the Glass was fair and clear cleaving to the Glass Then turned I up the Glass and there appeared a thousand sparks like very crude ☿ bright and shining marvelous to sight which I pickt out as subtilly as I could and among them I found one that was black on the one side and bright as Pearl on the other side and another like the colour of the Rainbow and all the other were as bright as any thing might be so that I thought they had been crude Then put I a part of them in a strong Fire and they never blemished but ever continued white then I would have quickned them with more quick Water Regm Lullii Test. cap. 56. Aqua viva est Argentum vivum congelatum in sulphur sicutâ— menstruale quod congelatur in Substantiam Embrionis but they would never mingle neither joyn with them more together For the impediment was that these sparks were corrupted among the Ashes in the drying and fixing Then I did melt them all together and never man saw fairer Silver than that was Then I thought to prove a shorter way I took Sol and our Omogeneum sometimes 6 to 1 another 1 to 1. and 4 to 1 and 3 to 1. and within 40 days and less I have made Calces R. Lullius ex metallorum limis vel oleis factis de corporibus imperfectis in Aquam cristalinum deductis per Artem fit Aqua-Vitae Menstrum nostrum resolutivum quo terrae oleorum purificantur a macula originali Aliam Aquam nolite quaerere quia haec Aqua trahit animas a corporibus facit eas visibiliter apparere si scis hanc Aquam rectè disponere habes totum sed difficulter fit Aqua ista magno ingenio ex Luna fit Elixir cum Aqua illa ex Sole absque putrefactione non sic ex aliis corporibus nisi post pâ—trefactionem Stude ergò propter istam Aquam habendam sine qua nihil fit in hac Arte. Chap 86. Hoc Argentum vivum cum corpore â—onjunctum sunt duo spermata de quibus facimus â—asci Aquam-vivam quae est Argentum vivum â—ostrum Aqua-vitae quae corpora mortua resuscitat Argentum vivum constructum congelatum dat omnem calorem quo indigemus fiat ergo oleum de ipso cum corrosiva abhinâ— trabatur aqua quae dissolvit omnia vel cum ipso oleo misceatur oleum fermenti album vel rubrum putrefiat totum per â—alneum fac inde Elixir as red as the Ruby and in likewise white calx with Luna bright shining and as soft as Silk which Calx I have examined and proved oft times after this manner I have put the Calce of Luna into one of our vegetable Menstrues and after I have put him into a Limbeck and have distilled from the said Calce the said Menstrue and the said Calce hath been like a Sponge Spongeous and full of strange Colours and shining white marvellous to see Then have I taken this Substance and put it in a clean Vessel and stopped it fast and so have I sublimed out all the Spirit and the Body remained beneath as soft as Oyl and impalpable that no man can express the subtilness thereof Upon the which Calce I gave my whole Confidence For what learned men soever had seen this Calce would verily have known that it had been the very true and right calce after the teaching of wise Philosophers for this Body is open and subtilizate and his radical humidity saved by his Menstruum fatens And this Calce is apt to receive liquefaction and all other Operations to it naturally conserving Now I perceive verily and without doubt how they declare one thing which is true first of the putting to of the Earth and the Water together in the Philosophers Egg which is likened to the Masculine and the Feminine the which shall bring and gender betwixt them the Child of the Fire which after shall never dread the Fire for himself is the very Fire natural and retrograde to Water and Earth again and after so nourished in the Fire till he be perfect white called by his Name Magnesia Magnesia est Aqua composita congelata quae repugnat Igni postea nunquam dubitat illum in aliquo eoque ipsamet est Ignis de Natura Ignis fit in Igne crevit suum intinctum fuit ignis Reymund T. T. Cap. 63. Jo. Dastin Magnesia sanè est Aqua composita Igni repugnans congelata corpus totum redigens in cinerem Note how here in this wonderful Preparation is hid all that ever the Wisemen hadâ— in the which is the Menstruum faetens or Ignis contra Naturam it is the wonderful marvellous and secret life of the Stone as by any Practice I have seen and approved for in the beginning of the first corruption it smelâ—eth like foul Brass and after that he changâ—th from favor to favor and in Colour â—range and at the last he is fragrant and sweet smelling This I have truly proved by the very expeâ—ience in making of my foresaid Calce notwithstanding the Preparations the Philosoâ—hers have hid and nothing else which I have â—uly proved for I have continued our Mercuâ—y and Sol in firing ten Months and more â—n the which process I have seen the natuâ—â—l Acts with marvellous things incredible â—xcept to them that have seen the changing of them as in manner of other Vegetable â—hings growing by their own radical moistâ—re and heat of the Sun both in burnishing and in divers Colours springing with leaves â—â—ke an Hauthorn-tree with Flowers marvelâ—ous in sight to behold and after this ten months I wearyed and hasted with Fire above â—nd my Body did melt and rise from the Ground and ascended and the Spirit brake part out and the other part of the work was marvellous to see for part of the Sun was turned into Moon and I assure all good â—nd well disposed men but not to Asses and foolish People for I would not that they should see my Book But note the Testament of Reymond where be declareth in the 55 Chapter and sheweth of the changing of common Mercury first ere he may change the Body for he saith The common Mercury may neueâ— change the Body but himself be first changed anâ— made pure Water and as he is changed sâ— will he change the Body and Preparation â—â— never considered till now at the last labour Wherefore let never man labour nor busie himselâ— till his Mercury be turned into pure Water anâ— distilled and every Element well rectified and the Earth well calcinated and the same Earth from his original corruption well wished and that once well and truly done thaâ— the Sun and Moon joyned together with thiâ— foresaid Mercury And then beginning youâ— work and then with the volatile matter thou shalt have both Earth and Water all â—â— one thing and not of divers kinds and wheâ— I thought to be at an end there
bright permanent pure and shining of a Celestical Colour And if Water did not enter into our Medicine it could not purifie nor mend it self and so thou couldst not obtain thy desire But that which doth mend it is Sol for the Water cannot be made better without it For without Sol and his shadow a tinging Poyson cannot be generated Whoever therefore shall think that a Tincture can be made without these two Bodyes to wit Sol and Lune he proceedeth to the Practicâ— like one that is blind For Body doth not Act upon Body nor Spirit upon Spirit Neither doth Form receive an Impression from Form nor Matter from Matter when as like doth not Exercise either Action or Passion upon its like â— For one is not more worthy than an other wherefore there can be noâ— Action betwixt them when as like doth not bear Rule over like But a Body doth receive Impression from a Spirit as Matter doth from its Form and a Spirit from its Body because they are made and created by God that they mayâ— Act and suffer each from other For Matter would flow infinitely if a Form did not retard and stop its Flux Wherefore when the Body is a Form informing it doth inform and retain the Spirit that it afterwards cannot flow any more The Body therefore doth tinge the Spirit and the Spirit doth penetrate the Body whereas one Body cannot penetrate an other Body but a subtil Spiritual congealed Substance doth penetrate and give Colour to the Body And this is that Gummy and Oleaginous Stone proportioned in its Natures containing a Spiritual Nature occulâ—â—y in it self together with the Elements purifyed Therefore the Philosophers-Stone is to be wholy reduced into this Gumminess by the last Reiteration or Inceration of a certain gentle Flux resolving all the Elements that they flow like Wax But when it is the Stone it appeareth like Copper whereas notwithstanding it is a certain Spiritual Substance penetrating and colouring or tinging all Metallick Bodys From hence thou mayst easily guess that this doth not proceed from the crasâ—itude and grossness of the Earth but from a Spiritual Metallick Substance which doth penetrate and enter Wherefore it behoveth thee to resolve the Body into a subtil Metallick Spirit and afterwards to congeal and fix retain and incerate it that it may flow before â—it tinge For Gold doth Colour nothing besides it self unless first its own Spirit be extracted out of its own Belly and it be made Spiritual And know that our Mercurial Water is a living Water and a burning Fire mortifying and tearing in pieces Gold more than common Fire And therefore by how much more it is better mixed rubbed and ground with it by so much more it destroyeth it and the living fiery Water is more attenuated But now when three are made one in the Form of a congealed Substance then it hath in it a true Tincture which can endure the Violence of the Fire Therefore when the Body is so tinged it can tinge another and it hath in it self all Tincture and Virtue And from hence all they who tinge with Sol and his Shadow viz. with the Poyson that is Argent vive do perfectly compleat our Stone which we call the great and perfect Gumm And know for certain that it is not necessary that our Stone or Gumm lose its first Mercurial Nature in the Sublimation of its crude and first Spirit for the Oyl and Gumm pertaining to this Stone are nothing else then the Elements themselves Mercurialized and made equal together shut up and coagulated resoluble and living retained or bound in the viscosity of the Oyly Earth and inseparably mixed And we ought to know that that Gum or Oyl is first drawn out of the Bodys which being added it is reduced into a Spirit until the superfluous humidity of the Water be turned into Air drawing one Element out of another by digestion until the Form of Water be converted into the Nature of Oyl and so our Stone in the end getteth the Name of Gumm and Sulphur But whosoever hath brought the Stone thus far that it appear like a mixing Gumm and suffereth it self to be mixed with all imperfect Bodies he verily hath found a great Secret of Nature because that is a perfect Stone Gum and Sulphur This Stone then is compounded of a Body and Spirit or of a volatile and fixed Substance and that is therefore done because nothing in the World