and satiated Spirit or rather a Spiritual Salt and beeing of such a double nature it hath the precedency before all common and known Spirits and Corrosives and so openeth Metals and Minerals as no other Salt can do the like whereof I will give you a clear Demonstration at the end of this Chapter viz. of its great power to manifest that which is occult and therefore Basilius Valentinus saith well of the same The Salt-Armoniack is not the meanest key to unlock Metals and therefore is compared by the Antients unto a flying Fowl it is able with its swift Feathers to carry on high the Tincture and colour of Minerals and some of Metals and you will finde it of force sufficient to prepare and fit Metals for Transmutation for without preparation no Metal can be transmuted c. Note this Doctrine of Basilius for I have set it down not without cause Now although by this my demonstration you will be convinced that the name of a double and satiated Spirit is not undeservedly given unto the Salt-Armoniack and that this term is not newly invented by me but according to its real being hath been in the Salt-Armoniack although the name was not usuall hitherto yet you may further object if Salt-Armoniack be such a double and satiated Spirit why is it not sufficient of it self to reduce the Copper into a Volatile Spirit but there must be made another double Spirit of the Salt-Armoniack and the Alcali For answer know that the Spirit or rather Salt of Urine whereof the Salt-Armoniack consisteth is the only cause of it for it alwayes retains the nature of Salt and cannot be reduced into a true Spirit hence it raiseth the Spirit of Salt Vitriol and other Corrosives which are true Spirits not in the Form of a Spirit but according to its own nature like a Salt yea by its Saltie nature turneth them also into Salt or into the shape of Salt so long as it is united with them But now our Philosopher as also Paracelsus and others before him require that the Copper shall come over not like a Volatile green Salt but like a very Volatile green Spirit as our Philosopher saith de Lithiasi Cap. 8. § 21. that it must be Cupri liquamen Volatile and in his Duumviratus he saith that the Spiritus Viridis ought to be insigniter volatilis to the end that the body of the Copper may be rightly prepared and fitted that it may yield its tincture afterwards and therefore it must be so forcibly torne assunder and reduced into the smallest atomes viz. into a subtle spirit for without this proceeding its anima cannot be got as he saith expresly loco jam citato d◠Lithiasi § 5. Non potest autem haberi ignis Veneris nisi cum plenaria NB Cupri destructione corporisque mercurialis ipsius Veneris Volatilisatione but the Salt Armoniack though it be a double and satiated spiritual salt cannot performe this although the vulgar Vitriolum Veneris or Cuprum limatum or ustum be never so often and so many times elevated therewith because it is but a dry salt but not a penetrating and attenuating spirit which is far more subtle and efficacious to unlock penetrate and spiritualize than salt though it be never so volatile Now although the Salt Armoniack be not such a double spiritual substance as to have power to do the Philosophers work and to reduce Copper into a subtle penetrating Volatile Spirit yet the nature and substance of the Salt Armoniack as being really a double spiritual salt hath given occasion unto the Philosophers though after another manner yet from the same ground whereof the Salt Armoniack consisteth to find out and to prepare another sort of satiated and double substance which alwaies is and remaineth a very Volatile and flying Spirit For they considered throughly the parts whereof the Salt Armoniack as being a double substance doth consist and they found that as I demonstrated above at large it consisteth of a fiery and of a corrosive substance but seeing that the fiery substance in its nature is no true spirit and consequently not serving their turne viz. to reduce Copper into a volatil Spirit therefore instead thereof they chose such a fiery salt as being distill'd is a true spirit and never ascendeth in the forme of Salt much lesse changeth the adjoyned corrosive into the forme of a dry salt as the salt of Urine doth To find out the same they considered the property and efficacy of the salt of Urine viz. that its nature is to mortify or satiate all corrosives by which vertue it doth precipitate metals dissolved in a corrosive eagerly falling upon the corrosive satiating it self therewith and so freeing the corroded metal from it and because they found that the same power yea more effectual resideth in the fiery fixed Alcalies they judged them fit for the purpose that as in the preparation of Salt Armoniack the fieriness of the Salt of urine doth satiate the corrosive so as to their purpose the Alcalies lay hold of the corrosive and that of them both there should arise a tertium duplicatum satiatum sal and consequently by distillation such a double spirit they also first distilled the Alcalia by a very strong fire according to art and found that they ascended not like a volatile Salt but like a true very subtle and penetrating spirit of mighty great power and vertue in Physick and therefore they mixt the Salt Armoniack with the Alcalies and the corrosive having more inclination to them than to the fiery salt of Urine presently associated it self with the Alcali leaving the salt of Urine and so making a new double satiated salt tasting neither of the Alcali nor of the corrosive but as a mixture of both as experience doth testify to this day Now because both the corrosive and the Alcali being forced over by fire turne into a true spirit it must of necessity follow that of this double salt no other but a true satiated and double spirit must come and experience it self confirmeth it that a very volatile spirit cometh thence having such a property as no other corrosive hath which fall upon the Metallick bodies with great fury and ebullition corroding them and adheering outwardly unto them seek to get their habitation therein but in regard that this double spirit is already satiated in himself and is of a double and mighty force therefore it openeth the metallick bodies in a clean other way than the common corrosives do for by vertue of its double and volatile nature it pierceth and penetrateth to the very inmost center of every atome of the Metals and turneth outwards all power colour tincture and vertue yea quickneth them and maketh them active which before lay hidden and dead as it were Now upon this elucidation you may say since in the Salt Armoniack there is no other corrosive but the Spirit of Salt whether it be not all one to make first the spirit of Salt and
it very small and then poure upon it highly rectifyed Spirit of wine and set it to extract in a warme place that in this manner the extracted Tincture of the Copper should come into the Spirit of Wine and by means thereof and from the same obtain an Essential moysture and be changed into a penetrating oyl No you are out the Spirit of Wine is farr too weak being nothing but common Water for the most part for a whole pound of the strongest Spirit of Wine will not yield much above half an ounce of Essential Salt how then should such a far dispersed vertue be able radically to mollify this concentred substance of the Copper there is no parity at all betwixt them both but there is required a concentred spiritual penetrating fire for this purpose such as is all power Spirit and Life what should such a watry Vapour be able to prevail as the Spiritus vini is for the most part And although the Spiritus vini standing upon such a tinged Alcali in digestion is changed in colour and turneth very red yet it doth not follow therefore that this Tincture is from the Copper but is barely and only from the Alcali whereof it attracts some subtle atomes by which it is coloured which you may be assured of by this experiment viz. pouring spirit of Wine upon such a bare fiery Alcali which hath not been used for extraction of the Sulphur of Copper and setting it in digestion for then it will be as fairly coloured upon this as upon the other containing the few atomes Sulphuris Cupri Therefore it is very necessary and unavoidable necessity requireth it that if you mean to obtain this uoble Tincture of the Gold-like soul of the Copper the fiery material Alcali be first made Spiritual Volatil penetrating and active which is not to be done as most Readers do conjecture that the Alcali being a salt is to be distilled and forced over as they do other salts mixing them for to keep them from melting with Earth Lome or the like and so forcing them over by the strong power of fire into a vapour and spirit No such a sort of volatilisation doth not serve our turne for although the Alcali in this manner may be forced over into a Volatil spirit and the same also be of very great vertue in Physick yea far exceedeth all other Medicamenta Diaphoretica Incidentia Resolventia Deopilantia Maturantia Corroborantia which are to be found in any Apothecaries Shop as every one that will prepare and use it upon this my recommendation will find