which I will shew you by an Example XV. See you not that in Soap with which Cloaths are washt clean and white that it has its virtue and property by reason of the just proportion of its Ingredients which spread themselves in length and breadth and because of which they agree to the same end by which it appears that the Compositum was truly made and the power and efficacy which before lay hid which is called Property is now brought to light which is the quality of washing and cleansing in a proper Laver XVI But should the Ingredients have been put together without proportion being either too little or too much the virtue and efficacy of the Soap would be destroyed nor would it any ways answer the end desired for that that end or effect ariseth from the just proportion and mixion of each Ingredient The same you must understand to happen in the Composition of Our Magistery CHAP. XXIII Of the four principal Operations Solution Congelation Albification and Rubification I. BEgining now to speak of the Great Work which they call Alchymie I shall open the matter without concealing ought or keeping back any thing save that which is not fit to be declared We say then that the great work contains four Operations viz. to Dissolve to Congeal to make White and to make Red. II. There are four quantities partakers together of which two are partakers between themselves so also have the other two a coherence between themselves And either of these double quantities has another quantity partaker with them which is greater than these two III. I understand by these quantities the quantity of the Natures and weight of the Medicines which are in order dissolved and congealed wherein neither addition nor diminution have any place But these two viz. Solution and Congelation are in one Operation and make but one Work and that before Composition but after Composition those Operations be divers IV. And this Solution and Congelation which we have spoken of are the solution of the Body and the congelation of the Spirit which two have indeed but one Operation for the Spirits are not congealed except the Bodies be dissolved as also the Bodies are not dissolved unless the Spirit be congealed And when the Soul and the Body are joyned together each of them works its Companion into its own likeness and pro perty V. As for Example When Water is put to Earth it strives to dissolve the Earth by its virtue property and moisture making it softer than it was before bringing it to be like it self for the Water was more thin than the Earth And thus does the Soul work in the Body and after the same manner is the Water thickened with the Earth and becomes like the Earth in thickness for the Earth was more thick than the Water VI. Know also that between the solution of the Body and the congelation of the Spirit there is no distance of time nor diversity of work as though the one should be without the other as there is no difference of time in the conjunction of the Earth and Water that the one might be distinguished from the other by its operation But they have both one instant and one fact and one and the same work performs both at once before Composition VII I say before Composition lest he that should read my Book and hear the terms of Solution and Congelation should suppose it to be the Composition which the Philosophers treat of which would be a grand Error both in Work and Judgment Because Composition in this Work is a Conjunction or Marriage of the congealed Spirit with the dissolved Body which Conjunction is made upon the fire VIII For heat is its nourishment and the Soul forsakes not the Body neither is it otherwise knit unto it than by the alteration of both from their own virtues and properties after the Conversion of their Natures and this is the solution and congelation which the Philosophers first speak of IX Which nevertheless they have absconded by their AEnigmatical Discourses with dark and obscure Words whereby they alienate and estrange the minds of their Followers from understanding the Truth whereof I will now give you the following Examples X Besmear the Leaf with Poyson so shall you obtain the beginning of the Stone and the Operation thereof Again Work upon the strong Bodies with one solution till either of them are reduced to subtilty Also Except you bring the Bodies to such a subtilty that they may be impalpable you shall not obtain that you seek after And If you have not ground them repeat the Work till they be sufficiently ground and made subtil so shall you have your desire With a thousand such other like unintelligable and not to be understood without a particular demonstration thereof XI And in like manner have they spoken of that Composition which is after solution and congelation Thus. Our Composition is not perfect without Conjunction and Putrefaction Again You must dissolve congeal separate conjoyn putrefie and compound because Composition is the beginning and very life of the thing These things who can understand without being taught XII But 't is true that unless there be a compounding the Stone can never be brought to light There must be a separation of the parts of the Compound which separation is in order also to a conjunction I tell you again that the Spirit will not dwell with the Body nor enter into it nor abide in it until the Body be made subtil and thin as the Spirit is XIII But when it is attenuated and made subtil and has caste off its thickness and grossness and put on that thinness has forsaken its Corporeity and become Spiritual then shall it be conjoyned with the subtil Spirits and imbibe them so that both shall become one and the same thing nor shall they for ever be severed but become like water mixt with water which no Man can separate CHAP. XXIV Of the latter two Operations viz. Albification and Rubification I. SUppose that of two like quantities which are in solution and congelation the larger is the Soul the lesser is the Body Add afterwards to the quantity which is the Soul that quantity which is in the Body and it shall participate with the first quantity in virtue only Then working them as we have wrought them you will have your desire and understand Euclid his Line or Proportion II. Then
take this quantity weigh it exactly and add to it as much moisture as it will drink up the weight of which we have not determined Then work them as before with the same Operations of a first imbibing and subliming it This Operation is called Albification and they name it Yarit that is Silver or White Lead III. When you have made this Compound white add to it so much of the Spirit as will make half of the whole and set it to working till it grows red and then it will be of the colour of Al 〈◊〉 Cinnabar which is very red and the Philosophers have likened it to Gold whose effects lead to that which the Philosopher said to his Scholar Arda IV. We call the Clay when it is white Yarit that is Silver But when it is red we name it Temeynch that is Gold Whiteness is that which tinges Copper and makes it Yarit And it is redness which tinges Yarit i. e. Silver and makes it Temeynch or Gold V. He therefore that is able to dissolve these Bodies to subtilize them and to make them white and red as I have said that is to compound them by imbibing and convert them to the same shall without doubt perform the work and attain to the perfection of the Magistery of which I have spoken VI. Now to perform these things you must know the Vessels for this purpose The one is an 〈◊〉 in which the parts are separated and cleansed in them the matter of the Magistery is depurated and made compleat and perfect VII Every one of these Aludels must have a Furnace fit for them which must have a similitude and figure fit for the Work Mezleme and some other Philosophers have named all these things in their Books shewing the manner and form thereof VIII And herein the Philosophers agree together in their Writings concealing the matter under Symbols in many Books but seting forth the necessary Instruments for the said four Operations The Instruments are chiefly two in number one is a Cucurbit with its Alembick the other is a well made Aludel or sublimatory IX There are also four things necessary to these viz. Bodies Souls Spirits Waters and of these four does the Mineral Work and Magistery consist all which are made plain in the Books of Philosophers X. I have therefore omitted them in mine only touching at them and created of those things which they over-passed with silence which what they are by the sequel of the Discourse you will easily discern but these things write I not for the Ignorant and Unlearned but for the Wise and Prudent that they may know them CHAP. XXV Of the Nature of Things appertaining to this Work Of Decoction and its Effects I. KNow then that the Philosophers have called them by divers names Sometimes they call them Minerals sometimes Animals sometimes Vegetables sometimes Natures for that they are things natural and others have called them by other names at their Pleasures or as they liked best II. But their Medicines are near to Natures as the Philosophers have taught in their Books for that Nature comes nigh to Nature and Nature is like to Nature Nature is joyned to Nature Nature is drowned in Nature Nature makes Nature white and Nature makes Nature red III. And Corruption is in conjunction with Generation Generation is retained with Generation and Generation conquereth with Generation IV. Now for the performance of these things the Philosophers have in their Books taught us how to decoct and how decoction is to be made in the matter of our Magistery This is that which generates and changes them from their Substances and Colours into other Substances and Colours V. If you err not in the begining you may happily attain the end But you ought to consider the seed of the Farth whereon we live how the heat of the Sun works in it till the Seed is impregnated with its influences and Virtues and made to spring till it grows up to ripeness This is the first change or transmutation VI. After this Men and other Creatures feed upon it and Nature by the heat that is innate in Man changes it again into Flesh Blood and Bones VII Now like to this is the Operation or Work of our Magistery the Seed whereof as the Philosophers say is such that its progress and perfection consifts in the fire which is the cause of its Life and Death VIII Nor is there any thing which comes between the Body and the Spirit but the fire nor is there any thing mingled therewith but the fire which brings the Magistery to its perfection this is the truth which I have told you and I have both seen and done it CHAP. XXVI Of Subtilization Solution Coagulation and Commixion of the Stone I. NOW except you subtilize the Body till it becomes water it will not corrupt and putrefie nor can it congeal the Fugitive Souls when the fire touches them for the fire is that which by its force and spirit congeals and unites them II. In like manner the Philosophers commanded to dissolve the Bodies to the end that the heat might enter into their Bowels or inward parts So we return to dissolve these Bodies and congeal them after their solution with that thing which comes near to it till all the things mixed together by an apt and fit commixtion in proportional quantities are firmly conjoyned together III. Wherefore we joyn Fire and Water Earth and Air together mixing the thick with the thin and the thin with the thick so as they may abide together and their Natures may be changed the one into the other and made like and one thing in the compound which before were simple IV. Because that part which generates or ferments bestows its virtue upon the subtil and thin which is the Air for like cleaves to its like and is a part of the Generation from whence it receives power to move and ascend upwards V. Cold has power over the thick matter because it has lost its heat and the water is gone out of it and the driness appears upon it This moisture departs by ascending up and the 〈◊〉 part of the Air has mingled 〈◊〉 self with it for that it is like unto it and of the same nature VI. Now when the thick body has lost its heat and moisture and that the cold and dryness has power over it and that their parts have mixed themselves by being first divided and that there is no moisture left to joyn the parts divided the parts withdraw themselves VII And then the part which is contrary to cold by reason it has continued and sent its heat and decoction to the cold parts of the Earth having power over them and exercising such dominion over the coldness which was hidden in the said thick Body that by virtue of its generative power changes the thick cold Body and makes it become subtil and hot and then strives to dry it up again by its heat VIII But afterwards the subtil
part which causes the Natures to ascend when it has lost its Occidental heat and waxes cold then the Natures are changed and become thick and descend to the center where the earthly Natures are joyned together which were subtilized and converted in their generation and imbibed in them IX And so the moisture joyneth together the parts divided But the Earth labours to dry up that moisture compassing it about and hindering it for going out by means whereof that which before lay hid does now appear nor can the moisture be separated but is held fast and firmly retained by dryness X. In like manner we see that whatsoever is in the World is held or retained by or with its contrary as heat with cold and dryness with moisture thus when each of them has besieged its Companion the thin is mixed with the thick and those things are made one substance viz. their hot and moist Soul and their cold and dry Body are united and made one XI Then it strives to dissolve and subtilize by its heat and moisture which is the Soul and the Body labours to enclose and retain the hot and moist Soul in its cold and dry substance And in this manner is their Virtues and Properties altered and changed from one thing to another XII I have told you the Truth which I have seen and my own self has done And therefore I charge you to change or convert the Natures from their Substances and Subtilties with heat and moisture into their Substances and Colours If you proceed aright in this Work you must not pass the bounds I have set you in this Book CHAP. XXVII The manner of Fixation of the Spirit Decoction Trituration and Washing I. WHen the Body is mingled with moisture and that the heat of the fire meets therewith the moisture is converted into the Body and dissolves it and then the Spirit cannot go forth because it is imbibed with the Fire II. The Spirits are fugitive so long as the Bodies are mixed with them and strive to resist the fire its heat and flame and therefore these parts can scarcely agree without a good and continual Operation and a steadfast permanent and natural heat III. For the nature of the Soul is to ascend upwards where its Center is and he that is not able to joyn two or more divers things together whose Centers are divers knows nothing of this Work IV. But this must be done after the conversion of their Natures and change of their Substances and matter from their natural Properties which is difficult to find out V. Whoever therefore can convert or change the Soul into the Body and the Body into the Soul and therewith mingle the subtil and volatile Spirits they shall be able to tinge any Body VI. You must also understand that Decoction Contrition Cribation Munidification and Ablution with Sweet Water are most necessary to the Secret of our Magistery VII And if you bestow pains herein you may cleanse it purely for you must clear it from its blackness and darkness which appear in the Operation VIII And you must subtilize the Body to the highest point of Volatility and Subtility and then mix therewith the Souls dissolved and the Spirits cleansed and so digest and decoct to the perfection of the matter CHAP. XXVIII Of the Fire fit for this Work I. YOu must not be unacquainted with the strength and proportion of the fire for the perfection or destruction of our Stone depends thereupon For Plato said The fire gives profit to that which is perfect but brings hurt and destruction to that which is Corrupt II. So that when its quantity or proportion shall be fit and convenient your Work will thrice prosper and go on as it ought to do but if it exceed the measure it shall without measure corrupt and destroy it III. And for this cause it was requisite that the Philosophers have instituted several proofs of the strength of their Fires that they might prevent and hinder their burning and the hurt of a violent heat IV. In Hermes it is said I am afraid Father of the Enemy in my House To whom he made Answer Son Take the Dog of Corascene and the Bitch of Armenia and joyn them together so shall you have a Dog of the colour of Heaven V. Dip him once in the Water of the Sea so will he become thy Friend and defend thee from thine Enemy and shall go along with thee and help thee and defend thee wheresoever thou goest nor shall he ever forsake theee but abide with thee for ever VI. Now Hermes meant by the Dog and Bitch such Powers or Spirits as have power to preserve Bodies from the hurt strength or force of the Fire VII And these thing are Waters of Calces and Salts the Composition whereof is to be found in the Writings of the Philosophers who have discoursed of this Magistery among whom some of them have named Sea-water Virgins Milk food of Birds and the like CHAP. XXIX Of the Separation of the Elements I. AFterwards take this precious Stone which the Philosophers have named yet hidden and concealed put it into a Cucurbit with its Alembick and divide its Natures viz. the four Elements the Earth Water Air and Fire II. These are the Body and Soul the Spirit and Tincture when you have divided the Water from the Earth and the Air from the Fire keep each of them by themselves and take that which descends to the bottom of the Glass being the Faeces and wash it with a warm fire till its black ness be gone and its thickness be vanished III. Then make it very white causing the superfluous moisture to fly away for then it shall be changed and become a white Calx wherein there is no cloudy darkness nor uncleanness nor contrariety IV. Afterwards return it back to the first Natures which ascended from it and purifie them likewise from uncleanness blackness and contrariety V. And reiterate these Works upon them so often till they be subtilized purified and made thin which when you have done render up thanks and acknowledgments to the most Gracious God VI. Know then that this Work is but one and it produceth one Stone into which Garib shall not enter i. e. any strange or foreign thing The Philosopher works with this and therefrom proceeds a Medicine which gives perfection VII Nothing must be mingled herewith either in part or whole And this Stone is to be found at all times and in every place and about every Man the search whereof is yet difficult to him that seeks it wheresoever he be VIII This Stone is vile black and stinking it costs nothing it must be taken alone it is somewhat heavy and is called the Original of the World because it rises up like things that bud forth this is the manifestation and appearance of it to them that seek truly after it IX Take it therefore and work it as the Philosopher has told you in the the Book
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
fire for 40 days of Elemental heat and in that decoction of 40 days the Body will rejoyce with the Soul and the Soul will rejoyce with the Body and Spirit and the Spirit will rejoyce with the Body and Soul and they will be fixed together and dwell one with another in which Life they will be made perpetual and immortal without separation for ever CHAP. XXXV A farther Explication of this matter I. OUR Medicine is made of 3 things viz. of a Body Soul and Spirit There are two Bodies to wit Sol and Luna Sol is a Tincture where with imperfect Bodies are tinged into Sol and Luna tingeth into Luna for nature brings forth only its like a Man a Man a Horse a Horse c. II. We have named the Bodies which serve to this Work which of some are called ferment for as a little leven levens the whole lump so Luna and Sol leven Mercury as their Meal into their Nature and Virtue III. If it be demanded Why Sol and Luna having a prefixed Tincture do not yet tinge imperfect Metals I Answer A Child tho' born of humane kind acts not the Man it must first be nourisht and bred up till it comes to Maturity So is it with Metals also they cannot shew their power and force unless they be first reduced from their Terrestreity to a Spirituality and nourisht and fed in their Tinctures through heat and humidity IV. For the Spirit is of the same matter and nature with our Medicine We say our Medicines are of a siery nature and much subtiler but of themselves they cannot be subtil nor simple but must be maturated or ripened with subtil and penetrating things V. Earth of it self is not subtil but may be made so through moist water which is dissolving and makes an ingress for Sol that it may penetrate the Earth and with its heat make the Earth subtile and in this way the Earth must be subtilized so long till it be as subtil as a Spirit which then is the Mercury more dissolving than common water and apt to dissolve the said Metals and that through the heat of fire to penetrate and subtilize them VI. There are several Spirits as Mercury Sulphur Orpiment Arsenick Antimony Nitre Sal-armoniack Tutia Marchisits c. but Mercury is a better Spirit than all others for being put into the fire they are carried away and we know not what becomes of them But Mercury as it is much subtiler clearer and penetrative so it is joyned to the Metals and changed into them whereas the others burn and destroy them making them more gross than they were before VII Now Mercury is of such a subtil nature that it transmutes Metals into simple and pure substances as it self is and attracts them to its self But no Metal can be transmuted by any of the other Spirits but they burn it to Earth and Ashes which Mercury it becomes impalpahle and therefore is called Argent Vive VIII We take nothing else to subtilize Metals to make them penetrative or to tinge other Metals Some call it Argent Vive or a Water an Acetum a Poyson because it destroys imperfect Bodies dividing them into several parts and forms our Medicine is made of two things viz. of Body and Spirit And this is true that all Metals have but one Root and Original IX But why cannot this Medicine be made of two compounded together I Answer It may be made of all these together but they must be reduced into a Mercury which would be difficult of the shortness of Man's Life Therefore we take the next matter which are the two aforesaid things viz. Body and Spirit X. Some Philosophers say our Medicine is made of four things and so it is For in Metals and their Spirits are the four Elements Others say true also That Metals must be turned into Argent Vive Here many Learned and Wise Men err and loose themselves in this path Thus far of the matter of which our Medicine is made or with which it is ioyned Now of the Vessels XI The Vessel ought to resemble the Firmament to enclose and encompass the whole Work For our Medicine is nothing else but a change of Elements one into another which is done by the motion of the Firmament for which reason it must needs be round and circular XII The other or second Vessel must also be round and be less than the outward Vessel 6 or 7 Inches high called a containing Cucurbit on which you must place an Alembick or Head through which the Vapors may ascend which must be well luted with Lute made of Meal sifted Ashes Whites of Eggs c. Or of Meal Calx Vive ana j. part tempered with Whites of Eggs which you must immediately use Lute it so well that no Spirits may fly away the loss of which will prejudice your Work extreamly therefore be wary XIII The Fornace or Oven must be round 12 or 14 Inches high and 6 or 7 Inches broad and 3 or 4 Inches in thickness to keep in the heat the better XIV Our matter is generated through or by help of the heat of the fire through the Vapour of the Water and also of the 〈◊〉 which must be nourished be wise and consider and meditate well upon the matter XV. Now in order to this Work there is 1. Dissolution 2. Separation 3. Sublimation 4. Fixation or Congelation 5. Calcination 6. Ingression XVI Dissolution is the changing of a dry thing into a moist one and belongs only to Bodies as to Sol and Luna which serve for our Art For a Spirit needs not to be dissolved being a liquid thing of it self but Metals are gross and dry and of a gross nature and therefore must be subtilized XVII First Because unless they be subtilized through dissolution they cannot be reduced into water and made to ascend through the Alembick to be converted into Spirit whose remaining foeces are reserved for a farther use XVIII Secondly Because the Body and Spirit must be made indivisible and one For no gross matter joyns or mixes with a Spirit unless it be first subtilized and reduced into Argent Vive then the one embraces the other inseperably For Argent Vive meeting with a thing like it self rejoyceth in it and the dissolved Body embraces the Spirit and suffers it not to fly away making it to endure the fire and it rejoyces because it has found an equal viz. one like it self and of the same nature XIX Dissolution is thus done Take Leaves of Sol or Luna to which add a good quantity of pure Mercury putting in the Leaves by little and little into a Vessel placed in so gentle a heat that the Mercury may not fume when all is dissolved and the Mass feems to be one Homogene body you have done well If there be any foeces or matter undissolved add more Mercury till all seems to be melted together XX. Take the matter thus dissolved set it in B. M. for
