Bowels but even from the Brain it self Salmon VII Alterative Remedies for the same Nothing is better than our Powers of Rosemary Amber and Spir. Antiasthmaticus given as directed in our Phylaxa Salmon CHAP. III. Of AGVES I. A rare Secret to Cure all Agues whatsoever TAke Venice Turpentine half an ounce incorporate it with as much Camphire and Mastick beaten into fine Powder as will make it into a Plaister then take of it and spread it on a piece of Sheeps Leather cut round and lay it on the Stomach and Navel pretty warm a day before the Fit cometh Probat II. Against an Ague Take Posset-drink a pint and half put into it nine heads of Carduus boyl it 'till half be wasted to every quarter of a Pint put in a quarter of a Spoonful of gross Pepper stir it well and take half a Pint an Hour before the Fit cometh and be sure to Sweat him in his Bed upon the taking of it III. A Plaister against an Ague Take a piece of Leather pricked full of Holes spread it over with Venice-Turpent and on that spread all over Rue and Frankincense beaten into Powder of each a like quantity then bind it to the Wrist a little before the Fit cometh and let it lie 'till the Fit be gone IV. Against a Tertian Ague Take at the coming of the cold Fit half a Pint of expressed Juice of Germander for Germander is styled by Physicians the Scourge of a Fever V. Against all burning and pestilential Fevers Take of the Herb Fluellin cut small and infuse it twenty four Hours in White Wine then Distil it and drink of this Distilla ion with three four five or six Drops of Oyl of Vituol in every Draught when Thirsty This hath cured Old and Young that took it VI. An Excellent Process to Cure all Quotidian Tertiane Pestilential and Burning Fevers and Agues Take Aloes three drachms Myrrh one drachm Saffron half a drachm Sugar three drachms beat them well together then infuse them in a pint of White Wine over Night and give it two several Mornings half a pint at a time to purge with And for ordinary Drink when-thirsty use this Take White-Wine-Vinegar half a pint rose-Rose-water Conduit or Fountain Water ana one Pint seeth them together with a Pound of Sugar VII Sleep to procure in an Ague If he want Sleep Take Syrup of white Poppy one ounce distilled Water of Lettice Sal Prunella 15. grains mix them and take it at Night for Sleep cools the Body and prevents motion and Motion is one of the principal Causes of heat VIII An Ague with a sore Mouth to Heal. If the Mouth be sore take of red Sage grosly cut one handful of French Barley beaten Roach Allom ana one ounce Boyl all these together in a pint and a half of Spring-water then duleifie it before it be cold with Honey and therewith wash the Mouth and gargle the Throat IX Against a new Ague Take one drachm of pine Tobacco in the Leaf infuse it all Night in half a pint of White-Wine then strain it and drink it fasting two Hours after it This will purge Phlegm and Choler throughly X. Against a burning Feaver Take Water distilled from Wall-nuts a Week or two before Mid-Summer and give of that Water one ounce and a half at a time an Hour before the Fit It Cures XI An Excellent Julep in all Fevers Take poppy-Poppy-water four ounces of prune-Prune-water Juice of Oranges Syrup of Gilly-flowers two ounces a few drops of Spirit of Vitriol mix them and let the Patient drink two or three spoonfuls at a time often XII A Specifick against all manner of Agues Take Quin-quina or Jesuits Bark two Drachms beat it into Powder just about the time of using it Infuse it in a good Draught of Claret or other Generous Wine for the space of two Hours then give the Patient both Liquor and Powder at once as they lye in Bed Some advise to give it as the Fit is coming others as the Fit is going off the latter way is best if the Sick be very weak Salmon XIII Another Remedy for the same If you give my Catharticum Argenteum to forty fifty sixty or one hundred Drops according as the Patient is in Age and strength as I have directed in my Phylaxa Medicinae Lib. 1. Cap. 3. and continue it for five or six times taking it will go near to Cure any Ague whatsoever more especially if after such universal Purging you give either my Guttae Vitae or my Volatile Laudanum in such due Dose as in my said Phylaxa is prescribed about three Hours before the coming of the Fit so as the Sick may be in a good Sweat about the coming of the cold Fit by this means used five or six times the Ague goes off and comes no more I scarce ever fail of Curing an Ague by this method Salmon XIV Agues Cured by another Medicine I have Cured hundreds of Agues exactly by the former method except only that instead of the Catharticum Argenteum I have used either my Tabulae Emeticae or Vomiting Lozenges Or my Vinum Emeticum and sometimes some other proper Emeticks and Catharticks alternately But before either Quin-quina or Opiates be given if you would do like an Artist you ought to premise Universal Cleansers Salmon XV. A violent burning Feaver with Vomiting and Bloody Flux Where the Disease has been long the Patient wasted and brought as it were to Death's door there is nothing in the World better than our Pulvis Antifebriticus mentioned in Phylaxa Medic. Lib. 1. Cap. 45. You may give it to half a drachm or a drachm in any convenient Vehicle an Hour and half before the coming of the Fit Salmon XVI Agues chiefly Quartans Cured by the following Arcanum Rolfinc Lib. 5. Sect. 6. Cap. 12. Take Leaf-gold a drachm dissolve it in Aqua Regis Glass of Antimony a drachm dissolve it in Aqua Fortis Quick-silver six Drachms dissolve it in Aqua Fortis mix these Solutions together and Distil them by an Alembick cohobating twelve times at last to the Powder left in the bottom put Spirit of Wine which abstract from it six times then Calcine it upon a Tile or in a Hascican Crucible in a Circulary Fire so have you one of the best Remedies for an Ague chiefly a Quartane yet commonly known Take of this Powder six Grains Scammony twelve Grains mix for a Dose give it in the Morning the day before the Fit or in the Morning the same day if the Fit falls towards Night Salmon XVII Riverius his Ague Frighter Take Flowers of Antimony thrice sublimed with Sal Armoniack and Dulcified Perlucid Hyacinth Glass of Antimony ana half an Ounce Aqua Fortis made of Nitre and Alum 4 Ounces Praecipitate the said Antimony in the said Water Again Take Quicksilver revived from Cinabar six Ounces Aqua Fortis made of Nitre Alum and Vitriol q. s. in which dissolve and praecipitate the Mercury Take also fine Leaf-Gold one
in this I think Galen was wholly in the wrong I am clearly of the contrary Opinion for the curdy part of Milk is only Nutritive and the greatest part of it dissolves in the Stomach into a chylous Juice God Almighty Himself seeing it the best and most innocent Nourishment even for Infanes as soon as they are Born And who dares to doubt His Wisdom whilst the oily and serous parts of it cool moisten open cleanse and make slippery the Passages XIX Now things are said to open rather in respect to their emollient attenuating and discussive Qualities than to their Diuretick because there are many things-which powerfully open Obstructions that provoke not Urine at all amongst which are most bitter Herbs and Plants which open by a Specifick Virtue as Centory Wormwood Hops Gentian Carduus Camomil and Carminatives which do it by a discussive property such are Angelica Southernwood Parsly Smallage Anniseed Cuminseed all the sorts of Pepper Cloves Nutmegs Fennelseeds Caraways Carotseeds c. And Emollients which do it by their softning and making slippery such are Oil Olive Mallows Marshmallows Lillies Spinage boiled Onions Garlick Leeks c. But the true great and chief of all Openers is Iron and the aperitive Preparations thereof which do that in a Day which none of the others will do in a Month for which purpose I commend my Tinctura Martis as one of the most famous things in the World to which may be added Tinctura ad Chlorosin an approved thing for opening the most obdurate Obstructions XX. The Matter being prepared the next thing is to cleanse the Vessels and Passages of slime filth matter sand or gravel which does or may obstruct the Passages of the Urine and this is properly done with Diureticks of which kind of Medicaments Authors admirably abound We shall not here tell you all that has been said upon that Subject but rather give you an Abstract of the choicest and most approved Experiments of that kind Take of our Tinctura Stomachica two Dra. Juice of Garlick one Dram White or Rhenish-wine six Ounces mix for a Draught I have often proved it with good success Or this Take Juice of Onions two Ounces Juice of Hydropiper half an Ounce White or Rhenish-wine eight Ounces mix for a Draught I gave this to one in extremity a Woman that had not made Water in eight or nine Days it made her make Water and gave her ease in less than an hour Take Onions four Ounces bruise them Anniseeds Caraways ana two Drams bruised Infuse them all Night in White-wine then squeeze forth the Wine and let the Sick drink it it is a singular Experiment XXI Sennertus commends Lignum Nephriticum and Lapis Nephriticus and so does Experience too Take Raspings of Lignum Nephriticum two Ounces Spring water two Pound infuse 'till the Water is blewish for twenty four or forty eight Hours then decant for three Doses Or thus Take Raspings of the Wood two Ounces Spring-water White-wine ana one Pound digest for forty eight Hours then decant or strain out the clear for use for three Doses Or thus Take Raspings of Lignum Nephriticum two Ounces Winter-Cherries bruised one Ounce White or Rhenish wine two Pound mix digest forty eight Hours and strain out for use XXII Or you may draw forth the Tincture with our Spiritus Universalis after this manner Take Raspings of Lignum Nephriticum two Ounces Spiritus Universalis one Pound digest twenty four Hours so will a substantial Tincture he drawn decant and filtre to the filtred Liquor put Alchool of Spirit of Wine one Pound digest twenty four Hours more so will the Sulphur of the Wood be drawn into the Wine which you may decant leaving the Spiritus Universalis at the bottom with which you may perform the like again Dose one Dram to two in any convenient Vehicle as Waters of Onions Parsley or Hydropiper Mead White or Rhenish-wine or the like The Lapis Nephriticus is seldom given inwardly if you do it give the levigated Pouder from one Scruple to half a Dram or two Scruples in Syrup or other fit Liquor But the usual way of using the Stone is to wear it as a Jewel being tied to the Wrist or Arm or hung about the Neck or Hip. I once knew a Lady which experimented the truth of this as long as the Stone was tied to the brawn of her Arm she had ease and voided much Gravel continually upon making Water but as soon as the Stone was removed the Gravel stopt and the pains returned and that she might be sure this was the effect of the Stone she oftentimes laid it by for experiment sake and the stoppage and pains in some few Hours would return upon the taking it off and again upon the putting it on she would have as sensible ease and freedom of passage as before XXIII Trallianus Lib. 3. Cap. 39. saith The Herb Peony in Pouder drunk with honied Wine is an excellent thing against obstruction of Urine caused by a Stone so hard as not to be broken But the Tincture drawn from the Herb with our Spiritus Universalis as above directed and then with Spirit of Wine being drunk with the said honied Wine is much more effectual After the same manner you may make a Tincture of Golden-Rod which will be no less effectual for that the Crude Herb had been proved in this case in innumerable Persons as Carolus Piso saith with happy success XXIV Zacutus Lusitanus Praxis Lib. 2. Observ. 58. saith A Man sixty Years old of a cold Constitution was cured of the Stone by Purgations made of Turpentine which he took divers ways and a daily use of a Decoction of Lignum Nephriticum by which he voided red Gravel and a Stone and was well for two Years together His Disease afterwards coming upon him again Clysters Ointments Fomentations Plasters Phlebotomy Baths were all used in vain his Urine being retained eighteen Days he began to be afflicted with the Falling-Sickness by Fits and the Sick was given over as desperate at length he took Oyl of sweet Almonds with drops of Natural Balsam I suppose he means Balsam of Peru it made him void a clammy Humor by Stool and small Gravel by Urine and continuing the use of the said Remedy he voided with Bloody Urine a Stone of the bigness of a Date-stone of a purple colour long round rough and very hard and now making Water very freely he took a greater quantity of the Oyl of sweet Almonds viz. to three Ounces and the Balsam to the quantity of half an Ounce and in the space of ten days he voided sixty five Stones hard and of the bigness and shape of Vetches And with this Remedy alone he was preserved for the future for he used every Morning to take half an Ounce of the Oyl with six drops of the said Balsam by which he voided gravelly Urine and lived many Years By this Balsam Avenzoar saith he cured a Scrivener who was at
Death's door with the Stone If you cannot get the true Balsam Zacutus advises to use instead thereof Stacte which is the precious droppings of Myrrh and comes out of the East-Indies also from Peru which saith he works rare effects In the same Observation he saith That he had many times driven out great Stones that were firmly fixed in the cavities of the Kidnies by the Water distilled out of Green Tobacco which he gave the Patient to drink XXV Platerus in Lib. 2. of his Observations tells us He cured one of the Stone with this Julep Take Pellitory-water one Ounce Fennel water Bean-flower-water Julep of Roses ana half an Ounce mix them giving the Patient to drink after a decoction of Pease Bean-shales Parsly Roots and Restharrow-Roots Another he cured by giving 1. A Clyster 2. A Narcotick 3. Pellitory and Turpentine-water ana half an Ounce by which the Stone got into the Bladder and then into the Yard and there stopt he sate in a Bath and a little after pissed it forth And by the taking of this following Pouder twice a Week a Spoonful at a time a Patient of his voided many Stones and the continued use of it prevented the pain Take Liquorice in Pouder half an Ounce dried Peach-kernels one Ounce Anise and Fennel-seeds ana two Ounces Winter-Cherries one Dram Gromwel-seeds half a Dram Crabs-Eyes two Drams Sugar-Candy one Ounce and a half make a fine Pouder He drank after it a decoction of Pease Parsley and Bean-shales with Butter and a little Salt And in Lib. 3. of his said Observations he commends this Take Turpentine two Ounces Honey one Ounce Yolk of one Egg grind them in a Mortar together 'till they are white then add White Wine pellitory-Pellitory-water bean-flower-Bean-flower-water ana one Ounce and a half Syrup of Limons or Juice of Citrons one Ounce mix them Dose one Ounce and a half The Sick took also these Pills Take Cyprus Turpentine half an ounce Sugar-candy two Drams with Syrup of Limons make Pills Dose one Dram at a time drinking after a decoction of red Pease but while his pain was great he gave him an Opiate and sometimes a cleansing Clyster of Whey Yolks of Eggs Turpentine and Honey Platerus gave this to a Patient thrice which had his Urine stopt Take Turpentine five Drams Yolks of Eggs two Honey one Ounce Wine four Ounces By the use whereof he avoided so many Rags that he wrote to him That a torn Shirt came out of his Bladder Thus was he cured and lived many Years after sound and with the same kind of Potion he cured a French Minister who voided the Stone with the first Dose XXVI I cured a Man after he had been twelve Years troubled with the Stone and Gravel with this mixture Take Venice or Strasburgh Turpentine four Ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds six Ounces Honey two Drams melt and mix them well together it opened the Passages made him presently piss freely and brought away a great quantity of Sand and small Stones He took it Morning and Evening half an Ounce or better at a time for three Months drinking after it Arsmart-water and was perfectly cured so that for many Years after he had not the least Pain or Symptom Another I cured with this Take Strasburgh Turpentine eight Ounces Yolks of four Eggs grind them together in a Mortar 'till they are white then add Oyl of sweet Almonds four Ounces and mix them well by grinding Dose an Ounce Morning and Evening drinking a Glass of Mead after This he continued for eight or ten Weeks it continually brought away Sand and large Gravel and he was perfectly cured Salmon XXVII Bartholinus tells us That he found no ease by any Diuretick except Bean-shale-water which brought away Gravel so that saith he more may be attributed to it in bringing away the Stone than to Millepedes And saith he Egg-shells are given with singular success after the Chickens are Hatched either to break or expel the Stone this Lithontriptick being reckoned among Secrets of this kind For this purpose Ludovicus Mercatus commends the Flower and Seed of Star-Thistle as a thing highly in request for purging and cleansing the Reins and Bladder daily experience saith he still confirming it giving two Ounces of the distilled Water in the Morning Fasting but an Essence of the whole Plant as we have taught in Chap. 5. Sect. 35 and 37 aforegoing is much better XXVIII Augenius in his Medicinal Epistles Lib. 12. Ep. 1 and 2 saith He has cured near six hundred of the Stone by this following Syrup giving three Ounces at a time with six Ounces of the decoction of Eringo for fifteen days together five hours before Dinner Universals being premised Take Saxifrage Knee-holly Eringo Lovage Restharrow Anise Fennel Parsly Grass ana half an Ounce Horse-Radish Roots two Ounces Leaves of Betony Burnet Marsh-Mallows Nettles Penny-royal Rocket Calamint Knot-grass Pellitory of the Wall ana M. qu. Winter-Cherries twenty Sebestens fifteen Seeds of Basil Burdock Parsly Seseli Millet ana three Ounces Bark of the Bay-Tree Root Liquorice ana three Drams Water five Quarts boyl 'till three Quarts only remain strain and with Honey two Pound Sugar four Pound make a Syrup and aromatize it with Cinnamon one Ounce Nutmegs half an Ounce Probably it may do good there is no Argument against Experience yet it looks like a hotch-potch of all together XXIX Crato in Consiliis saith That he prefers Eringo Roots candied or steeped in White-wine and Syrup of the Juice of Speedwel before all though saith he I am not Ignorant that the Roots of Brier and Restharrow do much good when the Stone is manifest And for the pain in the Kidneys caused by the Stone there is nothing saith he better than a Decoction of Speedwel or the Inspissate Juice thereof But an Essence of the Plant crude as we have directed in Chap. 5. Sect. 35 and 37 much transcends them both XXX Fresh Oyl of Hasle-nuts by expression given to three Ounces at a time every day for some time is commended as an excellent thing and a certain Physician attests That by the daily use thereof he has seen several Stones voided The same probably may be done with expressed Oyl of sweet Almonds as also with the expressed Oyl of Wall-nuts but more with the expressed Oyl of Orange Limon or Citron Kernels Outwardly also to anoint with this following Oyl it is of good use Take Oyl of Scorpions four Ounces Oyl of bitter Almonds one Ounce Palm Oyl six Drams Oyl of Juniper-berries half an Ounce mix them and anoint the region of the Loyns therewith Morning and Evening XXXI With this following Remedy I have done almost Miracles in expelling Sand Gravel and Stones out of both Reins and Bladder Take Balsamum Copaybae or as we call it Capivi four Ounces Yolks of Eggs four Oyl of sweet Almonds Honey ana three Ounces Oyl of Juniper berries one Dram Grind all together in a Glass Mortar 'till they are perfectly mixed and