with admiration and great profit to the sick yet this serveth not for the extraction and Essential resolution of the Tincture of Copper because it hath been too much weakned in the distillation having left the most part of its natural fieriness with the Earth or Clay wherewith it is mixed for to fit it for distillation its fieriness having acted and consumed it self thereupon and so lost its former fiery power in so much that by such a distillation there cometh over a very effectual spirit for Medicine but very mild in tast and far too weak for our purpose But here the Alcali must be raised so as that it retain its fiery mollifying Vertue yea that it may become much more powerful and penetrating which is to be brought to passe by its like viz. by an other like fiery Alcali but that this is to be Volatil for if this were not Volatil it could not volatilize the other for none can give more then he hath himself or beyond what is in his power Such a Volatil Alcali must first be got by art from the same source from which the fixed Alcali is risen viz. from an Oylie Substance for a true Alcali can come from no other but from the Oyly Principium and therefore you must hold to the oyly ground and endeavour to turne the same into an Alcali Volatil Now if you would do it by force of fire you would get no Volatil but a fixed Alcali again and therefore it must not be done by such a violent way but by a friendly one such as is according to nature which way and unchangeable Law is this as I mentioned before as much as serves for our purpose that like delighteth in its like attracteth the same and uniteth the same with it self and changeth it into its own Nature Now if you will turne and change your Oyly substance according to this immutable rule of Nature into an Alcali you must mix or unite the same with nothing else but an Alcali and keep them together for a sufficient time in a gentle heat and the fieryness of the Alcali will powerfully act into the subtle attenuated Oylie substance which you joyned thereunto and transmute the same and because it is of the like Nature property and substance in regard that the Alcali also rose from an Oyle therefore it changeth the same also by its strong fiery force into its nature and turneth the same from a subtle spiritual thin Oylie substance into a fiery salty Alcali and being done gently there is no violence offered to the Oylie principium as it happeneth when the fire per force turneth the Oyl into an Alcali therefore it remaineth in its former Volatlity insomuch that you have obtained an Alcali volatil But because these two are very intimately united and tyed to each other therefore if you begin to force your Alcali volatil by the strength of fire the fixed Alcali must also rise with it because of the similitude of Substance whereby they cleave to each other and are inclined to abide with each other for as before by reason of the uniformity of substance the oyly spiritual substance was changed by the Alcali into its salty Alcalical nature from such a ground as is according to Nature So now on the other side the fixed Alcali because of the great affinity betwixt them accompanieth the Alcali volatil and turnes together with it into a Volatile penetrating concentred spirit which is altogether power Fire Light and Life and in this manner you obtain that which is necessary for this our purpose viz. for the essential solution of metallick Sulphurs whereof to speak any more would be unnecessary and Superfluous in regard that our faithful well deserving Philosopher hath described the same clearly and expresly in divers places in his Relict Writings and the like hath been done also by the sharp-sighted and deeply Learned Raymund Lully where the Reader will find it with all circumstances and therefore remain but with these two Authors and do not seek for it further from any other and you will truly find so much iustruction in them as you shall need unless that by the just judgement of God the eyes of your understanding be blinded because of your pride covetousness and worldly pleasures for then you will truly not apprehend any thing of it but they would be sealed books and meere riddles to you Now this spiritual fire
be cut like a gumm for its balsamick soul is totally turned outwards by this secret double corrosive and therefore also doth it smell so fragrantly like Odoriferous spice especially being dissolved in spirit of Wine in which it will melt totally and very suddenly and digested for some dayes to say nothing of other many more properties for brevities sake Lo now what great difference there is betwixt the Philosophers Vitriol and that which commonly is made of Copper truly as much as betwixt white and black And as its vertue is great as for inward medicine so its efficacy is wonderful and not to be commended sufficiently in Chirurgy by reason of its Balsamick sweetness whereby in green wounds dangerous ulcers and incurable tumors it sheweth forth so great power that it shameth all commonly known oyntments balsomes oyles plaisters and poultises Of which I will prescribe you a plaister and an oyntment whose mighty operation you will admire and have reason to rejoyce at it in many dangerous Symptomes The plaister is composed in this manner Take Sulphur of Antimony such as above taught put it into a Phiol poure upon it Linseed-Oyl new drawn that it reach some inches over let it boyle moderately together for a whole day and the Linseed-Oyl will turn as red as blood and is the true Balsome of Sulphur in Chirurgie this Balsome put into a Copper vessel if you have one pound of it add unto it halfe a pound of Litharge in fine powder boyle it still stirring it about until the Litharge be dissolved then add of grease be it of Men Hogs Geese or Butter also c. according to your use half a pound and of the sweet Vitriol of Copper one ounce and a half and as much wax as is needfull for consistency and make it into a plaister which by reason of its great Virtues may well be called the golden plaister The Oyntment make thus Take of Honey well clarified four Ounces of the juyce of Polygonum latifolium twelve Ounces of the sweet Vitriol of Copper two Ounces boyle all gently together untill it be almost as thick as an Oyntment then add of the best Saffran made into fine powder half an Ounce take it straight from the fire mix the Saffran well with it so that it be very well incorporated therewith and it is done If in those cases where fat things may be used you will add some of the former Balsome of Sulphur and incorporate it well it will be so much the better And these two things being well prepared and rightly administred according to Art will be very useful for you in assisting the distressed and gain you much credit as you will know by experience CAP. V. A farther explication concerning the Vitriolification of the Copper and of the secrets of the Salt-Armoniack ALthough I have sufficiently described all that pertaineth to the preparation of the Vitriol of Copper yet the proposed matter may seem to the Reader partly obscure and partly impossible especially because I make mention of such a sorts of spirits such as double and satiated whereof hath not been heard nor read in any Author hitherto so that this my explication may peradventure be counted a fable as if I offered violence unto the Philosophers Doctrine when they do so highly commend the Salt Armoniack for to unlock and prepare Metals and Minerals perverting their words to another sense which they never intended For to prevent this suspition and to make the matter so clear and palpable to the Reader that he may see the bare and naked ground of this secret I will so digest and open unto him to the nature and whole substance of the Salt Armoniack that he cannot choose but agree thereunto and acknowledge the truth of the matter First let none take offence that I produce a new sort of spirits or that I name them by a new name in regard that the Salt Armoniack of its self is nothing else but a double and satiated spirit for else it could never have such great Virtues to fit and prepare Metals and Minerals and so readily elevate and take them asunder if it were not a satiated and double spirit which with a double force performeth what no single corrosive possibly can do But that the Salt Armoniack is a satiated and double Spirit the Mechanica will teach you for if you take the spirit of Urine which to speak properly is no spirit but only a fiery salt in regard that being rectified and severed from all Heterogeneous Phlegm it is and remaineth alwayes a Volatile and fiery salt and no spirit and poure it upon Vitriol the corrosive in the Vitriol will unite presently with this fiery salt and leave its Metallick Body wherein it dwelled before and so layes hold on this fiery salt having more inclination to this than to the metallick Body this Vitriol which is impregnated with the so called Spirit of Urine being put into a Retort and forced by fire presently there will appear a dry Volatile double salt tasting neither of spirit of Vitriol nor of spirit of Urine because they worked into one another and changed themselves on both sides which action and