7 days then let it cool and strain all through a Cloth or Skin if all goes through the dissolution is perfect if not you must begin again and add more Mercury so long till all be dissolved XXI Separation is the dividing of a thing into parts as of pure from impure We take our dissolved matter and put it into the smaller Vessel which stands in the Cucurbite well luting to the Alembick and seting it in Ashes continuing the fire for a Week One part of the Spirit sublimes which we call the Spirit or Water and is the subtilest part the other which is not yet subtil sticks about the Cucurbite and some of it falls as it were to the bottom which is warm and moist this we call the Air. And a third part remaining in the bottom of the inner Vessel which is yet grosser may be called the Earth XXII Each of these we put into a Vessel apart but to the third we put more Mercury and proceed as before reserving always each principle or Element apart by it self and thus proceeding till nothing remains in the inner Vessel but a black pouder which we call the black Earth and is the dregs of Metals and the thing causing the obstruction that the Metals cannot be united with the Spirit this black pouder is of no use XXIII Having thus separated the four Elements from the Metals or divided them you may demand What then is the fire which is one of these four To which I Answer That the Fire and the Air are of one nature and are mixed together and changed the one into the other and in the dividing of the Elements they have their natural force and power as in the whole so in the parts XXIV We call that Air which remained in the bigger Vessel because it is more hot than moist cold or dry The same understand of the other Elements Hence Plato saith We turned the moist into dry and the dry we made moist and we turned the Body into Water and Air. XXV Sublimation is the ascending from below upwards the subtil matter arising leaving the gross matter still below as he said before in the changing of the Elements Thus the matter must be subtilized which is not subtil enough all which must be done through heat and moisture viz. through Fire and Water XXVI You must then take the thing which remained in the greater Vessel and put it to other fresh Mercury that it may be well dissolved and subtilized set it in B. M. for three days as before We mention not the quantity of Mercury but leave that to your discretion taking as much as you need that you may make it fusible and clear like a Spirit But you must not take too much of the Mercury lest it become a Sea then you must set it again to sublime as formerly and do this Work so often till you have brought it through the Alembick and it be very subtil one united thing clear pure and fusible XXVII Then we put it again into the inner Vessel and let it go once more through the Alembick to see whether any thing be left behind which if so to the same we add more Mercury till it becomes all one thing and leaves no more sediment and be separated from all its Impurity and Superfluity XXVIII Thus have we made out of two one only thing viz. out of Body and Spirit one only congenerous substance which is a Spirit and light the Body which before was heavy and fixed ascending upwards is become light and volatile and a mere Spirit Thus have we made a Spirit out of a Body we must now make a Body out of a Spirit which is the one thing XXIX Fixation or Congelation is the making the flowing and volatile matter fixt and able to endure the fire and this is the changing of the Spirit into a Body We before turned the dryness and the Body into moistness and a Spirit now we must turn the Spirit into a Body making that which ascended to stay below that is we must make it a thing fixed according to the Sayings of the Philo sophers reducing each Element into its contrary you will find what you seek after viz. making a fixt thing to be volatile and a volatile fixt this can only be done through Congelation by which we turn the Spirit into a Body XXX But how is this done We take a little of the ferment which is made of our Medicine be it Luna or Sol as if you have 10 Ounces of the Medicine you take but 1 Ounce of the ferment which must be soliated and this ferment we amalgamate with the matter which you had before prepared the same we put into the Glass Vial with a long Neck and set it in warm Ashes Then to the said ferment add the said Spirit which you drew through the Alembick so much as may overtop it the height of 2 or 3 Inches put to it a good fire for 3 days then will the dissolved Body find its Companion and they will embrace each other XXXI Then the gross ferment laying hold of the subtil ferment attracts the same joyns it self with it and will not let it go and the dissolved Body which is now subtil keeps the Spirit for that they are of equal subtilty and like one to another and are become so one and the same thing that the fire can never be able to separate them any more XXXII By this means you come to make one thing like another the ferment becomes the abiding place of the subtil body and the subtil body the habitation of the Spirit that it may not fly away Then we make a Fire for a Week more or less till we see the matter congealed which time is longer or shorter according to the condition of the Vessel Furnaces and Fires you make use of XXXIII When you see the Matter Coagulated put of the abovesaid Matter or Spirit to it to over top it two or three inches which digest as before till it be coagulated also and thus proceed till all the Matter or Spirit be congealed This Secret of the Congelation the Philosophers have consealed in their Books none of them that we know of having disclosed it except only Larkalix who composed it in many Chapters and also revealed it unto me without any Reservation or Deceipt XXXIV Calcination We take the known Matter and put it into a Vesica setting a Head upon it and luting it well put it into a Sand Furnace making a continued great Fire for a Week then the Volatile ascends into the Alembeck which we call Avis Hermetis that which remains in the bottom of the Glass is like Ashes or sifted Earth called the Philosophers Earth out of which they make their Foundation and out of which they make their increase or augmentation through heat and moisture XXXV This Earth is composed of four Elements but are not contrary one to another for their contrariety is changed to an agreement unto
an homogene and uniform nature Then we take the moist part and reserve it a part to a farther use This Earth or Ashes which is a very fixed thing we put into a very strong Earthen Pot or Crucible to which we lute its Cover and set it in a calcining Fornace or Reverberatory for 3 days so that it may be always red hot Thus we make of a Stone a white Calx and of things of an earthy and watery nature a fiery nature For every Calx is of a fiery nature which is hot and dry XXXVI We have brought things to the nature of fire we must now further subtilize the four Elements we take apart a small quantity of this Calx viz. a fourth part The other we set to dissolve with a good quantity of fresh Mercury even as we had done formerly in all the Processes of the aforegoing Paragraphs and so proceed on from time to time till it is wholly dissolved XXXVII Now that you may change the fixt into a Volatile that is Fire into Water know that that which was of the nature of Fire is now become the nature of Water and the fixt thereby is made volatile and very subtil Take of this water one part put it to the reserved Calx and add to it as much of the water as may over top the Calx 2 or 3 Inches making a fire under it for 3 days thus it congeals sooner than at first for Calx is hot and dry and drinks up the humidity greedily XXXVIII This Congelation must be continued till all be quite congealed afterwards you must calcine it as formerly being quite calcined it is called the quintessence because it is of a more subtil nature than fire and because of the Transmutation formerly made All this being done our Medicine is finished and nothing but Ingression is wanting viz. that the matter may have an Ingress into Imperfect Metals XXXIX Plato and many other Philosophers began this Work again with dissolving subliming or subtilizing congealing and calcining as at first But this our Medicine which we call a ferment transmutes Mercury into its own na-nature in which it is dissolved and sublimed They say also our Medicine transmutes infinitely imperfect Metals and that he who attains once to the perfection of it shall never have any need to make more all which is Philosophically to be understood as to the first Original Work XL. Seeing then that our Medicine transmutes imperfect Metals into Sol and Luna according to the nature and form of the matter out of which it is made therefore we now a second time say That this our Medicine is of that nature that it transmutes or changes converts divides asunder like fire and is of a more subtil nature than fire being of the nature of a quintessence as aforesaid converting Mercury which is an imperfect substance into its own nature turning the grossness of Metal into Dust and Ashes as you see fire which does not turn all things into its nature but that which is homogene with it turning the hetero gene matter into Ashes XLI We have taught how a Body is to be changed into a Spirit and again how the Spirit is to be turned into a Body viz. how the fixed is made volatile and the volatile fixed again How the Earth is turned into Water and Air and the Air into Fire and the Fire into Earth again Then the Earth into Fire and the Fire into Air and the Air into Water and the Water again into Earth Now the Earth which was of the nature of Fire is brought to the nature of a quintessence XLII Thus we have taught the ways of transmuting performed through heat and moisture making out of a dry a moist thing and out of a moist a dry one otherwise Natures which are of several Properties or Families could not be brought to one uniform thing if the one should be turned into the others nature XLIII And this is the perfection of the matter according to the advice of the Philosopher Ascend from the Earth into Heaven and descend from the Heaven to the Earth to the intent to make the body which is Earth into a Spirit which is subtil and then to reduce that Spirit into a Body again which is gross changing one Element into another as Earth into Water Water into Air Air into Fire and Fire again into Water and Water into Fire and that into a more subtil Nature and quintescence Thus have you accomplished the Treasure of the whole World XLIII Ingression Take Sulphur Vive Melt it in an Earthen Vessel well glazed and put to it a strong Lye made of Calx vive and Pot Ashes Boyl gently together so will an Oyl swim on the top which take and keep Having enough of it mix it with Sand distil it through an Alembick or Retort so long till it becomes incombustible With this Oyl we imbibe Our Medicine which will be like Soap then we distil by an Alembick and cohobate 3 or 4 times adding more Oyl to it if it be not imbibed enough XLV Being thus imbibed put fire under it that the moisture may Vanish and the Medicine be fit and fusible as the body of Glass Then take the Avis Hermetis before reserved and put it to it Gradatim till it all becomes perfectly fixt XLVI Now according to Avicen it is not possible to convert or transmute Metals unless they be reduced to their first Matter then by the help of Art they are transmuted into another Metal The Alchymist does like the Physitian who first Purges off the Corrupt or Morbifick Matter the Enemy to Mans Health and then administers a Cordial to restore the Vital Powers So we first Purge the Mercury and Sulphur in Metals and then strengthen the Heavenly Elements in them according to their various Preparations XLVII This Nature works farther by the help of Art as her Instrument and really makes the most pure and fine Sol and Luna for as the heavenly Elemental Virtues work in natural Vessels even so do the artificial being made uniform agreeable with nature and as nature works by means of the heats of Fire and of the Bodies so also Art work 〈◊〉 by a like temperate and proportionate fire by the moving and living virtue in the matter XLVIII For the heavenly virtue mixed with it at first and inclinable to this or that is furthered by Art Heavenly Virtues are communicated to their Subjects as it is in all natural things chiefly in things generated by putrefaction where the Astral Influences are apparent according to the capacity of the matter XLIX The Alchymist imitates the same thing destroying one form to beget another and his Operations are best when they are according to nature as by purifying the Sulphur by digesting subliming and purging Argent Vive by an exact mixtion with a Metalick matter and thus out of their Principles the form of every Metal is produced L. The power and virtue of the converting Element must
prevail that the parts of it may appear in the converted Element and being thus mixed with the Elementated thing then that Element will have that matter which made it an Element and the virtue of the other converting Element will be predominant and remain this is the great Arcanum of the whole Art CHAP. XXXVI The Key which opens the Mystery of this Grand Elixir I. THIS is the true Copy of a Writing found in a Coffin upon the Breast of a Religious Man by a Soldier making a Grave at Ostend to bury some slain Soldiers Anno 1450. 2. My Dear Brother if you intend to follow or study the Art of Alchymie and work in it let me give you warning that you follow not the literal prescripts of Arnoldus nor Raymundus nor indeed of most other Philosophers for in all their Books they have delivered nothing but figuratively so that Men not only loose their time but their Money also III. I my self have studdied in these Books for more than 30 Years and never could find out the Secret or Mistery by them But at length through the goodness of God I have found out one Tincture which is good true and absolutely certain and has restored to me my Credit and Reputation IV. Now knowing as I do how much time you have lost and what Wealth you have consumed being touched with it as a Friend and in regard of our faithful promise to each other in our beginning to participate each of others Fortunes I have thought it fit here to perswade you not to loose your self any longer in the Books of the Philosophers but to put you in the right way which after long Wanderings I have found out and now at this present I on my Death-Bed bequeath you V. I advise you to take nothing from it nor add any thing to it but to do just as I have set it down and observe these following directions so will you succeed and prosper in the work VI. First Never work with a great Man lest your life come into danger 2. Let your Earthen Vessels be well made and strong lest you lose your Medicine 3. Learn to know all your Materials that you be not cheated with that which is sophisticate and nothing worth 4. Let your Fire be neither stronger nor soster but what is fit and just as I have here directed 5. Let the Bellows and all the other Materials be your own 6. Let no man come where you Work and seem Ignorant to all such as shall enquire any thing of you touching the Secret 7. Learn to know Metals well especially Gold and Silver and put them not into the Work till they be first purified by your own hands as fine as may be 8. Reveal not this Secret to any one but let this Writing be Buried with you giving a confirmed charge concerning the same to him you Trust. 9. Get a Servant that may be Trusty and Secret and of a good Spirit to attend you but never leave him alone 10. Lastly when you have ended the Work be Kind and Generous Charitable to the Poor publick Spirited and return your Tribute of Thanks to the Great and most Merciful God the Giver of all good Things VII Take mineral Quick Silver three pounds made neither of Lead nor Tin and cause an Earthen Pot to be made well burned the first time glaze it all over except the bottom the which anoint with hogs Grease and it will not Glaze This is done that the Earth of the Quick Silver may sink to the bottom of the Pot which it would not do being glazed nor become Earth again VIII The Pot must be made a good foot long of the Fashion of an Urinal with a Pipe in the midst of it The Fornace must be made on purpose that the Pot may go in close to the sides of the Mouth of the Furnace Set on the Pot a good great Cap or Head with its Receiver without Luting of it give it a good fire of Coals till the Pot be all on fire and very red then take the fire out quickly and put in the Quick Silver at the Pipe and then with as much hast as you can stop it close with Lute IX Then will the Quick Silver by the heat and force it finds both Break and Work a part thereof you shall see in the Water as it were a few drops and a part will stick to the bottom of the Pot in black Earth Now let the Pot cool within the Fornace as it is then open it and you shall find the Quick Silver in it all Black which you must take out and wash very clean and the Pot also X. As for the Water which does distil out put it a side or cast it away for it is nothing worth because it is all Flegm Set the Pot into the Fornace again and make it red hot put in the Quick Silver lute well the Pipe and do as you did the first time and do this so often until the Mercury becomes no more black which will be in ten or eleven times XI Then take it out and you shall find the Mercury to be without Flegm but joyned with Earth of which two Qualities it must be freed being Enemies to Nature thus the Quick Silver will remain pure in color Caelestial like to Azure which you may know by this sign viz. Take a piece of Iron heat it red hot and quench it in this Mercury and it will become soft and white like Luna XII Then put the Mercury into a Retort of Glass between two Cups so that it touches neither bottom nor sides of the Cups and make a good fire under it and lay Embers on the top the better to keep the heat of the fire and in Forty hours the Mercury will Distil into a slimy Water hanging together which will neither wet your Hands nor any other thing but Metals only XIII This is the true Aqua Vitae of the Philosophers the true Spirit so many have sought for and which has been desired of all Wise Men which is called the Essence Quintessence Powers Spirit Substance Water and Mixture of Mercury and by many other the like Names without strange things and without offence to any Man XIV Save well this precious Liquor or Water obscured by all Philosophers for without it you can do no good or perfect Work Let all other things go and keep this only for any one that sees this Water if he has any Practice or Knowledge will hold to it for it is Precious and worth a Treasure XV. Now resteth to make the Soul which is the perfection of the Red without which you can neither make Sol nor Luna which shall be Pure and Perfect With this Spirit you may make things Apparent and Fair yea most True and Perfect all Philosophers affirm that the Soul is the substance whichsustains and preserves the Body making it Perfect as long as it is in it XVI Our Body must have a Soul otherwise
in due proportion by a due and temperate decoction in the bowels of clean inspissate and fixed Earth joyned with an incorruptible radical humidity whereby it is brought to a solid fusible substance with a convenient fire and made maleable III. But Imperfect Minerals are made of a commixtion of pure Argent Vive and Sulphur without due proportion or a due de coction in the bowels of unclean not fully inspissated nor fixed Earth joyned with a corrupting humi dity whereby are brought forth Metals of a porous substance and though fusible not sufficiently or so perfectly maleable as the others IV. Under the first definition are concluded Sol and Luna each according to their perfection Under the second Saturn Jupiter Mars and Venus each according to their imperfection in which that which is manifest must be hidden or taken away and that which is hidden must be made manifest and brought into operation which is done by preparing them by which their Superstuities will be removed and their defects or imperfection supplied and the true perfection inserted into them V. But the perfect Bodies as Sol and Luna need none of this preparation yet such a preparation they must have as may subtilize their parts and reduce them from a Corporality to a fixed Spirituality that from thence may be made a fixed Spiritual Body in order to compleat the Great Elixir whether White or Red. VI. In both these viz. the White and Red Elixirs there is no other thing than Argent Vive and Sulphur of which one cannot act nor be without the other It would be a foolish and vain thing to think to make this Great Elixir or Tincture from any thing in which it is not this was never the intention of the Philosophers though they speak many things by similitude VII And because all Metalick Bodies are compounded of Argent Vive and Sulphur pure or impure by accident and not innate in their first nature therefore by convenient preparation 't is possible to take away their impurity the end of preparation is to take away Superfluities and supply the defects VIII For we have considered the substance of Metaline Bodies perfect and imperfect to be but one viz. Argent Vive and Sulphur which are pure and clean before their commixtion and by consideration and experience we found the Corruption of Imperfect Bodies to be by accident but that being pre pared and cleansed from all their Superfluities Corruption and fugitive Uncleanness we found them of greater brightness clearness and purity than the naturally perfect Metals not prepared by which consideration we attained to the perfection of this Science IX The Imperfect Bodies have accidentally Superfluous Humidities and a Combustible Sulphureity with a Primary Blackness in them and corrupting them to gether with an Unclean Faeculent Combustible and very gross Earthiness impedeing Ingress and Fusion Therefore it behoves us with artificial fire by the help of purified Salts and Vinegars to remove superfluous accidents that the only radical substance of Argent Vive and Sulphur may remain which may indeed be done by various ways and methods according as the Elixir requires X. The general way of preparation is this 1. With fire proportional the whole superfluous and Corrupt humidity in its essence must be elevated and the subtil and burning Sulphureity removed and this by Calcination 2. The whole Corrupt substance of their superfluous burning humidity and blackness remaining in their calx must be corroded with the following cleansed Salts and Vinegars till the Calx be White or Red according to the nature of the body and is made clean and pure from all Superfluity and Corruption These Calxe are cleansed with the 〈◊〉 Salts and Vinegars by grinding imbibing and washing 3. The whole 〈◊〉 Earthiness and Combustible gross Faeculency must be taken away with the aforesaid things not having Metallick Fusion by commixing and grinding them together with the aforesaid Calx depurated in the aforesaid manner Forthese in the Fusion or Reduction of the Calx will remain with themselves the said uncleanness and gross Earthiness the Body remaining pure XI Being thus cleansed it is Meliorated thus First This Purged and Reduced Body is again Calcined by Fire with the Salts as aforesaid Secondly Then with such of these as are Solutive it must be Dissolved For this Water is Our Stone and Argent Vive of Argent Vive and Sulphur of Sulphur abstracted from the Spiritual Body and subtilized or attenuated which is Meliorated by confirming the Elemental Virtues in it with other prepared things of its own kind which augment the Colour Fixion Weight Purity and Fusion with all other things appertaining to the true Elixir XII The Salts and Vinegars for this work are thus prepared and cleansed Common Salt and Salt Gem as also Sal Alcali and Sandiver are cleansed by Calciing them and then casting them into hot water to be Dissolved which Solution being Filtred is to be coagulated by a gentle fire then to be Calcined for a Day and a Night in a moderate fire and so kept for use XIII Sal Armoniack is cleansed by Grinding it with a preparation of Common Salt cleansed and then subliming it in an high Body and Head till it ascends all pure then dissolving it in a Porphyrie in the open Air if you would have it in a water or otherwise keeping the sublimate in a Glass close stopt for use XIV Roch Alums or Factitious or other Alums are cleansed by putting them in an Alembick and extracting their whole Humidity which is of great use in this Art The Faeces remaining in the Bottom Dissolve on a Porphyrie in a moist place or in water and then again extract and keep it for use XV. Vitriol of all kinds is cleansed by dissolving it in pure Vinegar then Distilling and Coagulating Or first abstract its Humidity over a gentle fire the Faeces Caleine and Dissolve per deliquium or in their own water filtre and Coagulate or if you please the water and keep it for use XVI Vinegars of what kind or how acute and sharp soever are cleansed by subtilization and their Virtues and Effects are Me liorated by Distillation With these Salts and Vinegars the imperfect Bodies may be prepared purified meliorated and subtilized by the help of the Fire Glass and Borax are pure and need no preparation XVII Out of the Metalline Bodies we compose the Great Elixir making One substance of many yet so permanently fixed that the strongest or greatest force of Fire cannot hurt it or make it flie away which will mix with Metals in Flux and flow with them and enter into them and be permixed with the fixed substance which is in them and be fixed with that in them which is incombustible receiving no hurt by any thing which Gold and Silver cannot be hurt by XVIII Hence we define Our Stone to be agenerating or Fruitful Spirit and Living water which we name the Dry water by Natural proportion cleansed and United