can be generated and brought to light without these two Substances to wit a Male and Female From whence it appeareth that although these two Substances are not of one and the same species yet one Stone doth thence arise and although they appear and are said to be two Substances yet in truth it is but one to wit Argent-vive But of this Argent vive a certain part is fixed and digested Masculine hot dry and secretly informing But the other which is the Female is Volatile crude cold and moyst and from these two Substances the whole may easily be known and the whole Stone intirely understood Wherefore if our Stone did only consist of one Substance in it there could be no Action and passion of one thing towards the other for one would neither touch nor come nigh or enter into the other As a Stone and piece of Wood have no Operation on each other since they do consist of a different matter and hence they can by no means no not in the least be mixed together and there is the same reason for all thingâ— that differ in matter Wherefore it is evident and certain that it should be necessary for the Agent and Patient to be of one and the same Genus but of a different species even as a man differeth from a Woman For although they agree in one and the same Genus yet nevertheless they have diverse Operations and Qualities even as the Matter and Form For the Matter suffereth and the Form actethâ— assimulating the Matter to it self and according to this manner the Matter naturally thirsteth after a Form as a Womaâ— desireth an Husband and a Vile thing a precious one and an impure a pure one so also Argent vive coveteth a Sulphur as that which should make perfect which is imperfect So also a Body freely desireth a Spirit whereby it may at length arrive at its perfection Therefore Learn thou the Natural Roots and those that are better with which thou oughtest to reduce thy Matter whereby thou mayst perfect thy work For this blessed Stone hath in it all things necessary to its perfection The Practick of the same Author If we well consider the Words of Morienus that great Philosopher in Alchimy who saith Mix together Water Earth Air and Fire in a due weight without doubt thou wilt obtain all the Secrets of this Divine Science And first when he saith put into the Water or putrifie the Earth in Water this signifieth nothing else then the Extraction of Water out of
Earth and the pouring of Water upon the Earth so long until the Earth putrifie and be cleansed otherwise it would not bring forth its Fruit. Secondly when he saith mix Water and Air it 's no more then if he should have said mix Water now prepared with Air dissolved or joyn and mix together dissolved Air with Water Judge ye your selves For you know that Air is warm and moyst and ye have the saying of Morienus concerning the dissolution of Air Earth Fire and Water Some when they speak of Dissolution say that the Solution of the Fire is better because whatsoever is dissolved in the Fire that floweth in the Air. And Note that the Fire of the Philosophers is nothing else then the Air dissolved and congealed This you may better comprehend from similitude and suppose that first you have Air dissolved and congealed to which add Fire The Earth ought to be first prepared and the Fire dissolved before they are mixed For the Earth together with the Fire ought to be put into a fit Vessel and after is to be introduced the inextinguishable Fire of Nature which when it descendeth upon the Earth devoureth the whole together with its Gumm and converteth it into its own Nature Wherefore if ye consider well the Sayings and Precepts of the Philosophers and understand their Mystical Sence ye shall come to all the Secrets of the Divine Chymick Art FINIS A Catalogue of certain Chimical-Books Sold by William Cooper at the Pelican in Little-Britain London ROg Bacon of the Cure of Old-Age and Preservation of Youth 1683. 8o Edward Madeira Arrais his account of the Tree of Life 1683. 8o Cardinal Cusa the Idiot of Wisdom and of the Mind Sublime Philosophy for a mental Man 1650. Dominicus de Nuysement of the true Salt and Secret of the Philosophers 1657. 8o Lazarus Erkern of the Refining of Metalls with 44 Figures 1683. Folio Fulke of the Causes of all kind of Stones Metalls Earths c. 1563. 8o Dr. Meverells Answers concerning the Compounding Incorporating Separation and Variation of Metalls and Mineralls 1679. 8o Lirenaeus Philalethes Ripley reviv'd or a Commentary upon Sr. Geo. Ripleys Works of the Philosophers-Stone 1678 Aurifontina Chimica or 14 Treatises of the Philosophers Mercury 1680. 24 s Io. Ioach Bechers Magnalia Naturae of Transmutations done at Vienna c. 1681. Ioh. Ern. Burgravius his Introduction to Astral Philosophy 1664. 8o William Bacons Key to the understanding of Van-Helmonts works 1682. 4o Io. Case his Wards to the Key of Van-Helmont against Dr. Bacon 1682. 4o Rob. Boyle his Aerial Noctiluca or the wonder of this Age. 1680. 8o his Observations upon the Icy Noctiluca 1682. 8o his Antielixir or Degradation of Gold Sr. Ken. Digbies Rare Chymical Secrets as they were presented to him in his Travels through France Spain Italy and Germany by the best Chymists of those Countrys through which he passed and published since his Death by Mr. Hartman his Steward and Operator 1682. 8o Nic. Flammells summary of the Philosoâ—â—ers-Stone 1680. 24. Chr. Glasers compleat Chymist 1677. 8o Geber the Arabian his Works in Chymistry 1678. 8o Hydropyrographum Hermeticum or the true fiery Water oâ— the Philosophers 1680. 24. Rara Avis in Terris or the compleat Miner their Laws Customs c. 1681. 12o Nic. Lemerys's Course of Chymistry 1677. 8o His Appendix to his Course of Chimistry 1680. 8o Reym Lullies's Clavicula or Key to his Works 1680. 24. A strange Letter concerning the vast Treasure of an Adept 1680. 24 s. William Maxwells's 100 Aphorisms of the Body of Natural Magick 1656. 8o The Principles of the Chymists of London 2 parts 1676. 8o A Philosophical Riddle in Verse with Aurifontina Chym. A Brief Preparation of the Philosophers Stone ibid. Paracelsus his Mystical Philosophy written to the Athenians 1657. 8o The Privy Seal of Secrets discovering the first matter of Philosophers 1680. Io. Rays's Account of the melting smelling preparing and refining of the Metalls and Mineralls in England 1674. 8o Sr. George Ripley's Treatise of Mercury 1680. Const. Rodoâ—anacis his Discourse of Antimony and its Vertues 1664. 4o An Account of the Philosophers transmuting Powder found by Winces Seilerus in the Chappel of a Monastery in Germany 1683. 4o David Persons Salamandra or Treatise of the Philosophers Stone 1636. 4o Synesius the Greek Abbot of the Philosophers Stone 1678. 8o Secrets Disclos'd of the Philosophers Stone 1680. 24. William Simpsons Philosophical Dialogues of the Principles of things 1677. 8o The Treasure of Treasures 1680. 24. A Treatise of the Blessed Manna of the Philosophers 1680. Tumba Semiramidis the Wise-men's inexhaustible Treasure 1676. 8o The Touch-stone of Gold and Silver wares by W. B. 1677. 8o A new Touchstone of Gold and Silver wares by Io. Reynolds 1679. 8o G. Kendall's Appendix teaching the way to make Mathew's Pill 1663. 8o Bernard Earl of Trevisan his Epistle to Thomas of Bononia concerning the Secret workings of Nature in the Product of things 1680. 24. William Cooper's Catalogue of Chimical Books in 3 parts 1675. 8o The end THE BOSOME-BOOK OF Sir GEORGE RIPLEY CANON OF BRIDLINGTON CONTAINING His Philosophical Accurtations in the makeing the Philosophers Mercury and Elixirs LONDON Printed for William Cooper at the Pelican in Little Britain 1683. The Bosome-Book of Sir George Ripley The whole Work of the Composition of the Philosophical Stone of the great Elixir and of the first Solution of the gross Body FIrst take 30 pound weight of Sericon or Antimony which will make 21 pound weight of Gum or near thereabouts if it be well dissolved and the Vinegar very good and dissolve each pound thereof in a Gallon of twice distilled Vinegar when cold again and as it standeth in Dissolution in a fit Glass Vessel stirr it about with a clean Stick very often every day the oftner the better and when it is well moulten to the bottom then filter over the said Liquors three several times which keep close covered and cast away the Feces for that is superfluous â—ilth which must be removed and entreth not into the Work but is called Terra damnata The making of our Gum or green Lyon Then put all these cold Liquors thus filtred into a fit Glass Vesâ—el and â—et it into Balneo Maria to evaporate in a temperate heat which done our Sericon will be coagulated into a green Gum called our green Lyon which Gum dry well yet beware thou burn not his Flowers nor destroy his greenness The Extraction of our Menstrue or blood of our green Lion Then take out the said Gum and put it into a strong Retort of Glass very well Luted and place it in your Furnace and under that at the first make sober Fire and anon you shall see a faint Water issue forth let it waste away but when you see a white Smoak or fume issue forth then put too a Receiver of Glass which must have a very large Belly and the mouth no wider then it may well receive into that