reaction may well be called saturation where the one satiateth feedeth and rests it self in the other both quietly dwelling together and in each other and therefore two being united there is virtus unita and their force so much the greater as they say virtus unita fortior for from this united Vertue proceedeth the great power which the Salt Armoniack hath in preparing of Metallick Bodies The foresaid double salt being examined you will find that its taste is no other then that of the Salt Armoniack and that it hath the same operation in Physick also Now after the same manner as you have heard of the spirit of Vitriol and the salt of Urine ariseth also the common Salt Armoniack and from the same ground only that instead of Vitriol they take common salt and instead of the salt of Urine they take common Urine that suffered no separation and other things which contain the like Volatil fiery salt as Urine doth as soon as these things are mixed together they presently work one into another each one layes hold of the other insomuch that this dry mixture being forced by fire the Volat il salt by reason of its Volatility is necessitated to rise but being intimately united with the salt it cannot rise alone but forceth the spirit of salt to go along and so both ascend as a double satiated spirit or spiritual Salt and if you doubt still whither it be so or no then take Spirit of Salt and Salt of Urine mix them together in such a quantity that you can perceive no taste of either but another or middle taste betwixt both then coagulate it and force it to ascend and you will have just such a Salt-Armoniack as is commonly sold whence you see plainly that common Salt-Armoniack is nothing else but a double
to joyn it with the Alcalies and in this manner to get a double volatile spirit For Answer whereunto know that the Philosophers had reason yea were constrained to make use of the Salt Armoniack because that its corrosive though as to its first rise proceeding from Salt by reason of its union undergone with the fiery Salt of Urine where they did act into one another and change one another in their nature hath got another and far more excellent nature than it had before and hence the Philosophers were necessitated to acquiesce in the Salt Armoniack and thence got their corrosive And I must confesse that after I had learned to understand and know the ground and root of the Salt Armoniack I thought my self also that the Spirit of Salt might be used for this intent So I tryed it but could get no such spirit as I had from the Salt Armoniack whence it was apparent to me why the Philosophers esteemed alwaies so highly of the Salt Armoniack And therefore I desired to see and taste this corrosive naked and by it self and to trye its vertue whither alone and of it self it would shew it self more excellent and powerful than the common spirit of Salt and I took much pains about it trying many deceitful processes which promised the obtaining of this corrosive or sowre spirit amongst which the most fallacious and perverse is that which teacheth to mix Salt Armoniack with Wheaten flower and to distil it and so to get this desired corrosive the foolishnesse whereof I have shewed already in the former Chapter and is therefore needless to make any further mention of it And because I could not attain thereunto by the means of those big-speaking or boasting process-books and the like writings I searcht for it diligently and earnestly and with great care pondered and observed the nature of things untill I found it which in regard of its Simplicity I might have found out long ago and very easily if I had but stuck to Nature and its Simplicity and avoided the misguiding Writers which afford little truth but much confusion and error The ground for to obtain this corrosive consisteth in this that the fiery Salt of urine be first taken away and severed else it is impossible to get the sowre spirit alone for they dwell in each other This separation of the fiery Salt though it may be done by joyning of an Alcali unto the Salt Armoniack for streight by a gentle heat it will totally be gone but yet this serveth not our business in hand for then 't is again mixt and satiated with the Alcali from which it cannot be separated bare and single in its nature but if it be forced according to art it forceth the Alcali to come along and so is not single in its Nature the reason is because that the Alcali it self also is of a salty nature as well as the corrosive and therefore their union is so accurate and their inclination unto one another so great that it is impossible to sever them because of the likeness or the sameness of their natures being both of a salty nature whence their tye is not soluble therefore in stead of the Alcalies other subjects must be taken such as are of no salty nature and yet being kept in the fire together with the Salt Armoniack have power to retain the corrosive and to dismiss the fiery Salt There are divers such subjects which will perform this yet still one better than the other for one attracteth or holdeth fast more of the corrosive than the other and the best of all is the Lapis Haemathites by the means whereof this sowre spirit is got best and in most quantity as the Mechanica will teach you for if you mixe the Salt Armoniack very accurately with the Blood-stone and distill it presently there cometh a great deal of the fiery urinous spirit and so much as there is loosened of the same so much of the corrosive is tyed unto the blood-stone and if at last you give a little stronger fire a part of the Salt Armoniack will ascend also in its unchanged and former nature but being of double vertue it carrieth up along the subtlest vertue and best flores of the blood-stone and thence is coloured so fair like an Orenge delightful to behold which after the distillation is finished make into fine powder and throw it in highly rectifyed spirit of wine and keep it till I teach you what further to do therewith The fiery Spirit that came over you may use in all points as they do other spirit of Salt Armoniack of an urinous odor for betwixt this and the other there is no difference but the corrosive or acid spirit you must seek in the Caput Mortuum into which this corrosive hath so insinuated it self and is so fast lockt up in it that although you force this Caput Mortuum with never so strong a fire yet you cannot get this corrosive yea not so much as one drop of it but if this Caput mortuum be duly purified the desired corrosive will come easily to light yea in Sand also to attain unto this beat the Caput Mortuum into very fine powder and throw it straight into good Spirit of Wine which will take into it self all the corrosive and the subtlest parts of the bloodstone which the corrosive laid hold on uniting it self therewith and you will see it presently tinged of a Gold-colour which decant and poure on other repeating this processe until no spirit more be tinctured then draw off all the spirit in Balneo and being all come over you will find in the Cucurbit a balsamic aromatick Salt for the most part smelling like Saffron which put into a luted glass Retort in a wind furnace and distil with a gentle fire and presently the corrosive which was in the Salt Armoniack will come over continue this distillation with a gentle fire till no drops more come then strengthen the fire by degrees and there will come very fair flores as light as down feathers glistering and of various fair colors as red of gold colour and many others very pleasant to behold take heed that you make not too much hast in the beginning nor exceed with the Fire for it will not be done with violence but requireth time for if you force it before the time all will be gone and you will get nothing and therefore I do give you fair warning The distillation being done rince off with your corrosive all the flores which are in the neck of the Retort and poure them together with the Corrosive in a glass Retort and abstract the Corrosive with a gentle fire and all the flores remain in the bottom and the desired Acid Spirit of the Salt Armoniack is in the Receiver clear and white of excellent Virtues and of as much greater power in its operation beyond the common spirit of salt as a strong well grown Man in comparison of a Youth of eighteen years