Grate be continually open for the more free reception of the air which mightily augments the heat of the fire VII The Vessel is of the asoresaid length that the Fumes ascending may find a cool place and adhere to the sides otherwise was it short the whole Vessels would be almost of an equal heat whereby the sublimate would fly away and be lost It is also Glased well within that the Fumes may not peirce its Pores and so be lost but the Bottom which stands in the Fire is not to be Glazed for that the Fire would melt it nor unglazed would the matter go through it for that the Fire makes it rather to ascend VIII Now let your Fire be continued under your Vessel till you know that the whole matter is ascended into flowers which you may prove by putting in a Rod of Earth well burned with a Hole in its end through a Hole in the Head about the bigness of ones little Finger putting it down almost to the middle there or nigh the matter from whence the sublimate is raised and if any thing ascends and adheres to the Hole in the Rod the whole matter is not sublimed but if not the sublimation is ended IX That the Marchasite consists of Sulphur and Argent Vive it is sufficiently evident for if it be put into the fire it is no sooner Red Hot but it is Inflamed and burns also if mixed with Venus it gives it the Whiteness of pure Silver so also if mixed with Argent Vive and in its sublimation it yields a Coelestial Colour with a Metalick Lucidity X. To prepare the Marchasite Take the fine Pouder of the Mineral spread it an Inch thick over the Bottom of a large Aludel and gather the Sulphur with a gentle fire When that is ascended take off the Head or Alembick and having applied another augment the Fire then that which has the place of Argent Vive Ascends as we have before declared CHAP. XLI Of the Alchymie of Magnesia Tutia and other Minerals I. THE Sublimation of Magnesia and Tutia is the same with that of the Marchasite for that they cannot be sublimed without Ignition having the same cause the same Operation and the same General method likewise all imperfect Bodies are sublimed in the same order without any difference except that the Bodies of the Metals must have a more vehement fire than the Marchasite Magnetia and Tutia nor is there any diversity in Metaline sublimation save that some need the addition of some other substance to make them sublime or rise II. But in the sublimation of Imperfect Metaline Bodies no great quantity of the Body to be sublimed must be at once put into the bottom of the Vessel because much Metaline substance holds the parts faster and hinders the subliming also the bottom of the sublimatory should be flat not Concave that the Body equally and thinly spread upon the bottom may the more easily sublime in all its parts III. Such Bodies as need the admixtion of other substances are Venus and Mars by reason of the slowness of their fusion Venus needs Tutia and Mars Arsenick and with these they are easily sublimed for that they well agree with them Therefore their sublimation is to be made as in Tutia and other like things and to be performed in the same method and order as in the former Chapter IV. Now Magnesia has a more Turbid and Fixed and less inflamable Sulphur and a more Earthy and faeculent Argent Vive than the Marchasite and therefore the more approximate to the Nature of Mars V. But Tutia is the fume of White Bodies for the Fume of Jupiter and Venus adhering to the sides of the Fornaces where these Metals are wrought does the same thing that Tutia does and what a metalick Fume does not without the admixtion of some other Body neither will this likewise do VI. And by reason of its subtilty it more penetrates the profundity of a Metaline Body and alters it more than it does its own Body and adhears more in the Examen as by experience you may find and whatever Bodies are altered by Sulphur of Argent Vive will also necessarily be altered by this because of their Unity in Nature VII To prepare Tutia Pouder it very fine and put it into and Aludel and by strong Ignition or help of vehement fire cause the Flowers to ascend or sublime so is it prepared for use It is also dissolved in Spirit of Vinegar having been first Calcin'd and so it is also well prepared VIII Also it is certain that many necessary things for our purpose are extracted from Imperfect Bodies which need yet a farther preparation as first Ceruse which is thus prepared Wash it in Spirit of Vinegar and separate it from its more gross parts and the Milk coagulate in the Sun and it is prepared IX Spanish White Tin Putty and Minium are prepared after the same manner by dissolving them in Spirit of Urine and then filterating and coagulating in the Sun as before X. Verdegrise is dissolved in Spirit of Vinegar and rubified being gently congealed with the soft heat of a gentle fire and then it is prepared and made fit for the Work XI Crocus Martis is dissolved in Spirit of Vinegar and filtred This Red Water being congealed yields an excellent Crocus fit for use XII AEs Ustum or Copper calcin'd is to be ground to pouder and washed with Spirit of Vinegar after the same manner as we taught in the preparation of Ceruse So in like manner Litharge of Gold and Silver You may also dissolve these things again and they will be purer You may also use them either dissolved or congealed this is a profound Investigation XIII Antimony is Calcined Dissolved Filtred Congealed and ground to pouder and so it is prepared XIV Cinnabar must be sublimed from Common Salt once and so it is well prepared for use XV. The fixation of Marchasite Magnesia and Tutia You must after the first sublimation of them is finished cast away their foeces and then reiterate their sublimation so often returning what sublimes to that which remains below of either of them till they be fixed which must be done in proper subliming Vessels CHAP. LXV Of the Alchymie of Saturn I. TO prepare Lead Set it in a Fornace of Calcination stirring it while it is in Flux with an Iron Spatula full of Holes and drawing off the scum till it be converted into a most fine pouder Sift it and set it in the Fire of Calcination till its fugitive and inflamable substance be abolished Then take out this Red Calx imbibe and grind it often with Common Salt cleansed Vitriol purified and most sharp Vinegar which are the things to be used for the Red but for the White Common Salt Common Alum and Vinegar II. Your matter must be often imbibed dryed and ground till by the benefit of the aforesaid things the uncleanness be totally removed Then mix Glass therewith and cause
a commixtion through their least parts which keep in sufficient heat as in the White is said Extract the Water and what remains in the Cloth put into a well sealed Glass for 3 Weeks Then take it out and add to it a third part of its own reserved water and decoct by Chap. 42. Sect. 23. aforegoing which Work do thrice When it has imbibed all its proper Water put it in its proper Vessel and Fornace to be fixed When fixed with things reducing reduce it into a Body ready to be reduced and tinged XXVIII We more espe cially handling the Regimen of Venus do declare that you ought seven times or oftner to rectifie it when prepared and dissolved distilling off the Water and cohobating thereon each time which being coagulate thence make a most noble Greenness with Sal Armoniack dissolved in Spirit of Vinegar That greenness rubisie in a Vessel of Mars and again dissolve it to which solution adjoyn a third part of prepared and dissolved Luna afterwards extracting and cohobating the water of Ferment 7 times Then reduce this into a Body and you will rejoyce The Regimen of Mars is as of Venus but by reason of its foulness no great good arises from it XXIX Grind Luna amal gamated with Mercury with twice so much Metaline Arsenick Quaere Whether Regulus of Arsenick be not intended To which adjoyn a tenfold proportion of Venus amalgamated with Mercury Grind the whole and fix and reduce into a Body so will you have a pure White Metal XXX The first Dealbation of Venus Take Realgar 1 ounce Argent Vive sublimed 3 Ounces and half Tartar calcin'd 1 ounce grind and incorporate put them into a Bolt head a Foot and half high and its Orifice so wide as two Fingers may go into it lute it and set it over a Fire covered with a Cloth First make a gentle Fire for a quarter of an hour afterwards augment the Fire underneath and round about until the Fornace be very hot with Ignition when all is cold break the Vessel and take out what you find Metalline and make of this a great quantity XXXI A Second Dealbation Upon Tutia sublime one part of Mercury sublimate and two parts of Arsnick sublimed until it shall have ingress This clearly and very speciously whitens Veuus XXXII A Third Dealbation Take Mercury sublimate 3 Ounces Arsenick sublimed 2 Ounces dissolved with Litharge till they become 8 Ounces to these 8 Ounces adjoyn other 8 Ounces of Arsenick sublimed grind them together and flux them with Oyl of Tartar and there with you may whiten prepared Venus at pleasure XXXIII A Fourth Dealbation Grind Metaline Arsenick with as much of the Calx of Luna and imbibe the Mixture with the Water of Sal Armoniack and dry and grind then dissolve Salt of Tartar in the Water of Salt Nitre some suppose Spirit of Nitre with which Oyl imbibe the Medicine repeat this thrice incerating and drying and you will rejoyce XXXIV A Fifth Dealbation which is of our own Invention Imbibe Jupiter calcined washed and dryed so often with metaline Arsenick and hals so much Mercury sublimate as untill it flows and enters Venus which if first prepared it whitens speedily XXXV A Sixth Dealbation Vpon Tutia calcined dissolved and Coagulated sublime White Arsenick so that the Arsenick be 3 parts to 1 of the Tutia reiterating the sublimation upon it four times for it has Ingress With them mix half as much as the whole is of Mercury sublimate grinding and incerating 4 times with the Water of Sal Armoniack Nitre and Tartar ana Quere whether that may not be Aq. Regis with this when coagulated cement prepared plates of Venus and melt so will you have a very beautiful Body XXXVI A Seventh Dealbation Grind Venus calcined and incerated adding to it Arsenick sublimed and half a part of Mercury sublimate with which being well ground and mixed add a little of the Water of Sal Armonoick Quer. if not A. R incerating upon a marble after dry and sublime Revert the sublimate upon the Foeces again imbibing which do thrice the fourth time imbibe with Water of Nitre Spirit of Nitre and sublime what can be sublimed reiterate this Labor till it remains fluid in the bottom This in Copper prepared will be Resplendent with brightness XXXVII An Eighth De albation Upon the prepared Calx of Venus so often sublime Arsenick sublimate till some part of the Arsenick remaine with it in the strongest Fire That imbibed with the Water of Nitre Spirit of Nitre and lastly incerated with Water of Luna and Mercury precipitate and in the end with Oyl of Tartar Rectified until it flows wonderfully whetens Venus and enters the second order if you have operated right For I have else where said that if you obtain any part of Mercury precipitated in the mixture your Work wil be more splendid especially if the White Ferment dissolved with the Mercury dissolved after a certain fixation of it be added by the medium of Inceration by which you will find you have traced the high way it self Geber our Author here saith that the last 8 Sections are all proved Experiments the first 4 of them being Experiments of the Ancients by him again proved the latter 4 Rectifications of the Practises of the Ancients or rather Experiments of his Own All which he affirms to be absolutly true and by him proved so CHAP. XLVI Of the Alchymie of Luna I. THE preparation of Luna It is subtilized attenuated and re duced to a Spirituality in the same manner as hereafter in Chap. 47. Sect. 1. we shall teach concerning Sol. Therefore in all and every part of the Work do the same as we shall there teachwith Gold and this work of Luna dissolved is the Ferment for the White Elixir made Spitual II. It is a metalick Body white which pure whiteness clean hard sounding very durable in the Cupel extensible under the Hammer and fusible It is the Tincture of whiteness hardens Tin by Artifice and converts it to it self and being mixed with Sol it breaks not but in the examination it perseveres without Artifice III. He who knows how to subtilize it and then to inspissate and fix it associated with Gold brings it into such a State that it will remain with Sol in the Test and be in no wise separated from it being put over the fumes of sharp things as Vinegar A. F. or Salarmoniack and it will be of a wonderful Caelestine Color It is a noble Body but wants of the Nobility of Sol and its Minera is found determinate but it has often a Minera confused with other Bodies which Silver is not so Noble It is likewise dissolved and Calcin'd with great Labor and no Profit IV. If therefore clean fixed Red and clear Sulpher fall upon the pure substance of Argent Vive thereof is made pure Gold then in like manner if clean fixed white and clear Sulphur falls upon the substance of Argent Vive there
perfect Luna XIII The Regiment of Luna Dissolve and Coagulate it 7 times or at least 4 times and to it dissolved adjoyn the fixed Rubifying Waters which we shall declare and you will find the body aptly solar for it agrees with Sol and remains quietly with it In this Venus admirably well purged and dissolved may be a great help to you because a most clean tinging and fixed Sulphur may be extracted from it And I tell you that Mercury purified and fixed has power to palliate or illustrate the foulness of imperfect Bodies and fixed Sulphur extracted pure from bodies to tinge them with splendor XIV Hence you may gather a great Secret viz. That Mercury and Sulphur may be extracted as well from imperfect Bodies as from perfect For purified Spirits and middle Minerals are an help and very peculiar for deducing the Work to perfection XV. Another Regiment of Luna This is to reduce it to a more noble state Take Luna dissolved 3 Pounds of Venus dissolved 4 Pounds of Ferment dissolved 1 Pound conjoyn the dissolutions decoct them sor 7 days with gentle fire in a sealed glass as in Mars with their whole water then augment the fire leisurely for other 7 days and let it be as a fire of Sublimation For other 7 days give it fire yet stronger that the whole water may be fixed with it This pouder reduce in a small quantity and if it retains with it self part of the Mercury which you will easily perceive if you know how to calcine it is well indeed but if not put it again to be fixed until it is sufficiently fixt This must be reduced with red reducing Medicines so will you find your Luna tinged transmuted and fixed XVI The Ferment of Luna for the White It is made by dissolving Luna in its own Corrosive water and then boiling this water away to a third part it is to be exposed to the Air or set in B. M. or in Dung for certain days so will it be Oyl of Luna and Ferment which keep for the White Work XVII The Ferment of Ferments upon Mercury for the White Take of the Ferment of Luna which is its Oyl add to it twice as much of Arsenick sublimed and dissolved in water Quaer what Water then to both these add of Mercury dissolved as much as of the Arsenick mix the Waters set them over the fire for one day to be incorporated then draw off the water by an Alembick and cohobate fifteen times so incerating it will be fluid as fusible Wax Add to it as much Virgin-Wax melted commix them and project the mixture upon Mercury washed Quaere What is meant by washing here according as you see fit for that resolved is augmented in Virtue and Weight XVIII A Work upon Luna and Mercury Take Litharge Salt of Pot-Ashes mix and make a Cement Put the Cement first into a Crucible an Inch thick upon which put a Ball of the Amalgamation of Mercury and Luna upon which put the remainder of the Cement that the Ball may be in the middle Dry lute and set the Crucible in a gentle fire for half a day leisurely augmenting the fire and so continue its leisurely in crease from the Evening unto the dawning of the day with moderate ignition at last then take it out and prove it by Cineritium and it will be Luna in weight and surdity and much better in fixation XIX Another Work Amalgamate Luna with Mercury to which add as much Saturn as there is Luna put it into such a Crucible that a fourth part of it may be empty Affuse on it Oyl of Sulphur and decoct it unto the consumption of the Oyl Afterwards keep it for two hours in a moderate fire and there will be generated a black Stone with a little Redness This Stone prove by Cineritium and you will find your Luna augmented in Weight Surdity and Fixation XX. Another Work Take Luna amalgamated with Mercury Grind it with twice so much Metaline Arsenick to which a tenfold proportion of amalgamated Venus viz. That the Amalgamation of Venus may be 10 times as much as the whole Amalgama of Luna and Mercury mixed with the duple quantity of Arsenick grind the whole and fix Then reduce it into a Body and you will find a good augmentation XXI Of the Citrination of Luna or tinging its Body yellow Dissolve 〈◊〉 Philosophick Zyniar which is Verdigrise deduced from Venus prepared in the water of the dissolution of Luna Aqua Fortis to which adjoyn half so much as its self is of Mercury rubified by sublimation and in some sort fixed and dissolved to these add as much of Luna dissolved as the Zyniar Verdigrise is from which fermented for one day extract the water by distillation and cohobate 10 times then coagulate and reduce into a body and you will find it a good Work XXII Or thus Dissolve Zyniar 1 Ounce and our Crocus prepared with Mercury sublimate till it wax red 1 Ounce add as much Sal Armoniack and sublime it thrice from that Crocus which dissolve To which add of Luna dissolved 2 Ounces Then do as in the former incerating and reducing and you will find satisfaction XXIII Or thus Take of Crocus and Zyniar dissolved ana add as much Sol dissol ved incerate as before then coagulate to the coagulate add a fourth part of its weight of the Oyl of Salt-peter and project upon so much of Luna and will be a Tincture of a Citrine aspect XXIV Or thus Make a Water of our Zyniar and of our said Crocus and imbibe the Calces of Sol and Luna of each equal parts therewith until they have drunk in their own weight of it Then incerate with the Oyl of Sal Armoniack and Nitre and reduce the Mass into a Noble Body XXV Or thus Sublime Sal Armoniack from our greenness to which add Crocus and Zyniar from which well commixed sublime the Sal Armoniack and repeat it twice or thrice Then dissolve the whole to which add a third part of Gold dissolved incerate as before and congeal then project upon Sol 1 ounce Luna 2 Ounces mixed together and it will be good CHAP. XLVII Of the Alchimie of Sol. I. PErfect Bodies as Sol is need no preparation in relation to their farther perfection but that they may be more subtilized and attenuated we give you this Preparation Take Leaves of fine Sol which lay stratum superstratum with common Salt well prepared in a Vessel of Calcination Set it into a Fornace and calcine well for 3 days until the whole be subtily calcined Then take it grind it well wash it with Vinegar Quaer Whether Spirit of Vinegar or some other acid Spirit and dry it in the Sun Then grind it well with half its weight of prepared or purified Sal Armoniack and set it to be dissolved until the whole by help of the Common Salt and Sal Armoniack is reduced into a most clear water This is the pretious ferment for
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
