seene and this fire passing the yellownesse of his aire or his inâ—oÌ„bustible oile then mayest thou first seperate the pheces from the Quintaessence Take therefore hard and white Sugar for it is not needefull that yee trauell much in dissoluing and congealing of it although there be much impuritie therin that hindereth not but that the inward part may bee brought foorth for it must be purged when as the rednes doth shew it selfe outward Take therefore ten or twentie pounds of sugar more or lesse as ye shall thinke good that being beaten put it into a cucurbitâ— of hard stone and put thereon Aquâ— vitae that it may stand couered viii fingers then distil it in Balueo with a strong fire vntill it wil distil no more then let it waxe colde and powre on the saide Aqua vitae againe and distill it againe and this shalt thou do sixe or seuen times at the last open the head and take foorth the sugar which thou shalt put in a strong glasse and set it in fine â—ifted ashes and put thereon the Aqua vitae and distill it vntill the halfe be come foorth then powre on againe the Aqua vitae which thou distilledst away first being made warm lest the glasse should breake ye shal note that the head would haue a hole in the top by the which ye may powre in the Aqua vitae with a funnel this thou shalt repeate often with a strong fire that the wine and the sugar may boyle in and because the halfe part of the wine will come away quickely ye shal presently put on the other part for if yee should distill foorth all the wine the sugar would burne through too much heate because it must continually be boyling in the glasse and it would smell of the burning for it hath alwayes his combustible sulfure wherefore yee must alwayes haue halfe the wine in the vessell and when thou seest the halfe is distilled forth make the same warme and put it in againe with a funnell and that thou shalt so often repeate vntill the sugar remaine as red as blood the which thou shalt perceiue through the glasse Thou mayst bring that to passe in viii or ten dayes according as thou rulest thy fire Note that when thou perceiuest the matter to be red let it coole and take away the vessell with ashes and set the vessell in Balneo and with a strong fire distill away the Aqua vite vntil the Sugar remaine drie and when it will distill no more yet shalt thou let it stand 4. or 5. daies very hot in the said Balneo that the sugar may be perfitly congealed then let it coole and take out the matter or stone the which will be blacke like pich that is to be vnderstoode when it is congealed then take the saide stone and put it into a great quantity of common water twise distilled and set it in Balneo fiue or sixe dayes with a great heate slightly couered stirring it euerie day fiue 〈◊〉 six times with a woodden ladle then let it coole and â—ake it forth and let it settle three or foure dayes then powre of that which is cleare into another vessel and keepe it close then powre on those pheces the sublimed water as a fore and set it in Balneo to digest three dayes stirring it with a ladle as ye did afore then let it coole and settle and powre of the clearest part as ye did afore and put it to the rost then powre on more water vpon the Pheces and digest it in Balneo as afore and this ye must so often repeate vntill the water bee no more coloured then thou mayest cast away the pheces for they are nothing woorth for the Element of the earth is with the Element of fire and water neither can they bee seperated any more but are fixed together Make thereof a triall for there will remaine nothing but a light ashes It will burne like oyle or fat neither doth there any thing remaine more then of oyle or fat Take the glasse wherein is all the red of the solution and distill it in Balneo or let it vapour away if ye haue store of distilled water vntil it be dry then let it coole take off the head and powre theron more sublimed water and set it in Balneo againe and stirre it about with a woodden ladell as yee did afore then let it settle as afore powre out of the clearest part and that thou shalt doe so long vntill there remaine no more pheces at the length put it in a glasse that may abide the fire and boyle or vapour it away so long vntill there appeare a certaine scum thereon then take it foorth and set it in a colde and drie or hot and drie place and it wil grow into a great red masse or lump and transpirant like a ruby or other philosophers stone the which if thou wile bring to pouder set it in a warme dunghil in a large wide glasse open and let it vapour away vntill it be come into a yellow pouder like vnto golde and so thou shalt haue the Quintaessence of Sugar fixt the which will retaine al flying spirites Neither is it sweete but a heauenly taste the which if yee put it in your mouth it will melt without any feeling If it bee winter or cold thou shalt seeme to feele a certaine naturall heate throughout the whole bodie and shalt seeme so temperate and light as though thou couldst flie If thou be ouerhot swallow a little presently thou shalt cole easilie as though thou wentest into a cold bath and thus it worketh in heate moist cold and dry by an incredible myracle when ye will vse it drinke it with rectified aqua vitae or rose water Endiue or Scabiowes or by it selfe if yee will and thou shalt see maruels if any be diseased outwardly with scabbes or vlcers let him drinke of this and wash the â—ores with wine wherein this Quintaesseâ—â—â— is dissolued and hee shall presently waxe whole most miraculously If any be wounded or thrust in with any weapon so that it be not deadly let him drinke Ê’ j of this Essence with warmed wine and wash the wound with wine wherein the Quintaessence is dissolued hee shall be presently cured so that those which shall heare or see it shall be amased thereat It helpeth also the falling sickenesse pestilence and all such diseases as may happen vnto man if ye haue Aurum Potabile ye shal mixe lij with ljâ— of this Quintaessence in a glasse and set it on a treuet or in a dry Balneo 30. daies in an Athanor and they wil be s 〈…〉 together and then it will worke miracles in mans bod 〈…〉 ye may also when ye haue drawen the Quintaessence of any herbe Coagulate and fix it with the same as I saide before with Aurum Potabile and thou shalt see thereof 〈…〉 les Furthermore if ye wil haue it to passe the helme yee must put thereon as
A Knight being in an assemblie was sodenlie astoned and diseased ouer all his bodie as if hee had hadde the Apoplexie whome I cured by anointing the hinder parte of his head with Balsamum Helenij and Essentia Mercurialis 33 A man of the countrie being stung with a Viper or adder fel presently into a colde sweate to the great danger of his life who was restored to his health presently by drinking Theriaca Nostra with strong wine 34 A woman who had not her naturall courses was troubled with a verie sore cough the which I cured by opening the vaine beneath the ball of the foote 35 A fat drunken Tauerner was in danger of his life by a surfet who was restored to his health by letting of bloud 36 A woman called Sabina had a long time the flixe of the belly by reason of the loosenesse of the stomacke the which I cured by giuing her oyle of Uitrioll with conserue of Anthos 37 A man that was wounded in the pellicle or tunicle of the heart was cured with Essentia Solis 38 A yong man being vexed with a continuall and violent cough I cured by giuing him oftentimes the iuice of Horehound with our Oximell and after that he voyded a worme vpward and was holpen 39 A young childe had after a sicknesse a swelling in his breast by reason of the aboundance of humours the which I cured onely with Theriaca Nostra 40 A certaine man had a disease called Carcinomate or â—angrena the which was cured with Oleum Ueneris 41 A certaine woman was so troubled with a disease in her secret partes that what moist or liquid meate shee did eate presently shee vomited againe the which was cured with Oleum Margaritarum 42 One Eligus had a great paine in his stomacke the which was holpe with Essentia Mercurialis Uomitoria the vvhich shortly after vomited a peece of flesh wherein was hâ—d a worme 43 One Vermundus vvas so troubled in his head and braine that hee stagered hither and thither as though hee had beene drunke whome 〈…〉 holpe by giuing him Pillulas Pestilentiales with the which I mixed Essentiam Mercurialem that caused him to vomite a hundred and fiftie wormes 44 A certaine man was sicke of the splene whom I cured with Crocus martis in the water of Tamaris and Enulâ— Campane and by outwardly applying Balsamum gummi â—moniaci 45 One was troubled vvith a corosion or gnavving of the intralles whome I cured by ministring vnto him Flores Veneris in wormevvood wine 46 One was troubled with paines in the stomacke thorow weakenesse who tooke Oleum salis in his drinke and caused him to haue manie seges or stooles and so was restored to his health