of age as by diligent enquiry you may know experimentally and thence you will know why the Philosophers in preparing of their double Spirit kept to the Corrosive of the Salt Armoniack and preferred it before the spirit of salt And although my intent is not to speak of any thing else but what serveth to confirm my elucidation which hitherto hath been done to the full yet I cannot pass by because in the demonstration of the excellency of the Corrosive from the Salt-Armoniack the abovesaid golden flores of the blood-stone accompanied the rest to mention their great usefulness to the end that they as a Noble Treasure may be employed for the benefit of the diseased Take therefore the spirit of Wine wherein you have thrown the sublimed Salt-Armoniack mixt with the Gold-like flores decant it and poure on other repeating the same forth and forth till it be tinged no more Abstract all the spirit of Wine in Balneo NB in Balneo for in ashes or sand it will not come over of which you may consider further and in the bottom of the Cucurbit you will have a very fair salt of a very curious colour insomuch that the sight can hardly leave looking upon it and of a very strong Odour like unto Saffran which mix with the other flores which in the rectification of the Corrosive spirit remained in the Retort mix them well together and lay them in a Cellar for to dissolve and you will get a very fair Liquor far surpassing the choicest Gold in Colour and take good heed that when at last the drops begin to grow pale that you let them not come to the other but keep them by themselves for feavers but the first keep by it self for a rare Medicine especially being mixed with Gumme Armoniack and made up in pills in Hydrope quartanâ scorbuto plueritide renum calculo colicâ obstructione mensium Melancholiâ Hypochondriacâ affectibus ventriculi variis and many other grievous infirmities and it hath also vim anodynam somniferam by reason of its Gold and Saffran-like Tincture and Aromatical smel Whence you may perceive the great power which the Salt-Armoniack hath in opening and inverting of Metals for who should have thought that such an excellent Balsamick smell should be hidden in such a hard harsh and gross body as the blood-stone is if the Salt Armoniack had not discovered it unto us Therefore seek and you will find to the end that the hidden virtues of Nature may be manifested and thence much praise may redound unto the most holy Creator of these virtues CAP. VI. How the sweet Vitriol of Copper is to be distilled into a green Spirit THe Philosophers Writings manifesting that of Vitriol and Copper there may be made a green spirit of very great virtues there were alwayes found seekers of truth who took very great pains to obtain this Noble green Spirit and to delight themselves in its power and Virtue but when they saw that Vitriol however distilled will not yield such a green Spirit as the Philosophers Writings do promise they thought that the old Wise Men would not be understood of Common distillation but conjectured that by some sundry subtle way or by sundry unknown sleights such greenness is to be obtained and therefore they begun to invent all sorts of wayes how to attain unto their purpose And first there were some which that they might obtain a greenness took the subtlest Spirit of Vitriol and distilled it from some Vegetables so many times and so often untill by manifold Cohobation it carried along over the greenness of the hearbs and so pleased themselves with a greenness borrowed from Vegetables so setting their heart at rest which had as much efficacy as the Virtue of the adjoyned hearbs did extend it self Others when they saw that the greenness of the Vitriol will not ascend inverted it and forced it downwards and so with great shouting they conceived to have caught the truth of the businesse whereas in that manner part of the Vitriol falls through with it whereof the Liquor must needs turn green for the vehement vomiting which such a pretended green Spirit causeth sufficiently doth shew that the gross corporal Vitriol is in it in regard that it is and remaineth alwayes the quality of Vitriol to cause much vomiting Others followed the former who acknowledging this way of forcing per descensum too gross invented somewhat that hath some colour of a sundry so tearmed Philosophical distillation and of a sundry secret Philosophical Vitriol which is not common pretending that the Philosophers have not used common Vitriol nor Copper for this purpose but used their own proper hitherto unknown Vitriol which they made of the seed of all Metals and that this seed is a sort of round stones found in the fattest beds which as it is a sundry matter of a secret Vitriol so likewise that it must be distilled after a secret and no known way but that after this seed is impregnated by the Air with sufficient moysture so that it can Liquefie in water they purified that green Metallick juice which came thence from its Corporeousness by filtration and they interpreted filtration to be the Philosophers distillation and so they did not only violence to the word Distillation forcing it to be the same with filtration but also vented their feigned first matter or semen metallorum which yet by its right name is called Pyrites and indeed shewes it self to be such for to be the Matrix of the Philosophers Vitriol whereas experience witnesseth that such a pretended Philosophical Vitriol hath not the nature and quality which the true Vitriol of the wise hath viz. that it is sweet and procureth rest as a true domicilium veri anodyni Philosophorum but the pretended Philosophers Vitriol is as grosse violent bitter and nauseous as common Vitriol and indeed is none other but common Vitriol in regard that it hath the same rise with the common viz. from the fire-stone And as this pretended Vitr Phil. is false so is also their Distillation viz. Filtration meerly a feigned pretence and presumptious perversion of the words of the wise And this perverted Philosophical distillation else called Filtration yields a much more vehement greenness than that per descensum in which not all the Vitriol falleth through but only some small quantity but in the perverted Philosophical Distillation all runneth through the Filter and yet they vent it for such a curious and special Philosophical green spirit There were others and those best of all which remained in the genuine literal sence of Distillation and there they sought for it and in regard they could get no such greenness from the Vitriol by no manner of way they conjectured that the Philosophers added something unto Vitriol which they had concealed from us and therefore out of two several Retorts they forced the Vitriol and Saltpeter by quick and ready sleights into one Receiver where these two Spirits working into one another
added It is also further here to be known that the double corrosive not only therefore le ts fall its Metal the Copper because that it comes over gently with the Spirit of Wine but also for this reason because the great sharpnesse and edge of the corrosive is blunted and abated by the Spirit of Wine insomuch that it is not able to hold the Metal any longer because it hath lost its strength or corrosivenesse whereof you may be convinced by this experiment that if you mix this green spirit with a sufficient quantity of Spirit of Wine and set it together in continued digestion for a competent time viz. for a great space of time of many moneths the Metal will also precipitate slowly and by degrees in forme of a very spongious light dust But this being too tedious the more expedite way is by cohobation for then you will far sooner attain to its period Now these cohobations being continued to sufficiency and performed as they ought and all the corrosive being got over you have then the true Crocus Veneris Martis Auri c. according to the Metal which you have taken of farr higher and nobler Vertues than all the Croci of the common Writers and however they be prepared yet they cannot be compared unto these for their Croci are dead bodies but here is a resuscitated and quickned body its soul being quite turned outwards and in its full lustre which you may perceive by the glorious splendour which this Crocus with its choicest colours leaveth in the head if peradventure it be driven over by too strong a heat Now by this light turned outwards this Crocus hath so great vertue as well for inward Medicine as externally to be used in plaisters salves and other sorts of exteriour Medicaments as hardly can be believed before it be experimented And therefore also I will referr it to the experience of the diligent searcher of truth who will find far more Vertue in it than he is able to conceive at present But to clear this I cannot forbear to mention why the antient wise Authours of the highly noble Chymia called these resuscitated and revificated atomes of Metallick bodies Crocus which signifies Saffran Now he that hath but a little Enquired into the Vertues of this Crocus revificatus by experience will quickly know the reason viz. because this Crocus Metallicus doth perfectly possess those Excellent Virtues of Saffron which is the King of all Vegetables and therefore called the Philosophers aroma or spice as our Philosopher de Lithiasi cap. 7. § 14. declareth adding that the Aroma Philosophorum by reason of its Golden Tincture is the surest preservative against the Stone For as Saffron 1. causeth rest 2. comforteth the heart 3. openeth obstructions 4. mollifieth and ripeneth that which is hard and unripe 5. healeth all that which is wounded and preserveth it from all Sympomes So likewise yea in a farr higher degree and with far more Efficacy this our Crocus Philosophicus causeth rest and appeaseth pain powerfully strengtheneth weak Nature openeth the most dangerous obstructions of all the Viscera yea stoppeth all Fluxes by vertue of the shining Anima turned outwards and as well in Tumours as Ulcers and wounds affordeth such quick help as no Mineral Medicines of the