of Perfection if in the reiteration of their Cal cination and Reduction they loose nothing of their Goodness in respect of Color Weight Quantity or Lustre of which great care is to be taken in the manifold reiterations of these Operations if therefore by repeating the Calcination and Reduction of altered Metals they loose any thing in their differences of Goodness it is to be supposed you have not rightly persued the Art CHAP. LIV. Of Solution and its Cause I. SOlution is the reduction of a dry thing into Water and every perfection of Solution is compleated with subtile Waters such especially as are acute and sharp and Saline hav ing no Feces as Spirits of Vinegar of sower Grapes of acid Pears of Pomgranates and the like Distillod II. The case of this Invention was the Subtilezation of those things which neither have Fusion nor Ingress by which was lost the great advantage of fixed Spirits and of those things which are of their Nature For every thing which is dissolved must necessarily have the nature of Salt or Alum or their like III. And the nature of them is that they give Fusion before their Vitrification therefore Spirits dissolved will likewise give Fusion And since they in their own nature agree with Bodies and each with other Fusion being acquired they must by that of necessity penetrate Bodies and penetrating them transmute them IV. But they neither penetrate nor transmute without our Magistery or Art viz. That after Solution and Coagulation of the Body there be added to it some one of the Spirits purified not fixed and then to be so often sublimed from it till it remains with it and gives to it a more swift fusion and conserves the same in Fusion from Vitrification V. For the nature of Spirits is not to be Vitrified but to preserve the mixture from Vitrification as long as they are in it Therefore the Spirit which more retains the nature of Spirits more defends or preserves from Vitrification And a Spirit only purified more preserves than a Spirit purified calcined and dissolved Therefore there is a necessity of mingling such a Spirit with the body for from these there results good Fusion and Ingress and true Fixation VI. Now we can demonstrate by natural operation that things only holding the nature of Salts Alums and the like are soluble for in all nature we find no other things to dissolved but them therefore what things soever are dissolved must of necessity be dissolved by their nature or property VII Yet since we see all things truly calcined to be dissolved by reiteration of Calcination and Solution therefore we by that prove that all Calcinates approach to the nature of Salts and Alums and must of necessity be themselves attended with these properties VIII The way of solution is two-fold 1. By hot Dung and by boilng or hot water that is in Balneo of both which there is one intention and one effect IX To dissolve by Dung is That the Calcinate be put into a Glass Vessel up on which must be affused Spirit of Vinegar or the like double its weight Then the mouth of the Vessel must be so closed or stopt that nothing may go forth and the matter with its Vessel set in hot Dung to be dissolved and the solution afterwards filterated X. But that which is not yet dissolved must be again calcined and after Calcination in like manner dissolved until by repeating the labour the whole be dissolved as before which also filter XI The way of dissolving by boiling water is more speedy thus Put the Calcinate in like manner into its Vessel with Vinegar poured on it as before and the mouth being well clofed that nothing expire set the Vessel buried in Straw into a Pot full of water as in Distillation in Balneo then kindling the fire make the water boil for an hour which done decant the Solution and filtrate XII And that which is undissolved let it again be calcined and then again in the same manner dissolved which Work so often repeat till the whole is finished XIII The Dissolutory or dissolving Fornace is made with a pot full of water with Iron Instruments in which other Vessels are artificially retained that they fall not These are the Vessels in which every Dissolution is made XIV Bodies are in a twofold way brought to perfection either 1. By the way of Prepararion or 2. By commixtion of perfect Bodies with the Imperfect i. e. by Medicine prepared for the purpose XV. Now we say that the Body cleansed by the way of Calcination as aforesaid and Reduced must either be filed or Granulated thus being melted we pour it upon a Table-board full of small holes over cold water the water being well stirred while this is doing XVI The body thus granulated we put into our Dissolving water or AF. made of Nitre and Vitriol as to one half thereof or dissolve the filings of the same body in the said AF into a limpid water then add to it of Ferment prepared to a third part of its own weight Abstract the water and revert or cohobate it and repeat this 7 times After it is reduced into a Body prove it in its Examen and you will rejoyce for the Treasure you have found XVII And because we have treated of the perfect administration of Imperfect Bodies we should now give you the special true and certain Rule for every particular body but that being already done for Saturn Jupiter Mars Venus and Luna in their respective Chapters aforegoing where we treat of their Regiment we shall refer you thither XVIII Mercury also purified and fixed has power to take off or away the foulness of imperfect Bodies and to brighten or illustrate them And Fixed Sulphur extracted from bodies to tinge or colour them with splendor Hence you may learn a great Secret viz. That Mercury and Sulphur may be extracted as well from imperfect bodies rightly prepared as from the perfect Purified Spirits also and middle Minerals are a great help and very peculiar for bringing on the Work to perfection XIX The Dissolving Water or AF. Take Cyprus Vitriol 1 Pound Sal-Nitre half a Pound Roch Alum a fourth part Distil off the water with a red hot heat for it is very solutive and use it as we have before in several places taught This may be made more acute if in it you dissolve a fourth part of Sal Armoniack because that dissolves Gold Sulphur and Silver CHAP. LV. Of Coagulation and its Causes I. COagulation is the Reduction of a thing Liquid to a solid substance by deprivation of its moisture for which there is a two-fold Cause one is the Induration or hardening of Argent Vive of which we have already treated Chap. 48. Sect. 8. ad 23. The other is the freeing of Medicines dissolved from their Aquosity which is mixed or joyned with them and so is varied according to the kinds of things to be Coagulated II. The way of Coagulating things
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
white Vapour a white Spirit and a wonderful Soul CHAP VII Of the wonderful things done by our Water in altering and changing Bodies I. QUare debemus per Aquam nostram perfecta corpora attenuare alterare mollificare ut deinde misceantur caeteris corporibus imperfectis II. Unde si aliud beneficium non haberemus ab illa aqua Antimoniali nisi quod readit corpora subtilia mollia fluida ad sui naturam sufficeret nobis III. Nam reducit corpora ad primam originem sulphuris Mercurii ut ex his postea in brevi tempore minus quà m in hora diei faciamus super terram quod natura operata est subtus in mineriis terrae in millibus annis quod est quasi miraculosum IV. Est igitur nostrum finale secretum per aquam nostram corpora facere volatilia spiritualia aquam tingentem habentem ingressum V. Facit enim corpora merum esse spiritum quia incerat corpora dura sicca praeparat ad fusionem id est convertit in aquam permanentem VI. Facit ergo ex corporibus oleum pretiosissimum benedictum quod est vera tinctura aqua permanens alba de natura calida humida temperata subtili fusibili ut cera quod penetrat profundat tingit perficit VII Aqua ergo nostra incontinenti solvit aurum argentum facit oleum incombustible quod tunc potest com 〈◊〉 corporibus 〈◊〉 VIII Nam 〈◊〉 nostra convertit corpora in naturam salis fusibilis qui dicitur Sal Albrot philosophorum omnium salium melior nobilior in regimine fixus non fugiens ignem IX Et ipse quidem est oleum de natura calida subtilis penetrans profundans ingrediens dictus Elixir completum est secretum occultum sapientum Alchimistarum X. Qui scit ergo hunc salem Solis Lunae ejus generationem sive praeparationem postea ipsum commiscere amicari caeteris corporibus imperfectis scit profectò unum de secretis naturae maximum viam perfectionis unam I. IT behoves us therefore by this our Water to attenuate alter and soften the perfect Bodies to wit Sol and Luna that so they may be mixed with other imperfect Bodies II. From whence if we had no other benefit by this our Antimonial water than that it rendred Bodies more subtil soft and fluid according to its own nature it would be sufficient III. But more than that it brings back Bodies to their first original of Sulphur and Mercury that of them we may afterwards in a little time in less than an hours time do that above ground which Nature was a thousand years a doing of under ground in the Mines of the Earth which is a work almost miraculous IV. And therefore our ultimate or highest Secret is by this our water to make Bodies volatile spiritual and a Tincture or tinging water which may have ingress or entrance into other Bodies V. For it makes Bodies to be meerly Spirit because it reduces hard and dry Bodies and prepares them for fusion melting or dissolving that is it converts them into a permanent or fixed water VI. And so it makes of Bodies a most precious and desirable Oyl which is the true Tincture and the permanent or fixed white water by nature hot and moist or rather temperate subtile fusible as Wax which does penetrate sink tinge and make perfect the Work VII And this our water immediately dissolves Bodies as Sol and Luna and makes them into an incombustible Oyl which then may be mixed with other imperfect Bodies VIII It also converts other Bodies into the nature of a fusible Salt which the Philosophers call Sal Alebrot Philosophorum better and more noble than any other Salt being in its own nature fixed and not subject to vanish in fire IX It is an Oyl indeed by nature hot subtile penetrating sinking through and entring into other Bodies it is called the Perfect or Great Elixir and the hidden Secret of the wise Searchers of Nature X. He therefore that knows this Salt of Sol and Luna and its generation and preparation and afterwards how to commix it and make it homogene with other imperfect Bodies he in truth knows one of the greatest Secrets of Nature and the only way that leads to perfection CHAP. VIII Of the Affinity of our Water and other wonderful things done by it I. Haec corpora sic soluta per aquam nostram dicuntur argentum vivum quod non est sine sulphure nec sulphur sine natura luminarium quia luminaria sunt principalia media in forma per quae natura transit perficiendo complendo suam generationem II. Et istud argentum vivum vocatur sal honoratum animatum praegnans ignis cum non sit nisi ignis nec ignis nisi sulphur nec sulphur nisi argentum vivum extractum à Sole Luna per aquam nostram reductum in lapidem alti pretii III. Id est erit materia alterata luminarium mutata de vilitate in nobilitatem IV. Nota quod sulphur illud album est pater metallorum ac mater illorum Mercurius noster minera auri anima fermentum virtus mineralis corpus vivum medicina perfecta sulphur argentum vivum nostrum id est sulphur de sulphure argentum vivum de argento vivo Mercurius de Mercurio V. Proprietas ergo aquae nostrae est quod liquefacit aurum argentum augmentat in eis nativum colorem VI. Convertit enim corpora à corporalitate in spiritualitatem ipsa est quae immittit in corpus fumum album qui est anima alba subtilis calida multae igneitatis VII Haec aqua dicitur etiam lapis sanguinaris est etiam virtus spiritualis sanguinis sine quo nil fit subjectum omnium liquabilium liquefactionis quod multum Soli Lunae convenit adhaeret nec separatur ab eis semper VIII Est ergo affinis Soli Lunae sed magis Soli quam Lunae nota bene IX Dicitur etiam medium conjungendi tincturas Solis Lunae cum metallis imperfectis nam aqua illa convertit corpora in veram tincturam ad tingenda reliqua imperfecta est aqua quae dealbat ut est alba quae vivifisat ut est anima ideo citò corpus suum ingreditur ait Philosophus X. Nam est aqua viva quae venit suam irrigare terram ut germinet fructum producat in tempore 〈◊〉 nam ex roratu omnia generantur ex terra nascentia XI Terra ergo non germinat absque irrigatione humiditate aqua roris Maij ipsa abluit corpora tanquam pluviali penetrat dealbat ac facit corpus novum ex duobus corporibus XII Aqua illa vitae gubernata cum corpore ipsum dealbat convertens ipsum in
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
rei volatilis quae est sui generis II. Per quam Corpora redduntur volatilia spiritualia sese elevando subtiliando sublimando contra naturam propriam corpoream gravem ponderosam III. Et hoc modo fiunt non Corpora quinta essentia de natura Spiritus quae vocatur Avis Hermetis Mercurius extractus à servo rubeo IV. Et sic remanent inferius partes terrestres aut potius grossiores Corporum quae perfectissimè non possunt solvi ullo ingeniorum modo V. Et fumus ille albus album illud aurum id est haec quintessentia dicitur etiam magnesia composita quae continet ut Homo vel composita est ut Homo ex Corpore Anima Spiritu VI. Corpus ejus est terra Solaris fixa plusquam subtilissima per vim Aquae nostrae divinae ponderositer elevata VII Anima ejus est Tinctura Solis Lunae procedens excommunicatione horum duoruns VIII Spiritus verò est virtus mineralis amborum aquae quae defert animam five tincturam albam super Corpora ex corporibus sicut portatur tinctura tinctorum per aquam supra pannum IX Et ille spiritus Mercurialis est vinculum animae Solaris corpus Solare est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continens cum Luna spiritum animam X. Spiritus ergo penetrat corpus figit anima copulat tingit dealbat XI Ex his tribus simul unitis fit lapis noster id est ex Sole Luna Mercurio XII Cum ergo aqud nostra aurea extrahitur natura omnem superans naturam ideoque nisi corpora per aquam hanc diruantur imbibantur terantur parce diligenter regantur donec ab spissitudine abstrahantur in tenuem spiritum impalpabilem vertantur vacuus est labor XIII Quia nisi corpora vertantur in non corpora id est in Mercurium Philosophorum nondum operis rogula inventa est XIV Et illud ideo quoniam impossibile est illam tenuissimam animam omnem in se tincturam habentem à corpori bus extrahere nisi prius resolvantur in aqua nostra XV. Solve ergo corpora in aurea aqua decoque quousque tota egrediatur tinctura per aquam in colorem album sive in oleum album cumque vide ris illam albedinem super aquam scias tunc corpora esse liquefacta XVI Continua ergo decccti onem donec pariant nebulam quam conceperunt tenebrosam nigram albam I. IT is most certain therefore in this Art That this Soul extracted from the Bodies cannot be made to ascend but by adding to it a volatile Matter which is of its own kind II. By the which the Bodies will be made volatile and spiritual lifting themselves up subtillizing and subliming themselves contrary to their own proper nature which is corporeal heavy and ponderous III. And by this means they are unbodied or made no bodies to wit incorporeal and a Quintessence of the nature of a Spirit which is called Avis Hermetis and Mercurius Extractus drawn from a red Subject or Matter IV. And so the terrene or earthy parts remain below or rather the grosser parts of the Bodies which can by no Industry or Ingenuity of Man be brought to a perfect dissolution V. And this white Vapor this white Gold to wit this Quintessence is called also the Compound Magnesia which like Man does contain or like Man is composed of a Body Soul and Spirit VI. Now the Body is the fixed solar Earth exceeding the most subtile Matter which by the help of our divine Water is with difficulty lifted up or separated VII The Soul is the Tincture of Sol and Luna proceeding from the conjunction or communicating of these two to wit the Bodies of Sol and Luna and our Water VIII And the Spirit is the mineral power or virtue of the Bodies and of the Water which carries the Soul or white Tincture in or upon the Bodies and also out of the Bodies like as the Tinctures or Colours in Dying Cloth are by the Water put upon and diffused in and through the whole Cloth IX And this Mercurial Spirit is the Chain or Band of the solar Soul and the solar Body is that Body which contains the Spirit Soul having the power of fixing in it self being joyned with Luna X. The Spirit therefore penetrates the Body fixes and the Soul joyns together tinges and whitens XI From these three united together is our Stone made to wit of Sol Luna and Mercury XII Therefore with this our Golden-Water a natural Substance is extracted exceeding all natural Substances and so except the Bodies be broken and destroyed imbibed made subtile and fine thriftily and diligently managed 'till they are abstracted from or lose their grossness or solid Substance and be changed into a thin and subtil Spirit all our Labour will be in vain XIII And unless the Bodies be made no Bodies or incorporeal that is be converted into the Philosophers Mercury there is no Rule of Art yet found out to work by XIV The reason is because it is impossible to draw out of the Bodies all that most thin and subtile Soul which has in it self the Tincture except it be first resolved in our Water XV. Dissolve then the Bodies in this our Goldenwater and boil them till all the Tincture is brought forth by the Water in a white Colour and a white Oil and when you see this whiteness upon the Water then know that the Bodies are melted liquified or dissolved XVI Continue then this boyling till the dark black and white Cloud is brought forth which they have conceived CHAP. XII Of Digestion and how the Spirit is made thereby I. PONE ergo corpora perfecta in aqua nostra in vase Hermeticè sigillato super ignem lenem coque continuò donec perfectè resolvantur in oleum pretiosissimum II. Coque inquit Adfar igne leni sicut per ovorum nutritionem donec solvantur corpora eorum tinctura conjunctissima nota extrahatur III. Non autem extrahitur tota simul sed parum ad parum egreditur omni die omni borâ donec in longo tempore compleatur hujusmodi solutio quod solvitur semper petit superius IV. Et in tali dissolutione sit ignis lenis continuus donec in aquam viscosam solvantur impalpabilem tota egrediatur tinctura in colore nigredinis primum quod est signum verae solutionis V. Continua deinde decoctionem quousque fiat aqua permanens alba quia in suo regens balneo fiet postea clara tandem deveniet sicut argentum vivum vulgare scandens per aêra super aquam primam VI. Ideoque cum videris corpora soluta in aquam viscosam scias tunc corpor is esse conversa in vaporem te habere animas à corporibus mortuis separatas in spirituum ordinem sublimatione delatas VII Unde ambo cum
parte aquae nostrae facta sunt spiritus in aêra scandentes ibique corpus compositum ex mare foemina ex Sole Luna ex illa subtillissimanatura mundata per sublimationem accipit vitam inspiratur à suo humore VIII Id est à sua aqua sicut homo ab aêre quare multiplicabitur deinceps ac crescet in sua specie sicut res omnes caeterae IX In tali ergo elevatione sublimatione philosophica conjunguntur omnes ad invicem corpus novum inspiratum ab aêre vivit vegetabiliter quod est miraculosum X. Quare nisi corpora igne aqua attenuentur quousque ascendant in spiritus quousque fiant ut aqua fumus vel Mercurius nihil fit in Arte. XI Illis tamen ascendentibus in aêre nascuntur in aêre vertuntur fiuntque vita cum vita ut numquam possint separari sicut aqua mixta aquae XII Ideoque natus in aēre sapienter dicitur quoniam omnino spiritualis efficitur XIII Ipse namque Vultur sine alis volans supra montem clamitat dicens Ego sum albus nigri rubeus albi citrinus rubei filius vera dicens non mentior I. PUT the refore the perfect Bodies of Metals to wit Sol and Luna into our Water in a Vessel Hermetically sealed upon a gentle Fire and digest continually 'till they are perfectly resolved into a most precious Oyl II. Digest saith Adfar with a gentle Fire as it were for the hatching of Chickens so long 'till the Bodies are dissolved and their perfectly conjoyned Tincture mark this well is extracted III. But it is not extracted all at once but it is drawn out by little and little day by day and hour by hour till after a long time the Solution thereof is compleated and that which is dissolved always swims a top IV. And while this dissolution is in hand let the Fire be gentle and continual till the Bodies are dissolved into a viscous and most subtile Water and the whole Tincture be educed in colour first black which is the sign of a true dissolution V. Then continue the digestion till it becomes a white fixed Water for being digested in Balneo Mariae it will afterwards become clear and in the end become like to common Argent vive ascending by the Spirit above the first Water VI. When therefore you see the Bodies dissolved in the first viscous Water then know that they are turned into a Vapour and that the Soul is separated from the dead Body and by Sublimation brought into the order of Spirits VII Whence both of them with a part of our Water are made Spirits flying up into the Air and there the compounded Body made of the Male and the Female viz. of Sol and Luna and of that most subtile Nature cleansed by Sublimation taketh Life and is made Spiritual by its own humidity VIII That is by its own Water like as a Man is sustained by the Air whereby from thenceforth it is multiplied and increases in its own kind as do all other things IX In such an ascension therefore and philosophical Sublimation all are joyned one with another and the new Body subtilized or made living by the Spirit miraculously liveth or iprings like a Vegetable X. Wherefore unless the Bodies be attenuated or made thin by the Fire and Water 'till they ascend in a Spirit and are made or do become like Water and Vapour or Mercury you labour wholly in vain XI But when they arise or ascend they are born or brought forth in the Air or Spirit and in the same they are changed and made Life with Life so as they can never be separated but are as Water mixt with Water XII And therefore it is wisely said That the Stone is born of the Spirit because it is altogether Spiritual XIII For the Vulture himself flying without Wings cries upon the top of the Mountain saying I am the white brought forth from the black and the red brought forth from the white the citrine Son of the red I speak the Truth and lye not CHAP. XIII Of the beginning of the Work and a Summary of what is to be done I. SUfficit ergo tibi corpora in vase in aqua semel ponere diligenter claudere vas quousque vero separatio sit facta II. Quae vocatur ab invidis conjunctio sublimatio assatio extractio putrefactio ligatio desponsatio subtiliatio generatio c. III. Et totum perficiatur magisterium Fac igitur sicut ad generationem hominis omnis vegetabilis imponito semel matrici semen bene claude IV. Vides ergo quomodo pluribus rebus non indiges quod opus nostrum magnas non requiret expensas quoniam unus est lapis una medicina unum vas unum regimen una dispositio ad album rubeum successivè faciendum V. Et quamvis dicamus in pluribus locis ponito hoc ponito istud tamen non intelligimus nos opportere nisi unam rem accipere semel ponere claudere vas usque ad operis complementum VI. Quia haec tantum ponuntur à philosophis invidis ut decipiant ut dictum est incautos Nunquid enim etiam haec ars est Cabalistica arcanis plena tu fatue credis nos docere apertè arcana arcanorum verbaque accipis secundum sonum verborum VII Scito verè nullo modo sum ego invidus ut caeteri qui verba aliorum philosophorum accipit secundum prolationem ac significationem vulgarem nominum jam ille absque filo Ariadnae in medio amfractuam Labyrinthi multipliciter errat pecuniamque suam destinavit perditioni VIII Ego vero Artephius postquam adeptus sum veram ac completam sapientiam in libris veridici Hermetis fui aliquando 〈◊〉 caeteri omnes IX Sed cum per mille annos aut circiter quae jam transierunt super me à nativitate mea gratia Soli Dei omnipotentis usu hujus mirabilis quintae essentiae X. Cum per haec inquam longissima tempora viderem neminem magisterium Hermeticum obtinere posse propter obscuritatem verborum philosophorum XI Pietate motus ac probitate boni viri decrevi in his ultimis temporibus vitae meae omnia scribere sineere ac veraciter ut nihil ad perficiendum lapidem philosophorum possis desiderare XII Dempto aliquo quod nemini licet scribere quia revelatur per Deum aut magistrum tamen in hoc libro ille qui non erit durae cervicis cum pauca experientia faciliter addiscet XIII Scripsi ergo in hoc libro nudam veritatem quia paucis coloribus vestivi ut omnis bonus sapiens mala Hesperidum mirabilia feliciter pos sit ex arbore hac philosophica decerpere XIV Quare laudetur Deus altissimus qui posuit in anima nostra hanc benignitatem cum senectute longinquissima dedit nobis veram