as wee haue written in our booke called Parastenasticon 47 A man that vvas troubled with the head-ach I purged by the nostrels casting in the iuice of Ciclaminus with a siring 48 Against the falling sicknes I gaue often to drinke the iuice of the herbe called Lanceola the which is called Herba Uernalis or the lesse plantaine with an emptie stomacke for the space of thirtie dayes mixing it with the extraction of the shauings of iuorie and the bloud of a pigion for the man the male and for the woman the female in the Essence or oyle of Craneum Humanum 49 In diseases of the eies termed Catharacta or stiliâ—idium and called in the Greeke Epiphora and in swellings and paines of the eyes I haue vsed Medicamentum siue Collirium nostrum made of Tutia Magistralis wherevvith wee did not onely cure watering eies but also the great paine of the eie liddes and also where there vvas flesh grovving ouer the sight of the eie that it seemed to bee past the cure of those common Phisitions that professe to bee skilfull in theeies 50 A certaine disease called Palipus the which is a stinkng in the nose I cured with oyle of Uitrioll and the water of wax 51 One falling from a hie place pissed bloud the which is short space I cured giuing him to drinke Ê’ j of a pouder of our inuention with â„¥ iij. of the flovvers of Tiliae 52 In the great scab I haue often vsed ths Vnguent made of Mercurie mortified Ê’ ij Ceruse Ê’ i. Euphorbium Ê’ j Staphisagre Litaâ—ge Sanders ana Ê’ ss mixe them all together with as much grease of a red hogge as will suffice 53 A certaine man being long sicke of the pox had two rumouâ—s and an vlcer in his nose at the which euerie day there came footth great quantitie of stinking and filchie matter in whose nose I cast this decoction with a siring R. Honie â„¥ iiij the iuice ef Calendine Common salt prepared Ê’ ij Aloes washed â„¥ ss mixe them together Inwardly he vvas purged vvith Oleum Mercurij 54 In hard and knottie impostumes of the govvte I vsed Amoniacum dissolued in vineger mixed vvith ehe oyle of Turpentine also oyle of Cristall onely disperceth and consumeth those knottes as I haue oftentimes proued or Cristall calcined vvith the oyle of Turpentine also the oile of salt doth the same 55 In curing of paines in the mouth of the stomacke entralles and belly I vsed the water of the floures of Camomel â„¥ iii. hony of Roses â„¥ i. 56 One Ioannes Babtista a faire yong man was infected with the pox two yeres throgh the filthy sin of Sodomites so that there grew a peece of flesh in the invvard parte of the necke of the great gut with such extreme paine that he was almost dead whome I cured by sweating manie dayes with a Malgamie made of Mercurie and Iupiter and opening his fundament with an instrument called Specillum Ossicularium and laying on oyle of Uitrioll vppon the said superfluous flesh and afterward I cured that flesh eaten away with a suppositorie Incarnatiue 57 One called Gallenus had lost his speech by meanes of a hole that hee had in the pallate of his mouth comming of the pox the which I cured with Mercurius Dulcis diaphoreticus cast in by a siring and so the flesh grewe againe and was made whole 58 One was troubled with great burning of the vrine the which I holpe in this order R. dry Roses Pug semis Linseede the seede of Coucumbers Gourdes Melons Mallowes Purcelane Populeon ana Ê’ two of the fruit of Alkekengi numero x. faire water l. i. fs make thereof a decoction according to Art then straine it and put thereto Troshiscorum Alkekengi â„¥ ss white sugar â„¥ ij Camphire Ê’ j. mixe them and cast it into the yard with a siring or other instrument 59 One being sicke of a thisicke which is an vlceration of the lunges with a consumtion of all the whole body the which hee tooke by the infection of his owne wife I cured with the oyle of Perrelles 60 A certaine woman had the course of her termes so long that many times shee was readie to giue vppe the ghost whome I cured with the oyle of Vitrioll in Plantane water and Ê’ j. of Carniola
in Balneo and doe as you did before let it bee cleared and put aside with the first water and put on again fresh water distilled and set it in Balneo as aforesaid and do this so often vntill the water be no more colored for then haue you the fire seperated from the earth but reserue the earth or Pheces vntill I tell you further what you shall do with it for there is yet a combustible oyle in it The fourth Chapter TAke the vessel wherin is the colored water and set it in Balneo with a Limbecke and receiuer well luted and distill al the water with a boyling Balneo let the matter be well dried and coole then take away the Alimbicke let the vessell remaine in Balneo and powre on the water againe vpon the matter and make a fire and set a dish vpon the mouth of the vessell and let it stande so in Balneo three daies euery day moouing it with a spattell of wood 3. or 4. times then let it coole and be taken out and strained Then take a cleane vessell and softly powre out that which is cleere into it and vpon the pheces straightwaies poure on fresh distilled water stirring it about with a woden ladle and let it stand to cleere one day the Pheces which remaine put vnto the first Pheces Then take a vessell and set it in a boyling Balneo vntil it be drie and reiterate this worke vntill there remaine no Pheces in the bottome of the vessell so shall you haue the pure Element of fire and the Element of the aire also must bee so often distilled vntill there remaine nothing in the bottome and in this sort you shall haue the pure Element Seperate then the water from the fire and let it drie so shall you haue a cleere shining matter like to Camphere keepe the fire well in a glasse and the aire with the water in another glassâ— well closed vntill you haue your earth prepared The fift Chapter TAke all the earth with the Pheces and drawe out the combustible oile by a discensorie that is with two vessels ioyned and luted together vntill the combustible oile do passe which is profitable for all colde diseases and other passions which were too long to rehearse if you desire not the combustible oile suffer it to flie away Then takâ— your earth and calcine it in a furnace of reuerberation gently vntill it be al white as snow then take a great earthen or stone vessel and put your white calcined earth into it and powre out a good quantitie of common water distilled and stirre it with a woodden ladle and set it three dayes in a boyling bath and couer it with a dish and stirre it euerie day ten or twelue times Let it coole and the vessel take out and let it cleere one whole day then take an other cleane vessel and softly poure out that which is cleer and vpon the pheces powre againe fresh distilled water and set it in Balâ—â—â— and doe as you did before Take it out againe and let it cleere one day and night and that which is vppermost cleere powre out to the first water Then put to fresh distilled water the third time vnto the pheces and set it in Balneo and doe as you did before and powre out the cleere the third time vnto the first water then cast away the pheces of the third water for they are of no valew Then take the vessell into which the water was put set it in Balneo with a lembecke and a receiuer and with a boyling Balneo drawe out the water vntill the matter bee made drie Let it coole take away the Limbecke and poure in the water againe vpon the earth or salt and set it one day in boyling Balneo Let it dissolue and cleere and take out that which is cleere And put in a little distilled water vpon the pheces and let it stand two or three houres in a warme bath take it out let it cleere by the space of one houre or two and powre out the vpper part to the first water and cast away the Pheces for there is nothing in them Let the vessel be set again in Balneo with the earth or salt and distill away the water vntill all be drie and do as afore reiterating the worke vntill that no pheces remaine in the bottome then draine away the water from the earth and you shal find a faire earthlike Cristall and so you shall haue pure elements The sixth Chapter TAke a great glasse that will beare the fire and put into it your earth and your fire and powre your aire vppon it and set it to distill in a furnace in potte or with sande or ashes with a Limbecke well luted hauing a hole in the vppermost knottie parte that a funnell may bee put in when there shall bee neede of infusion when as the humiditie that it hath receiued be halfe consumed then fortifie your fire by little and little increasing it vntil you see the water boyle and keepe the fire in that state still vntil it be consumed euen to a pinte Take away the fire let it coole take away your receauer and open the hole of the Limbeck and put in your glasse funnell and poure in all the distilled water in the recipient vppon the earth and stoppe the hole of the Limbeck and set the receauer vnto the necke thereof well luted