Compounds you may see in our Phylaxa Medicinae Lib. 1. and 2. Salmon LXI In a hot Cause and Constitution Barbet gives this Take Roots of Al theae one Ounce Liquorice two Drams Mallow-Leaves M. ij Melon-seeds half an Ounce boyl them in Barley-water in a Quart of the Colature dissolve Syrup of Corn Poppies two Ounces raw Crabs-Eyes bruised one Dram mix them Dose two Ounces three or four times a Day Or thus Take Rose-water Strawberry and Purslane-water ana one Ounce Prophylactick-water Cinnamon water ana half an Ounce raw Crabs Eyes bruised one Scruple Laudanum Opiatum two Grains Fernelius his Syrupus de Altheae one Ounce mix them and let it be given by Spoonfuls LXII In a cold Cause and Constitution Take Roots of Rest harrow white Saxifrage ana one Ounce Liquorice half an Ounce Goats blood six Drams Crabs-Eyes bruised Nutmegs Cinnamon ana one Ounce Saffron three Drams Cloves two Drams Strasburgh Turpentine one Pound Spirit of Malmsey-wine five pound the Ingredients being cut and bruised digest fourteen days then distil in B. M. Dose one Ouuce Fasting and twice or thrice a day besides Barbet also saith That Cochinele being taken in fine Pouder in Rhenish-wine to one Scruple is a pleasant and sweet Medicine and of great efficacy LXIII Deckers advises the following Pouder Take Mustard-seed Tartar Vitriolate ana one Dram and a half Crabs-Eyes Salt of Bean-stalks of Broom of Rest-harrow of Pidgeons Dung ana one Dram mix and make a Pouder Dose from one Scruple to half a Dram in Parsly-water The Tincture of the Nephritick Stone is also very good but it is no where described but Moebius has this preparation Take Pouder of the Nephritick Stone put upon it rectified Spirit of Salt digest and there will be a green Tincture Dose from six Drops to twelve or twenty in Wine or proper Water Seeds of Violets are very convenient because they purge and expel the Stone especially if they be used in an Emulsion and is called by Schroder the Nephrocathartick Emulsion it is much commended both by Crato and Hartman and is a good thing against suppression of Urine LXIV Spiritus Acetosae Mineralis Take Tartar Vitriolate one Ounce Julep of Roses one Pound cinnamon-Cinnamon-water four Ounces mix them Dose two Ounces 't is an excellent thing Or Take Tartar Vitriolate one Ounce radish-Radish-water one Pound Juice of Limons two Ounces Syrup of Corn-Poppies and de Altheae ana one Ounce Crabs-Eyes two Drams mix them Dose two Ounces Also Spirit of Juniper-berries affused upon Rob of Elder and Juniper and digested becomes of a pleasant red Colour and in Taste like Malmsey-wine and is truly a Medicine of great efficacy So also a Nephritick Liquor made of Nitre and Sal Gem calcin'd and dissolved per deliquium is a Nephritick of singular use LXV The Urinary Laudanum of Michael Take Spanish Juice of Liquorice dissolved in Winter-cherry-water one Ounce and a half Camphire one Dram Saffron four Scruples Winter-cherries half an Ounce Gum Tragacanth Mastick ana one Dram and a half Laudanum Opiatum two Drams mix them It is much commended for a peculiar Quality of provoking Urine opening Obstructions and expelling the same Michael his Nephritick Liquor Take Lynx-stone Jews-stone Nephritick-stone Sponge Crystal Crabs-Eyes ana q. v. dissolve them in rectified Spirit of Salt filtre the Solutions and distil to dryness so have you at bottom a coagulated Nephritick Liquor LXVI 〈◊〉 his Lithontriptick Pouder Take Crabs-Eyes prepared Goats-blood prepared ana one Dram and a half Jews-stone Nephritick-stone ana one Dram Pikes-Eyes Millet-seed ana two Scruples Crystals of Tartar half a Dram Salt of Tartar one Scruple mix and make a Pouder Dose from half a Dram to one Dram in any appropriate Water LXVII Forrestus his Decoction which some say exceeds all other things Take Red Tares three Ounces Barley hull'd two Drams Seeds of Marsh Mallows Mallows ana three Drams of the four greater cold Seeds ana one Dram fat Figgs nine Sebestens seven Liquorice scraped six Drams fair Water one Pound and a half boil 'till half be consumed then strain for an Apozem These Pills also are esteemed Take Pouder of Millepedes Crabs-Eyes Jews-stone ana one Dram Turpentine two Drams mix and make Pills Dose from half a Dram to one Dram every Morning Fasting Deckers his Apozem is yet better Take spring-Spring-water three Pound red Vetches hull'd Barley ana two Drams Liquorice bruised Juniper-berries bruised ana one Ounce Seeds of Daucus Violets white Poppies Nettles Mallows ana half an Ounce fat Figgs nine Sebestens seven boil to a Quart strain and dissolve therein Syrups of Corn Poppies of the five opening Roots of Diacnicu ana one Ounce and a half Spirit of Sal Armoniack one Dram mix them Dose six Ounces twice or thrice a Day dropping into it at taking 2 or three Drops of the Juniperated Balsam of Sulphur LXVIII The same Deckers commends this Mixture Take parsly-Parsly-water two Ounces Fennel and treacle-Treacle-water ana one Ounce Spirit of Vinegar half an Ounce Crabs-Eyes one Dram Oyl of Juniper-berries six Drops Spirit of Nitre one Scruple Laudanum Opiatum two Grains Syrup of the five Roots or rather Syrup of Corn Poppies one Ounce mix them If the same be great this Emulsion may be given Take Hull'd Barley boil'd 'till it cracks two Ounces sweet Almonds blancht Violet-seeds ana half an Ounce white Poppy-seeds one Ounce with a sufficient quantity of Barley-water make an Emulsion to twenty four Ounces of which add Diacodium Syrup of Corn Poppies ana one Ounce mix them He also commends to all the Spirit of Sal Armoniack given in Rhenish-wine or some Diuretick Spirit or Water as a Specifick Medicine not only to prevent but to cure the Stone if brittle or easie to be broken Universals being given before-hand LXIX Junken Medicus Pars 2. Sect. 1. Cap. 18. prescribes this Take Strawberries fresh gathered a Gallon Winter-cherries half a Pound Horse-Radish Roots scraped two Pound Daucus-seeds half a Pound Juice of Birch or Birch-wine twenty four Pound mix and distil in B. M. Dose frome one Ounce to three with Syrup de Althaea half an Ounce sweet Spirit of Nitre ten or twelve Drops Or thus Take ripe Strawberries four Pound Winter-cherries two Pound Malaga-wine two Pound Juniper-water of Parsly-roots ana two Pound Ground-Ivy white Saxifrage-roots ana one Ounce Peach-kernels two Ounces digest in a Vessel close stopt for a Month then distil Dose from a Spoonful to four in the Morning Fasting it is said both to preserve from and cure the Stone Again Take Crabs-Eyes Sperma Coeti ana half a Scruple Volatile Salt of Amber six Grains mix for a Dose and to be often repeated Or thus Take Wild Bryar Seeds half an Ounce Crabs Eyes pure Nitre ana one Ounce mix them Dose one Dram. Or thus Take Crabs Eyes one Scruple Volatile Salt of Amber six Grains Laudanum Opiatum one Grain or two mix them for a Dose Again Take Malaga-Wine one Quart Opium in pouder Salt
Sons of Learning wonder not for we have not concealed it from you but have delivered it in such Language as that it may be hid from evil Men and that the unjust and Vile might not know it But ye Sons of Doctrine search and you shall find this most excellent gift of God which he has reserved for you Ye Sons of folly impiety and prophaneness avoid you the seeking after this Knowledge it will be Enimical and destructive to you and precipitate you into the State of Contempt and Misery This gift of God is absolutely by the Judgment of the Divine providence hid from you and denyed you for ever XIV A solar Medicine of the third Order It is made of Sol dissolved and prepared after the manner of Luna in Chap. 46. Sect. 11. aforegoing to which you must add of Sulphur dissolved 3 parts of Arsenick one part as afterwards is shewed through all things doing as in the place now cited is directed and it will be a Medicine tinging every Body and Mercury it self into true Sol or better according to the way now shewed Read and peruse what we shall direct and thereby you will be able to tinge to Infinity if you have understanding and erre not by the ambiguous sayings of the Philosophers XV. The Ferment of Sol for the Red. The Ferment of Sol is made of Gold dissolved into its own Water Aqua Regis and decocted and prepared by the directions in Chap. 46. Sect. 16. aforegoing So will you have the Ferment of Sol for the Red which keep for use XVI The Ferment of Ferments upon Mercury for the Red. Dissolve Sol in its own water which we shall hereafter teach i. e. Aqua Regis to this Gold dissolved 1 ounce add Sulphur 2 ounces dissolved in the same Water together with it Mercury 3 ounces also disolved Let all these be truly dissolved into most clear Water which being mixt decoct for one day that they may be Fermented then draw off the Water 15 times each time cohobating Incerate with Yellow Virgins Wax that is with half its Weight of Oyl of Blood or Oyl of Eggs then project upon crude Mercury as you see requisite Here note that if you perfect this Medicine as we teach in our third Order in Chap. 47. Sect. 21.22 c. following of the Congelative Medicine of Mercury you will find by Reiteration of the Work and by Subtilization thereof that one part will tinge infinite parts of Mercury into most fine and high Gold more Noble than any natural Gold whatsoever CHAP. XLVIII Of the Alchymie of Mercury I. ARgent Vive which is also called Mercury is a Viscous Water in the Bowels of the Earth by most temperate heat United in a total Union through its least parts with the substance of White subtil Earth until the humid be contemperated with the Dry and the Dry with the humid equally There fore it easily runs upon a plain Superfices by reason of its watery humidity but it adhers not although it has a Viscous humidity by reason of the dryness of that which Contemperatesit and permits it not to adhere II. This is also as some say the matter of Metals with Sulphur and easily adheres to three Minerals viz. Saturn Jupiter and Sol but to Luna more difficulty and to Venus more difficulty than to Luna but to Mars in no wise but by Artifice Hence you may collect a very great Secret For it is amicable and pleasing to the Metals and the Medium of conjoyning Tinctures and nothing is submerged in Argent Vive unless it is Sol. Yet Jupiter and Saturn Luna and Venus are dissolved by it and mixed and without it can none of the Metals be gilded It is fixed and the Tincture of Redness of most exuberant perfection and fulgid splendor and receeds not from the Commixtion till it is in its own nature But it is not our Medicine in its Nature but it may sometimes help in the Case III. Of the Sublimation of Argent Vive This Work is compleated with its Terrestreity is highly purified and its Aquosity wholy removed We remove it not by adustion because it has none so the Art of separating its superfluous Earth is to mix it with things where with it has not Affinity and often to reiterate the Sublimation from them Of this kind is Talck and the Calx of Egg-shells and Calx of white Marble as also Glass in most subtil Pouder and every kind of Salt prepared for by these it is cleansed but by other things having affinity with it unless they be bodies of perfection it is rather Corrupted because all such things have a Sulphureity which ascending with it in Sublimation corrupt it And this you may find to be true by Experience because when you sublime it from Tin or Lead you find it after Sublimation infected with blackness Therefore its Sublimation is better made by those things which agree not with it but it would be better by things with which it does agree if they had not Sulphureity Wherefore this Sublimation is better from Calx than from all other things because that agrees little with it and has not Sulphureity IV. But the way of removing its superfluous aquosity is that when it is mixed with Calces from which it is to be sublimed it be well Ground and commixt with them by Imbibition untill nothing of it appear and afterwards the Wateriness of Imbibition removed by a most gentle heat of Fire which receeding the Aquosity of Argent Vive receeds with it yet the Fire must be so very Gentle as that by it the whole substance of Argent Vive ascend not V. Therefore from the manifold reiteration of Imbibition with Contrition and gentle Assation it s greater Aquosity is abolished the residue of which is removed by repeating the Sublimation often And when you see it is most white excelling Snow in its whiteness and to adhere as it were dead to the sides of the Vessell then again reiterate its Sub limation without the feces because part of it adheres fixed with the Feces and can never by any Art or Ingenuity be separated from them Or afterwards fix part of it as we shall teach you and when you have fixed it then reiterate Sublimation of the part remaining that it may likewise be fixed VI. Being fixed reserve it but first prove it upon Fire if it flow well then you have administred sufficient Sublimation but if not add to it some small part of Argent Vive sublim'd and reiterate the Sublima tion till your end be accom plished for if it has a Lucid and most white Color and be porous then you have well sublimed it otherwise not therefore in the preparation of it made by Sublimation be not negligent because such as its cleansing shall be such will be its Perfection in projecting of it upon any of the imperfect Bodies and upon its own Body unprepared VII Yet here note that some have by it formed Iron
if not inveterate Trembling Gout or any weakness of the Nerves and Joynts coming of a cold and moist cause by anointing the afflicted parts therewith and taking of it inwardly as shall be immediately directed for it does gently and by degrees as it were carry off the morbifick Cause and matter almost to a Miracel 9. This marvellous Balsam opens all obstructions of the Liver and Spleen being taken Morning and Evening for a Month together in a little Syrup or other convenient Vehicle It is held for a great Treasure and has many other singular Virtues not here necessary to be named lest we should prejudice its worth and Excellency 10. The way and manner of taking it In diseases of the Head Brain and Nerves give it in Rosemary or Juniper-water or in Canary For the Stone and other Diseases of the Reins and Bladder you may give in Rhenish-wine For the Colick and Diseases of the Bowels you may give it in Juniper or Cardamum-water For Palsies and weaknesses of the Nerves and Joynts you may give it in some Antiparalitick Wine First grind or mix it with a little of the yolk of an Egg to open its body and then mix it with the Liquor you would give it in 11. If the sick cannot take it so it may be made up into Pills with some fit Powder as of Zedoary Nutmeg Cinnamon Bay-berries Cubebs Winter-cherries or what the Physician shall think more fit and so gilded for by this means it will be taken without nauseating you may give the Balsam from half a Dram to two Drams according to Age and Strength and it may be given Morning and Night for a Month two or three together 12. And it is certain that this Balsam is one of the greatest specificks in the cure of the Palsie Scurvy and Gout that is transcending all other Medicaments but it ought to be constantly given in a due Dose and with those Advantages that it may not loath the Stomach so taken it performs more than any other Balsam It cleanses the whole body of all Impurities mundifies the whole mass of Blood heals all inward Bruises Wounds Ulcers or Excoriations whether in the Bowels or Lungs restoring decayed Nature and carrying off all its Faeculencies by Urine and Stool It is only Sold by the Author of this Work at his House at the Blue-Ball by the Ditch-side near Holborn-bridge and at Mr. John Harris's at the Harrow in the Poultry London Price 24 s. the Pound or 18 d. the Ounce AT the sign of the Archimedes and Spectacles in Ludgate-street near the West-end of St. Paul's lives John Marshall who both turns and grinds makes and sell's all sorts of Glass Instruments as Perspective Glasses Telescopes Microscopes Horoscopes Sky-Opticks Reading Glasses from the smallest size to 20 Inches Diametre Microscopes according to Mr. Leewenhoeck Also Microscopes of the said Marshall's Designing a singular Invention for the advantage of Light the like of which were never yet done before Also Spectacles for all Ages Cristal Prisms Speaking Trumpets and all other sorts of Optick Glasses for brevity sake not here named SALMON'S Practical Physick The First BOOK CHAP. I. Of ACHES of all sorts I. For an Ach proceedings of Cold in any part of the Body TAke Oyl Olives Venice Turpentine ana two Ounces Oyl of Amber four Ounces Volatile Salt of Amber six Drachms melt and mix them together for a Balsam and anoint the place well there with Morning and Evening for eight or ten days more or less as occasion requires Salmon II. For an Ach in the Joints Take Palm Oyl Turpentine ana one Ounce Oyl of Wormwood three Ounces Volatile Salt Armonicak two Ounces melt mix and make a Balsam It is excellent being anointed with all Salmon III. For Aches in the lower parts of the Body Take Palm Oyl Turpentine Oyl of Amber and Anniseeds of each one Ounce mix melt and make a Balsam Salmon IV. For an Ach in the Bones Take Palm Oyl Turpentine ana two Ounces Oyl of Amber and Juniper Berries of each two Ounces and two Drachms Camphier two Ounces melt mix and make a Balsam Salmon V. An approved Searcloth for all Aches Take Burgundy Pitch one pound Oyl Olive six Ounces Wax four Ounces white Frankincense two Ounces powdered melt them in a Pipken stirring all well together and Boil to a Consistency then pour out all into a Bason or Pan of Water then anoint your Hands with Butter and make the Plaster into Rolls VI. An Excellent Ointment for the same Take the Gall of an Ox White-wine Vinegar Palm Oyl Aqua Vitae of each a like quantity boyl them gently on a Fire keeping it scum'd till it grow clammy and with this bathe well the part by rubbing it in before a Fire with a warm Hand Morning and Evening still laying a Linnen Cloth upon it VII For Ach in the Bones and the Gout Take of the best Aqua Vitae and Oyl of Amber of each a like quantity mix them well together and anoint the part well with a warm Hand before the Fire and bind on it a Linnen Cloth Morning and Evening VIII For the Joynt Ach and the Gout most Excellent Take the Juice of Sage Aqua Vitae the Oyl of Bays Vinegar Mustard and of an Oxes Gall of each a like quantity put them all together in a large Ox Bladder Tye it fast and chafe it up and down with your Hand during one hour and half then keep it for your Use and anoint the griev'd part Morning and Evening IX A Process against all Aches in the Back Hips Sides Knees or any part of the Body Take first Pil. Mirabile one Scruple to Purge now and then and take them in Syrup of Roses after Purging procure Sweat thus Take Guaiacum one Ounce and a half the Root of Enulacampane one Ounce boyl them in a Pottle of small Ale till half be consumed then drink thereof a quart in a Hot-house and Sweat often Then in the House bathe all the Body with this Oleaginous Balsame Take Oyl of Amber Oyl of Turpentine of Foxes of Excester and of Chamomil of each a like quantity and mix it well with some Brandy And if the Pains and Aches fall out to be most painful in the Night as many times they do Then at Night let him take this Potion Syrup of Poppy three Drachms Syrup of Betony one drachm and a half Waters of Bugloss and Sage of each an Ounce mix them well together X. This Cured a Man perfectly when he was Lame over all his Body Take the Gall of an Heifer for a Man and the Gall of a Steer for a Woman Brandy of each a like quantity then bath it well upon the Wrist a little before the Fit cometh and let it lie till the Fit be gone XI Aches from a hot Cause Take Spring Water two quarts Sal Armoniack Nitre of each four Ounces mix dissolve and keep it for Use Bathe the part with it then anoint with Oyl of Poppy Seed
Salmon XII Another for the same Take Camphire two Ounces Spirit of Wine a pint mix and dissolve there with bathe the parts Afflicted Salmon XIII Another for the same There is nothing better in the World than to bathe the place afflicted two or three times a day which our Guttae Vitae mentioned in one Phalyxa lib. 1. chap. 9. sest 1. Salmon XIV For an Ach in the Shoulder Take Bole Armoniack Chalk ana one Ounce Spanish Oyl one Ounce Vinegar six Drachms Camphir half an Ounce or better Saffron 2 Drachms Mix and apply it hot with Tow twice a day Salmon XV. An Ach from a Vehement hot Cause Take Comfry Roots fresh gathered beat them till they are soft or a perfect Cataplasm then spread upon Leather and apply it 'T is an excellent thing Salmon XVI Another against Aches Take Balsam of Amber and anoint with it twice a day How this Balsam is made see in our Phylaxa lib. 2. now in the Press XVII Another for the same Take Oyl of Earth-worms one Ounce Oyl of Amber one Ounce mix them If this increases the Pain it proceeds from an hot Cause Anoint then with this Receipt Unguentum Populneum two Ounces Oyl of Poppies six Ounces in which dissolve Camphire two Ounces mix them for an Ointment Salmon XVIII For an Ach by a Fall There is nothing better then that you anoint the place hurt with Balsam de Chili twice a day rubbing it well in and keeping warm for that helps to disipate the Congregation of Humours Salmon XIX For an Old Ach. I have scarcely found any thing more effectual than first well to anoint for three or four daies with Balsam de Chili and then afterwards to apply Balsamum Amicum plaister-wise for a month together See them in my Phylaxa Salmon XX. Anothor for this purpose Make a Plaister of Tacamahaca and apply it Salmon XXI Aches from vehement hot Causes Take Oyle of the Yelks of Eggs one Ounce dissolve in it Camphire two Ounces and mix all with Oyl of Earth Worms one Ounce and anoint with it Salmon XXII To heal and strengthen weak Limbs of Children and those which cannot stand nor go Most wonderful and excellent to cure the Rickets Take juices of Sage sweet Marjoram Rosemary Time Chamomil Hysop Feverfew Lavender Balm Mint Wormwood Rue Winter-Savory and Bays of each Three Ounces put it in a double Glass the which stop well and paste it all over with Dough and set it in an Oven with Houshold-Bread and when it is drawn break off all the Paste and if the juice be thick break the Glass and put it into a Gally-Pot and when you use it take the quantity of Two Spoonfulls of it and put to it as much of the Marrow of an Ox Leg melt them together stir them well and add to it a little Brandy and Morning and Evening anoint well before a Fire the Child's Arms Sides Thighs Leggs Knees Feet and Joynts bathing it well in with a warm Hand Then give it some Syrnp of Rheubarb to open the Obstructions of the Liver and mingle it with Two Ounces of Mint-water mix it well and give it the Child fasting This will mightily strengthen the Limbs and make the Child to stand and go Probat XXIII For all Aches or Pains in the Nervous Parts arising from a Cold Cause Contusions c. There is nothing can take away the Preheminence from Balsam de Chili which may always be had at the Author's House at the Blue Balcony by the Ditch-side near Holbourn Bridge London because of its amicable and peculiar Faculty in strengthning the Nerves and dissolving or dissipating any inherent Matter I could give you I believe an Hundred Histories of Cures of this kind performed by this Medicine I have cured with it an Ach in the Hip or the Sciatica Anoint with it twice a day at least Viz. Morning and Evening and apply 〈◊〉 dipt in it over the part in the mean season Salmon CHAP. II. Of the Apoplexy 1. TAke of the best Aqua-vitae well rectified from Phlegm one Pint Oyl of Vitriol one Spoonful mix them and let him drink thereof one Spoonful first in the Morning and another last at Night Then let him Sweat in a Stove twice a Week and every time thereafter bathe him with Balsam de Chili This is Excellent II. For the Joint-ach and Numbness after an Apoplexy Take Six Spoonfuls of dragon-Dragon-water dissolve in it one drachm of Mithridate drink the same draught Three Mornings together fasting and sweat Two Hours after it This Cures III. For an Apoplexy or other like Fits Take a large quantity of Earth-worms gathered in the Mornings in May when they Generate put them into a Pail of Water for twenty four Hours that they may perfectly cleanse themselves This done take them out and dry them carefully upon a Marble Tile before a clear Fire being thoroughly dryed keep them in a dry place for use When you have Occasion to use them beat them into Powder in a large Brass or Iron Mortar and of this Powder take a Spoonful at a time Morning and Evening in a Glass of Wine four days before and four days after the Full and Change of the Moon it will perfectly Cure I lately cured one of an Apoplexy therewith and I know several others cured some Years since Salmon IV. An Errhine against an Apoplexy in the Fit I can propose no better than that of Deckers which exceeds all others and it is thus made Take Turbith Mineral one Ounce powder of Liquorice three ounces Flowers of Rosemary one ounce and a half mix into a most subtile Powder Of this Powder you may blow up from six to ten or twelve grains at a time Viz. from three to five or six up each Nostril It brings out of the Fit and used in the Intervals prevents it I have proved it in two or three several Persons Deck ers saith multumque pituitae viscidae educit cum successu praescribitur hic Pulvis in Apo plexia Epilepsia Lethargo Ca pitisquè affectibus soporosus omnibus nec non quibusdam capitis affectibus recentibus inveteratis vertigine gravedine c. Exec. med pag. 20. Salmon V. Strong Purging in an Apoplexy Authors commend purgeing but it must be with very strong Medicines as Troches Alhandal Scammony with Castor or Pil. Cochie one ounce as Rondeletius prescribes But in my Opinion nothing is better than my Pil. Mirabiles taken from a scruple to half a drachm See it in my Philaxa Med. Lib. 2. Now in the Press If Purgatives do nothing the Patient commonly dies Salmon VI. Strong Emeticks to be given Celsus saith Many things ought or may well be done in a dangerous Case which otherwise should be omitted Therefore it is Lawful to give Antimoniates in a large dose as Aqua Benedicta Vinum Antimoniale Infusion of Regulus Sal Emeticum Mynsichti and such like which evacuate great quantities of Phlegm and other Humours not only from the Stomach and