Womans Work and the Play of Children III. Go to then my Son put up thy Supplications to God Almighty be dilligent in searching the Books of the Learned in this Science for one Book openeth another think and meditate of these things profoundly and avoid all things which vanish in or will not endure the Fire because from those adustible perishing or consuming things you can never attain to the perfect matter which is only found in the digesting of your Water extracted from Sol and Luna IV. For by this Water Colour and Ponderosity or Weight are infinitely given to the matter and this Water is a white Vapor which like a Soul flows through the perfect Bodies taking wholly from them their blackness and impurities uniting the two bodies in one and increasing their Water V. Nor is there any other thing than Azoth to wit this our Water which can take from the perfect bodies of Sol and Luna their natural Colour making the red Body white according to the Disposition thereof VI. Now let us speak of the Fire Our Fire then is Mineral equal continuous it fumes not unless it be too much stirred up participates of Sulphur and is taken from other things than from the Matter it over-turns all things dissolves congeals and calcines and is to be found out by Art or after an Artificial manner VII It is a compendious thing gotten without cost or charge or at least without any great purchase it is humid vaporous digestive altering penetrating subtile spirituous not violent incombustible circumspective continent and one only thing VIII It is also a Fountain of living Water which circumvolveth and contains the place in which the King and Queen bathe themselves through the whole Work this moist Fire is sufficient in the beginning middle and end because in it the whole Art does consist IX This is the natural Fire which is yet against Nature not natural and which burns not and lastly this Fire is hot cold dry moist meditate on these things and proceed directly without any thing of a forreign Nature X. If you understand not these Fires give ear to what I have yet to say never as yet written in any book but drawn from the more abstruse and occult Riddles of the Ancients CHAP. XV. Of the three kinds of Fires of the Philosophers in particular I. TRES proprìe habemus ignes sine quibus ars non perficitur qui absque illis laborat in unum curas sus cipit II. Primus est lampadis is continuus est humidus vaporosus aêreus artificialis ad inveniendum III. Nam lampas debet esse proportionata ad clausuram in hac utendum est magno judicio quod non pervenit ad artificem dura cervicis IV. Quia si ignis lampadis non est geometricè debitè proportionatus aut per defectum caloris non videbis signa in tempore designata atque prae nimia mora expectatio aufugiet tua aut 〈◊〉 ardore nimio flores auri cemburentur laborem tuum iniquè deflebis V. Secundus ignis est cinerum in quibus vasrecluditur Hermeticè sigillatum aut polius est calor ille suavissimus qui ex vapore temperato lampadis circuit aequaliter vas VI. Hic violentus non eft nisi nimium excitetur digerens est alterans est ex alio corpore quam à materia sumitur unicus est est etiam humidus innaturalis c. VII Tertius est ignis ille naturalis aquae nostrae quae vocatur etiam contra naturam quia est aqua nihilominus ex auro facit merum spiritum quod ignis communis facere non potest VIII Hic mineralis est aequalis est de sulphure participat omnia diruit congelat solvit ac calcinat hic est penetrans subtilis incomburens est fons aquae vivae in quo se lavant Rex Regina quo indigemus in toto opere in principio medio fine IX Aliis vero duobus supradictis non sed tantum aliquando c. X. Conjunge ergo in legendis libris philosophorum hos tres ignes proculdubio intellectus eorum de ignibus non te latebit I. WE have properly three Fires without which this our Art cannot be perfected and whosoever works without them takes a great deal of Labour in vain II. The First Fire is that of the Lamp which is continuous humid vaporous Spiritous and found out by Art III. This Lamp-fire ought to be proportioned to the enclosure wherein you must use great Judgment which none can attain to but he that can bend to the search thereof IV. For if this Fire of the Lamp be not measured and duly proportioned or fitted to the Fornace it will be that either for want of heat you will not see the expected Signs in their limited times whereby you will lose your hopes and expectation by a too long delay Or else by reason of too much heat you will burn the Flores Auri the Golden Flowers and so foolishly bewail your lost Expence V. The Second Fire is Ignis Cinerum an Ash heat in which the Vessel hermetically sealed is recluded or buried Or rather it is that most sweet and gentle heat which proceeding from the temperate Vapours of the Lamp does equally surround your Vessel VI. This Fire is not violent or forcing except it be too much excited or stirred up it is a Fire digestive alterative and taken from another body than the matter being but one only moist also and not natural VII The Third Fire is the natural Fire of our Water which is also called the Fire against nature because it is Water and yet nevertheless it makes a mere Spirit of Gold which common Fire is not able to do VIII This Fire is Mineral equal and participates of Sulphur it overturns or destroys congeals dissolves and calcines it is penetrating subtil incombustible and not burning and is the fountain of Living Water wherein the King and Queen bathe themselves whose help we stand in need of through the whole Work through the beginning middle and end IX But the other Two above-mentioned we have not always occasion for but only at some times X. In reading therefore the books of Philosophers conjoin these Three Fires in your Judgment and without doubt you will understand whatever they have wrote of them CHAP. XVI Of the Colours of Our Philosophick Tincture or Stone I. QUoad Colores qui non nigrefacit dealbare non potest quia nigredo est albedinis principium signum putrefactionis alterationis quod corpus penetratum mortificatum jam est II. Ergo in hac putrefactione in hac aqua primò apparet nigredo sicut brodium saginatum piperatum III. Secundò terra nigra continuò decoquendo dealbatur quia anima horum supernatat ut remor albus in hac albedine uniuntur omnes spiritus sic quod denuò aufugere non possunt IV. Et
naturam retineat convertat in naturam albam XVI Quod si vis rubificare oportet coquere album istud in igne sicco continuo donec rubificetur ut sanguis qui nihil erit aliud quam aqua ignis tinctura vera XVII Et sic per ignem siccum continuum emendatur albedo citrinatur acquirit rubedinem colorem verum fixum XVIII Quantò ergo magis coquitur magis coloratur fit tinctura intentioris rubedinis XIX Quare oportet igne sicco calcinatione sicca absque humore compositum coquere donec rubicundissimo vestiatur colore tunc erit perfectum Elixir I. DIssolve then Sol and Luna in our dissolving Water which is familiar and friendly and the next in nature unto them and is also sweet and pleasant to them and as it were a Womb a Mother an Original the beginning and the end of their Life II. And that is the very Reason why they are meliorated or amended in this Water because like nature rejoiceth in like nature and like nature retains like nature being joined the one to the other in a true Marriage by which they are made one Nature one new Body raised again from the dead and immortal III. Thus it behoves you to join Consanguinity or sameness of kind with sameness of kind by which these natures will meet and follow one another purifie themselves generate and make one another rejoice for that like nature now is disposed by like nature even that which is nearest and most friendly to it IV. Our Water then saith Danthin is the most beautiful lovely and clear Fountain prepared only for the King and Queen whom it knows very well and they it V. For it attracts them to its self and they abide therein for two or three days to wit two or three months to wash themselves therewith whereby they are made young again and beautiful VI. And because Sol and Luna have their Original from this Water their Mother it is necessary therefore that they enter into it again to wit into their Mothers Womb that they may be regenerate or born again and made more healthy more noble and more strong VII If therefore these do not die and be converted into Water they remain alone or as they were and without Fruit but if they die and are resolved in our Water they bring forth Fruit an hundred-fold and from that very place in which they seem'd to perish from thence shall they appear to be that which they were not before VIII Let therefore the Spirit of our living Water be with all care and industry fixed with Sol and Luna for that they being converted into the nature of Water become dead and appear like to the Dead from whence afterwards being revived they encrease and multiply even as do all sorts of Vegetable Substances IX It suffices then to dispose the Matter sufficiently without because that within it sufficiently disposes it self for the Perfection of its own work X. For it has in it self a certain and inherent motion according to the true way and Method and a much better order than it is possible for any Man to invent or think of XI For this Cause it is that you need only to prepare the matter Nature her self alone will perfect it and if she be not hindred by some contrary thing she will not over-pass her own certain motion neither in conceiving or generating nor in bringing forth XII Wherefore after the preparation of the matter beware only lest by too much heat or fire you inflame the Bathe or make it too hot Secondly take heed lest the Spirit should exhale lest it hurts the Operator to wit lest it destroys the work and induces many infirmities as sadness trouble vexation discontent XIII From these things which have been spoken this Axiom is manifest to wit that he can never know the necessary course of Nature in the making or generating of Mettals who is ignorant of the way of destroying them XIV You must therefore join them together that are of one consanguinity or kindred for like natures do find out and join with their like natures and by putrifying themselves together are mixed together and mortifie themselves XV. It is needful therefore to know this Corruption and Generation and how the natures do embrace one another and are brought to a fixity in a slow or gentle fire how like nature rejoiceth with like nature how they retain one another and are converted into a white subsistencie XVI This white substance if you will make it Red you must continually decoct it in a dry Fire till it is rubified or becomes red as blood which is then nothing but water fire and the true tincture XVII And so by a continual dry fire the whiteness is changed removed perfected made citrine and still digested till it comes to a true red and fixed colour XVIII And consequently by how much more this red is decocted in this gentle heat by so much the more it is heightned in Colour and made a true Tincture of perfect Redness XIX Wherefore with a dry Fire and a dry Calcination without any moisture you must decoct this Compositum till it be invested with a most perfect red Colour and then it will be the true and perfect Elixir CHAP. XVIII Of the Multiplication of the Philosophick Tincture I. SI postea velis illum multiplicare oportet iteratò resolvere illud rubeum in nova aqua dissolutiva iterato coctione dealbare rubificare per gradus ignis reiterando primum regimen II. Solve gela reitera claudendo aperiendo multiplicando in quantitate qualitate at tumm placitum III. Quia per novam corruptionem generationem iterum introducitur novus motus IV. Et sic non possemus adipisci finem si semper operari vellemus per reiteratienem solutionis coagulationis mediante aqua nostra dissolutiva id est dissolvendo congelando ut dictum est per primum regimem V. Et sic ejus virtus augmentatur multiplicatur in quantitate qualitate ita quod si in primo opere receperit centum in secundo habebis mille in tertio decem millia VI. Et sic prosequendo veniet projectio tua usque ad infinitum tingendo verè perfectè fixe omnem quantamcumque quantitatem VII Et sic per rem vilis pretij additur color virtus pondus VIII Ignis ergo noster Azoth tibi sufficiunt coque coque reitera solve gela sic continua ad tuum placi tum multiplicando quantum volueris donec medicina tua fiat fusibilis ut cera habeat quantitatem virtutem optatam IX Est ergo totius operis sive lapidis secundi not a bene complementum ut sumatur corpus perfectum quod ponas in nostra aqua in domo vitrea benè clausa obturata cum cemento 〈◊〉 aer intret aut humidit as introclusa
exeat X. In digestione lenis coloris veluti balnei vel fimi temperatissima cum oper is instantia assiduetur per ignem super ipsum perfectio decoctionis XI Quousque putrescat resolvatur in nigrum postea elevetur sublimetur per aquam ut mundetur per hoc ab omni nigredine tenebris ut dealbetur subtilietur XII Donec in ultima sublimationis puritate deveniat ultimo volatile fiat album reddatur intus extra quia Vultur in aere sine alis volans clamavit ut possit ire supra montem id est super aquam super quam spiritus albus fertur XIII Tunc continua ignem convenientem spiritus ille id est subtilis substantia corporis Mercurii ascendet super aquam quae quinta essentia est nive candidior XIV Et in fine continua adhuc fortifica ignem ut totum spirituale penitus ascendat XV. Scitote namque quod illud quod est clarum purum spirituale ascendit in altum in aera in modum fumi albi quod lac Virginis appellatur I. NOW if afterwards you would multiply your Tincture you must again resolve that Red in new or fresh dissolving Water and then by decoctions first whiten and then rubifie it again by the degrees of Fire reiterating the first method of operation in this Work II. Dissolve coagulate and reiterate the closing up the opening and multiplying in quantity and quality at your own pleasure III. For by a new Corruption and Generation there is introduced a new Motion IV. Thus can we never find an end if we do always work by reiterating the same thing over and over again viz. by Solution and Coagulation by the help of our dissolving Water by which we dissolve and congeal as we have formerly said in the beginning of the work V. Thus also is the virtue thereof increased and multiplied both in quantity and quality so that if after the first course of Operation you obtain an hundred-fold by a second course you will have a thousand-fold and by a third ten thousand-fold increase VI. And by persuing your work your projection will come to infinity tinging truly and perfectly and fixing the greatest quantity how much soever VII Thus by a thing of an easie or small price you have both colour goodness and weight VIII Our Fire then and Azoth are sufficient for you Decoct decoct reiterate dissolve congeal and continue this course according as you please multiplying it as you think good until your Medicine is made fusible as Wax and has attained the quantity and goodness or fixity and colour you desire IX This then is the compleating of the whole work of our second Stone observe it well that you take the perfect Body and put it into our water in a glass Vesica or Body well closed with Cement lest the Air get in or the inclosed humidity get out X. Keep it in digestion in a gentle heat as it were of a balneum or the most temperate Horse-dung and assiduously continue the operation or work upon the fire till the decoction and digestion is perfect XI And keep it in this digestion of a gentle heat until it be putrified and resolved into blackness and be drawn up and sublimed by the water and is thereby cleansed from all blackness and impurity that it may be white and subtil XII Until it comes to the ultimate or highest purity of sublimation and the utmost volatility and be made white both within and without For the Vulture flying in the air without Wings crys out that it might get up upon the Mountain that is upon the waters upon which the Spiritus albus or Spirit of whiteness is born XIII Continue still a fitting fire and that Spirit which is the subtil being of the Body and of the Mercury will ascend upon the top of the water which quintessence is more white than the driven Snow XIV Continue yet still and toward the end encrease the fire till the whole spiritual subsistance ascend to the top XV. And know well that whatsoever is clear pure and spiritual ascends in Air to the top of the water in the substance of a white vapor which the Philosophers call their Virgins Milk CHAP. XIX Of Sublimation in particular and Separation of the pure from the impure I. OPortet ergo ut de terra inquiebat Sybilla exaltetur filius Virginis quinta substantia alba post resurrectionem elevetur versus coelos in fundo vasis aquae remaneat grossum spissum II. Vase de hinc infrigidato reperies in fundo ipsius faeces nigras arsas combustas separatas ab spiritu quintaessentia alba quas projice III. In his temporibus argentum vivum pluit ex aere nostro super terram novam quod vocatur argentum vivum ex aêre sublimatum ex quo fiat aqùa viscosa munda alba IV. Quae est vera tinctura separata ab omni faece nigra sic aes nostrum regitur cum aqua nostra purificatur albo colore decoratur V. Quae dealbatio non fit nisi decoctione aquae coagulatione Decoque ergo continuò ablue nigredinem à latone non manu sed lapide sive igne sive aqua Mercuriali nostra secunda quae est vera tinctura VI. Nam non manibus fit haec separatio puri ab impuro sed ipsa natura sola circulariter ad perfectionem operando verè perficit VII Ergo patet quod haec compositio non est manualis operatio sed naturarum mutatio quia nature seipsam dissoluit copulat seipsam sublimat elevat albescit separatis faecibus VIII Et in tali sublimatione conjunguntur partes subtiliores magis purae essentiales quia natura ignea cum elevat partes subtisiores magis puras semper elevat ergo dimittit grossiores IX Quare oportet igne mediocri continuo in vapore sublimare ut inspiretur ab aêre possit vivere X. Nam omnium rerum natura vitam ex aêris inspirationerecipit sic etiam totum magisterium nostrum consistit in vapore aquae sublimatione XI Oportet igitur aes nostrum per gradus ignis elevari quod per se sine violentia ascendat libere ideoque nisi corpus igne aqua diruatur ac attenuetur quosque ascendat ut spiritus aut ut argentum vivum scandens vel etiam ut anima alba à corpore separata in spirituum sublimatione delata nihil fit XII Eo tamen ascendente in aêre nascitur in aêre vertitur fitque vita cum vita omnino spirituale incorruptibile XIII Et sic in tali regimine corpus fit spiritus de subtili natura spiritus incorporatur cum corpore fit unum cum eo in tali sublimatione conjunctione elevatione omnia fiunt alba I. IT ought to be therefore as one of the
Sybills said that the Son of the Virgin be exalted from the Earth and that the white Quintessence after its rising out of the dead Earth be raised up towards Heaven the gross and thick remaining in the bottom of the Vessel and of the Water II. Afterwards the Vessel being cooled you will find in the bottom the black Faeces scorcht and burnt which separate from the Spirit and Quintessence of Whiteness and cast them away III. Then will the Argent vive fall down from our Air or Spirit upon the new Earth which is called Argent vive sublimed by the Air or Spirit whereof is made a viscous Water pure and white IV. This Water is the true Tincture separated from all its black Faeces and our Brass or Latten is prepared with our Water purified and brought to a white Colour V. Which white Colour is not obtained but by decoction and coagulation of the Water Decoct therefore continually wash away the Blackness from the Latten not with your Hands but with the Stone or the Fire or our second Mercurial Water which is the true Tincture VI. This separation of the pure from the impure is not done with hands but Nature her self does it and brings it to perfection by a circular Operation VII It appears then that this Composition is not a work of the Hands but a change of the Natures because Nature dissolves and joyns it self sublimes and lifts it self up and grows white being separate from the Faeces VIII And in such a Sublimation the more subtil pure and essential parts are conjoyned for that with the fiery nature or property lifts up the subtil parts it separates alwaies the more pure leaving the grosser at bottom IX Wherefore your Fire ought to be a gentle and a continual Vapour with which you sublime that the matter may be filled with Spirit from the Air and live X. For naturally all things take Life from the inbreathing of the Air and so also our Magistery receives in the Vapour or Spirit by the sublimation of the Water XI Our Brass or Laten then is to be made to ascend by the degrees of Fire but of its own accord freely aand without violence except the body therefore be by the Fire and the Water broken or dissolved and attenuated until it ascends as a Spirit or climbs like Argent vive or rather as the white Soul separated from the Body and by sublimation delated or brought into a Spirit nothing is or can be done XII But when it ascends on high it is born in the Air or Spirit and is changed into Spirit and becomes Life with Life being only Spiritual and Incorruptible XIII And by such an Operation it is that the Body is made Spirit of a subtil nature and the Spirit is incorporated with the Body and made one with it and by such a sublimation conjunction and raising up the whole both Body and Spirit are made white CHAP. XX. Of Digestion Sublimation and Separation of the Bodies for the perfection of the Work I. ERgo necessaria est haec sublimatio philosophica naturalis quae componit pacem inter corpus spiritum quod est impossibile aliter fieri nisi in has partes separentur II. Idcirco oportet utrumque sublimare ut purum ascendat impurum terrenosum descendat in turbatione maris procellosi III. Quare oportet decoquere continuò ut ad subtilem deducatur naturam quousque corpus assumat attrahat animam albam Mercurialem quam retinet naturaliter nec demittit eam à se separari quia sibi compar est in propinquitate naturae primae purae simplicis IV. Ex his oportet per decoctionem separationem exercere ut nihil de pinguedine ani mae remaneat quod non fuerit elevatum exaltatum in superiori parte sic utrumque erit reductum ad aequalitatem simplicem ad simplicem albedinem V. Vultur ergo volans per aerem Bufo gradiens per terram est magisterium VI. Ideo quando separabis terram ab aqua id est ab igne subtile ab spisso suaviter cum magno ingenio ascendet à terra in coelum quod erit purum descendet in terram quod erit impurum VII Et recipiet subtilior pars in superiori loco naturam spiritus in inferiori verò naturam corporis terrei VIII Quare elevetur per talem oporationem natura alba cum subtiliori parte corporis relictis foecibus quod fit brevi tempore IX Nam anima cum sua adjuvatur socia per eam perficitur X. Mater inquit corpus me genuit per me gignitur ipsa postquam autem ab ea accepi volatum ipsa meliori modo quo potest fit pia fovens nutriens filium quem genuit donec ad statum devenerit perfectum I. THIS Philosophical and Natural Sublimation therefore is necessary which makes peace between or fixes the Body and Spirit which is impossible to be done otherwise than in the separation of these parts II. Therefore it behoves you to sublime both that the pure may ascend and the impure and earthy may descend or be left at bottom in the perplexity of a troubled Sea III. And for this reason it must be continually decocted that it may be brought to a subtil property and the Body may assume and draw to it self the white Mercurial Soul which it naturally holds and suffers not to be separated from it because it is like to it in the nereness of the first pure and simple nature IV. From these things it is necessary to make a separation by Decoction till no more remains of the purity of the Soul which is not ascended and exalted to the higher part whereby they will both be reduced to an equality of Properties and a simple or pure Whiteness V. The Vulture flying through the Air and the Toad creeping upon the Ground are the Emblems of our Magistery VI. When therefore gently and with much care you separate the Earth from the Water that is from the Fire and the thin from the thick then that which is pure will separate it self from the Earth and ascend to the upper part as it were into Heaven and the impure will descend beneath as to the Earth VII And the more subtil part in the superior place will take upon it the nature of a Spirit and that in the lower place the nature of an earthy body VIII Wherefore let the white property with the more subtil parts of the body be by this Operation made to ascend leaving the faeces behind which is done in a short time IX For the Soul is aided by her associate and fellow and perfected by it X. My Mother saith the Body has begotten me and by me she her self is begotten now after I have taken from her her flying she after an admirable manner becomes kind nourishing and cherishing the Son whom she has begotten till he comes to