and distill againe obserue the maner aforesaid of drawing and making infusion and doe thus tenne times The tenth distillation finished let all passe together for then the earth is made flying So the aire the water the fire and the earth will ascend together by the Limbeck and be brought into one substance which were in foure One together in nature and now simple as the incorruptible heauen yet are they not fixed but notwithstanding they are so coupled together betweene themselues that by no meanes they can bee seperated but will continue one simple bodie for euer euen as the christalline and vncorruptible heauen which notwithstanding is compounded of the foure elements What thinke you of this my sonne Can not this quintaessence helpe euerie disease that doth infect man through his most excellent temperature whether it be in heate cold moyst or drie for all are in it that he may distribute vnto euerie one that which is necessarie euen as the heauen when neede requireth giueth vnto the earth all things as coldnesse heate or moysture And yet is neither hote colde moist nor drie but of one simple essence and that indued with such a nature that is giueth vnto euerie thing that which is necessarie In like manner doth this quintaessence Therefore my sonne reioyce and giue the almightie God thankes which hath opened these things vnto the Philosophers The vii Chapter NOw my sonne if thou wilt bring this quintaessence yet to a greater perfection Take a great circulatory or Pellican that is a glasse that hath a great head like to
thicke siue put this pouder againe into an earthen cucurbite and poure on your water and aire and stirre it with a wodden ladle and couer the mouth of the cucurbite close with a tyle and set it in a warme bath by the space of nine dayes to putrifie euerie day stirring it with a wooden ladle foure or fiue times and couer the cucurbite againe with a tyle setting a weight of lead vpon it at the nine dayes ende take your vessell out of the Balneo and that which is in it straine it into an earthen vessell glased and straine it hard vntill the matter drie Then take this drie pouder and put into his cucurbite and couer it with a tyle and keepe it in a warme place vntil I teach you what you shal do with it The moist liquor which is drawen from it wil be red for the element of fire is there present with the aire the water put that liquor into a cucurbite of stone and put on a head and lute it wel and set it in Balneo with a receauer well luted and distill away all the water with the aire seuerally from the fire in a boyling bath vntill there will no more distill and the fire will passe away in the bottome then take away the vessell out of the bath stop it well vntill I teach thee what is further to be done Then take againe the stone cucurbite wherein your pouder is conteined which I bad you before to keepe and poure on the fire and the aire and stirre it wel with a woden ladle and set it in a warme bath nine dayes more and couer it with a tyle and stirre it foure or fiue times euerie day with a 〈…〉 adle as you did afore And when the nine dayes are past straine our that which is in the vessell and poure the liquor in a glased vessel the residue of the pouder put into another vessell as you did before and keepe it so long vntill I teach thee how to draw out the combustible oyle Then take againe the vessell wherein your fire is and mingle your liquor with it which you keepe in your glased vessell where your fire and aire is and set a head vpon the vessell wherein your matter is and lute it and set it in Balneo and set a receauer to the bill of the head then distill out the water and aire with a boyling bath vntill no more will distill and you shall haue in the receauer water and aire take them away and take the vessell out of Balneo and you shall find remaining in the bottome like thicke Turpentine and that is the element of fire mingled with many Pheces Now the fire is to be separated from the Pheces on this manner poure on your water and aire vpon that from whence you draw it and stirre it with a spoone and couer it with a tyle and let it settle foure dayes and the Pheces will fall into the bottome and poure out softly that that is cleare into a cleanâ— cucuâ—â—it that no pheses passe with all stop the vessel wherin the pheces are and set it by But that vessell that contemetâ— the water fire and aire set it in balneo with a head and reâ—â—auer fitted and well luted and distill the water and aire in that same degree And when it will distil no more take away the receauer Let the vessel coole and you shall find in the bottomâ— your fire which keepe in his vessell well stopped and pâ—ure in your water and aire againe vppon the pheces from whence you did draw themâ— and stirre them with a spoone and let it settle foure dayes then poure it out softly from his pheces into the vessell that holdeth your fire so that no pheces bee mingled withall couer your vessell wherin your pheces remaine and set it vp But your vessell wherein your water aire and fire is set againe in Bâ—lneo as I shewed you and distill away the water and aire for they two doe alwaies passe away together and the â—ire remaineth in the bottome Poure on the water and aire againe vpon the Pheces and stirre it with a spoone then let it settle foure dayes this is nowe the third repetition whereby you haue seperated the water and aire from the pheces and that which is cleare poure out into the vessell that holdeth youâ— fire Then put your Pheces vnto the first which I bad you keepe in the which your combustible oyle is For nowe yoâ— haue drawen your fire out of your Pheces therfore distil your water with the aire and when it will distill no more take away your vessell and you shall finde in the bottome the element of fire not yet pure but foule and full of dregges poure on therefore the water and aire againe and stirâ—e it well with a spoone or ladle couer it and let it stand and settle soure dayes then poure out that which is cleare into another cleane vessell and set aside the vessell wherein your pheces are But the vessell where in your fire water and oyle are set in Balneo to distill as long as it will diâ—â—â—ll then take it out and poure the liquor distilled into the vessell where your Pheces are and dooe as 〈◊〉 taught you to worke with the pheces vntill you haue your element of fire without any feculent or grosse substance When you haue distilled away the water and aâ—re from the fire and suffered it to settle foure dayes and that all bee cleare without any Pheces then shall you haue your pure fire Therefore put all your Pheces together vnto your first pheces where your combustible oyle is Afterward take a great cucurbite of glasse and put all your three elements into it and set it in ashes with a Limbecke and a receauer fitted and luted and kindle a gentle fire first in your furnace and increase it more and more vntill the fire and aire be passed and that your Limbeck begin to waxe red within Then make the heate of your fire moderate vntill all your element of fire be passed the head red like bloud and the water and aire shal swim vpon like oyle By this meanes these three elements shall be brought to their highest essence and be perfectly rectified Take away the receauer and stoppe it diligently vntill your earth be prepared and know that in the dust and pheces there remaineth yet a combustible oile which you may extract by a discensory if you will It is good against the colde gout for members benommed and siâ—owes too much mollified If thou be weary of this labor put this pouder or pheces into a reuerberatory that they may be mingled with a gentle fire vntill it be as white as snow which being done put it into a large cucurbite of stone oâ— pour on a great quantity of water twise distilled it is not material how much water you poure on and stiâ— it well with a wodden ladle or spoone siue or sixe times alwaies couer it diligently with a tyle