preventing Abortion and then use Forcers Loosners and Forcers lest any of the Membranes or after-Birth or any part of it or other foetid and putrid Matter should be left behind by which the Woman would certainly Perish But if the Child be not Dead nor expelled but only a Danger and the foetus retreats then you ought to use restingents and things above directed that Abortion may be prevented and the Child preserved Salmon XV. A Medicine after Miscarriage If part of the After-birth should remain and a continual Flux of Blood for some Months should accompany it the most Excellent Sylvius has restored the sick by three ounces of the following Decoction taken twice or thrice a day Take Bistort-root three Ounces Marjoram Pennyroyal ana a handful Water White-wine of each a sufficient quantity Strain and Sweetten with Syrup of Mugwort a Tenth part Cinnamon-water a Twentieth part By Virtue of this a piece of the After-birth as big as ones Fist was voided and the Flux of Blood stopped and cured CHAP. IX Want of Appetite I. IF want of Appetite proceeds from a cold Cause or cold Flegm afflicting the Ventricle or Stomach 't will be necessary to give a proper Vomit and then such things as may heat and corroborate it II. A Vomit evacuating Flegm and cold and watery Humours Take our Pulvis Argenteum 10. grains mix it with the Pulp of a rosted Apple and give it in the Morning fasting drinking warm Broth or Posset-drink after it The third day repeat the same Dose III. Then to warm comfort and restore the Stomach Take our Tinctura Stomachica from half a Spoonful to a Spoonful in a draught of Ale or Wine Morning Noon and Night a quarter of an Hour or more before eating it does Wonders and restores the Appetite tho lost for many Months I have proved it many Hundreds of times for these Twenty five or Twenty six Years together Salmon IV. Salt Meats are also good because they iritate and provoke the languid Faculties of the Stomach Salts also have an inciding and attenuating Virtue and next to these such things as have a volatile heat and sharpness as Mustard seed Onions Garlick Leeks Shellots c. V. When Flegm disaffects the Ventricle that is tough thick and viscous whereby the Appetite seems to be almost destroyed it will be necessary that you use Medicines of another Nature viz. such as are acid sharp and cutting for that these things not only separate the offending Matter from the Tunicles of the Stomach but also prevent Putrefaction and the Generation of the like for the future VI. For this purpose Spirit of Vitriol is most commended by some and 't is doubtless a good Medicine but ought to be cautiously used to dry Bodies lest it induces a Consumption VII But in fuller and moister Bodies it is not only safe but very profitable more especially if the Anorexia or want of Appetite proceeds from Choler Yellow or Green abounding in the Stomach VIII In this case I commend my Spiritus Aperiens and Syrupus Diasulphuriis see them in my Phylaxa Med. Lib. I. Cap. 14. Sect. I. and Lib. 2. Cap. 36. Sect. I. given the first to 30. 40. 50. or 60. or more Drops in a Glass of Ale the other in all the drink the Sick drinks to a Spoonful more or less as they can Affect it and to take it assidiously for ten Fifteen or Tweny days together they are Medecines that seldom fail of their effects and are beyond my Commendation Salmon IX I always adjust the Medicaments for cure according to the Causes where there is an exceeding Coldness of the Stomach my Tinctura Absinthij is beyond compare so also Elixir proprietatis sine Acido To these things add our Aqua Bezoartica and Tinctura Corallorum Composita given in Wine X. If the want of Appetite is restored by taking Acids it is a Sign that the Acid Humour in the Stomach is Languid debile and weak but if not or it rather is hurt by it it is a sign that it is too Rampant and Vigorous and therefore Alcalies as Tincture of Tartar Volatile Sal Armoniack or our Spirit Antiasthmaticus ought to be given and other like Volatile Salts Bezoar Mineral in our Syrup Volatilis is of good use in this case Salmon XI The loss of Appetite which arises from decay of Strength or old Age is seldom or never cured unless it proceed from a Cold cause in which case Volatile Sulphurs and Spirituous Things are proper but things that dry too much must be cautiously given The Stomach may be Anointed with Oyl of Mace or you may use this Take Balsam of Amber one Ounce common Oyl I dram mix them XII If there be neither Sickness nor weakness nor old Age present and yet the Person complains that he never comes to his Food with a Stomach or eats with an Appetite the only way to restore such an one is to let him fast till he is a hungry for long want of Victualsand emptiness insuch always breeds an Appetite XIII In Women especially such as have Gross Bodies want of Appetite is cured if not with Child by proper Emeticks and Catharticks For the first of these I commend our Cartharticum Argenteum given to a dram in a Glass of Ale For the latter either our Family Pills or our Family Powder both of which may be taken 2 or 3 or 4 times with due intervals Salmon XIV If it happens in a Woman with Child all or most of the Preceeding Courses must be avoided and other Courses taken The juices of Oranges and Lemons with white Sugar may be daily taken for some time so also Canary made acid with juice of Limons and if heat also abounds a Decoction of Tamerinds sweetned alone or mixt A Syrup or Infusion of Rheubarb is of good use XV. Want of Appetite in Consumptive People is of dangerous Consequence some commend as the best thing Elixir Proprietatis given in wine it may be good for a little Season but long it must not be taken left it also induce the Consumption The best thing which I have found by my large experience is Our Tinctura Stomachica given to a spoonsul 2. or 3. times a day in a large draught of new Milk And altho the ingredients thereof heat Violently yet by reason they are of thin Substance and parts their heat is quickly discussed and so do no harm Salmon XVI If Sickness at Stomach and want of Appetite proceed from worms as sometimes it does Our Tincturo Absinthij or Infusion of Worm-wood in Rhenish Wine or Canary is good Salmon XVII Galens Antidotus Thespesiana for want of Appetite Take Smallage-seed xij drams Myrrh Anniseed Opium ana vj. drams White-Pepper V. drams Parsly-seed Long-pepper Spicknard Cassia-Lignea ana iv drams Castor Saffron Flowers of Juncus Odoratus ana iij. drams Cinamon ij drams Honey 1 pound make an Electuary dose the quantity of a Hazle-Nut at Bed-time in a little Drink CHAP. X. Loss of the
be praised But if the Patient be Young or Weak you must proportionably lessen the Dose You may give it in the Morning Fasting and let the Sick beware of taking Cold. Salmon V. The Cholick with a vehement Catarrb and Cough Where the Griping of the Bowels is with Costiveness of Body which is for the most part accompanied with a great Cough and Catarrh there is no better Remedy upon Earth than our Spiritus Anticolicus of which the Sick may take half a Spoonful every Morning and Evening in a Glass of Ale or Wine and if it be vehement in all the Drink they take Salmon VI. The Cholick with a violent Flux of the Belly downwards and a vehement Catarrb upwards I have several times seen this preternatural Flux though it be not common Once I remember I had a Patient afflicted therewith and in a most deplorable Condition I Cured him by giving a Spoonful or Spoonful and half of my Tinctura ad Catarrhos Morning and Evening in a Glass of Ale and in a Weeks time he was perfectly well See it in my Phylaxa Med. Lib. 2. Cap. 9. Sect. 1. Salmon VII One Purge saith Rolfincius given with Judgment in the Cholick does that alone which ten Clysters will scarcely reach especially in the Cholick pain from Obstruction of the Excrements above the value It was observed when a Patient had thirty Clysters given him without any benefit that another Physician gave him an Ounce and half of Manna with two Ounces of Oyl of sweet Almonds in fat Chicken Broth and eased the Patient of his pain We in the West-India's in this case where the Constipation is great give a strong Decoction of the bitter Gourd or bitter Squash made in Water which effectually does the Cure at once if given in the beginning of the Disease Pulp of Colocynthis here will do the same In the West-India's where Peach-Trees are plentlful the Disease is Cured by taking three or four times Syrup of Peaches or by taking a very strong Decoction made of the bruised Leaves of the Peach-Tree Salmon VIII Sometimes when Clysters are given they come not away but almost suffocate by reason of their ascension be ing stopt by much Wind in this case if one two or more Clysters do not come away you must either put up a very sharp Supository or recall them with a small Clyster made of a strong Tincture or Decoction of Pulp of Colloquintida IX Where the Cholick proceeds from a kind of Glassy Phlegm weak Clysters may not be given made of Oyl Hiera and the like these though in a gentle Cholick may do some good yet in a violent one can do nothing rather mischief In this case nothing less than a strong Clyster made with our Tinctura Aurea see Phylaxa Lib. 2. Cap. 5. will do any good After the Clyster has been taken and is come away let the Patient be three or four times Purged with our Pilula Mirabiles see Phylaxa Lib. 2. Cap. 59. and he will be so perfectly Cured that the Disease will no more recur from that numerick Cause Salmon X. In a vehement Cholick with Obstruction of the Courses I gave the following things 1. I Purged the Sick well with my Pilulae Mirabiles thrice 2. I gave the following Powder Take Livers and Galls of Eeles dry them and make them into Powder Dose from one Drachm to two in white Wine Salmon XI A Venereal Cholick There is no better Medicine upon Earth then to give every day for a Week together if it has been of long continuance our Vinum Herculeanum a Sack Glass full at a time three or four times a day The way of making it see in Phylaxa Med. Lib. 1. Cap. 47. Sect. 15. It is much beyond all the the Spicy and Aromatick Things in the World Salmon XII A Clyster against the Cholick Take Decoction of Juniper Berries a Pint Spiritus Aureus one Ounce Aqua Benedicta four Ounces Oyl of Olive two Ounces mix them this works in a small time but which is admirable even before it works the pain ceases Salmon XIII Another Clyster for the same Take Decoction of Dates made in Mutton-Broth a Pint Vinum Emeticum five Ounces mix for a Clyster it gives ease almost in an Instant and brings away the morbifick Cause or Matter after a wonderful manner Salmon XIV Rondeletius saith that Castoreum and Euphorbium are of good use if the pain be constant and stir not from its place yea he estimates them not only as a present but as the ultimate Remedy If you take six eight or ten Grains of Castor in Wine and drink a little after it it will quickly Cure And five or six Gr. of Emphorbium may be Infused and taken the clear Infusion in the same quantity and manner XV. If the pain be in the upper part of the Belly above the Navel Clysters seldom do any good for they never reach the Morbifick or offending Matter yet sometimes even in these cases when the pain is very violent and the Humours crude Clysters may be given but they ought to be made of strong Attractives such as the afore-mentioned XVI This Clyster has done much good Take fat Broth a Pint Aloes dissolved two Drachms Turpentine one Ounce and a half or two Ounces Truly it is a Medicament not to be despised I remember once above all the rest of the times I used it I recovered a young Lady even from the Jaws of Death with it The Sick had been three daies and three Nights tortured with incessant Pain Clysters of most kinds had been given by an Apothecary by the Prescript of a Physitian moreover there had been given previous to those Aromatick Bolus's bitter Decoctions and lastly Opiates but all in vain nor could the Opiates do any good for that they constipated the Bowels much more which were before costive and so rendered the disease to all appearance uncurable so void of true Medical Sense or Knowledge were those Men of great names which had been before concern'd with her In short they neither gave her any Ease nor made her go to Stool so that what with the Anguish and Pain she was given over and lay for dead In this state and Condition a Gentlewoman then present moved that I might be sent for which was accordingly done when I came thither I viewed my Patient no appearance of Life could be discerned so that I had but small encouragement to act however being entreated by her grieved Parents I was perswaded even for their satisfaction The Apothecary was sent for and gave me an account of all that was done I could not forbear blaming the Physitians for acting so preposterously against the rules of Art as to prescribe Opiates in a Cholick with a strong constipation of the Bowels The Apothecary could no waies take their part but was of my Opinion But the business was now what was most fit to be done nothing could be given by the Mouth for her Teeth seemed to be set
Strain out and digest again separate the thinner part and with its own Salt or Salt of Tartar in the former proportion by digestion purifie and perfect the Essence by another forty days space of time I astly adding three or four Ounces of white Sugar to every Pint or Quart keep it close stopt for use Dose from twospoonfuls to four six or eight according to age strength It purges well and carries off the morbifick cause to a Miracle but it ought to be taken three four or six times as the exigency of the Disease requires This is a specifick in a Cholick beyond most other things and withal very safe Salmon XXXVIII Among Carminatives or Discussers of Wind I commend from a very long and large Experience our Powers of Anniseeds Powers of Caraways of Juniper-berries Limons Cloves Nutmegs Rosemary and the like Out of these the following Compositum may be made Take Powers of Cloves Nutmegs ana one Ounce of Anniseeds Carraways ana an Ounce and half of Juniper two Ounces of Limons and Rosemary ana two Ounces and a half mix all for the Uses afore-mentioned Dose half a spoonful in a Glass of Ale or Wine Salmon XXXIX This is also certain from a very great Experience That as vehement Cholicks are often caused from a cold tough viscous Phlegm sticking to the Stomach and Guts and Wind thence arising so that not only the said Wind may be gradually discussed by the assiduous use of the said Potestates or Powers but also by the use thereof that viscous Phlegm adhering to the Tunicles of the Stomach and Guts will be by degrees incided corrected and removed Salmon XL. But though these Aromatick Potestates are admirable in the precited case and so powerfully resist the Cause yet it is my Opinion That nothing exceeds my Spiritus Anticolicus being profitable to all the intentions of the Cure for that it not only corrects hoth Phlegm and Choler and discusses Wind when bred but also hinders it from breeding It not only discusses Wind or condenses it but prevents its new extention or rarification again I could produce several Histories of this Cure performed by this Medicament alone XLI Some after all other Remedies have failed have been cured by a Decoction of Guaiacum and its Bark And several Histories of Cures performed by it are extant but the most eminent is that of a Bath-keeper of Vienna after he had been tortured with a most vehement Cholick for nine months and used a great number of things to no purpose his Disease still increased upon him and by drinking of Spaw-waters was still exasperated He was married to a young Wife and she was also afflicted with the same Disease and dead of it He feared the same fate and began to be convulsed in his whole Body so that his Physicians began to fear that the Disease was or would be translated to the Genus nervosum or nervous Stock and so cause a Palsie Having stopt his Convulsions by other Medicines he gave him Guaiacum Wine according to the Advice of Amatus Lusitanus Cent cur 32. to cause him to sweat which he did for five days and was perfectly cured Germ. Eph. An. 3. P. 487. This Cholick the Physician judg'd from phlegmatick Humours the Seminaries of Wind which being dissolved by that diaphoretick Wine were spent by Sweat Some Laxatives were also given between whiles XLII In a Cholick proceeding from a hot cause hot things whether for inward or outward use must be avoided lest an Inflammation be caused In this case purging Waters clarified Whey with Sena and Syrup of Violets drank plentifully are given with good success and outwardly to the Bowels Willis advises to Fomentations of a Solution of Nitre or Sal-Armoniack as in pains of the Gout and sometimes as Septalius reports of simple cold Water XLIII If the Cholick be caused by hard Excrements hindring the passage of the rest of them and of Wind Emollients must first be used and afterwards sharp things to irritate the faculty Sennertus XLIV I had a Patient that for Four Months had been troubled with an almost Invincible Colick at length he desired my help I only gave him my Spiritus Anticolicus two Drachms at a time in a Glass of Wine and made him sweat upon it and by the using of about two or three Ounces thereof he was Cured XLV A Man about sixty Years of Age mightily complained to me of a grinding pain in his Groin which always seized him just at Night and this had continued with him for three or four Months the Constitution of the Bowels all this while being as it should be for he was neither Costive nor Loose from whence I conceived it to be rather a Flatulency in the Muscles of the Abdomen than in the Colen and so it proved for I caused him Morning Noon and Night to bathe the Part afflicted with Powers of Amber and this alone in about a Weeks time without taking any thing inwardly cured him XLVI I have several times cured an Inveterate Colick with loss of the use of Limbs by giving Turpethum Minerale so as to raise a Flux which has sometimes lasted twenty Days or more for by this means the peccant Matter lodged and as it were rooted in the Nervous System which could not be removed by other Medicines is taken away For the Mercurial Particles by diffusing themselves every way dissolve divide and dissipate the morbifick Matter into almost insensible small Particles and at length wholly expell them And this I experienced in a miserable Lame Patient whom I Cured by this means even while this present Book was in Writing LXVI I am of opinion that Catharticks mixt with Opiates are of good use I have used this following with a wonderful success Take Extract of fine Aloes Extract of Colocynthis of each twelve Grains Laudanum Volatile Nostrum five or six Grains mix them for a Dose It is true the Purge works not presently by reason the Opiate is mixt with it and therefore I give it over Night but it commonly works by the next daynoon yet this is very observable That the Patient does not feel himself as if he had taken a Purge but lies very quietly and pleasantly all Night the Physick not disturbing him griping him nor making him sick and when it does work it is with a great deal of pleasantness without any pain at all and by this silent way as it were of carrying off the Humour the Paroxysm is many times presently at an end XLVII If the Pain as I said before be not in the Bowels but in the Muscles of the Abdomen from what cause soever it does not so much matter it is sometimes cured by a Vesicatory applied upon the part or a little below the Navel and this is often done with very great success But you must by no means lay it upon the Navel lest Convulsions or Swooning follow by reason of the commerce of the umbilical Vessels and the Heart For a man