common Writers can parallel as the Reader having tryed it will find by experience I can also not omit to relate the Eminent Vertues of the Spirit of Wine which carried over the double corrosive and is united therewith For in it is a double power or vertue first of the corrosive which in its nature by reason of its duplicity and containing an Alcali Volatil doth far exceed all Acid Liquors and therefore also is of great vertue in the Stone Secondly because of the splendour or radiation which this double spirit receceived from the Gold-like Anima of the Copper for although not the least pulvisculus of this Gold-like Tincture remained with this corrosive yet having received its radiation and kept it which is as it were by a seal deeply imprinted therein and thence exalted in vertue beyond what it was before of it self Therefore let this spiritus vini esurinus be commended to you in all cases in which you use Acida and Esurina and you will find with joy its great power in allaying all manner of unnatural heat beyond all known Acid Spirits Also its great Corrosiveness is much mitigated and abated by the Spirit of Wine and so safer for use than before and being fast and intimately united with the spiritus vini it quickly uniteth by the means thereof with the Archeus and performeth its operation with much expedition because that the Virtue of the spiritus vini is readily entertained and so the power of this excellent Acetum Esurinum penetrateth also with it and gently cooleth and refresheth the incensed spirits CAP. VIII How to extract the pure Anima or Tincture from the true Crocus Veneris and by what means WHen your Copper is brought so farr that first by volatilisation it is divided into the smallest Atomes and by the Volatil double corrosive rent asunder into impalpable dust and then in a gentle way totally freed again from all corrosive then and not before it is fit to yield its tinging soul and heavenly virtue unto such a Menstruum which is like unto its Anima in substance viz. which is of a like fiery Nature as the Tincture of the Copper is which is a meer fire and therefore called by our Philosopher and other Wise men the Element of Fire consequently cannot be extracted severed or radically opened but by a very Fiery penetrating vehement and sharply separating Volatile substance which alone hath the power out of the hard ligament of Metallick Coagulation performed in the Copper by Nature by a strong Magnetick Virtue eagerly to attract its like and by its great Fieriness to melt soften and open it to the very inmost ground root and Center such a Water or Menstruum it must be as toucheth nothing at all of the Body of the copper nor desireth to touch much less to dissolve the least of it yea hath no power at all to do so but barely and only falleth upon the Anima or Sulphur of the Copper as upon its like and receiveth the same into it self such a liquor you must look for in the Fiery principle as I discovered above in the second Chapter viz. in the nature of the Oyl which by the strong power of the Fire being turned into fiery Salt by Artificial operation must be translated from the seat of a fixed Salt into that of a Volatile penetrating Fiery spirit Now you may say since this Menstruum is such a Fiery substance why can it not by its strong power as well extract the Anima out of a common Crocus Veneris Auri Martis c. as out of that which hath been made Volatil whereby much labour expence and time might be saved in preparing of this Arcanum For answer
the same Nature and called by the Philosophers the Element of Fire and being of a Fiery Nature it must needs follow that their solution must proceed from one and the same ground in regard that as to their first rise they are of the like Substance and Nature just as an old Man and a new-born child are quite of one and the same substance only that the one is more perfect than the other and therefore for the finding out of the solution of the firmly coagulated Metallick Sulphurs we must first enquire after the ground and means to unlock the meaner Sulphurs for in this manner I have traced the truth and found it First then considering what it is which radically unlocketh common Sulphur we find that Oyl and all that is of a fat and Fiery Nature doth open the same as being of a like fiery substance and discovereth to our very eyes it s otherwise occult blood-red soul Which though it be a common thing and daily practised by many yet it is of such a depth and weight that from this very source springeth forth the solution of all Metallick souls yea of the gold it self as you will hear afterwards Therefore if we pretend to be Disciples of the Philosophers we must with other eyes than those of an Idiot look upon Sulphur when by boyling with Oyl it is mollified in such sort that its inward red Tinctur is turned outward The common crew contents himself with this that after they have done with their boyling the same doth take away the itch and scab cureth wounds and the bruised and inflamed limbs and performeth other wholesom operations But a searcher of the hidden wisdom goeth deeper to the ground and inquireth whence it cometh that of all things the Oyl only hath power to open the Sulphur so sweetly and so naturally turning its interiour outwards whereas the strongest corrosive cannot do it and upon due consideration we find that this solution proceedeth from the likeness or identity of Oyl and Sulphur viz. that the Oyl or fat as being a fiery thing doth cover lay hold on and embrace the Sulphur as a like fiery substance and so softneth the same and openeth it to its very inmost Center which is done by Sympathy like loving its like and imparting their Virtue to each other In so much that Oyl as a fiery moysture is the right foundation and source from whence the opening of all Mineral and Metallick Sulphurs doth flow Now if we go on from common Sulphur to the other Sulphur of Minerals which are advanced to a pretty hard coagulation by the coction of Nature and compare the foresaid experience we find that though Oyl hath no power to sever and open the Embryonat Sulphur of any Mineral as being too weak for this performance yet for all that the solution must proceed from the same ground if it shall be radical and consonant and friendly unto Nature but in regard that the Minerals are fast lockt up and so do not yield to such a gentle power as that of the Oyl therefore the power of the Oylie substance must be exalted and increased in its fieriness and then it will open and sever the Sulphur from Minerals as easily yet with more expedition than Oyl doth unlock the common Sulphur This exaltation of the fiery power and quality in Oyls must also be done by its like if we will work according to Nature and not contrary thereunto which is performed by a burning fire which by its fiery and vehement power turneth the Oylie substance into a fiery salt which salt not only retaineth its former Oylie mollifying power but also is highly exalted in the same for wood which is full of Oyl being thrown into the fire and burnt though the greatest part of the Oyl be consumed by the fire in regard that of its wast or consumption the flame and heat hath its rise yet a great part thereof which cannot be burnt in such hast the volatile salt which also is in the wood besides the Oyl hindring the same and melting together by the sharp and vehement power or burning fieriness is turned into a very fiery fixt Oylie salt which is called Alcali or Lixivial salt whereof the common people make their lye and this salt hath still perfectly its former softning Oylie property only that by the fieriness it is translated from a Volatile to a fixed condition yea is grown far more fiery and powerfull than it was before Now if you will know whither this fiery salt be still a true Oylie substance then put some common Sulphur and some of this salt and water in a pot and boyle them a little and you will see that the Sulphur will in like manner melt in it and yield its red Tincture as if it had been done with Oyle yea with more expedition because it is now much stronger in its softning fieriness than it was before being yet in the forme of an Oyl Now as this fiery salt is nothing else but a fiery Oyle much exalted in its virtue so it hath the more vehement power now to lay hold on and to unlock that which before being yet an Oyl it could not possibly overcome so that being in this exalted condition it hath now the power to take Minerals asunder and to separate their Soul or Sulphur To perform the same yet easier and with more expedition such a fiery Alcali may be yet further exalted in its fieriness by being mixt with the like fiery things and so burnt together such a fiery thing is unquench't lime which by the strong power of the burning fire hath attained to its great fieriness and so is able to communicate the same by fire unto the Alcali's Take therefore well purified Lixivial salt or salt of Tartar which is the fieriest of all mix it with lime Calcine it strongly for the space of a day then Lixiviate it again from the lime your Alcali will be notably increased in its fieriness and have then power to loosen the Sulphur from Minerals and sever it from their bodies with much expedition as you may see for example in Antimony the chiefest of all Minerals which being made into fine powder and mixed with the foresaid fiery salt and water powred on and so letting it rest in a warme place for some dayes stirring it about oftentimes in a day the fiery Alcali then attracteth the Sulphur by Sympathy and so looseneth it and uniteth it self therewith the extraction decanted and filtred and Acid things powred into it the Sulphur of Antimony will precipitate of a fair Orenge colour and burn like other Sulphur but that which falleth last of all is best and purest By these two steps viz. the solution of common Sulphur in Oyles and the severing of Embryonate Sulphurs from Minerals in a fiery Alcali I went up higher to the loosening of Metallick Sulphurs they being of the same substance with Mineral Sulphurs and as in a clear glass by the Light of Nature I