be of a ripe or perfect Age. CHAP. XXI Of the Secret Operation of the Water and Spirit upon the Body I. AUdi hoc secretum Custodi corpus in aqua nostra Mercuriali quousque ascendat cum anima alba terreum descendat ad imum quod vocatur terra residua II. Tunc videbis aquam co agulare seipsam cum suo corpore ratus eris scientiam esse veram quia corpus suum coagulat humorem in siccum sicut coagulum agni lac coagulat in caseum III. Et sic spiritus penetrabit corpus commixtio fiet per minima corpus attrahat sibi humorem suum id est animam albam quemadmodum Magnes ferrum propter naturae suae propinquitatem naturam aevidam tunc unum continet alterum IV. Et haec est sublimatio coagulatio nostra omne volatile retinens quae facit fugam perire V. Ergo haec compositio non est manualis operatio sed ut dixi naturarum mutatio earum frigidi cum calido humidi cum sicco admirabilis connexio Calidumenim miscetur frigido siccum humido VI. Hoc etiam modo fit mixtio conjunctio corporis spiritus quae vocatur conversio naturarum contrariarum quia in tali dissolutione sublimatione spiritus convertitur in corpus corpus in spiritum VII Sic etiam mixta in unum redacta se invicem vertunt nam corpus incorporat spiritum spiritus verò corpus vertit in spiritum tinctum album VIII Quare ultima vice inquam decoque in nostra aqua alba id est in Mercurio donec soluatur in nigredinem deinde per deeoctionem continuam privabitur à sua nigredine corpus sic solutum 〈◊〉 ascendit cum anima alba IX Et 〈◊〉 unum alteri 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 se amplecte 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non potuerunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 separari tune 〈◊〉 reali concordantia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum corpore 〈◊〉 unitm permanens X. Et haec est solutio corpo ris coagulatio spiritus quae unam eandem habent operationem XI Qui ergo noverit ducere praegnantem facere mortificare putrefacere generare species vivificare lumen album inducere mundare Vulturem à nigredine tenebris quousque igne purgetur coloretur à maculis ultimis purificetur adeo majoris dignitatis erit possessor ut Reges eum venerentur I. HEar now this Secret keep the Body in our Mercurial Water till it ascends with the white Soul and the earthy part descends to the bottom which is called the residing Earth II. Then you shall see the Water to coagulate it self with its Body and be assured that the Art is true because the Body coagulates the moisture into dryness like as the Rennet of a Lamb or Calf turns Milk into Cheese III. In the same manner the Spirit penetrates the body and is perfectly commixed with it in its smallest Atoms and the body draws to its self his moisture to wit its white Soul like as the Loadstone draws Iron because of the nearness and likeness of its nature and then the one contains the other IV. And this is our Sublimation and Coagulation which retaineth every volatile thing making it fixt for ever V. This Compositum then is not a mechanical thing or a work of the Hands but as I have said a changing of Natures and a wonderful connection of their cold with hot and the moist with the dry the hot also is mixed with cold and the dry with the moist VI. By this means also is made the mixtion and conjunction of body and spirit which is called a conversion of contrary Natures because by such a dissolution and sublimation the spirit is converted into a body and the body into a spirit VII So that the natures being mingled together and reduced into one do change one another and as the Body corporifies the Spirit or changes it into a Body So also does the Spirit convert the Body into a tinging and white Spirit VIII Wherefore as the last time I say decoct the body in our white water viz. Mercury till it is dissolved into blackness and then by a continual decoction let it be deprived of the same blackness and the body so dissolved will at length ascend or rise with a white Soul IX And then the one will be mixed with the other and so embrace one another that it shall not be possible any more to separate them but the Spirit with a real agreement will be united with the body and make one permanent or fixed substance X. And this is the solution of the Body and coagulation of the Spirit which have one and the same operation XI Whoso therefore knows how to conjoyn the principles or direct the work to impregnate to mortifie to putrifie to generate to quicken the Species to make white to cleanse the Vulture from its blackness and darkness till he is purged by the fire and tinged and purified from all his spots shall be possessor of a treasure so great that even Kings themselves shall venerate him CHAP. XXII Of the Signs of the end of the Work and the perfection thereof I. QUare maneat corpus in aqua donec solvatur in pulverem novum in fundo vasis aquae qui dicitur cinis niger haec est corruptio corporis quae vocatur à sapientibus Saturnus AEs Plumbum philosophorum Pulvis discontinuatus II. Et in tali putrefactione resolutione corporis tria signa apparent scilicet color nigèr discontinuitas partium odor foetidus qui assimilatur odori sepulchrorum III. Est igitur ille cinis de quo philosophi tanta dixêre qui in inferiori parte vasis remansit quem non debemus vili pendere IV. In eo enim est Diadema Regis Argentum vivum nigrum immundum à quo nigredinis debet fieri purgatio decoquendo continuò in nostra aqua donec elevetur sursum in album colorem qui vocatur Anser Pullus Hermogenis V. Quia qui terram rubeam denigrat albam reddit habet magisterium ut etiam ille qui occidit vivum resuscitat mortuum VI. Dealba ergo nigrum rubefac album ut perficias opus VII Et cum videris albedinem apparere veram quae splendet sicut gladius denudatus scias quod rubor in ista albedine est occultus VIII Ex tunc non oportet illam albedinem extrahere sed coquere tantum ut cum siccitate caliditate superveniat citrinitas rubedo fulgentissima IX Quam cum videris cum tremore maximo laudabis Deum optimum maximum qui cui vult sapientiam dat per consequens divitias secundum iniquitates eripit ac in perpetuum subtrahit detrudendo in servitutem inimicorum sui laus gloria in saecula saeculorum Amen I. WHerefore let our body remain in the water till it is dissolved into a subtil
or dwindling away But if they be fed with heat and due moisture on their Trees then they prove Elegant and fruitful For heat and moisture are the Elements of all Earthly things Animal Vegetable and Mineral XXXV Therefore Fires of Wood and Coal produce or help not Metals those are violent Fires which nourish not as the heat of the Sun does that conserves all Corporeal things for that it is natural which they follow XXXVI But a Philosopher acts not what Nature does For Nature where she rules forms all Vegetables Animals and Minerals in their own degrees Men do not after the same sort by their Arts make natural things When Nature has finished her work about them then by our Art they are made more perfect XXXVII In this manner the ancient Sages and Philosophers for our information wroughr on Luna and Mercury her true Mother of which they made the Mercury of the Philosophers which in its Operation is much stronger than the Natural Mercury For this is serviceable only to the simple perfect imperfect hot and cold Metals But our Mercury the Philosopher's-Stone is useful to the more than perfect imperfect Bodies or Metals XXXVIII Also that the Sun may perfect and nourish them without diminution addition or immutation as they were created or formed by Nature and so leaves them not neglecting any thing XXXIX I will not now say that the Philosophers conjoyn the Tree for the better perfecting their Mercury as some unskilful in the nature of things and unlearned Chymists affirm who take common Sol Luna and Mercury and so unnaturally handle them till they evanish in smoak These Men endeavour to make the Philosophers Mercury but they never attained it which is the first matter of the Stone and the first Minera thereof XL. If you would come hither and find good and to the Mountain of the seaven where there is no plain you would betake your self from the highest you must look downward to the sixth which you will see afar off XLI In the height of this Mountain you will find a Royal Herb triumphing which some have called Mineral some Vegetable some Saturnine But let its Bones or Ribs be left and let a pure clean Broth be taken from it so will the better part of your work be done XLII This is the right and subtil Mercury of the Philosophers which you are to take which will make first the white work and then the red If you have well understood me both of them are nothing else as they term them but the practick which is so easie and so simple that a Woman sitting by her Distaff may perfect it XLIII As if in Winter she would put her Eggs under a Hen and not wash them because Eggs are put under a Hen without washing them and no more labour is required about them than that they should be every day turned that the Chickens may be the better and sooner hatched concerning the which enough is said XLIV But that I may follow the Example first wash not the Mercury but take it and with its like which is fire place it in the Ashes which is Straw and in one Glass which is the Nest without any other thing in a convenient Alembick which is the House from whence will come forth a Chicken which with its Blood will free thee from all Diseases and with its Flesh will nourish thee and with its Feathers will cloath thee and keep thee warm from the Injuries of the cold and ambient Air. XLV For this cause I have written this present Treatise that you may search with the greater desire and walk in the right way And I have written this small Book this Summary that you might the better comprehend the Sayings and Writings of the Philosophers which I believe you will much better understand for time to come The End of Flammel's Book ROGERII BACHONIS RADIX MUNDI Translated out of Latin into English and Claused By WILLIAM SALMON CHAP. XXXVII Of the Original of Metals and Principles of the Mineral Work I. THE Bodies of all Natural Things being as well perfect as imperfect from the Original of time and compounded of a quaternity of Elements or Natures viz. Fire Air Earth Water are conjoyned by God Almighty in a perfect Unity II. In these four Elements is hid the Secret of Philosophers The Earth and Water give Corporeity and Visibility The Fire and Air the Spirit and Invisible Power which cannot be seen or touched but in the other two III. When these four Elements are conjoyned and made to exist in one they become another thing whence it is evident that all things in nature are composed of the said Elements being altered and changed IV. So saith Rhasis Simple Generation and Natural Transformation is the Operation of the Elements V. But it is necessary that the Elements be of one kind and not divers to vit Simple For otherwise neither Action nor Passion could happen between them So saith Aristotle There is no true Generation but of things agreeing in Nature So that things be not made but according to their Natures VI. The Eldar or Oak Trees will not bring forth Pears nor can you gather Grapes of Thorns or Figs of Thistles things bring not forth but only their like or what agrees with them in Nature each Tree it s own Fruit. VII Our Secret therefore is to be drawn only out of those things in which it is You cannot extract it out of Stones or Salt or other Heterogene Bodies Neither Salt nor Alum enters into our mystery But as Theophrastus saith The Philosophers disguise with Salts and Alums the Places of the Elements VIII If you prudently desire to make our Elixir you must extract it from a Mineral Root For as Geber saith You must obtain the perfection of the Matter from the Seeds thereof IX Sulphur and Mercury are the Mineral Roots and Natural Principles upon which Nature her self acts and works in the Mines and Caverns of the Earth which are Viscous Water and Subtil Spirit running through the Pores Veins and Bowels of the Mountains X. Of them is produced a Vapour or Cloud which is the substance and body of Metals united ascending and reverberating upon its own proper Earth as Geber sheweth even till by a temperate digestion through the space of a Thousand Years the matter is fixed and converted into a Mineral Stone of which metals are made XI In the same manner of Sol which is our Sulphur being reduced into Mercury by Mercury which is the Viscous Water made thick and mixt with its proper Earth by a temperate decoction and digestion ariseth the Vapour or Cloud agreeing in nature and substance with that in the Bowels of the Earth XII This afterwards is turned into most subtil water which is called the Soul Spirit and Tincture as we shall hereafter shew XIII When this Water is returned into the Earth out of which it was drawn and every way spreads through or is mixed with it as its
the Body is changed then let it be put into the Cineritium or Test and then it will be consumed or otherwise remain according as the proportions are more or less than just or just as they 〈◊〉 to be XII If they be right and just according to the Reason of that your Body will be incorruptible and remain firm without any loss through all Essays and Tryals you can do nothing in this work without the true knowledge of this thing whose Foundation is Natural matter purity of substance and right Reason or proportion CHAP. XL. Of the Conjunction of the Principles in order to this great Work I. EUclid the Philosopher and a man of great understanding advises to work in nothing but in Sol and Mercury which joyned together make the wonderful and admirable Philosophers Stone as Rhasis saith White and Red both proceed from one Root no other Bodies coming between them II. But yet the Gold wanting Mercury is hindred from working according to his power Therefore know that no Stone nor Pearl or other Forreign thing but this our Stone belongs to this work III. You must therefore Labour about the Dissolution of the Citrine Body to reduce it into its first matter for as Rhasis saith We dissolve Gold that it may be reduced into its first Nature or matter that is into Mercury IV. For being broken and made One they have in themselves the whole Tincture both of the Agent and Patient Wherefore saith Rhasis make a Marriage that is a Conjunction between the RED Man and his WHITE Wife and you shall have the whole Secret V. The same saith Merlin If you Merry the White Woman to the Red Man they will be Conjoyned and Imbrace one another and become impregnated By themselves they are Dissolved and by themselves they bring forth what they have conceived whereby the two are made but one Body VI. And truly our Dissolution is only the reducing the hard Body into a liquid form and into the Nature of Argent Vive that the Saltness of the Sulphur may be diminished VII Without our Brass then be Broken Ground and Gently and Prudently managed till it will be reduced from its hard and Dense Body into a thin and subtil Spirit you labour in Vain VIII And therefore in the Speculum Alchymiae it is said The first work is the reducing the Body into Water that is into Mercury And this the Philosophers called Dissolution which is the Foundation of the whole Art IX This Dissolution makes the Body of an Evident Liquidity and absolute Subtilty and this is done by a gentle Grinding and a soft and continued Assation or Digestion X. Wherefore saith Rhasis the work of making our Stone is that the matter be put into its proper Vessel and continually Decocted and Digested until such time as it wholly Ascends or Sublimes to the top thereof XI This is declared in Speculum Philosophorum The Philosophers Stone is converted from a vile thing into a pretious Substance for the Semen Solare is cast into the Matrix of Mercury by Copulation or Conjunction whereby in process of time they be made one XII Also that when it is Compounded with the like and Mercurizated then it shall be the Springing Bud. For the Soul the Spirit and the Tincture may then be drawn out of them by the help of a gentle Fire XIII Therefore saith Aristotle the true matters or principles are not possible to be transformed or changed by the most Learned in Alchymie except they be reduced into their first matter XIV And Geber saith all ought to be made of Mercury only for when Sol is reduced to its first Original or Matter by Mercury then Nature embraceth Nature XV. And then it will be easie to draw out the Subtil and Spiritual Substance thereof of which Alkindus saith take the things from their Mines and Exact or Subtilize them and reduce them to their Roots or first matter which is Lumen Luminum XVI And therefore except you cast out the Redness with the Whiteness you will never come to the exalted glory of the Redness For Rhasis saith He that knows how to convert Sol into Luna knows how to convert Luna into Sol. XVII Therefore saith Pandophilus in Turba Philosophorum he that prudently draws the Virtue or Power from Sol and his Shadow shall obtain a great Secret XVIII Again it is said without Sol and his Shadow no Tinging Virtue or Power is generated XIX And whosoever it is that shall endeavour to make a Tinging or Colouring Tincture without these things and by any other means he Errs and goes astray from Truth to his own hurt loss and detriment CHAP. XLI Of the Vessel Lute Closing and Times of the Philosophick Work I. THe Vessel for our Stone is but one in which the whole Magistery or Elixir is performed and perfected this is a Cucurbit whose Bottom is round like an Egg or an Urinal smooth within that it may Ascend and Descend the more easily covered with a Limbeck round and smooth every where and not very high and whose Bottom is round also like an Egg. II. Its largeness ought to be such that the Medicine or matter may not fill above a fourth part of it made of strong double Glass clear and transparent that you may see through it all the Colours appertaining to and appearing in the work in which the Spirit moving continually cannot pass or flie away III. Let it also be so closed that as nothing can go out of it so nothing can enter into it as Lucas saith Lute the Vessel strongly with Lutum Sapientiae that nothing may get in or go out of it IV. For if the Flowers or matter subliming should breath out or any strange Air or matter enter in your work will be spoiled and lost V. And though the Philosophers oftentimes say that the matter is to be put into the Vessel and closed up fast yet it is sufficient for the Operator once to put the said matter in once to close it up and so to keep it even to the very perfection and finishing of the work If these things be often repeated the work will be spoiled VI. Therefore saith Rhasis keep your Vessel continually close encompassed with Dew which demonstrates what kind of Heat you are to use and so well Luted that none of the Flowers or that which sublimes may get out or vanish in Vapor or Fume VII And in Speculum Alehymiae it is said Let the Philosophers Stone remain shut within the Vessel strongly until such time that it has drunk up the Humidity and let it be nourished with a continual Heat till it becomes White VIII Also another Philosopher in his Breveloquium saith as there are three things in a natural Egg viz. the Shell the White and the Yolk so likewise there are three things corresponding to the Philosophers Stone the Glass Vessel the White Liquor and the Citrine Body IX And as of the Yolk and White with a little Heat
Decoct V. And therefore to Grind is to Decoct of which you are not to be weary saith Rhasis Digest continually but not in haste that is not with too great a Fire cease not or make no intermission in your work follow not the Artifice of Sophisters but pursue your Operation to the Complement and perfection thereof VI. Also in the Rosary it is advised to be cautious and watchful lest your work prove dead or imperfect and to continue it with a long Decoction Close up well thy Vessel and pursue to the end VII For there is no Generation of things but by Putrefaction by keeping out the Air and a continual internal motion with an equal and gentle Heat VIII Remember when you are in your work all the Signs and Appearances which arise in every Decoction for they are necessary to be known and understood in order to the perfecting the matter IX You must be sure to be incessant and continual in your Operation with a gentle Fire to the appearing of the perfect Whiteness which cannot be if you open the Vessel and let out the Spirit X. From whence it is Evident that if you mannage your matter ill or your Fire be too great it ought to be extinguished Therefore saith Rhasis pursue your business incessantly beware of instability of mind and too great expectations by a too hasty and precipitate pursuit lest you lose your End XI But as another Philosopher saith Digest and Digest again and be not weary The most exquisite and industrious Artist can never attain to perfection by too much haste but only by a long and continual Decoction and Digestion for so Nature works and Art must in some measure imitate Nature CHAP. XLIV Of the Various Signs Appearing in every Operation I. THis then is the thing that the Vessel with the Medicine be put into a moist Fire to wit that the middle or one half of the Vessel be in a moist Fire or Balneo of equal Heat with Horse-Dung and the other half out of the Fire that you may daily look into it II. And in about the space of Forty Days the superficies or upper part of the Medicine will appear black as melted Pitch and this is the Sign that the Citrine Body is truly converted into Mercury III. Therefore saith Bonellus when you see the blackness of the Water to appear be assured that the Citrine Body is made Liquid The same thing saith Rhasis the Disposition or Operation of our Stone is One which is that it be put into its Vessel and carefully Decocted and Digested till such time as the whole Body ibe Dissolved and Ascended IV. And in another place he saith continue it upon a temperate or gentle Balneo so long till it be perfectly Dissolved into Water and made impalpable and that the whole Tincture be extracted into the blackness which is the Sign of its dissolution V. Lucas also assureth us that when we see the blackness of the water in all things to appear that then the Body is dissolved or made Liquid VI. This blackness the Philosophers called the first Conjunction for then the Male and Female are joyned together and it is the Sign of perfect mixtion VII Yet notwithstanding the whole Tincture is not drawn out together but it goes out every day by little and little until by a great length of time it is perfectly extracted and made compleat VIII And that part of the Body which is dissolved ever Ascends or Rises to the Top above all the other undissolved Matter which remains yet at Bottom IX Therefore saith Avicen That which is spiritual in the Vessel Ascends up to the Top of the Matter and that which is yet gross and thick remains in the Bottom of the Vessel X. This blackness is called among the Philosophers by many Names to wit The Fires the Soul a Cloud the Revens-Head a Coal Our Oyl Aqua vitae the Tincture of Redness the shadow of the Sun Black Brass Water of Sulphur and by many other Names XI And this Blackness is that which conjoyneth the Body with the Spirit XII Then saith Rhasis The Government of the Fire being observed for the space of Forty Days both to wit the White Liquor and the Citrine Body are made a Permanent or fixt Water covered over with blackness which blackness if rightly ordered cometh to its perfection in Forty Days space XIII Of which another Philosopher saith so long as the obscure blackness appeareth the WOMAN hath the Dominion and this is the first Conception or strength of our Stone For if it be not first Black it shall never be either White or Red. XIV Avicen saith That Heat causeth blackness first in a moist Body then the humidity being consumed it putteth off or loseth its blackness and as the Heat encreaseth or is continued so it grows white XV. Lastly by a more inward Heat it is Calcin'd into Ashes as the Philosophers teach XVI In the first Decoction which is called Putrefaction Our Stone is made all Black to wit a Black Earth by the drawing out of its Humidity and in that Blackness the Whiteness is hidden XVII And when the Humidity is reverted upon the Blackness again and by a continued soft and gentle Digestion is made fixed with its Earth then it becomes White XVIII In this Whiteness the Redness is hidden and when it is Decocted and Digested by augmentation and continuance of the Fire that Earth is changed into Redness as we shall hereafter teach CHAP. XLV Of the Eduction of the Whiteness out of the Blackness or Black Matter I. NOw let us revolve to the Black matter in its Vessel not so much as once opened but continually closed Let this Vessel I say stand continually in the moist fire till such time as the White Colour appears like to a white moist Salt II. The Colour is called by the Philosophers Arsenick and Sal Armoniack and some others call it The thing without which no profit is to be had in the Work III. But inward whiteness appearing in the Work then is there a perfect Conjunction and Copulation of the Bodies in this Stone which is indissoluble And then is fulfilled that saying of Hermes The thing which is above is as that which is beneath and that which is beneath is as that which is above to perform the Mystery of this matter IV. Phares saith Seeing the Whiteness appearing above in the Vessel you may be certain that in that Whiteness the Redness lies hid but before it becomes White you will find many Colours to appear V. Therefore saith Diomedes Decoct the Male and the Female or Vapour together until such time as they shall become one dry Body for except they be dry the divers or various Colours will not appear VI. For it will ever be black whilst that humidity or moisture has the dominion but if that be once wasted then it emits divers Colours after many and several ways VII And many times it shall be changed from