to the flux of the Humor to the sore or raw parts Elder Persons may take my Laudanum Volatile from three to six Grains beginning with the smaller Dose first They that cannot swallow a Pill may take ten or twelve Grains of my new London Treacle in any fit Vehicle These things thicken the fluid acid so that it cannot approach with that violence to the diseased parts IX But whereas Opiates strangely disagree with some People my Tinctura ad Catarrhos answers all the Intentions both of sweetening and stopping the flux of the said Humour and it may be given even to Children with a world of safety and security from half a Dram to one or two in any proper Liquor which the Child will take See it in my Phylaxa Medic. Lib. 2. Cap. 9. Sect. 2. c. X. If an Epilepsie or Convulsion be present or feared you may give with it from ten Grains to fifteen or twenty of Cinnabar of Antimony or from six Grains to twelve of the native Cinnabar levigated into a very subtil Pouder purging presently after with some of the things before named XI If the Child be taken with a vomiting withal it certainly shews the foulness and dissaffection of the Stomach and then you must cleanse it with the most innocent Gilla Theophrasti or the Salt of Vitriol given to fifteen or twenty Grains which has this Property in it not only to cleanse the Ventricle of the sharp and acid Humor causing the Thrush but also even to heal the places already raw And in those of ripe years it is a most admirable thing if given from two Scruples to a Dram in Broth or some such-like XII Sylvius de le Boe saith be prefers a metallick or mineral Sulphur fixt above all in comparison of which nothing saith he that I have hitherto tried does so kindly certainly speedily and safely restrain those vicious effervescencies But what those Sulphurs are or how in his sense to be prepared he has no-where told us I am well satisfied that the Sulphur of Antimony if well made is a most admirable thing But then it must be given to Men and not to Infants Truly I cannot tell whether it may safely be given to Children in any Dose whatsoever or no especially as it is now made There is a Sulphur of Antimony that I know which may be so prepared as it may be given to little ones without danger but that is no where to be sold that I can tell of XIII Among the rest of the ordinary Remedies Lac Sulphuris is no mean thing and it may be given to Infants as well as to elder Persons with a very great advantage XIV Topicks must be also used to the mouth throat and afflicted parts among which elder Persons may use this Take white Vitriol Roch Alum one Scruple Plantane or Spring-water four Ounces mix dissolve and sweeten with Sugar for a Gargarism But Children to whom it cannot so easily be used must have the juice of baked Turneps to wash withal or swallow down or the juice of Parsneps baked with Milk These things are Balsams in their kind and besides their healing Property have a faculty of sweetning and taking off the edge of the acid XV. Moreover you may if you please sweeten these Juices with Honey or Syrup of Roses both which still contribute to the healing of the sore and raw mouth And if the Child has discretion enough it ought to hold the same in its mouth for some time And to these things you may add Syrups of Violets Jujubes Liquorice Lettuce juice of Purslane c for that they all blunt as it were the edge of the sharp Humor and withal contribute to healing XVI But that which is more observable and remarkable but only for Persons of ripe years is the use of Spirit of Wine or pure Brandy for that only held in the mouth and sometimes Gargled with for two or three minutes at a time and that four or five times a day and then spit out certainly heals and cures the afflicted parts to a miracle And though it may smart much at first it is vehement but for a while viz. for the first two or three times using of it afterwards it is easier and at length the parts are as it were pleased and refreshed with the use thereof and in the end it perfectly heals them And this it does not do only from its balsamick Property but also as it is an Alcaly and absorbs the acid in the Ulcer XVII Sylvius commends the Yolk of an Egg mixt with a little Rose-water and Sugar for that it draws to it the acid Humour that hurts the Stomach and so by degrees 〈◊〉 the parts affected and promotes the falling of the Thrush you may use it as the Turnep and Parsnep-Juice Concerning both which Juices you are to note this That they correct the evil Ferment both in Stomach and small Guts whereby the acid effervescency is hindred and the Disease the sooner cured XVIII While the Thrush is ripening to wit gradually falling from the afflicted parts a new Cuticle grows under it and covers the place and although this follows of its own accord by the Benefit of the Medicines now commended yet it will be promoted by Syrup of Red Roses Honey of Roses and the like Also Powder of fine Bole Terra Sigillata Crabs Eyes c. mixt with fair Water and Sugar or Honey and held for some time in the mouth promote the healing XIX This is also observable That as in the curing of other Ulcers Driers are used so on the contrary much spitting is good here as if the Patient was in a Flux for then it is cured with the more speed and ease In other Ulcers things that temper the acid Acrimony and then dry are used In this you must use such things as may temper the said Acid but withal moisten XX. AEtius commends Galls beaten and boiled in Water the strained Decoction made into a thick Syrup with Honey being rubbed upon the place it is good Others commend a Decoction of Cinquefoil Roots You may also if you please use the Leaves too A Decoction of Savory in Wine is said to do it in two or three days If it be malignant Hercules Saxonia used Lixivium of Tartar or Vitriol-Water by which he conquered them Joel first washes the part well then lays on this Take Honey of Roses half an Ounce Oil of Vitriol one Dram mix and make a Liniment This he says is a present Remedy whether in old or young XXI Goclenius advises for a Thrush in children this Take Roch Alum Sugar ana half an Ounce boil in Plantane water add Juice of Mulberries a sufficient quantity mix and wash the mouth often with it But Riverius saith that the best and only Remedy is Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur if there be no Inflammation which in those that are grown may be used alone Dip a little Cotton bound to the end of a stick in it and give
by Urine cleanse the Reins and Bladder open Obstructions of the Urine take away sharpness of the Humors cure inward Ulcers strengthen the Stomach Liver Spleen Mesentery and Womb are prevalent against the Dropsie Cachexy Green-sickness and Scurvy and cure the pissing of Blood LV. Experience has for a long time taught us that strong Diureticks must be used with much caution for that they many times encrease the Pain force the Stone into narrow Passages excoriate the urinary Vessels and many times cause pissing of Blood which cause often times Faintings Swoonings Convulsions Epilepsies and the like In this case Lenient or Emollient Clysters are of singular use for by their discussive property they melt or dissolve the Humors clear the urinary Passages making way for Urine and Gravel A certain Physician had experience of this in his own Person who being in extream Torment had ease by taking three Emollient Clysters in one day the Gravel being loosned and the thick viscous Matter joyned with it being brought away with the Urine for several days together that thence-forth he never fell again into any such pain LVI Emollient Clysters may be made of Mallows Althaea-Roots Millet and the like but Faenugreek-seed is inferiour to none of them If also with the Clyster Turpentine half an Ounce opened with the Yolk of an Egg be added it will be so much the prevalent and efficacious Fontanus accounted the Millet seed given to one Pound or less is an excellent thing and kept it as a secret Dolaeus gives a Milk Clyster or one of Milk and Turpentine with the Yolk of an Egg but he advises against Salt being put in because it is apt to make them stay long LVII Doloeus out of Wedelius prescribes this following Opiate Take Sperma Coeti Crabs Eyes ana one Dram Cinnabar of Antimony one Scruple Volatile Salt of Amber four Grains Laudanum Opiatum half a Grain but I think one Grain or two to be better Troches of Alkakengi with Opium half a Scruple mix and make a Pouder for four Doses In the Fit saith he when the pain is violent an Emulsion or some Opiate will be good LVIII Out of the Fit saith the same excellent Man we must endeavour to extirpate the Coagulator and withal we must always have regard to the Stomach therefore Stomatick Medicines will be good some say there is nothing better either for the cure or prevention of the Stone than this following Antinephritick Take Seeds of Anise Parsly Dill Leaves of Saxifrage ana half an Ounce Juice of a Pike Crabs-Eyes Seeds of Hipps or wild Briar ana one Ounce mix and make a Pouder Dose one Dram at a time The following Pills are also of good use Take Venice Turpentine dried a little at the Fire two Drams Spanish Juice of Liquorice Pouder of the same ana half a Dram mix and make Pills as big as Pease which roul in Pouden of Millepedes Dose one Dram and a half at a time Morning and Evening LIX Some Physicians commend a Vomit for prevention to expel the tartarous Matter before it be derived either to the Reins or Bladder some give it in the Fit because Nature seems to shew the way by their reaching to Vomit This I found true by Experience in a certain Lady a Patient of mine who had lain Bed-rid fifteen or sixteen Weeks of this Disease and though many things were administred nothing did good 'till I gave her a Vomit which was Salt of Vitriol one Dram which gave her six Vomits and this I repeated for five days together it made a great revulsion and had so wonderful an effect that in fourteen or twenty Days she was restored to her perfect Health and though through the extremity of the pain she had Convulsion Fits and many returns of them in a day so that she was given over for dead yet after the first Emetick Dose those Fits ceased and her Pains wonderfully diminished the force of the Emetick being over I then administred Antinephriticks and Stomaticks such as Powers of Juniper Salt of Amber Ens Veneris my Tinctura Stomachica Syrup of Limons with some other things of like nature And without doubt Vomits conduce much to the Cure if there be a real Stone or other obstructing Matter for by straining much it helps the expulsion of the Stone or Gravel as sometimes it does to the delivery of a Woman in Travel by the violent commotion of the whole Body and compression of the Muscles of the Belly This method I have often taken with success and sometimes I have exhibited especially if the Sick was strong Vinum Benedictum or my Catharticum Argenteum with good success but I chose to give Emeticks to such as were apt and easie to Vomit and not otherwise Salmon LX. Barbet saith he has done more by Alteratives and Narcotick Medicines than by any others Clysters he also saith are very proper And because in his Praxis Lib. 3. Cap. 8. Sect. 8 he has given us an ample Catal gue of Antinephriticks I care not greatly if I transfer them hither Roots of Rest-harrow Eringo Grass Liquorice Orrice Parsly Smallage Drop-wort Marsh-mallows Onions Garlick Leeks Leaves of Mallows Maiden-hair Germander Arsmart Pellitory Camomil Ground Ivy Lovage Cresses Saxifrage Savin Golden-Rod Schaenanth Garlick Cloves Flowers of Elder Hops Seeds of Poppy Gromwel the four great cold Seeds Anise Fennel Carrots Daucus Carraways Barley broad Cummin Fruits as Winter-Cherries Straw-berries Figgs Juniper-berries Bay-berries Ivy-berries Woods as Hasle-wood Nephritickwood Guaiacum Sassafras Cassia Lignea Cinnamon Pine-chips Balsams as Turpentine viz. the Laricea Venice Cypress and Chio Balsams of Gilead Peru Tolu and Chili Capivi Balsam of Sulphur simple and compound with Oyl of Anniseeds or Juniper-berries Whey Tooth of a Boar Earth-worms Tartar and all its compounded Medicines Salts as of Tartar Bean-stalks Broom Pot-ashes Ash of Egg-shells of Amber Nitre Sal-armoniack Baths Crabs-Eyes Waters distilled out of the above-said Herbs and Roots Mineral Waters from Iron Mines Mineral Waters artificially made Spirits of Wine of Salt of Sulphur Vitriol Nitre and of Tartar both Acid and sweetned with Spirit of Wine and of Ammoniacum Nephritick Tincture of Mynsicht Syrups of Althaea of white and wild Poppies Diacodium Bizantinus Diuretick Oxymel of Quercetan Oils of sweet Almonds Anniseeds Amber and Turpentine of Carraways Dill Fennel Juniper-berries Nephritick Antidote of Quercetan Montagnana's Electuary Jaw-bone of a Pike Oyster-shells calcined To which we add also our Guttae Vitae Tinctura Martis Spiritus Universalis Antiscorbuticus Anticolicus Anodynus Aperiens Cosmeticus Potestates Baccarum Juniperi Carvi Crinum Humanorum Lithontripticae Pulegii Rosmarini Succini Terebinthinae Anisi Virtutum Elixir de Sulphure Proprietatis cum Acido Opiatum Ciroulatum minus Syrupus Chalybeatus Diasulphuus Nephriticus Sal 〈◊〉 Vitriolatunm Antidotus iostra Theriaca Londinensis 〈◊〉 Laudanum Volatile notrum Pilulae Lunares Miabiles nostrae Nephriticae Lau danum Volatile cum Aloe Manna Honey Mead and Metheglin Rhenish-wine All these latter
Vaporosum and let it stand 〈◊〉 Weeks in digestion or to putrifie and it will become a slimy Water Take the Retort open its neck and lay the Retort in a Sand-furnace and cover it with an earthen Pan fixing to it a Receiver well luted give first a slow fire then a stronger which continue till the Spirits be well resolved into water First the Spirits will come forth in white Clouds or in smoak and at last in red Clouds or smoak give fire so long till all the Spirits are come over in a clear white water and when you have this sign take the Receiver from the Retort stopping the said Receiver very well with Wax that no Spirits may fly away then let the Fire go out XX. The Matter which remains in the Retort take out and put it into a Bolt-head and stop it well and set it in a warm place then rectifie once the Spirits which are in the Receiver and keep them carefully Now observe this you remember that when the Mercury hath lost its Praecipiolum that the same Mercury will be as bright as a Venice Looking-glass Take of this bright Mercury one part of the Spirit aforesaid two parts put them into a Bolt head stop it very close and let it stand in a little warmth and the Mercury will mix with the Spirit then distil all through a Retort in Sand. Take again of the aforesaid Mercury which is clear as a Venice Looking-Glass p. i. of the Spirit p. ij put them into a Bolt-head and set it in a warm place and the Mercury will mix with the Spirit and dissolve then distil again in a Retort in Sand ut supra and it will come over in form of VVater this continue so long 'till all the one half part of the might Mercury is brought to a clear thin VVater which keep very close stopped with VVax Take the Pouder which I ordered to be kept in a Bolt-head and place it very deep in a sand Capel and give a strong Fire for twenty four Hours then let the Fire go out and take the Bolt-head forth and stir the Pouder with a wooden Stick and put it upon the half part of the clear Mercurial Water closing the Glass with Hermes Seal shake it and let it stand in digestion in a warm place for three or four days then pour off this into another Glass and pour upon the remainder of the Pouder the other half of the VVater sealing the Glass again and letting it stand ut supra for three or four days then put it to the former VVater and Seal up the Glass Hermetically letting it stand in Balneo Vaporoso eight Days after distil it through a Retort and if any thing remain in the Retort which will be very little pour upon it the Spirit again and distil it 'till all is come over Now is the Salt with its own Spirit and brought into its first Matter keep it well stopped XXI This is the VVater which the Philosophers have given divers Names to as their Horse-dung Balneum Mariae and Calx Viva and in Sum this is the Philosophers true Fire without which no true work can be done in Chymistry XXII The Philosopher has brought forth this Salamander which will never wast in the Fire the longer the stronger This Water will increase and multiply per Infinitum that is to say if all the Sea were Mercury it would turn the same into its first Matter First you must wash your Mercury with Salt and Vinegar divers times and at last with Water to wash away the Salt Then mix this Mercury with Calx Vive and Calcin'd Tartar and by Sect. 8. aforegoing distil it in a Retort in a sand Furnace and fix to it a Receiver fill'd almost half full of Water that the Mercury may fall into it and coagulate which dry and squeeze eight or ten times through Leather so will your Mercury be well purged and cleansed from all its filth and uncleanness XXIII This is the Mercury which you must use in the multiplying your Spirit or Astrum Mercurij Take of this Mercury p. i. of the Astrum Mercurij p. ij put them into a Bolt-head stop it close and let it stand in a warm place one Night so will the Mercury melt in the Spirit or Astrum Mercurij and turn into Water then distil it through a Retort Thus may you do by repeating the Spirit with fresh Mercury as long as you please XXIV This Water will dissolve Gold and Silver and all sorts of Stones and bring them over with it through a Retort Gold and Silver thus dissolved can never be separated one from another The reason is because they and all other Mettals are of the same Nature and have beginning from the same Water there is nothing in the World but has its beginning from it XXV Medicina Universalis the Universal Medicine Take of your fine Gold in Powder viz. the same which did remain when you made the Praecipiolum one part of your finest Silver two parts in fine Powder put each by it self into a Glass pour upon each the Astrum Mercurij so much as may overtop them a Fingers breadth stop each Glass very close and let them stand in a warm place for eight days and the Gold and Silver will be almost all dissolved into Water pour off this Water each by it self into a Glass and put more Water to the Gold and Silver which yet remains let it stand again eight days in a warm place and then pour off these Waters to the former Waters so will the Gold and Silver be dissolved into Water but there will remain some Foeces XXVI Take of both these Waters a quarter part and put them together into a Bolt-head so as three quarters may be empty seal it Hermetically digest it in an Athanor in a continual warm heat 'till it comes to a fixed red Stone or Pouder Before it becomes a red Pouder there will appear many Colours as Black then Green then Yellow lastly Red When it is very Red and a Pouder take the Bolt head and bury it in a sand Capel very deep and give Fire by degrees and at last a very strong Fire and it will melt like Wax Let it stand one whole Week but the longer the better then take it out and let it cool after break up your Glass and you will find a fird Stone or Pouder and Red as Scarlet XXVII Now you may remember that I bid you keep three parts of your Gold and Silver which were dissolved into Water put both these Waters together into a Retort distil them and both the Gold and Silver will go over with the Water through the Retort with which Water you shall multiply your Medicine Now take of your Medicine p. i. in fine Pouder and put it into a little Bolt head putting upon it twice as much of your Waters as of Gold and Silver Seal it again and digest it in an Athanor 'till it comes to a Red Pouder
dwell Nor is the Spirit by it self the Seed of things nor yet the Corporeal Particles by themselves but a certain portion of Spirit joyned with a fit proportion of Idoneous Matter conjoyned with an Eternal Soul which in the beginning of our Work is to be Putrefied and made blackness and darkness that the whole Corporeal form may be made spiritual and the Seed which before was Corporeal and Visible or a Spirit joyned with a Soul and a Body may become wholly spiritual From this third Immixt Incorporeal and Invisible Seed as from the Crow in the blackness and darkness of the Night is our Stone the true Seed brought forth which saith Our Hermes is the beginning of this Art II. Hermes See here how I have obscured the matter spoken of to you by a kind of Circumlocution and I have deprived you of seeing the light by giving you too much light And 1. This dissolved 2. This joyned 3. This nearest and longest I have named to you Salmon He tells us he has not nakedly demonstrated the whole thing to us but he has Indigitated the Matter with what fincerity he could Circumscribendo by a certain going about or Circumlocution which the Sons of Art by thinking and Meditating upon may at length happily find out The Philosophers say there are three several Birds which from the Name of Hermes they call Aves Hermeticae which fly by Night without Wings The first is Corvus the Crow or Raven which from its blackness is said to be the beginning of the Art and is of the Nature of the Element of the Earth Another is the Swan and is so called from the Whiteness in the middle and answers to the Element of the Water in which the Swan is Conversant The third is the Eagle which is the Oleum seu Sulphur Philosophorum and answers to the Air for that it flys longest in the Air and nearest to the Sun But that you may not be deceived by Names these Birds answer to so many Spirits or rather to one only Spirit under that threefold appearance or manifestation III. Hermes Roast them therefore then boyl them in that which proceeds from the Horse Belly for 7 14 or 21 days that it may eat its own Wings and kill or destroy it self This done let it be put in Petta Panni and in the fire of a Fornace which dili gently lute and take care of that none of the Spirit may go forth And observe that the times of the Earth are in the Water which let be as long as you put the same upon it Salmon Hitherto he has for the most part delivered the Art Theorically now he comes to the Practical part ordering the matter before demonstrated in divers manners to be roasted and to boil it in Horse-dung for a certain number of days There is a time of digestion which is the prime or first Assation or Decoction with a fire weak and soft like that of horse-dung which is sufficient for the first degree of Digestion This being done the Dragon will eat his own Wings and kill or destroy himself that is the matter will begin in the Terra Philosophica to be dissolved and corrupted Then after the time of the solution is absolved or compleated the heat of the fire is by little and little to be augmented and the matter to be decocted in a Philosophick Fornace or 〈◊〉 with a continual fire But the Vessel which must hold the matter must be exactly sealed lest the Mineral Spirits which have a most vehement and penetrating fire should transpire or go forth and leave the dead Body This may be done with Lutum Sapientiae which you may prepare after this manner Take Glue dried into powder one ounce Barly flower two ounces green Wood Ashes Salt Calx Vive Sand Crocus martis or Caput mort of Vitriol ana one ounce all being in fine powder let them be mixed with juice of Comfrey and Whites of Eggs to the just consistency of Lute with this the Mouths and junctures of the Vessels must be stopt and closed so that the least Spirit or Vapour may not go forth IV. Hermes The mat ter then being melted or dissolved and burnt take the brain thereof and grind it in most sharp Vinegar or Childrens Urine till it be obscured or hid this done it does live in putrefaction Salmon Our Stone contains secretly or hiddenly in its self all the Colors of the World which are not manifested unless it be first melted or dissolved As often therefore as it is melted in the fire so often a new color arises from it till all the colours are vanished and the whole matter is reduced to ashes And in these Philosophick Ashes is the Phoenix hidden and out of them will it arise with glory and splendour at first weak like a Worm which in success of time will become a Bird even the most glorious Phoenix By the Brain thereof he means the Spirit But here he calls the Ashes the Brain Metaphorically for as the Brain is the Seat of the most pure and subtil Animal Spirit in an Animal so these Ashes are the place of the most subtil Mineral or Metallick Spirit and the matter in which the said Spirit is hidden even the most noble and most pretious Spirit of this whole greater World By the most sharp Vinegar or Childrens Urine he means the Acidity or Spiritual juices of the Metals or Metalick bodies And by grinding the Ashes therewith he means dissolving them therein which is the Philosophick way of speaking And this dissolution must be so long till it putrefies and the first color of the operation appears which is blackness which color must twice appear The Stone must become Black twice twice White and twice Red the cause of which is but one only for that the putrefaction is twice repeated and therefore it is said the second time to live in Putrefaction that is being once corrupted and putrefied the second time it does putrefie By the Brain as I have said is understood the Spirit or the most subtil Mineral substance dissolved in the Radicated Vinegar of the Philosophers if you know not the preparation or rectification of this Radicated Vinegar you know nothing of the true Philosophick Menstruum or dissolvent there is no other Aqua Vitae Metalica Aqua Vitae Mercurialis Aqua Lapidis but this Acetum Radicatum for that it contains in it self all things necessary for this Work V. Hermes The Dark Clouds will be in it before it is Kill'd let them be converted into its own Body and this to be reiterated as I have described Again let it be Killed as aforesaid and then it does Live Salmon That is to say while the Matter is in Dissolution and Putrefaction in Killing but not Killed the Clouds like a Tempest will arise which is an effervescence caused from the contest of the contending principles as is evident in all sorts of Fermentations These Clouds must revert again and be converted into