would acknowledge for a singular favour and love unto him I demanded what he would do with it He answered Dear Sir if you knew what excellent vertues are in this stone you would likkwise highly esteem of it I said what can it do He replyed This is our Medicine when we aile any thing then we grind it very small and take it with a little Vineger and thereupon recover our health Afterwards coming home again I asked my father in Law whither that there was such a custome amongst his Boores as to take their refuge unto the Blood-stone in all their diseases To which he answered yea adding that not only there neer him but also in all that circuit questionless there was that custome amongst the Boores. This his Gold-like vertue his signature also sheweth forth not in his outward appearance of an unfightly brown stone but being dissolved For if you make a very strong Aqua Regis of the spirit of Salt-peter drawn off from common salt for common Aqua Regis made after the usual way of Aqua fort and Salt Armoniac dissolveth so little of it that it is not worth the pains and dissolve therein the Haemathites made into very fine powder keeping it in a due heat and if you dissolve also of the choicest and pure-finest Gold in the like Aqua Regis and compare the solutions together you will see that the solution of the Haemathites sheweth as glorious and of as fair a Gold colour as the other of the best Gold yea rather exceeds in splendour And therefore let not the Reader wonder at it that Paracelsus and I also do hold that in many other subjects besides the Gold which deservedly hath the pre-eminence above all and its tincture is Eminenti Gradu called Sulphur philosophorum by the wise which none will deny unlesse he be quite a stranger unto unacquainted with and altogether unexercised in Philosophiâ Chymicâ and the Copper the primum Ens Auri or Sulphur Philosophorum is to be found their great vertues shewing forth the same and as expressed seals of bountiful nature convincing us of that truth CAP. XI That the Sulphur Philosophorum may be got also of Volatile Minerals WHat I have taught in the precedent Chapter viz. that also of such other Metallick bodies which are of the like fixity with the Metals the Sulphur Philosophorum is to be obtained this may peradventure sooner be received and granted by the Reader than what I am now going to demonstrate viz. that of the wholly volatil Minerals such as Antimony Auripigmentum Zink and the like that same Treasure of health may also be extracted However not only Experience but also many wise men in their books do witnesse this truth which I do intend to prove in this Chapter And although it be besides my purpose to treat of the Volatil Minerals and the treasure of health contained in them and that this Treatise reacheth only thus far viz. according to our Philosophers Doctrine and instruction faithfully to explain the way to get the Sulphur Philosophorum from Copper especially and within the compass of that processe also how the Tincture of life is to be had of the other Metals and Metallick bodies yet I cannot forbear in regard that the Sulphur Philosophorum as well made of Volatil Minerals as also of the fixer Metallick bodies is altogether of one and the same Nature Property Power and Vertue here to mention how that Jewel is to be got of the Minerals also To make it the more plain for the longing seeker of Truth be it known to him first in General that as the Volatil Minerals are very much different from the fixed Metallick bodies in that the former are altogether Volatil open and very neer unto the first being on the other side the Metallick subjects are fast coagulated and lockt up by nature and its fire and so these twofold subjects as to their inbred nature and condition do very much differ so likewise there is a vast difference in their preparation for the volatil Minerals neither must nor need at all to be proceeded with like the fixer Metallick Subjects which first by potent double corrosives must be freed from their hard bonds and raised as it were from death and so quickned which is altogether unnecessary in the volatil Minerals because that they never yet entred into such a hard coagulation nor were lock't up in death as it were but are still Volatil lively and active and therefore also another method of proceeding must be used about them Also the way of getting the Medicinal Treasure from Minerals being not one and the same in all but Various viz. in each Mineral a sundry way according to our Philosophers instruction therefore also I will mention the preparation of one or other by it self as farr as our Philosopher doth give occasion First our Philosopher commendeth unto us the Sulphura Mineralium in general and indistinctly when he teacheth that they being corrected and perfected will then cure all or most diseases which sufficiently evidenceth that after they have attained unto that perfection that then they are the Sulphur Philosophorum as well as other metallick bodies because that the Nature and condition of the Sulphur Philosophorum is to be a Panacaea which being asserted by our Philosopher of the mineral Sulphurs also they are therefore also of the same dignity with the others because that they cure Vniversaliter the infirmities of Humane bodies as well as the other whereof our Philosophers words in his Discourse quoted in the ninth chap. are these Ipsum morbum totum ejusque remedia considero in Archeo alterato vel pacato adeoque minimo attactu vibratione jaculatione imò solâ radiatione sive illuminatione perfici ac compleri sanationes non habito causarum occasionalium respectu idque potentius aspicio in mineralium remediis Sulphureis putà in Sulphure Veneris Stibii ac potissimum in Sulphure Glaurae Augurelli quae Nympha alio nomine proprio caret hactenus c. Hortor itaque Tyrones addiscant sulphura spoliare vi peregrinâ ac virulentâ sub cujus nimirum custodiâ abditur ignis vitalis Archeum in scopos desideratos placidissimè deducens sunt videlicet Sulphura quaedam quibus correctis atque perfectis tota morborum cohors auscultat ut pote quorum pluralitas in unitatem Archei tanquam pugnantem pugnum contrahitur Hoc pacto in ipsâ animae sede combinatoque Duumviratu amentiae apoplexiae caduci paralyses vertigines asthmata hydropes atrophiae immanesque defectus annihilari vidimus stupente scilicet ipsâ Naturâ In which discourse our Philosopher nameth unto us three sorts of the Sulphur Philosophorum that is of such a Tincture which Vniversaliter as a true Panacaea healeth diseases the first sort he taketh from the Copper whereof hitherto sufficiently hath been spoken and which doth not properly belong to this Chapter but to the Metallick bodies The other sort he saith is made of the
Glaura Augurelli which he calleth in another place viz. inter imperfectiora Metallus primus sive masculus as much to say as Pater Metallorum and inter arcana Paracelsi he termeth it also Electrum minerale immaturum and declareth that this Mineral hath a combustible Sulphur which is the King of all Mineral Sulphurs and therefore also the highest Tincture for health is prepared of it which for that reason is called quinta essentia membrorum and arcanum Tincturae by Paracelsus Now this Mineral as it is hidden and known to very few and hence not called by its proper name by our Philosopher but only Nympha as to its nature so and much more secret is its Philosophick preparation whereby its Volatil combustible stinking unripe Sulphur is exalted to the glory and dignity of Sulphur Philosophorum yea so highly that after it hath attained unto its highest perfection it surpasseth all other Philosophick Sulphurs as far in splendour and glory as the Sun the other Stars and therefore also our Philosopher relating and commending the above mentioned three kinds he addeth the word especially or above all other to this Sulphur and hence also numbring up the Arcana Paracelsi he sets this uppermost expresly mentioning that this Arcanum is the greatest of all saying Imprimis tinctura Lili ab Electro minerali immaturo in vinum vitae redacta cujus una pars est Metallus primus altera verò membrorum essentia But the manner how to obtain this great Jewel and King of all the Arcana he expresseth