the Neck of the Retort which close well together that no fume issue forth of the Receiver Then encrease your Fire by little and little till the fume which issueth be reddish then continue the greater Fire until drops like blood come forth and no more fume will issue forth and when that leaveth bleeding let it cool or asswage the Fire by little and little and when all things are cold then take away the Receiver and close it fast suddenly that the Spirits vanish not away for this Liquor is called our blessed Liquor which Liquor keep close stopped in a Glass till hereafter Then look into the Neck of the Retort and therein you shall find a white hard Ryme as it were the Congelation of a Frosty vapour or much like sublimate which gather with diligence and keep it apart for therein are contained great Secrets which shall be shewed hereafter after the great Work is ended The Creation of our Basis. Then take out all the Feces which remaineth in the Retort and are blackish like unto Soot which Feces are called our Dragon of which feces Calcyne one pound or more at your pleasure in a fervent hot Fire in a Potters or Glass-makers Furnace or in a Furnace of vente or a Wind Furnace until it become a white Calx as white as Snow which white Calx keep well and clean by it self for it is called the Basis and Foundation of the Work and it is now called Mars and our white fixed Earth or ferrum Philosophorum The Calcination of the black Feces called our black Dragon Then take all the rest of the aforesaid black Feces or black Dragon and spread them somewhat thin upon a clean Marble or other fit Stone and put into the one side thereof a burning Coal and the Fire will glide through the Feces within half an Hour and Calcyne them into a Citrine Colour very glorious to behold The Solution of the said Feces Then dissolve those Citrine Feces in such distilled Vinegar as you did before and then filter it likewise three times as before and after make oâ— evaporate it to a Gum again and then draw out of it more of our Mensâ—ruum called now Dragonâ— Blood and â—terate this Work in all points as afore unâ—il you have either brought all or the most part of the Feces into our Natural and blessed Liquor all which Liquor put to the first Liquor or Menstrue called the Green Lyons Blood and set that Liquor then altogether in one Vessel of Glass fourteen days in Putrification and after proceed to the Separation of Elements for now have you all the Fire of the Stone in this our blessed Liquor which before lay hidden in the Feces which Secret all the Philosophers do marvellously hide The Separation of the Elements whereof the first is the Air and is also counted our ardent-Ardent-Water and our Water Attractive Then put all the said putrified Menstruum into a Still of fine Venice Glass fit for the quantity thereof put on the Limbeck and close it to the Still with a fine Linnen Cloth dipt in the White of an Egg and then set it in Balneo Mariae put to the Receiver which must be of a great length that the Spirit respire not out again and with very temperate heat separate the Elements one from another and then the Element of Air will issue forth first which is an Oyl Our Ardent Water or Water Attractive is thus made When all the first Element is distilledâ— then in another Still fit for it rectify it thaâ— is to say distil it over 7 several times and until it will burn a Linnen Cloth clean up that is dipt in it when it is put to thâ— flame which then is called our Ardent Water rectified and is also called our Water Attractive which keep very close stâ—pped for otherwise the Spirit thereof which is very subtil will vanish away By often rectifying the Ardent Water there will come Aer in a white Oyl swimming above the Water and there will remain behind a yellow Oyl which with a stronger Fire will also come over Put Sublimate beaten small upon a Plate of Iron and in the cold it will dissolve into Water and filter it then and put upon it some of the Ardent Water and it will draw to it self all the Mercury in form of a green Oyl swimming aloft which separate and put into a Retort and distil first a Water and afterward will come a green thick Oyl which is the Oyl of Mercury The Flood or Water of the Stone Then draw out the Flood or Water of the Stone by it self in another Receptory which Liquor will be somwhat white and draw â—t with a very gentle Fire of Balneo until â—here remain in the bottom of the Still a â—hick Oily substance like unto liquid Pitch keep this Water by it self in a fit Glass very close stopped Note when the Liquor cometh white you must put on another Receiver for then all that Element is come over two or three drops of this black Liquid Oyl given in Spirit of Wine cureth all Poyson taken inwardly Our Mans Blood is thus made and rectified Then put our Ardent Water upon that Matter black and liquid stir them well together and let it so stand well covered for 3 Hours then decant and filter it put on fresh Ardent Water and repeat this Operation 3 times and then distil it again with a moist lent Fire of Balneo and so do three times and then it is called Mans blood rectified which the Workers in the Secrets of Nature do so seek and so hast thou the Elements exalted in the virtue of their quintessence namely the Flood that is Water and the Air let this Blood be kept for a season The Oyl or Fire or the Earth of the Stone Then put up the Flood or Water upon the black and soft matter or Earth of the Stone let them be well mingled together and then distil the whole until there remain in the bottom an Earth most dry and black which is the Earth of the Stone save the Oyl with the Water for a season close stopt in any wise The Fiery Water Then beat this black Earth into Powder and mingle it with Mans blood and so let it stand 3 Hours after that distil it on Ashes with a good Fire and Reiterate this work 3 times and then it shall be called Water of the Fire rectified and so hast thou three of the Elements exalted into the Virtue of the quintessence namely Water Air and Fire The Earth Then Calcine the Earth black and dry in Furnace of Reverberation until it become very fine white Calx The Water of Life which is our Mercury and our Lunary Then mingle with this white Calx the â—iery Water and distil it with a strong Fire all 〈◊〉 as before and Calcine the Earth again â—hat remaineth in the bottom of the Still â—nd then distil it again with a strong Fire â—s before and again Calcine it and thus
such plenty as I could wish of those shavings or cuttings of Horn whereof those that work for Lanthorâ—s only make the greatest store I would then in respect of the infinite extention thereof commend that before any other manuring of ground whatsoever and for the only Garden-dung that I know although for arable ground I must needs confess that I have one secret not as yet made known or common to the world that would prove more general and more easie of price then any other whatsoever that I as yet have either heard or read of but for some reasons best known unto my self I do as yet forbear the discovery thereof There is also a certain victual in the form of hollow pipes or wafers wherewith as also with a deâ—ensative oyl for his armours peices and other Weaponsâ— I furnished sir Francis Drake in his last Voyage which hath been well approved and commended by sundry of his followers upon their return for England whereby I was the more encouraged to make a second trial thereof in the Bear which went lately for CHINA This food I am bold to commend in this place both because it argueth ad propositum and for that I know that if the Masters Owners or Mariners of Ships would advisedly look into it they should find it one of the most necessary and cheap provisions that they could possibly make or carry with them The particular commendation whereof resteth upon these few branches following 1 ¶ First it is very durable for I have kept the same both sweet and sound by the space of 3. years and it agreeth best with heat which is the principal destroyer of Sea victual 2 It is exceeding light For which quality Sir Francis Drâ—ke did highly esteem thereof one man may carry upon any occasion of land service so much thereof as will be sufficient to relieve two hundred men aday 3 It is speedily dressed for in one half hour it is sufficiently sodden by which property it may also save much fewel and firing which occupieth no small room in a Ship 4 It is fresh and thereby very pleasing unto the Mariner in the midst of his salt meats 5 It is cheap for in this dearth of corn I dare undertake to feed one man sufficiently for 2 pence a meal 6 It serveth both in stead of bread and meat whereby it performeth a double service 7 Not being spent it may be laid up in store for a second Voyage 8 It may be made as delicate as you please by the addition of Oyl Butter Sugar and such like 9 There is sufficient matter to be had all the year long for the composition thereof 10 And if I might once find any good incouragement therein I would not doubt but to delivâ—r the same prepared in such sort as that without any farther drâ—ssing thereof it should be both pleasing and of good nourishment unto a hungry stomach ¶ All those which are willing to victual their Ships therewith if they repair unto me I will upon reasonable warning furnish them therewith to their good contentment A speedy or present drink which Travellers may make for themselves extempore when they are distressed for want of good Beer or Ale at their Inn. TAke a quart of fair water put thereto five or six spoonfuls of good Aqua composita which is strong of the Annis-seeds and one ounce of Sugar and a branch of Rosemary brew them a pretty while out of one pot into another and then is your drink prepared Or if you leave out Sugar it will be pleasing enough I have been credibly informed that divers Gentlemen of good credit when they travel abroad and cannot like the tast or relish of their drink that they use no other then the aforesaid composition and find the same both to refresh â—nd cool them very well neither are they troubled with the rawness of cold water by reason that it hath received some correction by the Aqua composita and that the Annis-seeds do give a delicate tast unto it It were not amiss for all Seamen to carry some store of Aqua-vitae with them that when their Wine Cider Peâ—ry and Beer are spent they may transmute their water into the said drink A cheap liquor for poor men when Malt is extream dear IF a poor man in the time of flowring do gather the tops of Heath with the flowers which is usually called and known by the name of Linge in the Northerly parts of this Realm and is that plant whereof our common Heath Brushes are made and lay up sufficient store thereof for his own provision being well dried and careâ—ully kept from putrefying or molding he may at all times make a very pleasing and cheap drink for himself by boiling the same in fair water with such proportion thereof as may best content his own tast And this liquor is commended unto me by one of the most sufficient professors of Physick of our times and that upon his own and often experience for a most wholesome and medicinable drink as well for the Liver as the Spleen It may be graced with a little Licoras in the decoction if he see cause ¶ I have also heard Sir Francis Drake affirm that fair Water and Vinegar mixed in a due proportion doth make a fine cooling and refreshing drink in hot weather which he esteemed for a rare secret at the Sea And I have also known them that have made a voluntary drink thereof on the land when they have had sufficient choice of others before them How to brew good and wholsome Beer without any Hops at all SInce my profession in this Book is in some sort to Anatomize both Art and Nature without any regard of private mens profits whom it either may essentially or accidentally touch I am bold therefore without craving any leave to do good To renew or rather to confirm and ratifie an ancient opinion and practice which long since in the great dearth and scarcity of Hops many brewers of this land have been inforced to put in use for the better supportation of their weak and declining estates But because they failed in proportion without the which there can be nothing compleat or absolute they suffered a good conceit to die in the Birth And no marvel then if Wormwood notwithstanding it be a Simple so highly commended of all the ancient and new Hâ—â—bâ—rists for his great and singular effects in Physick be in a manner â—â—terly abandoned of all the Brewers in our time except a few that can make a difference between five Shillings or 5 pound charge when Hops are sold for 50. s. an hundred seeing as yet not any one of them hath so clerkly wrought upon this Simple as to cover and hide the tast thereofâ— from the well mouthed Ale-cunners of our Common-wealth which weakness of theirs because it consisteth wholly in the want of a due proportion between the Malt and other beercorn in respect of Wormwood I have thought good to set down