prevail that the parts of it may appear in the converted Element and being thus mixed with the Elementated thing then that Element will have that matter which made it an Element and the virtue of the other converting Element will be predominant and remain this is the great Arcanum of the whole Art CHAP. XXXVI The Key which opens the Mystery of this Grand Elixir I. THIS is the true Copy of a Writing found in a Coffin upon the Breast of a Religious Man by a Soldier making a Grave at Ostend to bury some slain Soldiers Anno 1450. 2. My Dear Brother if you intend to follow or study the Art of Alchymie and work in it let me give you warning that you follow not the literal prescripts of Arnoldus nor Raymundus nor indeed of most other Philosophers for in all their Books they have delivered nothing but figuratively so that Men not only loose their time but their Money also III. I my self have studdied in these Books for more than 30 Years and never could find out the Secret or Mistery by them But at length through the goodness of God I have found out one Tincture which is good true and absolutely certain and has restored to me my Credit and Reputation IV. Now knowing as I do how much time you have lost and what Wealth you have consumed being touched with it as a Friend and in regard of our faithful promise to each other in our beginning to participate each of others Fortunes I have thought it fit here to perswade you not to loose your self any longer in the Books of the Philosophers but to put you in the right way which after long Wanderings I have found out and now at this present I on my Death-Bed bequeath you V. I advise you to take nothing from it nor add any thing to it but to do just as I have set it down and observe these following directions so will you succeed and prosper in the work VI. First Never work with a great Man lest your life come into danger 2. Let your Earthen Vessels be well made and strong lest you lose your Medicine 3. Learn to know all your Materials that you be not cheated with that which is sophisticate and nothing worth 4. Let your Fire be neither stronger nor soster but what is fit and just as I have here directed 5. Let the Bellows and all the other Materials be your own 6. Let no man come where you Work and seem Ignorant to all such as shall enquire any thing of you touching the Secret 7. Learn to know Metals well especially Gold and Silver and put them not into the Work till they be first purified by your own hands as fine as may be 8. Reveal not this Secret to any one but let this Writing be Buried with you giving a confirmed charge concerning the same to him you Trust. 9. Get a Servant that may be Trusty and Secret and of a good Spirit to attend you but never leave him alone 10. Lastly when you have ended the Work be Kind and Generous Charitable to the Poor publick Spirited and return your Tribute of Thanks to the Great and most Merciful God the Giver of all good Things VII Take mineral Quick Silver three pounds made neither of Lead nor Tin and cause an Earthen Pot to be made well burned the first time glaze it all over except the bottom the which anoint with hogs Grease and it will not Glaze This is done that the Earth of the Quick Silver may sink to the bottom of the Pot which it would not do being glazed nor become Earth again VIII The Pot must be made a good foot long of the Fashion of an Urinal with a Pipe in the midst of it The Fornace must be made on purpose that the Pot may go in close to the sides of the Mouth of the Furnace Set on the Pot a good great Cap or Head with its Receiver without Luting of it give it a good fire of Coals till the Pot be all on fire and very red then take the fire out quickly and put in the Quick Silver at the Pipe and then with as much hast as you can stop it close with Lute IX Then will the Quick Silver by the heat and force it finds both Break and Work a part thereof you shall see in the Water as it were a few drops and a part will stick to the bottom of the Pot in black Earth Now let the Pot cool within the Fornace as it is then open it and you shall find the Quick Silver in it all Black which you must take out and wash very clean and the Pot also X. As for the Water which does distil out put it a side or cast it away for it is nothing worth because it is all Flegm Set the Pot into the Fornace again and make it red hot put in the Quick Silver lute well the Pipe and do as you did the first time and do this so often until the Mercury becomes no more black which will be in ten or eleven times XI Then take it out and you shall find the Mercury to be without Flegm but joyned with Earth of which two Qualities it must be freed being Enemies to Nature thus the Quick Silver will remain pure in color Caelestial like to Azure which you may know by this sign viz. Take a piece of Iron heat it red hot and quench it in this Mercury and it will become soft and white like Luna XII Then put the Mercury into a Retort of Glass between two Cups so that it touches neither bottom nor sides of the Cups and make a good fire under it and lay Embers on the top the better to keep the heat of the fire and in Forty hours the Mercury will Distil into a slimy Water hanging together which will neither wet your Hands nor any other thing but Metals only XIII This is the true Aqua Vitae of the Philosophers the true Spirit so many have sought for and which has been desired of all Wise Men which is called the Essence Quintessence Powers Spirit Substance Water and Mixture of Mercury and by many other the like Names without strange things and without offence to any Man XIV Save well this precious Liquor or Water obscured by all Philosophers for without it you can do no good or perfect Work Let all other things go and keep this only for any one that sees this Water if he has any Practice or Knowledge will hold to it for it is Precious and worth a Treasure XV. Now resteth to make the Soul which is the perfection of the Red without which you can neither make Sol nor Luna which shall be Pure and Perfect With this Spirit you may make things Apparent and Fair yea most True and Perfect all Philosophers affirm that the Soul is the substance whichsustains and preserves the Body making it Perfect as long as it is in it XVI Our Body must have a Soul otherwise
soft substance This is done with Ignition in their Fusion thus With Saturn or Jupiter the substance of Argent Vive or Sulphur fixed or of Arsenick must be mixed in their profundity Or they must be mixed with hard and not fusible things as the Calx of Marchasite and Tutia for these are united with and embraced by them and harden them so that they flow not till they are red hot The same thing is also compleated by our Medicine perfecting them of which hereafter XX. Fixation by removal of their fugitive substance This is done by calcination in a fire proportional to their substance In order to which 1. All their corrupting adustive substance must be cleansed from them as aforesaid 2. Then their earthy superfluity must be taken away 3. They must be dissolved and Reduced or compleatly washed in a Lavement of Argent Vive This is necessary and profitable XXI Saturn is specially hardened by a Calcination with the Acuity of Salt and by Talk it is especially dealbated as also by Marchasite and Tutia Calcine Saturn fluxed with common Salt putrefied stirring it continually with an Iron Spatula till it comes to Ashes Decoct it for one Natural day and let it be a little Fiery hot but not much then wash it with pure clean water and Calcine it for 3 daies till it be Red both within and without If you would have it to be prepared for the White Imbibe it with water of White Alum and reduce it with Oyl of Tartar or its Salt But if you would have it for the Red Imbibe it with the water of Crocus Martis and of Verdigrise and reduce it with Salt of Tartar as before This work Reiterate as often as need requires XXII The Calcination of Saturn and Jupiter Let a great Test or Calcining Pan be placed in a Fornace and put Saturn and Jupiter into it with as much common Salt prepared and Roch Alum Calcined being in Flux let the Metal be continually stirred with an Iron Spatula full of holes till the whole be reduced to Ashes which sift and set chem in the Fire again keeping them continually Red Fire Hot till the Calx of Jupiter is whitened or that of Jupiter is rubified as Minium XXIII The Regimen of Saturn and Jupiter for the White Take Saturn purified three Pound melt or add to it clean or purified Mercury twelve Pound stirring the whole that they may be mixed This mixture put into a Bolt-Head of a Foot in Length which place in the Athanor with a gentle Fre for a week Take purified Jupiter one Poind melt and add purified Mercury 12 Pound doing in all respects as before with Saturn In this weeks time you will have a Paste dissolved fit to be Fermented with the White Ferment Thus. XXIV Take of the White Ferment one Pound of the Paste of Saturn two Pounds of the Paste of Jupiter three Pounds These being dissolved mix through their least parts and set in putrefaction in a moderate Fire like as in dissolution for seven daies Then take them out well mixed and Strain or Squeeze their more Liquid parts through a Cloth The thick Matter remaining put into a Glass Seal it well up and place it in an Athanor for the time aforesaid which do thrice till it has Imbibed all the humidity Then put the Vessel with its Matter into a Fornace of Fixation for twelve daies which done take it forth and reduce it with things reducing so will you find that which our Ancestors found not without great Study viz. The Generated generating Prove this upon the Cineritium or Cupel with Lead and you will find the Body perfect in Whiteness perpetually generating its like XXV The Regimen of Saturn is also compleated if being prepared and dissolved I suppose he means in his dissolutive Water made of Nitre and Vitriol it be mixed with a third part of its Red Ferment dissolved also and then Distilling off the Water and Cohobating seven times Reduce it to a Body and prove it by its Examen and you will rejoyce in the bountiful Body which is generated XXVI White Medicines for Saturn also solar Medicines for Saturn Because the Medicines and the work are wholly or altogether the same as for Jupiter and that in the Chapter of Jupiter we have explicitely and largely declared the matter we shall refer you thither saying no more thereof in this place see Chap. 43. Sect. 16 17 18 19 20 21. following CHAP. XLIII The Alchymie of Jupiter I. TO prepare Jupiter Put it into a fit Vessel in a Fornace of Calcination and make a good Fusion stirring the melted Metal with an Iron Spatula full of holes drawing off the Scum as it arises and again stirring the Body and thus continuing till the whole quantity is reduced to Pouder or Ashes This Pouder sift and replace it in the Fornace again in the same heat of Fire stirring it often for 24 hours till its whole accidental and superfluous humidity is abolished with all its combustible and corrupting Sulphur Then often well wash it with common Salt cleansed and Alum purified and sharp Vinegar and dry it in the Sun or Air. Grind it again washing and drying it doing this so long till by the acuity of the Salts Alums Vinegar its whole humidity blackness and uncleanness is taken away This done add Glass in fine Pouder to it impaste the whole together and with a sufficient Fire make it flow in a Crucible with a hole in its bottom set within another so will the pure and clean Body descend the whole Earthy and Faeculent substance remaining above with the Glass Salts and Alums in which pure Body is an equal and perfect proportion Argent Vive and White Sulphur not burning Then Calcine this pure Body with pure and clean Sal Armoniack till it be in weight equal or thereabout being well and perfectly Calcined Grind the whole well and long upon a Porphyrie and set it in the open Air in a Cold moist place or in a Glass Vessel in a Fornace of Solution or in Horse-Dung till the whole be dissolved augmenting the Salt if need be This Water ought to be esteemed for it is what we seek for in the whole II. Tin is a Metallick Body White Livid not pure and a little sounding partaking of little Earthiness possessing in its Root harshness softness easiness of Liquefaction without Ignition not abiding the Cupel or Cement but extensible un der the Hammer Therefore Jupiter among Bodies diminished from perfection is in the Radix of its Nature of affinity to Sol and Luna but more to Luna and less to Sol. III. Jupiter because it receives much whiteness from the Radix of its generation it whitens all other Bodies which are not White but it has a fault that it breaks or makes brittle all other Bodies except Saturn and most pure Sol Jupiter adheres much to Sol and Luna and therefore does not easily receede from them in the examen or Tryal by the
take out the Matter grind it on a stone and dry it very well Imbibe again with rectified Oyl of Eggs or with Sal Alkali or Oyl of Salt of Pot-Ashes or of Nitre or Tartar until it will flow with Ingress Project one part upon five parts of Tin prepared and it will be perfect Luna of the second Order without Error XVII Another White Medicine for Jupiter and Saturn prepared Take Talk Calcined and grind it with as much as it self of Sal Armoniack sublime it three or four times dissolve into Water and therewith Imbibe Luna calcined as you did in the former so often as until it has drunk in as much as its own weight is and give ingress to it with the Oyls aforesaid and project one part upon 10 parts of Jupiter prepared and it will be all fine Luna XVIII Another White Medicine for Saturn and Jupiter prepared Take Luna 1 pound dissolved in its own water made of Nitre and Vitriol to which add Talck calcined and dissolved 1 pound Distil off the Water cohobating 3 or 4 times congeal and incerate with Arsenick sublimed until it flow and have Ingress project 1 part upon 8 parts of Jupiter prepared and 't will be all fine Luna These three Medicines you may project upon Saturn prepared for the White but then the Saturn must be prepared and calcined for three days by Sect. 21. of the former Chapter XIX A Solar Medicine for Jupiter and Saturn prepared Calcine Sol amalgating first with Mercury as in Luna express the Mercury through a Cloth then grind it with twice so much as it self of common Salt prepared set the whole over a gentle fire that the remaining Mercury may receed Extract the Salt with sweet water dry the Calx from which sublime as much Sal Armoniack reverting the sublimed Salt four times dissolve it in A. F. made of Vitriol Nitre and Alum dissolve also Crocus Martis made by calcination or Copper calcined red joyn these Waters in equal parts draw off the Water by distillation and cohobate four times then dry the matter and imbibe it with Oyl of Tartar rectified as heretofore is taught until it flows as Wax and by projection will tinge four parts of Saturn or Jupiter into Gold Obrizon XX. Another Solar Medicine for Saturn and Jupiter prepared It is made with Sol dissolved as in the former and a like quantity of Verdigrise calcin'd and dissolved being both mixed and incerated by distilling and incerating with Sulphur prepared until it flow like Wax and tinge 8 parts of Saturn or Jupiter prepared splendidly XXI A third Solar Medicine for Saturn and Jupiter prepared for the Red. It is made of Sol dissolved Sulphur dissolved and Verdigrise dissolved mixt and prepared as in the last Sect and then increated with Oyl of Hair prepared or of Eggs for both are one one part of this projects upon 10 parts of Saturn or Jupiter prepared for the red and it will be most fine Gold according to its degree these Medicines only altering in the second Order XXII There is also another preparation of Jupiter by Sect. 22. of the former Chapter XXIII And in Sect. 23. of the former Chapter you have the Regimen of Jupiter for the White which generates or produces fine Luna such as being tryed upon the Test produces a Body perfect in Whiteness and perpetually generating its life CHAP. XLIV Of the Alchemy of Mars I. TO prepare Mars or Iron Calcine it as Venus with common Salt cleansed and let it he washed with pure Vinegar Being washed dry it in the Sun and when dried grind and imbibe it with new Salt and Vinegar and put it into the same Fornace as we shall direct in Venus for 3 days Esteem and value this Solution viz. The water of fixed Sulphur wonderfully augmenting the color of the Elixir II. The whole Secret of Mars is from the Work of Nature because it is a Metalick body very livid a little Red partaking of Whiteness not pure sustaining Ignition fusible with violent fire extensive under the Hammer and sounding much III. It is hard to be managed by reason of its impotency of fusion which if it be made to flow by a Medicine changing its nature is so conjoyned to Sol and Luna that it cannot be separated by examen without great Industry but if prepared it is conjoyned and cannot be separated by any Artisice if the nature of that fixation be not changed by it the defilement of the Mars being only removed Therefore it is easily a Tincture of Redness but difficultly of Whiteness And when it is conjoyned it is not altred nor does it change the colour of the commixtion but augments it in quantity IV. Among all Bodies Jupiter is more splendidly more clearly more brightly and more perfectly transmuted into a Solar or Lunar Body than other Bodies but the Work is of long labour though easie to be handled Next to Jupiter is Venus chosen of more difficult handling but of shorter labour than Jupiter Next after Venus comes Saturn which has a diminished perfection in Transmutation and is easie to be hand led but of most tedious labour Lastly Mars among all the Bodies of least perfection is in transmutation most difficult to be handled and of exceeding long labour V. And the more difficult any Bodies are of fusion the more difficult they are in handling in the Work of Transmutation the easier to be fused the easier to be handled and what diversity of perfections are found in any particular in the lesser or middle Works yet in the Great Work all Bodies are of one perfection but not all of a like easie handling or labour VI. Hence it appears that Mars or Iron is a commixture of fixed Earthy Sulphur with fixed earthy Argent Vive of a livid whiteness the highly fixed Sulphur predominating which prohibits fusion Whence it is evident that fixed Sulphur hinders fusion more than fixed Argent Vive But Sulphur not fixed hastens fusion more than unfixed Argent Vive By which the cause of speedy or slow fusion in every body is seen VII What has more of a fixed Sulphur is harder to fuse than what partakes of a burning fugitive Sulphur which appears because Sulphur cannot be fixed without Calcination and no Calx gives fusion therefore in all things it viz. fixt Sulphur must impede the same VIII The causes of the corruption of the Metals by fire are 1. The inclusion of a burning Sulphur in the profundity of their substance diminishing them by Inflammation and exterminating into Fume whatever fixed Argent Vive was in them 2. A Vehemency of the Exterior flame penetrating and resolving them with it self into Fume and the most fixed matter in them 3. The rarefaction of them by calcination the flame or fire penetrating into and exterminating them Where all these causes of Corruption concur those Bodies must be exceedingly corrupted Where they all concur not they are by so much the less corrupted IX The causes of the