beate iâ— finely and wash it with faire distilled water vntill it haue lost his sharpenesse and that thou shalt do diuers times till it be well purged then drie it and put it into a glasse and put thereunto the spirite of wine that it may be couered three fingers hie and set it on fire and thus thou shalt do three times and th 〈…〉 〈…〉 t thou without any doubt a greater secret to heale his proper disease so that within six daâ—es he shall be quite whole The dose is about fiue graines in conserue of roses drunke with wine or Saccâ—ro Rosâ—to as well in the morning as at night when hee goeth to bed and let the patient sweate thereon two houres at each time It is a most soueraigne medicine against all contractions and you vse it as afore according to the nature of the disease But the patient must vse it six daies If there appeare any pustules ye shal cure them by touching them with oyle of Sulphure Moreouer those that haue the dropsie or such like moist diseases in the body are cured by giuing them six graines in water of Cardus Benedictus letting them sweate thereon as is aforesaid and keeping the order afore set downe Against the Pluâ—isie yee shall giue foure graines in the said water And against the plague in rose vinegar Against the falling sicknes with water of blacke cheâ—ies or Pionie Furthermore if anie haue had the same disease by nature yee shall giue them euerie day a little pill in Aqua Pionia putting theron six droppes of the spirit of Vitrioll If I would shew or expresse all the vertues I should write a booke there of but that which remaineth I will shewe more at large in my booke called Portus Gâ—sconicus with the order to draw the spirit of wine The third particular called Laudanum Anodinum the which is most excellent of all other secrets in as 〈…〉 ging griefes and paines in diuerse diseaseâ— TAke Liquor is aquae inexpertâ— inspissati â„¥ ij put therto the spirit of wine and set it in Balneo to digest vntil it haue drawen awaie the Tincture then powre it forth into a cleaâ—e vessell and put on more and so set it to digest againe so long as it will giue any Tincture or colour Then take the gumme of Henbane dried in the â—unnâ— â„¥ j. and draw away his Tincture with the spirit of wine as thou didst out of the liquor aforesaide then take Diâ—mber â„¥ ij and likewise draw away his Tincture with the spirit of wine and keepe it verie close vntill such time as I shall shew thee then take momia â„¥ ss and drawe away his Tincture with the spirit of wine and when thou hast done mixe it with the other then take Crocus OrientalisÊ’ iij. and drawe foorth his tincture and mixe it with the rest and euerie day stiâ—re it and keepe it in a warme place close stopped fifteene daies that being done distil it in Balneo and there will remaine a little matter in the bottome then put thereto a little of the Tincture of Diâ—mbrae the which ye reserued afore and so let it stand in digestion vntill it be thicke stirring it 3. or 4. times a day vntill the smell of the licour be in a manner consumed the which will be in sixe weekes Then take these that follow the licour of Currall cleare Ambre oâ— Succinum of each Ê’j Unicornes horne 6. graines Magisterium Perlarum one scrâ—ple Ossis de Corde Câ—rui halfe a scrupple Aurum Potabile or his Tincture Ê’ ss All these being finely beaten and mixed in a stone or glasse morter with the spirit of Diamber put in with the residue being thicke and so stirring it sundrie dayes afterward distill al the spirit of wine away then put thereon the residue of the spirit of Diambrae and when it is almost dry put therto Olei succini olei masi Cinamoni of each about one scruple Then take one part and reserue it for women without muske for it hurteth them But to the other parte for men put in halfe a scruple of the extraction of muske made with the spirit of wine and set it in a warme place that it may drie and so keepe it to thy vse Ye may giue it in forme of pilles or dissolue it in some conuenient licour inconuenient Dose as iij. graines or fixe graines for those that are of strong nature It comforteth much against the chollicke the frensie hote Feuers Arthritide Pâ—dagra the weakenesse of the stomacke the yex and comforteth against vomiting prouoketh sleepe Against the falling ficknes yee shall giue iij. graines with the spirit of Vitrioll and Essentia Camphora that is drawen with oyle of sweete Almondes the which is made in this order The order to draw the Essence of Campher Take Campher 〈◊〉 oyle of sweete Almondes â„¥ ss macerate them in the sunne or in Balneo or in a drie warme furnace foure and twentie houres then draw foorth his Tincture or essence with the spirit of wine and put thereto Ê’ j of Laudanum and Ê’ ii of the spirit of vitrioll and â„¥ sixe of the water of pionie floures and stirre them together and giue therof one spoonful at the time of the fit It is a most excellent remedie against all vncurable diseases The fourth specificum called Panchimagogon the which doth purge in small dose all noisome spirits that are mingled with the humours Take Specierum Diâ—rhodon abbatis â„¥ ii and drawe forth the tincture with the spirit of wine and keep it by it selfe Afterward take the Pulpe of ColocinthidesÊ’ vii TurbitÊ’ v. Agariei â„¥ i ss HeleborinigriÊ’ vii DyagrediÊ’ vi Foliorum sene â„¥ iiii Rhabarbari â„¥ ii Elâ—teri â„¥ ss beate them and mixe them together and put thereon Sinamon water the which is made in this order The Sinamond â—i and stamp it grosly then infuse it in white wine foure and twentie houres close stopped then distil it with a gentle fire being close luted for with this sinamond water or spirit of wine thou maist drawe foorth the tincture of all the aforesaide drugges Alwayes prouided that ye keepe them a month in a warme place to macerate stirring them three or foure times in a day and at the end of the moneth powre foorth the licour and put the pheses into a Retort and distill foorth the oile and water the oile ye shal rectifie and reserue The pheses that remaine ye shall calcine and make thereof a salt the which ye shall put to the oile that ye rectified Then take that licour which ye reserued first and distill it in Balneo and in the bottome there will remaine a matter thicke like honie Then take the tincture of Diâ—trodiou Abbatis and powre it vppon that thicke matter and stop well thy glasse and set it in a warme place eight days stirring it euery day That being done draw it away the spirit in Balneâ— vntil it remaine thicke like honie vnto the which ye shal put his oile that ye
much vinegar or aqua vitae and distil it and againe powre on fresh vineger or aqua vitae draw it away againe vntiâ—l the Quintaessence doth ascend in a red golden colour as we haue shewed in many places how to distil those matters that are fixed by vineger or aqua vitâ— for when it is distilled by the Limbecke his vertues are angmented a thousand times wil work strange cures keep this as a secret for it is a gret mystery in nature Here beginneth a manuel or handy worke how the Quintaessence may be drawen out of honie NOw wil I open vnto you a great secret in the vegetall worke of honie to wit a maruellous nature for it is drawen out of the most noble pure part of the floures The nature of Bees is such that they draw out the best of euery thing as in the Animall worke is more at large described wherein there is taught how to extract the nature of al beasts and specially in the 84. Chapter Wherefore my sonne know this that al that God hath created good in the vpper part of the world are perfect and vncorruptible as the heauen but whatsoeuer in these lower partes whether it be in beasts fishes and all manner of sensible creatures hearbs or plants it is indued with a double nature that is to say perfect and vnperfect the perfect nature is called the Quintaessence the vnperfect the Pheces or dregges or the vene 〈…〉 ous or combustible oile Therefore you shall seperate the dregges and combustible oyle and then that which remaineth is perfect and is called the Quintaessence which will endure continually euen as the heauen neyther can it bee dissolued with fire or anie other thing For when God had created all things and looked vpon them they were all perfect good there was nothing lacking to any and therefore for loues sake I say vnto thee that God hath put a secret nature or influence in euery creature and that to euery nature of one sort or kind he hath giuen one common influence and to euery one of seuerall kindes their seuerall influence and vertue whether it be on Physicke or other secret workes which partly are found out by natural work manship And yet more things are vnknowen then are apparant to our senses what doe you not thinke that an herb that is appointed for one disease which it will cure doth not containe in it many more vertues then are knowen vnto vs Yes truely many more This also Iadde that if the pheces and combustible oile be taken away from this thing or herb which in all things is the poyson that should be taken away that brings death vnto vs and the elements should be purified and so burned together by Art that they shall passe together by a Limbecke and be ioyned together as it were coupled in marriage that it may roote out al manner of disease from euery thing be it herb or liuing thing or be drawen from his venome as in the 14. chapter of the Prologue of this book is declared and also in the Prologue of the Animall work whereas the manner of drawing the Quintaessence out of all venemous beasts birds wormes and flies is plainely declared that it may help all the griefes of man but that specially is drawen out of the blood of man and there is likewise declared that there is no neede of things without man or beast to help such as are infected For euerie creature containes in himselfe the remedy of his disease which remedy may be drawne without the hurt of man or beast that the disease may bee