Collectanea Chymica A COLLECTION Of Ten Several Treatises IN CHYMISTRY CONCERNING The Liquor Alkahest the Mercury of Philosophers and other Curiosities worthy the Perusal Written by Eir. Philaletha Anonymus Ioh. Bapt. Van-Helmont Dr. Fr. Antonie Bernhard Earl of Trevisan Sir Geo. Ripley Rog. Bacon Geo. Starkey Sir Hugh Platt and the Tomb of Semiramis see more in the Contents LONDON Printed for William Cooper at the Pelican in Little Britain 1684. Ad Lectorem Reader WE seek no Mecaenas to flatter with a Dedication nor crave we any shâ—lter from great Personages for we know that our Philosophy is the Worlds Contempt and its Professors their scorn and derision therefore we neither crave their Pardon nor fear their Frowns but shall assert this truth only that Arts have no Enemies but such as are Ignorant thereof for which reason we fear no Jack-straws Insurrection though levelled against our learning for true Wisdom is justified of her Children and to them only we give this account of the occasion of printing this Collection of these small Chymical Treatises which was next to the usefulness of them for their Preservation being by several Ingenious Chymists conceived to be well worth the perusal and too good to be lost for the smallest Treatises on this Subject are not always of the least worth or esteem for Truth needs no large Mattleings to set her forth And for that small Treatise of the Alkahest it was bestowed upon and sent unto me by a Generous Stranger who was pleased to take notice of my care in the preserving the Porta Prima at the end of Ripley Reviv'd as likewise of that general Invitation in the aforesaid Book page 390 which iâ— any other Gentlemen shall be pleased to Imitate I hope in time we shall obtain all the lost pieces of the Works of that Famous Modern English Adept so much thirsted after which will be very acceptable Service to all Philosophers and not the least kindness unto Your Servant W. C. B. THE CONTENTS 1. EIrenaeus Philaletha his Arcanum or Secret of the immortal Liquor Alkahest called Ignis-Aqua in English and Latin Page 5. 2. Anonymus's Practice of Lights or an Excellent and Ancient Treatise of the Philosophers-stone p. 27. 3. Joh. Bapt. Van. Helmonts Praecipiolum or the Immature Mineral Electrum the first Metal which is the Minera of Mercury p. 47. 4. Fr. Antonie M. D. his Aurum-Potabile or his Receit shewing his Way and Method how he made and prepared that most excellent Medicine for the Body of Man p. 73. 5. Bernhard Earl of Trevisan his Treatise of the Philosophers-Stone p. 83. 6. Sir Geo. Ripley's Bosome-book containing his Philosophical Accurtations in the making the Philosophers Mercury and Elixirs p. 101. 7. Roger Bacon's Speculum Alchymiae or the true Glass of Alchemy p. 125. 8. Geo. Starkeys Admirable Efficacy and almost incredible Virtue of true Oyl which is made of Sulphur-vive per Campanam p. 139. 9. Sir Hugh Platts's New and Artificial Remedies against Famine written upon the occasion of the great Dearth in the Year 1596. p. 155. 10. Tumba Semiramidis the Tomb of Semiramis Hermetically Sealed which if a Wise Man open he shall find inexhaustible Riches and the Treasures of Kings to his content By. H. V. D. THE SECRET OF THE IMMORTAL LIQUOR CALLED ALKAHEST OR IGNIS-AQUA By EIRENAEUS PHILALETHES Communicated to his Friend a Son of Art and now a Philosopher By Question and Answer LONDON Printed for William Cooper at the Pelican in Little Britain 1683. THE SECRET OF THE LIQUOR Alkahest Quaest. 1 WHAT is the Alkahest Answ. 2 It is a Catholick and Universal Menstruum and in a Word may be called Ignis-Aqua a Fiery-Water an uncompounded and immortal ens which is penetrative resolving all things unto their first Liquid Matter nor can any thing resist its Power for it acteth without any reaction from the Patient nor doth it suffer from any thing but its Equal by which it is brought into Subjection but after it hath dissolved all other things it remaineth intire in its former Nature and is of the same Virtue after a thousand Operations as at the first 3. Q. Of what Substance is it 4. A. It is a noble circulated Salt prepared with wonderful Art till it Answers the Desires of an Ingenious Artist yet is it not any Corporal Salt made Liquid by a bare Solution but is a saline Spirit which Heat cannot Coagulate by Evaporation of the moistureâ— but is of a Spiritual uniforme Substance volatile with a gentle heat leaving nothing behind it yet is not this Spirit either Acid or Alkali but Salt 5. Q. Which is its Equal 6. A. If you know the one you may without difficulty know the other Seek therefore for the Gods have made Arts the reward of Industry 7. Q. What is the next matter of the Alkahest 8. A. I have told you that it is a Salt the Fire surrounded the Salt and the Water swallowed up the Fire yet overcame it not so is made the Philosophers Fire of which they speak The Vulgar burn with Fire we with Water 9. Q. Which is the most noble Salâ— 10. A. If you Desire to learn this descend into your self for you carry it about with you as well the Salt as its Vulcan if you are able to discern it 11. Q. Which is it tell me I pray you 12. A. Mans Blood out of the Body oâ— Mans Urine for the Urine is an Excrement separated for the greatest part from the Bloodâ— Each of these give both a volatile and fixed Salt if you know how to collect and prepare it you will have a most precious Balsom of Life 13. Q. Is the property of Humâ—ne Urine more noble than the Urine of any Beast 14. A. By many degrees for tho' it be an Excrement only yet its Salt hath not its like in the whole Universal Nature 15. Q. Which be its parts 16. A. A volatile and more fixed yet according to the variety of ordering it these may be variously altered 17. Q. Are there any things in Urine which are different from its inmost specifick urinaceous Nature 18. A. There are viz. A Waâ—ery Phlegm and Sea Salt which we take in with our Meat and remains intire and undigested in the Urine and by Separation may be divided from it which if there be no sufficient use of it in the Meat after a convenient time ceaseth 19. Q. Whence is that Phlegm or insipid watery humidity 20. A. It is chiefly from our several Drinks and yet every thing hath its own Phlegm 21. Q. Explain your self more clearly 22. A. You must know that the Urinâ— partly by the separative Virtue is conveye with what we drink to the Bladder partlâ— consists of a watery Teffas an excrementitioâ— humor of the Blood whence being sepaâ—rated by the odour of the urinaceous â—ermenâ— it penetrates most deeply the saltness beinâ— unchanged unless that the saltness of thâ— Blood and Urine be both the same so thaâ— whatsoever is contained
abouts distilled from fresh Urine are to be rejected thâ— tenth part as much as can be extracted iâ— form of Liquor is to be kept from thaâ— dried Urine which remains in the bottoâ— by a gentle Fire which will not cause sublâ—â—mation let the Salt be extracted with Wâ—â—ter so that there be as much Water as haâ— that Urine whence this Feces was dryed whatsoever is imbibed by the Water let it 〈◊〉 powred off by decanting let it be strained 〈◊〉 purged per deliquium then filtre it throughâ— Glass Let fresh Water be powred on anâ— reiterate this Work till the Salt become puâ—â— then joyn this vastly stinking Salt with youâ— last Spirit and cohobate it Praised be the Name of the Lord Amen ARCANUM LIQUORIS IMMORTALIS IGNIS-AQUAE SEU ALKAHEST Ab EIRENAEO PHILALETHA Amico suo Filio ARTIS jam PHILOSOPHO Per Interrogationes ac Responsiones communicatum LONDINI Sumptibus Gulielmi Cooper ad Insigne Pelicani in Vico vulgò dicto Little Britain 1683. ARCANUM LIQUORIS Alkahest Quaest. 1. QUID est Alkahest Resp. 2. Est Universale Menstruum Catholicum uunius verbi Ignis-aqua ens â—implex immortale penetrans cuncta resolvens in primam nempe Liquidam suam Maâ—eriam ejus Virtuti nil resistere valeat agitque absque Reactione patientis nec ab ulâ—a re patitur nisi a solo suo Compari a quo â—ub Jugum trahitur alias autem res quasvis postquam dissolvit integer in sua pristina Natura manet tanâ—úmque â—valet millesima Actione tanquam Prima 3. Q. Cujusnam est Substantiae 4. R. Sal Circulatus est nobilis mira Arte praeparatus usquedum voto respondeat sagacis Artificis neutiquam tamen sal corporalis est nuda Recollatione liquidus at salinus Spiritus qui calore non coagulatur evaporatione humidi sed uniformis est Substantiae spiritualis levi calore volatilis nec quicquam post se relinquens non tamen acidus est Spiritus aut Alkalizatus sed salsus 5. Q. Compar ejus quis est 6. R. Si Par novisti Compar haud difficulter noveris quaere nam vendidêre Dii sudoribus Artes. 