defined V. The Elemental fire is that which does Fix Calcine and Burn and is nourished by Combustible things VI. The fire against Nature which is a violent strong Corrosive destroying the special form of that which is dissolved therein is that which in Power Dissolves Frets Infects and destroys the generative Power of the form of the Stone it does Dissolve the Stone into Water of the Cloud with the loss of its Natural Attractive and special Form and is called Fire against Nature as Raymundus 〈◊〉 from its Operation for that which Nature does make this fire against Nature destroys and brings to Corruption unless there be fire of Nature put to it VII Here as Raymundus saith lies contrary Operations as in the Compounded Water for as the fire against Nature does Dissolve the Spirit of the fixed Body the Volatile Spirit is thereby constrained to retire into a fixed Earth a Congealed Earth as White as Snow VIII For the fire of Nature does Congeal the Dissolved Spirit of the fixed Body into a glorious Earth and the Body of the Volatile being fixed by the same fire against Nature is here again by the fire of Nature resolved into the Water of Philosophers but not into the Water of the Cloud and so by this means the fixed is returned back again into its wonted Nature of Flying and the moist is made dry and the ponderous is made light IX But yet he saith this fire which is against Nature is not the Work of Our Magistery but it is the fire which is purely Natural This he saith because he would shew us thereby the difference between the Mineral Elixir and the Vegetable and the Animal For that these three several Elixirs are made of three several Waters viz. Mineral Vegetable and Animal which serve for the Work divers ways X. And First we will Treat of the Mineral Elixir then of the other in order The Fire against Nature is a Mineral Water viz. the Humour or Tincture drawn out of Body of Venus Dissolved in its Mineral Spirit very strong and Mortal serving only to the Mineral Elixir XI This Mineral Water or Fire against Nature is drawn with fire Elemental from a certain stinking Menstruum as Raymundus saith and is made of four things It is the strongest Water in the World whose only Spirit saith he does wonderfully increase and multiply the Tincture of the Ferment for here Sol or Gold is Tinged with the Mineral Spirit the which Mineral Spirit is the strength of the most simple Sulphur without much Earthiness XII Thin Mineral Water is the dropping of Adrop or Adrup Venus which is the noble Tincture called the natural Roman Vitriol and which for the abundance of its noble Tincture is called Roman Gold XIII This some do call the Spirit of the Green Lyon others the blood of the Green Lyon wherein almost all Err and are deceived for the Green Lyon of the Philosophers is that Lyon by whose Virtue attractive all things are lifted up from the Bowels of the Earth and the Winter-like Caverns making them to Wax green and flourish whose Child for all the Elixirs are to be had from it is to us most acceptable and sufficient XIV The Child of Philosophers is generated of their Green Lyon of which Child is had the strength of Sulphur both White and Red Our two Sulphurs of Nature are the Gold and Silver of the Philosophers and their hidden Treasure XV. Of this Child of the Green Lyon of the Philosophers is drawn the strength of Sulphur White and Red but not Burning as Avicen saith which are the two best things the Alchymist can take to make his Gold and Silver of and this is sufficient to be said for the attaining the knowledge of the Green Lyon which is so called because that when he is dissolved he is streight ways adorned with a green Vesture i. e. When our Sulphur of Nature is dissolved in its own Menstruum which is the Virgins Milk it is clothed with this greenness and therefore called the Green Lyon XVI But of the Green Lyon of Fools this we say that from it with a strong fire is drawn Aquafortis in the which the aforesaid Philosophers Lyon of the Mineral Stone ought to be Elixirated and assumes its Name Raymundus saith it were better or fafer to eat the Eyes of a Basalisk than that Gold which is made with the Fire against Nature XVII And I say also that the things from whence the same Aquafortis is drawn is green Vitriol and Azoth i. e. Vitriol Natural not Artificial viz. the droppings of Copper called also Roman Vitriol Roman Gold by many of the Philosophers from the abundance of its noble Tincture the which Tincture must be Fermented with Common Gold XVIII How great and Secret a Virtue then and of what strength the Fire against Nature is evidently appears in the construction of the Body of the Volatile Spirit being by it vulgarly sublimed in the form of Snowy Whiteness Raymundus in the end of the Epistle of his Abridgment saith feed Argent Vive with this Oyl viz. with the Oyl wherewith the Spirit of the Quintessence is thickened c. XIX For want of such Natural 〈◊〉 the true and natural Principle not Artificial as Vincent saith made of Salts Sulphurs and Alums which cut and gnaw Metals is to be chosen lest in the end of your work you fail of your desire The Philosophers will you to Calcine Sol with Mercury Crude till it be brought into a Calx Red as Blood Here comes in the work of Sol and Mercury together brought into a dry Red Pouder and fixed but whether it is to be done with Mercury or Sulphur the Water of him is doubtful CHAP. LXIV The manner of Elixiration with the Fire against Nature I. TAke the first Sol Calcined with the first Water viz. the Mercurial Spirit very clean and brought into the Color of Blood in the space of 20 days in lesser time it is not to be done This Calcination cannot be so profitable as it would be unless Sol be first Mercurializ'd into such a thinness as it may cleave together to that to which it must be joyned in a 24 fold proportion viz. as 1. to 24. strain ed through a clean Linnen Cloth without any remain ing substance of the Gold II. I my self have seen it so ordered and done and then it may certainly in a strong Bolt Head well Luted on every side except on the Top boyling in a strong Fire for the space of 20 days be precipitated into a Red Pouder like Cinnaber all which I have seen performed Every particle of this Pouder you shall so fix as that if it be put upon a Red-Hot Iron Plate its Spirit shall not fume or fly away III. This Pouder Dissolve with or in our Fire against Nature being Dissolved abstract the Water of the Fire against Nature from it so long till the substance of the Pouder so Dissolved do remain in the Vessel as
Calces of all Bodies may be so depurated and Citrinated that thereby they may become most pure Gold IX When also Argent Vive is dissolved then dissolve in it a little of the aforesaid Red Ferment and so put all into Kemia or a proper Vessel which firmly close up with a Philosophick Seal Then with a continual and easie or gentle Fire draw out the Charriot of the four Elements through the Depth of the Sea until the Floods being dryed up there appears in the Matter a bright shining substance like to the Eyes of the Fishes X. For by this Operation if you keep your Temperate Fire continually alive the Floods shall dry up with an exceeding drought and the dry Land or Earth shall appear as in the days of Noah the waters were dryed up from off the Earth and behold the Face of the Ground was dry And by lifting up the Rod of Moses and stretching out his hand the waters were dryed up and the dry Ground appeared in the midst of the Sea for so says David He Rebuked the Red Sea and it was dryed up he led them through the Depths as through the Wilderness XI And then by the Space of Forty days following it shall be Rubified as the Philosophers Demonstrate by the help of a Vehement Fire as the Nature of it requires continuing and remaining in the same strong Fire till it melt and flow like Wax whereby it will be able to transmute all Bodies into pure fine Gold XII And thus the White and Red Medicines are multiplied with their own proper humidities viz. only by the solution of the White Medicines in their own proper White and Red humours and by their Coagulation again of the same as necessity requires Thus have we explicated with singular plainess of Speech the Elixiration of Mercury per se or Argent Vive alone CHAP. LXVIII The second of the former Elixirs with Mercury and the Body Alchymick I. TO Elixirate with Mercury and the Body Alchymick Take One part of the most pure Kibrick quod est pater Mercurij omnium Liquabilium Sea water twelve parts in which dissolve the Kibrick being dissolved strain the water through a Linnen Cloth and what remains undissolved which will not go through put into the Vessel called Kemia set it over a gentle fire as it were the heat of the Sun untill there appears on the Top a Red Color II. Then put to it a quarter more of the Sea-water aforesaid being kept in a very clean Vessel set it on a very gentle fire and dry it up again as you did before by little and little at a time III. For in this Work by so much less there is put of the Spirit and more of the Body by so much the sooner and better shall the Solution be made the which Solution is made by the Congelation of its water IV. And therefore as the Rosary saith you must beware that the Belly be not made over moist for if it be the water shall not receive or attain to its dryness V. This manner of Imbibition must be Observed and continued so long till the whole water by several Imbibitions shall be dryed up into a Body VI. This done let the Vessel be firmly and Philosophically Sealed up and placed in its proper Fornace with a mean or gentle fire which must not wax cold from the first hour you begin to set the same into the Fornace till you have made an end of the whole work VII And when the matter is sublimed then let it be made to Descend by little and little without Violence the fire being Artificially made or set over it which done let it be again sublimed as before VIII And so let the Soul of the Sun of the Vulgar the which Soul is Our unclean Oyntment the Spirit not yet conjoyned with the Body Ascend from the Earth to the Heaven and again make it to Descend from Heaven to the Earth till all becomes Earth which before was Heaven IX To the end there may be made a substance not so hard as the Body nor yet so soft as the Spirit but holding a mean disposition standing fixed and Permanent in the fire like a White peice of melted Wax flowing in the bottom of the Vessel X. The which White substance of a mean or middle consistency must be fed and nourished with Milk and Meat till the quantity thereof be increased according to your desire XI This Medicine being Fermented to the Red with a portion of Sol Dissolved in the water of the Sea by reason of separating the first the form from the Matter to the end that it may be in a more noble form than it was before when the first qualities did remain undivided and that it may be brought into a Purple Colour by the help of a strong and continual fire whereby is made the true Elixir both for the White and Red Work XII Now this Elixir be it White or Red shall be increased an hundred fold more both in Virtue and Goodness if its Quintessence be fixed with it and that then afterwards it be brought and reduced by the Fire of Nature into a thin Oyl the which must be done in a Circulatory Vessel for truly then the least drop thereof does Congeal a thousand drops of Mercury into the very greatest Medicine CHAP. LXIX Of the Vegetable Stone I. THe Vegetable Stone is gotten by Virtue of the Fire of Nature of the Composition of which fire we now intend plainly to treat and of the way how to work with it in every respect II. Its Composition is of four things as Raymundus saith in his Book of Quintessences It is a Composition of Sal Amarum which is Ignis adeptus a fire that is gotten without Wood or Coal and by an easie working does work against all manner of sharpness of Action of the Visible Fire like as if it were the fire of Hell and therefore altho' Wine be hot yet this water of Mercury is hotter for it is able to dissolve all Bodies to putrefie and also to divide the Elements which neither common Fire nor Wine can do III. Some think that this Fire of Nature is extracted or drawn from Wine according to the common way and that it must be rectified by often Distillations until its Flegm is wholly abstracted which hinders its Heat Virtue Strength and Burning But this when it is done to all advantages and its highest perfection which Fools call the pure Spirit and then put to the Calx of the Body never so well prepared yet will it be weak and ineffectual to Our purpose for Dissolution Conservation c. IV. The true and Pure Spirit is Our Silverish Spirit of Wine which is our Vegetable Mercury and the true water of the Philosophers Concerning which see in Ripley's secret Concord V. Wherefore since the vulgar Spirit or Wine is such it is evident that there is an Error in choosing of this Principle for the true Principle which is
the beginning is the Resolutive Menstruum which is the Soul of Mercury and this Tincture is a very Oyl separate from its foul Earth and faint Water which as we know and according to the traditions of the Wise Philosophers is an Unctuous moisture which is the nearest Matter of Our Vegetable and Philosophick Mercury VI. The which Principle Resolutive Menstruum Near Matter or Unctuous Moisture Raymundus in Cap. 6. and Cap. 8. of his Clavis does call Black Blacker than Black The which Black thing or Matter I certainly know VII But since Raymundus saith that this Resolutive Menstruum does come from Wine or the Lees or Tartar thereof how is he to be understood Truly he himself unfolds the Mystery Our Water or Menstruum is a Metalline Water generated of a Metalline Matter only So that Raymundus speaks either of the Resolutive Menstruum or of the Resoluble Menstruum VIII This Menstruum springs from a Silver Wine which does Naturally make a dissolution of its own Sulphur It is apparent in the 11. Cap. of Raymundus that Our Mercurial and Radical moisture is not only Congealed into perfect Metal by Vapour of its hot and dry Sulphur but that also the same Metalline Water being so terminated in the form of a Metal after its Resolution in Ashes has power naturally of a Menstruum to dissolve Our Stone or Sulphur and change it to its Vegetable Nature without prejudice or hurt to its own Nature IX Wherefore he says that from whatsoever any thing does spring or grow by Nature that into the same it may again be resolved X. If he viz. Raymundus speaks of the first water or Resolutive Menstruum you are to understand that it is so as he speaks not a Metalline Water but after a certain manner for this water of the Resolutive Menstruum is both a Sulphurous and a Mercurial Vapour Ignis and Azoth and by reason of its Sulphurity it burns with the fire XI This Resolutive Menstruum is our Vegetable Mercury which is our Vapourous Menstruum and every burning water of Life Aqua Vitae ardens by whose attractive Virtue the Body of the Volatile Spirit being fixed by the fire against Nature is dissolved naturally into the water of Philosophers and exalted and lifted up from its Salt and Combustible Dregs into 〈◊〉 Mercurial and Natural substance which must be Fermented with the Oyl of Sol and Luna and then is made there of the great Elixir with which Mercurial substance we also counterfeit Pearls and Pretious Stones XII We see also that in Tartar dryed only in the Sun there are certain Mercurial Qualities shining and giving of light to the Eye but the kind of Metals is a Composition of Sulphur and Argent Vive And therefore if he means after this sort then the Resolutive Menstruum may be taken for a Metalline water for otherwise it is not Answered XIII Again Raymundus proves clearly to the contrary where he answers him who demanded of him in what is the Vegetable Mercury in Gold or in Silver It is saith he a simple Coessential substance the which is brought from its own Concrete parts and proper Veins to such a pass or point by the Dissolutive Menstruum that by Virtue of the simple and Co-essential substance they are able to multiply their similitudes in Mercuries which have none in themselves and are also apt Medicines for Mens Bodies and to expel and put away from them many Diseases to restore to the Old and Aged their former Youth and preserve them in Health so long a time as God has designed them to Live XIV This Coessential substance is Our White and Red Tincture by whom these Earths that are wanting are multiplyed in Tincture whereby they are made Elixirs to purge Metals and a Medicine for Man's Body XV. Therefore Our true Metalline Water is an Uctuous humidity of the Body dissolved to the similitude of Black Pitch Liquid and Melted and this Unctuous and Black humidity is called the true Resoluble Menstruum And because we shall afterwards demonstrate the true Resolutive Menstruum required in this Work we will here only declare from what principles and how the said Resolutive Menstruum is drawn XVI Our Metalline Water is separated from the Body of Lunaria which is its terminated and Radical humidity in the kind and Color of White shining Silver and its Body is Our black Sulphur Therefore see Chap. 63. in the Lunary Branch and in his Clavis where you will find the Radical humidity to be the true Mer struum wherewith the solemn dissolution of its own black Body is made XVII Raymundus doth say that an Unctuous Humidity is the last comfort and support to the Humane Body which what it is is manifest to the Philosophers it makes a noise or sound in the Vessel and is Distilled with a great deal of Art He also saith that Our Stone is made of the hottest Matter or substance in Nature And I say that Wine is hot but there is another thing which is much hotter than Wine whose substance by reason of its exceeding Airyness or Spirituosity is most quickly inflamed by the Fire XVIII And the Lees or Tartar and Dregs of this Unctuous humidity is gross like the Rinde or Bark of a Tree and the same Tartar is blacker than the Tartar of the black Grape of Catalonia for which cause it is called by Raymundus a Black more Black than Black By these Lees or Tartar and Dregs is meant the Lees of our Silver Wine separated from the Lunary Body XIX And because that this humidity is Unctuous therefore it better agrees with the Unctuosity of Metals than the Spirit drawn from Common Wine for through its Liquefactive Virtue Metals do Melt and are made flowing and moist in the Fire the which Operation truly the Spirit of Common Wine cannot do XX. For the Spirit of Wine how strong soever it be is comparatively but clear Flegm or Water whereas contrariwise in Our Unctuous Distilled Spirit there is no watrishness at all But this thing being rare in our parts as well as other Countries Guido Montanor found out another Untuous humidity which swims upon other Liquors which humidity proceeds from Wine which Raymundus Arnoldus knew with some others but they taught not how it should be obtained XXI Our Tincture in Distilling is separated both from the Flegm and its gross Faeces till it be like an Oyl and that is the Soul of Mercury which is Air and Fire separate from its two extreams and so it being an Unctuous moisture is the mean See the first and last Chapter of Raymund's Codicil XXII Notwithstanding Raymundus saith it must be drawn from Death and from the Faeces of Wine by rectification that it may be acuated in Distillation by hot Vegetable substances thereunto appertaining as Pepper Euphorbium c. for without these things he saith the Virtue thereof is not sufficient but by long time to dissolve Metals XXIII Raymundus saith in the end
of his natural Magick that there is a Salt made of the Lees or Tartar of Wine or Aquae Vitae called the Salt of Art and Mercury without which Salt saith he there is nothing can be done Also he begins his Practice with this Salt in the first and last Chapter of his Codicil XXIV Wherefore as the same Philosopher affirms among these things is this Menstruum one of the Secrets of this Art whose Virtue must be increased by a wise management of the Matter you must circulate this Menstruum in the Unctuous humidity in a Vessel of Circulation by rotation continually an hundred and twenty days in the hottest Fornace CHAP. LXX The Remaining Process of the Vegetable Stone I. HItherto the Process of the Vegetable Stone has been long and Obscure but that nothing may be doubtful to the prejudice of my professed Love to your Lordship I say that all these things spoken by Raymundus are covered with the Mantle of Philosophy Truly his intention is that there should be made a dissolution with the Spirit of Wine but that this Spirit of Wine should be joyned with another Menstruum resoluble without which Resolution can never be attained II. Here the two Spirits are joyned together the Vegetable Menstruum or White Oyl of Tartar and our Metalline Oyl III. And that Menstruum Resoluble is generated only of a Metalline kind for it is a potential or mighty Vapour being in every Metalline Body joyning together two extreams Sulphur and Argent 〈◊〉 IV. And so indeed after this sort Our water is a Metalline water which because it does savour of the Nature of either extream it therefore brings our Resolutive Menstruum into Act. V. Now how this Menstruum which is Unctuous Moist Sulphurous and Mercurial agreeing with the Nature of Metals and wherewith Bodies must be Artificially Dissolved may be had we will here shew by clear practice VI. Take the sharpest humidity of Grapes and in it being Distilled dissolve the Body well Calcin'd into a Redness into a Cyrstalline clear and Ponderous water the which Body Calcin'd into Redness is of the Masters of this Science called Sericon VII Now comes in the Practice of Pupilla of the dissolution of the Red Lyon for the Fire of Nature called also Red Lead Red Coral Sericon is of the Nature of Black Pepper Euphorbium c. of a hot biting and fiery Nature all which things are spoken only by way of Comparison VIII Then of this Crystalline water let there be made a Gum the which in Taste will be like to Alum This Gum by Raymundus is called Vitriol Azoth from which let there be drawn with a gentle Fire first a weak water with no more Taste or sharpness than simple Well water Fresher water there is none in Taste yet will it never Consume or Waste tho' it be used never so often nor will it be ever less in quantity IX And when the White Fume shall begin to appear change your Receiver and Lute it strongly that it breath not forth so shall you have our burning water Our Aquae Vitae and Resolutive Menstruum the which before was Resoluble a Vapour potential a mighty Vapour able to dissolve Bodies to Putrifie and to Purifie to divide the Elements and also to exalt theEarth into a wonderful Salt by the force of its attractive Virtue This is our Fire of Nature X. This water has a bitter sharp Taste upon the Tongue and also a kind of stinking Menstruum and because it is a water which is very Spirituous and Volatile therefore within a Month after it is Distilled it ought to be put upon its Calx When it is Affused upon the Calx it will without any external Fire boil if the Vessel be closely shut and it will not cease to Ferment or work till it be all dryed up into the Calx XI Therefore you must put no greater a quantity of it to the Calx but what may just cover it as it were and so proceed when the Fornace is dryed up to the whole Complement thereof as in the Operation of the Compound water and as the work requires XII And when the Elixir shall be brought into a Purple Color then let it be dissolved with the aforesaid Vegetable Menstruum into a thin Oyl the same Menstruum being first rectified and let the same by the Circulation of the Spirit of our water be fixed so will it have Power to transmute or change all Bodies into pure Gold and to Heal and Cure all Infirmities and Diseases in Man's Body ten thousand times better than all the Potions and Prescriptions of Galen or Hippocrates XIII This Elixir is the true Aurum potabile and no other for it is made of Gold Elementated and Circulated by the spirituous wheel of Philosophy and it is so wrought with the Air Gass potency or spirit of Mercury dissolved by its self sublimed and rectified as that the body of Gold by it may not only be curiously and exquisitely Elixirated but also that it may then afterwards be brought to such a perfection by this our Art as to be applied profitably to the most desirable work XIV Thus you may see we have hid nothing concerning this our desired Elixir of the Vegetable Stone I shall now proceed to that of the Animal Stone which is but a work of three days and in three days will be compleatly ended My advice to you is not to gather the Leaves of Words but the Fruits of Works the profit of the things sought after XV. And know that in this Work I have not so much affected the Curiosity of Language or Elegancies of Stile as the denudating the Essential Verity and exposing the very Power of Truth to your View which by reason of my haste I have now concisely done in few words CHAP. LXXI Of Our Animal Stone I. WE now come to reveal the most noble and High Secret of Secrets viz. the Mystery of our Animal Stone desired of all Mankind and the way and manner of its Elixiration But this Animal Elixir is neither from Wine as it is Wine nor from Eggs Hair or Blood as they are such things but only from the Elements And these Elements we ought to search out in the Excellency of their exceeding Simplicy and Rectification II. The Elements as Roger Bachon saith are the Roots of all things the Mothers of every thing yet the Elements of the said things do not enter into the Work of this Our Elixir but only by the Virtue and Commixtion of those Elements with the Elements of Spirits and Bodies of Metals III. Yet so indeed as Roger Bachon saith the Elements of those things aforesaid do so enter in as to pierce through tho' not to dwell there and to Accomplish this Our great Elixir IV. Notwithstanding among all those things which be Natural as all the rest be which Philosophers have taken there is one thing yet which is found more pretious more excellent more proper and more Natural