miraculously cured as is there most excellently taught in the theâ—ricke and in the practise Therefore I would write this that thou soone mightest vnderstand what maruellous force is in honie which is taken out of all floures and gathered into one masse which truely is indued with sundry vertues For if GOD hath giuen vnto other things the gift of healing what then is there not in honnie which is gathered out of so many floures and euery herb indued with his owne proper vertue Truely if it be brought to his height and excellencie it will worke maruellously Now consider what lieth hidden in this Quintaessence and esteeme it not lightly but keepe it secret as the most excellent thing of al the animal worke the which being obtained you shall neede no other medicines to put away al the accidents of the bodie The second Chapter NOw I will set in hand with the practise Take twelue quartes of the best virgin Hony and put it in a great earthen vessell with a Limbecke well luted and set it in Ealneo lute a recipient to the necke of it and distil that which will distil of it in your Balneo boyling My sonne knowe this that there is no common water in honie but onely Philosophicall and Elementall for the Element of aire doth first passe with the Element of fire in the which the aire is contained and the aire when it riseth resembleth the sauour of aqua vitae distilled and at the first can not be knowen from aqua vitae neither by sight neither sauour distill it vntill there wil no more arise Then leaue the vessell in Balneo fiue daies with a Limbecke and receiuer let it boyle night and day that the matter may be dried then let it coole and take it out and take away the receiuer and Limbecke and that which is in the receiuer powre into the vessell againe vpon the dâ—ie matter and set it in Balneo and couer the mouth of the vessel with a cleane dish well luted and let your Balneum be only luke warme My sonne vnderstand that it may thus bee done for it is good that the fire be drawen with his proper aire so as a maÌ„ would stay so long for it wold be of the greater force The auntient Philosophers wrought in this sort but the daunger is when the vessels shall bee opened lest the water flie away for it is as suâ—till as wine For euerie time the aire is to be drawn away and againe to be powred on making putrifaction in a warme Balneo but first it must be wel luted and a Limbecke being set on with a receiuer you must reiterate the worke vntill the fire rise like vnto red bloud There is another methode or rule of working found out in these our daies which is in this sort The third Chapter THey are thus drawne out and the matter dried as is aforesaide then take common water twise distilled in Balneo and powre on as much as is sufficient and set it in Balneo couer the mouth of the vessel but let not the Balneâ—â— boile and so let it stand three daies and three nights moouing it day and night with a spattle of wood let it coole be poured out and strained Then take a cleane vessell and poure out that which is cleere and powre vpon the pheces fresh distilled water as you did before set the vessell
after foure daies suffer it to coole and let it stand foure daies settle then poure out the cleere from the pheces warily into another â—leane vessell and poure on fresh distilled water as afore stirre it with your spoone and keep it two daies in Balneo as before then suffer it to coole and settle and poure out the cleare from the Pheces and put it to the first water Doe this the third time and then cast away the Pheces for they are good for nothing All your waters that you haue drawen distill by Balueum or for the more speede by ashes that al the water may rise and that there remaine in the bottome a dustie matter poure on distilled water againe stirre it and keep it in balneo by the space of foure and twentie houres then let it coole and settle and poure out that which is cleare gentlie from the Pheces Poure on againe more common water vpon them and stirre it set it in balueo ten or twelue houres take it out let it settle poure the cleere vnto the first water and cast away the Pheces they are nothing worth Repeate this worke so often vntill there remaine no pheces after it hath set ed. Then shal you haue your earth rectified from all his pheces which you shall congele and drie that it may be like pouder or dust Then ioyne that with your other elements in the glasse and it wil straight resolue into his element for the element of water is there present Set them all together in a furnace vpon ashes put on a head with a receauer well luted the head must haue a hole in the top that with a funnel the liquor may be poured in alwaies stopped safely Make your fire in your furnas first gentle afterward greater vntil that that is fermented doe passe But all is not to be drawen out but about halfe a sextary of the liquor with the water that the matter may remain moist For if you should driue out all it would congele into an hard masse and breake the glasse in the furnace Then open the hole which is in the top of the head and with a funnell poure in that which is in the receauer But first it must be made warme lest by pouring in the colde liquor the glasse do breake but if you suffer the glasse to coole you may poure it in without any danger Repeate this inbibition ten or twenue times afterward distil out whatsoeuer wil be distilled so long as any thing wil passe by the necke of the Limbecke For after this tenth distillation the earth wil be no more congeled but will rest in the bottome like a red golden oyle Inbibe it againe pouring on the liquor and distilling it vntil al the elements passe together by the Limbecke and that nothing at all doe remaine in the bottome of the vessell Then giue thankes to God for his maruelons giftes which hee hath distributed vnto his Philosophers hath giuen them so great knowledge of things as they vttered in this worke which is altogether heauenly rather diuine then humane For it is a great maruel in this life that mans vnderstanding can bring these inferior things to so great perfection that they haue aâ—tained euen to the highest degree of vertue Truely it is the worke of the holy ghost which hath put it into the mindes of men For I do affirme that whoso hath this hearâ— so prepared that he may helpe all the iufirmities of mans body whether they be curable or vncurable except natural death which is ordained afore vnto euerie man of God Yea this dare I be bolde to say that if a man do vse daily the waight of one scruple of this quintaessence or the quintaessence of sugar and potable gold wherin pearls are dissolued or the quintaessence of Selandine That maÌ„ by Gods help shal not die before the day of the great judgement For the humors in mans body can by no meanes predominate one ouer another as in the thirtie six chapter of Uegetales is taught where is intreated of the quintaessence of al medicinall things and there it is shewed that by Gods help the life of man may be prolonged euen vntill that day void and free from all diseases sicknes And further that man may be preferued in the state he was in at thirtie yeeres of age and in the same strength and force of wit And vpon that do all the Philosophers agree that a man may continue in the same state as long as in an earthly paradise This is so plainely and at large shewed in that chapter that wil you nill you you shall bee enforced to conceiue it in your mind to beleeue it and to confesse it to be true Therefore it is not needefull to reason much of the force and qualities of this quintaessence but whatsoeuer disease maÌ„ be infected withal giue him to drinke with wine so much of this quintaessence as a nutte shell will hold in short space hee shal bee healed as it were miraculously according as the disease is violent or gentle But if you giue this quintaessence to drinke mixed with the quintaessence of â—â—gar with potable golde wherein pearles are dissolued and with the Quintaessence of Selandine within one day you shall cure all the diseases whatsoeuer they be Hereby it doth appeare that it is rather a diuine work then humane Therefore giue god the praise and take heed that you doe not vtter this secret For tyrants woulde by that mean prolong their liues that they might bring to passe their wicked purposes whereof both you and I shoulde be the occasion Therefore keepe it secret for it is one of the greatest secrets amongst all the vegetals whereunto no treasure may be compared Worke therefore and distribute liberally vnto the poore and God shall giue thee eternall felicitie Oft times great force lieth hid in bodies low Of booke in few lines not much but apt doth show Vertue increaseth by exercise The Spagericke Antidotarie of the preparation and making of medicines against Gunneshot taken out of the Chirâ—â—gerie of Iosephus Quirsitanus IT is an olde and true saying of the poer that there is nothing more imperious than an ignorant man which thinketh nothing well done but that he doth himself which thing as it may be seene in many other artes yet most specially in this which is called the Spagericke art For we see euery where certaine men I know not what they bee puffed vp with a certain barbarous and foolish pride which with great scorne inuey against those medicines which are drawen out of the metalline mines Which notwithstanding it is apparant were in vse and had in great estimatioÌ„ with the chiefe antient Physitions as we haue declared in that booke which we haue set forth of the Spagericke preparation of medicines And what I pray you is the cause of this anger or rather madnes but that as they themselues confesse they know not the preparation of them O happy