7. Q. Ex qua materia proximè fit Alkahest 8. R. Salem esse dixi Salem circumdedit Ignis Ignem absorpsit Aqua nec tamen ei praevalet sic factus est Ignis Philosophicus de quo dicitur Vulgus cremat per Ignem nos per Aquam 9. Q. Sal maximè nobilis quinam 10. R. Hoc si cupis discere descende in teipsum nam tecum circumgeritur tam Sal quam ejus Vulcanus si valeas discernere 11. Q. Quis est dic sodes 12. R. Sanguis Humanus extra Corpus â—â—ve Lotium Humanum est enim Lotium exrementum ex parte maxima à cruore decisum â—trumque dat salem tam volatilem quà m fixâ—m si nôris colligere praeparare praestò tiâ—i erit Balsamum salutis pretiosissimum 13. Q. Esâ—ne proprietas Urinae Humanae major nobilis Urina quorum vis jumentorum 14. R. Multis gradibus etiam licèt Excrementum Sal tamen ejus non habet sibi simiâ—e in tota universa Natura 15. Q. Quae sunt ejus partes 16 R. Volatilis fixior pro varietate tamen tractationis alterantur hae mulâ—ifarià m 17. Q. Suntne aliqua in Urina ab intima ejus Natura Urinacea specifica aliena 18. R. Sunt Phlegma aqueum videlicet Sal marinus in cibis intrò sumptus ac sospes indigestusque in Urina habitans ab eademque per Secretionem divisibilis qui si nullus sit usus satis in cibis per tempus idoneum cessat 19. Q. Phlegma sive Aquea humiditas insulsa unde 20. R. Sunt potus ex parte maxima tamen quaeque habet suum phlegma 21. Q. Explica te planiùs 22. R. Scito Urinam partim per Virtutem ecreticem unà cum haustis ad vesicam transmitti partim ex Teffas humore excrementitio sanguinis aqueo constare unde deâ—isum per fermenti urinacei odorem permeâ—t intimè immutata salsedine nisi quod salsum Sanguineum sit salsum Urinaceum sic quod praeter salem in Urina quicquid contineâ—ur Phlegma est inutile 23. Q. Quomodo patet in lotio Phlegma copiosum contineri 24. R. Hinc puta primò quidem ex Gustu deinde ex Pondere tertiò ex Virtute 25. Q. Esto tibi Mercurius 26. R. Sal Urinae totum essentiale proprium lotio continet cujus odor est peracutus gustus pro tractationis varietate varius ut videlicet nonnunquam quandoque salsus salsedine Urinacea 27. Q. Quid de pondere observasti 28. R. Hoc nimirum quòd Urinae tres duplo plus unciae ab homine sano collectae mediocriter Aquae fontanae circiter Grana 80 praeponderare unde destillatum esse Liquorem eque ponderantem praedictae Aquae vidi unâ—e constat relictum fere fuisse salem 29. Q. Quid de Virtute observasti 30. R. Congelatio Urinae a frigore indicio possit esse quòd Phlegma insit non etenim saâ—i Urinae pauco Liquore etiam aqueo madefacto competit congelatio gelida 31. Q. At hujusmodi Phlegma ut ut exquisitissimè Destillatione separetur sapit Urinam idque tam Naribus quam Lingua judicatum 32. R. Fateor quidem gustu tamen paâ—ùm deprehenditur neutro quoque modo plus quam in Aqua pura a sale Lotii cohobata perciperetur 33. Q. Quid docet Pyrotechnia circa urinam 34. R. Hoc viz. Salem Urinae volatilem reddere 35. Q. Quid tum relinquitur 36. R. Faex terrea nigricans faetulenta 37. Q. Spiritus an totus uniformis 38. R. Sic quoad visum odorem pariter gustum tum diversificatum inter se qualitatibus planè contrariis 39. Q. Quibus 40. R. Ab una coagulatur Virtute propria â—nhabitante ab altera dissolvitur puta Dueâ—ech 41. Q. Quid praeterea 42. R. In coagulatione Lotii sui Spiritus vini deprehenditur 43. Q. Estne talis Spiritus in Lotio 44. R. Est sanè reverà inhabitans quamvis Urinam etiam hominis sanissimi qui Arte praeparari valet 45. Q. Cujusnam est hic Spiritus efficaciae 46. R. Dolendae sanè humano generi commiserandae 47. Q. Quare 48. R. Hinc Duelech hostis atrocissimus suum habet ortum 49. Q. Dabisne exemplum hujus rei 50. R. Dabo Sumatur Lotium in eoque dissolvetur idonea Salis-Petrae quantitas stet per mensem postea destilletur exibit primò Spiritus ardens supra Linguam ac si esset carbo readfundatur Spiritus cohobetur quater vel quinquies non abstrahendo quavis vice ultra partem dimidiam sic fiet Spiritus acutissimus nil tamen acescens ardor qui in prima Liquoris destillatione egreditur postea sensim mitescit tandemque ferè si non omnino silet mitisque secundus Spiritus â—prehenditur tam ad odorem quà m ad guâ—m
in Mercury of white matter and of white Substance cometh that Mercury For so he is of a pure subtil Earth Sulphur most clear and most subtil commixed with pure Water and with Commixtion and heat these two Elements digesteth with Temperance of heat and so turneth into Mercury the Sperm of Metals therefore Water and Earth is the first matter of Mercury and Mercury is the first matter of all Mettals and when they be put into that Water they all melt and dissolve in him as the Ice doth in warm Water and why do they so because they were first Water coupled by cold and now here is Aristotles's Principle assoyled And although there were two things first yet nevertheless when they be resolved into clear currant Mercury and no palpable thing of the Body seen nor felt but passeth through the Philter clean as Water then is it but one thing upon the which all Philosophers accord and ground them est una Sola res And here now I have shewed you more plainly then it hath been shewed here before And I say to thee for truth this is the very true Key of this Science for Merlin and many others write here of divers ways as in the verse of Merlin dissipare leviter extracta c. and Albertus in the fifth Book de mineralibus de semine Metallorum where he upon a little Gloss teacheth Solution as there ye may see But of all special Books that ever I could read or see Stella Complexionis is the Father of Truth and Doctrine shewing the clear light and the right way of the Preparation of this precious Treasure and he expoundeth all the Figures of the Philosophers openly where I doubt not but God hath his Soul in everlasting â—iss For by the space of thirty years I ever â—udied and busied my self upon the Mystery â—arables Figures and Sayings of old Phiâ—osoâ—hers in the which I was marvellous blinded â—nd overseen and specially by one book which is called the 12 Chapters or 12 Gates â—n Metre in English which was made by a sufâ—â—cient Clerk and well learned but I warn â—very man to beware of him for by him ye â—hall never know the privity but rather he â—eadeth you out of the way for he sayeth it is â—ne Vessel one thing one furnace and no â—ore True it is that it is but one thing as I have before opened and shewed It is one â—orm of a Vessel as Stella Complexionis declareth And I say to you this one thing in the which all â—he Wise Philosophers have grounded themselves on it is after the full putrefying and utter rotting of the Elements then to be separate and every one of them well rectifyed and then reduced again to the Body by Nature in marvellous Sulphur elect And here I Counsel thee to Practise truly and to remember and consider the saying of the great Philosopher Constantius Affricanus in the Book of Elements where heâ— sheweth that man is made by ingression of contrary things which is to be â—â—â—derstood of the four Elements and after this Body reverted to him simple then all his humour is turned into Water the Spirit into Air the heat into Fire and the Bones and Flesh into Earth now mayest thou heaâ— and know by visible Experience and in likewise with our Water one thing by rotting is turned again into his simple Elements and moisture then separate them and the first shall ascend as a Smoak and turn into Air as Water keep that Treasure and then thou shalt distil after that an Air more intentive and thicker and one drop of this will swim and go above Water if thou mix it with Water and in this Air is Fire aud beneath in the bottom of your Cucurbit is your Earth as a dead Body corrupt and infect Note well here be the four Elements reverted into their Simple as before is said by the Authority of Constantius And I assure you that this is as true as ever God made Gold and Silver and all things else and Heaven and Earth and the Sea therefore believe me if thou wilt or chuse thee to thy own folly and leave off true Doctrine of the Philosophers and wander forth in the World as Mist in the Wind and so thou shalt never come to thy purpose but thou must first make the Bodyes water after digest them not burning nor destroying their radical moisture which is the life of Tincture of this precious Treasure and utterly rot them and after divide the Elements and well rectifie thy Earth by due Calcination and with washing of his own Water till it be pure clear bright and white shining and then sublime up all the quintessence again then thou hast the wonderful Earth called Terra foliata Sulphur Elect of the Philosophers more noble more precious then Gold or Silver if â—hou wilt work it up as thou mayest at thy pleasure by continuance of Reiteration and Sublimation then he will become clear as Heaven Christaline shining bright as thou mayest see in the Rosary of the Secrets of all Philosophers in the last work Therefore may you see and understand when your Tincture is perfect which is in the fourth Governance plainly in writing and also mark other Authors of this secret Science for when he is perfect fixt and stable and will not fume then he will run through a Plate of Copper and make it perfect Silver or perfect Gold better then ever was produced out of the Mine by Nature and also the very truth of this Secret is more woâ—th and richer then man can devise for of his own sperm or seed he shall evermore encrease and multiply to the Worlds end for as fire elemental burneth all and overcometh all things and nothing can overcome him even so this Magnesia the Child of Fire shall never be blemished nor vaâ—quished by the Fire but ever standing and abiding bright shining clear so that almost man cannot express the brightness which is incredible to any man except to them that have seen it with their Eyes And thou that art a finder of this Book I charge thee as thou wilt answer to God that thou never shew this but to a vertuous and wise discreet and well disposed man which is ever glad to help the Poor and needy People for with this glorious Science ye may procure many glorious Gifts of the blessed Trinity both in Riches and Soul which shall never fail you everlastingly Da gloriam Deo Amen Magnalium Dei FINIS RAECIPIOLVM OR THE Immature-Mineral-Electrum THE FIRST METALL Which is the MINERA OF MERCVRY By Ioh. Bapt. Van-Helmont LONDON Printed for William Cooper at the Pelican in Little Britain 1683. Electum Minerale Immaturum id est Metallus primus est Minera Mercurii TAKE of the best Argentum vivum which you shall Distil from its own Minera that is of the best Hungarian Minera which shall hold abundance of Argentum vivum one pound will hold twelve thirteen or fourteen ounces of