perfect Luna XIII The Regiment of Luna Dissolve and Coagulate it 7 times or at least 4 times and to it dissolved adjoyn the fixed Rubifying Waters which we shall declare and you will find the body aptly solar for it agrees with Sol and remains quietly with it In this Venus admirably well purged and dissolved may be a great help to you because a most clean tinging and fixed Sulphur may be extracted from it And I tell you that Mercury purified and fixed has power to palliate or illustrate the foulness of imperfect Bodies and fixed Sulphur extracted pure from bodies to tinge them with splendor XIV Hence you may gather a great Secret viz. That Mercury and Sulphur may be extracted as well from imperfect Bodies as from perfect For purified Spirits and middle Minerals are an help and very peculiar for deducing the Work to perfection XV. Another Regiment of Luna This is to reduce it to a more noble state Take Luna dissolved 3 Pounds of Venus dissolved 4 Pounds of Ferment dissolved 1 Pound conjoyn the dissolutions decoct them sor 7 days with gentle fire in a sealed glass as in Mars with their whole water then augment the fire leisurely for other 7 days and let it be as a fire of Sublimation For other 7 days give it fire yet stronger that the whole water may be fixed with it This pouder reduce in a small quantity and if it retains with it self part of the Mercury which you will easily perceive if you know how to calcine it is well indeed but if not put it again to be fixed until it is sufficiently fixt This must be reduced with red reducing Medicines so will you find your Luna tinged transmuted and fixed XVI The Ferment of Luna for the White It is made by dissolving Luna in its own Corrosive water and then boiling this water away to a third part it is to be exposed to the Air or set in B. M. or in Dung for certain days so will it be Oyl of Luna and Ferment which keep for the White Work XVII The Ferment of Ferments upon Mercury for the White Take of the Ferment of Luna which is its Oyl add to it twice as much of Arsenick sublimed and dissolved in water Quaer what Water then to both these add of Mercury dissolved as much as of the Arsenick mix the Waters set them over the fire for one day to be incorporated then draw off the water by an Alembick and cohobate fifteen times so incerating it will be fluid as fusible Wax Add to it as much Virgin-Wax melted commix them and project the mixture upon Mercury washed Quaere What is meant by washing here according as you see fit for that resolved is augmented in Virtue and Weight XVIII A Work upon Luna and Mercury Take Litharge Salt of Pot-Ashes mix and make a Cement Put the Cement first into a Crucible an Inch thick upon which put a Ball of the Amalgamation of Mercury and Luna upon which put the remainder of the Cement that the Ball may be in the middle Dry lute and set the Crucible in a gentle fire for half a day leisurely augmenting the fire and so continue its leisurely in crease from the Evening unto the dawning of the day with moderate ignition at last then take it out and prove it by Cineritium and it will be Luna in weight and surdity and much better in fixation XIX Another Work Amalgamate Luna with Mercury to which add as much Saturn as there is Luna put it into such a Crucible that a fourth part of it may be empty Affuse on it Oyl of Sulphur and decoct it unto the consumption of the Oyl Afterwards keep it for two hours in a moderate fire and there will be generated a black Stone with a little Redness This Stone prove by Cineritium and you will find your Luna augmented in Weight Surdity and Fixation XX. Another Work Take Luna amalgamated with Mercury Grind it with twice so much Metaline Arsenick to which a tenfold proportion of amalgamated Venus viz. That the Amalgamation of Venus may be 10 times as much as the whole Amalgama of Luna and Mercury mixed with the duple quantity of Arsenick grind the whole and fix Then reduce it into a Body and you will find a good augmentation XXI Of the Citrination of Luna or tinging its Body yellow Dissolve 〈◊〉 Philosophick Zyniar which is Verdigrise deduced from Venus prepared in the water of the dissolution of Luna Aqua Fortis to which adjoyn half so much as its self is of Mercury rubified by sublimation and in some sort fixed and dissolved to these add as much of Luna dissolved as the Zyniar Verdigrise is from which fermented for one day extract the water by distillation and cohobate 10 times then coagulate and reduce into a body and you will find it a good Work XXII Or thus Dissolve Zyniar 1 Ounce and our Crocus prepared with Mercury sublimate till it wax red 1 Ounce add as much Sal Armoniack and sublime it thrice from that Crocus which dissolve To which add of Luna dissolved 2 Ounces Then do as in the former incerating and reducing and you will find satisfaction XXIII Or thus Take of Crocus and Zyniar dissolved ana add as much Sol dissol ved incerate as before then coagulate to the coagulate add a fourth part of its weight of the Oyl of Salt-peter and project upon so much of Luna and will be a Tincture of a Citrine aspect XXIV Or thus Make a Water of our Zyniar and of our said Crocus and imbibe the Calces of Sol and Luna of each equal parts therewith until they have drunk in their own weight of it Then incerate with the Oyl of Sal Armoniack and Nitre and reduce the Mass into a Noble Body XXV Or thus Sublime Sal Armoniack from our greenness to which add Crocus and Zyniar from which well commixed sublime the Sal Armoniack and repeat it twice or thrice Then dissolve the whole to which add a third part of Gold dissolved incerate as before and congeal then project upon Sol 1 ounce Luna 2 Ounces mixed together and it will be good CHAP. XLVII Of the Alchimie of Sol. I. PErfect Bodies as Sol is need no preparation in relation to their farther perfection but that they may be more subtilized and attenuated we give you this Preparation Take Leaves of fine Sol which lay stratum superstratum with common Salt well prepared in a Vessel of Calcination Set it into a Fornace and calcine well for 3 days until the whole be subtily calcined Then take it grind it well wash it with Vinegar Quaer Whether Spirit of Vinegar or some other acid Spirit and dry it in the Sun Then grind it well with half its weight of prepared or purified Sal Armoniack and set it to be dissolved until the whole by help of the Common Salt and Sal Armoniack is reduced into a most clear water This is the pretious ferment for
of Perfection if in the reiteration of their Cal cination and Reduction they loose nothing of their Goodness in respect of Color Weight Quantity or Lustre of which great care is to be taken in the manifold reiterations of these Operations if therefore by repeating the Calcination and Reduction of altered Metals they loose any thing in their differences of Goodness it is to be supposed you have not rightly persued the Art CHAP. LIV. Of Solution and its Cause I. SOlution is the reduction of a dry thing into Water and every perfection of Solution is compleated with subtile Waters such especially as are acute and sharp and Saline hav ing no Feces as Spirits of Vinegar of sower Grapes of acid Pears of Pomgranates and the like Distillod II. The case of this Invention was the Subtilezation of those things which neither have Fusion nor Ingress by which was lost the great advantage of fixed Spirits and of those things which are of their Nature For every thing which is dissolved must necessarily have the nature of Salt or Alum or their like III. And the nature of them is that they give Fusion before their Vitrification therefore Spirits dissolved will likewise give Fusion And since they in their own nature agree with Bodies and each with other Fusion being acquired they must by that of necessity penetrate Bodies and penetrating them transmute them IV. But they neither penetrate nor transmute without our Magistery or Art viz. That after Solution and Coagulation of the Body there be added to it some one of the Spirits purified not fixed and then to be so often sublimed from it till it remains with it and gives to it a more swift fusion and conserves the same in Fusion from Vitrification V. For the nature of Spirits is not to be Vitrified but to preserve the mixture from Vitrification as long as they are in it Therefore the Spirit which more retains the nature of Spirits more defends or preserves from Vitrification And a Spirit only purified more preserves than a Spirit purified calcined and dissolved Therefore there is a necessity of mingling such a Spirit with the body for from these there results good Fusion and Ingress and true Fixation VI. Now we can demonstrate by natural operation that things only holding the nature of Salts Alums and the like are soluble for in all nature we find no other things to dissolved but them therefore what things soever are dissolved must of necessity be dissolved by their nature or property VII Yet since we see all things truly calcined to be dissolved by reiteration of Calcination and Solution therefore we by that prove that all Calcinates approach to the nature of Salts and Alums and must of necessity be themselves attended with these properties VIII The way of solution is two-fold 1. By hot Dung and by boilng or hot water that is in Balneo of both which there is one intention and one effect IX To dissolve by Dung is That the Calcinate be put into a Glass Vessel up on which must be affused Spirit of Vinegar or the like double its weight Then the mouth of the Vessel must be so closed or stopt that nothing may go forth and the matter with its Vessel set in hot Dung to be dissolved and the solution afterwards filterated X. But that which is not yet dissolved must be again calcined and after Calcination in like manner dissolved until by repeating the labour the whole be dissolved as before which also filter XI The way of dissolving by boiling water is more speedy thus Put the Calcinate in like manner into its Vessel with Vinegar poured on it as before and the mouth being well clofed that nothing expire set the Vessel buried in Straw into a Pot full of water as in Distillation in Balneo then kindling the fire make the water boil for an hour which done decant the Solution and filtrate XII And that which is undissolved let it again be calcined and then again in the same manner dissolved which Work so often repeat till the whole is finished XIII The Dissolutory or dissolving Fornace is made with a pot full of water with Iron Instruments in which other Vessels are artificially retained that they fall not These are the Vessels in which every Dissolution is made XIV Bodies are in a twofold way brought to perfection either 1. By the way of Prepararion or 2. By commixtion of perfect Bodies with the Imperfect i. e. by Medicine prepared for the purpose XV. Now we say that the Body cleansed by the way of Calcination as aforesaid and Reduced must either be filed or Granulated thus being melted we pour it upon a Table-board full of small holes over cold water the water being well stirred while this is doing XVI The body thus granulated we put into our Dissolving water or AF. made of Nitre and Vitriol as to one half thereof or dissolve the filings of the same body in the said AF into a limpid water then add to it of Ferment prepared to a third part of its own weight Abstract the water and revert or cohobate it and repeat this 7 times After it is reduced into a Body prove it in its Examen and you will rejoyce for the Treasure you have found XVII And because we have treated of the perfect administration of Imperfect Bodies we should now give you the special true and certain Rule for every particular body but that being already done for Saturn Jupiter Mars Venus and Luna in their respective Chapters aforegoing where we treat of their Regiment we shall refer you thither XVIII Mercury also purified and fixed has power to take off or away the foulness of imperfect Bodies and to brighten or illustrate them And Fixed Sulphur extracted from bodies to tinge or colour them with splendor Hence you may learn a great Secret viz. That Mercury and Sulphur may be extracted as well from imperfect bodies rightly prepared as from the perfect Purified Spirits also and middle Minerals are a great help and very peculiar for bringing on the Work to perfection XIX The Dissolving Water or AF. Take Cyprus Vitriol 1 Pound Sal-Nitre half a Pound Roch Alum a fourth part Distil off the water with a red hot heat for it is very solutive and use it as we have before in several places taught This may be made more acute if in it you dissolve a fourth part of Sal Armoniack because that dissolves Gold Sulphur and Silver CHAP. LV. Of Coagulation and its Causes I. COagulation is the Reduction of a thing Liquid to a solid substance by deprivation of its moisture for which there is a two-fold Cause one is the Induration or hardening of Argent Vive of which we have already treated Chap. 48. Sect. 8. ad 23. The other is the freeing of Medicines dissolved from their Aquosity which is mixed or joyned with them and so is varied according to the kinds of things to be Coagulated II. The way of Coagulating things
there is a mixture made of contrary Natures viz. of cold with hot and moist with dry even a most admirable Unity between Enemies CHAP. IX Of Sublimation Or the separating of the Pure from the Impure by this Water I. NOstra ergo dissolutio Corporum quae fit in tali prima Aqua non est nisi mortificatio humidi cum sicco humidum verò coagulatur per siccum II. Quia humiditas tantum siccitate continetur terminatur ac coagulatur in Corpus sive in terram III. Corpora igitur dura sicca ponantur in nostra prima Aqua in vase bene clauso ubi maneant donec solventur ascendant in altum quae tunc dici possunt novum Corpus aurum album Alchimiae Lapis albus Sulphur album non urens Lapis Paradisi hoc est convertens Metalla imperfecta in Argentum album finum IV. Tunc etiam habemus simul Corpus Animam Spiritum de quo Spiritu Anima dictum est quod non possunt extrahi à Corporibus perfectis nisi per conjunctionem nostrae Aquae dissolutivae V. Quia certum est quod res fixa non potest elevari nisi per conjunctionem rei volatilis VI. Spiritus igitur mediante Aqua Anima ab ipsis Corporibus extrahitur redditur Corpus non Corpus quia statim Spiritus cum Anima Corporum sursum ascendit in superiori parte quae est perfectio Lapidis vocatur sublimatio VII Haec sublimatio in quit Florentius Cathalanus fit per res accidas Spirituales Volatiles quae sunt de natura Sulphurea viscosa quae dissolvunt faciunt elevari Corpora in Aeram in Spiritum VIII Et in hac Sublimatione pars quaedam dictae Aquae primae ascendit cum Corporibus simul se jungendo ascendo sublimando in unam mediam substantiam quae tenet de natura duorum scilicet Corporum Aquae IX Proinde dicitur Corporale Spirituale Compositum Corjufle Cambar Ethelia Zandarith Duenech bonus sed proprie tantum nominatur Aqua permanens quia non fugit in igne X. Perpetuò adhaerens Corporibus commixtis id est Soli Lunae illisque communicans Tincturam vivam incombustibilem ac firmissimam praecedenti nobilicrum pretiosiorem XI Quia potest currere debinc haec Tinctura sicut Oleum omnia perforando penetrando cum fixione mirabili quoniam haee Tinctura est Spi ritus Spiritus est Anima Anima Corpus XII Quia in hac operatione Corpus efficitur Spiritus de natura subtilissima pariter Spiritus incorporatur fit de natura Corporis cum Corporibus sic Lapis noster 〈◊〉 Corpus Animam Spiritum XIII O Natura quomodo vertis Corpus in Spiritum quod non fieret si Spiritus non incorporaretur cum Corporibus Corpora cum Spiritu fierent volatilia postea permanentia XIV Transivit igitur unus in alterum sese invicem conversi sunt per Sapientiam O Sapientia quomodo facis Aurum esse volatile ac fugitivum etiamsi naturaliter fixissimum esset XV. Oportet igitur dissolvere liquefacere Corpora ista per Aquam nostram illa facere Aquam permanentem Aquam auream sublimatam relinquendo in fundo grossum terrestreum superfluum siccum XVI Et in ista Sublimatione ignis debet esse lentus quia si per hanc Sublimationem in Igne lento Corpora purificata non fuerint 〈◊〉 ejus partes nota bene terrestres seperatae à Mortui immunditia impedieris quominus ex his possis perficere Opus XVII Non indiges enim nisi tenui subtili naturâ Corporum dissolutorum quam tibi dabit Aqua nostra silento Igne procedis separando beterogenea ab homogeneis I. OUR Dissolution then of Bodies which is made such in this first Water is nothing else but a destroying or overcoming of the moist with the dry for the moist is coagulated with the dry II. For the moisture is contained under terminated with and coagulated in the dry Body to wit in that which is Earthy III. Let therefore the hard and the dry Bodies be put into our first Water in a Vessel which close well and there let them abide till they be dissolved and ascend to the top then may they be called a new Body the white Gold made by Art the white Stone the white Sulphur not inflamable the Paradisical Stone viz. the Stone Transmuting imperfect Metals into fine white Silver IV. Then have we also the Body Soul and Spirit altogether of which Spirit and Soul it is said That they cannot be extracted from the perfect Bodies but by the help or conjunction of our dissolving Water V. Because it is certain That the thing fixed cannot be lifted up or made to ascend but by the conjunction or help of that which is volatile VI. The Spirit therefore by the help of the Water and the Soul is drawn forth from the Bodies themselves and the Body thereby is made Spiritual for that at the same instant of time the Spirit with the Soul of the Bodies ascend on high to the superiour part which is the perfection of the Stone and is called Sublimation VII This Sublimation saith Florentius Cathalanus is made by things Acid Spiritual Volatile and which are in their own nature Sulphurous and Viscous which dissolve Bodies and make them to ascend and be changed into Air and Spirit VIII And in this Sublimation a certain part of our said first Water ascends with the Bodies joyning it self with them ascending and subliming into one neutral or complex Substance which contains the nature of the two viz. the nature of the two Bodies and of the Water IX And therefore it is called the Corporeal and Spiritual 〈◊〉 Cor jufle Cambar Ethelia Zandarith Dueneck the Good but properly it is called the permanent or fixed Water only because it flies not in the Fire X. But it perpetually adheres to the commixed or compounded Bodies that is to Sol and Luna and communicates to them the Living Tincture incombustible and most fixed much more noble and precious than the former which those Bodies had XI Because from henceforth this Tincture runs like Oil running through and penetrating the Bodies and giving to them its wonderful Fixity and this Tincture is the Spirit and the Spirit is the Soul and the Soul is the Body XII For in this operation the Body is made a Spirit of a most subtile nature and again the Spirit is corporified and changed into the nature of the Body with the Bodies whereby our Stone consists of a Body a Soul and a Spirit XIII O God how thro' Nature dost thou change a Body into a Spirit Which could not be done if the Spirit were not incorporated with the Bodies and the Bodies made volatile with the Spirit and afterwards permanent or fixed XIV For this Cause sake they have passed over into
one another and by the Influence of Wisdom are converted the one into the other O Wisdom How thou makest the most fix'd Gold to be volatile and fugitive yea though by nature it is the most fixed of all things in the World XV. It is necessary there fore to dissolve and liquifie these Bodies by our Water and to make them a permanent or fixed Water a pure golden Water leaving in the bottom the gross earthy superfluous and dry Matter XVI And in this Subliming making thin and pure the Fire ought to be gentle but if in this Sublimation with a soft Fire the Bodies be not purified and the grofs or earthy parts thereof note this well be not separated from teh impurities of the Dead you shall not be able to perfect the Work XVII For thou needest nothing but that thin and subtil part of the dissolved Bodies which our Water will give thee if thou proceedest with a slow or gentle Fire by separating the things heterogene from the things homogene CHAP. X. Of the Separation of the pure Parts from the Impure I. REcipit ergo compositum mundationem per Ignem nostrum humidum aissol vendo scilicet sublimando quod purum album est ejectis foecibus ut vomitus qui sponte fit inquit Azinabam II. Nam in tali dissolutione sublimatione naturali fit Elementorum deligatio mun dificatio separatio puri ab impuro III. Ita ut purum album ascendat sursum impurum terreum fixum remaneat in fundo Aquae vasis IV. Quod est dimittendum removendum quoniam nullius est valoris recipiendo solum mediam substantiam albam fluentem fundentem dimittendo terram foeculentam quae remansit inferius in fundo V. Ex parte praecipuè Aquae quae est scoria Terra damnata quae nihil valet nec unquam aliquid boni praestare potest ut illa clara Materia alba pura nitida quam solam debemus accipere VI. Et ad hunc Caphareum Scopulum saepe numerò navis atque scientia discipulorum Philosophiae ut mihi etiam aliquando accidit imprudentissimè colliditur quia Philosophi saepissimè centrarium asserunt VII Nempe nihil removendum praeter humiditatem id est nigredinem quod tamen dicunt ac scribunt tantum ut possint decipere incautos qui absque Magistro aut indefatigabili lectura oratione ad Deum omnipotentem aureum hoc vellus avellere cupiunt VIII Notate igitur quod separatio diviso sublimatio ista absque dubio est Clavis totius Operis IX Igitur post putrefactionem dissolutionem horum Corporum Corpora nostra se elevant in altum usque ad superficiem Aquae dissolventis in colorem albedinis haec albedo est vita X. Nam in illa albedine Anima Antimonialis Mercurialis infunditur cum spiritibus Solis Lunae nutu naturae quae separat subtile ab spisso purum ab impuro XI Elevando paulatim partem subtilem Corporis à suis foecibus donec totum purum separetur elevetur XII Et in hoc completur nostra sublimatio philosophica naturalis XIII Et cum haec albedine infusa est in Corpore Anima id est virtus mineralis quae subtilior est Igne cum sit vera quinta essentia Vita quae nasci appetit sese spoliare à grossis foecibus terrestribus quae illi advenerant ex parte menstrualis corruptionis XIV Et in hoc est nostra philosophica sublimatio non in vulgari iniquo Mercurio qui nullas habet qualitates similes illisquibus ornatur Mercurius noster extractus à cavernis suis vitriolicis sed redeamus ad sublimationem I. THis Compositum then has its mundification or cleansing by our moist Fire which as Azinabam saith by dissolving and subliming that which is pure and white it casts forth or rejects its foecis or filth like a voluntary Vomit II. For in such a dissolution and natural Sublimation or lifting up there is a loosening or untying of the Elements and a cleansing and separation of the Pure from the Impure III. So that the pure and white substance ascends upwards and the impure and earthy remains fixed in the bottom of the Water and the Vessel IV. This must be taken away and removed because it is of no value taking only the middle white substance flowing and melted or dissolved rejecting the foeculent Earth which remains below in the bottom V. These Foeces were separated partly by the Water and are the Dross and Terra damnata which is of no value nor can do any such service as the clear white pure and clean Matter which is wholly and only to be taken and made use of VI. And against this Capharean Rock the Ship and Knowledge or Art of the young Philosopher is often as it happened also to me sometimes dasht together in pieces or destroyed because the Philosophers for the most part speak by the contraries VII That is to say That nothing must be removed or taken away except the moisture which is the blackness which notwithstanding they speak and write only to the unwary who without a Master indefatigable Reading or humble supplications to God Almighty would ravish away the Golden Fleece VIII It is therefore to be observed That this separation division and sublimation is without doubt the Key of the whole Work IX After the putrefaction then and dissolution of these Bodies our Bodies also ascend up to the top even to the surface of the dissolving Water in a whiteness of colour which whiteness is Life X. And in this whiteness the Antimonial and Mercurial Soul is by a natural compact infused into and joyned with the Spirits of Sol and Luna which separate the thin from the thick and the pure from the impure XI That is by lifting up by little and little the thin and pure part of the Body from the Foeces and Impurity until all the pure parts are separated and ascended XII And in this work is our natural and philosophical Sublimation compleated XIII Now in this whiteness is the Soul infused into the body to wit the mineral virtue which is more subtil than Fire being indeed the true Quintessence and Life which desires or hungers to be born again to put off the defilements and be spoiled of its gross earthy Foeces which it has taken from its menstruous Womb and corrupt place of its original XIV And in this is our Philosophical Sublimation not in the impure corrupt vulgar Mercury which has no properties or qualities like to those with which our Mercury drawn from its vitriolick Caverns is adorned But let us return to our Sublimation CHAP. XI Of the Soul which is extracted by our Water and made to ascend I. CErtissimum igitur est in arte ista quod Anima haec extracta à Corporibus elevari non potest nisi per appositionem