than all the rest for this our purpose V. The which one thing because it is more excellent than all the rest the Philosophers have taken for the nearest because of the singular perfection which God has given to the Microcosm or lesser World in whom are not only the Idea's of the Courses and effects of the Planets Stars and Asterisms but also the Complexions humours Spirits and Natural Virtues of the Elements VI. And therefore consider the most noble Bird of Hermes which when the Sun is in Aries begins to fly and as it is advised so let it be brought forth and sought for Seek out the true Sulphur from his Mine or Minera not being corrupted for the whole perfection lies in the uncorrupt Sulphur VII This is our Stone the which as Aristotle saith in his Secret of Secrets is generated in the Dunghil High-ways and must be divided into four parts because saith he each part has one Nature the which parts must be joyned together again till they resist or strive no more when they are joyned unto it it shall be White is Fire Red as you please VIII But understand that this Division must not be a Manual Division but in Power and Effect wherefore let this one thing which all Men have its over-flowing Flegmatick property being somewhat Evacuated be put into Kemia or proper Vessels which Seal up Philosophically let it putrifie in a moist Fire a long Season into a black thickness IX Then by the second Degree of Fire let it be Coagulated into a dryness after many Bublings which it will make wherein shall shine innumerable Colors and when all that which is fine and subtil shall Ascend upwards or sublime in the Vessel moft White like as the Eyes of Fishes the work is compleat in the first part X. This truly is a marvelous thing more to be wondred at than any Miracle of Nature for then the self same White has fully the Nature of White Sulphur not Burning or Silver and is the very Sulphur of Nature and Argent Vive XI Let some quantity of Luna be added to it in the manner of an Amalgama then it brings forth by Operation or generation of White into White and the same thing worketh it into Red and is made compleat into Red by a greater Digestion in the Fire XII Then as the Philosophers advise let the two Sulphurs viz. the White and the Red be mingled with the Oyl of the White Elixir that they may work the more strongly upon which if the Quintescence of the Vegetable Stone shall be fixed you shall have the highest Medicine in the World both to Heal and Cure Humane Bodies and to transmute the Bodies of Metals into the most pure and fine Gold and Silver CHAP. LXXII The Reserved Secret Explicated I. AND now we are drawing near to the end of this work we shall hereunto add and Explicate one Secret even our reserved Secret hitherto Buried in the Abyss of AEnigma's and deep Silence II. We say that the Body of the Volatile Spirit fixed by Fire against Nature ought to be dissolved in the Vegetable Water that is to say in our Vaporous Menstruum not in water of the Cloud but in water of the Philosophers III. In which Dissolution the Body is made light for its more pure and subtil part is lifted up or sublimed from Salt and Combustible Faeces by Virtue of the water attractive which is more clear than the water of the Margarite as I have seen IV. And of this substance Fermented with the Oyl of Luna or Sol is made the great Elixir for the transmutation of imperfect Bodies V. It must oftentimes be dissolved and Coagulated with its Ferment that it may work the better and with this said Mercurial substance thus Elevated or sublimed we Counterfeit the most pretious Margarites or Pearls not inferior to the sight to the very best that ever Nature produced VI. And with these Artificial pretious Stones we shall finish the discourse of Our pretious Stones Mineral Vegetable and Animal the abscondite Mysteries of which being by the Wise and upright Sons of Art prudently kept Secret VII I Pray the most Good and Gracious God to open and reveal the same at one time or another even as it shall please him to his despised Servants and little ones VIII O most incomprehensible light most Glorious in Majesty who with the Charity of thy Heavenly Rays dost Darken our Dimmer Light O substantial Unity the Divine three the joy and Rejoycing of the Heavenly Host the Glory of Our Redemption IX Thou most Merciful the Purifier of Souls and the perpetual subsistance O most Grations through daily Dangers and Perils which thou suffers us to undergo and through this Vexatious vail of Vanity bring us to thy heavenly Kingdom X. O Power and Wisdom thou goodness inexplicable uphold us daily and be Our Guide and Director that we may never displease thee all the days of our Lives but obey thee as Faithful Professors of thy Holy Name XI Early even betimes O Lord hear thou my Prayers by the Virtue of thy Grace help forward my desires and enable me I beseech thee to perform thy Holy Will XII O most excellent Fountain boundless in Treasures thou scatterest thy good things without measure amongst the Sons of Men and thou makest every other Creature to partake of thine especial kindness XIII Thou art worthy O Lord to behold the Works of thy Hand and to defend what thy Right Hand has planted that we may not live unprofitably nor spend the course of our Years in Vanities XIV Grant therefore we beseech thee that we may live without falshood and deceit that avoiding the Great danger of a sinful course of Life we may escape the Snares of Sin XV. And as I Renounce the Loves of the things of this Life and the Concupiscences or Lusts thereof so accept of me thy Servant as a true and Spontaneous Votary who wholly depends on thy goodness with all Confidence possessing nothing more XVI We submit our selves to thee for so it is fit vouchsafe thy Light to discover to us the Immortal Treasures of Life shew us thy hidden things and be merciful and good unto us XVII Among the rest of thy Servants who profess thy Name I offer my self with all humble Submission And I beseech thee O Lord to forgive me if I open and reveal thy Secrets to thy Faithful Servants Amen CHAP. LXXIII Ripley's Philosophical Axioms out of the Theatrum Chymicum I. OUr Stone is called the Microcosm One and Three Magnesia and Sulphur and Mercury all proportioned by Nature her self Now understand that that there are three Mercuries which being the Key of the whole Science Raymundus calls his Menstruums without which nothing is to be done in this Art but the Essential Mercury of the Bodies is the chief material of our Stone II. Our Stone is a Soul and a substance by which the Earth does receive its splendor what other thing
is Sol or Luna than a Terra Munda a pure Earth Red and White The whole Composition we call Our Plumbum or Lead the Quality of whose splendor proceeds from Sol and Luna III. No impure Body one excepted which the Philosophers vulgarly call the Green Lyon which is the Medium which Conjoyns the Tinctures between Sol and Luna with perfection does Enter into our Magistry IV. These Menstruums you ought to know without which no true Calcination or natural dissolution can possibly be done But our principal Menstruum may be said indeed to be Invisible or Spiritual yet by the help of our Aqua Philosophica secunda through a separation of the Elements in form of clear water it is brought to light and made to appear V. And by this Menstruum with great Labour is made the Sulphur of Nature by Circulation in a pure Spirit and with the same you may dissolve your Body after divers manners and an Oyl may be extracted therefrom of a Golden Color like as from Our Red Lead VI. 1. De Calcinatione Calcination is the Purgation of our Stone restoring it to its own Natural Color inducing first a necessary dissolution thereof but neither with Corrosives nor fire alone nor A. F. nor with other Burning waters or the Vapour of Lead is our Stone Calcined for by such Calcinations Bodies are destroyed for that they diminish their humidities VII Whereas in our Calcination the Radical humidity is Augmented or multiplied for like increases like he which knows not this knows nothing in this Art Joyn like with like and kind with kind as you ought every seed answers and rejoyces in seed of its own kind and every Spirit is fixed with a Calx of its own kind or Nature VIII The Philosophers make an Unctuous Calx both White and Red of three Degrees before it can be perfected that shall melt as Wax till which it is of no use If your water shall be in a right or just proportion with your Earth and in a fit Heat your Matter will Germinate the White together with the Red which will endure in a perpetual Fire IX Make a Trinity of Unity without dissention this is the most certain and best proportion and by how much the lesser part is the more spiritual by so much the more easily will the dissolution be performed drown not the Earth with too much water lest you destroy the whole Work X. 2. De Dissolutione Seek not that in a thing which is not in it as in Eggs Blood Wine Vitriol and the other middle Minerals there is no profit to be had in things not Metallick In Metals from Metals and by or through Metals Metals are made perfect XI First make a Rotation of all the Elements and before all things convert the Earth into water by dissolution Then Dissolve that Water into Air and then make that Air into Fire this done reduce it again into Earth for otherwise you labour in vain XII Here is nothing besides the Sister and the Brother that is the Agent and the Patient Sulphur and Mercury which are generated Co-essential substances The dissolution of one part of the Corporeal Substance causeth a Congelation of another part of the spiritual XIII Every Metal was once a Mineral Water wherefore they may all be dissolved into Water again in which Water are the four repugnant Qualities with diversity In one Glass all things ought to be done made in the form of an Egg and well closed XIV Let not your Glass be hotter than you can endure your naked Hand upon so long as your matter is in dissolution When the Body is altered from its first form it immediately puts on a new form XV. 3. De Dispositione Beware that you open not your Glass nor ever move it from the beginning of the work to the end thereof for then you will never bring your work to perfection Dry the Earth till it becomes thirsty in Calcination otherwise you Act in vain Divide the matter into two parts that you may separate the subtil from the gross or thin from the thick till the Earth remains in the bottom of a Livid Color XVI One part is Spiritual and Volatile but they ought all to be converted to one matter or substance And distil the Water with which you would Vivifiethe Stone till it be pure thin as water shinning with a Blew Livid Colour retaining its Figure and Ponderosity with this Water Hermes moistens or waters his Tree whilst in his Glass and makes the Flowers to increase on high XVII First divide that which Nature first tyed together converting the Essential Mercury into Air or a Vapour without which natural and subtil separation no future Generation can be compleated XVIII Your Water ought to be seven times sublimed otherwise there can never be any natural Dissolution made nor shall you see any Putrefaction like Liquid Pitch nor will the Colors appear because of the defect of the Fire Operating in your Glass XIX 4. De Ignibus There are four kinds of Fires which you ought to know the Natural the Innatural that contrary to Nature and the Elemental which burns Wood These are the fires we use and no others XX. The Fire of Nature is in every thing and is the third Menstruum The Innatural Fire is occasionally so called and it is the Fire of Ashes of Sand and Baths for putrefying and without this no Putrefaction can be done XXI The Fire against Nature is that which tears Bodies to pieces or Atoms which is the fiery Dragon violently burning like the fire of Hell Make therefore that your fire within in your Glass which will burn the Bodies much more powerfully than the vulgar Elemental fire can do XXII 5. De Conjunctione Conjunction is the joyning together of things separated and of differing Qualities or the Adequation or bringing to an equality of principles he which knows not how to separate the Elements and to divide them and then to conjoyn them again errs not knowing the true way XXIII Divide the Soul from the Body and get that for it is the Soul which causes the perpetual Conjunction the Male which is our Sol requires three parts and the Female which is his Sister nine parts then like rejoyces with like for ever XXIV Certainly Dissolution and Conjunction are two strong principles of this Science tho there may be many other principles besides XXV 6. De Putrefactione The Destruction of the Bodies is such that you are diligently to Conserve them in a Bath or our Horse-Dung viz. in a moist heat for ninty days Natural but the Putrefaction is not compleatly Absolved and brought to whiteness like the Eyes of Fishes in less than 150 days the blackness first appearing is the Index or Sign that the matter draws on to Putrefaction XXVI Being together Black like Liquid Pitch in the same time they swell and cause an Ebullition with Colors like those of the Rainbow of a most beautiful aspect and then
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
frequent Coagulation thereof you will augment it and so you may Multiply it till it increases in your Glass into the form of a Tree and which Hermes calls a Tree most Beautiful in Aspect Of which one Grain may be Multiplied to an hundred if you know how wisely to make your Projection XLVII Our Elixir the more fine and subtle it is made so much the more compleatly it tinges and disperses its Tincture Let your Fire be kept equally close Evening and Morning so much the longer you keep the Fire so much the more profitable it will be and Multiply more and more in your Glass nourishing your Mercury in its enclosure whereby you will have a greater Treasure than you could desire XLVIII 13. De Projectione If your Tincture be true and not Variable you may prove it in a small quantity thereof either in Metal or Mercury It cleaves thereto as Pitch and so Tinges in Projection that it is able to endure the strongest Fire But many through Ignorance destroy their work by making Projection upon an impure Metal XLIX See that you Project your Medicine upon your Ferment so will that Ferment be Brittle as Glass Project that Brittle Medicine upon pure Bodies so have you Silver or Gold enduring the severest Test. L. Give not liberty to the Reins left you sin but Religiously Fear and serve the Lord your God think your self alway before the Tribunal of the most high the great Judge and Rewarder of Mankind who will return to every Man according to his works LI. 14. Recapitulatie Take head diligently to the Latitude of our Stone and begin in the Occident where the Sun sets where the Red Man and White Wife are made one conjoyned and Married by the Spirit of Life that they may live in Love and Quietness LII The Earth and Water are joyned in a fit proportion one part of Earth or Body to three of Spirit which is 4 to 12. and is a good proportion you must take three parts of the Female to one of the Male by how much less there shall be of the Spirit in this Dispensation Conjunction or Marriage by so much the sooner will the Calcination be Absolved LIII The Calcination performed then you must dissolve the Bodies divide and Putrefie them and all the Secrets of our other lower Stars will have a perfect Coherence and understanding with the Poles of our Heaven and will appear with inexplicable Colors of Light and Glory Transcending in Lusture and Beauty all other things in the World and all this before the perfect Whiteness LIV. And after the perfect Whiteness you will have a Yellow the false Citrion Colour afterwards the Blood Red unchangable for ever will be be manifest so have you a Medicine of the third Order in its kind which may continually be Multiplied But this you must not in the least be Ignorant of that the RED MAN does not Tinge nor yet his WHITE WIFE till they themselves are first Tinged with our Tincture or Stone LV. When therefore you prepare your Matter by this our Art hide your Bodies all over an I lay open their Profundiries or In-sides destroy the first quality of all your Materials and the more excellent second qualities which in these you must separate and in one Glass and by one Government and Order convert the four Natures into one LVI The Red Elixir must be divided into two parts before it be Rubified which put into two Glasses and if you would have a double Elixir one of Sol and another of Luna do thus LVII With Mercury multiply presently theMedicine into a great quantity if you have at first only so small a quantity as a Spoonful then may you multiply them together into a White and Red Medicine which by Circulation you must convert into a perfect Oyl according to our directions and this Multiplication from your first small quantity may be continued should you live a thousand Years These Oyls will fix Crude Mercury into perfect Sol and Luna LVIII This pure and fixed Oleaginous substance Raymundus calls his Basillsk whose Explication is so easie to be understood that it needs no more Words LIX For our Metals are nothing else than our two Minerae viz. those of Sol and Luna as Raymundus wisely Notes The Splendor of Luna and the Light of shining Sol. In these two Minerae the Secret dwells tho' the Splendor may for a while be hid from your Eyes which by the help of Art you may easily bring to light LX. This hidden Stone this one thing purifie it wash it in its own Liquor Water or Blood till it grows White then prudently Ferment it so have you the Summ and Perfection of the whole Work FINIS
to be taken not those of Vegetables or Animals and of Minerals that which is drawn from Mercury or Quick-Silver Gold and Silver which is to be Purified and exalted by some Power or Principle which is without length breadth or thickness viz. Incorporeal and yet comprehends all those properties in it without form or shape yet comprehending under its formless being the highest and most exact of Beauties this is the Internal Fire of the Mineral Sulphur And of these the Sulphur of Mercury is yet said to be the most noble because it is more at Liberty and free to Act than the Sulphurs either of Sol or Luna which are Fixt and bound up in a Dead or Lifeless Body The Sulphur of all the other Metals are yet more remote And tho' they might serve the end yet it is with more labour trouble and difficulty II. Hermes All the Wisdom of the World is comprehended within this Learning the Art is placed in these wonful hidden Elements which it does obtain finish or compleat It behoves him therefore who would be introduced into this our hidden Wisdom to quit himself from the Usurpation of Vice to be Just and Good of a profound Reason and ready at Hand to help Mankind of a Serene and pleasing Countenance Courteous in his Conversation to others and to himself a Faithful Keeper of the Arcanums being once revealed to him Salmon The knowledge of this nearest Sulphur and how to prepare and use it in this work is the Summ of the whole Art it begins compleats and finishes the whole thing But how this Sulphur is educed out of a determined Matter few Authors have yet taught The Volatile must be first fixed and the Wild Tamed before you can Operate rightly else you will never be able to hold the Matter to Operate upon it the Dragon must be then Mastered and overcome being once Slain you must endeavour to give it again a new Life by raising it up into a new form and restoring to it a new Volatility to wit the Life of Sol and Luna which by a Conjunction and Legitimate Digestion with and in the Mercury of the Philosophers gives to the new generation a new Body yet such a one as is Spiritual Subtil full of Life and Power and able to penetrate into the most inward recesses of the most solid and compact Bodies enriching even Vulgar Sol himself with a thousand fold a greater Treasure than he contained before III. Hermes And this know that except you know how to Mortifie and induce Generation to Vivifie the Spirit to Cleanse and introduce Light how things fight and contend one with another are made Colorless and freed from their defedations or Spots and Foulnesses like as from Blackness and Darkness you know nothing nor can you perform any thing Salmon This Mortification is intended of the first Life and form without which you can do nothing in order to Generation You must make Alive by Killing and Cleanse by first defiling or bringing to Putrefaction and bring forth Light by first introducing Darkness The two contrary Principles must first fight and contend one with another and a Fatal War must be begun and carried on to the Destruction of the first form and Life before the second form and Life can appear and the Matter must be first made Colorless that it may be able to receive the true Color and Tincture In Order to this the Philosophical Calcination is the beginning of the Work then Dissolution that the sublimed Matter may receive its determination To mortifie is to Dissolve any thing into the principles of which it is Compounded Therefore saith Senior there is no Generation without Corruption and in this Putrefaction is the beginning of our Secret which none but the initiated Sons of Doctrine and Philosophy do rightly understand There must be a most close Conjunction or Matrimony between the Superiors and the Inferiors between the Spirit and the Body which is made by Ascention and Descention through the Power of the Invisible Life IV. Hermes But this you may know that this great Arcanum is a Matter of so great Worth that even Kings themselves shall Venerate it the which Secrets it behoves us to keep close and to hide them from every profane and worthless Person Salmon That is there is such a Vital Power Strength Efficacy and Virtue in this our Philosophick Tincture that it is able to transmute all the Mercury in the World into fine Gold and not noly all simple Quick-Silver but also the Mercury of all other Bodies as of Saturn Jupiter Mars Venus and Luna which Power it exerts not only in those Inferiour Bodies but is also able to transmute the whole Body of Gold into pure Tincture and to exalt it to a thousand Degrees above what Nature has determined it to be V. Hermes Understand also that our Stone is Conjoyned with and Composed of many things of Various Colours and of Four Elements which it behoves us to Divide and Cut in Pieces and to Disjoynt them and partly to Mortifie the Nature in the same which is in it Salmon The Various things are Salt Sulphur and Mercury the Body Soul and Spirit which Spirit is that which joyns the Soul and Body together In Mercury it self there is a Salt Sulphur and Spirit The Salt of that Mercury is the Philosophick Earth which is to be Dryed or Drained Ploughed up Manured and Cultivated and the Sulphur thereof is the Internal Tincture which Transmutes but it is the Spirit or living Principle which gives the Permanency or Fixity and without which all Bodies whatsoever would fall to Dust and Ashes that is it which ties the Particles and Atoms of every thing together In Sulphur there is a Volatile Body but a Fixing Spirit and a Rubine Soul which tinges This Body in the Putrefaction is cast away and only the Spirit and Soul which are without Parts or Proportion without length breadth or thickness without substance or corporeity are retained and Conjoyned to the Mercury of the Philosophers by the Medium of Salt in which Salt lies the depth of the whole Secret This Salt is Vegetable Mineral and Animal from whence the Philosophers were wont to say that their Stone was Threefold according to that Ternary of Generations In this Salt there is a Corporeity joyned whith a Soul and a Spirit that is with a Sulphur and Mercury spiritual which are the Chains which tie all the Particles of the Body together All these must be Cut in Pieces separated and divided in the beginning of the Work which is done by joyning of the three together this is a Mystery which only the true Philosophers and Sons of Doctrine can understand You must joyn Body to Body Soul to Soul and Spirit to Spirit by which means you will make the separation because the Soul will joyn with Soul yet the Soul of the one will not joyn with the Body of the other but separate VI. Hermes And also to keep safe