Salt which is the Salt of the Praecipiolum and the Claviâ— of the Philosophers wherewith they do unlock the Lock of the Praecipioli and bringeth the same to his first matter If you know not this Salt you know nothing of the true Chymistry This Salt doth decrease in the decrease of the Moon and increaseth at the full-Moon and one Grain will Purge very softly all Podagrous Venemous and Hydropical Humors with two Grains of your Praecipioli prepared How to bring the Praecipiolum into his first or slippery matter Take your Salt and twice as much of your Praecipolum when it is made dry first dissolve your Salt in fair warm Water and power it upon the Praecipiolum and evaporate it away very gently in warm Ashes with a gentle Fire then take your Praecipiolum with its one Salt and put it into a little Retort nip the Neck of the Retort very close or melt it together or Seal it with Hermes Seal then put it into Balneum vaperojum and let it stand six Weeks in digestion or to putâ—ifie and it will turn to a slimy Water then take your Retort and open the Neck then lay your Retort in a Sand Furnace and cover your Retort with an Earthen Pan and lay a Receiver well luted and first give a slow Fire then a stronger and this continue till your Spirits be well resolved into Water first your Spirit will come in form of a white Cloud and at last in the form of red Clouâ—s or red Smoak and give Fire so long till all your Spirits be come over into clear white Water and when you have this sign take your Receiver from the Retort anâ— stop the Receiver very well with Wax that no Spirit may fly away Then let your Fire go out then take the matter which remaineth in the Retort out of the Retort and put the same into a Bolthead and stop it well and set it in a warm place then take your Spirits which are in the Receiver and rectifie them once and keep those Spirits very carefully Observe this you may remember when the Praecipiolon hath lost its Mercury that the same Mercury will be so bright as a Venus Lookinglass take the same bright Mercury and dissolve him in your before-mentioned Spirit as now followeth Take one part of your bright Mercury and put it into a Bolthead and power upon it two parts of your Spirit of Mercury and stop it very close and let it stand in a little warmth and the Mercury will dissolve or melt in your Spirit and then distil it together through a Retort in Sand and again take one part of your bright Mercury and put it into a Bolthead and power upon it two parts of your Spirit and set it in a warm place and the Mercury will melt in the Spiritâ— then distil again through a Retort in Sand and it will come over in the form of Water this continue as long until the half part of your bright Mercury is brought to a clear Water when yoâ— have this clear Water keep it very close stopped with Wax and take your Powder which I gave you to keep in a Bolt-head and place it very deep in a Sand Copel and give it a very strong Fire for twenty and four Hours then let the Fire go out of the said Copel and stir the Powder with a Wooden-stick and power upon it the half part of your clean Mercurial Water and stop the Glass or melt the Glass-mouth together then shake it and let it stand in a warm place for three or four days in digestion powr off this into another Glass and powr upon the remainder of the Powder another half of the Water and stop or melt the mouth of the Glass again and let it stand again for three or four days in a warm place in digestion then powr it out to the former Water and stop the Glass or melt the mouth of the Glass very close that no Spirit may fly out or fly away and let it stand in your Balneo Vaporoso eight days and then distil it through a Retort and if any stuff shall remain in the Retort which will be very little powr upon it your Spirit again and distil it over until all is gone over Now is the Salt with his own Spirit mixt together and brought into the first matter keep it very well stopped This is the Water that the Philosophers have given divers yea above a hundred Names unto it as their Horse-dung their Balneum Mariae their Calx Vive and in short this is the Philosophers true Fire without this Fire or Water no man can do any true Work in Chimistry The Philosophers having brought forth this Salamander which Salamander will never waste in the Fire the longer the stronger This Water will increase or multiply per Infinitum that is to say if all the Sea should be Mercury it will turn the same into the 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 calcined Tartar and distil it in a Retort in a Sand Furnace and lay to it a Receiver filled almost halfâ—full with Water and when your Mercury is dry then squeeze him eight or ten times through Leather and then is your Mercury well purged from his uncleanness This is the Mercury you shall use in multiplying your Spirit â—r Astrum Mercurii Take of this Mercury purged one part and of your Spirit or Astrum Mercurii two parts put them together mixt into a Bolt-head stop well the Bolt-head and let it stand in a warm place one Night and your Mercury will melt in your Spirit or Astrum Mercurii and turn it into Water and then distil it through a Retort and thus you may do by repeating your Water with fresh Mercury as long as you please This Water will bring or dissolve all Stones and Gold and Silver into their first matter Item it will bring Gold and Silver over with him through a Retort and that Gold and Silver will never be separated one from the other The reason is Gold and Silver and all metals be of the same Nature and have beginning from the same Water there is nothing in the World but hath its beginning from it The Vniversal Medicine Take of fine Gold that is made fine Powder that is to say take the same Gold which did remain when you made your Praecipiolum one part of your finest Silver made to fine Powder two parts put every metal by it self into a Glass power upon each your Astrum Mercurii that it may go over it one finger breadth and stop each Glass very close and let it stand in a warm place for eight days together and your Gold and Silver will be almost dissolved into Water then powr off the Water every one by it self in a Glass and power more Water to the Gold and Silver which did remain and let it
â—istil and Calcine 7 times until all the Subâ—â—ance of the Calx be lifted up by the Limbeck â—nd then hast thou the Water of Life rectiâ—ied and made indeed Spiritual and so hast â—hou the 4 Elements exalted in the Virtue of their quintessence This Water will disâ—olve all Bodies and putrify them and Purge â—hem and this is our Mercury and our Lunaâ—y and whosoever thinketh that there is any other Water then this is Ignorant and a â—ool and shall never be able to come to the â—ffect A grand secret or Accurtation of Sr. Georgâ— Ripley for the help of those which have made the Philosophers Mercury and whose Poverty disables them to proceed to either the Red or White Elixir Take the Cerus or Cream of the fineâ—â— and purest Cornish Tinn moulten reduce 〈◊〉 into fine white Calx put it into a fit Glasâ— Still and thereupon pour a convenient quantity of our Mercury when it is our Lunaâ—ry perfect then distil that Mercury from the Calx again and inbibe it therewith again and again distil and reiterate this work until the Calx is become subtil anâ— Oyly yea and so subtil indeed that it wilâ— How upon a Plate of Copper Fiery hot 〈◊〉 Wax and not evaporate which then wilâ— convert Copper into fine Silver for the softness and neshness of the Tinn is taken away by the benefit of our Mercury confixed unto it by Virtue of which it is made indurate anâ— clean that it may agree with hardâ— Bodies in fusion and in Malleation even as pure Silver This work is very gainful and easie to be dealt withal use it therefore until thou be Rich and then I pray thee for our Lords sake go to the great work which â—s hear truly set forth unto thee according as â—y Practice I have wrought and proved the â—ame For the which thank God The Oyl which is the Element of Fire and our red Mercury The Flood with the Oyl afore reserved â—hall be distilled with a most lent Fire of â—alneo and the red Oyl which remaineth in â—he bottom shall be diligently kept by it self â—or it is the Element of Fire and the Water â—hall be rectified again and the same work â—terated until no more of our said red Lunaâ—y will remain in it The work of Putrification When all your Elements be thus separated then take the white Calcined Feces first of all reserved called Mars and put so much thereof into a Chymia as will scarcely fill half the Glass and thereupon pour so much of our Ardent Water rectified as may but well cover the Calx which done incontinent stop close the Glass with a Blind-head and set it into a cold place until the Calx have drank up all the Liquor which it will do in 8 days then imbibe it again with the like quantity of the same Water and let it stand eight days more and so Reiterate the work from 8 days to 8 days untill the same Calx will drink no more but stand Liquid still then Seal up the Glass with Hermes seal and set it in Balneo Mariae in a temperate heat to Putrifaction The digestion of the white Stone Then in that temperate Balneo let your Glass stand unremoved by the space of fullyâ— 150 days and until the Stone within the Glass become first Russet and after whitish green and after that very white like unto the Eyes of Fishes which then is Sulphur of Nature flowing and not evaporating in Fire and our white Stone ready to be firmented Another Secret Accurtation of Sr. George Ripley Take the above said Sulphur of Nature and project a quantity upon a Plate of Glass fiery hot and the Glass shall be converted into a Silver Colour and that Colour shall not be removed by any Art The digestion of the Red Stone Then take out the white Stone and divide it in to two and know the true weight of each half the one half reserve to the white work the other half put into the Glass and seal it up again with Hermes Seal and then remove the Glass into a Cinerition which is somewhat a hotter Fire and let it stand there likewise unremoved in that digestion until it become Red and of a Purple Colour so have you the red Stone also ready to be fermented The Preparation of the Ferment to the white-Stone Then take Silver well purged from all Metalls and other filth that may be joyned with it and dissolve it in as much of our Lunary which is our Mercury as the quantity of your Silver is and in no greater quantity as near as you may and set it upon warm Ashes close covered and when it is throughly dissolved the whole Liquor will be green then rectifie our Mercury clean from it again twice or thrice so that no drop of our Mercury be rest with it then seal up the Oyl of Luna in a Chemia and set it in Balneo to putrifie until it shew all Colours and at the last come to be Christaline white which then is the white Ferment of Ferments The Fermentation of the white-Stone Then put that half of the white Stone before reserved for the white-Work into a fit Glass and know his weight and put so much of the foresaid Lune Ferment into the Glass with the Stone as may contain the 4 th part of the said Stone and in the said Glass well luted fix them together in a fixatory Vessel under the Fire which will be well done in 2 or 3 days The Inceration of the White-stone When they are thus fixed together and become one very fine Powder incerate that is to say imbibe it with the white Oyl of our Stone which is our Lunary by pouring on as it were drop after drop until the Stone be Oylish then congeal it and again imbibe it and in this manner iterate this work until this Stone will flow in Fire like Wax when it is put upon a Plate of Copper Fiery hot and not evaporate and congeal it up until it be hard white and transparent clear â—s Chrystal then it is the Medicine of the â—hird degree and the perfect white Stone â—ransmuting all Metaline Bodies and chieâ—â—y Copper and Iron into pure and perfect Silver The Preparation of the Red-ferment Then likewise take Gold very purely first â—urged from all other Metals that may be joyâ—ed with it with ten parts of Antimony and â—hen dissolve it in our Mercury or Liquor Soâ—â—tive as before you did the Lune and when 〈◊〉 is perfectly dissolved the Liquor will be Citrine then in like manner rectifie from 〈◊〉 again our Mercury or Liquor Solutive and then Seal up the Oyl of Gold Ferment in a Chemia fit for it and set it in Balneo to Puâ—â—ifie which likewise will become black and must stand still unremoved in digestion until it become white which then remove into a stronger Fire without opening the Glass and then keep it until it change Colours and become Citrine which then is also