parte aquae nostrae facta sunt spiritus in aêra scandentes ibique corpus compositum ex mare foemina ex Sole Luna ex illa subtillissimanatura mundata per sublimationem accipit vitam inspiratur à suo humore VIII Id est à sua aqua sicut homo ab aêre quare multiplicabitur deinceps ac crescet in sua specie sicut res omnes caeterae IX In tali ergo elevatione sublimatione philosophica conjunguntur omnes ad invicem corpus novum inspiratum ab aêre vivit vegetabiliter quod est miraculosum X. Quare nisi corpora igne aqua attenuentur quousque ascendant in spiritus quousque fiant ut aqua fumus vel Mercurius nihil fit in Arte. XI Illis tamen ascendentibus in aêre nascuntur in aêre vertuntur fiuntque vita cum vita ut numquam possint separari sicut aqua mixta aquae XII Ideoque natus in aēre sapienter dicitur quoniam omnino spiritualis efficitur XIII Ipse namque Vultur sine alis volans supra montem clamitat dicens Ego sum albus nigri rubeus albi citrinus rubei filius vera dicens non mentior I. PUT the refore the perfect Bodies of Metals to wit Sol and Luna into our Water in a Vessel Hermetically sealed upon a gentle Fire and digest continually 'till they are perfectly resolved into a most precious Oyl II. Digest saith Adfar with a gentle Fire as it were for the hatching of Chickens so long 'till the Bodies are dissolved and their perfectly conjoyned Tincture mark this well is extracted III. But it is not extracted all at once but it is drawn out by little and little day by day and hour by hour till after a long time the Solution thereof is compleated and that which is dissolved always swims a top IV. And while this dissolution is in hand let the Fire be gentle and continual till the Bodies are dissolved into a viscous and most subtile Water and the whole Tincture be educed in colour first black which is the sign of a true dissolution V. Then continue the digestion till it becomes a white fixed Water for being digested in Balneo Mariae it will afterwards become clear and in the end become like to common Argent vive ascending by the Spirit above the first Water VI. When therefore you see the Bodies dissolved in the first viscous Water then know that they are turned into a Vapour and that the Soul is separated from the dead Body and by Sublimation brought into the order of Spirits VII Whence both of them with a part of our Water are made Spirits flying up into the Air and there the compounded Body made of the Male and the Female viz. of Sol and Luna and of that most subtile Nature cleansed by Sublimation taketh Life and is made Spiritual by its own humidity VIII That is by its own Water like as a Man is sustained by the Air whereby from thenceforth it is multiplied and increases in its own kind as do all other things IX In such an ascension therefore and philosophical Sublimation all are joyned one with another and the new Body subtilized or made living by the Spirit miraculously liveth or iprings like a Vegetable X. Wherefore unless the Bodies be attenuated or made thin by the Fire and Water 'till they ascend in a Spirit and are made or do become like Water and Vapour or Mercury you labour wholly in vain XI But when they arise or ascend they are born or brought forth in the Air or Spirit and in the same they are changed and made Life with Life so as they can never be separated but are as Water mixt with Water XII And therefore it is wisely said That the Stone is born of the Spirit because it is altogether Spiritual XIII For the Vulture himself flying without Wings cries upon the top of the Mountain saying I am the white brought forth from the black and the red brought forth from the white the citrine Son of the red I speak the Truth and lye not CHAP. XIII Of the beginning of the Work and a Summary of what is to be done I. SUfficit ergo tibi corpora in vase in aqua semel ponere diligenter claudere vas quousque vero separatio sit facta II. Quae vocatur ab invidis conjunctio sublimatio assatio extractio putrefactio ligatio desponsatio subtiliatio generatio c. III. Et totum perficiatur magisterium Fac igitur sicut ad generationem hominis omnis vegetabilis imponito semel matrici semen bene claude IV. Vides ergo quomodo pluribus rebus non indiges quod opus nostrum magnas non requiret expensas quoniam unus est lapis una medicina unum vas unum regimen una dispositio ad album rubeum successivè faciendum V. Et quamvis dicamus in pluribus locis ponito hoc ponito istud tamen non intelligimus nos opportere nisi unam rem accipere semel ponere claudere vas usque ad operis complementum VI. Quia haec tantum ponuntur à philosophis invidis ut decipiant ut dictum est incautos Nunquid enim etiam haec ars est Cabalistica arcanis plena tu fatue credis nos docere apertè arcana arcanorum verbaque accipis secundum sonum verborum VII Scito verè nullo modo sum ego invidus ut caeteri qui verba aliorum philosophorum accipit secundum prolationem ac significationem vulgarem nominum jam ille absque filo Ariadnae in medio amfractuam Labyrinthi multipliciter errat pecuniamque suam destinavit perditioni VIII Ego vero Artephius postquam adeptus sum veram ac completam sapientiam in libris veridici Hermetis fui aliquando 〈◊〉 caeteri omnes IX Sed cum per mille annos aut circiter quae jam transierunt super me à nativitate mea gratia Soli Dei omnipotentis usu hujus mirabilis quintae essentiae X. Cum per haec inquam longissima tempora viderem neminem magisterium Hermeticum obtinere posse propter obscuritatem verborum philosophorum XI Pietate motus ac probitate boni viri decrevi in his ultimis temporibus vitae meae omnia scribere sineere ac veraciter ut nihil ad perficiendum lapidem philosophorum possis desiderare XII Dempto aliquo quod nemini licet scribere quia revelatur per Deum aut magistrum tamen in hoc libro ille qui non erit durae cervicis cum pauca experientia faciliter addiscet XIII Scripsi ergo in hoc libro nudam veritatem quia paucis coloribus vestivi ut omnis bonus sapiens mala Hesperidum mirabilia feliciter pos sit ex arbore hac philosophica decerpere XIV Quare laudetur Deus altissimus qui posuit in anima nostra hanc benignitatem cum senectute longinquissima dedit nobis veram
naturam retineat convertat in naturam albam XVI Quod si vis rubificare oportet coquere album istud in igne sicco continuo donec rubificetur ut sanguis qui nihil erit aliud quam aqua ignis tinctura vera XVII Et sic per ignem siccum continuum emendatur albedo citrinatur acquirit rubedinem colorem verum fixum XVIII Quantò ergo magis coquitur magis coloratur fit tinctura intentioris rubedinis XIX Quare oportet igne sicco calcinatione sicca absque humore compositum coquere donec rubicundissimo vestiatur colore tunc erit perfectum Elixir I. DIssolve then Sol and Luna in our dissolving Water which is familiar and friendly and the next in nature unto them and is also sweet and pleasant to them and as it were a Womb a Mother an Original the beginning and the end of their Life II. And that is the very Reason why they are meliorated or amended in this Water because like nature rejoiceth in like nature and like nature retains like nature being joined the one to the other in a true Marriage by which they are made one Nature one new Body raised again from the dead and immortal III. Thus it behoves you to join Consanguinity or sameness of kind with sameness of kind by which these natures will meet and follow one another purifie themselves generate and make one another rejoice for that like nature now is disposed by like nature even that which is nearest and most friendly to it IV. Our Water then saith Danthin is the most beautiful lovely and clear Fountain prepared only for the King and Queen whom it knows very well and they it V. For it attracts them to its self and they abide therein for two or three days to wit two or three months to wash themselves therewith whereby they are made young again and beautiful VI. And because Sol and Luna have their Original from this Water their Mother it is necessary therefore that they enter into it again to wit into their Mothers Womb that they may be regenerate or born again and made more healthy more noble and more strong VII If therefore these do not die and be converted into Water they remain alone or as they were and without Fruit but if they die and are resolved in our Water they bring forth Fruit an hundred-fold and from that very place in which they seem'd to perish from thence shall they appear to be that which they were not before VIII Let therefore the Spirit of our living Water be with all care and industry fixed with Sol and Luna for that they being converted into the nature of Water become dead and appear like to the Dead from whence afterwards being revived they encrease and multiply even as do all sorts of Vegetable Substances IX It suffices then to dispose the Matter sufficiently without because that within it sufficiently disposes it self for the Perfection of its own work X. For it has in it self a certain and inherent motion according to the true way and Method and a much better order than it is possible for any Man to invent or think of XI For this Cause it is that you need only to prepare the matter Nature her self alone will perfect it and if she be not hindred by some contrary thing she will not over-pass her own certain motion neither in conceiving or generating nor in bringing forth XII Wherefore after the preparation of the matter beware only lest by too much heat or fire you inflame the Bathe or make it too hot Secondly take heed lest the Spirit should exhale lest it hurts the Operator to wit lest it destroys the work and induces many infirmities as sadness trouble vexation discontent XIII From these things which have been spoken this Axiom is manifest to wit that he can never know the necessary course of Nature in the making or generating of Mettals who is ignorant of the way of destroying them XIV You must therefore join them together that are of one consanguinity or kindred for like natures do find out and join with their like natures and by putrifying themselves together are mixed together and mortifie themselves XV. It is needful therefore to know this Corruption and Generation and how the natures do embrace one another and are brought to a fixity in a slow or gentle fire how like nature rejoiceth with like nature how they retain one another and are converted into a white subsistencie XVI This white substance if you will make it Red you must continually decoct it in a dry Fire till it is rubified or becomes red as blood which is then nothing but water fire and the true tincture XVII And so by a continual dry fire the whiteness is changed removed perfected made citrine and still digested till it comes to a true red and fixed colour XVIII And consequently by how much more this red is decocted in this gentle heat by so much the more it is heightned in Colour and made a true Tincture of perfect Redness XIX Wherefore with a dry Fire and a dry Calcination without any moisture you must decoct this Compositum till it be invested with a most perfect red Colour and then it will be the true and perfect Elixir CHAP. XVIII Of the Multiplication of the Philosophick Tincture I. SI postea velis illum multiplicare oportet iteratò resolvere illud rubeum in nova aqua dissolutiva iterato coctione dealbare rubificare per gradus ignis reiterando primum regimen II. Solve gela reitera claudendo aperiendo multiplicando in quantitate qualitate at tumm placitum III. Quia per novam corruptionem generationem iterum introducitur novus motus IV. Et sic non possemus adipisci finem si semper operari vellemus per reiteratienem solutionis coagulationis mediante aqua nostra dissolutiva id est dissolvendo congelando ut dictum est per primum regimem V. Et sic ejus virtus augmentatur multiplicatur in quantitate qualitate ita quod si in primo opere receperit centum in secundo habebis mille in tertio decem millia VI. Et sic prosequendo veniet projectio tua usque ad infinitum tingendo verè perfectè fixe omnem quantamcumque quantitatem VII Et sic per rem vilis pretij additur color virtus pondus VIII Ignis ergo noster Azoth tibi sufficiunt coque coque reitera solve gela sic continua ad tuum placi tum multiplicando quantum volueris donec medicina tua fiat fusibilis ut cera habeat quantitatem virtutem optatam IX Est ergo totius operis sive lapidis secundi not a bene complementum ut sumatur corpus perfectum quod ponas in nostra aqua in domo vitrea benè clausa obturata cum cemento 〈◊〉 aer intret aut humidit as introclusa
be of a ripe or perfect Age. CHAP. XXI Of the Secret Operation of the Water and Spirit upon the Body I. AUdi hoc secretum Custodi corpus in aqua nostra Mercuriali quousque ascendat cum anima alba terreum descendat ad imum quod vocatur terra residua II. Tunc videbis aquam co agulare seipsam cum suo corpore ratus eris scientiam esse veram quia corpus suum coagulat humorem in siccum sicut coagulum agni lac coagulat in caseum III. Et sic spiritus penetrabit corpus commixtio fiet per minima corpus attrahat sibi humorem suum id est animam albam quemadmodum Magnes ferrum propter naturae suae propinquitatem naturam aevidam tunc unum continet alterum IV. Et haec est sublimatio coagulatio nostra omne volatile retinens quae facit fugam perire V. Ergo haec compositio non est manualis operatio sed ut dixi naturarum mutatio earum frigidi cum calido humidi cum sicco admirabilis connexio Calidumenim miscetur frigido siccum humido VI. Hoc etiam modo fit mixtio conjunctio corporis spiritus quae vocatur conversio naturarum contrariarum quia in tali dissolutione sublimatione spiritus convertitur in corpus corpus in spiritum VII Sic etiam mixta in unum redacta se invicem vertunt nam corpus incorporat spiritum spiritus verò corpus vertit in spiritum tinctum album VIII Quare ultima vice inquam decoque in nostra aqua alba id est in Mercurio donec soluatur in nigredinem deinde per deeoctionem continuam privabitur à sua nigredine corpus sic solutum 〈◊〉 ascendit cum anima alba IX Et 〈◊〉 unum alteri 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 se amplecte 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non potuerunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 separari tune 〈◊〉 reali concordantia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum corpore 〈◊〉 unitm permanens X. Et haec est solutio corpo ris coagulatio spiritus quae unam eandem habent operationem XI Qui ergo noverit ducere praegnantem facere mortificare putrefacere generare species vivificare lumen album inducere mundare Vulturem à nigredine tenebris quousque igne purgetur coloretur à maculis ultimis purificetur adeo majoris dignitatis erit possessor ut Reges eum venerentur I. HEar now this Secret keep the Body in our Mercurial Water till it ascends with the white Soul and the earthy part descends to the bottom which is called the residing Earth II. Then you shall see the Water to coagulate it self with its Body and be assured that the Art is true because the Body coagulates the moisture into dryness like as the Rennet of a Lamb or Calf turns Milk into Cheese III. In the same manner the Spirit penetrates the body and is perfectly commixed with it in its smallest Atoms and the body draws to its self his moisture to wit its white Soul like as the Loadstone draws Iron because of the nearness and likeness of its nature and then the one contains the other IV. And this is our Sublimation and Coagulation which retaineth every volatile thing making it fixt for ever V. This Compositum then is not a mechanical thing or a work of the Hands but as I have said a changing of Natures and a wonderful connection of their cold with hot and the moist with the dry the hot also is mixed with cold and the dry with the moist VI. By this means also is made the mixtion and conjunction of body and spirit which is called a conversion of contrary Natures because by such a dissolution and sublimation the spirit is converted into a body and the body into a spirit VII So that the natures being mingled together and reduced into one do change one another and as the Body corporifies the Spirit or changes it into a Body So also does the Spirit convert the Body into a tinging and white Spirit VIII Wherefore as the last time I say decoct the body in our white water viz. Mercury till it is dissolved into blackness and then by a continual decoction let it be deprived of the same blackness and the body so dissolved will at length ascend or rise with a white Soul IX And then the one will be mixed with the other and so embrace one another that it shall not be possible any more to separate them but the Spirit with a real agreement will be united with the body and make one permanent or fixed substance X. And this is the solution of the Body and coagulation of the Spirit which have one and the same operation XI Whoso therefore knows how to conjoyn the principles or direct the work to impregnate to mortifie to putrifie to generate to quicken the Species to make white to cleanse the Vulture from its blackness and darkness till he is purged by the fire and tinged and purified from all his spots shall be possessor of a treasure so great that even Kings themselves shall venerate him CHAP. XXII Of the Signs of the end of the Work and the perfection thereof I. QUare maneat corpus in aqua donec solvatur in pulverem novum in fundo vasis aquae qui dicitur cinis niger haec est corruptio corporis quae vocatur à sapientibus Saturnus AEs Plumbum philosophorum Pulvis discontinuatus II. Et in tali putrefactione resolutione corporis tria signa apparent scilicet color nigèr discontinuitas partium odor foetidus qui assimilatur odori sepulchrorum III. Est igitur ille cinis de quo philosophi tanta dixêre qui in inferiori parte vasis remansit quem non debemus vili pendere IV. In eo enim est Diadema Regis Argentum vivum nigrum immundum à quo nigredinis debet fieri purgatio decoquendo continuò in nostra aqua donec elevetur sursum in album colorem qui vocatur Anser Pullus Hermogenis V. Quia qui terram rubeam denigrat albam reddit habet magisterium ut etiam ille qui occidit vivum resuscitat mortuum VI. Dealba ergo nigrum rubefac album ut perficias opus VII Et cum videris albedinem apparere veram quae splendet sicut gladius denudatus scias quod rubor in ista albedine est occultus VIII Ex tunc non oportet illam albedinem extrahere sed coquere tantum ut cum siccitate caliditate superveniat citrinitas rubedo fulgentissima IX Quam cum videris cum tremore maximo laudabis Deum optimum maximum qui cui vult sapientiam dat per consequens divitias secundum iniquitates eripit ac in perpetuum subtrahit detrudendo in servitutem inimicorum sui laus gloria in saecula saeculorum Amen I. WHerefore let our body remain in the water till it is dissolved into a subtil
said subtil and thin Oyl of Sol and Luna the said substances of other Bodies be made fixed and to flow like Wax VII With which flowing substance you shall not only congeal Argent Vive into perfect Sol and Luna according as you have prepared your Medicine but you shall also with the same fluxible and flowing substance transmute and change all such other imperfect Bodies as they were whose Calces were so sublimed and from whom at their first subliming or lifting up they took their beginning into Sol and Luna aforesaid VIII And this thin and subtil Oyl being put into Kemia its proper Vessel first sealed up to putrifie in the Fire of the first degree being moist it becomes as black as liquid Pitch The fire may then have its Action in the Body to corrupt it the same Body as before so opened IX Therefore it grows first black like melted Pitch because the bear working in this moist Body does first beget a blackness which blackness is the first sign of Corruption and since the Corruption of one thing is the generation of another therefore of the Body corrupted is generated a Body Neutral which is certainly apt declinable and applicable unto every Ferment whatsoever you please to apply it to X. But the Ferment must be altered together with the Alchymick Body and the whole substance of our Stone or Elixir must partake of the Nature of the Quintescence otherwise it will be of no effect XI And between the said sign of blackness and perfect whiteness which will follow the said blackness there will appear a green Color and as many variable Colors afterwards as the mind of Man is able to conceive XII When the present White Color shall begin to appear like the Eyes of Fishes then may you know that Summer is near at hand after which Autumn or Harvest will happily follow with ripe fruit which in the long looked for Red ness This is after the Pale Ashy and Citrine Color XIII First the Sun does perfectly Descend by its due Course from its Meridional height and Glory through its gross and natural solution into an imperfect Pale and Ashy Color shining in the Occidental parts of the West which is somewhat of a yellowish or Brick dust Color from thence it goes to the Septentrional parts of the Earth being of a Variable watrish blackness of a dark cloudy alterable putrefactive watrishness XIV Then it Afcends up to the Oriental parts shining with a more perfect Crystalline Summer-like and Paradisical White Lastly he Ascends his Fiery Chariot directing his Course up again to his Meridional Life Perfection and Glory there to Rule and Shine in fire brightness splendor and the highest perfection even in the highest most pure and Imperial Redness XV. When this aforesaid simple Oyl of the altered Body being in its Vessel duly sealed is by the Fire thus disposed what is there more than one simple thing which nature has made to be generated of Sulphur and Mercury in the Bowels of the Earth XVI Thus it is evident that our Stone is nothing else but Sol and Luna Sulphur and Mercury Male and Female Heat and Cold. And therefore to be more short when all the parts of our Stone are thus gathered together it appears plainly enough what is our Mercury Our Sulphur Our Alehymick Body Our Ferment Our Menstruum Our Green Lyon And what Our White Fume Our two Dragons Our Fires and Our Egg in which is both the Whiteness and the Redness XVII As also what is Man's Blood Our Aquae Vitae Our Burning Water and what are many other things which in this Our Art are Metaphorically or figuratively named to deceive the Foolish and unwary XVIII Also there is a similitude of a Tri-une shining in the Body Soul and Spirit The Body is the substance of the Stone The Soul is the Ferment which cannot be had but from the most perfect Body and the Spirit is that which raiseth up the Natures from Death and Corruption to Life Perfection and Glory XIX In Sulphur there is an Earthiness for the Body In Mercury there is an Aerealness for the Spirit and in them both a Natural Unctuosity for the Soul or Ferment all which are inseparably United in their least parts for ever From this Fermental Body the Stone is formed and without it it cannot be made XX. It is the peculiar property of Sol and Luna the which property appertains to the Stone it self to give the form of Gold and Silver And therefore the Elixir whether it be White or Red may be Infinitely augmented with the Fermental Oyl if you do cast the same upon Mercury it shall transmute it into the Elixir which Elixir must be cast afterwards upon the Imperfect Bodies XXI Moreover the said White Elixir is augmented with Mercurial Water and the Red Elixir with the Mercurial Oyl the which two viz. the Mercurial Water and Mercurial Oyl can only be had of Mercury dissolved of it self XXII See what the Scripture saith He stroke the Stone and Water flowed out and he brought forth Oyl out of the Flinty Rock We may Note the whole composition of the Elixir in these four Verses following XXIII He stretched forth the Heavens as a Curtain The Water stood above the Mountains This is the Water which does cover Our Matter and performs the dissolution thereof causing a cloudy Ascension That does walk upon the Wings of the Wind. This figures forth the sublimation of ourStone XXIV Who makes his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flame of Fire By this is shadowed forth the rectification separation and disposition of the Elements Who has founded the Earth upon its Basis so fixt that it shall not be moved for ever Under which is described the fixation of the Elements and the perfection of the Philosophick Stone CHAP. LXVI Another way of Elixirating Gold by the Fire against Nature I. ANother way by which the Body of Gold is Elixirated by the power of the Fire against Nature through the help of the Operation of the Fire of Nature which is thus Dissolve the Body of pure Gold in the Fire against Nature the same fire being well rectified Arsenick Mercury sublimate as the manner is from which Gold being so dissolved into a Citrine clear and shining Water without any Heterogenity or Sand remaining let the water be abstracted till the Body does remain in the bottom of the Glass like a fixt Oyl II. Upon this Oyl affuse the said Water or Fire against Nature again and abstract again and this work so often repeat till the water or fire against Nature have no more sharpness upon the Tongue than common Well-Water III. This done draw such another new water or fire against Nature which Affuse upon the former Oyl and abstract in all respects as before is taught then Affuse upon this Oyl the water or fire of Nature well rectified and let it be double in quantity or proportion of the said Oyl of the Body so