thus that first the combustible Sulphur which if it be burnt yields a blew flame is to be separated from its Mercurial body which may be done after that way as hath been taught of Antimony in the second Chapter for so long as the Minerals are still Volatil open and combustible one process serveth for all for to separate their Sulphur from them viz. by a fiery Alcali Upon this severed Sulphur is to be poured its own pertinent and only serviceable corrosive which is nothing else but the Liquor Alcahest as appeareth by all circumstances and distilled and cohobated thence until the Sulphur come over like a red Oyl c. which not being practicable or feasible by any other but him that is Possessor of the Liquor Alcahest therefore we will wave it and not frustraneously detain our selves there for he that hath that Liquor needeth not our instruction but to him that hath it not it is but labour lost to mention any thing of it and to propose unto him any good conceptions And therefore we will pass to the other and by all feasible way to obtain this high Tincture of health which our Philosopher also pointeth out for he knowing well that the partakers of the Mystery of the Liquor Alcahest are but very few and yet out of his true assection and hearty love to the longing searcher of truth being willing that the efficacy of this most excellent and noblest Sulphur might be known in some sort he left such a way of proceeding which is practicable by every one that is but a little experienced in Philosophiâ Chymicâ yet this kind of essence requireth and presupposeth that this highly commended and excellent Subject be first known for none can have experience of its glory nor manifest its great virtues unless he know it first But it seemeth unto me that our Philosopher giveth sufficient information for to know it in that he calleth it Electrum mineral◠immaturum item Metallum primum also in that he saith of it that it hath a combustible Sulphur and a Volatil Mercury his words inter imperfectiora are these Metallus primus sive masculus ab indole metallica necessariò vestitur Mecurio Sulphure Metallicis Mercurio nempe liquido nec digitis adhaerente Sulphure cremabili in flammâ coerulea and then he ascribeth unto it also that heavenly Virtue viz. to oppose withcraft and to destroy the same as he writeth de injaculatis § 7. Inprimis electrum minerale immaturum Paracelsi collo appensum liberat quos spiritus immundus persequitur quod ipsus vidi Illius potum verò plures à veneficiis solvisse memini Nemo autem qui appenso illo simplici non praecaverit ne injecta intromittantur vel ab importunis ligationibus confestim non solvatur which virtue and great power I have seen verifyed by experience in my own little Son who being then but sixteen weeks old and forspoken by Wicked Diabolical people or fettered importunis ligationibus malevolorum as our Philosopher here termeth it for many dayes insomuch that it was a great grief of heart unto us to behold the poor distressed infant for he would not accept of the Mothers breast for many dayes notwithstanding that he was very hungry and thirsty and therefore was starved and consumed Then I remembred our Philosophers commendation of this noble Subject and and so hung it to the childs neck and let it hang down to the very pit of the Stomack and so caused him to be wrapped up in his swadling cloths and presently he fell asleep after an hour and a halfe he wakened and desired and eagerly fell to suck the Mothers breast and so he amended from that very hour to the great admiration of my self and many others in regard that the change was so sudden and so powerful so that I am of opinion that others also by these described properties will learn to know this Royal Subjectum and so is needless for the sake of those that are worthy to name it by a more express and significant name than Electrum immaturum Pater metallorum sive Metallus primus in regard that such and the like names do sufficiently expresse what it is and truly it would not be well done at all to describe it more plainly for these Names do like a Printed Seal Represent its whole Nature Essence Rise and Property and he that can not discover it by these Characters is neither chosen of God nor born by Nature for to know it else he would well understand this Language Metallus primus and the like viz. what the said words and names do speak and expresse This precious subject which Paracelsus calleth the Red Lyon but Basilius the God Saturne being known it is further necessary that the Sulphur be severed from the Mercurial part in like manner as hath been done with Antimony for this solar splendour must be first ground very fine then mixed with a very fiery Alcali and then for half a quarter of an hour ground together in a Morter then water poured on and afterwards filtred and that which is contained in the water that run through the filter precipitated with an Acid Liquor and then that excellent Sulphur will fall to the bottom which being dryed is of a yellow colour and burnes like other Sulphur yielding a celestial or Skie-coloured flame as our Philosopher mentioneth but the Mercurial part remains in the Paper which being dryed
is kept for other uses yet this I must mention here also that there is yet another way to sever the Mercury from this noble Sulphur viz. by elevating the mercurial part by means of such a degree of Fire as is requisite and then it will ascend alone and leave its red Companion in the bottome but this way is not for our purpose because thereby the Sulphur which remains in the bottom will be very much fixed and altered from its former combustible condition which ought not to be in this work as the following Mechanica left by our Philosopher doth shew forth for he will have that the Sulphur Metalli primi be dissolved in oyl of Cinnamon which cannot be done unlesse that this Sulphur remain thoroughly Volatil and Combustible and therefore we must Acquiesce in the first way Take therefore very pure and subtle Oyle of Cinamon poure it upon the said combustible Sulphur put it in a phiol and let it boyl till the Oyl be very red and rich of the Tincture then poure it into a Retort abstract the oyl gently so long as it comes clear and when by gentle heat nothing more will come over then let it cool and you will have in the Retort a thick and red extract like congealed blood which keep the clear oyl that came over poure again into the Phiol and add more of the Sulphur Metalli primi to it in case there be not enough in it boyle it again for twelve or more howers and your oyl will be very red again which after Refrigeration put into the former Retort to the first thick extract and abstract as before the oyl gently so long as it goes clear the Oyl that came over poure again the third time to the Sulphur in the Phiol and let it boyle as before and being well coloured poure it also into the Retort to the other extract And now put the Retort somewhat deeper in the sand than before first draw off gently the clear oyl and none such coming more then strengthen the fire a little but not too much that this noble flower may not suffer violence and there will come over first a yellow and then a red oyl poure all that is come over back again and distill in the same manner again and there will come over more yellow and red oyl this cohobation reiterate so long and often until your Oyl do come over so red that it could not be redder which is a sign that the Oyl cannot contain and carry over any more of the mollified Sulphur which you may easily know by it s not increasing in rednesse after several cohobations This tinged Oyl you must well mix and grind together with a very dry pure Alcali warmed a little upon a stone warmed also work it together for an hour or two that it be like a thin hony and take heed that you put in not too much of the Oyl for all that Oyl which is not exactly mixed with the Alcali and so not touched by it but standeth over the same exceedeth the true proportion and cannot be meliorated by the Alcali Then put your mixture into a little Cucurbit and let it by day and by night for some weeks digest together in such a soft or gentle heat that the oyl may not ascend and it will at length all turne to Salt and grow hard which being forced by a stronger fire yieldeth a red Salt the vertue whereof will commend it self Now we will also speak of the third subject whereof our Philosopher maketh mention and commendeth the same unto us viz. of Antimony and try whether in this also the Sulphur Philosophorum be hid which questionlesse must be so since it is related and put in company with the Arcanum Cupri and Glaurae by our Philosopher Now to extract the same out of this subject Know that it cannot be brought to its highest perfection after the same manner as the Glaura in regard that this of its nature and first rise is farr more highly nobilitated than the Antimony and therefore also needeth no more but only to be opened and softned so as that it may be able to play upon our Archeus and communicate thereunto its radius and splendour and hence also by reason of the great prerogative it hath above all other mineral Sulphurs it is called by