Smoke or with Milk well boiled together doth fill the Stomack more then thrice so much of dry bread eaten alone especially if the same be high boiled to a stiâ—neâ—s or consistency 11 Such like compositions do also extend farther in the satisfying of hungry Maws being made of Biskets or dry hard or stale grated bread And by this means one loaf will go as far as two new loaves 12 All sorts of good Cakebread or Spice-bread steeped a convenient time in fair water will convert the water into a most pleasant or wholsome drink the Bread notwithstanding being very wholsom to be eaten 13 Pound your Pepper Ginger and such like Spices and having steeped them in water place the same well covered over a gentle fire and then work your paste with the imbibition or decoction thereof And by this means your spice will extend much farther in Cakebread And the same spice also being new pounded or beaten may be afterward wrought up in Paste for cakebread Here you may practise upon these Plants which be hot and wholsome withal As the wild Cresses otherwise called Pepperwort Galingale Thime Orrace Isop Wintersavery Penniroyal and such like Herbs instead of Spices 14 Some of these Artificial kinds of bread and drink if there be any left that may be well spared will serve for the feeding and fatning of Cattel Geese Hens Hogs c. 15 The smell or sent of Bread I think he meaneth that which is new and hot from the Oven doth nourish the body and refresh the Spirits greatly Some commeâ—d the Spirits of bread extracted by distillation as a most soveraign preservative in the Consumption and other pining Diseases 16 If any of these Artificial foods or drinks do happen to offend either in colour tast or savour they may be helped with Honey Sugar Saffron Wine Annis-seeds Coâ—iander seeds sweet Fennel Cinnamon and such like 17 In the time of necessity even green corn taken as it groweth of it self or a little parched or dryed against the Fire or steeped or boiled in Wine or water affordeth a reasonable kind of sustenance 18 The distilled water of Oats doth so warm the Stomach as it doth overcome the sences It is well known that many do Brew a very strong and mighty drink with malted Oates and how profitable the same might be to all our English Brewers if there mâ—ght be sufficient store of them had in a dearth of Wheat and Barley the same being rightly matched or rather mastered a little with the Hop to alter their tast They can best tell that have made theiâ— private experience and profit of them when others very inconsiderately have run on in their common and chargeable course of brewingâ— 19 The Liquor of the Birch tree is both wholesome and savory and deserveth to be recommended in his kind 20 There may be an excellent extraction made of Ale which you may term either a Spirit or a quintessence and that in a small dose far more excellent then all the tartareous sulphureous or mercurial preparations If the Author do here mean any Philosophical course it will be both too curious and costly for the common sort of pâ—ople If only a well recâ—ified Aquavitae or an evaporation of the Phlegmatick part to a thick body I cannot see how we shall raise any store or quantity of mâ—tter to furnish the Subject which we have in hand If he mean physically we will reserve the strict examinatiâ—n thereof till a fitter Occasion be offered 21 The meal of such corn as is ground in the month of August is remembred amongst the Writers of best credit to keep and last best all the year after 22 Such bread as is made up of the Flower of dry Beans is most strong in nourishment and may be corrected of his tast by the addition of Cumminseed And it is also a usual matter in Germany to make drink of Beansâ— Our English Brewers do also find good use of them amongst other Corn in a small proportion wherein they have a special care not to surcharge the rest of their Beer Corn with too great a quantity of Beansâ— lest they should give a bad smack or farewel to their Beer But I am verily perswadâ—d that if either Beans or Pease were artificially handâ—ed according to the manner before expressed that they would not only prove serviceable and that in a large manner for Beer only but also for the making of wholesom sweâ—t and delicate bread 23 Of Vetches first hulled and of the Herb Aphace which receiveth divers Translations and is called Dandelion Priests crown Swines snout Monks head Dogs teeth or common Cicory may be made a bread so as it be mixed with a convenient proportion of other usual meal for it yieldeth a very â—air and savoury Flower as the Author testifieth of his own experience The same may be corrected with Annis-seed Fennel seed Coriander seed c. 24 Both Bread and Drink may also be made of Lentils 25 Bread may be made of Pannick as also of Millet whose seed even in a small quantity doth arise greatly both in Bulk and substance 26 A solid and wholsome Bread may be made of wheat starch But such bread by reason of his price will have no fit place here-except every private man do make his own provision 27 A decoction of Annis seed Fennel seed Caraway seed and such like either in Wine or Water is a most wholesom drink Hereunto may be added a decoction also of Licoras with Annis-seeds together in fair Water in a due proportion 28 Of Beechmast Acorns and the Barks or raping of Trees that are wholsome a convenient drink may be had 29 Mushrooms will spring abundantly if you â—â—it the Barks of the black and white Poplar and bury them in Furrows well dunged So likewise the white Poplar being cut off close by the ground and watered with warm water well seasoned with Leaven in four days space will bring forth most pleasant and delicate Mushrooms These being dressed in their kinds are accompted amongst the most lusty and stirring meats with the Italians 30 A good bread may be made of the Rape or Navew being first scorched and after sodden and then baked 31 A bread may be made of the powdred or ground leaves of the Pear Tree Apple tree Beech and Oak and so likewise of drink 32 Dow may be kneaded up with Wine Vinegar or Ale if you would make the same hot and hearty But I think the new Must of Wine or the best Wort of Ale or Beer much better for that we may well doubt or rather assure our selves that the whole spirit of Wine or Ale will fly away in the baking because the same had first wrought it self into a body whereas in Wort that never came to Workmanship the fire or spirit doth as yet lie close and couched within it 33 A drunken bread may be made with spirit of Wine and Flower But I think that common Aqua-composita would proâ—e over chargeable
Mercury and the Mercury of Metals which many have sought but few have found Ioachimus Poleman of the Mystery of the Philosophers Sulphur by help of his duplicated and satiated Corrosive divides a Metal into the least Atomes and dilacerates it to be delivered to the â—â—ry Menstruum dissolving it to a tinging Soul It is calcined by us another and better way which Calcination we rather call the first solution and it is done by pouring the Wine of Life to the Calxes of Sol or Luna aforesaid put into a Phial which is our Menstruum of which hereafter in Chap. 6. to the heighth of a fingers breadth and putting to an Head or Alembick they must be digested in Ashes or also in Sand and coagulated being coagulated you must pour on new Menstruum as before and coagulate and that three or four times or till the metallick Calx melt at the â—â—re like Wax or Ice which is a sign of sufficient Philosophical calcination and this is done with the preservation of the Metal in its primitive vertue and this is that which Aristotle saith in the Rosary joyn your Son Gabricius deareâ— to you then all your Children with his Sister Beja who is a tender sweet and splendid Virgin CHAP. IV. Of the second and true Philosophical Solution of Bodies and their reduction into Mercury HAving performed Calcination or thâ— first Solution whereof we have spokeâ— in the preceding Chapter and which aâ— the anonymous Philosopher in his Golden Treatise of the Philosophers Stone in his Answer hath it ought to be sweet and full natural that is which should without noise dissolve the Subject with the preservation oâ— its radical moisture then the Bodies so calcinedâ— must be put into a Phial hermeticalâ—y sealed and in a gentle heat of Bal. Marâ—r Dew be digested or putrified the space â—f a Philosophical Month for a voluntary â—olution is better than a violent a temâ—erate than a speedy as the Philosopher â—ath it And thus is made the second and true Solution of a Metal into viscous water â—r a certain Oleity with the preservation of â—he radical moisture in which is the true metallick Sulphur together with the true â—nd most noble Mercury for one of them is always the Magnet and remains solving with â—he solved and desires to continue inseparably and that because of the similitude of substance Wherefore the Ancients said Naâ—ure rejoyceth in Nature Nature overcomâ—th and altereth Nature whereby the essenâ—ial or formal Solution is distinguished from the corrosive Solution But you must know that from Luna is obtained a liquor or green â—incture which is the true Elixir of Luna and the highest Arcanum to comfort the Brain But from Sol by equal putrifaction â—s produced a Liquor of the highest redness which is the true Elixir of Sol and the quinessence of Metal Whereof saith Geber we make sanguine Gold better than that produced by Nature which