dissolved and put it into a Vessel which stop well and set it in Balneo for seven days so will the water or fire of Nature become a Citrine Color IV. This water or fire of Nature by its attractive Virtue will draw away the Tincture from the fire against Nature as Raymundus saith in his practical Alphabet And altho' it is somewhat opposite to Nature to dissolve the Bodies with the fire against Nature yet if you know how to comfort the matter with the fire of Nature and by Balneation in 15 days to draw it from the blackness of the water or fire against Nature the which may be done as I have proved in 6 days you shall perfect the work and attain the desired end V. Let the aforesaid Natural Water or fire of Nature so tinged with a Yellow Color be always warily emptied and poured off from the aforesaid dissolved Bodies into another Vessel with a narrow Mouth that may be firmly stopped and then with more of the said fire let there be made in Balnco in the space of time aforesaid another quantity of the said Oyl VI. And so the same water being tinged with Sol or Gold let it be warily emptied and poured off as before and when the water of Nature will be tinged no more then it is a sign that the Tincture is all drawn forth from the dissolved Body by the Fire against Nature VII Put the Tinctures thus decanted off into a Glass Stillatory and with a soft or easie Fire abstract the Water or Fire of Nature from the same so long till you see in the bottom an Oyl to which you must put New Fire of Nature again well rectified and after the Matter has stood in Balneo for the space of 6 days then abstract the said water or fire of Nature by distillation VIII And let the work with the same water be repeated upon and from the said Oyl after the same manner so long till you have brought your Oyl of Gold to be most subtil and pure without any Foeculent grossness wherein let nothing of the water or fire of Nature be left behind but the substance of Gold only turned to Oyl IX This subtil and pure Oyl of Gold being put in Kemia or its proper Vessel and firmly sealed up may by the aforesaid Regiments be changed into the great Elixir as it is shewed before with the other simple Oyl made with the Compounded Water in the former practice at Sect. 8. Chap. 65. aforegoing X. But to proceed sublime Quick-Silver with Roman Vitriol and prepared or Calcined Salt and after that sublime it by it self alone three times from its Foeculent substance This done and the same made into Pouder put this sublimate Pouder into a fixatory Vessel and put thereto a certain quantity of your aforesaid Oyl of Gold but so much only as may scarcely cover the sublimate firmly close the Vessel and set it in a soft Fire till the Natures are perfectly joyned together XI This done grind it upon a Marble and Incerate it again with your said Oyl of Gold and after put it again into its Fixatory Vessel under a Fire of the first Degree as before and let the same Vessel stand twice as long as it did before to the Intent that the Natures may be firmly Compact and United together XII Now this Rule is generally to be Observed that the Vessel with the Matter in it to be fixed ought always to be set over the fire from time to time to be augmented and this Inceration to be continued still upon the Argent Vive sublimed until the same is perfectly fixed with the said Oyl or substance of Gold XIII The which must be proved upon a Plate of Silver Red Hot And if it be found fixed let it have for the greater certainty one Inceration more of the said Oyl which set under a strong fire for the space of three days then grind it with your Oyl upon the same Stone till it be as thick as an Oyntment which make perfectly dry with an easie fire and then let it be Calcined with a strong fire for the space of eight hours XIV Which done then Incerate it and dry it again with a soft or gentle fire oftentimes till it stands in the fire like melted Wax This Medicine will transmute Silver substantially and perfectly into fine and pure Alchymick Gold perfect to all the works of Goldsmiths but not to Medicine for Man CHAP. LXVII Two other Mineral Elixirs or Two other Processes of Mercury I. THere be many other Noble and Profitable Secrets in this Art or Mystery of our Mineral Stone viz. good Elixirs to be made out of Metalline Bodies of which Mineral Elixirs two are more excellent than the rest the first of which we shall handle in this Chapter Here comes in the Process or Practical Operation of Mercury mentioned Chap. 61. Sect. 13. aforegoing II. The first of these Elixirs is only in Mercury The second in Mercury and the White Body for the White Elixir and with the same to the Red too if you so please being prudently pursued and sought after III. The first manner to Elixirate only with Mercury is thus Dissolve Mercury only by it self into a Milky water with the which Mercury so dissolved you may dissolve so much more Mercury and so continually as long as you please IV. Put this into a gentle Fire to be Distilled so shall you have Our Virgins Milk White and Chrystalline wherewith all Bodies may be dissolved into their first Matter Washed and Purged V. This water is of a Silver Colour which if you fix with its Earthy Faeces Calcin'd and after that dissolved again in the quantity of its remaining water and then again Coagulated and Congealed which work is to be done upon a Stone you will have at length the Elixir of Argent Vive which will transmute all Imperfect Bodies to a perfect Whiteness VI. And so of this Mercurial substance is made a water permanent or fixt wherewith the Calces of all Bodies may be so depurated and Whitened as thereby to become the most pure and fine Silver VII And therefore as I have said before in the beginning of this work when Mercury is dissolved then are its Elements separable and after the separation of its Mercurial Liquor and that a competent putrefaction is performed after the same White Liquor there will Distill a Golden moisture or humour to which if you add a small quantity of the Ferment of the Gum of the aforesaid Elixirated White Stone that then the same White Stone with the said Golden humour shall be made the Red Stone which shall transmute Argent Vive and all Metalline Bodies into the finest and most pure Gold VIII Again if you take the aforesaid Red humour of Mercury and Dissolve in it a little of the aforesaid Red Ferment being made as aforesaid of the White Stone and then with the same Red humour of Mercury so Fermented with it self the
of his natural Magick that there is a Salt made of the Lees or Tartar of Wine or Aquae Vitae called the Salt of Art and Mercury without which Salt saith he there is nothing can be done Also he begins his Practice with this Salt in the first and last Chapter of his Codicil XXIV Wherefore as the same Philosopher affirms among these things is this Menstruum one of the Secrets of this Art whose Virtue must be increased by a wise management of the Matter you must circulate this Menstruum in the Unctuous humidity in a Vessel of Circulation by rotation continually an hundred and twenty days in the hottest Fornace CHAP. LXX The Remaining Process of the Vegetable Stone I. HItherto the Process of the Vegetable Stone has been long and Obscure but that nothing may be doubtful to the prejudice of my professed Love to your Lordship I say that all these things spoken by Raymundus are covered with the Mantle of Philosophy Truly his intention is that there should be made a dissolution with the Spirit of Wine but that this Spirit of Wine should be joyned with another Menstruum resoluble without which Resolution can never be attained II. Here the two Spirits are joyned together the Vegetable Menstruum or White Oyl of Tartar and our Metalline Oyl III. And that Menstruum Resoluble is generated only of a Metalline kind for it is a potential or mighty Vapour being in every Metalline Body joyning together two extreams Sulphur and Argent 〈◊〉 IV. And so indeed after this sort Our water is a Metalline water which because it does savour of the Nature of either extream it therefore brings our Resolutive Menstruum into Act. V. Now how this Menstruum which is Unctuous Moist Sulphurous and Mercurial agreeing with the Nature of Metals and wherewith Bodies must be Artificially Dissolved may be had we will here shew by clear practice VI. Take the sharpest humidity of Grapes and in it being Distilled dissolve the Body well Calcin'd into a Redness into a Cyrstalline clear and Ponderous water the which Body Calcin'd into Redness is of the Masters of this Science called Sericon VII Now comes in the Practice of Pupilla of the dissolution of the Red Lyon for the Fire of Nature called also Red Lead Red Coral Sericon is of the Nature of Black Pepper Euphorbium c. of a hot biting and fiery Nature all which things are spoken only by way of Comparison VIII Then of this Crystalline water let there be made a Gum the which in Taste will be like to Alum This Gum by Raymundus is called Vitriol Azoth from which let there be drawn with a gentle Fire first a weak water with no more Taste or sharpness than simple Well water Fresher water there is none in Taste yet will it never Consume or Waste tho' it be used never so often nor will it be ever less in quantity IX And when the White Fume shall begin to appear change your Receiver and Lute it strongly that it breath not forth so shall you have our burning water Our Aquae Vitae and Resolutive Menstruum the which before was Resoluble a Vapour potential a mighty Vapour able to dissolve Bodies to Putrifie and to Purifie to divide the Elements and also to exalt theEarth into a wonderful Salt by the force of its attractive Virtue This is our Fire of Nature X. This water has a bitter sharp Taste upon the Tongue and also a kind of stinking Menstruum and because it is a water which is very Spirituous and Volatile therefore within a Month after it is Distilled it ought to be put upon its Calx When it is Affused upon the Calx it will without any external Fire boil if the Vessel be closely shut and it will not cease to Ferment or work till it be all dryed up into the Calx XI Therefore you must put no greater a quantity of it to the Calx but what may just cover it as it were and so proceed when the Fornace is dryed up to the whole Complement thereof as in the Operation of the Compound water and as the work requires XII And when the Elixir shall be brought into a Purple Color then let it be dissolved with the aforesaid Vegetable Menstruum into a thin Oyl the same Menstruum being first rectified and let the same by the Circulation of the Spirit of our water be fixed so will it have Power to transmute or change all Bodies into pure Gold and to Heal and Cure all Infirmities and Diseases in Man's Body ten thousand times better than all the Potions and Prescriptions of Galen or Hippocrates XIII This Elixir is the true Aurum potabile and no other for it is made of Gold Elementated and Circulated by the spirituous wheel of Philosophy and it is so wrought with the Air Gass potency or spirit of Mercury dissolved by its self sublimed and rectified as that the body of Gold by it may not only be curiously and exquisitely Elixirated but also that it may then afterwards be brought to such a perfection by this our Art as to be applied profitably to the most desirable work XIV Thus you may see we have hid nothing concerning this our desired Elixir of the Vegetable Stone I shall now proceed to that of the Animal Stone which is but a work of three days and in three days will be compleatly ended My advice to you is not to gather the Leaves of Words but the Fruits of Works the profit of the things sought after XV. And know that in this Work I have not so much affected the Curiosity of Language or Elegancies of Stile as the denudating the Essential Verity and exposing the very Power of Truth to your View which by reason of my haste I have now concisely done in few words CHAP. LXXI Of Our Animal Stone I. WE now come to reveal the most noble and High Secret of Secrets viz. the Mystery of our Animal Stone desired of all Mankind and the way and manner of its Elixiration But this Animal Elixir is neither from Wine as it is Wine nor from Eggs Hair or Blood as they are such things but only from the Elements And these Elements we ought to search out in the Excellency of their exceeding Simplicy and Rectification II. The Elements as Roger Bachon saith are the Roots of all things the Mothers of every thing yet the Elements of the said things do not enter into the Work of this Our Elixir but only by the Virtue and Commixtion of those Elements with the Elements of Spirits and Bodies of Metals III. Yet so indeed as Roger Bachon saith the Elements of those things aforesaid do so enter in as to pierce through tho' not to dwell there and to Accomplish this Our great Elixir IV. Notwithstanding among all those things which be Natural as all the rest be which Philosophers have taken there is one thing yet which is found more pretious more excellent more proper and more Natural
the water begins to whiten the whole Mass. XXVII A temperate heat working in moist Bodies brings forth blackness which having obtained there is nothing that you need fear for in the same way the Germination of our Stone does follow and forthwith to wit in the space of thirty or Forty days you have Gas or Adrop which is our Uzifer or Cinnabar and our Red Lead XXVIII Takeheed to defend your Glass from a Violent Heat and a sudden Cold make use of a moderate Fire and beware of Vitrification Beware how you bind up your matter mix it not with Salts Sulphurs nor the middle Minerals let Sophisters prate what they will Our Sulphur and our Mercury are found in Metals only XXIX 7. De Coagulatione Coagulation or Congelation is the induration or hardning of things in Calore Candido and the fixing of the Volatile Spirit The Elements are forthwith converted but the Congelation is no way impeded for those things which are Congealed in the Air melt or soften not in the Water for if so Our work would be destroyed and come to nothing XXX When the Compositum is brought to Whiteness then the Spirit is United and Congealed with the Body but it will be a good length of time before such a Congelation will appear in the likeness or Beauty of Pearls The cause of all these things is the most temperate heat continually working and moving the Matter Believe me also that your whole Labour is lost except you revivifie your Earth with the Water without that you shall never see a true Congelation XXXI This Water is a Secret drawn from the Life of all things existing in Nature for from Water all things in the World have their first beginning as you may easily perceive in many things The substance or Matter is nourished with its proper Menstruum which the Water and the Earth only produce whose proper Colour is Greenness XXXII Understand also that our fiery Water thus acuated is called the Menstrual Water in which Our Earth is dissolved and naturally Calcined by Conge lation when you have made seven Imbibitions then by a Circumvolution putrifie again all the Matter without addition beholding in the first place the blackness then the Whiteness of the Congealed Matters XXXIII Thus your Water is divided into two parts with the first part the Bodies are purified the second part is reserved for Imbibitions with which afterwards the Matter is made black and presently after with a gentle fire made White then reduce to Redness XXXIV 8. De Cibatione Cibation is the Feeding or Nourishing of our dry Matter with Milk and Meat being both administred moderately till it is reduced to the third Order you must never give so much as to cause a suffocation or that the Aqueous humour should exceed the Blood if it drinks too much the work will be hurt XXXV Three times must you turn about the Philosophick Wheel observing the Rule of the said Cibation and then in a little time it will feel the Fire so as to melt presently like Wax XXXVI 9. De Sublimatione Sublime not the matter to the top of the Vessel for without Violence you cannot bring it down to the bottom again by a temperate heat below in the space of 40 days it will become black and obscure When the Bodies are purified let them be sublimed by degrees more and more till they shall be all elevated or converted into Water XXXVII We use Sublimation for three Causes First that the Body may be made spiritual Secondly that the the Spirit may be made Corporeal aud fixed with it and become Consubstantial with it Thirdly that it may be purified from its Original Impurities and its Sulphurous Salt may be diminished with which it is infected subliming it to the Top as White as Snow XXXVIII 10. De Fermentatione Fermentations are made after divers manners by which our Medi cine is perpetuated Some dissolve Sol and Luna into a certain clear Water and with the Medicine of them they make the same to Coagulate or be Coagulated but such a Fermentation we propose not XXXIX This only is our Intention that first you must Break or Tear or Grind the matter to Atoms before you Ferment it Mix then presently your Water and Earth together and when the Medicine shall flow like Wax then see the above mentioned Amalgamation and put forth the same and when all that is mixed together above or on the top of the Glass being well closed make a Fire till the whole be Fluxed then make projection as you shall think fit because it is a Medicine wholly perfect Thus have you made the Ferment both for the Red and the White XL. The true Fermentation is the Incorporation of the Soul with the Body restoring to the same the Natural Odour Consistency and Colour by a Natural Inspissation of the separated things And as the Magnet draws Iron to it self so our Earth by Nature draws down its Soul to it self Elevated with Wind For without doubt the Earth is the Ferment of the Water and by Course or Turns the Water is the Ferment of the Earth XLI We make the Water most Odoriferous with which we reduce all the Bodies into Oyl with which Oyl we make our Medicine flow We call this Water a Quintessence or the Powers and it Heals or Cures all humane Diseases Make therefore this Oyl of Sol and Luna which is a Ferment most fragrant in smell XLII 11. De Exaltatione Exaltation differs a little from Sublimation if you understand aright the words of the Philosophers If therefore you would Exalt your Bodies sublime them first with Spiritus Vitae then let the Earth be subtiliated by a Natural rectification of all the Elements so shall it be more pretious than Gold because of the Quintessence or Powers which they contain XLIII When the Cold does overcome the Heat then the Air is converted into water so two contraries are made by the way till they kindly conjoyn and rest together after this manner you must work them that they may be Circulated that they one with another may speedily be Exalted together In one Glass well Sealed all this Operation is to be done and not with hands XLIV Convert the Water into Earth which will quickly be the Nest of the other Elements for the Earth is in the Fire which rests in the Air. Begin this Circulation in the West then continue it till past the Meridian so will they be exalted XLV 12. De Multiplicatione Multiplication is the thing which makes the augmentation of the Medicine in Color Smell Vertue and Quantity for it is a Fire which being Excited never dies but always dwells with you one spark of which is able to make more Fire by the Virtue of Multiplication XLVI He is rich which has but one Particle or Grain of this our Elixir because that Grain is possible to be augmented by one way to Infinity if you dissolve this our dry Pouder and make a