Tartar by a Limbecke whereof you shall make a most excellent and wholesome oyle Vinegar being distilled by a Limbecke the pheces remaine in the bottome of the vessell which first dried afterward with a violent fire if they be driuen out by a Retort there come foorth a very red and sharpe oile Then if you dooe againe dissolue the dead head or Pheces in warme water filter and coagulate it the salt of Vinegar will rest in the bottome the which is verie profitable for all eating vlcers Soote brought into fine pouder dissolue it in distilled Vinegar in Balneo and separating all the mensture that which remaineth in the bottome dissolue and coagulate againe so long till it come to white salt which in a moyst place wil dissolue into oyle verie apt to cure the Gangraenam and all maligne vlcers Bole Armonack made into fine pouder dissolue it in the sower fleame of Alum then separate the fleame by Balneum and poure on other Doe this three times and then the Bole will be turned into a very fat oyle which with a verie soft fire is dryed and brought into pouder most apt to staunch bloud wheresoeuer it breake out Take of Cloues beaten in pouder one pound simple water or Aqua Vitae which is better vi pounde infuse them to digest in Balneo or dung foure dayes then put them in Limbecke with his refrigatorie distill it according to arte and seperate the oyle from the water by a funnel and keepe it for your vse After the same manner shall you draw the oyles of Sage Iuniper Amber Turpentine Mirre Frankinsens Sarcocolla Masticke and Euphorbium We haue written another better way to draw oyles out of the foresaide things in the Spagericke preparation of medicines Wheate being put into a retort with the spirit of wine digest it viii daies then distill it with a violent fire that which is distilled powre againe vpon the dead head digest it againe and distill it againe if you reiterate this iii. times there will come forth a most excellent oyle of the Gangraena and Carcinomatâ— Take of the flowers of Hipericon small â—utij pounde oyle of Turpentine i. pound yolkes of egges 20. Aqua Vitae halfe a pound mingle them all together and let it putrifie in hot dung one whole moneth then wring it out and set it in the sunne two moneths After the same maner is the Balme of Visci pomorum made or with oile Oliue first purified in Balneo Take of the flowres of Hipericon i. pound of the Muslage of the roote of the great Conferie iiii ounces floures of Camomil Verbascum ana pug ii oile of egges and turpentine ana half a pound Aqua Vitae one pound Mirre Frankensence Mastick Muâ—iae ana ii ounces red sugar vi ounces putrifâ—e all in dung one moneth in a vessel diligently stopped then wring it out and circulate it in Balneo three dayes afterward with a soft fire boyle it to the substance of a Balme Take of the leaues of the Mysselto of the Apple tree cut smal ii pound put them into a vessel of glaâ—le putting thereto buds of the Popler tree halfe a pound oyle of the grease of a Badger and of Butter ana iiii ounces turpentine vi ounces oyle of wormes ii pound and a halfe good white wine ii pound digest all well stopped in verie hot dung ii moneths then presse it and circulate it and with a soft fire boile it vntil the liquors be consumed there can not be found a more excellent medicine to asswage acheâ— and paines The iuice of the leaues and rootes of hearbes you shall purifie vntill it bee cleare powring to it so much Aqua Vitae and digest it in Balneo in a glasse xv daies then separate that water by distillation and there remaineth in the bottome the slyme or muslage of the hearbes Steepe the leaues and rootes of hearbes in common water filtred or that which is better in white wine eight daies then let them boyle iii. daies with a soft fire vnder them Then wâ—ing them out and purifie it then boyle them with a softfire vntill they come to the thicknes of honie which we cal the slime of muslage By this rule you shal draw out of both Comferies Cynoglosso Centaurie Vinca peiuinca Aristolochie the roote of henbane the middle barke of Tillia their muslage verie profitable for the foresaid medicines Out of the flowres of red Poppie or their iuice you shal draw a water by a Limbeck very profitable to coole The salt of mans vrine hath an excellent qualitie to clense It is made thus First the vrine is to be filtred then coagulated after with distilled vinegar dissolued againe coagulated these must be reiterated 3. or 4. times Melt waxe at the fire and boyle it with wine till it bee consumed doe it so long vntill it cracke no more Take i. pound of wax thus prepared Alum calcined half a pound Sage leaues M. i. put al into a Limbeck with his receauer and distill it with a meane fire First there will come forth a grose oyle thick hard white which must be distilled againe as afore and iii. times reiterated and so you shall make an excellent oyle of waxe for all griefes of the synowes In like maner is the oyle of Rosen and pitch made Out of honie you shall first drawe an excellent water by Balneum afterward you shall put vnto the dead head or pheces that are left sand or flint stones calcined that the matter boyle not vp which you shall driue out by a 〈◊〉 of glasse giuing fire by degrees and so you shal distil a yellowish cleare oile togither with a grosse impure oyle Let all digest againe 4. or 5. dayes after distill it againe by a Limbecke in sande and there will come out a pure red oyle swimming vpon the water This water is sower almost like vinegar distilled and is very good against the Gangrena but the oyle which burneth like Aqua Vitae hath maruaiâ—ous qualities specially if it be circulated certaine daies with the spirit of wine for the spirit being after separated there remaineth a sweete oyle of pleasant sauour good for wounds by gunshot and eating vlcers Out of the pheces which remaines is drawen a salt first being calcined with a fire of reuerberation dissoluing it with his proper menstrua or common water distilled filtering and coagulating it three times It is good for al rotten vlcers This salt you shal mingle with his proper burning oyle according to arte and you shall reape greater commoditie thereof then is lawfull to be spoken Take of honie not separated from his waxe ii pounde Tartar made into pouder i pound let them putrifie together in dung xv dayes and distill it by a retort and there will first come a cleare water then a yellowish Put these againe vpon the dead head and putrifie it againe other xv dayes
after distill it againe and this doe three times and you shall haue an excellent oyle of honie Take butter first molten in white wine and then distil it with a meane fire and there wil distil out a oyle greatly swaging paines and supplying So shall you make oyle of Larde and all greases Take 100 yolkes of egges first sodden hard put them into a Cucurbite and make fire by degrees first there wil come out a water after a yellowish oyle swimming vpon the water last a thicke oile The water is good for al spots in the face the oyle to appease all griefes and aches Boyle Câ—eueâ—es in water of Orphine in a double vessell wel stopped one whole day After distil it powring the water 3. times vpon the pheces then let it be kept it is veâ—ie good for inflamations burnings the Carcynomata The sperme of eede of frogges is gathered in the moneth of March and iâ— distilled by a glasse Limbecke and therof is drawen a water very commodious for inflamations and burnings Eggeshels or the shels of snailes are reuerberated in a sharpe fire three daies vntill they be brought into a veâ—ie white Calce But if they be sprinckled with vineger whilest they are calcined the Calce wil be the lighter and apter to worke his force Mercurie first washed and prepared according to Gebers prescription dissolue with the duble weight of common strong water then distill it 〈◊〉 times and poure it so often againe vpon the pheces and so it is brought into a verie red pouder cut of the which being â—eueâ—berate at the fire and drawne away the spirits of the strong water which otherwise woulde mooue geeat paine But it were better if it were washed with the sleame of Allum and vinegar distilled and the water of Egges