Nature no wise makes Concerning this Viscosity Geber further speaks briefly We have most exactly tried all things and that by approved Reasons but we could never find any thing permanent iâ— Fire except the viscous Moisture the sole radiâ— of all Metals when as all the other Moisture being not well united in homogeneiâ—y do easily steâ— from Fire and the Elements are easily separated from one another but the viscous Moisture to witâ— Mercury is never consumed with Fire nor is the Water separated from the Earth but they either remain altogether or go altogether away But will you enquire in what weight the Menstruâ—m is to be â—spoused to a Metal The Philosophers Rosary saith As in the working of Bread a little Leâ—ven leâ—veneth and sermenteth a great quantity of Paste so also a modicum of Earth is sufficient for the nutrition of the whole Stone Aristotle nominates the weight saying do thus and coct till the Earth that is the Gold hath exhausted ten parts of the Water The Author of Novum Lumen at the end of his Book breaks forth into these words There ought to be ten parts of Water to one part of Body and by this way we make Mercury without common Mercury by taking ten parts of our Mercurial Water that is the Mercurial Oyl of Salt putrefied and alembicated which is an unctious vapour to one part of the body of Gold and being included in a Vessel by continual coction the Gold is made Mercury that is an unâ—â—uous vapour and not common Mercury as some falsly do imagine CHAP. V. What a Quintessence properly is PARACELSVS in his third Book of long Life chap. 2. discomsâ—th thus A Quintâ—ssence is nothing else but the goodness of Nature so that all Nature passeth into a spagyrick mixture and temperament in which no corrupâ—ible thing and nothing contrary is to be found He also in his fourth Book Archidox of the Quintessence saith A Quintessence is a matter which is corporally extracted out of all Creseitives and out of all things that have life being separated from all impurity and mortality most purely subtiliated and divided from all the Elements thereof And a little after in the same place You ought to know concerning the Quintessence that it is a matter little and small lodged and harboured in some Tree Herb Stone or the like the rest is a pure body from which we learn the separation of the Elements Rupescissa concerning the Quintessence in chap. 5. about the end saith The Quintessence which we seek is therefore a thing ingeniated by divine breath which by continual ascensions and descensions is separated from the corruptible body of the four Elements and the reason is because that which is a second time and often sublimed is more subtile glorified and separated from the corruption of the four Elements then when it ascends only once and so that which is sublimed even to a thousand times and by continual ascension and descension comes to so great a vertue of glorification that it is a compound almost incorruptible as the Heavens and of the matter of the Heavens and therefore called Quintessence because 't is in respect of the Body as the Heavens are in respect of the whole World almost after the same way by which Art can imitate Nature as by a certain like very near and connatural way CHAP. VI. Of the Philosophical Fire or Dissolving Menstruum or our Liquor Alkahest THe preparation of this Water or most noble Juice which is the Kings true Bath the Philosophers always held occult so that Bernard Count Tresne and Neigen Book 2. said he had made a vow to God to Philosophers and to Equity not plainly to explain himself to any man because it is the most secret Arcanum of the whole Work and is so indeed for if this Liquor were manifested to every man Boys would then deride our Wisdom and Fools would be equal to the Wise and the whole World would rush hither with a blind impulse and â—un themselves headlong without any regard to Equity or Piety to the bottom of Hell
Augurellus calls this Menstruum Mercury in these words Tu quoque nec coeptis Cylleni and acibus unquam Defueris Argentum vulgo quod vivere dicunt Sufficit tantis praestant primordia rebus Nor is Argent vive ever wanting to the bold undertaking of Cylenus it yeelds principles to great things The same doth George Ripley judge in his Preface of the twelve Gates I will teach you truly that these are the Mercuries that are the keys of Knowledge which Raymund calls his Menstrua's without which is nothing done Geber names it otherwise saying by the most high God this is that Water which lighteth Candles gives light to houses and yeelds abundance of Riches Oh the Water of our Sea Oh our Sal Nitre appâ—rtaining to the Sea of the World Oh our Vegetable Oh our fixt and volatile Sulphur O the Caput mortuum or faeces of our Sea Tridensine in his secret work of the Philosophers Stone saith The Water which Philosophers used for the complement of the Work they called Laâ— Virginis Coagulum the Morning-dew the Quintessence Aqua-vitae the Philosophers Daughter c. Paracelsus variously also Azoth Spirit of Wine temper'd and circulated Mercurial-Water Sendivogius Chalibs Rupescissa Vinegar most nobly distilled Van-Helmont that most profound Philosopher by Fire called it the Liquor Alkahest and thus describ'd it The Liquor Alkahest resolves every visible and tangible body into its first matter preserving the power of the Seed concerning which the Chymists say the Vulgar burn by Fire but we by Water We by the Philosophers leave are those that can at will give names to their products do call it the Mercurial Oyl of Salt putrefied and alembicated for Oyl is exalted to an higher degree of a fiery quality as it is the foundation of the whole metallick solution which is to be well observed without which nothing can be advantagious in the Art and it acts the part of a Woman in our Work and is deservedly called the Wife of Sol and the Matrix and it is the hidden Key to open the close Gates of Metals for it dissolves calcined Metals it calcines and putrefies the volatile and spiritual it tingeth into all colours and is the beginning middle and end of Tinctures and is of one nature with Gold as Arn. de Villa Nova affirms unlâ—ss that the nature of Gold is compleat digâ—sted and fixed but the nature of the Water is incompleat indigested and volatile In a word it is the Philosophers Fire by which the Tree of Hermes is burnt to ashâ—s Concerning this Fire Iohannes Pontanus in his Epistle saith The Philosophers Fire is not the Fire of Balneo nor of Dung nor of any thing of that kind which the Philosophers have published in their Writings it is mineral it is equal it is continual it evapourates not unless it be too much incensed it participates of Sulphur it is taken elsewhere than from the matter it divide dissolves calcines and congeals all things and it is a Fire with moderate burning it is a compendium without any great charge because the whole work isâ— perfected therewith Study therefore therein for if I had found this at first I had not erred two hundred times before I attained to practice wherefore men do err have erred and will err because the Philosophers have not constituted a proper Agent in their Books except one namely Artephius But he speaks according to his judgment and unless I had read Artephius and perceived his scope I had never attained to the Complement of the Work c. Do you consult him and ye shall know what our Menstruum is I have said enough CHAP. VII Whether the dissolving Menstruum be corrosive GEBER de Sum. perfect Cap. 52 seems to be of this opinion whilst he saith Every thing that is solved must necessarily have the nature of Salt Alums and the like And Paracelsus in his fourth Book Archidox of the Quintessence a little after the beginning saith thus It is difficult and scarce credible to extract a Quintessence without a Corrosive out of Metals but especially out of Gold which cannot be overcome but by a Corrosive by which the Quincessence and Body are one separated from â—he other which Corrosive may again be taken from it And Chap. 3. of Long Life Tom. 6. Book 3. he thus speaks Resolve Gold together with all the substance of Gold by a Corrosive c. and that so long till it be made the same with the Corrosive nor be you dismayed because â—f this way of operation for a Corrosive is commodious for Gold if it be Gold and without a Corrosive it is dead Yet you must know that our Menstruum being poured upon Gold ought not properly be said to be corrosive but rather fiery the strength and vertue of which Arcanum overcomes all Poisons For every Realgar that is Mercury vive and sublimate as also precipitate ought to dye in the Elixirium of Sol and come to a singular and excellent tincture because also violent solution is not made by our Menstruum such as by the Resuscitatives Aquafortis and Regia and others of this form but as was said before in the fourth Chapter it is done gently sweetly without any noise and with the preservation of its radical moisture with the spirits of which as Lully hath it in his Vade mecum a vivified vertue is infused in the matters CHAP. VIII Of the practice of the Stoâ—e WHen you have acquired the tinging Soul of the Planet or the true Quintessence thereof by previous putrefaction in which the true Mercury and the Philosophers true Sulphur are contained then is your matter prepared â—â—t to make thereby our blessed Stone Take therefore in the name of Him that said and all things were done of this most pure matter a sufficient quantity put it into a fixing Vessel or Phial or Philosophical Egg hâ—rmetically sealed place it in an Athanor as you know and proceed with a convenient viz. a digesting heat continual for that failing it must needs dye or become abortive sweet subtile altering and not burning that I may use the Counts own words from the first conjunction even to perfect ablution government of the Fire concerning which the anonymous Philalethes may be further consulted who by the government of every Planet cleerly describes the diversities of colours coagulating and fixing it into the white or red Stone for as Raymund Lully advertiseth he that hath not power and patience in the work will corrupt it with too much haste The sign of the Work perfected will be this If the Stone being projected upon an hot plate of Venus doth melt like Wax and not smoke but penâ—trate and tinge then is the Oriental King born sitting in his Kingdom with greater power than all the Princes of the World Hence a Philosopher crys out Come forth out of Hell arise from the Grave awake out of Darknessâ— for thou hast put on Brightness and Spirituality because the voice of Resurrection is