our Philosopher the highest and greatest wonder of Nature but the Anima Antimonii must first be ripened and digested by a due Fire before it can attain to such an excellency But how to go about this work and concerning the genuine way to proceed therewith our Philosopher hath not left us sufficient instruction but directeth us unto Paracelsus speaking of this Arcanum in Pharmacopolio Dispensatorio Moderno § 49. thus Id Paracelsus nimirum correctionem veneni in Antimonio in Tincturâ Lili Antimonii cum laude attentavit per salem suum circulatum and amongst the Arcana Paracelsi our Philosopher sets this Sulphur Philosophorum Antimonii in the third place saying Tertio loco est tinctura Lili Antimonialis ejusdem ponè efficaciae c. We must therefore turne to Paracelsus his Writings and search there in what place he taught to prepare the Arcanum Lili ex Antimonio and we shall find it in his great Chyrurgia lib. 2. tr 3. cap. 5. where he speaketh of this Sulphur Philosophorum thus The Philosophers have tryed much with Antimony and prepared the same many wayes but the true way hath not been found with them yet but now it is come to light and it is such a science which all Physitians of right should know For this purification is the entry and beginning in all Diseases whatever they be and if it were in use there would not so much be spoyled as is done by the supposed Physitians For therefore I call them supposed because in all their wayes and doings they do but only suppose and know nothing of a certainty which is a very great shame to Physicians Now its preparation is this but he that will apprehend it must be experienced in Alchymy for I cannot set it down in such a way as is usual with the Apothecaries Take Antimony changed or reduced into very fine Alcool here the desirous searcher of Truth is to know that the change or transmutation of the Antimony into Alcool doth not signify grinding into fine powder as according to the literal sence it doth sound but the Antimony being heavy and compact of its Nature must by art and by the power of fire be forced to ascend in form of a very light dust in so much that not the least remain behind in the bottom pertaining to the substance of Antimony and this is to be repeated thrice as our Philosopher in his Marginals mentioneth and left behind him for information although the same may be also gathered from Paracels lib. 3. cap. 6. de vitâ longâ then reverberate it in a close Reverberatory for the space of a Moneth and it will be
a long time and you must herein look to the ground and well consider what serves your turne the fieryer your Alcali is the more speedily your preparation will be ended and therefore be diligent to make very fiery Alcalies and to exalt them in their fierinesse to the highest to which end Mars will readily yield you its fiery salt In such and the like fiery Alcali boyle your Sulphur the longer the better as you will see by experience that the longer you macerate it thus the more power it will shew in Physick already before its perfect and final fixation Having prepared it sufficiently thus precipitate the same then with an Acidum and you will have such an excellent prepared Sulphur as you could not have imagined before witnesse the Lac Sulphuris of the common Chymical Authours which is but once dissolved with the Alcali and presently precipitated and yet by this small boyling gets such an exalted power from the fierynesse of the Alcali that it is of farr greater vertue than before it was boyled therewith and the sluggishness and simplenesse of the common Chymists is much to be wondred at that none hitherto was found amongst them which hath considered of this foundation nor begun to argue if the Sulphur in so short a time by a small boyling hath got such a great amendment insomuch that it becometh farr nobler and farr more powerful than it was before it must then follow that if we should boyle it thus for a long time as also if we should exalt our Alcali in its fierinesse that we should also exalt our Sulphur much higher in its vertue But there hath been none hitherto which thought of it but they rested themselves content with their Lac Sulphuris and so the one said it and writ it after the other and so they sung still the same song And this is truly the moderne much lamentable case of the noble Chymiatria that the most part of the Chymists as not only their books but also their daily practise witnesseth most of them advancing no higher nor knowing any more but what they find written in books which also many times falleth difficult enough for them to imitate are so deeply darkned in their understanding that they do not consider of those thing which they work upon of what nature they be whence they have their rise how and in what manner and by what power those things which they deal in do exert their Vertue and Power and how the one doth act into the other and can either mend or marr it such thoughts never enter into their brains but only make this so and the other thus mix this with such a thing and that with the other and so forth without end and when one doth not succeed then another processe is taken in hand and so they are right process-mongers and children in understanding which know not Themselves what they work but see with other eyes viz. those of the processe if that be silent then they know no more neither know to add nor detract neither to amend nor to alter and yet such fellows will be counted no lesse then great Philosophi Lumina mundi Chymici all which procedeth from this cause that the Mind in which as in his Image God should play with his out-flowing Wisdom and poure into it the treasures of his eternity is grossely darkned and obumbrated with earthy muck and nastinesse wiâ—h hoggish desires of earthly and corrupttible things with Diabolical pride covetousnesse ambition pleasure of the flesh and with an â—msatiable desire of the earthly corruptible good which is but only a shadow which vanisheth under ones hands with such fair images their Minde is quite filled up and totally obumbrated such desires they serve unto with an unsatiable hunger as their lives do testify Now how should the wisdom of God poure out it self into such a nasty hogstâ—y replenisht with earthly husks and adorne the same with his guifts and impresse his Images there in regard that their heart is already before within and without wholly laid and painted over with such horrible and abominable figures of proud Peacocks covetous hogs earthly dogs carnal bulls c. God to whom we make our moan will know how to judge those fatted swine and to put in the room of them faithful workmen which desire to seek and to love nothing else but God the only and highest good and in his love which he poureth forth into their hearts do also heartily love their neighbour as their fellow-brother liberally and joyfully sharing their received gift with him but of this enough at this time Now to returne unto our preparation of the Sulphur viz. to the second way which is not distinguisht from the first as to the ground and substance but only differeth as to the manner of proceeding for here the fiery Alcali is not by Water united with the Sulphur but only of it self through-dry and so put together well closed in a gentle heat and kept there so that the Sulphur do not rise but in case it should happen it being not well possible to observe it so accurately but that some do rise you must mix that which is risen again with the Alcali for all that which is without or above the Alcali cannot receive its preparation and there remaineth nothing more to be given notice here but as to all the rest it is like unto the first way for the longer you cement your Sulphur thus the excellenter and the readier or fitter it is for the ensuing fixation which for to sever afterwards you must dissolve the same together with the Alcali in Water and precipitate it again Now you may choose either of these wayes which you like best and know for your information that though this latter be better than the former yet it is more laborious and the other far easier and therefore make choice of that which is most for your conveniency As concerning this so prepared Sulphur experience will make it known to you what excellent Vertues it hath notwithstanding that it hath not received yet its ultimate fixity and perfection If you please you may proceed so with all Minerals that have a combustible Volatile easily separable Sulphur using water to it after the first way As for example Antimony thus dealt with and corrected yeildeth a very precious Sulphur in Physick and Chirurgy but this you must be advertised of that having boyled your Antimony sufficiently with the Alcali according to your desire then let it cool and poure a great quantity of cold Water to it the more the better and the grosse Mercurial substance which by the fierynesse of the Alcali was dissolved with the rest will for the most part sever it self from the Laxivium and so let it rest for a day or two then filter it and the Antimony remaining in the filter will be very spongious and pufft up ten times bigger then it was before as to its corporeousnesse or bulk rince the