for by that meane the sharpnesse is taken away But it is better to prepare Mercurie with often sublimations and to fixe it being quickened againe and purged from his filthy earth and superfluous humiditie with the water which wee haue described in the booke by me published of the Spâ—gerick preparation But if al men do not vnderstand that discâ—â—ption for the darke wordes of Art it shall not be incommodious to fixe the Mercurie with common strong water three times powred on and drawne away and to bring it into a red pouder and that with a sufficient violent fire that al the sharpnes and venome of the menstrew may be drawne away which shal much the better be done of this water following be min 〈…〉 led with it and by often distillation sepâ—â—ated Take of distilled vinegar 〈◊〉 pound a half the fleam 〈◊〉 Allum i. pound and a halfe calce of eggeshels vi oun 〈…〉 es distill al til it be drie Take of this water 〈◊〉 pound of Mercurie precipitate as â—fore i. pound mingle all wel according to art distil it by a Limbeck powring the water againe vnto the pâ—eces three times Last of al driue al out vntill it bee d 〈…〉 and there will remaine a pouder in the bottome which grinde vppon a marble and put it into a Limbeck pouring on the water aforesaid which you shal three times distill from the pheces as afore Lastly the Mercurie precipitate must be circulated with a alcool of wine 24. houres Then distill away the spirit of wine that the matter may drie then poure on new againe and circulate it and distill as afore and that do 4. or 5. times and then you haue attained the perfect preparation of Mercurie whose qualities cannot be sufficiently commended in curing of sundrie diseases specially of the Pox whether it be takeÌ„ by mouth or applied to the place grieued Make Amalgama with iiii ounces of Mercurie câ—ude and i. ounce of the best tinne Spread this vpon a plate of Iron and set it in a moyst place and all will dissolue into oyle it is also made with Mercurie alone and a plate of Tynne Mercurie as the maner is three times sublimed with Salt of Vitrioll at the last is mingled with the like portion of salâ— Armoniack againe subblimed three or foure times al that subblimat is dissolued into oile out of which the spirit of the salt Armoniack is to be drawen away circulate all with the essence of wine and distil it so long vntil the oyle haue lost his heate and sharpnesse and the Armoniacke be separated It is also reduced by it selfe into an oyle with a very soft heate of an Athanor by long distance of time Sublime Mercurie so often with the simple Calce of egges well prepared vntill it be vtterly extinct To this mixture powre vinegar distilled alcoole sated that it may couer it 4 fingers distil the liquor from the pheces 4. or 5 times vntil the Mercurie be come into a very red pouder which you shall circulate with a alcoole of wine in a pellican 8. days separate the alcool by a limbeck there wil remaine in the bottome the most pretious sweet balme of Mercury It healeth al desperate vlcers also â—â—râ—uculaÌ„ iâ—â—â—sica greatly helpeth these wounds by gunshot Al other preparations of Mercurie and the maner of vsing it you shal gather out of the book which we lately set forth Vpon the filings of Iron often washed with salt water poure sharpe vinegar that it may couer it foure fingers set it vpon warme ashes 8. daies euerie day moouing the matter and separating the vinegar which wil be colored pouring on againe new and that so long till the vinegar be no more coloured which being vapoured away take the pouder that remaineth in the bottome and subblime it with like portion of Armoniacke the same sublimate you shall returne againe so often vppon his pheces and subblime again vntil there appeare the color of a Rubin then cast al into scalding water that the salt may dissolue them by by put to cold water the balme of Mars wil rest in the bottome like the calx of gold Poure away the water and put to fresh again that the balme may be made sweete Of this with the spirit a wine alcolizat by circulations you shall make a red oyle most excellent for all inwarde Hemerodes or issues of bloud and to strengthen the bowels if one drop be mixed with conserue of Roses or Conferie or giuen with wine The filings of Iron first well washed you shall calciâ—â— with the flowre of Sulphur or dissolue with strong water then poure on very sharpe vinegar and set it in a warme place certaine days then reuerberate it with an open fire as Arte commandeth one wholeâ— day gathering alwayes the flowres which remaine aboue vntill all be conuerted into a verâ—e red and light pouder After the same maner you shal make the balme oile Crocus of copper out of the which with the sowre flame of Vitrioll circulating all artificially you shall drawe a bleweshing Vitriol whose qualities we haue discribed in
the sayings of Philosophers are much and long to bee searched examined and thought vppon before thou canst get out the hidden meanings of them If then in reading Philosophers Bookes thou play the sluggard thou canst neuer bee perfect in preparing thy matters and therefore I might not by the authoritie of the lawes of Philosophie interprete all things openly word for word to thee Something are to be left for industrious wittes wherein to excercise themselues by studying and searching Notwithstanding if thou be not vnthankefull all these things shall be opened and declared vnto thee in my Galliae portu where verie many workings hitherto knowne of fewe shall faithfully bee set foorth In the meane season knowe thou that I am not the deuiser of these particular things for some of them I had of gift and some other for money and rewards came to my hands To thee I giue them freely which vse well Farewell ¶ A Treatise of certaine particulars whereof the first intreateth of the preparation of the Markasite of lead as well for the transmutation of mettals as for the alteration of mans bodie c. THe philosophers Saturne is properly the markasite of leade and in deede doth excell Sol and Luna in so much that Raymond saith that in this inferior world there is no greater secret then that which consisteth in the Markasite of Lead insomuch that they which haue throughly sought out the force and nature of it haue bound themselues together by othe neuer to vtter those secrets of nature vnto the ende of â—heir liues For so much as his operation is of such kinde as truely it hath manie and sundrie vses which being duely prepared doth not only alter and change the filthie and corrupt humours of our bodies but also can change and transmute by sundrie experiments Luna into Sol. Take of the Minerall markasite of leade xii pound and grinde it into sine pouder vppon a Marbell stone as they grinde colours vvith vineger being well ground and tempered put it into a strong glasse and put thereon a good quantitie of distilled vineger and stir it well with a sticke and so let it stand in Balneo Mariae then set thereon a blind head and there let it stand eight daies togither stirring and mouing it euerie day sixe or seauen times then let it coole and the vineger wilbe of a yellow colour the which ye shal powre forth into another glasse taking heed that ye stirre not the pheces then put thereon more vineger stirre it wel with a sticke and sâ—t on the blind head and set it in Balneo Mariae other viii daies as ye did afore then powre forth that vineger being coloured into the other glasse And this order ye shal vse so long vntil you see the vinegar no more coloured for at the last the pheces wil remaine in a white masse like white earth Distillation of the coloured Uenigar THen take all that vinigar being coloured and distill it in Balneo vntill it will drop no more and there let thy cucurbit stand three dayes with the pheces that it may drie well then take it fourth and thou shalt finde in the bottome of the glasse a white matter the which take out for in that whitenesse the rednes of the Markasite is hidden which being prepared auaileth much to make aquam philosophorum that they call ardentem The preparation of the Pheces Take the white pheces or matter and put it into a distilling vessell with a great recipient very well luted that the spirites goe not foorth and set it in the hot ashes and giue it a gentle fire and then increase it according to arte a day or two and there will come foorth first a white water and then a red or golden yellow oyle the which is to be kept close with great care The pheces to be taken againe Then take those pheses and set them in a calcining furnace eight dayes then take them foorth and grinde them finely and put them in a glasse with a good quantitie of distilled vineger and stirre them well together that being doone set it againe in Balneo for eight daies together and stirre it euery day seuen or eight times the more the better then let it waxe colde and settle and powre away the cleare part from the pheces but take heed that ye stir not the dregges or bottome Then powre on fresh vineger and set it in Balneo againe and doe as ye did afore and then powre away the vineger againe and cast away the pheses for they are nothing worth The distillation of the vineger Then take the vineger which you reserued and distill it with a gentle fire and in the bottome thou shalt finde a salt in the which remaineth all the force and strength Then calcine the said salt againe in a reuerberatorie loure and twentie houres with a great fire then take it forth and put it in the glasse wherein it was afore and put thereon fresh viueger and set it in Balneo And this thou shalt do so often vntill the salt leaue no pheces in the bottome that being done distil thy vineger as at the first and thou shalt find thy selfe prepared liquid and cleare as Cristall Coniunctio spiritus corporis scilicet olei salis Take the aforesaid salt and grinde it vpon a stone dropping thereon his red oyle by little and little that being do one put it into a cucurbit luted with Hermes seale and so set it vpon a treuet in an Athanor twenty dayes and it will be fixed into a red stone so that ye haue the true gouernment of the fire Then take it forth and grinde it vpon a stone and according to the waight put thereunto as many Letones of the Calex offine gold and vppon all these put on asmuch of the white water which ye distilled afore the red oile as all the whole doth weigh and close it vppe with Hermes seale and set it in ashes in an Athanor with a soft fire vntill it be fixed but after it be fixed there wil appeere many colours the which wil turne into perfect oile and true Elixer Reioyce in this but before yee beginne the worke consider of it and pray The second particular that is called Torpetum siue diaphoreticum minerale purgiug without loathsomnesse or difficultie helping the plurisie the plague and especially the French pox Take Leonis à dracone repurgatissimi one part aquilae mineralis repurgatissimae twelue partes mixe them together according to Arte then put them into a cucurbit of glasse and put thereon twise so much of the liquor of red Colcâ—thor without fleme as the matter weyeth and then nourish it in warme sand with a gentle fire three dayes taking heede that the matter ascend not into the head That being done distill it that the pheces may remaine drie then increase thy fire that the sand and glasse may be red hote the space of three hours then let it wax cold and take out the matter and
yet will it againe be laden with drops it were enough if we did see no other myracle then from whence this dewie humour should rise which in so short space doth so aboundantly flowe from it and how much the more the burning sunne doth scorch vp the other herbes so much the more is this moist and filled with drops euen as though it had beene sprinkled ouer with water hereupon may we gather his maruelous qualities and iudge that there is some secret operation hidden in it if thou do keepe this water thus gathered in a glasse therewith thou shalt cure all the diseases of the eies whether they come of ru 〈…〉 es or of inflamation it helpeth moreouer all the paines and diseases of the heart it cooleth the liuer and stomacke that is inflamed doth mittigate all the paine of the head that commeth of heart and driueth away all dreames and fantasies it is good also to kil the canker the woolfe against the biting of venemous beastes against poyson dronke if it be taken by the mouth it helpeth also the pestilence it is good for many other diseases which were too long here to rehearse This herb hath the colour of the sunne for his colour is red darke diuided with yellowe lines and his shape is like a star and his proportion like a heauenly planet and consisteth of seauen branches in the vtter parte brode neare the ground narrow it is as though it were heauie of a tender substance outwardly hot and moist inwardly cold and drie The left side of it is cold and moist the right side hotte and drie and it is most temperate as gold Wherefore his elements cannot be seperated one from another as in other herbes but it may be purged from his pheces for his fixing letteth that the Elementes cannot be separated for the fire will ascend with the aire by the Balneum as wee will heereafter teach The earth may bee separated from his Pheces and the Pheces likewise from the fire and ayre although it hath not manie dregs Some latine writers call it Lingua auis or Birdes tongue some call it Solaria of the sunne of Lunaria is called the moone the Flemming cals it Sindow But the old Philosophers haue kept secret the qualities as yet for the maruelous effect it worketh And it is maruell saith Arnold de Villa nou◠that a man should die that eateth euery day some of it in his grose substance what will it then worke when it is brought vnto his finenesse and clensed from his pheces It hath this great vertue in it that if it be put into a glasse wherin there is poisō mingled with wine or any other cup that is poisoned straightwaies the glasse wil flie in peeces but if it be a stone pot of aleblaster or such like the wine wil so boile as though there were a violent fire vnder it al the wine wil run out vntil there be nothing left in the vessell also if any man carrie this herb about him happen on his enemies they shal haue no power to hurt but contrariwise to shew him all kinde of dutie Also if any man bee bewitched either in bodie or in his art that is in Cookerie Bruing or Baking or by any other meanes this herb caried about him makes him free from the witchcraft If it bee also tyed vppon the bellie of a woman with childe she shall straightwayes be deliuered although the childe were dead and rotten within as it hath beene oftentimes prooued by experience This herbe caryed about one or a little thereof euerie day eaten as long as it is vsed preserueth man from the falling sicknesse Moreouer if a man bee taken with the Apoplexie that his mouth bee drawen aside and his speech and senses taken from him they shall be all restored againe if the sicke drinke the iuice of this herbe strained as hath beene oftentimes prooued Moreouer if it be hanged about the neck of one that is possessed of a spirit so long as he carieth that about him hee shall be quiet as a Lambe and the power of the spirit shall be taken away Make a proofe and you shall finde it true The bleeding at the nose is by and by stayed if you hold that herbe in your mouth They that are wearied with trauell if they drinke the iuice thereof in wine they are by and by so refreshed as if they had not laboured or gone no iourney it doth comfort the synowes muscles tendons and all the whole nature Woundes are also cured therewith if it bee dronke tenne daies together in wine or ale if the wound be washed with the same drinke and bound vp with a cloth wette in the same The paine of the teeth is by and by apeased if that herbe bee laid vnto it All these things haue beene often prooued and found true If it will doe such things whilest it is yet hindered with his grosse matter what will it worke when it is brought to his perfection My son knowe this for a truth that there is no herbe that growes vppon the earth to be compared vnto this in strength and goodnes therefore take heede that you doe not neglect it but diligently remember and keepe the secret close from them that are not of the nature of our children and from the ignorant For if this herbe did not grow so plentifully and the properties thereof were knowne it woulde bee more esteemed then golde or pretious stones for the effects of the quintaessence are maruelous as heereafter shal appeare Nowe there remaineth that wee must teach howe to bring this hearbe to his highest degree and to his quintaessence First it is to be gathered the same hauing his course in his owne house that is in the lion and the moone behold him with a sinister quadrate aspect It is to be gathered whole with rootes leaues and flowers so that there be neither earth dirt nor other hearbes mingled withall Neither must it by any meane touch any water or be made moyst Therefore you must take heede that you gather it not in rainie wether or moyst wether but rather when the sunne doth shine hottest vpon it gather great store of it and stampe it well in a mortar of Marble and put it in a Cucurbite of stone with a head and receauer luted and set it in balneo and distill away al the water vntill it be so drie like pouder and there will rise together with the water of the color of most fine gold which onely happeneth in this herbe and in none other and when there remaineth no more liquor yet leaue the cucurbite for three or foure dayes in Balneo and boyle it night and day that all the moysture may be perfectly seperated and drawne away then let it coole and take away the receauer and stoppe it diligently then take off the head and take out the matter and beate it in a Marble morter into most fine pouder that it may passe through a